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Russia-Ukraine Live Updates: Russia increases penalty for soldiers after mobilization

September 26, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — More than six months after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an invasion into neighboring Ukraine, the two countries are engaged in a struggle for control of areas throughout eastern and southern Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose forces began an offensive in August, has vowed to take back all Russian-occupied territory. But Putin in September announced a mobilization of reservists, which is expected to call up as many as 300,000 additional troops.

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

Sep 26, 10:14 AM EDT
Ukrainian first lady ‘worried’ about Russian mobilization

In a new interview, Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenka told ABC News that recent developments in the war are upsetting, saying this is not an “easy period” for the people of Ukraine.

“When the whole world wants this war to be over, they continue to recruit soldiers for their army,” said Zelenska, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement last week that he is mobilizing 300,000 more troops against Ukraine. “Of course, we are concerned about this. We are worried and this is a bad sign for the whole world.”

Zelenska, who spoke with ABC News’ Amy Robach through a translator, said Ukrainians will continue to persevere in the face of conflict.

“The main difference between our army and the Russian army is that we really know what we are fighting for,” she said.

Zelenska attended the United Nations General Assembly in-person in New York City, where she spoke to ABC News about the U.N.’s recent finding that war crimes have been committed in Ukraine by Russian troops. An appointed panel of independent legal experts reported that Russian soldiers have “raped, tortured, and unlawfully confined” children in Ukraine, among other crimes.

“On the one hand, it’s horrible news, but it’s the news that we knew about already,” she said. “On the other hand, it’s great news that the whole world can finally see that this is a heinous crime, that this war is against humanity and humankind.”

Sep 26, 5:40 AM EDT
Man opens fire at Russian military enlistment office

A man has opened fire at a military enlistment office in eastern Russia, severely injuring a recruitment officer there.

An apparent video of the shooting was circulating online, showing a man shooting the officer at a podium in the officer in the city of Irkutsk.

Irkutsk’s regional governor confirmed the shooting, naming the officer injured as Alexander V. Yeliseyev and saying he is in intensive care in a critical condition.

The alleged shooter has been detained, according to the governor.

Sep 25, 12:49 PM EDT
Russia Defense Ministry announces high-level leadership shake-up

The Russian Defense Ministry announced a high-level shake-up in its military leadership amid reports Russian forces are struggling in the war against Ukraine.

The defense ministry said Saturday that Col. Gen. Mikhail Y. Mizintsev has been promoted to deputy defense minister overseeing logistics, replacing four-star Gen. Dmitri V. Bulgakov, 67, who had held the post since 2008.

Bulgakov was relieved of his position and is expected to be transferred “to another job,” the Defense Ministry statement said.

The New York Times reported that Mizintsev — whom Western officials dubbed the “butcher of Mariupol” after alleged atrocities against civilians surfaced in the Ukrainian city in March, previously served as chief of Russia’s National Defense Management Center, which oversees military operations and planning.

In this previous role, Mizintsev became one of the public faces of the war in Ukraine, informing the public about what the Kremlin still calls a “special military operation.”

Mizintsev was put on international sanctions lists and accused of atrocities for his role in the brutal siege of the Mariupol.

Sep 25, 11:58 AM EDT
Russian recruits report for military mobilization

Newly recruited Russian soldiers are reporting for duty in response to the Kremlin’s emergency mobilization to bolster forces in Ukraine, according to photographs emerging from Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced last week a mobilization to draft more than 300,000 Russians with military expertise, sparking anti-war protests across the country and prompting many to try to flee Russia to avoid the draft.

Putin signed a law with amendments to the Russian Criminal Code upping the punishments for the crimes of desertion during periods of mobilization and martial law.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in an interview Sunday with ABC News This Week anchor George Stephanopoulos that Russia’s military draft is more evidence Russia is “struggling” in its invasion of Ukraine. He also said “sham referendums” going on in Russia-backed territories of eastern and southern Ukraine are also acts of desperation by the Kremlin.

“These are definitely not signs of strength or confidence. Quite the opposite: They’re signs that Russia and Putin are struggling badly,” Sullivan said while noting Putin’s autocratic hold on the country made it hard to make definitive assessments from the outside.

In Brief: ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ Oscar-winner dies, and more

September 26, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Louise Fletcher, best known for her Oscar-winning portrayal of Nurse Ratched in director Milos Forman’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, died Friday at her home in France, a rep for the actress tells Variety. She was 88. On TV, Fletcher played family matriarch Peggy “Grammy” Gallagher on Showtime’s Shameless, and also had recurring roles shows like on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and ER. Most recently, Fletcher appeared in the 2013 feature A Perfect Man, alongside Liev Schreiber and Jeanne Tripplehorn…

Peacock has canceled the Queer As Folk reboot after one season, co-creator Stephen Dunn revealed on Saturday. The third iteration of the originally British series, executive-produced by trans writer Jaclyn Moore, centered on a group of LGBTQ+ friends in New Orleans both before and after a homophobic attack. The series starred Grey’s Anatomy‘s Devin Way, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.‘s Fin Argus, Big Sky‘s Jesse James Keitel, CG, Hacks‘ Johnny Sibilly and Special’s Ryan O’Connell, along with guest stars including Kim Cattrall, Juliette Lewis and Ed Begley Jr…

Big Brother host Julie Chen Moonves took to Twitter on Sunday to announce the show will return for its 25th season. “A big thank you to all our house guests for an absolutely incredible summer. I know, I’m going to miss watching the show too,” Moonves said, before revealing, “We are coming back for our 25th season of the show.” The announcement came on the heels of Sunday’s history-making season 24 finale that saw Taylor Hale became the first Black woman to win the reality competition. Tamar Braxton won Celebrity Big Brother season 2. Big Brother‘s 25th season kicks off next summer…

Kelsea Ballerini changes song lyrics to reflect divorce from Morgan Evans

September 26, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Kelsea Ballerini is making sure her music reflects real life, by changing the lyrics to her songs.

The 29-year-old country star performed in New York over the weekend and notably changed the lyrics to reflect her split from Morgan Evans, from whom she filed for divorce last month.

As seen in a video captured by The Sun reporter Rachael Ellenbogen, while performing her single “What I Have,” she swapped “I got a warm body in bed” with “I got my own body in bed.”

The Tennessee native also changed the lyrics in “Get Over Yourself” to “I’m the crazy b**** that wrecked your life,” from the original, “I’m the crazy ex that wrecked your life,” according to Us Weekly.

Kelsea also changed lyrics to her song “Miss Me More.” All of the tracks are from her new album, Subject to Change, which dropped Friday.

Maren Morris says she feels “terrible” for kids growing up with social media

September 26, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Maren Morris is glad she grew up before the TikTok era.

During a conversation for Audacy’s I’m Listening broadcast last week, the country superstar spoke to the negative impact of social media on the younger generation. “I feel terrible, honestly, for kids that are growing up with social media,” she said, according to Billboard.

“We had, like, the internet and stuff when I was in junior high and high school, but nowhere near the accessibility and just raw nature that it is now for kids,” Maren went on to say. “There was no TikTok, there was no Instagram.”

Of course, that didn’t mean bullying didn’t exist — but Maren points out that it’s easier to be mean through a screen.

“It was a lot more in-person bullying. Now it’s like, people can cowardly hide behind their phone screens,” the singer continued.

Maren knows about online feuds firsthand: Most recently, she was at the center of a fiery back-and-forth with Jason Aldean’s wife, Brittany Aldean, after Brittany made transphobic comments in an Instagram Reel, thanking her parents for not “changing my gender” when she went through her “tomboy phase.”

She’s also got a parent’s perspective on the tough challenges social media poses. Maren is mom to 2-year-old son Hayes, whom she shares with her fellow artist husband, Ryan Hurd.

Dr. Dre reacts to Rihanna playing the Super Bowl: “I can’t wait”

September 26, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Dr. Dre is thrilled that Rihanna is playing the Super Bowl 57 halftime show.

Dre, who performed at the last halftime show back in February, reacted to the news during an interview with Ebro Darden on Apple Music 1.

“I actually just got the news that Rihanna’s going to do it, and I’m a super fan of Rihanna,” he said. “I can’t wait to see what she’s going to do.”

He added, “I just like her and what she does, and her get down, and how she approaches her artistry and the whole nine. It’s fantastic. She has the opportunity to really blow us away. I know we set the bar extremely high.”

As for any advice he has for Rihanna going into the performance, Dre imparts, “Put the right people around you, and have fun. That’s basically what it is, making sure you have the right creative people around you. She might want to look into some of the people that we used to do our show.”

Super Bowl LVII marks the first year Apple Music will be sponsoring the halftime show. The big game is scheduled to take place February 12, 2023, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Latinos across industries fight for fair labor practices

September 26, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — On hot days, some over 100 degrees, workers spend hours harvesting fruits and vegetables for very little money — produce that ends up on kitchen tables of people across the country.

Tens of thousands of these workers have experienced heat-related injuries and hundreds more have died from heat, all while earning an average of $25,000 to $29,999 per year in one of the most hazardous jobs in the country, the Economic Policy Institute found.

The workers, a majority of whom are Latino and undocumented, are in a constant battle for fair and safe labor practices.

However, the labor rights movement transcends industries, though it may look quite different for others.

And in local and federal government agencies, interns have been at the center of a debate about unpaid labor.

It wasn’t until recently that some government offices have begun paying their interns, which has created a new pathway for people from lower-income households to support themselves while gaining entry-level experience in policy and politics.

Pay Our Interns, created and spearheaded by two Latinos, fueled this change through their advocacy on Capitol Hill.

Latinos have been a major force in the labor rights movement for decades, with icons such as Dolores Huerta, Cesar Chavez, and Emma Tenayuca as the leaders of the fight.

Farm workers harness collective organizing power

On Aug. 3, farm workers began a 24-day, 335-mile “March for the Governor’s Signature” to urge California Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign a farm a farm workers rights bill.

The bill would make it easier for workers to vote for a union,, without intimidation from supervisors, foreman and labor contractors. Farm workers say that voting, as it is now, discourages participation in union efforts.

“Currently, the only way that they do it is in person, at the premises of the employer, where the supervisors are looking over their shoulders, where they hire security, where, in many cases, immigration has been called and farm workers have been deported,” said Teresa Romero, the president of the labor union United Farm Workers.

However, Newsom has expressed concerns about the bill.

“We cannot support an untested mail-in election process that lacks critical provisions to protect the integrity of the election,” Newsom spokesperson Erin Mellon told CalMatters.

Farmworkers face challenging workplace conditions, including low pay, unsafe conditions, and very few if any protections against abuse or misconduct.

Romero, who leads the organization, says many undocumented workers pay taxes, but can’t collect social security and can’t retire. Some are left working long hours for years past the average retiring age.

“They work and feed us all,” Romero said.

She continued, “They move from crop to crop, moving their children from city to city to be able to support their family. And if we knew that, all of us would be willing to pay a little more for our food, just so these people have the respect, dignity, and the pay that they deserve.”

Without them, she says, we wouldn’t have food on our tables.

Romero urges people to be conscious of where they buy their food, how workers are represented and how they’re protected. She said the fight for fair working practices shouldn’t stop and end with farm workers themselves. She said their labor fight is a collective fight.

“This is not just manual labor,” she said. “These are professionals who know exactly what to do when to do with different crops.”

Fighting for fair labor conditions in the office

“Our society got too comfortable with unpaid labor,” says Carlos Mark Vera, a co-founder of Pay Our Interns.

He and Guillermo Creamer Jr. created the group to put an end to unpaid labor primarily in the public service space. Before 2017, Pay Our Interns found that only 10 percent of congressional interns were paid.

The organization has since worked with Congress to allocate $48 million for lawmakers to pay their interns.

“Since then that fund has actually been growing each year, which is unheard of, you know, usually programs don’t increase that quickly,” said Vera. “Now that we have Congress invested in this, and they’re very supportive of this, we’ve leveraged that for other ones. So this past year, we secured funding for White House interns, State Department interns for the first time in history.”

Unpaid internships push low-income or financially strained students out of the running to gain experience.

Unpaid internships often force students to choose between finding a job that pays their bills or paying for an internship out of their own funds – since Vera says that internship expenses like traveling or supplies often come from the intern’s wallet.

This primarily affects Black and brown students, and makes it harder for some students to enter certain fields if only unpaid internships are available.

“How do you grow wealth in this country? A lot of times, it’s just entering through professional pathways. But when there’s a price to participating in these opportunities … We know that many Black and brown families cannot afford to do that,” said Creamer.

They say they were raised in a culture where people had to “pay their dues” through unpaid labor. However, they say the culture is shifting and people are learning that their work should be valued at all levels.

Vera’s own sister, a sophomore in college, was interviewing for an internship when she asked if it was paid – and the employer said it wasn’t.

She explained that her brother had an organization dedicated to eradicating unpaid labor, and declined the opportunity.

“They call the next day, and they’re like, ‘Okay, how about $18 an hour?'” Vera said, applauding his sister for advocating for herself.

Megan Thee Stallion launches mental health resources website

September 26, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Megan Thee Stallion is looking out for her fans’ mental health.

The rapper has created a website with mental health resources called “Bad B****** Have Bad Days Too,” named for a line in her song “Anxiety.”

A Twitter user named Shea Jordan Smith shared the news on Sunday, writing, “Megan @theestallion created a website that compiles a list of diverse mental health resources and is sending it out to her fans and followers. Real hot girl s***.” Meg then retweeted the post.

The message she reportedly sent out to fans read in part, “Hotties! You know how much mental wellness means to me, so I created a hub with resources that can help when you might need a hand.”

The site features links to free therapy organizations, crisis hotlines and resources specifically for the Black community.

At least 15 killed in Russian school shooting

September 26, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(IZHEVSK, Russia) — Local authorities said at least 21 more people were injured, some severely, in the attack in the school in the city of Izhevsk about 600 miles from Moscow, making it one of the deadliest school shootings Russia has suffered. Two teachers and two security guards were among the dead, according to the region’s governor.

Police said the alleged shooter had killed himself at the school following the attack. They identified him as a 34-year-old former student at the school. Russia’s Investigative Committee, which handles serious crimes, named him as Artyem Kazantsev, and posted a video it said showed his body lying in a pool of blood in a classroom.

The motive for the attack was still unclear but the Committee said it was investigating possible “neofascist views” held by the shooter, who in the video it released appeared to be wearing a T-shirt with a red swastika.

President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman called the shooting a “terrorist act.”

“President Putin grieves in connection with the deaths of people and children in the school, where the terrorist act occurred. It was carried out by an individual who, judging by everything, belongs to a neofascist organisation or group,” Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s press secretary told reporters.

The shooting began mid-morning, while children were in class. Video circulating in Russian media showed pupils cowering under desks and with blood stains visible on the floor. Police sealed off the school and emergency services could be seen carrying stretchers with the wounded from the building.

The shooter was armed with two pistols, according to Alexander Khinstein, the chairman of Russia’s parliamentary committee for information policy, technology and communications.

School shootings have been relatively rare in Russia, but in recent years they have become increasingly frequent.

In May 2021, a teenager killed seven children and two adults after attacking a school in Kazan, and in April this year a man shot dead two children and a teacher at a kindergarten in the Ulyanovsk region. An 18-year-old student killed 21 people and wounded dozens more after setting off a bomb in a polytechnic college in Kerch in occupied Crimea in 2018.

‘Don’t Worry Darling’ tops the box office with $19.2 million

September 26, 2022 by WDNY Radio

‘Don’t Worry Darling’ tops the box office with .2 million

The psychological drama Don’t Worry Darling scored the best opening of any new release in more than a month, topping the weekend box office with an estimated $19.2 million. The Olivia Wilde-directed film — starring Wilde, Harry Styles, Florence Pugh, Gemma Chan, KiKi Layne, Nick Kroll and Chris Pine — delivered a total of $30 million worldwide, despite — or perhaps in part because of — the high-profile pre-release squabbling between Wilde and some of her cast.

The Woman King dropped from first to second place in its second week of release, grabbing an estimated $11.1 million, bringing its domestic tally to $35 million.

And the theatrical re-release of Avatar took third with an $10 million. It remains the highest-grossing film of all time worldwide and the fourth highest-grossing domestically.

The horror flick Barbarian dropped to fourth place with an estimated $4.8 million. Its three-week North American total currently stands at $28.4 million.

Rounding out the top five is the Mia Goth horror film Pearl, earning an estimated $6.6 million.

Hurricane Ian live updates: Expected to be Category 3 by Monday night

September 26, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Hurricane Ian, the fifth hurricane of the Atlantic season, is expected to rapidly intensify on Monday.

Ian is currently forecast to make landfall on the west coast of Florida or the Florida Panhandle by midday Thursday, though there is uncertainty about the hurricane’s track and intensity.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a “state of emergency” for the entire state, with storm conditions “projected to constitute a major disaster.”

The National Hurricane Center has advised residents of Cuba, the Florida Keys and the Florida peninsula to have a hurricane plan in place and to closely follow forecast updates.

Sep 26, 8:23 AM EDT
Hurricane watch issued for Tampa, Fort Myers, Naples

Ian is expected to become major Category 3 hurricane Monday night with winds of 115 mph.

As Ian passes Cuba, it’s expected to rapidly intensify, becoming a Category 4 hurricane as it moves through the Gulf. Hurricane warnings are in effect for Cuba and the Cayman Islands.

Models are split when it comes to Ian’s landfall in Florida; impacts could be as far north as Panama City and as far south as Fort Myers.

Some models forecast landfall by Wednesday afternoon between Tampa and Fort Myers, while other models predict landfall at the end of the week near Panama City or Apalachicola.

Hurricane watches have been issued in Tampa, Fort Myers and Naples.

-ABC News’ Max Golembo

Sep 26, 5:20 AM EDT
Storm becomes Hurricane Ian

The National Hurricane Center declared Ian a hurricane on Monday, as the storm gained strength on its way toward Florida.

“A Hurricane Watch has been issued along the west coast of Florida from north of Englewood to the Anclote River, including Tampa Bay,” the center said on Monday.

– ABC News’ Max Golembo

Sep 25, 10:19 PM EDT
NASA to reconvene on whether to take Artemis rocket off launchpad

NASA hasn’t decided whether to leave its Artemis I rocket on the launchpad as it monitors Tropical Storm Ian’s path toward Florida, the agency said Sunday.

The federal space agency’s mission managers will continue discussions on Monday about the next steps as its rocket was delayed again.

On Saturday, NASA scrapped its third planned launch attempt of Artemis I because of weather concerns. Artemis I was scheduled to launch on Sept. 27.

Engineers will decide if the rocket needs to roll back off the launch pad. If they do not roll it back, the next possible launch date is Sunday, Oct. 2.

Tropical Storm Ian is forecast to strengthen into a major hurricane as it nears Florida.

NASA had to scrub the first launch attempt on Aug. 29 because of a faulty temperature sensor and the second attempt on Sept. 3 due to a liquid hydrogen leak.

If the Oct. 2 launch doesn’t happen, the rocket will be taken back to the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center until the team decides on the next date.

-ABC News’ Gina Sunseri, Mary Kekatos and Nadine El-Bawab

Sep 25, 10:27 PM EDT
Ian strengthens once again, forecast to become hurricane on Monday

Tropical Storm Ian has strengthened with maximum sustained winds at 60 mph and is expected to get stronger throughout the night as atmospheric conditions become more favorable for the storm.

Ian is forecast to become a hurricane on Monday, becoming even more intense likely into Tuesday.

Ian is moving to the northwest to the Northwest at 12 mph, with the center located 160 miles away from Grand Cayman.

Jamaica and the Cayman Islands are expected to experience heavy rain, a heavy surge and possible flash flooding over the next 24 hours.

-ABC News’ Dan Peck

Sep 25, 5:45 PM EDT
Ian weakens slightly but will regain strength overnight

Tropical Storm Ian has weakened slightly, but it is expected to not only strengthen but rapidly intensify overnight as it travels over warm waters in the Caribbean.

As of 5 p.m. ET, the storm system had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and was moving west-northwest at 12 mph, with the center located about 220 miles away from Grand Cayman.

Dry air ahead of the storm has delayed the strengthening trend so far. But the rapid intensification is expected to occur Monday into Tuesday as the system continues across the northwestern Caribbean and closes in on western Cuba.

Over the next 24 hours, the outer bands will impact Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, bringing rounds of heavy rain, possible flash flooding and storm surge. Later Monday and into Monday night, Ian will be closing in on western Cuba and will likely bring significant wind and storm surge impacts to the region.

A hurricane warning is in effect for Grand Cayman and portions of western Cuba. A tropical storm watch has been issued for portions of western Cuba, as well as the lower Florida Keys, including Key West.

As of 5 p.m., the forecast track was nudged slightly eastward. Overall, the forecast guidance variability and uncertainty will remain high, and the track for where the storm will be from the middle to the end of the week will continue to shift over the next 24 to 48 hours.

-ABC News’ Dan Peck

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