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Biden signs bipartisan gun safety package into law

June 25, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — President Joe Biden on Saturday signed into law the gun safety package passed by Congress this week.

“Time is of the essence,” Biden said as he delivered remarks in the Roosevelt Room alongside first lady Jill Biden. “Lives will be saved.”

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act broke a nearly 30-year stalemate on Capitol Hill, becoming the first major piece of federal gun reform to clear both chambers since the Brady bill.

“At a time when it seems impossible to get anything done in Washington, we are doing something consequential,” Biden said.

A bipartisan group of senators began crafting the legislation in the aftermath of a tragic mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, that left 19 young children and two teachers dead.

In heartbreaking testimony, lawmakers heard directly from a fourth grader trapped inside her classroom as the rampage unfolded. She testified that she smeared herself with her classmate’s blood and played dead to survive as the shooter terrorized the school for more than an hour.

The House passed the Senate-backed legislation on Friday — exactly one month after the Uvalde massacre.

Following the historic vote, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi held a bill enrollment ceremony where she said Congress was “honoring a promise in honor of all those who have lost loved ones to gun violence.”

The law includes $750 million to help states implement “red flag” laws to remove firearms from people deemed to be a danger to themselves or others, as well as other violence prevention programs. It also provides funding for a variety of programs aimed at shoring up the nation’s mental health apparatus and securing schools.

It will enhance background checks for gun buyers under the age of 21 by giving authorities up to 10 business days to review the juvenile and mental health records of young gun purchasers, and makes it unlawful for someone to purchase a gun for someone who would fail a background check.

Another key provision is closing the so-called “boyfriend loophole” so individuals in “serious” “dating relationships” who are convicted of domestic abuse will be prevented from purchasing a gun.

But the law doesn’t go as far as Democrats — and Biden — wanted, excluding measures such as universal background checks and a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

The House has passed several bills with stricter gun regulations, but none have been taken up in the Senate.

“I know there’s much more work to do, and I’m never going to give up,” Biden said on Saturday. “But this is a monumental day.”

The signing of the gun safety bill comes just days after a major Supreme Court decision expanding gun rights.

The court’s conservative majority struck down a 100-year-old New York law that restricted the concealed carry of handguns in public to only those with a “proper cause.” Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in the opinion that the Second and Fourteenth Amendments protect an individual’s right to carry a handgun for self-defense outside the home.

The high court on Friday also delivered a ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision legalizing abortion access nationwide for the past 50 years.

When asked about the Supreme Court on Saturday, Biden said he thought the court has “made some terrible decisions.”

Black bear dies after locking itself inside hot car while scavenging for food

June 25, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(SEVIERVILLE, Tenn.) — A black bear has died after accidentally locking itself inside a hot car while authorities say it was most likely scavenging for food.

The incident occurred at a rental cabin in Sevierville, Tennessee — approximately 30 miles east of Knoxville — when authorities from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) say the owner of the vehicle the bear was found had left the property in a different vehicle at around 10 a.m.

But when the owner returned to the home approximately nine hours later at 6:45 p.m., they found the bear dead inside the vehicle with the car doors shut.

“It appears that the bear got inside the car by using its teeth or paws to open the unlocked door and was trapped inside after the door shut behind it,” the TWRA said in a post on social media. “We believe that heat likely killed the bear as outside temperatures exceeded 95 degrees [on Wednesday] meaning the vehicle’s interior possibly reached over 140 degrees.”

Pictures released by the TWRA show the bear slumped between the driver’s seat and the front passenger’s seat as a soda can and food waste can be seen on the floor of the car.

Citing the incident, authorities implored the public to be extra cautious and vigilant when it comes to dealing with and disposing of food in areas where bears might be.

“Here is a good example of how garbage kills bears … Notice the empty soda can and food package on the floorboard,” warned the TWRA. “Bears have noses 7 times better than a bloodhound and can smell even the faintest odor of food inside a vehicle. Lock your doors, roll up your windows, and never leave food or anything that smells like food inside! Empty food containers, candy wrappers, fast food bags, and even air fresheners can attract bears.”

Oslo police believe mass shooting that killed two and injured 10 was terror attack

June 25, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(OSLO, Norway) — Two people were fatally shot and 10 were injured early Saturday in a nightclub in Oslo, Norway, in what Oslo police now suspect was a terror attack.

Authorities say the gunman, identified as a 42-year-old Norwegian citizen originally from Iran, was arrested after opening fire at three locations in downtown Oslo at approximately 1 a.m., including at a nightclub that is popular within the LGBTQ community called The London Pub.

Police attorney Christian Hatlo confirmed that the unnamed suspect was being held on charges of suspicion of murder, attempted murder and terrorism, and that the suspect’s mental health was also being investigated.

“Our overall assessment is that there are grounds to believe that he wanted to cause grave fear in the population,” Hatlo said. “We need to go through his medical history, if he has any. It’s not something that we’re aware of now.”

Authorities said they were able to seize two weapons following the suspected terror attack, including a handgun and an automatic weapon which Hatlo described as “not modern” but gave no further details.

Two of the shooting victims were killed, Oslo police inspector Tore Soldal said. He also confirmed that the other 10 victims were being treated for serious injuries but that all 10 were expected to survive.

“I saw a man arrive at the site with a bag. He picked up a weapon and started shooting,” said Olav Roenneberg, a journalist from Norwegian public broadcaster NRK who said he witnessed the attack. “First I thought it was an air gun. Then the glass of the bar next door was shattered and I understood I had to run for cover.”

Following the shooting, Oslo Pride confirmed that it has been advised by authorities to cancel the annual Pride parade and other Pride events that had been scheduled for this weekend.

“Oslo Pride therefore urges everyone who planned to participate or watch the parade to not show up. All events in connection with Oslo Prides are canceled,” Oslo Pride organizers said on the official Facebook page of the event.

“The shooting outside London Pub in Oslo tonight was a cruel and deeply shocking attack on innocent people,” said Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoer in a Facebook post following the attack.

Store added that the mass shooting had caused immediate fear and grief within Norway’s LGBTQ community.

“We all stand by you,” Store wrote.

ABC News’ Rashid Haddou, Lama Hasan, Ahmad Hemingway and Will Gretsky contributed to this report.

‘Stop the Steal’ organizer Ali Alexander appears before federal grand jury

June 24, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — Ali Alexander, the conservative activist behind the “Stop the Steal” movement, appeared Friday before a federal grand jury investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, Alexander’s attorney confirmed to ABC News.

Alexander provided nearly three hours of testimony to one of the grand juries impaneled in the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., as part of the Department of Justice’s criminal probe into the events of Jan. 6, Alexander’s attorney, Paul Kamenar, said.

The appearance came six months after Alexander testified before the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack.

In a written statement on Friday, Alexander said that several months ago he received a grand jury subpoena from the U.S. Attorney’s office “requesting essentially the same documents I turned over to the January 6 Committee and to testify.”

“I was assured that I was not a target but a fact witness,” Alexander said in the statement. “I provided the documents requested and suggested they obtain my full transcript of my testimony from the January 6 Committee. They responded then that they cannot obtain those transcripts due to separation of powers and thus, they needed me to repeat my testimony here today.”

Alexander, who organized a series of “Stop the Steal” rallies in the months leading up to Jan. 6, was at the U.S. Capitol during the attack but has said he was only there to de-escalate the conflict, and that his comments at rallies and on livestreams leading up to the riot have been taken out of context and misconstrued as encouraging violence.

“I did not plan or participate in any illegal activity, and in fact, pleaded with protestors not to enter the Capitol,” he said in Friday’s statement.

On Dec. 9, Alexander spent eight hours taking questions from the House Jan. 6 committee on everything from his organization’s finances to his communications with Republican officials. Afterward Alexander described the tone of the questions as “absolutely adversarial,” but said he was “truthful” with the committee.

Later that month, ABC News reported that Alexander had told congressional investigators that he had communicated with several House Republican lawmakers ahead of the Jan. 6 rally and Capitol riot, along with at least one member of the Trump family’s inner circle. Alexander disclosed his communications in a lawsuit he filed challenging the panel from obtaining his phone records from Verizon.

Alexander disclosed his communications in a lawsuit he filed trying to prevent the panel from obtaining his phone records from Verizon.

“I am challenging in court the Select Committee’s unlawful subpoena to Verizon to fish through my phone records and those of one of my volunteers whose only ‘crime’ was to exercise her First Amendment rights to pass out a few signs at the rallies, sing patriotic songs, and pray,” Alexander said in Friday’s statement.

Twenty One Pilots, Bring Me the Horizon, Biffy Clyro among winners of 2022 ‘Kerrang!’ Awards

June 24, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Twenty One Pilots, Bring Me the Horizon and Biffy Clyro were among the winners at the 2022 Kerrang! Awards, which took place Thursday in London.

Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun were named the Best Live Act, and Oli Sykes and company took home the Best Song prize for “DiE4u.” Biffy, meanwhile, won Best British Act.

As previously reported, Green Day was honored with the Kerrang! Icon Award. Their Hella Mega tour mates, Weezer and Fall Out Boy, received the Kerrang! Hall of Fame and Inspiration awards.

The Kerrang! Awards are hosted annually by the British rock magazine Kerrang! The ceremony returned this year after missing 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the full list of winners, visit Kerrang.com.

Elton John, Genesis, Eagles among artists with highest-grossing tours of 2022 so far

June 24, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Elton John, Genesis and The Eagles are among the artists who are raking it in at the box office in 2022, according to the latest installment of Pollstar‘s annual midyear rankings.

In terms of worldwide tours, Genesis’ The Last Domino? Tour — the final outing for Phil Collins, Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford — earned $72 million globally, second only to Latin superstar Bad Bunny. Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour was next with $70 million.

Also making the top 10 was The Eagles’ ongoing Hotel California trek, which was in seventh place with $55 million.

When it comes to North American tours, Elton lands at #2 behind, yes, Bad Bunny. The Eagles and Genesis also made the top 10, at #6 and #8, respectively.

Pollstar‘s midyear lists actually cover concert grosses from November 18, 2021, to May 18, 2022.

Here’s the full top 10 of Pollstar‘s 2022 worldwide tours midyear list:

1. Bad Bunny, $120.1 million
2. Genesis, $72.0 million
3. Elton John, $70.0 million
4. BTS, $69.3 million
5. Morgan Wallen, $58.3 million
6. Eric Church, $56.3 million
7. Eagles, $55.0 million
8. John Mayer, $51.8 million
9. Coldplay, $44.7 million
10. Garth Brooks, $44.3 million

And here’s the top 10 of Pollstar‘s North American tours 2022 midyear rankings:

1. Bad Bunny, $120.1 million
2. Elton John, $70.0 million
3. BTS, $69.3 million
4. Morgan Wallen, $58.3 million
5. Eric Church, $56.3 million
6. Eagles, $55.0 million
7. John Mayer, $51.8 million
8. Genesis, $46.5 million
9. Garth Brooks, $44.3 million
10. Dua Lipa, $40.1

New collection featuring Phil Lynott documentary, 1978 Thin Lizzy concert film released Friday

June 24, 2022 by WDNY Radio

The new Thin Lizzy-themed audio/video collection pairing the 2020 documentary Phil Lynott: Songs for While I’m Away with the archival concert film and album Thin Lizzy: The Boys Are Back in Town Live at the Sydney Opera House October 1978 was released Friday.

The release is available now either as a two-DVD/CD set or a Blu-ray/DVD/CD set. A limited-edition version featuring a card autographed by longtime Thin Lizzy guitarist Scott Gorham can be purchased at NewburyComics.com.

Songs for While I’m Away presents a candid look at late Thin Lizzy singer/bassist Phil Lynott‘s life and music. It tells the story of how a Black boy raised during the 1950s by a working-class family in Dublin went on to become one of Ireland’s biggest rock stars before he died in 1986 of drug-related health issues at age 36.

The movie features archival footage of conversations with Lynott, as well as recent interviews with Thin Lizzy members and/or alums Gorham, Eric Bell, Darren Wharton and Midge Ure, as well as with U2‘s Adam Clayton, Metallica‘s James Hetfield, Huey Lewis and Suzi Quatro.

The film also includes conversations with Lynott’s wife, Caroline Taraskevics, and his daughters Sarah and Catherine Lynott.

Thin Lizzy: The Boys Are Back in Town Live at the Sydney Opera House October 1978, which was originally released in 1988, features the band performing many of its classic songs at the famed Australian venue. The footage has been restored for the new DVD release, while a companion CD of the show is also included in the package.

Here’s the The Boys Are Back in Town Live at the Sydney Opera House‘s CD track list:

“Jailbreak”
“Bad Reputation”
“Warriors”
“Don’t Believe a Word”
“Waiting for an Alibi”
“Still In Love with You”
“Johnny the Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed”
“Cowboy Song”
“The Boys Are Back in Town”
“Suicide”
“Are You Ready”
“Baby Drives Me Crazy”
“Me and the Boys “

And here’s the track list for concert DVD:

“Jailbreak”
“Bad Reputation”
“Waiting for an Alibi”
“Cowboy Song”
“The Boys Are Back in Town”
“Are You Ready”
“Me and the Boys “
“Baby Drives Me Crazy”

Lost Sydney Performances
“Warriors”
“Don’t Believe a Word”
“Still In Love with You”
“Johnny the Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed”
“Suicide”

1995 Eric Clapton documentary ‘Nothing but the Blues’ and companion album released Friday

June 24, 2022 by WDNY Radio

The 1995 Eric Clapton documentary Nothing but the Blues, which was broadcast just once on PBS, got its official release Friday on multiple formats and configurations, along with a companion soundtrack album.

The film features Clapton showcasing and discussing his lifelong passion for the blues. It includes performances from two concerts that he played in November 1994 at San Francisco’s famed Fillmore venue during his tour in support of his blues covers album From the Cradle.

Nothing but the Blues is available as a super deluxe limited-edition box set and as a standalone DVD or Blu-ray, while the soundtrack has been issued on CD and digitally. A two-LP vinyl version of the album will be released on July 29.

The movie was executive produced by Martin Scorsese, who also conducted an in-depth interview with Clapton for the film, in which the British guitar legend talks about his love for blues music and the artists who influenced him, such as Muddy Waters, B.B. King and Robert Johnson.

The film has been upgraded to 4K video, while the audio has been newly remastered.

The box set features a Blu-ray of the documentary, the soundtrack on both CD and as a two-LP set, and a bonus CD featuring four extra tracks. The collection comes packaged in an exclusive hardcover book and includes a lithograph, a poster, a set of Clapton guitar strings, guitar picks and a bandana.

In conjunction with Friday’s release of Nothing but the Blues, a video of Clapton performing the Willie Dixon-penned 1957 song “Groaning the Blues” has premiered at Clapton’s YouTube channel, where you also can watch a few other clips from the film.

Here’s the track list of the Nothing but the Blues DVD and Blu-ray:

“Blues All Day Long”
“Standin’ Round Crying”
“Forty-Four”
“It Hurts Me Too”
“Early in the Morning”
“Five Long Years”
“Crossroads”
“Malted Milk Blues”
“Motherless Child”
“How Long Blues”
“Reconsider Baby”
“Sinner’s Prayer”
“Every Day I Have the Blues”
“Crosscut Saw”
“Someday After a While”
“Have You Ever Loved a Woman”
“I’m Tore Down”
“Groaning the Blues”
“T’Ain’t Nobody’s Bizness”
“Driftin” (Bonus Track)

And here’s the soundtrack’s track list:

“Blues All Day Long”
“Standing ‘Round Crying”
“Forty-Four”
“It Hurts Me Too”
“Early in the Morning”
“Five Long Years”
“Crossroads”
“Malted Milk”
“Motherless Child”
“How Long”
“Reconsider Baby”
“Sinners Prayer”
“Every Day I Have the Blues”
“Someday After a While (You’ll Be Sorry)”
“Have You Ever Loved a Woman”
“I’m Tore Down”
“Groaning Blues”
“County Jail Blues”*

* = exclusive to two-LP vinyl version.

‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ baddie Christian Bale says SCOTUS ruling shows the “superpower” of voting

June 24, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Christian Bale paused a promotional interview for his upcoming role in Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder Friday afternoon to briefly address the SCOTUS ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.

Bale plays Gorr the God Butcher in the upcoming film, which deals with the question of what makes a hero.

“Just in light of what happened today [with the] Supreme Court and everything. ‘What’s a true superhero?'” he asked rhetorically.

“We all have a superhero power, and that is voting,” Bale said. “And that’s incredibly important.”

Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder, which also stars Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Russell Crowe, Tessa Thompson and writer-director Taika Waititi, opens July 8.

Marvel Studios is owned by Disney, the parent company of ABC News.

Eminem seemingly hints at ‘Curtain Call’ sequel

June 24, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Is another Curtain Call compilation on the way? Eminem fans seem to think so. Speculation regarding the potential album came on Friday after fans noticed the caption of the rapper’s latest Instagram post.

Alongside a clip promoting the single and accompanying video for the Snoop Dogg-assisted “From The D 2 The LBC” was #curtaincall2.

If the album does come out, it will be the second in the Curtain Call series. The original project came out in 2005 and featured hit songs “Lose Yourself,” “Mockingbird” and “Cleanin’ Out My Closet.”

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