Mic Daily: Celebrities pay tribute to Aretha Franklin; other top stories of the day

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Celebrities pay their respects to Aretha Franklin after the legend dies at 76

Mark Reinstein/MediaPunch/AP

Aretha Franklin, the iconic singer known as the Queen of Soul, died of pancreatic cancer Thursday in Detroit. As NPR reported Thursday, the 76-year-old Franklin was one of the bestselling artists “of all time.” In 1987, she became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In addition to her music, Franklin was also involved in the civil rights movement and toured to raise money for the cause.

After news of Franklin’s death broke, celebrities from the music and entertainment world — and beyond — posted tributes to the legendary performer on social media.

The Masterpiece Cakeshop owner is suing for discrimination again — this time over a trans woman

David Zalubowski/AP

After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that he could decline to make wedding cakes for same-sex couples because of his religious beliefs, Jack Phillips — the owner of Colorado bakery Masterpiece Cakeshop — is suing the state again, this time over his right to refuse service to a transgender customer.

No midterms boon: Brett Kavanaugh has lowest public support of a Supreme Court nominee since 1987

Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Brett Kavanaugh has the lowest public support of any Supreme Court nominee since 1987, according to a CNN poll released Thursday, with just 37% of Americans saying they support his confirmation to the nation’s highest court.

Omarosa releases tape of Lara Trump offering $15,000 a month for campaign job after her firing

RTNCollin/MediaPunch Inc./AP

Ahead of the release of her tell-all book, The Apprentice villain and former White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman released yet another recording Thursday afternoon, which purports to show Lara Trump offering her a $15,000-a-month campaign job after she was fired from the White House in December.

Native Hawaiians see a silver lining to destruction caused by recent volcanic eruptions

Mario Tama/Getty Images

The shake jolted me awake — I was sleeping in a stilted cottage in Volcano village on Hawaii island, not far from the summit of the Kilauea volcano, and my room and all of its contents were swaying back and forth. A text message alert confirmed what I already suspected.

“Volcanic activity near the summit of Kilauea volcano is causing sporadic earthquakes isolated in the volcanic area not due to plate tectonics but by the release of steam through the earth’s crust.”

By many metrics, what is happening on Hawaii island can be considered a natural disaster. But native Hawaiians I spoke to view this period not as one of pure destruction, but rather the logical continuation of their islands’ geological evolution — a time of deep cultural and personal reflection and realignment.