Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce donate $26M to charities ahead of wedding
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have donated $26 million to charities this week ahead of their Friday wedding at Madison Square Garden. According to Swift's publicist, the donations were spread out across 20 local and national charities. The announcement did not include any mention of Swift and Kelce’s wedding, but a law enforcement official briefed on security plans has told AP that the wedding will be held Friday, with a smaller rehearsal dinner Thursday night. Nine of the selected organizations are based in New York, ranging from the Food Bank For NYC, City Harvest, to Musical Mentors, a nonprofit that connects music teachers with students in need.
Actor and activist Danny Glover says he has Alzheimer’s disease
NEW YORK (AP) — Actor and activist Danny Glover says he has Alzheimer’s disease. The “Lethal Weapon” star, who turns 80 on July 22, was diagnosed three years ago. He told “Today” and People magazine that he’s still coming to terms with the disease. Alzheimer’s affects more than 6 million people in the U.S. and millions more worldwide. Glover earned four Emmy nominations and an honorary Oscar in 2022. He also received awards from the NAACP and Black Entertainment Television. From 1998 to 2004, he served as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Development Program.
California to institute Bruce Lee Day, a first for a Chinese American in the state's history
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Martial arts icon Bruce Lee, who was born in San Francisco, will become the first Chinese American in California history with an annual namesake day. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law Tuesday officially designating May 17 as Bruce Lee Day. That's the date in 1959 that an 18-year-old Lee returned to San Francisco after spending his childhood in Hong Kong. Lee’s daughter, Shannon, says the honor is a testament to her father’s enduring legacy as a bridge between cultures. Lee is credited for challenging racial stereotypes with his portrayal of a strong, Asian male through martial arts cinema.
Los Angeles medical examiner says former child actor Daveigh Chase died of AIDS
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former child actor Daveigh Chase's death on June 16 was due to AIDS. That's according to the office of the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner. Chase was known for voicing Lilo in Disney's “Lilo & Stitch” and her role in the horror film “The Ring.” She also voiced a lead in “Spirited Away” and appeared in “Donnie Darko” and “Oliver Beene.” Chase died at a Los Angeles hospital at age 35. Her father has said she was homeless in that city with her boyfriend. He also said she struggled with drugs since age 13 and was estranged from her parents.
Eurovision, eh? Canada will compete at the glitzy song contest in 2027
LONDON (AP) — Canada is set to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time next year. The European Broadcasting Union and Canadian broadcaster CBC announced that Canada will join the contest in Bulgaria in May 2027. It's the first new country to enter Eurovision since Australia in 2015. CBC President Marie-Philippe Bouchard said this will showcase Canadian talent on a global stage. Eurovision Director Martin Green noted it shows the contest's global reach. Details on Canada's entry selection will be announced later this year. The campy, colorful celebration of pop has faced recent protests and boycotts over Israel's participation.
Blake Lively wants $8 million in legal fees from Justin Baldoni after 'It Ends With Us' dispute
NEW YORK (AP) — Blake Lively is seeking $8 million in legal costs from actor and director Justin Baldoni after resolving their dispute over the acrimonious production of their 2024 film “It Ends With Us.” Lively’s lawyers disclosed the amount, covering nearly $7.5 million in attorney’s fees from two law firms that represented her and about $500,000 in other expenses, in a court filing Tuesday. Lively and Baldoni settled last month just before a trial was to start in federal court in Manhattan on Lively’s claims that he engineered an effort to damage her public reputation and credibility after she accused him of sexually harassing her while shooting the movie. Baldoni, who directed the dark romantic drama and starred in it with Lively, denied her claims.
Dead baby is found in a portable toilet at a music festival in Michigan
ROTHBURY, Mich. (AP) — Police in Michigan are investigating the death of a baby found inside a portable toilet at a outdoor music festival over the weekend. State police say the baby was less than a month old, but haven't given a cause of death, the child's gender, or whether a parent has been identified. An autopsy was performed Monday. The body was found by a bathroom company employee during routine maintenance on Sunday morning, the last day of the Electric Forest music festival. The event typically draws tens of thousands of people to a resort in rural Michigan for electronic dance music and jam bands.
Italy displays paintings from an ancient Etruscan tomb, its latest cultural acquisition
ROME (AP) — Italy is putting on display one of the best known examples of Etruscan painting. The frescoes come from an ancient tomb that has become the latest acquisition in the Culture Ministry’s buying spree of big-ticket pieces of cultural heritage. The ministry announced in May that it had acquired the fresco panels, dating from the 4th century, from members of the Torlonia family. The Torlonias are one of Italy’s ancient noble families whose collection of antiquity has long been kept out of the public domain. The tomb was discovered in 1857 on land owned by the Torlonia family.
Ford recalling more than 741,00 vehicles because of park system issue
Ford is recalling more than 741,000 vehicles in the U.S. because a transmission issue may damage the park system, which could increase the risk of a crash or injury. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a report that the recall includes certain Ford F-150, Lincoln Aviator, Ford Explorer, Lincoln Navigator and Ford Expedition vehicles with model years between 2018 and 2021.
Star-maker Clive Davis honored at funeral that draws Bruce Springsteen, Dionne Warwick and others
NEW YORK (AP) — Pop music royalty including Bruce Springsteen, Barry Manilow, Stevie Wonder and Dionne Warwick were among the many notables who paid tribute to music legend Clive Davis at the esteemed producer's funeral in Manhattan. Rabbi Angela Warnick Buchdahl said Davis would have loved how many stars showed up to Monday's service, which was closed to the public but was livestreamed. Davis, who died June 22 at age 94, launched the careers of stars such as Whitney Houston and Springsteen. At the service, Kenny G played a mournful sax solo, Jennifer Hudson sang Leonard Cohen's “Hallelujah,” and Alicia Keys teared up while talking about Davis' influence on her career.
