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Minneapolis city council to review no-knock warrants after Amir Locke shooting

February 7, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(MINNEAPOLIS) — A Minneapolis city council committee will hold a hearing on no-knock warrants Monday afternoon following the death of Amir Locke, who was fatally shot in an apartment by Minneapolis police officers last Wednesday during the execution of a no-knock warrant.

Activists and Locke family attorneys will likely be in attendance to discuss banning these type of warrants.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey issued a moratorium on no-knock warrants late Friday in response to the fatal incident.

“No matter what information comes to light, it won’t change the fact that Amir Locke’s life was cut short,” Frey said in a statement. “To ensure safety of both the public and officers until a new policy is crafted, I’m issuing a moratorium on both the request and execution of such warrants in Minneapolis.”

However, officials may execute a no-knock warrant under the moratorium if it is determined that there is an imminent threat of harm to an individual or the public. The chief must approve the warrant in those cases, according to the mayor.

Frey will talk with the experts who helped shape Breonna’s Law to review and suggest revisions to the department’s policy. The law, issued in Louisville, Kentucky, in 2020, banned no-knock warrants following the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor.

Minneapolis Police Department updated its policy in November 2020, limiting no-knock warrants to “exigent” cases.

Minneapolis police officers are required to announce their presence and purpose before entering a home, except for when announcing the officers’ presence would create an imminent threat.

In those cases, a supervisor can authorize officers to enter without announcing their presence. Supervisors are required to provide evidence to support that decision before it is signed and approved by the judge.

“This is about proactive policymaking and instilling accountability,” Frey said in a statement announcing the new policy. “We can’t prevent every tragedy, but we can limit the likelihood of bad outcomes. This new, no-knock warrant policy will set shared expectations for our community and clear and objective standards within the department.”

In a Friday press conference regarding Locke’s death, acting Minneapolis Police Chief Amelia Huffman said that “both a no-knock and a knock search warrant were obtained … so that the SWAT team could assess the circumstances and make the best possible decision” in the Locke case.

Body camera footage released Thursday shows officers executing a no-knock search warrant before coming across 22-year-old Locke, who had been sleeping under a blanket on the couch in the apartment that the warrant was issued for.

He is seen holding a gun as he begins to sit up, still covered with the blanket before he is shot less than 10 seconds after officers entered the room.

Huffman said that when officers saw the gun, “That’s the moment when the officer had to make a split second decision to assess the circumstances and determine whether he felt like there was an articulable threat.”

Locke was not named in the no-knock warrant, according to family attorney Ben Crump said at the press conference. The warrant was being executed on behalf of St. Paul police, who were searching for a homicide suspect.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner has ruled Locke’s death a homicide.

The officer who shot and killed Locke was identified by police as Mark Hanneman. In accordance with policy, he’s been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation into the incident. It is unclear if Hanneman has legal representation.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison will work with the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office to review Locke’s death, the office said in a press release Friday.

Locke’s killing prompted protests demanding justice in his killing. Hundreds of demonstrators chanted, “Who’s down with the revolution? We’re down with the revolution!” and “No justice, no peace,” while marching toward the police precinct on Saturday.

A caravan of cars also pulled up to what ABC affiliate KSTP-TV reported could be Huffman’s home. Protesters got out of their cars in front of the home, chanting and banging drums.

Charlie Puth recalls Elton John’s brutally honest songwriting advice: “He told me my 2019 music sucked”

February 7, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Charlie Puth recently revealed he completely overhauled his songwriting process by being more open about himself. While he first credited TikTok for the change, it appears he first obtained permission from Elton John.

The two collaborated on Sir Elton’s The Lockdown Sessions and, while working together, Charlie asked Elton his thoughts about his music.

“He was brutally honest with me,” the Grammy nominee revealed Monday on the Kelly Clarkson Show. “He told me my 2019 music sucked, and I agree with him. It was not good… He basically said I could make a lot better music, and he said that I should just make it myself, like I always do.”

Charlie added the “Cold Heart” singer is “the first person that ever said that to me.” He also revealed he and Sir Elton are neighbors — something he didn’t realize until “Elton texted me his address.”

The “Light Switch” singer elaborated further when speaking with PopCulture about the “surreal experience” of working with Sir Elton.

When discussing the constructive criticism, Charlie said Elton agreed “[the] music that I was working on wasn’t good enough.” He said that honesty “reaffirmed to me [how] I have to truly be myself.”

Charlie also raved about working with the legendary singer, saying “he didn’t make it seem like he was Elton John” and that he “humanizes himself a lot.” The 30-year-old singer said Elton John chatted up his parents and walked them through his songwriting process — saying his folks were stunned the “entire time.”

“He kind of just sits down, and he invited my parents to come in and he started talking about how he wrote ‘Tiny Dancer,'” Charlie described. “It was a surreal experience. But I felt like I was talking to just another fellow musician. Not intimidating in the least.”

Puth’s new album, Charlie, is forthcoming.

Charlie Puth says working with Elton John was a “surreal experience”

February 7, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Charlie Puth started off 2022 by collaborating with Megan Thee Stallion on a new Super Bowl commercial, but the “Light Switch” singer says there’s another collaboration that blew him away.

Speaking with PopCulture, Charlie recalled working with Elton John on his The Lockdown Sessions series, and says teaming up with the legend was a humbling and “surreal experience.”

As for why he was so moved, 30-year-old Charlie says “he didn’t make it seem like he was Elton John” and that the legend “humanizes himself a lot.” One thing Sir Elton did was chat up Charlie’s parents and walk them through his songwriting process — saying his folks were stunned the “entire time.”

Another lesson Elton gave was how “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” came to be, which Elton co-wrote with longtime musical partner Bernie Taupin. Charlie recalled that the British singer was handed a poem and he was able to “see the music come out of the words.”

“He showcased that when he sat down on the keyboard, this keyboard that I have over here,” Charlie continued and said Elton gave him the instrument following their collaboration.

The Grammy nominee saluted Sir Elton for his “incredible genius attribute” and said he provided solid constructive criticism when looking over music Charlie felt “wasn’t very good.”

Elton agreed “[the] music that I was working on wasn’t good enough,” which Charlie said “reaffirmed to me [how] I have to truly be myself.”

Puth’s new album, Charlie, is forthcoming.

Tyrese calls for prayers as his mother is in a coma suffering from COVID-19 and pneumonia

February 7, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Tyrese is calling on his fans to pray for his mother, whom he says was placed in an induced coma after being hospitalized with pneumonia and COVID-19.

The Fast & Furious franchise star posted several Instagram updates Sunday as he held vigil at the hospital hoping his mom, Priscilla Murray, will recover. He explained that he was on a film set when he got “the worst phone call I’ve ever gotten.” He added, “I need prayers, the most sincere prayers from you prayer warriors.”

In a 15-minute video shared Sunday night, the actor/singer gave fans an extended update from inside the hospital.

“My mom is here, she’s on six or seven different things that’s got her relaxed and calm,” the 43-year-old entertainer said. “What I wanna tell you guys is that the Lord Jesus Christ is responsible for every breath that I see entering into my mom’s body right now. We’ve had our share of issues over the years but as I sit here I’m thanking God for every breath.”

He also urged those offering him support to reach out to any family members they may have had issues with in the past. “Just forgive them. … Nobody is perfect,” Tyrese said. He also filmed himself speaking to his mother as he informed her of the support she’s receiving.

“People around the world are praying for you, Mom,” he said. “Thank you for everything you’ve ever done for me, Mom. I love you. Where would I be without you, Mom? I love you. Just keep fighting. … I am strong because of you. I know Jesus because of you.”

Several stars responded with words of compassion, including Jermaine Dupri and D.L. Hughley. Busta Rhymes commented, “The Queen will Prevail.”

Search underway after multiple skaters fall through ice melting on California reservoir

February 7, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(TRUCKEE, Calif.) — A desperate search was on in Northern California for one of six ice skaters who fell through the melting surface of a frozen-over reservoir as the temperature soared well above freezing, authorities said.

Disaster struck Saturday afternoon at the Stampede Meadows Reservoir near Truckee in the Sierra Nevada Mountains when the ice broke under the weight of a group of ice skaters, according to a statement from the Truckee Fire Protection District.

Five of the skaters managed to pull themselves from the frigid water, but one person failed to emerge, fire officials said.

As a dive team from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office responded to assist in the search, fire officials cautioned people to stay off the iced-over reservoir and lakes and ponds in the area about 16 miles north of Lake Tahoe.

“It is impossible to know the safety and stability of the ice, especially with the recent warmer temperatures,” the Truckee Fire Protection District said in its statement.

Temperatures in the Truckee-Lake Tahoe area climbed into the mid-40s on Saturday from a low of about 12, according to the National Weather Service.

The incident occurred a week after the fire protection district firefighters conducted surface ice rescue training and sent out a warning on Facebook of the dangers of people and their pets venturing out on the area’s frozen waterways.

Meanwhile, some Southern California residents were being warned of escalating winter wildfire danger as strong Santa Ana winds kick up and temperatures climb into the unseasonably warm upper 80s.

Moderate to locally strong Santa Ana winds are forecast for Sunday night and into Monday across Ventura and Los Angeles counties in Southern California, according to ABC News meteorologists. Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph were expected for the region, with isolated gusts up to 60 mph.

Blowing dust is also expected to reduce visibility across the region, and downed power lines and tree limbs are possible with the strongest gusts.

Another round of Santa Ana winds is likely on Wednesday and into Thursday, coupled with unseasonably warm temperatures. Record high temperatures in the mid-70s and upper 80s are possible for parts of Southern California on Thursday.

Burbank, California, is forecast to reach 86 degrees, coming within two degrees of the record of 87 degrees set in 1939.

Eighteen rescued on Lake Erie after ice sheet breaks away during snowmobile ride

February 7, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(PORT CLINTON, Ohio) — More than a dozen people were rescued in Lake Erie after a sheet of ice broke away while they were riding snowmobiles, officials said.

The U.S. Coast Guard and a good Samaritan saved 18 people off the coast of Catawba Island in Ohio after the ice floe broke away, the agency said. All of the rescued were on ATVs and snowmobiles, according to the Coast Guard.

Rescue efforts started at about 1 p.m. after a Coast Guard helicopter from Air Station Detroit noticed people stuck on the ice.

Seven people were rescued by helicopter, while four were rescued by a Coast Guard airboat. Seven others were rescued by a good Samaritan who arrived at the scene with an airboat.

No one required medical attention once they were brought back to shore, the Coast Guard said.

Officials warned people seeking recreation on the ice “to take precautions, not chances” by dressing appropriately for the water temperature, not the air temperature; wearing a life jacket; carrying a reliable form of communication; and carrying icepicks or screwdrivers that can help them self-rescue if they go through the ice.

“There’s no such thing as safe ice, but people can mitigate their risks,” Lt. Jeremiah Schiessel of the Coast Guard Sector Detroit said in a statement. “Always be sure to tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to be back. Great Lakes ice is unpredictable, and conditions can change fast.”

ABC News’ Victoria Arancio contributed to this report.

“I do believe everything happens for a reason”: Simone Biles on life after withdrawing from the Tokyo Olympics

February 7, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Considered to be the greatest gymnast of all time, gold medal winner Simone Biles stunned fans last year when she withdrew from the team final at the Toyko Olympics.

Biles’ decision, made for mental health reasons, drew praise from fans, famous friends and fellow athletes, including tennis great Naomi Osaka, who herself previously pulled out of the French Open to focus on her own mental health.

“I do believe everything happens for a reason,” Biles reflects to the fashion website Net-A-Porter in a new interview about her decision, and her life both in and out of the spotlight.

The athlete explained she began suffering from a disorienting condition gymnasts call “the twisties,” when mind and body feel dangerously out of sync. “I felt scared,” she recalls of telling her coaches about her decision to sit out three major events during the Games.

Biles explains while her coaches were “100 percent supportive,” there were some seeds of doubt. They asked her, “‘Are you sure you want to do this?'” Simone recalls, “‘Because, a couple of years from now, you don’t want to have any regrets.'”

The athlete instead says she’d regret it if she didn’t withdraw.

Biles’ decision was hailed by the likes of Michelle Obama, Justin Bieber and even her “idol,” Osaka herself. “I definitely felt all those messages,” Simone said, adding, “I want people to know that they were heard and they were seen – even if I didn’t get to respond.”

The athlete explains she’s putting her downtime to good use with a “self-care” regimen she describes as “taking baths, going to the spa, having movie nights with my boyfriend and spending time at the pool with my dogs,” French Bulldogs Lilo and Rambo.

Biles got Lilo in 2017, to give her much-needed emotional support to deal with the mental health blowback from the arrest of former U.S. Olympics doctor Larry Nassar on charges he sexually abused the athletes in his care, including Biles and her teammates. Simone later joined her team on Capitol Hill to testify against the “entire system that enabled and perpetuated” the abuse — including the FBI, the inaction of which allowed it to continue even after complaints were filed.

Biles said, “That’s when I realized the power that I had.” She added, “I’ll always continue to be a voice for the voiceless. Gymnastics can be a safe place.”

Luke Bryan hopes sharing his stories of pain and loss through music helps others feel “not alone”

February 7, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Luke Bryan is reflecting on how he’s turned tragedy into art.

Throughout his career, Luke has been open about how the sudden deaths of his siblings have impacted him. His brother Chris was killed in a car accident not long before Luke left for Nashville. In 2007, his sister Kelly passed away unexpectedly, followed by her husband Lee, who died of a heart attack in 2014. Since then, the singer and his wife Caroline have been taking care of his late sister’s three children, along with their two sons, Tate and Bo.

“I think me telling my story of what my family has been through, we’ve always really put it out there and told the world all of the ups and downs and challenges, so I think when I do that, it helps people that have been in similar scenarios not feel alone,” Luke expresses to Good Morning America.

He captures this in the video for his latest single, “Up,” where Luke can be seen sitting in a dimly lit barn adorned with twinkle lights, watching footage of his life on screen. Clips include Luke hunting with his sons and photos from his childhood with his family, the singer revealing that he didn’t see the footage in the video until the day of the shoot.

“I’m watching that in real time also, so it was a really special moment and love how the video came together,” he shares. “It’s a really beautifully done song.”

Luke is currently prepping for his first Las Vegas residency, which opens at the Resorts World Theatre on Friday.

Coldplay and Selena Gomez release melancholy music video for “Let Somebody Go”

February 7, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Grab the tissues because the music video for Coldplay and Selena Gomez‘s super-sad single, “Let Somebody Go,” is finally here. The song is about the end of a relationship that both parties fought hard to save.

“All the storms we weathered/ Everything that we went through/ Now, without you, what on earth am I to do?/ When I called the mathematicians and I ask them to explain/ They said love is only equal to the pain,” they sing during the emotional, melancholy ballad.

The music video for “Let Somebody Go” was released Monday, which depicts how one’s world can become fractured by the heartbreak and the dizzying emotions that come with that final hug goodbye. In the black-and-white clip, Chris Martin and Selena are seen reaching for one another, but they drift further apart as their worlds are literally turned upside down.

Although the music video is heartbreaking in nature, Selena says she is “excited” that fans can finally watch her latest work and shared a photo that shows her and Chris goofing off during filming.

“Let Somebody Go” is the latest single off Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres album, which has amassed over a billion streams. The track follows Coldplay’s “My Universe” collaboration with BTS.

In support of their new album, Coldplay is about to embark on their global stadium tour, which kicks off in Costa Rica next month.

Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong looking for help to recover stolen car

February 7, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Billie Joe Armstrong is looking for any help in recovering a car that was stolen from him.

In an Instagram post, the Green Day frontman put out a notice asking for any information on the whereabouts of the vehicle, a 1962 Chevy II.

“This car is near and dear to all our hearts and has been in the [Green Day] family for over 30 years,” Armstrong wrote in the caption.

To report any sightings or tips, Armstrong asks that you call California’s Costa Mesa Police Department at 714-754-5280.

“Please re-post, let’s all help find this car!” Armstrong wrote.

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