Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Aug 4, 2017

Losers in Lockup:

JAMES HOWARD of Kentucky won't be winning "grandson of the year."
He and his buddy, TEA JAY LUSTER, tried to dig up the grave of EMILY HOWARD, James' grandma, 15 years after she died --to steal her jewelry.
They didn't get to her body, although for the record, all she was buried with was a porcelin doll and some pictures. Another family member said, "It hurt the family very much. They really weren't expecting it to be part of the family that did it. They had to be in a bad mindset. Anybody in their right mind I don't think would've been up there digging out a grave. They put in a lot of work. It's crazy."
Apparently James has had drug problems in the past, and that's what authorities are assuming this was all about. (Myers)

Reality Round-Up:

TMZ.com reports that former White House spokesperson SEAN SPICER has turned down an offer to appear on this coming season's edition of "Dancing With the Stars."
ABC said yesterday the cast for the upcoming season would be announced closer to the Sep 18 premiere.

TV Briefs:

It's nearing the end of "Sharknado Week" on the SYFY channel. Sunday, the event you've been waiting for: "Sharknado 5: Global Swarming," in which those shark-infested storms grow stronger and more complex, and the world braces for a global sharknado. IAN ZIERING is back as Fin Shepard along with TARA REID as his wife, April, who have to rescue their young son, who gets trapped in a Sharknado and is transported all over the world. Other cameos include OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN and daughter CHLOE LATTANZI as brilliant scientists, FABIO as the Pope (yes, that's not a typo), CHARO as the Queen of England, PORSHA WILLIAMS as an archeologist, BRET MICHAELS, CLAY AIKEN, CHRIS KATTAN and more(Back to back showings at 8 & 10 pm (Eastern).

Off the beaten path:

One of the biggest marijuana manufacturers in North America just purchased an entire town.
American Green, Inc, just announced that it's buying the 80-acre town of Nipton, California. The desert town comes with an RV park and a coffee shop. It also sports and Old West hotel and a few homes. The company plans to transform the Gold Rush town into "an energy-independent, cannabis-friendly hospitality destination." The company is reaching out to other cannabis manufacturers to see if they'd also like to move in.
Nipton is currently home to less than two dozen people. Its main source of income right now is selling lottery tickets to customers who cross the state line from Nevada. (Still)