My friend Adrienne LaFrance in a recent email asked me if much of today reminds me of the 1960s.

Adrienne, a former reporter for Honolulu Civil Beat, now is executive editor of The Atlantic. We had been corresponding about an article/podcast she did on the conspiracy group QAnon.

She asked, Ive been speaking with colleagues who were reporters in the 1960s, about how much today reminds them of 1968 in particular. I wonder what you think of that.

Some of the key differences between 1968 and 2020 are that police today wear body cameras and many of us have smart phones to document injustices in real time. Bad cops have a tougher time now justifying the killing of innocent citizens.

We also have 24-hour news cycles and social media to help advocacy groups quickly organize and publicize their causes in order to combat wrongdoing.

Black Lives Matter protest supporters chant and raise their fists at the Duke Kahanamoku Statue after marching from Ala Moana Beach Park on Friday. They were part of protests held last week all over the country and the globe.

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

And most extraordinary, in a way few would have imagined months ago, we are bonded together not just regionally or nationally, but globally, by the shared experience of fighting a killer virus by self-quarantining in our homes for months.

What has affected one of us affects us all.

As New Yorker reporter Adam Gopnik put it, What happens here happens there. A bat may infect a pangolin in Wuhan, and the world shuts down.

There is a heightened awareness of our inter-connectedness in the lockdowns. Weve all had plenty of time to think about our hopes for a better world going forward.

Protesters took to the streets around the world this weekend from Sydney to Seoul and from Paris to Honolulu to protest the brutal death of George Floyd, an unarmed, handcuffed black man, who died while bystanders begged for mercy from a Minneapolis police officer who kneeled on Floyds neck for almost 9 minutes.

In 1968, many protests were local, not joined worldwide. The demonstrations were on college campuses and in big cities, not everywhere like today where they have been launched even in tiny towns and white suburbs.

And in the U.S., the protest crowds of today rich, poor, middle class, multi-ethnic, all ages more closely reflect the face of America.

The Atlantic reporter James Fallows calls 2020 the second most traumatic year in modern American history after 1968 and it still has seven months to run.

In 1968, the country erupted in violent civil unrest after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, followed two months later by the assassination of presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy.

A young protester standing in front of a row of National Guard soldiers at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. That year, at the height of the Vietnam War, the country erupted in violent unrest following the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy.

Warren K. Leffler/Wikimedia Commons

All this came as the Vietnam War raged on 1968 was a record year for American and Vietnamese combat deaths as North Vietnams Tet Offensive weakened Americas resolve to continue the war.

CBS anchorman Walter Cronkite went on the air on Feb. 27 to urge a negotiated end to the bloodshed.

President Lyndon Johnson watching the broadcast is reported by some to have declared: If I have lost Cronkite, I have lost Middle America. Shortly after, Johnson shocked everyone by saying he would not seek reelection.

More violence followed at the Democratic National Convention in August of 1968 as Chicago police and National Guard troops rifle butted, billy clubbed and tear gassed mostly young protesters assembled by the thousands to call for an end to the war that would continue for another seven years.

There was also a pandemic in 1968. The influenza H3N2 virus, also known as the Hong Kong Flu, killed an estimated 1 million people worldwide, including 100,000 in the U.S. But in the tumult of the times, it didnt gain wide publicity.

Clearly, 2020 has demonstrated some of the same violence and chaos of 1968. But what is happening now is different.

There is no draft, no Vietnam War, no assassinations, no month after month of violent protests. There are sadistic police officers, but cops are better trained today. Most are people who joined local police departments hoping to help others.

In 1968, many protests were local, not joined worldwide.

What is clearly different is that we are burdened with a national leader who is not up to the job.

Whether or not you agreed with their policies, our former presidents were competent, experienced leaders.

There was no chance that the country would end up in the hands of a clown, Fallows wrote in his essay comparing 1968 to 2020.

President Trump has sought to divide us. But the extraordinary months of global self-quarantine have united not just Americans but citizens across the globe.

This weekend that unification showed itself in the singular surge to decry the action of the Minneapolis police officer who pinned his knee on George Floyds neck, while three other officers stood by. Officer Derek Chavin and the officers who calmly watched Floyd struggle and plead I cant breathe have all been charged Chauvin with second-degree murder, the others with aiding and abetting murder.

The eruption of the initial arson and looting in the streets of some cities has subsided into peaceful protests.

In the early days of lockdown, writer Paul Theroux answered my question about what he saw emerging from the time of the virus with this observation: I am fascinated by the fact that this is a global pandemic the whole world all in the same boat. That doesnt happen often indeed I cant remember a time when this was so. I know some good, great enlightenment will come from this.

The enlightenment is we are all in this together despite a president who thinks leadership is setting people at each others throats.

COVID-19 has lifted the veil covering Trumps incompetency in ways that might not have happened in normal times.

Who will forget Trumps bizarre marshaling of police to shoot chemicals and pepper balls on peaceful protesters in Washington, D.C., clearing the way for him to walk to historic St. Johns Church to hold up a Bible that his daughter Ivanka pulled out of her handbag.

Or fail to remember Trump on Friday, happy about the good jobs report, summoning the name of George Floyd, saying, Hopefully, George is looking down right now and saying this is a great thing thats happening for our country. This is a great day for him, its a great day for everybody. This is a great day for everybody. This is a great, great day in terms of equality.

The latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll shows Trumps voter support with his base is eroding.

There are still five months to go until the election. Anything can change.

My friend Catherine Cruz says the virus has shown us the contagion of kindness and the infection of intolerance.

I would add that its also showed us the need for a competent president to lead us to economic strength and racial justice.

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Denby Fawcett: The Shared Trauma Of 1968 And 2020 - Honolulu Civil Beat

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Financial institutions have been urged to provide services and products such as micro-insurance, micro-credit, among others.

A communiqu made available to THISDAY by the Consumer Awareness and Financial Enlightenment Initiative (CAFEi), recommended that for people to be financially included, they must be economically included and have access to decent jobs and decent pay.

It also stated that people should also have access to basic payment system, insurance and credit, as well as financial products that would enable them improve their quality of life and grow their wealth.

According to the communiqu, Expanding branches in the rural areas is therefore not the answer rather a tailored and affordable solution is required to meet the needs and wants of rural customers.

The influence of technology is primary to improving financial inclusion, and such solutions may include deploying agent banking, USSD, and others.

It stated that inclusion remains very low (below 10%) in terms of access to insurance and credit, adding that usage of such products on the other hand, depends on peoples level of economic participation and awareness.

CAFEi also noted that the major barrier to financial inclusion was no longer lack of access to financial infrastructure, but inadequate knowledge about available opportunities and inability of existing financial products to cater for the peoples needs.

The group further explained that in a bid to reduce the financial inclusion gaps, the financial sector may need to redirect majority of the resources spent on infrastructure to financial education and enlightenment.

Fintechs have an opportunity to contribute to improving financial products and services due to their light footprint and innovation. They have however tended to focus on the payment subsector, acting more like pay techs rather than Fintechs.

Untapped opportunities exist in the area of blockchain which may be leveraged to fix the chronic issue of identity management, it added.

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Banks Urged to Expand Financial Inclusion - THISDAY Newspapers

This could have been his moment.

With racial tension boiling over across the United States, African American voices are being heard in a way the nation hasnt seen since Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., perhaps even louder. The resonating message is resonating beyond the liberal corners its typically dominated and into the mainstream and even across party lines.

Never has there been a better time for African American leaders to shine.

Imagine how much Andrew Gillum would be in the spotlight right now had he not slipped into the salacious realm of drug use and South Florida partying.

Andrew Gillum: This could have been his moment.

Gillum, once the rising-est rising star in Florida politics, stayed in the spotlight even after he narrowly lost the 2018 Governors race to Ron DeSantis. He was all over CNN as a political commentator. He was the face of Florida Democrats get out the vote efforts. There was even talk of him being a VP contender in 2020.

That was all before police in Minneapolis killed George Floyd in what became a pivotal point in racial tensions nationwide. As a black Democrat in the spotlight, he would have been a beacon of hope for the black community.

As much as the 2018 Governors race was historic few expected Gillum, a progressive Democrat, to topple the establishment machine behind Gwen Graham this time of nationwide protests and boiled over anger over institutional racism could have been Gillums moment.

His greatest political tragedy may now no longer be his infamous night in a South Florida hotel surrounded by booze, drugs and, allegedly, a male escort. Instead, it might be that he is now sidelined because of it.

Even as one of Gillums fiercest political critics, theres no denying he would have been at the front of a now-global movement.

Im no stranger to the dark side. The skeletons in my closet are no secret and are still weaponized by those who seek to discredit me (looking at you Anthony Sabatini). But those experiences, and the rebirth that I experienced when I found love, got married and became a dad, reshaped my life and I believe I am a better man for it.

If Gillum truly deconstructs his past mistakes and excises his demons, I know from firsthand experience that there can and IS a second act waiting for him. Hes too talented too capable too ambitious not to find his way back.

Some will argue his moment has passed, even if he enjoys a full rehabilitation, which I hope he does.

But its fair to consider another thing. Gillums slip into oblivion, fueled by addiction, came, according to his own words, after he fell into depression following his personally heartbreaking loss in 2018.

His critics asked the question following his Miami escapade: Can you imagine if we had Andrew Gillum in the Governors mansion? The state dodged a bullet, those critics argue.

Maybe we did. Maybe we did for other reasons, too. But maybe, just maybe, Gillums battle with addiction might not have happened had he won. Maybe the loss was too much. Maybe it pushed him into the dark, into the grim world of drugs and decline. If thats the case, he has a path forward.

Either way, this could have been his moment.

___

There is so much going on in the world right now. A pandemic. A national movement to improve race relations. A news cycle that changes so quick a major headline that would have once dominated the news for days is now defunct within hours.

But at our core, we are a political news organization dedicated to providing a deep look into the entire Process. With primary elections for state races just over two months away, its important that we continue that mission, even as we continue following the daily onslaught of headline-making news on protests and virus counts.

The work has already begun.

Take our work this week on the All Voters Vote initiative. Reporter Jason Delgado interviewed several key figures in the debate over whether to open Floridas primaries and found something shocking the issue united Democrats and Republicans, two groups with fundamentally different political ideologies who found common ground in opposing the measure, which will appear on this years ballot as Amendment 3.

Where supporters see an opportunity to involve more voters by putting all candidates on the primary ballot, rather than just those of a single party, Democratic and Republican establishment leaders see a potential erosion of party autonomy.

His table-setting piece lays out both sides of the argument and evaluates data suggesting maybe party politics are exactly why such a move is desired.

In another in-depth piece, Andrew Meacham provides a close-up look at Fiona McFarland, a Republican hoping to reclaim House District 72 for Republicans after Democrats flipped it in 2018. His narrative weaves in and out of the districts history, McFarlands experience in the Navy and her struggles coping with criticism against her mom and chief consultant, K.T. McFarland, who worked for former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

A deep-dive into the candidacy of Fiona McFarland is the sort of thing to expect from Florida Politics. Image via Jacob Ogles

Both are examples of what Florida Politics has become known for: Going deep under the surface of day to day headlines and learning from the people who make politics, well, politics.

Weve only just begun. As the elections draw closer, we want every legislative candidate to know these are the questions we want to ask you all. Just send me an email.

DAYS UNTIL

Last day of state candidate qualifying 1; Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre by Max Brooks release 5; Belmont Stakes rescheduled 9; Fathers Day 10; Apple to hold Developer Conference 11; NBA training camp 19; The Outpost with Orlando Bloom and Scott Eastwood premieres 22; NBA teams travel to Orlando 26; Disney World Magic Kingdom & Animal Kingdom to reopen 30; Disney World Epcot and Hollywood Studios to reopen 34; Federal taxes due 34; Christopher Nolans Tenet premieres 36; Mulan premieres 43; TED conference rescheduled 44; NBA season restart in Orlando 50; Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee begins 67; Florida primaries for 2020 state legislative/congressional races 68; NBA draft lottery 73; Indy 500 rescheduled 73; Republican National Convention begins in Charlotte 76; Rev. Al Sharptons D.C. March 78; A Quiet Place Part II premieres 85; Rescheduled running of the Kentucky Derby 86; Rescheduled date for French Open 103; First presidential debate in Indiana 111; Preakness Stakes rescheduled 114; First vice presidential debate at the University of Utah 121; NBA season ends (last possible date) 123; Second presidential debate scheduled at the University of Michigan 126; NBA draft 126; Wes Andersons The French Dispatch premieres 127; NBA free agency 129; Third presidential debate at Belmont 135; 2020 General Election 146; Black Widow premieres 149; NBA 2020-21 training camp 152; Florida Automated Vehicles Summit 159; No Time to Die premieres 166; NBA 2020-21 opening night 173; Top Gun: Maverick premieres 215; Super Bowl LV in Tampa 241; New start date for 2021 Olympics 407; Jungle Cruise premieres 416; Spider-Man Far From Home sequel premieres 512; Thor: Love and Thunder premieres 610; Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness premieres 652; Black Panther 2 premieres 694; Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse sequel premieres 848.

AMERICA SMOLDERING

Enough is enough: George Floyds brother pleads with Congress to act to stem police brutality via Paul Kane of The Washington Post With negotiations on both ends of the Capitol heightening, Philonise Floyd put a personal face on a death that had been, in his estimation, almost desensitized by the recurring loop of his older brothers video-recorded death on TV news. I couldnt take care of George that day he was killed, but maybe by speaking with you today, I can make sure that his death would not be in vain. To make sure that he is more than another face on a T-shirt. More than another name on a list that wont stop growing, Floyd told the House Judiciary Committee. He went on to tell the panel that he was tired of pain, pain you feel when you watch something like that, when you watch your big brother who you looked up to your whole life die, die begging for his mom.

Philonise Floyd, a brother of George Floyd, arrives to testify before a House Judiciary Committee hearing on proposed changes to police practices and accountability on Capitol Hill. Image via AP.

Floyds brother pleads with Congress: make it stop via Catie Edmondson of The New York Times Philonise Floyd, whose brothers death in police custody has inspired two weeks of sprawling protests across the country, made an impassioned plea to Congress to enact sweeping changes to law enforcement in America to address police brutality and systemic racism. I am asking you, is that what a black mans life is worth? Twenty dollars? Floyd asked. This is 2020. Enough is enough. The people marching in the streets are telling you enough is enough. Floyd was the first witness and marquee voice among more than a half-dozen civil rights experts and activists at a hearing called to consider the most expansive federal intervention into law enforcement that lawmakers have proposed in recent memory, which was put forth by Democrats this week.

The army was open to replacing Confederate base names. Then Donald Trump said no. via John Ismay of The New York Times Monuments and memorials bearing the names of men who fought to preserve slavery and uphold white supremacy are facing a reckoning, as demonstrations against police brutality have erupted across the country in response to the killing of Floyd. A Pentagon official said Monday that Secretary of Defense Mark P. Esper and Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy were open to a bipartisan discussion on the topic of removing Confederate names from the bases. Trump was quick to shut down any bipartisan discussions, tweeting, my Administration will not even consider the renaming of these Magnificent and Fabled Military Installations.

After killing of Floyd, white liberals embrace ideas that once seemed radical via Greg Jaffe of The Washington Post Among white liberals, the anger and unrest that followed Floyds death have provoked a far different reaction, leading them to embrace positions that only a few weeks ago might have seemed radical or unthinkable. The response follows a pattern that has held for much of the past decade as white liberals have moved dramatically to the left on racial issues. The change in white liberal attitudes, which one journalist described as a Great Awokening, has coincided with the rise of Trumps brazenly racial politics as well as a series of police killings of black men caught on video.

Defund the police? Heres what that really means. via Christy E. Lopez of The Washington Post Since Floyds death, a long-simmering movement for police abolition has become part of the national conversation, recast slightly as a call to defund the police. Defunding the police is not as scary as it sounds, and engaging on this topic is necessary if we are going to achieve the kind of public safety we need. Defunding the police means shrinking the scope of police responsibilities and shifting most of what the government does to keep us safe to entities that are better equipped to meet that need.

LeBron James and other stars form a voting rights group via Jonathan Martin of The New York Times James and a group of other prominent black athletes and entertainers are starting a new group aimed at protecting African Americans voting rights, seizing on the widespread fury against racial injustice that has fueled worldwide protests to amplify their voices in this falls presidential election. Because of everything thats going on, people are finally starting to listen to us we feel like were finally getting a foot in the door, James said in a phone interview on Wednesday. The organization, called More Than a Vote, will partly be aimed at inspiring African Americans to register and to cast a ballot in November.

NASCAR bans Confederate flag at all events and properties via Dan Mangan of CNBC Auto racing giant NASCAR said that it is banning the display of the Confederate flag at all of its events and properties. The announcement is sure to be controversial with a number of NASCAR fans, some of whom continue to display Confederate flags and symbols at racing events even five years after the organization asked fans not to do so. Also, NASCAR removed its rule mandating that racing team members stand for the national anthem. It is not clear how NASCAR plans to enforce the ban.

NASCAR said it is banning the flying of Confederate flags at its races. Image via AP.

Song of the South trends as critics tackle Disney film, Splash Mountain via Richard Tribou of the Orlando Sentinel The debate over Disney film Song of the South reemerged Wednesday as the term began trending on Google, with critics tackling both the film and its presence at the companys theme parks in the form of its Splash Mountain attraction. The 1946 film is considered to be racist by some, a story about life on a Southern plantation, famous for its song Zip-a-dee-doo-dah. It featured live-action including narration from a character named Uncle Remus, but also animated characters like Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox. Walt Disney Co. officials did not include the film among the archival options in its rollout of the Disney+ streaming service last year, with Bob Iger saying in 2019 to not expect it either.

FLORIDA REAX

Calls to defund police could spark Floridas criminal justice reform effort via John Haughey of The Center Square Defunding police wont get an eye blinks consideration in Florida, but a coalition of conservative groups has been questioning ever-increasing state and local law enforcement, courts and corrections costs for more than a half-decade. Sen. Jeff Brandesspearheaded the reform effort by sponsoring numerous bills, including proposals to give judges more discretion in sentencing for drug-related offenses, steer more felons to prison diversion programs, increase monthly gain time inmates earn and permit the early release of seriously ill and aging inmates. All were adopted in the Senate but not in the House.

Nikki Fried says both parties fall short on social justice On Wednesday, Fried said Democrats and Republicans are both to blame for a lack of reforms in criminal and social justice, Bruce Ritchie of POLITICO Florida reports. Im angry, too, and want to be part of the conversation and move the ball forward and make real change in our country, Fried said on a call. But it starts now, it starts here and it starts with conversations like this. Fried, Sen. Jos Javier Rodrguez, and Reps. Bobby DuBose, Tracie Davis and Fentrice Driskell criticized a lack of state Clemency Board meetings and the Amendment 4 implementing bill passed the Republican Legislature.

Nikki Fried says both parties have a responsibility for the problem in social justice.

More protests planned this week in South Florida via Austen Erblat of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel After almost two weeks of social justice demonstrations, more are planned in the coming days. Protesters are drawing attention to both institutional racism and a string of African American deaths in police custody, including Floyd. Some protests over the past few weeks have erupted in violence and arrests, both here and across the country, but most have concluded peacefully.

Shifting from weeks of racial protests to a day of Trump flag-waving birthday rallies on land and sea via Skyler Swisher of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel South Florida Trump supporters are planning to be out in full force Sunday to celebrate the presidents 74th birthday with boat flotillas, a truck rally and a motorcycle ride. The show of support comes after days of Black Lives Matter demonstrations that have spanned from West Palm Beach to Miami. Hundreds of boats adorned with Trump flags and gear will set off Sunday from Sunrise Bay near Fort Lauderdale and head north to Lake Boca. These floating Trump rallies have been dubbed Trumptillas.

Here are the 11 Jacksonville Civil War monuments, markers coming down via Emily Bloch of The Florida Times-Union When Mayor Lenny Curry announced the removal of the bronze Confederate soldier that stood atop a 62-foot pedestal in Jacksonvilles Hemming Park for 122 years, crowds cheered. Then they asked, what else? The confederate monument is gone, Curry announced on the steps of City Hall. And the others in this city will be removed as well. We hear your voices. We have heard your voices. One day later, Currys office has provided an eleven-item list of whats coming down. It includes two additional monuments and eight historic markers. Details are sparse regarding the timeline or where items removed will go, but spokeswoman Nikki Kimbleton said removal will happen over the next few weeks.

Tommy Hazouri: `Era of enlightenment for tackling Jacksonville racial disparities via David Bauerlein of The Florida Times-Union Jacksonville City Council president-elect Hazouri said the city has entered an era of enlightenment that can take the outcry at protest rallies about racial injustice and turn them into actual progress. Hazouri said he will form a social justice committee that will act as City Councils clearinghouse for all legislation on that topic. The committee will start meeting next month. Were going to be the bold new city of enlightenment of all the cities in the South, Hazouri said during a Zoom meeting.

NAACP holds protest to demand permanent removal of the Robert E. Lee bust in downtown Fort Myers via Andrew West of the Naples Daily News A small number of protesters gathered at a Lee statue in downtown Fort Myers. One protester led the group in a chant of, no justice, no peace! James Muwakkil, president of the Lee County branch of the NAACP, said of the statue, It represents racism. It represents hate. Muwakkil continued later, what African Americans have experienced is the same as what the Confederacy represented.

Hillsboroughs sheriff, chief prosecutor talk defund the police with activists via Kavitha Surana of the Tampa Bay Times As people started the second week of marching and speaking out against police brutality in Tampa Bay, Hillsborough Countys sheriff and chief prosecutor addressed issues at the heart of the protests in a Zoom panel with activists, pastors and defense attorneys. First on the agenda: Defund the police, which has become a rallying cry for activists to speed reforming law enforcement agencies. Hillsborough Sheriff Chad Chronister is not a fan. The idea isnt to erase law enforcement agencies, its to rethink their budgets.

Hundreds gather in Orlando to amplify black LGBTQ victims, as community feels left out of recent protests via Cristobal Reyes of the Orlando Sentinel Before Mulan Williams took the microphone to speak before a crowd gathered at Orlando City Hall on Wednesday, she said she asked herself a question: Do I matter? As the black transgender woman looked out at the roughly 200 people in front of her, she got her answer. The people who did arrive to stand in the sweltering heat were vocal in their support. But after people marched by the thousands in response to the Minneapolis killing of Floyd, many who attended the significantly smaller demonstration Wednesday were left wondering whether LGBTQ people are being left out of the conversation.

Spurred by Mayors Facebook post, 200+ protesters gather in Wellington to call for social justice via Kristina Webb of The Palm Beach Post More than 200 protesters gathered outside Wellingtons Village Hall on Tuesday night, spurred to action by a Facebook post from Mayor Anne Gerwig and the recent movement for social justice. Dozens of those protesters filed inside, with roughly 60 speaking during the Village Councils public comment period. With each person allowed three minutes to speak, their comments took about three hours. Their message: Racism is in Wellington. And change needs to happen. Rumors were circulating that day that the Mall at Wellington Green could become a target of looters, prompting the mall to close early and the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office to add additional patrols in the area.

Palm Beach Sheriffs officers prepare for protesters at the Southern bridge to Palm Beach. Image via the Palm Beach Post.

Wynwood Pride hosts virtual party to highlight black performers, raise funds for BLM via April Rubin of the Miami Herald The first-ever LBGTQ pride was a protest, and this years Wynwood Pride will be no different. After founder Jos Atencio wrapped up the annual celebration in June 2019, he couldnt have imagined that next time hed be coordinating it in the midst of a pandemic and civil rights movement. But as soon as the challenges hit, he and his team adapted, knowing they had to uphold their mission statement to serve the community in the pillars of youth, health and justice, Atencio said. All parts of the virtual festival are free, but hosts ask participants to take action however they can, via donation, signing petitions or educating others, Atencio said, calling the event a digital protest.

SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

@OJPgov: @OJPOVC today announced it has awarded nearly $10 Million in an Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program grant to assist victims of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

@TocRadio: SCOOPLET: Multiple RNC officials tell me this morning that Washington Posts story about hosting the convention in Jacksonville is premature Phoenix, Dallas, Savannah, Nashville, Orlando still very much in the running

@briantylercohen: Trumps first campaign rally, in the aftermath of positioning himself squarely against the Black Lives Matter protests, is in the city of the Tulsa race massacre that occurred 99 years ago and takes place on Juneteenth.

@anthonypedicini: Of men who rise up against the United States in defense of a culture that promoted slavery. @GovRonDeSantis its time. Florida needs not celebrate men who took up arms against their country in the name of slavery. Retire the confederate statue, pls.

@BillGalvano: Thank you @GovRonDeSantis for lowering the flags to half-staff in honor of former Senate President [Gwen] Margolis. @FLSenate

@TomLeeFL: .@DannyBurgessFL has represented his community admirably in the halls of the Florida Legislature & has offered steadfast leadership for Floridas 1.5 million veterans. I am proud to endorse him and look forward to calling him my Senator.

@ShevrinJones: Being an elected official means having obligations to represent all people, and elected officials who dont take action on issues of racial injustice should be called out. #BlackLivesMattter

Tweet, tweet:

CORONA FLORIDA

Key indicators raise concerns among local officials about coronavirus resurgence via Anastasia Dawson of the Tampa Bay Times Local elected officials say the latest coronavirus numbers give them new cause for concern as people are venturing out again and demonstrators take to the streets. For each of the past seven days, every day but Monday, the number of new coronavirus cases reported across Florida has topped 1,000, a pattern not seen since coronavirus in Florida hit its first peak in early April. Tuesday, the state reported 1,096 new patients and 53 deaths over a 24-hour period. The total number of cases in the state hit 66,000.

Several local officials in Florida are seeing some key indications of a coronavirus resurgence.

Another state inmate dies of COVID-19 via the News Service of Florida An 18th Florida inmate has died from complications of COVID-19, the state Department of Corrections reported. The inmate, whose name was not disclosed by the department, is the third prisoner to die from COVID-19 in less than a week. The Department of Health reported that the 18 inmates have died while incarcerated at Sumter Correctional Institution, Union Correctional Institution, South Florida Reception Center, Liberty Correctional Institution, Dade Correctional Institution, Everglades Correctional Institution, Blackwater River Correctional Facility and South Bay Correctional Facility.

Thousands of Floridians abruptly stopped getting $600 federal unemployment. State blames technology concerns. via Caroline Glenn of the Orlando Sentinel For thousands of out-of-work Floridians, the abrupt stop to their weekly $600 federal unemployment checks was a mystery. They had been approved for and been collecting Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation for weeks, on top of their state benefits, but around Memorial Day week, the checks inexplicably ceased. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity hadnt offered an explanation until this week. Paige Landrum, press secretary for the DEO, said the department identified technology concerns that may have prevented an individual from receiving their Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation payment over the last few weeks and said the department is correcting the issue. Affected workers should start receiving payments again in about five business days, Landrum said.

Florida seniors get leeway for Bright Futures scholarships via Jeffrey S. Solochek of the Tampa Bay Times When COVID-19 closed Floridas schools, many graduating seniors had a practical concern. They no longer had opportunities to complete the volunteer service hours, or to improve their SAT or ACT test scores, to meet the eligibility requirements for a Bright Futures scholarship. After months of receiving calls and complaints, the Florida Department of Education issued an executive order aiming to address the teens concerns. The order suspends the volunteer hours mandate. Instead, a student may submit a statement from a school counselor or other authorized administrator stating that the student intended to complete the service during 2019-20 but could not.

REOPEN FLORIDA

Assignment editors Agriculture Commissioner Fried will hold a news conference to highlight the June 15 reopening of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Tallahassee regional licensing office. Joining Fried is Steve Hurm, Director of Licensing for the department, 8:30 a.m., FDACS Tallahassee Regional Licensing Office, 1925 Capital Circle NE, Tallahassee. The media should RSVP to Franco.Ripple@FDACS.gov.

Twice-a-week school among options considered for fall via Scott Travis and Karina Elwood of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel The Broward School District has drafted a plan of school reopening scenarios, which the School Board plans to discuss Tuesday. Schools have been closed since mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic and all education has been done online. Some of the changes considered by the district include continued distance learning, staggered schedules, staggered days of attendance and limited enrollment.

Downtown Miami filled with cautious optimism as recovery begins via Gabriel Poblete of Miami Today Downtown Miami has not been Teflon during COVID-19. Still, there is cautious optimism the urban core could be seeing a return to normal, and some economic development opportunities could emerge from the pandemic. The City of Miami has begun its reopening, and by extension, downtown Miami is starting to liven up again. Shopping hubs like Brickell City Centre and Bayside Marketplace are in full swing. The city has launched its restaurant recovery program, which will allow restaurants to open into the public sidewalks, on-street parking spaces and closed traffic lanes, which helps the smaller eateries in the area that might struggle with social distancing.

Brickell City Centre is one of the downtown Miami shopping hubs that are starting to recover.

As Miami-Dade beaches open after coronavirus closure, people hurry to hit the water via Martin Vassolo and Aaron Leibowitz o the Miami Herald As visitors to South Beach stepped onto the newly reopened public beach, they were asked if they had a face covering and if they wanted to rent a lounge chair. I want to let you know some rules we have in place, Boucher Brothers employee Haizen Forero said as part of his greeting to visitors. I see you have your mask with you. Are you looking to rent today? In Miami Beach, those rules include a ban on coolers, floats and inflatable devices. Across Miami-Dade County, the new rules state that no organized sports, even between two people, may take place. Masks are not required among members of the same household, but no groups of more than 10 people are allowed to gather.

City of Naples votes to fully reopen beaches with limited parking via Karl Schneider of the Naples Daily News Naples City Council unanimously voted to reopen its beaches without any time restrictions during a special meeting. The Council also decided to reopen Naples City Pier and its concessions, the city dock to pedestrian traffic, as well as the concessions and volleyball courts at Lowdermilk Park. Parking restrictions will remain in place, limited to county and beach parking stickers. Mayor Teresa Heitmann and the council members briefly discussed the timeline of the citys beach closures. Most agreed that what counties on the East Coast were doing played into how the city moved forward with its own reopening. Collier and Lee counties both reopened beaches without time restrictions as well.

UCF to say which fall classes will be in-person by July 1 via Annie Martin of the Orlando Sentinel UCF is planning to resume some activities on campus this fall, including in-person classes on a limited basis, and intends to tell students which courses will meet face-to-face by July 1. President Alexander Cartwright told students and employees during an online forum on Wednesday that reopening the campus, which has been mostly shuttered for three months because of the coronavirus pandemic, will require a number of changes, including continuing the online-only format for classes with more than 100 students. Campus life will be much quieter when the fall semester starts on Aug. 24. Most dorm rooms will have a single occupant; fraternity and sorority recruitment will be completed virtually, and social events will be restricted.

Seminole Hard Rock and other casinos reopen Friday via David Selig of Local10.com The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood will reopen at noon Friday along with the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek and Seminole Classic Casino in Hollywood. Hard Rock and Seminole Gaming have made a tremendous commitment to sanitary protocols and a safety-first mentality for both guests and team members, Jim Allen, CEO of Seminole Gaming and Chairman of Hard Rock International, said. Temperature checks for all guests and employees will be mandatory before entry. Anyone with a temperature above CDC guidelines of 100.4 degrees will not be allowed entry. All guests must wear masks or cloth face coverings that meet CDC guidelines. Masks will be provided as needed. Thousands of alternating slot machines will be turned off, to help ensure social distancing.

SeaWorld Orlando reopens Thursday, reservations and masks required via Dewayne Bevil of the Orlando Sentinel SeaWorld Orlando reopens to the public, and officials expect that the animals inside will be happy to have more visitors. The theme park has been shut down since mid-March in response to the coronavirus pandemic. When you close, the attention you give to the animals has to be upped a little bit more than when you had guests here to make sure you do all the enrichment, Jon Peterson, the parks vice president of zoological operations, said Wednesday. A major change is that SeaWorld Orlando visitors must make date-specific reservations online before arriving at the park.

Everything you need to know about MLS, NBA plans to resume their seasons in Orlando via Michelle Kaufman of the Miami Herald Disneys ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando is about to become the epicenter of U.S. professional sports this summer, as all 26 MLS teams and 22 of the 30 NBA teams will resume their seasons there fan-free after the COVID-19 crisis forced leagues to shut down in mid-March. MLS will take approximately 1,200 people to Orlando, a traveling party of about 45 from each team, from late June to early August. Details are expected to be announced in the next few days as many teams, including Inter Miami, return to full-squad training this week.

Walt Disney World ESPN World of Sports is going to be the epicenter of professional sports, for the time being.

USF trustees approve plan to reopen campuses. Masks will be required in enclosed areas. via Divya Kumar of the Tampa Bay Times The University of South Florida Board of Trustees unanimously approved a four-phase plan to reopen campuses in August with protections against the spread of the coronavirus. The plan calls for testing large numbers of students, faculty and staff for the presence of the virus; increased measures to clean and disinfect public areas; and a number of steps aimed at social distancing. Many, but not all, classes would be offered virtually, and students would be required to wear masks on campus in all shared, enclosed spaces, including classrooms. The plan will be sent to the state Board of Governors this week and could be dialed back if conditions warrant.

St. Johns County updates vacation rental plan via Drew Dixon of Florida Politics Tourist-dependent St. Johns County got the green light from Florida regulators for its updated plan to reopen short-term vacation rental properties again after prohibitions instituted during the coronavirus outbreak. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation signed off on the St. Johns County plan submitted this week. The plan went into effect is in line with executive orders instituted by DeSantis and allows visitors to begin renting vacation properties such as those offered by Airbnb. Vacation rentals are popular in the county in popular tourist spots like St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra Beach. St. Augustine also has a large roster of bed-and-breakfast rentals.

CORONA LOCAL

South Florida restaurants now charging COVID-19 fees to survive, but for how long? via Phillip Valys of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel COVID-19 fees are rapidly becoming the new normal as pandemic-weary restaurants reopen to the public, with surcharges popping up, often to customers surprise, on dine-in food checks. After statewide lockdowns, surging food costs and months of piddling takeout sales, restaurants now face a juggling act, balancing rising expenses against turning off customers. Raising prices now risks alienating the customers helping him survive this month.

South Florida restaurants are beginning to charge a COVID-19 surcharge. How long will that last?

FIU researchers think of a way to speed up a vaccine for COVID-19. Now theres a $1M grant. via Howard Cohen of the Miami Herald Machine-learning algorithms that work with supercomputers to analyze and understand data in quicksilver time could hold the key to finding cures for many diseases, including the novel coronavirus. Thats what Florida International University researcher Fahad Saeed and his colleagues have been developing. Their work was recognized by the National Institutes of Health with a three-year, $1 million grant to help FIU researchers design and develop machine-learning algorithms that allow biologists to make sense of proteomics, the large-scale study of proteins. According to the researchers, the study of proteins is critical for understanding and treating diseases, but there is so much data to analyze and so little time.

Palm Beach County offers rent, utilities relief up to $7,000 via Brett Shweky of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel The Palm Beach County Community Services Department is now offering a rental and utilities assistance program for residents who have been financially impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The relief program will provide one-time rental and utility assistance to residents who have experienced a loss of income, a decrease in hours, or unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants can only receive assistance once but can apply for multiple relief services. Benefits up to $7,000 are available for applicants who live in apartments, houses, townhouses or mobile homes. Financial assistance will be limited to past due rents or utilities from after March 1 to before Dec. 30.

Palm Beach Council says no to proposed rule to make masks mandatory via Adriana Delgado of The Palm Beach Post In a unanimous decision, the Palm Beach Town Council voted no on a proposed ordinance that would have made wearing facial coverings mandatory. The topic was included in the Councils agenda after several council members received complaints from residents about some people not wearing masks and some businesses not following the CDC guidelines on wearing face coverings, Council President Maggie Zeidman said. All five council members, Police Chief Nicholas Caristo and Town Manager Kirk Blouin questioned how the town would enforce the rule. Councilmember Danielle Moore said making the wearing of masks mandatory would open up an entire can of worms and open the town to possible lawsuits.

Palm Beach Chamber will distribute 5,000 masks to town businesses via Adriana Delgado of The Palm Beach Post The Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce will distribute 5,000 face masks to affiliated businesses in town beginning June 22. Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce President Laurel Baker said local businesses can request the number of masks they need, within reason, by sending an email to the Chamber. Businesses can have the masks delivered or pick them up from the Chambers office at 400 Royal Palm Way. The Chamber will receive the masks from UniFirst, a Massachusetts-based textile and uniform company, that seeks to help businesses in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties get back to work.

Gardens begins next phase of economic relief for local businesses; North Palm cancels July 4 fireworks via Jodie Wagner of The Palm Beach Post In partnership with the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce and PGA Corridor Association, the City has announced the next phase of its Economic Recovery Act to assist local businesses impacted by closures due to COVID-19. Phase Two of the Palm Beach Gardens Economic Recovery Act aims to help restaurants, bars, and breweries through the creation of the Food Services Stabilization Fund. The City has allocated $596,000 in aid for eligible restaurants, bars, and breweries with 3-75 employees that have been in business in Palm Beach Gardens for 18 months or more. Funds received through the program will be in the form of a grant that businesses do not have to repay.

MORE LOCAL

Central Florida coronavirus numbers rising; officials arent worried yet via Naseem S. Miller and Ryan Gillespie of the Orlando Sentinel Coronavirus cases in Central Florida have been increasing since the statewide stay-at-home order was lifted in early May, but local officials say its too soon to press the panic button. Although hospitalizations, which are among the key indicators of COVID-19 trouble in a community, have also risen since hitting a low in mid-May, they continue to be below their peak in early April, according to local health systems. Were pretty reassured that this sort of bump, which we had anticipated, isnt anything thats going to overwhelm us, said Dr. George Ralls, chief quality officer for Orlando Health. The most important thing people can do is remain vigilant in the way that theyre socializing.

Families of residents who died of COVID-19 sue Freedom Square retirement community via Kathryn Varn and Kavitha Surana of the Tampa Bay Times The families of two men who died in a COVID-19 outbreak at a Seminole nursing home are suing the facility, claiming their loved ones died due to mismanagement and poor communication. The facility chose to place profits over residents and ignore deficiencies in their emergency preparedness plan and in their infection prevention and control program, the lawsuits say. Its a disgrace, really, not just here but all over the whole country, said attorney Bennie Lazzara Jr., who is representing the families. The numbers are staggering.

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Sunburn The morning read of what's hot in Florida politics 6.11.20 - Florida Politics

Vacations, weekends away, summer camp, time at the pool so many of our summer traditions have been canceled or delayed until further notice. While most of us have known this would be the case for a while, what we may not have considered is the power of looking forward. Having special dates on the calendar can help us get through the most mundane of days. And the anticipation of an event is sometimes as much fun as the event itself.

Yes, planning looks different during times of a pandemic. However, it doesnt mean you cant go ahead and put some dates on the calendar now. And, it doesnt mean you cant create lifelong memories, too.

Important factors to keep in mind

When planning anything during uncertain times, you need to realize restrictions are subject to change. Obviously, this makes life a little tricky. Be sure to check all local ordinances and operating hours. Keep an open mind and a flexible spirit. If youre planning for family, you may even want to keep things on a need-to-know basis. Younger children may not understand a shift in the worlds circumstances.

For older kids, friends, spouses and extended family, be sure to share dates again and again. Most of us are having a hard enough time remembering what day of the week it is right now. Overcommunication is the name of the game. Get your paper planner back out, send an e-vite, or use a shared calendar. We love using the Cozi app to track our familys special dates and times.

Last but not least, especially for bigger" events or plans, have a back-up plan in mind when you begin. We cant control the weather, a sudden cancellation or a closure. Especially when it comes to outdoor events, have a Plan B in your pocket.

Weekly events you can plan

Movie Night: Designate one night a week as a movie night. Allow family members to choose the movie everyone else watches weekly. Rather than slipping into an endless cycle of shows you dont really care about, share a special movie with everyone. Consider creating a list on your phone or even fill your queue on a streaming app.

Obviously, to save the most money, use a free streaming app or one you already pay for to watch a movie. However, if theres a more recent flick youre longing to catch, then opt for slower delivery on your next Amazon order to get digital credit, helping you save money or even score an online rental or purchase for free.

Take-Out Night: Many individuals and families have made weekly take-out a part of their quarantine experience since Day 1. So if you havent yet, this is a great chance for you to jump on board. Its smart to focus on locally owned businesses that may be struggling or any that you have a special connection to right now. If youre worried about germ transmission, choose options you can reheat later in your oven at home.

Family meal deals abound at almost every restaurant right now. Do your research and dont forget to use rewards apps and programs when you can. And always look for a coupon.

Outdoor visits with friends: Why not designate one night of the week to develop your relationships? You may not feel comfortable grabbing a meal with a friend, but summer evenings are perfect for sitting socially distanced on your deck or patio. Get caught up and check in with your besties.

Bike Ride Night: Make one evening an intentional time to get a little more exercise on your own or as a family. Maybe its Walking Wednesday or Take a Hike Tuesday or Ride Your Bike Thursday the choice is up to you. Carving out regular time to enjoy the great outdoors and exercise does wonders for your body and your mind and it doesnt cost a dime. Plus putting it on the calendar means youre more likely to follow through.

Themed Dinner Night: There are a couple of different ways you can approach this. While we were paying off $127,000 in debt, we had themed dinners on a regular basis. It was my little way of making things a bit more fun and saving a few dollars. We would play music that matched the cuisine, learn more about the history of a dish or even pick a movie to coordinate.

You might plan a themed dinner to coordinate with a movie night. Or you could choose a character theme (based on a movie, TV show, musical, book, comic book characters, etc.) and challenge family members to come dressed accordingly. You may even want to rotate who chooses the theme each week. Bonus points if your character theme matches what you serve on the dinner table.

Cozy Night: This one is every introverts dream come true. Plan an evening each night of the week to put on your PJs early and curl up with a good book. Hot tea, your favorite read, some relaxing music, maybe a bubble bath or a favorite pair of sweats could all make the evening even better.

Park Night: Some parks are reopening their gates. Do your research to discover which areas are still restricted, but consider taking a trip to a different park once per week. Walk your dog, hike a trail, run and play, or sit and watch the world go by your local parks offer more than a playground.

Monthly or one time events you can plan

Some fun experiences you may want to consider planning only once a month or even once a summer. These ideas take a little more time, planning, energy, and sometimes cash to pull off. So rather than plan for them weekly, put special dates on the calendar now to look forward to.

Water Day: Break out the water balloons, squirt guns, and the hose. Open your very own waterpark in your backyard. Whether you create a sprinkler system from PVC pipe (we highly recommend you do) or construct your own slip and slide is up to you. Research some simple games, purchase any items in advance, and get ready to have some cool fun in the hot summer sun.

Board Game Day: This one is perfect for a rainy Saturday. Spend the entire day playing family favorites. Set up a schedule in advance and allow each family member to choose one game to play. Pop some popcorn and serve simple snacks and food options in between rounds. Dont forget to wash those hands.

State Park Day: Many state parks are reopening, too. You may discover they have fewer offerings; however, beautiful trails arent closed at all. Choose one state park to visit this summer and put the date on the calendar now. Be sure to research the website to see where you should park, what fees you may need to pay, and where restrooms are located. Bring hand sanitizer and/or disinfectant wipes just in case as well as a change of clothes. Pack simple snacks and/or a picnic, too.

Flashlight Tag: I cant think of a more perfect socially distanced game than flashlight tag. The entire objective is avoiding other people. And the flashlight means no one touches anyone else. To plan your epic game, stock up on (or search the cabinet for) working flashlights. Check the batteries, too. A simple internet search will help you remember the rules. This one is best played by big kids and adults though since the sun sets so late during the summer months.

Outdoor Game Day: Wiffle ball, croquet, catch, badminton summer was made for outdoor games. Declare one day this summer Outdoor Game-palooza. Gather the necessary equipment in advance and replace anything broken. Dont forget to research the rules to avoid family conflict.

Im going to miss some of our familys special traditions this summer: parades and fireworks, trips to neighboring cities, and major sporting events are on hold for us. But its only recently that Ive realized that half the fun of those experiences is planning them and looking forward to them. Channel your energy into planning new traditions and put dates on the calendar instead of letting summer merely fly by in an odd haze this year. Youll be glad you did.

Greenwood resident Cherie Lowe and her husband paid off $127,000 in debt in four years and now live debt-free every day with their two kids. She is the author of Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After. Send comments to letters@dailyjournal.net.

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Cherie Lowe: The power of looking ahead - Daily Journal

Imagine having Drake on speed-dial pretty good, huh? Well, thats a reality for Roy Woods, whos signed to the pop stars label OVO Sound. The genre-redefining enigma blessed the music world with his six-track R&B EP, Dem Times, at the end of May and were still obsessed with his multi-faceted talent. And guess what? The 24-year-old Canadian juggernaut still has more in the vault for us this year.

Woods tells NME that his latest venture is meant to get you shaking your shoulders a bit with its moreish six-track journey full of relaxing vibes. And if you listen ever-so-closely (assuming that youre a ma-hooo-sive long-time fan like us), this EP has quite a nostalgic feel. Drawing on his glum and vulnerable sound made famous by Exis, his 2016 debut EP, which featured the Drake-assisted Drama, this project sees Woods explore his trademark hipnB style. Speaking from his beautiful Canadian home on a Zoom call, he says that he wanted to give a little mix of the old with the new namely, his combination of 00s R&B with 10s hip-hop .

The Brampton, Ontario natives as-yet-untitled third album is coming this year, though hes playing his cards very close to this chest about it. Yet Roy does reveal that hes done a lot of soul-searching for the record. I just had to go through life, to be honest, and let the experiences talk through the music, he says. I needed to be attached to feelings again. I was going through a lot very dark, dark places and I had needed to go back into the old me, and what I used to do before I even got signed.

He was just 19 when he bounced onto the scene and, after gaining traction with a few of his tracks, it wasnt long before he was cruising the streets of Toronto with Drakes manager and another of the co-founders of OVO, Oliver El-Khatib, and getting signed to the influential label. The singer has previously described Drake as a God, but were here to talk about Roy Woods and you cant deny his evolution from 2015 to now. Having emerged from the dark backrooms of R&B/hip-hop to become a big act on a global stage, hes settled nicely into his sound.

I feel like its a little bit more mature now, he says. Especially when the album comes out, youll definitely hear the maturity. Im definitely innovating and not copying [modern trends] or anything like that. Im just creating my own vibes.

And the R&B world is desperate for these vibes. At the top of this year, the brazen New Yorker rapper Young M.A made a statement that spun the world, claiming that music dont feel the same because we barely have R&B. Shes got a point, but 2020 saw the re-emergence of the traditional, baby-making blues everyone loves from the CD-turned-digital era of the 00s. With new stars such as Kaash Paige and Don Toliver producing ethereal, soul-clenching tunes and the superstar singer-songwriter Kandi Burress announcing a potential comeback album with the three-time Platinum selling Atlanta group Xscape, you could say that R&B is back and better than ever.

So what does new-gen hero Roy Woods make of the current state of R&the genre? [Its] coming back to a lot of vibes that I feel like the worlds been missing, he says. By the end of this year, I think were going to appreciate all of the music that came out, especially from this quarantine the whole of 2020 has been a rocky road everybody.

And surely we can all agree with that. With even his own labelmates putting out traditional R&B sounds within this quarantine like DVSNs stunning comeback A Muse In Her Feelings OVO is often seen as the label with the best talent. Roy is often compared to labelmates PartyNextDoor and DVSN does he find the comparison reductive? He answers the question in one perfect sentence: Its naturally what we do taking in music as human beings, so I cant get mad at it.

Roy Woods isnt what youd call a natural interviewee. He says that hes not a fan of opening up to everyone even though he used to be a big extrovert who loved to party, and always wanted to be around people which begs the question: what does he love doing? Turns out Roy is a big history buff, and has been spending his spare time brushing up on his knowledge about the Vietnam war.

He also likes a conspiracy theory who doesnt? and tells NME of a mind-boggling encounter with the extraterrestrial: This one time, I actually had seen some shit in the sky. It was kind of going back-and-forth and more things came. I was with a whole bunch of people too, so I was like, Everybodys seeing this, right? We [were about to have] a little spliff so I wasnt high. Thats what made me get into [alien conspiracies]. I knew it wasnt a helicopter. Nothing can just ride in the air like that.

Credit: press

His ambitions for the near future are surprisingly and endearingly less out of this world. Roy wants to start his family and all that good stuff, but due to his love, love, love for animals and plants, Roy wants to get his hands dirty and become green-thumbed: I was just thinking about maybe just getting into growing my own things. Not just weed but vegetables onions, potatoes and stuff. Ive never planted before, but I want to learn all that stuff first.

It sounds like Roy Woods, whos done a lot of growing up in limelight, is keen to fast-forward to OAP status. Yet he says the opposite is true, and that he wants to nurture his inner child. After some time off from making music, Woods returned to the studio and felt like I was almost a kid again. Dem Times saw Woods dipping a toe in the waters with this self-declared new vibe. But when he goes all in, hopefully on his next album, hell show us all why its well worth immersing yourself in Roy Woods world.

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Drake-endorsed rising star Roy Woods: I was in a dark place and needed to get back to the old me - NME.com

Donna Brazile, Opinion columnist Published 1:00 a.m. MT June 11, 2020

When historians look back at 2020, they might see some important lessons about how problems become really big problems when left to fester.

First, COVID-19 shut down the American economy and killed over 112,000 Americans disproportionately African American because we failed to establish the proper public health response early to address it.

Then, intense national protests erupted in every major city because of our persistent inability to address systemic racism, which manifested itself this time in the brutal police killing of George Floyd.

Problems dont go away if we try to sweep them under the rug.They just get worse.

Another crisis now looms.Since tens of millions of Americans began sheltering in place in March, the nations schools have switched toremote learning. Manyteachers, students and parentswere unpreparedfordistance learning, which could become a permanent fixture of education. And once again, communities of color will bethe most severely affected.

The majority of teachers, many of whom came of age before smartphones and social media, admit theyre not ready for this transition from in-person to online education. Huge numbers of children are being left out and left behind. Nationally, fewer than half the nations public school students have been participating in online classes; some studies report that 75%of students lack sufficient digital proficiency necessary for remote learning. In Philadelphia,after two-and-a-half months of remote learning, only 61%were taking part in classes on an average day, although pre-pandemic attendance was above 90%.

A number of sociological problems are being ignored as the nation tries to fumble its way into distance education. Single parents are striving to support their families on poverty wages while encouraging their childrens education. Too many parents and children are struggling to attain basic literacy and numeracy as well as digital literacy. And many curricula dont address African Americans, Hispanics and other communities of color, as well as digitally native young people from every background.

For their part, while students report great interest in the digital world and spend lots of screen-time on entertainment, information, and social media, huge numbers still report online education as wholly uninteresting.

Online learning in San Francisco in March 2020.(Photo: Jeff Chiu, AP)

As recent events underscore, racial and economic injustices underlie educational equalities, especially during this digital transition. Almost 40%of African American and Hispanic households dont have computers at home for their children to participate in online classes, do research on the internet and complete and submit their homework.

While broadband is available in 95%of homes, only 73%of households subscribe.An Obama administration study in 2015 found that most non-subscribers to residential broadband dont see its relevance.How have our education and civic communities responded to that?By sweeping it under the rug.

Joe Biden: We must urgently root out systemic racism, from policing to housing to opportunity

Many broadband providers are doing their part with $10-a-month service,but the nation needs to do more to achieve universal access and adoption, especially at this moment of turmoil and transition.

In rural areas where so many communities are suffering social isolation and economic dislocation, about 22%of the residents dont have wireline, and past efforts at extending broadband failed because of waste and political patronage.

As terrifying as these times are, America has been there before. In 1967, amidst urban upheavals, President Johnson created the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders. After the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King a year later, America should have heeded the reports prophetic conclusion that the nation was moving toward two societies, separate and unequal. But Congress hit the snooze button instead.

Now we need a similar commission on education and equality and how we can transition education to a digital future that doesnt reinforce the savage inequalities of our past and present. No leader, no institution and no single solution can eliminate educational inequalities in the digital era. But together educators, policymakers, parents and business, civic and religious leaders can and must make a difference.

Sticker shock: Is an elite college worth the price if it's online? Or at all?

For starters, we should adopt recommendations from the American Federation of Teachers Plan to Safely Reopen American Schools and Communities, which calls for increased investment to close the digital divide. As the report explains, high speed broadband, reliable mobile service, modern technology and hardware are no longer optional they are now core infrastructure needs of businesses, schools and homes.

Seeing what has happened these past few months to our schools and in our streets, we dare not falter or fail.

Donna Brazile, a member of USA TODAY's Board of Contributors, is a Fox News contributor,an at-large automatic delegate to the 2020 Democratic convention, former interim chair of the Democratic National Committee and author of "Hacks: The Inside Story of the Break-ins and Breakdowns that PutDonald Trump in the White House." Follow her on Twitter:@donnabrazile

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Don't let online education turn into the next crisis that hits people of color hardest - AZCentral.com

ST. LOUIS With concerns about COVID-19 continuing, the Missouri Department of Conservation will begin new online educational programs in June. These will enable those who want to learn about nature or outdoor recreational pursuits to do so while practicing social distancing guidelines.

The goal of our virtual educational programs is to reach those seeking nature and outdoor-based learning opportunities in a convenient and safe way, given these current circumstances, said MDC St. Louis Regional Administrator Julianne Stone. As we negotiate the new COVID-19 landscape, its more important than ever to maintain our connections with nature and we are very excited to adapt our conservation programming, so the people we serve can continue to access the quality programming MDC is known for.

The following two programs will kick off the new online learning opportunities in June:

Virtual Firearms Safety 101, Wednesday, June 17, 6-7 p.m.This is a basic firearms safety and knowledge class. MDC staff will discuss basic safety of firearms, hunting opportunities, and open locations to shoot your firearm. This quick 30-minute refresher will have you headed out the door for a safe experience. Register online at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Z7a.

Sssensational Snakes, Thursday, June 18, 1-2 p.m.Nothing catches peoples attention like snakes. Why are snakes important? How do you tell if they are venomous? Find out the answers to these questions and more. This program will help you learn about and meet some of the slithering serpents that call Missouri home. Register online at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Z7R.

All MDC online programs are free. Registration in advance is required to participate using the links above. Registrants must provide an email, so a program link can be sent to them. Each program will be approximately 30 minutes, followed by a chat-based question and answer period where participants can interact with the presenters.

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MDC begins online education programs in St. Louis region this June - The Marshall Democrat-News

While other colleges in New Hampshire intend to resume in-person classes this fall, Southern New Hampshire University plans to keep its distance.

Aisha Khiyaty of Quincy, Mass., received a flurry of text messages from fellow SNHU students Wednesday after the school announced it wont reopen its campus until at least next spring because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A lot of New Hampshire schools have already said theyre going to open up, said Khiyaty, who is entering her senior year studying law and politics. Not having our school be a part of that is aggravating.

The university cited the safety of everyone on campus, the continuing lack of a vaccine, limited availability of tests and an inability to provide robust and enriching campus-based experiences SNHU students know and expect as reasons for the decision.

SNHU will reduce campus tuition to its online rate of $960 per three-credit course. The university said it looked into a number of ways to bring back its nearly 3,000 on-campus students, including hybrid options, low-residency options and rigorous social distancing policies.

Khiyaty said she wasnt surprised, but she is disappointed no students were consulted.

Paul LeBlanc, SNHUs president and CEO, said the decision was made by a task force of experts.

I think there is a lot of student frustration, and they feel like, Nobody asked us what we want, he said. This isnt about what we want or not. We all want to open. We all want to be back together in September. This is really about following the best public health policy we could.

The university is set to lose multi-millions as a result of the decision, he said.

Ainsley Knox, who will be a sophomore in the fall, started an online petition to push for on-campus classes. As of 6 p.m. Wednesday, more than 1,300 people had signed. Knox wrote that she thought another semester of remote learning would harm students mental health.

The decision to remain remote for the 2020 fall semester is causing more problems for students than if we were allowed to return to campus, she wrote. If on campus, we would take precautions such as sanitizing stations, social distancing, and wearing masks.

Knox noted that the University of New Hampshire, a much bigger institution, is planning to open next fall.

Saint Anselm College announced earlier this week classes will resume on Aug. 19 for an adjusted semester. Students will return in a phased-in approach, according to the college.

In-person instruction will conclude Nov. 20 when students head home for Thanksgiving break, according to the plan.

As we did in March when faced with this unprecedented pandemic, we will be guided by what is right for our community, said President Joseph A. Favazza, in a statement. But the Hilltop is our home. It is where we belong. Therefore, we are committed to safely bringing campus life back to Saint Anselm.

The plan includes testing and tracing protocols. Students must wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines. The school had an enrollment of about 2,020 students as of last fall.

Last month, the University System of New Hampshire and the Community College System of New Hampshire announced they intend to have students return to 18 locations across the state for the fall semester.

To reopen SNHU would have required access to affordable testing that is fast and accurate, along with good contact tracing, LeBlanc said.

Those things are not right now available in the way that they would have to be, LeBlanc said. Even if we had those things, we were talking about a version of campus life that I think looks very different than what students imagined.

The university hopes to welcome students back in the spring, allowing seniors to graduate together.

Everyone is in this boat together, LeBlanc said. I think part of what is so frustrating right now is the physical distancing we are all required to keep, and it can feel isolating.

Khiyaty said juggling six online classes this spring was much harder than it was on campus. Being away from the campus means less support from fellow students and professors, she said.

All of the same classes will be available, LeBlanc said.

If these students wanted an online education, they would have signed up for it, he said. So I completely get the, online doesnt work for us, because that is not what they want.

The traditional campus experience is hard to replicate online, LeBlanc said.

SNHU is known for its online programs, and the university will provide extra support to students making the transition to remote learning. Some resources include bolstering online tutoring, academic support and mental health counseling services, LeBlanc said.

While it cant replicate being on campus, the university will work to bring groups of students together based on their interests.

We dont have illusions. It is not the same, he said. We get it.

In April, the university announced it would give 1,050 incoming freshmen and transfer students with freshman standing free tuition to live on campus but take hybrid online classes while living there. The so-called innovation scholarship remains, LeBlanc said.

The classes were going to be through our large online operation, he said.

LeBlanc worries most about freshmen who have never had an on-campus experience.

I think we have our work cut out for us to really make them feel like they have arrived in their new home, if you will, even if they are physically sitting in their parents dining room, LeBlanc said. Thats the challenge.

Officials are also working on a plan to cut tuition 61%, from $31,000 to $10,000, starting in the 2021-2022 academic year.

Khiyaty pointed out colleges in hard-hit Massachusetts have figured out how to open for the fall semester.

If they can figure out how to make it work, she said. I feel like our school has a way to ensure safety on campus.

While talking with other schools to understand challenges surrounding COVID-19, SNHU did not take into account other institutions decisions in deciding not to reopen, LeBlanc said.

We feel strongly that every colleges circumstances are different, context is different and the resources are different, he said. Everyone is trying to sort this out in terms of their situation so that is how we treated it.

The universitys task force will continue to monitor public health guidelines and could open some facilities in the future, such as the library or campus meeting spaces.

Excerpt from:
SNHU sticks with online learning, won't open campus in the fall - The Union Leader

COLUMBIA, Mo.

After the school year ended with students out of the classroom amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Columbia Public Schools has a plan to give families a choice on in-person or online education come fall.

The Columbia Board of Education met in-person Monday night at the Columbia Public Schools Administration building. The public was welcome to attend for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic started, but the room capacity was be limited to 50 people.

Watch a playback of the meeting player below.

Superintendent Peter Stiepleman said the district will allow families to choose whether to have their student(s) to participate in the typical five-day week with in-person classes or to learn completely online.

Stiepleman said the Columbia/Boone County Health Department believes opening up for class will be ok come fall.

"As the summer progresses, I will continue to stay in contact with the Boone County Health Department and if our plan for the 2020-2021 school year needs to change, you all will be the first to know," Stiepleman said. "We will survey our families, and find out where we are."

More information about the plan is expected to come out on June 22nd, where families can get a look at how each option might look for students.

Attached to Monday's agenda is a survey done by the district asking what CPS should consider as it gets ready to open back up to students.

The results of the survey can be found by clicking here.

Over 4,500 people participated in the survey. Some of the top ideas presented were safety, equal opportunity for education and mental health of students.

Stiepleman said the data showed a large divide, half of the people wanting to stick with online classes, and the other half wanting to go back to traditional learning.

While the plan may change, Steipleman said they want to be conscious of all situations, such as those individuals they are high risk for a COVID-19 infection as well as those students that depend on meals at school.

The president of the Columbia Missouri National Education Association Kathy Steinhoff spoke at the meeting, asking the board to listen to the needs of the community.

"Casting a wide net for voices to guide our work, to prepare for the fall and for the future, will allow us to show that we are not just hearing but listening to the voices of our students and community," Steinhoff said

The board also discussed a revised schedule for the 2020-2021 school year, which includes a later end date.

The last day of classes would be June 7 instead of June 3. The schedule was previously approved by the board with the start date of August 25.

A spokes woman for the district said the calendar changes are to comply with new state law.

The April 14andMay 5snow days were changed toJune 4andJune 7 and the first day of summer school would be changed toJune 8with the last day onJuly 2.

Read more here:
Columbia Public Schools to offer families a choice on online or in-person education for fall - ABC17News.com

Image Source : PIXABAY

Google's efforts for online education

The onset of the Coronavirus pandemic globally has forced people into their homes to avoid any interaction with people and maintain social distancing. This has led to the concept of 'work from home' and 'study from home' getting popularised more than ever. While the education sectorisone of the sectors that have been affected by the virus, tech companies and even schools are doing their bit to make online education convenient for children amid difficult times.Although things are beginning to get back to normal in India and schools might reopen soon, it's still best advised to stay at home and stay safe.

Among the various companies, Google has introduced a number of initiatives so that kids can acquire knowledge while at home. Here's a look at whatefforts Google has made for the same.

Google's popular video streaming platform YouTubeintroduced the YouTube Learning Destination for kids, teachers and anyone to acquire knowledge related to a plethora of subjects such asphysics, math, and biology,language skills,photography, yoga and more. The educational section on YouTube is available in various languages such asEnglish and Hindi, with Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Marathi, with more languages being added soon.

In order to access the feature, all you need to do is head to YouTube on Android, iOS or even web and look for Learning or YouTube Learning in the search bar. The result will appear on the top and you can click on it to get access to a number of videos on the same.It can also be accessed via the Explore section of YouTube. YouTube Learning Destination doesn't provide kids with videos as per the school syllabus and concentrates on generic educational videos. However, Google states that it acts as"a handy resource to supplement curriculum learning for students or general skill-building."

To recall, YouTube Learning Destination was introduced way back in 2015 and currently focuses on topics users can learn while at home, for instance,dealing with anxiety, coping with stress, wellness and fitness, etc.

Apart from online education tools, video calling is one way that became way too popular for people to communicate during the COVID-19 lockdown period. Giving competition to popular video-calling platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and more, Google rebranded its Hangouts Meet and introduced for us Google Meet. The video calling feature has received tons of features to help people easily converse via videos. The major update is free to access to Google Meet premium features for all until September 2020. This can be used byoffice-going professionals, teachers, students, and anyone to talk via videos. Since Google Meet allows up to 100 people on a single video call, teaching becomes easier on the platform.

For educational purposes, children and teachers can use the G Suite for Education for streamlined learning experience and management of the students. Teachers can also provide assignments with ease and provide feedback to students too.

Other features include the live captioning featuring so that it gets easier to know what a person is saying on the video chat, video and audio preview, ability to set different layout and screen settings, screen-sharing feature, various controls forthe host of a video call, integration with Google and Microsoft apps, all clubbed with security and privacy features.

Google has also introduced the Teach from Home Hub for both the teachers and students to get various tips as to how to go about the remote learning and teaching while at home. The portal includes resources from UNESCO and ISTE for the same. The website provides teachers, students and other G Suite users tips on how to conduct online teaching sessions from both the teachers', as well as, the students' part.

The website tells people how they can use the various Google tools for the purpose in an optimised way. The Teach from Home Hub is also available in Hindi. Additionally, Google has introduced the EDU Hub, specifically for the current Coronavirus situation worldwide so that people can indulge in distance learning and get hold of relevant resources for the same.

Google spokespersons (Satya Raghavan, Director, YouTube Partnerships, India / Bani Dhawan, Head of Education - South Asia, Google) have suggested that Google will keep on working to provide more and more online resources for e-learning. Google, in an email interaction, said, "The COVID-19 outbreak has forced us to think and execute learning in an online environment, at scale and with speed. YouTube learning hub and Teach From Home are part of our first response to help educators and students in maintaining teaching and learning continuity."

It is further suggested that Google has witnessed an increase in the subscriber count of Edu and learning channels on YouTube with video searches being more about homeschooling, throwing light on people' inclination towards online education and e-learning.

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Here's what all Google is doing for remote education during Coronavirus crisis - India TV News