Jon Stewart Rips Congress For Not Helping Vets ... Don't Burn Soldiers Again!!!

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THE SYSTEM FAILED THEM
TMZ.com

Jon Stewart is calling out Congress for being stingy when it comes to soldiers injured by toxic fumes during battle -- and he claims the government's got the money, it's just spending it in the wrong places.

We got the comedian Tuesday on his trip to Capitol Hill, where he's lobbying Congress on behalf of nearly 200,000 veterans who say their health was harmed by exposure to burn pits while serving overseas.

Jon tells us the legislation he wants enacted -- making exposure to burn pits a presumptive condition for Iraq and Afghanistan war vets -- is way overdue, and he's comparing it to the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund.

Problem is ... the former "Daily Show" host says Congress has been dragging its feet for more than a decade, which he doesn't get because he says this is not a partisan issue. He's ripping legislators for not putting Department of Defense funds "to the right causes."

If you're thinking this really is about politics for Jon, you're wrong. Watch what he said when we asked if President Trump or Joe Biden can fix this problem -- or if he'd ever run himself.

Katy Perry Alleged Stalker's Arrest at Her Home Leads to Court Protection

Katy Perry's not taking any chances as a new mama -- she just got a restraining order against a man she claims is stalking her and is potentially dangerous.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, a 38-year-old man named William Terry has been posting lewd messages about her on social media for months -- along with threats directed at Orlando Bloom and others -- and his frightening behavior culminated with him jumping the fence last week at her Beverly Hills home.

Katy says after Terry jumped the fence on her property -- while she was home with her newborn daughter -- he refused to leave when apprehended by security ... so he was placed under citizen's arrest until the cops came and busted him for trespassing.

However, Katy says Terry's already been released and she fears he will return ... because he allegedly also tried to enter her property in early August by claiming she invited him.

In the legal docs, Katy includes multiple alarming messages posted on Terry's Twitter account dating back to December 2019. They include tweets tagged #activeshooter, comments about killing dogs and cops, threats to "snap Orlando Bloom's neck" and wishing Orlando's son and his ex, Miranda Kerr, "catch covid and die."

The tweets also include numerous graphic and sexually explicit comments about Katy.

According to the docs, Terry is believed to be homeless but attempts have been made to serve him the temporary restraining order. The judge granted it for Katy, Orlando, their newborn daughter and Orlando's son, Flynn. Terry must stay 100 yards away from all of them until a hearing next month.

As you know ... Katy just became a mother for the first time last month, as she and Orlando welcomed a baby girl, Daisy Dove Bloom.

Breonna Taylor's Family Historic Settlement a Good Start ... But We Demand Full Justice!!!

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JUSTICE FOR BREONNA
WDRB

Breonna Taylor’s family and legal team are giving praise to the City of Louisville for reaching a historic settlement in her wrongful death case, but they’re making it crystal clear their mission’s not changed … they want full justice for Breonna, and for the cops who killed her to be arrested and charged.

Attorney Ben Crump says the huge financial settlement has helped assure that Breonna’s death won’t be swept under the rug like so many black women before her, but equally important is the comprehensive police reform to be instituted to prevent future tragedies like Breonna’s.

Crump claims the $12 million settlement is the largest amount ever for a Black woman in a wrongful death case involving police, and may be the largest ever for a Black person in America. He attributes the victory to all the people who have been protesting and fighting for justice.

The civil rights attorney calls it a “landmark step on the journey to justice,” but he’s not backing down from his demand that KY Attorney General Daniel Cameron immediately brings charges against the cops who shot and killed her. Crump says he wants charges this week -- at the very least, a charge of second-degree manslaughter.

Crump says, “We want full justice, not just partial justice,” and is also calling for all charges to be dropped against nonviolent protesters who were arrested for demanding justice for Breonna.

Tamika Palmer, Breonna’s mother, echoed Crump's words by saying the settlement is just the beginning of getting full justice for her daughter … and it’s time to move forward with criminal charges.

Breonna’s mom says, “Her beautiful spirit and personality is working through all of us on the ground … please continue to say her name.”

Finally, Tamika Mallory from Until Freedom put the pressure on Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, challenging him to fire every police officer involved in Breonna’s death “on the spot” in the event that they aren’t charged by AG Cameron.

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MAKING BIG CHANGES
WDRB

Earlier in the press conference, the Mayor listed off multiple facets of police reform to be implemented within the Louisville Metro PD as part of the settlement, including new programs to create positive community relations between citizens and cops … and social workers supporting police on certain calls.

Fischer also confirmed there will be major changes coming in how search warrants get approved, and new protocols for making sure cops are accountable for their actions, are properly investigated, and receive proper training. The mayor also confirmed the settlement amount of $12 million to Breonna’s estate.

News of the settlement in the case broke Tuesday morning, with reports the Louisville metro government had agreed to pay out millions of dollars and implement multiple reforms regarding law enforcement -- including a requirement that commanders approve all search warrants before they go to a judge.

As you know ... Taylor, a 26-year-old EMT, was shot and killed by Louisville Metro Police officers on March 13 while they were executing a no-knock warrant.

Though no criminal charges have been brought against the cops who shot Breonna, her family sued the city in April.

Attorney Sam Aguilar has expressed frustration with the City's response to Breonna's case. As for the wrongful death settlement he says ... "the fact that they've been willing to sit down and talk significant reform was a step in the right direction and hopefully a turning point."

Kentucky AG Daniel Cameron has responded to public criticism about the investigation into the death of Breonna, saying it's ongoing and does not have to follow a specific timeline.

Cameron insists his office has "endeavored since day one to find the truth and pursue justice" and he's not working on a deadline ... but will make an announcement whenever the investigation concludes.

Originally published -- 6:53 AM PT

Kacey Musgraves & Ruston Kelly Reach Divorce Settlement

Kacey Musgraves and her singer-songwriter hubby are on the same page about breaking up -- they've finalized the terms of their divorce.

Kacey and musician Ruston Kelly agreed to put their marital home on the market and, when it sells, Kacey will get 84.4% of the proceeds and Ruston gets the remainder .... according to new docs, obtained by TMZ.

Kacey and Ruston also agreed their prenup is valid, so that will largely control how they split things up ... along with the tweaks in their settlement. All that's left is for the judge to issue the final divorce decree, and they'll each be officially single.

As we reported ... Kacey filed for divorce back in July after 2 years of marriage. They wed in October 2017 in Tennessee after meeting in Nashville in early 2016. Kacey and Ruston announced their split, saying divorce announcements "are always met with scrutiny and speculation and we want to stop that before it even starts."

They added, "We believe that we were put into each other’s lives for a divine reason and have both changed each other infinitely for the better. The love we have for each other goes far beyond the relationship we’ve shared as husband and wife. It’s a soul connection that can never be erased."

Marriages, on the other hand, can be.

Dr. Oz America Needs More Black Doctors ... It's a Life or Death Matter

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WE NEED TO DIVERSIFY
TMZ.com

Dr. Oz is appalled, and embarrassed, by stats like Black newborns are 3 times more likely to die under the care of white doctors -- and now he's on a mission to do something about it.

The doc joined "TMZ Live" on Tuesday to explain why he launched the #moreBlackdoctors initiative as part of his effort to raise awareness about racial bias in hospitals. He told us how one of his staffers opened his eyes to the Black community's view of the medical field.

Oz, who just kicked off the 12th season of his show, says he got goosebumps after learning Black babies taken care of by Black doctors have a higher survival rate than Black babies under the care of White doctors. It's shockingly true.

A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S. (PNAS) showed the mortality rate of Black newborns dwindled from 58% to 39% when they're under the care of Black docs. But, when it came to white babies, their mortality rate was hardly affected regardless of the doctor's race.

You'll recall, activist Bakari Sellers recently shared his shocking tale about his wife's pregnancy -- and Dr. Oz says that's a stark reminder of the biases that exist even in medicine.

You gotta see how he's planning to plant seeds of change with kids of color. It's an important initiative that can have a long term, long-lasting impact.

Derek Jeter Selling $29 Million Tampa Mansion ... After Renting It To Tom Brady

Wanna live like both Derek Jeter AND Tom Brady?!?! Hope ya got a small fortune to spend!

The New York Yankees legend is selling off his Tampa, FL palace just a few months after renting it out to Brady ... with a reported listing price of $29 MIL!!!

It seems it's the best time ever for DJ to unload the pad ... since TB12 moved in after signing with the Buccaneers, the place has gotten a TON of publicity -- with Brady himself even praising the hell out of it after working out in the backyard!

Tom Brady
BACKYARD FOOTBALL

As for what the money gets you in addition to roaming the same bedrooms Brady and Jeter once slept in? It's A LOT.

The place is reportedly 30,875 square feet of awesome ... featuring 7 bedrooms, 16 bathrooms (8 full, 8 half), a saltwater lap pool and a pretty awesome bar.

The mansion also has its own gym, wine cellar AND movie theater ... and overlooks Hillsborough Bay!!!

"This is the most impressive home to ever hit the market in the Tampa Bay area," a real estate agent for the property told The New York Times.

Sadly, if ya wanna tour the place to buy it ... you will NOT run into Brady on campus -- the real estate agent says Tom and Derek worked out a rental agreement that allows Jeter to show off the place without bothering the future Hall of Famer.

Bummer ... but still great to be rich, right?!

Anti-Masker 'You're Gonna Have To Drag Me Out!!!' Police Take Him Up On It

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KICKED OUT
Facebook/J.P. Skelly

An anti-masker told police they would have to drag him out of a school board meeting before he would cover his face, and his wish came true ... soon enough he was out on his keister.

Reed Bender took a stand Monday at the Mitchell Board of Education meeting in South Dakota, railing about why forcing people to wear masks is wrong in his eyes.

Superintendent Joe Graves tells TMZ ... a mask mandate for anyone inside the school has been in place since July 13, and Bender's raised several objections to wearing masks before ... claiming they don't work, and it's a violation of his civil rights.

This time, the Superintendent told Bender he would call the cops if Reed didn't put on a mask, and Bender dared him to do it, so he did. You'll notice, Bender's the only one in the library not wearing a mask.

Bender was NOT arrested even though he seemed to resist when cops dragged him away. There's also a threat of a taser. See, police can show restraint when they want.

It's pretty crazy ... the Superintendant says it's the first time he's had to kick someone out of a board meeting in his 30-year career.

And people think the students are the big problem.

'KUWTK' Season19 Kourtney and Scott Tease Baby #4!!!

The Kardashians are packing it in next year for "KUWTK" ... but they're going out with a bang, insinuating Kourtney and Scott Disick are back together and trying for baby #4.

The trailer for season 19 just dropped ... and it looks to be chock-full of drama. Among the moments ... pandemic, Tristan and Khloe rekindling their relationship, Kendall rebelling and Kourtney/Scott pregnancy rumors.

Check out Kourtney's reaction, or lack thereof. It's revealing, to say the least.

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Now it seems both Scott and Kourtney are not with anyone else at the moment, so some people thought the decks were cleared for another go at it ... especially since they've been hanging together, and sometimes without the kids.

We'd been hearing they are not getting back together, but the promo seems to suggest otherwise.

Considering Scott and Sofia were on-again, off-again for a while -- now officially off, probably forever -- we suppose something like this could make sense. Time will tell though 🤷🏽‍♂️

Chris Evans Talks Penis Pic Flub ... Says Get Out & Vote!!!

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MAKIN' THE MOST OF IT
Tamron Hall
UPDATE

7:53 AM PT -- Captain America was just on the Tamron Hall Show and briefly addressed the penis pic ... saying it was a lesson learned. He also thanked his fans for their outpouring support. He was a pretty good sport about it.

UPDATE
UPDATE

Chris also talked about the life and legacy of Chadwick Boseman, who he shared the screen with, during a touching moment with Tamron.

Chris Evans has addressed his NSFW leak ... and the response is so good Captain America would be pretty damn proud.

The actor grabbed everyone's attention when he accidentally leaked video this past weekend displaying a gallery of videos and pictures ... which included a photo of Chris' penis. He had uploaded it to Instagram Live but forgot to trim the video to hide the NSFW pic. He deleted the video ... but by then it was too late. Fast-forward to Monday ... and Chris had an epic response to his social media gaffe ... turning it into something positive by telling folks -- now that he has their attention -- they need to exercise their franchise and VOTE!!!

Chris' co-stars came out to support their pal ... Mark Ruffalo tweeted, ".@ChrisEvans Bro, while Trump is in office there is NOTHING you could possibly do to embarrass yourself. See.... silver lining." Chris' brother, Scott, also chimed in ... "Was off social media for the day yesterday. So. What'd I miss?"

Chris' fans also supported him with some heartwarming pics. The Chris Fans account, Cevans Archive tweeted, "pictures of chris evans with his dog dodger to cleanse your timeline."

Originally published -- 6:46 AM PT

Chad Johnson on Jen Harley My Bad, Ronnie ... 'Major F-Up' Jen Doubles Down on Her End

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THIS AIN'T RIGHT
TMZ.com
UPDATE

11:34 AM PT -- Jen Harley is firing back at Chad's claim that she knew exactly what she was doing when she made out with him in Vegas ... again insisting, in her own words, that she had too much booze for her own good ... and wishes she could take it back.

UPDATE

Jen tells TMZ ... she absolutely would NOT have kissed Chad if she was sober, and not only that -- but she says she had no idea his friend was recording them the whole time, something she finds incredibly shady.

UPDATE

Jen also says she knew the lap dance video -- which was up on her IG story for a bit -- was going to get out, but the fact that Chad's buddy was feeding his own clips to the media ... she says that ain't cool, adding she regrets the whole situation.

UPDATE

As for the allegation that her manager was simply doing damage control for her ... Jen tells us that's not true either -- she insists she dictated a statement to be sent out, so it was pretty much coming straight from the horse's mouth.

UPDATE

No word from her on how this might impact things with Ronnie, but it sounds like Chad's planning to deal with that himself.

Chad Johnson says Jen Harley's making him look like an a**hole after their Vegas hookup, which he claims is unfair ... but he also wants to squash any brewing beef with her ex, Ronnie Ortiz-Magro.

The former 'Bachelorette' bad boy was leaving the gym Monday night in the San Fernando Valley when he addressed the fallout from the video of him making out with Ronnie's ex ... specifically, Jen alleging she was plied with booze and set up.

Chad says that's "crazy ridiculous" and claims Jen admitted to him, her manager made up the "set up" story to help her save face ... but he says he's getting screwed in the process.

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GOOD COMPANY
TMZ.com

Chad's pretty adamant it was just a wild, fun night in Sin City and Jen knew what she was doing -- so he wishes she would just come clean.

At the same time ... Chad feels like he needs a sit-down with Ronnie, with whom he used to be bros, and says he WILL talk to the 'Jersey Shore' star. Even Chad can admit making out with a friend's baby mama is a "major f**k-up on my part."

Sounds like Chad should work on his apology a little bit before he makes the call, though ... because he's still coming off as a guy who believes he's been victimized.

Put yourself in Ronnie's shoes (scary, we know) and watch.

Originally Published -- 8:29 AM PT

Nebraska Prez 'Getting Ready To Announce Big Ten Football' ... Caught On Hot Mic

Okay, EVERYBODY REMAIN CALM ... but U. of Nebraska president Ted Carter may have just spilled the beans on the return of the Big Ten football season ... saying an announcement is coming Tuesday night!!!

The revelation was made via a hot mic at a presser minutes ago ... when Carter was speaking with the University's National Strategic Research Institute director.

"We're getting ready to announce the Huskers and Big Ten football tonight," Carter said.

"Oh really?!," Bob Hinson said. "I heard that that was happening."

LISTEN -- like we said, do NOT panic ... but this sure as hell sounds like the season has been saved, according to the moment captured by KETV NewsWatch 7 in Omaha.

It's been an uphill battle for the conference -- with others like the SEC, Big 12 and ACC deciding to play through the pandemic ... and Big Ten and Pac 12 voting to wait.

The move resulted in a lawsuit filed by 8 Nebraska players against the Big Ten ... who claimed the conference didn't follow the proper protocols in coming up with its decision.

There had been rumblings for days about a possible change of heart ... and now it seems like it's really going to happen.

Kanye West Calls Music Industry & NBA 'Slave Ships' ... Taylor Swift Roped In Too

Kanye West is on the attack -- against Universal, Sony and the NBA -- claiming they are enslaving Black people and he's trying to save them ... but somehow, Taylor Swift gets brought into the mix too.

Kanye's latest Twitter diatribe is focused on the music industry and the NBA, which he compares to "modern day slave ships." Ye seems to be encouraging rappers, singers and basketball players to free themselves from their business contracts and instead ... buy land and property, as suggested by his following tweets.

Though Kanye -- AKA "the new Moses" -- started tweeting late Monday night, he's continued Tuesday morning ... and that's where Taylor comes in.

Ye posted a long message from someone -- possibly a lawyer or business partner -- offering advice on how he can move forward in his relationship with Universal and Sony.

The person suggests they could follow in Swift's footsteps and either try to buy his masters or rerecord them ... but makes sure to point out Kanye's would probably be worth a lot more.

It's all moot though ... because Kanye says he's done with "any form of business" with the media giants.

At last check ... Kanye's Twitter rant left off with a comparison of Nike co-founder Phil Knight's net worth to Michael Jordan's, implying that Knight's in unjustly more than 20 times higher than Jordan's.

Freedom, GA Reality Show Well in the Works ... For 19 Black Families Starting Own Community

It was bound to happen, and it looks like the ball is already rolling ... the 19 Black families who pooled their money to start their own town might soon be reality TV stars too.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... leaders from what will hopefully one day be known as Freedom, GA have been bombarded in the past few days by a flurry of inquires from production companies looking to get their stories, lives and mission on camera.

We're told the two women who kick-started the idea -- Renee Walters and Ashley Scott -- have been running point on these discussions, and it sounds like they (along with several other members of their community) are down to get something going ... and soon.

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Our sources say the production companies that've reached out have solid reps in the industry, and have worked with the likes of A&E, Oxygen, Lifetime, HGTV and other big networks that run programming on just this type of stuff ... family, home improvement, etc.

Here's the kicker ... we're told that the folks working to bring Freedom, GA to fruition are coming in with some terms of their own -- namely, they want to OWN this content and the rights behind it, not to mention control how it's edited and aired to the masses.

Our sources say Walters, Scott and co. feel it's important to have a say in how they're portrayed, 'cause they really don't want this to be slimy and full of cheap thrills -- but instead, have it be uplifting, while putting Black folks in a positive light.

And, as far as story lines ... there's A LOT. Scott works in real estate and home renovations -- while balancing family life -- and Walters does the same while working in the special needs community. Plus, there are 15 other families willing to participate ... 2 have opted out.

In other words, it's literally a deep well of potential content ... which could run for seasons to come if they strike the right deal. Wonderful things yield wonderful opportunities.

Amber Heard, Tina Knowles It's #HammerTime!!! ... Lead the Way for Habitat for Humanity

Hollywood's rallying behind Habitat for Humanity L.A. ... with Amber Heard, Tina Knowles and Lance Bass leading the way to raise some good money for a great cause.

Amber, Tina and Lance are just some of the many celebs who are helping the org raise awareness and funds through a social media campaign dubbed #Hammertime. The funds will help build homes during the COVID-19 pandemic for families in the Hollywood community who can't afford it. Some of the dough will also be used as valuable resources for families in need.

Scores of other celebs, including Tori Spelling and Holly Robinson Peete, have signed up to help launch the social campaign. For every $25 or more donated to HFH L.A., donors can get a special steel hammer created by Redline Steel ... a veteran-owned, American-made hammer perfect for hammering away while building a new home.

Jo-An Turman, VP of entertainment partnerships at Habitat L.A., tells TMZ ... "these beautiful gifts will help the org continue to build hope, homes and address the need for affordable housing."

BTW, the owner of Redline Steel is Colin Wayne ... an Army veteran who survived a rocket attack nearly 10 years ago in Afghanistan. Now that's one helluva partnership.

Netflix 'Cheer' Star Jerry Sued for Sex Abuse of Minors

Two teens are taking "Cheer" star Jerry Harris to court for grooming them into sending nude photos and demanding sexual favors ... those are the allegations in a new lawsuit filed on their behalf.

The plaintiffs are minor twin brothers who are part of the cheerleading community in Fort Worth, TX -- where they say they first encountered Harris around 2018 at high-level competitions and became acquainted. From there, things allegedly turned sexual fast.

According to the docs, obtained by TMZ, the brothers were starstruck by Harris when first getting to know him, as he was already a well-respected cheerleader on the champion Navarro college team, and had also filmed for Netflix's "Cheer" documentary.

In the lawsuit, they claim Harris almost immediately began taking them into his inner circle, befriending them on different social media platforms ... and, eventually, soliciting "booty pics" from them -- exploiting the fact they were both gay.

The docs say the boys reluctantly complied at times with Harris' requests, but go on to claim his requests became more frequent and more offline ... meaning he would allegedly solicit sexual acts from them in person, while also allegedly sending sexually explicit photos and video to them too.

In one alleged instance in 2019, one of the brothers claims Harris led him to a bathroom during a cheer competition and cornered him in a stall, where he allegedly begged the kid for oral sex. The boy says he managed to take off when his bro and teammates blew up his phone.

Mind you, at the time during these interactions ... the boys say they were just 13 and 14 years old, and that Harris was over 18. They also claim they've discovered other minors Harris has allegedly harassed, while adding he's been allowed to remain as a high-level coach and mentor at several different cheer organizations despite his alleged "past and ongoing sexual abuse of children." Some of these organizations, including United States All Star Federation and Varsity Spirit, are also defendants in the lawsuit.

According to the suit, the boys' mother reported Harris to local authorities in July of this year, and later to the FBI in August -- which resulted in a raid of his home this week. They are now seeking over $1 mil in damages.

UFOs Real Sighting in New Jersey!!! Or Just Goodyear Blimp 🤷🏽‍♂️

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A GOOD YEAR TO BELIEVE
@elvin_jku14/ / TikTok

You're about to enter another dimension of sound and sight ... and mind. That, or you're just walking into a tire ad courtesy of a flying billboard -- you tell us.

So, supposedly, there was a UFO sighting out in Rutherford, New Jersey Monday night over the MetLife Stadium, near a freeway where a bunch of cars appeared to stop dead in their tracks to catch a glimpse of what's either the start of an alien takeover ... or just a blimp.

Check it out ... the guy filming here doesn't seem quite sure what to believe, and if we're being honest -- neither are we!!! From his angle, it could certainly pass for a UFO ... one straight out of a movie, which actually makes it a bit harder to believe on its face.

Alright, now time for a little reality check (or one people want you to buy into) ... a bunch of folks are saying that was no UFO sighting at all, but nothing more than the good ol' Goodyear flying over the Giants-Steelers MNF game.

Yeah, sorry ... we're gonna score this one for the non-believers -- 'cause the full context of an NFL game going on makes it clear it's for sure one of Goodyear's famed blimps with its LED board on the belly.

UFO JULY 2020
ZOOM, ZOOM, ZOOM
TMZ.com

However, we have encountered what we believe might be a legit UFO sighting earlier this year in CA ... where SOMETHING zipped by up in the sky at lightning-quick speeds. That, or it was just a super-fast fighter jet doing some aerial maneuvers up there.

That one might give ya pause, but as for the Jersey sighting. Just a blimp, folks. No offense to Goodyear ... or the Giants, who lost their home opener.