SCOTUS Greenlights Racist Alabama Map. Karmelo Anthony Trial. SC Hate Crime Bill Fight #TheBreakdown

The Supreme Court cleared the way for Alabama Republicans to use a 2023 congressional map that a lower court had rejected for violating the Voting Rights Act and the Constitution, calling it 'intentional race-based discrimination.' This decision allows the state to eliminate one of two majority-Black districts, a significant win for the GOP.

The high court has cleared the way for Alabama Republicans to use a contested 2023 congressional map that a lower court rejected last week. The lower court said that the map violates the voting rights act in the constitution, calling it intentional racebased discrimination. The move is a significant win for the GOP, allowing the state to eliminate one of two majority black districts occupied by Democrats.

South Carolina remains one of only two states without a hate crime law. A high-profile case involving a white man burning a cross in front of a Black military family's home has renewed calls for the Senator Clementa C. Pinckney Hate Crimes Act, which has repeatedly stalled in the state legislature. Federal charges were eventually filed in the cross-burning case due to the absence of state-level hate crime laws.

South Carolina remains one of only two states in the nation without a hate crimes law. Now, a high-profile case involving a black military family is renewing calls for lawmakers to act. Federal prosecutors say a white South Carolina man burned a cross facing the home of Shawn and Monica Williams... Despite repeated efforts, the bill has stalled in the South Carolina legislature.

Louisiana lawmakers passed Senate Bill 217, which reduces the number of judges in New Orleans' criminal, juvenile, municipal, and traffic courts. This move disproportionately affects Black judges, with three Black criminal court judges slated for elimination. Critics argue this is a politically motivated attack on New Orleans, a predominantly Black parish, without data supporting the need for reduction, and attribute it to the consequences of low voter turnout.

Lawmakers in Louisiana passed in a bill 217 which will downsize multiple courts in New Orleans. It's now headed to Governor Jeff Landry's desk to be signed into law. The bill reduces the number of Orleans criminal district court judges from 13 to nine, juvenile court judges from four to two, and municipal and traffic court judges by two from 7 to 5. The three coronal court judges that are set to be eliminated are honorable Simone Lavine, Honor Rhonda Good Douglas, and the recent winner of the uh unfilled section J seat uh Judge John Fuller.

Derek Glasby founded Black Queer Travel to provide safe, inclusive, and culturally immersive travel experiences specifically for Black queer individuals. His company addresses the lack of spaces designed for this demographic, conducting thorough research to identify safe destinations and curating luxury trips focused on cultural connection and community building.

I didn't see any place that was designed or focused around black queerness... I don't see anyone that looks like me, but I travel often... I like to go to Africa, but right now the best and safest place would be South Africa. So, it does come when you spend your money in places, you want to be somewhere where you're safe and you're welcome. And as a black person, we have to do a little bit more research when it comes to some of these places.

Tiara, a former teacher, launched Beauty and the Booze, a mobile slushie bar business that caters to both family-friendly and adult events. The business, which started organically, emphasizes generational wealth by involving her children and aims for future expansion into a brick-and-mortar location. Tiara also integrates her teaching background by educating children on bar etiquette.

I was visiting family in Tampa and it was really hot. So, we decided to go to the park and make some slushies and sell them... I've brought in my daughters along and my sons to help me with the business... I like to teach them bar etiquette. And so it's not just, you know, going out and getting a drink, but how you approach the bar, what you say, your body language...