Backstage at Monday night’s Emmy Awards, newly minted Dopesick winner Michael Keaton was asked about the unexpected shelving of Batgirl.
Keaton, who starred in two movies as Batman/Bruce Wayne for director Tim Burton, reprised the role in Batgirl, which starred Leslie Grace as the titular heroine/Barbara Gordon. JK Simmons, Brendan Fraser and Ivory Aquino also starred in the film.
When asked about Warner Bros. Discovery’s decision to shelve the project, Keaton managed, “Ah, it was kind of a business decision. I don’t really follow [that stuff] that much. I assume it was a good one.”
He also seemed to describe working on Batgirl as “great fun.”
Officially, Keaton will appear along with another Batman, Ben Affleck in the forthcoming Flash film, which is reportedly still on track for a 2023 release despite myriad controversies involving its star, Ezra Miller. Perhaps that’s why Keaton demurred, cracking a joke instead about when he’ll be seen next in the cape and cowl.
“A little later tonight, probably, if you’re lucky enough,” Keaton joked, before adding, “No kidding. I don’t know….We’ll see,” and finishing with, “I really have no idea.”
(NEW YORK) — Americans are finally starting to see the red-hot rental market begin to cool off, after record growth.
A combination of strong demand, low supply and high inflation have kept pressure on rental prices nationwide, but for the first time in 20 months, asking rental prices saw negative growth, falling 0.1% from July to August, according to CoStar Group.
CoStar Group, a provider of online real estate marketplaces, information and analytics, said this points toward a “deteriorating rental market” in its report.
It is welcome relief for renters who have seen their rents rise while dealing with inflation.
Rent prices climbed during the first half of 2022, hitting a national average of $2,495, according to HouseCanary’s National Rental Report.
While rental prices are still rising year-over-year, the pace of growth is slowing. Asking rents fell to 7.1% in August, down from 8.4% at the end of July, according to CoStar.
Cities that saw the fastest growth in rents in 2021 are now witnessing the largest pullback.
Palm Beach, Floridda saw the most dramatic slowdown in growth, where asking rents decreased from 30.6% in the fourth quarter of 2021 to 8.2% at the end of August, according to CoStar. Phoenix followed close behind with year-over-year rents dropping to 5.2% in August compared to 21% at the end of 2021. Rents in Tampa, Florida have also seen decreases and Las Vegas also fell double digits so far this year.
Still, nearly half of all renters in the U.S. are paying 30% or more of their annual income on rent, according to a report from Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies.
Marissa DuBee remembers having “sticker shock” when searching for a rental this summer.
DuBee, a 30-year-old social media marketer, and her fiance Troy, a commercial truck driver, had been renting a fully-furnished, 1,700 square foot, three-bedroom home in Greentown, Pennsylvania, for $1,250 a month. However, she told ABC News that their landlord decided to cash in on the hot-housing market this spring and sell the home, which meant they had to move into the basement of her mother’s house until they could find an affordable rental.
“It’s always tough to go back once you’ve been out on your own,” she said. “And we were very fortunate and lucky enough that my mom let us live there with open arms.”
DuBee said they currently pay $1,300 a month for a much smaller rental in the same town; a single-wide mobile home with three bedrooms. She said the two are trying to save as much as they can for their November 2023 wedding.
“The both of us are working as hard as we can to make ends meet to plan the wedding of our dreams. It definitely is challenging especially with the cost of everything just going up, but in the end we know it’ll all be worth it,” DuBee said.
Housing accounts for about one-third of inflation. The Consumer Price Index reached an annual rate of 8.3% in August, the highest in nearly 40 years, the Labor Department said. Average hourly earnings rose 5.2% in August from a year ago.
With a rental income of $4,000 a month, 22-year-old Grace Villiano thought she and her roommate would have plenty of options when they were looking for an apartment in Manhattan, New York. What they found instead was intense competition and bidding wars for too few apartments.
“Every apartment we would schedule an open house to see would be sent into contract within 20 minutes of us contacting the property,” Villiano said. “We would have people walking in front of us offering multiple thousands above asking. It was honestly, overall, very frustrating that we felt we could barely get our foot in the door and that we would ultimately have to agree to an apartment without being able to see it or perhaps even see a floor plan.”
While rent prices are showing signs of stabilizing in some markets, New York City rents remain at a record high. This summer, the average monthly rent in Manhattan topped $5,000 for the first time, according to a report by the real estate appraiser, Miller Samuel.
A New York City property manager, with over 2,000 rental units in Manhattan, said inflation is also impacting landlords. Speaking with ABC News on the condition of anonymity, the property manager said, “We’re paying more for utilities like water and gas, more for maintenance and staff, which is the main reason why rents have remained elevated.”
The property manager also said current rents in the city may seem artificially higher than they truly are because they are being compared with prices during the height of the pandemic, when many landlords were slashing rents and offering major perks to lure renters back to big cities.
For many Americans, rising mortgage rates continue to complicate the question of whether to buy or rent, experts said. In some markets, mortgage payments are the highest on record relative to monthly rent.
According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, the median monthly mortgage payment was almost one-and-a-half-times as much as the median monthly asking rent in the second quarter.
Analysts said that may have forced many people, especially first-time home buyers, to hold off on buying a home, adding further pressure on rental prices.
But there are reasons for optimism. Analysts said a record volume of apartment construction over the next year could help ease a supply crunch, which in turn, would work to keep rental prices in check.
CoStar projects rent growth will continue to slow in the coming months, ending the year 6.2% higher than last year. Things are expected to decelerate even further in 2023, when CoStar projects rents to rise 4.9%.
While renters don’t have much control over rising prices, experts said renewing your current lease will likely give you the smallest increase in rent, since renewal rates typically tend to be lower than rents being offered to new renters. They they also recommend locking in a longer-term lease to avoid higher annual rent increases.
As if offering four different colored vinyl versions of her upcoming album Midnights wasn’t enough, Taylor Swift‘s announced yet another version of her album, and this one comes with bonus tracks.
The “Lavender” edition of the album, available in both vinyl and CD, is a Target exclusive with three bonus tracks. Target is taking preorders for both versions now, which come with a lyric booklet featuring never-before-seen photos, plus “unique collectible disc artwork.”
Taylor had previously announced Moonstone Blue, Jade Green, Mahogany and Blood Moon vinyl versions of the album, which is coming out October 21.
(WASHINGTON) — The 2022 primary season is coming to a close with the cycle’s final contests being held Tuesday in New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Delaware.
All eyes are on New Hampshire as the state features some of the most competitive races in the nation.
One of New Hampshire’s Senate seats is up for grabs with Democrat Maggie Hassan seeking reelection and Republicans believe they can pick up the seat as part of their drive to retake control of Congress.
With New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu opting not to run in the GOP Senate primary, a crowded Republican field emerged as a result. GOP retired Army Brig. Gen. Don Bolduc and state Senate President Chuck Morse are seen as the leading candidates.
Bolduc has become known for his hard-line views. In the past, he has called Sununu a “Chinese Communist sympathizer,” has pushed for the appeal of the 17th Amendment codifying direct popular election of U.S. senators and has raised abolishing the FBI.
Meanwhile, the GOP establishment in the Granite State hopes that Morse can defeat Bolduc in the primary. Morse is running on issues including inflation and parents’ rights in education that voters have said are important to them this election cycle.
Meanwhile, Democrats have also meddled in the New Hampshire Senate race boosting Bolduc, who they see as the weakest candidate to go up against Hassan in the general election. This is a similar tactic that has been played out in other competitive midterm elections where Democrats, during the primary, try to elevate the most right-wing candidate who may then prove weaker with the broader electorate in the general election.
The battle for control of the House also runs through New Hampshire, as the state’s only two congressional districts are in play.
In the state’s highly competitive 1st Congressional District, Democratic incumbent Rep. Chris Pappas must defend his seat against whoever emerges as the Republican nominee in the GOP primary. Although there are several candidates in the race, the top two players are former Trump White House adviser Matt Mowers and former White House press aide Karoline Leavitt.
Although both candidates are supporters of former President Donald Trump, Mowers has called for regular audits of elections but acknowledges that Joe Biden won the 2020 election, while Leavitt pushes false claims about the 2020 election.
The GOP primary in the district has also caused a divide among Republican leadership House GOP leadership. Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Minority Whip Steve Scalise have backed Mowers, while GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik has endorsed Leavitt, her former press secretary.
As for the state’s 2nd Congressional District, the two frontrunners are Keene Mayor George Hansel and former Hillsborough County Treasurer Robert Burns. Whoever emerges as the winner will face off against Democratic Rep. Annie Kuster.
In Rhode Island’s gubernatorial race, all the action is in the Democratic primary.
Gov. Dan McKee is looking to win a full term after moving from lieutenant governor following then-Gov. Gina Raimondo’s appointment to Biden’s cabinet in 2021. But although McKee has been the sitting governor since 2001, the road to securing the Democratic nomination won’t be easy. Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea and former CVS Health executive Helena Foulkes are also seen as strong candidates in the Democratic primary for governor.
In the state’s 2nd Congressional District, Democratic Rep. Jim Langevin is retiring, leaving the seat open. The leading candidate in the race is Rhode Island General Treasurer Seth Magaziner. Throughout his campaign, he has spoken on protecting abortion rights and social security.
Michael Bublé is going to help motivate the dancers on the new season of Dancing with the Stars…with his own dedicated week on the show.
On Instagram, Michael posted the announcement and wrote, “Surprise! It’s me! A whole week of Bublé on this season of Dancing With The Stars. Comment which of my songs you want to hear and I’ll see what I can do!”
Not only will the contestants be dancing to Michael’s music on October 24, but the singer will also serve as a guest judge that night.
This will be Dancing with the Stars‘ first season on Disney+. It kicks off September 19 with cast members including Selma Blair, Wayne Brady, Jordin Sparks, Cheryl Ladd, Charlie D’Amelio and Teresa Giudice, among others.
(DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.) — A “cruel prank” at a high school in Florida that created a panic in the cafeteria just a day after threatening graffiti was discovered in a bathroom stall has led authorities to press charges against the “pranksters” and recommend expulsion for all involved.
The troubling incident began last Thursday at Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, Florida, when the Daytona Beach Police Department were made aware of a specific threat that had been written on one of the bathroom stalls in the school which caused them to start an investigation.
“The school and DBPD reviewed video and identified two students that had entered into the bathroom when the graffiti was discovered,” the Daytona Beach Police Department said in a statement released on social media. “These students were interviewed by law enforcement and denied any involvement … After a thorough investigation, it was determined that no threat existed, however we added additional law enforcement presence as a precaution.”
But it was on Friday when police say that two different groups of students decided to “capitalize on the threat from the day before” by collaborating with each other to incite a mass panic within the school.
Authorities allege that the two groups can be seen on surveillance cameras inside the school working together to get into specific positions at different locations inside the cafeteria in carefully timed movements, police say.
“Several female students walk towards the school administrator laughing and smiling, all the way, up until they reached the administrator, at which point one of the females tells the administrator that someone had a gun,” allege the DBPD in their statement. “At this same time, one of the male kids, already positioned near the exit to the cafeteria, waited until the female student made the statement, then looked at her and ran out of the building, causing a large crowd to follow him.”
Furthermore, police say that video of the individuals who they suspect orchestrated the entire incident indicate that neither the male nor female students “ever observed a gun or flinched as you would expect when shots had just been fired.”
“At no time in the video, does anyone stand on a table and present a gun, or fire shots,” authorities confirmed.
The Daytona Beach Police Department said that they have been working non-stop on this investigation since the incident by tracking down leads, reviewing video, identifying people who could be involved and conducting interviews.
“We have identified everyone involved and have interviewed nearly all of them, and so far, when presented with the video (which clearly shows the area and everyone’s movements), no one has been able to point out the guy on the table, a gun, or the moment the shots would have been fired,” said the DBPD. “Stories have changed from seeing the guy, or a gun, to ‘they just heard there was one.’ This entire incident appears to have been a cruel prank by several students that has now gotten out of control due to internet trolls, miss-informed people and in some cases, people that are not even in Florida, or have kids that go to school at Mainland.”
In spite of this incident ultimately being a false alarm, police have confirmed that they will increase their law enforcement presence at the school.
Authorities did not name those involved with the incident or say how many people they were charging but did say that the “pranksters” have charges pending for making a false report concerning the use of firearms in a violent manner against a person or persons, which is a second-degree felony in the state of Florida.
The Daytona Beach Police Department also confirmed that expulsion from the school will be recommended for all involved.
Police concluded their statement by reminding people not to re-share posts on social media containing unverified information and asking witnesses with information to come directly to them rather than posting it on social media.
Said the Daytona Beach Police Department: “We cannot locate every single post online and this only delays our response and investigation.”
HBO Max announced on Monday that it has renewed up Rap Sh!t, the comedy from creator Issa Rae and showrunner Syreeta Singleton, for a second season. The show follows two former high school besties — played by Aida Osman and KaMillion — who come together to form a rap group. “We’re so happy to play in the world of Rap Sh!t for another season with this incredibly talented team,” Rae said in a statement. Added Singleton, “This show and cast are one of a kind and I’m thrilled to get to do this again with them. We’re going bigger and harder”…
Euphoria‘s Jacab Elordi has been tapped to play Elvis Presley in Sofia Coppola‘s upcoming film adaptation of Priscilla Beaulieu Presley’s 1985 bestselling memoir Elvis and Me, according to Variety. Mare of Easttown and Bad Times at the El Royale‘s Cailee Spaeny is also attached to star as Priscilla. The film will is set to start shooting in Toronto this fall…
Alyssa Milano, Virginia Madsen, Gina Torres, and Milana Vayntrub have signed on for roles in the feature-length anthology Give Me an A, Deadline reports. The project weaves together 15 short films and is a response to the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade. A release date has not been announced…
Starz has ordered a pilot for a documentary-interview style show from Sean “Diddy” Combs and Joseph “Fat Joe” Cartagena, according to Deadline. Fat Joe will host the series, which will see him sit down with celebrities and high-profile guests. LeBron James and Maverick Carter‘s SpringHill will produce the project…
Iconic French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard has passed away at 92. The film-critic turned so-called “enfant terrible” of French new-wave cinema influenced directors both in his native country, and on these shores, with filmmakers from Scorsese to George Lucas to Quentin Tarantino all drawing inspiration from the Breathless director. An honorary Oscar winner in 2010, Godard was active for more than five decades, helming everything from features to documentaries and shorts, with three releases in 2018 alone…
(WASHINGTON) — Inflation data released on Tuesday revealed that prices rose slightly in August, worsening the cost woes for U.S. households as the Federal Reserve readies to decide on another interest rate hike next week.
The data calls into question whether inflation has peaked.
On a monthly basis, the consumer price index rose 0.1% in August, inching upward from the flat month-to-month movement in July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The consumer price index, or CPI, rose 8.3% over the past year in August, a slight slowdown from 8.5% in July, according to the bureau.
The data arrives a little more than a week before Federal Reserve officials meet to determine what investors expect to be another borrowing cost increase aimed at fighting inflation.
The Fed has instituted a series of aggressive interest rate hikes in recent months as it tries to slash price increases by slowing the economy and choking off demand. But the approach risks tipping the U.S. into an economic downturn and putting millions out of work.
The rate increases appear to have slowed key sectors of the economy, sending mortgage rates higher and slowing the construction of new homes, for instance.
But other indicators suggest the U.S. economy continues to hum. U.S. hiring fell from its breakneck pace but remained robust in August, with the economy adding 315,000 jobs and the unemployment rate rising to 3.7% as more people sought work, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in early September.
Speaking at a conference held by the conservative-leaning Cato Institute, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said Thursday that the central bank must act “forthrightly, strongly” to dial back inflation, leading many economists to expect another 75-basis point interest rate hike from the central bank later this month.
The Fed is performing a “delicate balancing act,” said Scott Schuh, an economics professor at the University of West Virginia. “The Fed is raising rates but trying to avoid an increase in the unemployment rate.”
“It seems somewhat reasonable to expect the inflation rate to continue to come down for the next few months and quarters,” he added.
Prices in some areas of the economy have already fallen significantly.
The national average price for a gallon of gas stood at $3.72 on Monday, having fallen well below a peak of $5.01 in mid-June, according to AAA.
Consumer expectations for inflation have fallen significantly too, according to data released by the New York Federal Reserve on Monday.
In August, the median of consumer responses showed that they expect inflation to fall to 5.7% in one year and 2.8% in three years, a New York Federal Reserve survey showed. Those figures were down from 6.2% and 3.2%, respectively, in July.
(WASHINGTON) — The release of inflation data on Tuesday will show whether near-historic inflation in the nation continues to slow.
The data, which will reveal how prices moved in August, arrives little more than a week before Federal Reserve officials meet to determine what investors expect to be another borrowing cost increase aimed at fighting inflation.
The most recent data from the consumer price index, or CPI, showed a slowdown of price increases. The CPI rose 8.5% over the past year as of July, a marked slowdown from 9.1% in June, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The August report is expected to show that the CPI rose 8% year-over-year in August, continuing its descent from the peak in June, according to a Bloomberg survey of economists.
The Fed has instituted a series of aggressive interest rate hikes in recent months as it tries to slash price increases by slowing the economy and choking off demand. But the approach risks tipping the U.S. into an economic downturn and putting millions out of work.
The rate increases appear to have slowed key sectors of the economy, sending mortgage rates higher and slowing the construction of new homes, for instance.
But other indicators suggest the U.S. economy continues to hum. U.S. hiring fell from its breakneck pace but remained robust in August, with the economy adding 315,000 jobs and the unemployment rate rising to 3.7% as more people sought work, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in early September.
Speaking at a conference held by the conservative-leaning Cato Institute, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said Thursday that the central bank must act “forthrightly, strongly” to dial back inflation, leading many economists to expect another 75-basis point interest rate hike from the central bank later this month.
The Fed is performing a “delicate balancing act,” said Scott Schuh, an economics professor at the University of West Virginia. “The Fed is raising rates but trying to avoid an increase in the unemployment rate.”
“It seems somewhat reasonable to expect the inflation rate to continue to come down for the next few months and quarters,” he added.
Prices in some areas of the economy have already fallen significantly.
The national average price for a gallon of gas stood at $3.72 on Monday, having fallen well below a peak of $5.01 in mid-June, according to AAA.
Consumer expectations for inflation have fallen significantly too, according to data released by the New York Federal Reserve on Monday.
In August, the median of consumer responses showed that they expect inflation to fall to 5.7% in one year and 2.8% in three years, a New York Federal Reserve survey showed. Those figures were down from 6.2% and 3.2%, respectively, in July.
(NEW YORK) — For Suni Lee, gymnastics is what she calls her happy place.
“I truly love gymnastics with everything in me,” the 19-year-old Olympian told ABC News’ Good Morning America.
In 2021, Lee took home a gold medal in the individual all-around at the Tokyo Olympics as well as a silver in the team competition and a bronze in the uneven bars.
Though it was her gold medal on the world stage that launched her into the public consciousness, her love for the sport began when her family introduced her to gymnastics at 6 years old.
“It was just amazing to me,” she said. “I loved being able to fly and just kind of do stuff that not a lot of people could do. It kind of made me feel unstoppable.”
Lee said she is thankful for her family and without their support, she could not be where she is today.
“My parents sacrificed so much for me,” she said. “I really have a really great support system.”
Lee said she knew she wanted to compete on the world stage from a young age.
“I would be like, ‘I want to go to the Olympics, and I want to win a gold medal,'” she said.
Lee, who is now competing for Auburn University, is often seen on the mat sporting a confident smile, which she attributes to her passion for the sport as well as Invisalign, for whom she is a spokesperson.
“If you put your mind to something and work really hard, you can do amazing things,” Lee said.
