NBA playoffs: Nets escape with win in play-in, but must eye Celtics with a mix of confidence and caution

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  NEW YORK -- It was Kevin Durant himself who asked the first question at his post-game press conference on Tuesday: "Yo, what did Bruce Brown say when he got up here?"

Forty-five minutes after the Brooklyn Nets earned the No. 7 seed with a 115-108 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the play-in opener, Durant said that his teammate had "said something I didn't like. Somebody just told me."

The quote that irked Durant came in response to an innocuous question: What is the key to slowing down the Boston Celtics in the first round?

"I mean, we can't let [Jayson] Tatum get 50, we gotta be physical with him," Brown said. Then came the part that Durant would rather have gone unsaid: "Now they don't have Robert Williams [III], so they have less of a presence in the paint and we can attack Al Horford and [Daniel] Theis. So them not having Robert Williams is huge."

"All right, man," Durant said. "That's caffeine probably talking. He takes some before the game. Them two dudes can do the same stuff. It ain't going to be that easy, I'll tell you that."

When a reporter asked Durant about their upcoming opponents, he kept it simple: Brooklyn has to stay disciplined, play together and play with passion. Rather than talking about strategies the Nets might use against Tatum, he said that they just have to play hard and "see what happens."

Durant did not appear to be furious with Brown. The vibe was come on, man.

"We respect our opponents," Durant said. "No need to talk about, you know, what we're gonna do to them. I just don't like that, you know? But that's just how Bruce is. You know, he comes in and he says that. He keeps the same energy throughout the whole season, so.

"But no need to say shit like that. Let's just go out there and hoop."

It is unclear whether Durant and Brown disagree about the Nets' chances in their first-round series or merely about what they should and shouldn't say to the media. It is appropriate, though, that Brooklyn expressed both confidence and caution after a game -- and a regular season -- that provided plenty of reasons for both.

The Nets led 40-20 at the end of the first quarter, then scored eight points in the next 10 and a half minutes. They were up by as many as 22 in the third quarter, only to allow Cleveland to get within six in the fourth.

For Brooklyn, It's awesome that centers Nicolas Claxton and Andre Drummond combined for 29 points and 17 rebounds on 13-for-17 shooting, but it's not ideal that guards Seth Curry, Patty Mills and Goran Dragic combined for nine points and one assist on 3-for-12 shooting. The poise that it took to finish off the Cavs would be more impressive if the Nets hadn't squandered a big lead against the same team in the same arena four days earlier. At least this time they didn't fall behind.

Cleveland was an elite defensive team for much of the regular season, but its success was predicated on All-Star Jarrett Allen and Rookie of the Year hopeful Evan Mobley locking down the paint. The version of the Cavs that Brooklyn beat at Barclays Center was not nearly as stifling, and the Celtics are about as stifling as it gets. Boston is far superior offensively, too. If the Nets needed 42 minutes apiece from Durant and Kyrie Irving to survive on Tuesday, what's it going to take to compete with the Celtics on Sunday?

Durant is right: It won't be easy. Brown is also right: It would be much harder if Boston were starting the series with a healthy Williams. Your mileage may vary on just how vulnerable Horford and Theis are defensively, but neither of them can cover ground, block shots or catch lobs the same way that Williams does. For months, the Celtics' defense looked nearly flawless with Williams on the floor; now there are at least a few pressure points for Brooklyn to poke at.

Cleveland played what Nets coach Steve Nash described as an "extreme" style of defense. It stayed attached to Curry and Mills, completely sold out against Brown, Claxton, Drummond and Kessler Edwards and sent extra defenders at Durant and Irving.

"At times, we did it great and punished them," Nash said, pointing to Brown's 18-point, nine-rebound, eight-assist performance and the bigs' efficiency. "Moved the ball, played well stuck to our principles for a long stretch to get us that 20-point lead." Nash then acknowledged that they "didn't play our best basketball after that."

Brown noted that he "flirted with a triple-double" again -- last Friday, he had 18 points, eight assists and 10 rebounds against the Cavs -- and laughed. "I'm just making the right play, that's all," he said. The game is simple for him when the defense is leaving him open, packing the paint and allowing him to catch the ball with an advantage. Brown chalked up Cleveland's comeback to Brooklyn's "careless passes" and said that he "wasn't too worried about it."

Irving made his first 12 shots and finished with 34 points on 12-for-15 shooting, plus 12 assists. Durant had 25 points on 9-for-16 shooting and 11 assists. Many of these were tough looks, some over multiple defenders, and the Nets would prefer not to rely on their superstars bailing them out. Their ability to do so, though, is why Brooklyn should still inspire a healthy amount of fear. Even if Boston's switching shuts down most of the Nets' pretty stuff, it will have to deal with Durant and Irving in isolation. When they're hitting contested shots over fully extended arms, there's not much anybody can do.

On the one hand, Brooklyn won its last four regular-season games, took care of business in the play-in and might be getting Ben Simmons back at some point in the first round. On the other hand, Simmons hasn't played all season, Curry is playing on an injured ankle and, with the postseason upon us, Nash is still talking about building cohesion and learning how to play together.

Boston, meanwhile knows exactly what its identity is and what the Nets are trying to do. Its coach, Ime Udoka, was on Nash's staff last season.

"It'll be a great challenge for us," Nash said. "For a new group to go and play a team like that, that's terrific at both ends, it's going to be something that hopefully brings out the best in us."

 And the Celtics don't have Williams. That is huge.

READ MORE - NBA playoffs: Nets escape with win in play-in, but must eye Celtics with a mix of confidence and caution

Real Madrid reaches semifinals after surviving Chelsea comeback on special Champions League night

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  Real Madrid got the better of yet another special night in the UEFA Champions League as it survived a brilliant comeback from Chelsea in a thrilling quarterfinal at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on Tuesday.
It was Karim Benzema yet again who made the difference, with the Frenchman scoring in extra-time to secure Madrid's place in the semifinals after losing 3-2 on the night but winning 5-4 on aggregate.
Madrid had taken a 3-1 advantage into the second leg after Benzema scored a hat-trick at Stamford Bridge last week, but the tie was turned on its head after Chelsea fought back to lead 3-0 on the night.

Goals from Mason Mount, Antonio Rudiger and Timo Werner had looked to give the reigning European champion another iconic win in the competition, but Madrid bit back with just 10 minutes remaining to force extra-time.

Madrid's first goal was simply a work of art, orchestrated by the brilliant Luka Modric. The midfielder executed a perfect pass with the outside of his boot, allowing Rodrygo to volley home from close range.
Neutral fans welcomed another 30 minutes of chaotic football, and it was Madrid who found the decisive goal in extra-time, with Benzema heading home a brilliant cross from Vinícius Jr.
"The more I suffer, the happier I am," Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti told reporters after the game. "It was a lot of suffering, though.

"We won because we had the energy to keep the match alive. The players were brave and faced it like warriors," he added.

'There are no regrets'
After looking lackluster in the first-leg, Chelsea was much improved for its trip to Spain and came so close to a memorable win.
The three goals had temporarily silenced the home support and Madrid was struggling to lay a glove on the Premier League outfit.
In truth, Chelsea had chances throughout the game to finish off the tie and even had a goal disallowed by the video assistant referee (VAR) after Marcos Alonso was ruled to have handled the ball before lashing his effort into the top corner of the net.
'He has it all ... he is the complete forward': Karim Benzema continues to stake claim to being world's best player
'He has it all ... he is the complete forward': Karim Benzema continues to stake claim to being world's best player
Even in extra-time, with Madrid hanging on, Chelsea went close a number of times but failed to find the all important goal that would have seen it force a penalty shootout.
Notably, Kai Havertz -- who was exceptional in the second leg -- should have done better with a free header inside the box which he steered wide.
Manager Thomas Tuchel, who was constantly stalking the touchline and shouting at his players during the match, said he was proud of the team despite being knocked out.
"We went to the full limit today. I'm very proud of my players and I think we deserved to qualify but luck was not on our side," said Tuchel, who was shown a yellow card for his passionate protests toward the referee in the closing stages.

"There are no regrets. These are the kinds of defeats you can take with pride as a sportsman. The demand at Chelsea is very high and the players responded in a way that makes all of us proud."
Ultimately, it was 13-time European champion Real Madrid who once again found a way to win and will now face either Manchester City or Atlético Madrid in the final four.

READ MORE - Real Madrid reaches semifinals after surviving Chelsea comeback on special Champions League night

Manhunt continues for Brooklyn subway attacker who shot 10 people

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  Authorities on Wednesday continued searching for the attacker who they said shot 10 people on a subway train in Brooklyn a day earlier, setting off panic and a sprawling investigation.

Police on Wednesday morning said that a man sought in the investigation was now considered a suspect, after they had previously called him a person of interest in the case.

According to law enforcement officials, an attacker donned a gas mask and then flooded a subway car in Brooklyn with smoke before opening fire on Tuesday morning, striking 10 people. Five of them were left in critical but stable condition, officials said, and none of the wounds were believed to be life-threatening.

But the shooting aboard a subway car at the height of the morning commute set off panic in New York, which has already been grappling with a rise in gun violence in recent years.

In New York, subway attack adds to fears that city has grown dangerous

During a briefing on Tuesday evening, police said Frank R. James, 62, was considered a person of interest in the subway attack, but they were careful not to call him a suspect.

A New York police spokeswoman said that status had shifted Wednesday morning, and he was now a suspect, though she did not elaborate on what led to the change. During a Wednesday morning appearance on WNYC, Mayor Eric Adams (D) said the shift was due to “new information that has become available to the team.”

As the manhunt continued into a second day, significant questions still remained, including what could have motivated the attack, which transformed an ordinary morning commute into panicked mayhem.

When police responded to the shooting scene, they found nearly three dozen spent shell casings, a pair of used smoke grenades, two undetonated smoke grenades and a hatchet. But the attacker, they said, was gone.

They also found a key for a U-Haul van, which was later recovered in Brooklyn, police said. That U-Haul, they said, connected police with James, who they said had rented the van in Philadelphia.

James W. Essig, chief of detectives for the New York police, had described the man as a person of interest Tuesday evening but was cautious in describing his possible tie to the attack.

“We are endeavoring to locate him to determine his connection to the subway shooting, if any,” Essig said.

Mass violence in the U.S. usually follows warning signs from attackers, report finds

Investigators were confident James was at the scene of the shooting, based on the discovery of his credit card and the van he rented, according to an official familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the ongoing investigation.

But because his height did not seem to match the description offered by some witnesses, the official said on Tuesday evening, authorities did not feel confident identifying James as the suspected shooter.

The Washington Post has been unable to immediately reach James or family members.

Police said James had addresses in Wisconsin and Philadelphia, and they later added that he also had unspecified ties to New York City, New Jersey and Ohio.

In Philadelphia, a woman who spoke on the condition of anonymity said she recognized James when his face was shown on television.

The woman said she had lived on her block for five decades, and over that span, James had lived nearby periodically. It’s an area where “everybody knows everybody,” she said, but James’s family kept to themselves. The woman also said she did not believe he had lived in the area for some time.

The Philadelphia police were assisting “out of state authorities in any way we can concerning this individual," a spokesman for that department said in an email Wednesday. The spokesman did not respond to an inquiry about whether the department had any prior records of interactions with James, referring a reporter instead to the New York police and FBI.

The search for James involved both local and federal law enforcement officials. Drew Wade, a spokesman for the U.S. Marshals Service, wrote in an email Wednesday that it had joined the search. Wade said about 50 New York police detectives work on a New York-New Jersey regional task force and “will assist deputy US Marshals in the search for the person of interest.”

READ MORE - Manhunt continues for Brooklyn subway attacker who shot 10 people

Comedian, South Florida resident Gilbert Gottfried dies at 67

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  Actor and comedian Gilbert Gottfried, whose shrill voice caught the attention of his early stand-up audiences and moviegoers, has died at the age of 67, according to his family.

"We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Gilbert Gottfried after a long illness," his family wrote Tuesday in a statement shared on his verified Twitter account.

    pic.twitter.com/STHhfpVSKU
    — Gilbert Gottfried (@RealGilbert) April 12, 2022

Gottfried, who had been living in South Florida for the past few years, made a name for himself with his piercing voice and often crude humor.

His family described Gottfried as the "most iconic voice in comedy" and said he was a "wonderful husband, brother, friend and father to his two young children."
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Glenn Schwartz, Gottfried's longtime friend and publicist, told NBC News that Gottfried died Tuesday afternoon from recurrent ventricular tachycardia due to myotonic dystrophy type II.

Gottfried spoke with WPTV as recently as January after the death of Bob Saget, his friend and fellow comedian, in Orlando.

"I thought, 'Oh, it's a sick joke,' and I was waiting for the punchline," Gottfried told WPTV's Tania Rogers, recalling when he learned of Saget's death.


Comedian Gilbert Gottfried shocked by Bob Saget's death

Gottfried had been scheduled to perform at the Palm Beach Kennel Club's Paddock Restaurant on May 13.

The Brooklyn-born stand-up comedian had been a fixture of the New York comedy club scene in the 1970s, but his chance to catapult into the mainstream came in 1980, when he joined the cast of NBC's "Saturday Night Live" for its sixth season. Instead, Gottfried's impressions (of film director Roman Polanski and former U.S. Rep. David A Stockman, R-Mich.) and lone recurring character (Leo Waxman on the talk show sketch, "What's It All About?") never took off, and he was fired after just one season.

In addition to his stand-up acts, Gottfried had several bit parts in popular movies like "Beverly Hills Cop II," "Problem Child" and its sequel. He also provided the voice of Iago the wise-cracking parrot in Disney's 1992 animated film "Aladdin."

Gottfried also served as the host of "USA Up All Night," which featured mostly low-budget movies bookended by Gottfried's comedy skits and sardonic comments. The show aired on the USA Network from 1989 to 1998.

His humor had been the subject of controversy throughout the years, notably upsetting a national television audience at the 1991 Primetime Emmy Awards with a barrage of masturbation jokes aimed at Paul Reubens (better known as Pee-Wee Herman), who had been arrested a month earlier on an indecent exposure charge at an adult movie theater in Florida. Fox, which televised that year's Emmy Awards, censored the broadcast for West Coast audiences and issued a statement calling Gottfried's jokes "irresponsible and insulting."

Gottfried also knew how to turn national tragedies into punchlines, becoming one of the first comedians to joke about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, just three weeks removed from the deadliest act of terrorism in human history.

During the roast of Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner at the New York Friars Club in 2001, Gottfried's joke was met with boos and ridicule from the audience. Gottfried had to win them back with a raunchy rendition of the Aristocrats joke.

Gottfried was the original voice of the Aflac duck in commercials for the Columbus, Georgia-based insurance company, but a series of tweets in which he joked about the devastating 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami that left more than 2,400 people dead resulted in his ouster after 11 years. He later issued a public apology.

"Although today is a sad day for all of us, please keep laughing as loud as possible in Gilbert's honor," his family said.

READ MORE - Comedian, South Florida resident Gilbert Gottfried dies at 67

Lawyer: Johnny Depp trial likely to become mudslinging soap opera

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  A trial over libel allegations by Johnny Depp against his ex-wife, Amber Heard, will likely turn into a six-week, mudslinging soap opera, Heard’s lawyers warned a Virginia jury Tuesday.

“You’re going to see who the real Johnny Depp is — behind the fame, behind the pirate costumes,” Heard lawyer J. Benjamin Rottenborn told the jury during opening statements in the civil trial. “Because Johnny Depp brought this case, all of this is going to come out.”

Depp sued Heard for libel in Fairfax County Circuit Court after she wrote an op-ed piece in The Washington Post in 2018 referring to herself as a “public figure representing domestic abuse.”

Depp says the article indirectly defames him by referring to abuse allegations Heard made back in 2016. Depp denies abusing her.

In Tuesday’s opening statements, Rottenborn said the evidence will show that Depp physically and sexually assaulted Heard on multiple occasions. But he told jurors that they don’t need to make themselves referees of the couple’s turbulent marriage if they focus on the basics of libel law.

He argued that Heard was exercising her First Amendment rights as an advocate when she wrote the article, which focused largely on the broad topic of domestic violence.

He also said the 2018 article did nothing to damage Depp’s reputation. He noted that the abuse accusations had been public for two years already, and he said Depp’s spiraling career was the result of his drinking and drug-using, which made him an unreliable commodity to Hollywood studios.

“This man’s poor choices have brought him to this point,” he said. “Stop blaming other people for your own self-created problems.”

More than anything, though, he pointed out that the article in question never even mentions Depp’s name.

Depp’s lawyer, Benjamin Chew, acknowledged that Depp’s name never appears in the piece.

“It didn’t have to,” Chew told the jury. “Everyone in Hollywood knew exactly what she was talking about.”

Depp’s team argues that the article is an example of “defamation by implication.” In the December 2018 piece, Heard wrote that “two years ago, I became a public figure representing domestic abuse, and I felt the full force of our culture’s wrath for women who speak out.”

Chew said that’s a clear reference to a restraining order Heard sought in May 2016 — right after Depp told her he wanted a divorce — in which she claimed she’d been physically abused.

Chew said she showed up at the courthouse on May 27 of that year with a bruise on her face that was photographed by the paparazzi. But he said the evidence will show that Heard gave herself the injury to ruin Depp’s reputation. He said that Depp and Heard hadn’t seen each other since May 21: He’d gone on a European tour with his band, the Hollywood Vampires.

Police and others saw Heard immediately after May 21 and her face wasn’t bruised, Chew said. He said a witness will testify that he saw security footage in which Heard’s sister throws fake punches at her, and the two laugh.

Another of Depp’s lawyers, Camille Vasquez, told the jury that Heard refuses to admit she lied and has now dug in even deeper.

“She can’t back down. She has been living and breathing this lie for years,” Vasquez said. “She’s going to give the performance of a lifetime in this courtroom.”

Both Depp and Heard are expected to testify at the trial, scheduled for six weeks, along with actors Paul Bettany and James Franco and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk.

About 80 people, mostly Depp supporters, sat in the courtroom Tuesday. Some people lined up hours early for seats, but several rows were largely vacant.

The courtroom went silent a few minutes before the 10 a.m. start time when Heard entered the room, through a special entrance usually reserved for the judge. But there was an audible intake of breath when Depp came in a minute later, again through a special entrance. At the end of the day, after the jury had left the courtroom, Depp turned and saluted the gallery as he exited, receiving dozens of excited waves in return.

The first witness Tuesday afternoon was Depp’s older sister, Christi Dembrowski. She said the pair endured a difficult childhood in which Depp learned to hide from an abusive mother.

She said she saw the same pattern in Depp’s relationship with Heard. She said that when she booked travel for the couple in her role as Depp’s personal manager, she booked an extra hotel room so Depp would have somewhere to hide if Heard started a fight.

Dembrowski struggled on cross-examination, though, when she was asked why she sent texts to Depp in February 2014 that said, “Stop drinking. Stop coke. Stop pills.” She was unwilling to acknowledge she had a concern about Depp’s drinking and drug use.

“I don’t know what they were in reference to,” she said.

Heard’s lawyers have argued that Depp has no credibility when he denies abusing Heard because he frequently drank and used drugs to the point of blacking out and failing to remember anything he did.

Depp, who almost always faced forward during the trial, glared at Rottenborn for an extended period after the questioning of Depp’s sister ended for the day.

A civil jury of seven members, plus four alternates, was selected Monday to hear the case.

Heard’s lawyers had sought to have the case tried in California, where the actors reside. But a judge ruled that Depp was within his rights to bring the case in Virginia because The Washington Post’s computer servers for its online edition are located in the county. Depp’s lawyers have said they brought the case in Virginia in part because the laws here are more favorable to their case.

READ MORE - Lawyer: Johnny Depp trial likely to become mudslinging soap opera

Factbox: Who is Ukraine's Viktor Medvedchuk, a prominent Putin ally?

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  Viktor Medvedchuk, a fugitive who was the most prominent representative of pro-Russian political factions in Ukraine and a friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been found and arrested by Ukraine's secret services.

A trained lawyer and wealthy businessman who served in political roles since the 1990s, Medvedchuk had been placed under house arrest last year to face treason and terrorism financing charges, which he denies. He escaped a few days after the Russian invasion began in February.

On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy proposed swapping Medvedchuk for prisoners of war being held by Russian forces.

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Pro-Russian Ukrainian politician Viktor Medvedchuk is seen in handcuffs while being detained by security forces in unknown location in Ukraine, in this handout picture released April 12, 2022. Press service of State Security Service of Ukraine/Handout via REUTERS

KYIV, April 13 (Reuters) - Viktor Medvedchuk, a fugitive who was the most prominent representative of pro-Russian political factions in Ukraine and a friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been found and arrested by Ukraine's secret services.

A trained lawyer and wealthy businessman who served in political roles since the 1990s, Medvedchuk had been placed under house arrest last year to face treason and terrorism financing charges, which he denies. He escaped a few days after the Russian invasion began in February.

On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy proposed swapping Medvedchuk for prisoners of war being held by Russian forces. read more
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Following are facts about the 67-year-old:

- Born in Russia, Medvedchuk has often been photographed with Putin. He describes the Russian president as a personal friend and says Putin is the godfather to his youngest daughter, Daryna.

- Medvedchuk served as chief of staff of Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma from 2002-2005. He was an opponent of Kuchma's pro-Western successor Viktor Yushchenko, and a close associate of Viktor Yanukovych, Ukraine's last pro-Russian president, who fled to Russia after being ousted in a popular uprising in 2014.

- In 2008, Ukrainian Focus magazine estimated Medvedchuk's wealth at $460 million. His investments include energy, resources and media.

- During the conflict with Russia in eastern Ukraine in 2014, he played a role in peace negotiations, including serving as a member of Ukraine's negotiating team for the exchange of prisoners.

- In 2014, the United States placed Medvedchuk on its sanctions list over his alleged role during the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea. In 2021, Ukraine imposed sanctions against Medvedchuk for his involvement in what the authorities called the financing of terrorism. He denied those charges.

- According to Ukrainian authorities, Medvedchuk was involved in the illegal sale of coal from separatist-controlled territories in the east of Ukraine. Last year, Ukraine nationalised an oil products pipeline owned by Medvedchuk and closed several television channels which the media associated with him.

- In May 2021, Medvedchuk was placed under house arrest and charged with high treason and later with aiding terrorism.

- He has been married three times. His current wife is a former TV presenter, Oksana Marchenko.

READ MORE - Factbox: Who is Ukraine's Viktor Medvedchuk, a prominent Putin ally?

Suspect in Brooklyn subway train shooting has been arrested, officials say

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  Suspected Brooklyn subway shooter Frank James was arrested by patrol cops in the East Village neighborhood of New York on Wednesday, three law enforcement officials told CNN.
[Original story, published at 1:05 p.m. ET]
The 62-year-old man who police initially described as a "person of interest" in the Brooklyn subway shooting was declared a suspect Wednesday after investigators determined he purchased the gun recovered at the scene, law enforcement officials said.
An intensive hunt is underway for the man, identified as Frank James, who police say is responsible for Tuesday's attack.
Two law enforcement officials told CNN that the gun evidence was the turning point in elevating him from a person of interest to a suspect.
LIVE UPDATES: Brooklyn subway station shooting
The manhunt comes a day after a gunman set off smoke grenades and fired a handgun 33 times on a crowded subway train making its way toward the 36th Street station in Brooklyn's Sunset Park neighborhood. The attack left 29 people injured, including 10 who were shot, though none of the injuries appear to be life-threatening, officials said. Five of the victims were young people commuting to school, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said.
The motive of the shooting is not yet known. The attack is not being investigated as an act of terrorism but authorities have not ruled out anything, NYPD commissioner Keechant Sewell said.
The city issued an emergency alert to residents Wednesday saying James is "wanted" and asking the public for tips. The US Marshals Service joined the manhunt as well, a spokesperson told CNN.
"We're going to catch this person," Mayor Eric Adams said on CNN's "New Day" on Wednesday. "We're going to bring him to justice and hold him responsible for this horrific act on innocent people that are utilizing our subway system."
The subway shooting represents a long-feared nightmare scenario for New York City, which relies heavily on its mass transit system. Subway ridership cratered during the Covid pandemic as many workers stayed home, and ridership has not returned to its pre-pandemic levels, in part due to wariness over an increase in violence on the transit system.
The photo gallery below contains graphic images. Viewer discretion is advised.

READ MORE - Suspect in Brooklyn subway train shooting has been arrested, officials say

Cedric McMillan, star bodybuilder, dead at 44

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  Bodybuilder Cedric McMillan has died at the age of 44, his sponsor confirmed Tuesday.
"We regret to inform you that our friend and brother @cedricmcmillan passed away today. Cedric will be greatly missed as an athlete, comrade, friend, and father," Black Skull USA, a supplements company, wrote in a post on Instagram. The company didn't provide further details around McMillan's death.
"Our prayers are with all his family and friends. He 'fought the good fight' and now he rests," it added.

McMillan won the 2017 Arnold Classic bodybuilding competition, and the organizer, the Arnold Sports Festival, said it was "heartbroken" in a tribute on Instagram.

"Known for his larger than life personality, his infectious smile, a gentle heart, and a sense of humor that was loved by fellow competitors and fans alike, Cedric will be deeply missed," the post reads.

The organization is named after famed bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the post includes a photo of McMillan and Schwarzenegger together.
McMillan won multiple titles and became a "star in the world of bodybuilding and fitness," as well as serving for more than 20 years in the US Army, where he rose to the rank of Sergeant First Class, the post continues.

"Above all, Cedric McMillan was a husband and a father, and we send our most heartfelt condolences to his family during this incredibly difficult time," it reads.
McMillan was a member of the South Carolina National Guard at the time of his death, a spokeswoman told CNN. She confirmed that the National Guard had been notified of his death, but declined to comment further.

READ MORE - Cedric McMillan, star bodybuilder, dead at 44

Updated: Lt. Gov. — Former UWS State Senator — Brian Benjamin Arrested for Campaign Finance Conspiracy — Resigns

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  Lt. Governor Brian Benjamin, formerly a New York state senator from the Upper West Side, “surrendered early Tuesday morning to face a federal bribery conspiracy indictment in connection with a scheme to funnel fraudulent donations to a previous campaign, according to people with knowledge of the matter,” The New York Times first reported.

    The indictment, the result of an investigation by the F.B.I. and the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, accused Mr. Benjamin of conspiring to direct state funds to a Harlem real estate investor in exchange for orchestrating thousands of dollars in illegal campaign contributions to Mr. Benjamin’s unsuccessful 2021 campaign for New York City comptroller, the people said. The investor was arrested on federal charges in November.

Apparently, the investor is talking. Wrote The Times, “…there were strong indications that the Harlem real estate investor who illegally assisted his campaign, Gerald Migdol, began providing information to investigators shortly after he was arrested on wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and other charges related to his role in the matter.”

Benjamin was first elected to the New York State Senate in a May 2017 special election. He represented New York’s 30th State Senate district, which includes Harlem, East Harlem, and the Upper West Side, from 2017 to 2021, when he was appointed Lt. Governor by Governor Kathy Hochul.

“Federal prosecutors and the F.B.I. were expected to announce the charges later on Tuesday, and Mr. Benjamin is scheduled to appear in United States District Court in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon,” The Times said.

Update:

Statement from Governor Kathy Hochul: “I have accepted Brian Benjamin’s resignation effective immediately. While the legal process plays out, it is clear to both of us that he cannot continue to serve as LG. New Yorkers deserve absolute confidence in their government…”

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READ MORE - Updated: Lt. Gov. — Former UWS State Senator — Brian Benjamin Arrested for Campaign Finance Conspiracy — Resigns

Why Shiba Inu Lost Nearly 70,000 Users Over the Past 28 Days

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  Key points

    The dog-themed Shiba Inu token continues to bleed followers -- as 69,825 holders have dumped the crypto over the past 28 days since March 16, 2022.
    What's possibly more shocking than the loss of users is that it continued through the most positive news cycle in the history of Shiba Inu.
    Holders are likely looking to exit for higher, safer gains following last month's interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve, and lost patience after months of little positive price action despite big developments within SHIB's ecosystem.

Shiba Inu (SHIB) has lost nearly 70,000 token holders over the last 28 days -- falling from a peak of 1,199,453 SHIB holders on March 15, 2022 to 1,129,628 as of yesterday, according to CoinMarketCap -- the exact loss was 69,825 users. That averages out to 2,493 lost SHIB holders every day.

The most stunning aspect of this token holder erosion is that it has been ongoing during the most positive, substantive news cycle that Shiba Inu has experienced in its nearly two years of existence. Consider that the following positive news events became public knowledge during the same period as this SHIB user loss:

    The country of Turkey was exploring SHIB as a possible alt-currency to fight inflation.
    The announced launch of Shiba Inu's own metaverse.
    The resulting virtual land sale via its meta portal.
    The pending launch of its own stablecoin named SHI.
    Plans for a major gaming innovation for its virtual world.
    Popular fintech trading app Robinhood announced that it's listing SHIB on its platform.

Each of these significant announcements occurred over the past four weeks, yet none of them triggered a sustainable price pump nor created a momentum wave of new users joining the Shiba Inu ecosystem.
SHIB holders seem to be giving up

SHIB token debuted in August 2020 as the "Dogecoin killer." And with high-profile celebrity support from the likes of Tesla CEO Elon Musk, SHIB rode a tsunami of popularity and its price rocketed more than 49,000,000% last year. After many early adopters of the project became millionaires, hundreds of thousands flocked into the project seeking the same.

However, the mathematics don't work for a repeat runup because SHIB has a maximum supply of 589 trillion tokens suppressing the price, and its current $14 billion market cap would have to multiply 385 times to an impossible $5.4 trillion valuation for the price per token to reach a single penny. The entire cryptocurrency market is currently less than $2 trillion in value, so there's no way Shiba Inu itself will be worth $5.4 trillion -- roughly 2.5 times more valuable than than all other cryptos combined.

Since its all-time high last year, SHIB dropped nearly as fast and as far -- holding in a trading range of $0.000022 to $0.000027 per token. At press time, SHIB is still range bound and priced at $0.00002585, according to CoinMarketCap, and down 70% since its price peak of $0.00008845 in October 2021. Its price has barely budged over the past five months.
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READ MORE - Why Shiba Inu Lost Nearly 70,000 Users Over the Past 28 Days

Madeleine Albright had a lot to say about Putin — and she didn't mince words

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  When Madeleine Albright met Russian President Vladimir Putin more than 20 years ago as the U.S. secretary of state, she said he was trying to ingratiate himself to then-President Clinton — but Putin also "had a view of how things were going to go."

Albright, the first woman to become U.S. secretary of state, has died at the age of 84, according to her family.

She served as secretary of state from 1997 to 2001 during the Clinton administration. Clinton appointed her ambassador to the United Nations in 1993.

Albright spoke with NPR last June ahead of a meeting in Geneva between Russian and U.S. leaders. The former secretary of state recalled the first time she met Putin, in 1999 — emphasizing that his agenda was clear from the beginning.

He was "trying very hard to ingratiate himself with President Clinton," she said during an interview on All Things Considered.

"But my impression in the second two meetings were that he very much liked the background of being in the Kremlin with all its history, that he was smart, that he was prepared and that he had a view about how things were going to go," Albright added.

Albright said Putin isn't "easy to manage," despite meeting four U.S. presidents since his first introduction with Clinton.

"I think he is somebody that is very competent in his capabilities generally. And he believes that he is the sole reason, in many ways, that Russia now is on the world stage and that he wants to make sure that Russia is always taken into consideration," Albright told NPR.

"But Russia is alone. And it's never been clearer than it will be this time because President Biden has just come from some remarkable meetings — the G7, NATO and the EU. And we have allies, and Putin is alone," she added.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has been ongoing for a month, resulting in nearly 5,000 civilian casualties across the country, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of State.

Russian forces have hit spaces where Ukrainian civilians are present, such as schools, shopping centers, hospitals and apartment buildings.

READ MORE - Madeleine Albright had a lot to say about Putin — and she didn't mince words

The Miami Heat, currently in first place in the East, almost ripped each other to shreds Wednesday night

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  If you hadn't been following the NBA recently and just took one look at the top of the Eastern Conference standnings, you'd assume things were all hunky dory in Miami Heat-land. You'd be incorrect.

Yes, the Heat are alone atop the East, but their once comfortable lead has shrunk to 1.5 games, and it's not just one team in striking distance. The new-look Philadelphia 76ers, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics are all right there and ready to pounce, all thanks to the Heat dropping four of their last seven games.

In their most recent loss to the Golden State Warriors, who were without their big three of Steph, Klay and Draymond, frustrations boiled over. Things got extra hot for the Heat, if you will. Jimmy Butler, not surprisingly, was at the center of it all, which was great news for the "Jimmy Butler is a terrible teammate" truthers. The first clip to hit social media was from a member of the media sitting about 20 rows up, and it showed Butler jawing and finger-pointing with both head coach Erik Spoelstra and Heat legend/benchwarmer Udonis Haslem:

Then the second clip hit, giving us a much closer look at the chaos:

Then clips three, four and five hit, each one better than the last, featuring a Spoelstra clipboard smash, Kyle Lowry calling for a timeout (??) in the middle of it all, and a fascinating angle of Spoelstra incredulously asking if Butler actually wanted Spoelstra to fight him. Thank God for smartphones:

Absolute MADNESS! And boy, as an impartial observer, it sure does look like Butler and only Butler is in the wrong here. But, we should point out that this was immediately after a 19-0 Warriors run to start the third quarter, so it's fair to say everyone was running a little hot. Lowry chalked it up to passionate players frustrated with losing.

"Listen, our guys really want to win basketball games and we have guys that work extremely hard," Lowry said. "The passion comes out. The fire and the emotions come out sometimes. But like I said, to us it's nothing. We conversated and had a conversation and we continue to build."

Spoelstra echoed that sentiment, even going as far as to say it could help the team in the long run.

"You can use moments during the season to catapult you," Spoelstra said. "You can galvanize together over frustration and disappointment. Teams can also go the other way. I don't see that with our group. I don't see that with our locker room. But we have needed a kick in the butt."

The good news for Miami is the play the New York Knicks next. A get-right game if we've ever seen one.

READ MORE - The Miami Heat, currently in first place in the East, almost ripped each other to shreds Wednesday night

Grizzlies’ shocking record without Ja Morant set to make NBA history

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  The Memphis Grizzlies are one of the best teams in the NBA this season, and it’s not necessarily solely because of Ja Morant. In fact, they are playing way better without their superstar, which they proved once again during Wednesday’s contest against the Brooklyn Nets.

With Morant sidelined for the second straight game because of a knee injury, Desmond Bane and company used a balanced attack to fend off Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and the Nets. Bane and De’Anthony Melton led the team in scoring with 23 points each, while Dillon Brooks had 21 points as a total of seven Grizzlies scored in double figures.

In the process, the Grizzlies improved to 15-2 without Morant this season. According to ESPN Stats & Info, it is the third-highest win percentage in a season by a team when playing without their All-Star. The only other teams to do it were the Boston Celtics in 1964-65 and the Milwaukee Bucks in 2019-20.

The Memphis Grizzlies are one of the best teams in the NBA this season, and it’s not necessarily solely because of Ja Morant. In fact, they are playing way better without their superstar, which they proved once again during Wednesday’s contest against the Brooklyn Nets.

With Morant sidelined for the second straight game because of a knee injury, Desmond Bane and company used a balanced attack to fend off Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and the Nets. Bane and De’Anthony Melton led the team in scoring with 23 points each, while Dillon Brooks had 21 points as a total of seven Grizzlies scored in double figures.

In the process, the Grizzlies improved to 15-2 without Morant this season. According to ESPN Stats & Info, it is the third-highest win percentage in a season by a team when playing without their All-Star. The only other teams to do it were the Boston Celtics in 1964-65 and the Milwaukee Bucks in 2019-20.

It is worth noting, however, that both those squads have other All-Stars. For one, the 1964-65 Boston team had Bill Russell and Sam Jones, while the 2019-20 Bucks had Giannis Antetokounmpo. For their part, the Grizzlies only have one in Morant.

    The Grizzlies are 15-2 without Ja Morant this season.

That is the 3rd-highest win percentage in a season by a team when playing without its All-Star (min. 10 games). pic.twitter.com/sHUK6UnLec

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 24, 2022

This incredible stat speaks volumes on the great job head coach Taylor Jenkins and his staff have done in developing the young core of the team. It also shows how deep the squad is and the strong “next man up” mentality they have.

Of course it doesn’t mean they don’t need Ja Morant. After all, it is their young All-Star that strikes fear into the heart of their opponents, and he is their go-to guy when the going gets tough.

Nonetheless, it is definitely comforting for the whole franchise to know that they are not a team dependent on just their star player. They are filled with hungry and motivated individuals who want to win at the highest level, and that is showing with the way they approach the game.

The Grizzlies have nine games left on the season, and while it is unknown when Morant will be able to return, it doesn’t look like he has to rush back

and play. Surely, he can take his time and make sure he is 100 percent for the postseason when Memphis needs him the most.

READ MORE - Grizzlies’ shocking record without Ja Morant set to make NBA history

Hillsong founder resigns — again — following misconduct allegations

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  In a plea for forgiveness, this church leader has stepped down multiple times.

The founder and former head of Australia-born megachurch Hillsong has once again made a public show of stepping away from power, this time amid multiple misconduct allegations, in the form of resignation.

Pastor Brian Houston, 68, announced this January that he had made the decision to “step aside completely” from leadership of the multinational church that he and wife Bobbie founded in 1983.

The move followed months of Houston incrementally resigning from his various Hillsong positions amid numerous scandals and an ongoing court case accusing Houston of hiding his late father’s child sexual abuse.

Now, Houston has resigned following an internal misconduct investigation that found merit to two women’s years-old complaints that he committed “indiscretions” with them while under the influence of pills and alcohol.

“We would like to advise you that Pastor Brian Houston has resigned as Global Senior Pastor of Hillsong Church and the board has accepted his resignation,” the multinational church told members in a website post on Wednesday.

“Hillsong Church was birthed out of Brian and Bobbie’s obedience and commitment to the call of God and we are extremely grateful for all that Brian and Bobbie have given to build His house. We ask that you continue to pray for them, and the entire Houston family, during this challenging time.”

In addition to Houston’s formal resignation from the church, Hillsong has purged his preaching from its website, the religion-focused news site Protestia reported.

Hillsong did not respond to The Post’s request for further comment.

In a statement released on March 18, the church said Houston had sent “inappropriate” text messages to a female staff member, leading to her resignation nearly a decade ago. The statement attributes Houston’s behavior to being “under the influence of sleeping tablets, upon which he had developed a dependence.”

The church also found that in 2019, Houston “became disoriented after a session at the Hillsong Conference, following the consumption of anti-anxiety medication beyond the prescribed dose, mixed with alcohol,” which led to him “knocking on the door of a hotel room that was not his, entering this room and spending time” with an unidentified woman.
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Inside disgraced, disheveled ex-Hillsong pastor Carl Lentz’s downgraded house

Hillsong noted in the press release that Houston has since received “professional help to eliminate his dependency on this medication.”

At the time of his resignation in January, the former Hillsong pastor made no mention of the claims brought forward by the two women, citing his legal proceedings as the reason for his decision to step down. Representatives for Hillsong have repeatedly denied claims that Brian Houston covered it up to The Post.

“The court processes are likely to be drawn out and take up most of 2022 (especially considering the backlog in the courts, exacerbated by the COVID pandemic),” Houston explained.

“We have talked about the effects of the situation with my father, which go back many years up to the current legal case, and the impact this has had on me emotionally. The result is that the Hillsong Global Board feel it is in my and the church’s best interest for this to happen, so I have agreed to step aside from all ministry responsibilities until the end of the year.”

The disgraced global senior pastor was charged in August with failing to turn over evidence concerning the child sex offenses committed by his late father, the Pentecostal pastor and pedophile Frank Houston, whose ministry career was functionally terminated after Brian sacked him in 1999.

“Police will allege in court the man knew information relating to the sexual abuse of a young male in the 1970s and failed to bring that information to the attention of police,” officials for Sydney’s Royal Commission on Institutional Leaders’ Handling of Sexual Abuse told publications upon charging Houston in August.

The charges carry a maximum sentence of up to five years behind bars and followed a two-year investigation of Brian’s father Frank Houston’s sexual abuse of Brett Sengstock, then 7 years old, in 1969 and 1970.

Frank — who died in 2004 at 82 — “raped, choked and brutalized” Sengstock, then attempted to bribe him with $10,000 (AUD) via a hand-scrawled contract on a McDonald’s napkin, Sengstock has stated. The payoff was allegedly sent as a check in the mail from Brian himself after Frank apparently failed to complete the agreed transaction, The Post previously reported.

In a statement received by The Post in August, Houston acknowledged, “These charges have come as a shock to me given how transparent I’ve always been about this matter. I vehemently profess my innocence and will defend these charges, and I welcome the opportunity to set the record straight.”

Reps for Hillsong further elaborated, stating: “We are disappointed that Pastor Brian has been charged, and ask that he be afforded the presumption of innocence and due process as is his right. He has advised us that he will defend this and looks forward to clearing his name. Given that this matter is now before the court, neither Pastor Brian or Hillsong Church will be making further statements. We thank all who are a part of our church for their support and prayers at this time.”

The newest update on the Hillsong Church drama comes ahead of the Thursday premiere of the “Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed” three-part docuseries produced in collaboration with The Post and Discovery+/TLC.

READ MORE - Hillsong founder resigns — again — following misconduct allegations

Welcome to ‘Harry’s House’: New Styles album coming right after Coachella

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  Some pleasing news for Harry Styles fans: The English pop star is releasing a new album this spring — right after he plays Coachella.

On Wednesday, Styles and Sony Music announced that the 28-year-old performer’s third studio album, “Harry’s House,” will debut May 20. In a trailer for the forthcoming record, a montage of blooming flowers, busy city streets, hot-air balloons and fireworks culminates in Styles stepping onto a stage decorated with the facade of a giant yellow house.

“Harry’s House” is Styles’ latest solo effort, following the releases of his Grammy-nominated sophomore record, “Fine Line,” and his eponymous debut album. The singer previously released several albums as a standout member of the English-Irish boy band One Direction.

As of Wednesday, not much info is available about Styles’ upcoming album — except that it will consist of 13 tracks and is available to pre-save on Spotify and Apple Music.

The “Watermelon Sugar” hitmaker’s announcement comes shortly after he launched his new beauty and apparel brand, Pleasing, which recently named Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac fame as its official ambassador.

“Two factions from completely different worlds came together,” Fleetwood told Vogue of his collaboration with Styles.

“We really connected because it turned out Harry had been brought up around Fleetwood Mac’s music when he was a child. And so on and off for years we’ve had this passing-in-the-night relationship, which has included him doing Fleetwood Mac songs and doing countless little and big things with Stevie [Nicks].”

In addition to his music and fashion endeavors, Styles has also been busy pursuing a career in acting since making his big-screen debut in 2017’s “Dunkirk.” Premiering in September is Olivia Wilde’s psychological thriller “Don’t Worry Darling,” which stars Styles in his first lead role opposite Florence Pugh. After that, he’ll appear in Michael Grandage’s period drama “My Policeman” alongside Emma Corrin.

Last October, Styles joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a surprise appearance at the end of Chloé Zhao’s “Eternals.” His character, Eros, is expected to return in future Marvel projects.

But first: Styles, Billie Eilish and Kanye West are set to headline this year’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. The live music event will mark Styles’ Coachella debut and take place over two weekends, April 15-17 and April 22-24, at the Empire Polo club in Indio.

READ MORE - Welcome to ‘Harry’s House’: New Styles album coming right after Coachella

Stimulus checks for high gas prices? Here’s how it could happen

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  A group of Democratic lawmakers are looking to ease the burden on American motorists who are saddled with higher gas prices by offering another round of stimulus checks.

House Reps. Mike Thompson of California, John Larson of Connecticut and Lauren Underwood of Illinois are co-sponsoring a bill that would authorize $100 monthly energy rebates for any month this year in which the national average gas price exceeded $4 per gallon.

The average national gas price stood recently at $4.24 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association.

The Gas Rebate Act of 2022 would also offer the same monthly rebate for each dependent.

The bill would work similarly to the stimulus checks that were sent to Americans during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic.

Single people earning less than $75,000 annually would receive the full $100 rebate, while checks for those earning up to $80,000 would be phased out. Joint filers who earn less than $150,000 would qualify for the rebate, which would be phased out at up to $160,000.

“Americans are feeling the impact at the pump of Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, and right now we must work together on commonsense policy solutions to ease the financial burden that my constituents are feeling,” Thompson said.

Republicans have also proposed ways of putting money back into Americans’ pockets, including gas tax holidays. Two GOP-run states — Maryland and Georgia — have temporarily suspended their gas tax.

Drivers in Georgia and Maryland were granted the much-needed relief after lawmakers in those states halted the taxes last Friday.

Maryland acted first, pausing its gas tax for 30 days through April 16, Gov. Larry Hogan said on Twitter.

Drivers in the Old Line State will temporarily save $0.36 per gallon of gas and $0.37 on diesel after prices rose by more than $0.40 in one week to an average of $3.85, CNN reported.

In Georgia, the gas tax was waived through May 31, saving drivers $0.29 per gallon on gas and $0.32 per gallon on diesel, the governor’s office said.

Two other Democratic lawmakers — Reps. Ro Khanna of California and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island — have proposed a quarterly rebate to customers based on a tax levied on gas and oil companies.

The Big Oil Windfall Profits Tax would impose a levy equal to 50% of the difference between the current price of a barrel of oil and its pre-pandemic average price between 2015 and 2019, according to a statement.

The surge in energy prices that has been exacerbated by the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine has cost Americans more at the pump.

A month ago, the national average was $3.54 per gallon. A year ago, Americans were paying an average of $2.88 a gallon. Gas prices recently averaged $4.24 a gallon at stations across the US, the AAA said.

Gas prices in high-tax states like New York and California have exceeded $6 a gallon in some areas.

Surging energy prices and rampant inflation have stoked fears of a recession, though some have warned that stimulus checks could help stoke inflation, which already is running at 40-year highs.

US crude was selling at more than $113 a barrel on Wednesday while Brent crude cost $120 a barrel.

READ MORE - Stimulus checks for high gas prices? Here’s how it could happen

Mary Jane Thomas, wife of Hank Williams Jr., dies in Jupiter

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  Mary Jane Thomas, the wife of country music legend Hank Williams Jr., died Tuesday in Jupiter.

Diovanni Chapman, a spokeswoman for the Palm Beach County medical examiner's office, confirmed the death Thursday.

Jupiter police told People magazine that officers received a call about a medical emergency at the Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa. Thomas was then taken to an area hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

"My dear Mama Mary Jane was a beautiful soul who forever affected everyone who knew her," son Sam Williams told People in a statement. "She had a smile and presence that lit up every room and she never met a stranger she didn't befriend. Her spirit was gentle and giving. She could take down a ten-point buck and fix dinner for her grandchildren at the same time! Now she gets to radiate from above with my sister Katherine Diana right by her side."

Sam Williams' sister, Katherine Williams-Dunning, died in a 2020 automobile accident in Tennessee. She was 27.

Thomas met the 72-year-old "All My Rowdy Friends" crooner at one of his concerts in 1985. They were married in 1990.

It was not immediately known what Thomas was doing in Jupiter or if Williams was with her at the time of the incident.

Williams was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2020.

READ MORE - Mary Jane Thomas, wife of Hank Williams Jr., dies in Jupiter