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COVID-19 live updates: US reports highest daily death toll in nearly 7 months

September 16, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — The United States is facing a COVID-19 surge this summer as the more contagious delta variant spreads.

More than 666,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 while over 4.6 million people have died from the disease worldwide, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

Just 63.3% of Americans ages 12 and up are 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:

Sep 16, 7:39 pm
Seattle to require proof of vaccination or negative test for indoor recreation, large outdoor events

The most populous county in Washington state will implement COVID-19 vaccine and testing requirements for indoor dining, large outdoor events and other activities.

Starting Oct. 25, proof of COVID-19 vaccination will be required for everyone ages 12 and up to enter indoor establishments, including restaurants, bars, gyms and movie theaters, and attend outdoor events with more than 500 people in King County, home to Seattle, officials announced Thursday.

Those who are not vaccinated must show proof of a negative PCR COVID-19 test in the last 72 hours or take a rapid test on site prior to entry.

“We are at a critical point in this pandemic, with high levels of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, and no certainty as to what will follow the Delta variant,” King County Executive Dow Constantine said in a statement. “Vaccination is our best shield against this deadly virus.”

Over 85% of King County residents have received at least their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to Constantine.

Lumen Field, home of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, already required vaccination or a negative test, while the MLB’s Seattle Mariners said last week they would institute the same guidelines should they make the playoffs.

Sep 16, 6:53 pm
24 state attorneys general warn Biden of potential legal action over vaccine mandate

Two dozen state attorneys general are threatening legal action against the federal government over a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for private businesses.

A week after President Joe Biden announced that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration will create a rule that will require roughly 80 million workers nationwide to be vaccinated or undergo weekly testing, 24 Republican state attorneys general warned in a [letter addressed to the president] () that they “will seek every available legal option” if the mandate is implemented.

The letter, which called the plan “disastrous and counterproductive” and debated its legality, was signed by the attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Earlier this week, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy defended Biden’s vaccine plan in an interview with “This Week” anchor George Stephanopoulos.

“The requirements that he announced are not sweeping requirements for the entire nation,” Murthy said. “These are focused on areas where the federal government has legal authority to act.”

Sep 16, 5:05 pm
CDC predicts hospitalizations will drop this month

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s weekly ensemble forecast, an average of several models, predicts that the number of new daily hospital admissions will likely drop.

The ensemble forecast predicts “5,000 to 15,300 new confirmed COVID-19 hospital admissions likely reported on October 11.” The current seven-day average is 11,165 new hospitalizations per day.

-ABC News’ Brian Hartman

Sep 16, 3:59 pm
Pfizer CEO pens letter making the case for boosters

In an open letter, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla is making the case for his company’s vaccine booster shot, one day before an FDA advisory committee meets to debate and vote on the issue.

Bourla underscored the “strong immune response after the booster dose” and vowed that Pfizer has “stayed true to our commitment of full transparency without selectively cherry-picking data.”

Bourla also addressed international concerns over boosters for all potentially detracting from access to first doses in developing countries.

“Some people and organizations have raised concerns that the approval of boosters will divert doses dedicated to the low- and middle-income countries and redirect them to the high-income countries. And they use this argument to claim that boosters should not be approved. I disagree,” Bourla wrote.

“No commitments already made by Pfizer to a country will change if boosters are approved,” he wrote.

-ABC News’ Sasha Pezenik

Sep 16, 3:20 pm
US reports highest daily death toll in nearly 7 months

The U.S. reported a staggering 2,000 COVID-19 related fatalities overnight, marking the highest single-day death total in nearly seven months, according to federal data. Although that large number could be partially due to data backlogs, it’s still significant given that the pandemic has been ongoing for 18 months.

In the last five weeks, the U.S. has not seen a single day with less than 100,000 new cases, according to federal data. This is a massive step back in the fight against COVID-19; between Feb. 7 and July 29, 2021, there was never a day with 100,000 or more new cases.

Tennessee has the country’s highest case rate followed by West Virginia, Wyoming, South Carolina, Alaska, Montana and Kentucky.

Nine states now have more patients in hospitals than at any point in the pandemic: Alaska, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington and West Virginia.

-ABC News’ Arielle Mitropoulos

Sep 16, 2:47 pm
Idaho expands crisis standards of care statewide

Idaho is expanding its crisis standards of care plan to the entire state due to a surge in hospitalized patients that’s exhausting resources.

“The situation is dire,” Dave Jeppesen, director of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, said in a statement Thursday. “We don’t have enough resources to adequately treat the patients in our hospitals, whether you are there for COVID-19 or a heart attack or because of a car accident.”

Crisis standards of care was first activated Sept. 6 in North Idaho.

“When crisis standards of care are in effect, people who need medical care may experience care that is different from what they expect,” state officials said. “For example, patients admitted to the hospital may find that hospital beds are not available or are in repurposed rooms (such as a conference room) or that needed equipment is not available.”

“Not all hospitals will move to that standard of care,” state officials said Thursday. “Hospitals will implement as needed and according to their own CSC policies.”

Sep 16, 2:25 pm
Italy votes to mandate COVID health pass for workplaces

A COVID Green Pass will be required for all workers in Italy, in both private and public sectors, beginning Oct. 15, the government announced Thursday.

The Green Pass proves a person is vaccinated, has recovered from COVID-19 or has had a negative test in the last two days.

Employees who go to work without the pass face a five-day suspension without pay.

-ABC News’ Christine Theodorou

Sep 16, 12:20 pm
What to expect at Friday’s panel on Pfizer booster shots

An FDA advisory panel will convene in open session Friday to debate the latest booster shot data submitted by Pfizer, and following a non-binding vote, the FDA is expected to formally amend its current vaccine approval for Pfizer.

Opening remarks are set for 8:30 a.m. ET. That’s followed by introductions by the FDA, presentations from CDC representatives, discussion of booster protection and a presentation from Pfizer.

After a public hearing portion in the afternoon and a Q&A on the Pfizer and FDA presentations, the committee is expected to debate the issue for about two hours. A vote is expected at about 4:45 p.m. ET.

Next week, the matter heads to the CDC’s independent advisory panel whose members will discuss who should get a booster and when.

-ABC News’ Sasha Pezenik

Sep 16, 10:46 am
Booster shots begin in England

Booster shots are now being administered in England.

Eligible people must be six months out from their last shot and include: adults ages 50 and over; people in residential care homes; frontline health care workers; social workers; people who are immunocompromised; and caregivers for the immunocompromised.

About 4.5 million people will be eligible for a booster in the next few weeks.

Sep 16, 9:01 am
Pope Francis discusses vaccine hesitancy

Pope Francis said Wednesday he found it “ironic” that a cardinal who was not vaccinated against COVID-19 had been hospitalized with the virus.

Speaking to reporters on his plane while returning to Rome after visiting Hungary and Slovakia, Francis discussed the hesitancy against COVID-19 vaccines and how it has divided people.

“It’s strange because humanity has a friendly relationship with vaccines,” the pope said. “As children, we got them for measles, for other things, for polio. All the children were vaccinated, and no one said anything. Then this happened.”

“Even in the College of Cardinals, there are some anti-vaxxers,” he added, “and one of them, poor man, is in hospital with the virus. But life is ironic.”

Although Francis didn’t identify the man by name, it appeared he was referring to American Cardinal Raymond Burke, one of the Catholic church’s most outspoken conservatives who eschewed the COVID-19 vaccine and spent days on a ventilator after contracting the virus in August.

Francis noted that everyone in the Vatican, “except for a small group,” has been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Sep 16, 7:17 am
China says it has vaccinated over 1 billion people

China said Thursday that it has vaccinated more than 1 billion people against COVID-19.

According to the Chinese National Health Commission, 2.16 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the country so far, fully vaccinating 1.01 billion people. That accounts for more than 70% of China’s population.

China’s COVID-19 vaccination rate is now among the highest in the world, above the United States and Europe. The inoculation drive, however, only used domestically-made vaccines, including Sinopharm and Sinovac Biotech, both of which were approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization but have faced growing scrutiny that they may not be very effective at curbing the spread of the virus, particularly the new variants.

Despite chasing zero cases with the strictest of suppression methods, China still suffers the occasional COVID-19 outbreak. A fresh outbreak of the more contagious delta variant has been growing in the southeastern province of Fujian. Chinese authorities said the source of the outbreak there was a father who returned from Singapore in early August and transmitted the virus to his child after quarantining. The father didn’t test positive for COVID-19 until 38 days after he had returned to China.

Painting the threat of the virus coming in from abroad, China has no plans to reopen its borders for the foreseeable future. Even the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing in February Feb is expected to be held within a very strict bubble that will make the recent Tokyo Games seem lax.

Sep 15, 6:58 pm
NYC health officials investigating cases linked to Labor Day concert

New York City’s Heath Department announced Wednesday it is investigating a cluster of COVID-19 cases that were linked to a Labor Day weekend concert.

At least 16 people have been identified as part of the cluster linked to the Electric Zoo music festival on Randall’s Island, which is located in the East River, the department said.

Eight people have been also been identified who “though likely exposed prior to attending the concert,” were in attendance while potentially contagious, according to the health department.

“Anyone who attended this festival should get tested immediately, regardless of whether or not they have been vaccinated. This is especially urgent if attendees are experiencing symptoms,” New York City’s health commissioner, Dr. Dave Chokshi, said in a statement.

The concert’s organizers had strict rules for entrance.

Attendees had to show proof of vaccination that matched their photo ID. Unvaccinated ticket holders were allowed in if they showed proof of a negative test “no more than 3 days prior to each day of attendance,” according to the concert’s website.

Sep 15, 5:58 pm
CDC committee meeting to discuss booster shots

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is planning to meet on Sept. 22 and 23 and is prepared to discuss COVID-19 vaccine boosters.

This will delay the potential start date of boosters until at least late next week, past the president’s planned start date for boosters on Sept. 20.

The White House acknowledged that the start date is ultimately up to the CDC and Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA advisory panel is currently scheduled to hold a public hearing on boosters for the Pfizer vaccine and will have a non-binding vote later that day.

If the FDA approves, the ACIP will discuss and vote on recommendations, such as who should get the boosters and when.

The CDC director will make the ultimate decision on the boosters following the ACIP recommendations.

Lawyer whose firm represented Clinton campaign indicted by special counsel investigating Russia probe

September 16, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — A lawyer whose firm represented Hillary Clinton’s campaign during the 2016 presidential election was indicted Thursday by special counsel John Durham on a single charge of making a false statement to the FBI.

Michael Sussmann, an attorney for the Perkins Coie law firm who previously represented the Democratic National Committee following the hacking of its servers by Russia during the 2016 campaign, is accused of lying “about the capacity in which he was providing allegations to the FBI” when he met with a top lawyer from the bureau in September 2016 and provided him information about potential ties between a Russian bank and computer servers in the Trump Organization.

“Specifically, SUSSMANN state falsely that he was not doing his work on the aforementioned allegations “for any client,” which led the FBI General Counsel (James A. Baker) to understand that SUSSMANN was acting as a good citizen merely passing along information, not as a paid advocate or political operative,” prosecutors write in the indictment.

They allege instead that Sussmamn intentionally misled the FBI general counsel because he was acting at the time on behalf of an unnamed tech executive, an “U.S. internet company” and Hillary Clinton’s Presidential Campaign.

Prior to his indictment Thursday, Sussmann’s attorneys provided a statement to ABC News maintaining his innocence.

“Mr. Sussmann has committed no crime,” attorneys Sean Berkowitz and Michael Bosworth of the law firm Latham and Watkins said. “Any prosecution here would be baseless, unprecedented, and an unwarranted deviation from the apolitical and principled way in which the Department of Justice is supposed to do its work.”

“We are confident that if Mr. Sussmann is charged, he will prevail at trial and vindicate his good name,” they added.

Durham was appointed by former Attorney General William Barr in May 2019 to investigate allegations of misconduct by members of the FBI and the intelligence community in their investigation of potential ties between Russia and former President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign for the presidency. Before his resignation, Barr appointed Durham as special counsel extending his tenure into the Biden administration.

While Durham’s probe has long since lapsed the total duration of former special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, prior to Thursday he had yielded only one indictment against a lower-level FBI lawyer who admitted to doctoring an email used in seeking surveillance against a former aide to Trump’s campaign. That lawyer, Kevin Clinesmith, was sentenced to probation earlier this year.

Durham has been tasked with creating a report outlining his findings, though it will be up to Attorney General Merrick Garland to determine whether to make those findings public. Garland has said publicly he has no intention of interfering in Durham’s work.

The indictment alleges Sussmann began in 2016 working with a U.S. tech executive and other cyber researchers in coordination with the Clinton campaign to assemble “white papers” on a potential communications channel between the Trump Organization and Russian-owned Alfa Bank. Sussmann later provided Baker with the documents in a Sept. 19, 2016 meeting where he is alleged to have made the false statement about who he was acting on behalf of at the time.

The connections were later examined by the FBI, but not substantiated.

In a 2017 deposition with House lawmakers, Sussmann said that he requested the meeting on behalf of a client who was a cybersecurity expert that held data he said showed ties between Alfa Bank and the Trump Organization. According to a source familiar with the matter, his legal team denied in meetings with Durham’s team that his meeting with Baker was coordinated or on behalf of members of Clinton’s campaign.

The meeting between Sussman and Baker occurred more than a month after the FBI’s “Crossfire Hurricane” investigation — looking into whether people associated with the Trump campaign were coordinating, wittingly or unwittingly, with the Russian government’s efforts to interfere with the 2016 campaign — was opened on July 31.

Days earlier, on July 27, 2016, then-candidate Trump said publicly at a campaign event, “Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the more than 30,000 emails that are missing.” This was an apparent reference to Clinton emails that had been stored on a private server during the time she had served as secretary of state.

In the spring of 2016, Russian military intelligence had hacked into the computer networks of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Democratic National Committee. Emails and documents stolen by the Russians had already been leaked in June and July of 2016 and Trump continued to encourage more leaks as they continued throughout the campaign.

The New York Times, which first reported news of Durham’s plans to seek an indictment against Sussmann, also reported that Garland has declined to overrule Durham’s decision.

Sussmann’s legal team has communicated to Durham’s team that they believe his case will fall apart under scrutiny for several different reasons, a source said. They have noted that Sussmann’s alleged statement to Baker was made nearly five years ago and in a private meeting with no witnesses. And they argue the statements identified by Durham are immaterial in that they likely had no significant impact on any actual investigation being conducted by the FBI at the time.

In the indictment, however, prosecutors contend the statement was material “because, among other reasons, Sussmann’s false statement misled the FBI general counsel and other FBI personnel concerning the political nature of his work and deprived the FBI of information that might have permitted it more fully to assess and uncover the origins of the relevant data and technical analysis, including the identities and motivations of Sussmann’s clients.”

Apprehensions at the southern border surpass 200,000 in August

September 16, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — Customs and Border Protection encountered over 200,000 attempted crossings in August, fewer than the two-decade high seen in July, but still far more than in past years.

While the Biden administration has asked for patience, some Republican lawmakers are sounding the alarm over what they consider a continuing crisis.

The 208,887 of apprehensions in August were fewer than in July, when 212,672 people were encountered crossing the border — eclipsing every year since 2000. But last year, CBP made 50,014 apprehensions, just a fraction of this August’s number. In 2019, there were 62,707 apprehensions and the number was even smaller — 46,719 — in 2018.

According to the data released by CBP on Wednesday, 25% of the crossings were made by people who had already been encountered — leaving 156,641 unique encounters last month.

The number of unaccompanied minors has remained steady since July, at nearly 19,000 each month. In August, more than 1,400 unaccompanied children a day, on average, were in CBP custody — up 100 from July.

CBP says fentanyl seizures rose 34%, along with a 36% increase in pounds of cocaine seized from July to August. Fentanyl seizures are also up 50% so far this year, with more than 10,000 pounds confiscated, according to the data.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas on Monday downplayed the numbers.

“Once again, we have a plan and we’re executing it. The situation doesn’t change with a flick of a switch, it requires a tremendous amount of work,” he said during a fireside chat with ABC News at the Homeland Security Enterprise Forum.

But ranking member on the Senate Homeland and Governmental Affairs Committee, Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, was not so optimistic.

“Once again, CBP operational statistics show that we are seeing the worst unlawful migration crisis in more than twenty years,” Portman said in a statement on Wednesday night. “The Border Patrol has now made more than a million apprehensions of unlawful migrants since President Biden took office. CBP reported more than 208,000 total encounters at the border in August, quadrupling the number from last August.”

Former President Donald Trump’s Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf warned that Border Patrol agents will soon reach their breaking point if crossings continue at the current rate.

“President Biden’s failed border-security policies are simply unsustainable. The men and women of federal law enforcement cannot continue to deal with these crisis-level numbers. They are already overwhelmed and overburdened. The breakdown is coming,” Wolf said in a statement

The administration, however, has framed the drop in encounters since July as a sign things are moving in the right direction.

“The men and women at CBP continue to step up to meet the demands of high numbers of encounters at our southern border. CBP recorded 2 percent fewer encounters in August than July,” Acting CBP Commissioner Troy Miller said in a release. “The vast majority of single adults encountered in August, along with a substantial share of families, continued to be expelled under the CDC’s Title 42 authority.”

Queen pop-up store to open on London’s Carnaby Street in late September

September 16, 2021 by WDNY Radio

A special Queen-themed pop-up store celebrating the band’s five-decade history will open later this month on London’s famed Carnaby Street.

The shop, called Queen The Greatest, will open its doors on Tuesday, September 28, and will close in January 2022. The store will feature variety of limited-edition music releases, apparel collaborations, lifestyle products, jewelry and more, with new items made available and special events scheduled each week.

The two-floor shop will feature areas reflecting different eras in Queen history, including ’70s thrift store, ’80s concert performances and tours, ’90s record store, 2000s DVD tribute and 2010s technological concepts.

The fashion collaborations include unisex T-shirts and sweatshirts from Champion, denim items from Wrangler, and silver and gold jewelry from U.K. jewelry designer Johnny Hoxton.

Proceeds from an exclusive Freddie Mercury T-shirt sold at the store will benefit the Mercury Phoenix Trust AIDS charity founded by Brian May, Roger Taylor and Queen manager Jim Beach.

After September, each upcoming month that the shop is open in 2021 will have a theme reflecting special merch that will go on sale. October is Music Month, November is Art & Design Month, and December is Magic Month.

During October, limited-edition music releases be available at the store, including an exclusive vinyl version of Queen’s Greatest Hits compilation, as well as both new and recent solo releases from May and Taylor.

In November, the shop will be selling special items from Japanese designer Tokolo and a teddy bear from Steiff, as well as offering a first look at an upcoming Queen pinball machine.

December will see the arrival of some magical Queen-themed Christmas items, including a Rubik’s Cube, holiday apparel, cards, wrapping paper and more.

Items from the store also will be available for purchase online.

Nick Jonas celebrates 29th birthday with a giveaway for fans

September 16, 2021 by WDNY Radio

In celebration of his 29th birthday on Thursday, Nick Jonas decided to give his fans a gift.

The singer and his tequila company Villa One are giving away a signed, custom Gibson Villa One guitar.

“Being on the road and performing with my brothers again has been amazing,” Nick tells People. “I have been feeling really grateful, so for my birthday, I wanted to do something special for my fans and give them the chance to win an item that represents a couple of things that bring me joy — music and tequila.”

In order to enter, follow Villa One on Instagram and click the link in their bio. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, September 21.

Meanwhile, the Jonas Brothers are set to release their new song, “Who’s in Your Head,” on Friday.

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Post Malone announces Posty Fest 2021 lineup featuring Megan Thee Stallion and Lil Uzi Vert

September 16, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Post Malone‘s Posty Fest is back this year and has expanded to two days with a lineup including Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Uzi Vert, Roddy Ricch, Tyga and Jack Harlow.

The bill, which Malone revealed Thursday on Instagram, is set to feature over 20 acts performing October 30-31 at AT&T Stadium in Post’s hometown of Arlington, Texas.

The “Rockstar” rapper says that in addition to music, the festival will also offer carnival games, rides, monster trucks, karaoke, giveaways, and much more

Last year, the annual event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, Pharrell Williams, Meek Mill, Jaden Smith, Doja Cat, Rae Sremmurd and Saint Jhn were among the artists who performed.

Tickets for Posty Fest 2021 are now on sale on Seatgeek.com.

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Here’s how Shawn Mendes is supporting youth climate activists

September 16, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Shawn Mendes is doing his part to fight climate change.

He’s announced that his Shawn Mendes Foundation, in partnership with Future Coalition, will be making a grant to support the Youth Climate Finance Alliance, which helps compensate and provide training for youth climate activists.

Shawn also plans to participate in actions led by the Youth Climate Finance Alliance, including attending virtual training sessions to better his understanding of climate finance.

“I’m excited to join in the climate movement alongside powerful youth climate organizers,” Shawn says in a statement. “Compensating young people for the climate activism work they are doing through the training is so important. We can’t wait to save our planet tomorrow, we need to defend it today and there is no better group leading change than young people.”

Now you can own James Bond’s DB5 — the book, that is

September 16, 2021 by WDNY Radio

For car collectors and movie fans, there are few automobiles as iconic as James Bond’s 1964 Aston Martin DB5, and now you can own it — well, at least in coffee table book form.

Hero Collector Books has announced that on September 28 they’ll release James Bond’s DB5, the official, in-depth history of 007’s most famous whip, in a photo-packed 280-page book that was authorized by James Bond movie producers EON Productions.

The book’s release is timed to celebrate the October 8 premiere of the 25th James Bond film No
Time To Die, Daniel Craig‘s final turn as 007, which features the DB5 prominently.

The car has appeared in eight 007 movies to date, starting with 1964’s Goldfinger, and although the super-spy has driven other gadget-packed cars over the years, the producers always return to the Aston, which they did for Craig’s first outing in the tuxedo, in 2006’s Casino Royale.

Craig provides a forward for the new book, which details virtually every inch of the vehicle, photographed in exquisite detail from bumper to bumper — and ejector seat to machine guns.

James Bond movie producer Michael G. Wilson and Aston Martin’s Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman also penned forwards for the book.

Reichman notes, “There are no other cars that enjoy such an exciting connection to such a beloved character and I hope this book demonstrates that among all the technical and marketing data that underpins car production, an indelible truth remains: great cars are wonders to behold, blending creativity with one crucial factor: fun.”

He adds, “Bond definitely enjoys the DB5. I hope you enjoy it too.”

Kevin Hart’s ‘True Story’ drama gets November release date; Giancarlo Esposito joins Netflix ‘Jigsaw’ series; and more

September 16, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Netflix has set a November 24 release date for True Story, an upcoming limited series loosely based on the life of Kevin Hart.

The seven-episode drama follows Hart as Kid, a world famous comedian whose life suddenly hangs in the balance after “a lost evening with his wayward older brother” threatens to destroy everything he’s built. Wesley Snipes, who has been tapped to play Hart’s older brother, will star alongside Tawny Newsome, Will Catlett, Paul Adelstein, Theo Rossi, Ash Santos, John Ales, Chris Diamantopoulos, Lauren London, and Billy Zane. True Story officially marks Hart’s dramatic series debut.

In other news, Deadline has learned that Giancarlo Esposito has been added to the cast of Jigsaw, an upcoming Netflix series based on the “largest heist ever attempted.” It centers on the true-story of when $70 billion dollars in bonds went missing in downtown Manhattan during Hurricane Sandy. Esposito joins Paz Vega, Rufus Sewell, Tati Gabrielle, Peter Mark Kendall, Rosaline Elbay, Jai Courtney and Niousha Noor, who were previously announced. Production on Jigsaw has already begun at Netflix Studios in Brooklyn.

Finally, Zoe Saldaña is getting animated for her next big project. Netflix has announced that Saldaña will play Princess Maya in the upcoming series Maya and the Three. The nine-chapter series follows Maya, a rebellious warrior princess who learns on her fifteenth birthday that she must “forfeit her life” to the god of war or the world will suffer the consequences. To save those that she loves, Maya “embarks on a quest to fulfill an ancient prophecy” that promises to “defeat the gods and save humankind.” The series also stars Gabriel Iglesias, Alfred Molina, Cheech Marin, Rosie Perez, Queen Latifah, and Wyclef Jean among others. A release date for Maya and the Three has yet to be announced.

Kehlani has a romantic encounter with a female in new “Altar” video

September 16, 2021 by WDNY Radio

After announcing earlier this week that her third album, Blue Water Road, will be released in the winter, Kehlani has dropped the first single, “Altar.”

With a video set in an isolated country villa, Kehlani is joined by another female as she sings of romance.

“If I set a flame and I call your name/I’ll fix you a plate, we can go to dinner/We can share a meal your way/And I’ll play you the songs that you used to play,” the two-time Grammy nominee sings.

“Understanding grief and death has been a journey,” Kehlani commented in an emotional post on Instagram. “I’ve gained a lot of angels in my life but the last year has showed me that even after people have passed on, if I choose to, I can have an even closer relationship.”

“I thank my angels, my guides, all those who walk with me for allowing me to see them, feel them, hear them in full,” she continued. “I honor you in all i do. This is my offering. Enjoy. I love you.”

Blue Water Road will be the follow-up to Kehlani’s second album, It Was Good Until It Wasn’t, which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart in May 2020.

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