Author: Gist It
-
Want Johnny Carson’s desk? A trove of TV memorabilia is up for auction
A collection of TV memorabilia, including Johnny Carson’s desk and items from Cheers, is up for auction. Collector’s background: Hollywood memorabilia collector James Comisar has spent decades amassing a trove of TV treasures, including scripts, costumes, and props. * Comisar has gathered over 10,000 pieces of TV history and now sees himself as a curator […]
-
When she won the first national spelling bee, Marie C. Bolden dealt a blow to racism
Marie C. Bolden, a Black girl, won the first national spelling bee in the U.S. 115 years ago, breaking racist stereotypes of the time. Historical victory: At age 14 in 1908, Bolden won a gold medal by flawlessly spelling 500 words, leading her hometown team, Cleveland, Ohio, to victory in a national contest. * Even […]
-
And the winning word is: A 14-year-old from Florida wins the National Spelling Bee
14-year-old Dev Shah from Florida has won the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee with the winning word ~~”psammophile.”~~ The winning word: ~~”Psammophile”~~ is a noun describing animals and plants that prefer to live in sandy soil environments. * Shah also spelled “poliorcetics,” ~~”aegagrus,”~~ and “schistorrhachis” correctly during the competition. Prize details: Dev Shah took home […]
-
Boeing finds new problems with Starliner space capsule and delays first crewed launch
Boeing has indefinitely delayed the first crewed launch of its Starliner capsule due to new issues found during preparations. The backdrop: Boeing’s Starliner capsule has faced years of development delays and has yet to fly its first crewed mission. * NASA awarded Boeing more than $4 billion in 2014 to build the capsule under its […]
-
Senate brushes against default deadline as it moves toward a final debt ceiling vote
The Senate debates compromise bipartisan legislation to lift the debt ceiling as the default deadline approaches. In session: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that the Senate would stay in session until a bill avoiding default is sent to President Biden’s desk. * The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 passed the House with a 314-117 […]
-
Ten states and scores of local governments sue FEMA over higher flood insurance rates
Ten states and numerous local governments are suing FEMA over increased flood insurance rates under the National Flood Insurance Program. Lawsuit details: The lawsuit, filed in New Orleans federal court, seeks to block the higher premiums resulting from FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0 pricing plan implemented in April. * The new plan leads to rate increases […]
-
Supreme Court vetoes efforts to limit anti-fraud law aimed at government contractors
The U.S. Supreme Court revived two whistleblower lawsuits alleging Safeway and SuperValu overcharged the government for prescription drugs by $200 million. The backdrop: The cases involve allegations that major retail pharmacies knowingly overcharged Medicaid and Medicare by overstating their ~~”usual and customary prices.”~~ * The issue before the court was determining the standard of proof […]
-
Unions are relieved as the Supreme Court leaves the right to strike intact
The US Supreme Court ruled in favor of business interests in a labor dispute while preserving the rights of workers to time their strikes. The case explained: The dispute involved Glacier Northwest, a cement company, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, with truck drivers walking off the job after loading wet concrete into delivery trucks. […]
-
And just like that, Kim Cattrall will appear in the ‘Sex and the City’ spin-off
Kim Cattrall will reprise her role as Samantha Jones in the ‘Sex and the City’ spin-off, ~~”And Just Like That.”~~ The big deal: Cattrall is confirmed to appear in the second season of “And Just Like That,” which premieres on June 22. * Variety reports she will appear in at least one scene, but details […]
-
Texas Republicans target how elections are run in Democratic-leaning Houston area
Texas Republicans have targeted election procedures in Democratic-leaning Harris County, with two bills sent to Governor Greg Abbott for consideration. State of play: The bills would remove Harris County’s elections administrator position and potentially allow the secretary of state to oversee elections in the county under certain circumstances. * The county faced challenges in running […]