Michigan Man, Driving, license — (Photo: ABC 7 Chicago YouTube Channel)

by Mary Spiller

August 10, 2024

Man Who Went Viral For Zooming Into License Suspension Hearing From Behind The Wheel Passes Driving Test

Corey Harris was previously charged with a misdemeanor for driving without a license.

Corey Harris, the Michigan man who went viral online for appearing behind the wheel of a car in virtual attendance for his court hearing for driving with a suspended license, can finally get behind the wheel legally. On Aug. 7, Harris took responsibility for a civil infraction, according to his lawyer, Dionne Webster-Cox.

In June, Harris got his driving permit, and as of this month, he has obtained his full license, according to People. Webster-Cox described the total proceedings as dragging on for nearly a year.

Judge J. Cedric Simpson, who presided over the case, waived all the associated fines and costs with the charges and downgraded it from a misdemeanor.

“It was a great day for Mr. Harris,” Webster-Cox told People. She added, “In the face of public ridicule, Mr. Harris did not become discouraged. He stayed the course and finished the race.”

In 2023, Harris was pulled over in Ann Arbor, Michigan, for having an expired license plate. When asked to produce his license, he did not have one. Webster-Cox said that Harris’ driving privileges had been suspended in 2007, so he was charged with misdemeanor driving while his license was suspended.

On May 15, Harris went viral for zooming into his court hearing from the driver’s seat of a car. The judge asked, “Mr. Harris, are you driving?”

Harris parked the car, not recognizing that driving violated his suspension.

The judge ordered Harris to turn himself in at Washtenaw County Jail that same day. The Zoom session, which was public, was seen by millions.

Harris defended himself by saying that he was confused about the status of his license, and Webster-Cox described him as being worried about people from his church judging him for his viral mistake. The embarrassment led him to get to work to conclude the trials and proceedings–and to get his license.

Americans, poll, vaccines childhood vaccinations — Photo by Morsa Images/Getty Images

by Jameelah Mullen

August 10, 2024

Fewer Americans Believe Childhood Vaccinations Are Important, Gallup Poll

More Republicans and Republican leaning independents don't believe vaccines are necessary.

According to a recent Gallup poll, few Americans today think that childhood vaccines are important.

The survey showed that 40% of parents think it’s “extremely important” for their children to get vaccinated—down from 58% in 2019 and 645 in 2001.

The poll, conducted between July 1 and July 21, also found that a growing number of adults in the U.S. say that vaccines are more dangerous than the diseases they are created to prevent. In 2024, 20% deemed vaccines dangerous, nearly double the amount in 2019 (11%). Only six percent of Americans subscribed to this belief in 2001.

The study also found the decline in the belief in the importance of vaccines was mostly present amongst Republicans and Republican-leaning independents. Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents saw very little change in their beliefs since 2001.

In previous surveys, Republicans and Democrats had similar views on the risks and benefits of vaccines. The data indicated that the gap between Democrats and Republicans widened significantly after the COVID-19 pandemic. A 2020 Pew Research poll reported that 78% of Democrats considered the virus to be a major threat to health compared to 52% of Republicans.

“This political divide reflected the tendency for Democratic elected officials and party supporters to follow guidance on COVID-19 provided by medical authorities, while Republican elected officials and Republican identifiers were often skeptical of the reliability of that information,” the report said. “Now, those doubts appear to be extending to childhood vaccines that have long been used to prevent the spread of contagious diseases, as well as the field of science in general.”

Additionally, Americans are now less likely to say the government should require children to be vaccinated against contagious diseases. In 1991, over 80% of Americans favored vaccine requirements, but today, only 51% support this view.

Louisiana, Panhandling, homeless — A Denver homeless encampment in August 2023. (Photo: Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

by Jameelah Mullen

August 10, 2024

Check Out How These Faith-Based Organizations Are Fighting Homelessness

This historical baptist church will be transformed into affordable living spaces.

The Allston-Brighton neighborhood of Boston is a bustling community that houses Boston University, Boston College, and portions of Harvard University. However, recent urban development is rapidly changing the landscape of this community.

As housing costs continue to rise, some senior residents can no longer afford to live in the neighborhood where, according to Apartments.com, the average cost to rent a one-bedroom apartment is $2,777 monthly. Some faith-based organizations are stepping in to help.

The Hill Memorial Baptist Church has been a staple in the community for more than 120 years. The church closed its doors in 2023 and it will now be turned into affordable housing for the neighborhood’s older residences.

After experiencing a significant decrease in membership, the church considered downsizing, but they ultimately decided to sell the land so that it could be used to provide affordable housing for seniors. In an email to The Christian Science Monitor, Rev. Catherine Johnson said the congregation is “giving back to the Allston community “by helping to provide affordable housing for its senior citizens.

John Woods is the executive director of Allston Brighton Community Development Corp., the developer overseeing the project.

“This project really exemplifies the importance of collaboration in affordable housing development,” Woods said in a press release. “By working together with some amazing partners, we are expecting to fill a pivotal gap in the continuum of affordable housing by creating more opportunities for folks to age in place in the community that they call home.”

Religious organizations in other cities, such as San Diego, Atlanta, and San Antonio, have created similar initiatives.

The Yes in God’s Backyard Act was introduced to the U.S. Congress in March of this year. If signed into law, the bill would allow faith-based organizations nationwide to address the housing crisis by providing affordable living spaces to low-income residents.

Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, who introduced the act in March, says that it will provide a solution for the growing housing crisis in the United States.

“Housing is too expensive and too hard to find in almost every community in America,” Brown said in a press release.

“This is a common-sense solution—families need more housing, and churches, synagogues, and other religious organizations want to put their faith into action by developing housing on land they already own. By helping these institutions cut through red tape, we can lower the cost of housing and expand options in Ohio and around the country.”

Planned Parenthood — (Photo: Women's eNews/Flickr)

by Shanique Yates

August 9, 2024

Are Claims About Resurfaced 2015 Video Of Planned Parenthood Execs Selling Fetal Tissue True?

A resurfaced clip from 2015 shows Planned Parenthood executives discussing the use of fetal tissue following abortion procedures, however, are the claims around it true?

A recently released video shows Planned Parenthood executives allegedly discussing the handling of body parts from fetuses aborted in the late second trimester, particularly fetal tissue, which is sparking concerns on social media.

In the clip, captured in 2015 by anti-abortion activist David Daleiden, Planned Parenthood executives can be heard allegedly describing measures to avoid “prosecution under the federal partial-birth abortion ban by dismembering the fetus while it is partially outside the womb.”

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While allegations that Planned Parenthood’s overall goal was to preserve internal organs for harvesting continue to swirl, the nonprofit maintains that it “does not profit commercially from fetal tissue.” Moreover, at the time that the initial videos were released, Planned Parenthood claimed that their staff members were discussing legal, not-for-profit donations of fetal tissue to research firms.

A previous study conducted by the Committee on Oversight and Accountability Democrats also debunked the allegations. While the claim is that Planned Parenthood engages in “the illegal sale of aborted baby parts” and that the organization is “selling baby parts,” the site maintains that the released video does not include any “credible evidence” that the organization “profits from its fetal tissue donation program.”

“Despite Daleiden’s three-year effort to entrap Planned Parenthood, he ‘failed to succeed in convincing even a single affiliate to enter into a procurement contract with his fake company,’” read a letter from Planned Parenthood Federation of America President Cecile Richards, addressed to Speaker John A. Boehner, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Minority Leader Harry Reid on Aug. 27, 2015.

Moreover, the study presented by the Committee on Oversight and Accontabitly Democrats also maintains that only a small amount of Planned Parenthood affiliates actively participate in fetal tissue research and that donation is not available at 99% of Planned Parenthood health centers.

“Few women have the opportunity to donate fetal tissue to Planned Parenthood affiliates because ‘researchers have not requested tissue from the local affiliate or because the local affiliate has chosen not to participate,’” read the claims from the site.

Since its inception in New York in 1916 by Margaret Sanger, Planned Parenthood has become the largest provider of reproductive healthcare services in the United States, providing those in need with everything from birth control and contraceptives to pregnancy advice and abortion.

by Mitti Hicks

August 9, 2024

3 Friends Launch Black-Owned Prosecco Brand Don Luchi

Co-founders Andre Grundy, David Kinloch, and Justin Wages sold out of the first shipment of bottles just five weeks after launching Don Luchi.

Three friends are behind the newest Black-owned prosecco brand on the market. Co-founders Andre Grundy, David Kinloch, and Justin Wages sold out of the first shipment of bottles just five weeks after launching Don Luchi. Luckily, there’s more on the way.

Andre Grundy (left), David Kinloch (center) and Justin Wages (right) are the Charleston-based trio behind Don Luchi Prosecco — (Photo courtesy of Don Luchi Prosecco)

It’s been an incredible journey for the group of friends who wanted to shake up the wine and spirits industry with a Black-owned brand. They officially launched Don Luchi in June 2024, but sparkling wine was not the original plan.

“We wanted to get into beer,” the trio tells BLACK ENTERPRISE. “We just couldn’t get distribution based on the type of beer we had because it was a fruity beer. By the time we finished the beer, distributors said our fruity beer wouldn’t work in the winter.”

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The friends didn’t let the naysayers stop them. Wages convinced Grundy and Kinloch to invest in sparkling wine after he fell down a rabbit hole after a friend introduced him to quality sparkling wines.

“When I went out and ordered champagne before, I never looked at what I was ordering. If the champagne was bad, I would just deal with it,” he says.

But the variations his friend introduced him to were something he hadn’t experienced or tasted before. It left a lasting impression—one that would kick start their purpose and dreams of diversifying the space. Wages began researching different flavor profiles and digging deeper into why some brands were better quality than others.

Getting The Greenlight From An Italian Vineyard

After successfully getting Grundy and Kinloch onboard with sparkling wine, their next task was securing a supplier. They contacted suppliers in Champagne, France, but they met some challenges. Wages says there’s a lot of gatekeeping in the region, which makes it a tough market to tap into.

A vineyard in Italy, however, was willing to hear them out when they inquired about the prosecco.

“We told them about our vision, which is to bring a quality product back to the United States, introduce it, and educate more people on it. I also told them how the Black-owned market was untapped here for sparkling wines. The only people with ownership are celebrities,” he says.

The vineyard was more than happy to work with the co-founders. They flew to Italy in March 2024 to close the deal, and by June 30, it was on shelves across South Carolina^.

Wages says Don Luchi has an intense and fragrant flavor profile, with notes of golden apple, peach, roses, and hints of almonds. It’s dry and lively, clear yet complex, and according to Wages, pairs with everything nicely.

“This is one of those proseccos that you don’t have to put juice with it if you don’t want to,” he says.

Wages says he hopes their journey in launching a Black-owned prosecco brand inspires others to pursue their dreams, even if they seem unattainable.

“We came into this space knowing absolutely nothing. We’ve been working on this for more than a year, and we’ve learned so much about wine. Now, we can walk into any room and speak highly of our product and the region the wine is from.

Don Luchi can currently be purchased in stores across Charleston and Florence, South Carolina. Wages says the team plans to launch shipping nationwide by the fall.

Kamala, Tim Walz, Harris, — (Photos from left: (Photo: Gage Skidmore/flickr; Lorie Shaull/Flickr)

by Sharelle B. McNair

August 9, 2024

Here’s Why Banks Are Blocking Employees From Donating To The Harris-Walz Campaign

Well that doesn't seem fair....

Democratic-leaning banks are blocking employees from donating to Vice President Kamala Harris and Tim Walz’s campaign to avoid complications with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Business Insider reports.

If financial service employees donate, they risk violating the agency’s “pay-to-play” rule, which keeps firms from attempting to sway politicians for favors like managing their state’s pension fund — since Walz is a state official. The rules have changed since the 2020 election when Wall Street donors submitted more than $74 million to President Joe Biden’s presidential campaign.

To guarantee their employees don’t slip up, Citigroup advised US employees on Aug. 6 to seek pre-donation approval if they’d like to support the Harris-Walz campaign. Similar restrictions also apply to employees who work for all but one of the bank’s five business units, including investment banking and wealth management. The US consumer banking division is exempt.

Bank employees that support the Trump-Vance campaign don’t have to worry about getting approval unless they are labeled as a “Municipal Finance Professional,” “Covered Associate,” or members of a “public-sector facing business.” Those same employees, however, will have to get permission to donate to the vice president and her running mate.

A professor of political science at the University of New Haven, Patricia Crouse, thinks the policy is sneaky and only caters to one campaign. “To sort of single out one campaign over the other, whatever the reason is — and there’s regulation in place there — it looks very political,” she said.

“You want to be able to support your candidates. And if you can’t do that, I think it makes you feel left out.”

While the regulations seem strict, even the smallest donations can result in hefty penalties. In 2017, a private banking company, Pershing Square, was forced to pay a $75,000 fine four years after a former analyst donated $500 to a Massachusetts gubernatorial governor. At the time, the state’s pension plan was an investor in the company, and since Pershing wasn’t made aware of the donation, the former employee was able to get his money back, according to a spokesperson.

The SEC’s “pay-to-play” rule was adopted in 2010 and applies to big banks such as JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America. Citi embedded its policy in 2016 when former President Donald Trump selected then-Indiana governor Mike Pence as his running mate.

According to Time, the progressive Democratic vice presidential nominee seems to be a man for the people over standing tall with big businesses like financial institutions. During his first term serving the people of Minnesota, Walz gave tax cuts and raised taxes for some corporations and high earners. The father of two also gave “Walz checks,” which were rebates, to low- and middle-income families, worth up to $1,300 in several cases, and advocated for a statewide child tax credit of up to $1,750 per child.

There are ways to bypass the “pay to play” rule. Those who are eager to donate can give to a political action committee (PAC) or Super PAC with no ties to a particular candidate.

Ben Crump, George Floyd, Tim Walz — (Photos from left: Jemal Countess/Getty Images for NOBCO; Public Domain)

by Sharelle B. McNair

August 9, 2024

Ben Crump Supports Tim Walz as VP Nominee Due To Support Following George Floyd’s Death

We agree with Crump!

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump called Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz a “strong choice” as the Democratic vice presidential nominee after reminiscing on his support of George Floyd and Daunte Wright, Newsweek reports.

Crump highlights Walz’s advocacy for police reform after both Floyd and Wright were killed by law enforcement. “I gained personal respect for him in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, when he reached out to the Floyd family on multiple occasions -– and later to the family of Daunte Wright, and used his position to advocate for passage of police reform legislation,” Crump said.

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin killed Floyd after kneeling on Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes on May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis. Outrage led to the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, resulting in protests across the city and throughout the country. Former President Donald Trump pressured Walz to deploy federal forces to the city. However, Walz, who served in the Army National Guard for 24 years, said sending the National Guard to the city would be an “abject failure.”

In 2021, Walz prayed with the family of Daunte Wright, who was shot 11 miles from where Floyd died by a police officer during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center. Crump labeled Walz as a champion for legislation that affects Black communities and understands the struggles of everyday people. “Time and again, he has championed legislation that is important to our community, from safeguarding voting rights and establishing a task force to uncover what happened to missing and murdered Black women to creating protections for families separated in foster care and passing the CROWN Act,” Crump said.

“He understands the needs and struggles of everyday working Americans who aspire to greater participation in the American Dream.”

During his first term as governor, the vice president nominee supported and signed laws such as banning police chokeholds and offered public safety support, including mental health response teams. As others have praised Walz’s track record since his appointment, Crump is confident he will bring that same energy to the White House. “With VP Harris, Gov. Walz will prioritize the economic needs of Americans who have been marginalized and help them achieve real gains,” the lawyer said.

According to CNN, the Trump campaign is seemingly concerned about Walz joining the Harris team. His team is attempting to mark the former public school teacher as a “political extremist” who will be a threat to Americans and their issues on border patrol, crime, and social policies.

Unearthed audio: Trump tells Tim Walz in 2020 he is “very happy” with his handling of George Floyd protests: “I fully agree with the way he handled it… [Tim Walz is an] excellent guy”

(Trump is now trying to criticize Walz over the same issue) pic.twitter.com/5Ii1EhBZo4
— Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) August 7, 2024

The allies of the indicted businessman have called attention to a new Minnesota law that requires public schools to stock menstrual products in both their girls and boys’ bathrooms, claiming the move to be accommodating to transgender students. They also accused Walz of waiting too long to call in the state National Guard during Floyd protests. However, Trump had to swallow his words. In early August 2024, audio was leaked from a phone call between the two politicians where Trump is heard praising Walz’s handling of the protests.

Bronny James, Lakers, G League — (Photo: Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 9, 2024

Rookie Bronny James Will Spend Time In G League To Develop His Skills

'The Lakers plan on using him primarily in the G League as he remains far from a rotation-caliber player,' according to The Athletic's Jovan Buha.

After seemingly picking Bronny James to fulfill the wish of their star player LeBron James to play with his son, the Los Angeles Lakers have complicated that plan.

According to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha, due to Bronny’s lackluster play in the NBA Summer League, Lakers plans to use him primarily in the G League, the NBA’s developmental league. The reason, Bruh writes, si that “he remains far from a rotation-caliber player.”

The Lakers drafted Bronny in the second round of the NBA Draft with the 55th pick, a move that has elicited controversy. As LeBron headed for free agency and had commented several times over the years about wanting to have his son be his NBA teammate, it became abundantly clear that the Lakers had to draft the son to resign the father.

Even James’ agent, Rich Paul, was working the phone lines before the draft, discouraging teams from picking Bronny and that to sign him they would have to give him a guaranteed contract instead of a two-way deal.

The doubts from critics started after Bronny’s freshman year at the University of Southern California. The freshman averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. In Summer League, Bronny scored 25 points on 10 of 21 shooting over the last two games he played before the team decided to sit him down for the final two games. He shot 7-for-31 from the field and 0-for-15 from 3-point range in the three games prior to his offensive flourish. He missed one game due to some trace of swelling in his left knee.

“He had two pretty good games last two,” Lakers Summer League coach Dane Johnson said about Bronny. “I think it’s just going to help him going into the summer so we can work on different things with him. Just that confidence and knowing he can play at this level. It’s still going to take a lot of time and a lot of reps.”

Denard Robinson — Photo: Maize & Blue Nation, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 9, 2024

Video Reveals Former University Of Michigan Staffer Denard Robinson Passed Out Behind Wheel After Crashing Into Pole

The former Michigan quarterback was arrested in April by Ann Arbor police and charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated

Former University of Michigan Assistant Director of Player Personnel Denard Robinson was arrested in April by Ann Arbor police and charged with allegedly operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, according to MLive. TMZ Sports has obtained a video revealing that the former Michigan quarterback was allegedly passed out behind the wheel when officers arrived at the scene of the accident.

The alleged drunk driving accident took place on April 15 around 3:15 a.m. Robinson crashed into a street sign, and when police officers arrived on the scene, he was passed out in the driver’s seat. The footage shows the officers approaching the vehicle and seeing Robinson asleep at the wheel. As they loudly wonder if he is sleeping, Robinson appears to wake up from his slumber. They shine a flashlight in his face, and when he is aware they are standing there, he places his hands above his head.

The officers knocked on his closed window and asked him to open the door and place the car in park. They started to question him as they looked inside his vehicle. The video shows the interaction between Robinson and the police officers as they ask him where he lives and where he is coming from. He is allowed to exit the vehicle, and while talking, he seemingly slurs his words and tells the officers that he didn’t crash, although his car was rammed into a stop sign.

He is then asked to walk along a straight white line, where he almost tripped, and then asked to stand on one leg. After completing those tasks, he was asked if he would take a breathalyzer, but he refused, and then he was handcuffed and taken to jail.

MLive reported that Robinson was taken to the University of Michigan Medical Center. His blood was drawn, and it was determined that he had .158 grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood, which is twice the legal limit in Michigan. Robinson was charged with one count of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, a misdemeanor. He was terminated from the University of Michigan after the incident.

Atlanta, airport, terminal — ST. PAUL, MN - JANUARY 24: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves board the team charter plane en route for the game against the Atlanta Hawks on January 24, 2015 at Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport in St. Paul, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)

by Shanique Yates

August 9, 2024

Airline Passengers To Receive Automatic Refunds Under New U.S. Rule For Flight Disruptions

A new FAA ruling allows consumers to receive a full refund due to flight disruptions and cancelations.

The next time you experience a flight disruption, a new airline rule could lead to a full refund.

Thanks to the rule, made possible by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act signed into effect by President Joe Biden, airlines now must automatically refund money to passengers when flights are canceled or significantly delayed.

“What you used to get by default was a trip credit,” said Kevin Brasler, executive editor of Consumers Checkbook. “Now you’re entitled to a refund, and the refund has to be automatic.”

He added, “I think this will, this is a big benefit. And it really does improve things in terms of it eliminates a lot of confusion about what happens when you’re entitled to a refund.”

The flight disruption refund also includes any taxes or extra fees, such as seat selection. Additionally, the returned funds will be paid out in the same way that the customer paid. For both airlines and travel agents, the refund should be expected within seven business days if paid by credit card. If the ticket was purchased via cash or check, the airline courier has 30 days to issue a refund.

On the other hand, experts stress the importance of consumers notifying the airlines if their trip is canceled via a delay rather than being a no-show, because different rules may apply when it comes to a refund.

“At the end of the day, that’s money that belongs to consumers,” said John Breyault of the National Consumers League. “And they paid it for a service that the airlines didn’t provide them. Then they need to provide a refund.”

Another change happening along with the flight disruption refund, per the new ruling, is that families will no longer be required to pay a fee if traveling with small children. Typically, to sit with their kids, passengers could pay at least $95 more for international flights and upwards of $35 for domestic flights.

New rules are expected to go into effect starting in the fall, which means they’ll be in place just in time for the holiday travel season.