Monday, 1 August 2022

4 young siblings died in Kentucky floods. Plus, remembering Bill Russell and Nichelle Nichols.

August 01, 2022 | VIEW IN BROWSER

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Deadly flooding in Kentucky has killed dozens, and groundbreaking sports and television legends Bill Russell and Nichelle Nichols have died in their late 80s. Plus, what a new study says about vitamin D supplements.

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Four siblings ages 2 to 8 are among those killed in the catastrophic flooding in eastern Kentucky.

Four siblings, ages 2, 4, 6 and 8, are among the dozens who have died in the flooding in eastern Kentucky, their cousin wrote on Facebook. The parents of the two boys and two girls survived while the children drowned on July 28 in the flood waters. At least 28 people have died in the flooding, which ripped entire houses from the ground and crumbled roads. The search for victims continues today after more rain overnight. "With the level of water, we're going to be finding bodies for weeks," Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said.

Basketball legend Bill Russell dies at 88.

Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell, whose teams won 11 NBA championships in his 13 seasons, died at 88 yesterday. Russell is considered one of the best players in NBA history after starring as the centerpiece in one of the greatest dynasties in sports during his career from 1956 to 1969. He also was known for his civil rights activism and fight against discrimination off the court. "We hope each of us can find a new way to act or speak up with Bill's uncompromising, dignified and always constructive commitment to principle," his family said in a statement.

Nichelle Nichols, groundbreaking 'Star Trek' star, dies at 89.

Actor Nichelle Nichols, who played Lt. Nyota Uhura on the original "Star Trek" series, died at 89, her son confirmed yesterday. Her character broke barriers as one of the first Black female leads on a television series. "Her light, however, like the ancient galaxies now being seen for the first time, will remain for us and future generations to enjoy, learn from, and draw inspiration," her son said in a statement.

😴 Get better sleep with these 5 pillows tested by Consumer Reports.

If your current pillow has you tossing and turning because it just doesn't feel right, it might be time for a change. These five pillows were the best ones out of the more than two dozen that have been tested by Consumer Reports. Whether you're a back sleeper or side sleeper or need something more breathable, there is a pillow that will help you get some more z's.

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Achieve your life goals with this easy tip.

Do you need vitamin D supplements? A new study led by scientists at Harvard Medical School suggests that vitamin D pills don't actually prevent bone fractures in healthy adults without vitamin D deficiencies. The study included 25,800 participants over 50 who were generally healthy over a five-year period and found that vitamin D3 supplements "did not result in a significantly lower risk of fractures than (the) placebo among generally healthy midlife and older adults." However, vitamin D is important for bone health, and here are the four main sources where you can regularly get it.

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A pair of desserts inspired by delicious Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavors? Yes, please. TODAY culinary producer and food stylist Katie Stilo has some cool summer desserts, including a boozy Cherry Garcia float using the popular Cherry Garcia ice cream with some cherry liqueur. If you love Chunky Monkey, Katie's Chunky Monkey ice cream cake turns all that banana goodness into a frozen treat that can also be made into ice cream sandwiches instead.

DAILY DELIGHT

A little pick-me-up before you go.

Donna Mills is still slaying on the red carpet in the latest chapter of a legendary career that started on a soap opera in 1966 and continues today with her appearance in the movie "Nope." Mills, 81, stunned in a rare red carpet appearance with her daughter, Chloe, at the U.K. premiere of the film. Mills adopted Chloe at 54 in 1994 and raised her primarily as a single mother. The actor is best known for her role as the villainous Abby Cunningham on the primetime soap opera "Knots Landing" from 1980 to 1989. She has continued to regularly work in film and TV, nabbing a Daytime Emmy for her performance on "General Hospital" in 2015.