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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Aug 18, 2014
August 18, 2014
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Back in rehab:
ABC News reporter ELIZABETH VARGAS. ABC released a statement from the "20/20" co-anchor which said that she'd checked into a treatment facility this weekend while on vacation to be treated for alcohol dependency. "As so many other recovering alcoholics know, overcoming the disease can be a long and incredibly difficult process," Vargas said. "I feel I have let myself, my co-workers and most importantly my family down and for that I am ashamed and sorry."
A statement from the network said "We look forward to having her back at ABC News when she feels ready to return." This is not the first stint in rehab. She also spent several weeks in a treatment facility last fall. Elizabeth is married to singer-songwriter MARC COHN and has two children, ZACH (aged 11) and SAM (who turned eight on Saturday).Not on the wagon:
DENZEL WASHINGTON is doing just dandy, thankyouverymuch. Although rumors are swirling that the A-lister went on an alcohol detox after going off the rails in July, his publicist tells "Entertainment Tonight" that he does a health cleanse "every time he's about to go back to work." Apparently it's par for the course for the Academy Award-winner to clean up after the family vacation and it's "nothing new." (Lee)
Binkie alert:
CHRISTINA AGUILERA is a mommy, again. MTV News says she gave birth to a girl on Saturday via C-section. The father is Christina's fiance, MATT RUTLER. She also has a six-year-old son with her ex-husband, JORDAN BRATMAN. No name for the little one yet. Christina and Matt got engaged on Valentine's Day. (Marino)
Fast Food:
Burger King has dropped their french fry experiment, "Satisfries."
The low-calorie alternative to the regular fries --crinkle-cut with 40 percent less fat and 30 percent fewer calories. However, part of the reason might also be that they were also more expensive, costing $1.89 for a small order, compared to $1.59 for Burger King's regular fries.Are you a fan of the chocolate-hazelnut spread Nutella? We may have some bad news for you.
Due to a frost in Turkey, a large amount of the hazelnut crop was damaged. Turkey supplies around seventy percent of the hazelnuts around the world. And despite its chocolate-y goodness, hazelnuts are the main ingredient in Nutella. So far, prices have stayed constant, but folks are worrying that the shortage will drive prices up. Basically, stock up now before it's too late and you have to pay an extra fifty cents for your morning dose of chocolate. (AB)On, off and way-off Broadway:
NEIL PATRICK HARRIS did his final two performances of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" yesterday. He's out of the show and Playbill.com says ANDREW RANNELLS takes over the starring role on Wednesday. He's under contract for eight weeks. (Marino)
"Rocky" the musical closed yesterday. Playbill.com says there were 216 performances at the massive Winter Garden Theater. The set won a Tony Award, but that was about it. A German-language production from 2012 is still running in Hamburg. (Marino)
Drug Bust of the Day:
Warning: note content!
Spanish police arrested a Venezuelan lady who flew into Madrid with more than silicone hidden in her breast implants.
Authorities say the 43-year-old woman arrived on a flight from Colombia and immediately began acting suspiciously. Narcotics agents searched her, but didn't find anything at first. But, when female officers conducted a more detailed body search, they found "certain irregularities and deformations" in her chest area. That's when the suspect confessed that her implants were packed full of cocaine. She was taken to a hospital, where surgeons removed almost four pounds of cocaine.
A similar thing happened back in 2012 when Spanish police busted a Panamanian woman with more than three pounds of coke stuffed in her implants. (Still) -
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