Dapper Labs, creators of NBA Top Shot, get $305M in funding
Canadian blockchain technology company Dapper Labs has secured $305 million in private funding, some of it from current and former NBA players, including Jordan, to scale up its virtual NBA trading card site, the company said Tuesday, March 30, 2021. – Canadian blockchain technology company Dapper Labs has secured $305 million in private funding — some of it from current and former NBA players, including Michael Jordan — to scale up its virtual NBA trading card site, the company said Tuesday. Vancouver, British Columbia-based Dapper says NBA Top Shot has rung up $500 million in sales and registered more than 800,000 accounts since its public beta testing phase began in October. Besides the NBA, Dapper partners include Warner Music Group, Ubisoft, and UFC. Current players listed as investors in Dapper include Kevin Durant, Kyle Lowry, Spencer Dinwiddie and Klay Thompson.
New this week: Godzilla vs Kong, 'Concrete Cowboy' & Mahalia
This combination photo shows poster art for the film "Godzilla vs Kong," premiering on HBO Max on March 31, left, "Concrete Cowboy," premiering April 2 on Netflix and "Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia," premiering April 3 on Lifetime. (HBO Max/Netflix/Lifetime via AP)Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. MOVIES— Two of cinema’s most famous giants are headed for an old-fashioned big budget clash in “Godzilla vs. Kong,” available on HBO Max for 31 days starting Friday. After a pandemic-induced blockbuster drought, Henry told the AP that the film will be a welcome change of pace. Ad— Legendary gospel singer Mahalia Jackson gets overdue biopic attention in a Lifetime film debuting Saturday.
Robert Redford's son, James, dies of liver cancer at 58
LOS ANGELES – James Redford, a filmmaker, activist and son of actor Robert Redford, has died. Kyle said her husband’s liver disease returned two years ago and the cancer was discovered in November last year while he waited on a liver transplant. “We’re heartbroken,” his wife wrote about her husband, who was called Jamie. He expressed gratitude for a liver transplant that saved his life in an HBO documentary “The Kindness of Strangers” in 1999. He also established the James Redford Institute in 1995 for Transplant Awareness to raise money and distribute tools to increase awareness about the shortage of organ donors.
Teen accused of killing 2 thrust into debate over protests
By the end of the night, prosecutors say, Rittenhouse had killed two people and severely wounded a third. To some, Rittenhouse is a domestic terrorist whose very presence with a rifle incited the protesters. The commander of the force said Friday over 1,000 guard members had been deployed, and more were on the way. In the scuffle, lasting just seconds, Rittenhouse shoots a third person armed with a handgun, according to the complaint. He later turned himself in in his hometown of Antioch, Illinois, according to Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis.
Beyond The Forecast: Tropics heating up as peak of hurricane season approaches
In case you missed it, Tropical Storms Josephine and Kyle fell apart over the weekend. That means we dont currently have any named storms in the Atlantic basin, but that could change very soon as we enter the peak of hurricane season. The National Hurricane Center has its eye on two tropical waves that have medium chances for development over the next five days. Switching gears to your local forecast, were starting the new work week with highs in the 80s and reduced humidity. Here are a few links from the past week to check out:If you prefer your weather information delivered by social media, you can follow Your Local Weather Authority on Facebook and Twitter.
Tropical Storm Kyle Forms Over The Northwest Atlantic
Location 185 miles SE of Atlantic City New Jersey Wind 40 mph Heading ENE at 17 mph Pressure 29.77 Coordinates 71.7W, 37.7NDiscussionAt 500 p.m. EDT (2100 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Kyle was located near latitude 37.7 north, longitude 71.7 west. Kyle is moving toward the east-northeast near 17 mph (28 km/h). A continued east-northeastward motion with an increase in forward speed is expected for the next couple of days. Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts. Kyle is forecast to become post-tropical by late Sunday or early Monday.
’We’re going to fight for justice’: Family of Campbell County woman killed in Baltimore react to her death
CAMPBELL COUNTY, Va. – A Campbell County woman is dead after a weekend of gun violence in Baltimore. “I still can’t comprehend it,” said Darrell Francis Jr. when asked about his reaction to learning that his cousin, 35-year-old Shana Lloyd, was shot and killed in Baltimore on Saturday. According to Baltimore police, Lloyd and a man were found at about 2 a.m. Saturday after being shot. “I cried,” said 16-year-old Kyle Lloyd. “She was a wonderful mother, wonderful friend, wonderful aunt, wonderful granddaughter,” said Klein.
Sports jumps on PPP bandwagon, but big leagues take a pass
However, none of the four major North American sports leagues the NFL, NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball were among the businesses that applied, according to the data. The data showed businesses that applied for and received loans, though some may not ultimately have taken the funds. An AP survey completed in May found 32 U.S. Olympic sports organizations about 70% of all federations had applied for PPP loans. With their seasons shut down, more than a dozen minor league baseball teams turned up on the PPP rolls. The Big South Conference, Conference USA, Southland Conference and Big Sky Conference all listed less than two dozen full-time employees, according to the data.