Conversation with black women mayors of small towns in Maryland. How they govern and the issues they face.
Warrant Out For Gervonta Davis. Attorney/Savage Family Respond to R. Kelly’s Interview with CBS News.
Cohen Returns Capitol Hill Today.
(Fairfax County, VA) — Police say Baltimore boxer Gervonta Davis has a warrant out for his arrest in Fairfax County,Virginia for an alleged assault. A warrant was issued for Davis on February 27th after he allegedly assaulted a man at Tyson’s Galleria. Davis is being charged with misdemeanor assault. The warrant was issued based on sworn testimony from the alleged victim in the incident. This comes just weeks after Davis successfully defended his WBA super featherweight title against Hugo Ruiz.
(Decatur, GA) — The attorney for an Atlanta family who says singer R. Kelly is holding their daughter against her will is speaking put after the R&B singer’s network interview. Today Kelly told CBS that “it’s stupid” to think he’s holding anyone against their will. He then implied the family of 23-year-old Joycelyn Savage, sold her to him. Gerald Griggs, the attorney for the Savage family, disputes that claim, calling Kelly a liar, manipulator and sociopath.” They say they haven’t seen their daughter in two years because R Kelly brainwashed her.
(Washington, DC) — Michael Cohen is back on Capitol Hill today making a follow-up appearance before the House Intelligence Committee. President Trump’s longtime personal attorney reportedly gave the committee new documents showing edits to the false written statement he delivered to Congress in 2017 about the Trump Tower Moscow project. Cohen pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about the project, and admitted that the talks extended six months later than he originally claimed.
DC Dept. of Employment Services providing a Resident Owned Business Incubator Program for our youth.
The DC Department of Employment Services is providing a Resident Owned Business Incubator Program for youth and young adults for free. Participants will receive and Entrepreneurship and Small Business National Certification, a DC Business license, mentorship and more. It’s part of a program called “Can I Live.” My guest is Racquel Jones along with Tisha Tyler.
The DC Department of Employment Services is providing a Resident Owned Business Incubator Program for youth and young adults for free. Participants will receive and Entrepreneurship and Small Business National Certification, a DC Business license, mentorship and more. For more information go here:
Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:35 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.
Follow me on facebook, instagram and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
In the News @ 10
VA GOP offers a cash reward for black pictures …
Local principal admits to using the N-word …
It’s shocking to some and puzzling to others but the Republican Party in Virginia has announced that they will pay anyone $1,000 if they can show them a picture of Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring in blackface.
Recently Herring took part in an interview where he said that he doesn’t believe there is a picture of his dressed up in blackface during a 1980 college party.
Herring revealed that he wore blackface for a college dance competition just days after it was revealed that Virginia Governor Ralph Northam had worn blackface in his medical school yearbook. Herring has apologized for his actions and the local chapter of the NAACP is supporting giving him a second chance.
It seems never ending but the principle of New Hope Academy, a private school in Hyattsville is apologizing for using the N-word before students. It happened last week during a Black History Month speech.
Joy Marrow, who is white choose to say it three times before her mainly minority student body of 6 – 12th graders. There are reports that kids went home upset and some went home confused over why the word was used. Parent want a change of leadership. Marrow has apologized but says it is being blown up out of proportion.
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“International Women’s Day calls us to unite in recognizing the tremendous achievements of women around the world,” says Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Howard University Tashni-Ann Dubroy, Ph.D. “This International Women’s Day, we stand united with millions of others to demand gender equality and women’s empowerment.”
Contributed by Misha Cornelius
Howard University will host the 2019 International Women’s Day Celebration on Wednesday, March 6 from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. at Howard’s Interdisciplinary Research Building, located at 2201 Georgia Ave NW, Washington D.C. This year’s annual celebration is themed, “Women in Politics and the Law” and will feature a panel discussion that centers around the official International Women’s Day theme – #BalanceForBetter.
“International Women’s Day calls us to unite in recognizing the tremendous achievements of women around the world,” says Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Howard University Tashni-Ann Dubroy, Ph.D. “This International Women’s Day, we stand united with millions of others to demand gender equality and women’s empowerment.”
The celebration will include a moderated panel featuring Hauwa Ibrahim, Ph.D. human rights lawyer and winner of the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize, alongside Obiageli Ezekwesili, Ph.D. the former Vice-President of the World Bank Africa Division, 2018 Nobel Peace Prize Nominee and Founder of #BringBackOurGirls. Seasoned international broadcast journalist, Linord Moudou, will moderate the panel. Internationally recognized performing artist Anna Mwalagho will perform.
This year’s theme allows us to discuss gender balance through the lens of women in politics and in law,” says J. Jarpa Dawuni, Esq., Ph.D., assistant professor of political science and chair of the organizing committee for the event. “Howard University continues to make remarkable progress in preparing women leaders. With the significant number of women elected to Congress during the recent midterm elections in the United States, there is much to acknowledge, but there is still a lot to be done to achieve gender balance in politics and in law here in the United States and in many places around the world. The symbolic presence of women must translate into substantive representation of women’s issues in law and politics.”
The International Women’s Day Celebration at Howard University is free and open to the public. A reception will follow the program. For more information about International Women’s Day visit https://cfas.howard.edu/calendar/event/11221/women-politics-and-law-international-womens-day.
There the number of schemes and scams targeting consumers is constantly growing and changing. How can you protect yourself?
Over 80 Arrests Made During Stephon Clark Protest In Sacramento. Suspect Steals Car With Child In Backseat. Clinton Won’t Run For President In 2020
(Sacramento, CA) — More than 80 protesters participating in a march in California were taken into custody last night. Demonstrators marched last night to protest the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office’s decision not to charge the two officers involved in the shooting death of an unarmed black man. Officers said they believed Stephon Clark had a gun in his hand when they shot him in his grandmother’s backyard in March of last year. No weapon was ever found. The decision not to move forward with charges was announced over the weekend. Over 100 people took part in yesterday’s march down Folsom Boulevard. Organizers said they chose the location because the wealthy neighborhood is home to many leaders in city and state government.
(Washington, DC) — A man is in custody after trying to steal a car with a two-year-old in the backseat in Northeast DC. Police say Tamara Richardson pulled over in the 14-hundred block of Saratoga Avenue, Northeast yesterday morning to adjust her son’s seat belt. When she stepped out of the car and walked around to the back passenger door, a man jumped in the driver’s seat and took off. NBC Washington reports two witnesses saw what happened and invited Richardson to hop in their car to chase after the suspect. The carjacker eventually parked in the 15-hundred block of Evarts Street, Northeast and ran off. He was caught soon after by police. The child was unharmed.
(New York, NY) — Hillary Clinton is making it official, saying she will not run for president in 2020. She tells News 12 Westchester that she is ruling out another presidential bid and instead plans to take an “active role” by working with fellow Democratic candidates who are running. The former first lady and secretary of state vowed to do everything she can to help Democrats win back the White House.
Building Futures has a 6-week Pre-Apprentice program for women
Ladies do you have your hard hat ready? We’re talking this morning about Non-Traditional Occupations available for women and there’s a program available in the District and Prince George’s County help you land those coveted positions. It’s called Building Futures. My guest is Emma Brennan – Technical Assistant Project Manager for Building Futures
Building Futures is a program of the Community Services Agency of the MWC. Building Futures has a 6-week pre-apprenticeship program for women interested in apprenticeship and non-traditional occupations. For information go here: or call 202-974-8224.
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, instagram and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
Listen to this mornings segment here:
Perry was surrounded by family and friends when he died, publicist Arnold Robinson said. The actor had been hospitalized since last Wednesday, after a 911 call summoned medical help to his home in the Sherman Oaks section of Los Angeles.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luke Perry, who gained instant heartthrob status as wealthy rebel Dylan McKay on “Beverly Hills, 90210,” died Monday after suffering a massive stroke, his publicist said. He was 52.
Perry was surrounded by family and friends when he died, publicist Arnold Robinson said. The actor had been hospitalized since last Wednesday, after a 911 call summoned medical help to his home in the Sherman Oaks section of Los Angeles.
“The family appreciates the outpouring of support and prayers that have been extended to Luke from around the world, and respectfully request privacy in this time of great mourning,” Robinson said in a statement. Those at Perry’s bedside included his children, Jake and Sophie; fiancée Wendy Madison Bauer; former wife, Minnie Sharp, and mother Ann Bennett.
Although Perry was best-known for his role as McKay, he enjoyed a prolific film and television career. Most recently, he played construction company owner Fred Andrews, father of main character Archie Andrews, for three seasons on “Riverdale,” the CW series that gives a dark take on “Archie” comics. A fourth season has been slated.
The actor’s next big screen role will be in Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time In Hollywood,” which is slated for release in July.
“90210” co-star Ian Ziering paid tribute to his co-star on Twitter , where fans and celebrities shared their memories of Perry and mourned him . “I will forever bask in the loving memories we’ve shared over the last thirty years,” Ziering said. “May your journey forward be enriched by the magnificent souls who have passed before you, just like you have done here, for those you leave behind.”
Born and raised in rural Fredericktown, Ohio, Perry gained fame on “Beverly Hills, 90210,” which ran from 1990 to 2000. In a 2006 interview with The Associated Press, he recounted being partly inspired to pursue acting by a photo of Paul Newman his mother kept on her mirror.
He played out the memory of hearing his mother say, “He’s the most beautiful man in the world, honey … he’s a movie star.”
“I thought, ‘OK, that’s cool.’ I watched him and, ‘Yeah, man, who didn’t want to be Paul Newman!’”
But Perry expanded his interests far beyond acting, identifying history as a passion and family a priority.
“When you are younger you can have only work, and I did for a long time,” he told the AP in 2006. “But it doesn’t command my attention that way anymore. A lot of the mysteries and the questions I had about it I’ve figured out, but life offers up mysteries every day.”
He had roles in a handful of films, including “The Fifth Element,” ″Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” ″8 Seconds” and “American Strays,” appeared in HBO’s prison drama “Oz” as a televangelist convicted of fraud, and voiced cartoons including “The Incredible Hulk” and “Mortal Kombat.”
He made his Broadway musical debut as Brad in the “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” and starred on London’s West End in another stage adaptation of a film, “When Harry Met Sally.” In recent years he starred in the series “Ties That Bind” and “Body of Proof.”
The same day he was hospitalized, Fox TV announced that it would be running a six-episode return of “90210” featuring most of the original cast, but Perry was not among those announced.
On the original series, Perry’s character went from loner to part of a close-knit circle that included twins Brenda and Brandon Walsh (Shannen Doherty, Jason Priestley), but also endured a string of romantic, family and other setbacks, including drug addiction. Perry left the series in 1995 to pursue other roles, returning in 1998 for the rest of the show’s run as a guest star.
In a 2011 interview with the AP, Perry said he and his male co-stars were a “really good strong core group” while the show aired and maintained close ties. The friendship and trust he shared with Priestley created a sort of “shorthand” when it came to filming, Perry said.
In the News @ 10
MD could soon offer gender-neutral drivers licenses…
Ben Carson plans to step down as HUD Secretary…
Maryland lawmakers are looking at a bill that was approved last month by the Senate for gender-neutral drivers licenses.
A poll conducted by Gonzales Research and Media Services shows 51% or Maryland voters do not support the bill.
Now if approved, residents would have an option of selecting “M” for male driver, “F” for female driver and “X” for drivers who do not identify with either gender.
The House is set to vote on the bill soon. DC, by the way, began offering gender-neutral driver licenses in 2017.
The man President Trump tapped to head the Housing and Urban Development Dr. Ben Carson is planning to step down after Trump’s first term. Ben Carson who is HUD Secretary spoke about it on Newsmax TV. The former neurosurgeon said that he wants to go back to the private sector. Carson says he believes he just as much influence if not maybe more in the private sector.
Carson has been leading the department for the last two years. During his time in office, he has cut civil rights enforcement at the agency and he has even been credited for putting a halt to Obama era guidelines aimed at fighting housing segregation and discrimination.
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963
Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International announced that the 48-year-old’s syndicated talk show “Tamron Hall” will premiere Sept. 9. Executive producer Bill Geddie says Hall has the experience to “talk and listen to all sides and bring folks together.”
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tamron Hall is having a baby and getting her own talk show.
The former NBC “Today” show anchor and host tweeted Monday that she’s pregnant. She wrote that she was “in a safe place at 32 weeks” to share her joy.
Hall writes that she and husband Steven “are beyond excited.”
Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International announced that the 48-year-old’s syndicated talk show “Tamron Hall” will premiere Sept. 9. Executive producer Bill Geddie says Hall has the experience to “talk and listen to all sides and bring folks together.”
Hall tweeted “when one door closes…another one opens.”
Hall left NBC and MSNBC in 2017.
Clinton, who lost the 2016 presidential election to Donald Trump, says, “I’m going to keep on working and speaking and standing up for what I believe.”
WASHINGTON (AP) — Hillary Clinton says she won’t run for president in 2020, but vows she’s “not going anywhere.”
The former secretary of state, senator and first lady ruled out another campaign during an interview posted Monday by New York TV station News12 .
Clinton, who lost the 2016 presidential election to Donald Trump, says, “I’m going to keep on working and speaking and standing up for what I believe.”
She says, “What’s at stake in our country, the kind of things that are happening right now are deeply troubling to me.”
She says she has spoken with several of the candidates seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, and has told them, “Don’t take anything for granted, even though we have a long list of real problems and broken promises” from the Trump administration.
The latest case “shows the cure of Timothy Brown was not a fluke and can be recreated,” said Dr. Keith Jerome of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle who had no role. He added that it could lead to a simpler approach that could be used more widely.
The therapy had an early success with Timothy Ray Brown, a U.S. man treated in Germany who is 12 years post-transplant and still free of HIV. Until now, Brown is the only person thought to have been cured of infection with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
Such transplants are dangerous and have failed in other patients. They’re also impractical to try to cure the millions already infected.
The latest case “shows the cure of Timothy Brown was not a fluke and can be recreated,” said Dr. Keith Jerome of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle who had no role. He added that it could lead to a simpler approach that could be used more widely.
The case was published online Monday by the journal Nature and will be presented at an HIV conference in Seattle.
The patient has not been identified. He was diagnosed with HIV in 2003 and started taking drugs to control the infection in 2012. It’s unclear why he waited that long. He developed Hodgkin lymphoma that year and agreed to a stem cell transplant to treat the cancer in 2016.
With the right kind of donor, his doctors figured, the London patient might get a bonus beyond treating his cancer: a possible HIV cure.
Doctors found a donor with a gene mutation that confers natural resistance to HIV. About 1 percent of people descended from northern Europeans have inherited the mutation from both parents and are immune to most HIV. The donor had this double copy of the mutation.
That was “an improbable event,” said lead researcher Ravindra Gupta of University College London. “That’s why this has not been observed more frequently.”
The transplant changed the London patient’s immune system, giving him the donor’s mutation and HIV resistance.
The patient voluntarily stopped taking HIV drugs to see if the virus would come back.
Usually, HIV patients expect to stay on daily pills for life to suppress the virus. When drugs are stopped, the virus roars back, usually in two to three weeks.
That didn’t happen with the London patient. There is still no trace of the virus after 18 months off the drugs.
Brown said he would like to meet the London patient and would encourage him to go public because “it’s been very useful for science and for giving hope to HIV-positive people, to people living with HIV,” he told The Associated Press Monday.
Stem cell transplants typically are harsh procedures which start with radiation or chemotherapy to damage the body’s existing immune system and make room for a new one. There are complications too. Brown had to have a second stem cell transplant when his leukemia returned.
Compared to Brown, the London patient had a less punishing form of chemotherapy to get ready for the transplant, didn’t have radiation and had only a mild reaction to the transplant.
Dr. Gero Hutter, the German doctor who treated Brown, called the new case “great news” and “one piece in the HIV cure puzzle.”
___
AP video journalists Manuel Valdes in Seattle and Havovi Todd in London contributed.
Thank you for joining us for “Opioids, The Crisis Within” Thursday evening at First Baptist Church of Highland Park in Landover, Maryland.
Did you know that every day, more than 130 people in the United States die from overdosing on opioids? And the issue is happening right here in the DMV. In the District alone, more than 800 people have died in the past four years and the numbers are even higher in Maryland and Virginia. But what’s being done to address what’s now being called the biggest health crisis in the U.S. since the AIDS epidemic.
Thank you for joining us for “Opioids, The Crisis Within” Thursday evening at First Baptist Church of Highland Park in Landover, Maryland.
We heard from state, federal and local elected officials; advocacy organizations; impacted individuals and families; clergy members; law enforcement; hospitals; EMS; treatment facilities; pharmaceuticals; and our wonderful listeners.
How to address questionable or inappropriate issues with high-profile adults related to child sexual abuse.
Recovery Efforts Begin After Tornadoes Hit Alabama. Mixed Reaction To Leaving Neverland.
(Baltimore, MD) — Police say the husband and stepdaughter charged in the murder of Jacquelyn Smith in east Baltimore were arraigned in Texas this morning. Keith Smith and his daughter Valeria Smith appeared in a Cameron County, Texas courtroom this morning after they were arrested yesterday near the Mexico border while trying to leave the country. Police say Jacquelyn Smith was reportedly killed while helping a panhandler in Baltimore in December, but was actually murdered in a staged attack by her husband and stepdaughter. A Texas district court judge said Baltimore Police have until March 15th to extradite the Smiths back to Maryland. The two are facing murder, conspiracy and assault charges.
(Lee County, AL) — Alabama Governor Kay Ivey says the entire state is focused on the recovery of Lee County after a series of deadly tornadoes touched down yesterday Ivey said she spoke on the phone with President Trump this morning who said he would direct FEMA to give A-plus treatment in response to their disaster recovery request. Ivey thanked local First Responders and law enforcement. Nearly two dozen people are dead in eastern Alabama after a number of tornadoes touched down in Alabama and Georgia yesterday. The National Weather Service says a EF-4 tornado is responsible for the deaths and devastation in Lee County, Alabama.
(Los Angeles, CA) — Reaction is coming in to HBO’s Leaving Neverland. Social media lit up after part one of the four hour documentary aired last night. The film focuses on two men who claim Michael Jackson sexually abused them. Some people online said they believe the guys and other die hard Jackson fans said the King of Pop could never treat kids that way. The Jackson family denies the allegations and say the men featured in the documentary are simply looking for money.
Lenny Bias was a former U of Md basketball player who tragically died a day after signing with the Boston Celtics.
For a copy of the book go to LessonsFromLenny.com.
You can tune in every Monday at 12:30 for “Around the DMV” in 15 on WHUR FB.
Whoops from the audience erupted as disco icon Grace Jones, wearing a shimmering peaked-shoulder tuxedo, thigh-high boots and leotard — danced out.
PARIS (AP) — A one-off itinerant extravaganza courtesy of American designer Tommy Hilfiger’s “buy-now” collaboration with actress-singer Zendaya gave Paris Fashion Week a case of Saturday night fever. On Sunday, Valentino’s Pierpaolo Piccioli yet again received a standing ovation, and Thom Browne blurred the gender lines.
American actress and singer Zendaya, 22, became the latest in a long line of celebrities to try their hand at fashion design in Paris.
The “Spider-Man: Homecoming” star spoke to The Associated Press about receiving a phone call from Hilfiger to discuss a collaboration.
“I got a call from Tommy Hilfiger himself, which was pretty crazy. I was not expecting that,” she said.
Hilfiger gave her, she said, full control of the designs, which drew inspiration from “iconic women” of the late-1970s and early-1980s.
Showing deep industry knowledge, Zendaya also referenced the famous “Battle of Versailles” fashion show held in in 1973 at France’s Palace of Versailles. It pitted American designers such as Oscar de la Renta and Stephen Burrows against French designers Yves Saint Laurent, Pierre Cardin and Hubert de Givenchy.
One of the models who walked in the 1973 Versailles show, Pat Cleveland, modeled for Zendaya. Cleveland often is described as the world’s first black supermodel.
The show celebrated diversity and was, in terms of sheer energy, unlike any other so far this season. Dozens of dancers on roller skates boogied amid flashing lights to greatest hits from the 1970s.
This fashion show was all about the show.
Whoops from the audience erupted as disco icon Grace Jones, wearing a shimmering peaked-shoulder tuxedo, thigh-high boots and leotard — danced out.
The show’s finale track, “We Are Family”, had even fashion insiders with perpetually pursed lips singing along.
The National Federation of the Blind of DC offers a number of programs for students who are blind or who have low vision
Getting services into the hands of people who are blind or with low vision. The National Federation of the Blind has a number of programs available and there’s a new initiative to help visually impaired high school students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics or STEM. My guest is Shawn Callaway – President of the National Federation of the Blind of DC
The National Federation of the Blind helps blind and low-vision children and adults get the education and skills they need, including exposure to the fields of STEM. It’s called the Engineering Quotient program or EQ. For more information go here:
Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:35 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.
Follow me on facebook, instagram and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
Listen to this mornings segment here:
“Virginia has been home to some of the most gifted artists, athletes, and scientists to ever live. And it makes sense — the people of Virginia are one-of-a-kind: uniquely gritty, bold, and brilliant,” Pharrell said. “Virginia needs this right now and the world will see what we Virginians have known all along: there really is Something in the Water.”
The Grammy-winning superstar announced Monday SOMETHING IN THE WATER, a multi-day event he’s calling a “cultural experience” that will debut April 26-28. He will perform on a stage set on the beach; other performers include Missy Elliott, Travis Scott, Migos, Dave Matthews Band, Janelle Monae, Diplo, SZA, Lil Uzi Vert and Pusha T.
Tickets go on sale Friday.
Pharrell said in an interview with The Associated Press that he created the festival to give back to the community that raised him and helped him achieve his goals and dreams.
“Virginians are taste-makers,” he said, naming famous folks from the state, from Ella Fitzgerald to Allen Iverson to Missy Elliott.
“Virginia has been home to some of the most gifted artists, athletes, and scientists to ever live. And it makes sense — the people of Virginia are one-of-a-kind: uniquely gritty, bold, and brilliant,” Pharrell said. “Virginia needs this right now and the world will see what we Virginians have known all along: there really is Something in the Water.”
The festival won’t just focus on music: The film “The Burial of Kojo” — acquired by Ava DuVernay’s ARRAY company — will be screened, followed by a discussion. The film will premiere on Netflix on March 31.
SOMETHING IN THE WATER will also include a pop-up church service, karaoke featuring trap music as well as moments with wellness expert Deepak Chopra and Geoffrey Canada, the president of the Harlem Children’s Zone whose work has transformed the lives of thousands of inner-city youth.
Other musicians set to perform include Jaden Smith, Anderson .Paak, Kaytranada, Ferg, Jhene Aiko, Rosalia, Leikeli47, Maggie Rogers, Mac DeMarco, Masego, Virgil Abloh and John-Robert.
“It’s been fun curating the artist-performers,” said the Oscar-nominated Pharrell, who has produced hits for everyone from Jay-Z to Britney Spears.
Virginia Beach Mayor Robert “Bobby” Dyer said the festival “is going to be a transformative event for our city.”
“We are absolutely thrilled with the plans Pharrell and his team have for this year. There will be no doubt that what is ‘in the water’ around Virginia Beach is ‘something’ very special,” he said.
In the News @ 10
A big twist in December murder by a panhandler in Baltimore…
MD leaders look at letting EBT cards to be used at restaurants…
DC is now ineligible for add’l Federal lead remediation funds …
There has been a major development in the December 1st murder of a Baltimore woman. Police were initially told that 50-year-old Jacquelyn Smith was driving when she saw a panhandler with a baby and she stopped to give the person money. When she did the person took her wallet and stabbed her. She later died.
Yesterday, Smith’s husband Keith Smith and her stepdaughter Valerie Smith were arrested by Texas officials. Sources say they were charged with making the story up and killing her. They were near the Mexico border trying to leave the country.
Investigators have not released a motive in the case. Yesterday’s arrest ends a three-month long investigation that captured national attention even the attention of TV mogul Oprah Winfrey who commented that she does this all the time and warned people to stay woke to change.
Maryland lawmakers are looking at letting people use their food stamp cards at restaurants.
Senate bill 752 is proposing to allow elderly, disabled and homeless people use their EBT cards at participating restaurants. The bill is sponsored by Senator Clarence Lam of Howard County.
There are similar pilot programs in Arizona and some area in California and Rhode Island. In Maryland, more than 600 thousand people receive $75 million dollars a month in government assistance.
A Senate committee is set to vote on the measure on March 14th.
The District of Columbia is now ineligible for additional Federal dollars to help protect low-income children from lead poisoning. The decision is the result of leaders not using the $3 million dollars in grant money already given to them.
City officials say the governments’ guidelines on how the money could be spent made it hard to use the funds. In 2015 the city set a goal of fixing 225 units with $3.7 million in grants however it only ended up only completing 41 units. The District’s Lead Safe Washington program which was financed by HUD grants has now been closed. It focused on low-income renters in apartment buildings.
The District can reapply in 2020 however their past failures will have an effect on the outcome of the request.
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963
“Upon graduation, I had a ten-year plan: one day be at the helm of an integrated media company,” King said. “When I graduated, I journeyed to Hollywood without a car, a job, and without a computer, and six figures in student loans. In four short years, we have nine academy award nominations. When we launched we knew there was a market in Hollywood for a new paradigm of ownership and how we are portrayed on screens large and small. The fight continues to have our stories told authentically,” King said.
Contributed by Howard Newsroom Staff
WASHINGTON (March 1, 2019) – Charles D. King, a Howard University School of Law alumnus who has risen to prominence in Hollywood, told the story of his journey from Hollywood agency mailroom to entertainment company CEO at this year’s Charter Day Convocation.
“Upon graduation, I had a ten-year plan: one day be at the helm of an integrated media company,” King said. “When I graduated, I journeyed to Hollywood without a car, a job, and without a computer, and six figures in student loans.”
He landed in the mailroom of William Morris Endeavor talent agency. In a short period, King rose to senior agent in the motion picture department. He went on to become the first African-American partner in the company’s hundred-plus year history and the first ever African-American partner at a major Hollywood talent agency. MACRO, the company he founded in 2015, is today a leading media Hollywood firm representing the voice and perspectives of people of color.
“In four short years, we have nine academy award nominations,” King said. “When we launched we knew there was a market in Hollywood for a new paradigm of ownership and how we are portrayed on screens large and small. The fight continues to have our stories told authentically.”
King credited his activist and educated family, including his father and uncle. The two men were classmates and 1969 graduates of the Howard University College of Medicine. King urged students to follow their dreams and to remain true to their backgrounds.
He added, “At the moment of opportunity, you better bust through the door. And when you succeed, pay it forward, and honor the legacy of Howard University.”
Howard University’s Charter Day Convocation commemorates the special charter enacted by the United States Congress and approved by U.S. President Andrew Johnson that established Howard University on March 2, 1867.
In convocation remarks, Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick acknowledged Howard University as “The Howard University” in reference to the actual language found in the historic federal charter document.
At the convocation ceremony, Dr. Frederick and Stacey J. Mobley, chairman of the Board of Trustees, reiterated the planks of Howard University’s recently announced “Howard Forward” strategic plan: Enhance academic excellence, Inspire new knowledge, Serve the community, Improve efficiency and effectiveness, and Achieve financial stability.
“Howard University has a powerful legacy that is built upon rather than rested upon,” Dr. Frederick said. “We have reached a pivotal point in the University’s history where we must invest in ourselves and plan for the future.”
The March 1 Charter Day Convocation sets the stage for the following evening’s highly-anticipated Charter Day Dinner. The annual black-tie gala is Howard’s premiere fundraising event. This year, the proceeds from the dinner will support the Student Aid Campaign and its efforts to directly address the gaps that exist in financial aid for Howard students.
During the event, the Alumni Award for Distinguished Postgraduate Achievement will be presented to Rosie Allen-Herring in the field of business and public service; Lori George Billingsley in the field of communications; and Lt. Governor Boyd K. Rutherford in the field of public service. The Capstone Distinguished Service Award will be presented to LaRue V. Barkwell.
If your job is making you sick, how do you address that? When do you know when it’s time to leave your job or even change Careers? How do you do that?
Resources:
The Corporate Alley Cat: https://corporatealleycat.com/
Meredith Moore Crosby: https://www.gettingunstuckguide.com/
Guests:
Warner On Board With DC Statehood. Brothers In Smollett Scandal Speak Out. Brothers In Smollett Scandal Speak Out.
An 11-year-old girl has been arrested and charged with first degree child abuse in connection with the death of a one-year-old baby boy. Prince George’s County Police say Paxton Davis died yesterday as a result of injuries he received on Sunday morning. Police say the girl was unsupervised for part of the time she watched the child. The girl is being held in juvenile detention.
(Washington, DC) — Virginia Senator Mark Warner is endorsing DC statehood. The Democrat told DC Mayor Muriel Bowser this week that he would for the first time be sponsoring the Senate’s DC statehood legislation. Warner said on Twitter it’s time to end taxation without representation and guarantee Virginia’s 700-thousand neighbors full and equal citizenship. A statehood bill introduced by Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton in the House has a record number of co-sponsors and the support of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Senator Thomas Carper of Delaware introduced identical legislation in the Senate with 30 Democratic co-sponsors. The measure would make DC’s eight wards a state, which would be represented by two senators and one House member. The House is expected to vote on the measure next week.
(Chicago, IL) — The two brothers linked to the scandal surrounding Empire actor Jussie Smollett are breaking their silence. An attorney for Ola and Abel Osundairo released a statement last night saying the brothers have tremendous regret over their involvement and that they understand how it has impacted people across the nation, especially minority communities and victims of hate crimes. Smollett is accused of paying the brothers to stage a racist and homophobic attack earlier this year in Chicago. The actor is charged with felony disorderly conduct for filing a false police report.
In the News @ 10
Loudoun Co. student arrested for assaulting a school resource officer…
A federal grand jury has issued a subpoena for information involving DC Council member Jack Evans, a 2016 bill he proposed and Digi Outdoor, which paid him $50,000.Digi Outdoors is a digital sign company that had started a multimillion dollar effort to start doing business in the city.
In 2016 Evans introduced a bill that if approved would have benefited Digi Outdoor. Evans who created NSE Consulting in July of that year was given the check in the amount of $50,000 from Digi Outdoor’s CEO, was given to him three weeks before the consulting firm was formed. It has since raised eyebrows.
Evans says the check was returned. He claims the payment was a retainer for future work. Then two months later Evans received 200,000 shares of Digi Outdoor stock. Evans says that too has been returned.
The quest is also for documents regarding legislation that would have permitted digital signage at National Parks and around the baseball stadium. The measure was being pushed by a lobbyist with ties to Evans. In fact, William Jarvis, the lobbyist is the same person who helped Evans set up his Consulting firm. Council member David Grosso in December called for a special committee to be created to further look into the matter.
A student from Loudoun County Dominion High School has been arrested for assault. The unidentified male student is accused of assaulting an administrator and then a resource officer that stepped in.
The incident which was caught on cell phone video and went viral happened yesterday inside the school. School officials say the student was first asked by an administrator to leave the cafeteria. The student then turned on the staffer. The school’s resource officer stepped in to arrest him for the assault and that when the suspect started hitting the office.
The very disturbing video is circulation on social media. It has also resulted in the student facing felony charges of obstruction of justice by force and assault on a law enforcement office. The officer who was hit repeatedly in the face was taken to the hospital but he was not seriously hurt.
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963
The Chair of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors talks about politics, race and other issues impacting the county and the state.
Opioid Treatment, Movies at Asbury, and the Links youth talent show. Details on these events and more inside of this week’s Community’s Choice. To get your non-profit on the air and web, email me at rnash@whur.com at least three weeks prior to your event.
Job Fair
Are you interested in a job in education in Maryland? The 11th Annual Maryland Education Recruitment Consortium is March 16th at the University of Maryland Baltimore County University Center. teachmaryland@gmail.com
Kidney Disease
Kidney disease has many symptoms. Get in the know. The GW Ron and Joy Paul Kidney Center can help. www.gwkidney.org
Building Futures
Building Futures helps to put women in non-traditional occupations. Find out about their free pre-apprenticeship program for women. www.dclabor.org
The Right Fit
The Right Fit Inc. is hosting its 3rd Annual Once Upon A Gown and The Suite Prom Fair March 16th at the Seat Pleasant Activity Center. www.therightfitinc.org.
The Links
The Reston Virginia Chapter of the Links is sponsoring an evening of performances featuring talented youth from the DMV March 16th at the Kennedy Center. www.restonlinks@gmailcom
Movies at Asbury
Movies at Asbury invites you to a free screening of the Black Panther March 9th at Asbury United Methodist Church in DC. www.asburyumcdc.org
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
The Fort Washington Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority is hosting its 10th Annual No More Hurth Youth Summit March 23rd at Friendly High School. www.dstfwac,org
Howard University Opioid Treatment
Did you know there is a new treatment for opioid addiction? Howard University Urban Health Initiative offers a new form of therapy. 202-806-7707.
MD. Del. Lisanti Facing Censure Vote. Metro Board Votes To Keep Adjusted Metro Hours Until 2020. Kraft Pleads Not Guilty To Solicitation Charges.
The Maryland House of Delegates plans a censure vote late this afternoon against Harford County Democrat Mary Ann Lisanti. Calls for her to resign continue to pile up after she used the n-word to describe residents of Prince George’s County. Lisanti apologized Tuesday morning to the House Democratic Caucus for the slur. She reportedly used the word during an after-hours gathering at an Annapolis cigar bar while talking with a colleague. On the list calling for her resignation are the Democratic Party of Maryland and Governor Larry Hogan. The censure vote will proceed if Lisanti doesn’t resign.
(Washington, DC) — Late-night Metro rail service will be making a come back but not until 2020. The Metro board voted seven-to-one today to keep limited operating hours for Metro rail repairs until July of next year. Metro Board Chairman and DC Councilmember Jack Evans says the measure gives Metro time for much needed maintenance. Rail service currently stops at 11:30 p.m. on weeknights and 1:00 a.m. on the weekends. Starting next year trains will run until midnight on weekdays and until 3:00 a.m. on weekends. Adjusted service hours were put in place in 2016 for repair work.
(West Palm Beach, FL) — New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is pleading not guilty to charges of soliciting prostitution at a Florida day spa. USA Today reports Kraft’s attorney filed the plea to Florida’s 15th Judicial Circuit Court. By filing the plea before a March 27th hearing, Kraft will avoid having to appear in person at the arraignment. The 77-year-old Kraft is charged in connection with two visits to the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter, where investigators say they seized video of Kraft and other customers engaging in sexual acts. Kraft has denied the claims.
Oprah Winfrey will host a special following the upcoming HBO documentary, “Leaving Neverland.”
Contributed by Taylor Ardrey
Oprah Winfrey will host a Q&A special after special for the upcoming HBO documentary,“Leaving Neverland.” The special, Oprah Winfrey Presents: After Neverland, will feature Michael Jackson’s accusers —Wade Robson and James Safechuck— and the film’s director, Dan Reed. The special is set to air on OWN and HBO at 10 p.m. on March 4 following the conclusion of the documentary.
Since the premiere of this documentary, Michael Jackson’s family and estate have spoke out against the allegations. Jackie, Marlon, Tito and his nephew Taj sat down with CBS This Morning to defend Michael.
Watch interview here: Michael Jackson’s Family on “Leaving Neverland”
Jackson’s estate filed a $100 million lawsuit against HBO for violating a non-disparagement clause from a 1992 contract which prohibited HBO from airing information after the singer in the future.
Leaving Neverland is a two-part, four hour film about the sexual allegations against Michael Jackson from the experience of Wade Robson and James Safechuck. The documentary is set to air on Sunday, March 3 at 8:00p.m. ET.
The Right Fit Inc. is hosting a free day of shopping for students in need of formal wear.
Prom and graduation season is right around the corner. My guest this morning helps to make things easier for parents who need a little help getting all the right gear. My guest is Alesha Wilson – CEO of The Right Fit, Inc.
The Right Fit Inc. is hosting its 3rdAnnual Once Upon A Gown and The Suit Suite, Saturday, March 16that the Seat Pleasant Activity Center. The event is a free day of shopping for students who are in need for formal wear. The organization is also in need of clothing donations. For more information go here:
Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:35 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.
Follow me on facebook, instagram and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
Listen to this mornings segment here:
“Oh, we definitely would have come and talked to them about the situation … to protect our brother,” Tito Jackson said. “He’s not here no more. He’s passed, and, we’re his brothers, we’re supposed to do this.”
“I thought, ‘Oh here we go again,’” Jackson’s oldest brother Jackie Jackson said Tuesday of the moment he learned of “Leaving Neverland” while on tour in Australia. “That’s the first thing we said,” Jackie Jackson said during an interview with The Associated Press seated next to his brothers Tito, Marlon and his nephew, Taj.
The documentary, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to a standing ovation , will starting Sunday air the abuse allegations of two men , Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who had previously denied Jackson molested them and supported him to authorities and in Robson’s case, very publicly.
“It was going to be the 10-year anniversary,” Taj Jackson said, referring to his uncle’s June 2009 death. “I remember a year ago I was like, ’This is too appetizing for the media. They’re going to do something. This is the time when everyone comes out of the woodwork, the same cast, the same characters that have been discredited throughout the years. They have a platform now to talk about Michael Jackson.”
It was the latest and most public pushback from the family and Jackson estate, which have repeatedly denounced the documentary in recent weeks through written statements, a lawsuit , and letters to HBO and Britain’s Channel 4, which plan to air the film. HBO announced Wednesday that it will air a special on Monday night in which Oprah Winfrey also interviews Robson and Safechuck .
Their central criticism has been the film’s failure to talk to family members or other defenders of Jackson, whom they insist never molested a child.
The brothers said they would have answered the allegations had the filmmakers asked them.
“Oh, we definitely would have come and talked to them about the situation … to protect our brother,” Tito Jackson said. “He’s not here no more. He’s passed, and, we’re his brothers, we’re supposed to do this.”
Marlon Jackson added, “I look at it as yes, you’re protecting your brother, but you’re telling the truth, and we want people to understand the truth. And I do not understand how a filmmaker can make a documentary and not want to speak to myself or some of the other families that were at Neverland.”
The documentary’s director Dan Reed has repeatedly defended his film, which uses only the voices of Robson, Safechuck and their families.
“It’s the story of these two families and not of all the other people who were or weren’t abused by Michael Jackson,” Reed told the AP the day after the film’s premiere. “People who spent time with him can go, ‘he couldn’t possibly be a pedophile.’ How do they know? It’s absurd.”
Robson, 36, and Safechuck, 40, both came forward as adults, first via 2013 lawsuits and later in the documentary, to talk about the alleged abuse, which Robson says started when he was 7, Safechuck when he was 10.
Both had previously told authorities there had been no abuse, with Robson testifying in Jackson’s defense at the 2005 molestation trial that ended with the superstar’s acquittal.
Jackson family members say they were especially stunned to first hear such allegations coming from Robson, a noted choreographer who has worked with Britney Spears and ’N Sync. Many Jacksons, including Taj, had known Robson and his family since he was a child. Robson had dated Jackie Jackson’s daughter for over seven years.
“I was like ’No that can’t be Wade Robson not the same guy that I knew, They must have got the names wrong,” Taj Jackson said. “Wade was the most adamant person when it came to 2005 and the trial. He was their first defense witness. He was the star witness. He was adamant that nothing ever happened.”
Taj Jackson said he remembers thanking Robson the day he testified, and Robson responding that it was the least he could do for Michael.
“To see that 180, it feels like the biggest backstab that you could possibly feel,” he said.
The film acknowledges and discusses the men’s initial denials of abuse. Both say they experienced trauma that emerged as adults when they started to accept what happened to them.
No one in the Jackson family has any memory of meeting Safechuck. They have focused their criticism on Robson, whose allegations, they say, have coincided with financial problems.
They say in particular that being denied a job with a Jackson-themed Cirque du Soleil show prompted him to change his story.
Robson has said it had no bearing on the allegations, and that he actually removed himself from the Cirque du Soleil show because he was having nervous breakdowns. Those prompted him to talk to his therapist for the first time about the abuse.
Robson’s attorney Vince Finaldi said Wednesday that it was in fact the trauma from reliving the sexual abuse that caused Robson’s financial problems, because he stopped working to deal with it.
“One of the keys to his healing was stepping away from the entertainment industry,” Finaldi said.
The men’s lawsuits have been thrown out on technical grounds, but their attorneys are appealing the rulings. Finaldi said they will pursue all available means whether via the law or media to tell their stories.
“They’re never going to stop speaking their truth,” he said.
The Jackson estate’s lawsuit , filed last week, alleges “Leaving Neverland” violates a 1992 contract agreeing the channel would not disparage Jackson in the future. HBO called the lawsuit a desperate attempt to undermine the film.
Jackson’s family urged those inclined to watch “Leaving Neverland” to look deeper into the situation.
“That’s all we’re worried about is just facts,” Marlon Jackson said. “The facts, which are public record, tell a totally different story than what this documentary talks about.”
“Thank you for showing me the way, Mamba Mentality,” Wade said in the on-court interview, referring to Bryant by one of his nicknames.
Finally, he has his answer.
Down by two, at home, last possession. That was the scenario when Bryant made his 3-pointer over Wade on Dec. 4, 2009, to give the Los Angeles Lakers a one-point win over the Miami Heat.
Down by two, at home, last possession. Same scenario for Wade, this time against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.
Same result, too.
A banked-in 3-pointer by Wade gave the Heat — whose playoff hopes have taken hit after hit in recent weeks — a much-needed 126-125 victory. And even in the din of the incredibly jubilant on-court celebration, the likes of which perhaps only compared to Miami’s two championship-clinching wins at home in 2012 and 2013, Wade went back to that moment with Bryant.
“Thank you for showing me the way, Mamba Mentality,” Wade said in the on-court interview, referring to Bryant by one of his nicknames.
Not long afterward, Bryant responded on Twitter: “My man,” he wrote to Wade, adding the hashtag “last dance” — a nod to the “One Last Dance” theme Wade has used throughout this, his 16th and final season in the NBA before retirement.
Even the Warriors tipped their caps afterward at Wade, who finished with 25 points and made two 3-pointers in the final 16 seconds.
“For him to finish the way he did, it was incredible,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.
The Heat remained 10th in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind No. 8 Charlotte and only percentage points behind No. 9 Orlando. A loss would have set them back a bit in the standings, and who-knows-how-much more emotionally — since had the Warriors won, it would have been a win where Miami blew a 24-point lead.
Instead, Wade engineered a miracle in Miami — exactly one year to the day after he hit a game-winner to beat Philadelphia at home.
“He deserved to win this game,” Golden State’s Kevin Durant said.
Wade’s winner even caught the attention of LeBron James, who watched it out on the West Coast. James replied in his own fashion a few hours later, hitting a dramatic one-legged, fall-away 3-pointer with 31 seconds left to seal the Lakers’ 125-119 win over New Orleans.
Afterward, James was asked to compare the degree of difficulty in the two big shots by the former Heat teammates.
“Mine was a little bit more difficult than his,” James said with a smile. “His was weird. I don’t know if that was even a shot. It was like he had … you know when you play Pop-a-Shot? He had to, I mean, because he had no time. But yeah, I think my shot was more difficult.”
Barring a matchup in the NBA Finals, this was Wade’s last time facing the Warriors. And that realization was not lost upon the two-time defending champions afterward.
“It’s a crazy feeling,” Durant said. “He’s done so much for the game. He’s such an amazing player and person. I’ve been watching him since middle school and this is one crazy way to go out.”
Kerr said he’s enjoyed watching this season become a celebration of Wade.
“The video tributes, the jersey exchange, the applause from the fans. It all shows you what Dwyane has meant to this league,” Kerr said. “When you see all the younger players in this league, how much they revere him, you realize and you remember.”
And when Wade hits shots like he did Wednesday, you don’t forget, either.
In the News @ 10
DC records 28th homicide…
Former DHS worker admits to stealing Thousands from DC’s welfare program…
Parents BEWARE of the Mo Mo challenge…
The District of Columbia has recorded it’s 28th homicide of the year. It is a nearly 60% increase from this time last year. The victim is a young person. He is one of three people shot in an alley on Monroe Street in NW.
At Noon, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser is planning to take part in a luncheon with faith leaders at Riverside Baptist Church. Bowser will discuss her efforts to decrease gun violence. She is also expected to talk with the clergy members and discuss how together they can help stop the bloodshed.
A former Policy Analyst for the Department of Human Services is going to jail. 49-year-old Gary Holliday of Fort Washington, Maryland has admitted to siphoning more than $400,000 from the District’s Food Stamp Program.
Prosecutors say he knew the system and he chose to set up a fake application and take money from the SNAP and TANF benefits program. Holliday has agreed to repay the city. He will be sentenced in June and faces up to 41 months in prison.
Parents, teachers and or caregivers there is a new online challenge that could have deadly outcomes that you need to be aware of. It’s called the Mo Mo Challenge.
Basically, this latest internet challenge targets young children. Many are seeing it while watching Kids YouTube. The message encourages kids to text a number on WhatsApp. Then it will send them a series of in ceasing possibly dangerous tasks. Reports say the challenges can go from watching a scary move to telling them to take their own lives. It is unclear who is behind the internet challenge.
Some of the victims are shown a scary bug-eyed girl with tangled hair and scrawny arms. Officials suggest parent talk to their kids and make them aware if they see the image pop up on their smart devices they should tell them right away and not do anything that it says.
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963
Legendary icon Janet Jackson will be launching her Las Vegas residency show, “Metamorphosis”, on May 17 at place at Park Theater at Park MGM resort.
Contributed by Taylor Ardrey
Legendary icon Janet Jackson will be launching her Las Vegas residency show, “Metamorphosis”, on May 17 at place at Park Theater at Park MGM resort.
Janet Jackson took to twitter to make her announcement:
“Hey u guys, I’m so excited to announce my new Vegas residency, “Metamorphosis”! A celebration of my journey and the 30th anniversary of
#RhythmNation! I’ll be at the@parkmgm in May, July & August. Link in bio.#MetamorphosisVegas
Citi presale starts Wed., 2/27 at 12PM PT!” @janetjackson
MGM Resort’s M life Rewards loyalty members, Live Nation and Ticketmaster customers will also have access to the presale on 2/27.
Janet Jackson Metamorphosis Las Vegas Residency
May 2019: 17, 18, 21, 22, 25, 26
July 2019: 24, 26, 27, 31
August 2019: 2, 3, 7, 9, 10
Who else is about spend their next check to purchase tickets?
Big Boi lands role as Berry Gordy in upcoming Bobby Debarge biopic which will air on TV One called The Bobby Debarge Story.
Contributed by Taylor Ardrey
Big Boi landed the role as Berry Gordy in the upcoming Bobby Debarge biopic which will air on TV One called The Bobby Debarge Story. Berry Gordy was the founder of Motown Records and a prominent contributor to legendary acts like The Jackson 5, Diana Ross & The Supremes and Bobby Debarge’s band, Switch.
Big Boi announced his role in the movie via Instagram:
“Just finished playing Berry Gordy in the “Debarge” movie @swirlfilmsig 🎬🎥🔥 coming Soon!” @bigboi
The biopic is about the life of Bobby Debarge and how he emerged and changed the sound of the landscape of music.” A falsetto master, Bobby DeBarge was a musical genius who battled demons of his own for many years. The Bobby Degarge Story is the quintessential story of sex, drugs and rock and roll,” stated Karen Peterkin, Director of Scripted Original Programming and Production, who serves as Executive in Charge of Production for TV One.
Lloyd, Roshon Fegan, Tyra Ferrell and Adrian Marcel are also apart of the cast of this biopic.
From the Maryland State House to The White House, how does racism impact politics?
Cohen Rips Trump. Republican Accuses Cohen Of Sour Grapes. MD Dems Call For Lisanti Resignation. Supreme Court Hears Peace Cross Arguments.
(Washington, DC) — Michael Cohen is ripping his former boss. In explosive testimony before the House Oversight Committee today, Cohen called Donald Trump a racist, a conman and a cheat. Trump’s former personal lawyer and fixer said he is ashamed of taking part in Trump’s “illicit acts.” He also called himself ashamed of his own “weakness and misplaced loyalty.” Cohen said Trump was aware that longtime ally Roger Stone was talking to WikiLeaks about hacked Democratic emails.
Cohen is headed to prison for lying to Congress, tax fraud, bank fraud and campaign finance violations.
(Washington, DC) — Ohio Republican Jim Jordan is accusing Michael Cohen of sour grapes. During a House hearing today, Jordan suggested Cohen was unhappy that he wasn’t offered a job in the White House after Donald Trump was elected President. Cohen rejected Jordan’s accusation, saying he was very happy as the President’s personal attorney. Cohen worked for Trump for about 10-years and sometimes referred to himself as Trump’s fixer.
(Annapolis, MD) — The Maryland Democratic Party is calling on Harford County Delegate Mary Ann Lisanti to step down after she used the n-word to describe Prince George’s County. Party Chair Maya Rockeymore Cummings said in a statement she supports calls for Lisanti to resign from her position following the comment. Lisanti apologized yesterday morning to the House Democratic Caucus for the slur. She reportedly used the word during an after-hours gathering at an Annapolis cigar bar while talking with a colleague.
(Washington, DC) — The Supreme Court seems inclined to rule that a 40-foot-tall cross that stands on public land in Maryland is constitutional, but shy away from a sweeping ruling. The high court on Wednesday heard over an hour of arguments in the case about the World War I memorial sometimes referred to as the “Peace Cross.” Conservative justices as well as at least two liberal justices seemed to suggest that the nearly 100-year-old memorial doesn’t run afoul of the First Amendment’s establishment clause, which prohibits the government from favoring one religion over others. The justices seemed inclined to find that the age of the monument and the cross’ special connection to World War I as a symbol associated with war dead made it acceptable. The memorial stands on a grassy highway median in Bladensburg, Maryland, just outside Washington.
Ain’t Misbehavin’ is playing at the Signature Theatre through March 10th.
Get ready for a hand clapping and foot stomping good time. We are headed to the theatre this morning on Taking It to the Streets to preview the hit musical Ain’t Misbehavin’, playing now at the Signature Theatre. My guest is Mark Meadows – Musical Director and On-Stage Pianist (plays the part of Fats Waller)
Tony Award Winning Musical “Ain’t Misbehavin,’ a Fats Wall Musical Show playing now thru March 10that the Signature Theatre. For more information go to: www.sigtheatre.org
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, instagram and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
Listen to this mornings interview here:
Hollywood film producer, and proud son of Howard, Charles D. King, will serve as the 2019 Charter Day Convocation orator during the 152nd Charter Day Convocation on Friday, March 1, 2019. King is an alumnus of the Howard University School of Law and founder of MACRO. In 2009, King received the Alumni Award for Distinguished Postgraduate Achievement in the fields of Government and Public Service. Howard University will confer upon Mr. King an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, the University’s highest honor.
Hollywood film producer, and proud son of Howard, Charles D. King, will serve as the 2019 Charter Day Convocation orator during the 152nd Charter Day Convocation on Friday, March 1, 2019. King is an alumnus of the Howard University School of Law and founder of MACRO. In 2009, King received the Alumni Award for Distinguished Postgraduate Achievement in the fields of Government and Public Service. Howard University will confer upon Mr. King an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, the University’s highest honor.
Founded in January 2015, King’s MACRO is a leading media company representing the voice and perspectives of people of color. King oversees the company’s focus on creating, developing, producing and financing film, television, digital content, tech companies and brands driven by people of color that encompass universal themes to which all people can connect and relate.
MACRO’s film projects have received nine Oscar nominations. The company’s first major studio film, Fences, received four nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor for director/star Denzel Washington, and one win for Best Supporting Actress for Viola Davis. King was an executive producer on the film. Dee Rees’ Mudbound, was the highest sale at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress and Best Cinematography. King was a producer on the film. Roman J. Israel, Esq. also received an Oscar nomination for Washington and was executive produced by King. MACRO’s most recent film, Boots Riley’s Sorry To Bother You, is nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature. King’s MACRO has a first look co-finance deal with Warner Bros. Pictures and just signed on as a co-financier and King as an executive producer for Just Mercy, starring Michael B. Jordan with Jamie Foxx and Brie Larson as well as a film based on revolutionary Black Panther and historic figure Fred Hampton starring Daniel Kaluuya and Lakeith Stanfield. On the TV side, King will executive produce “Raising Dion,” a 10-episode hour-long, sci-fi, family drama along with Dennis Liu and Michael B. Jordan.
Please join us on March 1 at 11 a.m. in Cramton Auditorium Charter Day Convocation as we celebrate Howard past, Howard present, and Howard forward.
You might be unpleasantly surprised by your income tax refund or lack of it this year. Are you eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit?
DC police release security video of shooting at a restaurant on H Street, NE in January.
Actors LaLa Anthony and Lance Gross speak to students about their careers in television and film.
Having celebrities show up for classes, is almost part of the day at Howard, which has a lengthy list of star power graduates, including Debbie Allen, Phylicia Rashad, Laz Alonso, Taraji P. Henson, Chadwick Boseman just to name a few. IMG_8553.MOV
Cohen Grilling Ongoing In Closed Senate Meeting. Florida Officer Using ‘Stand Your Ground’ Defense in Trial for Killing Black Motorist. Virginia’s State Superintendent Urges Elimination Of Racism.
(Washington, DC) — The grilling of former Trump lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen is ongoing in the Senate Intelligence Committee. It’s a closed meeting and Maine Republican Susan Collins emerged briefly and told reporters the grilling is “extensive.” She was asked if anything has surprised her and she called Cohen a “different guy.” Cohen will testify in an open House hearing tomorrow.
(West Palm Beach, FL) — A former Florida police officer plans to use the “stand your ground” defense in trial for killing a black motorist while on duty back in 2015. The Florida statute allows anyone with a legitimate fear of imminent danger can use lethal force, but this is the first time a cop is using it in 26 years. African-American musician Corey Jones got out of his broken-down SUV when he was confronted by Officer Nouman Raja. Prosecutors say Raja never identified himself and that prompted Jones, who had a concealed-weapons permit, to pull a handgun because he feared he was being robbed. The trial of fired Palm Beach Gardens officer Nouman Raja begins with jury selection Thursday.
(Richmond, VA) — Virginia State Superintendent James Lanes is urging school systems to eliminate racism. Lane is encouraging educators to teach lessons with racial sensitivity in a renewed commitment to equity in public schools. Lane was appointed as the superintendent of public instruction last year by Governor Ralph Northam, who admitted this month that he once wore blackface.
“We are pleased to host Speaker Nancy Pelosi for what will be a historic visit to Howard University,” says President Wayne A. I. Frederick. “The King Lecture Series traditionally offers a wealth of opportunities for our students to hear from leaders of the political arena and Howard is known for standing at the epicenter of thoughtful dialogue around national discourse. Hosting Speaker Pelosi at this time in our country’s history will be an incredible educational experience for everyone involved.”
– Ramzey SmithWASHINGTON (February 25, 2019) – The 2018-2019 Gwendolyn S. and Colbert I. King Endowed Chair in Public Policy Lecture Series, chaired by political strategist and author Donna Brazile, continues this week with The People’s House with Speaker Nancy Pelosi, on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at the Howard University School of Business Auditorium, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi will join Brazile for a conversation on opportunity, leadership and the state of our democracy.
“We are pleased to host Speaker Nancy Pelosi for what will be a historic visit to Howard University,” says President Wayne A. I. Frederick. “The King Lecture Series traditionally offers a wealth of opportunities for our students to hear from leaders of the political arena and Howard is known for standing at the epicenter of thoughtful dialogue around national discourse. Hosting Speaker Pelosi at this time in our country’s history will be an incredible educational experience for everyone involved.”
Speaker Pelosi joins the King Lecture Series as the 52ndSpeaker of the House of Representatives, having made history in 2007 when she was elected as the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House. Now, in her third term as Speaker, Pelosi made history again in January 2019 when she regained her position second-in-line to the presidency, the first person to do so in more than 60 years. As Speaker, Pelosi is fighting for the people, working to lower health care costs, increase workers’ pay through strong economic growth and rebuilding America, and cleaning up corruption for make Washington work for all. For 31 years, Speaker Pelosi has represented San Francisco, California’s 12th Congressional District, in Congress. She has led House Democrats for 16 years, having previously served as House Democratic Whip.
“Speaker Pelosi is heading up the most diverse House of Representatives in history—one that she helped to get elected. As the first, and still only woman to helm a house of Congress, she’s already an historic figure,” Brazile explains. “This will truly be a memorable moment that Howard University students should not miss.”
Among the topics expected to be discussed, are the importance of the youth vote, campaign finance reform and the 116thCongress. Howard University students are encouraged to attend and take advantage of a question and answer period that will be offered exclusively to students, following the conversation.
The People’s House with Speaker Nancy Pelosi is the latest installation of the 2018-2019 Gwendolyn S. and Colbert I. King Endowed Chair in Public Policy Lecture Series, which provides students access to experienced, senior public service executives who have developed and advanced public policy initiatives. Since 2008, six prominent public leaders have engaged students on issues related to the public interest.
This event is free and open to the Howard community via RSVP to KingLectureSeries@Howard.edu. Due to limited seating, guests are asked to arrive early. All bags will be subject to search.
The Lead by Example Foundation Inc, is sponsoring free trips for youth in grades 6th – 8th to this years Unity Games in New York
The Lead by Example Foundation is using the game of basketball to teach youth some valuable skills on and off the court. That’s the key mission of an upcoming series of games taking place in New York in a few weeks and I have the details of how you can get your youngsters involved for free. It’s the 17thAnnual Unity Games. My guest is Antonio Beard, Co-Founder of the Lead by Example Foundation, Inc.
The 17thAnnual Unity Games is March 22nd– 24thin New York City. Lead by Example, Inc. is sponsoring the trip for free for some youth in the DMV in grades 6th– 8th. The trip is for boys and girls. dcunitygames@gmail.comThe Unity Games combine basketball and educational workshops to foster relationships among young people of different backgrounds through a shared experience. For more information go here:
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On the latest Red Table Talk titled, “What Men Really Think About Love,” award-winning rapper Wale and Jane the Virgin star Justin Baldoni joined the ladies to have a open dialogue about what men go through in the search for love.
On the latest Red Table Talk titled, “What Men Really Think About Love,” award-winning rapper Wale and Jane the Virgin star Justin Baldoni joined the ladies to have a open dialogue about what men go through in the search for love.
Wale opened up about his struggle with getting into a relationship growing up as a rapper in the music industry and how being in the industry exposed him to the complexities of maintaining a healthy relationship as a celebrity.
” I got famous young in D.C and I seen how women were acting around me and I think it shaped how I view women moving forward,” said Wale. You got to understand that you are talking to a rapper. All I see is promiscuous behavior… I fell head over heels for somebody in this industry and I can see how vicious it could be and how gutted I was. I was never really the same.”
Justin Baldoni explained how he had to do some soul searching before he meant his wife. When they eventually came together figuring out how they fit into each other’s lives was not an easy process.
“It was not easy. The dating process was at times painfully horrific. My wife and I we went deep; it was uncomfortable, we realized we wanted different things at times, we weren’t sure that if we were spiritually aligned, we were from totally different countries”, said Baldoni.
Baldoni opened up about the ups and downs of his marriage and how he had to put work into himself in order to be ready to settle down with his wife.
“But I jumped in and said this is me. These are my flaws, these are my insecurities. This is all of the things that are wrong with me. And she wanted to walk away and I kept chasing her. There was a balance. She needed space. I didn’t understand what space meant which because we worked through it ended up being the foundation of a beautiful healthy marriage,” he added
Watch to see what else these men think about love: Red Table Talk-What Men Really Think About Love.
Tennis all-star Serena Williams collaborated with Nike for their latest advertisement titled, “Dream Crazier” to highlight the double standards women face as athletes.
Contributed By Taylor Ardrey
“Show them what crazy dreams can do. #JustDoIt”
Tennis all-star Serena Williams collaborated with Nike for their latest advertisement titled, “Dream Crazier” to highlight the double standards women face as athletes. Women are often deemed as emotional, dramatic and “crazy” in the workplace, a struggle in which Williams can relate to after making headlines last year after a dispute at the US Open final with an umpire.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whpJ19RJ4JY&feature=youtu.be
The ad was showcased during the 2019 Academy Awards ceremony and sparked a debate about sexism and the difference of perception between men and women. Many appreciated Williams for being apart of an influential ad and for bringing major issues to the forefront for open discussion.
In the News @ 10
A teen is struck and killed by a MARC train…
A Md lawmaker calls Prince George’s Co. the N-district…
A new study shows multi-billion dollar funding difference for white school systems vs nonwhite…
Body found in a bag near Metro bus stop…
One day after a person was hit and killed by a MARC Train in Prince George’s County comes word of a teen killed by another train Bowie.
Officials say the incident happened last night in Laurel in the 8400 block of Holly Street. The only description given to the media by Montgomery County Fire Department Spokesman Mark Brady is that the victim is believed to be a teenager and male.
The victim was in critical condition when he was rushed to the hospital. His identity has not been released. It is also unclear if he was on the tracks or near them at the time of impact.
Another lawmaker is apologizing to African American’s and Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland for using a racial slur when talking about Prince George’s County.
Delegate Mary Ann Lisanti a Democrat is responding to allegations that during a discussion with a white colleague she talked about helping with a candidate campaign in Prince George’s County and that last fall she was door-knocking in a “N-district”.
Delegate Lisanti has apologized but says she really doesn’t remember saying it. Delegate Darryl Barnes of Prince George’s County who also chairs the Black Caucus said Lisanti seemed contrite during her meeting with them.
Lisanti, is serving her second term in office. She is a member of the House Economic Matters Committee. She also chairs the unemployment insurance subcommittee.
Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrook who learned of the incident said it was “disturbing and offensive. Alsobrooks said she would love to have her come to see the true Prince George’s County
For more, it is no surprise. A new report by EdBuild, a research and advocacy company based out of New Jersey focuses on school funding.
EdBuild found that white school systems received $23 billion more dollars in funding that nonwhite school systems. The report points to property taxes being higher in the white communities versus the others and that more money goes to schools. Researchers, however, blame state leaders and budgets for not helping to bring the financial gap that could level the educational learning field.
13,000 traditional public schools were examined and of them, 7,600 had a 75% population of white students and about 1,200 more than 75% of the population were nonwhite.
In 2016 White school systems took in more than $77 billion dollars in local tax dollars or about $7,000 per student. Nonwhite systems took in close to $54 billion, which is equal to about $4,500 per pupil.
It is important to note that most states added on average about $6,900 dollars per pupil for white school systems and about $7,200 for nonwhite systems. This report did not include federal funding.
In the state of Maryland, 880,000 students were supported by only 24 districts compared a place like New Jersey, where over 1 million students were supported by over 500 districts.
A passerby made a gruesome discovery last night. The body of a person in a bag near a Metro bus stop in Bethesda.
The body has been sent to the medical examiner’s officer. Detectives did not release the gender or race of the victim. There’s no word on the possible cause of death.
The body was discovered in the 10,000 block of Old Georgetown Road.
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“When the ESSENCE Festival was founded 25 years ago, it marked a pivotal moment of vision and reverence — a critical acknowledgement of and investment in the power of our culture,” said Michelle Ebanks, chief executive officer of ESSENCE Communications, in a news release. She said it has set a standard that other festivals aspire to, and has become an annual homecoming for black artists from around the world.
Festival producers announced a partial lineup Monday, listing more than 80 artists for the event held during the July Fourth weekend in New Orleans, hosted by comedienne and talk show host Loni Love. Also on the lineup are Anthony Hamilton, H.E.R., Ledisi, MC Lyte, Morris Day, Musiq Soulchild, Sheila E., Teddy Riley, Teyana Taylor, Queen Naija, Timbaland, Luke James, Big Freedia and Grammy winning New Orleans native PJ Morton.
Producers said there also will be a special mainstage moment honoring Frankie Beverly for his lifetime contribution to music and special performance highlights spotlighting Blige’s “My Life” and NAS’ “Illmatic” — seminal albums marking 25-year anniversaries in 2019.
Others scheduled to participate are 702, Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Brownstone, El Debarge, Elle Varner, Force MDs, Ginuwine, Jacquees, Mase, Normani, Rakim, Scarface, City Girls and more performers who will be announced later.
“When the ESSENCE Festival was founded 25 years ago, it marked a pivotal moment of vision and reverence — a critical acknowledgement of and investment in the power of our culture,” said Michelle Ebanks, chief executive officer of ESSENCE Communications, in a news release. She said it has set a standard that other festivals aspire to, and has become an annual homecoming for black artists from around the world.
The festival is scheduled July 4-7, with the three-night concert series in the Superdome and free workshops and opportunities to interact with artists in the city’s convention center.
Ticket packages are now on sale. Visit www.essence.com/festival for more details.
