Texas fires coach Chris Beard following arrest on felony assault charge

University of Texas announced Thursday they have fired basketball coach Chris Beard, nearly a month after he was arrested on a third-degree felony assault charge for allegedly strangling and assaulting his fiancée in their home. Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte said in a statement: “The University of Texas has parted ways with Chris Beard. This has been a difficult situation that we’ve been diligently working through. Today I informed Mr. Beard of our decision to terminate him effective immediately.” Beard was fired for cause, and as such he will not be entitled to any salary or buyout money from the seven-year, $35 million contract he signed with the Longhorns ahead of the 2021-22 season (which was set to run through 2028).  Texas had initially suspended Beard indefinitely without pay on Dec. 12 after the arrest, and has not been allowed around the team since that date. At the time, UT said in a Dec. 12 statement: “The University takes matters of interpersonal violence involving members of its community seriously.” 

Beard’s fiancée Randi Trew told police the night of the incident that Beard “choked me, threw me off the bed, bit me, bruises all over my leg, throwing me around, and going nuts”.  However on Dec. 23, Trew recanted her original statement. Trew claimed to be the initiator of the struggle, saying Beard did not strangle her the night she called 911 in the early hours of Dec. 12 and that she did not tell police otherwise, despite what is contained in the arrest report. Trew did not refute that Beard acted in self-defense that evening. In recanting her statement, Trew said, “It was never my intent to have him arrested or prosecuted.”

As of Thursday, the felony charge against Beard has not been dropped by the local District Attorney’s Office in Austin, Texas. Beard’s next court date is scheduled for Jan. 18.

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Bills’ safety Damar Hamlin awake after cardiac arrest during game, asks doctors ‘did we win?’

On Thursday, Drs. Timothy Pritts and William Knight IV from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center provided an update about Bills’ safety Damar Hamlin; saying he is awake, can move his hands, feet and head, and asked medical personnel who won the Buffalo Bills-Cincinnati Bengals game — which was halted when he went into cardiac arrest on the field three days ago.

Hamlin remains in critical condition in the trauma intensive care unit, but the doctors said he has improved appreciably since arriving at the hospital Monday. Pritts, the division chief of general surgery, told reporters: “There’s been substantial improvement in his condition over the past 24 hours. We had significant concern about him after the injury and after the event that happened on the field, but he’s making substantial progress. As of this morning, he is beginning to awaken, and it appears that his neurological condition and function is intact.”

Pritts said Hamlin came out of sedation Wednesday night, and used a pen and paper to ask a bedside nurse about the result of the Bengals-Bills game, which has been postponed indefinitely. Said Pritts, “To paraphrase one of our partners, when he asked, ‘Did we win?’ The answer is yes, Damar. You won. You’ve won the game of life.” Pritts said Hamlin “expressed surprise that he had not been with the world for two days,” and there are “many, many steps ahead” in his recovery. He also said Hamlin’s inquiry about the result of Monday’s game was a sign that “all cylinders are firing within his brain.”

Knight said Hamlin’s rapid improvement “speaks to his age, incredible fitness and the immediate medical response he received” from on-site medical personnel on the field after his heart stopped. Both doctors said it was too early to have the conversation whether Hamlin could return to football field, but Knight said that would be the goal.

The NFL suspended the Bills’ Week 17 game against the Cincinnati Bengals after Hamlin and wide receiver Tee Higgins collided in the first quarter Monday in Cincinnati. Hamlin stood up and then collapsed when his heart stopped, and on-site medical professionals administered CPR and resuscitated him before being taken by ambulance to the hospital. The NFL will not resume the Bills-Bengals game that began Monday, according to the Associated Press.

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Luke Combs announces new album to debut Spring 2023

Luke Combs took to social media to share the first details about his forthcoming fourth album, less than a year after releasing his third studio album, Growin’ Up.  Combs writes in his post: “New album. 18 songs. March 24,” but hasn’t provided any more information about the title, tracklist or cover art for the project.

Combs’ last album Growin’ Up came out in June 2022, and before that, he was releasing a full-length project every 2-3 years. The country superstar has also typically released deluxe versions of his albums; Growin’ Up is the first major-label record from Combs not to be extended with a deluxe version.

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Shania Twain shares the video for her new single ‘Giddy Up!’

Shania Twain is back with new music, releasing her latest single and dance video on Thursday for the song “Giddy Up!”  The video for “Giddy Up!” shows people starting dance parties in a restaurant, a grocery store and other locations. Twain plays an auto mechanic who can’t stop her workers from dancing.  You can take a look at the video – here.

The 57-year-old country music singer said that the tagline “Giddy Up!” is a tribute to her famed “Let’s Go Girls!” catchphrase from her 1999 hit “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!”  Shania said in a statement: “‘Let’s go girls!’ is such a wonderfully uplifting sentiment now, but it’s just something I said during the recording in the studio and I guess that’s the same for ‘Giddy Up! These lines come to me when I’m thinking about how to put a little ‘pep in my step.’ I want people to feel good when they hear the new album. I want to set a celebratory tone and ‘Giddy Up!’ is a way to call to the audience and say ‘Let’s get ready for some fun!’”

“Giddy Up!” appears on Twain’s forthcoming sixth studio album, Queen of Me, which also features the single “Waking Up Dreaming” and 10 other songs. Queen of Me drops on Feb. 3, and Twain will launch a tour in support of the album beginning April 28 in Spokane, Wash.

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Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle announce 2023 co-headlining tour dates

Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle have announced a series of 2023 dates for their co-headlining tour, which will be an extension of their nine-date tour that took place in early to mid-December 2021 where they performed in the California and Arizona area: namely San Diego, Phoenix, Anaheim, San Jose, San Francisco, Sacramento and Thousand Palms.

The two comedians are now set to hit the road in late January for a five-date engagement, starting in Oklahoma City on January 20 followed by shows in St. Louis on January 22, Memphis on January 23 and birmingham on January 25 before closing it out in North Charleston on January 27.

Tickets go on sale on January 6 via Ticketmaster.

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Netflix’s ‘1899’ canceled after one season

“1899” will not receive a second season at Netflix. The news was confirmed by series co-creator Baran bo Odar through a statement shared to his official Instagram. The letter to fans was also signed by Odar’s partner and series co-creator Jantje Freise.

Odar wrote: “With a heavy heart we have to tell you that ‘1899’ will not be renewed. We would have loved to finish this incredible journey with a second and third season as we did with ‘Dark.’ But sometimes things don’t turn out the way you planned. That’s life.  We know this will disappoint millions of fans out there. But we want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts that you were a part of this wonderful adventure. We love you. Never forget.”

“1899” followed a group of immigrants aboard a ship faced with a series of mysterious events, debuting on Netflix on Nov. 17, 2022. In its first week on the streaming service it cracked Netflix’s top 10 chart at the No. 2 slot, behind only s” Season 5.

‘1899’ Canceled By Netflix After One Season

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House adjourns, delaying House Speaker vote after McCarthy loses on 6th ballot

The U.S. House of Representatives voted to adjourn Wednesday night and push a seventh vote for House speaker into a third day, after Rep. Kevin McCarthy lost a sixth vote to lead Republicans as speaker of the House. The House reconvened shortly after 8 p.m. EST, when Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., raised a motion to adjourn until noon Thursday. A 15-minute electronic vote on the motion was taken after a verbal vote produced a rowdy response from both sides of the aisle. The vote to adjourn was 216 in favor and 214 opposed. The vote was split mostly along party lines with Republicans wanting to call it a night, and Democrats voting to stay for the crucial vote.

After meeting behind closed doors Wednesday night with some detractors for nearly three hours, McCarthy told reporters he didn’t believe another vote would deliver a different outcome: “I think it’s probably best that people work through some more. I don’t think a vote tonight does any difference, but I think a vote in the future will.” On Wednesday, McCarthy lost one more vote, a Republican who switched from supporting him to “present.” McCarthy had suggested Tuesday night that he might prevail with a lower majority, and if some of the 19 holdouts were to vote “present,” he could win. n – but it’s unlikely he wanted to lose a vote. Meanwhile, Democrats remained united behind Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, as he remained strong with all 212 Democratic votes on all six ballots.

It is the first time in roughly 100 years it’s taken more than one ballot to vote in a new speaker. The House cannot conduct any business until a new speaker is elected by a majority of members.

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Man charged with attempted murder after intentionally driving off cliff in California with family inside

A Southern California man has been arrested for attempted murder and child abuse after California Highway Patrol officials say he intentionally drove a Tesla over a cliff on the Pacific Coast Highway with his wife and two children in the car.

California Highway Patrol confirmed the driver of the car, 41-year-old Dharmesh A. Patel, of Pasadena, California, will face attempted murder and child abuse charges for the Jan. 2 incident. Patel is being treated for his injuries and will be booked into San Mateo County Jail upon his release from the hospital. According to Patel’s arrest report, the other occupants of the car were a 41-year-old female, a 7-year-old female and a 4-year-old male. All were rescued after they survived the 250 foot drop over the cliff at Devil’s Slide and landed near the shoreline below, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office. The vehicle flipped multiple times and landed mostly on its wheels. Rescuers were able to notice movement in the front seat while scanning the wrecked car from above with binoculars. Helicopters then assisted in rescuing the four people in the car.

The CHP said on Jan. 3 that investigators spent the evening of Jan. 2 interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence from the scene. They shared in a release noting Patel’s arrest: “Based on the evidence collected, investigators developed probable cause to believe this incident was an intentional act. There has been no determination as to what driving mode the Tesla was in; however, that does not appear to be a contributing factor in this incident.”

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Miami Dolphins sign QB Mike Glennon ahead of must-win game against NY Jets

Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel announced Wednesday that they have signed free-agent quarterback Mike Glennon to their practice squad, before their must-win game against the New York Jets in Week 18. Dolphins starter Tua Tagovailoa remains in the concussion protocol after sustaining his second reported concussion of the season in Week 16, and did not play in Week 17.

Second string quarterback Teddy Bridgewater started last week, in a loss to the New England Patriots, where he sustained a finger injury on his throwing hand in the third quarter of the Patriots game. McDaniel told reporters Wednesday in Miami Gardens, Fla., that Bridgewater still is unable to throw a football and he can’t forecast if the veteran quarterback will be available in Week 18, adding that Tagovailoa did not practice Wednesday.

If Tagovailoa and Bridgewater can’t play this week, Thompson is in line to start. When asked about Thompson starting against the Jets, McDaniel said: “If he is the guy, I am very confident because I base my opinions on what I see. And what I see is the guy that can play NFL-caliber football, whose teammates believe in him … And a formula for successful offensive play is a quarterback that’s willing to do whatever it takes and a bunch of teammates that fully believe in what what he has to offer.”

The Dolphins were 8-3 in prime position for the postseason through 12 weeks, but are now on a five-game losing streak, sitting in a three-way tie with the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers for the No. 7 seed in the AFC– the final playoff spot. They can clinch a spot with a win over the Jets and if the Buffalo Bills beat the New England Patriots.

The Dolphins will host the Jets at 1 p.m. EST Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

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The Washington Commanders to start rookie QB Sam Howell against Cowboys

Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera told reporters Wednesday that the team will start rookie quarterback Sam Howell in Week 18 against the Dallas Cowboys. Rivera spoke with coaches and team leaders before making the decision, saying he is “intrigued” to see how Howell will perform against the Cowboys. The Commanders selected Howell in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Howell completed 43 of 69 passes for 547 yards, one score and an interception in three preseason games; he has yet to throw a pass in the regular season.

Veteran quarterback Carson Wentz started for the Commanders through the first six weeks of the season, and Taylor Heinicke then took over as the starter in Week 7 through Week 17. Wentz took the job back in Week 17 and completed 16 of 28 passes for 143 yards and threw three interceptions in a loss to the Cleveland Browns. Rivera said Heinicke will serve as the No. 2 quarterback in Week 18, behind Howell. Wentz is expected to be inactive in Week 18.

The Cowboys can still secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC and home-field advantage in the playoffs and an NFC East title, while the Commanders were eliminated last week from playoff contention. The Commanders (7-8-1) will host the Cowboys (12-4) at 4:25 p.m. EST Sunday at FedExField in Landover, Md.

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