Michael Gray, who played Billy Batson in the 1970s TV series Shazam!, has died at 75. His reps told People on Thursday that he had died of natural causes. His character in the 1974-1976 live-action series was based on the D.C. Comics character. Batson was a teenager who could turn into the superhero Captain Marvel by shouting the show’s title: Shazam! According to Gray, the role kicked off his career. He played a teen heartthrob who graced many Tiger Beat covers and was also Marcia’s boyfriend in a 1973 episode of The Brady Bunch. Feeling typecast, he eventually left Hollywood. But he still made a cameo in 2023’s Shazam! Fury of the Gods. “Mike was just a loving, sweet guy with a great sense of humor,” his co-star John Davey said in a statement. “I don’t think he ever stopped smiling.” Gray is survived by his wife, Stacy Benon Gray, and his stepchildren.

Scientists may have matched Vincent van Gogh’s iconic “The Starry Night” to a specific celestial scene. Art historians long thought the painting depicted the sky in June 1889, when van Gogh was a patient at a psychiatric hospital in France’s Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, but new research challenges that date. A team of South Korean scientists says the painting actually shows a pre-dawn sky around July 22, 1889. Researchers traveled to France twice to analyze the sky in mid-June and late July. They also examined the moon’s shape and consulted historical weather records. “No two skies are the same. Something always changes,” lead researcher Elijah Jeong-hyun Kim told The Washington Post. “I believe Vincent noticed those changes and put them into the painting.” Still, some experts are more skeptical. Jose Luis Aragon, a physicist at the National Autonomous University of Mexico who has also studied the painting, told the Post that he views it as an “intriguing hypothesis rather than a settled answer.”

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If you (or your partner) snore at night, you know how disruptive it can be to getting a good night’s sleep. While plenty of over-the-counter remedies promise to silence snoring, from nasal strips to specialty pillows, anti-snoring mouthguards can be an effective, drug-free option for certain types of snoring. These devices work by gently positioning the lower jaw forward to help keep the upper airway open during sleep, reducing the vibrations that cause snoring in the first place.

GoodSleepCo’s Hushd Avera Anti-Snoring Mouthpiece is a doctor-designed, adjustable mouthguard with two settings, allowing users to find a more personalized balance of comfort and support. Unlike one-size-fits-all mouthguards, the Hushd Avera is designed to mold to the user’s teeth at home in approximately two minutes—no trip to the dentist required.

GoodSleepCo Hushd Avera Anti-Snoring Device

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The customizable mouthpiece is made from medical-grade, BPA-free, latex-free, and phthalate-free materials and includes three arches designed to accommodate different fits. Its adjustable design also allows users to fine-tune the positioning of their jaw rather than committing to a single setting, which makes it easier to find a comfortable fit.

Of course, not all snoring is created equal, and an anti-snoring mouthguard isn’t a universal fix—especially for those with underlying conditions like obstructive sleep apnea. But for those dealing with uncomplicated snoring, a customizable oral mouthpiece may be the ticket to a better night’s sleep. Plus, you can currently score 15 percent off the Hushd Avera for a limited time.

An employee has accused her boss of being “insensitive to women who struggle with fertility” after they didn’t approve eight weeks of maternity leave for a new puppy. The boss shared her grievances about the HR complaint with the Australian Jones & Amanda show hosts, Amanda Keller and Brendan Jones. The hosts dissected the dispute with callers and read off an email from the employee. “I’m now responsible for another living being,” Keller read. “He wakes up every two hours. I’m getting absolutely no sleep, and I’m experiencing all the challenges of being a new mother.” The employee continued, saying that if she’s not granted her leave to “bond with her son,” she’ll file a complaint for discrimination against women experiencing fertility issues who choose to become dog mums. Jones relented, suggesting “maybe a week,” but viewer comments and calls mostly sided with the boss. “I only got six weeks leave, and they want that for a dog,” one viewer said. Others had a more neutral view, saying both the employee and the boss were wrong. “Companies that offer pawternity leave are amazing, but… You [knew] before you got a puppy that your company doesn’t offer this benefit. Deal with it,” one caller concluded.

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s ICE agents have plunged the prosecution of a suspected serial child rapist into jeopardy. Piano instructor Joshua Wexler, 47, has been indicted on charges of sexually abusing kids as young as four—including during lessons when their parents were nearby. But the conduct of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) risks jeopardizing the case against him. In an Oct. 5 ruling reviewed by the Daily Beast’s sister Substack, PunchUp, U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres questioned how federal immigration agents handled evidence seized from Wexler at his home in New York. That included asking why they had passed information extracted from his three phones and two laptops to local police before investigators obtained a search warrant and without providing an inventory of the devices. The agents then transferred the confiscated devices to authorities in Louisiana, where Wexler was alleged to have committed the acts, despite express instructions from government lawyers not to, according to the court. Torres, an Obama appointee, said: “The Government’s submission recounts actions by a federal law enforcement agency which contravene and undermine the constitutional and legal constraints on its conduct.” The judge said the government’s continued failure to produce the relevant warrant and inventory would “compel the conclusion” that the agents had “acted unlawfully and unconstitutionally”. Torres demanded that the government produce the warrants and supporting paperwork authorizing the seizure and search by October 19, warning that she would otherwise order the devices and their extracted contents returned to Wexler. Her ruling does not mean the charges against Wexler will be dismissed or the evidence excluded from his Louisiana prosecution. The court has also not ruled that the agents’ conduct has permanently damaged the prosecution. An ICE spokesperson said the agency does not comment on ongoing investigations.

Tom Latchem exposes the secrets, scandals, and stories that powerful people and institutions want to keep under wraps. Follow all of his reporting at PunchUp on Substack.

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Nothing beats making pizza at home—especially in the fall and winter. After all, there’s no better way to warm up than with a warm, cheesy pie. Sure, takeout and delivery are convenient, but making pizza at home lets you get a little creative while honing your skills... and without breaking the bank. If you’re ready to invest in a professional-grade home pizza oven (and with the holiday hosting season upon us, there really is no better time!), Current’s Model P+ Electric Pizza Oven is second to none.

Current Model P+ Electric Pizza Oven

See At Current

Engineered for indoor and outdoor cooking, this versatile pizza oven offers eight built-in cooking modes, so you can whip up any style of pizza with ease, from Neapolitan to NYC style. Each pie is cooked evenly and is ready in just two minutes. Plus, you can also use the multifunctional pizza oven to cook everything from roasted veggies and focaccia to flatbreads and desserts. The best part is that because there’s no open flame (you just need an outlet), it’s safe for families and pets, too.

A captive elephant has gone on a dramatic rampage that was captured on camera. Somanna, 36, was carrying a shrine to a Hindu goddess weighing over 1,400 pounds in the southern Indian city of Shivamogga, Karnataka, during a religious procession on Wednesday. Somanna had been carrying a 19th-century golden seat, or howdah, at the city’s Dasara festival, but he threw it off his back, causing chaos. Footage shows people scrambling to get out of the moody mammal’s way, and cars were also reportedly damaged in the chaos. The Independent reports the incident sparked outrage amongst conservationists. Authorities reportedly brought the elephant under control with a sedative, and it is said to be recovering well at a temple. Officials say nobody was injured in the rampage. The day’s festivities honor goddess Chamundeshwari slaying the demon Mahishasura, an image associated with an elephant carrying a golden howdah. Somanna was assigned the job after the elephant that usually carries the howdah suffered a leg injury.

JJ Watt will replace Tony Romo as CBS Sports’ lead NFL analyst full-time, the network announced Wednesday. Watt first stepped in after the network placed Romo on leave in July following a drunk-driving arrest in Wisconsin. Romo, who first joined CBS in 2017, pleaded no contest to a first-offense drunk-driving citation and had his license revoked for six months. CBS permanently parted ways with the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback earlier this month, six years into his massive 10-year, $180 million contract. The network did not disclose the financial terms of Watt’s multi-year deal, but confirmed the former NFL Man of the Year will call the Super Bowl in 2028, the next time CBS has the rights. “I am incredibly honored and grateful to have the opportunity to represent CBS Sports and all of the fantastic people who make this place so special,” Watt said in a press release. He added: “I love this job and can’t wait to see ya Sunday with Jim and Tracy (Wolfson) and many more Sundays to come!” Watt joined CBS in 2023, initially sitting in the studio before being promoted to analyst duties last season, working as Jim Nantz’s No. 2.

Heartstopping footage has captured the moment a news reporter plunged into floodwaters to save a driver whose car was rapidly sinking beneath the surface. Australian ABC News reporter Will Murray and fellow bystander Daniel Hainey swam to the vehicle after it drove through floodwater, stalled, and began floating downstream in Morayfield, north of Brisbane. Camera operator Liz Pickering filmed the dramatic rescue. Murray called emergency services but jumped into the water when the driver disappeared from view. After failing to open the nearest door, the rescuers forced open a rear passenger door and pulled the man to safety. “All three of us gave each other a big hug and were just so relieved,” Murray said. Nearly 7 inches of rain had fallen in the area that day. The driver later told Murray he had not seen the warning signs or realized how deep the water was. “I just witnessed how quickly it can go south, and it is terrifying,” Murray said. “Please don’t drive into floodwaters.”

A flight has hit turbulence so severe that it injured four flight attendants. United Airlines Flight 1157 was bound for Los Angeles from Hawaii on Wednesday night when it hit severe weather. Audio from the 31-year-old Boeing 777’s broadcast to air traffic control revealed the pilot said: “It only lasted a couple of seconds. It felt like wake turbulence, but we’re smooth now.” At least two people were left with neck and back injuries, while the New York Post reports that four crew members were injured in total. “We just started falling, and I was like, ‘Oh my God,’” eyewitness Coral Pena told ABC7, adding that she heard a loud bang. The Post reported the plane fell 3,500 feet in a minute. “I was watching a movie and all of a sudden we just dropped,” Marly Wadlington, a San Diego resident, told the station. “And it felt like we dropped pretty far. It started shaking, everyone was yelling. We were all super scared.” They landed safely in L.A. but remained on the tarmac while the injured crew were treated. Another witness told the network they saw a member of staff bleeding from their leg and head.

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Whether you’re working, browsing, or gaming, if you’re spending a lot of time at a computer, you need a comfortable, supportive chair. In fact, a high-quality chair can offset many of the health issues associated with sitting for long periods of time.

The X-Tech Executive Chair is designed with six adjustable points to custom-fit your chair to your body for total support. Plus, it can recline or lock in place. Sitting in it, I could feel myself sitting with better posture, with my arms, neck, and back supported. Sitting down is accompanied by a whoosh of air as the seat adjusts automatically to best support your derrière.

X-Chair X-Tech Executive Chair

See At X-Chair

The chair is also surprisingly stylish. Desk chairs can tend to look medical rather than aesthetic, but the X-Tech Executive Chair comes in many colors and finishes (seriously, check out all the customizations) to fit your space as well as it fits your rear end. You can even add optional heating and massage.

Assembly is easy, and the shipping includes a blissfully small amount of packaging. I was able to put this together myself with the included tools and instructions in under 15 minutes. If you’re ready to get your desk set up to snuff, check out the X-Tech Executive Chair here.

A South Florida police officer was booked on multiple felony charges after allegedly orchestrating a scheme to hijack a deceased man’s identity, access his private records, and take over his home. Authorities arrested Brian Louis Sguros on Oct. 20, following a joint investigation that uncovered his alleged actions after responding to a 2022 welfare call in Lauderhill—a suburban municipality near Fort Lauderdale. Upon discovering resident Dennis West dead of natural causes inside the residence, investigators say Sguros immediately inserted himself into the man’s post-death affairs. Detectives allege the officer falsely claimed to be a close personal friend of West and lied to county medical examiners by stating the man had no living relatives. Sguros then allegedly spent years maintaining the illusion that West was still alive—paying the home’s utility bills and property taxes under the deceased man’s name. To facilitate home repairs, Sguros forged West’s signature on municipal permit applications and repeatedly searched law enforcement databases to collect additional personal details. By Feb. 2025, Sguros officially filed paperwork claiming ownership of the property. Sguros now faces charges including official misconduct and criminal use of personal identification.

A guitarist behind some of the 1990s’ biggest punk hits is taking an unexpected break from performing after revealing a medical problem. The Offspring’s Kevin “Noodles” Wasserman, 63, told fans on Wednesday that he is withdrawing from concerts to address what he calls “a sudden and fairly serious health issue.” The veteran musician offered no further explanation of his condition or how long he might be away. Wasserman said his fellow band members supported his decision and would continue playing planned shows without him. “I hope to be back on stage sooner rather than later,” he added, thanking fans for their concern. The guitarist last appeared live on Sunday in San Diego. The Offspring have further concerts planned for Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Garden Grove, and Mexico City, with another California date in January. Wasserman joined the group in 1985, shortly after singer Dexter Holland helped launch it. They became one of the decade’s defining punk acts with 1994’s Smash, featuring “Come Out and Play” and “Self-Esteem.”

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