Five people have been indicted in connection with the death of actor Matthew Perry, Senator Kamala Harris is set to unveil economic policy proposals during a speech in North Carolina, and unfounded rumors are circulating that Americans’ Social Security numbers have been compromised.
Here’s what you need to know today:
Matthew Perry’s drug addiction was out of control shortly before his death, prosecutors allege.
“Friends” actor Matthew Perry had developed an uncontrollable addiction to ketamine in the weeks before his death, injecting the drug six to eight times a day and spending at least $55,000 on it in the month before his death, prosecutors said in court documents.
Prosecutors announced yesterday that five people have been indicted in connection with Perry’s death. Dr. Salvador Plasencia is accused of providing drugs to Perry and his assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa. Iwamasa is accused of administering the injections to Perry on the day he died.
Other suspects charged in connection with Perry’s death include Mark Chavez, a San Diego doctor who ran a ketamine clinic; Eric Fleming, an acquaintance of Perry’s who allegedly supplied the drugs; and Jasveen Sangha, a major underground distributor known as the “Queen of Ketamine.” Read more about the suspects and charges here.
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Prior to his death, Perry had been receiving ketamine infusion therapy to treat depression and anxiety, but supervised doses were not what killed him. Prosecutors said Perry sought unsupervised doses of controlled substances and developed an “uncontrollable” addiction to them.
On the day of her death, Perry had received three ketamine injections over a six-hour period after Iwamasa went out to run some errands and returned home to find Perry face-down in the pool, documents state.
Court documents provide more details about Perry’s final weeks, which can be read in full here.
Harris is trying to focus the economic message on cutting costs.
Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to clarify her economic message to the nation in two major speeches, as she seeks to pivot from the Biden administration’s emphasis on low unemployment and strong economic growth and call for action that leads to lower prices for consumers.
According to previews of VP Harris’ remarks at a rally in North Carolina today, she will push for a federal ban on corporate price gouging in the food and food processing industries. She will also propose cracking down on food company takeovers if they can lead to higher food prices. VP Harris has previously called for raising the minimum wage and expanding the child tax credit. VP Harris will renew her message on the economy at next week’s Democratic National Convention.
Inflation is showing signs of calming and the Federal Reserve is expected to soon cut interest rates, providing some relief to Americans. Still, there have been mixed signs about the economy in recent weeks.
More 2024 election coverage:
Follow our live blog for the latest updates on the campaign. Sources say the Secret Service will use bulletproof glass to protect Donald Trump and allow outdoor campaign rallies to resume. Trump has stepped up false attacks on the integrity of the election and, as his approval ratings fall, is offering preemptive excuses for a possible second defeat. Trump’s personal financial disclosure form says he owns more than $1 million in cryptocurrency and made $300,000 from a branded Bible.
Hackers claim to have leaked Americans’ Social Security numbers, but experts say there’s no need to panic.
A lawsuit has sparked unsubstantiated claims that the Social Security numbers of Americans were exposed in a data breach this year. The alleged breach was first reported in April, but concerns grew after a class-action lawsuit was filed earlier this month. Since then, claims that a huge number of Social Security numbers may have been exposed have reverberated on social media. Preliminary analysis by experts suggests that the breach may have included incomplete and inaccurate data along with legitimate information, and it is unclear how extensive the breach is or how plausible the claims are.
Security experts say the leak of Social Security numbers is no reason to panic: Given how frequently data breaches occur, Americans should assume their information is already in the wrong hands.
Tech reporter Kevin Collier explains what we know so far about the data breach and speaks to experts about how to keep your personal information safe, which you can read in full here.
Political Overview
Pennsylvania Politics: A dispute between two prominent Pennsylvania politicians, Governor Josh Shapiro and Senator John Fetterman, recently erupted into the public eye, and their feud could impact state and Democratic Party politics for years to come.
Biden’s most fervent defender: First lady Jill Biden will deliver a tribute to President Joe Biden on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention, a speech that was set to be very different just a few weeks ago.
Trump Investigation: Trump’s lawyers are asking a New York judge to delay the sentencing in his civil fraud trial until after the November election.
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Staff Pick: Some doctors turn to combination versions of weight-loss drugs
Weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegoby are not only popular, they are also expensive and difficult to obtain. So what happens when there is a shortage of the drugs, as there is currently with semaglutide and trizepatide? The FDA allows compounded versions that are “essentially copies.” While many members of the medical community are turning to these alternatives, not everyone feels comfortable with unknown drugs. Experts on both sides of the debate explained why. — Elizabeth Robinson, Newsletter Editor
In case you missed it
Four people have been arrested in connection with the shooting death of “General Hospital” actor Johnny Wactor in Los Angeles; U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles breaks her silence about the controversial decision to strip her bronze medal; Recalling cucumbers contaminated with Salmonella that has sickened at least 449 people have been removed from store shelves, according to the CDC; The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts that 2024 will be at or near the hottest year on record.
NBC Select: Making Online Shopping Simple
Do people around you snore? These expert-recommended anti-snoring devices can help them (and you) get a better night’s sleep. And, by the way, these dermatologist-approved acne patches are perfect for nighttime use.
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