- Today in 1978, Ronnie Milsap’s album, “It Was Almost Like A Song,” was certified gold.
- Today in 1979, Eddie Rabbitt topped the country singles chart with “Every Which Way But Loose.”
- Today in 1984, Alabama topped the country charts with “Roll On [18 Wheeler].”
- Today in 1986, “The Highwayman” album by Waylon, Willie, Johnny, Kris Kristofferson was certified gold.
- Today in 1986, Reba McEntire’s album, “Whoever’s In New England,” was released.
- Today in 1987, Randy Travis’ first album, “Storms of Life,” was certified platinum.
- Today in 1995, Patty Loveless hit #1 with the single, “Here I Am.”
- Today in 1998, Sammy Kershaw earned a gold certification for his album, “Labor of Love.”
- Today in 1998, “How Do I Live,” by Diane Warren got an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song, as it appeared in the film, “Con Air.” The song had been recorded by both Trisha Yearwood and LeAnn Rimes that year – Trisha’s version was the one included in the film (and nominated for the Oscar). And while LeAnn’s version had been more successful in charting, Trisha’s version (which was also successful) was the first of the two to be released – and for the first time in history, the GRAMMY Awards nominated two artists for the same song in the same category. Directly following LeAnn’s performance of the song, Trisha took home GRAMMY Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. What happened with the Oscar nod? It lost out to Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On,” from “Titanic.”
- Today in 2000, the book, “The Great Canadian Book of Lists,” dubbed Shania Twain as “Canada’s Sexiest Woman.”
- Today in 2000, Jim Varney, one of America’s most beloved comedic actors, died of lung cancer at his home in White House, Tennessee. He was 50 years old. Starring in nine “Ernest” movies and as Jed Clampett in the movie “Beverly Hillbillies,” he was also the voice of “Slinky Dog.” He also performed in many other film and television productions. His burial was in Lexington, Kentucky with a public memorial service in Nashville, Tennessee.
- Today in 2000, Reba McEntire’s video for “We’re All Alone,” her duet with Jose y Durval, topped the charts on CMT Brazil. The song is from Reba’s album, “So Good Together.”
- Today in 2002, Joe Diffie hosted his 10th annual Country Steps In For the First Steps concert. The Judds, Trace Adkins, Ricky Skaggs, Cyndi Thomson, and comedian Cledus T. Judd all performed.
- Today in 2005, the video to “Gone” by Montgomery Gentry premiered on CMT.
- Today in 2008, at the 50th annual GRAMMYs, “Before He Cheats” won two awards: Best Female Country Vocal Performance for Carrie Underwood, and Best Country Song for Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins.
- Today in 2011, “Crazy Girl,” by The Eli Young Band, was released.
- Today in 2013, at the 55th annual GRAMMYs, Carrie Underwood and writers Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins won the same awards again, but this time for “Blown Away.”
- Today in 2014, Rodney Clawson and Chris Tompkins began writing the future Florida Georgia Line hit, “Dirt,” at the Big Loud Shirt building in Nashville.
- Today in 2019, an employee at the Stoney Creek Steakhouse in Nashville called police, reporting that Miranda Lambert was fighting with another customer.
- Today in 2020, Kelsea Ballerini scored a gold single from the RIAA for “homecoming queen?”
- Today in 2020, Midland introduced Insolito, its own tequila brand, in Texas.
- Today in 2020, Thomas Rhett and his wife, Lauren Akins, welcomed their daughter, Lennon Love Akins.
- Today in 2021, “Variety” reported Jeep has pulled an ad featuring Bruce Springsteen following reports he was arrested for DWI in November. Springsteen’s “Atlantic City” was tabbed among country’s 500 greatest singles in the 2003 Country Music Foundation book “Heartaches By The Number.”
- Today in 2021, a week after a video surfaced with Morgan Wallen using a racial slur, Jason Isbell pledges to donate all the royalties he receives for Wallen’s version of his song, “Cover Me Up” to the NAACP.
TAG SEARCH RESULTS FOR: ""
Concern about critical race theory in Oskaloosa reading curriculum
Posted on by Rick Watts
Books for the Oskaloosa Elementary School reading program got quite a bit of attention at Tuesday night’s (2/8) Oskaloosa School Board meeting. Chad Vink, the Oskaloosa District’s Business Manager and Board Secretary, tells the No Coast Network what happened.
“There had been a lot of rumor going around about the content of our literacy program and curriculum at the Elementary School that the Board was looking to approve. There were some particular books in mind talking sometimes about race. Sometimes about Martin Luther King.”
Vink says concerns were expressed online that these books were teaching critical race theory, which is banned from being taught in Iowa. Vink denies that critical race theory is part of the reading program. No one who attended Tuesday’s Oskaloosa School Board meeting spoke against the books…and there were comments from the public and some teachers in favor of those books. The reading curriculum, which costs around $260,000, was approved by a 5-2 vote.
Can you get long COVID after an infection with omicron?
Posted on by Rick Watts
By LAURA UNGAR
AP – Can you get long COVID after an infection with omicron?
It’s too early to know for sure, but many doctors believe it’s possible to have long-term effects from the omicron variant of the virus.
Long COVID is usually diagnosed many weeks after a bout with COVID-19. Any long-lasting effects typically appear about 90 days after symptoms of the initial infection go away, Maria Van Kerkhove of the World Health Organization said this week.
Overall, some estimates suggest more than a third of COVID-19 survivors will develop some symptoms of long COVID. Symptoms include fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath, anxiety and other problems. The lingering illness is more likely if you’ve been hospitalized with COVID-19, but research shows it can happen even after a mild infection.
Omicron began its race around the world late last year. The variant generally causes milder illness than the delta version of the coronavirus, but has still overwhelmed hospitals.
Van Kerkhove said she hasn’t seen any research indicating that the portion of COVID-19 survivors who get long COVID will change with the omicron variant.
Dr. Linda Geng of Stanford University, who co-directs one of the many clinics specializing in long COVID, said that though she can’t say for sure, a new wave of patients is likely.
“We have to be very cautious and very careful and prepared,” Geng said.
In the meantime, scientists are racing to figure out what’s behind the mysterious condition. Some theories? It may be an autoimmune disorder. Tiny microclots may be causing the disabling symptoms. Or perhaps latent viruses in the body have been reactivated.
Scientists are also looking at whether vaccines could be part of the answer. A Yale University team is studying the possibility that vaccination might reduce long COVID symptoms. And two other studies offer early evidence that being vaccinated before getting COVID-19 could help prevent the lingering illness or at least reduce its severity.
___
The AP is answering your questions about the coronavirus in this series. Submit them at: FactCheck@AP.org. Read more here:
How many times can I reuse my N95 mask?
Iowa House committee chair seeks investigation of judge
Posted on by Rick Watts
By DAVID PITT
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The chairman of the Iowa House Judiciary Committee said Tuesday that he’s working to launch an investigation of a state court judge who was accused of trying to rig a judicial nomination to get a favored candidate appointed to the bench.
If the investigation proceeds, as expected, it would apparently be the first time in decades that a legislative committee exercised such oversight power to investigate the judicial branch.
Republican Rep. Steven Holt said he will ask the full House to pass a resolution that would grant his committee the right to subpoena people and access documents. It’s part of an effort to learn why Gov. Kim Reynolds took the unusual step last October of rejecting two nominees for the open judgeship.
Judge Kurt Stoebe was then chairman of the District 2b Judicial Nominating Commission, which covers several counties in northern Iowa. Some commission members accused him of making inappropriate and unprofessional comments about certain nominees, of falsely claiming that a nominee had withdrawn from consideration, and of unfairly favoring one nominee over others during discussions and interviews.
Reynolds found that Stoebe’s alleged actions tainted the process and she rejected the nominees and ordered the commission to start over for only the second time in history. The commission ended up recommending the same two finalists and Reynolds appointed district Associate Judge Derek Johnson to the bench in December.
The judicial branch said in November that Stoebe had agreed to step down as chairman of future nominating commissions, though it wasn’t clear if any further disciplinary action was taken. In its statement, the judicial branch said the Iowa Supreme Court can’t discipline a judge without first receiving a public report from the Iowa Judicial Qualifications Commission after an investigation.
Steve Davis, a judicial branch spokesman, said the commission’s evaluation and investigation process is confidential. The only thing made public is whether the commission makes a recommendation to the Supreme Court. No known recommendation has been made.
Stoebe didn’t immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Davis said he would have no further comment.
Holt said he and others have been unable to obtain more information about whether the judicial branch further investigated the matter or considered other disciplinary action, so he is pursuing his investigation to find out whether the allegations are true.
“If indeed a judge is willing to commit these acts in order to advance a favored candidate, including lying about one of the candidates withdrawing their name from consideration, how can an attorney or a citizen come before this judge and have faith in the integrity of the process?” he said.
A subpoena and a contempt citation for anyone who refuses to comply require a vote of the committee and the signature of Holt and Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley. Anyone refusing to comply could be jailed if the House votes to hold them in contempt and take that further step, Holt said.
Holt declined to say what action might be taken if the investigation affirms the allegations. He expressed confidence that lawmakers have the authority to act as a check on the judicial branch because the Iowa Constitution and state code give the Legislature the power to impeach and remove judges and other state officers for misdemeanors and malfeasance.
Holt also said he plans to introduce a bill that would allow legislators to view judicial branch investigative documents with the requirement they are kept confidential.
Governor’s E15, B20 plan clears Senate Ag Committee
Posted on by Rick Watts
The governor’s plan to require that most Iowa fueling stations sell gas with a 15% ethanol blend has cleared the Senate Ag Committee — without any debate. Republican Senator Dan Zumbach of Ryan was the only person to speak about the bill before a subcommittee and the Senate Ag Committee voted to advance it.
“Good bills come with questions. Good bills come with controversy. Good bills come with answers,” Zumbach said. “This bill answers a lot of questions. Does it create some? Absolutely, but this bill is about doing what Iowans do and that’s supporting Iowans.”
Last year, Governor Reynolds proposed an Iowa Renewable Fuels Standard, but the state’s fuel industry warned motorists would see higher pump prices as stations spent money upgrading equipment to handle higher blends of ethanol as well as biodiesel, which has a soybean-based additive. This year’s revised proposal includes waivers for smaller stations which can show they cannot afford to upgrade fuel systems to handle E15, E85 and B20.
“It’s about making corn and soybeans worth more,” Zumbach said, “and having great fuel access everywhere.”
The bill easily cleared the Iowa House last week and its next stop in the Senate is the Ways and Means Committee.
Reba McEntire Song Gets Oscar Nod
Posted on by Bob Ballard
The Oscar nominations are out and Reba McEntire is responsible for one of this year’s nominees. The Diane Warren-penned track, “Somehow You Do,” which Reba sang, has been nominated for Best Original Song. The track is from the movie “Four Good Days.”
This is Diane’s 13th nomination in the category, and the fifth straight year one of her songs has been recognized. And despite all 13 nominations, Diane has yet to win an Oscar.
And this year she’ll have some stiff competition. Other nominees in the category include Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas for their James Bond theme “No Time To Die,” Beyonce for her “King Richard” tune “Be Alive,” the Lin-Manuel Miranda written track “Dos Oruguitas” from “Encanto,” and Van Morrison’s “Belfast” track “Down to Joy.”
The 94th Annual Academy Awards air March 27th on ABC.
Source: Variety
This day in Country Music History
Posted on by Bob Ballard
- Today in 1975, Willie Nelson recorded “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain.”
- Today in 1980, the Oak Ridge Boys hit #1 with “Leavin’ Louisiana In The Broad Daylight.”
- Today in 1991, “Brother Jukebox” by Mark Chesnutt was #1.
- Today in 1996, Joe Diffie hit #1 with “Bigger Than the Beatles.”
- Today in 1998, Lee Roy Parnell released the single, “All That Matters Anymore.”
- Today in 1998, Oprah Winfrey announced that Garth Brooks had agreed to donate his earnings from sales of his latest album, “Sevens,” for a seven-day period to her charity, “Oprah’s Angel Network.” The organization uses the donations to fund college scholarships for underprivileged students.
- Today in 2001, the soundtrack to “O Brother, Where Art Though?” featuring Alison Krauss, The Soggy Bottom Boys, Emmylou Harris, John Hartford, Ralph Stanley, Harry, McClintock, The Whites, and Normal Blake went gold.
- Today in 2006, Brad Paisley’s “Alcohol” went gold.
- Today in 2009, “It Happens” by Sugarland was released.
- Today in 2011, Taylor Swift performed in Singapore for the first time to kick off her international tour.
- Today in 2014, Keith Urban performed “Don’t Let Me Down” with John Mayer and Brad Paisley teams with Pharrell Williams on “Here Comes The Sun” as CBS airs “The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute To The Beatles.” The telecast also features John Legend, Alicia Keys and The Eurythmics.
- Today in 2015, Big & Rich performed “Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy)” on ABC-TV’s “The Bachelor.”
- Today in 2015, Dan + Shay’s “Nothin’ Like You” hit the airwaves.
- Today in 2016, Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush” was certified double-platinum by the RIAA.
- Today in 2017, Old Dominion was featured on the PBS music series “Soundstage.” On the same date in 2019, the band earned a trio of gold singles from the RIAA, for “Written In The Sand,” “Song For Another Time” and “No Such Thing As A Broken Heart.”
- Today in 2018, Scotty McCreery scored an RIAA-certified gold single for “Five More Minutes.”
- Today in 2019, Florida Georgia Line and Bebe Rexha performed “Meant To Be” for Clive Davis’ annual pre-GRAMMY party at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Their audience included Maren Morris, Ryan Hurd, Barbra Streisand, Quincy Jones, Julianne Hough, Alice Cooper, Joni Mitchell, Julia Michaels and Tori Kelly.
- Today in 2019, John Prine was honored in a concert at The Troubadour in Los Angeles. Dwight Yoakam lead the closing round of “Paradise” with the entire cast, including Margo Price, Anderson East, Boz Scaggs, Bob Weir, Ashley McBryde and John Paul White.
Gas prices remain up despite decreased demand
Posted on by Rick Watts
It’s the dead of winter and Iowans are driving much less, especially compared to summertime, but gasoline prices are defying the basic lessons of economic by rising, even though demand is falling.
Meredith Mitts, the spokeswoman for AAA-Iowa, says crude oil prices are setting the bar.
“In the last couple of weeks, we’ve seen an increase in total stocks and a decrease in demand which typically puts downward pressure on those pump prices,” Mitts says, “but because we are seeing these rising crude oil prices, the pump prices continue to go up.”
Part of the reason for the higher prices is rising concerns over the potential for war overseas.
“This time of year is usually a time that we would see a little bit of those lower prices at the pump but it will depend a little bit on that tension between Russia and Ukraine,” Mitts says. “That’s a major contributor to these oil prices, so it will depend on any sanctions that come out of that and how those conversations go.”
The average price for a gallon of gas in Iowa is $3.23, which is up eight cents a gallon in the past week and it’s up 18-cents in the past month. A year ago, gas in Iowa was averaging $2.36, almost a dollar less. The national average is now $3.44.
Across Iowa, the cheapest gas is $3.19 a gallon in both Iowa City and Davenport, while the most expensive gas is in Dubuque at $3.32.
(By Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City)
White House: File your taxes to get full child tax credit
Posted on by Rick Watts
By JOSH BOAK
AP – The Biden administration is kicking off an outreach campaign to get millions of families to file their taxes — so they can receive the second half of payments from the expanded child tax credit.
Vice President Kamala Harris, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and White House senior adviser Gene Sperling are hosting a virtual event Tuesday to encourage people to send their tax forms to the IRS, including those whose incomes are so low that they might not have traditionally filed.
Several lawmakers and nonprofits are taking part in the event, and there are plans to hold events in all 50 states and Puerto Rico during the tax filing season, according to a White House official who insisted on anonymity to discuss the forthcoming plans.
As part of the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, President Joe Biden increased the child tax credits to $3,600 annually for each child aged 5 or under and $3,000 for those who are age 6 to 17. The government began to send the payments out on a monthly basis starting last July, meaning that there are six months worth of payments waiting to be claimed by people filing their taxes.
The payments would come at a moment when families are coping with rising prices for food, gasoline and other goods relative to a year ago. Administration officials estimate that $193 billion would go to 58 million eligible households that file taxes, meaning that families would receive credits on their taxes or refunds averaging $3,330 from this provision.
Workers without children could also get additional help this tax season if they file. The relief package nearly tripled the earned income tax credit for workers without dependent children, meaning that 17 million people could receive credits worth $1,500.
The expanded child tax credits were seen as slashing child poverty to the lowest levels on record. A recent analysis by researchers at Washington University in St. Louis and Appalachian State University found no evidence that the monthly payments caused parents to stop working, which was one of the criticisms by opponents of the expanded credit.
Biden pushed to continue the expanded child tax for another year as part of his “Build Back Better” agenda. But in an evenly split Senate, West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin opposed the expanded credit out of concerns that its price tag could increase the deficit and worsen inflation.
Oskaloosa School Board meets
Posted on by Rick Watts
The Oskaloosa School Board holds its monthly meeting Tuesday (2/8). There will be a public hearing on the High School phase two construction project. The Board will also consider a contract to buy technology hardware. Tuesday’s Oskaloosa School Board meeting starts at 6 at the George Daily Auditorium Board Room.
NEWSLETTER
Stay updated, sign up for our newsletter.
Thanks for signing up!