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Jan. 6 committee requests interviews with three more GOP lawmakers

May 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — The House Jan. 6 committee on Monday requested the cooperation of three more House Republicans linked to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack and former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.

Reps. Andy Biggs of Arizona and Mo Brooks of Alabama were among the group of far-right lawmakers who met with Trump at the White House in December of 2020.

Biggs’ name was also mentioned in connection with an effort by some House Republicans to seek presidential pardons after the riot, according to the committee.

Brooks also recently disclosed that Trump has repeatedly asked him to “rescind” the last election — in a statement made after the former president endorsed his opponent in the Alabama GOP Senate primary.

Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, Trump’s former White House doctor-turned-congressman, was mentioned in encrypted communications between members of the Oath Keepers militia group as someone who “needs protection,” according to court records. He also was in the House chamber at the barricade with Capitol Police officers as they held off rioters.

Already, the Jan. 6 committee has requested information and testimony from GOP Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California. All have refused to cooperate.

Committee members say the panel has been reluctant to issue subpoenas to sitting members of Congress to compel their cooperation, given the practical, political and legal ramifications of such an action.

Ozzy Osbourne is “on the mend” amid COVID-19 bout, says son Jack

May 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Ozzy Osbourne is “on the mend” amid his bout with COVID-19.

That’s according to his son, Jack, who tweeted a video of the metal legend on a FaceTime call with his wife, Sharon Osbourne. On the call, Ozzy seems much more concerned with Sharon pointing the camera at their Pomeranian Rocky than he is with talking about his health.

In the clip’s caption, Jack wrote, “Dad is on the mend and back to FaceTiming the dogs” alongside a face-palm emoji.

Jack added, “Thank you for all the love & support!”

Sharon revealed last Thursday that Ozzy, 73, had tested positive for COVID-19. She said that while she’s “very worried” about her husband, he was doing “OK.”

Taylor Swift to host ‘All Too Well’ screening and conversation at 2022 Tribeca Film Festival

May 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Taylor Swift isn’t just a musician: She’s also a screenwriter, director and actress. Those talents will be on display this June at New York City’s 2022 Tribeca Film Festival.

The festival will include a special screening of Taylor’s acclaimed short film All Too Well, which she directed, wrote, produced and starred in, along with Sadie Sink and Dylan O’Brien. After the screening, she’ll host a conversation in which she discusses her approach to filmmaking.

All Too Well accompanied the 10-minute version of Taylor’s song, which appeared on her re-recording of her album Red. It topped the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the longest song ever to do so.

The event takes place June 11 at 3 p.m. at New York’s Beacon Theatre. Single tickets for the festival are available for purchase today at TribecaFilm.com.

Other celebrities who’ll be giving special Tribeca talks include Pharrell Williams, Tyler Perry and Cythia Erivo. Plus, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino will celebrate the 25th anniversary of their movie Heat on a special panel. The casts and crew of Velvet Goldmine and Eve’s Bayou will also celebrate the 25th anniversaries of those films.

Judge rejects RNC effort to block Jan. 6 committee subpoena

May 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — A federal judge overnight rejected a lawsuit brought by the Republican National Committee against the committee probing the Jan. 6 attack that had sought to block the panel’s effort to obtain fundraising information and other data related to attack on the Capitol.

The decision could impact multiple other lawsuits brought by various allies of former President Donald Trump who have sued to block the Jan. 6 committee from obtaining their records from telecommunications companies.

Judge Tim Kelly, a Trump appointee, rejected arguments by the RNC that the Jan. 6 committee does not have a valid legislative purpose, and further bolstered the panel’s legitimacy by rejecting Republican arguments that the panel’s makeup is flawed.

Referencing the Jan. 6 committee’s request for records from Nov. 3, 2020, to Jan. 6, 2021, Kelly in his decision wrote “that two-month window is plainly relevant to its investigation into the causes of the January 6 attack.”

An RNC official said the RNC will appeal the decision.

“While the RNC strongly disagrees with this ruling, our lawsuit compelled Nany Pelosi’s January 6th Committee to dramatically narrow the subpoena’s scope,” said RNC Chief Counsel Matt Raymer. “Nancy Pelosi’s attempted seizure of her political opponents’ campaign strategy cannot be allowed to stand, and we appreciate Judge Kelly continuing to temporarily block the subpoena. The RNC will continue to fight for the Constitutional rights of Republicans across the country and will appeal this decision.”

The lawsuit, which was brought in March, claims the subpoena unlawfully seeks “confidential information about the internal activities of the Republican Party and millions of its supporters, which is completely unrelated to the attack on the Capitol.”

A spokesperson for the Jan. 6 committee said the information being sought is relevant to the panel’s probe.

“Between Election Day 2020 and January 6th, the RNC and the Trump campaign solicited donations by pushing false claims that the election was tainted by widespread fraud,” Jan. 6 committee spokesperson Tim Mulvey said following the filing of the suit. “These emails encouraged supporters to put pressure on Congress to keep President Trump in power. Claims about a stolen election motivated rioters who stormed the Capitol on January 6th.”

The judge gave the RNC until May 5 to appeal the decision, which they indicated they’re likely to do.

Megan Thee Stallion honored with her own day & key to the city of Houston

May 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Superstar Megan Thee Stallion isn’t only recognized for her music skills, the rapper also is celebrated for her humanitarian efforts, especially in her hometown of Houston.

Over the weekend, Megan, born Megan Pete, was honored with her own day and presented with a key to the city of Houston by Mayor Sylvester Turner.

According to ABC 13, Turner and several Houston City Council members proclaimed May 2 to be “Megan Thee Stallion Day,” citing Megan’s philanthropic contributions, including her donation of supplies and tablets for nursing home residents at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and her music collaboration with fellow Houston native Beyoncé on “Savage (Remix),” which benefited the food donation program Bread of Life, Inc.

“Megan Thee Stallion has an extraordinary entertainment career, but we wanted to honor her for what she does offstage to lift people’s lives in underserved communities,” Turner said. “She assisted people after the 2021 winter storm, during the pandemic, and helped those struggling with homelessness. I look forward to watching her grow as an artist and humanitarian.”

In 2021, Megan launched the Pete and Thomas Foundation, a non-profit change organization established in honor of her late parents, Joseph Pete Jr. and mother Holly Thomas.

In celebration of the special day — which coincides with her mother & grandmother’s birthday — Megan posted a series of images from the ceremony on Instagram on Sunday, thanking the mayor.

“Came home real quick to get THEE KEY TO THEE CITY 🤘🏾 and in honor of my mother and grandmother’s birthday MAY 2ND is officially MEGAN THEE STALLION DAY IN HOUSTON TX🔥🔥🔥 thank you Mayor@sylvesterturner for honoring me today and I will continue to give back to the city that made me who I am today 💙#htown,” Megan said.

Camila Cabello opens up to Selena Gomez about her mental health

May 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Camila Cabello opened up to about struggling to accept her mental health challenges in a new interview with Selena Gomez for her Wondermind initiative. Camila is the outlet’s cover star for the month of May.

“There’s obviously such shame that comes sometimes with mental health. From the outside, my life looks great. I can make an album, or I’m in this relationship, whatever. I almost shamed myself by thinking people wouldn’t understand that I have anxiety,” Camila said of coming to terms that she was struggling.

The “Bam Bam” singer took a stand against the misconceptions of mental health by revealing she’s undergoing treatment for her anxiety, such as taking antidepressants and going to therapy. “Just because you’re in therapy doesn’t mean something is more wrong with you,” she remarked. “I definitely feel like medication can be really helpful and necessary.”

“We all have things that we could work on, we all have tools that we could learn, and it doesn’t mean that you’re ‘crazy’ or ill,” added Camila. “What if you are just trying to work through the stuff that makes you suffer? Don’t we all want that?”

Wondermind’s new issue arrived as Selena debuted a new month-long initiative called Your Words Matter, which is “an educational campaign on how to talk about mental health.” It will highlight the proper and improper use of words to help “break the stigma.”

Added Selena on Instagram, “When we use mental health-related words for non-clinical situations, we run the risk of making light of larger concerns or defining something incorrectly. When we recognize our words matter and the importance of word choice, the words we use can also make a positive difference in addressing mental health stigma.”

Warrant issued for female corrections officer who went missing with inmate accused of murder

May 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(FLORENCE, Ala.) — A manhunt is intensifying in Florence, Alabama, for an escaped murder suspect and a corrections officer who have been missing for days.

A warrant has been issued for Lauderdale County assistant director of corrections Vicki White on charges of committing or facilitating an escape, Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton said at a news conference Monday.

Vicki White “participated” in the escape with inmate Casey White, the sheriff said, adding, “Whether she did that willingly or she was coerced, threatened … not really sure.”

The employee and inmate — who went missing on Friday — are not related.

The sheriff said law enforcement have no idea where they are, but promised, “They will be brought back to justice.”

On Friday morning, Vicki White allegedly told her colleagues that she was taking 38-year-old Casey White to the Lauderdale County Courthouse for a “mental health evaluation,” though no court appearance was scheduled for the inmate, Singleton said. Vicki White violated sheriff’s office policy by escorting Casey White alone, the sheriff said.

Vicki White also allegedly told her colleagues that she was going to seek medical attention after dropping the inmate off at court because she wasn’t feeling well, but Singleton said his office confirmed that no medical appointment was made.

Vicki White had been talking about retiring for the last few months and turned in her paperwork on Thursday, Singleton told ABC News. Friday — the day the two went missing — was set to be her last day at work, he said.

Authorities are reviewing video to see if she spent an extraordinary amount of time at his cell. She had several opportunities each day to be in contact with any inmate, the sheriff said.

Singleton called Vicki White, a 17-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, “an exemplary employee.”

“The employees are just devastated,” the sheriff said. “Nobody saw this coming.”

Casey White is charged with two counts of capital murder in September 2020 for the stabbing of 58-year-old Connie Ridgeway, authorities said. He could face the death penalty if convicted, the sheriff said.

Casey White previously planned an escape from the Lauderdale County Detention Center in the fall of 2020, but officials thwarted the plot before he could attempt it, Singleton said. When officials got word of the plot, they found a homemade knife in his possession and learned that he was planning to take a hostage, the sheriff said. Casey White was subsequently transferred to a state prison, where he remained until early this year, when he returned to the Lauderdale County facility for court appearances related to the murder charge, the sheriff said.

Marty Keely, U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Alabama, called this a “major case for the United States Marshal Service.”

Casey White is 6 feet 9 inches tall. Anyone who sees them is urged to call 911, Keely said.

The U.S. Marshals Service is offering up to $10,000 reward for information leading to their capture, Keely said.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs announce NYC & LA headlining dates

May 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Yeah Yeah Yeahs have announced headlining concerts in New York City and Los Angeles.

The NYC date takes place October 1 at Forest Hills Stadium, while the LA show will be held October 6 at the Hollywood Bowl.

Both stops will feature The Linda Lindas on the bill. Japanese Breakfast will also support in LA, while NYC will feature a currently unannounced “special guest.”

Tickets go on sale this Friday, May 6, at 10 a.m. local time. A pre-sale takes place Wednesday, May 4, at 10 a.m. local time.

For all ticket info, visit YeahYeahYeahs.com.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs are also playing a trio of dates in the U.K. in June, as well as two headlining shows in Australia with Wet Leg in July. You can also catch them at this year’s Osheaga festival in Montreal.

Supreme Court rules Boston violated First Amendment by denying Christian Flag

May 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — A unanimous Supreme Court ruled on Monday that the city of Boston violated the First Amendment when it denied a civic group from flying the Christian Flag from city hall flagpoles to mark Constitution Day.

The group — Camp Constitution — had argued that the third of three flagpoles in City Hall Plaza was a public forum, regularly used by private groups to mark commemorations and special events. The city approved more than 280 flag raisings over a dozen years but only rejected one, Camp Constitution’s Christian flag.

The city had argued that allowing the flag would have been impermissible government speech endorsing religion. Two lower courts sided with the city, but all nine Supreme Court justices disagreed.

Justice Stephen Breyer, writing for the court, said, “We conclude that, on balance, Boston did not make the raising and flying of private groups’ flags a form of government speech. That means, in turn, that Boston’s refusal to let Shurtleff and Camp Constitution raise their flag based on its religious viewpoint ‘abridg[ed]’ their ‘freedom of speech.'”

Breyer said the city’s “lack of meaningful involvement in the selection of flags or the crafting of their messages” suggested that the displays could not be reasonably considered government speech.

He left the door open, however, for the city to change its policies and restrict access to its flagpoles by private groups.

“Nothing prevents Boston from changing its policies going forward,” Breyer concluded.

In a series of concurring opinions, Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch chided the city for discriminating against the Christian Flag.

“Under the Constitution, a government may not treat religious persons, religious organizations or religious speech as second-class,” Kavanaugh wrote.

Justice Alito argued that a more stringent standard is needed for limiting religious expression in public spaces.

“Government speech occurs if — but only if — a government purposefully expresses a message of its own,” he wrote.

Justice Gorsuch, joined by Justice Thomas, said the court needs to clarify that religious discrimination in public spaces cannot be tolerated.

“Boston’s travails supply a cautionary tale for other localities and lower courts,” he wrote.

Ahead of the decision, Boston suggested it may change its policy to disallow use of its flagpoles by private groups if the court ruled against it. City officials did not immediately respond to request for comment on the outcome in the case.

Hal Shurtleff, founder of Camp Constitution, told ABC News in January that he hoped a victory would allow the group to raise the flag in City Hall Plaza on Constitution Day in September.

Miranda Lambert “wasn’t prepared” for media attention after Blake Shelton divorce

May 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Miranda Lambert cannot tell a lie when it comes to her music.

In an interview with CBS Sunday Morning, Miranda reflects on the intense media coverage surrounding her high-profile divorce from Blake Shelton in 2014, and how it caught the relatively private singer off guard.

“I wasn’t prepared for that,” she says of the constant media attention. “It’s not nice sometimes, but I think you’ve got to take it with a grain of salt and know that I’m a singer-songwriter so luckily I can tell my whole truth. I will not lie in my music.”

Two years after the divorce, Miranda released her critically acclaimed 2016 album, The Weight of These Wings, that included lead single “Vice” and the heartbreak ballad “Tin Man.” It was named Album of the Year at the 2017 ACM Awards.

In 2019, Miranda announced that she had married former NYPD officer Brendan McLoughlin in a secret ceremony on her Tennessee farm. Their relationship later inspired her top-10 hit, “Settling Down.”

“I’ve also grown up and I’ve learned a lot about myself and I think at some point you just start to settle into who you are,” she continues. “I feel at peace with myself.”

Miranda released her new album, Palomino, on Friday.

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