Author: Carma Henry

 André Watts, 77, a piano prodigy who received his training in Philadelphia and went on to become one of the very few Black instrumentalists with a major solo career, died July 12 in Bloomington, Ind. His death was announced by the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he had been on the faculty since 2004. He died of prostate cancer, his manager said.

Amid heavy turnover, New College of Florida officials are in the process of filling 36 faculty positions ahead of the fall semester. New College has secured signed offer letters for 15 incoming visiting faculty members as it looks to address what Provost Brad Thiessen called a “ridiculously high” level of turnover compared to previous years.

   Judge John Cooper ruled against candidate Jerry Torres after holding a hearing Thursday and Friday. Cooper issued a verbal decision that Torres “should be decertified as a candidate,” said Mark Herron, an attorney for the plaintiffs who challenged Torres’ candidacy.

     And typical of Black communities across the country, Helena-West Helena has its share of problems that arise from discrimination.

Pompano Beach Arts is excited to present South Florida favorite the ReaXtion Band for another superb Soulful Sunday’s concert! Performing the best in classic top 40, disco, funk, old school, R&B and Motown, the band will take the stage at Ali Cultural Arts Center on Sunday, August 13, 2023, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10, available at  www.pompanobeacharts.org Space is limited. No tickets are sold at the door. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) Airman Bruce Brown, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, assigned to the world’s largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) air department, guides an arresting gear wire after an aircraft recovery on the flight deck, July 8, 2023.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Mason Brown, a native of Boca Raton, Florida, reenlisted after completing aerographer’s mate C-school course at Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Keesler on Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Samir Georges, a native of Miami, Florida, is serving aboard USS Gravely, a U.S. Navy warship, currently deployed in the Atlantic Ocean participating in the Carrier Strike Group Four Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX). COMPTUEX is an intense, multi-week exercise designed to fully integrate a carrier strike group as a cohesive, multi-mission fighting force and to test its ability to carry out sustained combat operations from the sea.

     The letter follows the recent Supreme Court ruling striking down affirmative action in higher education. It has stoked fears that the court’s ruling will extend to corporate America.

     The Free State is showing what can happen when bold leadership and real dollars meet to address climate concerns.