Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are currently on their North American tour, and E Streeter Steven Van Zandt has no time for folks complaining about the show.
When one person tweeted about being upset the band is now playing 26 songs instead of the 28 they started out with, Little Steven couldn’t keep quiet.
“Only a**holes pretending to be fans evaluate a show by the number of songs that get played or the time spent on stage,” he responded. “Real fans enjoy the intimate exchange of energy they and the band experience that is unique to the night they are there.”
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band’s tour hits Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday.
(WASHINGTON) — A nearly two-year civil rights investigation into the Louisville, Kentucky, police department and Louisville Metro Government, touched off by the killing of Breonna Taylor, found the city and law enforcement engaged in a pattern of unlawful and discriminatory conduct, depriving people of their constitutional liberties, the Department of Justice announced on Wednesday.
“This conduct is unacceptable and it is heartbreaking,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said at a press conference, outlining a damning portrait of the Louisville police as he announced the findings of the civil rights investigation.
“It erodes the community trust necessary for effective policing. It is an affront to the vast majority of officers who put their lives on the line every day to serve Louisville with honor and it is an affront to the people of Louisville who deserve better,” Garland said.
He said that Louisville has signed an agreement in principle with the DOJ to negotiate toward a legally binding consent decree that will include the appointment of an independent monitor to oversee a series of reforms to address the problems that investigators uncovered.
The DOJ plans to hold a virtual community meeting on Wednesday night to discuss their findings with Louisville residents.
The department launched its pattern or practice investigation into the Louisville police in April 2021, more than a year after the botched raid that resulted in Taylor’s shooting death in her home, which spurred nationwide protests along with the murder of George Floyd in Minnesota.
According to the DOJ’s report released Wednesday, one police leader told investigators that Taylor’s death “was a symptom of problems that we have had for years.”
The DOJ’s review, based on hundreds of interviews, thousands of documents and thousands of hours of body-worn camera footage, found Louisville officers routinely used excessive force in arrests, including unjustified neck restraints and wrongful use of police dogs and tasers.
The police department also conducted searches based on “invalid warrants,” the review found, and officers unlawfully executed search warrants without knocking and announcing.
“For years, [the Louisville police department] has practiced an aggressive style of policing that it deploys selectively, especially against Black people, but also against vulnerable people throughout the city,” the report stated. “Some officers have videotaped themselves throwing drinks at pedestrians from their cars; insulted people with disabilities; and called Black people ‘monkeys,’ ‘animal,’ and ‘boy.'”
The federal review found police officers conducted unlawful stops and arrests of suspects and that the department routinely discriminated against Black people in their enforcement actions. The department and city also were found to have discriminated against people who had behavioral health disabilities when they were in crisis, the report stated.
Investigators singled out members of a specialized group in the department that was once called the “Viper Unit.” Those officers were found to have routinely made dubious traffic stops in Black neighborhoods and violated residents’ Fourth Amendment rights, according to the report.
“The unit’s activities were part of an overall enforcement approach that resulted in significant and unlawful racial disparities,” Garland said at the press conference.
The DOJ investigation further found that Louisville police leaders “endorsed and defended” unlawful conduct by their officers, with some supervisors accused of defending instances of obviously excessive force or search warrants that lacked probable cause.
Last August, Garland announced civil rights charges against four Louisville police officers for a range of alleged offenses in connection with Taylor’s death, including unlawful conspiracies, unconstitutional use of force and obstruction.
One of those officers, former Louisville Detective Kelly Goodlett, has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to violate Taylor’s civil rights while the others, Sgt. Kyle Meany and Joshua Jaynes and Brett Hankison, both former detectives, have pleaded not guilty.
The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division head, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, said at Wednesday’s press conference that their investigation found disturbing disparities in how Black residents were treated by police in comparison with white residents.
Black drivers were nearly four times as likely as white drivers to be cited for improperly tinted windows and nearly five times as likely as white drivers to be cited for improper tags, with Black drivers almost 50% more likely to be searched when stopped by police in their cars than white people, Clarke said.
Louisville police brought charges against Black people at higher rates than white people for the same misdemeanor offenses, she said.
“For example, [the Louisville police department] charges Black people for loitering more than four times the rate of white people, for disorderly conduct two-and-a-half times the rate of white people and for littering at three times the rate of white people,” Clarke said. “This pattern of racial discrimination fuels distrust and impedes the community’s confidence in the [police] and their law enforcement operations.”
The DOJ expects to continue working with Louisville police and the city government on a host of reforms to their law enforcement practices, including some that have already been implemented in the years following Taylor’s killing.
The newly released report outlines more than 30 recommendations for the department and city to implement, including structural changes to its use-of-force policies and reporting and an overhaul of their training protocols.
(NEW YORK) — Some of the regions in California buried under several feet of snow are now bracing for rapid melting due to forecasts of higher temperatures and heavy rain.
Another round of atmospheric rivers will be slamming much of California with tropical moisture over the coming days, washing away the snowpack that has accumulated in recent weeks forecasts show.
Up to 8 inches of rain is expected to fall on top of the piles of snow in lower elevations, which could cause flash flooding and present the risk for mudslides and rockslides with debris flow as streams as rivers rise quickly and saturated slopes are unable to hold in the extra moisture.
Those risks will be compounded by the flooding rain that moves in as the storm system approaches, Brian Ochs, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Hanford, California, told ABC News.
If possible, please avoid heavy snow buildup on roofs. Heavy snow on roofs can damage them and potentially cause them to collapse. Moderate to heavy rain is expected late Thursday into the weekend, and snow on roofs can absorb the rain and become even heavier. #CAwxpic.twitter.com/3squOdOrk2
Elevations higher than 9,000 in the Sierra Nevada mountains will experience even more snow, leading to concern that additional snow accumulations will cause rooftops to collapse in the region, Ochs said. In the lower elevations that receive rain, the moisture could be absorbed by the snowpack, increasing the risk for structural damage, the National Weather Service warned.
“That could cause some damage if they don’t get the snow off the roofs,” he said.
High avalanche danger is expected for the Sierras and mountains in Southern California as well, forecasts show.
The bulk of the rain is expected to begin falling Thursday evening into Friday morning, Ochs said. Flood, winter storm and high wind watches have been issued all over the state.
The San Joaquin Valley could reach flood stage by Friday as creeks and rivers near Merced County and Yosemite National Park overflow, Ochs said. Flood watches have been issues for places like Redding, Bakersfield and east of the state, in Reno, Nevada.
Flooding is even possible in the San Francisco Bay, where more than 3 inches of rain could fall in a short amount of time. Heavy rain will begin reaching Los Angeles on Thursday night into Friday.
Parts of Southern California are already experiencing flooding. Video taken Tuesday in Sunland, a town about 20 miles north of Los Angeles, shows roadways inundated with rushing floodwaters as the snow in the foothills begins to thaw.
Anyone living near creeks and rivers should create an evacuation plan due to the flooding risk, Ochs said.
“Keep up with what the sheriffs are asking the residents to do,” he said. “Heed their warning.”
The messy weather will continue past the weekend, with another atmospheric river system already on the horizon past the weekend and into Wednesday, Ochs said.
Additional systems could be on the heels of that one later next week, Ochs said, citing National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center.
“We are in a pretty high risk of at least being in above average precipitation next week,” Ochs said.
History Channel has snagged some Oscar-caliber talent for three separate documentaries: Academy Award winners Morgan Freeman and Kevin Costner, and nominee Bradley Cooper.
Cooper is executive producing FDR with Pulitzer Prize-winning, bestselling author Doris Kearns Goodwin. The new three-night documentary will premiere on Monday, May 29, at 8 p.m. The project is being called “an epic portrait of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, unpacking how his own fight with polio prepared him for the challenges of leading the United States through the Great Depression and World War II.”
Freeman’s two-hour doc, Black Patriots: The 761st Battalion, “will tell the true story of the first Black tank unit to serve in combat during WWII, and explore in-depth the two major battles they faced – the expansion of Nazism in Europe and racism, oppression, and inequality at home.”
In a statement, the legendary actor calls it an honor to show the public “a story I’ve wanted to tell for more than two decades.”
He adds of these “incredible” men, “Their sacrifice for this country was crucial to our victory over Nazi Germany. But they have never received proper credit.”
Yellowstone star Costner will host and produce Kevin Costner’s The West, another History collabo with Goodwin. “This original series will transcend the clichés and myths of the ‘Wild West’ and … capture the spirit of opportunity, adventure and peril through the diverse, complex characters and untold stories that defined the era and continue to shape our country today.”
Costner said, “[These] people and their stories have always held a fascination for me, but there’s an urgency today to put those times and the men and women who we think we know in perspective, in the context of their times, without judgement.”
Kacey Musgraves has collaborated with Boy Smells to dream up a new room spray inspired by her song “Slow Burn.”
Priced at $51.99, the new KM + Boy Smells Slow Burn Room Spray is described on her merch store as “glowing and dark,” “a little dank, a little crisp” and “commanding but not in a hurry.” Ingredients in this Kacey-centric spray include incense, black pepper and guaiac wood, as well as smoked papyrus and amber.
“The best-selling candle available now in the form of a moody and delicious room spray. [fire emoji],” Kacey writes on Instagram. “[If you spray it on yourself I won’t judge you.] But, fun fact: the candle wax can be used as a solid perfume. It’s skin safe!”
Prior to this, Kacey teamed up with Boy Smells for her signature “Slow Burn” candle. “Slow Burn” was featured in her Grammy-winning album, Golden Hour.
The KM + Boy Smells Slow Burn Room Spray is available for preorder on Kacey’s merch store now, with shipment beginning the week of March 27.
Looks like we may be getting new music from Jane’s Addiction soon. Consequence reports that Perry Farrell and the band debuted a new song during their recent concert in Bakersfield, California.
The tune, “True Love,” is described as a ballad and is the first new song from the band since they dropped the single “Another Soulmate” back in 2013.
Jane’s Addiction, which in addition to Farrell currently consists of Stephen Perkins, Eric Avery and Josh Klinghoffer filling in for Dave Navarro, has three more U.S. shows on their schedule, including the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles on Thursday. A complete list of dates can be found at janesaddiction.com.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Madonna certainly knows how to generate headlines. After teasing a new relationship with Josh Popper earlier this month, the singer went Instagram official with the 29-year-old boxer.
This comes shortly after Madge parted ways with 23-year-old model Andrew Darnell.
The 64-year-old singer shared a snap of the two locking lips to her Instagram Story. She and Popper were dressed in all black, including masks, for what appeared to be a party celebrating the Jewish holiday of Purim. The singer captioned the post, “Killers who are partying,” a reference to a song off her 2019 album Madame X.
Madonna revealed on her Story that she dressed as the historical figure Queen Esther for the celebration. Esther is also Madonna’s self-given Hebrew name.
The party came days after Madonna sat ringside at Popper’s fight at Manhattan’s Classic Car Club, according to Page Six. She reportedly left as soon as his match ended, which he won.
John Mellencamp showed his continuing support for farmers Tuesday, joining them as they marched in Washington, D.C., at the Rally for Resilience: Farmers for Climate Action.
The Farm Aid co-founder took the stage at Freedom Park and performed an acoustic version of “Rain on the Scarecrow,” his 1985 track about a farmer dealing with the foreclosure of his land.
“Here’s all I can say – keep slugging,” Mellencamp told the farmers, according toBillboard. “We’ve been slugging since 1985 and let’s keep slugging,” referring to the year he, Willie Nelson and Neil Young formed Farm Aid. He added, “Let’s try to improve the quality of the food that we eat, the air that we breathe and the people that we are.”
Mellencamp also remarked about the faces he saw in the crowd, noting they were “much younger than they used to be.”
“And I think that’s great that there are younger people trying to improve the planet and the food that we eat. So it’s up to you guys to lead the way,” he said.
The rally comes as Congress begins work on the 2023 Farm Bill. It was part of a three-day gathering, which also included cultural events and a demonstration of climate-friendly farming practices.
Although BTS is on a break so its individual members can pursue solo careers and fulfill their military obligations, RM is optimistic about the band’s future.
Speaking to Spanish outlet Efe, the rapper opened up about finding himself during BTS’ hiatus. “After 10 years as a member of BTS, I didn’t know who I was and I wanted to know,” RM said. He added, “I started out as a teenage rapper, then BTS came along and it was all very intense. Now that the group is inactive, I’ve gone back to thinking about the beginnings and the real reasons why I joined BTS.”
During the hiatus, RM released his debut solo album, Indigo.
RM hinted this break will also benefit his bandmates. “When you are famous, staying on top is very difficult … but I think BTS will make it,” he offered. “It will come together again when we finish our military service, and we will look for new synergies between us to enter a second phase.”
As for how long he sees BTS staying on top of the world, the rapper cryptically added, “But, in any case, nothing lasts forever.”
The 28-year-old artist will soon embark on his mandatory military service.
All South Korean men age 18 to 28 are required to complete two years of military service. BTS and other South Korean entertainers have been able to postpone their enlistment until they turn 30. RM’s bandmate Jin enlisted in December, while j-hope started the process for fulfilling military service obligations.
(NEW YORK) — Locked out of his work computer for more than a week, a two-year Twitter employee didn’t know whether he’d been laid off. So he asked CEO Elon Musk in a message on Twitter.
“Maybe if enough people retweet you’ll answer me here?” Haraldur Thorleifsson, who joined the company after it acquired his startup Ueno, tweeted on Monday.
Musk, who has nearly 131 million followers on the platform, responded on Tuesday.
“What work have you been doing,” he asked.
In an ensuing exchange, Musk volleyed questions at Thorleifsson about his work and voiced skepticism about limitations caused by a disability. Thorleifsson, a design manager, has muscular dystrophy and uses a wheelchair.
In a post, Musk said Thorleifsson “did no actual work, claimed as his excuse that he had a disability that prevented him from typing, yet was simultaneously tweeting up a storm.”
In response, Thorleifsson tweeted: “This wasn’t a problem in Twitter 1.0 since I was a senior director and my job was mostly to help teams move forward, give them strategic and tactical guidance.”
“I’m typing this on my phone btw,” Throleifsson, who goes by “Halli,” later added. “It’s easier for [sic] because I only need to use one finger.”
Musk – the second-richest person in the world, according to Fortune – has faced scrutiny over job cuts at the company in recent months.
Days after Musk acquired Twitter in October, the company began layoffs that ultimately cut more than half of its 7,500-person workforce, raising concerns about Twitter’s capacity to maintain its platform.
In a memo to employees in November, Musk asked workers to commit to being “extremely hardcore” or accept three months of severance upon their exit from the company. Many chose to leave.
For his part, Musk defended his actions at Twitter as part of an aggressive effort to rescue the company from financial peril, which he described in a Twitter Spaces interview in December as an “emergency fire drill.”
“That’s the reason for my actions,” he added. “They may seem sometimes spurious or odd or whatever.”
Musk previously said he overpaid for the platform at the purchasing price of $44 billion.
Twitter did not respond to a request for comment.
Ultimately, Thorleifsson said on Monday that he received a message from Twitter saying that he no longer worked for the company.
However, later on Monday, Musk said he held a video call with Thorleifsson to “figure out what’s real vs what I was told.”
“Better to talk to people than communicate via tweet,” he added.
By Monday evening, Musk issued an apology and indicated that Thorleifsson had been offered to return to Twitter.
“I would like to apologize to Halli for my misunderstanding of his situation,” Musk tweeted. “It was based on things I was told that were untrue or, in some cases, true, but not meaningful.”
“He is considering remaining at Twitter,” Musk added.
Thorleifsson, a philanthropist in his home country of Iceland, has led an effort to build 1,500 wheelchair ramps across the nation to improve accessibility.
He did not appear to indicate whether he intends to return to the company.
In a final post on Tuesday, Thorleifsson told his 200,000 followers: “Anyway, that’s enough about me.”
