Former President Barack Obama will headline and narrate Our Great National Parks, a documentary from Netflix celebrating the protected splendor of the country, which debuts April 13.
In an eye-popping new trailer for the five-part series, Mr. Obama celebrates the “journey of the natural wonders of our shared birthright,” highlighting its curious creatures and their habitats, and how both they can help humanity as more than just eye candy for HD TVs.
“When humanity started to protect these wild places,” the former president says, “we did not realize how important they would become. They’re a haven for endangered species, and a hot bed for scientific research.”
Our Great National Parks isn’t the first time Obama showcased these protected, precious environments. When he was in office, he helped celebrate the 100th birthday of the National Park Service by starring in a virtual reality video set at Yosemite. The 11-minute-long, immersive film called Through the Ages celebrated both the agency and its efforts to preserve our national parks.
(NEW YORK) — In a digital age, children have access to around-the-clock news coverage of frightened refugees, gunfire and talk of a nuclear attack.
Many American parents are wondering how media coverage of the war in Ukraine may be impacting their children.
“We tend to believe that children are not aware of what’s happening, but in fact they are,” said Dr. Stephenie Howard, a licensed clinical social worker and assistant professor at Norfolk State University.
“They’re always listening. They pick up on bits and pieces of information and they’re left to put the pieces together by themselves, which can be worse,” she added.
Although the events in Ukraine are a continent away, children in the U.S. might experience vicarious trauma, which happens when people are impacted by someone else’s adversity even if they do not directly experience it themselves. Children may also misinterpret public crises often in ways that are unexpected.
“Kids will hear about these things. Their fears and worries may be distortions of the reality … and when there’s this much coverage, they might think there’s a war in their own city,” Dr. David Schonfeld, director of the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, told Good Morning America.
Below are five steps parents can take to help children navigate turbulent times.
1. Initiate the conversation.
Experts agree that families should feel empowered to ask about their child’s understanding of an event, correct misinformation and provide reassurance.
Schonfeld, who recently published an article for the American Academy of Pediatrics on this subject, recommends starting the conversation as soon as children are old enough to talk.
“It may very well be a one- or two-minute conversation with a 6-year-old where you say, ‘Did you hear anything about the fact that in the country far away from here called Ukraine, there’s a war?” Schonfeld said.
Added Dr. Micki Burns, a licensed psychologist and chief clinical officer at Judi’s House, an organization that provides grief counseling for children and families: “Come into that conversation and allow your child to drive the direction that it goes in… and allow them to teach us what’s going to be most helpful to them.”
When talking to your child, focus on active listening. There is often a tendency to try to “fix” scary situations, but it is important to avoid providing false promises. Give developmentally appropriate answers to their questions and remind them that you will help keep them safe.
2. Monitor for signs of stress or anxiety.
Children at different ages may process scary events on the news in different ways. Some may show changes in appetite, sleeping habits, or seem withdrawn. Dr. Kimberly Clinebell, a child and adolescent psychiatrist with University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Western Psychiatric Hospital, adds that young child may even regress.
If you notice concerning changes in your child’s behavior, talk to their pediatrician as they can often help explore these behaviors and connect your child to mental health providers.
3. Check in with your own emotional well-being.
“The first thing for all parents in all situations is to make sure that you’re taking care of yourself. I know it’s such a cliché but … put the oxygen mask on yourself first before you go to help your children,” said Burns.
Self-care can look like many things, like taking a break from news coverage.
“I just tell people if you’re watching, viewing, listening to or reading [the news] and you’re not feeling reassured and you’re not learning practical new information, then unplug,” said Schonfeld.
Reducing exposure to graphic videos and images can be protective for both you and your child.
4. Model compassionate behavior.
It is also critical for parents to recognize that wartime can bring about misunderstandings and prejudices surrounding different groups of people. Many Americans have family in Russia and Ukraine.
“There’s a tendency for us to say things which are really discriminatory because we think it’s safe among friends. But we really don’t know all of the history of all of our friends and acquaintances,” said Schonfeld.
He recommends modeling kind words, especially during tense times.
5. Identify practical ways to help with the crisis abroad.
Lastly, watching conflict unfold on TV can make kids feel helpless.
“Try to think of ways to make a positive impact in the world, whether that’s with Ukraine or some other way that they feel like their passions and their skills could be put to good use,” said Dr. Maria Rahmandar, an adolescent medicine professor at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.
Sophia Gauthier, MD, is a pediatric resident physician at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia as well as a contributor to the ABC News Medical Unit.
(WASHINGTON) — President Joe Biden will to travel to Brussels next week to meet with NATO leaders in his first visit to Europe since Russian President Vladimir Putin began his violent invasion of Ukraine, the White House announced Tuesday.
At the show of unity on March 24, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, Biden will “reaffirm our ironclad commitment to our NATO allies.”
His trip follows the prime ministers of Poland, Slovenia and the Czech Republic heading to Kyiv on Tuesday, as shelling continues there, in a show of support to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy despite the danger on the ground.
Just before the White House announcement, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg tweeted, “I have convened an extraordinary Summit on 24 March at #NATO HQ. We will address #Russia’s invasion of #Ukraine, our strong support for Ukraine, and further strengthening NATO’s deterrence & defence. At this critical time, North America & Europe must continue to stand together.”
Biden will also join a scheduled European Council summit “to discuss our shared concerns about Ukraine, including transatlantic efforts to impose economic costs on Russia, provide humanitarian support to those affected by the violence and address other challenges related to the conflict,” Psaki said.
The goal of Biden’s trip to Brussels will be to meet “face-to-face” with his European counterparts to assess Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, she said.
“We’ve been incredibly aligned to date. That doesn’t happen by accident,” she said. “The president’s a big believer in face-to-face diplomacy. So, it’s an opportunity to do exactly that.”
She added that the NATO meeting is the “real focus right now,” and wouldn’t say if Biden will be making additional stops in Poland or to meet with refugees.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
(BALTIMORE) — A loaded 1,095-foot cargo ship remained stuck Tuesday morning in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay, presenting Coast Guard officials with what they described as a “logistical challenge” to free the vessel without polluting the environment.
The container vessel, named Ever Forward, ran aground Sunday night after leaving Baltimore, Petty Officer 1st Class Steve Lehmann, a spokesman for the Coast Guard’s Mid-Atlantic district, told ABC News Tuesday morning.
Lehmann said the ship is stuck in about 23-feet of water but is not blocking traffic in the bay’s deep-water channel.
“It’s a pretty big logistical challenge,” Lehmann said about freeing the ship.
Lehmann said a Coast Guard environmental team boarded the ship to make an assessment of its condition and determine how to safely get it towed off what is believed to be a sandbar without polluting the water or causing harm to the crew.
“We’re making sure all boxes are checked,” said Lehmann, adding that a timeline has not yet been established on when an attempt to free the vessel will be made.
Lehmann said no one was injured and no pollution has been detected as a result of the mishap.
He said the Coast Guard was notified of the incident around 9 p.m. Sunday. The vessel was headed to Norfolk, Virginia.
Coast Guard officials said the ship was apparently traveling outside the deep-water channel when it got hung up.
Lehmann said the ship is believed to be owned by Evergreen Marine Corp., noting the company’s name on the side of the vessel. Evergreen Marine, based in Taiwan, is also the owner of a cargo ship Ever Given, which got stuck in Egypt’s Suez Canal in March 2021, blocking the world-famous waterway for six days and causing massive delays in global shipping.
ABC News has reached out to Evergreen Marine Corp. for comment but has received no immediate response.
Britney Spears spoke out against her father, Jamie Spears, in a new Instagram post that detailed some new allegations of abuse fueled by her 13-year conservatorship. The post has since been deleted.
On Monday, the “Toxic” singer remarked, “I actually think my dad always played the kid as his role.”
“I mean, the first day my dad became my conservator I will never forget!!!,’ Britney further stated. “He said ‘Sit down in that chair… We’re going to have a talk.’ He said ‘I’m Britney Spears and I call the shots from now on’ and ever since that day I felt a huge part of my womanhood stripped from me… I was never the same.”
Britney’s remarks echo the findings Ronan Farrow uncovered in his bombshell The New Yorkerreport from last summer about Britney’s conservatorship. The reporter spoke with former family friend Jacqueline Butcher, who claimed Jamie Spears would scream, “I am Britney Spears!” Butcher also claimed he would belittle and insult his daughter, such as calling her a “terrible mother.”
Britney added, “If I told you when you were 17 that 9 years from now your dad is going to take over your whole career if you do this record … What the hell do you think [I] would have said ???? Not NO BUT HELL NO !!! Everything happens for a reason … I’m not so sure about that.”
The Grammy winner also included the lyrics of Meredith Brooks‘ 1997 hit “B****” when telling fans not to “forget” who she is.
Britney’s conservatorship was terminated in November. Since then, she has made numerous allegations against family members, including her sister, Jamie Lynn Spears.
Wolf Alice‘s tour in support of their latest album Blue Weekend just got bigger.
The British band has added a fall leg to its North American tour, which gets underway September 25 in New York City and wraps October 17 in San Francisco.
The new leg starts just a few days after Wolf Alice plays the Firefly Festival in Dover, Delaware and ends a few days before they appear at the We Were Young Festival in Las Vegas. Tickets for the new dates go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m. local time.
The band’s spring tour of North America kicks off March 21 in Atlanta, GA; in June, they’ll open for Halsey at the Hollywood Bowl and for Bleachers at Colorado’s Red Rocks. They’re also joining Harry Styles on his European tour this summer.
Judas Priest‘s Rob Halford, R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills and Creed‘s Scott Stapp are among the guest performers at Alice Cooper‘s upcoming benefit event CoopStock 2, scheduled for April 30 at Las Sendas Golf Club in Mesa, Arizona.
The event will feature a night and music and comedy. Other performers on the bill include No Doubt drummer Adrian Young, Collective Soul‘s Ed Roland and comedian Larry the Cable Guy. Alice himself will also perform, and so will musicians and dancers involved in his Solid Rock Teen Centers, the beneficiary of the event.
The Teen Centers provide free music, dance, arts and vocational training programs for young people aged 12 to 20. For more details and to buy tickets to CoopStock 2, visit AliceCooperSolidRock.com.
The fundraiser will takes place after Alice wraps up his upcoming spring North American tour. The new trek kicks off this Friday, March 18 in Mashantucket, Connecticut, and runs through April 24, wrapping at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.
Buckcherry will open all of Cooper’s shows from a March 19 gig in Hanover, Maryland, through an April 20 performance in Seattle, while founding KISS guitarist Ace Frehley will serve as the support act at the final three concerts of the tour: April 22 in Reno, Nevada; April 23 in Paso Robles, California; and the LA show.
The estate for the late MC Phife Dawg has unveiled the track list and the cover art for the rapper’s upcoming posthumous album, Forever.
The album will feature 13 songs, including the title track, which is being released on March 19. The single was recorded on that same day in 2016, marking the last song the Tribe Called Quest member ever recorded before his death.
The track list also features guest appearances by Busta Rhymes, Redman, Rapsody and more.
Forever officially drops on March 22, the sixth anniversary of Phife’s passing. In celebration, his estate will host a Q&A and album listening event at SOBs in New York City on Wednesday, March 23. Tickets are on sale now for the intimate event.
Phife Dawg passed away at age 45 on March 22, 2016, due to complications from diabetes.
Here is the album track list:
“Cheryl’s Big Son (Intro)”
“Only a Coward”
“Fallback” ft. Rapsody & Renée Neufville
“Nutshell Pt. 2” ft. Busta Rhymes & Redman
“Sorry” ft. V.Rich
“Dear Dilla (Reprise)” ft. Q-Tip
“Wow Factor” ft. Maseo of De La Soul
“Residual Curiosities” ft. Lyric Jones
“God Send” ft. Dwele
“Round Irving High School” ft. Cheryl Boyce-Taylor & Angela Winbush
“French Kiss Trois” ft. Redman & Illa J
“2 Live Forever” ft. Pos of De La Soul, Little Brother & Darien Brockington
“Forever”
Carly Pearce is offering an intimate look into the story of 29: Written in Stone with a special show in Nashville.
On April 6, Carly will take the stage at Marathon Music Works for Inside 29: Written in Stone Live From Music City, an intimate, one-night-only concert where she’ll perform songs off the critically acclaimed album and share the in-depth stories that shaped the songs. The show will be filmed and released later this year.
“I have been lucky enough to connect with y’all in times of heartache and joy, especially with 29,” Carly expresses on Instagram, noting how the songs “lead me to a place of growth and happiness.” The hit singer also hints that there may be a few surprise guests at the show.
Presale tickets are available now and general admission is on sale Friday.
Last week, Carly was named Female Artist of the Year at the ACM Awards where she and duet partner Ashley McBryde performed their top 20 hit featured on 29, “Never Wanted to Be That Girl.”
FILE photo – Andrea Filigheddu/NurPhoto via Getty Images
(NEW YORK) — A Fox News cameraperson was killed and a correspondent was injured in Ukraine, shortly after the death of a freelance journalist also covering the Russian invasion.
Fox News’ Pierre Zakrzewski, 55, was killed while working alongside Fox News State Department correspondent Benjamin Hall “when incoming fire hit their vehicle outside of Kyiv” on Monday, the network said Tuesday. Zakrzewski had covered stories in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria for Fox News.
“Pierre Zakrzewski was an absolute legend at this network, and his loss is devastating,” the network said.
I don’t know what to say. Pierre was as good as they come. Selfless. Brave. Passionate. I’m so sorry this happened to you. pic.twitter.com/IvxlPWGDAl
Hall was hospitalized, according to Suzanne Scott, CEO of Fox News Media, who asked Monday to “please keep Ben and his family in your prayers.” Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby also confirmed he was injured.
“The president of Fox, Jay Wallace, says that everyone always felt an extra sense of reassurance when they arrived on the scene and they saw that Pierre was there. He was a professional, he was a journalist and he was a friend,” Fox News PR said Tuesday.
Shaun Tandon, president of the State Department Correspondents’ Association, said in a Monday statement, “We know Ben for his warmth, good humor and utmost professionalism. We wish Ben a quick recovery and call for utmost efforts to protect journalists who are providing an invaluable service through their coverage in Ukraine.”
This follows the Sunday death of freelance journalist Brent Renaud, which was confirmed by the U.S. State Department. Renaud was in Ukraine to cover the global refugee crisis for a documentary with Sugar23, Time Studios and Day Zero Productions, according to Sugar23.
“As an award-winning filmmaker and journalist, Brent tackled the toughest stories around the world often alongside his brother Craig Renaud,” Time editor-in-chief and CEO Edward Felsenthal and president and COO of Time and Time Studios Ian Orefice said in a statement. “In recent weeks, Brent was in the region working on a TIME Studios project focused on the global refugee crisis. Our hearts are with all of Brent’s loved ones.”
Photojournalist Juan Arredondo said he was with Renaud when he was killed.
In a video from a hospital bed, Arredondo said, “We crossed the first bridge in Irpin; we were going to film other refugees leaving and we got to a car, somebody offered to take us to the other bridge, and we crossed a checkpoint and they started shooting at us. So, the driver turned around, and they kept shooting. It’s two of us, my friend is Brent Renaud, and he’s been shot and left behind.”
“This kind of attack is totally unacceptable and is a violation of international law,” Carlos Martínez de la Serna, program director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, said in a statement. “Russian forces in Ukraine must stop all violence against journalists and other civilians at once.”
“Two examples of the dangers in covering war,” Kirby, of the Pentagon, said of Hall and Renaud during a Monday press briefing. “This is a war that didn’t need to be fought, to be sure. But just as to be sure, there are journalists from around the world on the ground trying to discover the truth and to show that truth and to tell these important stories.”
ABC News’ Christine Theodorou and Luis Martinez contributed to this report.
