Fran Drescher Won’t Seek Another Term as SAG-AFTRA President

Fran Drescher Won't Seek Another Term as SAG-AFTRA President

After four years in charge, Fran Drescher will not seek another term as president of SAG-AFTRA. Drescher's decision has been known within the union for some time. But it was made official on Friday when the union released the list of candidates for the upcoming election. More from Variety SAG-AFTRA, Nielsen Renew Measurement Pact Video Game Actors Contract Ratified: SAG-AFTRA Leaders Talk Gaming Execs' Reckoning With Hollywood's AI Standards, 11-Month Strike's Turning Point Fran Drescher, Jane Seymour, Luke Wilson Among Latest Hollywood Stars Set for Filming Italy Sardegna Festival Sean Astin, who has served on the negotiating committee and the national and local boards, will run for president against Chuck Slavin, a member of the local board in New England. Drescher took the helm of SAG-AFTRA in 2021 with the goal of uniting an organization that had been riven by factional politics. She largely did that, in part by taking the union on strike against the major film and TV companies for the first time in four decades. Drescher had little to no experience in union politics before taking the top job. She was re-elected in 2023 on a "unity ticket," as the two primary factions — Unite for Strength and Membership First — chose to put aside their differences amid the strike. Michelle Hurd and Peter Antico will run for secretary-treasurer. Astin and Hurd are running together under a new slate called "The Coalition." Antico and Slavin are running as "independent" candidates. Antico ran for secretary-treasurer against incumbent Joely Fisher in 2023, losing by a tally of 70%-30%. Slavin supported Maya Gilbert-Dunbar in the 2023 election for president. She got about 19% of the vote, to Drescher's 81%. Another round of negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers is set for next year. Both campaigns are focused on issues like health and pension benefits, streaming residuals and protections against generative AI. Ballots are set to go out to members on Aug. 13, and are due to be returned by Sept. 12. The union has elections for national officer positions as well as the national board and numerous local boards. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in August 2025 What's Coming to Netflix in August 2025 Sign up forVariety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram.

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August 08, 2025

Fran Drescher Won’t Seek Another Term as SAG-AFTRA President

Fran Drescher Won't Seek Another Term as SAG-AFTRA President After four years in charge, Fran Drescher will not seek another term as pre...

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Brandon Blackstock Was Diagnosed with Cancer After Kelly Clarkson Divorce: Source

Brandon Blackstock Was Diagnosed with Cancer After Kelly Clarkson Divorce: Source

Brandon Blackstock was diagnosed with cancer following his divorce from Kelly Clarkson The former music manager died on Thursday, Aug. 7. He was 48 Clarkson and Blackstock were married from 2013 until 2020, when Clarkson filed for divorce, which was finalized two years later Brandon Blackstocklearned of his cancer diagnosis following his divorce fromKelly Clarkson. A source tells PEOPLE that Blackstock, who died on Aug. 7 at age 48, that "he was diagnosed after the divorce."Blackstock and Clarkson, 43, were married in 2013 and welcomed theirdaughter, River, now 11, and son, Remington, now 9. Seven years later, the singer-songwriter filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. Theirdivorce was finalized two years later. AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais; Chris Haston/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty A second source tells PEOPLE Blackstock moved back to Montana in 2022 following his diagnosis. A representative for Blackstock's family announced his death ina statement shared with PEOPLE. "It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away," the statement read. "Brandonbravely battled cancer for more than three years. He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family. We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family's privacy during this very difficult time." Taylor Hill/Getty Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The day before Blackstock died,Clarkson postponed the August shows of her Las Vegas residency, revealing that Blackstock had been "ill" and she needed to be present for her children. "While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year, my children's father has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them," she wrote in a statement. "I am sincerely sorry to everyone who bought tickets to the shows and I so appreciate your grace, kindness and understanding." A source told PEOPLE thatClarkson has "been devastated" for her childrenamid her ex-husband's private illness. "When she found out that he was sick, she remained protective of him for their sake," the source said. "Kelly has always tried to keep things classy. It became clear earlier this year that Brandon was not doing well. She's been devastated for the kids." Clarkson and Blackstock's divorce was acrimonious and involved several legal proceedings following the finalization. TheAmerican Idolwinner knew how important the relationship her children, River and Remington, had with their father as, the source added. "The divorce was incredibly difficult for her — messy, painful and something she felt terrible about," the source said. "But she always wanted her kids to have the best relationship possible with their dad. She never spoke poorly about Brandon to the kids." Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Along with the children he shares with Clarkson, Blackstock was a father to son, Seth, anddaughter, Savannah, from a previous marriage. Read the original article onPeople

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August 08, 2025

Brandon Blackstock Was Diagnosed with Cancer After Kelly Clarkson Divorce: Source

Brandon Blackstock Was Diagnosed with Cancer After Kelly Clarkson Divorce: Source Brandon Blackstock was diagnosed with cancer following his...

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Airman charged in fatal firearm incident at Wyoming Air Force Base

Airman charged in fatal firearm incident at Wyoming Air Force Base

A US airman has been charged with obstruction of justice and involuntary manslaughter in connection with a fatal firearm discharge at an Air Force base in July, which resulted in the death of a 21-year-old service member. The on-duty incident, which killed Airman Brayden Lovan, occurred in the early morning hours of July 20 at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. Few details have been provided about the firearm discharge, though the Air Force said at the time that it was under investigation and out of abundance of caution security forces were conducting "100% inspections of the M18 handguns to identify immediate safety concerns." An Air Force spokesperson said in a statement on Friday that the investigation "has progressed and an individual has now been arrested on suspicion of making a false official statement, obstruction of justice, and involuntary manslaughter." "As with all individuals accused of a crime, the person arrested in this case is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law," the spokesperson said. "The investigation in this case is ongoing and further details are not available." As a result of the incident, Air Force Global Strike Command ordered a pause of using the M18 handgun — manufactured by Sig Sauer — until further notice. "Out of an abundance of caution and to ensure the safety and security of our personnel, the pause will remain in place pending the completion of comprehensive investigations by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the AFGSC Safety office," Air Force Global Strike Command said in a release in July. "During this period, Security Forces Airmen will be equipped with the M4 rifle, ensuring no lapse in AFGSC's security posture." Sig Sauersaid in a statementthat the company "proactively offered assistance" to the military as they investigate, and "remain willing to help in furtherance of their ongoing inquiry." Lovan entered active duty in November 2023, and had been serving at F.E. Warren Air Force Base for his first assignment with the 90th Security Forces Squadron since May 2024. The commander of the 90th Security Forces Group, Col. Jeremy Sheppard, called Lovan a "valued defender, teammate and friend." For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

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August 08, 2025

Airman charged in fatal firearm incident at Wyoming Air Force Base

Airman charged in fatal firearm incident at Wyoming Air Force Base A US airman has been charged with obstruction of justice and involuntary ...

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Suspect in Montana bar shooting captured after a week on the run

Suspect in Montana bar shooting captured after a week on the run

The suspect in the deadly Montana bar shooting has been captured after a weeklong manhunt, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte announced Friday. Michael Brown, 45, had beenon the runin the mountains since Aug. 1, when authorities say he killed four people at The Owl Bar in the town of Anaconda. "The Anaconda shooter Michael Brown has been apprehended. Incredible response from law enforcement officers across Montana. Thank you to all partners for your commitment to the search," Gianforteposted on X. Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said that at approximately 2 p.m., authorities apprehended and placed Brown under arrest near the search area in Anaconda. "I am proud of the unrelenting law enforcement effort this week to find and arrest Michael Paul Brown. The support we've seen for the community of Anaconda from across the state and the nation has also been remarkable. The families and friends of the victims remain in my prayers," said Knudsen. Officials have said the suspect went into the bar last Friday morning and allegedlyopened fire, killing Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59; Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64; David Allen Leach, 70; and Tony Wayne Palm, 74. "By all indications, this is an unstable individual who walked in and murdered four people in cold blood for no reason whatsoever," Knudsen told reporters Sunday. The suspect lived next door to the bar and appeared to be a regular, Knudsen said. After the shooting, Brown fled the scene, and he was believed to have gotten rid of some of his personal belongings, including his clothes, Knudsen said. Authorities had released an image of the suspect taken shortly after the shooting. showing him shirtless and barefoot, wearing only a pair of black shorts. He was believed to have acquired new clothes from a stolen vehicle, Knudsen said. Investigators believe the suspect used his own rifle in the shooting, Knudsen said. Brown served in the Army from 2001 to 2005, including a deployment to Iraq, and then in the Montana National Guard from 2006 to 2009. Brown's niece, Clare Boyle, told The Associated Press that her uncle struggled with mental illness for years, and several local residents told CBS News they were aware of his troubles. Kristian Kelley, whose mother Nancy Kelley was among the victims, said, "He was somebody that needed some serious resources. He had some mental health issues as well as PTSD from being in the military." She added, "I've never known him to be violent. He was a person who would tell pretty strange stories and different things like that." Another area resident, Shane Charles, said Brown "would tell us stories that he was John Wick one day or he was the president's right-hand man." Charles knew Nancy Kelley, who was working as the bartender when the shooting happened. "Nancy was a fun, bubbly person, always happy, had a smile on her face, always the first to say, 'Hello, how's your day going,'" Charles said. He added, "All of the victims were great people. Our community is suffering because they've lost some great, great people." Global stock markets react to Trump's sweeping tariffs in effect now Sean "Diddy" Combs wants to go back to Madison Square Garden in the future, attorney says Israel's Security Cabinet approves plan to take over Gaza City

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August 08, 2025

Suspect in Montana bar shooting captured after a week on the run

Suspect in Montana bar shooting captured after a week on the run The suspect in the deadly Montana bar shooting has been captured after a we...

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Inside Jon Bon Jovi's Soul Kitchen, where anyone can eat

Inside Jon Bon Jovi's Soul Kitchen, where anyone can eat

At theJBJ Soul Kitchen,anyone can eat a full meal regardless of whether they have money to pay for it. The restaurant, run by Dorothea Bongiovi, the wife of rock starJon Bon Jovi, operates four locations across New Jersey where guests can either make a suggested donation of $20 to $30 or pay with their time by volunteering. The model allows patrons to work as servers, dishwashers or in other roles to earn their meals. But Bongiovi emphasizes the approach isn't charity. "Ours is a model of empowerment," Bongiovi said. "We're not here to make somebody feel like, 'Oh, I'm giving this to you.' You have earned it." The restaurants, which first opened in 2011, go beyond just serving meals. Staff members like hostess Nicole Dorrity provide community outreach, helping patrons secure housing, mental healthcare and a state ID. "I came out of homelessness in 2017. So because of my lived experience, I'm able to kind of inherently know some of the barriers somebody might be up against," Dorrity said. The Bongiovis protect the privacy of those who volunteer for meals rather than pay with money. "I would never wanna exploit someone's circumstances," Bongiovi said when asked about interviewing volunteer diners. The restaurants have faced some criticism. The mayor of Toms River complained that a temporary lunch program at a local library was attracting unhoused people to the area. "We did a pop-up in a library. We're giving folks lunch. That's all it is. Soup, salad, sandwiches, easy stuff," Bon Jovi said. Despite any controversy, the restaurants have earned recognition for food quality. They hold the highest ratings on TripAdvisor in two of the towns where they operate and made the platform's "Best of the Best" list in 2023, placing them in the top 1% of reviewed businesses nationwide. Volunteer dishwasher Hugh Daly finds joy in his unpaid work at the restaurant. "It is the best part of my day," Daly said. "I walk in and there's a big stack of dirty pots and pans, and I'm happy." The success stems partly from classically trained chefs like Emily Yasi, who said thecelebrity ownersstay involved behind the scenes. "This past weekend I saw Jon on the ring camera coming and was just weeding and sweeping the walkways," Yasi said. "They do it all, all behind the scenes, too." For Jon Bon Jovi, the restaurants represent a homecoming after decades of global touring. When asked which of his songs best describes the restaurants, he chose "Who Says You Can't Go Home." "I mean, I've been everywhere there is to be, and all you wanted is to do is come back to where you're from and be a part of that," he said. Global stock markets react to Trump's sweeping tariffs in effect now Sean "Diddy" Combs wants to go back to Madison Square Garden in the future, attorney says Israel's Security Cabinet approves plan to take over Gaza City

byAlpha World

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August 08, 2025

Inside Jon Bon Jovi's Soul Kitchen, where anyone can eat

Inside Jon Bon Jovi's Soul Kitchen, where anyone can eat At theJBJ Soul Kitchen,anyone can eat a full meal regardless of whether they ha...

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