On this day in 1999, Garth Brooks’ holiday album, Garth Brooks and the Magic of Christmas, was Certified Platinum by the RIAA. The album was the second holiday record from Brooks’ and was his tenth #1 album.
The album would hit #1 on the U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums chart and would sell over seven million copies world wide.
Randy Houser recently shared how Christmas lately has been all about his son West, “Now Christmas is more about West and all the things. Just watching his face and the excitement of a kid if just the deal! You know, just trying to teach him what Christmas is about and when we say our prayers at night, why we say ‘In Jesus name’ and things like that and teaching him what all that means is a big deal, you know, for me. So these days Christmas is about him and kids. I love Christmas.”
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A backlog of autopsies at the Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office has been delaying the return of remains to family members.
It usually takes the office a day or two to complete an autopsy. But a spokeswoman for the office told The Des Moines Register (http://dmreg.co/2hSQHRd ) that in the past month, a 12 percent surge in cases coupled with an understaffed office has caused delays.
Polly Carver-Kimm, a spokeswoman for the Iowa Department of Public Health, says that at one point in the past month, the office had 32 bodies awaiting autopsy and it took up to two weeks to release remains to funeral homes. She says the situation is “not typical.”
The office is budgeted for 11 full-time positions, but one position is open. It is expected to be filled.
On this day in 2011, Scotty McCreery’s Clear as Day was #1 on the charts. Clear as Day was the debut studio album for the American Idol winner, and was the first debut album from an American Idol winner to reach number one.
The album was Certified Platinum by the RIAA with McCreery being the first country act to debut at number one with their first studio album.
Brett Eldredge’s single “Wanna Be That Song” sits atop the country chart this week, giving Brett his sixth consecutive #1 song. Reacting to the chart-topping success, Eldredge said, “Getting to be ‘that song’ for my fans just makes this so much sweeter, better than any number one I’ve ever had. This is the song I’ve wanted to release for a long time so thank you to my team, my fans, country radio – and Merry Christmas!”
· With its place atop the chart, “Wanna Be That Song” also becomes the last country radio #1 of 2016.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two Iowa men will serve shorter prison terms after President Barack Obama commuted their sentences.
The names of Anthony Dodd, of Davenport, and Aaron Rees, of Pleasantville, were on a list of those who received the commutations Monday. Both men’s life sentences were shortened to 20 years.
The Des Moines Register reports (http://dmreg.co/2hDhrac ) that Rees was sentenced in 2005 following his convictions on conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and using a minor to manufacture meth. Dodd was convicted of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and received his sentence in 2006.
White House officials say Obama has shortened the sentences of 1,176 people during his presidency, including 395 serving life sentences.
Oskaloosa–Three members of the William Penn football team were honored for their excellence in the classroom as they were named 2016 Daktronics-NAIA Football Scholar-Athletes Monday.
Jake De Hamer (Sr., Des Moines, Iowa, Physical Education), with a 3.72 Grade Point Average, Cooper Gosch (So., Reeds Springs, Okla., Education), with a 3.67 GPA, and Derek Robinson (Jr., Jenks, Okla., Communications), with a 3.63 GPA, were all recognized. All three are first-time recipients.
To be eligible for the award, athletes must be of at least junior academic standing, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or above on a 4.0 scale, and have attended the nominating institution for at least one full academic year.
For the complete list of all the NAIA Football Scholar-Athletes, go to http://www.naia.org/fls/27900/1NAIA/SportsInfo/scholar-athletes/2016/2016_Football{99cd714f394079a7f0ed2eb1518dd31342ff3ceb5b6c267c3ad8acd5b5a7d66b}20Scholar-Athlete{99cd714f394079a7f0ed2eb1518dd31342ff3ceb5b6c267c3ad8acd5b5a7d66b}20Nominees.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=27900
Story provided by Wade Steinlage
On this day in 2005, Reba’s #1’s album was Certified Gold and Platinum on the same day. the album spanned Reba’s thirty-year career and consisted of thirty-five tracks, including twenty-two Billboard number ones and two new tracks.
The album has since been Certified 2× Platinum by the RIAA.
Kelsea Ballerini released her fourth single to radio and it’s being described as “fun and flirty.” The video for her single “Yeah Boy,” made its world premiere exclusively on TeenVogue.com on Friday (12/16) and is now available across all music video platforms.
· You can see the video here.
· On December 14, Kelsea wrapped her debut as a headlining artist on “The First Time Tour” finishing out the hugely successful run in Houston, Texas. Ballerini will now join Thomas Rhett as direct support for his “Home Team Tour” on February 23 in Saginaw, Michigan.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Six Iowa residents will take part in the Electoral College vote as the nation elects the next president and vice president.
The half-dozen people will cast ballots Monday afternoon at the state Capitol. The process is expected to take about a half hour.
The Electoral College system was devised more than two centuries ago. While people around the country individually vote for the presidential ticket, the winners are technically selected by a “college” of 538 electors from the states. The general premise is to ensure one state doesn’t have outsized influence in the election.
Some of the electors say they’ve been lobbied to change their expected votes for Donald Trump, who won easily in Iowa. The Iowa electors told The Associated Press they intend to vote for Trump.
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