Adam Silver says NBA is working with WNBA for Brittney Griner's release from Russia

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Tuesday that he is working "side by side" with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert to try to bring Brittney Griner home.

Silver, speaking to ESPN's Malika Andrews in a televised interview from Chicago prior to the NBA draft lottery, said his league was following the advice of experts when it did not take an aggressive approach during the early stages of Griner's detention in Russia.

"We've been in touch with the White House, the State Department, hostage negotiators, every level of government and also through the private sector as well," Silver said. "Our No. 1 priority is her health and safety and making sure that she gets out of Russia."

[SOURCE: ESPN]

State Sen. Don Davis wins Democratic North Carolina House primary

State Sen. Don Davis has won the Democratic nomination for North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District.

Davis, an Air Force veteran, emerged from a field with three other competitors and will face a competitive general election race in November.

He said he plans to spend his time in Congress focusing on rural infrastructure and economic support.

“Plainly, eastern North Carolina is in dire straits. Despite North Carolina as a whole gaining population and gaining an additional Congressional seat, District 1 was the only district that lost population,” Davis said. “Our communities are facing a crisis on many fronts and we need to address the economic, educational, and health care disparities head-on."

Davis will face Republican Sandy Smith in the November 8 general election.

Watch Davis discuss his victory below:

Cheri Beasley wins North Carolina Democratic Senate primary

Cheri Beasley, a former chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, won her state’s Democratic primary for the United States Senate, clearing out competitors in a 10-way race with an emphasis on her judicial credentials and her ability to work with law enforcement and apply the law fairly.

The win puts Ms. Beasley, 56, a former public defender who climbed the judicial ranks and made history as North Carolina’s first Black Supreme Court chief justice, closer to becoming its first Black senator.

“Were going to just keep doing what were doing today, and certainly we have been very thoughtful about the next phase. It’s been awesome to have been able to really plan for it and build the infrastructure for the next part of this election, so we’re excited about that,” Beasley said.

Beasley will the winner of the Republican Primary, Rep, Ted Budd in the general election on November 8.

Charles Booker wins Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Kentucky primary

Charles Booker has won the Democratic primary election for the U.S. Senate in his bid to stop a decadeslong winning streak by Kentucky Republicans.

Booker defeated three opponents in the Democratic primary. He will challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Rand Paul in the November election.

Booker promotes social programs such as Medicare for All and a basic universal income. Booker says such proposals would uplift people across the Bluegrass State, including poor urban neighborhoods and struggling Appalachian towns.

My name is Charles Booker and I am the Democratic nominee for United States Senate in Kentucky.

— Charles Booker (@Booker4KY) May 17, 2022

Colin Kaepernick to receive honorary degree from Morgan State University

Morgan State University President David K. Wilson today announced that three exemplary vanguards of social justice and the African-American experience will be awarded honorary degrees during the 145th Spring Commencement ceremony taking place at Hughes Memorial Stadium on Saturday, May 21. At the ceremony.

Among those to receive honorary degrees will be Super Bowl quarterback and champion for social justice, Colin Kaepernick.

Kaepernick will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree capping the trio of honorary degrees awarded at Morgan’s 145th Spring Commencement Exercises. The holder of the all-time National Football League (NFL) record for most rushing yards in a game by a quarterback, Kaepernick famously took a knee during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” in 2016 to bring attention to systemic oppression — specifically police violence — of Black and Brown people. For his stance, he has been denied the opportunity to regain his employment within the NFL to this day.

Since 2016, he has founded and helped to fund three organizations — Know Your Rights Camp, Ra Vision Media, and Kaepernick Publishing — that together advance the liberation of Black and Brown people through storytelling, systems change and political education.

Kaepernick sits on Medium’s board of directors and is the winner of numerous prestigious honors, including Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award, the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope honor, GQ magazine’s “Citizen of the Year,” the NFL’s Len Eshmont Award, the Sports Illustrated Muhammad Ali Legacy Award, the ACLU’s Eason Monroe Courageous Advocate Award and the Puffin/Nation Institute’s Prize for Creative Citizenship. In 2019, Kaepernick helped Nike win an Emmy for its “Dream Crazy” commercial. In 2021, he released Colin in Black & White, a six-episode limited series on Netflix exploring his high school years. The show won two NAACP Image Awards. In 2022, he became a New York Times bestselling author for his acclaimed children’s picture book, “I Color Myself Different.”

Others receiving honoraary degress are Morgan alumnus and filmmaker David E. Talbert and Morgan alumnus David Burton, the chief proponent in the landmark Coalition for Excellence and Equity in Maryland Higher Education (HBCUs) vs. the State of Maryland lawsuit.

“Leadership, Integrity, Innovation, Diversity, Excellence and Respect are more than just words that appear on the flags that adorn our campus, or words that we utter casually when reciting our core values, they represent the embodiment of who we are and what a Morgan graduate stands for,” said President Wilson. “With this notion in mind, we intentionally sought a collection of individuals who truly embody these principles, and thankfully we have assembled a trio of diverse voices who have bravely stood—and kneeled—for the betterment and advancement of the voiceless, the marginalized and the disenfranchised.”