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News Daypop

Indoor mask mandate to return to Disneyworld and Disneyland effective today

Effective today, all guests two years and older at Disney theme parks in the U.S. will once again be required to wear face masks while indoors, a precaution against the spread of the highly infectious Delta variant of the coronavirus. In an announcement on Disney’s website, the new policy begins Friday, July 30th at Disney World in Orlando, Fla., and Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif.  It includes a requirement for masks “in Disney buses, monorail and Disney Skyliner, regardless of vaccination status. This includes upon entering and throughout all attractions,” the company says.  Face coverings in outdoor common areas remain optional.

The announcement comes shortly after a change in guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this week.  The CDC called on even fully vaccinated people to wear masks indoors if they live in places with “substantial” or “high” coronavirus transmission.  Since about the start of the month, both Florida and California have seen increases in coronavirus infections

After Disney theme parks closed in March 2020, Disney World finally reopened last July with social distancing and mask requirements.  California’s Disneyland reopened on April 30 this year.

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Sports Daypop

Wizards’ Russell Westbrook heading to the LA Lakers in blockbuster deal

The LA Lakers and Washington Wizards have agreed on a trade for Russell Westbrook, which would bring him back home to LA. ESPN reports that the Lakers had agreed to send guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, forward Kyle Kuzma, center Montrezl Harrell and the No. 21 pick in this year’s first round to the Washington Wizards for Westbrook. Westbrook reportedly wanted to leave Washington and join LeBron James and Anthony Davis in his hometown of Los Angeles.

The deal marks Westbrook’s third trade in as many seasons after spending 2019-20 in Houston, who traded him to Washington for the 2020-21 season. Prior to that, he spent 11 seasons with Oklahoma City. Westbrook is in the middle of a five-year, $206.8 million contract that he signed with the Thunder. He is scheduled to earn $44 million in 2021-22 with a player option for 2022. During the 2020-21 season in Washington, Westbrook averaged 22.2 points, 11.5 rebounds and 11.7 assists per game, helping lead the Wizards to the No. 8 seed in the playoffs.

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News Daypop

President Biden announces vaccination requirements for federal workers

President Biden announced that every federal government employee and onsite contractor will be asked to “attest to their vaccination status,” and will require anyone not fully vaccinated to wear a mask at work regardless of where they live, social distance and get tested once or twice a week. Employees can also face restrictions on official travel. According to a fact sheet that was released to reporters, Biden is directing the Department of Defense to look into how and when they will add COVID-19 vaccination to the list of required vaccinations for members of the military. Pfizer, Moderna and the Johnson and Johnson vaccines were granted an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), but the FDA is facing pressure to issue full authorization of the vaccines, which could open the door to mandates in schools, and the military.

The White House is also ramping up efforts to get more Americans vaccinated, including calling on states, territories and local governments to do more to incentivize vaccination by offering $100 to those who get vaccinated and reimbursing small- and medium-sized businesses for offering their employees paid leave to get their family members vaccinated.

However groups representing large numbers of federal workers — including law enforcement and postal workers — raised some early objections to the president’s announcement. Larry Cosme, president of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, said in a statement: “As an association representing those men and women charged with protecting the Constitutional rights of all Americans, including the right to privacy and choice, we are concerned by any move that would mandate the COVID-19 vaccine among federal employees.”

http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/cnn_latest/~3/IgvojKgWGSY/index.html

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Sports Daypop

Chicago Cubs to trade Anthony Rizzo to NY Yankees for two prospects

The Chicago Cubs will trade Anthony Rizzo to the New York Yankees, acquiring outfielder Kevin Alcantara and right-handed pitcher Alexander Vizcaino in the deal. Chicago will also pick up the remainder of Rizzo’s contract, after the Cubs exercised their club option in Rizzo’s contract worth $16.5 million for 2021.

Rizzo wad acquired by Chicago in 2012, and was a vital part of the Cubs National League Championship Series in 2015 and 2017 and a World Series crown in 2016, breaking a 108-year drought. The first baseman is a three-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glover who finished in the top 20 in MVP voting five straight years from 2014 through 2018. In the 60-game season in 2020, Rizzo won a Gold Glove while helping the team to a division crown with 11 home runs and 24 RBI. So far in 2021, he has 14 homers in 92 games.

Rizzo will take over as the Yankees primary first baseman, which has been D.J. LeMahieu’s position this season. The Yankees are only three games behind the Oakland Athletics for the second wild card spot.

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Country Daypop

Garth Brooks’ ‘Stadium Tour’ coming to Seattle’s Lumen Field

Garth Brooks has added a Seattle stop on his Stadium Tour, and is set to perform at Lumen Field on Sept. 4. The Labor Day weekend concert will mark Brooks’ first date at Lumen Field, and his first time in Washington since performing three-days at the Tacoma Dome in 2017.

2021 Stadium Tour stops for Brooks include: Nashville, Tenn. (July 31); Kansas City, Mo. (Aug. 7); Lincoln, Neb. (Aug. 14); Cincinnati, Ohio (Sept. 18); Charlotte, N.C. (Sept. 25); Baltimore, Md. (Oct. 2); and Foxborough, Mass. (Oct. 9).

Tickets will go on sale for the Seattle date on Aug. 6 at 10AM PT via Ticketmaster. Tickets will cost $94.95, including all taxes and fees, with a limit of eight tickets per purchase.

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Country Daypop

Willie Nelson signs on for the new docuseries ‘Willie Nelson and Family’

Willie Nelson has signed on to participate in a new docuseries, called Willie Nelson and Family, which will focus on Nelson’s life and legacy. Nelson’s family and friends will also participate in the series.

Filmmakers Oren Moverman and Thomm Zimny are co-directing the project, and said in a statement: “Words like ‘honored,’ ‘excited’ and ‘humbled’ don’t come close to describing the way we feel about being entrusted with telling Willie’s story. And what a story it is! We are celebrating the music, the career, the long road, the family, friends and history … But more than anything, we are piecing together a narrative — one never before seen in its entirety — about an extraordinary man with a unique ability to bring people together. These days, we sure could use the healing powers of Willie Nelson.”

So far, no information has been released on how viewers will watch the docuseries. In the meantime, Nelson will be keeping busy, taking his annual Farm Aid benefit concert back to an in-person format for 2021, taking place in September. The singer’s traveling Outlaw Music Festival is also set to resume this fall, with artists including Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, Yola, Gov’t Mule and Margo Price joining him on dates in late August and September.

Hold Onto Your Horses… There’s A Willie Nelson Docuseries In The Works

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Entertainment Daypop

Check out the trailer for ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’

In the trailer for “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” the next chapter in the “Ghostbusters” universe, director Jason Reitman delivers a story about a broke single mom (Carrie Coon) who moves her two kids (Mckenna Grace and Finn Wolfhard) to a small town with a connection to their past.

Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver and Annie Potts are set to reprise their roles from the original films, which Reitman co-wrote along with Gil Kenan. Jason Reitman is the son of director Ivan Reitman who helmed the first two films and will serve as producer on “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.”

“Ghostbusters: Afterlife” is coming to theaters on November 11th, after having been delayed multiple times due to the Covid-19 pandemic. You can check out the latest trailer – here.

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Entertainment Daypop

Scarlett Johansson suing Disney regarding ‘Black Widow’ streaming release

Scarlett Johansson is suing the Walt Disney Company over the streaming release of ‘Black Widow.’Johansson alleges in the lawsuit that the simultaneous release of Black Widow in theaters and on Disney+ was a breach of contract.

The actress claims in the docs that she agreed her compensation for starring in Black Widow would be largely based on box office receipts generated by the film, and agreed to a theatrical release exclusive to movie theaters in order to maximize her pay. Johansson also claims Disney violated its pledge by releasing Black Widow on Disney+ on July 9, 2021, the same day it was released in theaters; she is demanding a jury trial.

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Rock Daypop

Metallica announces ‘intimate’ concert in Hollywood, Florida on November 4

Metallica will play an “intimate” concert on November 4 at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

Says Metallica: “We’re excited to add one more night to the tour calendar this fall. It feels so great to be making plans to hit the road and we can’t wait to see all of you out there. Keep watching this space… we have a few more shows in the works!!!”

Tickets for the 7,000-seat-theater show s go on sale Friday, July 30 at 10 a.m.  Members of Metallica’s fan club (also known as Fifth Members) can get theirs early with a special presale. More info can be found: here.

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Rock Daypop

Slipknot reveal ‘Knotfest Los Angeles’ featuring Bring Me The Horizon, Killswitch, and more

Slipknot have confirmed Knotfest Los Angeles will be held at Banc of California Stadium on Friday, November 5. Knotfest Los Angeles will have Slipknot performing along with a lineup including Bring Me The Horizon, Killswitch, Engage, Fever 333, Code Orange and Vended, along with a special guest appearance from Cherry Bombs. Check out the trailer – here.

Knotfest Los Angeles ticket holders will also be able to sample Slipknot‘s award-winning small batch Iowa whiskies at the No. 9 Whiskey Bar, including a soon-to-be-announced surprise for fans.   Tickets for Knotfest Los Angeles are currently available on pre-sale to OT9 and Knotfest.com subscribers, with general on-sale ticketing beginning July 30th at

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