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Proposed transgender policy prompts student outcry in Virginia Beach

February 21, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(VIRGINIA BEACH, VA) — Some students in Virginia are protesting a proposed transgender policy from the Virginia Department of Education.

At a Virginia Beach school board meeting last week, roughly 20 students spoke out about their personal experiences, as well as the experiences of their peers, and how they would be impacted by the new policy.

The policy would ban trans students from using the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity and would require parents to approve name or pronoun changes. Parents would also be “fully informed” by school personnel of a child’s well-being, including their “health, and social and psychological development,” according to the policy details.

The Virginia Department of Education said in a statement that these model policies, “support positive and safe learning environments for all students while respecting the rights and values of parents.”

Some critical of the policy accuse it of being discriminatory against transgender students and threatening their safety and well-being at school and at home, where their gender identity may not be known or accepted.

One nonbinary student named Joey, whose preferred pronouns are “they/them,” said they told their coming out story to the school board to help convince them to vote against the new policies.

“[Joey] isn’t the name I was born with or even started high school with but it’s who I am,” said Joey. “I realized that I’m extremely lucky because I had multiple friends, teachers and staff who showed me how easy it was to accept me as me.”

Joey said the new policies would ruin that safety for other transgender and nonbinary students.

“These new model policies would rip that safety and stability away from me along with hundreds of other students,” Joey said. “I know it’s really hard to understand, but I need you guys to understand the anxiety I feel every time I walk into class and see that there’s a substitute teacher, and I don’t know what name they’re gonna say.”

Another student named AJ applauded the old policies and denounced the new ones.

“I would have never fathomed being able to come out and speak in front of all of you without the support of teachers and peers within my school, as well as the support and safety that the 2021 policies have allowed me to have. The 2022 model policies however, send me and other gender diverse students a strong message of hate and rejection,” AJ said at the board hearing.

“So many people within my school have allowed me to realize that it is not only okay for me to be myself, but it is a cause for celebration,” AJ added.

Students also highlighted research that shows that transgender and nonbinary students are already more likely to face bullying, mental health issues and suicidal ideations due to discrimination based on their identities, according to a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as other studies.

Virginia Beach’s Deaprtment of Education said it is currently reviewing public comments on the policies before being finalized by the superintendent of public instruction.

Sheryl Lee Ralph among honorees at 2023 Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards

February 21, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Essence has announced the honorees of this year’s Black Women in Hollywood Awards, and among them are Emmy-award winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph.

The event, which celebrates Black women who are making their marks and helping to define what it means to be a Black woman in Hollywood, will also honor Tara Duncan, the president of the Freeform and Onyx Collective; The Woman King director Gina Prince-Bythewood and Wakanda Forever actress Dominique Thorne.

“For more than a decade and a half, Essence has championed the Black Women in Hollywood Awards to commemorate the Black women who are the story makers, storytellers, story-doers, and story-sharers that cultivate the entertainment ecosystem that the world cherishes and loves deeply,” says Caroline Wanga, president and CEO of Essence Ventures, LLC. “We are privileged to have this sacred platform that illuminates the on-going accomplishments of Black women at our annual luncheon in its 16th year since inception. Whether the world acknowledges it or not, Black women are the CEOs of home, culture and community and because of that role, when you engage with her, you engage with the Black community as a whole.”

The Black Women in Hollywood Awards will take place March 9 at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles, California.

Ohio governor sips water from East Palestine homes in bid to prove it’s safe

February 21, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(EAST PALESTINE, Ohio) — Standing around her kitchen sink, East Palestine, Ohio, resident Carolyn Brown told Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, EPA Administrator Michael Regan and other officials that it is the “uncertainty” that weighs on her, and her community, right now.

“There’s so much uncertainty about it. And that really gets to me emotionally,” Brown said. “My main concern is for the people that was closest to that accident, and a lot of them are younger than me and have children and — I just feel — it’s hard to see people going through things, you know, and the uncertainty of everything,” she said, her voice quavering slightly.

“You don’t know who to trust, that’s a big part of it, the uncertainty, you don’t know if you’re going to have to move,” she said. “We need to feel that we’re safe.”

It was 18 days ago that 50 cars on a Norfolk Southern Railroad train traveling from Illinois to Pennsylvania derailed in East Palestine. Eleven of those cars contained hazardous materials, five of which contained vinyl chloride, a highly volatile colorless gas produced for commercial uses. Officials decided, in order to avoid a major explosion, to evacuate the area around the derailment and burn off the chemicals.

In the days since they were allowed to return, residents have complained of itchy eyes and skin and respiratory problems.

“We know this is a long road, and we will be here until the end,” Regan said Tuesday.

DeWine said the community would not be forgotten, even after the cameras were gone. He said that testing would continue and the health clinic, set to open Tuesday, would be there to address people’s concerns.

Brown’s house is connected to the municipal water supply, she said, and DeWine told her the testing had come back so far showing that water was “safe.”

“We just need to continue to test. We think things are alright. We know things are all right now. And we just need to make sure that in the future they’re all right as well,” he said.

“So, it’s safe to drink the water?” Brown asked. “Because I haven’t even brushed my teeth with it.”

The officials assured her that it was safe.

“Did someone want to drink the water?” Brown asked.

In a chorus, the officials said, absolutely. Brown poured glasses of water from her tap. The group clinked glasses and took a sip.

“We believe in science,” Regan said. “We don’t feel like we’re being your guinea pig, but we don’t mind proving to you that we believe the water is safe.”

The officials next visited the home of a former chemistry teacher, Andris Baputnis. They drank his tap water too.

An EPA official demonstrated the sensitivity of the air quality monitors they’re using.

“As you can see in your home right now, it fluctuates a little bit,” the official said. “It’ll pick up like, hairspray … like when I hold it close to my body, it’ll pick up my deodorant. … So, that’s how sensitive these things are and that’s what we’ve been using to screen the homes and we assume it’s worst case until we can prove otherwise.”

“If there’s anything we can do at EPA, please let us know,” Regan told Baputnis.

Jewel co-founds Innerworld, a new virtual reality mental health platform

February 21, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Jewel is taking her fight against mental health stigmas to the virtual world.

People reports the singer co-founded Innerworld, which is a wellness center that will be based in the metaverse. She envisions a platform where people can visit as their anonymous, virtual avatars to access free resources and attend group therapy sessions in a space that’s designed to feel safe.

Jewel, who is the platform’s Chief Strategy Officer, explained why she wanted the platform to be free. “Accessibility is critical,” she said. “We cannot let happiness be elitist. It cannot be just for the wealthy who can afford a therapist.”

She continued, “Innerworld is a scalable solution that’s available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, offering real, peer-to-peer support… When you log into Innerworld, you go into your own private living room, and then you enter a portal where there’s a community center around the fire pit, and there’s people from all over the world hanging out in a safe, supported environment.”

“You can say to the guide, ‘My pet just died. I’m really sad. What do you recommend?’ And then they can pull up a visual tool, like the grief cycle, and you can talk about it with the guide, or you can talk to other community members,” she added.

Innerworld can be accessed on Meta Quest, iPhone, iPad, Mac or PC. It has reportedly assisted about 20,000 people in need of mental health support.

Jewel co-founded the site with Innerworld CEO Noah Robinson, and the service went online in 2022.

Jewel’s dedicated her platform to advocate for mental health. She founded the Inspiring Children’s Foundation 21 years ago, which offers mental health resources to at-risk youth in the Las Vegas area.

Megan Fox shares support for “insanely talented” Sophie Lloyd amid Machine Gun Kelly rumors

February 21, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Megan Fox has shared her support for guitarist Sophie Lloyd after Lloyd became part of the breakup rumors between the Jennifer’s Body actor and Machine Gun Kelly.

Lloyd, who plays in Kelly’s live band, was accused of having an affair with the “Bloody Valentine” rocker after Fox initially deleted all of her Instagram photos with her fiancé earlier this month. As People reported, someone commented on Fox’s Instagram that Kelly “probably got with Sophie,” to which she replied, “Maybe I got with Sophie.”

In a comment on one of Lloyd’s recent Instagram posts, Fox wrote, “How me making a joke in order to absolve this girl of a hurtful accusation somehow turned into a confirmation of it — I will never understand.”

“Why are people so…so dumb,” Fox continued. “Sophie you are insanely talented. Welcome to Hollywood. Your first unwarranted PR disaster.”

Lloyd then responded, “The internet is so wild! Sending so much love @meganfox.”

LLoyd’s management team previously addressed the MGK rumors in a statement to People that read, “Sophie Lloyd is a professional, accomplished musician who has been needlessly dragged into the media based off of meritless accusations made by social media.”

Meanwhile, Fox’s comment is part of her return to Instagram after she deactivated her account amid the initial breakup rumors. Her page now includes just one post reading, “There has been no third party interference in this relationship of any kind.”

“That includes, but is not limited to…actual humans, DMs, AI bots or succubus demons,” the post continues. “While I do hate to rob you of running random baseless news stories that would have been much more accurately written by ChatGPT, you need to let this story die and leave all of these innocent people alone now.”

Diddy announces first EP off Love Records, Jozzy’s ‘Songs for Women’

February 21, 2023 by WDNY Radio

After launching Love Records last May, Diddy‘s announced the first EP that will be released under his label. Songs for Women by singer/songwriter Jozzy is set to drop on Friday.

“Jozzy is a very special and dynamic talent that only comes around once in a generation, so I’m excited to see how her music sets a new standard for R&B,” Diddy says in a statement. “Her skills as a writer and performer, matched with her style and energy has the potential to make her one of the greats and I’m proud to play a part in shaping the next chapter of her career.”

Jozzy’s made a name as a songwriter, earning credits on songs including DaniLeigh’s “Lil Bebe”, Metro Boomin & 21 Savage’s “Mr. Right Now,” Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” [Remix] and more. Her work on Beyoncé’s RENAISSANCE and Mary J. Blige’s Good Morning Gorgeous was nominated at the 65th annual Grammy Awards.

Diddy brought Jozzy onstage to perform with him at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards. He introduced her as the first artist under Love Records, noting, she’s “one of the most talented songwriters and artist” he’s ever worked with.

Brian Cox calls “gifted” ‘Succession’ co-star Jeremy Strong’s Method acting “f***ing annoying”

February 21, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(NOTE LANGUAGE) Succession Emmy winner Brian Cox certainly thinks Jeremy Strong, one of the scheming siblings on the HBO show, is “gifted” but says how he gets there is “f***ing annoying.”

In a feature in Town & Country, Cox was asked about comments he made last year to the New Yorker, in which he and other Succession co-stars called out Strong’s “intense” Method-like acting. Cox said at the time it’s a “particularly American disease, I think, this inability to separate yourself off while you’re doing the job.”

In the new interview, the Scottish actor was asked again about Strong’s process. “Oh, it’s f***ing annoying,” he said. “Don’t get me going on it.”

Cox continues, “He’s a very good actor. And the rest of the ensemble is all okay with this. But knowing a character and what the character does is only part of the skill set.”

The actor, who plays CEO Logan Roy, cites an example of Strong not letting his character go after a particularly intense scene. “He’s f***ing gifted. When you’ve got the gift, celebrate the gift. Go back to your trailer and have a hit of marijuana, you know?”

For the record, Strong, who plays Logan’s son Kendall Roy, is aware he ruffles feathers. He offered GQ of the Emmy-winning drama, “It is like a family in the sense that…you don’t always like the people that you love. I do always respect them.”

He added, “Everyone’s entitled to have their feelings. I also think Brian Cox, for example, he’s earned the right to say whatever the f*** he wants.”

Succession returns for season 4 Sunday, March 26, at 9 p.m. on HBO.

Beatles or Stones? We may be getting them both on one album

February 21, 2023 by WDNY Radio

It’s the collaboration that every rock fan has dreamed of for 60 years: The Beatles and The Rolling Stones together on an album. Well, sort of.

Multiple sources tell Variety that Paul McCartney has recorded bass parts for the album the Stones are working on, which is being produced by Ozzy Osbourne/Iggy Pop/Elton John producer Andrew Watt. What’s more, Ringo Starr is also set to play on the album.

Of course, the Stones lost their drummer, Charlie Watts, in 2021, and they’ve been without a permanent bass player since Bill Wyman left the group after their 1989-1990 Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle tour.

Variety reports that the sessions with McCartney took place in LA recently. It’s not definite which songs will actually make the final cut for the album or whether or not Ringo and Paul might play on the same songs. The publication reports that the album is getting close to its mixing phase, but it’s not clear when it’ll be released.

While the Stones, McCartney and Ringo have known each other since the ’60s, the catalyst for the collaboration might have been Watt: McCartney said in 2021 and 2022 that he’d been working with the Grammy-winning producer.

The new project, when it emerges, will be the Stones’ first album of original material since 2005’s A Bigger Bang. Their last new album, 2016’s Blue & Lonesome, was an album of blues covers.

The Revivalists and The Head and the Heart announce co-headlining tour dates

February 21, 2023 by WDNY Radio

The Revivalists and The Head and the Heart have announced a co-headlining tour.

The two bands will hit the road together from June 30 in Kansas City, Missouri, to July 15 in Gilford, New Hampshire.

Following the joint trek, The Revivalists and The Head and the Heart will go their separate ways for tours with Band of Horses and Father John Misty, respectively.

For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit TheRevivalists.com or TheHeadandtheHeart.com.

The Revivalists will release a new album called Pour It Out into the Night on June 2. The Head and the Heart put out a new record, Every Shade of Blue, last April.

Luke Combs picks a “5 Leaf Clover” for St. Patty’s Day

February 21, 2023 by WDNY Radio

One of Luke Combs‘ most-anticipated songs ever is finally set to arrive.

“Know y’all are ready for ‘5 Leaf Clover,'” he posted on his socials, “so going ahead and releasing it… on March 17!”

“March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day for those who didn’t catch that,” he added in the comments.

“I make it home every evening to an angel god sent from above,” Luke sings in the accompanying clip. “I’ve got an eight point on camera from last year that this season looks like a ten. I got a barn with a fridge full of cold beer, and on the weekend it’s full of good friends.

“I know I’m a lucky man, but I ain’t sure why I am,” the chorus continues. “‘Cause it ain’t like anyone deserves the world in the palm of their hand. I’ve hit my knees thankful as can be, but the one thing I can’t get over, Is how’d a guy like me who’da been fine with three wind up with a five-leaf clover?”

“5 Leaf Clover” will arrive one week before the release of Luke’s fourth album, Gettin’ Old, on March 24.

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