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Harris County Attorney Christian D Menefee Statement on Uvalde Shooting
Below is a statement from Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee regarding the shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas.
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NHMC Mourns Murdered Niños and Teachers After Tragedy Strikes Again in Texas
For Our Children’s Safety Congress Needs to Hear from You Today!
There are no words to describe the heartbreak NHMC feels as we begin to mourn alongside the Uvalde community for the 21 innocent lives lost, the majority of which were Brown children, in yesterday’s senseless and preventable shooting in the predominantly Latino American town in Texas. We cannot continue on with business as usual - or become numb to the fact - that our niños are being murdered, and our government does nothing to stop or prevent it.
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Remarks by President Biden on the School Shooting in Uvalde, Texas
THE PRESIDENT: Good evening, fellow Americans. I had hoped, when I became President, I would not have to do this again. Another massacre. Uvalde, Texas. An elementary school. Beautiful, innocent second, third, fourth graders. And how many scores of little children who witnessed what happened see their friends die as if they're on a battlefield, for God's sake. They'll live with it the rest of their lives. There’s a lot we don’t know yet, but there’s a lot we do know.
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Shooting at a Texas elementary school leaves 14 students and a teacher dead, governor says
Two days before the start of summer break, an 18-year-old man opened fire at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, on Tuesday, killing 14 students and one teacher, Gov. Greg Abbott said.
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Black Real Estate Professionals Recruit Black Appraisers to Combat Bias, Declare War on Black Homeownership Gap
When a former client of leading Black real estate broker Donnell Williams was about to get his house refinanced in Wharton, New Jersey, Williams quoted him as asking, “‘Should I have my White friend come over and open up the door for the appraiser?’”
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Speaking of Theories...
Marcel Verdier’s 1840s painting, “Punishment of the Four Stakes/Pegs in the Colonies,” depicts an enslaved Black man, staked naked and spread-eagle face down on the ground as he is whipped by another enslaved man, while a white planter, joined by his wife and infant child casually look on. This painting speaks to the power of the white man and the helplessness of the Black man. This painting initially was created for an exhibition in Paris, France, in the mid-1800s. But the exhibition jury rejected it because it was thought that its harsh theme would offend the colonial ambassadors in Paris at the time. It now hangs in a museum in Texas.
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Rapist sentenced to 37 years in prison
A 38-year-old Houston man who raped a woman after using the internet to lure her to a motel has been sentenced to 37 years in prison, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced Tuesday.
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USDA Invests $770 Million to Expand Market Opportunities for Rural Businesses and People in 36 States and Puerto Rico
122 Projects Will Help People in Socially Vulnerable Communities
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the Department is investing $770 million to help create new and better market opportunities (PDF, 366 KB) for rural businesses and people in 36 states and Puerto Rico. The investments include $640 million for 122 projects to help people living in socially vulnerable communities.
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Renowned Chef and Humanitarian José Andrés to Receive Service to America Leadership Award
Andrés will be honored during in-person ceremony on June 7, 2022, in Washington D.C.
The National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation (NABLF) will present esteemed chef and humanitarian José Andrés with the Service to America Leadership Award, the Foundation’s highest individual honor. The award, which honors an individual’s commitment to advocacy and public service, will be presented during the Celebration of Service to America Awards on June 7 at The Anthem in Washington, D.C.
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SECU Foundation Awards $200,000 Grant for UNCF Emergency Student Aid Program
Earlier this month, SECU Foundation announced a $200,000 grant for UNCF (United Negro College Fund) to provide emergency financial assistance for students attending one of the state’s five Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) within the University of North Carolina System. The grant will support UNCF’s Emergency Student Aid program to ensure college students impacted by the pandemic or other unexpected hardships remain on track to graduate.
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Blaffer Art Museum Announces Departure of Curator Tyler Blackwell, National Search for New Curator
The Blaffer Art Museum at the University of Houston announces the impending departure of Cynthia Woods Mitchell Associate Curator Tyler Blackwell, who will leave the Blaffer in July 2022 to begin a new position as Curator of Contemporary Art at the Speed Art Museum in Louisville, KY. The Blaffer also announces a national search for a new curator, set to commence this summer.
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Millennial Entrepreneur on Working with Sommer Ray & Tackling the Taboo of Sexual Wellness
Attorney, co-founder of Imaraïs Beauty (by Sommer Ray), millennial entrepreneur Felicia Hershenhorn is making a serum for sex AKA Play Primer (available July 2022) that’s as chic as your BFF’s designer lipstick, the next step in your self-care routine (basically a skin-serum for your vagina), and CBD-infused for bigger, better, and faster orgasms.
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Congressman Al Green Joins Congressman Dean Phillips to Introduce Legislation to Strengthen the State Small Business Credit Initiative
On Tuesday, May 24, 2022, Congressman Al Green released the following statement:
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Harris County Attorney Introduces Regulations for Resale of Catalytic Converters
At today’s Commissioners Court meeting Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee will present an update to the Harris County metal recycling regulations to address the reselling of stolen catalytic converters.
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Five secretary of state races to watch, starting Tuesday
A version of this story appeared in the CITIZEN BY CNN newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here.
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Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in tears as he ends remarkable career after French Open defeat
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was in tears Tuesday as the curtain came down on his storied career after he lost in the first round at the French Open. The Frenchman, who announced he would retire after this year's Roland Garros, was beaten 6-7 (6) 7-6 (4) 6-2 7-6 (0) by Norwegian Casper Ruud, bringing his 18-year professional career to an end.
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Coca-Cola is discontinuing Honest Tea
First Coca-Cola cut Tab, Odwalla and Zico coconut water. Now, Honest Tea is getting axed.
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The Women’s Fund for Health Education and Resiliency Hosts 7th Annual Wine Dinner
The aroma of rich and harmonious wine along with culinary delights and entertainment united more than 200 supporters and guests on the vine for The Women’s Fund for Health Education and Resiliency and its 7th Annual Wine Dinner at Tony’s on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. The Wine Dinner, presented by The Durdin Family and Parkway Family Chevrolet, Mazda and Kia, raised more than $205,000 to ensure Houston-area women and girls have free access to tools they need to be advocates for their health through classes, workshops, lectures, and publications focused on physical, mental, financial, emotional, health, and wellness.
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An off-script Biden works to bury Trump's legacy in Asia
When President Joe Biden stated unequivocally Monday he was willing to intervene militarily to defend Taiwan against a Chinese attack, it was not the first time this city has seen a US president catch his national security aides off guard.
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Bill Gates: We must remember this takeaway from the Great Recession
During the Great Recession, something happened that I found surprising -- and very encouraging. When the United States and other wealthy countries faced a financial crisis, I expected they might cut foreign aid. But instead, from 2007 to 2009, data we analyzed from The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development show that donor nations increased their commitment to global health aid by 16% -- and millions of lives were saved.

