| 1. GRAMMYS ELIGIBILITY WILL CLOSE ONE MONTH EARLY BECAUSE OF OSCARS AIRDATE: Eligibility for the 62nd Grammy Awards in 2020 will close August 31, a month earlier than the date for the past nine years. The early date is a result of the Grammys telecast being moved up two weeks to January 26, 2020, accommodating the early airdate for the 92nd Oscars, which take place February 9, 2020. Billboard: “This is only the second time in 44 years that the end of the Grammy eligibility year has been moved up from its traditional September 30 cut-off. This also happened in 2009, when the eligibility year also closed on August 31. The adjustment was made that year because the Grammy telecast was moved to January 31, 2010, to avoid competing with the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. In the past decade, the Grammy telecast has moved to January two more times—2014 (January 26) and 2018 (January 28)—again to avoid conflicting with the Winter Olympics. The eligibility year wasn't adjusted in those two years, however. The resulting truncated schedule is known to be punishing for Recording Academy staffers, who operate on a tight timetable in the best of times." 2. BETSY DEVOS STRUGGLES TO DEFEND PROPOSED FUNDING CUTS FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Before a congressional subcommittee on Tuesday, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos attempted to defend at least $7 million in proposed cuts to education programs, including $18 million in federal funding for the Special Olympics. Wisconsin Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan grilled DeVos over the proposed cuts. NBC News: "When Pocan asked whether she knew how many children would be affected by the elimination of federal funding to the Special Olympics, DeVos said she did not know. 'I’ll answer it for you, that's OK, no problem,' Pocan said. 'It’s 272,000 kids that are affected.' DeVos responded, 'I think that the Special Olympics is an awesome organization, one that is well supported by the philanthropic sector as well.' ... The Special Olympics receives some funding from the U.S. government but also has sponsorships from private companies. Some of the program's listed sponsors include United Airlines, Toyota, and The Procter & Gamble Co." 3. AMSTERDAM BANS TOURS OF RED LIGHT DISTRICT: Amsterdam will ban tours of the Red Light District starting next year. The government of the Netherlands’ capital has moved to ban the popular travel activity because of concerns about sex workers being treated as a tourist attraction. CNN: “While the new ruling on tours will affect sex workers in the Red Light District, there will also be repercussions throughout the neighborhood, which is in central Amsterdam and extremely popular with tourists. Dutch locals have complained about the increase in foot traffic, and measures have been taken to reduce tour group sizes (there is a maximum of 20 people) and to require all tour operators to have formal permits. The ban will go into effect on January 1, 2020, which gives existing tour companies an opportunity to wind down their business in the Red Light District.” | 