1. PLANNED FUND-RAISER FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP IS RUFFLING FEATHERS IN SILICON VALLEY: Following the decision by Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison to host a golf-focused fund-raiser next week for President Trump, which was revealed Wednesday, angst is brewing across the Silicon Valley-based firm. Employees are complaining about the event, which will take place at Ellison’s Coachella Valley mansion, but they may not be able to bring about change. Recode: “Recode spoke with one former and five current employees who, in sum, described bubbling frustration at Oracle on Thursday. They said they were privately complaining to colleagues in their offices and sharing links about the fund-raiser to friends on Facebook Messenger. But while many say that their coworkers, too, are upset, assessing the full scale of their anger is difficult because of Oracle’s culture: It discourages employees from talking about politics.”
2. JENNIFER HUDSON WILL PAY TRIBUTE TO KOBE BRYANT AT ALL-STAR GAME: Just before the player introductions at Sunday’s All-Star Game, at Chicago’s Wintrust Arena, Jennifer Hudson will pay tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and the seven other victims of the helicopter crash that took their lives in Southern California last month. The NBA also revealed Thursday some other stars who will perform over the course of All-Star weekend. Billboard: “Also performing at the game, the N.B.A. revealed Thursday, will be DJ Khaled, Quavo, and Lil Wayne, who will join previously announced Grammy winner and Chicago native Chance the Rapper during the halftime show. Queen Latifah will be joined by Chicago youth to perform Stevie Wonder’s 'Love’s in Need of Love Today' during Saturday’s events, and the Chicago Children’s Choir will sing 'The Star-Spangled Banner' before the Rising Stars game on Friday night.”
3. NEW FOOTBALL LEAGUE SET TO HOLD FIRST EVER CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: The XFL, a startup football league created by professional wrestling mogul, Vince McMahon, revealed Thursday it will host its inaugural championship game in Houston. The event will be held April 26 at the University of Houston’s TDECU Stadium, and televised on ESPN. Houston Business Journal: “Oliver Luck, XFL commissioner and former Houston Oilers quarterback, said the Bayou City's passionate sports fans and the plethora of available practice facilities in the area played a role in Houston's selection ... From Houston's established sports franchises to then-startup teams like the Houston Gamblers and the Houston Dynamo, Bayou City sports fans know how to show up, Luck said. He hopes for a sold out TDECU Stadium for the championship match-up.”