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VA Dems Call For An Investigation Into Fairfax’s Sex Assault Allegation, Blackface Photos Surface In Old UMD Yearbooks

VA Dems Call For An Investigation Into Fairfax’s Sex Assault Allegation. Blackface Photos Surface In Old UMD Yearbooks. Services Announced For Congressman John Dingell. Whitaker Won’t Answer Question About Russia Probe “Witch Hunt”.

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VA Dems Call For An Investigation Into Fairfax’s Sex Assault Allegation

(Richmond, VA) — Virginia Democrats are requesting an investigation into allegations of sexual assault against Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax. He’s accused of forcing himself on a woman back in 2004 at the Democratic National Convention in Boston. The three top-ranking Virginia politicians, all of which are Democrats who happen to be in the midst of scandals, many want a thorough investigation before deciding the next step. Senator Tim Kaine, who called for Governor Northam’s resignation just after the blackface scandal, says he needs more time and information to make a decision about Fairfax.

Blackface Photos Surface In Old UMD Yearbooks

(College Park, MD) — A number of photos featuring people wearing blackface are surfacing in old University of Maryland yearbooks. A current UMD student tweeted that she went on a mission to find blackface in the university’s yearbooks and it only took her minutes to find it. She posted several photos showing past students with dark makeup on their face. This comes as a photo showing a person in blackface and one in a KKK robe surfaced from Virginia Democratic Governor Ralph Northam’s medical school yearbook. Virginia’s Attorney General Mark Herring also admitted to wearing blackface at one time. UMD President Wallacoe Loh called the images in the university’s past yearbooks profoundly hurtful and distressing.

Services Announced For Congressman John Dingell

(Dearborn, MI) — Services for former U.S. Congressman John Dingell will be held in Dearborn and Washington, DC. A visitation is planned for the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in Dearborn on Monday from 11:00 a.m to 8:00 p.m. A funeral mass will be held Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Dingell passed away last night at the age of 92 after a battle with prostate cancer. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 59-years and will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Whitaker Won’t Answer Question About Russia Probe “Witch Hunt”

(Washington, DC) — President Trump often calls the Russia investigation a “witch hunt” but Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker won’t go there. Pressed on the “witch hunt” claim during a House hearing today, Whitaker said it would be inappropriate to talk about an ongoing investigation. He insisted he has not interfered with Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s ongoing probe and said he has not tried to deny Mueller any funding. President Trump appointed Whitaker after firing Attorney General Jeff Sessions in November. Whitaker claimed he has not discussed the Mueller probe with Trump.

An American Classic Drama With a Unique Twist

Twelve Angry Men is at the Ford’s Theatre running through February 17th.

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This morning I taking you to the theatre, spotlighting an American Classic Drama, “Twelve Angry Men”.  My two special guests are two of the actors from the production,  Erik King and Bueka Uwemedimo.  They discuss the differences between this version and the original film which came out in 1957, and how the relevant the story line is today. This must see production is at the Ford’s Theatre running through February 17th.

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

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

Listen to this mornings segment here:

Baseball Hall of Famer And First A.A. MLB Manager Has Died, Co. Exec. Alsobrooks Set To Testify For A $15 An Hour Minimum State Wage

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Baseball Hall of Famer and first A.A. MLB manager has died…
Co. Exec. Alsobrooks set to testify in support of a $15 an hour minimum wage…

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Baseball Hall of Famer and first A.A. MLB manager has died…

If your not a baseball fan you may not know this name but Frank Robinson is a legion in the sport. The Hall of Famer was an outfielder. He was the only player to receive the distinguished title of MVP in not only the National League but in the American League as well.

Frank Robinson died at the age of 83 yesterday in Los Angeles. He had been battled bone cancer. Robinson was actually from Oakland. He’s known for many things like hitting 589 home runs. That number alone puts him at 10th place among baseballs all-time list.

Robinson was also the first African American manager for a MLB team. He spent some 60 years playing the sport and then he became a manager for four franchises and he played a number of executive roles in the sport.

In 1982, Robinson was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Robinson was the first manager for the Washington Nationals. During his long career, he played for the Cincinnati Reds, California Angels, Cleveland Indians, and L.A. Dodgers. Robinson is survived by his wife, Barbara Ann and two children, Frank and Nichelle.

Co. Exec. Alsobrooks set to testify in support of a $15 an hour minimum wage…

This afternoon Prince George’s County’s Executive Angela Alsobrooks will testify in favor of making the state’s minimum wage $15 an hour over the next five years.

At 12:30 this morning before the House Economic Matters Committee she will state her support of House Bill 166. It calls for Maryland’s minimum wage to go from $10.10 an hour to $15 an hour in five years.

As it stands now Prince George’s County minimum wage is $11.50 an hour. In Montgomery County its higher with a range from $12 to 12.25 an hour.

Today’s hearing will be held inside of the Lowe House Office Building (Economic Matters Hearing room) 6 Bladen Street, Annapolis, Maryland.

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963

What Are You Telling Your Children About Racism?

What are some of the best ways to talk to your children about racism and the part it plays in black history and current events?

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Blackface, Ku Klux Klan robes and racial slurs.  All of them are in the news this week… all day… everyday.  It’s hard enough for adults to digest the onslaught of information about racism, but what about children?  What do you tell them about racism?  What should you tell them?

Guests:

Dr. Jeff Menzie, Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Dana Williams, Interim Dean, Howard University Graduate School, Professor of African-American Literature

Dr. Gishawn Mance, Clinical Psychologist, Assistant Professor, Howard University Department of Psychology

First Black Baseball Manager Frank Robinson Dies, Top GOP VA State Senator Oversaw Racist Yearbook

First Black Baseball Manager Frank Robinson Dies. Top GOP VA State Senator Oversaw Racist Yearbook. Actor Bill Cosby Moved to General Population Unit in Pennsylvania Prison.

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First Black Baseball Manager Frank Robinson Dies

Los Angeles — Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, the first black manager in Major League Baseball and the only player to win the MVP award in both leagues, died Thursday. He was 83.
Robinson had recently been in hospice care at his home in Bel Air. MLB confirmed his death.
An MVP with Cincinnati and Baltimore, Robinson cemented his legacy when he became Cleveland’s manager in 1975. The Reds, Orioles and Indians retired his No. 20 and honored him with statues at their stadiums.
Fearsome and fearless in the batter’s box, Robinson hit 586 home runs — he was fourth on the career list behind only Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays when he retired and now ranks 10th. He won the Triple Crown while leading the Orioles to their first World Series championship in 1966.
An All-Star outfielder in 12 seasons and a first-ballot selection to Cooperstown, Robinson also was a Rookie of the Year and picked up a Gold Glove.
Robinson’s place in the game’s history extended far beyond his abundant playing skills.
While still active, Robinson fulfilled his quest to become the first African-American manager in the big leagues. In his first at-bat as a player-manager for Cleveland, he hit a home run.
Robinson also managed San Francisco, Baltimore and Montreal. He became the first manager of the Washington Nationals after the franchise moved from Montreal for the 2005 season — he also was in the Nationals’ Ring of Honor.
More than half the major league teams have had black managers since his debut in the Cleveland dugout.
Robinson later spent several years working as an executive for MLB and for a time oversaw the annual Civil Rights Game. He advocated for more minorities throughout baseball and worked with former Commissioner Bud Selig to develop the Selig Rule, directing teams to interview at least one minority candidate before hiring a new manager.
For all he did on and off the field, Robinson was presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George W. Bush in 2005.
Born Aug. 21, 1935, in Beaumont, Texas, Robinson attended McClymonds High School in Oakland, California, and was a basketball teammate of future NBA great Bill Russell. But it was on the diamond, rather than court, where fame awaited Robinson.
Former Orioles pitcher Jim Palmer, who also gained first-ballot entry into the Hall, once called Robinson, “the best player I ever saw.”

Top GOP VA State Senator Oversaw Racist Yearbook

(Richmond, VA) — There is a report the top GOP Virginia state senator oversaw a yearbook that contained racist photos and slurs. The Virginian Pilot reports Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment was in charge of a 1968 Virginia Military Institute yearbook that contained multiple photos of individuals posing in black face. The yearbook also contained several racist slurs. This comes as Virginia Democratic Governor Ralph Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring are embroiled in blackface scandals and the lieutenant governor is accused of a past sexual assault.

Actor Bill Cosby Moved to General Population Unit in Pennsylvania Prison

(Collegeville, PA) — Actor Bill Cosby has been moved to a general population unit as he serves his sentence for sexual assault in a Pennsylvania prison. The 81-year-old has spent the last four months in special housing at the State Correctional Institution Phoenix in suburban Philadelphia. A state prison spokeswoman says Cosby has a single cell and is not on a ward for older inmates. Inmates in general population can spend several hours a day in the gym or exercise yard, and other time in the library, class or day room. Cosby is serving three to 10 years for drugging and sexually assaulting a woman at his home in 2004.

DC’s School Without Walls, doing it for the Culture for Black History Month

DC’s School Without Walls-Franics Stevens Black History Month Game Show…

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DC’s School Without Walls, doing it for the Culture for Black History Month…

Today I was invited to the School Without Walls -Francis Stevens location on 2425 N Street Northwest. I had the honor of hosting their first “For the Culture Game Show” in celebration of Black History Month.

The auditorium was filled with fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth graders eager to show their knowledge of Black History for prizes and recognition. There were four teams with a representative from each of the classes in each group. There were four rounds of questions. The students chose from one of the following categories: Television/Movies, Sports, Music, History, Social Justice and Education. The winner was 8th grader Alani Diaz. I look forward to returning next year.

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963

Prince George’s Co. Principle Placed On Leave, Accused Of Hitting Student, Debate Over Starting School In MD After Labor Day Resumes

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A Prince George’s Co. Principle is placed on leave, accused of hitting a student…
The debate over starting school after Labor Day resumes…

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A Prince George’s Co. Principle is placed on leave, accused of hitting a student…

We all know that cell phones are everywhere and yesterday someone’s cell phone captured an altercation that has placed a local high school teacher on administrative leave.

Flowers High School Principle Dr. Gorman Brown has been placed on leave after cell phone video surfaced on social media apparently showing him hitting a male student. The alleged incident happened yesterday. Raven Hill who is a spokeswoman for the Prince George’s County School System says they are investigating the matter. There’s no word at this time if police are also looking into the incident.

Parents have been sent home to parents. Assistant Principal Ronald Miller will assume the duties of principal until further notice.

The debate over starting school in Md after Labor Day resumes…

Most in Maryland thought the issue of starting school after Labor Day was over after the Governor made it law. This morning we have learned that Democrats are bringing the issue back up.

State Senate lawmakers are debating in Annapolis on a bill to allow school districts to decide when schools start and end classes. Preliminary approval is expected today.

In 2016 Governor Larry Hogan issued an executive order requiring all public schools to begin school after Labor Day to help businesses and parents during the summer months. Yesterday Hogan stated that 73% of Marylander’s approved starting classes after the big end of summer holiday.

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963

A Powerful Exhibition of Black Art

This fundraiser gala showcases 27 talented artists from the DMV

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When was the last time you had the opportunity to witness a beautiful exhibition of Black art. I have details this morning about a dynamic fundraising event showcasing the work of 27 remarkable artists.  It’s all part of a fundraising gala hosted by the Howard University Alumni Club of Greater Washington.  It’s called “Powerful Voices:  Africa and the Americas.”  My guest is Frances Washington.

Howard University Alumni Club of Greater Washington invites you to attend a fundraising gala reception for the opening of Powerful Voices:  Africa and the Americas Thursday, February 7that the PEPCO Gallery. 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:

 

 

The Top Flight Corvette Club’s Valentines Love Affair

This annual Dinner Dance event helps support community organization in the DMV.

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Grab your sweetie and make your way with me this weekend to the Annual Sweet Affair.  We are getting you ready for Valentine’s Day and the Top Flight Corvette Club is presenting its Dinner Dance event. My guest is Michael Summers – Top Flight Corvette Club

The Top Flight Corvette Club presents its Annual Sweet Affair Dinner and Dance at the Camelot Saturday, February 9thfrom 7pm to midnight. 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.

Listent to this mornings segment here:

It’s National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and There’s Some Good News

The fight to combat HIV/AIDS continues as today marks the 20th anniversary of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

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Washington, D.C. (Thursday, February 7, 2019) – Today marks National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and advocates say it’s an important time to remember the fight, triumphs, and the challenges still ahead.  According to their website, the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) initiative began in 1999 as a grass roots effort that aimed  to raise the awareness regarding HIV and AIDS prevention, care and data-driven education in communities of color.  As the challenges and solutions associated with HIV have evolved, NBHAAD has modified it’s theme, focus, and methods of national support.

Meanwhile, New Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program data show that a record-high 82.6% of black/African-American receiving HIV medical care are virally suppressed, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration.

Today, (NBHAAD) urges organizations, clinics, and communities across the country will commemorate 20 years of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day promotion and engagement. This year, the campaign encourages communities to work in unison by stopping HIV together.

Everyone can play a part in reducing HIV transmission by getting tested, promoting prevention using state-of-the-science prevention methods like PrEP, and normalizing conversation about sexuality, gender, STIs, and HIV.

So what can you do today to mark National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day? Encourage someone you love to come with you to receive an HIV test. No matter the results, you can still be a part of a global effort to reduce HIV transmission by educating ourselves about prevention options and quality clinical treatment.

Meantime, As part of its ongoing effort to help educate the African-American community about the importance of knowing their HIV status, and to commemorate the 2019 National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, the Prince George’s County Health Department is participating in a free HIV testing event for the community on Tuesday, February 12th at Prince George’s Community College (PGCC).

The event, Black Health Empowerment Day, is at PGCC’s Health Education Center, located at 301 Largo Road, Bladen Hall, Room 132, Largo, MD 20774 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Along with PGCC, the Health Department is partnering with University of Maryland Capital Region Health Prince George’s Hospital Center to offer free HIV and STI screenings, blood pressure screenings, and a variety of giveaways at this event.

This year’s theme for National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is “Together for Love, Stop HIV Stigma.” It is a community mobilization initiative that occurs each year on February 7th to encourage African Americans to get educated about HIV/AIDS, as well as get tested, get treated, and get involved to help stop the spread of the virus.

The HIV epidemic continues to disproportionately affect the African-American community nationwide and in Prince George’s County. According to the latest data, African Americans comprise 62 percent of the county’s population, but represent 83 percent of those in the county living with HIV.

“We are making progress in the HIV/AIDS fight in Prince George’s County,” said Acting Prince George’s County Health Officer Dr. Ernest L. Carter. “The number of new cases each year has been dropping and more people than ever are getting treated early, which helps suppress their viral load and increases their chances of living longer. Getting into early treatment also greatly reduces the chance the virus is spread to someone else.”

“However, we continue to see African Americans, especially African-American gay and bisexual men, account for the majority of HIV diagnoses in our region and nationwide. We need to continue encouraging safer sex practices, regular HIV testing, and addressing socioeconomic factors that impact the overall health and welfare of the African-American community,” said Carter.

In addition to the county’s periodic free HIV testing community events, the Health Department offers free, year-round testing and treatment at two of its clinics five days a week through the HIV/AIDS Program (HAP). HIV testing and treatment are also available at four school-based wellness centers as well as for teens and young adults at the Healthy Teens and Young Adults Center.

For additional information about Black Health Empowerment Day or National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness activities, call 301-583-3170 or 301-583-3700.

Potholes Are Wreaking Havoc On Drivers In the DMV

Crews are crisscrossing the DMV to fill those potholes. We have details for you in case your vehicle is damaged.

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Washington, D.C. (Thursday, February 7, 2019) – “Whaam!” That’s the ear-shattering, gut-wrenching sound of a tire hitting a great big old pothole on area roads. It is one reason calls for flat tires, tire changes and tire-related tows are surging to the 24/7 emergency roadside assistance switchboard at AAA Mid-Atlantic. A tire punctured or ruined by a pothole can be really bad news.

AAA Mid-Atlantic says this time of year, potholes are a major factor behind the pandemic of punctured tires on area roadways. Perennially, battery failures, flat tires and key locked inside the vehicle are the topmost reasons for requesting emergency roadside assistance. 

According to AAA Mid-Atlantic, motorists file about 500,000 auto insurance claims each year for pothole damage. “Potholes cause a variety of woes for motorists. Potholes also drain the pocketbooks and wallets of the vehicle owner. The ravages of hitting a pothole can cost you a pretty penny. Face it, repairing pothole-damaged tires will set you back $100 to $250, the wheel alignment will cost you $75-150,” said Kendall Bramble, Insurance Counselor, AAA Mid-Atlantic Insurance. “The expense of replacing the damaged tire rod ranges from $100 to $240. But replacing that control arm is even more expensive, with the price tab ranging from $200-$400. That is also the average bill for replacing the shocks and struts.”

The moderate weather and mild temperatures outside this week mean area road crews are out repairing and patching potholes.  If you happen to encounter one of those nasty potholes, dial 311 or 211 for your local jurisdiction to report the problem to your city/county/state government.

Damage from potholes on Virginia state roads are handled by VDOT.  The customer service number is 1-800-367-7623.

Damage from potholes on Maryland roads are handled by the Claims Department at the Maryland Treasurer’s office 410-260-7684

Claims for pothole damage on DC Streets are filed with the Office of Risk Management 202-727-8600

DC Gets Federal Help to Tackle Gun Violence

DC Mayor gets the help of the FBI, ATF, and other federal agencies to help address the growing gun violence in the District.

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Washington, D.C. (Thursday, February 7th, 2019) – DC Mayor Muriel Bowser is calling in the ‘feds’ to get a handle on the city’s ever growing homicide rate.  City officials note that most of the District’s murders are committed with guns and they are now hoping a new partnership with their federal counterparts will help drive the homicide rate down.

Under the new plan, D.C. police and federal agents will work closely together to crackdown on convicted felons illegally caught carrying guns in the city.  Mayor Bowser was joined Wednesday by the city’s police chief and U.S. Attorney for the District Jessie Liu in announcing the new plan, which will give federal authorities a bigger role in investigating local gun possession offenses.  It’s a move that would mean longer prison time for convicted offenders.

“We know that guns have a devastating effect on families, neighborhoods, and our entire city.  Reducing this violence requires an approach that’s not just specific to law enforcement, but also focused on human services and the community.  And together, we know that we will address every aspect of the problem we are experiencing,” Bowser said.

Last week, the mayor and DC Attorney General Karl Racine unveiled another plan to bring down the bloodshed in the District.  That plan involves pumping in $6 million in the city’s workforce development programs.

The new approach involves the US Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and other federal agencies all working closely with DC police from start to finish on felon-in-possession cases.

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“The Real” Comes to Howard University In Honor of Black History Month

Howard University students got a chance to weigh in on some hot topics Wednesday as they appeared as part of a studio audience on the popular daytime talk show “The Real.”

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Washington, D.C. (February 6th, 2019)  – The popular daytime talk show “The Real” took part of its show on the road Wednesday and to the campus of Howard University.  Howard students got a chance to participate as part of a live studio audience via satellite.   In honor of Black History Month, “The Real” is traveling to HBCUs throughout the month of February.  Howard, “The Mecca” was first up on the road trip.  The hosts are spreading the message as to why HBCUs are so important to our history and our future.

The hosts, Adrienne Houghton, Loni Love, Jeannie Mai and Tamera Mowry-Housley asked the students to weigh in on “multi-dating,” and if it’s cool to do, which co-hosts Jeannie Mai and Loni Love agree it is, as long as everyone is on the same page. They also discussed Jennifer Lopez’s rumored participation in a Motown tribute at the upcoming Grammy Awards, and Cory Booker running for President as a single man.

The ladies also spoke with the president of Howard University, Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, and played Ante Up with three lucky students, Kayla Waysome, Lauren Myers and Nazeer Jeffries. And student Brandon Allen played a Hotline Bling emoji paddle game with all four hosts!

The show aired on Wednesday, February 6th @ 11amET on local Fox5.

Photo links and credit by Robert Voets/Warner Bros. Television

About The Real
Led by bold, diverse and outspoken Emmy Award-winning hosts, Adrienne Houghton, Loni Love, Jeannie Mai and Tamera Mowry-Housley all frankly say what women are actually thinking. THE REAL is a live daily, one-hour NAACP Image Award-winning and Emmy-nominated talk show on Fox Television Stations and in national syndication (check local listings), with a rebroadcast on cable network Bounce. The hosts’ unique perspectives are brought to life through candid conversations about their personal lives, current events, beauty, fashion and relationships (nothing is off limits). Unlike other talk shows, THE REAL hosts are admittedly a “work in progress,” and fearlessly invite viewers to reflect on their own lives and opinions. Fresh points of view, youthful energy and passion have made THE REAL a platform for multicultural women. Produced by Telepictures Productions and distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, The Real is led by Executive Producer, Rachel Miskowiec (Good Morning America, Katie, The Tyra Banks Show, Judge Hatchett, The Ricki Lake Show) and shot in Los Angeles, California.

 

https://youtu.be/kMgTcGEoIj0

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Political Roundtable: Turmoil in Virginia, Stacey Abrams and the Democratic Response to the SOTU

Political chaos at the statehouse in Virginia. Stacey Abrams delivers the Democratic Response to the State of the Union address. Senator Elizabeth Warren continues to have problems with racially identifying as part Native American.

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Political reporters and pundits discuss the week’s top stories.

The leaders of Virginia’s government are facing a slew of scandals. Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring is admitting to wearing blackface when he was in college. His admission comes as Governor Ralph Northam deals with the fallout of a picture of a person in blackface and another in a Klan outfit on his medical school yearbook page. Virginia’s lieutenant governor is facing allegations of sexual assault.

Democrat Stacey Abrams is calling for an end to voter suppression as she delivered the opposing party’s response to President Trump’s State of the Union address and became the first African-American woman to do so. Abrams’ election for governor of Georgia was marred by allegations of voter suppression and she explained it’s time for voters to pick their politicians, not politicians picking their voters.

Senator Elizabeth Warren is apologizing for identifying as a Native American. Her race was listed as “American Indian” on her State Bar of Texas card back in 1986. Warren apologized for not being more sensitive about tribal citizenship and sovereignty.

Guests:

Micha Green, DC Editor, The Afro American Newspaper
Simone Pathe, Reporter, The Roll Call

Brandon Cooper, 1st Vice Chair, Maryland Republican Party
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Virginia Lt. Governor Accuser Releases Statement, Virginia AG Admits To Wearing Blackface,

Virginia Lt. Governor Accuser Releases Statement. Virginia AG Admits To Wearing Blackface. Philadelphia Hospital Patient May Have Ebola. Police Report: Attackers Apparently Knew Smollett.

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Virginia Lt. Governor Accuser Releases Statement

The woman whose sexual assault allegations against Virginia’s lieutenant governor surfaced this week is speaking publicly about the encounter.  Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax has repeatedly denied her allegations, saying the encounter was consensual.  Vanessa Tyson issued a statement Wednesday saying Fairfax forced her to perform oral sex in 2004 during the Democratic National Convention in Boston. The Associated Press typically does not identify those who say they were sexually assaulted, but Tyson issued the statement in her name.  Earlier Wednesday, Fairfax issued a statement saying the woman expressed no discomfort at the time, or during the years afterward. He said he first heard about her accusation from a reporter in 2018.  Tyson said she went to Fairfax’s hotel room so he could get documents. She said they began consensually kissing but he then forced her to perform a sex act. She said she couldn’t move her head because he was holding down her neck.  Tyson has not responded to messages from The AP seeking comment.

VA AG Admits To Wearing Blackface

(Richmond, VA) — Virginia Democratic Attorney General Mark Herring is admitting he wore blackface at a college party in 1980. Herring apologized and said in a statement today that he wore brown makeup and a wig to look like a black rapper during a party as an undergraduate at the University of Virginia. Herring said “we all have done things at one time or another in our lives that show poor judgment, and worse yet, have caused some level of pain to others.” Herring’s acknowledgement comes as Virginia Democratic Governor Ralph Northam faces calls to resign after a photo emerged from his 1984 medical school yearbook featuring someone in blackface standing next to someone in a KKK robe. Meanwhile, Virginia Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax is facing a decade-old sexual assault allegation.

Philadelphia Hospital Patient May Have Ebola

 

(Philadelphia, PA) — A possible case of Ebola is being monitored at a hospital in Philadelphia. The University of Pennsylvania hospital said the patient “met screening criteria for Ebola testing and is currently being evaluated out of precaution.” Doctors don’t believe the patient has Ebola as preliminary testing indicates the patient has another condition. Protocols and precautions are set to remain in place to ensure the safety of patients and staff.

Police Report: Attackers Apparently Knew Smollett

(Chicago, IL) — The two men who attacked “Empire” star Jussie Smollett seemed to know who he was, according to the actor’s police statement. Smollet was attacked near downtown Chicago in the early morning of January 29th. The 36-year-old actor told police the two suspects got his attention by mentioning the name of his TV show, which is filmed in Chicago, and that they shouted racist and homophobic slurs. Smollett, who is black and openly gay, said the attackers beat him, poured a chemical on him and wrapped a rope around his neck. No arrests have been made, but a Chicago police spokesman said they are looking for possible witnesses.

Accidental fatal police shooting of A.A. man at a mall in Alabama ruled justified, A Baltimore Man Shoots Former Male Lover For Choosing A Woman Over Him

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Va. Lt. Gov. female accuser is identified…
A Baltimore man shoots former male lover for choosing a woman over him…
Accidental fatal police shooting of A.A. man at a mall in Alabama ruled justified…

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Accidental fatal police shooting of A.A. man at a mall in Alabama ruled justified…

It was heartbreaking news for loved ones and family members of E.J. Bradford. The Attorney General’s Office in Hoover, Alabama have decided not to file criminal charges against the officer who mistaken Bradford for the mall gunman.

21-year-old Bradford who served in the U.S. Army was shot three times by police at the Riverchase Galleria Mall in Alabama on Thanksgiving day. Reports claim officers responding to shots fired at the mall noticed Bradford running towards the scene “with a firearm visibly in hand.” mistaken him for the gunman and fired hitting Bradford in the back, neck, and head. An autopsy report indicated he died of “a catastrophic wound” on the right side of his head.

Officials say the officers’ actions were reasonable under the circumstances and were consistent with his training and nationally-accepted standards for active scenarios.

The family is devastated that their loved one who vowed to serve and protect in the United States Army could be gunned down without a second thought while trying to help others in need.

Va. Lt. Gov. female accuser is identified…

WHUR has learned the identity of the woman who claims in 2004 at the DNC in Boston she was sexually assaulted by Justin Fairfax. Fairfax who is currently the Lt. Governor of Virginia and next in line to be Governor if Ralph Northam is forced out of a Blackface and KKK picture in his 1984 Medical school yearbook denies the claim.

Vanessa Taylor is 42-years-old and she is an associate professor at the Scripps College. She has hired a DC Law firm to discuss what steps she should take next.

A Baltimore man shoots former lover for choosing a woman over him…

Baltimore police have arrested 26-year-old Jamar Houghton for Monday’s shooting of a male employee at The University of Maryland Medical Center.

Houghton has admitted, “I wanted him dead”. Houghton is accused of shooting his former lover in the face and buttock because he allegedly left him for a woman. The 24-year-old victim who has not been identified remains in critical but stable condition.

Haughton, who fled the scene and was immediately apprehended faces first-degree murder and first-degree assault charges. He is being held in jail without bond.

Court records show the victim on December 31st had been granted a peace order to keep Haughton away from his place of employment at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The victim also worked there. The victim said he feared for his life in the court papers.

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963

State of the Union Preview

Political analysts discuss the State of the Union speech ahead of President Trump’s second delivery before Congress.

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What can we expect from President Trump’s second State of the Union speech?  The is calling for the country to come together on a common agenda in excepts released from tonight’s speech. It says the agenda he will lay out is not a Republican agenda nor a Democratic agenda, but an agenda of the American people.

Guests:

Justin Duckham, Reporter, Talk Media News

Dr. Niambi Carter, Political Science Professor, Howard University

Eastern Virginia Medical School Discusses Northam Racist Photo, More Achilles Tendon Problems for Wizards’ John Wall 

Eastern Virginia Medical School Discusses Northam Racist Photo. Makiyah Wilson’s Mother Harassed At Pretrial Hearing. Bill To Improve Student Access To Federal Aid. More Achilles Tendon Problems for Wizards’ John Wall.

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Eastern Virginia Medical School Discusses Northam Racist Photo

(Norfolk, VA) — Eastern Virginia Medical School is launching an investigation after a photo in the yearbook of Virginia Democratic Governor Ralph Northam surfaced.  President of the medical school Richard Homan says racism has no place in our society and certainly not at a health sciences institution. A community advisory board has been created to look into other instances of racism in their yearbooks or on their Norfolk campus. In 2013, the school banned yearbooks after students posed in Confederate garb.

Makiyah Wilson’s Mother Harassed At Pretrial Hearing

Makiyah’s mother, Donnetta Wilson, says she was harassed yesterday at a pretrial hearing by a friend of the suspects.   The ten-year-old girl was gunned down last summer in Northeast DC while heading to an ice cream truck. Police say she was hit as bullets were fired into a crowd as part of a gang feud.  More than 60 shots were fired before the suspects fled the scene. A tentative trial date has been set for August 2020.

Bill To Improve Student Access To Federal Aid

 

(Baltimore, MD) — Maryland officials are introducing a new bill that would improve student access to financial aid. The FAFSA Fairness Act of 2019 would make it easier for students who don’t have contact with their parents. Students would be able to apply for federal aid without their parents’ financial records. Maryland Representative Elijah Cummings says the new bill wouldn’t increase the workload of college financial aid administrators or change their decision.

More Achilles Tendon Problems for Wizards’  John Wall

(Washington, DC) — The Washington Wizards say point guard John Wall will be sidelined for more than another year because he ruptured his left Achilles tendon while slipping and falling at home.  The team said Tuesday that Wall’s surgery has not been scheduled.  He is expected to be able to return to full basketball activities about a year after the operation.  The rupture was discovered by a team doctor during a procedure to clean out an infection that developed after surgery on Wall’s left heel in January.

Celebrating Black History Month in Prince George’s County

The Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation is offering a variety of activities during Black History Month for the entire family to enjoy.

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It’s Black History Month and the Prince George’s Department of Parks has a host of activities planned to help you to enjoy the rich history and legacy of African Americans.  My guest is Dr. Dennis Doster – Black History Manager for Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission

The Prince George’s Department of Parks is hosting Black History events all month with a variety of fun and exciting activities for the entire family.  Explore all of your senses throughout the month of February and enjoy the rich legacy and traditions of African American culture. To attend any of the Black History events, visit 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.

 

 

 

 

Va. Lt. Gov Accuser Hires DC Firm To Represent Her, Tentative Trial date set for men charged in Makiyah Wilson murder

In the News @ 10
Va. State Trooper murdered serving a search warrant…
Trial date set for men charged in Makiyah Wilson murder…
Va Gov. believes he can show he’s not racist…

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Va. Lt. Gov. accuser hires DC firm to represent her …

Things are progressing in the matter of Virginia Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax. WHUR has learned that the woman who claims Fairfax sexually assaulted her at the 2004 DNC in Boston has hired a DC law firm to represent her.

The unidentified woman has hired Katz, Marshall & Banks.  They are the same firm that represented Christine Blasey Ford when she accused then Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her decades ago.

Meantime, embattled Virginia Governor Ralph Northam reported has told senior staffers that he believes he can ride this matter out. According to sources he says staying in office shows he is not racist.

All eyes are on Richmond and lawmakers as  they meet today on a number of bills. Gov. Northam has not been seen since his bizarre press conference over the weekend where he said he was confident that it was not him in blackface or in a KKK robe in his 1984 Medical School yearbook.

Va. State Trooper shot & killed serving a search warrant…

There are heavy hearts in the Commonwealth. It follows the shooting death of Virginia State Trooper Lucas B. Dowell.

He was assisting police in Cumberland County serve a search warrant on a man in a home on Cumberland Road and Route 45. The suspect inside opened fire on the officers hitting and killing Trooper Dowell.

Officers returned fire and shot and killed the suspect. He has not been named as officer work to notify his next of kin.

Trooper Dowell is survived by his parents and sister.

Tentative trial date set for men charged in Makiyah Wilson murder…

A tentative trial date has been set for the seven men charged in connection with the murder of 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson. The date is August 10, 2020.

Makiyah was gunned down last July as she ran towards an ice cream truck. She was caught in a hail of some 60 bullets when the group of men shot into a crowd standing in an apartment courtyard.

The men charged are Gregory Taylor, Mark Price, Marquell Cobbs Darrise Jeffers, Quentin Michals, and Qujuan Thomas. Quanisha Ramsuer is charged with obstructing justice in the case.

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963

Virginia’s Governor Ralph Northam and the Racist Photo Controversy

We discuss the immediate and wider political implications of the racist photo found in the med school yearbook of Virginia Governor Ralph Northam.

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The political chaos continues in Virginia.  It’s been three days since a racist photo surfaced from the 1984 medical school yearbook of governor Ralph Northam.  This morning he told his cabinet that he needs more time to make a decision about his political future.

Guests:

Jesse Holland, Race and Ethnicity Reporter, The Associated Press

Dr. Lorenzo Morris, Political Science Professor, Howard University

Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax Denies Sexual Misconduct Allegation, Trial Date Set In Makiyah Wilson Murder

Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax Denies Sexual Misconduct Allegation. Schumer Calls On Northam To Resign. Trial Date Set In Makiyah Wilson Murder. Historians Irked By Musical ‘Hamilton’.

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Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax Denies Sexual Misconduct Allegation

Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax is denying an uncorroborated allegation of sexual misconduct first reported by a conservative website.

Fairfax told reporters Monday that the 2004 encounter with a woman was consensual and he called the accusation of misconduct “a smear.”

The Associated Press is not reporting the details of the accusation because AP has not been able to corroborate it.

The Washington Post said Monday that it was approached by the woman in 2017, carefully investigated, but never published the accusation.

The Post said the woman had not told anyone about it, the account could not be corroborated, Fairfax denied it and the Post was unable to find other allegations against him.

Fairfax would become Virginia governor if Ralph Northam were to resign or be ousted in the scandal over a racist photo on his page in his medical school yearbook.

Schumer Calls On Northam To Resign

(Washington, DC) — Add Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to the growing list of prominent Democrats calling on Virginia Governor Ralph Northam to resign. Schumer tweeted today that it is “past time” for Northam to step down so Virginia can “move forward.” Democrat Northam has been under fire since a picture surfaced from his 1984 medical school yearbook. The picture showed men in blackface and a Ku Klux Klan robe. Northam initially said he was in the picture and apologized before saying he doesn’t think he was in the photo .

Trial Date Set In Makiyah Wilson Murder

(Washington) — A tentative trial date has been set for the seven people charged in the death of a 10-year-old girl who was killed when gunshots were fired into a Washington, D.C., crowd. A tentative trial date for August 2020 was set Friday when the seven defendants appeared together in court for the first time on charges in the July shooting of Makiyah Wilson. Wilson was headed to get ice cream when four masked men leaped out of a car and fired gunshots into a crowded apartment courtyard.

Historians Irked By Musical ‘Hamilton’

(New York, NY) — Ever since the historical musical “Hamilton” began its march to near-universal infatuation, one group has noticeable withheld its applause — historians. Many academics argue the portrait of Alexander Hamilton, the star of our $10 bills, is a counterfeit. Now they’re escalating their fight.

Ishmael Reed, who has been nominated twice for a National Book Award, has chosen to fight fire with fire — collecting his critique of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s acclaimed show into a play.

Reed’s “The Haunting of Lin-Manuel Miranda” is an uncompromising take-down of “Hamilton,” reminding viewers of the Founding Father’s complicity in slavery and his war on Native Americans.

“My goal is that this to be a counter-narrative to the text that has been distributed to thousands of students throughout the country,” said Reed, who teaches at the California College of the Arts and the University of California at Berkeley and whose latest novel is “Conjugating Hindi.”

Reed, whose play had a recent reading in New York and who is raising money for a four-week production in May, is part of a wave of “Hamilton” skeptics — often solitary voices of dissent amid a wall of fawning attention — who have written journal articles, newspaper op-eds and a 2018 collection of essays, “Historians on Hamilton .”

Miranda’s glowing portrayal of a Hamilton who celebrates open borders — “Immigrants, we get the job done!” — and who denounces slavery has incensed everyone from professors at Harvard to the University of Houston to Rutgers .

They argue that Miranda got Hamilton all wrong — the Founding Father wasn’t progressive at all, his actual role as a slave owner has been whitewashed and the pro-immigrant figure onstage hides the fact that he was, in fact, an anti-immigration elitist.

Addressing Sexual Abuse and Sex Trafficking in Our Community

No More Martyrs is hosting a forum to educate and how to combat crimes against women.

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It is a real issue in our community and we are shining the spotlight on on it this morning on Taking It to the Streets.  Sexual Abuse and Sex Trafficking.  An event is coming up next week to help educate communities on what you can do to combat it.  My guest is Lisa Daughtrey – Board Member of No More Martyrs

No More Martyr is hosting a Sexual Abuse and Sex Trafficking forum to talk about the issue and what communities can do to help address and combat the crimes again women. The event will be held Saturday February 16that the Village Café @ Union Market in NE. For more information to to:  www.nomoremartyrs.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 segment here:

 

‘Young And The Restless’ Star Kristoff St. John Has Been Found Dead

Law enforcement sources tell us one of Kristoff’s friends went to check on him at the actor’s home in San Fernando Valley, and found his body. Police and paramedics were alerted and responded to the house. Kristoff was pronounced dead on the scene.

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The Young and the Restless star Kristoff St. John was found dead Sunday in his San Fernando Valley home.

TMZ is reporting:

Law enforcement sources tell us one of Kristoff’s friends went to check on him at the actor’s home in San Fernando Valley, and found his body. Police and paramedics were alerted and responded to the house. We’re told Kristoff was pronounced dead on the scene.

We’re told there was no sign of foul play, however one source says alcohol might have played a role.

Kristoff has played Neil Winters on ‘Y&R’ since 1991 — a role that earned him 9 Daytime Emmy Award nominations. He also won 10 NAACP Image Awards.

Kristoff has a tragic and troubled history with suicide. He and his ex-wife, boxer Mia St. John, lost their son, Julian, when he took his own life in 2014, while getting treatment at a mental health facility. Mia and Kristoff sued the facility for negligence. The suit was eventually settled.

In 2017, around the anniversary of Julian’s suicide, Kristoff threatened to kill himself with a gun. Cops placed him under a 72-hour hold for psychiatric evaluation.

Mia reacted to Kristoff’s death with an emotional post on social media (which she has since deleted), and it’s clear she is connecting his death to Julian’s. She wrote, “THAT HOSPITAL KILLED OUR SON @TheArtofJulian THEN MY HUSBAND @kristoffstjohn1. THAT’S WHAT HAPPENED! THEY KILLED MY FAMILY”

After their son’s death, Kristoff and Mia founded the El Saber es Poder (Knowledge is Power) Foundation to battle mental illness.

Kristoff was 52.

We send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the actor. May he rest in peace.

Pressure Mounts For Va Governor Northam To Resign, No Cause In Bowie Crash That Killed 5 Children

In the News @ 10
Pressure mounts for Va Governor Northam to resign…
No cause in crash that killed 5 children in Bowie…
DC records 20th homicide of the year…

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Pressure mounts for Va Governor Northam to resign…

Amid mounting pressure for Virginia Governor Ralph Northam to resign comes word that on Sunday he called an emergency senior staff meeting. Not in attendance was African American Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax. It is not clear what was discussed but it has some political watchers assuming that he may be thinking about stepping down.

As the Commonwealth deals with two racist images on Northam’s page in his 1984 medical yearbook. Northam says that he did not purchase the yearbook and was unaware of the images on his page. After apologizing on Friday for the images on Saturday he held a press conference saying after careful review he was confident that it was not him in the photo.

At 3 am this morning Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax tweeted out a denial of sexual assault. The unverified claim from a woman stated it happened in 2004 at the DNC in Boston. If Lt. Gov. Fairfax, a direct descendant of a freed  slave from Virginia replaces Northam he will be the only current sitting African American Governor in the U.S. He will be the second African American Governor for the Commonwealth.

No cause in crash that killed 5 children in Bowie…

Police are still looking for answers to what may have caused a SUV filled with kids and two adults to leave 301 and crash. When the 2005 Chrysler Pacifica veered off the road it hit several trees before stopping.

All five children, ages 5 to 15 were thrown from the vehicle.
The children have been identified as Paris Dixon, 5, London Dixon, 8, Rickelle Ricks , 6, Zion Beard, 14 and Damari Herald, 15. Early reports indicate that they were not properly restrained. The children were pronounced dead on the scene. The accident happened early Saturday morning on North bound Route 301 between Route 214 and Pointer Ridge Drive.

Grief counselors will be at the schools were the children attended classes. The driver Dominique Taylor and a 23-year-old Cornell Simon who were in the front seat of the SUV were injured but survived.

DC records 20th homicide of the year…

The homicide rate increased on Sunday in the District. Police say a man was found shot in the 500 block of 60th Street, Northeast.

Investigators say they responded to a report of sound of gunshots. When they arrived they noticed a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The victim died at the hospital.

The victim has been identified as 59-year old Michael Bernard Wells of Northeast. Police are offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest in this case.

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963

Virginia’s Governor In Racist Photo, Life In Prison For Killer Of DC Family, Teacher Charged With Choking Young Student

Northam called on to resign
DC mansion killer given life sentence
DC teacher accused of choking student

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Virginia’s governor appears in racist themed photo

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam is under fire for appearing in a photo where one man is in blackface and another is wearing a Ku Klux Klan style hood.  One of the disguised people in the photo is Northam.  The picture is from Northam’s 1984 Eastern Virginia Medical School yearbook.  In a released statement, Northam said, in part, ““I am deeply sorry for the decision I made to appear as I did in this photo and for the hurt that decision caused then and now. ” Officials with Virginia’s Republican party have called on Northam to resign.

Life in prison for man convicted in DC mansion killings

The man convicted in the October 2015 murders of three members of a DC family and their housekeeper will spend the rest of his life in prison. Friday, Daron Wint was sentenced to four life sentences without the possibility of release.  Wint was convicted of killing Savvas & Amy Savopoulos, the couples ten-year-old son and the family’s housekeeper.

Teacher charged with choking student

A District elementary school teacher has been arrested after police say he choked one of his students. Authorities say the incident happened at Barnard Elementary School in Northwest, DC on January 17th. The teacher, 50-year-old Jarvis Bernard Massenburg, of Bowie, has been charged with second-degree child cruelty. Police say surveillance video of the alleged assault aided in its investigation.

Early Dismissals As More Snow Blankets DMV

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Washington, D.C. (February 1, 2019) – School systems apparently have been caught off guard by this latest round of the white stuff blanketing the DMV.  Here’s a list of what’s closing early today.

Anne Arundel County Schools – Closing two hours early

Charles County Schools – Closing two hours early

Howard County Schools – closing 90 minutes early

Montgomery County Schools – closing 2 1/2 hours early

Prince George’s County Schools – closing 2 hours

 

DC Teacher Charged With Choking An Elementary Student, Two Arrested In Double Homicide On Stewart Lane

In the News @ 10
DC teacher charged with choking an elementary student…
Two arrested in double homicide in Stewart Lane…

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DC teacher charged with choking an elementary student…

It’s unthinkable but DC Police say surveillance cameras at Barnard Elementary School in Northwest prompted the arrest.

Fifty-year-old Jarvis Massenburg of Bowie, Maryland has been placed on leave pending a full investigation. The incident happened on January 17th. It was reported on January 24th and Massenburg was arrested on January 31st.

Massenburg could make his first court appearance today. Sources say the police report indicates that he used his fist, hands and feet to choke the student. He faces simple assault charges in the case.

Two arrested in double homicide on Stewart Lane…

Police in Montgomery County have made an arrested in this weeks mysterious crash that led to the discovery of two bodies in a vehicle.

The suspects are arrest are teens. Eighteen-year-old Dontaye Hunt and 18-year-old Noah Barnett. According to police the fatal shootings were connected to a drug deal gone wrong at White Oak apartment complex. The two suspects have been charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana.

The men killed have been identified as 23-year-old Jordan Radway and 24-year-old Christian Roberts. The medical examiner officer said both of the victims were shot multiple times.

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963

New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker Launches 2020 Bid

“I believe that we can build a country where no one is forgotten, no one is left behind; where parents can put food on the table; where there are good-paying jobs with good benefits in every neighborhood; where our criminal justice system keeps us safe, instead of shuffling more children into cages and coffins; where we see the faces of our leaders on television and feel pride, not shame,” Booker said in a video message to supporters, subtly jabbing at President Donald Trump.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Sen. Cory Booker on Friday declared his bid for the presidency in 2020 with a sweeping call to unite a deeply polarized nation around a “common purpose.”

The New Jersey Democrat, who is the second black candidate in a primary field that’s already historically diverse, delivered his message of unity amid an era marked by bitter political division. He announced his run on the first day of Black History Month, underscoring his consequential status as America’s potential second black president after Barack Obama.

“I believe that we can build a country where no one is forgotten, no one is left behind; where parents can put food on the table; where there are good-paying jobs with good benefits in every neighborhood; where our criminal justice system keeps us safe, instead of shuffling more children into cages and coffins; where we see the faces of our leaders on television and feel pride, not shame,” Booker said in a video message to supporters, subtly jabbing at President Donald Trump.

“It is not a matter of can we, it’s a matter of do we have the collective will, the American will?” he added. “I believe we do.”

Booker enters what’s shaping up to be a crowded presidential primary, with three of his fellow Democratic senators — Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Kamala Harris of California and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York — already either declared or exploring a run. But he’s spent months telegraphing his intentions to join the race, visiting the early-voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina to build connections with key powerbrokers. He already has slated trips back to those states later this month.

Booker also will begin reaching out to key constituencies Friday, conducting call-in interviews with three radio shows popular with black and Hispanic listeners. Later on Friday, Booker will be a guest on “The View,” a TV talk show popular with female audiences, where his mother plans to sit in the audience.

A former mayor of Newark, New Jersey’s largest city, Booker won a special Senate election in 2013 to replace Democrat Frank Lautenberg and then won a full Senate term in 2014. He will be able to run for a second full Senate term in 2020 while running for president, thanks to a law that New Jersey’s governor signed in November.

But that doesn’t mean the 49-year-old’s path to the nomination will be easy. As many as five more Democratic senators could soon mount their own primary bids, creating a competition for voters’ attention, and several of Booker’s rival presidential hopefuls bring higher name recognition to a race that may also feature popular former Vice President Joe Biden. Booker also will likely stand alone as an unmarried candidate, though he brings a compelling personal biography that could help elevate his message of bringing Americans together around what he described as “common purpose.”

Booker’s father grew up in a low-income community in North Carolina, and the senator has recalled his family’s later struggle to settle in suburban New Jersey amid discrimination against black homebuyers. The senator has brought a heartfelt and passionate style to his achievements in the Senate, at times fusing his personal spirituality with policy proposals that focus on social justice. Booker played a key role in the bipartisan criminal justice reform bill that Trump supported last year, for example, a deal he helped strike two months after sparring with Republicans during the battle over Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation.

In his announcement video, Booker invoked the fight against slavery and the role of immigration in building the nation’s character.

“The history of our nation is defined by collective action; by interwoven destinies of slaves and abolitionists; of those born here and those who chose America as home; of those who took up arms to defend our country and those who linked arms to challenge and change it,” he said.

Born in the nation’s capital but raised in New Jersey, Booker made a name for himself as Newark mayor by personally shoveling the snow of residents. He has $4.1 million left in his campaign coffers that could also be used to assist his presidential run. Rather than opening an exploratory committee to test the waters, Booker took the direct step to open a campaign seeking the Democratic nomination.

Booker is aligning with many other prominent Democratic White House contenders by forswearing all donations from corporate political action committees and federal lobbyists to his campaign, dubbed Cory 2020. A prominent Booker supporter, San Francisco attorney Steve Phillips, says he is working on millions of dollars in committed donations to a so-called super PAC that would boost the senator’s candidacy, but Booker’s campaign is openly against super PACs playing any role in the presidential race.

Hate Crimes And The Jussie Smollett Incident

Experts dissect and examine the issues surrounding the attack against “Empire” star Jussie Smollett.

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The family of “Empire” star Jussie Smollett is speaking out about the attack against him this week. In a statement, his family called it a racist and homophobic hate crime and likened it to an act of domestic terrorism. Smollett was beaten by two people in Chicago who yelled racist and homophobic slurs at him.  We examine the impact of  this incident and the intersection of race, sexual orientation and hate crimes in America.

Guests:

Dr. Cleo Manago, Behavioral Expert, Lead Advisor, The Black Men’s XChange

Dr. Yolonda Wilson, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Howard University

Many DC Homeless Avoid Shelters Amid Cold, Detroit Police Are Investigating Officer For Racist Snapchat Video.

Many DC Homeless Avoid Shelters Amid Cold. Senate President Gives Update On Cancer Battle. Detroit Police Are Investigating Officer For Racist Snapchat Video.

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Many DC Homeless Avoid Shelters Amid Cold

(Washington) — The city of Washington, D.C, counted its homeless population last winter at about 7,000 people, and so far, only about 1,700 of them have checked into area shelters this winter.

District residents James Bernard and June Lewis told The Washington Post Wednesday that they’ve been homeless for years and plan to stay outdoors as temperatures plunge into single digits. The 64-year-olds say they feel better in their makeshift home than inside a homeless shelter.

Lewis says she isn’t going to a shelter because “it ain’t safe.” News outlets have reported cases of sexual abuse and poor conditions at area shelters.

District Interagency Council on Homelessness Director Kristy Greenwalt says the city can detain homeless people against their will for 48 hours while they undergo psychiatric evaluations in “really extreme circumstances.”

Maryland Senate President Gives Update On Cancer Battle

(Annapolis, MD) — Maryland Senate President Mike Miller is giving an update on his fight against cancer. Miller is currently getting treatments every three weeks at Johns Hopkins Hospital for stage 4 prostate cancer, but is continuing his work in the legislature.  Miller began his second round of chemotherapy this week. He is the country’s longest continuously serving legislative leader.

Detroit Police Are Investigating Officer For Racist Snapchat Video

(Detroit, MI) — The Detroit Police Department is launching an investigation after an officer allegedly posted a racist Snapchat video. On Tuesday night, Officer Gary Steele and another officer pulled over a black woman identified as Ariel Moore for driving with expired license tabs. They ordered her to walk home in the cold and as she was walking away, they recorded the Snapchat video. In the video the officers are heard saying: “walk of shame in the cold” and “bye Felicia.” The video also had the “Celebrate Black History Month” filter with the caption “what black girl magic looks like.”

 

Nearly Half Of US Adults Have Heart Or Blood Vessel Disease

The American Heart Association said Thursday that more than 121 million adults had cardiovascular disease in 2016. Taking out those with only high blood pressure leaves 24 million, or 9 percent of adults, who have other forms of disease such as heart failure or clogged arteries.

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A new report estimates that nearly half of all U.S. adults have some form of heart or blood vessel disease, a medical milestone that’s mostly due to recent guidelines that expanded how many people have high blood pressure.

The American Heart Association said Thursday that more than 121 million adults had cardiovascular disease in 2016. Taking out those with only high blood pressure leaves 24 million, or 9 percent of adults, who have other forms of disease such as heart failure or clogged arteries.

Measuring the burden of diseases shows areas that need to improve, the heart association’s chief science and medical officer, Dr. Mariell Jessup, said in a statement.

High blood pressure, which had long been defined as a top reading of at least 140 or a bottom one of 90, dropped to 130 over 80 under guidelines adopted in 2017. It raises the risk for heart attacks, strokes and many other problems, and only about half of those with the condition have it under control.

Being diagnosed with high blood pressure doesn’t necessarily mean you need medication right away; the first step is aiming for a healthier lifestyle, even for those who are prescribed medicine. Poor diets, lack of exercise and other bad habits cause 90 percent of high blood pressure.

The report is an annual statistics update by the heart association, the National Institutes of Health and others.

Other highlights:

—Heart and blood vessel disease is linked to 1 of every 3 deaths in the United States and kills more Americans than all forms of cancer and respiratory diseases like pneumonia combined.

—Certain groups have higher rates than others; 57 percent of black women and 60 percent of black males.

—Coronary heart disease, or clogged or hardened arteries, caused 43 percent of cardiovascular deaths in the U.S., followed by stroke (17 percent), high blood pressure (10 percent) and heart failure (9 percent).

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Marilynn Marchione can be followed at @MMarchioneAP

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The Associated Press Health & Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

US Average Mortgage Rates Edge Up; 30-Year At 4.46 Percent

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate on the benchmark 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage rose to 4.46 percent, from 4.45 percent last week. Despite the recent declines, home borrowing rates are above last year’s levels. The key 30-year rate averaged 4.22 percent a year ago.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. long-term mortgage rates edged up after declining in recent weeks.

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate on the benchmark 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage rose to 4.46 percent, from 4.45 percent last week. Despite the recent declines, home borrowing rates are above last year’s levels. The key 30-year rate averaged 4.22 percent a year ago.

The average rate this week for 15-year, fixed-rate loans ticked up to 3.89 percent from 3.88 percent.

The recent decline in mortgage rates has been a spur to prospective homebuyers. Sales of new U.S. homes soared 16.9 percent November.

Last year, home sales stumbled as higher borrowing costs eroded affordability.

Increases in home prices have slowed in many areas of the country, and more homes have come on the market. Those developments, along with historically low mortgage rates, should give a boost to this spring’s home buying season, Freddie Mac chief economist Sam Khater said.

The Federal Reserve held its benchmark interest rate steady Wednesday and sent its strongest signal to date that it sees no need to raise rates anytime soon. Its message ignited a rally on Wall Street, which cheered the prospect of continued modest borrowing rates for the near future. In recent weeks investors had been sending stock prices lower out of fear that the Fed would act more quickly at the risk of sending the economy into a recession.

To calculate average mortgage rates, Freddie Mac surveys lenders across the country between Monday and Wednesday each week.

The average doesn’t include extra fees, known as points, which most borrowers must pay to get the lowest rates.

The average fee on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages rose this week to 0.5 point from 0.4 point. The fee on 15-year mortgages held steady at 0.4 point.

The average rate for five-year adjustable-rate mortgages increased to 3.96 percent from 3.90 percent last week. The fee was unchanged at 0.3 point.

Baltimore To No Longer Prosecute Marijuana Possession Cases

“Law enforcement pays a steep cost in the form of public trust when we spend resources on things like marijuana and simultaneously fail to solve and successfully prosecute homicides,” she said.

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“Law enforcement pays a steep cost in the form of public trust when we spend resources on things like marijuana and simultaneously fail to solve and successfully prosecute homicides,” she said.

Mosby’s decision puts her at odds with the city’s police force.

In a brief Tuesday statement, Baltimore’s acting Police Commissioner Gary Tuggle stressed that officers “will continue to make arrests for illegal marijuana possession unless and until the state legislature changes the law regarding marijuana possession.”

When asked what she would do if police presented her with a pot possession arrest in coming days, Mosby didn’t mince words: “We will release them without charges.”

It’s been roughly five years since Maryland’s governor signed 2014 legislation that decriminalized the possession of small amounts of cannabis. The law was designed to improve public safety by freeing police officers to focus on more serious threats.

Yet Dana Vickers Shelley, executive director of the ACLU of Maryland, said black citizens are consistently arrested for marijuana possession at higher rates than white citizens in every state county even though their rates of usage are similar. She urged the Baltimore Police Department to “take heed of this policy for change.”

In recent weeks, the online publication Baltimore Fishbowl collaborated with data researchers to examine misdemeanor possession charges for 2015, 2016, and 2017. It found that roughly 96 percent of the 1,448 adults and 66 juveniles arrested by Baltimore police for cannabis possession during those years were black.

Mosby’s announcement was met with enthusiasm by advocates of harm reduction strategies such as decriminalizing drugs and syringe access.

“Our hope now is that she goes beyond this and supports legislation to decriminalize all drug possession so we can pursue a public health approach to drug use and end the wasteful and unjust war on drugs,” said Tricia Christensen, legislative advocacy coordinator with Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition.

For years, prosecutors’ offices across the country have been reconsidering pot prosecution policies and their impact on reducing crime amid a national shift in attitudes about marijuana.

Marijuana is allowed for some form of medical use in most states even as it remains illegal under federal law. In 2012, Colorado became the first state to broadly allow the sale of marijuana to adults alongside its existing medical marijuana industry. The industry has only grown since, with a total of eight states and Washington, D.C., permitting adult use.

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Follow McFadden on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dmcfadd

‘Black Panther’ Returning To AMCs For Free Showings In February

“‘Black Panther’ is groundbreaking for many reasons, including the rich diversity of voices behind its success. The story also showcases the power of knowledge to change the world for the better, and the importance of ensuring everyone has access to it.”

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Here’s your chance to catch “Black Panther” on the big screen one more time. The hit movie is set to return to theaters to celebrate Black History Month during Feb. 1-7 at 250 participating AMC locations. Tickets are free and there will be two showings per day at each participating theater.

Disney made the announcement Monday —

“‘Black Panther’ is groundbreaking for many reasons, including the rich diversity of voices behind its success,” said Bob Iger, chairman and chief executive officer. “The story also showcases the power of knowledge to change the world for the better, and the importance of ensuring everyone has access to it. We’re proud to provide thousands of free screenings of ‘Black Panther’ in hopes it will continue to inspire audiences, and to support UNCF with a $1.5 million grant to make the dream of higher education a reality for more students.”

“Black Panther” won a SAG Award for best cast in a motion picture. The movie grossed $700 million in North American box office and another $647 million internationally.

Supporting At-Risk Students

Communities In Schools has launched their new year-long campaign “What We Are Made Of”

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“Communities In Schools” is out with a new nationwide campaign calling on adults to look closer and listen harder to our youth.  The campaign is called “What We Are Made Of.”  My guest is

Anya Harrington – Director of Public Relations for Communities In Schools National Office

Communities In Schools has launched a nationwide campaign to support at-risk students and connect adults into communities of support by asking everyone to look closer and listen harder to youth.  “What We Are Made Of “ will use  the medium of mosaic art to connect and engage with diverse communities across the nation and illustrate the vital role adult can play in seeing the story within every student. For more information go to: www.whatwearemadeof.us

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:

Segment 1:

Segment 2:

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Payday For Furloughed Employees, Police Investigate A Double Homicide In Bladensburg

In the News ….
Payday for furloughed employees…
Police investigate a double homicide in Bladensburg…
Area Fire fighters are working overtime…

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Payday for furloughed employees…

It’s payday for some 800-thousand federal workers who were furloughed or made to work without pay for 35 days. The Office of Management and Budget says that most workers will receive those missed paychecks today.

During the stand off with lawmakers over funding for the border wall Congress agreed to legislation guaranteeing back pay for federal workers only. Unfortunately, this measure does not apply for contractors.

Police investigate a double homicide in Bladensburg…

There is not a lot of details about a deadly double shooting in Bladensburg Wednesday night.

Officers responded to the 5000 block of 57th Avenue find two men shot. They were near a vehicle that was still running. The victims both died at the hospital.

Police are asking anyone with information about this shooting to call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS or you can text “PGPD”. You can also go to www.pgcrimesolvers.com and submit a tip.

Area Fire fighters are working overtime…

There have been several fires in the Metropolitan areas in the last 24 hours.

In Glen Burnie, seven people are in the hospital after a blaze broke out in the basement of a home last night. Three adults and a toddler had to be pulled from the flames. At last check all seven were still in the hospital. Two adults and one child were listed in critical condition. The cause of the fire is unknown.

In Germantown this morning fire fighters responded to a 911 call of a blaze at a home on Emerald Drive. One first responder fell through the floor. That person is reportedly OK. No one else was hurt. It’s believed that a space heater may have sparked this incident.

Fire fighters were also called to a 3-alarm blaze at a garden style apartment at Columbia Pike and Leesburg Pike around 5:30 a.m. Crews were able to help rescue eight people. Everyone is expected to survive.

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @taylorthomas963

How Cold Is It? Polar Vortex Keeps Area Students In Bed Longer to Stay Warm

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Washington, D.C. (Thursday, January 31, 2019) – Thousands of students in the Washington,. D.C. area will get a chance to stay at home a little longer this morning.  Many school systems are starting later to allow temperatures to rise.  Much of the DMV is well below freezing Thursday and school officials say “it’s simply too cold with the chance of frostbite a possibility could occur in just 30-minutes.” 

●Alexandria City Public Schools will open two hours late.

●Arlington County Public Schools will open two hours late.

●Baltimore County Public Schools will open two hours late.

●Carroll County Public Schools will open two hours late.

●Culpeper County Public Schools will be closed.

●Fairfax County Public Schools will open two hours late.

●Falls Church City Public Schools will open two hours late.

●Fauquier County Public Schools will be closed.

●Howard County Public Schools will open two hours late.

●Fredericksburg City Public Schools will open two hours late.

●Loudoun County Public Schools will be closed.

●Manassas City Public Schools will be closed.

●Manassas Park City Public Schools will open two hours late.

●Montgomery County Public Schools will open two hours late.

●Prince George’s County Public Schools will open two hours late.

●Prince William County Public Schools will be closed.

●Spotsylvania County Public Schools will open two hours late.

●Stafford County Public Schools will open two hours late

The Rising DC Homicide Rate: Problems and Solutions

What can be done about the rise of deadly violence in DC?

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The District of Columbia is on track to have an even more deadly year than last year with 18 murders so far in 2019.  Last year this time there were 11.  What can stop the growing homicide rate in the DC?

Resources:

PUBLIC HEARING: VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION

The Committee on the Judiciary & Public Safety will hold a Public Oversight Roundtable on the following: Next Steps in the District’s Public Health-Based Approach to Violence Prevention and Intervention

http://www.charlesallenward6.com/violence_prevention_hearing_1_31_19

 

Guests:

Garry Clark, CEO & Founder, Pep Rally For Peace In The Streets in DC & Community Activist in Ward 8 (not pictured)

D.L. Humphrey, 7B, ANC Commissioner, Deputy Director, Constituent Services, Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent Gray

BACKGROUND ON DC SHOOTINGS

The four deaths on Saturday, January 26th, 2019 come amid increasing concern about deadly violence in D.C. Though the number of homicides have dropped overall since peaking in the early 1990s, Washington saw 160 murders in 2018 compared to 116 in 2017 — a 38 percent increase. And so far in 2019, the district has recorded 18 murders, up from 11 at the same time last year, according to police data.

 

 

DC Mansion Murderer To Be Sentenced, Hogan Delivers State Of The State Address

Prosecutors Seek Life For Quadruple Murderer. Hogan Delivers State Of The State Address. Border Security Funding Panel Meets Today. NFL, Maroon 5 Cancel Pre-Super Bowl Press Conference.

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Prosecutors Seek Life For Quadruple Murderer

(Washington, DC) — Federal prosecutors are seeking life in prison for the Maryland man convicted of killing three members of a Northwest DC family and their housekeeper. Daron Wint was convicted this fall of first-degree murder, kidnapping and arson in the death of Savvas Savopoulos, his wife Amy, their son Philip and their housekeeper Veralicia Figueroa. Prosecutors say Wint held the family hostage for a cash ransom in 2015 and brutally beat them to death. The 37-year-old is set to be sentenced Friday in DC Superior Court.

Hogan Delivers State Of The State Address

(Annapolis, MD) — Maryland Governor Larry Hogan is again pushing for bipartisanship. While delivering his State of the State speech in Annapolis today, the Republican called his work with the Democratic-controlled legislature an example of how a divided government does not have to be a divisive government. He urged lawmakers in Annapolis to continue to put priorities before partisan interests, and to continue to deliver real results for the people of Maryland. Hogan outlined his priorities for the General Assembly session, which includes proposals to extend tax breaks for retired military, police officers, fire and rescue, as well as incentives for businesses located in low-income areas. He said he wants to use his platform as a two-term Republican governor in a deeply-blue state to help change the direction of the Republican party.

Border Security Funding Panel Meets Today

Congressional members on the committee in charge of creating a way to fund the government and border security meets for the first time today. President Trump is weighing in on the outcome on Twitter, stating if they aren’t talking about a wall or physical barrier, “they are Wasting their time!” The Homeland Security conference committee is made up of 17 members, with nine Democrats and eight Republicans. They have until February 15th to reach a deal on a funding plan that would pass both the House and Senate, along with getting Trumps signature.

NFL, Maroon 5 Cancel Pre-Super Bowl Press Conference

(Atlanta, GA) — Super Bowl halftime performers Maroon 5 will not be allowed to hold a press conference before Sunday’s game due to controversy. The NFL announced that unlike recent years there would be no chance for the media to ask questions of the performers. This year’s halftime show took on political overtones because of campaigns asking the acts to back out as a sign of support for former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and his social justice campaign. In addition to Maroon 5, rappers Travis Scott and Big Boi are scheduled to perform. The league said it was instead releasing a cross-platform roll out of behind-the-scene videos of the performers getting ready for Sunday’s show. Maroon 5, the NFL and Interscope Records also announced they were donating 500-thousand dollars to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

Preparing The Next Generation of Doctors

Young Doctors DC is recruiting young men who have an interest in becoming doctors or a career in the medical field.

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Steering males to a career in the medical field.  That’s the mission of my guest this evening.  He is the Director and Co-Founder of an organization called Young Doctors DC and they are recruiting young men for their program.

My guest is Dr. Malcolm Woodland – Director and Co-Founder of Young Doctors DC

Young Doctors DC (YDDC) is a ​multi-generational mentoring, education, and pipeline to health careers​ program for high school boys in Southeast Washington, DC. Through intensive summer programs and Saturday academies at Howard University, YDDC participants are trained in preventive medicine, mental health, and health issues in underserved communities. Selected youth join YDDC during their freshmen year of high school and remain in the program until graduation.  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:

Segment 1:

 

Segment 2:

 

 

 

Music Legend James Ingram Has Died, A Pastor’s Son Is Arrested For Raping His Own Daughter

In the News @ 10
Music legend James Ingram has died….
A pastor’s son is arrested for raping his own daughter…
Metro looks at returning to late night hours…

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R&B legend James Ingram has died…

R&B and Grammy Award winner James Ingram has died. He was only 66 years old. TMZ reports the singer-songwriter died of brain cancer.

Ingram who won two Grammy’s in the 1980s is best known for his song’s “One Hundred Ways” and “Yah Mo B There”. The Ohio native, got his big break playing with the band Revelations Funk and then later the keyboards for Ray Charles. He leaves behind his wife Debra Robinson and his brother Phillip Ingram.

Metro looks at returning to late night hours…

It’s a big issue but Metro Board Members are looking at whether or not to resume late night hours. Yesterday General Manager Paul Weidefeld meet with city leaders and gave them four options.

The four options include 1. Reverting to the original hours of closing at 3 am on Friday’s and Saturday. 2. Opening at 10:30 am on Sunday’s. 3. Closing at 2 am on Friday’s and Saturdays or 4, Keeping the current limited schedule.

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser is not moved by any of the options and has asked him to come up with a plan to extend late night hours while allowing time for maintenance.

A pastor’s son is arrested for raping his own daughter…

Police in Brooklyn, New York have arrested a man for repeatedly raping his own daughter. Myia Maples who is currently 14-years-old told a family member that it’s been going on for 6 years ever since her mother passed away.

The father 44-year old Matthew Gibson only has biweekly weekend visits with the child and often meets her at church. All of the alleged sexual encounters took place at the Progressive Baptist Church. Gibson’s father is the bishop and pastor at the church.

The family has gone viral other other young girls who claimed they too were sexually assaulted at the church. The public called for the church to be shut down. As of this report, the church in Brooklyn was closed temporarily as the officials investigate the allegations. The father posted a $10,000 bail and is currently living in a detention house in Brooklyn awaiting trial.

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter@taylorthomas963

Old Man Winter Is Causing Another Day of Late Arrivals and Closings in the DMV. Here’s a Glance at Wednesday.

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Washington, D.C. (January 29th) – A  blast of cold air, coupled with rain, sleet, and some snow. These are all the trappings for a day on the roads that’s just too dangerous for youth and many government workers.  Because of the what’s being called “the polar vortex,” many school systems decided early Tuesday evening to allow students to sleep a little longer Wednesday morning.  Most school systems and governments around the DMV will be starting late Wednesday.  Here’s the list:

Updated @11pm on 01/29/19

Alexandria City Public Schools – 2 hours late

Arlington County Schools – 2 hours late

Culpeper County Schools – Closed Wednesday

DC Housing Authority – 2 hours late.  No morning kindergarten

Fairfax City Government – Open liberal leave

Fairfax County Government – Open, liberal leave

Fall Church Schools – Open 2 hours late

Fauquier County Government – 2 hours late

Fauguier County Schools – Closed

Federal Government in the DMV – 3 hour late arrival

Frederick County Schools (Virginia) – Closed

George Mason University – Opens at 11am

Georgetown Day Schools – Open 2 hours late

Howard County Schools – closed

Howard University – Opens at 11am

Loudoun County Government – Unscheduled leave

Manassas City Schools – Closed

Manassas Park City Schools – Closed Montgomery County District Court – Open 2 hours late

Montgomery College – Open at 10am

Montgomery County Circuit Court – Open at 10am

Montgomery County Schools – closed

Prince George’s County Schools – 2 hours late Prince William County Schools – Closed

Spotylvania County Schools – 2 hours late

Stafford County Schools – 2 hours late

Trinity University – Opens at 10am

US District Court DC – Opens at 10am

 

 

After the Federal Government Shutdown

When will all furloughed federal workers get paid? What are they still struggling with even after returning to work?

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It’s back to work this week for 800-thousand federal government workers,  furloughed by the partial government shutdown.  But all has not returned to normal for them.  They’re still waiting to get paid and are concerned about the specter of yet another shutdown next month.  Where are we after the longest federal government shutdown in history and what’s next for workers, contractors and the nation?

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN FACTS

35 DAYS OF THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

Started on December 22

  • Longest of its kind in US history
  • More than 800,000 federal workers affected in nine departments, as well as several agencies

Trump demands $5.7bn in wall funding – a demand Democrats oppose

AFGE

The union is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and is divided into 12 geographical Districts consisting of some 1,100 Locals. More than one-half of AFGE’s members are consolidated into agency-wide bargaining units. Agencies with the highest concentration of union membership include the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Social Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Justice.

Of the 1.75 million people employed by the federal government, only 250,000 are based in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. The majority work in federal offices across the nation as police officers, mechanics, lawyers, correctional officers, environmentalists, nurses, mine inspectors and more. The range of jobs performed by both D.C. and federal government employees is impressive and so is their work.

OTHER SHUTDOWNS.

There have been 21 federal government shutdowns since the modern budgeting process began. The reasons have varied from disagreements over abortion to Obamacare, among others.

A list of the shutdowns*:

  • Under President Trump (Republican):
    1. December 2018 – January 2019: Ongoing
    2. February 2018: One day
    3. January 2018: Three days
  • Under President Barack Obama (Democrat):
    1. October 2013: 16 days
  • Under President Bill Clinton (Democrat):
    1. December 1995 – January 1996: 21 days
    2. November 1995: Five days
  • Under President George HW Bush (Republican):
    1. October 1990: Three days
  • Under President Ronald Reagan (Republican):
    1. December 1987: One day
    2. October 1986: One day
    3. October 1984: One day
    4. September – October 1984: Two days
    5. November 1983: Three days
    6. December 1982: Three days
    7. September – October 1982: One day
    8. November 1981: Two days
  • Under President Jimmy Carter (Democrat):
    1. September – October 1979: 11 days
    2. September – October 1978: 18 days
    3. November – December 1977: Eight days
    4. October – November 1977: Eight days
    5. September – October 1977: 12 days
  • Under President Gerald Ford (Republican):
    1. September – October 1976: 10 days
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D) District of Columbia

Richard Loeb, Senior Policy Counsel, The American Federation of Government Employees

Community’s Choice for the Week of January 28th 2019

93rd Annual Black History Luncheon, Foreclosure Prevention, Help with the Opioid Epidemic and more. Details on these events and more inside of this week’s Community Choice. To get your non-profit on the air and web, email me at rnash@whur.com at least three week’s prior to your event.

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The Washington DC Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is accepting applications for its 2019 Annual Scholarship Program for 12th grade students. www.wdcacdst.org.

It’s Black History Month. The Prince George’s Department of Parks invites you to enjoy the rich history and legacy of African Americans at the various exhibits taking place through out the county. www.blackhistory.pgparks.com

Scholarship opportunities are available thru the Prince George’s County Chapter of Jack and Jill of America. The deadline is February 15th. www.jackandjill.org.

Now is the time to get healthy. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority is hosting a Health Fair March 23rd at the Glenarden Community Center www.dzzhealthfair.eventbrite.com .

Celebrate Black History Month. Enjoy an evening of jazz and soulful music February 9th in Burke, Virginia. It’s hosted by Minority Parents for Excellence in Education. www.mpee.lb.org

Are you behind on your mortgage or property taxes? Attend a FREE Foreclosure Prevention Clinic hosted by Housing Counseling Services, Inc. www.housingetc.org.

The 93rd Annual Black History Luncheon hosted by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History is February 16th at the Washington Renaissance Hotel. www.asalh.org

Don’t let the opioid epidemic devastate your family. Call the Howard University Urban Health Initiative for help. 202-806-7707.

Stacey Abrams To Give Democrats’ Response To State Of Union

“She is just a great spokesperson. She is an incredible leader. She has led the charge for voting rights, which is at the root of just about everything else,” Schumer, D-N.Y., told reporters. “She knows what working people, the middle class, go through.”

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Stacey Abrams, the rising political star who marshaled the power of black female voters but narrowly lost the Georgia governor’s race, will deliver the Democratic response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters Tuesday that he asked Abrams three weeks ago to take on the role and “was very delighted when she agreed.” Abrams narrowly lost the 2018 race against Republican Brian Kemp after a protracted challenge over blocked votes. Senate Democrats have been urging her to mount a 2020 challenge to Republican Sen. David Perdue, who has emerged as one of Trump’s most outspoken allies on Capitol Hill.

“She is just a great spokesperson. She is an incredible leader. She has led the charge for voting rights, which is at the root of just about everything else,” Schumer, D-N.Y., told reporters. “She knows what working people, the middle class, go through.”

The role elevates Abrams in a party that’s looking to keep core supporters, such as black women who anchor the Democratic base, energized ahead of the 2020 congressional and presidential elections.

Abrams’ travel and meeting schedule in recent weeks tells the story of how hotly Democrats have pursued her as their top choice to challenge Perdue: She’s been inundated with calls from Democratic Party leaders, including Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House campaign chief Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto. Abrams also met privately with presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, members of the Congressional Black Caucus and Democratic House members from her state.

Party officials see an Abrams candidacy as a promising scenario all around in 2020. Enthusiasm around her Senate run could drive up turnout that would also benefit a Democratic presidential candidate in the state, while the money that a White House campaign would bring to Georgia would help Abrams.

For her part, Abrams has started a voting rights advocacy group but is also considering her own political future and looking to help other Democrats. She is expected to make a decision about the Senate race in coming months.

The State of the Union response often serves as an audition of sorts for ambitious political figures looking to raise their profile. But it’s also frequently a thankless task, with brutal reviews. Republican Sen. Marco Rubio’s lunge for a water bottle became a meme after his response in 2013. Then-Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal was panned for being dull in 2009. In 1996, then-presidential candidate Bob Dole gave a less-than-boffo performance and was widely criticized for his delivery and the lighting.

But for Abrams, the response is not an audition. She’s well-known in the U.S. for nearly winning the governor’s race and disputing the vote.

A group backed by Abrams filed a federal lawsuit this month saying Georgia deprived many low-income people and minorities of their voting rights with Kemp, then secretary of state, overseeing the 2018 election. After a long dispute, Kemp won the governorship.

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Associated Press Washington Bureau Chief Julie Pace, writers Bill Barrow and Errin Haines Whack and researcher Jennifer Farrar contributed to this report.

Grammy Award-Winning Singer James Ingram Has Died At Age 66

During a Quincy tribute concert in L.A. last September, James was noticeably absent when Patti performed their hit song. She soldiered on without him, doing her best impression of her dear friend while singing his part.

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James Ingram, 66, has died from his battle with brain cancer.

TMZ reports —

Ingram recorded several chart-toppers in the ’80s, including his #1 duet with Patti Austin, “Baby Come to Me” … as well as “Somewhere Out There” with Linda Ronstadt and “100 Ways.”

He won a Grammy for “Yah Mo B There” — his duet with Michael McDonald — and another for “100 Ways.” He was nominated for 12 other Grammys.

James worked closely Quincy Jones over the years … recording and writing hits. For instance, he cowrote Michael Jackson‘s smash hit, “P.Y.T.”

During a Quincy tribute concert in L.A. last September, James was noticeably absent when Patti performed their hit song. She soldiered on without him, doing her best impression of her dear friend while singing his part.

 

Baltimore’s Top Prosecutor Halts Prosecution Of Marijuana Possession Crimes, New Bug In iPhone Facetime App

Baltimore’s Top Prosecutor Halts Prosecution Of marijuana Possession Crimes. Report Shows Spike In Drunk Driving Fatalities. New Bug In iPhone Facetime App. Amazon Bill Heading To Northam’s Desk.

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Baltimore’s Top Prosecutor Halts Prosecution Of marijuana Possession Crimes

(Baltimore, MD) — The state’s attorney in Baltimore will no longer prosecute any marijuana possession cases, regardless of the quantity of the drug or an individual’s prior criminal record, authorities announced Tuesday.

Marilyn Mosby, the city’s top prosecutor, said pot possession cases have no public safety value, erode public trust in law enforcement, and intensify existing racial disparities in the criminal justice system since arrests disproportionately occur in communities of color.

Mosby’s office will still go after dealers and traffickers by prosecuting marijuana distribution cases. But officials said the money and energy prosecuting any type of simple possession case could now be redirected to address more significant crimes in a U.S. city grappling with chronically high violent crime rates and no shortage of dangerous drug syndicates.

“No one who is serious about public safety can honestly say that spending resources to jail people for marijuana use is a smart way to use our limited time and money,” she said.

Report Shows Spike In Drunk Driving Fatalities

(Washington, DC) — A new report shows the number of people killed in drunk driving incidents in the District spiked in 2017. The report from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments says alcohol and drug-impaired traffic fatalities increased by nearly 46-percent in 2017. Eighty-six people died that year compared with 59 in 2016. Both Prince George’s and Montgomery counties saw the number of alcohol-impaired traffic fatalities double. The report also found the number of arrests for driving under the influence or driving while impaired declined by more than eight-percent.

New Bug In iPhone Facetime App

(Cupertino, CA) — iPhone users are being warned of a technical glitch that could put your safety at risk. A newly discovered bug in the iPhone’s Facetime app lets people hear through someone else’s iPhone, even if they haven’t answered the call. Apple says the bug seems to rely on the Facetime Group Call feature, which launched just last year. The technology giant says a fix is coming this week. Apple recommends turning off Facetime on your iPhone to prevent anyone from snooping.

Amazon Bill Heading To Northam’s Desk

(Richmond, VA) — Virginia Governor Ralph Northam says he plans to sign the bill approving 750-million-dollars in Amazon subsidies. The Virginia House of Delegates voted overwhelming yesterday to give Amazon the subsidies over 15-years for the company’s planned headquarters in Arlington. Amazon would receive the subsidies only after it creates thousands of new jobs, which are expected to generate several times more in tax revenue than the state is giving to the online-retail giant. The jobs must provide average salaries of 150-thousand-dollars. Amazon announced in November it would bring its “HQ-2” project to Northern Virginia and New York.

Tisha Campbell-Martin Says She Was Abused By Ex-Husband Duane Martin

“The need to press criminal charges for his acts overshadows the embarrassment of making his crimes against me public through this report,” Campbell-Martin said in court documents.

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Actress Tisha Campbell-Martin is beginning to open up more about her relationship with ex-husband and actor Duane Martin.

TMZ is reporting Campbell-Martin had to file for a restraining order against her ex alleging years of physical and emotional abuse. In court documents obtained by the blog site, she claims she was punched in the chest and grabbed by Martin in December.

Campbell-Martin filed for divorce in February of 2018 but claims she suffered abuse since 1996 at the hands of her ex-husband.

“The need to press criminal charges for his acts overshadows the embarrassment of making his crimes against me public through this report,” Campbell-Martin said in court documents.

‘Empire’ Star Jussie Smollett Attacked In Possible Hate Crime

The actor was attacked by two individuals screaming racial and homophobic slurs. They then proceeded to pour a chemical substance on him before placing a rope around his neck. Police said the alleged attackers then fled the scene. 

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Jussie Smollett was reportedly attacked Tuesday during the early morning hours. Chicago police said they are treating the investigation as a possible hate crime.

The actor was attacked by two individuals screaming racial and homophobic slurs. They then proceeded to pour a chemical substance on him before placing a rope around his neck. Police said the alleged attackers then fled the scene.

Police said Smollett took himself to Northwestern Hospital and is in good condition. The actor’s rep has not released a statement at this time.

Authorities are looking for tips from the community and urge residents to call Area Central Detectives at 312-747-8382 with any information.

We pray Jussie Smollett recovers fully from this horrible attack and his attackers are brought to justice.