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Top Jan. 6 committee members propose reforms to 1887 Electoral Count Act

September 19, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — Two senior members of the Jan. 6 select committee have introduced a bipartisan bill to reform the counting of presidential electoral votes to prevent another riot at the Capitol over disputed results.

The Presidential Election Reform Act from Reps. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., and Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., targets some of the perceived nuances in 135-year-old Electoral Count Act that former President Donald Trump and his supporters attempted to exploit to overturn President Joe Biden’s victory.

“Our proposal is intended to preserve the rule of law for all future presidential elections by ensuring that self-interested politicians cannot steal from the people the guarantee that our government derives its power from the consent of the governed,” Cheney and Lofgren wrote in a joint Wall Street Journal column last week.

The full House could vote on the proposal as early as Wednesday.

It would reaffirm the vice president’s ceremonial role over the count, after then-Vice President Mike Pence was pressured by Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, according to the legislative text and summary of the proposal obtained by ABC News.

The bill would make it more difficult for lawmakers to raise objections to electors from each state, by requiring at least one-third of the members from each chamber to support an objection, rather than one House member and a single senator.

It would also clarify ambiguities in the Electoral College process by requiring governors to transmit state results to Congress and prohibit election officials from refusing to certify their state’s election results. In either case, the law would allow a presidential candidate to go to court to force compliance with the law.

The proposal would also prevent state legislators from undoing the election results in their states – and require that elections are carried out under the state rules on the books on Election Day.

“The Constitution assigns an important duty to state legislatures, to determine the manner in which the states appoint their electors. But this shouldn’t be misread to allow state legislators to change the election rules retroactively to alter the outcome,” Cheney and Lofgren wrote in the Wall Street Journal.

In July, a bipartisan group of senators including Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, proposed their own reforms to the Electoral Count Act.

While their proposal also affirms the vice president’s limited role in proceedings, it sets a different threshold requirement for electoral challenges, among other differences.

Music notes: Ed Sheeran, Melanie C, Lance Bass, Scott Hoying and Andy Grammer

September 19, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Ed Sheeran is running around with his Pokémon again and shared the hilarious video to Instagram. But, if you also find yourself sprinting with a ton of plush toys in your arms, Ed recommends you proceed “with caution.” Fans are wondering if this is him teasing that he has a new Pokémon collab in the works.

Spice Girls‘ Melanie C is working on her ninth studio album. She told Retro Pop magazine, “It’s had to take a bit of a back seat because writing and promoting the book has been a lot more work than I anticipated. But I’ve done some sessions, there are some new songs and I’ve begun the process for the next album.” She is working on a memoir, Who I Am.

Even Lance Bass struggles with his sweet tooth when on a diet. The NSYNC singer shared a video of him rationalizing that he could eat Oreos even though it’s not his cheat day. Lance stacked four cookies and dunked them in a glass of milk, adding he’s “not mad” he broke his diet — he’s “just disappointed” in himself.

Andy Grammer teamed up with Pentatonix singer Scott Hoying to mash up their respective songs “Saved My Life” and “Mars.” Scott shared the video to Instagram and explained, “Both of these songs are about celebrating the people who have made a profound impact on your life so we decided to mash them up!”

Music notes: Lil Nas X, BLACKPINK, Britney Spears, Lance Bass and Ed Sheeran

September 19, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Lil Nas X released the commercial he shot for his new Yves Saint Laurent Beauté (YSL Beauty) campaign. The Grammy winner previews some of the new offerings, like perfume, lipstick and mascara. Lil Nas X was named YSL Beauty’s newest U.S. brand ambassador in August.

BLACKPINK released their own Target-exclusive BORN PINK box sets to celebrate their new album. The ladies teased the exclusive on Twitter. That’s not all: the “Pink Venom” singers have also expanded their North American tour by adding new dates in Dallas, Houston, Atlanta and Los Angeles. Tickets are on sale on Ticketmaster.

Britney Spears is asking fans if they see a difference in the photos of her taken before and during the conservatorship. Britney has previously accused her family of releasing the least-flattering images of her to prey on her low self esteem during the conservatorship. “Those 15 years of safety were so good for my confidence y’all !!! They made me feel so PURTY !!!” she said sarcastically while sharing her conservatorship-era snaps.

Ed Sheeran is running around with his Pokémon again and shared the hilarious video to Instagram. But, if you also find yourself sprinting with a ton of plush toys in your arms, Ed recommends you proceed “with caution.” Fans are wondering if this is his way of teasing a new Pokémon collab in the works.

Asylum seeker dies by suicide in NYC shelter

September 19, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — An asylum seeker in New York City died by suicide in a city shelter on Sunday, according to Mayor Eric Adams.

“The thousands of asylum seekers we have seen arrive in our city came to this country seeking a better life. Sadly though, yesterday, an asylum seeker in one of our facilities took her own life,” Adams said in a statement released Monday.

The mayor did not name the individual or the shelter and said the city is prohibited by law from sharing additional details at this time. It is unclear how and when the woman arrived in New York City or how long she had been at the shelter.

“Our hearts break for this young woman and any loved ones she may have, and we, as a city mourn her,” Adams said. “This tragedy is a reminder that we have an obligation to do everything in our power to help those in need.”

Adams urged asylum seekers who need mental health support to reach out to the city’s Asylum Seeker Resource Navigation Center by calling 888-NYC-WELL.

“We are here for you,” Adams said.

The asylum seeker’s death comes as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott buses thousands of migrants from the Texas-Mexico border to Democrat-led cities, including NYC, fueling a feud with Adams, who accused Abbott in a previous interview with “Nightline” of using migrants as “political pawns” amid a crisis on the southern border.

Abbott and Adams spoke with “Nightline” co-anchor Byron Pitts in an Aug. 17 interview, where Adams criticized the Republican governor for not coordinating the arrivals of migrants with NYC officials and Abbott doubled down on his policy to bus migrants out of Texas.

Asked about Adams’ accusation that the policy to move migrants to New York City is political showmanship and “un-American,” Abbott accused Adams of “playing politics” and called him a “hypocrite.”

“He’s also being a hypocrite because New York City is a self-declared ‘sanctuary city,'” Abbott said. “And so why he’s ever complaining for one moment about these people being bused into a city goes against his own self-declaration of being a sanctuary city.”

The term “sanctuary city” refers to municipalities like New York City that are willing to defy federal immigration laws in order to protect undocumented immigrants.

Adams said during a June 21 press conference that the city will find shelter for migrants arriving from Texas under the state’s “right to shelter” law.

But as thousands of asylum seekers arrived in New York City over the past couple of months, the shelter system has been strained and city officials acknowledged that the NYC Department of Social Services violated New York City’s right to shelter mandate when it failed to place four families in shelters overnight.

According to Abbott’s office, the state of Texas has bused over 8,000 migrants to Washington, D.C., since April, including two buses of migrants from Texas that arrived at Vice President Kamala Harris’ residence at the United States Naval Observatory in the nation’s capital.

“The busing mission is providing much-needed relief to our overwhelmed border communities,” the Sept. 16 statement said.

Abbott has also bused over 2,500 migrants to New York City since Aug. 5 and more than 600 to Chicago since late August, according to the governor’s office.

ABC News’ Armando Garcia contributed to this report.

If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide or worried about a friend or loved one, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 [TALK] for free, confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Adnan Syed, focus of ‘Serial’ podcast, released 22 years after murder conviction

September 19, 2022 by WDNY Radio

A judge on Monday ordered the release of Adnan Syed, the subject of 2014’s wildly popular podcast Serial, after prosecutors requested that his 2000 murder conviction be vacated.

The dramatic turn came in a Baltimore, Maryland, courtroom after new evidence was uncovered by prosecutors.

Syed, who is now 41, has been serving a life sentence for the past 23 years — more than half his life — following his arrest in 1999.

He was just 17 when he was convicted of first-degree murder, robbery, kidnapping and imprisonment of his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee in 2000.

He has maintained his innocence and denied any involvement in Lee’s death. A 2019 appeal for a new trial was previously turned down by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Baltimore State’s Attorney’s Office now has 30 days to decide whether to either schedule a new trial date or drop the case. Prosecutors maintain that Syed is not yet cleared of any wrongdoing, but he is entitled to a new trial.

Syed will remain in home detention with GPS location monitoring.

Serial‘s Twitter posted that podcast producer and host Sarah Koenig was at the courthouse when Adnan was released, adding, “a new episode is coming tomorrow morning.”

‘Batgirl’ actress Ivory Aquino leaks stunt scene from shelved movie

September 19, 2022 by WDNY Radio

While Warner Bros. Discovery’s shelving of Batgirl was to ensure the movie would never see the light of day, one of its stars has leaked a sneak peek.

Trans actress Ivory Aquino was to have a big part in the film, playing Alysia Yeoh, the roommate bestie of Leslie Grace‘s Barbara Gordon/Batgirl. On Twitter, she posted on-set video of one of the stunts in the film, showing Batgirl backflipping midair from a skylight into a building to crash a dinner party, using a Christmas tree to break her fall.

“Just.. WOWWW,” she tweeted at stuntwoman Emely Cartagena, who was wearing the Batgirl suit for the gag. Leslie Grace was tweeted at, too, with Aquino adding, “you make a great tandem fo sure.”

She also added #sistershavingeachothersbacks and #sistershavingeachothersbackflips.

The stuntwoman posted rehearsals for the stunt to her Instagram, about which Grace commented, “My Batgirl.”

Last month, Collider reported Aquino penned a personal letter to Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, “in a state of grief,” imploring them to release the shelved film for the sake of trans and minority representation.

As reported, the newly acquired studio axed the film, which also starred Michael Keaton and Brendan Frasier, as a cost-cutting move following Discovery’s acquisition of Warner Bros., the keepers of the DC Comics-based universe.

‘Grown-ish’ star Yara Shahidi to host new Facebook Watch show

September 19, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Grown-ish star Yara Shahidi is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Jada Pinkett Smith with her own Facebook Watch show.

Jada’s Red Table Talk has become one of the most popular shows on social media. Yara will premiere her Facebook Watch series, Yara Shahidi’s Day Off, on September 29, according to Variety.

“Let’s hang with friends. Explore their passion and their dreams, and learn something totally new about them,“ the 22-year-old actress says in the trailer.

Nas and Swae Lee will be among the stars joining Yara in a range of activities reflecting the guests’ interests.

“Much of our world and work as a family has been inspired by the intimate conversation we’ve had with the incredible people we’re surrounded by,” Shahidi said in a statement. “For years, we at 7th Sun have wanted to open the door wide open and share with my peers how moving it is to hear some of my favorite folks talk about their favorite things. We are excited to join forces with Jesse Collins Entertainment, Tiffany Mills and Meta to share these meaningful moments with my peers!”

Yara began her career appearing in TV commercials when she was 6 years old. At age 9, she was featured with Eddie Murphy in the 2009 film Imagine That. Beginning in 2014, Shahidi starred in the first three seasons of Black-ish. She segued to a recurring role for the next five seasons as she became the lead in the spin-off series, Grown-ish.

In addition to hosting Yara Shahidi’s Day Off, the NAACP Image Award winner will also star as Tinker Bell in Disney’s upcoming live action fantasy film Peter Pan & Wendy, due out in 2023.

Harry Styles now has the 4th longest run at #1 on the ‘Billboard’ Hot 100

September 19, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Harry Styles continues to make history with “As It Was.” The song is now the fourth longest-running #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100.

The song has notched an impressive 14th week in the top spot and is now tied with seven other major hits. Among the numerous songs to amass over three months in the #1 spot are Mariah Carey‘s 2005 hit “We Belong Together,” Whitney Houston‘s 1992 smash “I Will Always Love You” and “Candle in the Wind 1997″/”Something About the Way You Look Tonight” by Elton John.

Other hits include “Uptown Funk,” “Macarena,” Boys II Men’s “I’ll Make Love to You” and The Black Eyed Peas‘ 2009 song “I Gotta Feeling.”

To further boil this down, Harry is only one of four solo artists to have a song reign for 14 weeks, as all other entries come from music groups or collaborations.

Harry has a ways to go before besting Lil Nas X‘s record-smashing “Old Town Road,” which ruled the chart for 19 weeks.

Harry released “As It Was” in April and the song has spent 23 of its total 24 weeks on the chart in either the #1 or #2 position — more weeks than any other song. Previously, Justin Bieber and The Kid LAROI‘s “Stay” made history after spending a record 22 weeks in the top and second-highest spots.

It should also be noted “As It Was” is the only song to have spent its first 23 weeks in the Hot 100’s top three spots.

Over the past week, fans streamed the single 14.4 million times and purchased 3,000 copies.

Motionless in White’s Chris Motionless sings on new entrance theme for WWE wrestler Rhea Ripley

September 19, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Motionless in White frontman Chris Motionless lends his vocals to the new entrance theme for WWE wrestler Rhea Ripley.

The track is titled “Demon in Your Dreams” and is available now via Apple Music.

“I am so grateful for the opportunity to sing the entrance theme for one of my heroes,” Motionless says of Ripley.

Ripley previously teamed up with Ash Costello, of New Years Day, for her last entrance theme, “Brutality.”

Motionless in White, meanwhile, released their latest album, Scoring the End of the World, in June. They’ll return to the road Halloween night for the third leg of their Trinity of Terror tour with Black Veil Brides and Ice Nine Kills.

“Forever grateful”: Carly Pearce is reflecting on the 1-year anniversary of ’29’

September 19, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Carly Pearce is reflecting on the year of 29.

The singer celebrated the one-year anniversary of her critically acclaimed album, 29, with a show in Glasgow on the European leg of The 29 Tour. She shared a video of the crowd singing along to the title track, which she wrote in the wake of her divorce from Michael Ray in 2020.

“To say I wrote this song out of pain is an understatement … wondering if anyone would ever care about a song that was my heart on my sleeve in the middle of the biggest heartbreak of my life. Then tonight of all nights, hearing the beautiful people of Glasgow sing it back to me, reminded me that from pain comes healing and from healing comes beauty,” she writes alongside the video. “I’ll forever be grateful for the year I was 29.”

The album earned Carly a win for Female Vocalist of the Year, and a nomination for Album of the Year, at the 2021 CMA Awards, in addition to winning Female Artist of the Year at the 2022 ACM Awards.

Her duet with Ashley McBryde, “Never Wanted to Be That Girl,” which is featured on the album, became a #1 hit and was named Music Event of the Year at the 2022 ACM Awards.

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