Posts tagged with "Kansas"

ESPN × College Football Week 8

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ESPN networks will highlight nearly a dozen ranked squads during Week 8 of the college football season, including four of the top five programs ranked in the AP Top 25. In total, nearly 40 games are set for the spotlight on ESPN platforms, with every game available on the ESPN App.

One of the week’s biggest matchups is No. 10 Oregon taking on UCLA on Saturday afternoon. Set for ABC at 3:30 p.m. ET, Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Holly Rowe will be on the call. The game will be amplified by ESPN’s College GameDay Built by The Home Depot pregame show on Saturday morning (9 a.m. – noon) on the campus of UCLA.

ABC’s Saturday Night Football Presented by Capital One features the fifth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes visiting the Indiana Hoosiers, with Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek and Tom Luginbill announcing the action at 7:30 p.m. Rounding out the ranked teams taking the field Saturday on ABC, No. 7 Penn State hosts Illinois at noon with Bob Wischusen, Dan Orlovsky and Kris Budden on the call.

A trio of ranked squads are set for ESPN Saturday, as No. 3 Oklahoma kicks off the action at noon against Kansas. The Big 12 battle, this week’s 4K Game of the Week, features Mark Jones, Robert Griffin III and Quint Kessenich calling the action. At 3:30 p.m. on ESPN, No. 23 Pittsburgh clashes with Clemson, as Sean McDonough, Todd Blackledge and Molly McGrath provide commentary. The Panthers-Tigers matchup will be supplemented by the AT&T 5G SkyCast on ESPN3 and the ESPN App.

ESPN’s Saturday lineup is rounded out by Tennessee traveling to fourth-ranked Alabama. The matchup is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN Radio, with Jason Benetti, Greg McElroy and Katie George on ESPN and Sean Kelley, Barrett Jones and Ian Fitzsimmons on the ESPN Radio call from Tuscaloosa. The Great Clips Command Center and SkyCast viewing option will also be available on ESPN3 and the ESPN App for the primetime presentation.

ESPN2 highlights two conference contests with ranked road squads on Saturday. At noon, No. 2 Cincinnati takes on Navy with Dave Flemming, Rod Gilmore and Stormy Buonantony announcing the American Athletic Conference action. At 7:30 p.m., No. 18 NC State flies to South Florida to face off against Miami. Anish Shroff, Mike Golic Jr. and Taylor McGregor will commentate the ACC cross-divisional matchup.

ESPN networks will showcase two early-week games featuring ranked teams, highlighting No. 14 Coastal Carolina and No. 21 SMU. On Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., the Chanticleers take on Appalachian State on ESPN2, with Anish Shroff, Tom Luginbill and Tiffany Blackmon on the call. Thursday, Matt Barrie, Roddy Jones and Harry Lyles Jr. are on the call for Tulane at the 21st-ranked Mustangs, set for 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.

Ten Anti-LGBTQ Bills Sit on Governors’ Desks

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Ten Anti-LGBTQ Bills Sit on Governors’ Desks, Poised to Undermine Rights Across the Country

As a fast and furious effort led by national groups aiming to stymie LGBTQ progress made on the national level and in many states continues to intensify, ten anti-LGBTQ bills currently sit on the desks of governors across the country waiting to be signed into law. These bills are only the latest examples of a concerted effort in state legislatures to undermine LGBTQ rights that has already resulted in the passage of several anti-LGBTQ pieces of legislation in recent months.

“State legislators across the country were elected to represent all of us, not just some of us and yet they continue to send hateful and discriminatory anti-LGBTQ bills to the desks of governors to sign into law, threatening the well-being, health, and fundamental rights of thousands of LGBTQ Americans in states from coast to coast,” said Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David. “From anti-transgender sports bans to erasing LGBTQ people from school curriculum, these bills are driven by fear and would have a significant negative impact on the lives of so many LGBTQ people. The governors of these states are responsible for protecting their citizens, and they must refuse to sign these baseless and unconscionable cruel bills into law. Otherwise, they should and will be held accountable for the consequences.”

These bills include blatant attacks on transgender youth, including prohibiting transgender kids from participating in school sports consistent with their gender identity, allow student organizations to discriminate against LGBTQ students under the guise of free speech, erase LGBTQ people from history books, and add substantial hurdles for transgender people who want to change the gender on their birth certificate by first requiring gender-affirming surgery.

Below is a roundup of the ten anti-LGBTQ bills currently sitting on the desks of governors:

ALABAMA
- House Bill 391 – ANTI-TRANS SPORTS BILL
  - The Alabama Senate and House passed House Bill 391, an anti-transgender bill that would ban transgender youth from participating in school sports consistent with their gender identity. The bill now heads to Governor Kay Ivey’s desk for signature or veto.
ARIZONA
- Senate Bill 1456 – SEX ED PARENTAL NOTIFICATION BILL
  - The Arizona State House passed Senate Bill 1456 – discriminatory legislation that affects not only sexual education material, but all learning materials in the classroom and makes it harder for LGBTQ kids to see themselves in school curriculum.
  - The bill, which would make Arizona’s sex education laws some of the strictest in the nation when it comes to teaching about LGBTQ issues, now heads to Governor Doug Ducey’s desk for consideration.
ARKANSAS
- Senate Bill 389 – SEX ED PARENTAL NOTIFICATON BILL
  - The Arkansas Senate passed Senate Bill 389, a bill which would require a school district to notify parents before “providing a sexual orientation curriculum or gender identity curriculum” in any kind of instruction, including but not limited to education on sexuality.
  - In addition to making it harder for students kids to access sex education, it could also preclude discussion about sexuality more broadly, including in literature and history classes, for example. A district could be forced to notify parents, provide curriculum materials, and allow parents to opt students out of learning about important modern and historical events, from the A.I.D.S. epidemic to the Stonewall riots to even Supreme Court jurisprudence. This bill disproportionately disadvantages LGBTQ youth who may not have supportive families and put children at greater risk of health consequences.
KANSAS
- Kansas Senate Bill 55 – ANTI-TRANS SPORTS BILL
  - The Kansas Senate passed Senate Bill 55, an anti-transgender bill that would ban transgender girls from participating in school sports consistent with their gender identity.
MONTANA
- Senate Bill 280 – BIRTH CERTIFICATE BILL
  - The Montana Senate passed SB 280, a bill that adds substantial hurdles for transgender people who want to change the gender on their birth certificate by first requiring gender-affirming surgery.
- Senate Bill 215 – RELIGIOUS REFUSAL BILL
  - The Montana House passed SB 215, an expansive religious refusal bill that could grant a license to discriminate against Montanans and visitors, including LGBTQ people, people of faith, and women, across a wide range of goods and services in the state.
NORTH DAKOTA
- House Bill 1503 – ANTI-ALL COMERS BILL
  - Many public colleges and universities have long had “all-comers” policies that require student organizations receiving financial and other support from the institution not to discriminate against students based on race, sex, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity.
  - These policies allow all members of the student body to participate in student organizations and prevent such organizations from discriminating against students with state funding. The Supreme Court upheld these all-comers policies as constitutional in the Christian Legal Society v. Martinez decision in 2010.
  - North Dakota HB 1503, in part, undermines inclusive “all-comers” policies at North Dakota public colleges and universities, by allowing student organizations to discriminate against LGBTQ students under the guise of free speech.
- House Bill 1298 – ANTI-TRANS SPORTS BILL
  - The North Dakota Senate passed House Bill 1298, an anti-transgender bill that would ban transgender girls from participating in school sports consistent with their gender identity.
TENNESSEE
- Senate Bill 1229 – SEX ED PARENTAL NOTIFICATION
  - The Tennessee Senate passed Senate Bill 1229, a bill which would require a school district to notify parents before “providing a sexual orientation curriculum or gender identity curriculum” in any kind of instruction, including but not limited to education on sexuality.
  - In addition to making it harder for students kids to access sex education, it could also preclude discussion about sexuality more broadly, including in literature and history classes, for example. A district could be forced to notify parents, provide curriculum materials, and allow parents to opt students out of learning about important modern and historical events, from the A.I.D.S. epidemic to the Stonewall riots to even Supreme Court jurisprudence.
  - SB 389 also disproportionately disadvantages LGBTQ youth who may not have supportive families and puts children at greater risk of health consequences.
WEST VIRGINIA
- House Bill 3293 – ANTI-TRANS SPORTS BILL
  - The West Virginia Senate passed House Bill 3293, an anti-transgender bill that would ban transgender girls from participating in school sports consistent with their gender identity.

Wide range of businesses and advocacy groups oppose anti-trans legislation

More than 65 major U.S. corporations have stood up and spoken out to oppose anti-transgender legislation being proposed in states across the country. New companies like Facebook, Pfizer, Altria, Peloton, and Dell join companies like Amazon, American Airlines, Apple, AT&T, AirBnB, Google, Hilton, IBM, IKEA, Microsoft, Nike, Paypal, Uber, and Verizon in objecting to these bills.
The nation’s leading child health and welfare groups representing more than 7 million youth-serving professionals and more than 1000 child welfare organizations released an open letter calling for lawmakers in states across the country to oppose dozens of bills that target LGBTQ people, and transgender children in particular.

The NCAA opposes efforts to limit participation of transgender students

The NCAA Board of Governors released a public letter making clear that it “firmly and unequivocally supports the opportunity for transgender student-athletes to compete in college sports.” Moreover, “When determining where championships are held, NCAA policy directs that only locations where hosts can commit to providing an environment that is safe, healthy and free of discrimination should be selected.” This puts the 30 states with discriminatory anti-transgender legislation under consideration on notice that their actions will have repercussions for their states.

A fight driven by national anti-LGBTQ groups, not local legislators or public concern

These bills come from the same forces that drove previous anti-equality fights by pushing copycat bills across state houses — dangerous anti-LGBTQ organizations like the Heritage Foundation, Alliance Defending Freedom (designated by Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group), and Eagle Forum among others.

For example, Montana’s HB 112, the first anti-transgender sports bill to be passed through a legislative chamber in any state, was worked on by the Alliance Defending Freedom.

Trans equality is popular: Anti-transgender legislation is a low priority, even among Trump voters

A new PBS/NPR/Marist poll states that 67% of Americans, including 66% of Republicans, oppose the anti-transgender sports ban legislation proliferating across 30 states.

In a 10-swing-state poll conducted by the Human Rights Campaign & Hart Research Group last fall:

At least 60% of Trump voters across each of the 10 swing states say transgender people should be able to live freely and openly.
At least 87% of respondents across each of the 10 swing states say transgender people should have equal access to medical care, with many states breaking 90% support
When respondents were asked about how they prioritized the importance of banning transgender people from participating in sports as compared to other policy issues, the issue came in dead last, with between 1% and 3% prioritizing the issue.

Another more recent poll conducted by the Human Rights Campaign & Hart Research Group revealed that, with respect to transgender youth participation in sports, the public’s strong inclination is on the side of fairness and equality for transgender student athletes. 73% of voters agree that “sports are important in young people’s lives. Young transgender people should be allowed opportunities to participate in a way that is safe and comfortable for them.”

States that pass anti-transgender legislation suffer economic, legal, reputational harm

Analyses conducted in the aftermath of previous divisive anti-transgender bills across the country, like the bathroom bills introduced in Texas and North Carolina and an anti-transgender sports ban in Idaho, show that there would be or has been devastating fallout.

The Idaho anti-transgender sports bill that passed was swiftly suspended by a federal district court. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) came out against the Idaho bill and others like it and subsequently moved planned tournament games out of Idaho.
The Associated Press projected that the North Carolina bathroom bill could have cost the state $3.76 billion over 10 years.
During a fight over an anti-transgender bathroom bill in 2017, the Texas Association of Business estimated $8.5 billion in economic losses, risking 185,000 jobs in the process due to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and professional sporting event cancellations, a ban on taxpayer funded travel to those states, cancellation of movie productions, and businesses moving projects out of state.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organizations working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

NCAA LGBTQ OneTeam

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NCAA LGBTQ OneTeam facilitators publish open letter condemning anti-transgender legislation

The NCAA LGBTQ OneTeam, a group of NCAA- trained facilitators at colleges across the country published an open letter condemning the actions taken by 28 states across the country to introduce, pass, and sign anti-transgender legislation. 2021 has been a record year for anti-transgender legislation, with 93 anti-transgender bills introduced across the country, the vast majority of which attempt to ban transgender women and girls’ participation in girls’ sports or ban transgender youth from accessing medically necessary, gender-affirming health care.

Laws have been signed banning transgender women and girls’ participation in girls’ sports in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Arkansas, with Executive Orders being signed to the same effect in South Dakota. Legislators across the country have failed to provide examples of issues in their states to attempt to justify these attacks, laying bare the reality that these are attacks on transgender youth that are fueled by discrimination and not supported by fact. Collegiate and professional sports organizations have had trans-inclusive policies for years without incident, and there is no reason any state would need a ban on transgender participation in sports.

The NCAA LGBTQ OneTeam open letter reads as follows:

An Open Letter in Support of Transgender Student-Athletes

We, the undersigned, are facilitators of the National Collegiate Athletics Association’s (NCAA)Division III LGBTQ OneTeam Program, which is a national training program that fosters LGBTQ+ inclusion in NCAA Division III athletics, and members of the NCAA’s Division III LGBTQ Working Group. Given the recent rise in legislation that is focused on excluding transgender people from athletics across the country, we have decided to use our collective voice to condemn such actions. We call on elected officials across the country to immediately halt legislation that is aimed at excluding transgender youth and young adults from equal and equitable participation in sport.

In our role with the NCAA’s LGBTQ OneTeam Program, we train coaches, athletics administrators, and student-athletes across the whole of Division III athletics. This program is aimed at helping to understand the importance of LGBTQ inclusion in college athletics, while also identifying strategies and best practices for institutions and conferences to better ensure that all student-athletes–regardless of their sexuality, gender identity, and/or gender expression–can participate in an inclusive and safe athletic climate. We cannot, in good conscience, fail to speak out at this critical moment.

In the past several weeks, actions–which are aimed at excluding transgender youth and young adults from equal and equitable participation in sport–have been taken by elected officials inseveral states, including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia. At the time of this writing, the Governors ofArkansas,Idaho,Mississippi, andTennessee have already signed such dangerous legislation into law.

Legislation aimed at categorically banning transgender people–and particularly transgender girls and women–from sport is inherently discriminatory. Such legislation is often “informed” by hate and misinformation rather than science, and it is most certainly “informed” byfear instead of fact. Conversely, trans-inclusive policies, such as those established by theNCAA and theInternational Olympic Committee (IOC), are better informed by the current scientific evidence, and this evidence shows that transgender women do not have an inherent competitive advantage over cisgender women.

Furthermore, discriminatory legislation that is aimed at excluding transgender people from sport has a number ofserious consequences for transgender students. Such legislation dehumanizes transgender students, refuses them the opportunity to participate equally and equitably in athletics, undermines their support in educational settings, damages their mental health, and ultimately harms these students, while also contributing to an exclusionary athletic environment and a more hostile school climate for all students.

We immediately call for 1) an end to such legislation in all states and 2) a repeal of such laws in Arkansas, Idaho, Mississippi, and Tennessee. And finally, we also encourage our legislators to better consider theNCAA best practices and importance of an inclusive athletic environment for all student-athletes.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

Timothy R. Bussey, Ph.D.

Pronouns: they/them

Associate Director, Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | Kenyon College

Kayla Hayes, M.Ed.

Pronouns: she/her

Associate Head Women’s Basketball Coach Dept. of Athletics | Denison University

Kyrstin Krist, Ph.D.

Pronouns: she/her

Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Faculty Athletic Representative | Methodist University

Melynda Link, M.B.A.

Pronouns: she/her

Director of Athletic Facilities & Game Day Operations, Dept. of Athletics | Haverford College

Kathleen M. Murray

Pronouns: she/her

President, Office of the President | Whitman College

Jess Duff

Pronouns: she/her

Assistant Athletic Director for Student Athlete Services & Internal Operations Dept. of Athletics | Bates College

Jessica Weiss

Pronouns: she/her

Head Field Hockey Coach, Dept. of Athletics | Randolph-Macon College

Jennifer Dubow

Pronouns: she/her

Executive Director | Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC)

Maura Johnston

Pronouns: she/her

Head Field Hockey Coach, Dept. of Athletics | Fairleigh Dickinson University

Scott McGuiness

Pronouns: no pronouns

Director of Athletics, Dept. of Athletics | Washington & Jefferson College

Danielle Lynch, M.S.Ed.

Pronouns: she/her

Senior Woman Administrator and Head Track and Field/Cross Country Coach Athletic Department | Penn State University – Harrisburg

Melissa Walton

Pronouns: she/her

Senior Associate Athletic Director Athletic Department | Albion College

Amy Reed

Pronouns: she/her

Senior Woman Administrator and Head Women’s Basketball Coach Dept. of Athletics | Rochester Institute of Technology

Donna M. Ledwin

Pronouns: she/her

Commissioner | Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC)

Donnesha Blake, Ph.D.

Pronouns: she/her

Director of Diversity and Inclusion Dept. of Student Affairs | Alma College

Tim Wilson

Pronouns: he/him

Assistant Track and Field Coach, Dept. of Athletics | Stevens Institute of Technology

Anne Kietzman

Pronouns: she/her

Head Field Hockey Coach, Dept. of Athletics | Washington College

Ashley Crossway, D.A.T., A.T.C.

Pronouns: she/her

Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Clinical Education Dept. of Kinesiology | SUNY Cortland

Melissa Brooks

Pronouns: she/her

Head Women’s Basketball Coach Athletic Department | Fairleigh Dickinson University – Florham

Tiffany Thompson

Pronouns: she/her

Associate Director of Gender and Sexuality Initiatives, Intercultural Center | Swarthmore College

Kirsten Clark

Pronouns: she/her

Associate Athletic Director, Dept. of Athletics and Recreation | Clark University

Kate Levin

Pronouns: she/her

Assistant Sports Information Director Dept. of Athletics | Ramapo College

Cori Collinsworth

Pronouns: she/her

Head Softball Coach, Athletic Department | Hanover College

Bethany Dannelly

Pronouns: she/her

Associate Director of Athletics, Dept. of Physical Education and Athletics | Washington and Lee University

Jennifer Childress-White, M.Ed.

Pronouns: she/her

Assistant Athletic Director and University Title IX Coordinator Dept. of Athletics | Pacific Lutheran University

Elise Fitzsimmons, M.S., A.T.C.

Pronouns: she/her

Assistant Athletic Trainer, Dept. of Athletics| SUNY Oswego

Amanda Walker

Pronouns: she/her

Athletic Program Coordinator Athletics Department | Lake Forest College

Danielle O’Leary

Pronouns: she/her

Senior Woman Administrator and Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach Athletics Department | Mount Aloysius College

Crystal Lanning

Pronouns: she/her

Director of Athletics, Dept. of Athletics | University of Wisconsin – River Falls

Neil Virtue

Pronouns: he/him

Assistant Director of Athletics and Head Swimming Coach | Dept. of Athletics, P.E., and Recreation Mills College

Jose’ Rodriguez, M.Ed.

Pronouns: he/him

Chief Diversity Officer, Office of University Diversity Initiatives | Cabrini University

Karen Moberg, M.Ed., L.A.T., A.T.C.

Pronouns: she/her

Associate Athletic Trainer, Athletic Department | Macalester College

Yishka Chin

Pronouns: she/her

Coordinator for Tutoring Services and Trailblazer Program Director, Dept. of Student Success | Notre Dame of Maryland University

Renee Bostic

Pronouns: she/her

Director of Athletics & Wellness Dept. of Athletics & Wellness | Notre Dame of Maryland University

Megan Cullinane

Pronouns: she/her

Assistant Athletic Director and Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Athletics Dept. of Athletics and Recreation | University of Massachusetts – Boston

Maureen Harty

Pronouns: she/her

Executive Director | College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW)

Stephanie Dutton

Pronouns: she/her

Commissioner | North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC)

Sharia Marcus-Carter

Pronouns: she/her

Senior Woman Administrator and Director of Compliance, Athletics Department | Brooklyn College

‘Snapped’ Commemorates 500th Episode

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OXYGEN’S LONGEST-RUNNING ORIGINAL SERIES “SNAPPED” COMMEMORATES ITS 500^TH EPISODE ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, AT 6PM ET/PT

Oxygen, the network for high-quality true crime will premiere the 500th episode of “Snapped” on November 22 at 6pm ET/PT. With 28 defining seasons and nearly 16 years of production, “Snapped” is the network’s longest-running original series and one of the most successful true-crime shows in history. Since its debut in 2004, “Snapped” has captivated millions of viewers with in-depth investigations, first-hand interviews and a closer look into the lives and motives of women who kill.

The 500^th episode of “Snapped” will delve into a riveting homicide that left a small town in Kansas forever shaken. The case follows the harrowing murder of Randy Sheridan who was shot five times while he was jogging less than a mile from his home nearly 30 years ago. New details will come to light about Sheridan’s relationship with his ex, Dana Flynn, who was in a sinful love affair with the local pastor. Sheridan and Flynn happened to be in an ugly custody battle over their 7-year-old daughter at the time of his death. In his first interview about the murder, Flynn’s brother Mikel Dreiling will speak on camera exclusively to “Snapped” and share disturbing revelations about his own involvement in the case and whether he believes his sister’s affair had deadly consequences.

For a sneak peek, please visit: https://www.oxygen.com/snapped/season-28/videos/snappeds-500th-episode-airs-november-22nd

“We always look forward to milestones, but there is something extra special about this one,” said Rod Aissa, EVP, Original Programming, Oxygen Media. “The captivating stories featured in this series have kept true-crime junkies coming back week after week, and before you knew it we were at 500.”

Beginning November 9, Oxygen will launch an epic two-week “Snapped”experience: “Snapped: The Killer Women Event” andair female killer-themed programming leading up to the special. Preceding the monumental episode, Oxygen will air the pilot of “Snapped,” a never-before-seen episode involving a doctor who was found dead on the lacquered floor of his brick mansion, elegant twin sisters with refined Southern accents and millions of dollars at stake.

“We wanted to find a special way to thank our fans for watching all these years,” said Stephen Land, CEO, Jupiter Entertainment. “We figured what better way than to air the pilot episode for the very first time and show them where it all began.”

“Snapped” is one of television’s longest running and successful true-crime franchises on television and has profiled the fascinating cases of women accused of murder for more than 20 seasons. Whether the motivation was revenge against a cheating husband, the promise of a hefty insurance payoff, or putting an end to years of abuse, the reasons are as varied as the women themselves. From socialites to secretaries, female killers share one thing in common: at some point, they all snapped.

“Snapped” is produced by Jupiter Entertainment with Patrick Reardon, Todd Moss, and Dale Fisher serving as executive producers.

For more information, visit www.oxygen.com and follow us on Twitter.

About Oxygen:

Oxygen is a multiplatform crime destination brand for women. Having announced the full-time shift to true crime programming in 2017, Oxygen remains one of the fastest growing cable entertainment networks with popular unscripted original programming that includes the flagship “Snapped” franchise, “Cold Justice,” “Killer Couples,” “Criminal Confessions,” and breakout hit event series such as “The Disappearance of Natalee Holloway,” “Dahmer on Dahmer: A Killer Speaks,” and “Aaron Hernandez Uncovered.” Available in more than 77 million homes, Oxygen is a network of NBCUniversal Entertainment & Lifestyle Group, a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. Watch Oxygen anywhere: On Demand, online, or across mobile and connected TVs.

Corey Taylor – CMFT

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Corey Taylor, vocalist for Stone Sour and Slipknot, charted extremely well with his first solo album “CMFT.”

The album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Current Hard Rock Albums chart, No. 2 on Billboard’s Current Rock Albums chart, No. 6 on Billboard’s Vinyl Albums chart and No. 9 on Billboard’s Top Albums chart.

It also debuted in the top ten in Australia and Germany and in the top 20 in the United Kingdom and Japan. You can stream the album in its entirety by clicking right here, and you can purchase limited edition merchandise bundles by clicking right here.

Forbes praised the album, calling Taylor’s singing “the best it’s ever been” and saying he’s “easily among the best sounding rock singers alive.”

Kerrang! said Taylor’s album is just what 2020 needs, and The Daily Beast said the album “finds the singer broadening his horizons and showing off his considerable versatility.”

Taylor premiered the album at The Forum in Los Angeles for a globally streamed rock show, and you can see the performance of “Halfway Down” by clicking right here.

“CMFT” includes songs like “Culture Head,” “HWY 666,” “CMFT Must Be Stopped,” and the radio hit “Black Eyes Blue,” which is vying for No. 1 positions on the charts.

Some of the songs were recently written, but others were written as far back as Taylor’s teenage years. The entire tracklist is as follows:

1. HWY 666

2. Black Eyes Blue

3. Samantha’s Gone

4. Meine Lux

5. Halfway Down

6. Silverfish

7. Kansas

8. Culture Head

9. Everybody Dies on My Birthday

10. The Maria Fire

11. Home

12. CMFT Must Be Stopped

13. European Tour Bus Bathroom Song

You can learn more about Corey Taylor by clicking right here.

NEW YEAR’S TRADITIONS AND CELEBRATIONS WITH MARRIOTT HOTELS

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Three, two, one… Happy New Year! From parties lasting late into the night to day-time celebrations for the entire family and more, the country’s Midwest cities are hotspots for some of the greatest New Year’s traditions and events. Forget watching the ball drop in Times Square from your hotel room – the Midwest Marriott properties allow travelers and locals alike to ring in the New Year at their choice of festivities with convenient proximity. Whether looking to have an intimate New Year’s Eve with close friends or attending the largest gala, guests need not look far for the best lodging accommodations, some even with popular celebrations all their own.

Chicago,Illinois

• Travelers looking for an upscale celebration in the Second City have options aplenty. The JW Marriott Chicago offers its own NYE Soiree, boasting two concurrent events throughout the hotel. Featuring Chicago’s hottest live music cover bands and DJs, multiple rooms of entertainment and a four-hour all-inclusive premium package available, JW Marriott Chicago invites guests to leave the worries of the past year behind and embrace 2020 with full enthusiasm. Gala fans may enjoy “NYE 2020” at the W Chicago – City Center, an extravaganza with over-the-top entertainment, all-inclusive packages, pre- and post-parties and more in the heart of Chicago, near the Magnificent Mile. For guests looking to enjoy Chicago’s Navy Pier, the Chicago Resolution Gala, which is held annually in the Aon Grand Ballroom, is a lively option, while those traveling with children may prefer the spectacular display of Navy Pier’s Fireworks or enjoy time together at Lincoln Park Zoo’s Zoo Year’s Eve and the Chicago Children’s Museum Noon Year’s Eve. Several top Marriott properties are located just steps from these events, including The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago, AC Hotel Chicago Downtown and The Westin Chicago River North.

Minneapolis,Minnesota

• Those visiting the Twin Cities have prime pickings for luxurious and comfortable Marriott properties to stay at, no matter what their plans. All within walking distance or short driving distance from some of downtown Minneapolis’ most popular celebrations, Hotel Ivy, Elliot Park Hotel, Aloft Minneapolis, Le Meridien Chambers, W Minneapolis – The Foshay, Minneapolis Marriott City Center, Emery and Moxy Minneapolis Uptown are in the center of the action. One of the most notable events for New Year’s in Minneapolis is the Crystal Ball, which offers guests 21 years of age and older the opportunity to dance, sing, laugh and play the night away, with live DJs, Piano Karaoke Lounge, an arcade game room with interactive LED games and more. In a similar fashion, Countdown Minneapolis is held annually at The Minneapolis Club, the extravagant festivities occur on multiple levels of the club with top DJs and a midnight countdown. For music lovers, the Snowta NYE Festival is a must at the famous music venue, The Armory.

Detroit,Michigan

• New Year’s in Detroit often comes with its own Motown Twist. The luxe Aloft Detroit at the David Whitney is the perfect on-site hotel for those looking to attend the annual New Year’s Eve celebration at the historic David Whitney Building, which known for beautiful art deco architecture stylings and an enclosed five-story atrium covered in marble with a skylighted roof. The party features Epicurean catering, a champagne toast, balloon drop, hors d’oeuvres and live music for the evening. For travelers and locals looking to explore the city elsewhere, top celebrations include the classic Detroit Princess Riverboat New Year’s Eve Motown Dinner Cruise, which allows guests to “rock the boat” on the Detroit River, the Resolution Ball at The Fillmore Detroit, which is billed as the most exclusive NYE party in the Midwest, and NYE Bleuout at Bleu Detroit, all convenient celebrations under three miles from Courtyard Detroit Downtown, Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit and The Henry.

Kansas City and St. Louis,Missouri

• Whether in downtown Kansas City, the Crossroads Arts District or beyond the locals and visitors know how to celebrate. At the iconic Union Station, thousands of people gather each New Year’s Eve to countdown at the New Year’s Swingin’ Eve, big band style. Kansas City Marriott Downtown, Sheraton Kansas City at Crown Center and The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center each offer a relaxing haven after an evening out, just a mere seven minute drive from Union Station and within walking distance of the Power & Light District, which hosts NYE! Live at the KC Live! block of the popular neighborhood. A fan favorite for individuals looking to get their party on into the early hours of the New Year, The View hosts a premium event with gourmet food options, DJs and a see-and-be-seen environment. Children and adults of all ages are invited to enjoy Zoo Year’s Eve at the Kansas City Zoo and Noon Year’s Eve at Science City, which is also conveniently located at Union Station.

• Across the state in St. Louis, similar festivities are held including NYE Live! At Ballpark Village in the dining and entertainment district downtown that attracts thousands of tourists each year. The Marriott St. Louis Grand and Magnolia Hotel St. Louis are each conveniently located less than a mile from the heart of Ballpark Village and the Courtyard St. Louis Downtown West is about 10 minutes from the action.

Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati,Ohio

• The three “C Cities” in Ohio are each hotspots for New Year’s Eve, boasting their own can’t-miss bashes. The Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel’s New Year’s Eve Party is held every year until 2 a.m. With several rooms each with their own vibe and entertainment, attendees have their choice of live band entertainment, DJs and the opportunity to enjoy a premium open bar, while being on-site at the beautiful hotel, keeping the evening safe and fun.

• In Cincinnati, visitors may enjoy a “Happy Zoo Year” at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, which is ideal for “party animals” of all ages, and the Fountain Square New Year’s Eve Blast, which welcomes thousands of attendees each year for a family-friendly, free day featuring goofy games, dancing, delicious food, musical performances, an ice skating rink and celebration finale of fireworks. Adults may prefer New Year’s Eve at Winterfest or a pre-fixe dining experience at Nicholson’s Palomino, The Palace and more, with the Renaissance Cincinnati Downtown Hotel close by to rest before and after the festivities. The city’s Courtyard Cincinnati Blue Ash and Courtyard Cincinnati Covington hotels offer comfortable accommodations a short drive from the hustle and bustle of downtown celebrations.

• Upscale travelers looking for an elevated New Year’s Eve should make their way to Cleveland’s top events including the New Year’s Eve Gala on the Nautica Queen, which never fails to sell out each year due to extreme popularity and the Decades and Diamonds at The Vault, an upscale cocktail bar in the heart of downtown. After the night of lavish fun concludes, The Westin Cleveland Downtown and The Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland offer accommodations sure to match the satisfaction of celebrating the start of a new year.

SCHLITTERBAHN WATERPARK

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Written by Vaughn Lowery × Flore Chaumont

With the heat waves roasting Texas and all lower states recently, what better way to spend your weekend than going to a water park?

Schlitterbahn, recently acquired by Cedar Fair LP, is celebrating its 40th anniversary. From a small family owner resort on the banks of the spring-fed natural Comal river to a large scale company with three resorts and seven waterparks across Texas and Kansas, Schlitterbahn is a place rich in history and potential for adventures. We got to spend a weekend there, and here is why it should be your next destination this summer.

With over 15 new attractions, Schlitterbahn is an all time multigenerational crowd pleaser. From family reunions to team building outings, the park is the perfect getaway for every need. Sensation seekers will be thrilled to try the Dark Knight, a breathtaking pitch dark rollercoaster where tubes are completely blacked out. For those of you looking for a challenge, you will love the famous Boogie Bahn, an artificial wave ridden by world known professional surfers that will make you enter history. If you’re not about that hyper life, relax in the slow-flowing Congo River while you admire the mesmerizing underground mine, wild animals and thundering waterfalls.

In addition to all the unique attractions, there’s a bunch of delicious food options to enjoy during your trip. Bahn Burgers, 1/2lb. foot-long chili cheese dog, tacos, salads and freshly made funnel cakes: possibilities are endless! Because Schlitterbahn aims to fit all budgets, they also offer a variety of cheap options to get food on site, such as the Basic and Deluxe Meal Bands, or Catered Picnic for large groups. Oh and of course, wouldn’t be a party without their famous hand crafted cocktails. But the best thing? You are also allowed to bring your own picnic, and the free BBQ stations will give you some Sunday home BBQ vibes. Like having one of the world biggest water parks in your backyard.

Enjoy the bank of Schlitterbahn’s natural river without breaking it! Their budget-friendly policies go hand in hand with their tickets pricing. Regular tickets cost $54.99, or $41.99 for ages 3-11 and 55+. But come from Monday to Thursday and you can save $7 on each ticket! Family of 4? You can opt for the Family Fun and Food Pack for a total of $199.99. Travelling from far? Save up to $47 with the Two-Day Tickets, and enjoy a stay at one of the unique resorts located right next to the park. Schlitterbahn has a variety of options and packages to cater everyone’s needs! And if you’re really impatient for the never ending fun, you can get the Blast Pass to skip all the lines and make the most out of it.

We spent a magical weekend with a close family friend and her two kids. We got to experience a wonderful stay in one of the riverbend cabins, with a really authentic cottage-style interior design, wooden floors and walls and a gorgeous view on the Comal River. Sipping on brew, snacking on pizza and braiding each others’ hair… Couldn’t think of a better way to relax and break our busy routines. We also had fun exploring the miniature downtown area that was a walking distance to our cabin, brimming with an array of eclectic bars, restaurants and street murals.

Our team had a blast at Schlitterbahn, and we’re sure you will too. So go and make memories this summer!

Natty Light Puts His Resume on a NASCAR Racecar

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Natural Light is at it again helping recent grads as they enter the real world.

Natty Light recently unveiled the NASCAR resume paint scheme–yes, an actual person’s job resume–and wrapped it around Chris Buescher’s #37 car for the South Point 400 race in Vegas on Sunday.

WHY THEY DID IT

Natty Light gets it–the entry-level job market in 2018 is as competitive as ever, and 44M+ Americans graduate with crippling college debt. What better way to get your resume recognized than slap it on a racecar for a nationally televised NASCAR event.

THE WINNER

The chosen candidate is Brian Starr from Burdick, KS. An aspiring motorsports journalist, his head shot, work experience, skills, phone number, and email all appear on Chris’s #37 car. Briar better be ready for his phone to buzz nonstop with calls, texts, and emails from job recruiters!

Snow Patrol Debut MV

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Snow Patrol Debut Music Video for “Soon” confirms North American tour with Ed Sheeran &Headlining dates throughout the U.K. & Ireland. First Album in seven years Wilderness out now via Republic/Polydor Records.

“….a fantastically ambitious collection of songs, one more direct and intimate than many previous Snow Patrol offerings…“Wildness” signals a triumphant Snow Patrol return.” -Associated Press

This morning, Snow Patrol debut the music video for their song “Soon,” from their album Wildness. Directed by Brett Simon, who has helmed videos for every track on the album, ‘Soon’ is a poignant snapshot of Gary Lightbody and his father, who is suffering from dementia. Lightbody revealed: “Soon’ is about my dad. Three years ago he was diagnosed with dementia. I wanted to write a song that connected us both and let him know I was with him and would be always. The video we made for this (directed by Brett Simon) is me and my dad sitting together watching old home movies. Filming it with him was one of the best days I ever spent with my dad and I’m so grateful he got to share in the day and spend some time in my world. It meant everything to me.” Watch the video for “Soon” here. For more information about how music and technology can improve the lives of the elderly suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s, visit Music & Memory here.

Recently, Snow Patrol have confirmed 8 headlining dates in the UK and Ireland throughout December and January. The band will perform in cities including Dublin, London, and Belfast (full dates below), and tickets will go on sale on Friday, June 8^th at 9am Local Time here. Snow Patrol has also confirmed that they will support Ed Sheeran on 24 North American stadium dates, which will kick off at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl on Saturday August 18^th. The tour will stop in cities including Seattle, Atlanta, Chicago, and Dallas (full dates below), and tickets for all dates are on sale now and available here.

Snow Patrol’s album Wildness, their first album in seven years, is out now and available for purchase on all formats here. To celebrate the release of Wildness, Snow Patrol debuted new music videos for “A Youth Written In Fire,” “Life and Death,” “Wild Horses,” and “A Dark Switch.” The band has previously released music videos for “Empress” “What If This Is All The Love You Ever Get?,” “Life On Earth,” and “Don’t Give In,” and you can watch them all here. Additionally, Ed Sheeran showed his support in an Instagram video here.

Snow Patrol recently returned to “Later… With Jools Holland” where they debuted a live rendition of “Empress,” along with performances of “Life On Earth,” “Heal Me,” and “Chasing Cars.” Snow Patrol also appeared as musical guests on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on April 19^th and The Late Late Show With James Corden on April 24^th and performed “Don’t Give In,” the first single from the album.

Snow Patrol has launched a Spotify playlister website where fans around the world can create their own playlist of Snow Patrol songs throughout the band’s catalogue and share these playlists with a friend. When sharing the playlist, the fan marks his/her location as well as the recipient’s location on a global map. Check it out and create your own playlist at http://playlist.snowpatrol.com
Since their 1998 debut, Songs for Polarbears, Snow Patrol has racked up an impressive number of critical and commercial accolades, including 15 million global album sales, 1+ billion global track streams, five UK Platinum Albums, and are Grammy, BRIT Award and Mercury Music Prize nominated. After their Fallen Empires tour ended in 2012, band members —which also include multi-instrumentalist Johnny McDaid, guitarist Nathan Connolly, bassist Paul Wilson, and drummer Jonny Quinn — decided to take a step back from the band, and focus on their own projects. Gary Lightbody continued his work with his Tired Pony side project with members of Belle and Sebastian, R.E.M, Reindeer Section and Fresh Young Fellows and moved to Los Angeles to begin writing songs for movies (including “This Is How You Walk On” for 2017’s Gifted), and doing a number of high-profile co-writes with Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Biffy Clyro, and One Direction. Taking this extended break from Snow Patrol proved to be a source of inspiration, and writing songs that were not pulled directly from his own psyche helped heal what Lightbody considered to be not so much writer’s block as life block.

Wildness Track Listing
01 Life On Earth
02 Don’t Give In
03 Heal Me
04 Empress
05 A Dark Switch
06 What If This Is All The Love You Ever Get?
07 A Youth Written In Fire
08 Soon
09 Wild Horses
10 Life And Death

Snow Patrol North American Tour Dates With Ed Sheeran
Aug18 /// Pasadena, CA /// Rosebowl
Aug 21 /// San Francisco, CA /// AT&T Park
Aug 25 /// Seattle, WA /// CenturyLink Field
Aug 30 /// Toronto, ON /// Rogers Centre
Aug 31 /// Toronto, ON /// Rogers Centre
Sep 6 /// St. Louis, MO /// Busch Stadium
Sep 8 /// Detroit, MI /// Ford Field
Sep 21 /// East Rutherford, NJ /// MetLife Stadium
Sep 22 /// East Rutherford, NJ /// MetLife Stadium
Sep 27 /// Philadelphia, PA /// Lincoln Financial Field
Sep 29 /// Pittsburgh, PA /// PNC Park
Oct 4 /// Chicago, IL /// Soldier Field
Oct 6 /// Nashville, TN /// Nissan Stadium
Oct 13 /// Kansas City, MO /// Arrowhead Stadium
Oct 17 /// Fargo, ND /// Fargodome
Oct 20 /// Minneapolis, MN /// US Bank Stadium
Oct 23 /// Milwaukee, WI /// Miller Park
Oct 27 /// Dallas, TX /// AT&T Stadium
Oct 31 /// New Orleans, LA /// Mercedes-Benz Stadium Superdome
Nov 3 /// Houston, TX /// Minute Maid Park
Nov 7 /// Tampa, FL /// Raymond James Stadium
Nov 10 /// Atlanta, GA /// Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Snow Patrol Headlining European Tour Dates
Dec 5 /// Newcastle, England /// Metro Radio Arena
Dec 7 /// Belfast, Northern Ireland /// The SSE Arena
Dec 11 /// Dublin, Ireland /// 3Arena
Jan 25 /// Birmingham, England /// Birmingham Arena
Jan 26 /// London, England /// O2 Arena
Jan 29 /// Leeds, England /// First Direct Arena
Jan 30 /// Manchester, England /// Manchester Arena
Jan 31 /// Glasgow, England /// The SSE Hydro
*w/ Ed Sheeran
www.snowpatrol.com
www.facebook.com/snowpatrol
www.instagram.com/snowpatrol
www.twitter.com/snowpatrol
www.youtube.com/snowpatrol

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SNOW PATROL
Taylor Vaughn
Taylor.Vaughn@umusic.com

Mary Moyer
mary@qprime.com

Emilio Herce
emilio@qprime.com

ABOUT REPUBLIC RECORDS
A division of Universal Music Group, the world’s leading music company, Republic Records is home to an all-star roster of multi-platinum, award-winning legends and superstar artists such as Ariana Grande, Aminé, Black Sabbath, DNCE, Florence + the Machine, Gotye, Hailee Steinfeld, James Blake, James Bay, John Mellencamp, Jordan Smith, Julia Michaels, Keith Richards, Kid Cudi, Liam Payne, Marian Hill, Of Monsters and Men, Post Malone, Seth MacFarlane, Stevie Wonder, and more. Founded by brothers and chief executives Monte and Avery Lipman, it is also comprised of innovative business ventures, including American Recordings (The Avett Brothers, Towkio), Boominati Worldwide (Metro Boomin), Brushfire (Jack Johnson), Casablanca Records (Giorgio Moroder, KUNGS, Tïesto), Cash Money (Drake, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj), Hollywood Records (Sofia Carson, Zendaya), Lava Records (Greta Van Fleet, Jessie J, Lorde), Monkeywrench (Pearl Jam), XO (Belly, The Weeknd), Roc Nation (Jaden Smith, Justine Skye, The Dream), among others. Republic also maintains a long-standing strategic alliance with country powerhouse Big Machine Records (Taylor Swift), and Universal Music Latin Entertainment (Luis Fonsi, J Balvin). In addition, Republic has expanded to release high-profile soundtracks for Universal Pictures (Fifty Shades of Grey, SING), Fox TV (Lee Daniels’ STAR), and NBC TV (The Voice), as well as other notable film and television franchises.

The Spencer Lee Band

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The Spencer Lee Band reveals a live rendition of the classic “With a Little Help From My Friends” (Live In Studio) via SB Projects/Republic Records.

Get the song HERE and video for the song HERE.

The group teamed up with Fader to give the song a first look and share the soulful cover this morning. Of the song, the outlet wrote, “Spencer Lee’s voice is already a classic.” Known for their unbelievable live chemistry, the song is a perfect representation of their unparalleled live energy. Read full interview here.

Led by Kansas-born and Los Angeles-based singer and multi-instrumentalist Spencer Lee, the group has quietly become a burgeoning phenomenon. They contributed “The Wolf” to the chart-topping 50 Shades Freed Official Soundtrack Album, and it’s already generated nearly 7 million Spotify streams and counting while their debut single “Kissing Tree” continues to climb the charts.

Next up, The Spencer Lee Band storms the festival circuit this summer with performances at Governors Ball,Bonnaroo, Firefly, and more.

Be on the lookout for more news on The Spencer Lee Band soon!