Bluejay 96.3FM 730AM – Merrill's Hometown Voice!

Holly Madison and others explore the dark side of the Playboy lifestyle

Four years after the death of Hugh Hefner, some insiders are coming forward to share what they say was the reality of life inside the Playboy empire.

Father of former NFL player who died in police custody says his son may have had a manic episode

Former NFL player Glenn Foster Jr. may have been going through a manic episode in the days leading up to his arrest and was acting strangely during a recent phone call, his father told CNN.

A record number of journalists are in prison right now, according to press freedom report

A staggering 293 journalists were imprisoned in 2021, according to an annual census by nonprofit group Committee to Protect Journalists. That tally is up from 280 journalists in 2020 and is the highest number CPJ has ever reported since it started keeping track of the data in 1992.

Three Northeast states deploy National Guard amid medical capacity crisis due to pandemic

The governors of Maine and New York deployed the National Guard in response to dangerously low capacity at statewide medical facilities due to the pandemic.

Missing Auburn student's car, human remains found in creek after more than 45 years

Authorities in Georgia say they finally know what happened to an Auburn University student missing for more than 45 years after his car was found on Tuesday in an Alabama creek - along with human remains and his wallet.

Senate Democrats say Republicans are holding up nomination for anti-Semitism post

Democrats in Congress told CNN that GOP senators are continuing to hold up the nomination of the woman President Joe Biden tapped to become the next US Envoy to Combat and Monitor Anti-Semitism, five months after she was nominated.

Biden administration drug czar says it's time to treat drug addiction like a chronic disease

The White House on Wednesday announced a new push to encourage harm reduction measures that make illicit drug use safer. Its supplying $30 million in grants for services such syringe exchanges and naloxone, the opioid overdose antidote.

Brian Williams' final MSNBC broadcast will be on Thursday

Brian Williams, who helped put MSNBC on the map 25 years ago, is about to exit the cable news network.

Navy says it will pause operations at Hawaii fuel site linked to tap water contamination

The Navy will pause all operations at its Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage facility until an investigation into the source of petroleum in drinking water at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii is completed.

January 6 committee says it is moving forward with criminal contempt for Mark Meadows

The House select committee investigating the January 6 riot informed Mark Meadows that they have "no choice" but to advance criminal contempt proceedings against him given that former President Donald Trump's former chief of staff has decided to no longer cooperate with the panel, according to a new letter.

CNN 10 - December 9, 2021

December 9, 2021

Obama says GOP gerrymandering is 'not how democracy is supposed to work'

Former President Barack Obama on Wednesday said "the stakes could not be higher" for democracy as he skewered Republican redistricting efforts and attempts to codify voting restrictions in state laws.

Won't-run-if-Trump-runs question leads to waiting game for likely 2024 candidates

Donald Trump's wait-and-see approach to the 2024 election has frozen the next Republican presidential primary before it's even begun.

Analysis: Did the press overhype the danger posed by the Omicron variant?

A version of this article first appeared in the "Reliable Sources" newsletter.

Lyft won't require its staff to return to the office until 2023

Lyft is giving its employees another year to work remotely, a dramatic step among major businesses that are continuing to delay a return to the office.

Australia, UK and Canada join US in diplomatic boycott of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics

Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada will join the United States in a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the leaders of the three countries said Wednesday.

CDC updates its guidelines to encourage doctors to talk everyone who is sexually active about PrEP to prevent HIV

The CDC is encouraging doctors to talk to all sexually active people about drugs that can help prevent HIV and to prescribe these drugs -- known as pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP-- to anyone who asks for them.

Lego building new brick factory in Vietnam as Asian market clicks

Toymaker Lego said on Wednesday it plans to build a new factory in Vietnam to keep up with rapidly growing demand for its colored plastic bricks among children across Asia.

Trial of Kimberly Potter, ex-cop who killed Daunte Wright, begins with testimony from victim's mother and police officer

In a video played for the jury Wednesday, the former Brooklyn Center police officer put her hands to her head and fell to the ground after shooting Wright.

Former officer Kim Potter on trial for Daunte Wright's death

Former Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, police officer Kim Potter is on trial in the fatal April shooting of Daunte Wright. Follow here for live updates from the courtroom.

Jussie Smollett's trial is coming to a close. These are the key moments in the case

Jury deliberations began Wednesday in the trial of former "Empire" star Jussie Smollett, who is accused of making false reports to authorities that he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack in 2019.

US likely to hold off for now on energy sanctions for Russia, fearing impact on global prices

The Biden administration is drafting options for multiple rounds of harsh sanctions on Russia if it moves to invade Ukraine, but energy sanctions are likely a last resort given the impact they could have on the global economy and domestic gasoline prices, three US officials tell CNN.

Senate votes to overturn Biden vaccine mandate for businesses

The Senate voted Wednesday night to overturn President Joe Biden's Covid-19 vaccine or testing mandate for private businesses with 100 or more employees.

Ukrainian military report says Russia boosted troops to 120,000 near border

Ukrainian defense officials say Russia has increased troop numbers near the Ukrainian border to 120,000 people, including additional army, air force and naval personnel.

Scott Peterson sentenced to life in prison after being spared a death sentence

Scott Peterson has been resentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the deaths of his wife and unborn child, a California judge ruled Wednesday.