A ‘solar sharing’ pilot project in Colorado is testing whether farmers can profit from growing vegetables and harvesting green energy on the same plot.
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Saturday, February 22, 2020
KFC to Debut the Kentucky Fried Chicken & Donuts Sandwich
The chicken wars are starting to heat up again, just in time for the warmer weather. After a very successful limited test run in 2019, Kentucky Fried Chicken® has announced that it is bringing the coveted, always hot, Kentucky Fried Chicken & Donuts to hungry consumers nationwide.
KFC is opening a pop-up shop called “The Colonel’s (Chicken &) Donuts Shop” for one day only in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 22, in the donut capital of the world. The Colonel’s (Chicken &) Donuts Shop, which will be located at 615 North La Brea Avenue, will open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., serving strictly Kentucky Fried Chicken & Donuts. The first 50 customers in line at the shop will receive a free Colonel’s Dozen, a mouthwatering mix of six KFC Extra Crispy
chicken tenders and six glazed-to-order donuts. Guests can RSVP here and walk-ups are welcome!
“Chicken & Donuts is the newest fried chicken trend we’re bringing to all of America,” said Andrea Zahumensky, chief marketing officer, KFC U.S in a press release. “But not just any donut would do. Only a donut that’s glazed-to-order and served piping hot every single time can stand next to our hand-breaded fried chicken. It’s a finger lickin’ good dish filled with glaze and glory.”
KFC and donut fans can experience this finger-lickin’ sweet and savory meal in a variety of options ranging from $5.49 to $7.99:
- Kentucky Fried Chicken & Donuts Basket meal: chicken on the bone or Extra Crispy chicken tenders, paired with one donut. Also available as a big basket meal, which includes two donuts.
- Kentucky Fried Chicken & Donuts Sandwich: a juicy, hand-breaded Extra Crispy chicken filet sandwiched between two fully glazed donuts.
- Guests can satisfy their sweet tooth by adding a donut to any meal for an additional cost.
KFC’s chicken and donuts bring together a delicious pairing of KFC’s world-famous fried chicken, coupled with a warm, fresh-glazed donut. Beginning Monday, Feb. 24, Kentucky Fried Chicken & Donuts will be available at participating restaurants in the U.S. for a limited time only.
They will be available nationwide through March 16, or while supplies last.
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Friday, February 21, 2020
3 things to watch this weekend to celebrate Black History Month
Black History Month is in full effect and there are tons of ways to celebrate this weekend. Aside from educating the masses on the impact Black folks have had on this country, another bonus is the powerful content that inevitably debuts in February. T
his year is no different, with several strong offerings coming in the form of television specials, series, and films that highlight African Americans. Whether you’re looking to be reminded of what we have endured, reflect on where we have been, or inspired by where we are going; art has a way of helping us process all of the emotions that come with it.
NAACP Image Awards announces nominations for 51st annual ceremony
Here are 3 things to watch this weekend to help you do just that:
Who Killed Malcolm X?
February 21 marks the 55th anniversary of the assassination of Malcolm X. Decades after the African American leader, an activist embarks on a complex mission seeking truth in the name of justice. The lingering questions and astounding revelations in the documentary will blow your mind.
Who Killed Malcolm X? is streaming now on Netflix.
We Are The Dream: The Kids Of The Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest
This heartwarming hour-long doc that dropped on HBO just in time for Black History Month is just the kind of hopeful and happy content we all need right now, following young students across the Oakland school district as they learn to literally raise their voices and deliver powerful orations during the annual nationwide competition inspired by the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Every year in Oakland, CA, hundreds of pre-K through 12th-grade students compete in the Martin Luther King Oratorical Festival, performing a mix of published and original poetry and speeches. This documentary chronicles the months leading up to the 40th annual festival, as schools across the city send their top-placing students to compete. It is a portrait of passionate young people raising their voices about issues they care about – social justice, immigration and more – and of a community that celebrates them. Directed and produced by Amy Schatz; produced by Diane Koyler; executive produced by Mahershala Ali, Amatus Karim Ali, Mimi Valdés and Julie Anderson.
We Are The Dream: The Kids Of The Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest is available on HBO.
NAACP Image Awards
Although Black actors, actresses, singers, writers, and directors were slighted from the nominee pool at the Golden Globes and BAFTA Awards, the Image Awards were created to honor the achievements of people of color in film, TV, music, and literature. The show also acknowledges people and organizations who promote social justice through entertainment. This year’s show will honor the best and brightest in the community and nominees include Lizzo, Lupita Nyong’o, Michael B. Jordan, Jodie Turner-Smith, Daniel Kaluuya, Eddie Murphy, Regina King, Winston Duke, and more of our faves. TheGrio will be at the event to cover all the action so stay tuned for BTS updates.
The NAACP Image Awards will air January 22 on BET on Feb. 2 at 8pm.
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Serena Williams shares vulnerable message about the challenges of being a working mom
There’s no doubt that motherhood has had a deep impact on Serena Williams and this week she let her supporters get a super candid glimpse into the not so glamorous moments that most working mothers know all too well.
Friday, the tennis star posted a photo on her Instagram that shows her visibly exhausted, with no makeup, sitting inside a parked vehicle and holding her and husband Alexis Ohanian‘s 2-year-old daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian, Jr., as the child sleeps on her shoulder.
READ MORE: Serena Williams gets boxing lessons from Mike Tyson: ‘She has some power’
“I am not sure who took this picture but Working and being a mom is not easy,” Williams wrote. “I am often exhausted, stressed, and then I go play a professional tennis match.”
“We keep going. I am so proud and inspired by the women who do it day in and day out,” she continued. “I’m proud to be this baby’s mama @olympiaohanian. #nofilter #nomakeup #nohairbursh lol #justme.”
READ MORE: Serena Williams nabs first title since having her daughter three years ago
In 2019, while speaking to E! News, Williams opened up about being a working mother for the first-time.
“I’m always trying to ask everyone else, how do they balance? Because I’m not sure if I’m doing a good job,” she said at the time. “I’m just trying to do the best that I can.”
“I’m a perfectionist, so I tend to second-guess myself a lot,” she continued. “But I’m trying to just be confident in that. For me it’s my first time around being a mom and I kinda beat myself up over everything. I missed her first steps an that was really hard for me but it’s not like she walked every day that first step day, so OK, I kind of got to see them even though I didn’t. So that was really cool. I still kinda go back and look at those videos.”
READ MORE: Serena Williams selected as ‘Female Athlete of the Decade’
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Stacey Abrams admits she was ‘worried’ during the 2018 Georgia election for governor
Stacey Abrams might not have won the Georgia gubernatorial election, but she is no loser.
The highly sought after social justice advocate and political darling spoke at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, Inc. 2020 Clergy & Lay Leadership Conference about the now legendary race and all of the flaws in that 2018 election process.
From the onset, she had to set the record straight. While she was not victorious in the election, she did not lose.
To the assembly of over one thousand ministers and freedom fighters, she took the mic and basically preached to the congregation of supporters.
READ MORE: Stacey Abrams tackles voter suppression in new book due out in June
“When I go around the country talking about the work we do, I begin by announcing, ‘My name is Stacey Abrams and I am not the governor of Georgia.’” The assembly erupted as she continued, “I am not confused… But I don’t see that as a loss. There are those that would tell me that I need to learn to accept my place, that I lost that election. But the thing of it is, I didn’t lose.”
She said to the group, “I grew up in the tradition of the Methodist church. I grew up in Mississippi, the daughter of two people who eventually became pastors. I grew up understanding that in the space where I was born and the place where I was born, that if I used someone else’s definition of victory I was always going be behind.”
At 46, her steady cadence and confident swag represented a figure far more prepared for the mantle of the Civil Rights movement than many that preach in pulpits to Black people on Sunday mornings. Thus, it was apropos for her to keynote at this conference. Abrams, along with personalities like Candace Simpson and Tameka Mallory, are the new faces of the movement, connecting the heritage of the poor, Black and slavery-begotten-south with the sophistication of the resourceful, Black and access-plentiful- millennium.
READ MORE: Stacey Abrams executive producing CBS drama based off of her first book
She introduced those listening to her grandmother, Wilter Abrams, a woman who had just as much influence in her maturation as a leader than the green grass of Spelman College. In a reflection where she spoke about this feisty woman that even in her 90s watched MSNBC and fussed about politics gave her an extra push to stay in the race, fight for her people and moreover stay in the struggle creating impact with her voice.
Abrams shared, “In September 2018, as the election was heating up and stories were floating around the country about voter suppression that was being unveiled in the state of Georgia, I went home to Mississippi. I went back to my roots because my grandmother was ailing.”
“You would go to visit grandma, she had a rocking recliner where she sat in most of the day. She had a bed that sat right beside it and when you came into the room you sat on the edge of it and you took her hand. She was watching MSNBC and you didn’t want to interrupt her while she was mad that day.”
“When she got to a place where she would acknowledge your presence, she would mute the television and she would turn to you.” Abram continued as she recalled one of the last times she talked to her grandmother. “She wanted to talk about my election. She was mad.”
READ MORE: Stacey Abrams on being open to accepting VP role: ‘Of course I want it’
“She was mad at the man I was running against. She was mad at the man in the White House. She was mad that she couldn’t vote in Georgia. I said, ‘Well, grandma you never lived in Georgia.’ And she didn’t seem to think that was a rational enough explanation.”
“I said to her, ‘I am worried because this man I am running against is in charge of the election. He is the scorekeeper. He is the contestant. He is doing the box copy. He is the umpire and it’s gonna be hard.”
Abrams recalled her grandmother saying, “Have you done what you can?”
“Yes, ma’am!”
“Well, let me tell you about the first time I voted.”
As she recounted the story her grandmother told her, she shared that both of her parents were active in the Civil Rights movement, her father was even locked up. She also shared that while her grandmother could not be at the forefront of the movement in the 1960’s Mississippi, she contributed to the cause by providing bail money to get her children out of jail.
READ MORE: Stacey Abrams predicts she’ll be president by 2040
“In 1968, after the passage of the Civil Rights Act for the first presidential election which she would be eligible to vote in, she was sitting in the backroom of the three-room house. My grandfather was in the front with his brother LP and they were getting ready to vote. …They had gotten dressed because back then you used to get dressed up to go and vote.”
She said that her grandfather was calling her to come on so that they could go and vote and her grandmother said, “Jim, I don’t want to go.”
“What do you mean you don’t want to vote. You get to vote in this presidential election. What do you mean?”
“I am scared.”
Abrams said that her grandmother remembered the dogs, the hoses and the billy clubs and she was afraid.
Her grandfather tried to comfort her by saying, “But we won. The Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Voting Act of 1965 passed. Mississippi finally acknowledged the federal government. We get to go and vote.
Grandma told Abrams, “I sat there and I looked at my husband. I can’t do this, I am afraid.”
“But your children went to jail for this,” her grandfather replied. “Our friends and family… we’ve fought for this. Why won’t you come.”
Grandma said, “I wasn’t afraid of the right to vote. I was afraid of the power.”
Abrams continued, “We live in a country where people are afraid of power. Where we are afraid not of the things we are told we cannot have, we are afraid of the things we want. Because we are afraid we might get what we need. And as my grandfather took her hand and said, ‘Wilter, you need to come on,’ My grandmother said, ‘I didn’t want to go because I was afraid that if I got up and got out there, I might be disappointed. It might not work. But she screwed her courage up anyway.”
The crowd erupted as she continued to speak on the importance of the vote, resting on this anecdote to further stress her life’s mission.
But no applause was more thunderous, than when she said, “You don’t need to vote because someone died [so that you can have the right to vote], you need to vote so we can live.”
And it is about living. Voting is about as urgent as life or death when you account for all the aspects of one’s life that are impacted by the vote.
As of today, no Democratic candidate has invited Abrams on the ticket to be run as their Vice President. She told the ladies of ABC’s The View, that she would definitely consider running if asked.
“It would be doing a disservice to every woman of color, every woman of ambition, every child who wants to think beyond their known space for me to say no or to pretend, ‘Oh, no, I don’t want it.’ Of course, I want it. Of course, I want to serve America. Of course, I want to be a patriot and do this work. And so, I’d say yes.”
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Wake Forest apologizes for slavery in university’s past
By TOM FOREMAN Jr. Associated Press
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — The president of Wake Forest University issued a public apology Thursday for the institution’s past involvement in slavery.
President Nathan Hatch’s apology, delivered in a speech during the school’s Founders’ Day ceremonies, comes after a series of events stirred up racial tension on the campus, including anonymous, racist emails sent to faculty members last year. Schools around the South and beyond have been grappling in recent years with what to do about past ties to slavery or white supremacy.
“It is important and overdue that, on behalf of Wake Forest University, I unequivocally apologize for participating in and benefiting from the institution of slavery,” Hatch said during his remarks on campus. “I apologize for the exploitation and use of enslaved people – both those known and unknown – who helped create and build this university through no choice of their own.”
He made no mention of the recent tension on the campus resulting from a threatening email that caused the head of the sociology department to shut down his building and suspend classes for a week. A statement issued after his remarks noted that Hatch last year convened a committee to look at race issues and the legacy of slavery on campus.
During Hatch’s remarks, some students stood up in a silent demonstration. Senior Alexander Holt, who helped organize the gesture, said in an emailed statement before the event that they planned to stand in recognition of the involuntary sacrifices of enslaved people and the continuing impact of slavery’s legacy on current students.
Jonathan Walton, dean of the divinity school, told the audience at Wait Chapel that Wake Forest must acknowledge that “our history is both beautiful and terrible, noble and tragic, honorable and despicable.”
“We owe our very existence in part to the exploited lives of enslaved labor of people of African descent,” Walton said. “Precious people whose humanity was sacrificed to prepare young, white Baptist men for ministry, Baptist young men whose conception of of Christ supported America’s serpentine system of slavery.”
Sierra Deveaux, 19, a sophomore from New York, said Hatch’s public apology resonated with her, but she said there must be a plan that follows up on the apology.
“They need to put action to their words,” Deveaux said. “Through policy on this campus, more transparency on how they go about condemning acts of white supremacy on this campus and making it clear that they do not support white supremacy and making clear through their actions that certain behavior is not OK and that certain behavior will have consequences, and actual, written-down consequences if this is to happen.”
Other universities have apologized for their role in slavery, including the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 2018.
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Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick Hopes for a Presidential Pardon from Donald Trump
After President Donald Trump went on a pardoning spree the other day, former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is hoping that he can be afforded the same opportunity as those the president has recently approved for prison release, according to The Grio.
Kilpatrick, who was convicted and jailed for multiple public corruption crimes, is currently serving 28 years in prison. He is currently in a federal prison in New Jersey after he was convicted in 2013 of 24 charges including extortion, mail fraud, and tax violations. He has requested a commutation of his prison term from the White House after losing all filed appeals. He maintains that he was wrongfully convicted and railroaded by overzealous prosecutors.
A federal prosecutor is against a release by the president. “So far, Mr. Kilpatrick has shown absolutely no remorse for his crimes. He denies any responsibility for the 24 federal felony offenses of which he was convicted, and he has served only one-quarter of his sentence,” U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider told the Detroit Free Press one day after Trump granted clemency to 11 convicted criminals.
“My office is willing to provide any assistance to the Pardon Attorney to explain what really happened in Detroit under Mr. Kilpatrick’s watch, and why his conduct justified the sentence he received,” said Schneider, who called Kilpatrick’s 28-year sentence “a fair and just punishment” for the “devastating impact” his crimes had on Detroit. “As the elected mayor, he ran a criminal enterprise that corrupted wide swaths of city government in the early 2000s — at a time when city residents desperately needed honest and effective city services,” Schneider said.
Trump, who has broad clemency powers, granted by the Constitution, granted full pardons to seven people and commuted, or shortened, the sentences of four others.
Kilpatrick had originally sent a letter to Trump last year according to Deadline Detroit. The letter, here, in part:
“Mr. President, I am humbly and respectfully asking that you will extend your heart to me and my family, for another chance at abundant life. I am humbly requesting that you would give me relief from this egregious and unjust federal prison sentence of 28 years. With ONE STROKE OF YOUR PEN, you would give new life, freedom and hope to me, my family, and many who will be served by your gesture of kindness, mercy, and forgiveness. (Clemency Case Number: C199974…KILPATRICK)”.
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Oprah Winfrey foundation gives $5 million to New Jersey-based after school program
The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation has given a $5 million donation to a Newark, New Jersey-based and nationally-operated after school program that helps prepare students of color for college.
Judith Griffin, founder of Pathways to College, said she learned her program had received the donation last September, but first shared the news on Thursday with Pathway students and family members during a luncheon in Montclair, reported NJ.com.
READ MORE: Oprah Winfrey gives Morehouse student new iPhone 11
“Of all the charities in the country, she would choose to give this contribution to us because she believed in what we do. I don’t even know how you put a price on that,” Griffin told NJ.com.
During the luncheon, a video message was played of Winfrey praising the program. The kids were thrilled.
“I celebrate and honor the work Pathways to College does in securing futures for young people who want to go to college,” Winfrey said in the video, according to NJ.com. “I am proud to sponsor and support all of these young people and their dreams for a better life through education.”
Established in 2003, the program is offered nationwide for students of color from school districts with limited resources. Through the program, which aims to prepare students for college success and support then in achieving successful lives, students visit college campuses.
The national program has been in Newark the longest, but is in a total of 20 sites across the country, including Gary, Indiana, Detroit, Michigan, and Pine Bluff and Altheimer, Arkansas. Since its inception, Pathways has supported more than 4,000 students and 100% of program attendees have gone on to college, NJ.com reported.
When Oprah’s message played on the screen, Sumwen Osagie, 18, told NJ.com was in disbelief.
“Oprah knows Pathways to College,” Osagie said. “It’s something that motivates me to keep on going no matter what.’’
Osagie, a senior at Arts High School, applied to 13 colleges and was accepted at all of them. She told NJ.com she is going to Fairleigh Dickson in the fall.
READ MORE: Black teen who applied to 20 top colleges gets full ride to all of them
Were it not for Pathways, Osagie added that she “would have been all over the place’’ in her college search and preparation.
Last year, Winfrey also donated $500,000 to “Lights On,” another Newark-based after school program, which operates at West Side High School and keeps kids off the streets in the evenings.
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JPMorgan Chase Beefs Up Commitment To Build Black Wealth With Fresh $5 Million Investment and New Initiatives
JPMorgan Chase is investing $5 million to reaffirm its commitment to Advancing Black Pathways (ABP) and supporting new initiatives to create economic opportunities for black Americans.
This month marks the one-year anniversary since the nation’s largest bank launched ABP, a drive to help African Americans achieve sustained economic success. The action builds on the bank’s existing efforts to help communities of color by focusing on three key areas where blacks have historically lagged behind other ethnic groups: wealth creation, educational outcomes, and career success.
“We’re committed to bringing the full force of our firm to provide improved access to education, job training and wealth creation for the black community,” stated Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase. “We believe we’ve laid a strong foundation for Advancing Black Pathways to achieve lasting, meaningful impact, but recognize that we have a long way to go towards accomplishing that goal.”
The bank’s push is aimed at helping to address the racial wealth divide between black and white Americans
If current trends persist, the median wealth of black Americans will fall to $0 by 2053, reports the economic advocacy group Prosperity Now. Plus, despite accounting for nearly 13% of the U.S. population, black people occupy less than 8% of the nation’s white-collar jobs. The educational achievement gap is significant as well. Only 46% of black college students complete four-year degree programs within six years, compared to 69% of white students and 77% of Asian American students.
“JPMorgan Chase launched Advancing Black Pathways last year out of a belief that making the economy work for more people is both a business imperative and a moral obligation, stated Sekou Kaalund, Head of Advancing Black Pathways.
Thasunda Duckett, CEO of Chase Consumer Banking and executive sponsor of ABP, added, “We’re proud of the progress we’ve made through Advancing Black Pathways to hire more black talent, invest in black-owned businesses and help black Americans of all wealth levels achieve their long-term financial goals. We look forward to building on these efforts for years to come.”
Here’s a glimpse at some new initiatives the bank is backing to boost black economic opportunity.
- Student Financial Hardship Fund: Through ABP, JPMorgan Chase is committing $1 million each year to help students attending HBCUs cover the cost of personal finance emergencies. The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) and Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) will evenly administer the funds to students who attend publicly supported HBCUs within their respective networks of 84 member schools.
Helping Nonprofit Organizations Advance Racial Equality in Local Communities
- Prosperity Now: JPMorgan Chase announced a $3 million commitment over two years to help nonprofit leaders of color in Minneapolis and Seattle address racial economic inequality. The new investment expands a partnership with the bank through its corporate philanthropy program. First launched in 2015, JPMorgan Chase has invested more than $8.8 million in Prosperity Now’s Racial Wealth Divide Initiative. The initiative was previously launched in Dallas, Wilmington, New Orleans, Miami, Baltimore, and Chicago.
- Inclusiv: The firm is making a $1 million commitment over the next year to Inclusiv to help people in low- and moderate-income communities in Detroit and Cleveland, improve their financial health.
- Advancing Black Entrepreneurship: JPMorgan Chase also announced the formation of “Pathways to Capital by Chase for Business,” to improve access to capital and business advisory services for black small business owners. Pathways to Capital will prepare black entrepreneurs for the loan application process and provide improved access to Chase’s Business Banking advisory services. Pathways to Capital is still under development and will launch later in 2020.
To create the program, ABP and Chase’s Business Bank formed a coalition with four partners: the National Minority Supplier Development Council, National Urban League, U.S. Black Chambers, and Black Enterprise.
McKinsey & Co. and E. Smith Advisors will assist the effort as consultants.
“In addition to homeownership, entrepreneurship holds an important key towards closing the racial wealth divide,” says Kaalund, Head of Advancing Black Pathways. “Black entrepreneurs are job creators, and possess a net worth that’s 12 times higher than black non-entrepreneurs, so we must do our part to promote and advance small business ownership.”
In its news release, JPMorgan Chase also reflects on several highlights the bank achieved through ABP to help black Americans in 2019 in other key areas such as wealth creation as well as education and careers.
Along with ABP, JPMorgan Chase has multiple programs designed to help people of color achieve economic and career success. Those programs include the Entrepreneurs of Color Fund, The Fellowship Initiative and Advancing Black Leaders (ABL).
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Boosie Badazz allegedly gets kicked out of Planet Fitness for comments about Zaya Wade
Boosie Badazz claims that he was put out of Planet Fitness because of an Instagram video he posted deriding former NBA star Dwyane Wade for supporting his transgender child. And Boosie’s teenage son also weighed in with his own offensive rant against Wade.
READ MORE: Boosie Badazz slammed for crude comments about Dwyane Wade’s transgender 12-year-old
“Do not go to Planet Fitness, they racists, they haters,” the “Nasty Nasty” rapper said in an Instagram video. “They just put me out of Planet Fitness cause of what I said about Dwyane Wade’s son.”
“They chessing for Dwyane Wade’s son so don’t go to Planet Fitness no more. Nobody, nobody goes to Planet Fitness,” Boosie adds, driving away in the rain with a carload of people.
Boosie captioned the post “MANAGER WHO WAS GAY REFUSED TO LET ME N PLANET FITNESS BECAUSE OF MY PAST ACTIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT GENDER ETC. DO NOT SUPPORT PLANET FITNESS” before listing the address of the location that gave him the boot. “THEy Racist ,THEY HAVE ROACHES , N THEY SHOWER WATER DONT GET HOT ‼️GET OUT YA FEELINGS LIL BITCH.”
Then his son, who goes by the IG name tootie_raww, posted on his IG story: “F*ck Dwayne [sic] and his son, idc he gay. My pops said what he said. Stop sendin gme that. I bet you won’t say it to our face.”
Recently, Wade and wife Gabrielle Union announced to the world their daughter, Zaya Wade’s change of name and gender identity. Although many people have been supportive of the announcement, some, like Boosie, have publicly ridiculed the news on social media.
“Don’t cut his f*cking d*ck off!” the Louisiana rapper said in an earlier video on IG. He recorded that transphobic video at the same gym on Feb. 18.
Boosie criticized Wade for supporting Zaya’s gender identity and warns that she is too young to make such a drastic decision.
READ MORE: Lil Boosie sets the record straight about his alleged fistfight with George Zimmerman
“I gotta say something about this sh*t, bro. Dwyane Wade, you went too f*cking far, dawg,” he said in his IG video. “That is a male. A 12-year-old. At 12, they don’t even know what they next meal is gonna be. They don’t have sh*t figured out yet. He might meet a woman, anything, at 16 and fall in love with her. But his d*ck be gone—how he gon’—like, bruh, you going too far, dawg” Boosie said on the earlier video.
The Wades never said anything about Zaya undergoing gender reassignment surgery, but have just told their social media followers the pronouns Zaya has chosen to identify herself by.
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Who Qualifies for Medicare?
Trying to learn the ins and outs of Medicare doesn’t have to be overwhelming. This guide will lay out who is eligible for Medicare, available options, and how to get the coverage you need.
Qualifications For Medicare
To qualify for Medicare, you must fit specific criteria. You are eligible if:
- You are aged 65 years or older and have begun collecting retirement benefits.
You may also enroll if you are younger than 65 and:
- You have been receiving Social Security disability benefits for 24 months.
- Have end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
- Have Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS).
Age-Based Eligibility
You can enroll in Medicare anytime three months before your 65th birthday, the month you turn 65, and three months after your 65th birthday.
If your birthday is in May, you may enroll in the months of February, March, April, May, June, July, and August. This time period is known as your Initial Enrollment Period.
If you worked but did not contribute Social Security payments you may still purchase Part A health insurance, but you will be required to pay a premium. Remember: It’s the Social Security Administration, not Medicare, that determines your eligibility.
Qualifying eligibility for premium-free Part A Medicare requires a minimum of 10 years or 30 quarters worked by you or your spouse while paying into Social Security.
Disability-Based Eligibility
Disability: If you’ve received Social Security Disability benefits for 24 months, you’re automatically eligible for Medicare.
ALS: If you’re diagnosed with ALS, you are eligible in the first month of your diagnosis with no waiting period.
ESRD: Those diagnosed with ESRD are eligible for premium-free Part A if they receive dialysis treatments or qualify for a kidney transplant and meet one of the following criteria:
- Have worked 10 years or 30 quarters while paying into Social Security.
- Are receiving or eligible to receive Social Security benefits.
- Are the spouse or dependent child of a person who either worked 10 years or 30 quarters while paying into Social Security or is receiving Social Security benefits.
For those in this category, Part A coverage begins:
- The third months after regular dialysis treatments begin; or
- The first month of regular dialysis treatments with self-dialysis training; or
- The month of their kidney transplant; or
- Two months before the month of scheduled transplant, if you are hospitalized during the months prior in preparation for the transplant.
Medicare Coverage
To ensure adequate healthcare coverage, it’s important to learn what parts of Medicare you need. Medicare is broken down into four parts: Part A, B, C, and D.
Part A: Covers costs related to hospital stays and typically has no premium.
Part B: Covers costs related to doctor visits and carries a monthly premium.
Part C: Combination of Part A, B, and D, and carries a separate monthly premium in addition to Part B monthly premium.
Part D: Covers costs related to prescription drugs and carries a monthly premium.
Here’s a closer look at what each part covers.
| PLAN | COVERAGE | PREMIUM |
| Part A | Inpatient hospital coverage | Might have premium |
| Part B | Outpatient care
Doctor visits Lab tests Home health services Medical equipment |
Will have premium +
Medicare pays 80% You pay 20% of everything else No cap or maximum |
| Part C | Inpatient hospital coverage
Outpatient care Prescription drug coverage Dental* Vision* Hearing* Fitness* |
Will have premium
|
| Part D | Drug coverage | % deductible varies |
* Not all Medicare Part C Plans cover these items.
Medicare Parts – Optional Or Required?
Not all parts of Medicare are automatically applied to a Medicare enrollee. Knowing which parts are automatic and which need to be chosen will help you make the right decisions when the time comes.
- Part A is automatic and everyone eligible is enrolled.
- Part B is optional but necessary to deflect the high cost of doctor visits and lab tests.
- Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, offers the most coverage, providing coverage for A, B, and D, while potentially covering other options such as dental and vision.
- Part D is optional but highly recommended to cover prescription drug coverage.
Reference the chart above for an estimate of fees and charges associated with each part of Medicare.
Timely Enrollment
It’s important to enroll in Medicare as soon as you become eligible. When enrolling in Part A, you will need to decide whether you will opt into Part B and D, or choose Part C. Timely enrollment is crucial to ensure coverage begins when your employee coverage ends. Speaking with a Medicare expert will ensure that you understand all of your coverage options.
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Thursday, February 20, 2020
Admiral William McRaven to speak at MIT’s 2020 Commencement
Admiral William H. McRaven, a retired U.S. Navy four-star admiral and the former chancellor of the University of Texas system, will deliver the address at MIT’s 2020 Commencement exercises on Friday, May 29.
McRaven is a recognized authority on U.S. foreign policy who advised presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama on defense issues. As the chancellor of the University of Texas system from 2015 to 2018, he led one of the nation’s largest systems of higher education, with 14 institutions that educated 220,000 students and employed 20,000 faculty and more than 80,000 health care professionals, researchers, and staff.
McRaven recently co-chaired an independent task force, charged by the Council on Foreign Relations, on innovation and national security. Among its recommendations, the task force encourages the U.S. government to invest in scholarships and modify immigration policies to enable the country’s universities to attract and educate the world’s most dynamic talent. A passionate advocate for freedom of the press, McRaven has authored prominent opinion pieces on current affairs — in 2018 in The Washington Post and in 2019 in The New York Times.
During his 37 years in the military, McRaven commanded special operations forces at every level, eventually serving as the ninth commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command from 2011 to 2014. He led the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips, who was held hostage by Somali pirates after the 2009 hijacking of the MV Maersk Alabama in the Gulf of Aden. He is also credited with developing the plan and leading the mission that led to the 2011 death of Osama bin Laden. His honors include the Intrepid Freedom Award for distinguished service in defending the values of democracy, awarded in 2015, and the Judge William H. Webster Distinguished Service Award for a lifetime of service to the nation, awarded in 2018.
“From firsthand experience, I have come to admire Admiral McRaven’s integrity, intellectual curiosity, decency, humility, and self-discipline. A brilliant problem solver with deeply held values and the courage to speak boldly for his principles, he will fit right in at MIT,” MIT President L. Rafael Reif says. “We look forward to welcoming him.”
“I am so very honored to have the opportunity to address the MIT graduating class of 2020,” says McRaven. “More than ever before, the world today needs the great minds of the talented men and women that have learned so much from this magnificent institution. I hope that my experience, in both the military and academia, will be of some value to them as they head off to make their mark in the world.”
McRaven is the author of three books: “Spec Ops: Case Studies in Special Operations Warfare” (1996), “Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life … and Maybe the World” (2017), and “Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations” (2019).
He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1977 with a degree in journalism, and received his master’s degree from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, in 1991. He is currently on the faculty of the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.
“We are intrigued to hear what Admiral McRaven has to share with MIT’s graduates,” says Graduate Student Council President Peter Su. “His background in military service and university administration provides an interesting perspective.”
McRaven joins notable recent MIT Commencement speakers including three-term New York City mayor and philanthropist Michael Bloomberg (2019); Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg (2018); Apple CEO Tim Cook (2017); actor and filmmaker Matt Damon (2016); and U.S. Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith ’86 SM ’88 (2015).
“We are delighted to welcome Admiral McRaven to MIT as our Commencement speaker,” says Chancellor for Academic Advancement Eric Grimson, the longstanding chair of the Commencement Committee. “His record of vocal support for free speech, of seeking principled approaches to difficult situations, and of fostering effective teamwork should serve as a wonderful example to our graduates as they seek to make their own impact on the world.”
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TMZ under fire for leaking Black celebrity deaths before families are notified
Color of Change, a nonprofit civil rights advocacy group, is circulating a petition asking that advertisers pull support from TMZ until the gossip outlet agrees to consult with Black families before reporting on celebrity deaths.
READ MORE: Van Lathan reportedly FIRED from TMZ over issue with coworker
The petition was started last month after NBA legend Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash and TMZ reported the news before police could inform Bryant’s family of the tragedy. The petition was further updated yesterday after rapper Pop Smoke, whose birth name was Bashar Barakah Jackson, was slain and TMZ once again reported the news before his family learned of his death.
“Once again, in a rush to break the news, TMZ disregarded the effects its rush news reporting has on surviving family members or fans of the deceased— even releasing footage of paramedics working to resuscitate the 20-year old rapper,” the petition states. “TMZ has used Black celebrity deaths as a driver for website clicks and profit far too long. TMZ’s lack of journalistic integrity should have consequences.”
Color of Change, which has been around since 2005, first slammed the media outlet for its handling of Bryant’s death.
“Basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna died in a horrific helicopter crash, and TMZ LEAKED the news before the authorities were even able to notify the family,” the initial petition reads. “That means that Vanessa Bryant found out about the death of her husband and child through TMZ, tweets, or comments.”
READ MORE: Cardi B buys daughter Kulture $100k in baby bling, and tears into TMZ for reporting felony charges
The petition added, “IT’S TIME FOR FOX TO CANCEL TMZ AFTER WHAT THEY DID TO KOBE BRYANT’S FAMILY.” It goes on to say TMZ’s actions were “beyond not ok” and hopes to “get TMZ taken down once and for all,” according to ABC’s WHAM 13.
Last month, the petition had garnered more than 100,000 signatures. It is unclear how many signatures the petition has secured to date after Pop Smoke’s death.
The post TMZ under fire for leaking Black celebrity deaths before families are notified appeared first on TheGrio.
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Aetna Medicare Plans for Your Healthcare Needs
Aetna Medicare Plans Go Beyond Original Medicare
Original Medicare is a federal health insurance plan that consists of Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Medicare Part B (medical insurance). To qualify, you must be 65 or over, and in most cases, you’re automatically enrolled in Part A and Part B once you’re eligible. In addition, individuals under 65 who receive Social Security disability insurance may qualify for Medicare.
Original Medicare coverage includes many health care services, yet some enrollees find that the plan isn’t sufficient enough to meet their needs. As a result, they end up spending a lot of their own out-of-pocket money. Original Medicare doesn’t include a prescription drug plan, nor does it include coverage for many other healthcare services such as vision or dental. If you need more than what Original Medicare can offer, it’s time to explore Medicare plans offered through the private health insurance company Aetna.
To make sure you’re getting the most out of Medicare, here’s a look at some Aetna Medicare plans which could be a better fit for your needs.
What Is Aetna Medicare Advantage (Part C)?
If you’re looking for Medicare coverage outside the federal government, an Aetna Medicare Advantage plan could be what you’re looking for.
Medicare Advantage plans are also referred to as Medicare Part C. As a basic rule, any Medicare plan sold by a private insurance company must offer the same benefits as Original Medicare. For this reason, Medicare Part C automatically includes the benefits of Medicare Part A and Part B. In addition, you’ll receive benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t offer.
For example, several Medicare Advantage plans offered through Aetna also include prescription drug coverage. This is known as Medicare Part D. As people age, their healthcare needs change and certain medications might be needed on a regular basis.
Without prescription drug coverage, you would pay for many prescriptions yourself. Having a Medicare Part D plan, however, can reduce what you pay out of pocket for medication.
Keep in mind that some Medicare Advantage programs don’t include Part D as a benefit. So make sure you research plans carefully and then choose one that offers the coverage you need.
If you currently have Original Medicare, you may not pay a monthly premium for coverage. This isn’t the case with a Medicare Advantage program. Since Aetna is a private insurer, you may have a monthly premium, which can vary by plan and location.
Key points of an Aetna Medicare Advantage plan:
- Depending on the plan, you might be required to use doctors and hospitals within a specific network.
- These plans include additional healthcare benefits (dental, vision, hearing, non-emergency transportation, fitness programs).
- Coverage isn’t usually available outside the U.S.
- Some plans may have copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. These are your out-of-pocket expenses for covered services.
You can enroll in Medicare Part C when you initially become eligible for Medicare. The Initial Enrollment Period is three months before the month of your 65th birthday and ends three months after your 65th birthday.
You can enroll later if you don’t enroll at this time, but only during annual Open Enrollment Periods.
How Does Aetna Medicare Part D Work?
You don’t have to enroll in an Aetna Medicare Advantage program to get Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage.
While Medicare Part D is included as a benefit in some Medicare Advantage plans, there’s also the option to purchase Part D coverage alone.
If you purchase Medicare Part D as a standalone policy, you may pay a monthly premium for coverage. In addition, your plan may include a deductible and copayments.
Purchasing a standalone policy is beneficial if you have Original Medicare, which doesn’t automatically include prescription drug coverage. Ignoring or thinking you don’t need this type of coverage can be a costly mistake. Some prescription medications are inexpensive, but others can cost hundreds of dollars each month. According to Aetna, it’s estimated that approximately “40% of people over the age of 65 take five or more medications per day.”
With regard to Medicare Part D enrollment, it’s always best (or rather cheaper) to enroll in a plan when you initially become eligible for Medicare. Your Initial Enrollment Period is also the three months before your 65th birthday and three months after your 65th birthday.
You can enroll after your Initial Enrollment Period during open enrollment but you may pay a higher premium for coverage.
How Do You Need Aetna Medicare Supplement Insurance?
Aetna also has Medicare options for people enrolled in Original Medicare.
Since Original Medicare doesn’t cover all healthcare expenses, many older adults end up paying a lot for deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. The good news is that there is a way to save money and reduce some of your upfront costs.
To do so, though, you’ll have to purchase a Medicare Supplement insurance plan through Aetna. This is optional coverage, but well worth the cost because supplement insurance pays some of the healthcare costs that Medicare doesn’t.
Medicare Supplement insurance includes several plans with varying coverage amounts based on where you live. To learn about available plans in your area, search for Aetna Medicare supplement insurance in your state or speak with a licensed insurance agent to get a free, personalized Medicare Supplement quote.
An example of Medicare Supplement insurance plans offered through Aetna includes:
| Benefits | Plan A | Plan B | Plan F | Plan G | Plan N |
| Part A Coinsurance and Copay | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Part A Coinsurance and Copay | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Part B Coinsurance and Copay | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Part A Deductible | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | |
| Part B Deductible | 100% | ||||
| Blood (first 3 pints per year) | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Part B Excess Charges | 100% | 100% |
When is Aetna Medicare Open Enrollment?
The best time to enroll in an Aetna Medicare plan is when you are first eligible. If you choose to enroll at a later time, you can only do so during open enrollment, which is every year from October 15 to December 7.
During open enrollment season, you can enroll in Medicare for the first time, switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage Part C, as well as switch to a different Medicare Advantage program. Open enrollment is also when you’re eligible to sign up for Medicare Part D and a Medicare Supplement insurance plan.
Understanding how Medicare works and its different parts is how you’re able to get the most out of your coverage. Medicare is not one size fits all, so a plan that works for someone else might not work for you. Do your homework, ask questions, and choose an Aetna Medicare plan that will meet your individual healthcare needs.
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