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Photo by DREW ANGERER/AFP via Getty Images By Melissa Noel ·Updated November 5, 2024

Democrat Angela Alsobrooks has been named the projected winer of Maryland’s U.S. Senate race against Republican Larry Hogan according to The Associated Press.

Her win makes her the first Black U.S. Senator in the state’s history.With a distinguished record of public service—including eight years as Prince George’s County State’s Attorney followed by two terms as County Executive—Alsobrooks is set to bring her deep-rooted experience to Congress, where she joins a small, historic cohort of Black women who have served in the Senate.

Alsobrooks’s campaign has carried historic weight, and her victory marks a new chapter for Maryland. “People like me don’t make it to the Senate, but we should,” Alsobrooks said during her address at the Democratic National Convention in August. She highlighted the systemic barriers that Black women face in reaching high political office. Reflecting on the experience, she told ESSENCE, “We’ve only elected two Black women to the Senate and only had three serve so far, so it was a joy to go out on that stage and represent so many people whose voices, I believe have been underrepresented in the Senate. And it was a great moment.

Alsobrooks shared that her inspiration for public service was partly sparked by Kamala Harris, who was then a district attorney in San Francisco. In 2009, Alsobrooks read an ESSENCE article about Harris’s innovative approach to justice. “I read a story in Essence magazine about a district attorney using new ideas to keep her community safe,” she recalled. Motivated, Alsobrooks began implementing restorative justice principles in her own work, working toward a reimagined justice system that broadens access to opportunity and reduces recidivism.

Looking ahead, Alsobrooks said determined to enact meaningful change on key issues, including economic opportunity and healthcare access. Her platform emphasizes expanding reproductive rights, improving healthcare access, and increasing educational resources for Marylanders. She has also voiced her support for comprehensive immigration reform, including arel="tag">Angela Alsobrooks Election 2024 Paint The Polls Black

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According to Apartments.com, the average cost of renting a one-bedroom apartment in San Francisco is about $3,000 per month. Brownstone Shared Housing has created a more affordable option: sleeping pods. 

For $700 a month, San Francisco residents can rent a pod the size of a twin-sized bed. The four-foot-tall pod has two fans, a mirror, and a privacy curtain. The sleeping units are housed inside a building with shared restrooms, storage facilities, and a workspace. The price is ideal for up-and-coming entrepreneurs living in one of the most expensive cities in the U.S., where the cost of living is 70% above the national average.

“I was living in the Presidio before and was kind of looking for cheaper options just so I could keep working on the stuff I wanted to and working on open-source projects,” Ben, a resident and entrepreneur, told ABC 7 News, San Francisco.

When the housing project gained popularity last year, the city threatened to shut it down due to a lack of proper permits. Brownstone Shared Housing Co-Founder James Stallworth said they were forced to stop renting pods to potential residents until they received the required permits from the city.

“There was never anything illegal about the pods. It’s just that we didn’t have a change of use because this building used to be a bank. So, we went through that process for about a year. In the meantime, the planning department at some point said that we can’t list it because people were complaining thinking we were renting illegal housing,” Stallworth told ABC 7 News, San Fransisco.

Additionally, Stallworth said they had to make some repairs in the building to comply with city safety standards. After a year-long process, The San Fransico Department of Inspections issued a letter of approval for the pods. 

Stallworth said they are creating additional housing pods in a larger building, which is slated to open early next year. 

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By Okla Jones ·Updated November 4, 2024

BET+ is set to light up the holiday season with the highly anticipated return of ALL THE QUEEN’S MEN for its fourth season, premiering on Thursday, November 28, 2024. Fans will be treated to a riveting double-episode premiere, setting the tone for what promises to be the most explosive season yet, with new episodes rolling out every week.

The hit series, starring Eva Marcille as the fierce and fearless Marilyn “Madam” DeVille, dives into deeper waters as she sets out on a relentless mission to take down those behind her father’s kidnapping. This season’s storyline guarantees a symphony of intrigue, betrayal, and unrelenting ambition as Madam fights tooth and nail to safeguard her empire and exact her revenge.

Returning to join Madam’s perilous quest are series regulars Skyh Alvester Black (Amp “Addiction” Anthony), Candace Maxwell (DJ Dime), and Racquel Palmer (Blue), among others, bringing more intensity and complex dynamics to the screen. With its signature blend of high-stakes drama and shocking twists, season four is poised to captivate audiences from start to finish.

For those eager to revisit or catch up on the gripping saga, seasons one through three are available to stream now, exclusively on BET+. With the return of ALL THE QUEEN’S MEN, the platform continues to solidify its place as a hub for powerful storytelling and Black excellence in entertainment.

Take a look at the trailer for ALL THE QUEEN’S MEN below.

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