Ahead of her upcoming cookbook, Y’all Eat Yet?, Miranda Lambert is sharing with People a peek at her delectable Cornbread Muffins With Sausage & Cheddar recipe.
“Living on the road for 20 years, I really appreciate home cooking — especially straight-up comfort food. You don’t get to enjoy it that much when you travel for a living,” Miranda tells People. “When I’m back in my kitchen, I love making these warm and hearty muffins with corn, sausage and melty cheese. It tastes like home to me.”
In terms of ingredients, Miranda’s recipe involves cornbread mix, hot pork sausage, whole kernel corn, green chiles and sharp cheddar cheese, among others. The entire baking process is estimated to take 40 minutes and will feed 12 people.
The Grateful Dead are the latest artists to join TikTok. On Thursday, 4/20 by the way, the band launched their official account with a post featuring archival Dead-related footage soundtracked to a remastered 1969 live recording of “St. Stephen” at San Francisco’s Fillmore West.
The band captioned the clip with a lyric from the 1974 track “Scarlet Begonias,” writing, “Once in a while you get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right.”
This isn’t the first time the Dead has made their presence felt on TikTok. Just last month their music launched on the platform, which means fans can now use recordings from the band’s catalog for their posts.
(NEW YORK) — Sea level rise is likely presenting more threats to an already vulnerable marine species, according to new research.
As waters from the ocean push further and further onto shore, the flooding is washing away the nesting sites for sea turtles in places like the United States, Australia, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic, according to a study published Thursday in Scientific Reports.
Researchers estimated the probability of flooding under moderate and high greenhouse gas emission scenarios could impact 2,835 sea turtle nest locations within seven breeding grounds between 2010 and 2100. They found that under a moderate emissions scenario, breeding grounds located on flat beaches were most vulnerable to flooding — with 100% likelihood of flooding of nests in Raine Island, Australia; Saona Island, Dominican Republic; St George Island, Florida; and Mondonguillo beach, Costa Rica, according to the study.
Flooding of nests in some those areas are expected by 2050, the researchers said.
Nests in Raine Island and Saona Island will likely be “completely vanished” in the next several decades, Marga Rivas, a biodiversity and nature conservation researcher at the University of Cadiz in Spain and author of the study, told ABC News.
In Sint Eustatius, a Dutch island in the Caribbean, 50% of leatherback, 18% of hawksbill and 13% of green turtle nest locations could be vulnerable to flooding by 2050.
Within breeding grounds used by multiple turtle species, leatherback turtle nests may be particularly vulnerable to flooding due to their tendency to nest in open areas near the high tide line, according to the study. Hawksbill and green turtles tend to nest at higher elevations closer to dunes and steep cliffs, the researchers said.
As female sea turtles return to nest on the same beaches they hatched on, sea level rises could lead to many turtles nesting on flooded beaches, which could negatively impact the number of turtles hatching, according to the study.
Coastlines in places like Costa Rica and South America have been shrinking significantly in the last several years, Rivas said. The fact that turtle nests will likely disappear in alarming rates on several islands so far away from one another prove how widespread and dangerous the threat is, she said.
Rivas also warned against relocating turtle nests to higher ground because without temperature control, this well-meaning action could cause skewing sex ratios — causing all of the eggs that hatch to be females. The temperature of the developing eggs determines whether the offspring will be male or female.
“They put it anywhere, and they are producing 100% of females in those places,” Rivas said.
Sea level rise is adding to the severe threat sea turtles already face by overfishing and plastic ingestion, Rivas said.
“We need to help protect their nesting population because without those, with the high mortality they’re suffering, it’s impossible to to keep their species for the future,” Rivas said.
Loggerhead turtles are listed as vulnerable and multiple subspecies of leatherback turtles are listed as critical on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species.
(ATLANTA) — An investigation into the death of a man whose family claims he was “eaten alive by insects and bedbugs” in an Atlanta jail has led to “sweeping changes,” according to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Patrick “Pat” Labat said in a statement Monday that he’s asked for and received the resignations of multiple employees of the Fulton County Jail: the chief jailer, assistant chief jailer and the assistant chief jailer of the site’s Criminal Investigative Division.
The resignations come after the lawyer of LaShawn Thompson’s family said last week that Thompson’s body was discovered in a “filthy jail cell” on Sept. 13, 2022, after medical staff allegedly ignored his declining health. According to family attorney Ben Crump, authorities found Thompson with over 1,000 insect bites “all over his body.”
“They literally watched his health decline until he died. When his body was found, one of the detention officers refused to administer CPR because in her words, she ‘freaked out,'” the family’s attorney, Michael Harper, wrote in an April 12 Facebook post. “He did not deserve this. Someone has to be held accountable for his death.”
Although there are graphic images of Thompson’s jail cell and his body and face after he was found, the medical examiner could not determine the cause of death, according to family attorneys.
Thompson was arrested on June 12, 2022, for simple battery against police officials, according to jail records.
In the statement, posted to its Facebook page, the sheriff’s office said the executive team that’s been in place “has more than 65 years of jail administration and law enforcement experience.”
“When leveraged at its very best, that experience can be invaluable. However, it can also lend itself to complacency, stagnation and settling for the status quo,” it said.
“It’s clear to me that it’s time, past time, to clean house,” Labat said in the statement.
According to Harper, Thompson suffered from mental health issues and was diagnosed with schizophrenia. He was placed in a psychiatric ward in jail three months before his death.
Family attorneys, community members and family held a press conference Thursday to demand the Department of Justice investigate the jail.
Thompson’s family also has called for the jail to be closed.
“He wasn’t the only one who was affected by those insects and bedbugs in that entire wing, but he was the only one that we know of who died,” Harper said during the press conference.
Thompson’s younger sister Shenita Thompson spoke at the press conference, sharing she’d been calling authorities for months to get answers regarding the death of her brother, but was unable to get answers until Harper stepped in to help.
“I want to get down to the truth of what happened to my brother,” Shenita said.
Thompson’s aunt spoke as well, detailing the bites she found over her nephew’s body at the funeral home.
The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office says it’s exploring its options to change medical vendors and to partner with a provider that can “compassionately” deliver care, officials said.
Sheriff Labat joined the family at the Thursday press conference, offering his condolences and answering questions from the community.
“The family asked me to come out here and stand with them. We have prayed together. We understand and I’ve said this publicly. This is absolutely unconscionable. Point blank,” he said.
An investigation is being conducted by the Office of Professional Standards, as well as by the Atlanta Police Department, authorities said. The Georgia Bureau of Investigations will ultimately review a “full investigative package” once the probes are complete, the sheriff’s office said.
According to Harper, Senator Jon Ossoff also called for the DOJ to begin an investigation and Labat shared at the press conference that he has been “in contact” with Ossoff’s office.
“In terms of the timeline, it’s important to know what I don’t want to do is, I don’t want to for the sake of expediency rush through. I want to get it right,” Labat said. “The family deserve it. We need to make sure we get it right every step of the way.
Crump announced at the press conference that he will be conducting an independent autopsy done for Thompson with help from former NFL star and activist Colin Kapernick, who contacted the family assuring that he will pay for it “no matter what.”
“We didn’t want our brother to be shown to the public like this, but the public need to see,” said Brad McCrae, younger brother of Thompson. “Everybody need to see. Everybody needs to wake up and somebody needs to be held accountable.”
(NEW YORK) — If former President Donald Trump opts not to attend his trial next week in which he stands accused of defaming and battering writer E. Jean Carroll, a federal judge ruled Thursday that his lawyer can make no mention of the “burdens” that might spare New York City.
Trump attorney Joe Tacopina had asked the judge on Wednesday to inform the jury that if Trump didn’t appear for the trail in lower Manhattan, it would be to avoid the “logistical and financial burdens upon New York City, its residents, and court itself.”
Judge Lewis Kaplan, who is presiding over Carroll’s lawsuit against Trump, said Thursday that the decision whether to attend the trial or testify is Trump’s alone, and that Trump has had “ample time” to make the necessary arrangements.
“Moreover, the Court notes from Mr. Trump’s campaign web site and media reports that he announced earlier this week that he will speak at a campaign event in New Hampshire on April 27, 2023, the third day of the scheduled trial in this case,” Kaplan said in his ruling. “If the Secret Service can protect him at that event, certainly the Secret Service, the Marshals Service, and the City of New York can see to his security in this very secure federal courthouse.”
Kaplan said it was premature to tell the jury anything about Trump’s presence or absence.
“Should he elect not to appear or testify, his counsel may renew the request,” Kaplan said. “In the meantime, there shall be no reference by counsel for Mr. Trump in the presence of the jury panel or the trial jury to Mr. Trump’s alleged desire to testify or to the burdens that any absence on his part allegedly might spare, or might have spared, the Court of the city of New York.”
In her lawsuit, brought in November, Carroll alleges that Trump defamed her by calling her a liar when he denied her claim that he raped her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s. She added a charge of battery under a recently adopted New York law that allows adult survivors of sexual abuse to sue their alleged attacker regardless of the statute of limitations.
A judge last week denied Trump’s attempt to delay the start of the trial, which is scheduled to get underway in New York on Tuesday.
Trump has repeatedly denied Carroll’s allegations.
An attorney for Carroll chided Tacopina’s request on Wednesday, writing in a separate letter that “the notion that Mr. Trump would not appear as some sort of favor to the City of New York — and that the jury should be instructed as much — taxes the credulity of the credulous.”
The judge had given Trump until the end of the day Thursday to let the court know for sure whether he’d attend the trial, but Tacopina said in a letter to the court Thursday afternoon that Trump would make that decision while the trial is in progress.
“Because the decision of the defendant, who is not required to appear as a civil litigant, will be made during the course of the trial. we are not yet in a position to advise the Court in this regard,” Tacopina said. “However, we will inform the Court as soon as a decision is reached, particularly in light of the logistical concerns that will need to be addressed in coordination with the Secret Service, the Marshals Service, and the City of New York.”
“Your consideration in this matter is greatly appreciated,” Tacopina said in the letter.
Envy of None, featuring Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson, is ready to drop new music. The band, which also features bassist Andy Curran, guitarist/keyboardist Alfio Annibalini and singer-songwriter Maiah Wynne, is dropping the new EP That Was Then, This Is Now on June 9.
The EP consists of one newly recorded track, “That Was Then,” along with remixes of “Dumkoptf” and “Dog’s Life.” It also includes tracks “Lethe River” and “You’ll Be Sorry,” which was previously released as part of the deluxe edition of their 2022 self-titled debut.
“Very happy to say that chapter 2 for Envy of None has officially started,” Curran shares. “We have a brand new song called ‘That Was Then, This Is Now’ which marks the first new track we’ve recorded since our debut album release almost a year ago.”
(SANTA FE, N.M.) — Charges against Alec Baldwin have been dropped in the fatal on-set “Rust” shooting, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Baldwin, 65, had been charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter after fatally shooting cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, 42, on the New Mexico set of the Western in October 2021. The actor was practicing a cross-draw when the gun fired, striking the cinematographer and director Joel Souza, who suffered a non-life-threatening injury.
“We are pleased with the decision to dismiss the case against Alec Baldwin and we encourage a proper investigation into the facts and circumstances of this tragic accident,” Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, the attorneys for Alec Baldwin, said in a statement.
Baldwin’s next court appearance in the case had been set for May 3. Baldwin already waived his right to appear at the preliminary hearing.
The film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was also charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter over Hutchins’ death.
Gun enhancement charges filed in the case against both Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed were dropped in late February.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
(WASHINGTON) — The United States is sending additional military forces and equipment to a base in Djibouti to pre-position in case they are needed for the possible evacuation of Americans from Sudan, two U.S. officials told ABC News.
Fierce fighting between the Sudanese Army and a paramilitary force has raged in Sudan’s capital city of Khartoum since this past weekend, raising security concerns for Americans and citizens from other countries who have been trapped by the fighting.
More than 330 people have been killed in the fighting. There are an estimated 16,000 American citizens in Sudan, two U.S. officials told ABC News.
“The Department of Defense, through U.S. Africa Command, is monitoring the situation in Sudan and conducting prudent planning for various contingencies,” said Lt. Col. Phil Ventura, a Defense Department spokesman.
“As part of this, we are deploying additional capabilities nearby in the region for contingency purposes related to securing and potentially facilitating the departure of U.S. Embassy personnel from Sudan, if circumstances require it,” said Ventura. As a matter of policy and security, we do not speculate on potential future operations.
Two U.S. officials told ABC News that the additional personnel and capabilities are being sent to Djibouti where 5,000 U.S. military personnel are stationed at Camp Lemonnier, the large U.S. military base that is the hub for U.S. military operations in the Horn of Africa.
A top White House spokesman told reporters Thursday that President Joe Biden had authorized the movement of U.S. personnel in recent days.
“He authorized the military to move forward with prepositioning forces and to develop options in case, and I want to stress right now, in case there’s a need for an evacuation,” John Kirby, the National Security Council’s coordinator for strategic communications told reporters at a White House briefing.
“We want to make sure that we’ve got the capability ready in case it’s needed,” said Kirby who stressed that no decision had been made yet to evacuate American diplomats or citizens. He urged both sides to stop the violence and allow for a ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to be distributed to address shortages of food and medicine.
Any evacuation in Sudan would likely mean access to the airport in Khartoum where fighting has already damaged some civilian aircraft.
“What I can tell you is that we have good accountability of all our government personnel,” operating at the embassy said Kirby who acknowledged that not all of the U.S. diplomatic personnel are together.
“They’re still trying to get them all co-located together for their own safety, they are still sheltering in place where they are,” said Kirby.
While a U.S. diplomatic convoy was struck by gunfire earlier in the week, Kirby said “there’s no indication that either side is deliberately going after or trying to hurt target. Americans.”
ABC News’ Shannon Crawford contributed to this report
20th Century Studios has released the first trailer to the Hulu-bound reboot of the 1992 classic White Men Can’t Jump.
Rapper Jack Harlow makes his feature-length film debut as Jeremy, with Friday Night Lights‘Sinqua Walls as Kamal, succeeding Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes in the original film.
As before, hustling at hoops and trash talk is the name of the game, with Harlow’s character, dressed like a “yoga teacher,” beating Walls’ character in a not-so-friendly free-throw wager.
The unlikely duo team up in a street ball competition with a $500,000 grand prize at stake, but first they have to hustle their share of competitors for the entry fee.
That’s not as easy as it looks, however, as one of the sore losers busts out a flamethrower.
black-ish‘s Kenya Barris wrote the script for Grammy-winning video director Calmatic. The film also stars Coming 2 America‘s Teyana Taylor, Spider-Man: Homecoming‘s Laura Harrier andthe late John Wick star Lance Reddick.
A famous Eddie Van Halen guitar has sold for big bucks at auction.
The custom-made Kramer electric guitar the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame guitarist played in the video for the band’s hit “Hot For Teacher” went up for auction at Sotheby’s earlier this month, and the winning bidder shelled out almost $4 million for the axe.
The auction house had initially estimated the guitar to sell for between $2 million and $3 million, but in the end sold for $3,932,000.
The guitar, designed for Eddie by Paul Unkert of Kramer Guitars, was one of the rocker’s main guitars from 1983 to 1984. In the “Hot for Teacher” video, he memorably shreds his solo while walking across desks in a library.
