Currently, Virginia houses about 30 unaccompanied immigrant children in Bristow and Staunton.
Posted by
Posted on
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.
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @Taylorthomas963
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.’”
___
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.
Posted by
Posted on
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.
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @Taylorthomas963
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.
Posted by
Posted on
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.
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963
“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:
___
“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.
___
“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!”
___
“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.”
___
″‘If you surrender to the air, you can ride it.’ Rest in paradise.” — Beyonce, on her website.
___
“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.
___
″‘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.
___
“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.
___
“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.
___
″‘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.
___
“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.
___
“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.
___
“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.
___
“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.
___
“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.
___
″‘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.
___
“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.
___
″‘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.
___
“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.
___
“The world just lost an incredible soul. Rest in peace, Toni Morrison.” — U.S. Sen. Corey Booker, via Twitter.
___
″‘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.
___
“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.
___
“Aw man Toni Morrison taught me the word Rememory. RIP to a incredibly powerful and impactful woman.” — Chance the Rapper, via Twitter.
___
“Oh, no. So deeply saddened. Thank you for everything, Ms. Morrison.” — Celeste Ng, via Twitter.
___
“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.
___
″#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.
___
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.
Posted by
Posted on
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.”
Posted by
Posted on
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.
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963
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.
Once again the nation is dealing with the horrific realities of mass shootings. The latest are in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio. 31 people were killed and dozens wounded. We discuss the various issues that have come out of the two deadly incidents, domestic terrorism, gun violence and race relations. Our experts will share their thoughts about why is this is still happening.
Guests:
Dr. Barry J. Balleck, Author, Modern American Extremism and Domestic Terrorism: An Encyclopedia of Extremists and Extremist Groups (not pictured)
Shirley Carswell, Lecturer, Howard University School of Communication
Margarita Dilone , Chair, Board of Directors, Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Brittany White, Lead Organizer of Faith, Texas’s LIVE FREE Campaign.
Last month Rihanna shared a photo of a 7-year-old girl, named Ala’a Skyy, who happens to look a lot like the singer. Rihanna captioned the photo “Almost drop my phone. How?” The photo received over 7 million likes on Rihanna’s Instagram and brought Ala’a a ton of new followers.
A little girl who has risen to fame for her resemblance to singer and businesswoman Rihanna is now attracting attention from Tyra Banks.
Last month Rihanna shared a photo of a 7-year-old girl, named Ala’a Skyy, who happens to look a lot like the singer. Rihanna captioned the photo “Almost drop my phone. How?” The photo received over 7 million likes on Rihanna’s Instagram and brought Ala’a a ton of new followers.
Ala’s mother, Bria Baytops spoke to BET last week and shared that she was “star-struck” when she found out Rihanna reposted a picture of Ala’a. Bria said that she was at work when a coworker walked in to tell her that her daughter was on Rihanna’s Instagram page.
“I was working, so I was star-struck but had to finish working,” the mother said. “We originally took the pictures because she said she wanted to model.”
After the photo went viral, it caught the attention of supermodel and mogul Tyra Banks. She reposted the image and captioned it “S.O.S. PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME identify @badgalriri’s #freshfierceface mini-me!”
Tyra Banks was able to connect to Ala’a and her mom, Bria, thanks to her millions of followers. Banks also chatted with the two via FaceTime during an interview with ET. “We’re calling to see if maybe Ala’a will audition for Modelland to play the young version of the lead character because she looks so much like the lead character,” Banks told Ala’a and her mother.
Banks also offered Ala’a some advice during the call. She told Ala’a to focus on school and “know that modeling will always be there.” She continued by saying, “Then once your schoolwork is done, then you can practice your model poses in the mirror. But not until the schoolwork is done.”
That sounds like good advice coming from the acclaimed supermodel considering Ala’a Skyy is only seven years old. But it looks like Ala’a has a lot of modeling opportunities ahead of her.
Entertainment One, in a statement of its own, said it takes Williamson’s claims seriously. “We have initiated an independent investigation which is ongoing and as such, it would be inappropriate to comment at this time,” the production company said.
NEW YORK (AP) — Afton Williamson, co-star of the ABC crime series “The Rookie,” said she’s quitting the show because of sexual harassment and racial discrimination she experienced during the show’s first season.
In an Instagram post Sunday, Williamson said that throughout the filming of the show’s pilot, “I experienced racial discrimination/racially charged inappropriate comments from the hair department.”
Williamson said the treatment worsened when she was sexually harassed by a recurring guest star, bullied by executive producers and ultimately was sexually assaulted by a crew member at a wrap party.
ABC Studios responded later Sunday with a statement, largely referring to its production partners, Entertainment One.
“The allegations involve a production from Entertainment One,” the network said. “In late June, eOne made us aware and informed us that they launched an investigation that is ongoing. The safety of working environments is a top priority for us, and we take this matter very seriously.”
Entertainment One, in a statement of its own, said it takes Williamson’s claims seriously. “We have initiated an independent investigation which is ongoing and as such, it would be inappropriate to comment at this time,” the production company said.
A representative for Williamson didn’t respond to messages seeking further details on the actress’s claims, or whether the alleged sexual assault was reported to the police.
Williamson, who is African American, was also highly critical of how her claims were handled by showrunner and executive producer Alexi Hawley, who is white. Williamson said she filed reports on the incidents to Hawley, but they weren’t seriously investigated by the network or shared by Hawley with other producers.
“After my initial report of sexual harassment, I was assured that the actor would be fired,” said Williamson of the guest star. “I was also asked to film with him the very next day as a courtesy to the script, even though we had not begun filming the episode yet.”
Representatives for Hawley didn’t immediately respond to messages Sunday.
Williamson co-starred in the Los Angeles-based ABC drama. In the show, Nathan Fillion stars as a rookie police officer.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mariah Carey has recorded a new song that will debut as the theme of ABC’s “black-ish” spinoff.
ABC announced Monday that Carey has co-written and sings the theme music to “mixed-ish.” Carey says in a statement that she loves the show’s pilot, which focuses on the 1980s upbringing of Tracee Ellis Ross’ character, Rainbow.
Carey says she has wanted to collaborate with “black-ish’s” creators for some time, and providing music for a show focused on a biracial woman like herself is a natural fit.
“mixed-ish” is set to premiere on ABC on Sept. 24. It stars Arica Himmel as young Rainbow, and Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Tika Sumpter as her parents.
Last November, marketing officer Ed Razek of parent L Brands Inc., said in a Vogue interview that the annual Victoria’s Secret angels TV special would never include “transsexuals” because “the show is a fantasy.” He apologized after outrage ensued.
NEW YORK (AP) — Valentina Sampaio has become the first openly transgender model hired by Victoria’s Secret nearly a year after a top company official was pressured to apologize for implying trans women are off brand.
Sampaio, a Brazilian, has been posting from behind the scenes of a VS Pink campaign to the delight of celebrities who include Laverne Cox.
Cox who is also transgender, posted on one of Sampaio’s photos: “Wow finally!”
Last November, marketing officer Ed Razek of parent L Brands Inc., said in a Vogue interview that the annual Victoria’s Secret angels TV special would never include “transsexuals” because “the show is a fantasy.” He apologized after outrage ensued.
Sampaio was not hired for the show, and the company is rethinking having one at all after ratings sagged last time around.
Both shooters were white males. The Texas shooter was also reportedly anti-immigrant. The El Paso shooter reportedly drove hundreds of miles to El Paso from his hometown of Dallas.
Contributed by Ciana Moore
America and the world were left stunned by the news of two mass shootings occurring within 24 hours over the weekend. 20 people were killed in El Paso, Texas and ten more in Dayton, Ohio, including the shooter. Both shooters were white males. The Texas shooter was also reportedly anti-immigrant. The El Paso shooter reportedly drove hundreds of miles to El Paso from his hometown of Dallas.
The back-to-back shootings prompted several trending topics including #EnoughIsEnough, #WhiteSupremacistTerrorism and a hashtag prompted directly at legislators to #DOSOMETHING.
Donald Trump took to Twitter to offer his condolences by saying “God bless the people of El Paso, Texas. God bless the people of Dayton, Ohio.”
God bless the people of El Paso, Texas. God bless the people of Dayton, Ohio.
In a series of tweets, Trump also stated, “there are no reasons or excuses that will ever justify killing innocent people.”
Today’s shooting in El Paso, Texas, was not only tragic, it was an act of cowardice. I know that I stand with everyone in this Country to condemn today’s hateful act. There are no reasons or excuses that will ever justify killing innocent people….
Celebrities, politicians, and public figures have spoken out about the shootings and are unsatisfied by Trump’s tweeted response.
Rihanna took to social media to condemn Trump. The artist stated that Trump didn’t call the shootings out as “terrorism” and that America’s terrorists live among us, they are not immigrants.
Cardi B also responded to Trump and urged him to call out his own “racist supporters.”
We have enough information already!Both of the shooters are white supremacist terrorist with intentions to kill minority’s .Law enforcement took rapid action but what are YOU going to do to control some of your RACIST SUPPORTERS? https://t.co/P4iYAJa34L
Singer Lizzo shares condolences for Dayton and El Paso shootings and urges everyone to vote.
Just got off the phone w/ fam in Dayton… it was a close call for them but that’s not the case for 9 other families
between this & the terrorist attack in El Paso & recent other shootings I feel completely helpless.. make noise & bring awareness.. vote.. don’t normalize this
Actor Don Cheadle also wasn’t impressed by Trump’s words after the tragedies.
the country used to look forward to the president’s comforting words in times of national grief. this is little more than a news recap and you can’t even bother to spellcheck it. 🤡🍌💩 https://t.co/XacEOePcJY
Janelle Monae responded to a tweet acknowledging how the El Paso shooter was peacefully handcuffed after killing 20 people. Janelle responds “TALK ABOUT IT!”
And in perhaps what is one of the most shocking things to come out of this, following the shootings, actor Chris Evans shared a clip from a previous Trump rally where one of Trump’s supporters suggested shooting migrants and Trump laughed.
Just a reminder.
He laughed. Then he made a joke. Then he mugged for the camera as the crowd applauded.
President Donald Trump this morning in a 10-minute speech addressed the nation to condemn racism and present a plan of action to prevent senseless violence in response to the two mass shootings over the weekend.
Posted by
Posted on
President Donald Trump this morning in a 10-minute speech addressed the nation to condemn racism and present a plan of action to prevent senseless violence in response to the two mass shootings over the weekend.
In a four-step proposition, Trump stated, ” First we must do a better job at acting and identifying early warning signs”. He referenced social media outlets specifically. Second, he stated that ” We must stop the glorification of violence in our society” with video games being the mechanism that drives violence.
Third, he mentioned ” We must reform our mental health laws to better identify mentally disturbed individuals. Lastly, he said, ” We must make sure that those judged to pose a great risk to public safety can not have access to firearms and if they do, those firearms can be taken through rapid due process”.
In his speech, President Donald Trump called for Red Flags Laws that he also called, “Extreme Risk Protection Orders” that will harshly punish anyone that commits a hate crime or mass murder with repercussions such as the death penalty.
He called on a real bipartisan solution to the problem.
Find President Donald Trump’s speech here:
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963
The cause of the accident is still under investigation.
Posted by
Posted on
A motorcycle accident in Prince George’s County has claimed one life. Police say 26-year-old Jared Stewart apparently lost control of his bike, crossed the median and hit two other bikers stopped at the side of the road. He was rushed to the hospital were he later died.
The incident happened Sunday night on the ramp of Harry S. Truman Drive to Central Avenue.The two other motorcycle riders refused treatment at the scene. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963
This is a pilot parking project to improve the number of on street spaces for users.
Posted by
Posted on
A new parking pay scale goes into effect today. It will now cost motorist more an hour to park in the Chinatown and Penn Quarter area’s.
Under a new plan created by city leaders to open up more parking spaces more often you could pay up to 7 dollars an hour. In fact, the Department of Transportations demand based pricing could have motorist paying between $1 to $7 dollars an hour.
The streets where this will apply are all in Northwest bounded by H Street, 3rd Street, E Street and 11th Street. This demand based pay scale will not change on Saturday.
Here are the three time periods when the new rates will change; Weekdays from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., again 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. and then 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Sources say DDOT will make adjustments every 3 months and those changes will be posted on their website. This is a pilot parking project to improve the number of on street spaces for users. Officials plan to look at the outcomes and decide if this is something they should do through the city. If you have questions you can call DDOT at 202-671-2700.
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963
We are hitting the road this morning on Taking It to the Streets with Battles Transportation, Inc. Battles Transportation has been in business for over 4 decades and now they are embarking on a new exciting journey to bring the DMV entertainment events complete with luxury accommodations. My guests are Thomas Dominique – COO Battle’s Transportation and Tarsha Fitzgerald Director of Sales and Marketing with Battle’s Transportation, Inc.
Battle’s Transportation Inc. Tour Experience August 9th– 11thto the Richmond Jazz and Music Festival at Maymont Park. 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 Showon 96.3 WHUR.
Follow me on facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
(August 4, 2019) – Most Americans went to bed last night praying for the victims of the El Paso, Texas mass shooting. But when they woke up this morning. There was yet another shooting spree that left more people dead, others injured, and many wondering when will the violence ever end.
Two mass shootings in 24 hours have left even the most cynical asking for answers. In the Texas border city of El Paso, a gunman opened fire Saturday morning as shoppers packed a Walmart in search of back to school deals. The attack left 20 dead and as many as two dozen others injured, many of them critically. Hours later in Dayton, Ohio, around 1am Sunday, another gunman went on a shooting spree. This time at a popular nightspot where he killed nine people and wounded 26 others.
The El Paso gunman was taken into custody and has been identified as 21-year-old Patrick Crusius from Allen, Texas. Authorities believe the shooting was motivated by hate, saying Crusius posted a hate filled racist and anti-immigrant post online shortly the shooting.
The Dayton, Ohio shooter was shot to death by police. Authorities say the bloodshed was likely limited by the swift police response. Officers patrolling the streets of the downtown district were able to respond to the shooting in less than a minute. Authorities have not yet released a motive in the Ohio shooting. But the gunman has been identified as 24-year-old Connor Betts from Bellbrook, southeast of Dayton. His 22-year-old sister Megan was among those he killed in the rampage. Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley said the shooter was wearing body armor and had additional high-capacity magazines. “Had the police not responded so quickly, hundreds of people in the Oregon District could be dead today,” she said. Six of the nine killed were Black, police said. Officials have not ruled out or ruled in if the Dayton case is a hate crime.
President Donald Trump told reporters today, as he prepared to board Air Force One to return to Washington, D.C. after wrapping up an out of sight weekend at his golf club in New Jersey that, “hate has no place in our country and we’re going to take care of it.” Trump said he will make a statement Monday on the two mass shootings and what can be done in response.
Considering how congested DC metro traffic has become, it’s no surprise that we all get a little angry on the roads. But that’s a far cry the growing incidents of road rage we’ve seen. Some of them violent. But quick tempers and extreme anger don’t just happen behind the wheel of a car. We’ve seen in our homes, on the job and in social settings. Why does this happen and what can people do to manage extreme anger?
Guests:
Dr. Nicole Cutts, Licensed Clinical PsychologistJohn Townsend, Manager, Public and Government Affairs, AAA Mid-Atlantic
Don’t let the back to school blues get the best of you.
Join WHUR, FedEx, SunTrust Bank, Prince George’s County Public Schools, and many more for the largest back to school block party in the DMV Saturday August 17th from 9am to 2pm at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex.
Get a FREE backpack. Check out our vendors, food, and game trucks. Plus free dental and vision screenings. It’s a Back to School Block Party. Registration is required. REGISTER HERE.
This mixed-use development will include 350 apartments and 220-thousand square feet of commercial space.
Posted by
Posted on
If you as most residents they would tell you it is a long time coming. Officials say a new development project called “Carillon” is moving forward.
This mixed-use development will include 350 apartments and 220-thousand square feet of commercial space. The site will be next to the new University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center. The site old Cap at the Boulevard. Planners say there will also be a park set aside for outdoor entertainment. So far, more than a third of the space has already been pre-leased.
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963
Jacob Cassell was a rising Junior at Winston Churchill High School in Bethesda.
Posted by
Posted on
It is a tragic ending to an activity that kids do every day, riding a bicycle. On Thursday the teen on a bike who was hit by a vehicle after falling off a sidewalk has claimed the life of a 17-year old boy.
Jacob Cassell was a rising Junior at Winston Churchill High School in Bethesda. Principle Brandice Heckert posted on Twitter, “Jake, had a kind heart and a contagious smile. He will be greatly missed.” The accident happened on busy Old Georgetown Road as he tried to go around some trash cans on a narrow sidewalk. The driver of the Volkswagen Atlas stayed on the scene.
Neighbors said they complained of the dangers for bicyclists in the past. They feel designated bike lanes need to be put in the area.
Grief counselors will be on hand at Winston Churchhill for staff and students in need.
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963
CD Enterprises presentsThe 2019 Summer Spirit Festival tomorrow at Merriweather Post Pavillion. Featured artist include, Anthony Hamilton, Jhene Aiko, Rapheal Saadiq, Be’la Dona featuring Sugar Bear and many more. Gates open at 1pm and the show kicks off at 2:30pm
Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club presents The Bar-Kays and One Way, Friday night at 8pm. Hosted by our very own “C”from the Time Tunnel.
Funny man George Lopez brings his “The Wall World Tour” to town, tonight at the Theater at MGM National Harbor. Show time is 8pm.
City Winerypresents Syleen Johnson’s“The Women Tour”tonight at 8pm. Then on Saturday Bilal takes the stage for two shows, 7pm & 10:30pm.
Marcus Johnsonis at Blues Alleythrough Sunday for two shows each night, 8pm and 10pm.
The29thAnnual Manassas African American Heritage Festivalis Saturday, August 3rd from 11am to 6pm at Metz Middle School @ 9950 Wellington Road – Manassas, VA. More information here:
Citi Open
Rock Creek Park Tennis Center plays host to this DC summer sporting tradition. The week-long tournament begins Saturday and runs through August 4. Make sure to check the tournament’s websitefor event, ticket and lineup updates. DISCOUNTED TICKETS:Save 20% off tickets for sessions 5 (begins at 1 p.m. on July 31), 6 (begins at 1 p.m. on Aug. 1), 7 (begins at 2 p.m. on Aug. 2) and 8 (begins at 7 p.m. on Aug. 2). with code DESTINATIONDC. 10 a.m. | Tickets Rock Creek Park Tennis Center, 4850 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011
Khalid
Khalid is officially leveling up with his first arena tour, Free Spirit, running through multiple summer festivals and arenas around the world. Fortunately for us, one of the tour’s last stops will be in the nation’s capital for this Saturday night show. Expect to hear highlights from his catalogue, including “Talk,” “My Bad” and “Better”. 7:30 p.m. | Tickets Capital One Arena, 601 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
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 nothing else… two nights of Democratic presidential debates had entertaining moments. But did they move the needle for voters? We’re talking about winners, losers on the Democratic road to The White House.
(Baltimore, MD) — Dozens of people are facing charges following several drug investigations in Baltimore. Maryland U.S. Attorney Robert Hur told a news conference today that 90 people have been indicted in the past month as part of four separate investigations. Hur says 51 guns were taken off the streets and law enforcement officers seized several kilos of illegal drugs, including Fentanyl and heroin, along with nearly one-million-dollars in cash. All this comes after the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced a new crime-fighting initiative with city and state officials last month.
(Detroit, MI) — Senator Kamala Harris is speaking in Detroit after clashing with Democratic rivals at the second debate. Speaking to reporters today, the California Democrat says she wants to focus on the “bread and butter” issues instead of talking about the broader ideas that other candidates are pushing. On the topic of healthcare, Harris says she has “nothing but praise” for former President Barack Obama and the Affordable Care Act, but her proposal is about taking the healthcare system to the next level. Harris says she is fully prepared to work to earn the vote of everyone and explain how she spent her career as a federal prosecutor.
“West has been working with a team to design prefabricated structures that sport the same austere aesthetic, with the goal of deploying them as low-income housing units.”
Kanye West is having dome-like structures built on a property in Calabasas, which will eventually become a housing community. TMZ captured photos of the structures being built and reported that these are the prototypes for West’s housing project.
It was revealed earlier this month in an interview with Forbes Magazine that West had the plans for low-income housing in the works. The Forbes cover star also revealed that his inspiration was Star Wars character, Luke Skywalker’s childhood home.
“West has been working with a team to design prefabricated structures that sport the same austere aesthetic, with the goal of deploying them as low-income housing units,” the article states.
Luke Skywalker’s childhood home also had the dome shape that these prototypes resemble. Construction crews currently are working on the prototype structures and each stands at about 50 feet high.
TMZ reports that the project is still in an early state but Kanye plans on making it “dynamic.”
In the meantime, if you would like to stay in Luke Skywalker’s actual childhood home, you now can! For around USD$20 a night, you can stay in the actual cave dwelling that was used as Luke Skywalker’s childhood home in the Star Wars movies. The Hotel Sidi Driss, as it is named, is located in the small Berber village of Matmata in Tunisia.
In 2017, the International Labor Organization did a study on “modern slavery.” They found that human trafficking affects 24.9 million people around the world each year. One in 4 human trafficking victims are children.
Ride sharing has raised safety concerns for human trafficking but Uber is working to raise awareness and stop human trafficking. Uber has partnered with ECPAT-USA, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Truckers Against Trafficking and more to raise awareness and advocate for legislation on human trafficking.
In 2016, Uber pledged their commitment to combating human trafficking by signing ECPAT’s The Code, written guidelines to help companies prevent sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
Human trafficking is defined as “organized criminal activity in which human beings are treated as possessions to be controlled and exploited (as by being forced into prostitution or involuntary labor).”
In 2017, the International Labor Organization did a study on “modern slavery.” They found that human trafficking affects 24.9 million people around the world each year. One in 4 human trafficking victims are children.
Uber has released some tips to the public on how drivers and others in the community can identify human trafficking and what to do. Some signs of human trafficking included signs of emotional abuse and distress, evidence of physical abuse, and children being dropped off or picked up in unsafe locations.
If you suspect human trafficking, Uber has provided ways you can help. To reach the National Human Trafficking Hotline, call 1-800-373-7888 or text “Help” to 233733. To reach the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, call 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or go to CyberTipline.org.
The two companies are hoping this small act of caring and sharing will become even more contagious around the DMV, helping to make the region just a little kinder this summer.
Posted by
Posted on
https://youtu.be/D2Z2PmJwWuQ
District Heights, Maryland (Thursday, August 1, 2019) – It’s often called the most important meal of the day. WHUR and Wells Fargo got in on the act this morning providing free breakfast to dozens of customers at the Chick-Fil-A at 5502 Silver Hill Road in District Heights, Maryland.
Unsuspecting customers at the fast food placed their orders this morning and surprisingly learned they were able to keep their money in their pockets. “Good morning. No need to pay this morning. Breakfast is on us. It’s ‘Pay It Forward Thursdays’and WHUR and Wells Fargo are treating you to breakfast this morning,” WHUR News Anchor Taylor Thomas told customers at the drive-thru.
It was all part of “Pay It Forward Thursdays,” an initiative to help spark random acts of kindness across the Washington area. Each Thursday, WHUR and Wells Fargo team up to crisscross the region to surprise unsuspecting customers by picking up the tab at local restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, Metro stops, coffee shops, and salons.
“Pay It Forward Thursdays,” in partnership with Wells Fargo’s “Where We Live,” kicked off Thursday, July 25th at 4pm at Giant Food at 1535 Alabama Avenue in S.E., D.C. with WHUR and Wells Fargo hitting the grocery store to pay the grocery bill of unsuspecting customers. “
The two companies are hoping this small act of caring and sharing will become even more contagious around the DMV, helping to make the region just a little kinder this summer.
Pay It Forward Thursdays will be secretly carried out every Thursday through September 30th 2019. You can follow us on the journey using #PayItForwardWHUR #WhereWeLiveDC #WHURFM.
The 29thAnnual Manassas African American Heritage Festival gets underway this weekend. I have all the details for you on how you can take part in this music, history, food, and craft event. My guest is Curtis Porter – Manassas African American Heritage Festival
The 29thAnnual Manassas African American Heritage Festival is Saturday, August 3rdfrom 11am to 6pm at Metz Middle School @ 9950 Wellington Road – Manassas, VA. More information here: www.maahf.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.
The first day of school for students in Prince George’s County is a little more than a month away. What will this new school year bring? What’s the plan to improve the county schools beyond the coming school year? We’ll get answers to those questions and more as we sit down with Prince George’s County Schools CEO, Dr. Monica Goldson.
(Detroit, MI) — Author Marianne Williamson was the most googled candidate last night, as she took the debate stage in Detroit along with nine other Democratic presidential hopefuls. Williamson, who mounted an unsuccessful congressional bid in 2014, led searches in 49 of 50 states, with Governor Steve Bullock number one in his home state of Montana. Williamson’s comment that President Trump represents a “dark psychic force” also saw a search spike. Over on Twitter, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren was the most talked about candidate. The second round of Democratic presidential debates concludes tonight in Detroit.
(Baltimore, MD) — U.S. Housing Secretary Ben Carson claims there are some good things and bad things in the city of Baltimore. Visiting Baltimore today, Carson cited problems that cannot be swept under the rug. His visit followed President Trump’s harsh criticism of the Maryland city. Trump has called Baltimore corrupt and “rat infested.” The focus of Trump’s criticism is Elijah Cummings, a prominent black congressman who chairs the House Oversight Committee. Trump has called him “racist.” Carson noted his long association with the city of Baltimore as a pediatric neurosurgeon.
The study found that a whopping 28% of food delivery drivers admitted to stealing food. 497 Americans who have worked for delivery apps including UberEats, Grubhub, DoorDash and Postmates were surveyed.
These days Americans are always looking for convenience and what is more convenient than fast food being delivered right to your doorstep? Food delivery apps are becoming increasingly popular. In fact, studies show that the average person has two food delivery apps and uses them about three times a month.
But have you ever received your food and your order of fries seem a little lighter than usual? Have you ever suspected that your driver may have tasted your milkshake? Well, according to a study conducted by US Foods, chances are your suspicions are correct.
The study found that a whopping 28% of food delivery drivers admitted to stealing food. 497 Americans who have worked for delivery apps including UberEats, Grubhub, DoorDash and Postmates were surveyed. So, if you’ve ordered food from one of these apps four times, chances are your food was eaten at least once. But it gets worse.
While 28% of drivers actually admitted to eating the customer’s food, even more admitted to being “tempted.” 54% of delivery drivers surveyed said they were tempted by the smell of the food they were delivering.
One can only imagine how many drivers are doing this if only 1 in 4 actually admitted it and more than half said they have been “tempted.”
So what can be done to ensure your food is safe? According to US Foods, 85% of the 1500 customers they surveyed would like more restaurants to use tamper-evident labels to address this. Things such as sealed food containers and drinks being served before the straw is inserted, can really help ensure to customers their food isn’t being tampered with.
We’re certain you’ll take a closer look the next time your food arrives at your door.
According to the document, the woman, Valerie Bell, claims Matt punched her in the face at a Denny’s parking lot in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Matt Jordan appeared to be aggressive with ex Kenya Moore when they were together during a past season of “Real Housewives of Atlanta.” Well, it doesn’t look as if his behavior has improved much.
TMZ is reporting Jordan was arrested for punching his current girlfriend in the face outside of a restaurant in Arizona over the weekend.
According to the document, the woman, Valerie Bell, claims Matt punched her in the face at a Denny’s parking lot in the early hours of Saturday morning — this in the presence of a second woman, who says she witnessed it go down.
The witness also told cops that Matt got super close to her, snatched her cigarettes — including one in her mouth — and tried chucking them on the roof.
When officers arrived, they say Matt had already left — but Valerie called cops a few hours later in Maricopa to say he had circled back to her home, and the police eventually found and arrested him. Upon arrest, cops say they discovered a warrant for the other April incident. He was arrested without incident, per the report.
Matt has been charged with trespassing, plus aggravated assault, theft and threatening/intimidating with damage to property — which stem from an arrest warrant issued in Maricopa County. His bail was set at $3,250.
R. Kelly’s live-in girlfriends Azriel Clary and Jocelyn Savage are now seeking a spotlight of their own. A source told TMZ the girls are looking to get into the Hollywood scene through acting, modeling or even starting their own business.
Clary and Savage are reportedly looking for a notable talent agent that will put them in a “positive light.” The girls are reportedly only seeking big-name PR reps, as they are “high profile” now, after all they are R. Kelly’s girlfriends.
Earlier this month, there were claims that Clary and Savage were living in “slave-like” conditions and were evicted from R. Kelly’s condo. Clary and Savage stated this wasn’t true in a video sent to TMZ. The girls also made it clear they are standing by R. Kelly despite his arrests for multiple sex crimes.
The two women are even set to support Kelly in court in two weeks. Kelly is set to appear in court in Brooklyn following his 5-count indictment in New York including racketeering and kidnapping. He’s also currently fighting a 13-count indictment in Illinois for sex crimes involving minors, CNN reports.
Clary and Savage reportedly plan to continue to support their man and build an empire in the meantime.
This year alone the Mayor plans to provide $3 million dollars to expand the city’s police work force to 4,000 officers by 2021.
Posted by
Posted on
This morning DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and city leaders and law enforcement officials will team up to launch #BecomingMPD. It’s a campaign to encourage District residents to become police officers.
At 11:30 a.m. Mayor Bowser along with Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Metropolitan Police Chief Peter Newsham will officially announce the details of #BecomingMPD. The leaders will also take this time to introduce the public to the cities newest police recruits at the Metropolitan Police Academy.
Mayor Bowser has created and funded a number of program and initiative to improve MPD’s recruitment efforts since 2016. Some of programs include the Anacostia Public Safety Academy, The Recruit Six-Month Rental Assistance Program and the Employer-Assisted Housing Program. This year alone the Mayor plans to provide $3 million dollars to expand the city’s police work force to 4,000 officers by 2021.
Today’s news announcement will be held at the Metropolitan Police Department Training Academy, 4665 Blue Plains Drive, SW. Click here get more information about joining the police academy http://joinmpd.dc.gov/
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963
Under D.C’s Lead Hazard Prevention and Elimination Act all multi-family use properties built before 1978 must be free of lead-based paint.
Posted by
Posted on
D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine has filed paperwork against a landlord he says has repeatedly ignored an order to remove lead based paint at one of her apartment buildings she rents out.
The property at 3911 R Street in Southeast is owned by Starkoda Plummer. Officials say the Ward 7 property endangers the health and safety of those who rent space there.
In addition, the D.C. attorney general’s office says Plummer has also ignored paying the penalties associated with the fines for not removing the toxic substance.
Under D.C’s Lead Hazard Prevention and Elimination Act all multi-family use properties built before 1978 must be free of lead-based paint. Plummer’s two-story property was built before 1978. It was first inspected by the city in September of 2017. It followed a complaint to the office of Energy and Environment of chipping and peeling paint on the exterior of the multi-family building.
Plummer’s fines total almost $10,000. She has not responded to any of the legal orders and/or notices.
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963
Providing District youth hope through music. That’s the mission of my guest this morning. She helps to host weekly block parties to bring people together thru the core elements of hip-hop culture. My guest is Deandrea Chavis – Words, Beats, and Life, Inc.
Words Beats and Life, Inc. hosts Block Party Series and Summer Academy in DC every Friday thru August 16thto help people unwind at 5thand Mass. Avenue, NW. Learn how to scratch records, create art, play games and more. www.wblinc.org
Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:40 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.
Follow me on facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
When was the last time you asked your parents for money?
According to a recent article in USA Today, parents are providing financial assistance to help bail their children out of hard times. Tonight, we have a financial expert that will offer advice on how to increase your financial wealth. If you’re a parent and want to keep your adult child out of your pocket, this conversation is for you.
eleased a motive in the Ohio shooting. But the gunman has been identified as 24-year-old Connor Betts from Bellbrook, southeast of Dayton. His 22-year-old sister Megan was among those he killed in the rampage. Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley said the shooter was wearing body armor and had additional high-capacity magazines. “Had the police not responded so quickly, hundreds of people in the Oregon District could be dead today,” she said. Six of the nine killed were Black, police said. Officials have not ruled out or ruled in if the Dayton case is a hate crime.
