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Where minimum wage hikes are taking effect in the new year

January 3, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Nearly half of U.S. states raised their minimum wages at the outset of 2023, helping millions of workers contend with the nation’s ongoing bout of high inflation.

In all, 23 states raised their wage floors at the start of this year in keeping with inflation-adjusted increases or as part of scheduled hikes that take effect at the beginning of each calendar year.

The pay increases affect about 8.4 million workers, who will gain a combined $5 billion over the course of 2023, the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute found.

After the wave of wage hikes, Washington became the state with the highest minimum wage, offering workers $15.74 per hour. Meanwhile, workers in Massachusetts and the New York City area saw their minimum base pay rise to $15 per hour.

In California, the state with the most workers affected by a pay increase, more than 3 million employees will benefit, the Economic Policy Institute found. That group of workers makes up nearly 20% of the state’s workforce.

Thirteen states raised their minimum wage to adjust for inflation that reached a 40-year high in 2022, including blue states like Massachusetts and red states like Nebraska.

Overall, the states that raised the minimum wage in recent days include: Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont and Washington.

In addition, 27 cities and counties raised their minimum wage at the outset of this year, stretching from San Diego, California, to Portland, Maine. The city with the highest minimum wage, SeaTac, Washington, raised its base pay to $19.06.

The latest round of pay increases, however, will not affect any of the 20 states concentrated in the South that lack a minimum wage or offer a minimum wage that does not exceed the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour.

The last federal minimum wage hike took place in 2009, when Congress raised the pay floor to its current level. When adjusted for inflation, the federal minimum wage last summer reached its lowest level since 1956, the Economic Policy Institute found.

The nationwide push for minimum wage hikes intensified in 2012, when fast food workers launched a campaign called Fight for $15, aiming to raise wages and unionize the fast food sector. The Service Employees International Union, or SEIU, one of the nation’s largest labor organizations, spent tens of millions of dollars in support of the effort.

Idaho murders: Suspect Bryan Kohberger set to appear in court as he faces charges

January 3, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — The suspect accused of murdering four University of Idaho students in November is set to appear in court Tuesday as he faces first-degree murder and burglary charges.

Bryan Kohberger, 28, a Ph.D. student at Washington State University’s department of criminal justice and criminology, will appear in a Monroe County, Pennsylvania, court to hear the charges and as the first step in his extradition to Idaho.

Kohberger’s parents and two sisters are planning to be in court, according to Kohberger’s attorney, Monroe County Chief Public Defender Jason LaBar.

LaBar said Kohberger “intends to waive his extradition hearing to expedite his transport to Idaho.” LaBar said Kohberger “is eager to be exonerated of these charges and looks forward to resolving these matters as promptly as possible.”

LaBar told ABC News that the death penalty is on the table.

Kohberger was arrested Friday in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains for the Nov. 13 murders of roommates Xana Kernodle, Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen, as well as Kernodle’s boyfriend, Ethan Chapin. The four victims were stabbed to death at the girls’ off-campus house in the middle of the night.

After Kohberger’s semester at Washington State ended this December, he and his father drove cross-country together, arriving at the family’s Pennsylvania home on Dec. 13, exactly one month after the murders, Monroe County Chief Public Defender Jason LaBar told ABC News.

They drove the pre-planned road trip in the white Hyundai Elantra which authorities said they were looking for in connection to the murders, according to LaBar.

The father and son were pulled over twice in Indiana, once for speeding and once for tailgating, LaBar said.

Police have not said what led them to Kohberger, but law enforcement sources told ABC News that authorities identified him as a suspect through public DNA genealogy databases.

The probable cause affidavit, which details the reasons for the arrest, is sealed and won’t be released until he returns to Idaho, Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson said.

Kohberger’s family said in a statement, “We care deeply for the four families who have lost their precious children. There are no words that can adequately express the sadness we feel.”

“We will continue to let the legal process unfold and as a family we will love and support our son and brother,” the family said.

Steve Goncalves, dad of victim Kaylee Goncalves, said the arrest has brought relief and comfort.

It “felt like a cloud was lifted off of us,” he told Good Morning America. “All this torture of waiting had a purpose and a meaning.”

ABC News’ Kayna Whitworth, Luke Barr, Nick Cirone, Matt Foster and Christopher Looft contributed to this report.

Let there be Pop? Iggy was asked about joining AC/DC

January 3, 2023 by WDNY Radio

While Iggy Pop wanted to be your dog, AC/DC apparently wanted him to be their singer.

In an interview with The New York Times Magazine, the Godfather of Punk reveals that the “Back in Black” outfit reached out to him about joining the group.

“They had a manager many years ago, when I hadn’t re-formed the Stooges, I hadn’t moved to England, and this guy said, ‘Are you interested in joining AC/DC?'” Pop recalls. “They were looking for a singer.”

Presumably, Iggy was approached following the death of vocalist Bon Scott in 1980. Scott was eventually replaced by Brian Johnson for AC/DC’s iconic comeback album, Back in Black. Johnson has remained AC/DC’s vocalist since, save for when he was sidelined from tour in 2016 due to hearing issues, during which Axl Rose of Guns N’ Roses filled in.

As for whether Pop considered the offer, the “Lust for Life” rocker says he didn’t feel like it would’ve been a good fit.

“I listened to their record. I thought, ‘I can’t fill that bill,'” Iggy shares. “I wasn’t like, ‘Ugh, I don’t like them.’ It was quite well made. They do careful work. But I’m not what they needed.”

While Iggy isn’t jamming with AC/DC, he’s collaborating with a bunch of artists on his upcoming album, Every Loser, dropping this Friday. The record includes contributions from Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ Chad Smith, GN’R’s Duff McKagan, Blink-182‘s Travis Barker and late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, among others.

Aretha Franklin tops Rolling Stone’s “200 Greatest Singers of All Time” list

January 3, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Rolling Stone magazine is out with their picks for the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time, anointing Aretha Franklin with the top spot.

The mag calls Aretha, who died in August 2018, “A force of nature. A work of genius. A gift from the heavens,” adding, “Aretha Franklin’s voice is all that and more, which is why she remains the unchallenged Queen, years after her final bow.”

Coming in just behind Aretha at #2 is Whitney Houston, whom Rolling Stone calls the “standard-bearer for R&B vocals,” followed by Sam Cooke at three, Billie Holiday at four and Mariah Carey at five.

Rounding out the top 10 are Ray Charles at six, Stevie Wonder at seven, Beyoncé at eight, Otis Redding at nine and Al Green at 10.

The list is a combination of classic and contemporary artists, with both John Lennon and Paul McCartney landing on it — Lennon at #12, and McCartney at #26. Other artists placing fairly high include Freddie Mercury at 14, Bob Dylan at 15, Prince at 16, Frank Sinatra at 19 and Marvin Gaye at 20.

The list has caused some controversy, with omissions including Annie Lennox and Celine Dion, forcing some to question how it was actually compiled. The mag says it was based on “originality, influence, the depth of an artist’s catalog, and the breadth of their musical legacy,” adding, “this is the Greatest Singers list, not the Greatest Voices List.”

“It’s a boy!”: Rod Stewart reveals he’s going to be a grandfather again

January 3, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Rod Stewart played a key role in his daughter’s gender reveal party by announcing he’ll be welcoming a grandson.

Ruby Stewart, Rod’s daughter with model Kelly Emberg, took to her Instagram Story to share a video of her family gathering around her father. She cheekily captioned it, “Hire @sirrodstewart for your gender reveal!”

Rod was handed some papers and was tasked with announcing what they said. “It’s a boy,” the hitmaker declared and pumped a fist in the air as Ruby embraced her partner, Jake Kalick.

A second video of the special moment contained the caption, “[Rod] will even write a custom jingle for your unborn child!” During the clip, the singer holds up the paper announcement and begins singing.

Ruby later shared an ultrasound of her soon-to-be child, captioning it, “Out of all of the things that happened in 2022 you were by far the most beautiful…We can’t wait to meet you…Baby boy Kalick coming in April.” She declined to reveal potential names or a due date.

“So happy for the two of you,” the proud granddad wrote in the comments.

Rod isn’t the only one excited to welcome another grandchild — his wife, Penny Lancaster, also took to the comments, writing, “Can’t wait to meet him.”

The little boy will be Rod’s second grandchild. He welcomed his first granddaughter, Delilah, in 2011, who was born to his daughter Kimberly Stewart and Benicio del Toro. Kimberly is from Rod’s marriage to Alana Stewart.

Several homes in Arkansas damaged as tornado watches in effect throughout South

January 3, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Tornadoes brought on by severe storms on Monday left significant damage in parts of the South, namely Louisiana and Arkansas.

The storms will continue to push east on Tuesday with severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings in effect from Texas to Kentucky. The big threat zone for Tuesday will be from Louisiana to Alabama and Tennessee. Cities in the path include New Orleans; Nashville, Tennessee,; Mobile, Alabama and Montgomery, Alabama.

The main threats on Tuesday are tornadoes, damaging winds and flash flooding.

In Louisiana, 10,000 customers are without power on Tuesday with ongoing severe storms. The exact number of tornadoes is still unknown. Storm surveys will need to be taken on Tuesday.

The local fire department is responding to numerous stranded motorists and water rescues from residences in Greenville, Kentucky, amid flash flooding. Authorities said numerous roadways are flooded inside the city and throughout our district. Numerous first responders and road crews are blocking flooded roadways.

Multiple homes were damaged in Jessieville, Arkansas, on Monday after a possible tornado passed through the area, law enforcement officials told ABC News.

Garland County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Courtney Kizer said 14 homes were damaged, with at least two homes so severely that several families would not be able to live in them again.

A tornado watch was issued for portions of the South, including parts of eastern Texas, northwestern Louisiana and much of Arkansas on Monday.

One of those destroyed homes was across the street from Jessieville High School, which had seven of its buildings damaged.

Students were in class at the time and were directed to go to their “safe rooms,” Kizer said.

Three commercial buildings in Jessieville were also damaged. No injuries were reported.

Thunderstorms will develop ahead of a cold front making its way through southeast Texas late Monday night into Tuesday morning, according to the NWS.

Additionally, the storms could also produce flash flooding through Monday night. Flood watches are in effect.

By Tuesday, the severe storms will shift east across Mississippi and Alabama, with flooding and damaging winds possible from New Orleans to Montgomery, Alabama.

The same storm system that brought flooding to California over the weekend has now moved into the Central U.S., bringing the winter storm to the North and the severe weather and flooding to the South.

At least 22 states, from California to Indiana, are under alert for heavy snow, dangerous ice, high winds and flooding rain.

More than 3 feet of snow fell in the Sierra Mountains in California over the weekend. According to the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab, up to 7.5 inches of snow fell per hour on Saturday in the Sierras.

Over a foot of snow and winds over 40 mph are possible in Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota on Monday and Tuesday, potentially causing driving conditions and power outages.

Nearly a foot of snow had already fallen in northern Nebraska as of Tuesday morning. Up to a foot and a half of snow is still possible in parts of South Dakota and Minnesota.

The California coast is preparing for an inundation of heavy rainfall with the next atmospheric river set to flood parts of the state from Wednesday morning to Thursday morning. The National Weather Service warned it will be an impactful storm and needs to be taken seriously.

Buffalo Bills star Damar Hamlin’s on-field collapse puts spotlight on cardiac arrest: What to know

January 3, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — The collapse of Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin during Monday night’s NFL game between the Bills and Cincinnati Bengals with millions watching at home is bringing cardiac arrest, even among young professional athletes, into a larger focus.

Hamlin, 24, “suffered a cardiac arrest following a hit” in the on-field episode, the Bills said in a tweet. “His heartbeat was restored on the field and he was transferred to the UC Medical Center for further testing and treatment.

He is currently sedated and listed in critical condition,” the team added.

What is cardiac arrest?

Cardiac arrest refers to when the heart unexpectedly stops beating, causing the heart to stop pumping blood to the rest of the body and to vital organs such as the brain and lungs, according to the American Heart Association.

Between 70% to 90% of people who experience cardiac arrest die before reaching the hospital, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The National Institutes of Health reports that as many as 450,000 deaths each year in the U.S. are caused by cardiac arrest.

What causes cardiac arrest?

The term cardiac arrest, as defined by the American Heart Association, indicates there is an electrical malfunction that affects the heart, causing arrhythmia or an irregular heartbeat.

Other causes for cardiac arrest may include vascular or blood vessel injury, a traumatic event such as a blow to the head or a sudden brain injury or neurological injury, scarring of heart tissue, thickened heart muscle, certain heart medications, electrical abnormalities and blood vessel abnormalities.

In rare cases, a direct hit to the chest can also lead to a cardiac arrest.

Who is at risk for cardiac arrest?

Individuals with preexisting heart conditions, such as coronary heart disease or heart valve disease, or those born with heart issues, such as a congenital heart defect, may be at risk for cardiac arrest, according to the National Institutes of Health.

What are the signs of cardiac arrest?

The NIH notes that someone may be in cardiac arrest if they pass out or collapse and lose consciousness, similar to what happened to Hamlin midfield.

Other symptoms of cardiac arrest include someone gasping for air, someone who stops breathing or someone who does not have a pulse.

What is the treatment for cardiac arrest?

Cardiac arrest is considered an emergency and those who experience cardiac arrest need medical attention immediately. Dial 911 if you suspect someone near you is in cardiac arrest.

Two immediate treatments for someone in cardiac arrest include cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, and rapid defibrillation.

Using an automated external defibrillator, or AED, is a potential option, although ABC News’ Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton noted on Good Morning America that not every cardiac arrest event can benefit as someone needs to have a “shockable rhythm.”

Ashton noted that intubation is also normal when it comes to recovery from cardiac arrest.

“When there’s any question of brain injury, and certainly after a cardiac arrest, you want to make sure that those vital signs and … anyone’s ability to keep their blood oxygenated is protected,” she said. “And the best way to do that is with intubation and sedation.”

Ashton encouraged people to learn CPR and noted that a bystander with little to no training can perform CRP and use an AED.

“I think that’s the take home [message] here. Learn CPR,” Ashton said. “If you see a defibrillator there, it will talk you through the entire process.”

Cher trolls the haters as she spends New Year’s with “daddy” Alexander Edwards

January 3, 2023 by WDNY Radio

After sparking engagement rumors late last year, Cher celebrated New Year’s with her new man, Alexander “AE” Edwards — and made sure to troll the haters who object to her relationship with the 36-year-old music producer.

Cher posted two photos of herself on New Year’s with Alexander: In one, the huge diamond ring he gave her for Christmas was front and center, though not on her engagement finger. “Happy New Year Daddy,” she captioned the photo of Alexanders smooching her.

The 76-year-old entertainer captioned a second photo, “This should Send you Haters to The Part in Wizzard [sic] of OZ…WHEN DOROTHY THREW WATER ON THE wicked Witch & Melted her.”

Responding to a fan, Cher wrote, “Ppl Hide In The Dark,Light,In Basements, Penthouses,DONT LET THESE PPL CHANGE ANYTHING YOU WANT Love Etc.Listen to these idiots & See hostility,& Vitriol in its purist Form.”

Most fans are supportive of the singer, who looks extremely happy in the photos. Cher lost her beloved mother, actress Georgia Holt, on December 10.

Queen’s Brian May receives knighthood in 2023 Honours List

January 3, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Brian May is starting a new year with a new title.

The Queen guitarist was knighted as part of the 2023 New Year’s Honours List, the first from King Charles. Considered one of the highest-ranking awards in the British honors system, May is being recognized for his services to music and his charity work.

“I’m happy and grateful to receive this honor,” 75-year-old May shared in response. “I will regard the knighthood not so much as a reward, but more as a charge — a commission — for me to continue to fight for justice — to be a voice for those who have no voice.” He added, “I will endeavor to be worthy — to be that Knight in Shining Armor.”

Having earned a PhD in astrophysics from Imperial College London in 2007, and being made Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2005, Brian’s full title is now Sir Brian Harold May CBE.

SZA’s “SOS” scores third week atop ‘Billboard’ 200

January 3, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Third time’s a charm for SZA, whose SOS album remains atop the Billboard 200 chart for the third week in a row.

SZA’s sophomore album topped the chart dated January 7 and, according to Luminate data reported by Billboard, the project earned 128,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. for the week ending Dec. 29. The achievement makes SOS the first R&B album by a woman to achieve the feat since Beyoncé‘s 2013 self-titled effort.

SOS, which dropped December 9, boasts features from Don Toliver, Phoebe Bridgers, Travis Scott and Ol’ Dirty Bastard and comes roughly five years after SZA’s debut album, Ctrl.

The R&B artist announced the release date during her time as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live in early December. The reveal came at the end of the performance of her song “Shirt,” with “S O S 12/9” flashing briefly on the backdrop.

Shortly after the release, SZA shared that she’s going on the road for her first arena tour this spring in support of the record. The trek will make its way through 17 cities across North America, starting with Columbus, Ohio, on February 21 and ending with Los Angeles, California, on March 22. SZA will also make stops in Chicago, New York, Atlanta and more, with supporting act Omar Apollo by her side.

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