Death Valley National Park reopens after flood closure
Popular sections of Death Valley National Park reopens on Saturday two weeks after massive flooding caused millions of dollars in damage to roads and facilities. The National Park Service has warned visitors about traffic and delays, warning not to rely on GPS navigation as some roads may still be closed while crews continue to clean up damage. Monsoon storms also affected Joshua Tree National Park and the Mojave National Preserve this summer. The National Weather Service said another surge of humidity is expected this weekend, with mountain and desert thunderstorms likely next week.
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London railway workers continue strike
A railway strike is set for Saturday in the UK, just a day after Friday’s London Underground strike halted transport in the capital. England has had a summer of strikes by workers demanding higher wages in response to soaring food and energy prices. More unions are planning strikes as Britain faces its worst cost of living crisis in decades. Postal workers, lawyers, British Telecom staff and port workers have all announced walkouts for the end of the month. UK inflation hit a 40-year high of 10.1% in July, and the Bank of England said it could hit 13% in the event of a recession later this year.
35 years ago the world fell in love with ‘Dirty Dancing’
Sunday marks the 35th anniversary of ‘Dirty Dancing’, the 1987 film starring Jennifer Gray and Patrick Swayze, who died of pancreatic cancer aged 57 in 2007. The film was a cultural phenomenon that brought $218 million at the worldwide box office and won an Oscar for Best Original Song “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life”, performed by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes. Swayze’s widow Lisa Niemi reflected on her late husband’s legacy in honor of his birthday on Thursday. “I don’t think there’s anything I don’t miss about him,” Entertainment Tonight said. “I feel like he’s with me every day.” In 2020, Lionsgate Studios CEO Jon Feltheimer confirmed that Gray, 62, will executive produce and star in a new version of the 1987 film.
‘Game of Thrones’ prequel series airs on HBO
A new Prequel to “Game of Thrones”, “House of the Dragon” premieres this Sunday. The new show is based on author George RR Martin 2018 Fire & Blood, a book that details the rise and fall of the Targaryen family. The cast and producers admitted they were worried about living up to the popularity of the original series, which was one of the most popular television franchises of all time. You can stream “House of the Dragon” on HBO Max starting Sunday.
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‘Reliable Sources’ airs last, host Brian Stelter quits CNN
CNN’s weekly “Reliable Sources” media show will air for the last time on Sunday and its host, Brian Stelter, leaves the network. CNN sought to cut costs, but also to deliver a less opinionated product. Stelter wrote the 2020 book “Hoax” on Fox News Channel and slammed the network, making him a frequent target of conservative critics. “Reliable Sources” celebrated its 30th anniversary in March, making it the longest-running show on CNN. “It has been a rare privilege to lead a weekly news-focused show at a time when it has never been more consequential,” Stelter said in a statement to NPR on Thursday. He added that he was grateful his show put so much effort into “the media, the truth and the stories that shape our world.”
Contributor: Associated Press