Author: Madelyn Gee, DI

Madelyn Gee was a Digital Intern with Black News Alerts

Three Somali women have filed a suit against the company Amazon on the basis of discrimination. What We Know: According to the New York Times, these women, working at an Amazon near Minneapolis, “have accused the company of creating a hostile environment for Muslim workers and of retaliating against them for protesting their work conditions, according to a filing submitted this week to federal regulators.” Muslim Advocates, the non-profit legal organization representing the women, wrote a letter in the filing in the suit that “asked the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to investigate what they argue are “systemic violations” of the…

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The controversial Westboro Church protested at Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Clark Atlanta University Sunday. What We Know:  Based in Topeka, Kansas, Westboro Church was founded in 1955 by pastor Fred Waldron Phelps. The organization, while having many followers via social media, is mostly made of Phelps’ own extended family — probably fewer than 100 people in all. Self-described as an “old-school (or primitive) Baptist Church,” Westboro had their first picketing at Topeka’s Gage Park in June 1991, allegedly a popular place for the LGBTQ+ community to meet. Since then Westboro has continued to make appearances at any event or location…

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“Quiet Mode” is one of the new features offered to Uber Black riders announced Wednesday. What We Know:  Included with luggage assistance and extended wait times, Quiet Mode allows Uber Black riders to request that their drivers don’t talk to them. The company partnered with lifestyle icon Martha Stewart to announce the new upgrades. “You’ve heard of house music, but my style is more housekeeping music. And when I head to a gig, I choose an @Uber Black trip so I can request an extra hand with my bags,” she said in the ad. Uber Black offers high-end cars and…

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Talk show legend Oprah Winfrey made the announcement last Friday at West Side High School in Newark, New Jersey. What We Know:  The principal of the high school, Akbar Cook started the Lights On program to give students a safe place to hang out after school as well as give them a space to get a meal and wash their laundry. The program has existed for years but started gaining national attention after Cook installed washers and dryers for those being bullied for their unclean uniforms. Since then, Cook has appeared on “The Ellen Show” twice, with Degeneres donating $50,000 gifts…

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Singer Trey Songz announced the birth of his son, Noah, Thursday night. What We Know:  Songz – whose real name is Tremaine Neverson – made the announcement on Instagram. “My son Noah. We are blessed and overjoyed. Peace 🙏🏾,” captioned the photo of his son peacefully sleeping in a bear onesie. He did not announce who the mother was but the announcement still came as a shock to many disappointed fans. In 2015, Songz told Charlemagne Tha God on The Breakfast Club that he always wanted to have children. “Man I want kids. I’ve been wanting children before you could even…

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The Alabama State Senate passed the bill on Tuesday night. What We Know:  The bill was passed with a 25 to 6 vote. It is being called a “near-total” anti-abortion bill due to no exceptions for rape or incest. The bill is the most restrictive anti-abortion measure passed since Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973. The bill becoming law now depends on the Republican governor of Alabama, Kay Ivey. Since the approval of the bill she has denied public comment. The bill known as House Bill 314, “Human Life Protection Act” — bans all abortions in the state except when…

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Controversial TV persona Tomi Lahren recently responded to rapper Jay-Z’s comments on President Donald Trump. What We Know:  On the new David Letterman Netflix show, “My Guests Need No Introduction”, JAY-Z discussed his true feelings about the President. “He’s bringing out an ugly side of America that we wanted to believe is gone,” he stated. “We still gotta deal with it. We have to have tough conversations…” After hearing this interview, Lahren took to Fox News to talk about her feelings towards the rapper. She started the rant by stating “Why do all these Trump-deranged, selectively offended, loud-mouthed celebrities really hate…

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The rapper JT, half of the popular female rap duo the “City Girls” was denied an early prison release for her felony fraud charges. What We Know:  The rapper, real name Jatavia Johnson, was sentenced to two years at a Tallahassee federal prison on fraudulent credit card charges and turned herself in last summer to serve what’s expected to be a 2 year sentence. Her legal team filed a request for her release with only nine months left in the sentence, stating that “By July 12, 2019, she will have completed “15.6 months (12 months plus 3.6 months earned good…

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The fatal shooting of Pamela Turner occurred in Baytown, Texas Monday night. What We Know:  A woman identified as Pamela Turner, 44, was shot and killed Monday night after resisting arrest and attempting to grab an officer’s taser. An officer patrolling the apartment complex where the incident happened recognized Turner and knew she had prior warrants. When the police tried to arrest Turner, she resisted arrest leading to the officer being forced to use his taser that proved to be inefficient. Turner then took the taser and used it on the officer, leading to the officer being “forced the officer…

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The Democratic Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren revealed her plan to stop the opioid crisis at rallies in West Virginia and Ohio starting last Wednesday. What We Know: Her opioid crisis proposal “would provide $100 billion for treatment, provider support and funding for research over a decade.” Her plan “would focus on the epicenters of the epidemic and provide support to state and nonprofit recovery efforts.” Warren is also receiving help with the bill from Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland. The plan would directly go to community leaders in the most struggling cities and towns with resources rather than go…

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