NMAAHC To Close March 14

The following is a statement from the National Museum of African American History and Culture:

As a public health precaution due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), the National Museum of African American History and Culture will temporarily close to the public starting Saturday, March 14.

We are committed to ensuring the health and safety of all our visitors, employees, and volunteers. We are in close communication with local health officials and the Centers for Disease Control. Due to the rapidly changing nature of the situation, we are not announcing a re-opening date at this time.

We will provide updates on a week-to-week basis via our website. Follow @NMAAHC on Twitter for updates about the museum's operating status. In the meantime, we invite you to visit NMAAHC.si.edu to explore our virtual exhibitions, online collections and educational resources.

CORONAVIRUS: Booker Introduces Bill to Get Unemployment Assistance Immediately to Laid-Off Workers

Bill would eliminate “waiting week” requirement.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) today introduced a bill to reduce barriers to unemployment insurance for workers throughout the country who are unable to work due to the Coronavirus. The bill will address “waiting week” requirements, which forces laid-off workers who have satisfied every other eligibility requirement to wait one week before being able to access unemployment assistance. These requirements exist in 42 states (though New Jersey doesn’t have a waiting period).

The bill would federally fund the first week of unemployment insurance during national disasters and public health emergencies and it would give states two years to amend their laws to ban waiting weeks altogether.

“Public health emergencies can quickly become economic disasters for those who are already struggling,” Booker said. “This common-sense bill ensures workers and their families don’t have to needlessly wait to receive assistance when they need it most.”

Full text of the bill is available here. 

Clyburn urges Biden to pick black woman as running mate

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) urged former Vice President Joe Biden on Wednesday to pick a black woman as his running mate to "reward" them for loyalty to the Democratic Party if he is its presidential nominee.

Clyburn, who endorsed Biden ahead of his South Carolina primary win late last month, told NPR, "I really believe that we've reached a point in this country where African American women need to be rewarded for the loyalty that they've given to this party."

He named a number of black women who he thinks would be good choices to share a ticket with Biden, including Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Georgia Democratic gubernatorial nominee and voting rights activist Stacey Abrams.

Clyburn also mentioned Democratic Reps. Marcia Fudge (Ohio), Val Demings (Fla.) and Karen Bass (Calif.) as potential choices, as well as Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

[SOURCE: THE HILL]

National Society of Black Engineers postpones March conference

The National Society of Black Engineers postponed a planned convention in San Antonio that was scheduled for March 25-29.

A letter from National Society of Black Engineers leadership to its members said the decision to postpone the conventions was made to protect the members, their families and communities as well as “to ensure the quality of the workshops.” The letter mentioned that a number of NSBE’s corporate partners and several confirmed speakers had canceled their participation in the event because of travel restrictions.

David Gonzalez, the director of communications for Visit San Antonio, told KSAT the National Society of Black Engineers is hoping to reschedule in San Antonio later this year.

[SOURCE: KSAT]

Charles Barkley calls for cancellation of NCAA Basketball Tournament

CBS March Madness analyst and NBA great Charles Barkley appeared on ESPN's "Get Up" and called for the cancellation of the NCAA Tournament due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

...I'm gonna say this and I'm probably going to get in trouble because I work for Turner, March Madness and CBS. I think Turner Sports and CBS need to close down March Madness, man...Because, even if there's no fans in the stands, you can't have these players breathing on each other for two weeks. Even if they had a hotel, they're going to be in different cities around the country. I hate to say it...like I said, I probably shouldn't say it because I work for CBS, I think we’re going to have to shut down March Madness until we know more."

As of right now, the NCAA men's and women's Division I basketball tournaments will be played without spectators. The men's tournament will be played in 14 cities.