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Goodbye Don Knotts
Late last night actor Don Knotts died at UCLA Medical Center; he was 81. Knotts was goofy-looking, with a scrawny neck, bulging eyes and huge ears, and his gift for physical comedy earned him 5 Emmys playing Barney Fife on "The Andy Griffith Show." Sometimes his mugging for the camera made us squirm (can you say "Three's Company"?), but he created onscreen geeks that will survive in pop culture for a long, long time. He even got a thanks in Ghost World. His star on the Walk of Fame is near Hollywood and Yucca, if you feel like stopping by.
How will you remember him?
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
