Jackson Mississippi Mayor Gives an Update on The Water Crisis

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The Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi updated residents on the water crisis and revealed the city will soon have safe drinking water, but the problem is far from solved.  

Appearing on CBS’s Face the Nation, Mayor Chokwe Lumumba said it could just be a matter of days before the boil water notice is lifted for approximately 150,000 people. “And so we believe that it’s a matter of days, not weeks before that boil water notice can be lifted,” shared Lumumba. 

However, he explained that any repairs made now will not solve 30 years of deferred maintenance, and help would be needed on the state and federal level to help address the issue. 

Last week repairs to high service pumps at the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant was announced as completed.  However, the water quality in the distribution system was still under work, including investigating samples of water.  

READ MORE: Kodak Black Gives Back To Haiti Donates $50,000 Worth Of Alkaline Water

Operators said they will need two rounds of clear samples to be able to lift the boil water notice.

 A federal probe has been launched as Jackson residents have been without safe drinking water for over a month.  The mayor said he doesn’t know any details of the investigation, but welcomes any light it can shed on the cause of the failure. 

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President Barack Obama Shares Statement Remembering Queen Elizabeth II

President Barack Obama Shares Statement Remembering Queen Elizabeth II

Following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, former president Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama released a statement in celebration of the Queen’s 96 years of life.

“Michelle and I were lucky enough to come to know Her Majesty, and she meant a great deal to us,” the former president wrote. “Back when we were just beginning to navigate life as President and First Lady, she welcomed us to the world stage with open arms and extraordinary generosity.”

He added, “Time and again, we were struck by her warmth, the way she put people at ease, and how she brought her considerable humor and charm to moments of great pomp and circumstance.”

You can read the full statement below.

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The Obamas Return To White House For Historic Unveiling Of Official Portraits

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The official portraits of Former President Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama are now on display at the White House.  The former First Couple returned to the White House for the unveiling of the historic portraits of the first Black President.  

President Biden honored the pair by saying, “Welcome home.”  He said Obama’s tenure was marked by integrity, decency, moral courage and doing what’s right.  Biden looked at Michelle Obama and noted, “He couldn’t have done it without you.” Calling the former FLOTUS, “one of the most consequential First Ladies.”

The former President praised Biden as a true partner and a good friend.  He also thanked members of his former staff, calling them talented, selfless and idealistic.

READ MORE: 44th President Barack Obama Reveals His 2022 Summer Playlist

First Lady Michelle Obama talked about raising two daughters in the White House for eight years and called it a special place.

Michelle also made comments that insiders believe were directed at the Trump administration. “The people make their voices heard with their vote,” and “we hold an inauguration to ensure a peaceful transition of power.” She added, “once our time is up, we move on.”

 The historic unveiling marks the return of the tradition of sitting presidents welcoming their predecessors for official portrait unveilings, regardless of party.

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John Legend Addresses Issues With Kanye West, Says West was Upset because Legend didn’t Support his Presidential Run

Kanye West John Legend

Politics has a way of dividing even the closest of friends and while it appeared that famous artists John Legend and Kanye West had a traditional Democrat vs. Republican fallout, that was not apparently the case.

In an interview with the New Yorker, Legend clarifies that while he is a vocal supporter of many Democrats, including Joe Biden, his and West’s issues have nothing to do with West’s one-time support of Donald Trump, but rather because Legend didn’t endorse West in his 2020 presidential run.

In the interview, Legend stated the following: “What it got described as was, we stopped being friends because he supported Trump, which was a mischaracterization of what I said. That was kind of the Rupert Murdoch version of the story—it was all over the New York Post and Fox News. What I was saying was that he was very upset with me that I didn’t support him running for President, and that was the real impetus for us having a strain in our friendship. I don’t know what will happen in the future, but he was very upset with me that I didn’t support him and I supported Joe Biden. It’s up to him whether he can get past that.” [According to the New Yorker, West could not be reached for comment.]

In 2018, Ye posted screenshots of a tweet in which Legend asked him to “reconsider aligning [himself] with Trump,” to which West followed up with a series of bizarre tweets in which he seemed to emphasize independent thought while still maintaining his support for then-president Trump.

However, when West made his own run for president, Legend did not support him and rather supported Biden.

Legend was not the only hip-hop artist to draw West’s ire. On a 2020 episode of “Drink Champs,” West called both Legend and Big Sean sellouts for not supporting him, stating, ““​I know this man mama, bro. … I changed this man’s family. Both John Legend and Big Sean, when I ran for office, got used quick by the Democrats to come at they boy that actually changed they life. And that’s some sellout sh-t. And I don’t rock with neither of them and I need my apologies. I ain’t saying they gon’ change, but n-ggas is scared.”

West received about 60,000 votes out of an estimated total of 160 million in the 2020.

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WH Announces President Biden’s Federal Student Loan Debt Relief Plan

Joe Biden Signs Proclamation Black History Month 2022

The White House announced President Biden’s cancellation of some federal student loan debt.  Domestic policy adviser Susan Rice said Wednesday the student loan forgiveness will give relief to borrowers while streamlining the business of student loans.  

She also noted that it fulfills a Biden campaign pledge and eases the financial burden on millions of Americans. President Biden is forgiving billions in student loan debt.

READ MORE: “Griner Shouldn’t Be Political Pawn” WNBA Players Exec Director Terri Jackson To Biden Admin

The forgiveness offers $10,000 of debt relief for those earning less than $125,000 per year.  

It’s estimated 42 percent of those who go to college will pay back their loans over five years.  The average American household with student debt owes approximately  $59,000.

Massachusetts Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren is in strong favor of Biden’s decision. While some democrats say it’s not enough, pushing for up to $50,000 in financial relief.  And republicans argue it could be unfair to people who have already paid off their loans and believe the move could fuel inflation. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell called it “student loan socialism.”

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WH Announces President Biden’s Cancellation of Federal Student Loan Debt

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The White House announced President Biden’s cancellation of some federal student loan debt.  Domestic policy adviser Susan Rice said Wednesday the student loan forgiveness will give relief to borrowers while streamlining the business of student loans.  

She also noted that it fulfills a Biden campaign pledge and eases the financial burden on millions of Americans. President Biden is forgiving billions in student loan debt.

READ MORE: “Griner Shouldn’t Be Political Pawn” WNBA Players Exec Director Terri Jackson To Biden Admin

The forgiveness offers $10,000 of debt relief for those earning less than $125,000 per year.  

It’s estimated 42 percent of those who go to college will pay back their loans over five years.  The average American household with student debt owes approximately  $59,000.

Massachusetts Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren is in strong favor of Biden’s decision. While some democrats say it’s not enough, pushing for up to $50,000 in financial relief.  And republicans argue it could be unfair to people who have already paid off their loans and believe the move could fuel inflation. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell called it “student loan socialism.”

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The Sacramento Kings and When We All Vote Relaunch ‘Rally the Vote’ in Extended Partnership

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When We All Vote and the Sacramento Kings have announced a broad partnership to relaunch Rally the Vote, a nonpartisan organization the Kings launched to boost civic engagement by utilizing the platforms of professional sports teams. When We All Vote will formally adopt Rally the Vote as a campaign, fusing the nonprofit’s technology for voter registration and educational materials with the Kings’ extensive professional sports network and coalition-building expertise. To expand Rally the Vote to more than 50 professional sports franchises across several leagues, this agreement builds on the two organizations’ productive engagements in 2018 and 2020.

“Over the past two election cycles, Rally the Vote has become a groundbreaking nonpartisan movement that demonstrates the ability of sports to create positive change,” said Sacramento Kings Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé. “My life’s work has been to remove friction from our daily lives and Rally the Vote makes the process of participating in democracy as seamless as possible. I am proud of the work we have done to lead this effort in partnership with an incredible coalition of professional sports teams and organizations like When We All Vote. Today’s announcement is an exciting next chapter for Rally the Vote, providing more opportunities to connect with fans and promote civic engagement.”

“Democracy is not a spectator sport. We all have to get in the game and make our voices heard in each and every election, and the Rally the Vote Coalition will ensure fans across the country get registered and cast their votes at the ballot box,” said When We All Vote Executive Director Stephanie L. Young. “Even though we saw record voter turnout in 2020, we know that a lot of people tend to watch the midterm elections from the sidelines. But there is too much at stake: all 435 members of the House of Representatives, 35 out of 100 Senators and countless elected officials in our local and state governments are on the ballot. That is what makes the work of this coalition and When We All Vote so important.”

A prominent, nonpartisan movement in the country, When We All Vote seeks to close the racial and age voting gaps to change the culture surrounding voting and boost election participation. When We All Vote will provide Rally the Vote coalition members through this strengthened partnership with a customized and user-friendly online voter registration team portal, access to a data dashboard to track and monitor the impact of voter registration, educational materials, digital content, and dedicated staff support. This statement comes before When We All Vote’s National Ramp Up the Vote Rally on August 25, which aims to increase voter turnout and registration.

The Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago Bulls, Chicago White Sox, Connecticut Sun, Houston Dash, Houston Dynamo FC, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, New England Revolution, Oakland Athletics, Portland Trail Blazers, and San Francisco Giants are the other teams that are a part of the Rally the Vote 2022 coalition.

For more information, to register to vote and take action, visit rallythevote.org.

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[WATCH] Run The Jewels Perform “A Few Words For the Firing Squad” on Colbert

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Last night, Cochemea Gastelum’s soul-stirring saxophone performance helped Run The Jewels’ passionate rendition of “A Few Words For the Firing Squad” from RTJ4 on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. You can see the performance below.

Run the Jewels will also play the iVoted Festival on Election Day, November 8th, 2022. the #iVoted Festival will take place virtually. Fans can RSVP to watch the Mandolin-hosted stream by taking a picture outside their polling location or at home with their blank, unmarked ballot. Underage fans RSVP by informing the #iVoted Festival about the election for which they will be 18 and why they are enthusiastic to vote. Non-citizens and ineligible voters can RSVP by stating which artist they are most looking forward to seeing. Fans can sign up for the festival’s email list to be notified when the RSVP site opens later this year.

Over 250 performers have been announced for #iVoted Festival 2022’s election night broadcast by the 100 percent women-led non-partisan 501(c)3 non-profit voter participation organization. The data of the top streaming and trending musicians is used to book talent in crucial states where electoral margins are often determined by the size of a musical venue.

In addition to Run the Jewels, Lake Street Dive, CNCO, Carl Craig, Rise Against, Umphrey’s McGee, Lil’ Scrappy, Halestorm, Jamby El Favo, Shakey Graves, An Exclusive Video Message from Piper Perabo, 3OH!3, DeVotchKa, Yonder Mountain String Band, Jaret Reddick of Bowling for Soup, The Suffers, Eliot Sloan of Blessid Union Of Souls, Doll Skin, Lotus, Twiztid, The Starting Line, Duane Betts, ACRAZE and more are scheduled to perform.

Run the Jewels’ Co-Manager Amaechi Uzoigwe, Live Nation’s Jay Byrd, Biz 3’s Kathryn Frazier and Dana Meyerson, SongHero CEO and former Blondie touring keyboardist Kevin Patrick, and LOUD Capital CMO and former Vans Warped Tour drummer Brian Penick are among the new board members announced by #iVoted Festival. Kevin Lyman, Roc Nation’s Evangeline Elder, Mandolin CEO Mary Kay Huse, Joyce Dollinger, Steve Ferguson, tenured M.I.T. Economist Jon Gruber, Kennita Hickman, WNYC’s Rebecca Kennedy, Lyte’s Lawrence Peryer, and Melanie Shark are among the previously announced board members.

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