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Harry and Meghan pursued by ‘highly aggressive’ paparazzi in ‘car chase’: Spokesperson

May 17, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, along with Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, were involved in a “near catastrophic car chase” while pursued by paparazzi in Manhattan on Tuesday night, according to a spokesperson for Harry.

The couple accused paparazzi of being “highly aggressive” and driving on the sidewalk and running red lights at they pursued the famous pair for two hours.

“While being a public figure comes with a level of interest from the public, it should never come at the cost of anyone’s safety,” the spokesperson said.

Harry and Meghan appeared Tuesday night at the Ziegfeld Ballroom as Meghan received the Ms. Foundation’s Women of Vision Award at the foundation’s annual gala.

The foundation was co-founded by feminist icon and activist Gloria Steinem, a friend of Meghan’s, who presented her with the award.

The New York Police Department said in a statement: “On Wednesday evening, May 16, the NYPD assisted the private security team protecting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. There were numerous photographers that made their transport challenging. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived at their destination and there were no reported collisions, summonses, injuries, or arrests in regard.”

The NYPD is running down reports that members of the paparazzi had license plates covered on their motorcycles, scooters and cars, and that they were driving on sidewalks and backwards on streets.

Harry, Meghan and her mother were taken to the 19th Precinct following the chase to calm the situation. They then continued to a location where they were staying.

The couple also warned that people should not share photos of the incident.

“Dissemination of these images, given the ways in which they were obtained, encourages a highly intrusive practice that is dangerous to all in involved,” the spokesperson said.

The couple has widely criticized the press and paparazzi and asked for privacy in the past.

Prince Harry’s mother, Princess Diana of Wales, was killed in a car crash in Paris in 1997 while being pursued by paparazzi.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said it was “a bit reckless and irresponsible” for paparazzi to chase Harry and Megan and he noted echoes of Princess Diana’s death as he took questions from reporters during an unrelated event.

“I don’t think there are many of us who don’t recall how his mom died,” Adams said. “I thought that was a bit reckless and irresponsible.”

The mayor, however, expressed skepticism the chase lasted two hours.

“I would find it hard to believe there was a two-hour high speed chase,” the mayor said. “But if it’s 10 minutes, a 10-minute chase is extremely dangerous.”

In his first statement confirming their relationship in 2016, Prince Harry called out the “abuse and harassment” Meghan Markle faced from the press amid speculation that the couple were dating.

In a statement issued by Kensington Palace at the time, Prince Harry said he “has never been comfortable” with the significant curiosity surrounding his private life, rarely taking “formal action” on the “very regular publication of fictional stories that are written about him.”

“Prince Harry is worried about Ms. Markle’s safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her,” the statement read. “It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that Ms. Markle should be subjected to such a storm.”

The royal couple stepped down from their role as senior members of the royal family in 2018. In a docuseries released since, the couple has said they are prioritizing privacy for their children, with Harry saying the constant harassment from paparazzi and press that he endured throughout his childhood was never fair.

ABC News’ Mark Osborne and Nadine El-Bawab contributed to this report.

Patti Smith & Her Band booked for The National’s Homecoming Festival

May 17, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Patti Smith & Her Band have been booked to play The National’s annual Homecoming Festival, this time returning to Cincinnati for the first time since the inaugural edition in 2018.

The festival is happening September 15-16 at the ICON Festival Stage at Smale Park, with Smith part of the lineup on September 15. The National headlines both nights of the fest, with the lineup also featuring Pavement, The Walkman, Snail Mail and more.

Single-day, weekend and VIP passes for the fest go on sale Friday, May 19, at 10 a.m. ET. More information and the complete lineup can be found at ntlhomecoming.com.

The show is one of many Smith has on the books this year. She kicks off a European tour in Copenhagen on June 1, with her first U.S. date set for August 7 in Pioneertown, California. A complete list of dates can be found at pattismith.net.

Inmate accused of killing four people found 10 days after Philadelphia jail break

May 17, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(PHILADELPHIA) — An inmate accused of killing four people has been taken apprehended after escaping from a Philadelphia jail more than a week ago, police said.

Ameen Hurst, 18, was taken into custody without incident at a home in Philadelphia, the city’s police commissioner, Danielle Outlaw, announced Wednesday morning. No other details on the arrest were provided.

Hurst is accused of killing someone in December 2020, fatally shooting two people in March 2021 and, a few days later, fatally shooting a man who had just been discharged from a Philadelphia correctional facility, according to Philadelphia Police Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore.

The teenager was one of two inmates who had escaped from the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center on May 7 through a hole in the recreation yard’s fence, authorities said.

The second inmate — 24-year-old Nasir Grant — was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals on May 11, police said.

Grant had disguised himself as a woman and was wearing “full female Muslim garb and a head covering” when he was caught, said Robert Clark, supervisor deputy marshal for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

The Philadelphia Police Department and U.S. Marshal’s Office were involved in the search for the two inmates.

The two men were discovered missing from the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center during a headcount on the afternoon of May 8, according to Philadelphia Prisons Commissioner Blanche Carney. They had escaped through the fence the night before but were erroneously considered accounted for during three subsequent headcounts, according to Carney.

Hurst had initially been brought to the facility in March 2021 on multiple counts of murder, while Grant was being held since September 2022 on charges including criminal conspiracy, narcotics and firearm violations.

Two people have been arrested in connection with their escape, police said. Michael Abrams and Xianni Stalling, both 21, face charges including escape, conspiracy and hindering apprehension.

One in three gun violence survivors says they live in fear, feel unsafe, new study says

May 17, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — One-third of survivors of gun violence said they lived in fear and felt unsafe, according to a new study by Everytown for Gun Safety.

“I still, to this day, don’t feel completely safe,” Chloe Gayer, who was in an abusive relationship five years ago where guns were used as a threat, told ABC News. “It’s something that I have lived with. And I have kind of realized that I will probably never feel 100% safe again. And that’s horrifying. But it’s something that is just a reality in my life.”

“The first year was horrible, I missed a lot of school, I struggled a lot with getting back into my life,” Gayer said.

Mental health care and support from her family played a large role in helping her after her experience with gun violence, she said.

Nearly half of survivors said they needed support, services or assistance to cope with the impact of gun violence within at least the first six months or longer after the violent incident, according to the study.

“Each incident of gun violence, not only does that affect an individual who may have been shot or wounded or threatened with a gun, but we also know that it affects their families, members of their community that depend on them, or that they depend on [and] it can affect people that have shared identity with the person who was experiencing that incident of gun violence,” Abigail Hurst, the director of trauma-informed programs at Everytown, told ABC News.

But, 1 in 3 survivors who participated in a focus group said mental health counseling services were the largest unmet need of gun violence survivors.

“Gun violence survivors needed trauma-informed counseling for both short-term and long-term support. Without it, the trauma of gun violence does not end when the shooting stops,” the report said.

The newly released research study examined the impact gun violence had on survivors in the short- and long-term aftermath of a gun violence incident. Researchers brought together five focus groups totaling more than 100 gun violence survivors from all over the country who were interviewed over the course of three months.

The five focus groups focused on parents who lost a child, members of the LGBTQ community, students over the age of 18, members of the Latinx community and members of the Black community.

Survivors showed a variety of trauma responses in the aftermath of gun violence including hyper vigilance, feeling like they can’t leave home or go places they normally would; numbness; paranoia; anxiety; and depression.

Brenda Mitchell lost her son to gun violence in 2005.

“This may have been a rarity then; it’s commonplace now,” she said.

While resources were not available to her then, she said seeking therapy since has helped her the most. Mitchell also said a network of survivors and her activism through Everytown have helped her grow.

“I almost lost my life three times, just from the trauma, it didn’t come at the point of impact in 2005. Mine came 12 years later; 2016 was actually when I experienced my trauma and PTSD,” Mitchell said.

Drew Gittins, the survivor of a 2012 school shooting in Chardon, Ohio, said it is difficult to describe how deeply gun violence can impact someone’s life. Gittins also said he wished he had sought therapy earlier, instead of waiting until he was in college.

Many of his classmates saw three fellow students die in the shooting and it has since impacted them greatly, he said.

“I know individuals who find themselves unable to sit with their backs to a door in public places. I know individuals who felt felt uncomfortable in public generally, for a very long time. I think it changes how you view the world,” Gittins said.

Mass shootings only take up a fraction of gun violence deaths in the U.S. The vast majority of gun violence deaths are suicides; in 2021, over 26,300 people died of suicide by gun. Over 21,000 people died of all other forms of gun-related deaths, including murder and mass shootings, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

But, Gittins said he saw a great difference between the support and resources he and his classmates received as survivors of a mass shooting compared to the support survivors of other types of gun violence receive.

“I think there are times where people demonize people who have survived trauma. And I think there’s also times when they’re just ignored. There’s a stigma around suicide, there’s a stigma around domestic violence, and then those issues aren’t talked about,” Gittins said. “They are the majority of cases and they don’t receive the support that I received, and they don’t receive the resources that I received. And I think that’s a shame.”

Oscar Mayer renames iconic hot dog on wheels to ‘Frankmobile’

May 17, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Oscar Mayer is rolling into a new era, changing the name of its iconic Wienermobile to the “Frankmobile.”

The name change is the 27-foot-long hot dog vehicle’s first in nearly 100 years. Kraft Heinz, the parent company of the cold cut brand, said in a press release that the new name “pays homage to the brand’s 100% Beef Franks as it debuts a tasty new recipe that is more flavorful than ever.”

As new Oscar Mayer all-beef franks roll out to grocery retailers nationwide this month, the brand drew inspiration to update its fleet of six Frankmobiles.

The larger than life hot dog mobiles all have new features, from decals and rebranded “Frank Whistles” — previously called “Wiener Whistles” — to a newly renamed line-up of Hotdoggers behind the wheel, who will now be known as “Frankfurters.”

The Frankmobile will change only in name, continuing on “the vehicle’s mission to spark smiles and unite fans around a love of meat,” the company said.

As a bonus for anyone bearing the same name, the Frankmobile is offering “Franks for Franks,” meaning anyone who is named an iteration of “Frank” can stop by in person to get a coupon for a free pack of Oscar Mayer beef franks.

Rock for Ronnie concert raises $50,000 for Dio Cancer Fund

May 17, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Rock for Ronnie concert raises ,000 for Dio Cancer Fund

The Rock for Ronnie concert, held in memory of the late Ronnie James Dio, raised over $50,000 for the Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund.

The event took place May 7 in Los Angeles and included performances by the Dio offshoot band Dio Disciples; Steamroller, featuring former Whitesnake members; and the Van Halen cover band The Atomic Punks. It closed with a jam featuring Eagles of Death Metal‘s Jesse Hughes, ex-Megadeth guitarist Chris Broderick and Thin Lizzy vocalist Ricky Warwick, among many others.

Dio passed away from stomach cancer in 2010 at age 67. The Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund was founded in his honor to raise money for cancer research.

Along with Rock for Ronnie, the Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund holds the annual Bowl for Ronnie charity bowling tournament.

Lou Gramm announces All Stars 2023 tour

May 17, 2023 by WDNY Radio

While Foreigner is currently on their farewell tour, it is without original member Lou Gramm.

But now fans have a chance to see Gramm onstage: the rocker just announced dates for the Lou Gramm All Stars 2023 tour, featuring Scott Gilman and Jeff Jacobs, who both performed in Foreigner in the past, along with Tony Franklin, Alex Garcia and Ben Gramm.

The tour kicks off June 16 in South Bend, Indiana, and wraps November 4 in St. Charles, Illinois.

A complete schedule and ticket information can be found at lougrammofficial.com.

Gramm was the lead singer of Foreigner from 1970 to 1990 and again from 1992 to 2003. He last performed with members of his former band in November 2018 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. It was recorded for the live album Double Vision: Then and Now.

Hozier announces new album, ’Unreal Unearth’

May 17, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Hozier has announced a new album called Unreal Unearth.

The third full-length effort from the “Take Me to Church” artist — and his first since 2019’s Wasteland, Baby! — arrives August 18.

Unreal Unearth includes songs “Eat Your Young” and “All Things End,” which were previously released on the Hozier EP Eat Your Young, which dropped in March. A third track, titled “Francesca,” drops Friday, May 19.

Hozier is currently playing a run of intimate U.S. shows. He’ll launch a full North American tour in September.

Rick Ross says he’s running for mayor of Fayetteville, Georgia; responds to news of car show’s denied permit

May 17, 2023 by WDNY Radio

A denied permit won’t stop the show … at least that’s what Rick Ross has told his fanbase. The rapper posted an Instagram Story Tuesday to share that his second annual car and bike show will go on as planned despite the Fayette County Planning and Zoning Commission denying the permit for the event.

“I just parked the pink Cadillac out here. We getting ready, June 3 it’s going down, it can’t be stopped for nothing,” Rozay said, adding the show is on a private property, where guests have been “privately invited.”

He then revealed he loves the city of Fayetteville so much that he plans to run for mayor next year.

“That’s right. The boss Rick Ross running for mayor of Fayetteville. I wanna know how many votes did it actually take to vote in the mayor of Fayetteville,” he said. “I need to know that ‘cause we gon’ become that. We gon’ make that happen, and we gonna have a good time. We gon’ give some people opportunities, we gon’ give some people raises and, of course, we gon’ have to clean some people out.”

Ross’ response and political announcement come after the Fayette County Planning and Zoning Commission determined his car and bike show “is not in compliance with” the county’s zoning rules.

The event is slated to take place June 3 at Ross’ Promise Land estate. He and Gucci Mane are set to perform.

Lauren Daigle says she hit “rock bottom” during the pandemic

May 17, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Lauren Daigle‘s new self-titled album is her first release since 2018, but between then and now, she says she hit “rock bottom.”

What sent Lauren into a tailspin was her dream tour — the one she’d been fantasizing about since she was a teenager and that was all set to go in 2020 — was canceled due to the pandemic.

“You combine the disappointment with grief and loss and the state of the world … I felt like I didn’t know myself anymore. I started developing panic attacks,” she tells People. “I found myself at a rock bottom.”

But the singer was able to climb out of that hole thanks to counseling, and the support of friends and family. She says making the new album “was this rebirth process,” adding, “My whole world fell apart, and I had to learn how to find myself again.”

And while her new album features songs that seem more secular than her past work, Lauren tells People, “For all the fans that have been with me in my journey from the very, very, very beginning, this is no different than a ‘You Say’ moment for me. These are other little pieces of me that you’re now going to get to learn of as well.”

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