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NPR may have jumped the gun on one of the biggest political scoops of the year ... reporting that Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito is retiring, only to quickly reverse course and retract their story.

The Alito retirement story, written by prominent SCOTUS reporter Nina Totenberg, was published Tuesday morning before quickly disappearing from NPR's website. In its place now sits a brief editor's note that reads, "This story has been taken down. It was published in error."

The report spread quickly because the stakes couldn't be much higher. If Alito steps down, President Trump would get the chance to nominate a fourth Supreme Court justice -- further cementing his influence over the nation's highest court for years to come.

The twist here is who's behind the scoop ... Totenberg has spent decades covering the Supreme Court and is widely regarded as one of the best-sourced reporters on the beat -- having broken countless major stories involving the justices. That's already fueled speculation the underlying reporting may be sound and the story simply went live before NPR intended.

A jury couldn't reach a decision in the federal arson trial against Jonathan Rinderknecht -- the man accused of starting the Palisades fire in L.A. last year -- and the judge declared a mistrial.

It was 10-2 vote in favor of a not guilty verdict, but the 2 outliers weren't budging.

The jury started deliberations on Wednesday after about a 2-week trial, and initially indicated they'd unanimously reached verdicts in Rinderknecht's 3 arson charges before changing course.

Mackenzie Shirilla isn't getting her day in court ... because her latest appeal was denied, TMZ has learned.

According to new court docs obtained by TMZ, Mackenzie's appeal was not accepted for review.

The papers say the judge dissented and the court declined to accept jurisdiction over the case. Basically ... they declined to hear the case and it was dismissed.

Clive Davis -- the legendary music mogul who helped launch the careers of icons like Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Kelly Clarkson, and more -- is dead ... TMZ has confirmed.

Clive died Monday at his home in New York City ... as the New York Times first reported.

The cause of death is unclear ... but as we reported, there were concerns about his health just weeks ago when he was hospitalized in New York with an upper respiratory infection. He was later discharged on June 4 and returned home ... with a rep telling TMZ he was in good spirits and recovering.

Elena Katherine Moore -- a personal trainer in South Carolina who had been missing since last Thursday -- is confirmed to be dead, authorities announced Friday.

According to Lexington officials ... the body found on Wednesday had been officially identified as Moore. An autopsy is scheduled for Saturday ... and authorities anticipate a cause and manner of death to be released on Monday.

Police said Wednesday ... the clothing on the body matched what Moore was wearing when she went missing ... but the coroner would need to identify if it was her.

Rapper Mystikal was just sentenced to 20 years behind bars ... after pleading guilty to raping a woman.

The victim in the case described how the musician -- born Michael Lawrence Tyler -- brutally sexually assaulted her in his Louisiana home in 2022 ... and she asked the judge to levy the maximum sentence, according to WBRZ.

As we reported ... the rapper was originally arrested back in 2022 ... and entered a guilty plea to third-degree rape in a Louisiana courtroom last month, under a deal with prosecutors.

After the victim told the court Mystikal choked her, punched her and forcibly raped her, he stood up and said ... "If I did that to you, I deserve the max sentence."

Oliver Tree has died after a tragic helictoper crash in Brazil ... according to local authorities.

CNN Brazil -- citing Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro -- reported Tree and 5 others were killed after two helicopters collided above an electric vehicle yard in Southwest Rio de Janeiro Sunday morning.

According to reports ... Tree and four others were in one helicopter -- while only a pilot flew the other. An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the crash.

Tree was in his helictoper with 4 other people: passengers Lucas Vignale, Gaspar Prim, Lucas Brito Chaves and pilot Alexandre Souza, according to local outlet Metróples. Pilot Charles Marsillac was in the other helicopter alone.

Karmelo Anthony has officially traded county jail for state prison ... and the convicted killer posed for a new mug shot after being transferred into the Texas prison system to begin serving his 35-year sentence for murdering Austin Metcalf.

The 19-year-old appears with a shaved head and wearing a sleeveless prison tunic in the new booking photo taken after his move into state custody Wednesday morning. Anthony spent Tuesday night in county jail before being transferred to the Wallace Pack Unit near Houston.

Anthony was convicted and sentenced on Tuesday for Austin's murder ... meaning he only spent one night in jail following the guilty verdict before going to prison.

Karmelo Anthony's mom took the stand to plead with the jury set to determine her son's fate, TMZ has learned. 

Kala Hayes testified minutes after her son was found guilty of murdering Austin Metcalf. She told the 12-person jury she knows her son is very sorry for what he did. 

Prosecutors asked Kala if she still had love for her son. 

President Trump says the United States is preparing to respond after Iran shot down a U.S. military helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump made the announcement Tuesday in a Truth Social post ... claiming Iranian forces brought down a "highly sophisticated Apache Helicopter" during an overnight patrol mission.

POTUS say two American pilots were aboard the airship ... and, fortunately, both escaped unharmed.

Trump says he's already been briefed by military officials .. and it sounds like retaliation is squarely on the table.

Spencer Pratt's Los Angeles mayoral dream won't come true this year ... because he finished third in the primary election and won't advance to the runoff.

Mayor Karen Bass and City Councilwoman Nithya Raman won more of the vote than Pratt ... meaning the two will go head to head in the general election on November 3.

Now that 92.5% of the expected votes have been counted, Bass remains in the lead with 34.3% while Raman earned 28.5% of the vote compared to Pratt sitting at 25.8% ... according NBC.

Peabo Bryson has died after suffering a stroke, TMZ has learned. 

Peabo's family tells TMZ, "With broken hearts and profound sadness, the family of two-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, and balladeer, Peabo Bryson, announces his passing."

Peabo was the legendary voice behind the Oscar-winning Disney classics "Beauty and the Beast" and "A Whole New World" ... and both of his theme songs won Grammy Awards. 

TikTok star "Patriotic Kenny" has died after battling stage 4 lung cancer.

The heartbreaking news was shared Monday on Kenny Jary's TikTok account with a message reading, "The tears may never stop flowing. It is with the most indescribable sadness we share that Patriotic Kenny has passed."

The statement continued ... "He experienced the most profound love and was Earth's bright light. He passed surrounded by love and he was in peace."

Jason Biggs and Jenny Mollen are calling it quits after 18 years of marriage.

The pair announced the split in a joint statement ... with a rep telling us the two are still on "great terms" and are focused on raising their two kids.

A source close to the couple tells TMZ ... there is zero drama, and they're on great terms. They even recently celebrated Jason's birthday as a family.

Jason Collins -- the NBA's first openly gay player -- has died at 47 years old after a battle with brain cancer, the league announced.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver released a statement on the loss ... saying, "Jason Collins’ impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations."

"He exemplified outstanding leadership and professionalism throughout his 13-year NBA career and in his dedicated work as an NBA Cares Ambassador," he added. "Jason will be remembered not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life and touched so many others."

Rudy Giuliani has been rushed to the hospital in critical condition ... his spokesperson announced in a statement Sunday.

Ted Goodman announced the news on X ... noting the former New York City mayor is in critical, but stable, condition in a Florida medical center.

Giuliani is a fighter, Goodman says, who has faced all of life's challenges -- including this one -- with strength.