MY WLAS

"I Am A Slave. I Do Not Own My Life": Tamar Braxton Sent Suicide Letter To Network Before Alleged At

Posted by wlas — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 08:00 GMT

More details are being released about Tamar Braxton amid her hospitalization for an alleged suicide attempt. As previously reported, a leaked letter to Tamar's family was exposed where she likened herself to a "slave" and allegedly said; "the only way she sees out is death." She also changed her name on social media to Tamar "SLAVE" Braxton. "I am a slave. I do not own my life. My stories. My pictures. My thoughts or beliefs. I've asked my massa to free me. I'm threatened and punished for it," the message begins. "She continued, "The only way I see out is death. I will choose that before I continue to love (sic) like this. Please help me (praying hands emoji)." Now there's another leak afoot, this time in the form of an email sent to WE tv executives. In it, the reality star called them "cruel white slave masters" and accused them of "destroying a Black family" with the series "Braxton Family Values." Tamar's email was in direct response to WeTV execs sending an email outlining the company's efforts to support the Black community amid unrest over the police killing of George Floyd, reports Page Six. "We fight with each other, we betray each other, and now we're physically assaulting each other - all happening because your show ["Braxton Family Values"] has chosen to show the absolute worst side of a strong, independent and successful African American family; a show that I created to showcase a strong Black Family as a beacon of hope for all the young black girls and boys out there; instead you coached and cajoled us into finding the worst in each other," Tamar's email allegedly read. "I hope those ratings were worth it because you succeeded in destroying a great black family." Most shockingly however Tamar said the execs made her suicidal by exposing that she was molested from age 6 to 16. She dubbed it; "the final stake into the heart of my family." "The day you dug up a secret I'd never shared with anyone, a secret I was so ashamed to talk about that I hid it even from my own mom: the fact that I had been assaulted and raped repeatedly from age 6 to age 16, sometimes multiple times a day," PageSix reports Tamar wrote. She added, "You broke me that day and I considered ending my own life then for the shame I felt!" She ended the email, "I have news for you! Today, I take my power back. I will no longer tolerate being oppressed. I am asking you to break the chains NOW and LET ME GO I am suffocating! I CAN'T BREATHE!!" The Blast has also confirmed the validity of the email and WE has released a statement sending the star well wishes. In addition to being devastated by WE tv's alleged actions, Tamar was said to be BIG mad that on her new show "Tamar Braxton: Get Ya Life", she'd be working with producer Mona Scott Young. A family source told Page Six that Mona was the "one person" Tamar DID NOT want around. "Braxton was unhappy that the network had selected "Love and Hip Hop" producer Mona Scott Young to produce Braxton's new show, "Tamar Braxton: Get Ya Life." "Tamar felt ambushed," said an insider, "She was invited to the network to have a meeting to talk about the show and the premise of the show... and right there sitting down is Mona. The person she said she did not want to work with." Mona told PageSix that she sends "thoughts and prayers" to Tamar and her family amid the report. This is all so bad and at the center of it is a woman clearly in pain. We wish Tamar Braxton a speedy recovery! LIKE US ON FACEBOOK. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER. via: https://mywlas.com/i-am-a-slave-i-do-not-own-my-life-tamar-braxton-sent-suicide-letter-to-network-before-alleged-attempt/

Georgia Democrats Face Tight Deadline to Pick John Lewis' Replacement in House Race

Posted by wlas — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 08:00 GMT

It's a position Georgia Democrats do not want to be in. The death of US Rep. John Lewis on Friday has left Georgia's Democratic Party without a candidate in the 5th Congressional District - and with a fast-approaching deadline to select his replacement on the ballot for the November general election. "We're still grieving," Fulton County Democratic Committee Chair LeWanna Heard-Tucker told CNN Sunday. "This is the process unfortunately." Heard-Tucker is one of seven local Democratic leaders on a committee tasked with reviewing the applications of Georgians interested in being the party's nominee. Those interested in being the Democratic nominee had until 6:30 p.m. ET Sunday to apply. The Georgia Democratic Party announced late Sunday that 131 candidates had applied. The committee will narrow down the applicants to between three to five prospects to recommend to the state executive committee, who will meet virtually Monday at noon to consider the recommendations. The party said it would make public the three to five recommended individuals as well as the full list of applicants before noon today. Under Georgia law, the party will have to inform the Georgia secretary of state's office whether they intend to appoint a replacement by Monday, and then inform the office who their replacement nominee is shortly thereafter, Georgia Deputy Secretary of State Jordan Fuchs told CNN. The Georgia Democratic Party said it would publicly announce the name of the nominee. A local Democratic strategist with knowledge of the process told CNN that some possible contenders could be state Democratic chairwoman and state Sen. Nikema Williams, Atlanta City Councilman Andre Dickens, and former Atlanta City Council President Ceasar Mitchell. The source described Williams as having close ties to Lewis. Her state senate district sits within the 5th Congressional District and many people "in her world are connected to his," the source said. CNN has reached out to the Georgia Democratic Party for comment about the process. CNN has reached out to Williams, Dickens and Mitchell for comment on whether they applied. Asked what kind of candidate the committee is looking for, Heard-Tucker told CNN on Sunday, "I don't think we've gotten to that point yet." "We're not there yet for a committee to say what we're looking for. It's going to be hard to fill his seat," Heard-Tucker said, adding, "John has such huge shoes to fill." Former state House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, another member of the nominating committee, declined to comment. Spokespeople for Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, also on the committee, did not return CNN's request for comment. The application asks six questions including, "why are you the best person to represent" the 5th District and "what ties" the individual has to the district. Vincent Fort, who served in the state Senate for more than two decades and ran for Atlanta mayor in 2017, told CNN that he submitted his application and hopes to be considered, but has concerns about an "opaque" process. "I think that the process ought to be open and transparent," Fort told CNN on Sunday. "We cannot be in a situation where there's a small group of people in a smoke-filled room." Fort said that while "there will never be another John Lewis," the nominee should be a person with a background in activism, but also policy, and whomever "follows him ought to follow his general commitment for voting rights and for better health care." But he said Lewis' successor should not be expected to be in lock-step with Lewis' policy positions. "It's unfair to say you have to be another John Lewis," Fort said. Lewis easily won the June Democratic primary with 87% of the vote. Barrington Martin II, a progressive who was the sole challenger to Lewis in the Democratic primary, also applied for the nomination and voiced concern about the process. "For a long time now, the Democratic party has been riddled with archaic, outdated, and mundane ideologies and it has not served the greater good of the people it seeks to represent. Evidence of this can be seen within this entire process in which the power of choice and choosing one's own fate has been removed from the people and replaced with bureaucratic technicalities that serve only the few and not the many. I understand that these are simply the rules; however, the people who review all of these applications have the power to suggest the necessary changes that should be made that would better serve the people," Martin said in a statement provided to CNN Sunday. Lewis died Friday at the age of 80. In December, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Martin in his statement defended his decision to run against Lewis, saying he values the district's constituents over politics. "I was proactive in ensuring the people of this district would be looked after in the result of Congressman Lewis' untimely death; and now we are here," Martin said. Whomever the Democrats pick will face Republican Angela Stanton-King, a criminal justice reform advocate and former reality star, in the November general election. Stanton-King was uncontested in the Republican primary for the district. In February, she received a pardon from President Donald Trump for her involvement in a stolen vehicle ring in 2007, for which she served six months of home confinement. Democrats are confident the seat will remain in their hands. Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton carried the district by more than 70 points in 2016. The district is rated as Solid Democratic by Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales, who is also a CNN contributor. via: https://mywlas.com/georgia-democrats-face-tight-deadline-to-pick-john-lewis-replacement-in-house-race/

Tamar Braxton Rushed To Hospital After Alleged Suicide Attempt

Posted by wlas — Fri, 17 Jul 2020 08:00 GMT

It is being reported that Tamar Braxton was rushed to the hospital Thursday (July 16) night in a possible suicide attempt. Daily Mail details that Braxton's boyfriend, David Adefeso found her in their downtown Los Angeles hotel room unresponsive. Sources say that Adefeso "called 911 saying that Tamar had been drinking and had taken an unknown amount of prescription pills." He believes that it was a suicide attempt. While Tamar's condition is currently unknown a spokesperson said, "Tamar has had a very tough and emotional day - more information will be coming in the next few days. Please pray for her." This story is still developing. LIKE US ON FACEBOOK. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER. via: https://mywlas.com/tamar-braxton-rushed-to-hospital-after-alleged-suicide-attempt/

Nick Cannon Fired By ViacomCBS After Anti-Semitic Comments On Podcast

Posted by wlas — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 08:01 GMT

Nick Cannon's long partnership with ViacomCBS is over. The 39-year-old Cannon was axed by the TV giant on Tuesday (July 14) after he refused to apologize for anti-Semitic comments he made on his Cannon's Class podcast. Cannon was interviewing former Public Enemy member Professor Griff on the June 23 episode of the podcast. Griff's own history with anti-Semitic comments are notable as he was booted from Public Enemy by Chuck D after a 1989 interview where he blamed Jewish people for "the majority of wickedness that goes on across the globe." Cannon said that "the Semitic people are Black people" and that Black people were "the true Hebrews." He added, "You can't be anti-Semitic when we are the Semitic people. When we are the same people they want to be. That's our birthright." On Monday (July 13), Cannon addressed the controversial comments while refusing to apologize. "Anyone who knows me knows that I have no hate in my heart nor malice intentions," Cannon wrote. "I do not condone hate speech nor the spread of hateful rhetoric. We are living in a time when it is more important than ever to promote unity and understanding." He added, "The Black and Jewish communities have both faced enormous hatred, oppression persecution and prejudice for thousands of years and in many ways have and will continue to work together to overcome these obstacles." Cannon's partnership with Viacom dates back to when he starred on All That in the late '90s and early 2000s. He went on to host a number of shows on Nick and MTV, including the highly popular Wild N' Out. In 2007 he was named the chairman of Nickelodeon's young adult programming platform, TeenNick. "While we support ongoing education and dialogue in the fight against bigotry, we are deeply troubled that Nick has failed to acknowledge or apologize for perpetuating anti-Semitism, and we are terminating our relationship with him," ViacomCBS said in a statement released Tuesday (July 14). LIKE US ON FACEBOOK. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER. via: https://mywlas.com/nick-cannon-fired-by-viacomcbs-after-anti-semitic-comments-on-podcast/

Cops Fired Over Photos of Chokehold Used on Elijah McClain

Posted by wlas — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 08:01 GMT

AURORA, Colo. (AP) - Three officers were fired Friday over photos showing police reenact a chokehold used on Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old Black man who died last year after police stopped him on the street in a Denver suburb. One of those fired is Jason Rosenblatt, a white Aurora officer who helped stop McClain in August for wearing a ski mask and "being suspicious." Police put McClain in a chokehold, paramedics injected him with a sedative and McClain suffered cardiac arrest before later being taken off life support. Aurora Interim Police Chief Vanessa Wilson told reporters that officers sent the photos to Rosenblatt and others two months after McClain died to "cheer up a friend," without explaining who that was. Rosenblatt responded with a text saying, "Haha." Officer Nathan Woodyard, who put McClain in a chokehold, also got the photos but he was not disciplined because he didn't respond. "We are ashamed, we are sickened, and we are angry," Wilson said. The officers may not have committed a crime, but the photographs are "a crime against humanity and decency," she added. McClain's death has become a rallying cry amid a national reckoning over police brutality and racial injustice, with the state reopening the case for possible criminal charges and federal officials looking into a civil rights investigation. In several places, the chokehold has been banned and other police reforms passed after nationwide protests. McClain's family, friends and community activists noted during a rally that justice was swifter for the mocking photograph than the use of force that led to McClain's death. The two other officers who stopped the young man are still on the force as authorities look again into possible criminal charges after clearing them last year. "Rosenblatt got fired not for killing Elijah, not for murdering Elijah, but for making fun of Elijah," said Terrence Roberts, a community organizer and family friend. "That is the culture that we're fighting, where a police officer can murder a black man, a black child, and keep his job and stay on the force so he can go make fun of this child." Officers Kyle Dittrich, Erica Marrero and Jaron Jones - none of whom confronted McClain in August - smiled and mockingly placed each other in a chokehold in the photos taken in October near a memorial for McClain. An officer reported the photos to a sergeant late last month, and an internal investigation began. Rosenblatt, Dittrich and Marrero were fired for conduct unbecoming of an officer. Jones resigned earlier this week. The Aurora Police Association called the investigation "a rush to judgment." The union for officers said on Facebook that the investigation took nine days, while a standard internal affairs case takes months. Several police agencies have taken swift action to punish officers, including those involved in George Floyd's death May 25 in Minneapolis that ushered in global demonstrations. For Elijah McClain's mother, Sheneen McClain, "it was just devastating to see that people were mocking the murder of her son," family attorney Mari Newman said. "The fact that three on-duty, in-uniform police officers thought that it was appropriate to reenact the murder, jokingly, shows that the department is rotten to the core," she said. Facing increasing pressure as celebrities and others on social media called for justice, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis last week ordered the state attorney general to reopen McClain's case. The officers stopped McClain, a massage therapist, after a 911 call on Aug. 24 reported him as suspicious because he was wearing a ski mask and flailing his arms. He begged them repeatedly to let go of him, according to body-camera video. After the chokehold that cut off blood to his brain, paramedics administered 500 milligrams of a sedative to calm him down. A forensic pathologist could not determine what exactly led to McClain's death but said physical exertion during the confrontation likely contributed. A prosecutor said he didn't pursue criminal charges against the officers because the pathologist wasn't able to determine if their actions caused McClain's death. District Attorney Dave Young recently called the young man's death "tragic and unnecessary" but defended his decision. Police body-camera video shows an officer getting out of his car, approaching McClain and saying, "Stop right there. Stop. Stop. ... I have a right to stop you because you're being suspicious." In the video, the officer turns McClain around and repeats, "Stop tensing up." As McClain tries to escape the officer's grip, the officer says, "Relax, or I'm going to have to change this situation." As other officers join to restrain McClain, he begs them to let go and says, "You guys started to arrest me, and I was stopping my music to listen." Aurora police have said McClain refused to stop walking and fought back when officers tried to take him into custody. In the video, McClain tells officers: "Let go of me. I am an introvert. Please respect the boundaries that I am speaking." The U.S. attorney's office, the U.S. Justice Department's Civil Rights Division and the FBI announced this week they are looking into whether to launch a civil rights investigation. Federal authorities said they also were considering an investigation into the photos. LIKE US ON FACEBOOK. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER. via: https://mywlas.com/cops-fired-over-photos-of-chokehold-used-on-elijah-mcclain/

Jada Pinkett Smith Confirms August Alsina Relationship: 'I Just Wanted To Feel Good'

Posted by wlas — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 08:01 GMT

Jada Pinkett Smith said she was going to bring herself to the table and sure enough, she did. The actress revealed the highly anticipated episode of Red Table Talk on Facebook Watch on Friday (July 10) after holding off for a week due to various circumstances occurring throughout the country. She sat down across from her husband Will Smith and finally put to bed all of the questions surrounding her relationship with August Alsina. "I got into an entanglement with August ... a relationship," Jada said after revealing that she and her husband of 22 years had been separated at the time. "I was in a lot of pain. I was broken." She added, "I just wanted to feel good. It had been so long since I feel good, right? And it felt good to help heal someone. I think it dealt a lot with my co-dependency ... needing to fix, needing to help, there's something about that childhood trauma that feels as though it can be fixed through fixing people versus fixing me." According to Jada's timeline, the two got involved with one another as she and Will were separated in 2016. It initially began as a friendship and then evolved into something more. When Will and Jada reconciled, that's when Alsina cut all communication to Jada. The Smiths did dispel the notion that Will gave August "his blessing" to date Jada as the only person who would have been able to give Jada permission to date anybody is Jada. The singer recently spoke on the relationship in an interview promoting his new album as well as his journey through health challenges and the loss of close family. "People can have whatever ideas that they like. But what I'm not OK with my character being in question ..." Alsina "I was sure I never was gon' speak to you again," the I Am Legend star said. "The fact that I'm speaking to you again is a miracle." Watch the full episode below. Watch Video on YouTube View all Ocado (UK) promo codes here Powered by YouTube Video Embed LIKE US ON FACEBOOK. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER. About Us Advertise Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Personal Information Terms of Service Newsletter R1 Digital ? Facebook ? Twitter ? YouTube ? Instagram An Urban One Brand Copyright 2020 Interactive One, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Powered by WordPress.com VIP via: https://mywlas.com/jada-pinkett-smith-confirms-august-alsina-relationship-i-just-wanted-to-feel-good/

Four Jimmy John Employees Fired After Making Noose Out of Food

Posted by wlas — Thu, 9 Jul 2020 08:00 GMT

Four employees at a Jimmy John's restaurant in Woodstock Georgia have been fired after posting a video of themselves playing with a noose made out of food on Snapchat. The noose was made from bread dough that was intended for customers sandwiches. The employees can be seen in the video with the noose tied around their necks, laughing with a 'Happy 4th of July' filter/graphic on the bottom. The video immediately went viral with customers vowing to never buy from Jimmy John's again. Watch Video on YouTube View all Ocado (UK) promo codes here Powered by YouTube Video Embed Jimmy John's issued a statement via Twitter and fired the employees. via: https://mywlas.com/four-jimmy-john-employees-fired-after-making-noose-out-of-food/

Doctors Say Experimental Treatment May Have Rid Man of HIV

Posted by wlas — Wed, 8 Jul 2020 08:00 GMT

A Brazilian man infected with the AIDS virus has shown no sign of it for more than a year since he stopped HIV medicines after an intense experimental drug therapy aimed at purging hidden, dormant virus from his body, doctors reported Tuesday. The case needs independent verification and it's way too soon to speculate about a possible cure, scientists cautioned. "These are exciting findings but they're very preliminary," said Dr. Monica Gandhi, an AIDS specialist at the University of California, San Francisco. "This has happened to one person, and one person only," and it didn't succeed in four others given the same treatment, she said. Another UCSF specialist, Dr. Steven Deeks, said: "This is not a cure," just an interesting case that merits more study. The case was described at an AIDS conference where researchers also disclosed an important prevention advance: A shot of an experimental medicine every two months worked better than daily Truvada pills to help keep uninfected gay men from catching HIV from an infected sex partner. Hundreds of thousands of people take these "pre-exposure prevention" pills now and the shot could give a new option, almost like a temporary vaccine. If the Brazil man's case is confirmed, it would be the first time HIV has been eliminated in an adult without a bone marrow or stem cell transplant. Independent experts want to see whether his remission lasts and for the intense drug combination that he received to undergo more testing. "I'm very moved because it's something that millions of people want," said the 35-year-old man, whose spoke to The Associated Press on condition that his name not be published. "It's a gift of life, a second chance to live." Transplants are how two other men, nicknamed the Berlin and London patients for where they were treated, were cured previously. "I'm the living proof it's possible to be cured," Adam Castillejo, the London patient, said in a news conference at the AIDS meeting, which is being held online because of the coronavirus pandemic. He and the Berlin patient, Timothy Ray Brown, had donors with a gene that confers natural immunity to HIV infection. Such transplants are too medically risky and impractical to attempt on a large scale, so doctors have been trying other approaches. It's hard to eliminate HIV because it establishes an early "reservoir" of blood cells where it lies dormant and can't be attacked by medicines or the immune system. Infections can be controlled with drugs, but as soon as patients stop taking them, the dormant virus activates and renews the disease. Dr. Ricardo Diaz of the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil led a study testing strong and new drug combinations to try to purge this reservoir. "We are trying to wake up the virus" and boost the immune system's ability to eliminate it once it's flushed out of hiding, Diaz explained. The Brazil man had been taking a standard three-drug combo to suppress his virus. In September 2015, Diaz added two newer ones to intensify his treatment - dolutegravir and maraviroc - plus nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3 that may help expose dormant virus. After nearly a year, the patient went back to the standard three drugs for two more years, then stopped all HIV medicines in March 2019. The virus has been undetectable in many blood and tissue samples since then. "We can't search the entire body, but by the best evidence, we do not have infected cells," Diaz said. The most convincing evidence: Tests show the man has lost nearly all HIV antibodies - substances the immune system makes when fighting the virus. Eager for independent verification, the patient said he went to a counseling center for an anonymous HIV test in February. It was negative. "He made a picture of the results" and sent a photo of them, Diaz said. The antibody results are "the most fascinating part of this story," said Deeks. "These are solid scientists" and "the team may have come up with something that helps," but it's going to take verification of these results and much more testing to know, he said. In particular, doctors will want to see proof from blood tests that the patient truly had stopped his HIV medicines. Diaz said all HIV patients in Brazil get their medicines from a government health program and that he verified the man had stopped. "I think it's very promising. This patient might be cured," but it will take more time to know, Diaz said. The treatment did not succeed in four others treated the same way, or in any of the others in the 30-person study testing related approaches. Diaz said he has approval for a new study in 60 patients, sponsored by government grants in Brazil and by ViiV Healthcare, the British company that makes maraviroc. Dr. Anton Pozniak, head of the AIDS conference and an HIV specialist at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London, said more time is needed to see if the virus rebounds. "I'm waiting. I'm a skeptic about all of this ... until a couple of years go by," he said. The separate study on prevention involved nearly 4,600 people in North and South America, Asia, and Africa. It tested shots of ViiV's experimental drug cabotegravir against daily pills of Truvada, the Gilead Sciences drug already approved for preventing HIV infection. The study was stopped early, in May, when the shot seemed at least as effective as the pills. Final results now show the shot works better - there were 13 new infections among those who got it versus 39 among those taking Truvada, said the study leader, Dr. Raphael Landovitz of the University of California, Los Angeles. "People can stay protected without having taken a pill every day," he said. "You get a shot and you don't have to do anything for two months. That's incredibly powerful." The results "could revolutionize prevention for HIV worldwide" and give a new option for people who don't want to take a daily pill, Gandhi said. ViiV has said it will seek U.S. approval for cabotegravir; its eventual price is unknown. Truvada costs $1,600 to $1,800 a month, but what patients pay out of pocket depends on insurance and other factors. With either drug, people are still urged to use condoms to prevent other sexually spread diseases. LIKE US ON FACEBOOK. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER. via: https://mywlas.com/doctors-say-experimental-treatment-may-have-rid-man-of-hiv/

Fauci Warns U.S. is "Knee-Deep" in Coronavirus First Wave

Posted by wlas — Tue, 7 Jul 2020 08:00 GMT

Anthony Fauci said the number of cases had never reached a satisfactory baseline before the current resurgence, which officials have warned risks overwhelming hospitals in the South and West. "It's a serious situation that we have to address immediately," Fauci said in a web interview with National Institutes of Health director Francis Collins. But Fauci added he didn't strictly consider the ongoing rise in cases a "wave." "It was a surge or a resurgence of infections superimposed upon a baseline," he said. "If you look at the graphs from Europe, the European Union as an entity, it went up and then came down to the baseline. Now they're having little blips, as you might expect, as they try to reopen. We went up, never came down to baseline, and now we're surging back up." The death toll from the virus in the U.S. hit 130,000 Monday, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University, and the number of infections is nearing three million. A worrisome number of new cases are being reported amid a resurgence that's forced several states to suspend phased economic reopenings. Fauci, who heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is a leading member of President Trump's Coronavirus Task Force and has become a trusted face in the administration's battle against the epidemic. The U.S. is the world's hardest-hit nation from the virus and has been struggling to come to grips with a new normal of social distancing and mask-wearing. Officials have warned that some of the country's hospitals are in danger of being overwhelmed by the influx of COVID-19 patients. Hospital beds are full in parts of Texas, while calls for fresh stay-at-home orders are growing. Some mayors have said their cities reopened too early as Mr. Trump tries to downplay the severity of the crisis, prioritizing economic reopening instead. ? a man wearing a suit and tie: China tells 'relevant parties' not to set barriers and politicise Hong Kong's sweeping new security law. AFP Logo a woman standing in front of a building Newsweek Logo a group of people sitting at a table The Washington Post Logo ? 00:28 03:28 ? ? Nationwide surge in coronavirus cases prompts states to reimpose restrictions CBS News Logo a group of people standing in front of a crowd: Nationwide surge in coronavirus cases prompts states to reimpose restrictions CBS News Logo a man wearing a suit and tie: China tells 'relevant parties' not to set barriers and politicise Hong Kong's sweeping new security law. AFP Logo a woman standing in front of a building Newsweek Logo a group of people sitting at a table The Washington Post Logo U.S. protesters are demanding police reform. Here's how it could look like. The Washington Post Logo a truck is parked on the side of a road CBS News Logo Andrew Flintoff standing in front of a mirror posing for the camera CBS News Logo Donald Trump wearing a suit and tie FOX News Logo Governors need to step up and ask federal government to help restore law and order, DHS says FOX News Logo a person standing in front of a crowd HuffPost NOW News Logo a sign on the side of a building: More than five million residents of Melbourne will be locked down for six weeks after coronavirus cases surged in Australia's second-biggest city, Victoria State Premier Daniel Andrews says. AFP Logo a man wearing a suit and tie CNN Logo a train on a track with smoke coming out of it Space Logo a person with collar shirt: TikTok users and K-Pop fans are taking credit for low turnout at President Trump's campaign rally in Tulsa. Thousands reportedly registered for tickets with no plans to show up. Trump claimed he had more than a million RSVP's but the arena did not even reach capacity. NBC News Logo Why state lawmaker says his state's contact tracing is a 'joke' CNN Logo a blue sign in front of a building CBS News Logo UP NEXT The death toll from the virus in the U.S. hit 130,000 Monday, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University, and the number of infections is nearing three million. A worrisome number of new cases are being reported amid a resurgence that's forced several states to suspend phased economic reopenings. Fauci, who heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is a leading member of President Trump's Coronavirus Task Force and has become a trusted face in the administration's battle against the epidemic. The U.S. is the world's hardest-hit nation from the virus and has been struggling to come to grips with a new normal of social distancing and mask-wearing. Officials have warned that some of the country's hospitals are in danger of being overwhelmed by the influx of COVID-19 patients. Hospital beds are full in parts of Texas, while calls for fresh stay-at-home orders are growing. Some mayors have said their cities reopened too early as Mr. Trump tries to downplay the severity of the crisis, prioritizing economic reopening instead. via: https://mywlas.com/fauci-warns-u-s-is-knee-deep-in-coronavirus-first-wave/

Trailer: Jennifer Hudson Stars As Aretha Franklin In 'Respect' Biopic [VIDEO]

Posted by wlas — Wed, 1 Jul 2020 08:01 GMT

The star-studded Aretha Franklin biopic, Respect, is set for a December release date. Watch Video on YouTube View all Ocado (UK) promo codes here Powered by YouTube Video Embed It's slated to follow the story of the legendary singer's rise to stardom from singing in her father's church to becoming a global icon. Jennifer Hudson stars as Aretha Franklin and Marlon Wayans as Ted White. Forest Whitaker, Heather Headley, Mary J. Blige and more also play pivotal roles in the upcoming film. via: https://mywlas.com/trailer-jennifer-hudson-stars-as-aretha-franklin-in-respect-biopic-video/

K-State Players Announce Boycott After Student's Floyd Tweet

Posted by wlas — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 08:01 GMT

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) - Kansas State football players say they will boycott all team activities until administrators create a policy that would allow a student to be expelled for "openly racist, threatening or disrespectful actions." The move that most players announced Saturday on social media follows a tweet by a student about the death of George Floyd that prompted outrage on campus. "We are demanding that Kansas State University put a policy in place that allows a student to be dismissed for displaying openly racist, threatening or disrespectful actions toward a student or groups of students," the players said in the letter they posted. "We have resolved that we cannot play, practice or meet until these demands are heard and actions taken. We love Kansas State, but we must stand together and protect all students moving forward." Late Sunday, coach Chris Klieman tweeted his support: "Racism is NOT welcome at KSTATE now or in the future. ... I am excited to help every player unite for the solution NOW, so that that we can come together stronger than ever. Black Lives Matter." On Thursday, one month after Floyd, a Black man, died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee on his neck for nearly eight minutes, student Jaden McNeil tweeted, "Congratulations to George Floyd on being drug free for an entire month!" University officials have said they are exploring their options for action after the tweet. University President Richard Myers said Friday that "divisive statements do not represent for the values of our university." McNeil describes himself as the founder of a conservative group called America First Students, which Kansas State says is not currently registered on the campus because of a lack of membership. America First Students had already drawn the ire of students for past statements made by McNeil. McNeil has previously said America First Students is a "mainstream, Christian, conservative organization that supports President Donald Trump." The statement from football players Saturday came a day after a pair of Kansas State basketball players and a handful of football players threatened a boycott if the university didn't take action. A number of college athletes around the country have used their influence to push for social justice since Floyd's death. Kansas State football players aren't currently participating in any practices or workouts because team activities were suspended earlier this month after a coronavirus outbreak within the team. Summer workouts are expected to resume July 13. LIKE US ON FACEBOOK. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER. via: https://mywlas.com/k-state-players-announce-boycott-after-students-floyd-tweet/

Camille Cosby Speaks Out In Support of Husband Bill Cosby

Posted by wlas — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 08:01 GMT

Maybe she thinks her husband Bill Cosby was trying to buy NBC too? Camille Cosby has broken her silence and shared her thoughts regarding the legal ordeal of her husband Bill Cosby, currently serving time behind bars for a 2004 sexual assault case. In the new interview, Cosby is in full support of an upcoming appeal in her husband's case, and suggested that the #MeToo movement that took down Mr. Cosby is rooted in racism. In an interview with ABC News, Mrs. Cosby, 76, spoke directly about her husband's pending appeal in her first public speaking event in over six years. Reacting to the news that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court agreed to portions of Mr. Cosby's appeal argument, stating she was "pleased" by the news and shared her reaction. "My first reaction is hopefulness, possibilities," Cosby said to ABC News Prime anchor Linsey Davis from her Massachusetts home. "The state's highest court has said, 'Wait a minute. There are some problems here. They can be considered for an appeal.'" Pivoting the conversation towards the #MeToo movement, Mrs. Cosby has little to no sympathy for those gathered under the banner seeking justice for alleged acts of sexual assault they suffered from. First of all, I don't care what they feel," Cosby said in the interview. The #MeToo movement and movements like them have intentional ignorance pertaining to the history of particular white women, not all white women, but particular white women, who have from the very beginning, pertaining to the enslavement of African people, accused black males of sexual assault without any proof whatsoever, no proof, anywhere on the face of the earth," she added. Mrs. Cosby continued with, "And by ignoring that history, they have put out a lie in itself and that is, 'Because I'm female, I'm telling the truth.' Well, history disproves that as well, and gender has never, ever equated with truth. So, they need to clean up their acts." Watch Camille Cosby's interview with ABC News below. Watch Video on YouTube View all Ocado (UK) promo codes here Powered by YouTube Video Embed LIKE US ON FACEBOOK. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER. via: https://mywlas.com/camille-cosby-speaks-out-in-support-of-husband-bill-cosby/

NASA Announces Washington DC Headquarters Will Be Named After Mary W. Jackson

Posted by wlas — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 08:00 GMT

"Hidden no more, we will continue to recognize the contributions of women, African Americans, and people of all backgrounds who have made Nasa's successful history of exploration possible."- NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. NASA engineer and mathematician Mary W. Jackson is finally getting her just due. On Wednesday (Jun 24) NASA announced plans to rename their headquarters located in Washington DC after the first Black female aerospace engineer Mary W. Jackson. Jackson, who was the agency's first American American female engineer in 1958, opened up opportunities for countless women of color in STEM who followed in her footsteps. "Mary W. Jackson was part of a group of very important women who helped NASA succeed in getting American astronauts into space. Mary never accepted the status quo, she helped break barriers and open opportunities for African Americans and women in the field of engineering and technology," Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a statement to CBS News. "Today, we proudly announce the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building." NASA took to social media with the special announcement writing, "Our headquarters building in Washington, D.C., will be named after Mary W. Jackson, the first African-American female engineer at NASA. She started in research and later moved into the personnel field, working to ensure equal opportunity in hiring and promotion." Last year, Nasa renamed the street outside its headquarters as Hidden Figures Way. "Hidden no more, we will continue to recognize the contributions of women, African Americans, and people of all backgrounds who have made Nasa's successful history of exploration possible," Mr. Bridenstine continued."Mary never accepted the status quo, she helped break barriers and open opportunities for African Americans and women in the field of engineering and technology." Jackson's career, along with those of other pioneering black NASA scientists including Katherine Johnson and Dorothy Vaughan, became widely recognized after the publication of Margot Lee Shetterly's 2016 book, "Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race." In the subsequent film Hidden Figures, Jackson was played by award-winning musician and actress Janelle Mon e. via: https://mywlas.com/nasa-announces-washington-dc-headquarters-will-be-named-after-mary-w-jackson/

FBI Says Noose In Bubba Wallace's NASCAR Garage Was Old

Posted by wlas — Thu, 25 Jun 2020 08:01 GMT

The FBI released preliminary findings from its investigation into a noose found in the garage of NASCAR's highest-ranked Black driver, and it came across as the equivalent of a shrug of indifference. The symbol of racist hate associated with lynchings was found in the garage stall Bubba Wallace Jr. was using ahead of a race in Alabama this past weekend. NASCAR condemned it and the FBI announced it was beginning its own probe. But no federal crime was committed, the FBI said. The federal law enforcement agency went so far as to say that noose wasn't even new and had been in that location for months. Therefore, the FBI announced, it was closing the case and moving on. Nevermind where the noose came from. Nevermind that the noose just happened to be discovered days after Wallace successfully pressured NASCAR to abandon the Confederate Flag it had been flying above all its races for decades. Nevermind that banning that flag generated resentment among at least one driver, who decided he would quit driving altogether in support of the flag It was an interesting and unexpected turn of events one day after Wallace led dozens of his NASCAR racing colleagues on a symbolic lap around the track at the Talladega Superspeedway in an effort to promote racial unity and harmony. The FBI's announcement came hours after Wallace tweeted his thanks to fans. The noose was reported as a series of suspected lynchings of Black and brown men took place in recent weeks. That was in addition to the ongoing protests against racism and police violence following multiple killings of Black people by law enforcement. The noose was found Sunday, prompting NASCAR to announce that it was "angry and outraged, and cannot state strongly enough how seriously we take this heinous act." Shortly after NASCAR's announcement, Watson issued his own comments decrying the noose and saying the apparent threat wouldn't deter him from trying to rid racism from his chosen profession. "Today's despicable act of racism and hatred leaves me incredibly saddened and serves as a painful reminder of how much further we have to go as a society and how persistent we must be in the fight against racism," Wallace said in a brief statement released on social media "Over the last several weeks, I have been overwhelmed by the support from people across the NASCAR industry including other drivers and team members in the garage. Together, our sport has made a commitment to driving real change and championing a community that is accepting and welcoming of everyone. Nothing is more important and we will not be deterred by the reprehensible actions of those who seek to spread hate. As my mother told me today, 'They are just trying to scare you.' This will not break me, I will not give in nor will I back down. I will continue to proudly stand for what I believe in." The noose incident followed the abrupt resignation of one NASCAR driver who didn't like the Confederate Flag being removed from races. Ray Ciccarelli announced June 10 that he would leave NASCAR at the end of the season. He said on Facebook that it's "been a fun ride and dream come true," but if this is the direction NASCAR is headed, he will not partake in NASCAR races after the 2020 season is done. The Truck Series driver who has won exactly zero races ever said he doesn't condone kneeling during the national anthem and he doesn't believe in "taken people right [sic] to fly what ever [sic] flag they love." Racism and NASCAR seem to have an inseparable bond. It was only in April when Kyle Larson had to find out the hard way that saying the N-word has consequences after the now-former NASCAR drivercouldn't resist the urge to say it during an online video gaming session that was streaming live over the internet. "You can't hear me? Hey, n-gger," Larson said for seemingly no reason other than his own apparent implicit racism. The other players online told Larson they heard what he said, but, perhaps more tellingly, none of them condemned him for it. For full context, NASCAR has a lengthy history of racist discrimination against Black people, including its historic $225 million settlement in 2008 with a former official who accused the car racing association of racial discrimination and sexual harassment. Vibe documented just how white of a sport NASCAR racing actually is. "NASCAR has both the whitest viewership - an estimated 94 percent, to the 92 percent of the National Hockey League - and the whitest group of participants of any American sport by percentage," Jay Scott Smith reported last year. He noted that NASCAR racing was significantly whiter than even the NHL, which had 25 Black players out of nearly 700 total. via: https://mywlas.com/fbi-says-noose-in-bubba-wallaces-nascar-garage-was-old/

Bill Cosby Granted Appeal in Pennsylvania Sex Assault Case

Posted by wlas — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 08:00 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - In a stunning decision that could test the legal framework of #MeToo cases, comedian Bill Cosby has won the right to fight his 2018 sexual assault conviction in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The 82-year-old Cosby has been imprisoned in suburban Philadelphia for nearly two years after a jury convicted him of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman at his home in 2004. He's serving a three- to 10-year sentence. The Supreme Court has agreed to review two aspects of the case, including the judge's decision to let prosecutors call five other accusers to testify about long-ago encounters with the once-powerful actor and comedian. Cosby's lawyers have long challenged that testimony as remote and unreliable. The court will also consider, as it weighs the scope of the testimony allowed, whether the jury should have heard evidence that Cosby had given quaaludes to women in the past. Secondly, the court will examine Cosby's argument that he had an agreement with a former prosecutor that he would never be charged in the case. Cosby has said he relied on that agreement before agreeing to testify in the trial accuser's civil lawsuit. Those issues have been at the heart of the case since Cosby was charged in December 2015, days before the 12-year state of limitations expired. Prosecutors in Montgomery County had reopened the case that year after The Associated Press fought to unseal portions of Cosby's decade-old deposition testimony in accuser Andrea Constand's sex assault and defamation lawsuit against Cosby, which he had settled in 2006. Dozens of other accusers had come forward since then to accuse Cosby, long beloved as "America's Dad" because of his hit 1980s sitcom, of similar misconduct. Montgomery County Judge Stephen O'Neill allowed just one of them to testify at Cosby's first trial in 2017, which ended with an acquittal. But a year later, after the #MeToo movement exploded in the wake of reporting on Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, the judge allowed five other accusers to testify at the retrial. The jury convicted Cosby on all three felony sex-assault counts. Lawyer Brian W. Perry argued in the appeal that letting other accusers testify "flips constitutional jurisprudence on its head, and the 'presumption of guilt,' rather than the presumption of innocence, becomes the premise." Spokesman Andrew Wyatt said Cosby was "extremely thankful" the court would hear the case. He said the decision comes as demonstrators across the nation protest the death of Black people at the hands of police and expose the "corruption that lies within the criminal justice system." "As we have all stated, the false conviction of Bill Cosby is so much bigger than him - it's about the destruction of ALL Black people and people of color in America," Wyatt said in a statement. Cosby's lawyers also challenged his classification as a sexually violent predator subject to lifetime supervision. The actor, who insists he had a consensual encounter with accuser Constand, has said he would never express remorse to the parole board. The Associated Press typically does not name people who say they have been victims of sexual assault without their permission, which Constand has granted. LIKE US ON FACEBOOK. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER. via: https://mywlas.com/bill-cosby-granted-appeal-in-pennsylvania-sex-assault-case/

D.L. Hughley Reveals COVID-19 Diagnosis Day After Fainting On Stage

Posted by wlas — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 08:01 GMT

Comedian, actor, author, and radio host D.L. Hughley revealed on Saturday night that he has tested positive for COVID-19, one day after the Original King of Comedy and host of The DL Hughley Show fainted during a performance in Nashville, Tennessee on Friday night. In a message shared to Instagram, Hughley said he was being treated for extreme exhaustion and dehydration and that the positive test for COVID "blew him away." "I'm what they call asymptomatic," Hughley said. "I didn't have any symptoms, I didn't have flu-like symptoms, difficulty of breath, I didn't have a low-grade fever. Apparently, I just lost consciousness. In addition to all the other stuff you gotta look out for, if your ass pass out on stage - you probably need to get tested." Hughley will be in quarantine but plans to continue to do his show remotely. Watch Hughley's message to fans below. Watch Video on YouTube View all Ocado (UK) promo codes here Powered by YouTube Video Embed via: https://mywlas.com/d-l-hughley-reveals-covid-19-diagnosis-day-after-fainting-on-stage/

2 Killed and 12 Injured in North Carolina Shooting at Block Party, Police Say

Posted by wlas — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 08:00 GMT

(CNN)Two people were shot dead and 12 others hurt early Monday at an "impromptu block party" in North Carolina, Deputy Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said. "Several shooters discharged dozens of shots into the crowd," the CMPD said in a statement. Officers responded to a call of a pedestrian hit around 12:30 a.m., when they heard gunshots, the statement said. When they got to the scene, officers found a woman with a gunshot wound lying in Beatties Ford Road with a gunshot wound. She died at the scene, the release said. CNN affiliate WBTV reported "hundreds of people" were in the streets. Eight others were shot and taken to a hospital, where one of them died, police said. In addition, five people were struck by vehicles and received injuries that were not life threatening, police said. They were treated at Clemmons Medical Center - Novant Health. Jennings said the gathering was an extension of a Juneteenth celebration earlier in the week. "The results of it just kind of got out of hand, and it was something that we never want to see either as a community or as a police department, so it's very, very unfortunate situation," he said. This story is developing. WLAS is working to get additional details. via: https://mywlas.com/2-killed-and-12-injured-in-north-carolina-shooting-at-block-party-police-say/

Tom Joyner Feeling "Good" After Having Mini-Stroke

Posted by wlas — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 08:01 GMT

Radio pioneer Tom Joyner is feeling "good" after suffering a mini-stroke in late April, he exclusively tells BlackAmericaWeb.com. Reports emerged of the medical event after the information was leaked on social media on Saturday, June 13. However, Joyner experienced the stroke over 6 weeks ago while boxing with his longtime trainer during quarantine at home. "I was like everybody, in quarantine, but instead of just sitting in the house, being bored and stuff, I worked on my health because I figured what are the chances of me catching the virus and then after that, how can I enhance my chances of me beating the virus if I do catch it." According to Joyner, his efforts in the ring are what triggered the stroke. Now, he is at home rehabbing and if you could guess it, he plans on getting in the ring again. "I want to fight Tyson," he reveals assuredly. Tyson recently announced he is willing to get back in the ring for charity - and Joyner wants to throw his name in on the list of potential contenders to benefit his foundation. The Tom Joyner Foundation has been greatly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. With the postponement of Joyner's annual cruise, the funds are down. "95% of all the money that we donate to scholarships comes from the cruise." Adding, "We don't have the money to do the scholarships and do the good work the foundation does," he explained. If his desire to fight Tyson isn't proof enough, Joyner is feeling really well and is back to his normal daily routines. Most recently, Joyner participated in a 2-week online web series with his former co-host Sybil Wilkes. The web series occurred live online between June 1 - 12. He continues enjoying his retirement in Miami which includes bingeing his favorite TV series; keeping abreast of the latest news; and of course, managing the Tom Joyner Foundation. LIKE US ON FACEBOOK. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER. via: https://mywlas.com/tom-joyner-feeling-good-after-having-mini-stroke/

Officer Who Shot Rayshard Brooks Charged with Felony Murder

Posted by wlas — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 08:00 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) - The Atlanta officer who fatally shot Rayshard Brooks in the back after the fleeing man pointed a stun gun in his direction will be charged with felony murder and 10 other charges, a prosecutor said Wednesday. Garrett Rolfe kicked Brooks while he lay on the ground and the officer with him, Devin Brosnan, stood on Brooks' shoulder as he struggled for life after a confrontation Friday night, Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard said at a news conference. Rolfe had already been fired after he fatally shot Brooks, 27, on Friday night. Brosnan, who will be charged with aggravated assault and other crimes, had been placed on administrative leave. Brooks' widow, Tomika Miller, attended the news conference along with her lawyers, Justin Miller and L. Chris Stewart. The news came as Republicans on Capitol Hill unveiled a package of police reform measures and the movement to get rid of Confederate movements and other racially offensive symbols reached America's breakfast table, with the maker of Aunt Jemima syrup and pancake mix dropping the 131-year-old brand. The shooting sparked new demonstrations in Georgia's capital against police brutality, after occasionally turbulent protests in response to George Floyd's death in Minneapolis had largely simmered down. Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields resigned less than 24 hours after Brooks died. Police were called to a Wendy's fast food restaurant over complaints of a car blocking the drive-thru lane. An officer found Brooks asleep behind the wheel of the car and called for another officer to do field sobriety testing. Police body camera video shows Brooks and officers having a relatively calm and respectful conversation for more than 40 minutes before things rapidly turned violent. Brooks wrestled with officers, snatched one of their stun guns and turned and pointed it at one of them as he ran through the parking lot. An autopsy found that Brooks was shot twice in the back. LIKE US ON FACEBOOK. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER. via: https://mywlas.com/officer-who-shot-rayshard-brooks-charged-with-felony-murder/

Faith Evans Domestic Violence Case Dismissed, Stevie J Won't Testify

Posted by wlas — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 08:01 GMT

The domestic violence charges against the R&B singer have been dismissed, mostly because Stevie J wasn't going to testify against her. According to TMZ, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office is declining to prosecute the "You Used To Love Me" singer because Stevie J, the alleged victim and her husband, has declined to cooperate. Last month, Faith got pinched after getting into a heated argument at their home that allegedly turned violent. It was reportedly Stevie J who called the cops (okay, so he is kind of a snitch), but he supposedly only wanted her removed from the home, not arrested. However, the cops had to take Faith in after they noticed scratches on reality TV star Stevie J's arms. In light of current events, he certainly won't ever be doing that again. Despite rumors that there is trouble in their marriage, the couple is insisting that is not the case and that they are still happily together. Marriage counseling, keep your hands to yourselves and no cops, please. Late last year, Stevie J was granted primary custody of his child with fellow reality star Joseline Hernandez. LIKE US ON FACEBOOK. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER. via: https://mywlas.com/faith-evans-domestic-violence-case-dismissed-stevie-j-wont-testify/