Latest news with #Shanice
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Changes made at Medical Examiner's Office following News 8 report, more changes proposed
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — News 8 is following up on an investigation we brought you in April regarding a family navigating an emotional journey after discovering a loved one they were informed had died — was actually living out of state. BACKGROUND: Shanita Hopkins described the pure shock of discovering her sister, Shanice Crews, had been living in Detroit several months after Rochester Police and the Medical Examiner's Office declared her dead last year. This was three years after Shanice had gone missing — leaving her two young children with her family and cutting off all communication. While Shanita told News 8 she's really focused on caring for her sister's children, she's concerned others may have similar and unusual situations. 'I honestly feel like they wanted to close a missing persons case,' Shanita Hopkins said. 'That's how I always felt, that's how I still feel.' When News 8 first broke this story in April, Shanita Hopkins explained the confusion and emotional toll of learning her half-sister, Shanice, was found dead — with a cause determined to be an overdose. That was February 2024, then fast forward months later, long after a funeral and memorials were held, a random message was sent to Shanita on Facebook from a stranger in Detroit. It had a photo of Shanice from that very morning. This happened in November of 2024. One point of emotional turmoil: The family had necklaces made with ashes of their mother mixed with the person presumed to be Shanice. Determined to get to the bottom of what happened, a DNA test proved it was not a match, and the person who died was not Shanice. Shanita told News 8 she was in talks with a lawyer but they may have missed any window to pursue action. She noted that Shanice's father was also seeking counsel. 'Me and Mark hasn't really been talking for a while after some stuff had happened, so we haven't really talked at all like I just seen him on the news taking credit for everything that I did, and I got upset about it,' Shanita said. News 8 has attempted to speak with the Medical Examiner and the County Executive Adam Bello specifically about this story for weeks. News 8's did confirm with a County spokesperson: The County is no longer using the dental consultant used in this case and are contracting with a different dentist. There is also a new policy in place where DNA testing is being done in addition to dental records. During the State of the County Address Wednesday afternoon, the County Executive addressed the challenges at the Medical Examiner's Office, noting there are currently three full time pathologists responsible for handling around 4,000 cases each year. New action is also aiming to push the Medical Examiner's Office to state accreditation: 'This initiative, funded through the County's Opioid Settlement dollars would increase salaries for both current and budgeted positions, create new forensic pathology roles and expand contracts with outside forensic pathology contractors,' County Executive Bello said. News 8's Isabel Garcia: Knowing that there are some changes being made at the County level as to how remains are identified, how does that make you feel? Shanita Hopkins: It should already been in place. I feel like we're not the first family. And that's not really even a feeling. I know we're not the first family that this has happened to. It's just this is the first family that has they found out that their sister was alive. Shanita and her other sister, who now has full custody of her niece, Shanice's daughter have since thrown out the necklaces. Both are hopeful the family of the woman who was found deceased have the opportunity for closure as well. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Obama 'the musical' with White House sex scenes goes viral for all the wrong reasons
44: The Musical, a comedic take on President Barack Obama 's tenure in the White House, has gone viral on social media for a cringeworthy sex scene that has social media users floored. An attendee captured the scandalous scene, sharing the footage to TikTok. The show depicted Michelle Obama, played by Broadway star and recording artists Shanice, and Barack, played by former contestant on The Voice, TJ Wilkins, singing about making 'White House love.' Michelle's character wore a long, white silk robe as the two held hands and sang about their desire to make love in the White House. As the two sing to one another, Joe Biden, played by actor Chad Doreck, interrupts and hilariously attempts to join in for a ménage à trois as the Obamas shoo him away. The video made the rounds on social media, with many trolling the scene in the comments. 'Idk why but I blame Tyler Perry,' one user joked. 'Y'all laughing but this is technically the same thing as hamilton [crying emoji],' another pointed out. 'Yall blaming everyone except the real culprit— LIN MANUEL MIRANDA,' a third added. 'Yea... The Obamas are def suing,' a fourth wrote. However, some liked the concept and found the scene funny, with one writing, 'I see ppl hating but this show is phenomenal!' 'I can't understand why all the comments about this (not just this video, but in general) talk about it like it serious and not a comedy,' another agreed. The soundtrack from the musical has also generated traction on TikTok, with the opening track, MFO, becoming a trending sound on the platform. The trending sound already has over 300 videos, with users on TikTok expressing mixed emotions about 44. 'Just went down a deep dive and found out this musical is satire. Thank god,' one user posted. 'It's Barack-a-laka-a for me,' another shared. Others also posted how they'd choreograph the song, while some trolled the lyric that called the former president, 'Barack-a-laka-a.' The show features outlandish scenes such as a rap battle between Ted Cruz and Mitch McConnell, a strip tease starring Sarah Palin, and Joe Biden ripping his shirt off to reveal his arms The show is a satirical retelling of Obama's first term in office, told through Joe Biden's eyes. 44 is branded as the 'unOFFICIAL, unSANCTIONED OBAMA MUSICAL.' The show's website describes the musical as, 'the story of Obama as Joe Biden kinda sorta remembers it...' Eli Bauman, the show's writer, director, composer, and producer, wrote the musical in 2016, and it premiered at the Bourbon Room Hollywood in 2022. Bauman also worked as a campaign organizer for Obama's first presidential run and previously wrote for television before jumping into musicals. The writer said in an interview with WTTW that 44, 'does not adhere particularly to history or reality.' The show certainly strays from historical accuracy with outlandish scenes featuring a rap battle between Ted Cruz and Mitch McConnell, a strip tease starring Sarah Palin, and Joe Biden ripping his shirt off to reveal his arms. 44 received mixed reviews with the Los Angeles Times praising the leads' performances, but noting, 'It was nearly three hours with opening night delays before I emerged from my seat for a musical that should be half that length.' 'The comedy can't help but grow stale left out so long.' However, the Chicago Tribune raved about 44, writing, 'Finding the sweet spot between affection and satire is far from easy in these kinds of show and Bauman somehow threads that needle, not the least because he has strong comedic material, skilled pacing and a notably mature, 11-member cast who commit to the truth of what they are doing and then sell it to the rafters.' The show is running at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Los Angeles until June 22 and then heads to Chicago at the Studebaker Theater from August 23 to September 21.
News18
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
This Mother's Day, Three Moms Share How They're Navigating Parenting in the Age of Reels
Last Updated: In a world of fast scrolls and viral trends, modern moms are choosing mindfulness, setting boundaries, and leading by example to raise grounded children. Today's parents are raising children in a world flooded with reels, stories, and endless scrolls — a reality that brings new challenges and responsibilities. On Mother's Day, creators and moms share how they're navigating parenting in the reel age: balancing technology while nurturing real-world values. 'Reels aren't evil, but raising real kids in a reel world means staying a step ahead — emotionally, mentally, and intentionally," says content creator and mom Shivani Kapila. She believes modern parenting isn't just about limiting screen time — it's about building screen sense. 'What we often forget is that these 30-second dopamine bursts directly impact a child's developing brain, especially the prefrontal cortex, which controls attention and decision-making," she explains. Instead of fearing technology, Shivani practices 'media mentorship" — co-watching, co-experiencing, and co-explaining content with her daughter. 'In a world full of fast scrolls, I'm trying to raise a child who can pause, reflect, and choose," she says. 'Real parenting today isn't about rejecting technology — it's about guiding little minds through it, one mindful reel at a time." Ambika Agarwal, another mom and creator, shares how she approaches the emotional impact of social media on kids, 'In a world where every moment is filtered for perfection, it's impossible to shield our kids from the constant pull of screens," she says. Shanice Shrestha, content creator and mother, emphasizes how intentional parenting can make a difference, especially in a hyper-connected world. 'When we were growing up, screens were limited to television, but today they are everywhere — and naturally, our children see us using them too," she shares. To tackle this, Shanice and her family have a simple rule: if their kids catch them scrolling, they put the phone down immediately. 'Addiction to reels can cause brain rot in adults — imagine how much damage it can do to kids," she says. As a creator, she also draws a firm boundary when it comes to featuring her children, 'Whenever our kids appear in our reels, we only capture natural moments. We never ask them to act for views," she affirms. For Shanice, the goal is simple: balance both roles thoughtfully and set healthy, consistent boundaries. This Mother's Day, these voices remind us that parenting today isn't about shielding children from technology — it's about teaching them to live consciously alongside it. With mindful media mentorship, emotional grounding, and clear boundaries, modern moms are helping shape a generation that knows how to navigate the reel world without losing touch with the real one.
Los Angeles Times
01-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Review: ‘44,' a musical satire about Barack Obama by one of his campaign insiders, cuts up at the Kirk Douglas
'44 the Musical,' an affectionate spoof of the Barack Obama White House years, had its premiere at the Bourbon Room Hollywood in 2022. The show has returned to L.A. for a run at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, but don't let the higher profile theatrical address fool you: This fringe-style show still wants theatergoers to metaphorically get their drink on. Audience members are encouraged to make some noise as they fall into the R&B groove of a musical overflowing with captivating voices. Tops among them is T.J. Wilkins, who lends Barack Obama a smoky timbre as seductive as the patented sounds of Teddy Pendergrass and Marvin Gaye. Shanice (one name will do for this singing talent) gives Michelle Obama the feisty warmth of a Faith Evans singing her truth. Rest assured Shanice's Michelle will tell Barack how she feels — without worrying in the least whether he can handle her straight talk. Chad Doreck plays Joe Biden, the show's narrator, whose 'hazy' version of events give the show's creator, Eli Bauman, a TV writer who worked on Obama's campaign, a vehicle for getting into the nation's first Black president's private business. (If someone doesn't feel comfortable with a white artist imagining Barack and Michelle's sexy talk after hours at the White House, you can put the blame on poor Joe.) Doreck's portrayal begins with a shuffling gait, sending up in 'Saturday Night Live'-style Biden's geriatric decline. Trim and perversely puppyish, the character doesn't let age keep him down for long. When the music erupts, he's the first to show off his moves, regardless of whether he's even welcome in the scene. The show's baddies — Larry Cedar's pony-tailed good ol' boy Mitch McConnell, Michael Uribes' snarling Ted Cruz, Jane Papageorge's pole-dancing Sarah Palin and Jeff Sumner's parasol-twirling Lindsey Graham — have banded together to thwart Obama's presidency at every turn. Herman Cain (Dino Shorté) is conscripted into WHAM (White, Heterosexual, Affluent Men) as the token Black representative of this group of right-wing loonies. He can't figure out what he's doing there either, but he galvanizes the show with a version of Prince's 'Purple Rain' retitled 'Herman Cain' and ultimately proves that he's nobody's puppet. The music, under the lively music direction of Anthony 'Brew' Brewster, is enjoyably derivative. Bauman's score made me imagine a musical theater software program that would take R&B hits and recombine them into new tunes. The effect is like karaoke only with a live band, original material and professionals who can really sing, such as Summer Nicole Greer, who serves as the Voice of the People. Perhaps the most memorable number is the one with an unprintable title that invites the audience to flip off Ted Cruz. There's an ephemerality to the theatrical experience. The jokey, gleefully profane lyrics are stimulating in the moment but then quickly forgotten, like novelty songs in a clever college cabaret. Even Bauman's funniest musical bits get swallowed in the show's frothy, frolicsome relentlessness. Sometimes the humor is a little cringey. I'm the last person to defend Sarah Palin, but the misogyny of the stripper caricature seemed excessive. So too was the grudge-bearing, Obama-frenemy cartoon of Hillary Clinton (Jenna Pastuszek). Everybody is a target, it's true, but some parodies land better than others. The real problem of '44 the Musical,' though, is its overstretched nature. In his writing, composing and staging, Bauman doesn't know when enough is enough. The show is a species of pub theater, but somewhere along the way it seems to have convinced itself that it could be the next 'Hamilton.' The sprightly production design is set up for rapid transit, but the traffic on stage isn't in any hurry. It was nearly three hours with opening night delays before I emerged from my seat for a musical that should be half that length. The comedy can't help but grow stale left out so long. The hardworking ensemble never quits. Doreck's Joe, the show's secret weapon, slingshots across the stage. But exhilaration runs neck and neck with exhaustion. Wilkins' Barack gives '44' a soul. Shanice's Michelle gives the musical a spine. Cedar's Mitch gives the story a wily villain with freaky dance moves. But what a strange, tumultuous, unjoyful moment it is to encounter this winking recap of our 44th president's political journey. Nostalgia for a president whose greatest sins were expanding healthcare access and wearing a tan suit is a luxury we can ill afford at the moment.
