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Oath Keepers founder and one member found guilty of seditious conspiracy in Jan. 6 case

On Tuesday, a federal jury in Washington found Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and Kelly Meggs, another member of the far-right organization, guilty of seditious conspiracy in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Jurors reached their decision on the third day of deliberations, following a trial in federal court in Washington that spanned weeks.

Three other members of the group who were on trial alongside Rhodes and Meggs — Jessica Watkins, Kenneth Harrelson and Thomas Caldwell — were found not guilty on the seditious conspiracy charge. All five defendants were found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting for their actions on Jan. 6.

The three defendants who physically went inside the Capitol on Jan. 6 — Meggs, Harrelson, and Watkins — were found guilty of conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging their official duties. Rhodes and Caldwell were on Capitol grounds that day but did not go inside the building.

Rhodes’ lawyer said Tuesday that he plans to appeal that conviction; the seditious conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

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Virginia Walmart shooting survivor files $50M lawsuit for ignoring warning signs from shooter

A Walmart employee who survived the mass shooting at a store in Virginia last week has filed a $50 million lawsuit against the company for allegedly continuing to employ the shooter “who had known propensities for violence, threats and strange behavior.” The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Chesapeake Circuit Court by the employee and plaintiff, Donya Prioleau, who alleges that she has experienced post-traumatic stress disorder, including physical and emotional distress, from witnessing the shooting in the breakroom on November 22.

The shooter, store supervisor Andre Bing, fatally shot six employees and wounded several others before he died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot.  The lawsuit states that Bing “had a personal vendetta against several Walmart employees and kept a ‘kill list’ of potential targets prior to the shooting.” Additionally, Prioleau had submitted a formal complaint on a Walmart Global Ethics Statement Form, indicating that Bing had “bizarrely and inappropriately commented on Ms. Prioleau’s age” and complaining that Bing had harassed her for “being poor and being short,” according to the lawsuit.

Prioleau alleges in the lawsuit that “Despite Mr. Bing’s long-standing pattern of disturbing and threatening behavior, Walmart knew or should have known about Mr. Bing’s disturbing and threatening behavior, but failed to terminate Mr. Bing, restrict his access to common areas, conduct a thorough background investigation, or subject him to a mental health examination.”

https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/survivor-virginia-walmart-mass-shooting-files-50m-suit-94154208

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Country Daypop

Dolly Parton shares plans to open museum and ‘Dolly Center’ complex in Nashville 

In an interview with The Tennessean, Dolly Parton revealed plans to open ‘Dolly Center’ in Downtown Nashville within the next few years.  Parton said her future plans in Music City will potentially include a Dolly Parton museum, restaurant/bar and grill, and more, but admits “right now though, I’ve got so many things going. I can do without that for the moment. But someday I will have a business here.”

Parton already has the Chasing Rainbows Museum inside of her Dollywood theme park, but said that she wants to open another closer to home: “I’m going to have a museum here [in Nashville] pretty soon,” she said, before sharing that she hopes to open the museum within the next couple of years. Parton added: “We have the museum at Dollywood, of course, but I would love to have something here since this is really my home.” Parton said the museum might be part of a larger complex, “like a ‘Dolly Center’ or something that includes the museum.” While it’s unclear what would be on display at the museum, it’s possible that it will highlight Parton’s legendary career similar to her Chasing Rainbows Museum, which features some of Parton’s unique memorabilia.

Parton will next appear in Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas, featuring appearances by Parton, Jimmy Fallon, Willie Nelson, Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus, Jimmie Allen, Zach Williams and airing on Thursday, Dec. 1 at 8/7c on NBC.  In addition, Parton and her goddaughter Miley Cyrus are set to co-host the upcoming NBC New Year’s Eve special dubbed Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party, airing live on NBC from Miami on Saturday, Dec. 31 from 10:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET and also streaming live on Peacock.

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Country Daypop

‘Brett Young: 5 Tour 3 2 1’ to launch Spring 2023

Brett Young will hit the road this spring for “Brett Young: 5 Tour 3 2 1”, with Ashley Cooke and Morgan Evans serving as support. The 17-date trek kicks off on March 30, 2023 in Columbus, Ohio, heading across the U.S. before wrapping-up at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on May 20, 2023.

Young also plans to release a new version of his song “You Ain’t Here To Kiss Me,” which he wrote alongside Tiffany Goss and Matt Alderman, on Friday (Dec. 2). Says Young: “I can be a very emotional songwriter and, for some reason, the sad, reflective songs, often come naturally for me. The song is a true story about a situation my now wife and I had many years back–it just describes the feeling of missing someone and seeing everyone else around you in happy relationships. Dann Huff has been wanting to cut a new version of it for a while so we thought the timing was right to give it a bit of a new life around this coming New Year.”

Tickets for “Brett Young: 5 Tour 3 2 1” will go on sale this Friday (Dec. 2) at 10 a.m. CT. For more information, click here.

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Entertainment Daypop

Clarence Gilyard Jr., star of ‘Walker, Texas Ranger’ and ‘Die Hard’, dies at 66

Actor Clarence Gilyard Jr., best known for starring in “Walker, Texas Ranger” and his supporting role in “Die Hard,” has died at age 66.  Gilyard’s death was confirmed through a statement by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where Gilyard had been working as a film and theatre professor at UNLV College of Fine Arts. No further details about his death are available at this time.

UNLV film chair Heather Addison said in a statement: “Professor Gilyard was a beacon of light and strength for everyone around him. Whenever we asked him how he was, he would cheerfully declare that he was ‘Blessed!’ But we are truly the ones who were blessed to be his colleagues and students for so many years. We love you and will miss you dearly, Professor G!”

Gilyard was an accomplished film, television and theatre actor, making a series of guest star TV appearances in the 1980’s. Gilyard made his film debut as Sundown in “Top Gun,” and famously portrayed the terrorist computer whiz Theo in “Die Hard”.  In 1989, he became a regular on the primetime series “Matlock,” appearing on 85 episodes before departing the series in 1993. He went on to portray Jimmy Trivette, the right-hand man to Chuck Norris on the hit series “Walker, Texas Ranger,” appearing in all 196 episodes of the series’ eight seasons.

Gilyard is survived by his wife, Elena Gilyard, and six children.

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Entertainment Daypop

Jon Batiste to perform at President Biden’s first state dinner

President Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden are hosting their first White House dinner and have tapped Grammy-winning artist Jon Batiste to perform. The Bidens will be hosting French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Mrs. Brigitte Macron.  A statement issued by the White House read, in part: “President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host President Emmanuel Macron and Mrs. Brigitte Macron of France for a State Visit to the United States, which will include a state dinner, on December 1, 2022.”

Batiste announced the performance on his social media accounts, writing: “From Kenner to the White House” (Baptiste is a native of Kenner, Louisiana). Vanessa Valdivia, a spokesperson for first lady Jill Biden, said in a statement: “An artist who transcends generations, Jon Batiste’s music inspires and brings people together. We’re thrilled to have him perform at the White House for the first state dinner of the Biden-Harris administration.” 

Baptiste won five Grammys this year after being nominated in categories including R&B, jazz, classical, and roots music. His album, ‘We Are’ won the Grammy for Album of the Year.  The 36-year-old Batiste led the band for the Late Show with Stephen Colbert for the last seven years, departing in August to more fully pursue music.

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Mauna Loa, world’s largest active volcano, erupts in Hawaii

The world’s largest active volcano, Mauna Loa, has erupted in Hawaii for the first time in nearly four decades. The U.S. Geological Survey (“USGS”) said Mauna Loa erupted at 11:30 p.m. local time Sunday (4:30 a.m. ET Monday). It was the first eruption since 1984.  The volcano, whose name means “Long Mountain,” covers half of the island; and prior to its most recent eruption, it erupted 33 times, beginning in 1843, making it among the world’s most active volcanoes. It is one of six volcanoes in the state of Hawaii, according to the agency.

The USGS said the eruption began in Moku‘āweoweo, the summit caldera of Mauna Loa, inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, who upgraded the volcano’s alert level from an “advisory” to a “warning.” The USGS said in a news release: “At this time, lava flows are contained within the summit area and are not threatening downslope communities. Winds may carry volcanic gas and possibly fine ash and Pele’s hair downwind.”  Residents at risk from Mauna Loa lava flows were advised to “review preparedness and refer to Hawai’i County Civil Defense information for further guidance … Based on past events, the early stages of a Mauna Loa eruption can be very dynamic and the location and advance of lava flows can change rapidly … However, if the eruptive vents migrate outside its walls, lava flows may move rapidly downslope.”

The eruption of Mauna Loa follows weeks of warnings from officials that an eruption was possible given a recent spike in earthquakes at the volcano’s summit and that residents of the Big Island should be prepared to evacuate. The USGS previously said that “heightened unrest” began in mid-September, when earthquakes beneath the summit increased from 10 to 20 per day to 40 to 50 per day. That unrest prompted Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to close the summit backcountry until further notice.

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Suspect killed after murdering family of teen he had catfished online

A former Virginia state law enforcement officer was killed during a shootout with police, after he allegedly “catfished” a teenage girl online before traveling to Riverside, California, and killing her family. County authorities said the suspect, Austin Lee Edward, 28, died in the shootout.

Three victims were discovered on Friday while investigating a house fire. Police also received a report of a girl “who appeared distressed” while getting into a car with a man, Riverside police said.  Police said the teen’s family members were found dead in the house from apparent homicides: the teen’s grandparents, 69-year-old Mark Winek; his wife, 65-year-old Sharie Winek; and the teen’s mother, 38-year-old Brooke Winek. The fire appears to have been intentionally set, police said, adding that the causes of death were still pending.

Authorities said they spotted Edwards driving with the teen several hours after the victims were found. Edwards allegedly led deputies on a chase and fired shots at them, losing control of his car and drove off the road. Deputies then fired at Edwards who was declared dead at the scene  The teen was rescued and was not injured, according to police.

Detectives said Edwards had worked for the Virginia State Police until recently employed at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in the state of Virginia. Riverside police said they determined Edwards met the teen online through “‘catfishing,’ where someone pretends to be a different person than they actually are.  Police believe that after Edwards developed a relationship with the girl online, he drove to Riverside, parked in a neighbor’s driveway, went to the girl’s home and killed her family. Edwards then allegedly took the teen and drove away.

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Country Daypop

Shania Twain to release ‘Come On Over (Special Edition)’

In honor of its 25th anniversary, Shania Twain is releasing a special edition of her blockbuster album, Come On Over, with help from some famous friends. Come On Over was released on November 4, 1997, and now Twain is partnering with Apple Music to release Come On Over (Special Edition).  Twain shared on Instagram“From Apple Music (and me!)…. with love! I wanted to Come On Over turning 25 with a special @applemusic gift for you all – We’ve given these songs a refresh with #SpatialAudio in Dolby Atmos AND there’s a couple of special duet versions with some dear friends of mine to enjoy too.”

Come On Over was the biggest-selling studio album by a female artist of all time, and is also the best-selling country music album in history. Twain posted on Instagram: “…Crazy. I couldn’t even imagine that in my wildest dreams! Thank you — Actually I should probably do something to celebrate it, right??”  The deluxe edition adds four live recordings to the original 16-song track list, including a duet between Twain and Elton John on “You’re Still the One” recorded live in 1999 in Miami, and a live rendition of the same song with Coldplay’s Chris Martin, recorded in Las Vegas in 2022. Twain also teams up with Nick Jonas on “Party For Two,” which the duo performed at Stagecoach Festival in 2017.

Twain will release her sixth studio album, Queen of Me, on February 3, before embarking on the Queen of Me Tour, which kicks off on April 28 in Spokane, Washington.

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Country Daypop

Sam Hunt drops music video for new song “Start Nowhere”

Sam Hunt is sharing the video for his new song “Start Nowhere”, co-written by Hunt, Zach Crowell, Shane McAnally, and Josh Osborne. The track follows Hunt’s tenth career No. 1, “Wishful Drinking” with Ingrid Andress, which topped the Country Aircheck charts last week.

The accompanying music video for “Start Nowhere” features a compilation of Hunt’s family home movies and showing Hunt with his brothers, parents, family, and friends in his hometown of Cedartown, GA. Hunt posted on social media“When you grow up in a small town, you love where you’re from, you are where you’re from, and you answer the call of adventure when you turn 18 and take off out into the big wide world. If you stay gone too long without coming home, you can get a little disconnected. Sometimes the only way to get your feet back on the ground is to go back home where you grew up.”

Hunt said to People: “I connect with that video so much. How much of this is me just connecting to my family and how much of it is just stepping outside myself and just appreciating the nostalgia of that era — just the love in mom’s eyes and all the things that show up there that are just real and authentic?”

Take a look at the video for “Start Nowhere” – here.

Sam Hunt Longs for Home on Nostalgic New Song “Start Nowhere”

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