#WhatsHappening for April 21, 2018

Hey kids. Happy weekend!

Don't forget to join Mark tonight for all the madness that is Saturday Night Karaoke, live at the Iron Horse Tavern.

Carver County, Minnesota prosecutor Mark Metz announced Thursday afternoon that charges would not be filed relating to Prince's death, saying "there is no reliable evidence showing how Prince obtained" the drugs that killed him.

The investigation also uncovered that the Vicodin the singer was taking was counterfeit, and laced with fentanyl- making them even more dangerous. Metz said that "...(the) evidence demonstrates that Prince thought he was taking Vicodin and not fentanyl" and that "...(in) all likelihood, Prince had no idea he was taking a counterfeit pill that could kill him. Others around Prince also likely did not know that the pills were counterfeit containing fentanyl."

Metz added that there was "no evidence that the pill or pills that actually killed Prince were prescribed by a doctor. There is also no evidence to suggest any other sinister motive, intent or conspiracy to murder Prince. The evidence suggests that Prince had long suffered significant pain, became addicted to pain medications but took efforts to protect his privacy."

Metz called the singer's death "a tragic example that opioid addiction, and overdose deaths do not discriminate no matter the demographic."

To say the least.

I never watched much of Smallville, but my favorite of young Clark Kent's hometown, would-be loves was Chloe Sullivan- played by Allison Mack- so imagine my surprise to read yesterday that Mack had been arrested and indicted by the Feds on charges of sex trafficking, sex trafficking conspiracy, and forced labor conspiracy.

The arrest was related to Mack's alleged involvement with an organization called Nxivm, which claims to be a self-help program but was, according to the indictment, a pyramid scheme in which some recruits were exploited "both sexually and for their labor, to the defendants' benefit."

I mean, wow.

Rolling Stone has confirmed reports that R. Kelly's lawyer and publicist have severed ties with the singer.

Trevian Kutti, who was Kelly's publicist, told the magazine that "effective April 16, 2018, I no longer represent Mr. Robert Kelly" while attorney Linda Mensch, said, "I no longer represent R. Kelly." She added that her "resignation was unrelated to any allegations related to Mr. Kelly’s social life." 

The BBC also reported that Kelly's executive assistant, Diana Copeland, had resigned as of April 1st- shortly after the release the BBC documentary, R. Kelly: Sex, Girls and Videotapes, which investigated the numerous allegations of sexual misconduct against the singer.

Birthdays today include: Jencarlos Canela (30); Michael Timmins of Cowboy Junkies (59); Robert Smith of The Cure (59); Patti Lupone (69); Iggy Pop (71); and Slide Hampton (86). #MusicalBirthdays