Month: April 2024

Categories
Sports Daypop

UConn defeats Purdue 75-60 to win back-to-back NCAA men’s championships

Glendale Arizona State Farm Stadium home of the Arizona Cardinals football team

UConn won a second straight NCAA mens basketball championship on Monday night, defeating Purdue in a 75-60 win over the Boilermakers at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The victory makes UConn the first team since Florida in 2006 and 2007 to win back-to-back men’s basketball national titles.

UConn coach Dan Hurley said: “You can’t even wrap your mind around it because you know how hard this tournament is …What could you say? We won — by a lot again. I think it’s up there in terms of the greatest two-year runs that a program maybe has ever had. I just think it’s the best two-year run I think in a very, very long time just because of everything we lost from last year’s team. To lose that much, and again, to do what we did again, it’s got to be as impressive a two-year run as a program’s had since prior to whoever did it before Duke. To me, it’s more impressive than what Florida and Duke did because they brought back their entire teams. We lost some major players.” (per ESPN).

UConn’s victory was led by All-American guard Tristen Newton (20 points), freshman star Stephon Castle (15 points), and sharpshooter Cam Spencer (11 points); they trailed after falling behind 23-21 with 8:07 remaining in the first half. Purdue star Zach Edey finished with 37 points and 10 rebounds in the final game of his college career, as he plans on declaring for the 2024 NBA Draft. Edey, a two-time National Player of the Year, recorded at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in seven consecutive NCAA Tournament games.

The Huskies’ last two seasons have shown their dominance: they won each of their 2024 NCAA tournament games by at least 14 points; while one season ago, UConn won its six tournament games by at least 13 points.

Editorial credit: Thomas Trompeter / Shutterstock.com

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News Daypop

Shooting at Las Vegas law office leaves 3 dead, including suspected gunman

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department SUV. LVMPD has jurisdiction in Clark County I

Three people were killed, including the suspected gunman, after a shooting inside a Las Vegas-area law office on Monday.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill confirmed that the shooting occurred around 10 a.m. at the fifth-floor law offices of Prince Law Group in Summerlin, located about 10 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip. The firm, located at the City National Bank Building at 10801 W. Charleston Blvd. near Pavilion Center Drive, handles personal injury, insurance and commercial law.

Sheriff McMahill said at a news conference that a male and a female were killed, and the gunman was believed to have killed himself. He added that the motive for the shooting and the relationship between the victims and the shooter are under investigation: “We believe the suspect is deceased…there is no further threat to the community. The suspect was not killed by my police. We believe he took his own life. We have a theory at this point, but I cannot release any of that information until we’ve confirmed that information.” McMahills said that hundreds of people were evacuated from the building, adding there were businesses adjacent to the law office where the shooting occurred.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that Robert Eglet, a former law partner in the firm, identified the deceased male victim as Dennis Prince. Eglet called Prince “one of the best trial lawyers in the state” and said he had known the attorney for approximately 30 years: “It’s a real loss to the community. It’s awful. It’s a loss to our profession. … This is every family’s nightmare, something like this happening. I’m still trying to put my arms around the fact that this actually happened.”

Editorial credit: Jonathan Weiss / Shutterstock.com

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News Daypop

Last-minute attempt from Donald Trump to delay NY hush money trial is denied by judge

Former President Donald Trump speaks to press before the start of civil fraud trial at NYS court in New York on October 2^ 2023

ABC News reports that a judge has denied former President Donald Trump’s last-minute attempt Monday to delay his criminal trial in New York and move the case out of Manhattan. The decision comes just one week before jury selection was set to start, with Judge Lizbeth Gonzalez denying it without explanation in a one-sentence order.

Trump’s attorneys had asked an intermediary appellate court to stay the April 15 trial date, arguing overwhelming pretrial publicity made it impossible to find a fair and impartial jury even with a rigorous jury selection process. In a brief argument before the Appellate Division First Department, the defense suggested that too many people in Manhattan have a negative opinion of Trump, with attorney Emil Bove arguing “in terms of prejudicial pretrial publicity in this county, this case stands alone,” adding there had not been a case with so much attention since the 1999 police killing of Amadou Diallo. Bove said: “when bias against the defendant is this engrained, has taken root to this extent, voir dire cannot be trusted to clear that up. Jury selection cannot proceed in a fair manner next week in this county.”

Steven Wu, the prosecutor with the Manhattan district attorney’s office, said there’s nothing to suggest potential jurors in Manhattan were “uniquely susceptible” to negative pretrial publicity since Trump is a well-known figure.  Said Wu: “the idea of transferring venue here is misguided. The mere fact that they know about this case is not an indication of bias … This is the defendant coming into this argument with unclean hands.”

Trump is facing 34 felony counts of falsifying business records after being indicted by a Manhattan grand jury in connection with a hush money payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen made to porn star Stormy Daniels just days before the 2016 presidential election.  The former President has denied all wrongdoing, pleading not guilty last April.

Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Sports Daypop

NAIA bans transgender athletes from women’s sports competitions

"2022 NAIA Men's Basketball National Champions" banner hangs from lamp post at Louise C. Thomas Hall at Loyola University

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the governing body for mostly small colleges, announced on Monday that athletes in the NAIA will only be allowed to compete in women’s sports if they were assigned the female gender at birth — all but banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports.

The NAIA’s Council of Presidents approved the policy in a 20-0 vote Monday morning after a December survey indicated widespread support for the move. The association’s previous policy only applied to postseason competition. The new directive applies to all NAIA competitions.

The NAIA oversees some 83,000 athletes at 249 mostly small colleges across the country that are not part of the NCAA’s three divisions of competition, with a membership that is 80% private schools. This decision does not apply to NCAA competitions; and is believed to be the first college sports organization to take such a step.

According to the transgender participation policy, all athletes may participate in NAIA-sponsored male sports but only athletes whose biological sex assigned at birth is female and who have not begun hormone therapy will be allowed to participate in women’s sports.

NAIA president Jim Carr told CBS Sports: “We know there are a lot of different opinions out there. For us, we believed our first responsibility was to create fairness and competition in the NAIA. … We also think it aligns with the reasons Title IX was created. You’re allowed to have separate but equal opportunities for women to compete.”

Editorial credit: William A. Morgan / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

Morgan Wallen arrested on three felony charges after throwing chair off six-story bar

Morgan Wallen attends the 2019 CMT Music Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on June 5^ 2019 in Nashville^ Tennessee.

Country artist Morgan Wallen was arrested Sunday night on three felony charges, after allegedly throwing a chair off of a six-story bar on Broadway in Nashville just before 11 p.m. local time on Sunday, April 7. The bar in question Chief’s on Broadway, is owned by country singer Eric Church, and just had its grand opening on Friday, April 5.

The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department confirmed the arrest on social media, sharing a statement alongside a photo of Wallen’s mugshot which read: “Country artist Morgan Wallen, 30, was booked early today on 3 cts of felony reckless endangerment and 1 ct of misdemeanor disorderly conduct for throwing a chair from the rooftop of Chief’s Bar Sun night. The chair landed on Broadway, close to 2 MNPD officers. His bond: $15,250.”

Local Nashville outlet WKRN reported that witnesses said Wallen was seen picking up the chair, throwing it over the rooftop’s edge and “laughing afterward,” with video footage reviewed by police showing the singer throwing an object off the roof and it plunging six stories down. Wallen was booked into Metro Jail early on Monday morning and released a few hours later.

Wallen’s attorney, Worrick Robinson, confirmed the arrest to Entertainment Weekly in the following statement: “At 10:53p Sunday evening Morgan Wallen was arrested in downtown Nashville for reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct. He is cooperating fully with authorities.” Representatives for Wallen declined further comment.

Wallen’s arrest in Nashville comes just days after he kicked off the 2024 leg of his One Night at a Time World Tour in Indianapolis, Indiana. Per PEOPLE, Wallen is schedule to perform in Nashville on May 2 and 3 at Nissan Stadium, following a headlining performance at Stagecoach music festival at the end of April.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Morgan Wallen arrested on three felony charges after throwing chair off six-story bar

Morgan Wallen attends the 2019 CMT Music Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on June 5^ 2019 in Nashville^ Tennessee.

Country artist Morgan Wallen was arrested Sunday night on three felony charges, after allegedly throwing a chair off of a six-story bar on Broadway in Nashville just before 11 p.m. local time on Sunday, April 7. The bar in question Chief’s on Broadway, is owned by country singer Eric Church, and just had its grand opening on Friday, April 5.

The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department confirmed the arrest on social media, sharing a statement alongside a photo of Wallen’s mugshot which read: “Country artist Morgan Wallen, 30, was booked early today on 3 cts of felony reckless endangerment and 1 ct of misdemeanor disorderly conduct for throwing a chair from the rooftop of Chief’s Bar Sun night. The chair landed on Broadway, close to 2 MNPD officers. His bond: $15,250.”

Local Nashville outlet WKRN reported that witnesses said Wallen was seen picking up the chair, throwing it over the rooftop’s edge and “laughing afterward,” with video footage reviewed by police showing the singer throwing an object off the roof and it plunging six stories down. Wallen was booked into Metro Jail early on Monday morning and released a few hours later.

Wallen’s attorney, Worrick Robinson, confirmed the arrest to Entertainment Weekly in the following statement: “At 10:53p Sunday evening Morgan Wallen was arrested in downtown Nashville for reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct. He is cooperating fully with authorities.” Representatives for Wallen declined further comment.

Wallen’s arrest in Nashville comes just days after he kicked off the 2024 leg of his One Night at a Time World Tour in Indianapolis, Indiana. Per PEOPLE, Wallen is schedule to perform in Nashville on May 2 and 3 at Nissan Stadium, following a headlining performance at Stagecoach music festival at the end of April.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Morgan Wallen arrested on three felony charges after throwing chair off six-story bar

Morgan Wallen attends the 2019 CMT Music Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on June 5^ 2019 in Nashville^ Tennessee.

Country artist Morgan Wallen was arrested Sunday night on three felony charges, after allegedly throwing a chair off of a six-story bar on Broadway in Nashville just before 11 p.m. local time on Sunday, April 7. The bar in question Chief’s on Broadway, is owned by country singer Eric Church, and just had its grand opening on Friday, April 5.

The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department confirmed the arrest on social media, sharing a statement alongside a photo of Wallen’s mugshot which read: “Country artist Morgan Wallen, 30, was booked early today on 3 cts of felony reckless endangerment and 1 ct of misdemeanor disorderly conduct for throwing a chair from the rooftop of Chief’s Bar Sun night. The chair landed on Broadway, close to 2 MNPD officers. His bond: $15,250.”

Local Nashville outlet WKRN reported that witnesses said Wallen was seen picking up the chair, throwing it over the rooftop’s edge and “laughing afterward,” with video footage reviewed by police showing the singer throwing an object off the roof and it plunging six stories down. Wallen was booked into Metro Jail early on Monday morning and released a few hours later.

Wallen’s attorney, Worrick Robinson, confirmed the arrest to Entertainment Weekly in the following statement: “At 10:53p Sunday evening Morgan Wallen was arrested in downtown Nashville for reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct. He is cooperating fully with authorities.” Representatives for Wallen declined further comment.

Wallen’s arrest in Nashville comes just days after he kicked off the 2024 leg of his One Night at a Time World Tour in Indianapolis, Indiana. Per PEOPLE, Wallen is schedule to perform in Nashville on May 2 and 3 at Nissan Stadium, following a headlining performance at Stagecoach music festival at the end of April.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Hardy’s “Truck Bed” marks his third No. 1 on country radio

Hardy performs in concert during the "Can't Say I Ain't Country" Tour on July 20^ 2019 at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh^ New York.

Hardy’s hit song “Truck Bed” topped Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, marking his first solo Country Airplay No. 1, third as an artist and 14th as a songwriter.

“Truck Bed”, which he co-wrote with Ben Johnson, Hunter Phelps and Ashley Gorley, appears on Hardy’s 2023 album the mockingbird & THE CROW, which is comprised of half rock songs and half country songs.

Hardy has previously topped the country radio charts alongside other artists, including with his double Platinum “One Beer” featuring Lauren Alaina and Devin Dawson and his award-winning, double Platinum “Wait In The Truck” featuring Lainey Wilson. He was also featured on the Platinum Dierks Bentley and Breland collaboration, “Beers On Me,” which he co-wrote.

Hardy is also set to embark on his “Quit!! Tour” of North America this spring/summer, with support from Kip Moore, Travis Denning, Ella Langley, and Stephen Wilson Jr. on various dates.  Additionally, HARDY will perform at a number of major festivals, including Stagecoach, CMA Fest, Country Thunder Bristol, Country Concert, and more.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Jonathan Majors escapes jail time, sentenced to domestic violence treatment program

Jonathan Majors at BFI IMAX Waterloo in London^United Kingdom - February 16^ 2023

Actor Jonathan Majors escaped jail time and was sentenced by a New York judge on Monday to participate a domestic violence treatment program, over three months after being convicted of reckless assault and harassment. Per Deadline, the one-year “in person batterers” intervention program will take place in LA, where Majors is based.

Majors, who pleaded not guilty and did not testify at his trial, was charged with four misdemeanor charges. The actor was convicted by the jury of three men and three women in the three-week trial late last year, after several days of deliberations. He was not convicted by the jurors of intentional assault in the third degree and of aggravated harassment in the second degree against then-girlfriend Grace Jabbari. Majors could have faced up to a year of jail time for his conviction on December 18 on two misdemeanor counts of reckless assault and harassment against Jabbari.

During Monday’s sentencing, Manhattan Judge Michael Gaffey issued a permanent order of protection against any contact whatsoever with Jabbari, and continued therapy for Majors. The actor cannot apply for or own a gun, and any violation of the sentencing terms could result in Majors being put behind bars for up to 364 days. If Majors does not complete the West Coast intervention program, he could also face six months in jail.

Editorial credit: Fred Duval / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Rock Daypop

‘The Beach Boys’ documentary to air on Disney+ this spring

Close up of The Beach Boys vinyl records collection

Disney+ announced that The Beach Boys, an all-new documentary on the legendary band, will stream exclusively on the streaming service beginning May 24. The documentary is described as ‘a celebration of the legendary band that revolutionized pop music, and the iconic, harmonious sound they created that personified the California dream, captivating fans for generations and generations to come.’

The Beach Boys traces the band from its humble family beginnings, featuring never-before-seen footage and all-new interviews with The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, David Marks, and Bruce Johnston. Other artists including Lindsey Buckingham, Janelle Monáe, Ryan Tedder, and Don Was also appear in the documentary.

The official soundtrack for The Beach Boys, featuring songs from the film, will be available to stream and download on May 24.  Additionally, the group’s only official book, The Beach Boys by The Beach Boys, is available now via Genesis Publications.

Editorial credit: Ralf Liebhold / Shutterstock.com