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DeSantis celebrates as most of his school board candidates win their Florida races

August 24, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(TALLAHASSEE, Fla.) — Most of the Florida school board candidates backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis won their elections on Tuesday — an indication that the ascendant Republican’s conservative stance on education is moving the needle with some parents across the state.

DeSantis at his election night rally on Tuesday night declared victories for his endorsees, of which 25 out of 30 won or are likely to win their races.

He again lauded that success on Wednesday at a rally in Seminole County, casting the races in the culture-war language that has become his signature.

“We were able to take school boards that had leftist majorities … people that wanted to mask your kids, people that wanted to indoctrinate your kids. We were able to replace them all across the state,” DeSantis argued at another stop on his “Keep America Free” tour. “We were able to replace union-backed candidates with conservatives.”

In the days leading up to Florida’s primaries, DeSantis campaigned across the state on his “Education Agenda Tour.” He joined with school board candidates who share his “anti-woke” agenda, giving them one final push before their races.

“We didn’t have a primary for me … we didn’t have Senate [race], attorney general [race], none of that,” he said. “So what was the motivation?” he added, referencing the turnout of Republican voters. “One of the reasons is we worked hard to elect pro-student, pro-parent candidates all across the state of Florida.”

With DeSantis at the helm, Florida Republicans have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on the down-ballot, typically apolitical races. The rare move to endorse and even share campaign funds with school board candidates comes as DeSantis has made a legislative push to preserve what he calls parents’ rights in schools, over criticism that he is trying to restrict some topics from the classroom.

In recent months, Florida’s GOP-controlled legislature has passed bills barring race-based conversations in schools and for some grades, the discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity.

The issue of education and parents’ oversight of the classroom has become a key tenant of the GOP’s campaign message in recent years, in particular after the onset of COVID-19 and the resulting remote schooling and school closures. Voters in some places have responded favorably, such as with Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s 2021 victory in Virginia.

Youngkin ran in large part on the issue of parental choice in COVID-related school restrictions.

In recent months in Florida, DeSantis has signed legislation like the Parental Rights in Education Bill, denounced by its opponents as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which bans the discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in schools for children from kindergarten to third grade or in other classroom settings where it is deemed inappropriate.

DeSantis also signed the so-called Stop WOKE Act to block critical race theory in schools. (The theory is typically taught only in high-level academic settings, not grade school.) Last week, a federal judge declared portions of that bill unconstitutional.

The governor’s school board victories in Florida include two races in Miami-Dade County, one of the stops on DeSantis’ “Education Agenda Tour.” Monica Colucci, who rallied with him on Sunday, defeated a 24-year incumbent on her platform of keeping “socialist curriculums” away from schools.

In Sarasota, another of Florida’s largest counties, three DeSantis endorsed candidates won their races, flipping the school board to a four-to-one conservative majority.

The Florida Department of Education — whose commissioner, Manny Diaz, also spoke on DeSantis’ tour — announced last week it would give U.S. military veterans and their spouses five-year temporary teaching certificates as they complete bachelor’s degrees. The policy has been opposed by teachers’ unions across Florida, who say hiring unqualified instructors would be harmful to students.

Democrats, who also decided to endorse 18 school board candidates, saw just five victories on Tuesday night. They unseated Fred Lowry, who as a Volusia County councilman faced calls to resign after he espoused a far-right conspiracy theory.

Diyonne McGraw, who was removed from her seat last year by DeSantis and replaced with Mildred Russell after it was discovered she lives around 300 feet outside of the district, ran again and beat out Russell.

Jury reaches verdict in trial over Kobe Bryant helicopter crash site photos

August 24, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(LOS ANGELES) — After nearly two weeks of testimony, a jury has reached a verdict in Vanessa Bryant’s invasion of privacy trial over photos taken at the scene of the 2020 helicopter crash that killed her husband, basketball star Kobe Bryant, and their 13-year-old daughter.

The jury deliberated for several hours before reaching the verdict, which is expected to be read shortly.

The federal trial began on Aug. 10, with the jury hearing from those in law enforcement, first responders and the family of the victims, including Vanessa Bryant. Attorneys gave closing statements on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Vanessa Bryant filed a lawsuit several months after the 2020 crash against Los Angeles County, alleging that first responders took graphic photos of human remains at the scene as “souvenirs” and shared them with others. She is claiming she suffered emotional distress and sued for an undisclosed amount of damages for negligence and invasion of privacy.

Kobe Bryant and their daughter, Gianna, were headed to a basketball game at his Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks along with others connected to the basketball program on Jan. 26, 2020, when the helicopter they were traveling in crashed in Calabasas. All nine people on board were killed.

Vanessa Bryant took the stand in Los Angeles federal court on Friday, telling the jury she lives in fear every day that the photos could be leaked and wants “justice for my husband and my daughter.”

Orange County financial adviser Chris Chester is also suing the county over photos taken of his wife and daughter, who were killed in the same crash. In July, U.S. District Judge John Walter decided to consolidate Bryant’s and Chester’s cases into one trial.

Chester took the witness stand on Thursday, telling the jury he was in “disbelief” after hearing reports that deputies and firefighters took and shared photos of his wife, Sarah, and their 13-year-old daughter, Payton.

“It was grief on top of grief,” he said, calling for “justice and accountability.”

Throughout the trial, the defense maintained that the photos have not surfaced online since the tragedy. Multiple county fire and sheriff’s personnel have also testified that they deleted whatever crash-site pictures they had on their cellphones.

Both Bryant’s and Chester’s lawsuits argue that the photos were shared before being deleted by first responders.

The jury was instructed that they could find either the county sheriff’s office or fire department, or both, to be liable, and that Bryant or Chester, or both, were warranted damages.

Biden nominates Kim Cheatle to lead Secret Service

August 24, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday nominated Kim Cheatle to lead the United States Secret Service, the White House announced.

“Kim has had a long and distinguished career at the Secret Service, having risen through the ranks during her 27 years with the agency, becoming the first woman in the role of Assistant Director of protective operations,” Biden said in a statement.

The Bidens have a close relationship with Cheatle. She served on Biden’s security detail when he was vice president. Biden said his family “came to trust her judgment and counsel.”

“She is a distinguished law enforcement professional with exceptional leadership skills, and was easily the best choice to lead the agency at a critical moment for the Secret Service,” his statement said. “She has my complete trust, and I look forward to working with her.”

The director is not a Senate-confirmed position.

Prior to leaving the agency for the private sector, Cheatle not only served in leadership roles in Washington, D.C. but also around the country for the agency.

“She has deep knowledge and understanding of the Agency’s missions to investigate and protect. I am confident that her skillset, combined with her fresh perspective, will ensure the Secret Service builds on its strong foundation to grow and evolve into an even more effective agency,” Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement on Wednesday.

The Secret Service is housed in the Department of Homeland Security.

Don Mihalek, an ABC News contributor and a retired Secret Service agent who worked with Cheatle during his time at the agency, told ABC News she “is a professional that has the competency and capability to lead the agency.”

Mihalek said the agency she is returning to is “different” than the one she retired from two years ago, and it will be her decision which direction the agency goes.

The Secret Service has come under scrutiny as of late for the deletion of text messages on and in the days surrounding the Jan. 6 insurrection.

A Secret Service spokesman last month acknowledged text messages from Jan. 5 and Jan. 6, 2021, were deleted after being sought by the DHS inspector general.

A letter sent by the inspector general last Wednesday to the heads of the House and Senate Homeland Security Committees said the messages were deleted “as part of a device-replacement program” despite the inspector general requesting such communications.

Anthony Guglielmi, the agency spokesman, dismissed any “insinuation” the agents had “maliciously” deleted the texts.

The agency sent out communications to employees on how to upload digital files on their local devices if they are government records, according to a source familiar with the Secret Service migration process.

Harvey Weinstein granted appeal in New York sex crimes conviction

August 24, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Disgraced former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has been granted an appeal in his New York sexual assault case.

The New York Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court, agreed Wednesday to hear his appeal of his 2020 sex crimes conviction in Manhattan.

Weinstein, 70, was sentenced to 23 years following a landmark trial during the #MeToo movement that found him guilty of criminal sexual assault and rape in the third degree.

He has argued certain testimony allowed at trial was improper and a juror who wrote a novel about “predatory older men” should have been disqualified.

Weinstein’s attorneys have until Oct. 18 to file a brief with the court to begin the appellate process, the docket shows.

The Appellate Division’s First Department previously upheld Weinstein’s conviction, but outgoing Chief Judge Janet DiFiore granted Weinstein’s motion for leave to file an appeal.

In a statement provided to ABC News, Harvey Weinstein said, “I am innocent of these charges, and I am so grateful to my attorneys for working hard and smart of this. Their hard work will help me prove my innocence in the end. I look forward to this opportunity to be heard by the New York Court of Appeals.”

A spokesman for Weinstein said in a statement to ABC News that the court’s decision “demonstrates that there is, in fact, merit to the appeal. There was plenty wrong with the trial and conviction and Harvey’s attorneys will do what is needed to prove his innocence of the charges.”

The Manhattan District Attorney’s office, which brought the charges against Weinstein, declined to comment Wednesday.

The sentence included 20 years for criminal sexual assault in the first degree, which stems from an accusation from former “Project Runway” production assistant Mimi Haley. It also included three years for rape in the third degree, stemming from an accusation from Jessica Mann.

Weinstein faced a minimum of probation and a maximum of four years in prison on the rape conviction, and between five and 25 years on the criminal sexual assault conviction.

He was found not guilty in that trial of the more serious charges of predatory sexual assault and of rape in the first degree.

Weinstein is currently jailed in Los Angeles awaiting trial there on sex crime charges. He faces four felony sexual assault charges for allegedly attacking two women in separate incidents in February 2013 within a day of each other.

Tattoo ink is under-regulated, scientists say

August 24, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Researchers are raising concerns about the quality of tattoo ink, saying the ink isn’t always properly labeled and, in some instances, could contain possible carcinogens. But the biggest problem, researchers say, is that the tattoo ink is relatively unregulated, meaning the ingredients inside this ink are not always known.

A team of researchers at Binghamton University presented their work at the American Chemical Society Fall 2022 meeting and launched a website – What’s in my ink – to assist consumers and artists as it get more information and completes additional research.

Although tattoo inks are injected into the skin, they are not considered medical products. Tattoos are regulated as a cosmetic product in the United States, and cosmetic products and ingredients do not need to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration prior to going on the market for use by the public, with some exceptions.

“Surprisingly, no dye shop makes pigment specific for tattoo ink,” Dr. John Swierk, the principal investigator of the project, said in a press release with the American Chemical Society. “Big companies manufacture pigments for everything, such as paint and textiles. These same pigments are used in tattoo inks.”

This means modern tattoo ink is sometimes made from products that were not manufactured for tattoos – including printer ink.

“Our focus is that we want to understand the science better,” Swierk told ABC News, “We want to empower artists and consumers to be knowledgeable.”

The team of researchers uses multiple techniques to detect the particle size and molecular composition of tattoo pigments, using highly specialized machines that can analyze the inks at a molecular level.

“The most surprising thing we found is just how much inaccuracy there is,” Swierk said. “I won’t say that it’s inaccurate for every single manufacturer … but certainly, we’ve looked at a pretty significant subset, and we’re finding a recurring issue of incorrect labeling.”

The team has been studying both carrier solutions – which Swierk said is the liquid portion that carries the pigment, typically made out of a mix of alcohol and water – and pigments. In 20 of the 24 carrier solutions examined by the team, they found alcohols that were not listed on the label, Swierk said.

Another aspect the team studied was particle size.

“Usually the rule of thumb is that particles with a particle size of around 100 nanometers or less start to become a concern from the human health standpoint,” Swierk said, “because they can penetrate into cell nuclei.”

The team has so far analyzed the particle size of 16 inks, and has found that about half had an average particle size of around 100 nanometers or significantly smaller.

“Having a tattoo with ink does carry some risks,” Dr. Mark Abdelmalek, dermatologist and ABC News Correspondent, told ABC News. “The risks aren’t very common, but they are there.”

Abdelmalek noted the body will sometimes react to tattoo ink as if it’s a foreign substance, causing a granulomatous reaction, which he describes as almost an allergy beneath the skin.

“You have this complex interaction, and this manifests with bumps on the skin or raised areas on the skin,” Abdelmalek said. “It’s a little bit like detective work because you have a person who comes in with a multicolored tattoo, but you might be noticing that only the red ink is reacting.”

Symptoms of an allergic tattoo reaction typically include itching, infiltrated papules, nodules, or plaques that are restricted within one color of a tattoo. From 2004-2018, there was an increase in Google search volumes for “itchy tattoo”, “tattoo bumps”, “raised tattoos”, and “swollen tattoo”.

“If you are a type of person who has had allergic reactions to other things in the past, you really want to think about knowing what kind of dyes are going into your skin,” Abdemalek said.

The red colors, Abdelmalek pointed out, tend to cause the most problems with allergic reactions. Additionally, those with pre-existing skin conditions, such as psoriasis, may have exacerbations or flares after getting a tattoo.

Should someone decide to have their tattoo removed at a later date, Abdelmalek also noted that some colors are harder to remove using laser tattoo removal than others – namely, oranges, yellows, greens, and turquoise.

Tattoos have been around for centuries in many cultures and areas of the globe – archaeologists have found evidence of tattooing from as long as 7,000 years ago. As of 2019, 31.5% of adults in the United States have at least one tattoo.

Dr. Alexandria C Wellman, a resident in the combined Anatomical and Clinical Pathology program at the University of California Los Angeles, is a part of the ABC News Medical Unit.

Suspect indicted in 36-year-old Massachusetts cold case murder of college student: DA

August 24, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(BEVERLY, Mass.) — A convict was indicted Wednesday in the murder of a college student who was found strangled to death more than 35 years ago, officials said.

The body of 20-year-old Claire Gravel was discovered in the woods on June 30, 1986, in Beverly, Massachusetts.

In the intervening years, authorities have interviewed dozens of witnesses and persons of interest in the cold case, Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett told reporters during a press briefing Wednesday.

A grand jury indicted 63-year-old John Carey in her death Wednesday morning, Blodgett said. Carey is currently serving a 20-year sentence at a Concord prison after he was convicted in 2008 of attempting to strangle another woman to death in Massachusetts.

“For 36 years, Claire Gravel’s family and friends have had nothing but questions about her death,” Blodgett said. “Today, we were able to give them some of the answers.”

Evidence recovered from Gravel’s clothing “was instrumental in solving this case,” Blodgett said, noting that investigators continually review cold cases “hoping that new techniques and a fresh look would result in a breakthrough.”

Carey, who had been a person of interest in the case, will be arraigned on a first-degree murder charge at a later date, Blodgett said. It is unclear if the suspect has an attorney.

Blodgett said prosecutors have not yet speculated on a motive in Gravel’s murder, but said “we feel confident” based on the evidence presented to the grand jury “that we have the right person.”

Gravel, a student at Salem State from North Andover, was last seen alive the day before her body was found. After a night at a local bar with members of her softball team, a friend dropped Gravel off at her apartment at around 1:30 a.m. on June 29. Three workers found her body in the woods off Route 128 in Beverly on the afternoon of June 30. The medical examiner determined that she had been strangled to death.

Blodgett said he has been in touch with Gravel’s family, who expressed “relief” that a suspect has been identified in her murder.

“I want to thank everyone for their tireless and relentless pursuit of justice for Claire,” he said.

Vinyl reissue announced for ‘Holidays Rule’ compilation, featuring fun. & more

August 24, 2022 by WDNY Radio

A vinyl reissue of the 2012 compilation Holidays Rule, featuring artists including a then-still-together fun., is being released in honor of its 10th anniversary.

The two-LP package will be available September 30 and is available to preorder now.

As its title suggests, Holidays Rule features a variety of musicians putting their spin on seasonal standards. fun., for example, contributed a rendition of the song “Sleigh Ride.”

Other artists who participated include The Shins, The Head and the Heart and another popular, now-defunct band of the early 2010s, The Civil Wars.

Bret Michaels wants to write one great new rock song with Poison

August 24, 2022 by WDNY Radio

It’s been over 20 years since Poison released an album of new original songs, 2002’s Hollyweird. While frontman Bret Michaels says he’s not anxious to make another studio effort, he’d like to come up with one great new tune with the group.

“I know I could get outvoted on this,” Michaels tells the Arizona Republic. “But I said, ‘Guys, I beg you. Let’s just write a straight-up rock song.’ A ‘Nothin’ but a Good Time.’ But modern. ‘Talk Dirty to Me.’ A great guitar riff, good lyrics, a hook in the chorus. Just something that’s fun for us to write. And who knows? Maybe it could be a modern-day ‘You Shook Me All Night Long.'”

As for Poison possibly working on a longer music project, Bret says it’s probably not the best idea.
“You give us a whole album, you’ll get the best prize fight you’ve ever seen,” he says with a laugh.

Michaels says that he and his bandmates “always get along great,” except for those occasional times that they don’t.

“No one has ever made me laugh harder or been through as much as we’ve been through together, from the ground up,” Bret says. “I’m talking the basement, sump-pump water on the floor. We’re definitely four uniquely different personalities. But on that stage, it’s electric.”

He adds, “When it goes bad, it goes straight to a fistfight.”

Poison has been spending the summer on the massive Stadium Tour, which also features Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts. The trek runs through a September 9 show in Las Vegas.

Michaels also has a bunch of 2022 concerts with his solo band scheduled through a November 11 gig in Ridgefield, Washington.

Music notes: Billy Joel, Noah Thompson, Harry Styles and Ed Sheeran

August 24, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Billy Joel snuck into the Sag Harbor Cinema to see his own movie Billy Joel: Live at Yankee Stadium, reports Newsday. The movie is a re-edited and remixed film of his 1990 concert. The legendary singer showed up holding a bucket of popcorn and soda with his wife, Alexis.

American Idol winner Noah Thompson and runner-up HunterGirl are going on tour together. Their eight-date trek starts October 27 in Ohio and runs through December 2 with a stop in St. Louis, Missouri. Tickets go on sale this Friday on Noah’s website.

Harry Styles had Madison Square Garden sing “Happy Birthday” to James Corden. The late night show host, who turned 44, shared the video to his Instagram. Harry struck a pose after leading the sing-along and declared, “Friend points!”

Ed Sheeran helped design the new shirts for his soccer club, Ipswich Town. Ed is sponsoring the club’s official kit, which promote his Mathematics tour, for the upcoming season. He said he wanted to design “a cool bit of clothing people around the world would want to wear.” The all-black shirt is available to preorder.

Music notes: Bad Bunny, Harry Styles, Ed Sheeran, Halsey, Charlie Puth, Demi Lovato and Britney Spears

August 24, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Bad Bunny will put on an exclusive “made for VMAs” performance live from Yankee Stadium on Sunday. This will be his first appearance since 2019. The VMAs air Sunday, August 28, at 8 p.m. ET.

Halsey jumped on the “Teenage Dirtbag” craze taking over TikTok and declared themselves the “OG Tumblr Girlie.” The “Nightmare” singer called the trend “over” after unleashing their throwback snaps — and an old yearbook photo.

Charlie Puth is heading to Fortnite for a virtual performance, where he will debut tracks from his upcoming album, Charlie, and host an interactive game to “test fan knowledge,” NME reports.

Demi Lovato hints a rock version of “Cool for the Summer” is on the way. The revelation was made during ELLE‘s “Song Association” challenge, where the Grammy winner said they are open to rerecording their 2015 hit in the style of Holy Fvck because it “matches the tone” of their new album. “You never know what I might do in the future,” they teased.

Britney Spears thinks it’s cute Selena Gomez likes watchingOnly Murders in the Building. “Selena watching her own show like a hot scene from Mean Girls,” Britney said on her Instagram Story. She also revealed she’s invested in the show.

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