NBA champions, the Golden State Warriors met with everyone's favorite president....Barack Obama on Thursday after declining to visit the White House to meet with that other guy.
The team visited the former President on Thursday before their game against the Washington Wizards in the nation's capital.
The Warriors posed with Obama in a picture of the visit that surfaced on social media Thursday.
The team met with Obama for nearly an hour.
With no end in sight for the government shutdown, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that she is taking steps to help protect its residents who are furloughed federal workers.
Marvel Studios' "Black Panther" has not only made Marvel history, but Oscars history. During this morning's Academy Awards nominations announcement, the Ryan Coogler-directed film gained seven nominations, including one for Best Picture! "Black Panther" is the first Super Hero film to be nominated in the Best Picture category. Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Infinity War" and Sony's "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" also received one Academy Awards nomination each.
In addition to the Best Picture nomination, the third-highest-grossing movie of all time in the US also nabbed . "Black Panther" also nabbed Best Production Design, Best Best Costume Design, Best Original Score, Best Original Song (Kendick Lamar's "All The Stars"), Best Sound Editing, and Best Sound Mixing.
Black Panther wasn't the only hero recognized. Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Infinity War" was nominated for Best Visual Effects, while "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" secured a Best Animated Feature nod.
Congrats to all the nominees!
The 91st Annual Academy Awards with air February 24 on ABC.
Spike Lee the legendary director of films such as 'She's gotta Have It' and 'Do The Right Thing' has finally been nominated for a 'Best Director' nomination from the Academy Awards.
Lee's film BlackKklansman which is based on the true story of a Black man who led an investigation into the Ku Klux Klan is nominated for six Oscars, including Best Director for Lee and Best Picture.
In 2015 received Lee an honorary Oscar for his contributions to film making. It is his only Oscar.
List of the 6 Oscar nominations for Spike Lee's film BlackKklansman:
Best Director.
Best Picture.
Best Supporting Actor.
Best Adapted Screenplay.
Best Original Music Score.
Best Film Editing.
The Oscars air February 24, 2019, 8:00 PM EST on ABC.
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the National Action Network Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (D- NY) blasted President Donald Trump, going as far at to call Trump the "Grand Wizard of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue". Watch his comments below.
The son of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. criticized Vice President Mike Pence for citing the slain civil rights leader to make the case for a wall along the US-Mexico border.
Elijah Precciely started something new this week: college. The 11-year-old just started his undergraduate career at Southern University in Louisiana.
The physics major spoke to a local TV station, WBRZ about how college is treating him so far.
Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax (D), the only African-American official elected to a statewide position, was the lone protester on Friday during a tribute in the state Senate honoring Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s birthday.
Fairfax delegated his typical duties of presiding over the state Senate chamber in Richmond and let Republican state Sen. Richard Stuart lead the tribute.
As a descendant of slaves, Fairfax told The Washington Post that he didn’t believe Lee was someone to honor on the floor of the statehouse.
“I think it’s very divisive to do what was done there, particularly in light of the history that we’re now commemorating — 400 years since the first enslaved Africans came to the commonwealth of Virginia," he said.
“And to do that in this year in particular was very hurtful to a lot of people. It does not move us forward, it does not bring us together. And so I wanted to do my part to make it clear that I don’t condone it,” Fairfax continued.
Sony Music has decided to dissolve its working relationship with R. Kelly, Variety has learned.
No external announcement of the move is planned in the immediate future, says a source, who added that the company took its time to wade through the issues “responsibly” and avoid legal ramifications. R. Kelly was removed from the RCA Records website, which lists the label’s signed artists, shortly after 10 a.m. PT on Friday, Jan. 18.
Kelly’s back catalog will remain with RCA/Sony. Kelly’s last release with the label was a Christmas-themed album in 2016, although he has released several songs independently since that time, presumably with Sony’s consent, and Tweeted earlier this year that he has a new album on the way.
Contacted by Variety, reps for both RCA Records and its parent company, Sony Music, declined comment. His current adviser, Don Russell, told Rolling Stone that several record labels are “very interested” in working with Kelly. “We understand RCA’s position: they have to remain transparent for the sake of the other artists that they represent and generate wealth for,” he said. “They’re not in the position of dealing with the kind of stuff that has come about with R. Kelly. He has no issue with RCA. I think he’s outgrown RCA. He’s ready for the next level of life, anyway.” TV journalist Jawn Murray tells Variety that he learned from a Sony Music source that Kelly was informed of the label’s decision to part ways with him last Thursday.
MoTown legend Gladys Knight, an Atlanta native, and civil rights advocate, has come under fire for accepting an offer from the NFL to sing the National Anthem at Super Bowl LIII. She is receiving criticism from many African Americans because there is a belief that NFL teams are conspiring to not hire former San Francisco QB Colin Kaepernick for his stance against police brutality and quest for social justice.
Knight accepted the invite although others like Rihanna, Usher, and Cardi B have refused to be apart of the Super Bowl.
In an attempt to explain her decision Knight made the following statement to USA TODAY:
"It is unfortunate that our national anthem has been dragged into this debate when the distinctive senses of the national anthem and fighting for justice should each stand alone."
“I am here today and on Sunday, Feb. 3 to give the anthem back its voice, to stand for that historic choice of words, the way it unites us when we hear it and to free it from the same prejudices and struggles I have fought long and hard for all my life, from walking back hallways, from marching with our social leaders, from using my voice for good — I have been in the forefront of this battle longer than most of those voicing their opinions to win the right to sing our country’s anthem on a stage as large as the Super Bowl LIII."
She added that she prays the national anthem "will bring us all together in a way never before witnessed and we can move forward."
The National Park Service will use a grant from Delta Air Lines and fee revenues to reopen the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park in Atlanta despite the government shutdown.
Most sites of the park, including the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church and King's birth home, have been closed since the partial government shutdown began on December 22. Travelers missed their chance to relive the civil rights leader's legacy and many others were worried they could not visit the sites during the upcoming federal holiday honoring King.
The historic park will open Saturday for 16 days to ensure people in Atlanta can celebrate King's legacy in advance of the holiday on Monday and travelers attending the Super Bowl game on February 3 have a chance to visit the sites, the park service said.
An $83,500 grant from the Delta Air Lines Foundation will cover the cleanup, administration, maintenance and operating costs of employees not covered under recreation fee funds.
In a statement, Delta CEO and trustee of the Delta Air Lines Foundation Ed Bastian said the group "felt it was important we do our part to ensure that the historical landmarks be accessible to the public."
The Atlanta site includes the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, where King was co-pastor for years, a visitors' center and the home where King was born in 1929.
A Michigan man has been charged with leaving a threatening, expletive-laden voicemail for U.S. Sen. Cory Booker last year, according to a federal indictment unsealed Monday.
Ricky Lynn Simmons faces up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 after a federal grand jury sitting in Grand Rapids handed up a single-count indictment on a charge of interstate communication with threat to injure earlier this month, according to court papers.
Simmons was in Kent County, Michigan on Oct. 26, 2018 when he used a cell phone to call Booker’s Camden office and on multiple occasions referenced putting a 9mm gun in the face of the senator, authorities said. Simmons also used several racial slurs in the message, authorities said.
“I’m just doin’ my guns a blazin’ pal. I got a nine millimeter I’ll put in your (expletive) face, you (expletive). You wanna, you wanna challenge me?,” Simmons said, according to a copy of the indictment.
Louisville city officials announced Wednesday that Louisville International Airport will be renamed after the boxer and humanitarian often called "the Greatest."
The new name: Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.
"Muhammad Ali belonged to the world, but he only had one hometown, and fortunately, that is our great city of Louisville," Mayor Greg Fischer said. "Muhammad became one of the most well-known people to ever walk the Earth and has left a legacy of humanitarianism and athleticism that has inspired billions of people.
"It is important that we, as a city, further champion The Champ's legacy," Fischer continued. "And the airport renaming is a wonderful next step."
The Louisville Regional Airport Authority board approved Fischer's motion that the airport be renamed. But the SDF code will not change, officials said.
Read more: Louisville is renaming its airport after Muhammad Ali
Police in Fayetteville North Carolina are asking for the public's help to locate a missing woman who was last seen in December, authorities said.
Elizabeth A. Thomas, 37, was reported missing on Jan. 9, according to a statement by Fayetteville police. She was last seen on Dec. 26 in the 500 block of North McPherson Church Road.
Investigators said she is 5-feet-3-inches tall, weighs 130 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information about her whereabouts was asked to call 911 or contact.
South Carolina Congressional Democrat Jim Clyburn, S.C. 6th, is calling for an end to the government shutdown and said it's unfair to federal workers in the state.
As House Majority Whip, Clyburn said it's been frustrating debating the border wall with the President for more than a year.
“We give him another $1.6 billion for his wall, and he rejected. And, a year or so ago, we gave him $25 billion in exchange for taking care of the DREAMERs, he rejected that,” Clyburn said.
As the partial government shutdown is in its 25th day, Clyburn said he's frustrated for federal workers like one federal prison employee in Hampton County.
“She has three children, she's a single mom. And, she's going to work every day trying to protect society, against, in many instances, hardened criminals. But, she's not being paid. There's something about that, that's not right,” Clyburn said.
“We're not going to end this fight until we get more border security, and that's not an unreasonable request,” Graham said at the event.
Majority Whip Clyburn said Democrats support border security, but not the President's border wall.
And when it came to the shutdown ending, Clyburn was not optimistic.
“I live by our state's motto 'As I breathe, I hope.' So, I am hopeful something can be done and done quickly. Do I see it? No, I don't see it at the moment,” Clyburn said.
Today, U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.) released the following statement announcing that he will be introducing a resolution to formally censure U.S. Representative Steve King (R-Iowa) for his pattern of racist and xenophobic statements:
“Steve King’s pattern of despicable comments harken back to the dark days of American history where his rabid, racist remarks would have been acceptable to a significant portion of our nation. This must come to a screeching halt right now. The U.S. Congress cannot be a platform for Steve King and those of his ilk. From Charleston to Charlottesville to Chicago to California, there is no home for this behavior, especially the floor of the United States House of Representatives.
“He has become too comfortable with proudly insulting, disrespecting, and denigrating people of color. As with any animal that is rabid, Steve King should be set aside and isolated. His rabid racism continues to stain and embarrass this body and the years of deliberate silence from Republicans have only emboldened his ignorant and immoral behavior and empowered those who emulate him.
“Republicans, in the interest of political expediency, sought his endorsement, ignored his racist remarks, and continued to elevate him to positions of influence. Only now that his behavior is well known to those outside the beltway and tainted him politically, do they vigorously denounce him. Knowing this, no reasonable person should take their tweets, statements, and op-eds seriously. I call on Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to withhold from Steve King the privilege of serving on any committee until he apologizes for his racism.
“My resolution to censure Representative King sends a clear message to the American people — this Congress will not turn a blind eye to his repugnant and racist behavior. Anything short of censure would be shallow.
Text of resolution subject to change:
Rush Responds to Steve King... by on Scribd
As the new chairman of the Oversight and Reform Committee in a Democratic majority House of Representatives, Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), is among the most powerful people in Washington. Now with the power to investigate just about anything without Republican interference, the veteran congressman jokes to Steve Kroft that there are so many potential investigations for his committee that they'll have to hit the ground "flying" rather than running. Cummings talks to Steve Kroft in his first interview as chairman on the next edition of 60 Minutes, Sunday, January 13 at 7:00 p.m., ET/PT on CBS. Watch a preview below:
As chair of the House Oversight committee, Rep. Elijah Cummings has become one of the most powerful people in Washington, with the authority to investigate anything he wants, including the president. https://t.co/QLU8gtw1fT pic.twitter.com/Yr7SP8wHOx
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) January 13, 2019
Congressional Black Caucus chair Rep. Karen Bass released a statement calling for Rep. Steve King (R-Ia.) to be removed from his committee assignments Saturday his comments about white supremacy this week.
Like Donald Trump, Steve King has sought again and again to give comfort to white supremacists, something that should never be allowed in the halls of Congress or the Oval Office. If Republicans really believe these racist statements have no place in our government, then their party must offer more than shallow temporary statements of condemnation. Instead, they must actually condemn Mr. King by removing him from his committee assignments so that he can no longer affect policies that impact the very people he has made clear he disdains. Republicans should make clear Mr. King is no longer welcomed in their party or Congress. Anything less than these substantive actions is another tacit acceptance of racism from the Republican Party.
Israel, 62, was suspended by DeSantis just three days after the new governor took his oath of office.
Tony, the county's first black sheriff and a Democrat chosen by a Republican governor, takes the reigns of the most powerful office in Broward, with a $900 million budget and about 6,000 employees. The agency provides law enforcement to a dozen cities, the county jail and Fort-Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
He will serve out the remainder of Israel's term, which is up in 2020.
Tony, 40, a native of Philadelphia, is the president of Blue Spear Solutions, a security company that specializes in active shooter and mass casualty training.
Tony moved to Tallahassee after high school, hoping to play on the Florida State football team. He got his chance as a walk-on fullback but was later sidelined with a back injury, according to Warchant.com.
He graduated with a criminal justice degree and was hired in 2005 by Coral Springs, where he served on the SWAT team for five years and was promoted to sergeant in 2014. He started his company the following year and retired in 2016.
