THE FIERY CRASHA Canadian military jet crashed just after takeoff, and the entire flight was caught on video.
The plane took off in tandem with another jet from Kamloops Airport at 11:30 AM. Both pilots are part of the Snowbirds. They've been flying around Canada for a few weeks for something called Operation Inspiration. The goal is to boost morale for Canadians who have been stuck in isolation due to the coronavirus.
Seconds after takeoff, as both planes gained altitude, one suddenly circled back toward the runway ... presumably, the pilot realized something was seriously wrong.
The distressed plane did a barrel roll and then plunged to the ground. Just before the aircraft hit, the pilot ejected. An eyewitness says he believed 2 people may have been on board.
@TheKamloopian/TwitterThe plane hit a home, which burst into flames. You see a parachute on the roof of the house.
We don't know if there were fatalities, and if so, how many.
Story developing ...
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Arnold Schwarzenegger Recounts ER Heart Surgery ... In Commencement Speech
5/17/2020 1:26 PM PT
GettyBarack Obama, meet Arnold Schwarzenegger -- he's got a little commencement speech of his own ... and it might be just as good or possibly better advice for the Class of 2020.
The A-list actor and former California Governor delivered an epic address via ATTN to all the grads who couldn't attend their own in-person ceremonies -- and his takeaway message was very clear, and at times ... brutally honest. Have yourself a vision, damn it.
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LAFD Firefighters Engulfed in Flames, Seriously Injured Fleeing Exploding Building
5/17/2020 12:06 PM PT
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FIERY FOOTAGEA group of brave Los Angeles firefighters were hospitalized after they were caught in a massive fireball while fleeing an exploding building ... and it's all on wild video.
The scary moment went down Saturday evening in Downtown L.A., where LAFD crew members were responding to a structure fire at a warehouse-type building near Little Tokyo, which quickly escalated into a dangerous situation that required everyone to get out.
LAFD says smoke started rising way too quickly and the inside was getting hotter by the second. Suddenly ... an explosion rang out and the building was starting to become engulfed in flames. While trying to safely exit, a group of about 7 firefighters had to climb down their firetruck ladder from a window -- and cross the red hot flames in the process.
😯😯
"Explosion in downtown L.A. leaves multiple buildings on fire, firefighters injured" - Los Angeles Times
We hope everyone injured makes a speedy recovery! pic.twitter.com/y5a0xM5Bk5
— The FIRE Bible 🔥 (@TheFireBible_) May 17, 2020 @TheFireBible_About 3 to 4 of them were actually set completely ablaze as they were making their way down -- becoming fully engulfed in the fire ball all around them that was raging like crazy. Parts of their helmets melted, and their jackets caught on fire too. Even some of the firetruck's seats began to burn as a result ... according to LAFD spokesman Erik Scott.
The footage of the moment when a handful of them were caught in the blaze is insane to watch -- it was even caught from a couple different angles, including drone footage you can see here. Scott described it as directly walking through a 30-foot blowtorch. Yikes ...
Major fire in Little Tokyo/downtown Los Angeles at San Pedro and Third. Dangerously close to Skid Row residents, senior and low income housing. Major smoke screen, ash is raining for blocks. pic.twitter.com/s4coh3xbgq
— sean miura (@seanmiura) May 17, 2020 @seanmiuraAt least eleven firefighters were hospitalized as a result, and 4 of them are in the ICU in critical condition. Fortunately, all of them are expected to survive ... which is truly a miracle.
As for how the fire started, the official cause is still under investigation. However, it's reported that the warehouse in question was a local supplier for those who manufacture butane honey oil ... which is highly flammable. Multiple buildings caught fire, and it took hundreds of firefighters to finally temper the flames into the night.
Plumes of smoke filled the sky and tons of ash were left behind on the ground during and afterward. Give it up for those first-responders putting their lives on the line -- not an easy job.
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Hope Solo Dog Dies After Being Shot ... 'We're Brokenhearted'
5/17/2020 7:22 AM PT
UPDATE7:22 AM PT -- 5/17 -- Tragic news, Hope says her dog Conan passed away on Friday evening.
UPDATE"We're brokenhearted to share that Conan passed away from blood loss [Friday night]," Solo said in a statement on Saturday ... "He fought up until the very end. We're crushed"
UPDATEShe added, "Just a dog running through the woods, trying to make his way home. We bought 60 acres so our dogs have space to run and live their most full lives. Conan was kind and loving."
UPDATEAnd then, she said, "As animal lovers we are struggling to make sense of anyone using their right to own guns to shoot pets of any kind."
Hope Solo claims some gun-toting maniac shot one of her dogs Wednesday night -- but the good news, the pooch survived the attack.
It all went down North Carolina, where the former Team USA soccer superstar lives with her husband, ex-NFL player Jerramy Stevens.
"Our magnificent dog Conan (brown, on the far left) is in critical condition after being shot last night," Hope says.
"It’s hard news to share, but harder to make sense of this heinous act."
"Jerramy and I are shocked and heartbroken, but we want to say thank you to Wilkes Veterinary Hospital and their staff for rushing Conan into emergency care, as well as their COVID-19 care practices."
We're reaching out to police to find out what the hell happened and if they've identified a suspect.
In the meantime, Hope is optimistic about Conan's chances -- saying, "We‘ve heard that there are developments in canine prosthetics and would love any information about getting Conan a new front leg!"
Get well, Conan!!!!
Originally published -- 5/14 2:50 PM PT
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Wuhan, China Residents Hold Massive Street Dance
5/17/2020 6:54 AM PT
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GROOVIN' WITH MASKSMaybe take this as a sign of hope, that things can slowly get back to some sort of normal, because some of the folks in Wuhan, China -- where the coronavirus first spread -- are once again able to enjoy themselves with a night of relatively safe dancing.
More than 100 people gathered in the middle of the city Saturday night and it was choreographed for the times -- everyone was spaced 6-feet apart and it seems everyone was wearing a mask.
It's something of a tradition in Wuhan ... mass dances at night. The music ranges from EDM to Japanese pop ... even a little square dancing is mixed in.
Wuhan was in full lockdown for 2 1/2 months, but that ended April 8. There have been some new cases since people re-emerged from their homes, but it's not massive.
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Churchill Downs Reopening Praised By Top Trainer 'Extraordinary' Protocols
5/16/2020 12:10 AM PT
GettyWhen Churchill Downs reopens its famous track Saturday, it's going to be safe as hell ... so says top horse trainer Tom Amoss -- who praised CD officials for all their precautionary measures.
"Protocols to get into the race track are extraordinary," Amoss told reporters outside of the facility Friday. "And very, very efficient."
The legendary track was forced to close its doors amid the coronavirus pandemic several weeks ago ... resulting in the postponement of this month's Kentucky Derby.
But, track officials spent weeks developing safety protocol to return horses, jockeys and owners to the facility -- and, finally, spectator-less races will return Saturday.
The list of precautions everyone must go through to make it all happen, however, is lengthy.
There's been stringent testing for nearly everyone involved in the race, personnel cutbacks, mandatory masks and social distancing requirements -- as well as hand sanitizers placed all over.
"I'm disappointed we're not going to have fans," Amoss said. "But, I certainly feel like right now, we're doing all the right things."
Races are set to begin at 1 PM ET ... and, yes, gambling on the action is still available to the public.
Happy (FINALLY) betting!!!
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Oprah You're the Chosen Class, 2020 Grads ... 'Guts & Imagination' Needed!!!
5/15/2020 3:15 PM PT
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CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES!!!Oprah Winfrey wasn't supposed to be the commencement speaker for this year's graduates, but she's trying to inspire the Class of 2020 to rise above their unprecedented circumstances.
O addressed high school and college graduates across the U.S. Friday as part of Facebook's plan to honor graduating students in lieu of physical ceremonies, which have been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Oprah acknowledged this is not the graduation any of them envisioned but said that's what makes them special ... heading into a real-world filled with even more uncertainty than usual.
She tells them ... "Never has a graduating class been called to step into the future with more purpose, vision, passion and energy and hope."
Gallery famous cameos Launch Gallery FacebookFriday's event was hosted by Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak and also featured appearances by DJ Khaled, Cardi B, Awkwafina, Lil Nas X, John Mayer, Matthew McConaughey, Miley Cyrus and many more.
Oprah's inspirational for sure. If we can offer a few words of our own ... with every crisis comes opportunity. There will be new ways of living, conducting business and socializing. For graduates who had plans that were torpedoed by the virus, figure out where there's a hole in the marketplace -- where you can provide a service of value. The reality in crisis ... ingenuity usually rules.
Barack Obama's slated to speak Saturday, and it all leads up to National Graduation Day on May 17.
Congrats and, uh ... good luck!!!
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Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne No Charges for Quarantine Church Service ... He's Learned His Lesson
5/15/2020 12:43 PM PT
Hillsborough SheriffTampa's controversial Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne won't be prosecuted for packing his church during quarantine, because prosecutors think arresting him did the job.
Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren announced Friday his office will not pursue charges against the pastor. Warren says, simply put, it's unnecessary now because Pastor Browne's been socially distancing ever since he got busted.
Warren said the arrest immediately corrected the irresponsible behavior -- "Pastor Howard-Browne has maintained responsible social distancing on his church campus while engaging with community leaders in a dialogue about the best path forward for his congregation."
Call it a slap on the wrist.
As we reported ... Howard-Browne was a wanted man after defying Florida's shelter-at-home orders by holding a Sunday service back in March at his River Church. Not only was the house packed to the gills, but the pastor thumbed his nose at authorities, boasting ... "The only time the church will close is when the Rapture is taking place."
FYI, Florida churches are getting ready to reopen this weekend -- but only at 25% capacity and the congregation must practice social distancing.
Passing that offering plate will be different.
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President Trump No Masking the Truth ... Fauci and Birx Break with Trump
5/15/2020 11:02 AM PT
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FOLLOWING THE RULESPresident Trump and Dr. Anthony Fauci were images of stark contrast Friday, as the President went maskless while the nation's leading infectious disease doctor was covered up.
Trump was front and center at his daily coronavirus news briefing without a face covering -- something he clearly refuses to do, despite the fact several members of The White House staff have tested positive. Fauci and Dr. Birx weren't going to be intimidated by the Prez, and they were fully masked during the news conference.
It's telling, because Trump has now gone after Fauci, saying he's playing both ends against the middle -- Trump feels he's being overly cautious. For his part, Dr. Fauci is delivering data without judgment ... only to say if we act irresponsibly, we're going to have big problems.
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NOT TAKING ANY CHANCESMeanwhile, outside the W.H. ... Kellyanne Conway was talking PPE's, and offered up what she would wear around her boss and the Veep, to blunt the possibility of a President Pelosi.
Just a simple mask would be nice ... right?
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Rapper G Herbo Haven't Seen My Son in Months ... Because Of COVID-19
5/15/2020 12:51 PM PT
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FAMILY COMES FIRSTG Herbo says he's getting another case of PTSD from the raging pandemic ... because coronavirus restrictions are preventing him from seeing his own son.
The Chicago rapper joined us Friday on "TMZ Live" and told us about the stress and anxiety he's dealing with as a result of not seeing his 2-year-old son, Yosohn, for 2 months and counting.
G Herbo says his interactions with his son, who lives with his baby mama in Atlanta, have been limited to FaceTime and video calls ... and it's been tough to watch his boy grow up from a distance.
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View this post on InstagramBut, the tide could be turning ... G Herbo says he's getting his house in order and disinfecting everything in hopes of safely bringing his kid back from ATL for some quality time with dad.
BTW ... G Herbo released his hit album called "PTSD" back in February and is gearing up to release the deluxe version ... in fact, he released the single "Friends & Foes" from the project Friday. He tells us he's no psychic, but the album has meaning in the middle of this pandemic.
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Van Jones Black Community Dodging Bullets Also Fighting Virus, Poverty
5/15/2020 11:43 AM PT
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THERE'S ALWAYS A THREATVan Jones says while America's now coping with a pandemic, black America's been battling epidemic violence, poverty and disease long before coronavirus came along.
The Reform Alliance CEO was on "TMZ Live" Friday to talk about his CNN special, "The Color of Covid" -- and he didn't mince words when describing the challenges facing many minority communities.
Van says there's always been an epidemic of death in neighborhoods of color. He says, "You’re worried about invisible bullets from the virus? We've been dodging real bullets the whole time." He says that mentality explains the recent massive crowds gathered for parties in Atlanta and Chicago.
Black and Latino communities also face different health risks as the nation reopens, due to underlying health problems that have gone unchecked for years. As Van, and many doctors, point out ... hypertension, heart disease and diabetes immediately put you in the at-risk category for COVID-19. Of course, staying home only creates economic hardship.
Van says the federal government needs a better battle plan, one that offers better medical AND economic stimuli to people of color.
As for the $3 trillion stimulus package already passed ... he says it's missed the mark with the people who need it most. Van and Don Lemon will be tackling these issues, and others, Friday night (10 PM ET) on CNN.
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UFC's Anthony Smith Don't Worry About Me ... I'm In Good Hands
5/15/2020 8:42 AM PT
UFC star Anthony Smith says he's "good" in the wake of a violent loss to Glover Teixeira -- and recovering with the help of his loving family.
"Everyone is arguing about good stop, bad stop, bad corner, good corner...blah blah blah," Smith said.
"I’m still winning. I’m good, and I’m exactly where i need to be, doing exactly what I’m supposed to be doing."
As we previously reported -- Smith suffered intense injuries during his fight on May 13 -- a broken nose, fractured eye socket, a gash under his right eye and had 2 teeth knocked out.
Some high-profile UFC stars like Chael Sonnen have criticized Smith's coaching staff ... saying they should've thrown in the towel instead of allowing him to fight in the 5th round, where he sustained even more damage.
"All that time spent worrying about me needs to be spent somewhere a little more productive," Smith said on social media.
Smith has a long road to recovery -- we're guessing multiple surgeries -- but we're all hoping for a full and speedy recovery.
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Keith Urban Drive-In Show for Frontline Workers ... Start of a New Trend???
5/15/2020 7:22 AM PT
Keith Urban did something last night that could be a new way to enjoy in-person concerts ... from the safety of your own car!!!
The country music star put on a surprise concert at a drive-in theater near Nashville Thursday night. The show was to show appreciation to frontline workers at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
The health care workers showed up in cars 125 strong and parked 6 feet apart and they geared up for an hour-long concert.
His performance was also captured on the big screen behind him ... a multi-media bonus.
With concerts on the ropes for the rest of the year and very probably longer, this could be a new way to enjoy live music, at least in the short term. Although drive-ins are scarce, it wouldn't take that much for an ingenious promoter to put something together.
Keith said he performed to "say thanks to the healthcare workers who are putting their lives on the line for us every day," adding ... "with everyone in their cars at a safe distance from one another, seems like an amazing opportunity for everybody to just let go and have fun."
At the Stardust -- which reopened earlier this month -- cars park about 15-20 feet apart for screenings and people can either sit in their cars or in front of their cars. Looks like folks at Keith's show got up on their hoods to enjoy the music.
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Rob Manfred MLB Owners Could Lose $4 BILLION ... If 2020 Season Canceled
5/15/2020 6:52 AM PT
CNNRob Manfred says owners could lose $4 BILLION if the MLB is forced to cancel its 2020 season due to coronavirus ... claiming the economic fallout would be "devastating."
"We’re a big business, but we’re a seasonal business and, unfortunately, this crisis began at the low point for us in terms of revenue," the league commish told CNN on Thursday.
"If we don't play a season, the losses for the [club] owners could approach $4 billion," MLB commissioner Rob Manfred says about the economic impact of coronavirus on the sport.#CNNTownHall https://t.co/e4xneYOMDI pic.twitter.com/glHTd4XkHo
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) May 15, 2020 @AC360"We hadn’t quite started our season yet and if we don’t play a season, the losses for the owners could approach $4 billion."
Manfred says he and his staff are working tirelessly to figure out a way to avoid that possibility ... revealing to Anderson Cooper that they've come up with an 80-page protocol to keep players safe in a return scenario.
Manfred says the league is eyeing "frequent testing," quarantine plans for those who contract the virus and safety measurements like fan-less games to ensure players' health is the top priority if a comeback happens.
The problem? There's a disagreement right now between MLB owners and players over whether or not players should take a pay cut in a return to the diamond.
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IT'S MY MONEYRays ace Blake Snell blasted the notion this week ("For me to take a pay cut is not happening, because the risk is through the roof") and several MLB stars have since backed the 27-year-old.
Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper said on his Twitch stream Thursday, "He's speaking the truth, bro. I ain't mad at him."
Rockies megastar Nolan Arenado added, per The Athletic, "He made a lot of good points. There are some points he made that were true, that are facts."
Still, Manfred says he's optimistic they can all come to an agreement ... still eyeing "the first half of July" as a possible starting date for the '20 season.
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NBA's Kevin Love On Team Workouts ... 'Everybody's In Masks and Gloves'
5/15/2020 6:24 AM PT
Cleveland Cavs star Kevin Love is back to work -- training at the team facility in Ohio -- but it sounds super weird!
"Our facility has been really odd because we have to do 1 guy to a basket and we have 4 main baskets at our facility, and everybody is in masks and gloves,” Love told Yahoo Sports.
"It’s really odd to have a rebounder in a mask, in these latex gloves, throwing passes and throwing you a ball. You almost have to put that out of your mind and act like it’s not even there."
“The players are the only people not shooting with the gloves on.”
Don't get it twisted, salute to the Cavs for imposing strict COVID-19 safety measures ... but it sounds like a strange scene, to say the least.
Love also says everyone in the organization is constantly disinfecting, washing their hands and social distancing.
31-year-old Love is clearly glad to be back to work -- "I think it's needed" -- and says he's one of the players REALLY hoping for the NBA season to resume in 2020.
"I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like getting back and playing with no fans or fans kind of scattered out through the arena. It's going to be really, really odd to see how sports slowly start to roll themselves out, but I think it’s needed."
He added, "I’m fingers crossed for the season to resume."
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Cuba Gooding Jr. Serenades Nurses Fighting COVID-19 ... Stay Strong, We Love You!!!
5/14/2020 5:46 PM PT
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STAY STRONGCuba Gooding Jr. is doing his part to lift the spirits of the brave women fighting COVID-19 on the frontlines ... with an uplifting song and tale of his own perseverance.
The "Jerry Maguire" star serenaded the nurses at 2 of the biggest medical facilities in Anaheim, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in Orange County ... singing a song he learned as a youngster in church.
Cuba ditched his mask to sing and tell an inspiring story of his own trials and tribulations in the Anaheim area ... recalling the time he was so down on his luck he was homeless and living in a shelter.
The actor says the community in Anaheim and nearby Tustin rallied around him when he was struggling ... and he says the good folks in Orange County will always have the nurse's backs.
Cuba's looking forward to getting back to Anaheim Ducks hockey games and trips to Disneyland ... but in the meantime, he's encouraging our essential heroes to stay strong and know they're loved.
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