(CHEYENNE, Wyo.) — An Illinois woman is facing federal charges for allegedly disturbing wildlife in Yellowstone National Park after a video surfaced of her attempting to get an up-close cellphone photo of a momma grizzly bear and her three cubs.
Bob Murray, the U.S. attorney for the district of Wyoming, announced on Monday that charges have been filed against 25-year-old Samantha R. Dehring of Carol Stream, Illinois.
Dehring is ordered to appear before a magistrate judge in Mammoth Hot Spring, Wyoming, on Aug. 26 to answer to charges of willfully remaining, approaching and photographing wildlife within 100 yards. She is also charged with one count of feeding, touching, teasing, frightening or intentionally disturbing wildlife.
If convicted, she could be sentenced to up to a year in prison and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine, Murray said in a statement.
The allegations marked the latest in a series of incidents of Yellowstone visitors behaving badly, including a man authorities say was arrested for taunting a bison and two men charged with “thermal trespassing” for breaching barriers to take up-close photos of the park’s famed Old Faithful geyser.
Attempts by ABC News to reach Dehring for comment were not successful.
With the help of tourists who witnessed and video-recorded Dehring’s close encounter with a grizzly bear family, U.S. Park Police managed to identify her and track her down, Murray said.
The incident unfolded on May 10, in the Roaring Mountain area of Yellowstone, Murray said.
“While other visitors slowly backed off and got into their vehicles, Dehring remained,” Murray said.
A video shot by a tourist showed Dehring standing roughly 15 feet from a grizzly bear taking a photo of the animal with her cellphone. She backed away only after the bear briefly charged at her and then retreated. Other bears nearby appeared to be startled by the encounter and ran into the forest.
Murray said U.S. Park Rangers from Yellowstone provided the results of their investigation to U.S. Rangers in the area where Dehring lives and they served her in person with the violation notices.
Todd Williamson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Garth Brooks may be hitting pause on his Stadium Tour.
A representative for Garth shared in a statement on Tuesday that following his upcoming sold-out shows at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 7 and at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska, on August 14, there will be a three-week window where shows will not be scheduled to give the team time to assess how to proceed in regards to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Additionally, ticket sales for the show scheduled in Seattle on September 4 will be halted.
“It breaks my heart to see city after city go on sale and then have to ask those sweet people and the venues to reschedule,” Garth says in a statement. “We have a three week window coming up where we, as a group, will assess the remainder of the stadium tour this year. It’s humbling to see people put this much faith in you as an artist, and it kills me to think I am letting them down.”
In recent weeks, cases of COVID-19 have increased across the country as the Delta variant continues to spread. The CDC is now recommending that people who are fully vaccinated wear masks indoors in public places in areas of high transmission.
Massive walk-in closets, a screening room, arcade machines, a pool, a guest house, magnificent art and hundreds of pairs of sneakers: These are just some of the things you’ll see in Architectural Digest‘s new video that takes you inside the Los Angeles mansion of Adam Levine and his wife, Behati Prinsloo.
“We love that it’s one story, super-cozy,” Adam gushes of the couple’s beautiful home, which is the definition of understated luxury, with its neutral-toned, chic, modern-yet-comfortable design. “We didn’t want a palatial McMansion. That’s just not who we are.”
During their house tour, we see that Adam, a massive sneakerhead, keeps a pair of original Air Jordan 1s on display in a glass box in the kitchen. His immense closet, which he says was inspired by Kanye West‘s, holds the rest of his enormous sneaker collection, plus “sweats and t-shirts…’cause that’s all I ever wear,” he notes.
Adam also shows off a huge painting in the kitchen by Sage Vaughan, which he adapted for the cover art of Maroon 5‘s new album, JORDI, and the room where he recorded most of the album during lockdown. We also see that he hides his Grammys and other awards in a case off to the side in his downstairs screening room. “I keep them here so they’re not too showy-offy,” he explains.
A wall of what Adam calls “some of my favorite people” includes framed photographs of Kurt Cobain, Pearl Jam, Miles Davis with Steve McQueen, Bob Dylan and The Beatles.
Adam ends the tour by saying, “Thank you, we had a wonderful time showing you our house…But now, please, get the f*** out.”
The mansion, previously owned by Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, reportedly cost $32 million.
For the first time ever, the Miss Black USA Pageant will be broadcast live. The organization announced on Tuesday that FOX SOUL will air the upcoming 35th annual Miss Black USA Pageant on Sunday, August 8 at 6 p.m. ET.
Miss Black USA, which celebrates the achievements of young women, is the first and largest scholarship pageant for women of color, awarding over $500,000 in scholarships. Founded in 1987, the pageant was designed to empower women to “own their power” and define their “own standard of beauty” while celebrating their authentic selves, according to the organization.
”The pageant allows for Black women to have a platform to showcase the power and beauty of being unapologetically Black,” said Karen Arrington, CEO & Founder of Miss Black USA, Inc. “Our organization is highly respected and has redefined what it means to be a courageous, compassionate, and confident woman of color. We are proud that FOX SOUL is airing the Miss Black USA Pageant for the very first time, emphasizing their commitment to the community.”
For more about this year’s pageant and contestants, visit MissBlackUSA.org.
(WASHINGTON) — Top members of the Department of Justice last year rebuffed another DOJ official who asked them to urge officials in Georgia to investigate and perhaps overturn President Joe Biden’s victory in the state — long a bitter point of contention for former President Donald Trump and his team — before the results were certified by Congress, emails reviewed by ABC News show.
The emails, dated Dec. 28, 2020, show the former acting head of DOJ’s civil division, Jeffrey Clark, circulating a draft letter — which he wanted then-acting attorney general Jeffrey Rosen and acting deputy attorney general Richard Donoghue to sign off on — urging Georgia’s governor and other top officials to convene the state legislature into a special session so lawmakers could investigate claims of voter fraud.
“The Department of Justice is investigating various irregularities in the 2020 election for President of the United States,” the draft letter said. “The Department will update you as we are able on investigatory progress, but at this time we have identified significant concerns that may have impacted the outcome of the election in multiple States, including the State of Georgia.”
The draft letter states: “While the Department of Justice believe[s] the Governor of Georgia should immediately call a special session to consider this important and urgent matter, if he declines to do so, we share with you our view that the Georgia General Assembly has implied authority under the Constitution of the United States to call itself into special session for [t]he limited purpose of considering issues pertaining to the appointment of Presidential Electors.”
The vote count in Georgia became a flashpoint for Trump and his allies and Trump at one point falsely claimed that it was “not possible” for him to have lost the state.
But to date, the Justice Department has uncovered no evidence of widespread voter fraud that would tip the results of the presidential election. Attorney General William Barr also announced in December that the department had “not seen fraud on a scale that could have effected a different outcome of the election.” A statewide audit in Georgia last year also affirmed that Biden was the winner.
The emails were provided by the DOJ to the House Oversight Committee, which is investigating efforts to overturn the election results. And they come as the DOJ investigator general looks at whether any officials in the department sought to overturn the outcome of the election.
Last week the Department of Justice sent letters to six former Trump DOJ officials telling them that they can participate in Congress’ investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. One of those letters was to former Associate Deputy AG Patrick Hovakimian, who sources said sat for a transcribed interview Tuesday morning with the House Oversight Committee. Hovakimian is copied on the emails referenced above.
Notes from Donoghue released last week appeared to show that Trump tried to pressure the DOJ to assert that there was significant fraud in the election.
ABC News has requested comment from Clark but has not yet received a response. A spokesperson for the House Oversight Committee did not immediately respond to request for comment, nor did an attorney for Donoghue.
Clark attached the draft letter in an email to Rosen and Donoghue telling them “I think we should get it out as soon as possible.”
“Personally, I see no valid downsides to sending out the letter,” Clark wrote. “I put it together quickly and would want to do a formal cite check before sending but I don’t think we should let unnecessary moss grow on this.”
Clark separately asked for Rosen and Donoghue to authorize them to receive a classified briefing led by then-Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe the next day related to “foreign election interference issues,” while referencing an unspecified theory about hackers having evidence that a Dominion voting machine “accessed the Internet through a smart thermostat with a net connection trail leading back to China.”
Donoghue responded a little more than an hour later shooting down Clark’s request to sign on to the draft letter.
“There is no chance that I would sign this letter or anything remotely like this,” Donoghue said. “While it maybe true that the Department ‘is investigating various irregularities in the 2020 election for President’ (something we typically would not state publicly) the investigations that I am aware of relate to suspicions of misconduct that are of such a small scale that they simply would not impact the outcome of the Presidential Election.”
Donoghue closed his email response by stating that, while he was available to speak to Clark directly about his request, “from where I stand, this is not even within the realm of possibility.”
Donoghue cited former Attorney General William Barr’s previous statements that the department had no indication fraud had impacted the election to a significant degree, and that no information had surfaced since Barr’s departure that changed that assessment.
“Given that,” he said, “I cannot imagine a scenario in which the Department would recommend that a State assemble its legislature to determine whether already-certified election results should somehow be overriden by legislative action.”
He added that the draft letter’s statement that DOJ would update lawmakers on the investigatory progress was “dubious as we do not typically update non-law enforcement personnel on the progress of any investigations.”
Later that evening, Rosen responded as well, telling both Clark and Donoghue, “I confirmed again today that I am not prepared to sign such a letter.”
The New York Times reported in January about Clark appealing to Donoghue and Rosen to co-sign the draft letter.
In the days after the exchange, as ABC News has previously confirmed, both Rosen and Donoghue thwarted an attempt by Clark to have Trump appoint him acting attorney general.
Nas has unveiled the track list for the sequel to his Hit-Boy produced album, King’s Disease, dropping this Friday. Co-executive-produced by Nas, King’s Disease II features A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, West Coast artists YG and Blxst, and music veterans like Charlie Wilson.
Nas reunites with Lauryn Hill on a track titled “Nobody.” It marks the long-awaited reunion between the New York emcee and the former Fugees singer, who sang vocals on Nas’ 1996 track, “If I Ruled the World (Imagine That),” from It Was Written.
Meanwhile, Eminem and legendary rap duo EPMD will join Nas on “EMPD 2.” The original “EMPD” arrived on the soundtrack to the film Judas and the Black Messiah, from director Shaka King.
(WASHINGTON) — A Pentagon police officer was attacked during a shooting and stabbing incident at the Pentagon Transit Center earlier Tuesday, Department of Defense officials have confirmed.
Chief Woodrow Kusse, who leads the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, joined Pentagon spokesman John Kirby at an afternoon press briefing to address the incident, but he would not provide details about casualties.
“This morning at about 10:37 a.m., a Pentagon police officer was attacked on the Metro Bus platform. Gunfire was exchanged. And there were — there were several casualties. The incident is over, the scene is secure and — most importantly — there’s no continuing threat to our community,” he said.
“The scene is safe and secure,” he added. “There were a number of people that fled and there were some erroneous reports.”
The FBI is leading the investigation into the attack.
Pressed on reports on whether an officer died, he said he couldn’t release those details as the investigation is ongoing.
“I don’t want to compromise the integrity of that process right now,” he said.
“I’m not confirming or denying those particular reports right now the investigation is ongoing. And I do promise to get back as soon as possible, with further details but I can’t release those right now,” he said, pressed also on details about the assailant.
“We are not actively looking for another suspect,” Kusse added.
The Pentagon was placed on lockdown Tuesday morning after the incident at the Pentagon Transit Center involving a stabbing and a shooting, according to a separate U.S. official.
The lockdown was later lifted and the Pentagon reopened, the Pentagon Force Protection Agency said shortly after noon.
The Pentagon had no details regarding the assailant’s motivation Tuesday afternoon, but Kusse said they will review the results of the investigation before making a determination on whether security measures should change.
“Every time an incident occurs, whether it’s here or anywhere else across the nation or in the world, we do after actions on those we examine them, we look for things that we can do to improve. But right now, again, it’s still pending, we will certainly, as this investigation concludes, take another look at any measures,” he said.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Gen. Mark Milley were not in the Pentagon at the time of the incident. They were both at the White House for their weekly meeting with President Joe Biden and they were all aware of the ongoing situation.
All of the circumstances of the shooting remain unclear while the investigation is ongoing. The Pentagon Force Protection Agency said the scene is secure but remains “an active crime scene.”
Kirby said Tuesday afternoon that Austin was back in the Pentagon and had a chance to visit the Pentagon police operations center to check in and express his gratitude for their work.
ABC/Eric McCandless / Disney Channel/Image Group LA
Fans are clearly loving Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood‘s new duet.
Since its release on July 23, “If I Didn’t Love You” has bounded to #2 on the BillboardHot Country Songs chart, setting a record as the highest debut for a duet featuring a solo male and female artist since the chart’s inception in 1958.
It bests the previous record set by Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani when their hit “Nobody but You” debuted at #9 in 2019.
This marks Jason’s 35th top-10 hit on the Hot Country Songs chart and Carrie’s 30th. Her previous highest-charting debut on the chart was with Miranda Lambert on “Somethin’ Bad,” which bowed at #5 in 2014.
“If I Didn’t Love You” also has launched into the top 30 of the Billboard Country Airplay chart with a debut at #28, and sits at #1 on the Billboard Country Digital Song Sales Songs chart and #4 on the Billboard Country Streaming Songs tally.
“If I Didn’t Love You” serves as the lead single off Jason’s forthcoming album.
Joe: Raymond Hall/GC Images; Blake & Gwen: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images
What’s the best way to tell everyone how you feel about a loved one? Joe Jonas and Gwen Stefani have both been spotted wearing their hearts — not on their sleeves, but around their necks and on their feet.
Joe was photographed out in New York City recently with brothers Nick and Kevin, where the middle Jonas Brother was seen wearing a silver locket around his neck. The New York Postreports that the locket, which features a small diamond on the outside, is engraved “Willa,” which is the name of his and wife Sophie Turner‘s daughter. Willa recently celebrated her first birthday.
Not to be outdone, Gwen Stefani was photographed walking around Los Angeles wearing a pair of custom Vans shoes decorated with the face of Blake Shelton, her new husband. But then again, Gwen’s made an art out of wearing accessories paying tribute to her man.
As the New York Post notes, in April, she wore a “Shelton” necklace, and in 2020, she wore a dress covered with white shells to the Grammys, as a tribute to the “shell” in “Shelton.” When she and Blake wed on July 3, her veil was embroidered with Blake’s name, and the names of her three sons.
In a new cover story with Out magazine, Lil Nas X talks about how his career goals have evolved as he’s grown more into himself.
“I’m turning into Montero more and more, day by day,” he says, referencing his birth name, Montero Lamar Hill. He adds that the songs on his upcoming album, Montero, are some of his most personal.
“I named the album after myself because there are a lot of things I’ve been going through and dealing with and wanting to say,” he says. “I wanted to let sides of myself show that I’ve been afraid of people seeing for so long.”
Lil Nas, who is openly gay, says when he initially started out, all he wanted was just “to be this huge rapper.”
“I was looking to blend in when I first started, but now I genuinely don’t mind and wish to do my own thing and stand out,” he says. “I wanted to just be an artist at first. I wanted to just make music.”
He adds, “But now I have even more of a purpose: to continue to find myself and, by doing so, help others find themselves.”
