Darrel Harris and Yellow are Driving Progress

By DR. JOY MARTINEZ, Staff Writer Darrel Harris, President of Yellow Darrel Harris is the first Black president of a major trucking company. Yellow is the fifth largest transportation company in the country and the second largest “less than truckload” (LTL) company in the nation. After working his way through trucking and shipping over 25 years, Harris speaks with a confidence and passion that is balanced with his humility and

‘Blue pill’ overdoses alarm South Carolina health officials

Fake blue pain pills — laced with cocaine, meth or fentanyl — are showing up in alarming numbers in South Carolina, health officials said. About 500 people have overdosed from the little blue pill that’s a counterfeit of Roxicodone, according to South Carolina’s Opioid Emergency Response Team. Many of the cases involved people ages 20 to 29. Roxicodone is an opioid that’s prescribed to treat pain. The pills are also

Horror, heroism mark deadly shooting at California rail yard

By TERENCE CHEA and JANIE HAR Family members of shooting victim Timothy Romo embrace during a vigil at City Hall in San Jose, Calif., Thursday, May 27, 2021, in honor of the multiple people killed when a gunman opened fire at a rail yard the day before. (AP Photo/Nic Coury) SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Taptejdeep Singh died trying to save others from a gunman. Kirk Bertolet saw some of

3 officers face arraignment in Black man’s restraint death

By GENE JOHNSON Marcia Carter-Patterson, right, the mother of Manuel "Manny" Ellis, stands with her son and Ellis' brother Matthew, left, as she speaks Thursday, May 27, 2021, at a news conference in Tacoma, Wash., south of Seattle. Ellis died on March 3, 2020 after he was restrained by police officers. Earlier in the day Thursday, Washington state attorney general filed criminal charges against three police officers in the death

Unraveling more COVID-19 myths

By DR. JOY MARTINEZ, Staff Writer On May 25, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported 525 new cases with approximately 700 currently hospitalized and a daily percent of positive tests above 4%. Even with this news, there is a lot of disinformation regarding the disease and the vaccine. Myth: If you’ve already had COVID-19, you don’t need to be vaccinated. Fact: Although rare, reinfection is possible. Some

Reemployment bonus idea advanced by NC Senate committee

By GARY D. ROBERTSON With employers struggling to fill positions as post-pandemic restrictions end, North Carolina state senators advanced a proposal Wednesday giving $1,500 bonuses to unemployment benefit recipients who return to work this summer. The Senate Commerce Committee gave bipartisan support to the measure, which would offer bonuses, but only if federal labor officials allow the state to use money coming from Washington that’s made unemployment benefits more generous

100 years after Tulsa Race Massacre, the damage remains

By AARON MORRISON On a recent Sunday, Ernestine Alpha Gibbs returned to Vernon African Methodist Episcopal Church. Not her body. She had left this Earth 18 years ago, at age 100. But on this day, three generations of her family brought Ernestine’s keepsakes back to this place which meant so much to her. A place that was, like their matriarch, a survivor of a long-ago atrocity. Albums containing black-and-white photos

Rallies, moments of silence honor George Floyd a year later

By MOHAMED IBRAHIM and DOUG GLASS A family-friendly street festival, musical performances and moments of silence were held Tuesday to honor George Floyd and mark the year since he died at the hands of Minneapolis police, a death captured on wrenching bystander video that galvanized the racial justice movement and continues to bring calls for change. Floyd’s sister Bridgett and other family members held a moment of silence at a

Biden to host George Floyd’s family at White House

By ALEXANDRA JAFFE President Joe Biden will host George Floyd’s family at the White House Tuesday to mark the first anniversary of his death at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday the president would mark the anniversary of Floyd’s death, but offered no further details on his plans. Floyd died on May 25, 2020 after former Minneapolis police officer Derek

Palestinians see victory in Gaza truce as Israel warns Hamas

People walk by the rubble of the al-Jalaa building following a cease-fire reached after an 11-day war between Gaza's Hamas rulers and Israel, in Gaza City, Friday, May 21, 2021. The building housed The Associated Press bureau in Gaza City for 15 years. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinians rallied by the thousands Friday after a cease-fire took effect in the latest Gaza war, with many