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Spotlight

A severe impending winter storm, a singer's sexual assault allegations, Wordle, and more trending news

  • AP, CNN
  • Feb 16, 2022
  • Feb 16, 2022 Updated Mar 25, 2022

Here's a look at what's trending today, Feb. 16.

Bob Saget's family files lawsuit to prevent release of records related to death investigation

The family of actor and comedian Bob Saget filed a lawsuit Tuesday to block the release of certain records related to the investigation into his death, citing privacy concerns.

Saget, 65, was found dead in his hotel room in Orlando, Florida, last month. The Orange County Medical Examiner's Office determined that his death was accidental, most likely due to him falling backward and striking his head.

Keep scrolling for a gallery of photos of Bob Saget through the years

On Tuesday, Saget's widow Kelly Rizzo and her three daughters filed a lawsuit against Orange County's sheriff and the medical examiner's office, requesting that some investigation records related to the death be exempt from being revealed publicly because of their graphic nature in how they portray the late actor.

Bob Saget

Bob Saget's family released a statement last week on the cause of his death in Florida, citing authorities saying the actor-comedian died from an accidental blow to the head. 

Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File

"In the process of these investigations, Defendants created records which include photographs, video recordings, audio recordings, statutorily protected autopsy information, and all other statutorily protected information," the lawsuit states. "Upon information and belief, some of these Records graphically depict Mr. Saget, his likeness or features, or parts of him, and were made by Defendants during Defendants' investigations."

The family argues in the lawsuit that the release of this information -- whether through a public records request or any other avenue -- would cause them to "suffer irreparable harm in the form of extreme mental pain, anguish, and emotional distress."

Brian Bieber, a Saget family attorney, told CNN that the injunction was filed to "prevent disclosure of any photographs or videos of Mr. Saget made by the authorities during their investigation."

Photos: Notable deaths in 2022

Sidney Poitier

Sidney Poitier

Sidney Poitier, the groundbreaking actor and enduring inspiration who transformed how Black people were portrayed on screen and became the first Black actor to win an Academy Award for best lead performance and the first to be a top box-office draw, died Jan. 6, 2022. He was 94. Poitier won the best actor Oscar in 1964 for “Lilies of the Field.”

AP file, 2008

Bob Saget

Bob Saget

Bob Saget, the actor-comedian known for his role as beloved single dad Danny Tanner on the sitcom “Full House” and as the wisecracking host of “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” died Jan. 9, 2022. He was 65.

AP file, 2019

Peter Bogdanovich

Peter Bogdanovich

Peter Bogdanovich, the ascot-wearing cinephile and director of 1970s black-and-white classics like “The Last Picture Show” and “Paper Moon,” died Jan. 6, 2022. He was 82. Bogdanovich was heralded as an auteur from the start, with the chilling lone shooter film “Targets” and soon after “The Last Picture Show,” from 1971, his evocative portrait of a small, dying town that earned eight Oscar nominations and catapulted him to stardom.

AP file, 2005

Marilyn Bergman

Marilyn Bergman

Marilyn Bergman, the Oscar-winning lyricist who teamed with husband Alan Bergman on “The Way We Were,” “How Do You Keep the Music Playing?” and hundreds of other songs, died Jan. 8, 2022. She was 93.

AP file, 1980

Dan Reeves

Dan Reeves

Dan Reeves, who won a Super Bowl as a player with the Dallas Cowboys but was best known for a long coaching career highlighted by four more appearances in the title game with the Denver Broncos and the Atlanta Falcons, all losses, died Jan. 1, 2022. He was 77.

AP file, 2014

Don Maynard

Don Maynard

Don Maynard, a Hall of Fame receiver who made his biggest impact catching passes from Joe Namath in the wide-open AFL, died Jan. 10, 2022. He was 86. When Maynard retired in 1973, he was pro football’s career receiving leader with 633 catches for 11,834 yards and 88 touchdowns. The Jets retired his No. 13 jersey.

AP file, 1968

Michael Lang

Michael Lang

Michael Lang, a co-creator and promoter of the 1969 Woodstock music festival that served as a touchstone for generations of music fans, died Jan. 8, 2022. He was 77.

AP file, 2009

Lawrence N. Brooks

Lawrence N. Brooks

Lawrence N. Brooks, the oldest World War II veteran in the U.S. — and believed to be the oldest man in the country — died Jan. 5, 2022, at the age of 112.

AP file, 2019

Dwayne Hickman

Dwayne Hickman

Dwayne Hickman, the actor and network TV executive who despite numerous achievements throughout his life would always be remembered fondly by a generation of baby boomers for his role as Dobie Gillis, died Jan. 9, 2022. He was 87.

AP file

Ronnie Spector

Ronnie Spector

Ronnie Spector, the cat-eyed, bee-hived rock ‘n’ roll siren who sang such 1960s hits as “Be My Baby,” “Baby I Love You” and “Walking in the Rain” as the leader of the girl group The Ronettes, died Jan. 12, 2022. She was 78.

AP file, 2010

Charles McGee

Charles McGee

Charles McGee, a Tuskegee Airman who flew 409 fighter combat missions over three wars and later helped to bring attention to the Black pilots who had battled racism at home to fight for freedom abroad, died Jan. 16, 2022. He was 102.

AP file, 2019

Gaspard Ulliel

Gaspard Ulliel

French actor Gaspard Ulliel, known for appearing in Chanel perfume ads as well as film and television roles, died Jan. 19, 2022, after a skiing accident in the Alps. He was 37. Ulliel portrayed the young Hannibal Lecter in 2007's “Hannibal Rising” and fashion mogul Yves Saint Laurent in the 2014 biopic “Saint Laurent.” He is also in the Marvel series “Moon Knight."

AP file, 2015

André Leon Talley

André Leon Talley

André Leon Talley, a towering figure who made fashion history as a rare Black editor in an overwhelmingly white industry, died Jan. 18, 2022. He was 73. Talley was the former creative director and editor at large of Vogue magazine. Often dressed in sweeping capes, he was a highly visible regular in the front row of fashion shows in New York and Europe for decades.

AP file, 2016

2022: Meat Loaf

2022: Meat Loaf

One year ago: Meat Loaf, the rock superstar known for his “Bat Out of Hell” album and for such theatrical, dark-hearted anthems as “Paradise By the Dashboard Light” and “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad,” died at age 74.

AP file, 1994

Louie Anderson

Louie Anderson

Louie Anderson, whose four-decade career as a comedian and actor included his unlikely, Emmy-winning performance as mom to twin adult sons in the TV series “Baskets,” died Jan. 21, 2022. He was 68. In 2016, Anderson won a best supporting actor Emmy for his portrayal of Christine Baskets, mother to twins, in the FX series “Baskets.” He was a familiar face elsewhere on TV, including as host of a revival of the game show “Family Feud” from 1999 to 2002.

AP file, 2017

Manfred Thierry Mugler

Manfred Thierry Mugler

French fashion designer Manfred Thierry Mugler, whose dramatic designs were worn by celebrities like Madonna, Lady Gaga and Cardi B, died Jan. 23, 2022. He was 73. Mugler, who launched his brand in 1973, became known for his architectural style, defined by broad shoulders and a tiny waist. The use of plastic-like futuristic fabric in his sculpted clothing became a trademark.

AP file, 2001

Howard Hesseman

Howard Hesseman

Howard Hesseman, best known as the hard-rocking disc jockey Dr. Johnny Fever on the sitcom "WKRP in Cincinnati," died Jan. 28, 2022. In addition to earning two Emmy nominations for his role on "WKRP," Hesseman also appeared on "Head of the Class" and "One Day at a Time," along with guest appearances on "That 70's Show," among others. The Oregon native also hosted "Saturday Night Live" several times. — CNN

Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images, 1978

Bill Fitch

Bill Fitch

Bill Fitch, who guided the Boston Celtics to one of their championships during a Hall of Fame coaching career spanning three decades, died Feb. 2, 2022. He was 89. A two-time NBA coach of the year, Fitch coached for 25 seasons in the NBA, starting with the expansion Cleveland Cavaliers in 1970. He was Larry Bird's first pro coach with Boston in 1979, won a title with the Celtics in 1981 and spent time with Houston, New Jersey and the Los Angeles Clippers.

AP file, 1981

Ivan Reitman

Ivan Reitman

Ivan Reitman, the influential filmmaker and producer behind many of the most beloved comedies of the late 20th century, from “Animal House” to “Ghostbusters,” died Feb. 12, 2022. He was 75. Known for bawdy comedies that caught the spirit of their time, Reitman’s big break came with the raucous, college fraternity sendup “National Lampoon’s Animal House,” which he produced. He directed Bill Murray in his first starring role in the summer camp flick “Meatballs," and then again in 1981's “Stripes,” but his most significant success came with 1984’s “Ghostbusters.”

AP file, 2009

Gary Brooker

Gary Brooker

Gary Brooker, the Procol Harum frontman who sang one of the 1960s' most enduring hits, “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” died Feb. 19, 2022. He was 76. Brooker was singer and keyboard player with the band, which had a huge hit with its first single, “A Whiter Shade of Pale.” With its Baroque-flavored organ solo and mysterious opening line - “We skipped the light fandango, turned cartwheels cross the floor" — the song became one of the signature tunes of the 1967 “Summer of Love.”

AP file, 2006

Charley Taylor

Charley Taylor

Charley Taylor, the Hall of Fame receiver who ended his 13-season career with Washington as the NFL's career receptions leader, died Feb. 19, 2022. He was 80. Taylor was the 1964 NFL rookie of the year and was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's All-1960s Team. The eight-time Pro Bowl selection was a first-team all-NFL pick in 1967.

AP file

"The facts of the investigation should be made public, but these materials should remain private out of respect for the dignity of Mr. Saget and his family. It's very simple -- from a human and legal standpoint, the Saget family's privacy rights outweigh any public interest in disclosure of this sensitive information."

CNN reached out to the Orange County Sheriff's Department and the District Nine Medical Examiner's Office for comment on the lawsuit but did not hear back.

The autopsy report showed that Saget had tested positive for Covid-19, though he died from a head injury when he fell in a hotel room in Orlando.

"It is the most probable that the decedent suffered an unwitnessed fall backwards and struck the posterior aspect of his head. The manner of death is accident," Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Joshua D. Stephany said in his report.

According to the report, Saget also had an enlarged heart; 95% blocked on one side. And while there was no alcohol present in his body, his systems contained Clonazepam/Klonopin -- which is taken for seizures, panic disorders and anxiety, the report shows. Additionally, the antidepressant Trazodone was found in Saget's system, the report said.

***

Photos: Bob Saget through the years

Bob Saget, Jack Black

Roastmaster Bob Saget, left, poses with honoree Jack Black at the Friars Club Roast at the New York Hilton on Friday April 5, 2013 in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Evan Agostini
Jack Black, Bob Saget, Kevin Nealon

Host Bob Saget, center, joins together with guests Jack Black, left, and Kevin Nealon before the Cool Comedy's Hot Cuisine Benefit for the Scleroderma Research Foundation at the Four Seasons Hotel on Tuesday, April 30, 2013 in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Chris Pizzello
SAGET

Actor/comedian Bob Saget arrives at the premiere of the film "The Aristocrats", Tuesday, July 26, 2005, in New York. The film is a documentary about an abominably foul-mouthed joke comedians have been sharing for decades. (AP Photo/Stuart Ramson)

STUART RAMSON
SAGET

Actor Bob Saget arrives at the Ziegfeld Theater in New York City on Monday, Sept. 19, 2005, for the premiere of 'No Direction Home: Bob Dylan,' a feature-length documentary film directed by Martin Scorsese about music legend Bob Dylan. (AP Photo/John Smock)

JOHN SMOCK
Bob Saget, John Stamos, Dave Coulier

Bob Saget, John Stamos, and Dave Coulier attend the premiere of "Fuller House" on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016 in Los Angeles. (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Jordan Strauss
Bob Saget

Actor Bob Saget arrives at the Friends of the Los Angeles Free Clinic Annual Dinner Gala held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel Monday, Nov. 20, 2006, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Phil McCarten)

PHIL MCCARTEN
Cobie Smulders, Bob Saget

Host Bob Saget, right, shares a laugh with actress Cobie Smulders at the Cool Comedy's Hot Cuisine Benefit for the Scleroderma Research Foundation at the Four Seasons Hotel on Tuesday, April 30, 2013 in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Chris Pizzello
Bob Saget, Bob Martin

Tony award winner Bob Martin, right, interacts on stage with Bob Saget, left, during a free performance as cast members from dozens of Broadway shows celebrate the return to the theater following an end to the 19-day strike by stagehands and producers, Friday, Nov. 30, 2007 in New York. (AP Photo/Louis Lanzano)

Louis Lanzano
Bob Saget

Bob Saget arrives at the CBS, CW and Showtime Press Tour Party in Los Angeles, Friday, July 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Chris Pizzello
Bob Saget

Actor and roastee Bob Saget roasts his fellow roasters at the "Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget" in Burbank, Calif. on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2008. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)

DAN STEINBERG
John Stamos, Jodie Sweetin, Bob Saget, Lori Loughlin, Dave Coulier

From left to right, actor Dave Coulier, actress Lori Loughlin, actor Bob Saget, actress Jodie Sweetin, and actor John Stamos pose on the press line at the "Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget" in Burbank, Calif. on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2008. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)

DAN STEINBERG
Michelle B. Ghaltchi Bob Saget  Richard J. Riordan

Michelle B. Ghaltchi (L) actor Bob Saget (2nd-L) and former Los Angeles Mayor Richard J. Riordan (R) share a moment at the Peace of Heart 2008 Fundraising Gala Dinner held at the Beverly Wilshire hotel on Tuesday September 23, 2008 in Beverly Hills, California. (AP Photo/Mark Davis)

Mark Davis
Bob Saget

Actor Bob Saget attends the Friars Club Roast of 'Today Show' host Matt Lauer on Friday, Oct. 24, 2008 in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)

Evan Agostini
Adam Carolla, Jeffrey Ross, Bob Saget, Jim Norton

From left to right, television and radio personality Adam Carolla, comedian Jim Norton, actor and comedian Bob Saget, and comedian Jeffrey Ross arrive at the ShakesBEER Kegger fundraiser event in Malibu, Calif. on Saturday, May 23, 2009. Proceeds from the event will support the Los Angeles Shakespeare Festival. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)

DAN STEINBERG
Bob Saget, Jerry Seinfeld

Bob Saget, left, and Jerry Seinfeld attend the 2nd Annual Los Angeles Fatherhood Luncheon held at The Palm Restaurant on Wednesday, April 20, 2016, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Richard Shotwell
Jeff Franklin, John Stamos, Lori Loughlin, Jodie Sweetin, Andrea Barber, Ted Sarandos, Michael Campion, Candace Cameron Bure, Elias Harger, Soni Bringas, Bob Saget, Dave Coulier and Juan Pablo Di Pace

Exec. Producer Jeff Franklin, John Stamos, Lori Loughlin, Jodie Sweetin, Andrea Barber, Chief Content Officer of Netflix -Ted Sarandos, Michael Campion, Candace Cameron Bure, Elias Harger, Soni Bringas, Bob Saget, Dave Coulier and Juan Pablo Di Pace seen at Netflix Premiere of "Fuller House" at The Grove - Pacific Theatres on Tuesday, February 16, 2016, in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Netflix/AP Images)

Eric Charbonneau
Bob Saget

Host Bob Saget poses alongside an Oscar statue before the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences 40th Student Academy Awards at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater on Saturday, June 8, 2013 in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Chris Pizzello
Bob Saget, Jason Alexander

Host Bob Saget, left, and honoree Jason Alexander share a laugh at the 13th Annual Lupus LA Orange Ball at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on Thursday, May 9, 2013 in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Chris Pizzello
John Mayer, Joan Rivers, Bob Newhart, Don RIckles, Kathy Griffin, Bob Saget, Lewis Black

Musician John Mayer, left, Comedian Joan Rivers, Comedian Bob Newhart, Honoree Don RIckles, Comedian Kathy Griffin, Actor Bob Saget and Comedian Lewis Black pose for photos at the Friars Club Roast in his honor at the Waldorf Astoria on Monday, June 24, 2013 in New York. (Photo by Greg Allen/Invision/AP)

Greg Allen
Lara Saget, Bob Saget

Lara Saget, left, and Bob Saget arrive at the 56th annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Jordan Strauss
Bob Saget

Actor Bob Saget attends the 2nd Annual "Rebels With a Cause" Gala benefiting the USC Center for Applied Molecular Medicine at Paramount Pictures Studios on Thursday, March 20, 2014 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Dan Steinberg/Invision/AP Images)

Dan Steinberg
Jack Black, Bob Saget

Jack Black, left, and Bob Saget arrive at the Cool Comedy: Hot Cuisine Gala Benefit at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on Friday, June 5, 2015, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP)

Rich Fury
Bob Saget, John Stamos

Bob Saget, left, and John Stamos arrive at the Los Angeles premiere of "Mother's Day" at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Wednesday, April 13, 2016. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Richard Shotwell
Cobie Smulders, Bob Saget

Actress Cobie Smulders, left, shares a laugh with host Bob Saget at the Cool Comedy's Hot Cuisine Benefit for the Scleroderma Research Foundation at the Four Seasons Hotel on Tuesday, April 30, 2013 in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Chris Pizzello
2017 People's Choice Awards - Press Room

Jodie Sweetin, back row from left, Jeff Franklin, Candace Cameron-Bure, John Brotherton, Dave Coulier, Scott Weinger, Lori Loughlin, Andrea Barber, and front row from left, Juan Pablo Di Pace, Bob Saget, and John Stamos pose in the press room with the award for favorite premium comedy series for "Fuller House" at the People's Choice Awards at the Microsoft Theater on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Jordan Strauss
2017 People's Choice Awards - Press Room

Bob Saget, from left, Dave Coulier, and John Stamos, winners of the award for favorite premium comedy series for "Fuller House", pose in the press room at the People's Choice Awards at the Microsoft Theater on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Jordan Strauss
2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards - Arrivals

Bob Saget arrives at the Film Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Richard Shotwell
30th Annual Scleroderma Foundation Benefit

Aubrey Saget, from left, Bob Saget, Kelly Rizzo and Lara Saget attend the 30th annual Scleroderma Foundation Benefit at the Beverly Wilshire hotel on Friday, June 16, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Chris Pizzello
30th Annual Scleroderma Foundation Benefit

Bob Saget, left, and Norman Lear speak at the 30th annual Scleroderma Foundation Benefit at the Beverly Wilshire hotel on Friday, June 16, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Chris Pizzello
30th Annual Scleroderma Foundation Benefit

Bob Saget, Bob Newhart and Jimmy Kimmel, from left, attend the 30th annual Scleroderma Foundation Benefit at the Beverly Wilshire hotel Friday, June 16, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Chris Pizzello
30th Annual Scleroderma Foundation Benefit

Bob Saget, from left, Bob Newhart and Jimmy Kimmel attend the 30th annual Scleroderma Foundation Benefit at the Beverly Wilshire hotel on Friday, June 16, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Chris Pizzello
Opening Night of the 2018 Beverly Hills Film Festival

Bob Saget, left, and Kelly Rizzo attend the Opening Night of the 2018 Beverly Hills Film Festival at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres on Wednesday, April 4, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Richard Shotwell
Opening Night of the 2018 Beverly Hills Film Festival

Bob Saget, left, and Dr. Drew Pinsky attend the Opening Night of the 2018 Beverly Hills Film Festival at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres on Wednesday, April 4, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Richard Shotwell
Opening Night of the 2018 Beverly Hills Film Festival

John Mayer, from left, Bob Saget, Candace Cameron-Bure and John Stamos attend the Opening Night of the 2018 Beverly Hills Film Festival at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres on Wednesday, April 4, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Richard Shotwell
LA Premiere of "Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind"

Bob Saget, left, and Kelly Rizzo arrive at the Los Angeles premiere of "Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind" at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Wednesday, June 27, 2018. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Chris Pizzello
CORRECTION 2018 Creative Arts Emmy Awards - Arrivals - Night One

CORRECTS NAME TO CANDACE CAMERON BURE Andrea Barber, from left, Bob Saget, and Candace Cameron Bure arrive at night one of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards at The Microsoft Theater on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Richard Shotwell
2018 Creative Arts Emmy Awards - Governors Ball - Night One

John Stamos, from left, Caitlin McHugh, Kelly Rizzo and Bob Saget attend the Governors Ball during night one of the Television Academy's 2018 Creative Arts Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Richard Shotwell
"Shameless" FYC Event

Bob Saget attends the "Shameless" FYC event at Linwood Dunn Theater on Wednesday, March 6, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Richard Shotwell
2019 KAABOO Texas - Day 3

Comedian Bob Saget performs on stage at KAABOO Texas at AT&T Stadium on Sunday, May 12, 2019, in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Amy Harris
2019 KAABOO Del Mar - Day 3

Actor/comedian Bob Saget performs with David Shaw of The Revivalists during KAABOO 2019 at the Del Mar Racetrack and Fairgrounds on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, in Del Mar, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Amy Harris
2019 KAABOO Del Mar - Day 3

Actor/comedian Bob Saget performs with Zack Feinberg of The Revivalists during KAABOO 2019 at the Del Mar Racetrack and Fairgrounds on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, in Del Mar, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Amy Harris
2021 Tribeca Festival - Dave Chappelle Untitled Documentary Premiere

Bob Saget attends the premiere of Dave Chappelle's untitled documentary during the closing night celebration for the 20th Tribeca Festival, at Radio City Music Hall, on Saturday, June 19, 2021, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

Charles Sykes
2021 Tribeca Festival - Dave Chappelle Untitled Documentary Premiere

Lara Saget, left, Bob Saget and Kelly Rizzo attend the premiere of Dave Chappelle's untitled documentary during the closing night celebration for the 20th Tribeca Festival, at Radio City Music Hall, on Saturday, June 19, 2021, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

Charles Sykes
2021 Tribeca Festival - Dave Chappelle Untitled Documentary Premiere

Bob Saget and Kelly Rizzo attend the premiere of Dave Chappelle's untitled documentary during the closing night celebration for the 20th Tribeca Festival, at Radio City Music Hall, on Saturday, June 19, 2021, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

Charles Sykes
LA Screening of MacGruber

Bob Saget arrives at a screening of "MacGruber" on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021, at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Richard Shotwell
AP2378722515659400.jpg

Wall Street's metaverse dreams take a hit

Wall Street is convinced it's discovered the future of Silicon Valley. But early bets on the "metaverse" are running into some turbulence.

What's the metaverse? It's a virtual world in which people hang out, attend meetings and play games as avatars.

It's generating tons of buzz. But shares of video game developer Roblox, an industry leader, are down 16% in premarket trading on Wednesday after the company's earnings missed expectations.

While average daily active users hit 49.5 million, up 33% year-over-year, bookings — which measures the amount of virtual currency purchased by users to upgrade their avatars — fell short of forecasts.

The platform, which is super popular with kids, has been a go-to for investors looking to get in on the tech industry's push to make the metaverse the next big thing.

In a note to clients earlier this week, Bank of America analyst Omar Dessouky said the metaverse as an investment class "is now like social media at its dawn."

He said Roblox, which had a market value of more than $42 billion as of Tuesday's close, "bears resemblance to a young tech giant," even though it was founded in 2004.

Driving the hype: Roblox has a head start on competitors, which Bank of America expects will be slower to reinvent themselves as metaverse companies. Roblox's control of the technology that underpins its platform, from development tools to graphics software and data centers, allows it to innovate quickly. And in the future, its immersive online world may not just be for children, as Roblox works to build a digital environment — and economy — that's "increasingly engaging and indistinguishable from the real world."

"We think teenagers, and potentially adults, could eventually view Roblox as a multi-purpose platform, similar to how social networks were viewed as such as they grew beyond their core university student demographic," Dessouky said.

That's the promise, at least. But it may require investors to have cast-iron stomachs as more speculative investments take a hit.

Shares of Roblox, which were given a $45 reference price when they made their stock market debut last year, finished Tuesday at $73.30 apiece.

But they've plunged 29% so far this year as Wall Street has soured on the tech sector, which looks less attractive as the Federal Reserve prepares to hike interest rates. Any weakness in earnings doesn't help.

It's not the only metaverse stock to pull back recently. Unity Software, a platform for creating 3D content, has seen its shares plummet 21% this year. They're down another 2% in premarket trading Wednesday.

And Facebook's Meta, which is taking steps to completely rebrand itself as a metaverse-focused company, has plunged 34% this year as disappointed investors note that the pivot could take years to pay off. The company indicated Tuesday it would now refer to employees as "Metamates."

That doesn't mean Wall Street's metaverse frenzy has passed. But at a rocky moment for the market, some of the initial enthusiasm seems to have cooled.

Read this: Want to learn more about the metaverse? My CNN Business colleague Rachel Metz just wrote about about why you can't have legs in virtual reality — yet.

These numbers show why prices could keep rising

44%. That's how much the price of beef and veal rose between January 2021 and January 2022, according to the latest Producer Price Index.

The data, released Tuesday, tracks average price changes that America's producers get paid for their goods and services over time. And it wasn't just meat that commanded a higher premium, including over the past month.

The price of grains was up 22%. Shortening and cooking oils climbed 36%.

Step back: We recently wrote about why fast food chains are expected to keep hiking prices in 2022. Elevated costs for key ingredients — which aren't expected to come down in the near term — are a big reason why.

It's not just food. Energy remains a major sticking point, too, with the price of gasoline shooting up 53% over the past year and diesel fuel gaining 57%. Industrial chemicals remain 31% more expensive over the 12-month period.

Why it matters: Producer prices can be a leading indicator for consumer inflation, since they reflect higher costs that are later passed on to customers. The super-hot PPI reading — which showed overall prices rising 9.7% over the past year — indicates that inflation remains strong.

Markets looked past the data. But it could add to pressure on the Federal Reserve to act decisively at its meeting next month. Investors now think there's a nearly 60% probability that the Fed hikes interest rates by 0.5 percentage points, a supersized intervention.

"Inflation this hot suggests the Fed could kick off their rate raising cycle with a [0.5 percentage point] move," said Lindsey Bell, Ally Invest's chief investment strategist. "That would create significant volatility in stocks."

Work from the mountains? Longer stays boost Airbnb

Airbnb continues to benefit from a rebound in travel and the rise of remote work during the pandemic, as people ditch city life and choose more picturesque spots for home offices.

The company said after markets closed on Tuesday that revenue during the last three months of 2021 reached $1.5 billion, up nearly 80% compared to the previous year and 38% above 2019 levels. It expects a solid start to 2022, and said it's already seeing "strong demand for the summer travel season."

"The fourth quarter was another record quarter and 2021 was the best year in Airbnb's history — despite the global pandemic," CEO Brain Chesky said.

Shares are up 4% in premarket trading.

Airbnb said the impact of Omicron on bookings and cancellations was lower than the company experienced when the Delta variant hit last summer.

It also said customers continue to book longer stays on the platform. Over the past two years, the average trip length has increased by about 15%, according to Airbnb. Stays longer than seven days now account for nearly half of gross nights booked, while stays of 28 nights or more are growing quickly.

"We're seeing that millions of people are not tethered to have to go back to an office five days a week," Chesky told analysts. "And what this means is guests are spreading out to thousands of communities all over the world, and they're also staying longer."

On the radar: As demand jumps, particularly in North America, Airbnb hosts are able to charge more. Average daily rates averaged $154 in the fourth quarter, a 20% increase from the same period in 2020 and 36% above 2019.

Up next

Hilton, Kraft Heinz and Shopify report results before US markets open. Cisco, DoorDash, Hyatt and Nvidia follow after the close.

Also today:

  • US retail sales for January arrive at 8:30 a.m. ET.
  • Minutes from the Federal Reserve's January meeting go live at 2 p.m. ET.

Coming tomorrow: Earnings from Walmart, AutoNation and Palantir.

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Trey Songz denies rape allegation amid $20 million lawsuit

Kamila Valieva: US anti-doping chief questions skater's drug regimen to 'increase endurance and reduce fatigue'

Kamila Valieva -- the teenage Russian figure skater at the center of a doping controversy roiling the Beijing Olympics -- had three substances that can be used to aid the heart in her testing sample, according to a report in the New York Times, which cited an exhibit filed in a Sunday hearing by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Two of those substances, Hypoxen and the supplement L-carnitine, are not banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which regulates the use of drugs in international sport. Valieva declared both of these on a doping control form, according to a court application allegedly filed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in a case raised after it came to light that Valieva tested positive for a banned substance in December.

The London-based Dossier Center, an investigative website run by an exiled Russian businessman, published part of the WADA court application online and it was reviewed for CNN by Travis Tygart, head of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). The Dossier Center did not publish the doping control form or the test report exhibited in the case, and CNN has not reviewed them.

CNN has reached out to the CAS and the parties involved in Valieva's arbitration hearing to confirm the validity of the court application published by the Dossier Center and has yet to hear back. CNN has also reached out to the WADA accredited lab in Sweden which tested Valieva's sample from December for comment. Tygart, who is not involved in the investigation into the Russian skater, described the application published by the Dossier Center as "accurate and legitimate."

The 15-year-old skater has been in the spotlight since it emerged days into the Olympics that she tested positive for the banned heart drug trimetazidine, which experts say can enhance endurance. Valieva has sought to blame the positive test on contamination from medication taken by her grandfather, an IOC official familiar with the CAS hearing said on Tuesday.

The presence of the additional substances raises further questions about the skater's drug use, according to Tygart. USADA tried to ban Hypoxen in 2017 due to its performance-enhancing capabilities, but that ban was not implemented, Tygart told CNN.

"It raises a whole host of questions that have yet to be determined and what appears to be the case of a pretty deliberate attempt to use substances in order to enhance performance," Tygart said.

"The picture it paints is, you've got a ​15-year-old. Does she have the wherewithal and the knowledge and the financial resources to find and use two drugs, one of which is prohibited TMZ (Trimetazidine) and another one Hypoxen, [along with] L-carnitine (a supplement) -- to increase endurance and reduce fatigue?," he said.

According to the application published by the Dossier Center, Valieva's mother testified in a provisional hearing that the athlete took one of the substances, Hypoxen, "to treat 'heart variations.'"

Supradyn, which can be used as an immunity boosting supplement, was also listed on Valieva's doping control form, according to the application.

Valieva's positive test for trimetazidine, though taken in December, was only analyzed and reported to Russia's anti-doping agency in February, resulting in Valieva's suspension on February 8 -- a day after she helped propel the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) to a gold-medal finish in the figure skating team event.

But the skater was reinstated after an appeal, and the CAS on Monday allowed her to compete in the Olympics, citing specific provisions related to her protected status as minor, while investigations into any doping violations by Valieva and the adults responsible for her training continue.

An emotional Valieva came out at the top after the short program of the women's singles competition on Tuesday. She will compete in the second portion of the event -- where she is the favorite for gold -- on Thursday.

Russian athletes competing at the Olympics are already under the shadow of a history of illegal doping: WADA barred Russia from international competitions in 2019 over doping violations. Under the ban set to expire later this year, they've only been able to participate as neutrals in the Games.

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CDC lowers its risk advisory for cruises from 'very high' to 'high'

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has moved cruise travel out of the "very high" risk category of its travel health notices.

Cruise travel was moved from Level 4 into the CDC's Level 3 "high" risk category on Tuesday, about a week after the agency updated its Covid-19 criteria for evaluating the risk level of cruising.

Cruise travel had been at Level 4 since December 30, when the CDC advised avoiding cruise travel regardless of vaccination status as the Omicron variant surged.

The new Level 3 designation urges travelers to "make sure you are up to date with your Covid-19 vaccines before cruise ship travel."

The agency still advises avoiding cruise travel if you are not up to date with your vaccines or if you are up to date but at increased risk for severe illness from Covid-19.

Cruise industry reaction

Industry body Cruise Lines International Association called the CDC's lowering of cruise travel's risk level "a step in the right direction," in a statement, saying that it "recognizes the leadership and effectiveness of the cruise sector's health and safety protocols that are unmatched by virtually any other commercial setting."

On February 9, the CDC updated its travel health notice for cruise travel by adding criteria for how it determines the risk level for cruises.

For cruise travel, the CDC's primary criteria in evaluating the risk level is the number of new Covid-19 cases among crew and the case trajectory among crew over the past 14 days.

Level 4 means more than 2,000 cases detected among crew on cruise ships over the past 14 days. Level 3 is 1,000 to 2,000 news cases. Level 2 is 500-999 new cases. Level 1 is fewer than 500 new crew cases.

Risk guidance now optional

Meanwhile, the CDC's Covid-19 risk mitigation guidance has become optional for many cruise ships.

The CDC's extended conditional sailing order expired In January, and the agency has transitioned to a voluntary program for foreign-flagged cruise ships operating in US waters.

The agency recently released more information about the new opt-in program. The agency has also updated its cruise ship status dashboard, which shows which ships have opted into its program and a color code indicating the level of Covid-19 detected.

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California gas prices just hit a record high. $5 gas could come soon

Gas in California hit a record high of $4.72 a gallon on average on Wednesday — and experts say a whopping $5 a gallon will likely be the norm there in a matter of months, if not sooner.

This isn't just an issue for West Coasters: Some of the factors behind the record prices, particularly those related to the switch to renewable fuels, could affect US gas costs nationally in the next few years.

The US national average is currently $3.51 a gallon. Prices in California have long been among the highest, but they've soared in recent years in part because of changes at some West Coast refineries. Facilities have closed in some cases, while others are being modified to refine renewable fuels like diesel made from vegetable oil.

"California is the proxy for what will happen with the energy transition," said Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysis for the Oil Price Information Service, the firm that tracks gas data for AAA. "A number of refineries have closed permanently....Getting people away from fossil fuels might be the right thing to do, but it is not without pain."

So that's one factor: With less refining capacity, the West Coast's previous 2.5 million barrels of daily production heading into the pandemic has plummeted by nearly a quarter.

Kloza thinks $5 a gallon could come to California some point in the second quarter, and perhaps sooner if the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, a major oil producer, comes to pass. Other western states are also feeling the pain, like Hawaii — the only state with an average over $4, at $4.49 a gallon — as well as Washington, Oregon and Nevada, where prices are in the $3.90s.

The switch to renewables affects prices in another way: higher taxes.

California state gas taxes and fees are about 68 cents a gallon, compared to a national average of 39 cents, according to the American Petroleum Institute. California also levies taxes and carbon fees of roughly $1.35 a gallon on wholesale gasoline, a cost that gets passed on to consumers, Kloza said.

"Most states don't have those [wholesale] fees. But it is a coming attraction to a number of blue states," Kloza said. "If you want to move people away from fossil fuels, you have to start charging for carbon."

Meanwhile, California's new record is not only the highest price ever for that state — it's the highest for any state. The next highest record price was $4.70 a gallon in Alaska, but that was set in July 2008, when a spike in oil prices resulted in the record-high national average of $4.11 a gallon.

Though the national US average of $3.51 a gallon is far lower than California's $4.72, the national price is actually rising faster on a percentage basis. Gas prices were up 6% nationwide in just the last month and have climbed 40% over the last year, while By comparison California's is up only 2% for the month and 35% for the year.

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Wordle fans call out 'villain' NY Times for 'trolling millennials' with hard words

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