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Spanberger to hit on affordability in Democrats’ State of the Union response

February 24, 2026 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, a rising star in the Democratic Party who captured the governor’s office last year by a large margin, will deliver the Democrats’ response Tuesday night to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, focusing on affordability and the chaos she believes the Trump administration has caused at home and abroad, her team told reporters.

Spanberger, who was inaugurated in January after serving three terms in the House of Representatives, will discuss lowering the persistently high costs of housing, health care, energy and groceries despite the administration’s insistence that some of these costs have come down.

The daughter of a law enforcement officer and a nurse, Spanberger focused relentlessly on affordability throughout her 2025 gubernatorial campaign. Despite the economy being the top issue Trump ran on in the 2024 election, it’s been one of the issues he’s struggled with the most during his second term, as Americans still haven’t felt the “Trump boom” they were promised.

In an ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll, 57% of Americans disapprove of how Trump’s handling the economy, and 64% disapproved of how he’s handling tariffs on imported goods.

Spanberger, a former CIA officer, will also address how the Trump administration is contributing to greater worldwide uncertainty.

Trump and his team have spent a large portion of his second term so far focusing on foreign policy, including Trump going head-to-head with some U.S. allies and becoming more aggressive on the world stage. A former federal law enforcement officer who worked on narcotics and money-laundering cases for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Spanberger will also address what critics call the chaos caused by the Trump administration, which continues its immigration enforcement efforts that Americans are seeing in their communities.

She is also expected to challenge Republicans in Congress for not standing up to Trump.

Several Democrats have invited survivors of late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to attend Trump’s address, while others plan to skip the event altogether in protest.

The governor will give her speech live from Colonial Williamsburg, the restored 18th century capital where Virginian representatives voted for its delegation to Congress to propose independence for all 13 colonies from Great Britain, and later adopted the Virginia Declaration of Rights — which influenced the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights.

Spanberger has been able to appeal to both Democratic and Republican voters. She won the governor election in November by more than 15% — the largest margin for a Democrat in the state since 1961 — winning counties that voted for Trump in 2016, 2020, and 2024.

There are at least two major counter events that several Democrats plan to attend, including MoveOn’s People’s State of the Union, which is promoting the participation of more than 20 members of Congress; and the “State of the Swamp” event by Defiance.org that features a handful of celebrities appearing by video or in person, such as Robert De Niro.

Spanberger prepared for her remarks by watching speeches other Democrats have delivered in response to Trump’s previous addresses to Congress.

Salt-N-Pepa and DJ Spinderella to be inducted into 2026 NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame

February 24, 2026 by WDNY Radio

2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Salt-N-Pepa and DJ Spinderella will soon be part of another of Hall of Fame class. They are set to be inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame, an honor reserved for “individuals or groups who have been pioneers in their respective fields and whose influence continues to shape their industry for generations,” according to a press release.

“As pioneers of hip-hop, Salt-N-Pepa and DJ Spinderella rewrote the rules and boldly claimed space in a genre that forever changed because of their voices, style, and undeniable talent,” said NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson in a statement. “Inducting them into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame is a celebration of more than an iconic career – it’s a tribute to trailblazers who opened doors, and inspired generations in a way that still resonates today.”

Connie Orlando, executive vice president of specials, music programming & music strategy at BET, added that “Salt-N-Pepa and DJ Spinderella have built a legacy defined by confidence, authenticity, and cultural influence.”

“They reshaped how women are seen and heard in music, creating space for bold self-expression and empowerment,” she continued. “Inducting them into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame honors a career that continues to strengthen community, elevate culture, and connect generations.”

The 57th NAACP Image Awards, hosted by Deon Cole, will air live on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET and CBS. Halle Bailey, Regina Hall, Ryan Coogler, Sterling K. Brown and Delroy Lindo are among those helping to present the awards.

Hear a clip of RAYE’s ‘Where Is My Husband!” follow-up song

February 24, 2026 by WDNY Radio

RAYE is about to drop a new song on Friday, but you can hear a snippet of it now.

RAYE posted a TikTok video of herself lip-synching to the ballad while wearing a strapless black dress and a veil. She captioned it, “The 2nd song from my 2nd album,” adding #NightingaleLane. According to Setlist.fm, she’s been performing a new song of that title since she kicked off her tour in January.

“Somebody loved me once, and someday/ Somebody will again,” she sings. “Like the way you loved me/ on Nightingale Lane.”

The song will appear on RAYE’s upcoming album, This Music May Contain Hope, which is coming out March 27.

Carly Pearce stares off into the distance at what’s next

February 24, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Is Carly Pearce getting ready to announce her much-anticipated fifth studio album?

She scrubbed her Instagram account Monday, save for a lone picture of her sitting on the edge of a bed wearing a negligee, staring off into the distance.

On Tuesday, she announced a benefit via X that promises both her hits and music from her upcoming album.

The April 6 show at City Winery Nashville will feature an intimate acoustic performance with her full band. Presales start Wednesday for the concert to help Pet Community Center Nashville, which provides affordable vet care and lifesaving services for local pets.

Of course, Carly fans are familiar with how much she loves her two shih tzus, Johnny and June.

So far she’s released “Church Girl” and her current single, “Dream Come True,” from her upcoming project.

’90s news: Toadies release new song, Blues Traveler announces tour dates

February 24, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Toadies have premiered a new song called “The Charmer,” the title track off the “Possum Kingdom” band’s upcoming album.

“The Charmer” personifies frontman Vaden Lewis’ long struggle with low self-esteem.

“I was afraid that if I lose that part of me that has such self-loathing that I won’t be able to write
music anymore,” Lewis says in a statement. “I decided to take that apart and make it a character, The Charmer.”

The album The Charmer is due out May 1. It was recorded with late engineer Steve Albini, who died in 2024.

In other ’90s band news, Blues Traveler has announced a run of tour dates, beginning May 1 in Thibodaux, Louisiana. The newly scheduled shows also include a July 4 performance at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado.

Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. local time. For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit BluesTraveler.com.

You can also catch Blues Traveler on their tour with Gin Blossoms and Spin Doctors, kicking off in July.

‘One Battle After Another’ star Teyana Taylor talks 1st Oscar nomination

February 24, 2026 by WDNY Radio

With the Oscars less than three weeks away, actress Teyana Taylor is feeling mixed emotions.

“Oh, my God, my stomach is in my booty. It’s that feeling you can’t even describe,” Taylor said on Good Morning America Tuesday morning.

Taylor is nominated for an Oscar for the first time as an actress in a supporting role for her portrayal of Perfidia in the drama/thriller One Battle After Another, which also stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, Regina Hall and Chase Infiniti.

“No matter the outcome, I am blessed,” Taylor continued. “I’m just filled with so much gratitude to be a part of this moment and of this journey and of this chapter and of the conversation. So I’m very, very happy, nervous, but very happy.”

For Taylor, one of the highlights of One Battle After Another was getting to act alongside veteran actor DiCaprio, an experience the 35-year-old likened to attending a “super master class.”

“He’s been a great mentor and I really admire his leadership because he’s a legend, he’s an icon,” Taylor said. “So I’m really honored that I get to share scenes with him.”

In her prep to play Perfidia, Taylor said she followed an acting method she used previously for the role of Inez in the 2023 crime film, A Thousand and One.

“I identified her layers and then I color-coordinated those layers. So coming into Perfidia, seeing that she was even more [of a] complex character, I wanted to do the same thing,” said Taylor.

“If I feel like, OK, I’m in a moment of feeling vulnerable, maybe that color is pink … if I’m feeling rage, that moment is highlighted in red. So I literally color-coordinate [Perfidia’s] emotions,” she explained.

One Battle After Another, which is nominated for 13 Oscars, including best picture, was first released in September 2025. It is still in theaters and also available to stream.

The 98th Oscars will air on Sunday, March 15, at 7 p.m. ET on ABC and Hulu.

The Walt Disney Co. is the parent company of ABC and Hulu.

Miley Cyrus’ legal team asks for ‘Flowers’ copyright case to be dismissed

February 24, 2026 by WDNY Radio

In 2024, a company that owns a portion of the rights to Bruno Mars’ song “When I Was Your Man” sued Miley Cyrus, claiming her song “Flowers” ripped off Bruno’s hit. Her legal team is now asking for the case to be dismissed.

In the Monday court filing, obtained by ABC News, Miley’s team asked to be granted a summary judgment, meaning the case gets rejected without having to go to a jury. Their argument is that the music and lyrics of the two songs are not similar enough to count as copyright infringement. Plus, they argue any similarities that do exist are covered under the fair use doctrine.

“Fair use” means that if you use elements from copyrighted material to comment on an original work — like making an “answer record” — it’s allowed under the law. As the case notes, “‘Flowers’ can reasonably be perceived as transformative commentary or criticism on [‘When I Was Your Man’].”

“‘Flowers’ is a wholly original song, and its songwriters strenuously deny copying [Bruno’s song] or any portion of it intending to comment on [it],” Miley’s lawyers write. “But that is irrelevant to fair use, which instead considers whether a reasonable observer could interpret ‘Flowers’ as commenting on [‘When I Was Your Man’].”

Since “Flowers” was released, many fans have felt that it was indeed a sort of answer record to “When I Was Your Man,” which Miley’s lawyers cover in the filing. They write, “Even Plaintiff acknowledges that ‘Flowers’’ upbeat lyrics have been perceived as responding to ‘Man”s despondent lyrics.”

Their final argument, though, is this: Because “Flowers” came out nearly a decade after “When I Was Your Man,” it “did not negatively affect the market or potential market” for Bruno’s song. In fact, the lawyers note that streams of Bruno’s song increased 20% after the release of “Flowers.”

Songs by The Cars, Sting featured in part 2 of ‘Bridgerton’ season 4

February 24, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Covers of songs by The Cars and Sting are set to make an appearance in Netflix’s hit series Bridgerton.

The final four episodes of season 4 premiere Thursday, with episode six featuring instrumental versions of The Cars’ ”Just What I Needed,” performed by Altum Quartet, and Sting’s “Fields of Gold,” performed by Music Lab Collective.

Part 1 of season 4 featured instrumentals of songs by Coldplay, Third Eye Blind, Paramore and Taylor Swift, while part 2 also features songs by Charli XCX, Billie Eilish and Teddy Swims.

Part 1 of the soundtrack is currently available for streaming, with part 2 going live on Thursday at 12 a.m. PT.

Released in 1978, “Just What I Needed” was the first single off The Cars’ self-titled debut album and reached #27 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Fields of Gold” appeared on Sting’s fourth solo album, Ten Summoner’s Tales. It went to #2 on the Adult Contemporary chart and peaked at #23 on the Hot 100.

Airport operations gradually resuming after violence erupted over killing of drug lord ‘El Mencho,’ Mexico’s president says

February 24, 2026 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Airport operations are gradually returning to normal in Mexico after violence ignited in the country following the killing of the drug lord known as “El Mencho,” President Claudia Sheinbaum said at a press conference Tuesday.

Sheinbaum said there were “seven roadblocks” in Mexico Tuesday morning, but “all of them” have now been cleared. Flights have resumed at Guadalajara Airport, and operations are “gradually returning” at Puerto Vallarta airport, she added.

School was suspended in Jalisco and Michoacan on Tuesday, but “activities are expected to return to normal tomorrow,” Sheinbaum added.

Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, was killed in an operation led by Mexican authorities on Sunday in Jalisco, Mexican officials said.

Widespread cartel-organized violence erupted following his death, with vehicles set on fire, hundreds of road blockages and attacks on gas stations and businesses, according to Mexican authorities.

Mexico’s security strategy “has not changed,” after the operation, emphasizing that law enforcement were attempting to arrested an individual with an outstanding warrant, Sheinbaum said Tuesday.

“Members of the Army were attacked and responded. He later died while being transferred. But we will never act outside the law. That is very important. Here, the objective was never to kill anyone,” Sheinbaum said.

“Yes, this was a very significant member of organized crime, but the strategy has not changed. The strategy remains the same and is grounded in our laws and our Constitution,” she added.

Sheinbaum said that as of Monday morning, there are no longer any blockades and “normal activity has largely been restored.”

Oseguera Cervantes was one of the most wanted criminals in both Mexico and the United States. He was one of the top traffickers of fentanyl into the U.S., and last year President Donald Trump designated the Jalisco New Generation Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, the White House said.

When Mexican forces moved in to arrest him on Sunday, “El Mencho’s security detail opened fire,” Mexico’s Secretary of National Defense Ricardo Trevilla Trejo said Monday.

El Mencho “fled the location, leaving behind a group heavily armed,” Trevilla said. “The attack by organized crime members was extremely violent.”

Mexican special forces members continued to pursue El Mencho and eventually were able to injure him and two of the bodyguards with him, according to Trevilla.

El Mencho and the two bodyguards died during the helicopter evacuation flight that was heading towards a medical facility in Jalisco, Trevilla added.

Ultimately, 25 members of the Mexican National Guard and 30 cartel members were killed in Jalisco, Mexican officials said. Four cartel members were also killed in Michoacan, officials said.

Among those killed was a “principal confidant” of El Mencho in Jalisco who was “coordinating road blockades, vehicle burnings, and attacks on military and government facilities,” Trevilla said.

Seventy cartel members have been detained across seven states, Mexican officials said Monday.

The U.S. Embassy in Mexico on Monday continued to urge Americans in locations throughout Mexico to shelter in place due to “ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity.”

“While no airports have been closed, roadblocks have impacted airline operations, with most domestic and international flights cancelled in both Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta,” the U.S. Embassy said in a security alert. “All ride shares are suspended in Puerto Vallarta. Some businesses have suspended operations.”

Kehlani, Mariah the Scientist, Teyana Taylor to be honored at ‘Billboard’ Women in Music 2026

February 24, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Kehlani, Mariah the Scientist and Teyana Taylor are not only singers, they’re now honorees at Billboard‘s Women in Music 2026.

Kehlani is set to receive the Impact Award “for her artistry, advocacy and influence on culture and community,” according to a press release, while Mariah will be honored with the Rising Star Award, which celebrates “her rapid ascent, dynamic songwriting and distinctive voice.”

As for Teyana, she will be recognized for her “boundless creativity and cultural impact across music, film, fashion, and choreography,” the press release notes, as she’s named the recipient of the Visionary Award.

The 2026 Billboard Women in Music event will take place April 29 at the Hollywood Palladium in LA, with Keke Palmer on hosting duties. Ella Langley, Laufey, Tate McRae, Thalia and Zara Larsson are also set to be honored that night.

“From breakthrough voices to enduring icons, each of these women is pushing the industry forward in powerful ways,” Jason Lipshutz, Billboard‘s co-chief content officer, says in a statement.

Fellow co-chief content officer Leila Cobo adds, “The 2026 Billboard Women in Music presented by Sonesta International Hotels honors artists who are not only shaping the sound of today, but defining the culture of tomorrow. This year’s honorees represent bold creativity, global influence, and artistic excellence across genres.”

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