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Black America Web
3 days ago
- Politics
- Black America Web
Redistricting: Majority Black Voting Maps Rejected In Louisiana
Source: Mario Tama / Getty One of the most innocuous yet insidious ways voter suppression rears its head is through redistricting, a process by which a state legislature draws up voting maps along political lines. Despite a federal judge finding that their current legislative map violates the Voting Rights Act, Louisiana lawmakers have rejected a new map that would've included eight new, majority Black districts. The Louisiana Illuminator reports that Bill 487 and Bill 488, which would've redrawn the legislative maps for the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively, were struck down in a 9-6 and 9-5 vote that fell along party lines. The current maps were drawn in 2022 and utilized census data from 2010, despite the fact that the state's Black population has only increased over the last decade. Black voters make up a third of Louisiana's population, but the current voting maps only have one majority Black district. Rep. Edmond Jordan (D-Baton Rouge), ithe chairman of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus, authored both bills. He explained the changes were necessary to address a ruling by a federal judge last year that found the current map disenfranchised Black voters. 'By us not upholding our obligation and redrawing these maps … I think it sends a signal that we are unwilling to do so,' Jordan told his fellow legislators. 'Rather than wait on the court to come up with a decision, I think it's incumbent upon us to get ahead of that and maybe draw these maps and show the court that we're willing to comply with Section 2' of the Voting Rights Act. The Republican opposition explained that they didn't feel the need to update the maps as the ruling is currently under appeal, and they believe that the courts will rule in their favor. They also brought up concerns that the new district lines would require current elected officials to move in order to still represent their district or possibly have to run against another incumbent to maintain their seat in the legislature. Jordan understood those concerns but stated his priority was giving Black voters an equal voice in determining who represents them. 'What we're trying to do is attempt to unpack and uncrack these districts so that they would comply with Section 2,' Jordan said. Source: Juan Silva / Getty From the Louisiana Illuminator: Packing is a type of gerrymandering that forces a large number of voters from one group into a single or small number of districts to weaken their power in other districts. Cracking dilutes the power of those voters into many districts. Jordan's plan would have added new majority Black House districts in Natchitoches, Lake Charles, Shreveport and Baton Rouge, and Black Senate districts in Baton Rouge, Shreveport and Jefferson Parish. In what can only be described as saying the quiet part out loud, state Republicans added that they found Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act to be outdated. For clarity, Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act prevents any voting law or measure 'which results in a denial or abridgement of the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race or color.' Considering that they're actively using legislative districts to curb the power of Black votes, it's clear Section 2 is still a necessity to maintain voting rights within majority Black communities. Redistricting is always a partisan affair, with the legislative map being drawn by whatever party has power. Far too often, though, the redistricting efforts by state Republicans are largely built around minimizing Black voting power to keep Republicans in office. This isn't only an issue in Louisiana, as several states have drawn legislative maps that explicitly undermine Black votes. Redistricting plans in the state of Texas are also facing legal challenges due to allegations of racism. There's an ongoing fight in Texas's Tarrant County over redistricting plans that several state legislators believe violate the Voting Rights Act, and there's currently a federal case underway against the Texas state government over its 2021 voting map that was believed to have 'diluted the power of minority voters.' One of the worst offenders is Alabama, whose redistricting efforts have been deemed racist by federal judges several times. State Republicans have said that if they don't receive a favorable ruling in their appeal on the decision, they won't update the voting map until 2030 to avoid federal oversight. There is nothing more on brand for the modern GOP than having a temper tantrum when being told to be less racist. If anything, this is a reminder that in America, the boring, procedural racism is often the worst kind. SEE ALSO: Poll Shows Companies Maintaing DEI Intiatives Have Better Reputations MIT Becomes Latest University To Back Away From DEI Initiatives SEE ALSO Redistricting: Majority Black Voting Maps Rejected In Louisiana was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Toronto Sun
28-05-2025
- Science
- Toronto Sun
Skittles removes controversial additive targeted by RFK Jr.
Titanium dioxide is a chemical that whitens foods, brightens colours and makes candy appear shiny. Published May 28, 2025 • 2 minute read Packages of Skittles in Los Angeles. Photo by Mario Tama / Photographer: Mario Tama/Getty I Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Mars Inc.'s Skittles candies are no longer being made with titanium dioxide, a chemical that whitens foods, brightens colours and makes candy appear shiny, the company confirmed to Bloomberg News. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The ingredient was removed from all Skittles production at the end of last year, a spokesperson said. The additive was banned in the European Union in 2022 over concerns that nanoparticles of the substance might accumulate in the body and damage DNA. It has also come under scrutiny by the Department of Health and Human Services in recent months under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In 2023, groups including the Environmental Working Group and the Center for Food Safety filed a petition with the Food and Drug Administration to remove the approval of titanium dioxide as a color additive in food. That petition was still under review as of March 2024, according to the FDA website. Titanium dioxide hasn't been banned in the US, though Mars pledged to stop using the additive in 2016. It was still listed as an ingredient in Sour Skittles earlier this year. In a statement to Bloomberg News in January, the company said its use of the ingredient was 'in compliance with government regulations.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The company is now in the process of updating its website to reflect the reformulation, though shoppers may see products containing titanium dioxide on shelves until those products sell through. The chewy candies still use synthetic dyes including Red 40, Yellow 5 and Blue 1, according to their labels. HHS and FDA said in April that they'll work with food producers to eliminate the dyes by the end of 2026. Industry groups have said no agreement exists on the matter. Other foods — including Mondelez International Inc.'s Sour Patch Kids Watermelon, Kraft Heinz Co.'s Lunchables Cookie Dunks and JM Smucker Co.'s Donettes — currently use titanium dioxide. It's also a common ingredient in sunscreens and white paints. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Mondelez recommended Bloomberg News reach out to the Consumer Brands Association, an industry group. 'Companies adhere to the rigorous science and risk-based safety standards established by the FDA for the use of titanium dioxide as a color additive in food,' said Sarah Gallo, senior vice president of product policy for the group. Kraft Heinz and JM Smucker didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. JM Smucker told Bloomberg in March that its products and labeling abide by FDA regulations. The White House's 'Make America Healthy Again' report listed titanium dioxide as an additive of 'potential concern.' Earlier in May, the Food and Drug Administration announced it would speed up an existing review of the ingredient. HHS didn't respond to a request for comment on Skittles' removal of titanium dioxide. Canada Crime Sunshine Girls Sunshine Girls Toronto Maple Leafs
Black America Web
27-05-2025
- General
- Black America Web
Black Architects, Student Leaders Unite To Rebuild Altadena
Source: Mario Tama / Getty As residents of Altadena work to restore thousands of homes lost in January's devastating Eaton Fire, one group is lending their expertise to help neighbors recover. In the wake of the historic wildfire, a coalition of Black architects, engineers, and other industry professionals founded the Altadena Rebuild Coalition (ARC). As members of the Southern California Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects (SoCal NOMA)—several of whom lost homes in the Los Angeles wildfires—they recognized the vital role they would play in the road ahead as residents navigate rebuilding their lives from the ground up. 'It seemed like a perfect opportunity for us to share our knowledge and expertise in a way that could help the community,' said Matthew J. Trotter, president of SoCal NOMA. Members of the diverse organization include architects, designers, civil engineers, urban planners, and more. The idyllic foothill community was hardest hit by the Eaton Fire, which destroyed over 9,000 structures—including homes and businesses—in and around Altadena. According to UCLA researchers, Altadena's Black residents were disproportionately impacted by the Eaton Fire, with nearly half of Black households in Altadena destroyed or badly damaged by the fire. The ARC is offering free guidance to help impacted neighbors navigate the rebuilding process, holding workshops and gatherings to provide information, resources, and mutual support. As wildfire victims navigate the lengthy process of rebuilding their residences, they're faced with a lot to process—from fending off scammers and predatory developers, to decoding insurance policies, soil testing, and more. That's where ARC is working to close the gap. 'We're setting ourselves up to be a trusted partner in the community that they can come to with these issues and we can help steer them in the right direction,' Eletrice Harris of SoCal NOMA told AfroLA. Source: Mario Tama / Getty 'I'd like to keep Altadena, Altadena,' said architect Charles T. Bryant, who has lived in Altadena for over 40 years. After losing his home in the Eaton Fire, he's now working with the ARC to preserve the fabric of the community by helping neighbors stay and rebuild. 'People on this street, we've known each other for years. Very few people move out of this area,' said Bryant. 'I don't want to see large developers coming in buying up multiple properties and stamping out houses like cookie cutters.' Bryant, principal architect of the award-winning Masbuild Design Solutions, is listed on the ARC's professional directory among fellow industry experts offering their services to those navigating the rebuilding process. In addition to connecting people with the right experts, the ARC hosts events to provide the community with vital information and a clear path forward. At a recent gathering held at the Altadena Library this month, a panel of experts discussed 'Architecture: Rebuilding with Equity, Sustainability & Fire Safety.' Michael Anderson, a panelist at the event, is also working with the ARC, using his expertise in designing innovative, equitable spaces to move Altadena's recovery forward. He's a principal at Anderson Barker, an award-winning design firm based in LA, and author of Urban Magic: Vibrant Black and Brown Communities Are Possible . Anderson is working alongside future architects like Kianna Armstrong, a senior at the USC School of Architecture. With a background in community outreach, Armstrong joined the ARC to assist those affected by the Eaton Fire. She is a co-founder of Architecture + Advocacy, a student-led nonprofit focused on community-centered design. 'Community members aren't asked for their opinion until it's really too late to implement anything into the design process,' Armstrong explained. 'So we decided to create Architecture + Advocacy, where we host workshops, design small-scale builds and offer other community engagement activities in order to have these conversations with community members: what do you envision for your community in the future?' Through the ARC, Armstrong is engaging with residents to better understand their needs, helping the coalition tailor resources and support. 'Something that we recognize as part of the Altadena Rebuild Coalition—and part of Architecture + Advocacy—is that listening and understanding the needs of the community is step one in all of this,' said Armstrong, who is also pursuing her Master of Science in Social Entrepreneurship (MSSE) at USC. It's about making sure that everyone has access to the resources so we have an equitable rebuilding process. We want to make sure that rebuilding will not have the same undertones of injustice that building has had in the past. Kianna Armstrong, Architecture + Advocacy With student leaders like Armstrong working alongside established professionals like Anderson, a spirit of collaboration is driving their efforts. 'I'm basically taking what Kianna and others are doing with advocacy and helping them have a tangible solution to how we get the people of Altadena in housing on their lots,' said Anderson. Altadena is home to multigenerational Black families, a place where Black homeownership long exceeded both state and national averages. The community's rich legacy only deepened the fire's devastation. For generations, Altadena stood as a haven of racial and economic inclusion, where generations of Black families put down roots. At a time when pervasive housing discrimination excluded them from purchasing homes in surrounding areas, Altadena offered a chance to settle and thrive. 'Altadena is a place where Black people were able to break through a lot of barriers to getting housing and building generational wealth,' said Armstrong. 'So, to have that generational wealth being lost was another reason I wanted to help. As a Black woman, I wanted to support my Black community.' There's a term for community-centered architecture that strives to make a meaningful impact. 'It's called citizen architect,' said USC architecture student Janae Edwards, who serves as Vice President of USC's chapter of NOMAS (National Organization of Minority Architecture Students). 'What we're learning a lot in architecture and part of our architectural process is to begin with research and background of our site so that we can incorporate those ideas within our design.' As Altadena rebuilds from the Eaton Fire—and as the tight-knit community continues to rally against predatory outside developers—the ARC and groups like the Dena Rekindling Network are helping the community recover with purpose and build back stronger. 'What we're doing is looking at the community itself, and seeing how we can preserve the community and things (that) are historically significant through design,' said Edwards. 'I think architecture is significant in that way, to ensure that the ideas of the community can be re-communicated through design.' SEE ALSO: Nonprofit Purchases Land To Protect Altadena From Predatory Developers Reemergence From The Ashes: How Altadena Is Slowly Reopening For Business SEE ALSO Black Architects, Student Leaders Unite To Rebuild Altadena was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Black America Web
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Op-Ed: Trump Wants To Make Hollywood Great Again, Tariffs Won't Help
Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE Source: Mario Tama / Getty As so often the story goes, our deranged president made an online proclamation that is either completely meaningless or a measure that will decimate an entire industry. Still, for all the other fires attributed to the current administration, the prospect of the reality TV president killing what's left of Hollywood is too painful a scenario to ignore. President Donald Trump took to Truth Social last weekend to announce a plan to impose a 100% tariff on 'any and all' movies produced in 'foreign lands.' Trump wrote: 'The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death. Other Countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States. Hollywood, and many other areas within the U.S.A., are being devastated. This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat. It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda! Therefore, I am authorizing the Department of Commerce, and the United States Trade Representative, to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands. WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!' The blame for this terrifying outburst belongs to Angelina Jolie's estranged daddy, actor Jon Voight, who, along with his manager, recently submitted a proposal to Trump that included the idea of imposing tariffs on films produced outside the United States. Voight, along with Sylvester Stallone and Mel Gibson, serves as one of Trump's 'Ambassadors to Hollywood.' (Note: Gibson is currently shooting a sequel to The Passion of the Christ in Italy, a foreign land.) Source: MANDEL NGAN / Getty Trump did not detail how those tariffs would be implemented because, unsurprisingly, experts have concluded that such a tariff would likely be impermissible and impractical to implement. Yet because we live in tyranny where every stupid, self-sabotaging can be tried – laws be damned – his announcement sparked panic and confusion across Hollywood studios and streaming services. The best response I've read from the industry to Trump's plan is from a nameless British producer who told Variety : 'Even unemployed Americans are saying this is nuts — these are people who have genuinely had their careers shattered because of production moving to Europe.' In response to the widespread freakout, Trump and the White House retracted the tariff talk on Monday. Trump said he would ask Hollywood studios if 'they're happy' with his proposal to impose tariffs on films made outside of the U.S. 'I'm not looking to hurt the industry, I want to help the industry,' Trump told reporters at the White House. 'So we're going to meet with the industry,' he added. 'I want to make sure they're happy with it because we're all about jobs.' Separately, White House spokesman Kush Desai said: 'The Administration is exploring all options to deliver on President Trump's directive to safeguard our country's national and economic security while Making Hollywood Great Again.' Much as I try to avoid aligning with evil, Trump was not wrong when he told reporters that the American film industry 'has been decimated by other countries taking them out.' I am in Los Angeles and have experienced the aftermath of the contraction in Hollywood in a post-strike, post 'peak TV' era from a writer's vantage point, but for others I have know working in entertainment, I can attest to how in 2025, a studio lot 20 minutes from me will sit empty as the network finds it cheaper to fly 300 Americans from SoCal to Ireland to film an entire season of a game show for a week and a half. I like that my friends get to travel and can tell me where to find good wings and West Coast rap in Dublin, should I find myself out that way, but we all contemplate what happens to LA if this pattern continues. So it pains me to add that Sweet Potato Saddam is not totally wrong for highlighting that this has happened 'by incompetence, like in Los Angeles, the governor [Gavin Newsom] is a grossly incompetent man, he's just allowed it to be taken away from.' Newsom may have tried more recently to boost tax credits, but plenty across the industry have criticized him for not doing more sooner to prevent the fleeing of Hollywood productions in his state and others like Louisiana and Georgia. Those productions and the jobs that come with them are going to the U.K. and elsewhere – non-union jobs for the most part. Newsom, like many Democrats, was complacent with the status quo and wrongly assumed the industry wouldn't leave. In response to Trump, Newsom wrote on X: 'California built the film industry — and we're ready to bring even more jobs home. We've proven what strong state incentives can do. Now it's time for a real federal partnership to Make America Film Again. @POTUS, let's get it done.' Voight's idea for tariffs on foreign-made films is widely unpopular, but a separate suggestion he made — a federal tax credit — aligns with pushes made by Hollywood lobbying outlets, such as the Motion Picture Association, which have argued that the U.S. needs a federal film incentive as a carrot to lure productions back. The idea is that this federal tax credit will encourage states to add their incentives to compete with other countries. If this were to happen and jobs returned, perhaps Donald Trump would be celebrated as a savior of the entertainment industry. It would not absolve him of his other bad policies, corruption, and crimes, but if that demon can help me and mine finally get our stuff made, I'll take it. However, this would require Trump to work with Newsom, whom he seems to hate, along with Senator Adam Schiff, whom he hates even more than Newsom, often referring to him as 'Shifty Schiff' and 'Watermelon Head.' This would also require a change to the tax code, i.e., getting Congress involved. Source: JIM WATSON / Getty This could happen in theory, but this Congress is full of conspiratorial Republicans who loathe all things 'liberal' and are generally useless in functionality. I won't hold my breath on any of this happening in the short term, but what I can see, however, is the other aspects of Trump's Truth Social post happening that have been covered less. When he cites his basis to impose tariffs on 'national security' and warns of 'messaging and propaganda,' it heightens my concern that, where Trump won't succeed in imposing tariffs on films, he can somehow try to strongarm studios to make it more difficult for certain international films to be seen. Say, those who criticize U.S. policies or those of their allies like Israel, as was the case for No Other Land , which struggled to find an American distributor despite winning Best Documentary this year at the Oscars. Hollywood does not need any assistance from Trump on silencing nonwhite and nontraditional voices, but unfortunately, they do need his help. I don't know how 'happy' Trump can make Hollywood, so though tariffs are not the answer, there needs to be some real effort made to make Hollywood and the rest of the regions supporting it work steadily again. If not, it will just be homegrown productions courtesy of Tyler Perry, Tubi, and presumably, Trump sympathizers exempt from 'tariffs.' Michael Arceneaux is a New York Times bestselling author whose most recent book, 'I Finally Bought Some Jordans,' was published last March. SEE ALSO: The Segregationist Administration: How Trump's Team Is Systematically Dismantling Civil Rights Op-Ed: In America, Calling A Black Child The N-Word Could Make You A Millionaire SEE ALSO Op-Ed: Trump Wants To Make Hollywood Great Again, Tariffs Won't Help was originally published on
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The 5 best states in America right now, according to U.S. News‚ and the 5 worst
Do you think your state is better than the rest? Each year, U.S. News and World Report sets out to pick the best and worst states in the U.S. And while it's not possible to really say which is the best of them all, the report tries to find a data-driven answer for those curious. It looks at a series of factors across eight main categories: health, education, economy, infrastructure, opportunities, crime, fiscal stability, and the natural environment. This year, categories included hospital quality, housing affordability, industrial toxin exposure, college rankings, and income equality. 'The best state in America is home to a diverse and resilient economy, smart students, low crime, and a fairly healthy population,' U.S. News said. It reported that another 'common factor shared by many of the top-ranked states is a strong performance in the education category – the highest-weighted category of the 2025 rankings based on new survey results showing what areas Americans believe their states should prioritize.' States that found themselves at the bottom tended to have high crime and poor health care. Want to know if your home state landed in the top or bottom? Continue reading to see which were ranked the highest and lowest. 5th Best: Nebraska Photo: Mario Tama / Staff (Getty Images) 4th Best: Minnesota Photo: Scott Olson / Staff (Getty Images) 3rd Best: Idaho Photo: Christian Petersen / Staff (Getty Images) 2nd Best: New Hampshire Photo: Darren McCollester / Stringer (Getty Images) Best: Utah Photo: George Frey / Stringer (Getty Images) 5th Worst: West Virginia Photo: Spencer Platt / Staff (Getty Images) 4th Worst: New Mexico Photo: Maddie Meyer / Staff (Getty Images) 3rd Worst: Mississippi Photo: Joe Raedle / Staff (Getty Images) 2nd Worst: Alaska Photo: John Moore / Staff (Getty Images) Worst: Louisiana Photo: Mario Tama / Staff (Getty Images) For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
