Chris Stapleton just premiered a new song, but you won’t find it on any of his albums…at least not yet. The singer was a special guest star on “Sesame Street” recently, where he sang for the Muppets that live there and the kids watching at home. In the episode, Stapleton tells kids that “music is the universal language.” Abby Cadabby says, “He’s teaching us all about music and friends,” to which the singer responds, “That’s right, Abby,” before breaking into “You’ve Got a Friend in Music,” joined by Abby, Elmo, Grover, Cookie Monster, Bert and Ernie.
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This day in Country Music History
- Today in 1957, Jerry Lee Lewis made his TV debut on “The Steve Allen Show,” kicking his piano stool across the stage during “Whole Lot Of Shakin’ Going On.”
- Today in 1969, the album, “Tammy’s Greatest Hits,” by Tammy Wynette was released.
- Today in 1971, Charley Pride recorded “Kiss An Angel Good Mornin'” at Nashville’s RCA Studios.
- Today in 1979, Dolly Parton’s “You’re the Only One” topped the country charts.
- Today in 1982, the Bellamy Brothers Greatest Hits was released.
- Today in 1984, Earl Thomas Conley became the first country star to score four #1 hits from a single album when his hit “Angel in Disguise” topped the charts.
- Today in 1995, Alan Jackson hit #1 with the single, “I Don’t Even Know Your Name.”
- Today in 1996, Garth and Sandy Brooks welcomed their third daughter, Allie Colleen. She was named for Sandy’s paternal grandfather and Garth’s mom, Colleen.
- Today in 1998, Diamond Rio’s “Unbelievable” album was released.
- Today in 2002, Brooks and Dunn wrapped up their second annual “Neon Circus and Wild West Show” tour with the all-star lineup that included Gary Allan, Chris Cagle, Trick Pony and Dwight Yoakam.
- Today in 2004, Chris Cagle flew over Cheyenne, Wyoming, in an F-16 fighter jet with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.
- Today in 2007, Faith Hill lectured a fan at the Cajundome in Lafayette, Louisiana, for grabbing the crotch of hubby Tim McGraw during a concert. Video of the event was captured on a cellphone and posted on the Internet.
- Today in 2008, Blake Shelton and then-girlfriend Miranda Lambert performed their first full-length concert together at the Monroe County Fair in Monroe, Michigan. The pair included duets on “Feelins’,” “Home” and “The South’s Gonna Do It Again” during the show.
- Today in 2012, Eli Young Band earned a #1 single in Billboard with “Even If It Breaks Your Heart.”
- Today in 2016, Miranda Lambert performed “Vice” publicly for the first time during a concert at the Blossom Center in Cleveland. At the end of the night, she was joined by backup singer Gwen Sebastian and opening acts Kip Moore and Brothers Osborne for a mass version of “Me And Bobby McGee.”
- Today in 2017, the Zac Brown Band raised nearly $1-million during a benefit for the non-profit Camp Southern Ground in Parker, Colorado.
- Today in 2017, Little Big Town’s concert at the Ryman Auditorium featured a surprise guest: Ronnie Dunn! He performed “My Maria” and “Believe.”
- Today in 2017, Jennifer Nettles kicked off her three-night run in the live production of “Mamma Mia!” at the Hollywood Bowl.
- Today in 2017, Ashley Monroe welcomed her son, Dalton William Danks, with her hubs, John Danks.
- Today in 2018, Luke Bryan became the first country artist to headline a concert at Dodger Stadium. His set began with “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” and wrapped with “That’s My Kind Of Night.” The bill also featured Sam Hunt, Jon Pardi, Morgan Wallen and Carly Pearce.
- Today in 2020, Dan + Shay’s single, “I Should Probably Go To Bed,” hit the airwaves.
- Today in 2020, an episode of Netflix’s “Dolly Parton’s “Heartstrings” series received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Television Movie.
- Today in 2020, Dylan Scott scored a gold single from the RIAA for his song, “Nothing To Do Town.”
- Today in 2020, Lainey Wilson’s single, “Things A Man Oughta Know,” was released.
- Today in 2021, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Florida Georgia Line and Thomas Rhett appeared at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater as ABC recorded “CMA Summer Jam.” Also on the bill: Jimmie Allen, Gabby Barrett, Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne and Jon Pardi.
US-EU deal sets a 15% tariff on most goods and averts the threat of a trade war with a global shock
EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — The United States and the European Union agreed on Sunday to a trade framework setting a 15% tariff on most goods, staving off — at least for now — far higher import duties on both sides that might have sent shock waves through economies around the globe.
The sweeping announcement came after President Donald Trump and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen met briefly at Trump’s Turnberry golf course in Scotland. Their private sit-down culminated months of bargaining, with the White House deadline Friday nearing for imposing punishing tariffs on the EU’s 27 member countries.
“It was a very interesting negotiation. I think it’s going to be great for both parties,” Trump said. The agreement, he said, was “a good deal for everybody” and “a giant deal with lots of countries.”
Von der Leyen said the deal “will bring stability, it will bring predictability, that’s very important for our businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Many facets will require more work
As with other, recent tariff agreements that Trump announced with countries including Japan and the United Kingdom, some major details remain pending in this one.
Trump said the EU had agreed to buy some $750 billion worth of U.S. energy and invest $600 billion more than it already is in America — as well as make a major military equipment purchase. He said tariffs “for automobiles and everything else will be a straight across tariff of 15%” and meant that U.S. exporters ”have the opening up of all of the European countries.”
Von der Leyen said the 15% tariffs were “across the board, all inclusive” and that “indeed, basically the European market is open.”
At a later news conference away from Turnberry, she said the $750 billion in additional U.S. energy purchases was actually over the next three years — and would help ease the dependence on natural gas from Russia among the bloc’s countries.
“When the European Union and the United States work together as partners, the benefits are tangible,” Von der Leyen said, noting that the agreement “stabilized on a single, 15% tariff rate for the vast majority of EU exports” including cars, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals.
“15% is a clear ceiling,” she said.
But von der Leyen also clarified that such a rate wouldn’t apply to everything, saying that both sides agreed on “zero for zero tariffs on a number of strategic products,” like all aircraft and component parts, certain chemicals, certain generic drugs, semiconductor equipment, some agricultural products, natural resources and critical raw materials.
It is unclear if alcohol will be included in that list.
“And we will keep working to add more products to this list,” she said, while also stressing that the “framework means the figures we have just explained to the public, but, of course, details have to be sorted out. And that will happen over the next weeks.”
Further EU approval needed
In the meantime, there will be work to do on other fronts. Von der Leyen had a mandate to negotiate because the European Commission handles trade for member countries. But the Commission must now present the deal to member states and EU lawmakers, who will ultimately decide whether or not to approve it.
Before their meeting began, Trump pledged to change what he characterized as “a very one-sided transaction, very unfair to the United States.”
“I think both sides want to see fairness,” the Republican president told reporters.
Von der Leyen said the U.S. and EU combined have the world’s largest trade volume, encompassing hundreds of millions of people and trillions of dollars and added that Trump was “known as a tough negotiator and dealmaker.”
“But fair,” Trump said.
Trump has spent months threatening most of the world with large tariffs in hopes of shrinking major U.S. trade deficits with many key trading partners. More recently, he had hinted that any deal with the EU would have to “buy down” a tariff rate of 30% that had been set to take effect.
But during his comments before the agreement was announced, the president was asked if he’d be willing to accept tariff rates lower than 15%, and he said “no.”
First golf, then trade talk
Their meeting came after Trump played golf for the second straight day at Turnberry, this time with a group that included sons Eric and Donald Jr. In addition to negotiating deals, Trump’s five-day visit to Scotland is built around golf and promoting properties bearing his name.
A small group of demonstrators at the course waved American flags and raised a sign criticizing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who plans his own Turnberry meeting with Trump on Monday.
Other voices could be heard cheering and chanting “Trump! Trump!” as he played nearby.
On Tuesday, Trump will be in Aberdeen, in northeastern Scotland, where his family has another golf course and is opening a third next month. The president and his sons plan to help cut the ribbon on the new course.
The U.S. and EU seemed close to a deal earlier this month, but Trump instead threatened the 30% tariff rate. The deadline for the Trump administration to begin imposing tariffs has shifted in recent weeks but is now firm and coming Friday, the administration insists.
“No extensions, no more grace periods. Aug. 1, the tariffs are set, they’ll go into place, Customs will start collecting the money and off we go,” U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told “Fox News Sunday” before the EU deal was announced. He added, however, that even after that “people can still talk to President Trump. I mean, he’s always willing to listen.”
Without an agreement, the EU said it was prepared to retaliate with tariffs on hundreds of American products, ranging from beef and auto parts to beer and Boeing airplanes.
If Trump eventually followed through on his threat of tariffs against Europe, meanwhile, it could have made everything from French cheese and Italian leather goods to German electronics and Spanish pharmaceuticals more expensive in the United States.
“I think it’s great that we made a deal today, instead of playing games and maybe not making a deal at all,” Trump said. “I think it’s the biggest deal ever made.”
ISU trying to find ways to improve lithium-ion battery safety
By Dar Danielson (Radio Iowa)
An Iowa State University researcher is using a special tool to test the limits of lithium-ion batteries. Todd Kingston says the device called the accelerating rate calorimeter or ARC.
“It enables us to do various types of electrochemical, thermal, mechanical and electrical abuse testing in a very safe manner. It’s specifically designed to contain a thermal runaway event, explosions of the battery,” Kingston says.
Kingston purchased the ARC with a grant from the U.S. Department of Defense’s Office of Naval Research. He says they can use it to push the batteries beyond their charging limits, or submit them to mechanical abuse. “Mechanical abuse could be like a crush test. So if you apply pressure to a battery, some batteries are designed, they have a kind of a rigid can and can withstand some pressure. But after enough pressure is applied, you can start to have mechanical deformation and start to actually mechanically deform the active materials inside of the battery,” he says.
Kingston is an associate professor of mechanical engineering and says they want to learn how to prevent issues with the batteries. “Ultimately we are interested in improving the safety and the performance of batteries. That being said, I don’t design batteries myself, but we can provide lots of information that would inform the design or the guidelines or the use of battery in various applications,” Kingston says
Waste haulers say lithium-ion batteries have increasingly caused problems with fires in garbage trucks and landfills, and are encouraging everyone to recycle batteries. Kingston says his research could also help in the recycling process. “Recycling them, even the collection and transport of batteries, you know, ones that are reached their end of life and are looking to be recycled, there’s a lot of safety concerns associated with just, you know, that process the recycling process and how do we safely transport them, how do we safely recycle them. So there’s a lot to learn and a lot that we need to still improve on,” Kingston says.
He says the are testing a range of batteries used for various applications from smaller ones to larger ones used in electric vehicles.
Extreme Heat Warning to Go into Effect Today
DES MOINES – An Extreme Heat Warning will be in effect for our area today.
The National Weather Service in Des Moines issued the warning for portions of central and southern Iowa, and it will be in effect from noon today till 8pm this evening. The National Weather Service in the Quad Cities likewise issued a warning for portions of southeastern Iowa for the same time frame.
Dangerously hot conditions are in the forecast for this afternoon and evening, with heat index values of 110-115F expected. The risk of heat-related illness increases significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events, so officials urge caution for those who must be outside for extended periods. The NWS advises those in the area to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.
Oskaloosa City Council Special Election to be Held One Week from Tomorrow
OSKALOOSA – The city of Oskaloosa’s special election for its vacant at-large city council seat is happening one week from tomorrow.
Former councilmember Charlie Comfort held the seat until he announced his resignation in May. The Oskaloosa City Council temporarily filled the seat via appointment, but a petition was received requesting a special election to fill the vacancy.
There are three candidates on the ballot for next week’s election:
- Manny Garcia
- Nicholas Ryan
- Andy Holmberg
Oskaloosa residents will be able to vote at one of four polling locations around the city, depending on their home address.
Oskaloosa – Ward 1
- Ag Extension Office: 212 North I Street
Oskaloosa – Ward 2
- Gateway Church of the Nazarene: 140 Gateway Drive
Oskaloosa – Ward 3
- Assembly of God Church Gym: 716 S. 17th Street
Oskaloosa – Ward 4
- Old YMCA: 414 North 3rd Street
More information on the election is available here.
Zac Brown And Kendra Scott Are Engaged
Congratulations to Zac Brown and Kendra Scott…the couple are engaged! The singer and the jewelry designer hard-launched their relationship at the American Music Awards in May. The couple told “People” magazine, “We are so happy and grateful that we found each other.” When they do eventually tie the knot, their blended family will be huge: they are each parents, and between them have eight children ranging in age from 11 to 23
This day in Country Music History
- Today in 1981, “Elvira” by Oak Ridge Boys peaked at #5 on the pop singles chart.
- Today in 1989, the album, “Don’t Close Your Eyes,” by Keith Whitley was certified gold.
- Today in 1989, Earl Thomas Conley’s “Greatest Hits” was certified gold.
- Today in 1993, Willie Nelson announced he’d donate money from his next three concerts to Midwest flood relief.
- Today in 1995, Charlie Rich died in his sleep in a Hammond, Louisiana motel. The cause of death was listed as a blood clot in a lung. He was 62.
- Today in 1997, Martina McBride debuted her new single “Broken Wing” on the Grand Ole Opry with a special guest. Her father, Daryl Schiff, joined her on the stage.
- Today in 1997, “Elvis Presley’s Memphis” – the first restaurant to bear The King’s name – opened for business at 126 Beale Street in Memphis.
- Today in 2000, Aaron Tippin’s album, “People Like Us,” arrived in stores.
- Today in 2000, Lee Ann Womack topped the charts with her single, “I Hope You Dance,” for the fifth consecutive week.
- Today in 2001, the acts on Brooks & Dunn’s inaugural “Neon Circus & Wild West Show” ruled the country singles charts. While there’s never a shortage of hits when any of these acts rolls into town, it is highly unusual for all four acts on a tour to simultaneously have singles in the Top 10 of “Radio & Records’” country chart. Brooks & Dunn’s single, “Only in America,” was at #10, keith urban’s “Where the Blacktop Ends” held on to the #6 spot and Toby Keith’s “I’m Just Talkin’ About Tonight” was perched at #5. Montgomery Gentry’s “She Couldn’t Change Me” was enjoying its third consecutive week at #2.
- Today in 2006, Jake Owen released his debut album, “Startin’ With Me.”
- Today in 2008, Dixie Chick Martie Maguire and her husband Gareth welcomed daughter, Harper Rosie Maguire, in Austin, Texas.
- Today in 2011, Eric Church’s single, “Homeboy,” was certified gold.
- Today in 2013, Pistol Annies’ single, “Hell on Heels,” was certified platinum.
- Today in 2015, Kenny Chesney and Jason Aldean co-headlined the first country concert in the history of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The package also includes Brantley Gilbert, Cole Swindell and Old Dominion.
- Today in 2015, Cassadee Pope performed during the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics in Los Angeles, where the bill includeed Stevie Wonder, Avril Lavigne and Siedah Garrett.
- Today in 2017, Blake Shelton earns a gold single from the RIAA for “Gonna.”
- Today in 2017, songwriter/producer/guitarist Billy Joe Walker Jr. died in Kerrville, Texas. He wrote Eddie Rabbitt’s “I Wanna Dance With You,” produced country hits for Travis Tritt and Bryan White, and played on singles by George Strait, Waylon Jennings, Randy Travis and Martina McBride.
Jazz legend Chuck Mangione, known for ‘Feels So Good,’ dies at 84
NEW YORK (AP) — Two-time Grammy Award-winning musician Chuck Mangione, who achieved international success in 1977 with his jazz-flavored single “Feels So Good” and later became a voice actor on the animated TV comedy “King of the Hill,” has died. He was 84.
Mangione died at his home in Rochester, New York, on Tuesday in his sleep, said his attorney, Peter S. Matorin of Beldock Levine & Hoffman LLP. The musician had been retired since 2015.
Perhaps his biggest hit — “Feels So Good” — is a staple on most smooth-jazz radio stations and has been called one of the most recognized melodies since “Michelle” by the Beatles. It hit No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the top of the Billboard adult contemporary chart.
“It identified for a lot of people a song with an artist, even though I had a pretty strong base audience that kept us out there touring as often as we wanted to, that song just topped out there and took it to a whole other level,” Mangione told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 2008.
He followed that hit with “Give It All You Got,” commissioned for the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, and he performed it at the closing ceremony.
Mangione, a flugelhorn and trumpet player and jazz composer, released more than 30 albums during a career in which he built a sizable following after recording several albums, doing all the writing.
He won his first Grammy Award in 1977 for his album “Bellavia,” which was named in honor of his mother. Another album, “Friends and Love,” was also Grammy-nominated, and he earned a best original score Golden Globe nomination and a second Grammy for the movie “The Children of Sanchez.”
Mangione introduced himself to a new audience when he appeared on the first several seasons of “King of the Hill,” appearing as a commercial spokesman for Mega Lo Mart, where “shopping feels so good.”
Mangione, brother of jazz pianist Gap Mangione, with whom he partnered in The Jazz Brothers, started his career as a bebop jazz musician heavily inspired by Dizzy Gillespie.
“He also was one of the first musicians I saw who had a rapport with the audience by just telling the audience what he was going to play and who was in his band,” Mangione told the Post-Gazette.
Mangione earned a bachelor’s degree from the Eastman School of Music — where he would eventually return as director of the school’s jazz ensemble — and left home to play with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers.
He donated his signature brown felt hat and the score of his Grammy-winning single “Feels So Good,” as well as albums, songbooks and other ephemera from his long and illustrious career to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in 2009.
Iowa boy awarded Guinness World Record for most premature baby
By James Kelley (Radio Iowa)
An Iowa baby now holds the Guinness World Record for the most premature baby.
Nash Keen was born last year at just 21 weeks — so early that most hospitals couldn’t deliver him, but doctors at University of Iowa Health Care resituated the baby at birth and supported him using advanced ultrasound technology to measure the blood supply to his heart and lungs.
“We don’t really know…We don’t have any research on babies this young and so we just held on to hope,” said Mollie Keen, Nash’s mother. “That was kind of what we did for the first month until Nash started to show us that he was really fighting.”
In the beginning, doctors told the family the baby boy had a zero percent chance of survival. Dr. Patrick McNamara, the UIHC’s director of neonatology, said this case opens a new frontier in his field.
“Nash is resilient,” he said. “What we have learned, and not just necessarily with Nash, is that survival is possible at 21 weeks gestation, but not just survival — meaningful survival.”
Nash, who lives with his parents in Ankeny, turned one on July 5. He was born at 21 weeks and weighed 10 ounces. The previous Guinness World Record for most premature baby was a boy born in Alabama five years ago — at 21 weeks and one day.
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