104-Year-Old Dorothy Hoffner Dies Days After Skydiving ... Set World Record Last Wk
Dorothy Hoffner, the 104-year-old Chicago woman who set the record for the oldest tandem skydive, died in her sleep just days after the monumental jump.
Hoffner made worldwide news just 10 days ago on October 1, when she became the oldest living person to jump out of a plane ... when she went skydiving at Skydive Chicago.
The record is still being confirmed by Guinness, but Dorothy toppled the previous record held by a 103-year-old Swedish woman who jumped in 2022.
Youngster.
As far as the timing, it appears to be nothing more than a coincidence. Dorothy died in her sleep.
In fact, Hoffner was over the moon after the jump, telling local media ... “Skydiving is a wonderful experience, and it’s nothing to be afraid of. Just do it!”
Skydive Chicago even released a statement on Dorothy's passing ... and they believe there's a lesson to be learned here about living.
“We are deeply saddened by Dorothy’s passing, and feel honored to have been part of making her world record skydive a reality,” the company said.
“Skydiving is an activity that many of us safely tuck away in our bucket lists. But Dorothy reminds us that it’s never too late to take the thrill of a lifetime.”
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Britney Spears Ticketed for No License, Insurance
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Britney Spears got busted on the road last month -- receiving a slap on the wrist for driving without some crucial documentation in her vehicle ... TMZ has confirmed.
The pop star was pulled over on Sept. 10 by a CHP officer in Ventura County -- where she got cited for two infractions ... according to court records. One of the violations was for driving without a valid license in her possession, the other was for driving without proof of insurance.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Britney was first pulled over for speeding in her white Mercedes, going 61 mph in a 40 mph zone. We're told Britney was cooperative during the stop, and was given a warning for her speed.
Fortunately for her, she'll be able to deal with the infractions by paying a fine by Oct. 24. The total she owes ... $1,140.
The traffic infraction certainly isn't great, but there's a lot happening in Britney's life with everything else going on with her these days ... y'know, knives and all.
Mind you, this isn't the first time Britney's ran into trouble on the road -- remember, she needed assistance last year after her car ran out of gas ... and she wasn't dinged there.
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Olympic Legend Mary Lou Retton 'Fighting For Her Life' In ICU ... Over Rare Pneumonia
Mary Lou Retton -- an Olympic gold-winning gymnast -- is currently fighting for her life in the ICU ... this according to her daughter, who says her mom is battling a rare form of pneumonia.
Mary Lou Retton's Daughter Emotional After $350k Donations, 'Unbelievable Love'
McKenna Kelley shared the sad news on Tuesday via her Instagram story with a photo of a SpotFund account that she started for Retton's medical costs.
"Please help my mom continue to fight," Kelley said in the post.
The fundraiser says the 55-year-old former athlete is unable to breathe on her own due to the rare form of pneumonia.
"Out of respect for her and her privacy, I will not disclose all details," Keller said on the page. "However, I will disclose that she not insured."
"We ask that if you could help in any way, that 1) you PRAY! and 2) if you could help us with finances for the hospital bill."
Kelley added, "ANYTHING, absolutely anything, would be so helpful for my family and my mom. Thank y’all so very much!"
The fundraiser has a goal of $50k and as of Tuesday, over 79 donors have contributed.
"If anyone can WIN we know it’s YOU! GEAUX MARYLOU!" one fan said on the page. "We are praying hard for you from La!"
Retton was a massive star in gymnastics ... in fact, she made history as the first American woman to win the all-around gold in the 1984 Olympics. She also won two silvers and bronzes that same year.
After retiring, she was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997 and was the first woman to be selected into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame in 2020.
Her hometown of Fairmont West Virginia named a road and park in her honor. She also made a couple of appearances in movies and TV shows, including "Baywatch."
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Israel Reports of Hamas Beheading Babies
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There are reports of babies being killed amid the chaos in Israel -- including graphic descriptions of Hamas terrorists going in and beheading infants.
One particular news story is making rounds -- coming from i24News's Nicole Zedek, who did a live shot this week alongside Israeli soldiers near the Gaza border ... and she says different military members have told her about dead babies being found in the aftermath.
As these soldiers have gone through the homes of people attacked over the weekend, they're now saying they're finding evidence of infanticide ... including beheadings.
Some images showing the apparent aftermath of these brutal killings are also surfacing online -- and they seem to show exactly what i24News is talking about ... namely, blood splattered across cribs and baby rooms inside of residential homes.
There are extra photos that show car seats covered in blood as well ... further proving that little ones have not been spared in this offensive from Hamas. That much has been clear in additional footage as well -- including one viral clip showing a dog being shot in a yard.
Video Shows Israeli Concertgoers Hiding in Bushes During Hamas Attack
It goes without saying ... these sightings are deeply disturbing -- and just further evidence speaking to the sheer ugliness and horror of what's happening on the ground there.
BTW, young lives are being taken on both sides now -- amid retaliation on Gaza, including ongoing bombings, there's a viral video showing a baby's body being lifted from the rubble.
There's no end in sight at this point ... and the destruction continues to mount day by day.
Thus far, Israel estimates over 1,000 of its civilians have been killed. Across the way, Palestinian officials say at least 830 are dead -- and countless are injured between both parties.
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'Ebony Alert' Outrage Over New System For Missing Black Kids, Women ... Law's Author Defends Change
UPDATE
12:10 PM PT -- The man behind the new "Ebony Alert" in California is defending the new law in the face of tons of online backlash ... telling us disparities and a lack of resources for missing Black kids forced lawmakers' hands.
California State Senator Steven Bradford joined us on "TMZ Live" Tuesday and told us the law was necessary because law enforcement wasn't doing its job when it came to issuing alerts for Black youths who go missing.
Bradford says young Black kids make up 38 percent of the state's missing persons, despite Black people only making up 13 percent of the state population ... pointing to the data as another example of why he feels an "Ebony Alert" is needed.
There's a media component to this too ... Bradford says missing Black kids don't get nearly the amount of coverage, pointing to 2021's Gabby Petito case.
As for questions about oversight, Bradford tells us how the new system will be monitored.
The Golden State is rolling out a new system to report and find missing Black children and women ... it's completely separate from an Amber Alert and it's already causing backlash.
Folks in California are outraged over the new statewide alert system -- dubbed the "Ebony Alert" and backed by State Senator Steven Bradford -- reacting to the first-of-its-kind law as another form of segregation.
Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed a bill into law creating the "Ebony Alert," which goes into effect Jan. 1 and will be used for Black people between the ages of 12 and 25 who are missing, plus young Black women who are reported missing.
The "Ebony Alert" is similar to the Amber Alert ... as it calls for local law enforcement to notify the California Highway Patrol if they need help finding lost children ... with lawmakers saying it also encourages media to report on missing Black people.
Problem is ... the reaction on the internet is there should NOT be separate alert systems for missing children based on race, with some saying folks claiming the change is "a way for authorities to decide how fast they want to respond" and others saying some groups will straight-up ignore "Ebony Alerts" altogether.
California lawmakers are being ripped for not thinking this through, and there are people wondering if there are going to be other alerts for different races too ... with one user proposing "the 'Juan Alert' for the Hispanic people that go missing."
Crime is through the roof, worst drug epidemic ever & homelessness at an all time high in CA… Let’s focus on Skittles pic.twitter.com/ohWQcUcQjf
— Mario Lopez (@mariolopezviva) October 10, 2023 @mariolopezviva
It's the second controversial bill Newsom signed into law recently ... joining Mario Lopez's hated "Skittles Ban."
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Barry Melrose Diagnosed With Parkinson's Disease ... Stepping Away From ESPN
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Barry Melrose -- considered by many to be the best NHL analyst on television -- has sadly been diagnosed with Parkinson's ... and he'll now be stepping away from his role at ESPN while he battles the disease.
Longtime ESPN personality John Buccigross just made the heartbreaking announcement minutes ago on X ... revealing Melrose will be off camera and spending time with his family for the foreseeable future.
"I've worked with Barry at ESPN for over a quarter century," Buccigross said. "Cold beers and hearty laughs in smokey cigar bars. A razor sharp wit, he was always early & looked like a million bucks. I love him. I'll miss him."
NEWS:
— BucciOT.Com (@Buccigross) October 10, 2023 @Buccigross
Barry Melrose has Parkinson's disease and is stepping away from our ESPN family to spend more time with his. I've worked with Barry at ESPN for over a quarter century. Cold beers and hearty laughs in smokey cigar bars. A razor sharp wit, he was always early & looked like a… pic.twitter.com/gjjSAEuG2s
"Wayne Gretzky on a life dedicated to hockey," he added.
Melrose both played and coached in the NHL for years ... before he began breaking down games for ESPN beginning in 1996. He took a brief hiatus from the network to coach the Lightning, but returned a short time later.
He's since become a mainstay on NHL broadcasts -- so much so, commissioner Gary Bettman said Tuesday, "Hockey on ESPN won't be the same without him."
"Barry's gigantic personality and trademark style have made our game bigger, more exciting and more entertaining," Bettman said.
"His love for hockey is obvious and infectious. And it is impossible to have a conversation with him without a smile on your face."
Get well soon, Barry.
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Israel Festivalgoer Shani Louk Mom Says She's Still Alive ... After Video Showed Naked Body Paraded By Hamas
Israel festivalgoer Shani Louk is alive, according to her mother ... this after her naked body was paraded through the streets and spat on by Hamas terrorists.
Louk's mother, Ricarda, said Tuesday that her family has received information that claims the 22-year-old is alive -- citing unnamed Palestinian sources as the origin of the info.
She told German news outlets that her daughter is currently in a Gaza hospital with serious head injuries ... and is asking the German government to act quickly to get her out of the conflict zone, adding "Every minute counts."
As we reported, Ricarda was pleading for anyone with information about her daughter to come forward ... after seeing the brutal video of Louk's naked body being paraded and spat on in the back of a Hamas pickup truck.
Ricarda was holding out hope for Louk, however -- claiming her daughter appeared to be unconscious in the clip, not dead. She did confirm that it was Louk in the video, saying she identified her by her tattoos and dreadlocks.
Remember, Louk was at the Tribe of Nova music festival close to the Gaza Strip on Saturday when Hamas attackers swarmed the event ... massacring those in the crowd and taking people like Louk hostage.
Video showed Louk smiling and dancing at the festival -- not long before Hamas started the gruesome takeover.
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Amber Heard Claimed Momoa Dressed Like Depp To Mess with Her On 'Aquaman 2' Set
Amber Heard told her therapist Jason Momoa was purposely dressing like her ex Johnny Depp while filming the 'Aquaman' sequel ... one of many claims just now coming to light.
The news comes courtesy of new legal docs from Amber's defamation trial last year, which were recently made public ... and detail some startling allegations she made in therapy sessions back in 2021, when she and Jason were working on 'A2.'
During one particular session in December of that year, she said she felt Jason was seemingly trying to play mind games with her by intentionally copying JD's fashion sense, right down to his multi-fingered rings ... according to Variety.
There are more allegations she made about Jason to her therapist at the time -- including a claim he was intoxicated on set, and that he was working to get her fired.
A rep for DC denied these characterizations, saying ... "Jason Momoa conducted himself in a professional manner at all times on the set of ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom." A separate source told Variety, Jason's fashion sensibility naturally reflects a bohemian style ... pushing back on Amber feeling he was trying to torment her.
There are a lot more juicy nuggets in the docs ... including the allegation Warner/DC tried canning Amber ahead of filming of 'Aquaman 2' -- but not because of her Johnny drama, but more so over a perceived lack of chemistry with Jason.
Amber's then-boyfriend, Elon Musk, fired off a letter to the studio on the heels of that ... threatening to "burn the house down" at WB, according to Variety.
If true, you'd have to say it worked ... they did keep Amber, although a handful of her scenes were cut down in the final edit of 'Aquaman 2; -- including a love scene with JM.
It's a peek behind the curtain amid a lot of speculation at the time over how much the Amber-Johnny saga had affected their respective work prospects -- especially for Amber, who came under intense criticism in the wake of Johnny's victory. Remember, fans wanted her character, Mera, completely recast, and a viral petition got started over it ... to no avail.
Now, 'A2' is set to hit theaters in December ... and time will tell what the box office will be. The first one was a massive success, but insiders say this new one hasn't landed so well with audiences in test screenings, which has spurred a number of reshoots/new cuts.
In any case, we've reached out to both Amber and Jason's teams ... so far, no word back.
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Aaron Rodgers Hey, Travis Kelce ... Let's Debate Covid-19 Vaccine!!!
Aaron Rodgers wants to settle his back-and-forth with "Mr. Pfizer" once and for all ... proposing a star-studded Covid-19 debate with Travis Kelce -- and he wants Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Dr. Fauci to get involved!!
As we previously reported, AR8 and the Kansas City Chiefs superstar have been sending playful jabs toward each other over the past week ... ever since the New York Jets coined his new nickname for Kelce on "The Pat McAfee Show."
"Mr. Pfizer said he didn't think he'd be in a vax war with me.. this isn't a war this is just conversation..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 10, 2023 @PatMcAfeeShow
Come on the show and we'll have a conversation" ~ @AaronRodgers12 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/Kv85yjaqRZ
Rodgers returned for his weekly appearance with McAfee on Tuesday ... and he responded to Kelce claiming the two were in a "vax war."
"This ain't a war, homie," Rodgers told McAfee minutes ago. "This is just conversation. But if you want to have some sort of duel, debate, have me on the podcast, come on the show. Let's have a conversation."
The four-time MVP added he wants both sides to pick some backup help for the potential hash-out sesh ... revealing he wants RFK Jr. in his corner, and Kelce can choose Fauci or "some other pharmacrat" as his support.
"Our defense played really well and Mr. Pfizer didn't have a crazy impact on the game" 😂@AaronRodgers12 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/AGzbcRFjdi
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 3, 2023 @PatMcAfeeShow
Of course, a potential debate would surely be popcorn-worthy -- Rodgers and RFK Jr. have been outspoken against the Covid-19 vax, and Kelce and Fauci are strong proponents of getting the jab.
No word on whether Kelce will welcome Rodgers on his "New Heights" podcast ... but if he does, expect fireworks.
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Slain Israeli Grandma Gruesome Footage Of Dead Body Posted On Her Facebook Page By Hamas
An Israeli grandmother is one of hundreds dead at the hands of Hamas aggressors ... and her death was made public after a terrorist shared footage of her slain body on her own Facebook page.
Mor Bayder shared the horrifying way she found out her grandma was dead as a result of the Hamas attacks ... saying she logged onto the social media site and saw gruesome footage of her dead grandmother in her Nir Oz home.
Mor broke down in tears while recalling seeing the alarming footage ... saying her mom couldn't even open the app herself, with Mor claiming she saw her grandmother lying dead on the floor, with blood covering the ground below.
The footage making it on her grandma's page means the Hamas terrorists must've filmed it from her personal phone and uploaded it from there -- a disgusting way to discover a family member has been killed.
As you know, Hamas first attacked Israel over the weekend, and it's been an all-out war ever since ... with reportedly over 900 Israelis dead since Saturday's attack. Nearly 700 Palestinians are also reportedly dead in the days since the killings began.
We covered it all on a recent episode of The TMZ Podcast, available on all podcast platforms.
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Pro-Palestine Protest Australian Supporters Gather At Opera House ... Chanting 'Gas The Jews'
A pro-Palestinian protest in Australia had 1,000 supporters take to the Sydney Opera House ... chanting antisemitic slogans towards those in Israel like "Gas the Jews."
The crowd marched through downtown Sydney Monday evening, heading to the steps of the world-famous theater -- which Australian officials had lit the colors of the Israeli flag after the country was first attacked by Hamas terrorists on Saturday.
Anti-Semitic chants were heard throughout the protest -- apart from "Gas the Jews," they were also chanting "F*** the Jews" while flying Palestinian flags.
The group lit flares in the middle of the crowd and even appeared to throw what looked like a smoke grenade toward officers stationed on the Opera House steps.
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called Monday's protest "horrific," adding, "I understand that people have deep views about issues relating to the Middle East conflict but here in Australia we have to deal with political discourse in a respectful way."
New South Wales police said Tuesday the footage is being investigated to determine if any crimes were committed.
As you know, Israel and Palestine have both been on the offensive since Saturday's attack on Israel by Hamas -- with reportedly over 900 Israelis and nearly 700 Palestinians killed in the days since the destruction began.
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Israeli Hostage Stalled & Distracted Hamas Terrorists ... Long Enough to Survive
An Israeli woman was able to stave off her murder at the hands of Hamas terrorists by killing them with kindness ... quite literally.
Rachel Edri is being hailed as a hero across Israel right now because of this harrowing story she recently recounted about being taken hostage by 5 Hamas members on Saturday morning ... when the surprise attack against her country was carried out.
She and her husband, who live in Ofakim, were held at gunpoint after the Hamas members stormed their home -- but she was able to keep them at bay for about 15 hours due to her incredible hospitality ... something she dished out as a way to distract the intruders.
You see ... one of Rachel's kids was a cop, and once he caught wind of his parents' situation -- he rounded up other officers and, while negotiating with the terrorists, scoped out the place to find a way to rescue his family. In the meantime, Mama Bear was playing a good host ... feeding the Hamas guys while also trying to chat them up with banter and conversation, all in an effort to stall.
Rachel, who's a grandmother, says she served coffee and cookies during the standoff, and apparently, it worked -- because when her son and the other officers eventually stormed the place, the terrorists were all stuffing their faces and weren't able to fire back. They were all killed on sight.
Some Rachel Memes pic.twitter.com/BjsSRkePba
— 𝕄𝕖𝕪𝕖𝕣 𝕃𝕒𝕓𝕚𝕟 (@MeyerLabin) October 9, 2023 @MeyerLabin
Grandma Rachel and her husband ended up surviving the ordeal ... and now, she's become meme fodder for Israelis looking for any good news in this terrible situation. Quite a story, indeed.
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Bob Costas Saves Restaurant-Goer's Life ... Quick-Thinking Heimlich!!!
Bob Costas is apparently just as good in life-or-death situations as he is in the broadcasting booth ... 'cause he recently saved a restaurant-goer from choking.
A rep for Costas says the Hall of Fame play-by-play man was out grabbing a bite to eat when he noticed a fellow diner gasping for air -- so he raced in to help out.
According to the rep, the 71-year-old performed the Heimlich maneuver ... saving the person's life. But, afterward, he made it clear he wasn't looking for accolades.
"Bob doesn’t think this was that big of a deal," the rep told Page Six.
"He really feels he did what just about anyone else would do in a similar situation."
"Roberts comes to get Kershaw. He's had a rough time before in the postseason. This has to be the worst of all those outings."
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 8, 2023 @awfulannouncing
Bob Costas on the call for a dismal Clayton Kershaw performance. pic.twitter.com/HSg92gd5bk
Costas -- who's been broadcasting MLB playoff games this month -- has yet to publicly comment on the heroic deed.
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Michael Jackson Pepsi Ad Jacket Up for Auction ... Should Fetch a Fortune!!!
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One of Michael Jackson's iconic clothing items is hitting the auction block -- and although it's a somewhat lesser-known one ... it'll probably demand a king's ransom anyway.
We're talking about the black and white leather jacket MJ wore during one of his "Pepsi Generation" ads in 1984. No, it's not the infamous ad where he burned himself on set -- it's the one where he's dancing in the streets with a bunch of kids and others.
This was the first Pepsi commercial Mike did ... which makes this custom-made piece he wore on set all the more special -- and apparently, quite valuable too. It's up for grabs starting Nov. 10 through the Propstore -- and we're told it could fetch anywhere from $230k to $460,000. Considering this was once on Mike's own body, probably closer to the latter.
As far as how it ended up making its way toward a public sale ... the jacket was actually gifted to a guy named Wendell Thompson way back in the day -- whose father was a cosmetologist who worked with MJ. Wendell says he actually received the jacket straight from MJ in 1983 (before the ad even aired) during a run-in with the King of Pop in Orlando.
We're told was there during the grand opening of MJ's personal suite at Disney World's Hotel Royal Plaza -- which was a huge deal at the time. Ribbon-cutting and the whole shebang.
Anyway, Wendell says he's held onto this cherished item for ages now -- but at this point, he's ready to pass it on and reap the benefits ... all with the aim of using the cash to set up his kids and family in his will, hoping this will set a solid foundation for all of them.
Considering this thing is expected to go for almost half a million dollars, we'd say that's almost guaranteed to happen. Wendell says he hopes the new owner can enjoy the jacket as much as he has ... noting he has fond memories with it.
A rare collectible indeed, and pretty soon ... it can be yours. If you're ballin', that is.
Would you spend nearly $500k on a Michael Jackson Pepsi ad jacket? Vote below.
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New Dash Cam Footage Hamas Lunatics Fatally Shoot Victim In Ditch ... Violently Kidnap Others
More nightmarish images have emerged showing the Hamas-led massacre of concertgoers at the Supernova Festival in Israel.
Dash cam video from a car at the event captured footage of the terrorist group carrying out Saturday's sneak attack that left 260 people brutally murdered.
The clip starts with a Hamas militant holding a terrified man from behind with his hands raised and marching him away to an almost certain death.
Another terrorist -- armed with a machine gun -- sees one of the festival attendees hiding in a ditch near the trunk of a second car. He rushes over and pumps bullets into the pit, apparently killing the person.
The video then cuts to several other terrorists yanking a helpless woman from the backseat of the second car and escorting her away.
One of the terrorists then removes luggage from the trunk of a third vehicle and rummages through the bag, throwing clothes on the ground before the clip ends.
As you already know, Hamas terrorists launched a full-scale assault on Israel around dawn Saturday.
The terrorists broke through barriers separating the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip from the Jewish state, putting the festival under siege for hours. They moved on to other parts of Israel, leveling buildings with rockets and going house to house to fatally shoot men, women and children.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promptly declared war against Hamas, and the two sides have been battling each other for days now.
So far, the overall death toll has reached upwards of 1500 with at least 11 Americans slain.
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Joe Jonas & Sophie Turner Strike Deal in Child Custody Case
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Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner have struck a deal in their divorce case -- and it sounds like they're both on the same page.
As we reported, Joe and Sophie were hashing out the terms of their divorce during 4 days of mediation last week.
There is a prenup, so it looks like assets were not a big issue. The bigger issue, of course, was child custody. Sophie wanted the kids to live with her in the UK, and Joe wanted them to stay with him in the U.S.
According to settlement docs, obtained by TMZ, "an amicable resolution on all issues between them is forthcoming." Translation -- they're super close to signing a settlement.
In the meantime, they have agreed to a temporary child custody agreement. Under the terms, the 2 kids -- ages 1 and 3 -- will be with Sophie from October 9 through October 21. During that time, she's allowed to travel with them to the UK.
On October 21, Sophie must return with the kids to the U.S., where Joe will then take them through November 2.
The kids will then go back to Sophie until November 22. Joe gets them on that day and will presumably spend Thanksgiving with them.
The kids go back to mom on December 16, where they will stay until January 7. So she gets them for XMAS and New Year's.
Sounds like a final settlement is looming.