Economic benefits of illegal immigration outweigh the costs, Baker Institute study shows
New research paper focuses on impact in Texas
The economic benefits of illegal immigration are greater than the costs of the public services utilized, according to an expert at Rice University’s Baker Institute of Public Policy.
A Survivor's Story: Rapper is earning master’s degree after being declared dead 3 times and taking GED 5 times
After rap artist Kirk Williams received his master’s degree recently from JSU it marked another Cinderella story for a man who at age 14 had been a drug dealer, homeless and was once declared dead three times by medical personnel after being shot while protecting his sister in an assault.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston and Houston Texans partner for virtual graduation ceremony for senior Club members
The annual Houston Texans graduation ceremony for Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston (BGCGH) high school seniors went virtual this year to ensure the health and safety of all participants. The event takes place each May at the Houston Texans Teen Club in the Heights area, but the celebration on May 15 was all done via Zoom with 38 graduates and several Club directors joining in the video conference from their homes. Additionally, representatives from corporate partner Chevron and the Texans public relations staff joined in the conference, along with mascot TORO and members of the cheer team.
AFL-CIO Sues OSHA for Emergency Temporary Standard to Protect Workers
This morning, the AFL-CIO filed a petition for a writ of mandamus in the U.S. Court of Appeals to compel the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue an emergency temporary standard (ETS) protecting U.S. workers against the coronavirus.
Master Herbalist and Herbal Tea Connoisseur Launches the ZabicoLife Brand and Transforms the Luxury Herbal Tea Experience
Gladstone St. Auburn Etienne said his lifelong love and knowledge of herbs, herbalism, natural eating, and healthy living inspired him to launch his tea company ZABICOLife, a curious brand identity that stems from the French Creole word for apricot. He said the premier brand of luxury tisanes (herbal teas) is taking off nationally and fulfilling its mission to provide sublime enjoyment and foster vibrant health.
First Presbyterian Church of Houston to Host “Feeding Houston’s Heroes” Event
First responders will line up for the drive thru event on Tuesday, May 20, 11am until noon
First Presbyterian Church of Houston is expecting a parade of vehicles Tuesday morning as it hosts one of the biggest Feeding Houston’s Heroes (FHH) events yet. FHH Volunteers will turn the FPC parking lot into a drive-thru, distributing hundreds of meals to Houston’s EMS crews, firefighters, police officers and other first responders.
COVID-19 Will Change Job Recruiting; Here’s How Companies Need To Adapt
The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the business world and put tens of millions out of work in the U.S. At the same time, it’s caused a seismic shift in the way many companies operate, the biggest change being that more business functions are done while working remotely.
New Poll Reveals COVID-19’s Impacts on African American Communities
Tomorrow, May 19th at 12:00 pm ET, the African American Research Collaborative (AARC) in partnership with the NAACP and the Equity Research and Innovation Center (ERIC) at Yale School of Medicine will present new polling detailing the impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic on African American communities. Given that COVID-19 is having a disproportionate impact on black Americans across a range of indicators - infection rates, deaths, unemployment, access to care, access to education, etc. - this is the first national poll to take a deep dive into how African Americans are responding.
New Horror Thriller from Gravitas Ventures and 3RD Fathom Films to Premier on Multiple Nationwide Cable and Video Streaming Platforms June 2, 2020
Written and Directed by Black Filmmaker Taylor Ri’chard, “Hallowed Be Thy Name” Features Spinetingling Scares with a Creole Flavor
Filmmaker Taylor Ri’chard of 3RD Fathom Films announced that Gravitas Ventures will release his latest horror thriller, “Hallowed Be Thy Name,” nationwide on Video on Demand, DVD, cable, and video streaming platforms on June 2, 2020. Guaranteed to bring chills this Spring, the film follows the supernatural events after a group of teens explore a magical cave that supposedly grants a wish to those who dare to enter. Instead of their dreams coming true, the teens disturb the rest of an ancient demon who terrorizes the community.
All The Things We Never Knew
A Novel by Liara Tamani
Eleanor & Park meets “Love & Basketball” in ALL THE THINGS WE NEVER KNEW: A Novel by Liara Tamani(Greenwillow/HarperCollins, on sale June 9 2020; Hardcover, eBook), a tumultuous, lyrical teen romance about two African American, high school basketball stars who fall in love hard and fast but struggle while navigating their own tough family issues.
Comcast Xfinity X1 and Flex Customers Can Now Access Black News Channel For Free
Black News Channel, America’s first and only African American-focused 24/7 news network, is now free through the end of the year to Xfinity X1 and Flex customers, giving even more Xfinity customers access to hundreds of hours of informative, educational, and empowering programming geared toward African American audiences.
Texas A&M System Brands Landmark Campus in Texas Medical Center
Today, the Texas A&M University System announced the name of its landmark 5-acre campus in Houston, TX at the prominent intersection of Holcombe Blvd and Main St. near the Texas Medical Center (“TMC”). Setting a new standard for collaboration in engineering, medicine, research and education is the first all-new mixed-use campus for the Texas A&M System in Houston: Texas A&M Innovation Plaza.
Church Space Founder Day Edwards Launches Free Streaming Program for Churches, Ministries Across the Nation
Day Edwards is no stranger to finding innovative solutions to meet the needs of today’s churches. In 2019, the Houston-based entrepreneur and CEO made a name for herself when she founded a first-of-its- kind, digital platform for churches called Church Space. Known as “the Airbnb for churches,” Church Space is an online marketplace that helps churches earn income by renting out space for weekly worship services in addition to a variety of one-time events and gatherings.
Pandemic Thinking: How To Keep Your Head In The (Long) Game
The COVID-19 pandemic is crippling and toppling many U.S. small businesses. Often called “the backbone of the economy,” small businesses that are managing to survive face an uncertain future.
Early Bird uses 10 times less energy to train deep neural networks
Novel training method could shrink carbon footprint for greener deep learning
Rice University's Early Bird could care less about the worm; it's looking for megatons of greenhouse gas emissions.
"Southwest Sunrise" by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Wendell Minor
You don't wanna. Your favorite toys are in a box and you don't wanna leave them there. All your games, your stuffies, your outside toys, packed away. You said goodbye to your friends and teachers because your family is moving and you don't wanna. But as in the new book "Southwest Sunrise" by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Wendell Minor, just wait. When you get there, you might see things in a different color.
Mayor Turner›s Proposed FY 2021 Budget Includes Tough Cuts, Preserves Public Safety and Maintains City Services
This week, Mayor Sylvester Turner presented his proposed FY 2021 budget closing a $169 million gap caused in part by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Friends vs. Foes: Know the Difference to Protect Yourself Against COVID-19
Whodini’s 1984 #4 single on the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart questioned what a friend is. The group goes on to say that some use the word in the wrong way and even the dictionary doesn’t know the true meaning of the word. Perhaps, many of us don’t know the meaning of friends either.
A Continuing Terror, The Murder of Ahmaud Arbery
Today there is a national outcry about the murder of Ahmaud Arbery. The public condemnation has forced a belated response. Those accused of his murder have finally been arrested. His murder has become a global embarrassment for whites. For blacks, however, it is another humiliation, a continuing terror. It is the normal silence, however, that condemns thousands of African Americans to unjust deaths and millions to shattered lives. When the camera turns away, the savage injustice that embarrasses us becomes simply business as usual.
HISD names Houston law enforcement veteran as new police chief
The Houston Independent School District has named Pedro Lopez Jr., a Houston Police Department assistant chief with 32 years of experience, as the new chief of the HISD Police Department.

