8.17.2024

Facts, without motives.
 

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Good morning. It's Saturday, Aug. 17, and in this weekend edition, we're covering charges in a scheme targeting Elvis Presley's heirs, Thailand's youngest prime minister, and much more. First time reading? Join over 3.8 million readers. Sign up here.

 

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One Big Headline
 

Graceland Scheme Exposed

Federal authorities yesterday arrested a 53-year-old Missouri woman for allegedly orchestrating a scheme to defraud Elvis Presley's family and steal ownership of the rock 'n' roll legend's Graceland estate in Memphis.

 

Lisa Jeanine Findley faces charges of mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. The US Justice Department alleges Findley falsely claimed Elvis' daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, had used Graceland as collateral for a $3.8M loan from a fictitious private lender, Naussany Investments & Private Lending LLC, and never repaid it before her death. Findley sought $2.8M from the Presley family to settle the fabricated debt and posted a fraudulent foreclosure notice, claiming Graceland would be auctioned. A judge later halted the foreclosure after Elvis' granddaughter, Danielle Riley Keough, sued. 

 

Graceland is the second most visited private home in the US, with over 600,000 visitors annually. The 17,000-square-foot mansion was home to Elvis from 1957 until his death in 1977 (see overview). A 2020 estimate places the value of the 14-acre property—purchased in 1957 for $102,500—upward of $400M.

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Quick Hits
 

Hurricane Ernesto poised to hit Bermuda today.

Ernesto—a Category 2 hurricane as of this writing—is expected to pass over or near the British island of Bermuda and bring as much as 15 inches of rain. In Puerto Rico, over 250,000 homes remain without power, and over 170,000 homes remain without running water after Ernesto passed by the US territory late Tuesday. Ernesto is on track to brush parts of Newfoundland, Canada, by Monday. 

 

Vice President Kamala Harris unveils economic proposals.

The Democratic presidential nominee released her plans Friday while giving a speech in North Carolina, a key battleground state. Harris' plans include calling for the construction of 3 million new housing units and a $40B fund to help local housing initiatives, expanding the child tax credit to $6K, and limiting taxes on tips. See all details of her economic proposals here.

 

Thailand elects its youngest prime minister.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 37, was elected as the country's head two days after Thailand’s Constitutional Court removed former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from office. The court dismissed Srettha for an ethics violation in appointing a cabinet member who had been jailed over an alleged bribery attempt. Shinawatra is the daughter of billionaire and former Prime Minister Thaksin, who led Thailand from 2001-06. Her aunt, Yingluck, also served as prime minister from 2011-14. 

 

Wanted Peruvian gang leader arrested in the US.

Gianfranco Torres-Navarro, who is wanted for the murder of 23 people in Peru, was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New York. The 38-year-old Torres-Navarro is believed to be the leader of Peruvian gang "Los Killers." He entered the US illegally through the Texas-Mexico border in May and was awaiting immigration proceedings; US authorities were informed in July that Torres-Navarro was wanted in Peru. 

 

Eugene Levy and Dan Levy to host 2024 Emmy Awards.

The two will make history as the first father-and-son duo to cohost an awards show when the 76th Emmy Awards air Sept. 15 (8 pm ET, ABC). The two Canadians are best known for starring in and cocreating "Schitt's Creek," which broke Emmy Award records in 2020 after winning nine trophies and becoming the first comedy to sweep the four main comedy acting categories.  

 

Jack Russell, former Great White singer, dies at 63.

The singer, who led the 1980s rock band, died from Lewy body dementia (see 101) and multiple system atrophy (see 101) earlier this month, according to a Thursday night announcement. Russell previously had survived a fatal fire in 2003 at a nightclub in Rhode Island where the band was performing. The band’s pyrotechnics ignited the blaze, which killed 100 people, including Great White guitarist Ty Longley.

Humankind
 

Seven friends join a father in a Chicago triathlon to raise money for Citizens United in Research for Epilepsy and to honor his 12-year-old son. (More

 

Pilot daughter surprises her father, who unknowingly was a passenger on her flight. (More, w/video) 

 

Mexico City hospital transforms into a coming-of-age celebration for its patients for the past seven years. (More)

 

Disneyland honors an unused 1985 admissions ticket a father gave to his daughter nearly 40 years later. (More

 

Toddler patient takes charge at medical appointment in sweet interaction with nurse. (More, w/video)

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Humankind(ness)
 

Today, we're sharing a story from reader Sarah G. in Omaha, Nebraska.

 

"We had an unexpected and devastating storm here. More than 200,000 people without power and widespread damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure. I will try to keep the acts of kindness I saw brief, for it was too many to list. Mutual aid utility workers came from all over to help restore power. In our case, it took 6 days and a dozen workers in dangerous conditions. The night of the storm, almost every house on our street had a tree or pole down, one blocking the whole street."

 

"Our neighbors were out in droves—many I had never met before—working together to clear the road. Neighbors that had minimal or no damage were out chopping up trees for other neighbors. People with power opened their homes to those without. It was the most wonderful feeling of community I have ever experienced, and has reminded and inspired me with the awesome power of kindness."

 

What act(s) of kindness did you experience this week? Tell us here.

Etcetera
 

Bookkeeping

> Group claims to have hacked information of 2.9 billion Americans in data breach.

> Survey shows 45% of Americans believe drinking one to two drinks per day is bad for health, while 43% of Americans believe it makes no difference.

 

Browse 

> Seven-foot-long prehistoric mammoth tusk found in Mississippi

> A collection of the all-time greatest print ads.

> Photo shows Perseid meteor shower raining on Stonehenge

Iconic "Poltergeist" house up for sale for first time in 45 years.

> Why do we say "make a beeline?"

 

Listen 

> How Olympians from various sports made it to the top—and what they sacrificed.

 

Watch 

> Expert answers questions all about etiquette.

Take a tour inside a rare Gilded Age Chicago penthouse.

> How free language-learning app Duolingo makes $500M per year.

> Building Lego machines that collapse tall Lego towers.

 

Long Read 

> Director Alfred Hitchcock on his film-making secrets. (from 1964) 

> How the alchemist of New England became a legendary counterfeiter

 

Most Clicked This Week: What it's like living in America's first car-free community.

 

Historybook: Actress Mae West born (1893); Robert De Niro born (1943); George Orwell's "Animal Farm" published (1945); President Bill Clinton admits to improper relationship with Monica Lewinsky (1998); Michael Phelps becomes first person to win eight gold medals in single Olympics (2008).

"Weak or strong, clever or simple, we are all brothers."

- "Animal Farm" by George Orwell

Why 1440? The printing press was invented around the year 1440, spreading knowledge to the masses and changing the course of history. More facts: In every day, there are 1,440 minutes. We’re here to make each one count.

 

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*Disclosure: This is a paid advertisement for LiquidPiston’s Regulation CF Offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.liquidpiston.com

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