Morning! We’re The Neutral, your daily dose of news without the noise.

First time reader? Sign up here!

Today’s Big Story

“That ‘70s Show” actor guilty of rape

“That ‘70s Show” star Danny Masterson was found guilty on two of three counts of rape at his second trial in Los Angeles on Thursday, in which the Church of Scientology played a major role.

Details: The two women whose testimony led to Masterson’s conviction said that in 2003, he gave them drinks and they felt woozy or passed out before he violently raped them. He knew them both through social circles in the church. The women who reported Masterson to church officials claimed they were dismissed, subjected to ethics programs, and discouraged from going to the police to report a member of such high standing. The church denied having policies against reporting to secular authorities.

Masterson’s ex-girlfriend brought the third lawsuit and detailed how he raped her while she slept until she woke up and pulled his hair to make him stop.

What’s next? No sentencing date has been set yet but the Judge told Masterson and his lawyers to return to court on Aug. 4 for a hearing. His attorneys will almost certainly appeal the verdict.

Little Stories

Business & Economy

*Advance Auto Parts shares fell 30% after first-quarter earnings fell significantly short of Wall Street’s predictions.

*Consumers filed a class action lawsuit in California against Delta Airlines on Tuesday, accusing the company of lying about being carbon neutral.

World

*Drones attack Russian oil refineries while Germany closed 4 of 5 Russian consulates in response to a move from Moscow to limit the amount of German diplomats in the country.

*A North Korean spy satellite launch failed and fell into the sea where South Korea’s military intercepted pieces of the wreckage. The launch was supposed to put the country’s first spy satellite into orbit.

US News, Politics, & Government

*Former Vice President Mike Pence will announce his 2024 presidential campaign during a rally on June 7 in Des Moines, Iowa.

*Minnesota became the 23rd state to legalize recreational marijuana on Tuesday.

Sports & Entertainment

*Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Denver Nuggets and the Miami Heat will air tonight at 8:30 PM ET on ABC.

*Actor Al Pacino is expecting a baby with his 29-year-old girlfriend Noor Alfallah.

Science, Health, & Tech

*The SpaceX Dragon Capsule carrying four astronauts made a successful return and landed in the ocean near Pensacola, Florida.

*Weight loss surgeries in children and teens rose 20% in 2021 according to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Extras

*Filipino American chefs shine in 2023 with multiple James Beard award nominations.

*A map of the world’s most diabetic countries. 

*How to make the perfect cheeseburger according to a burger scholar.