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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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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.”

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AP Music Writer Mesfin Fekadu contributed from New York.

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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.

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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
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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
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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.”

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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.

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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.

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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
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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.

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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.”

‘Vanity Fair’ Cover Shot By Black Photographer For 1st Time

The publication has “had a problem in the past with putting Black women on the covers,” Davis says in an interview for the magazine.

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The new issue of Vanity Fair featuring a powerful image of Oscar-winning actor Viola Davis marks the first time the publication has featured the work of a Black photographer on its cover.

The historic image of Davis, shot by photographer Dario Calmese, shows the 54-year-old in profile, her back facing the camera. Davis is wearing a blue gown with a deep plunge in the back, hand on hip.

The publication has “had a problem in the past with putting Black women on the covers,” Davis says in an interview for the magazine.

Radhika Jones, the magazine’s editor-in-chief, writes in the issue that 17 Black people have been on the cover in the 35 years between 1983 and 2017, and that she was determined to fix the lack of representation when she took over the job.

She said in publishing Calmese’s photo of Davis on the cover, “we celebrate him and honor his vision at this heightened moment in American history.”

“Calmese describes his cover concept as a re-creation of the Louis Agassiz slave portraits taken in the 1800s — the back, the welts,” she writes. “This image (of Davis) reclaims that narrative, transmuting the white gaze on Black suffering into the Black gaze of grace, elegance and beauty.”

In her Vanity Fair interview, Davis discusses the recent racial justice protests, her upcoming role as Michelle Obama, her impoverished upbringing in Rhode Island, and the challenges of being a Black woman in Hollywood, among other topics. The issue hits newsstands on July 21.

CBS, NAACP Reach Multi-Year Agreement To Develop Content

“An important way to diversify and grow our storytelling is to expand our horizons beyond the traditional studio-producer system,” said George Cheeks, president and CEO of the CBS Entertainment Group.

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — CBS Television and the NAACP have reached an agreement to develop content that tells stories of the African American experience.

The television studio and civil rights organization announced the multi-year agreement in a joint statement Wednesday. The partnership will focus on creating and producing scripted, unscripted and documentary content for the studio’s broadcast, cable and streaming platforms.

CBS will work with the NAACP to form a team to acquire, develop and produce programming to detail inclusive stories.

“In this moment of national awakening, the time has never been better to further tell stories of the African American experience,” said Derrick Johnson, the president and CEO of the NAACP, which stands for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

“An important way to diversify and grow our storytelling is to expand our horizons beyond the traditional studio-producer system,” said George Cheeks, president and CEO of the CBS Entertainment Group.

ViacomCBS Drops Nick Cannon, Cites ‘Anti-Semitic’ Comments

“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.

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nick Cannon’s “hateful speech” and anti-Semitic theories led ViacomCBS to cut ties with the TV host and producer, the media giant said.

“ViacomCBS condemns bigotry of any kind and we categorically denounce all forms of anti-Semitism,” the company said in a statement Tuesday. It is terminating its relationship with Cannon, ViacomCBS said.

The company’s move was in response to remarks made by Cannon on a podcast in which he and Richard “Professor Griff” Griffith, the former Public Enemy member, discussed racial bias. The podcast reportedly was filmed last year and aired two weeks ago.

“We have spoken with Nick Cannon about an episode of his podcast ‘Cannon’s Class’ on YouTube, which promoted hateful speech and spread anti-Semitic conspiracy theories,” ViacomCBS said.

“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.”

There was no immediate response to requests for comment made to a representative for Cannon and to him through his website. Fox also didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

In Cannon’s hour-plus podcast, he and Griffin contend that Black people are the true Hebrews and that Jews have usurped their identity.

Cannon then segues into a discussion of skin color — “And I’m going to say this carefully,” he begins — to allege that people who lack sufficient melanin are “a little less.”

Those without dark skin have a “deficiency” that historically forced them to act out of fear and commit acts of violence to survive, he said.

“They had to be savages,” Cannon said, adding that he was referring to “Jewish people, white people, Europeans,” among others.

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.

As controversy over his remarks began to bubble up Monday, Cannon replied in a Facebook post.

“I do not condone hate speech nor the spread of hateful rhetoric … The Black and Jewish communities have both faced enormous hatred, oppression persecution and prejudice for thousands of years and in many ways have and will continue to work together to overcome these obstacles,” he wrote.

In the lengthy post, Cannon also said he welcomed being held accountable for his statement and that he held himself accountable “for this moment and take full responsibility.”

Michael Jackson Channel Launching On SiriusXM

The channel will feature music from Jackson’s albums and from live performances, including his 1988 concerts at London’s Wembley Stadium on his Bad Tour.

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — The King of Pop is joining The Boss and Old Blue Eyes on SiriusXM satellite radio.

The month-long Michael Jackson channel was announced Wednesday by the singer’s estate.

The channel will feature music from Jackson’s albums and from live performances, including his 1988 concerts at London’s Wembley Stadium on his Bad Tour.

Around-the-clock King of Pop programming will begin at noon Eastern. Jackson joins SiriusXM channels devoted to artists like Bruce Springsteen, Frank Sinatra and The Beatles.

Playlists created by singer Akon, Jackson’s brothers and fellow Jackson 5 members Jackie, Marlon and Tito will also be featured.

It will also include music that influenced Jackson from artists including James Brown and Sly & the Family Stone, and artists that Jackson influenced including Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake and Usher.

Journalist and author Steven Ivory, a family friend who interviewed Jackson often, will provide the voice of the channel, telling stories, introducing discussions that chronicle the history and career of Jackson and sharing his own Jackson playlist.

Ivory said the music and message of Jackson, who died in 2009 at age 50, are especially fitting for the world in a moment of trouble and turmoil.

“Michael’s music has always rallied the world to acknowledge historical anguish in songs and videos such as ‘They Don’t Really Care About Us’ and ‘Black or White,‘” Ivory said in a statement. “At the same time, he aspired to unify and lead the world with inspiring anthems like ‘Heal the World’ and ‘Earth Song’ which addressed issues that were important to him such as the care of our planet.”

The channel will be available for 30 days on the SiriusXM app and streaming devices, and on the satellite radio network’s channel 50 for a week.

Body Camera Footage Of Floyd Arrest Could Show More Of Story

The video could also show what Chauvin was saying and doing, and how much Lane and Kueng saw. It could also dispel some discrepancies in the two transcripts that Walker, the media attorney, said raise questions about their accuracy.

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Video from the body cameras of two officers charged in George Floyd’s death is being made available for public viewing by appointment on Wednesday, but a judge has so far declined to allow news organizations to publish the footage for wider distribution.

Footage from the body cameras of Thomas Lane and J. Kueng was filed with the court last week by Lane’s attorney, but only the written transcripts were made public. A coalition of news media organizations and attorneys for Lane and Kueng have said making the videos public would provide a more complete picture of what happened when Floyd was taken into custody.

Members of the news media and the public are viewing the video Wednesday by appointment at the courthouse. The media coalition, which includes The Associated Press, has said this arrangement is the equivalent of keeping the videos under seal, and the coalition is asking Judge Peter Cahill to allow the media to copy the videos and publish them.

Media attorney Leita Walker said in a court filing that the footage should be made widely available to “all members of the public concerned about the administration of justice in one of the most important, and most-watched, cases this State — perhaps this country — has ever seen.”

She also said allowing journalists to copy the footage, watch it multiple times, transcribe it and compare it to the transcripts and to time stamps from widely seen bystander video will help reporters piece together a more complete story.

“As the days of unrest in the Twin Cities showed, it is vitally important that the public have full confidence in the process and outcome of this criminal prosecution,” she said.

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 is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter. Tou Thao, Lane and Kueng are charged with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and manslaughter. All four officers were fired.

The body camera videos and transcripts were filed in court last week by Lane’s attorney, Earl Gray, as part of a motion to have Lane’s case dismissed. Gray said at the time that he wanted the videos to be made public, telling the Star Tribune that they would show the “whole picture.” Gray said the bystander video shows just the last piece of what happened and “is not fair.”

Gray’s motion highlighted portions of the body-camera video that show Floyd “actively resisting and acting erratic” with officers. It also noted Floyd’s “request” to be put on the ground. Gray also argued that Lane didn’t have a clear view of what Chauvin was doing.

Kueng’s attorney, Tom Plunkett, said in a court filing that he also wants the videos made public. He said releasing information in piecemeal fashion has been catastrophic, leading to incomplete reporting by the media and unfairly portraying evidence in favor of the prosecution.

The video footage could provide a more vivid picture of what happened the night Floyd was arrested on suspicion of passing a fake $20 bill. The transcripts show Floyd appearing cooperative at times but becoming agitated as he begged not to be put in a squad car, saying repeatedly he was claustrophobic. The transcripts also detailed Floyd thrashing about in the back of the squad car to the point where he injured himself.

The footage will likely also will show what Lane, Kueng and Floyd did during the struggle, rather than what was merely said. It could also pick up on nonverbal cues that are not captured in the transcripts, such as labored breathing, tone of voice or physical reactions.

The video could also show what Chauvin was saying and doing, and how much Lane and Kueng saw. It could also dispel some discrepancies in the two transcripts that Walker, the media attorney, said raise questions about their accuracy.

Lamman Rucker Chooses Only Quality Roles; Ed Gordon Talks New Book

Lamman Rucker’s Hollywood Meets Ed Gordon’s News = A Great Night @HUR@Home

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Emmy Award-winning journalist, author Ed Gordon, talks about his timely, new book “Conversations In Black.” Later, actor Lamman Rucker joined in to talk about the importance of choosing quality roles. He also talked about his role as Jacob Greenleaf, on OWN TV’s hit show, GREENLEAF. This is the final season of the show.

 

Prince George’s County Tax Proposal

We’re going to hear from both sides of this taxing question.

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Welcome to another edition of HUR@Home. Tonight, I’m talking about a proposal to raise property taxes in Prince George’s County.  Controversial… because this question comes in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.  County executive Angela Alsobrooks is on the record as recently as last week… that she is against it.  We’re going to hear from both sides of this taxing question. We hear from County Councilman Derrick Leon Davis, representing District 6 and County Councilwoman Jolene Ivey, representing District 5.

Preserving Our African Heritage

The Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition needs your help to stop the destruction of the Moses African Cemetery.

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My guest today has been on a crusade in Montgomery County trying to save the only African American cemetery in Bethesda that is the final resting place for enslaved Africans.  Dr. Marsha Coleman-Adebayo – Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition

The Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition is working to stop the destruction of the Moses African Cemetery.  The cemetery is being demolished to make way for new construction in the county.  The coalition has been calling on the county executive to stop the effort because enslaved Africans are still buried on the site.  The location to meet is 5214 River Rd. Bethesda, MD.

More information can be found here:   http://www.bethesdaafricancemetery.org/

 

 

Listen  to this mornings segment here:

Stacey Abrams, 2020 Election Politics and Your Vote

Stacey Abrams sits down for a wide ranging interview.

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She was narrowly defeated for governor of the state of Georgia.  But Stacey Abrams has let no political grass grow under her feet.  She is one of several black women being considered as Vice-President Joe Biden’s 2020 running mate.  We spoke to Abrams about that and other issues in a wide ranging interview.

2020 Census Information

Part 1

Part 2

Guests:

Stacey Abrams, Former Georgia Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate

Dr. Ravi Perry, Chair, Dept. of Political Science, Howard University

Christian Cooper And The NYC Central Park Incident

He’s also the man who’s confrontation with Amy Cooper, no relation, about simply keeping her dog on a leash… turned into a national discussion about racism and black lives matter.

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Welcome to another edition of HUR@Home on WHUR.com and all of our social media platforms. I’m talking to Christian Cooper… a New York resident and bird enthusiast. He’s also the man who’s confrontation with Amy Cooper, no relation, about simply keeping her dog on a leash… turned into a national discussion about racism and black lives matter.

‘Empire’ Actor Arrested In Arizona, Accused Of Abusing Wife

Gray refused to leave his home when police arrived but was arrested after SWAT and crisis negotiators responded, police said.

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GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — “Empire” actor Bryshere Gray has been arrested in Arizona on accusations of abusing his wife, police said.

The Goodyear Police Department said 26-year-old Bryshere Gray was booked into jail Saturday, KPNX-TV reported.

The woman had visible injuries when she flagged someone down to ask for help near Gray’s home in the Phoenix suburb of Goodyear, saying her husband had assaulted her, police said. She told emergency responders that Gray had strangled her, and she was taken to a hospital, authorities said.

Gray refused to leave his home when police arrived but was arrested after SWAT and crisis negotiators responded, police said.

Gray, who played Hakeem Lyon on the Chicago-based TV show, was pulled over in Chicago in 2019 after authorities said a temporary license plate didn’t match the 2014 Rolls Royce he was driving. He was arrested on a misdemeanor registration charge and ticketed.

“Empire,” which ran for six seasons on Fox, aired its series finale in April.

Rockets’ Westbrook Has Virus, As NBA Bubble Faces First Test

“I tested positive for covid-19 prior to my teams departure to Orlando,” Westbrook wrote on his social media channels. “I’m currently feeling well, quarantined, and looking forward to rejoining my teammates when I am cleared.”

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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Houston’s Russell Westbrook hasn’t made it to the NBA restart yet.

The coronavirus did — but health protocols seemed to work as the league and its players hoped they would.

On a day of troubling news for the league — Westbrook revealing that he has tested positive for the virus and two other players facing 10-day quarantines for leaving the league campus perimeter at Walt Disney World — it was also announced that two players tested positive for the virus after arriving in Central Florida last week.

But neither of those positive players ever made it out of quarantine, so neither entered the so-called bubble and could mingle freely with other players, coaches and staff. The NBA said both players, neither of whom were identified, “have since left the Campus to isolate at home or in isolation housing.” They could rejoin their teams later.

“Our protocols are unbelievable,” said Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry, one of the players who helped craft the restart rules. “I think our protocols and our health and safety measures have been top-notch. I think this thing will work perfectly. … We’re doing everything that we can possibly do to make sure that we’re healthy, we’re safe and we’re in an environment where we can be successful and do our jobs at a high level.”

It’s unclear when Westbrook will arrive. As recently as Sunday, the Rockets believed that Westbrook, NBA scoring leader James Harden and newly re-acquired Luc Mbah a Moute — none of the three traveled with the team to Walt Disney World near Orlando last week — would be with the team in the next few days.

In Westbrook’s case, that now seems most unlikely.

“I tested positive for covid-19 prior to my teams departure to Orlando,” Westbrook wrote on his social media channels. “I’m currently feeling well, quarantined, and looking forward to rejoining my teammates when I am cleared.”

The arrival dates for Harden and Mbah a Moute are murky as well. Neither player has revealed why they aren’t at Disney, and Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni would only say that “these are things that people are dealing with.”

D’Antoni said Westbrook had taken part in individual workouts when they were permitted back in Houston, but declined to elaborate further on the guard’s condition. He also isn’t sure when the missing Rockets will arrive.

“I did have one year of pre-med,” D’Antoni said. “But I don’t know when it’s going to happen. As soon as protocols get out of the way … they’re all anxious to get here and they’re doing what they need to do to stay in shape.

“This is not going to set us back. We’re not going to let it set us back, and we’re going to be ready to roll here in the next two, three weeks.”

Westbrook is averaging 27.5 points, eight rebounds and seven assists per game for the Rockets this season. Houston has clinched a playoff spot and resumes its season with the first of eight seeding games on July 31 against Dallas.

“I’m praying for his safety and the same for his family,” Phoenix guard Devin Booker said. “Hopefully he can get healthy and get down here as soon as possible.”

The league also said Monday that 19 players newly tested positive since July 1 during in-market testing, meaning tests done before teams began arriving at Disney on July 7. Upon arrival at Disney, 322 players were tested with the two positives.

“All we can do is try to stay optimistic about it and positive, and hopefully we can finish this season,” said Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, the reigning NBA Finals MVP.

Inside the NBA bubble, however, there was optimism that the rules established by the league and the players will work — even though some Disney parks reopened to visitors over the weekend and the MLS restart, also at the campus, has seen two teams leave after a spate of positive tests.

“It’s a condition, a virus, that does not discriminate,” Phoenix coach Monty Williams said. “And we’re trying to do everything we can to keep our guys safe.”

Those protocols that Lowry spoke of were designed to be taken seriously, and at least two players inside the NBA bubble have already paid a steep price for violating quarantine upon their teams’ respective arrivals last week.

Sacramento’s Richaun Holmes revealed Monday that he “briefly and accidentally” crossed the NBA campus line to pick up a food delivery. Under the NBA’s rules of the restart, he now has to spend 10 days in quarantine.

Holmes said he had eight days left in quarantine.

“I apologize for my actions and look forward to rejoining my teammates for our playoff push,” Holmes wrote.

Also Monday, a person with knowledge of the situation said that Houston’s Bruno Caboclo was also serving a 10-day quarantine for crossing the campus line. Like Holmes, Caboclo also had eight days remaining Monday, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Rockets have not announced the sanction.

Monday’s developments came on a day where more than 12,000 new cases were confirmed in Florida, now perhaps the hottest of virus hotspots in the U.S. And officials in Houston also called for that city to lock back down as area hospitals strain to accommodate patients sick with COVID-19.

Westbrook also offered a word of caution.

“Please take this virus seriously,” Westbrook wrote. “Be safe. Mask up!”

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More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Deceased Cat Gets Voter Registration Application In Mail

“There’s a huge push but if they’re trying to register cats, I’m not sure who else they’re trying to register. I’m not sure if they’re trying to register dogs, mice, snakes,” Carol Tims said.

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ATLANTA (AP) — In a presidential election year, there’s always a push to get people registered to vote.

For one Atlanta family, that push got a little interesting.

Ron Tims said he checked his mail Wednesday and found a voter registration application addressed to Cody Tims — his cat, who died 12 years ago.

“A great cat, indoor and outdoor, loved his family, loved his neighborhood. He was 18 and a half when he passed away,” Carol Tims told WAGA-TV.

The Tims were surprised, and a bit amused when they saw what Cody received in the mail.

“There’s a huge push but if they’re trying to register cats, I’m not sure who else they’re trying to register. I’m not sure if they’re trying to register dogs, mice, snakes,” Carol Tims said.

The Secretary of State’s Office said the application did not come from its office and that third-party groups often use mailing lists to get names and addresses.

“Third-party groups all over the country are targeting Georgia to help register qualified individuals,” the Secretary of State’s Office said in a statement. “This group makes you wonder what these out-of-town activists are really doing. Make no mistake about it, this office is dedicated to investigating all types of fraud.”

The Secretary of State’s Office said it’s quite sure that even if Cody were still alive and showed up at the polls, he wouldn’t be allowed to vote since he does not have a license or state ID.

If you’re wondering how Cody would have voted if he could go to the polls. His owner said he was a DemoCAT.

Pandemic Leads 7-Eleven To Forgo Free Slurpees On 7-11

“Gathering nine million of our closest friends in stores on one day just didn’t feel right,” said Marissa Jarratt, 7-Eleven’s chief marketing officer.

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DALLAS (AP) — The coronavirus pandemic has taken away another summertime tradition in the U.S.: There will be no free Slurpees at 7-Elevens on Saturday — July 11 — to hail a date that doubles as an abbreviation of the convenience store chain’s name.

7-Eleven has been giving away its slushy beverage to all customers for nearly 20 years on July 11, but it scrapped the promotion this summer to reduce the risk of people flocking to its stores and risking contracting the coronavirus.

“Gathering nine million of our closest friends in stores on one day just didn’t feel right,” said Marissa Jarratt, 7-Eleven’s chief marketing officer.

The Dallas-based chain instead decided to donate 1 million meals to Feeding America, a hunger relief group. The roughly 33 million people who had 7-Eleven’s membership app installed on their smartphones as of July 1 are also eligible for a free medium Slurpee at any time this month.

Naya Rivera, Who Rose To Fame On TV Show ‘Glee,’ Dies At 33

Viola Davis sent her prayers to Rivera’s family and Kristin Chenoweth said: “Thank you for what you gave the world.” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said that “as a Latina, it’s rare to have a rich, complex characters reflect us in media.”

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NEW YORK (AP) — Naya Rivera, a singer and actor who played a gay cheerleader on the hit TV musical comedy “Glee,” was found dead Monday in a Southern California lake. She was 33.

Rivera’s body was discovered five days after she disappeared on Lake Piru, where her son, Josey, was found July 8 alone on a boat the two had rented, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said. The Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the body was Rivera’s.

“Rest sweet, Naya. What a force you were,” wrote “Glee” co-star Jane Lynch on Twitter. Steven Canals, who co-created and produced the FX television show “Pose,” tweeted that he was “heartbroken over all the stories that will remain untold.”

Viola Davis sent her prayers to Rivera’s family and Kristin Chenoweth said: “Thank you for what you gave the world.” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said that “as a Latina, it’s rare to have a rich, complex characters reflect us in media.”

Rivera began acting at a young age, but she rose to national attention playing a lesbian teen on “Glee,” which aired from 2009 until 2015 on Fox. She is survived by her parents, Yolanda and George; a younger brother, Mychal; a sister, Nickayla; and her 4-year-old son.

“Naya Rivera was a fierce talent with so much more to do and this is such a terrible tragedy. We are forever grateful for the indelible contribution she made to ‘Glee,’ from the first episode to the last,” said a statement from 20th Century Fox TV and Fox Entertainment.

A native of Santa Clarita, California, Rivera began acting at 4, appearing in such series as “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “Family Matters” and “The Bernie Mac Show.” As a teen, she struggled with an eating disorder and had breast implants put in at 18 (“a confidence thing, not a sexual thing,” she would later write in her autobiography).

“I had the lowest self esteem in high school possible. I wasn’t popular, I didn’t have friends, but I would say it’s really important that you know who you are and you’re going to win in the end because of that,” Rivera said in a 2011 interview with The Associated Press.

She worked odd jobs as a telemarketer, a nanny, a waitress and an Abercrombie & Fitch greeter before landing the role of Santana Lopez on Ryan Murphy’s “Glee.” She auditioned by singing “Emotion.” The pilot offered her no speaking lines.

Rivera played a secondary character — the mean cheerleader with blistering put-downs — in the show’s first season, but became a show regular in the second season as she struggled to reveal her character’s sexual identity. Many on social media credited her character for making them feel better about their own sexuality.

Parades, Close-Ups With Mickey Out As Disney World Reopens

Despite a huge surge of Floridians testing positive for the new coronavirus in recent weeks, two of Disney World’s four parks are reopening Saturday. When they do, visitors to “The Most Magical Place on Earth” will find new rules in place.

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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Forget about up-close “meet-and-greet” sessions with Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck when Walt Disney World parks reopen. There will be no firework shows or parades — those would draw too many people together — and both visitors and employees will be getting temperature checks when they enter.

Despite a huge surge of Floridians testing positive for the new coronavirus in recent weeks, two of Disney World’s four parks are reopening Saturday. When they do, visitors to “The Most Magical Place on Earth” will find new rules in place.

Everyone has to wear a mask and maintain social distance. No hopping between parks is allowed, for the time being, and visitors will need reservations to enter.

Disney employees won’t be allowed to take photos of visitors in front of Cinderella’s Castle since it involves touching the tourists’ cameras. There will be no live shows since the reopening has caused a labor dispute between Disney World and its actors and singers.

“That is a very different Disney World than the one you worked at back in March, and that is because of the need for safety,” Eric Clinton, president of Unite Here! Local 362, told his members in a recent Facebook discussion.

Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom will reopen Saturday. Disney World’s other two parks, Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, will welcome back guests four days later. All of the parks closed in mid-March in an effort to stop the virus’s spread. Disney World’s crosstown rivals, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando, also closed in March but have been back open for several weeks after instituting similar rules to protect employees and customers from the virus.

Also this month, the NBA and MLS are restarting their seasons at Disney World, which has a massive sports complex featuring multiple playing arenas.

Disney has been opening back up its parks around the globe for the past two months. In May, the company opened Disney Springs, a complex of shops, restaurants and entertainment venues in Lake Buena Vista. Only Disneyland in California delayed its plans to reopen in mid-July, saying it was awaiting guidelines from the state.

The union that represents Disney World actors and singers wishes the Florida resort would do the same until workers can be tested on a regular basis. Florida and other Sunbelt states have seen recent surges in coronavirus cases, and unlike other Disney workers, the singers and actors can’t wear face masks when they perform.

On Thursday, Actors’ Equity Association filed a labor grievance against Disney World, saying their members faced retaliation for demanding the coronavirus tests. The actors and singers initially were called back to work, but that invitation was rescinded last week after the union made public their concerns about the lack of testing, according to Actors’ Equity Association.

For the parks to reopen, “the epidemic must be under control with contact tracing … and that is not the case in Florida,” said Brandon Lorenz, a spokesman for Actors’ Equity Association. “We don’t believe the workplace plan is safe. It has risks not just for the workers but for the guests.”

In a statement, Disney on Thursday said, “We are exercising our right to open without Equity performers.”

Other union leaders are confident in the new safety measures. Clinton, whose members are custodians, housekeepers and park greeters, said a visit to Disney World is now safer than going to the grocery store.

“Will I be safe at work? The short answer to that is, ‘Yes,’” Clinton told his members.

Firefighters and paramedics for Disney World’s private government are expecting to see more heat-related calls from visitors due to the mandatory mask-wearing.

“With the masks and summer in Florida, that’s going to be interesting,” said Tim Stromsnes, an official with the Reedy Creek Professional Firefighters, Local 2117. “A lot of people aren’t used to our heat and humidity.”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said earlier this week that he believe Disney is well-prepared for the reopening.

“I have no doubt it is going to be a safe environment,” DeSantis said. “I am really impressed with what Universal has done and I have looked at Disney’s plan and it is very, very thorough.”

Disney spokeswoman Andrea M. Finger said in a statement Wednesday that the company is “moving forward carefully and methodically.” She said seven unions representing thousands of staff have signed agreements to return to work.

Because of the limits on attendance, new ticket sales and hotel reservations are temporarily on hold so people already with tickets and reservations get first dibs. Even some who already had reservations ran into problems. Shortly after the shutdown, Disney fan Lloyd Stevens and his partner, Andy Rogow, booked a room at the budget Pop Century Resort for next week. But when they called recently to confirm, they were told the only availability was in a much more expensive resort.

“We had to cancel everything,” Stevens said. “I was hoping to get there in midweek and have it not crowded. But with cases rising anyway, I guess we’re kind of glad it didn’t work out.”

Disney World workers have been at the parks already for several weeks, going over hygiene protocols to stop the spread of the virus, sanitizing handrails and consoles and reviewing other changes such as new break rooms that now only accommodate four people at at time.

In addition to a thermometer, workers were given three face masks and a plastic face shield, equipment that made it difficult for some of them to recognize their colleagues without checking their name tags, said Hollywood Studios worker Scott Dudas.

In a Facebook discussion with colleagues, Dudas said he was reassured by the face shields, which can be used when a worker needs to get in close contact with guests, such as making sure children are the proper height for rides.

“I think from a safety aspect, everyone should be on board to feel comfortable with everything in place,” Dudas said. “I feel super safe.”

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Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP.

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Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.

How Police Reform Could Look In Prince George’s County

There are many ideas on what it will take to change Police/ Community relations

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Police brutality remains a top of the mind issue across the country.  In Prince George’s County, a group called Progressive Maryland has put forth a set of demands on what police reform should look like in that county.  Tamara Davis-Brown – Member of the Justice Task Force for Progressive Maryland

Progressive Maryland wants Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks to take a critical look at how to improve police community relations and they have set out a list of demands for Alsobrooks to use in order to achieve police reform. 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:

 

Pregnancy Mortality

For black women over 30, the risk of dying during pregnancy is four to five times high than white women.

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It’s called pregnancy mortality or maternal mortality, women dying while pregnant or within 42 days of becoming pregnant. The most recent numbers collected by the CDC say nearly 700 women died during pregnancy in 2018.  For black women over 30, the risk of dying during pregnancy is four to five times high than white women. Why is that? What can be done about it?

Resources:

Black Mamas Matter Alliance

Black Maternal Health Caucus

Dr. Jamila Perritt, MD,, OBGYN, Reproductive Health & Family Planning Specialist

Mayor Refuses to Release Breonna Taylor Documents

Louisville Mayor Says He Can’t Release Taylor Case Documents

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(Louisville, KY)  —  Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer is denying a request asking him to turn over all documents related to the Breonna Taylor case.  Mayor Fischer sent a letter to council members yesterday saying he can’t release the documents which would include investigative materials being reviewed by the FBI, the Department of Justice and the attorney general’s office.  Metro Council made the request last week, including asking for files related to a redevelopment project in the Russell neighborhood.  Lawyers for Breonna Taylor’s family say the Vision Russell project led to the deadly March drug raid on Taylor’s home.

Plan to Dismantle Gen. Lee Statue in Richmond

Richmond’s Lee statue would be cut apart, reassembled

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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The state of Virginia plans to remove the large statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee on Richmond’s Monument Avenue by cutting it into three sections and then reassembling it elsewhere. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that statue’s removal still depends on a court’s approval. But in the meantime, the state has been figuring out how it could deconstruct the sculpture. A state review board recently approved a plan that calls for a crane to remove the 21-foot statue from its 40-foot pedestal. The bronze statue would then be taken apart because it’s too tall to go under bridges. A conservation firm said the entire process will leave “little evidence of cutting and reassembly.”

HUR@HOME Inspiration Dr. Frederick Haynes III and J.J. Hairston

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Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III, Pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas Texas, and GRAMMY award nominee J.J Hairston were the guests on HUR@HOME Inspiration Sunday July 12, 2020. They both are dynamic men of God who have had tremendous impact on spiritual lives worldwide.

Dr. Haynes is a prophetic pastor, passionate leader, social activist, and eloquent educator. Under his leadership, his church grew from less than 100 members in 1983 to over 12,000. Unfortunately, there are still people who believe that the corona virus is a hoax, such as the 30-year-old in San Antonio who died after going to a COVID party. Dr. Haynes reminded us that we need to follow the wisdom of our scientific leaders who are doing the best they can with the information they have to protect us from COVID-19. Dr. Haynes recapped the sermon he gave on July 4th in which he spoke about white supremacy, the elephant of racial injustice in the room, and that there is still a chance to reset.

Dr. Haynes led Friendship-West to work with local officials and neighborhood groups to decrease the crime rate. He reminded us in the DMV, who just witnessed the shooting death of an 11-year old boy, that James Baldwin once said that the most dangerous creation of any society is the man who has nothing to lose. We should work to give our youth something to live for by redirecting more funds to strengthen our communities.

J.J. Hairston told the story of how God brought his marriage to Trina Hairston from the brink of divorce to a model of a miracle marriage. The couple has written a book about it and mentors other couples. J.J. is also the CEO and founder of Jamestown Music. Inspired by the movie “Ray” about Ray Charles, he now owns all his music. Both Dr. Haynes and J.J. talked about the importance of their connections with countries in Africa and how beneficial those ministries have been. J.J. announced that he has an upcoming music project that will focus on the sound of the DMV.

In his closing prayer, Dr. Haynes prayed for WHUR Sunday morning Gospel host Patrick Ellis who is battling COVID-19. We all pray that he will soon heal and return to his Gospel Spirit program on WHUR.

Daily Affirmations: Embrace That COVID-15 Sis!

Judging by the title I’m sure you’re thinking how? How do I embrace 15lbs? Well, adjusting to the new norm of quarantine has not been easy on any of us. 

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Contributed by Diamond Sydnor

Judging by the title I’m sure you’re thinking how? How do I embrace 15lbs? Well, adjusting to the new norm of quarantine has not been easy on any of us.  It’s very easy to get caught up in the everyday stressors brought to us by this pandemic.  However, there are many things to be thankful for during the pandemic as well.  Many of us have had the opportunity to not only be at home, but we’ve had the opportunity to be still, to reflect, and to meditate and work on things we haven’t had the time to address when the world was and our lives were at a much faster pace.

The world is opening back up in phases and depending upon if you’ve gained weight or not, you may not necessarily feel that your body is summer ready! Let’s change the narrative a bit.  Don’t be too hard on yourself especially after surviving a pandemic! Beauty isn’t just about the outer layer and the physical, it’s about the beauty we possess inside. Yes, I know that may sound cliché but let’s empower ourselves, there’s enough negativity in the world already!

Instead of complaining about the weight you may have gained and not being summer ready, let’s refocus and speak life into crushing your fitness goals! Jot them down if you need to and post them where you can see them as a daily reminder that you’ll get there one day soon.  Here are some affirmations of positive beauty for you to repeat to yourself while mentally preparing to crush your fitness goals:

  1. I am worthy.
  2. I will reach my fitness goals.
  3. I will give myself grace.
  4. I did not have a bad day with eating, I decided to treat myself to my favorite meal.
  5. I will not quit.
  6. Beauty is within.
  7. My physical body is already beautiful, but I want to improve what I already have.
  8. I will not compare myself or my fitness journey with anyone else.
  9. I am enough as is, I want to crush my goals to become a better version of myself.

Don’t beat yourself up, you’re not alone.  Speak positive affirmations over yourself, even if you don’t believe it yet, you will.  In the wonderful words of India Arie “the words that come from your mouth, you are the first to hear, speak words of beauty and you will be there, no matter what anybody says, what matters most is what you think of yourself.”

Let’s crush our fitness goals and embrace where we are currently together!

Dan Snyder Officially Retires “Redskins” Name and Logo

Washington’s NFL Team drops the “Redskins” name and logo amid growing pressure

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Washington, D.C. (Monday, July 13, 2020) – It’s official.  The name “Washington Redskins” is no more.  Washington’s NFL team announced today it will drop the name and the Indian head logo immediately.

The move ends an 87 year history amid a time of reckoning over racial injustice.  While the new name has yet to be announced, the removal of the team name comes less than two weeks after team owner Dan Snyder revealed the team would undergo a through review of the name.

Snyder had been facing mounting pressure from sponsors to change the name.  Nike, FedEx, Pepsi, Bank of America, and many more, all had lined up against the name.

In making the announcement today, the team said it is retiring the name and log and that Snyder and coach Ron Rivera are working together to come up with a new name and design.

There have been reports that the new name could not be revealed because the team is fighting over a trademark issue for the new name.

Providing Our Youth With The Best Education Possible

The goal is to expand Montessori education for African American Youth.

Posted by Bobby Gailes
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This morning on Taking It to the Streets we look at a new effort underway to transform Montessori education for the Black community.  A DC based educational non-profit is on a mission to make it happen.  My guest is Dr. Ayize Sabater – Board Member of MOMIE’s TLC

MOMIE’s TLC is launching a one-million dollar initiative to create the Black Montessori Educational Fund to increase Black exposure, expenditure and expertise around Montessori.  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:

 

 

Great Quarantine Date Ideas

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Single folks out there, I have a question for you — “How’s your dating life going amid the pandemic?” If you are like me then I’m pretty sure it’s lukewarm at best. But don’t get yourself in a state of depression. Here are some great ideas that you can do for some socially distancing dating this summer!

Summer Socially Distancing Ideas

1. Take a hike on some new trails – Hit up one of your state parks and hit the trails.

2. Sightseeing/People Watching – Although some things may not be open fully for you to enjoy there are some outdoor areas that are and will give you the chance to see your city in a new light. Hit up your local park with your date and be sure to sit 6ft away from one another on a bench and chat it up while people watching.

3. Have a picnic! – That’s right get a basket and fill it up with some light finger foods, a nice bottle of wine or sparkling water, a blanket, bug spray and a charged up portable speaker for some music. You can space yourself out and enjoy your date and some conversation.

4. Star Gazing – It may sound cheesy but it’s actually cool and makes for a great date. After your picnic from above kick it a little longer and watch the sunset and gaze at the stars. You will need a lot of bug spray at this point!

I hope these small but fun activities help you on your quest for love in these “new normal” dating days.

Follow on Instagram @StretchG

African Americans and The Second Amendment

Responsible Black gun owners speak out.

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Over the past several days we’ve seen viral video on social media of African Americans exercising their 2nd Amendment right.  For example, dozens of members of the NFAC Militia gathered in Stone Mountain, Georgia over the weekend at a known Ku Klux Klan meeting spot. Those members, black men and women, heavily and legally armed. We discuss the constitutional right to bear arms and how it’s seen through the eyes of responsible black gun owners.

Resources:

The Black Gun Owner’s Association

DeShawn Keith Bowser, 2nd Amendment Advocate, Gun Owner
Chanel Tillman, Vice Commander, Black Gun Owner’s Association

 

NBC News Sets Goal Of A Workforce That Is Half Minority

The staff is currently nearly 27% minority, including 8% each of Black, Latino and Asian workers. Conde set no deadline for achieving his “50 Percent Initiative.”

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NEW YORK (AP) — NBC News leader Cesar Conde, in one of his first public acts in the job, has committed to building a workforce at the news organizations he supervises where at least half of the employees are minorities.

The staff is currently nearly 27% minority, including 8% each of Black, Latino and Asian workers. Conde set no deadline for achieving his “50 Percent Initiative.”

He also wants women to comprise half the employees at NBC News, MSNBC and CNBC, and he’s already nearly there.

The plan, first reported by the Los Angeles Times, makes Conde a leader in the current movement to diversify the news business. That conversation has spread throughout the industry since George Floyd’s killing at the hands of Minneapolis police in May.

For example, the top editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer resigned after Black reporters objected to a racially insensitive headline. Black reporters at The New York Times said an opinion piece on protests by Sen. Tom Cotton made them feel unsafe; the Times later said the column should not have run without changes and the opinion editor stepped down.

“It’s not just the right thing to do,” Conde said in an interview Thursday. “It’s the right thing for any business that wants to grow in the United States.”

Conde, a former Telemundo executive, was appointed in May as NBC Universal News Group chairman, filling Andrew Lack’s role.

The networks’ on-air record is mixed. Lester Holt, who is Black, has the most prominent anchor role at NBC News. But until Thursday’s appointment of Joy Reid to host the 7 p.m. show on MSNBC, the liberal-leaning network’s evening cast featured five white men and one white woman.

A more diverse workforce will be able to spot stories that might otherwise be missed, Conde said.

“We are a news organization that I think has a unique responsibility to reflect and represent the various communities we serve,” he said. “In order to do that, we wanted to make sure that we attract the best and the brightest from all walks of life.”

Minority hiring will be one factor in how managers at the news organization are judged, along with finances and ratings at the shows they supervise, he said.

That’s important, since it will force managers to focus on the issue both in hiring and in retaining minority employees, said Doris Truong, director of training and diversity at the Poynter Institute, a journalism think tank. Truong said NBC News should also set goals for minority representation in leadership.

Conde and Truong have both suggested paid internships to attract young people of different economic backgrounds.

Given where NBC currently stands, particularly with Black employees, Truong said she understands why the initiative has no deadline and is glad that progress will be checked regularly. But she said Conde needs to ensure his initiative outlasts him.

“What I would like to hear is whether other people at NBC are committed to this moving forward,” she said.

Conde told his staff that NBC plans to seize the moment of awakening in the United States.

“This is the right moment for NBC Universal to not just wait for change to happen but to take the lead in it,” he told the AP.

Reid Says She Wants Different Perspectives On MSNBC Show

“We are going to try to fire out of the gate with whatever is the most important thing that’s happening that night, and try to frame it and contextualize it,” Reid said in an interview. “Hopefully, I have a very unique frame.”

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NEW YORK (AP) — Joy Reid says she wants to bring some different perspectives to MSNBC’s evening lineup — lots of them.

As anticipated, the host of MSNBC’s weekend “AM Joy” show was appointed Thursday to succeed former “Hardball” host Chris Matthews in the 7 p.m. Eastern time slot on weekdays.

“We are going to try to fire out of the gate with whatever is the most important thing that’s happening that night, and try to frame it and contextualize it,” Reid said in an interview. “Hopefully, I have a very unique frame.”

As a Black woman, Reid addresses a somewhat embarrassing oversight at a news and talk network aimed at a mostly liberal audience. Before her selection, the 5 p.m. to midnight hours were hosted by five white men and one white woman.

“She’s earned this, spot on,” said NBC Universal News Group Chairman Cesar Conde, who has said his goal is a workforce with 50 percent minorities at NBC News, MSNBC and CNBC. “I happen to think she’s the right person for the right moment in time.””

Reid was a news junkie, a sixth grader who convinced her mother to let her stay up late to watch Ted Koppel’s “Nightline” reports on the Iran hostage situation in 1979.

“It almost didn’t even sink in until I was older that I was watching a parade of white men tell me what’s happening in the world, explaining the world to me,” she said.

She naturally brings a different perspective to stories, particularly with the current debate over policing.

Reid has also sought, like MSNBC predecessors Melissa Harris-Perry and Ed Schultz, to seek out a greater variety of sources for stories. Instead of bringing in a frequently-seen Harvard professor for a story on the economy, why not find an expert from Morehouse College, for instance?

“It’s kind of like a family dinner table in a really interesting family, a crowded dinner table in a family that adopted multiracial children from all around the world,” she said.

Reid appears to have worked past a damaging incident from 2017, when anti-gay statements from a blog she wrote a decade earlier were revealed. Reid hired an investigator, convinced she’d been hacked. She later apologized when the investigator could find no evidence the words weren’t Reid’s.

Harris-Perry was among the colleagues who tweeted congratulations on Thursday, as did Soledad O’Brien, Yamiche Alcindor, Jonathan Capeheart and Craig Melvin.

So did Dan Rather, who she grew up watching. And Matthews, who was forced into an early retirement in March following a series of gaffes and an article that accused him of inappropriate comments to some women on his show.

“Joy will prove once again her commitment to telling the truth about our country’s history, our present challenges and her hopes for America’s future,” Matthews tweeted. “She’s the real deal.”

Melvin Lindsey Tribute: Maysa And Boney James Perform ‘Love Is A Battlefield’

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What a night! What a night! The incredible, Grammy Award nominated, saxophonist, Boney James, was first to join the conversation tonight on HUR@Home. He talked about how he’s dealing with staying home all this time because of the pandemic. He even tells us how his new CD, Solid, was number 10 on Billboard. That’s impressive.  A self proclaimed home body, he said that staying home is actually not that different from his normal lifestyle. With the exception of not being able to tour. When he’s not working out in his home gym, Boney practices on his sax every day, except Sundays, in the sanctity of his backyard.

Then we brought on the incredible, Grammy Award nominated songbird, Maysa. She looked beautiful and sounded so good. If you haven’t caught it, Maysa entertains us every Sunday with her Kitchen Karaoke Sessions. Follow her on IG so that you don’t miss any. I really enjoyed how Maysa talked about the state of the world today and how we are all in need of more love. That’s nothing but the truth. When you press play, you’re gonna feel the love as Maysa and Boney James collaborated on her song, Love Is A Battlefield. It was so moving.

We closed out the night with a birthday toast to the creator of the Original Quiet Storm, Melvin Lindsey! Hope you enjoy the conversation!

@boneyjames01 @maysaleakmusic @angelastribling @whurfm

HUR@HOME with Howard Hewett

We Talked About What Really Went Down With Shalamar!

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Grammy Award winner, Howard Hewett, is one of the most gifted vocalists in the Post-Marvin Gaye era of pop R&B.

He started singing as a child, fronting his older sisters in The Hewett Singers. The group toured the gospel circuit. As a teen, Hewett sharpened his crooner skills in a funk band called Lyfe. In 1976, Hewett moved to Los Angeles and formed a group put together by the owners of the historic Maverick’s Flat, called Beverly Hills. Hewett got his mainstream break as the male vocal lead in Shalamar, a centerpiece of Dick Griffey’s SOLAR (Sound of Los Angeles Records) label. His tenor voice mixed beautifully with the bright vocals of Jody Watley, the dancing skills of Jeffery Daniels and the writing and production of Leon Sylvers III.

The fact that there was an obvious echo (technical glitch) from his end, we all enjoyed every moment. That was one of the best IG Lives! We learned so much about this gifted artist. His spirituality, and how he’s using this time during the pandemic to get even closer to God. Howard Hewett was quoting bible scriptures. He even talked about his love for his children. Howard was so open, honest, and engaging for our WHUR viewers.

We talked about what really went down with his former group, Shalamar, that left he and Jody Watley not speaking to each other for decades. In fact, he said that this is the most he’s opened up about it in an interview. Press play to see the full interview. Watch the entire show, and you’ll get a special “serenade treat” at the end.

Instagram: @howard_hewett @angelastribling @whurfm

Authorities Search For ‘Glee’ Star Believed To Have Drowned

Rivera, 33, disappeared after renting the pontoon boat for three hours Wednesday afternoon and taking it out on Lake Piru in Ventura County, the Sheriff’s Office said Thursday.

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Authorities planned Friday to renew the search for “Glee” star Naya Rivera, who is believed to have drowned in a Southern California lake while boating with her 4-year-old son.

Rivera, 33, disappeared after renting the pontoon boat for three hours Wednesday afternoon and taking it out on Lake Piru in Ventura County, the Sheriff’s Office said Thursday.

The lake an hour’s drive from Los Angeles was searched by dozens of people, most of them divers, with help from helicopters, drones and all-terrain vehicles. The search to recover Rivera’s body continued into the night Thursday before ending for that day.

The area where the boat was found is about 30 feet (9 meters) deep. Murky waters heavy with plants made it difficult for divers to see more than about a foot ahead of them, sheriff’s Sgt. Kevin Donoghue said Thursday.

“If the body is entangled on something beneath the water, it may never come back up,” Donoghue said.

Rivera played Santana Lopez, a singing cheerleader in 113 episodes of the musical-comedy “Glee,” which aired on Fox from 2009 until 2015. She also had recurring roles on “The Bernie Mac Show” and “The Royal Family.”

Rivera, a Los Angeles resident, had experience boating on the lake in Los Padres National Forest, Donoghue said.

Surveillance video taken at about 1 p.m. Wednesday shows Rivera and her son, Josey Hollis Dorsey, leaving on the rented boat.

When the boat failed to return, its vendor found the vessel drifting in the northern end of the lake late Wednesday afternoon with the boy asleep on board. He told investigators that he and his mother had been swimming and he got back into the boat but she didn’t, according to a sheriff’s office statement.

The boy was wearing a life vest and another life jacket was found in the boat along with Rivera’s purse and identification.

Rivera is believed to have drowned “in what appears to be a tragic accident,” the statement said.

The boy, Rivera’s son from her marriage to actor Ryan Dorsey, was safe and healthy and with family members, authorities said. The couple finalized their divorce in June 2018 after nearly four years of marriage.

She called the boy, her only child, “my greatest success, and I will never do any better than him” in her 2016 memoir “Sorry Not Sorry.”

The most recent tweet on Rivera’s account, from Tuesday, read “just the two of us” along with a photo of her and her son.

It appeared increasingly likely she would become the third major cast member from the show to die in their 30s.

Co-star Mark Salling, who Rivera dated at one point, killed himself in 2018 at age 35 after pleading guilty to child pornography charges.

Cory Monteith, one of the show’s leads, died at 31 in 2013 from a toxic mix of alcohol and heroin.

Rivera was engaged to rapper Big Sean in 2013, but their relationship ended a year later. The pair met on Twitter and collaborated musically, with the rapper appearing on Rivera’s debut single “Sorry.” She married Dorsey a few months later.

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

Send Your Kids To A Virtual Camp

Camp Arena Stage is offering virtual camps this summer

Posted by Bobby Gailes
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Art can connect people even when they are not in the same physical space.  That’s why in this period of social distancing, Camp Arena Stage is moving online.  Virtual Camp Arena Stage will provide young people ages 8 – 15 with the opportunity to explore, discover, and create art while building long lasting meaningful relationships.  My guest is Rebecca Campana – Co-Camp Director

Camp Area Stage are virtual camps that are half days- morning or afternoon – and run Monday thru Friday for two weeks.  Camp dates are July 17thand July 20th– 31t.  Registration is open and camper can attend more than one camp. More information here:

Listen to this mornings segment here:

Remain Safe As We’re Reopening

These are just a few ideas! Quarantine doesn’t have to be boring and mundane. Let’s get creative together as we are trying our best to adjust to this new virtual way of living!

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Contributed by Diamond Sydnor

States across the world are opening in phases, but please be reminded the Covid-19 pandemic is not over. New Coronavirus cases are being found everyday as the number of cases in states are either re-spiking or steadily increasing. Please continue to wash your hands, wear a face mask, and socially distance.

Being in quarantine can become tiring because at some point we all want a change of scenery now from our home setting, and let’s be honest parents even a break from the babies just to breathe and regroup. At first, we looked forward to the grocery store runs and essential runs because that’s the only place we were permitted to go. Working from home has required us to do more work at home than in the office, trying to adjust to the new norm. Now we want a vacation! Hold your horses, let’s slow down on planning any trips even if the world is re-opening in phases for our own personal safety and our loved ones too.

I know what you’re thinking, the grocery store and essential runs to alleviate spending all day in the house are getting mundane. The thirty-minute walks around the same park in your neighborhood with your children and pets are becoming repetitive. Although, in some states you can enjoy a dine-in outdoor experience, some of us still have anxiety and fears even being around those we don’t know even if we are socially distant. Don’t worry we’re all in this together. It’s time to get creative!

This article is going to help shed some light on some fun and socially virtual activities you can enjoy with your family and friends. Here we go:

1. Put the kiddies to bed and set up a zoom call with your friends and do a paint and sip night

2. Set up a zoom and share your screen to play a game night with your family. Look up ways to create games on google and enjoy. I’ll give you one, jeopardy templates are all over the internet and directions on how to set it up are too

3. Have a virtual brunch with your friends

4. Create your favorite meal at home and zoom your coworkers for a lunch date

5. Set a day for the family to connect for a weekly check-in via zoom

6. Watch your favorite Netflix series with your family or friends via zoom

7. Host a virtual cooking night. Find a new recipe and challenge your friends or family to get all of the ingredients and cook with them via zoom

8. Have an arts and crafts night with your children or even bake a cake or make a pizza! We know the kids love pizza and sweets

9. Host a virtual happy hour to chat and sip! You’d be surprised at how relaxing and fun it’ll be

These are just a few ideas! Quarantine doesn’t have to be boring and mundane. Let’s get creative together as we are trying our best to adjust to this new virtual way of living! Don’t forget as stated before the pandemic is not over, wash your hands, wear a mask, and continue to participate in being socially distant. Be safe and be well.