Latest news with #Argument
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Robinson Grand Performing Art Center hosts 8th Born and Bred Concert Series
CLARKSBURG, (WBOY) — The Robinson Grand hosted the 8th Born and Bred Concert Series Friday night, featuring the Argument and Last Year's Model. Created to spotlight homegrown talent, Born & Bred offers local artists a professional platform to showcase original work. The series continues to expand, now representing over 1,000 musicians from across the state striving to reach broader audiences and national stages. 'We started making music again a few years ago, even though we broke up in 2006, but we were sending it around because everyone has left the area except for our base player. So, we had no designs to do a reunion show, but Born & Bred and Robinson Grand approached us, and man, we're so glad they did. We're so grateful to have another chance to perform and relive the old days,' Singer and Songwriter of the Argument Scott Simons said. New 'Nine Hives' meadery to open its doors in Harrison County The Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center is proud to present what is being billed as 'the ultimate Journey Tribute Experience,' featuring a live performance by Separate Ways The Band on Friday, May 30, at 7:30 p.m. This event promises an evening of high-energy entertainment, celebrating the iconic music of Journey in a dynamic tribute performance. 'People don't realize, like West Virginia is being considered a hot spot for music so it's been really cool for us to be there and highlight all that, and cover it, and get these bands exposure they need,' the Lead Singer of Last Year's Model and Co-Owner of Born & Bred Brendan Gallagher said. Also, audiences can enjoy even more local talent every Monday at 4 p.m. during Music Mondays on WBOY's 304 Today, where host Lauren Winans highlights featured artists from throughout the Mountain State. Musicians interested in being featured on the program are encouraged to send their contact information to news@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Voice of America
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Voice of America
Azerbaijan detains two more journalists as watchdogs denounce crackdown
Azerbaijani authorities detained two more journalists this week, bringing the number held in the past year to nearly two dozen. Police on Wednesday arrested Shamshad Agha, of the news website Argument, and Shahnaz Beylargizi of Toplum TV. A court in the capital, Baku, on Thursday ordered the journalists to be held in pretrial detention for two months and one day, and three months and 15 days respectively, according to their lawyers. The journalists are charged with smuggling — a charge used in several other cases since November 2023, as authorities detained at least 23 journalists. Many of those currently detained had worked for the independent outlets Abzas Media and Meydan TV. All the journalists being investigated since November 2023 have denied wrongdoing, and media watchdogs say they believe the cases are designed to silence media. The Committee to Protect Journalists, or CPJ, said that Agha's arrest 'underscores a grim intent by Azerbaijani authorities to silence and further restrict the country's small and embattled independent media community.' 'Azerbaijan's government should immediately reverse its unprecedented media crackdown and release Agha along with all other unjustly jailed journalists,' said a statement from CPJ's Gulnoza Said. Bashir Suleymanli, who is head of the Baku-based legal assistance group known as the Institute of Civil Rights, believes that the arrests are an attempt by authorities to stifle free speech. 'It seems that the process will continue until the complete elimination of independent journalism in the country,' he told VOA. Lawmaker Bahruz Maharramov, however, says the arrests are not a press freedom issue. 'Law enforcement agencies have taken relevant measures based on facts and irrefutable evidence, the authenticity of which is beyond doubt,' he told VOA. 'Of course, since such media organizations are formed more as instruments of influence of the West, the legal and judicial measures taken against them are observed with inadequate reactions from the West.' Based in Azerbaijan, human rights activist Samir Kazimli says that independent media and news outlets critical of the government are undergoing a difficult period. "If this policy of repression does not stop, independent media in Azerbaijan may be completely destroyed,' he told VOA. Kazimli said that the international community, including rights groups, politicians and U.S. and European officials 'must take steps using urgent and effective mechanisms to stop the Azerbaijani authorities' attacks on civil society and independent media.' One of the journalists detained this week had recently spoken out about concerns for the future of independent media in Azerbaijan. "The lives of all independent journalists are in danger," Agha told VOA in January. The editor of Argument, a news website covering democracy, corruption and human rights, said he has been banned from leaving the country since July. The research organization Freedom House describes Azerbaijan as an 'authoritarian regime' and states that authorities have 'carried out an extensive crackdown on civil liberties in recent years.' Elshan Hasanov of the Political Prisoners Monitoring Center told VOA that the total number of detainees documented by the Azeri nonprofit is 331. Azerbaijani authorities reject criticism on detainees as biased. Parliamentarian Maharramov told VOA that media in the country are free and that conditions for providing everyone with information, including diversity of opinion and freedom of action in the media sector as a whole, are fully ensured. Azerbaijan is among the worst jailers of journalists in the world, according to data by the CPJ. The country ranks 164 out of 180 on the Press Freedom Index, where 1 shows the best environment for media. This story originated in VOA's Azeri Service.
