samhexum

Local regulators should immediately stop Elon Musk’s supercomputer project from operating in South Memphis because it’s out of compliance with environmental rules, the NAACP wrote in a letter sent Thursday to Shelby County officials. The civil rights group addressed the request to Dr. Michelle Taylor, director of the Shelby County Health Department, and to the commissioners of Memphis Light Gas and Water. The health department is responsible for implementing federal air regulations in Shelby County, which encompasses Memphis. “Being the world’s richest man doesn’t give you the right to pollute Black communities and jeopardize the health of its residents,” NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson said in a statement to NBC News. “We urge the health department to step in immediately.” When contacted, a spokesperson for Memphis Light Gas and Water said it had not received the NAACP letter and could not comment on it. Neither the health department nor xAI immediately responded to questions about the letter, which was also signed by the presidents of the Tennessee and Memphis chapters of the NAACP. In a previous statement to NBC News, xAI said its “operations comply with all applicable laws” and that it “works collaboratively with County and City officials, EPA personnel, and community leaders regarding all things that affect Memphis.” xAI has come under scrutiny in recent months for operating methane gas turbines at its Memphis facility to meet the electricity needs of the supercomputer Colossus. The turbines emit pollutants, including nitrogen oxides and formaldehyde, according to their manufacturer. Environmental groups and the NAACP believe the turbines required permits under the Clean Air Act; the city’s health department, the mayor and the Chamber of Commerce have said permits were not required for the turbines’ first year of use. xAI, which is now seeking a permit for 15 permanent turbines, said those would be equipped with pollution controls and only be used as backup once other energy options are available. Earlier this month, NBC News reported on a South Memphis neighborhood called Boxtown, about two miles from xAI’s facility, where residents are concerned that Musk’s project will harm the area’s already poor air quality. “They got money. And they can do what they want to do, you know, without consulting us,” said Easter Knox, who has lived in the area since 1977. Knox told NBC News she and her husband both struggle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which can be exacerbated by pollution. Health department officials have been limited in their comments about the project. On Friday, news broke that Taylor, the department head, would be leaving Shelby County to oversee the Baltimore City Health Department. Colossus, which xAI calls the world’s largest supercomputer, came online in September 2024 to train Grok, the company’s chatbot. But critics say the project’s potential economic benefit to the community is outweighed by environmental concerns. “While we applaud research and innovation,” the NAACP letter states, “there must be limits that ensure that communities are healthy and alive to enjoy the benefits of any potential innovation.” Shelby County health officials are expected to make a decision on xAI’s application in the coming weeks. Memphis Mayor Paul Young previously told NBC’s “Nightly News” that the city plans to work with a researcher to implement air monitoring in the months ahead.

yes... you need a proofreader.

Tucked away from Queens’ more bustling corridors, a quiet stretch of Corona Avenue offers a rich, often-overlooked trove of hidden gems for food enthusiasts willing to venture off the beaten path. Between Broadway and Junction Boulevard, this unassuming portion in Corona stands as a vibrant microcosm of the borough’s global food culture. Despite its location in a relative transit desert—roughly a 15-minute walk from the nearest 7 train station and the buzz of Roosevelt Avenue—the corridor delivers an impressive array of international flavors. From Dominican eateries and Peruvian kitchens to Bangladeshi cafes and creative fusion pizzerias, the area showcases the authentic, multicultural identity that has made Queens the “World’s Borough.” Mom-and-pop restaurants dominate the stretch, many of them offering home-style cooking in intimate settings that evoke a strong sense of cultural pride and community. Some businesses have been part of the neighborhood for decades, serving generations of families, while others represent new ventures by local entrepreneurs pursuing the American Dream. Among the newer additions is Five Dreams Pizzeria y Antojitos, a Mexican-inspired pizzeria that opened earlier this year at 94-66B Corona Ave. Owners German and Norma, a local couple who began selling pizza from street corners, officially acquired their storefront in late December. Since then, they’ve attracted attention with their inventive approach to pizza, combining traditional offerings like plain cheese and pepperoni with bold, culturally-infused creations such as mole pizza and a tricolor pie featuring chorizo, onions and jalapeños. Located just down the street from Five Dreams at 94-60A Corona Ave. is El Gauchito, an Argentinian neighborhood staple that is the polar opposite of the newly opened pizzeria. El Gauchito, an Argentinian grill and butcher shop, has lined Corona Avenue for 47 years, providing local residents with delicious home-style meals that could well have been served in an Argentinian home. However, restaurant owners along Corona Avenue believe the area’s location can hamper business, with the nearest subway station located more than a 15-minute walk away. As a result, outsiders are less likely to journey to this stretch of Corona Avenue and sample the many flavors that it has to offer. Bin Li, who recently opened Mr. Q’s BBQ at 90-58 Corona Ave., offering a range of Chinese barbecue street food, said businesses have been slowly picking up since he opened earlier in the year. Li added that it would be a big boost if more people traveled to Corona Avenue to sample the area’s offerings. “I think it’s a little far for people to just walk down this block right here (unprompted from the subway),” Li said. “I think more exposure would be good for us.” George Landin, the owner of specialty clothing and sneaker store All The Right at 91-30 Corona Ave., has called this neighborhood home since early childhood and believes Corona Avenue boasts “hidden secrets” that out-of-towners are missing out on. “They’re missing out on a lot of gems,” Landin said. Landin, who has done business in the area for decades, said some restaurants in the area miss out because of presentation, stating that underwhelming storefronts sometimes fail to entice customers to come in. He encouraged customers to “take that one extra step” and check out what the restaurants have to offer. “Everybody’s looking for an experience,” Landin said. “But little do they know, they have these amazing home-cooked meals right in their backyard. They just gotta take that one extra step, which is going inside, opening up the door and looking at the menu.” This stretch of Corona Avenue is certainly worth promoting. Whether you’re looking for Ecuadorian-style cooking at El Guayaquileno, Bangladeshi food at Mezban House, Dominican staples at Yolanda’s, or freshly baked goods at popular neighborhood bakeries such as K&E Café or El Artesano, Corona Avenue has something for everyone. The area also features $1 pizza slices exclusively for students at the newly opened Asian Halal Kitchen, located at 90-02 Corona Ave. While the special pricing is reserved for students, slices remain affordably priced for all customers.

BEN NEEDS A JOB. WANNA GIVE HIM ONE? The Rays intend to designate catcher Ben Rortvedt for assignment, reports Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times. That will clear an active roster spot for new backup catcher Matt Thaiss, who was acquired from the White Sox this afternoon. Topkin notes that Rortvedt was bidding emotional farewells to his teammates after tonight’s loss to Minnesota.

That's her maiden name. She got married & now hyphenates: Ida Slapter-Silly.

Tampa's Junior Caminero is supposed to be their next star. Every time I see his name in a boxscore, this plays in my head:

Delays, closures and ID checks now in effect at NYC airports Air travelers are urged to prepare for significant changes and ongoing construction impacting access to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport, according to a new travel advisory issued by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on Tuesday, May 27. As of this month, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) no longer accepts state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant at airport security checkpoints. All airline passengers age 18 and older must present either a REAL ID-compliant license or an acceptable alternative form of identification, such as a valid passport or Global Entry card. Travelers without a compliant ID should be prepared for additional screening procedures. A full list of acceptable IDs is available on the TSA website. With high demand expected through the summer travel season, the Port Authority strongly encourages travelers heading to JFK, LaGuardia, or Newark Liberty International Airport to use mass transit whenever possible. Drivers planning to park at the airports are advised to pre-book parking spaces at least 24 hours in advance. Those who do not pre-book may face a peak period drive-up surcharge and could be turned away due to limited availability. Due to the $19 billion redevelopment project at JFK, travelers should anticipate extensive roadway detours, terminal access changes and for-hire vehicle pickup relocations. Van Wyck Expressway Closures May 27–28 (5 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) and May 28–29 (11:59 p.m. to 5 a.m.): Exit C (southbound Van Wyck) closed. Detour signage is in place via Exit B. Motorists should allow an additional 10 minutes of travel time. Terminal 1 Until further notice, the JFK Expressway is closed for customers traveling to/from Terminal 1. Drivers will be detoured via on-airport roads. Allow 10–15 minutes of extra travel time. Terminal 4 For-hire vehicle pickups have been relocated to Lot 66. A free shuttle service runs every 1–2 minutes from Terminal 4’s arrivals level. Ramp access from both JFK Expressway and Van Wyck Expressway to Terminal 4 is modified; drivers should follow signage and expect delays. Terminal 5 For-hire vehicle pickups now occur at the Howard Beach Ride App & Car Services Lot. Passengers must take the AirTrain JFK to reach the lot. The taxi stand has moved to the ground level of the Terminal 5 Yellow Parking Garage, accessible via the fifth-floor skywalk. Level 1 of the Yellow Parking Lot is now designated for individuals with special needs. All other vehicles must park on levels 2–6. Terminals 7 & 8 For-hire vehicle pickups for both terminals have also moved to the Howard Beach lot. Free AirTrain service is available from the terminals. Ramp from inbound Van Wyck Expressway to Terminals 7 and 8 is closed; motorists should follow detour signs via JFK Expressway and allow 10–15 additional minutes. The Terminal 7 taxi stand has been relocated to the departures level. Travelers are urged to check airport updates and use the free drop-off and pickup lot at the Lefferts Boulevard AirTrain station whenever possible. LaGuardia Airport: Free bus service to encourage mass transit To reduce roadway congestion and encourage public transit use, the Q70 LaGuardia Link bus remains fare-free year-round. The bus provides direct service between LaGuardia and major subway and Long Island Rail Road hubs in Queens. For more information on using public transit to travel to LaGuardia Airport, visit the MTA’s dedicated airport travel page. Travelers are advised to plan ahead, allow for extra travel time, and stay updated on airport changes to avoid delays and missed flights.

Utopia Bagels opens in Long Island City with free bagels and long lines

Any early Matlock scoop? Showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman is on a mission to guest-cast the real-life loves of at least two cast members. “Obviously I want Melanie Lynskey (Jason Ritter’s wife and a Yellowjackets star) to come on and play a fun character, and I want Edwin Hodge (Skye P. Marshall’s husband and very recently of FBI: Most Wanted) to come on and play a fun character…,” she shared with me. “I’ve got a lot of plans!”

Geri Jewell knows for a fact which episode was her favorite. The actress, 68, starred as Blair Warner’s cousin, Geri Tyler, on the iconic ’80s sitcom “Facts of Life,” and she still looks back at her time on the show with the fondest of memories. “Out of all the episodes I did, my favorite one was the first one,” Jewell exclusively told The Post during the Jonathan Foundation Fundraiser last Saturday. “The very first one that I did,” expressed the comedian, whose first episode was Season 2, Episode 5, titled “Cousin Geri.” “It was written for me. It was tailored for me.” Jewell, who has cerebral palsy, a condition that affects movement and posture, brought awareness to those with disabilities by being the first disabled actress to have a recurring role on a primetime television show. The actress, who starred in the hit TV series alongside Lisa Whelchel, Mindy Cohn, Kim Fields, Nancy McKeon and Charlotte Rae, landed the role thanks to one of the show’s executive producers, Norman Lear. “Norman Lear had seen me perform, and he came up to me after the show to introduce himself. In fact, Charlotte Rae was in the audience that night,” she recounted to The Post. “And he introduced himself and said, ‘You know, you’re really funny, kid, but you’re way before your time.’ And I said, ‘So? So wait a couple months!’ He couldn’t believe my response, and two months later, he asked me on ‘Facts.'” She appeared on “Facts of Life” for twelve episodes from 1980 until 1984. “I have been blessed with so many people who have been there for me and guided me,” Jewell gushed. “Norman Lear, David Milch. How lucky can you get?” While her “Facts of Life” days are behind her, she’s still tight with one cast member. The stand-up comic revealed she’s still in touch with Whelchel, 61, who played Blair Warner in the series, adding that they are “very close.” “I meet people all the time, and they say, ‘I saw you on ‘Facts of Life,’ and you really changed my life,” Jewell recalled. “I think I created a sensitivity about people with disabilities that wasn’t quite there before — and humor. That was very rare back then. And now there are so many comedians with cerebral palsy!” Jewell has had to adjust how she takes care of her body, explaining she soothes herself through “pain management.” “And I get two vials of Botox injected in my neck, shoulders and back every three months for chronic pain,” Jewell added. “I’ve been on Botox since ’99. I have the neck of a 12-year-old!” Jewell has gotten candid in the past about her titanium neck, sharing on Steve Kmetko’s “Still Here Hollywood” podcast that she deals with the challenges by having “a sense of humor.” “It’s challenging because now I have other issues with aging. Walking isn’t as easy as it used to be,” Jewell detailed in March. “I’ve had a certain gait, but my balance is not near as good. My hearing is impaired even more, and I get very, very frustrated.” She broke her neck in 1999, which required emergency surgery. “My neck is now 45% titanium, and it’s pretty strong. But this cerebral palsy still wants to move my head all over the place,” the trailblazer confessed, “and my neck is going, ‘No. I can’t do that.’” “I have dystonia, which I always had, but I never realized it,” Jewell said about the muscle disorder — which creates involuntary contractions. It also causes her “neck [to be] pulled to one side.” “I have a titanium neck. I know when the Botox is wearing off because it’s pulling even farther,” said Jewell. “So I have a lot of issues, but so does everybody else when they age.” Despite the hurdles, the Hollywood vet noted: “I’m very blessed.” “All the challenges that I’ve had — that everybody has in life — it’s a sense of humor that’s gonna get us through it,” she continued. “Because if I couldn’t laugh once a while I’d be in a loony bin. I have to laugh. You have to.” “Facts of Life” followed a group of girls at the prestigious Eastland School for Young Women and was one of NBC’s highest-rated shows in the 1980s. Despite rumors of a reboot swirling in the decades since, Cohn, 59, alleged last year that any plans they had fell through due to a “greedy bitch.” “We were all very, very disappointed that it didn’t work,” Whelchel confessed to Closer Weekly in April. Although the person in question has remained unnamed, the “Collector’s Call” alum added, “We’d been trying to find a way to work together in some capacity for probably the last 10 years.” “So, when it looked like this was going to happen, we were all really excited. The contracts were signed and then the writers’ strike happened, the actors’ strike happened, and then, unfortunately, Pa [Charlotte Rae] and Norman Lear passed. After that, it just kind of dissolved.” Whelchel pressed, “We were all quite disappointed.” Rae, who starred as housemother Mrs. Garrett, died at age 92 in 2018, five years before Lear passed away in 2023 at 101. In 2001, the actresses came together in “The Facts of Life Reunion,” which saw their characters reunite in Peekskill, NY, for Thanksgiving with Mrs. Garrett. Even though a reboot might never come to fruition, the actors still manage to stay close in real life. Last summer, Jewell and Whelchel posed together for a sweet shot on social media. “We aren’t technically family but since we played one on TV (Cousin Geri) and we’ve known each other for almost a half a century, it sure feels like it!” Whelchel captioned the Instagram photo. “So good to catch up with the funny and wise and deep and talented, Geri Jewell!”

That's NASTY!

Jasson Dominguez is the first player in history to hit three homers in a game, homer from both sides of the plate in one contest, mash a grand slam, and drill a walk-off homer all in the same month. Not a bad May, all things considered.

I KNEW you were just a bitter old boytoy, angry because he dumped you.

Season two will be 18 episodes

Not sure... Is this...?

He's been doing well as an emergency fill-in in CF for SD, which had him playing in the minors. Then, tonight, guess who made his pitching debut in a blowout loss? He retired the first batter he faced, walked the second, then gave up a double and a single before he got the last two outs. I don't foresee a permanent position change in his future.

I'm sure everyone has been posting about this all day, but the world mourns the loss of Michael B. Tretow. He, of course, was ABBA's sound engineer.

76

Considering that the two women from that scene are each worth hundreds of millions (and probably much more) I think they could both spare a square.

The Food and Drug Administration unveiled plans Tuesday to narrow its approval for updated coronavirus vaccines to older adults and people with at least one health condition that puts them at high risk for severe disease, marking a significant shift in the agency’s approach to green-lighting the shots. The new guidelines indicate updated vaccines will probably be available in the fall for Americans over the age of 65, as well as those older than 6 months who have at least one condition putting them at higher risk of severe illness, as well as people with conditions such as asthma, diabetes, cancer and obesity, in addition to pregnant women. Top FDA leaders estimate over 100 million Americans would be eligible for the shots under the new framework.

A New Hampshire town’s attempt to force a bakery to remove or alter its painting that shows sunbeams shining down on a mountain range of doughnuts, a muffin, a cinnamon roll and other pastries is unconstitutional, a judge ruled in a First Amendment dispute. The town of Conway infringed on the free speech rights of bakery owner Sean Young, U.S. District Judge Joseph Laplante ruled Monday, following a one-day trial in February. He ordered the town to stop any efforts at enforcing its sign code regarding the mural painted by high school students atop Leavitt’s Country Bakery, mentioning a “complete disconnect between what the ordinance purports to regulate and the town’s enforcement, as well as the illogical way it applied and explained that enforcement” to Leavitt’s. “I’m thrilled that the students’ artwork can remain up, I’m thrilled that my First Amendment rights have been vindicated, and I’m thrilled that the community can continue to enjoy the beautiful piece of art,” Young said in a statement. “I think our mural is a wonderful depiction of everything that makes the Mount Washington Valley such a great place to live.” Young asked for $1 in damages. A lawyer representing Conway said they were disappointed by the outcome, but agreed with Laplante that the town and its officials “conducted themselves conscientiously and in good faith in managing town business.” The community of more than 10,000 people in the White Mountains draws skiers, nature lovers and shoppers. Some residents want regulations enforced as they worry about overdevelopment in the tourist town. When the mural went up in June 2022, it attracted a lot of compliments and visitors, including one from a town zoning officer. The zoning board decided that the painting was not so much art as advertising. The board determined it was a sign, and so it could not remain as is because of its size. At about 90 square feet (8.4 square meters), it’s four times bigger than the local sign code allows. If the painting didn’t show what’s sold inside — baked goods — it wouldn’t be considered a sign and could stay, board members said. The town has shown that “restricting the size of signs serves the significant government interest of preserving the town’s aesthetics, promoting safety, and ensuring equal enforcement,” lawyers for Conway said in a court document. Laplante said Conway’s interests “are undermined if the only regulated displays are those that depict products or services sold on the premises where the display is located, and no others.” Young sued in 2023 after he was told to modify or remove the painting, which he said was never intended to be a sign. He was faced with possible misdemeanor criminal charges and fines after his appeals were rejected. Both sides agreed in court that the town’s definition of a sign is very broad and even the judge said it seemed to include “everything.” A sign in Conway is “any device, fixture, placard, structure or attachment thereto that uses color, form, graphic, illumination, symbol, or writing to advertise, announce the purpose of, or identify the purpose of any person or entity, or to communicate information of any kind to the public, whether commercial or noncommercial.” The town “will continue to work conscientiously and in good faith to ensure that the constitutional rights of all are not infringed, while maintaining public safety and Conway’s natural beauty,” Brooke Lovett Shilo, one of the lawyers representing Conway, said in a statement Monday.

A new documentary is delving into Wendy Williams’ alcoholism. An hour-long special, called TRAPPED: What Is Happening to Wendy Williams?, premiered on Monday, May 19, on the ID Channel, taking a deeper look into her life under a guardianship. The former talk show host, 60, currently resides in a secured floor of a New York City assisted living facility, but investigative journalist Diane Dimond claimed that wasn’t always the case. “Wendy was on the third floor in this care unit, where she has access to the hallways, to the elevators,” Dimond alleged. “And on her birthday, she decided to get in the elevator and see where she could go. Well, it went all the way up to the rooftop bar, and it being her birthday, she ordered a drink, and then another one, and another. Who knows how many, but she will admit to you that she got drunk, she had a relapse.” “Her treatment is to be sent to a much more restrictive ward,” she claimed. “And that was the fifth floor, the memory care unit, where she has a room with a bathroom and a television, and she is locked into that floor 24/7 unless the guardian gives her permission to go out once in a while.” Representatives for Williams did not immediately return PEOPLE's request for comment. Williams, who was placed in a guardianship in 2022 and diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) the following year, has addressed these claims before. During a March interview on The View, she admitted that she “celebrated” in July 2024 when she turned 60, but insisted that she is now sober. "[My] relationship [with substances] is fine and is wonderful,” she said. “I've had my vices and I have to tell you something: I am easily going on with my life, alcohol-free." Several doctors have weighed in on the possibility of Williams having alcohol-induced dementia, rather than FTD. “Alcohol is one of the main causes of cognitive decline and dementia,” brain disorder specialist Daniel Amen said in TRAPPED. “In fact, I believe that alcoholic dementia is the second most common cause.” Since Williams began speaking out about her conservatorship and health issues at the beginning of 2025, her guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, has requested that she receive “a new medical evaluation that will involve comprehensive neurological and psychological testing by a specialist in the field.” “The issue of whether [Williams] has the capacity to assess what is in her own best interests deserves renewed careful consideration by qualified experts, and should not be left to careless speculation in tabloids, radio, or on the Internet,” the Feb. 5 filing stated. Then, in March, Williams was taken to the hospital following a welfare check requested by her health care advocate, Ginalisa Monterroso. When the pair later called into Good Day New York, Williams announced that she "passed" the exams at the hospital "with flying colors.” Morrissey, however, told PEOPLE that Williams never scheduled her new medical evaluation. “Medical testing, including an MRI brain scan and neuropsychological assessment, had been scheduled for Ms. Williams,” Morrissey told PEOPLE. “The Court directed that the testing be completed in March. Ms. Williams has declined to participate in the testing to date and therefore, the testing was not completed.” In response, Williams told PEOPLE that she was not aware of the guardian’s claim that she had opted out of recent testing. “I don’t know anything about that,” she said with a laugh, adding: “Bulls---. I am open to what I am open to and I can’t talk about it right now.” Trapped: What Is Happening to Wendy Williams? is available to stream on Max.