“There is power and purpose in your image!” ~ Michele Lopez
Celebrity Lifestyle Coach/Image Consultant/Producer Michele Lopez challenged us all to stand in our truth. It was in inspirational conversation, full of her own anecdotes.
She is Iyanla Vanzant’s personal stylist and has appeared in Vanity Fair, Huffington Post, Essence, Ebony, and many more publications. Michele believes in finding your own personal style and being true to that. She doesn’t follow the trends. Instead, she creates them.
Family has been the glue that has held us together during this difficult and challenging time. What makes this time even more trying is that we cannot visit our family in the way we are used to. Zoom and FaceTime have replaced in person gatherings and activities which is our norm when dealing with family. Psychology Today states, that although Zoom and FaceTime act as substitutes for social interaction, they will always remain unsatisfying due to the lack of in person interaction. Although, the pandemic has made all of us adjust to a new norm it has also brought back family traditions that may have been lost due to the world evolving with technology.
Most of us are so used to being on a social media platforms, reading the news, playing video games, and scrolling our phones that most of the intimate moments we’ve shared with our families shifted due to distractions. Quarantine has created a new appreciation for social interaction and intimacy because we’ve been forced to cope without it, even when it comes to our family. We’ve been in quarantine for about 6 months now and boredom has set in due to the repetition of activities. The New York Times mentioned that the rise of social distancing has caused people to look for new ways to connect, mostly through video chat. The news publication also mentions media platforms like Netflix and YouTube have seen a rise in their website traffic as people are using these platforms as a different kind of entertainment. According to the New York Times, since the pandemic began Netflix has seen a 16 percent increase in usage. The things we used to do are no longer entertaining and there’s so much daunting news in the media, continuously scrolling on social media or watching the TV isn’t as enjoyable anymore.
August is “Family Fun Month!” What is family fun month you may ask? According to National Calendar Day, family Fun month is annually celebrated throughout the entire month of August and is dedicated to the opportune time to enjoy family with extra fun and activities. What a way to have an entire month to be creative, spend time with and celebrate family. It is time to get our creative juices flowing in order to have some safe fun. Below is a list of activities you can try out with your family to have some fun:
1. Family game night
2. Family arts and crafts night
3. Family movie night, or get fancy and rent a projector screen and set it up in your backyard to watch a movie
4. Have a family cook off
5. Family pizza night, go to the grocery store and get all of the ingredients you need to build pizza at home! Who doesn’t love pizza?
6. Have a family baking night! Bake some of the sweet treats your heart desires
7. Go to a local park and have a family picnic on the grass
8. For the grown-ups, have a family paint and sip night
Please be mindful we are still in a pandemic. It is safer to do these activities with your family that lives with you. If for any reason you are meeting with family that doesn’t live with you, please practice the safety and social guidelines provided by your respective state. Most importantly, wear a mask, continuously wash your hands, and practice safe social distancing! Let’s get creative and let’s have some fun!
Strategies for pay equity for black women.
Attorney For Breonna Taylor’s Family: We Expect Charges To Be Filed
It takes Black women over 20 months to make what the average white man makes in 12 months.
On average, Black women are paid about 62 cents for every dollar made by a white man, which adds up to a loss of more than $23k a year or more than $900k over the course of a 40 year career, according to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research.
Join the Daily Drum tonight at 7 with Harold Fisher for a special conversation on the issue.
DC Safe is building a new domestic violence crisis shelter
The DC Council approved $3M for a new domestic violence crisis shelter. Since the start of the pandemic, DC SAFE has housed over 200 people in their current shelter, but due to limited capacity, they’ve had to make over 150 emergency hotel placements. The new facility will double DC SAFE current capacity. More information can be found here:
Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:40 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.
Follow me on facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
Listen to this mornings segment here:
Biden officially introduces Harris and his Vice Presidential pick in Wilmington, Delaware.
While it wasn’t your typical campaign stop appearance, the Biden Harris debut kept with a campaign style tradition of unleashing fury on their republican rival. “The case against Donald Trump and Mike Pence is open and shut, said Harris. “This virus has impacted almost evey country. But there’s a reason it has hit America worse than any other advanced nation. It’s because of Trump’s failure to take it seriously from the start.”
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Biden and Harris were careful to stay apart and there was not the usual hugging or shaking of hands. The gymnasium was mainly empty except for campaign staffers and reporters.
But even without the presence of a crowd, Biden played to the cameras. Biden talked up his selection of Harris “This morning all across the nation, little girls woke-up, especially little black and brown girls, who so often feel overlooked and under-evaluated in their communities. But today, today, just maybe, they’re seeing themselves for the first time in a new way,” said Biden. Harris is the first woman of color on a major party presidential ticket.
Biden’s choice of Harris has apparently given his campaign a big financial boost. He revealed today that online fundraising brought in $26 million in the past 24 hours with over 150k people giving for the very first time.
Dr. Monica Goldson answers questions about reopening school for the 2020-2021 school year.
Prince George’s County Public Schools’ CEO, Dr. Monica Goldson
80 locations across the state will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
We speak with Dr. David L. Mayer, the first CEO of The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission, (WMSC).
We discuss safety on the Metrorail system in the DMV. It was once the gold standard for urban transportation in America. For more than a decade it has been plagued by safety and maintenance issues. We speak with Dr. David L. Mayer, the first CEO of The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission, (WMSC).
The “Create Our New Logo” Contest is underway….submit your best work for consideration
The Montgomery County Commission for Women is inviting resident to participate in its “Create Our New Logo” contest. The Commission is looking for a new logo that gives voice to its work. Deadline is September 1st. More information here:
Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:40 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.
Follow me on facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
Listen to this mornings segment here:
What does this mean for the party and the election?
HU President says he’s proud to call Howard University alumna Kamala Harris a member of the HU Family
“Today is an extraordinary moment in the history of America and of Howard University. Senator Kamala Harris’ selection as the Democratic vice presidential candidate represents a milestone opportunity for our democracy to acknowledge the leadership Black women have always exhibited, but has too often been ignored. Let’s pause and take a collective breath that has been denied to so many. We are proud to call Howard University alumna Kamala Harris a member of our HU family. As Senator Harris embarks upon this new chapter in her life, and in our country’s history, she is poised to break two glass ceilings in our society with one fell swoop of her Howard hammer! The HBCU community and I will be watching.”
“Battle for the soul of the nation” shapes up.
Harris was the first Indian American and the second African American woman to be elected to the Senate. Harris has been in the Senate since 2017. She is a former attorney general of California. She was an unsuccessful Democratic presidential candidate this year.
If you or someone you know is struggling with anxiety or any other mental illnesses, please seek professional help.
The Covid-19 pandemic has caused extreme anxiety in those that are aware and unaware that they suffer from it. Being confined to our homes with the lack of social interaction has many of us to feel isolated and alone. The number of cases is steadily rising and places of business that were once open are closing down again. A valid question would be, when is this all going to end? That’s a question we all are anticipating an answer for but are slowly losing patience waiting to hear one.
Mental illness has been a topic of discussion since the pandemic began. Being as though many of us have never lived through a pandemic before, this is all new territory. With that being said, many of us don’t even know where to begin while coping with the new normal state of the world. Wearing a mask 24/7 and dealing with anxiety is not a great combination. Wanting to stay informed about society by watching the news and staying connected via social media while trying to keep the symptoms of anxiety at bay is really difficult.
Free virtual therapy and counseling have been offered to citizens since we’ve been quarantined to our homes, but some are not equipped to emotionally handled unpacking all of their baggage right now at this current moment. People have bigger fish to fry as many have lost their jobs, so talking about it may not be the best option for some, as we all handle unfortunate situations differently.
Therapy is always a resourceful option, however some of us are looking for ways to lift our moods and release stress daily. People are trying their hardest to keep distracted from the heart wrenching things we hear every day. Let’s talk about the different forms of therapy that assist in keeping our endorphins high and spirits lifted. Color therapy and music therapy are two popular stress management therapies that work really well for me.
Did you know when we listen to music our brains trigger the pleasure centers that release hormones that make us feel happy? The same thing happens when we look at colors that reflect certain moods and make us feel certain emotions. It can help lift your mood if you listen to at least 15-30 mins of feel good music and study a particular color that symbolizes an upbeat mood. Below are some fun creative suggestions on how to use color and music as a form of therapy to bring you some joy:
1. Listen to music on a loud speak and dance freely
2. Put on some music while you shower
3. Grab some pretty and bright colored sharpie markers and write positive words on a blank piece of paper
4. Buy a Legos set! Use bright and bold Legos and build something with your children or partner
5. Make up a song with your family and friends
6. Buy an adult coloring book that have pictures of your favorite things and color
7. Have arts and crafts night with your children
8. Download some music apps on your phone and do something productive while listening to it, you’d be surprised at how fast you’ll finish!
These are some helpful strategies I think are worth a try when things start getting the best of you! This is not medical advice! If you or someone you know is struggling with anxiety or any other mental illnesses, please seek professional help.
Death toll rises to two people from Baltimore gas explosion.
See the full interview and you will understand where I’m going with this…
Being a complete artist is a rare thing in today’s music. Ro James is a 1000% complete artist, hands down. See the full interview and you will understand where I’m going with this…
Never leave a child alone in a car, not even for a minute.
Children can die from heatstroke after in being mistakenly left in the car or after climbing into an unattended vehicle to play. The American Academy of Pediatrics is out with tips for parents and caregivers about how to prevent such tragedies. More information here: www.aap.org
Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:40 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.
Follow me on facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
Listen to this mornings segment here:
Addressing immunizations and other non-COVID-19 healthcare issues.
Shooting outside the White House interrupts President Trump’s press briefing.
Trump was ushered out by an agent out of caution. Still no word on who was shot or why. Stay tuned to whur.com for the latest.
Several college football conferences could cancel this year.
1 dead, 4 rescued after gas explosion levels Baltimore homes
Dear Howard University Community,
After consultation with our public health faculty experts, District of Columbia officials, University leadership, and monitoring the status of the COVID-19 pandemic locally, regionally and nationally, we have made the very difficult decision to move all undergraduate courses for the Fall 2020 semester fully online, and non-residential. The residence halls will be closed, with the exception of The Axis, which is apartment living.
When I formed the Re-opening Taskforce several months ago, we stated that the paramount consideration for re-opening would be the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff and entire campus community. This has remained the most significant consideration. Nationally, we continue to see COVID-19 cases rise, with an increasing infection rate among young people. We have also grown more painfully aware of the disparate impact of COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths among people of color, with particular devastation on the Black community. Unfortunately, the stark realities of the current state of the pandemic, District requirement that students from hot spot states would fully quarantine for 14 days, and challenges to safely get students to campus from throughout the nation and around the world without creating additional exposure and risk, have proven overwhelming. While the DMV region has generally fared better than other areas around the country, more than 40% of our undergraduate students come from a state that is currently listed as a hot spot state, thus requiring 14 days of quarantine upon arrival to campus. This is already a difficult challenge to manage, but is additionally complicated as the list of hot spot states is updated frequently. We are rescinding all housing assignments for students who were planning to reside in our residence halls this Fall. In recognition that some of our students have hardships that do not allow them to be successful in an online academic setting, we will provide assistance to them on a case by case basis. The Axis, an apartment living complex close to campus will remain open. We will continue to stand up the on-site, CLIA certified testing laboratory for the free use of the campus community.
I want to especially thank the members of the Re-opening Taskforce who have worked assiduously to create a plan that was comprehensive, thoughtful and detailed. Indeed, District officials praised the thoroughness of the plan, which is a compliment to the work of the entire Taskforce. In fact, it is the elements of that plan that have highlighted the challenges that we would face in bringing a significant number of students safely back to campus. We have required that all students present to campus with a negative COVID-19 test within the seven days prior to return to campus. Many students and families have indicated their inability to either obtain a COVID-19 test in their area, or are in states where results are taking up to 14 days to obtain. As noted previously, we have established our own internal COVID-19 laboratory which will be fully operational next week. However, the 200 rooms that we have identified as isolation rooms for any students who have a positive test result could quickly be filled if we are unable to identify positive cases prior to their arrival on campus. We have also considered the recent decisions of other academic institutions in the Consortium who have likewise opted to offer undergraduate instruction fully online, as their availability of course offerings and facilities impact our students also.
We will focus our efforts on assuring that the online experience for undergraduate students remains rich and continues to prepare our students for leadership in various fields. Our faculty have continued to participate in online training and course development. Further, we have hired additional staff, and are incorporating software that will aid in the implementation of a fully virtual academic experience for undergraduate students. As the District approved our Re-opening Plan earlier this week, we will plan to slowly return key staff and researchers back to campus in a phased, responsible manner. Mandatory online COVID-19 training is currently available, and we will continue to require that all faculty and staff who will be on campus must have a negative COVID-19 test result within seven days of their return to campus.
Many of our graduate and professional programs and courses will also be provided online, either primarily, or fully. While many of our health professional didactic courses will be online, the clinical training components will be conducted face-to-face, secondary to accreditation and licensure requirements. Students in those programs will be provided additional details by the deans of the health professional schools regarding the program requirements, safety protocols and other advisement. A decision regarding the format of instruction for Spring 2021 will be made at a later point in the Fall semester, as we receive additional data and information.
Thank you again for your patience as we have made every effort to be flexible and accommodate the needs of our students, faculty, and staff. We ask for your continued patience, flexibility and support as we continue to prioritize the health and safety of our most precious asset, the lives of all members of the Howard University Community.
Excellence in Truth and Service,
Wayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., MBA
President
Mass shooting in SE DC leaves 20 injured and 1 dead over the weekend.
Police believe three gunmen opened fire following some kind of dispute, killing 17-year-old Christopher Brown, critically injuring an off-duty police officer and hurting as many as 20 others. “I really don’t understand how my child’s life is just gone,” said Artecka Brown, Christopher’s mother.
The officer is said to be a 22-year-old who was apparently attending the party. Her identity has not been released. The block party was in violation of the District’s coronavirus guidelines. Mayor Muriel Bowser says police will begin cracking down on such activities.
Nearly 100k youth tested positive for the coronavirus in the last two weeks of July. That’s a 40% increase.
That number accounts for more than a quarter of all the number of children diagnosed with the coronavirus since March. The findings come as health officials continue to understand the effects of the virus on children and the role they play in its spread.
Overall, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the United States now top five-million.
George Washington University are looking for participants for their clinical trial
The race is on to come up with a COVID-19 vaccine and I have information today on how you can take part in the effort. George Washington University is participating in a clinical trial for an investigational vaccine and they are looking for participants. My guest is Dr. David Diemert – Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. GW is participating in a clinical trial for an investigational COVID-19 vaccine. Researcher aim to enroll 500 participants. For more information, google “GW Vaccine Research Unit, or call 202-994-0047 or go here:
Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:40 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.
Follow me on facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
Listen to this mornings segment here:
Part 1
Part 2
Dr. Wayne Frederick talks to Dr. Reed V. Tuckson, Chair of the Health Sciences Committee of the Board of Trustees at Howard University.
ABOUT
The public health emergency has been tragic for all of us. Howard University has been at the forefront of caring and advising communities in the District of Columbia. Howard University has recently announced the new Howard University Community Health Initiative and how the initiative will be impactful for those in underserved areas. On this episode of “The Journey,” Dr. Wayne Frederick talks to Dr. Reed V. Tuckson, Chair of the Health Sciences Committee of the Board of Trustees at Howard University.
Air Date: May 24, 2020
Billboards demanding justice for Breonna Taylor will go up in her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky thanks to Orpah Winfrey.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — First, Oprah Winfrey put Breonna Taylor on the cover of O, The Oprah Magazine. Now the media mogul is spreading her message with billboards demanding justice for the Kentucky woman shot to death during a police raid.
Twenty-six billboards displaying a portrait of Taylor are going up across Louisville, Kentucky, demanding that the police officers involved in her death be arrested and charged, according to social justice organization Until Freedom. That’s one billboard for every year of the Black woman’s life.
The billboards, funded by the magazine, showcase the magazine cover dedicated to Taylor, the Courier Journal reported. Also displayed is a quote from Winfrey: “If you turn a blind eye to racism, you become an accomplice to it.”
Until Freedom thanked the Oprah magazine for its work on the billboards.
“Together, we will make sure no one forgets #BreonnaTaylor’s name and recommit to the fight for justice for her and her family,” the group said in a tweet.
Taylor, an emergency medical tech studying to become a nurse, was shot multiple times March 13 when police officers burst into her Louisville apartment using a no-knock warrant during a narcotics investigation. The warrant to search her home was in connection with a suspect who did not live there and no drugs were found.
Kenneth Walker, Taylor’s boyfriend, was originally charged with attempted murder after he fired a shot at one of the officers who came into the home. Walker has said he didn’t know who was entering the apartment and was firing a warning shot. The charge was later dropped.
Global protests on behalf of Taylor, George Floyd in Minnesota and others have been part of a national reckoning over racism and police brutality. Tensions have swelled in Taylor’s hometown and beyond as activists, professional athletes and social media stars push for action while investigators plead for more patience.
The decision whether to bring state-level criminal charges against the Louisville officers rests with Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron. He took the Taylor case after a local prosecutor recused himself from reviewing the matter. One of the officers has been terminated and two other officers are on administrative reassignment.
Cameron, the first African American elected to the attorney general’s job in Kentucky, has declined to put a timetable on his decision since taking over the case in May.
“We remain committed to an independent and thorough investigation into the death of Ms. Breonna Taylor,” Cameron said Friday on his official Twitter account.
“The investigation remains ongoing, and we currently await additional testing and analysis from federal partners, including a ballistics test from the FBI crime lab,” the tweet said.
The FBI field office in Louisville said Friday that a “significant amount of ballistic evidence” was collected when investigators returned to Taylor’s apartment in June.
“This evidence is being tested and analyzed at the FBI Laboratory in Quantico, Virginia,” the FBI’s Louisville office said in a statement. “Once the FBI Laboratory has completed its findings, FBI Louisville will promptly share our results with the attorney general’s office.”
Christopher 2X, an anti-violence activist in Louisville, told reporters this week that he’s encouraged by the commitment that FBI officials locally and nationally have shown to the case. He commented after participating in a meeting at the FBI’s Louisville office.
Travis Gayles, Montgomery County’s Health officer now says private schools can decide on their own how students will return to school. It is a reversal of his previous position.
Lettia James, States Attorney for New York has filed a lawsuit against the National Rifle Association for fraud.
NEW YORK (AP) — New York’s attorney general sued the National Rifle Association on Thursday, seeking to put the powerful gun advocacy organization out of business over claims that top executives illegally diverted tens of millions of dollars for lavish personal trips, no-show contracts for associates and other questionable expenditures.
Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit, filed in Manhattan state court, highlighted misspending and self-dealing claims that have roiled the NRA and its longtime leader, Wayne LaPierre, in recent years — from hair and makeup for his wife to a $17 million post-employment contract for himself.
“It’s clear that the NRA has been failing to carry out its stated mission for many, many years and instead has operated as a breeding ground for greed, abuse and brazen illegality,” she said at a news conference. “Enough was enough. We needed to step in and dissolve this corporation.”
Simultaneously, Washington D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine — like James, a Democrat — sued the NRA Foundation, a charitable arm of the organization that provides programs for marksmanship and firearm safety, accusing it of diverting funds to the NRA to help pay for lavish spending by top executives.
In a statement, NRA President Carolyn Meadows labeled James a “political opportunist” pursuing a “rank vendetta” with an attack on its members’ Second Amendment rights.
“You could have set your watch by it: the investigation was going to reach its crescendo as we move into the 2020 election cycle,” said Meadows, who announced a countersuit in federal court in Albany that could set the stage for a drawn-out legal battle lasting well past November’s election.
The New York lawsuit made only civil claims, but James said the investigation was ongoing and any criminal activity discovered would be referred to prosecutors and the Internal Revenue Service.
The NRA’s financial troubles, James said, were long cloaked by loyal lieutenants but became public as deficits piled up. The organization went from a nearly $28 million surplus in 2015 to a $36 million deficit in 2018.
The organization’s prominence and cozy political relationships, James said, enabled a culture where nonprofit rules were routinely flouted and state and federal laws were violated. Even the NRA’s own bylaws and employee handbook were ignored, she said.
Though headquartered in Virginia, the NRA was chartered as a nonprofit in New York in 1871 and is incorporated in the state.
Republican Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson defended the NRA, tweeting that if New York doesn’t want it, the organization should “move south, where people respect and value the Second Amendment. Arkansas would be a natural home.”
The Washington, D.C., attorney general has been investigating the NRA Foundation for more than a year. It said its investigation determined that low membership and lavish spending left the NRA with financial problems and so it exploited the tax-exempt foundation to remain afloat.
“Charitable organizations function as public trusts — and District law requires them to use their funds to benefit the public, not to support political campaigns, lobbying, or private interests,” Racine said in a statement.
His lawsuit sought not to have the NRA destroyed, but to have a court-appointed monitor supervise its finances and a trust created to recover money diverted from the foundation.
The New York lawsuit also named LaPierre — the NRA’s CEO — and three other current and former executives as defendants, including general counsel John Frazer, retired treasurer and chief financial officer Wilson Phillips, and LaPierre’s former chief of staff Joshua Powell. The lawsuit accuses all four men of wrongdoing and seeks fines and remuneration.
LaPierre, who has been in charge of the NRA’s day-to-day operations since 1991, is accused of spending millions of dollars on private travel and personal security, accepting expensive gifts such as African safaris and use of a 107-foot (32-meter) yacht from vendors and setting himself up with a $17 million contract with the NRA, if he were to exit the organization, without board approval.
The lawsuit said LaPierre, 70, spent NRA money on travel consultants, including luxury car services, and private jet flights for himself and his family, including more than $500,000 on eight trips to the Bahamas over a three-year span.
Some of the NRA’s excess spending was kept secret, the lawsuit said, under an arrangement with the organization’s former advertising agency, Ackerman McQueen.
The advertising firm would pick up the tab for expenses for LaPierre and other NRA executives and then send a lump sum bill to the organization for “out-of-pocket expenses,” the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit comes at a time when the NRA is trying to remain relevant and a force in the 2020 presidential election as it seeks to help President Donald Trump secure a second term.
An ongoing schism within the organization is pitting some of its most ardent gun-rights supporters against one another.
The internal battles reached a pitch in 2019, when NRA President Oliver North was ousted amid a tussle with LaPierre as he sought to independently review the NRA’s expenses and operations. He accused LaPierre of exerting “dictatorial” control.
James’ lawsuit portrayed the NRA as the victim of its leaders, and she was asked during a news conference why she would victimize it further by shutting it down, rather than removing or fining its officers.
James said the “breadth and the depth of the corruption and the illegality” justified the organization’s closure.
She took similar action to force the closure of Trump’s charitable foundation after alleging he used it to advance business and political interests.
The appearance of a Democrat trying to bring down the NRA for good could create “a sense of ‘Is this politics or is this real?’” said Philip Hackney, a University of Pittsburgh law professor and former IRS attorney.
But Hackney added: “I think it’s more real and I think she was right to bring this complaint. … In a strange way, the NRA’s behavior almost forces her hand. There’s essentially a fraud on all its members.”
Severe thunderstorms could be on the way to the DMV with strong winds.
Was the student denied his first amendment rights? Was it racial insensitive on the school’s part?
Recently, at York Catholic High School, a private school in York Pennsylvania, student Dean Holmes was set to walk across the graduation stage. All normal. Except, Holmes wanted to wear a face mask with Black Lives Matter written across it. But school officials told him to remove it because school policy forbade the wearing of anything with messaging on it.
Was the student denied his first amendment rights? Was it racial insensitive on the school’s part?
Recent graduate Dean Holmes and his dad, John, join us for this edition of HUR@Home.
African American voters and the 15th and 19th Amendments.
Guest:
Dr. Valethia Watkins – Associate Professor, Department of Afro-American Studies, Howard University
Dr. Niambi Carter – Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Howard University
What are your legal rights if eviction is right around the corner? We discuss on Insight.
Your rent is due, but the economic impact of the coronavirus has hit your purse strings hard. Now you are on the verge of being evicted from your home. What do you do? Where do you turn? Is the government offering any help?
We discussed that and more with a focus on knowing your rights if you are facing eviction.
AUDIO:
Guest:
Julian Ivey – Maryland State Delegate
Kayla William – Staff Attorney, Community Legal Services of Prince George’s County
Private schools in Montgomery County must remain closed to in-person instruction through October 1st and provide distance learning to their students. The county health officer clamped down again on his message despite protests against the decision.
Reemphasizing the need to protect the health and safety of Montgomery County residents as well as parents, students, teachers and staff from the spread of COVID-19, County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles today issued a new Health Officer Directive and Order that continued to direct nonpublic schools in Montgomery County to remain closed for in-person instruction until at least Oct. 1, 2020. Today’s order, citing the Maryland Code Annotated Health General § 18-208 and COMAR 10.06.01.06, rescinds and replaces the Health Officer Directive and Order Regarding Private and Independent Schools dated July 31, 2020. The new order, which is effective immediately, remains valid until Oct. 1, 2020, or until rescinded, superseded, amended, or revised by additional orders.
County officials continue to base their public health decisions on data and the data and science and at this point, the data does not suggest that in-person instruction is safe for students, teachers and others who work in a school building. There have been increases in transmission rates of COVID-19 in the State of Maryland, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Virginia, particularly in younger age groups, and this step is necessary to protect the health and safety of Montgomery County residents.
Nonpublic schools are defined as any school located in Montgomery County, Maryland that are not public schools. This includes, but is not limited to all private pay schools, schools affiliated with religious institutions, or schools that are otherwise considered to be independent schools. The Order does not apply to programs licensed or regulated by the Maryland Office of Childcare. Those programs were reopened effective July 19, 2020 pursuant to County Executive Order 082-20.
Based on CDC best practices for the reopening of schools, County health officials will continue to monitor the epidemiological surveillance data and that will guide the decision as to when it is safe to reopen nonpublic and public schools.
Put the “count” in Montgomery County! Be sure to complete the Census online, by phone, or by mail. It’s safe, confidential, easy, and important. #2020Census #EveryoneCountsMCMD
For the latest Reopening Montgomery updates, visit the County’s website and follow Montgomery County on Facebook @MontgomeryCountyInfo and Twitter @MontgomeryCountyMD.
The former Atlanta policemen who shot Rayshard Brooks sues over his firing.
ATLANTA (AP) — The former Atlanta police officer who fatally shot Rayshard Brooks is suing the mayor and interim police chief, saying his firing violated his constitutional rights and the city code. Meanwhile, prosecutors have asked a judge to revoke his bond.
Garrett Rolfe was fired June 13, the day after he fatally shot Brooks outside a Wendy’s restaurant in Atlanta. In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Fulton County Superior Court, he says he was fired “without an investigation, without proper notice, without a disciplinary hearing, and in direct violation of the municipal code of the City of Atlanta.”
Rolfe, 27, faces 11 charges, including felony murder. He was granted bond June 30.
Also Tuesday, prosecutors filed a motion to revoke Rolfe’s bond, saying he had traveled to Florida without permission. The bond order “expressly states that the Defendant is only allowed to leave home for medical, legal, or work related obligations,” the motion says.
Police body cameras showed Rolfe and another officer, Devin Brosnan, having a calm and respectful conversation with Brooks for more than 40 minutes after complaints that the 27-year-old Black man had fallen asleep in his car in a Wendy’s drive-thru lane on June 12.
But when officers told him he’d had too much to drink to be driving and tried to handcuff him, Brooks resisted. A struggle was caught on dash camera video. Brooks grabbed one of their Tasers and fled, firing the Taser at Rolfe as he ran away.
An autopsy found Brooks was shot twice in the back.
Brosnan, 26, is charged with aggravated assault and violating his oath and is also free on bond.
Rolfe’s lawsuit, which was first reported by the Daily Report, argues that Rolfe used deadly force “within the scope and course of his duties” in response to “Brooks’ violent, unlawful, aggressive resistance to a lawful arrest.”
The lawsuit says that Rolfe could only be disciplined or terminated for cause and that he has a right to due process. The proper steps, outlined in the city code, were not taken before Rolfe was fired by then-Chief Erika Shields, who resigned the same day.
The lawsuit also notes that Brosnan and many other Atlanta police officers who have been charged with crimes have remained employed while their criminal charges were pending.
Rolfe “has suffered irreparable injury to his personal and professional reputation as a result of his unlawful dismissal,” the lawsuit says, adding that he “has become a public spectacle and object of ridicule.”
The lawsuit asks a judge to hold a hearing and to order that Rolfe be immediately reinstated with back pay and other benefits.
Atlanta police on Wednesday declined to comment, citing the pending litigation. The mayor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Prosecutors received an email Monday afternoon from one of Rolfe’s attorneys notifying them that Rolfe had traveled to Florida for vacation, according to the motion to revoke his bond. A location report from the company that owns the ankle monitor Rolfe is wearing shows that he left home early Sunday and was in Daytona Beach, the motion says.
Prosecutors aren’t aware of him having been granted permission to travel and they argue that Rolfe “has clearly shown that he will not abide by the conditions of bond imposed by the Court.”
Lawyers for Rolfe did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Wednesday.
Virginia partners with states to get rapid testing kits. If offers residents coronavirus apps.
Summertime will come to an end with no outdoor swimming in DC. The city announced today that COVID-19 is keeping the pools off-limits.
“We understand residents look forward to escaping the summer heat at our pools. Out of an abundance of caution, and in consultation with the District’s public health experts, we have decided to prioritize the health and safety of residents,” said DPR Director Delano Hunter.
DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) operates 21 outdoor pools throughout the District, which have been closed since a public health emergency was issued on March 16, 2020 and will remain closed for the summer season. The pools will undergo the winterization process which includes draining and covering.
All spray parks and all indoor aquatic centers will remain closed until further notice.
As the District continues its phased reopening, many DPR facilities, services, and programs have come back online with restrictions and social distancing guidelines in place.
All DPR parks, athletic fields and courts, playgrounds and other outdoor spaces are open to the public. Organized and high-contact sporting activities, such as football, wrestling, and boxing are prohibited.
DPR is accepting permit applications for outdoor amenities to accommodate groups of no more than 50 persons. To apply and pay for a permit today, click here.
To find out more about DPR’s offerings, visit DPR.DC.gov.
“It’s going to be a difficult back-to-school season,” Saunders said. “It’s retailers’ first big test. I don’t think the outcome is going to be good at all.”
NEW YORK (AP) — For Michelle Lynn England, back-to-school shopping always meant heading to Target and the local mall with her two girls and dropping about $500 on each of them for trendy outfits.
Not this year.
The Charlotte, North Carolina, woman cut her spending on clothing in half for her 10-year-old and 14-year-old and instead spent more on masks and other supplies as a surge in coronavirus cases forced her school district to extend online learning through the fall.
“The kids always looked forward to getting something new,” said England, who spent $500 in total this time around. “It didn’t make any sense to buy any extra clothes that won’t be worn.”
As the pandemic drags into the new school year, it is wreaking havoc on reopening plans and the back-to-school shopping season, the second most important period for retailers behind the holidays.
Parents are buying less dressy clothing and more basics for their kids, while stepping up purchases of masks and other protective equipment as well as electronics. They’re also holding back on spending amid uncertainty over what the school year will look like. The back-to-school season typically kicks off in mid-July and peaks in mid-August. This year, experts predict the peak will hit in late August and spill into most of September.
“We are definitely seeing a delay,” said Jill Renslow, senior vice president of the Bloomington, Minnesota-based Mall of America, which reopened in mid-June with social-distancing protocols. “People just don’t know what they need.”
Renslow said the most popular purchases are electronics like laptops and headphones. For clothing, shoppers are focusing on comfortable items like yoga pants. She’s also seeing increased sales of home decor for kids’ rooms as they spend more time doing online learning.
The National Retail Federation, the nation’s largest retail trade group, is pinning its hopes on parents who splurge on pricey items such as computers and other electronics to help their kids learn from home. The trade group predicts that parents of elementary and high school students will spend a total of $33.9 billion this year. That’s up from $26.2 billion last year and would break the record of $30.3 billion set in 2012.
College students and their families are expected to spend a total of $67.7 billion, up from $54.5 billion last year and potentially breaking the record of $55.3 billion set in 2018, according to the trade group.
But others foresee a weak season for retailers.
Neil Saunders, managing director of research firm GlobalData PLC’s retail division, projects $26.4 billion in spending for elementary and high school, down 6.4% from 2019. Back-to-college spending should fall even more, with sales down 37.8% from last year as many students will be living at home and not buying dorm furnishings, he said.
“It’s going to be a difficult back-to-school season,” Saunders said. “It’s retailers’ first big test. I don’t think the outcome is going to be good at all.”
Another factor depressing sales: Amazon’s Prime Day, which for five years was in mid-July, has been postponed until the fall. Marshal Cohen, chief industry adviser of market research firm The NPD Group, said that the shopping event helped jump-start back-to-school sales.
John Fleming, interim CEO at Warrendale, Pennsylvania-based Rue21, says sales now look like a “COVID map.” Stores in states that have experienced surges in new coronavirus cases report sales declines, while the Northeast, where infections have flattened or declined, has seen sales increases.
As more schools shift to virtual lesson plans, retailers are pivoting too. Walmart Inc. has developed designated areas for teachers and virtual learning tools on its website. The discounter’s Sam’s Club division is offering webcams and more headphones and adding lap desks for kids learning at home. Best Buy, the nation’s largest consumer electronics chain, is adding new services, including a tool called Parent Hub, which provides tips and resources to parents to help with distance learning.
J.C. Penney, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May, is marketing room decor aimed at students who aren’t decorating dorm rooms but can decorate their bedrooms instead. Kohl’s, whose message on its website reads, “Heading back, or logging in,” is promoting educational toys and desk accessories as part of its back-to-school campaign.
Andrea Tortora said her sons, ages 14 and 11, have everything they need for hybrid learning in the fall after she loaded up on school supplies last spring. She said she will probably just buy two pairs of shorts, but she’s not in any rush.
“I am not planning any specific shopping trips for back-to-school,” the Peoria, Illinois, woman said. “We have enough.”
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“Tamar Braxton has been an important part of our network family for more than a decade,” the statement said. “As she focuses on her health and recovery at what is clearly a difficult and personal time, we will work with her representatives to honor her request to end all future work for the network.”
LOS ANGELES (AP) — WEtv will honor Tamar Braxton’s request to end future work together, but the network expects to premiere the singer’s reality show next month.
The network wished Braxton “nothing but the best” in a statement Monday. Her reality series called “Tamar Braxton: Get Ya Life!” was expected to premiere last week, but the show has been postponed to Sept. 10.
“Tamar Braxton has been an important part of our network family for more than a decade,” the statement said. “As she focuses on her health and recovery at what is clearly a difficult and personal time, we will work with her representatives to honor her request to end all future work for the network.”
Braxton’s request to end her future working relationship with WEtv comes after police confirmed they responded to a medical emergency July 16 at the downtown Los Angeles high rise that she calls home. She wrote about her career demands on the reality series being “excessive and unfair” in a recent social media post.
The R&B singer posted a lengthy message that she was grateful for her boyfriend David Adefeso who found her “lifeless” in her home. She did not provide details about her hospitalization.
A representative for Braxton had no comment on the matter.
Braxton made a splash in pop culture when she and her sisters, including Grammy-winning singer Toni Braxton, launched their reality series “Braxton Family Values” on Wetv in 2011. The series was an instant hit with Tamar Braxton, shining as the show’s breakout fan favorite.
The series helped propel her music career. She had the R&B hit “Love & War” soon after and even earned three Grammy nominations for her music, two for the song and one for the album of the same title.
The success led to a WEtv spinoff “Tamar & Vince” with her then husband-manager Vincent Herbert, a music executive who played a role in Lady Gaga’s career. She filed for divorce from Herbert in 2017.
From 2013 to 2016, Tamar Braxton was one of the co-hosts of the daytime talk show “The Real,” earning two Daytime Emmy nominations alongside the other hosts for outstanding entertainment talk show host. She competed on “Dancing with the Stars” during her daytime TV stint.
Her 2015 album, “Calling All Lovers,” helped her nab a fourth Grammy nomination, and her last album was 2017’s “Bluebird of Happiness.” Her music has won her a BET Award and three Soul Train Music Awards.
She most recently appeared on VH1’s “To Catch a Beautician,” a series about hairstylists who wrecked their clients’ hair.
“These past few years, we’ve continued tackling renovations and projects, doing the work we’re passionate about, but I don’t think either of us anticipated how the show would become such a permanent fixture in our hearts,” they said in a statement.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Chip and Joanna Gaines are returning to “Fixer Upper” as they build their new network.
The series, which made the couple do-it-yourself celebrities, will be part of their Magnolia Network set to launch next year. The series aired for five seasons, until April 2018, on HGTV.
“These past few years, we’ve continued tackling renovations and projects, doing the work we’re passionate about, but I don’t think either of us anticipated how the show would become such a permanent fixture in our hearts,” they said in a statement.
Two others shows were announced Tuesday for the Magnolia lineup. One showcases interior designer Brian Patrick Flynn, and the other features Texas entrepreneur Jonathan Morris telling the stories of “inspiring” small business owners nationwide, the network said.
The Flynn project is untitled, with the working title “Self Employed” attached to Morris’ show.
Previously announced Magnolia series include “Bespoke Kitchens,” “Family Dinner” and “Restoration Road with Clint Harp.”
Magnolia Network, a joint venture between Chip and Joanna Gaines and Discovery Inc., will replace the DIY Network when it debuts in 2021. The launch date is dependent on the easing of a coronavius-forced production halt that has delayed most TV and film projects.
Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez called the new partnership with LIU “a true investment in our community and young people in Brooklyn, in New York City, and beyond.”
NEW YORK (AP) — Jay-Z’s Roc Nation entertainment company is partnering with Brooklyn’s Long Island University to launch the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment.
The new school will begin enrolling students for the fall 2021 semester, and 25% of the incoming freshmen class will receive Roc Nation Hope Scholarships. Hope Scholars will graduate without any debt.
Jay-Z, a 22-time Grammy winner and entertainment mogul, was born and raised in Brooklyn. He launched Roc Nation in 2008 and the company has worked with some of the top players in music, including Rihanna, Alicia Keys, DJ Khaled, J. Cole, Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Uzi Vert and more. The company also partnered with the NFL and co-produced this year’s Emmy-nominated halftime show with Shakira and Jennifer Lopez. Roc Nation Sports was founded in 2013 and has worked with many athletes.
Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez called the new partnership with LIU “a true investment in our community and young people in Brooklyn, in New York City, and beyond.”
“We’re excited that The Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment will provide unique insight, knowledge and experiences for students and introduce the world to the next generation of unmatched talent,” Perez continued in her statement Tuesday.
The Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment will offer undergraduate degrees in music, music technology, entrepreneurship and production, and sports management. The school will begin accepting applications this fall for the fall 2021 semester and Roc Nation Hope Scholarship recipients will be selected from a group of academically competitive, need-based first-time freshmen from New York.
“Our proximity in and around New York City’s epicenter of music and sports clearly positions us to offer unparalleled experiential learning and access to professional opportunities that will launch students to success,” LIU President Dr. Kimberly Cline said in a statement. “We look forward to joining with Roc Nation to offer an unprecedented educational resource that opens up the entertainment and sports world to a new and eager generation.”
In addition to learning from professors, students will also engage with guest artists and lecturers and will gain hands-on experience through internships.
The school will also offer resources to high school students and those younger: Starting in spring 2021, the school will launch summer residential camps for high schoolers and Saturday programs for students ages 10-18 that focus on music and sports management. Those programs will begin in spring 2021 and scholarships will be available for need-based students.
This month is “Black Business Month”. It couldn’t be a more perfect time for you to start yours!
Let’s face it, financial hardships have been a topic of discussion since the Covid-19 pandemic began. People have been let go, laid off, and fired which has also played a huge role in creating stressors that affect our mental health. Along with being laid off, people around the world have been trying to cope with anxiety and depression, which can make life more challenging. Although, being laid off is unfortunate, let’s talk about things to be grateful for because quarantine has made a lot of us tap into our gifts and use them for financial profit.
Quarantine has definitely come with a lot of rain, but it has also brought sunshine. What do I mean by that you might ask? Well, being in quarantine has slowed down the pace of life, which gives us the opportunity to hone in on the talents, ideas, and dreams we didn’t get much time to focus on while life was moving at a faster pace. Any kind of business you can think of from hair to press on nails that are mailed to your door have been created. People are tapping into trading and art. Covid-19 has made nearly everything virtual, which has caused for an increase in creativity. This has allowed so many people to tap into the creativity they didn’t think existed.
For those that may not have found their lane as of yet, this article is for you too! I hope this encourages you to meditate on your talents and even if you have them, but fear is making you hold back, DON’T. There’s plenty of room for all of us to benefit and profit. How do I do that you may ask? Let me help you! Think of your hobbies, think of your passions, or think of something you’ve always wanted to do but did not get the chance to. Start from there, write it down, make the vision plain, and then begin to do the proper steps to fulfil that dream, goal, or aspiration. You’d be surprised at how much money your talent can bring you especially when you’re passionate about it!
Since quarantine has become black businesses and even small businesses have seen an increase in sales, which have helped them to keep their lights on. People who took the risk and offered their talents as services or whom perfected a craft since the world has shut down have been blessed with so many opportunities of financial gain, why can’t you? I say this to say, how many different brands of bread do you see when you walk down the bread aisle at a grocery store? Several right? So what are you waiting on? Take the leap and jump, you never know where it can take you! Oh, by the way this month is “Black Business Month,” it couldn’t be a more perfect time for you to start yours!
The Census Bureau announced it will stop collecting 2020 census data at the end of September.
Legislation that would extended the collection deadline from the end of September to the end of October has stalled in the U.S. Senate. Census experts and civil rights activists worry the sped-up count could hurt its thoroughness and produce inaccurate data that will have lasting effects through the next decade since it determines how $1.5 trillion in federal spending is distributed and how many congressional districts each state gets.
One woman was killed in our region from the effects of the Isaias tropical storm.
Isaias turned into a tornado in North Carolina, killing two people there in a trailer park. One person was killed in New York City when struck by a fallen tree. Three-million people are without power along the eastern seaboard.
Power outages in the DMV region, along with flooding. Reports of tornadoes touching down in Southern MD with many fallen trees. St. Mary’s county hit hard with reports of as much as 9 inches of water in some areas. A coastal flood warning is in effect in our region until 3 a.m. tomorrow. The National Weather service says “The unprotected area on the Southwest Waterfront at the DC Seafood Market is expected to flood.”
Investing in the housing market helps families with housing and in achieving the dream of home ownership.
Dr. Joseph Asamoah is a Real Estate Expert Investor who helps people learn how to purchase homes and invest in the housing market to build generational wealth. He also assists low-income families with housing. 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.
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A Kaepernick look-a-like doll attacked by dogs at Navy Seal Museum demonstration.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The U.S. Navy is investigating an incident in which dogs attacked a “Colin Kaepernick stand-in” during a K-9 demonstration during a 2019 fundraiser at the Navy SEAL Museum in Florida.
The Navy said in a statement posted on Twitter that officials became aware of the video on Sunday.
Kaepernick is a former San Francisco 49ers quarterback who began kneeling during the playing of “The Star Spangled Banner” before games to protest social injustice and police brutality. He played his final NFL game in January 2017. He offered support to those protesting the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers in May, and the NFL’s commissioner has apologized for not listening earlier to players’ concerns about social injustice.
The videos show four dogs attacking a man, who is wearing a red Kaepernick football jersey over heavily padded gear as people stand nearby watching. In a second video, the man is laying on the ground when he’s approached by men wearing fatigues and holding rifles, saying, “On your belly.” The man replies, “Oh, man, I will stand,” as he rolls over, followed by laughing from the crowd.
The videos were apparently posted on Instagram last year and resurfaced over the weekend.
“The inherent message of this video is completely inconsistent with the values and ethos of Naval Special Warfare and the U.S. Navy,” the statement said.
The Navy said the “initial indications” are that no active duty personnel or equipment were used in the demonstration at the “independent organization’s event.”
The Navy SEAL Museum is located in Fort Pierce, Florida, which is north of West Palm Beach on the state’s Atlantic Coast. According to its website, the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum is the only museum dedicated solely to preserving the history of the U.S. Navy SEALs and their predecessors.
The museum’s stated main objective is the promotion of public education, with events for both children and adults. Children between the ages of 10 and 15 were recently given firsthand demonstrations on the care and training of working dogs as part of the museums “Frogman Foundry” program. The museum is not officially connected to the Navy. It was designated as a National Museum by an act of Congress and signed into law in 2008.
Governor Larry Hogan overruled Montgomery County health officials on the reopening of county private schools.
