Midday Roundup: TLC cancels 19 Kids over Duggar abuse scandal

Off-the-air. TLC is officially canceling 19 Kids and Counting. The network had temporarily stopped airing the show featuring the Duggar family after revelations that, as a teen, Josh Duggar molested five children, including four of his sisters. For 10 seasons, the show chronicled the home life of Arkansas couple Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and their now-19 children. TLC also announced it has teamed with two prominent child-protection organizations for an ongoing campaign to raise awareness about child sexual abuse. The initiative will begin with a one-hour, commercial-free documentary likely airing in late August.

Sports and sexuality. ESPN held its annual ESPY Awards ceremony last night in a televised show that will be remembered more for pushing the transgender agenda than recognizing outstanding sports accomplishments. Bruce Jenner, who now goes by “Caitlyn,” received the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage. Ashe, the first No.1-ranked African-American tennis player, died in 1993 from AIDS, which he contracted from a blood transfusion. Jenner gave a speech encouraging people to accept transgender teens who “are coming to terms with being true to who they are.” During last night’s ESPY’s, Google and Airbnb aired ads featuring transgender people. The ESPYs also honored current sports figures such as LeBron James, and gave a nod to NCAA basketball player Lauren Hill, who died of brain cancer earlier this year after fulfilling her dream of playing one college game. Hill’s parents accepted the “best moment” award on her behalf.

Anger in Athens. Rioters in Athens, Greece, smashed windows and hurled petrol bombs at police, who battled back with tear gas during an anti-austerity demonstration outside parliament Wednesday. The clashes broke out as lawmakers began debate on an austerity bill that includes tax increases and pension reforms. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who has faced stiff opposition to the bill from his own left-wing party, says it’s the best he could do to stave off an economic meltdown and prevent Greece from crashing out of the eurozone.

Stable condition. Former President George H.W. Bush is in the hospital after falling at his vacation home in Kennebunkport, Maine, on Wednesday. Spokesman Jim McGrath tweeted Wednesday evening that Bush had broken a bone in his neck: “His condition is stable—he is fine—but he’ll be in a neck brace.” At age 91, Bush is the oldest living former president. He is being treated at Portland’s Maine Medical Center.

To catch a cyberthief. Investigators have hacked an online criminal marketplace for hackers. The site, called Darkode, is a secretive, members-only forum where cybercriminals buy and sell stolen personal information and malicious software. U.S. Attorney David Hickton called Arkode a “cyber-hornet’s nest of criminal hackers which was believed by many to be impenetrable.” The Justice Department said the 18-month probe targeted about 70 alleged criminals in 20 countries. So far, a dozen people have been charged in the United States, and 28 others have been arrested by foreign authorities. Darkode members were responsible for last year’s attack on the Sony PlayStation and Microsoft Xbox networks.

WORLD Radio’s Kent Covington and The Associated Press contributed to this report.