West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin refuses to endorse $1.75T social spending bill

On Monday, West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin said he will continue to withhold his support for a $1.75 trillion social spending package backed by President Joe Biden and Democratic progressives. Manchin diminished hopes that he would support Biden’s historic ‘Build Back Better’ social safety net plan during a Capitol Hill press conference. Manchin told reporters: …

Disney+ begins production of “Hocus Pocus 2” featuring original cast

Disney+ said in a press release that the Hocus Pocus sequel has started filming in Rhode Island, with original Hocus Pocus stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy returning as witches and sisters Winifred, Sarah and Mary Sanderson. Doug Jones will also reprise Billy Butcherson. New cast members include Whitney Peak, Lilia Buckingham …

‘The Real Housewives of Dubai’ is coming to Bravo in 2022

Bravo continues to expand its successful “Real Housewives” franchise and has officially green-lighted “The Real Housewives of Dubai” with Andy Cohen as executive producer. The network announced Monday that its latest iteration will premiere in 2022 as the 11th city in the “Real Housewives” world. Executive producer Andy Cohen said in a press release: “Everything’s …

Jessica Simpson celebrates four years of sobriety with candid photo on social media

Jessica Simpson shared a candid photo of herself from four years ago on social media depicting her first day without alcohol, and detailed in an honest, emotional post the way she felt that day as she began her journey to sobriety. The 41-year-old Simpson wrote on Instagram: “This person in the early morning of Nov …

Your Guide to Election Day, November 2

Election day is Nov. 2. Here’s a brief rundown on the referendums. Question 1: Do you want to ban the construction of high-impact electric transmission lines in the Upper Kennebec Region and to require the Legislature to approve all other such projects anywhere in Maine, both retroactively to 2020, and to require the Legislature, retroactively …

Two dead, 12 injured in Illinois shooting during party on Halloween

Two gunmen opened fire at a house party in Joliet, Illinois (southwest of Chicago) killing two people and injuring more than a dozen. The Will County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that the shooting occurred early Sunday morning at an event attended by an estimated 200 people, when gunfire erupted near a DJ booth …

Suspect arrested after shooting at Halloween party in Texas leaves 1 dead, 9 injured

Police in Texarkana, Texas confirmed that a suspect was arrested Sunday in a shooting that left one person dead and nine more wounded at a Halloween party in eastern Texas. Texarkana is located on the Texas-Arkansas border, about 180 miles (290 kilometers) east of Dallas. Police said the suspected shooter, Keuntae McElroy, 21, of Texarkana, …

Zayn Malik pleads no contest to charges of harassment against ex-girlfriend Gigi Hadid and her mother Yolanda

Singer Zayn Malik pleaded no contest to charges of harassment against his ex-girlfriend, model Gigi Hadid, and her mother, Yolanda Hadid.  Earlier this week it was reported that Gigi Hadid, 26, and Malik, 28, had ended their on-again-off-again relationship. Citing legal documents, the charges stem from a Sept. 29 incident at the couple’s Pennsylvania home …