Blog

No Name for DC’s Pro Football Team in 2020

Burgundy and Gold to become Washington Football Team for 2020 season

Posted by Harold Fisher
Posted on
Washington’s NFL team will go by the Washington Football Team for the 2020 season. The temporary name gives the organization time to choose a new moniker. Washington will keep its burgundy and gold colors and replace the Indian head logo on helmets with a player’s jersey number. Owner Dan Snyder recently dropped the Redskins name amid pressure from sponsors and after decades of criticism from Native American advocacy groups. On Monday, he hired Terry Bateman as executive vice president and chief marketing officer to oversee the name change and re-branding process.

Family Invites You To Join Patrick Ellis’ Procession

Join us this Saturday at 8:45am as Patrick makes his final trip down Georgia Avenue, NW.  You can watch his procession safely from your vehicle by parking along Georgia Avenue between Fern and Euclid Streets, NW.  Let’s say goodbye to Patrick safely together.

Posted by
Posted on
On July 16th, we lost our dear friend and colleague Patrick Ellis.  Before his family privately sends him home, they are giving his listeners and the community an opportunity to say a final farewell.  Join us this Saturday at 8:45am as Patrick makes his final trip down Georgia Avenue, NW.  You can watch his procession safely from your vehicle by parking along Georgia Avenue between Fern and Euclid Streets, NW.  Let’s say goodbye to Patrick safely together.

Special Directions:  Turn your headlights on and park along the west side of Georgia Avenue at Fern and Euclid Streets for an unobstructed view. Because the COVID-19 pandemic is still very real, your safety and health are our #1 priority.  If you get out of your car, please social distance and wear a face covering.

After the public procession, the family respectfully requests that you do not follow the funeral and honor their privacy as they prepare to send Patrick Ellis home.

Thank you for your support and prayers during this difficult time.  Like you, we ALL loved Patrick.

John Monds Named Host Of ‘The Original Quiet Storm’

Posted by
Posted on

On the station where the format was born, The Quiet Storm is the place to catch songs that tell the stories of love. Pioneered in the mid-1970’s by Melvin Lindsey, The Quiet Storm lives on…

“The Quiet Storm” is one of the longest running programs at WHUR, and continues to stand the test of time. Only the prime cuts, contemporary ballads and instrumentals weave together the legendary Quiet Storm. A must for anyone that desires the best in relaxing music.

John Monds Is So DC!

John Monds On The Legacy Of ‘The Original Quiet Storm’

Man Shot And Killed In Morningside

An early morning shooting has left a man dead in Morningside.

Posted by Andrea Muñoz
Posted on
An early morning shooting in Morningside, Maryland has left one man dead. Police were called to the 64-hundred block of Suitland Road around 1:30 am where they found the victim dead from multiple gunshot wounds.  Police are searching for a suspect or suspects.

The Nats Open The Season With Black Lives Matter

The defending World Series champions open the baseball season tonight. The slogan Black Lives Matter prominent on the Nats pitching mound.

Posted by Andrea Muñoz
Posted on
The Nationals will raise their World Series banner tonight as they open the Major League Baseball season at Nats stadium against the Yankees.  No fans in the stands.  What will be there are the words Black Lives Matter, displayed on the pitcher’s mound.  Matt Scherzer the Nats starting pitcher tonight.  Dr. Anthony Fauci will throw out the first pitch.  Game time a bit after 7 pm.

The Original Quiet Storm w/ Raheem DeVaughn

WHUR created the Quiet Storm format, and it continues to be the blueprint for the world.

Posted by WHUR
Posted on
The Original Quiet Storm w/ Raheem DeVaughn

DOWNLOAD THE APP TODAY

App Store
google-play-badge

“Raheem DeVaughn Takes the Helm of the Legendary Original Quiet Storm”

What do you get when you combine R&B’s “Love King” with DC’s top-rated “Love Show?” The ultimate “Quiet Storm.” 96.3 WHUR proudly announces that beginning Thursday, October 17th National Recording Artist Raheem DeVaughn will be the new host of the legendary “Original Quiet Storm.” Tune in weekdays from 7:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. for an unforgettable musical experience.

The announcement comes as WHUR prepares to celebrate nearly 50 years of the iconic program, made popular by the late legendary Melvin Lindsey. Since 1976, the “Original Quiet Storm” on WHUR has guided listeners on a nightly journey of soulful slow jams and romantic melodies. “We are thrilled to launch this new chapter of the ‘Original Quiet Storm’ with one of the most talented creative artists in R&B, proudly representing Washington,” said Al Payne, Senior Director of Programming for WHUR.

Raheem DeVaughn is no stranger to radio. He has been hosting his own self-titled podcast since 2012. This evolution will further highlight his engaging hosting abilities and provide an opportunity for artists to connect with listeners in a unique and authentic way. “I’m humbled and extremely excited about my partnership with the WHUR family. The ‘Original Quiet Storm’ is a legacy brand and to be hand chosen as the new voice and face is an honor and a dream come true,” said DeVaughn.

Working as the executive producer of the show will be WHUR Assistant Program and Music Director Traci LaTrelle. “I couldn’t be more excited to welcome Raheem DeVaughn. His soulful voice and deep connections to the DMV and R&B will bring a fresh intimate energy to the show, perfectly capturing the essence of the “Original Quiet Storm.”

WHUR’s new fall weekday lineup is now set. Start your day with “The Steve Harvey Morning Show” from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., followed by “Sunni and the City” from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. In the afternoon, tune in to the “Nina & Joe Show” with Joe Clair and Nina Brown from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Then, catch “The Daily Drum” with Harold Fisher from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Finally, unwind with “The Quiet Storm” hosted by “The Love King” Raheem DeVaughn from 7:30 p.m. to midnight.

Posted by WHUR Posted on 728 articles

Providing Scholarship Money For Some Graduating High School Seniors

The Buffalo Soldiers of Maryland are pouring back into some High School Grads.

Posted by Bobby Gailes
Posted on
The Buffalo Soldiers of Maryland Foundation, Inc. is gearing up for a big event to award financial scholarships to recent graduating high school seniors.  My guests are Nathan Monroe – Foundation Chair and Lisa Rascoe – Chair of the Scholarship Committee

The Buffalo Soldiers of Maryland Foundation is awarding five financial awards to graduation high school seniors from the class of 2020, July 25th from 2pm to 4pm at Old Glory Harley Davidson in Laurel.  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.

 

Listen to this mornings segment here:

Reporters’ Roundtable

Examining the top stories of the week.

Posted by Harold Fisher
Posted on

We’re at the Reporters’ Roundtable with some of the top stories of the week and we have plenty.  On deck for discussion; more infections recorded in DC and the mayor orders more masks, more often.  President Trump comes back with COVID-19 briefings.  We also talk about Kanye West, John Lewis and a scandal with DC’s pro football team.

Resources:

Baltimore Association of Black Journalists

The BE Note.com

Charles Ellison, Editor, The BE Note

Nicki Mayor, President, Baltimore Association of Black Journalists

Update On Md. School Reopening Coming From Gov. Hogan

Specifics are expected in a news conference today at 5pm.

Posted by Harold Fisher
Posted on
(Annapolis, MD)  —  Governor Larry Hogan will provide the latest on school reopenings later today.  State Schools Superintendent Dr. Karen Salmon will be there as well for the event that starts at 5 p.m.  It comes as Baltimore City Public Schools announced this week that the school year will begin online.  The district said the hybrid in-person option is being delayed until later in the fall.

Image Of Supreme Court Justice In Dred Scott Case Could Be Removed

The bust of Chief Justice Roger B. Taney could be removed from the U.S. Capitol if Congress approves in House vote.

Posted by Andrea Muñoz
Posted on

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House will vote on whether to remove from the U.S. Capitol a bust of Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, the author of the 1857 Dred Scott decision that declared African Americans couldn’t be citizens.

The vote expected Wednesday will come as communities nationwide reexamine the people they’re memorializing with statues.

The 2-foot-high marble bust of Taney is outside a room in the Capitol where the Supreme Court met for half a century, from 1810 to 1860. It was in that room that Taney, the nation’s fifth chief justice, announced the Dred Scott decision, sometimes called the worst decision in the court’s history.

There’s at least one potentially surprising vote for Taney to stay. Lynne M. Jackson, Scott’s great-great-granddaughter, says if it were up to her, she’d leave Taney’s bust where it is. But she said she’d add something too: a bust of Dred Scott.

“I’m not really a fan of wiping things out,” Jackson said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press earlier this week from her home in Missouri.

The president and founder of The Dred Scott Heritage Foundation, Jackson has seen other Taney sculptures removed in recent years, particularly in Taney’s native Maryland, where he was the state’s attorney general before becoming U.S. attorney general and then chief justice.

In the summer of 2017, shortly after white nationalists gathered  in Charlottesville, Virginia, to protest the removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, Baltimore’s mayor removed statues of Lee, Taney and others. A statue of Taney was removed from the grounds of the State House in Annapolis, Maryland, around the same time. And a bust of Taney was removed that year from outside city hall in Frederick, Maryland.

But Taney’s name and likeness remain in plenty of other places. Missouri has a Taney County. Philadelphia has a Taney Street. And another Taney bust sits alongside all other former chief justices in the Supreme Court’s Great Hall, a soaring, marble-columned corridor that leads to the courtroom. A portrait of Taney hangs in one of the court’s conference rooms.

Jackson said she believes that what memorials honoring figures like Taney need is context. At the Capitol, the Taney statue sits in the “place where the Dred Scott case was decided,” but the fact he is “there by himself is lopsided,” Jackson said in suggesting a bust of Scott be added. She had proposed a similar fix for the Taney statue in Annapolis.

The bill  lawmakers will vote on Wednesday proposes replacing the Taney bust with one of Justice Thurgood Marshall, who in 1967 became the Supreme Court’s first Black justice. A similar bill has been introduced in the Senate, but prospects for passage there are uncertain.

President Donald Trump has opposed the removal of historic statues elsewhere. And he’s strongly condemned those who toppled statues during protests over racial injustice and police brutality following the May death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

In Congress, Taney’s bust was controversial from the start. When Illinois Sen. Lyman Trumbull proposed its creation in 1865, shortly after Taney’s death, he got into a heated debate with Massachusetts Sen. Charles Sumner, a fierce opponent of slavery.

“Let me tell that Senator that the name of Taney is to be hooted down the page of history. Judgment is beginning now,” Sumner said. “And an emancipated country will fasten upon him the stigma which he deserves.”

Funding for a Taney bust wasn’t approved until almost a decade later. Today, near the Taney bust, inside the old Supreme Court chamber, there are also busts of the nation’s first four chief justices. The first, John Marshall, is the only person to serve as chief justice longer than Taney and a revered figure in the law.

But Marshall too was a deeply flawed man, as were other justices, said Paul Finkelman, the president of Gratz College in Pennsylvania and the author of “Supreme Injustice: Slavery in the Nation’s Highest Court.” Marshall bought slaves most of his life, a fact his biographers largely ignored, and was hostile to the idea of Blacks gaining their freedom, Finkelman said. Before the Civil War, probably the majority of justices owned slaves, he said.

“It’s not pretty. It’s who they were,” Finkelman said.

Face Coverings Now Mandatory In DC

DC’s mayor makes wearing masks mandatory when out in the District.

Posted by Andrea Muñoz
Posted on
Mayor Bowser has issued an executive order, requiring anyone in the District leaving their home wear a face covering.  There are a few exceptions.  A mask is not required:

  • For individuals in an enclosed office
  • Children under the age of 2
  • When eating or drinking
  • If exercising vigorously

The Mayor says there is an upward tick of COVID-19 cases in the city, especially for those under the age of 40, with hospitalizations doubling for that group in the last month.   COVID-19 testing centers in the city are reopening today. There are 102 new coronavirus cases in DC.   627 reported in Maryland.  956 in Virginia.

DC Teachers’ Union And Maryland Education Assoc. Talk School Reopening

Last week Chancellor, Dr. Lewis Ferebee and the mayor outlined a hybrid option but plan to wait until the end of the month.

Posted by Harold Fisher
Posted on

As more school districts in the DMV and across the country opt for distance learning in the fall,  DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and the chancellor of the DC Public Schools system have not made a final decision about how to move forward.  Last week Chancellor, Dr. Lewis Ferebee and Madame Mayor outlined a hybrid option but plan to wait until the end of the month.  We sit down with Elizabeth Davis, president of The Washington Teachers’ Union  and Cheryl Bost, president of the Maryland State Education Association.

 

Black Content Dominates Major Platforms

Proper and inclusive representation in the media is very important. If you don’t have an account make one and subscribe, you won’t be disappointed! 

Posted by WHUR
Posted on
Contributed By Diamond Sydnor

The up rise of police brutality in the world has caused major companies to change their policies, content, and go back to the drawing board to make amends in regard to the inclusivity of minorities, specifically African Americans. Companies are now greeting their customers with “Black Lives Matter” categories, posters, pledges, banners, and even company statements to show their support in light of the heart wrenching events that have taken place.

Companies such as Target, Twitter, Apple, General Motors, Adidas, Nike, Netflix, and even Walmart have all made statements and have pledged contributions in their own way to the “Black Lives Matter” movement. The surplus of support comes after the murder of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police brutality. These incidents angered the world and in response to this anger major companies that have influence have decided to step up.

Media companies are increasing their “black” content and bringing more colored people to the table to help make decisions about diversity. I believe we all can agree that misrepresentation of black people and culture in the media has been an issue for the black community. Media content either misrepresented the culture or authenticity of it was jeopardized because it was changed and altered by European filtering. Well it looks like the media is trying to reconcile.

Netflix, HULU, and Disney Plus just to name a few have all made strides to become more “black” content heavy to show support. Netflix has categories labeled “strong black lead” and “black stories.” Netflix has also included a lot of content by black writers and directors which, include Spike Lee and Ava Duvernay. Disney Plus has a category titled “Celebrate Black Stories,” with content by black writers and directors with strong black character leads. Movies and series in this category include “Black Panther,” “A Wrinkle in Time,” “Proud Family,” and “Remember the Titans.” This is a step in the right direction as the black community should be celebrated like any other community.

Proper and inclusive representation in the media is very important. If you don’t have an account make one and subscribe, you won’t be disappointed!

Helping The Elderly Deal With Isolation

The Juanita C Grant Foundation has launched the Village Connector Experience.

Posted by Bobby Gailes
Posted on
The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly been difficult for most when it comes to staying away from loved ones.  But it’s been especially challenging for the elderly.  This morning it’s all about helping the elderly deal with the isolation brought about by the coronavirus crisis.  My guest today is leading an effort to do just that.   S. Orlene Grant – President of the Juanita C. Grant Foundation

The Juanita C. Grant Foundation will be launching its Village Connector Experience to combat the ill effects of current social distancing measures on aging adults in the DMV.  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.

Listen to this mornings segment here:

Nation’s Mayors Tell Trump to Keep Federal Forces Out

US Mayors send Trump Administration a letter calling for removal of all federal forces from cities.

Posted by
Posted on
 (WASHINGTON, DC) – Mayor Muriel Bowser and mayors across the country called on the Trump administration to immediately halt plans to send federal forces from major American cities and withdraw any forces currently in cities.

In addition, the mayors called on Congressional leadership to launch an investigation into the administration’s actions to unilaterally deploy and threaten to deploy paramilitary-type forces into American cities.

The mayors’ full letters to the Trump administration and to Congressional leadership are below.

The Honorable William Barr

Attorney General

U.S. Department of Justice

Washington, DC 20530

 

The Honorable Chad Wolf

Acting Secretary

Department of Homeland Security

Washington, DC 20528

 

Dear Attorney General Barr and Acting Secretary Wolf:

 

We write to express our deep concern and objection to the deployment of federal forces in our cities, as those forces are conducting law enforcement activities without coordination or authorization of local law enforcement officials.

 

The unilateral deployment of these forces into American cities is unprecedented and violates fundamental constitutional protections and tenets of federalism. As you are well aware, President Trump threatened to deploy federal forces in Seattle to “clear out” a protest area and in Chicago to “clean up” the city. Seattle and Chicago authorities objected and threatened legal action to stop such actions. In Washington, DC outside Lafayette Park, extreme action was taken by federal law enforcement against protesters without the Mayor of DC’s approval. Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Ken Cuccinelli said in recent days that the administration intends “to continue not just in Portland but in any of the facilities that we’re responsible for around the country.” This abuse of power cannot continue.

 

Deployment of federal forces in the streets of our communities has not been requested nor is it acceptable. While U.S. Marshals have had jurisdiction inside federal courthouses for decades, it is unacceptable and chilling that this administration has formed and deployed the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Rapid Deployment Unit and is sending federal authorities to conduct crowd control on city streets and detain individuals. In Portland, their actions have escalated events and increased the risk of violence against both civilians and local law enforcement officers.

 

In Portland, federal forces have used significant force against protesters on a nightly basis, including shooting one individual in the head with a munition, reportedly fracturing his skull. Others “snatched” an individual from the street without proper identification and placed him in an unmarked vehicle. These are tactics we expect from authoritarian regimes – not our democracy.

 

In many of our cities, our communities have expectations for law enforcement, including identification of officers, training, and recorded body camera footage, among many other expectations and policies. These expectations are being blatantly disregarded by federal forces. In most cities, there is also independent oversight of use of force policies and officers who act outside of policy. Federal officers have not been trained for urban community policing, including critical crowd management and de-escalation techniques. There is no oversight of the actions of federal forces. Importantly, in Portland they do not even appear to be complying with a federal court order regarding the use of tear gas and other crowd control tools. These actions also jeopardize the many important ways federal and local law enforcement must work together to protect our cities and country.

 

Furthermore, it is concerning that federal law enforcement is being deployed for political purposes. The President and his administration continually attack local leadership and amplify false and divisive rhetoric purely for campaign fodder. Their words and actions have created an environment of fear and mistrust.

 

We are a nation of laws and fundamental constitutional guarantees. The murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked a national uprising and reckoning. Millions have joined protests and exercised their constitutional rights. The majority of the protests have been peaceful and aimed at improving our communities. Where this is not the case, it still does not justify the use of federal forces. Unilaterally deploying these paramilitary-type forces into our cities is wholly inconsistent with our system of democracy and our most basic values.

 

Cities across America are battling unprecedented challenges: the continued threat of COVID-19, economic devastation, and a new civil rights movement. Mayors are on the frontlines of solving these challenges. We need the help of our federal government, and we have urged a range of actions to battle COVID-19, provide relief to our workers, businesses, and cities, and institute more just policing in America. But the irresponsible actions of your agencies threaten community safety and progress on policing in our communities.

 

We urge you to take immediate action to withdraw your forces and agree to no further unilateral

deployments in our cities.

 

Regards,

 

Jenny A. Durkan

Mayor of Seattle, WA

 

Ted Wheeler

Mayor of Portland, OR

 

Keisha Lance Bottoms

Mayor of Atlanta, GA

 

Lori Lightfoot

Mayor of Chicago, IL

 

Muriel Bowser

Mayor of Washington, DC

 

Quinton D. Lucas

Mayor of Kansas City, MO

 

Martin J. Walsh

Mayor of Boston, MA

 

Jim Kenney

Mayor of Philadelphia, PA

 

Michael Hancock

Mayor of Denver, CO

 

Eric Garcetti

Mayor of Los Angeles, CA

 

Sam Liccardo

Mayor of San Jose, CA

 

Libby Schaaf

Mayor of Oakland, CA

 

Regina Romero

Mayor of Tucson, AZ

 

Darrell Steinberg

Mayor of Sacramento, CA

 

Kate Gallego

Mayor of Phoenix, AZ

 

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi

Speaker

United States House of Representatives

1236 Longworth House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

 

The Honorable Mitch McConnell

Majority Leader

United States Senate

317 Russell Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

 

The Honorable Kevin McCarthy

Minority Leader

2468 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

 

The Honorable Chuck Schumer

Minority Leader

United States Senate

322 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

 

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader McConnell, Leader McCarthy and Leader Schumer:

 

We write to express our deep concern and objection to the use of federal forces in U.S. cities. These forces are conducting crowd control on city streets and detaining individuals. Their threats and actions have as escalated events, and increased the risk of violence against both civilians and local law enforcement officers. These actions also jeopardize the many important ways federal and local law enforcement must work together to protect our cities and country. We urge you to immediately investigate the President and his administration’s actions.

The unilateral deployment of these forces into American cities is unprecedented and violates fundamental constitutional protections and tenets of federalism. As you are well aware, President Trump threatened to deploy federal forces in Seattle to “clear out” a protest area and in Chicago to “clean up” the city. Seattle and Chicago authorities objected and threatened legal action to stop such actions. In Washington, DC outside Lafayette Park, extreme action was taken by federal law enforcement against protesters without the Mayor of DC’s approval.

 

Now the administration has deployed federal forces to Portland despite the objections of local and state officials. This includes, but is not limited to, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a newly launched U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) unit, U.S. Marshals Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, and DHS’s Federal Protective Service. None of these agents are trained in modern urban community policing, such as de-escalation. They are operating without coordination with local law enforcement, and their actions have escalated events, leading to more violence and unrest. Importantly, in Portland they do not even appear to be complying with a federal court order regarding the use of tear gas and other crowd control tools.

 

The administration’s deployment of federal forces shows a shocking disregard for the legitimate use of our U.S. military and federal resources, as well as the authority of local law enforcement. We are a nation of laws and fundamental constitutional guarantees.

 

The murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked a national uprising and reckoning. Millions have joined protests and exercised their constitutional rights. The majority of the protests have been peaceful and are aimed at improving our communities. Even in circumstances where this is not the case, it is still a matter for local law enforcement.

 

The President’s decision to unilaterally deploy these paramilitary type forces into our cities mirrors the very tyranny our country has fought against and is wholly inconsistent with our democracy.

 

Cities across America are battling unprecedented challenges: the continued threat of COVID-19, economic devastation, and a new civil rights movement. We need the help of our federal government, and we have urged a range of actions to battle COVID-19, provide relief to our workers, businesses, and cities, and institute more just policing in America. But the President and his administration have demonstrated little interest in engaging with our communities in meaningful ways to address these challenges. Instead, he is politicizing conflict, creating an environment of fear and mistrust, and raising the prospect of more deployments of federal forces in cities like Seattle, Chicago, and other American communities. This abuse of power cannot continue.

 

The American people have a right to understand the circumstances under which federal action has been authorized and taken in American cities. We urge you to investigate these actions immediately.

 

Respectfully,

 

Jenny A. Durkan

Mayor of Seattle, WA

 

Ted Wheeler

Mayor of Portland, OR

 

Keisha Lance Bottoms

Mayor of Atlanta, GA

 

Lori Lightfoot

Mayor of Chicago, IL

 

Muriel Bowser

Mayor of Washington, DC

 

Quinton D. Lucas

Mayor of Kansas City, MO

 

Martin J. Walsh

Mayor of Boston, MA

 

Jim Kenney

Mayor of Philadelphia, PA

 

Michael Hancock

Mayor of Denver, CO

 

Eric Garcetti

Mayor of Los Angeles, CA

 

Sam Liccardo

Mayor of San Jose, CA

 

Libby Schaaf

Mayor of Oakland, CA

 

Regina Romero

Mayor of Tucson, AZ

 

Kate Gallego

Mayor of Phoenix, AZ

 

Darrell Steinberg

Mayor of Sacramento, CA

Posted by Posted on 718 articles

Back to the Office During the Pandemic. Is it an Option?

What do you do when the boss asks you to come back to the workplace during the pandemic and you’re not comfortable with that?

Posted by Harold Fisher
Posted on

Before the most recent COVID-19 surge… we’ve seen more traffic on the roads as cities and counties began to open up.  For a lot of people, that meant going back to the office after working from home since the shutdown in March.  Even as more people head back now, many, like teachers for example, aren’t ready to risk infection.  What do you do when the boss asks you to come back to the workplace during the pandemic and you’re not comfortable with that?  Do you have to chose between your health and your job?

Families First Coronavirus Response Act

Janelle Colbert, Esq., Managing Attorney, The Colbert Law Center

 

 

D.C. Council Set To Vote On Budget

The proposal to slash the Police Department’s budget by nearly 15-million-dollars is up for a second and final vote today. 

Posted by Harold Fisher
Posted on
(Washington, DC)  —  The D.C. Council is set to vote today on a budget that could result in fewer officers in the Metropolitan Police Department.  The proposal to slash the Police Department’s budget by nearly 15-million-dollars is up for a second and final vote today.  If certified by the Chief Financial Officer, the changes would mean a hiring freeze and possibly fewer officers on the streets of the District.

Two No. Va. Schools Reverse Course On Hybrid Opening

The decisions come after initially considering a hybrid of in-school and distance learning. 

Posted by Harold Fisher
Posted on
Fairfax and Loudoun County Public Schools have decided to start the 2020-2021 year with all distance learning.  The decisions come after initially considering a hybrid of in-school and distance learning. Fairfax County Superintendent Scott Brabrand said a surge of COVID-19 infections across the country is impacting the school system here. Loudoun County Superintendent Eric Williams will propose the all-distance learning at a school board meeting today.

MD Health Officials Want Tougher COVID-19 Restrictions To Return

County health officials in Maryland want restrictions on gatherings in bars and restaurants reinstated.

Posted by Andrea Muñoz
Posted on
Health department leaders in Maryland’s largest counties, including Prince George’s, Montgomery, Howard, Anne Arundel and Baltimore City, have sent a letter to the state’s health department requesting that restrictions be put back into place for bars and restaurants over concerns of COVID-19 cases trending upward.  Governor Hogan says county leaders have the flexibility to make any changes to guidelines.

Grant Money for Community Organizations

The deadline is fast approaching for the Humanities DC Soul of the City Grants

Posted by Bobby Gailes
Posted on
Some good money news this morning.  Humanities DC Soul of the City grant is now accepting applications from local neighborhood organizations, churches, educational programs and more to help expand their programs or to take their programming virtually.  My guest is Andrea McNeil – Grants Manager for Humanities DC

Submissions are now open thru July 31st for the HumanitiesDC Soul of the City grant where local neighborhood organizations, churches, educational programs, and more could be awarded up to $30k to work with young people thru the humanities lens. For information go 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.

Listen to this mornings segment here:

Addressing DC’s Rising Deadly Violence

Posted by Harold Fisher
Posted on

DC police are looking for at least three men behind the latest incident of deadly gun violence in the city. Nine people were shot in Columbia Heights in broad daylight, killing one and wounding eight others.

One week ago on July 13th,  27 year old Senquea Whitley was shot to death on Clay place NE around two o’clock in the afternoon.  Last month, home security video caught a shootout between a half a dozen young men in the middle of the afternoon in DC.  It’s scary.  How is the city addressing this issue?

Resources:

2020 DC Crime Data

Yaay Me!

DC Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement

Warees Majeed, Community Activist, Co-Founder, Yaay Me!

Delbert McFadden, Executive Director, DC office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement

 

Details on DC’s Heat Emergency Plan

DC opens cooling centers for those who have no air conditioning

Posted by Harold Fisher
Posted on
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser released detailed information about the city’s emergency heat plan.  If you need cooling center information, you can find it on the link below.

DC Heat Emergency & Cooling Centers Information

Replacement Named For Congressman John Lewis

Georgia Dems choose state chair to replace Lewis on ballot

Posted by Harold Fisher
Posted on
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Democrats have selected state Sen. Nikema Williams, chair of the state party, to replace Rep. John Lewis on the ballot in November. The executive committee of the Democratic Party of Georgia voted overwhelmingly on Monday for Williams to take Lewis’ spot on the ballot for the Atlanta-area 5th Congressional District after the longtime congressman and civil rights leader’s death last week. Williams, 41, was chosen from a list of five finalists as the group works to quickly fill the spot in accordance with state law. She is nearly assured of winning in November in the heavily Democratic district.

Georgia state Senator Nikema Williams with Jim Perez, Chair, Democratic National Committee

How To Grieve During A Pandemic

Hospital visits, funerals, and repasts have been cancelled, delayed, or rescheduled due to this daunting virus. Funerals, sad but true, are considered as family gatherings, and they have now been reduced to 10 people only.

Posted by WHUR
Posted on
Contributed by Diamond Sydnor

Living through a pandemic can be really challenging, especially if you unfortunately and unexpectedly lose a loved one. Experiencing loss during the #Covid19 pandemic has completely changed the process of grieving and even the traditions that take place culturally after the loss has taken place. Death is no easy process and there is no right or wrong way to grieve but the question of “How?” remains. How to grieve during a pandemic?

Hospital visits, funerals, and repasts have been cancelled, delayed, or rescheduled due to this daunting virus. Funerals, sad but true, are considered as family gatherings, and they have now been reduced to 10 people only. As if the death isn’t traumatic enough, try choosing which family members can attend and those that must understand the time we’re in and sit it out. You can no longer visit loved ones even in their last moments, a Facetime call will have to suffice. Processing these major changes can be discouraging. All of this can be emotionally challenging and yet the question remains “How?”

Grieving can be very complicated especially when you don’t know how. Losing a loved one or knowing someone who has lost a loved one can be just as complicated. My partner lost his grandfather during this pandemic and he expressed to me “I didn’t get any closure and it’s not fair.” This broke my heart, yet I still had to research and find ways to be supportive to him during this difficult time. WHUR’s Harold Fisher had a show about this topic and Psychologist Dr. Kamirah Ware was featured and offered advice on how to deal with grieving during a pandemic, here are some of the things she mentioned:

1. If you or someone you know is struggling with grieving seek or recommend professional help.

2. Taking care of yourself is the first step in making sure you know how to properly care for others.

3. Seek ways to take care of your mental health by reading credible sources that give certified advice.

4. Do not turn to drugs.

5. Do not increase alcohol usage.

6. Do not put a temporary bandage on your hurt pain or grieving process, get the professional help that’s needed.

7. Be gentle with yourself and do not put yourself on a guilt trip when grieving.

8. Engage in self-care strategies such as mindfulness, praying, virtual connecting etc.

9. Call your insurance to find professional resources, insurance companies are waving copay fees for mental health during this time.

Grieving is hard, but knowing you are not alone and having resources to support is even more important.

Here are some professional resources below that support grieving —

DWW Psychological Services 

Wednt Center for Loss And Healing  

National Alliance On Mental Illness 

Daily Drum Podcast: Covid-19 and Grieving 

Addressing Race Relations in Our Community

Prince George’s Community College host a virtual conversation tonight with Dr. Ibram X. Kendi

Posted by Bobby Gailes
Posted on
This morning we highlight an important conversation taking place tonight that will drill down on the issue of race relations in our community.   New York Times bestselling author Ibram X. Kendi is hosting a discussion on his book “How to Be an Antiracist” and Dr. Charlene Dukes – President of Prince George’s Community College will lead the conversation.  My guest is Dr. Charlene Dukes – President of Prince George’s Community College

New York Times Bestselling author Ibram X. Kendi will discuss his renowned book “How to Be An Antiracist” Monday July 20th 7pm with Dr. Charlene Dukes – President of Prince George’s Community College.  Register for this free virtual conversation here:

This special event is presented by a consortium of organizations based in Prince George’s County and Maryland, including Joe’s Movement Emporium, Prince George’s County Memorial Library System and PGCMLS Foundation, Prince George’s County Community College’s Center for Performing Arts, Prince George’s County Human Relations Commission, and Maryland State Library, with generous support from Wells Fargo.

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.

Listen to this mornings segment here:

The Clark Sisters Announce Virtual Tour, Talk Kierra Sheard’s Engagement, Honor WHUR’s Patrick Ellis

The sisters shared their contribution to the hit biopic, Lifetime’s “The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel.”

Posted by Jacquie Gales Webb
Posted on

Jacky Clark-Chisolm and Dorinda Clark-Cole spread their Clark Sister sunshine on HUR@Home Inspiration. They talked about the timeliness of the hit song “Victory” that debuted 5 months before the spread of COVID. The sisters shared their contribution to the hit biopic, Lifetime’s “The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel.” Evangelist Dorinda closed out our conversation with a powerful prayer for all the families affected by COVID-19, including the family of Patrick Ellis, and the WHUR family.

Patrick Ellis Tribute

The outpouring of love and support today, in memory of our beloved Patrick Ellis, was awesome. It was a true testament to the incredible man we all knew and loved. Fly high Patrick. Well done…

Posted by
Posted on

96.3 WHUR Fans Honor Patrick Ellis

The outpouring of love and support today, in memory of our beloved Patrick Ellis, was awesome. It was a true testament to the incredible man we all knew and loved. Fly high Patrick. Well done…

——–
CNN Pays Tribute To Patrick Ellis

The Life and Legacy of WHUR’s Patrick Ellis

Patrick lost his battle with COVID-19 on Thursday, July 16th.

Posted by Harold Fisher
Posted on

We remember the rich, melodious, baritone voice and the bottomless giving of one of Patrick Ellis. His life was as impactful on the air as it was off.  Ellis was the host of WHUR’s Sunday Gospel Spirit show. It was a staple in the DMV community.  He reigned supreme over Sunday morning radio for more than four decades. He also was a giant in the community when it came to giving back.

Part 1

Part 2

Georgia Congressman John Lewis Dies

The civil rights icon was battling pancreatic cancer.

Posted by Harold Fisher
Posted on
Civil rights icon and long-time Georgia Congressman John Lewis has died. Lewis had been receiving hospice care.  He died at his home in Atlanta after battling pancreatic cancer.  The Democrat was best known for leading hundreds of protestors across the Edmund Pettus Bridge during what was called “Bloody Sunday” in Selma, Alabama in 1965.  He famously was severely injured when hit by a baton, wielded by a state trooper.  He elected to Congress in 1986 and continued the causes born out of the civil rights struggle.  John Lewis was 80 years old.

En Vogue Spills Tea On Why Dawn Really Left The Group

En Vogue celebrates a 30 year milestone this year.

Posted by
Posted on

 

View this post on Instagram

 

HUR@HOME

A post shared by WHUR FM (@whurfm) on

En Vogue answered many questions from the comment section and even spilled the tea about what really went down with Dawn leaving the group. Apparently, there’s no love lost from either side. The group is doing just fine, as they are.

We talked about life during this pandemic. How they’re staying in shape, and what they hope to do once it ends.

Justice RBG Battling Liver Cancer Again

Justice Ginsburg says cancer has returned, but won’t retire

Posted by Harold Fisher
Posted on
WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg says she is receiving chemotherapy for a recurrence of cancer, but has no plans to retire from the Supreme Court. The 87-year-old Ginsburg said her treatment so far has succeeded in reducing lesions on her liver and that she will continue chemotherapy sessions every two weeks “to keep my cancer at bay.” She spent time in the hospital this week for a possible infection, but Ginsburg said it was unrelated to the cancer. Her departure from the court before the election could give President Donald Trump the chance to shift the court more to the right.

Remembering Patrick Ellis

Posted by
Posted on

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved, colleague, friend, and esteem member of the 96.3 WHUR Family Patrick Ellis.  Patrick died Thursday July 16th due to complications from the coronavirus.  Patrick was part of the backbone of WHUR and the Washington, D.C. community.  He was the longest running host on radio in this region.  Patrick Ellis was 77-years-old.  You can send your condolences by calling the Patrick Ellis Tribute Line at 202-750-4924 or submitting them in the form below.  Rest In Paradise Patrick.  Until we meet again!!!

 

Send your Condolences

[directory form=”53″]

A Virtual S.T.E.A.M Camp for Our Youth

We’re exposing our youth to careers in S.T.E.A.M

Posted by Bobby Gailes
Posted on
The Virtual STEAM camp is offering our youth the opportunity to see what types of career choices there are.   “STEAM in the Game” is a free virtual , eSports and Gaming Summer Camp for our youth.  My guest is Dr. Lorretta Cheeks.

This camp runs from July 24- July 26th from 1p-5p (EST).  Registration deadline is July 22nd.  For information and to register go here:  www.steaminthegame.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.

 

Listen to this mornings segment here:

Racism and the Central Park Incident

We revisit that incident, the exclusive interview and the issues it raises.

Posted by Harold Fisher
Posted on

Earlier this week on HUR@Home we spoke to Christian Cooper, a New York resident and bird enthusiast who had a racist confrontation with a white woman in New York’s Central Park in May. We revisit that incident, the exclusive interview and the issues it raises.

Part 1

Part 2

Janks Morton, Filmmaker, Activist

Washington’s NFL Team Hires Misconduct/Workplace Atty

Washington NFL team hires law firm to review culture.

Posted by Harold Fisher
Posted on
Owner Dan Snyder has hired a District of Columbia law firm to review the Washington NFL team’s culture, policies and allegations of workplace misconduct. Beth Wilkinson of Wilkinson Walsh LLP confirmed to The Associated Press that the firm had been retained to conduct an independent review. ESPN was first to report the team hiring the firm. It was not immediately clear what those misconduct allegations were. Within the past week, three members of the front office have left the organization. Director of player personnel Alex Santos, assistant Richard Mann II and longtime broadcaster and senior vice president Larry Michael are no longer with the team.

DC Delays Final Decision on ’20-’21 School Year

 Chancellor Ferebee released several hybrid proposals for school opening for all school age groups.

Posted by Harold Fisher
Posted on
The Bowser Administration is delaying a final decision on how public schools will open in the District of Columbia until July 31st.  During a news conference with Chancellor Lewis Ferebee, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that more study of COVID-19 metrics needs to be done before a decision can be made about the 2020-2021 school year.  Chancellor Ferebee released several hybrid proposals for school opening for all school age groups.  The mayor said the hybrid proposal could be changed or adjusted before July 31st.

 

Rapper Kanye West Files For Oklahoma Presidential Ballot

The filing came a day after New York Magazine’s “Intelligencer” quoted West adviser Steve Kramer saying “he’s out” and noting that the staff he had hired were disappointed.

Posted by WHUR
Posted on

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Rap superstar Kanye West has qualified to appear on Oklahoma’s presidential ballot, the first state where he met the requirements before the filing deadline.

But confusion remains over whether he’s actually running.

A representative for West filed the necessary paperwork and paid the $35,000 filing Wednesday afternoon, which was the deadline for a spot on the state’s Nov. 3 presidential ballot, said Oklahoma Board of Elections spokeswoman Misha Mohr. He was one of three independent presidential candidates to pay the filing fee prior to the deadline, she added. The others were concert pianist Jade Simmons and cryptocurrency entrepreneur Brock Pierce.

The filing came a day after New York Magazine’s “Intelligencer” quoted West adviser Steve Kramer saying “he’s out” and noting that the staff he had hired were disappointed.

However, TMZ reported that the West campaign had filed a “Statement of Organization” Wednesday with the Federal Election Commission, stating that a Kanye 2020 committee would serve as principal campaign committee for a West candidacy.

West has already missed the deadline to qualify for the ballot in several states, and it’s unclear if he is willing or able to collect enough signatures required to qualify in others.

West, who is married to reality television star Kim Kardashian West, initially announced his candidacy on July 4. Days later, he told Forbes magazine that he, who once praised President Donald Trump and said the two share “dragon energy,” was “taking the red hat off” — a reference to Trump’s trademark red “Make America Great Again” cap.

West, who said that he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, told the magazine that he planned to model his White House on the fictional land in “Black Panther” if he won the presidency, adding “Let’s get back to Wakanda.”

Nick Cannon Apologizes For ‘Hurtful’ Anti-Semitic Comments

“I extend my deepest and most sincere apologies to my Jewish sisters and brothers for the hurtful and divisive words that came out of my mouth,” Cannon said in a series of tweets addressing his remarks on a podcast that was released last month.

Posted by WHUR
Posted on

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nick Cannon apologized late Wednesday for “hurtful and divisive” anti-Semitic comments that led ViacomCBS to cut ties with the TV host and producer.

“I extend my deepest and most sincere apologies to my Jewish sisters and brothers for the hurtful and divisive words that came out of my mouth,” Cannon said in a series of tweets addressing his remarks on a podcast that was released last month.

He issued the apology hours after demanding an apology from ViacomCBS, which late Tuesday condemned him and said it was cutting ties with the host, with whom it had a more than 20-year working relationship.

Cannon said his apology came after discussions with Jewish leaders and he vowed to become more informed. “I am committed to deeper connections, more profound learning and strengthening the bond between our two cultures today and every day going forward,” he said on Twitter.

ViacomCBS cut ties with Cannon in response to his remarks on a podcast in which he and Richard “Professor Griff” Griffin, the former Public Enemy member, discussed racial bias. The podcast was recorded in May 2019 and released on June 30.

The men contended that Black people are the true Hebrews and Jews have usurped that identity. Cannon then argued that lighter-skinned people — “Jewish people, white people, Europeans” — “are a little less” and have a “deficiency” that historically caused them to act out of fear and commit acts of violence to survive.

“They had to be savages,” he said.

Jewish leaders including the Anti-Defamation League and prominent rabbis criticized the remarks.

Cannon said in his apology tweets that his words “reinforced the worst stereotypes of a proud and magnificent people and I feel ashamed of the uninformed and naïve place that these words came from.”

ViacomCBS cited Cannon’s lack of contrition as part of its reason for terminating their working relationship with him.

“While we support ongoing education and dialogue in the fight against bigotry, we are deeply troubled that Nick has failed to acknowledge or apologize for perpetuating anti-Semitism, and we are terminating our relationship with him,” the company said.

Cannon produced “Wild ’n Out,” a comedy improv series for VH1, a ViacomCBS-owned cable channel. He’s been a regular part of TV shows unconnected to the company, including as the former host of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” and host of Fox’s “The Masked Singer.”

The apology seemed to satisfy Fox, which noted it in a statement confirming Cannon will remain host of “The Masked Singer.”

“Nick has sincerely apologized, and quickly taken steps to educate himself and make amends,” the statement said. “On that basis and given a belief that this moment calls for dialogue, we will move forward with Nick and help him advance this important conversation, broadly.”

It is unclear whether the apology will repair Cannon’s relationship with ViacomCBS. Earlier Wednesday he demanded an apology from the company and said he was seeking full ownership of “Wild ’n Out.”

ViacomCBS’ action came as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the basketball great and writer, condemned several sports and entertainment celebrities for anti-Semitic tweets and posts and what he called a “shocking lack of indignation” in response.

Abdul-Jabbar made his comments in a column for The Hollywood Reporter that didn’t refer to Cannon.

Mary Trump Book Already Nearing 1 Million Sales

Simon & Schuster announced Thursday that Mary Trump’s “Too Much and Never Enough” had sold a company record 950,000 copies in combined print, digital and audio editions as of its date of sale, earlier this week.

Posted by WHUR
Posted on

NEW YORK (AP) — Mary L. Trump’s scathing memoir about her uncle, President Donald Trump, is nearly a million seller on preorders alone.

Simon & Schuster announced Thursday that Mary Trump’s “Too Much and Never Enough” had sold a company record 950,000 copies in combined print, digital and audio editions as of its date of sale, earlier this week.

Another anti-Trump book from Simon & Schuster, former National Security Advisor John Bolton’s “The Room Where It Happened,” sold nearly 800,000 copies in its first week when released last month.

President Trump and his allies had tried to stop both books from coming out, alleging that Bolton had revealed classified information and that Mary Trump had violated a nondisclosure agreement. Judges in each case denied requests for injunctions.

Review: ‘Fatal Attraction’ In 2020 Is Called ‘Fatal Affair’

“Fatal Affair,” a Netflix release, is rated TV-14 for sex and language. Running time: 89 minutes. One star out of four.

Posted by WHUR
Posted on

If you’re of a certain age, much of the new Netflix thriller “Fatal Affair” will be very familiar. That’s because it’s really just a diluted retelling of another, similarly named film — 1987′s “Fatal Attraction.”

Weirdly, that doesn’t mean this one — reuniting Omar Epps and Nia Long — isn’t worth microwaving a bucket of popcorn and connecting to Netflix when the kids are asleep. It’s actually a bit of a romp, even if the filmmakers didn’t intend that. This is a thriller that feels safe the second time around. You can even enjoy it with the sound off.

Both films share similar DNA — a middle-aged and wealthy but slightly bored spouse has a fling and then that lover goes on a full-on psychopathic rampage until one of them has to die. In 1987, Glenn Close was the spurned lover and Michael Douglas was the cheater.

“Fatal Affair” scrambles the deck, but not by much. Long stars as a well-to-do lawyer in a luxurious beachside property outside San Francisco who is stalked by an unstable acquaintance from her college days, played by Epps.

“I do have the perfect life, the perfect husband, the perfect daughter, the perfect home,” Long’s Ellie tells Epp’s character David when they have a few too many drinks after work one night. (Too bad she’s not in a perfect film.)

David, who crushed on Ellie 20 years ago, is still smitten and probes a weakness in his prey. “You deserve to be with a man who appreciates you,” he tells her.

They make out in one of those dimly lit, beautifully appointed empty and clean nightclub bathrooms that only appear in movies. She suddenly pulls away and goes home. That’s it. (“Affair” in the title is kind of a stretch). He starts a slow boil to Crazytown, but thankfully this time there’s no bunny in the pot.

The second half of the film is the familiar chasing down of his obsession — outwitting caller ID, peeping and blackmailing, the nasty unexpected dinner show-up, the turning her best friend against her. But director Peter Sullivan doesn’t have his heart set on a white-knuckle thriller. He is more happy with a Lifetime film.

Sullivan — who also co-wrote the script with Rasheeda Garner — likes surface beauty more than internal strife. He offers lazy, hazy editing you’d come to expect from a daytime movie, filled with pretty people alone, deep in thought, then sighing and turning toward home, a determined expression on their faces. Waves crashing on the shore are a motif. (Drink whenever you see ’em).

This is a world of the insular rich, where very nice kitchen knives in a very nice wood block are going to be used in ways their German makers never intended. It’s a world of big fluffy beds in mansions and where an Audi with Ellie in the diver’s seat slowly follows a Lexus piloted by David through San Francisco.

It has a script where Ellie, gazing off into the ocean at sunset, tells her daughter, “Now I can breathe.” This is where Epps’ David plays a high-level computer hacker but hasn’t yet enabled biometrics on his own cellphone and chooses terrible passwords on his personal laptop.

Twenty-one years after starring as lovers in “In Too Deep,” Long and Epps get few chances to let sparks fly and the script always gets in the way. “You’re a bad influence,” she tells him. “Things don’t have to be awkward between us,” he tells her. (Well, to be fair, they kind of do.)

There are some nice updates to the same old story, especially the addition of cellphones and security footage to make things feel intrusive. And the filmmakers have incorporated some old tech, namely an LP of that disco favorite “Forget Me Nots,” which is now made forever creepy.

If you rejoice when David appears dead with some 20 minutes to go in the film, you are an optimist. Did you expect that final part would be all about Ellie repairing her marriage in a loving montage? Oh, no. This will end in blood.

Just kidding, not a lot — happy landings for all the main nice characters. No one you cared about is ever in real jeopardy and this film will disappear from memory like butter in that popcorn bowl.

“Fatal Affair,” a Netflix release, is rated TV-14 for sex and language. Running time: 89 minutes. One star out of four.

___

Online: https://www.netflix.com/title/81068703

___

Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits

Megan Thee Stallion Says She Was Shot, Expects To Recover

“I suffered gunshot wounds, as a result of a crime that was committed against me and done with the intention to physically harm me,” the 25-year-old Texan whose legal name is Megan Pete wrote in an Instagram post, without saying who shot her or why.

Posted by WHUR
Posted on

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rapper Megan Thee Stallion said Wednesday that she was shot multiple times on Sunday, but expects to fully recover.

“I suffered gunshot wounds, as a result of a crime that was committed against me and done with the intention to physically harm me,” the 25-year-old Texan whose legal name is Megan Pete wrote in an Instagram post, without saying who shot her or why. “I’m incredibly grateful to be alive and that I’m expected to make a full recovery.”

Rapper Tory Lanez, who was with Pete that evening, was arrested on a concealed weapons charge in the Hollywood Hills early Sunday, Officer Jeff Lee said.

He had no comment on Pete’s Instagram post, but said it has been pointed out to the detectives in the case, who are looking into it.

Lanez was released after posting bail later Sunday, Los Angeles County jail records showed.

Police said that officers responded to gunfire in the neighborhood about 4:30 a.m. Sunday, and a woman was treated for a foot injury.

Messages left with representatives for the two rappers seeking more details were not immediately returned.

Pete said she wanted to correct an inaccurate narrative about what happened that evening, apparently referring to a TMZ story on Lanez’s arrest that said she was treated only for broken glass in her foot, and did not mention gunfire.

Pete said on Instagram that “the police officers drove me to the hospital where I underwent surgery to remove the bullets,” adding that “it was important for me to clarify the details about this traumatic night.”

She also said she was not arrested.

Megan Thee Stallion has seen a serious recent rise on the rap and pop music scene, topping the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart this year with her Beyoncé-assisted remix of “Savage,” which had a viral moment on the video-sharing platform TikTok. The song is from her nine-track album “Suga,” which was released in March and helped the performer win best female hip-hop artist at last month’s BET Awards, besting Cardi B, Nicki Minaj and Lizzo.

She’s also scored Top 40 pop hits with “Hot Girl Summer,” “Cash Shit” and the recent single “Girls in the Hood.”

“Suga” comes after the release of the projects “Fever” and “Tina Snow” that helped establish Stallion’s name in music. Last year she made the 2019 TIME 100 Next List, was named one of the AP’s Breakthrough Entertainers of the Year, won prizes at the MTV Video Music Awards and BET Hip-Hop Awards, and was honored by Variety and Billboard magazines.

“I’m currently focused on my recovery,” her Instagram post said, “so I can return back to my life and back to making music as soon as possible.”

___

AP Music Writer Mesfin Fekadu contributed from New York.

___

Follow AP Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andyjamesdalton.

Michelle Obama To Host Podcast On Health, Relationships

“My hope is that this series can be a place to explore meaningful topics together and sort through so many of the questions we’re all trying to answer in our own lives,” Obama said in a statement.

Posted by WHUR
Posted on

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Michelle Obama will let her own voice be heard on a new podcast.

The former first lady will host “The Michelle Obama Podcast” on the streaming service, the Obama’s Higher Ground and Spotify announced Thursday. The podcast will exclusively debut on Spotify on July 29.

“My hope is that this series can be a place to explore meaningful topics together and sort through so many of the questions we’re all trying to answer in our own lives,” Obama said in a statement.

The new podcast is the first title in the ongoing collaboration between Spotify and Higher Ground, a production company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama. Last year, the former president and first lady partnered with Spotify to produce exclusive podcasts for the platform.

Michelle Obama’s new podcast expects to hold candid and personal conversations with a focus on topics concerning relationships and health. She expects to have several guests on the series including talk-show host Conan O’Brien and Valerie Jarrett, business woman and former senior advisor to Barack Obama.

“Perhaps most of all, I hope this podcast will help listeners open up new conversations — and hard conversations —- with the people who matter most to them,” she said. “That’s how we can build more understanding and empathy for one another.”

Obama released her Netflix documentary “Becoming” in May. The project was an extension of her 2018 best-selling memoir of the same name and a kind of authorized filmic portrait of Obama.

Last year, she embarked on a rock-star-style tour of more than 30 cities to promote her book.

Providing Educational Programs and Camps for Our Youth

Living Classrooms is helping to keep our youth engaged during the summer.

Posted by Bobby Gailes
Posted on
Keeping the hopes and dreams of inner city youth going.  My guest today has been pushing our youth toward the future with programs and camps even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.  My guest is Doug Siglin – Managing Director for Living Classrooms for DC Programs

Living Classrooms has been around since 1985 and their motto is learning by doing.  They do a hot of outdoor education programs, mostly in Wards 5, 6, 7, and 8.  They also run an overnight camp in Virginia.  Additional, the organization operates youth development and job training programs.  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.

 

 Listen to this mornings segment here:

Getting Your End-of-Life Affairs in Order

Wills, trusts and other information about securing your financial and property affairs before your death.

Posted by Harold Fisher
Posted on

More than 138-thousand Americans have died since the COVID-19 pandemic struck the United States.  Arguably the lion’s share of them would still be alive today if it were not for the deadly disease. It’s also likely that the unexpected deaths caught families off guard and unprepared for the sudden deaths.  We talk about getting your end-of-life affairs in order. Are you ready with your exit plan?

Resources:

Exit Plan Symposium at First Baptist Church of Glenarden

Guests:

Muriel Garr, Co-Host, “Beyond the Bling”

Rhonda Green, Founder & Author “My Exit Plan”

Tyra Banks Named New ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Host

In a statement, Banks said she’s a fan of the contest’s approach of “fun mixed with raw emotion, seeing celebrities push past their comfort zones, the sizzling dance performances … it’s always transported me to my days of turning it up 10 notches on the catwalk.”

Posted by WHUR
Posted on

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tyra Banks will be showing off her moves as solo host of ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars.”

The supermodel, actor and businesswoman who co-created “America’s Next Top Model” will replace longtime host Tom Bergeron and take on the role of executive producer, ABC said late Tuesday.

In a statement, Banks said she’s a fan of the contest’s approach of “fun mixed with raw emotion, seeing celebrities push past their comfort zones, the sizzling dance performances … it’s always transported me to my days of turning it up 10 notches on the catwalk.”

Banks lauded Bergeron, host of the show since its 2005 debut, as having set “a powerful stage” and said she’s excited to continue the legacy.

Co-host Erin Andrews also is leaving the series, which is getting a “creative refresh” while honoring America’s affection for it, ABC said. Andrews was not expected to be replaced.

When the show will get to unveil its new approach in season No. 29 remains clouded by the pandemic-caused production halt affecting the return of most TV series.

The announcement that Banks is joining the show followed word Monday of Bergeron and Andrews’ exits. In a Twitter post, Bergeron called working on “Dancing With the Stars” an “incredible 15-year run and the most unexpected gift of my career.”

Last year, Bergeron drew attention when he expressed concern over the show’s decision to include former White House press secretary Sean Spicer among the contestants for last fall’s season.

Bergeron tweeted then that he had suggested to producers the new season be a “joyful respite from our exhausting political climate” and urged them to avoid “divisive bookings.”

ABC thanked the departing Bergeron for his “trademark wit and charm” that helped the show succeed and Andrews for her sense of humor.

Andrews originally competed as a contestant back in 2010 and returned as co-host in 2014.

George Floyd Lawsuit

Floyd family sues Minneapolis officers charged in his death.

Posted by Harold Fisher
Posted on
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Attorneys for George Floyd’s family have filed a lawsuit against the city of Minneapolis and the four police officers charged in his death. The lawsuit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Minnesota alleges that the officers violated Floyd’s rights when they restrained him and that the city allowed a culture of excessive force, racism and impunity to flourish in its police force. Floyd, a Black man who was handcuffed, died May 25 after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck for nearly eight minutes as Floyd said he couldn’t breathe. Chauvin and the three other officers face criminal charges.

How Risky Is Dining Out During The COVID-19 Pandemic?

Ordering takeout or delivery is still the safest option for getting restaurant food, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Posted by WHUR
Posted on

How risky is dining out during the COVID-19 pandemic?

There is some risk, but health officials say there are precautions you can take to minimize the chances you’ll be exposed to the virus.

Ordering takeout or delivery is still the safest option for getting restaurant food, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

If you decide to eat at a restaurant, it’s best to opt for outdoor seating where tables are at least 6 feet apart, the agency says. Dining inside a restaurant that hasn’t reduced its capacity or safely distanced tables poses the most risk, it says.

The coronavirus spreads through droplets that are emitted when people talk, laugh, sing, cough or sneeze. Indoor spaces are more risky than outdoor spaces because it might be harder to keep people apart and there’s less ventilation, the CDC says.

Diners should assess what other safety steps the restaurant is taking.

For example, servers should be wearing masks and the restaurant should have a process to ensure people are not congregating too closely while waiting for a table, says Dr. Susan Casey Bleasdale, an infectious disease expert at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Digital or disposable menus and throwaway utensils are also preferable, according to the CDC. The agency says touchless payment options, like those available on your mobile device, are optimal. Otherwise, restaurants should have procedures for avoiding hand-to-hand contact with cash and credit cards.

If you are gathering at a restaurant with a group, Bleasdale suggests only dining with people you know, and checking if they have been feeling sick or experiencing any symptoms.

People more vulnerable to severe illness from the virus, such as the elderly, might want to avoid eating out at restaurants altogether.

PGCPS Continues Distance Learning For Fall 2020

The first day of school is scheduled for August 31st. 

Posted by Harold Fisher
Posted on
Prince George’s County Public Schools CEO, Dr. Monica Goldson has announced that distance learning will continue until at least January 2021. In a statement released this afternoon, Goldson said in part,  “In light of the health disparities in communities that house more than 136,500 students and 20,000 employees, there is a significant public health concern if schools were to reopen this fall for in-person instruction.”  The first day of school is scheduled for August 31st.

Dr. Monica Goldson, CEO, Prince George’s County Public Schools

Statue Of Black Protester Replaces Toppled UK Slave Trader

The toppling of his statue was part of a worldwide reckoning with racism and slavery sparked by the death of a Black American man, George Floyd, at the hands of police in Minneapolis in May.

Posted by WHUR
Posted on

LONDON (AP) — An artist has erected a statue of a Black Lives Matter protester atop the plinth in the English city of Bristol formerly occupied by a statue of a slave trader.

Marc Quinn created the life-size resin and steel likeness of Jen Reid, a protester photographed standing on the plinth after demonstrators pulled down the statue of Edward Colston and dumped it in Bristol’s harbor on June 7.

The statue, titled “A Surge of Power (Jen Reid)” was erected before dawn on Wednesday without approval from city officials.

Reid, who came to inspect her likeness, said “it’s something that fills me with pride.”

“I think it’s amazing,” she said. “It looks like it belongs there. It looks like it’s been there forever.”

Colston was a 17th-century trader who made a fortune transporting enslaved Africans across the Atlantic to the Americas on Bristol-based ships. His money funded schools and charities in Bristol, 120 miles (195 kilometers) southwest of London.

The toppling of his statue was part of a worldwide reckoning with racism and slavery sparked by the death of a Black American man, George Floyd, at the hands of police in Minneapolis in May.

Quinn, one of Britain’s best-known sculptors, said Reid had “created the sculpture when she stood on the plinth and raised her arm in the air. Now we’re crystallizing it.”

City authorities fished the Colston statue out of the harbor and say it will be placed in a museum, along with placards from the Black Lives Matter demonstration.

Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees cast doubt on whether the new statue would be allowed to stay, noting that it “was the work and decision of a London-based artist.”

“The future of the plinth and what is installed on it must be decided by the people of Bristol,” he said in a statement.

“This will be critical to building a city that is home to those who are elated at the statue being pulled down, those who sympathize with its removal but are dismayed at how it happened and those who feel that in its removal, they’ve lost a piece of the Bristol they know, and therefore themselves.”