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Asa Hutchinson drops out of GOP presidential race after last-place finish in Iowa

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Tuesday that he is suspending his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, after coming in last place at the Iowa caucuses. Hutchinson earned just 0.2% of the vote in Monday’s caucuses, finishing a distant sixth place.

Hutchinson, who ran an anti-Trump campaign, said in a statement: “My message of being a principled Republican with experience and telling the truth about the current front-runner did not sell in Iowa. I stand by the campaign I ran.” The former Arkansas governor spent much of his campaign in Iowa and New Hampshire, where he was a vocal critic of Trump, even suggesting that the former president might be disqualified from running in 2024 under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which has a provision barring candidates who have engaged in insurrection. Hutchinson said last year in an interview with NBC News: “Whenever you’re looking at four indictments, and the fact that not everybody can recite what each of those indictments entail, they know this is not good for our country, and that no one under that kind of pressure can lead our country, particularly with a mindset that he wants to get revenge as the next president. And so if anyone should drop out, it should be Donald Trump.”

Hutchinson highlighted his two terms as Arkansas governor while campaigning, as well as touting prior leading roles at the Drug Enforcement Administration and Department of Homeland Security in the George W. Bush administration. Hutchinson also criticized the Biden administration’s economic and border policies while calling for the U.S. to become more energy independent. And while Hutchinson reached the Republican National Committee’s polling threshold to qualify for the party’s first debate in Milwaukee in August, he did not meet the higher polling requirements for subsequent debates.

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News Daypop

Long Island serial killer suspect Rex Heuermann charged with fourth Gilgo Beach murder

The suspect in the Gilgo Beach killings in Long Island was charged with the murder of a fourth victim on Tuesday. On Jan. 16, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office announced that 60-year-old Rex Heuermann, a former architect from Massapequa Park, had been linked to the killing of Maureen Brainard-Barnes through DNA evidence and has been charged with second-degree murder. Defense attorney Michael Brown entered a not guilty plea on Heuermann’s behalf.

Brainard-Barnes was last seen on July 9, 2007, in New York City after checking out from a Super 8 Motel. She was found bound with three leather belts, one of which was used to tie her ankles, and was among three other women found buried in the same desolate, marsh area in Gilgo Beach in Long Island, N.Y., in December 2010, all within about 500 feet of each other. The other victims were previously identified as Amber Costello, Melissa Barthelemy and Megan Waterman. All four women had worked as online sex workers and were missing between 2007-2010. Heuermann, who was previously charged with the murders of Costello, Barthelemy and Waterman in July, has pleaded not guilty to those murders.

Prosecutors claimed in Tuesday’s filing that burner phones were discovered that connected Heuermann to online searches for sex workers as well as porn searches, audio accounts of rape and a search that read: “autopsy photos of female.” He allegedly used the alias “Andy” to communicate with sex workers online. Prosecutors further alleged that Heuermann was alone while his now-estranged wife was out of town with their children when Brainard-Barnes was killed in July 2007. Prosecutors said in the court documents released Tuesday that this fit a pattern of Heuermann being alone during the other alleged murders which granted him “unfettered time to execute his plans for each victim without any fear that his family would uncover or learn of his involvement in these crimes.” Heuermann was allegedly linked to the previous three cases by other burner phones, which were used to arrange meetings with the victims, as well as by a piece of his hair allegedly found at the bottom of a burlap bag used to wrap Waterman’s body. He was also traced to a Chevrolet Avalanche registered to him that was allegedly seen at the time of Costello’s disappearance. In searches, authorities also found evidence that Heuermann was allegedly obsessed with the case and searched for articles about the task force that was formed to investigate the murders. Investigators also allegedly found hundreds of internet searches about raping and torturing women, child porn and rape porn as well as searches for his victims and their families.

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Sports Daypop

QB Taulia Tagovailoa heading to 2024 NFL Draft after sixth-year waiver request is denied

According to multiple reports, former Maryland QB Taulia Tagovailoa’s efforts to play a sixth season of college football are over. Tagovailoa will enter the 2024 NFL Draft after his waiver request for a sixth year of eligibility was denied by the NCAA.

Tagovailoa, Maryland’s longtime starter, entered the transfer portal to explore the possibility of playing at another school in 2024 had he been able to play college football for another season. He had petitioned the NCAA for a sixth year after he appeared in five games as a freshman at Alabama (college football players are allowed to appear in up to four games and still keep their redshirt). Tagovailoa surpassed that number by one in 2019 as he made five appearances and threw passes in three games, with two of those games coming after his brother, Tua, had suffered a season-ending hip injury.

Taulia’s fourth game came when he entered for the final two snaps of Alabama’s blowout win over Mississippi State (Tua suffered the hip injury earlier in that game). One week later Taulia played in his fifth game of the season against FCS Western Carolina, and threw two passes. He could have played a sixth season of college football without a waiver had he not appeared in that game, thanks to the extra season of eligibility all players received because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tua left for the NFL following the 2019 season, and Taulia transferred to Maryland where he was 964-of-1,436 passing for 11,356 yards and 77 TD passes to 37 interceptions in four years with the Terrapins. He leaves College Park as the Terrapins’ all-time leading passer and became the Big Ten’s career leader in passing yards in November.

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Sports Daypop

Eagles center Jason Kelce tells teammates he will retire after loss to Buccaneers in playoffs

Veteran Eagles center Jason Kelce reportedly is retiring, in the aftermath of Philly’s NFC wild-card loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night. According to sources including ESPN, Kelce told teammates in the postgame locker room that he is retiring.

Kelce has considered retirement over the last few seasons, but was hoping to win what would’ve been his second Super Bowl title with the Eagles franchise. However, Philly fell to Tampa with a 32-9 loss to top-off a collapse later in the season by the Eagles, who lost six of their last seven games after a 10-1 start. Signs that Monday may have been Kelce’s final game in the NFL came in the closing seconds of the game, where a visibly emotional Kelce stood on the sidelines and shared a hug with Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland. (Kelce declined to speak with reporters after the game.)

The 36-year-old said last Friday: “I think it’s been natural the last three seasons for that for me. Whenever you’re older in your career, you never know when that’s going to be. I try to remind guys and my dad has told me this from the moment I started playing football — you step off the curb one day and that could be the end of your career. So you try to approach every game with that mindset, but obviously the closer and the older you get to that being a realization, puts it out in front maybe a little bit more. But obviously that’s not the main thing. The main thing is going out there and battling with each of the guys in this locker room.”

Kelce allowed just one sack and 12 pressures on the year, with a pressure rate per dropback of 1.9% after coming off a career year where he allowed zero sacks, eight pressures, and a 1.3% pressure rate allowed per dropback. He will go down as one of the greatest Philadelphia Eagles players of all time, and arguably the greatest player at his position in league history. The veteran was selected as a first-team All-Pro for the sixth time this season, becoming the only center since the merger to earn six first-team All-Pro selections and win a Super Bowl title. He is also a first-team All-Pro at his position for the sixth time in the last seven seasons, just the fifth center in NFL history with that many All-Pro selections.

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Country Daypop

Morgan Wallen teases unreleased new song titled “I Guess”

Morgan Wallen has shared an unreleased new song, titled “I Guess,” in what is expected to be a part of his forthcoming, yet-to-be announced new album.

Wallen took to his Instagram to share a teaser of the new song he’s working on, featuring a work tape of an acoustic track that finds Wallen reflecting on a breakup, where the demise of the relationship was blamed on him. Wallen questions why his ex fell in love with him in the first place in the song, and if he is such a “problem” – while also pointing out her flaws. Later as the tune continues (which seemingly features background vocals from ERNEST), he recalls the dynamics of the romance and wonders if he is truly the reason for the breakup, or if his ex played a larger role in ultimately ending their relationship.

Wallen is getting ready to kick off his headlining “One Night At A Time 2024 Tour” in early April, with guests stars including Bailey Zimmerman, Jelly Roll, Jon Pardi, Lainey Wilson, Nate Smith, Bryan Martin, Lauren Watkins and Ella Langley on select dates. Wallen will play back-to-back nights at each tour stop, including three consecutive shows at Nissan Stadium in Downtown Nashville, Tennessee. The One Night At A Time 2024 Tour includes stops in Indiana, Colorado, Florida, Texas and more, before coming to a close on August 9 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Take a listen to Wallen’s “I Guess” – here.

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Country Daypop

Luke Combs headlining ‘Big Game Bash’ at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on Super Bowl weekend

Country music star Luke Combs will headline BetMGM’s “Big Game Bash” on the Las Vegas Strip, with Bet MGM announcing that Combs will perform at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 10, one day before Super Bowl LVII.

BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt shared in a statement: “First-class entertainment and Las Vegas are at the core of the BetMGM brand, and this Luke Combs concert will be a highlight of the weekend’s marquee entertainment events. It is part of our full-scale efforts to deliver memorable experiences for fans who are in town for the momentous Big Game.”

Combs is the latest musician announced as a headliner over Super Bowl weekend.  Other acts set to perform including Wu-Tang Clan, T-Pain, U2, Meek Mill, Chris Brown, Chris Lane and The Offspring.’

Tickets start at $400, plus taxes and fees, and are on sale now exclusively through the BetMGM app. For more information, follow @BetMGM on X.

Luke Combs to headline BetMGM Big Game Bash

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Entertainment Daypop

Simu Liu to host 2024 People’s Choice Awards

NBC, Peacock and E! announced that Simu Liu will host the 2024 People’s Choice Awards in February, posting on its socials: 🚨 Mark your calendars 🚨 @simuliu is hosting the People’s Choice Awards on 2/18! Oh yeah, and he’s also nominated for Movie Performance of the year! ⭐ Save the date to tune in for a legendary night, only on @nbc, @peacock & @eentertainment! #PCAs”

Liu, who played a ‘Ken’ in Barbie, is best known for starring in Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. He is also nominated in the Movie Performance category for his role in Barbie. The People’s Choice Awards is a fan-voted awards show recognizing entertainers in film, television, music and more. New categories this year include Male Country Artist, Female Country Artist, Male Latin Artist, Female Latin artist and Concert Tour, with voting currently open.

Liu said in a press release: “I’m so grateful to have been asked to step up to the hosting plate for the 2024 ‘People’s Choice Awards’. It’s exciting to celebrate this incredible year in pop culture, and to do so with the incredible fans that make what we do possible.” NBCUniversal Entertainment EVP of live events and specials Jen Neal added: “We’re thrilled to have Simu Liu host the 2024 ‘People’s Choice Awards.’ As a fan-favorite tour de force in Hollywood, Simu’s limitless charm and connection to fans perfectly embody the spirit of this awards show.”

The 49th annual People’s Choice Awards will take place Feb. 18 at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif., and air at 8 p.m. EST on NBC, Peacock and E!

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Rock Daypop

Black Crowes announce first LP since 2010, share new music

The Black Crowes announced they will release a new album, Happiness Bastards, on March 15 – their first new music since 2010. The band have released a new song “Wanting and Waiting,” which you can listen to: here.

Happiness Bastards marks The Black Crowes first album of all original material since 2009’s Before the Frost…Until the Freeze. The band’s most recent release was 2022’s 1972, a six-track LP of covers that arrived three years after brothers Chris and Rich Robinson reunited.

A statement on the album pre-order page reads: “The Black Crowes are leaving the bullshit in the past. Some may say the project has been several tumultuous years in the making, but we argue it’s arriving at just the right time. Call it brotherly love or music destiny that brought them back together, the highly anticipated record consecrating the reunion of this legendary band just may be the thing that saves rock & roll. In a time where the art form is buried beneath the corporate sheen of its successors, the Black Crowes are biting back with the angst of words left unsaid penned on paper and electrified by guitar strings, revealing stripped, bare-boned rock & roll. No gloss, no glitter, just rhythm and blues at its very best – gritty, loud and in your face.”  According to the statement, the Black Crowes entered the studio in early 2023 with longtime bassist Sven Pipien and producer Jay Joyce.

To pre-order Happiness Bastards, head here.

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Rock Daypop

Static-X and Sevendust announce spring leg of ‘Machine Killer Tour’

Sevendust and Static-X have added a third leg to their Machine Killer Tour to launch Spring 2024. Dope and Lines of Loyalty will once again serve as special guests on the tour. The new trek will kick-off on February 1, with the newly added date of April 28 at The Complex in Salt Lake City, Utah, before wrapping up on May 18 at Myth in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Sevendust frontman Lajon Witherspoon stated: “We can’t wait to hit the road with our friends in Static-X and DOPE. It has been 24 years since the last time we have shared a stage with those guys. We can’t wait to do it again this Fall and to bring together all of our family members together in one place.” Adds Sevendust guitarist Clint Lowery: “We’re excited to join our friends in Static-X and Dope who we share much history with on tour. I have no doubt that this will be an extremely entertaining and high production run. The bands and the fans have much to look forward to on this one. Do not miss out!”  Static-X guitarist Tony Campos also shared: “We are beyond thrilled to be touring with Sevendust again. They bring one hell of a show each and every night, so this tour is going to be one for the ages.”

In addition to their co-headlining Machine Killer tour dates, both bands will be appearing at the Sick New World festival in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 27 alongside System of a Down, Slipknot, A Perfect Circle, Alice In Chains, Bring Me The Horizon, and more. Static-X also announced Project Regeneration: Vol 2 and released the first single from that album – a cover of the Nine Inch Nails classic “Terrible Lie.” Project Regeneration: Vol 2 is available for pre-order – here.

General tickets are on sale now; for more information on tickets for all shows and VIP packages head to Static-X.org or Sevendust.com.

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Categories
Pop Daypop

Watch Lil Nas X’s video for the new song “J Christ”

Lil Nas X has shared his new single, “J Christ,” along with a self-directed music video filled with religious imagery (that has seen some harsh backlash). Lil Nas X teased J Christ by writing that the song “is dedicated to the man who had the greatest comeback of all time.” He also shared the single artwork, featuring himself dressed as Jesus Christ on the cross.

Lil Nas X produced J Christ with Gesaffelstein and Omar Fedi, and co-wrote the song with Gesaffelstein, Fedi, and Blake Slatkin. The new music marks Lil Nas X’s first single since the release of “Late to da Party” (featuring YoungBoy Never Broke Again) and “Star Walkin’ (League of Legends Worlds Anthem)” in 2022.

Lil Bas X dropped his debut full-length LP, Montero, in 2022. His new documentary ‘Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero’ debuted at the Toronto Film Festival last year, and is set to debut on HBO on Saturday, January 27, at 8 p.m. Eastern; it will also be available to stream on Max.

Check out the video for J Christhere.

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