Houston Defender: January 6, 2022

COVID HOW TO LIVE WITH

ENTERTAINMENT

SPORTS

KEMI OG

BUBBA MCDOWELL

The talented dancer talks about the rise of Afrobeats music and dance.

Volume 91, issue 9 January 6, 2022

The former Houston Oiler has been named the new head football coach at PV.

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Message from the Managing Editor of 2021, but if you’re like a lot of Americans, you set resolutions Jan. 1 and forgot them by COVID is roaming through the country, inJan. 4. Part of the problem is many of us arvading family gatherings, hanging out in bars, en’t realistic in our resolutions. We recycle the and on the hunt for hosts to carry it around. same ol’ promises, without looking at the fact Okay, maybe this virus isn’t some horror movthat our lives have changed and we need to ie, but as we near year two of dealing with this change our outlooks as well. Let’s start with pandemic, it feels like we’re in a never-ending resolving to be realistic in making manageReShonda Tate Netflix saga. While I’m questioning if this is our able resolutions. Pick goals that you know are Billingsley new normal (Check out our centerfold on this achievable and that actually stir up feelings of issue)….I have another burning question that I excitement. Don’t tackle too many goals, just can’t make sense of…why are y’all STILL out here refusing pick a few that really resonate with you and write them to get vaccinated???? down so you can hold yourself accountable. And head Those with medical issues or religious reasons, I’m not over to DefenderNetwork.com and read my article on talking to you. I’m talking to people like my friend, who says how to actually keep your New Year’s resolutions and not “I don’t know what’s in that vaccine so I’m not getting vac- drive yourself crazy trying to achieve unrealistic expeccinated.” Yet, he buys his weed from a dude named Lil’ C tations. who lives in a duplex by the ship channel. Folks eat a McRib (does anyone have a clue what that’s made of??). I’m talking Speaking of crazy to people like a nationally-known comedian who was in I’m beginning to think that people like Rep. Marjorie town recently boasting about how he’s unvaccinated, toured Taylor Greene say things just to get tongue’s wagging. The the country and still hasn’t gotten COVID so it “must be a GA Republican believes the GOP may be “turning people hoax.” (People bought tickets to his show because they’d got- away” with attempts at more inclusive outreach during the ten vaccinated, but he basically called us dumb for pump- holidays. When the College Republicans sent out a Happy ing the vaccine into our systems. Make it make sense). I’m Kwanzaa message, the far-right Republican replied to them, talking to the right-wingers, the left-wingers, the no-wing- “Stop. It’s a fake religion created by a psychopath. People are ers, who got their measles, polio and every other vaccine, tired of pandering and BS.” So many things are wrong with but come up with a myriad of reasons as to why they won’t this….one, she misspelled Kwanzaa. Two, Kwanzaa isn’t a get this one. Maybe COVID isn’t an issue for you. Until it is. religion. Three, this woman bathes in hate, let’s stop making Or maybe you won’t get it and you’ll just pass it to grandma her relevant. And four, super glad FB and Twitter have now and kill her instead. Either way, why take the chance? I know banned her behind her constant misinformation. It won’t siyou can still get COVID with the vaccine. But would you lence her, but maybe it’ll slow her hateful rhetoric. rather be vaccinated and wiping your running nose at home, or be unvaccinated and on a ventilator struggling to breathe On the Web in ICU. That’s a no-brainer for me. Get vaccinated, people.

• Legendary Acres Homes barber Joe Thomas dies at 94.

• Local Black Studies teachers committed to teaching the How are those New Year’s whole truth. resolutions working for you?

• In sports, Terrance Harris talks about the Houston teams The beginning of 2022 looked a lot like the beginning are dealing with COVID.

@defendernetwork

Are we REALLY still begging folks to get vaccinated?

January 6, 2022 |

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DN News Houston homicides skyrocket Defender News Service

during a hold-up.

The number of homicides in the City of Some of the homicides are still unexHouston is up for the second year in a row. plainable. A man was shot and killed As 2021 wrapped, 473 people were killed while on a date inside the Downtown by another person. That is an 18% increase Aquarium restaurant in July. Police say from 2020 to 2021 and a 71% increase from the shooter had been drinking at the bar, 2019 to 2021. when for no reason, he walked over to a According to Crime couple and shot them.

Stoppers, the deadliest year “We’ve seen an increase HOMICIDES was in 1981, when there in violence across the were more than 700 homic o u n t r y, o f c o u r s e , cides in the city.

COVID-19 exacerbated Many of the homicides a lot of this,” said Rania in 2020 received wideMankarios with Crime spread attention. Some of Stoppers. “We’ve seen them were attributed to people move to violence compared to 2020 road rage. much quicker than in Houston police said times past, we know that a driver shot and killed there’s an uptick in gang 17-year-old David Castro activity and drug activity as he and his father left an and domestic violence.”

Astros game in July.

Mankarios said another Other homicides were contributing factor to the related to domestic viorise in homicides is that the compared to 2019 lence. In September, a very crimes of repeat offenders public murder-suicide hapare escalating once they are pened in the lobby of the Marriot Marquis released from custody, sometimes going in the middle of the day. from aggravated assault to murder when Other deadly crimes were related to they’re released. armed robberies. New Orleans Police The Houston Police Department Detective Everett Briscoe was killed out- declined to comment on the rise in homiside of the Grotto restaurant in Uptown cides in 2021.

18% 71%

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner speaks during a press conference to provide updates on the investigation in the murder of off-duty New Orleans Police officer Everett Briscoe in Aug. 2021. AP

Harris County works to curb crime

#DefenderFact

Defender News Service

Harris County leaders are hoping to curb violent crime in 2022.

Last month, county commissioners approved a plan to target seven microzones where violent crime is rising. County residents say they have seen more law enforcement out on the streets. However, it’s not because more deputies have been hired. Instead, officials say paying overtime is paying off.

The Harris County Safe Program provided $2.6 million to put close to 100 extra deputies on the street each day.

“We have five districts in the Harris County Sheriff ’s Office. If you wanted to divide 100 by that, it’s basically 20, but some of them are not seeing as much participation as others,” Capt. John Nanny said.

That’s because the program relies on deputies to pick up extra shifts. Something the Harris County Deputies’ Organization says concerns them.

“It’s the wrong kind of triage. We should be looking at hiring more officers, putting more people in investigations,” David Batton, with the Harris Co. Deputies’ Organization, told a local news station last month.

4.5 mil

Only time will tell if violent crime trends down, but until then, Nanny said his deputies will give it their best effort.

“They are working it as much as we can. You just spread people too thin

and they can only work so many hours,” Nanny said. “We’ve seen some positive results from them (but) it’s too early to determine what kind of effect it’s really having.”

American workers quit their jobs in November, a sign of confidence that they can quickly find a new — and potentially better — job. The high quit rate is evidence that the U.S. job market is bouncing back strongly from last year’s coronavirus recession.

Read more at DefenderNetwork.com

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DN News

Will Senate protect voting rights?

Schumer sets MLK Day goal for eliminating the filibuster

Let me be clear: January 6th was a symptom of a broader illness — an effort to delegitimize our election process, and the Senate must advance systemic democracy reforms to repair our republic or else the events of that day will not be an aberration — they will be the new norm.”

Associated Press

Days before the anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced the Senate will vote soon on easing filibuster rules in an effort to advance stalled voting legislation that Democrats say is needed to protect America’s democracy.

In a letter to colleagues, Schumer, D-N.Y., said the Senate “must evolve” and will “debate and consider” the rule changes by Jan. 17, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, as the Democrats seek to overcome Republican opposition to their elections law package.

“Let me be clear: January 6th was a symptom of a broader illness — an effort to delegitimize our election process,” Schumer wrote, “and the Senate must advance systemic democracy reforms to repair our republic or else the events of that day will not be an aberration — they will be the new norm.”

The election and voting rights package has been stalled in the evenly split 50-50 Senate, blocked by a Republican-led filibuster with Democrats unable to mount the 60 votes needed to advance it toward passage.

So far Democrats have been unable to agree among themselves over potential changes to the Senate rules to reduce the 60-vote hurdle, despite months of private negotiations.

Two holdout Democrats, Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, have tried to warn their party off changes to the Senate rules, arguing that if

Chuck Schumer

Senate Majority Leader

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks to reports at the Capitol. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

and when Republicans take majority control of the chamber they can then use the lower voting threshold to advance bills Democrats strongly oppose.

President Joe Biden has waded only cautiously into the debate — a former longtime senator who largely stands by existing rules but is also under enormous political pressure to break the logjam on the voting legislation.

Voting rights advocates warn that Republican-led states

are passing restrictive legislation and trying to install election officials loyal to the former President, Donald Trump, in ways that could subvert future elections.

Ideas include forcing senators to hold the floor, old-fashioned style, rather than simply raise their filibuster objections — a scene that would have echoes of the 1950s and 1960s when Southern segregationists filibustered civil rights legislation.

Other ideas are also being considered, and some Democrats have noted that Sinema has mentioned she is open to hearing the arguments as part of a full debate.

Republicans are so worried Democrats will end the filibuster that McConnell has taken other actions to try to keep Manchin and Sinema close so they don’t join the rest of their party in making any drastic changes.

MANDATORY: FAFSA required for high school seniors Laura Onyeneho

If Texas high school seniors want to graduate, they have to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form before the Jan. 15 deadline.

A federal study conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics says there are several reasons why students don’t complete the FAFSA. Some families believe they can cover the costs without the federal aid, or that they wouldn’t qualify for financial aid, or half don’t know what is it and don’t know how to complete one.

The Texas Education Agency states that “only 40% of Texas’ 240,000 low-income eighth-graders enroll in college four years later; the other 60% (at an average Pell grant award of $4,010 per student per year) conservatively represents over $300 million per year per cohort of untapped federal resources available for their post-secondary education.”

In recent years, the federal government has worked to make changes to the form application process that will make it easier to navigate for families who’ve struggled to fill out the form. However, these steps aren’t enough.

They want more students to qualify for aid and making the completion of the FAFSA form mandatory to graduate from high school.

Across the Houston region and statewide, approximately 57% of the Class of 2021 completed the FAFSA last year and education institutions like YES Prep Public Schools are getting ahead of the looming deadline.

“With the rising cost of college tuition and living expenses, a student’s ability to afford college is a huge

barrier,” said Roberto Treviño, managing director of college initiatives at YES Prep Public Schools and former university admissions officer in a official press release. “Colleges and universities use the FAFSA’s information to determine students’ eligibility for millions of dollars in loans, grants and scholarships available. The earlier a student applies, the better their chances of getting a better JAN. 15 DEADLINE financial aid package.”

YES Prep’s efforts to support graduating seniors transition to the collegiate level focuses on five pillars.

1. One on one advising for each student throughout the year.

2. Seminar classes to prepare students for the college process 3. Career service opportunities for students seeking help during the academic year or summer season.

4. College partnership program.

5. Alumni program connecting with former students as a guide for their post-secondary career decisions.

Treviño says families are an integral part of the process.

Many students are first generation college students or come from immigrant families who hadn’t attended college. He says a major demographic that’s often missing in these conversations are undocumented students living in Texas who’ve

lived and schooled in the state for three or more years.

“Undocumented students should fill out the TAFSA (Texas Application for Student Aid) to receive aid from the state of Texas. They aren’t qualified to receive aid from the federal government but they are eligible to receive some money from the state,” he said.

VOLUME 91 - NUMBER 8 - JANUARY 6, 2022 Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles

Managing Editor ReShonda Tate

Chief Development Officer Emelda Douglas

Associate Editor Aswad Walker

Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles

Education Reporter Laura Onyeneho

Creative Director Michael Grant

Sports Terrance Harris Jodie B. Jiles

Engagement Manager Alexandria Williams

Photographers Jimmie Aggison

The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Newspaper Inc. and audited by Alliance for Audited Media (AAM). Only digital subscriptions are available at: www.defendernetwork.com/subscribe No paper subscriptions available. All materials covered by 2020 copyright.

No materials herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher. 713-663-6996 | P.O. Box 8005, Houston, Tx 77288

January 6, 2022 |

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DEFENDER NETWORK

presents the

Brought to you by State Rep. Garnet Coleman

Saturday, January 15 at 10 am

Program begins @ 1 pm Special Admission Gardere Oratory Speech Winner Peace March | MLK Children’s Video ALL DAY Activities & Live Performances!

5

$

CARYAKID AWARD MUSEUM’S HIGHEST HONOR

DR. MARCUS D. COSBY Senior Pastor Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church

COVID PROTOCOL MASK REQUIRED

A Community Partnership celebrating the Defender 90 years.

TO REGISTER GO TO https://www.cmhouston.org/events/mlk-day

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DN InFocus FOCUS SOCIAL

How to Live with COVID

A nurse is handed a dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine.

Is this the new normal?

By ReShonda Tate

There’s no telling what the future holds and how that will evolve, but when you’re living life day to day, this is our new normal.”

-Dr. Richina Bicette, Baylor College of Medicine

gather with friends or family members, do it in an outdoor setting. If As the world heads into the second year of the you’re indoors, make sure you’re in a place with high ventilation. Wear pandemic — with yet another spike in cases and a high quality masks and just practicing overall good hygiene. Things like new, more contagious variant running rampant washing your hands, making sure to cover your nose and mouth when — there seems to be no end in sight for the may- you sneeze, the things that we were taught as children that seemed to hem COVID-19 has caused. Now, with COVID have fallen by the wayside.” expected to become a fixture — and considering how fast the omicron variant spreads - many Prepare mentally are wondering if life with COVID is the The pandemic has forced changes to every aspect of our life — from new normal. how and where we work to who cares for our children to how we wor“We’re never going to be able to ship or spend time with loved ones. Activities have gone virtual. Society eradicate or eliminate COVID, so we has adapted with Zoom calls, working from home, gathering outside, have to learn how to live with it,’ said wearing masks. All that change means people have become more flexible Dr. Richina Bicette, assistant professor and can respond better going forward. of emergency medicine at Baylor Dr. Lateefah Watford, a psychiatrist in the Behavioral Health DepartCollege of Medicine. “Before ment at Kaiser Permanente, said we can no longer expect life to return COVID 19 was a thing, Corona- to pre-COVID normal. virus was around. If you look at “I think for me as a psychiatrist and a person, as a parent and wife, I some of the top household products, have to step back and say this is where we are, and I can only say what’s some of them used to say kills coronavi- going on right now. What’s normal before is never going to be normal ruses. So that family of viruses has always again and that’s okay,” said Watford. “To accept that, and not think this been around. It just has found time it’s going to be over and going away, it’s just not. And a way to morph into a new, more truly acknowledging that will help us move forward.” vicious, more dangerous disease that Experts say the same coping tips recommended during can affect humans.” challenging times are still valid but may be more important Early in the pandemic, many people than ever during a pandemic. Watford said it’s important held out hope that COVID-19 would be to continue to reduce stress and avoid burnout, by doing a thing of the past once vaccines rolled things you enjoy — such as exercising, reading, cooking. out. But hope for a zero-COVID country Mindfulness can also be helpful. And many experts point has fizzled for most experts. to a practice of gratitude and focusing on what we have and “I don’t think it’s impossible to think that there are people what we can do, not on what we don’t and can’t. that are never going to contract COVID. But I do think that Dr. Richina Bicette As people try to move forward and accept the reality of we probably are going to have to figure out a way to function the lasting pandemic, the toll of the past months has been with, and around it,” Dr. Bicette said. grueling, even traumatic. Loved ones have died. Many people who caught the virus are dealing with a constellation of long-haul symptoms. Many Moving from a pandemic to an endemic kids have returned to school but are still reeling from pandemic-induced Health experts now expect the virus to circulate indefinitely with isolation and academic gaps. lower and more predictable case numbers — a status known as endeOne possible future many experts see: In the post-pandemic period, micity. That would make the coronavirus like many other viruses that the virus causes colds for some and more serious illness for others, humanity has learned to deal with, such as influenza. depending on their overall health, vaccine status and prior infections.

In fact, government and public health officials are already operating Mutations will continue and might eventually require boosters every so with that idea in mind. There has been a shift from stopping the virus’s often that are updated to better match new variants. But human immune spread with things like mask mandates and lockdown, to a focus more systems will continue to get better at recognizing and fighting back. on reducing risk and allowing the vaccinated and the boosted to go on Immunologist Ali Ellebedy at Washington University finds hope in the with relatively normal lives with precautions. body’s amazing ability to remember germs it’s seen before and create That does not, however, mean people should stop taking preventive multi-layer defenses. measures, experts say. Instead, they are beginning to consider a future Ellebedy said as breakthrough infections inevitably continue, there in which COVID precautions, such as masking and social distancing, will be a drop in severe illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths — regardless could become somewhat common. Vaccinations would remain central, of the next variant. as would precautions for vulnerable people. But the bottom line is to “We are not the same population that we were in December of 2019,” figure out ways to lower your risk. he said. “It’s different ground now.”

“Of course not interacting with people who are not in your household Think of a wildfire tearing through a forest after a drought, he said. is something that you can do to lower your risk and making sure that That was 2020. Now, even with omicron, “it’s not completely dry land,” everyone else in your household is on the same page, but that’s difficult but wet enough “that made the fire harder to spread.” for most people. We have jobs. We have to go to a grocery store. We have He foresees a day when someone gets a coronavirus infection, stays activities for our children. So staying locked up is not really realistic,” home two to three days “and then you move on. That hopefully will be Dr. Bicette said. “If you do have to interact with people who are not in the endgame.” your household, try to maintain your distance as best as possible. If you The Associated Press contributed to this report.

LET THE PEOPLE BE HEARD Readers weigh in on whether living with COVID is the ‘new normal.’

Ashara Ylana “I’m not taking it as seriously as I did in 2020. I am cautious but not fearful. I’ve had it and beat it, thank God, but I’m not locked in my house. I’m not wearing masks everywhere. I’m enjoying life and learning to live with it.”

Edwina Putney “I don’t ignore facts and science. I consider it in the same vein as flu — a virus that keeps mutating each year to survive. So, it’s something we will likely have to live with indefinitely or forever.”

Gwen Richardson “I believe we will gradually get back to normal but it could take years.”

JoAnn Hardnett “I just mask up, got boosted, limit the people I interact with (I was doing that before COVID), and continue with my life. Eventually it will become seasonal like the flu.”

Candice Ordered Steps Johnson “I’ve never been the same after contracting it. So I am taking it extremely seriously. And I do believe it’s the new norm. At least for me.”

Traci Lynn Manigault “This is our new normal. I am fearful for my elderly mother and my grandchildren. My grandchildren have been exposed in the classroom and my 4-year old granddaughter thinks this is part of life.”

D’Nisha Smith “COVID is never going away or so it seems. I’m a healthcare worker and we can’t catch a break. It’s exhausting. This is our new normal. I take it just as seriously now as I did when it first started.”

Cindy Williams-Dsouza “We had a Christmas gathering now everyone over 60 at the gathering has COVID. Thankfully everyone who contracted it is vaxxed, symptoms are mostly mild. I am way more picky about who I share space with.”

Qiana Groves “Because people refuse to follow the rules I do believe this is our new normal. When COVID first started I took it very serious…but after getting vaccinated I kind of fell off with being extra cautious. But since this Omicron variant…I’m back to taking it seriously. They’re so many people with COVID now it’s scary.”

Brittney Holmes Jackson “Definitely think it’s our new normal. I’m not afraid or worried about what that means with the exception of how it has drastically impacted education and the future of our kids, little to no socialization, falling behind in academics, etc. I trust God and medicine so with the exception of taking a few extra precautions due to my pregnancy, I still have intentions on safely enjoying my life versus being locked away from the world.”

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DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Feature

Children’s Museum Houston celebrates MLK

Defender News Service

Children’s Museum Houston and the Houston Defender have teamed up to honor civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., during the Museum’s 26th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. Brought to you by Rep. Garnet Coleman, the event commemorates Dr. King’s legacy and his powerful call for equality, justice, and the end of racism in America during the civil rights movement.

The Museum’s event will also commemorate Houston Defender’s 90-years of service. Houston Defender serves as the leading source of information for the city’s Black community and has been a Museum partner for three decades.

“Houston Defender has been a remarkable and influential partner of Children’s Museum Houston,” said Dr. Lisa Williams, Children’s Museum Houston’s director of gallery programs. “Through our partnership with Houston Defender, we are honored to be able to continue to reach and serve Houston’s Black and multicultural communities. We applaud the Houston Defender’s 90 years of service.”

“The Children’s Museum has offered children in the Houston area an amazing experience of learning, love and fun,” said Defender CEO Sonny Messiah Jiles. “I remember taking my children, who are in their mid 30s, to the

Through our partnership with Houston Defender, we are honored to be able to continue to reach and serve Houston’s Black and multicultural communities. We applaud the Houston Defender’s 90 years of service.”

Dr. Lisa Williams, Children’s Museum Houston’s director of gallery programs

museum as they explored the grocery store, learned science through hands-on experiments and developed new friendships. It was fascinating then and they continue the mission today. The Defender is proud to partner with the Children’s Museum Houston for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day because it is important our children learn that “character” is the true reflection of a person.”

The Museum’s event will be marked by a Group photo from 2020 MLK Day celebration honoring former Houston Area Urban League President Sylvia Brooks.

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musical performance by Providence Jazz Ensemble, a peace rally lead by the Museum’s Kids’ Committee, and a recital by this year’s Gardere Oratory Speech winner. Children will also watch excerpts from Dr. King’s historic speech which changed the course of history, share their dreams on a dream cloud, design peace doves and take a pledge to al-

CLASSIFIED The HARRIS CENTER for Mental Health and IDD (formerly known as MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL RETARDATION AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY) will be accepting proposals for the following:

THE HARRIS CENTER PUBLIC WEBSITE Specifications may be secured from The HARRIS CENTER, Purchasing Services located at 9401 SW Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074; telephone (713) 970-7281, The HARRIS CENTER website www.theharriscenter.org or the Electronic State Business Daily Site https://portal.cpa.state. tx.us/ beginning Tuesday, January 11, 2022. A Non-Mandatory Pre-Proposal Conference will be held on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 at 10:00a.m. via Lifesize (call in by phone: 1-877-4228614, Meeting ID 12540112#). Deadline for prospective vendors to submit questions to this RFP is Wednesday, January 19, 2022. Proposals must be submitted to Purchasing Services, 9401 SW Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074 by 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 2, 2022 in a sealed envelope marked “PROPOSAL - DO NOT OPEN UNTIL – WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022, THE HARRIS CENTER PUBLIC WEBSITE”. Any questions pertaining to this solicitation should be addressed in writing to Frances Otto, CTCD, Buyer II and Sharon Brauner, C.P.M., Purchasing Manager, via E-mail to frances.otto@theharriscenter.org cc: sharon.brauner@theharriscenter.org or fax at (713) 970-7682. Historically Underutilized Businesses, including Minority-Owned Businesses and Women-Owned Businesses are encouraged to participate. The HARRIS CENTER reserves all rights to reject any and/or all proposals, to waive formalities and reasonable irregularities in submitted documents as it deems to be in its best interests, and is not obligated to accept the lowest proposal.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO)

At its December 16, 2021 meeting, the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO) approved the FY2020 Urbanized Area Formula, the FY2020 State of Good Repair and the FY2020 Bus and Bus Facilities Programs of Projects. These Programs of Projects will be funded with grant support from the United States Department of Transportation Section 5307, Section 5337 and Section 5339 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act). A complete listing of the projects can be found at:

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Texaslottery.com is the official source for all pertinent game information. Game closing procedures may be initiated for documented business reasons. These games may have prizes unclaimed, including top prizes. In addition, game closing procedures will be initiated when all top prizes have been claimed. During closing, games may be sold even after all top prizes have been claimed. Must be 18 or older to purchase a ticket. For help with a gambling problem, ncpgambling.org. © 2022 Texas Lottery Commission. PLAY RESPONSIBLY.

http://www.ridemetro.org/Pages/NewsPublicHearing.aspx.

Members of the public may submit comments in writing to METRO Grant Programs office on the 5th floor, 1900 Main, Houston, TX 77002; or, requests for a public hearing will be accepted until 5:00 p.m., Friday, January 14, 2022. Further information may be obtained by contacting Albert Lyne, METRO Director of Grant Programs, at 713-739-4697 or al21@RideMETRO.org.

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ways be kind and fair.

This year’s Caryakid Award – the Museum’s highest honor – will be presented to Reverend Dr. Marcus D. Cosby for his dedication to Houston’s children and exemplifying the values of Dr. King. Reverend Cosby serves as the senior pastor of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church.

The approved FY2020 Program of Projects outlined above will become the final Program of Projects unless amended by the Board of Directors.

RideMETRO.org • 713-635-4000 All METRO vehicles are 100% accessible.

January 6, 2022 |

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DN Entertainment

Kemi OG Afrobeats music, dancers on the rise

By Laura Onyeneho

In the last few years Afrobeats has increased in popularity in the United States and internationally. Walk into any club in Houston, Miami, Atlanta or New York and you might hear the harmonious, upbeat and energetic melodies of Afrobeats music.

Afrobeats is the blending of traditional African music with the modern sounds of hip-hop, dancehall and R&B music.

DJs, producers, club promotors and the African diaspora are just a few on a long list of those who deserve credit for pushing the genre forward, but another group who deserve their flowers are Afrobeats dancers.

Kemi OG is a Houston Afrobeats dancer, choreographer, fitness instructor and creative director. She is the Afrodance instructor at the Institute of Contemporary Dance and the founder of Afrobeats with Kemi OG, a program that teaches technique and fusion choreography, and OG Creatives, a studio using art to explore Black narratives.

Since 2012, she has trained and taught Afrodance and produced several shows and multimedia performance pieces. Kemi’s abstract and culturally-infused dance pieces often reflect the experiences of people of color.

She has performed for artists such as Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Afro B, Mr. Eazi and others.

The Defender spoke to Kemi OG about the Afrobeats scene in Houston and what aspiring dancers can do to turn it into a viable career.

Defender: Was dance always your dream career or was it something you transitioned into?

Kemi OG: I’ve always been a dancer. It started in pri-

mary school in Nigeria. I loved cultural dance. It was my favorite elective. In 2005, I moved to the United States and struggled to assimilate into the culture. I felt homesick, so I turned to anything that could possibly tie me back home and that was food and dance. In 2011, I was in high school and my career trajectory was civil engineering. And literally from the age of five I was told that I was going to be an engineer.

But it wasn’t until college in the midst of after realizing how much talent I had, that this is something I really enjoy doing. It’s healing for me. I like that I’m creating work that people can connect to. It was always a hobby, but it wasn’t until maybe two or three years ago that I told myself that this is my purpose…something I want to see grow with me until the end.

Defender: As a young Nigerian professional, was there pressure to be successful in a more “traditional” career choice?

Kemi OG: I finished two degrees in en-

gineering and worked in the industry for two years before I decided to fully focus on dance. I loved college. I enjoyed everything that I was doing, but once that support system was removed, I sat down and looked at what I wanted to be doing for the rest of my life.

There was one year I did engineering with very limited dance and I just couldn’t get through it.

As for my family, they are still recovering from my decision. When I first broke the news to them, all hell did kind of break loose. I was struggling with a lot of things. I was a good kid and the oldest child. It wasn’t overnight but I think my parents saw the level of dedication that I had to the craft. They saw where I was analyzing how I was teaching, how I build curriculums and how I market myself. Then they saw how I was as an engineer without dance and they didn’t like that version of me.

Houston-based Afrobeats Dancer, Kemi OG

LEARN ABOUT THE AFROBEATS SCENE IN HOUSTON AND KEMI’S UPCOMING PROJECTS

10 | January 6, 2022 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Sports Texans defensive back Tavierre Thomas was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after finishing with eight tackles, one passed defensed and an interception return for a touchdown against the Chargers.

UH freshman Ramon Walker, Jr., a product of Shadow Creek, scored 13 points, which included a huge 3-pointer down the stretch in the 12th-ranked Cougars’ 66-61 basketball win over Temple.

Sports Briefs

Houston Texans top wide receiver Brandin Cooks was one of 13 players who missed the Week 16 win over the Los Angeles Chargers while on the Reserve/ COVID-19 list but he was back in action in Week 17 against San Francisco.

AP

Rockets showing signs of dysfunction After a promising flash last month, it’s disappointing to see the Rockets fall back into a rut. In a recent home game against Denver, young star Kevin Porter abruptly left the arena during halftime Kevin after a locker Porter Jr. room blow up and leading scorer Christian Wood was benched for violating the rules and refusing to enter the game. It shouldn’t be surprising that the Rockets were in the midst of a seven-game losing streak at that point.

Andre Johnson finalist for Hall of Fame Former Texans wide receiver great Andre Johnson has been selected as one of 15 finalists for the 2022 Class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It’s his first year of eligibility. Johnson, a third-round pick Andre Johnson of the Texans in 2003, played 12 seasons in Houston, making seven Pro Bowls and five All-Pro teams during that period while being the only player in the Texans Ring of Honor. He will find out in February if he makes the cut for this summer’s enshrinement.

Prairie View tabs Bubba McDowell Prairie View has promoted longtime assistant coach Bubba McDowell, a former safety with the Houston Oilers and Carolina Panthers, to replace departed Eric Dooley as the Panthers’ new Bubba head football McDowell coach. McDowell had been a member of the Panthers’ coaching staff for the last 11 seasons, serving as the assistant head coach and cornerbacks coach in recent years. McDowell retired from the NFL in 1996.

Houston-area sports teams fight through COVID-19 outbreak

By Terrance Harris

First-year Texans coach David Culley learned a lot about how to deal with COVID19 protocols when he was an assistant with the Baltimore Ravens last season.

It’s a next-man-up mentality while following whatever NFL guidelines for protocols are in place. Clearly, Culley took heed to the lessons learned in Baltimore when he and the coaching staff creatively guided the Texans through a brief two-game winning streak while dealing with key players in and out of practice and the lineup while adhering to the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols.

“We’ve kind of taken that same approach and just kept away the distractions and disruptions of what’s going on around us and just kept focus on what we have to do and doing our jobs,” said Culley, whose team’s winning streak stalled at two games following last weekend’s loss at San Francisco. “I think that’s been the biggest thing that I’ve learned in being here.”

Sports across the board are having to take what they’ve learned about how to deal with this potentially life-threatening virus and apply it on the fly as the new omicron variant of the coronavirus is wreaking havoc on the world.

The fallout from the rapid spread has affected virtually all sports teams in the Houston area. The Texans, for instance, had

13 players out on COVID-19 protocol during Week 16, including key players like leading wide receiver Brandin Cooks, defensive lineman Jonathan Greenard and kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn.

The Rockets have also had key players in and out of their lineup, such as Jae-Sean Tate, Garrison Mathews, D.J. Augustin and K.J. Martin due to protocols.

The Texas Southern, Prairie View A&M and University of Houston basketball teams have had to forgo recent games because either they or their opponents were caught up in the protocols. The Panthers men’s basketball team had to forfeit their Jan. 3 SWAC opener against Grambling State due to protocols within their program.

Dealing with disruptions caused by the pandemic isn’t new. That has been a reality since the initial outbreak brought everything, including sports, to a near standstill in the spring of 2020.

But what is new is that the sports world seems determined to stay the course within the guidelines of the respective sports leagues and college conferences. That has meant pauses, forfeits and amendments to protocols that have been in place, but no shutdowns or limits on fan attendance this time around – so far.

With the postseason fast approaching, the NFL has scaled back the number of days a

vaccinated player has to quarantine from 10 days to five days provided the player has two negative tests in a row.

The SWAC, which last year instituted a policy that if a basketball team has at least seven available players and one coach then it can compete, has now added a new rule that if a league game is missed because of COVID that a forfeit will be accounted against the infected team or teams. The UH Cougars were recently assessed a forfeit because of a protocols issue within the program prior to their game against Cincinnati, in accordance with American Athletic Conference guidelines.

“It’s adjusting again to COVID,” said TSU Athletic Director Kevin Granger, whose men’s and women’s basketball programs have seen non-conference games canceled in recent weeks but not because of outbreaks from the Tigers side. “We understood going into his sporting season that COVID wasn’t gone. Obviously, we didn’t think it would ramp back up there to the level it has but it has because of the new variant that is out there.

“Everybody is adjusting now and kind of reconditioning themselves like starting COVID over with the new variant. We are making the adjustments on our end to make sure our student-athletes remain safe and as healthy as possible.”

January 6, 2022 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Sports BELLAIRE SMALL FORWARD

JACOLB

COLE An All-Around Baller

By Jodie B. Jiles

Bellaire High School junior small forward Jacolb Cole has consistently grown his game year-after-year, since his freshman year. One would think that a 6-foot 8-inch Cole would be buried in the low post position or in the dunkers spot. But this is not the case.

Not only can Cole drive the lane with the force of a Lebron, he can also pivot and maneuver his body to make plays for himself and teammates without forcing offensive charge calls.

In the Cardinals 78-49 victory over rival Lamar High School, Jacolb went off, scoring 30 points, 8 rebounds and way too many assists to count.

Whether his passes were from half court or coast-to-coast, Cole could hit his guys like a seasoned quarterback in the pocket.

The Defender spoke with Jacolb Cole about his style of play, playmaking abilities, development and more.

STYLE OF PLAY

“l really like to get to my spots to get my shots up to play AllAround.”

INVOLVING TEAMMATES

“When my teammates get off and get hyped everyone else gets hyped, which turns me up as well to make more plays.”

PINPOINT PASSES

“You know I have always been a good passer, I like to just get others involved and hoop.”

3-YEAR DEVELOPMENT

“I have really grown mentally since I was a freshman because I had juniors and seniors that

lifted me up and had me. So, now I am just leading the team like they passed on to me.”

PLAYING THROUGH CONTACT

“I work on my body a lot. So, I am ready to absorb the contact because I have confidence that nobody on the court is stronger than me.”

END OF SEASON PUSH

“Us staying mentally tough, when we get down, stay strong and push through adversity together…Once we are able to grasp that and push through that together we are going to be great.”

ABOUT JACOLB COLE

Twitter: @thejacolbcole Current Offers: University of Houston, LSU, Georgia, Oklahoma, Nebraska….

Players He Studies: Paul George and Lamar Odom Favorite Artist: Lil Baby Shoutouts: My trainer Stephon Martinez and my strength trainer Justin Allen

| 11

12 | January 06, 2022 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

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