Month: January 2025

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News Daypop

Pres. Biden speaks with Israeli PM Netanyahu on hostage, cease-fire deal

American and Israeli flags fly in the cloudy sky

The White House said onn Sunday that President Joe Biden has spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a race to reach a Gaza hostage and cease-fire deal before Biden leaves office on Jan. 20. The White House confirmed that Biden and Netanyahu discussed efforts underway to reach a deal to halt the fighting in the Palestinian enclave and free the remaining 98 hostages held there.

Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday that the parties were “very, very close” to reaching a deal, but still had to get it across the finish line: “we are still determined to use every day we have in office to get this done, and we are not, by any stretch of imagination, setting this aside.”

Netanyahu’s office said in a statement Sunday: “The prime minister discussed with the American president the progress in the negotiations to release our hostages and updated him on the mandate he gave to the negotiating team to Doha in order to advance the release of our hostages. The prime minister wanted to thank the American President (Joe) Biden and the incoming President Donald Trump for their cooperation for the holy mission.”

The call between Biden and Netanyahu comes after the prime minister has been in meetings with his Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who both had previously rejected a peace proposal laid out by Biden in May of last year, which would pair a release of hostages along with a “full and complete ceasefire.”

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Categories
Sports Daypop

Buffalo Bills defeat Denver Broncos with 31-7 win in wild-card playoff game

Denver Broncos vs. Buffalo Bills^ NFL Wild Card Round. 2025

The Buffalo Bills defeated the Denver Broncos in their wild-card playoff game on Sunday with a 31-7 win, advancing to the postseason for a fifth straight season.

Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes, while James Cook scored on a 5-yard run and finished with 120 yards rushing, as the Bills’ scored on six of their first seven drives.

Buffalo – the defending AFC East champions – now move on to the divisional round to face the third-seeded Baltimore Ravens next weekend, who are coming off their 28-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday.

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Categories
Sports Daypop

New England Patriots hire Mike Vrabel as their new head coach

NFL club New England Patriots replica helmet on black background ^ product shot

The New England Patriots have hired Mike Vrabel as the franchise’s new head coach, per multiple reports. The team confirmed Vrabel’s hiring Sunday, announcing Vrabel as the 16th head coach in franchise history.

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, “Mike Vrabel and the Patriots reached a multi-year agreement to make him New England’s next head coach, per sources. Vrabel now is the seventh individual to become the head coach for a franchise he once helped win a Super Bowl as a player, joining Jerod Mayo, Bart Starr, Forrest Gregg, Art Shell, Jeff Saturday and Jason Garrett.”

Vrabel, 49, played for the franchise under Bill Belichick for eight years and won three Super Bowls. He was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2023, saying at the time: “This is a special place with great leadership, great fans, great direction and great coaching. … It’s not like this everywhere. We held each other accountable, because there was trust, there was an understanding, a respect that you could say things that needed to be said to each other. Every day that’s what I’m trying to recreate wherever I coach. I don’t know if we’ll get it, but every day I’m going to try because nothing was more important than the team.”

Vrabel was previously head coach of the Tennessee Titans, where he posted a 54-45 career record with the Titans, and 2-3 mark in the playoffs (including a trip to the AFC Championship Game in 2019). Vrabel was fired following the 2023 season; last year, he worked with the Cleveland Browns as a coaching and personnel consultant.

Vrabel replaces Jerod Mayo, who was fired Jan. 5 after posting a 4-13 record in his one season as Patriots coach; he will be formally introduced as New England’s new head coach during a noon ET news conference Monday at Gillette Stadium.

Editorial credit:dean bertoncelj / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Miranda Lambert’s MuttNation announces ‘Relief for Rescues’ amid LA wildfires

Miranda Lambert performs onstage during the 9th Annual ACM Honors at the Ryman Auditorium on September 1^ 2015 in Nashville^ Tennessee.

Miranda Lambert’s MuttNation Foundation — in partnership with Tractor Supply Company — announced the return of the annual Relief for Rescues fundraising event.  As it has done previously, Relief for Rescues provides financial support for shelter animals impacted by disasters such as floods, fires, hurricanes and tornadoes. The Fund launched in 2023, has raised over $1 million and has already allocated over $600,000 to support shelter animals impacted by natural disasters.

Customers can donate to the Relief for Rescues Fund during checkout at any Tractor Supply store location, online at TractorSupply.com or via the Tractor Supply mobile app between from January 12-January 22. The Fund is actively supporting the Southern California region currently impacted by ongoing wildfires; it had recently deployed $250,000 to provide critical assistance to 31 animal shelters and organizations across multiple states in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The money distributed helped animal rescues access more efficient emergency response and provided food, supplies, veterinary care, transport services for displaced pets and assistance with shelter repair.

Lambert said in a statement: “Our Relief For Rescues Fund allows MuttNation to help shelters when they need us the most. It’s been heartbreaking to see the devastation in California unfold, and we’re grateful that our Fund and the generosity of our donors has allowed us to respond quickly. 100% of your support goes directly to those impacted by disasters.”

MuttNation Foundation and Tractor Supply have teamed up since 2019 to also support MuttNation’s Mutts Across America program, providing annual grants to animal shelters nationwide. Additionally, Tractor Supply is the exclusive home for MuttNation pet products, with a percentage of all MuttNation sales going to MuttNation Foundation to further support its mission to promote and facilitate adoption of shelter pets.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Alec Baldwin files civil lawsuit for malicious prosecution, civil rights violations in ‘Rust’ case

Alec Baldwin at the Comedy Central Roast of Alec Baldwin held at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills^ USA on September 7^ 2019.

Actor Alec Baldwin has filed a civil lawsuit for malicious prosecution and civil rights violations in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film “Rust.” The shooting led to an involuntary manslaughter conviction at trial last year against movie weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who is serving out a maximum sentence of 1 1/2 years at a state penitentiary.

Hutchins died shortly after being wounded during a rehearsal for “Rust” in October 2021 while filming in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer of the film, was pointing a pistol at Hutchins when it discharged, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin has said he pulled back the hammer — but not the trigger — and the revolver fired. Last July, a judge in Santa Fe, New Mexico dismissed a charge of involuntary manslaughter against Baldwin in the death of Hutchins.

The lawsuit was filed Thursday at state district court in Santa Fe, with Baldwin alleging defamation in the suit, saying that prosecutors and investigators intentionally mishandled evidence as they pursued the case. Defendants named in the lawsuit include special prosecutor Kari Morrissey and Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, along with three investigators from the Santa Fe County sheriff’s office and the county board of commissioners.

The lawsuit states that prosecutors and investigators targeted Baldwin for professional or political gain, adding that “defendants sought at every turn to scapegoat Baldwin for the acts and omissions of others, regardless of the evidence or the law.” The claims by Baldwin seek unspecified punitive damages, compensatory damages, attorneys’ fees and interest.

Editorial credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

Recording Academy & MusiCares pledge $1M to Los Angeles wildfire relief efforts

RECORDING ACADEMY^ GRAMMY AWARDS advertising seen on billboard

The Recording Academy and charity foundation MusiCares have pledged $1 million to support artists and music industry professionals impacted by the ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area.

The organizations have teamed up to form the Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort, which is also accepting donations to distribute in addition to their guaranteed $1 million. Music industry workers affected by the Los Angeles County fires can apply for relief here.

Recording Academy and MusiCares CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said in a press release: “The entire Grammy family is shocked and deeply saddened by the situation that is unfolding in Los Angeles. The music community is being so severely impacted but we will come together as an industry to support one another. Our organizations exist to serve music people because music is a powerful force for good in the world, and we hope the broader industry will now rally to this cause.”

Laura Segura, the executive director of MusiCares, added: “We expect the disaster relief efforts in Los Angeles to be extraordinary, if even just on the basis of how many music people have lost their homes in the last day. MusiCares is always committed to ensuring that music professionals are supported in times of crisis, and we ask for the larger community to donate for those in need at this dire time. MusiCares can help with short term emergent needs for those currently displaced, and then longer-term services as we get a handle on the full extent of how music people are impacted.”

Editorial credit: Poetra.RH / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Recording Academy & MusiCares pledge $1M to Los Angeles wildfire relief efforts

RECORDING ACADEMY^ GRAMMY AWARDS advertising seen on billboard

The Recording Academy and charity foundation MusiCares have pledged $1 million to support artists and music industry professionals impacted by the ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area.

The organizations have teamed up to form the Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort, which is also accepting donations to distribute in addition to their guaranteed $1 million. Music industry workers affected by the Los Angeles County fires can apply for relief here.

Recording Academy and MusiCares CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said in a press release: “The entire Grammy family is shocked and deeply saddened by the situation that is unfolding in Los Angeles. The music community is being so severely impacted but we will come together as an industry to support one another. Our organizations exist to serve music people because music is a powerful force for good in the world, and we hope the broader industry will now rally to this cause.”

Laura Segura, the executive director of MusiCares, added: “We expect the disaster relief efforts in Los Angeles to be extraordinary, if even just on the basis of how many music people have lost their homes in the last day. MusiCares is always committed to ensuring that music professionals are supported in times of crisis, and we ask for the larger community to donate for those in need at this dire time. MusiCares can help with short term emergent needs for those currently displaced, and then longer-term services as we get a handle on the full extent of how music people are impacted.”

Editorial credit: Poetra.RH / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Rock Daypop

Recording Academy & MusiCares pledge $1M to Los Angeles wildfire relief efforts

RECORDING ACADEMY^ GRAMMY AWARDS advertising seen on billboard

The Recording Academy and charity foundation MusiCares have pledged $1 million to support artists and music industry professionals impacted by the ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area.

The organizations have teamed up to form the Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort, which is also accepting donations to distribute in addition to their guaranteed $1 million. Music industry workers affected by the Los Angeles County fires can apply for relief here.

Recording Academy and MusiCares CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said in a press release: “The entire Grammy family is shocked and deeply saddened by the situation that is unfolding in Los Angeles. The music community is being so severely impacted but we will come together as an industry to support one another. Our organizations exist to serve music people because music is a powerful force for good in the world, and we hope the broader industry will now rally to this cause.”

Laura Segura, the executive director of MusiCares, added: “We expect the disaster relief efforts in Los Angeles to be extraordinary, if even just on the basis of how many music people have lost their homes in the last day. MusiCares is always committed to ensuring that music professionals are supported in times of crisis, and we ask for the larger community to donate for those in need at this dire time. MusiCares can help with short term emergent needs for those currently displaced, and then longer-term services as we get a handle on the full extent of how music people are impacted.”

Editorial credit: Poetra.RH / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Recording Academy & MusiCares pledge $1M to Los Angeles wildfire relief efforts

RECORDING ACADEMY^ GRAMMY AWARDS advertising seen on billboard

The Recording Academy and charity foundation MusiCares have pledged $1 million to support artists and music industry professionals impacted by the ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area.

The organizations have teamed up to form the Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort, which is also accepting donations to distribute in addition to their guaranteed $1 million. Music industry workers affected by the Los Angeles County fires can apply for relief here.

Recording Academy and MusiCares CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said in a press release: “The entire Grammy family is shocked and deeply saddened by the situation that is unfolding in Los Angeles. The music community is being so severely impacted but we will come together as an industry to support one another. Our organizations exist to serve music people because music is a powerful force for good in the world, and we hope the broader industry will now rally to this cause.”

Laura Segura, the executive director of MusiCares, added: “We expect the disaster relief efforts in Los Angeles to be extraordinary, if even just on the basis of how many music people have lost their homes in the last day. MusiCares is always committed to ensuring that music professionals are supported in times of crisis, and we ask for the larger community to donate for those in need at this dire time. MusiCares can help with short term emergent needs for those currently displaced, and then longer-term services as we get a handle on the full extent of how music people are impacted.”

Editorial credit: Poetra.RH / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

Eminem, Janet Jackson, Alanis Morissette nominated for 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame

Eminem in Concert at The Michigan Central Station. Detroit^ Michigan June 6 2024

Eminem, Janet Jackson, Alanis Morissette, N.W.A., Sheryl Crow, George Clinton, Bryan Adams, Mike Love, Boy George, Steve Winwood, Doobie Brothers, David Gates and Tommy James are among the performers nominated for the 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame.

The nominees for the prestigious honor will be voted upon for induction at the organization’s Induction & Awards Gala in New York City, with non-performing songwriters earning nominations including Walter Afanasieff, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, Narada Michael Walden, Steve Barri and P.F. Sloan, Mike Chapman, Tony Macaulay, Sonny Curtis, Tom Douglas, Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham, Roger Nichols, Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter, Franne Golde and Ashley Gorley. The complete list of is available online at songhall.org.

Eligible voting members select their choices of up to three nominees in each of the songwriter and performing songwriter categories.  A songwriter with a catalog of notable songs qualifies for induction 20 years after their first significant commercial release of a song.

2024 inductees included: R.E.M., Steely Dan, SZA, producer Timbaland and songwriters Hillary Lindsey, Diane Warren and the late Cindy Walker.

Editorial credit: Jgphotographydetroit / Shutterstock.com