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AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented by Newcomb and Company, 5/21 & 5/22

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented by Newcomb and Company, 5/21 & 5/22

This weekend’s Classic American Top 40 shows are presented by Newcomb and Company: Where your comfort is our business.

Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1983. You want quirky songs? We’ve got ’em right here! Some of this week’s chart-toppers are “She Blinded Me with Science” by Thomas Dolby, “Der Kommissar” by After the Fire, and “Mr. Roboto” by Styx. It’s the first time we are hearing “Little Red Corvette,” “Flashdance,” and “Rio.” Of course, this is the Golden Age of MTV, so all these tunes have neat videos! Plus, Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” and David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance” are primed to take the Top Spot. Who will prevail? Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 on KIX this Saturday:  from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 8 p.m. to midnight.

Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem hosts an American Top 40 show that originally aired during this week in 1972. R&B rules the Top 10 with The Chi-Lites, Staple Singers, Roberta Flack, and Al Green. Cat Stevens turns an old hymn, “Morning Has Broken,” into a hit song. And Sammy Davis has a rare appearance on the charts with “Candy Man.” There’s good rockin’ with The Stones’ “Tumbling Dice” and Commander Cody’s “Hot Rod Lincoln!” Enjoy The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon, only on KIX.

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented by Finding Patience at HSCC, 5/14 & 5/19

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented by Finding Patience at HSCC, 5/14 & 5/19

This weekend’s Classic American Top 40 shows are presented by Holly Springs Cultural Center’s performances of Finding Patience, beginning June 9th.

Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1984. Footloose is a hit on the silver screen and three songs from its soundtrack are in the survey:  the theme song by Kenny Loggins, “Let’s Hear It for The Boy” by Deniece Williams, and “Dancing in the Sheets” by Shalamar. Also, enjoy more movie music from Phil Collins with “Against All Odds.” Plus, Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson are swoonin’ and croonin’ with “To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before.” All are contenders for the #1 Spot, but can they unseat Lionel Richie’s “Hello,” which was in the Top Spot the previous week? Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 on KIX on Saturday:  from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. and from 8 p.m. – midnight.

Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem hosts an American Top 40 show that originally aired this week in 1979. The women are rockin’ the Top 10:  Blondie, Donna Summer, and Suzi Quatro. Enjoy a rare appearance by a non-movie or TV show instrumental, “Music Box Dancer” by Frank Mills. The new version of The Doobie Brothers featuring Michael McDonald have their first hit with “What A Fool Believes.” Peaches and Herb had the #1 song the previous week with “Reunited” …and it feels so good. Plus, they’re hoping for a repeat! Listen to The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon, only on KIX.

Holly Springs Cultural Center presents Finding Patience. Patience the 175-year-old ghost of a slave, uncovers the roots of Holly Spring, sharing its sorrows and heralding its hopes, revealing what every person wants most in this life – to be remembered. Performances June 9th through the 26th. Tickets are available now here or call the Holly Springs or call the Holly Springs Cultural Center Box Office.

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented by Pool Scouts, 5/7 & 5/8

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented by Pool Scouts, 5/7 & 5/8

This weekend’s Classic American Top 40 shows are presented by Pool Scouts: Our highly trained pool service experts provide reliable, professional pool services that keep your pool crystal clear and swim-ready. Make Pool Scouts your go-to source for a perfect pool, so you can spend your precious free time enjoying your pool instead of cleaning it! We give you the 5-star treatment with all our pool cleaning, maintenance, and specialty services.

Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1980! American Gigolo, starring Richard Gere, is in the theaters, and its theme song by Blondie, “Call Me,” is riding high on the charts. Pink Floyd has their only Top 5 hit with “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2.” Newcomer Christopher Cross has his first big song, “Ride Like the Wind.” And a couple of duets round out the Top 10: Kenny Rogers and Kim Carnes’ “Don’t Fall in Love with a Dreamer,” and Billy Preston with Syreeta for “With You, I’m Born Again.” Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 on KIX on Saturday:  from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m., and from 8 p.m. – midnight.

Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem hosts an American Top 40 Show that originally aired this week in 1974. The 70s AT 40s are always so much fun, with a mixed bag of music! This week, three instrumentals grace the Top 10: “The Entertainer” by Marvin Hamlisch, “TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)” by MFSB, and Mike Oldfield’s “Tubular Bells.” Solo Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are in the Second 10. Ray Stevens’ wacky “The Streak” makes a play for the top spot, but can it upend Grand Funk and “The Locomotion,” the previous week’s Number One? Enjoy The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9 a.m. – noon, only on KIX.

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented by Horizon Services, 4/30 & 5/1

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented by Horizon Services, 4/30 & 5/1

This weekend’s American Top 40 shows are presented by Horizon Services Cooling, Heating, and Plumbing. Call to get an AC tune up for just $79. Visit www.horizonservices.com/book-online/ to book fast!

Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1988! The Top 10 is like a “Whatever Happened To…” VH-1 special as Terence Trent D’Arby, Taylor Dayne, and Pebbles all have their big shot at stardom. We’ll also hear from some regulars to The Countdown:  Whitney Houston, INXS, and Gloria Estefan. The Pet Shop Boys remake Willie Nelson’s “Always on My Mind” and mall teen queen Tiffany redoes The Beatles’ “I Saw (Him) Standing There.” Plus, the act Johnny Hates Jazz with “Shattered Dreams” wins for Best Band Name of The Week. Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 on KIX on Saturday:  from 6am – 10am and from 8pm – midnight.

Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem hosts an American Top 40 show that originally aired during this week in 1976! It’s the first time Queen’s mega-hit “Bohemian Rhapsody” is in the Top 10. Dance music is well represented with “Boogie Fever,” “Disco Lady,” and “Get Up and Boogie.” Meanwhile, Welcome Back Kotter is on TV and John Sebastian’s theme song is near the top, but it must contend with Maxine Nightingale’s “Right Back Where We Started From” and The Bellamy Brothers’ “Let Your Love Flow” for the #1 slot! Enjoy The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9am – noon, only on KIX.

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented by North Raleigh Periodontics, 4/23 & 4/24

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented by North Raleigh Periodontics, 4/23 & 4/24

This weekend’s American Top 40 shows are presented by North Raleigh Periodontics. For a more comfortable and gentle hygiene cleaning experience, we use cutting-edge AIRFLOW ONE technology that offers a vast array of benefits, setting it apart from traditional cleaning devices. Make your next cleaning at North Raleigh Periodontics with AIRFLOW!

Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1982! “Chariots of Fire” was popular in the theaters and on the music charts. Newbies Huey Lewis and The News have their first hit, “Do You Believe in Love.” One-hit-wonder Tommy Tutone was on the charts with the phone number that everybody was calling: “867-5309.” Yacht Rockers Bertie Higgins with “Key Largo” and Paul Davis with “65 Love Affair” are making strides in the Top 10, but the women rule the charts with Joan Jett and The Go Gos vying for #1! Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 this Saturday on KIX:  from 6am-10am and from 8pm-midnight.

Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem hosts an American Top 40 show that originally aired this week in 1973! Space exploration is top of mind with the theme from “2001” as well as David Bowie’s “Space Oddity.” A brand-new band called Steely Dan premieres with “Reeling in The Years.” Vicki Lawrence tells the lurid story of “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia.” And Tony Orlando and Dawn are looking to have their first #1 with a song your parents danced to: “Tie A Yellow Ribbon!” Tune in for The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9am-noon, only on KIX.

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented by Rural Plumbing & Heating, 4/16 & 4/17

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented by Rural Plumbing & Heating, 4/16 & 4/17

This weekend’s American Top 40 shows are presented by Rural Plumbing & Heating. Providing all your Residential and Commercial plumbing and heating needs, no matter how large or small. Visit them at rphnc.com today!

Saturday on AT40 hear the big songs from this week in 1986! Robert Palmer and his Video-Ready Vixens are in the Top Ten with “Addicted to Love.” There are two songs named “I Can’t Wait” in The Countdown–one by Stevie Nicks and the other by Nu Shooz. The Rolling Stones remake a Motown classic, “Harlem Shuffle.” Just for fun, it’s Falco doing “Rock Me Amadeus.” And Prince and The Bangles battle for the top spot, with both songs written by the Purple One! Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 on KIX this Saturday:  from 6am-10am and from 8pm-midnight.

Easter Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem hosts an American Top 40 show that originally aired this week in 1974. The 70s AT40 countdowns never fail to entertain. Hear “The Lord’s Prayer” by Sister Janet Mead as well as “Tubular Bells,” the movie theme from “The Exorcist.” Also enjoy country staple Charlie Rich alongside soul favorite Gladys Knight and The Pips, newcomer Billy Joel with his first hit “Piano Man,” and chart-topping piano man Elton John’s “Bennie and The Jets!” Listen to The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9am-noon, only on KIX.

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented by The Butcher’s Market, 4/9 & 4/10

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented by The Butcher’s Market, 4/9 & 4/10

This weekend’s American Top 40 shows are presented by The Butcher’s Market. The Butcher’s Market is known for their great meats but they also have the BEST Salmon in town! Fresh Atlantic Salmon, sustainably raised in the Faroe Islands of the Northern Atlantic. Simple and delicious idea is to just bake it with our House Seasoning or Maple Bourbon Grilling Sauce! Order online and your order will be waiting when you arrive!

Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1983! Michael Jackson ’s “Thriller” album rules MTV and radio, and posts two songs in the Top 10. A whole lot of AquaNet and mascara went into video hits from Duran Duran, Culture Club, and Dexy’s Midnight Runners. Frida of Abba has a song in the survey, “I Know There’s Something Going On,” featuring Phil Collins. And, if you like your music quirky, you’ll love the inclusion of “She Blinded Me with Science” by Thomas Dolby and “Der Kommisar” by After the Fire. Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 on KIX this Saturday: from 6am – 10am and from 8pm – midnight.

Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back a show that originally aired this week in 1975. NC’s own Sammy Johns enters the Top 10 with “Chevy Van.” LaBelle’s first hit, “Lady Marmalade,” had everybody learning a little racy French. Minnie Riperton’s “Lovin You” is a big mover and will challenge Elton John’s “Philadelphia Freedom” for the #1 spot. Also, early in The Countdown, hear Sugarloaf’s song about the music and radio business, “Don’t Call Us, We’ll Call You.” Listen to The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9am – noon, only on KIX.

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented By SMOKEY at Koka Booth Amphitheatre

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented By SMOKEY at Koka Booth Amphitheatre

This weekend’s American Top 40 shows are presented by SMOKEY: Music and Memories at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary. Don’t miss a night with one of the greats! Legendary singer-songwriter William “Smokey” Robinson is coming to Koka Booth on August 19th! Purchase tickets now here.

Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1984! It’s all about music from movies and videos. The themes from “Footloose” and “Against All Odds” are Top Five hits. MTV mainstays Hall & Oates, Cyndi Lauper, Huey Lewis, Culture Club, and Van Halen dominate. First -timer and one-hit-wonder, Nena, is in with “99 Luftballons.” And… just for fun, Weird Al scores with “Eat It!” Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 this Saturday on KIX:  from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. and from 8 p.m. – midnight.

Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back a show that originally aired this week in 1977. The Eagles are fast movers with their new single “Hotel California.” It’s a mixed bag in the Top 20 as Glen Campbell plays alongside Abba, Paul McCartney and Wings, and Atlanta Rhythm Section. While Hall & Oates ruled the roost during the previous week with “Rich Girl,” can they do it again? Enjoy The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9 am – noon, only on KIX.

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented by Sunrise Dental, 3/26 & 3/27

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented by Sunrise Dental, 3/26 & 3/27

This weekend’s American Top 40 Shows are brought to you by Sunrise Dental.

Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1985! Madonna is on fire with two entries in the top twenty: “Material Girl” and “Crazy for You.” ”We are the World” continues its presence after four weeks on the charts. Young Julian Lennon has a fast mover with “Too Late for Goodbyes.” And it’s a tight race for #1 this week between REO Speedwagon’s “I Can’t Fight This Feeling” and Phil Collins’ “One More Night.” Who will prevail? Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 on KIX this Saturday:  from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. and from 8 p.m. – midnight.

Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back a show that originally aired this week in 1979. Dance music is king with rhythmic hits from Gloria Gaynor, Rod Stewart, and Amii Stewart. It’s the first time we heard “Sultans of Swing” by Dire Straits and the Michael McDonald version of The Doobie Brothers’ “What A Fool Believes.” It would be a “Tragedy” without The Bee Gees chart-topping a late 70s AT40, and this week is no exception! Listen early in The Countdown and hear the just-for-fun “Rubber Biscuit” by The Blues Brothers. Enjoy The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9 a.m. – noon, only on KIX!

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented by Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 3/19 & 3/20

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented by Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 3/19 & 3/20

This weekend’s Classic American Top 40 shows on KIX are brought to you by Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1987! Bruce Hornsby has two songs that he wrote in the Top 10: “Mandolin Rain,” with his band The Range, and “Jacob’s Ladder,” which is performed by Huey Lewis and The News. Bruce Willis was on TV in “Moonlighting” and on the radio with “Respect Yourself.” Get your “big hair” rock on with Bon Jovi’s “Living on a Prayer” and Europe’s “The Final Countdown,” which are back-to-back in The Countdown. Also, first-timers Club Nouveau have a monster hit with their remake of 70s classic “Lean on Me,” which may headed to the top spot! Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 on KIX this Saturday:  from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. and from 8 p.m. – midnight.

Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back a show that originally aired this week in 1972. Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold” is heading toward the top and Neil Young sound-alike, America, is right behind him with “Horse with No Name.” Donny Osmond has back-to-back hits in the Top 10:  his solo “Puppy Love” and “Down by the Lazy River” with The Osmonds. Get funky with “Jungle Fever” by The Chakachas and “I Gotcha” by Joe Tex. Also enjoy a modern-day classic as newcomer Don McLean debuts his epic “American Pie.” Enjoy The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9 a.m. – noon, only on KIX.

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented By NC Seafood, 3/12 & 3/13

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented By NC Seafood, 3/12 & 3/13

Get your fish North Carolina fresh! In season now, clams, oysters, tuna and sea trout, all harvested by your North Carolina neighbors. Brought to you by the NC Seafood Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services and the “Got to be NC” Seafood Program.

Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1980! Pink Floyd is in the survey with their only Top Five hit, “Another Brick in the Wall.” First-timer Christopher Cross is riding high with “Ride Like the Wind.” Donna Summer is on the radio with “On the Radio.” ”American Gigolo” is in theaters and its theme, “Call Me” by Blondie, is on the charts. Queen’s “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” has held the top spot for the past three weeks and is primed to make it four! Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 on KIX this Saturday:  from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. and from 8 p.m. – midnight.

Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back a show that originally aired this week in 1976. “S.W.A.T” is a popular TV show and the theme song by Rhythm Heritage is in the Top 10. The CB radio craze brings Cledus Maggard’s “White Knight” to the countdown. The Eagles are establishing themselves as a serious musical force with “Take It to The Limit.” And, just for fun, it’s Larry Groce with “Junk Food Junkie.” Enjoy the Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9 a.m. – noon, only on KIX.

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented by ARS Rescue Rooter, 3/5 & 3/6

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented by ARS Rescue Rooter, 3/5 & 3/6

This week’s Classic American Top 40 shows on KIX are brought to you by A.R.S. Rescue Rooter… who are “making it work, making it right.”

Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1988. It’s a case of when-movie-stars-sing as “Dirty Dancing” star Patrick Swayze refuses to “put Baby in a corner” in his hit single” She’s Like the Wind,” which is at #2. David Lee Roth finds success away from Van Halen with his solo hit “Just Like Paradise,” which is in the Top 10. Sports arena classics “Pump Up the Volume” by M.A.R.R.S. and “Push It” by Salt-N-Pepa are first heard. And George Michael and Rick Astley have big hair and big hits with “Father Figure” and “Never Gonna Give You Up” — which are battling for the #1 position. Who will prevail? You’ll find out during two chances to listen to AT40 this Saturday on KIX:  from 6am -10am and during an encore presentation from 8pm – midnight.

Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back a show that originally aired during this week in 1974. Oh, what a fun mixed bag of music! It’s the first time we hear Barbra Streisand’s signature “The Way We Were.” We’ll also get to “Boogie Down” with Eddie Kendricks and do the “Jungle Boogie” with Kool and The Gang. Couple-of-the-week James Taylor and Carly Simon team for “Mockingbird.” Just for kicks, it’s “Spiders and Snakes” by Jim Stafford. And, just for cheese, enjoy “Seasons in the Sun” by Terry Jacks — which was the previous week’s #1 song. Enjoy the Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9am – noon, only on KIX.

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented by Fairway Green, 2/26 & 2/27

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented by Fairway Green, 2/26 & 2/27

American Top 40 is brought to you by Fairway Green: If you want the best property in the neighborhood nothing beats a Fairway Green lawn. For a free estimate on seeding, fertilizer, weed prevention and more, go to FairwayGreen.com.

Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1981. They have a real country flavor with Eddie Rabbitt, Dolly Parton, and Delbert McClinton in the Top 10. A perennial holiday favorite by Dan Fogelberg, “Same Auld Lang Syne,” makes its first chart appearance. Blondie scores with two songs in the Top 20: “The Tide is High” and “Rapture.” And… John Lennon does the same with “Woman” and “Just Like Starting Over.” Early in the Countdown, rockers will enjoy the inclusion of AC/DC’s “Back in Black” and The Outlaws’ “Ghost Riders in the Sky.” Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 this Saturday on KIX: from 6am – 10am and an encore presentation from 8pm to midnight.

Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back a show that originally aired this week in 1977. Barbra Streisand is on the big screen in “A Star is Born” and has a hit with the movie’s theme song. TV’s David Soul from “Starsky and Hutch” sings “Don’t Give Up On Us” and it’s really good! This is also the first time we hear modern-day classics like “Dancing Queen,” “Fly Like An Eagle,” “Night Moves,” and “New Kid in Town” — which is a fast mover for The Eagles and on its way to #1!  Enjoy the Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9am – noon… only on KIX 102.9FM!

AT40 with Casey Kasem:  Presented by Red Roof Inn, 2/19 & 2/20

AT40 with Casey Kasem: Presented by Red Roof Inn, 2/19 & 2/20

Classic American Top 40 shows on KIX 102.9FM are brought to you by Red Roof Inn, offering travelers a high-quality experience at an affordable price.

Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1986. “Rocky IV” is a knockout in theaters and on the charts, with two songs in the survey: “Burning Heart” by Survivor and “Living in America” by James Brown. Also included in the Countdown is more movie music from Billy Ocean, “When The Going Gets Tough,” from “Jewel of the Nile” and Paul McCartney’s theme from “Spies Like Us.” Dionne Warwick and friends’ ”That’s What Friends Are For” is vying for the top spot with Whitney Houston’s “How Will I Know.” Tune in to see who will prevail. Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 this Saturday on KIX: from 6am – 10am and from 8pm – midnight.

Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back a show that originally aired during this week in 1978. It’s total domination by the Bee Gees: three songs from “Saturday Night Fever” are in the Top 20, brother Andy Gibb is in the top five, and the Brothers Gibb sing on Samantha Sang’s smash hit “Emotion!” It’s the first time we hear Queen’s epic “We Will Rock You/ We Are The Champions” as well as Player’s “Baby Come Back.” Plus, there’s even music to summon the aliens with two versions of the theme from “Close Encounters of the Third Kind!” Enjoy the Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications, every Sunday from 9am – noon, only on KIX.

AT 40 with Casey Kasem: Presented by North Raleigh Periodontics, 2/12 & 2/13

AT 40 with Casey Kasem: Presented by North Raleigh Periodontics, 2/12 & 2/13

American Top 40 is brought to you by North Raleigh Periodontics. North Raleigh Periodontics and Dr. Singletary bring you the new podcast The GUM GURU! This is a show about keeping your teeth and gums healthy and how a healthy smile effects your overall health. New episodes each month on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts.

Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1982. It’s the usual 80s suspects in the Top 10: Hall & Oates, Journey, and Olivia Newton-John — with what would become the top song of the decade. For Valentine’s weekend, the Countdown is chock full of love songs by Air Supply, George Benson, and Foreigner. Just for fun, we’ll hear Buckner and Garcia with “Pac Man Fever.” And The J.Geils Band begins a l-o-n-g stay at #1 with “Centerfold.” Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 on KIX this Saturday: from 6am – 10am or during an encore presentation from 8pm – midnight.

Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back a show that originally aired on Valentine’s Day 1976. Paul Simon’s “love” song “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover” was #1 the previous week and hopes to repeat. Just in time for the Valentine’s weekend, the hits are hot and bothered this week — from Donna Summer’s “Love to Love You, Baby” and “You Sexy Thing” by Hot Chocolate to “Love Machine” by The Miracles. Elsewhere in the Countdown, it’s a mixed bag of tunes:  the theme from TV hit “S.W.A.T” to The Who with “Squeeze Box” and CW McCall with “Convoy.” Enjoy the Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications… every Sunday from 9am – noon, only on KIX.

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented by ARS Rescue Rooter, 2/5 & 2/6

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented by ARS Rescue Rooter, 2/5 & 2/6

This weekend’s Classic American Top 40 shows on KIX are brought to you by ARS Rescue Rooter Heating and Cooling. Making it work, making it right!

Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1983. Patti Austin and James Ingram have a big hit with “Baby Come to Me,” after it was featured in daytime drama’s “General Hospital.” For the first time, we were hearing The Stray Cats’ “Stray Cat Strut” and Adam Ant’s “Goody Two Shoes.” Duets from Crystal Gayle and Eddie Rabbitt as well as Michael Jackson with Paul McCartney are in the Top 10. And the AT40 Travelogue takes you to the chart-topping land “Down Under” and “Africa!” Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 on KIX; on Saturday from 6am – 10am, as well as an encore presentation from 8pm – midnight.

Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back the favorite tunes from this week in 1979. It’s all about the dance music with Rod Stewart, Gloria Gaynor, and Earth, Wind & Fire in the Top 10. Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton add some country flavor to the Countdown. The Village People are fast movers with “YMCA,” but Chic has had a hold on the #1 spot for the past five weeks with “Le Freak!” Enjoy the Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9am – noon, only on KIX.

KIX AT 40: 1/29 & 1/30

KIX AT 40: 1/29 & 1/30

Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1987. The ladies rule the Top 10: Madonna’s “Open Your Heart,” Janet Jackson with “Control,” and Cyndi Lauper’s “Change of Heart.” Rock out Southern-style from The Georgia Satellites with “Keep Your Hands To Yourself.” Early in the countdown, hear Bruce Willis’s only Top 40 hit, “Respect Yourself.” And, if you’re going to have a one-hit wonder, might as well take it to the top — that’s the case of Billy Vera’s “At This Moment!” Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 on KIX this Saturday: from 6am – 10am, with an encore presentation from 8pm – midnight.

Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back the favorite tunes from this week in 1971. What a fun mixed bag: Country sensation Lynn Anderson with “Rose Garden” plays back to back with Soul’s King Floyd “Groove Me”. The Osmond’s share the Top 10 with new artist Elton John, as do George Harrison and Barbra Streisand. Can these superstars upend Tony Orlando and Dawn’s “Knock Three Times,” which was last week’s Number One? Enjoy The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and The Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9am – noon, only on KIX!

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: 1/22 & 1/23

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: 1/22 & 1/23

Classic AT40 is brought to you by MassageLuXe in Raleigh and Apex. Win someone’s heart for Valentine’s Day with a MassageLuxe gift card!

Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs from this week in 1985. Soap star Jack Wagner was heating up TV and radio with his smash “All I Need.” A couple of Eagles have solo hits: Don Henley with “The Boys of Summer” and Glenn Frey with “The Heat is On.” Robert Plant’s and The Honeydrippers’ only two hits are both in this countdown with “Sea of Love” and “Rockin’ at Midnight.” That’s all good and well, but can anybody top the Queen of Controversy, Madonna, who has been at #1 for a whopping five weeks with “Like A Virgin”? Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 on Saturday on KIX: from 6am – 10am and with an encore presentation from 8pm to midnight.

Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back the favorite tunes from this week in 1978! It’s a mixed bag where Dolly Parton, Queen, The Bee Gees and Styx all live harmoniously in the Top 10 and where we first hear modern standards like “Baby Come Back,” “You’re in My Heart,” and “How Deep is Your Love.” And if you listen to the countdown at the beginning, you’ll hear two versions of the theme from “Close Encounters of The Third Kind” — one by John Williams and the other by Meco. Enjoy The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9am – noon, only on KIX.

KIX Cares: Keep the Shelves Stocked

KIX Cares: Keep the Shelves Stocked

KIX Cares and The Carolina Junior Hurricanes have huddled up to help Keep the Shelves Stocked for The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina! 

Although the season of giving is over, hunger is happening year-round. There’s an even greater need as more folks continue to navigate through the challenges of the pandemic.

There are a few ways to help, including:

  • Volunteering
  • Donating to the virtual food drive
  • Donate at the Food Drive-Thru!

Food Drive-Thru on Feb 12th from 10 AM – 12 PM:

We are teaming up with the Carolina Junior Hurricanes for KIX Cares this month… helping out the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina!

  • Where: Wake Competition Center
  • When: Saturday, February 12, from 10am to Noon
  • What: A Drive-Thru style food drive

How can you help?

The Food Bank is taking anything that they can get, but here are a few items they will need:

  • Boxed Pasta
  • Canned Fruits/Vegetables
  • Rice
  • Hygiene Products (Soaps, toothpaste, toilet paper, paper towels, etc)
  • Baby Essentials (Diapers, Wipes, etc).

About Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina: 

The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina (the Food Bank) is a nonprofit organization that has provided food for our friends and neighbors facing hunger in 34 counties in central and eastern North Carolina for 40 years. The Food Bank is an affiliate member of Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity. Simply put, the Food Bank works every day to provide food to people in need while building solutions to end hunger in our communities. 

About the Carolina Junior Hurricanes Hockey Association:

The Carolina Junior Hurricanes Hockey Association (CJHHA) is a not-for-profit organization founded in May of 1987. CJHHA has served the Raleigh and Triangle area for 25 years. CJHHA is the largest USA Hockey travel-based association in the Carolinas with nearly 550 members ranging in age from 8 to 18. The Junior Hurricanes work collaboratively with area House/Recreational programs to develop youth hockey player’s skills and provide additional competitive playing opportunities.

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented by Newcomb and Company, 1/15 & 1/16

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented by Newcomb and Company, 1/15 & 1/16

Classic American Top 40 on KIX is brought to you by Newcomb and Company, “Where your comfort is our business.”

Saturday on AT 40, hear the big songs from this week in 1984. Progressive rock band, Yes, has their only Top Five hit with “Owner of A Lonely Heart.” Regular residents of the Top 10, Hall & Oates, are in with “Say It Isn’t So.” Lionel Richie has back-to-back chart favorites. They are all worthy contenders for the top spot, but Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson have a monster hit with “Say, Say, Say,” which has been at #1 for the past five weeks! Enjoy two chances to hear AT40 on KIX on Saturday: from 6am – 10am, with an encore presentation from 8pm to midnight.

Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back the favorite tunes from this week in 1977!  R&B rules the roost with Top 10 entries by Stevie Wonder, Rose Royce, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr., and Brick. Listen early in the countdown for an appearance by Lynyrd Skynyrd and their signature “Free Bird” and listen later on for Leo Sayer making a case at #1 with “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing!” Enjoy The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9am – Noon, only on KIX!

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented by ARS Rescue Rooter, 1/8 & 1/9

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented by ARS Rescue Rooter, 1/8 & 1/9

This weekend KIX wraps up our American Top 40 Holiday Specials. Saturday Casey Kasem is your host for the Top 100 Songs of 1981 part 2, and Sunday morning it’s the Top 100 of 1979 part 2.  Brought to you by ARS Rescue Rooter: Making it work, making it right! For all your Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing needs. Go to www.arsraleighdurham.com/specials.aspx and see online specials.

AT 40 with Casey Kasem: Presented by North Carolina Symphony, 1/1 & 1/2

AT 40 with Casey Kasem: Presented by North Carolina Symphony, 1/1 & 1/2

It’s the Original American Top 40 with Casey Kasem featuring the Top 100 Hits of 1981 and 1979 part 1! Presented by North Carolina Symphony: Join us for North Carolina Symphony’s “Best of Broadway” January 21st and 22nd at Raleigh’s Meymandi Hall. Enjoy an exciting evening with music from The Phantom of the Opera, Little Shop of Horrors, Chicago, and more! For tickets visit NCSymphony.org or click here.

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented by ARS Rescue Rooter, 12/18 and 12/19

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: Presented by ARS Rescue Rooter, 12/18 and 12/19

It’s the Original American Top 40 with Casey Kasem featuring hits from this week in 1980 and 1973! Presented by ARS Rescue Rooter. For all your Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing needs. Go to www.arsraleighdurham.com/specials.aspx and see online specials.

Saturday on AT 40, hear the big songs this week in 1980! With only days until Christmas now, good girls and boys are dreaming about these under the tree:  the latest albums by Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Blondie, Pat Benatar, and The Police. The loss of John Lennon is only a couple of weeks old, and John’s “Just Like Starting Over” continues to rise. Kenny Rogers’ “Lady” has spent an astounding five weeks at #1! Can he go another round? Classic 80s AT 40 on KIX, Saturday 6-10am, with an encore presentation from 8 to midnight.

Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back the favorite tunes this week in 1973! Santa’s list was full of 8-track tapes, albums, and 45s by these artists: The Carpenters are on “Top of The World” and near the top of the heap, Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”  album was just out in October and in the top five, and the top ten is rounded out nicely with The Staple Singers, Chicago, and Jim Croce, but they’re up against a worthy contender: Charlie Rich’s “The Most Beautiful Girl”! The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications, every Sunday from 9-noon, only on KIX!

AT 40 with Casey Kasem: 12/11 & 12/12

AT 40 with Casey Kasem: 12/11 & 12/12

It’s the Original American Top 40 with Casey Kasem featuring hits this week in 1981 and 1976! Presented by Got To Be NC Seafood: This holiday serve the freshest and best seafood raised and harvested right here in North Carolina. Get inspired by the flavors, colors, seasons and sounds of North Carolina with recipes and ideas for exploring our state’s agricultural offerings. Discover how to experience North Carolina agriculture and recipes from both our members and Local Dish host and Got To Be NC partner Lisa Prince: gottobenc.com/inspiration/

Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs this week in 1981! New albums by The Police, Foreigner, and The Go Go’s were on the Christmas wish list of good girls and boys. Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham have solo hits in the Top Ten. Hall & Oates were red hot with two songs in the top twenty and Olivia Newton-John’s “Physical” has been parked at #1 for 3 weeks…will it be four? Classic 80s AT 40 on KIX, Saturday 6-10am, with an encore presentation 8pm to midnight.

Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back the favorite tunes this week in 1976! “Nadia’s Theme” from “The Young and The Restless” is a big hit. It’s the first time we heard Boston’s “More Than a Feeling”, “Beth” by Kiss, and the silly “Muskrat Love” by The Captain and Tennille. Rod Stewart has held the top spot for the last four weeks with “Tonight’s The Night”, but The Spinners’ “Rubberband Man” and Bee Gees’ “Love So Right” are worthy challengers! The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications, every Sunday 9-noon, only on KIX!

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: 12/4 & 12/5

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: 12/4 & 12/5

It’s the Original American Top 40 with Casey Kasem featuring hits this week in 1984 and 1977! Presented by Rolesville Furniture: Having a going out of business forever sale, with total liquidation at sacrifice prices! All in stock and ready to bring home now.

Saturday on AT 40, hear the big songs this week in 1984! CDs by these artists were likely to end up under the tree: newcomers Wham, veterans Hall & Oates, and video darlings Cyndi Lauper and Duran Duran, they all have songs in the Top Ten! MTV favorites Prince, Madonna, and Huey Lewis round out the second ten and first-timer Billy Ocean has two entries in the countdown this week. Classic 80s AT 40 on KIX, Saturday 6-10am, with an encore presentation 8pm to midnight.

Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back the favorite tunes this week in 1977! Modern Day Classics were heard for the first time: “We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions”, “You Make Lovin Fun”, and “How Deep is Your Love”. Linda Ronstadt is red-hot with two Top Ten hits! Paul Nicholas has his One Hit Wonder with “Heaven On The 7th Floor” and the eternally sappy “You Light Up My Life” just won’t go away, having spent 8 weeks at #1! The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications every Sunday from 9 to noon, only on KIX.

AT40 With Casey Kasem: ARS Rescue Rooter 11/20 & 11/21

AT40 With Casey Kasem: ARS Rescue Rooter 11/20 & 11/21

It’s the Original American Top 40 with Casey Kasem featuring hits from this week in 1978 and 1983! Presented by ARS Rescue Rooter. For all your Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing needs. Go to www.ars.com/raleigh and see online specials. Or call 919-865-7777.

Saturday on AT40 hear the big songs this week in 1983! The top five includes famous duets: Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers with “Islands in The Stream” and Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson with “Say Say Say”. Michael is also just outside the top ten with “PYT”. Prepare to have your world rocked from Quiet Riot “Cum on Feel The Noize” followed by the ultra-melancholy “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler. We’re mixing it up for you on this classic AT40 show on KIX, Saturday 6-10am, with an encore presentation 8 to midnight.

Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back the favorite tunes  this week in 1978! Barbra Streisand teams with Neil Diamond for “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers”. Kenny Loggins gets a vocal assist from Stevie Nicks on “Whenever I Call You Friend”. Ballads from Ambrosia, Anne Murray, and Gino Vanelli dominate the top ten, but Foreigner is ready to rock with “Double Vision”. Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park” held the #1 spot last week and is hoping for a repeat! The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications, every Sunday 9-noon, only on KIX!

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: 11/13 & 11/14

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: 11/13 & 11/14

It’s the Original American Top 40 with Casey Kasem, featuring hits from this week in 1970 and 1982!

Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs this week in 1982! Rockers Rush make their only AT40 appearance with “New World Man”. It’s the first of many entries for newcomers Men at Work with “Who Can It Be Now”, Lionel Ritchie with “Truly” and Michael McDonald with “I Keep Forgettin” are finding great solo success outside The Commodores and The Doobie Brothers. An Officer and A Gentleman is top at the box office and it’s theme “Up Where We Belong” is making a strong case for #1! Hear the complete 80s classic American Top 40 shows on KIX, Saturday 6-10am, with an encore presentation 8 to midnight.

Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back the favorite tunes  this week in 1970! These acts were brand spankin’ new: The Partridge Family with “I Think I Love You”, James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain”, and The Carpenters’ “We’ve Only Just Begun”. The Top Ten is shared by rockers Sugarloaf with “Green Eyed Lady”, along with One Hit Wonders R. Dean Taylor with “Indiana Wants Me” and Brian Hyland with “Gypsy Woman”, but the Jackson Five is looking mighty-mighty at #1 for the past four weeks with “I’ll Be There”! The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications, every Sunday 9-noon, only on KIX!

Presented by NC Theatre’s Lady Day about the life and music of Billie Holiday. Showing through this Sunday, in downtown Raleigh. Learn more at NCTheatre.com

AT40 With Casey Kasem: 11/6 – 11/7

AT40 With Casey Kasem: 11/6 – 11/7

It’s the Original American Top 40 with Casey Kasem, featuring hits from this week in 1977 and 1980! Presented by Newcomb and Company! Turn to the experts at Newcomb and Company. Your comfort is our business www.newcombandcompany.com

Saturday on AT40 hear the big songs this week in 1980! The Divas rule the Top Ten with Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, and Donna Summer all registering hits. Rounding out the Top Ten are soft rockers by Kenny Rogers and The Pointer Sisters. It’s up to songs by Queen, Pat Benatar, and Stevie Wonder to rock things up a bit. And get ready to pogo with your flower-pot-hats on! Devo is in the countdown with “Whip It”! Hear the complete 80s classic AT40 shows on KIX, Saturday 6-10AM, with an encore presentation 8PM to midnight.

Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back the favorite tunes  this week in 1977! Dance music is King, with hits by Heatwave, The Commodores, and the disco “Star Wars” medley in the Top Ten. You’ll hear Country/Pop crossover artists Crystal Gayle with “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” and Rita Coolidge with “We’re All Alone”. A tribute to Elvis Presley “The King Is Gone” by Ronnie McDowell. Prepare for a Sugar Coma – the sweet and sappy “You Light Up My Life” by Debby Boone has been at #1 for the past three weeks! The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications, every Sunday 9AM-noon, only on KIX.

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: 10/30 & 10/31

AT 40 With Casey Kasem: 10/30 & 10/31

It’s the Original American Top 40 with Casey Kasem featuring hits from 1976 and 1985!

This Saturday on AT40, hear the big songs this week in 1985! Miami Vice was huge on TV… it was like watching an hour-long music video, and you’ll hear its theme song plus “You Belong To The City” by Glenn Frey, as heard on the show…the 8 minute ad for MTV “Money For Nothing” is included. PLUS two songs from the St. Elmo’s Fire soundtrack. Video music rules the charts, but can these hits upend fast riser “Part Time Lover” by Stevie Wonder? Hear the complete 80s  classic AT40 shows on KIX, Saturday 6-10am, with an encore presentation 8 to midnight.

Sunday morning on KIX, Casey Kasem plays back the favorite tunes  this week in 1976! In the top ten you’ll hear newcomer, fast mover, and former KIX-AM DJ, Rick Dees with the silly “Disco Duck”. First timers Wild Cherry with “Play That Funky Music” plus Hall & Oates with “She’s Gone”.  Also included is from TV’s The Young and The Restless, the beautiful instrumental “Nadia’s Theme”. Peter Frampton and Boz Scaggs from their now classic albums “Frampton Comes Alive” and “Silk Degrees”. Veterans Chicago are making a strong case for the second week at #1 with “If You Leave Me Now”. The Countdown, Casey’s stories, and the Long Distance Dedications, every Sunday 9AM-noon, only on KIX.

Presented by North Carolina Opera featuring Fidelio! On Sunday, November 14, 2021 at 2:00 PM at Meymandi Concert Hall, Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts FIDELIO is generously sponsored by Ross Lampe, Jr. FIDELIO is Beethoven’s only opera, based on a true story from the French Revolution about a woman who, disguised as a man, freed her husband from prison. The original version of the opera received its premiere in 1805 in Vienna, but thanks to Napoleonic invasion and French occupation, it attracted little notice at first. Beethoven took the opportunity to rewrite the piece – including several versions of the overture – and it was successful in its final version in 1814. The inspired music, the vigor and excitement of the rescue scene, the great chorus, the beauty of the Act I quartet (that has the same feel of a slow movement from one of Beethoven’s symphonies) won over the Viennese public and subsequent audiences. At the same time, the opera’s message of hope, and of liberation from tyranny has made the piece resonate with audiences around the world even beyond its musical impact. Arthur Fagen conducts the NCO Orchestra and Chorus. Alexandra LoBianco (previously seen here in Tosca and Siegfried) sings Leonore, and Carl Tanner (previously seen here in Pagliacci and Samson et Dalila) sings Florestan. Other returning artists include Kenneth Kellogg as Rocco and Takaoki Onishi as Don Fernando.

FIDELIO lasts approximately 2h30m, including one intermission. Sung in German with English supertitles Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven Librettist: Joseph Sonnleithner Premiere: 1814, Theater am Kärntnertor, Vienna, Austria

American Top 40: 10/23 & 10/24

American Top 40: 10/23 & 10/24

It’s the Original American Top 40 with Casey Kasem featuring hits from 1970 and 1984. Presented by ARS Rescue Rooter! For all your Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing needs. Go to www.arsraleighdurham.com and see online specials.

… Continue Reading
AT40 With Casey Kasem: 10/16 & 10/17

AT40 With Casey Kasem: 10/16 & 10/17

It’s the Original American Top 40 with Casey Kasem, featuring hits from this week in 1975 and 1987! Presented by Rolesville Furniture and Affordable Dentures!

Presented by Rolesville Furniture: For everyday guaranteed lowest prices on brand name furniture, including Ashley, you can bring home today. Stop in Rolesville Furniture’s huge showroom just ten minutes north of Raleigh! Visit us online at rolesvillefurniture.com

Presented by Affordable Dentures and Implants. Everyone deserves to love their smile. Now open at Plantation Point Shopping Center near Capital Boulevard and 5-40 in Raleigh. Or go to affordabledentures.com

… Continue Reading
Twisted Trivia: Win Tickets to See Elvis Costello & The Imposters

Twisted Trivia: Win Tickets to See Elvis Costello & The Imposters

Get Ready to Pump it Up! Play Twisted Trivia just after 8am with Jenn LuMaye for your chance to win tickets to see Elvis Costello and the Imposters. Stopping here on Elvis’s “Hello Again” tour for one night only, October 18th, at the Duke Energy Center in downtown Raleigh.

Click HERE to buy tickets now through Ticketmaster.com

AT40 With Casey Kasem: 10/9 & 10/10

AT40 With Casey Kasem: 10/9 & 10/10

It’s the Original American Top 40 with Casey Kasem … featuring hits from 1972 and 1982. Presented by Habitat for Humanity Restores and Affordable Dentures and Implants!

… Continue Reading
Twisted Trivia: Listen To Win Tickets To Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Twisted Trivia: Listen To Win Tickets To Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Kick on the holiday lights … the Christmas Bells … the … guitars?

… Continue Reading
From Ditch Lilies to Showstoppers: Growing Daylilies in North Carolina

From Ditch Lilies to Showstoppers: Growing Daylilies in North Carolina

By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend Gardener

Our loyal Weekend Gardener listener and friend Steve is the pot master of the universe when it comes to daylilies (Hemerocallis). You may have heard them referred to as “ditch lilies. These perennials originated in China. I must say though, they just love the climate here in North Carolina.

There are over 60-thousand varieties with lots of colors from pale yellow to pink to lavender to maroon. They are extremely popular in North Carolina and there are active daylily clubs all over the state including Raleigh. Our friend Steve’s club meets at the Ralston Arboretum. Once upon a time Rufus entered a daylily from his landscape in the club’s marvelous show and won a blue ribbon. You would have thought he had been handed the Nobel prize.

The daylily is easy to grow and has many uses in the landscape. As you might expect, daylilies need a full sun exposure for the best blooming. That translates into at least 6 hours. They prefer well-drained soil which means level ground is good, however daylilies work well on slopes. They can adapt to most soils and are drought tolerant. Due to their ginormous root system, they can help stabilize the soil to help prevent erosion. They also look good in mixed borders. If you like reliable, this is your plant.

As the name indicates, each individual daylily bloom only lasts a day. Of course there are numerous buds on any healthy plans so you will get weeks of blooming pleasure. There are also reblooming varieties available too.

Your local nursery and plantsmen at the state farmers market will have plenty of information about dayliles and some popular varieties.

When you find the perfect spot in your yard, break up the soil and add some organic matter. If you have your own backyard compost, that will work well for your purpose. The daylily folks recommend planting a foot apart as the foliage and root system both need room. Set each plant’s crown about an inch below the surface. Tamp the soil down to secure your plant and to prevent air pockets. Water the daylilies after planting. Add a couple of inches of hardwood mulch or pinestraw. Continue watering deeply as needed until well established. Daylilies like slightly moist soil. Pay close attention if you plant in the early summer when you are likely to be inspired by the beauty of the flowers. They are usually near their peak around here in mid to late June.

I don’t fertilize anything in my landscape except for the small patch of fescue I have and the one grandiflora rose I maintain because it has extraordinary blooms and is totally reliable. For daylilies, some folks use a balanced fertilizer with low nitrogen and higher potassium and potash, something like Plantone from Espoma in the spring. Generally don’t go overboard with fertilizer especially with a blooming plant.

Daylilies are of course a bulb, so you may want to divide them once in a while to revitalize, move to other parts of your landscape or share with a neighbor. The folks at the Hemerocallis society recommend dividing your plants right after they bloom. Just dig up the whole plant, separate the clumps and get as much soil off the roots as possible. Pull the clumps apart, separate by the roots.

It’s always a good idea to do a little maintenance to your day lilies during and after the blooming season. Remove spent blooms after flowering. In winter, get rid of dead foliage and cut the stakes to the ground.

There are lots of daylily experts around the state. You can check the North Carolina Hemerocallis Society and many local clubs like the Raleigh Daylily Club. Everyone should find a sunny spot in their landscape for these beauties. Don’t be the only person in your neighborhood to be without daylilies, you hear!

Trump deploys California National Guard to LA to quell protests despite the governor’s objections

Trump deploys California National Guard to LA to quell protests despite the governor’s objections

By ERIC THAYER, MORGAN LEE and MICHELLE L. PRICE Associated Press

PARAMOUNT, Calif. (AP) — President Donald Trump is deploying 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles over the objections of Gov. Gavin Newsom after a second day of clashes between hundreds of protesters and federal immigration authorities in riot gear.

Confrontations broke out on Saturday near a Home Depot in the heavily Latino city of Paramount, south of Los Angeles, where federal agents were staging at a Department of Homeland Security office nearby. Agents unleashed tear gas, flash-bang explosives and pepper balls, and protesters hurled rocks and cement at Border Patrol vehicles. Smoke wafted from small piles of burning refuse in the streets.

Tensions were high after a series sweeps by immigration authorities the previous day, including in LA’s fashion district and at a Home Depot, as the weeklong tally of immigrant arrests in the city climbed past 100. A prominent union leader was arrested while protesting and accused of impeding law enforcement.

Tear gas and smoke filled the air on the southern outskirts of Los Angeles on Saturday as confrontations between immigration authorities and demonstrators extended into a second day and top Trump administration officials vowed to prosecute anyone who interferes with enforcement. (AP video shot by Eugene Garcia)

The White House announced that Trump would deploy the Guard to “address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester.” It wasn’t clear when the troops would arrive.

Newsom, a Democrat, said in a post on the social platform X that it was “purposefully inflammatory and will only escalate tensions.” He later said the federal government wants a spectacle and urged people not to give them one by becoming violent.

In a signal of the administration’s aggressive approach, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth threatened to deploy the U.S. military.

“If violence continues, active-duty Marines at Camp Pendleton will also be mobilized — they are on high alert,” Hegseth said on X.

Sporadic confrontations broke out again Saturday in the heavily Latino satellite city of Paramount, south of Los Angeles, the second day of clashes between hundreds of protesters and federal immigration authorities in riot gear. Agents unleashed tear gas, flash-bang explosives and pepper balls, and protesters hurled rocks and cement at Border Patrol patrol vehicles. (AP video shot by Eric Thayer)

Trump’s order came after clashes in Paramount and neighboring Compton, where a car was set fire. Protests continued into the evening in Paramount, with several hundred demonstrators gathered near a doughnut shop, and authorities holding up barbed wire to keep the crowd back.

Crowds also gathered again outside federal buildings in downtown Los Angeles, including a detention center, where local police declared an unlawful assembly and began to arrest people.

Standoff in Paramount

Earlier in Paramount, immigration officers faced off with demonstrators at the entrance to a business park, across from the back of a Home Depot. They set off fireworks and pulled shopping carts into the street, broke up cinder blocks and pelted a procession of Border Patrol vans as they departed and careened down a boulevard.

U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said federal agents made more arrests of people with deportation orders on Saturday, but none were at the Home Depot. The Department of Homeland Security has a building next door and agents were staging there as they prepared to carry out operations, he said on Fox11 Los Angeles. He didn’t say how many people were arrested Saturday or where.

Paramount Mayor Peggy Lemons told multiple news outlets that community members showed up in response because people are fearful about activity by immigration agents.

“When you handle things the way that this appears to be handled, it’s not a surprise that chaos would follow,” Lemons said.

Some demonstrators jeered at officers while recording the events on smartphones.

“ICE out of Paramount. We see you for what you are,” a woman said through a megaphone. “You are not welcome here.”

More than a dozen people were arrested and accused of impeding immigration agents, Essayli posted on X, including the names and mug shots of some of those arrested. He didn’t say where they were protesting.

Trump calls up the Guard

Trump federalized part of California’s National Guard under what is known as Title 10 authority, which places him, not the governor, atop the chain of command, according to Newsom’s office.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that the work the immigration authorities were doing when met with protests is “essential to halting and reversing the invasion of illegal criminals into the United States. In the wake of this violence, California’s feckless Democrat leaders have completely abdicated their responsibility to protect their citizens.”

The president’s move came shortly after he issued a threat on his social media network saying that if Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass did not “do their jobs,” then “the Federal Government will step in and solve the problem, RIOTS & LOOTERS, the way it should be solved!!!”

Trump signed the order shortly before he went to attend a UFC fight in New Jersey, where he sat ringside with boxer Mike Tyson.

Newsom said in his statement that local authorities “are able to access law enforcement assistance at a moment’s notice,” and “there is currently no unmet need.”

The California Highway Patrol said Newsom directed it to deploy additional officers to “maintain public safety.”

In 2020, Trump asked governors of several states to deploy their National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., to quell protests after George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police. Many agreed and sent troops.

Trump also threatened at the time to invoke the Insurrection Act for those protests — an intervention rarely seen in modern American history. But then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper pushed back, saying the law should be invoked “only in the most urgent and dire of situations.”

Trump did not invoke the act during his first term, and he did not do so Saturday, according to Leavitt and Newsom.

Arrests in Los Angeles

Protests kicked off a day earlier in Los Angeles after federal authorities arrested 44 people for violating immigration law Friday.

DHS later said recent ICE operations in Los Angeles resulted in the arrest of 118 immigrants, including five people linked to criminal organizations and people with prior criminal histories.

David Huerta, regional president of the Service Employees International Union, was also arrested Friday while protesting. The Justice Department confirmed that he was being held Saturday at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles ahead of a scheduled Monday court appearance.

Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for his immediate release, warning of a “disturbing pattern of arresting and detaining American citizens for exercising their right to free speech.”

___

Lee reported from Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Price from Bridgewater, New Jersey. Associated Press writers Zeke Miller and Eric Tucker in Washington and Rebecca Boone in Boise, Idaho, contributed.

Baked Salmon Sushi Cups

Baked Salmon Sushi Cups

Baked Salmon Sushi Cups

Homemade salmon sushi cups

Baked Salmon Sushi Cups Recipe from Delish

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 30 minutes

Serving size: 12 servings

Ingredients

  • Cooking spray
  • 2 cups cooked sushi rice
  • 3 nori sheets, quartered
  • 1 (1 1/2-lb.) skinless salmon fillet, cut into 1/2″ cubes
  • 2 scallions, thinly sliced, plus more for serving
  • 1 tsp. toasted sesame oil
  • 4 Tbsp. Japanese mayonnaise (such as Kewpie), divided
  • 2 1/4 tsp. sriracha, divided
  • Kosher salt
  • 2 tsp. black and white sesame seeds

Directions

  1. Arrange a rack in upper third of oven; preheat to 400°. Lightly coat a standard 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray.
  2. Scoop 1 heaping Tbsp. sushi rice into the center of each piece of nori. Transfer nori to prepared tin rice side up. Using a spoon, gently pack rice into an even layer in bottom of cup.
  3. In a large bowl, toss salmon, scallions, oil, 2 Tbsp. mayonnaise, 2 tsp. sriracha, and 1/4 tsp. salt until combined. Divide salmon mixture among muffin cups (about 1/4 cup each), spooning on top of rice.
  4. Bake until salmon is almost cooked through, about 11 minutes.
  5. Turn on broiler and broil, watching carefully to ensure salmon doesn’t burn, until tops are charred in places and salmon is cooked through, 2 to 4 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes.
  6. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine remaining 2 Tbsp. mayonnaise and 1/4 tsp. sriracha.
  7. Arrange sushi cups on a platter. Drizzle with mayonnaise mixture. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and scallions.
101 dogs living in packed, filthy conditions removed from North Carolina home

101 dogs living in packed, filthy conditions removed from North Carolina home

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Dozens of dogs found living in packed, filthy conditions were removed from a North Carolina home.

Animal control officers responding to a complaint in Raleigh discovered 101 dogs crammed in stacked cages or roaming in confined quarters at the home on Wednesday, the Wake County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said on Facebook. Many of the dogs were small breeds. Among those rescued were several puppies and older dogs.

The homeowner agreed to relinquish the dogs, along with 21 chickens, news outlets reported. The dogs were taken in by eight different shelters and were undergoing medical assessments, the SPCA chapter said. Many dogs had matted fur as well as skin and dental issues.

It wasn’t known whether the homeowner faces charges. A telephone call to the Raleigh police department wasn’t immediately returned Friday.

On Friday, the chapter said that several dogs under its care were “getting the spa day of their lives — and their first taste of fresh air, possibly ever. We’re seeing a lot of smiles from these guys.

“This is the biggest moment in these dogs’ lives, and we are feeling so grateful to be a part of their healing.”

Video shows dolphin calf birth and first breath at Chicago zoo. Mom’s friend helped

Video shows dolphin calf birth and first breath at Chicago zoo. Mom’s friend helped

CHICAGO (AP) — A bottlenose dolphin at a Chicago zoo gave birth to a calf early Saturday morning with the help of a fellow mom, in a successful birth recorded on video by zoo staff.

The dolphin calf was born at Brookfield Zoo Chicago early Saturday morning as a team of veterinarians monitored and cheered on the mom, a 38-year-old bottlenose dolphin named Allie.

“Push, push, push,” one observer can be heard shouting in video released by the zoo Saturday, as Allie swims around the tank, the calf’s little tail fins poking out below her own.

A bottlenose dolphin at the Brookfield Zoo Chicago gave birth to a calf early Saturday morning with the help of a fellow mom. (AP Video)

Then the calf wriggles free and instinctively darts to the surface of the pool for its first breath. Also in the tank was an experienced mother dolphin named Tapeko, 43, who stayed close to Allie through her more than one hour of labor. In the video, she can be seen following the calf as it heads to the surface, and staying with it as it takes that first breath.

It is natural for dolphins to look out for each other during a birth, zoo staff said.

“That’s very common both in free-ranging settings but also in aquaria,” said Brookfield Zoo Chicago Senior Veterinarian Dr. Jennifer Langan in a video statement. “It provides the mom extra protection and a little bit of extra help to help get the calf to the surface to help it breath in those couple minutes where she’s still having really strong contractions.”

In a written statement, zoo officials said early signs indicate that the calf is in good health. They estimate it weighs around 35 pounds (16 kilograms) and stretches nearly four feet in length (115-120 centimeters). That is about the weight and length of an adult golden retriever dog.

The zoo’s Seven Seas exhibit will be closed as the calf bonds with its mother and acclimates with other dolphins in its group.

As part of that bonding, the calf has already learned to slipstream, or draft alongside its mother so that it doesn’t have to work as hard to move. Veterinarians will monitor progress in nursing, swimming and other milestones particularly closely over the next 30 days.

The calf will eventually take a paternity test to see which of the male dolphins at the zoo is its father.

Zoo officials say they will name the calf later this summer.

Sovereignty beats Journalism to win the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga

Sovereignty beats Journalism to win the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga

By SPENCER RIPCHIK Associated Press

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) — Sovereignty bested Journalism on Saturday in a Kentucky Derby rematch to win the 157th Belmont Stakes, the second hosted at Saratoga.

Sovereignty and jockey Junior Alvarado traversed the field of eight on a fast Saratoga track after downpours throughout the morning and early afternoon dried up before post time.

The 5-2 second favorite won in 2 minutes, 0.69 seconds, beating Preakness Stakes winner Journalism by three lengths.

Journalism ended up in second again and Baeza was third — the same 1-2-3 as the Kentucky Derby.

Journalism entered the gate at the Belmont as the 2-1 favorite, with Baeza the third favorite at 7-2.

Sovereignty led off the first leg of the Triple Crown by winning the Derby in early May. The Bill Mott-trained colt also edged Journalism in that race.

After the Derby win, the Godolphin-owned 3-year-old opted out of the Preakness to focus on the Belmont, forfeiting a shot at history to win the Triple Crown. The Triple Crown hasn’t been won since 2018, when Bob Baffert’s Justify won the 105th Belmont Stakes to secure the third jewel.

Journalism was the only horse to run in all three legs, winning the Preakness.

Beef Birria Consomé

Beef Birria Consomé

Beef Birria Consomé

Consomé

Beef Birria Consomé Recipe from Chef Billy Parisi

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 3 hours

Serving size: 12 servings

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds of assorted beef cuts: chuck, bottom round, shanks
  • 2 pounds lamb shanks
  • 3 tablespoons oil
  • 3 peeled and roughly chopped white or yellow onions
  • 5 garlic cloves
  • 4 cored roughly chopped vine-ripe tomatoes
  • 4 seeded and stemmed dried guajillo chiles
  • 4 seeded and stemmed dried ancho chiles
  • 8-10 allspice berries
  • ½ cinnamon stick, broken up
  • 12-15 black peppercorns
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
  • 1 ½ tablespoons dried oregano
  • 1 ½ tablespoons dried thyme
  • 2 cups of water
  • 1 gallon of water or beef stock
  • sea salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste
  • juice of fresh lemons
  • diced yellow or white onions, diced radishes, and chopped fresh cilantro for garnish

Directions

  1. Season both the beef and lamb well on all sides with sea salt and pepper. Set aside.
  2. Next, add the oil to a large pot or rondeau over high heat. Once it begins to smoke add in the meat and lamb and sear until well browned on all sides, about 6-8 minutes per side.
  3. Remove the beef from the pot and set it aside.
  4. Now, place in the onions and cook over medium heat for about 20-25 minutes or until caramelized.
  5. Place in the garlic and give it a quick sauté with the onions for about 4-5 minutes.
  6. Next, pour in the tomatoes, chiles, allspice berries, cinnamon, peppercorns, bay leaves, cumin seeds, oregano, and thyme and stew on medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes to soften up the peppers and cook the tomatoes.
  7. Deglaze with 2 cups of water and continue to cook on medium-high heat until the liquid is reduced by ½ or about 15 minutes.
  8. Transfer the mixture to a blender and puree at high speed until smooth. See note on how to blend hot food.
  9. Pour the mixture back into the pot along with water or beef stock. Season this mixture well with salt and pepper.
  10. Place the seared meat back into the pot, cover, and cook on medium-medium-high for about 2 hours, or until the meat is easily shredded. The liquid should be at a rapid bubble or a very low boil the entire time.
  11. Remove the meat, discard any bones, and roughly chop on a cutting board. Keep aside.
  12. Next, strain the remaining liquid through a fine-mesh strainer or chinois and return it to the pot along with the chopped meat.
  13. To serve: Place the desired amount of birria consomé into a bowl and garnish with fresh-squeezed lemon juice, onions, radishes, and cilantro.
Walmart’s army of bakery decorators take the cake when it comes to hourly store pay

Walmart’s army of bakery decorators take the cake when it comes to hourly store pay

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Inside a Walmart store in New Jersey, a worker puts the finishing touches on a cake with an edible ink Sponge Bob on top. A colleague creates a buttercream rosette border for a different cake, while another co-worker frosts a tier of what will be a triple-deck dessert.

It’s graduation season, the busiest time of year for the 6,200 employees the nation’s largest retailer trained to hand-decorate cakes per customers’ orders. The cakes themselves come, pre-made, frozen and in a variety of shapes and sizes, from suppliers, not Walmart’s in-store bakeries.

But there’s no sugar-coating the importance the company places on its custom cake business. Its army of icing artisans are the highest paid hourly workers in a typical U.S. Walmart, excluding managers. Cake decorators earn an average of $19.25 per hour, compared with $18.25 for all non-managerial store workers, a company spokesperson said.

Walmart’s cake decorators, the chain’s top non-manager hourly earners, are driving strong business during graduation season with affordable, custom-designed cakes. (AP Video: Ted Shaffrey)

Melissa Fernandez, 36, started working in the electronics area and then the wireless services department of the Walmart in North Bergen, New Jersey, before she transferred to the deli area in search of better pay. But Fernandez had her eye on a cake decorating job and after spending two months getting trained by a store colleague, she picked up a piping bag full-time in 2021.

“I love baking at home. I love painting,” Fernandez said. “I love doing anything artistic, and I just always wanted to be a part of it.” After 11 years with Walmart, she said she now makes about $24.40 an hour.

Despite their elite status within Walmart, the retailer’s cake decorators have attracted detractors on social media.

The company promotes its personalized baked goods on TikTok, and the workers behind such creations do the same with their own profiles. As the content has grown in popularity, critics have accused Walmart decorators of stealing ideas and undercutting the work of professional cake artists with their low-priced products.

After TikTok videos praising Walmart’s $25 heart-shaped cakes with borders that resemble vintage lace cropped up before Valentine’s Day this year, a few bakers produced their own videos explaining why their cakes cost so much more and critiquing Walmart’s.

Debates ensued in the comments sections over whether Walmart represented evils of capitalism or served the needs of the masses.

A customized sheet cake that can be sliced to serve 96 people costs $59 at Walmart, about one-third to half the price that a nationwide sample of independent bakeries list online for similarly sized cakes. For $5.20 more, Walmart customers can add strawberry or “Bavarian creme” fillings, which like the bare cakes, are vendor-supplied.

The slice of the celebratory occasion cake market Walmart holds appears vast based on company-supplied figures. One out of four cakes sold in the U.S. comes from Walmart, and its employees will collectively decorate more than 1 million cakes during May and June, according to a company spokesperson.

The number of cakes decorated each day at the location where Fernandez works nearly doubles to 50-60 when school graduations come around, compared to 30-35 a day during the rest of the year, said Michael DeMarco, the manager of the store’s fresh food department. He credits the decorators’ talent and promotional efforts on TikTok.

“We’re getting a lot of repeat customers. We’re doing a lot more business because of just the viral sensations,” DeMarco said.

A TikTok video that showed Fernandez designing a $24 version of a customized bouquet cake — 12 cupcakes that are individually decorated and arranged to look like a bunch of flowers — received nearly a half-million views. The bouquet design was one of the North Bergen store’s most popular cakes last month, a company spokesperson said.

The dressy heart-shaped cakes, as well as cakes that resemble meals like sushi or a pile of spaghetti and meatballs, are popular too, she said. Fernandez also has created “burn away” cakes: an iced cake topped with an image printed on paper, which is set ablaze to reveal a different image underneath.

“TikTok helps me stay up to date,” she said. “A lot of trends that I see on there, within that week or within that month, customers will come asking about it. And we’re pretty up to date as well.”

Jazzing up a cake by hand requires skill, whether or not someone else did the baking, she said. Funneling buttercream frosting through a bag and various sized piping tips to yield the desired design without misplaced blobs is not the same as drawing or painting, Fernandez explained.

“There’s a lot of pressure points that you have to practice in order to get the borders correct and the right thickness or the right texture,” she said.

Tiffany Witzke, who has been a Walmart cake decorator since July 2016 and works at a store in Springfield, Missouri, has more than 912,000 followers on TikTok. The job attracts people who “can be extremely skilled and talented,” Witzke said, adding that customers want increasingly complicated designs.

“When I first started, it was basically just borders and writing,” she said. “Now, everybody wants more and more and more on their cake.”

Liz Berman, owner of The Sleepy Baker, in Natick, Massachusetts, said she’s not worried about losing customers to Walmart because of her attention to detail and the premium ingredients she uses.

She charges $205 and up for a half-sized sheet cake, the bouquets made up of two dozen miniature cupcakes cost $110. All the cakes are made from scratch, and Berman said she designs everything herself.

“It’s just a totally different business model,” she said. “Everything I do is custom.”

For Walmart, the cake decorating business delivers higher profit margins than some other areas, such as groceries and electronics, according to Marshal Cohen, chief retail advisor at market research firm Circana. But it’s also resonating with shoppers looking for affordable luxuries.

“We’ve gone into a period where the consumer is saying, ‘This is good enough,’” Cohen said.

Customers interviewed at the North Bergen store on a recent weekday seemed to be satisfied. George Arango, 34, picked up two customized cakes, one to celebrate a co-worker’s retirement and the other for a colleague getting another job. After researching prices on various store websites, he decided to give Walmart a try.

“The price is fantastic,” he said. “I’m walking out with two cakes for $40.”

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ ex-girlfriend resumes testimony about his sexual interests

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ ex-girlfriend resumes testimony about his sexual interests

By MICHAEL R. SISAK, LARRY NEUMEISTER and DAVE COLLINS Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Sean “Diddy” Combs ‘ recent ex-girlfriend returned to the witness stand Friday in his sex trafficking trial, after testifying that he pressured her into drug-fueled sex marathons similar to those described by another former girlfriend, R&B singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura.

The woman using the pseudonym “Jane” is among several witnesses at the trial — now at the end of its fourth week — who accuse Combs of violence, including Cassie. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to running his business empire as a racketeering enterprise that enabled and concealed the abuse of women over two decades. If convicted, he faces 15 years to life.

Prosecutors questioned Jane about sexual subjects right from the start Friday, beginning with a 2023 trip to Las Vegas where Jane said she and Combs had a “hotel night” with an “entertainer.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey asked if Combs ever used the word “freak.” Jane said he would say “he wants his freak.” She said she understood that to mean “he wanted me to be wild and sexual.”

Her description of “hotel nights” has closely paralleled Cassie’s earlier testimony about numerous “ freak-offs ” she had with male sex workers under Combs’ direction.

Jane said during her first day of testimony Thursday that she repeatedly told Combs, in person and in writing, that she didn’t want to have sex with other men. But Combs, who paid her rent and controlled other parts of her life, kept pressuring her and she felt “obligated” to take part in the “hotel nights,” she said.

Jane said Thursday that she got to know Combs during a “girls trip” to Miami in 2020 and dated him from 2021 to 2024. She said it began as a loving and passionate relationship, but he soon began sharing his fantasies involving her with other men and role playing. She said she came to regret it.

After May 2021, she said 90% of the times she had sex during her relationship with Combs, it was with other men while he watched. Asked if she wanted to have sex with other men, Jane softly said, “No… just Sean.”

Both Jane and Cassie have described trying to rush through the encounters just to get them over with. Jane said the encounters sometimes lasted over 24 hours.

The judge has taken steps to protect Jane’s anonymity, including warning observers not to describe or sketch her in a way that would reveal her identity. The Associated Press does not identify people who say they’re victims of sexual abuse unless they choose to make their names public, as Cassie has done.

On Thursday, Judge Arun Subramanian threatened to eject Combs from the courtroom if he continued “nodding vigorously” at jurors, telling lawyers that there should be no attempts by him to have an interaction with the jury.

___

Collins reported from Hartford, Connecticut.

What’s next for influencer Livvy Dunne after college gymnastics career? ‘Everything,’ she says

What’s next for influencer Livvy Dunne after college gymnastics career? ‘Everything,’ she says

By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — With her college gymnastics days behind her, influencer and Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Livvy Dunne is moving on with life — but that doesn’t mean she’ll be far from the public eye.

Dunne, who has more than 13 million followers on social media, created a multimillion-dollar personal brand while competing as a gymnast at LSU. Now she’s trying to help other female athletes do the same, helping to educate them about name, image and likeness deals and personal branding.

“I’m going to miss gymnastics so much because it has been a part of me for almost 20 years,” Dunne told The Associated Press at AthleteCon, where she had a speaking engagement. “What’s next? Everything. I want to do all of the things that I couldn’t do while I was a gymnast” because of the time constraints of being a student-athlete.

“So there are some really cool opportunities — stay tuned,” she added.

Dunne didn’t disclose any details, but it’s clear she plans to maintain her personal brand, which she developed along with the help of older sister and manager Julz Dunne.

AthleteCon CEO Sam Green, who has helped land more than 1,000 NIL deals, invited the Dunne sisters to speak to college athletes as part of a two-day seminar. Athletes met with representatives from social media platforms including TikTok, Snapchat and Meta, created live content and competed for NIL deals. They learned how to turn a creative idea into a brand.

More than 100 athletes attended, with another 150 turned away because of space constraints.

Green’s company slogan is “all athletes are creators.”

“I’m really big on giving athletes the tools to monetize their brand,” Green said.

Few, if any, have done that better than Livvy Dunne.

She helped the Tigers to the 2024 national championship as a junior before missing this past season because of an injury. But she was better known on social media, where she amassed more than 8 million followers on TikTok and 5.3 million on Instagram before leaving LSU.

Advertisers took notice.

She was the highest-paid female college athlete across all sports during her time with the Tigers, earning more than $4.1 million, according to On3. She worked with brands like Nautica, Crocs and Sports Illustrated, where she recently did a split on the catwalk on a “triple dare.”

Her boyfriend is Pittsburgh Pirates star pitcher Paul Skenes, who played baseball at LSU.

“She’s it,” Green said. “She’s the road map. She’s the blueprint and she was the first to do it. The Dunnes are so innovative and they have done it with genuine intent. Livvy is the definition of NIL, in my opinion, at least true NIL and what it was meant to be from the start.”

Dunne said navigating the ever-changing world of NIL was like living in the wild West.

“I learned that you don’t have to do one thing and be great at that one thing,” Dunne said. “You can do multiple different things and find success in tons of different areas.”

But there were trying times as she balanced classes, competition and the constant demand for multiple daily social media posts.

She remembers walking into LSU gymnastics coach Jay Clark’s office in tears because of stress about her schedule.

She fought through it and is glad she did.

“I hope people here take away that you are more than your sport and everybody deserves to capitalize on their name, image and likeness,” Dunne said. “Curiosity is key. Ask questions, network, and just create because, who knows, the sky is the limit. It got me to where I am today. Don’t just consume, but create.

“Keep posting,” she added. “The audience is there. People are interested. They want to see what you have to offer. Everyone’s story is different and has to be told.”

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