The staff of the 118th Congress is short on diversity

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The 118 Congress, which opened Monday, is falling short relative to staff diversity, according to the Joint Center for Political Economic Studies, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank for Black elected officials.  The Joint Center noted there are 1,599 top positions, including chief of staff, legislative directors, and communications director for returning members of 118 Congress. …

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Rep. Barbara Lee and Rep. Katie Porter set sights on Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s seat

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Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Congresswoman Katie Porter have set their sights on Senator Dianne Feinstein’s Senate seat in the hope that the 89-year-old will retire. However, she hasn’t made an announcement about stepping down. Lee, 76, represents California’s 12th congressional district, which is based in Oakland and covers most of Alameda County. Lee is a former chair of the Congressional…

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President Biden declares an emergency in California

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President Joe Biden has declared an emergency in California because the state has been hit by severe weather.  The National Weather Service reported Sunday that there were severe thunderstorms and powerful winds throughout the state. The severe winds are being caused by hurricane-force low pressure called the bomb cyclone. Governor Gavin Newsom said 12 people have been…

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Jeffries gives his first speech as the Democratic leader

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Hakeem Jeffries January gave his first speech as leader of the House Democratic Caucus and the Minority Leader in the House of Representatives and took a poke at Former President Donald Trump. Jeffries said the Democrats will offer “maturity over Mar-a-Lago,” a slap at Trump. Jeffries succeeded former Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California.  Pelosi, the…

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Arrests made in Univesity of Idaho student murders

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Bryan Christopher Kohberger, who was arrested for the murders of four University of Idaho students on November 13 waived extraction and was returned to Idaho to face murder charges. Kohberger appeared in court in Idaho today for a brief appearance.  He was denied bail and will return to court for a status hearing on January 12…

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Police have put targets on Black men’s backs

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In 2022, U. S. police killed 212 Blacks, though Blacks make up only 13 percent of the nation’s population, according to the report Mapping Police Violence. Police killed Black people in 37 states and the District of Columbia.  Overall, the police killed 1,183 in 2022. A database run by the Washington Post reported that it was…

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Bob Marley’s grandson Joseph ‘Jo Mersa’ Marley is dead

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No cause of death given Bob Marley’s grandson Joseph “Jo Mersa†Marley died on Dec. 26 in Miami. He was 31. He was born in 1991. His representative told Rolling Stone on Tuesday of his death. He died in Miami. Jo Mersa’s death was reported in a tweet by journalist Abka Fitz-Henley, and according to WZPP Radio, he was…

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