The City of Atlanta’s former Chief Financial Officer, Jimmie “Jim” A. Beard, has been charged in an eight-count federal indictment with wire fraud, theft from the government, possession of machine guns, making a false statement, and obstructing federal tax laws. “Jim Beard allegedly abused his position as one of the most powerful executives in the […]
Posted inMoney
To help working parents, companies are getting creative
The pandemic has severely disrupted the education and childcare systems that millions of parents rely on while they’re at work. And that has many companies trying to figure out how to help working parents juggle the added responsibilities of remote learning and childcare while still getting their jobs done. “Covid has accelerated the demand for […]
Posted inMoney
Another 860,000 Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week
Another 860,000 Americans filed for first-time unemployment benefits last week on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Department of Labor reported Thursday. It was another week-on-week decline for jobless claims as the jobs recovery drags on, but the improvements have been slow and the jobs recovery is running out of steam. Weekly claims have improved since […]
Posted inElection Central
Justice Dept.: Sedition charges may apply to protest violence
In a private call with federal prosecutors across the country, Attorney General William Barr’s message was clear: Aggressively go after demonstrators who cause violence. Following up with a memo Thursday obtained by The Associated Press, Justice officials “re-emphasized” that prosecutors should even consider bringing rarely used sedition charges for some unrest cases. The statute could […]
Posted inNews
United Negro College Fund to host nationwide, virtual ‘Walk For Education’ on Sept. 19
How do you stay safe during a pandemic, raise money for a great cause, and get some exercise in on the side? Through the UNCF’s (United Negro College Fund) Virtual Walk for Education, of course! The new digital fundraiser replaces the annual in-person walk events that many of the UNCF local offices host each spring, […]
Posted inColumns/Op-Eds
Op-Ed: Breonna Taylor settlement is not close to justice
On Tuesday, the City of Louisville, Kentucky, finally settled a wrongful death lawsuit in the killing of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old EMT shot dead in her own house by police officers who entered on a no-knock warrant. The settlement is for $12 million, every penny of which Taylor’s family deserves, and not a single cent […]
Posted inTop Stories
#Election2020: Georgia’s Williams ducks debate in race for John Lewis’ seat
After state party leaders handed her the Democratic nomination for an Atlanta congressional seat previously held by the late Rep. John Lewis, state Sen. Nikema Williams has declined a debate against her long-shot Republican opponent. Williams’ campaign informed organizers she will not participate in a virtual debate hosted by the Atlanta Press Club and Georgia […]
Posted inNews
City of Louisville to pay $12 million to Breonna Taylor’s family, reform police
The city of Louisville will pay $12 million to the family of Breonna Taylor and reform police practices as part of a lawsuit settlement months after Taylor’s slaying by police thrust the Black woman’s name to the forefront of a national reckoning on race, Mayor Greg Fischer announced Tuesday. Taylor’s death sparked months of protests […]
Posted inNews
States face pressure to ban race-based hairstyle prejudice
A growing number of states are facing pressure to ban race-based discrimination against hair texture and hairstyles in schools and the workplace. Advocates this week presented a draft proposal to New Mexico state lawmakers that would outlaw employers and schools from discriminating against Black and Native American women’s hairstyles. It’s the latest state targeted by […]
Posted inNews
Amazon to provide computer science education for more than 550,000 K-12 students amid COVID-19 pandemic
Amazon announced Tuesday that the megaretailer is expanding its computer science education program, Amazon Future Engineer, to more than 5,000 schools, benefitting over 550,000 students in need each year. The expansion more than doubles Amazon Future Engineer’s reach, adding more than 3,000 new schools across the U.S. Nearly all Amazon Future Engineer schools serve a student body with a significant […]
Posted inElection Central
#Election2020: AFL-CIO formally endorses Ossoff for U.S. Senate
Wednesday, the Georgia chapter of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations announced its endorsement of the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, Jon Ossoff in his bid to unseat incumbent, Republican David Perdue. Currently, Perdue is leading by an average of 4 points over Ossoff in various polls recorded by RealClearPolitics. In its […]
Posted inFeatured Stories
Hurricane Sally unleashes flooding along the Gulf Coast
Hurricane Sally lumbered ashore near the Florida-Alabama line Wednesday with 105 mph (165 kph) winds and rain measured in feet, not inches, swamping homes and trapping people in high water as it pushed inland for what could be a slow and disastrous drenching across the Deep South. Moving at an agonizing 3 mph, or about […]
Posted inMore Headlines
Gov. Kemp’s COVID-19 executive order allows visits at Georgia nursing homes
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced an executive order that allows long-term care facilities to conduct in-person visitation in accordance with the DPH Administrative Order titled “Long-Term Care Facilities Reopening Guidance.” Previous executive orders banned such visits earlier in the pandemic. “The state has collaborated with appropriate agencies, long-term care associations, and other stakeholders on how to […]
Posted inFeatured Stories
#Election2020: How do you register to vote?
Even if you haven’t said them out loud yet, you probably have questions about how the 2020 election will work. Is there a difference between an absentee and mail-in ballot? (Practically speaking, no.) Should we pay attention to presidential polling? (Sure!) Will the election be secure? (Election officials are working hard to make it so.) […]
Posted inElection Central
#Election2020: Biden says, “I trust vaccines. I trust scientists. I don’t trust Trump.”
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said Wednesday that politics should never interfere with the development, approval and distribution of a potential Covid-19 vaccine. “Scientific breakthroughs don’t care about calendars any more than the virus does. They certainly don’t adhere to election cycles,” Biden said, speaking from Wilmington, Delaware. “And their timing, their approval and their […]