Suspect in 4 killings in Georgia is shot and killed after manhunt

Law enforcement officers shot and killed a man wanted in the weekend killings of four people near Atlanta. Officials say that a sheriff’s deputy and a police officer were also injured as they attempted to take the suspect into custody. Police haven’t disclosed a motive.

Henry County Sheriff’s spokesperson Syntonnia Moore said suspect Andre Longmore, 40, was fatally shot during a widespread manhunt, which began shortly after the shootings. Georgia authorities had been on the hunt for Longmore, who was accused of gunning down three men and a woman in a subdivision on Saturday morning before fleeing the Dogwood Lakes subdivision in Hampton, about 40 miles south of Atlanta. Longmore was wanted on four counts of murder in the deaths.

Moore said law enforcement shot and killed Longmore on Sunday in a nearby area of Clayton County. Moore added that a Henry County sheriff’s deputy and a Clayton County police officer were injured during the attempt to arrest Longmore. Moore said she had no update on the condition of either officer.

The names of the victims killed have not been released, pending notification of their relatives. All of the victims were adults, authorities said.

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Missing Alabama woman who reported toddler walking on the highway is found safe

Police confirm that a woman who went missing in Hoover, Alabama on Wednesday after reporting to police she saw a child walking on the highway returned home late Saturday and was transported to a hospital for evaluation.

The Hoover Police Department said on Friday that Carlethia “Carlee” Russell, 25, made a 911 call to report a toddler walking alongside of Interstate 459 at around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Russell reportedly stopped her vehicle to help the toddler along and then called a family member. When police arrived, she was gone, but her car and belongings were left behind. Responding officers also were unable to find a child in the area and have not received any calls about someone missing a small child; meanwhile, Russell remained missing until Saturday.

Hoover Police Captain Keith Czeskleba said it received a phone call about Russell returning home at about 10:45 p.m. Police traveled to her location, and then paramedics, who transported her to a local hospital. Captain Czeskleba said that more information was not “available for release at this time,” and declined to go into details on who informed them about Russell’s return and why there was a need for an evaluation. He said that the investigation into the case is ongoing.

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Rory McIlroy rallies to win Genesis Scottish Open

Rory McIlroy birdied the last two holes to win the Genesis Scottish Open on Sunday at The Renaissance Club, defeating Scotland’s own Robert MacIntyre by a stroke to capture his first Scottish Open title, and his first win since the Dubai Desert Classic. McIlroy finished at 15-under 265 and moved past Jon Rahm to No. 2 in the world. Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world, closed with a 70 and tied for third with Byeong Hun An (70) and David Lingmerth (68). The tournament was co-sanctioned by the European tour and the PGA Tour.

McIlroy said: “This is right up there with the best of them. After missing the short birdie putt on 16, I thought if I could birdie one of the last two I would get into a playoff, and that would be a bonus, but to finish 2-3 in these conditions. The two iron shots that I hit — the 5-iron into 17 and the 2-iron into the last are probably two of the best shots I have hit all year, and to finish them off with the putts as well … It feels absolutely amazing. I’ve had a few close calls recently so to get over the line and get this bit of confidence going into next week and the rest of the season is huge.”

McIlroy’s win in Scotland also marked his first win on European soil in seven years since the Irish Open. He will now head to Royal Liverpool at Hoylake for the 151st Open Championship, where he will attempt to win the title for the first time in nine-years.

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Carlos Alcaraz defeats Novak Djokovic to win Wimbledon Men’s Title

20-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz defeated Serbian Novak Djokovic 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 to win the 2023 Wimbledon Men’s Title on Sunday at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club in London. Alcaraz retained his No. 1 ranking in the 4-hour, 42-minute thriller, and snapped No. 2 seeded Djokovic’s streak of four-consecutive Wimbledon titles.

The 36-year-old Djokovic attempted to tie Margaret Court for the most Grand Slam singles titles (24) in tennis history, after winning the 2023 Australian Open and French Open titles.  Djokovic — who hadn’t lost at Wimbledon since the 2017 quarterfinals —  totaled just two aces, logging 32 winners, 40 unforced errors and converted 5 of 15 break point chances. He said after the match:“It’s a tough one to swallow when you are so close. These are the moments we work for every single day. I’ve been blessed with so many incredible matches throughout my career. This is just another one for the history books.

Alcaraz claimed $3 million for the Wimbledon title. He told ESPN: It’s amazing for a boy who dreamed his whole life to reach this situation. I’m really proud of myself … It’s a dream come true. It’s great to win, but even if I would have lost, I would be really proud of myself for making history in this beautiful tournament.”

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Garth Brooks to headline inaugural Sugar Bowl Country Kickoff in New Orleans

Garth Brooks will be headlining the inaugural Sugar Bowl Country Kickoff on Sept. 2 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, to help celebrate the start of the 2023 college football season. The event, which is expected to be an annual Labor Day weekend celebration, will include performances from Louisiana’s own Lainey Wilson and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

Says Brooks: “Being asked to be part of the first ever Sugar Bowl Country Kickoff is an honor  The fun will be in getting to perform with Legends Nitty Gritty and future legend Miss Wilson in front of arguably the greatest country music fans on the planet. Any trip to Louisiana is a guaranteed good time so PLEASE count me in!! Wilson also took to Instagram to share the news, writing: “Well hot dang y’all…I’m joining the one and only @garthbrooks, in my home state of Louisiana. We’re coming home to Louisiana!”

Proceeds from the event will go toward assisting the Allstate Sugar Bowl’s numerous community programs, including the New Orleans Teacher Collective. Funds will also go toward the aid of existing scholarship programs and youth events the Bowl supports annually. Sugar Bowl President Richard Briede shared in a release: “The Sugar Bowl Committee is always looking at ways to bring first-rate entertainment that will drive tourism in Louisiana  While efforts have traditionally focused on sporting events, Russell Doussan and the Doussan Music Group have provided us the opportunity to add great music, another hallmark of the state, to the Sugar Bowl repertoire as we start a new football season. The Sugar Bowl is particularly pleased that proceeds from the event will help support the work our organization is doing in the community.”

Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser wrote: “We are excited to have not just Garth Brooks in the Superdome, but also our very own Louisiana Music Ambassador and Louisiana native Lainey Wilson. She rocked the world with us on our float in the Rose Parade and we know she will get the crowd rocking to welcome Garth to the stage in New Orleans. This lineup has all the makings of a great Louisiana Saturday night.”

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Hailey Whitters to drop six-song EP ‘I’m In Love’

Hailey Whitters has announced a new six-song EP titled “I’m In Love”, set to be released on July 28. To pre-save the EP “I’m In Love”here.

Whitters shared in a press release: “My last two LPs were concept records – The Dream being about my Nashville experience, and Raised was a love letter to the heartland I’m from. Both of these records are foundational to who I am. Along the way I’ve lived a lot of life and learned a lot about myself, and I’m excited to get more personal and straight from the heart with this next chapter. If you’ve made it this far, you know where I’m coming from. Now I’m ready to share where I’ve been and who I am.”

Whitters has also shared the EP’s title track, and says of the song: “I knew the minute I heard this song I had to record it. I didn’t write it [Nicolle Galyon, Lee Miller, & Cameron Bedell did], but I wish I had. I love – pun intended – the quirky language and spirit. Every time I sing it I’m smiling like a big ol sap because it just makes me so happy and puts me in a good mood.”

Take a listen to “I’m In Love” via YouTube – here.
To stream the single “I’m In Love” head here.

Hailey Whitters Announces New EP ‘I’m In Love,’ Drops Title Track

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Take a first look at Timothée Chalamet as Willy Wonka in the trailer for ‘Wonka’

Warner Bros. revealed the official trailer for Wonka, the upcoming prequel film to Roald Dahl’s 1964 classic, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, starring Timothée Chalamet in the title role and directed by Paul King.

According to the official synopsis, “This irresistibly vivid and inventive big screen spectacle will introduce audiences to a young Willy Wonka, chock-full of ideas and determined to change the world one delectable bite at a time—proving that the best things in life begin with a dream, and if you’re lucky enough to meet Willy Wonka, anything is possible.”

The forthcoming film is billed to be “an intoxicating mix of magic and music, mayhem and emotion, all told with fabulous heart and humor,” and will show young Willy Wonka discovering the enchanting world of chocolate. Simon Farnaby and Paul King wrote the screenplay, based on a story by King and characters created by Dahl.  The film also stars Hugh Grant, Keegan-Michael Key, Rowan Atkinson, Olivia Colman, Jim Carter, and Matt Lucas.

Wonka is set to premiere on December 15; take a first look at Chalamet and Grant in the trailer – here.

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Jennifer Garner to reprise her role as Elektra in ‘Deadpool 3’

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jennifer Garner is set to reprise her role as the antiheroine Elektra in Marvel Studios’ upcoming Deadpool 3, starring Ryan Reynolds. Production is currently underway on the project, which is a sequel to 2016’s Deadpool and 2018’s Deadpool 2.

Garner portrayed Elektra in 2003’s Daredevil and 2005’s Elektra; THR reports that Garner will have a major role to play in the film, with Reynolds returning as the wise-cracking antihero Deadpool. In addition, Hugh Jackman is set to reprise his role as Wolverine in Deadpool 3 for the first time since 2017’s Logan. 

Deadpool 3 marks a reunion for Garner, Reynolds and director Shawn Levy, who all worked together on the 2022 Netflix movie, The Adam Project.  

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Fire kills nearly all animals at Florida wildlife center

Officials said that an early-morning fire on Thursday killed nearly all the animals at a wildlife center in Madeira Beach, near St. Petersburg on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office deputies say the blaze was reported around 2 a.m. Thursday and impacted both the Alligator and Wildlife Discovery Center and Beach Bites & Burgers. Fire Chief Clint Belk of the Madeira Beach Fire Department said crews were forced to shift to a “defensive operation” due to deteriorating conditions, and the blaze was under control in about 45 minutes. Belk said: “We keep oxygen masks on the fire truck for dogs and cats, but this is just such a rare occasion. They’re all exotic animals.”  An investigation is underway to determine the cause.

A post on the wildlife center’s Facebook page said: “We suffered from a tragic fire last night. Nearly all of the animals are gone. We are devastated.” Sonny Flynn, who owns the center, told local Tampa Bay station WTSP that all of the mammals inside the building died and many of the reptiles were injured. Small mammals, lizards, amphibians, turtles and tortoises, fresh and saltwater marine life, and alligators were among the 250 animals at the center. Flynn said about 95% of the animals at the center were “pet surrenders because people didn’t know how to take care of them, or they weren’t able to take care of them,” adding, “they didn’t deserve this. This is my whole life They all have names, they all have personality, I come in every morning and talk to them like Dr. Dolittle.”

According to its website, the Alligator and Wildlife Discovery Center was founded in 2011, and has changed its focus to education and conservation: “Our immediate goal is the provision of humane, professional care for pet surrenders and orphaned native wildlife that cannot be safely returned to the wild.”

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Rory McIlroy ‘would rather retire’ than play for LIV Golf

Rory McIlroy is not interested at all in being a part of LIV Golf.  When asked Thursday after the first round of the Genesis Scottish Open about the disclosure that came out as part of a Senate hearing in Washington, D.C. on the matter, McIlroy first covered his eyes with his hands. Said McIlroy: “If LIV Golf was the last place to play golf on earth, I would retire. That’s how I feel about it.’’ He later added that he’d play the major championships “but I’d be pretty comfortable.’’

McIlroy is a member of the PGA Tour Policy Board and a leading spokesman among the players for more than a year as it attempted to push back against the LIV Golf threat. McIlroy said that even if he were to be offered one of the franchises, as was proposed by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia as part of its negotiations with the PGA Tour, he would decline.

McIlroy said he has grown tired of talking about the topic since the disclosure of a “framework agreement’’ reached between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and PIF on June 6.  He declined a pre-tournament interview in advance of the U.S. Open and refused questions on the topic there; he also was absent from the interview area at the Renaissance Club, but after an opening-round 64 at the Renaissance Club, McIlroy faced questions.

McIlroy said he saw only portions of the PGA Tour’s hearing before a Senate subcommittee: “As long as I get to play golf, I’m happy. Quite a bit of apathy towards everything at the minute. There wasn’t’ a lot of new information in there for me. There was going to be some new information for other people. As I said, I’ve almost been too close the last year and a bit. So nice to be able to try to distance myself a bit.’’

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