Posts tagged with "Georgia"

May Top Stories

Leave a reply

Inching further towards the mid-way point of the year, 2022 has been full of a surplus of notable events. From the continuing Russian invasion of Ukraine to Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation upon the Supreme Court, let’s evaluate the top stories of May 2022.

New Mexico Endures Wildfires

Two Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon fires reportedly united, impacting Northern New Mexico. Firefighters worked to contain the blaze, but the force of the combined fire swiftly surpassed professionals forecasting. No one has been hurt or killed by the fires, but two deaths did occur from a previous wildfire during the month of April.

Mississippi Mudbug Festival Shooting

Several gunmen opened fire at the Mudbug Festival in Jackson, Mississippi leaving one person killed and five injured. The individual that was killed is presumed to be one of the shooters, shot in response to the shooting by law enforcement.

Regarding the tragedy, Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones stated the following, “It’s very devastating and very tragic, […] This is what’s to be considered a very family-oriented event, where families come to enjoy entertainment and food. You have individuals with no regards for the lives and safety of those attending the event. I think that is a very cowardly and selfish act to involve so many innocent people that are here to have fun and enjoy themselves.”

Nancy Pelosi Visits Kyiv, Ukraine

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi paid Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a visit, which was entirely unannounced. Pelosi is the highest ranked US official to have visited the country since the Russia’s invasion in February.

Leading an official congressional delegation at the country’s capital in Kyiv, Pelosi aimed to carry the message that the US stands with Ukraine. Pelosi pronounced, ““We are visiting you to say thank you for your fight for freedom, that we’re on a frontier for freedom and that your fight is a fight for everyone. And so our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done.”

Tennessee Halts Executions

Following a missed protocol procedure leading to the lethal injection of Oscar Smith, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has stopped all executions through the end of the year. Reportedly, the state had tested their lethal injection drugs for potency and sterility, but not endotoxins, which breaches procedure.

The Met Gala

The Met Gala returned to its conventional pattern of being held on the first Monday of May at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Renowned as the most prestigious night in fashion, the extravaganza followed the theme of “In America: An Anthology of Fashion,” which came after 2021’s “In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion.”

Built as a charity event to raise funds for the Met’s Costume Institute, the gala is a staple for fashion lovers around the world. The event is renowned for its esteemed guestlist of fashion moguls, celebrities and artists. Attendees for the night included the likes of Blake Lively, Normani and Billie Eilish wearing designers such as Gucci, Versace and Chanel.

CNBC Sustainable Future w/ Matt Damon and Gary White

Tania Bryer chats with Matt Damon and Gary White about their nonprofit organization, Water.org, in a special CNBC interview. Water.org aims to provide access to water and sanitation to those who need it. Tania chats with both Matt and Gary about their brand-new book The Worth of Water: Our Story of Chasing Solutions to the World’s Greatest Challenge, and the influences behind the piece.

Supreme Court Leaked Decision Chooses to Overturn Abortion Rights

May 2, POLITICO published the first draft majority opinion of the Supreme Court that reveals a reversal of the monumental Roe v. Wade 1973 decision. Overturning the landmark ruling would place verdicts about abortion into the hands of state representatives. A decision involving the court has never been exposed while a case in still unresolved, especially one of such magnitude.

Regarding the judgment to override the original Roe v. Wade decision, Justice Samuel Alito stated the following in the leaked draft, “Roe was egregiously wrong from the start. Its reasoning was exceptionally weak, and the decision has had damaging consequences. And far from bringing about a national settlement of the abortion issue, Roe and Casey have enflamed debate and deepened division.”

European Union Plans Russian Oil Ban

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a potential ban on oil from Russia to increase pressure on the country amidst their invasion of Ukraine. European Union (EU) countries have arranged preparations to veto Russian coal imports, as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia have already expelled Russian imports.

Dave Chappelle Harassed During Hollywood Bowl

A man ran up on stage towards Dave Chappelle while he was performing a comedy routine at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. The man, named Isaiah Lee, was charged with a felony assault with a deadly weapon. Lee had a fake gun that would expel a knife blade but did not harm Chappelle.

Lionsgate Announces Hunger Games Prequel Movie

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, a Hunger Games prequel novel, is set to obtain its own brand-new film debuting on the big screen on November 17, 2023. The story follows the story of President Coriolanus Snow in his younger years prior to becoming such a staple in the modern narrative.

Amber Heard Testifies in Defamation Trial

The defamation suit between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard began on April 11 and continued prominently into the month of May. Approaching the fourth week of the trial, the jury heard from Depp regarding his recollection of their marriage, and on May 4 Heard began her own testimony. The case is set to be concluded on May 19.

Animal-to-Human Heart Transplant Revelation

In January of 2022, David Bennett, 57, underwent a final resort surgery to save his life through use of a pig’s organ. Bennett underwent a heart transplant and was doing well for about two months following the procedure, until he suddenly passed away. Now, University of Maryland doctors have found that within the pig heart there was viral DNA carrying porcine cytomegalovirus. It is uncertain if the virus contributed to the death of Bennett, but this finding raises ongoing questions about animal-to-human transplants.

Kevin Samuels Passes Away

57-year-old YouTuber Kevin Samuels has passed away due to unknown reasons. He was reportedly found unresponsive in his Atlanta apartment on May 5. Samuels was known more his conservative relationship advice approach.

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky Tease Potential Engagement

A$AP Rocky released the music video for his track “D.M.B.,” which portrays the love story between himself and superstar Rihanna. At the end of the video, Rocky sports a grill that says, “Marry me?” with Rihanna, too, wearing a matching grill that states out, “I do.”

The video broke the internet, with everyone and their mother speculating a possible engagement between the two. It has not been confirmed, nor denied, that Rihanna and Rocky are engaged, but the duo is expecting their first child together.

Menstrual pain may prevent many women from working, Spain

Half of women experience painful periods at least once every six months. Some of the symptoms they may have are nausea, fainting, and vomiting. The country’s policymakers will implement a three-day sick leave for severe menstrual pain, which affects most women who experience their period. According to a scientific study, 84.1% of women report have very considerable menstrual pain, which can prevent them from carrying out their activities and therefore they could be absent from work.

Mercedes-Benz India has launched the new generation Mercedes-Benz C-Class

On May 10, 2022, one of the most anticipated releases of Mercedes-Benz was launched. The German car manufacturer
has launched the new C-Class in three different versions: The C 200 with petrol engine is priced at $71,089.26 (Rs 55 lakh – Indian Currency) meanwhile, the C 220d and 330d with diesel engine are priced at 72,390 $.64 (Rs 56 lakh) and $78,854.09 (Rs 61 lakh), respectively. Mercedes-Benz claimed that it received more than 1,000 pre-launch reservations for the fifth-generation C-Class.

Lacrosse team files racial discrimination claim by sheriff’s deputies during traffic stop, Georgia

There is huge outrage over a traffic stop in Georgia. Last month, US authorities searched and detained a bus carrying the Lacrosse team belonging to Delaware State University, a historically black institution. The team specifically complains about racial profiling by sheriff’s deputies. On the contrary, the agents maintain the version that they stopped the driver for driving in the wrong lane. But after the bus stopped, officers searched the students’ belongings for any type of drug-like chemical. Instead, the team maintains that those searches were conducted on racial grounds.

Student Saniya Craft recorded parts of the trip on her device, thinking it would be part of her blog about her lacrosse team. However, she did not expect that she would end up storing evidence of what she believes to be racial profiling by sheriff’s deputies. Authorities consider it appropriate to open a federal investigation into the incident that occurred to the Delaware State University lacrosse team in Georgia.

Milk + Cookies Atlanta

Leave a reply

Milk + Cookies is thrilled to announce Atlanta-based rap artist and record executive Gucci Mane and DJ, producer and singer Alison Wonderland as the headliners for the spring Block Fest. The headliners will be joined by DJ collectives WERC Crew and Perreo404, with more local and national acts to be announced. With an expected guest count of over 5,000 attendees, Milk + Cookies Atlanta will blend various music genres, tasty food selections, and creative activities to curate a meaningful, multi-sensory experience for Atlanta’s flourishing creative community. Milk + Cookies Atlanta will take place outdoors Saturday, June 4, 2022, at Atlanta’s famed Centennial Yards from 2-10 PM.

The dessert-themed music festival’s venue is a cultural hub in the heart of Atlanta in between the State Farm Arena and the Mercedes Benz Dome. Attendees will be treated to a diverse musical lineup; headlined by Atlanta’s own Gucci Mane and directly supported by national and local talent. Guests will also enjoy treats from some of Atlanta’s best eateries such as King of Pops, Phew’s Pies and more.

Throughout the year, Milk + Cookies offers a line-up of established and up-and-coming artists, resulting in unique live music experiences where cultural tastemakers, industry creatives, and music enthusiasts converge to experience the rich cultural and musical offerings of Atlanta. Past Milk + Cookies performers include Kaytranada, Summer Walker, Masego, Tokimonsta, SAINt JHN, Polo G, RL Grime, Queen Naija, Jack Harlow, Ella Mai and more.

In addition to the Atlanta festival, Milk + Cookies and RenderATL are coming together this June 2022 to bridge the music and tech community with a week full of events and experiences. RenderATL, the largest tech conference in the southeast, is a four-day, all-inclusive experience where technology meets Atlanta’s Southern Hospitality. Having sold out the 2021 event and expanding for 2022, it has become the go-to event where front-end engineers can connect with the community, share ideas, and meet potential employers.Lastly, Milk + Cookies is presenting smaller, more intimate shows leading up to Saturday, June 4th including Bathe at the Eastern Rooftop, Amber Mark at The Loft and Fivio Foreign at Believe Music Hall.

Interview with Netta Walker

Leave a reply

All-American: Homecoming, spinoff series to The CW’s hit sports drama All American, recently aired the first episodes. Up-and-coming actress Netta Walker plays a large role in the series. She talked with 360 about the role, her life, and her career as an actress. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter, and you can find her biography HERE.

1. What was your upbringing like?

I grew up on Westside in Jacksonville, Florida with 3 older brothers (all 10 years plus older than me). We were military kids—my dad was in the Navy, he met my mom in Manila when they were basically teenagers. My mother moved to the states when she married my dad and brought all of her Cebuan/Tacloban culture with her to Jax. Culture, family, and tradition were wildly important in our house. Our Christmas meals consisted of crab boils, squid adobo, greens, lumpia, baked beans, sometimes chicken feet if we could afford it. We didn’t have much money, so on weekends my mom would set up a booth at the Romona Flea Market and we’d sell whatever she could make. At one point she was hand-making dresses for child pageants and had me walking around Wal-Marts with her while she handed out her business cards. It’s wild because my parents really taught us how to hustle and made sure we knew that culture, practical life skills, and intellect were the only things that couldn’t be taken from us. I attended two historically black schools in the area for both middle and high school. My middle school, James Weldon Johnson, was on an HBCU campus (Edward Waters University) at the time. Every morning we sang Lift Every Voice and Sing, and during PE we watched the University have marching band and majorette practice on the field next to us. My high school, Stanton College Preparatory, was the first school made for black students in Florida. Both were highly competitive academic magnet schools in all-black neighborhoods with black women principles—I got WILDLY lucky. My parents were very serious about my education, and my dad made sure I knew the importance of academics in southern black culture. He was one of the first black students sent to an all-white school in Jacksonville when white folk threw bricks at him for simply pursuing an education. He prepped me for a world that wasn’t guaranteed to be kind to me, he taught me that I’d have to work 3 times as hard to get where I wanted to and that I could never slip up. My mom was on the road to being an Olympic swimmer for the Philippines and was a model in Japan, but when she got pregnant pretty young she took to the life of raising us and making sure we would want for nothing. She taught me that love is what keeps us all connected, and that so long as I lead with love I won’t regret my life. I was raised by fighters.

2. What is your relationship with Chicago, the city you worked and lived in?

Chicago is the city that made me the artist I am today. I can’t praise it enough. I always saw Chicago as the place artists go to get better at their craft, because lord knows we don’t go there to make money or get famous. The love people carry for their craft there is outstanding. I’d tell any young person aspiring to be an actor to go to Chicago and study. Go to Steppenwolf or The Gift and see the greats do the work up close and personal, and then decide if this is the field for you. I’d never felt so compelled to be an artist until I moved there and got to see the work the artists there create. It’s hands down one of my favorite cities in the world and I plan to rep it as mine for the rest of my life.

3. Who are your biggest influences?

My family. My parents showed me that the world wasn’t always going to be kind to me, but in spite of whatever it threw at me that I could still do anything I put my mind to. My dad encouraged me to remember how smart I actually am and to never back down from what’s right. He was the biggest influence in my life hands down. I live every day for him, in hopes of making him proud. My mom taught me how to live in love and solely move in love, she is truly my heart, I’d do anything for her. My brothers are the coolest men I’ve ever met, for real. My brother Eric is 10 years and 2 days older than me, so I’ve been trying to be him since I was 4. I dress like him to this day and watch only the anime he tells me to. My brother Anthony has inspired me by standing in his truth his whole life, I never would’ve learned how to trust and love myself without him. My oldest brother AJ showed me that we can make life whatever we dream of making it. My family has shaped every facet of who I am today and I love them all so deeply for it, as much as they get on my nerves.

4. Why did you decide to become an actress?

I had an incredible high school theater teacher, Shirley Sacks Kirby, who saw potential in me and was the first person to seriously encourage me to pursue a career in acting. She made me feel like I was actually good at something, and I never felt that way before. I was content in fading into the background and leaving my emotions to the side in my everyday life, but in theater, I was allowed to express all my pent-up emotions. She told my mom to put me in dance classes and voice lessons and monologue coachings, she helped me write and submit all of my college theater applications and put together all of my auditions. She shouted words of affirmations at me when I felt insecure and told me that I was special and talented when I felt like I wasn’t ever going to be good enough. She was my theater mom, and I owe my career to her.

5. You’ve been an actor for several years. What has been your favorite role?

My favorite role is always the next role, honestly. I love the challenges of diving into a new person, figuring them out, and falling in love with them—and exploring new characters feels like falling in love. But strictly speaking, Ophelia in Hamlet (at The Gift Theater directed by Monty Cole) may have been the most cathartic and challenging. My father had just passed that summer and playing a woman who loses herself in the grief of her father was really visceral and scary, but that excited me. Monty is also one of my favorite directors to exist, The Gift is my artistic home, and Shakespeare was how I started acting—so that role meant an indescribable amount to me.

6. What is your favorite part about being in All-American: Homecoming?

It feels like I’m participating in history. These stories, it’s an honor. The characters and their relationships feel monumental to me simply because we’re at an HBCU and representing culture.

7. Tell us a little bit about your character on the show?

Keisha is trouble, there’s no doubt about it. She’s a very strong and intelligent woman who isn’t afraid to stand on all ten toes and say “This is who I am, this is what I believe, and I’ll fight you if you have a problem”. She’s a pre-med major with an intense passion for dancing and a deep love for those she allows into her life. She’s the type to give you the shirt off her back—but also tell you how you can get your own shirt so we don’t have to do this again. She hits very close to home. I adore her.

8. On your Instagram, it’s clear you’re a big fan of Japanese anime. What are your favorite shows/movies?

Ah man, there are so many good ones. In terms of classics, Trigun hands down, it gives me hope and serves the retro style and storyline I adore. Inuyasha was my first anime crush, so Yashahime has also been nostalgic and sweet. My big brother Eric introduced me to Demon Slayer because he thought Nezuko reminded him of me so that show holds a lot of sentiment (my brother honestly is the reason I watch anime at all). Of course Attack on Titan and Sword Art Online, they both make me terribly anxious but I can’t stop watching them. The Boondocks isn’t Japanese but it makes me laugh like nothing else, it feels like an intersection of culture for me. Guilty pleasure watch is fully Ouran High Host Club, don’t judge me on that, I’m a romantic!

9. What’s your dream role?

I think my dream role is whatever thing is next. Getting to act is already such a dream, but I’m always dreaming about what story I get to tell next. There isn’t a definitive narrative to the dreams, but I do love playing characters who would never be in the same room together.

10. What’s next for Netta Walker?

We’re gonna see! Hopefully, I can scam my way into some exciting movies or into some provoking plays in New York. I’ve dreamed of being on Broadway for as long as I’ve wanted to an actor, so fingers crossed that happens! I never know what’s next honestly, my career has lowkey felt like a fever dream. But I’m so excited to see what the future holds.

KIDD G × YNW BSLIME – LEFT ME

Leave a reply

Rising country artist Kidd G unveiled his first new song of 2022, “Left Me,” with YNW Bslime. The collaboration track highlights the blend of country passion from Kidd G with a modern spirit from YNW Bslime, with lyrics that emphasize expressive emotions. Kidd G proclaims, “I don’t know why you left me… Now you’re nothing but a memory.” The track also releases paired with a music video that was shot in Keystone, Colorado.

Listen to “Left Me” HERE and watch the music video HERE.

Kidd G’s rise to notoriety landed him a spot in The New York Times’ Best Albums of 2021 with his most recent album, Down Home Boy. The deluxe version of the album released this past December, gaining critical acclaim. Kidd G co-wrote each piece on the 18- track series that highlights his Southern foundations. The deluxe album sees his unveiling radio single, “Summer In A Small Town,” along with just out tracks, “Paper Hearts (F-150),” “Whiskey & Wine,” and fan favorite “If Heaven Had A Phone.”

Before the publication of the deluxe album, Down Home Boy already attracted attention on its own. The album itself accumulated over 15 million streams on Spotify, enticing appeal to The New York Times who named it “the year’s best country debut album.” The Honey Pop, too, applauded the album, stating, “blending elements of genres like old-school country, hip-hop, and pop, he breaks the barriers of being stuck to any particular area of music.” Country Swag referred to the album’s uniqueness, declaring the album as, “like nothing you have ever listened to before.”

About Kidd G

Born and raised in the small Georgia town of Hamilton, Kidd G first gained widespread recognition through TikTok and SoundCloud. Kidd G posted some songs that he recorded online with his friend Nolie Beats, and in 2020 Rebel Music signed him. Though his preliminary single “Sorry” had a modern hip-hop flare, he soon after began adding in his Southern roots to his songwriting. Continuing his music on SoundCloud, his fans became loyal and fond of his southernly appeal.

Kidd G’s first viral hit came from his song “Dirt Road,” with its video amassing over 5 million views on YouTube in a little over one month. Hank Williams Jr. serves as one of Kidd G’s leading inspirations, as he states, “I love country because it feels so natural to me, and you can really tell stories in the songs.” Now emersed in his music career, he accumulates around 1.5M monthly Spotify listeners. His music has been played across KIX Country Radio in Australia, as well as country playlists involving Amazon Music’s ‘Country Heat’ (rose to No. 2) and Spotify’s ‘Hot Country’ (rose to No. 3).

Now embarking on his introduction solo tour and his partnership with Big Machine Label Groups’ The Valory Music Co., Kidd G heads in the year of 2022 with the sky as the limit.

CFP Championship’s High Viewership

Leave a reply

The 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship was one for the record books, as Georgia secured its first national title since 1980. The viewership of ESPN’s MegaCast presentation reflected the excitement surrounding the Alabama-Georgia showdown, with 22.6 million viewers tuning in across ESPN networks.

The Dawgs‘ thrilling 33-18 victory over the SEC Champion Crimson Tide was up 19 percent from last year’s national championship contest between Alabama and Ohio State. The matchup peaked with 25.4 million viewers.

The Circle City Showdown is the top event on cable since the 2020 LSU/Clemson national championship game and the most-viewed non-NFL sporting event during that span on any network. In fact, the top five non-NFL sports events during that time have been CFP Semifinal and Championship games.

The main ESPN telecast of Monday night’s showcase is the second-most-viewed non-NFL telecast (sports or non-sports) on a single network since February 2020. ESPN’s presentation of the action from Indianapolis is the most-watched TWDC telecast since the 2021 NFL Wild Card Game.

The share of TV viewers tuned in to this year’s CFP National Championship on ESPN networks was the best on record in the CFP era. 29 percent of people and 38 percent of adults 18-49 watching television Monday night were tuned in to the CFP National Championship.

Streaming Creates MegaCast Magic

Across all ESPN3/ESPN App exclusive feeds, streaming minutes were up 33 percent over 2020. Outside of the linear telecasts, Alabama’s Hometown Radio MegaCast was the most-streamed feed for both uniques and minutes. The Alabama and Georgia Hometown Radio MegaCast viewing options saw substantial year-over-year gains across AMA (up 75 percent), uniques (up 30 percent), minutes (up 85 percent), starts (up 20 percent), and minutes/viewer (up 35 percent).

Putting A Bow on Bowl Season

Bowl Season delivered in the 2021-22 season, with 29 of 31 non-NY6 bowls this season surpassing one million viewers. Eighteen bowls drew more than two million viewers and nine topped three million. The 31 non-NY6 bowl games registered 2.6 million viewers across ESPN networks, up 12 percent year-over-year. On ESPN, bowl games recorded 2.5 million viewers per game, up 24 percent from 2020 and slightly up from 2019. Of the 27 bowls with a viewership comparison to 2019, 10 had their best audience since at least 2017 and seven had their best since at least 2015.

Across the regular season and postseason, ESPN networks delivered the four most-viewed games of the 2021-22 season (CFP National Championship, both CFP Semifinals, and The Rose Bowl Game) and 59 of the top 100 games overall. ESPN networks were responsible for 62 percent of live game college football minutes viewed this season across all nationally measured linear networks.

Sator × Project Chimps

Leave a reply

Sator has just announced its partnership with one of the most recent chimpanzee sanctuaries, Project Chimps. The collaboration includes the launch of a sequence of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) on the Sator app. Each chimp at Project Chimps will receive their own specially minted NFTs, and all proceeds will be returned back to the sanctuary.

The Project Chimps sanctuary is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of north Georgia, where former research chimps are given lifelong refuge and rehabilitation. Home to 82 chimps today, Project Chimps aims to grow these numbers and provide more chimps with accessible care. To learn more about the chimps, visit ProjectChimps.org.

With the announcement of the collaboration, this supports the sanctuaries’ goal to assist more chimps in the future. The proceeds accumulated through the purchase of the NFTs go directly back to the sanctuary, providing more resources for better care of the chimps and to house more chimps in the future.

The NFTs will be released in a sequence of groups. The first collection drop is “The 5 Alphas.” “The 5 Alphas” include the heads of the 5 separate family units at the Project Chimps sanctuary: Binah, Bo, Kareem, Kirk and Patrick. “The 5 Alphas” NFTs can be accessible now through the Sator app. There are around 5,000 NFTs for each individual Alpha offered. NFTs can be bought through Sator’s native token (SAO) for roughly $5 each.

Sator’s President Chris Martin speaks on the significance of the collaboration between the two teams. Martin states, “We are honored that Project Chimps chose Sator to launch their first-ever NFT campaign in support of the sanctuary’s efforts to provide care to the retired research chimpanzees. We see it as a creative way to bring awareness to their mission and we’re very excited to be a part of it.”

A feature apart of the Sator app allows users to diverge into various realms to earn crypto tokens through playing games and connecting with content. These crypto tokens can be substituted for NFTs in the app. The app also allows users the opportunity to conversate with other users around the world.

To download the Sator dApp:

iPhone: visit HERE

Android: visit HERE

Justice For Ahmaud Arbery

Leave a reply

On November 24, 2021, three white men were found guilty of murdering 25-year-old unarmed Black man Ahmaud Arbery. The murder was committed by the three white men after unfounded suspicions that Mr. Arbery had been committing break-ins in their neighborhood in South Georgia.

The three defendants were Travis McMichael, 35, his father, Gregory McMicheal, 65, and William Bryan, 52, their neighbor.

Mr. Arbery lived outside of the small town of Brunswick, Georgia with his mother. He enjoyed staying in good shape and was a jogger who was often seen running in and around his neighborhood. Mr. Arbery was shot dead in a suburban neighborhood known as Satilla Shores through which he was jogging.

On Sunday, February 23, 2020, Arbery was murdered after being provoked by a white man and his son. Gregory McMichael saw Mr. Arbery running in Satilla Shores from his front porch and believed Mr. Arbery looked like a suspected man involved in numerous break-ins in the area. He then called to his son, Travis McMichael.

The police reports state that “the men grabbed a .357 Magnum handgun and shotgun, got into a pickup truck and chased Mr. Arbery, trying unsuccessfully to cut him off. A third man was also [William Bryan] involved in the pursuit.” In a recording of a 911 call that was made before the chase began, a neighbor reported a Black man was inside a house still under construction.

A video shot by William Bryan shows a struggle that preceded three shotgun blasts. The video is about a half-minute long and shows Mr. Arbery running along the two-laned suburban road when he comes upon a white truck. Travis opens the driver’s side door with a shotgun, and Greg, his father, is in the bed of the pickup truck with a handgun.

Mr. Arbery then runs out of frame, and muffled shouting is heard before Mr. Arbery appears back in the video’s view. Mr. Arbery and Travis enter view of the camera recording, fighting outside of the truck as three shotgun shots echo.

Mr. Arbery then tries to run but stumbles and falls after a few steps.

There was another video published that depicted a man walking into a house that was under construction in the same neighborhood, with him eventually running out. S. Lee Merritt, one of Mr. Arbery’s family’s lawyers, released a statement that the video does not reveal anything that was not already understood evidence. Merritt continues by explaining that Mr. Arbery was not engaging in illegal activity and did not take anything from the site.

Gregory McMichael is a former Glynn County police officer and past investigator with the local district attorney’s office.

Two months passed after the shooting, and still, no one had been arrested for the murder of Ahmaud Arbery. The prosecutor for the Brunswick Judicial Circuit, Jackie Johnson, recused herself from the case because of a potential conflict of interest. Gregory, one of the men involved in the shooting, had previously worked in her office.

The case was sent to George E. Barnhill, the district attorney in Waycross, Georgia, who also later recused himself from the case. This came following Mr. Arbery’s mother arguing the point that Barnhill had a point of conflict as well because his son also worked for the Brunswick district attorney. Before he was released from the case, Mr. Barnhill did write a letter to the Glynn County Police Department arguing there was not adequate probable cause to arrest the pursuers of Ahmaud Arbery.

In December, the Atlanta news station WSB attained police body camera footage from when officers arrived on February 23, including the conversations that took place immediately following the shooting. These recorded conversations show that the officers on the scene knew of Gregory’s background.

Ms. Johnson, who was voted out of her job as chief prosecutor for the area, was indicted with a charge of violating her oath. This came about from her demonstration of “favor and affection” to Gregory. There was also a charge of obstruction due to her instructions to two police officers on February 23 to not arrest Travis.

During the eventual lead prosecutor in the case, Linda Dunikoski’s, closing statement, she argued that the defendants began a pursuit after and an attack on Mr. Arbery, “because he was a Black man running down the street.” This raised her question of whether race was a leading issue in the attack. The prosecution continued to argue to the jury that Mr. Arbery posed no imminent threat to the men and that they had no reason to believe he had caused such suspected crimes, a tactic that proved effectual due to the guilty verdict by the jury.

The case and trial have been carefully followed in the United States since the earlier April conviction of white officer Derek Chauvin for the second-degree murder of George Floyd. Video from the scene depicted Chauvin kneeling on the neck of unarmed Black man George Floyd for nearly nine minutes. This video generated an international uproar, placing an emphasis on questions about the unfair treatment that minorities endure at the hands of the police in America.

The three defendants face sentences of up to life in prison for the state crimes that were committed. They had each separately been indicted on federal charges that include hate crimes and attempted kidnapping. They are expected to stand trial for those charges in February.

ESPN × College Football

Leave a reply

Week 5 of college football across ESPN networks boasts a baker’s dozen of ranked squads in action, including three of the top four featured in this week’s AP Top 25. Highlighting the schedule this week is an all-SEC tripleheader on ESPN, featuring No. 2 Georgia, No. 8 Arkansas, No. 10 Florida and No. 22 Auburn.

At noon ET, the eighth-ranked Razorbacks head between the hedges to battle the second-ranked Bulldogs featuring Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Holly Rowe on the call, with the AT&T SkyCast available on ESPN3 and the ESPN App. ESPN’s College GameDay Built by The Home Depot pregame show arrives in Athens on Saturday morning (9 a.m. – noon).

At 6 p.m., the No. 10 Gators look to Lexington and a matchup with undefeated Kentucky as Bob Wischusen, Dan Orlovsky and Kris Budden announce the action. At 9 p.m., No. 22 Auburn is set for a showdown with SEC West foe, LSU. The Tigers vs. Tigers tussle is set for both ESPN and ESPN Radio, with Joe Tessitore, Greg McElroy and Katie George live on ESPN and Sean Kelley, Barrett Jones and Ian Fitzsimmons on the radio call in Baton Rouge. Auburn-LSU features a SkyCast viewing option on ESPN3 and the ESPN App.

It’s an action-packed Saturday on ABC with a trio of games set for the spotlight. ABC’s Saturday Night Football Presented by Capital One features a Big Ten battle between Indiana at No. 4 Penn State at 7:30 p.m. ET, with SkyCast and the Great Clips Command Center available on ESPN3 and the ESPN App. Sean McDonough, Todd Blackledge and Molly McGrath are on the TV call, with Marc Kestecher and Ben Hartsock live on ESPN Radio.

Pac-12 action is set for mid-afternoon on ABC, as Dave Flemming, Rod Gilmore and Stormy Buonantony call No. 3 Oregon at Stanford at 3:30 p.m. Gilmore returns to his alma mater where he was a two-sport athlete in football and baseball for the Cardinal. At noon, a Lone Star State showdown looms between Texas and TCU, as Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek and Tom Luginbill kick off the day’s action on ABC.

On ESPN2, 2011 Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III calls his first game featuring his alma mater, as the No. 21 Baylor Bears take on Big 12 rival Oklahoma State. The 7 p.m. matchup between Baylor and the 19th-ranked Cowboys is this week’s 4K Game of the Week.

Also in primetime, No. 15 Texas A&M hosts Mississippi State at 7 p.m. on SEC Network, with the SEC Saturday Night trio of Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers and Cole Cubelic on the call. At 7:30 p.m., Boston College looks to keep their unbeaten streak going against No. 25 Clemson on ACC Primetime Football, as Dave O’Brien, Tim Hasselbeck – a former Eagles quarterback – and Kelsey Riggs announce the action.

Finally, Saturday’s slate concludes with a matchup of undefeated teams in the Big Sky as Montana (3-0) travels to Eastern Washington (4-0). Clay Matvick, Rocky Boiman and Tiffany Blackmon have the call at 10:30 p.m. on ESPN2.

Auburn × Penn State Reach 7.6 Millions Viewers

Leave a reply

Auburn-Penn State Registers 7.6 Million Viewers for ABC’s Saturday Night Football, ABC/ESPN Win the Night in Week 3

Auburn/Penn State registered 7.6M average viewers, the second-most-viewed Week 3 matchup

ABC has aired three of the top five games of the 2021 season

Nearly 11M average viewers watching CFB in primetime across ESPN networks on Saturday

ESPN boasts top two games on cable

ABC and ESPN continued to see multi-year viewership highs in Week 3 of the season, highlighted by Saturday night’s primetime matchup between then-No. 22 Auburn and then-No. 10 Penn State.

ABC’s Saturday Night Football Presented by Capital One averaged 7,606,000 viewers, the second-most-watched Week 3 game across all networks and fifth-best game of the year. ABC has aired three of the top five most-watched games of the year, and only once in the past decade (2016) have five games surpassed the 7.5 million viewers mark in the first three weeks of the season. The 7.6 million viewers is one of the five best September game audiences on ABC since the start of the 2018 season.

The matchup between the Tigers and the Nittany Lions peaked from 10:45 – 11 p.m. ET with 8.9 million viewers in the closing minutes of the game. This was the most-viewed Week 3 game on ABC since 2011 and the audience was up more than 100% from Saturday Night Football in 2020’s Week 3 (Miami/Louisville) and Week 3 in 2019 (Clemson/Syracuse). Driven by this game, ABC for the day was up +43 percent from 2019’s Week 3.

ESPN networks once again owned primetime as the top two networks among all key male and adult demos from 8 – 11 p.m. During that window, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU had a combined average minute audience of 10.7 million viewers.

Across the entire sport, 9.4 billion minutes were watched across all networks, up +12% from Week 2 and the most-viewed Week 3 since 2016.

ESPN Boasts Top Two Games on Cable in Week 3
ESPN notched the top two games on cable for Week 3, including South Carolina/Georgia (2,548,000 viewers) in primetime on Saturday, and Friday night’s UCF/Louisville matchup (1,881,000), which was up +8 percent from the 2019 Friday doubleheader (North Carolina/Wake Forest and Washington State/Houston).

College GameDay Built by The Home Depot Has Banner Day

ESPN’s College GameDay Built by The Home Depot (9 a.m. – noon) had a high-powered weekend in Happy Valley, with the three-hour show averaging 1,910,000 viewers, which ranks as the most-viewed College GameDay since Rivalry Week in 2019. The audience was up +84 percent from Week 3 in 2020 (Louisville) and +7 percent from Week 3 in 2019 (Ames).

Saturday’s show ranks as the best Week 3 airing of the show since 2016 and the final hour (11 a.m. – noon) averaged 2,425,500 viewers, the best final hour since the 2019 season.

Ranked Teams Battle on ESPN Networks

Leave a reply

Nearly a Dozen Ranked Teams Slated for ESPN Networks, West Virginia at No. 4 Oklahoma Featured on ABC’s Saturday Night Football

Key matchups: West Virginia at No. 4 Oklahoma, Rutgers at No. 19 Michigan, Tennessee at No. 11 Florida, No. 25 Kansas State at Oklahoma State, No. 9 Clemson at NC State

Week 4 of college football across ESPN networks sees several ranked teams in action, including four of the top five in this week’s AP Top 25. ABC’s Saturday Night Football Presented by Capital One features West Virginia at No. 4 Oklahoma at 7:30 p.m. ET, with AT&T SkyCast available on ESPN3 and the ESPN App. Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, and Holly Rowe will call the matchup between the host Sooners and the Mountaineers, who look to upset their second straight ranked opponent after knocking off then-No. 15 Virginia Tech last week.

In a rematch from last year’s triple-overtime thriller, Rutgers and No. 19 Michigan, a matchup of undefeated teams, meet at 3:30 p.m. on ABC, as Sean McDonough, Todd Blackledge, and Molly McGrath announce the action from Ann Arbor. Also on ABC Saturday is a noon Big 12 battle between Texas Tech and Texas. Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek, and Tom Luginbill will be on the TV call, with Sean Kelley, Barrett Jones, and Ian Fitzsimmons providing commentary on the ESPN Radio broadcast.

An intriguing SEC showdown on Saturday is Tennessee at No. 11 Florida on ESPN and ESPN Radio, with the visiting Vols looking for their first victory in the Swamp since 2004. Joe Tessitore, Greg McElroy, and Katie George will handle announcing duties on the ESPN telecast at 7 p.m., with Marc Kestecher and Ben Hartsock on ESPN Radio. The matchup will have additional programming on ESPN3 and the ESPN App with SkyCast and the Great Clips Command Center.

ESPN also welcomes another trio of cross-conference clashes to its Saturday slate in No. 9 Clemson at NC State, LSU at Mississippi State, and Arizona at No. 3 Oregon. The all-ACC action, this week’s 4K Game of the Week, is set for 3:30 p.m. on ESPN, with Mark Jones, Robert Griffin III and Quint Kessenich on the call. The SEC contest between the Tigers and the Bulldogs kicks off ESPN’s CFB schedule at noon, with Bob Wischusen, Dan Orlovsky, and Kris Budden life from Starkville. In this week’s Pac-12 After Dark matchup, the third-ranked Ducks take on Arizona at 10:30 p.m. on ESPN, with Dave Flemming, Rod Gilmore, and Stormy Buonantony calling the action from Autzen.

ESPN College Networks – Week 4
A quartet of ranked teams are slated for ESPN’s college networks in Week 4, including No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Georgia, No. 21 North Carolina, and No. 25 Kansas State.

The top-ranked Crimson Tide host Southern Miss at 7:30 p.m. on SEC Network, with the SEC Saturday Night trio of Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers, and Cole Cubelic on the call. Earlier in the afternoon on SECN, the second-ranked Bulldogs venture to Vandy, with Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb, and Alyssa Lang calling the matchup in Music City.

On ACC Network, No. 21 North Carolina goes down I-85 to take on Georgia Tech at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The ACC Network Primetime contest features Roy Philpott, Tim Hasselbeck, and Kelsey Riggs announcing the action in Atlanta.

On Big 12 Now on ESPN+, No. 25 Kansas State takes on Oklahoma State in a Big 12 battle. Shawn Kenney, Ryan Leaf, and Shane Sparks are set to call the showdown in Stillwater at 7 p.m.

College Football Original Series on ESPN+

Eli’s Places – Episode 3: “Nick Saban” follows Eli Manning to Tuscaloosa where he spends his “spring break” at Nick Saban’s lake house. Eli talks with the Alabama head coach about The Process, reminisces about Saban’s storied coaching career and tries to hang on as Saban takes him tubing on the lake. Episode 4: “The Only Autograph That Matters” debuts tomorrow, when Eli examines the evolution of recruiting with renowned talent analyst, Tom Lemming. Big brother Peyton also chaperones Eli’s recruiting trip to LSU, where Head Coach Ed Orgeron gives the full-court press to get Eli to become a Tiger.

Our Time: UCF Football – Available to stream now on ESPN+, Episode 2 “Making Moves” follows the Knights’ first win of the season, while UCF Football is buzzing after the school makes a decision that impacts their program’s future. Each episode of Our Time: UCF Football offers an inside look at the start of the Gus Malzahn era in Orlando, taking fans behind the scenes with Malzahn, other Knight coaches and UCF players who are mic’d up for various segments. New episodes debut every Thursday throughout the season.

SMU Football: The Hilltop – “The Team from Denton”, the third episode of SMU Football: The Hilltop, features freshman wide receiver Roderick Daniels, Jr., a Dallas native living out his dream playing for his hometown Mustangs, and takes fans into the locker room during halftime before SMU’s 28-point second-half explosion on their way to a big 35-12 win over North Texas. New episodes of The Hilltop will be available to stream every Thursday during the season.

Additional ESPN Networks – Week 4 Highlights

Wake Forest at Virginia: Friday at 7 p.m., ESPN2

Talent: Mike Morgan, Andre Ware, Paul Carcaterra

South Florida at No. 15 BYU: Saturday at 10:15 p.m., ESPN2

Talent: Beth Mowins, Kirk Morrison, Dawn Davenport

UMass at No. 17 Coastal Carolina: Saturday at 1 p.m., ESPN+

Additional college football updates will be forthcoming, and the schedule is subject to change. Please continue to check @ESPNPR and ESPN Press Room for more information.

The full schedule and on-air talent grid can be found here.