My heart breaks as I see many turn a deaf ear to the warnings – a blind eye to the obvious signs; but as My Word which goes forth from My mouth; know that it shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” [Isaiah 55:11]. Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming. It is close at hand-a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army is coming, such as never was of old nor ever will be in ages to come. Cry out to Me! Blow the Shofar! Another army is approaching… this one not of locust but men… who attack, very much like the locusts, scaling walls and entering houses… and this too will be a “Day of the Lord.” Even now,” declares the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. [Joel 2:1-12]. Time is running out! Don’t be left behind due to your unbelieving and lukewarm attitude! Accept the eternal salvation before it is too late! Because I tell you, events will come rapidly now. They will come in quick succession. There will hardly be any time between one event and the next and you will not be able to catch your breath in between what is coming. The Earth will tremble and shake, and darkness will descend. The time is now upon you. Don’t look to the right or the left for I AM COMING! “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” [2 Corinthians 6:2].
“There is a time, I know not when, a place, I know not where, that marks the destiny of men, to glory or despair. There is a line, by us unseen, that crosses every path the hidden boundary between God’s mercy and God’s wrath. How long may men go on in sin? How long will God forbear? Where does hope end? and where does the confine of despair begin? Our answer from the skies is sent- ‘Ye who from God depart, While it is called today, Repent! And harden not your heart.
Now, Jesus Himself made it crystal clear that we cannot know the date of His return. He stated in [Matthew 24:36], “of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone” but, the Bible makes it equally clear that those who have the Holy Spirit living in them — that is, those who believe in Jesus as Savior — can understand the nature of the times that mark His return [1 Thessalonians 5:2-6]. I tell you the season of the Lord’s return is now! We are coming to the end of one age and the beginning of the age of Jesus’ glorious reign right here on earth. There is no way to escape the conclusion that we are living on borrowed time. The signs of the times are upon us, and they are shouting for our attention.
Are you ready? If Jesus were to return today, would He be your “Blessed Hope” [Titus 2:11-14] or would He be your “Holy Terror” [Revelation 6:12-17]? If you have never received Him as your Lord and Savior, now is the time to act. Repent of your sins and call upon the name of the Lord that you might be saved [Acts 2:14-39]. For the Bible clearly teaches that God never pours out His wrath without warning for He is a just and loving God who does not wish that any should perish [2 Peter 3:9]. That is why He has provided so many signs to alert us to the fact that we are living on the threshold of the Tribulation and the soon return of Jesus Christ.
I ask you, where do you stand? Are you under God’s wrath because you haven’t accepted His free gift of salvation, or are you under God’s grace because you have? Will you be one of those raptured before God’s wrath, or will you suffer in it?
You have a decision to make. If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your Savior, then heed [Mark 1:25]. “The time has come…the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” Believe in Jesus, God’s Son, and have everlasting life. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” [Mark 13:35-37].
We are given a powerful glimpse into the Heart of God. God’s heart was broken over Noah’s generation. [Genesis 6:5-6].
Surely the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets”. [Amos 3:7].
But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. [Jeremiah 5:24].
WASHINGTON, D.C.— In support of communities where they have stores, ACE Cash Express (ACE), a Populus Financial Group brand, recently donated $10,000 to MenzFit, an organization which provides career development, professional clothing and financial literacy education to individuals seeking to enter the nation’s workforce. MenzFit’s primary mission is to ensure long-term gainful employment and financial fitness to low-income men in the Philadelphia, PA and Washington, DC areas. The $10,000 donation was designated to assist MenzFit as the organization gears up for a series of post-pandemic financial literacy sessions to educate clients on budgeting, understanding credit, home ownership and investments in a post-COVID environment.
“For more than a decade, ACE has supported the programs and services of MenzFit. Their support over the years has made a difference for us to keep a stable footprint in the community. I am proud to acknowledge their unconditional commitment to the good work that we do,” says MenzFit Founder Rhonda Willingham.
Founded in 2001, MenzFit changes lives, families and communities. They service disadvantaged men that are veterans, terminated or laid-off workers, recent immigrants, recovering addicts, the disabled, homeless, returning citizens and public assistance recipients.
“ACE is proud to support MenzFit in their mission to provide resources for those entering or re-entering the job market,” said Eric Norrington, Senior Vice President for Populus Financial Group. “This is another outstanding program supported by the ACE Community Fund to improve the cities where we have stores and the neighborhoods where our employees and customers live and work.”
MenzFit has been a partner of ACE Cash Express for 13 years as part of ACE’s corporate giving program, the ACE Community Fund. The ACE Community Fund is committed to empowering organizations that help children, provide education and promote financial literacy in the communities it serves. For more information regarding ACE Cash Express and the Populus Financial Group, go to https://www.populusfinancial.com. For more information on MenzFit visit their website at https://www.menzfit.org/.
About Menzfit
MenzFit provides services to all eligible persons, regardless of a potential participant’s race, gender, age, disability or religion. MenzFit does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age, disability or religion, nor treat one person differently from another in determining eligibility, benefits or services provided, or applicable rules. The projects and activities assisted under these awards must be available to fathers and expectant fathers who are able to benefit from the activities on the same basis as mothers and expectant mothers. VisitMenzfit.orgfor more information.
About Populus Financial Group
Populus Financial Group™ provides financial services through its family of brands including ACE Cash Express®, ACE Elite® Visa® Prepaid Debit Card, ACE Flare® Account by MetaBank® and Porte™. Populus Financial Group delivers a broad range of financial products and services including short-term consumer loans, card services, check cashing, money transfers, bill payments and money orders. Visit PopulusFinancial.comfor more information.
Last week, the U.S. Census Bureau held a press conference to announce its first local level findings from the 2020 data collection cycle.
The new numbers — which drill down to provide demographic information at the county, city and block levels — reveal that California is more multiracial, more urban and facing population shifts that will likely lead to redrawing the boundaries of the state’s congressional and legislative districts.
Based on estimates the Census Bureau released in April, California is already losing a seat in the United States House of Representatives for the first time in the state’s 171-year history, bringing the state’s congressional delegation down to 52 members. That loss of one seat will also equate to a decline in the amount of federal funding California receives every year. Since August of 2020, the 14 members of the California Citizens Redistricting Commission have been working on the once-in-a-decade project of redrawing the lines of the congressional, state Senate and Assembly and State Board of Equalization districts. There are five Democrats, five Republicans and four people who are not members of either party serving on the commission.
“The redistricting data provides population counts as well as well as demographic characteristics of ethnicity, race and voting age at all levels of geography,” said James Whitehorne, chief, Redistricting and Voting Rights Data Office, U.S. Census Bureau. “While the primary purpose of these data is for states to redraw their districts, these statistics will also tell us how many people live in each city, each county and each block.”
Those numbers also determine how – and how much — state and federal funding will be allocated to counties and cities in the state.
Based on the numbers, most of the changes coming to the state’s legislative districts are expected to happen where there has been population increases, slow growth or a loss of residents – areas in the rural northernmost regions of the state and in Southern California counties around or below Los Angeles. Growth across the Los Angeles area, for example, over the last 10 year has been slow, but some cities like Irvine in Orange County are now among the fastest-growing in the country.
Over the last 10 years, the complexion of California has changed significantly. Driven mostly by population growth among Hispanics, the state joined Hawaii, the District of Columbia and New Mexico as places in the United States where Whites are no longer the majority. The state’s Hispanic population grew from 37.6% in 2010 to 39.4 % in 2020 while the White population dropped from 40.1% to 34.7%.
The state’s Black population has also seen a decrease of 2.7% from a little over 6 % to 5.7%. The current total Black population is now 2,237,044.
California is also the second most diverse state after Hawaii, according to the Census Bureau.
“As the country has grown, we have continued to evolve in how we measure the race and ethnicity of the people who live here,” said Nicholas Jones, director and senior advisor of Race and Ethnic Research and Outreach, Population Division, U.S. Census Bureau.
The Census Bureau implemented a significant change to the 2020 census data collection. It used two separate questions to gather an additional layer of ethnic information besides the usual inquiries on race and Hispanic origin. For example, if a participant identified as Black or African American, there was also an option to specify nationalities like Jamaican, Haitian, Nigerian, Ethiopian Somali, etc.
“The improvements we made to the 2020 census yield a more accurate portrait of how people self-identify in response to two separate questions on Hispanic origin and race. Our analysis of the 2020 census results show that the US population is much more multiracial and more racially and ethnically diverse than what we measured in the past.”
Across the United States, the results showed that the White population remained the largest in the country at 204.3 million with an additional 31.1 million identifying as mixed in combination with White. The multiracial population comprised the second highest population for the first time at 49.9 million alone or combined, surpassing the Black or African American population at 46.9 million.
The U.S. population is now 57.8% White, 18.7% Hispanic, 12.4% Black and 6% Asian.
There were several other notable findings shared by the bureau during the presentation. The US Population is currently 331.4 million people, an increase of 22.7 million over the past 10 years. The 7.4% increase is the second lowest growth rate in history.
Overall, national population growth was centered around urban areas over the last 10 years. California is home to 3 of the top 10 largest cities in the country. San Jose stands at number 10 with a population of 1.01 million (a 7.1% increase), San Diego is at number 8 with 1.4 million people (a 6.1 % increase), and number 2 on the list is Los Angeles with 3.8 million residents (a 2.8 % increase).
For the first time ever, all cities in the top 10 (with the highest populations) have over 1 million people.
According to the Census Bureau this first release of local redistricting data is in a legacy format that will be easier for experience data analysts to navigate.
In September, we will release the exact same data in a far more user-friendly format that people are familiar with and will allow for easier searching,” said Jones.
Visit census.gov for more detailed information, charts, and analysis.
Why do you make me do this? I’ve told you many times, to repent, but you haven’t listened, so because of your hard and impenitent heart, know that you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day when My righteous judgment will be revealed. [Romans 2:5]. In flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know Me and on those who do not obey the gospel. I tell you, you will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from My presence and from the glory of My might. [2 Thessalonians 1:7-9]. Why? Why do you make me do this?
Adam disobeyed Me and suffered the consequences. Saul, disobedience in not following My instructions had severe consequences. Many fell dead, all the Israelites were forced to flee, and Saul’s army along with his sons were killed. [1 Samuel 31]. At the flood – [Genesis 6-8]. Wrath built up and was restrained until the day came when it burst forth in fury. Sodom and Gomorrah – [Genesis 19] – My wrath slowly built against those people until it burst forth in divine judgment. At the Red Sea – [Exodus 14] – Pharaoh and his people had been dealt with by Me through plagues, however, because of their continued rebelliousness, the dam burst, and the entire Egyptian army drowned in the sea. Even then I restrained My anger. Why? Why do you make me do this? Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? No! declares the Sovereign Lord. REPENT! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. [Ezekiel 18:21,30]. If you don’t, rest assure ‘I will punish you as your deeds deserve.” [Jeremiah 21:14]. I the Lord has spoken, and My words shall not return void.
I want you to know that the greatest peril facing each person is the righteous wrath of God against guilty sinners, leading to everlasting suffering. For the Bible is clear that without repentance the ultimate consequence of sin is separation from God! This concept may be mocked today, but it doesn’t negate its truth! God’s desire is for people to learn the lessons of the past to avoid the judgment of the future. My prayer for you is that having learned something about the end of the world that you would then order your life accordingly.
“Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, ‘Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.’ So, the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea. The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, ‘Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!’ And I heard the altar saying, ‘Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!’ The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory. The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds. The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the entire world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. [‘Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!’] And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, ‘It is done!’ And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nation’s fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.” [Revelation 16].
I tell you, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” [2 Chronicles 7:13-14].
Last week, California Gov. Gavin Newsom held a press conference to announce new COVID-19 guidelines for California’s K-12 public schools. Two days later, President Joe Biden praised the new mandate in a tweet.
“Gov. @GavinNewsom is leading California through unprecedented crises — he’s a key partner in fighting the pandemic and helping build our economy back better,” the POTUS said about Newsom, who is facing a recall election Sept. 14.
“To keep him on the job, registered voters should vote no on the recall election by 9/14 and keep California moving forward,” Biden continued.
Newsom’s new mandate requires all school employees to either provide proof of vaccination or submit to weekly testing.
“This is a state that very proudly was among the first states in the country to mandate mask wearing in the public education system, before this school year and before the CDC aligned with that standard; before the Academy of Pediatrics aligned with that strategy. And before the controversies that have subsequently ensued,” Newsom said when he made the announcement.
In July, COVID-19 cases among children under17 nearly tripled.
Conservative talk show host Larry Elder, who is African American and the frontrunner among candidates vying to replace Newsom in the upcoming recall election said, if he wins, he would not mandate state workers to wear masks or get vaccinated.
“When I become governor, assuming there are mandates for masks and statewide mandates for vaccines, they will be suspended right away,” Elder said. “This is America. We have freedom in America.”
Elder said he does believe people in high-risk categories should be vaccinated.
“But there are many Americans who disagree with me, feel that the vaccine was done too quickly,” he continued, explaining that COVID vaccines have been approved for “emergency use.”
As of Aug. 15, the 7-day average of new COVID cases in California was 12,031. So far, there have been 4.02 million cases in the state since the beginning of the pandemic and 64,183 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
About 51% of all Californians have received both vaccines.
The same day, Newsom tweeted a graph comparing California’s new COVID-19 hospitalizations to those of Texas and California, two states vaccine skeptics and “pro-freedom” activists have held up as counterpoints to the California governor’s strict coronavirus policies. The data the graph visualized showed that California hospitalization rates are currently much lower than both states.
Texas and Florida both have outspoken Republican governors who have enacted looser policies in their fights against COVID.
“CA is reporting 141.1 new COVID cases for every 100,000 residents over the last 7 days — a rate HALF of Texas (297.8); and less than ONE-FOURTH of Florida’s rate (653.8), according to data from the CDC,” Newsom tweeted.
Many businesses have either loosened their COVID-19 restrictions or done away with them altogether while many public schools returned to in-person instruction at the beginning of the month.
Despite to growing number of COVID cases among children, some California parents still have reservations about vaccines and masks, even going so far as to sue the state to drop mask mandates in schools.
Newsom’s strategy for addressing these kinds of criticisms, as well as others that have arisen in the midst of his recall election, has been to associate them with the far-right political movement empowered by Former President Donald Trump.
Newsom employed this strategy in his response to Biden’s praise.
“Grateful for your support, Mr. President. There’s simply too much at stake — vote NO on September 14th to reject this Republican led recall,” Newsom tweeted.
California Black Media’s coverage of COVID-19 is supported by the California Health Care Foundation.
Heirs Of Afrika Founder Koshie Mills Unites Black Women From Around The GlobeTo Celebrate Sisterhood And Excellence At The 4th Annual International Women Of Power Awards
L-R Honoree Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Founder Koshie Mills Photo Credit Heirs Of Afrika Photography by Robin Lori
Heirs Of Afrika 4th Annual International Women Of Power Awards was a star-studded event held on August 8th, where illustrious black women of power and inspiration came from around the world to attend. Mills, a Hollywood powerbroker and Executive Producer of the show, manifested her passion to reconnect Africans on the continent with its global descendants in the diaspora.
The elegant, afternoon affair was created to honor black women who are change agents, thought leaders and dynamic representations in their communities. The royal platform allowed beauty, talent and service to shine. The diversity and kaleidoscope of black women in the room created a magical environment of inclusion. The power of excellence was displayed in the entertainment quality and program, hosted by Disney’s High School Musical Alum, philanthropist and first UN Youth Champion, Actress Monique Coleman.
Heirs Of Afrika featured its Signature Throne Room where the queens were photographed in their royal element. The show commenced with a powerful ancestral welcome and affirmation. Attendees were invited to declare, “I AM A DAUGHTER OF THE SOIL and I AM A SON OF THE SOIL. The moment permeated the air with its culturally fragrant atmosphere and set the tone for the palpable love, camaraderie and positive energy in the ballroom.
Live entertainment electrified the crowd with the sound of African drums, while Grammy winning gospel artist Mali Music crooned to the audience with his songs “Blessed” and “Beautiful.” The intimate crowd of women laughed, cried, danced, and experienced a soulful reawakening, which is a testament to the need and reason why Founder Koshie Mills curated this safe space to fuel black women with love. The event ignited the movement and cemented the connection between Afrika and it’s Heirs in the diaspora.
Eight women of power from across various industries were honored:
Congresswoman Maxine Waters – Warrior “Adinkrahene” Award (Congresswoman 43rd District/U.S. House of Representatives)
Ilwad Elman – Heirs of Afrika “Sankofa” Award (Nobel Peace Prize nominee 2019 philanthropist),
Ivy Mcgregor – Heirs of Afrika “Sankofa” Award (CEO of Ivy Inc./Director of Social Responsibility for BeyGOOD),
Opal Tometi – Social Justice “Nyansapo” Award (Human Rights Activist/Co-Founder of Black Lives Matter)
Nandi Madida – Goddess Beauty “Duafe” Award (South African Singer/Actress),
Halima Aden – Fashion Queen “Nsaa” Award (Sports Illustrated & Vogue Somali American Fashion Top Model)
Alexis Kerr – Lionheart Business “Akofena” Award (VP Hallmark Mahogany)
Ledisi – Entertainment Roar “Nya Gyidi” Award (Grammy Winning American R&B and Jazz Artist)
Celebrity presenters included Karimah Westbrook of the critically acclaimed “All American” series on The CW, Aisha Hinds of FOX “9-1-1”, Antonique Smith, best known for her role on National Geographic’s “Genius: Aretha,” and Youtube beauty influencer, Shalom Blac.
Special guests in attendance Kofi Siriboe (Own “Queen Sugar”), Kwame Boateng (“The Plug”), Kwesi Boakye (TNT “Claws), Malinda Williams (Paramount Pictures “Soul Food”), Nyakim Gatwech (American Model), and Chris Attoh (Ghanaian Actor) and many more.
Field Deputy Jennifer LaMarque presented CEO and Founder, Koshie Mills with the County of Los Angeles Commendation in recognition of dedicated service to the affairs of the community, and for the civic pride demonstrated by numerous contributions for the benefit of all the residents of Los Angeles County. The commendation was signed by Janice Hahn Supervisor, 4th district.
The awards ceremony was sponsored by brand partners Black Radiance, Dove, The Africa Channel, Macy’s, Lowe’s, GirlTrek and presenting sponsor, Hallmark Mahogany.
Says Koshie Mills “Black women are strong, beautiful, intelligent and the spiritual conscious of their households, yet they are rarely celebrated. My goal with Heirs of Afrika’s International Women of Power Awards is to change the narrative by demonstrating the magnificence and resilience of Black women around the world.”
“This is a very dangerous event. When you inspire me like this, I go to Washington and I take on everybody.” says Congresswoman Maxine Waters.
“Women are the Backbone and the Future, That is why we need THIS!” – Actress Ryan Michelle Bathe
“The Event was Phenomenal, I left feeling Euphoric and Empowered.” – Guest, Victory Jones
“Today I claimed my inheritance…” – Honoree, Ivy McGregor
“I’ve always felt like an African living in America. I believe we are sisters by bloodline and that makes us family”. – Actress Yvette Nicole Brown.
“The Cross Pollination is long overdue.” Actress Nomzamo Mbatha
“We are standing in our purpose as black women of power, in all the divineness that we are…” – Honoree Alexis Kerr (VP Hallmark Mahogany)
“I have always loved Koshie and her mission. We are all a part of the diaspora and her inspiration to make the connection.” – Actress Melinda Williams
“This was such a glorious life affirming event! So much love, grace and POWER in the room. Momentous!” – Guest Kiki McKnight
To find out more about Heirs of Afrika, follow us on social media.
Malinda Williams, Aisha Hinds, Antonique Smith, and Karimah Westbrook arrives at Koshie Mills presents Heirs Of Afrika 4th Annual International Women Of Power Awards held at the Marina del Rey Marriott Hotel on August 8, 2021 in Marina del Rey, Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sheri Determan)
DJ Khaled’s 2010 hit, “All I Do Is Win” could well serve as the soundtrack for the Russell family’s boxing careers. With three brothers currently competing, they have an imposing combined record of 63–1. Their bond extends outside the sport of boxing, as they all bear the same name, differentiated only by different middle names.
Saturday night, Gary Antonio Russell (18–0) looks for his next win while also seeking the interim World Boxing Association title. Looking to derail those plans is former International Boxing Federation bantamweight champion Emmanuel Rodriguez (19–2) with 12 knockouts. Russell will have to put his entire set of skills on display to bring that title back to his residence, the nation’s capital. The highly anticipated bantamweight bout can be seen live on Showtime.
Zenger News was able to get a fight-week reaction from Russell, who explains what he needs to do to walk away with a victory, how the death of his younger brother affected him, why he wears tennis shoes in the ring and more.
Percy Crawford interviewed Gary Antonio Russell for Zenger.
Zenger: You have been locked down training for your fight against Emmanuel Rodriguez on Saturday night. How has camp treated you?
Percy Crawford interviewed Gary Antonio Russell for Zenger. (Heidi Malone/Zenger)
Antonio Russell: I feel great physically. My weight is low. I am only a few pounds away, so I feel good.
Zenger: Has it hit you yet that you are competing for this WBA interim title, or do you think it will hit you once you’re in the moment?
Antonio Russell: Maybe that’s when it’s going to happen when I’m there, doing my mitts, and then it will probably hit me a little different. But right now, I say it humbly, I expected it. I knew it would come if I stayed grounded and stuck to my everyday thing.
Zenger: He headlined a card that you fought on the undercard. Were you able to watch him once he got in the ring, or was he not quite on the radar yet?
Antonio Russell: Honestly, I didn’t pay any attention at all. Not because I didn’t want to, but I was going through so much mentally at the time. So, right after my fight, I was looking to get out of there. I was and am still dealing with losing my younger brother, Gary Boosa Russell, so after that fight I completely broke down. I just wanted to leave. I didn’t watch anybody after that.
Zenger: I know it’s been tough on the family, for sure. Is this fight against Rodriguez in any way a dedication to your brother who died?
Antonio Russell: Nah, it’s not for anyone. It’s completely for me. I know my team and my family will benefit from it, but right now this is definitely for me. I’m going to be the one in there throwing punches. I do it for my fam and everything, but I ain’t making this fight out to nobody but myself. I feel like I owe that to myself.
Zenger: Rodriguez’s last five opponents have a combined record of 101–1, and you will be his fourth consecutive undefeated opponent. That being said, what do you think of the skill set he brings to the table because he’s obviously willing to face the best?
Antonio Russell: He’s a good all-around fighter. I have watched him several times. He has good hand speed. I feel like he may lack some of the punching power that I possess, as well as some of the hand speed and ring generalship. With him being an ex-champion, I feel as though I have those same champion qualities. I just haven’t had the chance to display it. I feel like on Saturday night, I will be able to.
Zenger: You are 18 fights into your career. Did this opportunity come sooner than you expected, later than you expected or right on time?
Antonio Russell: I had my moments which I felt like it was taking a long time, I had my moments in which I felt like I should’ve been in this position, but everything plays out the way it’s supposed to.
Zenger: What do you have to do on Aug. 14 to assure yourself a victory?
Antonio Russell: I just have to be me. I don’t feel like he possesses anything that I haven’t seen. I tell people all the time, I feel as though the amateurs was tougher than the pros. In the pros you have two months to prepare for just one person. You can look at them over and over. In a tournament, you get a different style every night.
Gary Antonio Russell warms up on the mitts prior to his fight against Juan Carlos Payano last December. Russell won that bout via a technical decision. (Amanda Westcott/Showtime)
Zenger: That makes a lot of sense. Not very many fighters fought twice in 2020 due to COVID, like you did. Some didn’t fight at all. Did those two fights help you stay sharp?
Antonio Russell: I will say this humbly, as well — I don’t think it helped me too much. I think it gave me more time to work on my craft and to perfect more things in my arsenal. Other than that, we train every single day anyway as if we’re getting ready for a fight. We’re always keeping our gears turning.
Zenger: Juan Carlos Payano is a tough outing for any fighter, and you were able to defeat him in your last fight. Did you gain valuable experience during that fight?
Antonio Russell: You always gotta look back at things and see what you did wrong, see what you did right. I definitely took a lot of things from the Payano fight, and a lot of it was not skill-set things. It was more things from me as an individual. I definitely dealt with the loss of my brother that week and had to leave and fight that weekend. I pulled it off, I made it through, I got the victory.
But in my opinion, it was not my best performance — but I got it done. That says a lot about me. I don’t feel like a lot of people would have been able to do the same thing that I did that quickly. So, I applaud myself for that, but I also look at it like, even with that traumatic loss that I took, I should have been able to hold my composure together a little better than what I did.
Zenger: Man, you are definitely a tough critic of yourself, because many fighters may have pulled out of that fight, and no one could question them for it.
Antonio Russell: I guess it’s just me being hard on myself, but you’re right, it wasn’t easy. I just feel like I should have held myself together more. I shouldn’t have let it affect me as much mentally.
Zenger: You are probably the only fighter that wears tennis shoes to the ring to box in. Why not boxing shoes?
Antonio Russell: Honestly, they stopped making my favorite boxing boots a long time ago. Once they discontinued them, I couldn’t find a shoe that had that same good feel. So, I always worked out in my tennis shoes anyway. They’re comfortable, most of the time they’re basketball shoes, so you have that ankle support for me to move around in. I got little feet, bro, so none of my shoes are heavy. And they look good with my uniform (laughing).
Zenger: What would capturing this belt mean to you?
Antonio Russell: Man … it would mean a lot. It would also mean that I’m in line with the universe the way I’m supposed to be, and that my manifestation is on, and I’m where I need to be. I’m on the right track and I know if I stay consistent, I will be good.
Gary Antonio Russell, right, lands a right to Juan Carlos Payano’s head in their December bout. (Amanda Westcott/Showtime)
Zenger: When the name Emmanuel Rodriguez was initially brought to you, what did you think?
Antonio Russell: It was a no-brainer, but of course we had to process it and weigh out our options. My pops brought it to me, we talked about it, I asked him what he thought about it. He liked the fight; I liked the fight, and we went from there.
Zenger: When you look at the bantamweight division, where would you like a win over Rodriguez to place you within the division?
Antonio Russell: If I win this belt, I feel it should definitely put me in position to fight a champion. If not, if I have to fight again before I actually see a champion for whatever reason, we will go with that. I’ll talk to my team about it, and we will go from there.
Zenger: After Saturday night, would you like to fight again before the year is out?
Antonio Russell: I’m getting familiar with how things work in the pros, and I understand at any given set date something can happen in which it pushes fights back or anything. So, I really don’t think about it too much. Of course, I would love to fight again. God willing, I get through this fight injury-free and victorious, I would love to go back.
Zenger: For anybody watching Gary Antonio Russell for the first time on Saturday night, what can they expect to see?
Antonio Russell: They can expect me to be exciting and to be sharp. And for the ones who have watched me before, they can expect to see more of my arsenal that they didn’t get a chance to see in my earlier bouts due to the competition. In most cases when you have better people in front of you, you can perform better because they’re not going to lay down. They are actually gonna fight.
Zenger: I am looking forward to this fight, good luck, and we will speak afterward. Is there anything else you want to add?
While some cooling off is expected, demand for gasoline in the U.S. remains steady enough for the time being to prevent prices dropping, analysts told Zenger.
Travel club AAA estimated the average national retail price at $3.18 for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline on Tuesday, a figure relatively unchanged from a week prior.
Crude oil prices, which account for the bulk of prices at the gas pump, have been on a downward trajectory this month, with the price of Brent crude oil down nearly 7 percent.
But gas prices have not followed suit.
Healthy demand levels seem to be justifying higher gas prices, analysts said. (Wikimedia Commons)
Denton Cinquegrana, the chief oil analyst at the Oil Price Information Service, said crude oil prices have been remarkably volatile. But he noted that’s not been the case for gas.
“Want to know what the most common gasoline price in the U.S. is? $2.99 per gallon. Want to know what the most common price in the U.S. has been since late June? $2.99 per gallon,” he said. “Prices are high, but are really remarkably stable.”
AAA’s national average is skewed by the West Coast, where prices are above $4 per gallon. Several states along the US Gulf Coast, meanwhile, are posting prices around $2.80.
With the stability that Cinquegrana referenced, consumers may be acclimated to higher prices at the pump. The latest reading from the federal government on the total amount of refined petroleum products supplied to the market, including gasoline, has been steady for weeks. That data is a loose proxy for demand and remains above pre-pandemic levels.
(U.S. Energy Information Administration)
Matthew Kohlman, an associate director for refined products pricing at S&P Global Platts, told Zenger from Houston that there might be a bit of a floor under commodity prices in general because of that continued strength in demand.
“Strong gasoline demand and profit margins aren’t only in the U.S., they’re global — seen also in Europe, which is also on holiday season, as well as parts of Asia,” Kohlman said.
Still, the period between the July 4 long weekend and September’s Memorial Day usually sees a lull in demand. Meanwhile, the rapid spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19 could also have a negative impact demand if social restrictions are put back in place.
Patrick DeHaan, the senior petroleum analyst at GasBuddy, told Zenger from Chicago that there’s “definitely” room for prices to move lower.
“Peak summer demand is over,” DeHaan said.
A federal report published Tuesday predicted the national average retail price for a gallon of gasoline will be around $2.88 by the fourth quarter of the year.
Finding someone who could fill the shoes, or more accurately the iconic white suit, of Latino legend Ricardo Montalban in his role as the mysterious but always courteous, courtly and cultured Mr. Roarke on “Fantasy Island,”which ran from 1977 to 1984, had to be a daunting task. But the series has proved it repeatedly: dreams do come true.
The producers of the show’s new incarnation, which premiers on FOX on Aug. 10, may have taken a secret trip to the tropical paradise and asked the island to send them a star to take Montalban’s place.
Roselyn Sánchez (“Act of Valor,” “Without a Trace”) has managed in only four episodes to make the role her own.
Elena Roarke is the grand-niece of Mr. Roarke. She continues the Roarke dynasty that owns and runs Fantasy Island. Ms. Roarke wears in every episode a sleek, feminine, custom-tailored white suit that replicates Mr. Roarke’s right down to the vest.
In every episode, Ms. Roarke helps her guests realize their fantasies with friendly persuasion, gentle encouragement and tough love with a velvet touch. But, as the storyline develops, she finds that accepting the responsibility of becoming the new Roarke comes with a price of personal loss and self-sacrifice.
Different fantasies, different voices
A film crew dominated by highly skilled women artists and technicians in front of and behind the camera is shooting the classic’s new version.
The dynamic writing duo ofElizabeth Craftand Sara Fain, who previously teamed up to work on“The Shield,” “The Fix”and “66 Park Avenue,” has infused the “Fantasy Island” remake with a feminine point of view. Thanks to Craft and Fain, new visitors to “Fantasy Island” explore their feelings, desires and uncertainties in a more nuanced way, permeating the lessons they learn and the decisions they make.
In Episode One, Kiana Barnes (“The Bold and the Beautiful,” “Stick with You”), as Ruby, experiences loss, self-sacrifice, and the painful realization it often takes more strength to let go than it does to hold on. Ruby ultimately finds herself forever transformed.
Craft and Fain have created a wide range of ethnically diverse visitors to Fantasy Island, allowing them to tell their stories in their distinctive voices. They also have found creative twists for tried and true story structures.
“Da plane” is not just a plain plane
The show no longer opens with Tattoo ringing the bell announcing the arrival of new guests with the two most imitated lines in TV history: “Da plane! Da plane!” In the new series, “da plane” still arrives but without all the previous fanfare.
However, the plane puts a twist on the plot.
John Gabriel Rodriguez (“The Vampire Diaries,” “NCIS”) plays Javier, the handsome, hotshot pilot who brings anxious fantasy-seekers to the mystic isle.Javier harbors a desire of his own involving the lovely Elena Roarke.
Unlike the old series, in which Mr. Roarke seemed like an unapproachable, mythical, almost godlike being, Ms. Roarke is a real woman. Despite her powers to make things happen on her island, she has vulnerabilities and desires of her own. Sánchez has not only instilled Ms. Roarke with beauty, intelligence and lots of moxie, but also with a huge dollop of humanity.
“What can this Island do for you?”
Ms. Roarke’s humanity is evident when she asks all the excited arrivals, “What can this island do for you?” The question reflects her generosity and willingness to share the island’s mysterious gifts with those seeking answers or wishing to change something in their troubled lives.
The magical place will fulfill a fantasy for viewers, who will witness the birth of a Latina superstar, Roselyn Sánchez. Her refreshing Latin charm, vitality and down-to-earth humanity make Sánchez the likable and logical heir to the Roarke legacy.
The crew is shooting “Fantasy Island” in Puerto Rico, Roselyn Sánchez’s birthplace. The island is a lush tropical Caribbean gem whose warm sea breezes carry the whispered allure and promise of fantasies yet unrealized.
Hundreds of police officers and members of the community honored slain Chicago Police Officer Ella French on Monday night on the city’s southwest side.
French, 29, was fatally shot on Saturday night, Aug. 7, during a traffic stop. Her partner, also a member of the Chicago Police Department’s Community Safety Team, was hospitalized in critical condition. The man, who was not named, was said to be “fighting for his life.”
“Tonight in the 6300 block of South Bell, 10th District & Community Safety Team officers organized a prayer service and balloon release in loving memory of fallen Officer Ella French. #NeverForget,” the Chicago Police Department posted on Twitter, with photos, on Monday night.
“We will continue on in your honor Officer French,” the department tweeted.
“Officer Ella French was murdered by cowards while conducting a traffic stop with her partners. We lost a sister in blue. Today, Ella’s family, friends, and fellow officers mourn and our hearts go out to them. What an incredible loss for this city, state, and the entire nation,” the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police — Chicago Lodge 7 tweeted on Monday night.
Officer Ella French, 29, was shot and killed during a traffic stop Aug. 7 in Chicago. (@Chicago_Police/Zenger)
Two brothers have been charged in French’s death.
Emonte Morgan, aka Monte Morgan, 21, is charged with first degree murder of a peace officer, attempted first degree murder of a peace officer (two counts), aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, according to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Eric Morgan, 22, is charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, and obstruction of justice for his role in the alleged crime, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office said.
A balloon release on Monday was part of the vigil in honor of fallen officer Ella French. (@Chicago_Police/Zenger)
Police allege that Emonte Morgan shot and killed French and shot her partner three times. Eric Morgan, police allege, drove the car that officers had pulled over because it had expired tags.
Both men were ordered held without bail on Tuesday.
After French’s partner was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, dozens of uniformed police turned their back to Mayor Lori Lightfoot when she visited the hospital.
French, the mother of a 2-month-old daughter, is the first female police officer to die in Chicago in the line of duty since Irma Ruiz in 1988.
Ten people were shot and killed and 73 were injured in Chicago over last weekend, police said.
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