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Alaska Lawmaker Takes Issue With Black History Month Bill

Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, an Anchorage Democrat and one of three black Alaska state lawmakers, sponsored the bill to establish Black History Month. With the House’s 37-1 vote, it passed the Legislature Thursday and next goes to the governor.

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JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A Republican lawmaker who was the lone no vote on a bill to make February Black History Month in Alaska on Thursday suggested that issue should not be a focus so late in the legislative session.

Rep. David Eastman of Wasilla said that as a state, “I believe we’re not doing right by African Americans or any Alaskans today. I think passing a new law saying how much politicians care about African Americans is fundamentally dishonest.”

“I think Alaskans deserve to feel safe in their homes, and I think we should be focusing on giving that back to them right now,” he told The Associated Press, adding later that the bill is “not what I was sent here to focus on right now.”

Thursday marked the 108th day of the 121-day session. Bills addressing crime, a top issue heading into the session, continue to be worked on.

Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, an Anchorage Democrat and one of three black Alaska state lawmakers, sponsored the bill to establish Black History Month. With the House’s 37-1 vote, it passed the Legislature Thursday and next goes to the governor.

Gray-Jackson said she watched the House floor vote and was moved to tears. Eastman, who frequently speaks on the House floor, did not speak on the bill before voting Thursday. Gray-Jackson said she was glad he didn’t speak.

“The only thing I cared about, because I knew he was going to vote no, was him getting up, talking and wasting people’s time and making people feel uncomfortable by his comments,” she said.

She said she feels sorry for him after he voted no “because he doesn’t get it.”

When Gray-Jackson served on the Anchorage Assembly, she said she brought forth resolutions recognizing different cultures within the community. Now, as a state lawmaker, she said she would like to make such recognitions permanent.

“Just because we have other issues we deal with, we can’t forget about our community in terms of things that make people feel like they matter. We know we have crime; we’re working on that,” she said. ”… But things like this make people feel good in the midst of feeling down.”

Eastman has in the past voted against singling out individuals or groups for special recognition.

In 2017, he voted against making Oct. 25 “African American Soldiers’ Contribution to Building the Alaska Highway Day.” Supporters of that measure said it was intended to bring recognition to the black soldiers whose contributions had been overlooked. But Eastman took issue with not recognizing all those who contributed to building the highway.

“And let’s have a day for all Alaskans and all veteran service members who contributed to building our highway certainly before we then reach down and choose a particular minority within that group of veterans who sacrificed in some cases their very lives,” he said at that time.

Eastman also voted Thursday against a bill to establish May 31 of each year as Katie John Day, in recognition of the late Athabascan elder known for her long legal fight for subsistence rights for Alaska Natives.

Eastman, who has taken issue with the coverage of abortion through Medicaid, was censured by the House in 2017 over comments he made suggesting there are women in Alaska who try to get pregnant to get a “free trip to the city” for abortions. Eastman apologized for the comments.

 

Baltimore Shifts To New Political Era After Mayor Resigns

“I’m determined to make a dent. I’m not a placeholder — I’m the mayor now. And I’m going to run the city like the mayor,” Young said from Detroit, where’s he’s attending a conference about economic development before his return to Baltimore over the weekend.

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BALTIMORE (AP) — After ex-Mayor Catherine Pugh’s rapid collapse amid multiple public corruption investigations, Baltimore city employees are pulling down her official portraits as the city quickly shifts into a new era with Mayor Bernard “Jack” Young at the helm.

Young, a fellow Democrat and a longtime leader of the City Council, automatically replaced Pugh after her resignation Thursday afternoon.

In a phone interview, Young told The Associated Press he’s ready to make changes, and is focused on reducing eye-popping rates of violent crime and tidying up the city’s streets. He aims to bring more investments and jobs, particularly to its most deeply disenfranchised neighborhoods.

Young had been Baltimore’s acting leader for a month already, ever since Pugh departed on indefinite leave , saying she was physically ill and emotionally overwhelmed amid the scandal involving her self-published children’s books.

“I’m determined to make a dent. I’m not a placeholder — I’m the mayor now. And I’m going to run the city like the mayor,” Young said from Detroit, where’s he’s attending a conference about economic development before his return to Baltimore over the weekend.

There’s little expectation that Young’s new administration can overcome Baltimore’s chronic problems of poverty, violence and inequity as he fills out the remainder of Pugh’s term. But he does have numerous political allies in Baltimore and the state’s capital and there’s hope he can make some advances.

Pugh’s career-ending debacle is one of the weirder political scandals in recent memory. It’s focused on “Healthy Holly” — a lucrative and obscure children’s book series she self-published focusing on a fictitious African-American child with a laser-like focus on exercise and good nutrition. The slim illustrated books, sharing tips on nutrition and exercise, were meant to be distributed to schools and daycares. But copies are hard to find.

After Pugh’s resignation, city employees began taking down Pugh’s official portraits, updating websites and removing her name from government letterhead.

“She no longer has any official capacity with the city,” Andre Davis, Baltimore’s solicitor, told reporters before choking up a bit at his former boss’s humiliating resignation from the one political post she always described as her dream job.

It’s a stunning fall from grace for the 69-year-old Pugh, who rose through the Democratic ranks over many years to become the city’s most powerful figure. But with federal, state and city investigators trying to unravel years’ worth of tangled arrangements selling at least $800,000 worth of her self-published children’s books, Pugh finally decided that she didn’t want to keep the job badly enough to remain in office amid questions focused on her murky financial dealings.

“Baltimore deserves a mayor who can move our great city forward,” Pugh said in a written statement read by her lawyer, Steven Silverman. After a month of sequestering herself at home, it wasn’t immediately clear whether some kind of deal was struck with federal investigators to pave the way for her resignation.

In late March, during a brief stint back at City Hall after being diagnosed with pneumonia, Pugh described her no-contract $500,000 arrangement to sell “Healthy Holly” books to a university-based health care system as a “regrettable mistake” and offered apologies. A few days later, she announced her indefinite leave of absence hours after the state’s governor requested a public corruption probe into Pugh.

Other customers included a Maryland financier who divulged that his financial firm decided to write a $100,000 check for “Health Holly” books after she clinched the 2016 Democratic primary. He insisted he expected nothing in return. She also sold tens of thousands of books to customers including a $4 billion hospital network she once helped oversee and health carriers with business before the city.

Pugh’s resignation came exactly a week after her City Hall offices, homes and multiple other locations were raided by FBI and IRS agents and it became clear that a federal grand jury has been empaneled. She is the second mayor in less than a decade to step down because of scandal . She came to office contrasting her clean image with her main opponent, ex-mayor Sheila Dixon, who was forced to depart office in 2010 as part of a plea deal for misappropriating about $500 in gift cards meant for needy families.

Since the book scandal erupted in late March, Pugh’s fractured administration has lurched from one crisis to another and various aides have been fired or left City Hall. Young declined to say if more Pugh-era employees would soon be fired for any reason.

Pugh’s resignation provides a measure of resolution after weeks of uncertainty and mounting pressure for her to step down. Maryland’s Republican governor and numerous Democrats had pressed for her resignation, saying she was no longer fit to lead Baltimore.

“This was the right decision, as it was clear the mayor could no longer lead effectively,” Gov. Larry Hogan said in a statement.

Tots to Teens, Growing Green With Pride and An Evening at The Opera

An action packed weekend with something for everyone to enjoy.

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Weekend Haps Update

The 6thAnnual Tots to Teens Expo is Saturday, May 4thfrom 10am to 5pm at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex.  There is something for the entire family to enjoy.  More information here:

 

Prince George’s County Executive, Angela Alsobrooks is hosting her “Growing Green Prince George’s County With Pride”event is Saturday, May 4th.  From 8am -12pm for the community cleanup and from 12pm to 3pm there will be a celebration for volunteers at Watkins Regional Park.  WHUR will be on hand with all kinds of goodies.  For more information, call 301-499-8523 or log on here:

 

The Duke Ellington School of the Arts Vocal Music Department  is presenting “An Evening at the Opera”and it’s being performed by it’s very talented students. That’s tonight May 3rdand tomorrow May 4that the Duke Ellington School of the Arts.  The musical is sponsored by the Casey Endowment Fund and it’s presented by the Duke Ellington School of the Arts Vocal Music Department. For more information go here:

  

Tonight at Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club presents After 7 for two shows 7 & 10pm.

 

The Pre-Mother’s Day Comedy Jam comes to DAR Constitution Hall Saturday night, featuring Bruce Bruce, John Witherspoon, Arnez J, Sheryl Underwood and more.  Show time is 7pm.

 

Najee along with special guest Blake Aaron are at the Birchmere tonight for a 7:30 show.

 

The a cappella musical, Jubilee is at Arena Stage running through June 2nd. For ticket information go here:

 

And finally, The Musical Fairy Tale, “Into The Woods”is playing at the Ford’s Theatre through May 22nd. For details 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 Show on 96.3 WHUR.

Follow me on Facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.

Possible Lightning Strikes Displace Dozens

75 elderly resident are now displaced.

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The fast moving thunderstorms that rolled through the Metropolitan area last night may be to blame for two fires.

The steeple of New Life Baptist Church caught on fire. Fire fighters who were called to the 7200 block of Central Avenue say a portion of the attic was also damaged. That was just before midnight. Then in Fort Washington fire crews were called to a senior living complex. The fire was in the attic at the Woodside Village Apartments. 75 elderly resident are now displaced. There were no reported injuries for either fires.

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CDC Warns Do Not Wash Your Chicken

Don’t wash your chicken before cooking it can actually do more harm…

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The latest warning from the Center for Disease Control has many around the DMV and nation talking. The CDC is telling consumers to not wash their raw chicken before cooking it.

Officials say that washing raw chicken can actually spread dangerous germs to other area and utensils in the kitchen. Officials with the CDC say an estimated million people get sick from consuming poultry that has been contaminated.

The government agency has released a link to a list of way you can prevent from getting food poisoning with chicken. It includes

1. Place chicken in a disposable bag before putting in your shopping cart or refrigerator to prevent raw juices from getting onto other foods.

2. Wash hands with warm soapy water for 20 seconds before and after handling chicken.

3. Do not wash raw chicken. During washing, chicken juices can spread in the kitchen and contaminate other foods, utensils, and countertops.

4. Use a separate cutting board for raw chicken.

5. Never place cooked food or fresh produce on a plate, cutting board, or other surface that previously held raw chicken.

6. Wash cutting boards, utensils, dishes, and countertops with hot soapy water after preparing chicken and before you prepare the next item.

7. Use a food thermometerExternal to make sure chicken is cooked to a safe internal temperature of 165°F.

8. If cooking frozen raw chicken in a microwavable meal, handle it as you would fresh raw chicken. Follow cooking directions carefully to prevent food poisoning.

9. If you think the chicken you are served at a restaurant or anywhere else is not fully cooked, send it back for more cooking.

10. Refrigerate or freeze leftover chicken within 2 hours (or within 1 hour if the temperature outside is higher than 90°F).

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Life After the Death of your Spouse

Grief and recovery after the loss of a spouse.

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We’ve all experienced the pain of losing a loved one. But losing a spouse can be particularly devastating in many ways.  May 3rd is National Widow’s Day.   It’s a day when widows and widowers… take time to reflect and offer support to others who have lost spouses.  We talk about what happens after “’til death do us part”.

Guests:

Dr. Fredrica Brooks-Davis, Clinical Psychologist, The Restoration Center, Inc.
Marilyn Lacey, Author, Sexual Assault Advocate

Resources

TEN THINGS I WISH SOMEONE HAD TOLD ME ABOUT BECOMING A WIDOW (Source: TODAY.COM)

  1. It sucks.I’m not going to try to make it sound better than that. I can’t. It just sucks. Not only do you lose the person you love and your partner in life, but your children also lose their father. You must deal with all of this by yourself because the one person who is supposed to help you during hard times is gone.
  2. You become “that person” people stare at in the supermarket.For months after my husband died, I didn’t want to leave my house. I felt like the whole world was watching me. It’s as if what happened to you is what everyone else is afraid of, so they just stare and pray they won’t become you one day.
  3. People do and say the dumbest things around you.Some people seem to feel awkward and just don’t know how to handle the situation. That is their problem, not yours. I was once standing outside my hair salon when a woman I knew walked out. I noticed that she saw me. She immediately stuck her head in her handbag and pretended to be frantically looking for something. Then she ran back into the salon. I guess she didn’t know what to say to me but “Hello” or “How are you?” would have been fine.
  4. Friends and family may not always understand that you don’t have time.Everyone means well with phone calls, emails and texts, but it is impossible to give everyone a response in a timely manner. You are adjusting to a new and scary life, and so are your children. I know I did not have the time or energy to focus on anything but that. There are those who might not understand this and might get insulted. That can be upsetting at a time when you do not need extra stress. But sometimes people will surprise you with understanding. My aunt once called to check on me, and I never returned her call. When I saw her a month or so later at a holiday dinner, I immediately apologized to her. Her response was, “You don’t ever have to apologize to me, I totally understand. You are going through enough.” I appreciated those words more than you can imagine.
  1. Accept help when it is offered.I was lucky enough to have friends and family who were always trying to do whatever they could for me. At first, I resisted. I felt like this was my problem and I had to do it all for myself, and my children. But I realized quickly that doing everything is hard. Little by little, I began to let others do for me when I felt that they genuinely wanted to. It did make life just a little easier.
  2. Those who have never experienced a tragedy such as this will not understand what you are going through.They will think that they do, or will try to, but they don’t. They can’t. Everyone means well. They will tell you to get out more, or go out less, or stop doing so much for your kids, or do more for your kids. You just need to do things your own way. You will, of course, make mistakes and ask for advice when needed. But go with your gut, and do things the best way you know how.

Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh Has Resigned

Baltimore Mayor Resigns

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(Baltimore, MD) — Baltimore Democratic Mayor Catherine Pugh  is resigning. Her lawyer Steven Silverman read a brief statement from Pugh, which said she is stepping down in the best interest of the people and the government.  Pugh is resigning amid a growing scandal over sales of her self-published children’s book series. Pugh has been on paid leave for more than a month for health reasons. While she’s been on leave, Pugh has been under investigation for book deals with businesses that work closely with the city, which have earned her hundreds of thousands of dollars. Last week, the FBI and IRS raided her homes and offices. Maryland Republican Governor Larry Hogan has called for her resignation, as has the Baltimore City Council.

Speaker Pelosi Says AG Barr Lied To Congress

Pelosi Accuses Barr Of Lying To Congress

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(Washington, DC) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is accusing Attorney General Bill Barr of lying to lawmakers about Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s  final report. During a Capitol briefing today, Pelosi said — “He lied to Congress; if anybody else did that, it would be considered a crime.” Pelosi did not elaborate on what she believes Barr lied about. She also argued that the attorney general is more loyal to President Trump than he is to the American people. Barr testified about the Mueller report for several hours in a Senate hearing yesterday.

The attorney general refused to show up for scheduled House testimony today in a dispute with Democrats over the format of the hearing in the Judiciary Committee. Dems wanted staff lawyers to question Barr, along with House members.

Legal Weed Sales In DC???

Bowser Wants To Legalize Recreational Weed Sales

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(Washington, DC) — DC Mayor Muriel Bowser is proposing legislation to legalize recreational marijuana sales. DC residents can currently grow and possess small amounts of marijuana, but cannot legally purchase it. The city also cannot tax sales because of a federal budget provision. The Washington Post reports the bill would rename the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration and task the agency with licensing and overseeing marijuana businesses.

The city’s eight medical marijuana cultivation centers would be allowed to grow marijuana for recreational sales, and regulators will be able to issue additional licenses six months after the law takes effect. Bowser told the Post she wants to impose a 17-percent sales tax on marijuana products, with some of the revenue dedicated to city housing. The minimum age to purchase marijuana would be 21.

San Francisco Billionaire Gives $30M To Study Homelessness

The five-year initiative funded by Benioff and his wife, Lynne, will conduct academic research, provide testimony and fact sheets, and train people who have been homeless as expert speakers. The UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative will be part of the UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations, led by Dr. Margot Kushel.

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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A San Francisco billionaire is donating $30 million to the University of California, San Francisco, to research root causes of homelessness and potential solutions.

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, a city native, has embraced homelessness as a philanthropic cause, pumping millions into a 2018 city measure to tax wealthy companies to pay for homeless services.

The five-year initiative funded by Benioff and his wife, Lynne, will conduct academic research, provide testimony and fact sheets, and train people who have been homeless as expert speakers. The UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative will be part of the UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations, led by Dr. Margot Kushel.

The $30 million contribution is the largest-ever private donation to fund homelessness research, according to Salesforce.

“The world needs a North Star for truth on homelessness,” Benioff said in a statement. The initiative “will be that North Star, providing the latest research, data and evidence-based solutions to ensure we’re investing in programs that will help solve the homelessness crisis.”

Some San Francisco residents are frustrated with technology companies like Salesforce, a cloud-based software business, saying they contribute to inequality with high-paying jobs that drive up housing prices.

More than 4,000 people sleep on the streets every night in the city, where the median price of a two-bedroom home is $1.3 million. A family of four earning $117,400 a year is considered low income in San Francisco.

Benioff approached the university because he wants officials spending tax money to make decisions with the best data available, Kushel said. The plan is for researchers analyze the data and provide neutral, trusted analysis.

The initiative will have the ability to help a city, for example, decide whether and how to implement an alcohol management program, study the results of that program and then broadly share the information.

“We want to be a rapid response team to really help the public,” Kushel said. “This is democratizing data; this is meant to get the data out there.”

Making Prince George’s County A Better Place To Live, Work and Play

The “Growing Green Prince George’s County With Pride” event is this Saturday

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What are you doing to make your community a better place to live, work and play?  I have details this morning on a big event taking place this weekend in Prince George’s County and it’s designed to help beautify the county and bring neighbors and communities together.  It’s called Growing Green Prince George’s County with Pride.  My guest is Angela Alsobrooks – Prince George’s County Executive

Growing Green Prince George’s County With Pride is Saturday, May 4th8am -12pm for the community cleanup and from 12pm to 3pm there will be a celebration for volunteers at Watkins Regional Park.  For more information, call 301-499-8523 or log on here:

Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:35 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.

Follow me on facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.

Listen to this mornings segment here:

 

 

DC Makes It On Grungiest City List

D.C. residents admit to only showering every four to five days a week.

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It is not something that residents in the District agree with but a new study placed D.C. atop a list of America’s grungiest cities.

The study was conducted by Quality Logo Product. They looked at the hygiene habits of some two-thousand people across more than 2 dozen states.

The outcome D.C. residents admit to only showering every four to five days a week. Interestingly enough when asked about brushing their teeth those asked say they only do that two to three days or less. In addition, some even stated they wear the same pair of underwear for four days or more. It’s shocking to many.

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Paula Abdul Ends Billboard Awards With Throwback Set

Abdul proved she still has the moves, leading host Kelly Clarkson to declare “that was insane.”

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LAS VEGAS (AP) — Dancer and singer Paula Abdul has brought out her tap shoes to close out the Billboard Music Awards with a performance of songs from her debut 1988 album “Forever Your Girl.”

Starting with her tap performance from “Straight Up,” she strolled through her hits “The Way that You Love Me,” ″Cold Hearted” and even brought out the dancing cartoon cat from her music video for “Opposites Attract.”

Abdul proved she still has the moves, leading host Kelly Clarkson to declare “that was insane.”

Austim Can Be Diagnosed Sooner Than First Thought

Autism is a neurological and developmental disorder characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, and speech and nonverbal communication.

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A new study out seems to show that autism may be able to be diagnosed as young as 14 months.

A new study published in the JAMA Pediatrics shows the Autism spectrum disorder that may affect social skills, behavior and even speech could be detected with new guidelines given to doctor’s during recommended visits between the ages of 18 and 24 months.

Dr’s. believe early diagnosis could mean early intervention and could help the child development progress faster. In most cases the disorder is diagnosed when a child is between the age of 3 or 4.

The CDC now says that the disorder may be more common that first thought. 1 in 50 children in the U.S. are listed along the autism spectrum disorder according to a recent CDC tracker. In 2016 it was 1 in 68 children in the U.S.

Autism is a neurological and developmental disorder characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, and speech and nonverbal communication. It emerges in early childhood and lasts throughout a person’s lifetime.

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Wrong Way Driving Death

Detectives say just after 2 am a driver going southbound in the northbound lanes on Leonardtown road hit a vehicle head-on at Huckleberry Drive.

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Charles County Police have reopened a section of Leonardtown Road. It follows a deadly two-car collision.

Detectives say just after 2 am a driver going southbound in the northbound lanes on Leonardtown road hit a vehicle head-on at Huckleberry Drive. The driver of that car was killed.

The driver in the striking vehicle suffered minor injuries. There are reports that there may have been one other person in one of the vehicles. The victim’s identities have not been released.

A motif in what caused the driver to go down the wrong side of the road is still unknown.

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Remy Ma Arrested On Charges Of Punching Reality TV Cast Mate

The 38-year-old rapper — known to the court as Remy Smith — turned herself in Wednesday to face accusations of punching “Love & Hip Hop New York” cast member Brittney Taylor in the face on April 16 at Irving Plaza, a downtown Manhattan music hall where Ma was performing for a benefit concert.

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NEW YORK (AP) — Grammy-nominated rapper Remy Ma was arrested Wednesday on charges of attacking a reality show cast mate at a New York concert venue, a new round of legal trouble for a rapper still on parole from a 2007 shooting.

Her lawyer, Dawn Florio, called the new allegations false, saying the rapper was at home nursing her 4-month-old daughter at the time of the alleged attack.

“She’s going to fight this to the end,” Florio said.

The rapper herself declined to comment on the case after she was arraigned on misdemeanor assault and harassment charges and freed on $1,500 bail.

She left court hand-in-hand with her husband, the rapper Papoose. Friend and fellow hip hop artist Fat Joe also came to court to support her.

The 38-year-old rapper — known to the court as Remy Smith — turned herself in Wednesday to face accusations of punching “Love & Hip Hop New York” cast member Brittney Taylor in the face on April 16 at Irving Plaza, a downtown Manhattan music hall where Ma was performing for a benefit concert.

Taylor, who reported the incident the next day, suffered bruising to her right eye, authorities said.

“This arrest demonstrates how serious this matter is — it is real life and not reality TV entertainment,” Taylor’s lawyer, Sanford Rubenstein, said in a statement. He added that Taylor “has confidence in our system of justice and will continue to fully cooperate with the authorities.”

Florio said that while Ma was at Irving Plaza that night, she was home at 9:30 p.m., when a criminal complaint says the attack allegedly happened. Many witnesses who were at the venue will vouch that Ma “had absolutely nothing to do with this incident,” Florio said.

Taylor “is a liar, and my client did not touch her,” Florio said.

Ma, whose Grammy nod came as part of the Terror Squad’s 2004 hit “Lean Back,” served six years in prison after being convicted of shooting an acquaintance outside a Manhattan nightclub in 2007. They were celebrating a birthday with friends in Manhattan’s trendy meatpacking district when Ma accused the other woman of stealing money from her pocketbook.

Ma’s defense said the gun went off accidentally during a struggle.

Released in 2014, she has three months left on parole, state records show. The new allegations spurred parole officers to tighten her parole conditions, including by requiring her to wear an ankle monitor and setting her curfew earlier, Florio said.

Ma is due back in court May 24. In the meantime, Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Josh Hanshaft ordered her to stay away from Taylor.

Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Juan Maldonado said the two know each other from the show, but “they’re not friends.”

Ma joined the show in 2015.

Drake Breaks Taylor Swift’s Record At Billboard Music Awards

“I want to thank my mom for all the times you drove me to piano. All the times you drove me to basketball and hockey — that clearly didn’t work out. All the times you drove me to ‘Degrassi.’ No matter how long it took me to figure out what I wanted to do, you were always there to give me a ride, and now we’re on one hell of ride,” Drake said.

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Mother’s Day is in a couple weeks, but Drake gave his mom an early gift with a heartfelt speech at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards, where the rap star also broke Taylor Swift’s record for most wins.

Drake turned up the love for his mom when he picked up top artist, besting Cardi B, Ariana Grande, Post Malone and Travis Scott. He won 12 awards Wednesday in Las Vegas, making his career total 27 (Swift has 23 wins).

He looked up to the ceiling as he held the trophy, then said: “I just want to thank my mom for her relentless effort in my life.

“I want to thank my mom for all the times you drove me to piano. All the times you drove me to basketball and hockey — that clearly didn’t work out. All the times you drove me to ‘Degrassi.’ No matter how long it took me to figure out what I wanted to do, you were always there to give me a ride, and now we’re on one hell of ride,” Drake said.

Family bonding was a theme at the three-hour show, which aired live on NBC and was hosted by Kelly Clarkson

Ciara’s young son and husband, NFL player Russell Wilson, danced along while she worked the stage, and Nick and Joe Jonas gave kisses to Priyanka Chopra and Sophie Turner of “Game of Thrones” fame when they sang in the audience before hitting the stage. Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco looked to his parents as he accepted top rock song, quoting the name of his current hit: “Hey look Ma, I made it!”

Mariah Carey’s twins cheered her on as she sang a medley of her hits and accepted the Icon award. She was in diva form before taking the award from Jennifer Hudson, throwing her napkin on the floor after dabbing her face with it.

“Without getting into all the drama, all the ups and downs of my career … I guess I always felt like an outsider, someone who doesn’t quite belong anywhere, and I still feel like that lost interracial child who had a lot of nerve to believe I could succeed at anything at all in this world. But, and this is the truth, I did believe because I had to,” she said. “The truth is I dedicated my life to my music — my saving grace — and to my fans.”

Cardi B, the night’s top nominee with 21, locked lips with husband Offset on the red carpet and the couple sat closely inside the venue. She won six awards, including top Hot 100 song for “Girls Like You” with Maroon 5.

“I remember when Maroon 5 hit me up to do this song. I was like, ‘Bro I’m five months pregnant. I can’t even breathe.’ But this record to me was so amazing. I was like, ‘Oh this is going to be a hit.’ And now I sing this song to my daughter because she’s the girl that I need,” she said.

Drake and Cardi B — who both won multiple awards during the live telecast — used their speeches to promote love and appreciation for their peers in the music industry.

Others, too, brought on the positive energy when onstage. Imagine Dragons’ band leader Dan Reynolds used his speech to highlight the dangers of conversion therapy on LGBTQ youth. He earned rousing applause. Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard followed suit, telling the audience after winning top country song: “In the spirit of so much truth being spoken tonight by so many talented artists, I think we should speak some truth.”

“As artists we all get to experience so many unbelievable things, but in our opinion, at the end of the day, it’s all for nothing if you’re not using your platform for better … to spread love, to help those in needs, to be a light to your community,” he said.

Swift kicked off the show when she brought her new music video to life with a colorful, eye-popping performance of her song “ME!” Dancers wearing bright, pastel colors spun in the air holding umbrellas and a marching band kicked off Swift’s performance — like most of the world, maybe she was inspired by Beyonce’s new Coachella film?

Madonna, wearing an eye-patch, teamed up with Colombian singer Maluma for a performance, but it was Grammy-winning Christian artist Lauren Daigle who had the night’s best performance. She sang “You Say,” giving the audience a calm, yet strong and powerful performance. She was backed by three awesome background singers and a pianist.

BTS, who performed alongside Halsey, also had a major night. At the Billboard Awards and American Music Awards, the K-pop band had only previously won “social” awards based off their fanatic fan base, but on Wednesday BTS picked up top duo/group, besting Grammy-winning groups like Maroon 5, Imagine Dragons and Dan + Shay.

“I still can’t believe we’re here on this stage with so many great artists,” RM said as fans screamed loudly. “We’re still the same boys from six years ago, we still have the same dreams … we still have the same thoughts. Let us keep dreaming.”

An unlikely winner at the Billboard Awards? “Game of Thrones” actress Maisie Williams, whose plays Arya Stark on the HBO series and shined brightly on last week’s episode.

“Shout-out to Arya Stark for putting in that work last week,” Drake said onstage after winning his first award of the evening.

Wife of Slain Construction Worker Forgives Her Husband’s Alleged Killer

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Washington, D.C. – (April 30, 2019) – Patsy Holmes says she has no other choice but to forgive 29-year-old Terrance Barnes from SE.  Barnes is the accused gunman in the April 17th slaying of 57-year-old Barry Holmes who was shot while directing traffic for a construction company.

Patsy Holmes returned to the 51-hundred block of Southern Avenue, SE Tuesday evening, the site where her husband was slain.  Holmes was joined by other family and church members for a candlelight vigil in honor of her husband who was a deacon at the Sword of the Spirit Ministries Church.   “As a christian, I have to forgive the gunman.  That’s what Christ requires of all of us,” said Holmes.  Singing spiritual hymns, Holmes was joined by her daughter, pastor and dozens of other family and church members to pay tribute to her husband.  “Barry was a man of God and he loved everyone, said Holmes.

Meantime, Barnes made his court appearance Wednesday at DC Superior Court to answer charges to the murder.  Barnes was ordered held until further court proceedings.  According to court documents, witnesses say Barnes shot Holmes point blank in the chest after Holmes told him not to walk on the just paved asphalt.

Housing Discrimination in DC

Housing watchdog NFHA files discrimination lawsuit against a housing provider in DC.

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Black and poor families in Washington, D.C. with Section 8 government vouchers are having a tough time finding housing when they’ve tried to rent through the company Evolve LLC.  This is according to a lawsuit spearheaded by the National Fair Housing Alliance.  Why is this happening?  What can be done about it?

Resources:

National Fair Housing Alliance Lawsuit Against Evolve LLC

Testing for rental discrimination in D.C., call The Equal Rights Center 202-234-3062

Guests:

Morgan Williams, General Counsel, The National Fair Housing Alliance

Morgan Baskin, Housing Complex Reporter, The Washington City Paper

PG County Going After Litter Bugs

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Upper Marlboro, Maryland (May 1, 2019) – Prince George’s County spends on average 13-million dollars annually to fight a litter battle that it has apparently been losing.  County leaders today vowed to wage a new war on the problem with a beautification initiative that’s designed to get residents and county agencies to work together to green up and clean up Prince George’s. 

County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, flanked by county trash trucks, new solar operated trash bins, police, public works employees, other county leaders, and concerned residents; announced the new “Growing Green With Pride” program in front of the Wayne Curry Administration Building in Upper Marlboro this morning.  “I have heard the complaints of residents loud and clear and we are sending a clear message to those who illegally dump trash and litter in our county.  We are going to come after you,” said Alsobrooks.  As part of the program, the county will be setting up surveillance cameras around the county going after those who illegally dump things like mattresses, tires, refrigerators, stoves, and other items.  The county is also sending a message to entrepreneurs to no longer post signs on light poles and along county roads about their respective businesses and services.  “We are going to actively enforce our litter laws and go after anyone who breaks those laws.” the county executive stated.

Additionally, Alsobrooks pledged to have Monday through Friday bulky trash collection, solar powered recycling trash compactors placed at bus stops, and an expand the good scrap program for composting food.  “As the government, we are going to do our part to provide the proper resources and services.  But we also need residents to do your part by cleaning up your corner of the world,” Alsobrooks added.

The county executive admits that just picking up more trash and providing services will not be enough.  She said changing behavior also has to be a part of the plan to tackle the litter problem.  That’s why she’s also getting county youth involved to be ambassadors to help send the strong message about making and keeping Prince George’s County Beautiful. 

The county executive ended by calling on residents to take the clean up challenge by taking a photo of an area that needs to be cleaned, clean it up, then take an after pictures and post it to social media using #pgctrashtag. 

Saturday, May 4th the County will host a clean up effort by passing out supplies to help county residents pick up the litter.  Followed by the clean-up, Alsobrooks will host an after party picnic from 12pm to 3pm at Watkins Regional Park.  WHUR will be on hand to provide the music and lots of giveaways.

 

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Maryland House Elects 1st Black Woman Speaker

Baltimore County Delegate Adrienne Jones elected Speaker of Maryland House of Delegates

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In a dramatic surprise, a black woman who had dropped out of the race for Maryland’s House speaker has won the powerful office.
Del. Adrienne Jones was unanimously elected by members of the House in a special session Wednesday.
Her election makes state history on two fronts: She is the first woman and the first African American to become Maryland’s House speaker.
It happened as a result of division in the House Democratic Caucus over two candidates, Del. Maggie McIntosh and Del. Dereck Davis.
Jones, a Baltimore County Democrat, was approached by McIntosh and Davis, after hours of debate in the caucus, which includes 98 of the chamber’s 141 members. Jones had dropped out last week to support Davis.
Del. Kumar Barve is calling the turn of events “the most incredible thing I’ve seen” in 28 years in the House.
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AG Barr Spars In Senate Judiciary Committee

Barr, Mueller trade barbs as Russia probe rift goes public

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Private tensions between Justice Department leaders and special counsel Robert Mueller’s team broke into public view in extraordinary fashion Wednesday as Attorney General William Barr pushed back at complaints over his handling of the Trump-Russia investigation report and aimed his own criticism at the special counsel.
Testifying for the first time since releasing Mueller’s report, Barr said he was surprised Mueller did not reach a conclusion on whether President Donald Trump had tried to obstruct justice, and that he felt compelled to step in with his own judgment that the president had committed no crime.
“I’m not really sure of his reasoning,” Barr said of Mueller’s obstruction analysis, which neither accused the president of a crime nor exonerated him. “I think that if he felt that he shouldn’t go down the path of making a traditional prosecutive decision then he shouldn’t have investigated. That was the time to pull up.”
The airing of disagreements over the handling of the report was notable given the highly secretive nature of the special counsel’s investigation and the public appearance for at least most of the probe that the Justice Department and Mueller’s team were unified in approach. But Barr sought to minimize the rift by suggesting the special counsel’s concerns were largely about process, not substance.
Barr’s appearance Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee gave him his most extensive opportunity to explain the department’s actions, including his press conference held before the Mueller report’s release. It was also a forum for him to repair a reputation bruised by allegations that he’s the Republican president’s protector and by the emergence of a private letter from Mueller that criticized his handling of the report.
Democrats seized on the daylight between the two men to attack Barr’s credibility and accuse him of unduly spinning Mueller’s report in the president’s favor. They also pressed him on whether he had misled Congress last month when he professed ignorance about complaints from the special counsel’s team. Barr suggested he had not lied because he was in touch with Mueller himself and not his team.
“Mr. Barr, I feel your answer was purposely misleading, and I believe others do too,” said Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.
While Democratic senators bluntly questioned Barr’s actions, Republicans, in addition to defending Trump, focused on the president’s 2016 Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton’s email and campaign practices and what they feel is a lack of investigation of them.
Barr has also been invited to appear Thursday before the Democratic-led House Judiciary panel, but the Justice Department said he would not testify if the committee insisted on having its lawyers question the attorney general.
Neither side broke much ground Wednesday on the specifics of Mueller’s investigation, though Barr did articulate a robust defense of Trump as he made clear his firm conviction that there was no prosecutable case against the president for obstruction of justice.
He was asked by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the committee’s top Democrat, about an episode recounted in Mueller’s report in which Trump pressed White House counsel Don McGahn to seek the removal of Mueller on conflict-of-interest grounds. Trump then asked McGahn to deny a press report that such a directive had been given.
Barr responded, “There’s something very different firing a special counsel outright, which suggests ending an investigation, and having a special counsel removed for conflict — which suggests you’re going to have another special counsel.”
Barr entered the hearing on the defensive following reports hours earlier that Mueller had complained to him in a letter and over the phone about the way his findings were being portrayed.
Two days after receiving Mueller’s report, Barr released a four-page letter that summarized the main findings.
Mueller’s letter, dated March 27, conveys his unhappiness that Barr released what the attorney general saw as the bottom-line conclusions of the special counsel’s investigation and not the introductions and executive summaries that Mueller’s team had prepared and believed conveyed more nuance and context than Barr’s own letter. Mueller said he had communicated the same concern two days earlier.
“There is now public confusion about critical aspects of the results of our investigation,” Mueller wrote in his letter to Barr. “This threatens to undermine a central purpose for which the Department appointed the Special Counsel: to assure full public confidence in the outcome of the investigations.”
Barr appeared unmoved by the criticism. He said repeatedly that Mueller had assured him that the information in Barr’s letter of conclusions was not inaccurate but he simply wanted more information out. Barr said he didn’t believe a piecemeal release of information was beneficial, and besides, it wasn’t Mueller’s call to make.
Once Mueller submitted his report, his work was done and the document was “my baby,” Barr insisted defiantly.
“It was my decision how and when to make it public. Not Bob Mueller’s,” he said.
Barr also complained that Mueller did not, as requested, identify grand jury material in his report when he submitted it, slowing down the public release of the report as the Justice Department worked to black out sensitive information.
Barr noted that Mueller concluded his investigation without any interference and that neither the attorney general nor any other Justice Department official overruled the special counsel on any action he wanted to take. Barr also defended his decision to step in and clear the president of obstruction of justice after Mueller presented evidence on both sides but didn’t reach a conclusion.

An Evening At The Opera

The talented students at The Duke Ellington School of the Arts are preparing for the presentation of “An Evening at the Opera”

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It’s time for a musical good time at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. The Arts Vocal Music Department is preparing for the presentation of “An Evening at the Opera” and I have the details on how to make sure you see these talented students in action.  My guest is Daphne Dunston Wharton – Duke Ellington School of the Arts

“An Evening at the Opera” is May 3rdand 4that the Duke Ellington School of the Arts.  The musical is sponsored by the Casey Endowment Fund and it’s presented by the Duke Ellington School of the Arts Vocal Music Department.  More information 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 twitterat @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.

Listen to this mornings segment here:

 

Summer Movie Preview: ‘The Lion King’ Roars Again

“Nala is a very powerful character who’s a warrior and also has a big heart and encapsulates a lot of different archetypes,” he said. “I wanted the way she was choreographed and with lions and the fight scenes to have a resonance with the power with which (Beyoncé) choreographs her stage show.”

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Director Jon Favreau has just left a scoring session for ”The Lion King ” with Hans Zimmer and an orchestra. It was for the stampede (yes, THAT stampede). And it will come as no surprise to anyone familiar with the 1994 animated classic that, with Favreau’s footage playing in the background, it got a little emotional in that room.

“Working on it doesn’t make it any less emotional,” Favreau said.

And don’t even get him started on what it was like to listen to James Earl Jones record his lines as Mufasa.

Favreau and an army of people behind the scenes are putting the finishing touches on what might be this summer’s most anticipated release, one that’s been three years in the making with some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Beyoncé, and the expectations couldn’t be higher. None of the other major studios are even daring to go up against “The Lion King” when it opens July 19.

The animated film, which opened in June 1994 at the peak of the Disney animation renaissance, went on to become a critical hit, the highest grossing film of the year at the worldwide box office (it was second domestically to “Forrest Gump”), a two-time Oscar winner for Zimmer’s score and the song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” and a Broadway show — now the third-longest running and one of the most successful in history. So it was only a matter of time before the Walt Disney Co., in this new era of live-action remakes of its animated library which this year included both “Dumbo” and “Aladdin,” turned to one of its most beloved.

Favreau wasn’t finished with his version of “The Jungle Book” when he started inquiring about plans for “The Lion King.” He’d learned so much about motion capture technology and had a team he knew how to collaborate with. He was ready to take it to the next level. So, he raised his hand for the big job.

“I kind of lobbied for it,” Favreau said.

The studio waited until “The Jungle Book” was out to give him the official word, but the 2016 movie which scored with both critics and audiences, turned out to be a pretty good audition. And he set to work prepping this “live-action” ″Lion King,” which, it should be said isn’t live-action at all. It’s a combination of virtual reality and “keyframe animation,” which means that the animals are all animated by hand, “just like all the old animated movies,” Favreau explained. In other words, if you visited the set, you would not find some gargantuan soundstage and a bunch of actors running around acting like lions while covered in motion capture bodysuits and dots.

Rather, it was more of a “black box with people wearing headsets and VR goggles.”

The VR was used to “drive the camera” and “instead of just one layout artist on a computer, we had a full crew operating virtual cameras in a virtual reality environment,” he said.

That includes esteemed cinematographer Caleb Deschanel, a six-time Oscar nominee.

The resulting special effect is that “It should feel like a live-action movie,” he said, even if it’s technically animated.

For the cast, which includes Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé as Nala, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa and Billy Eichner as Timon, the process was pretty similar to what they would have done for a traditionally animated movie, but Favreau also filmed the actors during their voice recording sessions to help the animators. He knew it would look to weird to try to translate human expressions onto the cats’ faces so instead emotion is conveyed through body language (and a little mouth moving for the dialogue).

Anyone who’s seen the marketing thus far has no doubt recognized some familiar touchstones from the 1994 film. So familiar, in fact, that many started to wonder if this was going to be a shot-for-shot remake. Favreau said that isn’t the case.

“It diverges quite a bit,” he said. “It’s much longer than the original film. And part of what we’re doing here is to (give it more dimension) not just visually but both story wise and emotionally.”

The main story points are the same, but like the stage musical, there will be differences too. Plus, he wanted to capitalize on the uniqueness of his actors.

With Beyoncé, for instance, he even changed the way he directed her and approached her animation after seeing her stage show and all the personas she channels for each song.

“Nala is a very powerful character who’s a warrior and also has a big heart and encapsulates a lot of different archetypes,” he said. “I wanted the way she was choreographed and with lions and the fight scenes to have a resonance with the power with which (Beyoncé) choreographs her stage show.”

And of course there’s the music, which is just as important as the images in conjuring up all the emotion and nostalgia associated with the original.

Zimmer has updated and built upon his own score from 25 years ago, which will also integrate music from the stage show and the 2D film.

“It’s quite a lush version of the soundtrack and the score,” Favreau said.

There will be some recognizable songs, including “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” ″Hakuna Matata,” ″Be Prepared,” ″I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” and “Circle of Life,” plus some new ones too.

And the hope is that this version resonates not only with the generations that grew up with “The Lion King,” but with a new batch of kids as well who may be experiencing it for the first time this way.

“It’s about the life cycle and coming of age and saying goodbye and all the things that we all deal with,” Favreau said. “It’s not a story that’s often told but it’s a story that’s probably the most universal story there is.”

Burger King May Sell Plant-Based Burger Across US This Year

“It’s really difficult to distinguish between the Impossible Whopper and the original Whopper,” he said.

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TORONTO (AP) — Burger King could soon be selling plant-based burgers nationwide.

Restaurant Brands International, Burger King’s parent, said Monday that a month-long test of the Impossible Whopper at 59 restaurants in St. Louis has gone so well that it will start testing it in additional markets. The company said it may expand sales nationally by the end of this year.

The sandwich is made with a plant-based burger from Impossible Foods, a Redwood City, Calif.-based startup. Burger King is the first fast food chain to test the Impossible burger, but other chains are offering plant-based burgers from competitors like Beyond Meat.

Chris Finazzo, president of Burger King’s North American operations, said during an earnings conference call Monday that the Impossible Whopper was attracting new customers. He said the chain will sell the Impossible Whopper out nationally if reaction in other test markets “is a strong as it was in St. Louis.”

“It’s really difficult to distinguish between the Impossible Whopper and the original Whopper,” he said.

Burger King wouldn’t say which markets will get the sandwich next.

The news was a bright spot in otherwise disappointing first quarter earnings for Restaurant Brands, which said its first quarter net income fell 9% to $135 million on weaker same-store sales growth.

The Toronto-based company reported net income of 53 cents. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs like fees to a restructuring consultant, came to 55 cents per share.

The results missed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of eight analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 59 cents per share.

The company blamed poor weather in Canada for a drop in same-store sales at Tim Hortons. Burger King’s same-store sales grew 2% as the company tried to revive U.S. breakfast sales with a $5 monthly coffee subscription offer. Same-store sales were flat at Popeyes.

Restaurant Brands posted revenue of $1.27 billion in the period, beating analysts’ forecasts.

Company shares fell 3% to $63.43 in morning trading.

 

Stepped Up Security At Hylton H.S.

Police found the gun in an adjacent classroom…

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A 16-year-old student from Hylton High School has been charged with possession of a firearm on school property. He has not been identified because of his age but he has been charged as a juvenile.

There were some tense moments yesterday after the school was placed on lockdown until police could assess what happened in a classroom at the school.

The student reportedly was showing the loaded weapon to a small group while in art class. The weapon went off striking the ceiling tiles. The teacher who was unclear of what the sound was asked him about it. The student said it was a balloon. The teacher called a resource officer and a probe into the sound began.

It was not until some 2 hours later when Prince William County Police were called to the school just before 5 did they locate the gun. It was found hidden in a nearby classroom. The student suffered a minor injury when the gun went off. He was treated for that.

There’s no word on his first court date. As a precaution and to help ease some of the concern for students and parents there will be a noticeable police presence today.

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963

Obamas Unveil Slate Of Series, Documentaries For Netflix

“We love this slate because it spans so many different interests and experiences, yet it’s all woven together with stories that are relevant to our daily lives,” Michelle Obama said. “We think there’s something here for everyone — moms and dads, curious kids, and anyone simply looking for an engaging, uplifting watch at the end of a busy day.”

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NEW YORK (AP) — Barack and Michelle Obama on Tuesday unveiled a slate of projects they are preparing for Netflix, a year after the former president and first lady signed a deal with the streaming platform.

The Obamas’ production company, Higher Ground Productions, on Tuesday announced a total of seven films and series that Barack Obama said will entertain but also “educate, connect and inspire us all.”

Higher Ground is producing a feature film on Frederick Douglass, adapted from David W. Blight’s Pulitzer Prize-winning biography. Also in the works is a documentary series that adapts Michael Lewis’ “Fifth Risk: Undoing Democracy,” the “Moneyball” author’s 2018 best-seller about government servants working under the political appointees of Donald Trump’s administration.

The production company’s first release will be Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert’s Sundance Film Festival documentary “American Factory,” about a Chinese-owned factory in post-industrial Ohio. Netflix and Higher Ground also acquired Jim LeBrecht and Nicole Newnham’s “Crip Camp,” a documentary about a summer camp for disabled teenager founded in upstate New York in the early 1970s.

The Obamas are also developing an upstairs-downstairs drama set in post-WWII New York titled “Bloom,” and an adaptation of The New York Times “Overlooked” obituary column, about deaths unreported by the paper. A half-hour show for preschoolers titled “Listen to Your Vegetables & Eat Your Parents” will instruct kids about food.

“We love this slate because it spans so many different interests and experiences, yet it’s all woven together with stories that are relevant to our daily lives,” Michelle Obama said. “We think there’s something here for everyone — moms and dads, curious kids, and anyone simply looking for an engaging, uplifting watch at the end of a busy day.”

The projects are to be released over the next several years.

UNC Charlotte Gunman Behind Bars

Two people are dead and three others remain in critical condition following UNC Charlotte shooting…

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The gunman police say was involved in yesterday’s mass shooting at UNC Charlotte is sitting in a jail cell this morning. He has been identified as 22-year-old Trystan Andrew Terrell.

Terrell was a former history major before dropping out earlier this year. According to reports he showed up on campus on the last day of classes before final exams begin and just opened fire.

Two people were killed. Four others were injured. As of this morning, three of them were still listed in critical condition. None of the victims have been identified.

Terrell has bee charged with two counts of murder, four counts of attempted murder, four counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, possession and discharging of a firearm on educational property.

A vigil for the victims is planned tonight at 6 pm on the campus.

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963

Oprah Winfrey Gets Emotional At Hollywood Empowerment Event

“I was told by my news director and the general manager that because I was a single woman who didn’t have a mortgage and didn’t have kids, I wasn’t entitled to earn as much as the man sitting next to me,” Winfrey said. “They didn’t know my value but I knew my value.”

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oprah Winfrey may have been the main honoree at The Hollywood Reporter’s inaugural Empowerment in Entertainment luncheon, but it was a group of underprivileged high school students who stole the show and even brought Winfrey to tears.

At the event Tuesday in Los Angeles, 20 local high school juniors who had been selected to the new Young Executive Fellowship Program, learned from Selena Gomez that two would be were receiving full scholarships to Howard University and Emerson College, and all would get a laptop. The program was started to try to address the lack of diversity and inclusion in the executive ranks in Hollywood.

The joyful faces on stage brought the well-heeled room — including Lea Michele, Caitlyn Jenner and Maria Shriver — to their feet with applause. Winfrey wiped away tears under her glasses looking up at all the grateful students.

Alicia Keys, on hand to introduce Winfrey as the recipient of the first Empowerment in Entertainment award, took the stage right after.

“Ok that was just a real moment right there,” Keys said. “That was a real thing that happened right here.”

By the time Oprah made her way to the stage to accept the award, henceforth to be called the Oprah Winfrey Empowerment in Entertainment Award, her eyes were dry and she was ready to rock the room with an inspiring speech in which she looked back at her own history of fighting for equal pay for herself and then others.

She recounted asking in Baltimore to be paid the same as her male co-anchor.

“I was told by my news director and the general manager that because I was a single woman who didn’t have a mortgage and didn’t have kids, I wasn’t entitled to earn as much as the man sitting next to me,” Winfrey said. “They didn’t know my value but I knew my value.”

And by the time she did get a raise in Chicago, she asked for the same for her producers. “They’re just girls,” she was told. And said she was willing to sit down until they got one.

“It takes a while to develop a voice but once you have it you better use it,” Winfrey said.

She laughed that she did not need another award, but said she relented when she learned that it was in support of the young executives. Winfrey told the students that their trajectory was about to change because now they’d have access.

“Let’s leave here today with the collective memory of wanting to create enlightenment in the world,” Winfrey said.

Kumail Nanjiai kicked thinks off on a funny, but heartfelt note.

″(This) empowerment gala is really important but not quite important enough for dinner,” he said. “What is empowerment? Power is all about what you’ve done for yourself. Empowerment is what you’ve done for others that you can then brag about at power lunches.”

He urged more representation in front of the camera and behind on television and in film, where he joked that, “Everyone named Chris has all the power. This is about sharing the power with people who have less bankable names.”

Nanjiani also noted how diversity is good for business, but that empowerment will really be achieved when “a movie made by a non-white person can flop.”

“I’m looking forward for everyone having the luxury to fail,” Nanjiani said.

Ciara and CNN Anchor Don Lemon also made remarks.

“We are tired of having this conversation about diversity and inclusion and empowerment,” Lemon said. “It is 2019 y’all.”

THR publisher Lynne Segall dedicated the luncheon to director John Singleton , who passed away Monday at the age of 51, who she said embodied everything the event was trying to do.

Jussie Smollett Will Not Return To ‘Empire’ For Next Season

“By mutual agreement, the studio has negotiated an extension to Jussie Smollett’s option for season six, but at this time there are no plans for the character of Jamal to return to ‘Empire,’” the studio said in a statement that gave no reasoning was given for the decision.

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fox Entertainment said Tuesday that Jussie Smollett will not return to his series “Empire” next season in the wake of allegations by Chicago officials the actor lied about a racially motivated attack.

“By mutual agreement, the studio has negotiated an extension to Jussie Smollett’s option for season six, but at this time there are no plans for the character of Jamal to return to ‘Empire,’” the studio said in a statement that gave no reasoning was given for the decision.

Fox announced earlier Tuesday that the drama about a hip-hop record label and the fiery family behind it had been renewed for a sixth season.

A Smollett representative released a statement to several media outlets suggesting a hope that he may eventually return.

“We’ve been told that Jussie will not be on ‘Empire’ in the beginning of the season but he appreciates they have extended his contract to keep Jamal’s future open,” the statement said. “Most importantly he is grateful to Fox and ‘Empire’ leadership, cast, crew and fans for their unwavering support.”

Fox announced earlier Tuesday that the show had been renewed for a sixth season.

Smollett’s character was removed from the final two episodes of season five.

Chicago police allege Smollett paid two brothers to help him stage a January attack in which he said two masked men beat him, hurled racist and homophobic slurs at him, doused him with a chemical substance and put a rope around his neck.

Smollett, who is black and gay, maintains the attack wasn’t staged. He was arrested, but prosecutors later dropped the charges .

“Empire” films each episode in Chicago.

ACLU Files Suit Against DC Police Officer Joseph Gupton

DC police officers are accused of abuse of their police powers when dealing with Ward 7 and Ward 8 communities.

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A DC police officer is the target of a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union.  The lawsuit… filed on behalf of Denise Price… accuses officer Joseph Gupton of a warrant-less search of her property.  Price’s son… Jeffrey Price was killed last may during dirt bike accident.  Oone week later… Officer Gupton and several other police officers showed up the price family’s home.  We  are examining not only these allegations… but other recent incidents where the actions of the Metropolitan Police were called into question when dealing with detaining suspects.  Did they cross the line?

Resources:

Video of the incident

ACLU DC

Jay Brown, Brother of Denis Price (not pictured)

Michael Perloff, Attorney, American Civil Liberties Union, DC Office

Denise Price, Mother of Jeffrey Price

Dems Meet with Trump on Infrastructure

Democrats Praise Meeting With Trump On Infrastructure

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(Washington, DC) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says Democrats and President Trump had a very productive meeting on infrastructure. After a meeting with Trump today, Pelosi said there was general agreement on the need to go “big and bold” on renovating highways, bridges, airports and rails. Outside the White House, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called the meeting very constructive and said the President agreed on the need to spend roughly two-trillion dollars on infrastructure. Schumer noted that the two sides will get together again in three weeks. One tricky area will be how to pay for a sweeping infrastructure bill, a discussion that will come later.

No Michelle Obama Name for Montgomery County School

New School Won’t Be Named After Michelle Obama

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(Clarksburg, MD) — A Montgomery County school won’t be named after former First Lady Michelle Obama. Instead, the school board voted last night to call the new building Snowden Farm Elementary School when it opens this fall. The Snowden family has a history in the area and was among the earliest settlers in the Clarksburg region. The school is currently being built on a road named after them.

Keep Pets Away From Gardens To Prevent Food-Borne Illness

“Whether human, dog, cat, cow or deer — all animals can be the source of Salmonella, E. coli, parasites and other disease-causing microbes associated with food-borne illness,” Hirsch said.

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Animal waste tainting fresh produce is one of the major causes of food-borne ailments. So farmers markets and pick-your-own growers who fear fecal contamination are increasingly guarded about tolerating pets near their edibles.

Home gardeners should be cautious, too.

Many of the pathogens affecting food safety come from the intestinal systems of animals, said Diane Wright Hirsch, senior education educator with the University of Connecticut.

“Whether human, dog, cat, cow or deer — all animals can be the source of Salmonella, E. coli, parasites and other disease-causing microbes associated with food-borne illness,” Hirsch said.

E. coli outbreaks have been traced to meat, poultry and fresh produce, particularly lettuce. Salmonella has been detected in eggs, poultry, pork, sprouts, cucumbers and cantaloupe, while Listeria monocytogenes can be found in all types of food, including processed meats, cheese, apples and frozen vegetables, according to a University of Connecticut fact sheet.

All are serious ailments, particularly for the young and the elderly.

Contamination can be spread via irrigation water, animals, unsanitary workers, harvest containers and dirty equipment.

It’s vital to keep animal and poultry feces out of residential and community gardens and well away from farmers markets and roadside food stands.

“I have seen a dog pee on the corner of a farmers market table, and another place his head near the produce (where has that mouth been?),” Hirsch said in an email.

“Farmers are working hard to produce safe fruits and vegetables — why let someone’s dog ruin it all with a lick, a squat or a lift of the leg?” she said.

Many large farmers markets have banned dogs from their craft, food and produce displays, citing breakage, safety and sanitary concerns.

The Olney (Maryland) Farmers and Artists Market struggled with the issue for years before deciding to exclude dogs, said Janet Terry, Olney’s president.

“It would be horrifying to think what would happen if dog feces were found on our site. It also would be horrifying if a dog got off a leash and mauled a child,” Terry said. “This happened at a large market in Baltimore several years ago. We just don’t want to take any risks.”

Some dog owners were angry about the pet ban, Terry said. “The good news is now, after 11 seasons, most of the complaining has stopped. We believe we have done the right thing.”

Some suggestions from University of Connecticut Extension aimed at minimizing food safety threats:

— Use potable water when watering your food plants. Do not use rain barrels or other open water sources.

— Always wash hands prior to harvesting, and don’t harvest when sick.

— Use composted manure that has been managed to destroy potential pathogens, or wait 120 days before harvesting before applying untreated manure or compost.

— Locate your garden away from contamination sources, and protect it from chickens, wildlife and pets.

There is little you can do if animals defecate on or near your edibles, Hirsch said.

“If harvestable or close-to-harvestable fruits or vegetables are affected, do not harvest, do not eat,” she said. “It is just too risky.”

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Online:

For more about food-safe gardening, see this fact sheet from University of New Hampshire Extension:

https://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/resource001093_rep1366.pdf

Two Whitman H.S. Students Make A Post In Blackface

“I want to emphasize as strongly as possible that this type of behavior will not be tolerated at Walt Whitman High School.

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Two students from Montgomery County Walt Whitman High School are facing serious disciplinary action from the school system. It follows a post that went viral yesterday on social media of the students in question in Blackface. The post even included the N-word in it.

The Principle Robert Dodd wasted no time in responding to the post and saying, “I want to emphasize as strongly as possible that this type of behavior will not be tolerated at Walt Whitman High School. He went on to say the students will be punished following the code of conduct guidelines under the Montgomery County Public System.

The principle has also reported the incident to police as a hate bias crime. Later today Dodd has a meeting top-ranking county school leaders about this incident and other racial incidents. Letters were sent home to parents informing them about the matter.

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963

Toni Braxton’s Niece Dead At 24

Law enforcement tells TMZ … they received a 911 call around noon on Monday, and Lauren — who went by the nickname LoLo — was unresponsive when they arrived. She was pronounced dead by paramedics.

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We are sad to report Toni Braxton‘s 24-year-old niece, Lauren Braxton, was found dead Monday afternoon in Maryland. Lauren was the daughter of the singer’s brother Michael Braxton.

TMZ is reporting Lauren Braxton suffered from a heart condition.

Law enforcement tells TMZ … they received a 911 call around noon on Monday, and Lauren — who went by the nickname LoLo — was unresponsive when they arrived. She was pronounced dead by paramedics.

Michael is the only son of the Braxton siblings and is also a singer and songwriter.

We send our deepest condolences to the Braxton family during this difficult time. Our prayers are with you.

Arts And Letters Academy Awards Gold Medal To Toni Morrison

The awards will be presented May 22 during the honor society’s annual Ceremonial, when new members are inducted.

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NEW YORK (AP) — Nobel laureate Toni Morrison is being honored this spring by the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

The academy announced Monday that Morrison, celebrated for such novels as “Beloved” and “Song of Solomon,” is receiving a gold medal for lifetime achievement in fiction. Other prizes announced by the academy include a gold medal for sculpture to Lee Bontecou and an award for “Distinguished Service To the Arts” to Thelma Golden, director and chief curator of the Studio Museum in Harlem.

The awards will be presented May 22 during the honor society’s annual Ceremonial, when new members are inducted. Morrison, 88, has made few public appearances over the past year. Her assistant did not immediately respond to a query from The Associated Press about whether she would attend the academy event.

A Fun Filled Day For The Entire Family

The 6th Annual Tots to Teens Expo is this Saturday. Bring the kids for a great time.

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Free activities for youth of all ages plus interactive and informative workshops for parents too. All of that and more are being served up this weekend at the 6thAnnual Tots to Teens Expo.  My guest is  Anita Ramalingam – Tots to Teens Expo Performing Arts Director

The 6thAnnual Tots to Teens Expo is Saturday, May 4thfrom 10am to 5pm at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex. More information here:

Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:35 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.

Follow me on facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.

Listen to this mornings segment here:

 

Marriott To Expand Further Into Home-Sharing

The world’s biggest hotel company will start taking reservations this week for 2,000 homes in 100 markets in the U.S., Europe and Latin America. It plans to expand its Homes and Villas program to other locations.

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Marriott is pushing more heavily into home-sharing, confident that its combination of luxury properties and loyalty points can lure travelers away from rivals like Airbnb.

The world’s biggest hotel company will start taking reservations this week for 2,000 homes in 100 markets in the U.S., Europe and Latin America. It plans to expand its Homes and Villas program to other locations.

For its part, Airbnb is encroaching further into hotels. On Monday, the San Francisco-based company said it’s working with a New York real estate developer to establish a 10-story hotel with 200 suites in Rockefeller Plaza in Manhattan. The suites will only be available through Airbnb’s web site.

Airbnb, which plans to go public but hasn’t made clear when, also acquired Hotel Tonight, a last-minute booking service, in March.

Hospitality is one of several industries that’s seeing traditional players and startups take tentative steps into each other’s turf. Automakers are exploring ride-hailing. Ride-hailing companies are developing self-driving cars. Amazon is opening physical stores. Physical stores like Starbucks are experimenting with delivery.

Airbnb and Marriott will always have separate core strengths, but the convergence will continue, predicts Daniel Guttentag, an assistant professor of hospitality management at the College of Charleston School of Business

“Each of them wants to borrow some of the best elements of the other one’s business,” he said.

Marriott is targeting families and groups, and the homes skew toward luxury, with prices ranging from $200 per night for a one-bedroom apartment to $10,000 for a full Scottish castle. Nearly 40 of the markets are in places where Marriott doesn’t currently have hotels, like Bar Harbor, Maine and Bordeaux, France.

Marriott is a long way from matching home-sharing behemoths like Airbnb, which boasts 6 million listings worldwide, or Booking.com, which has listings in 220 countries. The homes in its program aren’t even exclusive Marriott properties. Marriott is partnering with rental management companies to handle the maintenance and cleaning.

But Marriott believes it has advantages. Unlike its home-sharing rivals, it has a loyalty program that lets travelers earn and use points on its hotels and homes. Business travelers can accumulate points at Courtyard hotels, for example, and use them for a week at a beach house. Airbnb is working on a loyalty program of its own, but the rollout has been delayed.

Marriott says it also guarantees hotel-like standards that are often missing in home-sharing, such as Wi-Fi, crisp white sheets, bath amenities, baby cribs and smoke alarms. Airbnb has tried to tackle that problem with user reviews and its Plus program, which highlights rentals that meet higher quality standards. But the sheer volume of properties makes it difficult to police them all.

“One of the challenges you see with home-sharing is there’s too much inventory without quality filters or brand assurances,” says Stephanie Linnartz, Marriott’s global chief commercial officer.

Hotels have struggled to determine the right path into the home-sharing market. Hyatt invested in Oasis, a luxury home-sharing site, in 2017, but said regulatory hurdles hampered Oasis’s growth. The companies parted ways last year.

AccorHotels bought home-sharing site Onefinestay in 2016 but has struggled to make money on it. Choice Hotels, like Marriott, partnered with property management company RedAwning and gets a cut of every property booked.

For now, the home-sharing unit won’t be material to Marriott’s earnings, Linnartz said.

Marriott’s move is an acknowledgment that home-sharing — which has boomed in the last decade since Airbnb’s founding — has fundamentally changed guests’ expectations. People may be satisfied with a traditional hotel for a business trip or a soccer tournament, but sometimes they want something unique and memorable, Linnartz said.

At the same time, Airbnb is moving into hotels because there are customers — particularly business travelers — it’s having a hard time reaching because of its couch-surfing reputation. But the risk is that it will lose its aura of coolness and authenticity and become just another big company offering hotel rooms, Guttentag said.

Marriott and Airbnb also have a shared vulnerability: They don’t own the properties they’re renting. That makes it easy to grow or shrink their offerings and insulates them financially. But it gives hosts the option to advertise on more than one site.

The biggest risk to Marriott, though, it probably its reputation, Guttentag said. If something bad happens at a rental property, Marriott may not be able to fix it quickly.

“Ultimately, in privately owned short term rentals, undesirable things are going to happen sometimes,” Guttentag said. “They have to resolve to weather that storm.”

Marriott began testing home-sharing with 200 homes in London last year and later expanded it to several other cities in Europe. The company found that most of its home-sharing guests were leisure travelers and they stayed an average of 5.1 nights, or double the length of a traditional hotel stay.

Marriott’s research also showed that 30% of its customers had stayed in a shared home in the last year.

“When they were doing that, they weren’t staying at an offering from us,” Linnartz said. “This is a gap we want to close.”

 

The Race For Speaker Of The House In MD Heats Up

If either of the candidates win they will make history, being the first A.A. or first female and openly gay candidate to do so…

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All eye’s are on the race for Maryland Speaker of the House of Delegates. It follows the death of long time lawmaker House Speaker Michael E. Busch. He died on April 7th.

Prince George’s County lawmaker Dereck E. Davis who is seeking the post has gained the support of over half the the members of the powerful Maryland Legislative Black Caucus. The exact number has not being given out.

Davis is taking on Baltimore Delegate Maggie McIntosh for the position. McIntosh has the support of 98 of 141 legislative seats. She however does not have the needed 71 votes to have a clear victory in Wednesday’s election.

If either of the candidates win they will make state history. Davis would become the first African American to hold the title and McIntosh would become the states first female and openly gay candidate to win.

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963

Appeals Court Denies Bill Cosby’s Latest Bid For Bail

Cosby is serving a three- to 10-year prison term for drugging and molesting a woman in 2004. District Attorney Kevin Steele calls Cosby’s bail motion “fraught with inaccuracies.”

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — An appeals court has denied Bill Cosby’s latest request to leave prison on bail while he fights his sex-assault conviction.

Defense lawyers say the 81-year-old comedian is likely to have his conviction overturned because of trial errors.

Cosby spokesman Andrew Wyatt says they aren’t surprised by the Pennsylvania Superior Court order Monday denying last week’s bail motion.

He says the filing was meant to point out that Montgomery County Judge Steven O’Neill hasn’t issued a post-trial opinion the defense needs to pursue Cosby’s appeal. They plan to challenge several trial rulings, including O’Neill’s decision to let five other accusers testify at last year’s trial.

Cosby is serving a three- to 10-year prison term for drugging and molesting a woman in 2004. District Attorney Kevin Steele calls Cosby’s bail motion “fraught with inaccuracies.”

Study: Kids’ Suicides Spiked After Netflix’s ’13 Reasons’

“The creators of the series intentionally portrayed the suicide of the main character. It was a very graphic depiction of the suicide death,” which can trigger suicidal behavior, Bridge said.

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Suicides among U.S. kids aged 10 to 17 jumped to a 19-year high in the month following the release of a popular TV series that depicted a girl ending her life, researchers said.

The study published Monday can’t prove that the Netflix show “13 Reasons Why” was the cause, but there were 195 more youth suicides than would have been expected in the nine months following the show’s March 2017 release, given historical and seasonal suicide trends, the study estimated.

During April 2017 alone, 190 U.S. tweens and teens took their own lives. Their April 2017 suicide rate was .57 per 100,000 people, nearly 30 percent higher than in the preceding five years included in the study. An additional analysis found that the April rate was higher than in the previous 19 years, said lead author Jeff Bridge, a suicide researcher at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

“The creators of the series intentionally portrayed the suicide of the main character. It was a very graphic depiction of the suicide death,” which can trigger suicidal behavior, Bridge said.

Bridge acknowledged the study’s limitations included not knowing whether anyone who died by suicide had watched the show. Also, the researchers were not able to account for other factors that might have influenced suicides. Those include the April 19, 2017, suicide of former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez and a man accused of a Facebook-publicized killing who died by suicide the day before Hernandez. Bridge said those deaths couldn’t account for the spike the study found for the entire month of April.

The researchers analyzed data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on deaths in Americans aged 10 to 64 from January 2013 through December 2017. Their results were published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. The researchers found no change in suicide rates in those 18 and older after the show was released.

The results are plausible and add to evidence that compelling media depictions of suicide can negatively influence young people, said sociologist Anna Mueller of the University of Chicago, who was not involved in the research.

Lisa Horowitz, a co-author and researcher at the National Institute of Mental Health, noted that suicide is the second leading cause of death for U.S. teens and called it “a major public health crisis.” Her agency helped pay for the study.

Teen suicide rates have increased in recent years and other research has suggested that bullying and heavy use of social media may contribute to the risk.

Netflix included warning messages with some of the episodes and created a website with crisis hotlines and other resources. In the second season, the show’s actors offered advice to viewers on where to seek help. The series’ third season will run later this year.

A Netflix spokesman noted that the new study conflicts with University of Pennsylvania research published last week that found fewer suicidal thoughts among young adults who watched the entire second season than among non-viewers.

“We’ve just seen the study and are looking into the research,” he said. “This is a critically important topic and we have worked hard to ensure that we handle this sensitive issue responsibly.”

Horowitz said the new results highlight how important it is for parents and other adults to connect with young people.

“Start a conversation, ask how are they coping with the ups and downs of life, and don’t be afraid to ask about suicide,” she said. It’s a myth that just asking might be a trigger, Horowitz said.

“One of the best ways to prevent is to ask,” she said.

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Follow AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner at @LindseyTanner.

John Singleton Found A Perfect Marriage Of Movie And Moment

“Boyz N The Hood was a seismic event,” filmmaker Brandon David Wilson said on Twitter. “I literally saw friends from elementary and middle school in the film playing bit parts. It was filmed in my neighborhood. I’m an L.A. native, but it wasn’t until BNTH that I saw (asterisk)my(asterisk) L.A. onscreen.”

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rarely have a filmmaker and a moment been so perfectly matched as John Singleton and the summer of 1991.

When “Boyz N the Hood” was released that July, Singleton took what had become a cultural obsession — South-Central Los Angeles and the young black men growing up in it — and imbued them with a depth, humor and humanity lacking in the scare stories and songs that up to that point had defined them to much of the world.

Singleton died Monday at age 51, after having a stroke earlier this month.

Nearly 30 years earlier he was fresh outta film school and in his early 20s when he took elements of his own upbringing, bathed it in the hip-hop culture of the late 80s and early 90s, and emerged with “Boyz N the Hood,” which would give him a groundbreaking Academy Award nomination and a permanent place in the American film pantheon.

Stories about gang violence and the drug trade were a constant on newscasts at the time, and in the developing 1992 presidential race candidates angled to show they would be toughest on street crime.

N.W.A, with its explosive beats and stinging rhymes, told such tales from the inside. The group was breaking up in 1991, but its influence was at its apex. Singleton took his title from a song by one member, Eazy-E, and cast another, Ice Cube, as one of his three leads in his acting debut.

Singleton took yet another approach to the same stories. He was as interested in boys as the hood. He begins with his central characters as grade-schoolers trying to exist in an environment that refuses to let them be kids.

The first act plays like an urban version of Rob Reiner’s “Stand by Me” from five years earlier, with kids walking along railroad tracks and trying to out-swear one another. One line, “y’all wanna see a dead body?” suggests the similarity was deliberate.

Seven years later we see the same boys as young adults. Ice Cube is a Crips gang member who plays dominoes and speaks wisdom: “Either they don’t know, don’t show, or don’t care about what’s going on in the hood,” he says as the film ends.

Cuba Gooding Jr. is a standout at school and work who navigates a neighborhood that threatens to pull him down.

Lawrence Fishburne as Gooding’s stern, politically woke father, Jason “Furious” Styles, made for one of the more memorable dads in screen history, his angry gaze making for many memes two decades later.

It also featured a small role for young Regina King, who would shine alongside Janet Jackson in Singleton’s follow-up, “Poetic Justice,” in 1993, and like Gooding would go on to win an Oscar.

Singleton made all of them both feel real, sympathetic and lovable, without sacrificing any of the harshness of their lives or the ways some had to lash out against their circumstances.

It was the first look at this world for some audiences. For others, it was the first time they saw themselves.

“Boyz N The Hood was a seismic event,” filmmaker Brandon David Wilson said on Twitter. “I literally saw friends from elementary and middle school in the film playing bit parts. It was filmed in my neighborhood. I’m an L.A. native, but it wasn’t until BNTH that I saw (asterisk)my(asterisk) L.A. onscreen.”

Less than a year after the movie came out, the 1992 LA riots broke out, making the circumstances shown in the movie feel all the more vital. Singleton was outside the courthouse at the time of the Rodney King beating verdict, which triggered the riots, and told local news cameras that trouble was likely to follow. He died April 29, the 27th anniversary of that day.

Ice Cube made note of the date in paying tribute to Singleton Monday.

“Your passion for telling our stories from our point of view was more than an obsession, it was your mission in life,” Ice Cube said in a statement. “On April 29, 1992 you were on TV warning the world what was to come. I’m sad today, cause on this April 29th who will warn the world what’s to come?”

That same year, Singleton became the first black filmmaker, and the youngest person ever, to be nominated for an Oscar for best director. It appeared that recognition for and support for black filmmakers was a burgeoning trend.

But nearly 30 years later only five more — Lee Daniels, Barry Jenkins, Jordan Peele, Steve McQueen and Spike Lee — had been nominated, and none had won.

Most of those men paid effusive tribute to Singleton on social media Monday.

“John Singleton’s Films Will Live On Forever,” Lee said on Instagram.

Dozens of copycats of “Boyz N the Hood” would come in the ensuing years, with none finding its balance of grit, craft and heart.

Singleton didn’t quite find it either. As with Orson Welles and “Citizen Kane” half a century earlier, it can be difficult for a filmmaker who finds a perfect moment to find another one, and no other Singleton film would get close to the same adulation.

But “Boyz N the Hood” has never left the public’s memory.

In 2002, it was added to the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, which called it “an innovative look at life and the tough choices present for kids growing up in South Central Los Angeles.”

Support for Sexual Assault Victims

Addressing the evolving issues surrounding sexual assault, survivors and awareness.

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Sexual assault is still one the most violent and most under-reported crimes.  What is preventing victims from speaking out? April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.  Our discussion examines the challenges faced by victims as well as the role men can play in addressing sexual assault.

Resources:

DC Rape Crisis Center

Men Can Stop Rape

Chandra Robinson, Deputy Director, The DC Rape Crisis Center

 

Neil irvin, Executive Director, Men Can Stop Rape

ACLU Sues MPD for Alleged Illegal Search of DC Mom’s Home

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WASHINGTON, D.C.  (Monday, April 29, 2019) – The American Civil Liberties Union of the District of Columbia today filed a lawsuit against D.C. Metropolitan Police Officer Joseph Gupton for the unconstitutional, warrantless search of Denise Price’s property one week after Price’s son, Jeffery Price, died in a collision with a police car last May. That crash is currently under investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

“I was still in shock from Jeff’s death at the hands of this very same police department just a week earlier when an officer shows up in my yard, unannounced, without permission, without a warrant,” said Price. “I kept telling the officer to leave but he ignored me. MPD’s disrespectful attitude toward the community and toward our rights has to change.”  The search occurred on May 11, 2018, seven days after Jeffrey Price’s death. Denise Price was sitting in the yard of her home in Deanwood with friends and family members discussing funeral arrangements for her son when two MPD cruisers pulled up and parked nearby. After looking in the windows of an SUV parked outside, Officer Gupton to walked into Price’s back yard and searched it without giving any reason for the search. Price and her brother Jay Brown repeatedly asked Officer Gupton to leave if he did not have a warrant. He ignored them as he went about his search, then departed.

Following the death of her son, this unconstitutional police incursion onto Price’s private property exacerbated her feelings of anxiety and fear of the police, making it hard for her to sleep or feel safe in her home. After the search of her home, Price began routine counseling sessions on the advice of her doctor.  “Officer Gupton’s callous disregard for Ms. Price and Mr. Brown’s requests to see a warrant or leave her property contradicts the core of what the Fourth Amendment guarantees—the right to be secure from police intrusions onto your property,” said ACLU-DC attorney Michael Perloff. “There’s no reason to believe the police had any legal basis for their trespass, or there was any emergency preventing them from getting a warrant even if they did have a good reason to enter.”

Video of the search can be seen here: WATCH VIDEO

For its part, DC Police through another media outlet indicated it could not comment on today’s lawsuit saying it does not make a statement on pending legal matters.  According to the ACLU,  Chief Peter Newsham originally defended the search as an attempt to find a gun. Several months later, the executive director of MPD’s Professional Development Bureau gave a different justification, saying that Officer Gupton was searching for a suspect.

“What MPD has not offered is any explanation as to why Officer Gupton believed he would find either contraband or a suspect in Ms. Price’s yard,” added Perloff. “In fact, he found neither. Video from the incident shows Officer Gupton and his partner searching several yards, suggesting that they had no actual knowledge of where the gun or suspect was, but believed themselves entitled to conduct warrantless intrusions onto private property anyway. That’s not the law.”

Neither Price or any of her friends or family assembled that day were warned by Officer Gupton or other officers on the scene that an armed suspect could be in the area. No gun, contraband, or evidence of a crime was found as a result of Officer Gupton’s search. A Freedom of Information Act request made to the D.C. Office of Communications found no record of any calls or police dispatches for service to that block at that date and time.

Today’s lawsuit, Price v. Gupton, seeks damages from Officer Gupton for violating Denise Price’s Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Filmmaker John Singleton Has Died

***John Singleton Update***

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Oscar-nominated filmmaker John Singleton has died at 51, according to statement from family. .

The family for the filmmaker says he was taken off life support Monday after suffering a stroke almost two weeks ago. In a statement Monday, Singleton’s family said it was “an agonizing decision, one that our family made over a number of days with the careful counsel of John’s doctors.” Reports earlier in the day had said Singleton died Monday morning. But a representative for Singleton said those reports were inaccurate and that Singleton remained on life support until his passing this afternoon at the age of 51.

Measles Cases Still On The Rise

Measles Outbreak Climbs To 704

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At least 704 cases of measles are reported in the U.S. The CDC says that figure breaks a 25 year record for the highly contagious illness. Measles was considered to be eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. One-third of the current cases involve children under the age of five. The CDC says more than 500 of those infected were not vaccinated. In a statement, U.S. Health Secretary Alex Azar noted that measles is potentially deadly. He called the outbreak completely avoidable and insisted that vaccines are safe.

Nat’l Harbor Terror Suspect Pleads Not-Guilty

Rondell Henry Enters Not Guilty Plea

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The Maryland man accused of planning an ISIS-inspired attack at the National Harbor says he’s not guilty. Rondell Henry was arraigned in federal court today and pleaded not guilty to one count of interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle. Prosecutors say Henry stole a U-Haul van last month and drove around Dulles International Airport looking for crowds to drive into. When he couldn’t get into any secure areas, prosecutors say Henry drove to the National Harbor with the same plan to run down pedestrians. He was arrested after surveillance video showed him parking and getting out of the U-Haul that was reported stolen two days earlier. Henry has not been charged with any terrorism-related offenses at this time.

Mutilated Body Found In DC

A body with it’s hand removed has been found under Chain Bridge…

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DC Police are working the case of a man found dead under Chain Bridge in Northwest.

A person walking along the banks of the Potomac River made a gruesome discovery. A mutilated body of a man around 6:30 p.m. Saturday night. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal path runs under Chain Bridge. It’s a popular walking and running trail for many in the area.

Officers on the scene say the victim had several puncture wound and was missing a hand. Police have not released any other details about the victim.

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963

BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport Offering Career and Business Opportunities

The Synergy BWI 2019 is this Thursday at the BWI Marriott Hotel.

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Are you looking for a job or do you want to do business with BWI Marshall Airport?  I have the details this morning on the upcoming Business Networking Career Fair set to take place later this week.  My guest is Ricky Smith – Executive Director of BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport.

BWI Marshall Airport Business Networking and Career Fair is Thursday, May 2ndfrom 7am to 4pm at the BWI Marriott Hotel.  It’s presented by the Maryland Aviation Administration. There will be valuable information on growing your business, obtaining MBE certification, accessing state contracting opportunities and more.  Plus a career fair from 1pm to 4pm offers access to hiring managers.  Register here: 

Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:35 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.

Follow me on facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.

Listen to this mornings segments here:

Segment 1:

 

Segment 2: