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Cher will help celebrate “true icon” Betty White on NBC special airing Monday

January 28, 2022 by WDNY Radio

When Betty White died on December 31, just weeks shy of her 100th birthday, Cher was one of the celebrities who took to social media to mourn her loss. Now she’ll be joining many other stars in helping to celebrate the award-winning TV icon in a new NBC special.

Celebrating Betty White, America’s Golden Girl airs this Monday, January 31, at 10 p.m. ET and will stream the next day on Peacock. Along with Cher, those who’ll be sharing their favorite memories and stories of White include President Joe Biden, Tina Fey, Ted Danson, Valerie Bertinelli, Jimmy Fallon, Goldie Hawn, Jay Leno, Bryan Cranson, Ellen DeGeneres, Jean Smart and more.

When White died, Cher tweeted, “I Watched Her on her first TV Show Life With Elizabeth When I Was 7 Yrs Old. When She Did [the] Sonny & Cher [show], I Got a Chance To Tell Her. I Was Embarrassed cause tears came to my eyes. She put her arms around me, & I Felt 7 again.

“Some Ppl Are Called ICONS, BETTY IS A TRUE ICON,” Cher continued. She also posted a GIF of Betty shimmying, and wrote, “BELOVED ICON…YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.”

Cher also directed fans to a YouTube clip of Betty and her Golden Girls co-stars performing the Sonny & Cher hit “I Got You Babe” on season five on that sitcom, while fans shared a clip of Betty and Cher performing together on the Sonny & Cher Show.

On January 21, Cher apparently spilled the beans about the NBC special, which was just announced yesterday, by tweeting, “I’m So Relieved & Happy That there Will Be A Program Where We Will Talk About Betty. My one fear is…. I may cry.”

Blizzard conditions headed to East Coast, Boston mayor declares snow emergency

January 28, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Millions of Americans are bracing for a snow storm that’s expected to hammer the East Coast with blizzard conditions this weekend.

The storm, set to begin Friday night, will stretch from the Carolinas to Maine.

Blizzard warnings are in effect from coastal Virginia up to Maine, including Atlantic City, Long Island, Connecticut, Boston and Portland. This marks the first blizzard warning for Boston and the Jersey Shore in four years.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has declared a snow emergency and warned residents to stay home.

The snowfall is forecast to start on the East Coast late Friday night and continue into Saturday evening in New England, before the storm exits the area, according to ABC News meteorologists.

Snowfall totals are estimated to be higher than previously expected due to a number of factors. The storm is expected to move closer to shore, bringing heavy bands of snow inland, with a snowfall rate of 2 to 3 inches per hour. The light and fluffy nature of this snow will help it stack up higher than the wet, heavy snow that typically comes with coastal storms.

The latest forecast has 12 to 20 inches of snow for Boston, 6 to 12 inches for New York City, 4 to 6 inches for Philadelphia and 1 to 2 inches for Washington, D.C.

The frigid air in the forecast will allow the snow to accumulate quickly and create very slick conditions on roads.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has declared a state of emergency. He warned residents to be mindful of heavy snow and high winds as well as the possibility of tidal flooding and power outages.

Meanwhile, the wind chill on Saturday morning could make the temperature feel like it’s in the single digits for the Interstate 95 corridor and in the teens for the Carolinas, according to ABC News meteorologists.

Wind gusts are forecast to be over 50 mph for many areas from Maine to New Jersey on…
There’s also the possibility of coastal flooding, from Maryland to New Jersey and into parts of Long Island and New England. With wind gusts forecast to be over 50 mph for many areas from Maine to New Jersey, the strong winds could blow ocean water onto the shore and create flooding.

Snow storm to hammer East Coast with blizzard conditions

January 28, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Millions of Americans are bracing for a snow storm that’s expected to hammer the East Coast with blizzard conditions this weekend.

Blizzard warnings are in effect from coastal Virginia up to Maine, including several major cities such as Ocean City, Atlantic City, Boston and Portland. Seventeen states, from the Carolinas to Maine, are on alert for a strong nor’easter to blast coastal areas with heavy snow and gusty winds.

The snowfall is forecast to start on the East Coast late Friday night and continue into Saturday evening in New England, before the storm exits the area, according to ABC News meteorologists.

Snowfall totals are estimated to be higher than previously expected due to a number of factors. The storm is expected to move closer to shore, bringing heavy bands of snow inland, with a snowfall rate of 2 to 3 inches per hour. Moreover, the light and fluffy nature of this snow will help it stack up higher than the wet, heavy snow that typically comes with coastal storms.

The latest forecast has 12 to 20 inches of snow for Boston, 6 to 12 inches for New York City, 4 to 6 inches for Philadelphia and 1 to 2 inches for Washington, D.C.

The frigid air in the forecast will allow the snow to accumulate quickly and create very slick conditions on roads.

There’s also the possibility of coastal flooding, from Maryland to New Jersey and into parts of Long Island and New England. With wind gusts forecast to be over 50 mph for many areas from Maine to New Jersey, the strong winds could blow ocean water onto the shore and create flooding.

Biden to Pittsburgh to push infrastructure improvements as local bridge collapses

January 28, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(PITTSBURGH) — Just hours ahead of President Joe Biden traveling to Pittsburgh to stress improvements needed for the nation’s infrastructure, a bridge in the area collapsed on Friday morning, coincidentally providing Biden an opportunity to tout how his bipartisan infrastructure law provides funding for badly needed repairs.

Biden was scheduled to make 2 p.m. ET remarks on Friday at Carnegie Mellon University, a few miles away from the collapsed bridge near Pittsburg’s Frick’s Park. Ten people were reported injured, according to local authorities.

The White House said not said whether Biden will visit the collapsed bridge, but he has been briefed on the situation.

“The President has been told of the bridge collapse in Pittsburgh. Our team is in touch with state and local officials on the ground as they continue to gather information about the cause of the collapse. The President is grateful to the first responders who rushed to assist the drivers who were on the bridge at the time. The President will proceed with trip planned for today and will stay in touch with officials on the ground about additional assistance we can provide,” the White House said in a statement.

While the president’s domestic agenda has taken the back burner over the past week in the face of threats from Russia on the Ukrainian border and major Supreme Court news, Biden’s appearance puts the spotlight back on his victory in getting the bipartisan infrastructure law passed.

The legislation would provide $1.63 billion to Pennsylvania in federal funding for bridges alone, the third-highest figure for any state. Pennsylvania has 3,353 bridges in poor condition, the second most after Iowa, according to administration data. The bridge program will provide $27 billion across the country.

Pennsylvania, Biden’s home state, has long been a politically symbolic state for him.

Pittsburgh was where he kicked off his 2020 candidacy, and the Keystone State ultimately cinched his presidency. He also unveiled what became the bipartisan infrastructure law there last March.

But several of Pennsylvania’s high-profile Democratic candidates told ABC News, while they support the president and his policy efforts, they also won’t be in attendance for Friday’s event in Pittsburgh, citing “scheduling conflicts.”

A campaign spokesperson for Attorney General Josh Shapiro — who is likely to become the Democratic gubernatorial nominee — tells ABC News the Attorney General is “focused on the issues that matter to Pennsylvania families” but won’t be in Pittsburgh on Friday.

“Like every American should, Josh wants our president to be successful and we’ll continue welcoming President Biden to his home state of Pennsylvania as he touts small businesses and jobs that have been saved by the bipartisan American Rescue Plan and the tens of thousands of Pennsylvania jobs that will be created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” the campaign spokesperson said.

Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, a leading candidate in the Democratic Senate primary, told ABC News, “It’s great that President Biden is coming to Pittsburgh to talk about infrastructure. If infrastructure is Elvis, then Pittsburgh is Graceland. It’s great to come to the city that helped build America to talk about rebuilding America. I’ll be in Harrisburg on Friday meeting with Democrats from across the commonwealth at State Committee and talking about the 2022 midterm election.”

Rep. Conor Lamb, D-Penn., running for Senate in the state, will meet with Biden.

With Pennsylvania’s primary elections are still months away, the unfavorable poll numbers looming over the Biden administration could factor into how Democrats interact with the president on the campaign trail.

Michael Bublé announces new album ‘Higher,’ featuring Willie Nelson duet, song produced by Paul McCartney

January 28, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Michael Bublé is definitely reaching new heights on his eagerly anticipated new album Higher, due out March 25. The album’s now available for pre-order, and the first single, “I’ll Never Not Love You,” is out now.

The new album features a duet with country music icon Willie Nelson on Willie’s classic song “Crazy,” plus Michael’s versions of Bob Dylan‘s “Make You Feel My Love,” Sam Cooke‘s “Bring It On Home to Me” and the standards “Smile” — accompanied by a gospel choir — and “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square.”

One unexpected track is Michael’s version of “My Valentine,” which was written by Paul McCartney and appears on McCartney’s 2012 album Kisses on the Bottom. The Beatles legend himself produced the track.

“This time out, I opened myself up completely to trying new things. I dug deeper while working and surrounding myself with the greatest music makers on the planet with gigantic imaginations,” Michael says of the album, adding, “Every moment felt magical or that the universe was conspiring to bring me to this moment in time 20 years into this amazing ride I’ve been on. I have never been more excited after completing an album.”

Famed producer Bob Rock, who also worked on the album, adds, “This was the most focused and inspired Michael has been. He understood the record he wanted to make. He had a clear vision. As soon as we started, he stuck his neck out to make each song get to the place that he was hearing it in his head.”

As previously reported, Michael will do a limited engagement at Resorts World Las Vegas from April 27 to May 7.

Here’s the track listing for Higher:

“I’ll Never Not Love You”
“My Valentine”
“A Nightingale Sang In Berkley Square”
“Make You Feel My Love”
“Baby, I’ll Wait”
“Higher”
“Crazy” (with Willie Nelson)
“Bring It On Home To Me”
“Don’t Get Around Much Anymore”
“Mother”
“Don’t Take Your Love From Me”
“You’re The First, The Last, My Everything”
“Smile” (bonus track)

Bridge collapses in Pittsburgh, three hospitalized

January 28, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(PITTSBURGH) — A bridge has collapsed in Pittsburgh Friday morning, sending three people to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, officials said.

Three or four vehicles were on the bridge at the time and everyone in those cars has been extricated, Pittsburgh Fire Chief Darryl Jones said.

Ten people reported minor injuries including the three victims hospitalized in non-life-threatening condition, Jones said.

First responders trying to help in the icy conditions were among the injured, he said. Responders rappelled down about 150 feet to reach the collapse site, Jones said.

Crews are working to make sure there are no victims under the collapsed bridge, Jones said.

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald called the bridge a major artery for the city.

The cause of the collapse is under investigation, Jones said.

This incident comes as President Joe Biden heads to Pittsburgh to tout his Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which is set to provide $1.63 billion to Pennsylvania in federal funding for bridges, the third highest figure for any state. The bridge program will provide $27 billion across the country.

Pennsylvania has 3,353 bridges in poor condition, the second most after Iowa, according to federal data.

But the Biden administration has repeatedly said it is up to local officials to determine which bridges receive how much money.

Biden has been informed about the bridge collapse and will continue with Friday’s planned trip, White House officials said.

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

ABC News’ Sarah Kolinovsky contributed to this report.

How the metaverse could impact the world and the future of technology

January 28, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Facebook’s announcement in October that it was further embracing the metaverse and rebranding itself as Meta set off a firestorm. While experts say the metaverse is still many years away, the explosion of the term has many asking, what is the metaverse?

The metaverse aims to innovate the way people interact with each other on the internet, interacting in a way previously only thought possible in science fiction.

“The metaverse is essentially a massive, interconnected network of virtual spaces,” Rabindra Ratan, associate professor of media and information at Michigan State University. told ABC News Live. “In theory, we’ll be able to move from one virtual world to another in the metaverse, but we’ll be wearing virtual reality goggles or maybe augmented reality.”

Technologies like virtual reality, a computer-generated simulation of a 3D image or environment, and augmented reality, superimposing a computer-generated image on a user’s view of the real world, will play a significant role in bringing the metaverse to life.

The metaverse could potentially use virtual reality, or augmented reality as we know it now, to immerse users in an alternate world. The technology is still being developed, but companies like Meta say they are building and improving these devices. Meta’s Oculus Quest, now in its second model, is one such device.

“When you’re in the metaverse, when you’re in a virtual reality headset, you will feel like you’re actually sitting in a room with someone else who can see you, who can see all of your nonverbal gestures, who you can respond to and mimic,” Ratan said.

Immersive worlds and creating online avatars is nothing new, as games like Grand Theft Auto Online, Minecraft and Roblox have already created virtual universes. Meta’s announcement last October aims to go beyond entertainment, and create virtual workspaces, homes and experiences for all ages.

“What’s happening now is the metaverse for social media without gaming,” Ratan said. “The new metaverse is designed to support any type of social interaction, whether that’s hanging out with your friends or having a business meeting.”

While the excitement around the concept of a metaverse is rapidly growing, Ratan said bringing that vision to reality is still many years away.

“People are building it in slow bits and pieces,” Ratan said. “We don’t know exactly how people are going to use the metaverse.”

Experts say companies are making sure they are prepared once the change takes place.

“I think no one really knows exactly what shape it’s going to take, but they need to make sure that they’re at the forefront of it,” Arun Maini, a tech YouTuber from England with over 9 million subscribers.

The possibilities of a virtual world, where everything is supported by lines of codes, could open new revenue streams for companies diving into this new venture. The opportunities are limitless, and based on how Americans have adopted an increasingly digital life, the change is already taking place. Walmart announced earlier this month it would step into the virtual world, providing currency and allowing customers to buy and sell NFTs.

“Over the next five years, you’re going to see Metaverse technology become real, concrete and sampleable,” said CNET Editor-at-Large Brian Cooley. “I think it’s going to be impressive, but I think it’s going to have many flavors, not just one.”

A Pew Research study from March 2021 found that 31% of Americans were almost always online, while 79% were online several times a day. Maini said the recent patterns show how people are starting to shift away from physical to virtual goods based on the time spent on apps and games.

“In the metaverse, you will still have those stupidly expensive designer Gucci trainers to be able to show that, ‘Oh yeah, look, I’m doing well for myself,’ even if really it’s just a line of code,” Maini said.

The efforts required to make that world a reality, however, could be extensive. Many people in the U.S. still don’t have access to high-speed broadband connections, and the price of reliable VR hardware could be high. But for Maini, he said the hardware is becoming more affordable and accessible as new technologies are developed.

“Like every day, the promise of this virtual land is increasing. So like a person’s willingness to pay is going up and up and up. And if at the same time that hardware is getting cheaper, there probably will be a point where there’s like mass adoption,” Maini said.

With a high demand, the need for innovation is even higher. Meta announced on Jan. 24 it’s developing a new AI supercomputer, describing it as a building block toward bringing the vision of a metaverse into reality.

“The AI Research SuperCluster, or RSC, will help Meta’s AI researchers build better models that can learn from trillions of examples; work across hundreds of different languages; seamlessly analyze text, images and video together; develop new augmented reality tools and more,” Meta said in a statement.

“Ultimately, the work done with RSC will pave the way toward building technologies for the next major computing platform — the metaverse, where AI-driven applications and products will play an important role,” the statement continued.

Virtual interactions offers enticing financial opportunities for big businesses, but they also raise concerns over the impact on users and safety of its users.

Meta continues to face scrutiny for alleged harmful effects on young users and how it monitors hate speech across its apps, including Instagram. With millions of users able to join different platforms, Maini said moderation is important.

“If you’re trying to moderate something of that level of freedom, then you’re going to have to be moderating in a way that’s like incredibly invasive,” Maini said. “So we either end up in a situation where it’s complete chaos and everyone’s allowed to do everything and you know, there’s racism, sexism, abuse and all that kind of stuff, or there’s incredibly tight moderation and no one’s allowed to do anything.”

With the speed at which technologies are being developed and companies are implementing innovative ideas around immersive reality, it’s only a matter of time before the metaverse becomes a reality.

“The experience of the web will be different in many ways than it is now,” Ratan said.

Cher, Tina Fey, Jay Leno and more will be ‘Celebrating Betty White’ on NBC

January 28, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Celebrating Betty White, America’s Golden Girl airs January 31 at 10 p.m. ET and will stream the next day on Peacock. President Joe Biden, Tina Fey, Ted Danson, Valerie Bertinelli, Jimmy Fallon, Goldie Hawn, Jay Leno, Bryan Cranson, Ellen DeGeneres, Jean Smart and more will be also on hand to pay tribute.

NBC notes, “Co-stars, friends, admirers and those who shared special moments with White recount their favorite memories and reveal untold stories to commemorate the life and legacy of the trailblazing television star. The telecast will include clips and never-before-seen footage that best capture White’s irreverent tone, spirit and impeccable comedic timing that are a hallmark of her decades-long career.”

“Some Ppl Are Called ICONS, BETTY IS A TRUE ICON,” Cher continued. She also posted a GIF of Betty shimmying, and wrote, “BELOVED ICON…YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.”

Incidentally, back on January 21, Cher apparently spilled the beans about the just-announced NBC special by tweeting, “I’m So Relieved & Happy That there Will Be A Program Where We Will Talk About Betty. My one fear is…. I may cry.”

Wendy Williams not returning to talk show until at least March

January 28, 2022 by WDNY Radio

It looks like Wendy Williams won’t be returning to her daytime talk show for at least another month.

The show announced on Thursday that Williams’ absence will continue through February and into early March, according to Page Six.

When asked if the 57-year-old TV personality is likely going to sit out the rest of the season, a rep told the newspaper, “Don’t overreach.”

Meanwhile, the show has announced the slate of guest hosts for the month of February, including comedian Michael Rapaport January 31-February 4.

Fat Joe and Remy Ma also make a return appearance as guest hosts from February 7-11, followed by Bevy Smith and Terrence from February 14-18 and Sherri Shepherd from February 21-February 25. Rapaport will return again as a guest host February 28-March 4.

Williams has been absent from her show since the start of this season; she was originally expected to return on September 20 for the start of the 13th season, but the premiere was postponed three times due to her COVID-19 diagnosis, as well as an ongoing battle with Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disease that causes an overactive thyroid.

Obama Center honors Hadiya Pendleton, the Chicago girl who was shot and killed in 2013

January 28, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(CHICAGO) — It has been nearly a decade since 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton was shot dead in Chicago, but the Obamas are still keeping her legacy alive in the South Side at the Obama Presidential Center.

Former first lady Michelle Obama, who attended Pendleton’s funeral in 2013, announced in a video message Friday that the Winter Garden at the Obama Presidential Center will be named after Pendleton.

“To this day, I carry Hadiya’s story with me everywhere I go,” she said. “I know that Hadiya’s loss is still raw and devastating for so many of us, especially on the South Side. But hopefully this garden can help share her light with even more people for generations to come.”

Pendleton, a Black girl who attended King College Prep High School, was shot in the back and killed on Jan. 29, 2013, about a mile away from the Obamas’ Chicago neighborhood. She was a majorette in school and one week before she was killed, her drill team performed at Obama’s second inauguration.

The then-first lady attended Pendleton’s funeral in 2013, where she met with Hadiya’s family and friends.

In the video, Obama said that while she never met Hadiya in person, she saw the “extraordinary power and potential that lay inside of this young woman” through speaking with her loved ones.

During the presidency of Barack Obama, Pendleton became a symbol for the tragedy of gun violence in Chicago, and her story became a rallying cry for gun reform around the country.

Her mother, Cleopatra Cowley-Pendleton, also became outspoken about the issue of gun control since her daughter’s death and delivered an address at the Democratic National Convention in 2016 on the issue.

Lessons from a ‘violence interrupter’ as shootings continue to ravage Chicago

In a video message shared by the Obama Presidential Center, Cowley-Pendleton said that her “heart just melted” when she found out that the Winter Garden would be named in honor of her daughter, because she “knew people would be saying her name.”

Hadiya’s parents were guests of the Obamas at the 2013 State of the Union address, where the then-president mentioned Hadiya by name in a message about gun violence.

“One of those we lost was a young girl named Hadiya Pendleton. She was 15 years old. She loved Fig Newtons and lip gloss. She was a majorette. She was so good to her friends they all thought they were her best friend,” Obama said in his Feb. 12, 2013 address to the nation.

“Hadiya’s parents, Nate and Cleo, are in this chamber tonight, along with more than two dozen Americans whose lives have been torn apart by gun violence. They deserve a vote. They deserve a vote,” Obama added, calling on Congress to pass bipartisan gun control legislation.

In August 2018, two men were charged with first-degree murder for Pendleton’s killing.
2 found guilty of murder in shooting of 15-year-old Chicago schoolgirl

Ahead of the September 2021 groundbreaking of the Obama Presidential Center, the former president reflected on the gun violence that has plagued Chicago in an exclusive interview with Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts.

“Chicago alone can’t solve the gun problem,” Obama said, adding that Congress needs to pass “common sense gun safety measures.”

The former president said that tackling the problem is a “generational project” — one that he intends to address through Obama Presidential Center programs like My Brother’s Keeper, which works to create opportunities for boys and men of color in underserved communities.

“If we’re doing that in a systemic way, year after year, then over time we can reduce these incidents of violence,” he said.

Gun violence has continued to skyrocket in Chicago, and according to a January 2022 report from the Cook County medical examiner’s office, more people were shot to death in Chicago and the surrounding Cook County in 2021 than in any other year on record.

Report paints grim picture of Chicago-area gun deaths.

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