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LT. GOV. DAN PATRICK PROPOSES PLAN TO INCREASE TEACHER PAY P2
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Volume 86 | Number 40
JULY 20, 2017 |FREE
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NEWSTALK REP SHAWN THIERRY talks Black moms dying
P2 NATIONAL
social media tips for parents
BLACK HOMEOWNERSHIP
declines in America
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HS ZONE MILAN YOUNG goes out in style at Lamar H.S.
Learn how to protect your children H PAGE 6
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Uzo Aduba
Jonathan Simmons
The “Orange is the New Black” star is among the many African Americans nominated for Emmys. It’s a second nomination for the actress who plays Crazy Eyes on the hit Netflix show. Find out who else made the list.
The 6-foot-6 Smiley High School grad, former Houston Cougar and now former San Antonio Spurs backup guard, recently signed a three-year deal with the Orlando Magic reported to be valued at $20 million.
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lands Emmy nod
TOP EVENTS
hits the NBA jackpot
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Jackie Adams, Tamara Brock, and Shayna Lee attend the Happy Hour Friday’s Temenos CDC event.
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DEFENDER | JULY 20 | 2017
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newstalk
Increase in teacher pay proposed Texas Tribune
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has laid out a proposal to give teachers bonuses and increase their retirement benefits, with plans to pay for both long-term using money from the Texas Lottery. Patrick rolled out his own priorities for the next 30 days, calling the House’s plan for revamping a faulty school funding
system as a “Ponzi scheme.” Patrick’s plan, in part, would provide $600 to $1,000 bonuses to long-term and retired teachers, inject $200 million into the Teacher Retirement System, give $150 million to struggling small, rural districts, and provide $60 million for new facilities for fast-growth school districts and charter schools. Over the next two years, Patrick said, $700 million to pay for the plan would come from a deferral of funds to managed
care organizations. Over the long-term, $700 million would be directly allocated from the Texas Lottery if voters approved an amendment to the Texas Constitution to ensure that transfer of funds continues indefinitely. Currently, about $1.3 billion annually, or 27 percent of lottery funds, goes to public schools. Patrick proposes taking the $700 million from that $1.3 billion rather than reallocating additional lottery revenue.
Childbirth deaths problem for Black women By JASEMINE KNOWLES
As the number of Black women in Texas dying during pregnancy or shortly after giving birth continues to rise, Houston State Rep. Shawn Thierry is calling for the state to explore the issue through her Maternal Mortality Bill. Thierry asked for community members to become advocates by calling their state representatives and senators to help push the bill that will be in the State Rep. Shawn Thierry special session which started on July 18 and will last for 30 days. Under Thierry’s bill, HB51, the state’s Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force would study health-related factors for Black mothers, including heart disease, eclampsia, high blood pressure, obesity and other conditions. The
task force’s research will also extend until 2023 and would look at how socioeconomic status affects Black mothers. “After reviewing the 2016 findings from the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force [MMMTF], I was alarmed that African-American women are disproportionately at risk of dying both during and after childbirth,” Thierry said. “While the report listed certain risk factors for all pregnant women, there was no explanation or information to address why African-American women are particularly vulnerable. “All we know is that African-American women accounted for just 11.4 percent of all births in Texas during 2011-2012, however they were more than twice as likely to die,” she said,
adding that Black women accounted for 28.8 percent of maternal deaths. Dr. Carla F. Ortique, an OB/GYN at Texas Children’s Hospital and vice-chair of the MMMTF, said that some of the causes behind Black mother’s deaths during childbirth seemed to be hemorrhaging and hypertension, however, “there is not enough research to state that for sure.” Ortique added that while cardiac events and hypertension/eclampsia were also common causes of maternal death, “we’ve found overdose by ingestion of drugs emerged as the second leading cause of maternal death – a majority of these deaths involved licit and illicit prescription opioids.” In addition, though postpartum and substance abuse disorders played a significant role in the maternal death of cases reviewed by the Task Force, Ortique said their teams also discovered missed opportunities to screen women for mental and behavioral health issues and refer them to treatment. To identify your elected officials visit www. fyi.legis.state.tx.us/Home.aspx.
localbriefs THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT will no longer have officers conduct field tests that give initial indications whether a substance is an illegal drug. The tests have been criticized over the years for giving false positives in cases around the country. In Harris County, the tests have led to wrongful drug convictions and exonerations after lab tests confirmed no illegal substances in many cases. Police Chief Art Acevedo said the change was made for safety reasons. Authorities say the change won’t significantly affect how drug cases are prosecuted. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office also said that it’s stopping drug field testing……..STATE REP. RON REYNOLDS filed
HB 133 during the special session in order to raise the minimum wage in Texas to $15 an hour. It's a move he said will increase earnings for thousands of workers, and support the local economies where they live, work and spend their earnings. Reynolds said 89 percent of those who would benefit from a minimum wage increase are age 20 or older, and 56 percent are women…….A DALLAS MOM IS BLASTING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT after officers reportedly promised to drop charges against her two teen sons in exchange for cell phone video of her sons’ excessive force arrest. Latasha Nelson said two officers in the Dallas suburb of
Arlington should be fired after they illegally seized her phone in an effort to destroy damning evidence during the July 3 arrest. Nelson shot video of her older son being pushed to the ground, and the officers insinuated that charges would be dropped if she agreed to hand over the footage..…..THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM IS OFFERING FREE IMMUNIZATIONS. Texas Children’s Mobile Clinic Program will administer back-to-school vaccinations to the first 150 children to arrive every Thursday for Free Family Night in August. Parents and guardians will need their child’s immunization records. Visit www.cmhouston.org.
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JULY 20 | 2017 | DEFENDER
national
U.S.briefs A WHITE OKLAHOMA POLICE OFFICER recently acquitted of fatally shooting an unarmed Black man has submitted her resignation from the Tulsa Police Department. Betty Shelby says the desk job where she had been assigned made her feel isolated from fellow officers. She also said she was praying for healing for the family of Terence Crutcher, who died after she opened fire on him in September. Shelby was acquitted in May of manslaughter in Crutcher’s slaying. Police Chief Chuck Jordan put her in an administrative role where she was not allowed on street patrol while an internal department investigation continued. A police spokesman would not speak specifically about Shelby but said internal investigations end when officers are no longer employed by the department…….FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS STILL the commander in chief, at least according to the greeting letter for new U.S. citizens. An administrative gaffe led to the distribution of some 200 congratulatory letters that identify Obama as the U.S. president to newly minted citizens. “We embrace you as a new citizen of our land, and we welcome you to the American family,” read the letter, signed by Obama…….DESCENDANTS OF HUNDREDS OF BLACK MEN who were left untreated for syphilis during an infamous government study want a judge to give them any money remaining from a $9 million legal settlement over the program. The head of an organization for descendants of the 1932-1972 Tuskegee Syphilis Study said the money could help fund college scholarships the group provides, and members would like to develop a memorial garden dedicated to the men. Some of the funds also could go to a county-owned museum located in Tuskegee that has separately requested the funds, but the decision should be up to the descendants, said Lillie Tyson Head, president of the Voices of our Fathers Legacy Foundation.
Black homeownership declines for 12th year
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Defender News Services
or the 12th consecutive year America’s national homeownership rate has declined according to the Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies’ (JCHS) annual report, “State of the Nation’s Housing 2017.” This year’s report also found that declines vary by race and ethnicity. The steepest homeownership decline occurred in Black communities, where the percentage of homeowners dropped to 42.2 percent. Among the nation’s largest metro areas, Black homeownership declined the greatest in Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas and Detroit. By contrast, Latino-American homeownership is higher at 46 percent, but both communities of color severely lag behind the nearly 72 percent rate of white homeownership. “The ability of most U.S. households to become homeowners depends on the availability and affordability of financing,” stated the report. Therein lies the crux of the problem – access and affordability. The lack of access to mortgage financing in Black America has a long history rooted in outright discrimination by private actors such as banks, and supported by inequitable federal housing policies that favored white communities, while intentionally disadvantaging Black communities. This discrimination hindered generations of Black families from entering and remaining among America’s middle class. These practices also resulted in lower levels of both Black wealth and homeownership. Today, applying for a mortgage means a visit to a bank where high incomes, low debt and high credit scores are among
the most favored measures for loan application success. Since the foreclosure crisis, according to the JCHS report, the median credit score for an owner-occupied home purchase origination increased from about 700 in 2005 to 732 in 2016. Just as communities of color were wrongly targeted for predatory and high-cost mortgages that pushed them into foreclosure, these same communities are the most likely to have suffered credit score declines from foreclosures, unemployment or delinquent debt – or a combination of all three. According to a report titled “A Down Payment on the Divide” by the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED), the mortgage denial rate for Blacks is more than 25 percent, near 20 percent for Latinos but just over 10 percent for white applicants. The issue of housing affordability is just as challenging. CFED also found that whites are three times more likely than Blacks to receive financial assistance from family members to pay for down payments and other upfront costs that accompany a mortgage. The racial disparity is due to America’s history of whites being able to accumulate wealth through homeownership opportunity while Blacks were denied. As a result, Black households typically delay homeownership eight years longer than whites, resulting in a comparable delay in building home equity.
NAACP confab addresses key Black issues Defender News Services
VOLUME 86 • NUMBER 40 JULY 20, 2017 Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Ad/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler Digital Editor LaGloria Wheatfall Art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila Proofer Maia Shelby
Editors ReShonda Billingsley Marilyn Marshall Contributing Writers Aswad Walker Jasemine Knowles Sports Editors Max Edison Darrell K. Ardison
The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (713-663-6996.. The Defender is audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For subscription, send $60-1 year to: Defender, P.O. Box 8005, Houston TX 77288. Payment must accompany subscription request. All material covered by 2012 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).
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Protecting communities of color from legislative attempts to further diminish civil rights protections represents a key line drawn in the sand by the NAACP and serves as the focal point of the annual Federal Policy and Legislative Workshop during this year's 108th National Convention. "The slow dismantling of policies that support and undergird our nation's civil rights laws and protection will neither be accepted nor tolerated by the NAACP. We plan to utilize our alliances with elected officials, Congressional Champions and our over 2200 membership units around the nation to fight back tooth and nail," said NAACP Chairman Leon W. Russell. Scheduled for Monday, July 24th, in the Baltimore, the Federal Policy and Legislative Workshop brings together members of Congress to discuss key "bread and butter" legislation and public policy issues facing the African American commu-
nity during the first session of the 115th Congress. These issues include: Voting Rights; Policing Issues; Gun Control; Health Care; Labor issues; and overall Criminal Justice reform among other issues of grave concern. Led by its Washington Bureau, the NAACP will also empower audience participants and thousands of members as well as civil and human rights advocates from around the nation and world with updated Congressional Agendas; tools books; advocacy packets; legislative report cards; and action alerts, issue alerts, issue updates, and issue briefs on issues relative to five "game changers" and other appropriate educational material addressing their federal policy agenda. "The NAACP plans on ensuring that progressive policies that protect the basic rights afforded to our citizens do not become a thing of the past, but are advanced and strengthened for our future."
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DEFENDER | JULY 20 | 2017
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entertainment
Blacks rack up Emmy nominations
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Defender News Services
umerous Black actors and comedians recently picked up Emmy nominations for their work on television. Check out the long list of names and catch up on episodes of these hits shows before the Emmy Awards air on Sunday, Sept. 17. Viola Davis – Received an Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series nomination for "How to Get Away With Murder." She won the award in 2015 for the series. Samira Wiley – The former "Orange Is the New Black" star picked up an Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series nomination for hew new hit Viola Davis show, Hulu’s "The Handmade’s Tale." Uzo Aduba – It’s another nomination for Aduba, who won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2014 and 2015 for her work as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren on “Orange Is the New Black.” Thandie Newton – Picked up her first nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for “Westworld.” Sterling K. Brown – Brown, who earned his first Emmy for his work as Christopher Darden for “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story,” earned an Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for “This Is Us.” Jeffrey Wright – Nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for “Westworld.” Ron Cephas Jones – Jones, who played William Hill on “This Is Us,” was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. Tracee Ellis Ross – Picked up her second nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for “Black-ish.” Leslie Jones – Nominated for Outstanding Supporting
Samira Wiley
Actress in a Comedy Series for “Saturday Night Live,” her first nomination. Uzo Aduba Anthony Anderson – Earned yet another Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series nomination for “Black-ish.” Donald Glover – Picked up multiple nominations for his hit FX series, “Atlanta,” including Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, as well as Outstanding Writing (along with his brother Stephen) and Directing for a Comedy Series. Tituss Burgess – The “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” star received his third Emmy Award nomination in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series category. Ava DuVernay – The director picked up both a Writing and Directing for a Nonfiction Program Emmy nomination for her Netflix documentary, “13th.” Lena Waithe – Picked up a nomination alongside “Master of None” co-star Aziz Ansari for Outstanding Writing
Sterling K. Brown
for a Comedy Series. Snoop Dogg – Yes, Snoop Dogg received a nomination for Outstanding Host for a Reality/Reality-Competition Program alongside Martha Stewart for their VH1 show, “Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party.” Chance the Rapper – The Grammy winner is nominated for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics alongside Kenan Thompson for his work on the song “Last Christmas” for a skit on “Saturday Night Live.” Common – The Oscar winner is nominated alongside Robert Glasper and Karriem Riggins for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for their song “Letter to the Free” in “13th.” LL Cool J – Picked up a nomination for Outstanding Structured Reality Program as producer on the hit show “Lip Sync Battle” on Spike TV. RuPaul – Nominated for Outstanding Host for a Reality/ Reality-Competition Program for “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” The show was also nominated for Outstanding Reality Competition. W. Kamau Bell – The comedian was nominated in the Outstanding Host for a Reality/Reality-Competition Program for his show “United Shades of America With W. Kamau Bell.” Nominated shows – “Key & Peele” was nominated for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series. “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” was nominated for Outstanding TV Movie. “Black-ish” and “Atlanta” were nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series.
what’sup The parents of an aspiring Atlanta singer have contacted the FBI saying R. KELLY is holding their daughter and other girls in a cult. They claimed that R. Kelly had six women in places in Chicago and Atlanta and controls everything about them, right down to when they can eat, sleep, or use the bathroom. Three former associates of Kelly have provided details confirming the parents’ story. Police say there is nothing they can do because the girl is 19 and is considered a consenting adult……. TYLER PERRY has signed on to produce 90 episodes annually of original drama and comedy series for BET and other Viacom networks. They
will have exclusive distribution rights to Perry’s short-form video content and its Paramount Pictures group will get first-look rights on any of his feature film concepts. The deal is in place now but the TV and video components won’t start until 2019 due to his previous commitment to the OPRAH WINFREY Network. The Viacom deal is set to run through 2024…….Several months after parting ways with NBC, TAMRON HALL is developing a new talk show. The former “Today” host has partnered with Weinstein Television to develop a daytime talk show, where she will serve as host and executive producer. Currently untitled, the show
will be shot in front of a live studio audience. It will focus on current events, human-interest stories and interviews with celebrities and newsmakers…. KEVIN HART is launching his own streaming video platform, Laugh Out Loud. Hart hand-picked contemporary and creative voices of today to create original content for the network. In addition, Laugh Out Loud (LOL) will feature original scripted and unscripted comedy series, stand-up specials, licensed programming including Def Comedy Jam reruns and live broadcasts. With the network, Hart said he aims to continue bringing the world together through comedy.
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JULY 20 | 2017 | DEFENDER
A Defender and Kelsey-Seybold Clinic Alliance
health
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Overuse injury: Common in kids By ANGIE CURTIS, M.D., M.P.T.
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ow that summer is here, youth baseball and softball leagues and camps are in full swing, as are other sports such as soccer, tennis, volleyball, track, golf and swimming. Repetitive stress on tendons, muscles, bones or joints can Angie Curtis, M.D., M.P.T. cause slowly developing injuries that may initially appear as minor, but can be serious and debilitating. Such overuse injuries are common but treatable and, more importantly, avoidable with awareness, training and conditioning.
Strained elbows and shoulders
Young pitchers are at highest risk for overuse injuries in their elbows and shoulders. Extensive throwing can damage the growth plates in the arm leading to a condition called little leaguer’s elbow or shoulder, a chronic inflammation of the growth plate. Untreated, this increased strain can stress the soft
tissue attachments to the bone, causing abnormalities at the growth plate, small tears of ligaments and even breaking down of the bone.
The most common injuries
The most common overuse injuries among young athletes involve the knee and foot. These include: • Sever’s disease: An inflammatory condition of the growth plate in the heel bone from running, jumping and other movement that puts repetitive stress on the growth plate as the foot strikes the ground. • Osgood-Schlatter disease: Pain in the front of the knee due to inflammation of the growth plate at the upper end of the tibia. Continued stress can lead to fracture. • Jumper’s knee: Pain ranging from mild to severe that occurs in the lower portion of the kneecap that can result in a fracture. Most overuse injuries have similar symptoms regardless of which part of the body is affected. Look for: • The gradual onset of pain, especially if there wasn’t a direct injury to this area • Changes in form or technique
• • • •
Stiffness or aching during or after competition Swelling Longer periods of time for pain to go away Activity-related pain progressing to pain with non-sports-related activities
If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms, let their doctor know immediately so treatment can begin.
Tips for preventing injuries
Of course, the best strategy is to prevent injuries. Start by limiting the number of teams and sports your child is playing. Kids who play on more than one team are especially at risk for overuse injuries. Don’t allow your child to play one sport year round. Taking regular breaks and playing other sports is essential to skill development and injury prevention. My other tips are: • Make sure your child uses proper mechanics. • Ensure your child rests between games and practices. • Limit repetitive movements during practice. Dr. Angie Curtis specializes in Pediatrics and Pediatric Sports Medicine at Kelsey-Seybold’s Main Campus and The Vintage locations. For an appointment, call 713-442-0000.
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DEFENDER | JULY 20 | 2017
10 social media tips for parents
By RESHONDA TATE BILLINGSLEY Defender
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ccording to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), a whopping 80 percent of children and teens today use some form of social media. That’s why parents need to stay social media-savvy, especially since many of those young people are now sharing more information about themselves on social networks than they have in the past. The study found that 22 percent of teenagers log onto their favorite social media sites more than 10 times a day, and that 75 percent own cell phones. This level of engagement online can lead to cyberbullying, peer pressure, sexting, and other forms of online harassment. “The digital world is an evolving landscape that parents have to learn to navigate,” said Kathleen Clarke-Pearson, M.D., a coauthor of the report. Here are 10 tips to help parents navigate the social media platform.
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Get educated. Familiarizing yoursel forms will give you a bet each service works. You m your own profile on these sites networks firsthand. Kids have gained a mastery and can easily pick up on the nu get has, far more easily that adu is every parent’s responsibility key features are included in the ing. “This can be a humbling exp Balkam, founding CEO of the F tute. “You may find that you ha Playstation Portable that you bo Christmas had a web browser. O son (with the help of his older b create an avatar on Club Pengui in-world pizzas with his other p Immerse yourself in the tech to create a profile, “friend” you his or her online life. Your child embarrass them by posting on t a window into their world.
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Set age limits. If you don’t curren to use social media, it know at what age they “When kids feel ‘it’s never are more likely to set up their o Mark Loewen, parenting coach Pad Counseling, a counseling p working with parents and childr When deciding what age yo social media, keep in mind that require users to be 13 or older t Remember, there’s no real way enforce the age restrictions bec their year of birth.
ALERT: Apps parents should know about Social media sites and applications are constantly evolving, and with apps being created daily, keeping up with them is becoming a growing concern. Sedgrid Lewis, an online safety expert, said the best way to solve this situation is for parents to add their kids to their iCloud account. That way, whenever a new app is downloaded, it will automatically download to the parent’s phone as well. Here’s a list of five apps parents need to know about. For a more detailed list, visit www.DefenderNetwork.com.
Audio Manager
While parents may see this app and think it holds their teen’s music files or controls the volume on their smartphone, it’s actually most used to hide things. When you press and hold the Audio Manager app, a lock screen is revealed, behind which users can hide messages, photos, videos, and other apps.
Calculator% or Calculator+ These apps look like a normal calculator app but when teens push a button within the app they can hide inappropriate pictures.
Vaulty
ta
This will not only store photos and videos away from parental spying eyes, but it also will snap a photo of anyone who tries to access the “vault” with the wrong password.
c a p to
Snapchat
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Snapchat allows users to send a photo or video from their phone and determine how long the person on the other end can see the image until it self-destructs. While many teens innocently use the app, the principal appeal for a lot of kids is users think their snaps will disappear. In actuality, it’s pretty easy to recover a Snap,
c c e p g
defendernetwork.com • Serving t
f with popular social platter understanding of how may also want to create and apps to experience the
of technology so quickly uances that any new gadults can in some cases. It to know exactly which e gadgets our kids are us-
perience,” said Stephen Family Online Safety Instiad no idea that the Sony ought your 11-year-old last Or that your 5-year-old brother) has managed to in and regularly goes for penguin friends.” hnology so you know how ur child, and be a part of d may insist that you don’t their wall, but you still get
ntly allow your children t’s a good idea to let them y can start. going to happen,’ they own, secret profile,” said and owner of Launch practice that specializes in ren. ou’ll let your kids use t most social networks to create an account. for most of these sites to ause anyone can lie about
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Talk about consequences and dangers. Many kids don’t seem to understand the permanence of the online world. Make sure to stress to your kids what a digital footprint is and the impact inappropriate messages or images could have if a future college administrator or employer were to stumble upon them. As stated in the AAP study, what goes online stays online. By talking to your kids about the danger signs of social media, they will more likely think twice before posting a photo or sharing their locations with others online.
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Keep the computer in a central location. Rather than keeping a computer in your child’s bedroom, keep it in a centralized and open location in your house. This way, you can easily keep an eye on your child’s social media usage. Kids are less likely to engage in inappropriate behavior when they know their parents can look over their shoulder at any time.
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Set guidelines. Set a time limit for how long your child spends on social media during the week. But don’t set rules that are too rigid, Loewen advised. “Find a middle point where your child feels empowered to make good decisions without having to hide from you,” he said. If your kids are old enough to be using the computer on their own, they are old enough to understand that there are rules they need to abide by. Breaking them should not have a lesser consequence than if they broke a rule in the offline world.
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Power down. Some families have become so overly digitized that time together at home and during meals is being displaced. Direct interaction with peers is disappearing as well. Insist that family meals are device-free and set reasonable bedtimes. “Children and adolescents don’t get enough sleep as it is, so staying up half the night online certainly doesn’t help,” says Dr. Clarke-Pearson.
ake a screenshot of it and share it with others. The reality is, Snapchat is likely on your kid’s phone. The best control you have (besides taking the phone away) is to just have a frank heart-to-heart about how there is no such thing as texts or photos that disappear and that down-and-dirty stuff can come back o haunt them.
Omegle
Omegle provides users with a chance to converse online with random strangers. Since users can chat anonymously, the conversations can turn explicit, lewd and dangerous. Many users ask for personal data upfront, including location, age, and gender, something kids might supply (not realizing they don’t have to).
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Use filtering software and check privacy settings. There are software suites you can purchase to monitor your child’s Internet usage; many even enable you to view the exact keys that were typed, time spent online and all computer activity in general. Popular programs such as Net Nanny and PureSight PC let you monitor social media sites, block chats, filter content and much more. You can even monitor your child’s cell phone with a software program like My Mobile Watchdog. You’ll also want to make sure privacy settings are set to the strictest levels. Depending on which browser you are using, you can adjust the settings directly from the options tab and adjust levels around cookies, third party sites and more. This not only protects the computer user, but also the computer from the threat of viruses.
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Talk to kids about questionnaires, giveaways and contests. A pop-up ad appears and tells kids they can win a free iPad by simply clicking the link. Anyone would be tempted by this kind of offer, but kids are particularly susceptible, so it’s important to warn kids against falling for this kind of Internet trick. Many of these ruses are attempts to glean personal information. Inform kids that even if they are forwarded a fun questionnaire from a friend, it’s best to close the window and not participate.
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Monitor posted photos. If your child wants to share photos with his or her friends via email or a social networking site, be sure you know exactly which pictures are being posted. Make sure the content of the photo is completely innocuous and that no identifiable locales in the background are noticeable.
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Be a good example. If you are tweeting and updating your Facebook page at a stoplight and taking every opportunity to “just check something,” you’re setting a poor precedent for social media usage that your child will surely follow.
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DEFENDER | JULY 20 | 2017
sports
Simmons hits jackpot and signs with Orlando
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Jonathon Simmons
By MAX EDISON Defender
f you like movies where the good, hard-working guy overcomes numerous obstacles and wins in the end, you’ll be elated if the Jonathon Simmons movie ever hits the big screen. Simmons, a 6-foot-6 Smiley High School grad, former Houston Cougar and now former San Antonio Spurs backup guard, recently signed a threeyear deal with the Orlando Magic reported to be valued at $20 million. Some might say $20 million spread out over three years is chump change in today’s NBA, but for Simmons, 27, it’s the culmination of a lifetime of hard work that begged to be capitalized upon. The road to success wasn’t always easy for Simmons. He was the district co-MVP as a senior at Smiley and an all-conference selection at Paris Junior College in Paris, Texas. Simmons transferred to Midland College for his sophomore season (2009-10), averaging 13 points and 4 rebounds. He earned all-conference and all-region honors for his efforts. Simmons transferred to the University of Houston for his junior season (2011-12) and his basketball ascent continued. As a Cougar, Simmons averaged 14.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Just as pundits were waiting to see what Simmons would do for an encore at Houston, he declared he was foregoing his senior year and entered the NBA draft. Kris Gardner of the Houston Roundball Review and a UH Cougar alum recalled Simmons’ time as a Cougar. “During his one season at UH, his athleticism and raw basketball skills were obvious,” Gardner said. “He was more athlete than basketball player. He wasn’t a great threat from the outside, and at times, he was too passive during the games, despite being one of the most talented Coogs during that 2011-2012 season. “I was surprised he declared for the NBA draft after his junior season, but he did it for family reasons. He wasn’t ready for the NBA at that time.” Simmons went undrafted and his basketball odyssey intensified. He spent a year in the now defunct American Basketball League. Simmons then paid $150 to participate in a tryout to join the San
Simmons, a native Houstonian, is leaving the San Antonio Spurs for the Orlando Magic.
Antonio Spurs development team. He impressed the coaches, made the team and spent two years in the D league before making the Spurs roster this season. “I think and reflect back on all it took to get to this point,” Simmons said. “I’m just continuing to stay humble about it because I want to keep getting better, and being the new guy, I just want to try to get the respect from the other guys. This was about turning negatives into positives for me, and just appreciating the experience.” In 78 regular-season games with the Spurs last season, Simmons averaged 6.2 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 17.8 minutes
per game. It was his play in the playoffs against his hometown team that showed he had arrived as an NBA player. In the Spurs vs. Rockets Western Conference semifinal series, Simmons filled in admirably for an injured Kawhi Leonard. In his first career postseason start he calmly dropped in 18 points and 4 assists to eliminate the Rockets. He went on to average 15.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 27.8 minutes per game in the Western Conference against Golden State. Recently after contract talks broke down between the Spurs and Simmons, he bolted to the Orlando Magic and the team could not be happier. “Jonathon is an elite wing defender that will provide toughness and athleticism to our team,” Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman said in a release. ``His tremendous work ethic has helped him continually grow as a player and we are very excited to add him to the Magic.’’ A reflective Simmons knows he has overcome some huge odds to get to this point in his career. “I’m part of the one percent in my area,” Simmons said. “We were in a rough part of town. I’m the only one who’s played at this high of a level. I never thought this would be possible, wearing this [NBA] jersey. But it’s possible.”
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h.s.zone Lamar star Young goes out in style Earlier in the meet, Young won a silver medal in the 6A girls’ 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.44 seconds. Kaylor Harris (13.38) of Mesquite t was just a matter of time until one of the Horn won the gold and Javlyn Cameron (13.54) nation’s finest prep track and field athof Mayde Creek settled for the bronze. letes put an exclamation point on a stellar “I knew I had to put that race (100-meter career. hurdles) behind me because the 300-hurdle race That’s what Lamar High School senior is my better race,” Young said. “I was able to Milan Young accomplished at the UIL state high come out here and get it done.” school track and field meet on the campus of the Lamar teammate Julia Heymach (one-mile, University of Texas in Austin. two-mile, 800-meters) and Young (100- and With more than 300-hurdles) combined to 20,000 witnesses at produce all 46 points in Mike A. Myers Stadithe team standings as the Find out what G’Auna Edwards of Spring um, Young was clearly Texans finished runner-up High School had to say about competing the class of a strong to DeSoto (65). field in the girls’ Class Young will be attend6A 300-meter hurdles ing Louisiana State University (LSU) on race. Her winning time of 40.97 seca track scholarship this fall. In addionds broke the 6A state meet record tion to running the hurdles, she also (41.01) set by Chava Demart of competes in the sprints (100- and Cypress Creek in 1998. 200-meters). Round Rock’s Shelby West She gave some thought to (41.66) garnered the silver medal enrolling early and taking some while G’Auna Edwards (41.72) of classes this summer. Spring High School took home the “I thought about summer school bronze. but I want to compete in some sum“It was a good field so I had to get mer (track) meets,” she said. “I think off to a good start,” Young said. “By it’s called the 19-and-under Junior the time I got to the last 100 meters I Nationals and it’s overseas. So I’m had to finish it off. very excited about that and then “I was going for the I’ll head to LSU. state record (40.81) and “When I signed I ended up with the with LSU I thought conference record about all the athand I’m totally fine letes that have with that,” Young come out of there said. “I won at the and went professtate meet and sional,” Young that’s the most said. “Hopefully, important thing one day that of all.” will happen for Young said me.” she had the same goal when she qualified for the state meet in her junior year, Milan Young but she came up short. “This makes it all worthwhile,” she said.
I
By DARRELL K. ARDISON Defender
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sportsbriefs Alexander plans to sell Houston Rockets CEO Tad Brown announced owner Leslie Alexander’s intentions to sell the franchise. Alexander assumed ownership of the Rockets on July 30, 1993 and the team went on to win back-to-back championships in 1993-94 and 1994-95. Over his 24 seasons as owner, the Rockets posted the fifth-highest winning percentage (.569) in the NBA. The Rockets also registered the second-most winning seasons of any team in the league. “It’s been my great joy and honor to own the Houston Rockets for the past 24 years,” Alexander said. “I’ve had the incredible opportunity to witness true greatness through the players and coaches who have won championships for the city, been named to All-Star and All-NBA teams, enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame, and done so much for our franchise and our fans.”
More trouble for Elliott Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott is being investigated for a late-night incident at Clutch, a Dallas bar. DPD responded to a report that a 30-year-old man was physically assaulted but could not identify who assaulted him. The man was taken to the hospital with non-lifethreatening injuries. No arrests or suspects have been reported. Witnesses at the scene said they saw Elliott hit another person.The victim has been identified as Nkemakola Ibeneme, who is a DJ and also goes by “DTrain.” Elliott is still under investigation by the NFL for an alleged domestic abuse incident that occurred over a year ago. He has had several other minor incidents since he was drafted in 2016.
Cy Creek confident Cypress Creek was flying high following a 46-40 victory over Katy that advanced the Cougars to round two of the Division I championship bracket in the Texas State 7-on-7 football championships in College Station. In earlier action, Cy Creek defeated Jacksonville 34-24 and followed that with a 44-21 win over Birdville. A 32-28 setback to Cedar Park set up a must-win matchup with Katy. A second-round 40-34 loss to College Station ended Cy Creek’s 2017 state tournament run but the Cougars are loaded with confidence moving forward. Cy Creek was the only Cy-Fair ISD school to advance to the 7-on-7 state championship bracket. “We under-produced offensively last year,” said Cy Creek senior quarterback Mateo Renteria. “We’re bringing back just as good, if not better, weapons, so if we don’t top the offensive charts, I’ll be very surprised.” Among those weapons are wide receiver Miles Battle, who led the district in total catches with 74. Battle added 1,050 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns that ranked second in District 17-6A. “I’m seeing a much more confident quarterback and team leader,” Battle said. Lake Travis defeated Waxahachie 34-33 to secure the Division I state title.
Kirkland takes over Former Liberty High School baseball standout Robb Kirkland has been named the new head baseball coach at his alma mater. The 1993 Liberty HS graduate played his college ball at Tyler Junior College and the University of Houston. The 42-year-old former pitcher comes to Liberty following coaching stints at Hardin Jefferson, Livingston and Jasper.
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DEFENDER | JULY 20 | 2017
Spaulding joins TSU family Defender News Services
It was April when Fox 26 News Anchor Melinda Spaulding announced she was leaving he anchor desk. And now, we know what’s next for the award-winning journalist. Spaulding has been named as the new vice president for University Advancement at Texas Southern
University. Spaulding will help support TSU with fundraising, constituent management, public relations and communications programs and initiatives in her new position. According to TSU’s website, University Advancement includes the Offices of Development, Alumni Relations & Special Events, Marketing and Communications.
Melinda Spaulding
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Happening in Houston For event coverage email: events@defendermediagroup.com
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FAITH IN ACTION MEETING……..The Emancipation Economic have earn the honor of competing on a national level. Many participants have toured Development Council’s (EEDC) Faith in Action workgroup held its most recent throughout the nation sharing their verbal skills. Attendees included Savannah Blue, meeting at Boynton United Methodist Church. The EEDC is a collaborative of faithevent MC Christopher Michael, Donald Val, Patricia Garcia, Alinda Mac, Jordan based organizations, nonprofits, CDCs, businesses, local government entities and other Riddle, Ashlyn Stewart, Sheenia Wesley, Angela Butler, Desirae Mock and many community stakeholders seeking to revitalize and preserve Third Ward’s rich Africanmore……..HAPPY HOUR FRIDAYS PRESENTS TEMENOS CDC…….. American history and makeup. The Faith in Action workgroup focuses on ways to Melodrama Boutique hosted Happy Hour Fridays Presents Temenos CDC. This engage churches, temples and mosques in and around Third Ward to contribute to this shopping with a purpose event featured TCDC, which works to provide affordable work of making Third Ward more economically prosperous. housing opportunities, supportive services and employment Attendees included Boynton pastor Rev. Linda Davis, Ken Defender TOP EVENTS resources for low-income and homeless individuals in Houston. Rodgers, Dolores Rodgers, Carl Davis, Rev. Marilyn White, Ten percent of the evening’s sales were donated to TCDC while More photos on defendernetwork.com the event also accepted donations of much-needed personal care Judge Green, Ronald Davis, Howard Thomas, Rev. Loretta items while attendees enjoyed refreshments along with sounds Hubbard Green, Rev. Sylvia Bradshaw, Rev. John Eigege spun by Go DJ Meek. Melodrama owner Jackie Adams and Temenos CDC life and others……..BAYOU CITY POETRY GROUP SLAM……..The non-profit coach Sonia Boyd welcomed scores of attendees including Courteney Harris, Savannah Blue Arts & Outreach hosted the Bayou City Poetry Group Slam held at Judith Brandon, Tamara Brock, Shayna Lee, Erica Candley, Jason Candley, Indigo at Midtown. The event was an all-out word brawl between some of the most Thelma Triplett, Herb Addison, Toni Whitaker and others. powerful poetry teams in the country. All teams selected to participate in the event
Carl Davis, Cody Miller, Rev. Linda Davis, Rev. L.L. Atkins
Ken Rodgers, Ronald Davis, Howard Thomas
Monique McDaniel, Jamauri Bagby, Taylor Gee
Christopher Michael, Savannah Blue
Jackie Adams, Tamara Brock, Shayna Lee
Sonia Boyd, Erica Candley
Rev. Loretta Hubbard, Juanita Jackson, Rev. Marilyn White, Rev. Sylvia Bradshaw
Patricia Garcia, Outspoken Bean
Thelma Triplett, Herb Addison
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DEFENDER | JULY 20 | 2017
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