Notable:

The FDA just released draft guidance for researchers exploring psychedelic treatments for PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Detroit voters joined the movement in 2021, decriminalizing psychedelics, following Ann Arbor’s lead. The potential for transformative healing is expanding, paving the way for innovative approaches to mental health.

Air quality concerns spread across 17 states as Canadian wildfire smoke engulfs regions from Minnesota to North Carolina. IQAir reports that cities like Detroit, Chicago, and Minneapolis ranked among the world’s most polluted on Wednesday morning.

Are you stretching? Well and Good reminds us stretching enhance flexibility and make us feel amazing. It also boosts circulation. Improved blood flow means faster blood cell production, aiding in wound healing and aiding our body’s natural waste elimination. Stretching offers mental health benefits too, as increased blood flow enhances brain function.

Detroit is calling on resident groups and block clubs to apply for hosting solar farms on vacant properties. Starting July 1, Detroit aims to utilize our abundant unused land to generate power.

Virtual house calls may be in our future. Wired reports, user-friendly technology like apps, sensors, and medical devices can give patients hospital-level care in the home while being monitored remotely by medical professionals. Virtual medicine can expand hospital capacity and get patients into the better healing environment of home more quickly. Virtual wards currently exist every part of England through the National Health Service.

A recent report reveals that the frequency of “100-year” rainstorms in Michigan is on the rise. Peer-reviewed flood models indicate that over 51% of Americans now reside in areas with double the likelihood of a 1-in-100-year flood event.

Only one in five Americans actively care about the news on social media. Fewer people are actively engaging with news stories on social media platforms, according to the Reuters Institute Digital News Report. The figure has dropped by 1/3 over the last four years. They are mostly male, highly educated, and politically partisan compared to the average social media user.

Sony Pictures confirmed Ryan Seacrest as the new host of “Wheel of Fortune,” when Pat Sajak retires after four decades spinning the Merv Griffin invented wheel.  Ryan recently wrapped a six-year run as co-host of the daytime talk show Live With Kelly and Ryan. In addition to American Idol, he hosts and executive produces ABC’s annual New Year’s Rockin’ Eve special and the syndicated radio shows On Air With Ryan Seacrest and American Top 40.

If you’re a carbonated water fan, your dentist can probably tell. While carbonated water is a popular low-sugar soda alternative, scientists note its acidity can potentially damage tooth enamel.

Apple’s iPhone turns 17 today. On June 29, 2007 The, the company’s first mobile telephone, went on sale in the U.S.

Today in History:

June 29, 1917 Ukraine proclaimed its independence from Russia. In 1922, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic became one of the founding republics of the Soviet Union.

1937 Valcourt, Québec businessman and inventor Joseph-Armand Bombardier, founder of the aerospace and transportation company that bears his name, patented the track traction system snowmobile. The first seven-person vehicle cost $7,500. Only 50 of the machines were sold the first year.

1956 U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 into law, authorizing $25 billion for the construction of 41,000 miles of coast-to-coast Interstate freeways.

1956 Marilyn Monroe married the last of her three husbands, playwright Arthur Miller. They divorced in 1961.

1957 At Norman Petty’s studio in Clovis, New Mexico, Buddy Holly and the Crickets began a three-day recording session that produced “Peggy Sue,” “Listen To Me,” “I’m Gonna Love You Too,” and “Oh Boy!”

1959 Dick Clark announced that he was teaming up with Irvin Feld to stage a series of Dick Clark Caravan shows.

1962 The Contours released the single “Do You Love Me.”

1963 Del Shannon‘s version of the Beatles’ “From Me To You” became the first Lennon-McCartney song to appear on U.S. record charts, where it stayed for four weeks, peaking at #77.

1966 Neil Diamond made his first television appearance on ABC’s “American Bandstand,” lip-syncing his hit “Cherry, Cherry.”

1967 While on tour as a member of the Hollies, Graham Nash wrote a song called “Marrakesh Express,” which would later be recorded by his new band, Crosby, Stills & Nash.

1971 The Memphis City Council voted to change the name of Highway 51 South to Elvis Presley Boulevard. The formal renaming ceremony occurred in January 1972.

1973 Deep Purple disbanded after performing in Osaka, Japan, as lead singer Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover abruptly quit the group.

1974 In Toronto, ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov defected from the Soviet Union while on tour in Canada with the Bolshoi Ballet. He was granted permission to stay in the country and soon joined the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.

1974 Neil Peart became the new drummer for Rush, replacing John Rutsey.

1984 In St. Paul, Minnesota, Bruce Springsteen began his 156-show Born In The USA tour with a three-night engagement at the Civic Center.

1985 In New York, John Lennon’s “Roller” – a 1965 Rolls Royce Phantom V automobile he’d had painted in groovy psychedelic colors – sold for a record $2,229,000 to Vancouver businessman Jim Pattison who could then say, “Drive MY car.”

1996 Beatles record producer George Martin was knighted at Buckingham Palace in London. Singer/songwriter Van Morrison received an OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire).

Today’s Birthdays:

1911 Bernard Herrmann / (Max Herrmann). Innovative, Academy Award-winning film score composer best known for composing the music to Psycho, North By Northwest, Vertigo, Taxi Driver and dozens of other films, and the theme songs to The Twilight Zone and Have Gun – Will Travel, died in his sleep on 12/24/1975, age 64

1919 Slim Pickens. [Louis Burton Lindley Jr], American rodeo performer and actor (Dr Strangelove; Blazing Saddles), born in Kingsburg, California (d. 1983)

1940 Larry Brown / (Lawrence Russell Brown). Lyricist and composer, wrote or co-wrote numerous pop hits, including “C’mon Marianne” (#9, 1967) for The Four Seasons, “I Woke Up In Love This Morning” (#13, 1971) for The Partridge Family, and “Knock Three Times” (#1, 1971) and “Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree” (#1, 1973) for Tony Orlando And Dawn.

1944 Gary Busey. American actor (The Buddy Holly Story; A Star in Born (1976); Lethal Weapon), born in Goose Creek, Texas

1945 Little Eva / (Eva Boyd). Babysitter and maid for songwriters Carole King and Gerry Goffin, who wrote her hit “The Loco-Motion” (#1, 1962) about her dancing while doing housework, died of cervical cancer on 4/10/2003, age 57.

1947 Richard Lewis. American comedian (Marty Gold-Anything But Love), born in NYC, New York

1948 Dervin Gordon. With twin brother Lincoln, Jamaican-born lead vocals for Brit reggae-pop The Equals, “Baby Come Back” (#32, 1968)

1951 Billy Hinsche, As a member of Dino, Desi & Billy, their hit “I’m A Fool” reached #17 in 1965. He co-wrote “Lady Love” with Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys and later joined the group. You’ll hear his voice among the backing vocals on Elton John’s “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me.” His musical journey touched many, including Warren Zevon and Joan Jett. Today, we remember Billy Hinsche, who left us on 11/20/2021 after a battle with giant cell carcinoma.

Singles released today:

1962 The Contours “Do You Love Me”
1967 Dusty Springfield “The Look Of Love”

Today’s Quote Worth Re-Quoting:

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face… You must do the thing you think you cannot do. ? Eleanor Roosevelt