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Brandon Bernard Dies by Lethal Injection: 'I Wish I Could Take It All Back'
Brandon Bernard died by lethal injection last night at the U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute, Ind., becoming the ninth person on federal death row to be killed by the U.S. government since the Trump administration resumed federal executions last year. His death came after his defense team made one final effort to halt the execution…
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Dr. Anthony Fauci Appeals to Black Community: ‘The Vaccine That You’re Going to Be Taking Was Developed by an African American Woman’
With skepticism about the safety and efficacy of a COVID-19 vaccine running high among African Americans, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, wants Black people to know that a Black woman, Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, was heavily involved in developing one of the vaccines that will soon be available to Americans later this…
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Military-Grade Weapons Do Not Make Cops or Cities Safer, 2 New Studies Find
Over the last forty years, state and local police budgets have increased at astounding rates, with billions of dollars going toward military-grade equipment for law enforcement. The premise is simple: a better-equipped police force ought to be able to do their job—protecting the public—better, as well as offer more protection for the officers themselves. But…
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Black Farmers, Civil Groups ‘Enraged’ After Joe Biden Selects Tom Vilsack Over Rep. Marcia Fudge to Head USDA
Black farming and civil rights groups are giving President-elect Joe Biden an earful about his decision to bring former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack back to head up the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a job he held for eight years under former President Barack Obama. According to Politico, leaders of farming and civil rights organizations say…
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'Natalie Represented Actual Black Women': Halle Berry Pens Moving Tribute to BAPS Co-star Natalie Desselle Reid
Just days before the unexpected death of actress Natalie Desselle Reid, Halle Berry shared a video of her and her B.A.P.S. co-star strolling shoulder-to-shoulder Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles. The pair were filming a bit for the 1997 cult classic, gold teeth gleaming and giggling into the camera. “Let’s find Tiffany,” Berry captioned the throwback…
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Feds Join Probe Into Police Killing of Casey Goodson, Who Family Says Was Shot While Carrying a Sandwich
The FBI and the Department of Justice will join the Columbus police investigation into the police killing of Casey Goodson Jr., a 23-year-old Black man who was fatally shot last week in Columbus, Ohio by a sheriff’s deputy. U.S. Attorney David DeVillers announced federal authorities’ involvement in the investigation, which will be conducted alongside the…
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Biden Picks Marcia Fudge as HUD Secretary After Congresswoman Lobbied to Become 1st Black Woman to Lead USDA
After openly campaigning to be the first Black woman to lead the Department of Agriculture, Ohio congresswoman Marcia Fudge (D) will be tapped to become the next Housing and Urban Development Secretary, according to multiple outlets. Politico reports that Fudge will take the helm at HUD, while President-elect Joe Biden is leaning toward a familiar…
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The Jurors Who Sentenced Brandon Bernard Say He Shouldn't Die. He's Still Scheduled to Be Executed
Five out of nine surviving jurors who condemned Brandon Bernard to death at the age of 18 say they regret their decision. So, too, does the prosecutor who tried him, saying now that she finds it “morally, ethically and legally” wrong to execute him. But last Wednesday, an appeals judge ruled that the execution of…
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Slew of Data Shows Widening Inequality Among Students Due to Coronavirus Pandemic
In the last week, more data has come out showing the extent that the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated an already-unequal education system. As the Washington Post reports, the scope of the data varies—some look at national trends, other reports focus on state and district-level education. Each piece of data provides a snapshot of a particular…
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Santa Came Early: If You Ever Wanted to Sample Mariah’s Cookies, Here’s Your Chance
Mariah Carey’s Christmas empire is expanding, with the pop diva and undeniable queen of the holiday season announcing a new line of goodies: Mariah’s Cookies. Yes, we’re talking literal cookies, you heathens. As People reports, Mariah’s monopoly on all-things-Christmas is taking a sweet turn on Friday, with the launch of the new cookie line. The…