Former President Obama starts a new initiative to address the issue of redistricting. Obama say redistricting affects every issue in America.
Former President Barack Obama is launching a new campaign to fight partisan redistricting. The All On The Line campaign is a free training initiative that aims to equip people with the tools to fight for fair election maps. On the project’s web-page, Redistricting U, Obama said that district maps determine the course of nearly every issue. He said that organizing will start alongside the next congressional redistricting process in 2021.
Humanities DC is hosting the Patsey Fletcher Cultural Heritage Award.
Celebrating the unique African American culture and history of DC. That’s the goal of an upcoming awards ceremony set to take play next week in the District. It’s called the Patsy Fletcher Cultural Heritage Award and it’s hosted by HumanitiesDC. My guest is Toni Ford – Humanities DC Board Member
HumanitiesDC is hosting the Patsy Fletcher Cultural Heritage Award September 4thfrom 6pm to 8pm at the Arts Club of Washington. For purchase tickets go to: culturalheritageawards.eventbrite.com or for information go here:
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How women deal with fat-shaming and extreme weight loss
Dr. Rovenia Brock, Author, Nutritionist, Health & Wellness Coach (not pictured)
Cause Of Gas Explosion Under Investigation
The Skins name Case Keenum the starting quarterback this season. Keenum beat out rooking Dwayne Haskins.
Students in the District headed by to school today. They were joined by students in several Virginia jurisdictions. Students in Montgomery and Prince George’s County return next week.
Virginia to promote the study of African American experience in its schools. Meantime, bells tolled over the weekend in remembrance of the first African slaves to arrive in what is now the United States.
“We’re looking for scaled opportunities. Sports that attract lots of fans and some places we can reconfigure the way the events are held to attract more fans,” he said.
NEW YORK (AP) — Las Vegas is going to take a chance on hosting major college sporting events.
The city is set to bid on nearly a half dozen different NCAA championship events, including women’s basketball.
The NCAA will start accepting bids Monday on nearly two dozen sports championships over all three divisions. This is the first year that Las Vegas is eligible to bid after the governing body for college sports indefinitely suspended a ban last year that prevented events from being hosted in states that accept wagers on single games.
George Kliavkoff, who is MGM’s President of Entertainment and Sports, told The Associated Press last week that his group — in conjunction with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor Authority — plan on bidding to host women’s basketball as well as at least five other sports. Those could include the Frozen Four, wrestling and women’s volleyball championships.
“We’re looking for scaled opportunities. Sports that attract lots of fans and some places we can reconfigure the way the events are held to attract more fans,” he said.
Kliavkoff thinks Las Vegas is positioned well for women’s basketball and its potential new regional format. The NCAA women’s basketball committee suggested earlier this month changing the format for the regionals starting in 2023 by having two cities host eight teams each in the Sweet 16 instead of having four sites.
“Nevada is such a great place and Las Vegas is such an excellent place to hold a championship or regional,” Kliavkoff said. “We’re uniquely positioned since we have T-Mobile Arena, MGM Garden Arena and Mandalay Bays. We have three event centers. We have knowledge how to do this. There are dozens of hotels in town that have price points for every fan. We’re a city that’s easy to get to with direct non-stop flights from almost everywhere in the country.”
Moving to a two-site format, the committee noted, would elevate and enhance the student-athlete experience, enhance broadcast coverage, create opportunity for growth of the sport and championship, build the brand of women’s basketball and expand programming targeting strategic plan initiatives that were announced in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Strategic Plan.
“We’ll see how it falls out as bids come in,” NCAA vice president for women’s basketball Lynn Holzman said. “It’s new ground we’re treading. Moving from four to two sites for regionals.”
While Holzman wouldn’t say whether Las Vegas has a leg-up on other cities, she is very familiar with basketball tournaments being played there. She was commissioner of the West Coast Conference, which has played its tournament in Las Vegas for the last decade.
Las Vegas would have no problems hosting eight teams and their fans in the new format. It would make sense for the NCAA to look at having one site on the West Coast and one on the East Coast for the new format to help with television windows for their partner ESPN. MGM also operates the arena in Springfield, Massachusetts, so the company could bid for an East Coast site, as well.
Mohegan Sun, which has hosted many college basketball events, as well as a WNBA team, has said it is considering bidding for the regional, too.
With regionals available from 2023-26 and the Final Four in 2025 and 2026, Kliavkoff said that he expects Las Vegas to put in a series of bids for them and other NCAA events.
“For the sports we’re interested in, we’ll try and get as many yeses as possible,” he said. “We’ll bid for multiple years. It probably will depend on the different sports we bid for. We think there are benefits to being a known place you come back every year.”
The NCAA said it would help Las Vegas and other cities learn the details of putting in bids. The college governing body is hosting a NCAA Championship Hosting Symposium on Sept. 18. Women’s basketball future sites will be announced in October 2020.
While the men’s basketball Final Four isn’t in this bid cycle, regionals are available from 2023-26. The men’s basketball committee visited Las Vegas earlier this year and toured the new Oakland Raiders football stadium that will be ready next year, as well as T-Mobile Arena. Las Vegas would be interested in hosting those regionals as well. Potentially they could host the men’s and women’s regionals in the same year.
“Basketball is slowly realizing that Las Vegas is the second home for basketball in the United States,” Kliavkoff said. “We have the summer league, the G-league. We are in discussion on bringing more here. We have the Aces. We have more and more college tournaments. This is the home for lots of AAU tournaments, high school tournaments and 3-on-3 basketball. We think of this as one of the best basketball homes in the country and continue to build on that. We’ll put in bids for the years that are available. By definition, the men’s and women’s basketball will be overlapping a few years and we will be bidding on them.”
With over 100,000 hotel rooms on the strip and the three venues, hosting both the men’s and women’s regionals wouldn’t be a problem.
The College Football Playoff has two more championship game sites still to be chosen during the 12-year contract with ESPN that runs through the 2025 season. CFP operates outside the NCAA and is essentially run by the FBS conference commissioners. It is not obligated to follow NCAA rules.
The new Las Vegas stadium could be a contender to host. The stadium will host a bowl game matching the Pac-12 and Southeastern Conference, starting with the 2020 season. The Pac-12 championship game is also moving to Las Vegas. The conference announced earlier this year it will play its title game in Las Vegas in 2021 and ’22.
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Associated Press College Football Writer Ralph D. Russo in New York contributed to this report.
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Follow Doug Feinberg on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dougfeinberg
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More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Even the word “fan” is too impersonal for this kind of loyalty. As Walt Disney Studios co-chairman Alan Horn told the audience Saturday: “You’re not just fans, you’re family.”
Right across the street from Disneyland, nearly 7,000 people packed a giant convention hall in Anaheim on Saturday hoping to get a look at or at least more information about Disney properties coming to theaters in the next few years, including “Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker,” ″Frozen 2,” ″Black Panther 2,” ″Black Widow,” ″Cruella,” ″Soul” and more, with a parade of stars such as Jolie, Johnson, Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, Jamie Foxx, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Daisy Ridley all gracing the stage to help drum up excitement for all that’s to come. Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad and Jonathan Groff even serenaded the audience with a performance of a new song from “Frozen 2” as fake fall leaves fell down on the audience like confetti to close out the presentation.
Disney kicked things off with “Star Wars,” revealing a new poster, which every audience member got a copy of, and glimpses of some new footage from “Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker.” The film, which hits theaters Dec. 20, ends the Skywalker saga that began over 40 years ago.
Anthony Daniels, who has played the droid C-3PO since the beginning seemed to get a bit choked up on stage.
“It’s kind of hard for me to understand that the story is ending, but what an ending,” Daniels said. “You’ll love it.”
He was joined on stage by fellow original trilogy veteran Billy Dee Williams, and the stars of the new trilogy — Ridley, Oscar Isaac and John Boyega — as well as writer-director J.J. Abrams.
Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy promised that the film “is an incredibly good time.”
But “Star Wars” itself is hardly ending for Disney.
“With the close of this chapter, the future is wide open,” Horn said. The studio on Friday debuted a new trailer for the Disney Plus series “The Mandalorian” to great enthusiasm.
Not all reveals are created equal at D23, however. For “Black Panther 2,” writer-director Ryan Coogler was only able to disclose a release date: May 6, 2022. For “Jungle Cruise,” both Johnson and Emily Blunt bantered on stage about their theme park ride adaptation, showing a fair amount of teaser footage for the film coming to theaters next summer that they say is tonally similar to fun adventure epics such as “Indiana Jones” and “Romancing the Stone.” And Emma Stone, via video message, teased that the “101 Dalmatians” spinoff “Cruella” has a “punk rock” vibe and is set in London in the 1970s.
The audience got extended looks at the live-action “Mulan,” ″Maleficent: Mistress of Evil,” the animated films “Raya and the Last Dragon” and “Frozen 2,” which co-director Chris Buck said works together with “Frozen” to form “one complete film.”
Various casting decisions were also announced in films across the brands. Evan Rachel Wood will be voicing the mother in “Frozen 2,” and Sterling K. Brown is playing a character named Lieutenant Matthias. Kit Harington is officially on board to join the Marvel film “The Eternals,” which will reunite him with his “Game of Thrones” co-star Richard Madden, as is “Crazy Rich Asians” star Gemma Chan. And Foxx, Tina Fey, Questlove, Phylicia Rashad and Daveed Diggs are leading the voice cast for Pixar’s jazz-themed film “Soul.”
“Soul” director Pete Docter, taking the stage for the first time as Pixar’s chief creative officer, said that in his nearly 30 years at Pixar they’ve come up with some “weird ideas.”
“Rats who cook, robots who collect trash, old men who fly houses,” Docter said. “Soul” continues that tradition, he said, asking the ultimate question: “Why am I here?”
“Who would make a film about that? Metaphysics?” Docter said with a chuckle. The film imagines that all humans graduate a “you seminar” pre-birth where they get their quirks, interests and passion. But with jazz musician Joe Gardner (Foxx), “there has to have been a mistake” that he grew up to be a middle school band teacher.
Jon Batiste is contributing original songs for the film and Oscar-winners Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross are doing the score.
Expected in theaters in June 2020, “Soul” is one of two original Pixar films coming next year. The other is “Onward” about elf brothers voiced by Pratt and Holland. The audience screamed wildly for Holland when he took the stage. The cheers and shouts were not for his “Onward” role, but for another character whose Disney association is in jeopardy: Spider-Man.
Earlier this week, it was reported that the cross-studio partnership between Disney and Sony, which allowed Holland’s Spider-Man to appear in Marvel films such as “Avengers: Endgame” and Marvel Studios to have a hand in producing stand-alone Spider-Man films like this summer’s “Far From Home,” was ending.
The timing of the Spider-Man turmoil was not lost on Holland, who went straight for the fans with a closing message from the stage quoting a line that Tony Stark says in “Endgame.”
“Listen, it’s been a crazy week but I want you to know, I am grateful from the bottom of my heart and I love you 3000,” Holland said.
D23 runs through Sunday.
Other choices are “MOOD 4 EVA,” the “Lion King” song with Beyonce and Jay-Z among other artists; and such oldies as Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl” and Dobie Gray’s “Drift Away.”
NEW YORK (AP) — The Obama summer playlist has everyone from Drake and Beyonce to Steely Dan and Frank Sinatra. The former president calls it “some new, some old, some fast, some slow.”
Barack Obama tweeted 44 songs Saturday that he and his wife, Michelle, have been listening to. They include Drake’s “Too Good,” Steely Dan’s “Reelin’ in the Years” and the Sinatra standard “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.”
Other choices are “MOOD 4 EVA,” the “Lion King” song with Beyonce and Jay-Z among other artists; and such oldies as Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl” and Dobie Gray’s “Drift Away.”
Last week, Barack Obama offered book recommendations, among them Colson Whitehead’s “The Nickel Boys,” Hilary Mantel’s “Wolf Hall” and the “collected works” of Nobel laureate Toni Morrison, who died Aug. 12.
A large crowd gathered at the musician’s service in a park in Dayton. The event featured choir singers and was also attended by comedian Dave Chappelle.
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Kanye West hosted a Sunday Service in Ohio in support of those affected by the recent mass shooting.
A large crowd gathered at the musician’s service in a park in Dayton. The event featured choir singers and was also attended by comedian Dave Chappelle.
Chappelle, who resides in nearby Yellow Springs, was scheduled to host a special block party and benefit concert later Sunday in Dayton for those affected by the shooting. That event was expected to feature national and local entertainers.
Organizers of Sunday night’s “Gem City Shine” event say it would be an effort to “reclaim” the entertainment district where 24-year-old Connor Betts’ 32-second rampage killed nine people and left dozens injured on Aug. 4.
“Don’t forget what this place is about! Mankind learned how to fly in this city,” Chappelle told the crowd. “Don’t forget what this place is about. When the rest of the country was all slavery, everybody was free in Ohio.”
The star-studded “Gem City Shine” took place Sunday in Dayton’s Oregon District, the historic neighborhood that was marred by a 32-second rampage that killed nine people and left dozens injured Aug. 4.
Stevie Wonder headlined the event, which also featured Chance the Rapper and Talib Kweli, among other musicians, news outlets reported.
The event was designed to raise both spirits as well as money for the victims and survivors of the shooting.
“Don’t forget what this place is about! Mankind learned how to fly in this city,” Chappelle told the crowd. “Don’t forget what this place is about. When the rest of the country was all slavery, everybody was free in Ohio.”
Chappelle, who lives in nearby Yellow Springs, was treated to a rendition of “Happy Birthday” by attendees, instigated by comedian Jon Stewart.
Earlier Sunday, Kanye West hosted a Sunday Service in a Dayton park. The service for victims featured choir singers and was also attended by Chappelle.
Sunday evening’s benefit contributed to helping the community heal, business owners said.
“It’s reclaiming Dayton. We don’t want anybody to be scared,” Abby Beach told the Dayton Daily News. “We want everyone to know it’s an exciting and fun-loving community.”
Mayor Nan Whaley says no taxpayer money was used for the benefit. The mayor and the chamber of commerce raised funds for security and Chappelle donated the stage and secured talent, she said.
“And the least we can do, Dave, is we have declared it Dave Chappelle day in Dayton, Ohio,” Whaley said on stage Sunday night.
The deadline is fast approaching to apply to this exciting opportunity to serve your country
The deadline is fast approaching for an exciting fellowship program that can land you a career in the US Department of State Foreign Service. It’s the Rangel International Affairs Graduate Fellowship Program and it’s a chance for you to earn while you learn. My guest is Patricia Scroggs – Director of Diplomatic Fellowships at Howard University
Rangel International Affairs Graduate Fellowship Program is accepting applications. The deadline is September 24th. The Fellowship can lead to a career in the US Department of State Foreign Service. More information here:
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Listen to this mornings segment here:
Dr. Wayne Frederick chats with Brandy Jackson, M.S. and Ernest Evans, M.S., first-year students in the Higher Education and Leadership Policy Studies doctoral program at Howard University.
ABOUT
These students have focused their research on fundraising as well as black male success and retention within the field of higher education. Because there is a substantial representation gap between higher education administrators and the makeup of the country, they believe in the importance of representation and are reaching back in order to pull forward. On this episode of “The Journey,” Dr. Wayne Frederick chats with Brandy Jackson, M.S. and Ernest Evans, M.S., first-year students in the Higher Education and Leadership Policy Studies doctoral program at Howard University.
How do you give your supervisor constructive criticism or even negative feedback?
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Amazon cancels fulfillment center plans for Prince George’s County
There will be no Amazon fulfillment center at the Westphalia Town Center in Prince Georges County. County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced in a press release this afternoon that the online retailer has decided not to build the state-of-the-art warehouse there.
“Earlier today I was informed by the company that planned to build a fulfillment center at the Westphalia Towne Center that they would no longer be pursuing that site. It is our intention to work with the company to identify more suitable locations in the county where they may be able to bring their products.
To those who purchased homes at Westphalia and were promised certain things, I want you to know that my administration will work with the developer to help bring the retail, dining and other amenities you were promised.
Prince George’s County is open for business and we will continue working to attract quality businesses to the county that add value to our economy and provide amenities to our citizens.”
Residents of the Westphalia community have expressed concern about the impact of the warehouse on property values as well as quality of life.
City Council Candidate In Michigan Wants To Keep Community White
“Jimmy Lee” is a stirring album combining Raphael Saadiq’s trademark vintage soul sounds with moving gospel, disquieting soundscapes and closing triad of tunes that pulls no punches in addressing social ills and personal doubts.
Raphael Saadiq, “Jimmy Lee” (Columbia Records)
“Jimmy Lee” is a stirring album combining Raphael Saadiq’s trademark vintage soul sounds with moving gospel, disquieting soundscapes and closing triad of tunes that pulls no punches in addressing social ills and personal doubts.
Saadiq’s family losses to addictions and other tragedies — “an unfortunate string of mishaps would eventually take the lives of three brothers and a sister” — were mentioned already on the lead track of his 2002 solo debut, “Instant Vintage,” but “Jimmy Lee,” named after one of his late siblings, deepens and expands the references and connections in songs and stories about decisions, fates and outcomes.
Opener “Sinners Prayer” details hardships and anxiety with barely a sliver of hope while “So Ready” puts a funky bass line on top of a thick click track amid queries like “Can someone heal my soul?” Despair is everywhere and even a brief mid-album oasis — “I’m Feeling Love” — seems to come with a poisoned well.
Both the unrelenting “My Walk” and the hypnotic “Glory to the Veins” are heartrending, made even more so by mentions of Jimmy Lee and another of Saadiq’s deceased brothers.
The striking “Rikers Island” and a follow-up monologue by actor Daniel J. Watts pull no punches in expressing the injustices of the prison system and society at large — “Wake up, America, and hurry.” Along with “Rearview,” featuring Kendrick Lamar and reflections like “How can I change the world but can’t change myself,” they form a powerful statement sounding like an update of Marvin Gaye’s “What Going On.”
Raphael Saadiq’s albums, collaborations and productions are typically top tier but his ability to connect the personal with the universal turns “Jimmy Lee” into a career milestone and places it notches above the rest of the field.
Texas Man Accused Of Criminal Mischief In Blue Bell Licking
The organizers say the event will be an effort to “reclaim” the entertainment district after 24-year-old Connor Betts’ 32-second rampage in front of Ned Peppers that killed nine people and left 27 injured on Aug. 4.
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Comedian Dave Chappelle plans to host a special block party and benefit concert in southwest Ohio for those affected by the recent mass shooting.
Chappelle will be among national and local entertainers planned for the main stage at the “Gem City Shine” event in Dayton on Sunday.
WDTN-TV reports the City of Dayton along with the Downtown Dayton Partnership and the Chamber of Commerce will help organize the tribute.
The organizers say the event will be an effort to “reclaim” the entertainment district after 24-year-old Connor Betts’ 32-second rampage in front of Ned Peppers that killed nine people and left 27 injured on Aug. 4.
The resident of nearby Yellow Springs urges attendees to “live in the moment” by enjoying the experience live rather than recording it on their cellphones.
“We Didn’t Invent The Chicken, Just The Chicken Sandwich!” Chick-fil-A bragged on Twitter. “Bun + Chicken + Pickles = all the (heart emoji) for the original.”
NEW YORK (AP) — A nation already polarized finds itself divided once again, but this time politics isn’t at the heart of it: The blame lies squarely on a fried piece of poultry.
People are choosing sides and beefing over chicken, thanks to Popeyes’ release of its crispy chicken sandwich and the social media debate that has followed. With just one addition to a fast-food menu, the hierarchy of chicken sandwiches in America was rattled, and the supremacy of Chick-fil-A and others was threatened.
It’s been a trending topic on social media, fans have weighed in with YouTube commentaries and memes, and some have reported long lines just to get a taste of the new sandwich
“Our grandchildren will ask us where we were when the great Chicken War of 2019 began,” Twitter user @MilesRodrigo1 declared.
While Popeyes has been selling chicken for a long time, the chain was a contender in the bone-in, skin-on, fried-chicken space, not the fried, boneless, skinless cutlet on a bun.
Popeyes announced the new sandwich on Twitter last week with hyperbole that would soon define the social media commotion to come: “Chicken. Brioche. Pickles. New. Sandwich. Popeyes. Nationwide. So. Good. Forgot. How. Speak. In. Complete. Sandwiches. I mean, sentences.”
And from that moment, it was ON. People began ardently advocating for their favorite sandwich, whether it be the new-kid-on-the-block Popeyes one, or the OG Wendy’s or Chick-fil-A versions.
And the social media managers for the companies reveled in the green light to talk smack to each other.
“We Didn’t Invent The Chicken, Just The Chicken Sandwich!” Chick-fil-A bragged on Twitter. “Bun + Chicken + Pickles = all the (heart emoji) for the original.”
To which Wendy’s responded: “Ya’ll out here talking about which of these fools has the second best chicken sandwich.”
Popeye’s quick retort: “Sounds like someone just ate one of our biscuits. Cause ya’ll looking thirsty.” (Which frankly seemed as if they were bragging about dry over-salted biscuits? Wendy’s thought so, too, tweeting, “lol, guess that means the food’s dry as the jokes.”)
As the week wore on, people debated on social media, in chat rooms, in person.
And even though the topic was the chicken, there were political overtones, with some throwing their backing to Popeyes because they disagreed with Chick-fil-A’s opposition to LGBTQ rights and its chief executive’s derogatory comments about same-sex marriage. (Though the chain has insisted that it has “no political or social agenda.”)
Even the weighty New Yorker chimed in: Food writer Helen Rosner called Popeyes’ new edition “simply beautiful” in a commentary titled “The Popeyes Chicken Sandwich is Here To Save America.”
But why has the meager poultry sandwich riveted a nation so? Why do people have such intense feelings about a fried chicken cutlet on a bun?
Nancy Hopkins, former food director of Better Homes & Gardens magazine, and a veteran food editor for over 20 years, has this to say: “America loves anything crunchy, salty, crackly, and good. And Americans love chicken . just about any way.”
“But this sandwich is simple and straight to the point,” she said. “We love fried chicken, but we don’t make it at home and we love it as a splurge. The sandwich seems less guilty. The thought of it fitting nicely on a bun seems better for us. It is just simpler all the way around. Pressure fried chicken, a pickle, and a bun.”
In February Bon Appetit ran a story about why fried chicken sandwiches were so popular, and traced the answer to a creation in the 1960s by Chick-fil-A’s founder, Atlanta restaurateur S. Truett Cathy. In the ensuing years everyone from fast-food chains to renowned chefs started offering their version of the fried-chicken sandwich, with many garnering praise and a devoted following.
In 2011 David Chang opened cult-favorite Fuku in New York, a restaurant centered on the beauty of fried-chicken sandwiches. Shake Shack rolled out their super popular take on the sandwich nationally in summer 2016 to high acclaim.
Popeyes has certainly come out a winner in this latest debate, at least in terms of publicity. Some franchises reported being sold out of the sandwich as ardent fans endured long lines snaking into the street just to get a taste.
Tyler Manchuck of New Canaan, Connecticut, was one of those who tried the sandwich after hearing about the hype. “I figured it would be rude not to go check it out; it’s my obligation as an avid chicken sandwich connoisseur,” he said.
He decided to get the spicy (it also comes in classic). Once he bit into it, he said he “had an almost out of body experience. The new bun, that sauce gives it the edge. In the realm of fast food, Popeyes’ chicken sandwich definitely has the advantage.”
Still, Chick-fil-A, Wendy’s and other restaurants have their devoted fans, and the Great Chicken Debate is far from being settled.
Perhaps that’s fitting in this day and age. As Twitter user @cHolidaydds said: “There’s nothing more American than being divided over something. This week it’s a chicken sandwich.”
The Mayor’s office has partnered with local organizations to keep students safe and they travel to and from school. District students head back to school Monday, September 3rd.
Sanders was press secretary for Trump from July 2017 through June 2019, quarreling with reporters who aggressively questioned her about any number of controversies involving the president.
NEW YORK (AP) — Former White House press secretary , long an ardent defender of President Donald Trump, is joining the broadcast organization long favored by the first viewer.
Fox News says Sanders has been hired to provide political commentary and analysis across all its properties, including Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network and the radio and podcast division.
Sanders was press secretary for Trump from July 2017 through June 2019, quarreling with reporters who aggressively questioned her about any number of controversies involving the president.
In a statement, Sanders says she is “beyond proud” to join Fox. She will make her debut on “Fox & Friends” Sept. 6.
“When people say, ‘Are you shocked about how popular this show is?’ — I was less shocked because he told us it would be this,” said Joseph Sikora of Jackson’s vision for the series. Sikora plays Tommy Egan, the lifelong best friend and business partner of Ghost, who find themselves at odds after Tommy shot Ghost’s girlfriend in the previous season.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — With his characteristic bravado, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson believed in “Power” so much that he predicted the series would become a massive hit to cast members even before the first episode aired five years ago.
Since then, Jackson has joyfully watched as his words have come to fruition. The original series has become a ratings juggernaut and Starz network says it is the most-watched show in the cable network’s history.
“Power” kicks off its sixth and final season Sunday night, but the gritty series isn’t going anywhere. Starz has at least two spinoffs in the works.
“I like anticipating success,” said Jackson, the show’s executive producer who also played the role of Kanan. “I don’t work on projects feeling like there’s a possibility for failure, because I don’t think you can work hard on a project feeling like it can just fail.”
“Power” stars Omari Hardwick as James “Ghost” St. Patrick who is trying to escape his life as a drug kingpin and go legit with a legal business, but his gangster-mentality wife and best friend still want him to run their drug operation. He struggles with the double life he’s created by dating a federal prosecutor.
Jackson was already a rap star who then tried to parlay his success into a film and television career. At first, he wasn’t taken seriously. He stumbled with some other projects, but he remained so confident in “Power” that it rubbed off on everyone else, and ultimately millions of viewers.
“When people say, ‘Are you shocked about how popular this show is?’ — I was less shocked because he told us it would be this,” said Joseph Sikora of Jackson’s vision for the series. Sikora plays Tommy Egan, the lifelong best friend and business partner of Ghost, who find themselves at odds after Tommy shot Ghost’s girlfriend in the previous season.
“Omari and I met him at the same time, he gave us a big hug and basically broke everything down,” Sikora recalled. “He didn’t say, ‘I think this is going to happen.’ He said, ‘This is going to happen and this will, too.’ Then everything happened. … He spoke it into existence.”
“Power” built a cult following for its take on the glamorous and gung-ho gangster lifestyle, twisted love triangles and violent drug deals gone wrong.
Hardwick said the story line in “Power” resonated with viewers the same way HBO’s “Game of Thrones” did.
“But they have books,” he said. “I’m proud that we were able to create the book. There was no book. We created it with the help of incredible writing and fellow cast mates.”
Hardwick said fans of the series’ characters have a love-hate relationship toward them. He acknowledged that his character has received mixed praise, but his other cast mates including Lela Loren — who plays his girlfriend Angela Valdes — have faced blatant threats over the years that sent her into therapy.
“How many times have Tommy and Ghost been mentioned in a song?” he asked. “It was culturally shifting. But there’s another side. For people to follow Lela in the bathroom, it was sometimes negative. We have an 18-year-old on the cast who started at 12, and he’s getting hate mail at that level. … But that’s how much people are invested in this show.”
Starz is banking on viewers to invest even more.
″‘Power’ has been an absolute monster. There’s nothing else bigger on television right now,” said Starz COO Jeffrey Hirsch, who noted the series helped build the network as a destination to watch original content. He gave credit to Jackson and the show’s creator Courtney Kemp, whom he says helped lead a team to keep “the audience in every episode with cliffhangers.”
“Power” will air its final season in two parts. The first 10-episode installment begins Sunday and the concluding five episodes will start airing in January.
The series will come to an end, but several spinoffs are planned to be part of a collection of new shows inspired by the world of “Power.” The first is titled “Power Book II: Ghost,” which will feature Grammy-winning singer and actress Mary J. Blige.
Jackson said “Power Book II” will pick up soon after “Power” ends. He said in the new version “we’ll see the aftermath of what happens in the season six finale.”
Jackson is also planning other “Power” prequels including “Raising Kanan,” based on his popular character Kanan who was killed in season five.
“It will show the influences from the ’90s, where Kanan was growing up and how the activities in the neighborhood groomed him into who he was in ‘Power,’” he said.
Along with “Power” spinoffs, Jackson wants to develop a project on Starz focused on the Black Mafia Family. The story would delve into the backstory of Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory, who started the drug trafficking and money laundering organization in Detroit before intersecting it with the hip-hop music scene.
The plethora of shows is a part of Jackson’s plan to take over Starz.
“As (Starz) becomes a household necessity like HBO, you’ll see faces that look like ours consistently on it,” he said. “It’ll become more of a diverse leading cast than what you would find on HBO. They want to house that content here. It’ll become the place that people who enjoy ‘Power’ and enjoy the programming on Starz.”
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Associated Press writer Gary Gerard Hamilton contributed to this report from New York.
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Follow AP Entertainment Writer Jonathan Landrum Jr. on Twitter: http://twitter.com/MrLandrum31
A 62-year-old inspection supervisor of the new Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge was stabbed to death Thursday. A man is in custody, with no motive for the stabbing released at this time.
Washington’s football beat the Falcons in Atlanta Thursday night for its first win of the preseason. Jordan Reed left the game with a concussion.
One person is dead after being struck in a hit and run accident in Fairfax. Police say the suspect who struck the victim left the scene.
There are some great shows to check out this weekend in the DMV.
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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Listen to this mornings segment here:
News analysis of the top stories of the week. Jay-Z, the NFL and the police protests, New York Police Officer Daniel Pantaleo fired… five years after the death of Eric Garner, DC considering early release of some inmates, Nazi salutes and songs at a California high school and the 400th anniversary of 1619.
“Here’s the Scoop” customers standing in line at the ice cream and dessert shop were super excited to know they were getting hooked up with their favorite flavors.
Washington, D.C. (Thursday, August 22, 2019) – I Scream. You Scream. We All Scream for Ice Cream. Nothing is better on a hot August day than ice cream. WHUR and Wells Fargo made the summertime favorite even better today by treating more than 140 customers at “Here’s the Scoop” on Georgia Avenue in NW, to free ice cream cones.
It’s all part of the WHUR and Wells Fargo “Pay It Forward Thursdays,” a weekly initiative designed to spur kindness in the DMV. WHUR and Wells Fargo team members have been popping up at businesses across the region for the past five weeks to pay the bills of unsuspecting customers.
“Here’s the Scoop” customers standing in line at the ice cream and dessert shop were super excited to know they were getting hooked up with their favorite flavors.
You just never know where we will pop up next. In the meantime, make sure you’re doing something to make the DMV just a bit more kinder. #PayItForwardWHUR #WhereWeLiveDC #WHURFM
Washington To Visit Falcons Tonight
(Atlanta, GA) — The Redskins are in search of their first preseason win. Washington will have a chance when they visit the Falcons tonight. The Redskins are 0-and-2 on the preseason. It will be another opportunity to see rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins in action. Haskins is reportedly set to back up Case Keenum in Week One of the regular season.
“We believe there will be a public health crisis created by this denial of care,” said Sarah Stoesz, the Minnesota-based president of Planned Parenthood North Central States. “It’s a very sad day for the country.”
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Planned Parenthood clinics in several states are charging new fees, tapping financial reserves, intensifying fundraising and warning of more unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases after its decision to quit a $260 million federal family planning program in an abortion dispute with the Trump administration.
The fallout is especially intense in Utah, where Planned Parenthood has been the only provider participating in the nearly 50-year-old Title X family planning program and will now lose about $2 million yearly in federal funds that helped 39,000 mostly low-income, uninsured people. It plans to maintain its services — which include contraception, STD testing and cancer screening — but is considering charging a small copay for patients who used to get care for free.
Planned Parenthood in Minnesota is in a similar situation, serving about 90% of the state’s Title X patients, and plans to start charging fees due to the loss of $2.6 million in annual funding.
The organization is concerned about the spread of unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.
“We believe there will be a public health crisis created by this denial of care,” said Sarah Stoesz, the Minnesota-based president of Planned Parenthood North Central States. “It’s a very sad day for the country.”
Planned Parenthood and several other providers withdrew from the program earlier this week rather than comply with a newly implemented rule prohibiting participating clinics from referring women for abortions.
Anti-abortion activists who form a key part of President Donald Trump’s base have been campaigning to “defund Planned Parenthood.” Among its varied services it is a major abortion provider, and the activists viewed the grants as an indirect subsidy.
About 4 million women are served nationwide by the Title X program, which makes up a much bigger portion of Planned Parenthood’s patients than abortion. But the organization said it could not abide by the abortion-referral rules because it says they would make it impossible for doctors to do their jobs.
Mindy Dotson, a single mother in Utah, started going to Planned Parenthood as doctors’ bills for treating recurring yeast infections mounted. The services became even more important when she gave up her employer-sponsored health insurance because she couldn’t afford the $500 monthly bill.
She is unsure what she’d do if the family planning services she gets stop.
“It would put me in a very dangerous position,” said Dotson, who works as an executive assistant for an accounting and consulting firm. “It covers so many things: STD testing, emergency contraception, birth control, lifesaving cancer screenings … you name it, they have treated me for it.”
Planned Parenthood said it’s dedicated to maintaining its current services in Utah, but CEO Karrie Galloway acknowledged it won’t be easy and could cause some “pain on all sides.”
She said the organization plans to lean heavily on donors to make up the funding gap while staff members assess how they’ll cope. Among the possibilities are instituting copays of $10-$15 per visit, shortening hours and trimming spending. She doesn’t plan to lay off staff, but said she may not be able to fill jobs when people leave or retire.
Minnesota is planning fees as well.
“We’ll continue to offer all services, and keep clinic doors open, but we’ll be charging patients on a sliding scale who we didn’t charge before,” Stoesz said. “Vulnerable people who previously were able to access birth control and STD testing for free will no longer be able to do so.”
Elsewhere, the impact of Planned Parenthood’s withdrawal will vary from state to state.
Governments in some states, including Hawaii, Illinois, New York and Vermont, say they will try to replace at least some of the lost federal funding. In the Deep South there will be little impact because Planned Parenthood did not provide Title X services in most of the region’s states.
The chief operating officer for Planned Parenthood of the Greater Northwest and Hawaiian Islands, Rebecca Gibron, said Southern Idaho could be hit hard by the changes, with other health care providers in the area saying they can’t fill the gap if the roughly 1,000 low-income women served by Planned Parenthood in Twin Falls are no longer able to receive care.
“This was not money that can simply be made up by raising dollars from donors,” Gibron said. “We have rent to pay, we have staff salaries … there are limits to what we are able to do in terms of providing free care without the Title X program.”
Gibron said Planned Parenthood is working with Washington state officials in hopes of securing “bridge funding” to keep operating more than 20 Title X clinics serving roughly 90,000 people.
“We’re going to do everything we can to provide care for patients in the same way, but we know that it’s not sustainable and we’re looking at all of our options,” she said.
Among other providers withdrawing from Title X is Maine Family Planning, which oversees a network that serves about 23,000 patients per year and will be losing $1.8 million in annual funding. Its CEO, George Hill, said the organization will rely on reserves and intensify fundraising efforts to bridge the gap while seeking more aid from the state.
In anticipation of the changes, Democrats in neighboring New Hampshire added about $3.2 million in the state budget they passed earlier this year to make up for the federal funding. But that’s on hold after Republican Gov. Chris Sununu vetoed the budget in June for other reasons.
Planned Parenthood will continue to participate in Medicaid, the federal health-coverage program for low-income Americans. That’s Planned Parenthood’s biggest source of government funding — about $400 million or more annually in recent years. The Republican-controlled legislatures in Texas, Iowa and Missouri have taken steps to block that flow of funds in their states.
Maryann Martindale, executive director of the Utah Academy of Family Physicians, said most Title X clients slightly too much money to qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford employer-based or private health insurance.
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Crary reported from New York. Associated Press writers Brady McCombs in Salt Lake City; Patrick Whittle in Portland, Maine; Holly Ramer in Concord, New Hampshire; and Rebecca Boone in Boise, Idaho, contributed to this report.
“America’s Got Talent” still has the capacity to create big moments online, too. A clip of contestant Kodi Lee singing a version of “A Song For You” has been viewed nearly 432 million times online, NBC said.
First place is familiar territory for NBC’s talent competition. It has been the most-watched summer series for six straight years and the No. 1 alternative summer series for all 14 years that it has been on the air.
The dominance continues even though the show is slipping in popularity, which is typical of most TV series these days. “AGT” averages 11.4 million viewers live and within a week of an episode’s premiere, down 18% from last year, Nielsen said.
Still, that’s almost 4 million viewers more than the second-ranked show of the summer, ABC’s “Bachelorette,” which had 7.5 million viewers within a week of its premiere this summer.
The summer’s ratings illustrate how scripted series are fading as a factor, after a couple of years where networks tried to attract viewers with a handful of new shows. Last summer the second-ranked show was the CBS drama “Code Black,” with 8.8 million viewers. The most-watched scripted series this summer has been reruns of CBS’ “NCIS,” at 5.6 million, Nielsen said.
NBC won the week in prime time, averaging 3.6 million viewers. CBS had 3.4 million, ABC had 2.9 million, Fox had 2.4 million, ION Television had 1.4 million, Univision had 980,000, Univision had 950,000 and the CW had 580,000.
Fox News Channel was the week’s most popular cable network, averaging 2.36 million viewers in prime time. MSNBC had 1.54 million, HGTV had 1.2 million, USA had 1.13 million and Hallmark had 1.11 million.
ABC’s “World News Tonight” topped the evening newscasts with an average of 8 million viewers. NBC’s “Nightly News” was second with 7.2 million and the “CBS Evening News” had 5 million viewers.
For the week of Aug. 12-18, the top 10 shows, their networks and viewerships: “America’s Got Talent” (Tuesday), NBC, 9.1 million; “America’s Got Talent” (Wednesday), NBC, 7.9 million; “60 Minutes,” CBS, 7.11 million; NFL Exhibition Football: Seattle at Minnesota, Fox, 5.3 million; “Celebrity Family Feud,” ABC, 5.06 million; “American Ninja Warrior,” NBC, 4.76 million; “Big Brother” (Sunday), CBS, 4.72 million; “The $100,000 Pyramid,” ABC, 4.42 million; “NCIS,” CBS, 4.4 million; “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” ABC, 4.37 million.
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ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Co. CBS is owned by CBS Corp. CW is a joint venture of Warner Bros. Entertainment and CBS Corp. Fox is owned by 21st Century Fox. NBC and Telemundo are owned by Comcast Corp. ION Television is owned by ION Media Networks.
Filmmakers Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert said they learned of the Obamas’ interest after “American Factory” was shown at the Sundance film festival and they were pitching the film to Netflix. They were told the Obamas had screened it days earlier.
Filmmakers Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert said they learned of the Obamas’ interest after “American Factory” was shown at the Sundance film festival and they were pitching the film to Netflix. They were told the Obamas had screened it days earlier.
They’re ecstatic about the support, and in an interview Wednesday were quick to dissuade anyone from the idea that the film is delivering a message either for or against any politician.
“They got what we were trying to do, which is to tell a story that sort of transcends the year-to-year politics,” Bognar said.
Bognar and Julia Reichert, who live in the Dayton, Ohio, area where Fuyao Glass replaced an abandoned General Motors plant, said they were initially interested in exploring a culture clash, but the film deepened into a story about the rights of workers, globalization and automation.
The Fuyao plant, bought by Chinese industrialist Cao Dewang, employs some 2,200 American and 200 Chinese workers. The film gives a close-up look at how the cultures adjust to one another. At one point, a Chinese worker explains that Americans are slow because they have fat fingers. Many Chinese at the plant consider the Americans lazy. The Americans at the plant question what they see as Chinese workers unquestioned devotion to a company that robs them of time to enjoy life.
At the factory’s opening ceremony, Dave Burrows, the vice president of the American factory, privately curses out Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown for suggesting that the Chinese owner be open to running a union shop. Two years later, after he’s been fired, Burrows drives by the factory and bitterly notes that you can’t spell Fuyao without an “f″ and “u.”
Tensions rise when the factory doesn’t initially meet production goals, culminating in a bitter fight over the right to unionize.
In one of the last scenes, an employee gives Cao a tour of the factory floor and boasts about how automation provides Fuyao with the opportunity to fire workers.
The name of the Obamas’ company, Higher Ground, flashes by in the opening credits, but the Obamas themselves aren’t mentioned anywhere. Neither is President Donald Trump.
Netflix worked in partnership with Higher Ground to acquire the film from Participant Media earlier this year, and gave no details about the financing. Netflix released a brief clip Wednesday of the Obamas discussing their interest in the project with the filmmakers.
“One of the many things I love about this film … is that you let people tell their own story,” the former first lady said. ”‘American Factory’ doesn’t come in with a perspective. It’s not an editorial. I mean, you truly let people speak for themselves, and that is a powerful thing that you don’t always see happen.”
Former President Obama said that they want people to look outside of their own experiences to understand the lives of others.
That “is what a good story does,” he said. “It helps all of us feel some solidarity with each other.”
Reichert said she’s seen some commentary that the Obamas were interested in the film as a criticism of Trump, and said that was stupid.
“It has zero to do with Trump or Obama, or the political scene at all,” she said. “It’s about the lives of average working people in the heartland. It’s really a close up and intimate look at what globalization looks like.”
One of the American workers is shown bonding with Chinese colleagues, inviting several to a Thanksgiving dinner and to drive his motorcycle. Later, the worker is fired because it took him too long to use a computer.
Reichter said she and Bognar were grateful to Cao for allowing them access to the factory. The company chairman mostly comes off as a cold-blooded capitalist, but one arresting scene toward the end shows him wrestling with his legacy.
“We hope that people realize that without empathy for people who are different from you, you’re not going to solve the political divide,” Bognar said. “We’re not going to solve gaping problems in this world. You have to put yourself in someone else’s shoes to help see and feel other people’s points of view.”
African Americans can have parts of their family stories recording by the USA Today newspaper. Those interested are encouraged to go to usatoday.com to register.
Prince George’s County school officials have announced the vaccinations needed for county students. Shots must be up-to-date by September 23rd.
The American Civil Liberties Union is rejecting a possible plan to have a plane fly over Baltimore to spot crime in the city.
The American Civil Liberties Union is opposing the possible return of a surveillance plane to help spot crime in Baltimore. The ACLU calls the program a privacy nightmare come to life and the equivalent of requiring people to wear a GPS tracker whenever they leave home. The organization says a city with a terrible history of racism and lack of accountability by police should be the last place a secret program of mass surveillance is used, adding that surveillance technology designed for a military battlefield has no place in American cities.
The Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School is recruiting for their fall term.
Heading back to school is not just for the young. This morning details on a program designed to help adults get back in the classroom. My guest is Lecester Johnson – CEO of the Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School
Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter Schoolis recruiting for the fall term. Academy of Hope would like to get the word out to prospective students. AoH is open to all DC residents, 18 or older. Adult learners can earn their high school credentials or enroll in a workforce program in hospitality, health care and office administration. For more information go here:
Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:40 on the Steve Harvey Morning Showon 96.3 WHUR.
Follow me on facebook, instagram and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
Listen to this mornings segment here:
What might an economic recession look like and what can you do to prevent it from impacting you?
Breast Cancer Experts: More Women Should Be Screened For BRCA Mutations
“He’s really good,” Gruden said. “He’s shown great retention of what we’re doing. He didn’t miss the offseason program. … Just good to have him back. He’s in great shape. He’s running hard and running good routes.”
“He’s all in, ready to go,” coach Jon Gruden said. “That’s my understanding. Really happy to have him out here. He’s a great player.”
Brown didn’t attend practice Sunday as he worked to find a helmet he was comfortable using and that met safety standards set by the NFL and NFLPA. He lost a grievance last week in which he sought to be allowed to use the Schutt Air Advantage helmet he has worn throughout his career. But the helmet was too old to be certified as safe.
He had hoped to find a newer version of his preferred helmet that could be approved but the one he submitted failed a safety test conducted by the league and union.
He filed a second grievance Monday seeking a one-year grace period, according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because it wasn’t made public. But he is back practicing with the team while that gets resolved.
Brown was not wearing a helmet during the open portion of practice and spent some of the time during stretch in the nearby weight room. But he walked off the field after practice holding a new helmet and Gruden said he’s running well after also missing time with frostbitten feet.
“He’s really good,” Gruden said. “He’s shown great retention of what we’re doing. He didn’t miss the offseason program. … Just good to have him back. He’s in great shape. He’s running hard and running good routes.”
Brown didn’t take part in a full practice during the Raiders’ entire training camp stay in Napa, which wrapped up Monday, missing time because of frost bite on his feet suffered in a cryotherapy accident in France and then over the helmet issue.
That led to Mayock saying Sunday that the Raiders had supported Brown but had “exhausted all avenues of relief.”
Gruden said the drama surrounding Brown hasn’t impacted the team’s preparation for the season.
“It’s not been a distraction to me at all,” Gruden said. “I hate to break it to anybody but we’ve known what the status is regarding his feet. He just showed up with frost bite. I never had a guy show up with frost bite. Fortunately we got that thing under control. This grievance thing is no laughing matter. It’s something that’s really important to him. There’s nothing wrong in supporting your players on things they believe in. We also understand the league’s position but I’m confident that he’s going to be a heck of a player for us and be ready to roll.”
Brown had 686 catches and 9,145 yards receiving the past six seasons in Pittsburgh, the best marks ever for a receiver in a six-year span. But he still wore out his welcome with the Steelers after leaving the team before a crucial Week 17 game last season and Oakland was able to acquire him in March for the small price of third- and fifth-round draft picks.
The drama that surrounded Brown in Pittsburgh didn’t stop upon his arrival in Oakland even though he was given a hefty raise with a three-year contract worth $50.125 million.
Brown arrived at camp with the frost-bitten feet, sending him to the non-football injury list. He was activated on July 28 and participated in parts of two practices before leaving for more than a week to get treatment on his feet and to deal with the helmet grievance.
The couple have been dating for several years and have two young daughters. Johnson also has a teenage daughter from a previous marriage.
NEW YORK (AP) — With a simple “We do,” Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson announced his wedding to his longtime girlfriend on Instagram.
A photo of the movie star and Lauren Hashian was posted on the social media site. Both were wearing white, and they were standing overlooking the ocean. The post said the date of their apparent nuptials was Sunday, in Hawaii.
Johnson’s representative did not immediately return calls asking for comment.
The couple have been dating for several years and have two young daughters. Johnson also has a teenage daughter from a previous marriage.
Johnson has a lot to celebrate this month. His movie “Hobbs and Shaw” has been a box office success since being released earlier in August.
“Golf is a sport that has changed my life in ways that are less tangible, but just as impactful,” said the NBA star. Adding, “It’s a discipline that challenges your mental wherewithal from patience to focus, and is impossible to truly master, so when you hear about these passionate student athletes who have the talent but don’t have a fair shot at the game, it’s tough. I feel really honored to play a small role in the rich history of Howard University, and look forward to building their first men’s and women’s golf teams with them.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a historic stride forward to grow the game of golf, six-time NBA All-Star and Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation co-founder, Stephen Curry, announced his commitment to Howard University today, with a pledge to support the establishment of the university’s first NCAA Division 1 golf program for the next six years.
Inspired by Howard senior and golfer, Otis Ferguson IV, whom Curry met during a campus visit earlier this year, Curry was compelled to act when Ferguson shared that his impassioned solo crusade to get a golf team at Howard proved unsuccessful. An avid golfer himself, Curry tapped into what is increasingly becoming his defining trait— the distinctive ability to connect and empathize with anyone, anywhere, and made the unprecedented decision to help bridge the gap between talent and opportunity. Utilizing his unique position, Curry will introduce and increase access to elite golf at a historically black college, furthermore calling on sport and community giants like Under Armour, Callaway, Eat. Learn. Play., among others, for help with equipment, uniforms, and more.
“Golf is a sport that has changed my life in ways that are less tangible, but just as impactful,” said the NBA star. Adding, “It’s a discipline that challenges your mental wherewithal from patience to focus, and is impossible to truly master, so when you hear about these passionate student athletes who have the talent but don’t have a fair shot at the game, it’s tough. I feel really honored to play a small role in the rich history of Howard University, and look forward to building their first men’s and women’s golf teams with them.”
Howard University aims to debut the first men’s and women’s golf teams in the 2020/2021 academic year, with resources strategically allocated for talent scouting and training to have a competitive Division 1 team in place for its inaugural season, joining Howard’s other 19 Division 1 teams. The university previously had a Division 2 golf team and various intercollegiate and intramural club teams.
“Howard University is honored to partner with NBA Champion Stephen Curry to launch what is sure to become one of the best golf programs in the country,” said President Wayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., MBA. “This program will expose the campus to a game with numerous benefits. Golf is unique because it can be played through various ages of life. Grandfathers can play with granddaughters. Expanding the competitive opportunities for student athletes, especially in arenas where they are underrepresented, is consistent with the university’s strategic plan.”
Curry will be joined by Howard University’s President, Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, Athletic Director, Kery Davis, CEO of Callaway, Chip Brewer, and Howard student, Otis Ferguson IV, in a historic tee-off today in Washington, D.C.
Featured photo: Stephen Curry Partners with Howard University to Launch First NCAA Division 1 Golf Team. Pictured L-R: Howard University Athletic Director Kery Davis, student Otis Ferguson IV, Stephen Curry, Calloway CEO Oliver “Chip” Brewer and Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick.
The city accuses Smollett of staging a racist and anti-gay attack against himself in January. It sued to force Smollett to pay $130,000 in police overtime and other expenses after state prosecutors dropped charges accusing him of filing a false report.
CHICAGO (AP) — A federal judge hearing the city of Chicago’s lawsuit against Jussie Smollett says she’ll rule on the actor’s request to toss the suit in October.
The 10-minute status hearing Tuesday was the first since the civil case was moved to federal court from state court. The former “Empire” actor didn’t attend the hearing in Chicago.
The city accuses Smollett of staging a racist and anti-gay attack against himself in January. It sued to force Smollett to pay $130,000 in police overtime and other expenses after state prosecutors dropped charges accusing him of filing a false report.
The defense motion to dismiss earlier this month calls the bid to recoup costs a “perverse tactic” since charges were dismissed. They maintain the attack was real.
The next status hearing is Oct. 22.
“It was the first time honestly that I actually heard my own internal thoughts through somebody else,” said Jordan, who is a co-executive producer of the series through his Outlier Society Productions company along with Winfrey.
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — When Michael B. Jordan first met with “Moonlight” writer Tarell Alvin McCraney, the two surprisingly discovered through an emotional conversation that both had more in common than they realized.
McCraney might jokingly attest, but Jordan said during a recent interview that their lengthy talk years ago about creating a new television project “ended in tears.” That’s when the “Creed” and “Black Panther” star knew he wanted to work with McCraney to develop their drama series “David Makes Man,” which airs Wednesdays on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN.
“It was the first time honestly that I actually heard my own internal thoughts through somebody else,” said Jordan, who is a co-executive producer of the series through his Outlier Society Productions company along with Winfrey.
“You know like the things that he experienced growing up — family, throughout his community, the choices, the mental struggle of trying to make the right decision, trying to make the right choices, and trying to burden himself with being the man in the family taking care of everybody,” he continued. “Trying to fix everything for everyone and putting yourself last. To actually hear somebody else say it, I’m like ‘Wow, OK.’ I’m not the only person that thinks like that or feels that way.”
“David Makes Man” is partially based on McCraney’s upbringing. The series follows 14-year-old David, played by Akili McDowell, who tries to juggle relationships between his magnet school friends and drug dealers in his South Florida impoverished neighborhood.
McCraney said he felt more confident about the project after meeting with Jordan.
“MBJ and I didn’t grow up in the same environment and yet we were burdened with some of the same intersections,” said McCraney, who won an Academy Award for co-writing “Moonlight,” an adaption of his play “Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue.”
“That means that there are more people around the world who indeed need space at the hearth,” he added. “We all need the warmth of these stories to remind ourselves and see ourselves better. That was one of the reasons why we wanted to be at OWN as well. We wanted to be amongst stories about black people. This show is black — blackity, black, black, black.”
The story explores David’s childhood trauma after the death of his close friend and mentor, Sky, who was a drug dealer. His former drug-addict mother also relies on him to find a way out of poverty through higher education.
McCraney said David is very different than Chiron, the main character in “Moonlight.” He said the series will explore David’s multiple personas, calling it “code switch.”
″‘Moonlight’ has a deep vantage point of me growing up and finding my queer identity. … But David is night and day different than Chiron,” McCraney said. ”(David) walks into a school, I’m a new person. He walks out of school, I’m another person. I’m in front of the drug boys, I’m a different person. That dexterity to me is a whole avenue of humanity that we experience in the black community that we don’t talk about, that we haven’t talked about. At least I haven’t seen it.”
McDowell said David uses his vivid imagination to endure life’s challenges. His character randomly holds animated conversations with an imaginary sky.
“This show is to let kids know that you’re not alone,” he said. “It’s OK to cry sometimes. It’s OK to scream sometimes just to let it go, because you need that to vent. Also, the power of imagination. That’s what helps people survive out here.”
Jordan said McDowell, 16, has grown as an actor and took hold of the lead role.
“I see a lot of myself in him,” Jordan said. “Honestly, like watching his tapes and going through the whole process and camera reads and casting process, which is not easy by any means for a young talent like himself. But he was resilient. He came to work every day. You can see him progress.”
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Follow AP Entertainment Writer Jonathan Landrum Jr. on Twitter: http://twitter.com/MrLandrum31
Larry King has been married eight times to seven different women and has five children. He married and divorced Alene Akins twice.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Larry King is seeking a divorce from his seventh wife, Shawn King, after 22 years.
The 85-year-old talk show host filed a petition to end the marriage Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Larry King and Shawn King, then a singer and TV host, married in 1997 and have two adult sons, Chance and Cannon.
They both filed for divorce in 2010 but later reconciled.
Larry King has been married eight times to seven different women and has five children. He married and divorced Alene Akins twice.
He has overcome several serious health issues in recent years, including a bout with lung cancer two years ago.
The First Baptist Church of Glenarden’s Health Expo is this Saturday
Living a Healthier Life Together. That’s the theme of this year’s Health Expo at the First Baptist Church of Glenarden. The event is this coming weekend. My guest is Cheryl Cook – Chair of First Baptist Church of Glenarden Health Expo
Living A Healthier Life Together Health Expo hosted by the First Baptist Church of Glenarden is Saturday, August 24thfrom 10am to 3pm at 600 Watkins Park Drive in Upper Marlboro. 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, instagram and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
Listen to this mornings segment here:
What you need to know about child support
High School Water Polo Team Nazi Salute
Penn Ave In Front Of WH To Close
(Washington, DC) — Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House is set to close for seven months for the construction of a new security fence. The National Park Service announced today the closure will start Wednesday. Pennsylvania Avenue will be closed from West Executive Avenue to East Executive Avenue. Lafayette Park, the north sidewalk of Penn Ave, Jackson Place Northwest and Madison Place Northwest will remain open to pedestrians. The six-foot-six-inch fence is being replaced by a 13-foot fence. NPS says the fence will have anti-climb and intrusion detection technology and is designed to mitigate security threats.
