Latest news with #StandUp
New York Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Wayne Lewis, Atlantic Starr singer and founder, dead at 68
Wayne Lewis, a singer and founding member of the R&B band Atlantic Starr, has died. He was 68. The group shared the news of Lewis' death in a statement on Facebook Friday. 'It's with great sadness we have to post the passing of Wayne Lewis on June 5, 2025 please keep the family in your prayers and respect there privacy #waynelewis #restinpeace #flyhigh Sunrise 4/13/1957 Sunset 6/5/2025 #restinpeaceWayne,' the band wrote. Advertisement 9 Wayne Lewis of Atlantic Starr performs in Mableton, Georgia in July 2023. Getty Images A cause of death was not revealed. Fans paid tribute to the legendary singer in the comments section of the post. Advertisement 'Nooooo I am devastated seeing this. My condolences to all family and friends,' one fan wrote. 9 Wayne Lewis performs at the Park West Theater in Chicago in 1983. Getty Images 9 David Lewis, Jonathan Lewis, John Phillips, Wayne Lewis and Sharon Bryant of Atlantic Starr pose for a group portrait in 1983. Ron Wolfson/Michael'A great songwriter. Atlantic Starr was better once he became leader. He will be missed,' another fan said. Advertisement Someone else commented, 'RIP BROTHER…The voice of a generation!!!!My condolences to the family.' 'I had the pleasure of meeting him last September, what an amazing soul. Rest in peace ,' said a fourth fan. 9 Wayne Lewis performs onstage during An Evening Of Funk at Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre in 2021. Getty Images Atlantic Starr was founded in White Plains, New York in 1976 by Lewis, his brothers David and Jonathan, and drummer Porter Carroll Jr., bassist Clifford Archer and percussionist-flutist Joseph Phillip. Advertisement Other early members included lead singer Sharon Bryant, trumpeter William Sudderth III, and saxophonist Damon Rentie. Bryant and Rentie were later replaced by Barbara Weathers and Koran Daniels, respectively. 9 David Lewis, Barbara Weathers and Wayne Lewis perform in Chicago in 1987. Getty Images 9 Wayne Lewis performs in Chicago in 1986. Getty Images 9 The members of Atlantic Starr at their Gold Record presentation in 1985. Getty Images The group released their self-titled debut album in 1978 with hits including 'Stand Up,' 'Keep It Comin,'' '(I'll Never Miss) The Love I Never Had' and 'With Your Love I Come Alive.' Over the next 15 years, Atlantic Starr put out more popular songs including 'Circles,' 'Secret Lovers,' 'Silver Shadow,' 'Masterpiece' and 'Always,' which peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Hot Black Singles charts, becoming the band's only number one song. 9 L'john Epps, Melissa Pierce, and Wayne Lewis of Atlantic Starr perform in Mableton, Georgia in Aug. 2021. Getty Images The group was initially signed to A&M before moving over to Warner Bros. Records. After their relationship with Warner Bros. dissolved in the early 1990s, they began working with multiple record labels including Reprise and Arista. They released their latest album 2017's 'Metamorphosis,' with Metamorphous, LLC. Advertisement 9 David Lewis, Wayne Lewis and Barbara Weathers of Atlantic Starr perform at the Arie Crown Theater in October 1987. Getty Images Outside of music, Atlantic Starr appeared as themselves on a 1992 episode of the daytime soap opera 'Another World.' They performed at local nightspot Sassy's during the episode. Lewis was among the band's current lineup, alongside his brother Jonathan, Melessa Pierce and Shammah Carter.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Vidhu Vincent counters Parvathy's criticism on Hema Committee Report: 'Don't shoot wildly just because you're a star'
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) Filmmaker Vidhu Vincent has responded strongly to actress Parvathy Thiruvothu 's recent criticism of the Kerala government over the delay in implementing the Hema Committee recommendations. In a lengthy social media post titled 'Hema Committee Report and Government Action: Facts', Vidhu urged for a fact-based discussion and stated that 'sensible women like Parvathy should not pass judgments without understanding the truth. ' Stand Up gets off to a grand start Parvathy questions delay in action Parvathy, in a post tagging Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, questioned the lack of progress in implementing the committee's recommendations, stating, 'Now can we focus on the ACTUAL reason this committee was formed? Putting policies in place to help make regulations in the industry? What is happening with that? No rush? It's only been five and a half years since the report was submitted.' Her post triggered widespread debate, prompting Vidhu to lay out the steps taken by the state since the report's submission. Vidhu reacts - None of them were willing to proceed with police cases afterward In her post, Vidhu noted that even those who had testified before the Hema Committee—including Parvathy—were unwilling to take legal action later. 'It is a fact that even though actors like Parvathy and others gave testimonies... none of them were willing to proceed with police cases afterward,' she wrote, adding that both the Special Investigation Team and the Crime Branch confirmed that statements were later withdrawn. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 3BHK Transformation Possible for ₹4.5 Lakh? HomeLane Get Quote Undo She stressed that, 'Legal action requires the full cooperation and testimony of the victims/survivors—without that, it's impossible to pursue cases effectively.' 'Criticism is always healthy. But don't shoot wildly…' Vidhu further emphasized that the Hema Committee was not meant solely to register cases but to act as a foundation for a broader film policy. She detailed government efforts such as: over 20 rounds of consultations, discussions with over 400 stakeholders, and initiatives to empower women in film. Concluding, Vidhu added, 'Criticism is always healthy. But don't shoot wildly just because you're a star… That's what Kerala expects from aware and thoughtful voices like Parvathy and others.' Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Shining a spotlight on the local impact of federal service cuts
Stand Up Lockport will make its public debut Tuesday with a Niagara County Town Hall event at the Kenan Center's Taylor Theater. The nonpartisan citizens group, formed in response to wide-ranging federal spending cuts mandated by the Trump administration, is aiming to raise awareness of the possible local impacts of those cuts and give a voice to the 'silent majority' of the local electorate. The town hall is part panel discussion, part Q&A. The panelists and their subject areas are: Michelle Roman, education; Alissa Ellman, veterans' services; Todd Vaarwerk, chief of public policy at WNY Independent Living, social services; and Carla Speranza, local government. The moderator is Jim Shultz, and the panelists will field general questions from him, specific questions developed by members of Stand Up Lockport, and questions from the audience. The discussion will begin at 6:30 p.m. Stand Up Lockport started in March with a conversation among five people, according to Shultz. The group has since grown to more than 100 people who have attended one or more meetings and/or joined in a local protest. Some, like combat veterans Luke Udell and Alissa Ellman, were drawn to Stand Up's centrist orientation. Turned off by the partisan bickering and blaming that permeate social media, they each found relief in face-to-face conversations with people focused on what unites, rather than divides, us. Udell was tipped off to Stand Up by chance as he rode his bike on Niagara Street one day in March and passed by a protest outside Republican U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney's district office. The retired Army officer stopped to check it out, and although he was skeptical at first, he said, he stayed and talked to enough people to feel 'reassured' it wasn't a partisan thing. When the group gave itself a name and started organizing meetings, he was in. Udell was, and still is, gravely concerned about funding cuts to the Veterans Administration as well as the overall tenor of the Trump administration. 'Coupled with real threats to services that people deserve, the attacks on our institutions, our democracy, I felt I had to do something,' he said. In their biweekly meetings over coffee, members of Stand Up Lockport discuss kitchen table issues — how family, friends, neighbors and this community may be affected by reductions in veteran benefits, Medicaid, SNAP, education and other aid — and getting updated on the latest developments in Washington, then considering what actions they can take locally. Ultimately, Udell said, their aim is 'to let our (congressional) representatives know, what's happening is not good.' For instance, the newly House of Representatives-approved 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' takes an ax to Medicaid funding, and the Congressional Budget Office has warned that more than 7.6 million people nationwide will lose their benefits over the next 10 years. Stand Up Lockport has determined that 54,000 residents of Niagara County — about 25% of the population — are Medicaid recipients. 'So now, every fourth person I see in the grocery store could lose their health insurance. That could be deadly,' Udell said. Alissa Ellman, a disabled Army veteran who was fired from her job at the VA office in Buffalo under a directive of the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), derides the 'waste, fraud and abuse' excuse for gutting federal agencies and cutting services/direct benefits to citizens, and says bluntly that blame for the cuts belongs to the electorate. 'We have to take responsibility: it's our fault (Trump was elected). If this country fails, we failed,' Ellman said. 'The middle, what was called 'the silent majority' in the eighties, needs to speak up now. Our lives, our loved ones' lives, will be greatly affected by what's about to happen,' she said. 'We need to start talking about what we agree on: (protecting access to) Social Security, Medicare, benefits that people earned and deserve.' Stand Up Lockport gives Ellman a place to focus her energy. 'I am seething,' she acknowledged. 'But instead of posting on Facebook, I want to actually do something. I think other people joining (Stand Up) feel the same way.' Robert Barton said joining Stand Up Lockport was a way 'just to not feel helpless.' His wife Tiffany Barton, who found out about the nascent group, is now leading the 'action/protest' portion of its activities. 'I knew that we were heading into a dark time with this administration, and I'm tired,' she said. 'I can't wait around anymore… I have to try to do something.' Tiffany Barton said Tenney, who's on the record enthusiastically supporting President Trump and his administration, has been invited to the Niagara County Town Hall. She doubts Tenney will attend, though, so her hope is that fellow concerned citizens will and will get informed enough about the federal cuts and policy changes to address Tenney themselves.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Spotlight on: Local effects of federal service cuts
Stand Up Lockport will make its public debut Tuesday night with a Niagara County Town Hall at the Kenan Center's Taylor Theater. The nonpartisan citizens group, formed in response to wide ranging federal spending cuts mandated by the Trump administration, is aiming to raise awareness of the possible local impacts of those cuts, and give a voice to the 'silent majority' of the local electorate. The town hall is part panel discussion, part Q&A. The panelists and their subject areas are: Michelle Roman, education; Alissa Ellman, veterans' services; Todd Vaarwerk, chief of public policy at WNY Independent Living, social services; and Carla Speranza, local government. The moderator is Jim Shultz, and the panelists will field general questions from him, specific questions developed by members of Stand Up Lockport, and questions from the audience. The discussion will begin at 6:30 p.m. Stand Up Lockport started in March with a conversation among five people, according to Shultz. The group has since grown to more than 100 people who have attended one or more meetings and/or joined in a local protest. Some, like combat veterans Luke Udell and Alissa Ellman, were drawn to Stand Up's centrist orientation. Turned off by the partisan bickering and blaming that permeate social media, they each found relief in face-to-face conversations with people focused on what unites, rather than divides, us. Udell was tipped off to Stand Up by chance as he rode his bike on Niagara Street one day in March and passed by a protest outside Republican U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney's district office. The retired Army officer stopped to check it out, and although he was skeptical at first, he said, he stayed and talked to enough people to feel 'reassured' it wasn't a partisan thing. When the group gave itself a name and started organizing meetings, he was in. Udell was, and still is, gravely concerned about funding cuts to the Veterans Administration as well as the overall tenor of the Trump administration. 'Coupled with real threats to services that people deserve, the attacks on our institutions, our democracy, I felt I had to do something,' he said. In their biweekly meetings, over coffee, members of Stand Up Lockport are discussing kitchen table issues — how family, friends, neighbors and this community may be affected by reductions in veteran benefits, Medicaid, SNAP, education and other aid — and getting updated on the latest developments in Washington, then considering what actions they can take locally. Ultimately, Udell said, their aim is 'to let our (congressional) representatives know, what's happening is not good.' For instance, the newly House of Representatives-approved 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' takes an ax to Medicaid funding, and the Congressional Budget Office has warned that more than 7.6 million people nationwide will lose their benefits over the next 10 years. Stand Up Lockport has determined that 54,000 residents of Niagara County — about 25% of the population — are Medicaid recipients. 'So now, every fourth person I see in the grocery store could lose their health insurance. That could be deadly,' Udell said. Alissa Ellman, a disabled Army veteran who was fired from her job at the VA office in Buffalo under a directive of the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), derides the 'waste, fraud and abuse' excuse for gutting federal agencies and cutting services/direct benefits to citizens, and says bluntly that blame for the cuts belongs to the electorate. 'We have to take responsibility: it's our fault (Trump was elected). If this country fails, we failed,' Ellman said. 'The middle, what was called 'the silent majority' in the eighties, needs to speak up now. Our lives, our loves ones' lives, will be greatly affected by what's about to happen,' she said. 'We need to start talking about what we agree on: (protecting access to) Social Security, Medicare, benefits that people earned and deserve.' Stand Up Lockport gives Ellman a place to focus her energy. 'I am seething,' she acknowledged. 'But instead of posting on Facebook I want to actually do something. I think other people joining (Stand Up) feel the same way.' Robert Barton said joining Stand Up Lockport was a way 'just to not feel helpless.' His wife Tiffany Barton, who found out about the nascent group, is now leading the 'action / protest' portion of its activities. 'I knew that we were heading into a dark time with this administration, and I'm tired,' she said. 'I can't wait around any more… I have to try to do something.' Tiffany Barton said Tenney, who's on the record enthusiastically supporting President Trump and his administration, has been invited to the Niagara County Town Hall. She doubts Tenney will attend, though, so her hope is that fellow concerned citizens will, and will get informed enough about the federal cuts and policy changes to address Tenney themselves.
Daily Record
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Netflix fans have just days to watch 'inspirational' film with huge star
The powerful biographical drama, Harriet, tells the story of real-life hero, Harriet Tubman, who escaped slavery and went on to free hundreds of enslaved people during the civil war The star of Wicked, Elphaba, is cast in a whole new light as Cynthia Erivo leads the charge in the powerful historical drama Harriet, set against the backdrop of a 1800s U. S plantation. Harriet unfolds the incredible tale of Harriet Tubman, a real-life shero who broke free from the shackles of slavery to become a beacon of hope, aiding hundreds in their quest for freedom during the civil war. Tubman's unwavering courage not only altered the path of history but also stood as a foundational force in the fight to end slavery. She endured an upbringing marred by violence on a Maryland plantation and lived through horrific injuries that plagued her since childhood. Her daring escape in 1849 marked the beginning of a series of rescue missions, where she bravely returned to liberate her kinfolk and numerous others, leading them one by one to liberty. Tubman etched her name in history books as the first woman to orchestrate an armed military raid on American soil. The cinematic retelling of her valiant battle for liberation has resonated with audiences worldwide, reports Surrey Live. A critic on Rotten Tomatoes expressed their captivation: "Captured me from the start. Harriet is an exceptionally strong character. A very inspirational film." Meanwhile, another review said: " This is a fantastic film about a dark time in America's history. The acting is superb. Definitely a film everyone should watch." Initially released in 2019, this biographical drama showcases Cynthia Erivo's singing talents prior to her upcoming role in the 2024 musical Wicked. Her original song, Stand Up, which she wrote and performed, earned her prestigious nominations at the Grammy, Oscars, and Golden Globes. Starring alongside Erivo are singer Janelle Monae and British actor Joe Alwyn, who portrays the owner of the enslaved individuals and the land on which they toil. One enthusiastic review said: "I am literally obsessed with this movie! ! ! The music is amazing; the first few times I watched it, I would get chills when the singing happened. "The storyline is amazing and very much gives you a very realistic view of how hard even the more northern slaves had it during the Civil War times. "For how long the movie is, there was only one part that seemed a little slow but other than that the movie keeps my attention the whole time. It is also a very inspiring movie just to think and know how much she did and how much she's made an impact on so many." Harriet was met with critical acclaim and achieved a global box office total of $44 million. The film garnered numerous significant nominations and holds an overall rating of 74% on a review site. However, some viewers questioned the accuracy of the movement's depiction in the film. One viewer expressed disappointment, saying: "Well acted but slightly ridiculous. Harriet Tubman deserved better than the Hollywood version delivered here." Despite this, the consensus appears to favour the film's emotive narrative, highlighting Cynthia Ervio's performance as exceptional. The film is described as a rousing story of escape, belief, and liberty in one review that says: "Harriet is an exciting tale of escape, faith, and freedom." The critique goes on to commend Erivo's portrayal: "Erivo captured the essence of a character sick of her old life with unwavering faith to start another. Although it doesn't break any storytelling barriers, I found Harriet to be moving and gained great respect for the figure represented on screen." Harriet is currently available for streaming on Netflix, but hurry – it's set to leave the platform come June 1.
