Sorghum Frontiers Virtual Field Day breaks new ground
High Plains Journal and Alta Seeds are breaking new ground with the upcoming Sorghum Frontiers Virtual Field Day, at 1:00 p.m. July 8. This first ever live virtual field day will provide growers a first glimpse at igrowth®, the first commercially available herbicide-tolerant grain sorghum from Alta Seeds, all from the comfort of their home offices.
Franciscans Say: Black Lives Matter
As Christians, we must stand up for racial justice by working for reform in our institutions and in our communities
Black lives matter. The Franciscan Action Network (FAN) stands in solidarity with the peaceful protests taking place across the country over the murder of George Floyd.
Official Details on the Celebration of Life for George Floyd
Fort Bend Memorial Planning Center is releasing the official statement on behalf of the family of George Floyd regarding the memorial and official celebration of his life.
Hico Health Launches COVID-19 Response Plan For African Americans
Hico Health, a Black-owned, woman-owned telehealth company focusing on type 2 diabetes in African-American communities, has launched a nationwide campaign to reduce diabetes related risk factors contributing to COVID-19 deaths.
In Search of Unity: A Houston Perspective of A Yates High School Loss (George Floyd): Dr. Bertie Simmons Speaks
The killing of George Floyd, a member of the Yates High School family, has poignantly exposed and made abundantly public the lives that blacks have lived for centuries in America. It is heart-breaking and calls several things to question: Why have we not, as the “privileged” class, done something over all these years to bring justice to the black community – a community that has made amazing contributions to our society? Why have we as the “privileged” closed our eyes to the unjust treatment they have endured all their lives? Our doing nothing shines a bright light on our lack of respect, understanding and empathy for others. The blame rests on our shoulders for our insensitivity and lack of courage to stand up for what is right.
Jackson State graduate, military veteran aims to be the person he needed as a youth
All it took was a quote for Laquarius Moorehead to recognize what he wanted to do in life. “It said, ‘Be the person you needed when you were younger,’” said the 27-year-old. “Growing up, I did not see a lot of black male counselors or therapists. So, that’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to change the narrative and become one.”
Judge KP George Announces COVID-19 Rental, Mortgage, and Utilities Assistance Program
Fort Bend County, TX- County Judge KP George, Social Services Director Anna Gonzales, and County Auditor Ed Sturdivant announced today a program to assist county residents with rental, mortgage, and utility needs. During the May 19th Commissioners Court meeting, the Court passed a budget on how to spend $134.3 million in federal funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The COVID-19 Rental, Mortgage, and Utilities Assistance Program is funded by the recently passed budget.
National Alliance Statement in Response to George Floyd's Death
The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools released the following statement:
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston holds Town Halls focused on health and safety during the “reopening” of Houston and the state
As part of its ongoing outreach to constituents during the Covid 19 pandemic, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston (BGCGH) held three virtual Town Halls last week to provide critical information about what parents (and teens) should know to keep themselves and their children safe in the midst of the “reopening” of Texas. Additionally, BGCGH hosted a Special Session via Zoom with community partners, staff and board members, including Ericka Brown, M.D.; Coca-Cola representatives and special guest speaker David Persse, M.D., Health Authority for the Houston Health Department, to discuss issues around safely reopening Boys & Girls Clubs for in-person programming this week.
Civil Rights and Community Groups Ask DHS to Halt Discriminatory Surveillance Grant Program
DHS ‘Countering Violent Extremism’ Program Based On Junk Science, Targets Vulnerable Communities
On Monday, a coalition of more than 60 civil rights and civil liberty groups and community organizations sent a letter to Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf asking him to end an anti-Muslim and deeply flawed $80 million dollar federal surveillance program, named Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP), and halt grants to implement the program across the country. Applications for the grant program are due June 17 and $10 million in grant funds will be disseminated in September.
HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan on death of former HISD student George Floyd
The Houston Independent School District community is deeply saddened by the tragic and unconscionable loss of former HISD student George Floyd, who attended Jack Yates High School. We send our deepest condolences to Mr. Floyd’s family and friends.
Chris Hollins Sworn In as Harris County Clerk
Today, Chris Hollins was sworn in as Harris County Clerk, replacing Dr. Diane Trautman, who resigned effective May 31. Under Hollins, the County Clerk’s Office will administer the July 2020 primary runoffs and the November 2020 general election, in addition to continuing to deliver critical services to Harris County residents. He deputized his staff today and immediately began to assess the status of current operations and readiness for the upcoming elections.
Targeting of Journalists by Police Threatens Freedom of the Press in America
Shot with rubber bullets, targeted with stun grenades, tear gassed, physically attacked, pepper sprayed and arrested. Cleveland even tried to ban the press from the city. This is journalism in America right now as reporters cover the unrest across the country following the murder of George Floyd. As journalists risk their safety and health to inform us all on the truth of what is going on in America’s cities, they are simultaneously being deliberately targeted by police.
Muslim Advocates Calls on MN Attorney General to Arrest and Charge All Officers Involved in George Floyd’s Murder
On Sunday night, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison was named as the lead prosecutor in the murder of George Floyd. Muslim Advocates has a long-standing relationship with Ellison, having worked with him as a member of Congress and as Minnesota’s attorney general. Today, Muslim Advocates is launching an action asking Americans to contact Attorney General Ellison and ask him to arrest and charge all officers involved in the murder of George Floyd. The following is a statement from Muslim Advocates Executive Director Farhana Khera:
Family-commissioned autopsy says George Floyd's death was homicide
Preliminary results from an independent autopsy commissioned by George Floyd's family found that his death in the custody of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was "homicide caused by asphyxia due to neck and back compression that led to a lack of blood flow to the brain," according to a statement from the family's attorney.
Rice scientist goes deep to improve environmental tracers
Laurence Yeung wins NSF CAREER Award to study biosphere’s history
With the help of a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, Rice University geoscientist Laurence Yeung and his team intend to improve scientific analysis of oxygen isotopes recovered over the past few decades from Earth’s rocks, oceans and atmosphere.
World Sickle Cell Day is June 19th … Thanks to a Transplant, a North Carolina Student is Winning his Sickle Cell Anemia Battle
World Sickle Cell Day, which is June 19th, was created by the United Nations as a day to raise awareness of sickle cell at national and international levels. In creating this day of awareness the United Nations has recognized sickle cell disease as, “one of the world’s foremost genetic diseases.” The Brown family of Elizabeth City, North Carolina, knows all too well the challenges of this painful and debilitating disease. Their son, Kelvin Jr., has been battling sickle cell disease since he was diagnosed as an infant.
Minneapolis ex-officer who knelt on George Floyd's neck is in custody and charged with murder
The fired Minneapolis police officer seen in a video with his knee on George Floyd's neck has been arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter, according to Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman.
Two PVAMU students earn top honors in The National HBCU Stock Market Challenge
Sophomore Victoria Baldwin finished first for top-performing portfolio in the trading competition.
An online trading competition proved to be a welcomed challenge for Prairie View A&M University students who entered the National Historically Black College & University (HBCU) Stock Market Challenge. The annual contest was sponsored by the HBCU Deans Roundtable and Harris-Stowe State University, in conjunction with Stock-Trak Inc, FactSet & Rise Display. They announced winners announced this week.
Unity National Bank Urges the White House to Provide More Assistance for Minority Owned Small Businesses Impacted By COVID-19
Unity Bank’s Atlanta Branch Hosted a Roundtable Discussion with Vice President Pence and Other Members of the Administration
Today, Friday, May 29, 2020, Unity National Bank N.A. held a roundtable discussion featuring Vice President Mike Pence, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Purdue, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and local recipients of the Small Business Administration’s Payroll Protection Program (PPP).

