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Body found near Grand Teton confirmed to be Gabby Petito, death ruled a homicide

September 24, 2021September 21, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK ) — Officials have confirmed the body found over the weekend near Grand Teton National Park belongs to Gabby Petito, the 22-year-old woman who went missing while on a cross-country road trip with her boyfriend, the Teton County coroner said in a statement.

The initial determination is that she died by homicide, but the cause of death is pending final autopsy results, Teton County Coroner Dr. Brent Blue said.

Authorities had said a body “consistent with the description of” Petito was discovered in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming on Sunday. At the time, a full forensic identification hadn’t been completed and a cause of death was undetermined.

Petito’s parents reported her missing on Sept. 11 after not speaking with her for two weeks. Her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, was named a person of interest by police last week.

Petito, originally from New York, had left from Florida with Laundrie in a van in July for their trip, which they documented on social media.

On Aug. 12, police in Moab, Utah, responded to an “incident” involving the couple, but “insufficient evidence existed to justify criminal charges,” Moab Police Department Chief Bret Edge said in a statement last week.

Petito was last seen leaving a hotel in Utah with Laundrie on Aug. 24. The next day, she spoke to her mother, Nichole Schmidt, informing her that their next stops would be Grand Teton and Yellowstone, Schmidt told ABC News, and that was the last time Schmidt talked to her.

On Friday, it was announced that Laundrie’s whereabouts were unknown. His family told police they had last seen him last Tuesday. They said he had a backpack and told them he was going to the Carlton Reserve north of Laundrie’s home in North Port, Florida, where he had gone for hikes before.

A search for Laundrie in Florida was paused Monday, with police saying they “currently believe we have exhausted all avenues in searching of the grounds there.” He has yet to be found.

FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider said in a statement that Laundrie has been named a person of interest.

“The FBI and our partners remain dedicated to ensuring anyone responsible for or complicit in Ms. Petito’s death is held accountable for their actions,” he said in a statement.

Boston Marathon bombing survivor reunites with nurse through birth of daughter

September 24, 2021September 21, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — After Jacqui Webb was injured in the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, she spent three weeks being treated for her injuries at Tufts Medical Center in Boston.

One of the nurses who treated Webb there was Nichole Casper, a registered nurse who at the time was working in the hospital’s trauma unit.

“It was a very anxiety-inducing situation, obviously,” Casper told “Good Morning America” of the days and weeks following the bombing near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, which killed three people and injured more than 200. “Then you meet all these people [being treated at the hospital], and even though they were so traumatized, they were so amazing.”

“Jacqui was always very gracious and very appreciative of all the care,” Casper said of Webb, with whom she lost touch once Webb was discharged from Tufts.

Both Webb, now 33, and her fiance, Paul Norden, were injured near the finish line of the marathon, which they’d attended as spectators to cheer on a friend running the race.

Norden lost his right leg in the bombing and, like Webb, suffered second- and third-degree burns and shrapnel injuries.

The couple, of Stoneham, Massachusetts, had long-term plans to have children together, but put those dreams on hold after the bombing, according to Webb.

“For the first year, pretty much all we did was recover,” she said. “And over the years we’ve both had additional surgeries for different marathon-related injuries, so that delayed it more.”

But earlier this year, eight years after the bombing, Webb became pregnant with their first child.

She said she knew right away that she wanted to deliver the baby at Tufts Medical Center, and she knew she wanted to have a scheduled cesarean section.

“Because of my injuries from the bombing, both physically and emotionally, I was very nervous to deliver naturally,” Webb said. “I was anxious about everything from getting rushed to the hospital and having it bring back negative memories and post-traumatic stress to physically if my leg would be able to hold up during labor.”

“But when I left [Tufts Medical Center] in 2013, I said if I had a child, I would go back to Tufts, and that held true eight years later,” she said.

Webb scheduled her C-section for late August, 39 weeks into her pregnancy, but went into labor naturally before the delivery date.

On Aug. 21, Webb gave birth to a healthy daughter they named Ella James Webb Norden.

“It gives you a new purpose in life,” Webb said of becoming a parent. “Now all we can think about is her and not ourselves or our injuries.”

Webb described giving birth to her daughter at Tufts Medical Center as a “full-circle” moment that marked how far she has come in her recovery.

She had another full-circle moment when she got to her room after giving birth and saw Casper, who now works in the hospital’s mother/infant unit.

“There was such a sigh of relief,” Webb said of seeing Casper after eight years. “Having Nichole again and having her understand my past, it was extremely comforting, because that was a really traumatic time [post-bombing].”

“It was also really exciting for me to be able to share a better moment with her,” she said.

Casper said she did not know until she got to work that evening that Webb would be her patient once again.

She ended up caring for Webb throughout her stay post-delivery, even taking on an extra shift so she could be there when Webb was discharged.

“It was definitely good to see her in a positive light this time around,” Casper said. “You don’t get to usually see your patients in a better situation, so this was definitely an amazing experience. I got to see her now completely enjoying her life.”

Webb said she was not only grateful to have Casper’s care again, but also to be able to thank her for the care she provided eight years ago.

“You want to express your gratitude to [the doctors and nurses], but you don’t often get to see them,” said Webb. “To be able to see her again and then also be able to welcome this new bundle of joy with her by my side, it was a really neat moment.”

“STAY IN THE FIGHT”: Brett Eldredge opens up about battle with anxiety

September 24, 2021September 21, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Brett Eldredge is opening up about a recent bout of anxiety he’s been struggling with.

The country star took to Instagram to share a photo of himself working out, alongside a lengthy caption detailing how he’s been battling anxiety as of late.

Brett, who has been open about living with anxiety in the past, reveals that it recently reemerged for several days, “out of nowhere,” with symptoms that included shortness of breath and feeling overwhelmed.

“Instead of hiding (like I once did), I stuck to the process, knowing I survived all the other times, and setbacks are common,” he explains. “I kept showing up to life and leaning into the things that give me strength and stability.” In the photo, he’s shown lifting weights.

“It passed and I feel even stronger than before. I took this photo in the middle of the setback to remind myself that even in the tough times, we can be strong as hell, and the storm will always pass if we face it,” he declares. He added the phrase “STAY IN THE FIGHT,” and concluded, “If you’re goin’ through it, hang in there, you will be surprised what you’re capable of.”

Brett recently announced that he’s releasing a new holiday album, Mr. Christmas, on October 22.

Rihanna drops trailer for Saturday’s all-star ‘Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 3’ fashion event

September 24, 2021September 21, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Rihanna continues to build the excitement for her Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 3 fashion event, which promotes her Savage X Fenty line of lingerie.

RiRi dropped a trailer on Tuesday for Friday’s show, which will features performances by Nas, Daddy Yankee, BIA, Jazmine Sullivan, Ricky Martin, Normani, and Jade Novah. Normani also took part in last year’s show, which was held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, which featured appearances by Roddy Ricch, Miguel, Ella Mai and Mustard.

Over the weekend, the “Umbrella” singer posted on Instagram, “Waiting for Vol. 3 to drop knowing y’all ain’t ready.”

Erykah Badu will also appear on the show, along with renowned models Adriana Lima, Gigi Hadid, Irina Shayk and many more.

Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 3 will stream on Amazon Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide beginning Friday, September 24.

Everbody (Still) Hurts: 10 years ago today, R.E.M. called it a day

September 24, 2021September 21, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Ten years ago today, it felt like the end of the world for R.E.M. fans, as the college radio favorites-turned-rock icons broke up for good.

On September 21, 2011, the group — down to a trio of Michael Stipe, Mike Mills and Peter Buck following the 1997 departure of Bill Berry — posted a message on their website, reading, “To our Fans and Friends: As R.E.M., and as lifelong friends and co-conspirators, we have decided to call it a day as a band.”

“We walk away with a great sense of gratitude, of finality, and of astonishment at all we have accomplished,” they added. “To anyone who ever felt touched by our music, our deepest thanks for listening.”

Mills wrote, “We’ve made this decision together, amicably and with each other’s best interests at heart. The time just feels right.”

Stipe added, “A wise man once said, ‘The skill in attending a party is knowing when it’s time to leave.’ We built something extraordinary together. We did this thing. And now we’re going to walk away from it.”

And Buck wrote, “Being a part of your lives has been an unbelievable gift. Thank you.”

To mark the anniversary, R.E.M has posted a playlist of songs called “Ten Years Onward,” described as “songs still as resonant today as they were on September 21, 2011.” It’s a collection of singles, deep cuts, demos, live tracks and rarities from across R.E.M.’s entire catalog.

On his Facebook page, the band’s manager, Bertis Downs, wrote, “Disbandment Day — a bittersweet day in memory. But a good decision by the guys. And thankfully the music and the people live on.”

Over their 31-year career, R.E.M. won three Grammys, sold 85 million albums worldwide and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Slipknot announces inaugural Knotfest Finland

September 24, 2021September 21, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Slipknot has announced the inaugural Knotfest Finland.

The festival will take place August 12-13, 2022, in the Nordic country’s city of Turku. So far, the lineup includes Nightwish, Bring Me the Horizon and Arch Enemy, along with the Knot themselves.

For ticket info, visit Knotfest.com/Finland.

Slipknot will be bringing Knotfest all around the world in 2022, including to Japan, Chile and Brazil. They’re also holding two U.S. Knotfests this year, taking place in their home state of Iowa September 25 and Los Angeles November 5.

Netflix teases new Britney doc, ‘Britney vs Spears’

September 24, 2021September 21, 2021 by WDNY Radio

There’s another Britney Spears documentary in the works.

On Tuesday, Netflix teased Britney vs Spears ahead of a promised full trailer premiere on Wednesday.

The 18-second clip begins with text that reads, “The following audio is a voicemail from Britney Spears to a lawyer on January 21st, 2009 at 12:29 a.m.”

We then hear Britney’s voice saying, “Hi, my name is Britney Spears, I called you earlier. I’m calling again because I wanted to make sure that during the process of eliminating the conservatorship.”

The Netflix doc comes after Hulu/FX’s documentary The New York Times Presents: Framing Britney Spears reignited the #FreeBritney movement back in February.

Britney vs Spears pic.twitter.com/vpGjzzSjd8

— Netflix (@netflix) September 21, 2021

Watch Mick Jagger get “all emotional” speaking about Charlie Watts onstage

September 24, 2021September 21, 2021 by WDNY Radio

As previously reported, The Rolling Stones on Monday night played a private event at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA hosted by New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, which was the group’s first gig without their late drummer, Charlie Watts, who died on August 24. Now, Mick Jagger has posted on Instagram a video of the emotional dedication he made to Watts from the stage at the event.

Jagger can be seen telling the crowd, “It’s a bit of a poignant night for us, ’cause this is our first tour in 59 years that we’ve done without our lovely Charlie Watts.”

As the crowd cheers, Mick continues. “And we all miss Charlie so much, we miss him as a band and we miss him as friends on and off the stage, and we got so many memories of Charlie and I’m sure some of you that seen us before have got memories of Charlie as well.”

“I hope you will remember him like we do, so we’d like to dedicate this show to Charlie,” Jagger adds to cheers. “So we’re gonna do it for Charlie!” Jagger then picks up a glass and raises it in a toast, handing the microphone to Ronnie Wood, who adds, “Charlie, we’re praying for you, man, and playing for you!”

“What will we do now?” Mick muses. “Now I’m all emotional.”

The band went on to play a 15-song set with veteran drummer Steve Jordan behind the kit. The Stones’ No Filter 2021 tour officially kicks off this weekend.

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A post shared by Mick Jagger (@mickjagger)

Watch Tessa Thompson, Ruth Negga in ‘Passing’ trailer; Ashton Sanders to play Bobby Brown in Whitney Houston biopic

September 24, 2021September 21, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Netflix has released the first trailer for Passing, Rebecca Hall‘s directorial debut, starring Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga.

As previously noted, the film is based on Nella Larsen‘s 1929 novella of the same name. It follows two mixed-race women, played by Thompson and Negga, who reunite in their adulthood and discover that one of them is now passing for a white woman. André Holland, Bill Camp, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Antoinette Crowe-Legacy and Alexander Skarsgard also star. Passing hits select theaters on October 27, before becoming available to stream on Netflix November 10.

In other news, Ashton Sanders has been tapped to play yet another music icon, Deadline as learned. Sanders, who currently plays RZA in Hulu’s Wu-Tang: An American Saga, has joined the cast of the Whitney Houston biopic I Wanna Dance With Somebody. He will take on the role of New Edition singer — and Houston’s ex-husband — Bobby Brown. As previously reported, Naomi Ackie will play the legendary singer in the new feature, which producer Clive Davis says will “present the full story of Whitney Houston impeccably and [ensure] that it will be realistic in every respect.” Kasi Lemmons serves as director, while Academy Award nominee Anthony McCarten will write the script. A release date for I Wanna Dance With Somebody has not yet been announced.

Finally, Ashanti is taking her talents back to the screen. According to Deadline, the singer will produce and star in the upcoming rom-com The Plus One. She will play Lizzie, a soon-to-be bride who asks her “Male of Honor,” Marshall, not to bring “his hated ex, Marie, to her destination wedding.” Unfortunately for Lizzie, Marshall invites Marie as his “plus one.” Additional casting has yet to be announced.

Ellen Pompeo hints ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ finale is “not far off”

September 24, 2021September 21, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Ellen Pompeo provided an update about the fate of her long-running medical drama Grey’s Anatomy, and teased that the show may be ready to hang up the scrubs after 18 successful seasons.

“They’re not far off,” Pompeo, 51, told Entertainment Tonight when discussing fans’ theories that the five-time Emmy winning show will come to an end soon.

The actress, who stars as Doctor Meredith Grey, continued, “I mean, I’ve been trying to get away for years. I have been trying. It’s not because I haven’t been trying. I have strong relationships at the network and they have been very, very good to me, and have incentivized me to stay.”

Pompeo insisted that “creatively, as long as there’s something to do” she will continue starring on the ABC medical drama. “Miraculously, we keep coming up with ways to have a reason to stay and if there’s a reason, that warrants it,” she teased.

Season 17, she says, was the definition of creativity because it was filmed during a global pandemic. “We had to work around COVID obviously and so we had to be creative and think of ways to keep the show going and still be safe,” she said.

When asked about the possibility of a groundbreaking 19th season, the actress joked, “Oh please! Oh my goodness, can we pray together?”

However, Pompeo insisted her hands are tied when it comes to confirming if Grey’s is about to enter its final season, telling ET, “I’m not really supposed to say anything about it… I don’t want to be disrespectful to people I’ve promised things to.”

Grey‘s 18th season premieres September 30 on ABC.

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