by Mary Spiller

September 13, 2024

VP Kamala Harris Takes 5-Point Lead Over Trump Following Tuesday Debate

The Morning Consult Survey indicated that 50% of participants claimed they would vote for Harris if the election were to happen today.

According to a survey conducted by the Morning Consult following the highly publicized debate on Sept. 10, Vice President Harris has begun to widen her lead over former President Trump in the public eye.

The Morning Consult poll found that Harris is leading by five points over Trump, rising from the only three and four points lead she held in the same survey before the Philadelphia debate hosted by ABC. In the following days, Harris has been regarded as largely successful during the debate. The rising support for her is reflective of the public opinion of her. Over 50% of poll respondents indicated that they would vote for Kamala Harris if the election were to be held today. In contrast, only 45% of respondents said they would vote for the former president following Tuesday’s debate.

More surprisingly, she also leads Trump among independent voters, comparing her 46% support to his 40%.

The Morning Consult analysts wrote, “It’s too early to say whether Harris’ debate performance is the key driver of our latest head-to-head numbers, as our short-term trends suggest she was already building momentum ahead of Tuesday’s televised match-up.”

The analysis posited that Harris’ moving debate performance will continue to offer her momentum among voters.

In addition to the larger polling, more immediate data suggested that Harris is favored as the winner of the debate after she managed to draw Trump into spreading “conspiracy theories,” shouting, and avoiding eye contact with her. Poll respondents claimed that she outperformed him while discussing issues of immigration and abortion and overall seemed to dominate the stage over him.

The Morning Consult survey was conducted just one day after the debate and prefaced that it took data “among at least 3,317 likely voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points.”

Harris and Trump met for the first time on the Philadelphia debate stage in a pivotal moment for the vice president.

Harris introduced her different policy ideas to Trump and stood on her own without President Biden.

Trump has since said that he will not enter into another debate with Vice President Kamala Harris.

Trump told media outlets, “We’ve done two debates, and because they were successful, there will be no third debate.”

by Roz A. Gee

September 13, 2024

Former NFL Star Turned Entrepreneur Is On A Mission To Teach Everyone How To Win The Money Game

Former NFL linebacker Brandon Copeland has spent his life chasing down opportunities—both on and off the field. But since hanging up his cleats, Copeland’s mission has shifted to a different kind of pursuit: financial empowerment. A man of many titles—retired pro athlete, Ivy League professor, entrepreneur, and now author—Copeland is now leading the charge to teach everyday people how to take control of their finances, one play at a time.

During his decade-long NFL career, Copeland was known for his athletic prowess, but what many didn’t see was the work he was putting in off the field. While his young teammates focused on game strategy, Copeland saved and invested most of his earnings and planned for his financial future.

“I saw too many guys who were making life-changing money but didn’t know how to make it last,” says Copeland. “I didn’t want to be one of them, and I didn’t want my teammates to fall into that trap either.”

Over time, he became known as the “Money Professor” in the locker room, sharing his knowledge with teammates who wanted to make their money last long after their playing days ended.

That same drive and passion for financial education are now at the core of his entrepreneurial journey. A graduate of the Wharton Business School, Brandon now teaches “Life 101” at the University of Pennsylvania, a financial literacy course he created that covers essential topics like budgeting, investing, credit management, and retirement planning.

But his latest project might be his most ambitious yet. He is taking his financial expertise to the masses with his newly released debut book, Your Money Playbook: How to Earn More, Build Wealth, and Win at Life.

A Financial Game Plan for Everyone

With rising inflation, growing economic uncertainty, and the increasing impact of AI on the job market, managing money has become a critical skill for all ages.

“Financial literacy should not be reserved for the wealthy or for those who can afford high-priced consultants,” says Copeland. “Everyone deserves to know how to manage their money, how to invest, and how to build a legacy.”

In Your Money Playbook, Copeland offers actionable advice that doesn’t just tell people what they should do but shows them how to do it. The book’s structure also mirrors the game Copeland knows oh so well—football—breaking down complex financial concepts into four digestible “quarters.”

According to Brandon, these are the four fundamental principles to follow when tackling your financial fears and creating a winning game plan:

Diversify Your Income – Don’t rely on just one source of income. Find ways to create multiple streams, whether through side hustles, investments, or other passive income opportunities.

Invest Early and Often – The sooner you start investing, the more time your money has to grow. Copeland stresses the importance of starting small if necessary, but starting now.

Cut Costs Wisely – Smart spending doesn’t mean cutting out all the things you love. It’s about finding creative ways to save on everyday expenses and making sure your spending aligns with your long-term goals.

Plan for the Future – Building wealth isn’t just about today; it’s about creating a legacy for tomorrow. Copeland encourages readers to think beyond themselves and consider the financial future of their families and communities.

A New Chapter for Copeland—and for Financial Literacy

Copeland admits that his early NFL years came with a steep learning curve, but he’s determined to help others avoid the same pitfalls he saw his peers face with the release of his debut book.

“Your Money Playbook is about more than just making money—it’s about creating peace of mind and giving people the tools to face whatever challenges come their way,” says Copeland.

Brandon Copeland is now on a mission to level the financial playing field by democratizing access to financial education and giving people the tools they need to win—not just in their financial lives but in life overall. And with the same drive that made him a standout on the field, he’s proving that true success isn’t just about what you earn but what you learn.

Your Money Playbook is now available to readers and promises to be a game-changer for anyone looking to level up their financial game.

by Shanique Yates

September 13, 2024

Abortion Rights Face Crucial Votes in November As States Push For Reproductive Health Protections

To combat those on the opposing side, Democrats have a plan to keep reproductive healthcare front and center. For example, several states, including Montana, Nevada, Maryland, and New York, have enforced ballot measures to protect abortion rights.

As the 2024 presidential election approaches, one of the more significant topics of discussion includes abortion rights, which will make its way to the November ballot.

When Roe v. Wade fell in 2022, Republicans quickly took action. Fourteen states have a total abortion ban, with another 27 states placing bans based on gestational duration. Eight states ban abortion at or before 18 weeks gestation, and 19 states ban abortion at some point after 18 weeks.

According to the Washington Post, an unprecedented amount of abortion initiatives will sit on state ballots in the forthcoming November election, with the majority looking to protect reproductive rights. On the other side, those against abortion aim to defeat their opponents ahead of the voting by implementing “legal challenges, administrative maneuvers, and, critics say, outright intimidation.”

A University of California at Davis law professor and expert on the legal history of abortion says that conservatives are “really supercharged” in their stance to restrict abortion access.

“A lot of abortion opponents don’t think they would win a fair vote, so they’re not trying to,” said Mary Ziegler. “They’re trying to find other ways. You’re seeing a period of experimentation because anti-abortion groups haven’t found a winning recipe.”

To combat those on the opposing side, Democrats have a plan to keep reproductive health care front and center. For example, Several states, including Montana, Nevada, Maryland, and New York, have enforced ballot measures to protect abortion rights.

Democrats are counting on states like Nebraska and South Dakota to keep the ballot measures around abortion intact, thus allowing voters across the 10 states, which are keeping reproductive healthcare front and center ahead, and allowing the states to “enshrine a right to abortion or decision about reproductive health care in their constitutions.”

“The question in these next 55 days is groups on the ground making sure accurate information about what people are voting for is disseminated,” said Chris Melody Fields Figueredo, executive director of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center. “Especially in a presidential election, mis- and disinformation can run rampant.”

Through proposals like Proposition 139 in Arizona, where the state allows abortion up to 15 weeks of pregnancy, with cases of medical emergencies as grounds for later exceptions to the law, the legislation would “create the right to obtain an abortion any time before viability, about 24 weeks.”

From any point after, however, “the State will not be able to interfere with the good-faith judgment of a treating healthcare professional that an abortion is necessary to protect the life or health of the pregnant individual.”

“Our main concern now is making sure that Arizona voters know where to look for us because we will have the longest ballot in state history,” said spokeswoman Dawn Penich.”

According to the report, the ballot will be two pages long, with 13 ballot measures taking up the back of the second page.

During the first presidential debate between Democratic nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump, abortion was the topic of discussion during their heated exchange.

Trump raised eyebrows after he falsely claimed that many Democrats aim to “execute the baby” after giving birth following a nine-month term pregnancy.

Harris, on the other hand, fired a direct attack at Trump, citing his conservative majority turn of the Supreme Court as the reason for the 2022 overturn of Roe v. Wade.

“You want to talk about this is what people wanted?” asked Harris during the presidential debate. “Pregnant women who want to carry a pregnancy to term, suffering from a miscarriage, being denied care in an emergency room because healthcare providers are afraid they might go to jail, and she’s bleeding out in a car in the parking lot?”

The 2024 presidential election will take place Tuesday, Nov. 5.

by Shanique Yates

September 13, 2024

Navient Settles $120M Student Loan Misconduct Case, Affected Borrowers to Receive Compensation

The majority of the settlement will be used to pay affected customers, who will be determined by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Eligible consumers won’t need to do anything on their end; instead, $100 million of the settlement will be dispersed via mailed checks.

One of the nation’s largest student loan companies has officially settled a yearslong battle following allegations of student loan misconduct.

The Washington Post reports that Navient has reached a $120 million settlement to clear up accusations of student loan misconduct, including misallocating payments, steering people into costly repayment plans, supplying wrong information, and ignoring borrowers’ requests for help.

The majority of the settlement will be used to pay affected customers, who will be determined by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Eligible consumers won’t need to do anything on their end; instead, $100 million of the settlement will be dispersed via mailed checks.

The other $20 million from the settlement will be distributed into the CFPB penalty fund.

“It was a hard-fought battle to really make sure that this wasn’t just about a fine, but that this would actually end Navient’s years of abuses,” said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra.

After a 2017 lawsuit accused Navient of being “far more concerned with its financial interests than the needs of vulnerable student loan borrowers,” it was alleged that instead of enrolling borrowers into income-driven repayment plans to save money, the company encouraged the postponement of payments through forbearance.

Today, the CFPB took action against the student loan servicer Navient for its years of failures and lawbreaking. https://t.co/uoaJc5Z28N
— consumerfinance.gov (@CFPB) September 12, 2024

Per a court filing, the CFPB identified student borrowers who received information about income-based plans via phone calls and emails. However, the bureau reports that many were deemed ineligible or chose forbearance because they could not afford their payments.

For years, Navient worked to get the case dismissed, but after its new chief executive, David Yowan, took over in May 2023, it was determined that the student loan service was open to a settlement.

“This agreement puts these decade-old issues behind us,” said Navient spokesperson Paul Hartwick. “While we do not agree with the CFPB’s allegations, this resolution … is an important positive milestone in our transformation of the company.”

In a May 2024 report led by the Education Data Initiative, statistics revealed that four years after graduation, Black students owe an average of 188% more than white student loan borrowers. Moreover, Black students are more likely to struggle financially post-graduation, often making monthly payments of $260 to pay back their loans.

According to the settlement, Navient will never return to federal student loan servicing and has agreed never to “purchase debt originated through the defunct Federal Family Education Loan program.”

Moreover, the student loan company must prove that borrowers are made aware of their right to enroll in affordable repayment plans should there be instances of them still servicing student loans from the previous bank-based federal program.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 13, 2024

Colorado Boy, 17, Shot In Face Scouting Locations For Homecoming Photos; Man Arrested

Brent Metz, 38, has been charged with first-degree assault, two counts of felony menacing, illegal discharge of a firearm, and two charges of reckless endangerment.

Law enforcement officials say a 17-year-old boy was shot in the face by a Colorado man after he and a friend were scouting a house for possible homecoming photos.

According to a statement released by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Brent Metz, 38, arrived at the home on Sept. 10. He pulled up next to the car that the boys were in and allegedly fired a shot through the windshield.

Deputies arrested Metz and charged him with first-degree assault, two counts of felony menacing, illegal discharge of a firearm, and two charges of reckless endangerment.

According to the sheriff office’s report, when deputies arrived that afternoon, the shooting victim was bleeding from his face as the friend applied pressure to the wound using his T-shirt. Metz, who stood with the two boys, explained that he had shot one of them in the face.

The boys informed deputies that they were scouting the home so they could take homecoming pictures. They arrived at the house, parked at the gate, and jumped over the fence to speak to the homeowner. When they realized no one was at the door, they walked around the house to see if anyone was home

When they saw that no one was there, they returned to their vehicle to write a note to see if they could get permission to take photos. This is when, according to the report, Metz arrived, came out of his truck, and fired a shot through the windshield.

A deputy discovered the gun used inside Metz’s truck.

9 News reported that the homeowner notified police and called her boyfriend, who isn’t Metz, to let him know the teenagers were at the property. When Metz arrived, he blocked the boys from leaving the property before firing.

The sheriff’s department office wondered why the homeowner would assume that the boys were doing something wrong.

“It doesn’t make really good sense to us that what they did would constitute the reaction from the homeowner,” Jacki Kelley, JCSO public information, said. “But it’s still an ongoing investigation.”

Kelley said there was proof that the boys were just writing a note to leave for the homeowner. “There is nothing that appears to be malicious or criminal,” Kelley added.

The investigation is ongoing. Metz is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 17.

by Shanique Yates

September 13, 2024

Howard University Tops Forbes HBCU Rankings, Rises in National List

Howard University not only clinched the top spot on the outlet’s list of HBCUs, it placed among the top 100 colleges in the northeast.

Howard University has been named the nation’s No. 1 Historically Black College or University (HBCU) by Forbes.

The outlet’s annual list, which spotlights 500 educational institutions “producing successful, high-earning and influential graduates from all economic backgrounds, with less student debt,” recognized Howard as a leader in the space, noting that its impact across several industries is what placed the school in the top spot.

Thanks to extensive and impressive research in fields that include data science and cybersecurity, microchip design and validation, journalism, disease research, and the humanities, Howard, located in Washington, D.C., not only clinched the top spot on the outlet’s list of HBCUs, it ranked among the top 100 colleges in the northeast United States, coming in at 95.

Founded in 1867, Howard is a private research university comprised of 14 schools and colleges. Howard has produced one Schwarzman Scholar, three Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, and a list of other notable accolades, such as producing more on-campus African American Ph.D. recipients than any other establishment in the nation.

“Howard University’s top ranking among HBCUs adds momentum to our march into the upper tier of the nation’s research institutions,” said Howard University President Ben Vinson III, Ph.D, in a press release shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE. “Howard’s singular influence at the nexus of intellectual discovery and global culture cannot be overstated, and we will continue to push the boundaries of knowledge to help the world solve its most pressing challenges.”

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A post shared by Howard University (@howard1867)

This news follows Howard’s record-breaking $175 million donation from Bloomberg Philanthropies in August to support its College of Medicine, public health initiatives, and education of health professionals of color.

Additionally, the university is home to the first U.S. Department of Defense University Affiliated Research Center at an HBCU. The program is funded by a $90 million donation from the U.S. Air Force, used to research artificial intelligence and technological systems.

Notable Howard alumni include actress Phylicia Rashad (a former dean at Howard), Vice President Kamala Harris, late Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, and the late actor Chadwick Boseman.

Howard isn’t the only HBCU on Forbes’ list of top schools. Hampton University, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Morehouse College, and Spelman College also made the cut.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 13, 2024

Deshaun Watson Scheduled To Play Sunday Despite New Sexual Assault Claims

Deshaun Watson "strongly denies" claims made by the latest woman accusing him of sexual assault.

Deshaun Watson will still play for the Cleveland Browns against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday despite another woman accusing the quarterback of sexual assault.

Currently more than 20 women have accused him of sexual assault.

Watson expressed his surprise Wednesday at the civil lawsuit filed Monday, September 10, by a woman identified as “Jane Doe,” who claims Watson, 28, sexually assaulted her in her apartment before a dinner date in October 2020, CNN reports.

Watson, who said he learned about the lawsuit when it became news, fielded questions during a press conference. He said his lawyer’s statement reflects his feelings on the matter.

“We have asked him not to comment further while this matter works its way through the courts, but are comfortable he will ultimately be vindicated,” Watson’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, said in response to the latest suit.

“We will be ready to defend this case in court at the appropriate time, but don’t intend to conduct our defense in the media,” Hardin added. “We would ask that people be patient while the legal process runs its course. In the meantime, Deshaun is going to focus his energy and concentration on football.”

Jane Doe filed the lawsuit in Houston. She is accusing Watson of sexual assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress in 2020. She seeks over $1 million in compensatory and punitive damages.

The plaintiff’s attorney, Tony Buzbee, released a statement Wednesday, refuting the claims made by Hardin and stating that he had reached out to Hardin 10 months earlier to negotiate a resolution. He also accused Watson of lying about being unaware of the latest allegations.

“We knew this case was the most serious and egregious case brought against Watson to date and our client, who is rightly traumatized by these events, wanted to attempt a private resolution,” Buzbee wrote in an Instagram post. “We thought that was the best approach given the media storm surrounding the legion of other claims.

“Unfortunately, Watson’s team or maybe his lawyers couldn’t or wouldn’t give this case the attention it was due…Watson was well aware of this victim and her claims immediately after it occurred and Watson was again reminded back when we filed the first lawsuit for the other multiple victims.”

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A post shared by Tony Buzbee (@tonybuzbee)

The new suit is the latest of more than two-dozen suits filed against Watson that accuse him of sexual assault. In 2022, the NFL and the NFL Players Association agreed to suspend Watson for 11 regular-season games without pay and fined him $5 million after at least 24 civil lawsuits.

The lawsuits, brought by women, allege that the quarterback sexually harassed or assaulted them during private massage sessions while he was with the Houston Texans. Watson has consistently denied wrongdoing in those cases, with 23 lawsuits being settled confidentially. Two grand juries chose not to pursue criminal charges against him.

Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Georgia, Black voters

by Shanique Yates

September 13, 2024

Donald Trump Rejects Second Presidential Debate with VP Kamala Harris, Says First Win Was Enough

On the other hand, Vice President Kamala Harris says she and Trump "owe" the public another debate.

Donald Trump said he will not participate in a second presidential debate with Vice President Kamala Harris.

Despite previous comments from the former president’s campaign staff that he would conduct three debates with Harris, Trump now says that because he “clearly” won Tuesday’s debate, there’s no need for a rematch, BBC News reports.

“When a prizefighter loses a fight, the first words out of his mouth are ‘I want a rematch,’ wrote Trump in a post shared to his Truth Social platform on Thursday (Sept. 12). “Polls clearly show that I won the debate against comrade Kamala Harris, the Democrats’ radical left candidate…and she immediately called for a second debate.”

According to several instant polls conducted directly after Tuesday night’s debate, voters believe Harris performed better than Trump. During a campaign rally in North Carolina shortly after the event, Harris responded to Trump’s comments that she should “focus” on her vice president job.

Donald Trump and I are two very different people—and we would make two very different presidents.

Watch our new ad: pic.twitter.com/X7kZRarF6l
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) September 13, 2024

Harris said the pair “owe” voters a second debate, noting that “what is at stake could not be more important.” At this time, polls have Trump and Harris in a pretty tight race as Election Day approaches.

“Vice President Harris is ready for a second debate. Is Donald Trump?” said Harris’ campaign, reiterating that it was looking forward to another matchup with the former president following their back and forth on Tuesday night.

During the event, Trump set social media ablaze with his comments about “Haitian migrants eating pets” in Springfield, Ohio, and his sentiment that abortions can be conducted after a baby is born. During an interview with Fox News the morning after the debate, Trump called the debate “rigged” and suggested he has no desire to stand against his opponent for another round of arguments following his “great night.”

Although the Trump and Harris campaigns have reportedly been in talks to hold another debate on NBC News on Sept. 25, the network hasn’t officially confirmed the news or commented on Trump declining another debate.

RELATED CONTENT: 4 Key Takeaways From First Harris-Trump Debate

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 13, 2024

LL Cool J Credits Legendary Rap Career To His Mom

LL Cool J would've never gotten his start in music had it not been for the drum machine his mother bought for him.

LL Cool J is one of the greats in hip-hop. But he would’ve never gotten his start in music had it not been for the drum machine his mother bought for him.

The hip-hop veteran, real name James Todd Smith, has a new album honoring his 40-year rap career. The Force features a song called “Post Modern,” in which he raps about the significance of one tax refund his mother, Ondrea Smith, used to make the first investment in her son’s burgeoning music career.

“My mother took her tax return and invested it. She bet it on her kid and look at what he did with it. 2,000 in ’84 that’s a 100,000 x multiple from keepin’ you on the floor,” he raps.

During his recent appearance on Sway in the Morning, LL explained the purpose of including the line in his new song and how his mother impacted his entrance into hip-hop, which was a new music genre at the time.

“Here’s this Black woman who worked really hard, who got a tax return—and just for the record—the majority of people with a lot of money don’t like tax season,” he explained. “So if you like tax season, you got some work to do and that’s OK…So, my mother loved tax season. My mother said, ‘Yo, I’m going to get my tax return.’ She had other things to do.”

The rapper/actor recalled all the rejection letters he received when he was trying to get his career started and would send out demo tapes to a variety of labels, including Sugar Hill Records.

“My mother found a letter and she came in there, and I’m in the room and I’m just sulking…and she’s like, ‘What’s wrong?’ I’m like, ‘I don’t have no equipment. I can’t make my music right,’” LL Cool J said.

“So she just happened to get her tax return and she went, she said, ‘What kind of drum machine do you want?’ She surprised me, she went and bought me one. She bought me the wrong one, but she bought me one.”

Once LL had the drum machine, he went on to record his debut single, “I Need A Beat.” The demo tape eventually fell on the desk of Rick Rubin, who was starting Def Jam Records with Russell Simmons. After giving LL’s demo a listen, he became an instant believer and offered the then-16-year-old rapper a recording contract: a $50,000 check and split publishing rights.

LL released his first album in 1985, which included his hit “I Can’t Live Without My Radio.” He was the first rap artist to get more than 10 consecutive platinum-plus-selling albums. He went on to release many hip-hop classics, including “Radio,” “Mama Said Knock You Out,” “Doin’ It,” Loungin’,” and “Around The Way Girl.”

“That’s ’cause my mother with her tax return. My mother, I love her so much, and that was [an] incredible moment for me,” he told Sway.

by Sharelle B. McNair

September 13, 2024

Oklahoma Supreme Court Rejects Request To Retry Dismissed Tulsa Race Massacre Lawsuit

This is just wrong...

The Oklahoma Supreme Court denied a requestto reconsider a ruling that dismissed a lawsuit filed by the last two known living survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, the Associated Press reports.

Seven members of the Oklahoma high court rejected the request by 110-year-old Viola Fletcher and 109-year-old Lessie Benningfield Randle on Sept. 10 without comment, upholding a decision by a Tulsa district court judge to dismiss the case. Justice Richard Darby did not submit a vote, and Justice James Edmondson said he would have reheard the case.

Fletcher and Randle survived the massacre, which has been labeled as one of the worst acts of violence against Black people in U.S. history. Close to 300 Black people were killed and more than 1,200 homes, businesses, schools, and churches were destroyed. A massive number of people were sent to internment camps that the National Guard overlooked after a mob of white people—some working with law enforcement—looted and burned down the Greenwood District, historically known as Black Wall Street in Oklahoma.

After filing the motion for the suit to be reheard, the attorney for the surviving members, Damario Solomon-Simmon, sought the U.S. Department of Justice to open an investigation into the massacre under the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act, which allows cold cases of violent crimes against Black people committed before 1970 to be reopened.

“President Biden sat down with my clients. He promised them that he would see that they get justice,” Solomon-Simmons said. “Then he went to the next room and had a robust speech where he told the nation that he stood with the survivors and descendants of the Tulsa race massacre…we are calling upon President Biden to fulfill his promise to these survivors, to this community and for Black people across the nation.”

According to KOCO News 5, the litigation attempted to force the city of Tulsa and others to make restitution for the destruction under the state’s public nuisance law. Legal reps also argued that the city appropriated Black Wall Street’s iconic reputation for its “financial and reputational benefit.” Lawyers feel that any money that Tulsa receives from the promotion of Greenwood or Black Wall Street, including funds from the Greenwood Rising History Center, should be put into a compensation fund for victims and their descendants.

The denial comes just a few weeks after the graves of three Tulsa Race Massacre victims were exhumed as the result of an investigation into graves from the massacre. Approximately 50 graves have been exhumed since Tulsa officials announced the investigation almost six years ago.