SoulCycle, Equinox Distance Themselves From Trump Fundraiser
(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.”
“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.”
___
Jesse J. Holland covers race and ethnicity for The Associated Press. Contact him at jholland@ap.org, on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/jessejholland or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jessejholland .
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.
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.
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.”
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.
Daniels had initially supported Smollett after the actor claimed he suffered a racist and anti-gay attack in Chicago. But when Smollett faced charges for allegedly fabricating the attack, Daniels said the matter had become painful and frustrating for him and the “Empire” cast .
Prosecutors dropped the charges against Smollett in March, but a special prosecutor could charge him again .
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.
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.
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963
“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.
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.
Click Here https://www.rockvillemd.gov/1350/Register-to-Vote
Important Election Dates:
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
The Community Kinship Coalition is hosting it’s 25th Annual Hoops 4 Peace Anti-Violence Youth Summit this Saturday
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.
Listen to this mornings segment here:
Why a vacation is more than just time off from work. It can contribute to your overall health and wellness.
Guests:
“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
— Tyler Mitchell (@Tyler_Mitchell_) August 6, 2019
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— Khalid (@thegreatkhalid) August 5, 2019
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.
The Venice Film Festival opens August 28.
Reports Of Person With Gun Prompt Evacuations Of Gannett/USA Today HQ Unfounded
(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.
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.
Walt Disney Co. has announced that its new streaming service Disney+ will be available through a bundle with Hulu and ESPN+ for $12.99 a month. This will save customers $5 per month from if they were to pay for all three separately.
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
— Joel Franco (@OfficialJoelF) August 6, 2019
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.
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 .
Related links:
NerdWallet: Tips for first-time homebuyers
http://bit.ly/nerdwallet-first-time-homebuyer
DCPS officials do not believe they will have enough time to make those ineligible, eligible in time for the start of the schools year.
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
Panel of reporters talks about the top stories of the week.
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.
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.
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.”
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.”
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.
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.
___
More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Montgomery County is hosting a special forum in an effort of eliminate hate in the county
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.
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.
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.
Nobel laureate Toni Morrison has died, a friend confirms.
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.”
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.
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.”
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
We’re bringing the community together to help fight crime in your neighborhood.
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.
America is forced to confront the realities of gun violence after two mass shootings in one day.
Dr. Barry J. Balleck, Author, Modern American Extremism and Domestic Terrorism: An Encyclopedia of Extremists and Extremist Groups (not pictured)
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!”
View this post on Instagram
S.O.S. PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME identify @badgalriri’s #freshfierceface mini-me! 🐣 (Love you RiRi)💛
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 4, 2019
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….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 4, 2019
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
— iamcardib (@iamcardib) August 4, 2019
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
— |L I Z Z O| (@lizzo) August 4, 2019
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
— Don Cheadle (@DonCheadle) August 4, 2019
Janelle Monae responded to a tweet acknowledging how the El Paso shooter was peacefully handcuffed after killing 20 people. Janelle responds “TALK ABOUT IT!”
!!!!!!!! TALK ABOUT IT !!!!!!!!! https://t.co/gFvUgBHatw
— Janelle Monáe, Cindi (@JanelleMonae) August 4, 2019
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.
Then he just kept right on talking. https://t.co/21DBmmPew0
— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) August 4, 2019
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.
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.
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
Battle’s Transportation is offering an exclusive and unique experience with luxury accommodations
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.
Listen to this mornings segment here:
Segment 1:
Segment 2:
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 r
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.
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.
How can you control your anger and avoid road rage?
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.
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.
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
The Weekend is Action Packed With Some Spectacular Events
Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:40 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.
Follow me on Facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
Listen to this mornings segment here:
Picking the winners and losers in the Democratic presidential debates.
Christine Pelosi, DNC Executive Committee (not pictured)
U.S. Attorney Announces Drug Indictments In Baltimore
(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.
