by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 30, 2024

States That Won’t Change Their Clocks For Daylight Saving Time

Daylight Saving Time will come to an end on Nov. 3, but not every state in the U.S. is on board.

Daylight Saving Time will end on Nov. 3, but not every state in the U.S. is getting on board.

While Daylight Saving Time (DST) is a common occurrence two times a year throughout the U.S., some states and territories have chosen to stay on standard time throughout the year. Hawaii and Arizona (except the Navajo Nation) are the two states that don’t participate in daylight savings time, CBS News reports.

Because Hawaii is close to the equator, the difference in daylight hours throughout the year is minimal, eliminating the need to adjust clocks. Meanwhile, Arizona opted out of observing daylight saving time due to its extremely hot climate. By keeping the clocks unchanged, the state reduces exposure to the intense heat during the hottest parts of the day, leading to lower energy consumption for cooling. Arizona’s Navajo Nation, which extends into Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico, does observe daylight saving time, unlike the rest of the state.

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the Uniform Time Act of 1966 made DST a legal requirement. Under this law, states are allowed to exempt themselves from observing daylight saving time without needing approval from the Department of Transportation.

However, while states can choose not to observe DST, they cannot opt for permanent DST. Additionally, states cannot independently change time zones or alter the duration of daylight saving time, as the federal government regulates these.

In addition to Hawaii and Arizona, four U.S. territories don’t participate in DST. Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have no daylight savings time. As a Caribbean territory, Puerto Rico is situated at a latitude similar to Hawaii, with minimal variation in daylight duration throughout the year. As a result, it does not observe DST.

Guam, like Hawaii, is located in the Pacific and stays on standard time year-round. Similar to other island territories, the daylight hours remain consistent throughout the year, making clock changes unnecessary. American Samoa is located in the South Pacific and also stays on standard time year-round without making any clock adjustments. The U.S. Virgin Islands are situated in the Caribbean and also skip DST due to the minimal variation in daylight hours.

The future of DST remains up for debate as many states continue to explore proposals to adopt either permanent Daylight Saving Time or permanent standard time. However, no states have enacted any changes since 2022. Unless new legislation is put into place, Americans should anticipate clock changes twice a year for the foreseeable future.

RELATED CONTENT: 7 Reasons To Track Your Time As a Business Owner

Glynn Turman, Legacy Award, 2024 AAFCA TV Honors

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 30, 2024

Glynn Turman Receives Legacy Award At 2024 AAFCA TV Honors

The legendary actor was presented the honor at the 6th Annual African American Film Critics Association

Glynn Turman was among the many winners who were recognized at the 6th Annual African American Film Critics Association (AFFCA) TV Honors on Aug. 24 when he received the Legacy Award celebrating his decades-long career as an actor.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the ceremony took place at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel where the AFFCA recognized the greatness of the people involved in the arts by presenting 15 awards recognizing achievements in the television and streaming world.

Turman has been seen in various roles over the years playing a vast range of characters in roles in A Different World, Cooley High, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, and The Wire, to name a few. He is also the last living actor who starred in the 1959 Broadway play A Raisin in the Sun with legendary thespians Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, and Louis Gossett Jr.

Turman said, “These people created such a space and set such a high bar for us to devote to, and that’s what I always keep in my mind when I select parts when I do my work when I dedicate productions or performances. This is for you, Sidney, this is for you, Ruby, this is for you, Douglas Turner, this is for you, Lou Gossett.”

Other winners who took home recognition for their work included Genius: MLK/X (best-limited series/special); Black Twitter: A People’s History (best documentary); Masters of the Air (best ensemble); Nkechi Okoro Carroll (the Salute to Excellence Award); Bookie (best new show); Ayo Edebiri (best TV acting female —The Bear); Tubi (the Ally Award); Wendell Pierce (best TV acting male—Elsbeth); Unprisoned (best TV comedy); Starz (the Impact Award for the “Power Universe”); Channing Godfrey Peoples (best TV directing— Genius: MLK/X Episode 401 “Graduation”); The Chi (best TV drama); The Bear (best writing) and Josiah Cross (breakout star— Masters of the Air).

Wes Moore, Bronze Star, military service

by Shanique Yates

August 30, 2024

Gov. Wes Moore Acknowledges ‘Honest Mistake’ In Bronze Star Claim In 2006 Fellowship Application

Moore is correcting a previous error from 18 years ago when he claimed to have received a Bronze Star for his military service in Afghanistan despite never being awarded one.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is correcting a mistake from 18 years ago when he claimed to have received a Bronze Star for his military service in Afghanistan, despite never being awarded one.

The Hill reported that Moore regrets making the “honest mistake” where he listed the achievement on an application for a White House fellowship in 2006 at the age of 27. Moore also reported that he was encouraged by his deputy brigade commander to list the Bronze Medal honor “after confirming with two other senior-level officers that they had signed off on the commendation.”

Michael Fenzel, Moore’s deputy brigade commander at the time, was supported in his decision to recommend the Bronze Star for the then-27-year-old. According to the outlet, the honor is awarded to service members who exhibit “meritorious service in combat zones.” He encouraged the current Maryland governor to list the award because Fenzel thought it would have been processed by the time his fellowship began.

Fenzel, now a lieutenant governor serving as the United States security coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority, supported The Other Wes Moore author’s claims of this being an honest mistake because, per the current Maryland governor, “there is an understanding that if a senior officer tells you that an action is approved, you can trust that as a fact. That is why it was part of the application, plain and simple.”

He also revealed that Moore was hesitant to list the Bronze Star honor on the application and only complied after he was encouraged to add it.

“Still, I sincerely wish I had gone back to correct the note on my application,” said Moore in a statement on Aug. 29. “It was an honest mistake, and I regret not making that correction.”

Moreover, Moore added in the statement that he was “listed as a top 1% officer in Operation Enduring Freedom in his officer evaluation report.”

“My deputy brigade commander felt comfortable with instructing me to include the award on my application for the Fellowship because he received confirmation with the approval authority that the Bronze Star was signed and approved by his senior leadership,” said Moore.

All eyes were on Moore following a riveting speech during the Democratic National Convention supporting Vice President Kamala Harris’ quest for the presidency. The Maryland native made history in his home state when he was sworn in as the first Black governor in the state’s 246-year history on Jan. 18, 2023. He is only the third African American to be elected Governor in the history of the United States.

Illinois, 'Black Moms Rising, CDC Funding, Maternal Mortality Crisis

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 30, 2024

Illinois’ ‘Black Moms Rising’ Is Tackling Maternal Mortality Crisis

The state of Illinois is working to address maternal mortality, with a special focus on moms of color.

The state of Illinois is working diligently to get good use out of the $118 million in funding the CDC allocated to tackle maternal mortality nationwide.

The Illinois Maternal Mortality Review Committee is one of 46 committees across the country working to combat the maternal health crisis, ABC Chicago reported. State efforts include Chicago’s “Black Moms Rising” race and culture series, which explores maternity issues within the Black community, along with a team of experts focused on gathering data and developing solutions.

With a special focus on moms of color, the Illinois committee is working to fulfill the CDC’s direct partnership with Illinois’ Department of Health (IDPH), which will receive over half a million dollars annually for the next five years to support the work of its Maternal Mortality Review Committees.

“Committees that can increasingly turn to each other to learn from each other and really accelerate their impacts,” David Goodman, CDC Maternal Mortality Prevention Team Lead said.

The Illinois committee, comprised of 25-50 experts in the field, conducts in-depth analyses of maternal deaths and provides a list of recommendations. Of the suggestions, “Eight of them actually passed and… became law or were enacted,” Goodman said.

Among the recommendations includes an expansion to Medicaid for postpartum support, child tax credits, home visits, and diaper equity programs. All of the initiatives have a special focus on moms of color.

“Even if we factor out things like economics, etcetera, there is that gap between outcomes when we talk about Black women and white women,” Dr. Vohra said.

The IDPH cites more than $20 million allocated to maternal health in the 2024 budget. Additionally, they are encouraging moms to take advantage of the available resources.

“The state of Illinois hears you,” Dr. Vohra said.

by Shanique Yates

August 30, 2024

Judge Allows Missy Elliott Co-Writing Lawsuit to Proceed Despite ‘Heartbroken’ Track Victory

Despite a recent victory in claims that Missy Elliott neglected to properly credit Terry Williams as a co-writer on the late Aaliyah's "Heartbroken" track released in 1996, the Virginia native will head to trial for similar claims filed in a lawsuit by Williams.

A Missy Elliott co-writing lawsuit will head to trial despite a recent victory that claims she refused to appropriately credit Terry Williams as a co-writer on the late Aaliyah’s 1996 “Heartbroken” track.

On Aug. 27, Judge Nitza I. Quiñones Alejandro rejected Elliot’s motion to dismiss the Missy Elliott co-writing lawsuit. Per the “Minute Man” emcee’s attorneys, for four of the five songs Williams alleges to have co-written alongside Elliott, the pair did not meet until after the songs were produced. Billboard reported that the tracks belong to Sista, the R&B group that was Elliott’s claim to fame in the 1990s.

“Considering these conflicting arguments and evidence, a genuine issue of material fact exists as to whether Williams and Elliott were working together at the time of the production of the SISTA album … and whether Williams’ contributions to the Unpublished Songs were used on derivative songs released on the album,” wrote Judge Alejandro in an official statement.

Although the judge rejected Elliot’s motion for summary judgment, which the Cornell Law School defines as “a judgment entered by a court for one party and against another party without a full trial,” Williams did not win the lawsuit. Instead, the pair will head to court, where he must prove his claims before a jury.

Moreover, Elliott did achieve a small victory when the judge dismissed Williams’ claim that he co-wrote “Heartbroken,” the 1996 track released by late R&B songstress Aaliyah. According to the ruling, Williams’ decision to wait until 2018 to sue about a track that he would’ve known he had not been appropriately attributed for decades is no longer possible, according to the statute of limitations.

“Considering the success of Aaliyah’s One in a Million album, on which ‘Heartbroken’ was released, and Williams’ work in the music industry after the album’s release, including with Elliott, a reasonable person in Williams’ position would have been on notice of the use of his unpublished song in the purportedly derivative song Heartbroken by Aaliyah,” Judge Alejandro wrote.

Before becoming the innovative multi-hyphenate that the world knows today, thanks to her contributions to music as a producer, songwriter, emcee, singer, and overall visionary, Elliott emerged on the scene as a singer and member of Sista, a group comprised of four members. Formed in the late ‘80s as Fayze, the Virginia native served as a singer and songwriter for the group alongside LaShawn Shellman, Chonita Coleman, and Radiah Scott.

At this time, neither Williams nor Elliott have made statements regarding the news that they will soon go to trial over the co-writing allegations.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 30, 2024

Atlanta Police Investigating ‘Hateful Attack’ Against Global Black Pride Vendors

Atlanta police are investigating a "hateful attack" against vendors participating in the Global Black Pride celebration.

Police in Atlanta are investigating what’s been deemed by organizers as a “hateful attack” against vendors participating in the Global Black Pride celebration.

Property belonging to the vendors located at the Starling Atlanta Midtown, the hotel hosting the event, was vandalized on Tuesday night, Fox 5 Atlanta reported. An intoxicated hotel guest is accused of damaging the vendors’ rainbow flag in what event organizers are labeling as a “hateful attack.”

“This act of hatred at a gathering aimed at recognizing Black and Brown LGBTIQ+ people from around the world is disheartening and deeply troubling,” the organizers said.

“Despite this, we are resolute in our commitment to celebrating Black Pride. We thank the Atlanta Police Department and the Mayor’s Office for their swift action and support in addressing this situation.”

Global Black Pride went on to further condemn the attack in a statement posted to Instagram on Wednesday.

“Healing and joy are our priorities in a world that often harbors hate,” the group wrote. “We will not be deterred, and we will not allow hate stop us from celebrating our pride and resilience.”

“When we fight, we win,” it added.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Official Account for Global Black Pride (@global_blackpride)

Other vandalized items include tables, pamphlets, and other memorabilia which were scattered on the floor at the hotel.

Police are still investigating and “following up on leads regarding the identity of the suspect and are working to determine why the suspect caused the damage,” authorities said.

Despite the slight setback, the Global Black Pride celebration is still set to continue throughout Labor Day weekend. It’s the first time the event will be hosted in a U.S. city since its 2020 inception.

This year, the organization partnered with Atlanta Black Pride to host a series of events throughout Labor Day weekend. The festival kicked off on Tuesday when the attack occurred. Other events to take place include workshops, art exhibits, a health conference, and several marches.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 30, 2024

Steve Harvey To Drop Biopic ‘Seventy-Two’

'It focuses on one of the most difficult moments in my journey and career and shows the world that hope is never truly lost. Wait until you see what we do with this.'

A biopic about businessman and comedian Steve Harvey is being produced that focuses on a “transformative 72-hour period” that helped place his career on a trajectory to massive success.

According to Deadline, Seventy-Two signifies the 72 hours leading up to his August 1993 breakout performance at the world-famous Apollo Theater in Harlem. The project will detail the moments that helped shape his ascension to who he has become today.

No writer has been assigned to the film, but it will be produced by Objectively Good Media.

“I’ve been reluctant to make a movie about my life for years until I read the pitch for Seventy-Two,” said the Family Feud host. “It focuses on one of the most difficult moments in my journey and career and shows the world that hope is never truly lost. Wait until you see what we do with this.”

The audience will see the challenges and strength that Harvey endured to get to his big break. To pursue a career in Hollywood, the former salesman left his job when he was 26 years old. But for Harvey it was a struggle. When he reached 36, self-doubt set in. Seventy-Two will show the path that directly placed him where Harvey needed to be to finally taste success.

Objectively Good Media, the production company, conceptualized the project and brought it to Harvey’s East 112, which he runs with Thabiti Stephens, the chief strategy offficer of Steve Harvey Global.

OGM’s Mohamed Kheir, who runs the company with Matthew R. Cooper, said that “securing the rights to tell this story has been an incredible honor. Steve Harvey’s ability to turn his trials into triumphs is inspiring, and Seventy-Two will showcase the resilience and determination that defined those pivotal days. We look forward to sharing this powerful narrative with audiences worldwide.”

by Stacy Jackson

August 30, 2024

First Black Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director, Mark Gwyn, Dies At 61

The TBI director worked in his role for 14 years before retiring from the Bureau in 2018 as the longest-serving director in agency history.

Former Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) Director Mark Gwyn has died at age 61, reportedly from natural causes.

Gwyn, who became the first Black man to assume the role of TB Director, died at his home in Nashville, the TBI announced in an Aug. 22 post on X. “I am deeply saddened to hear of Director Gwyn’s passing,” said TBI Director David Rausch. He recalled Gwyn’s impactful career at the Bureau, where he “contributed to its growth and innovation and solidified our reputation as a law enforcement leader.” The director was found unresponsive, according to NewsChannel5.

“I am deeply saddened to hear of Director Gwyn’s passing,” said TBI Director David Rausch. “Mark had a profound impact on the Bureau, contributed to its growth and innovation, and solidified our reputation as a law enforcement leader." pic.twitter.com/SfbtkxnKXv
— Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (@TBInvestigation) August 22, 2024

The Middle Tennessee State University alum served as director for the TBI for 14 years. The TBI Newsroom stated that he launched his law enforcement career in 1985 as a McMinnville police officer before joining the TBI’s Criminal Investigation Division as a special agent. Gwyn climbed his way to a promotion to executive officer and then assistant director of the Forensic Services division. He landed his historic position as the first African American TBI Director in 2004 after being appointed by Governor Phil Bredesen. “I’m…thankful you’ve given me the opportunity to serve and lead over 400 of the finest men and women in law enforcement,” Gwyn said at the time he was officially sworn in for the position.

The state of Tennessee remembers the official for his memorable news conferences and contributions to high-profile cases.

Friends and colleagues spoke highly of Director Gwyn as they recalled his contributions to the state of Tennessee. “He proved himself, not just to be the best first Black TBI Director for over a decade, but to me, in my mind, the best TBI Director that TBI’s ever had,” said longtime friend, Rep. G.A. Hardaway, D-Memphis.

Rausch, Gwyn’s successor, stated, “A lot of the information and technology we have, he was the first person to engage it and bring it to the bureau.”

Rausch, who has served since 2018, added, “The resources and the equipment that he was able to get were for the agents and the scientists within the bureau.”

Gwyn retired from his role with the TBI in 2018 following nepotism allegations and budgeting concerns. However, he remains the longest-serving director in agency history.

The former TBI director’s life and legacy will be commemorated in the forthcoming days as funeral arrangements are pending; updates will be released on the Bureau’s Facebook page.

Deaf Man, Cerebral Palsy, Sues, Phoenix Police, Brutal Beating

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 30, 2024

Chicago Bears Settle Lawsuit With White Man After Complaint Of Not Getting ‘Legal Diversity Fellow’ Role

Jonathan Bresser filed a lawsuit against the team after he claimed he was denied because he is a white man.

Jonathan Bresser, a student at DePaul University College of Law in Chicago filed a lawsuit against the NFL’s Chicago Bears after they posted they were looking to fill a position for a “legal diversity fellow” and he claimed he was denied because he is a white man. The football team settled the case on Aug. 27 at an in-person settlement conference.

According to Forbes, Bresser applied for the fellowship in November 2023. The listing stated that the applicant must be from a local school and would be working with the Chicago Bears over the summer. It said the Fellow would “have the opportunity to work with the Club’s Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DEI) department on a variety of the Club’s DEI goals, initiatives and priorities.” Yet, it also stated that the applicant should be a person of color and/or female law student.

Bresser made sure to mention that his qualifications were that he worked more than two years as a litigation paralegal at Trent Law Firm, P.C. He also stated his commitment to diversity issues.

He received notification via email that the team denied his application on Jan. 5. They stated that they had “chosen to pursue other applicants whose experience and qualifications more closely match our needs.” Bressier, unsatisfied with the reasoning, filed a lawsuit on March 11, alleging the Bears had violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and its Illinois equivalent by rejecting his application because he is a white man.

Bresser’s suit included a printout from his LinkedIn profile that revealed that someone from the Bears looked at the profile, which had his picture embedded. The speculation is that the decision was made based on the photo showing a white man. He stated in the paperwork that he received the rejection shortly after it was shown that someone from the team checked out his profile.

Bresser’s attorney confirmed the settlement but did not disclose the result due to confidentiality. The Bears did not respond to a request for comment.

bethann Hardison, SoHarlem, fashion show, NYC

by Stacy Jackson

August 30, 2024

SoHarlem Presents ‘I Am So Harlem’ Annual Benefit Honoring Fashion Icon Bethann Hardison

Iconic fashion model and advocate Bethann Hardison is credited with leading the push for diversity in the fashion industry.

SoHarlem will host a series of inspirational events during this year’s Annual Benefit, “I Am So Harlem,” which includes a debut fashion show honoring iconic fashion model and advocate Bethann Hardison.

SoHarlem’s 2024 annual benefit attendees will experience music, art, and a spread of memorable cuisine, followed by a weekend-long pop-up series featuring the SoHarlem Design Collective. “SoHarlem’s entrepreneurs have been creating extraordinary work, and the three-day pop-up of their fashion lines is a wonderful reflection of Harlem’s legendary contribution to fashion,” said SoHarlem Founder and CEO Janet Rodriguez in a press release.

Join us!

I Am So Harlem Benefit
Thursday, September 12, 2024
5:00PM – 8:00PM
Harlem Gallery
439 West 127th Street
RSVP required

I Am SoHarlem Annual Benefithttps://t.co/IWmU1KZ0Wc

Individual Tickets $100 https://t.co/euRkpqs4Yg
#IamSoHarlem #SoHarlemAnnualBenefit pic.twitter.com/4ZKM7UXMoK
— SoHarlem, Inc. (@SoHarlemInc) August 17, 2024

As part of this year’s lineup of events, SoHarlem looks forward to celebrating Hardison’s contributions to the fashion industry during its first-ever fashion show, which will showcase designs from the Design Collective as guests enjoy live music from South African cellist Thapelo Masita. According to Hardison’s official website for Hardison, the fashion industry icon has supervised the careers of several prominent fashion models. She has used her platform to advocate for diversity and help evolve beauty norms in the fashion industry. The New York native launched her fashion career in the ’60s at a custom button factory in New York called Cabot.

“If you really want a great show, you’ll have me in it,” Hardison once told Bernie Ozer, the head of the junior dress department for Federated Stores, one of the largest department store companies at the time. The flourishing Black model was favored by top European and New York designers in the ’70s, and her work to break barriers for other models of color, including co-founding the Black Girls Coalition with Iman, has granted her several honors, in addition to SoHarlem’s.

“The Fashion Show is a rare opportunity for SoHarlem’s entrepreneurs to share their creativity and celebrate the vibrancy of the West Harlem Innovation Triangle,” said host sponsor Scott Metzner, president of Janus Property.

Attendees of this year’s benefit are encouraged to stick around for a screening of the mini-doc Don’t Hate the Players, Change the Game and check out a Harlem Derby installation by Robert Louis Owens. Artwork from Milagros Batista will also be accessible for viewing.

This year’s events will take place in the Manhattanville Factory District at 439 West 127th Street. The “I Am So Harlem benefit begins Sept. 12 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., followed by the three-day pop-up from Sept. 13 to Sept. 15. RSVP is required, and tickets can be purchased on SoHarlem’s website.