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Mary Chapin Carpenter Announces Tour Dates For 2023

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Mary Chapin Carpenter – 90’s country legend and multiple GRAMMY, ACM and CMA Award winner – is hitting the road for a summer tour.

Carpenter, known for the 90’s classics “I Feel Lucky,” “Shut Up And Kiss Me” and “Down At The Twist And Shout,” among many others – kicks off her tour of “intimate shows” in New Orleans June 2 before venturing west through her June 16 show in Breckenridge, Colorado. At present she’s taking July off, resuming her tour in the eastern US with two shows in Brownfield, Maine August 3-4 and wrapping up August 22 in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Tickets go on sale this Friday, March 10, at 10 AM local time. You can find additional information on ticketing options and tour dates at Mary Chapin Carpenter’s official website.

Source: The Boot

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1972, the “Kiss An Angel Good Mornin'” single by Charley Pride was certified gold.
  • Today in 1975, Conway Twitty’s “Linda On My Mind” hit the top fo the Billboard country chart.
  • Today in 1980, Willie Nelson’s single, “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys,” topped the charts.
  • Today in 1982, the single, “Elvira,” by Oak Ridge Boys was certified platinum.
  • Today in 1984, Ricky Skaggs and his wife, Sharon, welcomed their daughter, Molly Kate into the world.
  • Today in 1991, Dolly Parton’s “Eagle When She Flies” album was released.
  • Today in 1991, the “Love Can Build A Bridge” album by the Judds was certified gold.
  • Today in 1993, the “Best Of Vince Gill” album was certified gold.
  • Today in 1994, Suzy Bogguss’ “Greatest Hits” album was released.
  • Today in 1996, Garth Brooks’ self-titled debut album was certified for sales of 7-million copies. On the same day, he topped the charts with his single, “The Beaches of Cheyenne.”
  • Today in 1999, at the Academy of Country Music’s “Hat” awards, Faith Hill earned six nominations. Garth Brooks, Steve Wariner, and Brooks & Dunn each got four.
  • Today in 2001, “Playboy” magazine readers had something other than nude women to look at when the publication released the results of its annual Music Poll. While recent years may have seen a surge in teen pop groups, country music has always maintained a presence. Readers dubbed Faith Hill and Tim McGraw’s “Soul 2 Soul” tour the Concert of the Year and they won Female Country Vocalist and Male Country Vocalist, respectively. Plus, Faith’s award winning album, “Breathe,” scored Country CD of the Year and the Dixie Chicks rounded out the country awards being dubbed Country Group of the Year.
  • Today in 2003, Emerson Drive’s Pat Allingham married his longtime girlfriend, Krista Williamson.
  • Today in 2003, CMT’s “Most Wanted Live” featured the premiere of Daryl Worley’s video “Have You Forgotten?”
  • Today in 2006, at the Academy of Country Music Awards, Brad Paisley was nominated six times, Brooks & Dunn and Sugarland were each nominated five times, and Rascal Flatts and Carrie Underwood four times.
  • Today in 2007, Carrie Underwood sang “Wasted” on “American Idol.”
  • Today in 2011, Sara Evans released her new album, “Stronger.”
  • Today in 2015, Rascal Flatts performed the national anthem before the Kobalt 400 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Kevin Harvick won the race).
  • Today in 2015, RaeLynn kicks off a weeklong Music In Our Schools tour with a performance at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
  • Today in 2017, Jaren Johnston left the stage during The Cadillac Three’s show at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, British Columbia, to deal with a male fan who’s abusing a woman…he broke his guitar in the process.

DA stands by prosecutor in Alec Baldwin set-shooting case

Posted on by Sam Parsons

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A district attorney in Santa Fe fought back Monday against efforts to disqualify the special prosecutor pursuing manslaughter charges against actor Alec Baldwin in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on a New Mexico film set.

Baldwin’s legal team in February sought to disqualify special prosecutor and Republican state Rep. Andrea Reeb of Clovis based on constitutional provisions that safeguard the separation of powers between distinct branches of government.

Defense attorneys argued that Reeb’s role as a state lawmaker and prosecutor are incompatible and could distort legislative and judicial actions, including state spending on the prosecution of Baldwin over the 2021 shooting on the set of the Western movie “Rust.”

Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies on Monday called the objection a “novel theory that has no support in new Mexico statutes or case law.”

She said the state constitution provides a variety of safeguards against legislators interfering with the outcome of ongoing court cases.

“Any attempt by Ms. Reeb as a legislator to influence the outcome of this trial would be completely ineffective,” Carmack-Altwies said in a court filing.

Since joining the legislature in January, Reeb has steered clear of voting on public spending to prosecute Baldwin and film-set weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed. She was excused from a House floor vote in February on a proposed state budget that includes $360,000 for special prosecution expenses in the fatal film-set shooting.

Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed have pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 18-months in prison and fines.

Hutchins died shortly after being wounded Oct. 21, 2021, during rehearsals at a ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe. Baldwin was pointing a pistol at Hutchins when the gun went off, killing her and wounding the director, Joel Souza. A likely preliminary hearing is still months away to decide whether evidence is sufficient to proceed to trial.

Prosecutors say assistant director David Halls, who oversaw safety on set, has signed an agreement to plead guilty in the negligent use of a deadly weapon. A judge is scheduled to consider approval of the plea agreement later this month.

Prosecution in the death of Hutchins is currently underwritten by an emergency state grant, approved in September 2022 by the State Board of Finance that is led by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Reeb is listed as a sponsor or cosponsor on several criminal justice initiatives, including enhanced punishments for firearms violations, as legislators explore ways to rein in surging violent crime. She previously served as district attorney for a judicial district on the eastern plains of New Mexico.

Auditor opposes $4.175 million settlement with former Hawkeye players

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)

A more than $4 million legal settlement has been reached with a dozen former University of Iowa football players and the three member State Appeals Board meets this afternoon to review and approve it. The players alleged the Hawkeye program was a racially hostile environment for black players.

State Auditor Rob Sand, a member of the Appeals Board, will vote against the settlement because Iowa taxpayers would pay $2 million of it. “This is now the fourth discrimination settlement while Gary Barta has been the athletic director at the University of Iowa,” Sand said during a news conference in his statehouse office. “Enough is enough.”

Sand, who is a graduate of the University of Iowa law school, said the only way he’d support the settlement is if Barta is ousted and forfeits any severance pay. “There’s a certain point at which an institution needs to communicate to the public that it isn’t just a group of insiders protecting each other and that’s what I think this settlement feels like unless Barta’s gone.”

Barta has not responded to Sand’s remarks, but issued a written statement this morning about the settlement. He said the University of Iowa Athletic Department “remains committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for every student-athlete and staff member involved in our program.”

The attorney general’s office is recommending approval of the settlement with the former Hawkeye football players. In similar instances, attorneys have argued the State of Iowa could likely spend far more money if the lawsuit is heard by a judge and jury. Sand told reporters that’s not a persuasive argument in this case.

“The easiest way to save taxpayers’ money is to have the person most responsible for these kind of decisions taking care of them and having some accountability themselves,” Sand said.

Sand, who has been state auditor since 2019, has opposed three other legal settlements involving state officials accused of sexual harassment because taxpayers were covering the entire cost of the settlements.

Central College Announces Spring Music Programs

Posted on by Sam Parsons

PELLA, IA — Central College’s music program prepares for a busy March including a Spring Break tour and concerts.

Join the Flying Pans Steel Band in Douwstra Auditorium for their Caribbean-style post-tour concert. The ensemble will be performing at 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 19. The concert concludes their Spring Break tour to eight different schools and universities in Iowa, South Dakota, Colorado and Nebraska. The performance will be directed by Stan Dahl, senior lecturer of music and Central Music Academy instructor. Admission is free.

Central’s ALMA ensemble will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, March 24, in Cox-Snow Recital Hall. The variety of genres and their diverse rhythm section will provide for an engaging performance. Gabriel Espinosa, associate professor of music and 1979 Central graduate, will direct the ensemble. The concert is free.

On Friday, March 24, and Saturday, March 25, Central will be hosting the annual Iowa National Association of Teachers of Singing conference. Members include voice teachers from universities and private studios across Iowa. Students are also encouraged to attend and audition for a singing competition. There is no official public performance during the conference. Sean Stephenson, associate professor of music, is looking for volunteers to assist with the event. He can be emailed directly at stephensons@central.edu.

Oskaloosa Community Schools Encourages Families to Utilize Virtual Backpack Resource

Posted on by Sam Parsons

OSKALOOSA, IA — In an effort to reduce costs and paper waste, Oskaloosa Community Schools is encouraging families to utilize its Virtual Backpack webpage in lieu of sending flyers home with students.

The Virtual Backpack advertises community-wide events open to all Osky students and families. The webpage is updated regularly with flyers that are screened and approved for distribution by district administration. Additionally, the webpage is available as a widget in the free Osky Schools app, which can be downloaded from the Google Play or Apple App stores.

“Across the country, many schools have shifted away from having organizations print hundreds of flyers to place in children’s backpacks,” said Mike Fisher, Osky Schools Superintendent. “Our Virtual Backpack is a simple approach to communicate the events in our community, and we are hopeful it will keep parents and guardians more informed in our increasingly digital world.”

Local organizations can submit their flyer and event information for the Virtual Backpack at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/24mztee9

The Osky Schools Virtual Backpack can be accessed at https://www.oskycsd.org/parent-resources/virtual-backpack or in the free Osky Schools app.

Sam Hunt Announces 2023 ‘Summer on the Outskirts’ Tour

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Sam Hunt has announced his “Summer on the Outskirts Tour!” The tour kicks off July 6th in Hartford, Connecticut, and will visit cities across 27 different dates from Boston, Massachusetts to Mountain View California, before wrapping up on September 9th in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Hunt will be joined by Brett Young & Lily Rose along the way. Tickets go on pre-sale at 10am local time today for Verizon Up members, and 10am local time for general sale at Samhunt.com on Friday.

Check out the tour dates below:

  • July 6 – Hartford, CT – Xfinity Theatre
  • July 7 – Gilford, NH – Bank of NH Pavilion
  • July 8 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
  • July 14 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
  • July 15 – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater
  • July 16 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
  • July 20 – Brandon, MS – Brandon Amphitheater
  • July 21 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater
  • July 22 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
  • July 27 – Detroit, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
  • July 28 – Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Music Center
  • July 29 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
  • Aug 3 – Carbondale, IL – Southern Illinois University-SIU Banterra Center
  • Aug 4 – Bonner Springs, KS – Azura Amphitheater
  • Aug 5 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Zoo Amphitheatre
  • Aug 11 – Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre
  • Aug 12 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
  • Aug 13 – Stateline, NV – Lake Tahoe Harveys Outdoor Arena
  • Aug 18 – Houston, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
  • Aug 19 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
  • Aug 20 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP
  • Aug 24 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
  • Aug 25 – Syracuse, NY – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
  • Aug 26 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
  • Sep 7 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
  • Sep 8 – Atlanta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
  • Sep 9 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek

Source: The Music Universe

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1971, Gilley’s nightclub, which served as the inspiration for the 1980 movie “Urban Cowboy,” opened in Pasadena Texas.
  • Today in 1980, the “Classic Crystal” album by Crystal Gayle was certified gold.
  • Today in 1980, Kenny Rogers’ “Coward Of The County” single was certified gold.
  • Today in 1983, “The Nashville Network” Cable TV Network was launched. The network featured a variety of country music and entertainment until last year, when honchos dropped the “Nashville” in its moniker and became “The National Network.”
  • Today in 1983, the “Waitin’ For The Sun To Shine” album by Ricky Skaggs was certified gold.
  • Today in 1986, Randy Travis made his debut at the Grand Ole Opry. He performed “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” after an introduction by Little Jimmy Dickens.
  • Today in 1990, the album, “Hank Williams Jr. Greatest Hits Volume Two,” was certified platinum.
  • Today in 1995, “The Garth Brooks Collection” was certified gold, platinum and triple platinum simultaneously.
  • Today in 1985, the soundtrack to “Honeymoon in Vegas,” featuring remakes of Elvis Presley, and songs by Trisha Yearwood, Willie Nelson, Billy Joel, Travis Tritt, Ricky Van Shelton, Bono, Dwight Yoakam, Amy Grant, and Vince Gill went platinum.
  • Today in 1998, Sara Evans made her Grand Ole Opry debut – she sang, “Your Cheatin’ Heart.”
  • Today in 1998, George Strait hit the top of the charts with “Round About Way.”
  • Today in 2000, George Jones’ “Cold Hard Truth” album was certified gold.
  • Today in 2000, the “Latest Greatest Straitest Hits” album by George Strait was released.
  • Today in 2000, Frank “Pee Wee” King died in Louisville, Kentucky, at the age of 86.
  • Today in 2001, Toby Keith’s single, “You Shouldn’t Kiss Me Like This,” topped the “Radio & Records” country chart for the third time in six, non-consecutive weeks. The accomplishment remains unprecedented in the 28-year history of the “Radio & Records” country chart.
  • Today in 2001, Montgomery Gentry were named “Top Country Duo” for the second year in a row in the annual “Radio & Records’” Readers’ Poll.
  • Today in 2001, the 365 Songs of the Century chosen by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts included Lee Ann Womack’s “I Hope You Dance.”
  • Today in 2008, CMT’s “40 Sexiest Music Videos” featured Faith Hill’s “Breathe” at the top of the list.
  • Today in 2010, at the Oscars, Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett won Best Original Song for “The Weary King (Theme From Crazy Heart.)”
  • Today in 2011, Taylor Swift’s single, “Mean,” hit the airwaves.
  • Today in 2015, the Zac Brown Band performed “Homegrown” from New York during NBC-TV’s “Saturday Night Live.”
  • Today in 2017, Reba McEntire met her wax figure during soundcheck at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The likeness resides at Madame Tussauds’ Nashville

Blommers, Foster, Van Veldhuizen Honored By Little Hawkeye Conference

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The Little Hawkeye Conference unveiled its 2022-23 all-conference girls basketball teams with honorable mentions today, and 3 members of the Oskaloosa Indians were honored: senior Presley Blommers (1st team), sophomore Dasia Foster (2nd team), and junior Lydia Van Veldhuizen (honorable mention).

Also representing the area were a total of 5 players from Pella (Kylie Tauke, Mia Warner, Kennedy Van Vark, Hailey Van Vark, Tristan Gordon), 3 players from Pella Christian (Joslyn Terpstra, Faith Kacmarynski, Anna Eveland), 5 players from Grinnell (Bailey Strovers, Leah Harris, Haidyn Hull, Katelyn Van Compernolle, Kelsey Van Compernolle) and 3 players from Newton (Sophia Reynolds, Alex Garvis, Cadie Horn).

Blommers started 20 games at point guard and led the team in points per game (18.4), assists per game (2.9), steals per game (3.1), and free throw percentage (76.4%). Her 18.4 points per game ranked 7th in the state in class 4A and 1st in the Little Hawkeye Conference.

Foster played all 22 games for the Indians and was the #2 scorer at 12.5 points per game, but led the team in rebounds (13.2) and blocks (2.1) per game. Her 13.2 rebounds per game ranked 1st across all 4A players in the state, and her 46 blocks tied for 5th in the state among 4A girls.

Van Veldhuizen played 21 games, all starts, for Osky, and was 3rd on the team in points per game (6.0), rebounds per game (4.5), and assists per game (1.7). She was 2nd on the team in 3-pointers made (21).

The full list of honorees from the Little Hawkeye Conference can be found below:

University of Massachusetts warns of TikTok drinking trend

Posted on by Sam Parsons

AMHERST, Mass. (AP) — The University of Massachusetts is warning about a TikTok drinking trend after 28 ambulances were summoned to off-campus parties.

Students were observed Saturday carrying jugs with a mixture of alcohol, electrolytes, flavoring and water, dubbed “blackout rage gallons,” or “BORGs,” in a binge-drinking trend gaining traction on TikTok, officials said.

There were so many calls for ambulances for student alcohol intoxication that neighboring agencies stepped in to help, officials said. The Amherst Fire Department said none of the cases were life-threatening. UMass Police reported two arrests for underage drinking.

UMass officials said this is the first time the university has observed widespread use of BORGs at off-campus parties.

In a statement, the university said the weekend’s events will be assessed and steps taken to improve alcohol education. Incoming students already learn about physiological and medical risks of binge drinking.

The weekend’s festivities are known among UMass students as the “Blarney Blowout,” an annual unsanctioned event related to upcoming St. Patrick’s Day, local media reported.

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