Valerie Mahaffey, Emmy-winning 'Northern Exposure' and 'Young Sheldon' actress, dies at 71New Foto - Valerie Mahaffey, Emmy-winning 'Northern Exposure' and 'Young Sheldon' actress, dies at 71

Emmy-winningactress Valerie Mahaffey, best known for her role on the TV series "Northern Exposure," has died. She was 71. Mahaffey's publicist Jillian Roscoe confirmed to USA TODAY the actress died Friday, May 30, after a battle withcancer. Her five-decade career included performances on the Broadway stage, countless television appearances and roles in films such as "Seabiscuit," "Sully," "Jungle 2 Jungle" and "No Pay, Nudity." Mahaffey earned a supporting actressDaytime Emmy nominationin 1980 for her role in the NBC soap opera "The Doctors." In 1992, she would win aPrimetime Emmyfor best supporting actress in a drama series for her role as Eve in "Northern Exposure." Most recently, Mahaffey appeared in the Apple TV+ thriller "Echo 3," "The 8th Day" and the film"French Exit,"for which she earned anIndependent Spirit Awardsupporting actress nomination. 'As close as family':Loretta Swit honored by 'M*A*S*H' co-stars Alan Alda, Jamie Farr Born and raised in Indonesia until the age of 11, Mahaffey also lived in Nigeria, Texas and England. She is survived by her husband Joseph Kell and her daughter Alice. "I have lost the love of my life, and America has lost one of its most endearing actresses," her husband said in a statement. "She will be missed." Her daughter, who starred in the 2010 film "Summer Eleven," which Mahaffey produced and appeared in (Kell directed), said in a post on Instagram: "don't really have the words to say right now. cancer sucks. i'll look for you in all the fun moments of life. i know that's where you'll be💕🪽 i know we'll see each other again someday. i love you infinity much." View this post on Instagram A post shared by alice richards (@aliceziolkoski) After her regular role as Ashley Bennett on "The Doctors," Mahaffey began a steady stream of TV appearances including recurring roles as Alma Hodge, the devious ex-wife of Orson Hodge (Kyle MacLachlan) over nine episodes (2006-2007) on "Desperate Housewives," the teacher Victoria MacElroy (2017-2020) on "Young Sheldon," and on theNetflix comedy "Dead to Me," as Christina Applegate's mother-in law, Lorna Harding, for nine episodes (2019-2022). Mahaffey also had guest appearances on comedies such as "Cheers," "Seinfeld" and "Newhart." George Wendt:'Cheers' stars Ted Danson, John Ratzenberger and Rhea Perlman pay tribute Mahaffey's early career included Broadway plays such as "Dracula," in which she performed with Raul Julia. She also won two Obie Awards for off-Broadway plays "Top Girls" at the Public Theatre and for Alan Bennett's "Talking Heads" at the Minetta Lane. Her other theater credits include playing Desdemona in "Othello" opposite Morgan Freeman, and Juliet in "Romeo and Juliet" with Tom Hulce. What's everyone talking about?Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day Mike Snider is a reporter on USA TODAY's Trending team. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him atmikegsnider&@mikegsnider.bsky.social&@mikesnider& msnider@usatoday.com This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Valerie Mahaffey dead: 'Young Sheldon,' 'Northern Exposure' star dies

byKonstantin Pynzar
in
May 31, 2025

Valerie Mahaffey, Emmy-winning 'Northern Exposure' and 'Young Sheldon' actress, dies at 71

Valerie Mahaffey, Emmy-winning 'Northern Exposure' and 'Young Sheldon' actress, dies at 71 Emmy-winningactress Valerie Mahaf...
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Taylor Swift buys back masters, shares new info about "Reputation"

Taylor Swift announced Friday she has bought back her first six studio albums, themasters of which were soldto celebrity manager Scooter Braun in 2019 and later to Shamrock Capital. "I've been bursting into tears of joy at random intervals ever since I found out that this is really happening," Swift wrote ina lettershared on her website. "I really get to say these words: All of the music I've ever made… now belongs… to me." After the masters were sold in 2019, Swift said she would rerecord the albums, so she would own the updated versions. She has released four: "Fearless (Taylor's Version)" and "Red (Taylor's Version)" in 2021, and "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)" and "1989 (Taylor's Version)" in 2023. Fans have been eagerly awaiting the rerecording of "Reputation," originally released in 2017, for years, but Swift said in her letter that she hasn't even rerecorded a quarter of that album. "The Reputation album was so specific to that time in my life and I kept hitting a stopping point when I tried to remake it," she wrote. "To be perfectly honest, it's the one album in those first 6 that I thought couldn't be improved upon by redoing it." However, she added the unreleased vault tracks — songs she wrote at the time but were cut from the tracklist — may be released in the future. She has included songs "From the Vault" on each of her rerecorded albums. "There will be a time (if you're into the idea) for the unreleased Vault tracks from that album to hatch," she wrote. Swift teased in her2023 Person of the Year interview with Time magazinethat the "Reputation" vault tracks are "fire." The pop star also said she has finished rerecording her debut, self-titled album, which was originally released in 2006, and said she loves how it sounds now. "Those 2 albums can still have their moments to re-emerge when the time is right, if that would be something you guys would be excited about," she wrote. Swift thanked her fans in her letter, saying the support they showed her rerecorded albums and herrecord-breaking Eras Touris why she was able to buy back her music. Swift has been an advocate for artists owning their own music and noted she is "extremely heartened by the conversations this saga has reignited" in the industry. "Every time a new artist tells me they negotiated to own their master recordings in their record contract because of this fight, I'm reminded of how important it was for all of this to happen," she wrote. She also praised Shamrock Capital "for being the first people to ever offer" her the chance to buy the masters to her first six albums. "This was a business deal to them, but I really felt like they saw it for what it was to me: My memories and my sweat and my handwriting and my decades of dreams," she wrote. California track and field final begins with new rules for transgender athletes Reporter's Notebook: Words of wisdom from college graduation speeches How a toddler's brave walk into the darkness to get help inspired his family

byKonstantin Pynzar
in
May 31, 2025

Taylor Swift buys back masters, shares new info about "Reputation"

Taylor Swift buys back masters, shares new info about "Reputation" Taylor Swift announced Friday she has bought back her first six...
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Jackie Chan Didn't Train for 'Karate Kid: Legends': 'I Don't Need to Anymore. I've Been Training Every Day for 64 Years'New Foto - Jackie Chan Didn't Train for 'Karate Kid: Legends': 'I Don't Need to Anymore. I've Been Training Every Day for 64 Years'

Jackie Chan is back. Not that he ever went away, but Chan returns as Han in "Karate Kid: Legends," the latest installment in the film franchise. This time around, he's in China mentoring his young nephew, Li (Ben Wang). When Li is forced to move to New York City, he finds himself tussling with a bully at school, and winds up in the Five Boroughs Tournament. Han comes along to train Li in martial arts, while Danny LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), the original Karate Kid, arrives from California to teach Li karate. More from Variety Box Office: 'Karate Kid: Legends' Chops Off $7.5 Million Opening Day, 'Lilo & Stitch' and 'Mission: Impossible' Still Leading Charts Michael Cera Got to Meet Jackie Chan on Their Press Tours, but 'I Think He Thought I Was a Competition Winner': 'Who Is This Person? What's Going On?' 'Karate Kid: Legends' Star Ben Wang Did Most of His Own Stunts in That Final Fight: 'He Took Some Hard Hits' "I feel like this film understands a really specific and fundamental difference between Hong Kong martial arts, which is all about the choreography and the moves, and American martial arts where it's all about basically punching," says director Jonathan Entwistle. Chan, who first joined the franchise in the 2010 "Karate Kid" starring Jaden Smith, says he didn't need any training for this new entry. The 71-year-old says, "I don't need to anymore. I've been training every day for 64 years. I've been fighting, fighting, fighting." Chan has been acting since the 1960s and is a legend of fight choreography. He performs all of his own stunts "Karate Kid: Legends." But he's slowed down with age. Chan laughs, "I'm not liked I used to be when I was 20, and could do a triple kick in the sky. Now, I do one kick." But, it's still all him. Chan says he passed on valuable advice to Wang. "I said, 'Ben, we do have a double for you, but you should do your own thing. The audience respects you more. When you use a double, you become lazy.'" In contrast, the 25-year-old Wang had a stricter training program. "I got a systematic ass-kicking," Wang says. While much of Li's journey is about building confidence in his moves, Wang says he spent a month and half before shooting even began working with the stunt team. "We kept going. It was five days of formal training, from morning to night, and then, I trained by myself on the weekend." Wang says the team had 90 days to get him to the point when he could "look okay doing a fight scene with Jackie Chan." Says Wang, "When Jackie showed up, he was nothing but helpful." As for Macchio, even though Netflix's "Cobra Kai" has ended, it didn't mean the end of Danny LaRusso. As soon as he finished that, he was on a plane to the set of "Karate Kid: Legends." But his training began before he even got to set. "It was a different stunt team, and they sent me videos in advance, and I worked on certain pieces," Macchio explains. When he finally did get to set, everything came together. He recalls that moment when he arrived. With Wang becoming the new Karate Kid, and the baton being passed on, Macchio smiles, "I helped build the foundation to this house, but I felt like I was at somebody else's house." What does Chan think of Wang? Chan beams with pride, "He's like my young Jackie Chan." And so, a new Karate Kid legend is born. Best of Variety What's Coming to Netflix in June 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? Sign up forVariety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram.

byKonstantin Pynzar
in
May 31, 2025

Jackie Chan Didn’t Train for ‘Karate Kid: Legends’: ‘I Don’t Need to Anymore. I’ve Been Training Every Day for 64 Years’

Jackie Chan Didn't Train for 'Karate Kid: Legends': 'I Don't Need to Anymore. I've Been Training Every Day for 64 Ye...
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Hamas says it hasn't rejected ceasefire deal as Witkoff slams response as 'unacceptable'New Foto - Hamas says it hasn't rejected ceasefire deal as Witkoff slams response as 'unacceptable'

Hamas on Saturday said that it has responded to a Gaza ceasefire planput forwardby the US, repeating its call for an end to the war, in a move the US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff called "totally unacceptable." In a statement, Hamas said that its "proposal" to the mediators – Qatar and Egypt — "aims to achieve a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and ensure the flow of aid to our people and our families in the Gaza Strip." "As part of this agreement, 10 living Israeli prisoners held by the resistance will be released, in addition to the return of 18 bodies, in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners," the statement said. A source familiar with the negotiations told CNN that the militant group's response was "positive," but added that it will require further negotiations and clarifications. Hamas' response to the US proposal demanded changes to three key areas, the source said: extending the ceasefire past 60 days, humanitarian assistance, and the positions to which Israeli troops will withdraw. The latest response comes after a senior Hamas official told CNN earlier this week that the group had sent back a three-pronged counterproposal requesting US assurances that the negotiations over a permanent ceasefire will continue and the fighting will not resume after the pause; that humanitarian assistance be carried out through the United Nations; and that the Israeli military pull back to the positions that it held on March 2. Witkoff said in apost on XSaturday that he received Hamas' response, calling it "totally unacceptable" and writing that it "only takes us backward." "Hamas should accept the framework proposal we put forward as the basis for proximity talks, which we can begin immediately this coming week," Witkoff continued. Slamming the US envoy's comments as having "complete bias," Basem Naim, a member of Hamas' political bureau, told CNN that the US had previously agreed upon a ceasefire proposal with Hamas which was then amended by Israel. Hamas then submitted an updated counterproposal over the weekend, Naim said. "We did not reject Mr. Witkoff's proposal," Naim said. "Last week we came to an agreement and understanding with him on a proposal, which he deemed acceptable for negotiation," he continued. "We were then presented with the Israeli response, which disagreed with all the provisions we had agreed upon." "Why, each time, is the Israeli response considered the only response for negotiation? This violates the integrity and fairness of mediation and constitutes a complete bias towards the other side," Naim said. An Israeli official told CNN on Saturday that they saw the militant group's latest response as having "effectively rejected the latest Witkoff proposal and put forward a new offer with its own conditions." Later the same day, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office reiterated Witkoff's reaction to Hamas' response, saying in a statement: "While Israel has agreed to the updated Witkoff outline for the release of our hostages, Hamas continues to adhere to its refusal." "Israel will continue its action for the return of our hostages and the defeat of Hamas," the statement said. The US-backed and Israel-approved proposal seen by CNN on FridayincludesHamas releasing 10 Israeli hostages and 18 deceased hostages in exchange for 125 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 1,111 Gazans detained since the war began. Negotiations toward a permanent ceasefire would begin immediately on the first day of the 60-day truce, according to the US proposal. The terms of the agreement would also allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza "immediately" and be distributed "through agreed upon channels," including the United Nations and the Red Crescent, according to the proposal. But the draft agreement contained no intrinsic guarantee of a permanent end to the war, a key Hamas demand, nor assurances that the ceasefire will be extended as long as negotiations continue. Instead, it said that US President Donald Trump is "committed to working to ensure that good faith negotiations continue until a final agreement is reached." Hamas had initially signaled reluctance to accept the terms of the deal. Bassem Naim, a member of the Hamas political bureau, said on Facebook Thursday that the framework did "not respond to any of our people's demands" but that discussions were underway, nonetheless. The back-and-forth between Israel and Hamas comes as famine conditions worsen in the Gaza Strip. Israel's11-week blockadeof humanitarian aid has left the enclave's population facing starvation. Though it was lifted last week, much of the little aid that has entered the strip since has been looted, and several people have been killed afterchaos brokeout near aid distribution sites, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Nearly 80 aid trucks traveling through southern and central Gaza werelooted by desperate civilianson Saturday, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said. In a statement issued on X, the WFP said 77 trucks had crossed into Gaza loaded with flour. All of them "were stopped along the way, with food taken mainly by hungry people trying to feed their families." It added that "after 80 days of a total blockade, communities are starving – and they are no longer willing to let food pass them by." This story has been updated with developments. CNN's Jeremy Diamond, Tim Lister, Dana Karni, Alex Marquardt, Kylie Atwood and Oren Liebermann contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byKonstantin Pynzar
in
May 31, 2025

Hamas says it hasn’t rejected ceasefire deal as Witkoff slams response as ‘unacceptable’

Hamas says it hasn't rejected ceasefire deal as Witkoff slams response as 'unacceptable' Hamas on Saturday said that it has resp...
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Trump to withdraw billionaire Jared Isaacman's nomination to lead NASA, AP source saysNew Foto - Trump to withdraw billionaire Jared Isaacman's nomination to lead NASA, AP source says

WASHINGTON (AP) — PresidentDonald Trumpis withdrawing the nomination oftech billionaire Jared Isaacman to lead NASA, a person familiar with the administration's personnel decisions said Saturday. The individual was not authorized to comment publicly. The White House and NASA did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment. Trump announced last December during the presidential transition that he had chosen Isaacman to be the space agency's next administrator. Isaacman is the CEO and founder of Shift4, a credit card processing company. He also bought a series of spaceflights from SpaceX and conducted the first private spacewalk. Isaacman testified at his Senate confirmation hearing on April 9 and a vote to send his nomination to the full Senate was expected soon. SpaceX is owned bybillionaire Elon Musk, a Trump supporter and adviser who announced this week that he is leaving the government after several months at the helm of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Trump created the agency to slash the size of government and put Musk in charge. Semafor was first to report that the White House had decided to pull Isaacman's nomination.

byKonstantin Pynzar
in
May 31, 2025

Trump to withdraw billionaire Jared Isaacman's nomination to lead NASA, AP source says

Trump to withdraw billionaire Jared Isaacman's nomination to lead NASA, AP source says WASHINGTON (AP) — PresidentDonald Trumpis withdra...
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