EPA says Lysol Disinfectant Spray effective in killing COVID-19

The products are able to kill the virus on surfaces within two minutes of use.

Two Lysol products have been tested by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and found to be effective against the coronavirus on surfaces.

Lysol Disinfectant Spray and Lysol Disinfectant Max Cover Mist are the first to be tested against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and approved by the EPA, Fox Business reports. 

The products are able to kill the virus on surfaces within two minutes of use, according to the agency. 

“The EPA’s approval recognizes that using Lysol Disinfectant Spray can help to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on hard, non-porous surfaces. In the face of the pandemic, Lysol continues to work with a wide range of scientific and health experts to educate the public on the importance of hygiene,” Rahul Kadyan, executive vice president of hygiene for Reckitt Benckiser, the producer of Lysol, said in a statement.

Read More: Black therapists on how to cope with racial trauma amid COVID-19 pandemic

Lysol kills over 100* illness-causing germs and viruses, even those that may cause coughs.

*Lysol® Disinfectant Spray kills germs on hard surfaces when used as directed. Not for use on the body. pic.twitter.com/O2FCps3CXL

— Lysol (@Lysol) January 29, 2018

At the height of the pandemic in March, Lysol cleaners were more valuable than water as Americans began hoarding disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer. 

In a news release on Monday (July 6), The EPA noted that it will approve more disinfectants in the coming weeks. The Lysol products are at the top of a list of more than 420 cleaning agents said t be effective against “harder-to-kill” viruses on surfaces, per NBC New York. 

Those products “meet the agency’s criteria for effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2.”

President Donald Trump caught some major heat in April for suggesting that injecting disinfectants into one’s body could be a key to cure Covid-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, theGrio previously reported.

“I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute, one minute, and is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside or almost a cleaning? Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it’d be interesting to check that,” Trump stated during a White House Coronavirus Task Force daily briefing. “It sounds interesting to me.”

Reminder: Lysol disinfectant and hygiene products should only be used as directed and in line with usage guidelines pic.twitter.com/yPVhvINxbU

— Lysol (@Lysol) April 24, 2020

Reckitt Benckiser, the parent company of Lysol, was quick to respond to Trump’s remarks, urging against any internal use of its products to treat the potentially deadly virus.

“As a global leader in health and hygiene products, we must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body (through injection, ingestion or any other route),” the company said in a statement in April.  “As with all products, our disinfectant and hygiene products should only be used as intended and in line with usage guidelines. Please read the label and safety information.”

Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention previously confirmed that “a person could get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes,” but “the primary and most important mode of transmission for COVID-19 is through close contact from person-to-person,” the CDC has said.

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Facebook ‘boycott’ meeting with civil rights leaders ‘a disappointment’

Hundreds of brands have paused advertising for the entire month of July.

Civil rights groups say Facebook is all talk and no action when it comes to removing racist, hateful and misleading content from the platform. 

On Tuesday, leaders from the NAACP, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Color of Change and Free Press met with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and COO Sheryl Sandberg, to discuss the demands of a massive advertiser boycott on the social networking service, CNBC reports. 

At the urging of several civil rights organizations, lead by the NAACP, hundreds of brands have paused advertising for the entire month of July as part of the #StopHateforProfit campaign that was launched in mid-June.

Read More: Facebook employee files complaint: ‘We have a Black people problem’

The movement calls on Facebook to do more to curb the spread of hate speech and misinformation. In a statement, the advocacy groups slammed the service for “allowing racist, violent and verifiably false content to run rampant on its platform.”

"Facebook is more interested in dialogues than action and outcomes…At the end of the day…they've done nothing, I should say, to keep our society safe and protect our democracy," NAACP CEO Derrick Johnson said after a meeting with Facebook executives. https://t.co/AoYiNW1XnF pic.twitter.com/zYRCEXNAby

— CNBC (@CNBC) July 7, 2020

The meeting Tuesday, held via video conference, was meant to address the groups’ 10 demands and how Facebook is handling hate content. Instead of squashing tensions over the widespread advertiser boycott, that includes Starbucks, Coca-Cola and Levi’s, Zuckerberg served up a dry nothingburger . 

“The meeting we just left was a disappointment,” said Color Of Change Executive Director Rashad Robinson during a Zoom press conference. “They showed up to the meeting expecting an A for attendance.”

ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt also noted during the presser that the group outlined their 10 demands during the meeting and “we didn’t get commitments or timeframes or clear outcomes,” he said. 

“We expected specifics, and that’s not what we heard,” he added.

Read More: Facebook removes Trump ads with symbols once used by Nazis

“All Mark needs to do, all Facebook needs to do, is once and for all say ‘White supremacy, racism, anti-semitism, anti-Muslim hate, xenophobia — once and for all, it has to stop, and that stops now,’” Greenblatt continued. 

In a press release, Free Press also addressed the meeting, noting that the ″#StopHateForProfit didn’t hear anything today to convince us that Zuckerberg and his colleagues are taking action. 

The release went on to say, “Instead of committing to a timeline to root out hate and disinformation on Facebook, the company’s leaders delivered the same old talking points to try to placate us without meeting our demands.” 

Highlight: @HP CEO @EnriqueJLores on the company advertising on Facebook: pic.twitter.com/xPVZOM66Cp

— Yahoo Finance (@YahooFinance) June 29, 2020

A Facebook spokesman said the goal of the meeting was to listen, learn and commit to being “free of hate speech.”

“We know we will be judged by our actions not by our words and are grateful to these groups and many others for their continued engagement,” the spokesman said in a statement.

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4G internet balloons take off over Kenya

The service has been delayed for two years but is now being rushed out to help in the coronavirus crisis.

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Thandie Newton recalls being ‘scared’ of Tom Cruise while filming ‘Mission: Impossible 2’

The ‘Westworld’ actress says his legendary perfectionism is all too real

Thandie Newton is a respected Hollywood veteran but even she gets nervous. She says that happened when she was working with Tom Cruise, who left her “scared” when the two filmed Mission: Impossible 2.

Newton opened up about her time working with the action star in 2000 in a new full-length feature with Vulture that was published Tuesday. She touched upon her career milestones and setbacks but it’s her account of her experience with Cruise that is causing a stir.

Read More: Thandie Newton, Lena Waithe, and Tessa Thompson are on a mission ‘Westworld’ trailer

(Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)

Newton played Nyah Nordoff‑Hall, the love interest of Cruise’s Ethan Hunt in the franchise. But despite the exposure being in the franchise brought her she didn’t totally enjoy the experience.

“I was so scared of Tom. He was a very dominant individual. He tries super hard to be a nice person. But the pressure. He takes on a lot. And I think he has this sense that only he can do everything as best as it can be done,” she shared.

The Beloved actress revealed one intense incident that took place while they were shooting in Spain. It involved them being on a balcony with extras and pyrotechnics. There was a lot going on in the scene and she got upset.

“And I don’t think it was a very well-written scene. I get angry with him. We’re frustrated with each other,” she recounted.

HBO/ YouTube

John Woo, the director of the film, was watching everything that happened on a monitor downstairs and made it a point not to speak English, Newton remembered. Cruise took command of the scene instead and decided they would do a role reversal.

“So we filmed the entire scene with me being him — because, believe me, I knew the lines by then — and him playing me,” she recalled.

“And it was the most unhelpful … I can’t think of anything less revealing. It just pushed me further into a place of terror and insecurity. It was a real shame. And bless him. And I really do mean bless him, because he was trying his damnedest.”

Read More: Michael B. Jordan creates summer drive-in movie series

Newton felt that Cruise wanted to get a certain type of response from her performance by pushing her so hard. She didn’t agree with his methods but did her job.

“And the next time we shot it, I went in there and I just basically manifested all the — because I realized what he wanted. He just wanted this alpha bitch. And I did as best as I could. It’s not the best way to get the best work out of someone,” she told the outlet.

Still, the 47-year-old British born actress does not have bad feelings for the Top Gun star despite his intensity.

“He wasn’t horrible. It was just — he was really stressed. I had the most extraordinary time, and you know who got me that role? Nicole Kidman,” she said.

Read More: ‘Westworld’ star Thandie Newton says she was left out of #TimesUp

“I’ve never actually outright asked her, but when your husband is like, ‘Who would you mind me pretending to shag for the next six months?’ You know what I mean? It’s kind of nice if you can pick together. Nicole was a huge advocate for me.”

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Netflix on YouTube

Away | Official Teaser | Netflix
In the near future, a manned spacecraft is sent to Mars. For this high-stakes mission, a crew of elite astronauts are assembled from around the globe. They hail from the United States, Russia, China, India, and Great Britain. If all goes well, they will be away from the place they call home and the people they love for three years. During this time, their relationships both on Earth and in space will be tested, as they struggle to stay alive and stay on track in pursuit of humanity’s most important goal. The world will be watching. From the visionary who brought you Friday Night Lights and Parenthood comes an epic, emotional story of love and sacrifice, starring two-time Academy Award winner Hilary Swank. Watch Away, only on Netflix: https://ift.tt/2BPk4C2 SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/29qBUt7 About Netflix: Netflix is the world's leading streaming entertainment service with 183 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments. Away | Official Teaser | Netflix https://youtube.com/Netflix

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Netflix on YouTube

Street Food: Latin America | Official Trailer | Netflix
The mouth-watering documentary series travels to Latin America to meet the local stars of Street Food in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Peru, and Bolivia. Only on Netflix, July 21. SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/29qBUt7 About Netflix: Netflix is the world's leading streaming entertainment service with 183 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments. Street Food: Latin America | Official Trailer | Netflix https://youtube.com/Netflix In this vibrant docuseries, Latin American chefs tell their stories and bring a taste of tradition and innovation to their delicious offerings.

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Black, Hispanic households struggling with food insecurity during pandemic

Democrats are hoping that these statistics may sway politicians to support programs to help feed the neediest Americans

A disheartening report claims that nearly four in 10 Black and Hispanic households with children are struggling with food insecurity during the coronavirus pandemic.

Non-white families are now twice as likely to be food insecure.

READ MORE: Minneapolis comes together to bring food to community devastated by protests

The report is based on data from the Census Bureau that gathers the figures from weekly surveys. The survey is known as the Household Pulse Survey and it is being closely tracked by economists and social scientists. Many are utilizing the tool to understand racial gaps that have persisted during the pandemic.

The report asks families about their ability to access food during the past seven days.

“This is uncharted territory,” said Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach, an economist, and director of the Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University told POLITICO. “We’ve never seen food insecurity rates double, or nearly triple — and the persistent race gaps are just appalling.”

According to the report, food insecurity rates had been dropping before the pandemic. Now, approximately 39% of Black families and 37% of Hispanic families are struggling with food insecurity.

Brooklyn Nets, Barclays Center Partner With Food Bank For New York City To Host Mobile Food Pantry For New Yorkers Impacted By COVID-19 Pandemic in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Food Bank For New York City)

The statistics may sway politicians to support programs to help feed the neediest Americans. Democrats are trying to include a 15% increase in SNAP benefits to the next coronavirus aid package. However, Republicans have pushed back on the idea.

READ MORE: Obama praises Chicago food bank amid coronavirus pandemic

“I would hope that they would see the need” for another package, Pelosi said of Republicans during her weekly press conference in May. “Yes, I’m concerned about the national debt,” she said, “but I think it would be penny foolish to say, ‘I’m sorry, we can’t do SNAP to give you food because there’s a national debt.'”

This week, one Republican, Rep. John Katko of New York joined with House Democrats to write a letter to the House and Senate supporting a SNAP increase. 

Have you subscribed to theGrio’s new podcast “Dear Culture”? Download our newest episodes now!

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ICE: International students must leave U.S. if classes are online only

Harvard president says that the modification undermines the students’ commitment to ‘advance their education’

On Monday, the Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) announced modifications that will remove international students from the country, if their schools go fully online this fall due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has established the new exemptions as a Temporary Final Rule. The exemptions state that nonimmigrant students attending schools operating entirely online may not take a full online course load and remain in the United States.

READ MORE: Trump to suspend immigration to ‘protect’ American citizens

Nonimmigrant students who are attending schools with a hybrid model will be allowed to take more than one class online, however, their school must certify their scheduled students through the SEVP.

The rules further state that if a school begins with an in-person model and then converts to all online classes, they must leave the country, or take steps to maintain their nonimmigrant status such as reducing their course load or taking a medical leave.

Spelman College (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for 20th Century Fox)

“Active students currently in the United States enrolled in such programs must depart the country or take other measures, such as transferring to a school with in-person instruction to remain in lawful status,” read a release from ICE’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program obtained by NPR. “If not, they may face immigration consequences including, but not limited to, the initiation of removal proceedings.”

READ MORE: Maryland man accepted into Harvard Law after working as sanitation worker

Fiona McEntee, an immigration lawyer, told NPR that in this time of “unprecedented public health crisis” allowances should be made for these students who contribute to their universities and to the U.S. economy.

Harvard University is one institution that is planning to conduct all classes online. The university’s president, Larry Bacow, called the new ICE policy a “blunt, one-size-fits-all approach to a complex problem.” The university has committed to ensuring its students can continue their studies without “undermining the commitments —and sacrifices— that many of them have made to advance their education.” 

Have you subscribed to theGrio’s new podcast “Dear Culture”? Download our newest episodes now!

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Teen dies after party exposes her to COVID-19, mom gives drug as cure

Florida girl’s parents give her hydroxychloroquine after she catches the coronavirus from church party

In a tragic story related to an already tragic illness, a teenage girl died after her parents took her to a church party and gave her hydroxychloroquine after she showed signs of being infected by the respiratory disease.

Carsyn Leigh Davis had already battled cancer at the age of 2 and suffered from a rare autoimmune disorder. Still, her mother Carole Brunton Davis took her to the event where she could have possibly been exposed to the virus.

READ MORE: 11-year-old boy becomes youngest patient to die of coronavirus in Florida

According to The Washington Post, First Youth Church held an event on June 10 called a “Release Party.” The church’s Facebook page has been taken down but preserved by Rebekah Jones.

Church called their covid party a "Release Party," and hosted hundreds of people, including more than 100 children, often wrote about covid being God's will pic.twitter.com/UrODqAozMX pic.twitter.com/zNvrt9tXOQ

— Rebekah Jones aka #Insubordinate #scientist (@GeoRebekah) July 7, 2020

Carsyn was the youngest victim of coronavirus in her small Fort Meyers community when she died on June 23.

However, the recent release of the medical examiner’s report is raising questions about how she died.

The teen went to the party where she did not wear a mask and social distancing was also not enforced. Also, when she became sick, her family waited more than a week before taking her to the hospital. Instead, her mother, who is a nurse, and her stepfather, who is a physician assistant, gave her azithromycin and hydroxychloroquine. The drug has been touted by President Donald Trump as a treatment for the virus.

It is unclear if the teen had a prescription for the drug.

Once admitted to the hospital, Carsyn’s family refused to have her put on a ventilator. The family first opted for plasma therapy, which didn’t work. She was later put on the ventilator, but doctors said that it was too late.

Mother even tried to get the hospital to give her hydroxychloroquine at the hospital, too. Was proud that she kept the hospital from intubation. pic.twitter.com/QRrYN1bqxe

— Rebekah Jones aka #Insubordinate #scientist (@GeoRebekah) July 7, 2020

Upon her death, her family told the Fort Meyers News-Press, “We will truly miss her, but look forward to seeing her in heaven.” Her mother, Brunton Davis continued, “We are incredibly saddened by her passing at this young age, but are comforted that she is pain-free.”

READ MORE: Florida governor accused of undercounting COVID-19 cases

According to the report, Brunton Davis also had a number of anti-mask posts on her social media pages.

The case gained national interest after being promoted on social media by Rebekah Jones who was fired by the Florida Department of Health in May for refusing to manipulate the state’s coronavirus data.

There are currently no charges pending against the teen’s parents.

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India's TikTok Ban Dispels the Myth of the 'China Bogeyman'

Mark Zuckerberg and US tech giants argue that regulation will allow China to dominate. But in reality, the global market rejects unregulated, invasive tech.

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The 7 Best Turntables for Your Vinyl Collection (2020)

Looking for fresh indoor hobbies? Why not start a record collection? Here are our favorite entry-level turntables to help you enjoy analog audio at home.

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Tech That Could Help Pro Sports Adapt to the Pandemic

As pro leagues return to stadiums, here are a few novel technologies people are exploring as ways to keep fans and players safe.

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Republican Senator who Said Obama Showed ‘Failed Leadership’ During the Ebola Crisis Says Trump ‘Is Stepping Forward’ with the Coronavirus

A Republican senator who criticized former President Barack Obama‘s handling of the Ebola virus insists that President Trump is “stepping forward” with the way he is handling the coronavirus according to The Daily Beast.

In an interview that was broadcast on CNN, Dana Bash posed a question to Iowa Senator Joni Ernst over her then-criticism of former President Obama back in 2014 when there was an Ebola outbreak, in which she stated that Obama expressed failed leadership based on a total of 2 deaths in 2014. She initially sidesteps Bash’s question about Trump’s leadership during the current handling of the coronavirus crisis.

“Cases in your home state of Iowa have steadily risen for the last two weeks,” Bash said. “You criticized President Obama in 2014 for his handling of the Ebola outbreak, saying that he showed ‘failed leadership.’ Only two people in the U.S. died from Ebola. Right now there are almost 130,000 Americans dead from coronavirus. So if President Obama showed failed leadership then, do you think President Trump is showing failed leadership now?”

The senator danced and swerved away from the simple question asked of her from the CNN host. She decided to state that everyone has “responsibility in stopping the spread” and even mentioned that there has been “one additional death” in Iowa in the past 24 hours.

To which Bash replies, “So given the fact that one person died there, that’s only half the number that died during Ebola, which you said was failed leadership,” She then proceeds to ask Ernst directly, “Is the president right now exhibiting failed leadership?”

Ernst’s response?

“No, I think that the president is stepping forward and we have Vice President Mike Pence that is spearheading the task force efforts on the coronavirus,” Ernst insisted. “And so understanding where this came from, how it developed, of course, the push back that we got from the Democrats when the president did try to shut down travel from some of those hot spots, it was an extremely difficult environment to operate.”

You can watch the clip below.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite Review: A Fine Android Tablet

The newest Galaxy tablet is a decent iPad alternative in a field with few competitors.

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Self-Driving Tech Is Becoming a Game of Partnerships

Making an autonomous vehicle is proving harder and costlier than many startups predicted. So they're teaming up with giants like Hyundai, Jaguar, and Ford.

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A Mathematician’s Guide to How Contagion Spreads

Adam Kucharski wrote The Rules of Contagion before Covid-19. He talks about misinformation, bank failures, and coming up with hypotheses during a crisis.

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Keeping Up With the Coronas—or Why the Virus Is Winning

The climb in global cases is relentless. So what’s corona got that we don’t?

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Covid Drives Real Businesses to Tap Deepfake Technology

Coronavirus restrictions make it harder and more expensive to shoot videos. So some companies are turning to synthetic media instead.

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Looks Like Russian Hackers Are on an Email Scam Spree

A group dubbed "Cosmic Lynx" uses surprisingly sophisticated methods—and targets big game.

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Halle Berry apologizes for comments about playing transgender man

The Oscar-winning actress said she wants to take a ‘deep dive’ into the trans community.

Halle Berry has pulled out of a project which would have seen her portray a transgender man, after facing backlash online.

In an Instagram live interview on Friday, the Oscar-winning actress said she had been preparing for the role, even though she wasn’t officially cast in the film. 

“[It’s] a character where the woman is a trans character, so she’s a woman that transitioned into a man. She’s a character in a project I love that I might be doing,” Berry said, E! News reports.

The mother of two also noted that she wants to take a “deep dive” into the trans community.

Read More: Rikers Island jail to discipline 17 staffers for transgender woman’s death

Halle Berry on playing a trans man in her next movie: “It's really important to me to tell stories, and that’s a woman, that’s a female story – it changes to a man, but I want to understand the why and how of that. I want to get into it.”

Cis actors need to stop doing this.

— Serena Daniari (@serenajazmine) July 6, 2020

“Who this woman was is so interesting to me, and that will probably be my next project,” Berry said of the character. 

Members of the LGTB community quickly pounced on her remarks, accusing Berry of misgendering the character during the interview.

Many also believe the role should go to a trans person.

Trans activist Serena Dianari explained on Twitter, “It absolutely is NOT a female story, it is a story about a man. And why is the aspect of physical transition the focal point for her? Cis peoples’ understanding of trans issues is really myopic. Girl watch Disclosure on Netflix.”

Read More: Halle Berry says Pierce Brosnan saved her life while filming ‘Die Another Day’

Berry acknowledged the critics on Monday and appeared to agree with their concerns. The John Wick star issued an apology and announced that she was stepping away from the role, saying “the transgender community should undeniably have the opportunity to tell their own stories.”

pic.twitter.com/qpE8Tw1Xmu

— Halle Berry (@halleberry) July 7, 2020

In  lengthy message on Twitter, Berry stated, “Over the weekend I had the opportunity to discuss my consideration of an upcoming role as a transgender man, and I’d like to apologize for those remarks. As a cisgender woman, I now understand that I should not have considered this role, and that the transgender community should undeniably have the opportunity to tell their own stories,” she wrote. 

Adding, “I am grateful for the guidance and critical conversation over the past few days and will continue to listen, educate and learn from this mistake. I vow to be an ally in using my voice to promote better representation on-screen, both in front of and behind the camera, said Berry.

After Berry’s apology, the Twitter account for the Netflix documentary Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen, thanked the global superstar for “listening and learning.”

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TEDx Talks on YouTube

The Future Of Baseball In Your Hometown | Emily Jaenson | TEDxReno
This interview with Emily Jaenson, the General Manager of the Reno Aces, a triple-A minor league baseball team was recorded on June 8, 2020, in Reno, Nevada. When baseball parks reopen, things will look a little bit different. Emily discusses some of the changes fans will see when baseball does return to their hometown ballpark. She also shares her views about how baseball needs to respond as the fans and players continue to change. Emily Jaenson’s motto is “Be so good they won’t forget you!” and this motto has carried her through her career on a non-linear path to General Manager of the Triple-A Reno Aces. Upon accepting this role, Jaenson became the first female in Triple-A to hold the GM role in nearly 20 years. Jaenson’s role as GM is to lead day to day business operations for baseball, including the event experience, community engagement, marketing and media, and contribute to the sponsorship team. Emily is on a mission to bring excellence and intention to her job every day so that she can shine the light for other women to pursue roles traditionally held by men. The next generation of female leadership needs to see these roles fill by people who look like them so that they have the audacity to dream about what their future could like, and dream of the impact they can make on this world. Jaenson is married to Shawn Jaenson, a Navy veteran, and has two young sons, Magnus and Anders. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://ift.tt/102EAFM

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Colin Kaepernick signs first-look deal with Disney

The NFL star turned activist will provide content across multiple platforms including a docuseries

Whether the NFL season happens or not this year, Colin Kaepernick is going to get paid. After signing a deal to do a Netflix documentary on his high school years to be directed by Ava DuVernay, he’s now signing with Disney with another docuseries reportedly on the way.

Read More: Ava DuVernay and Colin Kaepernick developing Netflix series on his high school years

Variety reported that Kaepernick just signed a first-look deal with Disney that includes him telling the story of his last five years from his perspective. For most of those five years, despite the anthem protests that basically saw him blackballed from the NFL, Kaepernick has spoken with his Know Your Rights campaign and his wallet, giving out a million dollars to various grassroots organizations in social justice and anti-racism.

Jemele Hill, whose outspoken views on racial matters led to her and ESPN parting ways will join Kaepernick as a producer on the project.

“I am excited to announce this historic partnership with Disney across all of its platforms to elevate Black and Brown directors, creators, storytellers, and producers, and to inspire the youth with compelling and authentic perspectives,” Kaepernick said in a statement.

“I look forward to sharing the docuseries on my life story, in addition to many other culturally impactful projects we are developing.”

He continued by sharing his excitement that working with Disney will “elevate Black and Brown directors, creators, storytellers & producers. I look forward to sharing culturally impactful and inspiring projects. “

I am excited for this partnership with Disney across all of its platforms to elevate Black and Brown directors, creators, storytellers & producers. I look forward to sharing culturally impactful and inspiring projects. https://t.co/MXidGoWXNZ

— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) July 6, 2020

Kaepernick’s Disney deal will be across several Disney platforms, including ESPN’s The Undefeated their Black sports vertical, Hulu, Pixar and ESPN. (ESPN is owned by Disney).

A man holds a drawing of former NFL player Colin Kaepernick as hundreds of people participate in a silent demonstration in front of Gracie Mansion, the mayor’s residence, to protest the killing of George Floyd. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

“During this unprecedented time, The Walt Disney Company remains committed to creating diverse and inclusive content that resonates and matters,” said Bob Iger, Disney’s executive chairman.

“Colin’s experience gives him a unique perspective on the intersection of sports, culture and race, which will undoubtedly create compelling stories that will educate, enlighten and entertain, and we look forward to working with him on this important collaboration.”

Kaepernick, 32, hasn’t played in the NFL since the 2016 season despite taking the San Francisco 49’ers to the Super Bowl in a losing effort in Super Bowl XLVII against the Seattle Seahawks in 2013.

He has continued is activism via his Know Your Rights campaign, which just provided funds to help bail out protesters during the last months of demonstrations. Kaepernick also scored at least a moral victory when NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the league got it wrong in not supporting player anthem protests and unequivocally stated that black lives matter.

Read More: NFL ‘fans’ threaten boycott over Black national anthem

No financial terms of the deal were disclosed.

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Kanye West’s Yeezy received millions in PPP federal loans

The hip-hop star, reportedly worth $1.3B, secured stimulus funds to save 106 jobs at his California company.

Kanye West, who is reportedly worth $1.3 billion dollars, received a multimillion-dollar loan as part of the federal government’s coronavirus stimulus package. 

According to records released Thursday by the U.S. Treasury’s Small Business Administration, the rapper’s Yeezy LLC was the recipient of financial aid  worth between $2 million and $5 million, The Daily Beast reports. 

The funds were dispersed in the latest round of the Paycheck Protection Program, and will save 106 jobs at the California company. Yeezy LLC is one of 40,000 companies to receive a PPP loan of $150,000 and above, and the news follows West’s announcement that he is entering the 2020 presidential race. 

READ MORE: Kanye West compares his support of Trump to racial profiling

We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future. I am running for president of the United States 🇺🇸! #2020VISION

— ye (@kanyewest) July 5, 2020

Ye tweeted on Saturday that he will run for president, saying, “We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future. I am running for president of the United States! #2020Vision.”

He has not yet announced what party affiliation he will be associated with or further details on his platform, theGrio previously noted. TMZ also reported that West still needs to file the necessary paperwork to run this year with the FEC which is a requirement for anyone getting into the 2020 race.

Last year, West set his sights on the 2024 presidential election.

“When I run for president in 2024, we would’ve created so many jobs that I’m not going to run, I’m going to walk,” he said.

West’s political ambitions in 2020 will put him in direct contention with Trump, whom West has vigorously defended over the years. West has made no secret that he supports the former reality TV star and his administration.

READ MORE: Kanye West voting for Trump, walks back famous Bush comment

I am so proud of my beautiful wife Kim Kardashian West for officially becoming a billionaire

You’ve weathered the craziest storms and now God is shining on you and our family

So blessed this is still life
So I made you this still life

We love you so much pic.twitter.com/Vvtgzodnah

— ye (@kanyewest) June 30, 2020

“I’m a Black guy with a red [MAGA] hat, can you imagine? … It reminded me of how I felt as a Black guy before I was famous, when I would walk in a restaurant and people would look at you like you were going to steal something. ‘This is your place, Ye, don’t talk about apparel. This is your place, Ye, you’re black, so you’re a Democrat,’” West told WSJ in March.

Meanwhile, both Ye and his wife Kim Kardashian have officially reached billionaire status. 

West’s sneaker empire alone reportedly made $1.5 billion last year, according to Forbes. The Chicago native has also inked a deal with Gap that will him design hoodies and T-shirts the global brand. 

Last week, the hip-hop superstar celebrated his wife reaching ultimate baller status. 

“I am so proud of my beautiful wife Kim Kardashian West for officially becoming a billionaire,”  West tweeted, alongside a photo of vegetables depicting live art.  

Kardashian, meanwhile, caught major heat on social media when she shared her husband’s tweet announcing his running his 2020 White House goal.

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Michigan billboard calls out police for racial profiling

Livonia, a city rich with racist history, was once one of metro Detroit’s notorious ‘sundown towns.’

The Livonia Police Department has responded to a billboard in Redford, Michigan, accusing them of racially profiling Black drivers. 

The electronic billboard reads, “Driving While Black? Racial profiling just ahead. Welcome to Livonia.”

The shade was made possible by donations and supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement, WXYZ.com reports. The billboard went live Monday morning on Telegraph Road, just a half mile south of I-96 in Redford.

“We have reached out to the city for records on how many people are pulled over for African American drivers, and they’ve told us their records don’t keep track” said organizer Sara Overwater.

READ MORE: Actor Nathan Davis Jr. sues United Airlines for $10M for racial profiling

View this post on Instagram

A new billboard, funded by donations, will go up near Livonia this morning calling out the police department for alleged racial profiling. The billboard will be on Telegraph Rd. just south of I-96 in Redford.

A post shared by WXYZ Detroit Channel 7 (@wxyzdetroit) on Jul 6, 2020 at 4:48am PDT

“There are a disproportionate amount of African American drivers who’ve been stopped and many complaints, when you consider the predominantly white community,” she added. 

Livonia, a city rich with racist history, was one of metro Detroit’s “sundown towns,” which were neighborhoods of the 19th century and early 20th century that Black people were required by law to flee by sundown to avoid racial violence.

Organizers said the billboard will be up for two weeks.

In the meantime, Livonia Police have rejected accusations that the department in racist, 

A response on their Facebook page reads, in part:

Racial profiling is a serious allegation and is not tolerated. Livonia is a welcoming community to all regardless of one’s race. This billboard says the exact opposite message of our values in the Livonia Police Department and of those in our community.

Police Chief Curtis Caid also noted that officers “do not target their enforcement actions to individuals based on gender, race, religion, ethnicity, etc,” the statement said.

Livonia Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan chimed in on the controversial billboard, calling it “counterproductive” to the city’s dedication to “improving diversity, equity, and inclusion in our community,” she said in a statement. 

“This billboard will not help advance the progress of diversity in our community, something to which I am committed,” she added.

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Patrick Mahomes scores $450M contract extension

The Super Bowl-winning quarterback for the Kansas City Chief is awarded the richest contract in league history

Kansas City waited 50 years for a Super Bowl championship. Now they’ve broken open the Brinks truck to make sure the man that got them there is rewarded with more than just the Lombardi trophy.

Read More: NFL ‘fans’ threaten boycott over Black national anthem

The Chiefs announced today that Patrick Mahomes, 24, the Texas quarterback sensation that has been both a league and a Super Bowl MVP, signed on to a 10-year contract extension worth at least $450M, reported ESPN.

The deal puts Mahomes under contract for the next 12 seasons as the team had already picked up his fifth-year option for 2021. With the deal, according to ESPN, Mahomes becomes the highest-paid player in pro sports. However, Los Angeles Angels centerfielder Mike Trout has the most lucrative contract that is fully guaranteed.

Here to stay. . .! ⏰⏰ pic.twitter.com/mfwMga3Kl0

— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) July 6, 2020

ESPN NFL corresponding Adam Schefter was told that Mahomes’ contract comes with a $140M injury guarantee, but the whole contract is not guaranteed but has guarantee “mechanisms. ” Although the term confused some fans, it sounds like the deal is constructed in such a way that with incentives that it could potentially end up the most high-paying deal in sports ever.

Final Patrick Mahomes’ deal:

10-year extension worth up to $503 million.

It includes $477 in guarantee mechanisms and the ability for Mahomes to have outs if guarantee mechanisms aren’t exercised.

Mahomes was represented on the deal by @chriscabott and @leighsteinberg.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 6, 2020

Mahomes, the former Texas Tech standout, was the youngest Super Bowl MVP in league history a year after becoming the league MVP, a two-fer that he earned before age 25, making him the first player to do do.

Despite battling a knee and ankle injury that cost him two games, Mahomes was stellar in his 31-20 Super Bowl victory vs. the San Franciso 49’ers, throwing three touchdowns and overcoming a 10-point lead in the game. He finished 26 of 42 for 286 yards with a 78.6 passer rating, despite two interceptions.

Sports Twitter, including some of Mahomes’ teammates and fellow athletes, celebrated his contract on social media.

The Young man deserve it all. One of the best I’ve been around. One of the Greats. #15 #RunItBack

— Tyrann Mathieu (@Mathieu_Era) July 6, 2020

Pat Mahomes is worth every penny.

— Darrelle Revis (@Revis24) July 6, 2020

Dak Prescott, the Cowboys quarterback and his agent are likely looking at this deal to improve his stalled negotiations somewhat. While he can’t boast Mahomes’ stats, he is the franchise quarterback who has yet to come to terms with the team on a new contract.

Lamar Jackson’s agent seeing the Mahomes news pic.twitter.com/rJkNcNi3Cu

— Aaron Wan Biscammer (@Nigerianscamsss) July 6, 2020

But the speculation is that Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who was the most exciting player to watch in the league last season, though he fell short in the playoffs, will likely be the biggest beneficiary of Mahomes’ mega-deal when he re-signs with the team.

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Meghan Markle, Prince Harry talk racism with Commonwealth youth leaders

The high profile duo want to encourage a new generation of leaders

Ever since their move to the states, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have made it clear that they plan to be more civically engaged. This week, the high profile couple is speaking out once again about racial injustice.

According to People, on July 1st the Duke and Duchess of Sussex joined a video conference about the fight for equality with young leaders from across the world linked to the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited the Nelson Mandela Centenary Exhibition at Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall. Picture: Arthur Edwards

READ MORE: Meghan Markle felt ‘undefended’ by royal family, court records claim

The QCT, an organization in which Harry serves as president Meghan is vice-president — has been holding these weekly discussions about justice and equality, in part to confront and dismantle the unconscious biases that allow racism to continue to fester in this country.

“We can’t deny or ignore the fact that all of us have been educated to see the world differently,” Harry said during this most recent conversation. “However, once you start to realize that there is that bias there, then you need to acknowledge it, you need to do the work to become more aware … so that you can help stand up for something that is so wrong and should not be acceptable in our society today.”

READ MORE: Joe Biden shares video message at George Floyd funeral: ‘We can’t turn away’

The duo then shared their hopes to do their part in encouraging a new generation of leaders. Meghan reminded everyone, “It’s not just in the big moments, it’s in the quiet moments where racism and unconscious bias lies and thrives. It makes it confusing for a lot of people to understand the role that they play in that, both passively and actively.”

In a surprising turn, Harry also acknowledged how the British colonial past played a role in the history of injustice, explaining, “When you look across the Commonwealth, there is no way that we can move forward unless we acknowledge the past … We all acknowledge there’s so much more still to do. It’s not going to be easy and in some cases, it’s not going to be comfortable … And guess what, everybody benefits.”

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