July 18 Radio History

➦In 1909...Harriet Nelson, formerly Hilliard; born Peggy Lou Snyder. (Died at age 85  – October 2, 1994) . She was best known is best known for her role on the radio and TV sitcom The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.  She sang with husband Ozzie Nelson’s band, and played other comedic roles on radio’s Red Skelton Show.

➦In 1913...Richard Bernard Eheart born (Died at age 84 – September 17, 1997). Professionally known as Red Skelton, he was best known for his national radio and television acts between 1937 and 1971, and as host of the television program The Red Skelton Show. He has stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in radio and television, and also appeared in burlesque, vaudeville, films, nightclubs, and casinos, all while he pursued an entirely separate career as an artist.

Red Skelton

Skelton began developing his comedic and pantomime skills from the age of 10, when he became part of a traveling medicine show. He then spent time on a showboat, worked the burlesque circuit, and then entered into vaudeville in 1934. The "Doughnut Dunkers" pantomime sketch, which he wrote together with his wife, launched a career for him in vaudeville, radio, and films.

His radio career began in 1937 with a guest appearance on The Fleischmann's Yeast Hour, which led to his becoming the host of Avalon Time in 1938. He became the host of The Raleigh Cigarette Program in 1941, on which many of his comedy characters were created, and he had a regularly scheduled radio program until 1957. Skelton made his film debut in 1938 alongside Ginger Rogers and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. in Alfred Santell's Having Wonderful Time, and would appear in numerous musical and comedy films throughout the 1940s and 1950s, with starring roles in 19 films, including Ship Ahoy (1941), I Dood It (1943), Ziegfeld Follies (1946), and The Clown (1953).

Skelton was eager to work in television, even when the medium was in its infancy. The Red Skelton Show made its television premiere on September 30, 1951, on NBC. By 1954, Skelton's program moved to CBS, where it was expanded to one hour and renamed The Red Skelton Hour in 1962. Despite high ratings, the show was cancelled by CBS in 1970, as the network believed that more youth-oriented programs were needed to attract younger viewers and their spending power. Skelton moved his program to NBC, where he completed his last year with a regularly scheduled television show in 1971.

Marvin Miller

➦In 1913...Marvin Elliott Miller born (Died at age 71  – February 8, 1985). Possessing a deep, baritone voice, Marvin Miller began his career in radio in St. Louis, Missouri, before becoming a Hollywood actor.

Miller graduated from Washington University before commencing his career in radio. When a singer named Marvin Miller debuted on another St. Louis radio station, he began using his middle initial to distinguish himself from the newcomer. For the Mutual Broadcasting System, he narrated a daily 15-minute radio show entitled The Story Behind the Story, which offered historical vignettes. He also served as announcer on several Old Time Radio shows of the 1940s and 1950s, including The Jo Stafford Show and the long-running mystery series The Whistler.

Miller played Dr. Lee Markham on The Woman in White on NBC radio and Howard Andrews on Midstream on the Blue Network and appeared as "The voice of the Past" on the May 21, 1942 broadcast of The Right to Happiness. In 1945–47, he was the announcer for Songs by Sinatra. He played two characters and was the announcer on The Billie Burke Show (1943-1946).

From 1949 to 1950 he starred as Dr. Yat Fu on the short-lived ABC series Mysteries of Chinatown, with Gloria Saunders cast as his niece. In 1961, Miller guest-starred as Johnny Kelso, with Erin O'Brien, in "The Marble Slab" episode of the Frederick Ziv-, United Artists-, and MGM-produced Bat Masterson, starring Gene Barry. Original air date was May 11, 1961.

Miller as depicted in 1959

Miller made a guest appearance in 1963 on Perry Mason as unscrupulous attorney F.J. Weatherby in "The Case of the Lover's Leap."

He voiced Aquaman for the Filmation studio for their 1967 series The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure. He was also the voice of pilot/scientist Busby Birdwell in the company's animated series Fantastic Voyage.

He was the voice of the arrogant alien "Zarn" in three episodes of the second season of Land of the Lost.  Miller also lent his distinct voice to The Pink Panther Show, often talking with the feline offscreen and asking questions, while also voicing The Inspector, his second Deux Deux and their boss The Commissioner.

On The Millionaire, Miller played Michael Anthony in over 200 episodes, conveying the wishes of the "fabulously wealthy" John Beresford Tipton, voiced by Paul Frees.[24

He won Grammy Awards in 1965 and 1966 for his recordings of Dr. Seuss stories: in 1967 for Dr Seuss Presents – If I Ran the Zoo and Sleep Book and 1966 for Dr Seuss Presents Fox in Socks and Green Eggs and Ham. He also read Horton Hatches the Egg, The Sneetches and Other Stories and Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories.

In the mid-1970s, Miller even lent his voice to sports films, narrating the official Indianapolis 500 films in 1975 and 1976.

➦In 1922...WHAS-AM signed-on in Louisville KY.

On May 16, 1925, the first live broadcast of the Kentucky Derby was originated by WHAS and was also carried by WGN in Chicago. The call of the Derby featured an announcer who watched from the windows of one of the famous twin spires of Churchill Downs.

On May 15, 1932, WHAS changed from being an NBC affiliate and joined CBS. At that time, WHAS operated on 820 kHz with 10 KW power, but the output was soon increased to 25 KW as authorized by the Federal Radio Commission.

During a 1937 flood, WHAS aired 115,000 messages. On March 29, 1941 the station moved to its current frequency of 840 AM and made a clear-channel station, both as a result of the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement, which relocated the 840 clear channel allocation to Louisville from Toronto, where it was used by CBL. On March 30, 1970 WHAS began 24-hour operation.

The station was originally part of the local media empire ruled by the Bingham family, which also published Louisville Courier-Journal and Louisville Times.  WHAS and its FM sister station, WAMZ (the former WHAS-FM) were acquired by Clear Channel Communications (which, as iHeartMedia, continues to own the stations to this day) in 1986.

➦In 1964…United Artists -the label which issued  the soundtrack to “A Hard Day’s Night” and Capitol Records - locked horns on the songs from the film.

UA had the rights to the original soundtrack album which contains seven songs and instrumental music by George Martin. Capitol was going “all-out” to buck the soundtrack album. Capitol had the rights to issue singles off the album.

UA rush released advance copies of the “A Hard Day’s Night” soundtrack album to radio stations and stores, after WMCA 570 AM New York got an advance copy and began playing it to their huge New York audience. Capitol issued a single disc by the Beatles, coupling the movie’s title song “A Hard Day’s Night” with “I Should Have Known Better.”

The Capitol album contained the seven picture songs and five new tunes, but could not be identified as a soundtrack album – only UA had those rights.  

1010 WINS and 77WABC weren’t happy about the “Hard Day’s Night” WMCA exclusive.

WINS got a Beatles exclusive from a special overseas source and began playing “Slowdown” by the Beatles soon after. 

➦In 1964…Tom Clay departed from station CKLW 800 AM, Windsor-Detroit.  The station and Clay called it an amiable parting. Clay felt he was not doing enough on his show when not allowed to play the records himself (union rules). Clay’s night-time slot was taken by Terry Knight from WTRX, Flint.

Knight would go on to become a recording artist with Terry Knight & The Pack . Their biggest hit was 1966’s “I Who Have Nothing.”) Knight would then go on to bigger and better things as the manager for Grand Funk Railroad .

➦In 1974… KNEW-AM in San Francisco changed to country. Today the station is owned by iHeartMedia and Progressive Talk as KKSF 910 AM.

➦In 1974…Cousin Bruce Morrow departed WABC 770 AM New York to take the spot vacated by Wolfman Jack on rival WNBC 660 AM.

Morrow's first stint in radio was in Bermuda at ZBM-AM, where he was known as "The Hammer".

Morrow began his career in the USA at New York Top 40 station 1010 WINS in 1959. In 1960, he relocated to Miami, Florida for a stint at WINZ (AM) before returning to New York the next year for the major station WABC.

Morrow's return to New York City came just as rock and roll music was becoming extremely popular among the baby boom demographic, and Morrow found himself on the most powerful radio station on the East Coast at the beginning of the so-called British Invasion. His main competition came from his previous station WINS, which featured "Murray the K," a DJ who claimed an association with the Beatles.

Morrow quickly became a success on WABC's teenager-oriented evening shift.

Morrow worked for WABC for 13 years and 4,014 broadcasts until August 1974, when he transferred to rival radio station WNBC; after three years there, he quit performance to team with entrepreneur Robert F.X. Sillerman to become the owner of the Sillerman Morrow group of radio stations, which included WALL; WKGL, now WRRV, in Middletown, New York; WJJB, later WCZX, in Poughkeepsie, New York; WHMP in Northampton, Massachusetts; WOCB in West Yarmouth, Massachusetts; WRAN (now dark) New Jersey 1510 in Randolph, New Jersey; and television station WATL Atlanta. The group later purchased WPLR in New Haven, Connecticut.

During 1982, Morrow resumed working as a radio announcer, for New York's oldies station WCBS 101.1 FM.  For a number of years, Morrow hosted programs for SiriusXM, on the '60s on 6 channel. Today Cousin' Brucie hosts a Saturday night music show on 77WABC NYC. 

➦In 1984…KPLZ Seattle becomes the 11th station to license Mike Joseph’s “Hot Hits” phrase.

➦In 1984…Chicago Radio Arbitron Ratings… WGN-AM was best with an 8.8...Urban WGCI-FM is up to a 6.1...News WBBM  4.6...Easy WLOO – 5.6...B-96 (WBBM-FM) dips to a 4.6 from 5.0...WLS-AM dips to a 3.2 from 3.7...WLS-FM is up to a 3.5 from 2.9...WCLR (A/C) is up to a 4.1 from 3.4...Country WMAQ scores a 4.1...WLUP up from a 3.0 to 3.4...WLAK (Nothing but love songs) is down to a 3.2 from a 3.9.

➦In 1984…Capital Cities bought Metromedia’s KLAC 570 AM in Los Angeles.

➦In 1984…WGAR 1220 AM Cleveland flipped to  Country. Today, the station airs a religious format as WHKW.

Adrian Cronauer September 8, 1938 – July 19, 2018

➦In 2018...Adrian Joseph Cronauer, best known for co-writing the original story for the film "Good Morning Vietnam" about his time as an DJ at American Forces Vietnam Radio, died at the age of 79.

Dion is 82

🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAYS:

• Director Paul Verhoeven (“Basic Instinct,” ″Showgirls”) is 83. 
• Singer Brian Auger is 82. 
• Singer Dion is 82. 
• Actor James Brolin is 81. 
• Singer Martha Reeves of Martha and The Vandals is 80. 
• Guitarist Wally Bryson of The Raspberries is 72. 
• Actor Margo Martindale (“Sneaky Pete,” “The Americans”) is 70. 
• Bluegrass singer Ricky Skaggs is 67. 
• Actor Audrey Landers (“Dallas”) is 65. 
• Drummer Nigel Twist of The Alarm is 64. 
• Actor Anne-Marie Johnson (“That’s So Raven,” “In the Heat of the Night”) is 61. 
• Actor Elizabeth McGovern (“Downton Abbey”) is 60. 
• Keyboardist John Hermann of Widespread Panic is 59. 
• Talk show host/actor Wendy Williams is 57. 
• Actor Vin Diesel is 54. 
• Actor Grant Bowler (“True Blood,” ″Ugly Betty”) is 53. 
• Actor Eddie Matos (“All My Children”) is 49. 

• 

  Kristen Bell is 41

  Rapper M.I.A. is 46. 
• Guitarist Daron Malakian of System of a Down and of Scars on Broadway is 46. 
• Actor Elsa Pataky (“The Fast and the Furious” films) is 45. 
• Drummer Tony Fagenson (Eve 6) is 43. 
• Actor Kristen Bell is 41. 
• Actor Michiel Huisman (“Game of Thrones”) is 40. 
• Singer Ryan Cabrera is 39. 
• Actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas (“Quantico”) is 39. 
• Drummer Aaron Gillespie of Underoath is 38. 
• Actor Chace Crawford (“Gossip Girl”) is 36. 
• Bassist Paul Kowert of Punch Brothers is 
• 35. Guitarist Joe Dean Jr. (Dailey and Vincent) is 32.

Pew Trending: Radio Listening Flat, Station Revenue Down

While terrestrial radio reaches a large portion of the U.S. population, online audio and podcasting audiences have grown over the last decade. And revenue for news radio stations dropped over the past year after years of relative stability, according to a recent analysis by The Pew Research Center.

The audience for terrestrial radio remains high, though there was a slight drop in 2020: In 2020, 83% of Americans ages 12 or older listened to terrestrial radio in a given week, a figure that dropped slightly from 89% in 2019 according to Nielsen Media Research data published by the Radio Advertising Bureau.

The share of Americans who listen to podcasts has also substantially increased over the last decade. As of 2021, 41% of Americans ages 12 or older have listened to a podcast in the past month, according to “The Infinite Dial” report by Edison Research and Triton Digital, up from 37% in 2020 and just 9% in 2008. Additionally, 28% of those 12 and older said they have listened to a podcast in the last week, up from 24% in 2020 and 7% when this was first measured in 2013.

According to survey data from Edison Research and Triton Digital, the share of the public listening to online audio has plateaued. As of early 2021, 68% of Americans ages 12 and older had listened to online audio in the past month, while 62% had listened in the past week. This has been about steady since 2019, revealing a plateau after steady year-over-year growth from 2007 to 2018.

Average revenue for a combination of stations in the all-news, news/talk, and news/talk/info formats is substantially lower than when looking at all-news stations alone – in 2021, $2.1 million per station. This likely stems from the fact that this category contains a sizeable number of stations with low total revenue.

Nielsen's New Metric The Guage Notes UpTick In Audience

Looking at month-to-month changes in Nielsen’s new metric -- The Gauge -- Netflix, Disney+ and cable TV networks have made slight audience share gains in June over May.

Nielsen says the completion of the broadcast TV prime-time season -- as well as streamers ramping up new high-powered TV series and movie content -- explained some of the changes.

Brian Fuhrer, senior vice president of product strategy of Nielsen, in a video blog, said new, recent highly watched streaming content included Netflix’s off-NBC rerun episodes of “Manifest” and Disney+ new streaming movie “Raya and the Last Dragon.”

But a single bit of content doesn’t change actual share viewing percentages much. “What it does is drive consumers to explore this content, explore the platforms, and get consumers the opportunity to be cross promoted to other things,” he said.

Mediapost reports Netflix improved one-percentage point to a 7% share -- the top streaming platform for total day persons 2+. Disney also added one point, getting to a 2% share. Other competitors remains the same: YouTube (including YouTube TV), 6%; Hulu (including Hulu + Live TV), 3%; and Amazon Prime Video, 2%.

Columbus OH Radio: WSNY Welcomes Return Of Dino Tripodis

Columbus Radio Group has announced Dino Tripodis, longtime WSNY radio favorite, reclaims the seat next to Stacy McKay as co-host of the legendary Sunny 95 morning show.

When Dino isn’t waking up central Ohio listeners on SUNNY THIS MORNING, you might find him working on a new film or video project through his Never The Luck Productions, or producing his award-winning podcast, Whiskey Business, a podcast not so much about whiskey, as it is one with whiskey. He says, “I’m thrilled to be back doing what I’ve always loved to do, alongside the people I love doing it with. When I left, I thought I was ready and felt good about it…(laughs)…Yeah, I was wrong, I’m not done.” Stacy McKay added, “I am beyond excited to have our “band” back together and look forward to writing a new chapter in an amazing adventure!”

Sunny 95 · Welcome Back Dino

“Having Dino back alongside Stacy McKay as part of the Columbus Radio Group team is incredible. Columbus radio has missed him, and we’ve missed him,” said Erik Schmidt, VP/GM of CRG.

OPS Manager/PD Michelle Matthews adds, “We are so excited to reunite two long-time friends, along with their teammates Greg Hansberry and Clark Donley, as we introduce this new show to Columbus.”

Sunny This Morning with Stacy McKay & Dino Tripodis kicks off Monday morning, July 19th, 2021 at 6am and runs each weekday morning from 6-10am on 94.7fm, Sunny 95.

NBC Loses Rising Star Kassie Hunt To CNN

NBC's Kassie Hunt Jumps Ship For CNN

CNN has snatched Kasie Hunt, the Capitol Hill correspondent long viewed as a rising star at NBC News, as part of an aggressive bid to push the WarnerMedia cable-news outlet into the new frontier of streaming video, reports Variety.

Hunt surprised viewers Friday on her early-morning MSNBC program, “Way Too Early,” by revealing that she was doing her last broadcast of the show. “This is going to be my final broadcast with all of you,” she said, vowing to reveal details of “my new adventure in the next few weeks.” What she did not disclose, according to two people familiar with the matter, is that she will join CNN to focus largely on content that is produced for streaming viewers as part of a big bet being made by Jeff Zucker, president of CNN.

CNN is trying to hire dozens of people to help fuel its move into the streaming arena, and one person familiar with the matter said Hunt was offered an annual salary of between $1 million and $1.5 million that NBC News felt it simply could not match. This person suggested that Hunt could play a pivotal role in CNN’s streaming efforts, appearing online at moments of great national importance, such as during presidential elections.

She has played an increasingly large role at NBC News, where she has worked since 2013. After working as an off-air producer, Hunt gained traction by holding fort on a Sunday night MSNBC program, “KasieDC,” before taking over the cable-news outlet’s early-morning slot on weekdays. But she has also been a regular presence on “NBC Nightly News” and “Meet the Press” and filled in for anchor Chuck Todd on his “MTP Daily.” More significant, perhaps, is the fact that she had started to co-anchor NBC News’ coverage with Todd on big political nights on NBC News Now, the news outlet’s new streaming outlet.

All of the nation’s big TV-news divisions have begun to focus more intently on streaming video, well aware that a rising generation of news aficionados are getting their headlines from Twitter feeds and smartphone alerts. CBS News, which got in early to the game with CBSN, has been combined with its parent company’s local TV stations, and the combined entity has already begun producing special reports led by local-news anchors on the ground at events of great interest, like the collapse of the Surfside condominium in Florida. MSNBC earlier this week announced it was developing programs from top anchors like Mika Brzezinski and Nicolle Wallace for its parent company’s Peacock outlet. ABC News has broken down walls between streaming and linear programming, enlisting producers from its streaming efforts for its “GMA3” on ABC and elevating streaming anchor Linsey Davis to anchor a weekend broadcast of “World News Tonight.” And Fox News continues to bolster its Fox Nation streaming outlet with additional content — and in May announced it would make its linear primetime opinion broadcasts available on the service the day after they air.

As these outlets have pressed forward, CNN has held back. Even so, executives have been considering several ideas for streaming in recent months, and have both tested pilots with new anchor candidates and mulled the potential for anchors and correspondents to get involved with programming and topics that plays to their areas of passion and expertise. Any subscription product would not necessarily be limited to video. There have been discussions about concepts like newsletters and other formats.

MLB Game To Be Called By All Women

For the first-time in Major League Baseball history, there will be all women serving as the on-air crew when the Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays play against each other on Tuesday, reports The New York Times.

Melanie Newman, who has served as the Orioles’ radio play-by-play announcer since last year, will do play-by-play calling for the game, while baseball analyst and MLB.com writer Sarah Langs will be the analyst in the booth. Joining them will be Alanna Rizzo, who will do the on-field reporting, and Heidi Watney and Lauren Gardner, who will anchor the pregame and post game shows.

Gardner, who is a reporter for both the MLB network and the National Hockey League network, referred to this historic news as a “pinch me” moment, adding that she and the other women joining her have “all worked so hard for so many years to reach this point.”

CNBC reports the news comes on the heels of Kim Ng being hired as MLB’s first female general manager by the Miami Marlins and it follows the lead of several other professional sports organizations who have had all-women led games before.

In March, the NBA made history when a crew of five women handled a game between the Toronto Raptors and the Denver Nuggets. Last year, the NHL made history when two games included an all-women broadcast and production crew. And in 2018, for the first time, there was a Major League Soccer game that included an all-women broadcast crew. That same year, Hannah Storm and Andrea Kremer also made history when they began broadcasting National Football League games for Amazon Prime Video.

“I’ve always had a male play-by-play voice in my ear during every game I’ve ever done,” Rizzo tells The New York Times. “So, to do a game where those voices are Melanie and Sarah, that will be a unique feeling and a unique perspective of the game. It’s exciting to be a part of something like this.”

Newman, who has called minor league baseball games on the radio for six years, was part of the first all-female broadcast of a minor league game in 2019 alongside Suzie Cool. The following year, in 2020, she became the voice of the Orioles radio broadcast.

Biden Asserts Social Media Platforms "Are Killing People"

President Joe Biden on Friday criticized social media platforms like Facebook for spreading misinformation about the coronavirus and vaccines, as his administration has blamed them for stalling U.S. vaccine rates.

"They’re killing people," Biden said when asked what his message was to social media platforms like Facebook on the spread of false and misleading claims about the virus and the safety of vaccines that prevent it.

"The only pandemic we have is among the unvaccinated, and that’s — they’re killing people," he continued.

NBC News reports Facebook took issue with the president.

"We will not be distracted by accusations which aren’t supported by the facts," a company spokesman said. "The fact is that more than 2 billion people have viewed authoritative information about COVID-19 and vaccines on Facebook, which is more than any other place on the internet. More than 3.3 million Americans have also used our vaccine finder tool to find out where and how to get a vaccine. The facts show that Facebook is helping save lives. Period.”

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on Thursday issued his first advisory raising alarm about the growing wave of misinformation about Covid-19 and related vaccines that threatens the administration's efforts to quell the pandemic.

'They're killing people': Biden condemns Covid misinformation on Facebook https://t.co/zjbWZvShB2 via @nbcnews

— Tom Benson (@Tombenson1) July 17, 2021

White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Thursday also said Facebook was not doing enough to stop the spread of false information on the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, FOX News reports the president's hyperbolic rhetoric was slammed on Twitter. 

"@POTUS is right about Big Tech’s role, he’s just pointing his finger at the wrong problem," Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis. reacted. "It’s their suppression and censorship of early treatment that has cost lives. Social media should have been an open forum for solutions, instead it has become a tool for Big Brother."

"Are social media companies also guilty of 'killing people' if they allow content encouraging people to be obese, to consume fatty junk food, content which glorifies cigarette smoking and large amounts of alcohol consumption and a sedentary lifestyle?" journalist Glenn Greenwald wondered. 

NBC Ends Innovative Run With NHL

NBC’s coverage of the NHL was supposed to begin in January 2005, but the cancellation of that season due to a lockout pushed its first game back a year. Its run came to an end last week when the Tampa Bay Lightning closed out the Stanley Cup Final by beating the Montreal Canadiens. The initial multi-year deals with NBC and OLN were followed by extensions with options and then a 10-year, $2 billion media rights agreement in 2011 with games airing across NBC and NBC Sports Network. Beginning next season, NHL media rights shift to Disney/ESPN and Turner Sports as part of separate seven-year deals that collectively add up to an average annual value of $625 million.

According to Mark J Burns at SportsBusiness Journal, the 16 seasons that NBC and the NHL were together were marked by constant innovations. The first and most notable came when Flood had the idea of putting an analyst “Inside the Glass” between both player benches to gain an ice-level perspective and relay information to fans that would be harder to obtain from high atop an arena in a broadcast booth. Kenny Albert, who replaced the legendary Doc Emrick this year as the network’s lead play-by-play announcer, said the idea has “led to about 50 jobs around the league.”

More recently, in late February’s two-game outdoor hockey event at Lake Tahoe, NBC leveraged live drone coverage for the first time during a NHL broadcast as two machines traveled up to 70 miles per hour, with the Sierra Nevada mountain range providing a beautiful backdrop.

“This was a real spirit of partnership and innovation that was born into the relationship from the beginning,” said John Collins, who served as NHL chief operating officer from 2008 to 2015. “The team at NBC and the league was really given almost a blank canvas to reimagine the way you present the sport.”

The network’s long run included helping start the Winter Classic, which it aired 12 times, and the Stadium Series (11 times). The 2013 Stanley Cup Final, won by the Chicago Blackhawks over the Boston Bruins, set an NHL record by averaging 5.8 million TV-only viewers across six games. And as streaming became part of the landscape, Game 7 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final, won by the St. Louis Blues and shown on NBC, had a total audience of almost 9 million, making it the most-watched NHL game on record.

1M+ Cubans are Getting Internet

More than 1 million people in Cuba per day are using an anti-censorship tool supported by the U.S. government to evade government blackouts of social media such as Facebook.

Bloomberg reports censorship-circumvention software company Psiphon Inc. says it has facilitated the transfer of over 600 terabytes of data from users in Cuba since Sunday, when many social media sites stopped working in the country.

Psiphon uses proxy servers that disguise internet traffic so that it flies under the radar of many censorship methods. The Toronto-based nonprofit has received funding from the Open Technology Fund, a U.S. government nonprofit that aims to support global internet freedom technologies. Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn praised the technology in a Tweet Friday.

On Thursday, President Biden said the U.S. is examining whether it’s able to restore internet access shut down by the Cuban government.

Similar spikes in use of Psiphon have been observed after the government of Belarus shut down access to much of the internet during elections last year. The service is also popular in Myanmar, where the internet is highly restricted.

Raleigh Radio: WPTF's Tom Kearney Signs-Off

Tom Kearney

For almost 40 years at WPTF, Tom Kearney spoke in a gentle but confident voice starting weeknights at 9 p.m., leading his listeners down a folksy discussion of how long a drought might last to why astronomers had demoted Pluto as a planet.

On his first show as a full-time host in 1988, he hit the airwaves on the day after Christmas and had no guest for his two-hour slot. So he invited listeners to call in and discuss their family’s Christmas decorations, noting that newlyweds might potentially clash over tradition.

The NewsObserver reports WPTF aired its last broadcast of the “Tom Kearney Show” on Friday ending one of its longest-running programs. Kearney, who joined the station in 1982, told listeners Thursday that he no longer gets around as well after nearly four decades.

Kearney started full-time shortly after Rush Limbaugh got national syndication, and he decided right off to veer away from politics and vitriol.

He chose a folksier path: garden chats, computer repair tips, stamp collecting, Friday night trivia. He picked guests who could pass on something useful: the astronomer who explained Pluto’s non-planetary status, or the assistant attorney general who offered advice on fighting elder fraud.

“Those people who call you up and try to sell you stuff and it isn’t what you want it to be,” he told listeners in his Thursday nostalgia show, “and those people used to call my mother, and of course my mother was the sweetest person on Earth and she thought everybody was honest, and I had to finally tell her, ‘No no no, you do not have to listen to those people. You don’t have to buy what they’re selling. You can buy it if you want to, but you don’t have to.”

Rick Martinez, vice president of content for WPTF, said Kearney’s secret is his curiosity.

“Whether he’s talking to a political leader or an auto mechanic,” Martinez said, “Tom always seems to know what questions the listeners want answered. Tom has always put the listener first.”

July 17 Radio History

➦In 1912...Art Linkletter born Arthur Gordon Kelly (Died at age 97 – May 26, 2010). He was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada and was an American radio and television personality, best known as host of  House Party which ran on CBS radio and television for 25 years, and People Are Funny on NBC radio and television for 19 years. He became a naturalized United States citizen in 1942.

Art Linkletter

One popular feature of his House Party program was the Kids Say the Darndest Things segments. A series of books followed which contained the humorous comments made on-air by children.

In his autobiography, Confessions of a Happy Man (1960), he revealed that he had no contact with his natural parents or his sister or two brothers since he was abandoned when only a few weeks old. He was adopted by Mary (née Metzler) and Fulton John Linkletter, an evangelical preacher.

When he was five, his family moved to San Diego, California, where he graduated from San Diego High School at age 16. During the early years of the Great Depression, he rode trains around the country doing odd jobs and meeting a wide variety of people.

In 1935 he met Lois Foerster. They were married at Grace Lutheran Church in San Diego, November 28, 1935. Their marriage lasted until Linkletter's death, ​74 1⁄2 years later.

After receiving his teaching degree, Linkletter decided to go to work as a radio announcer at KGB in San Diego, because radio paid better than teaching. He directed radio programs for fairs and expositions in the mid-1930s. Afterwards, he moved to San Francisco and continued his radio career.

In the 1940s, Linkletter worked in Hollywood with John Guedel on their pioneering radio show, People Are Funny, which employed audience participation, contests and gags. The series served as a prototype for future radio and television game shows. People Are Funny became a television show in 1954 and ran until 1961.

➦In 1934…FCC adopts Order No. 1

➦In 1981…Bruce Bradley did his final show on WBZ 1030 AM, Boston.

Bradley joined WBZ in 1960, when the station is still playing middle of the road pop music. Gradually, as the music becomes more top-40, “Juicie Brucie” Bradley’s night-time show became extremely popular.

The station moved from Top40 to Full-Service AC in 1974.

Bradley passed away in June 2013. Click Here for more.

➦In 2009…Walter Leland Cronkite Jr. died at age 92 (Born - November 4, 1916). He was a broadcast journalist who served as anchorman for the CBS Evening News for 19 years (1962–1981). During the heyday of CBS News in the 1960s and 1970s, he was often cited as "the most trusted man in America" after being so named in an opinion poll.

He reported many events from 1937 to 1981, including bombings in World War II; the Nuremberg trials; combat in the Vietnam War; the Dawson's Field hijackings; Watergate; the Iran Hostage Crisis; and the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, civil rights pioneer Martin Luther King Jr., and Beatles musician John Lennon.

He was also known for his extensive coverage of the U.S. space program, from Project Mercury to the Moon landings to the Space Shuttle. He was the only non-NASA recipient of an Ambassador of Exploration award.

Cronkite is well known for his departing catchphrase, "And that's the way it is," followed by the date of the broadcast.

Cronkite - 1985

He entered broadcasting as a radio announcer for WKY in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In 1936, he met his future wife, Mary Elizabeth "Betsy" Maxwell, while working as the sports announcer for KCMO-AM in Kansas City, Missouri.  His broadcast name was "Walter Wilcox". He would explain later that radio stations at the time did not want people to use their real names for fear of taking their listeners with them if they left. In Kansas City, he joined the United Press in 1937. He became one of the top American reporters in World War II, covering battles in North Africa and Europe.

In 1950, Cronkite joined CBS News in its young and growing television division, again recruited by Murrow. Cronkite began working at WTOP-TV (now WUSA), the CBS affiliate in Washington, D.C..

On April 16, 1962, Cronkite succeeded Douglas Edwards as anchorman of the CBS's nightly feature newscast, tentatively renamed Walter Cronkite with the News, but later the CBS Evening News on September 2, 1963, when the show was expanded from 15 to 30 minutes, making Cronkite the anchor of American network television's first nightly half-hour news program. Cronkite's tenure as anchor of the CBS Evening News made him an icon in television news.

During the early part of his tenure anchoring the CBS Evening News, Cronkite competed against NBC's anchor team of Chet Huntley and David Brinkley, who anchored the Huntley-Brinkley Report. For much of the 1960s, the Huntley-Brinkley Report had more viewers than Cronkite's broadcast. A key moment for Cronkite came during his coverage of John F. Kennedy's assassination on November 22, 1963.  Another factor in Cronkite and CBS' ascendancy to the top of the ratings was that, as the decade progressed, RCA made a corporate decision not to fund NBC News at the levels that CBS provided for its news broadcasts. Consequently, CBS News acquired a reputation for greater accuracy and depth in coverage. This reputation meshed well with Cronkite's wire service experience, and in 1967 the CBS Evening News began to surpass The Huntley-Brinkley Report in viewership during the summer months.

In 1969, during the Apollo 11 (with co-host and former astronaut Wally Schirra) and Apollo 13 moon missions, Cronkite received the best ratings and made CBS the most-watched television network for the missions. In 1970, when Huntley retired, the CBS Evening News finally dominated the American TV news viewing audience. Although NBC finally settled on the skilled and well-respected broadcast journalist John Chancellor, Cronkite proved to be more popular and continued to be top-rated until his retirement in 1981.

➦In 2011…WRXP NYC drops Triple A format.

On June 21, 2011, it was announced that majority ownership of WRXP was acquired by Merlin Media LLC, a new entity headed by veteran radio executive Randy Michaels.   The sale, which the FCC approved in September 2011, included two other Emmis-owned stations in Chicago, WLUP-FM and WKQX. They then registered several domains for what the new format of the station would be, including a return of WYNY's country format, but many promoted an FM news format. WRXP's rock format ended with the song "Long Live Rock" by The Who.

After a brief period of dead air, WRXP (whose call sign was changed to WEMP on July 21) switched to a stunt of Adult Contemporary music branded as "101.9 FM New," a stunt that served as a transition to the station's new format.  "FM New" featured a live morning show that began at 6AM on July 18, hosted by veteran New York City radio personality Paul Cavalconte (who has been with 101.9 since 1998), with Jeff McKay (formerly of Shadow Traffic and WINS) providing traffic and weather updates(until the next day when Meteorologist Scott Derek began).   News reports and news blocks were gradually introduced beginning with a 3PM newscast on July 25, 2011, anchored by Dave Packer and Mike Barker.

Walt Sabo

On August 12, 2011, the station ended its Adult Contemporary stunt and went full-time all-news as "FM News 101.9," following in the footsteps of its Chicago sister station WWWN (the former and current WKQX), which flipped to all-news on July 29.  As conceived by Merlin's then-COO, Walter Sabo, "FM News" was what Sabo considered a "redefining" of the all-news format;  the on-air presentation was generally looser and conversational in tone, while an emphasis was placed on lifestyle, health, and entertainment features.  The initial news staff at WEMP included those with experience in New York radio, including WINS alums Catherine Smith, Alice Stockton-Rossini, and Brett Larson, as well as former WCBS anchor Therese Crowley and WRXP holdover Paul Cavalconte.

Over time, the "FM News" approach on WEMP would be adjusted: The reliance on lifestyle and entertainment features was decreased; the station turned towards a tighter, polished on-air presentation; and several new features were added, including "ten minutes of non-stop news," the "top 5 trending stories" leading off every hour, and hourly sports and business updates.  Coinciding with the on-air changes was a major promotional push, including television ads and promotions that tweaked WINS' longtime "22 minutes" slogan, with WEMP proclaiming "Give us 10 minutes, we'll give you the world."   (After WINS owner CBS Radio sent a cease-and-desist letter to Merlin Media, WEMP dropped its "world" slogan.) 

Merlin’s WEMP-FM  NYC dropped news in 2012 in favor of new rock format. Today, 101.9 FM is Home To Audacy's Sports WFAN-FM.

 

Donald Sutherland is 86

🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAYS: 

• Actor Donald Sutherland is 86. 
• Bassist Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath is 72. 
• Actor Lucie Arnaz is 70. 
• Actor David Hasselhoff is 69. 
• Bassist Fran Smith Jr. of The Hooters is 69. 
• TV producer Mark Burnett (“Survivor,” “The Apprentice”) is 61. 
• Actor Nancy Giles (“China Beach”) is 61. 
• Singer Regina Belle is 58. 
• Country singer Craig Morgan is 57. 
• Bassist Lou Barlow (Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh, Folk Implosion) is 55. 

• 

  Susan Ashton is 54

  Contemporary Christian singer Susan Ashton is 54. 
• Actor Andre Royo (“The Wire”) is 53. 
• Actor Bitty Schram (“Monk”) is 53. 
• Actor Jason Clarke (“Zero Dark Thirty,” ″Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”) 52. 
• Director F. Gary Gray (“Straight Outta Compton,” “Furious 8″) is 52. 
• Singer JC of PM Dawn is 50. 
• Rapper Sole’ is 48. 
• Country singer Luke Bryan is 45. 
• Actor Eric Winter (“Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay”) 45. 
• Actor Mike Vogel (“Under the Dome,” ″The Help”) is 42. 
• Actor Tom Cullen (“Downton Abbey”) is 36. 
• Actor Brando Eaton (“Dexter”) is 35 
• Singer Jeremih is 34. 
• Actor Billie Lourd (“Scream Queens”) is 29.

Audacy Restructures CHR Formated Stations, Goodbye Local

Audacy on Thursday began implementing a regionalized CHR programming leadership model which eliminated local control.  The changes go into effective Monday.

The plan is beging directed by Format Captain Brian Kelly, who serves as the company’s VP/Programming based at WXSS Kiss 103.7 in Milwaukee Milwaukee. Under Kelly is a small cadre of Regional VPs of Programming and Regional Brand Managers.

Julia Lepidi

The plan which is being implement is similar to Audacy's recent restructuring of Country and Alternative station.  The plan includes the launching of two shows nationally. The centralized approach includes WBBM B96 FM Chicago afternoon personality Julia Lepidi being placed in middays across 15 of the company’s stations and KNOU 97.1 Now Los Angeles afternoon host Josh “Bru” Brubecker covering the daypart on seven other stations and an addition to nights on seven more.

Lepidi is a Detroit native who started with the company as a part-timer in the Promotions department. She first joined “B96” for nights in January 2019, after hosting mornings at the company’s former “Amp Radio 98.7” WDZH Detroit.  She will now be heard 10am-3pm local time on WKSE Buffalo; WKXJ Chattanooga; WFBC Greenville, SC; KLUC Las Vegas; KNOU Los Angeles; WPOW Miami; WXSS Milwaukee; WEZB New Orleans; WNVZ Norfolk; WTDY Philadelphia; KALV Phoenix; WRVQ Richmond; WPXY Rochester; and KUDL Sacramento.

Bru

Brubecker is the self-proclaimed CEO of Radio Tik Tok, with more than 3.3 million followers. “Bru” regularly weaves content from the platform into his Los Angeles drive time program, which he has been hosting since March.  He will be heard 3-7pm local time on WKSE Buffalo; WKXJ Chattanooga; WFBC Greenville, SC; KLUC Las Vegas; KNOU Los Angeles; WXSS Milwaukee; WNVZ Norfolk; and WRVQ Richmond.  He will also handle evenings (7-11pm) at WBBM Chicago; WPOW Miami; WEZB New Orleans; WTDY Philadelphia; KALV Phoenix; WPXY Rochester; and KUDL Sacramento.

Besides on-air programming, changes are being implemented in production.   The company is launching a new national imaging and creative production team.

Kelly will lead a team of five RVPs Programming:

• Jammer (WEZB New Orleans)
• Nathan Graham (WTDY Philadelphia)
• Sue O’Neil (WKSE Buffalo)
• Todd Cavanah (WBBM Chicago)
• DJ Buck (WZMX Hartford)

RVPs will be backed up by:

• Regional Brand Managers Erik Bradley (WBBM Chicago)
• Mike “OD” O’Donnell (WKRZ Wilkes Barre-Scranton)
• Michael “Big Mic” Buhrman (KSFM Sacramento)
• Mike Danger (WPXY Rochester)
• Molly Cruz (WXSS Milwaukee)

Audacy has no plans to change mornings at its roster of pop-formatted stations.

The full effect on local startions will take some time to shake-out; however, many local on-air staffers have been fired.

June PPMs Day 3: Portland, Orlando +10 More Markets Released

 Nielsen on Thursday, July 16, 2021 released the third batch of June 2021 PPM data for the following markets:

21  Portland Or

23  Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill NC

25  San Antonio

27  Sacramento

28  Salt Lake City-Ogden-Provo

29  Pittsburgh

30  Orlando

31  Las Vegas

33  Cincinnati

34  Kansas City

35  Cleveland

36  Columbus OH

Click Here To View Top Numbers For Subscribing Nielsen Stations.

Colorado Springs Radio: Brian Taylor Lands At KATC

Brian Taylor

CUMULUS MEDIA has announced that it has named 20-year Country radio veteran Brian Taylor as On-Air Host, Afternoons, for Colorado Springs’ KATC CAT Country 95.1 FM. Taylor will take the CAT Country mic Monday through Friday from 3:00pm-7:00pm.

Taylor has been an on-air talent for Westwood One since 2019. Prior to that, he was CEO for Hillbilly Live, a digital content company, and was a popular radio personality for Denver, CO, Country station 98.5 KYGO. Taylor is a familiar name and voice in the Colorado Springs area, and was On-Air Personality, Assistant Program Director and Music Director for a competing Country station in Colorado Springs for several years. He was also previously on-air for Country station KBXB-FM in Sikeston/Cape Girardeau, MO.

Bo Jaxson, Program Director, CAT Country 95.1/KATC-FM, said: “We are so excited to have this true cowboy join our CAT Country family! Between the hats, guitars, whiskey and dogs, he’s going to be the perfect fit for Afternoons on CAT Country!”

Brian Taylor commented: “I love Colorado Springs! This city is home for me and has been for almost ten years now. I grew up listening to Country radio and radio is something I’ve always loved. It’s the original social media platform to me. I’ve been fortunate to be a part of this business since my senior year in high school. Getting this chance to do afternoons with CAT Country 95.1 means everything to me.”

Wake-Up Call: 90-Dead, Hundreds Missing In Europe Flooding

More than 90 people have been killed in flash floods in parts of western Germany and Belgium after days of heavy rainfall, with hundreds still unaccounted for. Among the dead were at least nine residents of an assisted living facility for people with disabilities in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The flooding swept away cars and collapsed homes as torrents of water swept down streets and swelled streams. Some 900 Germany soldiers have been deployed to help with the rescue and clean-up.

Breaking: At least 59 dead, 1300 missing, after heavy rain caused severe flooding in western Germany. pic.twitter.com/4RHJLzVkmN

— PM Breaking News (@PMBreakingNews) July 15, 2021

➤INDOOR MASK MANDATE BACK IN L.A. COUNTY AS COVID CASES INCREASE: Los Angeles County officials said yesterday the indoor mask mandates are being reimposed for everyone, vaccinated or not, amid a sharp in increase in Covid-19 cases. Many of the cases are of the highly-contagious delta variant, and most of them are among non-vaccinated people. The county's public health officer, Dr. Muntu Davis, said there's now what he called "substantial community transmission." 

Surgeon General Murthy says it is “painful” to know that “nearly every death we are seeing now” from Covid-19 in the U.S. could have been prevented with vaccines. https://t.co/TBWShpW8oq

— NBC News (@NBCNews) July 16, 2021

Meanwhile, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released an advisory urging Americans to, quote, "help slow the spread of health misinformation during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond," calling it a "serious threat to public health." He advised that before posting or sharing something on social media, quote, "take a moment to verify whether the information is accurate and whether the original source is trustworthy." He noted at a press briefing that "two-thirds of people who are not vaccinated either believe common myths about the Covid-19 vaccine or think some of those myths might be true."

➤BIDEN NOT SENDING TROOPS TO HAITI; COMMUNISM IS 'FAILED SYSTEM': President Biden addressed the situations in both Haiti and Cuba yesterday as he took questions during a joint press conference with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Following last week's assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise, Biden said the U.S. would increase security at the American embassy in Haiti, however it's, quote, "not on the agenda" to send U.S. troops to help stabilize the country. Haiti’s interim government has asked the U.S. and the United Nations to send troops to protect key infrastructure. Biden was also asked by a reporter about the rare Cuba protests this week and about communism, and he said, "Communism is a failed system . . . . and I don't see socialism as a very useful substitute." 

President Biden voices support for anti-government Cuban protesters:

“Communism is a failed system … and I don’t see socialism as a very useful substitute.” pic.twitter.com/w2Qrg1KIRV

— The Recount (@therecount) July 15, 2021

Biden has spoken in support of the protesters, and said yesterday that Cuba is, quote, "unfortunately a failed state and repressing their citizens." He said the U.S. is looking into ways to possibly reinstate access to the internet in Cuba, which is being restricted by the government.

AOC breaks silence on Cuba protests, calls for end to 'cruel' embargo https://t.co/aQnplFIH1k pic.twitter.com/bKtRxwLIqJ

— New York Post (@nypost) July 16, 2021

➤EXPANDED CHILD TAX CREDITS START GOING OUT: The expanded child tax credit payments that were approved in March as part of the American Rescue Plan to help people financially in response to the pandemic started going out yesterday. The monthly payments are $300 for each child who is age five and younger and $250 for children between five nd 17. To be eligible, a single parent must have an adjusted gross income of less than $75,000 and a married couple an income of less than $150,000. The payments are set to expire after a year, but President Biden wants to extend them through at least 2025 and would like to make them permanent. But many Republican critics consider the payments welfare and say they'll discourage parents from working.

➤CALIFORNIA PASSES NATION'S FIRST STATE-FUNDED GUARANTEED INCOME PLAN: California lawmakers on Thursday voted unanimously to approve the first state-funded guaranteed income plan, after there have been dozens of local such programs across the country in recent years, including some that are privately-funded. There will be $35 million available for the program, under which monthly cash payments will be given to pregnant women and to young adults who recently aged out of the foster care system. There are no restrictions on how they can spend the money, a feature of guaranteed income programs, which are intended to reduce the stresses of poverty. Local governments and organizations in California will apply for funds and run it through their programs, and the Department of Social Services will decide who gets money. Local officials will determine the size of the monthly payments, which generally are between $500 and $1,000. There are critics however, among them Republican Assemblyman Vince Fong, who says guaranteed income programs "undermine incentives to work and increase dependence on government." He abstained from yesterday's vote.

Climate proposals in Democrats' budget deal "disturbing," Manchin says https://t.co/yqaKyCBkcc

— CBS News (@CBSNews) July 16, 2021

➤STUDY SHOWS THAT SPENDING MORE TIME OUTDOORS HAS A POSITIVE EFFECT ON OUR BRAINS:  If you regularly spend time outdoors you’re doing something nice for your brain and you’re well-being. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Human Development and the Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf say research shows the human brain benefits from even short stays outside, when it was previously assumed that environments affect us only over longer periods of time. Specifically, researchers positively connected time spent outdoors with the part of the brain involved in the planning and regulation of actions, as well as cognitive control. Lead study author Simone Kühn adds, “Our results show that our brain structure and mood improve when we spend time outdoors. This most likely also affects concentration, working memory, and the psyche as a whole. We are investigating this in an ongoing study.”

Chrissy Teigen says she's struggling after ending up in what she's calling the "cancel club" following bullying accusations against her in June. https://t.co/NMJANkrda5

— NBC News (@NBCNews) July 16, 2021

➤STUDY...HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO STUDIED REMOTELY DURING THE PANDEMIC FELT MORE ISOLATED THAN THOSE WHO ATTENDED SCHOOL IN-PERSON:  The pandemic is not over, but a new study finds that high school students who learned remotely had more social, emotional, and academic problems than those who learned in school. On a 100-point scale, in-person students scored a 77.2 rating for social well-being, compared to 74.8 for those who learned remotely. Also, emotional well-being levels were 57.4 for in-person students, and 55.7 for remote learners, while academic well-being levels were 78.4 for in-person students, and 77.3 for remote learners. Temple University’s professor Laurence Steinberg, study co-author, said in a statement, “Notably, the thriving gap was larger among students in 10th through 12th grades than it was among ninth graders.” According to a July 9th update from the CDC, students benefit from in-person learning and “safely returning to in-person instruction in the fall 2021 is a priority.”

➤VACCINATED AMERICANS MAY BE ABLE TO GO TO CANADA STARTING IN MID-AUGUST: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said yesterday that Americans who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 could start being allowed into Canada for non-essential travel starting in mid-August. He made the comments during a call with the leaders of Canada's provinces, and a readout of the call was released by his office. Trudeau said the border can reopen if Canada's current positive vaccination rate and public health conditions continue. Non-essential travel between the U.S. and Canada has been shut down since not long after the pandemic began.

➤18-YEAR-OLD TO JOIN BEZOS FLIGHT TO SPACE, WILL BECOME YOUNGEST-EVER: Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' space company Blue Origin announced yesterday that an 18-year-old Dutch man will be on the flight to space that Bezos will take in a matter of days on July 20th. Blue Origin said the winner of a $28 million auction for the seat dropped out because of a scheduling conflict, and the seat was given to Oliver Daemen, the son of another bidder, who will be the first paying customer. The company didn't disclose what he paid. Daemen will become the youngest person in space, and also along on the trip will be 82-year-old Wally Funk, who'll be the oldest. The fourth and final person on the trip will be Bezos' brother. The flight will only take 10 minutes.

Daily Mail composite

➤N.Y. GOV. CUOMO TO BE QUESTIONED IN SEXUAL HARASSMENT PROBE: New York Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo is expected to be interviewed on Saturday as part of the state attorney general's office's investigation of sexual harassment and misconduct allegations against him. Cuomo, who has denied wrongdoing, said at the start of the probe in March that he would, quote, "fully cooperate." Several women have accused Cuomo of unwanted kisses, touching and groping, and inappropriate sexual remarks. The fact that Cuomo is being interviewed signals that the investigation is nearly done.

🏈NFL'S SHERMAN ORDERED RELEASED WITHOUT BAIL: A King County, Washington, judge ordered the NFL's Richard Sherman released from jail without bail yesterday, after his arrest early Wednesday for allegedly trying to break into his in-laws' home, crashing his SUV, and fighting with police as they tried to arrest him, as well as driving under the influence. However, Sherman was ordered not to have contact with his father-in-law and not use alcohol or nonprescription drugs. According to police reports, Sherman, a former cornerback for the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers who's now a free agent, was belligerent, had been drinking heavily and had spoken about killing himself when he left his home late Tuesday. His wife, Ashley Sherman, called 911 to try to have police stop him. His father-in-law, Raymond Moss, said Sherman tried to bust in the door of his home, and he used pepper spray on Sherman and armed himself with a gun. Ashley Sherman told police her husband had been on anti-depressants and receiving mental health counseling. 

Richard Sherman's wife says NFL veteran was acting out of character before arresthttps://t.co/MYIG0FDdok

— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 15, 2021

She said in a statement after yesterday's hearing, "I love and support my husband. I am committed to helping Richard get the support and care that he needs."

⚾YANKEES-RED SOX GAME POSTPONED OVER POSITIVE COVID CASES ON N.Y.: Last night's lone scheduled MLB game coming out of the All-Star break between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox was postponed after there were positive Covid-19 tests on the Yankees. ESPN cited sources as saying outfielder Aaron Judge, who played in the All-Star Game Tuesday, was among six Yankees who tested positive. ESPN said third baseman Gio Urshela and catcher Kyle Higashioka were awaiting confirmation with a more accurate tests, and relief pitchers Jonathan Loaisiga, Nestor Cortes Jr. and Wandy Peralta had confirmed positives. Because Judge played in the All-Star Game, him being positive could have exposed players on many teams. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said among the six players, most had been vaccinated and were asymptomatic.

🏀BEAL OUT OF OLYMPICS DUE TO COVID: The Washington Wizard's Bradley Beal will miss the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for the coronavirus and being put in the health and safety protocols. USA Basketball said Thursday it will replace him on its roster at a later date. Hours after that, team USA's exhibition game against Australia scheduled for tonight in Las Vegas was canceled over Covid-19 concerns, with USA Basketball citing "an abundance of caution." Beal had started all three exhibition games the U.S. has played over the last week.

🏌OOSTHUIZEN IN LEAD AFTER FIRST ROUND OF BRITISH OPEN: South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen is at the top of the leaderboard after the first round of the British Open yesterday, one shot ahead of Americans Jordan Spieth and Brian Harman tied in second place. Oosthuizen shot a 6-under 64, tying the lowest opening round at Royal St. George's set by Christy O'Connor Jr. in 1981. The British Open has returned this year after being canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic.

Daily Mail 7/16/21

🏈REPORT: BRADY PLAYED ENTIRE 2020 NFL SEASON WITH TORN MCL: Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady played the entire 2020 season with a torn left MCL, even as he led Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl victory in his first year with the team, the NFL Network reported yesterday (July 15th). TampaBay.com reported Brady injured his knee during his final season with the New England Patriots, and it apparently got worse during the 2020 season with the Bucs. He had surgery to repair in the MCL in late February, shortly after the Super Bowl win.