Page 6022 – 105.7 WDNY

Man who fatally shot 13-year-old for allegedly breaking into cars arrested for murder

January 31, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — Jason Lewis, the man accused of shooting 13-year-old Karon Blake outside his home earlier this month, has been charged with second-degree murder while armed, according to Washington, D.C., police.

Blake was shot and killed after an alleged interaction with Lewis, who said he saw Blake appear to be “tampering with” with cars shortly before 4 a.m. on Jan. 7.

The family of Blake has been calling for criminal charges in the case, including at a public forum attended by a police representative. Authorities have only said the investigation was ongoing and police were working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

If convicted, the commission of second-degree murder while armed with a gun includes a 10-year mandatory minimum sentence in addition to the penalty for second-degree murder.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said in the days following the shooting that Lewis was a D. C. government employee, but did not specify what department.

Bowser said that despite being mayor since 2015, she did not know the man personally but said he did not work in public service. She said he was a long-time government employee. During her remarks, she noted that the body-worn camera from the police officer’s response would not be released as the investigation continues.

“It’s a horrible situation,” Bowser said on Jan. 11. “And we had a 13-year-old that died and we don’t have all the facts and the people who are responsible for gathering the facts [and] make charging decisions are doing it just as fast as possible. And so that is a very uncomfortable place we’re at but it is also the necessary place to get to just decisions.”

Lewis’ gun was registered, according to police.

Sean Long, Blake’s grandfather, told ABC News on Jan. 13 that the shooter should have called police instead of taking the law into his own hands.

“Everybody sneaks outside. Everybody go outside. Everybody do bad things,” Long said. “But that don’t mean that you’re supposed to be killed. They don’t mean that somebody supposed to put a gun on you. That don’t mean cause you touch a car someone look out their window and shoot you.”

Ward 5 Council Member Zachary Parker had called for charges in the shooting as well.

“No car or material possession is worth a life — under any circumstances,” Parker told ABC News in a statement just after the shooting. “I join Ward 5 residents in calling on the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold accountable the individual who took Karon’s life.”

ABC News’ Teddy Grant contributed to this report.

On This Day – January 31, 1981: Blondie lands their third number one with “The Tide Is High”

January 31, 2023 by WDNY Radio

On this day, January 31, 1981…

Blondie’s single “The Tide Is High” became their third number one song. The track was a remake of a 1967 rocksteady song originally recorded by Jamaican group The Paragons.

In addition to the U.S., “The Tide Is High” also went on to top the charts in the UK, Canada and New Zealand, and landed in the Top Five in Australia, South Africa, and several European countries.

Blondie’s previous number ones included “Call Me” and “Heart of Glass.”

“The Tide Is High” was the lead single from Blondie’s fifth studio album, Autoamerican, which later produced another number one hit, “Rapture.”

Santos tells House Republicans he’d recuse himself from committee assignments: Sources

January 31, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — Embattled GOP Rep. George Santos told House Republicans during a closed door meeting on Tuesday that he would recuse himself from sitting on any committees, multiple sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.

Santos was recently assigned two committees — the House Small Business Committee and the House Science, Space and Technology Committee.

Leaving the House Republican meeting, Speaker Kevin McCarthy confirmed that Santos said he would recuse himself from committees but indicated if he were to fill the committee seats, it would be on a temporary basis.

“If I fill them it will be on a temporary basis. He’ll be able to get committees back once he’s cleared,” McCarthy said.

A spokesperson for Santos’ office told ABC News, “The congressman is reserving his seats on his assigned committees until he has been properly cleared of both campaign and personal financial investigations.”

Santos was elected in November to represent New York’s 3rd Congressional District but by the time he was sworn in, he was under a cloud of controversy for fabricating much of his resume. He now also faces several investigations into his campaign’s finances.

McCarthy reiterated that the House Ethics Committee will have questions about many of those concerns and once he answers those questions he may be able to be seated on committees.

“I think it was an appropriate decision that until he can clear everything up he’s off the committees,” McCarthy said, adding that they discussed the matter during a meeting on Monday.

McCarthy wouldn’t say explicitly whether he encouraged Santos to step aside from his committee assignments but told reporters, “I think we had a good discussion inside the meeting” and said Santos found this decision was the best way forward.

Santos was assigned to the two House panels earlier this month despite calls for his resignation by Democrats and at least seven Republicans.

McCarthy has declined to join calls for Santos to step down, stating he will treat him like any other member of the House.

“I will hold him to the same standard I hold anyone else elected to Congress,” McCarthy told reporters last week. “If he has broken the law then we will remove him, but it is not my role. I believe in the rule of law.”

Santos’ committee assignments were also the subject of scrutiny given McCarthy blocked Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell from serving on the House Intelligence Committee. McCarthy is also seeking to remove Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Santos himself has remained defiant against stepping down.

When asked by ABC News Senior Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott Tuesday if he was now considering resigning, he replied, “No, I’m not.”

A sign of the times: AI “de-aging” company signs deal with major Hollywood talent agency

January 31, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Hollywood stars have always tried to beat back the hands of time, but a new partnership could mean your favorite celebrities will stay as you remembered them forever.

Specifically, the company Metaphysic has inked a deal with CAA, the talent agency that represents a who’s who of A-listers, including George Clooney and Jennifer Aniston, “to develop generative AI tools and services for global talent.”

In the announcement, it was noted, “Through this partnership, Metaphysic and CAA will work together to unlock creative possibilities for artists using AI across film, television, and entertainment.”

Metaphysic’s deepfake tool Metaphysic Live came to Hollywood’s attention thanks to America’s Got Talent, when the tech company resurrected Elvis Presley for a “live” performance in 2022.

The possibilities with linking up with an agency full of living stars are virtually limitless, from digital de-aging to, basically, true immortality.

In a statement, CAA’s chief metaverse officer Joanna Popper said the partnership could “unlock an incredible opportunity for the entertainment industry and beyond.”

For now, however, Metaphysic will partner with Oscar-winning Forrest Gump director Robert Zemeckis and that film’s stars Tom Hanks and Robin Wright for a Miramax movie called Here. The adaptation of Richard McGuire‘s graphic novel will utilize Metaphysic Live to de-age the actors, as the story takes place in one setting over a number of years.

The Smashing Pumpkins unveil second act of three-part ‘Atum’ album

January 31, 2023 by WDNY Radio

The Smashing Pumpkins have released the second act in the band’s three-part “rock opera” album, Atum.

The 11-song batch, which includes the lead single “Beguiled,” is available now via digitqal outlets.

As previously reported, Atum is described as the sequel to the Pumpkins’ Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and Machina/The Machines of God albums. In total, Atum consists of 33 tracks divided into three acts; the first dropped in November, while the third arrives on April 21.

If that’s not enough Smashing Pumpkins for you, a vinyl box set edition of Atum will be available on April 21 with 10 more bonus tracks.

Nile Rodgers featured in Peloton’s latest Artist Series workout

January 31, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Nile Rodgers & Chic have made some great music to dance to — and now Peloton fans will be able to work out to them, as well. Peloton just revealed on Instagram that Rodgers’ music will be the focus of its latest Peloton Artist Series, with classes starting February 1.

“Le Freak, C’est CHIC!” Peloton said in their announcement. “Freak out to the hits of multi-Grammy Award-winning music legend @nilerodgers in an Artist Series like no other.”

The Rodgers series will include four live classes, two 30-minute rides, one 30-minute run and one 20-minute upper body strength class.

In other Nile news … He recently revealed that he’s been in the studio with St. Vincent. He shared a picture with the artist aka Annie Clarke, writing, “Working on new music with St. Vincent is the real deal f-ing wonderful I’m trying not to lose my mind too.”

Harry Styles gets commemorative banner at LA’s Kia Forum

January 31, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Last year, Harry Styles received a special commemorative banner at New York’s Madison Square Garden, in recognition of the fact that he sold out 15 shows at the legendary venue. Now, he’s received a similar honor on the West Coast.

Fan footage from Sunday, which was his 15th show at the Kia Forum, shows a huge green banner with Harry’s name and “15 Sold Out Shows” written on it, hanging from the ceiling of the venue, and Harry gazing up at it and raising his fists in triumph while the audience cheers.

Tonight and Wednesday night, he’ll perform at the Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, CA, and head back to LA for the Grammys this weekend: He’s nominated for six awards at Sunday’s ceremony, including album, record and song of the year. He’ll then resume his Love On Tour trek in Perth, Australia on February 20.

Jessica Simpson recalls dodging calls from an *NSYNC member and a Backstreet Boy

January 31, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Jessica Simpson is dishing all about the time a member of the Backstreet Boys and a member of *NSYNC were pursuing her.

In a new excerpt from her short story, Movie Star: They Always Say They’re Single, Jessica, 42, remembers a moment from the 2001 MTV VMAs after party, when she was avoiding calls from both of the men.

“Earlier, at the hotel, I had separate calls going with them at the same time… I kept switching between the calls, putting each on hold when talk became too serious about when we were actually going to meet up,” she wrote, according to Bustle. “I was good on the phone and could talk the talk, but in person, I knew my shyness meant I wouldn’t even be able to look them in the eye.”

Simpson didn’t reveal the names of the boy-banders, but she did leave some hints. Of the Backstreet Boy, she reminisced about standing in the front row at one of his concerts.

“During a song, he poured a bottle of water all over himself, gyrating his body as he looked at me the whole time,” she said.

As for the *NSYNC member, the pop star said he told her “he was living in his car by choice.”

“I knew enough about the industry to know that money in those boybands was always … iffy, but he seemed to double down on this conviction. ‘I’d be fine doing it the rest of my life,’ he said. ‘Just keep a few belongings. He used that word — ‘belongings,'” she said. “I pictured myself trying to cram all the stuff my Cancer heart wouldn’t let go of into his car. That was not going work.”

Movie Star: They Always Say They’re Single is out as an ebook and audiobook on February 1.

Blake Lively pokes fun at husband Ryan Reynolds’ live reactions to his team’s soccer match

January 31, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Since they were married in 2012, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively have gone viral lovingly poking fun at each other over social media, and Blake has gotten the last laugh, thanks to Ryan’s ownership of the Welsh football club Wrexham FC.

In a now-vanished Instagram Story captured by the Mirror, Lively showed snaps of Ryan losing his mind watching the team he co-owns with Always Sunny‘s Rob McElhenney taking the fight to a much higher-ranked squad, Sheffield United, on Sunday night.

“I bought ESPN+ today. Just to watch my husband experience crippling anxiety live,” Lively commented, as Ryan both celebrated and lamented as his Red Dragons led, but ultimately tied, the other squad. “Worth it,” she snarked.

For his part, Ryan ‘grammed a photo of himself celebrating on the sidelines, “When @robmcelhenney and I got into this it all felt so impossible. But impossible is @wrexham_afc‘s favourite colour. That was one of the most exciting things I’ve EVER seen. Thank you each and every Wrexham supporter who came out and aimed your heart at that pitch tonight.”

And speaking of Internet snark, Hugh Jackman, another of Ryan’s troll targets, took the time to say congratulations to the underdogs for their performance — but only to McElhenney.

Ryan and Rob’s trials and tribulations getting the team back on its feet can be seen in the FX series Welcome to Wrexham.

Ice storm slams Texas, crippling roads and closing schools

January 31, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — An ice storm slamming Texas this week is crippling roads, closing schools and canceling flights.

The freezing rain began Monday and is expected to last through Wednesday morning. The ice will stretch from Texas through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee and into Kentucky.

Some areas have already seen 1 to 2 inches of sleet on top of a glaze of ice, creating a traffic nightmare.

By Tuesday evening, the ice will be falling in Austin and Dallas as well as Little Rock, Arkansas; and Memphis and near Nashville, Tennessee.

On Wednesday morning, the heaviest ice will be in Texas from Midland to Austin and into Dallas.

Ice accumulation could near 1 inch in some spots, covering power lines, roads and sidewalks.

The ice could weigh down power lines and trees, so officials are urging Texans to be prepared for power outages and be mindful of the possibility of trees falling onto cars and homes.

The National Weather Service is urging people to avoid driving if possible. Many Dallas-area schools closed for Monday and Tuesday.

There had been nearly 1,000 flights canceled in the U.S. as of Tuesday morning.

A devastating ice storm in February 2021 crippled the state’s power grid and left millions without power or running water for days in freezing weather.

Meanwhile, the Midwest is facing dangerously cold temperatures.

On Tuesday morning, the wind chill — what temperature it feels like — plunged to minus 27 degrees in Minneapolis and minus 9 in Chicago.

In Peter Sinks, Utah, the temperature fell to minus 62 degrees on Monday, marking the coldest day in the state this century.

For the Northeast, the coldest air of the season is on its way. On Saturday morning, wind chills are forecast to drop to minus 11 degrees in New York and minus 35 degrees in Boston.

Parts of Maine could see wind chills at minus 50 degrees, which would be the coldest seen there since the 1980s.

Despite the bitter temperatures, this month still marks the warmest January on record for dozens of cities, including in the Upper Midwest and Northeast.

+ More