(BRUNSWICK, Ga.) — A federal jury found Gregory McMichael, Travis McMichael and William “Roddie” Bryan guilty of several counts in the Ahmaud Arbery hate crimes case.
The U.S. District Court panel of eight white people, three Black people and one Hispanic person received the case on Monday.
The men pleaded not guilty to one count of interference of rights and attempted kidnapping. The McMichaels were each charged with using, carrying and brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.
The McMichaels and Bryan were already convicted in state court of murdering the 25-year-old Black jogger and are serving life sentences. The McMichaels were not given the possibility of parole.
Wednesday marks two years since Arbery was killed.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
Tool is releasing a “re-imagined and extended” version of “Opiate,” the title track off the band’s 1992 debut EP.
The updated recording, titled “Opiate2” will be released March 1 on digital outlets, ahead of the EP’s 30th anniversary on March 10. It’ll be accompanied by a new, 10-minute short film, which will be released March 18 exclusively on Blu-ray.
The Blu-ray package will also include a 46-page art book featuring various photos, plus “interviews and insights from special guests.”
In related news, Tool has announced a limited edition “ultra deluxe” version of the band’s 2019 album, Fear Inoculum. The signed five-LP collection is available exclusively on Tool’s current U.S. tour, and will be available first to those who purchased Tool Army VIP tickets. A wide release for the box set is currently scheduled for April.
Amid the host’s ongoing health issues, producers of The Wendy Williams Show have announced the program will not return for the upcoming fall season, and instead will be replaced by Sherri, a new series fronted by Wendy’s substitute host, Sherri Shepherd.
In a statement, Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein, the co-presidents of show syndicator Debmar-Mercury, noted, “Since Wendy is still not available to host the show as she continues on her road to recovery, we believe it is best for our fans, stations and advertising partners to start making this transition now.”
The new series will replace Wendy Williams in its time slots across the country starting in the fall.
They commented, “This is also a bitter-sweet moment for us…We all have a great love and affinity for Wendy, who grew into a true icon during her 12 incredible seasons.” The producers added, “We hope to be able to work with Wendy again in the future, and continue to wish her a speedy and full recovery.”
It’s not yet known what date The Wendy Williams Show will officially end, but as reported, the eponymous host won’t return before the show wraps up for this season.
Williams, 57, has been absent from her show since Sept. 20 of last year, the start of its 13th season. Her return was delayed due to ongoing health issues, which included testing positive for a breakthrough case of COVID-19. In 2019, she revealed she also suffers from Graves’ disease, an immune system disorder.
Last fall, Williams updated fans and thanked them for their support, saying in part, “…I know enough to listen to my doctors and will return to my purple chair as soon as we all agree I’m ready.”
(NEW YORK) — As the COVID-19 pandemic has swept the globe, more than 5.8 million people have died from the disease worldwide, including over 935,000 Americans, according to real-time data compiled by Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Systems Science and Engineering.
About 64.7% of the population in the United States is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:
Feb 22, 10:36 am
Carnival Cruise Line eases mask mandates
Carnival has joined Royal Caribbean and Norwegian in easing mask mandates onboard cruises, announcing that masks will be recommended, but not required beginning March 1.
Norwegian previously announced it will drop its mask requirement for vaccinated passengers starting March 1. Royal Caribbean said it will reopen indoor mask-free areas for fully vaccinated travelers on Feb. 14.
-ABC News’ Mina Kaji
Feb 22, 9:02 am
Moderna researching combination vaccine for COVID booster, flu shot, RSV vaccine
Moderna said it’s in the early stages of research for a combination vaccine that would combine three vaccines into one: a COVID-19 booster, a flu vaccine and an RSV vaccine.
There is no current vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus, known as RSV, a virus that causes mild symptoms in most adults but can be deadly for older adults and young children. This new study will only test the vaccine in adults over 60.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates RSV kills 14,000 Americans over 65 each year.
Feb 22, 6:25 am
Queen Elizabeth cancels virtual engagements
Buckingham Palace on Tuesday canceled some of Queen Elizabeth’s virtual engagements, saying the monarch continues to have mild COVID symptoms.
“As Her Majesty is still experiencing mild cold like symptoms she has decided not to undertake her planned virtual engagements today, but will continue with light duties,” palace officials said in a statement.
The palace announced on Sunday that the Queen, 95, tested positive.
The Rolling Stones haven’t announced any official plans for 2022, but in a new post on his socialmediapages, Mick Jagger hinted that the band might be getting back to work soon, we assume either touring or recording new music.
Jagger posted a series of photos of him vacationing in Jamaica, along with a note that reads, “A little downtime before things get busy!” The pics show Mick holding an acoustic guitar with the ocean behind him, looking at some fresh produce at an outdoor market, standing in front of a wall painting, and playfully knocking on the door of the Roof Night Club in Port Antonio, Jamaica.
The Rolling Stones wrapped up a U.S. leg of their No Filter Tour in November of last year, and the band is widely expected to continue touring this year at some point. The Stones also have been working on songs for a new studio album over the last couple of years, although no official release details for the project have been announced.
In other Stones news, guitarist Keith Richards has posted a video of him “unboxing” the upcoming deluxe 30th anniversary reissue of his 1992 sophomore solo album, Main Offender, on his socialmediapages.
The minute-long clip shows Richards flipping through the pages of the booklet included in the box set, which he calls “incredible.”
“What am I seeing? I’m seeing some of the greatest friends I’ve ever had, you know,” Keith comments as he checks out photos of his collaborators on the album. “Waddy Wachtel, Steve Jordan, Ivan Neville, Charley Drayton, Sarah Dash, Babi Floyd…Bobby Keys…It don’t get no better than that.”
He adds, “I love to work with these guys. Always have. It’s all love.”
Green Day and the reunited My Chemical Romance will headline the 2022 Firefly festival, taking place September 22-25 in Dover, Delaware.
The bill also includes Weezer, Avril Lavigne, Bleachers, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, The Head and the Heart, All Time Low, Yungblud, WILLOW, Manchester Orchestra, Cold War Kids, GAYLE, Matt Maeson, Wolf Alice,The Regrettes and Mod Sun.
Pop stars Halsey and Dua Lipa will headline, as well.
Pre-sale tickets will go on sale this Friday, February 25, at 10 a.m. ET, followed by the general on-sale the following Monday, February 28, at 10 a.m. ET.
Michael Bublé’s new video for “I’ll Never Not Love You” is out, and confirming reports, you can clearly see that his wife Luisana Lopilato is pregnant with their fourth child, confirming earlier reports that she was expecting again.
The video ends with Michael back in the same grocery store that was featured in the video for “Haven’t Met You Yet.” Luisana co-starred with him in that video, back when they were just dating. In the first video, he leaves the store alone, but in the new video, he and Luisana leave the store together, along with three kids, who may or may not be their own children Noah, Elias and Vida. Luisana is wearing a white top that’s knotted so you can see her baby bump.
As for the rest of the video, it shows Michael and Luisana re-enacting famous romantic scenes from iconic movies, such as Casablanca, Sixteen Candles, Love Actually, Titanic, Jerry Maguire, The Notebook, The Princess Bride and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
“I’ll Never Not Love You” is the first single from Michael’s upcoming album, Higher, which is due out March 25.
The second of two shows John Mayer was to have played at New York’s Madison Square Garden hit an unexpected bump on Monday when his drummer, Steve Ferrone, tested positive for COVID-19. But the show went on, in a different format — or, as John described it, as “a very special presentation.“
The concert Monday night featured John performing acoustically with the band, minus Ferrone. Then, for the last five songs plus the encore, Roots and Tonight Show drummer Questlove made a surprise appearance and filled in on the drum kit. Questlove and John have been friends since 2003, when the former played on John’s song, “Clarity.”
On Instagram, Questlove posted about how it all happened, writing that he was eager to go see John’s concert, because Steve Ferrone is his drumming idol, having played with everyone from Tom Petty, Duran Duran and Eric Clapton, to Rick James, Chaka Khan and Aerosmith.
“I got out my show clothes all [excited] & then I checked my phone: ‘Ferrone got covid, can you sit in?’” Questlove wrote. “Truth be told I coulda played the whole show…I was anxious, amped, timorous, excited, scared & hyped!! Gotta say once onstage it was gravy.”
John wrote in the comments, “What you did was unforgettable and brilliant. Thank you for saving the day.”
John also wrote on Instagram, “My boundless appreciation goes out to the legendary @questlove, who stepped in on an hour’s notice to help end the show on such a powerful and definitive note….Most importantly, I thank everyone in attendance whose enthusiasm and energy in the face of some disappointing news lifted us all to something far greater than I could have ever expected.”
John noted that the next few stops on the tour will feature the same acoustic format, minus Questlove.
(BRUNSWICK, Ga.) — A federal jury has reached a verdict in the Ahmaud Arbery hate crimes case.
The U.S. District Court panel of eight white people, three Black people and one Hispanic person deliberated received the case on Monday.
The panel weighed the evidence against Gregory McMichael, Travis McMichael and William “Roddie” Bryan, who were all convicted in state court of murdering the 25-year-old Black jogger.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
(NEW YORK) — Two storms are wreaking havoc on roads as they push from the West Coast to the East Coast with heavy snow, ice and rain.
As many as 98 vehicles crashed along a one-mile stretch of snowy Interstate 84 in Oregon on Monday, according to Oregon State Police. The largest crash involved between 15 and 20 cars and trucks, police said.
Blowing snow also shut down roads in North Dakota.
On Tuesday, the first storm will bring another 6 to 12 inches of snow to the upper Midwest and Great Lakes.
Freezing rain is also possible for the Midwest. An ice storm warning has been issued in Michigan, where flooding is ongoing as ice and snow melt.
Heavy rain and flooding could stretch from Alabama to Vermont, while tornadoes and damaging winds are possible in the Mississippi, Tennessee and Ohio River Valleys.
Meanwhile, the second storm will move through California and the Southwest Tuesday bringing low elevation snow to the Los Angeles and San Diego areas.
In the Rockies, up to 20 inches of snow is possible.
This second storm will then bring ice to Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas on Wednesday and Thursday. A winter weather alert has been issued for Dallas.
As this storm moves into the Northeast Thursday night into Friday, heavy snow, ice and rain are expected along the Interstate 95 corridor. Significant snow and ice accumulation could stretch from New York’s Hudson Valley to Boston.
