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Frankie Muniz isn’t racing away from his struggles.
The Malcolm in the Middle actor got candid about what he’s been going through over the last six weeks, admitting his life has felt like “a…
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The U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Healy is seen on Nov. 7, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. (James Brooks photo/Alaska Beacon)
The Coast Guard icebreaker Healy will not sail to the Arctic Ocean this year.
The Healy is one of only two active Arctic icebreakers in the Coast Guard’s fleet and had been scheduled to return to service this year and sail to the Arctic after an overhaul, but during a post-shipyard voyage in July, it suffered a severe mechanical breakdown off the coast of Washington state.
The website gCaptain, which reported on the incident at the time, cited unnamed sources who said one of the ship’s crankcases had exploded.
In July and again this week, the Coast Guard declined to answer questions from the Beacon asking to confirm that account.
In a written statement, a Coast Guard spokesman said only, “The Coast Guard continues investigating the cause of the engineering casualty onboard Coast Guard Cutter (CGC) Healy. CGC Healy will not complete its planned 2026 high-latitude summer mission. However, the Coast Guard is developing repair plans and evaluating the feasibility of additional operations.”
The Coast Guard did not answer multiple followup questions, including how long the Healy’s repair will take and whether the Coast Guard will seek to have another icebreaker take the Healy’s place.
This is the second major problem aboard the Healy in two years. In 2024, an electrical fire aboard the ship canceled its fall voyage into the Arctic.
Without the Healy, the Coast Guard’s sole Arctic icebreaker is the former oilfield services ship Storis, which was commissioned into Coast Guard service last year and is not yet fully operational to Coast Guard standards.
The heavy icebreaker Polar Star is operational but is committed to service in Antarctica and is thus unavailable for Arctic service.
The Storis is less effective in ice than the Healy, which has reached the North Pole several times, and does not have dedicated science lab space, as the Healy does.
Earlier this year, the Coast Guard awarded construction contracts for 11 new icebreakers of two different designs. The first four ships — two from each design — are being built in Finland and are scheduled for delivery by 2028.
In the meantime, the Coast Guard has been using non-icebreaker ships in the Arctic. This summer, the CGC Munro monitored two Chinese research ships operating in the Arctic off Alaska.
Carly Pearce came to Chicago, IL on Thursday, Sept. 17, ready with a set list full of fan-favorites and brand-new tracks off her new album, Honest Woman. But along with the music, she also brought plenty of honesty, which was fitting for a trek named the Honest Woman: Up Close Tour.
Fans packed the award-winning Joe’s on Weed St. to see Pearce up close, and from the very beginning, she made it clear that the night would be centered on vulnerability and personal storytelling. She delivered a 20-song set list that gave a real look at the woman behind the glamor and the seemingly perfect life that comes through on the Instagram photo dumps, which Pearce admitted are “as real as my hair tonight.”
“I have to say this is one of my absolute favorite places in the world to play so thank you for showing up tonight,” she began in her introduction. “Tonight, we celebrate whatever place of life you’re in because there are no stereotypes, there are no timelines, there is no right way to do it. You could be messy you can be a little behind in your friend group, you’re not behind you’re right where God wants you. So tonight we are gonna have a really, really fun time.”
She began the show by delivering a few songs off her just-released fifth studio album, Honest Woman including “Leave My Heart Alone” “How Long” and “She Don’t” then mixed in a few timeless tracks from her catalog, “Never Wanted To Be That Girl,” “Should’ve Known Better” and Every Little Thing.”
Pearce truly did not hold back as she introduced some of her more recently released songs and opened up about the stories that inspired them. One of the most heartwarming moments was when it was time for Pearce to perform “Why God Why Me.” Before unleashing the faith-filled lyrics, the Kentucky native explained that her mother, who has been dealing with some health challenges lately, was present for the show in Chicago.
Fans have heard Pearce express how difficult it has been to pursue her career while feeling the guilt of not being able to be there for her loved ones as much in her song “Dream Come True.” And then there’s “Why God Why Me,” which taps into another part of that journey, as she has the realization that even the highs, lows and most challenging days have a purpose.
“We really believe that my mom received a miracle from God in her healing in the last year. And I tell you that because our faith in our family is so important and it’s quite honestly the only thing that has gotten me through this season in my life of just making this album and trying to understand why things happen and watching what has happened with my mom has made my faith even stronger. And so this song, it felt like the only way that I could end this album,” she explained.
“You go through seasons, you go through good times, you go through bad things, but if any of you are not a believer, I want you to know that God, he’s taking you through a journey because he just wants a relationship with you and he wants you to trust him fully in the seasons that feel really dark. And for me, that has been the pillar of my life. And I completely understand now why I had to go through the hard things.”
The next portion of the show put Carly Pearce’s fiery side on display as she explored the complicated sides of love and relationships. She offered a few different perspectives on navigating messy situations with “Truck on Fire,” “WWJD” and “Same Circus” and then brought her opener onstage Belle Frantz back to the stage for “You Can Have Him,” adding another layer of female empowerment to the stage.
The intimate format of Pearce’s Honest Woman Tour allows her to create an environment where it almost felt like a room full of friends listening to music in a living room. In order to make it truly feel like a community, the songstress even allowed fans to help build the setlist by voting on two songs they wanted to hear prior to the concert.
Last night, the two most voted songs ended up both being particularly meaningful to Pearce. The first was “We Don’t Fight Anymore,” her collaboration with musical hero Chris Stapleton, and the second was “29,” which felt especially fitting given that it has been five years since the song and album were released.
“That album is really the album that I feel like changed my whole life. And if you’re going through something that’s hard and you don’t really understand why, just hang on for a second because I wrote this song in the saddest place of my life and it has given me so much power and so much strength and so much affirmation that I did the right thing…So don’t ever be afraid to leave something that you know in your gut is not right. This is my story when I was 29 and damn is 36 better.”
Those might have been the official fan requests chosen for the night, but Pearce didn’t stop there. She watched as fans held up suggestions for songs that didn’t make it into the setlist and she couldn’t help but sing a few lines from each one, turning the moment into what she called “Carly-oke.”
Another way that Pearce put her fans at the center of the evening was by inviting them to submit themselves or someone they believed deserved to be celebrated, for a special moment during the show. The idea tied directly into “Happy for Myself,” a song Pearce introduced by sharing how difficult it can be to genuinely celebrate a close friend while simultaneously struggling yourself. With that sentiment in mind, she wanted to recognize someone who had done exactly that in their own life.
She ultimately chose a fan whose story reflected that same spirit. This fan named Ally lost her dad to ALS when she was just 13 years old and all these years later, she has grown up and is now using that difficult chapter to do good for other people through her work as a social worker.
“I can only imagine Ally, watching your friends have dads throughout their teenage years and all of the things that you probably felt like you missed out on could be hard…being a voice to other people that maybe will look at you as somebody that they can look up to, I think that’s a really beautiful thing to be able to be vulnerable enough to share your story,” Pearce told her. “And so we want to celebrate you tonight because I think vulnerability is the whole reason that I’m standing up here. And if we can have more moments like what Ally shared tonight with me, I think that’s the whole reason that we’re all going to get a little closer and share a little bit more love.”
Pearce closed out the nearly two-hour show with “I Hope You’re Happy Now” and “What He Didn’t Do,” two songs that have become defining moments in her story of heartbreak and healing. Before wrapping up the night, she thanked the Chicago crowd for allowing her to live out her dreams in country music, supporting her along the way and coming together for an unforgettable night.
“Chicago, I love you so much. Country music fans, you’ve completely changed my life over the last 10 years and I’m so grateful. Thank you for loving ‘Honest Woman.’ Thank you for just being honest and vulnerable and willing to show up for me all the time,” she stated.
She left the room full of fans with the very important reminds in honor of her final song of the night, “What He Didn’t Do.”
“This song I feel like is the moment in the show where I just say, know your worth, know you’re beautiful, know you’re worthy, know that you are special and never settle for anything less.”
The post Carly Pearce Gets Vulnerable During Intimate Chicago Show On Honest Woman Tour appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
There are several exciting all-star collaborations on the new project. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
There are several exciting all-star collaborations on the new project. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
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Over the summer, Frankie Muniz announced that he and wife Paige Price were divorcing after five years of marriage.
The Malcolm in the Middle star revealed the news with a celebratory video in which the couple danced with their young son.
He deleted the post after taking flak for celebrating an event that may well prove traumatic to his kid.
Now, Muniz has definitely changed his tune, and he now says he’s suffering as he never has before.
In a shockingly candid social media post, Muniz described his life as a “nightmare” that’s left him feeling as though he has “nowhere to hide.”
“The last 6 weeks of my life have been a nightmare I’m praying to wake up from. Everything felt heavy, unclear, and like it was falling apart at the same time,” he wrote, adding:
“I wouldn’t wish this season on anyone.
“The unexpected gift in the middle of it is that I’ve had nowhere to hide. I’ve had time to sit with myself, do real self-reflection, and finally see the areas of my life that need work if I want to become a better version of me. Not the polished version I show the world…the actual one.”
Muniz does not appear to have any substance abuse issues — in fact, he says he’s never even been drunk — but he describes his current state as “rock bottom.”
“I read that sometimes hitting rock bottom is the thing that wakes you up. It forces the changes you needed to make all along so you can live the best life possible,” he wrote, adding:
“That idea has been sitting with me. In five years I believe I’ll look back at this exact low point and feel grateful for it, because the high I’ll be standing on then only exists because I went through this.
“This isn’t the end of the story. It’s the part where I start doing the work…the uncomfortable, unglamorous, necessary work. I’m choosing to treat this season as the foundation, not the finish line.
“If you’re in a low place right now too, you’re not broken. You’re being rebuilt. Let’s keep going!”
For obvious reasons, Frankie’s post has sparked concern among fans.
Thankfully, he concluded it on an optimistic note.
Frankie has not offered any further clarification, but it feels safe to assume the challenges he’s referring to are the result of either his divorce or the pushback he received for his announcement.
Everybody deals with challenges in their own way, of course. And we hope the public will not continue to fault Frankie for remaining optimistic in the face of life’s setbacks.
Frankie Muniz Says His Life Is a ‘Nightmare’ He’s ‘Praying to … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
SESSION LESSON: Assemblymember Alex Bores would really like to take another swing at regulating Big Tech before he leaves office at the end of the year.
The New York lawmaker faced the multimillion-dollar wrath of the tech industry after leading the charge on crafting state regulations for artificial intelligence, falling short in his quest to move on to the halls of Congress.
But he said he’s optimistic about policymakers taking action amid growing public alarm over the risks of AI — and that he’d support a special session in Albany on the issue.
“This is an urgent problem, and too frequently we have left it to California to set the nationwide standards,” Bores said. “We’ve got some pretty darn talented people here in New York … and I would love to give them the chance to lead.”
The outgoing assemblymember, who has work experience in the industry, has positioned himself as a national leader on the issue with the launch of a $30 million group to develop the Democratic agenda on AI rules.
There are currently no plans for a special session on AI, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office.
The lack of plans to return to Albany before January to work on AI rules contrasts with discussions in California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom has mused on the possibility of calling lawmakers back to Sacramento.
Newsom signed an executive order today to speed up implementation of recently passed AI safety laws and consider proposals like requiring a “kill switch” for advanced AI models. New York regulators issued an order requiring gas, electric and water utilities to report on their use of AI yesterday, and New York Attorney General Letitia James urged employees at AI companies to report any rulebreaking.
The jockeying between states to act on AI comes amid a crescendo of alarm, including from the industry itself, that the technology is outpacing humans’ abilities to monitor and control it. Hochul has also said she wants to take additional actions, but without offering specifics.
The rhetorical flurry among state officials is also being sparked by the Trump administration’s dismissal of AI safety threats and a widespread sense that there’s little chance Congress will act on the issue anytime soon.
Democratic lawmakers who’ll be returning to Albany in January are discussing their options — and gearing up for pushback from the industry.
“The crux of the fight is in clawing back power from these oligarchs and putting real people in the driver’s seat,” said state Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, chair of the Internet and Technology committee.
Read the full story from POLITICO Pro’s Marie J. French.
HEALTH CARE
SETTLEMENT WATCH: NYU Langone agreed to pay $8.5 million and stop providing puberty blockers and hormonal treatment to minors under an agreement with the Justice Department announced today.
DOJ has announced similar agreements with five other hospital groups, including the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City, as part of a nationwide investigation into gender-affirming care that came at the direction of President Donald Trump.
NYU Langone spokesperson Steve Ritea said the DOJ agreement “protects our providers and secures the privacy and confidentiality of our patients and their families,” noting the health system denied any wrongdoing or liability as part of the agreement.
“Under this agreement, DOJ has agreed to resolve its investigations, removing the threat that NYU Langone would have to provide the confidential information previously demanded about patients under 18 who received gender-affirming care at our institution,” Ritea said in a statement.
NYU Langone’s statement echoes comments by Mount Sinai upon reaching a similar agreement with the Justice Department. — Maya Kaufman
MEASLES ON THE RISE: In response to a growing number of measles cases in rural New York, state Health Commissioner James McDonald is calling on all New Yorkers to make sure they’ve received the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.
McDonald said yesterday at a Public Health and Health Planning Council meeting that there are 66 cases across the state, with roughly two-thirds of those in adults aged 18 years old and older. The state’s new measles dashboard reports 51 cases, but it hasn’t been updated since Saturday.
The outbreak is primarily in rural and western parts of the state. Fifteen counties have reported at least one case, but the majority of cases are concentrated in Steuben, Seneca, Otsego and Allegany counties.
McDonald said he’s been in contact with health officials in neighboring Pennsylvania, where 767 cases and four deaths have been reported in a fatal outbreak there, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health dashboard.
“I can’t explain why the federal government is being as confusing as they are about vaccines,” McDonald said yesterday. “But I’m not confused. There was no new research or new science when they did their executive order. Nothing changed in New York State. States determine what the required vaccines are.”
He said the state has been working with local health departments to distribute more than 700 MMR vaccine doses to people living in the affected counties, where health officials traditionally face skepticism surrounding healthcare and vaccines.
The push is part of a broader effort to overcome confusion over an executive order signed by President Trump last month that directs federal agencies to reduce the number of recommended vaccines children receive and spread the shots out over a longer time period.
The executive order has ignited renewed hope among parents seeking exemptions from the state’s vaccine laws, which do not include a religious exemption and have proven to be a challenge when attempting to qualify for a medical exemption. — Katelyn Cordero
FROM CITY HALL
SCHOOL SAFETY: A longtime union leader is demanding Mayor Zohran Mamdani come up with a plan to keep classrooms safe amid recent weapons seizures at public schools.
Gregory Floyd, who heads Teamsters Local 237, pointed to several recent incidents, including a student caught with a loaded gun at a Staten Island high school.
His union represents nearly 2,000 municipal workers, including school safety officers.
“He’s yet to say anything, he’s yet to address it,” Floyd told Playbook. “Before we get further into the school year, we want him to come up with a comprehensive plan to make sure that no one in the public school system is seriously injured or possibly killed.”
Floyd decried a shortage of school safety agents, noting that the city has lost 2,000 agents since 2022. And the Mamdani administration, he said, isn’t hiring.
A City Hall spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The city saw a decrease in major felony crimes in schools, according to the mayor’s management report released Thursday.
Mamdani faced criticism over the summer after eliminating vacant school safety agent positions, drawing backlash from parents and advocates as felony assaults in schools rose.
Floyd pointed specifically to a lack of metal detectors. The most current version in schools, he said, has proven incapable of detecting smaller scalpels, which he described as an emerging threat in schools. Fewer than 100 schools currently have full-time scanners, according to Floyd. — Madina Touré
IN OTHER NEWS
— STOKING SPECULATION: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez plans to campaign for candidates across New York, reigniting speculation she’ll run for senator or president in 2028. (The New York Times)
— PRE-K PAY: After severe funding delays, providers of free childcare in New York City are finally being paid by the Mamdani administration, but some are still waiting. (Gothamist)
— $10M PAYOUT: Family of Robert Brooks, man beaten to death by corrections officers, to get $10 million settlement. (WPTZ)
Missed this morning’s New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here.
Politics
Jhené Aiko recently returned with her first album in six years, Westside Whimsy. Now, she’s shared a new video for the album track “Nothing Nice To Say.”
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In the video shot by Topshelf Junior, Aiko simply performs the song in a minimal space, wearing diamond necklaces that read ‘Westside’ and ‘Whimsy’. “So I been being quiet / Cuz I’ve had nothing nice to say / Been sitting here in silence / While you keep playing in my face,” she sings. The video’s opening shot of Aiko in a traditional kasa hat references the video for “Ark to Agatha,” released alongside the album.
Aiko announced Westside Whimsy only a few days before its September 11th release. She captioned a post of the tracklist “6 years in the making,” and thanked fans for their patience. The album has a number of features, including one from previous collaborator Kendrick Lamar on “So Good.” Back in 2013, Lamar contributed a verse to “Stay Ready (What A Life)” on Aiko’s debut EP Sail Out. Also appearing on the new record are Tyga on “Like, Whatever,” OHMA on “Golden Coast,” and Larry June on “Neighbors.”
In April, Aiko shared that her upcoming album was inspired by her home state. “All the music of the ‘90s has really influenced me but especially West Coast car culture, surfing culture, beach, laidback,” she said, according to Complex. “When I think of California, it’s just such a magical place and I love a good road trip and I’ve been doing them for many years.”
Fans first heard the title “Westside Whimsy” when Aiko chose it for her Erewhon smoothie collab. As she told Rolling Stone: “‘Westside Whimsy’ is a lifestyle. It’s not a project. It’s a lifestyle. Everything I do is that — you’ll see.”
Westside Whimsy currently holds the top spot on the iTunes Top Albums chart.
Listen to Jhené Aiko’s Westside Whimsy here.
Discover more about the world’s greatest R&B artists | uDiscover Music
Sofia Camara has announced a new six-track EP, Still Somewhere Here, which will be released on October 9. The announcement arrives alongside the new single “Hallucinating,” which is out now and explores the realization that someone once considered out of reach may feel the same way.
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Camara wrote “Hallucinating” from the perspective of someone who had previously felt invisible to her, shifting the point of view away from her own experience. Across Still Somewhere Here, she revisits past relationships, memories and earlier versions of herself, with songs addressing love, heartbreak, accountability and self-forgiveness. The project follows Hard to Love, which Camara described as coming from a more openly angry place. “There was a lot of anger in Hard to Love, and I think this EP is more about what comes after that,” she said. “You can be healed from what happened and still think about it. You don’t have to pack every memory away perfectly to move forward. Sometimes you can look back, feel nostalgic and still be at peace with where you are now.”
The EP follows a summer in which Camara performed at All Things Go, Rock in Rio Lisboa, Pinkpop, Montreux Jazz Festival and Lollapalooza Berlin. She also appeared as support for Bastille at a sold-out show at Cardiff Castle, adding to a run of performances across North America and Europe.
Born in Portugal and raised in Toronto, Camara has accumulated more than 235 million streams worldwide. Her earlier releases include “Who Do I Call Now? (Hellbent)” and “Girls Like You,” the latter of which reached the Top 5 at Canadian radio and spent more than 20 weeks on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100. She has also shared stages with artists including Stevie Nicks, Alex Warren and Alessia Cara.
Listen to Sofia Camara’s “Hallucinating” here.
Discover more about the world’s greatest R&B artists | uDiscover Music