DENVER (AP) — The family of a Black man holding a cellphone when he was fatally shot by a SWAT officer called Thursday for a murder trial for the officer following the public release of portions of body camera footage of the shooting.

Kilyn (KAI-lin) Lewis, 37, was shot as officers moved in to arrest him in the parking lot of a condo building in the Denver suburb of Aurora on May 23. The officers, who appear to emerge from unmarked vehicles, are heard on video shouting at him to get on the ground. After taking a few steps next to his car and putting his right hand behind his back, Lewis appears to surrender, raising his arms in the air.

He was holding what was later identified as a cellphone in his right hand, interim Police Chief Heather Morris said in a produced video released by police that includes portions of the body camera footage. Morris also pointed out that Lewis put his hand in his left pocket before raising his hands.

Just as Lewis is bending his legs, as if to get on the ground, an officer fired a single shot at Lewis. Lewis says, “I don’t have nothing. I don’t have nothing. I don’t have nothing.”

The other officers did not fire at Lewis. An arrest warrant had been issued for Lewis after he was suspected of being involved in a May 5 shooting in Denver that injured a man, according to Morris and court documents.

Lewis’ mother, LaRonda Jones, said the officer should be prosecuted just as anyone else would be and urged the local prosecutor and the state attorney general to uphold and enforce the law. But she said her son’s “outright murder” was part of a bigger problem with police in Aurora, where another Black man, Elijah McClain, died in 2019 after being stopped by police while walking home from a store. Two paramedics and a police officer were convicted in his death.

“This is not just about one officer or one incident. It’s about a broken system that devalues Black lives,” Jones said at a news conference with Lewis’ father, wife and older brother and lawyers for the family.

Aurora police declined to comment beyond the chief’s statements in the video, citing the ongoing investigations into whether the officer should be prosecuted and whether department policies were followed.

A working telephone number for the officer who shot Lewis could not be found after a search of an online database. A telephone and an email message left for the Aurora police’s two police unions were not immediately returned.

One of the family’s lawyers, Edward Hopkins, Jr., said Lewis was apparently caught off guard by seeing officers pointing rifles at him and yelling commands at him, which he compared to how a gang might approach someone.

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Hopkins also criticized police, saying they released the video in a way that was the most favorable to officers in an effort to gain support from the public. Members of Lewis’ family were allowed to see video of the shooting last week, he said.

“They wanted to start the conversation the way they wanted to,” he said of police.

Police did not immediately release the raw footage of the shooting in response to a records request.

Updated as of 6/22/2024 at 3:30 p.m. ET

Remember that Black girl who was seen in a video scuffling with a white student in the school hallway? Well, six months later, it seems shorty is finally getting some justice.

Shawnee Mission East High School student Brey’anna Brown suffered a broken nose after being socked in the face by a white student in the hallway one Monday afternoon last November. According to a bystander video, the scuffle came after Brown confronted two white girls about using a racial slur, which resulted in the white teen taunting her with it and eventually shoving her.

Following months of both students and family demanding accountability, the teen pleaded guilty to aggravated battery/great harm in Johnson County Juvenile Court, per KSHB’s report.

The teen was sentenced to 18 months in juvenile custody.

Wait, What Happened Last Year?

Morning announcements at Shawnee Mission East High School in Prairie Village, Ks. were interrupted November 15, 2023 when students got up from their seats for a protest. The cause wasn’t environmental awareness or food insecurity — it was to demand action from the school following an alleged racist attack.

In a video posted by The Kansas City Defender, a Black girl is seen confronting two white girls in the hallway for calling her their “slave.” When the two girls walked away from her, a white boy in another clip is heard saying, “Man shut the f-ck up!” It prompted the Black student to swing back around and see who was talking junk.

Things got real heated real quick in the next five seconds.

In the video, a lil’ boy dropped his bag on the floor, stormed toward this Black girl and pushed her with both hands. As an altercation ensues, the student filming the commotion yells, “He said nigga! He said nigga!” as the two throw punches at each other.

The incident ended when a male teacher barged in and picked up the white boy to separate the two. The result was the hospitalization of the Black student for a broken nose, according to The Kansas City Star. However, the students’ demonstration suggests the high schoolers aren’t satisfied with the school’s response to what they called a hate crime.

Read more from The Kansas City Star:

Students held signs that read, “We demand action! Protect students of color,” “We don’t feel safe,” and “Take action now.” They called on school leaders to take stronger steps to eradicate racism and issue more serious discipline for discrimination and hate speech.

District spokeswoman Kristin Babcock said she could not comment on the incident due to student privacy issues. The district has not said what actions were taken after the fight, or whether police were called.

“We take incidents of racism and physical violence very seriously,” Babcock said. “We do have a code of conduct in place, and we follow our policies and procedures.”

It is unclear how the school may have punished the white student, but students at the protest claimed he received a suspension they felt was not a strong enough punishment.

The students told The Star it wasn’t the first time they dealt with racism from other students. One incident involved the principal allegedly calling Black students “intimidating” and looking like they’re going to “jump someone,” per The Defender. However, the students told reporters that every time they bring their concerns to the administration, they never really do much about it.

One thing is for sure — it’s going to take more than a timeout to resolve this issue. Racist violence is nothing to play about.

15

Forget fighting titans and undercover spies, this summer’s hottest anime is all about a hilarious new friendship between a high school girl and… a deer girl. Yep, you read that right.

REMOW, the crew bringing you the best Japanese pop culture, announced today that “My Deer Friend Nokotan” is going global! This anime comedy, based on the manga by Oshioshio and produced by the legendary WIT Studio (Attack on Titan, SPY x FAMILY), is breaking free from the usual streaming stuff and hitting tons of platforms all at once. That means you’ll be able to watch it on Crunchyroll, Prime Video, ADN, Anime Onegai, and a bunch of other places in over 140 countries – and guess what? There’ll even be free and legal streaming options for a ton of viewers around the world.

Why the big rollout? Because “My Deer Friend Nokotan” is already a social media smash. The trailer has gone viral, inspiring remixes and racking up millions of views. Basically, everyone’s talking about this wacky deer girl and her high school best friend.

“We want to make sure everyone who wants to see this show can,” said Akira Ishii, the boss at REMOW. “By spreading it out across different streaming places, we’re making it super easy to watch. Plus, more viewers means more support for the creators, which means even more awesome anime in the future!”

My Deer Friend Nokotan Poster

Mark your calendars! “My Deer Friend Nokotan” premieres on July 7th, 2024 (give or take a day). Get ready for a heartwarming and hilarious adventure you won’t want to miss! 

And hey, if you’re looking to check out the manga beforehand, the first four volumes of “My Deer Friend Nokotan” are available in English from Seven Seas Entertainment, both in print and digitally. So grab your popcorn (or deer food?), cuddle up with your favorite streaming service, and get ready for the most unforgettable deer anime of all time!

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Friday upheld a federal gun control law that is intended to protect victims of domestic violence.

In their first Second Amendment case since they expanded gun rights in 2022, the justices ruled 8-1 in favor of a 1994 ban on firearms for people under restraining orders to stay away from their spouses or partners. The justices reversed a ruling from the federal appeals court in New Orleans that had struck down the law.

Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the court, said the law uses “common sense” and applies only “after a judge determines that an individual poses a credible threat” of physical violence.

Justice Clarence Thomas, the author of the major 2022 Bruen ruling in a New York case, dissented.

President Joe Biden, who has been critical of previous high-court rulings on guns, abortion and other hot-button issues, praised the outcome.

“No one who has been abused should have to worry about their abuser getting a gun,” Biden said in a statement. “As a result of today’s ruling, survivors of domestic violence and their families will still be able to count on critical protections, just as they have for the past three decades.”

Last week, the court overturned a Trump-era ban on bump stocks, the rapid-fire gun accessories used in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. The court ruled that the Justice Department exceeded its authority in imposing that ban.

Friday’s case stemmed directly from the Supreme Court’s Bruen decision in June 2022. A Texas man, Zackey Rahimi, was accused of hitting his girlfriend during an argument in a parking lot and later threatening to shoot her.

At arguments in November, some justices voiced concern that a ruling for Rahimi could also jeopardize the background check system that the Biden administration said has stopped more than 75,000 gun sales in the past 25 years based on domestic violence protective orders.

The case also had been closely watched for its potential to affect cases in which other gun ownership laws have been called into question, including in the high-profile prosecution of Hunter Biden. Biden’s son was convicted of lying on a form to buy a firearm while he was addicted to drugs. His lawyers have signaled they will appeal.

A decision to strike down the domestic violence gun law might have signaled the court’s skepticism of the other laws as well. But Friday’s decision did not suggest that the court would necessarily uphold those laws either.

The justices could weigh in soon in one or more of those other cases.

Many of the gun law cases grow out of the Bruen decision. That high court ruling not only expanded Americans’ gun rights under the Constitution but also changed the way courts are supposed to evaluate restrictions on firearms.

Roberts turned to history in his opinion. “Since the founding, our nation’s firearm laws have included provisions preventing individuals who threaten physical harm to others from misusing firearms,” he wrote.

Some courts have gone too far, Roberts wrote, in applying Bruen and other gun rights cases. “These precedents were not meant to suggest a law trapped in amber,” he wrote.

In dissent, Thomas wrote, the law “strips an individual of his ability to possess firearms and ammunition without any due process.”

The government “failed to produce any evidence” that the law is consistent with the nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation, he wrote.

“Not a single historical regulation justifies the statute at issue,” Thomas wrote.

Seven of the nine justices wrote opinions in the guns case spanning 94 pages, mainly focused on the proper use of history in evaluating gun restrictions and other limitations on constitutional rights.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote that Roberts’ opinion “permits a historical inquiry calibrated to reveal something useful and transferable to the present day, while the dissent would make the historical inquiry so exacting as to be useless.” She was among the three liberal justices who dissented in the Bruen case.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was part of the Bruen majority, noted that the court probably will have many more cases about the reach of gun rights because “Second Amendment jurisprudence is in its early innings.” It was only in 2008 that the court declared for the first time that the Constitution protects an individual’s right to keep and bear arms.

Rahimi’s case reached the Supreme Court after prosecutors appealed a ruling that threw out his conviction for possessing guns while subject to a restraining order.

Rahimi was involved in five shootings over two months in and around Arlington, Texas, U.S. Circuit Judge Cory Wilson noted. When police identified Rahimi as a suspect in the shootings and showed up at his home with a search warrant, he admitted having guns in the house and being subject to a domestic violence restraining order that prohibited gun possession, Wilson wrote.

But even though Rahimi was hardly “a model citizen,” Wilson wrote, the law at issue could not be justified by looking to history. That’s the test Justice Thomas laid out in his opinion for the court in Bruen.

The appeals court initially upheld the conviction under a balancing test that included whether the restriction enhances public safety. But the panel reversed course after Bruen. At least one district court has upheld the law since the Bruen decision.

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After the ruling, Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Justice Department “will continue to enforce this important statute, which for nearly 30 years has helped to protect victims and survivors of domestic violence from their abusers.”

“As the Justice Department argued, and as the Court reaffirmed today, that commonsense prohibition is entirely consistent with the Court’s precedent and the text and history of the Second Amendment,” Garland said in a statement.

Advocates for domestic violence victims and gun control groups had called on the court to uphold the law.

Firearms are the most common weapon used in homicides of spouses, intimate partners, children or relatives in recent years, according to data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Guns were used in more than half, 57%, of those killings in 2020, a year that saw an overall increase in domestic violence during the coronavirus pandemic.

Seventy women a month, on average, are shot and killed by intimate partners, according to the gun control group Everytown for Gun Safety.

Gun rights groups backed Rahimi, arguing that the appeals court got it right when it looked at American history and found no restriction close enough to justify the gun ban.

House Of The Dragon, the spinoff to Game of Thrones, serves as a prequel (200 years before Daenerys Targaryen), but it also changed the game by adding Black characters in the main cast.

Of course it caused a bit of stink from the haters, but we are now into the second season, so nobody cares about dead air. “If we believe in dragons, and shapeshifters and direwolves, we can believe everybody in the story is not white,” Ryan Condal, showrunner for House of the Dragon tells TheWrap.

In the franchise lore, the Velaryons are described to be closer to the gods than to men with their iconic silver hair and giant, daunting dragons. The time period for HOD starts 110 years after the ‘Doom of Valyria’ and ended the reign of House Velaryon. The creators planned out strategically for House Velaryon to be Black “because that felt like the most fantastical race in the show, and it felt like … these were people from a lost continent that we don’t really know that much about,” Condal said. “And it always stuck with me, this article … where George had talked about, at first when he set out to write these books, considering making all of the Velaryons Black. … Black people with silver hair — and that always really stuck with me as an image.”

There are a few other Black people who are not part of House of Velaryon, but we are going to stick to what we knew.

So, here’s a breakdown of the Black Velaryons you should know and never underestimate:

Lord Corlys “The Sea Snake” Velaryon played by Steven Toussaint:

Also known as “the Sea Snake” and Lord of Driftmark, Lord Corlys is the head of House Velaryon. He is the most famous seafarer in Westeros history. And he knows how to enter a room, with his good looks, dark skin and long silver locs.

Sir Vaemond Velaryon played by Wil Johnson:

Was the commander of the Velaryon army and younger brother of Lord Corlys. Ambitious to be Lord of Driftmark after his brother and more, but that doesn’t end well.

Sir Laenor Velaryon played by John Macmillan:

Son of Lord Corlys and Princess Rhaenys. Under the guise to continue his intimate relationship with his male lover, he marries Princess Rhaenyra to carry out their duty and strengthen the bloodline. His “children” are accused of being illegitimate. Uh, well…things don’t always end well for Black people in this world either.

Lady Leana Velaryon played by Nanna Blondell:

Daughter of Lord Corlys and Princess Rhaenys. She becomes the second wife of Prince Deamon Targaryen and gives birth to two daughters. She is a strong dragon rider and rides the legendary Vaghar. She has light brown skin and curly white hair.

Lady Baela Velaryon played by Bethany Antonia:

Eldest daughter of Prince Deamon and Lady Laena. She is a dragon rider who rides the young dragon Moondancer. Betrothed to Prince Jacaerys “Jace” Velaryon. She has long natural curly hair with bronze skin.
Lady Rhaena Velaryon played by Phoebe Campbell

Lady Rhaena Velaryon played by Phoebe Campbell:

Second daughter of Prince Daemon and Lady Laena. She’s the only one in her family that does not have a dragon. She was supposed to get Vaghar after her mother but was robbed by Aemond Targaryan. She is betrothed to Prince Lucerys “Luke” Velaryon. She has those gorgeous long locs and bronze skin.

46

Meryl Streep, the unparalleled queen of cinema, turns 75 today. With a career spanning nearly five decades, Streep’s extraordinary talent, versatility, and dedication have cemented her as one of the greatest actors of all time.

To honor her illustrious career, we highlight some of her most iconic moments, from her early days on stage to her latest cinematic triumphs.

Early Beginnings and Breakthroughs

1. “Julia” (1977)

Streep’s film debut in “Julia” was a small but memorable role that hinted at her immense talent. Though her screen time was brief, her presence was undeniable, marking the beginning of a storied career.

2. “The Deer Hunter” (1978)

In “The Deer Hunter,” Streep received her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Her portrayal of Linda, a woman torn between two men who are best friends, showcased her ability to convey deep emotional complexity.

3. “Kramer vs. Kramer” (1979)

Winning her first Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in “Kramer vs. Kramer,” Streep played Joanna Kramer, a mother who leaves her family but returns to fight for custody of her son. Her nuanced performance highlighted her ability to evoke empathy and moral ambiguity.

4. “Manhattan” (1979)

Streep’s role in Woody Allen’s “Manhattan” showcased her versatility as an actress. Playing the ex-wife of Allen’s character, she brought depth to a character that could have been easily dismissed as a secondary role.

5. “Sophie’s Choice” (1982)

In one of her most heartbreaking performances, Streep earned her first Best Actress Oscar for “Sophie’s Choice.” Her portrayal of Sophie Zawistowski, a Holocaust survivor, was both powerful and poignant, solidifying her status as a leading actress of her generation.

Establishing Herself as a Powerhouse

6. “Silkwood” (1983)

Portraying real-life whistleblower Karen Silkwood, Streep earned another Oscar nomination for “Silkwood.” Her performance was a testament to her ability to bring true stories to life with authenticity and emotional resonance.

7. “Out of Africa” (1985)

In “Out of Africa,” Streep starred opposite Robert Redford in this romantic epic. Her portrayal of Karen Blixen, a woman running a coffee plantation in Kenya, was both sweeping and intimate, showcasing her range as an actress.

8. “Ironweed” (1987)

Streep’s gritty performance in “Ironweed” alongside Jack Nicholson earned her another Oscar nod. Playing a homeless woman in the Great Depression, she brought raw vulnerability and strength to the role.

9. “A Cry in the Dark” (1988)

The iconic line “A dingo’s got my baby!” became a cultural touchstone, and Streep’s portrayal of Lindy Chamberlain, a woman accused of murdering her baby in Australia, was both haunting and compelling.

10. “Postcards from the Edge” (1990)

Balancing drama and comedy effortlessly, Streep starred in “Postcards from the Edge,” based on Carrie Fisher’s semi-autobiographical novel. Her role as an actress struggling with addiction and her relationship with her mother was both humorous and deeply human.

Mid-Career Mastery

11. “The Bridges of Madison County” (1995)

In this mature, poignant love story, Streep played Francesca Johnson, an Italian war bride living in Iowa. Her chemistry with Clint Eastwood and her emotionally rich performance made this film a fan favorite.

12. “Adaptation” (2002)

Playing against type, Streep wowed audiences with her versatility in “Adaptation,” a film that blended reality and fiction. Her role as Susan Orlean, a writer drawn into the bizarre world of orchid poaching, showcased her ability to tackle complex characters.

13. “The Hours” (2002)

Sharing the screen with Nicole Kidman and Julianne Moore, Streep’s performance in “The Hours” was a highlight of this literary adaptation. Her portrayal of Clarissa Vaughan, a woman planning a party for a friend dying of AIDS, was deeply moving.

14. “Angels in America” (2003)

In the acclaimed miniseries “Angels in America,” Streep took on multiple roles, including a rabbi, an angel, and a Mormon mother. Her ability to transform into different characters in this epic tale of AIDS and politics in the 1980s was a testament to her range.

15. “The Devil Wears Prada” (2006)

Streep’s iconic role as Miranda Priestly in “The Devil Wears Prada” became a pop culture phenomenon. Her portrayal of the fearsome fashion magazine editor was both terrifying and oddly sympathetic, proving her ability to dominate the screen with charisma and nuance.

Continuing to Evolve

16. “Mamma Mia!” (2008)

Proving she could sing and dance, Streep delighted audiences in the ABBA-fueled musical “Mamma Mia!” Her performance as Donna, a single mother preparing for her daughter’s wedding, was joyful and infectious.

17. “Doubt” (2008)

In “Doubt,” Streep delivered a gripping portrayal of Sister Aloysius Beauvier, a nun who suspects a priest of misconduct. Her intense performance opposite Philip Seymour Hoffman was a masterclass in acting.

18. “Julie & Julia” (2009)

Bringing Julia Child to life with charm and humor, Streep’s performance in “Julie & Julia” was both delightful and inspiring. Her portrayal of the legendary chef was so convincing that it earned her another Oscar nomination.

19. “The Iron Lady” (2011)

Winning her third Oscar for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in “The Iron Lady,” Streep captured the essence of the controversial British Prime Minister. Her performance was a blend of strength, vulnerability, and meticulous attention to detail.

20. “August: Osage County” (2013)

In this ensemble drama, Streep played Violet Weston, a matriarch whose family reunites under tense circumstances. Her fierce performance anchored the film and showcased her ability to dominate any scene she was in.

21. “Into the Woods” (2014)

Returning to musicals, Streep took on the role of the Witch in “Into the Woods.” Her performance was both whimsical and dark, adding depth to the fairy tale character.

22. “Florence Foster Jenkins” (2016)

In “Florence Foster Jenkins,” Streep delivered a hilarious and heartfelt performance as the world’s worst opera singer. Her ability to find the humanity in a character who was often laughed at by others was remarkable.

23. “Big Little Lies” (2019)

Her chilling turn in the hit TV series “Big Little Lies” added another layer to the show’s dynamic ensemble. Playing Mary Louise Wright, the mother of Alexander Skarsgård’s character, Streep brought intensity and unpredictability to the role.

24. “The Laundromat” (2019)

Tackling financial corruption with her unique flair, Streep’s performance in “The Laundromat” was a highlight of the star-studded film. Her ability to navigate complex narratives and characters continued to impress.

25. “Little Women” (2019)

Bringing gravitas to the beloved story as Aunt March, Streep’s performance in “Little Women” was a reminder of her ability to elevate any role, no matter the size.

Recent Triumphs and Ongoing Influence

26. “Let Them All Talk” (2020)

A largely improvised film showcasing her adaptability, “Let Them All Talk” featured Streep as a celebrated author on a cruise with old friends. Her naturalistic performance was a testament to her enduring talent.

27. “The Prom” (2020)

Another musical hit, “The Prom” was full of glitz and glamour. Streep’s performance as a Broadway diva was both hilarious and touching, proving she could still command the screen with ease.

28. “Don’t Look Up” (2021)

Satirical gold in the star-studded comedy “Don’t Look Up,” Streep played a fictional U.S. President. Her comedic timing and ability to navigate political satire added a sharp edge to the film.

Celebrating Her Legacy

29. Three Oscars

A monumental achievement reflecting her unparalleled skill, Streep’s three Oscars (for “Kramer vs. Kramer,” “Sophie’s Choice,” and “The Iron Lady”) are a testament to her extraordinary talent and dedication to her craft.

30. Record-Breaking 21 Oscar Nominations

Setting a standard for excellence in acting, Streep’s record-breaking 21 Oscar nominations highlight her consistent brilliance and ability to deliver outstanding performances year after year.

31. Countless Golden Globes

With numerous Golden Globe awards and nominations, Streep’s work has been consistently recognized by her peers. Her acceptance speeches are as memorable as her performances, often marked by wit, grace, and heartfelt gratitude.

32. Kennedy Center Honors (2011)

Celebrating her impact on American culture, Streep was honored at the Kennedy Center in 2011. The tribute highlighted her contributions to film, theater, and the arts, cementing her legacy as a cultural icon.

33. Presidential Medal of Freedom (2014)

Streep was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014, recognizing her contributions beyond the screen. This honor underscored her influence not just as an actress, but as a public figure who has made a significant

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ATLANTA (AP) — Republicans and conservative activists have increasingly been targeting an executive order issued three years ago by the Biden administration that is intended to boost voter registration, claiming it’s unconstitutional and an attempt to interfere in the November election.

A recent fundraising email sent by a GOP political action committee is an example of how they are framing the order, saying it compels federal agencies “to act as Biden’s personal ‘Get-Out-The-Vote’ machine.” A Republican-led House committee recently issued subpoenas to agency directors and a group of GOP secretaries of state asked the Supreme Court to take up a case challenging the order.

Despite the pushback on the right, there has been no indication the order favors voters of one party over another.

White House spokesperson Robyn Patterson said the administration will continue to protect the voting rights of eligible citizens regardless of political affiliation. Biden issued the order in 2021 as Republican legislatures across the country were debating a wave of state voting restrictions amid the false claims that widespread fraud had cost former President Donald Trump reelection.

“These are baseless claims brought by the very people who spread debunked lies about the 2020 elections and have used those same debunked lies to advance laws across the nation that make it harder to vote and easier to undermine the will of the people,” Patterson said in a statement.

Here’s a look at what the order does, what federal agencies have done so far to comply with it and what Republicans are saying about it.

Intended to make voting easy

Biden issued the executive order on March 7, 2021, noting the federal government’s “duty to ensure that registering to vote and the act of voting be made simple and easy for all those eligible to do so” and that it would be implemented “consistent with applicable law.” Agency leaders were asked to submit a strategic plan within 200 days.

The order directed updates to the federal website vote.gov, including ensuring that voting information be made available in more than a dozen languages. The site is not engaged in registering voters directly, but instead connects visitors with state and local election offices to begin the registration process.

The order specifically mentions the Department of Defense and asks it to establish procedures to provide active-duty military personnel the opportunity each year to register, update their voter registration information or request an absentee ballot.

It also directs the Department of Justice to provide educational materials about registration and voting to those in federal custody as they prepare to be released, along with information about rules that might prohibit them from voting.

Republicans question approach

A year after the order was issued, congressional Republicans sent a letter to the White House raising concerns that the administration had exceeded its authority and was directing federal agencies to engage in activities beyond their mission.

Republicans said the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service had informed state agencies that the costs of providing voter registration services were allowable administrative expenses under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and could be “reimbursed at the 50 percent level.”

“Using the nation’s multi-billion-dollar nutrition program to implement the Biden Administration’s voter registration scheme is not only a cause for concern, but one that necessitates further scrutiny,” the Republicans wrote.

What the letter didn’t say, according to a former White House official who helped implement the order, is that states administer the food assistance program and that states were specifically directed to provide voter registration information under a federal law passed years ago.

Justin Levitt, who served as a senior policy adviser at the White House, also said the agency was only reiterating previous guidance that those expenses were reimbursable.

A few months later, Republicans sent letters to federal agencies requesting information about their plans to comply with the order. They also included repealing the executive order in a broad elections bill they introduced last year.

Last month, the chairman of the Committee on House Administration sent letters requesting documents related to the order and set a two-week deadline to comply. The chairman, Wisconsin Republican Rep. Bryan Steil, then issued subpoenas. He called the federal order “another attempt by the Biden Administration to tilt the scales ahead of 2024.”

A White House official said the Office of Management and Budget had sent an initial response and other agencies were working on responding to the committee when it issued the subpoenas.

The order requires state buy-in

While federal agencies have not published their proposals, they have announced steps they’ve taken to comply with the order.

Levitt, a lawyer and expert on constitutional law, described the order as groundbreaking but limited in scope. Although federal law allows agencies to help with voter registration, he said military recruitment offices were the only ones doing it before Biden issued the executive order. He also said a federal agency can do this only if a state requests it.

“Most of what the agencies have done is directly what states have asked them to do or clarified the rules to make sure people know what the rules are,” Levitt said.

Kansas and New Mexico designated two Native American colleges run by the U.S. Department of Interior as voter registration agencies. Kentucky and Michigan have said they will designate Veterans Administration offices in their states. Michigan also plans to add offices of the federal Small Business Administration.

Asking the Supreme Court to step in

A group of Republicans, who serve as their state’s top election officials, also has been critical of the order, calling it federal overreach into states’ administration of elections.

West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner sent a letter in May 2022 asking Biden to rescind it and spoke against it when testifying before Congress last year. A few months ago, he issued a statement saying his state would refuse to accept any voter registration forms collected by federal agencies.

“Adding federal agencies to an already complex administrative process will make it even more challenging for election officials to ensure timely and accurate registration services before the election,” he said in a statement in April.

In May, Warner joined eight other GOP secretaries of state to file a brief in the U.S. Supreme Court asking the justices to take a case challenging the order. The others were from Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, Tennessee and Wyoming.

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The court rebuffed a plea to take up and decide the case by the end of June, and won’t consider it for the first time until the justices’ first private conference in early fall. In the unlikely event the court agrees to hear the case, arguments wouldn’t take place before early next year.

‘Innocuous as an order gets’

Republicans who oppose the executive order have labeled it “Bidenbucks,” an apparent reference to the controversy that erupted after the 2020 election when Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg provided more than $350 million to a nonprofit that was later distributed to election offices. Republicans have claimed the “Zuckerbucks” effort was an attempt to benefit Democrats.

David Becker, a former Justice Department lawyer who leads the Center for Election Innovation & Research, said the timing of the ramped-up criticism — years after Biden issued the executive order and just months before the presidential election — is noteworthy.

“It’s being portrayed as some deep-state power grab, when in reality it’s an effort to ensure that eligible citizens who are engaging with the federal government can easily register or have their registration updated,” Becker said. “It is as innocuous as an order gets.”

He said an important benefit of the federal order is that voters already registered are provided opportunities to update their information. That ensures more accurate voter rolls, something Republicans have said is needed.

“It’s good for election integrity. It’s good for participation,” Becker said. “This didn’t used to be controversial.”

Black men are more likely to have kidney failure than any other demographic group in the United States.

We make up only 6.4 percent of the U.S. population but account for 16.6 percent of patients with kidney failure, according to figures from the Journal of American Medicine.

No one knows the bitter truth of those figures better than Nate Robinson, who played 11 seasons in the NBA.

Robinson, 40 years old and only eight years removed from driving past and dunking on opponents on the hardwood, needs a transplant. If he doesn’t get one, he will die, as people on dialysis typically live five to 10 years, though some live for as long as 30 years depending on a variety of factors.

The diminutive dynamo, who is only 5-9 but had such crazy hops he won the NBA slam dunk contest an astonishing three times, has been sounding the alarm on the risks of kidney disease.

He knows the disease doesn’t care if you’re a professional athlete. It doesn’t care if you drive a bus or if you have the corner office with the big windows.

Kidney disease is out there, waiting for an invitation to come into our lives and destroy them.

Sometimes, we issue that invitation by eating too much, drinking too much and working out too little. That leads to obesity, which leads to diabetes. And, just like that, we’ve opened the door to kidney disease.

Ignoring warning signs is an invitation, too. Robinson said that, despite suffering from high blood pressure, he would refuse to have it checked regularly. Diagnosed with high blood pressure just as his NBA career was getting started and warned that he could have kidney failure in his 30s, Robinson said he tried to push the problem out of his mind.

“I felt like I was Superman,” he told Men’s Health in a recent interview. “I never thought I would get sick.”

Sometimes, kidney disease sneaks into our lives without invitation – slipping in through conditions like focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, which has no known cause.

FGS forced NBA stars Sean Elliott and then Alonzo Mourning to get kidney transplants. Sixteen years ago, it’s what forced my 14-year son to get one, too. Thankfully, he got the transplant he needed and is healthy and happy.

So is my oldest brother. He had diabetes and high blood pressure and needed both a heart and kidney transplant. He got both and, thank goodness, is healthy and happy, too.

I am so very glad for both men. Their experiences and the alarm bell people like Robinson are ringing should be echoing loudly in my ears and in the ears of other Black men like me.

And yet I know I’m not doing all I can to keep that door to kidney disease closed. I’m not alone in this. How else does kidney disease keep getting to us? How else does it keep tethering us to dialysis and killing us?

Let’s hear the alarm Robinson is sounding. Let’s hear the alarms others in our own lives are sounding. Let’s do something about it.

Go for that walk or run. Eat and drink better – and less. Visit your doctor and heed his or her advice. Take the damn high blood pressure medicine.

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Dancehall powerhouse Govana is on the cusp of releasing his highly anticipated sophomore album, titled “Legacy.” This 12-track masterpiece drops on June 28th and promises to be a testament to Govana’s artistic growth and solidify his place as a dancehall leader.

“Legacy” chronicles Govana’s remarkable journey, from his early days as the artist Deablo to his current status as a dominant force in the music scene. The album cover, featuring his two sons, hints at a more mature and introspective Govana.

Executive produced by Chimney Records’ Jordan McClure and David Hayle, “Legacy” boasts an impressive production team. Emanuel “Emudio” Scheimer, Raheef Muzik Group, Curt “Crash Dummy” White, Attomic Records, Hemton Music, and Daseca Productions all contribute to a powerful collection of tracks that delve into Govana’s personal experiences, struggles, and aspirations.

Singles like “Dat Me Seh” featuring Skeng, “Pull Over” featuring Jada Kingdom, and “4 Storey” have already generated excitement for the album. “Legacy” explores Govana’s growth as both an artist and a person. Tracks range from reflections on his challenging upbringing in Jamaica to celebrations of his success as a dancehall hitmaker, with plenty of party anthems thrown in for good measure. Throughout, Govana stays true to his roots, emphasizing his commitment to leaving a lasting legacy for his family and fans.

Govana’s signature lyrical versatility shines on “Legacy,” as he effortlessly navigates dancehall’s subgenres, showcasing his unique songwriting and artistry on every track. Listeners will be taken on a journey through the pivotal moments that shaped Govana’s career, culminating in the promising future that lies ahead.

Mark your calendars, music lovers! Govana’s “Legacy” is set to drop on June 28th, captivating audiences with its infectious rhythms, compelling stories, and undeniable artistry. This album is a celebration of Govana’s musical prowess and his dedication to creating impactful music that resonates with fans worldwide.

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