Daily Briefing: A rockstar and reality TV dad

Good morning!🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert. Cancel your plans. There's a new episode today of "The Summer I Turned Pretty."

Quick look at Wednesday's news:

• Ozzy Osbourne's death came just weeks after he reunited with Black Sabbath for the heavy metal band's final show in Birmingham, England.
• Jeffrey Epstein fallout continues to plague lawmakers as they prep for August recess.
•  Venus Williams returned to the court for a stunning victory.

Osbourne, 76, was a rock star and reality TV dad

Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne, 76, died July 22 in Birmingham, England, his family announced in a statement Tuesday.

Ozzy Osbourne was a pioneer in more than rock music. His stint on reality television set the stage for every such show that followed, ultimately winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program for "The Osbournes."

• The outlandish singer had a harrowing battle with Parkinson's disease, which had rendered him unable to stand or walk without assistance. He also dealt with substance abuse; Osbourne embarked on a solo career after he was booted from Black Sabbath in 1979 due to his rampant drug and alcohol addiction.
• Osbourne's death came just weeks after reuniting with his band Black Sabbath for a final farewell show in England. In his five decades of making music, he won five Grammys and Black Sabbath was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. Here's a timeline of his career.
• Look back at iconic moments from "The Osbournes": While Osbourne said in 2013 that he regretted doing the show, the series has gone down in the annals of entertainment history and inspired the explosion of celebrity reality television.

Cut the beef

Supply constraints and high demand have driven up the cost of beef, with 100% ground beef prices in June surpassing $6 per pound for the first time since data collection started in the 1980s, according to the Labor Department. A variety of factors have crunched the nation's cattle supply over the years, including recent drought conditions that raised the cost of cattle feed and pushed ranchers to send more cows to slaughter. While costs may dip slightly once grilling season ends, experts say significant price relief could be years away.  

More news to know now

• Safety or intimidation? Masked ICE agents spark debate.
• Is there a path for Trump to block Washington Commanders' stadium deal over the team's name?
• Stephen Colbert revealed the real hairy reason for his "Late Show" firing.
• More than 100 aid, rights groups called for action as hunger spreads in Gaza.
• New research sheds light on the six dams most at risk of failing in the U.S.

What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

Speaker Mike Johnson to shut down House early amid Jeffrey Epstein drama

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, said he is shutting down House operations early this week, sending lawmakers home even sooner ahead of a five-week summer recess, as tensions over Jeffrey Epstein's case files continue to boil. Now, lawmakers will head home to their states and districts until September — and Republicans are expecting to face some scrutiny from disgruntled constituents. A Reuters/Ipsos poll taken July 15 to 16 found 69% of Americans believe the federal government is hiding details about Epstein's clients. Trump’s popularity has taken a hit. Could the pressure build to next year’s midterms? Potentially.

• Watch Trump's response to a DOJ request for a new interview with Ghislaine Maxwell.

Body camera footage released after violent Florida traffic stop goes viral

A Florida sheriff has released body camera footage of a violent traffic stop in which officers were seen smashing a man's window and repeatedly punching him. The new body camera videos show officers confronting William Anthony McNeil Jr. — and punching him — after he questioned why he was pulled over and refused to get out of the car. The release comes after cell phone video McNeil recorded of his interaction with officers gained viral traction online. That footage prompted a criminal review that ended with prosecutors clearing the law enforcement officials of any wrongdoing. “This wasn’t law enforcement, it was brutality," McNeil's legal team said.

Today's talkers

• Attorneys general from 28 states urged the NCAA to erase transgender athlete records.
• These NFL teams could be explosive in 2025.
• They returned used toilets and dirty rugs to Costco. Then came the backlash.
• This woman was prescribed antidepressants. She was in perimenopause.

Venus Williams, 45, wins in magical night for tennis

Venus Williams – the seven-time Grand Slam champion, 45-year-old icon of tennis and soon-to-be bride – ended her singles match telling jokes about health insurance. “I had to come back because they informed me earlier this year I’m on COBRA,” she said, giggling through her on-court interview with Rennae Stubbs after a 6-3, 6-4 victory over world No. 35 Peyton Stearns at the Mubadala Citi DC Open. Williams entered this tournament as a wild card having not played on the WTA Tour since March 2024 and without winning an official match in 709 days. Was entering this tournament out of nowhere a one-off or a comeback? She wouldn’t say.

Photo of the day: A 'Fantastic Four'

These four mean business. Stars Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Vanessa Kirby and Pedro Pascal attended the "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" world premiere Monday in Los Angeles. Check out Paste BN's review of Marvel's latest flick hitting theaters Friday.

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at Paste BN, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com.