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Hurricane Ian picks up strength as it makes its way towards South Carolina

As of early Friday, Hurricane Ian has continued to grow in strength, with forecasters expecting it to make landfall along the Carolina coast later in the day. Ian strengthened back to a Category 1 hurricane overnight as it moved west over the Atlantic toward the U.S. eastern coast, after making landfall in Florida as a major Category 4 storm on Wednesday with 150 mph winds. Hurricane Ian has left a wake of death and destruction throughout Florida, and forecasters now warn the storm will bring “life-threatening storm surge and hurricane conditions” to the Carolina coast.

In its 5 a.m. EDT update, the National Hurricane Center said that the center of the storm was located 145 miles south-southeast of Charleston, S.C., and 225 miles south-southwest of Cape Fear, N.C., traveling north-northeast at 9 mph. Forecasters expect that it will reach the coast of South Carolina on Friday before moving farther inland across the Carolinas into Saturday. The storm grew in strength overnight, and had sustained winds of 85 mph hour as of 5 a.m. Forecasters predict there will be little change before it makes landfall, after which it will undergo rapid weakening.

A turn toward the north is expected Friday morning followed by a turn to the north-northwest with an increase in speed Friday night. The National Hurricane Center said: “On the forecast track, Ian will approach the coast of South Carolina on Friday. Ian is forecast to become an extratropical low over North Carolina tonight or on Saturday. The low is then expected to dissipate by Saturday night.” 

The NHC said in its update:“The combination of storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline  Water could reach up to 7 feet in some of the areas under a storm surge watch.” A hurricane warning has been issued for the North Carolina coast; and a storm surge watch is also in effect for north of Cape Fear to Duck, N.C., and for the Pamlico River and the Cape Fear River while a hurricane watch was issued from east of Cape Fear to Surf City, N.C.   A hurricane watch also remains in place for east of Cape Fear to Surf City; and a tropical storm warning remains in place from the Flager/Volusia County Line to Savannah, Ga.; Cape fear to Duck, N.C.; and Pamlico Sound.

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Former President Trump argues that he should not be required to comment on accuracy of Department of Justice inventory

In new court filings. former President Donald Trump argued that he should not have to declare in court whether or not the Justice Department’s updated inventory of the documents seized from Mar-a-Lago is accurate.  In response to Trump’s suggestion that the FBI planted evidence during its search on Aug. 8, Special Master Raymond Dearie said that Trump had to submit a declaration of the accuracy of the Justice Department’s inquiry.  However, Trump argued that Dearie had only asked for a declaration from a government official and not from Trump’s side. Trump also said that he had no access to the documents at issue. The court filings said: “Additionally, the Plaintiff currently has no means of accessing the documents bearing classification markings, which would be necessary to complete any such certification by September 30, the currently proposed date of completion.”

The Justice Department submitted a slightly revised inventory of the materials seized from Mar-a-Lago on Monday, along with a declaration supporting the accuracy of the new list.  The new list adds 55 items to the more than 11,000 documents and photographs that were seized.  The new list also removed two empty folders with “CLASSIFIED” banners in the box. There are now 46 empty folders with classified markings.

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Country Daypop

Chris Janson signs with Big Machine Label Group Records

Chris Janson has signed with BMLG Records in partnership with his Harpeth 60 Records. Janson joins other artists including Lady A, Brett Young, Riley Green and his young new protégé, Shane Profitt.

Janson was with Warner Music Nashville since 2015. He broke onto the scene with his No. 1 debut single, “Buy Me A Boat” which was certified 3X Platinum, and followed that success with a string of Gold-certified No. 1 hits including “Fix A Drink,” “Good Vibes” and “Done.”  Earlier this year, Janson released his fourth studio record, All In, his last project with Warner Music Nashville and featuring collaborations with Eric Church and Travis Tritt.

Said Janson: “I am so proud to be teaming up with Scott Borchetta, Jimmy Harnen and the team at Big Machine Label Group. This opportunity is an absolute dream come true and I’m honored to be working with such a talented crew and roster of artists. Julian Raymond and I are hitting the studio for this first album, and we are on the fast track for great new music! This whole partnership just feels right, and I couldn’t be happier.”

Big Machine Label Group Chairman & CEO Scott Borchetta added: “Chris has always been a force of nature and he’s coming to BMLG at the perfect time to take his career next-level. His experience, determination, and vision for what he wants to do next completely aligns with our long-term label group ideal and continued artist development. Did I mention he blows a mean harp?

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Country Daypop

Morgan Evans performs unreleased song inspired by breakup with Kelsea Ballerini

Morgan Evans performed an unreleased song in Australia, inspired by his recent breakup with ex-wife Kelsea Ballerini.  Evans returned to Australia for the 15th anniversary of the CMC ROCKS QLD festival which took place last weekend, headlining along with Brad Paisley and Kane Brown.

Evans performed songs from his newest project: The Country And The Coast Side A, released almost one year ago. The project includes the track “Love Is Real,” which was written about Kelsea Ballerini while the couple were still together.  Evans then performed his never-before-heard song “How Long,” an emotional ballad that finds Evans searching for the answers to questions he ponders about he and his now ex-wife’s relationship. You can take a look at the performance clip – here.

Ballerini filed for divorce from Evans in late August, and took to social media to spread the news, sharing, “…so I wanted you to hear from me directly that I am going through a divorce. This deeply difficult decision is the result of a journey of love, growth, and effort that ultimately has come to an end. It’s hard to find the words here…but I feel extremely grateful for the years of marriage to Morgan and hopeful for the next seasons.”

Evans also addressed the split on social media, saying: “I am very sad to confirm that after almost five years of marriage, Kelsea and I are parting ways. I wish it were otherwise but sadly it is not.”

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Entertainment Daypop

Hollywood Foreign Press Association adds new television acting categories for 2023 Golden Globes

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has added new supporting acting TV categories for the 2023 Golden Globe Awards. The HFPA also announced the timeline for the 2023 show, with submissions due on Nov. 7.

The new categories are:  best supporting actor in a television series/musical-comedy or drama, best supporting actress in a television series/ musical-comedy or drama, best supporting actor in a limited series/anthology or motion picture made for television and best supporting actress in a limited series/anthology or motion picture made for television.

Previously, the Golden Globes had TV categories for best supporting actor – series, miniseries or motion picture made for television and best supporting actress – series, miniseries or motion picture made for television. The new change splits the supporting actor categories into two separate categories: musical comedy or drama as well as limited or anthology series.

The 2023 Golden Globe Awards will take place on Jan. 10, 2023 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.

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Paramount releases trailer for ‘Yellowstone’ Season 5

Paramount released the first full-length trailer for Season 5 of its hit series Yellowstone, posting on social media: It’s happening! #YellowstoneTV season 5 premieres Nov. 13, only on @ParamountNet”

The 90-second preview shows John Dutton (Kevin Costner) being sworn in as the governor of the state of Montana, firing existing staff and appointing his hot-tempered daughter Beth (Kelly Reilly) as his chief of staff. While declaring that he loves Montana, Dutton adds that everything he does is for his family.

Along with Costner and Reilly, Yellowstone stars Luke Grimes, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille, Brecken Merrill, Forrie Smith, Denim Richards, Ian Bohen, Finn Little, Ryan Bingham, Gil Birmingham, Mo Brings Plenty, Wendy Moniz, Jen Landon and Kathryn Kelly.

Season 5 will debut with a 2-hour premiere on Sunday, Nov. 13 on Paramount Network. Take a look at the new trailer – here.

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Millions without power in Florida after Hurricane Ian makes landfall, causing life-threatening storm surges, catastrophic flooding and devastating winds

Hurricane Ian was downgraded to a tropical storm Thursday morning after leaving a path of destruction across Florida with life-threatening storm surges, trapping people in flooded homes and knocking out power to 2 million people.

Ian made landfall near Cayo Costa around 3 p.m. Wednesday as a powerful Category 4 hurricane with 150 mph winds; the storm is believed to be one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded making landfall in Florida. The massive storm also brought torrential rainfall, and a catastrophic storm surge that left entire coastal communities under feet of water. Ian was the first Category 4 hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico since Rita in 2005.

Officials warned, however, that the powerful storm was not over. Early Thursday, the National Hurricane Center reported that Ian had maximum sustained winds of near 65 mph with higher gusts as it moved slowly through central Florida on its way to the western Atlantic.  By 5 a.m., Ian was around 55 miles southwest of Cape Canaveral and moving northeast at 9 mph, the hurricane center said. Florida’s Atlantic coast, from northeast of Orlando into Georgia, could see a 6-foot storm surge. The storm is moving toward the northeast near 8 m.p.h., with a turn toward the north-northeast – and a move off the coast of Florida – expected later today. It’s expected to pick up speed during the day on Friday and into the evening as it approaches the coast of South Carolina.

Life-threatening storm surges and hurricane conditions were possible on Thursday and Friday along the coasts of northeast Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, where Ian was expected to move inland. The governors of South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Virginia all preemptively declared states of emergency.

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Justice Department seizes 10 million fake fentanyl-laced pills

The Justice Department’s Drug Enforcement Agency announced that between May 23 and Sept. 8, federal agents seized about 10.2 million fentanyl-laced pills and 82 pounds of fentanyl power in more than 100 investigations over the past five months, across all 50 states. The DOJ said those responsible for trafficking it into the U.S. are the Mexican cartels, particularly the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). 35 cases were linked directly to one or both of the primary Mexican cartels responsible for the majority of fentanyl in the United States.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in a news release:  “Across the country, fentanyl is devastating families and communities, and we know that violent, criminal drug cartels bear responsibility for this crisis  The Justice Department, including the extraordinary professionals of the DEA, is working to disrupt and dismantle the operations of these cartels, remove deadly fentanyl from our communities, and save American lives.”

The operation resulted in 390 cases, including 51 cases linked to overdose poisonings. Garland said: “The amount of fentanyl taken off the streets during this surge is equivalent to more than 36 million lethal doses removed from the illegal drug supply.” Garland also said 338 weapons, including rifles, shotguns, pistols, and hand grenades, were also seized.

The DOJ said fentanyl is a deadly threat to Americans because it is 50 times more potent than heroin, adding that 107,622 deaths were due to drug poisoning or overdose with 66% of those deaths attributed to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.  Drug traffickers have starting selling fentanyl in a variety of bright colors, shapes and sizes. “Rainbow” fentanyl was first reported to DEA in February 2022 and it has now been seized in 21 states.

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Country Daypop

LeAnn Rimes shares the video for ‘Spaceship’ filmed by husband Eddie Cibrian

LeAnn Rimes is sharing the music video for “Spaceship,” from her new album God’s Work, released earlier this month.  Rimes said in an Instagram post announcing the video: “tears. rage. loneliness…. when it came time to create a video for ‘spaceship’, i knew it needed to reflect those same feelings and be as intimate as the lyrics. so, i recruited the best in the business to direct this video for me, my husband, eddie. he has an incredible eye and knows me so well, which really allowed me to expose my most primal, emotional self. “

The video was spontaneously shot by LeAnn’s husband, Eddie Cibrian, while on an RV trip throughout California. Using his iPhone to film, Cibrian shot the video in 4 takes under 30 minutes.  Cibrian said in a statement: “We were on our way back from Mammoth when I said we should stop in Alabama Hills to scout a possible location. Once we got there and found a spot, the sun was setting and there was something magical at that exact moment. We knew we needed to capture something then. It was intimate, emotional, and powerful. We only did four takes, which were a mix of sunset and sunrise to capture both sets of light. It all came together beautifully.”

“Spaceship” is the opening track of Rimes’ 19th album, God’s Work.  The 12-track album features artists including Ziggy Marley, Mickey Guyton, Aloe Blacc, Ben Harper, Ledisi, Sheila E., Robert Randolph, Táta Vega, and more.  Rimes also recently announced Joy: The Holiday Tour which will kick-off December 2nd through December 18th.

Take look at the video for Spaceship – here.

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Country Daypop

Luke Bryan extends his Las Vegas Residency into 2023

Luke Bryan announced on social media that he’s extending his Las Vegas run into 2023, adding 12 more dates for his “Luke Bryan: Vegas” residency at Resorts World Theatre. Said Bryan on Instagram:   We’re having so much fun in Vegas, we’re staying! New 2023 dates just announced! Tickets on sale Friday, Sept. 30.”

Bryan said in a statement: “I love doing these headlining shows in Vegas because the intimate room at Resorts World allows me to really connect to the crowd in such a different way. Sitting at the piano each night has become one of my favorite moments in the show.” 

The new dates added in 2023 are:  February 2023: 1, 3, 4, 8, 10, 11 — March 2023: 22, 24, 25, 29, 31 — and April 1,2023.  Tickets and limited premium VIP packages for the 2023 shows will go on sale to the public on Friday, September 30 at 10 a.m. PT. Bryan still has several performances set for the end of 2022, which are currently on sale: November 30, and December: 2, 3, 7, 9 and 10.

Luke Bryan announces 2023 Las Vegas residency dates

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