WDNY Radio – Page 5867

Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver suspended one year for racist, sexist comments

September 13, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Phoenix Suns and Mercury owner Robert Sarver has been suspended one year by the NBA for sexist and racist language after the league launched an investigation following a bombshell report from ESPN last year.

Sarver was also fined $10 million, the maximum allowed by the league, which will be donated to organizations addressing race- and gender-based discrimination in the workplace.

The league handed down its suspension on Thursday after the Nov. 21, 2021, article triggered an investigation that included 320 interviews with current and former Phoenix employees, according to the NBA.

Sarver had owned the Suns and the WNBA’s Mercury since purchasing the team in 2004 from previous owner Jerry Colangelo.

The report details at least fives times Sarver used the N-word “when recounting the statements of others.” The ESPN article detailed a conversation between Sarver, who is white, and then-coach Earl Watson, who is Black, in 2016 which he repeatedly used the N-word while questioning why Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, who is Black, could use the term when Sarver could not.

Sarver also allegedly allegedly “engaged in instances of inequitable conduct toward female employees, made many sex-related comments in the workplace, made inappropriate comments about the physical appearance of female employees and other women, and on several occasions engaged in inappropriate physical conduct toward male employees,” according to the report.

Sarver also yelled and cursed at employees, the report found.

The independent report was conducted by the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. In addition to the hundreds of interviews, the investigation also looked at more than 80,000 documents, including emails, text messages and video, the NBA said. Sarver cooperated throughout the investigation, according to the league.

Still, the NBA said, “The investigation made no finding that Mr. Sarver’s workplace misconduct was motivated by racial or gender-based animus.”

The league said in addition to Sarver’s misconduct, other employees within the organization committed similar transgressions and the human resources function was “historically ineffective and not a trusted source for employees who subjected to improper workplace conduct.”

Sarver, 60, will not be allowed to have any involvement with either team for the course of a year. Sarver made his fortune in banking and real estate.

When the story emerged during last year’s NBA season, Suns star Devin Booker told reporters, “I wasn’t aware of the situation and in my seven years I’ve been here. I haven’t noticed that, but that doesn’t make me insensitive to the subject.”

“[The NBA will] do their due diligence, bringing out facts instead of he said, she said,” Booker said at the time of the just-launched investigation. “I’m sure the NBA has it in good hands and will do the proper research to find out the truth.”

ABC News’ Bonnie McLean contributed to this report.

Lizzo shares all the famous people she took selfies with at the Emmys

September 13, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Lizzo is still riding the high of winning her first-ever Emmy Award and showed off just how many people she celebrated with on Monday.

Lizzo’s Watch Out For The Big Grrrls won the Emmy for Outstanding Competition Program. The singer took to Instagram to show off all the famous people she photographed with her award. “It’s selfie time,” she captioned the carousel of photos.

The first photo was a snap of Lizzo and Zendaya, who made waves on social media for her own historic win. The Euphoria star took home her second Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series and is now the youngest person to ever win in that category twice.

Zendaya commented with a puppy-eyed emoji and a black heart.

Other famous faces who made a cameo on Lizzo’s selfie train include comedians Quinta Brunson, Pete Davidson, Martin Short and Steve Martin, late night legends Trevor Noah and John Oliver, and actresses Jennifer Coolidge, Geena Davis and first-time Emmy winner Sheryl Lee Ralph — just to name a few!

Ralph became the second Black actress to win an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a comedy series. The Abbott Elementary star belted out a portion of “Endangered Species” by Dianne Reeves during her acceptance speech.

Lizzo is aware her own Emmy win puts her in the running for EGOT status as she’s already won three Grammys. The “About Damn Time” singer reacted to her name trending alongside “EGOT” on social media, sharing a screenshot to her Instagram Story and captioning it with 11 screaming emojis.

For the record, Lizzo needs to win a Tony and an Oscar to become the newest EGOT member; she’s already flirted with the idea of starring in a Broadway musical.

Jimmie Allen, Darius Rucker & more to participate in PBA bowling tournament

September 13, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Jimmie Allen is combining his love of music and bowling in a special event.

The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) is hosting a celebrity tournament featuring Jimmie, Darius Rucker, Chris Young and more. On October 5, the singers will head down to Bowlero Matthews in North Carolina, where they’ll compete against professional bowlers including Pete Weber, Kyle Troup, Sean Rash, Ronnie Russell and A.J. Johnson.

The artists will each be paired with a PBA bowler in the main tournament and the Celebrity Super Clash, where each singer will roll one shot; the lowest scorer of each round is eliminated until there is one winner.

Jimmie, Chris and Chuck Wicks will also perform.

“Since the moment my friend Cortland Finnegan introduced me to bowling, I’ve been hooked. I’ve been a fan of the PBA for years as a viewer, but I’m excited for the next part of my journey with the PBA, and that is to make bowling a worldwide sport with the same respect that’s given to basketball, baseball, and football,” Jimmie says in a statement.

The tournament takes place on October 5 and will air October 16 on Fox.

Upcoming Doors compilation, ‘Paris Blues,’ features previously unreleased studio track

September 13, 2022 by WDNY Radio

A limited-edition vinyl LP titled Paris Blues featuring the last known unreleased studio recording by The Doors will be issued on November 25 as part of Record Store Day’s 2022 Black Friday event.

The eight-song disc, which will be pressed on blue vinyl, is a blues-themed compilation that features the title track, an original tune written by The Doors and recorded during the sessions for either The Soft Parade or L.A. Woman. The master tape of “Paris Blues” was lost, and the only recording that survived was on a tape given to Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek, whose son Pablo partially damaged it when he was a child. The recording has been salvaged using creative editing.

The Paris Blues album also includes two previously unreleased tracks, featuring singer Jim Morrison and guitarist Robby Krieger performing as a duo at a May 1969 benefit event for author Norman Mailer‘s mayoral campaign in West Hollywood, California. The songs are a rendition of “I Will Never Be Untrue,” an original Doors tune intended for 1970’s Morrison Hotel album, and a cover of Robert Johnson‘s “Me and the Devil Blues.”

In addition, the LP contains two outtakes from The Soft Parade, “(You Need Meat) Don’t Go No Further” and “I’m Your Doctor,” which feature Manzarek on vocals. The tracks, which also include bass parts recorded in 2019 by Stone Temple Pilots‘ Robert DeLeo, were originally released as part of The Soft Parade‘s 50th anniversary reissue.

Closing out Paris Blues are a trio of blues covers from the archival Doors concert album Live in Vancouver 1970, which was released in 2010. The performances feature the band joined by blues legend Albert King. Audio of Morrison introducing King is also included.

Paris Blues‘ cover features an original painting by Krieger.

Here’s the album’s full track list:

Side A
“Paris Blues”*
“I Will Never Be Untrue”*
“Me and the Devil Blues”*
“(You Need Meat) Don’t Go No Further”
“I’m Your Doctor”

Side B
Jim’s Introduction
“Little Red Rooster” — with Albert King
“Rock Me Baby” — with Albert King
“Who Do You Love?” with Albert King

* = previously unreleased.

Olivia Newton-John fans outraged Emmys left her out of “In Memoriam” tribute

September 13, 2022 by WDNY Radio

The 2022 Emmy Awards were Monday night, and some fans of Olivia Newton-John are outraged over the “In Memoriam” segment that honored those who passed away since last year.

While the Emmys honored legends such as Betty White and Bob Saget, people noticed that Olivia was missing from this year’s roundup. The Grease star lost her battle with cancer last month.

Fans slammed the Emmys for the omission, citing the “Physical” singer’s long list of television acting credits. Olivia appeared on shows such as The Bonnie Hunt Show, Glee, Sordid Lives: The Series, Bette and more.

Others pointed out that she won an Emmy — a Daytime Emmy Award, to be exact — in 1999. Olivia won Outstanding Original Song for “This Is Our Moment (Love Is a Gift),” which she performed for the soap opera As the World Turns.

As of yet, the Emmys nor Olivia’s family have addressed the controversy.

News broke of Olivia’s passing on August 8 via an announcement by her husband, John Easterling. She was 73.

Alex Jones faces second trial over Sandy Hook hoax claims

September 13, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — A second trial to determine what conspiracy theorist Alex Jones should pay to Sandy Hook families began Tuesday in Connecticut with an attorney for the families calling what Jones said about the deadliest elementary school shooting in the nation’s history “beyond the pale.”

The attorney, Chris Mattei, told the jury Jones cooked up lies about the massacre to profit off his audience’s fear that the government would take away guns.

“The government staged it. People knew about it in advance. Parents were suspects. They were reading from a script,” Mattei recited some of what Jones said on his show during an opening statement.

The jury will decide how much in damages Jones should pay to an FBI agent who responded to the scene and eight families of victims that Jones called actors.

“None of them wanted to bring this lawsuit. They don’t want to be here,” Mattei said.

Instead, the attorney said the families sought to prevent Jones from preying on other families who experience tragedy.

“Will you stop him? That’s going to be in your hands,” Mattei said.

The plaintiffs successfully sued Jones for defamation in November 2021 and are seeking to hold him financially liable for his comments, which include calling them “crisis actors,” saying the massacre was “staged” and “the fakest thing since the three-dollar bill.”

The defense said the trial was meant to determine damages and urged the jury to refrain from making a statement.

“We don’t want you to do anything here but follow the law as the court instructs you,” defense attorney Norm Pattis said Tuesday. “You’ll hear nothing from the judge about stopping Alex Jones.”

The trial comes a month after a Texas jury ordered Jones to pay nearly $50 million to the parents of one of the victims.

In that trial, Jones was successfully sued by the parents of a 6-year-old boy who was killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre after he claimed that the shooting — where 20 children and six adults were killed — was a hoax, a claim he said he now thinks is “100% real.”

As in that trial, the judge has already entered a default judgment against Jones and his company, Free Speech Systems.

“Alex Jones and Free Speech Systems are liable under Connecticut law,” Judge Barbara Bellis told jurors. “Mr. Jones used multiple channels to distribute these statements to his audience including the InfoWars family of websites.”

After passionate acceptance speech, Sheryl Lee Ralph continued to inspire backstage at the Emmys

September 13, 2022 by WDNY Radio

When Sheryl Lee Ralph accepted the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a comedy series at the 2022 Emmys Monday night, the Abbott Elementary star brought the audience to their feet with her powerful acceptance speech.

The 65-year-old actress held up her trophy and belted out the opening lyrics to “Endangered Species” by Grammy-winning jazz singer Dianne Reeves. Backstage, Ralph was asked about what led her to that moment, and her answer, quoting the lyrics she sang, was equally inspirational.

“You know what? I’ve been singing that song for years because I think of myself as an artist, as a woman, especially as a woman of color, I’m an endangered species,” Ralph expressed. “But I don’t sing any victim song. I’m a woman. I’m an artist. And I know where my voice belongs.”

She added, “…there’s so many young actors, artists, even kids that think they know what they’re going to do in life. Find your voice and put it where it belongs.”

The Tony-nominated Emmy winner, who has been a veteran of the showbiz game for decades, was also asked what it meant for her to snag the trophy for the ABC sitcom at 65.

Ralph expressed, “The fact that I am here recognized after all this time as being one of the best of the best in my industry with a group of women, they are all the best. And to top it off, this particular year, tons of great TV — and for my little freshman show to break through to be seen the way it is?”

“Oh, my God. I’ve got the Golden Ticket. Yes, I do. Where’s my chocolate? I’m ready!” she enthused.

Biden, ahead of midterms, to host White House celebration of ‘Inflation Reduction Act’

September 13, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — President Joe Biden is hosting a celebration of the Inflation Reduction Act at the White House on Tuesday, highlighting a big political win for him and congressional Democrats eight weeks before midterm elections.

The health care, climate and tax law passed Congress earlier this summer, and represented a long-sought major legislative accomplishment for Democrats as they hope to keep control of Congress.

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will deliver remarks marking the legislative victory at 3 p.m. from the South Lawn.

“We’re going to be celebrating with thousands of supporters tomorrow on the South Lawn of the White House,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Monday.

Biden touted the Inflation Reduction Act as “further proof that the soul of America is vibrant, the future of America is bright, and the promise of America is real and just beginning” when he signed the bill on Aug. 16 when Congress had left town for its summer recess.

He also criticized Republicans for their unanimous opposition to the law.

“And let’s be clear: In this historic moment, Democrats sided with the American people, and every single Republican in the Congress sided with the special interests in this vote — every single one,” he said at the time.

The law passed the Senate by just one vote on Aug. 7, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tie breaking vote. The House passed the bill the day before by a 220-207 margin.

Since Biden signed the bill last month, members of his Cabinet and other administration officials have hit the road to promote the Inflation Reduction Act. According to the White House, officials plan to travel to 23 states to tout the law.

The Inflation Reduction Act aims to make prescription drugs more affordable, to prop up clean energy technologies and lower greenhouse emissions.

The legislation is estimated to generate more than $300 billion in revenue by imposing a 15% minimum tax on corporations making over $1 billion and a new excise tax on corporate stock buybacks.

But it lacked many of the priorities Democrats hoped to include in a major spending package, including universal pre-K and paid family leave.

Republicans have scorned the law’s tax provisions and are specifically targeting the additional funding the law provides for the Internal Revenue Service, which they claim will lead to the hiring of 87,000 new agents to target middle class Americans. The IRS has rejected those arguments.

The GOP has also questioned how much it will reduce inflation amid various, sometimes conflicting forecasts about exactly how much the law would help reduce prices.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found the law will reduce federal budget deficits by $102 billion over 10 years but would have a “negligible” impact on inflation this year and next year.

Inflation data released on Tuesday revealed that consumer prices rose slightly in August, with the Consumer Price Index showing an 8.3% increase over last year and a 0.1% increase over the prior month.

Several Republicans seized on the new numbers out Tuesday morning.

“So much for Biden’s so-called Inflation Reduction Act. Democrats should have called it the Paycheck Reduction Act,” Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who is running for governor in Arkansas, tweeted.

Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., tweeted: “Inflation is up 8.3%. Food, shelter, and electricity are all up double digits. This is crushing poor families and seniors on fixed income. What are Dems doing today…Celebrating the Inflation Reduction Act.”

Mariah Carey lists Atlanta mansion that was burglarized for $6.5 million

September 13, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Mariah Carey lists Atlanta mansion that was burglarized for .5 million

Mariah Carey is ready to part ways with her sprawling Atlanta mansion after it was burglarized earlier this summer.

Wall Street Journal reports the nine-bedroom, 13-bathroom Georgia estate has been listed for a cool $6.5 million. The 12,600 square feet, colonial style home sits on a four-acre lot and comes with some serious luxury perks. Among them is a recording booth that Mariah installed herself.

Other attractive offerings include a private home theater, gym, gourmet kitchen, wood-paneled library, wet bar, pool, tennis courts, a pink dressing room fit for a diva and more.

So, why is Mariah leaving her cozy abode, which she bought for $5.65 million? Listing agent Shanna Bradley told the outlet the Grammy winner is a New York girl, so she wants to return to her roots. Bradley insists the burglary had no effect on the “Fantasy” singer’s decision to sell.

According to the agent, Mariah bought the home in 2021 because her band is based in Atlanta and she hunkered down in the property during the pandemic.

Bradley says the home is likely to sell fast because the Atlanta area is a real estate hotspot “with people moving here from all over.” The market is red hot with individuals with ties to the entertainment and music industries.

As previously reported, Mariah’s mansion was robbed while she vacationed in New York and Italy. Suspects Jeremy Caldwell, Terryion Anderson and Jalen Huff — all 24 years old — were located and taken into custody in Miami last month.

The Sandy Springs Police Department believe the suspects were operating a crime ring directed at wealthy people and celebrities, as a number of celebrities were also allegedly targeted by these men.

It hasn’t been made clear what was taken, if anything, from Mariah’s multimillion-dollar home.

Chris Lane and wife Lauren expecting a baby boy

September 13, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Chris Lane and wife Lauren Bushnell have revealed the sex of their baby.

The country star took to Instagram to share the news that the couple is expecting a baby boy. For their gender reveal, Chris hit a ball with a baseball bat that expelled blue smoke into the air.

“Dutty’s gonna have a little brother,” the proud dad writes alongside a video, set to the tune of his song “Ain’t Even Met You Yet,” which he wrote after he found out his wife was pregnant with their first child, Dutton.

“Brothers,” Lauren comments with a blue heart emoji. “We can’t wait to meet you baby BOY,” she adds in her own post, accompanied by family photos with her husband and son.

Chris and Lauren welcomed Dutton in June 2021. The new baby is due in October.

+ More