Navigating Healthcare: Unlocking Medication Access for All

Navigating the Healthcare Maze: Your Guide to Medication Accessibility

The healthcare system—it’s a labyrinth of policies, prescriptions, and premiums that can leave even the savviest among us feeling tangled in red tape. But fear not! With the right tools and strategies, you can cut through the confusion and ensure your health takes center stage.

Picture this: You’re at the pharmacy counter, eagerly waiting for your prescribed inhaler—your lifeline against asthma attacks. But instead of relief, you’re handed a bill that’s skyrocketed to impossible heights. It’s a scene too many of us have faced, and it’s a stark reminder of the barriers in our healthcare system.

The journey to accessible medication starts with understanding your insurance plan—an often-overlooked step in maintaining good health. Dive into the details of your policy—know what’s covered, what’s skipped, and what you’re paying out-of-pocket. It may not be a thrilling read, but it’s your first line of defense against sudden price hikes.

Next, embrace the power of negotiation. Your healthcare provider can be your ally in this. Engage in open conversations about affordable alternatives—generic versions of medications can often be the unsung heroes for those battling chronic conditions.

Meanwhile, keep a close watch on the formulary—an ever-changing list of covered medications. Changes may catch you off guard, but staying informed ensures you’re never without options. A quick call or visit to your insurer’s website can often shed light on the latest updates, giving you a head start in tackling any discrepancies.

For those caught in the crosshairs of cost, there’s strength in numbers. Advocacy groups and support communities are rallying for a more transparent healthcare system and caps on exorbitant medication prices. Joining these groups not only amplifies voices for change but keeps you informed on legislative battles that could impact your healthcare costs.

Let us not forget, your pharmacist is a treasure trove of information. These professionals can guide you through finding budget-friendly solutions and even connect you with manufacturer discounts or assistance programs.

In this era, where healthcare can feel like a hurdle race, arming yourself with knowledge is your best offense. Whether it’s tackling insurance intricacies, advocating for fair prices, or aligning with others for systemic change, remember—you’re not alone in this journey. Your health is worth every ounce of effort.

So, let’s navigate this healthcare maze together, turning obstacles into stepping stones toward a healthier, more accessible future.

Teddi Mellencamp’s Battle: Lessons in Skin Cancer

Shine the Light on Skin Cancer: Lessons from Those Who’ve Faced the Battle

In the grand tapestry of life, we often neglect the silent, lurking threat of skin cancer—a formidable foe that’s too easily brushed aside until it demands our attention. Like Teddi Mellencamp, who courageously showcases her battle scars to the world, many find themselves thrust into the spotlight of an unexpected health crusade. This isn’t just a battle against a sly disease—it’s a rallying cry for awareness and action.

When reality bites, and a diagnosis lands like a punch to the gut, it’s not just skin that creeps but fear as well. Yet, these personal odysseys underline a pivotal lesson: there’s power in vigilance. Regular skin checks—your annual safeguard—aren’t merely appointments, they’re lifelines. They turn the tide from uncertainty to a proactive defense against melanoma’s insidious advance.

With determination hardwired into her resolve, Mellencamp bravely navigated over 20 procedures, each scar a testament to a hard-fought victory. Embarking on such a journey isn’t for the faint-hearted. It demands resilience forged under pressure and an unyielding commitment to health—because every spot checked is one less vulnerability.

As you read this, I challenge you: are you ready to take the reins of your health? Gear up for skin checks, the same way you’d prepare for life’s grand adventures. This isn’t just about survival—it’s about thriving with full awareness, courage in your step, and the knowledge to turn challenges into triumphs.

Every individual, like Mellencamp, who shares their story, adds momentum to the cause. They remind us that vigilance is a shield against the stealth of skin cancer. So, embrace the lesson, book those appointments, and share your own story—because awareness isn’t just a word; it’s a movement you’re invited to join. Stay vigilant, stay strong, and always face forward.

Marcus Jordan, Michael Jordan’s son and reality TV figure, faces DUI and cocaine charges in Florida

Marcus Jordan in Los Angeles in 2023.Amanda Edwards / Getty Images file

Marcus Jordan, son of basketball legend Michael Jordan and a frequent figure on reality television, was arrested after he was allegedly out drinking at a Florida strip club before getting his car stuck on railroad tracks early Tuesday, authorities said.

The 34-year-old Jordan, who last played competitive basketball at the University of Central Florida in 2012, was booked on suspicion of DUI, drug possession and resisting arrest.

Maitland police officers came upon a blue Lamborghini stuck in railroad tracks near Greenwood Drive and Mechanic Street at about 1:14 a.m., according to an affidavit supporting Jordan’s arrest.

The officers were told that the car had fled from Seminole County Sheriff’s deputies minutes earlier, the court document said.

“I stood at the window and immediately detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the vehicle,” an arresting officer wrote in the affidavit. “The defendant kept saying he made a wrong turn and needed assistance getting his vehicle off the railroad tracks. I noticed the driver had slurred speech and he was confused where he was located. I noticed the driver had red bloodshot and glassy eyes.”

Jordan, who has made several appearances on Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Miami” and was featured on Peacock’s “The Traitors,” told police he bad been drinking and was “coming from a few venues in Winter Park and Casselberry to include the last place he visited of Rachels Gentleman’s Club,” according to the affidavit.

The officers also found a “plastic baggie with a white powdery substance inside” the “right pocket of his pants,” before field tests showed it to be cocaine, officials said.

The 6-foot-3 Jordan was not cooperative during the arrest and tried to extend his legs in the back of the squad guard to keep officers from closing the door, officials said.

Police eventually “transported the Defendant to the Orange County DUI Center” and “on “the way to the center, my patrol vehicle began smelling strongly like an alcoholic beverage in which it did not smell that way prior to the defendant being in the vehicle.”

“The Defendant was singing the entire way to the DUI Center and his speech was slurred,” according to the affidavit.

Jordan appeared to still be in custody by late Tuesday morning, jail records showed.

It wasn’t immediately clear if he had hired or been assigned a criminal defense lawyer to speak on his behalf. A representative for Michael Jordan could not be immediately reached for comment on Tuesday.

Jesse Eisenberg doesn’t want to be ‘associated’ with Mark Zuckerberg

Jesse Eisenberg has revealed why he has zero interest in being associated with Facebook and Meta cofounder Mark Zuckerberg.

The Hollywood star, 41, famously played the tech mogul in the celebrated 2010 movie, The Social Network – landing his first Oscar nomination for the impressive performance.

However, Zuckerberg’s recent actions have left the actor determined to distance himself from the billionaire’s narrative going forward.

During an interview with BBC Radio 4 released on Tuesday, the filmmaker spoke out against the mogul while he promoting his Oscar-nominated movie A Real Pain.

‘I haven’t been following his life trajectory, partly because I don’t want to think of myself as associated with somebody like that,’ he explained in a clip shared online by the BBC.

He continued: ‘It’s not like I played a great golfer or something and now I want people to think I’m a great golfer — it’s like this guy that is doing things that are problematic, taking away fact-checking and safety concerns.

Jesse Eisenberg has revealed why he has zero interest in being associated with Facebook and Meta cofounder Mark Zuckerberg

Zuckerberg’s recent actions have left the actor determined to distance himself from the billionaire’s narrative going forward

‘Making people who are already threatened in this world more threatened.’

‘I’m concerned just as a person who reads a newspaper,’ he added, after he was asked whether Meta’s recent editorial decisions ‘concerned’ him. ‘I don’t think like about, “Oh I played the guy in the movie.”‘

He continued: ‘It’s just I’m a human being and you read these things and these people have billions upon billions of dollars, more money than any human person has ever amassed.

‘What are they doing with it? Oh, they’re doing it to curry favor with people who’s preaching hateful [things]?’

Last month, Meta announced that Facebook and Instagram would be ditching their independent fact-checking programs.

Instead, the company will be following the likes of Elon Musk’s X, formerly Twitter, and relying on users to supply their own community notes to clarify misinformation.

In the video announcing the changes, Zuckerberg declared that it was ‘time to get back to our roots around free expression.’

Zuckerberg notably also attended Donald Trump’s inauguration as US President on January 20, shortly before his company agreed to pay $25 million to settle Trump’s 2021 lawsuit over his previous suspension from its platforms.

The Hollywood star, 41, famously played the tech mogul in the celebrated 2010 movie, The Social Network – landing his first Oscar nomination for the impressive performance

He told BBC: ”I haven’t been following his life trajectory, partly because I don’t want to think of myself as associated with somebody like that’ (pictured with co-star Andrew Garfield)

His suspension came into effect after the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots in Washington, D.C.

The Social Network was written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by David Fincher.

It told the origin story of Facebook set against the backdrop of multiple contentious legal battles between Zuckerberg (Eisenberg), Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield), and twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss (Armie Hammer).

Justin Timberlake, Rashida Jones, Rooney Mara, and Dakota Johnson also starred in the flick.

The film received eight Oscars nominations, including Best Picture, and took home three for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, and Best Original Score.

The Social Network earned over $220 million and in the years that followed, many wondered if they might be a sequel about the continued growth of Zuckerberg’s company.

Fincher and Sorkin have shared over the years that they’ve discussed options for a potential sequel, but in an 2023 interview Fincher described the notion as ‘a can of worms.’

Meanwhile, A Real Pain marks Eisenberg’s second feature writing and directing effort, following his debut with 2022’s When You Finish Saving The World.

Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin play two vastly different cousins who embark on a strange journey.

A Real Pain also stars Will Sharpe, Jennifer Grey and Kurt Egyiawan, with Eisenberg producing alongside Emma Stone and her husband Dave McCarry.

‘Goonies’ unite: Ke Huy Quan’s childhood co-stars turn out for his Hollywood handprint fest

For some fans of “The Goonies,” star Ke Huy Quan’s hand and footprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Monday was a “Data” remember.

The Oscar winner — who starred as gadget whiz Richard “Data” Wang in “The Goonies” — on Monday placed his prints in the renowned cement slabs, joining the ranks of Hollywood names memorialized at the landmark “The Forecourt of the Stars.” For Quan, the ceremony fulfilled a “crazy dream.”

“Dreams are weird, aren’t they? They have a way of planting themselves quietly and surviving on hope, even when reality tries to uproot them,” he said. “And then one day they bloom in ways we never expected.”

The ceremony for the “Love Hurts” and “Everything Everywhere All at Once” actor was a trip down memory lane that featured appearances by several special guests — including those from Quan’s early acting years. “Goonies” stars Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen, Kerri Green, Corey Feldman and screenwriter Chris Columbus turned out in Hollywood to help celebrate Quan’s milestone, which coincides with the 40th anniversary of their 1985 adventure classic.

“You’re here and you’re doing something that I thought stopped in the ’40s,” Brolin joked to Quan during his speech on Monday, according to footage shared by Maximo TV.

Brolin continued:”Obviously they brought it back for somebody super special, and that’s you. I hold you in a very dear place in my heart.”

In his speech, “Dune” star Brolin shared a letter from “Goonies” co-writer and directing legend Steven Spielberg, who he said couldn’t make the ceremony because he was on vacation. “‘Ke, as always, I’m proud of you for your meteoric rise as a child and then your second meteoric rise as a grown-up,’” Brolin read.

The letter continued: “Ke, you will always have my love, you will always have my respect and you will always be part of my movie family and my personal family in real life.”

In “The Goonies,” one of his earliest acting credits, a 13-year-old Quan portrayed the crafty Data who helps his friends locate a hidden pirate treasure and save their neighborhood from foreclosure. Quan, before his Hollywood comeback in recent years, was also known for his work as Short Round in Spielberg’s “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” and various roles in “Encino Man,” TV series “Head of the Class” and “Nothing Is Easy,” among other credits.

He faced several dry periods during his career and returned to the big screen after nearly 20 years with “Finding ‘Ohana” and directors Daniels’ — Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheiner — “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” For Quan, the latter proved life-changing.

In 2023, Quan won his first career Oscar and several acting opportunities followed. He starred in Disney+’s “American Born Chinese” and Marvel series “Loki,” and is the leading man in this month’s action comedy “Love Hurts.”

During his speech, Quan recalled striving for his own Hollywood imprints after seeing Spielberg and George Lucas get theirs in 1984. Finally reveling in his own Chinese Theatre celebration, Quan said Monday was a “surreal full-circle moment.”

“Thank you so much for bringing me back,” he told filmmaker duo Daniels. Quan, who held back tears during his speech, also thanked his family who has “shown me what it means to never give up.”

“This moment isn’t just about leaving my markings in that,” he said, “it’s about honoring the people who have always believed in me when I couldn’t always believe in myself.”

“Love Hurts,” which also stars Oscar winner Ariana DeBose, Daniel Wu, Sean Astin (also Quan’s “Goonies co-star) and Marshawn Lynch, premiered at the Chinese Theatre on Monday evening. The film from director Jonathan Eusebio hits theaters Friday.

‘Buffy’ reboot with Sarah Michelle Gellar in the works

Buffy the Vampire Slayer seemingly has more vampires to take down.

On Monday, January 3, Deadline revealed that the cult classic TV series — which aired for seven seasons from 1997 to 2003 — may be rebooted. Per Deadline sources, Hulu is close to ordering a pilot episode directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Chloé Zhao and written by sisters Nora Zuckerman and Lilla Zuckerman. Of course, Sarah Michelle Gellar would reprise her role as the epic vampire slayer Buffy Summers. However, per the Hollywood Reporter, the reboot would focus more on a younger slayer.

All four women will serve as executive producers along with the series’ original executive producers, Gail Berman, Fran Kuzui, and Kaz Kuzui. Dolly Parton, whose production company Sandollar produced the original supernatural drama, will also be an executive producer.

The untitled reboot is being described as the “next chapter in the Buffyverse.” A successful spinoff, Angel, ran for five seasons from 1999 to 2004, so this would mark the third installment in the Buffyverse. Besides Gellar, 47, no other members from the original cast have been announced to return yet.

According to Deadline, the show is looking to begin a writer’s room, meaning the streamer and the studios — 20th Television and Searchlight TV — think the pilot could be greenlit into a series.

In December 2024, Geller appeared on The Drew Barrymore Show and said she was open to a reboot.

“It’s funny. I always used to say no, like because it’s in its bubble, and it’s so perfect,” she admitted. “But watching Sex and the City and seeing Dexter, and realizing there are ways to do it, definitely does get your mind thinking, like ‘Well, maybe.’”

The All My Children alum clarified they didn’t have to make a prequel as the possibilities within the franchise were endless.

“No, it could be anything. It’s a universe. And it makes you realize that in this world, we need those heroes, I think, more so than ever,” she shared.

While the Daytime Emmy Award winner has not directly commented on the latest news, she did post a selfie on Instagram on Monday wearing the iconic sushi-printed pajamas her character wore in the series.

The Goonies Cast Reunites 40 Years Later to Honor Ke Huy Quan

It’s been 40 years since The Goonies first said “Never say die” on the big screen. Recently, most of the cast gathered to recognize actor Key Huy Quan, who played Data in the 1985 The Goonies movie. Quan, who won an Academy Award in 2023 for his performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once, was honored with a hand and footprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theater in Los Angeles on Feb. 3.

Per People, The Goonies screenwriter Chris Columbus along with Quan’s costars Corey Feldman (Mouth), Jeff Cohen (Chunk), Kerri Green (Andy), and Josh Brolin (Brand), were on hand for the ceremony. Brolin, who spoke at the ceremony, had nothing but kind things to say about Quan, who played Data in The Goonies.

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Josh Brolin on if nepotism played a part in being cast in the cult classic film The Goonies

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Brolin Praises Quan

“You’re truly one of the last existences of the American dream. Key Huy Quan… I won’t say much but that after The Goonies, I too lived in the ethers of our business for 19 years. The only difference is I was still chipping away at leftovers and trading stocks full time while you pursued a whole other profession and excelled in it famously,” Brolin said. “You have that Midas touch, my friend, and you have it because you have that heart of gold that you always have,” he said.

Quan Worked Behind-the-Scenes for Nearly 20 Years

Quan took a long break between gigs and in the early 2000s, per People, Quan decided to step away from acting. He graduated from USC’s film school and began working behind the scenes as an assistant director and stunt coordinator.

One of his first films back after the break, Everything Everywhere All at Once, opposite Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh, ended up earning Quan his first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2023. That same year, Brendan Fraser, who appeared with Quan in the 1992 comedy Encino Man, also took home an Oscar for his performance in The Whale.

Brolin continued, “As far back as 40 years it’s been, I was 16 years old. You were a spritely 13. I remember your family having the same heart-driven, totally inclusive disposition, always welcoming, always with open arms. I could not be happier for you. I know we all are, all us Goonies here for an honor that is not only totally deserved but celebrates all that is right in the industry.”

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Ke Huy Quan Shares How Love Hurts Features a ‘Different Kind of Action Hero’

Love Hurts star Ke Huy Quan explains how his action hero, Marvin Gamble, could not have been played by Jason Statham or Dwayne Johnson.

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A Possible Goonies 2?

At the ceremony, Quan told TooFab that he “couldn’t control my emotions” during the kind words spoken. “I love that movie so much. It’s one of the greatest adventures of my life. I would be so happy to revisit that character and, of course, go on another Goonies adventure with my fellow Goonies. That would be amazing,” Quan said.

Quan may be getting his wish as, per Deadline, news broke that a second Goonies movie could be a reality. Warner Bros. is currently developing a reboot of Gremlins, and Columbus is reportedly working on a treatment for a new Goonies movie. No further details on the projects were shared.

One of Quan’s next projects, the action-comedy Love Hurts, which hits theaters Feb. 7, will reunite the actor with Sean Astin, who played Mikey in The Goonies. This year, Quan is also voicing characters in the movies The Electric State and Zootopia 2.

Source: People

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The Goonies

PG

Family

Adventure

Comedy

Release Date June 7, 1985

Runtime 114 minutes

Director Richard Donner

Writers Chris Columbus, Steven Spielberg

Sequel(s) The Goonies 2

Cast

See All

Josh Brolin

Jeff Cohen

Corey Feldman

Ke Huy Quan

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Sarah Michelle Gellar in talks to resurrect ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ for sequel series

Entertainment Weekly has confirmed that Sarah Michelle Gellar is in talks to resurrect her beloved TV show for a sequel series. The “untitled Buffyverse pilot” is currently in development at Hulu from 20th Television and Searchlight TV.

While details about the plot are as scarce as seeing Buffy’s fanged paramours Angel (David Boreanaz) or Spike (James Marsters) in the sunlight, the logline for the potential series is simply: “The next chapter in the Buffyverse.” Variety, who first reported this news, claims the story “would focus on a new Slayer and Gellar would appear in a recurring role rather than leading the series.”

If the deal closes, Gellar would star and executive produce the series written and executive produced by Nora Zuckerman and Lilla Zuckerman (Poker Face, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Suits), and directed and executive produced by Oscar-winner Chloé Zhao (Nomadland, Eternals), along with executive producers Gail Berman, Fran Kuzui, and Kaz Kuzui, who all worked on the original Buffy, as well as Dolly Parton.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s disgraced original creator Joss Whedon has no involvement in the new revival. In 2021, Whedon was accused of creating “hostile and toxic work environments” on Buffy and its spin-off Angel by multiple stars, including Charisma Carpenter and other people associated with the shows.

Representatives from Hulu and 20th Television had no comment on this revival news.

Gellar recently told Entertainment Weekly that her involvement with Dexter prequel series Dexter: Original Sin changed her formerly negative stance about returning to the Buffyverse.

“It’s definitely changed my perspective on it,” Gellar said. “I’ve had long talks with Michael C. Hall too about it. Because I think there was always this idea of you can’t go home again, and you can’t recreate magic. And then you realize that sometimes there are more stories to tell and there are other ways. So it definitely changed my ‘never say never’ attitude.”

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Gellar added that she had come to “realize that the story’s there” and it’s possible to revisit a beloved property.

“There’s a reason why fans love a show,” she said. “And I think it’s interesting for me to be on the other side of it, because as a Dexter fan, I am experiencing when the fans want to see more. I have a different understanding, I think.”

Buffy the Vampire Slayer began in 1992 as a movie starring Kristy Swanson as the titular high school vampire killer, written by Whedon and directed by Fran Kuzui. It was revived five years later as a TV series starring Gellar as Buffy, and ran for seven seasons (first on The WB, and then the final two seasons aired on UPN). It spawned spinoff series Angel, which starred Boreanaz, Carpenter, and Marsters, and ran for five seasons on The WB.

The franchise continued on the page with sequel comic books written by Whedon for Dark Horse, and a failed reboot TV series centered on a Black woman created by Whedon and Monica Owusu-Breen was reportedly in development in 2018. And in 2023, Audible debuted Slayers: A Buffyverse Story, an audio original set 10 years after the Buffy series finale that featured the return of original stars Marsters, Carpenter, Anthony Head, Juliet Landau, Emma Caulfield Ford, Amber Benson, James Charles Leary, and Danny Strong, as well as newcomer Laya DeLeon Hayes.

Michael Jordan’s reality star son arrested

Marcus Jordan has been arrested for DUI, cocaine possession and resisting arrest in Florida, entertainment website TMZ reported.

The son of NBA legend Michael Jordan was booked into Orange County jail on Monday after his Lamborghini SUV got stuck on train tracks around 1.14am in Maitland, in Orlando’s north, police said in court documents.

Mr Jordan, 34, was placed under arrest for driving under the influence (DUI) after performing three sobriety tests — and during a search of his pants, police found a white powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine.

The documents state Mr Jordan was combative with police during the arrest and that he “was singing the entire way,” while in the back of a squad car on the way to a nearby jail.

Police also said Mr Jordan had slurred speech, red bloodshot and glassy eyes, and an odour of alcohol.

Mr Jordan told police he was at gentleman’s club having drinks earlier in the evening.

Mr Jordan is the second of Michael’s five kids and perhaps the most famous.

He was most recently featured on the Real Housewives of Miami while dating Larsa Pippen, the ex-wife of his famous father’s former teammate, Scottie Pippen.

The ex-couple began dating in 2022 and Ms Pippen, 50, confirmed they split in March 2024.

Mr Jordan and Ms Pippen, who previously hosted a podcast together, Separation Anxiety were open about their relationship and faced public scrutiny due to her past with Mr Pippen.

Ms Pippen’s divorce was finalised in December 2021, roughly three years after she filed.

They married in 1997 and share four children: sons Scotty Jr., 24, Preston, 21, and Justin, 18, and 16-year-old daughter Sophia.

Mr Jordan runs the Trophy Room, the Orlando-based boutique that was inspired by the trophy room within the Jordan family residence, which he founded in 2016.

He previously played basketball at the University of Central Florida.

In 2012, Mr Jordan pleaded no contest to disorderly conduct and resisting arrest in Omaha, Nebraska, reported Yahoo Sports.

He was also charged with obstructing a police officer, which was later dropped as part of a plea deal.

Mr Jordan, his brother Jeffrey, 36, and sister Jasmine, 32, are Michael’s children from his previous marriage to Juanita Vanoy.

The NBA legend has twin daughters Victoria and Ysabel, 10, with his current wife, Yvette Prieto.

Man accused of stabbing Salman Rushdie is going on trial, author is set to testify

In 2022, Salman Rushdie was about to deliver a lecture before a live audience in western New York when a man ran toward him and plunged a knife into the author’s hand as he raised it in self-defence.

“After that there are many blows, to my neck, to my chest, to my eye, everywhere,” Rushdie recalled in a memoir that followed. “I feel my legs give way, and I fall.”

In the coming weeks, Rushdie is expected to return to the same New York county to recount the experience as one of the first witnesses in the trial of the man charged with wielding the knife that day, Hadi Matar.

Jury selection got under way Tuesday. Matar, 27, of Fairview, New Jersey, has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and assault.

Salman Rushdie on the attack that nearly killed him and the vulnerability of writing new memoir, Knife

Under different circumstances, Rushdie’s book, which details his account of that day and his recovery, might offer important evidence in the Aug. 12, 2022, attack that left the 77-year-old blind in his right eye and his hand permanently damaged.

But “this isn’t a back alley event that occurs unwitnessed in a dark alley,” said Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt following a pretrial hearing. “This is something that was recorded, it was witnessed live by thousands of people.”

Jurors will be shown video of the attack, as well as still pictures and documentation, Schmidt has said. An estimated 15 witnesses are expected to take the stand over the course of a trial that is projected to last several weeks, he said.

Matar’s lawyer, Nathaniel Barone, has not detailed how he plans to defend his client against the charges. He has clapped back at critics who question why Matar did not take a plea deal in light of the prosecution’s case.

“That’s not what this is about. It’s about due process,” Barone said. “It’s about receiving a fair trial … If someone wants to exercise those rights, they’re entitled to do that.”

In a separate indictment, federal authorities allege that Matar was motivated by a terrorist organization’s endorsement of a fatwa, or edict, calling for Rushdie’s death. A separate trial on the federal charges – terrorism transcending national boundaries, providing material support to terrorists and attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization – will be scheduled in U.S. District Court in Buffalo.

Rushdie spent years in hiding after the late Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued the fatwa in 1989 after publication of the novel “The Satanic Verses,” which some Muslims consider blasphemous. In the federal indictment, authorities allege Matar believed the edict was backed by the Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah and endorsed in a 2006 speech by the group’s then-leader, Hassan Nasrallah.

But jurors in the Chautauqua County case are unlikely to hear about the fatwa, according to Schmidt. He has said he doesn’t anticipate needing to show Matar’s possible motive to get a conviction on the state charges.

“From my standpoint, this is a localized event. It’s a stabbing event. It’s fairly straightforward,” Schmidt said. “I don’t really see a need to get into motive evidence, whether that’s applicable or not applicable and what that consists of. I’d like to avoid all of that.”

Barone, the defence attorney, said jurors should be screened for any prejudice against people of Middle Eastern descent nonetheless, given the discussions of the fatwa during previous court proceedings.

“They’ve talked about the reason why this alleged crime supposedly occurred was because of this book involving Muslims, all that. So it’s kind of like the barn door’s been opened,” he said.

Matar was born in the U.S. but holds dual citizenship in Lebanon, where his parents were born. Rushdie is a native of India who lived for years in London. He became a U.S. citizen in 2016.

Matar has been held without bail since his arrest after being subdued by onlookers who rushed the amphitheatre stage. The event’s moderator, Henry Reese, co-founder of City of Asylum in Pittsburgh, was also wounded.