theroot--2020-12-26--RV Explodes in Nashville in Apparent Intentional Christmas Day Attack, Police Say They May Have Foun

RV Explodes in Nashville in Apparent Intentional Christmas Day Attack, Police Say They May Have Found Human Remains on the Scene

This year is determined to bring the dramatic and unexpected until the very last minute .
Case in point : a recreational vehicle parked in downtown Nashville erupted in what appeared to be an intentional explosion on Christmas morning , damaging buildings and prompting an investigation by authorities into what or who was behind the incident .
According to AP , police were responding to reports that shots had been fired in the area on Friday when they heard a message being broadcast that a bomb would go off in 15 minutes and started evacuating the area .
Surveillance video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show that prior to the explosion , the RV was apparently broadcasting the eerie message , “ This area must be evacuated now .
If you can hear this message , evacuate now.
” After that , massive flames explode , whiting out the the screen and setting off alarms in the area .
The explosion sent three people to the hospital and damaged numerous buildings and businesses .
The damage to a nearby AT & T site has led to outages in phone service in regions of Tennessee and Kentucky and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 911 systems .
“ This morning ’ s attack on our community was intended to create chaos and fear in this season of peace and hope .
But Nashvillians have proven time and time again that the spirit of our city can not be broken , ” Mayor John Cooper said at a press conference on Friday , reports AP .
Metro Nashville Police Department Chief John Drake also revealed that police investigators “ found tissue that we believe could be remains , ” from the scene of the incident , but will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The FBI is now heading up the investigation into the explosion , which—if intentional as officials have suggested—could have been an act of domestic terrorism .
However , authorities in Nashville said they received no threats of potential holiday attacks before the RV explosion on Christmas .
President Trump and President-elect Joe Biden have both been briefed on the incident , reports CNN .
A state of civil emergency has been enacted in the area of the explosion and will run throughout the weekend .
Nashville police are also seeking the public ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the RV that exploded .

This year is determined to bring the dramatic and unexpected until the very last minute. Case in point: a recreational vehicle parked in downtown Nashville erupted in what appeared to be an intentional explosion on Christmas morning, damaging buildings and prompting an investigation by authorities into what or who was behind the incident.
According to AP, police were responding to reports that shots had been fired in the area on Friday when they heard a message being broadcast that a bomb would go off in 15 minutes and started evacuating the area.
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Surveillance video posted on a mostly empty Twitter account show that prior to the explosion, the RV was apparently broadcasting the eerie message, “This area must be evacuated now. If you can hear this message, evacuate now.” After that, massive flames explode, whiting out the the screen and setting off alarms in the area.
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The explosion sent three people to the hospital and damaged numerous buildings and businesses. The damage to a nearby AT&T site has led to outages in phone service in regions of Tennessee and Kentucky and the downing of several police department’s 911 systems.
“This morning’s attack on our community was intended to create chaos and fear in this season of peace and hope. But Nashvillians have proven time and time again that the spirit of our city cannot be broken,” Mayor John Cooper said at a press conference on Friday, reports AP.
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Metro Nashville Police Department Chief John Drake also revealed that police investigators “found tissue that we believe could be remains,” from the scene of the incident, but will be conducting further examinations to confirm.
The FBI is now heading up the investigation into the explosion, which—if intentional as officials have suggested—could have been an act of domestic terrorism. However, authorities in Nashville said they received no threats of potential holiday attacks before the RV explosion on Christmas.
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President Trump and President-elect Joe Biden have both been briefed on the incident, reports CNN.
A state of civil emergency has been enacted in the area of the explosion and will run throughout the weekend. Nashville police are also seeking the public’s assistance in providing any information about the RV that exploded.


theroot--2020-12-27--Revamp Your Skincare Routine With 40% off Fragrance-Free Belei Products

Ready to take care of those skincare woes ?
The Belei line of products is up to 40 % off on Amazon right now , and there ’ s something here for everyone .
These products are great because they are fragrance-free— many fragrances and perfumes have synthetic preservatives which can irritate some skin .
Belei products are also made sans sulfates , parabens , and pthalates .
If acne and blemishes are your worry , the Belei retinol vitamin A refining moisturizer is a nightly solution for $ 28 .
If benzoyl peroxide is more your style , this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care starter kit is down to $ 21 .
If your goal is to brighten your skin , vitamin C is probably a better fit than any vitamin A .
This vitamin C and hyaluronic acid serum moiturizes and brightens for $ 22 .
Layer over it with $ 18 vitamin C moisturizer for a big boost !
If you have a bad habit of not washing your face before passing out at night , there are three different types of wipes on sale to get rid of makeup and oils in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ selection of what ’ s available .
Check out all the Belei line of products on sale !

Elizabeth Lanier on Kinja Deals, shared by Elizabeth Lanier to The Root

Belei ‘Blemishes Be Gone’ Duo Skin Care Starter Kit | $21 | Amazon
Belei Retinol Vitamin A Refining Moisturizer | $28 | Amazon
Belei Hydrating Facial Cleansing Wipes | $8 | Amazon
Ready to take care of those skincare woes? The Belei line of products is up to 40% off on Amazon right now, and there’s something here for everyone. These products are great because they are fragrance-free— many fragrances and perfumes have synthetic preservatives which can irritate some skin. Belei products are also made sans sulfates, parabens, and pthalates.
If acne and blemishes are your worry, the Belei retinol vitamin A refining moisturizer is a nightly solution for $28. If benzoyl peroxide is more your style, this ’Blemishes Be Gone’ duo skin care starter kit is down to $21.
If your goal is to brighten your skin, vitamin C is probably a better fit than any vitamin A. This vitamin C and hyaluronic acid serum moiturizes and brightens for $22. Layer over it with $18 vitamin C moisturizer for a big boost!
If you have a bad habit of not washing your face before passing out at night, there are three different types of wipes on sale to get rid of makeup and oils in a snap.
This is still just a selection of what’s available. Check out all the Belei line of products on sale!


theroot--2020-12-27--Woman Falsely Accuses Black 14-Year-Old of Stealing Her Phone, Gets Support From Hotel Manager, and

Woman Falsely Accuses Black 14-Year-Old of Stealing Her Phone, Gets Support From Hotel Manager, and Then It Turns up in an Uber

Despite all that has happened this year , from Amy Cooper calling the cops on a Black man who asked her to leash her dog , to the many protests against racial injustice , things haven ’ t changed all that much in terms of everyday racism in America .
Jazz musician Keyon Harrold and his 14-year-old son unfortunately had to experience that truth this holiday weekend , during their stay at the Arlo Hotel in Soho , New York .
Harrold , a trumpeteer who has played with artists like Common and recorded on the Grammy-award winning soundtrack for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took to social media to share an incident of racial profiling against his son by a yet-to-be identified white woman who we will call Karen for the purposes of this article .
According to Harrold , he and his son were heading to get breakfast at the hotel on Saturday when they were accosted in the lobby by Karen , who accused his son of stealing her phone .
A video he posted of the incident shows the woman hysterically demanding that the hotel manager take his son ’ s iPhone while declaring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Despite the boy responding that its his phone—and though Harrold says the woman in question was not a guest of the hotel at the time—the white manager is seen directing the Black teen to hand his phone over for his inspection .
But Harrold was not about to let his son be victimized by further racial profiling .
He straight-up tells the manager “ No , ” stopping the Karen rescue operation in its tracks .
But of course , in typical fashion , the unidentified woman continues to pursue the two Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of criminality , screaming , “ Show me the proof !
” that the boys phone isn ’ t hers .
The video cuts off with her running after them and her voice getting progressively louder and more hysterical .
In the caption , Harrold explained that she scratched him and tackled his son , adding that this is trauma his son now has to carry .
What ’ s worse—a few minutes after she went after them , the woman ’ s phone was returned by an Uber driver .
Following that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made no apologies to him or his son—nor did the manager , who he called out for empowering her outrageous behavior even though they were guests at the hotel and she wasn ’ t .
In a statement sent to The Root on Sunday , a spokesperson for Arlo Hotels described the incident as “ inexcusable ” and said that the manager on duty “ promptly called the police regarding the woman ’ s conduct.
” That ’ s not what was shown on the video , but okay .
“ We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of baseless accusation , prejudice and assault against an innocent guest of Arlo hotel , ” the statement went on to say .
“ More could have been done to de-escalate the dispute .
No Arlo guest—or any person—should be subject to this kind of behavior.
” The spokesperson added that they have reached out directly to Mr. Harrold and his son to apologize for the event and offer any help they may need .
Though this is exactly what the hotel should do—its still upsetting that this teenager had to experience being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accusation of a random white woman , and on the day after Christmas .
It also rankles that it took several hours of the video of the event spreading on the internet for the hotel to openly condemn the racist violence that was allowed to happen on their property against their paying guests .
The Root has also reached out to Harrold for his comment on the matter—and to confirm that the hotel has contacted he and his son with an apology .

Despite all that has happened this year, from Amy Cooper calling the cops on a Black man who asked her to leash her dog, to the many protests against racial injustice, things haven’t changed all that much in terms of everyday racism in America.
Jazz musician Keyon Harrold and his 14-year-old son unfortunately had to experience that truth this holiday weekend, during their stay at the Arlo Hotel in Soho, New York.
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Harrold, a trumpeteer who has played with artists like Common and recorded on the Grammy-award winning soundtrack for the Miles Davis biopic Miles Ahead, took to social media to share an incident of racial profiling against his son by a yet-to-be identified white woman who we will call Karen for the purposes of this article.
According to Harrold, he and his son were heading to get breakfast at the hotel on Saturday when they were accosted in the lobby by Karen, who accused his son of stealing her phone.
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A video he posted of the incident shows the woman hysterically demanding that the hotel manager take his son’s iPhone while declaring, “It’s mine.”
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Despite the boy responding that its his phone—and though Harrold says the woman in question was not a guest of the hotel at the time—the white manager is seen directing the Black teen to hand his phone over for his inspection.
But Harrold was not about to let his son be victimized by further racial profiling. He straight-up tells the manager “No,” stopping the Karen rescue operation in its tracks.
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But of course, in typical fashion, the unidentified woman continues to pursue the two Black people she could find with baseless accusations of criminality, screaming, “Show me the proof!” that the boys phone isn’t hers.
The video cuts off with her running after them and her voice getting progressively louder and more hysterical. In the caption, Harrold explained that she scratched him and tackled his son, adding that this is trauma his son now has to carry.
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What’s worse—a few minutes after she went after them, the woman’s phone was returned by an Uber driver.
Following that disturbing debacle, Harrold said the woman made no apologies to him or his son—nor did the manager, who he called out for empowering her outrageous behavior even though they were guests at the hotel and she wasn’t.
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In a statement sent to The Root on Sunday, a spokesperson for Arlo Hotels described the incident as “inexcusable” and said that the manager on duty “promptly called the police regarding the woman’s conduct.”
That’s not what was shown on the video, but okay.
“We’re deeply disheartened about the recent incident of baseless accusation, prejudice and assault against an innocent guest of Arlo hotel,” the statement went on to say. “More could have been done to de-escalate the dispute. No Arlo guest—or any person—should be subject to this kind of behavior.”
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The spokesperson added that they have reached out directly to Mr. Harrold and his son to apologize for the event and offer any help they may need. Though this is exactly what the hotel should do—its still upsetting that this teenager had to experience being treated like a suspect solely on the accusation of a random white woman, and on the day after Christmas. It also rankles that it took several hours of the video of the event spreading on the internet for the hotel to openly condemn the racist violence that was allowed to happen on their property against their paying guests.
The Root has also reached out to Harrold for his comment on the matter—and to confirm that the hotel has contacted he and his son with an apology.


theroot--2020-12-27--Martin Henry Freeman, First Black College President in the US, Honored With Sculpture in Vermont

Slowly but surely , efforts are being made to balance the scale in the documenting of this country ’ s history , in part through decisions about which Americans are honored with landmarks like sculptures and statues .
In Vermont , a blindingly white state whose Black residents make up only 1.4 % of the population , an initiative to recognize local history makers from the region has led to the creation of a bust to honor Martin Henry Freeman , the first Black president of a college in the U.S. AP reported on the recent installation of a sculpture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rutland in Vermont .
Born in Rutland in 1826 , Freeman rose to become the president of the all-Black Allegheny Institute and Mission Church in 1856 , which is now known as Avery College .
The news of Freeman ’ s sculpture introduced me to his fascinating story , which not only included leadership roles in academia during a time when Black people ’ s opportunities were still stringently sidelined by law in America , but also covers his accomplishments as far as Liberia .
Freeman ’ s academic success took hold at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only Black student in a state that was the first to abolish adult slavery in 1777 .
Abolitionists in town had urged Middlebury to enroll Black students as a demonstration that the school really stood against slavery , said William Hart , an emeritus professor of history of Black studies at Middlebury College .
Freeman went on to teach mathematics and natural philosophy at Allegheny Institute and Mission Church in the Pittsburgh area , where be became president in 1856 .
He supported the colonization of Liberia for Black Americans and abruptly resigned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Liberia College .
He went to Liberia , as he often said , to be a man , which he felt he could not be in the United States , Hart said .
It was an act of self-determination , he said .
But unlike Freeman , many of the Black Americans who went to Liberia were biracial , the sons and daughters of former enslavers , Hart said .
Being dark-skinned , Freeman felt discrimination there , too .
He taught at Liberia College and subsequently also became its president .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Freeman ’ s sculpture is part of Vermont ’ s African American Heritage Trail , which was established to highlight the “ profound impact ” Black vermonters have historically had on the community .
The sculpture was designed by African American artist Mark Burnett , who is based in Vermont .
It may take years for the many Black people who ’ ve contributed to the growth of America to be recognized with sculptures and statues to match the number of those that honor Confederate soldiers and generals like Robert E. Lee—whose monument @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week—but its been long past the time that more landmarks like the one honoring Freeman in Vermont be created , especially to expand all of our knowledge about the full history of this country .

Slowly but surely, efforts are being made to balance the scale in the documenting of this country’s history, in part through decisions about which Americans are honored with landmarks like sculptures and statues.
In Vermont, a blindingly white state whose Black residents make up only 1.4% of the population, an initiative to recognize local history makers from the region has led to the creation of a bust to honor Martin Henry Freeman, the first Black president of a college in the U.S.
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AP reported on the recent installation of a sculpture in Freeman’s likeness in downtown Rutland in Vermont. Born in Rutland in 1826, Freeman rose to become the president of the all-Black Allegheny Institute and Mission Church in 1856, which is now known as Avery College.
The news of Freeman’s sculpture introduced me to his fascinating story, which not only included leadership roles in academia during a time when Black people’s opportunities were still stringently sidelined by law in America, but also covers his accomplishments as far as Liberia.
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From AP:
Freeman’s academic success took hold at Middlebury College, where he was the only Black student in a state that was the first to abolish adult slavery in 1777. Abolitionists in town had urged Middlebury to enroll Black students as a demonstration that the school really stood against slavery, said William Hart, an emeritus professor of history of Black studies at Middlebury College. Freeman went on to teach mathematics and natural philosophy at Allegheny Institute and Mission Church in the Pittsburgh area, where be became president in 1856. He supported the colonization of Liberia for Black Americans and abruptly resigned in 1863 with a plan to teach at Liberia College. He went to Liberia, as he often said, to be a man, which he felt he could not be in the United States, Hart said. It was an act of self-determination, he said. But unlike Freeman, many of the Black Americans who went to Liberia were biracial, the sons and daughters of former enslavers, Hart said. Being dark-skinned, Freeman felt discrimination there, too. He taught at Liberia College and subsequently also became its president. He died in Monrovia in 1889.
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Freeman’s sculpture is part of Vermont’s African American Heritage Trail, which was established to highlight the “profound impact” Black vermonters have historically had on the community. The sculpture was designed by African American artist Mark Burnett, who is based in Vermont.
It may take years for the many Black people who’ve contributed to the growth of America to be recognized with sculptures and statues to match the number of those that honor Confederate soldiers and generals like Robert E. Lee—whose monument was finally removed from Virginia earlier this week—but its been long past the time that more landmarks like the one honoring Freeman in Vermont be created, especially to expand all of our knowledge about the full history of this country.


theroot--2020-12-27--Los Angeles Officials Trying To Determine if Increase in COVID-19 Cases Is Due To Mutated Strain

The end of the year has brought with it a mutated strain of COVID-19 which reared its head in the United Kingdom recently and could potentially be the cause of a current surge in coronavirus cases in California .
This weekend , a stunning 225,818 new cases of COVID-19 were reported across the U.S. , with troubling spikes specifically on the West Coast .
In Los Angeles , the average number of daily cases was recorded at nearly 14,000 a day at most recent count .
The surge of infections has been so explosive that officials in L.A. are now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients there to see if they can find evidence of the new COVID-19 strain that scientists in the the U.K. say could be over 70 percent more transmissible .
L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said a public health laboratory has begun to do gene sequencing to test virus samples collected in L.A. County , but it will take about a week to finish the process .
COVID-19 has been surging out of control in Los Angeles County and other parts of California , overwhelming hospitals and killing more people each day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its highest number of COVID-19 deaths in a single day : 140 .
The spread has been so rapid since Thanksgiving , when many families defied public health guidelines and gathered in large groups , that some have wondered if something about the virus has changed .
Officials believe the surge has been worsened by holiday gatherings but are also concerned about other factors , including people going out to shop .
The CDC says that effective Monday , people traveling into the U.S. from the U.K. will have to show proof of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to board flights .
But given the ongoing travel that many people have been enjoying throughout the pandemic , it ’ s not hard to imagine that the new strain may have already been brought to American shores from across the Atlantic .
Scientists in the U.K say there is no evidence that the new strain causes a higher mortality rate or that it can not be treated by the coronavirus vaccines that are now in circulation .
However , California ’ s Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more likely to infect people who are exposed to it .
“ The new , mutated COVID virus seems to bind a little tighter , a little more easily and enter the cell of the human body easier than our current COVID virus that we have here primarily in California and the United States , ” he said .
Countries across Europe also instituted limitations against travelers from the U.K. after officials revealed the news of the new mutated strain last week , saying that it may be to blame for 60 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @

The end of the year has brought with it a mutated strain of COVID-19 which reared its head in the United Kingdom recently and could potentially be the cause of a current surge in coronavirus cases in California.
This weekend, a stunning 225,818 new cases of COVID-19 were reported across the U.S., with troubling spikes specifically on the West Coast. In Los Angeles, the average number of daily cases was recorded at nearly 14,000 a day at most recent count.
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The surge of infections has been so explosive that officials in L.A. are now testing samples of the virus in new patients there to see if they can find evidence of the new COVID-19 strain that scientists in the the U.K. say could be over 70 percent more transmissible.
From the Los Angeles Times:
L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said a public health laboratory has begun to do gene sequencing to test virus samples collected in L.A. County, but it will take about a week to finish the process. COVID-19 has been surging out of control in Los Angeles County and other parts of California, overwhelming hospitals and killing more people each day. On Thursday, L.A. County saw its highest number of COVID-19 deaths in a single day: 140. The spread has been so rapid since Thanksgiving, when many families defied public health guidelines and gathered in large groups, that some have wondered if something about the virus has changed. Officials believe the surge has been worsened by holiday gatherings but are also concerned about other factors, including people going out to shop.
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The CDC says that effective Monday, people traveling into the U.S. from the U.K. will have to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test before being allowed to board flights. But given the ongoing travel that many people have been enjoying throughout the pandemic, it’s not hard to imagine that the new strain may have already been brought to American shores from across the Atlantic.
Scientists in the U.K say there is no evidence that the new strain causes a higher mortality rate or that it cannot be treated by the coronavirus vaccines that are now in circulation.
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However, California’s Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly told the LA Times that the strain may be more likely to infect people who are exposed to it.
“The new, mutated COVID virus seems to bind a little tighter, a little more easily and enter the cell of the human body easier than our current COVID virus that we have here primarily in California and the United States,” he said.
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Countries across Europe also instituted limitations against travelers from the U.K. after officials revealed the news of the new mutated strain last week, saying that it may be to blame for 60% of new COVID-19 infections in Britain.