Black Legislative & Community Knowledge

Les Wexner, the billionaire former Victoria's Secret CEO, testified before a House committee investigating his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, calling himself naive and foolish for trusting the convicted sex offender who worked as his financial adviser. Wexner denied any knowledge of Epstein's crimes and maintained he was a victim himself, claiming Epstein stole large amounts of money from his family during their decades-long business relationship that began in the 1980s. Democratic lawmakers strongly suggested that Wexner's financial support was essential to enabling Epstein's sex trafficking operation, though Wexner has never faced criminal charges despite being named in a 2019 FBI document as a potential co-conspirator. The 88-year-old businessman testified in a closed-door deposition at his Ohio home, insisting he severed ties with Epstein after child abuse allegations emerged in Florida.

A devastating avalanche in California's Lake Tahoe backcountry on Tuesday killed at least eight skiers, with one person still missing and presumed dead, while six others survived with injuries. The massive snow slide, roughly the size of a football field, struck a group of fifteen people during the final day of a guided three-day skiing expedition in the Castle Peak area. Recovery efforts have been hampered by treacherous conditions, including an additional three feet of snow that has fallen since the incident, leaving the bodies still trapped in the snowpack. The tragedy has deeply impacted the Sugar Bowl Academy ski school community, which lost multiple members, and involved approximately fifty rescue personnel working under extreme circumstances. Authorities are urging people to avoid the backcountry while recovery operations continue.

Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr., a towering figure in the American Civil Rights Movement, passed away Tuesday after battling Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, a neurodegenerative disease diagnosed earlier this year. Beginning his activism as a young college student in the 1960s, Jackson worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and witnessed his assassination in Memphis in 1968, after which he became an ordained minister and prominent civil rights leader in his own right. He founded Operation PUSH and the Rainbow Coalition, ran two groundbreaking presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988 that championed economic and racial justice, and served as an international diplomat securing the release of American prisoners from Syria, Iraq, and Yugoslavia. Despite health challenges including Parkinson's disease diagnosed in 2017 and his later PSP diagnosis, Jackson remained active in human rights advocacy until his final years, addressing issues from the Gaza humanitarian crisis to threats against American democracy.

One year after a massive 54-inch water main break devastated a Southwest Detroit neighborhood, hundreds of residents continue struggling with financial losses, health issues, and incomplete recovery. The February 2024 infrastructure failure flooded approximately 400 homes with chest-high water, destroying appliances, vehicles, and irreplaceable family belongings while displacing roughly 300 residents to hotels. Despite nearly $12 million in repair and recovery efforts from city authorities, many low-income residents—living in an area where nearly one-third are below the poverty line—remain unable to replace damaged property or address ongoing mental health trauma. Community organizers report that 57% of surveyed residents experienced health problems following the break, while immigration fears prevented some undocumented residents from evacuating or seeking assistance. The incident has prompted the Great Lakes Water Authority to implement new risk assessment procedures and launch a pilot program using electromagnetic technology to inspect aging steel pipes across the region.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer will deliver her final State of the State address on February 25, with expectations for a modest agenda given her remaining time in office and divided government. A Bridge Michigan analysis shows she has fulfilled or partially fulfilled 42 of 62 promises from her previous seven addresses, including major accomplishments like securing long-term road funding through a bipartisan deal and banning classroom smartphone use. Her approach has evolved from making direct promises to Michiganders toward issuing calls for legislative action, reflecting changing political dynamics as she worked with Republican, Democratic, and now divided legislatures. Notable failures from last year include lawmakers rejecting a proposed vape tax and missing both the July and October budget deadlines for the first time in 16 years. Political observers expect Whitmer to propose a shorter list of achievable items as she navigates her final year with a Republican-controlled House and Democratic Senate during an election year. # Key Takeaways

Detroit-area actor Brian Taylor discusses his portrayal of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in "The Mountaintop," a two-person theatrical production running at Detroit Public Theatre until March 8. The award-winning play presents a fictional account of King's final evening before his 1968 assassination. In his interview with host Stephen Henderson, Taylor describes his preparation process, including work with an acting coach and his research into King's life and character. He shares his perspective on King's legacy and his aspirations for what audiences will gain from experiencing the performance. # Key Takeaways