High schooler arrested in shooting death of fellow student on Texas school campus

Police have arrested a 17-year-old in the shooting death of a high school student on the campus of an Arlington, Texas, high school.

Arlington Police Chief Al Jones said 18-year-old Etavion Barnes was found unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds on Wednesday afternoon outside portable buildings on the campus of Bowie High School. According to police, detectives still are working to determine a motive but said it appeared the two knew each other. Authorities have not yet recovered a weapon in the killing, and no other injuries were reported.

The suspect, identified as Julian Howard according to Arlington Jail records, was charged with murder, with police saying it appears that Barnes was targeted. Police Chief Jones said the shooting was reported about 2:50 p.m., shortly before classes were scheduled to be dismissed, and the school was placed on lockdown for about two hours before students were allowed to leave, adding: “we’re still early on in our investigation, our detectives are working to determine a motive.”

A press release from the Arlington PD read: “We, as a community, cannot tolerate this kind of violence. Not in our neighborhoods and not in our schools. Violence is never the right answer. We will continue to work in lock step with our partners at Arlington ISD to ensure our schools are safe spaces where students can learn.”

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Take a listen to Jason Aldean and John Morgan’s ‘Friends Like That’

John Morgan has enlisted Jason Aldean for a new version of his fan-favorite track, “Friends Like That.” The song racked up over 28 million on-demand streams, and was originally featured on his recently released debut EP, Remember Us?

Morgan said of his friend and mentor, Aldean:  “To have Jason Aldean as a mentor over the past few years, he went from being someone I was a fan of to someone I call a friend, so it’s extra special to have him on one of my songs. Having a song on the radio is what you always dream about when you pursue this career. I grew up on country radio and to know that another kid might grow up with me on the radio and want to pursue a music career too is a really cool thought.”

Aldean adds: “I’ve been in town here in Nashville for 25 years, and John Morgan is one of the most talented guys I’ve ever come across in all aspects – as a singer, as a songwriter and as a performer. It’s a really cool thing for me as an artist to sign another artist, so jumping on this song that’s also jumpstarting his career along with going to radio, I’m excited for what’s to come from John Morgan and glad he’s one of ours and on our team.”

Take a look at the video for ‘Friends Like That’ – here.

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Parker McCollum earns fourth No. 1 on Country Airplay charts with ‘Burn It Down’

Parker McCollum earned his fourth straight #1 hit at country radio with “Burn It Down,” taking the top spot on both the Mediabase chart and Billboard Country Airplay charts. ‘Burn It Down’ follows Parker’s previous #1 hits including “Pretty Heart,” “To Be Loved By You,” and most recently, “Handle On You”.

Per Billboard, ‘Burn It Down’, written by McCollum, Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, and Liz Rose, is the sophomore single from McCollum’s LP, Never Enough, which hit the Top 20 on the Top Country Albums charts last May.

Parker announced just announced 13 additional tour stops on his current headlining Burn It Down Tour, taking him to the West Coast and more. McCollum will also play stadiums dates with Morgan Wallen on Wallen’s One Night at a Time World Tour.

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New York Appeals Court overturns Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape and sexual assault convictions

The New York State Court of Appeals has overturned Harvey Weinstein‘s rape conviction from 2020, making the 4-3 decision on Thursday, April 25 on the basis that the judge on the trial prejudiced Weinstein with “egregious” improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.

According to the Associated Press, the decision also stated: “We conclude that the trial court erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes. The remedy for these egregious errors is a new trial,” and also noted that testimony “served no material non-propensity purpose” and “portrayed defendant in a highly prejudicial light.”  The court claimed that there was “an abuse of judicial discretion to permit untested allegations of nothing more than bad behavior that destroys a defendant’s character but sheds no light on their credibility as related to the criminal charges lodged against them.”

Weinstein was charged after being accused of forcibly performing oral sex on a woman in 2006 and raping another women in 2013; he was found guilty in February 2020 of criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in the third degree in a New York City courtroom, and was subsequently sentenced to 23 years in prison.

PEOPLE reports that it is unclear at this time if Weinstein, 72, will face another trial in connection with these charges. The former Hollywood mogul will be transferred to the custody of prison authorities in California and will remain imprisoned, stemming from his Los Angeles conviction in 2022 on other rape charges, where he was sentenced to 16 years in prison. (Weinstein was acquitted in Los Angeles on charges involving one of the women who testified in New York.).

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New York Appeals Court overturns Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape and sexual assault convictions

The New York State Court of Appeals has overturned Harvey Weinstein‘s rape conviction from 2020, making the 4-3 decision on Thursday, April 25 on the basis that the judge on the trial prejudiced Weinstein with “egregious” improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.

According to the Associated Press, the decision also stated: “We conclude that the trial court erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes. The remedy for these egregious errors is a new trial,” and also noted that testimony “served no material non-propensity purpose” and “portrayed defendant in a highly prejudicial light.”  The court claimed that there was “an abuse of judicial discretion to permit untested allegations of nothing more than bad behavior that destroys a defendant’s character but sheds no light on their credibility as related to the criminal charges lodged against them.”

Weinstein was charged after being accused of forcibly performing oral sex on a woman in 2006 and raping another women in 2013; he was found guilty in February 2020 of criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in the third degree in a New York City courtroom, and was subsequently sentenced to 23 years in prison.

PEOPLE reports that it is unclear at this time if Weinstein, 72, will face another trial in connection with these charges. The former Hollywood mogul will be transferred to the custody of prison authorities in California and will remain imprisoned, stemming from his Los Angeles conviction in 2022 on other rape charges, where he was sentenced to 16 years in prison. (Weinstein was acquitted in Los Angeles on charges involving one of the women who testified in New York.).

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Travis Kelce to host new game show ‘Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?’

Amazon Prime Video announced that NFL star Travis Kelce, tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, will host the new game show ‘Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?,’ a spinoff of the series ‘Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?’ Amazon Prime Video posted on their socials:  “the man with the answers. Travis Kelce will host ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A CELEBRITY? Coming soon to Prime Video.”  Twenty episodes of the new game show have been ordered, though no launch date has been set.

Each game will feature an adult contestant who will call on a classroom full of celebrities to help them answer 11 questions on a range of subjects, pulled from elementary school curriculum, in pursuit of a $100,000 prize. An official synopsis reads: “they are not competing against the stars… they’re enlisting their help and, in some cases, can even ‘cheat’ off of them. And on the final question, worth $100,000, the contestant selects one celebrity to discuss the answer with before locking in. The final question is always at the 6th grade level.”

Lauren Anderson, head of AVOD originals unscripted and targeted programming at Amazon MGM Studios, said in a press release: “For years, fans around the world have tested their smarts with this fun, nostalgic game show, and we look forward to bring this reimagined format to Prime Video. Travis has proven to be an incredible talent on and off the field, and we appreciate the trust he has placed in us with his first foray into television. His natural, comedic dynamic with our panelists and guests, coupled with some exciting new twists, will keep our global customers coming back week after week.”

Kelce says in a statement via Entertainment Weekly: “I grew up loving game shows, and I’m excited to be following in the footsteps of so many TV icons by hosting my very first one with ‘Are you Smarter than a Celebrity?’ The original show is a great success, so to be bringing a new format with everyone’s favorite celebrities to the screen, will definitely be entertaining. I’m just happy to be on the hosting side of the equation here and excited to see how these famous faces keep up.”

Kelce is an eight-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro; his new hosting gig comes months after winning Super Bowl LVIII with the Chiefs in February (his third Super Bowl win) He is also famously dating superstar Taylor Swift, and hosts a podcast called ‘New Heights’ with his brother, former NFL offensive lineman Jason Kelce.

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President Biden signs $95 billion foreign aid package for assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan

After months of negotiations, President Biden signed into law a foreign aid package on Wednesday that includes tens of billions of dollars in assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, along with a measure that could lead to a ban on TikTok in the U.S.

The White House first sought the foreign aid more than six months ago, but was met with conservative opposition to Ukraine aid. However an unexpected turn from House Speaker Mike Johnson led the House to approve legislation over the weekend. with the Senate passing the package in a bipartisan vote Tuesday evening. Biden said in remarks from the White House: “It’s a good day for America, it’s a good day for Europe and it’s a good day for world peace. It’s going to make America safer, it’s going to make the world safer and it continues America’s leadership in the world and everyone knows it.”

The aid package, worth $95 billion in total, includes $60.8 billion in aid for Ukraine; $26.4 billion to support Israel, along with humanitarian aid for Gaza; and $8.1 billion for allies in the Indo-Pacific. The legislation also features provisions to allow the sale of frozen assets of Russian oligarchs, and a measure that could eventually lead to the ban of TikTok in the United States – giving Chinese parent company ByteDance roughly nine months to sell it or else it will be banned from app stores in the United States.

The Pentagon announced a new round of military aid for Ukraine worth roughly $1 billion, with the president adding that the U.S. would begin sending weapons and military equipment to Ukraine “in the next few hours. We are going to begin sending equipment to Ukraine for air defense munitions, for artillery, for rocket systems and armored vehicles.”

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FDA assures milk supply is safe after fragments of bird flu virus are found in pasteurized dairy

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it has discovered fragments of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) — more commonly referred to as bird flu — in some samples of dairy milk products.

An update from the FDA said they tested milk samples by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and found the presence of fragments of the virus, which is not the same as infectious virus and that findings “do not represent actual virus that may be a risk to consumers.” The FDA stated, “we have seen nothing that would change our assessment that the commercial milk supply is safe” and expect new results from multiple studies “in the next few days to weeks. Based on available information, pasteurization is likely to inactivate the virus, however the process is not expected to remove the presence of viral particles.” The agency said it is continuing to investigate the outbreak, along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state partners.

The FDA’s statement continued: “Nearly all (99%) of the commercial milk supply that is produced on dairy farms in the U.S. comes from farms that participate in the Grade ‘A’ milk program and follow the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO), which includes controls that help ensure the safety of dairy products.

Avian influenza A(H5N1) virus, or bird flu, is a disease that’s caused by an avian influenza Type A virus infection, according to the CDC.  The virus has recently infected herds of dairy cows in several states, including Texas, Kansas and Michigan. Herds in New Mexico and Idaho are presumed infected.  Both the FDA and the USDA said the current commercial milk supply is safe because of the pasteurization process and the “diversion or destruction of milk from sick cows.”

Bird flu is very contagious among birds, and some of the viruses can sick or kill certain domesticated species, including chickens, ducks and turkeys. According to the CDC, the disease primarily spreads through contact with infected birds, which can infect their respiratory track and intestines. Infected birds can shed viruses in their saliva, nasal secretions and feces.

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Cody Johnson releases video for “The Painter (Katie’s Version)” inspired by fan

Cody Johnson has released a special music video for his No. 1 single, “The Painter,” featuring a painting by a young woman with special needs named Katie McCormick, whose mother, Teresa, connected with their local radio station after being especially moved by the song’s lyrics. “The Painter” was the first single off Johnson’s 12-track studio album Leather which was released last fall, and details his relationship with his wife, Brandi.

After Katie’s story made its way to Warner Music Nashville (Cody’s label) he began to develop the video in collaboration with an AI artist.  A post on Johnson’s socials read:  “Hey y’all, check out The Painter (Katie’s Version) that brings to life a painting by Katie McCormick, a young woman with special needs. Her mother, Teresa, connected with their local radio station one morning after being especially moved by the song’s lyrics. Because of Katie’s intractable epilepsy and many surgeries throughout her life, she has right sided weakness and a learning delay disability. However, she discovered a love of painting as a therapeutic outlet through a connection with her incredible and dedicated art teacher, Debby Francis. Katie’s story made its way to Cody’s label, Warner Music Nashville, who developed the video in collaboration with an AI artist. The result is a beautiful burst of color and movement, serving as an answer to the question – “how can we take Katie inside one of her own paintings? ** While this song is written about a man’s love for his wife and how she colors his world, it allows everyone who hears it to drift away in thought to that person who adds beauty and color to their own life. Be that a child, a parent, spouse, or friend,” Teresa shared. “This is what country music is all about. – Team CoJo”

Says Katie’s mom, Teresa: “While this song is written about a man’s love for his wife and how she colors his world, it allows everyone who hears it to drift away in thought to that person who adds beauty and color to their own life. Be that a child, a parent, spouse, or friend. This is what country music is all about.”

Take a look at the video for “The Painter (Katie’s Version)” – here.

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Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson joins Chris Janson in the video for ‘Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get’

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is featured in the music video for good buddy Chris Janson’s latest single “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get”.  Janson shares: We had a great time making this video. Tons of genuine real fun. From Tennessee to Texas, we made it happen. Can’t thank DJ enough for starring in it and for being a great friend to me.” 

Per Billboard, the video isn a ‘fun escapade as the two ride around a field and lounge in the back of a 1970 brown Ford Explorer in the clip, laughing and enjoying each other’s company.’

Johnson and Janson met in 2022 in California, when Janson was with his son. They spotted Johnson in a parking lot while they were both waiting for their cars, and Janson says: “If it weren’t for my kid going, ‘Oh my gosh, The Rock is right in front of us! Daddy, please ask for a picture,’ this would have never maybe happened. I’m a pretty shy guy. I’ve never once, I’m proud to say, asked for a photo, because I understand the extent of what it constitutes when you are in the public eye. But God works in mysterious ways.”

Johnson adds: “’we bonded so quickly in a parking lot waiting for our cars to pull around – talking about ‘The Blues Man,’ talking about the Opry…what really moved me was Chris’ humility, his love for not only country music, which I love as well but his desire to work hard and take care of his family. He does it with such a grace and style – again, his humility, gratitude and always bringing some fun to the mix made us fast friends and I’m happy to be a part of his video.”

Check out the video for ‘Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get’ – here.

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