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DOJ: Salt Lake City plastic surgeon among four charged in alleged COVID vaccine card scheme

January 23, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(SALT LAKE CITY) — A plastic surgeon and three others in Utah were charged with allegedly selling people seeking fraudulent COVID-19 immunization records an estimated $97,000 worth of fake CDC cards without administering vaccines, the Department of Justice said in a Friday release.

Dr. Michael Kirk Moore Jr., 58, of the Midvale practice Plastic Surgery Institute of Utah, was charged along with his neighbor Kristin Jackson Andersen, 59; surgical coordinator Kari Dee Burgoyne, 52; and receptionist Sandra Flores, 31.

Salt Lake County, Utah, resident Moore and his co-defendants allegedly ran a scheme to defraud the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the United States, court documents said. Moore and Andersen were members of a group trying to “liberate the medical profession from government and industry conflicts of interest,” the documents said.

The group allegedly destroyed about $28,000 or more in government-provided COVID-19 doses, usually by squirting syringes containing doses down sink drains, court documents said. They exchanged at least 1,900 doses’ worth of falsified record cards for either $50 cash payments or “donations to a specified charitable organization,” the Justice Department said. The recipient organization was linked to the group Moore and Andersen were involved with, court documents show.

Card recipients did not get COVID-19 vaccines, though some parents requested that their children receive saline shots instead so they would believe they did, court documents said.

Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General Special Agent in Charge Curt L. Muller vowed law enforcement would hold people who try to illegally profit from the pandemic accountable in a statement included in the DOJ release.

“By allegedly falsifying vaccine cards and administering saline shots to children instead of COVID-19 vaccines, not only did this provider endanger the health and well-being of a vulnerable population, but also undermined public trust and the integrity of federal health care programs,” Muller said.

Moore’s biography on the Plastic Surgery Institute of Utah website said he is a graduate of the School of Medicine at the University of Miami and completed a plastic surgery residency at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. His Utah physician and surgeon license was still listed as active on the state’s division of occupational and professional licensing website early Monday.

The complete list of charges the defendants are facing includes conspiracy to defraud the United States; conspiracy to convert, sell, convey, and dispose of government property; and conversion, sale, conveyance, and disposal of government property and aiding and abetting, with a first court appearance scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

Damar Hamlin attends Bills, Bengals playoff game as safety continues to recover

January 23, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(BUFFALO, N.Y.) — The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Buffalo Bills on Sunday during a highly anticipated rematch, which was Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s first time at the stadium after he collapsed from cardiac arrest during the teams’ regular season meeting.

“Welcome home,” the Bills tweeted along with video of Hamlin and his family at the stadium.

Hamlin collapsed suddenly after tackling Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins on Jan. 2. He was quickly surrounded by medical personnel, who performed CPR and restarted his heart on the field before being loaded into an ambulance and taken to a nearby hospital.

While he remained on a ventilator initially, he had the breathing tube removed days after being admitted to the hospital and doctors said his neurological function remained intact.

The game was suspended and later canceled.

Hamlin was released from UC Health in Cincinnati to Buffalo General for further treatment on Jan. 9.

Hamlin was discharged from the hospital nine days after the incident and has since been recovering at home.

While Hamlin has made great strides in his recovery from a cardiac arrest event earlier this month, he still has a long way to go in his recovery, his family spokesman told ESPN on Thursday.

“Despite being out of the hospital, Damar still has a lengthy recovery. Damar still requires oxygen and is having his heart monitored regularly. He has visited with the team a few times but he still gets winded very easily. He’s upbeat and positive and ready to continue to overcome this,” Hamlin’s spokesman, Jordon Rooney said.

Earlier this week, Buffalo Bills Coach Sean McDermott said that Hamlin has begun spending more time at the team’s facility and is there “almost daily,” ESPN reported.

The Bengals won the rematch and defeated the Bills 27-10.

ABC News’ Teddy Grant contributed to this report.

Monterey Park mass shooting live updates: Suspect had no documented criminal history

January 23, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(MONTEREY PARK, Calif.) — At least 10 people were killed and 10 others were injured on Saturday night when a gunman opened fire at a crowded dance studio in Monterey Park, California, authorities said.

The suspect — identified as 72-year-old Huu Can Tran — fled the scene and traveled to nearby Alhambra, where he allegedly entered a second dance hall before being disarmed that same night. Tran was found dead on Sunday from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside a van in Torrance, about 30 miles southwest of Monterey Park, according to police.

Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:

Jan 23, 9:51 AM EST
Governor visits Monterey Park

California Gov. Gavin Newsom tweeted photos of his Sunday visit to Monterey Park.

He said he met with “leaders and those impacted by this terrible tragedy” and called their strength “incredible.”

“No other country in the world is terrorized by this constant stream of gun violence,” the Democratic governor tweeted. “We need real gun reform at a national level.”

Jan 23, 8:42 AM EST
Suspect had no documented criminal history

Authorities have found no criminal history for the suspect in the Monterey Park mass shooting, ABC News has learned.

Investigators are still looking into a possible motive, including domestic violence.

-ABC News’ Josh Margolin and Alex Stone

Jan 23, 7:36 AM EST
‘Something came over me,’ says man who disarmed shooter

The man who disarmed the Monterey Park mass shooter recalled how “something came over me” during an interview Monday on ABC News’ “Good Morning America.”

“I realized I needed to get the weapon away from him,” Brandon Tsay said. “I needed to take this weapon, disarm him or else everybody would have died.”

Jan 23, 7:01 AM EST
Dance studio releases statement

The dance studio in Monterey Park where Saturday’s mass shooting took place has released a statement.

“What should have been a festive night to welcome the first day of the Lunar New Year turned into a tragedy. Our heart goes out to all the victims, survivors, and their families,” Star Dance Studio said in a Facebook post late Sunday. “In this time of healing, we hope that all those who were affected have the space to grieve and process what transpired within the last 24 hours. In the meantime, all classes will be canceled and studio will be closed until further notice.”

Jan 23, 5:31 AM EST
Survivor says longtime dance partner was among those killed

Shally was dancing the jive with her longtime dance partner on Saturday night when a gunman entered the studio and opened fire.

“We go to hide under the table,” Shally, who only provided her first name, recalled during an interview with Los Angeles ABC station KABC. “I think [my partner] had got shot already but not realized yet.”

Shally said she saw the gunman leave to get more bullets. When he returned, he reloaded the gun and opened fire again, she said.

“I said, ‘Lie down.’ We all lied down,” Sally told KABC.

Shally said the shooter then fled the scene and she turned to her partner, who she realized was unconscious. She tried to wake him but then saw her hands were covered in blood, she said.

“I thought I got shot too,” she told KABC.

Shally said she then realized that her partner had been shot in the back and the blood on her hands was his, from when they were holding each other in fear while hiding under the table.

“‘Wake up, wake up,'” she recalled telling her partner. “He was dead.”

Shally, who did not want to share the name of her dance partner, said he was a good friend and that they had danced together every week for about 10 years. She described him as a 62-year-old Asian man who didn’t have any family and said he was also friends with her husband, whom she married a couple years ago.

“He’s a nice guy,” she told KABC of her dance partner. “We love to dance.”

Monterey Park mass shooting live updates: Gunman left to reload, survivor says

January 23, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:

Jan 23, 7:36 AM EST
‘Something came over me,’ says man who disarmed shooter

The man who disarmed the Monterey Park mass shooter recalled how “something came over me” during an interview Monday on ABC News’ “Good Morning America.”

“I realized I needed to get the weapon away from him,” Brandon Tsay said. “I needed to take this weapon, disarm him or else everybody would have died.”

Jan 23, 7:01 AM EST
Dance studio releases statement

The dance studio in Monterey Park where Saturday’s mass shooting took place has released a statement.

Jan 23, 5:31 AM EST
Survivor says longtime dance partner was among those killed

Shally was dancing the jive with her longtime dance partner on Saturday night when a gunman entered the studio and opened fire.

Shally said she saw the gunman leave to get more bullets. When he returned, he reloaded the gun and opened fire again, she said.

“I said, ‘Lie down.’ We all lied down,” Sally told KABC.

Shally said the shooter then fled the scene and she turned to her partner, who she realized was unconscious. She tried to wake him but then saw her hands were covered in blood, she said.

“I thought I got shot too,” she told KABC.

Shally said she then realized that her partner had been shot in the back and the blood on her hands was his, from when they were holding each other in fear while hiding under the table.

“‘Wake up, wake up,'” she recalled telling her partner. “He was dead.”

“He’s a nice guy,” she told KABC of her dance partner. “We love to dance.”

Man who disarmed Monterey Park shooter speaks out: ‘Something came over me’

January 23, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(MONTEREY PARK, Caliif.) — The man who disarmed the Monterey Park mass shooter recalled how “something came over me” during an interview Monday on ABC News’ Good Morning America.

“I realized I needed to get the weapon away from him,” Brandon Tsay said. “I needed to take this weapon, disarm him or else everybody would have died.”

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

President Biden orders flags to half-staff after Monterey Park shooting

January 23, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — President Joe Biden issued a proclamation Sunday night ordering American flags on federal government property to be flown at half-staff, to honor the victims after a gunman allegedly shot 20 people, 10 fatally, at a dance studio near a Lunar New Year celebration in the Los Angeles suburb of Monterey Park.

Flags will remain at half-staff “as a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence” until Thursday at sundown, Biden’s proclamation said.

“While there is still much we don’t know about the motive in this senseless attack, we do know that many families are grieving tonight, or praying that their loved one will recover from their wounds,” Biden wrote in a statement earlier Sunday evening.

Biden also spoke to how the attack impacted the AAPI community.

“Monterey Park is home to one of the largest AAPI communities in America, many of whom were celebrating the Lunar New Year along with loved ones and friends this weekend,” Biden wrote.

“As we await more crucial information from law enforcement, I want to assure the community of Monterey Park and the broader area that we will support you in every way we can.”

At an event in Tallahassee, Florida on Sunday, Vice President Kamala Harris called the shooting “senseless,” and that it came at “a time of a cultural celebration.”

“All of us in this room and in our country understand this violence must stop. And President Biden and I and our administration will continue to provide full support to the local authorities as we learn more,” Harris said.

Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland were briefed on the shooting Sunday morning, and the FBI responded to assist the investigation.

Authorities identified a suspect on Sunday night as Huu Can Tran, 72, who was found deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a van that law enforcement had surrounded and broken into.

ABC News’ Ben Gittleson contributed to this report.

Scoreboard roundup — 1/22/23

January 23, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Sunday’s sports events:

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
LA Clippers 112, Dallas 98
Miami 100, New Orleans 96
Toronto 125, New York 116
Oklahoma City 101, Denver 99
Phoenix 112, Memphis 110
Brooklyn 120, Golden State 116
LA Lakers 121, Portland 112

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
New Jersey 2 Pittsburgh 1 (OT)
Los Angeles 2, Chicago 1
Winnipeg 5, Philadelphia 3
Boston 4, San Jose 0
Arizona 4, Vegas 1

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Cincinnati 27, Buffalo 10
San Francisco 19, Dallas 12

TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Temple 56, Houston 55
Purdue 58, Maryland 55
UConn 86, Butler 56

Luke Combs reveals his secret for managing his success

January 23, 2023 by WDNY Radio

If you’ve followed Luke Combs‘ career since the beginning, you’ve probably noticed the North Carolina native remains largely unchanged, in spite of his huge success.

The two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year reveals that was very much by design.

“That was definitely, like, a concerted effort on my part, you know, between me and the people that I’ve chosen to surround myself with … people that I met when I first got to town and didn’t have anything going on,” he tells ABC Audio. “And, you know, I met my wife before I had anything going on. I was driving the same car I drove in high school and [had] no shows.”

Of course, better cars and sold-out shows would follow; Luke married his wife, Nicole, in 2020, and they welcomed their son, Tex, just last year. But in the midst of all the changes, Luke’s nearest and dearest have stayed the same.

“I think just keeping those people close and surrounding yourself with people that don’t let you buy into your ego or yourself as an artist,” he adds, reflecting on what’s helped him stay on course. “Like, I don’t put a lot of stock in my self-worth being in the position that I’m in, as far as a human being goes. And I think that’s where it starts at.”

If you’re keeping count, Luke currently has 14 number ones in a row, with the almost-unheard-of distinction that every single he’s ever released has gone to the top of the chart. His new album is set to arrive March 24.

Adam Lambert walks back comment about straight actors playing gay, says homophobia “probably” cost him ‘American Idol’ win

January 23, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Adam Lambert made headlines last week for a comment he made about straight actors playing gay characters. But now Variety reports the singer claims he was “mostly being sarcastic” at the time.

Last week, after The Advocate posted a rumor that The White Lotus star Theo James was being considered to play the lead role in a biopic of the late pop superstar George Michael, Adam wrote in the comments, “Yay another straight man playing a gay icon,” and added an eye-rolling emoji.

This naturally set off an online debate, but when Adam spoke to Variety Friday while promoting his new movie Fairyland, the publication reported that he told them he was “mostly being sarcastic” when he made the comment.

“My actual comment was a straight actor playing a gay icon. I by no means think that gay characters can only be played by gay actors,” Adam told Variety. “That would be ridiculous.”

He then pointed to Fairyland as an example: It stars Scoot McNairy, who’s straight, as a gay dad in 1970s San Francisco. Adam called Scoot’s performance “brilliant.”

“It’s a big step forward that these stories are being told, but I hope in the future you’d see an out actor also being able to tackle an out leading role,” he added.

Later on Friday, he tweeted, “Representation and visibility have a strong impact on the LGBTQ+ community. People want to see themselves represented on screen. It’s also wonderful for queer people to be reassured that being out isn’t career suicide. You can be open about who you are AND be successful!”

Variety also asked Adam if he believes homophobia is why he lost American Idol in 2009. He said, “Probably. But it was 10 years ago!”

New Rush picture book coming in May

January 23, 2023 by WDNY Radio

A new Rush picture book is ready to hit shelves later this year. Portraits of Rush is being published by Rufus Publications and features photography from legendary music photographer Fin Costello.

Costello had total access to the band, with photos capturing the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers during the All The World’s A Stage Tour from 1976 to 1977, the Exit Stage Left tour in 1981 and the major tours in between. It features black-and-white photos of them as they traveled, rehearsed, played live and even recorded in the studio.

The 240-page book features an introduction by music journalist John Tucker, along with articles on the band from magazines during that period.

There are several editions of Portraits of Rush available, but quantities are limited, with only 666 numbered copies of the main edition available worldwide. There are also 50 leather and metal editions available, and 50 bundles featuring both versions.

The books are available for preorders now, and they’ll be shipped out sometime in May.

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