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House Democrats pass police reform package involving changes to policing and public safety

On Thursday, House Democrats passed a package of new police reform bills that would fund recruitment and training for police departments across the country, including new language for police accountability. Early in the day a procedural vote on the bills narrowly passed 216-215 when a group of progressive Democrats objected to providing more funding to police departments. It now heads to the Senate.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., said: “The Invest to Protect Act will ensure that local police departments across our country have what they need to recruit and retain the finest officers, to provide necessary training, and to invest in providing mental health resources for our officers.” 

California Democratic Rep. Katie Porter sponsored one f the bills, which would create a grant program for departments to hire and dispatch mental professionals instead of law enforcement officers when incidents involve behavioral health needs. Another bill provides funding to police departments with fewer than 200 officers and also allows the funding to be used for data collection about police and community safety.

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News Daypop

Boeing to pay $200 million to settle SEC charges over 737 Max

The Securities and Exchange Commission said Thursday that it charged the aircraft maker Boeing and former CEO Dennis Muilenburg with making significant misleading public statements about the plane and an automated flight-control system that was implicated in the crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia.

Boeing Co. will pay $200 million to settle charges that the company and its former CEO misled investors about the safety of its 737 Max after two of the airliners crashed, killing 346 people. While neither Boeing nor Muilenburg admitted wrongdoing, they offered to settle and pay penalties, including $1 million to be paid by Muilenburg, who was ousted in December 2019, nine months after the second crash.

The SEC said Boeing and Muilenburg knew that the flight system, known as MCAS, posed a safety issue but promised the public that the plane was safe. The SEC said they also falsely claimed that there had been no gaps in the process of certifying the plane in the first place.

Boeing said it has made “broad and deep changes across our company in response to those accidents” to improve safety and quality: “Today’s settlement is part of the company’s broader effort to responsibly resolve outstanding legal matters related to the 737 Max accidents in a manner that serves the best interests of our shareholders, employees and other stakeholders.”

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Sports Daypop

Boston Celtics suspend head coach Ime Udoka for 2022-23 season due to inappropriate relationship with staff member

The Boston Celtics announced Thursday night that they have suspended head coach Ime Udoka for the upcoming 2022-23 season, citing violations of team policies in its announcement. Sources told Andrian Wojnarowski of ESPN that the suspension is related to Udoka’s role in an intimate relationship with a female member of the franchise’s staff, which is considered a violation of the Celtics’ guidelines. The suspension is effective immediately, with a decision about Udoka’s future with the organization to be determined at a later date.  Assistant coach Joe Mazzulla will take over as interim head coach

Udoka said in a statement: “I want to apologize to our players, fans, the entire Celtics organization, and my family for letting them down. I am sorry for putting the team in this difficult situation, and I accept the team’s decision. Out of respect for everyone involved, I will have no further comment.”

The 45-year-old  Udoka previously served as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs (2012-19), Philadelphia 76ers (2019-20) and Nets (2020-21) following a seven-year playing career in the NBA. Udoka was hired to be the Celtics’ head coach in June 2021, replacing Brad Stevens after he went on to become Boston’s president of basketball operations.  In his first season in Boston, Udoka led the team to 51 wins – going 26-6 in the final 32 games – and their first NBA Finals appearance since the 2010 season. The Celtics lost the title series to the Golden State Warriors in six games.

Udoka is engaged to actress Nia Long, and the couple share one child together.

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Sports Daypop

Shakur Stevenson stripped of super featherweight belts after missing weight for Robson Conceição match

Shakur Stevenson will be stripped of his WBO and WBC featherweight titles after failing to make weight ahead of his matchup with Robson Conceição on Friday. The undefeated Stevenson (18-0) is facing a fine from the New Jersey State Athletic Commission, and potentially some of the $3 million fight purse he’s set to earn. Stevenson, 25, said Thursday on Twitter that he’s no longer capable of hitting 130 pounds: “I gave it my all. I’ve been professional my whole career and made weight, but my body just can’t make 130 anymore. My health has to come first. I’m moving up to 135 in my next fight.”

Conceição will still be eligible to claim both titles with a win. Friday’s event is taking place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, and per ESPN’s Mike Coppinger, “Top Rank is attempting to find a solution so Stevenson and Conceição can still fight in the ESPN main event.” The 33-year-old Conceição (17-1) will have his second title shot on Friday. In Sept. 2021 he lost by decision to Oscar Valdez, who had tested positive for a banned substance in the lead-up to the fight but was still allowed to participate.

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Country Daypop

Luke Combs, Kane Brown, Carly Pearce and more named 2022 CMT Artists of the Year Honorees

Luke Combs, Carly Pearce, Cody Johnson, Kane Brown, and Walker Hayes will be recognized as the 2022 CMT Artists of the Year during a 90-minute special airing on CMT on Friday, October 14. Kane Brown and Luke Combs will each be honored for the third time (2019, 2021 & 2022), while Carly Pearce, Cody Johnson, and Walker Hayes will be recognized for the first time.

CMT revealed the news, saying in a press release: “These five ‘Artists of the Year’ collectively dominated the last 12 months in country music, leading across all CMT platforms, scoring chart-topping albums and singles, and performing music that entertains and inspires millions of fans.”

CMT senior vice president of production, music & events Margaret Comeaux in a statement:
“We are honored to recognize the astounding achievements of this illustrious group of artists over the past year. Carly, Cody, Kane, Luke, and Walker all represent the vibrant future of the country music format, as they defy convention and blaze new trails, breaking industry records and genre barriers. We can’t wait to celebrate their extraordinary accomplishments alongside their fellow artists and friends.”

The 2022 CMT Artists of the Year will premiere on Friday, October 14 at 9/8c.

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Country Daypop

Jon Pardi and wife Summer announce they are expecting their first child

Jon Pardi and his wife Summer have announced they are expecting their first child in early 2023. The couple shared the news exclusively with People, and sharing photos on social media that showed off Summer’s baby bump.  Pardi said: “I’m ready to start a new adventure with my wonderful wife Summer and our new little one — Pardi of three! I’m really excited to meet our baby and to have someone to ride around the ranch with.”

Pardi wrote in his caption on Instagram: “Wellllll, it happened. No plans, no timing, just a gift from god. I’m ready for it!”  Summer also posted on Instagram with the caption:  “Pardi, party of 3 🥰”

Summer shared she is “excited and nervous” about becoming a mom, but is looking forward to seeing her husband as a dad: “He’s such a big kid at heart, always the life of the party and has such positive energy so I can only imagine how much fun this little Pardi addition will be for him and our family,” she shared. “I know [being parents] is going to be the greatest gift in the world.”

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Entertainment Daypop

Child sex abuse lawsuit against Tiffany Haddish and Aries Spears is dismissed at plaintiff’s request

The lawsuit filed against Tiffany Haddish and Aries Spears that accused the comedians of sexual battery, sexual harassment and sexual abuse of a minor has been dismissed.  The lawsuit. which was filed in late August by a 22-year-old woman and her minor brother (identified as Jane and John Doe), was dismissed at the request of the plaintiff.

Spears took to Instagram to address the lawsuit’s dismissal, sharing a screenshot of the news with the caption “I hope y’all keep that same energy.”  Haddish’s representative Cesidia Carosa also provided a photo of the notice of dismissal, adding that it was filed “with prejudice,” meaning the plaintiffs will be unable to file the same claims against Haddish or Spears again.

Jane and John Doe alleged in the lawsuit that they were both assaulted by Haddish and Spears in Los Angeles several years ago when they were minors, claiming Haddish was a “longtime family friend” of their mother. The lawsuit described several instances of grooming and molestation by Haddish and Spears, such as when the comedians worked with the plaintiffs on a “Funny or Die” project about eight years ago that was sexually suggestive. In a statement posted to Instagram Sept. 5, Haddish said that while there was very little she could say on the legal matter, she deeply regretted taking part in the “Funny or Die” skit. writing, “Clearly, while this sketch was intended to be comedic, it wasn’t funny at all.”

According to the lawsuit, the plaintiffs’ mother previously attempted to work out a $15,000 settlement with Spears over the video of John Doe but was unsuccessful. The suit did not specify the monetary value the plaintiffs were seeking. Spears’ attorney Debra Opri called the lawsuit a “shakedown”, while Haddish’s lawyer Andrew Brettler called the plaintiff’s previous claims of abuse “bogus.” Brettler said: “Every attorney who has initially taken on her case – and there were several – ultimately dropped the matter once it became clear that the claims were meritless and Ms. Haddish would not be shaken down.” 

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Entertainment Daypop

Miles Teller, Brendan Gleeson, Megan Thee Stallion to host ‘Saturday Night Live’ in October

Miles Teller, Brendan Gleeson and Megan Thee Stallion have all been announced as hosts for the 48th season of “Saturday Night Live” next month. The news was announced on show’s Twitter feed.

Teller will host the Oct. 1 show, with Kendrick Lamar serving as musical guest for the third time. Gleeson is set for Oct. 8 with Willow as musical guest, and Megan Thee Stallion will do double duty as guest host and musical guest on Oct. 15.

Cast members including Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant and Pete Davidson have departed the series ahead of its Season 48 premiere. Joining the cast this season are newbies Marcello Hernandez, Molly Kearney, Michael Longfellow and Devon Walker.

‘SNL’: Miles Teller, Brendan Gleeson & Megan Thee Stallion To Host Opening Three Episodes Of Season 48

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Rock Daypop

Motley Crue and Def Leppard’s ‘Stadium Tour’ tops $170 Million in earnings

Motley Crue and Def Leppard’s North American ‘Stadium Tour’ earned more than $170 million, according to a new report by Billboard.

The 36-city trek — also featuring Poison and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts — sold 1.3 million tickets, earning $173.5 million in revenue at the box office and making it the biggest tour of both Motley Crue’s and Def Leppard’s careers. The Stadium Tour averaged 37,520 tickets each night, drawing more than three times the audience that each band previously reached on their own.

Motley Crue reunited for the Stadium Tour following a “farewell tour” that ended in 2015, while Def Leppard were on the road in support of their latest album, “Diamond Star Halos”.  Both bands have hinted that the tour *may* continue in 2023.

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Rock Daypop

Guns N’ Roses to release ‘Use Your Illusion I & II’ box set including 63 unreleased songs and videos

Guns N’ Roses is celebrating their 1991 two-album set Use Your Illusion I & II with a commemorative box set featuring dozens of previously unreleased tracks and videos. The Illusion albums, GNR’s third and fourth studio releases, dropped simultaneously on Sept. 17, 1991, and debuted in the top two slots on the Billboard 200 album chart. The pair sold nearly 1.5 million copies during their first week on the charts.

The new 97-track collection, titled Guns N’ Roses — Use Your Illusion I & II Super Deluxes, will feature 63 previously unreleased songs alongside newly remastered for the first time versions of both albums.

The special edition will be available in a number of configurations, including a Super Deluxe Seven-CD + Blu-ray, a Super Deluxe Twelve-LP + Blu-ray on 180-gram heavy weight audiophile black vinyl; 2-CD Deluxe Editions of Use Your Illusion I & II separately, as well as standard 1-CD and 2-LP versions of Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II separately.  All the versions will also be available to stream and as digital downloads; head here for information.

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