5 charged in Matthew Perry's death
Five people have been charged in Matthew Perry's death. It looks as if Tim Walz and JD Vance are heading for the debate stage. And does having a Disney+ subscription mean you can't ever sue Disney?
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Criminal charges in Matthew Perry's overdose death
A doctor and a personal assistant were among five people who have been charged in connection to "Friends" star Matthew Perry's death from "the acute effects of ketamine" last October, officials said Thursday.
What we know: A doctor, 42-year-old Salvador Plasencia, and Perry's live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, 59, are facing charges. Laying out the moments that led to Perry's death, official said the defendants were involved in acquiring and administering the ketamine to Perry, and then trying "to cover up what they did." 👉 Everything we know so far.
Veep debate coming soon?
Coming soon to a debate stage: vice presidential candidates Tim Walz and JD Vance. Kamala Harris' running mate agreed to debate Donald Trump's in a showdown hosted by CBS News in October. Walz confirmed Wednesday that he has accepted the invitation; Vance agreed to debate Walz but wanted to research the rules and moderators before agreeing to the date. 🎤 What we know.
- Veep comparison: How Walz stacks up vs. Vance.
- Date TBD: Harris agrees to second presidential debate.
- With Black women in charge, expect a different Dem convention.
Real quick
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Hurricane Ernesto strengthens
After battering Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, Hurricane Ernesto on Thursday churned in the western Atlantic toward Bermuda, threatening to intensify into a major hurricane before reaching the British territory.
What's going on: As of Thursday afternoon, Ernesto, now a Category 1 hurricane, was 550 miles south-southwest of Bermuda with sustained winds of 85 mph, the National Hurricane Center said. Moving at 14 mph, the storm was expected to begin dumping heavy rain over Bermuda on Friday before passing near or over the island Saturday. 🌀 See the full forecast.
📸 Photos: Ernesto batters Puerto Rico.
When the fine print is less than fine
Walt Disney Co. is trying to toss out a widower’s wrongful death lawsuit, arguing he agreed to settle any disputes with the entertainment giant and any of its affiliates out of court when he signed up for a free trial of its streaming service Disney+.
What happened? In February, Jeffrey Piccolo sued Walt Disney Parks and Resorts after his wife, who was allergic to nuts and dairy, experienced a severe allergic reaction and died after dining at a restaurant at Walt Disney World. But Disney lawyers said the matter should be referred to an outside arbitrator because when Piccolo signed up for Disney+ and when he bought tickets to EPCOT on the Disney website, he agreed in the terms and conditions to arbitrate all disputes against the company. And experts say many other consumers may be unwittingly signing away their legal rights when they "agree" to the fine print on everyday purchases. 👉 Here's what we know.
A break from the news
- 📲 Yes, you can get cell service on a cruise ship.
- 🪺 Fluff up your feathers for our favorite smart bird feeders.
- 🐘 Watch: Meet Ellie, the internet's favorite mascot.
Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at Paste BN. Say hi: laura@usatoday.com. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to Paste BN here.