Houston Style Magazine June 25 – July 01, 2020
Houston’s Premiere Weekly Publication, Since 1989
Volume 31 | Number 26
Complimentary
CELEBRITY DADS FATHER’S DAY HAUTE SHOTS
BUBBA WALLACE RESPONDS TO FBI:
Jesse Jackson Sadly, NCAA Players Have To Be The ‘Adults’ In The Room
“Whether Tied In 2019 or Whatever – It Was A Noose”
Judge Lina Hidalgo New COVID-19 Health & Safety Requirements For Businesses
#IStandWithBubba
STAY SMART H WORK SAFE CORONAVIRUS – US NUMBERS: Cases: 2,468,887 Deaths: 124,363
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New University of Houston Med School Breaks Ground
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LETS PLAY BALL: MLB Announces 60-Games
Laurence ‘Larry’ Payne New Chair of Mayor Turner’s Police Reform Task Force
Glenda McNeal
N E W S | C O M M E N TA R I E S | S P O R T S | H E A LT H | E N T E R TA I N M E N T Support Black Owned Businesses
FREETestCOVID-19 Sites
Houston Week of June 22, 2020
Visit HoustonEmergency.org for current sites. 1. Kingwood Park Community Center 4102 Rustic Woods Dr, 77345 June 22, 23, 26, 27, 2020 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Appointment required through txcovidtest.org or 512-883-2400.
6. Fifth Ward Multi-Service Center 4014 Market St, 77020 June 25-27, 2020 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Appointment required by visiting krogerhealth.com/ covidtesting
11. Houston Community College - Southeast Campus 6815 Rustic, St., 77087 June 22-26, 2020 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. No appointment or symptoms needed.
2. Griggs EC/PK/K School 801 Regional Park Dr., 77060 June 22-26, 2020 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. No appointment or symptoms needed.
7. Houston Community College Northeast Campus 555 Community College Dr, 77013 June 22-27, 2020 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Appointment required through txcovidtest.org or 512-883-2400.
12. Butler Stadium 13755 S Main St, 77035 Until further notice 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. (closed Sundays) Call 832-393-4220 for access code.
3. United Memorial Medical Center 510 W Tidwell Rd., 77091 June 22-26, 2020 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. No appointment or symptoms needed. 4. Forest Brook Middle School 7525 Tidwell Rd., 77016 June 22-26, 2020 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. No appointment or symptoms needed. 5. Delmar Stadium 2020 Mangum Rd, 77092 Until further notice 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. (closed Sundays) Call 832-393-4220 for access code.
8. Southwest Multi-Service Center 6400 High Star Dr, 77074 June 22-26, 2020 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. No appointment or symptoms needed.
13. Houston Community College - South Campus 1990 Airport Blvd, 77051 June 22-27, 2020 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Appointment required through txcovidtest.org or 512-883-2400.
9. NRG Green Lot 1 Reliant Park, 77054 June 22-27, 2020 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Appointment required through txcovidtest.org or 512-883-2400.
14. Willowridge High School 16301 Chimney Rock Rd, 77053 June 22-27, 2020 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Appointment required through txcovidtest.org or 512-883-2400.
10. Cullen Middle School 6900 Scott St., 77021 June 22-26, 2020 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. No appointment or symptoms needed.
Share your COVID-19 experience at registry.rice.edu/covid19
HOUSTONEMERGENCY.ORG/COVID19 2
June 25 – July 01, 2020
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Managing Editor Jo-Carolyn Goode editorial@stylemagazine.com Social Media Editor/Videographer Reginald Dominique reggiedominique@me.com Sports Editor Brian Barefield
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“THIS WILL NOT BREAK ME – I WILL NOT GIVE IN” DARRELL “BUBBA” WALLACE BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN IN 50 YEARS TO WIN NASCAR
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June 25 – July 01, 2020
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COMMENTARY
Sadly, NCAA Players Have To Be The ‘Adults’ In The Room
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By Jesse Jackson, National Political Writer
ow many lives of young men and women should be sacrificed for entertainment - and for billions in profit? That question can’t be ducked as the NCAA allows colleges to begin “voluntary” football practices, and other college teams begin to practice. Colleges are desperate to open the full football season, a source of millions of profits for colleges and universities. Donald Trump, who pretends that the COVID-19 pandemic is behind us, wants a return to normal, with stadiums filled with fans cheering their heroes. Players are eager to compete and to display their skills. Only problem is that the coronavirus doesn’t care about profits or presidents, or about fans or coaches. It doesn’t follow polls, doesn’t care who wins the presidential election, and has no party. It is deadly and it’s still here, even spiking in more than 20 states. And now, its hitting football players hard. Thirty LSU players are in quarantine, either testing positive for the virus or from being in contact with those who tested positive. Twenty-three Clemson football players have tested positive since workouts started on June 1. Thirteen at Texas, 14 at Kansas State, and more at Alabama, Mississippi, Southern Florida, Auburn, Oklahoma State and others. Houston and Kansas State have suspended voluntary workouts after a raft of positive tests. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the United States’ leading infectious disease expert, warns that football might not be possible now: “Unless players are essentially in a bubble - insulated from the community and they are tested nearly every day - it would be very hard to see how football is able to be played this fall.” For Donald Trump, this is unacceptable. He wants to pretend that the pandemic has been conquered
and wants praise for the self-proclaimed “phenomenal job” that he has done, even though the U.S. has suffered more victims than any other nation in the world. He sought to kickstart his re-election campaign with a rally in an enclosed arena in Tulsa, Oklahoma, site of one of the worst racial massacres in our history in 1921. Yet, after boasting that a million people had sought tickets for the 19,000-seat arena, he spoke before an arena that was only one-third full. Even the Trumpsters thought twice about gathering in a closed arena to listen to hours of speeches in a crowd parading without masks. Who will be responsible for the athletes whose
lives will be at risk so fans can be entertained, and the universities can profit? College presidents now make big salaries, but they should feel a greater responsibility to the young men and women who attend their schools. College coaches make millions at big-time programs, but they should protect the players that play for them. The NCAA should reconsider its decision to open practices now that the virus has spread so quickly. In the end, sadly, it is likely that the players themselves will have to be the adults in the room.
At UCLA, 30 players petitioned the university for additional protections, seeking a Third-Party Health Official to review all safety measures and protocols to ensure the greatest protection possible. They wanted guarantees that players would not lose their scholarships or face retaliation if they chose not to return to the campus for the season this fall. They argued, sensibly, that they could not trust university or athletic department officials who had interests other than their lives and health at stake. With demonstrations in support of the Black Lives movement continuing, it is time for players to speak out. Oklahoma State’s football coach, Mike Gundy, found that out when he wore a sweatshirt from OAN, the virulent rightwing cable network that has consistently mocked Black Lives Matter demonstrations. His Heisman Award candidate, running back Chuba Hubbard, called him out, leading to Gundy’s abject apology for what he claimed was an ignorant mistake. Now players need to speak out about their own health and safety. College football is a wonderful spectator sport - but it is not worth the lives of young American men. The same is true for other college sports. If college officials, college coaches and the NCAA are not prepared to act responsibly, the athletes themselves must take the lead. Their parents should support them. Thirty players testing positive in “voluntary” practices is 30 too many. It is time to give greater weight to the pandemic experts than to the panicked administrators. You can write to the Rev. Jesse Jackson in care of this newspaper or by email at jjackson@rainbowpush.org. Follow him on Twitter @RevJJackson. Share this story online at StyleMagazine.com.
T.E.A. Delays Health Guidelines For Reopening Schools
Draft Documents Show Few Mandatory Safety Measures
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By StyleMagazine.com – CNN / Newswire
exas public schools will be required to provide in-person instruction for students this fall, but state education officials have delayed releasing final public health guidelines for keeping them safe on campuses during the pandemic. “We are unable to give final guidance today on on-campus instruction. We are actively monitoring the situation, and we will try to get out
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final information as quickly as possible,” Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said during a Tuesday briefing of school superintendents who had been expecting him to outline the agency’s reopening guidelines. A draft document found on the Texas Education Agency’s website Tuesday showed agency officials are envisioning a largely hands-off
June 25 – July 01, 2020
approach to helping school districts bring students back to campus this fall, imposing few mandatory safety precautions but recommending that staff and students wear masks, sanitize their hands regularly and stay 6 feet away from one another. The light-handed oversight role parallels the state’s overall approach to the coronavirus pandemic under Gov. Greg Abbott, with local officials, pare n t s www.StyleMagazine.com
and students expected to devise their own strategies for protecting their health. www.TEA.Texas.gov
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June 25 – July 01, 2020
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Mayor Turner Names Task Force To Review HPD Policies and Pratices By StyleMagazine.com Newswire
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his week, Mayor Sylvester Turner appointed 45 members to his Task Force on Policing Reform to explore best practices and procedures in operating the Houston Police Department. A complete list of members is here. The task force will make recommendations in training, use of force, police oversight, and interactions with the community. The official charge of the Mayor’s Task Force on Policing Reform is to:
• Review HPD policies and practices relating to the use of force. • Review the operation of the IPOB,
its effectiveness and recommend what changes, if any, should be made. • Body cameras: assess when video footage should or should not be released to the general public; ie: criteria • Best practices (model) for crisis diversion (e.g. substance abuse, mental/ behavioral issues, homelessness) - evaluate HPD Crisis Intervention Team • Assess how well HPD is doing with community policing and what more should be done to build the bond between police and community.
• How to decrease the “overt” presence of law enforcement without adversely affecting safety.
“It’s a tall order. It’s certainly important that people get an opportunity to express their thoughts, provide their opinions, and I know that we will get many. I think, in the end, this will help our city move forward in a very productive fashion,” said Mayor Turner. “Over the past several weeks, we have all listened to a call for police reform and the demand for change. People in our community want good policing, accountability, and transparency within the Houston Police Department.”
Laurence “Larry” Payne will chair the 45-member Mayor’s Task Force on Policing Reform. Currently, Mr. Payne is the Director of Strategic Partnerships, Civic Engagement, and Critical Conversations for the Houston Public Library. The other 44 members represent the business community, community activists/organizers to faith leaders to advocates. Mayor Turner also named five special advisors to the task force. The Mayor’s Task Force on Policing Reform will meet for the first time during the week of July 6 and have up to 90 days to submit its recommendations.
Housing Affordability In Houston and Harris County Is Declining, Especially For Renters By StyleMagazine.com Newswire
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ousing affordability in the Houston area is declining for all households and renters are finding it almost impossible to buy homes without significant subsidies, according to a new report from Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research. “The 2020 State of Housing in Harris County and Houston” examines data from 2010 to 2018 and compares how dozens of key housing indicators have shifted during that time. Subsequent annual reports will add the latest year of data to the analysis and track trends over time. Kinder Institute researchers Kyle Shelton, John Park, Carlos Villegas, Luis Guajardo, Chris Servidio and Zhiyan Zhang contributed to the report. Most people living in Houston and a near-majority of Harris County residents are renters. The researchers found nearly half (47%) of renter households in Harris County spent more than 30% of their income on housing in 2018, classifying them as cost-burdened. Of that number, about 23% spent more than half of their income on rent, classifying them as severely cost-burdened. The
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number of cost-burdened renters in Harris County grew 24% from 2010 to 2018. In contrast, fewer homeowners faced affordability problems. In 2018, 23% of owner households in Harris County paid more than 30% of their income toward housing, and this number of cost-burdened owners in Harris County was down from 2010 by 18%. However, households making the median household income in Harris County have seen median sales prices grow past what they can sustainably afford. “In 2011, a Harris County
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household with a median income of $52,675 could afford a $163,121 home without spending more than 30% of their income,” the report said. “That was comfortably above the median sales price of $139,000 and created a surplus of $24,121. By 2018, a household with a median income of $60,146 could afford a $186,256 home, but median home prices had jumped to $220,000, creating a $33,744 gap.” The affordability gap is even worse for renters. In 2011, a renter household making the median income of $33,590 could afford a home priced
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at $104,019, but the median sales price was $139,000, resulting in a $34,981 gap. In 2018, a renting household making the median renter’s income of $40,740 could afford a home of $126,160, but the median sales price was $220,000, resulting in a $93,480 gap. “This inaugural report makes it clear that Houston and Harris County face immense challenges in efforts to provide safe and affordable homes to all residents,” said Shelton, the deputy director of the Kinder Institute. “Renters, low-income residents, and Black and Hispanic residents face some of the most difficult issues in attempts to find a home. The ‘State of Housing’ will continue to track trends in the region and hopes to spotlight issues for policymakers, developers and residents and work with those stakeholders to address them.” The report is available online at https://kinder.rice.edu/research/2020state-housing-harris-county-and-houston. Wells Fargo provided support for the project.
Mayor Turner Police Reform Task Force Members
Laurance “Larry” Payne
The 45-Houstonians Named to the Mayor Sylvester Turner Police Reform Task Force
Chair – Mayor Turners Task Force On Police Reform
By StyleMagazine.com Newswire
Chair – Laurence “Larry” Payne Director of Strategic Partnerships, Civic Engagement and Critical Conversations for the Houston Public Library 01. Bishop James Dixon NAACP 02. Judson Robinson III Houston Area Urban League 03. Mamie Garcia LULAC 04. Bill Fulton Director of Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research 05. Kirk Watson Founding Dean of University of Houston Hobby School of Public Policy 06. Harrison Guy Chair of the Mayor’s LGBTQ Advisory Board 07. Angel Ponce Senior Customer Service Representative Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities 08. Deric Muhammad Community Activist 09. Trae tha Truth Rapper/Community Activist 10. Bishop C. Andrew “Andy” Doyle Episcopal Diocese of Texas 11. Laura Murillo President and CEO
of the Houston Hispanic Chamber 12. Cesar Espinosa Executive Director of FIEL 13. Bob Harvey President and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership 14. Howard Henderson Founding Director of the Center for JusticeResearch/ Professor of Justice Administration at Texas Southern University 15. Alice Le SW Management District 16. Leonard Kincaid Executive Director of the Houston Recovery Center 17. Emilee Whitehurst Houston Area Women’s Center 18. Rania Mankarious CEO of Crime Stoppers 19. Deborah Fowler Executive Director of Texas Appleseed 20. Pastor Steve Wells Pastor of South Main Baptist Church 21. Tanya Dubose Independence Heights Community Leader/Former Juvenile Probation Officer/Former Parole Officer 22. Judge Marc Carter Former District Criminal Court Judge/Helped Found Treatment Court
23. Wayne Young President/CEO of The Harris Center 24. Michael Dirden Attorney/Police Advisor 25. Pastor Max Miller, Jr. Pastor of Mt. Hebron Missionary Baptist Church 26. Dr. Carla Brailey Professor at Texas Southern University 27. George Ryne Administrator of the Texas Anti-Gang Center 28. Mary Champion Closner Harris County Juvenile Probation Officer 29. Rose Brown Experience in the Criminal Justice Field/Board Member of the National Association of Black in Criminal Justice 30. Timothy Luckey Graduate of Houston Baptist University and Active in the Local Community with Youth Development Activities 31. Keith Mosing Chairman and CEO of Western Airways, Inc./Board Member of the Memorial Hermann Foundation, Kickstart Kids, Houston Police Foundation 32. David Shin Computer Programmer for Honeywell/President of the Korean
American Association and Community Center of Houston 33. Robert Satcher American Physician, Chemical Engineer and NASA Astronaut 34. Lacy Wolf AFL-CIO 35. Gerry Birnberg Attorney/Member of the Independent Police Oversight Board 36. Kathy Flanagan President of Houston Medical Reform 37. Shekira Dennis Civic Engagement Advocate/Community Organizer 38. Noah Horwitz Millennial 39. Jaylon Wingfield Millennial 40. Deric Childress, Jr. Millennial 41. Shariq Abdul Ghani Director of the Minaret Foundation/Founder of Crescent Youth 42. Rabbi Gideon Estes President of Houston Rabbinical Association 43. Pastor Jose Ortega National Association of Christian Churches 44. Terry Bratton Chairman of the Houston Police Officers’ Pension System Board of Trustees 45. Bobby Singh
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June 25 – July 01, 2020
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FIRST CLASS STUDENTS: UH College of Medicine Selects Inaugural Class Having earned an undergraduate biology degree from UH in 2013, Cenk Cengiz will return as part of the first class of the UH College of Medicine.
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Houston native Maya Fontenot is one of the 30 students selected for the inaugural class of the UH College of Medicine. Construction crews broke ground on the new building on June 15 and expect ompleted in 2022.
aya Fontenot was gifted with a natural aptitude for science and math, but her passion for medicine and activism started as a child in southwest Houston. Though she grew up middle class, Fontenot recalls frequent visits to the county hospital with aunts and uncles who struggled with poverty… and their health. Those eye-opening and alarming experiences gave her a glimpse into the challenges “a poor person seeking medical care” can face. Now back home in Houston, Fontenot will return to the hospital setting under very different circumstances — as one of 30 medical students in the University of Houston College of Medicine’s inaugural class. “I wanted to be an advocate for poor communities of color, like my family, so I majored in sociology to analyze the societal factors impacting health and health care,” said the recent Baylor graduate. With a bold and fresh new approach to medical education, the city of Houston’s first medical school in nearly 50 years is tackling a key contributor to poor health — a shortage of primary care doctors. By addressing key factors that affect their patients’ health such as food insecurity, the environment and housing, these future doctors will help eliminate health disparities in underserved urban and rural areas, which often have poorer health outcomes. “I grew up on these inner-city streets and coming home to UH for medical school is a dream come true,” said Fontenot, who is African American and Native American. “During the interview process, I didn’t have to ask ‘what are you going to do for poor communities and communities of color in this city?’ It was at the forefront of every message they shared. I had never felt there was an institution that prioritized it as much as I did and that is really exciting.” UH College of Medicine Inaugural Class:
Schools Application Services) • 100% Texas resident • Five graduates of the University of Texas at Austin; two graduates each from the University of Houston, Baylor, Texas A&M, Houston Baptist, Prairie View A&M and Rice University An incredible 93% of the incoming class displayed factors indicating high mission congruence. The goal is for 50% of graduates to choose primary care specialties including family medicine, general internal medicine and general pediatrics. Only about 20% of medical students nationwide choose primary care. “We were very deliberate in our pursuit of medical students who fit the mission. This is much different than most other medical schools because we need different solutions for the current health care problems facing our city and state,” said Dr. Stephen Spann, founding dean of the College of Medicine. “I am elated with the quality and mission-driven purpose of the incoming class and can’t wait to get started.” The 164 prospective students took part in multiple mini-interviews – the majority held virtually via Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic – where candidates rotate through a circuit of one-on-one interviews. Research shows this newer approach to interviewing produces a more reliable assessment of a candidate and limits interview biases due to the number of interactions. “We wanted to build a fair process but also went a step further by using data to identify what makes a person gravitate toward primary care. Our multiple mini-interviews allowed us to hone in on applicants who were compassionate, ethical, conscientious and expressed an interest in primary care,” said Dr. Kathryn Horn, • 30 students associate dean of student affairs, admissions and • 73% underrepresented minorities in outreach. “I’m proud to say our first cohort is full of character and an eagerness to truly impact the quality medicine of health care in our region.” • 63% female Each member of the first cohort will receive a • 57% first generation in college $100,000 four-year scholarship through philanthropy • 40% low socioeconomic status (as to cover tuition and fees. “It’s a huge burden lifted,” defined by Texas Medical Dental said Cenk Cengiz, who graduated from UH in 2013 with a degree in biology. At 14, his family emigrated from Turkey to Houston, but like many immigrants, could not afford health insurance. Cengiz went through high school and college without ever seeing a doctor, which attracted him to the field of medicine and piqued his interest in the medical school’s unique mission to
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June 25 – July 01, 2020
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help underserved communities. “In college as a pre-med student, I would email physicians at TMC to set up shadowing opportunities, but I was embarrassed to say I had never seen a physician in the United States,” recalled Cengiz, who has worked as a research assistant and tissue engineer at Baylor College of Medicine. “Immigrant populations are often embarrassed to seek health care because they are intimidated by the medical community. So, I thought someone like me will be able to better understand their issues and why they would be reluctant to seek help.” Orientation week starts July 20 and the first day of fall courses is July 27. The Health 2 Building in the UH Medical District will be the college’s temporary home for the first two years until a new $80 million medical school building is completed in 2022. Construction crews just broke ground on the new building June 15 and the progress can be viewed on this time lapse construction camera. At full enrollment, the College of Medicine will have 480 students, but the first 30 — already talking regularly on a virtual chat — are eager to get started and set the standard for excellence. “I came a long way from washing dishes at 14 at a pizza store. My parents are super proud of me,” said Cengiz with a smile. “When I got the call, I was so happy I couldn’t speak,” said Fontenot. “I just ended up walking around the house with my hand on my forehead and thinking ‘wow, I can’t believe I got this.’” www.UH.edu
Dr. Stephen Spann is Founding Dean of the UH College of Medicine.
Rayshard Brooks Memorialized At Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church In Atlanta, Georgia By StyleMagazine.com Newswire
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amily, friends, dignitaries, elected officials and community leaders gathered to remember the life of Rayshard Brooks at Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church. The 27-year-old African-American man was shot and killed by an Atlanta police officer on June 12th. His death sparked national and international outrage. Brooks’ family selected Ebenezer Baptist Church for the private funeral service because of its global historic presence. “We’re here to provide ministry as they walk through the valley of the shadow of death,” said Rev. Raphael G. Warnock, Senior Pastor of Ebenezer. “It’s Ebenezer’s mission to show up in a time like this, especially given the way he lost his life. Rayshard was not a member of our church but his loved ones are a part of our family. We are a sanctuary for the suffering. We are a house of prayer for all people,” he added. Due to Covid-19, only 200 guests were allowed inside the sanctu-
ary, which was marked for social distancing. Notable guests included Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms, Former Mayor Kasim Reed, Rev. Bernice King, Former Georgia Gubernatorial Candidate Stacey Abrams, Rapper/Actor/Activist T.I. and his wife Tiny. Singers Kelly Price, Yolanda Adams, Pastor Smokie Norful, Actress/Singer Tamela Mann, Kurt Carr & Singers all provided songs of comfort. Rev. Bernice King, daughter of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., addressed the crowd saying “Having a father killed when I was only 5 years of age, my heart deeply grieves for [his daughters] Dream, Memory, Blessing and [stepson] Mekai,” King said. “I know the pain of growing up without a father and the ongoing attention around his tragic loss. I am and will continue to pray for each of you.” Mourners stood solemnly outside to watch the private service stream on a jumbotron. Brook’s death prompted massive protests across the city and around the nation in a climate
that has seen the deaths of George Floyd in Minneapolis, MN; Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, GA and Breonna Taylor in Louisville, KY. “This country has become too accustomed and comfortable with black people dying,” said Warnock. “Black Lives Matter is just a way of saying ‘see our humanity.’ We’re trying to stay alive and keep our families alive.” Rev. Warnock also touched on the events leading up to Brooks’ death. “When I heard Rayshard’s story, I understood,” he said. “He was on probation in a state that, despite its reforms, is ground zero for keeping people on probation for extended periods of time.
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Somebody said, ‘Well why did he run? Didn’t he know…’ Well, sometimes you have to sit where other folk sit in order to feel what they feel. Rayshard was trying. He had been digging his way back. And he knew that night that he could very well lose his liberty. So, afraid of losing his liberty, he lost his life, running from a system that too often makes slaves out of people.” The service was viewed on the church’s website: www.EbenezerATL.org. *Photo Courtesy: Richard DuCree Ebenezer Baptist Church.
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Bubba Wallace Responds to FBI Findings: ‘Whether Tied In 2019, or Whatever, It Was A Noose’ By Christina Maxouris, CNN / StyleMagazine.com Newswire
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Darrel “Bubba” Wallace, Jr., 26
ASCAR driver Bubba Wallace says he’s “pissed” members of the public are now questioning his integrity after the FBI said a noose found in his garage stall this week was there before his team moved in. “I’m mad because people are trying to test my character and the person that I am and my integrity,” he told CNN’s Don Lemon Tuesday night. NASCAR said it launched an investigation after a crew member discovered the noose Sunday afternoon at the Talladega Superspeedway. In a statement earlier this week, NASCAR said it was “angry and outraged.” The FBI said Tuesday the noose had been in the garage since last year and Wallace was therefore not a victim of a hate crime. NASCAR, mentioning the FBI report, described the item as a “garage door pull rope fashioned like a noose.” Talking to Lemon, Wallace said the image he saw of “what was hanging in my garage is not a garage pull.” “It was a noose,” Wallace said. “Whether tied in 2019 or whatever, it was a noose. So, it wasn’t directed at me but somebody tied a noose. That’s what I’m saying.” In a statement posted to his Twitter earlier this week, he said the “act of racism and hatred leaves me incredibly saddened” but vowed the incident “will not break me, I will not give in nor will I back down.” On Tuesday night, he said he continued to stand by what he said. “This will not break me, none of the allegations of being a hoax will break me or tear me down,” he said. “It will piss me off, absolutely. But that only fuels the competitive drive in me to shut everybody up,” he added.
WHAT THE FBI REPORT SAID
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June 25 – July 01, 2020
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The FBI said it “learned that
garage number 4, where the noose was found, was assigned to Bubba Wallace last week.” “The investigation also revealed evidence, including authentic video confirmed by NASCAR, that the noose found in garage number 4 was in that garage as early as October 2019. Although the noose is now known to have been in garage number 4 in 2019, nobody could have known Mr. Wallace would be assigned to garage number 4 last week,” the agency said. An image taken from a 2019 YouTube video shows a garage door rope fashioned into a noose in the stall used by Bubba Wallace’s race team earlier this week at the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. When asked why the FBI characterized the rope found in Bubba Wallace’s garage as a noose, Birmingham FBI spokesperson Paul Damon told CNN, “It’s my understanding that the rope was fashioned into a noose knot and used as a door pull.” Damon said 15 agents were assigned to the NASCAR investigation. NASCAR also issued a statement regarding the FBI’s decision. “We appreciate the FBI’s quick and thorough investigation and are thankful to learn that this was not an intentional, racist act against Bubba,” the statement read. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all who love racing.” CNN’s David Close, Dave Alsup and Randi Kaye contributed to this report. www.Nascar.com
HARRIS COUNTY JUDGE LINA HIDALGO ANNOUNCES NEW COVID-19 HEALTH AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR BUSINESSES By StyleMagazine.com Newswire
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arris County Judge Lina Hidalgo Announces New COVID-19 Health and Safety Requirements for Businesses (Harris County, Tx) - June 19, 2020, As hospital admissions for COVID-19 continue to climb across the county, today, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo signed an order requiring businesses to generate, post, and implement health and safety policies which include, at a minimum, a requirement that workers, customers or visitors wear face coverings. The order takes effect at 12:01 am on Monday, June 22, 2020. The order directs all commercial entities providing goods or services to require that all employees or visitors to a business premise wear face coverings in areas that involve any proximity to co-workers or the public. Face coverings may include homemade masks, scarfs, bandanas, or a handkerchief. Commercial entities must post the health and safety policy in a conspicuous location sufficient to provide notice to employees and visitors of all health and safety requirements. “There’s no magic wand gov-
ernment can wave to make this virus go away, but we can take steps to ensure that we provide our community with the guidance and tools it needs to fight back,” said Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. “This isn’t just the right thing to do for our health and safety, it’s also good for business. We owe it to our community to ensure that those who do have to go out can have the confidence in knowing that the businesses they are patronizing are looking out for their customers, workers, and community as a whole.” To support the development of health and safety policies, Harris County is making available a sample health and safety policy and additional guidelines for businesses. Businesses that fail to develop,post, and implement a Health and Safety Policy are subject to a $1,000 for each violation.
This week, Harris County ICU bed usage reached its highest level ever during the pandemic, and admissions continue to rise with an increasing rate. To help inform the public regarding the threat and action residents should take, Judge Hidalgo unveiled a public threat level system designed to help residents understand the threat level from COVID-19. The system, informed by the latest data from local health authorities, research institutions, and public health experts, informs a color-coded level indicator for residents displaying the level of COVID-19 threat. Consistent with the latest threat data, the current level of the advisory system is set to Level 2 (orange): minimize all contacts. www.harriscountytx.gov/
MASK UP!
Harris County Judge – Lina Hidalgo
AMERICAN EXPRESS MAKES HISTORY: FIRST BLACK WOMAN ON ITS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE By Alisa Gymbs – BlackEnterprise.com / Stylemagazine.com Newswire
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aving Glenda’s expertise and experience on the Executive Committee will be a huge asset for us,” American Express Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Stephen J. Squeri said in a memo. During her more 30 years at American Express, McNeal has served in a number of roles across sales and client management, business development, and marketing and strategy. In her current role, she leads strategy and negotiations for key partnerships with the largest e-commerce, travel, technology, and retail companies. Squire added that
McNeal has “overseen the growth of our relationships with our largest and most critical partners, including Delta, Marriott, Hilton, PayPal and Amazon.” Most recently, McNeal co-led the company’s Stand for Small coalition, assembling more than 70 companies across various industries to support small businesses as they work to recover from the impact of COVID-19. The CEO noted that current challenges to the global economy, including the coronavirus pandemic, are “making it even more important to adapt our leadership structure to the challenges we face so that we can emerge in a stronger position” and that during these unprecedented times, “we must ensure we have the right expertise at the table.” McNeal was added to the Ex-
American Express named President of Strategic Partnerships Glenda McNeal to its Executive Committee this week, making the veteran executive the first Black woman to sit on the Committee.
ecutive Committee along with Andrés Espinosa, Executive Vice President of Enterprise Credit and Fraud Risk Management and Chief Credit Officer for American Express, and Pierric Beckert, President of Global Network Services. The executives will “bring to the Executive Committee invaluable knowledge and experience which are particularly relevant for the times we are in,” Squeri said. “We will benefit from their diverse perspectives as we
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navigate through the challenges we face and position our company to win going forward.” A graduate of Dillard University who received her M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, she is also a member of the Executive Leadership Council. https://www.americanexpress.com/ en-us/business/trends-and-insights/ topics/partnerships/
June 25 – July 01, 2020
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2020
HOW THE MOST POPULAR CELEBRITY DAD’S SPENT THIER FATHERS DAY 2020 HOLLYWOOD • USA
Kobe, Vanessa, Gianna, Bianka, Natalia and Capri Bryant
Travis Scott and Daughter – Stormi
Duane Johnson aka “The Rock” with Daughter – Jasmine
Stephon Curry and Family – Riley, Ryan and Canon
Modonna and Family – David, Mercy, Stella and Estere
Kevin, Eniko, Heaven, Hendrix, Kenzo Hart
Eddie Murphy and Family – Max 7-months, Izzy 2, Angel 11, Bella 16, Zola 19, Shayne 24, Miles 26, Christian 28, Bria 29 and Eric 29. { Paige Wife, Lillian Eddie’s Mom, Mel B & Paige’s Mom }
Jay Z, Beyonce, Rumi, Blue and Sir Carter
Adam, Jackie, Sunny and Sadie Sandler
Aubrey ‘Drake’ Graham and Son – Adonis
#MASKUPHOU 12
June 25 – July 01, 2020
PHOTOGRAPHY BY LENARD SMITH, JR.
Kanye and Kim West and Family – North, Saint, Psalm and Chicago
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Offset and Cardi B and their Dauther - Kulture
#MASKUPHOU
OP-ED: We Can’t Let This Moment Pass We Share This NNPA OP-ED By U.S. Senator Doug Jones By Doug Jones, Special To Stylemagazine.com
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his week, I convened a bipartisan group of Senators to read aloud Martin Luther King Jr.’s “A Letter from a Birmingham Jail.� This was the second year I’ve done this, and I hope to make it an annual tradition. I was struck by the thought of Dr. King in a small, dirty jail cell writing in longhand on napkins and scraps of paper and newspaper to a group of ministers that were not hateful as much as they were questioning the need for action at that particular moment in 1963. We usually picture this man on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial eloquently and passionately describing his dream for America, or behind a pulpit in Memphis urging his audience to press forward, to not be discouraged in their quest for civil and equal rights because he had been to the mountaintop and he had seen the promised land. I was deeply moved by the reading, and felt it was critical in this moment that a United States Senator from the Deep South stand on the Senate floor and declare that Black Lives Matter. The last few months have made the truths of being Black in America clear to all. We have watched as a pan-
demic killed Black people at the rate of almost two and half times that of other Americans. Not from a mutation of the virus but from an underfunded system that too often deprives Black Americans medical care for diabetes, heart disease and other health issues that are now described as pre-existing conditions. We have watched as Black-owned businesses failed at twice the rate of others, and unemployment for Black Americans rose faster and will stay higher than the rest of America. As we witnessed the truths of the system and society revealed to us by the pandemic, we were met with a profoundly haunting video, which I need not describe and trigger the pain it has caused. George Floyd’s cries of ‘I can’t breathe’ were not just the cries of an innocent man pleading for his life, but the cries of so many of our fellow Americans that are killed by police, choked by a healthcare system that denies them access to quality healthcare, and in Dr. King’s words are smothered in “an airtight cage of poverty,� who cannot breath the fresh air of affordable housing, education and economic opportunities. They are the cries of Black
Americans who simply have to hold their own breath when they themselves or their sons and their daughters venture away from their home fearing a police encounter that will take their life. Maybe even more so than the dogs or fire hoses in Birmingham or the beatings on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama the video of George Floyd’s last moments were a confluence of events that gave our nation an image of itself that it could no longer bear. I truly believe that the soul of America has come to the streets of America, looking for a way for all of her people to live in a more just society. We are finally coming to understand that, “What affects one directly, affects us all indirectly.� That we see in this moment how poverty and economic disparities are connected. And how the poor and lower income in Alabama and the Deep South, both Black and White, are connected, as both suffer from healthcare, educational and economic disparities. It’s why in this moment it’s so important to reject those voices looking to divide us. We must come together to end racial injustice, but also the injustice of too many Alabamians and people in
U.S. Senator Doug Jones the South – struggling, poor and low income. As a people, as a Congress, we cannot let this moment pass. Surely reforms are needed, but the greater need is not just to reform but to transform, to make a dramatic change in the nature and character of our institutions towards a more just government and society. Since our country’s inception we have said the words “all are created equal�, we have pledged that we are a nation for all — not for some —all, but we know that we have never lived up to that ideal. We all know it. In response to the protests that are taking place across this country today where voices and t-shirts and facemasks proclaim and insist that Black Lives Matter, and of course they do, but we will not be a country where we are all truly equal and where justice is for all until we can all say the words Black Lives Matter and mean it. That is my pledge, and I pray America joins me.
KNOW PREDICT PREVENT Â Â? Â? Â Â? Â? Â?
Offic e of Di s t r ic t At tor n e y h a r r i s c o un t y, T X
Kim Ogg
H a r r i s Co u n t y DA . COM
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June 25 – July 01, 2020
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Black-Owned Natural Haircare Brand – KGoody Kollection, Now Available at WalMart.com
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By StyleMagazine.com Newswire
goody Kollection products are considered “the Truth’’ by many. Kgoody Kollection Quenching Oil has rave reviews and is safe for all ages. “Best growth oil ever!,” states a review by Raquel D. on May 11, 2020. She goes on to say, “Love, love, love this oil. I have been using this oil for 1 1/2 week and I already have new growth and my scalp is so healthy.” The Kgoody Kollection brand is a revolution to the Natural Hair community, offering high-quality ingredients at economical prices. These hand-crafted products help stimulate overall scalp health, continuous hair growth, are organic, vegan-friendly, and cruelty-free. Moreover, the products help combat itchy, flaky scalp, thinning, and shedding hair. Kgoody Kollection products are even great for scalps that have growth issues caused by Alopecia, with an abundance of natural oils and ancient herbal remedies. The products were created out of necessity to help Kgoody overcome her own hair loss after surviving an almost fatal stabbing. Quenching Oil uses olive oil as a fortified carrier with a blend of six concentrated essential oils that can be felt on contact. When applied properly,
directly to your scalp it can help to prevent dandruff, fungus, eczema, psoriasis, and help with alopecia or other scalp issues that lead to dry, brittle hair or hair loss. Quenching Oil was created to moisturize and stimulate hair growth in shrinkage-prone hair. It is made with
oils, rich in antioxidants and vitamins, making it light and easy to absorb, which aids in the overall health of your scalp, hair, skin, and nails. The product contains no sulfates, no mineral oils, and no parabens. It is 100% organic and is produced in a GMP facility.
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PLAYBALL: Major League Baseball Set To Play 60-Game Season, Starting Next Month By Brian Barefield, Sports Editor StyleMagazine.com
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f 2020 hasn’t taught us anything else, we have learned that nothing is ever done in a normal fashion on a dayto-day basis and this past Tuesday was no different. Major League Baseball (MLB) and the MLB Players Association finally came to an agreement on a 60-game 2020 season and now are waiting on the players to sign off on a health-andsafety protocol. Training camps are set to begin on July 1st with the first pitch to be thrown out on July 24th. “Major League Baseball is thrilled to announce that the 2020 season is on the horizon,” Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement to the media. “We have provided the Players Association with a schedule to play 60 games and are excited to provide our great fans with baseball again soon.” The MLB has been hit the hardest by the COVID-19 global pandemic, which shut down all Spring Training Camps and has delayed the start of the
season by two months. There are some strict stipulations that must be followed by all teams that the MLB has implemented. All coaches and players along with the support staff for all teams will be tested for the coronavirus every other day during all MLB activities. Any positive test will designate the individual for an immediate quarantine. Two negative tests on record is the only way anyone associated with the day-to-day activities can return to their duties with the team. There are also some special rules that MLB has implemented into its shortest season ever in the history of the game. Here are just a few: + During all extra-inning games in the regular season, each half-inning will begin with a runner on second base. The batter who made the final out in the previous inning (or a pinch-runner for that batter) would be that runner.
+
The designated-hitter rule will
be used in both leagues in 2020. + Players who are not scheduled to play such as pitchers or players given the day off for rest will be assigned an area by the team or visiting team with social distancing rules (at least six feet apart) in effect. If a player who is not participating wants to stay in the dugout, they must wear masks at all time. There will be no contact such as fists bumps, homerun celebrations with other players, high-fives, etc. Absolutely no spitting or chewing of any tobacco products. The late start of the season has benefitted the hometown Houston Astros the most. Their number one starting pitcher, Justin Verlander, who was scheduled to miss the start of the season due to surgery he had in March on his right groin, is back healthy. Houston is also happy to wel-
come back RHP Lance McCullers Jr., who is coming off Tommy John surgery
he had back in 2018. The 2017 All-Star missed the entire 2019 season but has completed his rehab and will be a very nice addition to the rotation.
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