Driving all summer around Harlem, now it’s time to prepare your car for the fall season it’s essential to ensure safe and smooth driving as the weather changes. Here are some tips to get your car ready for the fall season: Check the Tires: Inspect the tire tread depth and overall condition. Replace worn-out tires…
Starting a new business is an exciting and challenging venture, no matter where you are in the world. Whether you’re dreaming of launching a cutting-edge tech startup or a cozy neighborhood cafe, taking the first steps toward building your own business can be a daunting task. However, with the right guidance and a well-thought-out plan,…
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The oldest historically Black collegiate fraternity in the U.S. says it is relocating a planned convention in two years from Florida because of what it described as Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration’s “harmful, racist and insensitive” policies towards African Americans.
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity said this week that it would move its 2025 convention from Orlando to another location that is yet undecided. The convention draws between 4,000 and 6,000 people and has an economic impact of $4.6 million, the fraternity said.
The decision comes after the NAACP and other civil rights organizations this spring issued a travel advisory for Florida, warning that recently passed laws and policies are openly hostile to African Americans, people of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Willis Lonzer, the fraternity’s general president, said in statement on Wednesday that the decision was motivated in part by Florida’s new education standards that require teachers to instruct middle school students that slaves developed skills that “could be applied for their personal benefit.”
“Although we are moving our convention from Florida, Alpha Phi Alpha will continue to support the strong advocacy of Alpha Brothers and other advocates fighting against the continued assault on our communities in Florida by Governor Ron DeSantis,” Lonzer said.
An email seeking comment on Saturday about the fraternity’s decision was sent to Jeremy Redfern, the governor’s press secretary and the governor’s office.
DeSantis, who is running for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, has come under fire this week over Florida’s new education standards. Among those criticizing the Florida governor on Friday was a rival for the Republican nomination, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the sole Black Republican in the Senate.
Responding to the criticism, DeSantis said Friday that he was “defending” Florida “against false accusations and against lies. And we’re going to continue to speak the truth.”
In May, the NAACP joined the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), a Latino civil rights organization, and Equality Florida, a gay rights advocacy group, in issuing travel advisories for the Sunshine State, where tourism is one of the state’s largest job sectors. The groups cited recent laws that prohibited state colleges from having programs on diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as critical race theory, and the Stop WOKE Act that restricts certain race-based conversations and analysis in schools and businesses.
They also cited laws that they say made life more difficult for immigrants in Florida and limited discussions on LGBTQ topics in schools.
At least nine other organizations or associations have pulled the plug on hosting conventions in Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, two of the state’s most population convention cities, because of Florida’s political climate, according to local media reports.
Florida is one of the most popular states in the U.S. for tourists, and tourism is one of its biggest industries. More than 137.5 million tourists visited Florida last year, marking a return to pre-pandemic levels, according to Visit Florida, the state’s tourism promotion agency. Tourism supports 1.6 million full-time and part-time jobs, and visitors spent $98.8 billion in Florida in 2019, the last year figures are available.
Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at @MikeSchneiderAP
From New York Times, bestselling author Dr. Michael Datcher and critically acclaimed illustrator Frank Morrison comes Harlem At Four. The book is produced by Random House Studio, on sale September 19, 2023; for Ages 4–8, a picture book told in two parts. Part one is a loving snapshot of four-year-old Harlem and her father, while the second part focuses on a moment of…
Are you fed up with uninvited pests around your home? Whether it’s pesky rodents or stubborn insects, these unwanted guests can be quite troublesome. This blog post will guide you through a few vital pest control measures to help you restore harmony in your home. These things will make sure you can spend every moment…
For many of us, joint health may not be as top-of-mind as our cardiovascular or mental well-being but it should be! Our body’s joints serve an incredibly important purpose in enabling the movement we need to carry out our daily lives and activities, but too often they go underappreciated for that role. This is why…
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, facilitating payments has become an essential component for businesses seeking to stay competitive and provide seamless customer experiences. The traditional payment processing models involve working with banks or payment processors. However, the rise of the PayFac (Payment Facilitator) model has opened up new possibilities for non-financial businesses to streamline…
Are you looking to revamp your fashion game? Don’t worry as this article has got you covered. It will explore some timeless wardrobe staples that’ll have you looking stylish every season. From versatile classics to modern must-haves, these essentials will transform your wardrobe and keep you on top of your fashion game all year round.…
Beyoncé fans wait no more. “Queen Bey” is finally in the Tri-State area.
Currently on her Renaissance World Tour, the superstar is taking the stage at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ for two nights on Saturday and Sunday. The tour kicked off on May 10 in Stockholm, Sweden making stops through Europe before coming to North America.
The Renaissance World Tour is Beyoncé’s first solo tour in over six years. Pollster ranked the tour at No. 2 behind Morgan Wallen’s tour in its top 20 global concert tours.
Gates at MetLife Stadium open at 5:30 p.m. and the concert will begin at 8 p.m.
Fans are reminded that a clear bag policy is in effect at MetLife. Umbrellas are not permitted, however, ponchos and raincoats are allowed.
The parking lot opens at 3 p.m. Officials advise that drivers arrive by 6 p.m. to avoid heavy traffic.
Fans using public transportation can take NJ TRANSIT rail service from Secaucus Junction to MetLife Stadium via the Meadowlands Line which will run from 4:31 p.m. to 8:17 p.m. Click here for a full schedule.
Post-show, service will run from MetLife Stadium to Secaucus Junction; the last train departs no earlier than 1:00 a.m.
Tiffany & Co. announced this week its new Return to Tiffany x Beyoncé limited-edition collection in honor of Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour. The limited-edition collection launched Saturday.
One hundred percent of profits from the sales of the collection will benefit the ABOUT LOVE Scholarship program, an ongoing partnership among Tiffany & Co., BeyGOOD Foundation and the Shawn Carter Foundation. The proceeds will expand upon the $2 million pledged in 2021 for scholarship funding for students in the arts and creative fields at five Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
The Mega Millions jackpot climbed to an estimated $1.05 billion Friday night, only the fifth time in the history of the game that the grand prize has reached into the billions.
No one managed to beat the massive odds and match all six numbers for Friday’s estimated $940 million jackpot. The numbers drawn were: 5, 10, 28, 52, 63 and the gold ball 18.
There have been 29 straight draws without a Mega Millions jackpot winner since the last grand prize ticket on April 18.
The $1.05 billion prize up for grabs in the next drawing Tuesday night would be for a sole winner choosing to be paid through an annuity, with annual payments over 30 years. Jackpot winners almost always opt for a lump sum payment, which for Tuesday’s drawing would be an estimated $527.9 million.
The potential jackpot is the fourth-largest in the game and the fifth over $1 billion, Mega Millions said in a statement early Saturday.
Although there were no jackpot winners, one ticket in Pennsylvania was worth $5 million and another in the state connected for $1 million. There also were $1 million winners in Arizona, California and New York, Mega Millions said.
It has been less than two weeks since someone in Los Angeles won a $1.08 billion Powerball prize that ranked as the sixth-largest in U.S. history. The winner of the prize is still a mystery.
Lottery jackpots grow so large because the odds of winning are so small. For Mega Millions, the odds of winning the jackpot are about 1 in 302.6 million.
Winners also would be subject to federal taxes, and many states also tax lottery winnings.
Mega Millions is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
