Harrison Ford Improperly Crosses Runway ... Tower Operator Pissed

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Harrison Ford was told to hold short of the runway at a SoCal airport because another plane was on the runway ... but the actor still crossed and the tower operator was alarmed.

Harrison had just landed at the Hawthorne Airport Friday when he left the runway for the taxiway ... and he taxied to the other end of the runway. There was another plane a few miles behind him that was practicing touch-and-go landings.

Listen to the audio between Harrison and the tower. You hear the tower operator tell Ford, "Can you hold short on runway. Traffic on the runway."

It's apparent the 77-year-old pilot didn't hear it, because he accelerated onto the runway and began crossing. You then hear the tower operator angrily say Harrison ignored his instructions, and the actor profusely apologizes, saying he heard the exact opposite -- that he was cleared to cross the runway.

Important to note ... there was no danger of a crash. The other plane was 3,600 feet away from Harrison when it hit the runway and, since the guy was doing touch-and-goes, he was up in the air long before reaching the other end of the runway where Ford was located.

An FAA official tells TMZ, the incident is under investigation.

A rep for the actor tells us ... "Mr. Ford crossed the airport's only runway in his aircraft after he misheard a radio instruction from ATC. He immediately acknowledged the mistake and apologized to ATC for the error. The purpose of the flight was to maintain currency and proficiency of the aircraft."

Fact is ... Harrison was getting his license updated so he could participate in more relief efforts. Over the years, he's flown humanitarian missions in Haiti, he's worked with Operation Smile, and has helped rescue stranded hikers in Wyoming.

032417_harrison_ford_kal February 2017
"I'M THE SCHMUCK"

Of course, this is reminiscent of another hiccup a few years ago at John Wayne Airport when he mistakenly landed on the taxiway, which was dangerous. He admitted as much at the time, calling himself a "schmuck" on the radio.

There was another incident, but frankly, Harrison pulled a Sully of sorts when his engine failed -- no fault of his -- and he was able to put the plane down on a golf course without injury to anyone.

Jim Hill Accuser Drops Restraining Order ... He's Not a Threat

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The woman who made domestic violence allegations against ex-NFL player Jim Hill has dropped her restraining order against the legendary sportscaster, TMZ Sports has learned.

We broke the story ... the accuser -- who described herself in court docs as Hill's girlfriend -- claimed the 73-year-old got physical during a March 14 incident at his L.A.-area home.

The woman says she called police and later filed a request for a restraining order against Hill, which was granted.

But now, the woman has backed off in a big way -- asking the court to drop the case against Hill ... and her request was granted.

We also know the accuser had filed documents with the court spelling out her reasons for backing off saying, "I do not believe [Hill] represents a danger to myself, my family or household members."

"Therefore it is unnecessary for the current orders to remain in effect."

Those documents were initially bounced because of a filing error -- but we're told she went back to officials and essentially made the same request.

Hill has denied the allegations from the start -- with his lawyer telling TMZ Sports, "This was a strategic maneuver on the part of [the accuser] on the eve of a prescheduled mediation to resolve their personal relationship."

In other words, case closed ... moving on.

Patriots' Justin Rohrwasser Vows To Remove '3 Percenter' Tat ... 'It's Shameful'

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"I want to get it removed from my body. It's shameful that I had it on there ignorantly."

That's Patriots rookie Justin Rohrwasser fighting back tears and apologizing for the "3 Percenter" tattoo on his arm ... saying he'll now have it removed because "that's not who I am."

You've probably heard by now ... the 23-year-old has been under fire over the tattoo since he was drafted by the Pats in the 5th round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Why? Well, Justin claims he got the tat when he was 18 as a tribute to the military -- but some experts and watchdog groups say the "3 Percenters" are actually a dangerous right-wing militia ... some chapters reportedly associate with "extreme racist groups."

3 Percenters' leaders have disputed the claims -- claiming they're just patriots trying to protect American liberties.

Still, Rohrwasser has been getting crushed on social media by people calling him racist, a white supremacist sympathizer and more.

So, the former Marshall kicker did an interview with WBZ-TV's Steve Burton (who is black) to explain why he's JUST NOW having regrets about the ink.

"When I was 18, I got it. [3 Percenters were] described to me as the percentage of colonists that rose up against the authoritarian government of the British, and I was like, 'Wow, that's such an American sentiment. A patriotic sentiment. And coming from a military family, I thought that really spoke to me and I always was proud to be an American. I'm very proud to be an American."

"The first time I found out what it was linked to was on Saturday. That's why it was so surprising."

Shocking statement considering the 3 Percenters made national headlines back in 2017 when several 3P members showed up at the violent Charlottesville protests in military fatigues while carrying weapons.

"As soon as I saw what it was linked to on Saturday, it's exactly that time I knew I had to get it totally taken off my body. I said cover it up, but I want to get it removed from my body. It's shameful that I had it on there ignorantly. I'm sorry for all my family that have to defend me.

Rohrwasser says putting his family and friends in the "compromising position" of having to defend his character is "one of the biggest regrets I'll ever have."

"I'm sorry I'm going to learn from this ... this is not who I am ... no matter what, that 's not who I am. Hopefully, you will all find that out."

For his part, Burton believes him ... tagging his report, "I did not find him to be a racist whatsoever. I found him to be very authentic and very apologetic. This kid deserves a chance."

Chicago House Party Building Owner Cited & Fined ... Adult Son Was to Blame!!!

Published
House Party 4/25/2020
BLIND RAGER

The Chicago house party that streamed live with at least 1,000 guests potentially spreading the coronavirus is gonna cost the building's owner.

TMZ confirmed Chi-Town officials have hit the owner with fines, and cited her for disorderly conduct -- namely, violating the state's stay-at-home orders. The fees will be determined by the court at a later date ... and a city alderman said the owner's been put "on notice."

Reports also say the woman's adult kid was to blame for the dangerous party. Apparently he had keys to the place and disarmed the alarms for the rager. Unclear if his ma knew what he was doing, but officials say he's previously thrown at least one other party this size.

Chicago's mayor, Lori Lightfoot, had some strong words for everyone who attended the event, saying eventually everyone who participated will be held accountable. She hammered the partygoers, saying ... "What happened in that scene was just foolish and reckless. There’s got to be a level of personal responsibility for that. Millennials aren’t children."

Mayor Lightfoot added, "Millennials -- many of `em -- are in their 20’s. They’re fully functioning adults. And, we expect adults to act responsibly -- particularly at a time of a pandemic."

Coronavirus New Shocking Video of Wet Markets ... Animal Rights Group Demands Shutdown

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042620_wet_market_kal_v2 NEW YORK CITY 4/27/20
HORRIFYING CONDITIONS
UPDATE

12:58 PM PT -- New York State Assemblywoman, Linda Rosenthal -- who's working hard to get wet markets in the Big Apple shut down -- tells TMZ ... "COVID-19 is an unprecedented public health crisis, and it demands, at the very least, that we take a close look at what we can do to prevent the next pandemic. Top among our priorities must be closing New York’s unsanitary live markets, that’s why I will be introducing legislation in the coming days to do just that."

UPDATE

She goes on to say these slaughterhouses are operating smack-dab in the middle of residential neighborhoods -- where kids and families are -- with little to no oversight and not to mention without following basic sanitary standards, which is a huge problem for her.

UPDATE

Rosenthal finishes by saying, "Given the poor conditions, it’s no wonder that COVID-19 and other deadly zoonotic diseases before it originated in live markets. We have a responsibility to save lives by closing the live markets now."

Forget the danger wet markets pose in China ... there are 80 of these markets in New York City -- the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic -- and the animal rights group that shot this shocking, undercover video says the images make it clear ... they need to be shut down.

NYCLASS Executive Director, Edita Birnkrant, went on "TMZ Live" Monday and said 2 of the markets are in the Bronx and Queens ... packed to the gills with caged live fowl ... many of which were being mercilessly tossed into a trash can by one of the workers, who was plucking them out for slaughter.

Edita says these markets -- which many scientists say could have caused the outbreak out in Wuhan, China -- are NOT foreign to the States ... they're everywhere, and they pose a massive health risk to the public as breeding grounds for infectious diseases.

She goes on to explain NY State Assemblywoman, Linda Rosenthal, is whipping up legislation to get these animal sweatshops closed down for good in New York, and similar efforts are underway here in California. Edita tells us it's well overdue -- and while it, unfortunately, took a pandemic to bring attention to the unsanitary (not to mention inhumane) ways these curbside factory farms run ... it's good folks are paying attention now.

Bottom line ... wet markets leave behind blood, feces, limbs and other potentially harmful remnants, which we don't need flooding our streets right now. Can't ignore this anymore.

Originally Published -- 11:25 AM PT

NYC Wet Markets Still Up and Running, Live Fowl ... Bad Idea, No???

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042620_wet_market_kal_v2 NEW YORK CITY 4/27/20
HORRIFYING CONDITIONS

Here's a sneak peek at a wet market with live poultry, which might remind you of something you'd see in China ... even though it's right here in our own backyard.

This footage was shot at two different wet/live animal markets in NYC -- one is called One-Stop "Vivero" Live Poultry Market in the Bronx and another is called Flushing Live Poultry in Queens. Both are currently open and operational, killing and selling the chickens and meat in the same location -- with what appears to be little regulation.

In the clip, you see a woman walking in without any trouble and getting up-close shots of chickens crammed in cages ... and she asks the workers if they're open. They say yes. Later in the video, you see pigeons are also cooped up in the same small space -- there are feathers and feces everywhere ... frankly, it's gross and definitely NOT sanitary.

Now, a little context ... the video here was shot by an animal rights org called NYCLASS, and they tell us there are more than 80 wet markets in the New York area ... which haven't seen increased oversight since the pandemic began ... they don't fall under the NYC Dept. of Health's purview. Instead, these wet markets fall under the USDA and State Agriculture Dept. ... state and federal orgs, which NYCLASS believes poorly manage these markets.

Of course, its reminiscent of the wet markets in China -- where some scientists believe the coronavirus pandemic got started. Some reports suggest bats were at the center of this, but all the same ... having live animals exposed in markets like this ain't healthy.

Of these markets, NYCLASS executive director, Edita Birnkrant, says ... "Their existence poses a public safety risk to the New Yorkers who live and work in these areas. Market floors and even public sidewalks are often covered with blood, feces and other biohazards that put everyone in danger."

State reps in CA and NY are working on legislation to get them shut down.

Vallejo City Official Out After Apparent Drinking And Cat-Throwing in Zoom Meeting

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A Vallejo official has left his post after he was caught apparently drinking and chucking his cat across the room during a virtual meeting he was conducting with his colleagues.

The guy's name is Chris Platzer and he was one of the city planning commissioners before he tendered his resignation this week ... after a wild Zoom meeting that included shots of him seemingly taking swigs out of a beer, and then hurling his feline in jest.

Check it out ... over the course of the 2 hour-plus meeting -- which was a formal meeting being held to discuss city business on Monday -- you see Platzer taking lots of drinks from a mug he has throughout, and constantly getting up and leaving the meeting several times.

At one point, he picks up the laptop he's using and carries it over to what appears to be his kitchen, where it looks like he opens his fridge and pulls out a green bottle -- which has been reported locally as a beer. Perhaps Heineken -- seems to be that from our POV.

Anyway, at another moment in the meeting ... Platzer's up to talk, and you hear meowing going on in the background. He gets up, brings over his cat and introduces it to everyone ... then throws it off camera, after which you hear a thud. Some of his colleagues laughed.

Toward the end, when everyone had logged off, Platzer's heard calling someone a "bitch," and he supposedly hurled a racial epithet too ... according to the City of Vallejo.

It's been reported the City Council was about to force him out on a vote soon, but he beat 'em to the punch. Platzer wrote in his resignation letter, "I extend my gratitude to those who have supported me during my tenure. I have always felt that serving Vallejo in a voluntary position is honorable because Vallejo is worth serving. We are all living in uncertain times and I certainly, like many of you, am adjusting to a new normalcy."

America's Quarantine Quitters Most Seem Fed Up, Ready for Summer ... A Cross-Country Feeling

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We'd like to introduce you to the Quarantine Quitters of America (the QQA for short) as a reminder folks are at their wit's end and throwing in the towel all over the country.

Click through the gallery and you'll see what we mean -- folks from coast to coast have been heading outdoors en masse over the past few weeks, hitting the beach, hitting the trails, hitting the streets, hitting anything they can to get a feeling of normalcy back.

Of course, in almost all of these cases ... so many are not practicing proper social distancing.

Whether it's beach-goers in Venice or Huntington Beach, or the good people of New York flocking out to Coney Island, or even the many protesters in Austin, TX and beyond -- people are clearly ready to break quarantine ... it looks like they've had enough, 'rona be damned.

That's a problem, obviously, because this many people going out and standing so near each other can and might very likely cause another wave of COVID-19 cases, not to mention the deaths that'll follow. These folks don't seem to care though ... apathy wins the day.

Shaking our collective heads ...