Simone Biles to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom

Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles is among 17 civilians who will be honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the White House announced Friday.

At the age of 25, Biles will become the youngest athlete ever to receive the honor.

Recognized as the nation’s highest civilian honor, the award is presented to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors.

Biles, the most decorated American gymnast in history, has won a combined 32 Olympic and World Championship medals. In recent years, she’s become a prominent advocate for athletes’ mental health and safety, children in the foster care system, and victims of sexual assault.

The awards will be presented at the White House on July 7.

Complete list of recipients:

Simone Biles

Sister Simone Campbell

Dr. Julieta García

Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords

Fred Gray

Steve Jobs

Father Alexander Karloutsos

Khizr Khanis

Sandra Lindsayis

John McCain

Diane Nash

Megan Rapinoe

Alan Simpson

Richard Trumka

Wilma Vaught

Denzel Washington

Raúl Yzaguirre

Joe Madison "The Black Eagle" Signs New Multi-Year Deal with SiriusXM

SiriusXM announced today that veteran broadcaster Joe Madison has signed a new multi-year deal to continue hosting Joe Madison The Black Eagle exclusively on SiriusXM. The program airs weekdays from 6:00-10:00 a.m. ET on Urban View channel 126 and is also available on the SXM App.

In addition to being a member of the National Radio Hall of Fame, Madison is a civil rights activist, former national political director of the NAACP, and author. He regularly uses his SiriusXM program to raise the voices of oppressed people and to challenge himself and his listeners to do something about injustices in the world.

Under the new agreement, Madison will continue to discuss the news of the day from his Washington, D.C., studio. His program is a must-stop destination for top politicians, newsmakers and experts who help further the national debate on topics including race relations, politics, culture, and much more. Some of his recent guests include Vice President Kamala Harris, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senator Cory Booker, and House Majority Whip James Clyburn.

“Joe’s legacy of work speaks for itself,” said Scott Greenstein, SiriusXM’s President and Chief Content Officer. “Joe is a leader and a motivator who inspires his audience to raise their voices and get involved. I’m thrilled that Urban View listeners will continue to start their day with Joe for many more years.”

Within the last year alone, Madison has launched two civil rights campaigns that made national headlines. In late 2021 he began a 74-day hunger strike to raise awareness about passing new voting rights legislation. Earlier this year, after a 4-year campaign on his SiriusXM show, Madison was credited by several politicians for his tireless work that helped result in the nation’s first federal anti-lynching law. At the congressional bill signing, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi specifically thanked Madison for his championing of the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, and he was also a guest of the White House when President Biden signed the bill into law.

Krystle Matthews wins Democratic U.S. Senate Primary, will challenge Sen. Tim Scott in November

South Carolina State Rep. Krystle Matthews on Tuesday won the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina.

Matthews, the second-place finisher in a June 14 primary, defeated author and preservationist Catherine Fleming Bruce in the runoff.

“People of South Carolina want somebody authentic and real,” Matthews told AP. “They are tired of people posing to be caring, posing to be intelligent, posing to be kind, and then finding out later on down the road that these people don’t even show up for them.”

Matthews also will run in November for a third state House term if she loses the U.S. Senate race.

Watch the swearing in ceremony for Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson

The Supreme Court held a swearing in ceremony for Ketanji Brown Jackson to be the first Black woman on the nation’s highest court. Chief Justice John Roberts delivered the constitutional oath and outgoing Justice Stephen Breyer did the judicial oath. Watch her swearing in below.

African American Veterans Monument Receives $50,000 Donation

The soon-to-be-constructed African American Veterans Monument, located at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park, has received a $50,000 donation from the Carl & Carol Montante Charitable Fund. The donation will be used for the long-term maintenance of the monument and surrounding property and continues the Montante Family’s long-standing philanthropic commitment to the communities of Western New York.

“It has been an exciting year for the African American Veterans Monument,” highlighted Warren K. Galloway, chairman of the Monument Committee. “Earlier this year, we successfully reached our funding needs for construction. This donation from the Montante Family ensures the long-term sustainability of the monument as a symbol of unity in our city.”

The monument will bring awareness and honors the contributions made by African American Veterans. African American’s have served in all five branches and have fought in all 12 of the United States’ military conflicts since the country’s first war. The monument will honor those who have served and are currently serving in all five branches of the military both in war and peace times, whether they enlisted voluntarily or were drafted. The monument will consist of twelve black 10-foot concrete pillars, representing each of America’s armed conflicts, and will be the first of its kind in the nation.

“This monument is important for the City of Buffalo in so many ways,” noted Madeline O. Scott, who sits on the board for the Afro-American Historical Association of the Niagara Frontier. “For years the US military was segregated. As someone who personally had several family members from New York, Michigan and Ohio who fought in American wars, this monument brings not only awareness to the contributions of African Americans but highlights that all American’s provided the same service and sacrifice for our country. The monument is intended to be a unifier.”

“We are proud to support this noble monument that honors the service of African American Veterans and will be a source of civic pride that will be appreciated on the Buffalo waterfront for generations to come,” noted Michael J. Montante, CEO of Uniland. “It will be an honorable addition to Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park, a place of reverence and appreciation for the U.S. Armed Services and a renowned cultural treasure as the largest inland naval park in America.”

Work on the monument is underway and the completed project is scheduled to be unveiled September 24, 2022. Additional information on the monument can be found at www.aavmwny.org or by calling 716-800-1137.

The Montante Family are the founders of Uniland Development Company, Buffalo’s largest and most reputable commercial real estate developer. Founded in 1974, Uniland owns and manages over 300 buildings serving more than 400 clients across Western New York. The Carl & Carol Montante Charitable Fund is a family philanthropic initiative with the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo.