Big Sean will host a discussion the following Sunday that focuses on mental health and the stigma around it in the black community. Scheduled guests include psychiatrist Jessica Clemons and sociologist and author Michael Eric Dyson.
DETROIT (AP) — Rapper Big Sean’s philanthropic foundation is hosting another weekend of events in Detroit aimed at helping youth in his hometown.
The 2nd annual Detroit’s On Now Weekend kicks off next Saturday with the unveiling of the Sean Anderson Production Studio in the Dauch Campus Boys and Girls Club. It’s part of an effort to help Detroit children launch careers in the entertainment industry.
Big Sean will host a discussion the following Sunday that focuses on mental health and the stigma around it in the black community. Scheduled guests include psychiatrist Jessica Clemons and sociologist and author Michael Eric Dyson.
Other planned events include live performances, health screenings, apprenticeship opportunities and carnival rides, as well as free food, haircuts and braiding.
Cosby was the first celebrity tried and convicted in the #MeToo era. He insists the sexual encounter with a young woman seeking career advice was consensual.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Bill Cosby’s lawyers will fight to overturn his sexual assault conviction Monday as the 82-year-old comedian serves a three- to 10-year prison term in Pennsylvania. ?
Cosby was the first celebrity tried and convicted in the #MeToo era. He insists the sexual encounter with a young woman seeking career advice was consensual.
A jury last year found Cosby drugged and molested her at his suburban Philadelphia estate in 2004.
Defense lawyers contend the trial judge erred in letting five other accusers testify to bolster the prosecution’s case.
The three-judge Superior Court panel includes two women jurists. The panel is not expected to rule for several months.
The decision will be closely watched by both sexual assault victims and lawyers for Harvey Weinstein and other high-profile men accused of similar misconduct.
The program is apart of a 5 year initiative by Dell Latitude 3300. The estimated cost 30 million dollars.
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As thousands of students across the state of Virginia begin classes today comes word that high school students in Fairfax County will be given school-issued laptops. That’s 188,000 students at 198 schools. Chantilly was one of the test schools. Students, there were given laptops in 2016 through a state grant.
Fairfax County Schools start at the end of the month. It’s a big deal and life changing for many. The computers use Google Docs or Google Forms. The goal is to do the same for all students by 2023. The program is apart of a 5 year initiative by Dell Latitude 3300. The estimated cost 30 million dollars.
The outcome from early research showed mixed results in the educational outcome of students given the electronic device. Fairfax county’s school system is the largest in the state. Their outcome is being studied by Johns Hopkins University.
Some question if having the laptops will improve test scores. The Assistant Superintendent of Fairfax County Schools Sloan Presidio said the computers are not specifically for that but they are important for improving skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, and communication.
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“It’s like she hit a hole in one and we were all there,” USA Gymnastics high performance director Tom Forster said. “It’s a big deal and we all know it. No one in the world has done it before in the women and actually, she does it better than most of the men who have done it. She should be super excited about that.”
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The choice was entirely hers. Only there really wasn’t of one for Simone Biles to make.
Sure, she could have taken her triple-twisting double-flip (aka “the triple-double”) out of her floor exercise routine during the final night of the U.S. women’s gymnastics championships on Sunday. She surely didn’t need it to assure herself of another national title.
Still, even as her coach Laurent Landi left the option up to her after the Olympic champion’s bid to become the first woman to complete the triple-double in competition came up a bit short on Friday, he knew the answer.
Spend enough time in the gym around the 22-year-old who is redefining what’s possible in her sport one exhilarating routine at a time and it quickly becomes evident that sidestepping a challenge isn’t really her thing.
So she threw it at the end of her first tumbling pass, fueled by adrenaline, ambition and otherworldly skill. When the dizzying combination ended with her feet firmly on the floor — if barely in bounds — the jolt through the packed arena was palpable. The smile on her face unmistakable. And the competition — just like it has been for six years and counting whenever Biles is involved — was over.
The triple-double served as the exclamation point on her sixth national championship. Her two-day total of 118.500 was nearly five points clear of 16-year-old Sunisa Lee in second and more almost seven points ahead of third-place finisher Grace McCallum.
Yet Biles doesn’t pay too much attention to the margin or her scores for that matter. She’s been a fixture atop the podium for six years and counting. Attempting to find the boundaries of her immense talent is what drives her.
It’s why she got so angry after putting both hands down as she tried to land the triple-double on Friday. It’s why she never thought about ditching it on Sunday. And it’s why she sneaked a peek at her phone while rotating from floor to balance beam, typically a no-no during a meet. Well, at least for anyone not named Simone Biles.
“I wanted to see how it looked,” she said.
Here’s a word: historic.
“It’s like she hit a hole in one and we were all there,” USA Gymnastics high performance director Tom Forster said. “It’s a big deal and we all know it. No one in the world has done it before in the women and actually, she does it better than most of the men who have done it. She should be super excited about that.”
She was. When Biles finished off a two-hour showcase that highlighted how wide the gulf between herself and the rest of the world has become by drilling her dismount on uneven bars: she danced.
Well, sort of. Biles gave Landi a relieved high-five before sticking out her tongue and waving her arms as she ran to hug the rest of competitors in her rotation.
The anger of Friday night — when she openly seethed after shorting the triple-double and making a bit of a mess on bars — was gone.
“I was a lot happier today,” Biles said. “I feel I haven’t been as confident on bars this year as I was last year. To finally do a good routine like I can do it, I was really happy. I was very happy and the last event, so I was like, ‘Thank God we’re done.’”
For now anyway. Biles is two months away from a trip to the world championships — where her 20 medals are tied for the most by a female gymnast — and a year away from a return to the Olympics. She was a sensation in 2016, cementing her status as one of the best ever with two weeks of gymnastics that came as close to perfection as the sport allows.
A year to go before a return trip to the games, Biles is even better. And really, it’s not close.
“She’s a freaking beast,” said MyKayla Skinner, an alternate on the 2016 Olympic team who clinched a spot on the national team by finishing eighth. “Like, I don’t even understand. I always ask her, ‘Do you realize how good you are?’ And she’s like ‘Yeah, but I don’t know.’ It just comes so naturally, it’s amazing.”
In a sport that sometimes forces athletes to choose between skill and execution, Biles doesn’t have to. She not only puts together the most difficult routines in the world, she does them better than anyone else. Biles won floor, balance beam and vault and finished third on bars even with her “meh” set on Friday.
“She does stuff that I never thought people could do,” Lee said.
Lee and 2017 world champion Morgan Hurd were the only women in the field to place ahead of Biles on any event, finishing one-two on bars, solidifying their chances of joining Biles at world championships in Germany in October in the process.
Hurd rebounded from a rocky floor exercise on Friday that dropped her to eighth overall to zoom up to fourth despite admitting she “wanted to throw up a little” when the night began. She promised she would be better on Sunday and she was, despite a technical glitch before her floor when the music started before she took her starting position. She walked off the podium, exhaled and then went out and drilled her set.
“I think more than anything, tonight just really helped my confidence,” Hurd said.
Something every gymnast struggles with sometimes. Biles included. Yes, really. It speaks to her inner perfectionist that even after finishing the triple-double, she still knows it wasn’t quite her best.
“It wasn’t as good as in some of the trainings,” she said. “But I’m just happy that I landed it because after night one, my confidence got shot down. So I was really worried about it going into today and that was all I could worry about.”
There was a strong smell coming from Fort Washington this weekend. It was not long before WSSC officials confirmed that there had been a sewage spill.
It’s estimated that more than 5 million gallons of wastewater spilled into Broad Creek on Friday. WSSC sent out a news release to inform the public that an underground pipe at the Broad Creek Wastewater Pumping Station ruptured and had been spilling wastewater for at least 12 hours into the Broad Creek.
WSSC it is safe to drink the water. Signs have been put up to make people aware of the area where the pipe buried 30 feet below the station is located. Crews have also put down lime to help with the smell in the neighborhood.
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Hudson is wanted for the June 22 fatal shooting of a man on “K” Street in Southeast.
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U.S. Marshalls and Prince George’s County Police are looking for 18-year-old Duron Hudson.
The murder suspect caused a lockdown in a part of Hyattsville on Friday. This after police and agents closed in on a home in the 1900 block of Belle Haven Drive. Hudson who was in the process of taking a shower slipped out of a window naked and eluded police.
Hudson is wanted for the June 22 fatal shooting of a man on “K” Street in Southeast. Investigators say he should be considered armed and dangerous. The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to Hudsons arrest.
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National Senior Citizens Day is Wednesday August 21st. It’s a day set aside to recognize the contributions senior citizens make in communities across the country. This morning I have details about an event, taking place this upcoming weekend to help celebrate our elders. My guest is Shanda Bellamy – President of Pickett Fences Seniors Services, Inc.
Pickett Fences Seniors Services, Inc. is hosting a free National Senior Citizens Day event August 21stat the Theresa Banks Complex in Glenarden. There will be a host of activities including music, food, line dancing, and memory screenings. 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.
Dr. Wayne Frederick talks with the Director of Environmental Occupational Health and Safety for the Howard University Department of Public Safety – Ms. Susan Dreyer.
For more than 2 decades, Susan Dreyer has focused on leading new safety culture change, managing environmental programs, and conducting regulatory compliance audits. Now at Howard, she is leading the charge for health and safety. On this episode of “The Journey,” Dr. Wayne Frederick talks with the Director of Environmental Occupational Health and Safety for the Howard University Department of Public Safety – Ms. Susan Dreyer.
What are you doing to step out of your cultural comfort zone? With so much racial division in our country, what can be done to bridge the racial divide? Our experts say it’s all about exposure, tolerance, and understanding. We discuss the importance of embracing multicultural experiences.
Guests:
Dr. Martine Elie, Cultural Expert
Javonne Harley, International Travel Expert, Founder, Advantage International
(Washington, DC) — President Trump says Colin Kaepernick [[ CAP-er-nick ]] should be allowed to play in the NFL again. Talking with reporters at the White House, Trump said he’d love to see Kaepernick play again, but “only if he’s good enough.” Trump said he would not want to see it happen if it’s only a “PR move.” Kaepernick was the first NFL player to kneel during the National Anthem to protest police brutality and racism. He hasn’t been signed by a team since leaving the San Francisco 49ers in March 2017. Kaepernick sued the NFL for collusion and reached an out-of-court settlement in February.
In six NFL seasons with the 49ers, Kaepernick threw more than 70 touchdown passes and helped them reach a Super Bowl.
(Landover, MD) — Prince George’s County police and federal law enforcement are searching for a man wanted in a DC murder who’s on the loose. Residents who live near Sheriff Road, Belle Haven Drive and Bawlowe Road between Dutch Village Drive and Village Green Drive in Landover are being asked to shelter in place. Police are searching the area for 18-year-old Duron Hudson, who ran from federal law enforcement serving a warrant at a home in the 19-hundred block of Belle Haven this morning. Authorities say Hudson was not wearing any clothes at the time of his escape. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact police.
After receiving backlash, SoulCycle tweeted out a statement dissociating itself from Ross. The statement says, “SoulCycle in no way endorses the political fundraising event being held later this week,” and that “Mr. Ross is a passive investor and is not involved with the management of SoulCycle.”
Steven Ross, billionaire owner of fitness chains Equinox and SoulCycle, is under fire after reports that he is fundraising for Donald Trump. Today Ross will host a lunch where tickets will cost $100,000 each and the proceeds will go toward Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign. Trump is also scheduled to attend the fundraiser.
Many SoulCycle and Equinox members, including celebrity clients, have since decided that they won’t be contributing to these companies anymore.
After receiving backlash, SoulCycle tweeted out a statement dissociating itself from Ross. The statement says, “SoulCycle in no way endorses the political fundraising event being held later this week,” and that “Mr. Ross is a passive investor and is not involved with the management of SoulCycle.”
Equinox has a 97% share in SoulCycle, which it purchased in 2011. Therefore Ross has a lot of control over the company. Ross also owns the Miami Dolphins and while he did not publicly support Trump in 2016, he has spoken highly of him in an interview with Bloomberg.
In a statement to CNN, Ross said, “I always have been an active participant in the democratic process. While some prefer to sit outside of the process and criticize, I prefer to engage directly and support the things I deeply care about.”
There are many celebrities that have been forward about their lack of support for Trump but have been active SoulCycle members in the past, such as Michelle Obama and Beyoncé. They may not be attending SoulCycle classes from now on. Model Chrissy Teigen has already tweeted about no longer supporting SoulCycle and Equinox.
“Everyone who cancels their equinox and soul cycle memberships, meet me at the library. Bring weights,” Teigen jokes on Twitter.
everyone who cancels their equinox and soul cycle memberships, meet me at the library. bring weights
Shannon Coulter, founder of the #GrabYourWallet movement, which informs Americans of companies that support Trump, tweeted that she will be adding SoulCycle and Equinox to her list and that she will also boycott.
This Friday the Soul Cycle and Equinox Fitness chairman is throwing a fundraising lunch for Donald Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign. Tickets are $100,000 each. Adding to the list. https://t.co/pHNr8ZeG5m#GrabYourWallet
It has been announced that Aaliyah will be the next star to be “immortalized in wax” at Madame Tussauds in Las Vegas. The news comes after fans speculated for a while why she hadn’t received one already.
The late R&B singer will have her statue unveiled later this month. The news was announced on the singer’s instagram account, which is managed by representatives of the Haughton Estate.
The caption reads, “We are proud to announce that Aaliyah will be the next iconic star immortalized in wax at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas.”
Fans will also get the opportunity to attend the VIP unveiling party. As the Instagram caption stated, “Show us your best #Aaliyah inspired look and be one of 10 lucky fans to win an invite to the VIP figure launch party at #TussaudsVegas! Download the @AaliyahApp and share your photo or video using #ShowUsYourAaliyah on the app and Instagram to be entered to win.”
Aaliyah Haughton tragically passed away in a plane crash on August 25, 2001. She was leaving the set of a video shoot for her song Rock the Boat in the Bahamas. Her legacy lives on through her music and through honors such as her wax figure that will soon be unveiled. Aaliyah achieved 5 top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 including her number 1 hit, Try Again. Aaliyah’s self-titled album, “Aaliyah” went number 1 in the U.S. on Sep. 15, 2001, following her passing.
Aaliyah will join artists such as Whitney Houston, Beyoncé and Michael Jackson who have wax figures at Madame Tussauds in Vegas.
Springfield Police Lt. Mike Lucas says, “He certainly had the capability and the potential to harm people.”
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A Missouri man is in police custody after some scary moments yesterday at a local Walmart. Witnesses say the male suspect was wearing body armor, dressed in military fatigue and carrying a rifle.
The suspect who is 20-years-old according to news sources then grabbed a shopping cart and began recording himself as he walked through the store. A quick-acting manager decided to pull the fire alarm to get customers out quickly. A firefighter who was armed and off duty took it upon himself to confront him once the suspect walked out through one of the exit doors. He held him at gunpoint until police could arrive.
Springfield Police Lt. Mike Lucas says, “He certainly had the capability and the potential to harm people.”
We have learned this morning that suspect was also armed with more than 100 rounds of ammo on him. Also, he reportedly posted on social media that he hated Walmart because they do not allow people under 21 to buy guns. He went on to say but you can walk around with a weapon in the store and they won’t say anything to you. No shots were fired and no one was hurt.
This story is ongoing. Stay tuned to WHUR.
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Once in the stall he noticed a hole and when he looked through it, he saw a cell phone screen and it was recording him.
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Fairfax County Police have released a surveillance picture of a man they believed was involved in a crime. The unidentified suspect is wanted for the July 22nd incident of a video taping of a male inside a store bathroom.
The 16-year-old victim said was using the bathroom at the Macy’s in Springfield Mall in Virginia. Once in the stall he noticed a hole and when he looked through it, he saw a cell phone screen and it was recording him. He left and told his mother who in turned called police.
Investigators are asking anyone with information about this crime should contact police at 571-992-4824.
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The Richmond Jazz and Music Festival is this weekend at Maymont Park. Featuring Jill Scott, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Stanley Clarke, Ro James, Bobby Caldwell and many more. For ticket and schedule information go here:
City Winery presents The Backyard Band Saturday night.Doors open at 10 and the show kicks off at 11:30pm.
Melba Moore is at Blues Alley through Sunday for two shows each night, 8pm and 10pm.
The Community Kinship Coalition is hosting it’s 25thAnnual Hoops 4 Peace Anti-Violence Youth Summit, this Saturday at the Seat Pleasant Activity Center. The event is from 9-5pm. 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.
If you are renting and apartment or if you are a landlord, do you know your rights? What are the best ways to deal with conflicts between renters and landlords? Our expert guests discuss the complexities of non-payment of rent, repairs, evictions and other disputes.
(Prince George’s County, MD) — A Prince George’s County police officer is guilty of punching a handcuffed suspect in the face. Corporal Stephen Downey was convicted today by a county circuit court judge of second-degree assault and misconduct in office. The incident happened near a CVS in Temple Hills last year. Downey hit the homeless man several times in the face as he sat handcuffed in the front seat of a cruiser. Downey was indicted in March.
(New York, NY) — Fitness brands SoulCycle and Equinox say they have nothing to do with Stephen Ross, who chairs the company that owns both of them. Ross is holding a re-election fundraiser for President Trump this Friday. That’s drawn calls for a boycott. The companies said in a joint statement they in no way endorse the fundraiser. They call Ross a passive investor not involved in management of either business.
“Toni’s words gave freedom to Black girls and women to be who they want to be, and step into the world as who they are,” blogger and author Luvvie Ajayi said Tuesday. “Toni’s works teach us to be freer. Finally, she gave me the freedom to be who God purposed me to be.”
Random House senior editor Porscha Burke keeps a copy of the Toni Morrison-edited The Black Book — an expansive encyclopedia on the accomplishments of African-Americans — on her desk at work, not only as a memento of the author, but also to keep her aware of the path Morrison blazed for black women like her in the world.
“It’s a reminder of what I have to carry in this space,” Burke said.
Unflinching and outspoken, Toni Morrison always spoke her truth without fear, especially when it came to racism, sexism and the American life, never caring to conform to the paradigms that her white male-dominated society tried to impress upon her.
After Morrison died this week at 88, people around the world, particularly black women, mourned the loss of the Nobel laureate and Pulitzer Prize-winner and praised her for opening a literary door into their world — and reflecting their pains and triumphs in her work.
“Toni’s words gave freedom to Black girls and women to be who they want to be, and step into the world as who they are,” blogger and author Luvvie Ajayi said Tuesday. “Toni’s works teach us to be freer. Finally, she gave me the freedom to be who God purposed me to be.”
Morrison’s groundbreaking books included “Beloved,” Sula” and “The Bluest Eye.” On Wednesday, the day after her death was announced, “Beloved” was the No.1 selling book on Amazon, “The Bluest Eye” was at No. 3 and “Song of Solomon” No. 4.
Morrison refused to write for a white audience, instead extrapolating from her own culture. In an interview, Morrison clearly remembered the reviewer who wondered when she was going to get “mature” about her writing and write about white people, the “real confrontation” in African American lives.
Morrison gave women, especially black women, space to care about themselves in life and in literature, said Dana A. Williams, chair of the English Department at Howard University — of which Morrison was an alumnus — and leader of the Toni Morrison Society. As an editor, among the black women writers she published were Gayl Jones and Toni Cade Bambara.
“She helped us understand that there were other people included in the American story,” she said. “She gave black women permission to write from their own cultures.”
Avis Jones-DeWeever, a diversity and inclusion consultant in Washington, D.C., said her reading of “The Bluest Eye” made her realize how important it is to be self-aware as a black woman.
“She was someone who showed us the best of who we are, showed the world the best of who we are … She centered the important of who we are even when others tried to question why she did that,” she said. “She was amazingly loyal to the beauty of our culture. In a society where whiteness is perceived as normalcy, her loyalty to the beauty of who we are as a culture and the richness and fullness of that was just incredibly important and brave and I admire her for that.”
It was also the little things that made Morrison beloved.
Jones-DeWeever said for the longest her “hair goals” was to emulate Morrison’s steely gray locks, and Burke said she was amazed that Morrison carried the same big purse that many black grandmothers are known for.
“Filled with envelopes and papers, and probably a hard candy,” Burke laughed. “Just like my grandma, except she’s a Nobel laureate.”
Burke said that her race and sex must be remembered when talking about Morrison.
“People want to celebrate blackness without highlighting it,” Burke said. “I feel like it’s a mission of mine to keep that front and center, the same way we keep James Joyce’s Irish heritage front and center of what he does. It’s deeply meaningful and not something to be hidden.”
Video aired by KABC-TV shows Trejo at the crash scene. Trejo says he crawled into the wrecked vehicle from one side but couldn’t unbuckle the child’s car seat from that angle. He says another bystander, a young woman, was able to undo the buckle.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Actor Danny Trejo played a real-life hero when he helped rescue a baby trapped in an overturned car after a collision at a Los Angeles intersection.
Authorities say two cars crashed Wednesday in the Sylmar neighborhood.
Video aired by KABC-TV shows Trejo at the crash scene. Trejo says he crawled into the wrecked vehicle from one side but couldn’t unbuckle the child’s car seat from that angle. He says another bystander, a young woman, was able to undo the buckle.
Together they pulled the baby safely from the wreckage.
The Los Angeles Fire Department says three people were taken to a hospital, and there were no life-threatening injuries.
The 75-year-old Trejo, an L.A. native, is best known for playing the character Machete from the “Spy Kids” series.
The Oscars ran into trouble when last year’s planned host, Kevin Hart, stepped down following a backlash over his past homophobic tweets. The search for a replacement proved fruitless.
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — The Oscars did it, and now the Emmys will too. There will be no host at the ceremony honoring TV’s best next month.
Fox Entertainment CEO Charlie Collier said Wednesday that going hostless allows more time to salute departing shows, including “Game of Thrones.”
The HBO fantasy saga, which ended its run this past season, is the top nominee with a record-setting 32 nominations.
Collier said producers would have considered possible hosts and checked on their availability for the Sept. 22 ceremony. The Fox executive didn’t directly address whether anyone had declined.
The Emmy show rotates among the top broadcast networks.
The Oscars ran into trouble when last year’s planned host, Kevin Hart, stepped down following a backlash over his past homophobic tweets. The search for a replacement proved fruitless.
“You’ll see pictures of him in the background,” Collier said, without elaborating. He promised “surprises at the beginning of the season that you’re going to love.”
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — Jussie Smollett is gone from “Empire” but his character will live on, at least in photos.
Smollett’s Jamal Lyon, who last season married Kai (Toby Onwumere), will be away on his honeymoon when the Fox drama returns Sept. 24 for its sixth and last season, Fox Entertainment CEO Charlie Collier said Wednesday.
“You’ll see pictures of him in the background,” Collier said, without elaborating. He promised “surprises at the beginning of the season that you’re going to love.”
In a Q&A with TV critics, affirmed series producer Lee Daniels’ decision to drop Smollett from the hip-hop family drama.
Asked why Fox had extended Smollett’s contract despite his legal peril, Collier said the network wanted to properly assess the situation before making a decision about Smollett’s future with “Empire.”
Whether an “Empire” spinoff could happen remains to be seen. Collier said the focus now is giving the drama the “huge send-off” it’s earned by virtue of its pop-culture impact, but he’s open to the possibility.
“We’re in the Lee Daniels and Danny Strong business,” he said of the show’s co-creators and executive producers. “If there’s more stories to be told, we want to hear it.”
The 12-year-old admits the whole incident made her lose interest in religion and God.
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D.C. Catholic priest, Urbano Vazquez of Northwest Washington, is currently on trial for allegedly sexually abusing a young girl and women. The woman was an active member of the church in which she attended services with her family. On Tuesday, a
A 12-year-old girl testified against him. She stated how he would consistently grope her on a day to day basis. She also claimed he touched her on her private area.
The 12-year-old admits the whole incident made her lose interest in religion and God. A third victim was asked to testify as well. The now 20-year-old briefly explained how she received unwanted attention from him when she was only 16-years-old. He kissed her and made her feel uncomfortable “It felt embarrassing because he’s much older” she stated.
The women who testified against him mentioned another experience she had. She and her mother were eating lunch in the church’s dining hall. Her mother left the room to get some utensils, and that’s when Vazquez allegedly put his hands on her shoulders during a conversation and kissed her. Her mother walked in and saw it, and the priest simply apologized to both of them and left. From that time on he kept his distance.
Vazquez’s trial isn’t in connection with the alleged kiss but he did get charged for four felony counts of second-degree child sexual abuse and one misdemeanor count of child sexual abuse.
This case is ongoing and sources say there could be other victims.
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“WHUR and Wells Fargo proud to #PayItForward #Where We Live!”
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Washington, D.C. – (Thursday, August8, 2019) – It’s another and this morning WHUR and Wells Fargo hit the streets to make the trip into work just a little smoother for dozens of commuters.
We fanned out at the D.C. Armory Metro Station to hand out $10 SmartTrip Cards to bus and rail riders.
Today, marked the 3rd week of the initiative to carry out random acts of kindness to spur a movement in the DMV. Each Thursday, WHUR and Wells Fargo crisscross the region popping up in places like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, barber shops, salons, and Metro stations to pay the bills of unsuspecting residents.
“WHUR and Wells Fargo proud to #PayItForward #Where We Live!”
Officials say registered voters of the city will began receiving their ballots in early October.
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The city of Rockville is joining 22 other states by allowing residents to vote through the mail. The measure was approved by residents in April of 2018. This change makes Rockville the first city in the state of Maryland to do so. Voters will be able to fill out ballots and mail them back or they can personally deliver them to city hall. Officials say registered voters of the city will begin receiving their ballots in early October.
Sara Taylor-Ferrell, the City Clerk and Director of Council Operations, said the number of registered voters has increased dramatically from November 2015 to date. Ferrel and the council are hoping this new mail ballot system will increase participation even more. According to Ferrel, the voter turnout for the last three municipal elections was at 16 percent. She claimed it was a worrisome trend they hope this new system will improve.
May 1, 2019– Candidate application information made available. Sept. 7, 2019– Candidates announced Sept. 20, 2019– Last day to register in order to receive your ballot automatically by mail. Oct. 7, 2019– Ballots are mailed to registered voters. Nov. 5, 2019– Election Day! Ballots must be received by 8P.M.
In person, at City Hall or by mail.
Following me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963
Grab your youth and get them ready for a weekend of empowerment and lessons on how to overcome adversity and self-defeating barriers. It’s the 24thAnnual Hoops 4 Peace Anti-Violence Youth Summit hosted by the Community Kinship Coalition, Inc. My guests are George Hodge and Brian Shivers – Community Kinship Coalition
Community Kinship Coalition, Inc. is hosting its 25thAnnual Hoops 4 Peace Anti-Violence Youth Summit Saturday, August 10that Seat Pleasant Activity Center from 9am to 5pm. 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.
We are still in the midst of vacation season. You don’t have to look far to see friends and acquaintances on social media… relaxing on beaches with adult beverages… living their best lives. But what about you? Isn’t it time for you to do the same? Why is it so difficult to get away from it all? On this Wellness Wednesday… we’ll talk about why it’s so difficult for a vacation prescription to be filled.
Guests:
Deborah Owens, Career Coaching Expert and Founder, The Corporate Alley Cat
“A year ago today we broke the flood gates open. Now I’m glad to share this picture is being acquired into the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery’s permanent collection,” photographer Tyler Mitchell said.
A portrait of Beyoncé shot by Tyler Mitchell will soon be permanently displayed on the walls of the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC.
The portrait of Beyoncé comes from her September 2018 Vogue shoot, when she was the cover star. The shoot made history, as it became the first Vogue cover to be shot by an African American photographer, Tyler Mitchell. Mitchell has since shot Zendaya’s June 2019 Vogue cover.
Mitchell shared the photo of Beyoncé to Twitter on Tuesday with the news that the image would be displayed in the National Portrait Gallery.
A year ago today we broke the flood gates open
Now I’m glad to share this picture is being acquired into the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery’s permanent collection pic.twitter.com/T97rHU9u8J
The official National Portrait Gallery Twitter account confirmed the news by responding to Mitchell, “We’re just so crazy in love with her that we had to do it!”
We’re just so crazy in love with her that we had to do it! ✨ We look forward to adding this new work to our collection. pic.twitter.com/kXsp1G5kxR
— National Portrait Gallery (@smithsoniannpg) August 6, 2019
The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery tells the story of the United States with its 23,000 portraits, paintings and sculptures of America’s most famous and impactful individuals. The museum is located in Washington, DC and opened in 1968. Beyoncé will be among the company of former presidents and first ladies, including Barack and Michelle Obama, who were added to the gallery last year.
The Beyoncé portrait does not have a release date yet, but CNN reports that the National Portrait Gallery Curator of Photographs, Leslie Ureña is, “delighted to acquire this magnificent portrait of Beyoncé.”
“Over the past few days, my mind and heart have been heavy. Hearing/seeing an act of terrorism happen so close to home, my family, and my friends has been unbelievable and shocking. Singing “915” and “city of El Paso” on tour every night feels indescribable,” he said.
Following reports of the mass shooting that took place in El Paso over the weekend, Khalid revealed that he is planning a benefit concert for families of the 22 victims killed.
The 21-year-old singer took to Twitter to send out love to the city and explain how he plans to help.
“Over the past few days, my mind and heart have been heavy. Hearing/seeing an act of terrorism happen so close to home, my family, and my friends has been unbelievable and shocking. Singing “915” and “city of El Paso” on tour every night feels indescribable,” he said.
He then announced his plans for the benefit concert and revealed that all the proceeds will go towards the families of the victims.
Over the past few days, I’ve been thinking of ways to help out and support the city.
I’m planning for a benefit concert later this month, all of the proceeds will go to the families affected by the shooting. Sending everyone my love and will keep you guys updated
On the night of the shooting, Khalid was performing on tour in DC. He took a minute from performing to send love to El Paso. He said on stage, “Send El Paso your love and your prayers because it would mean a lot to everybody. We’re going to give them love. We’re going to give them comfort. We’re going to give them joy.”
Khalid also runs The Great Khalid Foundation and the foundation is currently working on a back-to-school drive in El Paso. On Monday, the foundation went to James A. Hambric middle school to give out free school supplies. The kids said in unison, “Khalid is where our love lies. Thank you for the supplies, from the city of the 915!”
“Khalid is where our love lies. Thank you for the supplies…From the city of the 915!” pic.twitter.com/MAAbU6xcbU
— The Great Khalid Foundation (@tgr8kfoundation) August 5, 2019
It’s clear that Khalid loves the city of El Paso and is doing his best to help out. In 2017, Khalid expressed his love for the city in an interview with USA Today. “I didn’t feel like
I had a home until I moved to El Paso,” he said. “The love and the friendships I made were influential. El Paso is where I started. I don’t feel like I’d be making the music I’m making now if I hadn’t gone there.”
“American Skin,” which Parker wrote, directed and stars in, is about a black Iraq War veteran seeking justice for the shooting death of his teenage son by a white police officer. It co-stars Omari Hardwick, Theo Rossi and Beau Knapp.
NEW YORK (AP) — Nate Parker’s attempted comeback will begin at the Venice Film Festival with the premiere of his first film since a rape allegation from Parker’s past derailed the release of his Nat Turner biopic “The Birth of a Nation.”
The Venice Film Festival announced Wednesday that Parker’s “American Skin” will debut in its “Sconfini” section. Parker’s new film also carries Spike Lee’s backing. “American Skin” is touted as a Spike Lee presentation. In a statement, Lee called Parker his brother and declared the film “a brave tour de force.”
Parker has been little heard from since his breakthrough as writer-director-star in 2016. After the lauded debut of “The Birth of a Nation” at the Sundance Film Festival fetched a record $17.5 million purchase, the newfound attention around Parker resurrected a 1999 rape allegation against him from when he was a student at Penn State University.
Parker has maintained his innocence. He was acquitted in a 2001 trial, though his college roommate, Jean Celestin (who helped create “The Birth of a Nation”), was initially found guilty of sexual assault. That conviction was later overturned when the accuser declined to testify for a retrial. The alleged victim killed herself in 2012.
“The Birth of a Nation” ultimately made little impact at the box office and its once promising Oscar campaign fizzled. Whether the reception will be any better for Parker’s latest film remains to be seen. In the time since, the #MeToo movement has swept over the movie industry, putting new scrutiny on men accused of sexual harassment and sexual assault.
“American Skin,” which Parker wrote, directed and stars in, is about a black Iraq War veteran seeking justice for the shooting death of his teenage son by a white police officer. It co-stars Omari Hardwick, Theo Rossi and Beau Knapp.
(McLean, VA) — Reports of a person with a gun at Gannett’s headquarters in Northern Virginia are unfounded. Police say they have found no evidence of violence or injuries. The HQ buildings are also home to USA Today and are located just outside Washington, DC. TV news videos showed employees standing outside the buildings and there was a large police presence in the Fairfax County facility. No gunman or weapon was found.
Kim Kardashian West, Rihanna, Snoop Dogg and Lebron James had lobbied for Brown’s release, calling her a sex trafficking victim. She was granted clemency in January by outgoing Gov. Bill Haslam.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Cyntoia Brown, championed by celebrities as a symbol of unfair sentencing, was released early Wednesday from the Tennessee Prison for Women, where she had been serving a life sentence for killing a man who had picked her up for sex at 16.
Kim Kardashian West, Rihanna, Snoop Dogg and Lebron James had lobbied for Brown’s release, calling her a sex trafficking victim. She was granted clemency in January by outgoing Gov. Bill Haslam.
Now 31, Brown will remain on parole for 10 years, on the condition she does not violate any state or federal laws, holds a job and participates in regular counseling sessions, Haslam’s commutation says.
Brown released a statement Monday saying she wants to help other women and girls suffering sexual abuse and exploitation.
“I thank Governor and First Lady Haslam for their vote of confidence in me and with the Lord’s help I will make them as well as the rest of my supporters proud,” she wrote.
Her attorneys said she’s requesting privacy and transition time before she makes herself available to the public.
Brown was convicted in 2006 of murdering 43-year-old Nashville real estate agent Johnny Allen. Police said she shot Allen in the back of the head at close range with a gun she brought to rob him after he picked her up at a drive-in restaurant in Nashville to have sex with her.
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against life-without-parole sentences for juveniles. But the state of Tennessee argued successfully in lower courts that Brown’s sentence was not in violation of federal law because she would be eligible for parole after serving at least 51 years.
Haslam said that was too harsh a condition for a crime Brown admitted to committing as a teen, especially given the steps she has taken to rebuild her life. She earned her GED and completed university studies as an inmate.
Brown met with prison counselors to design a plan for her release, which will include time in a transition center and continuing coursework with the Lipscomb University program, the state Department of Correction said in a news release.
Brown plans to have a book published in mid-October and a documentary about her is set to be released this year, the nonprofit documentary film group Odyssey Impact and Daniel H. Birman Productions Inc. said in a news release earlier this year.
Brown ran away from her adoptive family in Nashville in 2004 and began living in a hotel with a man known as “Cut Throat,” who forced her to become a prostitute and verbally, physically and sexually assaulted her, according to court documents.
Brown’s lawyers contended she was a victim of sex trafficking who not only feared for her life but also lacked the mental capacity to be culpable in the slaying because she was impaired by her mother’s alcohol use while she was in the womb.
Currently, Virginia houses about 30 unaccompanied immigrant children in Bristow and Staunton.
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New permanent housing shelter will be developed in parts of Northern Virginia for unaccompanied immigrant children at the U.S. border.
The Trump Administration issued a notice that explained the plan to lease 110,000 square feet of property that will be able to house about 440 children at a time.
The property will include bedrooms, bathrooms, classrooms, and indoor and outdoor recreation areas. The shelters will be developed in one of four counties, Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, or Prince William.
Currently, Virginia houses about 30 unaccompanied immigrant children in Bristow and Staunton.
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While the cost is slightly more than Walt Disney Co. CEO Robert Iger had originally projected, however the cost is still impressive when compared to competitors Netflix and Amazon Prime. Netflix premium is $15.99 per month while Netflix’s most common plan is $12.99. Amazon Prime is also $12.99 per month or $119 per year.
While the cost is slightly more than Walt Disney Co. CEO Robert Iger had originally projected, however the cost is still impressive when compared to competitors Netflix and Amazon Prime. Netflix premium is $15.99 per month while Netflix’s most common plan is $12.99. Amazon Prime is also $12.99 per month or $119 per year.
For the price of one of the most popular streaming services, Disney+ members will receive three and customers have already shown their excitement.
Disney announced that Disney+ will come bundled with ESPN+ and Hulu for just $12.99/month. RIP Netflix is currently trending. pic.twitter.com/mtumMv9PFL
Many have joked on social media that Netflix is “over.” Will Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ actually take Netflix and Prime customers?
Disney+ will be available starting Nov. 12. Disney announced earlier this year that all of its 2019 movie releases such as Avengers: Endgame and The Lion King live-action will be available to stream strictly on Disney+ after they leave theaters. Customers can also expect exclusive content including movies and tv shows.
“I’d rather see people buy a good enough home versus buying a dream home and being cash-strapped over the next 20 years,” says Alyssa Lum, certified financial planner and founder of Luminate Financial Planning in Herndon, Virginia.
Constructed from aspirational Instagram feeds and reality TV, the dream home floats in the imagination like a castle in the sky but dissolves in the rain of hard numbers.
Chasing the dream can lure buyers to overextend themselves financially. Or the high prices can lead first-time homebuyers to delay a home purchase — and the opportunity to start building home equity.
For many homebuyers, buying a “good enough” home can be a sounder strategy, particularly for those most eager to become homeowners.
“I’d rather see people buy a good enough home versus buying a dream home and being cash-strapped over the next 20 years,” says Alyssa Lum, certified financial planner and founder of Luminate Financial Planning in Herndon, Virginia.
Here’s the beauty of a good enough home.
IT HAS THE ESSENTIALS
A good enough home may not have artisan tile or stainless steel appliances, but it has the essentials.
Look for a home that’s well-maintained, has “good bones” and is in a good location, says Kelly Roth, a real estate agent with Pearson Smith Realty in Ashburn, Virginia. A well-maintained home in a good location will likely increase in value and probably won’t be a money pit.
Buyers tend to home in on cosmetic upgrades, Roth says, but she advises focusing on basics, like windows, the roof, and the heating and air conditioning system. Then you’re less likely to face surprise repairs just to make the house functional.
If you can’t have it all — and most people can’t — list the features you want, and decide where you’re willing to compromise.
Amber Miller, a certified financial planner with The Planning Center in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, bought her first home two years ago. It has features she wanted, such as hardwood floors and a separate dining area, but isn’t flawless.
One of the bathrooms has outdated salmon-pink tile. “I thought, well, it’s not beautiful but it’s clean and functional,” she says. “This isn’t going to be the house I’m in forever, but it’s good enough for now, and I love it.”
IT FITS YOUR LIFESTYLE
Roth tells of a couple who fell in love with a home that looked like a dream. But the commute to work — 90 minutes each way — became a nightmare.
“They bought it in August and sold it in March,” Roth says.
“Good” is personal. A big yard could be a must for a family with a dog, but a pain if you hate yardwork.
And a good home matches your timeline. It should meet your needs for the years you plan to live there, which probably isn’t forever if it’s a first home, Roth says.
IT DOESN’T SQUEEZE YOUR BUDGET
A good enough home has a reasonable price for your budget. Lum recommends keeping your debt-to-income ratio under 30%. That’s the percentage of gross monthly income that goes toward debt payments, including the mortgage.
Lenders will qualify buyers with considerably higher ratios. But that may not leave much for other expenses, says Trey Reed, a loan officer with MVB Mortgage near Washington, D.C.
“Maxing out (debt-to-income) is something I see people do, but not something I recommend,” Reed says.
A good enough home leaves you with enough money for other priorities, such as saving for retirement and emergencies, and for all the costs of ownership besides the mortgage. That includes home insurance, property taxes, utilities and maintenance.
Fifty-five percent of homeowners — 68% of those ages 21 to 34 — had regrets about their preparation for the home-buying process, according to Bank of the West’s 2018 Millennial Study. The top regret for all age groups: costly maintenance.
Miller says to budget about 1% to 3% of the home’s value annually for maintenance.
IT CAN BE TRANSFORMED
Over time, you can add dreamy features.
When shopping for a home this year in Leesburg, Virginia, Jenny and Mike Virbickis found a beautifully upgraded house priced $75,000 more than they planned to spend. They kept looking and found a home that fit their budget.
“I’d rather have a house my family can grow into and we can fix up to make it our own rather than something we can’t afford,” Jenny says.
Their home has space for their toddler to play, is structurally sound and is in the neighborhood they wanted. Eventually, they’ll make home improvements. But for now, it’s perfect. After a block party in their cul-de-sac recently, Jenny says, “I came home and said, ‘This is where we were meant to be.’”
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This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Barbara Marquand is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: bmarquand@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @barbaramarquand .
DCPS officials do not believe they will have enough time to make those ineligible, eligible in time for the start of the schools year.
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A surprise admission by the head of DC public schools has some parents concerned about their child’s safety. On Tuesday, during a Question and Answer session with parents at Capitol Hill Montessori school , revealed that 30% of staff members have ineligible background checks. It was brought into discussion when a contractor was accused of sexually abusing a student at the school in June. This incident forced an overall review of employees and contractors background checks. DCPS claims this shows they were not properly conducting background checks.
Parents are now concerned about their children’s safety and are very questionable about the staff. DCPS officials do not believe they will have enough time to make those ineligible, eligible in time for the start of the schools year. School officials are going to make all attempts to complete as many background checks before school starts on the 26th. They believe a more realistic date could be as late as October.
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We talk about the top stories of the week, including President Trump’s response to the mass shootings over the weekend. We’re remembering Howard University ‘s own Toni Morrison. Also, did you hear the racist comments coming from Former Presidents Bush and Nixon? Lastly, Black journalist will gather together this week in Miami for the annual National Association Black Journalist conference.
Officials say the chemicals allow the bowls to be able to hold hot, wet and greasy food. However, the Environmental Protection Agency says those compounds do not break down in the body.
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One of American’s favorite fast food healthier alternative restaurants is back in the news. A new study shows Chipotle’s fiber bowls are linked to cancer
The group “New Food Economy” says the bowls contain PFAS or “forever chemicals” which can lead to serious health problems like cancer and kidney disease. The bowls were tested by researchers at locations in different locations throughout New York found the chemicals in all of the bowls.
Officials say the chemicals allow the bowls to be able to hold hot, wet and greasy food. However, the Environmental Protection Agency says those compounds do not break down in the body. What’s event scarier researchers found as the fiber bowls break down, the chemicals soak into the soil make the compost toxic.
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“Toni Morrison was a national treasure. Her writing was not just beautiful but meaningful — a challenge to our conscience and a call to greater empathy. She was as good a storyteller, as captivating, in person as she was on the page. And so even as Michelle and I mourn her loss and send our warmest sympathies to her family and friends, we know that her stories — that our stories — will always be with us, and with those who come after, and on and on, for all time.” — former President Barack Obama, via Twitter.
NEW YORK (AP) — Nobel laureate Toni Morrison, who transformed modern literature, has died.
Highlights of reaction to her death:
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“Toni Morrison was a national treasure. Her writing was not just beautiful but meaningful — a challenge to our conscience and a call to greater empathy. She was as good a storyteller, as captivating, in person as she was on the page. And so even as Michelle and I mourn her loss and send our warmest sympathies to her family and friends, we know that her stories — that our stories — will always be with us, and with those who come after, and on and on, for all time.” — former President Barack Obama, via Twitter.
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“In the beginning was the Word. Toni Morrison took the word and turned it into a Song.of Solomon, of Sula, Beloved, Mercy, Paradise Love, and more. She was our conscience. Our seer. Our truth-teller. She was a magician with language, who understood the Power of words. She used them to roil us, to wake us, to educate us and help us grapple with our deepest wounds and try to comprehend them. It is exhilarating and life-enhancing every time I read and share her work.” — Oprah Winfrey, concluding on Instagram with: “She was Empress-Supreme among writers. Long may her WORDS reign!”
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“I’ve been privileged to know Toni Morrison for nearly 40 years. During that time, she won many awards and accolades — the Nobel, a Pulitzer, the Presidential Medal of Freedom…But for me, Toni has been a treasured collaborator, a monumental inspiration and, most importantly, a cherished friend. We will all miss her, but the gifts she left us — her written works that have transformed so many lives around the world — live on…to educate, empower and nourish us. For this and all she shared with us, I say thank you Toni. My deepest sympathies go out to her family and friends.” — Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, director of this year’s documentary “Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am.”
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″‘If you surrender to the air, you can ride it.’ Rest in paradise.” — Beyonce, on her website.
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“The most important thing about Toni’s work is that … she raised the black American experience to an international level but didn’t forget that we were black people. That’s a hard thing to do, and she’s the first to manage it,” novelist Walter Mosley, at a news conference.
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″‘If there is a book that you want to read but it hasn’t been written yet, you must be the one to write it,’ Toni Morrison said. We are all so lucky to live in a world where she took her own advice and shared it with others.” — Hillary Clinton, via Twitter.
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“The passing of Toni Morrison is a mandate to all others in the field to fulfill the high calling that her work and her life demonstrated. Her words, her wisdom, her undying love and commitment to her people are forever engraved in the pages of history, but her artistic, remarkable literary voice will be deeply missed.” — Rep. John Lewis, in a statement.
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“Today, the world lost a storyteller of unmatched empathy, elegance and power. Toni Morrison’s belief that language is the ‘measure of our lives’ leaves an extraordinary, inspiring inheritance, and her beautiful writing will continue to be a blessing for generations to come.” — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, via Twitter.
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″‘You wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down.’ Toni Morrison. I cannot imagine growing up in a world without her words. I pray you rest In Peace and in Power. We will celebrate you with endless gratitude and love. Always.” — Kerry Washington, via Twitter.
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“Toni Morrison will be remembered as one of the greatest thinkers and storytellers in our history. She gave us all so much, and her work continues to give throughout time. Thank you, Toni Morrison.” — U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, via Twitter.
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“I just assumed Ms. Morrison would live forever. And in so many ways in so many hearts and minds and spirits, she will.” — filmmaker Barry Jenkins, via Twitter.
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“I was very saddened to hear of the death of the great American novelist Toni Morrison, a giant of her times and ours. Her novel, Beloved, is a heartbreaking testimony to the ongoing ravages of slavery, and should be read by all. That her strong voice will now be missing in this age of the renewed targeting of minorities in the United States and elsewhere is a tragedy for the rest of us.” — Margaret Atwood, in a statement.
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“Toni Morrison was a towering intellect, a brilliant scribe of our nation’s complex stories, a heartbreaking journalist of our deepest desires, and a groundbreaking author who destroyed precepts, walls and those who dared underestimate her capacity. Rest well and in peace.” — former Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, via Twitter.
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“In the passing of Toni Morrison, we lost one of our greatest voices & storytellers. Holding close those touched by her being & her gift. Her work gave us power, hope & freedom. While our world shines a little less bright today, we know ‘something that is loved is never lost.’” — U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, via Twitter.
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″‘If you look at the world as a brutal game, then you bump into the mystery of the tree-shaped scar. There seems to be such a thing as grace, such a thing as beauty, such a thing as harmony. All of which are wholly free and available to us.’ Your life was our gift, #ToniMorrison.” — Ava DuVernay, via Twitter.
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“Toni Morrison. While you have left the physical realm, the many treasures you left us will bear fruit for generations and generations. Your work has cascaded through my life deeply and simply…rest in power to a beloved icon.” — Tracee Ellis Ross, via Twitter.
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″‘We die. That may be the meaning of life. But we do language. That may be the measure of our lives.’ Holding all those touched by Toni Morrison in my heart today.” — U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, via Twitter.
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“Genius has moved on. She made me understand ‘writer’ was a fine profession. I grew up wanting to be only her. Dinner with her was a night I will never forget. Rest, Queen.” — Shonda Rhimes, via Twitter.
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“The world just lost an incredible soul. Rest in peace, Toni Morrison.” — U.S. Sen. Corey Booker, via Twitter.
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″‘If you are free, you need to free somebody else. If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else.’ -Toni Morrison. Today we lost an American legend. May she rest in peace.” — U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, via Twitter.
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“RIP Toni Morrison. This is a devastating loss to the world of words, to our understanding of power and it’s reach, to the cultivation of empathy, to rich, nuanced, elegant storytelling. Her work was a gift to every one who had the pleasure of reading her.” — Roxane Gay, via Twitter.
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“Aw man Toni Morrison taught me the word Rememory. RIP to a incredibly powerful and impactful woman.” — Chance the Rapper, via Twitter.
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“Oh, no. So deeply saddened. Thank you for everything, Ms. Morrison.” — Celeste Ng, via Twitter.
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“Her words were like mirrors to our collective souls. Like pillows to cushion the blows. Like mothers to wrap us in love. Like friends to hold our hands and see us through the darkness. #RipToniMorrison (heart) you. May we lift her up in the light of goodness and hold her there.” — Gabrielle Union, via Twitter.
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″#ToniMorrison has died. Just when we most need to hear her voice, she is gone. Thank you for the insights, the stories, and the poetry of your thought that have enriched us all these many years. Lay your burden down.” — Bette Midler, via Twitter.
“The thing that has always drawn me to Sula is that she is extremely complicated,” says Flournoy, whose novel “The Turner House” was a National Book Award finalist in 2015, “and the narrative doesn’t make any excuses for her bad behavior, or ever make her less worthy.”
NEW YORK (AP) — When author Angela Flournoy was asked to dress as her favorite literary character for a magazine shoot four years ago, she knew how to look the part: a wide and “severe hat,” a fur stole and the kind of stare that dares you to stare back.
For a day she could pretend to be Sula Peace, from Nobel laureate Toni Morrison’s novel “Sula,” an ode to female friendship and how it can endure the most shameless betrayals.
“The thing that has always drawn me to Sula is that she is extremely complicated,” says Flournoy, whose novel “The Turner House” was a National Book Award finalist in 2015, “and the narrative doesn’t make any excuses for her bad behavior, or ever make her less worthy.”
Toni Morrison died this week at age 88 and left behind countless writers for whom her characters were like close acquaintances and her stories like parables to guide them through their own lives. Edwidge Danticat, the prize-winning Haitian-American author, called her “a literary mother to generations of writers, especially black women writers like myself.” To ask a writer about reading Morrison or how Morrison influenced their work is, in part, to ask why they became writers at all.
Jamel Brinkley, a National Book Award finalist last fall for the story collection “A Lucky Man,” was a teenager when he read “The Bluest Eye,” Morrison’s 1970 novel about a black girl wishing for blue eyes.
“I remember feeling overwhelmed by what the novel had to say about racism, and about notions of beauty and ugliness,” he told The Associated Press in a recent email. “I felt like I was encountering something I hadn’t seen in written work before, but at the same time so much of the book’s sound and character felt familiar and affirmative to me, from life. It felt like a book that demanded you rise to certain level and become its reader, and it took a while before I could become that person.”
Julia Alvarez, whose novels include the best-selling “How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents,” praised Morrison for helping “many of us writers in the margins” find their way. George Saunders cited “Beloved,” her surreal, Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about an escaped slave, for opening up his ideas of historical fiction and helping to inspire the dreamlike novel “Lincoln in the Bardo,” winner of the Man Booker Prize. “There is something about the scale of her work that inspires other writers to think in a more expansive way,” he added, “she inspires with her incredible language and also the moral-ethical intensity of her work.”
The layers of rhythms and allusions in Morrison’s prose, from the Bible to black folklore, could make picking up a Morrison book the beginning of a lifelong education. Oprah Winfrey has told the story of complaining to the author that her books were difficult to get through. Morrison’s response: “That, my dear, is called reading.” Saeed Jones, a prize-winning poet whose memoir “How We Fight for Our Lives” comes out this fall, remembered repeated efforts to read “The Bluest Eye” and the Morrison novel “Tar Baby.” In 10th grade, he managed to finish “Sula,” a book he had to discover on his own because his school didn’t assign any black writers.
“I’d never seen a black woman like her in a literary novel,” he told the AP, referring to the title character. “She was sexy, troubled and troubling. I hung on her every move. I’ve read the novel perhaps eight times now and its influence in my work is clear. I love characters who trouble the water even at risk of drowning in the process. ”
Morrison’s books so moved some readers they became determined to meet her. When poet Nikki Giovanni finished “The Bluest Eye,” more than 40 years ago, she was living on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. She immediately headed to the midtown offices of Random House, where Morrison was an editor, and told the receptionist she wanted to see her. Morrison came downstairs, went out with her for coffee and remained her friend for the rest of their lives. As a writer, she calls Morrison a “light,” one who inspired her peers to tell their stories and not worry what others said. As a person, she calls her a “bench,” a source of rest and support.
“When my mother died (a decade ago) I was incredibly sad,” Giovanni told the AP. “I called Toni and were talking. I told Toni, ‘I don’t know what to do.’ And she said, ‘Girl, you’re a writer. Write.’ And that’s what she taught us — that we’re writers.”
The Washington Redskins will become the first NFL team to have a gambling-focused telecast of their games, offering cash prizes to viewers who correctly predict in-game outcomes during the preseason.
The telecasts on the regional cable network NBC Sports Washington will follow a formula established by the Redskins’ NBA neighbors, the Washington Wizards. The Wizards, however, offered the free-to-play contests during the regular season, while the Redskins will have them only during the four preseason games, when NBC Sports Washington has TV rights.
The network will continue to offer a traditional telecast on its main channel, while the gambling-focused telecast will air simultaneously on its secondary channel, NBC Sports Washington Plus. The Wizards offered the alternate telecast on eight games this season, and they saw increased ratings and fan engagement, said Damon Phillips, the network’s general manager.
Starting the interactive telecasts now allows the network to be ready when legal online or mobile sports betting becomes available in its viewing area, Phillips said. The network in theory could accept real-time wagers on proposition bets offered during the telecast if it partnered with a sportsbook.
“Down the road there are a number of possibilities,” Phillips said. “Who knows where the different regulatory entities are going to end up on sports betting, and we just want to make sure we’re ready to be able to respond to it.”
For now, the games are free to play and the network will give away $1,000 in cash to one winner per quarter of each game.
“We think this is the way of the future. There’s going to be a gamification of television broadcasts, and this is one of the first examples of it,” Phillips said.
The District of Columbia Council legalized sports betting in Washington this year, although the regulations have not been finalized and no sportsbooks have opened. Bills have been introduced to legalize sports betting in Virginia and Maryland, which would require voters in those states to approve it in a referendum.
Delaware and West Virginia, which are in the NBC Sports Washington viewing area, are among the 10 states that already have legal sportsbooks. Neither state currently has online or mobile betting, however.
The NFL has historically been opposed to gambling on its games, although it publishes injury reports that sportsbooks use to adjust point spreads, and it has embraced daily fantasy sports, in which fans wager on the performances of individual players rather than the outcome of a game. The NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball have been more eager to embrace sports betting in states where it is legal, and they have created business partnerships with sportsbook operators. Caesars Entertainment became the NFL’s first casino sponsor this year, but the deal does not include sports betting or fantasy football.
Jessie Johnson, a Redskins spokeswoman, said the league was aware of the planned telecasts and raised no objection.
Eliminating Hate and Violence. A community forum designed to do just that is taking place tonight (Wednesday, August 7th) in Montgomery County and the community is invited to participate. My guest is Mr. Barron Oakcrum – Commissioner with the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights.
Montgomery County Office of Human Rights is hosting a community forum Wednesday, August 7that 6:45pm at the Silver Spring Civic Building located at One Veterans Plaza in Silver Spring. More information here:
Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:40on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.
Follow me on facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
Meek Mill has become an activist for criminal justice reform after he returned to prison in 2017 for violations he blamed on his erratic travel schedule.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A decision on whether Meek Mill will be retried in a drug and gun case has been delayed until later this month.
The 32-year-old rapper has been on probation most of his adult life over the teenage arrest.
His case was overturned last month because of credibility concerns about the arresting officer.
Meek Mill has become an activist for criminal justice reform after he returned to prison in 2017 for violations he blamed on his erratic travel schedule.
His lawyer, Brian McMonagle, asked the judge for more time to resolve the case. It was rescheduled to Aug. 27.
The judge allowed him to remain out on bail.
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This story has been corrected to say that the case has been delayed until later this month rather than next month.
After Franklin’s death last August her heirs agreed to put the estate in the hands of Franklin’s niece, Sabrina Owens, who is a university administrator. Attorneys for Theodore White II said in a court filing that White should be named co-executor, along with Owens.
PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — A judge is expected to consider a request for a handwriting expert to examine wills discovered in couch cushions after Aretha Franklin’s death.
A hearing is scheduled Tuesday in Oakland County Probate Court, north of Detroit.
A handwritten 2014 document shows Franklin apparently wanted her son, Kecalf Franklin, to serve as the representative of her estate, which might be worth millions.
But lawyers for Franklin’s estate have said “there is no basis” to believe Kecalf Franklin has those skills.
After Franklin’s death last August her heirs agreed to put the estate in the hands of Franklin’s niece, Sabrina Owens, who is a university administrator. Attorneys for Theodore White II said in a court filing that White should be named co-executor, along with Owens.
White and Owens’ names appeared in a 2010 handwritten will, but were crossed out in the 2014 document.
NEW YORK (AP) — Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison has died.
Publisher Alfred A. Knopf says Morrison died Monday night at Montefiore Medical Center in New York. She was 88.
She was the first black woman to receive the Nobel literature prize, awarded in 1993. The Swedish academy hailed her use of language and her “visionary force.”
Her novel “Beloved,” in which a mother makes a tragic choice to murder her baby to save the girl from slavery, won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1988.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to stretch myself and grow,” Hill said in a statement issued through her publisher. “I hope that by sharing some very personal experiences in this memoir — things I’ve never shared publicly before — people will have a better understanding of who I am. I also hope by sharing my story, people realize their circumstances don’t have to dictate their capabilities or contributions.”
NEW YORK (AP) — Jemele Hill, the ESPN host who departed the sports network a year after tweeting that President Donald Trump was a white supremacist, has a book deal.
Hill’s memoir will be published in 2021, Henry Holt and Company announced Tuesday. The book, Hill’s first, is currently untitled.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to stretch myself and grow,” Hill said in a statement issued through her publisher. “I hope that by sharing some very personal experiences in this memoir — things I’ve never shared publicly before — people will have a better understanding of who I am. I also hope by sharing my story, people realize their circumstances don’t have to dictate their capabilities or contributions.”
Hill joined ESPN in 2006 from the Orlando Sentinel and eventually moved in front of the cameras, notably on SportsCenter. She made headlines beyond the sports world in September 2017 when she tweeted on her personal account that Trump was a “white supremacist” and “the most ignorant, offensive president” of her lifetime. Then-White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders called for Hill to be fired, and Trump himself said Hill was bad for ratings. In October 2017, ESPN announced it was suspending her for two weeks after she tweeted in favor of boycotting advertisers with the Dallas Cowboys, whose owner, Jerry Jones, had said that any player who took a knee during the national anthem would not play on his team.
In 2018, Hill and ESPN amicably parted ways. She now is a staff writer for The Atlantic and hosts the Spotify Original podcast “Jemele Hill is Unbothered.” In an interview with The Associated Press earlier this year, she stood by her Trump comments.
“I didn’t like the fact that it caused damage to people I care about and to relationships that I built, but in terms of what I said, I don’t regret it,” she said. “In my mind, I’ve only been proven right so it’s hard for me to regret it knowing that I’m on the right side of history.”
The county is putting into place measures to make sure something like this does not happen again.
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School Officials in Spotsylvania County Virginia are trying to figure out how a $600,000 plus payment for a new artificial turf was sent to the wrong place.
The invoice sent to school officials was for a part of the $1.2 million football field for Courtland High School. What’s worse is that it’s actually one of three payments under investigation. The other payments under question are check given to former high ranking staffers and for gift cards.
The $600,000 that was wired was signed off by the schools Superintendent Scott Braswell. The board was notified as soon as it was learned that the company that installed the field had not received the wire. County Supervisor Tim McLaughlin, “It’s a big deal”.
McLaughlin says the county is putting into place measures to make sure something like this does not happen again. The funds came from a bond approved by voters in a county referendum. Parents and supporters of the school athletic program is hoping insurance will cover the loss.
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963
Prince George’s County Chief of Police Hank Stawinski praised the officers and said that his department has “a healthy culture of accountability.”
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Today the trial starts for a Prince George’s County Police Officer indicted by a grand jury in March for assaulting a male suspect in October of 2018. The incident happened outside of a Temple Hills CVS.
Cpl. Stephen Downey is accused of repeatedly hit the suspect in the face as he sat handcuffed and belted in a seat inside of a police cruiser. Downey was turned in by he fellow officers. Prince George’s County Chief of Police Hank Stawinski praised the officers and said that his department has “a healthy culture of accountability.”
Downy has been suspended with pay pending the outcome of the trail. Stawinski says after the trail Downey will go through the administrative process would could lead to his termination.
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It’s National Night Out and we are joining the communities in Kettering, Largo and Lake Arbor to help fight crime. A big National Night Out event is planned this evening to bring residents together at the Kettering Largo Plaza. My guest is Edred McNair – Kettering, Largo, and Lake Arbor Civic Associations.
Don’t let crime get the best of your community. Join WHUR tonight, August 6th from 5:30 to 8:30pm at Kettering Largo Plaza for National Night Out. Get the info to protect your community and enjoy free food, music, and lots of giveaways. Plus bring some school supplies and help prince george’s county schools stuff-a-bus. WHUR, the Kettering, Largo and Lake Arbor Civic Associations… communities standing together against crime. For details, visit whur.com.
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.
