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Mayor Says No Threats To DC
Mayor Bowser says she has met with federal and local officials regarding any possible threats of attack to the District following tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
(Washington, DC) — Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser is promising there are no immediate threats to the district despite the tensions between the U.S. and Iran. Bowser told reporters today she has been briefed on the issue and is in close contact with the federal government and regional partners. The U.S. military killed a top Iranian general in an airstrike last Friday and Iran fired rockets towards military bases in Iraq in response earlier this week.
What’s Next For Prince Harry & Meghan?
The couple indicated in their statement Wednesday that they want to become financially independent of the royals. Meghan is certainly free to renew her acting career but she has never indicated a desire to do so. She has instead talked enthusiastically about pursuing a number of charitable projects and working on global issues.
LONDON (AP) — The announcement by Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, that they will step back from royal duties and seek a new “progressive” path has raised many questions about their future. Surprised Buckingham Palace officials say those discussions are just beginning and many complex issues remain to be worked out. Here’s some of the questions raised by their statement.
MEGHAN SEEMED THRILLED TO BE JOINING THE ROYAL FAMILY WHEN SHE MARRIED HARRY IN 2018. WHAT WENT WRONG?
The royal couple has been increasingly unhappy with what they felt was intrusive press coverage. Harry compared it to the way the press hounded his mother, Princess Diana, shortly before her death in 1997. Meghan has said that as an American she did not understand the level of scrutiny the royals faced in Britain and has found her transition into a royal role difficult, especially as the couple is raising their first child, eight-month-old Archie.
WHERE WILL THEY LIVE NOW?
In their statement, the duke and duchess said they will divide their time between Britain and North America but it’s not yet known if that means the U.S. or Canada. Meghan’s roots, and her mother, are in the Los Angeles area but she worked as an actress on the TV program “Suits” in Canada for many years. Harry and his family skipped the queen’s traditional Christmas gathering at her Sandringham country estate last month to visit Canada and to see Markle’s mother.
The couple now have Frogmore Cottage near Windsor Castle as their U.K. base. The attractive four-bedroom house was recently extensively renovated, with taxpayers kicking in 2.4 million pounds ($3.1 million) for the work before they moved in.
IS HARRY STILL IN LINE TO BE KING SOME DAY?
Even before this change in status, it was very unlikely that Harry would ever ascend to the throne now held by his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. He is sixth in line, behind his father Prince Charles, his older brother Prince William and William’s three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. It would take a catastrophic series of events for Harry to become king.
WILL THEY STILL BE CALLED HIS OR HER “ROYAL HIGHNESS?”
This important question has not been addressed. It is presumably one of the many issues Buckingham Palace was referring to when it said complex matters must still be worked out. It’s also not known if Harry and Meghan will still want the personal security protection given to senior royals by the Metropolitan Police, also known as Scotland Yard, and other agencies.
WHAT ABOUT ALL THE CHARITIES HARRY AND MEGHAN ARE PATRONS OF?
The couple says on their new website that they are developing a new charitable entity to address the world’s problems. They also say they will continue their extensive charity work, focusing on a number of areas including female empowerment, African wildlife preservation, regenerating the earth’s ecosystems and improving mental health treatment.
WILL MEGHAN GO BACK TO WORK AS AN ACTRESS?
The couple indicated in their statement Wednesday that they want to become financially independent of the royals. Meghan is certainly free to renew her acting career but she has never indicated a desire to do so. She has instead talked enthusiastically about pursuing a number of charitable projects and working on global issues. Details about their financial future are not yet clear but the couple says they will no longer rely on British taxpayer funding for some of their office expenses.
Judge Orders Google To Turn Over Jussie Smollett’s Emails
When the charges were filed, Chicago police alleged the black and openly gay Smollett — unhappy with his salary and hoping to promote his career — paid two brothers to stage what appeared to be a racist and homophobic attack, in which one of the men looped a rope fashioned as a noose around his neck.
CHICAGO (AP) — A judge has ordered Google to turn over a year’s worth of Jussie Smollett’s emails, private messages, photographs and location data to a special prosecutor who is looking into why prosecutors abruptly dismissed criminal charges against the actor.
On Wednesday, the Chicago Tribunereported that it had obtained two search warrants submitted by special prosecutor Dan Webb and signed off by Cook County Judge Michael Toomin last month.
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office filed and quickly dropped 16 counts of disorderly conduct against Smollett for allegedly staging a January 2019 attack in downtown Chicago and lying about it to police. Toomin appointed Webb months later and the warrants offer the first public hints about what he has been investigating.
When the charges were filed, Chicago police alleged the black and openly gay Smollett — unhappy with his salary and hoping to promote his career — paid two brothers to stage what appeared to be a racist and homophobic attack, in which one of the men looped a rope fashioned as a noose around his neck.
In the warrants, Webb seeks information from the Google accounts of Smollett and his manager, including unsent draft emails and deleted messages. He also requests files from their Google Drive cloud storage services, Google Voice texts, and web browsing history.
Webb has not publicly discussed the investigation and Smollett has maintained his innocence. But the fact the warrants seek data between November 2018 and November 2019 suggests investigators could be trying to support the original police allegation that Smollett planned and helped stage a fake attack.
It remains unclear if Google has turned over the information. In approving the warrants, Toomin ordered Google not to disclose the order, saying that doing so “may jeopardize an ongoing criminal investigation”. A Google spokesman told the Tribune that he could not comment on requests for records from law enforcement.
Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi confirmed the department is conducting ’follow-ups” of its initial investigation but he declined to comment further. An attorney who tried to block the appointment of the special prosecutor and another attorney representing Smollett in a federal civil case did not immediately return calls for comment.
Alicia Keys Debuts Empowering ‘Underdog’ Video
“Some people may think of the word underdog as a negative word but I see it as a powerful word representing people who may be underestimated and yet still rise to the challenge and exceed expectations.”
Alicia Keys teamed up with Ed Sheeran for her latest single “Underdog.” “Underdog” will appear on Keys’ seventh album titled Alicia, along with “Time Machine” and “Show Me Love.” According to Billboard, the new single highlights the everyday struggles of the overlooked and underestimated.
“Some people may think of the word underdog as a negative word but I see it as a powerful word representing people who may be underestimated and yet still rise to the challenge and exceed expectations,” Keys said in a press release. “I love this song so much because it’s about real life and real people and our experiences. We’ve all been in a place in our lives where we’ve had to defy the odds. It’s never easy. One of my favorite lyrics in the song is, ‘They say I would never make it but I was built to break the mold.’ I don’t think there’s a person on the planet that hasn’t felt that way.”
Keys is scheduled to host this year’s Grammys on Jan. 26.
Oscars To Go Hostless For 2nd Straight Year On ABC
Last year’s Emmy Awards also went without a host. ABC is televising this year’s ceremony on Sept. 20, and Burke was asked if she had any idea who might preside.
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — The Oscars are going without a host again this year.
ABC Entertainment President Karey Burke said Wednesday the Feb. 9 telecast will focus on what worked last year: “huge entertainment value, big musical numbers, big comedy and star power.”
Last year’s ceremony attracted 29.6 million viewers, the second-smallest in Oscars history but 12% more than in 2018, which ended a four-year slide in viewership. Comedian Kevin Hart was originally announced as host, but he backed away when some anti-gay tweets he posted a decade ago resurfaced.
ABC and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences agreed to go hostless for a second straight year, Burke said.
“We expect that we’re going to have a very commercial set of nominations,” Burke told a TV critics meeting, “and a number of elements have come together that convinced us we’ll have a very entertaining show.”
Nominations will be announced on Monday.
Last year’s Emmy Awards also went without a host. ABC is televising this year’s ceremony on Sept. 20, and Burke was asked if she had any idea who might preside.
“Baby Yoda,” she joked, referring to the infant version of the “Star Wars” character that became an instant sensation on Disney Plus’ “The Mandalorian.”
2020’s Cheapest Travel Destinations
“You don’t have to be rich to travel well.” – Eugene Fodor
Eugene Fodor spoke knowledge when he said “you don’t have to be rich to travel well.” Traveling the world is one of the most fulfilling experiences ever but so many rob themselves of that opportunity with the assumption that they simply cannot afford to travel.
Although travel costs are on the rise this year—with experts predicting that airfares will increase by 1.5% and hotels rates will go up by 2 to 4%—it’s still possible to take an affordable trip in 2020, if you know where to go. Forbes teamed up with some of the savviest world travelers and compiled a list of the cheapest places to travel in 2020. Here are a few of the destinations.
Bergamo, Italy
Zanzibar
Cali, Colombia
Oaxaca, Mexico
Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Madagascar
The Island of Hawai’i
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Nice, France
Curaçao
Madhya Pradesh, India
Irish Countryside
Guadeloupe
Calgary, Canada
Ayampe, Ecuador
For Forbes’ complete list, see here.
R Kelly Girlfriend Charged After Fight At Singer’s Condo
The women were separated and when officers arrived, the 22-year-old woman told them that she and Savage had an argument that became physical when the older woman allegedly hit her in the face.
CHICAGO (AP) — A fight between two of R. Kelly’s girlfriendsinside the embattled singer’s Trump Tower condominium has led to a domestic battery charge against one of the women and sent the other to the hospital, Chicago police said Thursday.
Joycelyn Savage, 24, was taken into custody after allegedly punching a 22-year-old woman in the face Wednesday, police said, and Savage was charged with misdemeanor domestic battery.
Savage remained in custody and was due in court Thursday morning for an initial hearing, said Chicago police spokeswoman Kellie Bartoli.
It wasn’t immediately known if Savage had a lawyer in the battery case.
The brawl between the women — Kelly’s two recent live-in girlfriends — began shortly after 2 p.m. when Chicago police were called to the Trump Tower building for a “battery in progress” involving two women, Chicago police Officer Anthony Spicuzza toldthe Chicago Tribune.
The women were separated and when officers arrived, the 22-year-old woman told them that she and Savage had an argument that became physical when the older woman allegedly hit her in the face.
Savage, whose home address is listed in the same block as Trump Tower, fled but later turned herself in to police and was arrested on signed complaints, police said. She also has a court date scheduled for Feb. 6 at the county’s domestic violence courthouse.
The younger woman was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where she was listed in good condition, Spicuzza said.
“It was a battery; it was a fight, but I don’t know what condition she’s in,’’ Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Merritt said, adding that the injuries were not serious enough to threaten her life.
A series of videos posted to Instagram show the 22-year-old woman angrily confronting Savage before a scuffle broke out between the two. In one video, the 22-year-old told officers she was in the unit with a few other people when Savage and another woman — a “handler” for Kelly — arrived to pick up Kelly’s “awards and his Grammys and stuff,” the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
“She came to me and attacked me and I had to defend myself,” the 22-year-old told police, alleging that Savage hit her with her hands and her phone and tried to kick her, as well.
The 22-year-old’s name came up last month in Brooklyn, New York, when prosecutors there asked for any Cook County marriage records, records show. The 22-year-old had until recently lived with Kelly at the Trump Tower address.
Kelly, 53 on Wednesday, is being held without bond in Chicago’s Metropolitan Correctional Center. He is charged with a variety of crimesin three states. Kelly has pleaded not guilty to federal charges in Chicago and New York of a racketeering scheme to sexually abuse girls. Kelly is also accused in Minnesota of offering a 17-year-old money in 2001 to take off her clothes and dance. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
A documentary serieschronicling Kelly’s alleged sexual abuse of minors is currently being aired on Lifetime.
Trebek: ‘Jeopardy!’ Retirement Isn’t Imminent Despite Cancer
“I don’t foresee that 30-second moment coming up in the near future,” Trebek said Wednesday, referring to his request for time to close out his decades-long run with the quiz show.
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — The brief farewell that Alex Trebek says will close his final “Jeopardy!” episode isn’t on the horizon.
“I don’t foresee that 30-second moment coming up in the near future,” Trebek said Wednesday, referring to his request for time to close out his decades-long run with the quiz show.
While treatment for pancreatic cancer is taking a toll, Trebek said he’s not ready to retire although he’s mulled it in recent years. He spoke during a panel promoting ““Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time” with top contestants Ken Jennings, Brad Rutter and James Holzhauer, The prime-time contest is airing this week on ABC.
“When you’ve been in the same job for that long period of time and you’re in advanced years, it behooves you at some point to think about retiring. Now, thinking about retiring and retiring are two different things,” he said. “As long as I feel my skills have not diminished too much, and as long as I’m enjoying spending time with bright people like these three (contestants) … then I’ll continue doing it.”
Harry Friedman, the program’s ′ long-time executive producer, said no successor was lined up.
Trebek, 79, was candid when asked about his health. He announced his pancreatic diagnosis last March, and said Wednesday he’s between progress reports.
“Some days are better than others. My resistance is lower than most of you, of course, because of the treatments I’ve been having, the chemotherapy and, as you can tell, the cold that seems to be going around. But this is the second time I’ve had it in the past month,” he said, his voice slightly hoarse.
“They’ve taken me off one of my chemo drugs, which was killing me,” he said, adding that he’s having tests done Thursday and “then maybe another week or so before I find out where things stand.”
He also was candid about less debilitating effects of disease and its treatment, including the hair loss that’s been covered by a wig and a deep tan cast to his skin. He also expressed concern about his recent performance on “Jeopardy!”, which he began hosting in 1984.
“I seemed a little slower in the ad-lib portions. I could still deliver the clues at a rapid pace … but I feel that I was not having one of my best weeks. Some weeks are good, some weeks are bad, but it comes with the territory,” he said, conceding that his wife didn’t share his assessment.
Neither does Rutter, who first competed on the show in 2000 and is the all-time top money winner.
“He’s absolutely the best who’s ever done it. He’s very modest. He’ll tell you that you don’t owe him anything. But we all do,” Rutter said. “There wouldn’t be any ‘Jeopardy!’ without Alex. And ‘Jeopardy!’ changed my life.”
Trebek was asked what he’ll do when he does retire. “Drink,” was his straight-faced reply.
“No,” he added. “I’ll work around the house.”
Asked what he will most miss about “Jeopardy!” his reply was swift.
“I tell audiences who come to our tapings that the thing I enjoy most about the show is the 30 minutes I spend on stage with the contestants, because I love spending time with bright people. … I hate spending time with stupid people,” he said, drawing laughs.
Prince Harry And Meghan To ‘Step Back’ As Senior UK Royals
“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution,” the statement said. “We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the royal family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support her majesty the queen.”
LONDON (AP) — Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, say they plan “to step back” as senior members of Britain’s royal family, a stunning announcement that underscores the couple’s wish to forge a new path for royals in the modern world.
A statement issued Wednesday evening by Buckingham Palace, described as “a personal message from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex,” said Harry and Meghan intend to become financially independent” and to “balance” their time between the U.K. and North America.
“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution,” the statement said. “We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the royal family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support her majesty the queen.”
The 35-year-old Harry, the youngest son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, is Queen Elizabeth II’s grandson and sixth in line to the British throne. With his ginger hair and beard, he has become one of the royal family’s most popular members.
Before marrying the prince in a royal wedding watched around the world in 2018, the 38-year-old Duchess of Sussex was an American actress known as Meghan Markle and a star of the TV show “Suits.” The couple’s first child, Archie, was born in May 2019.
In their statement, the couple did not reveal where in North America they plan to make a second home, but they cited their baby as a reason why they decided to live part of their time outside Britain.
“This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity,” it read.
Hours later, Buckingham Palace issued a second statement, hinting that the first had caught some in the royal household by surprise. The statement said discussions with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were “at an early stage.″
“We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through,″ it read.
Harry and his family skipped the queen’s traditional Christmas gathering at her Sandringham country estate last month to visit Canada and to see Markle’s mother, who lives in California. Meghan grew up in Los Angeles and lived in Toronto while filming “Suits.”
The message about the couple’s plans also appeared on their official Instagram feed, along with a link to a website, sussexroyal.com, where followers could find more information.
The websiteelaborated on why they are seeking financial independence from the monarchy’s funding mechanism, known as the “Sovereign Grant.” A page on the site states the grant they are forsaking covers just 5% of the costs for the duke and duchess and is used for their official office expenses.
Meghan and Harry “value the ability to earn a professional income, which in the current structure they are prohibited from doing,” the website states. “Their Royal Highnesses feel this new approach will enable them to continue to carry out their duties for Her Majesty the Queen, while having the future financial autonomy to work externally.
As an actress and a human rights activist, the duchess was accustomed to media attention before her marriage, but she has made no secret that the transition to being a global celebrity and part of Britain’s royal family was difficult.
The royal couple particularly took issue with their treatment at the hands of the British tabloids, whose aggressive coverage of all things royal is legendary.
In October, Meghan sued a newspaper for copyright infringement for publishing a letter she wrote to her estranged father. Later that month, Harry brought his own claim against two of the most popular tabloids over alleged hacking of phone voicemail messages.
The prince also lashed out at the British media for its treatment of Meghan, accusing the press of hounding his wife the same way it did his mother. Princess Diana died in a 1997 car crash while trying to elude paparazzi in Paris.
“My deepest fear is history repeating itself. I’ve seen what happens when someone I love is commoditized to the point that they are no longer treated or seen as a real person. I lost my mother and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces,” Harry said.
The royal couple revealed their struggles with the media during an ITV documentary “Harry & Meghan: An African Journey,” which followed them on their autumn tour of Southern Africa. Both said they had struggled with the spotlight and that much of what was printed about them is untrue.
The duchess told ITV that her British friends warned her not to marry the prince because of the intense media scrutiny that would follow in his country. But the U.S. television star said she “naively” dismissed the warnings, because as an American she didn’t understand how the British press worked.
“I never thought this would be easy, but I thought it would be fair. And that is the part that is hard to reconcile,” Meghan said. “But (I) just take each day as it comes.”
The duchess said the pressure was aggravated by the fact that she went quickly from being a newlywed to being pregnant and then a new mother.
The British media have also made much of an alleged rift between Harry and his older brother, Prince William, who is second in line to the throne. Harry and Meghan last year opted out of living at Kensington Palace in London, where William and his family lives, and moved to a Frogmore Cottage at Windsor.
In the ITV interview, Harry acknowledged there have been some differences between him and the 37-year-old William, although he said most of what has been printed about a rift between the two brothers has been “created out of nothing.”
“Part of this role and part of this job and this family being under the pressure that it’s under, inevitably stuff happens,” he said. “But, look, we’re brothers. We’ll always be brothers. We’re certainly on different paths at the moment, but I will always be there for him, as I know he’ll always be there for me.”
Washington, D.C. (Thursday, January 9, 2020) – The overnight freezing temperatures are keeping a few schools in Virginia delaying the start of classes today. Here’s the list.
Culpeper Co. Public Schools – 2 hour delay
Fauquier County Public Schools – 2 hour delay
Orange County Public Schools – 2 hour delay
Prince William County Public Schools – 2 hour delay
Rappahannock County Public Schools – 2 hour delay
Shenandoah County Public Schools – 2 hour delay
Spotsylvania County Public Schools – 2 hour delay
Stafford County Public Schools – 2 hour delay
Helping Citizens Get A Fresh Start For The New Year
The J. Franklin Bourne Bar Association is hosting a free expungement clinic.
Starting the year with a fresh start and a clear way to better education, housing, and jobs. That’s the goal of an upcoming free Expungement Clinic. It’s next Saturday January 18th, at Kettering Baptist Church in Upper Marlboro. My guest is Ryan Middleton – Immediate Past President of the J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association
The Free Expungement Clinic is Saturday, January 18th from 9am to 1pm at Kettering Baptist Church. More information here:
Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:40 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.
Follow me on facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
Listen to this mornings segment here:
Revitalization In Southeast DC
New retail and office buildings are coming to a major corridor in Southeast DC.
New things are coming to Anacostia. Today, the groundbreaking for what District officials are calling MLK Gateway, a renovation of the historic retail buildings at the intersection of Good Hope Road and Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, SE that the mayor says will bring office, retail, and other amenities to Ward 8. Officials expect the revitalization projects will bring about 400 new jobs to the greater Southeast area.
Trump Addresses Nation Following Iranian Airstrike
President Trump says no one was hurt after Iran launched missiles at U.S. forces located on Iraq bases.
Today, rockets were fired near the U.S. embassy in Iraq. No reported injures or information on who launched the missiles. This coming a day after Iran’s missile attack against U.S. forces.
Earlier in the day, President Trump said Iran appeared to be standing down after launching more than a dozen missiles at two Iraqi military bases that host U.S. forces. Trump says the U.S. knew about a possible Iranian missile strike early on. Trump confirmed that no Americans were hurt in the attack. The president did not threaten retaliatory strikes against Iran, but he noted the reach and strength of the U.S. military. Iran’s attacks followed the recent U.S. airstrike that killed a top Iranian military leader.
Earlier in the day, President Trump said Iran appeared to be standing down after launching more than a dozen missiles at two Iraqi military bases that host U.S. forces. Trump says the U.S. knew about a possible Iranian missile strike early on. Trump confirmed that no Americans were hurt in the attack. The president did not threaten retaliatory strikes against Iran, but he noted the reach and strength of the U.S. military. Iran’s attacks followed the recent U.S. airstrike that killed a top Iranian military leader.
Cafe Mocha
Celebrity hosts Loni Love, Yo Yo and Angelique Perrin take you on a weekly ride with celebrity guests, topics and the best music.
Cancer Group Finds Biggest One-Year Drop In U.S. Death Rate
“It’s absolutely driven by lung cancer,” which accounts for about a quarter of all cancer deaths, she said. Take lung cancer out of the mix, and the 2017 rate drop is 1.4%, she added.
NEW YORK (AP) — Researchers on Wednesday reported the largest-ever one-year decline in the U.S. cancer death rate, a drop they credited to advances in lung-tumor treatments.
The overall cancer death rate has been falling about 1.5% a year since 1991. It fell 2.2% from 2016 to 2017, according to the new American Cancer Society report. That’s the largest drop ever seen in national cancer statistics going back to 1930, said Rebecca Siegel, the lead author.
Full Coverage: Cancer
“It’s absolutely driven by lung cancer,” which accounts for about a quarter of all cancer deaths, she said. Take lung cancer out of the mix, and the 2017 rate drop is 1.4%, she added.
Government researchers previously reported a slightly lower drop in the cancer death rate for the same period. But the Cancer Society calculates the death rate differently, and on Wednesday said the decline was larger — and record-setting.
Most lung cancer cases are tied to smoking, and decades of declining smoking rates led to falling rates of lung cancer illnesses and deaths.
But the drop in deaths seems to have been accelerated by recent lung cancer treatment advances, Siegel said.
Experts mainly credit advances in treatment. Topping the list are refinements in surgery, better diagnostic scanning, and more precise use of radiation.
They also celebrate the impact of newer drugs. Genetic testing can now identify specific cancer cell mutations, which allow more targeted therapy using newer pharmaceuticals that are a step beyond traditional chemotherapy.
“It’s an exciting time,” said Dr. Jyoti Patel, a Northwestern University lung cancer expert.
Even patients with late-stage cancers are surviving for several years — rather than months — after treatment starts, she said. “That was very, very uncommon a decade ago,” she said.
New immunotherapy drugs could accelerate the death rate decline, Patel said.
Cancer Society researchers also found:
— The overall cancer death rate fell by nearly 30% from 1991 through 2017.
— Death rates from one type of skin cancer dropped even more dramatically than lung cancer — falling 7% a year recently. That decline in melanoma patients is attributed to drugs that came on the market about nine years ago.
— Declines in the death rates from prostate, breast and colon cancer are slowing, for a range of reasons.
— The rising liver cancer death rate seems to have leveled off somewhat. That may be related to better treatment of hepatitis C infections, which are tied to about 25% of liver cancer cases, Siegel said.
Celebs Donate Millions To Help Australia Wildfire Efforts
“I am totally devastated watching what is happening in Australia right now with the horrific bushfires,” Pink wrote in a recent social media post. “I am pledging a donation of $500,000 directly to the local fire services that are battling so hard on the frontlines. My heart goes out to our friends and family in Oz.”
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Elton John and Chris Hemsworth are among the celebrities donating big bucks for relief efforts as wildfires engulf Australia.
Hemsworth, the Australian actor who plays Thor in the Marvel movie franchise, took to social media Monday to share that he will donate $1 million and asked his millions of followers to show support as well. He said that “every penny counts.”
So far, the wildfires have scorched an area twice the size of the U.S. state of Maryland. The blazes have killed 25 people and destroyed 2,000 homes. The fires, fueled by drought and the country’s hottest and driest year on record, have been raging since September, months earlier than is typical for Australia’s annual wildfire season.
John announced during his Farewell Yellow Brick Road concert in Sydney, Australia, that he will also donate $1 million. The singer said he wanted to bring attention to the devastation that wildfires have caused, saying it has reached a “biblical scale.”
Hemsworth and John join a growing list of celebrities who have pledged to donate toward relief efforts, including Nicole Kidman, Pink and Keith Urban.
“I am totally devastated watching what is happening in Australia right now with the horrific bushfires,” Pink wrote in a recent social media post. “I am pledging a donation of $500,000 directly to the local fire services that are battling so hard on the frontlines. My heart goes out to our friends and family in Oz.”
Metallica announced a donation on Tuesday night of $750,000 to a firefighting agency and emergency services agency in Victoria.
An emotional Rose Byrne, who is Australian, spoke about the crisis and the relief efforts on Tuesday night at the New York premiere of her movie “Like a Boss.”
“Really what people need is just donations because it’s all volunteer based, the firefighters and all the rural services and the wildlife services trying to rescue the animals,” she told The Associated Press.
She added: “It’s devastating. It’s such a beautiful country. There’s always drought but this is the hottest year on record and they need rain but a lot of rain, not just a little bit which is what’s happening now. They need like a downpour, downpour and it’s just getting hotter and it’s getting more and more out of control. It’s a climate crisis is what it is.”
At the Golden Globes on Sunday, Phoebe Waller-Bridge said she would auction off her Globe outfit and have the proceeds go to firefighter relief.
Russell Crowe wasn’t at the Globes to accept his trophy for best actor in a limited series or TV movie for playing former Fox CEO Roger Ailes in the Showtime miniseries “The Loudest Voice.” Instead, the actor was in Australia trying to protect his home from the wildfires, sending a speech that Jennifer Aniston read.
“Make no mistake, the tragedy unfolding in Australia is climate change-based,” Crowe’s statement said. “We need to act based on science, move our global workforce to renewable energy and respect our planet for the unique and amazing place it is. That way, we all have a future.”
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Writer Jill Dobson contributed to this report from New York.
Puerto Ricans Left Homeless After Biggest Quake In Century
“There’s no power. There’s no water. There is nothing. This is horrible,” Martínez said.
GUANICA, Puerto Rico (AP) — Cars, cots and plastic chairs became temporary beds for hundreds of families who lost their homes in southwest Puerto Rico as a flurry of earthquakes struck the island, one of them the strongest in a century.
The magnitude 6.4 quake that struck before dawn on Tuesday killed one person, injured nine others and knocked out power across the U.S. territory. More than 250,000 Puerto Ricans remained without water on Wednesday and another half a million without power, which also affected telecommunications.
In addition, more than 1,000 people were staying in government shelters in the island’s southwest region as U.S. President Donald Trump declared an emergency and Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vázquez activated the National Guard.
The hardest hit municipality was the southwest coastal town of Guánica. More than 200 people had taken shelter in a gymnasium after a quake on Monday, only for the latest shake to damage that structure — forcing them to sleep outside.
Among them was 80-year-old Lupita Martínez, who sat in the dusty parking lot with her 96-year-old husband by her side. He was sleeping in a makeshift bed, a dark blue coat covering him.
“There’s no power. There’s no water. There is nothing. This is horrible,” Martínez said.
The couple was alone, lamenting that their caretaker had disappeared and was not answering their calls. Like many Puerto Ricans affected by the quake, they had children in the U.S. mainland who urged them to move there, at least until the earth stops shaking.
While officials said it was too early to estimate the total damage caused by the string of quakes that began the night of Dec. 28, they said hundreds of homes and businesses in the southwest region were damaged or destroyed. Just in Guánica, a town of roughly 15,000 people, nearly 150 homes were affected by the quake, along with three schools, including one three-story structure whose first two floors were completely flattened.
In Guánica itself, “We are confronting a crisis worse than Hurricane Maria,” said Mayor Santos Seda, referring to the 2017 storm that devastated the island . “I am asking for empathy from the federal government.”
He said officials believe the homes of 700 families in his municipality are close to collapsing.
Tuesday’s quake was the strongest to hit Puerto Rico since October 1918, when a magnitude 7.3 quake struck near the island’s northwest coast, unleashing a tsunami and killing 116 people.
More than 950 quakes and aftershocks have been recorded in the area of Tuesday night’s event since Dec. 31, though most were too weak to be felt, according to U.S. Geologic Survey.
The USGS said that while it’s virtually certain there will be many aftershocks in the next week, the chance of a magnitude 6 quake — similar to Tuesday’s — or stronger is around 22 percent.
In Guánica, some people dragged mattresses outside their homes or set up small tents.
Authorities were trying to figure out where to shelter them all as they handed out blankets, food and water to families gathered at the gymnasium for a second night in a row. Many had their belongings in large garbage bags as they sat haphazardly on unstable plastic chairs. Some slept. Others cradled their dogs and many simply stared listlessly into the distance. One elderly man spent an entire day in his wheelchair, refusing to lay down on a cot.
Meanwhile, a handful of people slept in their cars, in chairs or on the ground as cots ran out.
“Now I’m afraid of the house,” said 49-year-old Lourdes Guilbe as she wiped away tears and confided that she felt overwhelmed caring for the nearly dozen relatives gathered around her, including her more than 90-year-old grandfather, who sat in a wheelchair wearing green pajamas and socks.
Guilbe said her home is cracked and her daughter’s home collapsed, so they weren’t sure where they would live in upcoming days.
Psychologists met with Guilbe and dozens of other people affected by the earthquakes, going door-to-door on Monday in affected neighborhoods and then visiting people in shelters on Tuesday. Among them was Dayleen Ortiz, who set up a speaker on the roof of her car to blast uplifting salsa music and provided crayons and paper to children and urged adults to shake their fears.
“There is a lot of uncertainty,” she said. “We don’t know if this is going to continue.”
One young girl tapped Ortiz on her leg repeatedly: “I want to play beautician,” she said.
Ortiz dug behind cases of water bottles, chairs and blankets in her car and produced eight small new nail polishes and the girl smiled wide. It’s a trick the psychologist learned to entertain children after Hurricane Maria hit, causing an estimated 2,975 deaths and more than $100 billion in estimated damage.
Reconstruction has been slow, and the earthquake was the newest blow to an island where thousands of people have been living under a blue tarps since the hurricane and the power grid remains fragile.
“I can’t stand this,”said 64-year-old Zenaida Rodríguez as she sat under a tree and the ground again rumbled. “Did you feel that?”
Exposing Our Youth To Figure Skating
Skate Rasier 2020 is taking place Saturday January 11th
Get moving with an afternoon of fun. Join Diversify Ice Foundation January 11th for its Skate Raiser at the Silver Spring Outdoor Ice Rink. It’s all about introducing figure skating to our youth. My guest is Joel Savary – CEO – Diversity Ice Foundation
Diversify Ice Foundation is hosting its Skate Raiser 2020 January 11th from 1pm to 3pm at the Silver Spring Outdoor Ice Rink. More information here:
Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:40 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.
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Listen to this mornings segment here:
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Tuesday, January 7, 2020) – The Washington region is recovering from its first real hit of Old Man Winter. That means there are numerous school closings and delays for Wednesday, January 8th. We will continue to update the list throughout the morning online and on-air.
Updated 6:39am
Alexandria City Public Schools – 2 hour delay
Arlington County Public Schools – 2 hour delay
Anne Arundel County Public Schools – 2 hour delay
Berkeley County Public Schools – Closed Wednesday
Calvert County Public Schools – 2 hour delay
Culpeper County Public Schools – Closed Wednesday
Fairfax County Public Schools – Closed Wednesday
Fauquier County Schools – Closed Wednesday
Falls Church City Public Schools – 2 hour delay
Frederick County MD Public Schools – 2 hour delay
Frederick County VA Public Schools – Closed Wednesday
Hardy County Schools – 2 hour delay
Hampshire County Public Schools – 2 hour delay
Howard County Schools – 2 hour delay
Howard University – Opening On time
King George County Public Schools – 2 hour delay
Loudoun County Public Schools – Closed Wednesday
Manassas City Public Schools – Closed Wednesday
Manassas Park City Schools – Closed Wednesday
Montgomery County Public Schools – 2 hour delay
Orange County Schools – Closed Wednesday
Prince George’s County Public Schools – 2 hour Delay
Prince William County Public Schools – Closed Wednesday
Rappahannock County Public Schools – Closed Wednesday
Shenandoah County Public Schools – Closed Wednesday
Spotsylvania County Public Schools – Closed Wednesday
Stafford County Public Schools – Closed
Tuesday’s mix of snow and rain caused major traffic delays as governments and schools across the DMV shutdown early.
Black Girls Lives Matter
Protecting black girls from sexual predators. Black girls lives matter, too.
We focus on the lives of black girls and protecting them from sexual predators. The issue especially in the forefront following the recent airing of part two of the R. Kelly Lifetime Network documentary and its focus on the women who spoke out decades ago about Kelly’s abuse, but were not fully listened to until now. Were their allegations ignored simply because they were black girls?
GUEST: Dr. Amelia Hall………Doctor of Clinical Psychology
GUEST: Dr. Cleo Manago………Social Analyst
AUDIO:
@fox5dcAllison is here to help! Problems with your spouse? Kids getting on your nerves? Don’t know how to handle a particular situation? #AskAllison all new time 4pm est. all new email: askallison@whur.com 96.3 #WHURfm #963AllisonMarc
Prince George’s Man Wanted In Death Of Wife
Prince George’s County police believe that James Dorsey is the person who killed his wife, Nika Dorsey, Authorities say James Dorsey is on the run and could be armed and dangerous.
(Capitol Heights, MD) — An arrest warrant has been issued for a Prince George’s County man wanted for the stabbing death of his wife on Wednesday. Police are looking for 41-year-old James Dorsey, wanted on first-degree murder in connection with the death of his wife 42-year-old Nika Dorsey. Police were called to Dorsey’s home in the 8700 block of Ritchie Drive on January 2nd and found Nika inside a car suffering from trauma to her upper body. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials say James Dorsey is believed to be armed and dangerous and anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call police.
DC Councilmember Jack Evans To Resign
Saying he was proud of the contributions that he made in making DC a vibrant city, councilman Jack Evans announced today that he will resign from the council. Evans has been accused of ethics violations.
Jack Evans says he will resign from the DC Council, effective January 17th. Last year a council commissioned investigation found that Evans violated ethics rules when he used his council position to help companies that paid him hundreds of thousands of dollars in consulting fees. Last summer, Evans, who represents Ward 2 in the District, resigned from the board of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority after an additional investigation found ethics violations. The D.C. ethics board fined Evans twenty-thousand dollars for using his government email account and his council position to obtain work with area law firms. In a resignation letter sent to DC Council chairman Phil Mendelson today, Evans said, in part, “I believe Washington D.C. to be the pride of the nation, and I am proud of the contributions I have made in helping to create a vibrant city.” Evans added, “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the District of Columbia and residents of Ward 2.”
Alex Trebek To Rep. John Lewis: Let’s Survive Cancer In 2020
“The chemo is rough, but he can always just turn it on,” Jennings said. “The music came on, the lights came on, he would just stride out there and nail that show like nobody else. It was exciting to see him doing so well and taking that diagnosis so bravely. To me, he’s the last of that kind of old-school broadcasters, and it’s such a pleasure to watch.”
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Alex Trebek has a message of support for Congressman John Lewis as both fight pancreatic cancer.
“We’re starting a new year, and let’s see if we can’t both complete the year as pancreatic cancer survivors,” Trebek said when asked what he would tell Lewis. He noted they’re the same age, 79.
The Georgia Democrat and veteran civil rights leader announced his diagnosis of advanced cancer in late December. In his his announcement, Lewis made clear that he has no plans to step aside and said, “I have a fighting chance.″
Trebek made his illness public last March and has shared his progress and setbacks.
The “Jeopardy!” host struck a resolute but realistic tone in discussing the disease, including the toll it took during last month’s taping of a prime-time special, “Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time,” with top contestants Ken Jennings, Brad Rutter and James Holzhauer, The contest begins airing Tuesday on ABC.
Trebek recalled mentioning to a series producer that he was “struggling a bit” on stage, but was assured that nobody noticed.
“I said, ’Well, I noticed,” said the typically precise host, who has been part of “Jeopardy!” since 1984.
Trebek has had good days and bad while undergoing treatment, but his on-camera performance doesn’t falter, said Jennings, who first competed on the show 15 years ago.
“The chemo is rough, but he can always just turn it on,” Jennings said. “The music came on, the lights came on, he would just stride out there and nail that show like nobody else. It was exciting to see him doing so well and taking that diagnosis so bravely. To me, he’s the last of that kind of old-school broadcasters, and it’s such a pleasure to watch.”
Rutter, who first played on “Jeopardy!” nearly 20 years ago, said word of Trebek’s illness hit him “like a ton of bricks.”
He occasionally drops into the Los Angeles-area studio to watch tapings and marvels at the host’s perseverance.
“Every time I go back, he’s better than he was last time. Even with cancer, he’s still held up to that standard, which is just absolutely amazing,” Rutter said.
Such praise and attention can make Trebek uncomfortable.
“I don’t want to get too mushy. I got mushy when young Dhruv (contestant Dhruv Gaur) wrote his final ‘Jeopardy!’ response, ’We love you Alex! ’That caught me by surprise, brought me to the edge of tears,” he said of the moment that aired during November’s Tournament of Champions.
Washington, D.C. (Tuesday, January 7, 2010) – The first snow of 2020 is beginning to fall in some outskirts of DC. Several school districts cancelled schools earlier this morning while more and more schools are now dismissing classes early. Here’s a complete rundown.
Updated @ 3:11pm
ALL Federal Government Offices in the DC area will close 1pm today. That Announcement from the Office of Personnel Management.
Alexandria City Public Schools: Closing 2 hours early
Alexandria Government: Closing at 2pm
Anne Around County Public Schools: All After school Activities are canceled
Carroll County Public Schools: Closing 2 hours early
Catholic University: Closing at 2pm
Circuit County for Prince George’s County: Closing at 3pm
Clarke County Public Schools: Closed Today
Culpeper County Public Schools: Closing 2 hours early
District Court of Maryland: Closing at 3pm
Fairfax County Public Schools: Closing 2 hours early
Fauquier County Schools: Secondary School Dismiss at 11:30am: Middle Schools at 12:30pm and no event events
Fort Detrick: 2 hours delayed arrival
Frederick County VA Public Schools: Closed Today
Hampshire County Schools: Closed Today
Hardy County Schools: Closed Today
Howard County Schools: Closing 3 hours early
Howard University: Closing at 2pm
Loudoun County Public Schools: Closed Today
Manassas City Public Schools: Closing 2 hours early
Manassas Park City Public Schools: Closing 2 hours early
Montgomery County Public Schools: Closing 2 1/2 hours early
Prince George’s County Memorial Library: Closing at 3pm
Prince George’s County Public Schools: Canceling All Afternoon and Evening Activities
Prince William County Public Schools: Closing 2 hours early
Rappahannock County Public Schools: Closed Today
Shenandoah County Public Schools: Closed Today
Spotsylvania County Public Schools: Closing 3 hours early
Stafford County Public Schools: Closing 2 hours early
Warren County Schools: Closed Today
Washington County Public Schools: Closing 2 hours early
Winchester Public Schools: Closed Today
WVA Schools for the Deaf and Blind: Closed Today
2020 Grants For DC Oral History Projects
DC Oral history collaborative and Humanities DC has announced it’s 2020 Funding Opportunities
Are you interested in creating new oral history projects? The DC Oral History Collaborative has announced 2020 funding opportunities. The deadline is January 10th. My guest is Jasper Collier – DC Oral History Collaborative and Humanities DC.
The DC Oral History Collaborative has announced 2020 funding opportunities for District organizations and individuals interested in creating new oral history projects. More information here:
Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:40 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.
Follow me on facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
Listen to this mornings segment here:
The reverberations have been intense following the United States’ airstrike that killed one of Iran’s top military leaders. There is little dispute that Qassem Soleimani was an international threat. Now, the debate is about what comes next for America and the blow-back that may arise from Iran and it’s allies after the U.S. airstrike. And what of President Trump’s threat to attack Iranian cultural sites? We discussed those issues and more on Insight.
Guests:
Dr. Clarence Lusane – Professor, Howard University, Department of Political Science
Dr. Barry Balleck – Professor, Political Science, Chair of the Department of Political Science and International Studies, Georgia Southern University
DC Violence Leaves One Dead, Another Critical
Monday, a man was shot and killed on Franklin Street in Northeast DC, while a woman was critically stabbed near Minnesota Avenue.
A woman is in critical condition after being shot in the head while in the parking lot of the Valero gas station at the intersection of Minnesota Avenue and Ames Street in the District. The shooting happened around 4 o’clock today. Police have a person in custody.
Also, District police are investigating a shooting on Franklin Street Northeast that left one man dead and two others injured. Police say the shooting took place around 1:30 this afternoon. Police say they have made repeated drug arrests near a small grocery store located close to the shooting.
Also, District police are investigating a shooting on Franklin Street Northeast that left one man dead and two others injured. Police say the shooting took place around 1:30 this afternoon. Police say they have made repeated drug arrests near a small grocery store located close to the shooting.
Bowie Man Charged In New Year’s Day Killing
Police have caught and charged the person they say shot and killed a grandmother as she sat in her Landover Hills home on New Year’s day.
It was over a dispute of the purchase of a car. Now a 23-year-old Bowie man is charged in the deadly New Year’s Day shooting that killed a local woman inside her home.
Police say Sammi Warren was upset over a car he bought from the woman’s son. Warren allegedly fired shots into the home located in the 74-hundred block of Varnum Street in Landover Hills. Bullets crashed through the home’s windows killing 56-year-old Filomena Vasques. Authorities say Warren had threatened the Vasques family prior to the shooting. Police say that several children were inside the home at the time of the shooting. Sammi Warren has been charged with murder
Police say Sammi Warren was upset over a car he bought from the woman’s son. Warren allegedly fired shots into the home located in the 74-hundred block of Varnum Street in Landover Hills. Bullets crashed through the home’s windows killing 56-year-old Filomena Vasques. Authorities say Warren had threatened the Vasques family prior to the shooting. Police say that several children were inside the home at the time of the shooting. Sammi Warren has been charged with murder
MLK Rock Creek Clean-Up
Celebrate Dr. King Week with a day of service by cleaning up Rock Creek. Conservancy volunteers with gather picking up trash January 18th thru 20th. www.rockcreekconservancy.org
Top Flight Corvette Club
The Top Flight Corvette Club invites you to its Annual Sweet Affair Dinner and Dance February 8th at the Crowne Plaza Greenbelt. www.topflightcoverteeclub.com
Mortgage Help
If you’re behind on your mortgage, property taxes, or condo fees, Housing Counseling Services, Inc. is hosting a free Foreclosure Prevention Clinic January 29th in Northwest. www.housingetc.org.
DMV Links
Grab your Red Dress and join the DMV Links for their Red Dress Event February 7th at the Hilton Mark Center Hotel in Alexandria. www.metrodclinks.org
Boys and Girls Club
The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington is hosting a Black Wall Street Indoor Flea Market Extravaganza February 29th at THEARC. www.bgcgw.org
Omega Psi Phi
Support the youth of Loudoun County. Join the brothers of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. for their Juke Joint Fundraiser January 18th in Ashburn. Proceeds support college bound students. www.jukejoint2020.eventbrite.com.
Heart Month
Celebrate Heart Month. Join Open My Heart Foundation for Its 5th Annual Red Dress Anniversary Gala February 28th at Martin’s Crosswinds. www.openmyheartfoundation.org
WHUR PSA Listings
Do you have a non-profit event you want to promote? Email Renee Nash at rnash@whur.com at least three weeks before your event.
Washington, D.C. – (Monday, January 6, 2020) – It’s not going to be a big deal. But the Washington region is expected to get its first taste of snow for the new decade Tuesday. Forecasters say the DC region will be a mixture of snow and rain sometime tomorrow afternoon. Forecasters are believe the fact that the small storm is coming during the daylight hours means that an all snow event is not likely. The accumulation will only be on the grassy areas. That means any school delays or cancellations are slim to none.
Unfortunately, any snowfall in the DMV typically wreaks havoc on the roadways. Motorists are being urged to drive with caution and to obey the road conditions.
Forecasters say the total snowfall amounts will most likely be less than two inches in the District and areas closest to the city. Spots north and west of DC could see anywhere up to three inches.
Let’s see if this latest weather news means that there will be a rush at the grocery stores. Stay tuned to whur.com for all the latest.
Washington’s professional football team has a new head coach. Ron Rivera is now the 30th head coach in franchise history. Rivera says he’s committed to changing the team’s culture, hoping that will translate to success on the field and throughout the organization. But will ‘Skins fans stay committed after nearly three decades of disappointment? Or has a run to the Ravens already begun?
AUDIO:
GUEST: KELSEY NICOLE NELSON…..FOX SPORTS ANALYST
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Facebook- Kelsey Nicole Nelson
Twitter- @Therealknelson
Instagram- @TheRealKnelson
LinkedIn- Kelsey Nicole Nelson
GUEST: DERON SYNDER…..Former Washington Times Sports Columnist
SOCIAL MEDIA
TWITTER: @DeronSnyder.
How Watching TV Will Change In The 2020s
“We want to take a phone, a device that was not actually designed to watch video on, and make it into a great watching device,” Whitman said in an interview.
NEW YORK (AP) — What will watching TV be like in the 2020s? Amid new gadgets and glitz, the CES tech show in Las Vegas aims to offer some answers, many of which boil down to more streaming and more efforts to glue you to your phone.
The show’s keynote addresses, once dominated by computer and chip makers, will this year feature executives from TV networks NBC and CBS and upstart video services like mobile-focused Quibi and free streamer Tubi. Topic one will be the streaming wars — not to mention mounting costs for consumers who want access to everything — as giants NBC Universal and WarnerMedia prepare to join the clash with Netflix later this year.
Some companies also promise a big new push into “bite-sized” video designed to draw mobile viewers from YouTube, despite the fact that a similar effort several years ago foundered.
CES, formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show, starts Sunday in Las Vegas with two days of media previews. The show floor opens Tuesday through Friday. More than 170,000 people are expected, with 4,500 companies exhibiting, according to its organizers. The show takes place across a sprawling set of hotels and convention centers equivalent to more than 50 football fields.
Beyond streaming, expect to see artificial intelligence-infused home appliances, security cameras and cars, new gadgets that show what faster 5G cellular service can offer and, as always, the newest in robots and souped-up TVs. Speakers this week include Ivanka Trump, the president’s daughter and senior adviser, and Hyunsuk Kim, Samsung’s head of consumer electronics.
As technology increasingly infuses our lives, more traditional companies are showing up for the Las Vegas event. There’s a new travel section, for example, with Delta Air Lines its largest exhibitor.
CES has hosted previous attempts to set out a road map for TV. At the 2015 show, satellite TV company Dish announced a cheaper, cable-like package of TV channels delivered over the internet and intended for cord-cutters . Offerings from Sony, DirecTV, Google, Hulu and others soon joined Dish’s Sling TV.
But five years later, these online alternatives have been struggling, raising prices and in the case of Sony’s PlayStation Vue, shutting down altogether.
So it’s on to Plan B: Owners of television channels and producers of their shows are selling Netflix-like subscription services directly to consumers. Disney Plus launched in November, while WarnerMedia’s HBO Max and NBCUniversal’s Peacock are coming in a few months. If people would rather pay for subscriptions such as Netflix instead of traditional television channels through cable packages, Disney and other media companies figure they might as well try to get some of that money directly.
But they face competition from tech companies also seeking to replicate and encroach on Netflix’s success. Apple launched its own streaming service in November, while Quibi promises phone-friendly viewing, with former Disney studios chief Jeffrey Katzenberg behind the effort.
“Bets have been made and billions of dollars have been spent on content,” said Peter Csathy , founder and chairman of digital media consulting firm CreaTV Media. “Those numbers will only go up as all these Goliaths and then the new guys coming on board are all looking for ways to break out.”
Katzenberg and Quibi CEO Meg Whitman, the former CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, will use a Wednesday keynote to provide details on Quibi, which is investing $1 billion on new shows with backing from all the major movie studios.
Short for “quick bites,” the mobile-first service is designed to be watched for a just a few minutes at a time. Video programs are broken into 10 minute “chapters” — about the same length as broadcast TV segments between commercial breaks — intended for on-the-go viewers with limited attention spans .
“We want to take a phone, a device that was not actually designed to watch video on, and make it into a great watching device,” Whitman said in an interview.
But previous short-video efforts have flopped. In 2018, Verizon pulled the plug on its Go90 service in 2018, roughly three years after it launched; it featured short-form original programs along with live sports and older TV shows. Several concurrent efforts have also shut down. Meanwhile, Netflix, Amazon and Hulu have all been experimenting with short-form offerings, many of them in comedy.
Quibi will also preview some of its 20 new shows, including “Chrissy’s Court,” a Judge Judy-style show from Chrissy Teigen. It is also debuting with movies and other content like news and weather. Quibi launches April 6 for $5 a month with ads and $8 without.
NBC executives won’t offer more details on its upcoming Peacock service until Jan. 16. Instead, they will trot out “America’s Got Talent” host Terry Crews, “This is Us” star Mandy Moore and other NBC luminaries at CES to talk more generally about the future of TV and entertainment.
“Audiences don’t differentiate by screen anymore,” said Linda Yaccarino, chairman of advertising and partnerships at NBCUniversal. “They want and expect an on-demand, always-on world.”
As television companies experiment with making more shows available in more ways, they’ll also accumulate data on viewing habits far beyond what they got with over-the-air and cable channels. That will help them target advertising to viewers’ interests and make recommendations for other shows to keep viewers glued.
Companies will also test different pricing models in 2020, as they try to figure out how and how much consumers will be willing to pay. Is there a limit to how many services consumers will pay for? Will they adapt to separate prices with and without ads? Or will they flock to free services like Tubi, even if they lack original movies and TV shows?
Kevin Westcott, who heads Deloitte’s U.S. telecommunication, media and entertainment consulting business, notes that consumers are getting more choices and shows than ever, just as new technologies such as high-quality TV displays and faster 5G cellular networks come along.
The downside? “Too much choice and too much technological change” at once, he said, which could make viewers wary of new options, he said.
5.8-Magnitude Quake Strikes Puerto Rico, Damage Reported
“This is one of the strongest quakes to date since it started shaking on Dec. 28,” he said. “It lasted a long time.”
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A 5.8-magnitude quake hit Puerto Rico before dawn Monday, unleashing small landslides, causing power outages and severely cracking some homes. It was one of the strongest quakes yet to hit the U.S. territory that has been shaking for the past week.
There were no immediate reports of casualties.
The quake struck at 6:32 a.m. (1032 GMT) just south of the island at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles), according to the U.S. Geological Service. There was no tsunami threat, officials said.
Power outages were reported in some parts of Puerto Rico following the quake, Angel Vazquez, emergency management director for the southern coastal city of Ponce, told The Associated Press.
“This is one of the strongest quakes to date since it started shaking on Dec. 28,” he said. “It lasted a long time.”
Residents in southern coastal towns began posting pictures of partially collapsed homes and large boulders blocking roads as officials urged people to remain calm.
Dr. Sindia Alvarado, who lives in the southern coastal town of Penuelas, said she was petrified.
“My entire family woke up screaming,” she said. “I though the house was going to crack in half.”
At a hotel in the southwest coastal town of Guanica, people panicked as they tried to flee in their cars, only to realize that large boulders were obstructing the only highway heading north to the capital of San Juan, attorney Jose Francisco Benitez told the AP.
“There was a state of panic,” he said. “There were even people in their underwear walking around the hotel.”
He said he and his girlfriend were in the room when the quake struck.
“I have never felt anything like this,” he said. “It was like a giant grabbed our room and shook it.”
The flurry of quakes in Puerto Rico’s southern region began the night of Dec. 28, with quakes ranging in magnitude from 4.7 to 5.1. Previous quakes of lesser magnitudes in recent days have cracked homes and led to goods falling off supermarket shelves.
Victor Huerfano, director of Puerto Rico’s Seismic Network, told the AP that shallow quakes were occurring along three faults in Puerto Rico’s southwest region: Lajas Valley, Montalva Point and the Guayanilla Canyon. He said the quakes overall come as the North American plate and the Caribbean plate squeezes Puerto Rico, and that it was unclear when they would stop or if bigger quakes would occur.
One of the largest and most damaging earthquakes to hit Puerto Rico occurred in October 1918, when a 7.3-magnitude quake struck near the island’s northwest coast, unleashing a tsunami and killing 116 people.
2020 Golden Globes: Fashion Hits & Misses
“Kerry Washington showed skin in a black shirtless Altuzarra look from the brand’s pre-fall collection, while Awkwafina paired a dramatic ruffled blouse with her classic black tux. Cynthia Erivo’s custom Thom Browne tuxedo gown was an unexpected take on the trend as well.”
NEW YORK (AP) — Charlize Theron, Kerry Washington and Gugu Mbatha-Raw led the fashion risk-takers at the Golden Globes, while Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon and Cynthia Erivo topped the lists of many for more classic looks on one of the biggest red carpets of the awards season.
The men generally played it safe Sunday night in Beverly Hills, save Jason Momoa in a velvet Tom Ford coat paired with Valentino pants and a black tank top, his long hair flying.
But one look was in a category of its own. When it came to icon Jennifer Lopez, it was a love-hate battle over her weighty white Valentino Couture gown with its huge bow of gold and green at the bodice.
There were a few trends, too, including lingerie-as-outerwear that was all over the spring 2020 runways, said Marielle Bobo, fashion director for Essence. She and others also noted the revamped tuxedo-inspired runway trend.
“Kerry Washington showed skin in a black shirtless Altuzarra look from the brand’s pre-fall collection, while Awkwafina paired a dramatic ruffled blouse with her classic black tux. Cynthia Erivo’s custom Thom Browne tuxedo gown was an unexpected take on the trend as well. The standout by far, however, was Billy Porter’s stunning white Alex Vinash tuxedo, which wowed with its dramatic feather train,” Bobo added.
There was lots of pink in hues soft to neon. Kirsten Dunst brought the romance in blush lace by Rodarte, having chosen the lace herself. Dakota Fanning was in tulle Christian Dior in dreamy lavender and Tiffany Haddish rocked bright pink. Statement sleeves were also big, from puffy to bejeweled.
In beauty, Refinery29.com’s senior beauty editor Lexy Lebsack noted a return to classic tried-and-trues that included the bob and red lips.
“Stars like Kerry Washington, Priyanka Chopra and Awkwafina made red lips modern by picking bright colors that perfectly complemented their complexions,” she said. “Reese Witherspoon, Zoey Deutch, Tiffany Haddish, newcomer Ana de Armas and many more opted to wear bobs in a variety of styles, whether slicked back, gathered into low ponies or flipped out. Each was unique and further proof that the bob will rule in 2020.”
Back to Lopez for just a second.
“She looked incredible,” said Adam Glassman, creative director for O, The Oprah Magazine and special correspondent for Extra. “When Jennifer Lopez walked up to us, it was breathtaking. Her hair, her makeup, the jewelry, the gown. Everything.”
The diamond and emerald necklace around her neck was 76.36 carats of Harry Winston goodness set in 18-karat yellow gold and platinum. Along with her emerald earrings, the pieces are worth more than $2.2 million, the company said.
Sarah Kinonen, Allure’s associate digital beauty director, was among the fans of her hair, which was pulled back into a high bun of braids.
“When was the last time you saw Jennifer Lopez wear braids? What about a bun with braids? Yeah, I’m drawing blanks, too. That’s why this structural hair style by Chris Appleton is so iconic. I can’t wait to see what J.Lo and her team have in store for the rest of the award show season.”
Theron wowed in a neon green and black Dior Haute couture silk gown.
“I love that the gown was daring with its sheer bustier cutout,” said Bobo.
Mbatha-Raw’s Gucci sequin dress in slick chartreuse was equal parts elegant and edgy, she said.
“Sequins on the red carpet can be so cliche, but this modern silhouette with its plunging neckline and tuxedo-inspired waist detail was modern yet effortlessly chic,” Bobo added.
Blanchett was resplendent in Mary Katrantzou yellow with yards of pleats from shoulder to hem and a unique jeweled bra bodice.
As for Porter, the deputy editor of Esquire, Ben Boskovich, said his conversation over gender and fashion will carry on in 2020. His Golden Globes look was a cream tuxedo with a long feather train that unzipped for sitting.
“Porter continues to take bold, exciting steps with his red carpet looks and he hasn’t disappointed yet,” Boskovich said.
Kinonen had her eyes on Porter’s skin.
“While all eyes were on Billy Porter’s custom white feather ensemble, which took a cool three months to create, the team and I were more interested in the `Pose’ star’s luminous skin. Like, if I had makeup artist Anna Bernabe’s number on speed dial, I’d text her right now and get the name of the highlighter she used on Porter’s cheekbones then order one for everyone at Allure.”
Style writer Rachel Tashjian of GQ had a few best-dressed men, including Andrew Scott, the “hot priest” of “Fleabag.” She said he mixed creams and whites in his formalwear “like a true messenger of God!”
And her top trend for the guys?
“Quirky lapels. Kyle Chandler’s ’90s classic tux bad boys. Bong Joon Ho’s subtle double lapels. Ramy Youssef’s eggplant-and-black pieced lapels. Eddie Murphy’s generous shawl collar,” Tashjian said. “And Quentin Tarantino’s short satin notch lapels were almost Johnny Cash-worthy.”
Kidman’s Atelier Versace was among the top dresss in reds. So was Helen Mirren’s deep red Dior with a royal neckline and nail color to match. Scarlett Johansson wore a custom strapless plunging V-neck gown in crimson with a hand-draped bow and train by Vera Wang Collection.
Zoe Kravitz brought a pop of playful in dots courtesy of Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello, and Lucy Boynton brought it in silver from Louis Vuitton.
Gabrielle Korn, director of fashion and culture for Refinery29.com, was a huge fan of women inspired by menswear.
“Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s tweedy Ralph & Russo suit made me gasp,” she said. “I also loved Awkwafina rolled up in tuxedo pants. Could she be any cooler?”
You also had her at structured sleeves.
“It was such a fun change from the usual bare shoulders on the red carpet. There was Jodie Comer’s emerald green stunner, Zoe Deutch’s yellow priestess pointy shoulders, Bel Powley’s Little Women-esque prairie dress and more,“Korn said. “I’m all for women taking up more space, and there’s something very symbolic about powerful shoulder silhouettes. These stars weren’t trying to make themselves small in order to fit some sort of idea of what’s expected of women on the red carpet.”
Waller-Bridge said backstage that her look, the “most extraordinary thing I ever wore,” will be auctioned with proceeds going for fire relief in Australia, where the couple behind the brand are from.
“It’s a beautiful idea from the team,” she said.
A Big Party For A Purpose
The Winter Takeover 2020 is this January 11th
Get ready for a big party with a purpose. The brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and the sisters of Delta Sigma Theta and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sororities are gearing up for their Winter Takeover 2020. It all goes down this weekend (Saturday, January 11th) at the Gaylord National Resort. Proceeds benefit their respective chapters’ foundations. My guest will be Benita Swindel (AKA), Stacia Shields (DST) and Vernon Marrow (KaPsi).
Winter Takeover 2020 is a collaboration of DMV area chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. The event is January 11th from 9:30pm – 2:00am at the Gaylord National Resort. More information here:
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Nina and Joe Afternoon Show
The happiest hours in the day. MON-FRI 3:00 – 7:00PM
Kanye West’s Sunday Service Choir album was released on Christmas Day. It charted #2 on Billboard’s January 4, 2020 Top Gospel Albums chart. Kanye’s “Jesus Is King” charted #1.
The Sunday Service Choir also performed with Kanye West on his album Jesus Is King. West does not rap on “Jesus Is Born.” The Sunday Service Choir, led by Jason White, performs 19 songs that include “Satan, We’re Gonna Tear Your Kingdom Down, “Balm In Gilead,” and “Revelations 19:1.”
Jason White is the former director of the West Angeles Church and has directed choir performances for the Oscars and the Grammys. He also worked with Whitney Houston and rapper Sean Combs.
White initially thought he would collaborate with West for only a couple of weeks. He is quoted in Rolling Stone magazine as saying, “I knew that I was called to something different. I knew God had linked me to the world, not necessarily just his church. God had called me to be a light. People believed in the God in me, knew I wasn’t gonna do nothing salacious or crazy.”
Sunni & The City
It’s always SUNNI wherever you listen.
Woman Found Dead In Car Identified
Nika Dorsey is the woman found dead in her car Thursday morning in Capital Heights. Police believe she was murdered.
Prince George’s County police have identified the woman who was found dead in a car Thursday morning in Capitol Heights, Maryland. Nika Dorsey, 42, of Greenbelt, was found in a car in a business parking lot in 87-hundred block of Ritchie Drive around 5:30 a.m. by a worker from a business in the area, according to police. The woman suffered trauma to her upper body.
Police believe Dorsey was murdered.
Trump Defends U.S. Attack That Killed Iranian Leader
President Trump justifies the U.S. attack that killed Iranian leader Qassem Soleimani. Iran’s president called the attack cowardly.
President Trump is calling Iranian General Qassem Soleimani one of the world’s leading terrorists. Speaking at his Florida resort, Trump defended the U.S. airstrike that killed the top Iranian military leader in Iraq. He said Soleimani’s “rein of terror is over.” He argued that the Iranian general had a “sick passion” for killing innocent people. Trump said the airstrike was ordered to stop a war, not start a war. Trump also said he is ready to take “whatever action is necessary,” if Iran retaliates. About 35-hundred more U.S. troops are on their way to the Middle East after Iran’s president promised harsh revenge for the killing of its top general. Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani called the airstrike that left Qassem Soleimani dead a “cowardly act and another sign of America’s frustration and helplessness in the region.”
Michael Jackson Accusers Can File Suit
Two men who say Michael Jackson molested them when they were young boys are now allowed to sue Jackson’s estate.
(Los Angeles, CA) — Two men who accused Michael Jackson of molesting them can now sue. The men originally had their case tossed out because they waited to long to file their claim of sexual abuse. A California appeals court ruled a new state law gives them the right to be heard in court, and TMZ is reporting that it will most likely happen before a jury. The Jackson estate has been consistent, saying the men’s claims are bogus.
Nick Gordon Died After Being Found Unresponsive In Hotel
“We too are just learning of Mr. Gordon’s passing,” Howard said in a statement Thursday. “In light of his death, we will make an assessment in terms of how to move forward, and we will make an announcement regarding our decision when it is appropriate to do so.”
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The ex-partner of singer Whitney Houston’s late daughter was found unresponsive in a central Florida hotel room and later died, authorities said Thursday.
Paramedics were called to Nick Gordon’s hotel room in Maitland, a suburb of Orlando, early Wednesday morning to check on an unresponsive man, according to a statement from the Maitland Police Department.
The paramedics in the Sheraton hotel room began treating Gordon, who was identified in the police statement as Nicholas Bouler. Maitland Police Detective James Anderson told The Associated Press that Bouler is Gordon’s legal name.
Gordon was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
DailyMail.com was the first to report Gordon’s death.
Anderson said he couldn’t offer any further details on what happened to Gordon since the case is under investigation. The detective wouldn’t say if it was a criminal investigation.
Gordon’s death comes nearly five years after Bobbi Kristina Brown, the daughter of singers Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown, was found face-down and unresponsive in a Georgia bathtub in January 2015. The 22-year-old died after six months in a coma. Houston died in 2012 after she drowned in a bathtub.
Investigators with the medical examiner’s office were not able to determine exactly how Bobbi Kristina Brown died. An autopsy showed that she had morphine, cocaine, alcohol and prescription drugs in her body, but the medical examiner couldn’t determine if she killed herself, if someone else killed her or if her death was accidental.
Her family blamed Gordon, accusing him in the lawsuit of giving her a “toxic cocktail” before putting her face-down in the water.
Gordon was never charged in the case, but he was found responsible in a wrongful death lawsuit. An Atlanta judge ordered him to pay $36 million to Brown’s estate.
Roswell, Georgia, police in 2015 forwarded their investigation into the death of Bobbi Kristina Brown to Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard Jr.’s office, giving him their investigative files, police have said.
“We too are just learning of Mr. Gordon’s passing,” Howard said in a statement Thursday. “In light of his death, we will make an assessment in terms of how to move forward, and we will make an announcement regarding our decision when it is appropriate to do so.”
Trebek Needs 30 Seconds For Exit On Final ‘Jeopardy’
“I will say my goodbyes and I will tell people, ’Don’t ask me who’s going to replace me because I have no say whatsoever. But I’m sure that if you give them the same love and attention and respect that you have shown me…then they will be a success and the show will continue being a success,″ he said. “And until we meet again, God bless you and goodbye.”
NEW YORK (AP) — “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek says he’s already rehearsed what he’s going to say to the audience on his final show, whenever that may be.
Trebek, host of the popular game show since 1984, announced last March that he’d been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer but will continue his job while still able.
In an interview on ABC broadcast in primetime Thursday night, Trebek said he’ll ask the director to leave him 30 seconds at the end of his last taping.
“I will say my goodbyes and I will tell people, ’Don’t ask me who’s going to replace me because I have no say whatsoever. But I’m sure that if you give them the same love and attention and respect that you have shown me…then they will be a success and the show will continue being a success,″ he said. “And until we meet again, God bless you and goodbye.”
Trebek has said in the past that he will stay “as long as my skills have not diminished,” but told ABC’s Michael Strahan that the process had already begun. He did not specify what he meant.
If there is a target date for his exit, he isn’t letting on. “Jeopardy!” tapes each show weeks in advance.
Trebek and his wife, Jean, sat down for the interview to promote a special tournament featuring three of the show’s best and best-known contestants: Brad Rutter, Ken Jennings and James Holzhauer.
That tournament starts airing on Tuesday.
Don’t Abbreviate Writing Out 2020, Experts Urge
Authorities said the date is easily changeable and could ultimately be used against you.
We’re just three days into the 2020 and police are warning folks to refrain from abbreviating 2020 and to take the time to write it out completely.
Don’t write the date 1/2/20.
Instead, write out 2020 in full, so it looks like this: 1/2/2020.
Authorities said the date is easily changeable and could ultimately be used against you.
It’s that time of year, that we all head to the gym. We are dedicating ourselves to be firm and fit throughout the New Year. We set goals, but do we stick to them? If you haven’t been to the gym lately, but you are inspired to do so, we’ve got a few tips for you tonight from the experts.
AUDIO:
FITNESS DISCUSSION TAKE AWAY-KNOW YOUR WHY
Know your way, why are you getting in shape. Write it down.
Whatever your why is, put your fitness goals on your mirror to motivate yourself daily.
Watch out for sugar in your meals
Stay away from the word diet, let’s start with meal planning
Guest: Leona “Coach LB Brown”…….Fitness & Personal Trainer
Social Media:
IG: Conversion Fitness (@ConversionFitness)
FB: Conversion Fitness (Conversion Fitness, LLC)
Twitter: Conversion Fitness (@ConversionFit)
Guest: Kuti Mack…..Fitness Philosopher, Certified Personal Trainer & Nutritionist who lives to help everyone be their BEST daily!
Social Media
IG: @KUTImack
Facebook: BYBD Fitness & Nutrition
Ron Rivera Introduced As New Skins Head Coach
Ron River named the new head coach of the Skins. He is the 29th coach in team history.
It’s official. The Burgundy and Gold have a new head coach. Ron Rivera introduced today by Skins owner Daniel Snyder who said he was looking for a head coach that could change the culture of a struggling franchise. Head coaches have come and gone with little to average success under the ownership reign of Daniel Snyder, and that includes Joe Gibbs who got the Skins to two playoff appearances in four years during his second run as Skins coach but both only came through late season runs. Still, Gibbs is the gold standard when it comes to Burgundy & Gold head coaches and Ron Rivera sough out the 3-time Super Bowl coach for advice before becoming the 29th head coach in team history. Rivera won’t be the general manager but will have a say in who is chosen. The team also announcing that former Jaguars and Raiders coach Jack Del Rio has been hired as defensive coordinator.
Two Murdered In Prince George’s County
Police say two woman in Prince George’s County were found dead within a 6 hour span. Police are searching for suspects.
Why was an elderly woman shot and killed while sitting inside her home? That is what police in Prince George’s County are trying to determine at this hour. Police say 56-year-old Filomena Vasquez was found shot in her home in the 74-hundred block of Varnum Street in Landover Hills around 11:30 last night. Police say the shots that killed Vasquez came from outside the home. Her windows were riddled with bullets. Police don’t believe Vasquez was the intended target, but say they don’t believe the shooting was random. About six hours later, county police found a woman dead in a car in the 87-hundred block of Ritchie Drive in Capitol Heights. Police say the woman had trauma to her upper body.
Police are searching for suspects in both cases.