Good morning!
Happy Friday! We hope you are ready to enjoy this weekend. Let’s catch up on the top stories from the week.
In Today’s Newsletter:
- Stay informed on family health at The Links Black Family Wellness Expo happening this weekend
- Kansas City’s public transportation faces major budget problem
- Wichita School board member Melody McCray-Miller shares insight on bond issue vote
- Former NBA player and businessman Junior Bridgeman has died
- The Black American middle class could soon be disrupted
💡 Black Trivia Question: Which of these women was the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize?
A. Maya Angelou B. Gwendolyn Brooks C. Alice Walker D. Toni Morrison *See answer after “In Other News”*
🤩 Name In Lights: Many thanks to Ann Garvey, one of our donors! Financial support from our readers underwrites the work we do and allows us to keep our news free. Will you support us?
KANSAS STATE NEWS
1. Area Links Participating With National Black Family Wellness Expos
Tomorrow, Sat., March 15, join your local Links chapter for a Black Family Wellness Expo. Happening across Wichita, Kansas City, and Topeka, the event focuses on a holistic approach to wellness, encompassing physical, mental, and emotional health for individuals of all ages—from infants to seniors. There will be free gifts, vendors, games, and a ton of health information for all ages.
Get more event details and location info
KANSAS CITY NEWS
2. KCATA Faces Budget Crisis: City Funding Decisions Could Impact Transit Service
Kansas City’s public transit system stands at a crossroads. The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) faces a potential $12 million budget shortfall that threatens to cut bus routes, jobs, and services for thousands of residents.
Learn more about this serious issue
A MESSAGE FROM JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
WICHITA NEWS
3. McCray-Miller Contemplates Next Steps Following Close School Bond Issue Election
The final results of the USD 259 Wichita $450 million school bond ended with the bond failing by just over 300 votes. School board member Melody McCray-Miller shares her thoughts on the narrow vote.
CULTURE
4. Junior Bridgeman Was a Billionaire With a Surprising Close Connection to Missouri and Kansas Residents
Junior Bridgeman, a basketball standout who starred for the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks and then launched a successful business career with stakes in restaurants, publishing, and the Bucks franchise, died Tuesday. He had a close connection to Missouri and Kansas residents that many don’t know about.
Read more on Junior’s life and connection to our region
NATIONAL NEWS
5. Much Of The Black Middle Class Was Built By Federal Jobs. That May Change.
For decades, the federal government provided both reliable jobs and guardrails to offset systemic racial bias in hiring and promotions. However, vast cuts by the Trump administration, led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, threaten to close down that once-dependable path to financial stability.
Continue reading why this is important..
Inflation Tumbles U.S. Consumer Confidence. U.S. consumer confidence plummeted in February, the biggest monthly decline in more than four years, with inflation seemingly stuck. (The Voice)
This New Twist in the Wendy Williams Drama Might Explain a Whole Lot. The former daytime talk show host has had quite a week, and this new update only adds to the drama. (The Root)
Study Finds Synthetic Hair Marketed to Black Women Contains Carcinogens and Lead. A Consumer Reports study found ingredients that can cause cancer in 10 synthetic hair products used for extensions. (The Voice)
💡Trivia Answer: B. Gwendolyn Brooks. The poet laureate of Illinois, Gwendolyn Brooks, won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1950 for her collection “Annie Allen”. The year she won, Brooks told her editor that in a life filled with housework, writing ‘is the only work in which I am interested.’
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