The Greene County Democrat

Category: Newswire

  • Doug Jones, Shomari Figures push voting rights at Troy town hall

    Doug Jones, Shomari Figures push voting rights at Troy town hall

    By Alabama Political Reporter, Staff

    Democratic gubernatorial nominee Doug Jones joined U.S. Representative Shomari Figures, D-Alabama, last week for a town hall at Troy University, where the two candidates took questions from students, community members and voters ahead of the November election.

    The event, hosted by the Troy University College Democrats and Pike County Democrats, focused heavily on congressional redistricting and the continuing fight over Black voting power in Alabama.

    Alabama’s 2026 congressional elections are proceeding under the Legislature’s 2023 map after the U.S. Supreme Court stayed a lower-court injunction in June. The order followed the court’s April decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which changed the legal standard governing discriminatory-effect vote-dilution claims under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

    The decision restored the Republican-drawn 2023 plan and displaced the court-ordered map used during the 2024 election. That remedial map established a second Black-opportunity district following the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Allen v. Milligan.

    Figures won the reconfigured 2nd Congressional District in 2024, joining U.S. Representative Terri Sewell, D-Alabama, as Alabama’s two Black members of Congress. He is now seeking reelection against Republican state Representative Rhett Marques under dramatically different district lines.

    Both Figures and Jones argued Tuesday that the new district remains competitive. A DCCC-sponsored poll released this week showed Figures and Marques tied at 46 percent, with 8 percent of voters undecided.

    Jones said reaching voters in parts of Alabama where Democrats have not competed consistently represents an opportunity for candidates heading into November.

    “We are moving into areas that Democrats haven’t gone in a while. That’s why we’re doing these town halls,” Jones said. “We are not just going out trying to preach to the choir. We’re talking to people, and we’re listening to people. That’s the critical piece.”

    Holding the town hall in Pike County carried additional significance. Civil rights leader and longtime Georgia congressman John Lewis was born and raised near Troy, earning him the enduring nickname “the Boy from Troy.” His nephew, Ron Lewis, was among those attending Tuesday’s event.

    Figures also pointed to what he described as growing enthusiasm surrounding Jones’ campaign and argued that energy at the top of the Democratic ticket could help candidates across the state.

    “Doug Jones is running one of the most exciting and inspiring campaigns that we have seen for governor in recent memory,” Figures said. “And that energy is what’s going to lead the top of the ticket in November. And I am thrilled to stand in the winner’s circle with you in November.”

    The joint appearance highlighted the candidates’ strategy of expanding Democratic outreach beyond the party’s traditional base and increasing turnout in communities that have often received little attention during statewide campaigns.

    Featured Image: U.S. Representative Shomari Figures and gubernatorial candidate Doug Jones host a town hall in Pike County. (Alabama Political Reporter)

  • Big Mama Said: “When Spider Webs Unite, They Can Tie up a Lion”

    Big Mama Said: “When Spider Webs Unite, They Can Tie up a Lion”

    By Terry Allen, Texas Metro News

    TEXAS METRO NEWS — An Ethiopian proverb, “When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion,” highlights how collective effort transforms individual fragility into power. This wisdom reflects the history of voting in America, especially for Black Americans, where ordinary citizens organized and demanded their rights. 

    There is a powerful Ethiopian proverb: “When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion.”

    Big Mama understood that kind of wisdom. One spider web looks fragile and insignificant. But connect enough strands, working together with purpose, and what appeared powerless becomes powerful.

    That is the story of voting in America—and especially the Black American experience.

    The Voting Rights Act of 1965 did not happen because powerful people suddenly decided to share power. Ordinary Americans organized, marched, registered voters, and demanded that America honor its promises.

    Fannie Lou Hamer, a Mississippi sharecropper, refused to accept that Black citizens should be denied their voices. John Lewis crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge and was beaten while demanding voting rights. Behind them stood thousands of unnamed people who organized churches, knocked on doors, and risked their jobs, safety, and lives for the ballot.

    Their spider webs united—and changed America.

    More than sixty years later, voting remains at the center of national battles. America continues to debate congressional maps, voter registration, voter-roll maintenance, identification requirements, ballot access, and election procedures. These debates remind us that democracy cannot simply be inherited. Every generation must participate in protecting it.

    Too many eligible citizens remain disconnected or discouraged from the voting process. Others simply assume their registration is current.

    That is why my family practices something we call “Gimme 5.”

    It is simple: I commit to getting five people to vote. Those five reach five more. We confirm registrations, share election information, remind one another of voting dates, and encourage one another until the votes are actually cast.

    Then we have a party—not to celebrate a candidate or political party, but to celebrate the actual votes cast.

    Do the math: one plus five equals five. Five reach 25. Twenty-five reach 125. Imagine that multiplication happening through families, churches, fraternities, sororities, and neighborhoods.

    So here is my two-part challenge:

    First, confirm that you are registered to vote.

    Second, Gimme 5. Activate five voters and challenge each of them to activate five more.

    Our ancestors built the web. Now we must strengthen it.

    Big Mama said, “When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion.”

    Terry Allen is an NABJ award-winning Journalist, DEI expert, PR professional,
    and Vice President at FocusPR, founder of the charity City Men Cook, and Dallas Chapter President of NBPRS.org

    Featured Image: Family Gimme 5 party (Malcolm Lloyd)

  • Taylor’s Law begins Aug. 1. Here’s how it affects Alabama teen drivers

    Taylor’s Law begins Aug. 1. Here’s how it affects Alabama teen drivers

    By Jennifer Lindahl, Montgomery Advertiser

    As Alabama students head back to school, there’s a new reason to stay out of the principal’s office.

    Beginning Aug. 1, school discipline won’t just affect report cards or extracurricular activities. Under Taylor’s Law, certain disciplinary actions can also delay when some teens are eligible to get a learner’s permit or driver’s license.

    Here’s what families should know before the new school year begins.

    What is Taylor’s Law?

    Taylor’s Law establishes a discipline point system for students enrolled in Alabama public and private secondary schools. The law applies to disciplinary infractions committed on school property.

    Beginning with the school year, including summer school, in which a student turns 13, discipline points are tracked and accumulated until the student becomes eligible to apply for a learner’s permit or driver’s license.

    Each point earned pushes back eligibility by one week.

    When does Taylor’s Law take effect?

    Taylor’s Law takes effect Aug. 1, meaning the discipline point systems will be in place as Alabama students return to school for the new academic year.

    For teenagers approaching driving age, school discipline may now have consequences that extend beyond the classroom, affecting when they can legally get behind the wheel.

    Which students are affected by Taylor’s Law?

    The law applies to students who are 13 years and older and enrolled in a public or private secondary school in Alabama.

    Although Alabama allows teens to obtain a learner’s permit at age 15 and a driver’s license at age 16 if they meet licensing requirements, discipline points begin accumulating years earlier, starting with the school year in which the student turns 13.

    How many points does each disciplinary action carry?

    Taylor’s Law assigns points based on the type of school discipline:

    • In-school suspension (ISS): 1 point for each day.

    • Out-of-school suspension (OSS): 2 points for each day.

    • Alternative school placement: 6 points.

    • Expulsion: 20 points.

    Every point adds one week to the age at which a student may receive a learner’s permit, driver’s license or other covered license.

    For example, a student who accumulates six points would have to wait an additional six weeks before becoming eligible.

    Students don’t automatically receive points for every suspension

    The law includes exceptions designed to allow students to improve their behavior.

    For in-school suspension:

    • The first three days of ISS in a school year do not generate points.

    • If a student reaches a fourth day of ISS, then all ISS days from that school year, including the first three, count toward the total.

    For out-of-school suspension:

    • An initial OSS of two days or fewer does not generate points.

    • If the student receives another OSS later that school year, the days from the first suspension are added to the point total.

    If the initial OSS exceeds two days, all of those days count.

    Can students erase discipline points?

    Yes. Taylor’s Law includes provisions that allow students to reduce or eliminate accumulated points through improved behavior.

    If a student completes one full school year without receiving additional discipline points, previously accumulated points are reduced by half.

    If the student completes two consecutive school years without receiving additional points, all accumulated points are removed from the student’s school record.

    Is there a limit to how long a license can be delayed?

    Yes.

    Even if a student accumulates enough points to create a longer delay, Alabama law says eligibility cannot be extended by more than one year beyond the date the student would otherwise first qualify to apply for a learner’s permit or driver’s license.

    Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter in Alabama for USA TODAY’s Deep South Connect Team. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email atjlindahl@usatodayco.com.

    To read the original article on The Montgomery Adviser, click here

  • Congresswoman files bill to solve Alabama’s rural ambulance crisis

    Congresswoman files bill to solve Alabama’s rural ambulance crisis

    By Savannah Tryens-Fernandes, AL.com

    U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell introduced a bipartisan bill this week to increase Medicare payments for ambulances to help fix the crisis plaguing communities throughout Alabama and the country. 

    Medicare reimbursements for ground and air ambulances have not been updated since 2002, according to the group of representatives sponsoring the Reimbursing Emergency Services for Critical Urgent Encounters (RESCUE) Act. 

    That means the current rates emergency services are being paid by Medicare are based on data from 1998, even as the cost of things like gas and medical equipment have gone up.

    “I cosponsored the bipartisan RESCUE Act because it will help ensure ambulance services are fairly reimbursed for the lifesaving care they provide, strengthening emergency medical services and helping keep ambulances on the road for the communities that depend on them,” Sewell (D) said in a statement to AL.com. 

    Alabama has the second lowest number of ambulance stations per capita in the country, according to a 2023 report by the Rural Health Research and Policy Centers.

    Of the state’s 67 counties, 64 are considered to be in an ‘ambulance desert,’ impacting over 300,000 people, mostly in rural communities. Many rural counties have lost medical services in recent years as hospitals downsized or closed completely.

    Earlier this month, Greene County Emergency Medical Services halted their ambulance service because a “critical lack of funding” had prevented them from maintaining their ambulances.

    Residents were told there was only one quick response vehicle available to take patients to the hospital, and they “should expect significantly delayed response times” for emergencies.

    But days later, local and state officials secured money for two new ambulances from the state’s EMS office. 

    Local officials told AL.com that the new ambulances are only a short-term solution. In order to keep them on the road, emergency services will need higher payments from Medicare and other insurance providers. 

    “The biggest clients that the ambulances have in Greene County are Medicaid and Medicare patients,” said Garria Spencer, chair of the Greene County Commission. 

    “We have got to have a source of income other than what they’re billing because they’re just not billing enough to make it work, and that’s not only true in Greene County.”

    The RESCUE Act would require the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to update ambulance payments every three years based on current data on mileage and labor costs. 

    The new payments would take effect in 2029, according to the bill, which has the support of the Emergency Ambulance Operators Alliance. 

    “When Alabamians call 911 during a medical emergency, they deserve to know that an ambulance will be there when they need it,” Sewell said. 

    “Unfortunately, too many families—especially in our rural communities—are facing longer response times because ambulance providers are under tremendous financial strain.” 

     

    Savannah Tryens-Fernandes is an investigative reporter covering health and medical care in Alabama. She joined AL.com as an education reporter and Report for America corps member in 2021, covering efforts to address child mental health and wellness inside and outside classrooms. Savannah previously documented human rights abuses in Southern Africa while working at Human Rights Watch. She also holds a master’s degree from Columbia Journalism School, where she was a Stabile fellow in investigative journalism.

    To read the original article on AL.com, click here.

  • Commentary: Jim Crow 2.0 at the Pentagon

    Commentary: Jim Crow 2.0 at the Pentagon

    By Wade Henderson, BlackPressUSA Newswire

    Pete Hegseth insists that he is restoring “merit” to the United States military. But after months of dismissals, blocked promotions, and ideological purges, the evidence tells a different story. His campaign against so-called “diversity, equity, and inclusion” has become something far more dangerous: an assault on equal opportunity that falls with particular force on African Americans, while also targeting women, Latinos, gay Americans, and transgender service members.

    The latest example is both troubling and infuriating.

    Once again, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly blocked the promotion of an exceptionally qualified woman—Rear Admiral Amy Bauernschmidt. Bauernschmidt is no ordinary officer. She became the Navy’s first woman to command a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, one of the most demanding leadership assignments in the world. Her career reflects decades of exemplary performance, operational excellence, and leadership under extraordinary pressure.

    Yet once again, a distinguished military career appears to have been subordinated to an ideological agenda masquerading as “merit.”

    I call BS!

    The American people are expected to believe that one extraordinary officer after another suddenly fails to meet some undefined standard of excellence. We are expected to ignore impeccable service records while accepting that political appointees alone possess the wisdom to determine who is worthy of advancement.

    The pattern has become impossible to ignore.

    General Charles Q. Brown Jr., only the second African American to serve as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was dismissed despite a career that placed him among the most accomplished military leaders of his generation.

    Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman ever to serve as Chief of Naval Operations, was removed despite decades of distinguished command experience.

    Reports have documented interventions that blocked or delayed the promotions of Black officers and women selected through the military’s rigorous promotion system.

    Now Rear Admiral Amy Bauernschmidt joins the growing list of highly accomplished officers whose careers have been derailed for reasons that have never been persuasively explained.

    Where is Congress?

    Its silence has become deafening.

    Congress has an independent constitutional responsibility to oversee the armed forces. Instead, too many lawmakers have watched silently while one of the nation’s most respected institutions is subjected to ideological litmus tests and political interference.

    This is not military reform.  It is testosterone-fueled performative masculinity disguised as a philosophy of military excellence.

    The irony is impossible to miss. Hegseth repeatedly invokes “merit,” yet his rhetoric begins with the assumption that Black officers, women, and other historically excluded Americans must somehow justify their achievements in ways that white male officers are rarely required to do.

    That is not meritocracy.  It is prejudice wrapped in patriotic language.

    No one is asking that anyone be promoted because of race or gender. Americans simply expect that promotions be based on demonstrated competence, leadership, integrity, and service. The officers being targeted have already proven themselves repeatedly under one of the world’s most demanding evaluation systems.

    Their records speak for themselves.

    The attack on African American military leadership has been especially pernicious.

    For generations, Black Americans fought in segregated units, earned decorations while denied equal treatment, and repeatedly demonstrated loyalty to a nation that often failed to extend them full citizenship. They broke barriers not because standards were lowered but because excellence finally overcame institutional discrimination.

    Today’s campaign against “diversity” threatens to revive old assumptions under new slogans.

    The implication that Black generals and admirals somehow owe their success to affirmative action rather than extraordinary performance echoes some of the ugliest stereotypes of the Jim Crow era. Yesterday’s segregationists claimed Black Americans were inherently less qualified. Today’s culture warriors simply employ more politically acceptable language while inviting the same suspicion about Black achievement.

    That is why Hegseth’s campaign increasingly resembles Jim Crow 2.0.

    The targets may now wear stars on their shoulders instead of military patches on segregated uniforms, but the underlying message is hauntingly familiar: Black excellence is presumed suspect, while white excellence is presumed earned.

    America’s military became the finest fighting force in history because it opened its doors to talent wherever it could be found. It grew stronger after President Truman desegregated the armed forces. It became stronger when women assumed greater command responsibilities. It became stronger when every qualified American was given the opportunity to serve to the fullest extent of their abilities.

    Diversity is not a concession.  It is a strategic advantage.

    The nation’s adversaries do not fear an American military because it is racially homogeneous. They fear it because it draws upon the talents of more than 340 million Americans whose diverse experiences, perspectives, and abilities make our armed forces unmatched anywhere in the world.

    Every politically motivated dismissal of a distinguished officer sends a chilling message throughout the ranks: excellence alone may no longer be enough if you belong to the wrong demographic group.

    That weakens morale.  It weakens recruitment.  It weakens retention.

    And ultimately, it weakens national security.

    Pete Hegseth has every right to pursue military readiness. He has no right to redefine merit in ways that repeatedly cast suspicion upon the accomplishments of Black officers, women, and others who have devoted their lives to defending this nation.

    America deserves better.  The men and women who wear the uniform deserve better.  The Constitution deserves better.

    And unless Congress finds the courage to exercise meaningful oversight, history may well remember this period not as a restoration of military excellence, but as the moment political ideology attempted to resurrect, in modern form, the old poison of exclusion.

    Jim Crow did not strengthen America.  Jim Crow 2.0 will not strengthen America’s military.  It will only diminish it

    Wade Henderson Strategic Advisor Civil and Human Rights wade@wadejhenderson.com

    To read the original article on BlackPressUSA, click here

  • Tuskegee University Bans Bonnets And Du-Rags On Campus. Let’s Talk About It

    Tuskegee University Bans Bonnets And Du-Rags On Campus. Let’s Talk About It

    By Zack Linly, NewsOne

    Tuskegee’s new dress code policy is part of a larger policy that, to its credit, does have practical applications as well.

    Black people, especially here in the U.S., have a complicated relationship with presentability. Historically, we’ve been looked down upon as a collective, no matter what we’re wearing. A lot of Black people will note that Martin Luther King Jr. was wearing a suit when a rabid white man assassinated him. I’m not sure I like that reasoning since King was killed because of the work he was doing and the systemic racism he led a fight against — not because someone mistook him for a thug due to baggy clothing or a head scarf — but the point still stands that adhering to a largely white and Western standard for how one should dress in public certainly won’t save us from the prejudice that also comes with that standard.

    I’m not even sure if there’s a societal frame of reference for respectability politics as it relates to white people and other racial groups, but for Black people, it’s a 400-year plague that has infected many of us with deeply colonized mentalities. But whatever, Black people can think what they want; the problem arises when they start making policy around it in Black institutions.

    So, let’s talk about this new dress code banning bonnets and du-rags in classrooms and the cafeteria at Tuskegee University.

    So, first, it should be noted that, according to AL.com, Tuskegee’s updated dress code also prohibits students from wearing house shoes and “revealing clothing” and mandates that students attending professional events or business meetings must wear business suits and appropriate footwear. Tuskegee President Dr. Mark A. Brown said the changes aim to give students a “solid foundation for the workforce they will enter once they leave Tuskegee” rather than limit their college experience. But do they actually do the former and not the latter?

    I wonder if Brown, the other administrators at Tuskegee, or any of the Black people on social media who agree with the new policy — and there are many of them — have actually witnessed or even heard about a college graduate showing up to a job interview or business meeting in a bonnet or du-rag and slippers. Certainly, this must be a real, non-delusional concern of theirs due to a totally-non-fictional phenomenon that is reflected in reality — otherwise, we’re just talking about students going to class and to lunch dressed comfortably, and one might get the impression that these blushing negroes just don’t like seeing certain aspects of Black existence being on display where everyone else can see us. 

    Remember when the killing of Trayvon Martin by racist neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman started off as a discussion about systemic racism, racial profiling, and the inherent white supremacy of “stand your ground” laws, until it devolved into a debate around whether Trayvon should’ve been wearing a hoodie in the first place? That might have been a discussion that began in the Caucasian world of justifying violent Black death at the hands of bigoted vigilantes, but it’s one that also included white-gaze-fearing Black people warning other Black people about the dangers of hooded casual wear and how we should abstain from it even when we’re doing something as mundane as walking home from the corner store. The implication there is that Trayvon might still be alive if the sweater he was wearing was hoodless, and the Black people who were subjecting their own to such warnings purported to be looking out for our collective best interest then, too. But were they merely looking out for their own in the interest of our collective safety, or was Trayvon’s story simply the excuse they needed to reinforce their own disgust with Black people not adhering to their conservative views on how we should assimilate, mirroring that of our white counterparts?

    But you know what, let’s stick to the subject at hand, which, by the way, is far from unique to Tuskegee, as respectability politics are an issue at HBCUs across the country, unfortunately, regardless of how often the richness and fullness of Black culture is on display at these institutions.

    Again, Tuskegee’s new dress code policy is part of a larger policy that, to its credit, does have practical applications as well. For example, the new policy holds that students must keep cellphones turned off during class unless professors give specific permission to use them, and it requires the university to monitor attendance more closely, “viewing regular class participation as essential to academic success, according to the updated policy,” as AL.com reported.

    Now, see, these policies might actually help with the fact that at Tuskegee University, only 29% – 31% of students finish on time within four years, only 57% – 61% of students complete their bachelor’s degrees within six years, and the fact that roughly 20% to nearly 30% of 73% – 81% of first-year students fail to return for their sophomore year, according to the U.S. News and World Report.

    But, no, no — I’m sure student retention and performance will improve greatly now that administrators are telling them they need to be in a button-down shirt and slacks when they go to class, and to leave their protective head coverings in their dorms.

    Good luck with all that.

    Read the original article here.

    Featured Image: Young African American photographer (ASphotowed / Getty)

  • OP-ED: Why LeBron James and Jaylen Brown will make the Philadelphia 76ers Bigger than Basketball

    OP-ED: Why LeBron James and Jaylen Brown will make the Philadelphia 76ers Bigger than Basketball

    By A.R. Shaw, BlackPressUSA

    LeBron James’ decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers instantly made his new team title contenders on the court. But with Jaylen Brown as his teammate, it will be a win for Black initiatives off the court.​

    After several weeks of contemplating his new destination, James bypassed the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, and Cleveland Cavs to finish his illustrious career in Philly, a city with a significant Black community and culture.​

    James, 41, will join a 76ers team that features former MVP Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecomb, and Brown, who made his way to Philly one month ago via a trade from the Boston Celtics.​

    If Embiid can minimize his days missed due to injuries, the 76ers will be in prime position to challenge for an NBA championship.

    Beyond the basketball court, James and Brown have both embraced leadership roles. In an era when many athletes are encouraged to “shut up and dribble” rather than speak out against injustice or invest in their communities, James and Brown have taken the opposite path, dedicating themselves to empowering the communities they represent. ​

    To this generation, James and Brown are what Muhammad Ali and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar were to theirs.

    Since 2004, James and the LeBron James Foundation have created tangible initiatives that continue to serve the community. The I Promise school, located in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, provides education and mentorship for over 1,200 students. James also opened a Starbucks Community Store blocks away from the I Promise school, where workers earned a salary and job-training certificates for the hospitality industry. And in 2017, the NAACP awarded James with the Jackie Robinson Sports Award for his “contributions in the pursuit of social justice, civil rights and community involvement.”​

    Through his 7uice Foundation, Brown launched The Bridge Program, an initiative that equips young people with skills in science, technology, and innovation. Hosted at MIT’s Media Lab, the week-long program immerses students in hands-on learning focused on robotics, artificial intelligence, climate change, food insecurity, and data visualization.

    “There’s fascinating research in early childhood development showing that exposing children to new sounds and experiences helps strengthen brain development,” Brown shared during a recent keynote speech at The Gathering Spot in Atlanta. “Those new experiences stimulate neuroplasticity, strengthen neural pathways, and support cognitive development during the years when the brain is growing most rapidly…For me, that’s community. It’s investing in the next generation.”

    During his keynote address, Brown also discussed the importance of integrity and revealed why so many prominent figures are incapable of speaking out against injustices.

    “I’ve turned down opportunities worth millions of dollars—not because I don’t like money or don’t need it, but because I understood what came attached to those deals,” Brown shared. “A lot of people only look at the number; I look at the fine print. Many contracts with major corporations don’t just pay you. They also dictate what you can say, how you use your platform, and what opinions you’re allowed to express. Sometimes there’s language that says if you say something considered controversial—or something that could affect the company’s image—they can terminate the agreement. That’s why so many public figures stay silent. It’s not always because they don’t care. Sometimes it’s because speaking honestly could cost them their career, their endorsements, or their income.”

    Brown and James have remained vocal on social issues, disregarding any pushback that may follow. In an effort to mobilize Black voters and fight voter suppression, James helped to establish “More Than Vote” and was a staunch supporter of President Barack Obama. He also took a stand following the deaths of Eric Garner and Trayvon Martin, leading teammates to wear “I can’t breathe” shirts in honor of Garner and hoodies for Martin.

    During the 2020 protests following the murder of George Floyd, Brown drove 15 hours from Boston to his hometown Atlanta to participate in a march.

    “I drove 15 hours to get to Georgia, my community,” Brown shared during a live stream at the march. “This is a peaceful protest. Being a celebrity, being an NBA player don’t exclude me from no conversations at all. First and foremost I’m a black man and I’m a member of this community… We’re raising awareness for some of the injustices that we’ve been seeing. It’s not OK.”

    Brown has also spoken out against environmental justice. While speaking at MIT, Brown said, “We’re here to talk about something that affects us all, climate change. Today marks a very pivotal moment in time. The decisions that we make now will have an impact on future generations. Climate change isn’t just an environmental issue. It’s a social justice issue. It’s an economic issue, and it’s also a moral imperative. As someone who prides himself on influence and responsibility, what an honor it is to talk about this topic.”

    James and Brown will put in hours of work on the court in an effort to lead the 76ers to an NBA championship. But once they get an opportunity to sit down together, share resources, and implement plans to improve Black communities, their impact will be immense.

    “No matter where my career goes, my integrity has to walk through the door before I do,” Brown shared during his recent keynote in Atlanta. “So when opportunities come along, I ask one question: ‘Will this allow me to remain authentic?’ If the answer is no, then I respectfully walk away. Because I’d rather keep my voice than sell it.”

     

    Read the original article here.

  • Nolan Wells’ Family Met With DA, Agree To Investigate Phone Together 

    Nolan Wells’ Family Met With DA, Agree To Investigate Phone Together 

    By Joe Jurado, NewsOne

    According to AP, the agreement comes after the family previously alleged that messages on Nolan’s phone had been deleted before they got it back. Ben Crump, the family’s attorney, told reporters that the meeting with McIlrath was largely focused on the investigation process. Crump added that McIlrath agreed to present the evidence before a grand jury once the investigation is concluded. 

    “The hope is when this is presented to the grand jury, all relevant witnesses and evidence will be presented to them, so we can have a fair and impartial investigation into the death of Nolan Wells,” Crump told reporters. “Our lived experiences tell us that we must question everything, everybody’s role, law enforcement’s role. That is the lived experience as Black people in America.” 

    Nolan’s phone has been the subject of much intrigue in the early days of the investigation. 

    From AP:

    Family members retrieved his phone from the home of one of Wells’ friends the evening of July 4 after using a locator app to find it. His family said their son was an avid Snapchat user, but there were no posts or messages from the 24 hours or so before they retrieved it.

    Crump previously said he planned to hire an expert to determine whether data could be recovered from the phone or social media. Wednesday, he said that process will move forward in cooperation with investigators in the prosecutor’s office.

    Rychlak, the law professor, said mutual inspection of evidence between the police and victim’s family is not typical.

    “Evidence is secured and not usually shared,” Rychlak said, adding that cooperation between the family and police could speed the investigation.

    Nolan Wells was missing after going to a July 4th party with a group of his friends on a barrier island in Mississippi. His friends returned home without him, and Nolan’s mother reported him missing shortly after midnight on July 5. Nolan’s body was found on the beach the following day after a brief search. 

    Audio of a 911 call released on Wednesday revealed that the group Nolan went to the island with was experiencing issues with their boat on their return home. 

    “Hey, we’re at the west tip of Horn, and our bilge pump stopped working. We’re going. We’re sinking. Can you all please come?” the vessel’s operator can be heard saying in the call. “I want to get this boat unsank and towed back.”

    The fact that Nolan’s friends returned without him has raised questions over why they left him and what, if any, involvement they may have had in his death. It’s hard not to look at the friends with some degree of skepticism, considering Nolan’s phone was found with them and not on Nolan’s person. 

    Nolan’s death has been the subject of much national scrutiny, given that Wells was one of the only Black people in a predominantly white space. The mysterious circumstances of Nolan’s death bring to mind the story of Tamla Horsford, a Black woman who died while at a slumber party in which she was the only Black person present. 

    The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department was quick to announce it didn’t suspect any foul play in Nolan’s death, which has led to calls for an independent investigation. Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick is helping the family pay for an independent autopsy, and on Wednesday, the Congressional Black Caucus joined the calls for an independent investigation into Nolan’s death. 

    A memorial will be held for Nolan on Monday. Rev. Al Sharpton will officiate the service, and film producer Tyler Perry has offered to pay for the arrangements. Christine Wonsley, Nolan’s mom, told reporters on Wednesday that she intends for Monday’s funeral to be a celebration of her son’s life. “He would not want us to be sitting around crying and eating, and so what we’re gonna do is kind of have a party to celebrate him,” she said.
     
    Read the original article here.

    Featured Image: Wells Family (Wells Family GoFundMe / Screenshot)

  • The FBI Will Reportedly Stop Investigating ICE Confrontations. Why?

    The FBI Will Reportedly Stop Investigating ICE Confrontations. Why?

    By Zack Linly, NewsOne

    Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have shot and killed two immigrants within a week of each other, prompting national outrage and protests, as favorability toward the agency continues to plummet on the heels of the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good. So, how does the Trump administration respond to concerns that ICE is out of control and has become a danger to the general public? Well, apparently, it has decided that the FBI will no longer investigate confrontations with immigration agents, specifically cases that involve assault allegations against agents, and cases that could be used to prosecute federal agents implicated in violent encounters. Instead, those cases will reportedly be handled by an internal investigation arm of ICE, which essentially means the agency would be investigating itself.

    Now, according to the New York Times, the administration is denying the rule change, and we’ll circle back to that in a second, but FBI agents have reportedly already been informed of it.

    From the Times:

    F.B.I. managers around the country received a written notice informing them of the change on Thursday, according to the people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal communications. The same day, some ICE agents around the country were notified by their F.B.I. counterparts.

    The guidance shared with them said that the bureau would stop investigating claims of assaults against Department of Homeland Security agents, the people said. Even though such investigations are intended to determine whether the officers were in fact attacked, they can provide a crucial means of gathering evidence implicating the agents themselves.

    Under the change, responsibility for investigating cases involving federal immigration officers would likely fall to Homeland Security Investigations, an arm of ICE, effectively leaving the agency to investigate itself, according to guidance circulated

    Cases involving an assault on a federal officer have been a source of tension inside federal law enforcement agencies for more than a year. White House and Justice Department officials have pushed prosecutors to bring charges in as many of them as possible, particularly as Americans protest the administration’s immigration crackdown.

    Under the federal statute, felony charges can be brought against anyone who “forcibly assaults, resists, opposes, impedes, intimidates or interferes” with a federal law enforcement officer.among F.B.I. and ICE agents.

    Cases involving an assault on a federal officer have been a source of tension inside federal law enforcement agencies for more than a year. White House and Justice Department officials have pushed prosecutors to bring charges in as many of them as possible, particularly as Americans protest the administration’s immigration crackdown.

    Under the federal statute, felony charges can be brought against anyone who “forcibly assaults, resists, opposes, impedes, intimidates or interferes” with a federal law enforcement officer.

    Just to put this all in perspective, last year, a federal judge in Chicago ordered the release of numerous videos that show, among other things, that immigration agents and DHS officials have made a habit of lying about anti-ICE protesters assaulting or posing threats to agents before those agents began using tear gas, pepper-balls, and other non-lethal yet brutal tactics to get them under control. The order came on the heels of the case of Chicago activist Marimar Martinez, who was shot several times by federal agents and accused of following and ramming ICE vehicles while agents were conducting their operations. The charges related to those allegations were dismissed with prejudice because witness accounts and surveillance footage of the incident contradicted what agents said happened, among other discrepancies in the government’s narrative.

    And we all saw the lengths the government went to to smear Good and Pretti as “domestic terrorists” who attacked agents before they were fatally shot, which video footage showed was not true in both cases.

    The point is, this is an administration that lies and spreads anti-immigrant and pro-ICE propaganda routinely, and any changes made in how these incidents are investigated would only be made so the administration could further insulate itself from outside accountability. (Not that the FBI should rightfully be considered an agency that is separate from the administration with Kash Patel at the helm, but still.)

    At any rate, the administration denied that the rule change had happened.

    “The relationship between D.H.S. and D.O.J. in investigating assault on federal officer cases has not changed, and F.B.I. will continue to investigate in accordance with agency policy,” a joint statement by the Justice Department and DHS said. “This administration has been clear, anyone who assaults law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

    Notice the sleight of hand there. The concern is not that people who allegedly assault federal officers won’t be held accountable. This administration has been caught lying about agents being attacked numerous times, only for it to come out that the agents were actually the aggressors. The federal government’s statement even indicates that its only concern is for the agents accusing others of violence, not the other way around. And if it is true that officials have directed the FBI to no longer investigate these cases, leaving it to internal ICE departments to investigate themselves, it would only mean the administration is limiting scrutiny of immigration agents by law enforcement.

    The administration that claims everything is rigged is continuing its attempts to rig everything in its own favor. We can’t let it.

    Read the original article here.

    Featured Image: ICE Death Memorial (Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers/Getty)

  • Today’s Healthy Schools are Transforming Classrooms and Supporting Learners

    Today’s Healthy Schools are Transforming Classrooms and Supporting Learners

    By Dax Janel Valencia, BlackPressUSA

    Today’s healthy schools are transforming classrooms and better supporting students by moving away from sedentary, punitive approaches to tailored, whole-child environments. They factor in healthy meals and learning environments, including indoor air quality (IAQ) and comfort, aside from improved teaching methods.  

    IAQ in schools is of particular importance to students, affecting learning experiences and overall long-term welfare. As the U.S. EPA reports, most people spend around 90% of their time indoors, where the levels of some pollutants can be two, five, or even over 100 times higherthan outdoor levels.

    What Do Healthy Schools Mean? 

    The term “healthy schools” refers to educational institutions whose mission, vision, and goals are to provide active protection and promotion of the following aspects of both students and staff members:

    • Physical health

    • Mental well-being

    • Social-emotional welfare

    What Are the Key Components of Healthy Schools? 

    Whether they’re private schools or public schools, healthy educational institutions often adopt and follow the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) framework.

    The WSCC is the result of the collaboration of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD). It’s a multifaceted approach that covers 10 components, including:

    1. Physical education

    2. Health services

    3. Health education

    4. Nutrition environment and services

    5. Employee wellness

    6. Physical environment

    7. Social and emotional climate

    8. Family engagement

    9. Community involvement

    10. Counseling, psychological, and social services

    The goal of the WSCC is to help create healthier schools run by compassionate, understanding adults (teachers and other staff members) and provide students with safety, engagement, support, and mind-and-body challenges that promote long-term health and welfare. 

    How Are Healthy Schools Transforming Classrooms and Better Supporting Learners? 

    Today’s high-performing schools prioritize nutrition and the safety of actual learning environments, too. Institutional leaders and educators now know that exposure to healthy meals, optimal IAQ, and comfortable facilities plays a role in students’ current and future lives.

    Minimizing Sedentary Classroom Behaviors

    Data from America’s Health Rankings shows that in the United States, only 19.7% of children ages six to 17 were physically active for at least 60 minutes (one hour) every day within the past week. 

    A key contributor to children’s sedentary behavior is their prolonged sitting time. They spend a good chunk of this at school, seated in class. 

    Today’s healthy schools are intervening by incorporating more activities that encourage students to learn not just by sitting, but also by standing up and moving around. Examples include:

    • Introducing ergonomic, height-adjustable sit-stand and fidget desks that promote micro movements as children study

    • Engaging in learning tasks requiring physical activity (kinesthetic learning), such as acting out vocabulary words or playing math hopscotch

    • Scheduling physical activity and brain breaks

    Removing the Junk From School Meals 

    Today’s highly rated schools have become more conscious of what they provide and allow students to eat. Many have already overhauled their food policies and menus to eliminate options full of artificial additives and ultra-processed junk. 

    At the same time, healthy schools are prioritizing well-balanced, nourishing meals for students. They know that without proper nutrition, children’s physical, cognitive, emotional, and social functioning will suffer. 

    Education That Goes Beyond the Classroom

    Healthy schools still deliver traditional education, like social studies and language arts. They’re critical subjects necessary to build children’s strong academic foundations. 

    However, you’ll now also find tuition-free charter schools offering STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and arts programs that encourage students to become more creative and confident outside the classroom, as noted by Legacy East Mesa. 

    Environments Optimized for Better Learning 

    Comfortable learning environments that boast good IAQ levels are critical to children’s academic success and long-term health and well-being. Conversely, uncomfortable, unsanitary facilities and polluted indoor air can lead to the following consequences:

    • Increased fatigue

    • Higher risk of illnesses (e.g., respiratory problems due to air pollutants)

    • Constant distractions (negatively affecting learning experiences and retention)

    Modern schools take healthy learning environments seriously by integrating thoughtful school architecture with optimal thermal systems (e.g., energy-efficient, high-performance heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems).

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What Are the Long-Term Benefits of Attending Healthy Schools? 

    Since school is a place where students spend a considerable portion of their waking hours, they have a significant impact on children’s:

    • Development

    • Academic success

    • Lifelong health patterns and habits

    When kids attend healthy schools, their exposure to health and safety risks decreases, which can then translate to lower odds of getting sick and missing class. The better a student’s health, the more they can focus in class, and the higher their attendance rate.

    All that can lead to educational achievements and habits that can prepare and serve children well in adulthood and their future careers.

    The health and safety practices that students see and learn while in school can also become instilled in them. As a result, kids can engage in these safety habits at home and anywhere else outside of school.

    How Does Sedentary Behavior at School Impact Children’s Health?  

    Sedentary behavior is just as, if not more, critical for children, as it can disrupt their metabolism and stunt their bone and muscle development. It can also alter their academic performance and overall cognitive development.

    In the long run, being sedentary or lacking in physical activity can make children more likely to become ill with chronic diseases. 

    Healthy Schools: Supporting Children Today So They Can Have a Better Tomorrow 

    Today’s educational institutions are no longer just about providing students with a place for rote memorization. They’ve become healthy schools, prioritizing children’s holistic development and wellness, from physical to mental, cognitive, and social well-being. 

    If you’re looking for more educational guides like this or the latest news coverage with a focus on the Black community, we’ve got you covered. Explore the rest of our news website to stay in the loop on the most current events. 

    Read the original article here.

    Featured Image: Young African American boy in school (Unsplash.com)