by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

July 8, 2025

Mama Mosie Burks, Legendary Gospel Singer And Lead Vocalist In Mississippi Mass Choir, Dies At 92

Burks was known for her humility yet huge impact in the world of gospel music.

Mama Mosie Burks, a legendary gospel singer known for her vocals in the Mississippi Mass Choir, has died at age 92.

Burks garnered fame as the revered lead vocalist with the gospel choir. She became a household name with the group as they toured across the country and globally. Her beloved gospel cohort shared the unfortunate news July 7.

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Born in Forest, Mississippi, in 1933, she grew up picking cotton and doing domestic work before traveling to the larger city of Jackson to pursue an education. There, she eventually joined the Mass choir, but only did so decades later in 1996.

She sang lead for the first time during a performance of “This Morning When I Rose,” with the entire choir taking notice of her immense talent.

“When Mama Burks walked out on that stage, and she did the first signature shake of her hair and her head and her hair, the whole atmosphere shook,” said Mississippi Mass Choir Executive Director Jerry Mannery, according to WLBT.

Despite her instant acclaim, Burks remained humble about her artistry, stating that she “never felt qualified” to have such a profound impact through her voice.

“Hilariously, Mama Burks resisted, and the reason she resisted joining was that she didn’t think she was good enough. We laughed about that for years,” shared Mannery.

She performed on several international stages with the Mass Choir, including in eight countries, such as South Africa, Italy, and Japan. From performances at the Stellar Awards to inauguration activities in 2012, Burks spent over 20 years performing with the choir to spread a message of Christ. One of her most notable songs with the choir includes “I’m Not Tired Yet.” The song also served as a testament to her dedication to praising the Lord, regardless of her age.

The wife and mother of three also ventured into solo work, with her single “I Got A Grip” from her eponymously named album winning Song of the Year at the 2006 Mississippi Gospel Music Awards. She retired in 2020 after a final performance during the Mass Choir’s 50th anniversary.

While her humility shined through, Burks remains a pillar in the gospel music world and Mississippi Mass Choir history.

student loan forgiveness, fresh start program, idk, forgiveness, Connecticut student loans

by Keka Araújo

July 8, 2025

Fed Student Loan Forgiveness Tracking Paused Amid System Turmoil, Layoffs

These failures appear linked to significant staff reductions at the Department of Education.

Federal student loan borrowers face renewed uncertainty as MOHELA, a major loan servicer, notified them that the Department of Education has temporarily suspended tracking payments toward loan forgiveness under Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) programs.

The halt, coupled with the removal of online progress monitoring, reflects ongoing system challenges that recent mass layoffs have exacerbated. These developments unfold as Congress and the Trump administration implement significant changes to federal loan programs, poised to impact millions.

“Federal Student Aid has temporarily removed the forgiveness payment counts from StudentAid.gov for Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Income-Driven Repayment,” states an automated message on MOHELA’s customer service line.

Representatives offer no additional information, directing borrowers to StudentAid.gov for updates.

This disarray follows a brief period of clarity. In January, the previous administration launched a StudentAid.gov feature that allows borrowers to track their progress on IDR loan forgiveness.

IDR plans typically offer forgiveness after 20 or 25 years of payments. This tracker provided crucial insight into borrowers’ standing.

However, the Trump administration quietly removed this IDR tracker last spring, citing problems and inaccuracies. This coincided with a February court ruling suggesting forgiveness under three IDR plans—ICR, PAYE, and the new SAVE plan—was inconsistent with congressional intent. Consequently, the department has blocked forgiveness under these plans.

“Forgiveness as a feature of the SAVE, PAYE, and ICR Plans is currently paused because those plans were not created by Congress,” the department stated in updated guidance issued in April.

IBR plan forgiveness remains available, as Congress separately enacted it.

Despite assurances from Education Secretary Linda McMahon to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in June that the IDR tracker would soon be restored, borrowers report that IDR data, if still accessible, is not updating. Some who should have reached forgiveness under IBR have yet to receive a discharge, indicating months are not being counted.

The PSLF, which allows federal student debt discharge in as little as 10 years for public service, also faces tracking problems. While the PSLF tracker remains accessible, payment counts have not been updated for months. “My PSLF counts updated on FSA 4/4,” one Reddit user shared. “I’ve submitted an ECF end of April and end of May… Nothing is triggering the update despite forms being processed.”

Another noted, “My payment count doesn’t show anything past September 2024… payment count remains at 90 when it should be around 104.”

These failures appear linked to significant staff reductions at the Department of Education. A former official from the Federal Student Aid (FSA) Ombudsman office indicated in a court filing that payment count issues are a known problem, worsened by mass layoffs under the Trump administration.

A specialized team for PSLF transfer errors was reassigned after the “mass RIF” (Reduction in Force), leaving no one to resolve complaints. The official also confirmed IBR loan forgiveness has been paused since July 2024. The “mass RIF,” announced in March, reduced the department’s staff by nearly 50%.

The issues with forgiveness tracking are part of broader turmoil. Eight million SAVE plan borrowers remain in involuntary forbearance due to court challenges. Many attempting to switch IDR plans face a 1.5 million application backlog. MOHELA suggests some reapply. The department also faces a growing backlog for PSLF Buyback, increasing from 49,000 in May to over 58,000 in June.

These systemic dysfunctions came as President Trump signed the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” which introduces sweeping changes. While PSLF is preserved, the bill repeals several IDR options, forcing many borrowers to change plans next year.

Advocates warn these changes will lead to substantial payment increases, potentially causing more disruptions.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 8, 2025

Charleston White Apologizes To Karmelo Anthony, Wants Black People To Support Murder Suspect

'I want to take the time to apologize to Karmelo Anthony's family. I was wrong about that kid.'

An apologetic Charleston White, who is known for his outrageous commentary on social issues, has come out in support of murder suspect Karmelo Anthony after a meeting with the teenager’s family.

Anthony, 17, who was arrested and jailed in April after being accused of stabbing another 17-year-old, Austin Metcalf, to death after an altercation at a high school track meet, has proclaimed his innocence in the incident. He was released after the judge, who placed a $1 million bond on Anthony, reduced it to $250,000. He was engaged in an argument with Metcalf and his brother under a tent at the school event. Anthony is currently under house arrest.

Anthony stated he stabbed the boy in self-defense after the victim allegedly attacked him after trying to make him move from under the tent.

The case has made national news because Anthony is Black and Metcalf is white. Although Metcalf was purportedly the aggressor, many have not given him the benefit of the doubt or the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. The headlines have stated the obvious along racial lines in national media coverage, with most painting Anthony guilty without hearing all the facts or there being a trial.

White, a comedian and entrepreneur, was one of the people who felt that Anthony had to be guilty without knowing anything about the case. However, all of that changed after the man who typically goes viral based on his commentary on street issues and Black culture now states that the 17-year-old will be found innocent.

In a video clip that has gone viral, White apologizes to the Anthony family for his comments doubting the innocence of the 17-year-old honor student.

“I want to take the time to apologize to Karmelo Anthony’s family. I was wrong about that kid.”

He went on to state that he had met with Anthony’s father and obtained the story of what happened on that fateful day. He discovered that Austin Metcalf and his brother were known bullies in town, and when they noticed Anthony under the tent, they tried to force him to leave. He said he was under the impression that Anthony brought the knife to school with him, but found that wasn’t the case.

White goes into detail about what the father told him about the incident and concludes that Anthony will beat the charges. In fact, he is now of the opinion that Karmelo should have killed both brothers based on their reputation of being bullies, even finding out that Austin physically assaulted his father. He wants Black people to rally around Anthony and his family.

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by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

July 8, 2025

After Years, TSA Begins Phasing Out ‘Shoes Off’ Rule

The shoe removal policy had been in effect since 2006.

The Transportation Security Administration has revoked a longstanding policy that may come as a shock to frequent airline passengers.

The TSA has plans for travelers to keep their shoes on while walking through security checkpoints at several major U.S. airports. According to ABC News, TSA officers received a surprise memo in early July about the policy update.

Moving forward, passengers will no longer have to remove their shoes, with airports implementing the new allowance starting July 6. The removal of shoes during TSA screenings first became a rule in 2006.

The policy came about five years after a man tried to hide explosives packed in his shoes while aboard an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami. However, his plan to cause an explosion on the aircraft failed, as passengers and crew held him down after the botched incident. Although the explosives failed to detonate, it resulted in an additional step in the security screening process.

Since then, every traveler within a certain age range has had to remove their shoes in the standard security lines. Some exceptions included younger and elderly passengers, as well as those with TSA PreCheck and, more recently, the security bypass program Clear.

However, long lines continue to plague popular airports—some wait for hours during peak flying periods, such as the winter holiday season.

Given this, the TSA has implemented new solutions to expedite the process. Now, only those who trigger the security sensors will have to remove their shoes for an additional screening.

Over the July 4 holiday weekend alone, the transportation agency expected to see over 18.5 million travelers. Last July, the TSA broke its single-day record for travelers going through airport security, with over 3 million passengers passing through. Officials hope this new update will accommodate the influx of airport visitors.

According to the memo, the new update will soon be rolled out to all U.S. airports.

by Mitti Hicks

July 8, 2025

‘Mean-spirited’: North Carolina Governor Vetoes Anti-DEI, Immigration Bills

Stein, who is a Democrat in a Republican-led state, called the bills “mean-spirited.”

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein vetoes multiple controversial bills on anti-DEI and immigration. Stein, who is a Democrat in a Republican-led state, called the bills “mean-spirited.” At least four of the bills Stein vetoed would have put an end to state-wide diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, along with limiting LGBTQ and transgender rights.

“At a time when teachers, law enforcement, and state employees need pay raises and people need shorter lines at the DMV, the legislature failed to pass a budget and, instead, wants to distract us by stoking culture wars that further divide us,” said Stein.

Stein added that the bills “would marginalize vulnerable people and also undermine the quality of public services and public education.”

For Republican lawmakers, eliminating DEI has been a significant focus at the federal, state, and local levels nationwide. They pitch the legislation as eliminating structured racial bias in government and publications while protecting women and empowering parents.

A Look At North Carolina’s Anti-DEI Bills

House Bill 171, House Bill 805, Senate Bill 227, and Senate Bill 558 would have restricted transgender and LGBTQ rights and DEI efforts in public schools, as well as state and local government agencies.

House Bill 171 would have also barred state agencies from promoting workplace DEI practices or programs and prohibited state agencies or units of local government from using federal funds that require compliance with DEI initiatives, the Duke Chronicle reports.

Meanwhile, in Senate Bill 227, it would have banned the discussion of “divisive concepts” related to race and sex in K-12 public school classrooms, including notions that “particular character traits, values, moral or ethical codes, privileges, or beliefs should be ascribed to a race or sex.”

Senate Bill 558 would have extended DEI restrictions into higher education by prohibiting DEI-related topics in curriculum and classroom discussion at public colleges and universities.

Stein says he’s ready to work with the state legislature when they “get serious about protecting people and addressing North Carolinians’ pressing concerns.”

Stein Vetoes Immigration Bills For North Carolina

Stein also vetoed two bills aimed at tightening state and local enforcement of illegal immigration. Senate Bill 153 and House Bill 318 would require North Carolina’s law enforcement agencies to “cooperate to the fullest extent of the law” with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Under the proposed bill, law enforcement officers would be required to contact ICE when immigrants lacked permanent legal status.

“At a time when our law enforcement is already stretched thin, this bill takes state law enforcement officers away from their existing state duties and forces them to act as federal immigration agents,” Stein said on Senate Bill 153.

Stein also called House Bill 318 “unconstitutional” because it would require law enforcement to detain individuals for up to 48 hours before release. He says the clause violates the Fourth Amendment.

Katrina Survivors Reclaim The Narrative At ESSENCE Film Festival

by Janee Bolden

July 8, 2025

Katrina Survivors Reclaim The Narrative At ESSENCE Film Festival

Ryan Coogler’s Nat Geo Series “Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time” is required viewing

When Hurricane Katrina: A Race Against Time premieres later this month it will help reclaim the narrative for the people who lived it 20 years ago. The upcoming five-part National Geographic docuseries, executive produced by Ryan Coogler, was the focus of a deeply personal and emotional panel at this year’s ESSENCE Festival of Culture. Moderated by ESSENCE Senior Entertainment Editor Okla Jones, the discussion brought together director Traci A. Curry and series contributors Shelton Alexander, Lucrece Phillips, and Lynette Boutte, three New Orleans natives whose lives were forever changed by Katrina. Each offered unflinching testimony about survival, misinformation, loss, and the quiet heroism that rarely made national headlines.

“I was here two years ago at ESSENCE when I first started thinking about this project,” Curry shared. “I started asking people — Uber drivers, convention center staff, servers — what they wished the world knew about Katrina. Everyone said the same thing: ‘To y’all, New Orleans is the same. But to us, there was a before Katrina, and an after Katrina.’”

That distinction between the outsider’s gaze and lived reality shaped every frame of the episode that was screened Saturday and provided a throughline for the panel that followed.

Shelton Alexander, a poet and storyteller, brought his camera with him into the Superdome as the levees failed and thousands sought shelter. “There was a reason I had that video camera,” Alexander said. “I know God knew I needed to get out there at a certain time. He also knew that I needed to be able to show some things because people wouldn’t believe them.”

His footage, now featured in the series, documents what mainstream media didn’t: the humanity, creativity, and calm that existed in the face of catastrophe. “We were marching and singing in the Superdome. But if I just said that, people would think I was exaggerating. Now you can see it.”

Lynette Boutte, a lifelong resident of Tremé, refused to evacuate during the storm because she believed she would be safe after surviving bigger storms, like Hurricane Betsy, during childhood. She wasn’t. “The militia — not the police, not the National Guard — came with AKs and told us to leave our own homes,” she recalled. She shared how misinformation spread faster than water: “They told us to go to a location that had no one there. We had to wade back through six feet of water, holding onto boats, just to survive.”

Still, Boutte resisted the false narratives. “We took care of each other. The same young men they called thugs came to check on the elders, to bring us water. All that talk about looting and violence was mostly lies.”

Lucrece Phillips fought through tears as she described being forcibly separated from children she’d been sheltering with in a hotel. After finally being evacuated to Dallas, officials took the children away because she wasn’t their legal guardian. “They were with me for days. I made sure they ate. I held them at night so they wouldn’t wander off,” she said. “If you remember Ms. Lucrece from that hotel, if you’re still out there — please, find me. I just want to know you’re okay.”

Curry made it clear that Race Against Time is about reframing and not revisiting the events of Katrina. “The levees broke. The systems broke. But the people did not break,” she said. “The media painted a picture of chaos and criminality. But when you actually listen to survivors, you see care, faith, and community. That’s the story we’re telling.”

The most poignant moment came near the end of the panel, when Alexander spoke from the heart: “We were better than what they wanted us to be. And we still are.”

Hurricane Katrina: A Race Against Time premieres July 27 on National Geographic, with streaming available on Hulu and Disney+ beginning July 28.

Georgia,Elementary School Teacher, Gang Related Murders

by Sharelle B. McNair

July 8, 2025

Former Nonprofit Exec Faces Fraud Allegations After Dreams Of Becoming CEO

After being labeled as a “highly ethical” leader, Gatlin was placed on paid administrative leave

After seemingly climbing the corporate ladder to leadership, Charmaine Gatlin, the former chief operating officer of Jackson Health Foundation, was knocked down after being hit with major fraud allegations, according to the Miami Herald.

After being labeled as a “highly ethical” leader in her 2021 evaluation, Gatlin was placed on paid administrative leave during an internal investigation “related to potential misconduct,” resulting in her being “terminated for cause” in November 2024. Shortly afterward, the nonprofit executive, who once expressed plans of “refining and enhancing my skills so that I can lead as President/CEO,” was arrested for allegedly defrauding the Miami-based organization.

The rap sheet revealed shocking details that extended well beyond city limits. Gatlin was accused of fleecing, also defined as swindling, $3.6 million from the nonprofit by falsifying invoices from vendors in exchange for $1 million in kickbacks. The former executive then allegedly used the funds to purchase luxury items from Louis Vuitton and Gucci, including a $4,350 bag and a $15,617 rose gold golf cart.

According to Local 10 News, authorities have an email in their possession confirming the Louis Vuitton purchase. “This is the one she wants,” the email allegedly reads.

The accusations travel as far as Atlanta. The FBI investigation alleges Gatlin was “co-conspiring” with Yergan Jones, CEO of American Sound Design, who submitted “false and fraudulent” invoices — worth $2 million — to the Foundation for services between 2019 and 2024 that never actually happened at the organization. It was revealed Jones provided services for 100 Black Men of America, a civic organization with several chapters across the United States, including Atlanta and South Florida.

Gatlin worked for the organization between 2009 and 2014 before being hired by the Foundation. In a statement, the group said it had no idea of fraudulent invoices but is “fully cooperating with law enforcement and will continue to do so until this matter is concluded.”

Jones was also known as president of AEE Productions, which, according to its now-deleted website, has done business with some elite corporations, including Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, Walmart, and the Jackson Health Foundation. Gatlin even provided a testimonial about the company’s alleged work. “Working with AEE Productions is always an exciting time for me. They listen to my ideas and help me create ‘the wow’ that I am looking for during each event,” the online testimonial read.

“I have been working with Yergan and his team for over 15 years, and each event is better than the last one.”

The former COO is forced to travel back and forth from her new home in Riceboro, Georgia, to Miami to face judges in the process. In the indictment, filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Young, Gatlin was charged with a single count of conspiring with other individuals to commit wire fraud, 26 counts of wire fraud, and five counts of money laundering.

She was released on a $30,000 bond at the time of her arrest and ordered not to contact the contractors involved in the case, including Jones. If convicted, Gatlin could face imprisonment for several years.

beer, craft beef, Black Woman-owned Brewery, Minnesota, brewer

by Jameelah Mullen

July 8, 2025

South Africa’s First Black Woman Brewer Empowers A New Generation

The 41-year-old master brewer strives to introduce more women and girls to the male-dominated industry.

Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela is believed to be the first Black woman in South Africa to own a craft brewery. The 41-year-old master brewer strives to introduce more women and girls to the male-dominated industry.

Nxusani-Mawela is the owner of Tolokazi Brewery, located just outside Johannesburg, where she teaches youth the art of brewing.

The 13 students at Brewsters Academy hold degrees or diplomas in STEM fields, such as chemical engineering, biotechnology, or analytical chemistry. At Brewsters Academy, students can also earn an additional certification in brewing.

According to an Oxford Economics report in “Beer’s Global Economic Footprint,” South Africa’s beer industry creates over 200,000 jobs and contributes about $5.2 billion to South Africa’s gross domestic product. Nxusani-Mawela says she wants to ensure that women have an opportunity to benefit from the lucrative industry.

“I wanted to make sure that, being the first Black female to own a brewery in South Africa, I’m not the first and the last,” she told the Associated Press. “Brewsters Academy, for me, is about transforming the industry … What I want to see is that in five, ten years from now, that it should be a norm to have Black people in the industry, it should be a norm to have females in the industry.”

Twenty-four-year-old Lehlohonolo Makhethe, a Brewsters’ student, pointed out that women once dominated the beer brewing industry in some parts of Africa.

How it got male-dominated, I don’t know,” the 24-year-old brewer said. “I’d rather say we are going back to our roots as women to doing what we started.”

Nxusani-Mawela teaches various styles of brewing and strives to keep traditional African beer-making alive for future generations. Her Wild African Soul beer is a collaboration with craft beer company Soul Barrel Brewing, a blend of African Umqombothi beer —a creamy brew made from maize and sorghum malt —blended with fruity notes. Wild African Soul Beer was the 2025 African Beer Cup winner.

“Umqombothi is our African way, and everybody should know how to make it, but we don’t,” she said. “I believe that the beer styles that we make need to reflect having an element of our past being brought into the future,” Nxusani-Mawela said.

Nas ‘Illmatic: Live’ Symphony Is Good And Grown Hip-Hop

by Ida Harris

July 8, 2025

Nas ‘Illmatic: Live’ Symphony Is Good And Grown Hip-Hop

The debut album-turned cult classic is 31-years-old

Nasir Jones, the incomparable emcee known as Nas, Nasty Nas, Nastradamus, Esco, Escobar, God’s Son, took the stage at Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park in Atlanta on July 5 as one man with “One Mic,” and an entire symphony orchestra behind to perform Illmatic: Live. His debut album-turned cult classic—of the same name—turned 31 years old this past April.

The Queens, New York, native made performing in an all-white suit and hard-bottoms in 90-degree weather look effortless and received a standing ovation as he kicked off his hour and 30-minute set with “N.Y. State of Mind” and “Life’s a Bitch,” giving a shout-out to AZ, his collaborator on the 1994 hit.

Before delving into the lyricism of “One Love,” an epistolary rap song, Nas prepped the audience. He revisits colloquialisms from in the song and from his youth that some listeners may not be familiar with; one being MDC, the men’s house—the men’s detention center on Rikers Island, the largest correctional facility in New York City, which is just a stone’s throw from Queensbridge, also the largest public housing project in NYC.

He then takes the crowd on the lyrically pleasing correspondence, of one of his most poignant songs, in which he writes a letter to his homie who is serving a bid, updating his incarcerated comrade on the goings-on in the hood. The precursor is nostalgic.

The laidback emcee humored the crowd here and there with anecdotal introductions between tracks. In particular, he joked about SWV eclipsing “It Ain’t Hard To Tell” with the Teddy Riley-produced track “Right Here.” Both songs sampled Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature.”

“—And SWV just stomped on it,” Nas said. “‘Right here, be right here.’”

“My sh*t was out first,” the Grammy Award-winning rapper continued. “Love to Teddy Riley and SWV.”

Nas blazed through Illmatic songs, then gracefully pivoted and moved down the list of hip-hop bangers from his catalog: “If I Ruled The World” and “Street Dreams” from It Was Written; Singles chart, “Hate Me Now” and “Nas Is Like” from I am; “You Owe Me” and “Oochie Wally” of Nostradamus. The Hip-Hop is Dead artist left no crumbs as he ate through the last quarter of the show and a bevy of hits from Stillmatic, his 5-mic approved album, compliments of Source Magazine. Song after song, much of the audience mouthed lyrics, but “Made You Look” had folks rapping along with their chest.

As Nas approaches his 52nd birthday, the last three decades look good on him. Queensbridge’s finest has maintained the cool, calm, and collected demeanor he’s known for and has become a multimillionaire in the process through various business ventures and investments. Fannie Ann and Oludara’s Son remains as lit and relevant as he’s always been, despite the unreliable spiel of a rapper who is hardly his contemporary. Nas closed out the show in the same fashion he entered—with “‘One Mic,’ one beat, and one stage.”

Black, white wealth, pandemic, average salaries, tax break

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 8, 2025

Florida Unveils Tax Breaks On Clothing, Electronics, And School Supplies

Floridians are set to save money with the state's new tax exemptions and tax-free holidays.

Florida residents will enjoy the money they’re about to save on select items as the state welcomes tax exemptions of up to $1,500 along with tax-free holidays.

On July 1, Florida rolled out year-round sales tax exemptions on school supplies, clothing, and electronics, according to The Sun. As part of the newly approved state budget, lawmakers made the tax breaks permanent, helping Floridians save on everyday essentials—and even a few luxury items.

As part of the new tax exemptions, Florida will host a permanent back-to-school tax holiday throughout August, giving shoppers a break on school-related essentials. The savings apply to clothing, footwear, and backpacks priced up to $100, as well as school supplies such as pens, pencils, notebooks, and lunchboxes valued at up to $50, all of which are tax-free.

Florida will also introduce a “Hunting, Fishing, and Camping” sales tax holiday from Sept. 8 through Dec. 31, 2025, offering tax exemptions on outdoor gear, including tents and camping chairs. Shoppers can also enjoy tax breaks on electronics valued up to $1,500.

Other tax-free items in Florida include:

AA-cell, AAA-cell, C-cell, D-cell, 6-volt, or 9-volt batteries
Smoke detection devices
Carbon monoxide alarms
Fire extinguishers
Portable generators
Waterproof tarps and other flexible waterproof sheeting (1,000 square feet or less)
Ground anchor systems and tie-down kits
Portable gas or diesel fuel cans (5 gallons or less)
Life jackets
Bicycle helmets
Sunscreen
Insect repellent

Nearby, in neighboring Alabama, state lawmakers approved a $100 income tax rebate for most who file. It’s not the $400 rebate Gov. Kay Ivey originally proposed to distribute the state’s budget surplus, but the revised $100 plan cuts the cost from $1 billion to $275 million.

“It’s only right, while still acknowledging we are recording revenues far exceeding normal and sustainable levels, we give a fair share of this money directly back to the people of Alabama,” Ivey said.

The payments have been approved but still require a vote by the Alabama legislature and the governor’s signature before they can take effect.