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Malia Obama Writes For Donald Glover’s New Series

Donald Glover, also known as the rapper Childish Gambino, creator of FX series ‘Atlanta,’ has a new Amazon series underway and has employed former first daughter, Malia Obama, to join the writer’s room. 

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By Brooks Welch

Donald Glover, also known as the rapper Childish Gambino, creator of FX series ‘Atlanta,’ has a new Amazon series underway and has employed former first daughter, Malia Obama, to join the writer’s room. 

“She’s just like an amazingly talented person,” Glover told Vanity about the 23-year-old. “She’s really focused, and she’s working really hard… I feel like she’s just somebody who’s gonna have really good things coming soon,” he said. “Her writing style is great.”

As reported by Vanity, Obama’s work with Glover follows numerous internships, including a stint at HBO’s Girls in 2015 and at the Weinstein Company in 2017. She also worked as a production assistant on the Halle Berry television drama, Extant, before graduating from Harvard last year.

Stephen Glover, Donald Glover’s younger brother and writer on ‘Atlanta,’ spoke about how the talented writer handles getting some of her pitches turned down.

Stephen joked, “Well, you know, we just hurt her feelings. We can’t be easy on her just because she’s the [former] president’s daughter.” He added, “Nah, she’s very down to earth, and cool. So, it’s not a problem at all. She has a lot of good ideas. She’s great. She’s just a regular person like everybody else,” the writer for the upcoming ‘House Party’ remake.

The Amazon series is potentially titled ‘Hive,’ which is reportedly about a Beyoncé-type character. Glover is writing and executive producing the project.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE8zKCPaNew

Celebrity Makeup Artist, AJ Crimson, Passes Away at 27

Celebrity makeup artist, beauty expert, entrepreneur, and beauty influence, AJ Crimson has tragically passed away at 27 years old.

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By Brooks Welch

Celebrity makeup artist, beauty expert, entrepreneur, and beauty influence, AJ Crimson has reportedly passed away at 27 years old.

According to Essence, Crimson was credited with being one of the first makeup artists to expertly enhance the beauty of women within all shades. He served celebrity clients including Lauren London, Missy Elliot, Regina King, Brandy, and Angela Bassett. 

As reported by Dexerto, the Detroit-native built a substantial social media following, primarily on Instagram, with over 100,000 followers.

“AJ Crimson’s branding has been highlighted in industry-leading magazines such as Vogue, Harper’s BAZAAR, Glamour, InStyle, Esquire, Essence, and Marie Claire, as well as leading Japanese entertainment magazines Blenda and Luire,” writes Teal Mango.

In 2020, Crimson spoke to Yahoo! about his passion for the beauty industry and his mission within it.

“My vision for AJ Crimson Beauty was luxury cosmetics with Black women in mind first,” he said. “As a makeup artist, my entire career I gravitated to luxury products for my clientele. Yet there weren’t always products at that level that worked with some of my more melanin-rich clients.”

This led Crimson to his entrepreneurial ventures, AJ Crimson Beauty, and a new perspective on beauty.

“I thought it was a shame only drug store options [were] available, so I knew I had to change that,” he said. “I love beautiful things, people, fashion, architecture. The beauty industry sort of found me; I thought I’d be in politics, public speaking or artist management, which are all passions of mine [and] have been involved in, but beauty has taken me all over the world in a very interesting way.”

His cause of death has not yet been confirmed.

 

 

Heckler Shouting ‘Will Smith’ Escorted Out Of Chris Rock’s Sold-Out Comedy Show

Chris Rock did his first comedy show in Boston since he was infamously slapped by Will Smith.

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Chris Rock did his first comedy show in Boston since he was infamously slapped by Will Smith. A heckler shouting “Will Smith,” was escorted from Boston’s Wilbur Theatre on Wednesday (30 March).  Rock responded to the outburst by saying, “Is this the way the tour is going to go?” Later during the show, Rock said he was “still processing” what happened on Sunday evening during his Oscar appearance.  There is a report that two hecklers shouted Will Smith’s name during Rock’s live show, the crowd boo’d both individuals. Rock said “despite what you’ve heard,” he hadn’t spoken to Smith.  “I’m still processing what happened, so at some point I’ll talk about that s***,” he said. “It’ll be serious. It’ll be funny, but right now I’m going to tell some jokes,” said Rock.  Do you think Chris Rock will have a hard time on tour by not discussing the slap?

 The ‘Real Housewives Of Atlanta’ Season 14 Trailer Arrives

Of course, there is lots of drama and lots of shade. 

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It’s here: The season 14 “Real Housewives of Atlanta” trailer has arrived.

Of course, there is lots of drama and lots of shade.

The trailer also shows newcomers Sanya Richard and Marlo Hampton as an official housewife.

The new season arrives on Bravo on May 1st.

Who do you think will bring the most drama this season?

https://youtu.be/MZ8eL3enorg

“Questlove” Won Oscar Only Minutes After Slap

Another award that was overshadowed at the Oscars

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Legendary drummer of The Roots, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, won the award for his directorial role of Summer of Soul. Summer of Soul is a musical documentary about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, which celebrated African-American music and culture. Questlove accepted the award a few minutes after the slap. What Will Smith and Chris Rock did really stained what should have been the best moment for Questlove. He managed to get through that by going up on stage along with his producers, accept the award from Chris Rock, and gave out a meaningful speech.

Cardi B Shuts Down Rumors Of Copying Nicki Minaj’s Music Video

Cardi B took to Instagram on Wednesday night (March 30) to defend herself against people who say she copied Nicki Minaj’s video schedule

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Cardi B took to Instagram on Wednesday night (March 30) to defend herself against people who say she copied Nicki Minaj’s video schedule. Nicki was in New York to shoot “We Go Up” featuring Fivio Foreign and on the same day, Cardi shot a video with Kay Flock. Fans accused Cardi of copying Nicki’s visual aesthetic but Cardi clapped back writing on social media, “Y’all be trynna play wit my body like I won’t come wit receipts! [sic] My bad I had to rehearse for a movie for 2 months, shoot Facebook, go to Europe and close deals MY BAD @dougieb___ and cardi was in LA workin and we finally in NY our home to shoot this ! Don’t play wit me I Move on my timing and I BEEN DONE THIS… talk all y’all s### make sure y’all tune in to TOUCH THE GROWN!!! And FREE F##### KAY FLOCK!!” Cardi also went through text messages while doing a live video to show fans and trolls that she had the video on her schedule and didn’t intentionally schedule her video on the same day as Nicki’s.

Do you think Cardi should have addressed the trolls?

 

 

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Grandparents Helping Our Youth

The UPO’s Foster Grandparent program trains seniors to care and support our youth

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They are the backbone of our families providing not only love and support, but wisdom.  I’m talking this morning about grandparents and I have details about an amazing program run by the United Planning Organization or UPO.  They are in need of donations.  My guest is Cheryl Christmas – Project Director, United Planning Organization Foster Grandparent Program

United Planning Organization’s Foster Grandparent Program trains low-income seniors with caring spirits to provide attention, guidance, and support to DC children in a variety of local settings, including early education centers, elementary schools, hospitals, and youth programs. They are in need of donations. For more information go here:

Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:40on the Steve Harvey Morning Showon 96.3 WHUR.

Follow me on facebook and twitterat @bobbygailesfor updates and to stay connected.

 

Listen to this mornings segment here:

Beyoncé Shares Extremely Revealing Oscars After-Party Look In Sexy Shots

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Beyoncé shared a carousel of photos that revealed her Oscar afterparty look. On Wednesday the singer posted very sexy shots of the revealing dress that accentuated her chest and backside.

The “Be Alive” singer held up a sheer diamond-studded cloth that resembled the look of the dress which was sheer with diamond accents. She added to her look with a bold diamond Tiffany & Co. necklace.

In one shot Beyoncé wore tiny sunglasses while in another she posed with husband Jay-Z in front of red curtains. Jay rocked a tux for the event.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z hosted the Gold Party with A-list attendees which included, Rihanna, Kelly Rowland, Karrueche Tran, Damson Idris, and Questlove.

Which of Beyoncé’s Oscar looks was your favorite? Her highlighter yellow dress she wore for her “Be Alive” performance or her sheer diamond afterparty dress?

 

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A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce)

What Parents Need to Know About Bullying….

Tips on combating bullying in school.

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No parent wants to hear of their child being bullied at school.  Mothers and fathers expect that their children will be in a safe learning environment. On the other side, there are those who are parents of the bullies.  What should parents, on either side of the aisle, do or say to their children about bullying?  Should they seek help?

Tonight we are talking about that more.

LINK

Guest –

Drew Kelechi  – Anti-Bullying Advocate & Author of SHUT UP! Nobody Likes You

Paul Vespo – School Psychologist

Resources

https://www.stopbullying.gov/resources/external

https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-safety-and-

crisis/school-violence-resources/bullying-prevention https://childmind.org/article/how-to-arm-your-

child-against-bullying/ https://childmind.org/article/how-to-arm-your-child-against-bullying/

Comedian George Willborn: The A-List Is Funny As Ever Tonight

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https://youtu.be/dmOHNJI8Im8

Who better to talk about the life of a comic, than a comic. So, of course we brought in our very own, George Willborn, to join The A-List to talk about Chris Rock and Will Smith. Just wait until you hear the Stress Reliever perspective. Caution: Get ready to laugh!

Smith Refused To Leave Oscars After Hitting Rock

Officials with the Oscars say they tried to get Chris Rock to leave ceremony.

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NEW YORK (AP) — The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences on Wednesday said that Will Smith was asked to leave to Sunday’s Oscar ceremony after hitting Chris Rock but refused to do so.

The academy’s board of governors met Wednesday to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Smith for violations against the group’s standards of conduct. The academy said disciplinary action for Smith could include suspension, expulsion or other sanctions.

Many have focused on why Smith was allowed to remain seated front row at the Academy Awards after the incident. On Wednesday, the academy suggested that it attempted to remove the actor from the audience.

“Things unfolded in a way we could not have anticipated,” the academy said. “While we would like to clarify that Mr. Smith was asked to leave the ceremony and refused, we also recognize we could have handled the situation differently.”

A representative for the academy declined to give specifics on how it tried to removed Smith. After Smith struck Rock in response to a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, several stars including Denzel Washington, Bradley Cooper and Tyler Perry spoke with the 53-year-old Smith.

The academy said Smith has the opportunity to defend himself in a written response before the board meets again on April 18. The film academy earlier condemned Smith’s onstage assault of Rock, but it used stronger language Wednesday.

“Mr. Smith’s actions at the 94th Oscars were a deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in-person and on television,” the academy said. “Mr. Rock, we apologize to you for what you experienced on our stage and thank you for your resilience in that moment. We also apologize to our nominees, guests and viewers for what transpired during what should have been a celebratory event.”

On Monday, Smith issued an apology to Rock, the academy and to viewers, saying “I was out of line and I was wrong.”

A representative for Smith didn’t immediately respond to messages Wednesday regarding the academy’s latest moves.

Michelle Obama Reacts To Anti-Lynching Law

Former First Lady Michelle Obama says new hate crime law will make U.S. “more just.”

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Michelle Obama calls the Emmett Till Anti-lynching Act “a chance to reckon with our history.” President Biden signed the measure into law Tuesday that designates lynching as a federal hate crime. The former First Lady wrote in a tweet that the law could allow the U.S. to “move in a new direction” that would make the country “safer and more just.” After being introduced over a century ago and failing to pass more than 200 times, Michelle Obama wrote that as a Black person, the landmark passage evokes many different emotions for her.

Bruce Willis ‘Stepping Away’ From Acting After Aphasia Diagnosis

It is a disorder caused by damage to a specific area of the area that impacts cognitive abilities.

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Bruce Willis’ family has announced he is stepping away from acting due to a medical condition.
They released a statement about his condition.
The condition is called, aphasia.
It is a disorder caused by damage to a specific area of the area that impacts cognitive abilities.
With much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him. This is a really challenging time for our family and we are so appreciative of your continued love, compassion and support.
We are moving through this as a strong family unit and wanted to bring his fans in because we know how much he means to you, as you do him.

Diddy Announces Cîroc Is Headed to Ready-To-Drink Market

Ciroc Vodka Spritz comes in cans and will be available starting April 1.

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One thing Diddy is going to do is get everyone ready for the Summer.
This year he is getting everyone ready with a new addition to his Ciroc line.
Ciroc Vodka Spritz comes in cans and will be available starting April 1.
The suggested retail price is $16.99 for a four pack.
It comes in four flavors, Watermelon Kiwi, Sunset Citrus, Pineapple Passion and Colada
What is your favorite flavor of Ciroc Vodka?

Baltimore Will Pay $3.5 Million To Local Businesses Damaged During Freddie Gray Protests

The city of Baltimore has reached a $3.5 million settlement with local businesses damaged during protests and unrest over the 2015 death of Freddie Gray.

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The city of Baltimore has reached a $3.5 million settlement with local businesses damaged during protests and unrest over the 2015 death of Freddie Gray.
Nearly 70 businesses were part of the lawsuit, first filed in 2017. They claim police response was slow during the riots, and that then-Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake made things worse with comments about giving “those who wished to destroy space to do that”.
Gray died in police custody after he was arrested in April 2015. None of the six officers involved in his death were convicted of a crime.
Should the city be held liable here? Could this settlement impact similar lawsuits in other cities?

Toni Braxton Reflects on Final Moments With Sister Traci in First Interview Since Her Death

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Toni Braxton was on the Tamron Hall Show to promote her new Lifetime movie, Fallen Angels Murder Club premiering this Saturday night. It was the first time she has been seen publicly since losing her sister, Traci, two weeks ago. She said she wakes up every morning wondering if she dreamt the whole thing. She’s gone but she was with us for 50 years. I try to relish in that moment and try to smile about it. Be grateful for the time you have and you have to always remember to be kind to one another. She said Traci loved the snow and when she died it was snowing in Virginia. She called Traci her ‘snowflake.’ She said Traci also loved Hummingbirds and she saw one the other day and thought it was Traci saying hi to her.

Have you lost someone close to you? What signs have you seen of your loved one saying ‘hi’ to you?

https://youtu.be/1oGMyx0ZZhg

Chris Rock’s Brother Tony Says He And Will Smith Haven’t ‘Made Up’ As He Slams Diddy’s Claim

Diddy had reportedly told Page Six that Will and Chris had made up at the Vanity Fair’s Oscar party, “That’s not a problem. That’s over. I can confirm that.” Diddy told Page Six “It’s all love. They’re brothers.”

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Tony Rock held a Q&A on Tuesday night (March 29) where he addressed questions regarding Will Smith slapping his brother Chris Rock on the Oscar stage.

One fan asked if Diddy lied about Tony and Will making up the same night and were currently in a good space. To which Tony responded, “Yep.”

Diddy had reportedly told Page Six that Will and Chris had made up at the Vanity Fair’s Oscar party, “That’s not a problem. That’s over. I can confirm that.” Diddy told Page Six “It’s all love. They’re brothers.”

Smith had issued an apology during his acceptance speech for Best Actor, however, he didn’t name Chris Rock. He then took to social media to give Rock a public apology. Rock hasn’t spoken publicly since the incident.

Do you think Chris Rock and Will Smith will reconcile their relationship?

The Disney Dreamers Academy Makes Dreams Come True

The Disney Dreamers class of 2022 have been given the tools to succeed.

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The Walt Disney World Resort was a dream come true for our students from the DMV as the Disney Dreamers Academy celebrated 15 years of inspiring our youth to reach for the stars.

 

 

Now you can enter to win your Walt Disney World dream vacation, go to whur.com to enter for your chance to win.

 

 

The Disney Dreamers Academy is Changing Lives

The Disney Dreamers Academy celebrated it’s 15th year making a difference in the lives of our youth.

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Celebrating 15 years of changing lives and making dreams come true, The Disney Dreamers Academy is making an impact on our area youth and giving them the tools and confidence to reach for their goals and succeed in life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now you can dream like an Disney Dreamer, just enter for your chance to win a Walt Disney World dream vacation at whur.com.

Crime, Violence and Car Thefts in Prince Georges County, Maryland

Prince George’s County Police Chief Malik Aziz joins us for a conversation.

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Police departments throughout the Washington-Metropolitan are working to reduce crime.  That holds true for Prince George’s County where shootings, car thefts and other robberies are producing challenges for the county police force. What is the county police department doing to combat the challenges it faces at it seeks to keep county citizens safe and their property protected?  Tonight, we talk with the county’s chief of police about those issues and more.

IN STUDIO :

Guest –

Malik Aziz – Police Chief, Prince George’s County

 

Historic Anti-Lynching Act Becomes Law

President Biden signs long overdue anti-lynching bill into law.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday signed a bill into law to make lynching a federal hate crime, more than 100 years after such legislation was first proposed.

The Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act is named after the Black teenager whose killing in Mississippi in the summer of 1955 became a galvanizing moment in the civil rights era. His grieving mother insisted on an open casket to show everyone how her son had been brutalized.

Biden acknowledged the long delay during remarks in the Rose Garden to lawmakers, administration officials and civil rights advocates, stressing how the violent deaths of Black Americans were used to intimidate them and prevent them from voting simply because of their skin color.

“Thank you for never giving up, never ever giving up,” the president said. “Lynching was pure terror to enforce the lie that not everyone, not everyone, belongs in America, not everyone is created equal.”

But the president stressed that forms of racial terror continue to exist in the U.S. — creating the need for the law.

“Racial hate isn’t an old problem — it’s a persistent problem,” Biden said. “Hate never goes away. It only hides.”

The new law makes it possible to prosecute a crime as a lynching when a conspiracy to commit a hate crime leads to death or serious bodily injury, according to the bill’s champion, Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill. The law lays out a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and fines.

The House approved the bill 422-3 on March 7, with eight members not voting, after it cleared the Senate by unanimous consent. Rush also had introduced a bill in January 2019 that the House passed 410-4 before that measure stalled in the Senate.

Congress first considered anti-lynching legislation more than 120 years ago. It had failed to pass such legislation nearly 200 times, beginning with a bill introduced in 1900 by North Carolina Rep. George Henry White, the only Black member of Congress at the time.

The NAACP began lobbying for anti-lynching legislation in the 1920s. A federal hate crime statute eventually was passed and signed into law in the 1990s, decades after the civil rights movement.

Till, 14, had traveled from his Chicago home to visit relatives in Mississippi in 1955 when it was alleged that he whistled at a white woman. Till was kidnapped, beaten and shot in the head. A large metal fan was tied to his neck with barbed wire before his body was thrown into a river. His mother, Mamie Till, insisted on an open casket at the funeral to show the brutality her child had suffered.

Two white men, Roy Bryant and his half-brother J.W. Milam, were accused, but acquitted by an all-white-male jury. Bryant and Milam later told a reporter that they kidnapped and killed Till.

Additional COVID Booster Approved

A second Covid-19 booster shot for those over 50 years-old authorized by the FDA.

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U.S. regulators on Tuesday authorized another COVID-19 booster for people age 50 and older, a step to offer extra protection for the most vulnerable in case the coronavirus rebounds.

The Food and Drug Administration’s decision opens a fourth dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines to that age group at least four months after their previous booster.

Until now, the FDA had cleared fourth doses only for people 12 and older who have severely weakened immune systems. The agency said this especially fragile group also can get an additional booster, a fifth shot.

The latest expansion, regardless of people’s health, allows an extra shot to millions more Americans — and the question is whether everyone who’s eligible should rush out and get it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to weigh in.  Everyone eligible for a first booster who hasn’t gotten one yet needs to, FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks said. But the second booster is only for these higher-risk groups because “current evidence suggests some waning of protection” for them.

The move comes at a time of great uncertainty. COVID-19 cases have dropped to low levels after the winter surge of the super-contagious omicron variant. Two vaccine doses plus a booster still provide strong protection against severe disease and death, CDC data show.

But an omicron sibling is causing a worrisome jump in infections in Europe — and spreading in the U.S. — even as vaccination has stalled. About two-thirds of Americans are fully vaccinated, and half of those eligible for a first booster haven’t gotten one.

Pfizer had asked the FDA to clear a fourth shot for people 65 and older, while Moderna requested another dose for all adults “to provide flexibility” for the government to decide who really needs one. The FDA set age 50 as the threshold for both companies. As for the immune-compromised, only the Pfizer vaccine can be used in those as young as 12; Moderna’s is for adults.

There’s limited evidence to tell how much benefit another booster could offer right now. FDA made the decision without input from its independent panel of experts that has wrestled with how much data is required to expand shots.

“There might be a reason to top off the tanks a little bit” for older people and those with other health conditions, said University of Pennsylvania immunologist E. John Wherry, who wasn’t involved in the government’s decision.

But while he encourages older friends and relatives to follow the advice, the 50-year-old Wherry — who is healthy, vaccinated and boosted — doesn’t plan on getting a fourth shot right away. With protection against severe illness still strong, “I’m going to wait until it seems like there’s a need.”

None of the COVID-19 vaccines are as strong against the omicron mutant as they were against earlier versions of the virus. Also, protection against milder infections naturally wanes over time. But the immune system builds multiple layers of defense and the type that prevents severe illness and death is holding up.

During the U.S. omicron wave, two doses were nearly 80% effective against needing a ventilator or death — and a booster pushed that protection to 94%, the CDC recently reported. Vaccine effectiveness was lowest — 74% — in immune-compromised people, the vast majority of whom hadn’t gotten a third dose.

U.S. health officials also looked to Israel, which during the omicron surge opened a fourth dose to people 60 and older at least four months after their last shot. The FDA said no new safety concerns emerged in a review of 700,000 fourth doses administered.

Preliminary data posted online last week suggested some benefit: Israeli researchers counted 92 deaths among more than 328,000 people who got the extra shot, compared to 232 deaths among 234,000 people who skipped the fourth dose.

What’s far from clear is how long any extra benefit from another booster would last, and thus when to get it.

“The ‘when’ is a really difficult part. Ideally we would time booster doses right before surges but we don’t always know when that’s going to be,” said Dr. William Moss, a vaccine expert at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Plus, a longer interval between shots helps the immune system mount a stronger, more cross-reactive defense.

“If you get a booster too close together, it’s not doing any harm — you’re just not going to get much benefit from it,” said Wherry.

The newest booster expansion may not be the last: Next week, the government will hold a public meeting to debate if everyone eventually needs a fourth dose, possibly in the fall, of the original vaccine or an updated shot.

As for updating vaccines, studies in people — of omicron-targeted shots alone or in combination with the original vaccine — are underway. The National Institutes of Health recently tested monkeys and found “no significant advantage” to using a booster that targets just omicron.

Drake Donates $1 Million To Lebron James Foundation

On Wednesday, after a betting event with Stake, an online casino, ‘God’s Plan’ rapper Drake donated $1 million in bitcoin to the Lebron James Family Foundation.

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By Brooks Welch

On Wednesday, after a betting event with Stake, an online casino, ‘God’s Plan’ rapper Drake donated $1 million in bitcoin to the Lebron James Family Foundation.

“This man ask me a very important question, which is what actually makes you feel rich in the soul at this level. I’ve been trying to figure out what I could do for obviously this moment. So, I’m going to myself and Eddie from Stake, we’re going to dedicate a million dollars to the I Promise School,” said Drake in a video posted on his Instagram.

The I Promise School was founded by Lebron James in 2018 in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.

Through the LeBron James Family Foundation, the I PROMISE program “provides year-round resources, access to opportunities, supportive skill development, constant encouragement to inner-city students and families,” according to Black Enterprise.

The rapper’s generosity didn’t stop there. In collaboration with both Stake and LeBron James, Drake surprised a student-athlete from Toronto and his mother with $100,000.

“I respect your hard work a lot but I respect work your hard work more. On behalf of me and my brother at Stake, we wanted to give you this. It’s $100,000 and hopefully, it just makes this journey just a little easier,” Drake said to the student-athlete and his mother.

Drake has a track record for being publicly philanthropic. In 2018, the megastar was depicted performing various charitable acts in his music video for “God’s Plan,” that including paying for college tuitions and grocery bills for an entire store.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpVfcZ0ZcFM

Vanessa Bryant And Nike Announce New Deal

Vanessa Bryant, the wife of late basketball legend Kobe Bryant and mother of the late Gigi Bryant, has announced a long term deal with Nike. 

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By Brooks Welch

Vanessa Bryant, the wife of late basketball legend Kobe Bryant and mother of the late Gigi Bryant, has announced a long term deal with Nike.

“We’re excited to announce our partnership with Nike is going to continue! I am so proud that my husband’s shoes are still the most worn by players on NBA courts and that the demand for his shoes remain so desired by his fans around the world.” Vanessa wrote as an Instagram caption.

This collaboration commemorates the memory of Kobe Bryant, along with his daughter, Gianna, and seven others died in a fatal helicopter crash in January of 2020.

Nike’s CEO shared his delight about the partnership in a statement.

“Kobe Bryant means so much to so many of us, not just NBA fans but globally beyond the game,” John Donahoe, Nike’s president and CEO said. “His impact in growing the sport, particularly encouraging women and young people to pick it up, endures as one of his deepest, lasting legacies. Together with Vanessa, we hope to honor Kobe and Gigi by championing a new generation for many years to come.”

The first new shoe of the partnership will be the Kobe 6 Protro “Mambacita Sweet 16,” honoring Gigi Bryant, 100% of the net proceeds will be donated to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, reports ESPN.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Su5DB36zkk

Issa Rae To Join The “Spider-Verse”

‘Insecure’ creator Issa Rae is starring in Sony Pictures Animation’s sequel to 2018  ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ with Shameik Moore. 

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By Brooks Welch

‘Insecure’ creator Issa Rae is starring in Sony Pictures Animation’s sequel to 2018  ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ with Shameik Moore.

Rae will voice the role of as Jessica Drew, better known as Spider-Woman, reports Variety.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the sequel’s plot is hidden. However, the film will continue to “feature an array of Spider-characters drawn across Marvel Comics’ time and space.”

Shameik Moore will reprise his role as Miles Morales and Hailee Steinfeld will do the same as Gwen Stacy, a.k.a. Spider-Gwen.

The sequel has a release date of Oct. 7, 2022.

Recently, the director, writer, producer, entrepreneur and executiveRae hosted a Hoorae Takeover at the Kennedy Center during March. The takeover involved various events including a short film festival, a “Find Your People Party,” live show of the hit culture podcast “The Read,” and a sit down conversation with Keke Palmer.

Her current ventures include the docu-series “Seen & Heard” for HBO, the unscripted series “Sweet Life” and hip hop comedy “Rap Sh*t” for HBO Max.

Oscars Rebound From Historic Lows

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Sunday nights Academy Awards drew a bigger audience than last year’s show but the show was still below years past.
Viewership was up 56% from last year.
The show drew 15.36 million viewers and a 3.2 rating with adults 18-49 years old.
This number does not include out-of-home viewing numbers. Those numbers will be added in on Tuesday.
Last year’s show had an all-time low of 10.4 million viewers and a 2.12 rating.
Prior to the incident between Will Smith and Chris Rock, how did you feel the show was going?

Tammy Williams To Own $135 Million Production Studio In Atlanta

Tammy Williams is the first Black woman to own a production studio in Atlanta, joining Tyler Perry Studios to break barriers in the state’s Entertainment industry. 

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By Brooks Welch

Tammy Williams is the first Black woman to own a production studio in Atlanta, joining Tyler Perry Studios to break barriers in the state’s Entertainment industry.

Cinema South Studios is about 60 acres in north Fayette County and is estimated to have “17 buildings, including sound stages, warehouses, offices and a film academy,” reports The AJC. “Co-owner Alvin Williams said the studio is already booking clients and plans to invest $135 million in the complex.”

Williams is an award-winning producer and CEO. She is known for her work on Ernie & Cerbie, Free to Dance: the Bishop Paul S. Morton and Full Gospel Baptist Fellowship Story, My Destiny Place, and the 34th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards.

According to Black Enterprise, it’s taken 12 years for Williams’ dream to manifest.

“We’ve been patient,” she said, referring to her business partner, Gary Guidry. “This has not been an overnight thing, this vision for us.”

Guidry told AJC, “The demand for soundstages is happening globally, and the ownership rarely looks like us, let alone an African American woman,” he said.“When I choose to invest, I evaluate the need of the business and the ownership. Investing in Tammy Williams and her team of professionals convinced me that buying the land in Fayetteville, GA.”

Cinema South will serve as the umbrella for Williams’ production company, Tammy’Dele Films. It will host the education section of Tammy’DeleFilms Workshops and Cinema South Film Academy, where she will conduct job training seminars, reports Black Enterprise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKqSEmAr554

What is Alopecia? Learn About Jada Pinkett-Smith’s Hair Loss Condition

After the viral incident of ‘King Richard’ actor Will Smith slapping comedian Chris Rock for his joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair,  a curiosity surrounding alopecia, a hair loss condition, has peaked.

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By Brooks Welch

After the viral incident of ‘King Richard’ actor Will Smith slapping comedian Chris Rock for his joke about Jada Pinkett Smith‘s hair during the Oscars,  a curiosity surrounding alopecia, a hair loss condition, has peaked.

Jada Pinkett Smith’s condition is called alopecia areata, a disease that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks hair follicles, often on the scalp or face, but sometimes on other parts of the body,” reports AP News.

Jada first revealed her diagnosis in 2018 on her Facebook show Red Table Talk, according to CNN. She said it was “terrifying” when her hair started falling out in clumps.

Alopecia areata can arise in childhood, adolescence or adulthood. People who have the condition tend to lose hair in clumps which causes round bald spots (via NY Times).

With early treatment, alopecia areata can be reversible. About 80 percent of people with the condition find that their hair regrows without treatment within a year, according to Medical News Today.

Yale Medicine reported steroid injections among traditional treatments for regrowing hair. The steroids suppress the immune system cells, so hair can regrow. There are also topical treatments, steroid tablets, immunotherapy, Dithranol cream, UV light treatment, and Minoxidil.

Besides Pinkett-Smith, other celebrities who have battled with alopecia and hair loss are Viola Davis, Tyra Banks, Christina Milian, and Naomi Campbell.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-ZmyulYZoM

Study: Music Is As Effective As Exercise For Improving Mental Health

Your favorite song might be aiding in your overall well-being. 

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By Brooks Welch

Your favorite song might be aiding in your overall well-being.

According to a new study reported by Science Alert, the mental health boost from music is “within the range, albeit on the low end” of the same sort of impact seen in people who commit to physical exercise or weight loss programs.

According to AARP, research shows that music can have a beneficial effect on brain chemicals such as dopamine, which is linked to feelings of pleasure, and oxytocin, the so-called “love hormone.”

“Music seems to selectively activate neurochemical systems and brain structures associated with positive mood, emotion regulation, attention and memory in ways that promote beneficial changes,” Kim Innes, a professor of epidemiology at West Virginia University’s School of Public Health, told TIME .

A technique widely used by music therapists, that you can try at home, to relieve a patient’s stress is to practice “deep listening.” By meditating on the words, sounds, and feelings of a song, one can get in tune with their mental state and improve it.

“We can do that even when we’re feeling at our most isolated and sad,” says Suzanne Hanser, president of the International Association for Music & Medicine (IAMM) and a professor of music therapy at Berklee College of Music, “We can take control, we can be empowered by the music to feel differently.”

Oscars Recap: A Conversation about Will Smith and Chris Rock

Will Smith, Chris Rock and the Oscars that sent shock waves around the world.

Posted by Andrea Muñoz
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The day after the Academy Awards the conversation normally is about who should have won the best picture Oscar, who deserved the best actor or actress award, or who looked best on the red carpet. Well, not this time.
Last night was one for the books.

Will Smith taking to the stage to smack Chris Rock after the comedian joked about Jada Pinkett-Smith’s shaved head.   But was Smith’s act that of chivalry or of someone unable to control his anger, which in another setting, say on the street, could have cost him, as it has other black men, dearly. And what of Rock’s joke aimed at the looks of women, especially in this case, a black women? Those issues and more part of our conversation tonight.

AUDIO LINK:

Guest

 

Ashley Elliott – Doctor of Clinical Psychology, Mental Health Educator and Advocate

Reecie Colbert – Founder, Black Women Views

Tax Relief For Marylanders

Maryland’s governor and the state legislature agree on a massive tax relief legislation.

Posted by Andrea Muñoz
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Tax relief is coming for Maryland retirees, small businesses and low-income families.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and state legislatures have agreed on a near two-billion dollar tax relief package over the next five years.  Hogan called the bipartisan deal “the largest tax cut package in state history with major and long-overdue relief for Maryland’s retirees.”  The new tax relief agreement comes as the state has collected billions of dollars in surplus resulting from large amounts of COVID-19 pandemic federal aid.

Will Smith Apologizes To Chris Rock

A day after slapping Chris Rock at the Academy Awards ceremony, Will Smith apologizes to Rock.

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — The day after slapping Chris Rock on the stage of the 94th Academy Awards, Will Smith issued an apology to the comedian, the academy and viewers at home, saying he was “out of line” and that his actions are “not indicative of the man I want to be.”

The fallout of Sunday’s show continued Monday as the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences condemned Smith’s onstage assault and said it would launch an inquiry into it. Later in the day, Smith gave a stronger apology than he did in his best actor acceptance speech, which notably didn’t include apologizing to Rock.

“Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive,” said Smith. “My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally. I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.”

Smith added apologies to the film academy, producers of the telecast, attendees, viewers and the Williams family. Smith was honored for his role as Richard Williams, father of Venus and Serena.

“I am a work in progress,” added Smith.

Earlier Monday, the film academy said: “The Academy condemns the actions of Mr. Smith at last night’s show. We have officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our bylaws, standards of conduct and California law.”

The fallout from Smith’s onstage assault continued Monday, as Hollywood and the public continued to wrestle with a moment that stunned the Dolby Theatre crowd and viewers at home, and may have passed all others — even that gold-standard flub, EnvelopeGate — in Academy Awards infamy.

Smith shocked the Dolby Theatre crowd and viewers at home when he took the stage during Rock’s remarks after the comedian made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, Smith’s wife. Rock said, “Jada, I love you. ‘G.I. Jane 2,’ can’t wait to see it.”

The joke touched a nerve. Pinkett Smith, whose head is shaved, has spoken publicly about her alopecia diagnosis. Smith strode on stage and slapped Rock across the face. Back in his seat, Smith twice shouted for Rock to “get my wife’s name out your (expletive) mouth.” His words echoed clearly throughout the Dolby, though broadcaster ABC cut the audio for about 15 seconds. Within an hour, Smith won best actor. During his acceptance speech, Smith apologized to the academy.

After the show Sunday night, the academy posted a statement condemning violence. The Los Angeles Police Department said Sunday it was aware of the incident but not pursuing an investigation because the person involved declined to file a police report.

Some academy members, like writer-producer Marshall Herskovitz, called for the academy to take disciplinary action against Smith.

“He disgraced our entire community tonight,” wrote Herskovitz on Twitter.

Whoopi Goldberg, a member of the Academy’s board of governors, said Monday on “The View”: “We’re not going to take that Oscar from him. There will be consequences, I’m sure.”

The Screen Actors Guild also weighed in. The film, television and radio union called the incident “unacceptable” and said “violence or physical abuse in the workplace is never acceptable.” SAG said that it had been in contact with the academy and ABC, and it doesn’t comment on the guild’s own disciplinary process.

A sense of disbelief hung in the air at the Dolby Theatre after Smith’s assault, and it didn’t dissipate Monday. Not only was it a hard-to-fathom break with decorum on live national television — an incident so dramatic, even movie-like, that many initially assumed it was a staged bit — it seemed wildly out of character for one of Hollywood’s most relentlessly upbeat stars.

All of this less than an hour before Smith reached possibly the climactic moment of his career, winning his first Oscar, for best actor.

“In a way, I feel bad for Will Smith, too, because I think he let his emotions get the better of him, and this should have been one of the great nights of his life,” said former Oscar host Jimmy Kimmel on Bill Simmons’ podcast. “And now it’s not. Was there anyone who didn’t like Will Smith an hour ago in the world? Like no one, right? Now he doesn’t have a single comedian friend — that’s for sure.”

Some questioned whether Smith should have been allowed to continue to sit front and center after smacking Rock. Several stars rushed to counsel and calm Smith, including Denzel Washington, Bradley Cooper and Tyler Perry. But the timing was also awkward because the best actor category was due up soon after, and Smith had long been considered a lock for the award.

“I know we’re all still processing, but the way casual violence was normalized tonight by a collective national audience will have consequences that we can’t even fathom in the moment,” wrote Janai Nelson, president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, on Twitter.

The joke that provoked Smith was not part of Rock’s routine during the rehearsals leading up to the show, according to two sources close to production who were not authorized to speak publicly.

Rock had joked about Pinkett Smith before. He hosted the 2016 Oscars, when some were boycotting the ceremony over the #OscarsSoWhite group of nominees, including the Smiths. Said Rock: “Jada boycotting the Oscars is like me boycotting Rihanna’s panties. I wasn’t invited.”

The drama overshadowed some historical wins at an Oscars. The deaf family drama “CODA” became the first film with a largely deaf cast to win best picture. For the first time, a streaming service, Apple TV+, took Hollywood’s top honor, signaling a profound shift in Hollywood and in moviegoing. Ariana DeBose of “West Side Story” became the first Afro-Latina and the first openly LGBTQ actor to win best supporting actress.

WATCH Beyonce’s 94th Academy Awards Performance “Be Alive”

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https://youtu.be/4aeDlZOD-B0

Beyoncé opens the 94th Academy Awards with a performance of the Oscar-nominated song, “Be Alive,” at the Tragniew Park Tennis Courts in Compton, California, with appearances by Blue Ivy Carter, King Richard actresses, Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton, and the Compton Cowboys Junior Equestrians.

John Legend to Receive Global Impact Award Presented By The Black Music Collective

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Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Mar 28, 2022–

The Recording Academy ® announced today 12-time GRAMMY ® -winning artist John Legend will be honored during Recording Academy Honors Presented By The Black Music Collective taking place in-person during GRAMMY Week. Legend will be receiving the first-ever Recording Academy Global Impact Award for his personal and professional achievements in the music industry.

Legend will be celebrated with a performance by Summer Walker, and D-Nice will be spinning music throughout the night, with MC Lyte as the voice of the evening, Adam Blackstone as the musical director, and Jimmy Jam, the first Black Chair of the Recording Academy Board of Trustees and Songwriting Hall of Fame inductee, will be making remarks. Additional special guests to be announced at a later date. The inaugural Black Music Collective event is taking place at Resorts World Las Vegas on Sat, April 2, 2022, the evening preceding the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards®.

“It is our distinct honor to celebrate John Legend as the inaugural recipient of the Recording Academy Honors’ Global Impact Award,” said Valeisha Butterfield Jones, Co-President of the Recording Academy. “John is one of the most important artists of our time, someone who leads by example and pushes important boundaries consistently across music, philanthropy and activism. His contributions and impact to music and our culture are unparalleled.”

“On behalf of the Black Music Collective, we are honored to bring together some of the most influential creatives of our time to celebrate John Legend ahead of Music’s Biggest Night ®,” said Riggs Morales, Chair of the Black Music Collective. “This event is a reflection of our continued work as we strive to celebrate the greatest and brightest in Black music who transcend beyond race and genre.”

As a 12-time GRAMMY-winning singer, songwriter, producer, and philanthropist, John Legend began his musical career behind the scenes over 20 years ago working with artists such as Lauryn Hill, JAY-Z and Alicia Keys. He then signed to Kanye West’s GOOD Music and released his debut album Get Lifted, which reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 Charts and was certified double platinum by the RIAA. Legend made history as the first Black man to win the coveted EGOT (Emmy, GRAMMY, Oscar, and Tony Award). Throughout his career, he has collaborated with a multitude of artists including Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Rick Ross, Raphael Saadiq, Juanes, Sebastián Yatra, Chance the Rapper, Common, André 3000, The Roots, Tony Bennett, Jhené Aiko, Estelle, Esperanza Spalding, and Ariana Grande. Not only is he a beloved music creator to his peers, he is also a philanthropist who performed at many benefit concerts to raise awareness of social issues, and in 2014 founded the FREEAMERICA campaign, which aims to help end mass incarceration in the United States. Legend is currently a part of the Recording Academy’s Board of Trustees and is an Honorary Chair of the Black Music Collective.

Multi-platinum singer/songwriter Summer Walker will be performing at the event. The R&B streaming supernova who hails from Atlanta released her debut album Over It in 2019, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and featured her hit single “Playing Games.” The album made R&B history for the number of streams during its debut week. In November of 2021, Summer released her sophomore album Still Over It, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and broke the record for the album with the most one-week streams ever by a female R&B artist. Still Over It is the first R&B album by a female act to top the Billboard 200 albums chart since 2016.

D-Nice will be performing throughout the evening. Over the course of an unbelievable journey from the streets of Harlem to touring and recording with Boogie Down Productions to The White House, Derrick “D-Nice” Jones went from being a pillar of the culture’s history to actually making history himself. The legendary DJ, rapper, producer, photographer, and philanthropist has moved millions on wax with timeless records, on stage at unforgettable gigs, and online with his revolutionary Club Quarantine Instagram Live series. The latter notably set a precedent and built a template for numerous Instagram Live series to follow during the Pandemic. His influence would be recognized industrywide. The NAACP Image Awards named him 2021 Entertainer Of The Year, the BET Awards made him an honorary recipient of the “ Shine A Light ” Award, and he took home the 2020 Webby Artist of the Year award in the category of “ Special Achievement.”

Adam Blackstone is a multi-faceted bass player, musician, GRAMMY-nominated writer, and Emmy ® -nominated musical director. He has served as the musical director for acts such as Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, Janet Jackson, Alicia Keys, Maroon 5, and Eminem, and he most recently cultivated the Super Bowl 56 Halftime Show alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar and Eminem. His expertise as musical director has shaped today’s biggest shows, including the GRAMMY Awards, the Oscars, NBC’s “The Voice,” numerous BET, VH1 and MTV specials, and hit Fox shows “The Four” and “The Masked Singer.”

MC Lyte will be the voice of the evening. MC Lyte is an American rapper, DJ and two-time GRAMMY Award nominee for the Best Rap Solo Performance and Best Female Rap Solo Performance Categories. She has served eight years at the Recording Academy as Chair to the Rap Committee, President of the Los Angeles Chapter, National Trustee and Governor as well as sitting on several Awards and Nominations Committees. Following the release of her debut album Lyte as a Rock in 1988, she became the first solo female rapper to put out a full-length studio album. She has since released eight solo albums and founded Hip Hop Sisters, a nonprofit organization dedicated to spotlighting leaders and creators in hip-hop, the entertainment industry and the corporate world.

Jimmy Jam, Honorary Chair of the Black Music Collective and first Black Chairman of the Recording Academy, will be offering remarks for the evening. He is a five-time GRAMMY-winning R&B/Pop Singer, Songwriter, and Producer. He co-wrote monster hits for Janet Jackson, George Michael, Mariah Carey, and more with his partner, Terry Lewis.

Sponsored by Binance, IBM, Mastercard, Hilton, GREY GOOSE Vodka, and Amazon Music, this event will bring together the biggest stars and executives in the music business under one roof for an evening to remember.

MVD Inc will be producing the Recording Academy Honors Presented By The Black Music Collective GRAMMY Week event. MVD Inc is an innovative boutique creative agency specializing in strategic positioning, immersive experiences and integrated marketing. Founded in 2002, MVD Inc boasts an impressive roster of A-list clients and Fortune 500 companies in the music, film, fashion, and technology industries. It’s in sisters Miatta Johnson and Massah David’s DNA to provide forward-thinking creative direction to brands which include Universal Pictures, Netflix, Kanye West, and ESSENCE Magazine.

Recording Academy Honors Presented By The Black Music Collective

 

The Academy Responds After Will Smith, Chris Rock Incident

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The Academy released their statement via Twitter regarding the incident between Will Smith and Chris Rock.
They wrote, The Academy does not condone violence of any form.
Tonight we were delighted to celebrate our 94th Academy Awards winners who deserve this moment of recognition from their peers and movie lovers around the world.
Chris Rock and Will Smith have spoken and resolved the issue, this according to Diddy. Should the Academy rescind Will’s Oscar?

USDA Expects Food Prices To Keep Rising

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Don’t expect your grocery bill to get lower anytime soon.
USDA officials are predicting food prices to go up by a total of 5% in 2022 – the highest single-year surge since 2008.
The agency bumped up its annual projection after seeing price jumps “across many of the food categories” over the last two months.
They project fruits and vegetables to go up 4%, dairy products to increase by 4.5%, and poultry costs to rise by 6.5%.
Have these price surges affected how you go grocery shopping? What adjustments have you made?

Drama At The Oscars

Will Smith didn’t take the joke well at all.

Posted by Bobby Gailes
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During the 2022 Oscars, Will Smith slapped Chris Rock in front of the audience after making a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s appearance. After the slap, Will told Chris to keep his wife’s name out his mouth. Chris tried to explain to Will that it was just a joke, but Will wasn’t hearing it.  That was the greatest night in the history of television, Chris responded.  After Will achieved his best actor award, he apologized to the academy and his fellow nominees.  

 

Brandon Felder’s Mosaic Intersections Of Sound

Posted by Jacquie Gales Webb
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Award-winning musician and educator Brandon Felder shares the inspiration behind his new project, “Mosaic Intersections Of Sound” and its virtual concert that will premiere March 28th at 7:30p and can be seen on demand.  To see the concert visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-WoJ0E84enqgPiN5JL9aow

https://youtu.be/bWouxJNaS4I

Home Redecorating on a Budget

How do you renew, refresh and redecorate without going broke in the process?

Posted by Harold Fisher
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Spring is here and for many homeowners that means spring cleaning.  For others, you may be ready to go all out and redecorate your home but that could bust your budget of you’re not really careful.  How do you renew, refresh and redecorate without going broke in the process?

Resources:

Custom On A Budget

Denise Hart, Designer, Artist, Creator, Furaha Method of Joyful Design

Alexandria SRO’s Extended For A Year

Council is now tasked with funding the program through the next school year.

Posted by Harold Fisher
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(Alexandria, VA) — School Resource Officers will remain on the job for another year. The Alexandria City Public Schools voted to keep the School Resource Officers program for an additional year. School officials sought to extend the program to allow a task force to further work on the SRO program and present recommendations to the board. Alexandria City Council voted to end the program last year but moved to reinstate the officers following a rash of school violence this year. Council is now tasked with funding the program through the next school year.

Study Reports New Male Birth Control Pill Is ‘99% Effective’ In Mice

According to Fortune, the first male birth control pill, which has shown significant results in lab trials, could begin human testing before the end of the year.

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By Brooks Welch

According to Fortune, the first male birth control pill, which has shown significant results in lab trials, could begin human testing before the end of the year.

This compound has no apparent side effects and “greatly reduced mice sperm counts and ended up being 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy (on a par with the pill’s effectiveness in women),” The Daily Beast reported.

In new findings presented at the spring meeting of the American Chemical Society on Wednesday, researchers at The University of Minnesota created a brand new drug, called YCT529, that targets not the male hormone testosterone, but a protein called retinoic acid receptor alpha (via The Daily Beast).

This new compound is a promising addition to pre-existing male contraceptives, condoms and vasectomies.

Md Abdullah Al Noman, a UM graduate student involved in the research project, recently spoke with The Daily Beast about these findings.

“Birth control is a critical health-care issue,” Al Noman said. “Because about more than half of all pregnancies in the U.S. are unintended pregnancies. And that can lead to very poor outcomes, whether in terms of the child’s health or maternal health and also financial and career advancement of women. We need to have more investment in the research and development of the male birth control pill.”

According to Indy 100, there is controversy about whether men will take the pill.

 

“People cited a general lack of trust as the main reason an everyday male birth control pill may not work,” writes the publication.

Lizzo To Host SNL And Perform As Music Guest On Same Night

On Monday, the long-standing live comedy show ‘Saturday Night Live’ announced three consecutive hosts for April including Jerrod Carmichael, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Lizzo. 

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By Brooks Welch

On Monday, the long-standing live comedy show ‘Saturday Night Live’ announced three consecutive hosts for April including Jerrod Carmichael, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Lizzo.

Lizzo will be the host and musical guest on April 16th, joining Janet Jackson (2004) and Queen Latifah (2004), as the 3rd Black female entertainer to pull double duty in Saturday Night Live’s 47 season long history.

Gunna and Camila Cabello have also been announced as musical guests on April 2nd and 6th.

According to Pitchfork, Lizzo made her Saturday Night Live debut in December 2019: She performed “Truth Hurts” and “Good as Hell” during an episode hosted by Eddie Murphy.

Lizzo’s Saturday Night Live appearance will be on the heels of finishing a new album, which she gleamed about on The Late Late Show With James Corden.

“I’m excited. You’ve just announced you finished the album. The album is done!” Corden said as Lizzo lifted her arms in celebration. “Three freaking years, baby!” said Lizzo. “I feel amazing.” (via People)

The Grammy winner premiered a snippet of her new song ‘About Damn Time’ on the show. Corden danced with Lizzo and other show guest, Gabrielle Union.

Lizzo also announced her new competition reality show “Watch Out for the Big Girls,” to find confident women to dance on her world tour. The show debuts March 25 on Amazon Prime.

Tune into Saturday Night Live, April 16th on NBC.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcmrUTcib8I

The Importance of Regular Eye Exams

The Envue Eye and Laser Center offers eye care specific for your eye care needs.

Posted by Bobby Gailes
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This morning we’re talking health……Eye Health.  Regular eye exams are important and can detect a variety of health issues.  My guest this morning is Dr. Bruce Rivers –Refractive, Cataract and Anterior Segment Surgeon at Envue Eye and Laser Center.  

The  Envue Eye and Laser Center, the National Harbor’s premier laser eye surgery specialists.  Providing  tailored service focused on you and your specific eye care needs, specializing in laser eye surgery such as SMILE and LASIK, as well as lens-based vision correction procedures such as Implantable Collamer Lenses (ICLs), refractive lens exchange (RLE) and premium laser-assisted cataract surgery.

 

 

Protecting Seniors from Neglect and Abuse

How do we protect senior family members?

Posted by Harold Fisher
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The perils faced by our older loved ones are many.  This is particularly concerning for seniors who are sickly or fragile and in the care of others.  How do we protect them from neglect and abuse when they are not with us 24/7?

Resources:

DC Department of Aging and Community Living

202-724-5626

Laura Newland, Director, DC Department of Aging and Community Living

Woman Charged With Leaving Children

The children are now in the care of the Montgomery County Child Protection Services.

Posted by Harold Fisher
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(Silver Spring, MD) — A Silver Spring mother is facing charges of leaving her children unattended in a hotel room filled with drug paraphernalia. Police arrested the woman after staff at the Best Western Hotel found three children inside a hotel room unattended. Police say the children, ages 2, 6 and 11 were found sleeping in the room with drug paraphernalia scattered around the room.

Officials say the children’s mother, identified as 36-year-old Mary Galvin, was found asleep in a car in the hotel’s parking lot along with a man. Galvin was arrested and charged with child neglect as well as drug possession. Police say the children are now in the care of the Montgomery County Child Protection Services.

George Clinton Returns with Parliament Funkadelic for 2022 US Tour

The funk legend George Clinton has come out of retirement to announce new “One Nation Under a Groove” US tour with band Parliament Funkadelic. 

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By Brooks Welch

The funk legend George Clinton has come out of retirement to announce new “One Nation Under a Groove” US tour with band Parliament Funkadelic.

Monday was an exciting day for P-Funk fans. The new summer tour was announced simultaneously with New Jersey honoring the icons with “Parliament Funkadelic Way,” five blocks of a street in Plainfield. The “Funkiest block on da planet” as Clinton wrote in his Instagram caption.

Although Clinton went on a farewell tour in 2019 after announcing his retirement the year prior, fans are digging his return.

“George Clinton has singlehandedly done more to push music forward than any other artist I can recall,” said Nick Szatmari of Universal Attractions Agency. “This tour represents that ‘big tent’ he’s created that includes so many generations.” (via Rolling Stone.)

The Godfather of Funk’s impact and lineage will be highlighted in the tour’s supporting bands Dopapod, Pimps of Joytime, the Floozies, and the Motet.

In news related to George Clinton, Wiz Khalifa is set to appear as Clinton in ‘Spinning Gold,’ a forthcoming biopic about Casablanca Records head Neil Bogart. The label issued several of Parliament-Funkadelic’s records in the 1970s, including 1974’s Up for the Down Stroke and 1975’s Mothership Connection, Pitchfork reported in 2017.

See below for the 17 tour dates spanning from mid June to late August.

One Nation Under a Groove Tour Dates:

June 15 – New York, NY @ Summerstage @ Central Park
June 18 – New Haven, CT @ College Street Music Hall
June 19 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
June 24 – Fort Wayne, IN @ Piere’s
June 25-  Indianapolis, IN @ Clowes Memorial Hall
June 26 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverfront Live
June 30 – Asheville, NC @ Salvage Station
July 2 – Pelham, TN  @ The Caverns
July 7 – Philadelphia, PA @ Fillmore
July 22 – Ft. Worth, TX @ Wild Acre Live
July 23 – Cedar Park, TX @ The Haute Spot
Aug. 11 – Phoenix, AZ @ Mesa Amphitheater
Aug. 13 – Las Vegas, NV @ Craig Ranch Amphitheater
Aug. 17 – Inglewood, CA @ YouTube Theater
Aug. 19 – Saratoga, CA @ Mountain Winery
Aug. 20 – Blue Lake, CA @ Blue Lake Casino
Aug. 21 – Napa, CA @ Charles Krug Winery

Visit Ticketmaster for tickets.

Morris Chestnut Joins Hollywood Walk Of Fame

“The Best Man” actor Morris Chestnut unveiled his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday.

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By Brooks Welch

“The Best Man” actor Morris Chestnut unveiled his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday. The award is to recognize men and women who have achieved notable success in Hollywood.

According to Fox 11 Los Angeles, Morris’s star is the 2,716th star to grace the Walk of Fame since its completion back in 1961.

The actor known for his roles in “Boyz N The Hood,” ‘The Brothers,” “The Perfect Holiday,” “Think Like A Man,” “The Best Man,” and “The Best Man Holiday,” has successfully navigated more than three decades in the Entertainment industry.

Chestnut said he wanted the day to be a celebration of his longtime friends who have supported him, reports Fox 11 Los Angeles.

“So it’s really been tough for me to really be able to navigate this industry, because it takes a lot out of me, and every time I do come up and do things like this, and people don’t realize it,” he said.

The “Our Kind Of People” actor continued, “So first and foremost, I want to thank God for blessing me and allowing me to be able to do that, to be able to go outside of myself and be in an industry where you have to go outside of yourself and be these characters. … Friendship is very important to me. For me it’s always been a concerted effort, so I want to make sure that Hollywood is a  part of my life, but it was not my life. So my longstanding friendships have always been extremely important to me.”

Morris Chestnut, 54 years old, is a highly successful American actor from Cerritos, California. An actor known for his smooth demeanor and appearance, he is regarded among the prolific Black male actors who are “sex symbols” including Harry Belafonte, Danny Glover, Billy Dee Williams, and Denzel Washington.

The newly inducted actor is “currently starring in the new FOX drama “Our Kind of People,” currently on the cast of FOX drama “The Resident,” simultaneously he is preparing to reprise his role as Lance Sullivan in the Peacock limited series “The Best Man: The Final Chapter,” and immediately prior, Chestnut starred the NBC drama “The Enemy Within” and FOX series “Rosewood,” detailed Dwayne Gathers as he introduced the honoree.

Watch the full Walk of Fame Ceremony below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vesy56LF9Y0

Charlamagne Tha God Among Celebrity Ambassadors For Colon Cancer Prevention

Influential figures including multimedia mogul and TV personality Charlamagne tha God are advocating for Colon Cancer prevention in the Black community, a heinous disease that took the life of ‘Black Panther’ Chadwick Boseman.

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By Brooks Welch

Influential figures including multimedia mogul and TV personality Charlamagne tha God are advocating for Colon Cancer prevention in the Black community, a heinous disease that took the life of ‘Black Panther’ Chadwick Boseman.

“Too many of us have had friends or family that have been affected by colorectal cancer, so it’s important for me to speak out and help eliminate any embarrassment surrounding colorectal cancer screening,” said Charlamagne tha God.

According to statistics just released by the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men and women combined, and Black Americans are about 20% more likely to be diagnosed with colon cancer and 35% more likely to die from it. Despite the recent lowering of the minimum screening age to 45 from 50, many in the Black community will not get screened. (via Black Enterprise)

Alongside Charlamagne Tha God, other ambassadors for Alliance’s “They Didn’t Say” campaign include journalist, TV and podcast host, Brandon “Jinx” Jenkins, award-winning photographer, Mel D. Cole, and director, DJ, and designer, Vashtie.

The campaign’s primary aim is to bring attention to the disparities affecting the Black community and colon cancer. The initiative also wants to combat the misconception of colon cancer only affecting those later in life. (via Ebony)

The “They Didn’t Say” campaign is in collaboration with leading influencer and digital marketing agency Team Epiphany. The creative agency  founder, Coltrane Curtis, feels strongly about the initiative.

“As a Black American, and someone who has a platform for change, I am committed to reaching our community with this important call to action. There are so many issues facing us that we can’t control. Preventing colon cancer is one thing we can do. We aim to shift the scales on health equity with this campaign.”

To find out if you qualify for a free colorectal cancer screening, contact the Colorectal Cancer Alliance helpline at 877-422-2030 or complete the online screening survey at quiz.getscreened.org.

 

Pharrell Williams’ ‘Black Ambition’ Contest For Entrepreneurs Now Open

Legendary producer Pharrell Williams’ non profit, Black Ambition, has open applications again for Black and Latinx entrepreneurs to win up to $1 million. 

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By Brooks Welch

Black Ambition, a non profit created by legendary producer Pharrell Williams, has opened applications again for Black and Latinx entrepreneurs to win up to $1 million.

Black Ambition is a non-profit organization founded by the visionary producer to access growth capital, pitch feedback, and mentorship.

“In 2021, Black Ambition supported over 250 entrepreneurs and awarded over $3.2 million to support their endeavors. What’s more, entrepreneurs from the competition continued to soar, earning over $40 million after receiving a Black Ambition Prize,” reports Afrotech. Last year’s winners were Mya Havard, CEO of She.ad, and Justin Turk, CEO of Livegistics.

“With Black Ambition, the goal is to help strengthen the pipeline of talented entrepreneurs and close the opportunity and wealth gaps derived from limited access to capital and resources,” said Williams. (via Black Ambition Prize)

The initiative is headed by CEO Felicia Hatcher, Co-Founder of Black Tech Week and The Center for Black Innovation. Hatcher was honored with 2014 Obama White House Champion of Change for STEM Access and Diversity, Harvard Young American Leader, and Essence Magazine Tech Master among many others. Black Ambition’s team consists of 7 members, 5 being women of color.

Black and Latinx founders building across Consumer Products and Services, Media and Entertainment, Healthcare, Tech, and Web 3.0. are eligible to win.

The contest is split into two portals of entry, The Black Ambition Prize and The Black Ambition HBCU Prize. Both deadlines for applications are May 8th.

Visit the Black Ambition Prize website to enter and learn more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mG7kNCpP-s

Supreme Court Nominee Ketanji Jackson Moved To Tears By Senator Corey Booker’s Words

On Wednesday night, a video of Senator Corey Booker went viral as he gave a passionate speech to honor Ketanji Jackson. 

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By Brooks Welch

On Wednesday night, a video of Senator Corey Booker went viral as he gave a passionate speech to honor Supreme Court Nominee, Ketanji Jackson.

During the third day of Senate Judiciary Committee hearings, the New Jersey senator spoke to the greatness in Ketanji Jackson, the first Black woman in the Supreme Court.

“I want to tell you when I look at you, this is why I get emotional,” said Booker through tears, “I’m sorry — you’re a person that is so much more than your race and gender.”

Booker noted that Jackson is a Christian, a mother and an intellect and that she has a love of books. Jackson and others in the audience wiped away tears as Booker spoke. He also became emotional at times, reports NPR.

According to Yahoo! News and NPR, Booker is the fourth Black person elected to the U.S. Senate, the only Black member of the Senate committee and one of only three Black senators. In a position where identifying with one’s fellow Black colleagues can be seen as unwise or biased, Booker completely identified with Jackson’s presence in the Supreme Court.

“You faced insults here that were shocking to me — well, actually not shocking,” he said.

Republican senator Ted Cruz recently asked Supreme Court Nominee Jackson her thoughts on book “Anti-Racist Baby” by author Ibram X. Kendi,  “Do you agree with this book that is being taught to kids that babies are racist?” To which she responded with a long pause, followed by grace and poise. This was one example of the absurd interactions she has navigated during her confirmation hearings.

“It’s hard for me not to look at you and not see my mom. Not to see my cousins, one of them who had to come here and sit behind you. She had to have your back. I see my ancestors and yours,” Booker said. “But don’t worry, my sister. Don’t worry. God has got you. And how do I know that? You’re here, and I know what it’s taken for you to sit in that seat.

“You have earned this spot,” Booker said. “You are worthy. You are a great American.”

The committee will resume the confirmation hearings again Thursday, the fourth and final day, to hear from witnesses. (via Yahoo! News)

Watch Senator Corey Booker’s full moving speech below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjjvNLMyNS4