After more than a decade of work, an advocate for a statewide sickle cell detection education bill is delighted that Gov. Hochul signed it into law on Dec. 8.Merlene Smith-Sotillo, co-founder of the Sickle Cell Awareness Foundation, located at 108-03 164 Place in South Jamaica, told the Chronicle that she has fought for the bill since October 2011.Smith-Sotillo’s son, Syd Sotillo, the co-founder of SCAF, died from the hemolytic version of the disease, which causes organ failure, at age 30 in April 2012. Her daughter, Cathyann Sotillo, is also afflicted by the disease and takes the drug...…After more than a decade of work, an advocate for a statewide sickle cell detection education bill is delighted that Gov. Hochul signed it into law on Dec. 8.Merlene Smith-Sotillo, co-founder of the Sickle Cell Awareness Foundation, located at 108-03 164 Place in South Jamaica, told the Chronicle that she has fought for the bill since October 2011.Smith-Sotillo’s son, Syd Sotillo, the co-founder of SCAF, died from the hemolytic version of the disease, which causes organ failure, at age 30 in April 2012. Her daughter, Cathyann Sotillo, is also afflicted by the disease and takes the drug...WW…

The City Council’s vote on an educational sickle cell disease bill last week was a long time coming for one of the legislation’s advocates, who has a daughter afflicted by the disease and lost a son to it.“It’s been crazy, it’s exciting,” Merlene Smith-Sotillo, co-founder of the Sickle Cell Awareness Foundation, told the Chronicle. “It encompasses all people who have sickle cell in New York.”Intro. 0968B, which the Council unanimously approved on Nov. 2, will amend a city code to improve health outcomes for individuals affected by the disease. It will accomplish that by requiring...…The City Council’s vote on an educational sickle cell disease bill last week was a long time coming for one of the legislation’s advocates, who has a daughter afflicted by the disease and lost a son to it.“It’s been crazy, it’s exciting,” Merlene Smith-Sotillo, co-founder of the Sickle Cell Awareness Foundation, told the Chronicle. “It encompasses all people who have sickle cell in New York.”Intro. 0968B, which the Council unanimously approved on Nov. 2, will amend a city code to improve health outcomes for individuals affected by the disease. It will accomplish that by requiring...WW…

A New Jersey man was arrested for threatening to “shoot up” John F. Kennedy International Airport, according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office.According to the charges, on April 30 at approximately 8:30 a.m., the estranged wife of Darnell King, 39, was in Terminal 5 at JFK Airport after returning from an overseas flight when she received a text message and video from King, the DA’s Office said. He said he was going to meet her at the airport and that the recording was his “last will and testament.”In the video, with a firearm visible in the passenger seat, King allegedly said, “I’m...…A New Jersey man was arrested for threatening to “shoot up” John F. Kennedy International Airport, according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office.According to the charges, on April 30 at approximately 8:30 a.m., the estranged wife of Darnell King, 39, was in Terminal 5 at JFK Airport after returning from an overseas flight when she received a text message and video from King, the DA’s Office said. He said he was going to meet her at the airport and that the recording was his “last will and testament.”In the video, with a firearm visible in the passenger seat, King allegedly said, “I’m...WW…

During a meeting of the Texas Southern University (TSU) Board of Regents on April 25th, Brandon L. Simmons, Chairman of the Texas Southern University Board of Regents, announced that James W. Crawford III was selected as the sole finalist for president of TSU.“I applaud the work of the Presidential Search Committee in identifying an extraordinary leader who will shepherd Texas Southern University during such a consequential time for higher education,” said...… During a meeting of the Texas Southern University (TSU) Board of Regents on April 25th, Brandon L. Simmons, Chairman of the Texas Southern University Board of Regents, announced that James W. Crawford III was selected as the sole finalist for president of TSU.“I applaud the work of the Presidential Search Committee in identifying an extraordinary leader who will shepherd Texas Southern University during such a consequential time for higher education,” said...WW…

“Now that I’ve been selected by the Indianapolis Colts, I’m going to show the world what I can do.”These are the powerful and prophetic words that 21-year-old football phenom, Adonai Mitchell, shared with the Forward Times after being selected as the 52nd overall pick in the recent 2024 National Football League (NFL) Draft by the Indianapolis Colts.The 6 ft. 4 in., 196-pound wide receiver, had a storied college career and is excited to take his talents to the...… “Now that I’ve been selected by the Indianapolis Colts, I’m going to show the world what I can do.”These are the powerful and prophetic words that 21-year-old football phenom, Adonai Mitchell, shared with the Forward Times after being selected as the 52nd overall pick in the recent 2024 National Football League (NFL) Draft by the Indianapolis Colts.The 6 ft. 4 in., 196-pound wide receiver, had a storied college career and is excited to take his talents to the...WW…

Skip to contentAt the beginning of the season there were thought to be two superteams in the WNBA: the defending champion Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty. Now here we are in October with both of those teams meeting up in the WNBA Finals as expected. It should be an epic showdown and a series for the ages. Here is my WNBA Finals preview.This matchup has everything. It has three players who have won a total of 5 MVP awards (Breanna Stewart, A’ja Wilson, and Jonquel Jones), which were all in the last six seasons, 5 former number one overall draft picks (Stewart, Wilson, Kelsey...…Skip to contentAt the beginning of the season there were thought to be two superteams in the WNBA: the defending champion Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty. Now here we are in October with both of those teams meeting up in the WNBA Finals as expected. It should be an epic showdown and a series for the ages. Here is my WNBA Finals preview.This matchup has everything. It has three players who have won a total of 5 MVP awards (Breanna Stewart, A’ja Wilson, and Jonquel Jones), which were all in the last six seasons, 5 former number one overall draft picks (Stewart, Wilson, Kelsey...WW…

Wednesday, September 14, 2022Abu Dhabi: A video of three men sexually assaulting a 13-year-old Syrian boy in Lebanon has gone viral on social media and caused outrage in the country.The video showed the three young men kidnapping the boy and beating him, before forcing him to engage in sexual acts with them, with rumours also accusing the trio of raping the child.The boy is seen trying to escape several times in the video.According to Lebanese media, the incident occurred in the town of Sohmor, Western Bekaa.One of the men was identified on social media and was forced to...…Wednesday, September 14, 2022Abu Dhabi: A video of three men sexually assaulting a 13-year-old Syrian boy in Lebanon has gone viral on social media and caused outrage in the country.The video showed the three young men kidnapping the boy and beating him, before forcing him to engage in sexual acts with them, with rumours also accusing the trio of raping the child.The boy is seen trying to escape several times in the video.According to Lebanese media, the incident occurred in the town of Sohmor, Western Bekaa.One of the men was identified on social media and was forced to...WW…

Tuesday, September 13, 2022Abu Dhabi: Saudi Arabia’s decision to raise the value-added tax (VAT) rate to 15 per cent was enforced on Wednesday on all goods and services subject to it in markets across the Kingdom, after a royal decree was issued on May 11, Saudi media reported Wednesday.The Saudi General Authority of Zakat and Income called on all taxpayers who are registered in the value-added tax to verify the readiness of their facilities, and learn about all transitional provisions related to raising the tax rate, by reviewing the guidelines for transitional provisions related to...…Tuesday, September 13, 2022Abu Dhabi: Saudi Arabia’s decision to raise the value-added tax (VAT) rate to 15 per cent was enforced on Wednesday on all goods and services subject to it in markets across the Kingdom, after a royal decree was issued on May 11, Saudi media reported Wednesday.The Saudi General Authority of Zakat and Income called on all taxpayers who are registered in the value-added tax to verify the readiness of their facilities, and learn about all transitional provisions related to raising the tax rate, by reviewing the guidelines for transitional provisions related to...WW…

Tuesday, September 13, 2022Abu Dhabi: After years of waiting, the women’s driving school in Asir is complete and will be opened soon by Prince Turki bin Talal, the governor of the region.The building, located on King Fahd Road, linking Khamis Mushait and Abha governorates in south-west Saudi Arabia, is estimated at 70,000 square metres, and it includes a main building with full services and a spacious driving arena.Starting June 24, 2018, Saudi women were allowed to drive a car on their own, capping a 30-year campaign to end the world’s last ban on female drivers. Until then, Saudi Arabia...…Tuesday, September 13, 2022Abu Dhabi: After years of waiting, the women’s driving school in Asir is complete and will be opened soon by Prince Turki bin Talal, the governor of the region.The building, located on King Fahd Road, linking Khamis Mushait and Abha governorates in south-west Saudi Arabia, is estimated at 70,000 square metres, and it includes a main building with full services and a spacious driving arena.Starting June 24, 2018, Saudi women were allowed to drive a car on their own, capping a 30-year campaign to end the world’s last ban on female drivers. Until then, Saudi Arabia...WW…

Wednesday, September 14, 2022Abu Dhabi: The number of beneficiaries of the Human Resources Development Fund’s (Hadaf) transportation programme for Saudi women employees has reached 10,000, local media reported.Beneficiaries of the programme receive an 80 per cent discount on the cost of each trip. This is after the ceiling of subsidy has been increased to SR1,100 a month for beneficiaries with a monthly salary not exceeding SR6,000 and SR800 for beneficiaries with a monthly salary of SR6,001-SR8,000.The programme aims to find solutions that reduce the burden of transportation costs for...…Wednesday, September 14, 2022Abu Dhabi: The number of beneficiaries of the Human Resources Development Fund’s (Hadaf) transportation programme for Saudi women employees has reached 10,000, local media reported.Beneficiaries of the programme receive an 80 per cent discount on the cost of each trip. This is after the ceiling of subsidy has been increased to SR1,100 a month for beneficiaries with a monthly salary not exceeding SR6,000 and SR800 for beneficiaries with a monthly salary of SR6,001-SR8,000.The programme aims to find solutions that reduce the burden of transportation costs for...WW…