NEW YORK (AP) — Everyone likes the idea of same-day delivery. But who wants to pay for it? That’s the problem merchants face as the busy holiday shopping season approaches. They want to offer customers the near-instant gratification that usually only comes with shopping in stores or via apps like Uber and Seamless. But the … Continue reading
Author Archives: Kahlil Cortez
Stars at American Music Awards have Paris on their minds
LOS ANGELES (AP) — It’s the American Music Awards, but guests had Paris on their minds. Celine Dion performed the French classic made famous by Edith Piaf, “L’Hymne a L’Amour,” in front of a string section and a montage of images of famous Paris sites. She raised her hand triumphantly in the air at the … Continue reading
Police investigate New Orleans shooting that left 16 wounded
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Police have been trying to figure out what sparked a gun battle in a crowded New Orleans park that left 16 people wounded and the mayor is calling on witnesses to come forward. Hundreds of people were gathered at a playground for a block party and music video shoot when two … Continue reading
1D wins big at AMAs; Dion pays tribute to Paris victims
One Direction may have debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard charts behind Justin Bieber, but they won the top award — artist of the year — at Sunday’s American Music Awards. “This is a testament to how incredible our fans are,” Louis Tomlinson said onstage at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. “We just … Continue reading
Effectiveness of college threat assessment teams is debated
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — As the fall semester began, communications professor and campus jester Kembrew McLeod organized a parody news conference to poke fun at the University of Iowa’s governing board, expecting annoyed administrators might show up. Instead, a detective with the campus threat assessment team was there waiting for him. McLeod said the … Continue reading
California university system revokes honorary Cosby degree
POMONA, Calif. (AP) — The California State University system has become the latest to take back an honorary degree from Bill Cosby. The Board of Trustees voted Friday to revoke an honorary doctorate given to Cosby by Cal Poly Pomona in 1992. The Cal State board said in a statement that it was revoking an … Continue reading
Man swings samurai sword at Apple store, terrifies customers
NEW YORK (AP) — A man swinging a samurai sword at an Apple store terrified shoppers on Friday. The man walked into the Manhattan store and began waving the sword, authorities said. A video posted online showed him swinging the sword as he walked down a staircase. Lawyer Nancy Birnbaum, who lives nearby, told the … Continue reading
A musical farewell to New Orleans music legend Toussaint
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — World-renowned stars and home folks who love New Orleans’ rich musical heritage crowded into a historic theater Friday to bid farewell in words and song to Allen Toussaint, a prolific songwriter, performer and producer who died last week at age 77. Jimmy Buffett sang “Fortune Teller.” Davell Crawford accompanied himself on … Continue reading
Adele’s ’25’ won’t be available on Spotify or Apple Music
NEW YORK (AP) — Fans seeking to listen to Adele’s new album won’t be able to do so on Spotify or Apple Music. The streaming sites said Thursday that Adele’s “25” will not be available for streaming when it is released on Friday. “We love and respect Adele, as do her 24 million fans on … Continue reading
Celine Dion to pay tribute to Paris at American Music Awards
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Celine Dion will honor the victims of the attacks in Paris at Sunday’s American Music Awards. ABC and dick clark productions say that Dion will perform a rendition of Edith Piaf’s “Hymne à L’Amour” in French at the ceremony to pay tribute to those affected by last week’s attacks. American Music … Continue reading
Billy Joel urges school board not to close NY arts school
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (AP) — A New York arts high school that was targeted for closing has won a reprieve and a possible commitment of support from Billy Joel. Newsday reports (http://nwsdy.li/1Mrv1oy ) that Joel wrote to members of a regional school board urging them to consider other alternatives before closing the Long Island School … Continue reading
3 killed, thousands without power in Northwest windstorm
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Cleanup crews took to the streets Wednesday in Washington state after a powerful storm killed three people, cut power to more than 350,000 residents and flooded rivers. The winds on Tuesday exceeded 100 mph in some areas of the Inland Northwest, where fallen trees were blamed for the deaths. A woman … Continue reading
US Muslims face backlash after Paris attacks
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Muslims around the U.S. are facing backlash following the deadly attacks in Paris, including vandalism to mosques and Islamic centers, hate-filled phone and online messages and threats of violence. Advocacy leaders say they have come to expect some anti-Muslim sentiment following such attacks, but they now see a spike that seems … Continue reading
Trial for man charged with killing missing sisters delayed
BEDFORD, Va. (AP) — A Virginia judge has delayed the trial of a convicted sex offender charged with killing two sisters who disappeared from a Maryland mall in 1975. Media outlets report that 58-year-old Lloyd Lee Michael Welch Jr.’s lawyers requested the delay at a hearing on Tuesday in Bedford County Circuit Court. Welch’s trial … Continue reading
Official: Unclear if man shot by Minneapolis cops was cuffed
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — State investigators looking into the death of an unarmed black Minneapolis man shot by police during a scuffle are trying to determine whether he was restrained at the time, as some witnesses allege. Police initially said Jamar ONeal Clark was not handcuffed when he was shot, but authorities later said handcuffs were … Continue reading
Bush using Paris attacks to pitch broad military buildup
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush is calling for a broad military buildup and says the U.S. armed forces have been left ill-prepared to defeat the Islamic State, blamed for the Paris attacks that killed at least 129 and wounded hundreds more. The former Florida governor is projecting himself as a potential … Continue reading
‘Secret Agent Man’ songwriter P.F. Sloan dies at 70
LOS ANGELES (AP) — P.F. Sloan, the troubled songwriter behind such classic 1960s tunes as Johnny Rivers’ “Secret Agent Man” and Barry McGuire’s “Eve of Destruction,” has died. He was 70. Howard Wuelfing, a spokesman for Sloan, said the singer-songwriter died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles after battling pancreatic cancer for several weeks. … Continue reading
Michelle Obama awards 13 youth arts programs
WASHINGTON (AP) — Calling a group of artistic youth the “next generation of fabulous,” Michelle Obama presented national arts and humanities awards to 12 after-school programs from across the country and one international program from Honduras. Honorees included a musical theater program co-created by comedian Rosie O’Donnell that serves low-income students in New York City. … Continue reading
Defense admits teen killed his teacher, cites mental illness
SALEM, Mass. (AP) — A teenager killed his math teacher and did “unspeakable things” to her body, but he was driven by severe mental illness, his defense attorney told jurors at his murder trial Monday. Philip Chism, 16, is charged with murder, rape and robbery in the October 2013 slaying of Colleen Ritzer. The body … Continue reading
Pandora strikes $75M Radio deal, promises new features
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Pandora says it is acquiring technology and intellectual property from Radio and will add new features to its Internet music streaming service by late next year. The $75 million cash deal depends on Radio seeking bankruptcy protection and gaining court approval for the deal. Radio will wind down its service. It … Continue reading
Carrie Underwood has ‘mom guilt’ about work-life balance
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Carrie Underwood is pure poise on the red carpet, on stage and on TV — but she’s finding it hard to strike a balance these days, she says. “I think mom guilt is rampant in my life,” said Underwood, whose son Isaiah was born in February. “I am sure it is … Continue reading
Gomez, Underwood to perform at American Music Awards
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Selena Gomez, Carrie Underwood and 5 Seconds of Summer will be performing at the American Music Awards. Dick clark productions announced Wednesday that the pop acts will each take the stage at the Nov. 22 show at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. All three have new albums out this month. … Continue reading
Jay-Z, Beyonce, others perform at Tidal concert in NYC
NEW YORK (AP) — Jay-Z and Beyonce were joined by a slew of artists including Nicki Minaj and Usher at Barclays Center in Brooklyn Tuesday night for a charity concert put on by the streaming service Tidal that covered rap, R&B, reggae and even a little country. The concert, “TIDAL X: 1020 Amplified by HTC,” … Continue reading
Federal judge rules ‘Happy Birthday’ song in public domain
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The music publishing company that has been collecting royalties on the song “Happy Birthday To You” for years does not hold a valid copyright on the lyrics to the tune that is one of the mostly widely sung in the world, a federal judge ruled Tuesday. U.S. District Judge George H. … Continue reading
Van Gogh estimated to bring $50M to $70M at NYC fall auction
NEW YORK (AP) — A landscape Vincent van Gogh created a year before his death will lead So the by’s impressionist and modern art sale in New York this fall. “Landscape Under a Stormy Sky,” painted in 1889, depicts a field in Arles in the south of France. It’s estimated to bring $50 million to … Continue reading