California becomes second state to report new highly contagious Covid-19 strain

California has reported its first case of a more contagious COVID-19 variant first identified in the United Kingdom, and the second confirmed case in the U.S.  California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the case was confirmed in Southern California Wednesday afternoon.  During a Wednesday afternoon briefing, San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher said a 30-year-old man …

Government begins sending $600 COVID-19 stimulus payments

On Wednesday, the U.S. federal government began mailing out COVID-19 stimulus checks worth $600 for most Americans, amid ongoing efforts to raise the amount to $2,000. The $600 amount was part of the $900 billion coronavirus relief package negotiated in Congress for months and signed by President Donald Trump on Sunday. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin …

Gilligan’s Island’s Dawn Wells Dies at 82 Due to COVID-Related Causes

Gilligan’s Island star Dawn Wells, who played Mary Ann Summers on the hit show from 1964-67, died on Tuesday in Los Angeles.  She was 82. Wells’ publicist said that the actress died of causes related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Wells appeared on countless television programs, including Bonanza, The Love Boat, Gilligan’s Planet, Growing Pains, …

Constance Wu welcomes baby girl with boyfriend Ryan Kattner

Crazy Rich Asians star Constance Wu is a new mom. Wu’s manager, Larry Taube, confirmed that Wu, 38, welcomed her first child, a daughter, with her boyfriend, musician Ryan Kattner, over the summer. Wu has kept out of the public eye during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has her Instagram and Twitter accounts labeled as “defunct.” …

Department of Justice declines to charge officers in 2014 Tamir Rice shooting

The U.S. Justice Department have declined to charge the Cleveland officers involved in the fatal 2014 shooting of Tamir Rice, and have closed its investigation.  An independent federal investigation into the Nov. 22, 2014, shooting of the 12-year-old Black boy seen playing with a toy gun at a park “found insufficient evidence to support federal …

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocks immediate vote on $2,000 stimulus checks

After Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell blocked an effort by President Donald Trump and Democrats to increase stimulus payments to Americans, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said $600 payments would begin to be delivered Tuesday night. Mnuchin announced that the Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service would begin delivering the $600 payments included in …

Warner Bros. announces ‘Wonder Woman 3’ in the works with director Patty Jenkins and star Gal Gadot

Warner Bros. officially announced that a third Wonder Woman movie is in the works. Star Gal Gadot and director Patty Jenkins are returning for the next chapter. Warner Bros. chief Toby Emmerich said, “As fans around the world continue to embrace Diana Prince, driving the strong opening weekend performance of Wonder Woman 1984, we are excited …

Emma Roberts gives birth to baby boy with boyfriend Garrett Hedlund

29-year-old actress Emma Roberts has welcomed her first child, a baby boy, with partner Garrett Hedlund. Roberts gave birth on Sunday in Los Angeles, sources told TMZ. Roberts and Hedlund reportedly named the newborn Rhodes. Roberts confirmed her pregnancy on Instagram in August, writing, “Me…and my two favorite guys,” alongside photos of Hedlund and her …

House approves stimulus check increase to $2,000; sends bill to Senate

On Monday, the House approved giving Americans $2,000 stimulus checks, increasing payments from the $600 checks that were set to be given out as part of a COVID-19 relief package that President Donald Trump signed into law Sunday evening. The bill passed in a 275 – 134 vote, needing the support of two-thirds of House …

Federal judge denies Ghislaine Maxwell’s latest request for bail

On Monday, a federal judge denied bail to Ghislaine Maxwell for a second time. Maxwell is the British socialite facing charges of acting as an accomplice of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Judge Alison Nathan of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York again ruled that Maxwell, 59, poses a flight risk, …