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Color Me Courtney highlighted some of the great attractions at her favorite park, “Animal Kingdom”.
Cesar Avila talked about the new attractions at the different parks and how there’s something fun for both, children and adults to enjoy at Walt Disney World.
“I wanted to get my foot in the door,” she said. According to Harding, the bigger picture included, “On-court coaching opportunities. Other front-office opportunities. Other scouting opportunities.”
The Philadelphia 76ers hired former WNBA player Lindsey Harding as the team’s assistant coach. This is a record breaking move for the franchise because she will be the first woman to hold that position.
Harding worked her way up through the ranks. First she was a pro scout, then was promoted to player development coach. She is now the NBA’s seventh female assistant coach.
Harding spent last year working for the NBA’s Basketball Operations Associates Program. After the program’s completion, she interviewed with a few NBA teams with aspirations of having a front office and coaching role. “I wanted to get my foot in the door,” she said. According to Harding, the bigger picture included, “On-court coaching opportunities. Other front-office opportunities. Other scouting opportunities.”
Becky Hammon, and Natalie Nakase are also amongst the several women who transitioned from playing basketball to coaching in the NBA. Hammon, San Antonio’s assistant coach, advised Harding to pursue this career. The two women met four years ago while Harding worked as an assistant on the Toronto Raptors’ summer league coaching staff, while Hammon was the head coach of the Spurs’ summer league team.
I played against Becky for years,” Harding told ESPN. “During this last season, especially working in the front office [program] and going to games, I spent some time talking to her. She was always telling me, ‘You need to come. You need to come. We need more women here.’”
Sixers head coach, Brett Brown, is pleased with Harding’s new contributions to the organization. He told ESPN, “Having graduated from the NBA’s Basketball Operations Associates Program last season, Lindsey is applying the same grit and basketball IQ she used as a player in her move to the front office. We look forward to the work Lindsey will do to help grow our program and further solidify a culture of winning.”
Harding was the WNBA’s 2007 first round draft pick, selected by the Phoenix Mercury. In 2008, she was the second Duke women’s basketball player to have her jersey retired (10).
NEW YORK (AP) — No artist has more No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart than Mariah Carey, so it’s only fitting that the singer will receive the Icon Award at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.
NBC and Dick Clark Productions announced Thursday that the Grammy-winning superstar will also perform at the May 1 event in Las Vegas.
Carey has 18 No. 1 hits, including “Vision of Love,” ″Hero,” ″Honey” and “We Belong Together.”
Her duet with Boyz II Men, “One Sweet Day,” spent 16 weeks at No. 1, making it the longest-running No. 1 hit on the Hot 100 chart. Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito” tied the feat in 2017.
Kelly Clarkson will host the Billboard Awards, and Panic at the Disco, Sam Smith and Normani will perform. Cardi B is the leader with 21 nominations.
The hearse carrying Hussle’s coffin from the Staples Center will then travel deep into the neighborhood where the deadly Rodney King race riot began in 1992 and on past the property where Hussle had planned to turn an aging strip mall into new businesses and affordable homes. Finally, it will arrive at a funeral home in the city’s hard-scrabble Crenshaw district, where the rapper was born on Aug. 15, 1985.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The life of rapper Nipsey Hussle will be remembered during a public memorial service Thursday that is expected to draw more than 20,000 people to the Staples Center, with thousands more paying their respects to the late rapper during a 25-mile procession through the city .
The Nipsey Hussle’s Celebration of Life ceremony will be held at the 21,000-seat downtown arena beginning at 10 a.m. No details have been released about dignitaries and celebrities who will attend, perform or speak. The event will be livestreamed on BET News’ Facebook page .
The hearse carrying Hussle’s coffin from the Staples Center will then travel deep into the neighborhood where the deadly Rodney King race riot began in 1992 and on past the property where Hussle had planned to turn an aging strip mall into new businesses and affordable homes. Finally, it will arrive at a funeral home in the city’s hard-scrabble Crenshaw district, where the rapper was born on Aug. 15, 1985.
Hussle was shot to death March 31 while standing outside The Marathon, his South Los Angeles clothing store, not far from where the rapper grew up. The store will be one of the places where Hussle’s casket passes during the procession through South Los Angeles.
Eric R. Holder Jr., who has been charged with killing Hussle, has pleaded not guilty. Police have said Holder and Hussle had several interactions the day of the shooting and have described it as being the result of a personal dispute.
The 33-year-old Grammy-nominated rapper, whose real name was Ermias Asghedom, was an Eritrean-American father of two who was engaged to actress Lauren London. He was a beloved figure for his philanthropic work that went well beyond the usual celebrity “giving back” ethos. Following his death, political and community leaders were as quick and effusive in their praise as his fellow hip-hop artists.
Hussle recently purchased the strip mall where The Marathon is located and planned to redevelop it into a mixed-use commercial and residential complex. The plan was part of Hussle’s broader ambitions to remake the neighborhood where he grew up and attempt to break the cycle of gang life that lured him in when he was younger.
For a decade, Hussle released much sought-after mixtapes that he sold out of the trunk of his car, helping him create a buzz and gain respect from rap purists and his peers. His said his stage name, a play on the 1960s and ’70s rhyming standup comic Nipsey Russell, was given to him as a teen by an older friend because he was such a go-getter — always hustling.
He charged $100 for his 2013 mixtape “Crenshaw,” scoring a cash and publicity coup when Jay-Z bought 100 copies for $10,000.
Last year he hit new heights with “Victory Lap,” his critically acclaimed major-label debut album on Atlantic Records that made several critics’ best-of lists. The album debuted at No. 4 on Billboard’s 200 albums charts and features collaborations with Kendrick Lamar and CeeLo Green.
It earned him a Grammy nomination, though he lost out to Cardi B’s “Invasion of Privacy.”
Hussle was also a wildly popular figure among professional athletes, especially those based in LA, where he was a regular on the sidelines. Players admired him for his community building.
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Associated Press Writer John Rogers contributed to this report.
MIAMI (AP) — Dwyane Wade’s wife was slapping his backside in celebration.
His oldest son, the heir to the Wade basketball throne, was on the Miami bench for the final minutes.
Former President Barack Obama sent a video. John Legend and Chrissy Teigen were courtside. The “M-V-P” chants rained down while Wade played, one more time, the last Miami steps in this season-long One Last Dance.
Wade’s final game in Miami was everything he wanted, and then some. He scored 30 points in the tribute-filled game, and the Heat sent him off a winner by defeating the Philadelphia 76ers 122-99 on Tuesday night. It was festive, all the way to the end, even though the Heat learned during the third quarter that they were eliminated from playoff contention.
“Wade County,” Wade shouted to the crowd after the game after he jumped up onto the courtside table where Heat managing general partner Micky Arison sits, one last time, one last celebration. “I love you.”
They loved him back. They have for 16 years. They will for 16 more, and 16 more after that, and 16 more after that, too.
“I’m still just amazed, even after all these years,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “I’ve seen him go into his bag of tricks so many times and just compartmentalize. But I’m truly amazed that he was able to perform like that tonight.”
Bam Adebayo scored 19, Justise Winslow scored 16 and Hassan Whiteside added 15 for the Heat. The Heat were aware that Memphis had a big lead against Detroit, a must-win for the Grizzlies to keep Miami alive in the playoff race, but the Pistons rallied.
“It still was a beautiful night,” Spoelstra said.
Wade’s career will end Wednesday in Brooklyn, when Miami plays its regular-season finale. He checked out for the last time with 1:02 left, embracing teammates and his son Zaire — who was on the Heat bench.
Greg Monroe scored 18 points and Ben Simmons scored 16 for Philadelphia, which entered Tuesday already locked into the No. 3 seed for the Eastern Conference playoffs and rested Joel Embiid and J.J. Redick. Simmons played only 21 minutes, Tobias Harris shot 3 for 16 in 20 minutes and Jimmy Butler scored only four points in 16 minutes.
Butler did get one prize — he was the recipient of Wade’s final postgame jersey exchange with an opponent.
“Special, to see my brother get as much love as he deserves,” Butler said. “He’s one of the greatest to play this game and I’m so happy he gets to go out on his terms.”
Jonathon Simmons scored 14 for the 76ers, who knew they were witnessing Wade history.
“To see him be celebrated that way was the only positive of the night,” 76ers coach Brett Brown said.
Wade scored the first basket of the game on a dunk, Philadelphia scored the next eight — and it was all Miami the rest of the way. Winslow had three 3-pointers and Wade scored six points in a 22-2 Heat run that put Miami in control early, and the outcome was never in question again.
The final minutes were all Wade. He swished a 3-pointer. He banked in a pair of them. He got slapped on his backside by a fan — in this case, it was permitted, since the fan was his wife Gabrielle Union-Wade. He scored 14 of his points in that final quarter.
It was his night.
The game was the sideshow.
The 20,153 fans came to see him.
Wade did not disappoint, one last time.
“I’m the most thankful person in this city,” Wade said.
TIP-INS
76ers: This is the first time Philadelphia has posted consecutive seasons of 50 or more wins since 1984-85 and 1985-86. … Philadelphia missed 17 of its first 18 tries from 3-point range.
Heat: Udonis Haslem — also a three-time Heat champion, like Wade — played most of the fourth quarter with Wade. It took Haslem less than a minute to do one of the things he does best — take a charge. … Wade played in 575 games in a Heat uniform at home. Miami won 401 of them, and he scored 13,323 points in those contests.
McGRUDER DECISION
Miami will not be a tax team this year, saving about a $5 million payment because Rodney McGruder was claimed Tuesday by the Los Angeles Clippers — two days after he was waived by the Heat. If Miami had won at Toronto on Sunday, McGruder would likely still be with the Heat. “That was one of the tougher franchise moves our organization has had to make,” said Spoelstra, who raves about McGruder.
REST DAY
The 76ers plan to sit Embiid and Redick again Wednesday, and will also give Ben Simmons and Harris the night off. “Some people like to have a rhythm going into it, some people like to have time off. I don’t think you can appoint the perfect formula,” Brown said.
“It was definitely a hard process for me,” Young said. “I had to sit down, talk to my family, talk to Coach (Muffet) McGraw and make the best decision for me.”
NEW YORK (AP) — Jackie Young said it was a dream come true to be taken first in the WNBA draft.
The Notre Dame guard, who decided to enter the draft early and skip her senior season, was selected No. 1 by the Las Vegas Aces on Wednesday night.
“Since I was a little girl I always wanted to play in the WNBA and now I have my chance,” she said.
She’s the second Irish player to be drafted first after entering early joining Jewell Loyd, who had the honor in 2015.
It’s the third consecutive year the Aces have had the No. 1 pick. They took Kelsey Plum in 2017 when the franchise was still in San Antonio. The Aces then drafted A’ja Wilson last season with the No. 1 pick when the franchise moved to Las Vegas.
Young wasn’t thrilled that she didn’t have much time to make her decision after the Irish lost the championship game Sunday night to Baylor. She had 24 hours to decide whether she wanted to turn pro or go back to play for the Irish.
“It was definitely a hard process for me,” Young said. “I had to sit down, talk to my family, talk to Coach (Muffet) McGraw and make the best decision for me.”
Young was the first of five Notre Dame players to be drafted. Arike Ogunbowale went fifth to Dallas. Brianna Turner went 11th to the Atlanta Dream. She was later traded to the Phoenix Mercury for Marie Gulich. Jessica Shepard was taken 16th by the Minnesota Lynx. Marina Mabrey was the fifth Notre Dame player to go, drafted 19th by the Los Angeles Sparks.
“It’s a historic moment for our program,” Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw said. “We’ve had a lot of accomplishments, but this one stands alone. It’s probably something that will never happen again. Because of the injury to Bri and Jess coming in, it’s atypical of having that kind of class. But it’s incredible what they accomplished.”
Tennessee is the only school to have that occur with college players, in 2008. Candace Parker was taken first. Alexis Hornbuckle was drafted fourth. Shannon Bobbitt and Nicky Anosike went back-to-back in the second round and Alberta Auguste was taken in the third round.
Asia Durr went second to the New York Liberty. The Louisville guard, who was a two-time AP All-American, was the No. 2 scorer in school history. The Indiana Fever then took Mississippi State center Teaira McCowan at No. 3. Chicago drafted a UConn player for the second consecutive season taking Katie Lou Samuelson fourth reconnecting her with former Huskies teammate Gabby Williams.
Another UConn player went sixth with Napheesa Collier headed to Minnesota. She could provide some help for the Lynx, who will be missing Maya Moore for the season as she sits out to focus more on things other than basketball. The Lynx had a busy draft taking Shepard and Cierra Dillard of Buffalo in the second round. They also traded Natisha Hiedeman, whom they drafted 16th to Connecticut for Lexie Brown. They drafted Kenisha Bell of Minnesota in the third round.
The Los Angeles Sparks took Baylor center Kalani Brown seventh. It’s been a whirlwind 72 hours for the 6-foot-7 center as she helped Baylor win a national championship on Sunday.
Australian Alanna Smith, who helped Stanford win the Pac-12 Tournament title was drafted eighth by Phoenix. The Mercury are coached by fellow Aussie Sandy Brondello. Kristine Anigwe went ninth to Connecticut. The Cal center, who led the nation in rebounding, was the national defensive player of the year. Washington took Kiara Leslie with the 10th pick and Ezi Magbegor closed out the opening round by going to defending champion Seattle.
Chinese sensation Han Xu was drafted 14th by the New York Liberty. The 6-foot-9 center became the first Chinese player drafted since 1997. There was some talk that Han wouldn’t be able to play this summer as she would have to compete for the Chinese national team. She said that she expected to play for New York this summer.
The WNBA season opens on May 24th with training camps opening up a few weeks earlier.
Prince George’s County Police responding to a call of a suspicious car made a bizarre discovery. Inside of the vehicle in the 3200 block of Ryan Drive in Suitland was an adult male. According to a police report, the victim suffered upper body trauma. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim’s identity has not been released. Police remain on the hunt for the person or people responsible. No other details have been released to the public at this time.
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963
Shocking arrest made in Black church fires in Louisiana ….
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Police in Opelousas, Louisiana have announced that an arrest has been made in three church fires at historic black churches in the St. Landry Parish community.
The suspect is a 21-year-old son of a St. Landry Parish Police Deputy. His name has not been released. U.S. Attorney David Joseph confirmed, “A suspect has been identified in connection with the three church burnings in Opelousas, Louisiana, and is in state custody.
The first fire was reported on March 26th at St. Mary Baptist Church in Port Barre. On the same day, Greater Union Church was set ablaze. Then on Thursday, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Opelousas was heavily damaged by fire. Thankfully no one was hurt in any of the fires.
U.S. Attorney Joseph says the FBI and AFT agents are continuing to work with state and local officials and the victims affected by the church burnings. A joint press conference with state and national law enforcement agencies are expected to take place later today.
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963
Parents of Makiyah Wilson set to file $30M lawsuit …
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The family of 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson who was shot and killed in July of 2018 are set to hold a press conference today. Sources say the family is going to sue the DC Housing Authority in connection with her murder.
The attorney for the family Brian McDaniel says there will be a news conference about the suit today. Initial reports state it will begin at 10:30. They plan to announce the filing of a $30 million dollar lawsuit against the agency in connection with her death.
Wilson’s shooting in her Clay Terrace Northeast community gripped the DMV. She was struck by gunfire running to an ice cream truck. The family’s lawyer says The DC Housing Authority failed them and the community.
It did not take police long to make several arrests in the case. In fact, seven people have been charged in her murder. Charged are Marquell Cobbs, Darrise Jeffers, Qujuan Thomas, Quentin Michals, Gregory Taylor and Mark Tee Price.
Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @taylorthomas963
“The stakes are high and reputations are on the line as everyone scrambles to meet expectations and deadlines. We follow along as individual personalities, group egos, personal conflicts and professional obligations all take center stage to discover whether or not the ladies can push it to greatness together,” the press release reads in part.
Hip Hop pioneers Salt-N-Pepa, DJ Spinderella, and R&B legends SWV will be returning to television in a new BET reality series, Ladies Night.
Ladies Night is a series that will follow the trailblazing artists through all the triumph and drama that goes on behind the scenes of their Las Vegas residency show. Ladies Night will be a national tour in collaboration with SWV.
Salt-N-Pepa, aka Cheryl James and Sandra Denton,is recognized as one of the best-selling female hip-hop acts of all time. With their classic hit’s “Push It”, “Expression”, “Shoop”, and “Whatta Man”, they are also Grammy award-winning artists.
SWV became one of the most successful female R&B groups with hits like “Right Here”, “Weak”, and “Rain”.
There’s no 90s R&B playlist without these iconic artists of the time. Salt-N-Pepa had their own reality show entitled The Salt-N-Pepa Show that aired on VH1 in 2007.
“The stakes are high and reputations are on the line as everyone scrambles to meet expectations and deadlines. We follow along as individual personalities, group egos, personal conflicts and professional obligations all take center stage to discover whether or not the ladies can push it to greatness together,” the press release reads in part.
The series Ladies Night starting Tuesday, April 30 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on BET.
“Our hope is that it will have an impact on reducing the stigma and allowing people to know that they are not alone, allowing people to speak up about it and being able to identify it for themselves and in their friends,” Winfrey said.
Prince Harryand Oprah Winfrey are teaming up together to make a documentary series about mental health for Apple. The two philanthropists are tackling a multi-part television series to combat the issue.
The goal of this documentary is to spark inspiration to viewers and have an honest conversation about the challenges each of us face.
Winfrey has much experience in television through her own TV network, OWN and her long-time running show, The Oprah Winfrey Show. Winfrey has also produced alongside Ava DuVernay in Queen Sugar and 13th. Even with a child on the way, Prince Harry has devoted much of his time to the communities in the UK, where his main focus is spreading the message of mental health.
“His Royal Highness has spent many years working with communities throughout the UK and young people across the Commonwealth to break the stigma surrounding mental illness and broaden the conversation of mental wellness to accelerate change for a more compassionate, connected and positive society.”, which The Duke and Duchess of Sussex quoted on Instagram.
Winfrey is more than delighted to be partnering with Prince Harry in efforts to shed a light on mental health issues and change some lives. The team held secret meetings in London to pull the project together, she said.
“Our hope is that it will have an impact on reducing the stigma and allowing people to know that they are not alone, allowing people to speak up about it and being able to identify it for themselves and in their friends,” Winfrey said.
Prince Harry previously launched the “Heads Together” mental health campaign in 2017 alongside his brother, Prince William. The campaign leads a coalition of mental health charities in order to provide support for people affected by mental illness, along with raising awareness and tackling stigma.
The series would air on Apple TV in 2020 which is co-created and produced by Winfrey and the Duke of Sussex.
Elected leaders get an earful from residents as they walk along DC and PG border.
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Washington, D.C. (Tuesday, April 10th) – D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks put on their walking shoes Tuesday to take an afternoon stroll through communities that are facing similar challenges in each jurisdiction.
Surrounded by government employees from both DC and Prince George’s, Bowser and Alsobrooks held a press conference at the Marvin Gaye Community Center at the corner of Eastern Avenue and 61st Street, NE to discuss their shared interest in combating quality of life issues in their respective hometowns. “We speak frequently and work together diligently to address the issues that effect the residents of Prince George’s and Washington, D.C.,” said Bowser. Both jurisdictions have been seeing an uptick in illegal dumping and litter. D.C. has installed cameras in targeted areas of the city to especially catch businesses in the act for dumping things like tires.
Similar actions are in place in Prince George’s County. Both leaders got an eyeful seeing some of the trash problems first hand while DPW workers picked up the litter during the walk.
“The two hometown girls are having the opportunity to represent our jurisdictions and we have done so with love and energy,” said Alsobrooks. After the press conference, the two elected leaders walked along Eastern Avenue, NE talking with residents.
Most residents were happy to see government in their neighborhood and elated at a chance to share their community concerns with officials. While a few angry residents shouted at Bowser and Alsobrooks accusing them of “only playing to the media.”
Along the walk, Bowser and Alsobrooks heard and saw an almost kinship of problems and concerns as they moved from Ward 7 in the District into Seat Pleasant in Prince George’s County. There was plenty of litter, illegal dumping, abandoned and dilapidated properties, uncut grass, evidence of illegal drug use, and complaints about prostitution.
The walk has been a monthly staple of the Bowser administration. The mayor brings representativse from the various branches of the city government. Alsobrooks, who has been in office less than six months, vowed that she will begin holding similar walks on a monthly basis in Prince George’s County.
She is an icon and a trailblazer in American journalism. Dorothy Butler Gilliam is the first black woman hired as a reporter for The Washington Post. During our Women Wednesday conversation, we sit down with her to talk about her amazing career and journalism… then and now.
SACRAMENTO, CA — A grieving mother choked up as she questioned why police didn’t use other tactics instead of killing her son. A deputy recalled the terror of second-guessing herself as she traded fire with a suspect who killed her partner.
The emotional testimony Tuesday came before California lawmakers advanced a first-in-the-nation measure restricting when police can use deadly force, one of two radically different legislative proposals seeking to cut down on deadly shootings in the nation’s most populous state.
The measure faces a tougher fight in the full Assembly. Even some supporters on the public safety committee said it goes too far and will require changes as lawmakers try to balance the safety of officers and those they’re tasked with protecting.
Last year’s police shooting of unarmed vandalism suspect Stephon Clark in Sacramento inspired the legislation that would allow officers to kill only if there is no reasonable alternative, such as verbal persuasion or other non-lethal methods of resolution or de-escalation.
“It’s time to make clear that the sanctity of human life is policing’s highest priority,” said Democratic Assemblywoman Shirley Weber of San Diego, adding later that her proposal “is designed to change the culture of policing in California.”
The committee’s chairman, Democratic Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer of Los Angeles, said a tougher standard will do little good without buy-in from law enforcement organizations.
Those groups are supporting a different plan, which is also before lawmakers, to require that every department have policies on when officers should use de-escalation tactics and other alternatives to deadly force.
Weber’s measure got party-line support. The eight-member panel’s two Republicans opposed the measure they said could make officers hesitate for a fatal second if they have to consider alternatives to lethal force.
That’s what Sacramento County Deputy Sheriff Julie Robertson faced. She testified how her partner, Mark Stasyuk, died last fall during a gunfight and she hesitated as the suspect shot at her with only his back exposed.
“I recall in that moment thinking that if I were to shoot him in the back, I would be the next officer in the news being scrutinized for my actions,” Robertson said. “The thought of having to second-guess my actions in that moment is frightening. … This bill makes me wonder if sacrificing everything is worth it.”
Elizabeth Medrano Escobedo told lawmakers that Los Angeles officers could have used other tactics instead of killing her son, Christian Escobedo, last year. Police said he was sleeping behind a parked car with a loaded handgun.
“This bill can save mothers from grieving the loss of their children, which is what I’m experiencing right now,” Medrano said, choking up.
Ciara Hamilton testified how Barstow police killed her cousin, Diante Yarber, last year after they said the car theft suspect hit two squad cars and nearly struck an officer. His family says the car was barely moving and that Yarber, who was black, might have lived had officers provided immediate medical attention.
“What does that tell us about policing in California and America? It’s that black and brown people are not safe from state-sanctioned violence,” Hamilton said.
The debate resonated personally for lawmakers.
Democratic Assemblywoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove of Los Angeles tearfully recounted finding four officers in her home responding to a false burglar alarm last fall. They treated her respectfully, yet Kamlager-Dove, who is black, said she started shaking and crying.
“And I realized I was crying because I was afraid. I didn’t want to make any sudden movements,” she said.
Kamlager-Dove broke down as she urged police organizations and reformers to reach consensus “because this hurts. … I don’t want any of us to live in fear.”
Republican Assemblyman Tom Lackey of Palmdale, who spent 28 years as a highway patrolman, recalled how a fellow officer killed someone in the line of duty and eventually ended his own life.
“When peace officers are placed in a position to where they feel like they have to use deadly force, no one can really understand that unless you’ve been in that position,” Lackey said.
Plumas County Sheriff’s Deputy Ed Obayashi, a use-of-force expert, called Weber’s measure “an exercise in legal futility” because he predicts judges will interpret the language the same way they do court rulings. Prosecutors would have to prove an officer was criminally negligent, which carries a high legal burden.
Weber acknowledges officers would have to egregiously violate a policy to face charges but expects the standard would deter shootings.
A Senate committee is expected to consider a police-backed alternative in two weeks. That measure would enshrine court standards into law, allowing officers to use deadly force when they have a reasonable fear of being harmed. The standard has made it rare for officers to be charged and rarer still to be convicted.
Law enforcement groups plan to amend the legislation “to ensure that we are truly putting forward the most comprehensive legislative solution to effectively reduce the use of force in our state,” California Police Chiefs Association president Ron Lawrence said.
WASHINGTON — Attorney General William Barr declared Wednesday he thinks “spying did occur” on Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, suggesting the origins of the Russia investigation may have been mishandled and aligning himself with the president at a time when Barr’s independence is under scrutiny.
Barr, appearing before a Senate panel, did not say what “spying” had taken place but seemed likely to be alluding to a surveillance warrant the FBI obtained on a Trump associate. He later said he wasn’t sure there had been improper surveillance but wanted to make sure proper procedures were followed. Still, his remarks give a boost to Trump and his supporters who insist his 2016 campaign was unfairly targeted by the FBI.
Barr was testifying for a second day at a congressional budget hearing that was dominated by questions about special counsel Robert Mueller’s Trump-Russia investigation. His comments risked inflaming Democratic concerns that Barr’s views are overly in sync with Trump’s and that he’s determined to protect the president as he readies the release of a version of Mueller’s report.
Barr said he expects to release a redacted copy of the report next week. Democrats have expressed concern that his version will conceal wrongdoing by the president and are frustrated by the four-page summary letter he released last month that they say paints Mueller’s findings in an overly favorable way for the president.
Democrats immediately seized on Barr’s testimony.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., tweeted that Barr’s comments “directly contradict” what the Justice Department previously had said, and he said he had requested a briefing from the department. House intelligence committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said Barr’s comments were sure to please Trump, “but it also strikes another destructive blow to our democratic institutions.”
Republicans, meanwhile, praised Barr for looking into the matter. North Carolina Rep. Mark Meadows, a confidant to Trump who has raised concerns about Justice Department conduct for the past two years, tweeted that Barr’s willingness to investigate it is “massive.”
Barr, who was nominated to his post by Trump four months ago, was asked about spying by Republican Sen. Jerry Moran. He said that though he did not have specific evidence of wrongdoing, “I do have questions about it.”
“I think spying on a political campaign is a big deal,” Barr said.
Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen asked him directly if he believed spying on the campaign occurred, and he said, “Yes I think spying did occur. The question is whether it was adequately predicated” — meaning whether it was legally justified.
Barr said he was reviewing his department’s actions in investigating Trump. A separate investigation is being conducted by the Justice Department inspector general into the early days of the FBI’s Russia probe, which Barr said he expects to conclude sometime around May or June.
“I feel that I have an obligation to ensure government power was not abused,” Barr said.
Asked again about spying at the end of the hearing, Barr tempered his tone. “I am not saying improper surveillance occurred. I am saying I am concerned about it, and I am looking into it,” he said.
Barr’s reference to “spying” may refer to a secret surveillance warrant that the FBI obtained in the fall of 2016 to monitor the communications of former Trump campaign aide Carter Page, who has not been charged with any wrongdoing and has denied being a Russian spy.
That warrant included a reference to research that was conducted by an ex-British spy who was funded by Democrats to look into Trump’s ties to Russia.
Critics of the Russia investigation say the warrant on Page was unjustified and have also seized on anti-Trump text messages sent and received by one of the lead agents involved in investigating whether the Trump campaign was colluding with Russia.
At the White House on Wednesday, Trump repeated his claim that the investigation was illegal.
“It was started illegally. Everything about it was crooked. Every single thing about it. There were dirty cops,” he said.
He falsely claimed that the Mueller report had found “no obstruction.” While the four-page letter released by Barr said the special counsel did not find a criminal conspiracy between Russia and Trump associates around the time of the 2016 election, it also said Mueller had presented evidence on both sides of the obstruction question and ultimately did not reach a conclusion on it.
Barr said he did not believe the evidence in the report was sufficient to prove the president had obstructed justice. Democrats said they were concerned that Barr’s letter portrayed the investigation’s findings in an overly favorable way for Trump.
Barr’s statement Wednesday that he expected to release a redacted version of Mueller’s nearly 400-page report next week marked a slight change from the estimate he gave Tuesday, when he said the release would be within a week.
Though he said the document will be redacted to withhold negative information about peripheral figures in the investigation, he said that would not apply to Trump, who is an officeholder and central to the probe.
T-Mobile reverses decision to allow MetroPCS to play go-go music outside of NW, DC store
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Washington, D.C. (Wednesday, April 10, 2019) – After weeks of silence, the music is back on at the MetroPCS Store at the corner of 7th Street and Florida Avenue, NW. DC Community Activist Ron Moten made the announcement at a 12p.m. press conference today as supporters crowded around to the sounds of Chuck Brown blasting in the background. Over the past several days, a ground swell of support formed to denounce a decision by T-Mobile, the parent company of the MetroPCS Store, to shut off the music. The backlash formed on social media with the #dontmutedc, which was started by a Howard University student.
“I’m happy to say that it wasn’t just Black people who came together. It was everybody who came together to say we got to do the right thing for the right reasons to get the right results to address the issue of gentrification,” said Moten. Don Campbell, the owner of Central Communications, a MetroPCS vendor, had been playing the go-go music outside of the store for nearly 25 years. “I want to thank everybody for helping to get the music back on. Now, we just want to get back to selling cellphones and CDs, Campbell said.
The #dontmutedc campaign even had local politicians, including Mayor Muriel Bowser, Ward One Councilmember Brianne Nadeau and At-Large Councilmember Robert White weighing in on social media and working behind the scenes to get T-Mobile to reverse its decision. While activists are happy that things can return to normal at the corner of 7th and Florida Avenue, they vow the fight is far from over. “Black businesses are under attack by gentrifiers. They move into our community like they have good intentions and once they come in they try to push us out.” Moten added. A townhall meeting is planned for later this week to address gentrification and a Go-go Celebration will be held Saturday at the store.
It was a complaint from a nearby neighbor at one of the luxury apartments that propelled T-Mobile into action to force MetroPCS to shut-off the music late last month. Here’s the press conference announcement in its entirety with WHUR’s News Anchor Taylor Thomas.
LONDON (AP) — Special plans are being made to welcome the first child of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.
Officials said Wednesday that the landmark London Eye observation wheel on the banks of the River Thames will be lit in red, white and blue to mark the baby’s birth. Those are the colors of the familiar Union Flag.
The baby is expected in late April or early May. He or she will be seventh in line for the British throne.
Harry and Meghan say they have chosen not to learn the baby’s gender.
The royal couple are moving shortly from central London to a quieter location near Windsor Castle, some 20 miles (32 kilometers) west of London. They married in May in a chapel on the castle grounds.
“I want to go back to having fun,” Johnson said, fighting off tears. “I want to go back to being who I was before taking on this job. We’re halfway there with LeBron coming (last summer). I think this summer, with that other star coming in, whoever is going to bring him in, I think this team is really going to be in position to contend for a championship with the growth of the young players.”
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Magic Johnson abruptly quit as the Los Angeles Lakers’ president of basketball operations Tuesday night, citing his desire to return to the simpler life he enjoyed as a wealthy businessman and beloved former player before taking charge of this tempestuous franchise just over two years ago.
Johnson didn’t tell owner Jeanie Buss or general manager Rob Pelinka about his shocking decision before he announced it in front of reporters about 90 minutes before the final game of the Lakers’ sixth consecutive losing season.
Los Angeles, which is missing the NBA playoffs yet again despite the offseason addition of LeBron James, played well after Johnson’s announcement, but still lost 104-101 to Portland.
“I want to go back to having fun,” Johnson said, fighting off tears. “I want to go back to being who I was before taking on this job. We’re halfway there with LeBron coming (last summer). I think this summer, with that other star coming in, whoever is going to bring him in, I think this team is really going to be in position to contend for a championship with the growth of the young players.”
Johnson didn’t directly tie his decision to the future of Luke Walton, but the third-year coach was widely expected to be fired by Johnson. Without using names, Johnson repeatedly mentioned Buss’ affinity for Walton, who was in place before Johnson got his job in February 2017, and Johnson’s desire not to cause upheaval between the owner and her chosen coach.
″(On Wednesday) I would have to affect somebody’s livelihood and their life,” Johnson said. “And I thought about it and I said, ‘That’s not fun for me. That’s not who I am.’ And then I don’t want to put her in the middle of us, even though she said, ‘Hey, you can do what you want to do.’ I know she has great love for him and great love for me.”
Johnson and Buss had a three-hour meeting Monday about the direction of the 16-time NBA champion Lakers, who haven’t made the postseason since 2013. Magic claimed he didn’t finalize his decision until Tuesday morning.
“Somebody is going to have to tell my boss, because I know she’s going to be sick,” Johnson said. “But I knew I couldn’t face her face-to-face and tell her.”
Buss didn’t attend the Lakers’ season finale, although Johnson waited by the executive parking area at Staples Center in hopes of seeing her. Buss tweeted her reaction at halftime.
“Earvin, I loved working side by side with you,” Buss wrote. “You’ve brought us a long way. We will continue the journey. We love you.”
Walton, who is 98-148 in three seasons, refused to say much about Johnson’s announcement after the loss to Portland: “I found out when you guys did. It was 80 minutes before the game … and I haven’t had any time to really process it.”
Clearly blindsided by Johnson’s announcement, the Lakers also issued a team statement at halftime.
“There is no greater Los Angeles Laker than Earvin Johnson,” it said. “We are deeply grateful to Magic for all that he has done for our franchise as a player, an ambassador and an executive. … He will always be not only a Lakers icon, but our family. As we begin the process of moving forward, we will work in a measured and methodical fashion to make the right moves for the future of our organization.”
Johnson’s desire for his old life wasn’t the only reason for his departure. He also said he is tired of being investigated or fined by the NBA for tampering when he comments on basketball on Twitter or even speaks to another organization’s player.
Johnson, a longtime broadcaster and respected basketball figure before moving into the front office, has been investigated four times for tampering after everything from a joking comment about Paul George on Jimmy Kimmel’s talk show to his response to an email sent to him by Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons.
“I thought about Dwyane Wade retiring (Wednesday), and I can’t even tweet that out or be there,” Johnson said. “Serena Williams called me a week ago and said, ‘Will you mentor me and be on my advisory board?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, I’m going to do that.’ So when Ben Simmons called and we went through the proper channels and they made me look like the bad guy out of that situation, but I didn’t do anything wrong … I was thinking about all those times, all those guys who want me to mentor them or be a part of their lives, and I can’t even do that. I had more fun on the other side.”
Johnson, who will turn 60 in August, also has many thriving business interests along with ownership stakes in the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles FC.
Johnson’s sudden decision ends another chapter in the remarkable life of the star point guard from Lansing, Michigan, who won an NCAA championship at Michigan State before claiming five NBA titles and three league MVP awards during his 12-year playing career as the leader of the Showtime Lakers.
Johnson retired in 1991 after he tested positive for HIV, but later returned briefly to the Lakers as a player and a coach. Johnson says his current health is ideal, and he insists no health concerns were part of his decision to quit the job that seemed to be his ultimate destiny.
Johnson was hired along with Pelinka when Buss dismissed her brother, Jim, and GM Mitch Kupchak just 26 months ago. The Buss children’s father, Jerry, had long envisioned Johnson in a powerful role in the Lakers’ front office, and Jeanie put Magic in charge of shaking up her storied franchise in decline.
Immediately after taking the job, Johnson stated his plan to land at least two free-agent superstars to return the Lakers to immediate title contention. That plan rankled feelings around the league and got him in trouble when he publicly acknowledged the Lakers’ interest in George, which led to an investigation that eventually stuck the Lakers with a $500,000 fine for Pelinka making improper contact with George’s agent.
Johnson made several personnel moves to clear salary cap space for his ultimate goal, notably trading guard D’Angelo Russell to Brooklyn largely to rid the Lakers of Timofey Mozgov’s onerous contract in 2017.
Johnson also criticized Russell for his maturity and playing style on the way out the door, but Russell has blossomed into an All-Star leader for the playoff-bound Nets. Some of Johnson’s other moves have worked out much better, including the Lakers’ drafting of Lonzo Ball, the acquisition of Kyle Kuzma and the bargain signing of center JaVale McGee.
And though James was in charge of his decision to join the Lakers last summer, LeBron credited Magic with closing the deal in a meeting before he agreed to a four-year contract.
But after James strained his groin at Christmas and subsequently sat out for the longest injury absence of his 16-year NBA career, the Lakers were unable to compile enough midseason wins to stay in playoff contention. The Lakers also slumped before the trade deadline when Johnson aggressively pursued disgruntled New Orleans superstar Anthony Davis in a trade that would have required the Lakers to give up much of their talented young core.
James was shut down for the season late last month, and he watched the Lakers’ season finale in street clothes on the bench. He wasn’t available to reporters after the game.
The Lakers have missed the postseason in each of their three springs since Johnson and Pelinka took over, and Magic didn’t stick around long enough to see whether his plan would yield another free-agent star this summer — when the likes of Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant should be in play — or next, when Davis should be available.
The Lakers compiled their best record in six years this season, but were eliminated from playoff contention by Russell’s Nets back on March 22. Los Angeles had never missed the playoffs in more than two consecutive seasons before this six-year drought.
Johnson remained publicly supportive of Walton, but Magic also was widely known to agree with Walton’s detractors who aren’t impressed by his offensive game planning and rotations. Johnson’s decision to step down likely means the Lakers won’t make a decision on Walton’s future until a new front office is in place.
Johnson and Pelinka, Kobe Bryant’s former agent, didn’t know each other before they were paired by Buss, but Johnson said he worked well with Pelinka. Johnson also pointedly refused to say whether Pelinka should remain as the Lakers’ general manager, saying the decision rested solely with Buss, whom he repeatedly called “my sister.”
“She doesn’t know I’m standing here,” Johnson said. “Because I knew I would be crying like a baby in front of her.”
Spring is upon us and it’s time to take your promise to get fit in 2019 seriously. I have a fun free opportunity for you to GET FIT 4SPRING with WHUR’s and NBC4’s very own Molette Green. She’s doing a free Boot Camp Class this Friday in Prince George’s County.
Get Fit 4 Spring Free Boot Camp Class Friday, April 12th@ 5:30am at Westphalia Community Center @ 89-hundred Westphalia Road.
Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:35 on the Steve Harvey Morning Showon 96.3 WHUR.
Follow me on facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
The two leaders plan to join in a united front to pull their resources together to improve the lives of residents in that area. The focus is on a growing number of illegal dumping, sex work and infrastructure issues along the Eastern Avenue corridor.
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Today at 4, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks are going to hold a joint news conference and community walk. The community walk will take place on Eastern Avenue which borders the DC line on one side and Prince George’s County on the other side. It will start in the District’s Ward 7 and end in Prince George’s County.
The two leaders plan to join in a united front to pull their resources together to improve the lives of residents in that area. The focus is on a growing number of illegal dumping, sex work and infrastructure issues along the Eastern Avenue corridor.
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One person has died and 6 others were injured in a 6:30 a.m. crash in Clinton, Maryland. The unidentified victim was a female. Police say the school bus was going Southbound on Branch Avenue near Surratts Road when the collision happened. Other vehicles were involved.
The dump truck which flipped on its side ended up on top of a blue car. The female in that vehicle is the one fatality. EMS officials say that person will have to be extracted. The bus driver and two students were taken to the hospital with non life threatening injures. Two other refused medical attention. The school bus was in route to Charles H. Flowers High School. No information about the victim’s identities have been released.
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DC native and community activist Ron Moten is planning to hold a Noon conference to discuss the latest involving the owner of Metro PCS from playing Go Go music outside. It’s something store owner Don Campbell has been doing now for more than 24 years.
Last night a large crowd of supporters held a rally outside of his store at 7th Street and Florida Avenue. They are calling on city leaders to help and for T mobile to not take away their tradition.
The owner of Central Communications says that a few residents of a new luxury high rise have threaten to sue if Metro PCS didn’t stop playing Go Go music outside of the store. City Council members like Robert White have even come out in support. Last night he appeared on The Daily Drum and he said the issue can be resolved without involving government. He said he felt that T mobile responded too quickly and swiftly against the store owner. He commented that T mobile should have reached out to city leaders before rushing to judgement and forcing the change.
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Activists continue draw attention to the issue of Go-Go music being silenced in the Shaw community. Tuesday night a rally was held at 14th and U Streets… the heart of the entertainment district. For the first time in nearly 25 years you don’t hear Go-Go outside at 7th street and Florida Avenue, NW. Don Campbell, the owner of the Central Communications store… also known as the Metro PCS store was forced to stop playing DC’s homegrown musical genre last month. We’re looking at the issue and what it means.
Guests:
Ron Moten, DC Community ActivistRobert White, Jr., DC Councilmember-At-Large
Kay-Kay, Daughter of Go-Go icon Chuck Brown & member of The Chuck Brown Band
Supporters of Go-Go vow to fight T-Mobile over its decision to force MetroPCS to mute their beloved music.
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Washington, D.C. (Tuesday, April 9, 2018) – The District of Columbia maybe the birthplace of Go-Go Music but when it comes to playing the beloved genre outside a popular MetroPCS Store in the city’s Shaw community, it’s a no go. T-Mobile has silenced MetroPSC from blasting the music outside its store at 1915 7th Street, NW. That decision has sparked a movement across DC with many calling on T-Mobile to #DontMuteDC. The hashtag has been trending on Twitter across the city. Store owner Don Campbell tells WHUR he turned down the music late last month after a directive from T-Mobile, which owns MetroPCS. “I was told that I had to bring the speaker inside the store because a neighbor from a nearby luxury apartment had complained and was threatening to sue,” said Campbell.
News of the T-Mobile decision has sparked outrage across the DMV from those who have walked past the store for more than two-decades and have enjoyed the music. There’s also an on-line petition started by community activist Ron Moten. In the meantime, numerous rallies are planned over the next few days to engage the community on the growing #DontMuteDC movement, which many believe is just another impact of the gentrification. “I remember walking down Florida Avenue when I was 8-years-old and you would just see people stop in their tracks and start dancing,” said Alonzo who lives in SE. Alonzo did not want to give his last name. But said he now lives in SE and was shocked to learn of the muting of Go-Go. I don’t understand how these ‘new people’ can move into DC and constantly try to change the culture,” added Alonzo.
WHUR’s Taylor Thomas went to the MetroPSC store to hear directly from the people.
#DontMuteDC Rally Wednesday @ 12pm outside the MetroPCS Store. Store Owner Don Campbell says he’s been overwhelmed by the support.
“DC Police say they have not had any recent complaints about noise coming from MetroPSC and officials from the DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs says there has been less than five complaints over the past decade, leaving many to wonder why one complaint from a nearby neighbor would force such drastic action by T-Mobile,”added Campbell.
NEW YORK, NY — New York City declared a public health emergency Tuesday over a measles outbreak centered in an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community and ordered mandatory vaccinations in the neighborhood.
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the unusual order amid what he said was a measles crisis in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg section, where more than 250 people have gotten measles since September. Officials blamed the outbreak on “anti-vaxxers” spreading false information.
The order applies to anyone living, working or going to school in four ZIP codes in the neighborhood and requires all unvaccinated people at risk of exposure to the virus to get the vaccine, including children over 6 months old.
The city can’t legally physically force someone to get a vaccination, but officials said people who ignore the order could be fined $1,000. The city said it would help everyone covered by the order get the vaccine if they can’t get it quickly through their regular medical provider.
“If people will simply cooperate quickly, nobody will have to pay a fine,” de Blasio said.
Officials say 285 measles cases have been confirmed in New York City since the beginning of the outbreak, the largest in the city since 1991.
New York City accounted for about two-thirds of all U.S. measles cases reported last week.
The city’s health commissioner, Dr. Oxiris Barbot, said that the majority of religious leaders in Brooklyn’s large Orthodox communities support vaccination efforts, but that rates have remained low in some areas because of resistance from some groups that believe the inoculations are dangerous.
“This outbreak is being fueled by a small group of anti-vaxxers in these neighborhoods. They have been spreading dangerous misinformation based on fake science,” Barbot said. “We stand with the majority of people in this community who have worked hard to protect their children and those at risk. We’ve seen a large increase in the number of people vaccinated in these neighborhoods, but as Passover approaches, we need to do all we can to ensure more people get the vaccine.”
The commissioner is empowered by law to issue such orders in cases when they might be necessary to protect against a serious public health threat.
Earlier this week, the city ordered religious schools and day care programs serving that community to exclude unvaccinated students or risk being closed down.
Another Jewish religious community, north of the city but with close ties to Brooklyn, has also seen a surge, with at least 166 cases since October. Last week, a state judge blocked an attempt by Rockland County officials to halt the spread of measles by banning unvaccinated children from public places.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all children get two doses of measles vaccine. It says the vaccine is 97% effective.
(Prince George’s County, MD) — A Maryland volunteer firefighter is being identified as one of the three American service members killed in a roadside bombing in Afghanistan. Marine Staff Sergeant Christopher Slutman was fatally wounded when the convoy he was riding in hit a roadside bomb near a U.S. base in Afghanistan yesterday. Slutman served 19 years with the Kentland Volunteer Fire Department in Prince George’s County. He was also a member of the New York City Fire Department, serving in the Bronx. The Kentland Volunteer Fire Department called Slutman a father, husband, brother, son and friend who displayed moral character and courage.
GREENBELT, Md. — The defense attorney for a Maryland man accused of planning an Islamic State-inspired attack at a shopping and entertainment complex near Washington, D.C., has asked a judge to be skeptical of authorities’ claims.
Michael CitaraManis said Tuesday that the government “is trying to fit certain facts into their narrative” that 28-year-old Rondell Henry intended to carry out a terrorist attack last month.
But U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas DiGirolamo refused to free Henry on bond after deciding the defendant poses a danger to the public if he’s released before trial.
Police arrested Henry on March 28 on a charge of driving a stolen vehicle across state lines. The charge carries up to 10 years in prison. Prosecutors are expected to seek additional charges.
Celebrate and party with a purpose this weekend. It’s the 2019 DC Emancipation Day Parade and Concert coming up Saturday, April 13thin Downtown DC. My special guest is Angie M. Gates, Director of the DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment
The 2019 Emancipation Day Parade and Concert is April 13thin Downtown DC. It’s free and open to public. Parade begins at 2pm down Pennsylvania Avenue followed by a free concert at Freedom Plaza featuring Faith Evans, Kenny Lattimore, Master Gee, Doug E. Fresh, and Sugar Bear. More information here:
If your tax refund this year was disappointing, you may be able to do something about it: Contribute more to a retirement fund.
Tax-deductible contributions to 401(k)s, IRAs and other retirement accounts are among the few remaining ways to reduce taxable income if you don’t itemize deductions. And few of us do these days: Only about 1 in 10 taxpayers is expected to itemize now that Congress has nearly doubled the standard deduction, tax experts say. That’s down from about 1 in 3 before the law changed.
FEWER WAYS TO TRIM TAX BILLS
As a result, many of the traditional tips and tricks for reducing tax bills either no longer work or are of limited help. Deductions for mortgage interest, charitable contributions and medical expenses, for example, can be taken only if you itemize. In addition to increasing standard deductions, the tax law enacted in December 2017 also did away with personal exemptions and curbed or eliminated many other common deductions:
— Unreimbursed work expenses, tax prep fees and job search costs are no longer deductible.
— Casualty and theft losses are deductible only in a federally declared disaster area.
— State and local tax deductions are capped at $10,000.
— Home equity loan interest is deductible only if the money was used to substantially improve your home.
Student loan interest is still deductible if you don’t itemize, as are certain self-employment expenses.
You can reduce taxable income by contributing to workplace flexible spending accounts and the health savings accounts that are paired with high-deductible health insurance plans.
RETIREMENT PLAN CONTRIBUTIONS OFFER MULTIPLE BENEFITS
Not everyone can take advantage of those deductions, but the vast majority of working people can contribute to retirement plans, says Michael Eisenberg, a CPA personal finance specialist with the AICPA’s National CPA Financial Literacy Commission.
If you don’t have a workplace plan such as a 401(k), you can make tax-deductible contributions to an IRA as long as you’re under 70½ and have earned income, typically from salary, wages or self-employment income, that’s at least equal to your contribution. People can put up to $6,000 into an IRA in 2019, or $7,000 if they’re 50 or older. (If you or your spouse has a workplace plan, you can still CONTRIBUTE to an IRA, but how much you can DEDUCT depends on your income. Check the IRS site for details.)
Contribution limits are higher for workplace plans such as 401(k)s: $19,000 for 2019, or $25,000 if you’re 50 or older. If you have a workplace plan, your company also likely offers matching funds, says Jarod Taylor, a financial counselor in Westerville, Ohio.
“Let’s say you put in 4% (of your pay), and your employer matches that up to 4%,” Taylor says. “You just gave yourself a 4% bonus.”
Lower-income taxpayers may receive an additional benefit: a tax credit of up to $2,000 for single people or $4,000 for married couples filing jointly that can further reduce the cost of contributions. Tax credits are even more valuable than deductions, and it’s rare to get both at the same time.
Credits of 50%, 20% or 10% of retirement contributions are available for singles with adjusted gross income up to $32,000 or $64,000 f or a married couple filing jointly.
HOW TO FIND THE MONEY
For many people, tax refunds aren’t “extra” money. Every dollar may be needed to catch up on overdue bills or pay for health care.
If that’s not the case, though, you could put a chunk of this year’s refund into a retirement account. You can do that directly, by opening or contributing to an IRA. Or you can boost your 401(k) contribution and use the refund to help replace money deducted from your paycheck.
If you don’t mind a smaller refund and just want to pay less taxes, another possibility is reducing your withholding and channeling the additional money into your retirement fund, Taylor says. Taylor also advises clients to look for small expenses to trim, such as negotiating a cheaper cable package and avoiding bank fees.
“You’ve already been living without that money, so just funnel that off to saving for retirement,” Taylor says.
Even small amounts can add up. As traditional pensions become rarer, it’s important for most people to save if they want a comfortable retirement.
“You don’t want to work for many, many years and wind up, if you can help it, living on Social Security alone,” Eisenberg says.
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This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Liz Weston is a columnist at NerdWallet, a certified financial planner and author of “Your Credit Score.” Email: lweston@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @lizweston.
A challenger has emerged for Jack Evans Ward 2 seat…
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A challenger has emerged for Jack Evans Ward 2 seat…
Longtime political leader Ward 2 DC City Council member Jack Evans has a challenger for his job in 2020. His former 2016 reelection campaign co-chair Patrick Kennedy.
On Monday, the 27-year-old Foggy Bottom Neighborhood Commissioner filed the paperwork needed to set up his campaign committee for the Democratic primary next year.
Kennedy said he was concerned over the allegations that Evans used his office for personal gain and that he wanted to give voters a progressive and alternative option for leadership. This news is big because Evans has not faced a challenger for his job in more than 10 years. There is word that others may enter the race for the Ward 2 City Council seat as well.
Kennedy who is from Florida came to the District to attend George Washington University. He has been a neighborhood commissioner since his junior year in college. Kennedy who is no relationship to the political dynasty the Kennedy’s plans to use public campaign financing and small donations for his run for office.
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A new app has been created to track every kind of hate crime in the U.S.. The app is called Hate Incident Reporting System and it was created by the University of Utah. The creators are hoping to document reports that never make it to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. From slurs written on a bathroom wall to acts of violence.
The FBI is responsible for looking and recording hate crimes that happened throughout the country but may go unreported. According to the FBI even with the acknowledgement that they may not have ever case recorded the numbers of hate motivated incidents were on the rise in 2017 (the most recent stats available)
This first of its kind app was created by Emily Nicolosi a researcher at the University of Utah and University of Utah Professor Richard Medina and the DIGIT Lab. The software allows anyone in the U.S. to report any and all incidents of hate crime.
This is the apps mission statement:
“Our interest in hate incidents goes beyond criminal actions and seeks to gain knowledge of all forms of hate, including constitutionally-protected hate speech. By collecting reports of all hateful actions, we hope to generate a better understanding of hate, so that it might be more effectively addressed at local, regional and national levels.”
The app is current available on Google Play. Soon it will be available in the Apple App Store as well.
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“My mother lived an extraordinary life,” her son Guy Johnson shares in a statement. “She brought a sense of passion to living and invested herself wholly in it. What she wanted most was justice for all human beings, and the freedom to experience joy and laughter.
The life and legacy of Maya Angelou is headed to the Broadway stage. As a poet, author, actress, and the list goes on and on, Angelou’s story is inspirational and what better way to tell that story than on the big stage.
With the help of Maya Angelou’s son, Guy Johnson, he was able to push for the telling of her story.
“My mother lived an extraordinary life,” her son Guy Johnson shares in a statement. “She brought a sense of passion to living and invested herself wholly in it. What she wanted most was justice for all human beings, and the freedom to experience joy and laughter.
“We’re just not using the gifts she gave us. She told us ‘when we know better, we do better.’ I hope this play will be an antidote to these challenging times.”
The stage play is set for 2021 release date. In 2014 Angelou passed away, yet her legacy will live on for generations to come.
In a statement offering her first public comments since her arrest, Huffman apologized, took responsibility for her actions and said she would accept the consequences.
“My daughter knew absolutely nothing about my actions, and in my misguided and profoundly wrong way, I have betrayed her. This transgression toward her and the public I will carry for the rest of my life. My desire to help my daughter is no excuse to break the law or engage in dishonesty,” she said.
BOSTON (AP) — “Desperate Housewives” star Felicity Huffman and a dozen other prominent parents have agreed to plead guilty in the college admissions bribery scam that ensnared wealthy families and athletic coaches at some of the nation’s most selective universities, federal authorities said Monday.
The actress and the other parents were charged last month in the scheme, which authorities say involved rigging standardized test scores and bribing coaches at such prestigious schools as Yale and Georgetown.
Huffman, 56, was accused of paying a consultant $15,000 disguised as a charitable donation to boost her daughter’s SAT score. Authorities say the actress also discussed going through with the same plan for her younger daughter but ultimately decided not to.
She will plead guilty to a single charge of conspiracy and fraud, according to court documents. Those charges are punishable by up to 20 years in prison, but the plea agreement indicates prosecutors will seek a sentence of four to 10 months.
Experts have said they expect some parents will avoid prison time if they quickly accept responsibility. All of the defendants will have to return to Boston to enter formal guilty pleas, but no new court dates were set.
Other parents charged in the scheme include prominent figures in law, finance, fashion, the food and beverage industry and other fields.
It’s the biggest college admissions case ever prosecuted by the Justice Department. The scandal embroiled elite universities across the country and laid bare the lengths to which status-seeking parents will go to secure their children a coveted spot.
The consultant, Rick Singer, met with Huffman and her husband, 69-year-old actor William H. Macy, at their Los Angeles home and explained to them that he “controlled” a testing center and could have somebody secretly change their daughter’s answers, authorities said. Singer told investigators Huffman and her husband agreed to the plan.
Macy was not charged. Authorities have not said why.
In a statement offering her first public comments since her arrest, Huffman apologized, took responsibility for her actions and said she would accept the consequences.
“My daughter knew absolutely nothing about my actions, and in my misguided and profoundly wrong way, I have betrayed her. This transgression toward her and the public I will carry for the rest of my life. My desire to help my daughter is no excuse to break the law or engage in dishonesty,” she said.
The streaming service Netflix said Monday that the April 26 release date of a film starring Huffman, called “Otherhood,” will be moved with a new release date to be determined.
Michael Center, the former men’s tennis coach at the University of Texas at Austin, has also agreed to plead guilty, prosecutors said Monday. Center was accused of accepting nearly $100,000 to help a non-tennis playing applicant get admitted as a recruit.
California real estate developer Bruce Isackson and his wife, Davina Isackson, who are pleading guilty to participating in both the athletic recruitment and exam rigging schemes, are cooperating with prosecutors for a chance at a lighter sentence.
“We have worked cooperatively with the prosecutors and will continue to do so as we take full responsibility for our bad judgment,” they said in a statement.
Actress Lori Loughlin, who played Aunt Becky on the sitcom “Full House,” and her fashion designer husband, Mossimo Giannulli, are charged with paying $500,000 in bribes to get their two daughters admitted to the University of Southern California as rowing recruits, even though neither participated in the sport. They were not among those who agreed to plead guilty, and they have not publicly addressed the allegations.
Loughlin and Giannulli may be hoping they can get a better deal once the media attention dies down, said former prosecutor Adam Citron. They are also accused of paying much more than Huffman and some other parents, which would call for stiffer penalties under the sentencing guidelines.
Prosecutors “are likely trying to hold her out as an example, so I would assume the plea deal was not the same plea deal as the other defendants,” said Citron, an attorney at New York’s Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP.
Singer, the consultant, pleaded guilty to charges including racketeering conspiracy on March 12, the same day the allegations against the parents and coaches were made public in the so-called Operations Varsity Blues investigation. Singer secretly recorded his conversations with the parents, helping to build the case against them, after agreeing to work with investigators in the hopes of getting a lesser sentence.
Several coaches have also been charged, including longtime tennis coach Gordon Ernst who’s accused of getting $2.7 million in bribes to designate at least 12 applicants as recruits to Georgetown. Ernst, who was also the personal tennis coach for former first lady Michelle Obama and her daughters, and other coaches have pleaded not guilty.
Former Yale University women’s soccer coach Rudy Meredith has pleaded guilty to accepting bribes to help students get admitted and has been cooperating with authorities. Stanford’s former sailing coach John Vandemoer also pleaded guilty to accepting $270,000 in contributions to the program for agreeing to recommend two prospective students for admission.
Stanford University expelled a student who lied about her sailing credentials in her application, which was linked to the scandal. The university quietly announced it had rescinded the student’s admission in a short statement posted on its website April 2 after determining “some of the material in the student’s application is false.”
University officials previously said the student was admitted without the recommendation of Vandemoer.
MIAMI (AP) — By Thursday, Dwyane Wade may not be employed as a basketball player anymore.
That is the reality, like it or not. After 16 seasons as an NBA player, after three championships, an almost-annual spot in the All-Star Game, a scoring title, three franchises, four children, an Olympic gold medal and 161 teammates, the end may have arrived.
On Tuesday, Wade plays his final home regular season game when the Miami Heat host the Philadelphia 76ers. On Wednesday, it’ll be a game at Brooklyn to end this season. Unless the Heat win both and get a lot of help in the final two days of the season, the career of Dwyane Tyrone Wade Jr. will be finished.
“I gave this game everything I had,” Wade said. “And I have appreciated every bit of it.”
The Heat still have a faint pulse in the playoff race; out of the 64 possible remaining scenarios involving Brooklyn, Orlando, Detroit, Charlotte and Miami over the next two days — the five teams still vying for various spots on the bracket, with the Nets and Magic being assured of getting into the postseason no matter what — there are only three that will send Wade into the postseason.
Obviously, the odds are not good.
That is why Tuesday is generally viewed as the farewell, even though no one will officially describe it as such. He doesn’t want it to be the end — but is acutely aware that it may be the 576th and final time he plays at AmericanAirlines Arena, all but one of those coming in a Heat uniform.
“It’s been incredible. It’s been amazing,” Wade said. “A lot of people in that arena have watched me grow, have watched me be imperfect, have watched me make a lot of mistakes in life, as well as watched me blossom and watched me do amazing things, great things. I’m thankful for it.”
Tributes will come Tuesday in various forms. There is a pregame series of events inside the arena. There will be videos. Wade will address the crowd. Celebrities are expected. Wade’s children will all be in attendance. Students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, the school where the Feb. 14, 2018 massacre that left 17 dead in an event that touched Wade so deeply — not just because one of those victims was buried in a Wade jersey — will perform the national anthem.
There will be Wade “L3GACY” shirts given to fans, some of whom spent thousands for their seats. There will be Wade commemorative lanyards. There will be Wade apparel. Some arena workers asked if they could be excused from wearing the usual game-night garb and don Wade jerseys instead. Fans flew in from as far as Australia and China. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver sent his regards in a video.
And then, there will be a game.
The M-V-P chants will come. The ovations will be lengthy. There will be tears. And the Heat will try to make a playoff miracle happen.
“I don’t want this to end,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “I’m literally having more fun this year and last year than in any of the other years with Dwyane.”
They are the same in so many ways, Wade and Spoelstra. Both came to the Heat as unsure young men. Both have three championship rings now. Both are likely for the Basketball Hall of Fame. When Spoelstra was promoted to head coach in April 2008, he was unsure if he’d be able to handle the job — until he met with Wade a few months later and got pumped full of confidence.
“That’s what great players do,” Spoelstra said. “You talk about Hall of Fame players, they make the other players around them better. Well, great, Hall of Fame, superstar players also make their coaches better. And that’s what Dwyane did.”
Wade is beloved in Miami, of course, for obvious reasons. Beloved in Chicago, too, his hometown. Beloved in Milwaukee, where he took Marquette to a Final Four in 2003.
And this farewell tour — the “One Last Dance” — is a league-wide victory lap for someone NBA players rave about.
“A legend,” Toronto’s Kyle Lowry said.
“Still amazing,” Dallas’ Luka Doncic said.
“My idol,” Washington’s Bradley Beal said.
“A leader,” Detroit’s Wayne Ellington said.
“True winner,” Phoenix’s Devin Booker said.
Wade isn’t 2008 Wade, or Big 3-era Wade, or NBA Finals MVP Wade anymore. But he’s still superb, and with a flair for the dramatic — such as the buzzer-beater to top Golden State a few weeks ago. He’s been the best Heat player all season. It’s hard to imagine how Miami will replace him next season, because he is going to be clearly missed.
But that’s also part of the reason why this season is his last. Wade didn’t want to go out as a shell of his former self. He wanted to leave the stage with the fans clamoring for more, and that is precisely what has occurred.
“That’s the sweet part of it, seeing him be able to go off on his own terms, saying when he’s done,” said his former teammate and still-close friend LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers. “Nobody forced him out or did anything of that nature. He’s able just to hang it up when he was ready to hang it up and be at peace with it all.”
Social Justice Activist and Motivational Speaker Naomi Wadler spoke about being young, gifted and black. She highlighted her initiative on child abuse and her latest upcoming ventures.
Tonight we spoke with social justice activist and motivational speaker Naomi Wadler. She talked about her platform on child abuse. Wadler is known for her speech from the 2018 March For Our Lives youth rally. One year later, she’s been expanding her platform to discuss a variety of issues with today’s youth.
The FBI is investigating a string of suspicious fires at black churches in Louisiana. Three churches have burned in less than two weeks in St. Landry parish near Baton Rouge. The most recent on Thursday. Louisiana State Fire Marshall H. Butch Browning says its too early to call the fires hate crimes, but does believe crimes were committed. Browning is asking for those responsible to come forward adding, “don’t make us hunt you down, because we will.” The three fires occurred on March 26, April 2 and April 4 in St. Landry Parish, north of Lafayette. St. Landry Parish is a rural area with a population that is 56 percent white and 41 percent black. A fourth fire, a small blaze that officials said was “intentionally set,” was reported on Sunday at a predominantly black church in Caddo Parish. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is also involved in the investigation.
The Baltimore City Council wants Mayor Catherine Pugh to resign, immediately. The council sent its demands to the mayor via letter this morning.
Pugh has been heavily criticized following reports that companies that do business with the city bought several hundred thousand dollars worth of children series books written by the mayor. Pugh has been on sick leave since the allegations came to light. Today, a mayoral spokesperson said Pugh will return to work when she is healthy. The state prosecutor has opened an investigation into the book sales.
Authorities say a man planned to drive a stolen U-Haul truck into National Harbor crowds in part of an ISIS-inspired plot. The Justice Department says 28-year-old Rondell Henry was arrested March 28th. Henry stole a U -Haul from a parking garage in Alexandria several days earlier. There are reports that Henry had a hatred for those who did not support his Muslim faith and was inspired by the ISIS attacks last year in France where a truck rammed into pedestrians. Henry, of Germantown, allegedly drove around to several sites including Dulles Airport, looking for targets. Henry also broke into a boat, owned by a retired Prince George’s Police officer, docked at the National Harbor. Henry is due in federal court in Greenbelt tomorrow.
NEW YORK (AP) — Solange is no longer performing at Coachella.
The festival’s official Twitter account posted the news Sunday, writing: “Due to major production delays, Solange will unfortunately no longer be performing at this year’s festival.”
The announcement comes a week before the two-weekend festival in Southern California is set to begin. Performers at the popular event, from April 12 to April 14 and from April 19 to April 21, include Ariana Grande, Childish Gambino, Tame Impala and Janelle Monae.
Last year, Solange’s big sister Beyonce headlined Coachella, giving a historic performance.
Other performers this year include 1975, DJ Snake, Diplo and Weezer.
HU Senior And Obama White House Mentee Gives Back To Minority Students In Need…
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Today we talked to Jerron Hawkins a graduating senior at Howard University, Obama White House mentee and the founder of Reach Foundation, Inc. The Washington, DC native who is on a mission to disrupt negative cycles and establish a productive and uplifting culture for collegiate minorities. He accomplishes this by providing scholarships, facilitating mentorship, and highlighting the impact that minority college students have on college campuses and in communities around the world through Reach.
Reach Foundation, Inc. was founded on September 8th, 2018, and incorporated on January 24th, 2019. Reach has four primary divisions; Education, Mentorship, Health & Wellness, and Scholarships & Awards.Jerron says; “since my Freshman year I’ve gotten refund checks and have not had the burden of paying for school out of pocket. A few of my close friends at the time were struggling with paying for school and this was my freshman year. At that point I said that I was going to give some money away, and time passed and finally over the summer of 2018, I sat down in the ILAB at Howard University and wrote the application for what just supposed to be a one-time scholarship, “Reach Scholarship”. But God had so much more instead”.
Since Reach’s inception, Reach has established an annual book giveaway, provided 3 scholarships, and most recently established a seven-year partnership with “BuildOn” where we they will build a school in a different country every year for seven years, starting with Senegal this may. If you would like to give or make pledge towards this effort please
Join us each and every Monday live on WHUR FB at 12:30 for another edition of “Around the DMV in 15 with Taylor Thomas”. Hey, we are always looking for interesting guests and topics. If you have something email me at tthomas@whur.com. Please in the subject line put “Around the DMV in 15 w/ TT”.
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963
Celebrating some of the best and brightest young minds in the District. The DC-CapiTAL Stars Talent Competition for college scholarships is later this week and it’s all an effort to make sure youngsters have the tools they need to succeed. My guest is Angelia Rodriquez – President and CEO of DC-CAP (DC College Access Program)
The DC-CAPital Stars Talent Competition for college scholarships is April 10that the Kennedy Center. For more information go here:
Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:35 on the Steve Harvey Morning Showon 96.3 WHUR.
Follow me on facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
This intimate, in-depth look at Beyoncé’s celebrated 2018 Coachella performance reveals the emotional road from creative concept to cultural movement. Premiering April 17. Only on Netflix.
Monday morning Netflix announced they are set to release Beyonce‘s EPIC 2018 Coachella performance and all the hard work that went into its creation on April 17. In the trailer, we get a glimpse of Blue Ivy in rehearsal with her mom. Twins Rumi and Sir also make a cameo in the documentary.
Netflix posted with the trailer:
“This intimate, in-depth look at Beyoncé’s celebrated 2018 Coachella performance reveals the emotional road from creative concept to cultural movement. Premiering April 17. Only on Netflix.”
“The entire membership of the Baltimore City Council believes that it is not in the best interest of the City of Baltimore for you to continue to serve as Mayor,” the council members wrote to Pugh. “We urge you to tender your resignation, effective immediately.”
This morning, the Baltimore City Council called on Mayor Catherine Pugh to resign.
The 14 council members sent a concise and direct two-sentence letter to Pugh on Monday morning urging her to step down. Copies of the letter were sent to acting Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young, City Solicitor Andre Davis, Pugh’s chief of staff Bruce Williams, and Baltimore’s senators and delegates in the General Assembly.
“The entire membership of the Baltimore City Council believes that it is not in the best interest of the City of Baltimore for you to continue to serve as Mayor,” the council members wrote to Pugh. “We urge you to tender your resignation, effective immediately.”
The following council members signed the letter: Council members Zeke Cohen, Brandon M. Scott, Ryan Dorsey, Bill Henry, Isaac “Yitzy” Schleifer, Sharon Green Middleton, Leon F. Pinkett III, Kristerfer Burnett, John T. Bullock, Edward Reisinger, Eric Costello, Robert Stokes Sr., Shannon Sneed and Mary Pat Clarke.
“There certainly is a commonality, and whether that leads to a person or persons or groups, we just don’t know,” Louisiana State Fire Marshall Browning said.
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The FBI is looking into 3 fires at black churches in Louisiana…
The FBI is now looking into suspicious fires at 3 historically black churches in St. Landry, Louisiana. The incidents happened on March 26 and 27th. A fourth church fire was reported in Caddo Parish. It was a small fire. Caddo Parish is about three hours North of St. Landry Parish. The most recent fire in St. Landry Parish was on Thursday. The burning of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Opelousas. Thus far no one has been hurt but the churches are destroyed.
During a news conference Louisiana State Fire Marshall Browning said, “There certainly is a commonality, and whether that leads to a person or persons or groups, we just don’t know.” Browning is calling on those involved to come forward. He warns not to let his people hunt them down because they will. Officials are not rushing to call these fires which they feel are connected hate crimes.
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963
Starting today DC Superior Court jurors who have to serve for more than a day will be given a pay raise. The daily pay is going from $10 to $40. In addition, to that court officials also decided to increase travel subsidies from $4 a day to $5 a day.
This change is the first one for the District in 19 years. This also makes DC jurors the second highest paid. Utah ranks at number 1 they pay jurors $49 a day. Before the increase DC was at the same day rate as Dallas, New York and Las Vegas. The daily pay rate in Prince George’s and Montgomery county is $15 a day. In the Commonwealth jurors are paid $30 a day.
In 2018, more than 115,000 residents in the District of Columbia were called to serve. According to court records the number of jury duty cases have dropped from 303 back in 2006 to just over 290 last year.
DC Superior Chief Judge Robert Morin says it’s important “We understand that sacrifices are involved.” He believes the change will help individuals to be able to do their civic duty to serve.
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963
Prince George’s County Police were called to a home in the 13000 block of Buchanan Drive at 10:30 on Sunday in response to a shooting. Once there they found an 18-year-old female who had been fatally wounded in the Fort Washington home.
Investigators who have been tight-lipped about the case are only saying it’s a death investigation. Sources report that is may be a case of a tragic accident.
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963
“European standards of beauty are something that plague the entire world—the idea that darker skin is not beautiful, that light skin is the key to success and love,” the Kenyan actress told Glamour in December 2014. “Africa is no exception. When I was in the second grade, one of my teachers said, ‘Where are you going to find a husband? How are you going to find someone darker than you?’ I was mortified.”
Academy Award-winning actress, Lupita Nyong’o released the cover for her new children’s book, “Sulwe”. “Sulwe” means star in Luo, the actress’s native Kenyan language.
The cover of Nyong’o’s new book shows a young dark-skinned girl reaching above her. She stands in the middle of space, filled with stars. The cover was illustrated by artist Vashti Harrison.
The Us actress, took to Instagram to present the new cover on Monday. On Instagram Nyong’o quoted, “I wrote a book! It’s called #Sulwe! This is the cover!” the Academy Award-winning actress wrote on Instagram. “I’m thrilled to share it with you.”
Nyong’o understands the hardships for young black girls as they grow up in a world where European beauty standards are the norm. She hopes her book will encourage girls to love themselves regardless of societal standards.
“European standards of beauty are something that plague the entire world—the idea that darker skin is not beautiful, that light skin is the key to success and love,” the Kenyan actress told Glamour in December 2014. “Africa is no exception. When I was in the second grade, one of my teachers said, ‘Where are you going to find a husband? How are you going to find someone darker than you?’ I was mortified.”
“Sulwe” will be released Oct. 1 and is currently available for pre-order and can be purchased where books are sold.
Notable sports commentator and personality, Stephen A. Smith, is on track to be the highest paid ESPN talent EVER.
According to the NY Post, Smith’s salary is expected to boost up between $8-$10 million.
Smith’s colleagues including Mike Greenburg makes a whopping estimated salary of $6.5 million. PTI hosts Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser’s salaries are in the same range as Greenburg.
The First Take host is currently making about $5 million salary, but with only two more years left in his contract ESPN is making Smith a priority. His worth does not go unnoticed to the ESPN organization, despite their plans for drastic budget cuts.
The NY native is best known for opinions and hot takes, national radio show, and his popular social media handles. Smith has established himself as one of the prominent faces of the network.
Stephen Smith’s seat will be kept warm until June 2021 and his pockets will evidently get fatter.
“This all started May 5th 2018…It’s been a long emotional ride for our entire family! Listen up American…..TODAY my husband @greggleakes has completed 6 months of chemotherapy! Awesome job hunni! I’m so happy for you and the strength you showed during this difficult time in your life! PS: Thank you to all of our family, friends, fans, doctors and nurses who lifted us up in constant prayer, sent recipes, doctors info, gave advice and gifts! We love you ❤️ PSS: what a relief! We finally get to share with the world what we’ve been going thru.”
Initially, Gregg Leakes went into surgery to fight off the cancer. Overtime, he switched to different treatment plans and committed to maintaining a healthier lifestyle. He decided to go vegan to help treat the disease. During the season of RHOA, Gregg decided to take chemotherapy after declining treatment altogether.
This situation put a major test on the Leakes’ marriage as Nene previously admitted. However, we are happy that everything is coming together for the couple. Congratulations Gregg!
Empire star, Taraji P. Henson opened up to Variety about her struggling with depression and anxiety.
“I suffer from depression. My anxiety is kicking up even more every day, and I’ve never really dealt with anxiety like that. It’s something new.”
Henson hopes to remove the stigma of talking openly about mental health in the black community. She founded the organization,the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, which is named after her late father who returned from the Vietnam War with mental health issues.
Henson opens up about how going to a therapist helps her cope with her anxiety and depression.
“I talk to someone regularly. It has to be regularly, and that’s what I learned. It gets frustrating because you’re waiting for them to fix you, but it’s not that easy. I had to go through several therapists that I felt comfortable talking to, or that I felt was moving me forward and that I was making some progress with, and that takes time.”
The actress reveals that the lack of privacy she receives since becoming a bigger star has taken a toll on her.
“It wears on me. It does. I have to be conscious about everything. Everything. Every move I make, everything that comes out of my mouth. I have to go over it. That’s not living. That’s not just being. Living is being in the moment and saying whatever the f— you want to say and that’s what it is. But I can’t do that. And once upon a time, I could. It’s depressing. I feel myself changing, and I don’t want to. It’s making me a little hard in a way. It’s making me a little agoraphobic, and I’ve never been, but I have anxiety sometimes when I just want to go outside, and I can’t. Somebody’s got to go with me.’
When asked about her feelings after the Jussie Smollettsituation, Henson responded:
“We’ll never be the same. No one will ever be the same. Forever changed. And it’s sad.”
Taraji P. Henson is set to be honored at Variety’s Power of Women ceremony.
Police in Opelousas, Louisiana have announced that an arrest has been made in three church fires at historic black churches in the St. Landry Parish community.
The family of 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson who was shot and killed in July of 2018 are set to hold a press conference today. Sources say the family is going to sue the DC Housing Authority in connection with her murder.
“The two hometown girls are having the opportunity to represent our jurisdictions and we have done so with love and energy,” said Alsobrooks. After the press conference, the two elected leaders walked along Eastern Avenue, NE talking with residents.
hat she will begin holding similar walks on a monthly basis in Prince George’s County.
Today at 4, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks are going to hold a joint news conference and community walk. The community walk will take place on Eastern Avenue which borders the DC line on one side and Prince George’s County on the other side. It will start in the District’s Ward 7 and end in Prince George’s County.
One person has died and 6 others were injured in a 6:30 a.m. crash in Clinton, Maryland. The unidentified victim was a female. Police say the school bus was going Southbound on Branch Avenue near Surratts Road when the collision happened. Other vehicles were involved.
DC native and community activist Ron Moten is planning to hold a Noon conference to discuss the latest involving the owner of Metro PCS from playing Go Go music outside. It’s something store owner Don Campbell has been doing now for more than 24 years.
Longtime political leader Ward 2 DC City Council member Jack Evans has a challenger for his job in 2020. His former 2016 reelection campaign co-chair Patrick Kennedy.
A new app has been created to track every kind of hate crime in the U.S.. The app is called Hate Incident Reporting System and it was created by the University of Utah. The creators are hoping to document reports that never make it to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. From slurs written on a bathroom wall to acts of violence.
Today we talked to Jerron Hawkins a graduating senior at Howard University, Obama White House mentee and the founder of Reach Foundation, Inc. The Washington, DC native who is on a mission to disrupt negative cycles and establish a productive and uplifting culture for collegiate minorities. He accomplishes this by providing scholarships, facilitating mentorship, and highlighting the impact that minority college students have on college campuses and in communities around the world through Reach.
The FBI is now looking into suspicious fires at 3 historically black churches in St. Landry, Louisiana. The incidents happened on March 26 and 27th. A fourth church fire was reported in Caddo Parish. It was a small fire. Caddo Parish is about three hours North of St. Landry Parish. The most recent fire in St. Landry Parish was on Thursday. The burning of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Opelousas. Thus far no one has been hurt but the churches are destroyed.
Starting today DC Superior Court jurors who have to serve for more than a day will be given a pay raise. The daily pay is going from $10 to $40. In addition, to that court officials also decided to increase travel subsidies from $4 a day to $5 a day.
Prince George’s County Police were called to a home in the 13000 block of Buchanan Drive at 10:30 on Sunday in response to a shooting. Once there they found an 18-year-old female who had been fatally wounded in the Fort Washington home.
