Tiana Mermaid a new children's book by Henry Davis

It can be difficult to find children's books featuring African American characters, so I'm always happy when I find a new book to share with you. Check out "Tiana Mermaid" a book by Henry Davis.

Henry Davis, a New York City-based author, US Marine, carpenter, electrician, and poet, has completed his book “Tiana Mermaid”: an entertaining story introducing a good-natured little mermaid inspired by the author’s own young daughter.

Henry shares, “Tiana is an African American mermaid who shows love, kindness and concern for all the creatures of the Boobiest Sea. Tiana is funny and a whole lot of fun; she has an underwater Halloween and dance party. She also has special healing powers and will have you laughing from beginning to end of her adventures. You will look forward to reading more adventures from Tiana. God willing this is only the first of a series of Tiana Adventures.”

Published by New York City-based Page Publishing, Henry Davis’s book is a sweet mermaid tale for young children and independent readers.

Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchase “Tiana Mermaid” at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

BUY THE BOOK ON AMAZON

PAPERBACK ------ KINDLE

Lori Lightfoot elected Chicago's 1st black, female mayor

Lori Lightfoot won a resounding victory Tuesday night to become both the first African-American woman and openly gay person elected mayor of Chicago, dealing a stinging defeat to a political establishment that has reigned over City Hall for decades.

After waging a campaign focused on upending the vaunted Chicago political machine, Lightfoot dismantled one of its major cogs by dispatching Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, whose candidacy had been hobbled in part by an anti-incumbent mood among voters and an ongoing federal corruption investigation at City Hall.

“Today, you did more than make history,” Lightfoot told hundreds of supporters at the Hilton Chicago on Tuesday night. “You created a movement for change.”

With roughly 97 percent of the city’s precincts reporting, Lightfoot had swept all 50 of Chicago’s wards, winning 74 percent of the unofficial vote to 26 percent for Preckwinkle, a 28-year officeholder who prior to her eight years as the county’s chief executive served 19 years as a Hyde Park alderman.

Lightfoot will be sworn in as Chicago’s 56th mayor on May 20 while Preckwinkle will return to her third term running the county after a humiliating defeat that included losing her own 4th Ward by 20 points.

Lightfoot will become the third African-American to serve as mayor. Harold Washington was elected in 1983 as the city’s first black mayor and won re-election in 1987 before dying in office later that year. Eugene Sawyer, the city’s second black mayor, was appointed to serve out Washington’s term until a 1989 special election.

[SOURCE: CHICAGO TRIBUNE]

Susan Rice comes to the defense of Joe Biden

In a series of tweets Susan Rice, who served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and national security adviser under former President Obama defended former Vice President Joe Biden amid accusations that he has inappropriately touched women. Rice called him "a dedicated ally, champion and defender of women and all of our rights."

Read the tweets below:

I respect every woman who chooses to share her uncomfortable (and worse) experiences with men. Their perspectives must be heard and taken seriously. 1/3

— Susan Rice (@AmbassadorRice) April 2, 2019

I have worked closely with @JoeBiden for many years. In my experience, he is warm and affectionate with women (and men). But never have I found his actions inappropriate or uncomfortable. I have always appreciated his kindness and warmth. 2/3

— Susan Rice (@AmbassadorRice) April 2, 2019

Most importantly, I know @JoeBiden to be a dedicated ally, champion and defender of women and all of our rights. There is no one I would rather be with in a foxhole. He is one of the most decent, honorable men I have been privileged to work with. 3/3

— Susan Rice (@AmbassadorRice) April 2, 2019

Shurontaya Festa is missing!

Pittsburgh police are asking for help locating a woman who has been missing since yesterday.

Shurontaya "Tay Tay" Festa, 22, was last seen in Oakland on March 31. She is 5 feet 6 inches tall and has brown eyes. She is known to frequent Duquesne, Wilkinsburg and East Pittsburgh, police said in a Facebook post.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call Missing Persons Detectives at 412-323-7141.

Baltimore mayor, Catherine Pugh under fire over book sales, takes leave for health

Baltimore's embattled mayor began an indefinite hiatus on Monday, citing health reasons for her leave on the same day the state's governor called for a probe into sales of her self-published books to a health provider.

Mayor Catherine Pugh has been battling pneumonia for a few weeks and her physicians have advised her to focus on recuperating, her office said in a statement.

"At this time, with the mayor's health deteriorating, she feels as though she is unable to fulfill her obligations as mayor of Baltimore City," the statement from Pugh's office said. "To that end, Mayor Pugh will be taking an indefinite leave of absence to recuperate from this serious illness."

Pugh, who was elected mayor in 2016, has been under fire since the Baltimore Sun reported last month the University of Maryland Medical System paid her $500,000 between 2012 and 2018 to buy copies of her self-published children's book series, "Healthy Holly."

The series promotes healthy choices for children, such as exercise and eating vegetables.

Pugh, a Democrat, was serving on the board of the medical system when she received payments for the books. She was among nine members of the board with some form of business arrangement with the medical system, the newspaper reported.

Read more: Baltimore mayor, under fire over book sales, takes leave for health.