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Jennifer Hudson says she hopes her new talk show helps people find their own “superpower”

August 11, 2022 by WDNY Radio

EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson has never played a superhero, but she says she’s hoping to create some with her eponymous new talk show.

In a new promo, the multitalent enthuses, “I hope my fans experience a good time.”

She adds, “I hope they discover their superpower, and I hope they feel on top of the world by the time they leave The Jennifer Hudson Show.”

“Let’s go live life, baby!” she smiles.

Producers tease, “The series will feature celebrity interviews, topical stories, community heroes, viral sensations and music.”

They add that J Hud “will use her powerful voice in a new way, bringing fun, uplifting, and empowering conversations to the forefront, shining a light on extraordinary stories, talents and passions,” calling the talk show “a destination to laugh, learn and feel inspired.”

The syndicated chat show debuts September 12.

One killed, three hurt in shooting outside 24 Hour Fitness: Brentwood police

August 11, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(BRENTWOOD, Calif.) — One person was killed and three others were injured in a shooting that stemmed from an altercation at a Northern California gym, police said.

The three people hurt self-transported to hospitals and are expected to survive, Brentwood police told ABC News.

The gunshots rang out just before 2 a.m. outside a 24 Hour Fitness in Brentwood, which is about 55 miles east of San Francisco.

The “altercation” began inside the gym, on or near basketball courts, and carried out into the gym’s front parking lot where it “escalated,” police said.

At least two people pulled out guns and fired multiple shots, police said, citing surveillance video.

One of the four people shot, a man in his 20s, died at the scene, police said.

No motive is known, according to police, who called it an isolated incident.

One suspect has been detained but no arrests have been made, police said.

Officers of color barred from guarding Derek Chauvin get $1.5 million in settlement

August 11, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Officers of color barred from guarding Derek Chauvin get .5 million in settlement

(ST. PAUL, Minn.) — Eight corrections officers of color were barred from guarding Derek Chauvin in May 2020 – now, they’re receiving almost $1.5 million as a settlement for racial discrimination.

Chauvin is a former Minneapolis Police officer who has since been convicted in the death of George Floyd. The murder prompted nationwide protests, calling for racial justice and police reform.

According to court documents, Steve Lydon, then-Superintendent of the Ramsey County Adult Detention Center, issued an order on May 29, 2020, that banned corrections officers of color from entering the fifth floor where Chauvin was being held.

The order was rescinded about one hour later.

Several officers filed charges of discrimination with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights the following month. Those files were later closed, as officers prepared for a separate lawsuit.

In a February 2021 complaint that followed, eight officers alleged multiple violations of the Minnesota Human Rights Act, including race and color discrimination and a hostile work environment.

Three plaintiffs — Devin Sullivan, Stanley Hafoka and Nathaniel Gomez-Haustein — also asserted claims of retaliation. They alleged emotional distress, as well as loss of income.

According to the Star Tribune, Lydon made the decision “to protect and support” employees of color, hoping to quell any pain that the presence of Chauvin might cause them.

Ramsey County Board Chairwoman Trista MatasCastillo apologized Tuesday to the officers affected.

“The actions taken by Sheriff’s Office leadership that day were more than just wrong — they were racist, heinous, highly disrespectful and completely out of line with Ramsey County’s vision and values,” MatasCastillo said in a statement. “No one ever should have questioned your ability to perform your job based on the color of your skin.”

At least 31 people injured on ride at Legoland park in Germany, police say

August 11, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(GUENZBURG, Germany) — Dozens of people were injured on a ride at an amusement park in Germany on Thursday, police said.

The incident occurred at a Legoland park in Günzburg in Bavaria.

At least 31 people were injured in the accident, including one severely, a local police spokesperson confirmed to ABC News. It is unclear how many people have been hospitalized.

Several helicopters responded to the scene.

All passengers have been removed from the ride, which will remain closed, police said.

Investigators will be on the scene Friday, police said.

ABC News did not immediately receive a response from the amusement park when seeking comment.

Last week, a person died in a roller coaster accident at another German amusement park, Klotti Park, after falling off the ride, officials said. Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident.

Michael Bublé honors Olivia Newton-John: “She touched everybody that she knew”

August 11, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Michael Bublé paid tribute to Olivia Newton-John, who lost her battle with cancer this week. The “Sway” singer appeared on Australia’s TODAY to share his memories of the late icon.

“Once in a generation a person comes along who is born or given such privilege and they understand with that privilege comes a responsibility to lead with goodness, and kindness and empathy,” Michael said. “She is this massive star and she touched everybody that she knew … The whole damn world.”

Referencing Australia collectively mourning the beloved Grease star, Michael continued, “I cannot imagine how deep the sadness is, but at the same time, how proud you all must be.”

“She understood exactly who she was, and that for me is the difference between an artist and a musician. That’s an artist,” Michael continued. “Look at what she’s done! Look at how long she’s been more than relevant for. That’s just not normal anymore.”

He noted artists should consider themselves “lucky” if they stay relevant for over a decade. “She went way further than that,” Michael said.

Michael reflected on opening for Olivia during a show and how that morphed into a lifelong friendship. “She was just as cool as you think she was … She was way too cool and way too sweet,” he said. The singer added she went “out of her way” to meet his parents and siblings, who “couldn’t believe” they shook hands with the icon.

Michael revealed Olivia also consoled him when his young son, Noah, battled liver cancer in 2016.

The Grammy winner said Olivia brought “a lot of light” wherever she went, which inspired him to become a better person. “She was one of my lessons of how I wanted to be.”

Melissa Etheridge’s “new calling”: Stopping fights on ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’

August 11, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Melissa Etheridge is a musician, Oscar winner, Grammy winner and breast cancer survivor, but now she can add another line to her resume: reality show peacemaker.

On Wednesday night’s episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Melissa made a surprise appearance at a charity dinner hosted by Dorit Kemsley. When she arrived, she inadvertently stopped things from descending into chaos.

As E! Online reports, Lisa Rinna and Sutton Stracke had gotten into a screaming match at the event and were slinging expletives across the room at each other, while all the other guests watched in horror. But then Melissa came down the stairs and performed “Come to My Window,” and suddenly everyone chilled out.

In fact, Lisa even apologized to Sutton and the rest of the Housewives, tearfully attributing her outburst to misdirected anger. “I’m trying to figure out how to live without my mom and I don’t know how to do it,” she said.

Melissa retweeted the E! Online article — titled “How Melissa Etheridge Stopped a RHOBH Dinner Party From Hell” — and added, “I have new calling!!” She also tweeted a photo of herself posing with the glamorous housewives, and captioned the pic, “one of these things is not like the other…“

Millie Bobby Brown talks about “disastrous” audition before she landed ‘Stranger Things’

August 11, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Millie Bobby Brown is now a household name, thanks to the runaway success of Stranger Things, but as she tells the September issue of Allure, getting the role of Eleven nearly didn’t happen.

The actress’s dreams of stardom could have been dashed by what the magazine calls a “disastrous” audition for a powerful casting executive who said, at 10 years old, Mille was “too mature” to make it in Hollywood.

Millie explained why she was drawn to acting. “I enjoyed being different people because I always struggled with self-identity and knowing who I was. Even as a young person, I always felt like I didn’t quite belong in every room I was in.”

So, that critique from the casting director stung, she admits.

“I always knew that I was mature and I couldn’t really help that,” she tells the magazine, noting that as a child she felt “like no one was quite like me in school and no one was as mature as I was.”

“And then being told that it wasn’t, that I wouldn’t make it in this industry, it was so hurtful,” she says.

“[It] was really hard because I thought [maturity] was a good thing.”

Then, she recalled, “My parents told me, ‘Just do this one last audition on tape and then you can go outside and play with your friends again.’ So I said, ‘OK, yeah, I should do this one because it looks cool.'”

The audition was for the Duffer Brothers, who created Stranger Things, and the rest, as they say, is history.

After the show became a hit, Millie recalled thinking, “‘Gosh … I could really change the world with this.'”

To that end, she’s launched a production company and a skin care line for people her age.

The issue hits newsstands August 16.

A$AP Rocky’s shooting victim is a member of his A$AP Mob

August 11, 2022 by WDNY Radio

The victim of the shooting for which A$AP Rocky was arrested has come forward, and it’s a member of his A$AP Mob collective. As Rolling Stone reports, A$AP Relli, born Terell Ephron, identified himself as the individual Rocky shot in Hollywood on November 6, 2021. He is now planning to sue the Harlem rapper over the incident.

In a statement to RS, Relli’s attorneys, Jamal Tooson and Brian Hurwitz, alleged Rocky, whose birth name is Rakim Mayers, asked their client to meet up “to discuss a disagreement between the two of them” and “came armed with a semi-automatic handgun.”

Then “a conversation ensued whereby without provocation, warning, or any justification, ASAP Rocky produced the handgun and intentionally fired multiple shots at Mr. Ephron,” the statement continued.

Rocky was arrested in April in connection to the incident and charged with assault with a deadly weapon. He was released after posting a $500,000 bond.

As for Relli, he sustained a minor injury to his left hand and later sought medical treatment. His attorneys say he’s received “multiple death threats and irreparable harm to his career in the entertainment industry as a result of this incident.” Hence, his plans to file a civil lawsuit against Rocky.

According to RS, Rocky’s friendship with Relli, a talent manager and producer, dates back to high school. He previously credited Relli for bringing him into the A$AP Mob.

Man with rifle and body armor tries to break into FBI office: Police

August 11, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(CINCINNATI) — Ohio state troopers and the FBI are pursuing a man who allegedly tried to break into the FBI’s Cincinnati office on Thursday.

Ohio State Highway Patrol followed the suspect, who was driving a white Ford Crown Victoria, to Clinton County, where shots have been fired, according to officials.

The suspect, who officials said is armed with a rifle and wearing body armor, has been contained in a corn field off Interstate 71 near Wilmington, according to Clinton County Emergency Management. The suspect appears to have a gunshot wound to his leg but remains mobile, according to a law enforcement source.

The suspect is allegedly armed with an AR15-style rifle and also brandished a nail gun during the alleged break-in attempt at the FBI field office in Cincinnati, according to multiple law enforcement sources.

There’s a lockdown in effect within a one-mile radius of the standoff scene. People have been instructed to lock doors and stay inside.

The man led police on a chase along Interstate 71 before exiting near Wilmington. Ohio State Highway Patrol said shots were fired from the suspect’s vehicle before it exited and, once it pulled off the interstate, gunshots were exchanged between the suspect and police.

No officers have been injured, police said.

It remains unclear why the man allegedly tried to break into the FBI office but it comes amid a series of threats following the FBI’s court-authorized search of former President Trump’s Florida residence.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

“Ain’t life grand”: Kane Brown to make VMA performance debut

August 11, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Kane Brown is making VMA history.

The “Grand” singer will make his MTV Video Music Awards debut on the Toyota Stage with the first live TV performance of his new single, “Grand.” He’s also the first male country act to perform on the VMAs. Past country artists who’ve performed at the all-genre show include Kacey Musgraves and Taylor Swift.

“Grand” is the third single off his upcoming album, Different Man, set to drop September 9.

Last year, Kane was the sole country artist nominated at the show, scoring a nod for Video For Good for “Worldwide Beautiful.” This year, Kacey represents country music with two nominations for Best Longform Video for “star-crossed” and Best Art Director for “simple times.”

The VMAs air on MTV on August 28 at 8 p.m. ET.

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