If you’ve ever wanted a burger to look like a leaning tower of toppings, take a page from this Australian classic or a similar version made in New Zealand.
Mashed – Fast Food, Celebrity Chefs, Grocery, Reviews
Day: April 14, 2026
The Orioles faced a six-run deficit and a manager nursing a foul ball to the face when things were at their lowest on Monday night. The Diamondbacks had hammered two Baltimore pitchers for seven runs in six innings. Orioles manager Craig Albernaz had exited the dugout after a foul ball off the bat of his No. 8 hitter, Jeremiah Jackson, struck his cheek and left a bloody laceration. As bleak and hopeless as all this was, the Orioles didn’t let it get to them. They had 12 outs to fight, claw back and rally, but they only needed nine. Baltimore started chipping away in the bottom of the sixth. They wanted at least a couple of big hits to mount a resurgence. Fittingly, none other than Jackson delivered a grand slam to cut the O’s deficit to 7-6. Albernaz hugged Jackson, who atoned for his frightening foul ball accident. Things were looking up. Still, the toughest challenge remained. Getting close is one thing, and taking the lead is another. For that, Baltimore would need a hero. Who else but Pete Alonso completed the comeback with a two-run home run in the seventh inning. Alonso resurrected the Orioles with an 8-7 lead in his signature absurd style, by hitting a dinger to the only person in the stadium wearing a polar bear head because, of course, he did. Alonso, the O’s new Polar Bear, turned toward his dugout, leaped into the air, and let out weeks of pent-up emotion and frustration before starting his home-run trot. For good measure, Jackson belted a solo shot in the eighth inning to pad Baltimore’s lead. Closer Ryan Helsley efficiently took care of business in the ninth, securing his league-leading fifth save of the year for a thrilling, come-from-behind 9–7 Orioles win. For the first time in a long time, the magic returned to Camden Yards. Moments like these were the reason the O’s signed Alonso to a mammoth five-year, $155 million contract this past offseason. They were eager to make the second-largest total financial commitment in Orioles history for Alonso, hoping he would be the answer in high-leverage situations and the veteran leading by example. It didn’t click right away for the slugging first baseman. Adversity and pressure crept into his psyche. On Friday, Alonso faced the media in a somber mood. He fought back tears. His voice wavered. In an eight-game stretch beginning April 3, Alonso went 2-for-31 with one RBI and no home runs. He had only one long ball in his first 15 games with the Orioles. His batting average plummeted to .167, and his slugging percentage dropped to .259. He was frustrated. He vowed to be better, more consistent. He badly wanted to turn it around. Now, the five-time All-Star is heating up. In Sunday’s 6-2 win over the Giants, Alonso went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, two RBI and a run scored. In Monday’s win over Arizona, he went 2-for-3 with another double, a walk, two RBI, and two runs scored, including that energizing go-ahead home run. When Alonso is the engine of the lineup, he’s a stabilizing force that the rest of the offense can build around. He sets the tone. Now, we’ve seen how powerful the Orioles could become with a little maturity and belief. Despite a slew of injuries and persistent questions about the pitching staff, the Orioles have managed to win six of their last seven games. The young core is stepping up alongside Alonso. Good teams can overcome their weaknesses without letting the early part of the season spiral and devolve into a dilemma that’s more concerning than it needs to be. The O’s have 13 players on the injured list. But nobody could tell by the time Helsley pounded his glove on Monday night to secure the comeback win. Ace Zach Eflin exited his 2026 debut on March 31 with right elbow discomfort. A week later, his season ended after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Designated hitter Ryan Mountcastle sustained a left foot fracture and is expected to miss significant time. Second baseman Jackson Holliday is recovering from right hamate surgery. Outfielder Tyler O’Neill is on the concussion list. Over the weekend, catcher Adley Rutschman hit the IL with ankle inflammation. Right-handed reliever Andrew Kittredge is dealing with shoulder inflammation. Injuries plagued the Orioles last season on the way to a last place finish in the American League East. So far, their luck in that department hasn’t been much better. But their ability to be resilient will be a key factor in times of hardship, and what we saw against a competitive Arizona club — being unfazed by a pair of Nolan Arenado home runs, including a three-run blast — was an encouraging turning point that has Orioles fans buzzing. If Alonso continues producing at a high level, then the O’s are on a playoff-caliber trajectory. If shortstop Gunnar Henderson continues his stellar start to the season — including five home runs and a .911 OPS in 16 games — and the supporting cast takes steps forward, then the O’s are a dangerous team. Still, remaining questions have to be addressed about Baltimore’s shaky pitching staff. Will they survive without Eflin? Who will step up without their ace? So far, O’s starters have allowed 40 runs in 80 innings, which is ranked 17th, or slightly below average, in the major leagues. Baltimore’s bullpen, for all its legitimate concerns entering the season, has been surprisingly solid. The relief corps ranks in MLB’s top 10 in ERA, fWAR, and strikeout percentage. Plus, there are a handful of relievers on the O’s IL, indicating this encouraging group will only get stronger. Bullpens are volatile, but what their arms have shown early on is a positive foundation for the rest of the season. So far, the Orioles are imperfect — but explosive. Monday’s huge victory was a microcosm of their initial identity. With Alonso leading the charge, Baltimore is hinting at something bigger. It was the kind of win fans have been dreaming about for months. While their confidence is still growing, the O’s magic is back. “In The Dugout” is where we provide an insider’s view on the biggest and best storylines surrounding MLB’s top players and teams. Deesha Thosar covers Major League Baseball as a reporter and columnist for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.Latest Sports News from FOX Sports
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Last week, we reported on cheating allegations surrounding Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini.
The New England Patriots coach and the NFL journalist — both of whom are married to other people — were spotted hugging and holding hands while they were both in Arizona for team meetings in March.
Now, Russini has stepped down from her job at the New York Times-owned sports media outlet The Athletic, and many are wondering if Vrabel will be next to resign from his post.
Russini reportedly issued her resignation on Tuesday afternoon.
But it’s important to note that in her statement on the subject, she did not admit to any wrongdoing.
“I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published,” Russini wrote, per The Associated Press.
“When the Page Six item first appeared, The Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism. For that I am grateful,” she continued.
“In the days that followed, unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts.
Russini insists that she is stepping down due to the “media frenzy” surrounding her case, and not because of any wrongdoing on her part.
“Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete,” she said, adding:
“It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept.
“Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now — before my current contract expires on June 30. I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.”
NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk speculates that Russini may have made the decision to step down because she sensed that her contract would not be renewed either way.
We don’t know if that’s the case, but it is quite unusual to resign while maintaining that you’ve done nothing wrong,
Vrabel has yet to publicly respond to today’s events.
We will have further updates on this developing story as new information becomes available.
Dianna Russini Resigns Amid Mike Vrabel Cheating Scandal: Will Patriots Coach Step Down … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
Blueberry plants can be persnickety in the wrong conditions. If your soil isn’t acidic enough, your fruit won’t thrive. Change that with this kitchen staple.
Food Republic – Restaurants, Reviews, Recipes, Cooking Tips
Both Kurt Russell and Michelle Pfeiffer are expected to return for Season 3 of ‘The Madison.’ Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Both Kurt Russell and Michelle Pfeiffer are expected to return for Season 3 of ‘The Madison.’ Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
Categories
Albany’s influence wars
DAYS THE BUDGET IS LATE: 14
STONES AND GLASS STATEHOUSES: Gov. Kathy Hochul has raked in almost $200,000 in campaign contributions from insurance companies as she pushes for a proposal she argues would help save both their policyholders — as well as those same companies — lots of money.
But while reaping that campaign cash, Hochul has also attacked members of the Legislature for taking their own political contributions — and she is now arguing their political positions are tainted by those dollars in a way hers are not.
“I’m proud of what we’re doing,” Hochul told reporters today at an unrelated event in the Capital Region. “Money has no influence in what we’re doing.”
One of the sticking points holding up the now two-weeks-late-and-counting state budget is Hochul’s push to limit who can sue for damages when they’re in an auto accident. Right now, even if the accident is your fault, you can still reap a reward. Limiting who can receive damages would save insurers money, and, in theory, cut monthly insurance rates for New York’s millions of drivers, Hochul argues.
But members of the Legislature — who often receive political donations from the state’s trial lawyers, which represent plaintiffs in personal injury suits — say they’re skeptical the push would equate to any real savings for New Yorkers, and they worry it would prevent injured people from receiving the money they deserve in court.
On Monday, Deputy Senate Majority Leader Michael Gianaris made waves in the Capitol when he blamed Hochul for acting like an obstructionist in state budget negotiations.
“It takes three parties to agree, and the person who proposed the budget seems less than willing to appreciate that,” Gianaris said on the Senate floor. He later told reporters Hochul’s negotiating strategy is “a one-way street” when it comes to auto insurance reforms.
A few hours later, Hochul’s spokesperson Kara Cumoletti fired back: “If Sen. Gianaris is interested in making progress, he should urge his colleagues to support the governor’s efforts to lower auto insurance rates, rather than defending a broken system that benefits trial lawyers — one of the top donors to the Senate Campaign Committee he controls.”
Ouch.
Despite her spokesperson insinuating that those looking for Gianaris’ motivations need only follow the money, Hochul insisted her political contributions have nothing to do with her stances, which are driven by a tireless fight for affordability.
“I was responding to criticism that is trying to infer that we are the roadblocks; that we’re not trying to cooperate,” Hochul said today, explaining Cumoletti’s statement.
Since 2021, Hochul has received $194,250 from auto insurance companies and insurance industry associations, per public records. The state Democratic Party, which Hochul controls, also raked in $70,250 from those same groups between 2024 and 2025.
“If interests are aligned, then those interests are also aligned with the interests of every single New Yorker who wants to see their rates go down,” Hochul said when asked about those donations. “I don’t think the trial lawyers’ interests are aligned with New Yorkers.”
The New York State Trial Lawyers Association President Andrew Finkelstein responded in a statement accusing Hochul of getting “into bed with the insurance industry.”
“NYSTLA will fight both in the courthouse and out to keep the doors of justice open to everyone, not just the wealthy few,” Finkelstein said. “Albany is right to pull back the covers and expose who this plan really serves.” — Jason Beeferman
From the Capitol
NO CONCERNS OVER RETIREMENTS: Hochul brushed off any concerns caused by a rash of legislators who have announced their retirements after filing paperwork to get on the ballot, effectively letting them choose their own successors in some cases.
“The process is what it is,” Hochul said. “The vast, vast majority of the time, the system is such that candidates plan to run, they plan to stay, they petition to get on the ballot, and, again, if something unforeseen happens, there is a mechanism that’s in place, the committee on vacancies, that allows that person to be filled. I’m not concluding there’s something sinister about a process that has been in place for a long time.”
Republican state Sen. Jack Martins bowed out of a battleground Nassau County district over the weekend. He previously denied rumors he might retire — but announced his plans to do so after submitting petitions that let area party leaders select Assemblymember Jake Blumencranz to run in his stead.
In the Cortland area, Assemblymember Jeff Gallahan pointed to health concerns when announcing his retirement. He’s giving his spot on the Republican line to Mark Benjamin, the community relations director for a landfill.
And Democratic Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes announced her retirement last week. Her spot on the ballot will go to Buffalo Common Council Member Leah Halton-Pope, and the party will avoid the primary that likely would’ve occurred had Peoples-Stokes announced her plans earlier.
“I think Crystal Peoples-Stokes was planning to stay longer,” Hochul said. “I don’t know if this is some sort of conspiracy to do something untoward. She’s following the laws, and this is how it is. It’s actually pretty rare. It doesn’t happen with great regularity.” — Bill Mahoney
HOCHUL DEFENDS POPE: Hochul said President Donald Trump’s attacks on Pope Leo XIV are “abhorrent” in emotional comments to reporters today.
“The pope is a man of peace,” said Hochul, a Catholic. “He has a right to speak out and wise leaders would be right to listen to him.”
On Sunday, Trump, following a veiled critique from Leo that Jesus “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war,” wrote on Truth Social that “Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy.” Later that day, the president posted a picture that depicted himself as Jesus, an image he deleted the following morning.
Hochul told reporters that “Jesus would be rather shocked at what’s happening these days.”
“The Pope deserves more respect and for someone to release an image that equates the president of the United States with Jesus — or anyone with Jesus — is just reprehensible to, hopefully, everybody,” she said. — Jason Beeferman
FROM CITY HALL
BREAD AND ROSES: The mayor unveiled new details about five city-run grocery stores he plans open by the end of his term — a key campaign promise that has kindled strong feelings from opponents.
The stores will sit on city-owned land, absolving them of paying market-rate rent and property taxes. In exchange, the yet-to-be selected private operators will be contractually required to offer several staples like bread and eggs at a fixed price below the New York City average.
How far below, though, the administration still has not determined.
“What I can tell you is that when New Yorkers come to city-run grocery stores, they will see a clear price differential when it comes to those essentials,” Mamdani said at La Marqueta, the site of a $30 million grocery store set to open in 2029.
Unlike the East Harlem location, other city-run stores will not be built from the ground up, meaning they will open earlier. The first is set to welcome shoppers next year, for example.
While the mayor is planning just five stores, the concept of government grocers has sparked heated backlash from the mayor’s more moderate detractors. John Catsimatidis, owner of the supermarket chain Gristedes, threatened to close all of his stores if Mamdani won, a pledge he walked back after the democratic socialist’s November victory. — Joe Anuta
BUSINESS AS USUAL: New York City Council Member Farah Louis returned to work Tuesday after federal investigators raided her home and her sister’s amid a federal probe on bribery and fraud allegations.
Louis, who has not been charged, appeared at a scheduled Zoning and Franchises subcommittee meeting, which she chairs.
As part of the investigation that led to the indictment, prosecutors have questioned whether Louis and her sister, Debbie Esther Louis, accepted kickbacks in exchange for steering city funds to shelter provider BRAHGS Home Care, according to a search warrant.
Louis directed more than $450,000 in city funds over five years to the nonprofit, according to city documents reviewed by Gothamist.
Louis left the building shortly after the hearing concluded and did not take questions. — Gelila Negesse
FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
D’ESPOSIT-NO: Former Rep. Anthony D’Esposito will not be making a comeback bid for Congress against Democratic Rep. Laura Gillen in a battleground Long Island district.
D’Esposito, who is currently inspector general in the U.S. Labor Department, signaled his interest in returning to Congress earlier this year — though it was unclear if he would quit his job in the Trump administration to do so.
Last month at a House subcommittee hearing, he skirted questions about his congressional aspirations, and the politically powerful Nassau County Republican Committee backed John DeGrace, a former Valley Stream mayor, as its nominee. DeGrace declined the nomination last week, leaving the possibility of a D’Esposito return on the table.
But D’Esposito ruled it out in a statement Tuesday, the final day for local Republicans to choose a replacement candidate. He expressed his personal support for Hempstead Receiver of Taxes Jeanine Driscoll, whom he called a “dear friend.”
“I will continue serving as the 9th Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Labor, working with our team nationwide to root out fraud and put those who steal from Americans behind bars,” D’Esposito said in the statement. “It is an honor to serve in President Trump’s administration and on the Anti-Fraud Task Force led by Vice President JD Vance.”
Read more from Madison Fernandez in POLITICO Pro.
TRUMP BOOSTS BLAKEMAN: The president emphasized his support for Republican Nassau County Executive and gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman shortly after an appearance on Fox Business that was ridiculed by Hochul’s campaign.
“Bruce Blakeman, the highly respected and very popular Nassau County Executive, who is running for Governor, is surging in the New York State Polls,” Trump wrote, after Blakeman appeared on Fox Business. “He is one of the best politicians in the U.S. Watch him work his magic!!!”
About 30 minutes before Trump’s post, Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo and her partner pressed Blakeman on the following:
“I’m not seeing a lot of you, where have you been Bruce?”
“I don’t see enough of you. I need to start seeing you more on social media.”
“How are you going to get New Yorkers out to actually vote for you, Bruce?”
Hochul’s campaign mocked the appearance for Blakeman as “humiliating.”
For his part, Blakeman responded to Bartiromo by saying New Yorkers are sick of the high cost of living in New York.
New Yorkers “want a new governor, a governor that puts them first, cares about them, will cut their utility bills in half, will lower taxes, create job prosperity and create safer neighborhoods,” Blakeman said. “I have the experience, the ability and policies that people want.” — Jason Beeferman
IN OTHER NEWS
— MATCH DAY: Train tickets to MetLife Stadium from New York City are projected to cost more than $100 during World Cup games — despite regular prices of $12.90. (The New York Times)
— INDEPENDENT: Scotia Mayor David Bucciferro rejected Republican backing for his incumbent bid with Scotia-Glenville GOP Chairman David Lindsay announcing plans to run a candidate against Bucciferro. (Times Union)
— RISK TOLERANCE: Wall Street firms continue hiring and expanding in New York City at record levels, even as Mamdani advances a tax-the-rich agenda that some predicted would drive companies out of the city. (THE CITY)
Missed this morning’s New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here.
Politics
Reps. Calvin Schrage, I-Anchorage, Zack Fields, D-Anchorage huddle with members of the House majority caucus during a break in debates on the operating budget on Apr. 9, 2026. (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
The Alaska House of Representatives advanced a draft budget for the state’s operations next year, with a $1,500 Permanent Fund dividend for eligible Alaskans. It includes a nearly $158 million one-time funding boost for public schools and tens of millions for disaster relief, transportation and public assistance programs.
Members passed House Bill 263, the operating budget bill, along caucus lines by a 21 to 19 vote on Tuesday.
Lawmakers spent four days debating amendments — additions, cuts and reallocations to the draft budget — on the House floor, amid deep political divides around state priorities, war-driven oil revenues and how to balance paying for government services versus distributing cash to Alaskans through the dividend.
The draft budget now moves to the Senate for consideration, where it’s likely to be further revised.
“I feel relieved,” said Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage and co-chair of the House Finance Committee that drafted the budget, after the vote on Monday.
“But the difficulty we’re in is that overall, the war in Iran, which is most unfortunate, is very helpful to budgeting,” he said. “But the Alaska people are hurting more, right, particularly when it comes to fuel prices. So that’s a problem as well.”
As Alaska has no personal income tax or state sales tax, more than 60% of funds for the general purpose budget comes from an annual draw from the Alaska Permanent Fund and roughly 30% comes from state oil revenues.
Lawmakers have been closely watching Alaska oil prices, as they surged in recent weeks due to the Trump administration’s war on Iran. State forecasters project a potential $500 million boost in state revenues next year, but lawmakers are divided on what that should mean for state spending.
The all-Republican House minority caucus advocated for putting money towards a statutory Permanent Fund dividend, but the multipartisan majority coalition pushed the balance towards spending on state services.
The House draft operating budget made revisions to Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposed $7.75 billion budget unveiled in December, which included a $3,800 Permanent Fund dividend and a $1.8 billion draw from state savings.
The House draft opted not to tap into the state savings account. The House draft does include a deficit of roughly $180 million, but that total may change depending on revisions in the Senate.
Fairbanks Republican Will Stapp criticized the deficit as an “unfunded” budget. “It’s underwater,” he said Monday.
The draft budget contains increased funding across divisions: nearly $158 million in a one-time funding increase for public education, including nearly $11 million earmarked for student transportation; $33.3 million for Medicaid rate increases; nearly $55 million for fire suppression and $38 million for disaster relief; $17.5 million in heating assistance; $23 million for Alaska Department of Corrections staffing and tens of millions in transportation, public assistance programs like child care, infant learning programs, senior services, public health and public safety grants, among others.
House lawmakers rejected a roughly $3,800 Permanent Fund dividend proposed by the House Finance committee, which would have cost nearly $2.5 billion and was contingent on a draw from state savings, which requires approval of three-quarters of lawmakers.
House lawmakers instead approved a $1,500 Permanent Fund dividend that will cost the state $992 million.
Members of the multi-partisan House majority caucus expressed support for the draft budget that focused on public programs and services to enhance future benefits.
“Education, child care, parents-as-teachers, Head Start — moving upstream to try and give our youngest, our most precious resource in the state of Alaska, the best start that we can give them,” said Rep. Calvin Schrage, I-Anchorage, acknowledging that it is a balancing act for lawmakers.
Republican minority legislators also proposed spending increases, which included $2 million for the Alaska Department of Public Safety to establish a new Trooper post in Talkeetna, and $2 million for a sport fish hatchery in Fairbanks. Both failed along caucus lines by a 21 to 19 vote.
Minority Leader Rep. DeLena Johnson, R-Palmer, criticized the House draft budget in a statement following its initial approval on Monday.
“The budget passed by the Majority is a betrayal of the Alaskans we were sent here to represent,” said Johnson. “While Alaskans face one of the most unaffordable years of their lifetimes, this Majority has chosen to fund government agencies at record levels, while leaving families and communities behind.”
Minority lawmakers introduced nearly 50 amendments on the House floor over three days, which varied from cutting additional funding for education, funds for teacher recruitment and for community and regional jails, to cutting travel budgets and reallocating public employee salaries for vacant positions to add funding for school maintenance. Most of them failed along caucus lines.
The minority’s most strident call was for a maximum Permanent fund dividend.
“The removal of the statutory dividend that equates to removing $42.5 million dollars from the economy of my district,” said Rep. Sara Vance, R-Homer.
While lawmakers refer to the statutory dividend of roughly $3,800 per Alaskan, in 2017 the Alaska Supreme Court ruled lawmakers may ignore the formula since it’s not in the state Constitution. Since then, legislators have typically reduced the dividend to balance state expenses and avoid drawing from savings.
Boost to education funding
The House draft adds $158 million in one-time funding for Alaska schools, equivalent to an additional $630 per student.
That’s in the case that various education bills that provide a sustained increase to per student funding, through state’s formula boosting the base student allocation, fail to pass this year. Those bills are currently under consideration in education committees.
Lawmakers said they decided on the additional $630 per student after assessing the current deficits of the five largest school districts by student population. Many districts are grappling with decisions on school closures, staff cuts and increasing class sizes to address large budget shortfalls this month — including the potential closure of three schools in Anchorage, three schools in the Matanuska Susitna Borough, four schools on the Kenai Peninsula and two of the four elementary schools in Ketchikan.
Josephson said one-time funding this year for schools seems to be more viable than an attempt to permanently raise the per student funding formula, given the governor’s history of vetoing education funding increases — including three vetoes last year alone, one which the Legislature overrode in a special session last August.
“It’s far from a panacea, right? It’s far from anything that is the real solution. But I think if superintendents had it, they’d be delighted to have it,” he said.
Members of the House approved an amendment to earmark $10.9 million of that $158 million for school districts’ transportation for students, to help offset rising costs due to a war-driven rise in fuel prices.
Representatives from Northwest and Western Alaska objected to the transportation earmark, saying they were unsure if the funding would be allowed for student flights in their rural districts, which are off the road system. Rep. Jeremy Bynum, R-Ketchikan, sponsored the amendment, and said all districts would be eligible for their transportation of students, whether by road, air or ferry. It was approved by a 33 to 7 vote.
Lawmakers also debated earmarking an additional $10 million from the remaining one-time education funding for career and technical education grants for school districts, but the proposal narrowly failed by a 20 to 20 vote.
With a little over a month left in the legislative session, the House draft budget now goes to the Senate for consideration and likely further revisions.
On Monday, the Senate Finance Committee introduced a draft capital budget, a proposed $247 million for state facilities maintenance and construction projects, including for deferred maintenance of schools. The draft will go to the House for consideration in the coming weeks.
The legislative session is set to conclude on May 20.
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the governor’s budget proposal, it was $7.75 billion not million.
Motown Records had a slogan, “The Sound of Young America,” that it had represented well for the 1960s. But by the end of the decade the company was in transition. Among its biggest stars, Diana Ross was ready to leave The Supremes; Stevie Wonder was growing up; Marvin Gaye and The Temptations traded balladeering for philosophical fare. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was dead, free love was aching to break through, and founder Berry Gordy was ready to move his empire out of Detroit to Hollywood. Could anyone make Motown feel hopeful in tumultuous times?
Listen to the Michael: The Birth of a Superstar playlist now.
Gordy had his answer in the form of five brothers from Gary, Indiana. The Jackson 5 — Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael — were gifted performers who infused Motown with a new surge of energy. The J5 took the traditions of doo-wop and rhythm and blues and added a youthful exuberance not seen since the days of Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers. Motown added pop magic from their stable of songwriters and producers, as well as a marketing muscle that earned the group visibility enjoyed by so few Black performers: sold-out world tours, live-action and animated television appearances, and a tidal wave of merchandise from posters to coloring books.
As The Jacksons the group continued to captivate the world and, decades later, there’s still a magic to those early Jackson 5 recordings. Here are 15 of our favorites from the group, including key solo tracks from young frontman Michael Jackson, who grew up to rank at the top of the world’s best-known and best-selling entertainers.
The Jackson 5, “I Want You Back” (1969)
Their debut Motown single is one of the best first records by any group, one of the most energetic songs about the pain of a breakup and surely the most high-spirited one sung by an 11-year-old. Recorded in Los Angeles, where Gordy was prepping the whole Motown organization to relocate, “I Want You Back” is pure pop bliss from the opening piano glissando — the label’s essence boiled down into three minutes of sound. A month into 1970, it was the No. 1 single in America.
Click to load video
The Jackson 5, “ABC” (1970)
Deke Richards, part of “The Corporation” writing and production team that created “I Want You Back,” “ABC” and many more, recalled a crucial lesson from legendary Motown songwriter Lamont Dozier, who once played him a medley of hits in a rehearsal room. “He showed me that all the chords were similar, and there was no shame in that,” Richards once said. “It kept the feeling going. I never forgot that.” Writing “ABC” may have been easy as… well, you know, but it’s even easier to get down to — one of Motown’s greatest party-starters of the ’70s.
The Jackson 5, “The Love You Save” (1970)
Just how big were The Jackson 5 in 1970? “ABC,” their second chart-topping single, knocked The Beatles’ “Let It Be” out of the top spot in America, and “The Love You Save” ended the two-week run of The Fab Four’s “The Long and Winding Road” at No. 1. All was forgiven: a grown-up Michael would record two hit singles with the group’s Paul McCartney: “The Girl is Mine” and “Say Say Say.”
The Jackson 5, “I’ll Be There” (1970)
With “I’ll Be There,” a tender ballad crafted to perfection by Berry Gordy, producer Hal Davis, Willie Hutch and arranger Bob West, The Jackson 5 did something no group had done before or has done since: their first four singles all hit the top of the Billboard Hot 100. The brothers’ tender vocals rarely sounded better and Suzee Ikeda, Davis’s creative assistant who worked closely with The Jackson 5, credits Michael’s tireless work ethic. “Michael had good instincts, even at that age,” she later said. “Most artists had cassettes to learn a song, but [he] didn’t use them.”
The Jackson 5, “Who’s Lovin’ You” (1969)
It is one of the great B-sides, twice: in its original form as the back of The Miracles’ 1960 breakthrough “Shop Around,” the first single from a Motown label to sell more than a million copies, and the J5’s “I Want You Back,” where Michael yearned to make you forget the original. After MJ’s heart-stopping rendition during an early appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, all of America felt it was his song.
The Jackson 5, “Mama’s Pearl” (1971)
At a respectable #2 peak, this was the first Jackson 5 single on Motown to miss the top of the pop charts. “Mama’s Pearl” features more great MJ vocals and great backing vocals from the brothers, but it could have been one of the strangest numbers in their discography had it been released in its original demo form: “Guess Who’s Making Whoopee (with Your Girlfriend).” (That version was finally released on a collection of rarities in 2012.)
The Jackson 5, “Never Can Say Goodbye” (1971)
Motown’s marketing staff worried that “Never Can Say Goodbye,” another ballad like “I’ll Be There,” was too mature for The Jackson 5; Suzee Ikeda recalled challenging Michael to define “anguish,” one of the more surprising words in the lyrics. Were audiences put off, though? No, no, no: the track became their fifth No. 1 hit on the R&B charts, as well as something of a soul staple, covered by Isaac Hayes, Gloria Gaynor and more.
The Jackson 5, “Maybe Tomorrow” (1971)
“Maybe Tomorrow” was the title track of the group’s fifth album in three years and was a more modest chart success than many of its predecessors. But what a sound. Arranged by Gene Page, who was cutting tracks for Motown out west and whose credits would later add the hits of Barry White and Elton John’s “Philadelphia Freedom,” “Maybe Tomorrow” supports not only the impassioned vocals of Michael, Jermaine and their brothers, but a mix of strings, horns and even sitar for a sonic experience like little else in the J5 discography.
Michael Jackson, “Got to Be There” (1971)
Legend has it that Michael was only encouraged to record as a solo artist after The Osmonds, whose hit, “One Bad Apple,” was a straight J5 cop, spun brother Donny off into a hitmaker. In retrospect, though, a group member that talented was an easy choice to give some spotlight of his own, and “Got to Be There” met the moment with its gentle, golden-sunlight arrangement and another winning vocal from the most talented kid on the pop scene.
Michael Jackson, “I Wanna Be Where You Are” (1972)
Michael’s third solo single (following a cover of Bobby Day’s “Rockin’ Robin’”) missed the Top 10 of the pop charts. Audiences didn’t know what they were missing: a fiery, blissful love song given wings by a dazzling arrangement and some serious high notes in the chorus. Written by Arthur “T-Boy” Ross (Diana’s brother) and Leon Ware, the song earned a second wind when covered by Marvin Gaye on his striking 1976 album I Want You.
Michael Jackson, “Ben” (1972)
Oh, rats!! No one could have predicted that Ben, a sequel to the 1971 horror film Willard, would have benefitted from a mellow ballad about the on-screen love between a lonely boy and the oversized rat he befriends. And yet, Michael’s rendition sold the song all the way to the top of the charts — his very first solo No. 1 single — as well as an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.
Click to load video
The Jackson 5, “Dancing Machine” (1973/1974)
Even the best boy bands go through thick and thin on the charts. The Jackson 5 were no exception: Michael’s voice was starting to change, and the group wanted more creative control over their music. But “Dancing Machine,” the group’s last Top 10 pop hit (and the No. 5 song for all of 1974, per Billboard) was impossible to deny. Originally featured at the end of their eighth album Get It Together in 1973, an edited version of the tune was the title track of their next LP the following year. Michael’s stop-start dance routine to the song, now known as “the robot,”
stunned audiences hard when he debuted the move on Soul Train.
The Jackson 5, “Buttercup” (1974)
The Jackson 5 were so prolific that, even after releasing 10 albums of studio material for Motown between 1969 and 1975, and another seven across their solo releases, they had recorded more than a half-dozen albums’ worth of additional material. I Want You Back! Unreleased Masters, issued months after Michael’s passing at the age of 50 in 2009, featured the 1974 highlight “Buttercup,” a gentle roller-skating jam written and produced by Stevie Wonder. That same year, Stevie featured the J5 on his No. 1 smash “You Haven’t Done Nothin’.”
The Jackson 5, “Forever Came Today” (1975)
Recorded at the tail end of The Jackson 5’s tenure with Motown, “Forever Came Today,” a cover of a hit by Diana Ross and The Supremes and written by the Holland-Dozier-Holland team, who’d left Motown before The Jackson 5 arrived (what could have been!), was at once a nod to the past and a look toward the future. The track topped an early incarnation of Billboard’s dance charts as disco started to take hold, a foreshadowing of the brothers’ success for the rest of the decade as dance music masters.
Michael Jackson, “One Day in Your Life” (1975)
Michael’s last solo albums for Motown were virtually ignored by radio, with the once-young singer — and his audience — adjusting to changes in his voice and appearance. By the end of the ’70s, he’d proven his mettle as a grown-up star with Off the Wall, an album that was so popular that Motown started re-releasing old material. “One Day in Your Life,” a moving lost-love ballad that sounded most like the adult Michael, was reissued in 1981 and topped the charts in England a year before the King of Pop ascended to the throne with Thriller.
Shop The Jackson 5’s music on vinyl and CD now.
Discover more about the world’s greatest R&B artists | uDiscover Music
Jamey Johnson announced more than 30 tour stops for 2026. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs