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US expected to use Dallas convention center to house up to 3,000 male migrant teens

• No Comments • National News

WFAA-TVBY: KATHERINE FAULDERS AND LUKE BARR, ABC NEWS

(DALLAS) — The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas is expected to be used to house up to 3,000 immigrant male teenagers coming across the U.S.-Mexico border for up to 90 days, according to sources briefed on the plans and a memo obtained by ABC News.

“This center will be a temporary shelter for unaccompanied children (Males 15-17 [years of age]) that have crossed into the US from the border in the Rio Grande Valley area,” the internal memo said.

The memo was sent to members of the Dallas City Council by the Dallas Office of Emergency Management.

The memo states the contract is in the process of being finalized and FEMA and the United States Department of Health and Human Services want to begin the operation as soon as this week.

The federal agencies conducted walk-throughs of the facility over the weekend, according to the notification.

“FEMA/HHS intends to operate a federally supported decompression shelter a KBHCC for up to 90 days,” the notification said.

The memo said the 3,000 teens will be housed “while plans for more permanent sheltering or connection to sponsor families can be arranged.”

A spokesperson for FEMA, which was recently brought in to help with the overcrowding at the border, told ABC News that the agency is doing everything they can to help.

“FEMA is actively engaged with HHS to quickly expand capacity for safe and appropriate shelter, and to provide food, water and basic medical care,” the spokesperson told ABC News.

T.C. Broadnax, the Dallas city manager, told ABC News in a statement that they are committed to working with the federal government to accommodate the request.

“Collective action is necessary and we will do our best to support this humanitarian effort. Moving forward all questions should be directed to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,” he said in his statement.

As of this weekend, there are 4,276 children in U.S. Customs and Border Patrol custody, sources told ABC News, pointing out that it seems to be a record number.

ABC News’ Ivan Pereira contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

'In the Heights' debuts two trailers; Lin-Manuel Miranda is holding out "hope" for a big-screen event

• No Comments • Entertainment News

Warner Bros. Pictures(NEW YORK) — Before he shot to superstardom with Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda won a Tony Award for his musical In the Heights. Warner Bros. just debuted a pair of trailers for the film version, which was directed by Jon M. Chu. 

Like the Broadway production, the musical is a celebration of the American dream, viewed from a Latino perspective. The story centers on a Washington Heights, New York bodega owner who dreams of returning to his family’s native Dominican Republic. 

The film’s opening had been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was announced earlier this year that it would be part of Warner Bros. same-day theatrical/HBO Max release slate. For his part, Miranda told ABC Audio he’d love people to see it on the big screen, but, as he demonstrated with the Disney+ release of a staged version of Hamilton, it’s a win for him just for it to be seen.

“Well, listen, my goal is for as many people to see In the Heights as possible,” Lin-Manuel explains. “We were able to move Hamilton up a year and a half [to Disney+] because we we pushed In the Heights a year later. And our hope is still that as many people — it’s a big-screen movie, and our hope is still as many people, see it on the big screen as possible — and that we are in a position to do so safely, above all.”  

Miranda just may get his wish, as theaters in his native New York City recently re-opened. 

In the Heights‘ cast includes Hamilton‘s Anthony Ramos, Brooklyn Nine-Nine vet Stephanie Beatriz, Dascha Polanco from Orange Is the New Black, and Jimmy Smits.

Disney + is owned by Disney, parent company of ABC News.

By Stephen Iervolino
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley & Jon Pardi to perform at Pete Sake's Cancer Respite Foundation event

• No Comments • Country Music News

For Pete’s Sake Cancer Respite FoundationDarius Rucker, Dierks Bentley and Jon Pardi have joined the lineup for the For Pete’s Sake Cancer Respite Foundation virtual fundraiser. 

The three stars will perform during the event, which raises money for the organization that supports adults who have cancer and their families. Other participating artists include Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Fran Drescher, along with Broadway stars Mandy Gonzalez, Hugh Panaro and more. 

The For Pete’s Sake Cancer Respite Foundation offers patients and their families a travel respite program and Staycation respite packages, among other resources. 

The event will also share the stories of cancer patients, highlighting their resiliency and how they overcame adversity. It streams on March 25 at 7 p.m. ET. 

By Cillea Houghton 
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Reba McEntire honors late mother with "You Never Gave Up on Me" video

• No Comments • Country Music News

ABCIn honor of the one-year anniversary of her mother Jacqueline McEntire‘s passing, Reba McEntire is paying tribute to her with the video for “You Never Gave Up on Me.” 

The video opens with black-and-white footage of Reba’s tearful acceptance speech at the 1984 CMA Awards, where she dedicated the award for Female Vocalist of the Year to her mother.

Old family photographs, Reba singing alongside her mom and sisters, and a sweet shot of the country icon resting her head on her mother’s lap as she reads to her are among the other clips that scroll by as Reba sings, “I never gave up, ’cause you never gave up on me.”   

The video’s ending mirrors that of the beginning, with a vintage interview clip of Reba quoting her mom telling her “well, you did good,” to which the singer corrected her saying, “we did good.”

“One year ago yesterday, Mama went to heaven. I know she’s still not giving up on me. Thank you Mama,” Reba writes on Instagram.

Jacqueline passed away of cancer on March 14, 2020 at the age of 93. 

“You Never Gave Up on Me” is featured on Reba’s 2019 album, Stronger Than the Truth.

By Cillea Houghton 
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Trisha Yearwood unveils Williams-Sonoma collection inspired by her late mother

• No Comments • Country Music News

Houghton Mifflin HarcourtTrisha Yearwood‘s cooking empire is expanding with a new line at Williams-Sonoma, the Trisha Yearwood Gwendolyn Dinnerware Collection, named in honor of her late mother.

Growing up in Georgia, Trisha’s mom, Gwen, balanced three jobs as a third grade teacher, wedding planner and cake decorator. After Gwen passed in 2011, Trisha and her sister, Beth Bernard, found their mother’s old drawings that she used to sketch her original cake designs that are now featured on items in the collection including dinner plates, severing platters, mugs and more, along with a stamp of Gwen’s signature.  

“I feel like my mom, Gwen, right now is smiling because they’re so beautiful. They’re elegant and they’re classy, just like her,” Trisha shared in a Facebook video, excitedly opening boxes of items in the collection for the first time. 

The Williams-Sonoma line is a precursor to the singer’s new cookbook, Trisha’s Kitchen: Easy Comfort Food for Friends and Family, which will be released on September 28.

By Cillea Houghton 
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.