American crime drama series about Tony Soprano and organized crime
A roundup compiles notable birthdays from this week across Independent, AP News and other outlets, highlighting a cast of performers aged from 36 to 82 as of mid-July 2026.
Vincent Pastore, famed for his role as Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero on The Sopranos, has died at age 80. Reports say he was found at his Bronx home; his former colleagues praise his loyalty and charity. Pastore also appeared in Goodfellas, Awakenings, Law & Order, and other projects across four decades.
Lanterns has premiered on HBO/HBO Max with Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre delivering a grounded, police‑procedural Green Lantern story set in Nebraska. The series blends a murder mystery with alien intrigue, balancing earthbound drama with cosmic powers as Hal Jordan and his trainee John Stewart investigate a mass shooting that hints at a larger invasion.
A government-wide crackdown on illegal waste dumping is expanding, with new powers to seize assets, higher fines, and regional enforcement to tackle organised waste crime that has blighted communities across England. The effort follows a BBC investigation identifying several supersites and a rising tide of waste crimes.