Jeffrey Epstein lawyer Roy Black dies in Florida at age 80, firm saysNew Foto - Jeffrey Epstein lawyer Roy Black dies in Florida at age 80, firm says

Florida lawyer Roy Black, widely known for representing several high-profile clients includingWilliam Kennedy Smithin his 1991 nationally publicized rape trial as well asJeffrey Epstein, has died at age 80, his law firm confirmed. The renowned defense attorney died on July 21 at his home in Coral Gables, located around 5 miles west of Miami, according to the Black Srebnick firm. "Roy Black is widely recognized as one of the greatest criminal defense attorneys in American legal history," the law firm said in a statement shared with USA TODAY. The firm applauded Smith for his decades-long career and "reputation for relentless preparation, courtroom mastery, and unwavering ethical standards." The New York native has represented celebrities ranging fromJustin Bieberto race car driverHelio Castroneves, but is arguably best known for securing the acquittal of Kennedy Smith, a former physician and nephew of the late PresidentJohn F. Kennedy. Smith was implicated but not charged in the sexual assault of a Florida woman in Palm Beach. The case received national attention largely due to its live television coverage. "Roy's absence will be deeply felt throughout the legal community, but his legacy — defined by fairness, diligence, compassion, and winning spirit — will continue to shine through the countless lives he impacted," the firm added. He is survived by his wife and "Real Housewives of Miami" alum Lea Black, with whom he shared their son RJ, as well as his daughter Nora, from a previous marriage. In 1994, he married Black, who had previously served as a juror in the Kennedy Smith case. "Thank you for all the blessings," Lea Black wrote on an Instagram post. "We will be announcing details for a tribute and celebration of life in a few weeks." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lea Black (@leablackmiami) Black was a prominent Florida defense attorney known for several high-profile clients, including Epstein and Kennedy Smith. He is also widely recognized as a legal analyst appearing on television to offer his insights. He was born in 1945 in New York but raised in both Connecticut and the Caribbean, according toBlack Srebnick. As an adjunct professor, Black taught criminal evidence courses at his alma mater, the University of Miami School of Law, as early as 1973. He is the published author of the 1999 book "Black'sLaw: A Criminal Lawyer Reveals His Defense Strategies in Four Cliffhanger Cases." "For more than 30 years, Roy was my teacher, mentor and friend. Roy was the greatest criminal lawyer of our generation, perhaps in American history, achieving acquittals over a span of 50 years in some of the most challenging and notorious cases of all time," Black's friend and law partner Howard Srebnick said in a statement. Black was among the team of attorneys who handled the infamous Epstein case when the prominent financier was accused ofsexually abusing children for more than a decade, theAssociated Pressreported. While Epstein never sat for trial, he pleaded guilty to the solicitation of prostitution and solicitation of a minor for prostitution in Florida in 2008. Following Epstein's 2019 death in a New York jail cell, Black aimed to prevent his victims from reopening a non-prosecution agreement that allowed Epstein to plead guilty to a lesser state charge, according to AP. Black has represented several other high-profile clients, including the following: Political commentator Rush Limbaugh Sportscaster Marv Albert Actor and film producer Kelsey Grammer Columbian drug lord Fabio Ochoa Businessman Amin Khoury Artist Peter Max Contributing: Kinsey Crowley and Holly Baltz, USA TODAY NETWORK This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Epstein lawyer Roy Black dies at age 80, firm says

byKonstantin Pynzar
in
July 23, 2025

Jeffrey Epstein lawyer Roy Black dies in Florida at age 80, firm says

Jeffrey Epstein lawyer Roy Black dies in Florida at age 80, firm says Florida lawyer Roy Black, widely known for representing several high-p...
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Families of slain University of Idaho students share emotions at Bryan Kohberger's sentencingNew Foto - Families of slain University of Idaho students share emotions at Bryan Kohberger's sentencing

The families and loved ones of the four students stabbed to death in a home near the University of Idaho campus faced Bryan Kohbergerduring his sentencingin a Boise court Wednesday in an outpouring of grief, anger and even forgiveness. Judge Steven Hippler sentenced Kohberger tofour life sentenceswithout parole for four counts of first-degree murder in thebrutal deathsof Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, Kaylee Goncalves and Ethan Chapin early on Nov. 13, 2022. He was also given a 10-year sentence for burglary and assessed $270,000 in fines and civil penalties. He has waived his right to appeal. Kohbergerpleaded guiltyearly this month, just weeks before his trial was to start, in a deal to avoid the death penalty. Prosecutors and defense attorneys had agreed on the sentence. Kohberger had a chance to speak in court but declined to do so. Many loved ones spoke through tears as they gave their emotional statements during Wednesday's hearing. Some addressed Kohberger directly, while others said they did not want to "waste the words" on him. The prosecutor and judge also choked up at times as they spoke of the victims. Here's a look at the hearing in their words: Surviving roommates speak of their trauma Bethany Funke was one of two roommates to survive the night of the stabbings. In a statement read by a friend, she said the killings terrorized her and prompted her to sleep in her parents' room for almost a year. "I have not slept through a single night since this happened. I constantly wake up in panics, terrified someone is breaking in or someone is here to hurt me, or I'm about to lose someone else that I love," Funke's statement said. "For a long time I could barely get out of bed. But one day, I realized I have to live for them." Dylan Mortensen, the other surviving roommate, similarly said she had to sleep in her mom's bed and described panic attacks that hit her "like a tsunami." "Sometimes I drop to the floor with my heart racing, convinced something is very wrong. It's far beyond anxiety. It's my body reliving everything over and over again," she said, sobbing. What Kohberger couldn't take from her was her voice and her memories of her roommates, she said. "Those things are mine. They are sacred, and he will never touch them." Families express array of emotions Scott Laramie, Mogen's stepfather, said the "emotional wound will never fully heal." "Karen and I are ordinary people, but we lived extraordinary lives because we had Maddie," he said, referring to his wife, Maddie's mother. "As for the defendant, we will not waste the words. Nor will we fall into hatred and bitterness." An attorney for the family read a statement from Karen Laramie. "Some may offer forgiveness for what the defendant has done. However, we cannot at this time, or perhaps ever," the statement said. "Nor will we ask for mercy for what he has done. His acts are too heinous." Some other family members, meanwhile, said they forgave Kohberger. "Bryan, I'm here today to tell you I have forgiven you because I no longer could live with that hate in my heart," said Kim Kernodle, Xana's aunt. "Any time you want to talk and tell me what happened, get my number. I'm here, no judgment, because I do have questions that I want you to answer." Cara Northington, Xana's mother, emphasized the importance of her faith. "Jesus has allowed me to forgive you for murdering my daughter, without you even being sorry," she said. The father of Madison Mogen read the last thing she had written him — a Father's Day card. In it, she said she couldn't wait to "hang out again soon" and that she was proud of him. "When I wasn't wanting to live anymore, she was what would keep me from not caring anymore," Ben Mogen said, describing struggles with addiction. "Knowing that she was out there and that she was just such a beautiful person kept me alive a lot of rough moments." Steve Goncalves, Kaylee's father, taunted Kohberger forleaving his DNAon a knife sheath left near Mogen's body and getting caught despite being agraduate student in criminologyat nearby Washington State University at the time. "You were that careless, that foolish, that stupid," Steve Goncalves said. "Master's degree? You're a joke." Kohberger declines to speak When asked by the judge whether he wanted to speak, Kohberger responded: "I respectfully decline." Prosecutor chokes up showing photos of victims Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson's voice caught in his throat as he displayed photos of the victims, including one of all the roommates taken the day before the killings. Sobbing was heard in the courtroom and the judge used a tissue to dry his eyes. "You can see all six of these dynamic, vibrant, loving, special, innocent faces, taken together just across the street from their residence and barely 12 hours before four of them would be brutally murdered in their sleep," he said. Thompson acknowledged that the victim's familieswere spliton how they felt about the plea deal. "I respect the fact that of these fine, suffering people here, not everybody agreed with the decision we made," he said. "I accept that. It's my responsibility in the end. I recognize that that's the duty of the office that I hold." Judge reflects on not knowing the motive "No parent should ever have to bury their child," Judge Steven Hippler said. "Parents who took their children to college in a truck filled with moving boxes had to bring them home in hearses lined with coffins." Hippler said he shared "the desire expressed by others to understand the why," while also wondering whether focusing on the motive gave Kohberger agency and power. "The need to know what is inherently not understandable makes us dependent upon the defendant to provide us with a reason, and that gives him the spotlight, the attention and the power he appears to crave," he said. "Yet even if I could force him to speak, which legally I cannot, how could anyone ever be assured that what he speaks is the truth?"

byKonstantin Pynzar
in
July 23, 2025

Families of slain University of Idaho students share emotions at Bryan Kohberger's sentencing

Families of slain University of Idaho students share emotions at Bryan Kohberger's sentencing The families and loved ones of the four st...
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Postal Service marks 250th anniversary with stamps honoring Ben Franklin and postal carriersNew Foto - Postal Service marks 250th anniversary with stamps honoring Ben Franklin and postal carriers

The U.S. Postal Service on Wednesday marked its upcoming 250th anniversary with the release of new commemorative stamps, including an exclusive, modernized version of the nation's first 5-cent stamp featuring Benjamin Franklin, the first postmaster general. The event was held at the USPS headquarters in Washington and included an appearance by the 76th postmaster general.David Steiner, a former waste management company CEO and a former board member of the shipping giant FedEx, began in his new role last week. "For the United States Postal Service, today is a milestone 250 years in the making," Steiner said in a statement. "These stamps will serve as a window into our shared history." The U.S. mail service officially turns 250 years old Saturday. Established by the Second Continental Congress in 1775, the Postal Service was launched nearly a year before the colonies declared their break from British rule. It is seen by historians as crucial to the nation's independence and to keeping the young country unified. Franklin was chosen as the first postmaster general because he had previously served in the British postal service for North America, including as co-Postmaster General from 1757 until 1774. A book of 20 Franklin stamps is exclusively being sold with a commemorative 32-page booklet titled "Putting a Stamp on the American Experience." The new Forever stamp features a redesigned, modern interpretation of an 1875 reproduction of the original 5-cent stamp released in 1847. President George Washington was featured on the first 10-cent stamp. The USPS has also released a commemorative sheet of 20 interconnected stamps, dubbed "250 Years of Delivering," that portray a mail carrier making her rounds throughout a year. The stamps were illustrated by renowned cartoonist Chris Ware. Steiner has lauded the Postal Service for its history and recently voiced support for keeping the USPS as a self-financing, independent agency of the executive branch. Last week, in a video message to employees, Steiner said he opposed the idea of privatizing the Postal Service, contrasting withcommentsmade byPresident Donald Trumpand billionaireElonMusk. "I do not believe the Postal Service should be privatized or that it should become an appropriated part of the federal government," Steiner said. He said his goal as postmaster was to meet the agency's "financial and service performance expectations" under the current structure.

byKonstantin Pynzar
in
July 23, 2025

Postal Service marks 250th anniversary with stamps honoring Ben Franklin and postal carriers

Postal Service marks 250th anniversary with stamps honoring Ben Franklin and postal carriers The U.S. Postal Service on Wednesday marked its...
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Jenna Ortega Feels 'Incredibly Misunderstood' and Says Even Her Name Feels Like It 'Doesn't Belong' to Her AnymoreNew Foto - Jenna Ortega Feels 'Incredibly Misunderstood' and Says Even Her Name Feels Like It 'Doesn't Belong' to Her Anymore

Mike Coppola/MG25/Getty Jenna Ortegais opening up about feeling "incredibly misunderstood" in Hollywood. The 22-year-oldWednesdayactress sat down for an interview withThe Hollywood Reporterand, when asked if she thinks the public's persona of her is accurate, she responded with a resounding "not at all." "I think that's part of my struggle with that side of the job, because you feel incredibly misunderstood," she explained. "It's almost to a point where it feels like your name doesn't belong to you. I almost don't even resonate with it anymore." "I hate assumptions, and a big part of this job is that people are going to make assumptions about you," she added. Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty WednesdaydirectorTim Burton, who was also participating in the interview, admitted he "miss[es] the days of mystery … when you didn't know everything about actors." "We know too much," Ortega agreed. "And the people feel entitled to those bits and pieces of your life where if they were put under the same microscope, they wouldn't feel nearly as comfortable," she added. "Sometimes you go out, and it's a mess," she said. "And other times, I could be walking for hours and no one gives a s---. If you really want to go unseen, you can do it." As for when fans recognize her on the street, Ortega said she's "always scared." "Somebody shouting your name in public is insane," she shared. "Sometimes I feel uncomfortable when it's grown men approaching me." Ortega also revealed that "sometimes people shout vile things." "Like, you don't stop for somebody because you're going to be late for something and they're calling you a 'c--- w----' in front of your mother," she said. "It's horrific." Jonathan Hession/Netflix Netflix announced on Wednesday, July 23, thatWednesdaywill return for a third season. The second season of theAddams Family-inspired series arrives in two parts, on Aug. 6 and Sept. 3. The first season ofWednesday, which streamed in 2023, earned rave reviews and amassed a huge fandom. The show, Ortega and Burton all landed Emmy nominations for season 1 as well. 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. Wednesdayreturns for season 3 on Netflix in two parts, first on Aug. 6 and then on Sept. 3. Read the original article onPeople

byKonstantin Pynzar
in
July 23, 2025

Jenna Ortega Feels 'Incredibly Misunderstood' and Says Even Her Name Feels Like It 'Doesn't Belong' to Her Anymore

Jenna Ortega Feels 'Incredibly Misunderstood' and Says Even Her Name Feels Like It 'Doesn't Belong' to Her Anymore Mike ...
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How did new 'Daily Show' host do? Our quick take on Josh Johnson's debutNew Foto - How did new 'Daily Show' host do? Our quick take on Josh Johnson's debut

He's the freshest face in late-night, even as thefuture of the genre is in question. Josh Johnson, the newest addition to"The Daily Show's"rotating cast of hosts, took his debut turn behind the anchor desk of the Comedy Central late-night show on Tuesday, July 22. The comedian, 35, spent his premiere episode poking fun at PresidentDonald Trump's refusal to release the "Epstein Files," hypothesizing that recent news releases around a remixed Coca-Cola recipe or the president's health were mere ploys by the administration to distract angry supporters. A popular stand-up comedian, Johnson brought the same "did he really say that?" sensibility that "The Daily Show" (weeknights, 11 ET/PT) has become known for, but added his own youthful spin. His monologue was characterized by a more straightforward disbelief, in contrast to longtime hostJon Stewart'smore verbose and at times wonky takes. Stewart now helms the show every Monday night. 'The Daily Show' gets new hostamid late-night upheaval A writer on "Daily" since 2017 and a member of the on-screen news team since 2024, Johnson is just two years younger than Stewart was when he first took the reins of the Comedy Central program in 1999, succeeding original host Craig Kilborn. Unlike Stewart, though, he enters a late-night (and political) landscapedefined by upheaval.The popularity of streaming services and younger viewers' penchant for short-form video on social media has cut into the robust audiencelate-night television once enjoyed.That reality reached a fever pitch this month when "The Late Show" hostStephen Colbert announcedthat CBS' parent company, Paramount, hadpulled the plug on the network's storied late-night franchiseand, by proxy, his hosting gig. He will remain on the air until May 2026. Paramount also owns Comedy Central, and Stewart has voiced his uncertainty about the future of "Daily." "This is not the moment to give in. I'm not giving in! I'm not going anywhere – I think,"he quippedon a recent episode while commenting on Colbert's firing. Stephen Colbert is out at CBS.Is all of late-night TV officially doomed? Is Johnson the right man for the "Daily" job in this chaotic moment? Unlike many current late-night comedians, his popularity is derived both from stand-up gigs and a TikTok account boasting 2.2 million followers, with clips that often go viral. During his first episode, he flexed both a comedic and serious tone, delivering a punchline-heavy monologue that delighted audience members before welcoming fiction and poetry writer Rob Franklin later in the show fora detailed discussion of race and class in America. Johnson, who is in the midst of a national stand-up tour, will host more shows this week, sitting behind the desk on July 23 and 24. He is part of a rotating roster of hosts that includes Stewart as well as comedians Ronny Chieng, Jordan Klepper, Michael Kosta, and Desi Lydic. In 2024 Stewart signed on to part-time host and executive produce the series through at least December 2025. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:How did new 'Daily Show' host do? Our take on Josh Johnson's debut

byKonstantin Pynzar
in
July 23, 2025

How did new 'Daily Show' host do? Our quick take on Josh Johnson's debut

How did new 'Daily Show' host do? Our quick take on Josh Johnson's debut He's the freshest face in late-night, even as thefu...
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