It’s no secret that the coronavirus pandemic has literally changed about every aspect of our lives, including how we travel. More and more people are taking vacations and hitting the roads. Today, I have information on how to make sure you do it safely. My guest is John Townsend – AAA Mid-Atlantic
“Summertime, and the traveling isn’t easy.” Summer vacations will not look the same this summer, as a result of COVID-19. While there is a pent-up demand for travel, many Americans remain cautious as they explore options. Many hope to “travel safely and maintain social distancing.” To do so, they will hit the roads in cars and in recreational vehicles (RVs). Even so, 46 million Americans will take a trip in the next 12 months with almost 51% of those planning to travel via RV doing so because of Covid-19 concerns, estimates the RV Industry Association. More information here:
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Two nights down, two to go for the Democratic National Convention. Tonight will be the most historic as California senator Kamala Harris will accept the nomination for vice-president. A first for a woman of color on a major political party ticket. But that’s just the beginning. We’re talking about all of the issues for the DNC this week.
Guests:
Nicole Williams, (D) Maryland State Delegate, Dist. 22
Paris Dennard, Republican National Convention Senior Communications Advisor, Black Media Affairs
Mahalia is an alt-R&B/soul artist who counts Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill among her biggest influences. The singer and songwriter made her recorded debut in her early teens, by which point she had already attracted major-label interest.
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@mahalia stopped by the @frankskishow with @peninabrown to talk about music and her latest single. Check out the full video clip below!
Sending a Big “Thank You” to @Mahalia for stopping by The Frank Ski Show with Nina Brown. To find out more about Mahalia and everything they talked about during the interview.. click here Mahalia Music.
Habakkuk 2:3 ESV
For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.
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Frank Ski’s Inspirational Vitamin is his positive daily spiritual note to keep you going!
A Black member of the Harlem Globetrotters is speaking out about an incident earlier this year where fruits, including a banana, were thrown at him by white news broadcasters as he was performing basketball tricks on an Alabama news show. Maxwell Pearce discussed the matter Saturday on social media. His posts came a day after WBRC-TV aired a show that featured an interview with Pearce about the January incident on Good Day Alabama. A news director with the Birmingham news outlet has apologized to Pearce. The director says the fruits were thrown without knowing the racial implications. The Harlem Globetrotters did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the incident.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Barack Obama will deliver a live address during Wednesday night’s Democratic convention and urge voters to back Joe Biden, who spent eight years by his side in the White House. Obama will aim to serve as a bridge between those reassured by Biden’s lengthy resume and more moderate record, and a younger generation of Democrats pushing for a more sweeping changes to the nation’s economic and domestic policies. Obama’s address comes two days after his wife, former first lady Michelle Obama, headlined the Democratic convention.
The U.S. leads the world in the number of coronavirus cases, with 5.4 million cases reported as of Tuesday, and more than 170,000 confirmed dead, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Notre Dame and Michigan State universities became the latest colleges to move classes online because of the coronavirus on Tuesday as colleges struggle to contain outbreaks and students continue to congregate in large groups without masks or social distancing.
The decisions came the same day a third school in the 17-member University of North Carolina system reported a COVID-19 cluster in off-campus housing.
Notre Dame president the Rev. John Jenkins announced the university’s decision to cancel in-person undergraduate classes for two weeks in an address to students and staff.
“It is very serious, and we must take serious actions,” Jenkins said, referring to the news that nearly 150 students had tested positive.
Jenkins said he decided against sending students home after consulting with health care experts. Instead, the university is imposing restrictions on student activity, including limiting access to dormitories to residents and barring students from major gathering places on campus.
Michigan State, which had been scheduled to start in-person classes on Sept. 2, decided to switch to online instruction as a preventive measure amid the ongoing nationwide pandemic, President Samuel L. Stanley said in a statement posted on the school’s website.
“It has become evident to me that, despite our best efforts and strong planning, it is unlikely we can prevent widespread transmission of COVID-19 between students if our undergraduates return to campus,” he said.
Tuesday’s actions followed the decision by officials of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to switch to remote learning starting Wednesday, as the virus makes its mark on colleges — and college towns — across the United States. Other universities are reconsidering plans to hold in-person classes or implementing new testing regimes. And some are threatening crackdowns on students who get too close with others, in violation of social distancing rules.
UNC-Chapel Hill freshman Mackenzie Holland spent two weeks in her dorm before she found herself moving back out again on Tuesday, after the university canceled in-person classes for undergraduates when clusters of coronavirus infection surfaced among students.
Holland said she sobbed for an hour after learning the news.
“I kind of expected it, but I’m just kind of disappointed in my classmates and the people that are out partying and stuff because now I can’t finish my college experience,” Holland said. “I know that we’ll be back one day, but it’s just sad right now.”
In the past few days alone, college students at schools in North Carolina, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Vermont, Kansas, Colorado and at the Air Force Academy have tested positive, creating a ripple effect that has put hundreds of other students into quarantine or isolation.
The U.S. leads the world in the number of coronavirus cases, with 5.4 million cases reported as of Tuesday, and more than 170,000 confirmed dead, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
“We had anticipated and planned for COVID cases on our campus this fall,” UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz told faculty members in a Zoom call Monday. “However, seeing the COVID-19 positivity rate rise from 2.8% to 13.6% at Campus Health over the past week is very concerning.“
On Tuesday, a smattering of UNC-Chapel Hill students packed up their belongings and headed back home with their families.
Holland said she wants other colleges to learn from the Chapel Hill students who participated in large, maskless gatherings.
“A lot of kids our age don’t understand the result of their actions, and this is kind of showing what can result of that,” she said.
Officials at UNC’s North Carolina State University in Raleigh said Tuesday that health officials had identified a cluster of COVID-19 cases involving some students in off-campus housing where a gathering was held early this month. They did not say how many people were infected but health officials define a cluster as five or more cases in close proximity or in one location.
The University of Oklahoma is requiring its sororities to recruit new members virtually after learning of students attending large social events without taking precautions against the virus.
Students at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville could face punishments as stiff as expulsion if they host big parties, if they won’t cooperate with COVID-19 contact tracing or if they don’t complete forms documenting their self-isolation, Chancellor Donde Plowman said in a video conference Tuesday.
“I will not hesitate to do that if people, our students, are irresponsible,” he said.
Plowman also noted five cases linked to an off-campus party last week.
Wednesday is the first day of classes at the flagship Knoxville campus. School officials have confirmed 75 active COVID-19 cases there, involving 66 students and nine employees. About 6,500 students have moved in on campus, while another 30,000-plus live off campus.
The campus currently has 270 people in isolation due to contacts, symptoms or positive tests, including 51 students living on campus, Plowman said.
In Ames, Iowa, a retired Iowa State professor wrote in an op-ed to the Des Moines Register that he was alarmed at what he witnessed while driving through the Iowa State campus last weekend.
“Hundreds of students, out on the sidewalks, out on the front lawns, out in the street; in some places, sitting in chairs or milling aimlessly or running around and hugging each other because they hadn’t seen each other since last school year,” Richard Haws said.
He estimated that 1% of the students were wearing masks.
Meanwhile, the University of South Carolina said it would use saliva tests for students, faculty and staff as part of its plan to reopen for in-person classes on Thursday. The tests, which require a single spit sample, are an alternative to nasal swab tests and typically deliver results within 24 hours.
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Liu reported from Columbia, South Carolina. AP reporters Herbert McCann in Chicago; Jonathan Mattise in Nashville, Tennessee; and Dave Kolpack in Fargo, North Dakota, contributed to this report.
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Anderson and Liu are corps members for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
“This year has been so anxiety filled and chaotic, I figured this experience would be something to lighten the mood,” says Dougherty, who paid to see the stars of TV’s “RuPaul’s Drag Race” dance in front of hundreds of parked cars at a shopping center in Paramus, New Jersey.
NEW YORK (AP) — Angel Dougherty went to the mall last month — not to shop, but to watch a drive-in drag show in the parking lot.
“This year has been so anxiety filled and chaotic, I figured this experience would be something to lighten the mood,” says Dougherty, who paid to see the stars of TV’s “RuPaul’s Drag Race” dance in front of hundreds of parked cars at a shopping center in Paramus, New Jersey.
After being closed for months due to the coronavirus pandemic, malls are bringing all types of drive-in entertainment to their massive parking lots, hoping to lure people back to their properties.
A mall in upstate New York, for example, is hosting a drive-in wrestling match. Others around the country are bringing movies or magic shows that can be watched from a car.
It’s a way to reintroduce people to the mall and eventually get them inside to shop, says retail consultant Kate Newlin. But that’s still a hard sell for anxious shoppers, especially with coronavirus cases spiking around the country.
“Nobody wants to go there,” Newlin says about malls. “Nobody wanted to go there before COVID.”
Malls have struggled to attract shoppers for years as more people shop online. But the pandemic has hit malls especially hard. Stores that they depend on, such as J.C. Penney, have filed for bankruptcy and are permanently closing several locations. Other mall tenants, such as the Gap, stopped paying rent while their stores were temporarily closed.
Retail consultant Jan Rogers Kniffen believes that up to half of the 1,000 malls in the U.S. will either close or be unrecognizable in the next two years. Before the pandemic, he expected only 300 to close over the next decade.
The drive-ins mean extra money for malls since production companies typically pay to rent a section of the parking lot. Details of the deals are kept private, but Newlin says renting out the parking lot won’t make up for the loss of losing a major tenant like J.C. Penney.
Malls can benefit in other ways: Some deliver meals from the food court to the parking lot. Others encourage movie goers to park a couple of hours before showtime to pick up dinner inside.
Brandon Voss came up with the idea of a drive-in drag show at an Olive Garden, where his meal was brought to his parked car.
“If Olive Garden can do it, why can’t I?,” says Voss, whose company had to cancel this year’s “RuPaul’s Drag Race” tour, which would have been held at indoor venues around the world.
He found a willing partner in mall operator Westfield, which brought Drive N’ Drag to three of its malls, including ones in Seattle and Annapolis, Virginia.
Drive ’N Drag tickets start at $70 for two people and their car. About 300 to 400 vehicles can park at each show, a much smaller audience than Voss is used to.
“We usually play in arenas that Lady Gaga plays,” he says.
Westfield says it has been using its parking lots to draw crowds for years, with circuses, ice skating rinks and car shows. But it had to get more creative during the pandemic, hosting drive-thru high school graduations and other events where people can and socially distance in their car.
Kilburn Live, another production company, has turned five mall parking lots into drive-ins and is adding others. Cars are parked at least 8 feet way. Attendees can watch from the roof of their vehicle, outside of it or sit in an opened trunk of an SUV, as long as they stay in their designated spot.
“I’m glad they are bringing drive-ins back,” says Kimberly Shanks, a real estate agent in Lakewood, Colorado, who watched two movies from her SUV, parked near a Nordstrom at the Park Meadows mall in Lone Tree, Colorado.
Outside of malls, drive-in movie theaters have become popular again with people tired of being stuck at home with no where to go. Walmart, noticing the trend, added drive-in movies to 160 of its parking lots where people can order snacks ahead of time from the store.
Shanks, who watched “Detective Pikachu” and a “Harry Potter” movie with her son, felt it was a safer way to have a night out without being “too exposed to crowds.”
Much of what’s played in the drive-ins are older movies, such as “The Goonies” and “Ghostbusters,” since Hollywood has all but stopped releasing new films. But Kilburn has shown some new content, including concerts by country stars Garth Brooks and Blake Shelton, which were filmed just to be shown at drive-ins. And the company plans to keep things fresh by expanding into drive-in stand-up comedy and magic shows
What can be shown is also limited by the malls, which don’t allow R-rated movies.
“We don’t want someone accidentally passing by to see something inappropriate,” says Michelle Snyder, chief marketing officer at Brookfield Properties, a mall operator that partnered with Kilburn.
Besides movies, Brookfield’s malls have used their lots for drive-thru farmer’s markets and drive-thru COVID-19 testing, a service many shopping centers around the country are offering in response to the pandemic. At Brookfield, someone has floated the idea of holding a drive-in wedding. And it’s also considering renting out parts of its parking lots to companies that want to hold drive-in meetings with their employees.
Foxx plays a disgruntled former military officer who has a personal reason fueling his desire to upend the drug’s distribution. “I need to get to the top of the food chain,” he says.
Imagine taking a little pill that could make you strong and vibrant, one that basically unlocks your yearning potential. No, not that pill. Get your mind out of the gutter.
The pill in Netflix’s “Project Power” gives you a superpower — invisibility, bulletproof, elastic body, fiery skin. But there are two catches: The effect lasts for just 5 minutes. And instant death is a possible side effect.
Jamie Foxx, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Dominique Fishback star in this utterly satisfying, stylish R-rated crime thriller that gets extra credit for adding a dash of social critique along with its dazzling special effects.
The pills here are glowing gelcaps that you twist to activate and swallow. It’s creators say their product — called Power — can change the world and lots of ruthless people want to get their hands on it, as you would imagine.
But first they need a place to test the unpredictable pills on an unsuspecting populace and one place turns out to be New Orleans — bringing together our motley group of three heroes to fight against a shadowy conspiracy.
Foxx plays a disgruntled former military officer who has a personal reason fueling his desire to upend the drug’s distribution. “I need to get to the top of the food chain,” he says.
Gordon-Levitt plays a cop not afraid to take the pill if it helps him catch bad guys. He resembles Mark Walberg, swaggering around in a Saints’ Steve Gleason jersey with a gun at his hip and a badge on a chain around his neck. “Maybe we can do some good. Isn’t that our job?” he asks a fellow cop.
Fishback is a high school student by day and a Power dealer at night — but only to raise enough cash to take care of her ailing mom. She’s also a fierce rap star, if only she believed in herself. (Shout-out to rapper Chika for supplying Fishback’s raps and don’t click away before hearing the two women perform “My Power” over the credits).
The three are up against a small army led by rich, faintly accented drug kingpins with glamorous jets and designer clothes whose dialogue seems ripped from a “Miami Vice” episode. “The money is here if the product lives up to its reputation,” one says.
Newcomer Mattson Tomlin’s script is slightly derivative — mixing some “8 Mile” with “Limitless” — but give him credit for making plenty of jokes about other movies, baking in discussion of social power structures and for some frank addressing of race relations.
At one point Fox’s character looks at the schoolkid played by Fishback and tells her: “You’re young. You’re Black. You’re a woman. The system is designed to swallow you whole.”
The film’s coherence falls apart at the end, but the performances from our three heroes are great, with Fox and Gordon-Levitt elevating the material with real pathos. Fishback manages to pull off being a tough and smart high schooler even though she’s almost 30.
Directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman (“Nerve,” “Catfish”) keep things pretty tight and get help from some extremely good visual effects makers, especially when the film depicts how the pill changes regular people into crazed superhumans (try to catch a cameo from Machine Gun Kelly on fire.)
There’s a brilliant fight sequence shot from inside a protective chamber, a very-hard-to-pull-off comedic scene with Gordon-Levitt in a towel that works, and, in a first, a brutal death via ice sculpture. That’s cold.
“Project Power” nicely mixes elements of sci-fi and crime thriller to create a cool trip with a wink, set against a soundtrack that includes 2 Chainz, Nipsey Hussle and Curtis Mayfield.
In one scene, Fishback’s teen hopes to keep joining forces with Fox’s character, saying they’re like Batman and Robin. His response is a mind-blower: “We ain’t Batman and Robin. That’s a movie. This is real life.”
Wait, what? Actually, don’t ask a lot of questions. Just enjoy this pill going down.
“Project Power,” a Netflix release, is rated R for violence, bloody images, drug content and some language. Running time: 111 minutes. Three stars out of four.
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MPAA definition of R: Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
The lawsuit, dated Monday but filed publicly Tuesday in Manhattan federal court, alleged that the Oscar-winning “Jerry Maguire” actor attacked the woman, identified in court papers as “Jane Doe” to protect her privacy, after she met him at a Greenwich Village VIP lounge.
NEW YORK (AP) — Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. is accused of raping a woman twice in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013, according to a lawsuit that escalates the severity of the growing number of claims against him.
The lawsuit, dated Monday but filed publicly Tuesday in Manhattan federal court, alleged that the Oscar-winning “Jerry Maguire” actor attacked the woman, identified in court papers as “Jane Doe” to protect her privacy, after she met him at a Greenwich Village VIP lounge.
Attorney Mark Heller, who represent the 52-year-old actor, said the “alleged event never took place.”
“And my client is totally innocent of any of these false allegations and we’re confident it will be dismissed,” he said.
“She’s probably just somebody who’s looking for some glory to bask in the publicity and notoriety of Cuba Gooding Jr.’s case,” he added.
Gooding already faces misdemeanor criminal charges of sexual abuse and forcible touching related to claims women have previously made against him. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges.
Heller has called the state court allegations “incredulous” and assailed the prosecution as a waste of taxpayer dollars.
The federal lawsuit said the woman agreed to accompany Gooding to a nearby SoHo hotel, where they were to be joined at the hotel’s ground-floor bar and restaurant by Gooding’s friends and a friend of the woman who was with her when she met Gooding at the VIP lounge.
But when they arrived at the hotel, Gooding convinced her to go upstairs with him to a room, saying he wanted to quickly change his clothes, the lawsuit said.
Instead, he put on music and attacked her, taking off her clothing and holding her arms to pin her down as he sexually assaulted and raped her twice, the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit said the woman told Gooding during the attacks “‘no’ numerous times but he wouldn’t stop.”
According to court papers, the August 2013 attack has left the woman with “emotional pain, suffering, and a loss of enjoyment of life.” The suit seeks unspecified damages.
Gooding appeared last week in Manhattan state court, where he has pleaded not guilty to six misdemeanor charges of forcible touching and sexual abuse. If convicted, he faces up to a year behind bars.
State prosecutors say more than two dozen women have made claims against Gooding since allegations first arose against him.
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Associated Press writer Tom Hays contributed to this story.
In this edition of HUR@Home we’re talking about you and your job in black and white. A new report from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) says race-base discrimination in the workplace continues to be a problem. But there’s more to it than that. My guest is Johnny Taylor, Jr., president and chief executive officer of the Society for Human Resource Management.
For weeks, President Trump has been railing against what he calls universal mail-in voting. Claiming without evidence… wide spread voter fraud. Today… the new Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy did an about face. He put changes on hold until after the election. Why did that happen and what does this percolating controversy mean for your mail service now and your mail-in ballot in November?
Guests:
Ray Robinson, Executive Vice-President, American Postal Workers Union, Local 140 (not pictured)
U.S. Rep. Anthony Brown (D) Maryland 4th District
Kristen Clarke, Executive Director, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
(Washington, DC) — The Senate Intelligence Committee is out with a long-awaited final report on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. The report says Donald Trump’s then-campaign manager Paul Manafort worked closely with a Russian intelligence official who may have been involved in the hacking of Democratic Party emails. The bipartisan panel also accused the Trump administration of obstructing its investigation with “novel claims” of executive privilege. Manafort was later convicted of fraud and tax charges that were unrelated to the Russia investigation.
Wellness should always be a priority! Quarantine has hit us hard and affected many of our goals, weight loss being one of them, but that’s okay! It’s never too late to start over and get it right!
Are you experiencing digestive issues? Struggling with weight loss? Extreme fatigue? Joint pain? Acne? Consistent headaches? Poor sleeping habits? If you are, it may be time for a detox. According to Healthline, detox refers to the different diets that allow your body to rid itself of toxins. If you listen to your body, it will notify you on how it’s functioning. Pay attention to the signs, if you are always under stress, have a busy and overwhelming schedule, or have poor eating habits, these are clear indications that the body will need time to rejuvenate itself. Toxins can creep into the blood stream and digestive system if the body is not properly taken care of!
If you are struggling with improving your health and wellness overall a diet detox is a great place to start. Keep in mind a lot of detoxes demand you to pull back from the unhealthy foods and require you to be mindful by filling your body with fruits and veggies that will provide nutrients in order for the body to function at its highest level. Think of the body like a car. Over time the car endures wear and tear from continuous usage, every now and then it’s time for a tune up! That’s how the body works. The body is made up of several systems with different functionalities that need a jump start from time to time because of usage.
Poor habits as it relates to health leads to weight gain which can lead to obesity if not careful, and several other diseases and health issues such as heart and kidney disease, different kinds of cancers, high blood pressure, and diabetes. According to the CDC, 49.6 percent of blacks suffer from obesity followed by other races. As you can see obesity affects some groups more than others.
My health has been a constant battle for me since quarantine began. I’ve struggled with my weight pretty much all of my life! Since the pandemic began, I developed a severe case of acid reflux also known as GERD. Acid reflux is a condition where the stomach acid flows back up the food pipe. Anxiety and other stressors contribute to acid reflux as a matter of fact they play a huge role in it. My digestive problems had worsened as the months went by. My internal medicine doctor prescribed me an over the counter drug called Prilosec. Prilosec is a popular over the counter acid blocker. I was on 40mg a day. Everything I ate gave me heartburn and indigestion, something I had never experienced before. It was so bad; I was on a bland diet for weeks at a time. I became angry and upset but I knew I was too young for those kinds of constant digestive issues and I wanted permanent relief. I decided to do the Dherbs Full Body Cleanse 20 Day Detox. This detox requires you to eat a raw diet only consisting of fruits, vegetables, and nuts for 20 days while taking herbal supplements created to cleanse each of the body’s systems. Let’s just say I am on day 6 of the detox cleanse and this is day 4 for me with no Prilosec. I am excited. I feel light on my feet and I am acid reflux symptom free!
Sometimes it may feel like it’s very hard to go cold turkey and give up a lot of foods you were eating to start your health journey. It’s okay to crawl before you walk. All that matters is that you are taking steps in the right direction. Below are ways to begin your journey and then possibly you’ll find it much easier to jump into a detox that will require you to eliminate several foods so your body can start running as usual:
Drink plenty of water and try to pull back on the soda and concentrated or artificially flavored juices
Get your sugar in the natural form from fruits and not from artificial sugars like candy
Have a at least 2-3 servings of fruits and veggies a day
Get at least 8 hours of sleep! Sleep is important. The body heals itself when it shuts down and we sleep
Try to exercise for at least 30 mins a day
Cook and eat at home! Eliminate processed foods
Decrease the salt intake
Most importantly, give yourself grace! Don’t be so hard on yourself, it is a process! Whatever you do, don’t quit!
Wellness should always be a priority! Quarantine has hit us hard and affected many of our goals, weight loss being one of them, but that’s okay! It’s never too late to start over and get it right! I’m with you! Let’s do it together!
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Postmaster general says he is halting some operational changes until after the November election. Democrats contended that the changes threatened mail-in voting, and some states planned to file lawsuits. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced Tuesday he would “suspend” his initiatives until after the election “to avoid even the appearance of impact on election mail.” The crisis at the Postal Service has erupted as a major election year issue as DeJoy, a Trump ally who took control of the agency in June, has swiftly engineered cuts and operational changes that are disrupting mail delivery operations and raising alarms among workers.
Ralph Tresvant says he’s a private person, and a family man. But, he adores all of his RT fans.
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Ralph Tresvant has so much to be excited about. The first single on his 4th forthcoming album is called “All Mine” and it’s fire. Ralph beamed as he talked about the producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. Hopefully the new album will drop soon.
With unemployment in the U.S. hitting frighteningly high levels, Walmart’s ability to deliver low-priced food, clothing and electronics strengthened its structural advantages further.
NEW YORK (AP) — Americans established trusted supply lines as the virus surged in new regions of the U.S. over the past few months and millions did so at Walmart, where online sales nearly doubled in the fiscal second quarter.
They shopped in Walmart’s stores, too, and sales at U.S. locations opened at least a year jumped 9.3%, the company reported Tuesday.
Walmart topped almost all expectations by wide margins and company shares, which hit an all-time high Monday, jumped another 6% before the opening bell though shares retreated to negative territory.
Consumers had already begun to rely on Walmart and other essential retailers like Target and Amazon as lifelines for necessities during the start of the pandemic, sending Walmart’s online sales up 74% for the fiscal first quarter. That trend accelerated in the second quarter and broadened the gap between traditional retailers, many of them anchor stores at the mall, and big box operators like Walmart and Target.
With unemployment in the U.S. hitting frighteningly high levels, Walmart’s ability to deliver low-priced food, clothing and electronics strengthened its structural advantages further.
Walmart’s earnings followed a standout fiscal second-quarter performance from the nation’s largest home improvement chain Home Depot, helped by a frenzied pace for do-it-yourself home renovations. The home improvement chain reported on Tuesday a 23.4% increase in sales at stores opened at least a year globally. That’s almost twice the 12.2% increase that industry analysts had projected. Both companies are setting a high bar for the rest of the retailers and are among the few bright spots in an industry mostly battered by the financial fallout of the pandemic.
Net income for Walmart Inc. reached $6.48 billion in the quarter, or $2.27 per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were $1.56 per share, easily outpacing Wall Street projections of $1.22, according to a survey by Zacks Investment Research.
The world’s largest retailer posted revenue of $137.74 billion, also exceeding expectations.
However, surging sales took place as the U.S. rolled out massive assistance plans for the millions who had lost jobs or who were furloughed.
The $600-a-week federal unemployment check that had been sent to roughly 28 million laid-off workers is gone. And a $1,200 stimulus check that was sent to many Americans in April and May appears to be a thing of the past. Negotiations in Congress on a new economic relief package have collapsed and there is no evidence of an agreement on more aid, at least in the near future.
That had been a concern for analysts trying to predict how that will influence where Americans shop.
Also, Walmart, like any other retailers are facing soaring costs related to the pandemic that include cleaning protocols. It said that costs related to COVID-19 hit $1.5 billion during the fiscal second quarter; up from nearly $900 million in such costs during the fiscal first quarter.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama delivers blistering attack against President Trump in first night of DNC
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(Tuesday, August 18, 2020) – Former First Lady Michelle Obama didn’t hold back last night as she delivered the keynote speech at the virtual kick-off of the 2020 Democratic National Convention.
Saying things will certainly get worse not better if President Trump remains in office, Obama was quick to deliver a call to action. “We have got to vote like we did in 2008 and 2012. We’ve got to show up with the same level of passion and hope for Joe Biden,” said Obama.
Wearing a “VOTE” necklace, Obama said Donald Trump is the wrong president for our nation. “He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head. He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us. It is what it is.”
Obama’s speech ended a night of a diverse group of democrats all backing Joe Biden for president. There were even some republicans who chimed in lending their support, including former Governors John Kasich of Ohio and Christine Todd Whitman of New Jersey.
DC Mayor Muriel made a live appearance from the city overlooking Black Lives Matter Plaza. She criticized Trump for his handling of the protests following the police death of George Floyd.
Tonight, Biden’s wife Jill Biden and Former President Bill Clinton will be among the speakers for round two of DNC.
Attorneys for Virginia State Senator Louise Lucas say she’s the victim of a political stunt meant to weaponize the criminal justice system against African Americans.
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(Monday, August 17, 2020) – Virginia State Senator Louise Lucas, the first Black woman to serve as Senate ProTempore in the Commonwealth, is being charged with taking part in a conspiracy to topple Portsmouth’s Confederate monument.
Police Chief Angela Greene announced today felony warrants against Lucas and more than a dozen other people, including several public defenders and representatives of the Portsmouth NAACP. The charges drew immediate criticism from political allies , Governor Ralph Northam among them, who called the charges a payback for Lucas’ work to rein in police abuse.
” Several individuals conspired and organized to destroy the monument as well as summoned hundreds of people to join in the felonious acts, which not only resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to the monument, but also permanent injury to an individual,” said Greene at a Monday afternoon press conference.
Lucas’ attorney Delegate Don Scott told the Washington Post the charges against Lucas were a political stunt meant to weaponize the criminal justice system against African Americans.
Tomorrow, Lucas is scheduled to join other state lawmakers in Richmond for a special General Assembly to address racial injustices and police brutality in the wake of the May police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
She took over the helm of Howard University Hospital as COVID-19 began to hit the United States. Any job like that would present a huge challenge, but doubly so as an historic pandemic changed the way the world addressed a public health crisis. We sit down with Anita Jenkins, the CEO of Howard University Hospital. She discusses COVID-19 and other issues.
The Washington Football Team has hired Jason Wright as team president. He’s the first Black person to hold that position in NFL history and at 38 becomes the league’s youngest team president. Wright spent seven years as an NFL running back, was an Arizona Cardinals captain and their NFL Players Association representative. After retiring as a player, Wright earned an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago and joins the organization after working at a strategy and management consulting firm in Washington, D.C. He will run the business side of the organization and join coach Ron Rivera in reporting directly to owner Dan Snyder.
NEW YORK (AP) — Several individuals including candidates for public office are suing President Donald Trump and the new postmaster general of the U.S. Postal Service in New York to ensure adequate funding for postal operations. The lawsuit was filed Monday in Manhattan federal court. The lawsuit alleges that Trump and his newly appointed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy are trying to ensure the postal service cannot reliably deliver election mail. The lawsuit seeks a court order to force adequate funding of the postal service prior to November’s election. Messages seeking comment were left with the Justice Department and the U.S. Postal Service.
Pastor Kim, also known as Real Talk Kim, said that her practice of treating all races equally under the site of God is how Limitless Church in Fayetteville, Georgia is able to keep racial tensions out of the church because it starts from the top. First Lady of the Ark of Safety Christian Church in Upper Marlboro and NBC4 News Anchor Pat Lawson-Muse spoke about how Howard University played a role in her career in journalism and how the nomination of another Howard alum, Kamala Harris, has inspired young women of color across the country.
DC Health needs your help in tackling the coronavirus pandemic. DC Health is working with the Centers for Disease Control to get city residents to participate in a COVID-19 community antibody survey. I have the details on how you can be a part of this effort. My guest is Dr. John Davis-Cole – State Epidemiologist for DC Health’s Center for Policy Planning and Evaluation
DC Health is asking 839 randomly selected DC households to participate in a COVID-19 community antibody survey. The date of the survey is August 21st.The test is free and participants will get a $25 gift card. To make an appointment call 1-855-363-0333 and press 2.
Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:40 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.
Follow me on facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
They were the first casualties as the coronavirus showed up in the United States. Today, senior citizens are still very much at risk because of isolation, exacerbated by the pandemic. We look at what that means for seniors and what family, friends and organizations can do to make sure they are emotionally and physically safe.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Newly released body-camera video from a third officer involved in George Floyd’s arrest captures for the first time the growing horror of onlookers who repeatedly pleaded with the officers to get off Floyd. The video comes from fired Officer Tou Thao, one of four former Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of Floyd, a handcuffed Black man. Thao held back the crowd as Officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck for nearly eight minutes on May 25. The crowd grows agitated in Thao’s video, with one man yelling at Chauvin to get off Floyd’s neck. When a woman who identifies herself as a Minneapolis firefighter arrives, Thao yells at her, “Back off!” She demands that police check Floyd’s pulse.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A major union representing U.S. postal workers endorsed Democrat Joe Biden, a move that comes after President Donald Trump acknowledged he was starving the postal service of money in order to make it more difficult to vote by mail in November’s election. The National Association of Letter Carriers, which represents 300,000 current and retired workers, said Thursday that Trump’s longstanding hostility to the mail-delivering agency has heightened during the pandemic. They say his administration has taken “steps outside of the public eye to undermine the Postal Service and letter carriers.” Union president Fredric Rolando said Biden is a “fierce ally and defender of the United States Postal Service.”
“There is power and purpose in your image!” ~ Michele Lopez
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Celebrity Lifestyle Coach/Image Consultant/Producer Michele Lopez challenged us all to stand in our truth. It was in inspirational conversation, full of her own anecdotes.
She is Iyanla Vanzant’s personal stylist and has appeared in Vanity Fair, Huffington Post, Essence, Ebony, and many more publications. Michele believes in finding your own personal style and being true to that. She doesn’t follow the trends. Instead, she creates them.
Family has been the glue that has held us together during this difficult and challenging time. What makes this time even more trying is that we cannot visit our family in the way we are used to. Zoom and FaceTime have replaced in person gatherings and activities which is our norm when dealing with family. Psychology Today states, that although Zoom and FaceTime act as substitutes for social interaction, they will always remain unsatisfying due to the lack of in person interaction. Although, the pandemic has made all of us adjust to a new norm it has also brought back family traditions that may have been lost due to the world evolving with technology.
Most of us are so used to being on a social media platforms, reading the news, playing video games, and scrolling our phones that most of the intimate moments we’ve shared with our families shifted due to distractions. Quarantine has created a new appreciation for social interaction and intimacy because we’ve been forced to cope without it, even when it comes to our family. We’ve been in quarantine for about 6 months now and boredom has set in due to the repetition of activities. The New York Times mentioned that the rise of social distancing has caused people to look for new ways to connect, mostly through video chat. The news publication also mentions media platforms like Netflix and YouTube have seen a rise in their website traffic as people are using these platforms as a different kind of entertainment. According to the New York Times, since the pandemic began Netflix has seen a 16 percent increase in usage. The things we used to do are no longer entertaining and there’s so much daunting news in the media, continuously scrolling on social media or watching the TV isn’t as enjoyable anymore.
August is “Family Fun Month!” What is family fun month you may ask? According to National Calendar Day, family Fun month is annually celebrated throughout the entire month of August and is dedicated to the opportune time to enjoy family with extra fun and activities. What a way to have an entire month to be creative, spend time with and celebrate family. It is time to get our creative juices flowing in order to have some safe fun. Below is a list of activities you can try out with your family to have some fun:
1. Family game night
2. Family arts and crafts night
3. Family movie night, or get fancy and rent a projector screen and set it up in your backyard to watch a movie
4. Have a family cook off
5. Family pizza night, go to the grocery store and get all of the ingredients you need to build pizza at home! Who doesn’t love pizza?
6. Have a family baking night! Bake some of the sweet treats your heart desires
7. Go to a local park and have a family picnic on the grass
8. For the grown-ups, have a family paint and sip night
Please be mindful we are still in a pandemic. It is safer to do these activities with your family that lives with you. If for any reason you are meeting with family that doesn’t live with you, please practice the safety and social guidelines provided by your respective state. Most importantly, wear a mask, continuously wash your hands, and practice safe social distancing! Let’s get creative and let’s have some fun!
62 cents on the dollar. That’s how much black women are paid compared to their white male counterparts for the same work or position. That wage gap costs black women more than 23-thousand a year and over a 40-year career… nearly 947-thousand dollars. These numbers coming from a new study from the national women’s law center. This is Black Women’s Equal Pay Day.
(Louisville, KY) — The attorney for Breonna Taylor’s family says he expects charges to be filed against the officers involved in her death. Benjamin Crump cited the amount of evidence in the case. Fellow attorney Lonita Baker also pushed for action to be taken soon. Taylor was shot and killed in Louisville during a no-knock raid in March. While one officer was fired, none are facing any criminal charges.
It takes Black women over 20 months to make what the average white man makes in 12 months.
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Washington, D.C. (August 13, 2020) – Did you know that today is Black Women’s Equal Pay Day? Today marks the day that the average Black woman’s 2019 salary equates to what a white man had in 2019. That means Black women have to work 20 1/2 months to make what it takes the average white man to make in just 12 months.
On average, Black women are paid about 62 cents for every dollar made by a white man, which adds up to a loss of more than $23k a year or more than $900k over the course of a 40 year career, according to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research.
Join the Daily Drum tonight at 7 with Harold Fisher for a special conversation on the issue.
The District’s ability to tackle domestic violence is getting a big financial boost. A new shelter is nearing. This morning I’ll talk to DC SAFE about the new facility and what it will mean in the fight to break the cycle of abuse. My guest is Michelle Sewell – Shelter Director at DC Safe
The DC Council approved $3M for a new domestic violence crisis shelter. Since the start of the pandemic, DC SAFE has housed over 200 people in their current shelter, but due to limited capacity, they’ve had to make over 150 emergency hotel placements. The new facility will double DC SAFE current capacity. More information can be found here:
Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:40 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.
Follow me on facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
Biden officially introduces Harris and his Vice Presidential pick in Wilmington, Delaware.
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(Thursday, August 12, 2020) – Joe Biden and Kamala Harris made their first appearance together since the historic Tuesday pick. Biden and Harris wasted know time as they took the stage at a Wilmington, Delaware school gymnasium today taking jabs at President Donald Trump.
While it wasn’t your typical campaign stop appearance, the Biden Harris debut kept with a campaign style tradition of unleashing fury on their republican rival. “The case against Donald Trump and Mike Pence is open and shut, said Harris. “This virus has impacted almost evey country. But there’s a reason it has hit America worse than any other advanced nation. It’s because of Trump’s failure to take it seriously from the start.”
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Biden and Harris were careful to stay apart and there was not the usual hugging or shaking of hands. The gymnasium was mainly empty except for campaign staffers and reporters.
But even without the presence of a crowd, Biden played to the cameras. Biden talked up his selection of Harris “This morning all across the nation, little girls woke-up, especially little black and brown girls, who so often feel overlooked and under-evaluated in their communities. But today, today, just maybe, they’re seeing themselves for the first time in a new way,” said Biden. Harris is the first woman of color on a major party presidential ticket.
Biden’s choice of Harris has apparently given his campaign a big financial boost. He revealed today that online fundraising brought in $26 million in the past 24 hours with over 150k people giving for the very first time.
Like many school districts in this area and around the country… things will be very different for the Prince George’s County Schools when it opens on August 31st. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to reshape how our children learn. We talk to the CEO of the Prince George’s County School system, Dr. Monica Goldson.
Maryland’s State Board of Elections has approved dates for early voting. Eight days between October 26th and November 2nd will be available for voters to cast their ballots. 80 locations across the state will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. November 3rd, Election Day will be the ninth day of in-person voting.
We discuss safety on the Metrorail system in the DMV. It was once the gold standard for urban transportation in America. For more than a decade it has been plagued by safety and maintenance issues. We speak with Dr. David L. Mayer, the first CEO of The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission, (WMSC).
The Montgomery County Commission for Women is inviting resident to participate in its “Create Our New Logo” contest. The Commission is looking for a new logo that gives voice to its work. Deadline is September 1st. My guest is Isabel Argoti – Board Member of the Montgomery County Commission for Women
The Montgomery County Commission for Women is inviting resident to participate in its “Create Our New Logo” contest. The Commission is looking for a new logo that gives voice to its work. Deadline is September 1st. More information here:
Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:40 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.
Follow me on facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
After months of secrecy and jockeying for position by potential vice-presidential candidates, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has picked California Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate. An historic choice? Certainly! Now what? What does this mean for the party and the election?
Dr. Julianne Malveaux, Political Analyst, AuthorDr. Michael Fauntroy, Associate Professor, Dept. of Political Science, Howard University
HU President says he’s proud to call Howard University alumna Kamala Harris a member of the HU Family
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#BREAKING – Congratulations are pouring in for Senator Kamala Harris as she makes history today joining the democratic presidential ticket. After months of speculation, Joe Biden today selected Harris as his Vice Presidential running mate. The news drew widespread applause and cheers from many around the country, including at Harris’ alma mater Howard University. Howard University President Dr. Wayne Frederick released the following statement.
“Today is an extraordinary moment in the history of America and of Howard University. Senator Kamala Harris’ selection as the Democratic vice presidential candidate represents a milestone opportunity for our democracy to acknowledge the leadership Black women have always exhibited, but has too often been ignored. Let’s pause and take a collective breath that has been denied to so many. We are proud to call Howard University alumna Kamala Harris a member of our HU family. As Senator Harris embarks upon this new chapter in her life, and in our country’s history, she is poised to break two glass ceilings in our society with one fell swoop of her Howard hammer! The HBCU community and I will be watching.”
(Wilmington, DE) — Former VP Joe Biden has his running mate and it’s California Senator Kamala Harris. Biden made the announcement in an email to supporters. The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee said he needs someone working alongside him who is “smart, tough, and ready to lead; Kamala is that person.” Biden said November’s election is a “battle for the soul of the nation.” Harris’ parents immigrated from India and Jamaica.
Harris was the first Indian American and the second African American woman to be elected to the Senate. Harris has been in the Senate since 2017. She is a former attorney general of California. She was an unsuccessful Democratic presidential candidate this year.
The Covid-19 pandemic has caused extreme anxiety in those that are aware and unaware that they suffer from it. Being confined to our homes with the lack of social interaction has many of us to feel isolated and alone. The number of cases is steadily rising and places of business that were once open are closing down again. A valid question would be, when is this all going to end? That’s a question we all are anticipating an answer for but are slowly losing patience waiting to hear one.
Mental illness has been a topic of discussion since the pandemic began. Being as though many of us have never lived through a pandemic before, this is all new territory. With that being said, many of us don’t even know where to begin while coping with the new normal state of the world. Wearing a mask 24/7 and dealing with anxiety is not a great combination. Wanting to stay informed about society by watching the news and staying connected via social media while trying to keep the symptoms of anxiety at bay is really difficult.
Free virtual therapy and counseling have been offered to citizens since we’ve been quarantined to our homes, but some are not equipped to emotionally handled unpacking all of their baggage right now at this current moment. People have bigger fish to fry as many have lost their jobs, so talking about it may not be the best option for some, as we all handle unfortunate situations differently.
Therapy is always a resourceful option, however some of us are looking for ways to lift our moods and release stress daily. People are trying their hardest to keep distracted from the heart wrenching things we hear every day. Let’s talk about the different forms of therapy that assist in keeping our endorphins high and spirits lifted. Color therapy and music therapy are two popular stress management therapies that work really well for me.
Did you know when we listen to music our brains trigger the pleasure centers that release hormones that make us feel happy? The same thing happens when we look at colors that reflect certain moods and make us feel certain emotions. It can help lift your mood if you listen to at least 15-30 mins of feel good music and study a particular color that symbolizes an upbeat mood. Below are some fun creative suggestions on how to use color and music as a form of therapy to bring you some joy:
1. Listen to music on a loud speak and dance freely
2. Put on some music while you shower
3. Grab some pretty and bright colored sharpie markers and write positive words on a blank piece of paper
4. Buy a Legos set! Use bright and bold Legos and build something with your children or partner
5. Make up a song with your family and friends
6. Buy an adult coloring book that have pictures of your favorite things and color
7. Have arts and crafts night with your children
8. Download some music apps on your phone and do something productive while listening to it, you’d be surprised at how fast you’ll finish!
These are some helpful strategies I think are worth a try when things start getting the best of you! This is not medical advice! If you or someone you know is struggling with anxiety or any other mental illnesses, please seek professional help.
BALTIMORE (AP) — A second body has been recovered from a trio of row homes that were destroyed by a natural gas explosion. 20-year-old Joseph Graham, a rising Junior at Morgan State University was pulled from the debris shortly before 1 a.m. The discovery brings the death toll to two people. A woman had been pronounced dead at the scene shortly after Monday morning’s explosion. Seven other people were transported to hospitals, with five of them in critical condition, Adams said. She said the conditions of the other two people were still being determined.
Being a complete artist is a rare thing in today’s music. Ro James is a 1000% complete artist, hands down. See the full interview and you will understand where I’m going with this…
The American Academy of Pediatrics is sounding the alarm this morning about children and heatstroke. Every year dozens of kids die after mistakenly being left in the car. The American Academy of Pediatrics is out with some tips for parents and caregivers. My guest is Dr. Ben Hoffman, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Injury, Violence and Poison Prevention
Children can die from heatstroke after in being mistakenly left in the car or after climbing into an unattended vehicle to play. The American Academy of Pediatrics is out with tips for parents and caregivers about how to prevent such tragedies. More information here: www.aap.org
Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:40 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.
Follow me on facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
It’s hard enough to stay safe during a global pandemic with so many worries and concerns about the deadly coronavirus. But what about those health concerns that were there long before the pandemic? This is the time of year children usually get vaccinations and booster shots. Fear of COVID-19 is calling doctor visits into question for a lot of families. We’re talking about that and many of the other non-COVID-19 health concerns impacting our community during the pandemic.
Shooting outside the White House interrupts President Trump’s press briefing.
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#BREAKING (Washington, DC) – President Trump’s White House briefing was abruptly disrupted today by the Secret Service after a shooting near the White House. Details are still sketchy. But Trump was escorted from the podium by a Secret Service agent. He returned a short time later saying there had been a shooting outside and somebody had been taken to the hospital. “I do not know the condition of the person, it seems the person was shot by Secret Service, so we’ll see what happen,” Trump said.
Trump was ushered out by an agent out of caution. Still no word on who was shot or why. Stay tuned to whur.com for the latest.
(Detroit, MI) — The Big Ten and Pac-12 are expected to cancel their football seasons tomorrow. According to Dan Patrick of “The Dan Patrick Show,” 12 of the 14 Big Ten presidents have voted against having a football season. The two universities that voted to carry on with the season were Iowa and Nebraska, according to Patrick. Multiple reports last night said the Big Ten along with several other conferences are planning to cancel their seasons this year.
