Weather Eye Heat should be brief in our beautiful region
Not a whole lot new in the weather department today as the summer heat continues at least one more day. Today will be the hottest of the current heat wave, with some cooling tomorrow. And as mentioned here the other day, with a more southerly flow upon us, we will see towering cumulus over the Cascades. Some of the debris from these thunderstorms may drift over the western valleys but at this time, there’s little chance of thundershowers.And our natural air conditioner, ocean air, will seep in and dominate later in the week with some morning clouds and seasonal afternoon temperatures. I had to chuckle to myself Saturday afternoon looking at the upper wind flow on the extended computer models. For August 5th, they had a flow of air coming right down from the north with a trough of low pressure over us. If that were December, we would be talking snow, folks. But then again I have had more than a few laughs this summer with the longer-range forecast models. This certainly has not been a typical year and at this point I wouldn’t be surprised what the great weather machine throws at us. Don’t worry — no snow — but maybe some very cool temperatures. We’ll see.It will be a very pleasant evening tonight to sit and watch the sunset and the moonrise at about the same time. The moon will be chasing the sun, so to speak. And it may have a warm color to it before it gets up too high.I went downtown Saturday morning to the Farmers Market and sitting there eating lunch looking at the green trees, flowers and clear blue sky, reminds me why I live here. It was a tough choice — stay in town, or head to the beach where it was clear and sunny as well. Nothing like the Northwest in summertime.Pat Timm is a local weather specialist. His column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Reach him at http://weathersystems.com.
Multiple freeway projects created a significant impact on traffic in the Vancouver area for several hours Saturday afternoon.The Vancouver Police Department issued a bulletin at about 2:30 p.m. warning motorists to avoid Mill Plain Boulevard (both east and west) in the area of I-205 and Chkalov Drive. The congestion cleared after about two hours, and the department cancelled its warnings at 4:46 p.m.The department had suggested that drivers who needed to travel east or west in the area of I-205, and would normally take Mill Plain, should use alternate routes such as 28th Street or Fourth Plain Boulevard.Travelers who needed to cross into Oregon were encouraged to go about 30 miles east on state Highway 14 and use the Bridge of the Gods if possible, returning on Interstate 84. That bridge is a toll bridge.The project that caused the congestion — work on the Interstate 205 Bridge — will continue until 5 a.m. Monday: Two lanes will be closed around the clock. Onramps from state Highway 14 to southbound I-205 will also be closed.Other planned closures are:o Aug. 27-30: Two lanes will be closed from 9 p.m. each night to 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, and to 5 a.m. Monday.
Police said they found marijuana, cocaine and two stolen firearms when they pulled a man over for speeding shortly early Friday morning.Husham Al-Ani was arrested on suspicion of drug possession, firearms violations, driving under the influence and driving while suspended, according to a news release from the Washington State Patrol.Al-Ani, 20, was stopped on Interstate 205, north of Mill Plain Boulevard, for allegedly traveling 73 mph in a 60 mph zone. The trooper who pulled him over smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle, according to the release. A K-9 unit was called out and the dog found four grams of marijuana and six grams of cocaine. Also discovered were 9 mm and .40-caliber pistols. The charges are being referred to Clark County Prosecutor’s Office.Friday evening, Al-Ani was being held in the Clark County Jail, without bail, a jail officer said. There was no immigration hold.Al-Ani is to appear in court Monday morning.
Notes, quotes and anecdotes while wondering how the gas-tax haters propose we pay for new roads and bridges:What are they worried about? Too much congestion relief? — Last week’s column snarkily assigned bulletproof cockroach status to the discredited belief that a third bridge will solve all problems related to our too-narrow, too-old and too-dangerous Interstate 5 Bridge. Another misguided yet immortal belief is that we shouldn’t build a new bridge because it will only expedite traffic to the Rose Garden bottleneck and make matters worse there.That’s like saying the new Salmon Creek interchange (under construction at 139th Street) is a boondoggle because it will only facilitate traffic to the bottleneck down at the I-5 bridge. (The 139th Street interchange project and the Rose Quarter each happen to be about six miles from the Interstate Bridge.)Using this warped logic, many transportation upgrades would never be built because they would only expedite congestion to other choke points. The fact is, Oregon officials are planning (albeit too slowly) to widen I-5 at the Rose Quarter. If completion of the CRC project worsens that bottleneck, well, maybe it will spur ODOT to slap some giddyup on the I-5 widening project at the Rose Quarter.Taxed to the gills — Folks in Washington state are overtaxed, right? Well, not according to one comparison with other states. The Tax Foundation of Washington, D.C., last month ranked our state 28th out of 50 in percentage of income paid in state and local taxes in 2010. This means one of two things: (1) The Tax Foundation is a bunch of gun-grabbing Marxists who hate America and are intentionally trying to destroy it. (2) Some of the anti-tax cacophony in Washington state might be just crocodile tears.Democrats and Republicans, of course, process numbers differently. “Twenty-eight out of 50 is midrange. We would rather be lower,” said Republican state Sen. Mark Schoesler of Ritzville in a story in The Olympian. “We think that leaving more money in citizens’ pockets is better than having it in government’s pockets.” Dang tootin’! Preach it, Mark!
A team from Mountain View High School advanced to the championship round Saturday at the BPA Regional Science Bowl in Portland.Mountain View Team 1, which fell in the 12th round, was one of five teams from four Clark County schools to take part in the 23rd annual competition sponsored by the Bonneville Power Administration.It was the only local team to advance past preliminary rounds.Other schools taking part from Clark County were Henrietta Lacks Health & Bioscience High School, Heritage High School and Union High School.A team from Skyview High School had pulled out before the event.More than 300 students from 72 high schools took part in the event. The top finishing team — Westview High School Team 1 from Beaverton, Ore. — won a chance to compete in the Department of Energy National Science Bowl.
State Sen. Annette Cleveland, D-Vancouver, on Friday announced a set of bills designed to prevent future bistate transportation projects from meeting the same fate as the failed Columbia River Crossing.Cleveland unveiled three proposals she described as “safeguards” that would improve collaboration between two states and make it more difficult for leaders to pull the plug on a major project late in the game. In 2013, after almost a decade of planning, the Washington Legislature walked away from the CRC without approving funding for it — a move that ultimately led to the project’s demise the following year.“I believe that we needed greater skin in the game,” Cleveland said.One of Cleveland’s bills would establish a “bistate megaproject work group” to facilitate communication between the two states. Another would require state money to be taken from other transportation projects and given to a megaproject if it’s received a federal Record of Decision but no financing plan by the next regular legislative session. The third proposal would put the state on the hook for reimbursing funds spent on a megaproject if it fails to materialize.As proposed, the bills would have largely penalized Washington for the outcome of the CRC.The CRC spent $200 million and had some crucial permits in place before it folded in May 2014. The proposed Interstate 5 Bridge replacement would have cost more than $3 billion to build, but never made it to construction.Cleveland’s proposals would apply to bistate transportation projects valued at $500 million or more. She said she plans to formally introduce the bills next week, when the 2015 legislative session starts in Olympia.
Less than half (44%) of employees are happy with the benefits they receive, a drop from 53% last year, according to research by Willis PMI Group.The survey, which polled 1,197 UK-based full- or part-time employees aged between 18 and 64 on their perceptions of benefits and wellbeing schemes, also showed that health and wellbeing provision was lowest in the Midlands, with 30% of respondents receiving these rewards.The research also found:55% of London-based employees and 52% of Scotland-based employees were reasonably satisfied with the benefits being offered to them.37% said their employers currently made provisions to look after their health and wellbeing, but this varies by region. Nearly half (48%) of Scottish respondents and 44% of London respondents said their employers look after their health and wellbeing.36% of respondents in the north west are satisfied with their benefit offering.Mike Blake (pictured), director at Willis PMI Group, said: “Given the current focus on reducing the burden of employee ill health and sickness absence on the economy, it is surprising to find the perception of benefits provision is actually on the decline. [Organisations] might ask whether this is due to increasing expectation, a shortfall in provision or a failure to properly communicate available benefits to staff.“It is important for employers to identify the specific challenges faced by their business and actively engage with their staff in order to better understand what benefits are both needed and wanted. Schemes will be most successful when they align the goals of the organisation with the desires of the employees.”Find out how to engage staff with benefits at Employee Benefits Live 2016 on 11-12 October at Olympia National, London
The accounting deficit of defined benefit (DB) pension schemes for the UK’s largest 350 organisations fell from £131 billion at the end of June 2017 to £122 billion at 31 July 2017, according to research by Mercer.Its Pensions risk survey, which is based on projections and analysis of FTSE 350 organisations’ financial statements adjusted from their financial year end, also found that liability values decreased by £4 billion between the end of June 2017 and the end of July 2017, falling from £869 billion to £865 billion.Asset values increased by £5 billion from £738 billion at the end of June 2017 to £743 billion at the end of July 2017.Ali Tayyebi (pictured), senior partner at Mercer, said: “The welcome trend of improvements in the deficit over recent months continues during July. This was largely driven by a small reduction in market expectations for long-term inflation which reduces the pension liability values. An increase in asset values also helped to further improve the funding deficits over July.“As past experience has shown, periods of steady improvements can be reversed quickly. The most important question for most pension schemes should therefore be about getting the right balance between protecting improvements in the funding position and relying on continued out-performance from risk-based or unmatched asset strategies.”
The top 10 most read stories on www.employeebenefits.co.uk between 11 April and 17 April 2019 were:Asda proposes new contract for hourly-paid retail staffNestle rolls out pets at work scheme to York-based employeesGMB hosts protests against ISS in wage and sick pay disputeSky and Virgin Active shortlisted for Best financial wellbeing strategy, large employerGoodman Masson and Sky shortlisted for Best employee engagement strategyMore than nine in 10 leaders believe they need to use benefits better to retain staffActivision Blizzard incentivises staff to share reproductive health dataCisco Systems and KPMG shortlisted for Best healthcare and wellbeing benefitsAramark staff conclude strike action in dispute over payNew Zealand launches consultation to support older staff
CORAL GABLES, FLA. (WSVN) – Cleanup crews are on the scene of a water main break in Coral Gables that temporarily shut down all southbound lanes on U.S. 1, Saturday.According to Coral Gables Police, the rupture occurred on the 1300 block of South Dixie Highway, near South Alhambra Circle, at around 10 a.m.The water flooded the street, causing officials to shut down all southbound lanes from South Alhambra Circle to Mariposa Court. By Saturday evening, all lanes had reopened to traffic.However, officials still advise drivers to seek an alternate route, as the repair work continues.Copyright 2019 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
MIAMI (WSVN) – A little boy’s mother and grandmother accused of kidnapping the child reached a plea agreement in court, Monday.Leydibet Hernandez and Lazara Ortiz pleaded guilty to interfering with custody of a minor. They will both serve one year of house arrest followed by one year of probation.Authorities said Hernandez, who lost custody of her 21-month-old son, snatched him from a crib at a home in Miami back in March. They said her mother helped her buy bus tickets.Hernandez was arrested while heading to Texas with the child with plans of crossing the border to Mexico.Copyright 2019 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) – Police are searching for a shooter after a 12-year-old was struck, Saturday, in Southwest Miami-Dade.Bullets shattered glass and ripped through a home off Southwest 132nd Avenue and 278th Street.Police said a 12-year-old boy was the only victim and was shot in the leg.If you have any information on this shooting, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $1,000 reward.Copyright 2019 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Copyright 2019 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. MIAMI (WSVN) – Rescue crews took three people to the hospital after, officials said, two vehicles collided at an intersection in Miami with downed traffic lights.Miami Fire Rescue responded to the scene of the rollover wreck near Northwest 50th Street and 12th Avenue, Sunday, just before 2 p.m.According to officials, the crash involved a Ford Escape and an Infiniti sedan. The force of the impact caused the SUV to roll over.There were two elderly women inside the Escape. The driver was able to get out on her own, but crews had to assist the passenger as well as the driver of the Infiniti.Paramedics transported all three victims to an area hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.Officials confirmed the traffic lights were not working at the time of the accident.City of Miami Police detectives are investigating. 
(WSVN) – The Miami Dolphins will honor Nick Buoniconti throughout the upcoming season.On Wednesday morning, the team took to Twitter to announce the late legend’s initials will be added to the players’ helmets. Copyright 2019 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Buoniconti passed away on July 30 at 78 years old.The Pro Football Hall of Famer was a member of the 1972 dolphins, the only undefeated team in NFL history. 
We will wear the initials of Nick Buoniconti on our helmets this season to honor our late linebacker legend. He will be missed. #NoNameDefense #Perfect📚 >> https://t.co/dzAVyTolr0 pic.twitter.com/myZe0YJoKp— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) August 21, 2019
Businesses are charged a fee and must pre-register with NRC Alaska. Households are free unless the haul contains more than 55 gallons of waste in which case they must also pre-register. There is a 3 drum limit per household per year. To pre-register and for specific waste disposal questions, call NRC Alaska at (877) 375-5040. For general questions, call the Kenai Peninsula Borough Solid Waste Department at (907) 262-9667. The Boroughs hazardous waste disposal program gives households and small businesses the opportunity to properly dispose of hazardous wastes and chemicals.
The Central Peninsula Landfill in Soldotna will be hosting a hazardous household waste day this Saturday, July 20. The Central Peninsula Landfill will take those items from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturday, July 20.
The FOLIO: Show, the magazine industry’s largest conference and expo, is coming back to New York City in 2010. The annual event, to be combined next year with the Audience Development Show, will be held June 7 to 9, 2010 at the Sheraton New York.The FOLIO: Show moved to Chicago in 2007 and 2008 after three decades in New York. This year, given the toll the economic climate has taken on the magazine industry, the event was transformed into a virtual conference to allow participants to benefit from FOLIO:’s rich content without incurring travel costs. The event was successful, generating more than 2,400 participants—nearly doubling the live-event’s past-year attendance. For 2010, FOLIO: will use a hybrid live-virtual strategy to deliver content, interaction, networking and engagement to the largest audience of magazine professionals in the industry. In addition, by combining the FOLIO: Show with its sister conference, the Audience Development Show, the event is expected to attract a wider audience and exhibitor roster. By fusing the magazine industry’s two leading events, parent company Red 7 Media is recognizing that the audience acquisition function is morphing and converging with other functions in the enterprise.“We’re very excited to bring the FOLIO: Show back to New York and combine it with our Audience Development conference,” noted FOLIO:/Audience Development general manager Tony Silber. “And with our experience launching a virtual event, the combination of the two will enable us to provide content and education to the widest possible audience of magazine professionals at all levels.” Attendees at the live FOLIO: Show will have access to the complete face-to-face experience of leading-edge educational sessions, peer networking and supplier demos and new products and services; while “virtual” attendees will be able to view keynotes and a limited number of conference sessions two weeks after the live event.For sponsors and exhibitors, the hybrid strategy offers the best of both worlds—face-to-face engagement combined with the reach and tracking ability that only virtual events can deliver. In fact, sponsors of the 2009 FOLIO: Show Virtual received on average more than 165 visitors to their online booths, with the average visitor spending more than 10 minutes at each booth. And by bringing Folio: and Audience Development under one roof, we better serve the suppliers that need to reach not just circulators but circulators AND their executive management.“Our goal is to continue to innovate and push the envelope on creating new ways to engage with our readers and advertisers, and to find ways to help them engage with each other,” noted Silber. “We used this year to test new ideas and concepts and we’re applying what we learned to our events in 2010 to provide even richer experiences for our attendees and exhibitors.”FOLIO: Adds Hosted-Buyer Events to 2010 LineupIn addition to the FOLIO: Show, Red 7 Media will produce two hosted-buyer events focusing on publishing technology and innovation. Launched in September around Red 7 Media’s EXPO and FOLIO: brands, ConnexLive brought together scores of senior-level media executives and suppliers for scheduled appointments based on matching criteria. The event was a success and received rave reviews from buyers and suppliers who attended.FOLIO: will hold two ConnexLive events in 2010—one in Washington, D.C. in April, and another in Chicago next fall. More details at Connexevent.com.
When asked about its business plan, a Techonomy spokesperson said it “envisages a combination of publishing, teaching, consulting and partnerships.” He says the conference is a revenue anchor for which Techonomy may launch a spin-off regional series.Previously, Kirkpatrick served as Fortune’s senior Internet and technology editor. Petre served as executive editor at Fortune—having directed coverage of technology, medicine and science—and Schlender served as a foreign correspondent. Former Fortune magazine editors and writers David Kirkpatrick, Peter Petre and Brent Schlender have banded together to form Techonomy, a new media business they say aims to convince leaders from all sectors that technological and social invention is central for organizations.While Techonomy LLC will officially launch later this year, the men are gearing up for a debut conference August 4 to 6 in Lake Tahoe, California. Speakers include Bill Gates, Google CEO Eric Schmidt and LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman. “The Techonomy conference will gather many of the world’s smartest and most accomplished leaders to engage in a dialogue about the roles of technology and invention in all areas of human endeavor and act as a catalyst for transferring those ideas across industries and sectors,” Kirkpatrick says in an announcement.Kirkpatrick, Petre and Schlender say the media business behind Techonomy will be a “hybrid” of original reporting, opinion, aggregated content and contributed long form journalism. According to its Web site, Techonomy will promote “a rational, optimistic, forward-looking, technically savvy work ethic that celebrates technological achievement, human ingenuity, and sustainable living.”
A company memo from Phillips and Glamour editor-in-chief, Cindi Leive, suggests that this may only be the beginning of its plan to streamline the entire organization. “No matter what our roles — in edit or in advertising — we are all one Glamour. So, building on the success of our whole-brand communications and finance teams, we are also creating a united creative division,” the memo says. Fast forward to this week, and the narrative has changed. WWD reports that this latest reorganization is a cost cutting measure. The exact number of layoffs between the two brands is unclear. Various reports suggest it’s somewhere between five and seven, with the bulk leaving Glamour. John Dioso, who joined Glamour in January as executive director of editorial operations, has been confirmed as one of the departed. Last November the company brought the brands together by combining its sales staff, which eliminated the publisher role at Self and sent Mary Murcko (and others) on her way. Connie Anne Phillips took the reins on both brands as publisher and CRO. The salesforce duo was given its own name — Condé Nast Aurora — and a vapid tagline — “The Power of Possible.” The brands will also merge social media teams, which will be led by associate social media director, Kenny Thapoung. Last month, Phillips told Folio: that Aurora was doing big things. So big, in fact, that she indicated Self alone had gained 20 new accounts, and they had made 21 new hires. What’s more, she said traffic had tripled. 
The slow merger of Glamour and Self continued at Condé Nast this week. The company has confirmed it made reductions to Glamour and Self’s staff and is combining the two brands’ operations teams. “Basically, what we did was bring together two of the most important brands in women’s media, Glamour and Self, into one modern, powerful offering, and we did so at scale,” Phillips told Folio: at the time. “We’re able to connect our partners to this mindset and we’re able to do so efficiently and effectively. We have a combined audience of 18.3 million, which puts us ahead of most of our competitive set.” For now, this week’s reorganization includes integrating the print and digital teams under digital director, Annie Fox, executive editor, Wendy Naugle, and creative director, Paul Ritter. Also, the operations, which includes copy, research and production, will be overseen by Glamour managing editor, LaToya Valmont, and Self managing editor, Erin Hobday. 
Chris Algiere is the Director Federal & National Programs at FirstNet, an independent authority within the U.S. Chamber of Commerce whose mission is to develop, build and operate the nationwide, broadband network that equips first responders to save lives and protect U.S. communities. First response and other critical installation resiliency issues will be discussed during an ADC 2019 Defense Communities National Summit general session: “The Future of DOD Resiliency Policy,” Mon., June 10.Natural disasters are a threat to installation resiliency across the country, and first responders are usually the “advance team” in the aftermath. What is FirstNet and how does it help installations become more resilient?No community is immune from natural disasters, including our military communities. Recently, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, experienced a tornado, and in the aftermath, fire department members, security forces and base chaplains went door-to-door to check on residents. In March, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., endured extensive flooding, and last fall, Hurricane Michael destroyed Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. Many other installations have faced similar situations.The ability to communicate is key for response and recovery efforts, and that is where FirstNet comes in. FirstNet is the only nationwide public safety broadband network dedicated to first responders. The network enables public safety personnel – including first responders on military installations – to stay connected even during times of network congestion.FirstNet also has a fleet of deployable network assets that can be rolled into an area affected by a natural disaster. These assets are dedicated to FirstNet subscribers and can be requested at no cost. In fact, deployable assets were used in response efforts to the disasters in Ohio, Nebraska and Florida. This is a feature that first responders use when they need it, and we are proud to deliver it.How can communities and states better prepare for the threat of natural disasters?Planning and preparedness is key to reinforcing community resiliency. With FirstNet, installations have another tool to ensure their first responders can communicate when the community needs them the most.In a digital world, an internet connection often becomes the fastest means for emergency managers to order supplies after a disaster. In this way, FirstNet helps responders connect quickly to support response and recovery efforts.Overall, FirstNet is enhancing traditional radio systems with data communications. By providing first responders a cellular connection they can depend on – with “always on” priority and preemption – they can now make use of smartphones and other digital resources like never before. With additional information at their fingertips, FirstNet is helping public safety be better prepared for any emergency.FirstNet is also for daily public safety operations. How can FirstNet help installations provide public safety services?Today, FirstNet is enabling responders from different agencies and jurisdictions to seamlessly communicate with one another. With one network, public safety personnel on an installation can easily communicate with one another and public safety from agencies off base. More than 7,250 public safety agencies are using more than 600,000 connections on FirstNet today for everyday operations and for every emergency.Another advantage of FirstNet is that security of the network was planned for and incorporated from the start. Adversaries will always look to disrupt our nation’s communications and critical infrastructure through cyberspace. With a dedicated network, a security operations center to monitor the network and end-to-end encryption, protecting public safety’s vital communications is always front of mind for FirstNet.Part of a series highlighting the faces and ideas of the upcoming ADC 2019 Defense Communities National Summit in Washington, D.C., June 10-12 ADC AUTHOR
News Ne-Yo Gets Real On R&B, Essence Fest & More ne-yo-gets-real-rb-essence-fest-more Email Twitter Facebook Ne-Yo Gets Real On R&B, Essence Fest & More “I need my music to feel like something again…”GRAMMYs Jul 7, 2018 – 12:48 pm It’s no secret that Ne-Yo is a maker, lover and champion of R&B music. So it comes as no surprised that the GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter and Recording Academy member would be spotted in New Orleans at this year’s Essence Festival—the venerable celebration of Black artists and music, which is now in its 24th year. We caught up with R&B’s gentleman to chat about the festival’s impact, his love of Erykah Badu, his musical legacy, who’s on his musical radar, and why real singing still matters.There are so many music festivals these days, what makes Essence special for you?Essence Festival is special because [it celebrates] black women—one of our most precious commodities. This is about them, and anything celebrating them I’m always going to be for. I’ve been a champion for women pretty much my whole career, my whole life. My mama wouldn’t have it [any] other way, so I’m always here to celebrate female Black excellence.Anybody you’re really looking forward to seeing this year?Erykah Badu. [I have] been a huge fan of Erykah Badu since the beginning of her career. I love how she’s just unapologetically her. You know what I’m saying? She is who she is, whether it’s trendy, whether you get it or not, she’s like this is me, love it or leave it alone. You can’t do anything but respect people like that.R&B and rap are dominating the music charts these days, and both have become king amongst music consumers. Can you see that effect of those genres on the world of music and pop culture? I mean I can definitely see it. You can definitely feel it. You can feel it in every aspect of music. Have you listened to country music lately? You can definitely [hear] the influence there. Pop music [too]. I’m happy that we are in the process of swinging things back towards R&B music, with artists like H.E.R., Daniel Caesar, Ella Mai, Jorja Smith, [and me]—I’ve got to include myself in there. I need music to feel like something again. I feel like we’re swinging back towards that. We’re swinging back towards real emotion in music. You know? Real voices. Real singing and that makes me really happy.What are you listening to right now? I’m a really, really heavy on H.E.R. I love what she does. She works with DJ Camper, who I work with a lot as well. He actually produced [my] song, “Good Man” [the latest single and the title track off his seventh studio album]. Daniel Caesar, and I listened to Jorja Smith’s album [Lost & Found] because I think it came out right around the same time mine did, so I wanted to see what the competition was sounding like. Not that there is any animosity or anything, I just wanted to [hear it]. Mind you, she’s amazing. And I love Drake’s new one [Scorpion]. Love what he’s sounding like.So, if you could set up your dream collaboration with any artist or band alive right now, who would it be? For me it would have to be Stevie Wonder. I have my five kings that have been my inspiration, pretty much, from the start of my love for music: Prince, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Sammy Davis Jr., [and] Marvin Gaye. Now, of the five I’ve named, only one is still living. That’s Stevie Wonder. So, I got to get in with Stevie.When your fans look back on you in 50 years from now what do you want them to remember about you as the artist Ne-Yo and your music?I want them to remember that Ne-Yo wrote from the heart. Ne-Yo spoke from the heart. Whether [or not] what he was saying or doing was the most popular thing at the time or not, it was always real. And that he was a good man that could write the hell out of a song.Catching Up On Music News Powered By The Recording Academy Just Got Easier. Have A Google Home Device? “Talk To GRAMMYs”Read more