WIRED Tested. If you're all in on Google services, these are our favorite ChromeOS laptops and 2-in-1 tablets for school, work, or home.
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Monday, August 3, 2020
New Jersey Is Disbursing $6 Million In Grants To Help Small Businesses Walloped By COVID Pay Rent
Small businesses—including Black-owned firms—in New Jersey hit hard by COVID-19 will get $6 million in new grants to pay rent.
The New Jersey Redevelopment Authority Small Business Lease Emergency Assistance Grant Program will allow small businesses in 64 eligible municipalities to apply for grants of up to $10,000 to cover lease costs. Many of those communities have a large percentage of Black-owned businesses. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced the new relief program in late July.
All types of grants are now perhaps a lifeline for entrepreneurs trying to survive and cover operating costs in today’s pandemic economy. A new survey by the NFIB Research Center reveals that 71% of small business owners who borrowed from the $659 billion Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) have spent the entire loan. Another report by the National Federation of Independent Business research arm revealed more small business owners find it harder to pay their mortgage/rent/lease payments than any other expense.
In New Jersey, small businesses leasing commercial space in mixed-use buildings, commercial buildings, and storefront businesses are eligible for the grants.
Applications will start online on Aug. 10 and end once funds are exhausted. Grants will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis to small businesses with no more than 5,000 square feet of space. The money can be used to pay rent from March 1 until Dec. 31 of this year. More details can be found here.
Organizers estimate about 700 grants will be issued as not every applicant will need the maximum grant of $10,000. The New Jersey Redevelopment Authority (NJRA) received $6 million from the CARES Act to make the grants available. The NJRA is a multimillion-dollar independent financing authority that helps transform urban communities via direct investment and technical support.
“At NJRA, impact is and has always been our primary objective,” Leslie Anderson, NJAR’s president and CEO, stated in a news release. “And our number one priority is our state’s most vulnerable communities and neighborhoods. Not only do we invest in the communities that need it the most, but we’re there first in the areas that are often overlooked by traditional lenders.
“Right now New Jersey’s small and micro businesses, particularly those in economically challenged communities, are bearing the brunt of our nation’s health and economic crisis. These businesses deliver value and stability to our state, and yet, struggle to access capital. Today, we’re proud to be there with the Governor to offer these businesses both rental relief grants and support accessing them.”
Anderson is among only a few Black women in America running a statewide redevelopment financing authority. She has shared with Black Enterprise that NJRA has used its financial resources to leverage nearly $4 billion in new investments, helping to redevelop some of New Jersey’s most economically challenged neighborhoods.
Gov. Murphy stated, “We are committed to helping small businesses across our state survive this unprecedented crisis. “A stronger and fairer New Jersey starts from the bottom up. The Small Business Lease – Emergency Assistance Grant Program will infuse much needed funding into local economies by assisting both small businesses and the landlords that they rent from.”
Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver, who serves as Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs in New Jersey and board chair of NJRA, added, “The Small Business Lease Emergency Grant Assistance Program is directly geared toward keeping the mom-and-pop shops on main streets and business centers afloat in this time of need, specifically in our most vulnerable communities in New Jersey.”
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Sunday, August 2, 2020
Alibaba expanded during the SARS health crisis — and its co-founder has advice to share
Leading a company through crisis is no mean feat. For those that get it right, it can be an opportunity to set the business apart from the pack, according to Alibaba's executive vice chairman.
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Frank Ocean’s brother, Ryan Breaux, is dead at 18
Frank Ocean’s brother, Ryan, hit a tree while driving a Tesla
Grammy award-winning musician and producer, Frank Ocean‘s brother, Ryan Breaux, 18, has passed away alongside Ezekial (Zeek) Bishop, 20, who is said to be his classmate.
Breaux died in a car crash near Skelton Canyon Circle in Thousand Oaks, California. The fatal crash happened around 1:30 a.m., with the fire department arriving at the scene soon after, according to Acorn.
The two were driving in a Tesla which was consumed by flames, according to the sheriff’s office. Both passengers were pronounced dead on the scene and it was not currently clear who was driving the car.
READ MORE: Singer James Ingram dead at age 66
In the sheriff’s initial investigation, it was determined that the Tesla was approaching Skelton Canyon when the car left the road and collided with a tree in the center median, according to a statement released this morning.
Many friends and classmates took to Twitter to confirm the news and mourn the death of their friends.
According to Clash Music, Ocean and his brother were extremely close. Breaux was a vocal supporter of his brother on social media.
The cause of the crash is currently being investigated and officials are calling all witnesses. Wendell Campbell , Ventura County sheriff deputy, says that the crash may have been caused by speeding. The road they were on has a speed limit of 45, according to KTLA.
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Yoenis Céspedes suddenly gave up on the New York Mets amidst the coronavirus
Céspedes missed the last two seasons due to his injuries.
New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Céspedes has opted out of the 2020 Major League Baseball Series without any warning.
On Sunday, Céspedes did not show up for the team’s afternoon game against the Atlanta Braves.
Some fans and MLB players feared the worst, and it took hours before Céspedes’ agent sent word to the team.
Céspedes chose to leave his team in light of the coronavirus pandemic, according to Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen.
“It was surprising, without question,” said Van Wagenen. Céspedes’ decision to leave his team might have affected the Mets’ 4-0 loss against the Braves, one of the team’s rivals, The New York Daily News reported.
“He did not reach out to management with any explanation for his absence,” Van Wagenen said in a statement before the Mets had clarity on Céspedes’ status. “Our attempts to contact him have been unsuccessful.”
Céspedes missed the last two seasons due to his injuries. His return since has not been remarkable. In the last eight games this season, he was batting .161, with two homers overall, The New York Times reported.
The Mets are currently on a five-game losing streak.
READ MORE: Ian Desmond calls out MLB for racism as he opts out of 2020 season
“I think it’s disappointing for the fans, from my vantage point prior to this job and then since. Yo’s a great player that I think everyone enjoyed watching play when he was at his best. There was optimism for his return. I know how hard he worked in his rehab to get back to this point, and I know this is a disappointing end to at least his four-year agreement with the Mets. I know it wasn’t for a lack of work ethic on his part to try to get back,” said Van Wagenen.
Though they eventually lost, Céspedes helped lead the Mets into the 2015 World Series, something the team hadn’t not done since 2000.
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White House says coronavirus bill talks have stalled
Lawmakers will meet again on Monday, but many officials are not optimistic about finding a solution.
Negotiations for a coronavirus relief bill have come to a standstill. Republicans continue to push for a short-term measure that Democrats say delays progress toward much-needed financial relief for citizens who cannot pay their bills.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi noted that Democrats want $1 trillion for food assistance and election assistance so that states could provide mail-in voting due to the pandemic.
READ MORE: Despite virus threat, Black voters wary of voting by mail
As theGrio previously reported, President Trump is not a fan of mail-in voting. He suggested on Thursday that he’d rather postpone the November election, which he is not authorized to do without congressional approval.
Trump believes that allowing voters to send in their ballots by mail will encourage fraud. With Trump’s skepticism, it isn’t likely that Republicans will agree to pass a bill that advances the Democrats’ request.
The federal unemployment assistance of $600 per week expired on Friday, and it doesn’t look like additional funds will be going into the pockets of Americans that were hit hard by the pandemic any time soon.
Senate Republicans offered to extend the $600 benefit for one week or give states the choice of receiving $200 per week or sufficient funds to replace two-thirds of prior income through the end of the calendar year. Democrats rejected the offer, and the Senate adjourned until Monday.
READ MORE: Roughly 95% of Black-owned businesses shut out of coronavirus relief
At her weekly press briefing on Friday, Pelosi urged Republicans to sit down with Democrats and get the work done. “Let’s recognize people need $600. Let’s recognize state and local need help with allaying the money the they have spent fighting the virus and the revenue loss.”
Meanwhile, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows accused Democrats of never attempting to counter GOP offers. Lawmakers will meet again on Monday, but many officials are not optimistic about finding a solution.
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Homeland Security official being reassigned for collecting data on journalists
Lower level officials carried out Brian Murphy’s order to gather and share information.
Brian Murphy oversaw the intelligence division as the undersecretary at the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis. He will be reassigned to an unknown position after collecting information on two reporters.
The two reporters in question are Mike Baker, a New York Times reporter and Benjamin Wittes, the editor-in-chief of the blog Lawfare and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.
READ MORE: Portland protesters file lawsuit against U.S. government
Wittes is responsible for publishing leaks regarding the unrest in Portland, Oregon. The relevant documents were not classified by the government.
Lower level officials carried out Murphy’s order to gather and share information on the journalists. Many on social media say that this is used as a scare tactic to silence critics and journalists.
Wittes, who is vocal about his dislike for President Donald Trump, says that the practice of collecting information infringes on Freedom of Speech.
Last Friday, Homeland Secretary Chad Wolf announced that Murphy would be moving another position.
“In no way does the Acting Secretary condone this practice, and he has immediately ordered an inquiry into the matter,” a DHS spokesperson said in a statement earlier this week, CNN reported.
READ MORE: NAACP sues Homeland Security over Haiti immigration policy
“[The department] will no longer identify US members of the media in our intelligence products…[there will be an] immediate review of the circumstances surrounding the collection and dissemination of intelligence on US members of the press,” said a statement obtained by CNN.
Chair of the House Intelligence Committee Adam Schiff said that he has been “conducting rigorous oversight.”
“In light of recent public reports, we are concerned that Murphy may have provided incomplete and potentially misleading information to Committee staff during our recent oversight engagement,” said Schiff.
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Rescue mission called off for 7 marines and 1 sailor, all presumed dead
There is an ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
An extensive 40-hour rescue mission for eight missing service members officially ended today. They are all feared to be dead.
On Thursday, during a routine training exercise near San Clemente Island, 15 marines and one sailor were involved in an accident while inside an amphibious assault vehicle (AAV).
Search and rescue efforts were immediately launched by the marines with help from the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard.
One marine was pronounced dead at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. Two others sustained injuries and were transported to local hospitals. A total of eight people were recovered from the AAV, while another eight went missing in the water.
The AAV weighs approximately 26 tons, and is believed to have sunk to the ocean floor – below the depths where divers can go.
The Marine Corp commanding general, David Berger, suspended all amphibious assault vehicle operations “until the causal factors of this mishap are better understood.”
He tweeted on Sunday that the difficult decision to suspend the search-and-rescue operation was made only after all resources were exhausted.
READ MORE: U.S. Marines bans depictions of confederate flag at its installations
“Our thoughts and prayers have been, and will continue to be with our Marines’ and Sailor’s families during this difficult time,” Col. Christopher Bronzi, commanding officer of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, said in a statement.
There is an ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. All of the victims’ next-of-kin have been notified as of Sunday.
The names of the dead marines and the sailor will be released within the next 24 hours.
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Astronauts successfully land on Earth after trip to International Space Station
The space capsule, financed by Elon Musk, carried two NASA astronauts on a two-month trip to and from orbit.
Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley have returned to Earth, landing on the waters of the Gulf of Mexico today. The astronauts rode on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule spacecraft to the International Space Station and back.
“It’s been a great two months, and we appreciate all you’ve done as a crew to help us prove out Dragon on its maiden flight,” Hurley said.
READ MORE: NASA almost sent first Black man into space, new documentary reveals
The space capsule, financed by Elon Musk, carried two NASA astronauts on a two-month trip to and from orbit, something no person or exploration company has done before, according to Reuters.
“On behalf of the SpaceX and NASA teams, welcome back to Planet Earth. Thanks for flying SpaceX,” SpaceX mission control said upon splashdown.
The landing also makes Musk’s SpaceX the first private company to send humans to orbit.
The test flight serves as an end-to-end demonstration of SpaceX’s crew transportation system. Behnken and Hurley launched at 3:22 p.m. on Saturday, May 30, from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center.
A new era of human spaceflight is set to begin as American astronauts once again launch on an American rocket from American soil to orbit. This is the first launch of its kind since the conclusion of the Space Shuttle Program in 2011.
READ MORE: Nasa removes Black US astronaut from Space Station mission
Hurtling at speeds of 17,500 mph, the capsule’s outer shell resisted the extreme heat of 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit. Fortunately, Behnken and Hurley experienced only 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Boeing is on its way to becoming the second commercial ride provider for NASA, Tech Crunch reported.
NASA gave a combined total of nearly $8 billion to SpaceX and Boeing in 2014 to develop two space capsules.
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Lisa Bonet trends after ex-husband Lenny Kravitz celebrates her spouse Jason Mamoa’s birthday
Social media is abuzz over the ‘A Different World’ star’s taste in men
Lisa Bonet trended on social media over the weekend, though it was not because of a new soundbite from the celebrity or that the actress was cast in a new role.
Fans heaped praise at the Cosby Show cast member for her taste in men, and it all began with posts to Instagram and Twitter from her ex-husband, platinum-selling musician Lenny Kravitz.
Kravitz on Saturday shared a photo with his nearly 8 million followers on the platforms wishing actor Jason Mamoa, Bonet’s current husband, a happy birthday, followed by the message: “One family. One love.”
The post features a monochromatic photograph of the two men together.
Mamoa, the lead man in Aquaman, replied: “Love you ohana. Miss u.”
“Ohana” is a Hawaiian term for “family.”
READ MORE: Jason Momoa reveals how his new role in ‘See’ has changed his relationship with Lisa Bonet
Bonet, 52, was married to the four-time Grammy-winner from 1987 to 1993. Together, they had one daughter, actress Zoe Kravitz. The star of A Different World has been with Mamoa since 2007. They officially tied the knot in 2017 and share two children.
Although Bonet and Kravitz divorced nearly three decades ago, Kravitz expressed in the past that he considers Mamoa family to him as he and Bonet maintained a close friendship.
“When we’re all together now, her man, [their] kids, Zoe, me, we’re all together and we’re one big, happy family,” Kravitz once said during a 2013 episode of Oprah’s Masterclass. “It’s beautiful and it just shows you what can be done.”
With the post, Twitter went into a frenzy with praise for Bonet for marrying two good-looking men.
READ MORE: Zoe Kravitz considered dropping her last name to escape parent’s legacy
Many want to know what her secret is so they can have the same fortune:
Others have contended that it’s Kravitz and Mamoa who are the fortunate ones:
Many also celebrated Kravitz’s and Mamoa’s successful blended-family dynamic.
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OKC Thunder players kneel, despite Oklahoma lawmaker’s threat to end tax breaks
State Rep. Sean Roberts says taking a knee during the national anthem is an ‘anti-patriotic act’
An Oklahoma state representative is fed up with athletes kneeling during the national anthem and is threatening to hold the Oklahoma City Thunder to account.
State Rep. Sean Roberts issued a warning to the NBA franchise on Friday, urging that the team stand for the playing of the song or he will lead a charge to strip tax benefits that the organization receives from the state, local news outlet KFOR-TV reports.
That, however, did not deter the team as members of the Thunder joined Utah Jazz members in kneeling during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” anyway.
Video footage of the scene was posted to Twitter by Salt Lake City Tribune writer Eric Walden, who noted that one referee stood during the anthem.
Since the shortened season resumed last week, nearly every player and coach in the basketball league has unified by taking a knee, as inspired by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, and wearing a “Black Lives Matter” t-shirt to make a statement against issues of police brutality and racial injustices in America.
READ MORE: NBA players kneel during national anthem at season reopening
Roberts, of Homity, Okla., made it clear that he doesn’t want the Thunder to take part in the pregame demonstration.
“If the Oklahoma City Thunder leadership and players follow the current trend of the NBA by kneeling during the national anthem prior to Saturday’s game, perhaps we need to reexamine the significant tax benefits the State of Oklahoma granted the Oklahoma City Thunder organization when they came to Oklahoma,” Roberts said in a statement.
The Thunder took the liberty of showcasing players’ reasoning to participate in the protest, posting a video to Twitter later that night with the caption: “For equality.”
READ MORE: Orlando Magic’s Isaac is the first player not to kneel during anthem
“Man, it was special, you know, to be able to do that together,” Chris Paul, Thunder point guard, said in the roughly one minute clip. “As players, we had a lot of conversations about coming down here and, you know, the bigger reason of what we [were] playing for, so to do it on a united front was nice.”
Paul also serves as president of the National Basketball Players Association.
Ever since the NBA season returned Thursday from a four-month hiatus caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic, a majority of players and coaches alike have been kneeling during the anthem in a nod to the “Black Lives Matter” movement.
Roberts expressed in his statement that he opposes the movement, claiming that it has “ties to Marxism” and is trying to “destroy nuclear families.”
Furthermore, Roberts framed the protest as an “anti-patriotic act” that displays “disrespect to the American flag and all it stands for.”
The lawmaker, who was first elected in 2011, also believes that the NBA’s support of the stance that players are taking proves the league supports efforts to defund the police.
Roberts highlighted that the Thunder organization is under contract through the Quality Jobs Act to receive tax breaks through 2024. He raised the idea of diverting the potential tax revenue to law enforcement, should the Thunder no longer be granted the tax relief.
“Perhaps these funds would be better served in support of our police departments rather than giving tax breaks to an organization that supports defunding police and the dissolution of the American nuclear family,” he wrote.
In the team’s first game in the NBA bubble at Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fla., the Thunder defeated the Jazz 110-94.
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From travel pods to private jets, affluent travelers are eager to make vacations happen
Affluent travelers appear to be more resilient than most, making plans and holding onto reservations made pre-pandemic. Industry experts see this resilience among luxury travelers as an encouraging sign that a rebound might be just around the corner.
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How and why I built Machine Learning model to predict tennis table matches results
'm a Data Professional who loves building data products to solve problems. I'm currently working together with professionals from various backgrounds to provide new analytical insights in industry. I'd love to combine my passion for open data to continue contributing to change people lives in a better and analytical world.
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This Art Consultant Wants To Create A New Era Of Celebrating Black Art
Black culture has become the muse for many artists around the world. However, the professionals that make up the industry do not often reflect the same diversity. One woman has made it her mission to disrupt the art world by celebrating Black art.
Alaina Simone, the owner of an art consulting agency, is centering Black artists on the mainstream stage. Her love of art came from seeing a different side of life outside of the traditional working roles like her parents had.
“I remember seeing Alvin Loving as a very small child, who was a friend of my family in Flint, Michigan, at a gathering and being intrigued by the man with the locks and jeans. He was the coolest at the party, and I was beyond curious,” Simone tells BLACK ENTERPRISE via email.
“He was completely different from my parents’ friends of doctors, teachers, and lawyers, which was the Black professional crowd. They were teasing him, but he didn’t care. His image is clear in my memory, and I remember wanting to know more because he was so different and marching to his own drum.”
“When I was in college and trying to figure out how to make a living with my interest in art, my older cousin called and said that I should meet a Black gallerist that she met in Detroit. I didn’t know any Black people who owned galleries so that was exciting and gave me hope that I could live my dream of working with artists and figuring out a way to be an entrepreneur in the creative arts.”
Since then, Simone has made a name for herself in the art world, centering around projects that serve as a “catalyst for change,” working with artists from all across the African Diaspora. She says one of the biggest steps Black artists can take is to learn the industry, using that education to create innovative works outside of the Eurocentric gaze.
“I moved from Detroit because I knew that I had to get physically inside the market to understand how it works from the inside out,” she explains. “I suggest that artists at least intern with galleries and art institutions to shed light on the inner workings of the art world.”
“There are many nuances, and I think that sometimes artists tend to romanticize the art world. The market can be a ‘scary’ space for young artists, especially art fairs, which are mainly about watching a massive, primarily Eurocentric public, consume their work.”
Her new advice for young Black artists looking to get their foot in the door: “Don’t give up. Stick to your vision and go for it!”
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