David Rancken’s App of the Day is the different kind of social media platform. It’s called Bond. You can download Bond in the Apple Store.
UT Tyler names new school dean
TYLER – Dr. D. Robert DeHaas has been appointed dean of The University of Texas at Tyler School of Education, effective July 1.
In a release from the University, UT Tyler President Julie V. Philley, MD. said, “Dr. DeHaas has built a remarkable career redefining what modern educator preparation can look like. He has distinguished himself as a leader with a strong ability to design systems, grow programs and respond directly to community and workforce needs, which makes him an exceptional fit for UT Tyler as we continue to expand our academic footprint.”
Earlier this year, UT Tyler announced plans to re-imagine its School of Education to help address the teacher shortage in East Texas and partner with school districts to help strengthen the region’s K-12 outcomes.
Continue reading UT Tyler names new school dean
In brief: Scarlett Johansson to star in Ari Aster’s next film and more
Scarlett Johansson will star in Ari Aster's next film. The director is set to helm an original movie titled Scapegoat from a script he penned for A24. The studio confirmed the upcoming film in a post to Instagram. This marks Aster's fifth feature-length film, and will also be his fifth made for A24. "5/5 with Ari Aster," the studio captioned its announcement post ...
It seems we may be seeing more of the Sanderson sisters. Deadline reports that Hocus Pocus 3 is in early development at Disney, with Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy returning to their roles as the three Sanderson sisters. The outlet reports a theatrical distribution element would be part of this film's release, after the success of the 2022 sequel Hocus Pocus 2, which was released straight to Disney+ ...
It's a bird ... it's a plane ... it's Matthew Lillard. Variety reports the actor has joined the cast of Superman: Man of Tomorrow. It's unclear which role Lillard will play in the film. He joins a cast that includes David Corenswet, Nicholas Hoult and Lars Eidinger ...
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Dozens of Ukrainian drones target Moscow, mayor says, amid overnight attack on Russia
(LONDON) -- Russia's Defense Ministry reported a major Ukrainian drone attack overnight into Thursday morning, with Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reporting that dozens of Ukrainian craft were intercepted while flying toward the capital.
Russia's Defense Ministry said on Telegram that its forces intercepted at least 427 Ukrainian drones and through Thursday morning. Moscow only publishes the number of Ukrainian drones and other projectiles it claims to have intercepted.
Sobyanin said that as of Thursday afternoon, at least 48 drones were shot down while flying toward the capital. Emergency responders, he said in posts to Telegram, were responding to several sites where falling drone debris was reported.
Ukraine's air force said that Russia also continued its long-range attacks overnight. The air force said on Telegram that Moscow launched 102 drones into the country overnight, of which 92 were intercepted or suppressed. Eight drones impacted across six locations, the air force said.
Ukraine's State Emergency Services said that at least four people were injured by Russian strikes in the southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region, one other person was injured by a Russian attack in the northeastern Sumy region and seven people -- among them two children -- were injured in Kharkiv.
Cross-border attacks have continued despite both Kyiv and Moscow announcing their own rival temporary ceasefires.
Russian President Vladimir Putin this week announced a unilateral truce on May 8 and May 9 to coincide with annual "Victory Day" celebrations, which mark the anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
Zelenskyy then said Ukraine would observe its own 24-hour ceasefire beginning at midnight on May 5. Russia did not partake in the truce, continuing missile and drone strikes across Ukraine as well as frontline activities.
Zelenskyy said in a Wednesday statement, "We can confirm that the Russian side has derailed the ceasefire regime," adding that Kyiv would decide on possible subsequent actions.
"Ukraine clearly stated that it would act in kind, taking into account Russia's persistent appeals through the media and social networks asking for a ceasefire during the Moscow parade," Zelenskyy said, referring to the planned military event in Moscow's Red Square on May 9.
Russia's Defense Ministry warned that it would "launch a retaliatory, massive missile strike on the center of Kyiv" if Ukraine attacked the Victory Day celebrations.
On Thursday, Zelenskyy again criticized Moscow's continued attacks. "Russia continues killing people while being completely irrationally concerned only about a few hours of silence in one part of Moscow," he said in a statement, referring to the May 9 celebrations.
"Ukraine will act fairly -- day by day. We proposed silence beginning at midnight on May 6. Yesterday and today, this regime has been violated by Russia," Zelenskyy added.
"In a mirror response and in reply to Russian strikes, our long-range sanctions will follow; in response to Russia's readiness to move toward diplomacy, we will move along the path of diplomacy," he added.
Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Scoreboard roundup — 5/6/26
Kennedy Ryan on adapting her books to screen and the ‘Heated Rivalry’ effect
Kennedy Ryan is bringing her beloved books to the screen.
The romance author is currently hard at work adapting the first book in her Skyland series, Before I Let Go, into a TV series for Peacock with the help of filmmaker Malcolm D. Lee.
Ryan tells ABC Audio one of the “biggest encouragements” in her book-to-screen journey has been seeing the success of Heated Rivalry, a series based on the hockey romance books by Rachel Reid.
“I think that it has done so much for our genre,” Ryan says. “I think, being very frank, I think right now in Hollywood, a lot of us feel like we're in a climate where certain stories aren't being told or aren't allowed through the door. And I think Heated Rivalry was like, there are underrepresented voices, queer voices that will make room. Like if you do it right and if you put it out there, people will respond.”
Ryan hopes to continue that trend through her first-look deal with Universal, where she’ll get to bring other untold stories to the forefront. She says the deal was born out of “an organic desire to see other people's books get the opportunity that I was getting.”
It's an opportunity she doesn't take for granted as she writes the Before I Let Go pilot with Lee with the hope "that people walk away from this show feeling what they felt when they read the book."
Fans are already buzzing online with their suggestions on who should be cast, and Ryan is taking note.
“I don't comment on them, but I'm like, furiously noting, ‘Oh, we hadn't thought about that person! Oh my gosh, I'm adding that person to my list!’” she says.
In the meantime, her new book, Score, will be out May 19.
Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Elderly man attack investigated
VAN ZANDT COUNTY — A search is underway for individuals believed to have attacked an elderly East Texas man on Tuesday evening. The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office said the aggravated assault occurred Tuesday from around 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the 8800 block of FM Road 279 in Edom. A preliminary investigation indicates that an elderly man from Edom was involved in a physical altercation and was assaulted by unidentified individuals who were driving a red Ford Expedition.
Anyone with information or who may have witnessed the incident is asked to contact Investigator D. Henson at [email protected], Investigator C. Hanner at [email protected], or the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office at (903) 567-4133.
City mourns death of municipal judge
MARSHALL — The City of Marshall is mourning the passing of its municipal court judge, who died earlier this week. According to city officials and our news partner KETK, Judge Tristen Ellis died on Monday after serving as municipal judge since November 2025. The city said that Ellis leaves behind a legacy of integrity, fairness and dedicated public service.
“Judge Ellis was a valued member of the Marshall community and brought wisdom and professionalism to the Municipal Court,” Mayor Amy Ware said. “He was widely respected for his unwavering commitment to justice.”
His family will announce information about Ellis’s memorial services, and updates will be provided at a later date regarding the appointment of an interim judge.
Guilty verdict in machete attack
WOOD COUNTY – A Wood County jury found a Quitman man guilty of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the beating of a woman in 2023; he started his 65-year sentence on Wednesday. Bryan Ransom, 56, and three other people drove to a woman’s home on April 6, 2023, carrying a knife, machete, pepper spray, and a pole with a sprocket attached. According to the Wood County Criminal District Attorney’s Office and our news partner KETK, they severely injured the woman by beating her. Ransom stepped on the victim’s left arm to prevent her from defending herself while she was on the ground. The victim’s forehead needed to be stitched and stapled as a result. The jury reached its decision on Wednesday after less than an hour of deliberation, according to the county.
Local coach in critical condition
WHITEHOUSE – Track coach Blake Crutsinger was struck by a shot put in a “freak accident” at an East Texas regional track meet on Saturday, and Ponder ISD is asking its community to keep him in their thoughts and prayers.
Our news partners at KETK report that after suffering a fractured skull during the regional track meet at Whitehouse High School, Crutsinger had surgery on Monday in Tyler to treat brain swelling, according to his wife Leslie. According to Leslie, Crutsinger is currently in a Tyler intensive care unit and will probably return to Dallas for inpatient treatment in two to four weeks.
‘The Bear’ to end after upcoming season 5
FX has announced that The Bear will end after its upcoming season 5.
In a press release Wednesday, FX said the Emmy Award-winning series will premiere its fifth and final season on June 25.
The final season of The Bear will pick up "the morning after Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), and Natalie 'Sugar' (Abby Elliott) discover that Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) has quit the food industry, leaving the restaurant to them," according to a synopsis in the press release.
"With no money, the threat of a sale and a torrential storm in their way, the new partners must band together with the rest of the team to achieve one last service, hoping they'll finally earn a Michelin star," the press release adds. "Ultimately, they learn that what makes a restaurant 'perfect' might not be the food, but the people."
The Bear immediately hooked audiences when it premiered on Hulu in 2022, giving viewers a glimpse inside the intensity of a professional kitchen with complicated characters and plenty of drama.
White stars in the series as James Beard Award-winning chef Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto, who went from working at The French Laundry and Noma to taking over his family's rundown Chicago sandwich shop.
The series also stars Liza Colón-Zayas, Lionel Boyce, Matty Matheson and Edwin Lee Gibson, with Ricky Staffieri, Oliver Platt, Jon Bernthal, Will Poulter, Corey Hendrix, Jamie Lee Curtis, Carmen Christopher, José Cervantes, Richard Esteras and Chris Witaske in recurring roles.
The final season announcement comes a day after a surprise prequel episode titled Gary dropped on FX and Hulu featuring Bernthal and Moss-Bachrach. It follows their respective characters, Mikey and Richie, as they take a work trip to Gary, Indiana.
Disney the parent company of ABC News and Hulu.
Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Oscar Isaac, Martin Scorsese team up for new Netflix series set in Las Vegas
Oscar Isaac is teaming up with Martin Scorsese for a new Netflix series.
Isaac is set to executive produce and star in a brand-new, eight-episode series for the streamer that is set in the high stakes world of Las Vegas and its casinos.
This currently untitled show comes from showrunners, executive producers and writers Brian Koppelman and David Levien, who are known for their work on the show Billions.
The pair have written about the gambling world before. They made their screenwriting debut with the cult thriller film Rounders, which is about poker, and they wrote the heist film Ocean’s Thirteen, which is also set in Las Vegas.
Scorsese will executive produce the series. The legendary director is no stranger to this world either, famously having helmed the movie Casino and having served as an executive producer on the HBO series Boardwalk Empire, which is set in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The currently untitled series will be an hourlong drama series in present-day Las Vegas. Isaac will play Robert “Bobby Red” Redman, "president of the hottest hotel casino in town, who has to make some long odds moves to try and secure his position and take more ground," according to Netflix.
This role is part of a new creative partnership between Isaac and Netflix. The streaming service will have first-look rights on film and series projects with his production company, Mad Gene.
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‘Harry Potter’ HBO series renewed for season 2 months ahead of premiere
Accio, season 2!
HBO has renewed its upcoming Harry Potter series for a second season. This renewal announcement comes months ahead of the debut of the show's first season. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone will air on HBO and debut to HBO Max on Christmas Day 2026. Season 2 is set to begin production in fall 2026.
Additionally, Succession's Jon Brown, who was a writer on season 1, has been promoted to co-showrunner for season 2. He will serve in the role alongside Francesca Gardiner, the showrunner of season 1.
“As we have laid out our plans for the overlapping production schedules to finish season one by Christmas and to return to production for season two this Autumn, it has become clear that bringing on a co-showrunner is the key to maintaining our momentum," Gardiner said. "I’ve loved working with Jon from the very first day we met on Succession through to these recent times together on Harry Potter. Not only do I have huge admiration for his writing, but he’s also a brilliant collaborator and a lovely person. We are lucky to have him.”
Brown said he is "incredibly excited" to collaborate with Gardiner as co-showrunners.
"It has been a joy to write on Philosopher’s Stone and I’d like to thank Francesca and HBO for putting their faith in me to continue this remarkable journey. Seems you’re never too old to get your invitation to Hogwarts," Brown said.
Dominic McLaughlin leads the cast as Harry Potter. He stars alongside Alastair Stout and Arabella Stanton, who play Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The show is described as a faithful adaptation of the books by J.K. Rowling, who serves as an executive producer.
Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
David Rancken’s App of the Day 05/06/26 – Scoop – Carpooling & Commuting!
Sometimes things of the past are recycled for today! David Rancken’s App Of The Day title gives you a big hint. It’s called Scoop – Carpooling & Commuting. You can find Scoop – Carpooling & Commuting in the Apple Store and Google Play below.
Apple’s $250 million class-action settlement paves way for payouts to iPhone owners
(NEW YORK) -- Apple has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit for $250 million after the tech giant was accused of marketing Apple Intelligence technologies that "did not exist" yet, according to a Tuesday court filing.
The settlement paves the way for payouts of up to $95 for iPhone users who purchased eligible devices between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025.
Plaintiffs in the suit asked a judge on Tuesday to approve the settlement, which they described as "within the range of what is fair, reasonable, and adequate," according to the filing.
The settlement will provide class members up to $95 per device, "depending on claim volume and other factors," the filing states.
The lawsuit, which was originally filed in March 2025, alleged the iPhone manufacturer "violated consumer protection laws when it advertised its new generation of iPhones as a breakthrough in artificial intelligence ('AI'), including significant enhancements to Siri, iPhone's digital assistant," according to Tuesday's court filing.
The lawsuit itself specifically accused Apple of introducing Enhanced Siri capabilities -- such as AI-powered digital assistant recollection and calendar reminders -- even though they "did not exist or were materially misrepresented."
The plaintiffs also alleged Apple "saturated the market with deceptive ads" promoting that technology, which were "viewed widely by the Public" online and in ad spots during major broadcast events. They alleged that promotion led consumers to buy iPhones due to the perception that Siri had some of those enhanced AI features.
According to Tuesday's settlement document, Apple has "maintained that its ads were not misleading because it disclosed from the outset the Apple Intelligence features would be delivered over time and continue to evolve."
The company also "maintained that it successfully delivered more than 20 Apple Intelligence features" and argued that "consumers purchase new iPhones for any number of reasons that have nothing to do with Enhanced Siri features," the settlement document states.
An Apple spokesperson confirmed the settlement in a statement to ABC News on Wednesday.
"Since the launch of Apple Intelligence, we have introduced dozens of features across many languages that are integrated across Apple's platforms, relevant to what users do every day, and built with privacy protections at every step," the spokesperson said. "These include Visual Intelligence, Live Translation, Writing Tools, Genmoji, Clean Up and many more."
They added, "Apple has reached a settlement to resolve claims related to the availability of two additional features. We resolved this matter to stay focused on doing what we do best, delivering the most innovative products and services to our users."
The settlement payout applies to a list of iPhone 15 and 16 devices, including the iPhone 16, iPhone 16e, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max, according to Tuesday's filing.
The document notes there are approximately 37 million eligible devices.
The settlement will apply to those who purchased the eligible devices and "who reside in the United States and purchased an Eligible Device in the United States for purposes other than resale," according to the document.
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