Author: Carma Henry

     As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in much of the United States, health and medical professionals are still urging people to get vaccinated—especially pregnant people and parents with eligible children. In a panel discussion during the W Cobb NMA Institute Harry Blake Empowerment Community Health Fair and Vaccine Event in Shreveport, Louisiana, several doctors addressed misinformation and answered questions about COVID to encourage vaccinations in the Black community. 

     Mary Alice Jervay Thatch, the third generation editor and publisher of The Wilmington Journal, died December 28th at the age of 78.

    TIME named nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump to the 2021 TIME100, its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world, making him the only personal injury trial lawyer to make the list.

WARD Funeral services for the late Laura Mae Ward were held December 30th at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church with Pastor Ricky Scott officiating.

CHAVEZ Funeral services for the late Gustavo O. Chavez – 76. ELUETT Funeral services for the late Patricia Ann Eluett – 64 were held December 29th…

     Gail Cordelia Berkley-Armstrong, legendary awarding-winning Bay Area journalist and Sun-Reporter Editor, has died after a lengthy illness. She was 74.

     Helen Chavis Othow, the beloved sister of National Newspaper Publishers Association President and CEO Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., has died at the age of 89.

     Following the news that respected civil rights leader, activist, and journalist Ben Frazier was arrested for exercising his First Amendment rights at a press conference convened by Governor Ron DeSantis at the Duval County Department of Health, Florida Democratic Party Chair Manny Díaz issued the following statement: 

The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Arkansas, Law Office of Bryan L. Sells LLC, and Dechert LLP filed a federal lawsuit today challenging a new redistricting plan for the Arkansas State House of Representatives that would undermine the voting strength of Black Arkansans.

Encouraged by his wife, Gloria, Bill Johnson submitted to DNA testing to compare his profile to Laursen’s. The reported returned that he was a 99.99 percent match for being Laursen’s father. “I was excited, she was excited, and we started exchanging messages,” he said. “We just connected, and God put us together. And I’m one person that’s glad that happened.”