Houston Style Magazine Vol 32 No 15

Houston Style Magazine April 09 – April 15, 2021

Houston’s Premiere Weekly Publication, Since 1989

Volume 32 | Number 15

H Dwight Boykins – “Changing 1 Life At A Time” H

Complimentary

Jesse Jackson

Has America Come Any Closer To Dr. King’s Dream?

Houston’s New Police Chief :

TROY FINNER

Rasheedah Carr

Promoted To Vice President Of Engineering At Comcast Houston

By Jo-Carolyn Goode, Managing Editor • PHOTOS: HPD – www.StyleMagazine.com

STAY HOME H WORK SAFE CORONAVIRUS – US NUMBERS: Cases: 31,169,999 Deaths: 565,292

TAG US: #TeamStyleMag

Twitter: @HoustonStyle

Instagram: @StyleMagazineHTX

George Floyd Died Of Low-Level Of Oxygen

Facebook: @HoustonStyleMagazine

Tiger Woods Crash Cause Reported

Falyn M. Davis

How To Win As A Buyer In A Sellers Real Estate Market

STYLE HAUTE SHOTS

N E W S | C O M M E N TA R I E S | S P O R T S | H E A LT H | E N T E R TA I N M E N T Support Black Owned Businesses

Week of April 5, 2021

1. Houston Metro Fallbrook, 111 Fallbrook Dr., 77038| Walk-up | Mouth self-swab | April 5-11: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Appointment not required but available via curative.com.

2. Assumption Catholic Church, 901 Roselane St., 77037 | Drive-thru | Nose self-swab | April 6-10: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

No appointment required.

3. Houston Community College – North Forest, 6010 Little York Rd, 77016 | Drive-thru | Nose self-swab | MondaySaturday: 10 a.m.—7 p.m. | Registration available onsite or online via doineedacovid19test.com.

4. United Memorial Medical Center, 510 W Tidwell Rd., 77091 | Drive-thru | Healthcare nasal swab | MondayFriday: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. | No appointment required.

5. Clark Community Center, 9718 Clark Rd., 77076 | Walk-up| Nose self-swab | April 6-10: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. | No appointment required.

6. Houston Metro Kashmere, 5700 Eastex Freeway, 77026 | Walk-up | Nose self-swab | Monday-Saturday: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Appointment not required but available via curative.com.

7. Metro Addicks Park & Ride, 14230 Katy Fwy, 77079 | Drive-thru | Nose self-swab | Wednesday, Friday, Saturday: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. | Tuesday, Thursday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Call 832-393-4220 for access code.

8. Memorial Park Conservancy, 1153 East Memorial Loop Dr., 77007 | Walk-up | Mouth self-swab | Daily: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Appointment not required but available via curative.com.

9. Minute Maid Park, Lot C, 2208 Preston St., 77002 | Drive-thru or Walk-up | Mouth self-swab | SaturdayWednesday: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Thursday-Friday: 12 p.m. – 8 p.m. | Appt not required but available at curative.com.

10. Denver Harbor Multi-service Center, 6402 Market St., 77020 | Drive-thru or Walk-up | Nose self-swab | April 6-9: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. | No appointment required.

11. Houston Community College – Northeast Campus, 555 Community College Dr, 77013 | Drive-thru | Mouth selfswab | Monday-Saturday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Appointment not required but available via docshealthtesting.com.

12. University of St. Thomas, 3800 Montrose Blvd, 77006 | Walk-up |Shallow nose self-swab | Daily: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Appointment not required but available via curative.com.

13. Miller Outdoor Theater, 6000 Hermann Park Dr., 77030 | Walk-up | Mouth self-swab | Daily: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Appointment not required but available via curative.com.

14. LeRoy Crump Stadium, 12321 Alief Clodine Rd, 77082 | Drive-thru | Healthcare nasal swab | Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Appointment not required but available via texas.spartancovidtesting.com.

15. Houston Metro West, 11555 Westpark Dr, 77082 | Walk-up | Mouth self-swab | Monday-Saturday: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Appointment not required but available via curative.com.

16. PlazAmericas, 7500 Bellaire Blvd, 77036 | Drive-thru | Healthcare nasal swab | Monday-Saturday: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. | No appointment required.

17. Southwest Multi-Service Center, 6400 High Star Dr, 77074 | Drive-thru | Nose self-swab | Monday-Saturday: 10 a.m.—7 p.m. | Registration available onsite or online via doineedacovid19test.com.

18. Aramco Services Company, 9009 West Loop South, 77096 | Drive-thru | Nose self-swab | Wednesday, Friday, Saturday: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. | Tuesday, Thursday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Call 832-393-4220 for access code.

19. Houston Community College – Southeast Campus, 6815 Rustic, St., 77087 | Drive-thru | Healthcare nasal swab | Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. | No appointment required.

20. Houston Community College – South Campus, 1990 Airport Blvd, 77051 | Drive-thru | Healthcare nasal swab | Monday-Saturday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Appointment not required but available via covidtest.tdem.texas.gov.

21. Multicultural Center, 951 Tristar Dr, Webster, 77598 | Drive-thru | Nose self-swab | Tuesday-Saturday: 8 a.m. – 3 Rev: 04/04/21 7:10 p.m. p.m. | Call 832-393-4220 for access code.

COVID-19 Call Center: 832393-4220

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April 09 – April 15, 2021

www.StyleMagazine.com

Publisher Francis Page, Jr. fpagejr@stylemagazine.com Associate Publisher Lisa Valadez lisa@stylemagazine.com Managing Editor Jo-Carolyn Goode editorial@stylemagazine.com Social Media Editor/Videographer Reginald Dominique reggiedominique@me.com Sports Editor Brian Barefield

NATIONAL WRITERS

Jesse Jackson jjackson@rainbowpush.org Roland Martin www.rolandmartin.com Judge Greg Mathis www.askjudgemathis.com

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Vicky Pink vhpink@gmail.com

#MASKUP!

William Ealy Williamealy1906@gmail.com Semetra Samuel semetra@artistikrebelcreative.com Mike Munoz artrepreneur91@gmail.com Robert Franklin editorial@stylemagazine.com

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Houston Style Magazine & www.StyleMagazine.com Phone: (713) 748-6300 • Fax: (713) 748-6320 Mail: P.O. Box 14035, Houston, TX 77221-4035 ©2021 Houston Style Magazine, a Minority Print Media, L.L.C. Company. All Right Reserved. Reproduction in whole or within part without permission is prohibited. Houston Style Magazine has a 2019 Audit by Circulation Verification Council (CVC). Houston Style Magazine is a member of the Texas Publishers Association (TPA), Texas Community Newspaper Association (TCNA), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), Independent Free Paper of America (IFPA), Association of Free Community Papers (AFCP) and Members of Greater Houston Partnership(GHP). National Association of Hispanic Publications, Inc. (NAHP, Inc.), Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (HHCC), League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Latin Women’s Initiative (LWI), National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), Houston Association of Hispanic Media Professionals (HAHMP), National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), and Supporters of Greater Houston Partnership(GHP)

“We’re Still In A Life-And-Death Race With The COVID-19 Virus” – President Joe Biden

President – Joe Biden H V.P. Kamala Harris

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN www.BuildBackBetter.gov www.StyleMagazine.com

April 09 – April 15, 2021

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COMMENTARY

Has America Come Any Closer To King’s Dream?

By Jesse Jackson, National Political Writer

L

ast weekend marked the 53d anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s assassination. Over half a century.

Has America come any closer to his dream?

He would be pleased at some of our progress. Segregation is no longer the law of the land. The Voting Rights Act helped open doors. Dr. King would be pleased that a majority of Americans joined to elect and re-elect an African American president. Georgians just elected a black minister from Dr. King’s own historic church to the U.S. Senate. There are now 60 African American members of Congress, 54 Latino members, 20 Asian American or Pacific Islander Americans and 5 native Americans.

Yet the reconstruction has brought reaction. By a 5-4 decision, right-wing judges on the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act, even after overwhelming majorities of both parties voted to reauthorize it. Now across the country, Republicans, fearful of the growing involvement of minorities and the young, are seeking to impose restrictions that make voting more difficult.

Dr. King would be marching with those who seek to make it easier to register and to vote. He’d be urging the Senate to pass S1 the For the People election reform that would go far to limit voter suppression, gerrymandering, and counter the role of secret big money in politics. He surely would be delighted that African American business leaders of major corporations and banks have joined in urging the corporate community to speak out against efforts to

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suppress the vote.

George Floyd’s murder would appall but not surprise Dr. King. The shameful mass incarceration of African Americans and the structural racial inequities of our criminal justice system demand reform. Again, Dr. King would be marching with the Black Lives Matter movement and would be encouraged by the multiracial outpouring of largely peaceful, nonviolent protests demanding reform.

Economic justice was the third movement of Dr. King’s civil rights symphony - and the most incomplete.

The pandemic has once more stripped the veil off of America’s structural racial inequalities. African Americans and Latinos were the most likely to be infected, the most likely to lack health care, the most likely to be frontline workers, the least likely to be able to work from home.

When the economy shut down, African Americans and Latinos suffered the largest loss of jobs, and the greatest collapse of incomes. We are also vulnerable to the most evictions and foreclosures. The schools our children attend are the least likely to have adequate ventilation or space for social distancing.

The level of economic violence suffered daily by poor and low-income families is immoral and unnecessary.

Millions of Americans still lack the basic right to adequate health care. Dr. King’s legacy has helped to inspire a new Poor People’s Campaign, giving voice to the 140 million low income and impoverished Americans who struggle

April 09 – April 15, 2021

to survive.

Dr. King protested as the War on Poverty was defeated in the jungles of Vietnam. He understood that a bloated military budget, constant interventions across the world, the arms race that threatened all humanity sapped the resources, energy and attention needed to make America better.

Today, the military budget is even higher - in comparable dollars than it was at the height of the Cold War. The U.S. maintains nearly 800 military bases in more than 70 countries. We fight endless wars on the other side of the world. And worse, we seem headed into a new Cold War, this time with both Russia and China, and have launched a trillion-dollar program to build a new generation of nuclear weapons that we don’t need and cannot use.

Our priorities remain distorted.

There were no Republican votes for Biden’s Rescue Plan to deal with the pandemic and the economic collapse.

Many predict that there will be no Re-

www.StyleMagazine.com

publican votes for Biden’s American Jobs Plan to rebuild and modernize our infrastructure and begin to deal with the existential threat of catastrophic climate change. Yet there will be bipartisan support for a military budget far beyond our security needs.

Over half a century. We’ve come a long way, yet we still have so far to go. Hope is provided by a new generation - more diverse, more engaged, better educated, and increasingly on the march.

They are bringing new energy and new numbers to the struggle for justice and peace. About that, Dr. King surely would be pleased.

Follow him on at: Twitter @RevJJackson Share this story online at:

www.StyleMagazine.com

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April 09 – April 15, 2021

5

Corporate America, Politics and You

By Dr. John Warren – San Diego Voice & Viewpoint / www.StyleMagazine.com

T

he Black Votes Matter project in the State of Georgia has demonstrated once again the connection between politics and the dollar. This project has approached corporate America in the person of Coca Cola, Delta, Home Depot, UPS and others, demanding that they take a position against the voter suppression laws enacted by the Georgia legislature. The idea is that corporate America funds elected officials, and those officials legislating against the public interest in terms of voting rights must not receive funding in terms of political contributions. We know that money is the life blood of politics; that withholding dollars from those legislating against voting rights represents a nuclear weapon that is capable of reversing voter suppression.

We know that 43 states now have more than 561 bills pending in their state legislatures to reverse and constrict voting rights. We know that the State of Texas is one such state and that corporate giants like AT&T, Pepsi and American Airlines, corporate giants in the state of Texas, are now speaking out against the state’s pending voter suppression laws.

The reason Corporate America is speaking out is that many remember that companies do not want boycotts or public demand that we not spend money with them.

Black Votes Matter has placed a dollar value on voter suppression. More and more state legislators will have to choose between dollars or suppressing voter rights.

It would appear that each of us now can play a part in the fight against voter suppression. We know that it is the Republican members in control of state legislatures that have introduced these 560 bills aimed at limiting the right to vote through a variety of proposals. We must look at the state in which we live, look at the members pushing voter suppression bills and then bring pressure on those corporations such as AT&T, Delta, Dell, Pepsi, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, Home Depot and others that depend on our dollars. The nasty word, “boycott”, of corporations doing business in South Africa, ended South African apartheid and returned democracy to the people.

The politics of how we spend and who we spend our dollars with has now become as important as our right to vote. Each of us must examine what

ENDING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: Improving Vaccine Confidence In Communities of Color By www.StyleMagazine.com – Newswire

Dr. John E. Warren – Publisher San Diego Voice & Viewpoint role we can play in making sure that those we spend with support our right to vote. So far. So good. Let’s keep up the pressure.

www.SDVoice.info • What things to know when considering getting a COVID-19 vaccine • How COVID-19 vaccination can improve our nation’s Black and Brown economy • What you can do to help your community build vaccine awareness Improving Vaccine Confidence In Communities of Color Speakers Include:

Ron Busby, Sr.,

President and CEO, U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC)

Stephen J. Ubl,

President and CEO, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)

Dr. John E. Warren – Publisher San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

Freda Lewis-Hall, M.D., DFAPA, MFPM, former Chief Medical Officer, Pfizer Inc.

Dara Richardson-Heron, M.D., Chief Patient Officer, Pfizer Inc.

Ebony Jade Hilton, M.D.,

B

lack and Brown Americans have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, experiencing a significant share of the devastating health and economic impact of the virus. In response to the pandemic, biopharmaceutical researchers have developed multiple vaccines that are now authorized for use. While vaccines are critical to saving lives and getting the country back to normal, many individuals have questions about getting vaccinated. Black and Brown Americans in particular have important questions and seek to understand how the

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April 09 – April 15, 2021

vaccines were developed and ensuring their safety.

Please join us for an event led by leaders in the Black business community, biopharmaceutical researchers, and health professionals as they explore:

• The science and research that went into developing COVID-19 vaccines • How to build vaccine confidence amongst Black and Brown Americans

www.StyleMagazine.com

Practicing Physician at the University of Virginia – Charlottesville

B. Cameron Webb, M.D., J.D.,

Senior Policy Advisor, Equity – White House COVID-19 Response Team

REGISTER HERE www.ending-the-covid-19-pandemic. splashthat.com/

Rasheedah Carr Named Vice President Of Engineering For Comcast Houston By www.StyleMagazine.com – Newswire

Protect yourself and your loved ones.

Rasheedah Carr

Ralph Martinez

Vice President of Engineering – Comcast Houston

Regional Senior Vice President – Comcast Houston

omcast this week announced that Rasheedah Carr has been appointed Vice President of Engineering for the company’s Houston Region. In this role, Carr will be responsible for providing leadership to the market implementing Engineering initiatives that deliver superior network reliability and fast paced growth production.

Rasheedah joined Comcast in 2017 as the Director of Customer Experience for the Houston Region.

Most recently she served as the Area Vice President, Field Operations, where she was responsible for more than 600 employees and serving more than 1.2 million residential and business customer relationships across Colorado.

“Rasheedah is a leader whose proven success for implementing operational efficiencies and developing people to enhance the customer experience will be an asset to the Houston Region,” said Ralph Martinez, regional senior vice president, Comcast Houston.

“Her commitment and expertise will be instrumental in implementing new initiatives to not only sustain network reliability but also support its growth and expansion.”

Prior to Comcast, Rasheedah

served as Director of Field Operations at Verizon. She has also held numerous leadership positions, including Process Engineer, and area leader for installation and maintenance.

C

Get vaccinated against COVID-19.

About Comcast Corporation

Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on broadband, aggregation, and streaming with over 56 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia.

www.ComcastCorporation.com

www.StyleMagazine.com

April 09 – April 15, 2021

7

The Open House: With Realtor Falyn Davis

How To Win As A Buyer In A Sellers’ Market

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By www.StyleMagazine.com – Newswire

elcome back to The Open House. Today’s topic is ‘How to win as a buyer in a sellers market’.

If you didn’t know, Houston is currently breaking records with the amounts of single-family homes that are being sold. With a 1.2 percent increase in sales, Houston has easily become a sellers’ market. Meaning, we have more interested buyers throughout the city then we do inventory. Since there are fewer homes available, sellers are at an advantage and most receiving multiple offers for their properties.

As a buyer, this can be very intimidating. But, you buying a home should not feel like an uphill battle. Here are some tips on how you can win and score the property of your dreams as a buyer:

Tip #1: Work with A Trusted Agent

12403 Brightwood Drive, Montgomery, TX 77356 Tip #2: Get Pre-Approved

Buyers who include a pre-approval letter with their offer show the seller and agent that you are a serious and strong candidate.

first and be willing to go over the asking price.

Tip#4: Be Creative

Tip #3: Be Flexible

This is one of the biggest transactions of your life and you need a skilled professional guiding you through the process.

As I mentioned, sellers are receiving multiple offers for their homes. So if you see something you love submit your best offer

Stand out as a buyer and include a personal letter with your offer.

Mention how much you love the house and what it would mean for you to live there. This will let the sellers know you’re serious about buying the home and it will be in good hands.

George Floyd Died Of Low Level Of Oxygen As Derek Chauvin Pinned Him To Street, Doctors Says

By Eric Levenson and Aaron Cooper www.CNN.com / www.StyleMagazine.com

A

renowned pulmonary critical care doctor testified Thursday morning that George Floyd died from a “low level of oxygen” as former police officer Derek Chauvin pinned him to the street and restricted his ability to breathe.

“This caused damage to his brain that we see, and it also caused a PEA arrhythmia that caused his heart to stop,” Dr. Martin Tobin of Chicago testified, referring to pulseless electrical activity, a type of cardiac arrest.

“The cause of the low level of oxygen was shallow breathing,” he added. “Small breaths. Small tidal volumes. Shallow breaths that weren’t able to carry the air through his lungs down to the essential areas of the lungs that get oxygen into the blood and get rid of the carbon dioxide.”

He identified four main reasons why Floyd died: the handcuffs and the street acting as a “vice,” Chauvin’s left knee on his neck, Floyd’s prone position and Chauvin’s right knee on Floyd’s back and side.

The doctor highlighted several still images from the police body-cam footage that showed Floyd

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If you are looking for a trusted agent to help you navigate this market, contact me - I look forward to working with you!

April 09 – April 15, 2021

pressing his knuckles against the squad car’s tire, pressing his knuckles against the ground, lifting his right shoulder and even digging his face into the street. These images indicated that Floyd was using every possible way to try to lift up his chest and breathe, Tobin said.

“It’s a very poor way of breathing. But it’s what you have to do when everything else is failing,” he said.

Dr. Martin Tobin said these still images from body-worn camera indicated that George Floyd pressed his knuckles against the squad car and the ground to try to open up his chest and breathe.

Chauvin’s knee was on Floyd’s neck for over 90% of the time, Tobin said. The doctor calculated that this constituted about 91.5 pounds on Floyd’s neck when his feet came off the ground.

With the demeanor of a kindly old professor, Tobin spoke directly to the jury and encouraged them to feel parts of their own neck and chest as he described how breathing works. Almost all of the jurors did as the doctor asked, according to a pool report from inside the courtroom.

www.StyleMagazine.com

Falyn M. Davis

BUYING H SELLING H LEASING H APT. LOCATING Licensed Professional Realtor

Cell Phone: 832-396-6276 Email: FalynMDavis@gmail.com Social Media: @FalynDavis

Photograph by Omer Messinger / Sipa / AP

George Floyd

Tobin’s testimony comes on the ninth day of the trial as prosecutors shifted into the third phase of their case, focusing on the medical analysis of Floyd’s cause of death.

The first week of the trial focused on Floyd’s last moments on May 25, 2020, particularly the harrowing bystander and body-camera footage that showed his final breaths. Over the last few days, a series of police experts and training coordinators have testified that Chauvin violated police policy and used excessive force on Floyd.

The most important medical testimony is likely to come Friday when Hennepin County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Andrew Baker is expected to testify.

Baker performed the autopsy on Floyd and determined his death was a homicide, listing the cause of death as “cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint, and neck compression.”

The medical analysis is important to the prosecution’s case that Floyd died because Chauvin put his

[ CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE ]

“Murder Trial of George Floyd, WEEK TWO” In this image, former Minneapolis police officer’s kneeling on the body and neck of George Floyd and the Prosecutor presented an animated recreaction of the murder.

In this image, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneels on the neck of George Floyd and the Prosecutor shows Chauvin’s Orientation

David Pleoger – Retired Sargent Minneapolis Police Dept.

Lt. Richard Zimmerman – Sup. Minneapolis Police Homicide Dept.

Dr. Martin J. Tobin, MD – Pulminary Specialist – Loyola U. Med. Center

body weight on Floyd’s neck and back for over nine minutes -- causing death by “positional asphyxia.”

Chauvin’s defense attorney Eric Nelson has argued that Floyd died of a drug overdose and preexisting health conditions.

Prosecutors have sought to show Chauvin used excessive and unreasonable force on Floyd and had a “depraved mind” without regard for human life.

Chauvin, 45, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, third-degree murder and third-degree manslaughter. The trial, now in its second full week of testimony, is expected to last about a month.

In Wednesday’s testimony, the special agent who led the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigation into Floyd’s death struggled to make sense of a short phrase Floyd said as Chauvin kneeled on him.

Senior Special Agent James Reyerson was shown a clip from Minneapolis Police body-camera

footage of Floyd saying something while handcuffed and in a prone position on the ground. He initially agreed with Chauvin’s defense attorney that it sounded like Floyd said, “I ate too many drugs.”

After a short break, the prosecution played for Reyerson a longer clip of the video. Reyerson then changed his mind. “I believe Mr. Floyd was saying, ‘I ain’t do no drugs,’ “ he said.

Earlier on Wednesday, a Los Angeles Police Department use-of-force expert hired by the prosecution testified that Chauvin had used excessive and deadly force on Floyd when none was needed.

Further, several white pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine were found in Floyd’s vehicle, and a smaller pill with Floyd’s saliva on it was found in the back of the police squad car, three forensic scientists said Wednesday.

BCA investigator McKenzie Anderson searched the vehicles involved in May and then again

months later after initially failing to collect some of the pills.

In Floyd’s vehicle, she found two packets of suboxone, a drug that treats opioid addiction, three white pills, and bills stuffed between the seat and the center console, she said.

Inside the police squad car, she initially recovered Floyd’s shoes and a strap and noted eight bloodstains that matched Floyd’s DNA. On her second search of the car, she recovered a pill with a rough texture that did not appear whole as well as several small pieces that she thought might be pill fragments.

Tests confirmed the smaller pill had Floyd’s saliva on it, she testified.

Breahna Giles, a BCA forensic scientist, testified that she analyzed the white pills. They had the markings of a pill that would contain oxycodone and acetaminophen, but upon testing they actually contained methamphetamine and fentanyl, she said.

In addition, a glass pipe recovered from the vehicle contained THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana, but no plant material, Giles told the court.

George Perry Floyd, Jr. was an African-American man killed during an arrest after a store clerk alleged he had passed a counterfeit $20 bill in Minneapolis. Derek Chauvin, 1 of 4 former police officers who arrived on the scene, knelt on Floyd’s neck for a period initially reported to be 8 minutes and 46 seconds. Updated to: 9 mins and 29 seconds. www.StyleMagazine.com

www.CNN.com www.StyleMagazine.com April 09 – April 15, 2021

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NEW CHIEF OF HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT:

TROY FINNER

By Jo-Carolyn Goode, Managing Editor • PHOTOS: HPD – www.StyleMagazine.com

Mayor Turner, Houston City Council Approves and Welcomes New Houston Police Chief – Troy Finner

NewNew Houston Houston Police Police ChiefChief – Troy– Finner Troy Finner and beautiful and beautiful wife – Sharon wife –Finner Sherrian and yougest and youngest son – Wyatt son –Finner Wyatt

hen outgoing police chief Art Acevedo announced his exit to run the Miami Police Department, Mayor Sylvester Turner knew he wanted his replacement to be someone who was fully capable to step into the role day one. The city needed someone who would be intentional about reducing crime. He could not have a found a more qualified officer to do that other than Troy R. Finner.

After Houston City Council unanimously voted in favor Finner as chief, the official swearing-in could take place.

With his left hand on the Holy Bible held by his wife, Sherrian, Chief Finner took the oath of office while his children, parents, and other family and friends looked on. His ten-year-old son Wyatt took top honors, as he was able to pin the official badge of office on his father.

“It’s time to work,” said newly installed Houston Police Chief Troy Finner at his swearing-in ceremony this past week. Coming into office very clearly aware of the challenges that face him – a high homicide rate, an increase in violent, lawsuits about the botch raid that left couple dead and other police misconduct allegations hanging overhead. Finner also wants to build trust in the community as well as address the HPD reforms by directed by the mayor’s policing task force.” Tough roads are ahead of us,” said Finner, who added that he has never walked away from a challenge.

As a 31-year veteran he has seen up-close the challenges the city has faced throughout his career.

From the days when he worked the street to his rise in leadership to be the former police chief’s #2 guy, Finner knows Houston and the crime that plagues the city.

He has faith that he, along with his team, can reduce crime in the city but it going to take everyone. Mayor Turner echoed Finner’s comments,” Public safety is the responsibility of everyone.” The mayor added that if Finner is going to be successful all Houstonians will need to be engaged, committed, and focused to protect

their neighborhood, community, and the city.

“Troy Finner is not just from Houston, he is Houston,” Mayor Turner once said about Finner.

Getting the community support should come naturally for Finner since he is a man of Houston.

Born in Fifth Ward, Texas and raised in Hiram Clarke, Finner is a product of hard work and determination that was cultivated right here Houston. He is one four children coming from the union of Nobia and Leroy Finner Jr. His sister died in 2004 after complications with Lupus. The Madison High School class of 1985 graduate is the first in his family to receive a college degree. Finner matriculated at Sam Houston State University earning a Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in criminal justice and a master degree in the same subject from the University of Houston-Clear Lake. It was while pursuing that degree that he really fell in love with law enforcement in a class about serial murders. That pivotal moment sent him on a path to serve and protect.

As Houston’s new top cop Finner will manage 5300 officers and over 800 civilians at HPD to forge an alliance against crime. To help bud the necessary partnerships to effectively tackle crime, Finner plans to listen to those of the community and front liners.

The goal is to build a trust and rapport with everyone to move together against crime. He is already widely known for his relationships with citizens. It was even recognized by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who brought a congressional resolution from the U.S. Senate honoring Finner’s boost and relationship. His biggest partnership is, between of course, the city of Houston with Harris County.

Calling himself the most blessed man in the world, Finner is a blessing to Houston as only the second African American in the history of the HPD to hold the office of chief. An appointment of this magnitude speaks to the character of the man as well as his work ethic to get to the top. One team, one family, one voice will help Houston become #1 in the lowest

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April 09 – April 15, 2021

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Art Acevedo – Outgoing Chief Congratulates New Houston Police Department Chief – Troy Finner

Martha Castex Tatum Approved and Welcomes New Houston Police Chief – Troy Finner #DistrictK #MadisonMarlins crime rate in the nation. Right now we are in the top 10 of the highest crime rates in the nation. That stat along with countless other acts of crime, including the death of two of his nephews who were killed as a result of gun violence, fuels Finner’s passion daily to get the bad guys.

At the press conference following the ceremony, Finner took no questions as the mayor reminded him that he has work to do to which he responded, “And that’s what I intend to do.”

We at, Houston Style Magazine, cannot wait to see how you and us show crime who’s the boss and dramatically reduce it in the city. We stand in partnership with Chief Finner. Houston, will you stand with Chief Finner? Let us know on our www.Facebook. com/houstonstylemagazine, @HoustonStyle on Twitter and on Instagram @stylemagazinehtx.

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GET THE FACTS As the vaccine becomes more available, you may have questions.

Search “covid vaccine” to get the facts.

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April 09 – April 15, 2021

11

NEW COMMUNITY INITIATIVE:

“Changing 1 Life At A Time” Inner City Communities -VS- First Responders By www.StyleMagazine.com – Newswire

I

would like to invite you to join my new initiative “Changing 1 Life at a Time.”

Experts say police reform has a different meaning in different neighborhoods. Transformation of police departments, their roles and their relationships in our communities will require a culture

change, enhanced training and relationship building. Without these changes, inner-city community interaction with law enforcement and first responders will never change.

In 2020, the killing of Mr. George Floyd changed our country’s perspective on policing and the African

Tiger Woods’ SUV Crash Caused By Speed and Inability To Make Curve

By Stella Chan and Holly Yan, www.CNN.com / www.StyleMagazine.com

A

s he approached a curve in the road, Tiger Woods apparently meant to hit the brakes but instead slammed on the gas – causing a high-speed rollover crash, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said Wednesday.

Six weeks after the golf legend suffered serious leg injuries, Sheriff Alex Villanueva said the main causes

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of the crash were speed and Woods’ inability to negotiate a curve.

Woods was driving a Genesis SUV around 7 a.m. February 23 when the vehicle veered off the road about 26 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles.

The SUV reached a speed of up to 87 mph, Villanueva said -- far greater

April 09 – April 15, 2021

American and Hispanic communities. It focused our attention on the disparities in policing in different neighborhoods.

As a product of Houston’s inner-city, I began to reflect and study ways to help change the culture of inner-city policing by “Changing 1 Life at a Time”.

Former Houston’s Mayor and Police Chief Dr. Lee P. Brown wrote the book “Policing in the 21st Century” - Community Policing”. This book presents concrete steps to establish a clear path to build trust and form positive relationships between police, first responders and our communities. We have finally acknowledged there is a problem, and I believe a good start to a lasting solution is to bring the impacted groups together.

The goal is to bring a racial and ethnically diverse group of police officers and first-responders to the inner-city to play basketball with children and youth from the surrounding neighborhood. The purpose is to allow the members of the community to interact with police and first responders in a comfortable and non-threatening environment so that new relationships can be formed that will lead to open and candid conversations in the future.

To accomplish this, we need your help and participation. On Saturday, April 10, 2021, I will be hosting a one-day event, focusing on relationship building using the game of basketball.

During the career fair opportunity, I would like to introduce the kids to our local universities, armed services and professional trades by exposing them to different career choices and much more.

The games will be played at four locations: Lilly Grove Baptist Church 7034 Tierwester, Good Hope than the 45 mph speed limit.

Woods was driving in Rancho Palos Verdes when he hit a “Welcome to Rolling Hills Estates” sign, crossed a center divider, and traveled more than 150 feet across the shoulder through shrubbery and an uprooted tree before coming to a stop, according to a search warrant affidavit of the vehicle’s data recorder.

He likely mistook the gas pedal for the brakes, as no braking was detected, Capt. James Powers said.

“There is zero braking on that data recorder,” but “there is 99% acceleration on the pedal,” Powers said.

He said the car hit a tree, went

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Dwight A. Boykins – Founder Missionary Baptist Church 3015 North Macgregor, Harverstock Hills 5619 Aldine Bender and the Cuney Homes Apartments located at 3260 Truxillo. We are thankful for the event sponsors: HEB, La Maison Midtown, Houston Forward Times and River Oaks Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram and Houston Professional Firefighters Association.

We have also invited all local law enforcements police chiefs to participate Houston, HISD, Sheriff, HCC, Metro, Constables 3 and 7.

With your support, we can begin to break down communications barriers and highlight career opportunities that can help to change the future of our inner-city neighborhoods “One Life at a Time”.

Hope we can count on you!

– Dwight A. Boykins

airborne did a “pirouette” before It landed.

The SUV was traveling about 75 mph when it struck the tree, Villanueva said.

Investigators did not seek a warrant for blood tests because there was no evidence of impairment or intoxication, Powers said.

READY TO LOVE: Fall In Love With Just Gritz

By TotallyRandie, Feature Writer – www.StyleMagazine.com

R

eady to Love season 4 returned to Houston for round 2 with a couple of familiar Houston faces.

Host Thomas “Nephew Tommy” Miles returned for the 4th year as host but not with a “couple” of surprises. His wife Jacquline Miles joined him for the premier and Twitter went wild, hoping that she will stay on to give a woman’s perspective. Also, the audience got a surprise coming out of the gate with Kristopher “KG Smooth” Green’s return to the cast. I couldn’t help but wonder were those the two surprises Nephew Tommy told me in my interview with him. If you feel like it seems I just spoke with him, you are not alone. I told him the same thing, however, a lot can happen in 5 months. So let me update you.

Of course, we chatted about Ready to Love, I mean how can you do a Ready to Love Houston and not show the city love?! When I asked if we will see my glorious city, the city that birthed Thomas Miles, he told me that’s the reason why he opted to return to Houston.

One because “they gave Atlanta two so Houston has to have two” also because he did want to show the city that shaped him. Ready to Love, in all its glory, sort of took a back seat however and not on purpose. Of course, I asked Tommy for an exclusive like always and he mentioned that there would be two big surprises on the show but that he was also working on something special.

“I am a country boy,” he said.

“Houston, Texas, 44 Acres Homes, Gulf Bank, Eisenhower High School” We laughed and shared a moment as I, along with our current Mayor Sylvester Turner, also come from the same neighborhood. He then went on to tell me that he has a product coming out called Just Good Gritz! My mouth hit the floor!

How? Why? When I asked. He began to talk about how he loves to cook and how he would always prepare amazing-

ly flavored fried turkeys for his family.

Part of the flavor came from a spice he used in his recipe from a friend named Michael. One year he ran out of time to prepare the turkey for thanksgiving but knew that Michael also prepared turkeys. Long story short, Michael told Tommy his secret recipe of spices used, they began to cook together and Just Good Gritz was born.

Of course, I had to ask since every blue moon the salt or sugar on grits debate revives on Instagram. Tommy said that there would be something for everyone. The first round will be savory but he also has a sweet and sassy flavor that will roll out as well. A very popular recipe will be on the box; shrimp and grits. Tommy said just follow the simple steps with your shrimp and let the grits be the star of the plate. Just Good Gritz is set to launch on www.justgoodgritz. com in May 2021.

Getting back to Ready to Love, I remembered that June makes 20 years of marriage to his beautiful better half.

Jackie and Tommy met at Texas A&M and have 3 beautiful children. The two completely vaccinated couple will celebrate in Cabo with close (vaccinated) friends this year. Although Ready to Love filmed in a very open Houston, Tommy confirmed that the show made sure cast members, producers, workers, and everyone associated took all necessary precautions to safe guard their health.

Make sure you tune in every Friday 9/8 Central on the OWN Network to watch Ready to Love.

To watch our interview, subscribe to Houston Style Magazine’s YouTube page:

www.YouTube.com/channel/ UC8AywhB1CT58iFlZIRcrRGQ www.StyleMagazine.com

April 09 – April 15, 2021

13

2021

APRIL IS THE FOURTH MONTH OF OUR NEW YEAR www.StyleMagazine.com

H 2021 Social Media Haute Shots + Around Town H

Harris County Commissioner – Rodney Ellis Receiving His Vaccination

Lina Hidalgo – Thankful. . .

Bey and Jay – Happy Anniversary

VOGUE COVER: The Rise and Rise Of Amanda Gorman – Poet, Activist, Phenomenon

Background Checks – NOW!

Actor LaKieth Stansfield becomes ‘YASUKE’ African Sumurai, In debut Netflix Anime Series

Easter Happiness – Father & Son

Style Welcomes HPD’s Chief Finner

Ready To Love - OWN TV

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April 09 – April 15, 2021

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“California Dreaming” Astros Complete West Coast Road Trip With 5-1 Record

By Brian Barefield – Sports Editor – www.StyleMagazine.com

I

t must be something about the weather out in California that the Houston Astros enjoy. They have hit a stride early to get the tart of the 2021 Major League Baseball season off to a great start by going 5-1 on their opening six game road trip against the Oakland A’s and Los Angeles Angels.

One day after having their four-game winning streak broken by the Angels (4-2) in a 7-6 late inning loss, the Astros (5-1) bounced back with a 4-2 victory led by a Carlos Correa’s ninth inning home run.

“See it and hit it,” Correa responded when asked about his approach on him hitting the home run after being down in the count 0-2. “I was looking for a pitch down the middle and he threw a fast ball down the middle and I was able to put a good swing on it.”

Strikes trailed the Angels 2-0 after the first

inning when Mike Trout crushed a pitch off of starter Zack Greinke to bring home Shohei Ohtani. The 464-foot home run to left-center field was Trout’s fifth-longest homer of his career. That would be all the runs that the Angels could muster as Greinke settled down over the next six innings only allowing three more hits before being relieved by Ryan Pressly who pitched two scoreless innings to get the win.

“Early on in the game my fastball and slider wasn’t sharp,” Greinke said in his postgame press conference. “We leaned on the changeup and curve a little more the next time through the order and fastball got a little better and slider became more useable.”

Kyle Tucker and Aledmys Diaz hit back-toback homers in the second inning to tie the game at two runs a piece before Correa’s theatrics in the ninth

inning. All of Houston’s runs came by way of home runs on Tuesday as the Astros upped their league leading homerun total to 12.

Even though they were met with boos and loud offensive remarks from the home crowds at the opposing ball parks, Houston scored a combined 45 runs in six games, which is a franchise record averaging 7.5 runs per game on their opening West Coast road trip.

“The start of the season tells you how hard we worked in the offseason to get better offensively and defensively and every single aspect of the game,” Carlos Correa said about his team’s hot start. “You can see it with this start. It’s only one week but it is better to start 5-1 than to start 1-5. The boys are feeling good, and the vibe is great. I’m just proud of this group of guys because the moment we showed up to Spring Training we showed up ready to work.”

Houston will now head back to Texas for their home opener on Thursday against the Oakland A’s at Minute Maid Park. First pitch is 7:10 p.m. CST.

www.HoustonAstros.com www.StyleMagazine.com

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