Houston Style Magazine Vol 31 No 28

Houston Style Magazine July 09 – July 15, 2020

Houston’s Premiere Weekly Publication, Since 1989

Volume 31 | Number 28

Complimentary

H.I.S.D. Miles Ahead Scholars Program Shows Overwelming Promise

A CASE FOR MIXED RACE RELATIONSHIPS InterRacialDating.com

Jesse Jackson First Concern In College Sports Should Be Lives and Health

Mike Morath Issues Guidelines For Safe Return To On-Campus School in 2020-21

STAY SMART H WORK SAFE CORONAVIRUS – US NUMBERS: Cases: 3,145,878 Deaths: 134,696

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Instagram @HoustonStyleNews

Mary Trump’s New Tell-all Book Damaging To President

Facebook: @HoustonStyleMagazine

Houston Files $1.2 Billion T.R.O. on General Land Commission

Vanessa Guillen Slain U.S. Army Specialist Vanessa Guillen Found

Correa and Springer

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

FREETestCOVID-19 Sites

Houston Week of July 6, 2020

Visit HoustonEmergency.org for current sites.

1. Griggs EC/PK/K School 801 Regional Park Dr., 77060 July 6-10, 2020 ˑ 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

No appointment or symptoms needed.

2. United Memorial Medical Center 510 W Tidwell Rd., 77091 July 6-10, 2020 ˑ 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

No appointment or symptoms needed.

3. Forest Brook Middle School 7525 Tidwell Rd., 77016 July 6-10, 2020 ˑ 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

No appointment or symptoms needed.

4. Eden Event Center 7450 N Wayside Dr, 77028 July 6-11, 2020 ˑ 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Appointment required through txcovidtest.org.

5. Delmar Stadium 2020 Mangum Rd, 77092 Until further notice 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. (closed Sundays) Call 832-393-4220 for access code.

6. Houston Community College Northeast Campus 555 Community College Dr, 77013 July 6-11, 2020 ˑ 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Appointment required through txcovidtest.org.

7. Southwest Multi-Service Center 6400 High Star Dr, 77074 July 6-10, 2020 ˑ 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

No appointment or symptoms needed.

8. Merfish Teen Center 9000 S Rice Ave, 77096 July 5-11, 2020 ˑ 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Appointment required through txcovidtest.org.

9. NRG Park Green Lot 1 Reliant Park, 77054 July 6-11, 2020 ˑ 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Appointment required through txcovidtest.org.

10. Cullen Middle School 6900 Scott St, 77021 July 6-10, 2020 ˑ 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

No appointment or symptoms needed.

11. Butler Stadium 13755 S Main St, 77035 Until further notice 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. (closed Sundays) Call 832-393-4220 for access code.

12. Houston Community College -South Campus 1990 Airport Blvd, 77051 July 6-11, 2020 ˑ 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Appointment equired through txcovidtest.org.

13. Houston Community College Southeast Campus 6815 Rustic St., 77087 July 6-10, 2020 ˑ 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

No appointment or symptoms needed.

Share your COVID-19 experience at registry.rice.edu/covid19

HOUSTONEMERGENCY.ORG/COVID19 2

July 09 – July 15, 2020

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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

#VOTE

Roland Martin www.rolandmartin.com Judge Greg Mathis www.askjudgemathis.com

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

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d.b.a. Houston Style Magazine & StyleMagazine.com Phone: (713) 748-6300 • Fax: (713) 748-6320 Mail: P.O. Box 14035, Houston, TX 77221-4035 ©2020 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 Members of Greater Houston Partnership(GHP)

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CLOUSER FOR MISSOURI CITY – CITY COUNCIL AT-LARGE POSITION #2

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July 09 – July 15, 2020

3

COMMENTARY

First Concern In College Sports Should Be Lives & Health

By Jesse Jackson, National Political Writer

C

ovid-19 isn’t “disappearing,” as President Donald Trump suggests; it is surging, setting new records in daily cases. The states that rushed to “reopen” the economy now are reversing course. Yet the NCAA still assumes that the college football season will begin at the end of August, and that mandatory practices will begin this month.

There’s a lot of cold, hard cash at stake, as well as tradition and athletic pride. But as California, Texas, Florida and Arizona -- states with noted football powers -- have become new hotspots, surely it is time to reconsider.

The threat is clear. “The growth is exponential at this point,” Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said on ABC’s “This Week.” Mayor Steve Adler of Austin, Texas warns that “there won’t be enough medical personnel to keep up with the spike in cases if the rate of increase continues unabated.”

The disease seems to be spiking among younger, presumably more resilient people, so the number of deaths hasn’t kept pace with the soaring number of new cases. But that only adds to the dangers of reopening colleges and particularly of opening mandatory football practices. The University of Southern California has already decided to cancel on-campus classes this fall. If it is too dangerous to go to class and to open campuses, surely it is too dangerous to open mandatory practices and go forward with the fall football season.

At the end of June, at least 165 college players had already tested positive for COVID-19, many of them having brought the disease with them as they reported for voluntary football practices. There is “extreme nervousness” about going forward, reports commentator Paul Finebaum, but handwringing and hoping is not enough. Clear choices and serious answers are needed.

The NCAA, college presidents and athletic departments are terribly conflicted. Billions of dollars are at stake. In major colleges, revenues from the

football season often cover the costs of many of the other sports. No small part of university endowments comes from contributions solicited from fans and alumni excited by a winning football season.

Can football be played safely amid the pandemic? College athletes won’t be in a bubble. They’ll be out and about in college life -- if there is college life. And what we’ve learned from the recent spike in cases is that, as restrictions are relaxed, young people do what young people do -- and the virus spreads.

At the very least, the NCAA should review and release a new comprehensive protocol for schools in every division on essential practices. This would include regular testing and guidelines on the length of quarantine for those testing positive or those in contact with someone testing positive. College athletes should have the right to decide not to risk their lives to play their sport -- and they should be free to make that decision without putting their scholarships or eligibility at risk.

Guidelines are also needed for other participants in football events -- cheerleaders, band members, coaching staffs, administrative staff, stadium personnel and more -- as well as for fans. Will they be required to wear masks and sit 6 feet apart during games? The basic standards should be nationwide and should not be left to the individual college or conference. The latter can add greater restrictions but must be required to follow minimal ones.

Some colleges are now requiring players to sign what amounts to waivers of liability. These protect the university but not the player. All have lives at stake. In addition their lives, the best college athletes have their future earnings at the professional level at risk. For fit, young people, COVID-19 has been less deadly, but many have developed lung disorders. Even a small diminution of lung capacity can have a major effect on an athlete competing at the highest levels.

Will universities or the NCAA cover the loss

Early Voting For The 2020 July Primary Runoffs Ends Friday Polls Open from 7:00am to 10:00pm

T

By StyleMagazine.com – Newswire

he Harris County Clerk’s Office reminds citizens that Early Voting ends tomorrow, Friday, July 10. On the last day of Early Voting, all 57 voting centers throughout Harris County will remain open until 10 pm to allow voters with family and work obligations to cast their ballots and have their voices heard.

You can visit: www.HarrisVotes.com/ WaitTimes to find the nearest voting

4

center in your area and view wait times.

“I encourage all voters to take advantage of the last day of early in-person voting and extended hours as the safest way to cast your vote in person ahead of Election Day,” said Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins. “You can avoid long lines by using our Wait Time Tool on HarrisVotes.com and print your personal sample ballot that you can

July 02 – July 08, 2020

of future earnings for those who get sick? If not, what protections do players and their parents have? It would be truly grotesque if players had to choose between risking their lives or health and risking their scholarships -- especially if their universities refuse to be liable for the losses they may sustain from becoming ill.

None of this is easy. There is some talk now of postponing the season until spring. Universities in general will need assistance from the federal govern-

ment as they face budget shortfalls, with or without football.

However, some things ought to be clear.

COVID-19 is a real and present danger to college athletes. And the health and welfare of the young men and women must be the first concern.

You can write to the Rev. Jesse Jackson in care of this newspaper or by email at jjackson@rainbowpush.org.

Follow him on Twitter @RevJJackson.

Share this online at StyleMagazine.com.

bring with you to the polls. We’ve taken every safety precaution to keep you safe while voting. If you are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, we encourage you to vote curbside and avoid entering a voting center.”

Remember, if you voted in the March 3 Primary Election, you can only vote in that same party’s runoff election.

If you did not participate in the March Primary, you are able to vote in either primary runoff election. Winners in the primary runoff elections will move on

www.StyleMagazine.com

to the General Election in November.

As of July 8, 113,751 voters have cast their ballots. Daily unofficial results are posted on HarrisVotes.com.

On July 14th, unofficial results will be posted as they come in after the polls close on Election Night.

For more election information, visit www.HarrisVotes.com and follow @HarrisVotes on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. www.StyleMagazine.com

SUBSCRIBE. DONATE. ADVERTISE. During times of crisis, crucial information about your community comes from local reporters.

Access to high quality information is essential. Especially local information.

And especially now. What’s happening in our communities? What’s the impact? How are our local leaders responding? For answers to these questions, we rely on the hard work of our local reporters. As a result, readership of local news outlets has reached record highs.

This message supported by

But due to COVID-19, most local news publications are losing money, fast.

Advertising has plummeted during the crisis and readers aren’t subscribing fast enough to fill the void. This has led to thousands of local reporters being laid off. Just as our society faces numerous, urgent challenges.

Millions of people are in danger of losing access to the authoritative local

information they need to stay informed.

That’s why the Local Media Association and the Local Media Consortium are working with local news providers to build a strong future for local journalism.

And that’s why our long-time partner Google is purchasing ads like this in local publications across the country, as well as providing a Relief Fund to help struggling local news outlets. But those actions alone aren’t enough.

Please consider supporting the local news organizations you rely on. Subscribe to them. Donate to them. And if you have a business that’s able to, advertise with them.

Your support is critical to sustaining the dedicated journalists serving your communities.

Our local news outlets help keep us safer. Let’s help keep them open.

SupportLocalNewsNow.com www.StyleMagazine.com

July 09 – July 15, 2020

5

WHITE WOMAN WHO CALLED COPS ON BLACK MAN BIRDWATCHING IN CENTRAL PARK NOW FACES CRIMINAL CHARGES

By Melanie Schuman and Theresa Waldrop CNN / StyleMagazine.com Newswire

T

he White woman who called cops on a Black man who was birdwatching in Central Park will be prosecuted, the Manhattan district attorney said Monday.

Amy Cooper, the woman who was filmed accusing a Black man of threatening her, faces a charge of falsely reporting an incident in the third degree,

according to the DA. “At this time I would like to encourage anyone who has been the target of false reporting to contact our Office. We are strongly committed to holding perpetrators of this conduct accountable,” DA Cyrus Vance said in a statement.

Cooper was walking her dog in the park in May when she encountered

Houston Native – Vanessa Guillen Participated in Mayor Turner’s Hire Houston Youth Program Statement on U.S. Army Specialist Vanessa Guillen

By StyleMagazine.com – Newswire

M

ayor Sylvester Turner joins Vanessa Guillen’s family, friends and the community in honoring the Houston native and Army Specialist.

Today, Mayor Turner visited a mural created in Vanessa’s memory at Taqueria Del Sol in South Houston. He also laid flowers at the site of a growing memorial.

“On behalf of the City of Houston, I extend my prayers and support to the family of U.S. Army Specialist Vanessa Guillen. Vanessa was a bright and beautiful young woman. We are shocked and saddened by what happened to her.

“Vanessa participated in the City’s Hire Houston Youth program, which provides young people with

Christian Cooper (no relation) in a wooded area known as the Ramble. A dispute began because her dog was not on a leash, contrary to the Ramble›s rules, both of them told CNN. Christian Cooper posted on Facebook a part of their exchange that he recorded, and it went viral. In the recording, he is silent for the most part, while she frantically tells police he is threatening her and her dog.

“I’m taking a picture and calling the cops,” she is heard saying in the video. “I’m going to tell them there’s an African American man threatening my life.”

Cooper has been issued a desk appearance ticket and is scheduled for arraignment October 14th.

Amy Cooper was also fired from her employer – Franklin Templeton CNN’s Melanie Schuman reported from New York and Theresa Waldrop wrote from Atlanta.

internships and job opportunities in the private sector, nonprofit organizations, and government. After graduating from Chavez High School, Vanessa enlisted in the army to protect and serve our nation. Vanessa’s family said she wanted to be a hero, a fighter, and accomplish something great.

“On this Fourth of July, as we commemorate our country’s freedom and founding ideals, we also honor Vanessa’s service in the United States military. The City of Houston stands in solidarity with the Guillen family in their grief and in their search for justice.”

Houston Style Magazine offer our sincere condolences to the family of Vanessa Guillen.

More info: www.stylemagazine.com

Slain U.S. Army Specialist – Vanessa Guillen

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July 09 – July 15, 2020

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U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Endorses Royce West in Democratic Runoff U.S. Senate Race on July 14th Royce West Has Served in Texas Since 1993

O

n Monday, July 6th, Houston Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee endorsed Texas State Sen. Royce West in the July 14th Democratic Primary Runoff for United States Senate.

“Some electoral races are simply too important to not to be involved, and the Texas senatorial race is one of those races,” Jackson Lee said. “It is without hesitation that I endorse Senator Royce West. He is a statesman and a true public servant of the highest order; he is also my friend,” Jackson Lee said.

Jackson Lee noted that, at this critical moment in American history, Royce West is particularly suited to help solve the challenges facing our country.

“Royce West authored and passed one of the first body camera laws in this nation. Body cameras have brought a great deal of transparency to the interactions between citizens and police. This is one

By StyleMagazine.com Newswire

reason the House of Representatives recently addressed body cameras in the Justice in Policing Act we recently passed,” Jackson Lee noted.

“In addition, Royce West provided tremendous leadership in passing the James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Act in Texas, as well as the state’s racial profiling law,” Jackson Lee continued.

“That level of experience with the issues facing our nation today is rare in a candidate for public office. Royce West is the man for this moment in history,” Jackson Lee noted.

Congresswoman Jackson Lee also noted West had accomplished much for Texans, on other issues, during his tenure in the Texas Senate.

“Royce has served in the Texas Senate since

1993 and is committed to progressive ideas,” Jackson Lee said. “He is always well-versed on policy issues and he has worked on key legislation in the state including creating uniform college admissions applications for all students, increased funding for at-risk youth programs, worked to award greater compensation to victims of violent crimes, a vision to create the first public university and law school within the city of Dallas which helps college to be both affordable and accessible, among many other things,” Jackson Lee noted.

“Senator West’s work to establish new standards for childcare, his support of women’s reproductive rights, comprehensive immigration reform, fair wages, common-sense gun legislation, institute more

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Sheila Jackson Lee – U.S. Congresswoman with Royce West U.S. Senate Candidate efficient uses of criminal justice resources by creating a system of sanctions and I know that he supports the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020, are all among the many reasons he has earned my support and Texans’ votes,” Jackson Lee continued.

West said he was honored by Jackson Lee’s endorsement. “Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee is a leading force in criminal justice reform, women’s rights and constitutional rights for Americans in the U. S. Congress, all issues that are close to my heart. I look forward to working with her to make change in Washington”, West said.

For more info: www.RoyceWest.com

July 02 – July 08, 2020

7

Mary Trump’s Disturbingly Credible Assessment Of Her ‘Dangerous’ Uncle Donald Tell-All Book Makes It Clear That Our President ‘Is’ A Dangerous Man

By Michael D’Antonio, CNN.com StyleMagazine.com Newswire

N

o one will ever fully explain Donald

years when his son made a series of bad

Trump: the cruelty, the vanity, the

business decisions rings true to the public

insecurity converted to massive

record and what many sources told me. All

overconfidence. However, in “Too Much

in all, it strikes me as an accurate report.

and Never Enough: How My Family Cre-

On a personal scale Mary Trump

ated the World’s Most Dangerous Man,”

saw precedent for Donald Trump’s coldness

his niece Mary L. Trump comes closer

in how her uncle treated her own father as

than anyone to describing the making of

he was dying. Donald Trump has always

a seemingly heartless person who won his

spoken of Fred Trump Jr., his older brother,

way to the White House.

as a man felled by addiction to alcohol. This

On page after page of this book,

is true. Mary Trump also alleges that Fred

to be published next Tuesday, the author

Jr. was mistreated by his father, whom Mary

relies on her perspective as an insider and

regards as a “high-functioning sociopath”

her expertise as a psychologist to reveal the

and by Donald Trump, who was a chip off

family dynamic that produced a person ca-

the old block. Together they made Fred Jr.

pable of the kind of outrageous acts Trump

miserable, she writes.

has committed. This is, after all, a man who

Trump pushed him aside to become

used insult, racism, and lies to gain and

heir apparent to the family business and

maintain power. A president whose leader-

Fred was marginalized, she says. All of this

ship contributed to lethal fiascos involving

was consistent with the head of the family’s

asylum-seeking children, hurricane vic-

value system. In Mary Trump’s telling, the

tims and, now, a pandemic made far

older Trump regarded human softness as

worse by his bungling. Through it, he has

shameful and weakness as unacceptable. He

seemed immune to feelings of regret, grief

taught his sons “be tough at all costs, lying

and empathy.

is okay, admitting you’re wrong or apolo-

The President’s brother unsuccess-

gizing is weakness.” In life “there can only

fully sought to block publication of the

be one winner,” Fred Trump used to say,

book, alleging that a legal agreement made

according to her account, “and everybody

to settle a dispute prohibited it. At the time, Robert

Trump marshals enough memories and family lore to

else is a loser.” This attitude may explain the author’s

Trump, calling his niece’s actions “a disgrace” said,

make a plausible case for her assessment of the presi-

claim that as Fred Jr. lay dying of a cardiac condition

“Her attempt to sensationalize and mischaracterize

dent and his clan. I did not speak with her when I was

the family waited a week before seeking medical help.

our family relationship after all of these years for her

researching the biography I wrote about Trump, but

Decades later, Mary Trump says she sees the

own financial gain is both a travesty and injustice to

I find her account persuasive. Her description of her

dysfunction she witnessed as a young member of the

the memory of my late brother, Fred, and our beloved

grandfather aligns with what others told me about his

Trump clan playing out on a national scale during

parents.”

cold and demanding nature. Likewise, her description

the pandemic. Instead of acting swiftly to address

of how Fred Sr. backstopped Donald Trump during

Covid-19, the President has refused to take responsi-

Whatever the elder Trumps may feel, Mary

EDITORS NOTE: Michael D’Antonio is the author of the book “Never Enough: Donald Trump and the Pursuit of Success.” His forthcoming book, “The Hunting of Hillary: The Forty Year Campaign to Destroy Hillary Clinton” is out later this month. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own.

8

July 09 – July 15, 2020

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The New ‘Tell-All’ Book

by President Trumps Niece - Dr. Mary Trump bility for early mistakes or to meaningfully adjust as things grew worse. Incapable of facing even a hint of failure, he has offered distractions and denials until he has seemed to lose interest. Recently the Washington Post reported that the White House may be hoping people just get used to the illness and death.

“While thousands of Americans die alone, Donald touts stock market gains,” Mary Trump writes.

How My Family Created The World’s ‘Most Dangerous’ Man – Donald J. Trump whoever›s getting the President that day.»

recalls, he folded his arms on his chest and glowered.

“As my father lay dying alone, Donald went to the

In fact, Mary Trump has ample credibility,

In the same part of the book, Mary Trump

movies. If he can in any way profit from your death,

due to a life spent dealing with the extended Trump

notes that the President’s older sister Maryanne Bar-

he’ll facilitate it, and then he’ll ignore the fact that

clan, including her powerful uncle. This credibility is

ry, a former federal appellate court judge, considered

you died. ... The fact is that Donald is fundamentally

amplified by her professional qualifications and by the

him a “clown” with “no principles.” The author also

incapable of acknowledging the suffering of others.

mix of fierce honesty and decency she appears to dis-

describes how when her uncle was campaigning for

Telling the stories of those we’ve lost would bore him.”

play throughout the book as she reveals the good and

president, she heard echoes of Trump family dinners

In one of the most famous episodes of the

the bad. Her decency can be seen in the compassion

in the way that candidate Trump mocked and dispar-

Trump family story, Mary Trump and her broth-

she shows for the Donald Trump who, as a very little

aged others. “That kind of casual dehumanization of

er sued after discovering that as their father›s heirs

boy, she writes, was deprived of a mother’s care, due

people was commonplace at the Trump dinner table,”

they were denied a share of Fred Sr.›s estate

to her many illnesses and whose father was incapable

she writes.

The suit was eventually settled out of court

of offering loving attention. “Donald’s main source

Mary Trump resists giving the President a for-

but the hard feelings that were stirred did not disap-

of comfort and human connection was taken from

mal diagnosis. However, she does note his narcissism

pear. Mary Trump wrote that she got a reminder of

him,” she writes. Left to the care of household staff

and suggests that he seems to fit many of the criteria

where her father stood with the family when, after her

and a disinterested father, she adds, “Donald suffered

for the serious diagnosis of anti-social personality dis-

grandmother died, he wasn’t mentioned as one of her

deprivations that would scar him for life.”

order. “He is and always will be a terrified little boy,”

children in the published obituary.

One suggestion of the way that Donald

she says. It is her concern over the damage a terrified

In writing and publishing her book now, de-

Trump’s development was arrested in childhood comes

person might do, she writes, that makes her call him

cades after the will dispute was settled, Mary Trump

in an anecdote that Mary Trump shares of an incident

“the world’s most dangerous man” and compelled her

has opened herself up to the possibility that she will

that occurred from inside the White House. Invited to

to tell the truth she knows. The result is an insightful,

be subject to more vilification by the President and his

a family celebration after the election, she catches the

well-crafted memoir written by someone familiar with

allies. Kellyanne Conway, the President’s counselor,

sound of a familiar story about one of young Donald’s

the Trump story from the inside and out -- and who

has already taken a few swipes at her, noting that

brothers dumping a bowl of mashed potatoes on the

wrote it in spite of family pressure to stop her.

books are «not fact checked, nobody›s under oath.»

future President’s head. She looks to see if the older

She also warned against «a rush to slap credibility on

Trump is finally able to laugh at himself. Instead, she

www.SimonAndSchuster.com

LEGAL BATTLE OVER BOOK’S PUBLICATION: Mary Trump’s book is being published two weeks early by Simon & Schuster in New York State Supreme Court, but an appellate court lifted Schuster on July 14th, amid high demand following a court battle over the temporary restraining order against the publisher the next day. its release. The publisher has already printed 75,000 copies of the book, The restraining order is still in place against Mary Trump, so she according to court filings. is unable to comment publicly.

After the book was disclosed last month, the President’s younger Her spokesman, Chris Bastardi, said Monday: “The act by a sitting brother Robert Trump took legal action to block its publication. Rob- president to muzzle a private citizen is just the latest in a series of disert Trump briefly won an injunction against Mary Trump and Simon & turbing behaviors.”

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July 09 – July 15, 2020

9

City of Houston Seeks T.R.O., Files Lawsuit to Prevent the Texas General Land Office from Illegally Taking Control of $1.27 billion in Disaster Relief Funds.

By StyleMagazine.com Newswire

T

oday, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced the City of Houston filed a lawsuit seeking a Temporary Restraining Order and Temporary and Permanent Injunctions against the Texas General Land Office (GLO) and GLO Commissioner George P. Bush. The lawsuit filed in a Travis County State District Court, asks a judge to prevent the GLO from illegally taking control of $1.27 billion in disaster relief funds allocated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the City of Houston’s Hurricane Harvey homeowners assistance program.

“The GLO is playing politics with citizens who need their Harvey damaged homes repaired,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said. “I am disappointed the state agency is engaged in an illegal attempt to take control of the funds, without any regard to those who need help.”

The City of Houston strongly opposes the GLO’s proposal to eliminate all City-administered CDBG-DR 17 program funding for several reasons.

First, the City’s programs are successful and on schedule. For example, even though the City is only 1.5 years into its six (6) year grant: · $446 million (35%) of total funds allocated to the City has already been designated for the specific properties or projects at which the assistance is to be used. · $153 million (12%) is already under a signed contract that obligates its use to deliver recovery services, with more contracts being signed on a

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July 02 – July 08, 2020

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weekly basis. · The City’s Single-Family programs have already fully served 234 homeowners, with another 246 families submitted to or approved

by GLO and currently being served.

At the current pace, the City will serve 1000 families for each of the next 4 years before the end of the contract, for an estimated total served of 4,480 families.

• Second, the City’s programs are better and more appropriate for the citizens of the City than those the GLO has implemented.

• Third, the GLO’s proposed amendment violates the terms of its subrecipient agreement. · Section 2.03 of the Contract provides that amendments to increase or decrease the amount of the subaward must be made by written agreement of the parties and the City has not consented to any reduction in its subaward. · Funding under the Contract has not been reduced or terminated. · The City is performing under the terms of the Contract and has not defaulted under the Contract.

• Finally, the GLO has demonstrated that it has a difficult time complying with HUD requirements and with establishing and communicating its own bureaucratic and confusing requirements to the City.

More information and a copy of the lawsuit is available online: www.StyleMagazine.com

MAKING THE CASE FOR MIXED-RACE RELATIONSHIPS In 2020, Mixed Couples Are More Likely To Experience Pushback From Well-Meaning Members Of Thier Own Family

By Robert Thompson – Founder – www.InterRacialDating.com

W

hat is race? That four letter word that has plagued American culture since its inception, as it turns out, may not even be real, but rather a political and financial ruse used to manipulate and separate people. According to a 2018 National Geographic article titled, There’s No Scientific Basis for Race – It’s a Made Up Label, “Over the past few decades, genetic research has revealed two deep truths about people. The first is that all humans are closely related—more closely related than all chimps even though there are many more humans around today. Everyone has the same collection of genes.”

A 2017 article put out by Harvard University asks the question, “[Is]race a myth - a mere social construct and biologically meaningless?” It goes on to state, “today, scientists prefer to use the term ‘ancestry’ to describe human diversity. ‘Ancestry’ reflects the fact that human variations do have a connection to the geographical origins of our ancestors. With enough information about a person’s DNA, scientists can make a reasonable guess about their ancestry. However, unlike the term ‘race,’ it focuses on understanding how a person’s history unfolded, not how they fit into one category and not another.”

On an anecdotal level, if you were to crack open a current day middle school history textbook (just in case you need a refresher), a pretty grim portrait is painted of Europeans scouting lands on other continents that were rich in natural resources, conquering those lands and indigenous people, and claiming ownership based on little more than feelings of self-entitlement and self-proclaimed superiority.

It seems what we are looking at are artificially constructed concepts of racial designation based on financial gain and the acquisition of global turf that has remained with us over centuries, as propaganda and myth were accepted as fact. This is not about pointing fingers as to whose ancestors did what to whom, but to point out the dysfunctional origins of race designation, that in my opinion, have negatively impacted all people.

Although older generations may sit you down for the old Bird and Fish conversation(a bird and a fish can fall in love… but where will they build their nest…?) when it comes to the presumed perils of dating or marrying outside one’s race or ethnicity, another 2017 article, this one written by Psychology Today, concludes, “if we compare mixed-race and same-race couples who enjoy the same quality of life, we find no difference in divorce rates. In this sense, there’s no evidence for the received wisdom that biracial marriages are more likely to fail.”

In fact, in 2020, mixed couples are more likely to experience pushback from well-meaning members of their

own respective inner circles than they will from society at large, causing many mixed-race couples to say, “Mom, dad,you are the ones discriminating against us. Society is busy with its own problems.”

As we explore the disturbing hot button issues of white privilege, police brutality and hate crimes, yes, society’s problems can spill over into mixed couplings and mixed families, though in a most curious way. A Caucasian person may be worried about his/her Black partner when that partner is out and about without them, thereby removing the veil of white privilege they provide when the couple is together. Mixed race children that are half Caucasian and half Black also tend to benefit from the veil of white privilege extended to them when they are in the presence of the white parent. This may lead to a false sense of security if lessons about racial discrimination and violence against Black Americans are not taught by both parents. The bottom line is that this is an issue that impacts the Black members of that family when the Caucasian partner is not around; a problem that would have effected them as Black Americans with or without their mixed relationship or mixed family dynamic.

For their part, Caucasian people with Black life partners and Black children have a considerable responsibility to be educated, empathetic and approachable about this issue, but they must know that they cannot “rescue” their partner and children or “fix” the problem. Only changed public policy and a changed mass consciousness can eventually do that. This is a substantial lesson for the Caucasian partner in humility, compassion, understanding and providing support without condescension or attempting to control the situation. Accept that you don’t know what it feels like, nor can you give advice based on experiences that you have never had.

In terms of integrating cultural differences, the Psychology Today article does go on to highlight potential marital pitfalls, stating, “What’s most important in determining whether a marriage will succeed or fail is the amount of long-term stress the couple experiences. This stress can come from outside the marriage, for example from financial problems or work-related issues. It can also arise within the marriage, for instance from difficulties in child-rearing or health issues—whether physical or psychological. Lack of support for the marriage from society in general or from extended family, in particular, can also tip the scale towards dysfunction and divorce.”

The article goes on to say, “When two people from different cultures marry, an important key to making the union a success is respect for each other’s cultural heritage.

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When spouses look down on their partner’s culture as inferior to their own, or when they feel it’s not worthwhile getting to know their partner’s people or their ways and traditions, there’s little chance for long-term happiness in the marriage.”

In other words, interracial or mixed relationships and marriages are made or broken by one simple word: respect. And respect is universal to all relationships, mixed or not. Only the details are different.

All relationships, marriages and long-term romantic partnerships endure major stressors throughout a shared lifetime. In the case of mixed-race couplings, you could simply be swapping one potential stressor for another, but that does not mean that the challenges of blending two races or cultures has to spell trouble.

On the contrary, some of the major purposes of long-term relationships are emotional, spiritual, and intellectual growth. Partnering with someone from another race or ethnicity is fertile ground for this worthy human pursuit.

There is great opportunity to learn empathy, to expand oneself to allow for the acceptance of cultural and social ideals outside of one’s upbringing, to learn to see the world through someone else’s eyes and experiences, and to gain the valuable gift of knowing that romantic love and family love transcends race and culture. In short, you will learn a lot and perhaps be better for it.

A 2016 Ebony article titled Culture Clash: Why You Should Date Outside Your Comfort Zone expresses the freedom factor that mixed couples tend to experience, stating, “The cool part about blending two different backgrounds is the ability to create and share new traditions.”

If racial constructs are indeed a myth with no scientific precedent, the very act of coupling interracially orinterculturally makes you two more people in the world courageous enough to dispel this long held destructive racial myth that has caused insurmountable pain and suffering in the United States and around the world.

Apart from expanding your horizons in search of Mr. or Ms. Right, you are saying no to the race myth and yes to love, and possibly creating something that will contribute to changing the world.

Robert Thompson is co-founder ofInterracialDatingCentral. com, the world’s largest online interracial and inter-ethnic dating platform since 2004, and theInterracialDatingCentral Facebook community, which boasts 1.7 million heavily engaged members worldwide.

July 02 – July 08, 2020

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REPORT: Miles Ahead Scholars Program Shows Overwelming Promise For H.I.S.D. Student Achievement Inspiring Dialogue Through Online Social Movement

By StyleMagazine.com Newswire

L

ess than a year ago, 60 ninth- and 10th-grade boys walked across Worthing High School’s cafeteria stage, signifying their acceptance into the inaugural class of HISD’s Miles Ahead Scholars (MAS) program.

Now, just 10 months after that moving induction ceremony, a new evaluation conducted by the district’s Research and Accountability Department showcases the positive academic and socioemotional impacts the program has had on its first cohort. The full report can be found at: www.HoustonISD.org.

“I am so excited to share this with our young men, because they were there at the schools doing great work even before Miles Ahead was created,” Miles Ahead Scholars Program Director Haskel Harvey said. “Now they have a positive narrative that showcases what they were creating and are continuing to create through this program.”

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Over the last year, the MAS program, which launched in October 2019 with the support of Sen. Borris Miles and through a Texas Education Agency Student Success Initiative (SSI) Community Engagement Grant, focused on the academic programming and mentorship of young men of color from Wheatley, Worthing, and Kashmere high schools. Scholars were mentored by men of color in the community and received one-on-one advising and academic support from instructional specialists and program managers.

According to the report, when compared to students from comparable schools who did not participate in the MAS program, MAS scholars had a higher mean cumulative GPA, higher attendance rates, and lower incidences of in- and out-of-school suspensions.

“Initiatives like the Miles Ahead Program have made great strides in closing the achievement gaps for our young men of color,” Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said. “As our students face unprecedented challenges outside the classroom, we remain committed to making every resource available to

July 09 – July 15, 2020

Haskle Harvey – Miles Ahead Program Director

Dr. Grenita Lathan – H.I.S.D. Interim Superintendent

them.”

Along with academic support, the MAS program is dedicated not only to preparing young men of color for college but also building their confidence to do so.

“Growing up, I didn’t always have access to the things I needed, and I don’t think going to college would be a possibility if I didn’t get into Miles Ahead,” Wheatley High School rising junior Jakory Johnson said. “Not only has the program given me the opportunity to get into college, it has definitely given me the confidence to try.”

Harvey said without the support of campus leaders and the local communities, the program’s recent success would not be possible. To raise awareness and attract more students and families to the program, MAS will soon kick off the #MyNeighborhoodMySchool campaign, which celebrates the three historic Houston neighborhoods (Trinity

Gardens, Fifth Ward, and Sunnyside) and schools that are helping MAS create the next generation of leaders.

“We may be a district program with a targeted group of students, but we belong to the schools and the community.

This wouldn’t be possible without them creating space for us,” Harvey said. “We belong to Wheatley and the Fifth Ward community, Kashmere and the Kashmere/Trinity Gardens community. We belong to Worthing and the Sunnyside community.”

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Looking ahead, the Miles Ahead Program is inviting students from Wheatley, Worthing, and Kashmere high schools to join the Class of 2024 cohort.

Anyone interested in becoming involved in the program can contact Harvey at: Haskey.Harvey@HoustonISD.org. www.HoustonISD.org

PE AL A X E N N IO A S R ES O F T.E.A. Issues Comprehensive Guidelines For OF R P

2020 Safe Return To On-Campus Instructions

By StyleMagazine.com Newswire

T

he Texas Education Agency today announced comprehensive guidelines for students to return to school, prioritizing their health and safety while ensuring that students receive quality instruction, whether they choose to learn in a safe on-campus environment or remotely.

“Both as Commissioner and as a public school parent, my number one priority is the health and safety of our students, teachers, and staff,” said Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath. “That is why the guidance laid out today will provide flexibility to both parents and districts to make decisions based on the ever-changing conditions of this public health crisis. The state is and remains committed to providing a high-quality education to all Texas students, while ensuring the health and safety of students, teachers, staff, and families.”

Morath added that, despite what will be a challenging budget year, Governor Greg Abbott, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, Speaker Dennis Bonnen, and other legislative leaders are committed to fully funding in-class and remote instruction for every child in the upcoming school year. As a result, parents will have more choices than normal this year as they decide which school setting is best for their children, including: • Daily on-campus learning will be available to all parents who would like their students to learn in school each day.

• In addition, all parents will have the option to choose remote learning for their children, initially, or at any point as the year progresses. Parents who choose remote instruction for their students may be asked to commit to remote instruction for a full grading period (e.g. 6 or 9 weeks), but will not have to make that commitment more than two weeks in advance, so they can make a decision based on the latest public health information.

• Health and safety procedures will be in place to support student and teacher safety.

• Some health procedures are mandated for every school in the state. For example, all students,

Mike Morath – Texas Education Commissioner teachers, staff, and visitors coming to campus must be screened before being allowed on campus.

Consistent with the Governor’s most recent executive order, and assuming that order is still in place, masks will be required while in school buildings, with certain exceptions made, as noted in the order. Schools will also be required to follow any forthcoming executive orders issued by the Governor.

• Additional health procedures are recommended for every school that can reasonably implement those procedures.

• Districts have the option to establish a phased-in return to on-campus instruction for up to the first three weeks of the school year, to ensure all appropriate health and safety procedures are fully in place.

• TEA is providing school systems •

•

• •

with resources to ensure a strong start. This includes: Reimbursement for extra COVID-19-related expenses incurred during the 2019-20 school year; Tens of millions of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) supplies provided to school systems at no cost to Texas schools; Free online, TEKS-aligned learning tools to deliver remote instruction; Teacher training provided at no cost to the school system; and Statewide efforts to help bridge the digital divide for students at home, along with other ongoing support.

For more information, please visit the Texas Education Agency’s comprehensive public health guidance: https://www.tea.texas.gov/

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July 09 – July 15, 2020

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Comedian Rickey Smiley’s Daughter – Aaryn, 19 Was Shot Multiple Times Daughter – Aaryn Shot During Road Rage Incident

By Lisa Respers France CNN / StyleMagazine.com – Newswire

T

he 19-year-old daughter of comedian and syndicated radio host Rickey Smiley is currently recovering after being shot during an alleged road rage incident.

Smiley posted an emotional video Monday in which he said his daughter, Aaryn, was one of a group of people wounded in Houston over the July 4th weekend.

“I’m so mad right now, I don’t

know what to do,” said Smiley, who hosts the “Rickey Smiley Show Morning Show” and is one of the stars of “DISH Nation.” “The reason I’m on Facebook Live is cause I just want you to see that it’s raw and it’s real. I want you to see what parents have to deal with when their children become victims of gun violence.”

Investigators told CNN affiliate KTRK that following an altercation at a separate location, a suspect pulled up to a car at a red light on Houston›s south side and opened fire.

Smiley’s daughter was in a different vehicle at the light, according to investigators, and was caught in crossfire.

Three other victims transported themselves to a hospital and all are expected to survive their injuries.

The radio host tweeted that his daughter had successfully made it out of surgery.

“My daughter made it out of her operation, “ he tweeted. “She’s doing great!!Thank you for your prayers!!!”

Aaryn Smiley, who turned 19 days before the shooting, posted a photo of

Rickey Smiley and 19-year old daughter – Aaryn Smiley a blood drenched seat in a vehicle on Instagram.

“This is the most terrifying thing that has ever happened to me,” the caption read. “I won’t be out of the hospital for a while nor will I be able to walk for a while due to nerve damage.”

She also shared an image that appeared to have been taken from a hospital bed.

“[T]he fact that the bullets that went thru my legs were armored riffled [sic] bullets made to go through anything (how they got through the car) but the one [that] would have hit me in the head was not that kind and ended up lodged in the car. God,” a note accompanying the picture read. “Words can’t describe how grateful i am to be alive

right now.”

The teen also posted about being unable to see her parents while hospitalized because of the Covid-19 pandemic, writing that she was “terrified.”

The elder Smiley posted a photo of himself wearing a mask, writing, “I respect the rules.”

“Can’t see my daughter @ ryn.smiley because of #covid19... it’s getting dark and I’m not leaving this park until I lay eyes on her,” he wrote. “#Houston (Thanks to the @HoustonPolice for being so awesome and kind to us.)”

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Houston Astros: Face Tough Challenges As M.L.B. Releases 60-Game Regular Season Schedule

By Brian Barefield, Sports Editor StyleMagazine.com

A

stros fans. Mark your calendars for July 24th as baseball will be returning to Minute Maid Park on that day. Houston will be looking to win their fourth consecutive AL West title and their fourth pennant in franchise history.

Major League Baseball announced the shortened 60-game season schedule late Monday with Houston opening up with a four-game homestand against their American League West foe, Seattle Mariners.

The defending American League Champions will then face the Los Angeles Dodgers who they defeated in seven games in 2017 to win their first World Series title for two more games before heading out on the road. That’s when the Astros will face their first real conditioning test against fatigue as they will play nine-games in 10-days (July 31-Aug.9). They will then return home to face the San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, and Colorado Rockies in an eight-game homestand.

Houston then heads out of Texas for their second road trip where they will face the Rockies again for twogames and the San Diego Padres for

the first time since they won 1-0 back in April 2018 for three-games. Once they finish that trip, they will enjoy the friendly confines of Minute Maid Park for 10-games that include three-games versus in-state rivals, Texas Rangers.

That homestand also includes reigning A.L. MVP Mike Trout (who barely beat out Astros third baseman Alex Bregman to win his third MVP award) of the Los Angeles Angels making his first appearance in Houston.

Trout was very vocal when it came to speaking about the Astros cheating scandal that rocked MLB after former Houston pitcher Mike Fiers interview with The Athletic that led the MLB to investigate how the team was stealing signs at home using advanced technology.

«It›s sad for baseball,» Trout said. «It›s tough. They cheated. I don›t agree with the punishments, the players not getting anything. It was a playerdriven thing. It sucks, too, because guys› careers have been affected, a lot of people lost jobs. It was tough.”

After a nine-game West Coast road trip in September, the Astros return back to Houston for six games and their

final homestand before finishing the final seven games on the road with the final four against the Rangers in their new stadium in Arlington.

Due to the global pandemic caused by COVID-19, Major League Baseball was forced to reduce the number of games to be played this season. Houston will play 40 games vs.

American League West opponents and 20 games vs. NL West opponents. That equates to 30 games at home and 30 on the road.

Once the Astros take the field at

Minute Maid Park, it will mark the 20th anniversary of the park, which opened in 2000. They are hoping to duplicate the success they had on last year that led them to the World Series. Houston had six 2019 AL All-Star selections, rookie outfielder Yordan Alvarez was named 2019 AL Rookie of the Year, and future first-ballot Hall of Fame pitcher Justin Verlander won his second Cy Young Award.

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