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Published by BANG Showbiz English ‘Express Yourself’ was inspired by Jennifer Grey. The 62-year-old actress – who is best known for playing the role of Baby opposite Patrick Swayze in 1987 musical movie ‘Dirty Dancing’ – alleged that pop superstar Madonna was inspired to write her 1989 hit ‘Express Yourself’ about her breakup with Matthew Broderick. Jennifer said: “Madonna and I did [1989 film] ‘Bloodhounds of Broadway’ together. She told me she wrote ‘Express Yourself’ about me breaking up with Matthew.” The ‘Red Dawn’ star – who by then was dating Johnny Depp – went on to claim that Madonna asked her to get into her Mercedes car where she played her the record. She told PEOPLE: “She played it for me in her car. I was in my log cabin with Johnny and she said, ‘Come into my car.’ And I got in her Mercedes where she had a really good sound system and she was like, ‘Listen to this song I just did. It’s about you!” However, Jennifer went on to reveal that – without confirming whether she had received a reply – she has recently written Madonna an email as to whether she really meant it. She said: “I wrote her an email where I asked, ‘Did you just tell that to everyone?!” The star – who has 20-year-old daughter Stella with ex-husband Clark Gregg – “learned so many things” about life during her relationship with Matthew, who is now married to ‘Sex and the City’ star Sarah Jessica Parker. Jennifer said: “I learned so many things about myself from my relationship with Matthew. First of all, we were really young. We were in our mid-twenties when we got together. And from where I sit now, that’s pretty young. And we were, I don’t know, I can only speak for myself. I was really in love with him.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Madonna is selling her Los Angeles mansion for $26 million. The ‘Material Girl’ hitmaker has put her Hidden Hills pad on the market after purchasing it from The Weeknd in April 2021 for $19.1 million. According to the Multiple Listing Service, the property – which has a guide price of $25.995 million – sits on three acres and includes a barn that hosts a freshly built gym complete with a dance and Pilates studio and a two bedroom guest house. The main house – which boasts 12,500 square feet and 11 bedrooms – includes a number of amenities, such as a cinema, music room and an indoor/outdoor bar. Seven of the bedrooms are ensuite and the primary bedchamber includes two closets, a steam shower and a stone bath. The Outside of Madonna’s home includes a driveway surrounded by olive trees, a regulation basketball court, an al fresco kitchen and a zero-edge salt water pool, complete with a 10-person hot tub. Before the 63-year-old pop legend – who is mother to Lourdes, 25, Rocco, 21, David, 16, Mercy, 16, and nine-year-old twins Estere and Stella – became the deed holder, the ‘Blinding Lights’ hitmaker lived there for four years before listing it for $25 million in 2020. Madonna is working with Trevor Wright of the Beverly Hills Estates, who she worked to buy the mega mansion. Meanwhile, earlier this week, Jennifer Grey revealed that the ‘Like A Prayer’ hitmaker was inspired to pen of her greatest hits – the female empowerment anthem ‘Express Yourself’ – on the ‘Dirty Dancing’ star’s break-up with 80s heartthrob Matthew Broderick. The 62-year-old actress said: “Madonna and I did [1989 film] ‘Bloodhounds of Broadway’ together. She told me she wrote ‘Express Yourself’ about me breaking up with Matthew.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Jeff Mason and Trevor Hunnicutt SEATTLE (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden marks Earth Day on Friday with a trip to lush but fire-prone Washington state and the signing of an executive order to protect old-growth forests. The order Biden signs will create the first-ever inventory of old-growth forests on federal lands and develop a plan to conserve them. It will also task diplomats with doing more to combat deforestation abroad, the White House said. The massive, sometimes ancient trees that dot the Western U.S. landscape absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, cutting the emissions that cause climate change and also make wildfires more likely. They’re at risk. A single fire in 2020 in California killed more than 10% of the world’s giant sequoia trees, National Park Service scientists concluded. “Wildfires and extreme weather events are growing in frequency and ferocity, engulfing communities in the West and across the country and costing lives, homes, and money,” the White House said in a fact sheet announcing the executive order. Biden’s visit to Washington state marks the latest in a series of trips aimed at touting the administration’s accomplishments ahead of November’s mid-term elections. He is set to deliver his Earth Day remarks at Seattle’s forested Seward Park at 10:30 a.m. Pacific time (1730 GMT) before visiting Green River College in Auburn, an hour’s drive outside of Seattle and part of Washington’s 8th Congressional District. That district will stage one of the three dozen or so competitive races that will determine whether Biden’s Democrats retain control of the House of Representatives in November. Democrats are counting on high levels of participation by young and climate-focused voters to lift them to victory. The $1 trillion infrastructure law Biden negotiated includes $8 billion for forest and land management activities. But much of Biden’s climate agenda remains stalled, awaiting sufficient legislative support to secure Senate passage. (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell) View the full article

Published by DPA After losing Neil Young's music, Spotify is set to also lose its collaboration with the Obamas on exclusive podcasts. Fabian Sommer/dpa Higher Ground, the Obamas’ production company, and Spotify will not renew their exclusive partnership, according to three people familiar with the matter. Higher Ground has produced a number of exclusive shows distributed on the streaming platform since it partnered with Spotify in 2019. Those include “The Michelle Obama Podcast” and “Renegades: Born in the USA,” featuring discussion between former President Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen. “The Michelle Obama Podcast” was the fourth-most popular podcast globally on Spotify in 2020. But Spotify opted to not make an offer to renew the deal, which extends through October, said sources familiar with the matter who were not authorized to comment. The Obamas were seeking a deal in which Higher Ground’s podcasts would be widely available and not exclusive to one platform, the sources said. Higher Ground has held conversations with other rival podcast companies, including Amazon’s Audible and iHeartMedia, according to Bloomberg, which first reported the news. Other podcasts that have had exclusive deals with Spotify have gone on to make their podcasts widely available later. For example, “Last Podcast on the Left” is no longer exclusive to Spotify, but it is still available on the platform. More podcasters want to be widely available on multiple platforms “because the distribution network is much bigger and they want to get beyond Spotify’s audience,” said Ray Wang, principal analyst of Palo Alto-based Constellation Research. Representatives for Spotify and Higher Ground declined to comment. Spotify signed a deal with the Obamas as part of the company’s ambitious foray into podcasting. The Swedish music streaming giant also has exclusive deals with other high-profile figures such as as Joe Rogan and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Archewell. When the Higher Ground-Spotify deal was announced, Michelle Obama said she was thrilled to “have the opportunity to amplify voices that are too often ignored or silenced altogether, and through Spotify, we can share those stories with the world.” But there were some creative tensions with Spotify over how prominent the Obamas would be in the podcasts, compared with other voices that are not as well-known, sources said. Rob Enderle, a principal analyst with advisory services firm Enderle Group, said he believes the Obamas will be able to garner a lot of demand for their podcasts. “They are incredibly savvy with regard to their social media presence, and wherever they go, they will undoubtedly be a king maker for whatever service picks them up,” Enderle said. Spotify has quickly grown to be a major podcast hub, but not without some controversy. Earlier this year, some musicians, including rocker Neil Young, boycotted the streaming service due to concerns about misinformation and racially insensitive language on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” a popular exclusive podcast on Spotify. The protest pushed Spotify to publish its content moderation policies and to address what Rogan said on his podcast. Rogan apologized for using the N-word. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Jan Wolfe WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene will face a challenge in a Georgia court on Friday by a group of voters trying to block her from the ballot, citing a post-Civil War policy aimed at keeping insurrectionists from serving in office. In a novel legal challenge filed with the office of the Georgia secretary of state, the voters said Greene, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, has violated a provision of the U.S. Constitution known as the “Insurrectionist Disqualification Clause.” The clause, passed after the U.S. Civil War in the 1860s, prohibits politicians from running for Congress if they have engaged in “insurrection or rebellion” or “given aid or comfort” to the nation’s enemies. Greene is seeking re-election this year, with the Republican primary scheduled for May 24 and the general election on Nov. 8. During media interviews, Greene has downplayed and justified the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters in their failed bid to block congressional certification of President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory. Greene this month said Democrats and journalists have pushed an “over-dramatization” of that day’s events. The voter challenge is being spearheaded by a group called Free Speech for People that advocates for campaign finance reform. A similar challenge backed by the same group against Republican U.S. Representative Madison Cawthorn failed when a federal judge in North Carolina dismissed that suit on March 4. “This hearing is about more than just Marjorie Taylor Greene,” Free Speech for People said. “This is about ensuring that any elected official who takes an oath to defend our Constitution and then engages in insurrection is barred from holding public office again.” Greene on the conservative TV outlet Newsmax on Wednesday rejected that claim. “I can’t believe this judge has not thrown this case out and seen this case for what it is: nothing but a big, funded scam for the Democrats trying to control our elections,” Greene said. An administrative judge in Atlanta, Charles Beaudrot, is scheduled to begin the hearing at 9:30 a.m. ET (1330 GMT). It is unclear if Beaudrot will rule in the case on Friday. Greene is expected to testify under oath during Friday’s hearing, and to argue that removing her from the ballot would be both unfair to her and to voters in her conservative-leaning district. Greene is expected to appeal any ruling against her, and has already brought parallel litigation in U.S. federal court seeking to halt the administrative proceeding. In a recent court filing, Greene’s lawyers said she “vigorously denies that she aided and engaged in insurrection to obstruct the peaceful transfer of presidential power.” U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg on Monday ruled that the challenge to Greene’s fitness for office can proceed. Greene has asked a federal appeals court to reverse that ruling and effectively end the dispute. Absentee ballots will start to be mailed on April 25. (Reporting by Jan Wolfe; Editing by Will Dunham and Scott Malone) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Jeff Mason and Nandita Bose PORTLAND, Ore. (Reuters) -President Joe Biden on Thursday predicted that his fellow Democrats could win two more U.S. Senate seats in November’s midterms, strengthening the party’s majority to pass his agenda despite sagging approval ratings. Speaking at a political fundraiser in Portland during his first trip to the Pacific Northwest since taking office, Biden said he was increasing his travel schedule to make the case around the country about his administration’s accomplishments. “I’m determined to make sure we keep the House and the Senate,” Biden told the donors. He offered no prediction for the party’s prospects in the House. High inflation and the ongoing pandemic have contributed to low poll numbers for Biden and sparked concerns that Democrats may lose control of the House of Representatives and the Senate to Republicans after the November election. Addressing an evening fundraiser hosted in Seattle by Brad Smith, the president of Microsoft Corp, Biden weighed in on the clash between Republican state lawmakers in Florida and the Walt Disney Co. over legislation to limit the teaching of LGBTQ issues in schools. The state’s Republican-controlled legislature on Thursday voted to strip Disney of its self-governing authority on lands occupied by its Orlando theme parks in retaliation for Disney’s opposition to the school restrictions, derided by critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Governor Ron DeSantis, a potential 2024 Republican presidential nominee who fiercely backs the ban on classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity for children under age 9, is expected to sign the bill into law. Biden said Republican-led efforts to impose such constraints “have nothing to do with traditional conservative doctrine.” “I respect conservatives. There’s nothing conservative about deciding you’re going to throw Disney out of its present posture because Mickey Mouse … should … not be able to say, you know, gay.” Earlier on Thursday, Biden touted his administration’s progress on infrastructure, including new spending made possible by the passage of the roughly $1 trillion infrastructure law that includes investments in highways and broadband. The bill allocates $1.2 billion for Oregon and $8.6 billion for the state of Washington. Biden visited Portland’s airport to talk about investing in a runway that can withstand earthquakes. He was scheduled to spend Thursday night and Friday in Seattle, where he will observe Earth Day and talk about his administration’s plans to tame inflation. “We’re here today to talk about investments we’re making to modernize this airport,” Biden said in his earlier address. “So through the bipartisan infrastructure law, we’re investing $25 billion to upgrade and modernize American airports.” White House officials have said in recent weeks that they hope to shift their outreach strategy to voters by visiting more states to talk about the administration’s accomplishments rather than describing the need for legislation that remains stalled. Biden’s public approval rating stands at 43%, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll completed on Tuesday. The two-day national poll found 51% of Americans disapprove of Biden’s job performance as the country struggles with high inflation and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. That compares with approval ratings hovering above 50% at the start of his term. (Reporting by Jeff Mason in Portland and Nandita Bose, Trevor Hunnicutt and Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Stephen Coates and Bradley Perrett) View the full article

Published by Miami Herald A forbidden relationship led to the attack of a Pompano Beach gay man that was so savage it left him blinded, according to court documents released this week. The arrest warrants offer new details of the brutal attack — and the suspected motive — in the case against members of the Makarenko family, who were charged last week with attempted murder under Florida’s “hate crime” law. Prosecutors say Inna Makarenko, 44, Yevhen Makarenko, 43, and two of their adult sons, Oleh and Vladyslav, stormed the man’s apartment in August, beating him and leaving him to die on the blood-covered floor for 13 ho… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Maria Caspani and Dawn Chmielewski (Reuters) -Florida lawmakers on Thursday gave their final approval to a bill ending Walt Disney Co’s designation as a self-governing entity in an apparent response to its opposition to a new state law limiting the teaching of LGBTQ issues in schools. Losing the designation may represent a big blow to Disney’s sprawling Orlando theme parks, which for over half a century have managed to operate with a high degree of autonomy, with the freedom to control everything from road maintenance to building projects. Even so, experts say the financial impact of the legislation on the company and the state is still unclear. Governor Ron DeSantis, a potential 2024 Republican presidential nominee who fiercely backs the ban on classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity for children under age 9, is expected to sign the bill into law. The bill would effectively strip Disney of a status that allowed the company to self-govern an area of roughly 25,000-acres in Central Florida where Walt Disney World resort is located. The area called the Reedy Creek Improvement District https://www.rcid.org encompasses four Disney theme parks, two water parks and 175 miles of roadway, and functions like a county government, providing services such as fire-fighting, power, water and roads within the Orange and Osceola counties. Disney, whose Florida resort is known the world over for its pristine streets, colorful rides and family-friendly image, in turn gets relief from taxes and fees. The special status also allows the district to issue bonds with tax advantages to pay for improvements and for Disney to avoid the process of obtaining building permits for some projects. The Florida Parental Rights in Education legislation is one of a series of moves by Republican-controlled states to enact new restrictions on public education in the run-up to the midterm elections later this year. Supporters say such measures give parents more control over their children’s education, but opponents say they mostly unfairly infringe the rights of transgender and other marginalized students. Disney initially failed to publicly oppose the legislation, prompting criticism last month by many in the LGBTQ community and some employees. Later Disney condemned the law and said it would suspend political donations in Florida pending a review. In a surprise move, DeSantis asked the legislature to consider the bill to strip Disney of its status during a special session he called this week. It was filed and passed within just three days. The change would go into effect in June 2023. “By trying to bring California values to Florida, Floridians have said, ‘All right, you’re a guest in our state. Maybe you don’t deserve special privileges anymore,'” state Representative Randy Fine, a Republican who is lead sponsor of the bill, told CNBC. On Thursday, the Florida House of Representatives voted 70-38 to do away with the special tax district created by a 1967 law that allows Disney to self-govern the Orlando area. On Wednesday, the state Senate approved the measure by a 23-16 vote. DeSantis, an ally of former President Donald Trump who has also courted conservative voters on issues such as immigration and abortion, did not immediately comment on the bill’s passage, nor did Disney. WHOM WILL IT HARM MOST? Disney is historically a major political contributor in the state. In the 2020 election cycle, the company donated $4.8 million in total, including campaign funds to more than 100 individual Florida legislative members, some of whom sponsored Thursday’s legislation, state records show. The company also gave more than $900,000 to the state Republican party and more than $550,000 to the Republican senatorial campaign committee, along with $300,000 to the state Democratic party and $50,000 to DeSantis. But its opposition to the new law, dubbed “don’t say gay” by opponents, set off a storm of condemnation against the company by many Republicans. It takes effect on July 1 and also prohibits such teaching that “is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate” for older students. It is being challenged in court. It is unclear if the state or the company will be harmed most by Thursday’s move, as Disney is a major local employer and contributor to the state’s coffers, with around 70,000 staff. The Walt Disney Resort paid $780.3 million in state and local taxes in 2021, according to a fact sheet commemorating the 50th anniversary of the theme park. Orange County Tax Collector Scott Randolph said that legislation will punish local taxpayers more than Disney. “Yes, Disney pays a lot in taxes, but when you add up the numbers, it pushes a lot of the tax burden onto local taxpayers,” he said of the bill. Disney already received many of the benefits from the special district in getting the park built and could come out ahead financially by shifting the cost of maintenance and services to the local jurisdictions, said David Ramba, executive director of the Florida Association of Special Districts. “They get to control the level of service versus leaving it to a county government,” Ramba said. (Reporting by Maria Caspani in New York, Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles, Joseph Ax in Princeton, N.J., Rich McKay and Dan Trotta in Carlsbad, Calif.Writing by Costas PitasEditing by Leslie Adler, Matthew Lewis and Bernard Orr) View the full article

Janelle MonáeMonáe: “I’m Nonbinary” Two years after stating they were “exploring” their gender identity, LGBTQ award-winning singer, actor and author Janelle Monáe came out as nonbinary publicly. Monáe revealed how they identify during an interview on the season premiere of “Red Table Talk,” the Facebook Watch talk show hosted by Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow Smith and Adrienne Banfield-Norris, on Wednesday. “I’m nonbinary, so I don’t just see myself as a woman solely,” Monáe said. “I feel all of my energy. I feel like God is so much bigger than the ‘he’ or ‘she.’ And if I am from God, I am everything. I am everything. But I will always, always stand with women. I will always stand with Black women. But I just just see everything that I am. Beyond the binary.” “My whole family is church, church, church and I’m just like, ‘Well what does it mean to go against your whole family on this thing?’ But I was ready. I was like, ‘You know what? If they don’t love me, don’t call me asking me for no money.’ You will not get my LGBTQIA+ money,” Monáe continued. “But, yeah, I needed to have those conversations. I needed to talk to my dad who was just great. My sister knew already because I’ve been in monogamous relationships, I’ve been in polyamorous relationships. But I knew I couldn’t be ‘Little Pumpkin,’ I couldn’t be little Janelle,” they added. “I had to be where I was. I know who I am. I’ve been playing a version of some parts of me, but now I’m owning all of me. I had to own all of me to really be able to talk about it publicly.” The conversation with Monáe also touched on their ability to overcome past traumas connected to their family and issues with acceptance even as their career was taking off. “I was thinking back to when I first started and I was like, man, as free as I was onstage, when I came off stage, I was still that scared little girl. Like, ‘I’m not good enough.’ That was always in the back of my mind. ‘Will they love me,'” Monáe said. “I’ve been doing a lot of healing … we just have to be fine with letting go.” [This post contains video, click to play] Janelle Monáe: Previously on Towleroad Janelle Monáe Comes Out As Nonbinary: ‘I Am Everything’… And A Book Of Short Science Fiction Collaborations Brian Bell April 21, 2022 Read More Billy Porter Vogue Slam Is About Who Did It First. Harry Styles In A Dress On The Cover? ‘All He Has To Do Is Be White And Straight’ Towleroad October 18, 2021 Read More ‘Two years ago I was so worried I’d be ostracized … or worse. Today my community elected me Mayor’ –World’s First Non-binary Mayor Brian Bell May 15, 2021 Read More Major Airlines To Offer Non-Binary Options For Passengers Savas Abadsidis February 19, 2019 Read More Maine Becomes Third State to Offer Non-Binary Gender Identification on Driver’s Licenses and IDs Andy Towle June 11, 2018 Read More California Legalizes Non-Binary Gender Option for Driver’s Licenses, Government IDs Towleroad October 17, 2017 Read More Screenshot via Red Table Talk/Facebook Watch View the full article

Jorge Diaz-JohnstonRoommate Charged A grand jury in Leon County, Florida formally indicted Steven Yinger for the murder of LGBTQ and gay marriage activist Jorge Diaz-Johnston last week. According to court documents, Yinger is accused of “strangling and/or choking” Diaz-Johnston sometime between Jan. 3 and Jan. 5 in addition to stealing Diaz-Johnston’s car, using his personal identification and tampering with evidence. Diaz-Johnston’s body was found in the Springhill Landfill, roughly 90 miles from his workplace in Tallahassee where he was last seen on Jan. 3. According to the Tallahassee Democrat, Tallahassee Police believe Yinger disposed of the body in a dumpster outside of the apartment complex where the two had lived together for months and moved the dumpster down the street. Diaz-Johnston met Yinger at an alcohol-recovery program while separated from his husband, Don, with whom he became a public face for LGBTQ marriage equality in the state back in 2015. Diaz-Johnston offered to let Yinger stay at his apartment rent-free in order to get back on his feet and find employment after getting out of prison in Oct. 2021. “[T]hat’s who Jorge was,” Don told local news outlet WPLG. “I am so angry. After all those years of trying to get my husband back, to have him ripped form me for such an utterly senseless reason.” Yinger is being held without bail in a Leon County prison. Diaz-Johnston was brother of former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and the uncle of former University of Miami football coach Manny Diaz II. Murder: Previously on Towleroad Former Roommate Indicted For Murder Of Florida LGBTQ Activist Jorge Diaz-Johnston, One of the Public Faces In State Fight For Marriage Equality Brian Bell April 21, 2022 Read More Suspect Charged In Shocking, Brazen Brooklyn LGBTQ Bar Fire. Caught on Video Pouring Gasoline and Setting the Blaze Brian Bell April 21, 2022 Read More Ed Buck Sentenced to 30 Years For For Injecting Gemmel Moore and Timothy Dean With Fatal Doses Of Drugs In WeHo Sex Assaults; Towleroad April 15, 2022 Read More Alabama Sued In Federal Court By Families, Doctors After Anti-Trans Healthcare Bill Signed Into Law Brian Bell April 13, 2022 Read More Jussie Smollett Song Drops; Produced Since Prison Release Pending Appeal, ‘Thank You God’: LISTEN Towleroad April 9, 2022 Read More Kentucky Clerk Who Denied Same-Sex Marriage Licenses Can Be Sued As An Individual For Damages in Jury Trial. Towleroad March 20, 2022 Read More Photo courtesy of Tallahassee Police Department View the full article

RashRash Arson Suspect Captured On Video A suspect in the arson of Brooklyn LGBTQ bar Rash has been charged for allegedly starting a fire in the nightclub that left two employees injured and heavily damaged the building. The Department of Justice on Thursday charged John Lhota with the April 3 arson after security camera footage showed Lhota purchasing a gasoline canister and filling it with gasoline at a gas station before proceeding to Rash and pouring the substance on the bar’s floor. “The video showed Lhota tossing a lit cigarette on the floor, but the gasoline didn’t ignite,” read the DOJ’s statement. “Lhota then used a cigarette lighter to ignite the gasoline, causing an explosion and a fire.” Security footage also showed Lhota fleeing the scene. “This Office strongly condemns such acts of violence, and will vigorously prosecute this case. The victims, and all LGBTQ+ New Yorkers, should be able to enjoy their nights out in peace and without fear of such a dangerous attack,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace. In his first court appearance Thursday, Lhota pleaded not guilty. If convicted, Lhota faces up to 40 years in prison. Brooklyn LGBTQ: Previously on Towleroad Suspect Charged In Shocking, Brazen Brooklyn LGBTQ Bar Fire. Caught on Video Pouring Gasoline and Setting the Blaze Brian Bell April 21, 2022 Read More Ed Buck Sentenced to 30 Years For For Injecting Gemmel Moore and Timothy Dean With Fatal Doses Of Drugs In WeHo Sex Assaults; Towleroad April 15, 2022 Read More Alabama Sued In Federal Court By Families, Doctors After Anti-Trans Healthcare Bill Signed Into Law Brian Bell April 13, 2022 Read More Jussie Smollett Song Drops; Produced Since Prison Release Pending Appeal, ‘Thank You God’: LISTEN Towleroad April 9, 2022 Read More Kentucky Clerk Who Denied Same-Sex Marriage Licenses Can Be Sued As An Individual For Damages in Jury Trial. Towleroad March 20, 2022 Read More Jussie Smollett Gets 150 Days For Faking Hate Crime; “If Anything Happens To Me … I Did Not Do It To Myself. I Am Not Suicidal!” He Yelled Leaving Court Towleroad March 11, 2022 Read More Photo courtesy of DICE View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Will Young “kept quiet” about his traumatic experiences at boarding school because he didn’t want to upset his parents. The 43-year-old singer revealed last year he was left with PTSD because of the “appalling” experiences he had as a child and he’s now acknowledged he felt pressured not to confide in his mother and father because he was constantly told how “fortunate” he was to be there as a result of his parents’ hard work. Speaking to Times Radio, he said: “One of the things about when you’re a child is you can often… I felt very fortunate, ironically, to be sent to the school. My parents actually didn’t have a lot of money at the time. We were there on a deal. “And so the messaging coming – and this often happens when people are in abusive situations – is that you’re very fortunate to be in that situation. So you keep shtum. What that can lead to is survivor’s guilt. People feeling, ‘Well, I could have done more.’ But of course you can’t as a child. “‘Now, if my parents had known, they would have taken me out of that school in two seconds. But you know, the messaging coming across from the school and from people around was, ‘Aren’t your parents working hard? You know, to send you.’ “‘My dad just set up his business. It was a recession in 87. You know, ‘Aren’t they working so hard?’ So you keep quiet as a child, Absolutely.” The ‘Leave Right Now’ hitmaker claimed last year staff at the school would throw children “against radiators”, watch them getting changed, and rip out the only phone they had to communicate with their guardians. He said: “We weren’t allowed to wear pants under our football shorts, so my d**k used to fall out of my football shorts when I got tackled. Less washing. “I saw kids being made to change on the football pitch because they had worn pants. Teachers looking at our penises in the shower, in the bath.’ “It was appalling. That’s why I’ve got PTSD. There was such a sense of injustice from things that I experienced and witnessed. I think I escaped – not that it didn’t damage me.” View the full article

Published by Radar Online MEGA NeNe Leakes is dragging the companies behind Real Housewives of Atlanta — along with Andy Cohen — to federal court. According to reports, Leakes is accusing Cohen, NBCUniversal, Bravo, True Entertainment and Truly Original of fostering a hostile and racist work environment. MEGA The iconic reality star claims she went to execs to complain about Kim Zolciak-Bierrmann making alleged racist remarks over the years — only to be retaliated against for speaking up. The RHOA star was one of the original cast members who launched the show in 2008. Her last appearance was in 2020. Leakes’ lawyer wrote, “NBC, Bravo, and True foster a corporate and workplace culture in which racially-insensitive and inappropriate behavior is tolerated – if not, encouraged.” In the suit, she points to several comments her former friend Bierrmann allegedly made during production. In 2008, Leakes says while the cast was preparing for a BBQ Biermann said, “words to the effect of: ‘I don’t want to sit around with NeNe and eat chicken.’” In the fifth season, she claims Biermann mocked new cast member Kandi Burruss by calling her “ghetto.” Leakes says her ex-BFF perpetuated a racial stereotype by questioning whether Burruss needed a swimming pool. Leakes then dropped a bombshell. She says around the same time, Biermann used the N-word when referring to her and the other cast members. The reality star says she complained about the comments. However, Leakes says Biermann wasn’t punished but instead, she got her own show. “From the day the series began filming, NeNe was the target of systemic racism from co-star Kim Zolciak-Biermann, which was tolerated by Bravo executive producer Andy Cohen and other executives,” Leakes’ lawyer writes. The shocking court docs also allege Leakes was forced out in 2020 — pointing out the star was a vocal supporter of Black Lives Matter at the time. “As the Black Lives Matter movement swept our nation, Mrs. Leakes — Bravo’s historically most successful Black female talent — should have been embraced by NBC, Bravo, and True,” Leakes’ suit read. “Instead, NBC, Bravo, and True forced her out of the ‘house she built,’ denying her a regular role.” The suit comes after years of Leakes trashing Cohen and Bravo publicly over her departure. Cohen has yet to respond to the lawsuit. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Ahmed Aboulenein WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden will unveil a new strategy for dealing with drug addiction and overdoses on Thursday that aims to expand access to medications for opioid overdoses, increase funding for law enforcement, and expand sanctions against traffickers. The Biden administration is keen to show it is taking action on a worsening U.S. opioid crisis, which fueled more than an estimated 106,854 drug overdose deaths in the year to November 2021, a 15.6% increase from the same period a year earlier, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. “That’s an American life lost every five minutes around the clock,” said Dr. Rahul Gupta, director of National Drug Control Policy at the White House. “For too many years, the overdose crisis has been unraveling the very social fabric of our nation and destroying American lives and livelihoods,” Gupta told reporters on a press call. The National Drug Control Strategy, which Biden will send to Congress on Thursday, seeks to double treatment admissions for populations that are most at risk of overdose deaths and ensure universal access to medications for opioid use disorder by 2025. Currently, key tools like naloxone, a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses, and syringe service programs are often restricted or underfunded. There are legal barriers limiting access to naloxone in some states, and even in others the drug is not always available to those most at risk of an overdose. Patients are more likely to receive a naloxone prescription if they had a prior diagnosis of opioid misuse or dependence along with an overdose compared with individuals who had those diagnoses without an overdose. The administration also aims to triple the number of drug traffickers it sanctions and increase border security, said Gupta. Biden in December signed two executive orders aimed at fighting drug trafficking and criminal networks. One order allowed for new sanctions on Chinese companies trading ingredients of the opioid drug fentanyl and on criminal gangs in Brazil, Mexico and Colombia. (Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein; Editing by Leslie Adler) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Matt McKnight BELLINGHAM, Wash. (Reuters) – The San Francisco Bay will soon have a new fossil fuel-free ferry floating in its waters, propelled completely by hydrogen fuel cells, and officials hope it heralds change on the high seas. Aptly named Sea Change, the 70-foot (21-meter), 75-passenger ferry will service multiple stops along San Francisco’s waterfront. It was built at All American Marine shipyard in Bellingham, Washington, and was undergoing tests with the U.S. Coast Guard in nearby Puget Sound. “We’re here in the water, under hydrogen fuel cell power and it’s the first commercial vessel in the world that’s got that propulsion system,” said Pace Ralli, chief executive of Switch Maritime, standing on the bow of the ferry in Bellingham Bay. Sea Change marks another industry exploring fuel cells as clean-energy cars, trucks, trains and pleasure boats are being developed. Advocates assert hydrogen fuel cells are cleaner than other carbon-cutting methods as they only emit water and heat, but the high cost and bulky fuel cell systems have limited the use of the technology. Ralli conceived the idea for the fuel cell-powered ferry while living in New York City, trying to find ways to decarbonize the maritime industry. “There was a project in California that was being sponsored by the California Air Resources Board, and they were working on hydrogen fuel cell as a method for decarbonizing ships, so we joined up with them and funded their project in 2019,” Ralli said. As he spoke, three hydrogen fuel cell stacks whirred in the engine room, helping power two propellers that move the ferry along at a top speed of 20 knots. All American Marine project manager Jeff Sokolik helmed Sea Change, pressing buttons on a touchscreen that engage automated systems communicating with the engine room. “This is going to be the next standard in fuel-cell driven vessels. They’re clean, they’re efficient and they make sense economically on scale,” said Sokolik, who believes this eco-friendly maritime innovation could be widely adopted as soon as 10 years from now. As companies move toward a zero-emission world, the desire to hit their sustainability targets has risen. The International Maritime Organization’s Greenhouse Gas Study conducted in 2020 states that greenhouse gas emissions including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide have increased from 977 million tonnes in 2012 to 1,076 million tonnes in 2018, a 9.6% increase in six years. “We’re focused on the shipping industry because that’s where we have expertise, but I don’t think any industry can really wait at this point,” Ralli said. “We’re really paving the regulatory framework that’s needed to take this to a larger harbor craft, whether it’s tugs and other larger ferries or even ocean-going vessels like container ships and cruise ships and tankers,” he adds. If all goes to plan, Ralli said the boat will be delivered to the Bay Area in late May and serve passengers in June, just in time for San Francisco’s summer season. (Reporting by Matt McKnight in Bellingham, Washington, editing by Ben Klayman in Washington and Richard Chang) View the full article

Published by DPA People with illnesses likely to be fatal are much more likely to end their lives, according to new research in the UK that is renewing debate about palliative care and assisted dying. Fabian Strauch/dpa People with chronic lung conditions and cancers which are likely to be fatal are around two-and-a-half times more likely to end their lives than those without such conditions, figures in the UK suggest. One year after being diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or low survival cancers, people had an elevated rate of death due to suicide, the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) found. The suicide rate for such patients was 2.4 times higher than the rate for people with similar socio-demographic characteristics who had not received a diagnosis. Campaigners said the figures show the need for a law change on assisted dying, but others called for more support for dying people and for high-quality palliative care to be extended to everyone who needs it. According to the Samaritans charity that helps those at risk of taking their lives, suicide is complex and usually a combination of individual, community and societal factors interact to increase risk. The ONS research found that 17,195 people in England died by suicide between January 2017 and March 2020, including 455 people with COPD, 465 people with chronic heart conditions and 58 with low survival cancers. In many instances, people diagnosed with these conditions would meet the definition of having a terminal illness, the ONS said. The ONS figures only cover deaths in England, so the deaths of people who travelled abroad to end their lives will not have been captured by the research. For people with low survival cancers there were 22.2 deaths per 100,000 versus 9.1 deaths per 100,000 people without a diagnosis, and the suicide rate for COPD patients was 23.6 deaths per 100,000 versus 9.7 deaths per 100,000 people. For those with chronic ischemic heart conditions, the suicide rate was nearly two times higher (16.4 deaths versus 8.5 deaths per 100,000 people without such conditions). Further research will examine suicides among people with severe health conditions during the coronavirus pandemic. Dr Vahe Nafilyan, head of the ONS Health Modelling Hub, said: “The analysis we have published today helps better understand the complex issue of suicide in patients diagnosed with certain chronic health conditions.” The campaign group Dignity in Dying said the data shows that instances of terminally ill people taking their own lives “are not isolated tragedies but warning signs” of serious patient safety implications under the current law. Chief executive, Sarah Wootton, said: “The data today confirms that the blanket ban on assisted dying is not only uncompassionate and unequal, but deeply unsafe for our terminally ill citizens, and it must act as a clarion call for Parliament to examine the full impact of the current law. “This is not simply a matter for debate but of patient safety, of the utmost urgency.” Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of the mental health charity Sane, added: “It is unforgiveable and inhumane that people who are dying should have to resort to ending their lives alone and abandoned, but this data indicates that this the case for many under the current law. “For those who are nearing the end of life and wish to ease the dying process, their motivation is to shorten death, not shorten life, and therefore traditional suicide prevention measures are not an appropriate response.” Care Not Killing, a UK alliance which opposes a law change, said the figures do not demonstrate the need for a change in the law on assisted dying. Chief executive, Dr Gordon Macdonald, said the numbers instead suggest that “much more work needs to be done to support dying and vulnerable people by providing them with universal access to treatment for both their physical and psychological needs”. He continued: “This means extending high quality palliative care to all those who need it, not reaching for a cheap short-term solution of facilitating a rise in people committing suicide or having their lives ended by the state.” A Samaritans spokesman said: “Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy, and while the data shows that there seems to be an association between certain severe illnesses and risk of suicide, there remains a significant amount which the data doesn’t tell us. “Being diagnosed with a severe illness is one of the most difficult things people will go through, creating huge emotional, physical, practical, and financial challenges. “Therefore, it is important that anyone living with a severe illness, or supporting someone who is, is aware of the support that is available.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Queen Elizabeth’s Barbie doll is a tribute to the British monarch’s influence as an “important historical female figure” who has made an impact along with other “leaders, creators and pioneers”. Mattel has unveiled the Tribute Collection Barbie to celebrate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, which marks 70 years of service, making her the longest-reigning monarch in British history. The extraordinary reign of the queen – who celebrated her 96th birthday on Thursday (21.04.22) – has seen her lead with duty, support humanitarian efforts and live a life of public service, unifying the nation in celebration, reflection and community and historian-and-professor Kate Williams says the unique doll is a fitting tribute to the great woman. Kate – the author of ‘Our Queen Elizabeth’ – said: “Queen Elizabeth II’s reign has been one of extraordinary impact, holding a position that few women have. The longest reigning British monarch, and the first to reach a Platinum Jubilee, The Queen has dedicated herself to service and duty and seen the world change immeasurably. In 1952, when she came to the throne, women were not encouraged to work and politicians expressed doubts about a young female monarch – but she showed them wrong, proved herself an adept leader and diplomat. “As Her Majesty celebrates this milestone jubilee it is wonderful to see an iconic brand like Barbie share important historical female figures impact as leaders, creators and pioneers to new generations.” The Queen Elizabeth II Barbie doll is instantly recognisable in an elegant ivory gown and blue riband adorned with decorations of order. The tiara is based on Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara – famously worn by The Queen on her wedding day – and miniature medallions on ribbons are inspired by the Royal Family Orders. The pink ribbon was given to The Queen by her father George VI, and the pale blue by her grandfather George V. The silver brooch pinned underneath the sash represents the Garter Star Brooch, the insignia of the highest order of chivalry in the United Kingdom, the Order of the Garter. The doll is presented in a box inspired by the styles present in Buckingham Palace, made from a 3D ornate die-cut border which frames the doll, and an inner panel showing a throne and the red carpeting inspired by the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace. The box is printed with a crest-shaped logo and a badge commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Queen’s accession to the throne. The Queen Elizabeth II Tribute Collection Barbie will be sold at Amazon, Harrods, Hamley’s, Selfridges and John Lewis from April 21, 2022 ahead of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Central Weekend between 2nd -5th June 2022. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Lynda Carter keeps her Wonder Woman costume on stand-by in case “of emergency”. The 70-year-old actress – who played the titular role in the classic live action TV series based on the popular comic in the 1970s – revealed she never threw out her iconic outfit from her time on the show, and she joked she’s always got it close by in case she has work to do. Sharing a photo of herself holding the framed costume, she tweeted: “1. Some outfits are never sent to the back of the closet. “2. It’s really more of a “break glass in case of emergency” situation.” Fans were delighted by the post, with many hailing Carter’s impact on them growing up. One follower wrote: “I always picked to be Wonder Woman when we played super heroes as kids. You were the one who made me fall in love with superheroes. Thank you for showing the world ‘girls’ can save the world too.” Another added: “It weirdly makes me feel better about the world, knowing that Wonder Women is one pane of broken glass away.” And a different fan said: “So break the glass already! You’re needed! What are you waiting for, a written invitation?” Lynda played Wonder Woman and her alter ego Diana Prince in the classic series, while Gal Gadot took on the role in the 2017 blockbuster and its 2020 sequel ‘Wonder Woman: 1984’ – but the original star made a cameo in the latter. She made a post-credits cameo appearance as the warrior Asteria, and she will be part of ‘Wonder Woman 3’. Gadot previously said: “”First of all, Lynda has mentored me from the very first moment that I got cast as Wonder Woman. She was always there, talking to me, giving me tips and everything. “She’s a true champion of what Patty [Jenkins, director] and I have been doing, and it was so great that we managed to find the right opportunity to bring her to the last movie and now to the third one.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Robbie Williams curated an artwork collection with Ed Godrich. The ‘Angels’ hitmaker has been collaborating with the interior designer for five years and is finally ready to display the 14 pieces – including those by artists such as Damien Hirst, Banksy and Jean-Michel Basquiat – in the ‘Black and White Paintings’ exhibition celebrating 1990s rave culture, followed by an auction at Sotheby’s in London. Regarding the exhibition, which will run between 13 to 25 May, the 48-year-old singer said: “Art is really whatever you want it to be. “Just like music it has the ability to soothe and provide company when you’re lonely.” Robbie and Ed are gearing up to sell one of their own creations for the first time – a picture titled ‘Beverly’, expected to go for £20,000 at the Contemporary Curated auction – and the star believes in the “power” music and art have in affecting his approach to life. He added: “Art and music have punctuated my ups and downs but, more importantly, they both have the power to change how I feel in a moment.” The ‘Let Me Entertain You’ hitmaker compared the dynamic he and Ed share to that of a band. Robbie explained: “Ed’s and my outlook on life and sensibilities are eerily similar. In music terms, Ed plays the piano, while I write the melodies and the words. “To continue the metaphor, we also write songs separately and bring them together. We’re in a band.” Meanwhile, Ed believes the work they make together “take on the rhythm of whatever is playing”. He added: “I create art and can spend hours discussing art with Robbie because we have similar brains, which are in no way combative, just progressive and full of ideas the whole time. “Our paintings take on the rhythm of whatever is playing – and that’s usually electronic music. “Everyone will see something different in each picture, whether that’s the influence of the music playing at the time, or something else.” Robbie revealed he started “collecting” when his solo career took off after he left boy band Take That while sharing tips for “burgeoning collectors”. He said: “I started collecting when I wrote Angels, that gave me the financial capacity to collect. “For you burgeoning collectors, my advice would be to buy what you like – it hasn’t let me down. “It’s important to engage with the art you buy, and you have to have an emotional reaction to the piece.” View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Barack Obama‘s girls are all grown up! Michelle accidentally revealed both of their daughters, Malia, 23, and Sasha, 20, have boyfriends, and now we know who the youngest’s mystery man is! Sasha is dating Clifton Powell Jr., a 24-year-old 6’5″ hunk who already has a lucrative career in Hollywood. The former first daughter and her new beau are no longer trying to hide their romance from the cameras. Sasha and Clifton were photographed leaving the University of Southern California campus together and didn’t hide their chemistry from the paparazzi. It’s believed the youngest Obama and her boyfriend began dating after she left the University of Michigan and switched to USC. Mega Clifton played college basketball but he now works behind the scenes. Sasha’s boyfriend is a thriving commercial director and has worked with some of the hottest brands like Nike, Peloton, and Madden. While he grew up in Los Angeles, Radar has learned he went to college at the University of Santa Barbara. If Clifton’s name sounds familiar, it’s because his dad is Hollywood actor Clifton Powell. Sasha’s possible future father-in-law has starred alongside big names, acting in movies like Friday, Deep Rising, and Ray. According to insiders, Clifton was also close with Regina King‘s son Ian Alexander Jr., who tragically took his life earlier this year. Mega But Clifton isn’t the only “grown man” the former president and first lady have to look out for. On Tuesday, Michelle spilled the beans that both Sasha and Malia are dating. Up until her comment, no one knew about Clifton. Malia has been in a relationship withBrit Rory Farquharson since 2017. “They loved the Jonas Brothers. Now they are bringing grown men home,” Michelle joked to Ellen DeGeneres. “Before it was just, like, pop bands. Now they have boyfriends and real lives.” Mega If you haven’t been keeping up with the Obamas lately, let Radar fill you in. Both sisters have moved to the West Coast. Malia was first, heading to Los Angeles after graduating from Harvard. She currently works as a script writer for Donald Glover’s new Amazon project and is sometimes caught having a smoke break in the back of Amazon’s alley. Malia is now a USC student after ditching her courses at Michigan. She’s busy juggling her class schedule — and now, her new boyfriend. View the full article

Published by AFP Sixty-five chimps who were once lab research animals are now living in freedom on river islands in Liberia — they are being cared for under a 2017 settlement Marshall City (Liberia) (AFP) – Floating on a river boat near a Liberian island, vet Richard Ssuna watches intently as animal carers wade towards the shore hurling fruits and imitating chimpanzee calls as they go. The beach is empty, but the sound of rustling and chimpish grunts begins to fill the green undergrowth. Slowly, an ape knucklewalks out onto the beach to grab some food. He’s a high-ranking member of his troop, explains Ssuna, as more chimpanzees follow. The younger ones gambol and hoot in delight as carers throw them bananas, palm nuts and cassava. Sixty-five chimps are spread across six uninhabited river islands near the Atlantic Ocean, about 55 kilometres (34 miles) south of the West African country’s capital Monrovia. But their joy in feeding belies a dark past. The chimps are the remainders of a group of about 400 ex-test subjects of a US-funded research project — and have survived decades of invasive experiments. Some of the animals underwent several hundred biopsies. “They were traumatised,” says Ssuna, who’s also a director of Humane Society International (HSI), a rights group that now cares for the primates. Chimp testing in Liberia began 1974, when the New York Blood Center (NYBC) funded biomedical research related to hepatitis B and other diseases at a complex by the Farmington River. During Liberia’s devastating 1989-2003 civil war, the chimpanzees nearly starved to death as the country imploded around them. Research staff in the impoverished country had to dig into their own pockets to provide basic sustenance. The researchers retired many of the chimps to the river islands in the mid-2000s but their ordeal continued. For reasons that remain unclear, NYBC cut funding in 2015 — in a move that provoked global outrage — abandoning the apes on the tiny river islands incapable of supporting them. Activists picketed NYBC headquarters in New York and Hollywood stars such as Joaquin Phoenix and Ellen Page signed a petition urging the blood bank to reinstate funding. Brian Hare, a US-based primatologist who launched the petition, wrote at the time: “Effectively they have left these poor chimpanzees to suffer from dehydration and starvation”. ‘Victim of torture’ Liberia is one of the world’s poorest countries, where 44 percent of the population lives on less than $1.90 per day, according to the World Bank. Local staff at the research centre kept showing up to work to help the chimps when NYBC cut funding — at a time when an Ebola epidemic was raging in Liberia. Rights groups and US financial giant Citigroup also provided relief funds during the turbulent period. Under pressure, NYBC eventually struck an agreement to split the long-term care costs for the chimps with the Humane Society in 2017, pledging $6 million. NYBC did not respond to questions from AFP about why it withdrew funding. Years on, the former lab chimps now enjoy veterinary care and two daily meals. But many still bear the scars of their grim past. At another island, during morning feeding, Ssuna points to a grizzled ape who’s missing an arm. The vet says the animal is “essentially victim of torture.” The chimp, named Bullet, lost the limb as a infant when poachers killed his mother and ripped him from her arms. He then ended up at the research lab. The carers are trained to form close attachments with the chimpanzees and to be gentle, explains Ssuna, who says certain stimuli can trigger negative memories in chimps, as in humans. Bright future – None of the chimpanzees can be released into the wild, and are confined to the islands for life. They never learned to fend for themselves and there are also fears they would spread disease if humans came into contact with them. Keeping them fed is a serious operation. Carers prepare about 200 kilogrammes (440 pounds) of food every morning, and 120 kilos (264 pounds) in the afternoon — amounting to about 10 tonnes a month. Care will continue until every ape on the islands dies, according to Ssuna. He estimates that their lifelong care will last some 50 years. Many of the chimps are around 20 years old and have a lifespan of about 60. There are also a small number of babies. HSI plans to vasectomise the males to prevent further births. “The future is very bright, as much as we would like to leave them back in the wild,” says Ssuna back on the mainland after the feeding, standing near the rusted animal cages of the old research complex. “They’re in a better place.” View the full article

Published by Reuters (Reuters) – A lawyer for Alec Baldwin said on Thursday that an investigation by New Mexico has cleared his client of wrongdoing in the fatal shooting on the set of “Rust,” pointing out that its report stated the actor believed his gun held only dummy rounds. New Mexico’s Occupational Health and Safety Bureau on Wednesday released the findings of a six-month investigation of the shooting during the filming of the Western movie last October. It blasted Rust Movie Productions LLC for “willful” safety lapses leading to the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and fined the company $137,000, the maximum amount possible. In response to the findings, Baldwin’s attorneys said in a statement that his authority on the production was limited to approving script changes and creative casting and that he had no authority over matters that were subject to the investigation. “We appreciate that the report exonerates Mr. Baldwin by making clear that he believed the gun held only dummy rounds,” the statement posted on Baldwin’s Instagram account said. “We are pleased that the New Mexico officials have clarified these critical issues.” The agency was not immediately available to comment on the statement. Hutchins was killed during a rehearsal when a revolver that Baldwin was holding fired a live round that passed through her and struck the movie’s director Joel Souza in the shoulder, wounding him. The investigation found the production firm had been aware that firearm safety procedures were not being followed and demonstrated “plain indifference” to the hazards, the New Mexico Environment Department said in a statement. Rust Movie Productions spokesman Stefan Friedman said in a statement on Wednesday that the company disagreed with the findings and planned to appeal. The probe found that Rust management ignored concerns raised by crew members about firearm and pyrotechnics misfires on set. The report said Rust management failed to give staff responsible for firearms safety sufficient time to inspect ammunition received to ensure no live rounds were present. The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office and the Santa Fe County District Attorney have ongoing criminal investigations into the death of the cinematographer. (Reporting by Brendan O’Brien in Chicago; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden pledged $800 million in more weaponry for Ukraine on Thursday and said he would ask Congress for more money to help bolster support for the Ukrainian military as it faces a fresh onslaught by Russia on its eastern flank. Addressing Americans from the White House’s Roosevelt Room, Biden pledged to send heavy artillery, dozens of howitzers, and 144,000 rounds of ammunition, as well as tactical drones, as he called on Congress for supplemental funding to provide additional aid for Kyiv. Biden also announced $500 million in direct economic assistance to the Ukrainian government as it battles to save the lives of people under siege by Russian forces. “We’re in a critical window now of time where they’re going to set the stage for the next phase of this war,” Biden said, referring to Russia’s tactical shift to the east. The United States and allies are “moving as fast as possible” to provide Ukraine with the equipment and weapons it needs. Biden said the new assistance will expend most of the remaining funds available for this purpose and that he will make a supplemental funding request to Congress next week. He said the amount is being discussed. “That’s being decided now. I’m asking the Defense Department to put together a proposal,” he said. The U.S. House of Representatives will consider the additional aid for Ukraine as soon as next week, Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters. There is strong support among Democrats and Republicans for assisting Ukraine. The Pentagon said that the new package would include 75 155mm long-range howitzers, 72 tactical vehicles to tow them, and more than 100 Phoenix Ghost drones. Biden spoke after face-to-face talks with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, who is in Washington for a variety of meetings. The president announced plans to ban Russian-affiliated ships from docking at U.S. ports, as previously reported by Reuters, further ratcheting up pressure on Moscow. A senior administration official said the move was aimed at further isolating Russia. Biden also said his administration will allow Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s invasion of their home country to come to the United States temporarily if they have American sponsors, a move that could affect thousands of refugees. The new arms package is the same size as an $800 million one announced last week Biden said the new weapons are needed as Ukraine battles a major offensive from Russia in the east, where the flatter terrain requires a different set of weaponry. On Wednesday, he convened U.S. military leaders in an annual White House gathering that took on special significance as the war enters a risky new phase. Russia has said it has entered a new stage of its operation and is methodically seeking to “liberate” the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. Western allies anticipate Russia’s campaign could last many months, grind to a stalemate and test the battlefield capabilities of Ukrainian fighters. Biden disputed Russian claims of control of the embattled city of Mariupol, saying that “there’s no evidence that Mariupol has completely fallen.” He added that Russia “should allow humanitarian corridors to let people at that steel mill and other places (that) are buried under rubble to get out.” Russia says it launched what it calls a “special military operation” on Feb. 24 to demilitarize and “denazify” Ukraine. Kyiv and its Western allies reject that as a false pretext. U.S. forces are not fighting in Ukraine but are indirectly engaged, arming, training and financing its forces. The U.S. aid announced last week included artillery systems, artillery rounds, armored personnel carriers and unmanned coastal defense boats, broadening the scope of materiel sent to Kyiv to include new types of heavy equipment. Adding this week’s package brings total U.S. military aid to Ukraine since Russia invaded to well over $3 billion. (Reporting by Nandita Bose, Steve Holland, Patricia Zengerle and Idrees Ali; Editing by Robert Birsel, Chizu Nomiyama, Heather Timmons and Jonathan Oatis) View the full article