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Meghan Markle is cold calling Americans to encourage them to vote

• No Comments • Entertainment News

ABC News/Frame Grab via Getty Image(LOS ANGELES) — Imagine receiving a call from an unknown number and find yourself discussin the November 3 election with none other than Meghan Markle.  According to her pal Gloria Steinem, that’s exactly how the Duchess of Sussex spent her time.

Steinem says that Markle, 39, employed her bold new tactic to nudge more people to the polls, reports Access Hollywood.  

“Meg is herself, smart, authentic, funny, political,” the political activist told Access upon remarking that the Suits alum is more than a “princess” when explaining how the stereotype does Markle a disservice.

“She came home to vote,” continued Steinem, referencing her and Prince Harry’s exit from England after withdrawing from the Royal Family.  

As for how Markle started phoning potential voters, the 86-year-old journalist says it all started during a home visit. 

“The first thing we did, and why she came to see me was we sat at the dining room table here, where I am right now, and cold-called voters,” Steinem remarked during the socially distanced Sunday interview, adding that Markle greeted everyone on the phone with “Hi, I’m Meg” and followed up with, “Are you going to vote?” 

“That was her initiative,” praised Steinhem.  

It should be noted that Markle will be the first member of the Royal Family to vote in an American election, as the Duchess of Sussex told Marie Claire last month, “I know what it’s like to have a voice, and also what it’s like to feel voiceless.”

As for why she’s voting, Markle continued, “I also know that so many men and women have put their lives on the line for us to be heard. And that opportunity, that fundamental right, is in our ability to exercise our right to vote and to make all of our voices heard.”

By Megan Stone
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

6 Louisville officers under internal investigation over Breonna Taylor's death

• No Comments • National News

Breonna Taylor FamilyBY: IVAN PEREIRA AND STEPHANIE WASH, ABC NEWS

(NEW YORK)— Six Louisville Metro Police officers are under an internal investigation into their actions related to the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor, a police spokesman told ABC News.

The department’s Professional Standards Unit has begun its probe into Det. Myles Cosgrove and Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, who fired their weapons into Taylor’s apartment on March 13; Det. Joshua Jaynes, who sought the search warrant for her apartment; and Det. Tony James, Det. Michael Campbell and Det. Michael Nobles, according to spokesman Sgt. Lamont Washington.

Internal investigators will see if the officers violated any police policies during the incident, the spokesman said. Disciplinary action could include written reprimand and extend all the way up to termination, according to Washington.

Taylor, 26, and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, were sleeping inside their Louisville apartment when three plainclothes officers — Mattingly, Cosgrove and Det. Brett Hankison — attempted to execute a “no-knock” search warrant. The officers were investigating a suspected drug operation linked to Taylor’s ex-boyfriend.

Walker said he received no response from the other side of the door when he called out after the officers rammed the door.

Walker took his licensed firearm and shot at the door, and the officers returned fire, striking Taylor eight times and killing her in her sleep, according to investigators. No drugs or drug money were found in the apartment, investigators said.

Taylor’s death has sparked nationwide protests against police violence targeting minorities and strong calls for the officers to be charged.

The officers were placed on administrative duty following the incident, and Hankison was fired. The incident is currently under investigation by state Attorney General Daniel Cameron.

Cameron has not given a timetable for when he will reveal the findings of the investigation, but the police are already preparing for it.

Louisville Metro Police Chief Robert J. Schroeder issued a state of emergency for his department Monday in anticipation of an update on the state investigation.

In two memos sent to officers, Schroeder said the department will be increasing its staffing ahead of Cameron’s pending announcement.

All requests by officers for time off and vacation will be canceled, according to the memo.

“To ensure we have the appropriate level of staffing to provide for public safety services and our policing functions, effective immediately the LMPD will operate under the emergency staffing and reporting guidelines,” Schroeder wrote in his memo.

On Sept. 15, the city of Louisville reached a $12 million settlement with Taylor’s family, who filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the police. The settlement included a commitment by the city to institute police reforms.

ABC News’ Josh Hoyos contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Gabrielle Union to host an all-Black cast reading of 'Friends' starring Sterling K. Brown, Uzo Aduba and more

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Frazer Harrison/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) — Gabrielle Union is helping to reimagine the popular sitcom Friends for a more diverse generation.

On Monday it was announced that Union will host an all-Black cast reading of Friends featuring Sterling K. Brown, Ryan Bathe, Uzo Aduba, Aisha Hinds, Kendrick Sampson, and Jeremy Pope. The virtual event will take place on Tuesday, September 22 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET at Zoom Where It Happens.

Directed by Salli Richardson-Whitfield, the table read will create awareness for When We All Vote, a non-partisan voter registration organization. It comes on the heels of the popular Golden Girls all-Black table read on September 8, which starred Regina King, Tracee Ellis Ross, Alfre Woodard, and Sanaa Lathan.

It has not yet been revealed which actor will play which cast member or the episode the group will be reading.

This is not the first time an all-Black Friends casting has been done. In 2017, Jay-Z reimagined an all-Black Friends cast in his “Moonlight” music video which starred Jerrod Carmichael, Issa Rae, Tiffany Haddish, Tessa Thompson, LaKeith Stanfield and Lil Rel Howery. Instead of using the show’s memorable theme song, The Rembrandt’s “I’ll Be There For You,” Jay-Z used Whodini’s classic 1984 track “Friends.”

To RSVP and watch the reading, go to mobilize.us.

By Candice Williams
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Emmy ratings sink to all-time low

• No Comments • Entertainment News

ABC(LOS ANGELES) — The 72nd Annual Emmy Awards pulled off a virtual ceremony pretty much without a hitch last night, but it failed to bring in the ratings.

According to Deadline, viewership fell to an all-time low, with 6.1 million viewers and a 1.2 rating among adults 18-49 in time adjusted results. This year’s Emmys were down 25 percent in the key demo and 12 percent in total audience from last year’s host-less Emmys.

Last year was the first time the Emmys ever went below 7 million viewers, and marked a historic low for the awards show.

Sunday night’s ceremony was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel. Schitt’s Creek swept all the major comedy categories and HBO’s Succession won Best Drama.

By Andrea Tuccillo
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Thomas Rhett on ACM Entertainer of the Year win: "It made me feel like I’m not the new guy anymore"

• No Comments • Country Music News

John Shearer/ACMA2020/Getty Images for ACMFor Thomas Rhett, co-winning Entertainer of the Year at the 2020 ACM Awards offers a sense of validation.

The “Life Changes” singer tied with Carrie Underwood as the winner of the top prize during the ceremony last week, marking his first win in the category and her third. 

Reflecting on the career accomplishment, Thomas calls it a bucket list moment. 

“It truly has been a dream of mine since day one. There’s countless times where my manager, Virginia, has asked me, ‘What are your goals for the next five years?  What are your goals for the next ten years?’  And winning Entertainer of the Year was definitely #1 on the list,” he explains.

“Getting to hear an idol of mine, Keith Urban, mention my name along with Carrie Underwood, it made me feel like I’m not the new guy anymore, if that makes any sense,” he continues. 

The father of three goes on to say that he’s been a fan of Carrie’s since he was a teenager and that winning an “iconic” award alongside her feels like a rite of passage.

He also credits his band and crew for their efforts that contributed to the win.

“I think this was a big pat on the back for just the amount of hours we’ve put into rehearsing and improvising and making our show as best as it could possibly be,” he expresses. “And this is such a dream, I don’t know how to put it into words.”  

By Cillea Houghton 
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.