Texas Metro News

FOR MER DALLAS P OLICE CH IEF DAVID B R OWN N AMED CH ICAGO CH IEF COP

TH E LEGEN D Ea rl Gra ve s, Sr., f ou n de r of B la ck En t e rprise , die s a t 85

MY TRUTH

By Cheryl Smith Publisher

Let’s Eat!

“A BLEAK TIME” Sports journalists affected by COVID-19

VOL.8 NO. 27

April 8, 2020

Parkland ready for COVID-19

BY REBECCA AGUILAR Senior Correspondent

T

hese are the times. Yes, these are the times!

Former U.S. Trade Ambassador Ron Kirk once said that small businesses are the backbone of America.

Unfortunately with the onset of coronavirus/COVID-19, small businesses have suffered tremendously. It’s important to note that most small businesses are owned by women.

So many businesses that are impacted negatively by COVID-19, are closing down, some never to open again.

These businesses that usually operate with 1-10 employees, and some more, find their employees are now sitting at home without any income or opportunities.

While some owners are quickly adapting and taking to social media or other efforts to subsidize their incomes; others are shutting down permanently, which will cause a big blight in minority communities across America.

What are the challenges that See MY TRUTH, page 10

Cla re n ce H ill

F or t W or th S tar -T elegr am

Mich a e l La rk

D allas S p or ts F an ati c

Ta m r yn Spru ill F r eelan cer

B ra d Tow n se n d

D allas M or n i n g N ews

Frederick P. Cerise, MD, MPH B Y DOROTHY J. GENTRY SPORTS EDITOR

In addition to schools, businesses and the government, the global Coronavirus pandemic has also taken a toll on sports worldwide, throwing sports — and the people who cover them—into a tailspin: games and events cancelled and every league from the NBA to MLB

Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings

now on temporary suspension.

Even the biggest sporting event in the world, the Olympics, has been postponed until 2021.

Given these circumstances, it’s understandable if sports journalists – both full-time and especially freelancers — feel anxious and unsure. Their livelihood, in some instances – like others — has been pulled out from under them for the

See SPORTS, page 8-9

Educator, servant, leader Camille Goode

VIEWIN G Th u rsda y, April 9, 2020 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm B la ck a n d Cla rk Fu n e ra l Hom e , 2517 E. Illin ois Ave n u e , D a lla s, T X 75216

See HALL OF FAMER, page 13

unforeseeable future and all they have known is now in limbo.

“Initially, when the pandemic hit there was obviously the sudden shock. But you quickly realize it’s a business and you don’t have time to panic,” said Michael Lark, owner and CEO of the popular website and blog, Dallas Sports Fanatic. “You have to create steps and put a plan in

P R IVATE GR AVESIDE SER VICE La u re l Oa k s Fu n e ra l Hom e a n d Me m oria l Pa rk Me squ it e , T X 75180 A p ub lic m em orial ser vice will b e h eld in th e n ear f uture.

P r e s id e n t a n d C E O -P a r l k l a n d

President Trump warned the nation at a recent White House briefing that coronavirus is about to claim more lives, “This will be the toughest week…there will be a lot of deaths, unfortunately.”

While the President prepared Americans for a worst-case scenario, at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, medical teams are ready for a surge of COVID-19 patients.

According to Parkland’s President and CEO, Dr. Frederick Cerise, the surge cannot be prevented. “It’s my job to be pessimistic and to anticipate that the surge is coming. That’s what we are doing. We are planning.”

Parkland is one of the largest county hospitals in the country. In preparation for a surge, staff has already converted its operating room into a 55-bed unit for coronavirus patients. They have also found hospital space where they can expand to another 42 beds if needed.

See PARKLAND, page 6

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APRIL 8, 2020

INSIDE

NEWS

pg. 3

EDITORIAL

pg. 4

PERSPECTIVE

pg. 5

CALENDAR LIFESTYLE

Johnson announces $14 million in federal funding for Dallas County

pg. 10 pg. 13

MAILING ADDRESS 320 S. R.L. Thornton Freeway 220 Dallas, TX 75203 WWW.TEXASMETRONEWS.COM 214-941-0110 Cheryl Smith PUBLISHER - EDITOR editor@myimessenger.com

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50-1397 1 Year Subscription $45.00

CREDO OF THE BLACK PRESS ubscription $45.00 The Black Press believes that America can best

lead the world away from racial and national antagonisms when it accords to every person, regardless of race, color or creed, full human and legal rights. Hating no person, fearing no person, the Black Press strives to help every person in the firm belief that all are hurt as long as anyone is held back.

– Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson announced that Dallas County has been awarded $14,400,599 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) For HIV Emergency Relief Project Grants. “This funding to Dallas County will ensure that our communities have access to comprehensive, high quality, and community-based care for people living with HIV. I am proud to fight for patients and their families to have the medical and community resources they need,� said Congresswoman Johnson.

The mission of the Dallas County Department of Health and Human Services is to protect the health of the citizens of Dallas County through disease prevention and intervention, and through promotions of a healthy community and environment.

This is done through assessment, community input education, disease monitoring, regulation, and health services that help control the spread of disease.

Washington, DC

Dallas ISD COVID-19 Update: Following recommendations from Dallas County in order to protect the health and safety of our families and staff, beginning on Thursday, April 2, Dallas ISD will only distribute grab-andgo meals on Thursdays, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Students will be provided with enough meals to get them through the following week.

Samuell students can still pick up hotspots. Additionally, any other middle and high school students without internet access will also need to contact their campus principal to request a hotspot.

APRIL 8, 2020

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4

APRIL 8, 2020

EDITORIAL

L.O.V.E IS THE ANSWER WAKE UP AND STAY WOKE

DR. E. FAYE WILLIAMS, ESQ.

TriceEdney –A few years ago, I met A.J. Ali. A.J. is a servicedisabled veteran who served honorably in the U.S. Air Force as a Journalist and Media Relations Specialist. He was based at Vandenberg AFB in CA, Comiso Air Station nuclear missile base in Sicily, and McClellan AFB in CA. He was a member of the USAF Soccer Team. He’s an actor, TV host, director, producer and writer. He asked several friends to write on the subject L.O.V.E Is The Answer for a book. The book was meant to put principles of love into action to build a stronger police-community marriage with people of color. At that time, I was unsure what my approach would

be. I just went to my computer, like others asked to contribute to the book, and began writing. I sent my interpretation of what he was asking the very same day. He sent a note back and told me what I had written was perfect.

What I didn’t know was that he had a lot of friends and he’d asked them to address the same subject!

I’m sure you would recognize names of other writers who did a masterful job addressing the subject. The book was recently released, and now that we’re all basically confined to home this is the perfect time for you to be introduced to L.O.V.E Is The Answer. Along with the book is an award-winning film called WALKING WHILE BLACK: L.O.V.E. Is The Answer. See the trailer for the film at www.

WalkingWhileBlack.com.

The book was developed precoronavirus time, but it is so appropriate for such a time as

this. You can learn more about the book and the L.O.V.E Is The Answer Movement and its writers who rose to the challenge

A. J. Ali

WALKING WHILE BLACK

as I tried to do putting it together with A.J.’s guidance. See http:// loveistheanswermovement.com/ the-book/ The film and the book can be the answer to equip our nation to learn how to utilize the power of transformational love to break

down walls and build bridges of reconciliation. When we finally come to a close of this coronavirus and all of the destruction it is leaving behind, many people will be looking for ways to be better souls. A.J. encourages us to “Learn about your community.

Open your heart to the people in it. Volunteer to be part of the solution in their lives, and Empower others to do the same.”

That is the acronym for the book—L.O.V. E! He reminds us to, “Remember, this too shall pass. When we get the all-clear, do we want to return into the same broken communities, or do we want to use this time to heal our communities from the inside out? Use this time to better prepare yourself to be a bridge in your community when we are all able to reconnect in person and go about our daily routines. I challenge you to read the L.O.V.E. Is The Answer book,

watch the film, participate in our webinars, and make this difficult time a time of learning and growth.”

While we’re confined to home, this would be a good time to invite friends to participate in Zoom calls with you and to participate in podcasts and webinars that are conducted by A.J. and the contributors. I urge you to better prepare yourself to be a bridge in your community when we’re all able to reconnect in person with others.

A.J. knows we will return to a totally different world when the coronavirus finally ends, and he won’t mind a bit if you contact him at one of these numbers to assist in preparing you for being that bridge in your community at 323-577-5976 | 443-463-5009.

(Dr. E. Faye Williams is National President of the National Congress of Black Women and Host of “Wake Up and Stay Woke” on WPFW-FM 89.3.)

MALVEAUX: Billions for Boeing, pennies for the people THE LAST WORD BY DR. JULIANNE MALVEAUX

T

he development of the $2.2 trillion stimulus package was extremely flawed, The Republican bullies in the Senate, led by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, wrote the bill with absolutely no Democratic input, then suggested that Democrats amend their legislation. The first draft of the bill, unsurprisingly, was a goody grab for corporations with much less for individuals.

Initially, the Republican Senate

would have given Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin a slush fund of $500 billion to assist troubled industries with absolutely no oversight. The last version of the bill does include both monitoring and an inspector general to look for fraud and abuse. Republicans would have doled the money out to their cronies. But the Dems, led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, stood their ground. The stimulus legislation is better than the 20082009 bailout legislation; it is gratifying to see that the Senate rose above partisanship to get this done.

Republicans even conceded

that Mr. Trump, his grafter family, other cabinet heads and senior leaders, along with their families, cannot benefit from this stimulus

legislation. It is unfathomable that this provision has to be put in writing, but 45, a hotel owner, pushed hard for hotels and cruise ships to get bailout benefits, but some in Congress have apparently peeped 45’s hole card.

It takes extreme hubris for our nation’s chief executive officer, who has used the United States Treasury as a piggy bank, to be as self-serving as 45 is. Good for Democrats for recognizing the pattern of double-dealings makes it clear that written prohibition of these shady practices is necessary.

Michigan Congressman Justin Amash, an independent who used to be Republican, tweeted, “This bipartisan deal is a raw deal for the people. It does far too little for those who need the most help while providing hundreds of billions in corporate welfare, massively growing government, inhibiting economic adaptation,

and widening the gap between the rich and the poor.” The legislation (which still must be approved by the House before it goes to the President) is likely to be hundreds, if not thousands, of pages long. And it’s got lots of fine print. For example, $17 billion in loan funds are set aside for “businesses deemed critical to maintaining national security.

While Boeing isn’t mentioned by name, the Washington Post quoted s a confidential source who says this money is partly set aside for Boeing.

This is the same Boeing that manufactured faulty, crashing See MALVEAUX, page 5

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APRIL 8, 2020

CORONAVIRUS HIGHLIGHTS BLACK AMERICANS MUST BE PROTECTED FROM SURPRISE MEDICAL BILLING

COVID-19 Reflections THE WIDOW FILES BY EVA D. COLEMAN

J

M

any people are posting and sharing what they feel are wise statements they come across. It’s hard to locate and attribute them to the originator. A couple that stood out to me were: “You are not working from home; you are at your home during a crisis trying to work.” “... and it isn’t “e-learning” it is Emergency Remote Teaching, from home, during a global pandemic.”

When we dropped my college freshman Cecily off at school in Fall of 2019, never in a million years did we imagine education would be transformed such as this.

As a 16-year media educator, I’ve observed how some feel they’re online education experts, while others are flying by the seat of their pants...

throwing stuff against the wall to see if it sticks. At this point, both of these scenarios are okay.

As we made our way down I-45 for our dorm check out appointment, rescheduled from an abrupt cancellation of our original date of March 25th, I thought about the grief tailspin so many of us are in.

The feelings and tears are real. It’s okay to not be okay.

As a widowed Mom, I’ve cycled through moments of hopelessness and despair before.

Greeting my girls and I on the University of Houston campus were members of my village and fellow NABJers Michael Douglas and Maria Reeve... two of my dearest friends and best journalists in the land! Michael jumped in

immediately as our moving logistical expert while Maria was there for support and assisted as well. Together, we were in and out in record time.

No lesson plans, Zoom calls, worksheets or labs were required. We actually zoomed back up the highway in a turnaround trip! The love my girls and I were shown by Michael and Maria was a testament of God’s continuous favor in our lives.

The biggest lesson learned... love begets love.

We’re earning diplomas and degrees in #Faith, not fear, followed by the letters G-O-D. Eva D. Coleman is the Lifestyle Editor for I Messenger Media. A graduate of Sam Houston State University, Eva is an educator and award-winning journalist.

ust a few months ago, the pundit class declared Joe Biden’s presidential candidacy dead after the early nominating contests in Iowa and New Hampshire. Then, they saw what can happen in South Carolina, a state that is truly representative of the Democratic base: rocket fuel.

Fast forward to Wednesday, March 4, and the presidential race turned upside down. Joe Biden swept the south, catapulting to the front of the race. Thanks to black voters in South Carolina igniting the rocket fuel that carried Biden through Super Tuesday — and prominent members of the Democratic Party endorsing him — Biden has become the favorite in this two-person race to capture the nomination and take the fight to Donald Trump in November.

It is clear the black vote will carry significant weight in the upcoming presidential election. The resurrection of Biden’s campaign is simply unprecedented; the country has finally seen the power of our influence. I believe it is time now for our concerns to be taken a bit more seriously by policymakers in Washington, starting with the dramatic challenges associated with the coronavirus pandemic.

This novel coronavirus has shined a spotlight on the health disparities that our Black communities face every day. Minority and low-income Americans suffer from a significant lack of access to quality health care.

They are also more likely to not have health insurance and are often hit with surprise medical bills they cannot afford. The coronavirus is no different.

Many Black Americans will not get tested for coronavirus — whether they have symptoms or not — due to the fact that they cannot easily access

NNPA VOICES

By Dr. Benjamin Chavis NNPA President/CEO medical facilities, and/or they are worried they will not be able to afford the medical services.

Another frightening reality of the coronavirus is loss of a stable income. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 90 percent of higher-wage earners receive paid sick leave, but only 31 percent of the bottom 10 percent receive paid sick leave. This directly affects the Black population, many of which are now out of work due to massive closures.

Eight percent of black and Hispanic employees earn wages below the poverty level, compared to 4 percent of White employees.

Nationwide closures and loss of income caused by the coronavirus will force many Black families to choose between paying for rent and food or paying for health care.

Unfortunately, politicians in both parties are trying to use coronavirus relief legislation to jam unrelated policy proposals through Congress.

One such proposal is to include surprise medical billing legislation that puts the cost burden on patients and providers, rather than insurance companies.

Surprise medical bills have been a major problem in the American healthcare system, and for years, politicians have debated how to handle them. A few weeks ago, in his Super Tuesday victory speech, Biden told his constituents that his “bold and progressive agenda” will ensure that there will be “no more surprise See NNPA, page 7

6

Parkland,

APRIL 8, 2020 continued from front page

Dr. Cerise said they continue to look for areas in the hospital that can be used for more bed space. “There are a number of things we have done to create a surge capacity. We are not squeezed in the emergency room today.”

The hospital has also enclosed part of the area where ambulances bring in patients. It can be turned into a 36-bed care triage area. “We have a number of things we have started, and we’ve planned on if we got into a situation like New York,” said Dr. Cerise.

Parkland medical staff ready for increase in covid-19 patients Parkland’s medical staff has not been overwhelmed yet with the number of patients with coronavirus, but Dr. Cerise expects a surge in three or four weeks.

He thinks now is the time for his medical staff to take it easy. “We’re sort of at an inbetween phase, and we are trying to take advantage of the time to make sure that we don’t overdo it with our staff, so they are ready for the surge when it comes.”

Parkland’s administrators have made changes to ease the work demand on the medical staff like canceling elective procedures and clinic visits for people with diabetes who go to the hospital for glucose checks. Now they are having them check themselves at home and call in results. Medical personnel in units that were closed have been re-assigned to areas where they will be needed.

The hospital has 870 beds and is well known for its neonatal intensive care unit, burn center, and trauma center. Currently, those departments are operating at full capacity with specialized medical staff.

“We are taking extra precautions because we obviously don’t want to have infections in those areas,” said Dr. Cerise.

Eff orts made to keep personal protective equipment (ppe ) on supply Recently Parkland Hospital administrators asked the public for donations for Personal Protection Equipment (PPE). Some of the donations

needed include surgical masks, surgical caps, hand sanitizer, N95 Masks, shoe covers, and eye protection goggles.

Dr. Cerise said the hospital has a stockpile of PPE, but it’s crucial to continuously have supplies coming in.

Pa rk la n d's pre -op su rgica l a re a conve r t e d f or COVID19 ca re “We’ve had to dip P h ot o cou r t e sy: Pa rk la n d Me m oria l Hospit a l into our stockpile a little bit, but we feel because it is the kind of thing that works that a combination of a stockpile plus our most effectively if you do it early. But the restocking will help keep our people safe.” problem is that people don’t feel there is a As the COVID-19 pandemic hits its problem at that time.” expected peak in North Texas over the Judge Jenkins recently extended the next few weeks, Parkland wants to make stay-at-home policy for the county from sure it has enough PPE for the staff to the end of April to the end of May. Dr. keep them protected from the virus while Cerise said Jenkins’ decisions will prove to they care for patients and also to avoid have a positive impact and hopefully fewer further possible spread of the virus. patients than expected. “If you look at the Right now, some doctors and nurses are numbers, I think there is some cause to asked to reuse the same face masks when be more optimistic. Before we have seen possible. this steep climb in cases, Dallas issued an Dr. Cerise said the hospital is in a order to stay home, and that should have conservation mode. “That means that an impact.” masks that are not soiled and can be

reused, we are using. We are developing a Parkland’s medical staff have sense of process to sterilize used masks.” duty despite the risk The hospital is using an ultraviolet light system to sterilized any used face mask. He When you work on the frontlines of added that reusing masks and sterilization a pandemic, Dr. Cerise believes there fall under the Center for Disease Control’s is an understanding that there are risks (CDC) guidelines. and uncertainty, but doctors and nurses know this is what they were called to do.

The surge may not be as bad as in other “Like we’re in it together…to take care parts of the country of people at a time where there is a great need in Dallas.”

Parkland administrators believe there Parkland has more than 12,000 is a possibility that the sudden increase employees, and of those, 4,177 are in coronavirus patients may not be in the registered nurses. The hospital’s huge numbers as in other cities around philosophy is “Care, compassion, the country. community.”

Dr. Cerise said he credits Dallas During this coronavirus crisis, Dr. County Judge, Clay Jenkins for making Cerise said he has seen a real sense of the decision more than two weeks ago bonding among his medical staff. “We to enforce the stay-at-home policy to say thank you a lot, and remind them that help slow down the spread of the deadly people of Dallas are counting on them disease. “I think it took a lot of courage and recognize that we are going to do for the judge to get out early on that everything we can to keep them safe.”

Malveaux, continued from page 4 planes.

And they’ve imperiously said they will take assistance only on their terms. Some think the federal government should take an equity stake in companies that get bailout funds.

Boeing’s CEO said he wasn’t interested in such a deal. If the feds wanted to play hardball, they’d force Boeing into bankruptcy, since bankruptcy doesn’t mean the cessation of operations, it means the restructuring of debt.

Meanwhile, there’s no helpful fine print for ordinary people. Sure, people will get $1200 checks, plus $500 per child.

That’s better than nothing, but compared to Boeing’s billions, it’s pennies.

The ability to get unemployment insurance for extra weeks will also be helpful for those who lose their jobs.

More food stamp funds will be available. But there is some confusion over whether gig works will get the benefit.

Instead, it seems that those who have good jobs will get great benefits, while those who have part-time jobs, gig jobs, or are unemployed won’t get much.

As Congressman Amash says, this stimulus

package will widen the wealth gap.

Inequality is at the very foundation of our economic system, so it isn’t surprising that the coronavirus stimulus package reflects the biases that are hardwired into our system.

We need committed, vocal, progressive mem -bers of Congress (Maxine Waters, Barbara Lee, Ayana Pressley, Bobby Scott, AOC, and others) to shine a bright light on this inequality, and to either modify the legislation or develop legislation to address some of these inequalities.

On March 23, Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) introduced HR 6379, the Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act, that provides protections for workers and families mostly because the stimulus package does not. And there is a rush to pass the stimulus quickly as more and more people are out of work.

Stimulate the economy if you will, but don’t ignore the people on the bottom.

If we are injecting $2.2 trillion into our lagging economy, make sure that some of it trickles down the poor.

Dr. Julianne Malveaux is an economist, author, media contributor and educator. Her latest project MALVEAUX! On UDCTV is available on youtube.com. For booking, wholesale inquiries or for more info visit www.juliannemalveaux.com

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APRIL 8, 2020

Dr. Yondell E. Moore has COVID-19 message ABOUT YOUR HAIR

Number two: the condition spreads exponentially…

12 people, then 4 - 8 people, then 16 - 32

BY DR. LINDA people, then 64-128 AMERSON www.hairandscalpessentials.com people, etc. THIS IS HOW THIS VIRUS SPREADS! In Dallas, Dr. Yondell E. Moore, Sr, we have NOT reached the peak M.D., retired urologist, has a of what we will see…the number message for the African American of deaths, and people who community. Number one: will contract the virus.

This is The vast majority of especially pertinent, spreading African American live in the socioeconomic circumstances, the infection from one contact to which makes them more prone another person.

Social distancing, washing to contracting COVID-19. It is of hands, helping to protect a condition which Judge Clay exposure to those more likely Jenkins has outlined, and African to die from the virus…elderly, Americans need to pay close anyone having pre-existing health attention to those guidelines.

NNPA: Coronavirus, medical billing and more access to health care in urban and rural areas.”

In delivering that message, he has picked up on an issue that many Black leaders, such as the Rev. Al Sharpton, have been focusing on throughout the campaign: Surprise medical billing legislation that is currently in Congress would protect insurance company profits, while threatening healthcare access in urban communities.

Congress is finally recognizing the fact that narrow insurance networks are a key problem that leads to surprise billing.

Dr. Yondell E. Moore, Sr, conditions, anyone with immune related conditions.

Everyone needs to follow the guidelines from Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Mayor of Dallas Eric Johnson, and Judge Clay Jenkins.

Dr. Moore is from Marshall,

continued from page

Recently proposed legislation led

by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) included language stipulating “that during the COVID-19 pandemic health care providers should refrain from balance billing consumers for out-of-network claims related to COVID-19 testing or treatment, and insurance companies should do their utmost to secure access to in-network treatment for their plan participants.”

This is a step in the right direction, but I firmly believe that Congress needs to go one step further and not only follow Biden and Sharpton’s lead, but look to the hard work that

TX. Since childhood, he knew he wanted to become a medical doctor. From 1972-2010, Dr. Moore practiced in Dallas, at Saint Paul, Forest Avenue, and Medical City Hospitals as an Urologist.

Completed his undergraduate at Howard University in 1957, with BA in Chemistry.

In addition, he became a Certified Educator, teaching at Sequoia High School, Dallas, from 19581961. Continuing his education, 1961-1965, Dr. Moore attended McHarry Medical School in Nashville, TN, where he received his MD degree. Dr. Moore’s final requirements were completed, with studies at Homer G. Phillips, St Louis, MO, from 1965-1970… internship and

5

is being done by the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) to deliver better policies and health outcomes for African Americans.

Black voters showed their enthusiasm, interest and decisiveness in South Carolina, and again on Super Tuesday.

Now, it is time for our leaders in Congress to get behind them and protect our health over insurer profits.

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association based in Washington, DC. and he regularly comments on public policy issues that impact the quality of life of Black America.

Subscribe to Texas Metro News

214-941-0110

residency in Urology.

Dr. Moore served in the US Navy. Lt. Officer in US Navy 1970-1972, at St Albans Naval Hospital, Queens, NY. Dr. Moore returned to Dallas beginning his practice, with 4 other doctors, each one with their own specialty.

He continued his practice until retirement in 2010. Dr. Moore’s wealth of knowledge and experience is shared. Since 2006, he has worked as a consultant for the Social Security Administration.

Dr. Linda Amerson, Board Certified Trichologist, LA’s Hair & Scalp Clinic, 817 265 8854. Hairandscalpessentials. com

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APRIL 8, 2020

Bleak times for sports journalists, continued from front page

Dallas Mavericks vs. Washington Wizards in the first game of the season which was eventually suspended on March 11th due to Covid-19 place to move forward because the world doesn’t wait.”

In these days where terms like “social distancing” and “pandemic” are household words: sports have moved from fun-time events to a large part of the problem – a public space now deemed unsafe. Sports journalists are having to get creative and reinvent their craft to stay relevant.

Texas Metro News reached out to several sports journalists: two beat writers, a freelancer and a sports website owner — to share how life has changed their profession — and them, in this Coronavirus world. These are their stories.

Clarence Hill, Dallas Cowboys beat writer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram TMN: How has the coronavirus pandemic changed your daily life as a sports journalist?

Not being able to go out, do interviews, cover things live has changed things quite a bit. But I still have been able to

write via phone interviews. There is a certain professional anxiety with the newspaper industry and my company McClatchy, which was already having financial issues. The news that Gannett has announced furloughs for the next three months doesn’t help.

And yes, we are all reporters now and everyone at the paper has contributed COVID-19 stories and will continue to do so.

TMN: How has your beat, the NFL, been affected and how has your coverage changed?

The NFL has largely been business as usual since it is out of season. We have been able to cover free agency as before, via the phone. The draft will be different as it will be done as a tv event only so there will be no live press conferences. There will be conference calls. Things will start to get interesting in May and June when minicamps are canceled and then the next benchmark will be the start of training camp in July.

TMN: What about the future of sports journalism?

In the short term, if and when it comes back, there will be limited access to players and locker rooms, if any, on the latter. Hopefully, this won’t be a permanent change. If and when sports comes back, there will be an even greater thirst for news and information.

Tamryn Spruill, national freelance journalist covering women’s basketball, with issues of gender, race and sexuality central to her reporting.

Bylines include The Athletic, Swish Appeal, and Bleacher Reporter.

TMN: How has the coronavirus pandemic changed your daily life as a freelance sports journalist?

It’s a bleak time. I can’t muster more of a segue than that. Since the coronavirus pandemic, we’ve seen very quickly the grave effects of a country teetering along for decades without adequate systems and safety nets. In sports and sports journalism, we’ve known that women have been

APRIL 8, 2020 underrepresented historically, especially African American women. As a Black woman in a space that didn’t want me to begin with despite my unmatched skills and education, I was quick to topple over the edge.

I lost two of three freelance jobs in the span of one week.

At one of these places, the longtime friends of the boss, his frat brothers from college, got to stay in their positions; in true testament to the power of the good-old-boy network.

There were only two women in this group to begin with, on a team of about 30, with me being the only woman of color. Both of us were let go.

Games are not being played anywhere in the world, but that doesn’t mean stories are not happening. Stories are there, and people need them more than ever while quarantined at home and searching for ways to stay uplifted during a very scary time in human history. It’s too bad leaders at media companies can’t see the current pandemic as the ripe opportunity for readership that it is. The myopic, in-the-box thinking that has kept sports media a boys’ club now, in times of crisis, leads to all of our misfortune.

TMN: When the sports world shut down what were your immediate thoughts?

Well, I fell ill at the beginning of March, just before I was to travel to cover the SEC Tournament in Greenville, South Carolina, on the Gamecocks beat. It was a tough choice to cancel my trip, but I felt the sickest I’d ever been in my life, with what my healthcare provider believes was the coronavirus (though unconfirmed because I could not get a test in my area).

When the NBA announced a suspension of its season, I knew immediately that I’d made the right choice not to travel.

As to how quickly the pandemic would throw workers, including me, into the unemployment line and gut the economy, none of that registered right away. I was sick, in a fog of crushing headaches, chills, shortness of breath and other symptoms for about a month. I worked intermittently, deliriously, and slept a ton.

The cruel irony, I guess, is that I still worked throughout the illness to the best of my ability, only to get axed while battling a virus that was killing thousands by the day.

TMN: What will be the future of sports journalism?

I think it’s clear now, however, that the approach will have to change, just as the approach to how we’re living our everyday lives will have to change. The technological tools at our disposal will make that change possible.

When WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced the league’s virtual approach to the 2020 draft,

9

she modeled the type of creative thinking that will allow the show to go on.

Michael Lark, Owner and CEO, Dallas Sports Fanatic

Brad Townsend, Dallas Mavericks beat writer, The Dallas Morning News

TMN: How has this coronavirus pandemic changed your daily life as owner of a sports blog/ site?

For Dallas Sports Fanatic, after news hit of the suspension of play for all sports one-by-one, we quickly saw how the landscape of coverage was changing for the short term. We quickly gathered our editors and leadership team together to formalize a strategy.

We made quick decision on how to expand our coverage to include more general related topics (economic impact on games, best sports movies/docs to stream, phone interviews, etc.). Of course, there is always a concern that site traffic won’t live up to the expectations you’ve set, but planning and strategizing has helped alleviate some of these concerns.

TMN: You cover a lot of different sports so your site has been affected on many levels. How are things going?

As the owner of our organization, you’re humbled in knowing you are only as good as the people you surround yourself with. I’m thankful that everyone has stepped up in their changing and evolving roles throughout this pandemic; that says a lot about our staff.

We capitalized on the inclusion of general topics while putting a hard focus on the NFL offseason and actually saw our biggest site numbers since July of last year. We communicate daily in our online Slack tool that allows us to plan and bounce ideas off one another. We schedule our articles well in advance to ensure we find something relevant to talk about. Our editor-in-chief watches our traffic and analytics closely so we ensure we understand what’s relevant and our readers want.

TMN: What will post-coronavirus sports journalism look like?

I fully expect the landscape of journalism to take a sharp turn. I would expect press conference style interviews to become the new norm for at least the next year or so. I think in general teams will clamp down the amount of access in terms of time and people become stricter, as it should be. This pandemic is an eye-opening look as the way teams do business long and short.

TMN: How has this coronavirus pandemic changed your daily life as a sports journalist?

For the first week-to-10 days after the NBA suspended the season, I continued to write Mavericks-related stories -- primarily newsy topics about how long the pause-in-play might be and how the organization and Mark Cuban took a leadership role in community outreach.

Then I was informed that I was being loaned to our News department, most likely for the duration of the crisis.

Similarly, I was loaned to News after 9/11 and Katrina.

Some of the stories I’m working on certainly are grim, but I’m glad I’m not writing about sports right now.

Other than news and potential developments surrounding the business of the NBA and the Mavericks, I’m not particularly interested in reading about sports, and I doubt many of our subscribers are, either.

TMN: When the NBA, specifically your beat, shut down first, what were your immediate thoughts?

My instant reaction was ‘Wow’ and within maybe a minute I realized the NBA season was in jeopardy. Sadly, the ensuing weeks have only reinforced my belief. Would it be great if the season is resumed and there are playoffs and the crowning of a champion? Absolutely. Do I think it will happen? Unfortunately, no.

TMN: What are the long-term effects of coronavirus on the future of sports journalism” Hopefully a year from now there will be normalcy, but my instincts tell me it will take gradual steps to get there.

Limited access and social-distancing measures to begin with, followed by a gradual easing of those measures.

But my year-from-now prognosis hinges on there being a vaccine/cure for the virus.

We can’t assume anything right now. Meanwhile, simply from an economic standpoint, the sports media landscape already shows the effects and will continue to do so.

Though I feel extremely fortunate to have a job, I don’t think any sports reporter feels secure. And as concerned as I am for myself and others who work for mainstay media companies, I really wonder how websites that provide fringe coverage of the Mavericks and other NBA teams will weather the next few months. It’s not much different than what is happening for countless other businesses right now.

Dorothy J. Gentry is a journalist, educator and PR professional. A graduate of the University of North Texas, Dorothy is the Sports Editor for I Messenger Media, LLC.

10

My Truth,

continued from front page

APRIL 8, 2020

Open for business...Give them a call these entrepreneurs have and how will they overcome, if possible? What does the loss of small businesses, like mom and pop stores, in communities where there is a food desert mean?

Just think about the impoverished communities -- those without adequate transportation are especially hit hard when they have to take buses and trains to get to a store.

Then too, what about the disparity in costs for products?

Because they have less inventory, the smaller convenience stores must charge more.

I’ve been talking with corporate executives, elected officials from city, state, county and federal offices, Small Business Administration and chambers of commerce officials, as well as owners, about legislation and efforts to help small businesses.

Which brings me to my truth.

My father was an entrepreneur. I grew up realizing the importance of supporting Black businesses and have lived a life of reaching out and sharing my love with Black business owners.

The Black communities have dealt with crises time and time again. I’ve often said that the most successful boycott in American history has been the boycott of Black-owned businesses by Black people!

You see, over the years, I had heard so many excuses made by Black folks. “They have an attitude,” “service is slow,” “the prices are too high,” are just a few of the many excuses folks used to explain why they didn’t shop at certain Black-owned establishments.

For me, although I didn’t live during a time when I

couldn’t shop at “other” stores, it seemed that Blackowned stores were fine and dandy, just like other Black institutions; that is until the doors opened and access to others was provided.

Then, Black-owned businesses were in a state of crisis.

As we deal with this coronavirus crisis, it is imperative that we find ways to help one another. There are so many businesses that have been excelling as great corporate and community citizens and they deserve our support.

Right now, a staple in our community, South Dallas Cafe, is temporarily closed. The Price family has been serving this Metroplex for decades. They need support now and instead of griping and groaning, we need to step up. Black organizations, churches, schools etc., need to make a commitment to the survival of Black businesses, just as they want everyone to support them. On this Friday, the Price’s Vinetti’s will be providing curbside and to-go orders only, beginning at 5p.m. Hopefully they have those famous green beans on the menu!

Vinetti’s (469)779-0123 14833 Midway Rd. Addison, TX On the pages of Texas Metro News, we are going to be sharing information about many of those businesses.

We’re offering “free” advertising to these businesses that have been so supportive. We will also be distributing our newspaper at these businesses. We encourage you to check us out, and check them out.

We’re going to ensure that we are continuing to provide news and information that is enlightening, educational, informative, engaging, inspiring, and yes, entertaining.

Call in your orders ahead to Smokey John’s Bar-BQue, Two Podners, Black Jack Pizza (two locations) Hall’s Honey-Fried Chicken, Aunt Irene’s, Elaine’s Kitchen, Royal’s Fried Chicken and Dreamerz Cafe.

Now let me give you my own “why you should try” the aforementioned businesses.

Probably the first Black-owned restaurant that I visited when I moved to Dallas in 1981 and I still go there today, Smokey John’s Bar-B-Que. Every Friday, it was the place to be for good food, fellowship and entertainment.

Then on Saturdays, the FAMU Alumni Association held meetings there and it was also the birthplace of the Dallas Metroplex Council of Black Alumni Associations.

Yes, the fish and macaroni and cheese is great, and there’s so much more. Smokey John’s is a favorite at the State Fair of Texas.

Smokey John’s Bar-B-Que (214) 352-2752 1820 W Mockingbird LN Dallas, Texas 75235

Now I remember when it was called Ponderosa’s and I would go and get my broiled fish to order, just like KKDA’s Willis Johnson did. Then in the 1990s the name was changed to Two Podners and I enjoyed the collard greens, chicken tettrazini, yams and okra. Many an aspiring journalists in the Dallas-Fort Worth Association of Black Journalists Urban Journalism Workshop dined on Two Podners’ food. Now in a larger location, when all this drama subsides you can even bring parties of close to 100 for private gathering upstairs.

Note: They also won 1st Place for Best Traditional Macaroni and Cheese at the 2020 Healthy Living Expo!

Two Podners 214-421-5387 1441 Robert B Cullum Blvd. Dallas, Texas 75210

11

APRIL 8, 2020

Elaine’s Kitchen does great things with curry and jerk seasonings! I celebrated the move to their own building where they offered an expanded menu that includes their wonderful macaroni and cheese that placed second in the 2020 Healthy Living Expo!

Elaine’s Kitchen (214) 565-1008 2717 Martin L. King Jr Blvd, Dallas, TX 75215

Pizza is a great comfort food, but Black Jack Pizza has so much more, including Ms. Dorothy’s beautiful smile.

And that tea! I can’t tell you, because I don’t eat beef, but I always hear rave reviews about the burgers! And, as a pizza connoisseur from Jersey, the pizza is GREAT! Black Jack Pizza (214) 565-1025 2536 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Dallas, TX 75215 2120 N St Augustine Suite 100 Dallas, TX 75227 (972) 329-1414

Hall’s Honey Fried Chicken keeps a line, and it’s no wonder. I love eating the fried batter drippings, and my grand babies just love the chicken and fries!

Hall’s Honey Fried Chicken (214) 371-3020 4845 S Lancaster Rd. Dallas, TX 75216

I couldn’t believe the first time I laid eyes on the Black Box at the Real Aunt Irene’s Kitchen. Talk about phenomenal! Give me the fish, crabs, bread, and yes, of course, I have to have the boiled eggs. Check out the menu; meat lovers will also be pleased.

Real Aunt Irene’s Kitchen (469) 899-7927 3309 S Malcolm X Blvd Dallas, TX 75215 There’s a new biz in town with Dreamerz Cafe, where the salmon is seasoned just right and the rice was fluffy.

But believe me when I tell you the corn was absolutely wonderful! Located right across the street from the VA Hospital, you can get in and get out.

Dreamerz Cafe (972) 863-7372 4417 S. Lancaster Road Dallas, TX 75216 In Cedar Hill there’s Royal’s Fried Chicken.

There’s much more than fried chicken on the menu and if the long lines are any indication, the food is great.

I know their daily specials are like, “wow!”

Royal’s Fried Chicken (214) 859-3472 140 S Clark Rd, Cedar Hill, Texas 75104

I urge you to continue reading as we highlight others.

And guess what? Many of these businesses offer delivery.

We’re going to get through this together. We have no choice.

Hopefully some lessons will be learned, from this pandemic, for all who make it out. We must be and do better. We can’t sweat the small stuff.

We must realize what’s really important and give as we’d like to receive. We must value and respect one another.

And, for those who don’t learn something from or during these times in which we find ourselves, well you’ve got some reckoning to do.

We have to do and live this time, not let this time do us!

12

APRIL 8, 2020

WNBA announces season Bishop Dunne announces new delay due to COVID-19 head football coach

By Dorothy J. Gentry Sports Editor Yet another professional sports league has fallen due to the global Coronavirus pandemic.

The WNBA announced Friday morning it is delaying the start of the training camps and the beginning of the regular season due to the continued spread of COVID-19.

“As developments continue to emerge around the COVID-19 pandemic, including the extension of the social distancing guidelines in the United States through April 30, the WNBA will postpone the start

of its training camps and tip of the regular season originally scheduled for May 15,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement released to the media.

“While the league continues to use this time to conduct scenarioplanning regarding new start dates and innovative formats, our guiding principle will continue to be the health and safety of the players, fans and employees.”

The league’s training camps were scheduled to begin April 26th with the season scheduled for a May 15th tip-off.

Despite this news, the League is continuing to prepare for its now virtual draft scheduled for April 17th.

Top prospects will take part remotely live on ESPN with coverage beginning at 7 p.m. ET. “We continue to send our thoughts and prayers to our players, fans, and all of those in the community impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and are grateful to those selfless health care workers and first responders who work tirelessly on the front lines,” Engelbert said.

The Dallas/Fort Worth’s WNBA team is the Dallas Wings, who play their games in College Park Arena on the campus of the University of Texas at Arlington.

By Dorothy J. Gentry Sports Editor

Former NFL player Nathan Slaughter has been named the new head football coach at Bishop Dunne High School in Oak Cliff.

“I have spent the majority of my life dedicated to the sport of football, as a professional athlete, coach and mentor. My mission is to engage, inspire, influence and impact student athletes academically, athletically, socially and spiritually, helping them develop and perform as highly as possible,” said Coach Slaughter.

Coach Slaughter is a former professional football player who was a wide receiver for the Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars and Arizona Cardinals.

He joins Bishop Dunne from Northwest High School in Justin, Texas, where he was an assistant varsity football and track coach. Previous coaching experience also includes Brownfield High School, Brownfield, Texas, and Lubbock High School, Lubbock, Texas.

“We are excited to welcome Coach Slaughter,” said Dunne Principal Mary Beth Marchiony. “He is a talented, inspiring coach who brings enthusiasm and expertise to our students. Bishop Dunne looks forward to him joining our team and to an exciting year of football.”

Coach Slaughter graduated with a degree in Mass Communications from West Texas A&M, earning AllAmerican honors on the field and in the classroom.

He takes over as head coach after Michael Johnson, the long-time beloved and popular head football coach was let go in January amidst a restructuring of the school’s athletic department that was announced in a letter to parents.

Johnson, a two-time TAPPS (Texas Association of Private and Paraochial Schools) state championship coach started coaching and teaching at Dunne in 2005 after he graduated from the school. He became head coach in 2009, finishing with a 73-58 record and two TAPPS Division 1 state championships in 2014 and 2018.

13

APRIL 8, 2020

THAT CELEBRITY INTERVIEW

The Clark Sisters

By VALDER BEEBE

T

he Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel. The Lifetime original movie tells the Inspirational, true story of one of the most successful gospel groups in history.

Executive producers and Grammy Award winners Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige and Missy Elliott present the authorized musical tale of the Clark Sisters in Lifetime’s original movie The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel. Having sold millions of albums and credited with bringing Gospel music to the mainstream, the five Clark sisters overcame humble beginnings in Detroit, enduring abuse, loss, rejection, betrayal, and sibling rivalries to achieve international fame as icons of the Gospel music industry.

Aunjanue Ellis stars as ‘Mattie Moss Clark,’ the mother of The Clark Sisters. Ellis has been cast opposite Will Smith in the upcoming biopic King Richard and will be part of the cast of HBO’s upcoming drama series Lovecraft

Hall of Famer

By Dorothy J. Gentry S ports E ditor

Former Duncanville High School standout Tamika Catchings was named an inductee into the 2020 Class of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame today.

Catchings, currently the vice president of basketball operations and general manager for the WNBA’s Indiana Fever, played volleyball and basketball at Duncanville High School, leading the volleyball team to a state championship in 1995 and the basketball team to a state championship in the 1996-97 season.

“I am incredibly honored to be included in this year’s NaismithHall of Fame, and God only knows the dreams I had as a little girl to be able to follow

Country.

Ellis received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress for her work in the Ava

DuVernay-directed miniseries When They See Us. Other recent credits include the films Miss Virginia, If Beale Street Could Talk, and Birth of a Nation.

On TV, she starred as ‘Miranda Shaw’ on ABC’s Quantico, and had recurring roles on The Practice, True Blood, and The Mentalist.

Sheléa Frazier stars as gospel singer Dorinda Clark Cole. Sheléa is mentored

by Stevie Wonder, and is a protégée of Quincy Jones. She has sung at the Obama White House and performed a Whitney Houston tribute at the Grammy Museum. Her recent PBS concert special, called Quincy Jones Presents: Sheléa, featured David Foster.-Text provided by Raven Goodwin’s publicity team in conjunction with the Valder Beebe Show In the Valder Beebe Show studio Raven Goodwin as “Denise,” the second oldest sister. Raven shares her ‘pinch me’ moment with this role.

VBS: Give our audience a preview of the Clark Sisters.

RG: The Clark Sisters are legendary.

They are the cream of the crop who laid the foundation for Gospel music. They are led by their mother Mattie Moss Clark. I play Denise Clark, the rebel of the sisters. Even if you are not a huge gospel fan you should really watch.

VBS: My Instagram poster wants to know if the Clark sisters are really sisters?

If so, how many sisters? In addition, are all sisters still with us?

RG: Yes they are biological sisters, all five are still with us.

Raven Goodwin’s full interview…….

SoundCloud.com/valderbeebeshow

Valder Beebe Show THAT CELEBRITY INTERVIEW On-Demand video: ValderBeebeShow.com, 411RadioNetwork. com, Youtube.com/valderbeebeshow; PODCAST audio: Soundcloud.com/valderbeebeshow, Soundcloud.com/ kkvidfw; Broadcast:KYBS FM Y99.9, KRER FM 102.5, Streaming TV PChatman Network and VBS affiliate broadcasters; On-Demand 411 RadioNetwork.com,. – Now available on 411RadioNetwork APP. Valder Beebe Show is a Power of 3 Women media influencer consortium partner.

in my father’s footsteps,” Catchings said of her dad, Harvey Catchings, a former professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers. “I am so thankful to stand alongside so many amazing men and women that have come before me.”

She is joined in the Hall of Fame Class of 2020 by 18-time NBA AllStar and five-time NBA champion the late Kobe Bryant, 15-time NBA AllStar and three-time NBA Finals MVP Tim Duncan, 15-time NBA All-Star and nine-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection Kevin Garnett, fourtime National Coach of the Year Eddie Sutton, two-time NBA Champion coach Rudy Tomjanovich, three-time NCAA National Championship Coachof Baylor Kim Mulkey, five-time Division II National Coach of the Year Barbara

Stevens and longtime FIBA executive Patrick Baumann in this year’s illustrious class.

Catchings played her entire 15year career with the Indiana Fever, was named the 2011 WNBA MVP and led the Fever to the 2012 WNBA Championship, earning Finals MVP honors.

Catchings was named to the AllWNBA team 12 times in her career. She played at the University of Tennessee from 1997-2001, winning a national championship and ranks fourth all time in career points for the Lady Vols. She also won four consecutive Olympic gold medals with Team USA 2002-2016.

The Class of 2020 will be enshrined on Saturday, August 29 in Springfield, Massachusetts, the home of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

At the movies

Coffee and Kareem BY HOLLYWOOD HERNANDEZ

COFFEE AND KAREEM is the new adult comedy starring Taraji P. Henson (Empire), Ed Helms (The Hangover) and TV actor, starring in his first movie, Terrence Little Gardenhigh starring as Kareem. The 12-year-old actor fires off so much foul language it makes you feel like you need to make a call to child protective services.

In COFFEE AND KAREEM the young boy walks into the house unexpectedly and catches his mom (Taraji P. Henson) and the policeman, Officer Coffee, played by Ed Helms, having sex. The young man, who’s a want to be gangster, is so outraged by seeing the cop sexing his mom he hires a notorious drug dealer to put out a hit on his mom’s boyfriend.

Instead, he ends up witnessing a crooked cop being killed, with his phone recording the entire event and ends up being pursued by the drug dealer and his gang. Now him and his mother’s boyfriend have to team up to stay alive, They also have to save his

irate mother, who refuses to co-operate and ends up being tased by the 12-year-old and tossed in the trunk while they getaway. Officer Coffee is being set up by crooked cops and he has to clear his name while on the run.

The movie is a guilty pleasure with plenty of raunchy laughs. As part of a deal the two partners make Coffee has to take Kareem to a strip joint, in one of my favorite, most outrageous scenes in the movie. The scene helps the movie earn its TV-MA rating.

Ms. Henson has a smaller role in the movie but she has some great scenes as Kareem’s protective mother. She is hilarious in her limited role.

COFFEE AND KAREEM is one of the most inappropriate movies I’ve seen in recent memory (keep the kids away from the TV), but if you’ve got the stomach for it it is laugh out loud funny.

The movie has a run time of one hour and a half and is currently showing on NETFLIX. On my “Hollywood Popcorn Scale” I rate it a LARGE.

14

APRIL 8, 2020 information with others. To the point, people were like, ‘wow you should teach this.’

From Marva with

MS: What are some of the fundamental principles we should be practicing?

BB:So what are some of the fundamental principles? I listened earlier when you were talking about COVID-19 and its effects on our community as a pandemic. Especially during this time, we want to make sure that we are being extra smart with our spending. I heard you talk about the number of layoffs and for many families that came unexpectedly. You know, there wasn’t a two-week notice.

There wasn’t anyone even kind of saying ‘hey we’re going to, or this is going to come.’ You know some folks literally walked into their jobs and they heard here in Dallas the County Judge said to restaurants stop serving and the restaurant owners were stuck with having to let their employees go. Many of them work on tips. The key at this point is to stop all of the extra spendings that we have taken for granted as consumers and really buckling down and identify what are the necessities.

I encourage people to have a plan and a strategy.

By Marva Sneed

B

randy Baxter is an Air Force Veteran, a dynamic and engaging speaker, financial coach, and counselor. She discussed life and her book, “The Story of Three Divas: Reach Your Money Goals in 3 Steps Before You Huff and Puff and Blow Your Next Paycheck Away,” on a recent episode of “From Marva with Love.”

Brandy Baxter

MS: Brandy, you’re a lady that gets things done with all that you do. Tell us a little about yourself and what brought you on this journey?

BB: I am a mom to two darling daughters and wife to one handsome husband. I am a full-time graduate student at Regent University pursuing my doctoral degree in strategic leadership with the emphasis on foresight. My husband is also a doctoral student and we arrived on this journey when 15 years ago we fell in love with each other. We neglected to have a

conversation about personal finances and after about three months of being married and sit-ting down doing our bills, I realized that I had a little molehill of debt and he had a little molehill of debt and together we had a mountain of debt. And so that began my journey of understanding poor management of fundamental financial principles on how to not only manage money and save money but really how to have a future plan for our money. As that journey began I found myself sharing that

To hear the entire interview go to BlogTalkRadio.com Cheryl’s World. Click on the Link: https://bit.ly/3a7MhQJ. You can follow Ms. Brandy Baxter on social media @BlackGirlFinMagic on Twitter and Instagram and Brandy Baxter on LinkedIn. Tune in to From Marva with Love on blogtalkradio.com/cherylsmith Fridays 11 am-1 pm

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HE IS A SERIAL RAPIST

He targeted members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. but this is more than about a sorority. We’re talking about a community.

Come on PEOPLE! Don’t you CARE? Will it matter when it is your sister, mother, aunt or grandmother or maybe YOU?

Crimestoppers

877-373-8477

Stay in your home longer with an American Standard Walk-In Bathtub.

Receive up to $1,500 off, including a free toilet, and a lifetime warranty on the tub and installation!

Call us at 1-855-481-

Wanted To Buy Wants to purchase minerals and other oil and gas interests.

Send details to P.O. Box 13557 Denver, Co. 80201

Reader Advisory: The National Trade Association we belong to has purchased the above classifieds. Determining the value of their service or product is advised by this publication. In order to avoid misunderstandings, some advertisers do not offer employment but rather supply the readers with manuals, directories and other materials designed to help their clients establish mail order selling and other businesses at home. Under NO circumstance should you send any money in advance or give the client your checking, license ID, or credit card numbers. Also beware of ads that claim to guarantee loans regardless of credit and note that if a credit repair company does business only over the phone it is illegal to request any money before delivering its service. All funds are based in US dollars. Toll free numbers may or may not reach Canada.

16 WE’RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS!

APRIL 8, 2020 During this crucial time where COVID-19 continues to threaten the lives and health of our community and the world in which we live, Black Jack Pizza wants to thank you for your continued business.

As always we are happy to serve you.

Because we must all pay strict attention to the guidelines and govern ourselves accordingly, it is crucial that we operate our business in accordance with these guidelines which we have been given by our government and city officials. We are fortunate that we have been given the privilege to operate with our regular business hours; however, we are open for call-in and take-out orders only. Our lobby is closed. You may order by phone and pick it up to-go only. We ask that you also continue to be safe and practice social distancing as you are picking up your orders. Because we want to continue to serve you during this time of crisis, we ask that you will cooperate with us until we are no longer governed by these rules.

We thank you for continuing to eat at Black Jack Pizza and look forward to doing business with you in the years to come. Our prayer is that you and your families will remain safe and that we will all continue to do our part to bring this crisis to an end.

No More Hugs and Kisses...

JUST GOOD FOOD!

2536 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Dallas, TX 75215

(214) 565-1025

2120 N St Augustine Suite 100 Dallas, TX 75227

(972) 329-1414