Dr. Rhonda Achonolu comforts her son Kenechi, 9, as he is inoculated with first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children five to 12 years at The Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, in the Bronx borough of New York. The U.S. enters a new phase Wednesday in its COVID-19 vaccination campaign, with shots now available to millions of elementary-age children in what health officials hailed as a major breakthrough after more than 18 months of illness, hospitalizations, deaths and disrupted education. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Kids 5 to 11 Eligible for COVID Vaccine

28 million children are now eligible for the Pfizer COVID vaccine. President Biden touted the advancement towards ending the pandemic, and urged skeptical parents to discuss vaccines with family and friends.

In a separate teleconference, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky insisted the vaccine is safe and effective for children.

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In this March 29, 2020, photo, Regina Summers hands out hot meals donated by Clydes Restaurant Group and distributed by volunteers coordinating with Martha's Table in southeast Washington. Neighborhood deliveries are part of a new Martha's Table initiative, along with community partners, to get needed food directly to the neighborhoods they serve. These volunteers are the tip of the spear for a grassroots community effort to keep Washington's most vulnerable neighborhoods fed during the unprecedented coronavirus crisis which has nearly shut down the American economy. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Washington, DC’s Fight Against Hunger

Washington’s long-standing battle with food insecurity was only exacerbated by the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The City’s plan of attack has included SNAP benefits, funding for Black and Latinx-owned food businesses, and partnerships between the DC Food Policy Council local non-profits. Mayor Muriel Bowser pledged $5 million to improve food access.

Two years after the pandemic began, their efforts have only scratched the surface as food-based non-profit organizations like Dreaming Out Loud and Martha’s Table have continued to see demand grow.

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Source: mdac.ms.gov

Open Season Has Begun With Thriving Businesses and New World Regulation

Two years ago; outbreak in Covid-19 rocked the world and left it at a standstill. Since then, everything slowly began to return back to normal as the world opened back up for business. Here in Jackson, MS they have begun to open back up by welcoming in the 162nd Mississippi State Fair, with new regulations and protocols. This has also opened up a plethora of black owned businesses.

See here, as we gain the inside scoop of a newly young black owner Patrick Bridges.

The Mississippi State Fair was founded in with attendance now averaging over 600,000 annually. COVID-19 safety protocols have included properly spaced venues and a routine sanitation of highly touched areas. The fair does not require masks but ask those who have exhibited COVID-19 like symptoms within the past two weeks to stay at home.

The commissioner of agriculture and commerce, Andy Gipson said in a statement that, “the CDC (Centers for disease control and prevention) advises that people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions may be at higher risk for severe illness from coronavirus.”

“We will continue to monitor the situation closely and utilize the guidance of the Mississippi State department of health and CDC. The Mississippi State Fairgrounds wants to make sure your visit to the state fair is a memorable and safe experience. I hope to see you there,” said Gipson.

Local business is welcoming the return of the Mississippi State Fair.

Entrepreneur and Jackson State University senior Patrick Bridges hopes to prove that ownership is within us as Black people, so why not start by owning and selling back in predominantly Black communities.

“I know that Covid has taken over most of our livelihood, but that should not stop us from making bigger moves,” said Bridges. “With the Mississippi State Fair being around, hopefully people can see that the business here in Mississippi is booming with real estate, restaurants and more.”

Visit the Mississippi State Fair website for more info.

FILE - In this Jan. 22, 2021, file photo, a certified medical assistant prepares doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination center at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. With more than 40 million doses of coronavirus vaccines available, U.S. health authorities said they're confident both seniors and other vulnerable Americans seeking booster shots and parents anticipating approval of initial shots for young children will have easy access. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

Pfizer, BioNTech Submit COVID Vaccine Data To FDA For Kids 5-11

Pfizer and BioNTech have submitted data to the FDA from trials of nearly 2300 participants aged 5-11.

Dr. Anthony Fauci suggests pending FDA approval, children will be eligible for COVID vaccines by the end of October.

What can we expect next for the fourth quarter? Listen to Ebony McMorris’ report.

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FILE - In this Sept. 14, 2021, file photo, a health worker administers a dose of a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccination clinic at the Reading Area Community College in Reading, Pa. A key government advisory panel overwhelmingly rejected Biden's plan to give COVID-19 booster shots across the board and instead recommended the extra vaccine dose only for those who are 65 or older or run a high risk of severe disease. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Americans Seeking COVID Boosters Despite New Recommendations

There was a huge expectation for COVID boosters to be rolled out to the public this week. However, neither the CDC nor the FDA are making such recommendations. But this is not stopping many Americans from seeking a third vaccine dose.

Dr. Anthony Fauci is warning against a third dose and following CDC recommendations and FDA approval given new data on a weekly basis.

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On The Record #132: Ebony McMorris with CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky

Ebony McMorris interviews Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry on the Delta variant ravaging much of the southern United States.

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FILE - In this Aug. 4, 2021, file photo, housing advocates protest outside Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office on the eviction moratorium in New York. The Supreme Court is blocking part of New York's moratorium on evictions, put into effect because of the coronavirus pandemic, less than a month before it is supposed to expire anyway. (AP Photo/Brittainy Newman, File)

Supreme Court Partially Overturns Eviction Moratorium

The Supreme Court has overturned part of a New York eviction moratorium, allowing evictions to resume and putting the onus on renters to prove pandemic hardship in court.

The move has been applauded by some as a win for small landlords who were denied access to their property and were unable to collect rent for 17 months. New York City leads the nation in renters behind on payments with back rent now totaling $3.2 billion dollars.

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Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, center, speaks with reporters outside the West Wing of the White House after a meeting with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, Friday, May 7, 2021, in Washington. Standing behind Walsh are Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, from left, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia Fudge and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Labor Secretary Walsh: Equity and Inclusion are Priorities of Biden Jobs Plan

The May labor report saw a decrease in unemployment from 6.1% to 5.8%. However, unemployment in the African American community remains at 9.1%.

Ebony McMorris asked Labor Secretary Marty Walsh what the Biden Administration plans for communities of color. Secretary Walks says President Biden has made equity a priority in his jobs plan, including signing an executive order to ensure all cabinets are focused on equity and opportunities for Black Americans.

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A roadside banner beckons potential employees outside Channel Control Merchants LLC, an extreme value retailer and exporter of brand sensitive secondary market inventories, in Hattiesburg, Miss., March 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Disappointing May Job Numbers

Disappointing May jobs numbers show the US added 599,000 jobs, below the 670,000 expected by analysts. This on the heels of low April jobs numbers which yielded 266,000 despite predictions of 1,000,000.

There is some good news as the unemployment rate ticked down to from 6.1% to 5.8%. Employers blame stimulus payments for their struggle to fill millions of job vacancies. Employees continue to grapple with child care and concern over the coronavirus.

Another round of stimulus payments will likely not happen as the Biden Administration continues to push bipartisanship for a jobs plan and a family plan.

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FILE - In this Friday, March 5, 2021 file photo, a restaurant worker holds his face mask in Biloxi, Miss. On Friday, March 12, 2021, The Associated Press reported on stories circulating online incorrectly asserting a new study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that mask mandates have a negligible impact on coronavirus numbers. Those claims distort the findings, according to CDC scientist Gery Guy Jr., the study's lead author. “Each day that growth rate is going down, the cumulative effect — in terms of cases and deaths — adds up to be quite substantial,” Guy told the AP in a previous report. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

New CDC Mask Mandate Creates Debate and Confusion

This was the first weekend Americans were given the green light from the CDC to go without a mask if they were fully vaccinated.

Dr. Ashish Jha, Dean of Brown University School of Public Health, appeared on ABC Good Morning America recommended waiting to lift the new guidelines until more Americans are vaccinated.

Dr. Anthony Fauci agreed with the new updates and said the CDC is trying to keep up with new data.

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