Maryland Governor Ignores Racist Trolls and More

1. Maryland Governor Ignores Racist Trolls: “Mission First, People Always”

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Maryland Governor Ignores Racist Trolls: “Mission First, People Always”

What You Need to Know:

Less than a week after the collision of a barge into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, cranes were put in place Saturday to begin removal of the wreckage of the bridge. Huge floating cranes were part of the cavalry of emergency equipment brought to the banks of the Patapsco River. According to ABC News, there were 12 cranes and support vessels such as survey, tug, dive and Coast Guard crew boats to complete the salvage operation. 

The collapse was the result of a collision of a cargo ship into the bridge as it lost power during its departure from the Port of Baltimore overnight Monday into Tuesday morning. 

While the local attention is on the work to clear the way to recover the bodies of victims lost in this tragic crash, and get the Port of Baltimore back in business, one Republican politician blamed the current code term,  “D-E-I policies.” Axios.com reported, “Utah state Rep. Phil Lyman blamed diversity, equity and inclusion for the catastrophic collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore.” 

2. Crypto Titan’s Downfall: Sam Bankman-Fried Sentenced to 25 Years

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Crypto Titan’s Downfall: Sam Bankman-Fried Sentenced to 25 Years

WRITTEN AND CONTRIBUTED BY KHAMERON RILEY

What You Need to Know:

In a landmark ruling on Thursday, a Manhattan court sentenced Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the once-prominent figure in the crypto world, to 25 years in federal prison and fines of $11 billion in damages for orchestrating a massive fraud scheme through what was supposed to be the Crypto Stock Exchange, FTX. The court found Bankman-Fried guilty of defrauding customers and investors, marking a significant development in the ongoing saga surrounding the downfall of FTX.

You saw the commercials with Lebron James, Steph Curry, and others that aired during Super Bowl LVI in 2022. In them, celebrities say that while they aren’t crypto experts, FTX is making them richer. SBF, 32, received billions in investments under that premise and only enriched himself. 

Before delivering the sentence, Judge Lewis Kaplan expressed grave concerns about Bankman-Fried’s potential future actions, emphasizing the seriousness of the crimes committed. He echoed prosecutors’ assertions that Bankman-Fried harbored aspirations for substantial political influence, which, they argued, fueled his financial misdeeds.

3. All About Plaque Psoriasis: What You Need to Know

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All About Plaque Psoriasis: What You Need to Know

What You Need to Know:

Plaque psoriasis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory condition that impacts millions of people. Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of psoriasis, accounting for at least 80% of cases. It occurs as a result of an overactive immune system attacking healthy skin cells which leads to an overproduction of cells and ultimately plaques. This condition is associated with several other health conditions, so early treatment proper management is important to lower this risk.

This lifelong condition is characterized by the presentation of itchy plaques on the skin’s surface. Psoriasis can be classified as mild, moderate, and severe disease.T he majority of cases are classified as mild to moderate. Plaques can appear anywhere on the skin but appear most commonly on the abdomen and midsection, scalp, hands, feet, elbows, and knees. Plaques are patches of skin covered in white or silver colored scales that vary in size and are round in shape. The peak ages of onset are between 20-30 years of age and 50-60 years of age. Men and women are affected equally. Psoriasis is not contagious. (READ MORE)

4. Black Student at University in Hawaii Asked to Cut His Locs

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Black Student at University in Hawaii Asked to Cut His Locs

WRITTEN AND CONTRIBUTED BY COY MALONE

What You Need to Know:

Kanaan VyShonne Barton is a Black student at Brigham Young University-Hawaii and has been told to cut his shoulder-length hair due to school policies. Since September, Barton has been battling over the length of his hair, which he has refused to cut. Although the school policy has no guidelines on length, the university requires students to follow an “honor code,” which states hair should be “neatly trimmed.”

“Regardless of the length of my hair, I am spiritually involved. I am actively going to church… I am doing well in schoolwork. I am doing everything else. But my locs mean something to me. They are culture. They are family. I shouldn’t have to cut my hair to get an education here,” said Barton.

BYU–Hawaii is a satellite campus of the Utah-based Brigham Young University and is owned and operated by the Church of Latter-Day Saints. Students are required to avoid sex “outside marriage between a man and a woman” and “same-sex romantic behavior.” Alcohol and caffeinated beverages are also prohibited, and students must follow rules regarding “dress and grooming.” “Hair should be clean, neat, modest, and avoid extremes in styles and colors… Men’s hair should be neatly trimmed. Men should be clean shaven. If worn, mustaches should be neatly trimmed,” the BYU rules state.

5. $32,220 in Tax Credits Waiting For You

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$32,220 in Tax Credits Waiting For You

WRITTEN AND CONTRIBUTED BY CATRINA M. CRAFT, CPA

What You Need to Know:

If you’re self-employed or run a small business, you might be missing out on some valuable tax credits for sick and family leave. The good news is, with a little action now, you could uncover up to $32,220 in tax credits! 

Here’s the deal: if you couldn’t work for reasons related to COVID-19 between April 1, 2021, and September 30, 2021, you might be eligible. Take a moment to see if any of these situations apply to you: 

• You had to follow a government quarantine order.
• A healthcare provider told you to self-quarantine.
• You had COVID-19 symptoms and were seeking a diagnosis.
• You were waiting for COVID-19 test results.
• You were exposed to COVID-19 and couldn’t work
• You were getting vaccinated against COVID-19.
• You were recovering from a vaccine-related injury or illness.
• You were caring for someone under a quarantine order.
• You were caring for someone advised to self-quarantine.
• You had to care for a child because of COVID-19-related school closures or childcare issues.
• You were accompanying someone for a COVID-19 vaccination.
• You were caring for someone recovering from a vaccine-related issue.