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Jan. 6 committee postpones hearing because of Hurricane Ian

September 27, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — The House Jan. 6 committee scheduled for Wednesday has been postponed because of Hurricane Ian.

The storm is expected to make landfall in Florida at about the same time as the hearing was to take place.

“In light of Hurricane Ian bearing down on parts of Florida, we have decided to postpone tomorrow’s proceedings,” Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and Vice Chair Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., said in a statement Tuesday afternoon. ‘We’re praying for the safety of all those in the storm’s path. The Select Committee’s investigation goes forward and we will soon announce a date for the postponed proceedings.”

Rep. Stephanie Murphy, a Democratic member of the panel, represents Florida’s 7th Congressional District.

The committee was set to reconvene Wednesday after a two-month hiatus for a midday hearing.

But the rapid advancement of Hurricane Ian is now dominating airwaves, with the storm currently a Category 3 hurricane and expected to grow stronger.

Thompson previously told reporters that the committee would be airing “substantial footage” and “significant witness testimony” but didn’t give any more details on what the public can expect to see or what the focus of the hearing would be.

Lawmakers held eight televised hearings from June to July detailing what they described as former President Donald Trump’s “sophisticated” efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, which they said led to the events that took place on Jan. 6, 2021.

The hearings, two of which were held in prime-time, were produced to capture the public’s attention more than a year and half after the riot.

At the last hearing on July 21, the committee focused on the 187 minutes that passed between Trump’s speech at the Ellipse and his taped statement later that afternoon telling rioters to leave the Capitol. Using testimony from former White House officials, the committee said Trump resisted pressure to act as he watched the violence unfold on television.

“President Trump did not fail to act during the 187 minutes between leaving the Ellipse and telling the mob to go home,” Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., said. “He chose not to act.”

Since then, the committee has requested information from several people with ties to election denialism and Trump, including former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

Ginni Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, has agreed to a voluntary interview with the committee, her attorney confirmed last week.

There’s also the looming question of whether the committee will call former Vice President Mike Pence to testify before it wraps up the investigation.

Cheney told ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl that she hopes Pence will speak with lawmakers. The former vice president said he’d consider testifying if asked, but then implied that there could be constitutional constraints to any potential appearance.

Cheney also told Karl that she expects transcripts, records and other materials gathered by the committee over the course of its probe to be made public.

Wednesday’s hearing was anticipated to be the last before the committee releases a final report of its findings and recommendations by the end of the year.

Ex-Journey frontman Steve Perry teases plans for new holiday tune

September 27, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Steve Perry released his first Christmas album, The Season, last year and now the former Journey singer is hinting he has more holiday music on the way.

On Monday, Perry posted a grinning, crazed-looking depiction of himself wearing a Santa Claus hat on his social media pages, along with a message that reads, “Here’s another one of my sketches because, ‘Maybe This Year one NEW SP original Holiday song, plus one more, could be coming!'”

Earlier in the month, Perry posted a different drawing of the same character wearing reindeer antlers and standing in front of a microphone, with the caption, “Regarding the Holidays, Maybe This Year? Sincerely Steve Perry.” In a separate post, Steve wrote, “Follow me on Spotify to get special notifications of anything I might be up to — Maybe This Year?”

The Season, which was released November 5, is an eight-song collection featuring Perry’s renditions of such classic yuletide tunes as “Winter Wonderland,” “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” “Silver Bells” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

In an interview with ABC Audio shortly before the album’s release, Perry was asked if he’d consider putting out more holiday music in the future, to which he responded, “If I can pull it off, if Uncle Steve’s still here, I might do that, yes.”

Music notes: Harry Styles, Lauren Daigle, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Meghan Trainor, Måneskin and more

September 27, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Harry Styles‘ “Watermelon Sugar” has been voted the best song of the summer, says Billboard. The website offered a bracket-like voting contest featuring every song of the summer since 2010. Adele‘s “Rolling in the Deep” ranked second.

Lauren Daigle welcomed America’s Got Talent contestant Ava Swiss to the stage Monday night to perform Lauren’s 2018 hit “Remember.” The singer said she wept when she met Swiss, who is a survivor of the Oxford High School shooting. A video of their performance is now on YouTube.

Rihanna is one of the chillest celebrities, claims Extra reporter Rachel Lindsay. The former Bachelorette star was on The Jennifer Hudson Show and recalled interviewing Rihanna on a red carpet. “The first thing she says to me is ‘Hey, boo,'” she said, adding the singer is “so down to earth.”

TMZ claims Taylor Swift was asked to headline next year’s Super Bowl halftime show, but she turned it down to focus on rerecording all her albums. The gig has since gone to Rihanna.

Meghan Trainor has her own zine coming out in celebration of her new album, Takin’ It Back. Fans can preorder the zine, which chronicles the making of the new album, at Meghan’s online store. She teased the zine on Instagram, hinting it contains never-before-seen photos.

“Beggin'” singers Måneskin have a new single coming out next Friday, October 7, called “The Loneliest.”

Speaking of Måneskin, Eurovision will be hosted in either Glasgow or Liverpool, reports NME. The United Kingdom will be substitute hosting the singing competition for Ukraine, who won this year’s contest and hosting rights. The war with Russia has forced the competition to move.

Ryan Reynolds teases ‘Deadpool 3’ — and Hugh Jackman’s return as Wolverine

September 27, 2022 by WDNY Radio

That sound you might have heard around 5 p.m. ET Tuesday was millions of geeks’ heads exploding, thanks to Ryan Reynolds‘ Instagram.

That’s because he teased fans that Deadpool 3 will feature none other than his pal Hugh Jackman‘s return to his X-Men character, Wolverine.

Reynolds opened by apologizing to fans. “We were extremely sad to have missed D23,” he said of the annual Disney Expo, “but we have been working hard on the next Deadpool film for a good long while now.”

Along with pensive shots of Reynolds both in and out of his Deadpool costumes, he continued, “I’ve had to really search my soul on this one. His first appearance in the MCU obviously needs to feel really special. We need to stay true to the character …”

He continued, “It’s been an incredible challenge that has forced me to reach deep inside. And I have nothing. It’s completely empty up here. And terrifying. But we did have one idea.”

At that, Hugh Jackman walks into frame behind him, eating an apple, and casually walks up a flight of stairs in the background.

“Hey Hugh: You wanna play Wolverine one more time?”

“Yeah, sure Ryan,” Jackman says, chewing.

At this, Reynolds raises his eyebrows, and Whitney Houston‘s “I Will Always Love You” blares, the obvious play on words with “you” and “Hugh.”

“Coming Hughn,” a title card reads near the Deadpool logo — which is split apart by Wolverine’s three claws — and a release date reading “9/6/24.”

The news came as a shock to fans, as Jackman had retired playing the role in 2017’s Oscar-nominated Logan, meaning he was never part of the Disney-owned Marvel Cinematic Universe.

With Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox — and the Wolverine character with it — along with the MCU’s dabbling in the Multiverse, however, it looks like fans will finally get their wish and see the two heroes together.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

Spice Girls announce expanded edition of ’Spiceworld’ to celebrate its 25th anniversary

September 27, 2022 by WDNY Radio

It’s hard to believe the Spice Girls‘ sophomore album, Spiceworld, is turning 25. The British pop stars are excited to celebrate and announced Spiceworld 25, a deluxe anniversary edition of their standout 1997 album.

Spiceworld 25 is due out November 4. The ladies have ensured this will delight their fans by packing it full of goodies. The Spice Girls curated the release themselves and have added their favorite bonus tracks, remixes and B sides.

The album will also contain four unreleased live tracks from the Virgin Records archive, including the never-before-heard “Step To Me” original demo. Fans of the Spice Girls know the elusive track was featured on the Japanese edition of Spiceworld. It was also the prize of a 1997 soft drink campaign, where fans had to collect 20 pink ring pull tabs to earn the “not in the shops” CD single.

“The Spiceworld era was such a fun time for us; we’d just had a number 1 album with Spice, we were travelling [sic] all over the world and meeting our amazing fans, we released our second album AND we had our very own movie,” the British sensations said in a statement. “Who would’ve thought it? It’s crazy to think that 25 years have passed.”

Spiceworld 25 will be released digitally and physically as a two-CD and hardback book copy, double cassette or 2LP offering. Fans can also snatch up a picture disc and clear vinyl. It is now available to pre-order.

Spiceworld was released November 3, 1997, and has gone on to sell over 14 million copies worldwide.

Nashville notes: Kelsea Ballerini on ’Corden,’ LeAnn Rimes’ new video & more

September 27, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Kelsea Ballerini will perform on The Late Late Show With James Corden Tuesday. It airs on CBS at 12:37 a.m. ET/11:37 p.m. CT.

LeAnn Rimes has released the video for “spaceship,” a track off her new album, god’s work.

Craig Morgan will be signing copies of his new book, God, Family, Country, at Half Price Books in Dallas Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Lil Wayne rings in 40th birthday with new Platinum certifications

September 27, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Lil Wayne has a lot to celebrate today. Not only does the rapper turn the big 4-0, but he also just scored 22 new RIAA Platinum certifications.

The career-spanning certifications include songs “6 Foot 7 Foot” and “Love Me,” which are now seven-times Platinum, and “How To Love” and “A Milli,” which are now six-times Platinum. His albums I Am Not a Human Being and Tha Carter V achieved double Platinum status, while Tha Carter III was certified eight-times Platinum.

Over the weekend, Weezy had a huge birthday party at The Nice Guy in Los Angeles, with guests including YG, Yella Beezy, Shannon Sharpe, Skip Bayless and Marcus Wiley. The night included a performance by Keith Sweat and a set by DJ Meel.

Some of Wayne’s famous friends who were unable to make the bash filmed a video message wishing the rapper a happy birthday. The video features Drake, Nicki Minaj, Janet Jackson, Missy Elliott, Barry Bonds, Snoop Dogg, Floyd Mayweather, Chris Brown and more.

George and Amal Clooney celebrating humanitarians with inaugural Albie Awards

September 27, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Awards shows are sometimes criticized for being superficial, but Oscar winner George Clooney is looking to change that with the Albie Awards.

Clooney, his human rights attorney wife Amal and their Clooney Foundation for Justice have announced they’re staging the inaugural event at the New York City Public Library on the evening of September 29.

South African judge, author and activist Albie Sachs — for whom the awards are named — will be honored with a lifetime achievement award at the event.

Filipino journalist Maria Ressa will be honored with the Justice For Journalists award; Dr. Josephine Kulea, of the Kenya-based Samburu Girls Foundation, will be singled out with the Justice For Women award.

iAct, which supports genocide survivors in refugee camps, will be presented with the Justice For Survivors award, and Belarusian human rights group Viasna will be honored with the Justice For Democracy Defenders award.

Michelle Obama, Meryl Streep, Oscar Isaac, Dua Lipa, Aloe Blacc, John Oliver, Julia Roberts, and Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa will be among the newsmakers saluting the honorees.

In a statement, the Clooneys noted, “We believe that justice must be waged — it doesn’t just happen. So when journalists are locked up just for doing their job, we try to get them out of prison. When young girls are denied the right to study, work, or marry when they want, we help them fight for their rights through the courts. When minorities are targeted for genocide, we help trigger trials against the perpetrators.”

“The Albie Awards add a new dimension to our work at CFJ: they are a way to shine a protective light on the many courageous individuals who, at great personal risk, have devoted their lives to justice,” they conclude.

Tens of thousands of Russians flee Putin’s mobilization

September 27, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(RUSSIA) — Tens of thousands of Russians continue to try to flee the country, fearful of being caught up in the military mobilization ordered by president Vladimir Putin last week to replenish his forces in Ukraine.

Miles-long lines of traffic have formed at border crossings with some neighboring countries amid the exodus, as Russians pack exit routes, worried the government might soon impose further restrictions on military age men leaving.

Officials in Kazakhstan, which borders Russia to the south, said 98,000 Russians have crossed into their country since Putin announced the mobilization last Wednesday. Georgia’s interior ministry told ABC News Tuesday that 100,000 had entered its territory in the past few days. Tens of thousands more have left via other countries, including Finland and Mongolia. The European Union’s border service said 66,000 Russians had entered the bloc over the past week, 30% more than the week before.

Russians began fleeing the country within hours of Putin’s ordering what he called a “partial” mobilization to call-up 300,000 men in an effort to reverse the course of his faltering war in Ukraine. In reality, experts say there are little restrictions on who can be drafted and there are widespread reports of men being mobilized regardless of their eligibility.

Although the mobilization for now is officially meant to apply only to those with some military experience, many fear the criteria could be expanded and that the government could block military age men from leaving the country. Men subject to the draft are barred from leaving the country and widespread reports are emerging of men with military experience being turned back from borders.

At the Verkhny Lars crossing where Russia borders Georgia, a line of hundreds of cars has formed, stretching back around 12 miles, according to journalists there, with thousands of people waiting, some sleeping in their cars. The BBC reported 2,500 cars were currently in the line, citing Russia’s customs service.

Russian authorities on Tuesday confirmed that Russian troops with armored vehicles had set up a checkpoint at the crossing to turn back those subject to the call-up and were handing out draft papers there. Officials said a mobile enlistment office had also been set up at the border crossing.

Kazakhstan, which has a nearly 5,000 mile-long border with Russia and a relaxed entry regime, has become a magnet for those leaving, with border crossings swamped. A 37-year-old man who entered Kazakhstan Monday near the Oral-Uralsk crossing said the line of traffic waiting at one checkpoint point now stretched nearly 20 miles.

“There’s simply a hellish line — it’s endless. And moreover at all checkpoints,” the man, a manager from Tver, a city just outside Moscow, said by phone. He asked to remain anonymous for fear of punishment by the Russian authorities.

The man said he had spent 20 hours by road to reach the border from Moscow and was now in the border city of Uralsk, on the Kazakhstan side. Although he is currently not subject to the draft because he has no military experience, he said he had still decided to flee because he feared the borders being closed soon and did not believe in fighting against Ukraine.

“There is a risk that later you will simply find yourself in a cage,” he said.

He said he had chosen to leave despite having only $250 in his pocket and planned to stay with relatives initially, before finding work in Kazakhstan.

“I’m preparing myself for a hard time. I’m preparing myself that I won’t know where to sleep, what I’m going to eat,” he said.

A local journalist writing for the Russian outlet Novaya Gazeta.eu wrote, that hundreds of Russian men with luggage could be seen on the streets in Uralsk. Local authorities have reportedly commandeered a cinema to house some of the influx.

The sudden mobilization has abruptly brought home the war for millions of Russians, after months during which the Kremlin has sought to present it as a distant conflict with little effect on people’s daily lives. Group chats have sprung up on the Telegram social media platform, where Russians anxiously trade information about potential crossing points and look for spots on transport headed over the borders. One chat called Guide to the Free World, has over 100,000 members.

The Kremlin has said for now it has made no decision on whether to close Russia’s borders in response to the mobilization.

Asked by journalists on Monday about reports in independent Russian media that the Kremlin was considering closures in the coming days, Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he was “not aware of anything about that.”

“At the present moment, no decisions have been taken on that account,” he said.

The branches of the Federal Security Service in the southern Kurgan and Tyumen regions told the TASS state news agency, that border guards were stopping those subject to mobilization, informing them they must appear at their enlistment offices.

South Carolina House rejects bill to ban abortions with few exceptions

September 27, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(COLUMBIA, SC) — The South Carolina House rejected a bill Tuesday that would’ve banned nearly all abortions after fetal cardiac activity is detected. The proposed ban would have made exceptions for when the mother’s life or health is in danger, for fetuses with fatal anomalies and first-trimester pregnancies that are a result of rape or incest.

The bill was introduced by the state Senate in September after it rejected an abortion ban proposed by the House. The proposed legislation comes as the state Supreme Court blocked a six-week ban on abortion from going into effect amid ongoing litigation.

The bill failed with a vote of 95 to 11, as lawmakers remain at odds over regulating abortion in the state.

The bill would have made it illegal to perform an abortion or administer or distribute drugs that induce an abortion. A person found guilty of providing an abortion would have faced a fine of $10,000 and jail time of up to two years.

The proposed bill would have also required physicians who provide abortion services in line with the exceptions for rape or incest to report the procedure to their county sheriff’s department within 24 hours of performing or inducing the abortion.

Physicians would have been required to report the name and contact information for the woman making the allegation and to preserve a DNA sample from the fetal remains and submit it as evidence to authorities.

The bill required abortion providers to add a note to the patient’s medical records stating that the abortion was performed under one of the exceptions.

Under the bill, Planned Parenthood would’ve also been prevented from utilizing state funds for any purposes related to abortions.

In August, the state House passed a near-total ban on abortion which only provided exceptions for pregnancies that are a result of rape and incest. The state Senate rejected the bill, passing its own abortion bill and sending it back to the House.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster had signaled he would sign an abortion ban into law, telling ABC News in August that he would “carefully consider any legislation that ultimately reaches his desk, but he believes this is a good starting point for the Senate to begin its deliberations,” referring to the first House bill.

McMaster also approved in February 2021 a package of bills banning abortions after fetal cardiac activity is detected. The ban took effect after Roe was overturned, but is now blocked by the South Carolina Supreme Court while justices review a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood in July. The lawsuit claims that the ban is an invasion of privacy and violation of equal protection under the state constitution.

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