Jussie Smollett’s Bail Set at $100,000, Must Surrender Passport

A Chicago judge set a $100,000 bond for Jussie Smollett on Thursday, as the “Empire” actor made his first court appearance.

Smollett faces one felony count of filing a false police report. Police allege that Smollett staged a Jan. 29 attack, telling police that he was accosted by two men who used racial and homophobic slurs.

If convicted, he could face one to three years in prison, though he could also be sentenced to probation. Smollett could also be ordered to repay the cost of the Chicago Police Department investigation.

Police allege that Smollett paid Abel and Ola Osundairo $3,500 to carry out the attack. Detectives were able to track down the two brothers using surveillance cameras, and taxi and ride-share records.

Documents Detail Multimillion-dollar Ties Involving EPA Official, Secretive Industry Group

The nation’s biggest coal-burning power companies paid a top lobbying firm millions of dollars to fight a wide range of Obama-era environmental rules, documents obtained by 'TELL IT LIKE IT IS' reveal — shortly before one of the firm’s partners became President Donald Trump’s top air pollution regulator.

Now that ex-partner, Bill Wehrum, is aggressively working to undo many of those same regulations at the EPA, where he is an assistant administrator in charge of issues including climate change, smog and power plants’ mercury pollution.

Wendy Williams Sets March 4 Return to Syndicated Talk Show

After a six-week leave with health issues, Wendy Williams is set to return to her syndicated daytime talk show on March 4.

Williams has been on leave from “The Wendy Williams Show” since Jan. 18 to deal with health issues including fractured shoulders and complications from Graves disease, an immune system disorder which the host was diagnosed with last year.

The show, distributed by Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury, confirmed Thursday that Williams will be back in her “iconic purple chair” on March 4.

Chicago Police: Jussie Smollett Staged Attack Because He Was ‘Dissatisfied With His Salary’

In a scathing rebuke, Chicago Police officials asserted Thursday that actor Jussie Smollett set up a hate crime hoax on Jan. 29 because he was “dissatisfied with his salary” on the Fox series “Empire.”

Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson presided over a press conference on Thursday morning after Smollett turned himself into police to face a charge of filing a false police report. Johnson told reporters he was angered by what he described as Smollett’s “smear” of the city where “Empire” is filmed by claiming he was the victim of a vicious hate crime spurred by racism and homophobia.

Chris Hemsworth to Play Hulk Hogan in Biopic for Netflix

Netflix is in the early stages of developing a Hulk Hogan biopic with Chris Hemsworth attached to star as the wrestling legend and produce.

Netflix has obtained the exclusive life rights and consulting services from Terry Gene Bollea AKA Hulk Hogan. Todd Phillips, whose credits include “War Dogs” and “The Hangover” trilogy, is attached to direct from a script by the writing team of Scott Silver and John Pollono.

Producers are Michael Sugar through his Sugar23’s first-look Netflix deal along with Joint Efforts’ Phillips and Bradley Cooper, Eric Bischoff, and Hemsworth. Hogan will executive produce along with Sugar23’s Ashley Zalta. Co-producers are Steve Desmond and Michael Sherman.