Katy Perry announces departure from American Idol

Katy Perry is moving on from “American Idol.” The singer and Idol judge, 39, announced her exit from the show after seven seasons on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Monday, as she teased, she has more projects, including new music, to come later in 2024.

The “Roar” hitmaker made the announcement on the Feb. 12 episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”

Kimmel asked her how long she thinks she will remain with the show, prompting her to say she will be performing at a music festival in Brazil called Rock in Rio this September, which led her to break the news.

“I think this probably will be my last show, my last season for ‘Idol,’” Perry said. “I mean, I love ‘Idol’ so much. It’s connected me with the heart of America, but I feel like I need to go out and feel that pulse to my own beat. You what I’m saying, Jimmy?”

Perry joined “American Idol,” along with fellow judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, when the series was revived by ABC in 2018 after 15 seasons on Fox.

ABC announced last summer the trio would return for its upcoming season, which will be their seventh together and the show’s 22nd, dating back to its initial run in 2002 when Kelly Clarkson became the inaugural winner, while the series became a ratings juggernaut and pop culture phenomenon.

Gonzales Poll: More than half of Maryland voters approve of job by Gov. Moore

Maryland voters offered their opinions on numerous topics in the latest Gonzales Poll, which included their views of how Gov. Wes Moore has done in office.

I Gonzales Poll: Part 1 results

The February Gonzales Poll of 815 registered voters was conducted between Jan. 23 and Feb. 2. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5%.

Gov. Wes Moore job approval:

More than half of voters in Maryland approved of the job that Moore has done since taking office.

Among voters in Maryland, 58% approve of the job Moore is doing as governor. Among voters, 27.4% strongly approve and 30.3% somewhat approve. While 28.2% disapprove, 15.2% strongly disapprove and 13.0% somewhat disapprove.

Democrats heavily supported Moore, with a 74% approval rating, while more than half of Republicans were discouraged by Moore’s term so far, with a 56.9% disapproval rating.

Democrats heavily supported Moore, with a 74% approval rating, while more than half of Republicans were discouraged by Moore’s term so far, with a 56.9% disapproval rating.

I Breakdown of Moore’s job approval, disapproval rating in Maryland:
Democrat:  74% – 15%
Republican: 27% –  57%
Independent: 52% – 26%

Biden says Trump sowing doubts about US commitment to NATO is ‘un-American’

President Joe Biden on Tuesday said Donald Trump’s comments calling into question the U.S. commitment to defend its NATO allies from attack were “dangerous” and “un-American,” seizing on the former president’s comments that sowed fresh fears among U.S. partners about its dependability on the global stage.

Trump, the front-runner in the U.S. for the Republican Party’s nomination this year, said Saturday that he once warned that he would allow Russia to do whatever it wants to NATO member nations that are “delinquent” in devoting 2% of their gross domestic product to defense. It was the latest instance in which the former president seemed to side with an authoritarian state over America’s democratic allies .

Speaking from the White House as he encouraged the House to take up a Senate-passed aid bill to fund Ukraine’s efforts to hold off a two-year Russian invasion, Biden said Trump’s comments about the mutual defense pact were “dangerous and shocking.”

“The whole world heard it and the worst thing is he means it,” Biden added.

Biden said that “when America gives its word, it means something,” and called Trump’s comments sowing doubt about its commitments ”un-American.”

Biden said of Trump: “He doesn’t understand that the sacred commitment that we’ve given works for us as well.”

NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense clause states that an armed attack against one or more of its members shall be considered an attack against all members. But Trump has often depicted NATO allies as leeches on the U.S. military and openly questioned the value of the military alliance that has defined American foreign policy for more than 70 years.

Since the full scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Biden has ushered Finland into the alliance and is clearing the way for Sweden to do the same. While Ukraine is not a member of NATO, the alliance has served as a key contributor of the U.S.-organized effort to support Kyiv’s military defenses in the nearly two year old conflict.

Woman, baby found dead in west Baltimore apartment

The bodies of a woman and a baby were found Tuesday morning in west Baltimore, police said.

City police said officers were called around at 9 a.m. to an apartment in the 1800 block of McCulloh Street, where they found a 32-year-old woman and a 13-month-old child dead.

Police said there were no signs of foul play or anything suspicious and that detectives are investigating the deaths as “questionable.”

The causes of the deaths remain under investigation.

Larsa Pippen and Marcus Jordan split after a year of dating, talk of engagement

Looks like Larsa Pippen and Marcus Jordan won’t be heading down the aisle after all.

The reality TV star and the former college basketball star have called it quits after a year of dating, The Times has confirmed. After breakup rumors surfaced over the weekend, a statement shared with The Times said the former couple has “decided to take some time apart to reevaluate their relationship.”

The statement added:”This has nothing to do with any family input, but solely for their personal growth.”

Speculation around the couple’s standing began on Instagram, where social media sleuths saw that the former partners had unfollowed each other and deleted photos that documented their relationship. Pippen, the ex-wife of NBA star Scottie Pippen, fueled the rumors with a pair of since-deleted Instagram stories seemingly shading her now-ex.