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More renderings of Trump’s planned White House East Wing ballroom submitted to fine arts panel ahead of meeting

February 18, 2026 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — More renderings of President Donald Trump’s planned White House ballroom were made available in a 31-page report submitted to the Commission of Fine Arts, which is set to meet on Thursday.

The report showed the proposed 90,000-square-foot addition in the location of the demolished East Wing from several new angles, including the view from Pennsylvania Avenue.

The Commission of Fine Arts was formed by Congress as an independent agency to weigh in on major capital-area building projects.

Thursday’s meeting, which will take place via videoconference, will feature new members recently appointed by Trump after the president dismissed all six of its members last fall.

The new members include James McCrery, the architect who previously led the ballroom project before being replaced; Roger Kimball, a critic and conservative columnist for The Spectator who has written favorably about the president; and Chamberlain Harris, a 26-year-old White House Deputy Director of Oval Office Operations who worked in the first Trump White House.

In a statement to ABC News, the White House called Harris a “loyal, trusted, and highly respected advisor to President Trump” who will be “a tremendous asset to the Commission of Fine Arts.”

“She understands the President’s vision and appreciation of the arts like very few others, and brings a unique perspective that will serve the Commission well,” White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said in the statement.

The commission wrote on its website that “upon the completion of President Donald J. Trump’s first term, [Harris] continued her work in Florida at the Office of the 45th President, managing President Trump’s Presidential Portrait Project in conjunction with the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution and the White House Historical Association.”

The Commission of Fine Arts is one of two panels tasked with reviewing projects in Washington. The report was also submitted with the National Capital Planning Commission ahead of its March meeting.

The administration has faced legal pressure to submit the plans to both panels for review after the initial demolition of the East Wing.

The White House first announced the ballroom construction project, a longtime goal of Trump, last July.

Trump at first said the project would not interfere with the existing White House structure. But then in October, the entire East Wing was razed to make way for the ballroom, which Trump said would cost $400 million.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has sued to stop the project. The judge in the case has expressed skepticism of the government’s arguments that the president has the power to build a ballroom with private donations and without express authorization from Congress, and said he hoped to issue a decision this month.

J. Cole adds dates to The Fall-Off World Tour

February 18, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Demand is high for J. Cole’s The Fall-Off World Tour, so much so that he’s added dates in select cities.

After more than 1 million people joined the queues for the presales for tickets for the East Coast and Midwest shows, according to his manager Ibrahim “Ib” Hamad, Cole announced second dates in Atlanta, Philadelphia, Toronto, Brooklyn, Boston, Chicago, Oakland, Inglewood, Houston and Dallas. Following presales taking place throughout the week, all tickets will go on sale to the general public Friday.

J. Cole’s The Fall-Off World Tour will support his latest album, The Fall-Off. It will kick off its North American leg on July 11 in Charlotte, North Carolina, with the run ending with Sept. 23 in his hometown of Fayetteville, North Carolina. The European/U.K. leg runs from Oct. 7 to Nov. 12 and will be followed by five dates in Australia. Cole’s final show will then take place in Johannesburg, South Africa, marking his first time in the region in 10 years.

The Fall-Off was released on Feb. 6 and has since topped the Billboard 200, with more than 20 songs from the double disc now on the Billboard Hot 100. J. Cole now has 111 entries, making him the 22nd act to have 100 titles on the chart. Thirteen of them have reached top-10 status.

J. Cole adds dates to The Fall-Off World Tour

February 18, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Demand is high for J. Cole’s The Fall-Off World Tour, so much so that he’s added dates in select cities.

5 dead in pile-up crash in Colorado involving over 30 vehicles, including multiple semis: Police

February 18, 2026 by WDNY Radio

(PUEBLO, Colo.) — At least five people are dead following a pile-up crash involving dozens of vehicles in Colorado that occurred as high winds blew dirt, making for low to zero visibility, authorities said.

The incident occurred around 10 a.m. local time Tuesday on I-25 near Pueblo, which is about 40 miles south of Colorado Springs, authorities said.

Over 30 vehicles, including seven semis, were involved in the crash, according to Colorado State Patrol. Pickups pulling horse trailers, SUVs and passenger vehicles were also involved, according to Maj. Brian Lyons with Colorado State Patrol.

The pile-up occurred during “adverse weather conditions,” Lyons said, with heavy winds blowing dirt and causing “brownout” conditions.

“Visibility was next to nothing,” Lyons said during a press briefing Tuesday.

There were four fatalities in separate vehicles — two men from Walsenburg, Colorado, and two women, one from Rye and one from Pueblo — authorities said Tuesday.

A fifth person who had been transported to a hospital later succumbed to his injuries, Colorado State Patrol said Wednesday.

Another 28 people were transported to area hospitals, with moderate to serious injuries, Colorado State Patrol said.

Authorities were working to account for everyone in the vehicles involved in the crash, Lyons said.

One of the vehicles was a pickup hauling a gooseneck trailer containing 32 goats, Colorado State Patrol said. Four of the goats died, while the rest were safely removed, it said.

Northbound I-25 was closed for several hours as crews worked to clear vehicles, before reopening late Tuesday.

“Due to low visibility, drivers are urged to delay traveling until conditions improve,” Colorado State Patrol said. “If travel is necessary, avoid I-25 in this area, use caution, and reduce speed.”

High wind warnings were in effect for the region on Tuesday. The National Weather Service in Pueblo warned that “significant blowing dust” was possible on the plains, where gusts could be up to 65 mph. Gusts of at least 85 mph were also forecast for mountain areas, it said.

St. Vincent to perform at Willie Nelson’s 2026 Luck Reunion festival

February 18, 2026 by WDNY Radio

St. Vincent will be performing at the 2026 edition of Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion festival, taking place on March 19.

The annual event, now in its 14th year, is held on the country icon’s famed Luck ranch in Spicewood, Texas. The 92-year-old Nelson will also perform.

“We’re thrilled to welcome our Luck Family back home to Willie’s backyard for another incredible year,” says Matt Bizer, CEO and founder of Luck Presents. “Fourteen years in, Luck Reunion continues to be about bringing people together in meaningful ways. This year’s lineup beautifully represents that spirit, with legendary artists who’ve been part of our story from the beginning, new voices we’re excited to introduce to our community, and more than a few surprise guests that we can’t wait to reveal.”

For more info, visit LuckPresents.com.

In other St. Vincent news, the “Los Ageless” rocker has announced a show at the Los Angeles Hollywood Bowl alongside the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. The performance, taking place Aug. 2, is part of an upcoming series of orchestra-accompanied St. Vincent concerts.

For ticket info, visit HollywoodBowl.com.

St. Vincent to perform at Willie Nelson’s 2026 Luck Reunion festival

February 18, 2026 by WDNY Radio

St. Vincent will be performing at the 2026 edition of Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion festival, taking place on March 19.

The annual event, now in its 14th year, is held on the country icon’s famed Luck ranch in Spicewood, Texas. The 92-year-old Nelson will also perform.

For more info, visit LuckPresents.com.

For ticket info, visit HollywoodBowl.com.

Joan Jett, Cheap Trick & more to play Kentucky’s Bourbon & Beyond Festival

February 18, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Cheap Trick and Squeeze are among the artists set to play the 2026 Bourbon and Beyond Festival.

The festival, which will feature over 100 artists on five stages, will be held Sept. 24-27 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville.

Festival headliners include Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, Mumford & Sons, Kacey Musgraves, Chris Stapleton, The Red Clay Strays, Dave Matthews Band and Hootie & the Blowfish.

Other artists on the bill include Counting Crows, 4 Non Blondes, Adam Ant, Violent Femmes, Better Than Ezra, Joan Osbourne, The Fray and Lisa Loeb.

Tickets for the four-day festival are on sale now. More info, including the complete lineup, can be found at BourbonandBeyond.com.

‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ star Whitney Leavitt extends run in ‘Chicago’ on Broadway

February 18, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Whitney Leavitt won’t finish cell block tango-ing anytime soon.

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star and season 34 Dancing with the Stars contestant is extending her Broadway debut in the Tony-winning revival of Chicago.

Leavitt will continue to play Roxie Hart in the production for an additional two weeks, the show’s producers announced on Wednesday. She will conclude the first part of her engagement as planned on March 15, before returning a week later to play the role from March 23 to April 5.

“Oh yes, oh yes, OH YESSS!” the production’s official Instagram captioned a graphic announcing the extension. “Due to unprecedented demand, Whitney Leavitt’s run as Roxie Hart has been extended through April 5. Tickets on sale now — get them while they last at the link in bio!”

Leavitt also took to Instagram to share the news. She posted a black-and-white video standing on top of a tall building smoking a cigarette as she gazes out at the New York City skyline.

“Oh, New York, New York. They told me Broadway would chew me up and spit me out,” Leavitt says in voice-over. “And I must say she certainly tried. After all, I am just a small-town girl in a big city. But turns out New York wants a little bit more than just a Costco sample.”

The video then switches to color, as Leavitt says, “I’m not going anywhere, baby.”

The reality TV show personality and dancer captioned her video, “SECRET’S OUT!!!!!!” alongside three eyes emojis.

On This Day, Feb. 18, 1977: KISS plays their first-ever concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden

February 18, 2026 by WDNY Radio

On This Day, Feb 18, 1977…

New York natives KISS headlined Madison Square Garden for the very first time.

The show was part of their Rock and Roll Over tour and featured opening act Sammy Hagar, who was also making his Madison Square Garden debut.

According to setlist.fm, the band’s set included KISS favorites like “Detroit Rock City,” “Rock and Roll All Nite,” “Beth” and “Black Diamond.” During the show, Paul Stanley was injured when he was hit by a beer bottle thrown by somebody in the audience.

KISS went on to headline MSG multiple times over the years.

They wrapped their last-ever tour, dubbed the End of the Road World Tour, at the historic venue with two shows that took place Dec. 1 and 2, 2023.

Olympic skier Breezy Johnson says Taylor Swift is ‘of course’ invited to her wedding

February 18, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Olympic skier Breezy Johnson says Taylor Swift is “welcome” to attend her wedding after she responded to her engagement post.

On Feb. 11, Breezy’s boyfriend Connor Watkins proposed to her at the finish line of the super giant slalom race, using a wooden ring box engraved with these lyrics from Taylor’s song “The Alchemy”: “Who are we to fight the alchemy?”

When Breezy posted the moment on Instagram, Taylor commented with another lyric from the song — “Where’s the trophy? He just comes running over to me” — and added, “CONGRATULATIONS!!!”

Johnson told People that the lyrics Taylor used to comment are some of her other favorite lyrics from “The Alchemy,” which appears on The Tortured Poets Department and is widely assumed to be about Taylor’s fiancé, Travis Kelce.

“The Taylor Swift comment was not something that I ever expected,” Breezy added. “It was really cool seeing her comments, seeing her just love love,” Breezy said People.

When asked whether she’s going to invite Taylor to her nuptials, Breezy laughed, “I mean, listen, Taylor can probably go to any wedding in the U.S. and everybody would welcome her with open arms. She is of course welcome to join. I do not expect her to have any time to do that, but…”

By the way, Breezy’s proposal wasn’t a surprise. She’d been telling Connor that she loved the “idea of getting engaged at the Olympics” for more than a year. “Everything kind of went to plan … It was perfect,” she told People.

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