Jeff Bezos says he’s curious how space is ‘going to change me’ ahead of historic flight

July 19, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(VAN HORN, Texas) — Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is set to launch to the edge of space on Tuesday, fulfilling a lifelong dream and ushering in a new era of space tourism via the first crewed flight from his private space-faring firm Blue Origin.

The billionaire, who stepped down as Amazon CEO earlier this month, opened up about the historic spaceflight in an interview with ABC News’ “Good Morning America” on Monday.

“I have just been dreaming of this really my whole life, but I don’t know what it’s going to mean for me,” Bezos told ABC News’ Michael Strahan. “I don’t know, I’m very curious about what tomorrow is actually going to bring. Everybody who’s been to space says it changes them in some way. And I’m just really excited to figure out how it’s going to change me.”

“People say they see the thin limb of the Earth’s atmosphere, it teaches them how fragile and precious the planet is, how there are there no boundaries,” Bezos added. “I don’t know what it’s going to do but I’m excited to find out.”

Bezos will be joined on the historic journey by his brother, Mark Bezos. The other members of the crew include 82-year old Wally Funk, a pioneering female pilot whose dreams of being an astronaut in the 60s were deferred, and 18-year-old Oliver Daemen, a student from the Netherlands. Funk and Daemen are set to become the oldest and youngest people ever to go to space.

Funk told “GMA” that she trained not only in the U.S., but also with Russian cosmonauts during the original U.S.-Soviet Space Race era.

“About about two or three weeks after my training … I was told that I did better than the men,” she said. At the time, however, women were not being sent into space.

Bezos quipped that she is still “doing better than the men” when it comes to astronaut training. “She can outrun all of us, she’s 82-years-old and she can outrun all of us,” he said.

Daemon, meanwhile, said he hopes to set an example for other young people curious about space travel, but admitted it still feels surreal.

“I don’t think I’ve realized yet how special it is to become the youngest person ever, and it’s such an opportunity for me to do that,” he told Strahan. “And also to be an example for other kids.”

“It’s so amazing for me to go, I still can’t believe it,” the teen added.

With the launch less than one day away, Bezos said he is excited but not nervous, citing the successful test flights. He chose the date because it is the 52nd anniversary of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s moon landing on July 20, 1969.

The inaugural crewed flight for Blue Origin is set to launch Tuesday morning from west Texas. In total, the flight is only about 11 minutes, and approximately four minutes will be spent above the so-called Karman line that is defined by some as the boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space.

Bezos said the goal is ultimately to pave the way for future astronauts and make visits to space as commonplace as flying on a commercial jetliner.

“What we’re hoping to do is to build the road to space for the future generations,” Bezos said, adding that Blue Origin’s goal has been to make reusable launch vehicles and spacecraft that make space less costly and more accessible for all.

“If we can get to that stage, then the things that the next generations will figure out how to do in space, how to benefit Earth with all those things in space … that’ll be amazing to see, so that’s the real goal,” he said.

Bezos’ flight comes on the heels of a brief, successful spaceflight from Sir Richard Branson’s firm Virgin Galactic earlier this month. The back-to-back missions are seen as ushering in a new era of space tourism that has been propelled by an emerging, billionaire-backed commercial space industry.

The modern space race from the ultra-wealthy comes at a time, however, when the pandemic has only deepened the divide between the haves and have-nots — meaning not everyone is rooting for the billionaires heading to space the way Americans got behind astronauts in the Apollo era. A Change.org petition calling for Bezos to stay in space has garnered headlines and more than 150,000 signatures.

US, NATO to ‘expose’ China for ‘malicious cyber activities’

July 19, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — The United States, several allies and partners and NATO are joining forces to “expose and criticize” China for a “pattern of malicious cyber activities,” announcing on Monday that China is profiting off some of the cyberattacks it’s supported, and officially saying it was behind the Microsoft Exchange server breach in March.

“We will show how the PRC [People’s Republic of China] MSS, Ministry of State Security, uses criminal contract hackers to conduct unsanctioned cyber operations globally, including for their own personal profit,” senior administration officials said on a call with reporters Sunday night. “Their operations include criminal activities such as cyber-enabled extortion, cryptojacking and theft of victims around the world for financial gain.

Officials said they also know of some “government-affiliated cyber operators conducting ransomware operations against private companies that have included ransom demands of millions of dollars.”

Senior officials said they found the MSS-affiliated ransomware attacks to be “surprising” and gave them “new insights” into how the MSS operates and the “aggressive behavior” coming out of China.

Asked how the tactics from the Chinese differ from similar attacks they see coming out of Russia, senior officials said they sometimes see “some connection” between Russian intelligence services and individuals, but “the MSS use of criminal contract hackers to conduct unsanctioned cyber operations globally is distinct.”

Joining the U.S. in this public announcement is the European Union, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan and NATO. It’s the first time NATO has condemned Chinese cyber activities.

The FBI, NSA and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency released a list Monday of tactics, procedures and techniques used by Chinese state-sponsored cyber actors.

Among the trends, officials say these actors are “using a revolving series of virtual private servers (VPSs) and common open-source or commercial penetration tools.” They are also accused of looking for ways to exploit vulnerabilities in major applications, like “Pulse Secure, Apache, F5 Big-IP, and Microsoft products.”

The advisory also states that they are using a “full array of tactics and techniques to exploit computer networks of interest worldwide and to acquire sensitive intellectual property, economic, political, and military information.”

“Countries around the world are making it clear that concerns regarding the PRC malicious cyber activity is bringing them together to call out those activities, promote network defense in cybersecurity, and act to disrupt threat to our economies and national security,” a senior administration official said.

The group will also formally attribute the Microsoft Exchange server cyberattack in March to China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) “with high confidence.”

Asked what caused the delay for the U.S. to officially point to China for that attack, a senior administration official said they wanted to work with allies and partners because victims of this attack were not just in the U.S.

Officials said they have raised these incidents with senior Chinese government officials and “are not ruling out further actions to hold the PRC accountable,” adding that their actions “threaten security, confidence and stability in cyberspace.”

‘Most Wanted’ suspect caught after asking about reward money for her arrest on police Facebook post

July 19, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(TULSA, Oklahoma) — A woman who was on the run for allegedly being an accessory to a murder in March has been arrested after commenting on the police department’s Facebook post asking about her reward money.

The strange ordeal began last Wednesday when the Tulsa Police Department in Oklahoma posted a couple of images of Lorraine Graves on Facebook as part of their “Weekly Most Wanted” campaign.

“The Tulsa Police Department is looking for information about the whereabouts of Lorraine Graves,” the post read. “Lorraine Graves is charged with Accessory to Murder. Detectives say she was involved in the city’s 10th homicide of 2021 where Eric Graves was shot and killed at the St. Thomas Square Apartments.”

Not long after the post went up, authorities saw a familiar name in the comments section: Lorraine Graves.

“Where’s the reward money at,” Lorraine Graves can be seen posting after she saw that she was on the “Weekly Most Wanted” list, on a screen shot shared by the Tulsa Police Department.

Her comment, perhaps unsurprisingly, sparked a lot of reaction on social media.

“Giiiiirl you better stay off social media they can track you !!” one person commented.

“Aint gonna be as funny when you get processed,” said another in an image shared by the Tulsa Police Department.

Graves was subsequently arrested the next day at approximately 4:30 p.m. after detectives with the Tulsa Police Department’s Fugitive Warrant’s unit were able to track her down in a home in north Tulsa.

The two other suspects allegedly involved in the murder of Eric Graves — Jayden and Gabriel Hopson — have been charged with murder and are already being held in police custody.

Authorities did not disclose the relationship between Eric and Lorraine Graves but did confirm that she has now been charged with Accessory to Murder and her bond has been set at $500,000.

COVID-19 kills 57-year-old husband, dad: ‘His family came first’

July 19, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — More than 609,000 Americans and counting have died from COVID-19.

Each week ABC News is spotlighting several Americans who have died from the virus.

Adel Hamdan

Adel Hamdan, a New Jersey veterinarian who was called the “animal whisperer” by his wife, died on Dec. 30, 2020, at the age of 73, NorthJersey.com reported.

Hamdan owned Totowa Animal Hospital, where he performed surgeries on animals and offered free care to those who needed it, the newspaper said.

“He would never let an animal go if it wasn’t taken care of,” his brother, Dean Hamden, told NorthJersey.com. “He gave of his time and he talked to kids about the profession. He was generous with his time, energies and his finance.”

Hamdan is survived by his wife, two children and grandson.

Another reminder of how much we’ve lost: Touching tribute here to Adel Hamdan, the huge-hearted veterinarian in Totowa, NJ, lost to COVID in December. Beautiful story & images by @AdelyReporter & @AnneCarusoPhoto https://t.co/nvTAWZb6Op via @northjersey

— Alex Nussbaum (@anussbaum1) April 15, 2021

Frederick Holloway

Frederick “Fritz” Holloway died on Jan. 28, 2021, at the age of 92, his obituary said.

The New Jersey resident spent 34 years as a bus operator, retiring in 2007, said New Jersey Transit.

“A proud U.S. Army veteran who served during the Korean conflict,” Holloway “enjoyed a good game of cards, a day at the racetrack, and a family cookout,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy told reporters in June.

Holloway was predeceased by his wife who died in 2006.

We remember Frederick “Fritz” Holloway.

Fritz was a proud U.S. Army veteran who served during the Korean Conflict. He was a bus driver for @NJTRANSIT. Away from work, he enjoyed a good game of cards, a day at the racetrack, and a family cookout.

May God bless Fritz. pic.twitter.com/fogftBLOD5

— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) June 16, 2021

Juan Llanes

Juan Llanes, a correctional officer in Miami-Dade, Florida, died on Feb. 1, 2021.

The 57-year-old leaves behind a wife and son.

Llanes had been a member of the Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department since 1988.

“He was always there for anybody who needed help,” former officer George Hubbard told ABC Miami affiliate WPLG.

“His family came first, and then his friends,” correctional officer Lynette Smith said in a statement. “We helped one another during difficult times . … After working with Juan for the last couple of years, I gained a brother.”

RIP OFFICER LLANES: The Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department announced Friday that Correctional Officer Juan Llanes died this week after being diagnosed with COVID-19. He was 57 years old. https://t.co/QRWPum38CJ

— WPLG Local 10 News (@WPLGLocal10) February 5, 2021

Christina Aguilera emotionally calls her LA Philharmonic takeover a “moment of a lifetime”

July 19, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Christina Aguilera reimagined her biggest hits by transforming them into unique classical renditions over the weekend thanks to the assistance of the LA Philharmonic. The “Beautiful” singer officially marked her comeback by performing before two sold-out crowds Friday and Saturday at the Hollywood Bowl.

According to Billboard, the show’s first night on Friday was a resounding success with Philharmonic’s music director Gustavo Dudamel likening Aguilera’s intimate performance to a “beautiful, beautiful resurrection.”

The Grammy winner modified hits such as “Genie in a Bottle,” “Dirrty” and “The Voice Within” so they could be complimented by a full orchestra.

Aguilera became emotional by how strongly the audience reacted to her reimagined classics and called her show “a moment of a lifetime,” adding that her mother “was a violinist” who fostered her love of classical music.

“I was originally, of course, inspired by the great Rodgers and Hammerstein and The Sound of Music being the first thing that ever spoke to me musically. I wanted to be Julie Andrews on the hills and tonight is that moment for me,” she told the audience before bringing out A Great Big World so they could perform their 2013 hit “Say Something.”

Aguilera didn’t perform just her songs, she also sang Etta James‘ “At Last” and James Brown‘s “It’s a Man’s World” — among others.

It was later revealed that Ariana Grande and her husband Dalton Gomez were among the sold out crowd.

The “Positions” singer took to Instagram Stories to share her favorite highlights of the night and wrote to Aguilera, “Screaming. I love you. Congratulations to you & the @laphil on a STUNNING show.”

Later Stories show Grande actually screaming as the “What a Girl Wants” singer unleashes her signature powerhouse vocals.

Spike Lee mistakenly reveals top Cannes winner early: “I messed up”

July 19, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Spike Lee had a rough time on Saturday when he inadvertently announced French actress Julia Ducournau as the winner of the Cannes Film Festival’s top award, the Palme d’Or, for the horror-thriller Titane, at the top of the show, instead of the end.

It started when the event’s hostess asked Lee, in French, if he could reveal the “first prize” of the evening. Lee apparently took that to mean first place, instead of the chronological first prize, resulting in the embarrassing moment.

Lee himself spent several moments with his head in his hands before apologizing profusely for taking a lot of the suspense out of the evening, according to the New York Post.

“I have no excuses,” Lee told reporters afterward. “I messed up. I’m a big sports fan. It’s like the guy at the end of the game who misses the free throw.”

“I messed up,” he added. “As simple as that.”

After several false starts, Lee convinced Sharon Stone to make the Palme d’Or announcement, explaining, “She’s not going to mess it up.”

Ducournau is only the second female filmmaker to win the Palme d’Or in the Cannes festival’s 74-year history.

Kataluna Enriquez, 1st transgender woman to win Miss Nevada USA, speaks out on overcoming challenges to claim title

July 19, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(LAS VEGAS) — Kataluna Enriquez made history on June 27 by winning the title of Miss Nevada USA and becoming the first openly transgender contestant who will compete in the upcoming Miss USA competition.

Enriquez, who is Filipina American, beat out 21 other contestants to win the crown at the South Point Hotel Casino in Las Vegas. In March, she also became the first transgender woman to represent Miss Silver State USA, an official preliminary for Miss Nevada USA.

“I am so happy and grateful to be Miss Nevada USA 2021 and represent our state Nevada in this year’s Miss USA,” Enriquez told “Good Morning America.” “This has been one of my longest dreams and I am happy to share it with my community, especially the LGBTQ+ youth.”

“When I was young, I always said, ‘I wish I could see someone like me on that stage,’” Enriquez continued. “That’s something that I always didn’t have growing up and to be able to give that to other people, that’s one of my hopes in life to just be able to represent and create a positive change for those who haven’t always had those moments in life.”

Her historic win was met with an outpouring of support on social media, including a congratulatory post from the Miss Nevada USA organization.

“Good Morning WORLD! The Universe rather,” read the Instagram post. “Congratulations to @mskataluna for her historical win!!!”

Winning the crown was not always an easy feat for Enriquez. She got her start competing in transgender pageants in 2015 and later began competing in cisgender pageants where she had to overcome several challenges.

“When I started competing with cisgender women or the Miss USA organization, there was one competition where I was asked to provide documents that I think were invasive and were singling me out,” Enriquez revealed. “Also, I was not provided roommates, regardless of my identity.”

She said that despite providing all required documentation for a pageant in another state, she still had to undergo a stricter vetting process. Enriquez said she had to provide pageant organizers with legal orders, doctor’s notes and her identification card verifying that she is a female.

“It was basically just refusing me to be there, so that’s one of the experiences I’ve experienced,” she said.

“There’s a lot of backlash that I’m receiving and I think I want to use this time to really educate people on what it means to be trans, on what it means to be part of the LGBTQ+ community,” Enriquez continued. “And I think there’s still lack of representation in being a trans woman of color and being a Southeast Asian American.”

Now, she plans to use her life experiences “as a trans woman of color, and as a woman who is a survivor of physical and sexual abuse” to shape her platform called #BEVISIBLE, which aims to combat hate through vulnerability.

“I’ve learned that people just take advantage of our vulnerable moments and use it to kind of belittle us and dehumanize us but in reality it’s what makes us connect as humans,” said Enriquez. “My goal this time is to expand my platform for other people and have them share their stories so we can create a world where everyone is aware of things and we can have positive conversations and not let anyone who is experiencing difficultness or different situations in life to feel like they are less than.”

In addition to being a titleholder, Enriquez also works as a healthcare admin specializing in LGBTQ+ care, a model and is the owner of her own clothing line called Kataluna Kouture.

“I started my design company because I didn’t have money growing up,” Enriquez said. “I didn’t have money to be able to afford clothes and gowns and I couldn’t find anything that fit my body type and so that was very important for me,”

She attended school for fashion design, and says that when she first started competing in her own designs, parts of the evening gown would fall off. Her skills improved over time and she even designed the rainbow sequined evening gown she wore during the state competition in honor of pride month.

“My win is hope for a lot of people, hope that they can have a better chance in life, better opportunities, different outcomes,” she said. “I hope that my win gives them hope and a chance that lets them know they can also have a successful path in life regardless of what they’ve experienced and what they’re going through.”

Enriquez will compete for the national title of Miss USA in November. If she wins, she will advance to the Miss Universe competition and would become only the second transgender woman to compete in the pageant. In 2018, Spain’s Angela Ponce made history and became the first transgender woman to compete at Miss Universe.

“I’d love to be the first Asian woman to win a title of Miss USA and the first trans woman,” said Enriquez. “I think that will be a great example for moving forward to create a better future in our country.”

“My win is visibility and representation of hope and an example to love and celebrate diversity and your differences,” she added. “We cannot wait to spread our colors on the Miss USA stage.”

Multiple wounded after suspect opens fire on EMTs, firefighters responding to separate incidents

July 19, 2021 by WDNY Radio

At least two people are dead and several others are wounded after a driver of an SUV allegedly shot at several people Sunday in Tucson, Arizona, including multiple first responders.

The shootings unfolded at three locations where emergency personnel were responding to separate incidents.

Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus said the incident began as the Tucson Fire Department was dispatched to a fire at 3:45 p.m. local time in the 2100 block of Irene Vista. At “pretty much” the same time, EMTs were responding to an unrelated medical emergency in a nearby park. That’s when, according to Magnus, a suspect got out of his silver SUV, approached the ambulance and opened fire, striking the driver in the head and the passenger in the arm and chest.

The 20-year-old EMT driver is in “extremely critical condition,” while the EMT in the passenger seat, a 21-year-old woman, is listed in stable condition.

Then, as firetrucks arrived to the call at the residence, neighbors were also at the scene trying to help.

That’s when the suspect “arrives on the scene and starts firing at both the fire department personnel and the neighbors,” Magnus said during a press briefing Sunday night.

At this point, firefighters called police to say they are being shot at. One fire captain was shot in the arm at the residence and is in good condition, while a neighbor died after being shot in the head, police said. A second neighbor was grazed by a bullet and is in good condition.

Then as a responding police officer arrives at the scene, he sees the suspect’s vehicle in the area. The SUV then rams the officer’s car, disabling it, Magnus said. The officer then exited the car and exchanged gunfire with the alleged suspect, striking him. The 35-year-old alleged suspect is in critical condition at a local hospital.

Magnus said making the incident more complex is the fact a dead body was found inside the burning residence. At this time, that victim’s identity is not known and police said they are unsure if that person’s death is directly related to the suspect.

Adding to the suspicions around these incidents, authorities said the whereabouts of “two or three” children “associated” with the burning residence are unknown. Anyone with information about these children, of which a description was not immediately available, was asked to call 911.

This is a “highly tragic, really horrific incident with many unknowns,” Magnus said Sunday night. The investigation, he said, will be “lengthy and complex.”

“I ask our entire Tucson community to join me in thinking about and praying for the victims of this afternoon’s fire and shooting by Silverlake Park, including first responders from AMR and the Tucson Fire Department. This was a horrific and senseless act of violence,” Tucson Mayor Regina Romero said in a statement Monday.

‘Space Jam: A New Legacy’ dunks on ‘Black Widow’ with $31.7 million debut

July 19, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Space Jam: A New Legacy, the follow-up to Warner Bros. 1996 live action-CGI feature Space Jam, pulled off a major upset over the weekend, stealing first place from Black Widow at the box office with an estimated $31.7 million weekend — $10 million more than projected. It marked the biggest opening for a kids-targeted film since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Families can also watch the movie, starring NBA legend LeBron James, on the HBO Max streaming service.

Marvel’s Black Widow, meanwhile, fell to second place with an estimated $26.5 million — a sharp drop from its record-breaking $80 million debut a week ago. So far, the film has delivered $132 million stateside and $100.7 million overseas for a worldwide total of $232.7 million. Black Widow is also available on Disney+ for a $30 surcharge.

Marvel Studios is owned by Disney, the parent company of ABC News.

Escape Room: Tournament of Champions, the sequel to the 2019 thriller Escape Room, pulled in an estimated $8.8 million domestically in its opening weekend.

Fourth place belongs to F9: The Fast Saga, which earned $7.6 million in its fourth weekend in U.S, theaters. Its U.S. total now stands at $154.8 million. Internationally, where it debuted earlier than it did in the U.S., F9 has racked up $436.4 million — bringing its worldwide gross to $591.3 million.

Rounding out the top five is The Boss Baby: Family Business, the animated follow-up to 2017’s The Boss Baby, which delivered an estimated $4.7 million in its third week of release.

Elsewhere, Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain, a documentary about the life and death of the chef and travel show host, who died by suicide in 2018, debuted in eighth place with an estimated $1.9 million — the best opening for an independent film in 2021.

Pig, the thriller starring Nicolas Cage, premiered to an estimated $945,000 from 552 theaters.

Camila Cabello proudly shows off her natural curves: “Being at war with your body is so last season”

July 19, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Camila Cabello shared a heartfelt message to fans about overcoming the pressure of beauty standards and being at peace with one’s body.

Taking to her TikTok recently, the “Havana” singer reflected on the thoughts she had while running in a crop top, which showed off her stomach that she admits is not flat.

“I was just running in the park minding my own business trying to be fit, trying to keep it healthy. And I am wearing a top that shows my belly,” said Cabello while panning down to show her relaxed stomach. “I wasn’t tucking it in, because I was running and existing like a normal person that doesn’t tuck it in all the time!”

“And I was like, ‘Damn.’ But then I reminded myself being at war with your body is so last season,” the singer noted before sharing her thoughts that all women’s bodies should be celebrated.

“I am grateful for this body that lets me do what I need to do,” the upcoming Cinderella star grinned. “We are real women with curves and cellulite and stretch marks and fat. And we got to own that, baby!”

Cabello hilariously closed out her video by belting out a few lines of Aretha Franklin‘s “Something He Can Feel” while gesturing to her curves.

The “Señorita” further punctuated her point by captioning the PSA, “I luv my body.”

Cabello has been more active on social media as of late, which culminates with reports that the singer is gearing up for her next era in music.

The three-time Grammy nominee confirmed over the weekend that she will be releasing a new single and music video on Friday, titled “Don’t Go Yet.”

The single will be Cabello’s first offering of 2021 and the followup of her 2019 album Romance.

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