Former NASCAR driver Michael Annett dies at 39

Former NASCAR driver Michael Annett has died. He was 39. (NASCAR)

The motorsport world is mourning the death of former NASCAR driver Michael Annett.

JR Motorsports announced Annett’s death Friday evening.

Annett was 39 years old.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett,” the company shared online.

He drove for JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series for five seasons from 2017 to 2021.

“Michael was a key member of JRM … and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today,” team members wrote.

According to NASCAR, the Des Moines, Iowa, native earned his career-best achievement in 2019, winning the series’ season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway in the No. 1 JRM Chevrolet.

Annett made his debut in the Xfinity Series in 2008 and spent three years at the sport’s top level in the NASCAR Cup Series with Turner Scott Motorsports from 2014 through 2016.

He finished his career with JRM in 2021 after a stress fracture in his leg sidelined him for parts of the season.

“NASCAR is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former NASCAR driver Michael Annett,” NASCAR said in a statement. “Michael was a respected competitor whose determination, professionalism, and positive spirit were felt by everyone in the garage.”

Annett’s cause of death was not immediately released.

Amazon sending out payments to customers in $2.5B settlement over Prime subscriptions

FILE — Amazon delivery driver shown with package. (Amazon)

Washington

Amazon has started sending automatic refunds to customers who are eligible to receive a portion of the company’s billion-dollar settlement.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, Amazon began issuing automatic payments to some customers starting Nov. 12.

Under the settlement, eligible Prime customers will receive a refund of their Amazon Prime subscription fees, up to a maximum of $51, with payments continuing to Dec. 24.

The payments come just months after Amazon reached a historic $2.5 billion settlement with the FTC, which said the online retail giant tricked customers into signing up for its Prime memberships and made it difficult for them to cancel.

“The evidence showed that Amazon used sophisticated subscription traps designed to manipulate consumers into enrolling in Prime and then made it exceedingly hard for consumers to end their subscription,” FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said when announcing the settlement.

Amazon previously shared that it was confident it would win the case, but chose to resolve it quickly instead of going through a potentially years-long trial and appeals.

The company agreed to the settlement while admitting no wrongdoing in the case.

“We are putting billions of dollars back into Americans’ pockets, and making sure Amazon never does this again,” Ferguson said.

According to the FTC, Amazon will also begin a claims process next year for eligible Prime customers who didn’t get an automatic refund between November and December.

The agency said those eligible for a refund don’t need to do anything at this time, as the payments are automatic, and it will update the claims process once that starts.

Jimmy Kimmel’s longtime friend and bandleader, Cleto Escobedo III, dies at 59

FILE -- Cleto Escobedo from "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" arrives at the Imagen Awards on Friday, Aug. 12, 2011, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Vince Bucci)

Los Angeles

Jimmy Kimmel announced the death of a longtime friend who was also his bandleader on his late-night show.

Kimmel shared on Tuesday that Cleto Escobedo III, the leader of Cleto and the Cletones, the house band on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” has died.

“Early this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician and man, my longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III,” Kimmel wrote. “To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement.”

According to People, Escobedo was 59 years old and led Cleto and the Cletones’ live music for the Kimmel show since it first premiered in 2003.

“Cleto and I have been inseparable since I was 9 years old. The fact that we got to work together every day is a dream neither of us could ever have imagined would come true,” the late-night host continued. “Cherish your friends and please keep Cleto’s wife, children and parents in your prayers.”

Just a couple of months ago, Kimmel made an emotional return to his late-night show after ABC pulled the host off air following his comments related to the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

There was no immediate word given on Escobedo’s cause of death.

Blood pressure medicine recalled over cancer-causing chemical concerns

FILE — Experts share tips for managing stress and high blood pressure. (KWQC)

A pharmaceutical company has issued a voluntary recall for blood pressure medication over a reported cancer-causing chemical being found in the prescription drug.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the recall was issued by Teva Pharmaceuticals after the presence of a carcinogenic compound was found in certain prazosin hydrochloride capsules.

The agency indicated that the recalled medication may contain N-nitroso Prazosin impurity at levels higher than the acceptable limit.

The medication is typically used for the treatment of high blood pressure.

However, the FDA reported that 580,844 bottles could contain excessive nitrosamine impurities, which have been linked to cancer.

The recall affects: 181,659 bottles of 1 mg capsules, 291,512 bottles of 2 mg capsules and 107,673 bottles of 5 mg capsules.

A full list of impacted lot codes can be found online.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is typically defined as a blood pressure of 130/80 mmHg or higher, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Girl, 13, escapes alleged kidnapper while walking to school by biting him twice: police

Galveston police released surveillance video of a man who they say attempted to kidnap a 13-year-old girl. (Galveston Police Department)

Galveston, Texas

Police in Texas say they’re searching for a man who attempted to kidnap a teen girl on Monday morning.

According to Galveston police, officers were called just before 7 a.m. after teachers at Central Middle School reported that a 13-year-old student was approached and grabbed by a man while she was walking to school.

Police said they spoke to the student, who told them she heard footsteps approaching from behind near the 900 block of 28th Street that morning.

The student told officers that the man grabbed her from behind, and after a brief struggle, she bit him twice, broke free, and ran to school, the department shared.

Police said the student’s parents helped them retrace the girl’s route from that morning to identify the location where what reportedly happened.

Investigators said they obtained surveillance video from a business on 24th Street that showed the student walking, followed shortly by a man who was also taking the same path.

Authorities said the man appears to be a white or Hispanic man. He was wearing a black short-sleeve shirt, blue jeans, and what appeared to be a ski mask.

Galveston police are requesting the public’s help in identifying the man in question.

Authorities urged anyone with further information to contact the Galveston Police Department at 409-765-3777.

Police said the girl suffered no injuries in the kidnapping attempt and they have alerted medical facilities to notify them if anyone seeks treatment for bite-related injuries.