T E X A S
MetroNews DELIVERING NEWS YOU NEED
• Vol. 10 • June 23 - June 29, 2022
MY TRUTH By Cheryl Smith PUBLISHER
WWW.TEXASMETRONEWS.COM
Grammy-Winning Producer Pharrell Pays Off North Texas Student’s Loans
Channing Hill enters senior year debt-free at Howard University By Valerie Fields Hill
Holler if You Hear Me! There are about 39,000 people in the city of Duncanville, TX. In this suburban city that is part of the ‘Great Southwest” which includes the cities of DeSoto, Cedar Hill and Lancaster, an election was a held to determine who would be the mayor for the next four years. According to unofficial records, approximately 2342 citizens cast ballots and incumbent mayor Barry L. Gordon was victorious over challenger, City councilman Mark Cooks, by a slim market of less than 200. There are a number of reasons for the low voter turnout. Some say apathy and restrictive voter laws are just a few of the issues confronting voters. Some say these issues are taking a toll on voters and making it difficult to prepare for future elections; which the next one is right around the corner — the oh so important but often overlooked midterm elections in November. Then there’s the rising costs of gasoline, food, medicine and of course, housing. The question some ask is, “would it have been better to have received the stimulus monies and food stamps at the same time as price gouging began at the pumps, and it became cheaper to eat out than to prepare a healthy meal at home?” After all, who wants to hear about corporate executives receiving huge salaries or more corporations touting record profits, when more and more people across this country are finding themselves waiting in anticipation of the eviction notice that they know is on the See MY TRUTH, page 10
Texas Metro News Editor
Music producer Pharrell Williams, who wrote the blockbuster cult classic song “Happy” for 2013’s animated film Despicable Me 2, made a few college students – including a North Texas coed – gleeful Friday by promising to pay off their student loan debts. The five HBCU students and recent graduates, including Channing Hill of BedStudents with Pharrell Williams (4th from right)
Fred Hammond – “Way Back When!” By Vincent L. Hall June is Black Music Month, and all the melodies of life are converging to remind us how we got over. In the Black Church, those melodies envelop the songs of Zion, from the hymn book to the Good book. This Black History Month, you must check out Fred Hammond’s recent gospel medley “Way Back When.” This 14-minute “disco version” chocked full with some of the Black church's most moving staples will take you way back.
See GRAMMY-WINNING, page 10
Dallas Mayor, City Manager agree on path forward, together Mayor Eric Johnson and City Manager T.C. Broadnax on Tuesday announced that they have reached an agreement for moving forward together. “A little over a week ago, I said that it was time for a change at the top of our city government,” Mayor Johnson said. “I still believe we
City Manager T.C. Broadnax
Mayor Eric Johnson
need change. But after some serious and frank discussions with our city manager, I believe
he is ready to make the necessary changes to address issues that are critically important to
our residents. “The time for rhetoric is over. It is now time for a reset. It is now time to heal. And it is now time for real results and accountability.” Broadnax said he recognizes that he hasn’t handled some issues in a way that is “up to my own standards.” See DALLAS MAYOR, page 13
New and Improved: Austin Street Center By Asia Nicole Alcorn and Kendall Gayle Washington Texas Metro News
DALLAS – As City and County officials grapple with the homelessness issue, the support that Austin Street Center continues to provide to homeless citizens of Dallas since 1983 has reached new heights with the opening of a new and larger state-of-the-art facility on Tuesday. Now located at 2929 Hickory Street in Dallas, Austin Street provides its “guests” with a vaSee NEW AND IMPROVED, page 10
Rapid Rehousing Case Managers Brooks Willhoite, Alesia Cate and Cortina Jackson; Director of Advancement Communications Teresa Thomas; Rapid Rehousing Case Managers Barbara Houston, Cynthia Russell and Alicia Hatcher. Credit: Kendall Gayle Washington
It can take you back if you grew up in one of those old-fashioned "gut-bucket Gospel" churches where voice and rhythm were all you needed. Or maybe you were raised in one of the "silk-stocking" churches where you moved from hymn to anthem, to spiritual, and to Gospel. On the other hand, maybe your parents took you to a "high brow" Black or integrated church. There wasn’t no screaming and hollering, hand clapping and tambourine shaking. No drumbeats or "Saturday Night" instrumentation. Your church was more on the scope of Catholicism or Presbyterian. Fred Hammond has something for all of you. Not only does it get me ready for church, but it has also become the processional to my workouts on the treadmill and long walks. This captivating and engaging See FRED HAMMOMD, page 11