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Tear gas or pepper spray used at South African nightclub when teenagers died, eyewitness says

June 30, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(EAST LONDON, South Africa) — Tear gas or pepper spray was used on patrons at a popular nightclub in South Africa when more than a dozen teenagers mysteriously died there, an eyewitness told ABC News.

Sibongile Mtsewu, 22, said he was ordering drinks at the crowded Enyobeni Tavern near the South African city of East London over the weekend, when suddenly the doors were closed and some type of chemical agent was released into the air.

“There was no way out,” Mtsewu, who lives nearby, told ABC News in a telephone interview Thursday. “There was no chance to breathe.”

Mtsewu said he passed out after inhaling the substance. He recalled being surrounded by bodies when his brother woke him up some time later.

“The tear gas suffocated many people,” he told ABC News. “That’s why people died.”

Mtsewu said one of his legs was injured and he has pains in his body from the incident.

The South African Police Service has declined to comment on possible causes of deaths, citing the ongoing probe.

Officers were called to the Enyobeni Tavern in Scenery Park, a suburb on the edge of East London in Eastern Cape province, on Sunday morning at around 4 a.m. local time, according to police. Upon arrival, they discovered 17 teens dead inside the club. Four more died when they were hospitalized or being transported to hospitals. The youngest victim was 13, police said.

The incident remains under investigation. The circumstances surrounding the tragedy were unclear, and the causes of deaths have yet to be established. No arrests have been made, according to police.

“We do not want to make any speculation at this stage as our investigations are continuing,” Brig. Tembinkosi Kinana, a spokesperson for the South African Police Service, told ABC News on Sunday.

As of Thursday, all 21 victims had been identified and the autopsies were completed, but toxicology reports were still pending, according to Siyanda Manana, a spokesperson for the Eastern Cape Department of Health. A mass funeral will be held next week.

The South African Police Service’s commissioner for Eastern Cape province, Lt. Gen. Nomthetheleli Mene, released a statement on Wednesday expressing concern “about circulating rumours and media reports speculating on the cause of death.”

“As indicated earlier, at an appropriate time and when an official report has been made available by the experts, the family and members of the public will be informed by the relevant authority,” Mene said. “We urge people to refrain from making risky assumptions which do not assist our investigations.”

‘The Best Man: Final Chapters’ coming to Peacock this winter

June 30, 2022 by WDNY Radio

The TV series inspired by The Best Man franchise will premiere just in time for Christmas.

The Best Man: Final Chapters will premiere December 22 on Peacock, Entertainment Tonight reports.

All the of the two movies, The Best Man in 1999 and The Best Man Holiday in 2013, have returned. Morris Chestnut, Terrence Howard, Taye Diggs, Harold Perrineau, Nia Long, Sanaa Lathan, Regina Hall and Melissa De Sousa have been shooting in several locations, including the Dominican Republic. Nicole Ari Parker, from Empire, has also joined the all-star cast.

The director of the films, Malcolm D. Lee, is also back and has added another famed director for the series, Robert Townsend, whose credits include The Five Heartbeats and Hollywood Shuffle.

On Wednesday, Lee posted an Instagram video from Rockefeller Center in New York City as his crew prepared to shoot a scene.

According to Peacock, The Best Man: Final Chapters “will catch up with the leading characters Harper, Robyn, Jordan, Lance, Quentin, Shelby, Candace, and Murch as relationships evolve and past grievances resurface in the unpredictable stages of midlife crisis meets midlife renaissance.”

Four dead, three injured in Texas car crash involving smuggling operation: Police

June 30, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(ENCINAL, Texas) — Four people were killed and three others are in critical condition Thursday following a car crash involving an alleged migrant smuggling operation in Texas, police said.

The incident took place on Interstate 35 in Encinal, Texas, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

“The driver suspected of human smuggling evaded law enforcement and crashed into a commercial vehicle,” the Texas DPS tweeted.

Encinal is located about 40 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border.

The incident comes three days after 53 migrants being smuggled into the U.S. were found dead inside a tractor-trailer in San Antonio.

Music notes: Lil Nas X, Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, Halsey, Adele and more

June 30, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Lil Nas X shared a hilarious behind-the-scenes video of how he filmed “Late To Da Party.” The video shows Lil Nas X fawning over how handsome he is, joking how smart he looks while wearing glasses. The video includes its fair share of bad editing and shows how they filmed the bizarre music video into the early morning hours.

Britney Spears raved about some beaded toilet paper earrings on Instagram and now the designer is singing Britney’s praises. Licia Young, who sells those earrings for $44 a pop, told Page Six she received a massive spike in sales. “I’ve received enough publicity to make it worth making them,” she raved.

Justin Bieber attended church for the first time since being diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which paralyzed a part of his face. Page Six reports he and wife Hailey Bieber were spotted attending Wednesday night service. Hope he feels better soon!

Halsey teamed with Coca-Cola for a new music video for their song “So Good,” which you can watch by scanning a Coke bottle. Halsey announced on Instagram that they “concepted and created” the new clip with the beverage giant, which shows them painting away while enjoying a soda.

Adele teased her Friday night all-female concert at Hyde park. “Who’s ready for tomorrow!?” she asked on Instagram, and shared a series of snaps of her wearing no makeup and sitting cross-legged on a chair while belting out a song.

See the dress Olivia Rodrigo wore to the Grammy Awards at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles. Billboard reports it updated their “On the Red Carpet” display and now includes Olivia’s red carpet dress, as well as Silk Sonic‘s suits and Billie Eilish‘s outfit!

Get ready, DNCE drops their new song “Got Me Good” on July 8!

Music notes: DNCE, Adele, Justin Bieber, Olivia Rodrigo, Michael Bublé and more

June 30, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Get ready, DNCE has an all new song coming out next week! They’ll drop “Got Me Good” on July 8.

Adele is teasing her Friday night all-female concert at Hyde park. “Who’s ready for tomorrow!?” she asked on Instagram and shared some behind-the-scenes looks at her getting ready for the upcoming event. Several shots show a makeup-free Adele sitting cross-legged on a chair and belting out a song.

It’s good to be famous! Michael Bublé revealed on TikTok he’s best buddies with Aktar Islam, the owner of the upscale Opheem restaurant in Birmingham, England. Islam shut his restaurant down so Michael, who’s on tour, could enjoy a private dinner there. “If you think it’s an ad, it’s not. Here’s my bill,” Michael insisted while holding up a receipt. “I paid and it was worth every penny!”

Meghan Trainor reminded fans who she married — Spy Kids star Daryl Sabara. She took to TikTok to upgrade his title from “Spy Kid” to “Spy Husband.” As she declares she will always be #TeamJuni, the name of Daryl’s character in the franchise, her husband comedically pulls a few spy-like poses and fighting moves.

2022 Peach Music Festival kicks off; select sets streaming online

June 30, 2022 by WDNY Radio

The 10th anniversary edition of the Allman Brothers Band-founded Peach Music Festival got underway Thursday.

The four-day event, which runs through Sunday, July 3, is taking place at its usual location, Montage Mountain in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It will include headlining sets from The Black Crowes and Phish singer/guitarist Trey Anastasio‘s solo band.

More than 50 artists will be performing at this year’s festival, with the bill also including founding Allman Brothers Band drummer Jaimoe, Jason Bonham‘s Led Zeppelin Evening, reggae legends The Wailers and Steel Pulse, G. Love & The Juice and Duane Betts — son of original Allman Brothers singer/guitarist Dickey Betts.

Jaimoe will be playing with a collective dubbed Jaimoe & Friends, while The Wailers will perform the late Bob Marley‘s classic hits compilation Legend in its entirety. In addition, a group called Trouble No More will celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Allman Brothers’ 1972 album Eat a Peach. Trouble No More’s lead singer is Lamar Williams Jr., whose late father played bass with the Allman Brothers from 1972 to 1976.

With the festival scheduled just before July 4, the bash will conclude with a spectacular fireworks display Sunday.

Meanwhile, nugs.net will be streaming select performances from the festival on all four days, and subscribers to the service will be able to watch for free.

The June 30 livestream lineup includes the Trouble No More set; the July 1 bill will feature Steel Pulse; the July 2 lineup includes Jaimoe & Friends and Trey Anastasio Band; and the July 3 livestream will offer Duane Betts, The Wailers and G. Love & The Juice.

Law enforcement frustration along border ‘earned,’ Mayorkas says

June 30, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — In the wake of the apparent worst human smuggling tragedy in U.S. history, and amid migrants crossing the border at record levels, frustration among border patrol agents and other law enforcement on the ground is “earned,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said.

“Our Border Patrol agents, you know, their morale is down. And I understand why,” he told Fraternal Order of Police President Patrick Yoes on a podcast this week sponsored by FOP, one of the largest police unions in the country.

Migrants have been streaming across the border and getting taken into custody at record levels since the start of the year — averaging well over 200,000 apprehensions a month.

Mayorkas touched on the catastrophe earlier this week on the outskirts of San Antonio, Texas, that left more than 50 migrants dead after being trapped in a broiling tractor-trailer — saying it shows the danger of human smuggling organizations that charge desperate people to transport them across the border illegally.

“We have 50 people dead, some of whom are children. And that just exhibits the cruelty of the smuggling organizations and why we need an all of government and are executing an all of government attack against them,” he said. “It’s getting hotter. And the journeys that much more dangerous we got to that to break it up no doubt.”

Two men have been charged by the Justice Department with human smuggling for their alleged role in transporting migrants who ultimately died near San Antonio.

Mayorkas has said DHS has been out front on combatting human smuggling operations, establishing a task force to aggressively combat cartel smuggling operations.

He also placed blame on other countries, saying they need to secure their borders and making the case the U.S. cannot be the first line of defense for border security. He said there’s a need to limit how much time it takes to adjudicate the average asylum case, which he said now can take six to eight years under the current structure.

Along the border, he said there’s been an increase in drugs being interdicted thanks to new non-invasive technology that is able to identify drugs through ports of entry.

Mayorkas also said he is “concerned” about funding streams for local law enforcement, and while directly not naming any cities, noted some have decreased their law enforcement budgets.

“We need to be resourced and local law enforcement needs to be resourced to match the level of crime that we’re all encountering,” he said. “We have a tough time recruiting personnel because law enforcement is under attack.”

Mayorkas, a federal prosecutor before joining DHS, said he sees people “making bail” that wouldn’t have otherwise made bail when he was at the Justice Department.

“An individual commits a crime with a firearm, that’s a tough bail to make back in the day. And yet I you know, in speaking with police officers and deputy sheriffs in different parts of the country, I hear about people making bail pending trial. And I think that creates a danger,” he said.

Mayorkas also touched on the root causes of recent mass shootings, including in Buffalo, New York, and Uvadle, Texas, and warning signs mass shooters might exhibit.

“I got to tell you that these narratives right spread so fast. Now, on social media, online platforms, you know, people are inspired by, you know, the massacre in New Zealand a number of years ago, and they learn of it on social media,” he said. “Such a small percentage of people with mental health concerns actually, commit those violent acts. But those violent acts do so much damage in our country.”

Woman wanted in murder of professional cyclist arrested in Costa Rica

June 30, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Kaitlin Armstrong, a fugitive wanted in the murder of professional cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson, has been captured in Costa Rica after a 43-day search, authorities announced Thursday.

Armstrong, 34, was arrested Wednesday at a hostel on Santa Teresa Beach in Provincia de Puntarenas, the U.S. Marshals Service said. She will be deported and returned to the U.S.

Austin police had issued a warrant on May 17 for the arrest of Armstrong on a first-degree murder charge in the fatal shooting of Wilson, 25, who they determined was romantically linked to Armstrong’s boyfriend, professional cyclist Colin Strickland.

Wilson was found bleeding and unconscious with multiple gunshot wounds at a friend’s home in Austin on May 11.

A car resembling Armstrong’s 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee was captured on surveillance footage from a neighboring residence stopping outside the friend’s home the night of the shooting, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

When police interviewed Armstrong on May 12, she was “confronted with video evidence of her vehicle” but “she had no explanation as to why it was in the area and did not make any denials surrounding the statements,” the affidavit stated. After further questioning, Armstrong requested to leave, according to the affidavit.

The U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force located Armstrong’s Jeep Grand Cherokee last week. Armstrong sold the vehicle on May 13 to a CarMax dealership in Austin for $12,200 before flying out of an Austin airport on May 14, authorities said. Investigators believe she then boarded a Southwest Airlines flight to Houston Hobby Airport, before connecting on a flight to New York LaGuardia Airport.

Investigators learned Armstrong was provided transportation to Newark Liberty International Airport on May 18 and, using a fraudulent passport, boarded a United Airlines flight that day to San Jose, Costa Rica, according to U.S. Marshals.

The U.S. Marshals had appealed to the public in their search for Armstrong, a realtor and yoga instructor, and had offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to her arrest.

It is unclear if Armstrong has an attorney.

The Austin woman accused of killing world class cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson May 11 has been captured in Costa Rica.https://t.co/fz9FiUyWjQ pic.twitter.com/jkRzqqgv90

— U.S. Marshals (@USMarshalsHQ) June 30, 2022

The Marshals Service fugitive case had been elevated the investigation to “major case status” early on, “which likely played a key role in her capture after a 43-day run,” Susan Pamerleau, the U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Texas, said in a statement. “This is an example of combining the resources of local, state, federal and international authorities to apprehend a violent fugitive, bring an end to that run and hopefully a sense of closure to the victim’s family.”

Wilson, a rising elite cyclist, was visiting Austin from San Francisco for a gravel bike race. She was found shot hours after meeting up with Strickland, police said. Austin police said at the time that the shooting did not appear to be random and they had a person of interest in the incident.

Strickland told police he hadn’t seen Armstrong since May 13, according to the affidavit. He said he has been cooperating fully with detectives in the investigation.

“There is no way to adequately express the regret and torture I feel about my proximity to this horrible crime,” Strickland said in a statement to ABC News Austin affiliate KVUE. “I am sorry, and I simply cannot make sense of this unfathomable tragedy.”

Wilson’s family expressed relief following news of Armstrong’s capture.

“We’re relieved to know this phase of uncertainty is now behind us, and we trust that justice will prevail,” the family said in a statement.

ABC News’ Lisa Sivertsen contributed to this report.

Government nearly exhausts monoclonal COVID treatment funding with new purchase

June 30, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — Eli Lilly has announced the U.S. government is buying an additional 150,000 courses of the only monoclonal antibody therapy left that still holds up against all COVID-19 variants of concern, including BA.2.

The new purchase of the therapy, called bebtelovimab, is costing the government roughly $275 million.

This comes after the White House has repeatedly warned the money is running out to buy new vaccines and treatments, including antiviral therapies like Paxlovid and the monoclonal antibodies, without additional relief funds.

This new purchase was paid for out of the $10 billion in COVID funding, which the White House diverted earlier this month to pay for more vaccines and treatments.

Officials said at the time they were left with “no choice” but to shift those dollars, since Congress has not yet approved additional funding.

That redirected $10 billion included $300 million to buy more monoclonal antibody treatments — a cache now all but exhausted by Wednesday’s purchase.

The U.S.’s existing supply of this treatment, including the new purchase, is expected to meet present demand through late August, an Eli Lilly spokesperson told ABC.

Previously this spring, and before the White House diverted the $10 billion in funds, President Joe Biden said the U.S. could run out of monoclonal supplies “by the end of May,” if further funding wasn’t secured, and that planned orders would have to be canceled.

In March, ABC News obtained internal documents showing the administration planned to start significantly cutting the number of viral treatments available to states, and would begin reclaiming and reabsorbing unused doses for later redistribution, in light of the relief funding that had stalled in Congress.

Delivery of this new order of 150,000 courses is supposed to finish no later than Aug. 5, Eli Lilly said. That’s the date Lilly will get them to the Health and Human Services Department, which will then be responsible for allocating doses to states.

There is an option in this new purchase agreement for the government to order an additional 350,000 doses, which would need to be exercised “no later than Sept. 14,” Eli Lilly said.

“Lilly and its collaborators have partnered closely with the federal government throughout the pandemic to ensure broad and equitable access to our monoclonal antibodies,” Eli Lilly’s chair and CEO David Ricks said in a statement to ABC News. “While Congress works toward additional COVID-19 funding, Lilly and the U.S. government will continue to work together to support the availability of bebtelovimab to maximize equity and accessibility in the U.S. market.”

4th of July travel: What to know before hitting the skies or the road

June 30, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — This Fourth of July is expected to be the second-busiest for travel since 2000, with 47.9 million Americans taking trips, according to AAA.

Here’s what to know before you head to the airport or hit the highways.

Air travel

Friday, July 1 is shaping up to be the busiest day for air travel during the holiday weekend. Monday, July 4 will likely be the lightest, according to AAA booking data.

The top domestic destinations for the holiday this year are: Orlando; Seattle; New York; Anaheim, California; Anchorage, Alaska; Ft. Lauderdale; Las Vegas; Honolulu; Denver; and Chicago, according to AAA.

Fourth of July airfare is up 45% compared to 2019, now at an average of $437 for a domestic roundtrip, according to Hopper.

But the best prices for domestic trips can be found with a quick weekend trip, flying on Saturday, July 2 and returning on Monday, July 4, according to Hopper.

Road travel

The afternoons of Thursday, June 30 and Friday, July 1 are anticipated to be the most crowded days on the road as commuters leave work early and mix with holiday travelers, according to AAA.

If you’re going to brave the roads on Friday, before 10 a.m. or after 9 p.m. is best, according to analytics company INRIX. On Thursday, before 7 a.m. or after 8 p.m. is best.

July 3 and July 4 are expected to be the best days for traffic, according to INRIX.

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