Home

TTR News Center

$27 million settlement for George Floyd's family approved by Minneapolis City Council

• No Comments • National News

Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty ImagesBy EMILY SHAPIRO and WHITNEY LLOYD, ABC News

(MINNEAPOLIS) — A $27 million settlement to the family of George Floyd has been unanimously approved by Minneapolis’ City Council.

Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, died after being arrested on May 25, 2020. Video showed white police officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on the back of Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes while Floyd repeatedly cried out, “I can’t breathe.”

Attorney Ben Crump said in a statement Friday, “George Floyd’s horrific death, witnessed by millions of people around the world, unleashed a deep longing and undeniable demand for justice and change. That the largest pre-trial settlement in a wrongful death case ever would be for the life of a Black man sends a powerful message that Black lives do matter and police brutality against people of color must end.”

The settlement is for the civil lawsuit brought against the city of Minneapolis and the four officers involved with Floyd’s death.

His brother, Rodney Floyd, called the settlement “a necessary step for all of us to begin to get some closure.”

“George’s legacy for those who loved him will always be his spirit of optimism that things can get better, and we hope this agreement does just that — that it makes things a little better in Minneapolis and holds up a light for communities around the country,” Rodney Floyd said in a statement.

George Floyd’s sister, Bridgett Floyd, said she is “pleased that this part of our tragic journey to justice for my brother George is resolved.”

“Our family suffered an irreplaceable loss May 25 when George’s life was senselessly taken by a Minneapolis police officer.,” she said in a statement. “While we will never get our beloved George back, we will continue to work tirelessly to make this world a better, and safer, place for all.”

The settlement will likely ensure that George Floyd’s young daughter, Gianna Floyd, “is taken care of for the rest of her life,” NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson said in a statement. “But the acts of Minneapolis Police Department nearly a year ago will ensure that she will have to do so without the loving embrace of her father.”

Part of the settlement — $500,000 — will be directed to enhance the business district in the area where Floyd died.

In September, the Minneapolis City Council unanimously voted to rename the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue, near the spot of Floyd’s fatal arrest, “George Floyd Square.”

George Floyd’s death sparked protests in Minneapolis and across the nation.

Chauvin’s trial is now underway. This week, a judge reinstated a third-degree murder charge. Chauvin, 44, also has been charged with second-degree unintentional murder and second-degree manslaughter. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

As of Friday afternoon, seven out of 14 jurors had been seated.

Opening arguments in the case are scheduled to begin March 29.

Chauvin’s case is being tried separately from the other three former officers charged in connection with Floyd’s death.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Holly Robinson Peete says Sharon Osbourne called her "ghetto" during her time on 'The Talk'

• No Comments • Entertainment News

ABC/Kelsey McNeal(LOS ANGELES) — Former The Talk co-host Holly Robinson Peete is speaking out about Sharon Osbourne following her heated exchange on The Talk where Osbourne defended Piers Morgan’s incendiary remarks about Meghan Markle.

In a tweet on Friday, Peete declared, “I’m old enough to remember when Sharon complained that I was too ‘ghetto’ for #theTalk…then I was gone,” the 21 Jump Street alum shared, alluding to CBS’ decision in 2011 not renew her and Leah Remini’s contract on the afternoon talk show.

“I bring this up now bc I was mortified watching the disrespectful condescending tone she took w/her co host who remained calm & respectful because…she HAD to,” Peete wrote, adding facepalm and shug emojis.

As previously noted, Osbourne tweeted early Friday morning that she had reflected on her behavior and was sorry.

“I have deep respect & love for the Black community,” she said in part. “To anyone of colour that I offended and/or to anyone that feels confused or let down by what I said, I am truly sorry.”

“I panicked, felt blindsided, got defensive & allowed my fear & horror of being accused of being racist take over,” Osbourne went on. “There are very few things that hurt my heart more than racism so to feel associated with that spun me fast! I am not perfect, I am still learning like the rest of us & will continue to learn, listen and do better.”

Osbourne’s exchange earlier in the week saw her on the defense. While supporting Morgan, Sharon yelled at co-host Sheryl Underwood, “Educate me! Tell me what [Piers] said that was racist!”

Underwood replied that Morgan’s negative comments about Markle had “the implication” of being racist.

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

Before success, Kelsea Ballerini got a tattoo to remind her to stay true to herself

• No Comments • Country Music News

ABCKelsea Ballerini is on the cover of Shape magazine this month, reflecting on a healthy eating balance, her Dry January and more in a corresponding interview.

The slower pace of 2020 was a huge adjustment for the singer, whose self-titled third album came out early on in the COVID-19 pandemic. In the year since, she’s been “baby stepping my way into” a routine and prioritizing self-care. 

“Get outside for 30 minutes a day. Sit on the porch. Take the dog for a walk. I’m building that into my life, and it’s not boring at all,” Kelsea explains. “It’s really helping me feel that ownership of my life that I need.”

But while Kelsea’s continuing to learn how to live a balanced life, she’s prioritized being true to herself since the beginning. For example, Kelsea shares a story about the day before her first-ever photo shoot, when her first single, “Love Me Like You Mean It,” was just beginning its journey up the charts. She says she “panicked” when she realized that she had always wanted a tattoo, but hadn’t gotten one yet.

“And I was like, ‘What if this single works and people start to follow me?’ Then all of the sudden, I get a tattoo. People will be like, ‘She’s going off the deep end,’” Kelsea recalls. “So I went to the tattoo parlor the day before that shoot and got a tattoo.”

That tattoo is of the words “how sweet the sound.”

“It was just this youthfully innocent way of saying, ‘I’ve got to be who I am from the beginning of all this,’” Kelsea explains.

That approach has certainly worked for Kelsea: Her single, “hole in the bottle,” recently hit number-one on country radio.


By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

You can't make-up this stuff: Benedict Cumberbatch gives a "straight no" on playing this 'Star Wars' character

• No Comments • Entertainment News

Dave J Hogan/Getty Images for Entone(LONDON) — Fans have been asking for it until they’re blue in the face, but the latter is exactly why Benedict Cumberbatch won’t be playing Star Wars baddie Grand Admiral Thrawn.

For the uninitiated, in the Star Wars Expanded Universe books, he’s the guy who took over the Empire after the death of Emperor Palpatine in Return of the Jedi. He was seen in Star Wars: Rebels and referenced in the second season of The Mandalorian, likely to be seen in its upcoming Rosario Dawson-led spin-off, Ahsoka. 

Thrawn also happens to be blue. And that’s why the Doctor Strange star says no. 

Truthfully, Cumberbatch never even heard of the character until Collider brought up the fan-favorite casting, in fact — but he tells the site the blue skin alone would be reason to decline. 

“That’s a straight no from me, right now,” the actor says. “There’s no way I want to be turned blue…I have precious time with my children and I think sitting in a makeup chair and being painted blue, and the amount of time it would take to do that and then take it off at the end of the day might just… it’s not the right time in my life for that.”

So Cumberbatch is out. Jason Isaacs, call your agent.

Star Wars Rebels: “Thrawn’s Ruthlessness” on Disney Video

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

“Knowing You”: Kenny Chesney brings an emotional landscape to life in his vibrant new video

• No Comments • Country Music News

Allister AnnKenny Chesney filmed his music video for his newest song, “Knowing You,” against the vivid and contrasting backdrops of chilly New England and colorful St. Croix, one of the Virgin Islands.

That contrast between cool and warm highlights the emotions at play in the song, from remembering the happy days of a relationship to acknowledging that that relationship is now long gone.

“One of the things I love about this video is the way you can feel the settings,” says Kenny. “And each location…was selected because it feels the way these emotions actually feel.”

The singer pairs his song with a reflective voiceover, in which he meditates on the feelings of loving someone deeply, and then losing them.

“As I’ve said over and over lately, the people who come into your life and then are gone, it’s for any number of reasons,” the singer says. “But beyond missing them, you have the opportunity to recognize what they brought to your life and be thankful.”

“Knowing You” is the fourth single off of Kenny’s Here and Now album. The title track of that project became his 31st number-one hit.

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.