Ukraine struggles to contain Russian summer advances as US aid stalls

Ukraine struggles to contain Russian summer advances as US aid stalls

By Anastasiia Malenko and Aleksandar Vasovic KYIV (Reuters) -Russia has made incursions near two towns key to army supply routes in eastern Ukraine, a Ukrainian military official said on Wednesday, as Moscow seeks a breakthrough in a summer offensive at a time of uncertainty over U.S. support for Kyiv. In recent weeks, Russia has amassed forces and despite heavy losses has advanced in rural areas either side of Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka, which both sit on crossroads running to the frontline from larger cities in Ukrainian-controlled territory. Russia's advances on the front are matched by an intensification of drone and missile strikes on Kyiv and other cities, following signs that Washington's support for Ukraine's war effort is faltering. So far, the efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump have failed to achieve a ceasefire in the full-scale invasion launched by Russia in 2022. One of the aims of the Russian offensive is to occupy the rest of the Donetsk region. Now, they are using small assault groups, light vehicles, and drones to push towards the neighbouring region, said Viktor Trehubov, a spokesperson for the Khortytsia group of forces. "There are constant attacks with the intent of breaking through" to the border of the Dnipropetrovsk region at any cost, Trehubov said in written comments to Reuters. Russia now has 111,000 soldiers in the Pokrovsk area, which it has been trying to seize since early last year, Ukraine's top armed forces commander Oleksandr Syrskyi said last week, describing dozens of battles in the area every day. A decision by Washington to halt some deliveries of various weapons including precision rocket artillery to Kyiv will worsen the situation on the ground for Ukraine's forces, said Jack Watling, a senior researcher at the Royal United Services Institute, a think-tank. "The loss of these supplies will significantly degrade Ukraine's ability to strike Russian forces beyond 30 km (19 miles) from the front line and therefore allow Russia to improve its logistics," Watling said. RUSSIAN GAINS Ukrainian blog DeepState, which uses open-source data to map the frontline, said the Russian military in June had seized 556 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory, which it said was the largest monthly loss of ground since November. Russian forces, which have numerical superiority, cut the main road linking Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka in May, complicating Ukrainian movements and resupply efforts. "The Russian advance is being contained, but their crossing of the Pokrovsk-Kostyantynivka highway is a strategic and logistical setback," Trehubov said. Heavy Russian losses have prevented Russian advances toward Kostiantynivka via Chasiv Yar, or along the western Pokrovsk front. "Now they are attempting (to advance) further away from populated areas," Trehubov said. DeepState also reported that Russian advances in June near Pokrovsk and nearby Novopavlivka accounted for more than half of all Russian gains along the entire frontline in all of Ukraine. Trehubov said Pokrovsk and Kostyantynivka remain Ukrainian logistical hubs, despite setbacks and drone activity which make some defensive fortifications less effective. "(Drones) hinder logistics for both sides but don't make it impossible. Drones after all are not invulnerable," he said. (Reporting by Anastasiia Malenko and Aleksandar Vasovic; Additional reporting by Tom Balmforth; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel and Gareth Jones)

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July 02, 2025

Ukraine struggles to contain Russian summer advances as US aid stalls

Ukraine struggles to contain Russian summer advances as US aid stalls By Anastasiia Malenko and Aleksandar Vasovic KYIV (Reuters) -Russia h...

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Texas truck crash kills four members of the same Fort Worth family

Texas truck crash kills four members of the same Fort Worth family

Four members of the McKellar family from Fort Worth were killed, and one remains in critical condition, after Texas DPS says a big rig driver fell asleep at the wheel Saturday afternoon in Kaufman County and collided with stopped traffic. Loved ones say 15-year-old Kason McKellar, his sister Evan, their parents Shaun and Zabar, and grandfather Billy McKellar were driving on I-20 when the crash happened. Only Evan survived, being transported to the hospital where she's still fighting for her life. A total of five people were killed, including the driver of another vehicle, who has now been identified as 49-year-old Nicole Gregory from Dallas. According to the Department of Public Safety, 27-year-old Alexis Gonzalez-Companioni was arrested and charged with five counts of manslaughter and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Authorities released the identities of the five victims killed in the crash on Tuesday night. An attorney representing the McKellar family said loved ones are grieving. "Obviously, in talking to one of the family members earlier, it's a terrible tragedy, with how many people were lost in this entire family, with one struggling to stay alive," said John Nohinek, a managing attorney at Witherite Law Group. "We represent the dad of the mom who was killed in this wreck," said Nohinek. "He also lost a grandchild, and he's got a grandchild clinging for her life." Nohinek said he met with the family Tuesday morning and said they found out less than 24 hours ago about the four family members killed and an adult granddaughter who remains in the hospital. Nohinek said the family was coming back from a trip to East Texas. "Our focus as attorneys turns toward trying to locate the source, from a legal standpoint, of the wreck," said Nohinek. He said every tractor-trailer has a "black box" like an airplane. He said the electronic control modules and other devices can show the truck's speed at the time of the crash, if it was in cruise control, how long the truck was on the road, maintenance history, and many other details. "While the family grieves, we work to make sure that we get this information as soon as possible. It's very important information to get an idea of what was happening inside that vehicle at the time," explained Nohinek. On Monday, DPS named Hope Trans LLC as the company operating the big rig. U.S. Department of Transportation data shows the company's trucks have a significantly higher out-of-service violation percentage than the national average for trucking companies. "In 2024, this carrier had 146 inspections on the side of the road, and they had 159 violations. Their trucks were deemed out of service at a 33.8 percent rate, which is over 10 percent higher than the national average. So that kind of shows what kind of company we're dealing with," said Nohinek. NBC 5 tried to reach out to the company on Monday and left a message. Nohinek said their law firm is in the process of requesting access to the "black box," but said it may take longer to see the data because of the investigation. "They need to get all the information necessary before they let in civilians, attorneys," he explained. NBC 5 spoke with several family members and loved ones who said right now they're not ready to talk. "Clearly, the family is distraught," said Nohinek. "In talking with them earlier today at their house, they're struggling with this." A GoFundMe account for the family was set up to help the North Texas family. The loss was felt keenly by the Hallmark Eagles youth sports program in Fort Worth, where the McKellar family had been involved for years and Kason started playing football at age 11. "Whenever something like that happens, it's bad enough if it's one person," said Newton Braziel with Hallmark Eagles. "But when it's a family, man, your heart just can't help but go out." The program tells NBC 5 it's working to put together a way for its community to support the McKellar family in the wake of the tragedy. "His loss touched a lot of families, a lot of friends," coach Anthony Bartee said of Kason. "When my son told me about it last night, it really broke my spirits." On Monday, DPS said a sixth person died and that all five people in the mangled Ford F-150 died, but on Tuesday, authorities clarified that only five victims had died in the crash.

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July 02, 2025

Texas truck crash kills four members of the same Fort Worth family

Texas truck crash kills four members of the same Fort Worth family Four members of the McKellar family from Fort Worth were killed, and one ...

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Thousands of city workers are on strike in Philadelphia but judge orders some back to work

Thousands of city workers are on strike in Philadelphia but judge orders some back to work

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A strike being stagedby nearly 10,000 city workers in Philadelphiaentered its second day Wednesday as a judge ordered some emergency service dispatchers and essential water department employees to return to work. Common Pleas Court Judge Sierra Thomas-Street granted the city an injunction Tuesday stating 237 out of 325 workers at the city's 911 call center must return to work because their absence creates a "clear and present danger to threat to health, safety or welfare of the public." The order does not prevent those workers — 32 fire dispatchers, five supervisors and 200 police dispatchers — from participating in the strike during off-duty hours. The judge also ordered some water department workers back to the job because they're essential to ensuring fresh, clean drinking water is available to residents. Seeking better pay and benefits, District Council 33 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees announced the strike early Tuesday, spurring nearly 10,000 blue-collar workers to walk off the job. During the day, the strikers waved signs at traffic near City Hall and formed picket lines outside libraries, city offices and other workplaces. Mayor Cherelle Parkerhas said the city would suspend residential trash collection, close some city pools and shorten recreation center hours, but vowed to keep the city running. Police and firefighters are not on strike. Parker, a pro-labor Democrat, promised that Fourth of July celebrations in thenation's birthplacewould go on as usual. In a statement Tuesday, the mayor said the city had "put its best offer on the table." The city offered raises that amount to 13% over her four-year term, including last year's 5% bump, and added a fifth step to the pay scale to align with other city unions, she said. District Council 33 is the largest of four major unions representing city workers. Union president Greg Boulware President Greg Boulware said the city isn't coming anywhere close to the wage increases the union is seeking. Union leaders, in their initialcontract proposal, asked for 8% annual raises each year of the three-year contract, along with cost-of-living hikes and bonuses of up to $5,000 for those who worked through the pandemic. The union also asked the city to pay the full cost of employee health care, or $1,700 per person per month. In November, thecity transit systemaverted a strike when the parties agreed to a one-year contract with 5% raises. A District Council 33 trash strike in the summer of 1986 left the city without trash pickup for three weeks, leading trash to pile up on streets, alleyways and drop-off sites. Philadelphia is not the only area dealing with a strike. Trash also piled up across more than a dozen Massachusetts towns Tuesday after 400 waste collection workers went on strike ahead of the July 4 holiday, according to news reports. The contract with waste removal company Republic Services and Teamsters Local 25 union expired on Monday night. The union said workers are pushing for better wages, benefits, working conditions and paid time off. ___ Associated Press journalist Leah Willingham in Boston contributed to this report.

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July 02, 2025

Thousands of city workers are on strike in Philadelphia but judge orders some back to work

Thousands of city workers are on strike in Philadelphia but judge orders some back to work PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A strike being stagedby nearl...

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Where Is “The Jeffersons” Cast Now? Here's What the Actors Did After the Sitcom Ended 40 Years Ago

Where Is "The Jeffersons" Cast Now? Here's What the Actors Did After the Sitcom Ended 40 Years Ago

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty The final episode ofThe Jeffersonsaired on July 2, 1985 The beloved sitcom was a spinoff of the groundbreaking sitcom,All in the Family Following the end ofThe Jeffersons, the cast continued to act in television, appearing in classic series such as227,The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,Will & Graceand more Forty years ago today, on July 2, 1985,The Jeffersonswent from "movin' on up," to movin' on, as the beloved sitcom aired its final episode. George and Louise "Weezy" Jefferson, played bySherman HemsleyandIsabel Sanford, respectively, first played their characters on the trailblazing '70s sitcom,All in the Family. In 1975, the fictional married couple and their friends and family became the subject of their own series,The Jeffersons.It ran for 11 seasons, becoming one of the most successful spinoffs in television history. Even after the show concluded its run on CBS, the cast continued to be staples in television and movies, with one ensemble member,Marla Gibbs, still working, and due to release her memoir next year. So where isThe Jeffersonscast now? Here's everything to know about what the actors did after the show ended 40 years ago. CBS via Getty ; Steve Grayson/WireImage Isabel Sanford played Louise "Weezy" Jefferson on all 11 seasons ofThe Jeffersons. The actress not only received laughs as the loving and witty wife of her husband, George, but also made television history. In 1981, she was the first Black actress towin an Emmyfor Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. She was also honored withtwo NAACP Image Awardsand a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In the years following the end ofThe Jeffersons, Sanford appeared on several other sitcoms, includingLiving SingleandHangin' with Mr. Cooper. She also reprised her role of Louise on two episodes ofThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Sanford died at the age of 86 on July 9, 2004. "We all respected Isabel," Ernest Harden Jr., who played Marcus Henderson onThe Jeffersons,told PEOPLE in February 2024. "She was the consummate artist. Before every show, they would introduce her and the cast would all bow. She was the queen of the show." CBS via Getty ; Frazer Harrison/Getty Sherman Hemsley starred as the loud and stubborn George Jefferson, earning a nod for Outstanding Lead Actor in A Comedy Series at the 1984 Emmys. Following the end ofThe Jeffersons, he led another successful sitcom,Amen, which ran for five seasons from 1986 to 1991. Afterward, the actor worked on other sitcoms, includingDesigning Women,MartinandSister, Sister. He also voiced B.P. Richfield, the evil Triceratops boss onDinosaurs. Hemsley and his on-screen wife, Sanford, reprised their Jeffersons roles multiple times over the years, starring onThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. They also starred in commercials forDenny'sandOld Navy. In addition to acting, Hemsley was a musician: He released a single, "Ain't That a Kick in the Head," in 1989, followed by an album,Dance, in 1992. Hemsley died at 74 on July 24, 2012. CBS via Getty; Ron Galella Collection via Getty Roxie Roker portrayed Helen Willis onThe Jeffersons,making history as one of television's first interracial couples. After the long-running sitcom ended, Roker continued to work in television, appearing on shows such as227,Punky BrewsterandMurder, She Wrote. She died at age 66 from breast cancer on Dec. 2, 1995. Roker was the mother of music icon,Lenny Kravitz, who told PEOPLE in February 2024 that he watchesThe Jeffersonswhen he misses her. "She's still everything to me. I probably feel her more since she's left the planet," he said.  "I'm very fortunate that she was on television because when I need to, I'll turn onThe Jeffersonsand watch her, and it does so much for me." "I am so grateful that God chose her to be my mother," Kravitz added. CBS Photo Archive/Getty ; Ron Galella Collection via Getty Franklin Cover played Helen's husband, Tom Willis, onThe Jeffersons. Cover kept working in television afterThe Jeffersons, appearing on shows like227,Who's the Boss,ERandWill & Grace— to name a few. He also portrayed a supporting role in 1987'sWall Street, directed by Oliver Stone. Cover died at 77 from pneumonia on Feb. 5, 2006, perThe New York Times. Bettmann Archive via Getty; CBS via Getty Zara Cully was the scene-stealing Olivia Jefferson, George's loving but intense mother. By the time she played "Mother" Jefferson, Cully already had a long list of stage and screen credits, but her role onThe Jeffersonsshot her to stardom. Sadly, while filming season 4 of the show,Cully diedat age 86 on Feb. 28, 1978. Her role was not recast. When asked about his on-screen mom during an August 2003Television Academy interview, Hemsley said, "She was so beautiful." "She had been around for so long, vaudeville, she had done all kinds of stuff since she was a little girl," he continued. "It was her first successful, big thing after all those years." "She said, 'I'm so happy. I finally got to do this and work with you people,' " Hemsley added. CBS via Getty; Bobby Bank/Getty Berlinda Tolbert portrayed Jenny, the daughter of Helen and Tom Willis. Tolbert's acting career continued afterThe Jeffersonsended. She guest-starred on various TV shows, including7th Heaven,Home ImprovementandSix Feet Under, among others. The actress also had roles in classic movies likeGoodfellas,Harlem NightsandPatriot Games. Tolbert's last acting credit is from 2013, perher IMDb. CBS via Getty; Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Paul Benedict played Harry Bentley, the Jeffersons' British neighbor. Following the sitcom's end, Benedict acted in movies likeArthur 2: On the Rocks,CocktailandThe Addams Family. He also collaborated with Christopher Guest's comedy troupe, appearing inWaiting for GuffmanandA Mighty Wind. Benedict died at the age of 70 on Dec. 1, 2008. CBS via Getty; Amanda Edwards/Getty Marla Gibbs portrayed the no-nonsense family maid Florence Johnston, receivingfive Emmy nominationsfor her role. Florence was her breakout role, and Gibbs has been consistently working sinceThe Jeffersonsconcluded its run. She was part of the cast of227, which ran from 1985 to 1990. Most recently, Gibbs starred in a January 2025 episode of ABC'sWill Trent. The following month, while accepting the Hollywood Legacy Award at the American Black Film Festival Honors in Los Angeles, Gibbs said she was "ready to work again." "I owe it all to you. I appreciate you so much," she told the audience. "Been an honor to be among you all these years. Yes, and I'm ready to do some more!" In June 2025,Gibbs celebratedher 94th birthday and announced herforthcoming memoirIt's Never Too Late, hitting store shelves in early 2026. Read the original article onPeople

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July 02, 2025

Where Is “The Jeffersons” Cast Now? Here's What the Actors Did After the Sitcom Ended 40 Years Ago

Where Is "The Jeffersons" Cast Now? Here's What the Actors Did After the Sitcom Ended 40 Years Ago Michael Ochs Archives/Getty...

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'Jurassic World Rebirth' brings back iconic scene that Spielberg cut

'Jurassic World Rebirth' brings back iconic scene that Spielberg cut

"Jurassic Park" is all about bringing the past back to life, so for one of the most pulse-pounding sequences in the new entry, the franchise returns to where it all began. In a standout scene from"Jurassic World Rebirth" (in theaters July 2), Reuben Delgado (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) and his family, who find themselves on an island filled with dinosaurs, board a raft and are pursued on a river by aTyrannosaurus rex. When director Gareth Edwards read the script by "Jurassic Park" screenwriter David Koepp, he was so impressed, he thought, "This film's worth directing just for this scene alone." It was only after he finished shooting that Edwards stumbled upon a book about the making of "Jurassic Park" and discovered a nearly identical scene was intended to be in the originalSteven Spielbergfilm more than three decades ago. "I had no idea," he says. Join our Watch Party!Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox The scene is straight out ofMichael Crichton's1990 "Jurassic Park" novel, only instead of the Delgados, Alan Grant (played bySam Neillin the movie), Tim Murphy and Lex Murphy board a raft and are pursued by a T. rex. There were even storyboards made during the production of the Spielberg classic, but the scene was dropped because of technical limitations. "This was 1992, and making a T. rex, period, was going to be this enormous challenge," Koepp recalls. "In the early '90s, water was still a big challenge for CG, and so the idea of making a T. rex and then having it swim was a bridge too far." Coming off a trilogy of films starringChris PrattandBryce Dallas Howard, "Rebirth" introduces a whole new cast of characters to the "Jurassic" world.Scarlett Johansson,Mahershala AliandJonathan Baileyare adventurers on a mission to obtain dinosaur DNA for a breakthrough drug that could cure heart disease. The trio cross paths with the Delgados after a dinosaur has destroyed the family's sailboat and they're making their way across the island to find rescue. Koepp, who hasn't written a "Jurassic" movie since 1997's "The Lost World," was recruited for "Rebirth" by Spielberg, an executive producer on the film. When brainstorming, one of the first things they talked about was finally revisiting the raft scene. "That was like being able to scratch something that has itched for 32 years," Koepp says, and adds it was "worth the wait" for computer-generated imagery to get good enough to do the sequence justice. This wasn't the only instance of scrapped "Jurassic" material being revived in "Rebirth." In one scene, paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey) delivers a monologue about humanity's capacity to destroy itself, remarking that "when the Earth gets tired of us, it will shake us off like a summer cold." Koepp, drawing on Crichton's novel, had Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) utter that line in an early draft of "Jurassic Park" and has wanted to find a place for it ever since. "I remember asking Steven ... did that line ever show up?" Koepp says. "And he said, 'Nope, that's definitely not in ("Jurassic Park").' So it was like, great. It's going in here." The raft scene may not have fit in, had "Rebirth" not gone back to "Jurassic" basics by returning to the island setting. While 2022's "Jurassic World Dominion" ended with dinosaurs and humans coexisting around the world, "Rebirth" effectively resets to the status quo of the first "Jurassic" trilogy by revealing the Earth's climate has made it impossible for dinosaurs to survive outside of a few tropical islands. Koepp wanted to make dinosaurs "special again and harder to find" and bring back the "ocean and jungle adventure aspect" of the series. The idea of dinosaurs interacting with humans on the mainland had been explored thoroughly enough in previous films, he felt − including his own "The Lost World," which ended with a T. rex loose in San Diego. The plot point was also once again inspired by the original novel, in which Ian points out how different the environment is today compared to 65 million years ago during his famous "life finds a way" speech. That's not the only reason it's a tough time to be a dinosaur in "Rebirth," which establishes the public has largely lost interest in the creatures. Edwards and Koepp both saw this as a meta reflection of the issue facing "Jurassic" itself, six sequels in. "My biggest problem is, there's been a lot of 'Jurassic' films," Edwards says. "What can you do that people haven't seen before? The script acknowledged that problem on page 1. I thought it was very honest and a really good way to reset and start a new chapter." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'Jurassic World Rebirth' includes iconic scene cut by Spielberg

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July 02, 2025

'Jurassic World Rebirth' brings back iconic scene that Spielberg cut

'Jurassic World Rebirth' brings back iconic scene that Spielberg cut "Jurassic Park" is all about bringing the past back t...

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Richard Simmons' Friends Reveal 'Straw That Broke the Camel's Back' and Finally Drove Him Out of 10-Year Seclusion (Exclusive)

Richard Simmons' Friends Reveal 'Straw That Broke the Camel's Back' and Finally Drove Him Out of 10-Year Seclusion (Exclusive)

After a life in the spotlight, Richard Simmons spent the last decade of his life at his home, rarely speaking with friends or venturing out Those who knew the fitness icon say that news of an unauthorized biopic starring Pauly Shore forced the fitness icon to finally emerge from his self-imposed exile "It lit a fire," says his longtime publicist of Simmons's plans for a splashy comeback—and a Broadway musical of his life story In the early-morning hours of July 8, 2024, Patrick Leonard received an email fromRichard Simmons. For the previous month the famed songwriter had been busy putting music to the biographical lyrics that Simmons—who'd spent the past 10 years living in seclusion from his flamboyant public persona—would send him, hoping they would one day become a hit Broadway musical, marking his grand return to show business. "It was a poem about dealing with loss," recalls Leonard, trying not to choke up while reading Simmons's prophetic words. "He wrote: 'It takes a toll on your heart. Some shed many tears, others stare at the sky. It's so hard to say goodbye. Here's what I know: When it's time for us to go, beautiful angels will greet us with a smile and hello.'" Harry Langdon/Getty, Anna Mjöll Leonard, who's worked with everyone from Madonna and Rod Stewart to Leonard Cohen, never got a chance to sit down at his piano and compose a melody to accompany Simmons's last installment of lyrics. Simmons's unexpected death from heart disease and complications from a fall marked a sudden, unsettling end to an iconic career that spawned bestselling books, infomercials and workout videos that sold more than 22 million copies. Reports later emerged that he had taken a tumble before he died but waved off entreaties from his live-in house manager to get medical attention. "It's been a very long year," says Simmons's brother Lenny. "But people are still taking about him—and that's given us a lot of peace." Simmons's death, however, dashed any hopes that the frizzy-haired tornado of energy and empathy would reemerge from self-imposed exile. It was in 2014 that he first retreated from view behind the walls of his home—with his doll collection, artwork and roses—in the hills above the Sunset Strip. Richard Simmons/X The move spawned wild speculation, including a popular podcast, about why he really disappeared. Just two days before his death, Simmons finally laid to rest those rumors in anupbeat interview with People—his first in more than a decade—assuring the public that he was "feeling great." As for why he turned off his spotlight, Simmons—for whom 40 years of high-kicking workouts had taken their toll on his knees—insisted the reason was fairly prosaic: "My body told me it was time." Now, a year after his passing, some of those who knew Simmons best are painting a picture of his final months, what renewed his interest in the public eye and his tragically unfulfilled plans for the future. "He was ready to come back," says Tom Estey, his publicist of nearly 30 years, "but he was going to do it on his terms." Even to those close to him, Simmons's withdrawal from public life in February 2014—the same month Hattie, the last of his six beloved dalmatians, died—was confusing. "It was the abruptness and the complete shutdown that really got people concerned," says Michael Catalano, who had been Simmons's manager since his break-a-sweat heyday. Few of his friends and business associates heard from him for nearly a decade. Courtesy of Teresa Reveles Then in January 2024 things suddenly changed after Simmons learned that actor and comedianPauly Shore was planningon starring in a feature film based on his life. "That lit a fire," says Estey, explaining that Simmons was incensed that someone besides him was trying to tell his story. Lenny describes the incident as "the straw that broke the camel's back." It forced a "recharged" Simmons—who, up until then, rarely saw anyone but Teresa Reveles, his house manager of nearly 36 years—to consider restarting his career. Within days of learning about the unauthorized biopic, hereturned to social mediawith a message denying any involvement with the film and informing his fans that he had been trying "to live a quiet life and be peaceful." Estey began receiving up to five phone calls a day from him. In the months that followed, Simmons began reestablishing contact with scores of people he hadn't been in regular touch with. Before long he was also talking with ABC'sDiane Sawyerabout sitting for a TV special on the next chapter of his life. "It was wonderful," recalls Sawyer of their conversations, "to hear him so excited, to hear that in his voice again." Death cut short Simmons's plans for the future, but his collaborators would love to see his planned musical, now his final project, realized even without him. Says Leonard: "I hope they can find a way to get this done. I think it would do what Richard spent his whole life doing—lift people up." Read the original article onPeople

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July 02, 2025

Richard Simmons' Friends Reveal 'Straw That Broke the Camel's Back' and Finally Drove Him Out of 10-Year Seclusion (Exclusive)

Richard Simmons' Friends Reveal 'Straw That Broke the Camel's Back' and Finally Drove Him Out of 10-Year Seclusion (Exclusiv...

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California fireworks warehouse catches fire, explodes: See video

California fireworks warehouse catches fire, explodes: See video

Video shows a fireworks warehouse exploding, causing residents near the area to evacuate, according to officials. On Tuesday, a fireworks warehouse in Yolo County, California, exploded, according to the Yolo County Sheriff's Office. It was located northwest of Sacramento. "As many of you are aware, there was a significant explosion earlier today near the Esparto/Madison area, specifically around County Road 23 and County Road 86A," the sheriff's office stated onFacebook. Video shows plumes of white smoke emanating from the roof before the building explodes, and fireworks begin to erupt. More news:Fatal house explosion wipes out several Philadelphia residences, officials say The active evacuation zone likely stayed in effect throughout the night, but residents of Madison and the Madison Migrant Center were able to return home. Esparto Fire Protection District Chief Curtis Lawrence did not comment on whether the explosion caused any injuries Tuesday night, reportedNBC News. USA TODAY reached out to the Yolo County Sheriff's Office and the Esparto Volunteer Firefighters Association for more information. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation. Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her onLinkedIn,X,InstagramandTikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Video shows California fireworks warehouse exploding

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July 02, 2025

California fireworks warehouse catches fire, explodes: See video

California fireworks warehouse catches fire, explodes: See video Video shows a fireworks warehouse exploding, causing residents near the are...

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