ALBANY, N.Y. (TCN) — A 53-year-old woman will spend the next 25 years in prison for smothering her newborn son to death, leaving him in a park, and lighting his blanket on fire to cover up her tracks nearly 30 years ago.
The Albany County District Attorney’s Office announced Keri Mazzuca’s sentencing on April 18, saying she pleaded guilty in February to first-degree manslaughter in connection with the death of her son known as “Baby Moses.”
Baby Moses’ body was found in Washington Park on the morning of Sept. 7, 1997. Investigators searched for answers, but it would take 27 years and new DNA technology for them to identify Mazzuca as the child’s mother. She was arrested Sept. 14, 2024, on charges of second-degree murder, concealment of a human corpse, and tampering with physical evidence.
According to the Albany Times-Union, Mazzuca confessed at her plea hearing that she killed her son by covering his mouth and nose with her hand. When he died, she reportedly covered him with a blanket, put him in a bag, and left him in the park under a statue of Moses, which is why he was named Baby Moses. Then, she reportedly lit the blanket on fire. The pathologist said the child was born healthy and was alive for less than 12 hours. The boy’s umbilical cord was still attached.
Mazzuca reportedly testified that she did not know she was pregnant before giving birth in her bathroom. Baby Moses’ father allegedly told detectives he was not aware that Mazzuca was pregnant or that she killed the child.
At the sentencing hearing, Mazzuca apologized and called herself a “great mom,” adding, “I’ve lived a law-abiding life.”
She admitted she “did a horrible, unimaginable thing. And I lived with remorse and regret.”
Mazzuca’s attorney said, “What occurred here was done under extreme emotional disturbance.”
Albany County Judge Roger McDonough, however, called it a “tragedy beyond measure.”
He said, “How can I measure what he would have accomplished in his life? He’d be 27 now, probably have children of his own.”
District Attorney Lee Kindlon said following the sentencing, “Albany is one of those places that just doesn’t quit. We take care of our own and we stick together, and today’s outcome in this case is a demonstration of that resolve. The men and women of the Albany Police Department, the FBI, New York State Police, the DA’s office, the students and professors who came together in this case, they helped their own, they helped Baby Moses. And I couldn’t be more proud of their efforts.”
Case Closed – Albany County District Attorney’s Office
Keri Mazzuca sentenced for death of infant, bringing a close to ‘Baby Moses’ case – Albany Times-Union
Arrest Made in Twenty-Seven-Year-Old Cold Case Homicide, 9/16/2024 – Albany Police Department
A former Victoria’s Secret employee said she was sexually harassed by the lingerie department manager at a Philadelphia store, according to a lawsuit. And when she reported her experience, she alleges, she was retaliated against during her shifts and ignored by company higher-ups.
The claims were laid out in a lawsuit that was filed last month in the U.S. District Court in Philadelphia and reported on earlier this week by Philadelphia Magazine. The suit seeks unspecified damages from Victoria’s Secret.
The North Philadelphia woman, Ionnae Alvarado-Jones, said the harassment started in February 2022, not long after she started her job as a sales associate at the Victoria’s Secret store in Liberty Place. According to court documents, a manager repeatedly told Alvarado-Jones she was “sexy,” commented on her breasts and touched her breasts and arm inappropriately.
A store manager saw this behavior and ignored it, Alvarado-Jones alleges in the lawsuit.
Alvarado-Jones also reported the harassment to the company’s ethics hotline and human resources departments, she said, but never heard back. After Alvarardo-Jones filed an initial report with the hotline, her managers at the store started to nitpick her work and scream and curse at her, according to the documents.
A spokesperson for Victoria’s Secret did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The manager accused of sexual harassment was named in the lawsuit, but not listed as a defendant. It is unclear whether any managers named in the lawsuit still work for Victoria’s Secret.
Alvarado-Jones, now 21, said the experience made her “physically sick,” and has turned her into a hyper-vigilant person, who can be sent into a panic by a tone of voice or an unexpected touch.
“Imagine being hyper-aware of every interaction, analyzing every word you say because you didn’t want to ‘provoke’ anything,” she said in a statement through her attorney, David Koller. “The anxiety became a constant hum in the background of my life, eventually clinging to my everyday thoughts, tasks, and activities.”
The Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr Emomotimi Agama, has responded to public criticism over the agency’s perceived inaction in the collapse of CBEX, a controversial investment platform accused of defrauding unsuspecting Nigerians.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Monday, Dr Agama explained that the SEC could not intervene because CBEX was never registered with the Commission.
“The first responsibility of the SEC is to watch over regulated institutions within the confines of its available resources.
“Once you are registered with the SEC, you are totally and completely under our watch. Registration actually is the hallmark of regulation. Without registration, the possibility of regulation becomes difficult,” he said.
He emphasised that the SEC only became aware of CBEX recently and had not received any reports about the platform before that time.
“It’s very pathetic that Nigerians will lose their money this way,” he said. “At the SEC, and I’m sure speaking for my colleagues, we’re very empathic about the situation. But even at that, we must say clearly that the idea or thoughts that the SEC is not working are totally out of it.”
According to Agama, CBEX had operated outside the Commission’s radar entirely.
“The CBEX is not registered with the SEC. And no one up until last week had reported the CBEX to the SEC as an investment platform or even made an inquiry to that effect,” he stated.
He stressed that despite such limitations, the SEC has remained proactive in educating the public about safe investing.
“We have continued mass education. Just about two months ago, we launched a podcast at the SEC to provide information to people. We’ve also gone around holding enlightenment campaigns all over the place,” he noted.
To avoid falling victim to fraudulent schemes, he advised Nigerians to seek professional advice before making any investments.
“If there is any investment you are not sure about, contact a financial advisor, a lawyer, an investment advisor or a stockbroker. Investments are very serious business, and Nigerians must take time to check and confirm before delving into it.”
On the notion that CBEX was in the process of securing certification, Agama dismissed the claims.
“It’s totally untrue, in capital letters. No institution applies to the SEC after operating. You cannot operate without a licence from the SEC. That alone is a red flag,” he added.
He also addressed the misconception that registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) is equivalent to SEC approval.
“Sometimes these people are deceptive and manipulative. They could have applied for registration not as an investment platform or exchange. So they may receive a certificate innocently from the CAC,” he said.
Agama assured that justice will be pursued through an ongoing investigation and collaboration with other relevant government agencies.
“We are continually investigating this CBEX scheme, and of course, we will bring them to book. There is a strong collaboration between all the agencies of government to make sure that this happens. As much as possible, whatever we can recover, certainly in this instance, will be returned back to the investors,” he said.
We Became Aware Of CBEX After Nigerians Lost Money—SEC is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
WASHINGTON (AP) — In just two months as the federal health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made sweeping changes to the Department of Health and Human Services — and its priorities.
He’s dismissed 10,000 public health workers, met with state governors who want to restrict unhealthy foods in taxpayer-funded programs and delivered an inconsistent message on vaccines as measles outbreaks across the country have sickened hundreds. Last week, he promised to find some of the causes of rising U.S. autism rates in under six months’ time.
Kennedy’s followers — a contingent of health-conscious moms, Republicans loyal to President Donald Trump and others — have celebrated his “Make America Healthy Again” initiatives. But scientists and public health experts have expressed dismay over some of Kennedy’s statements about Americans’ diets, vaccines, measles and autism. Here’s a look at some of those claims Kennedy has made, with additional context and facts.
Autism
KENNEDY, at a news conference Wednesday: Studies show that autism rates in the U.S. were “1 in 10,000 when I was a kid” compared to a recent U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study that found it to be 1 in 31. He says that is evidence of an autism epidemic in the U.S. and that, “we know it’s an environmental exposure. It has to be.”
THE FACTS: It’s true that in the 20th century, only 1 in 10,000 children were diagnosed with autism —- the diagnosis was rare and given only to kids with severe problems communicating or socializing and those with unusual, repetitive behaviors. But the term became shorthand for a group of milder, related conditions known as ″autism spectrum disorders,” and the number of kids labeled as having some form of autism began to balloon.
The term “epidemic” is widely used to describe surges in different health problems — like autism, obesity and gun violence, to name a few. But strictly speaking, “epidemic” is defined as a fast-spreading outbreak of disease, and there’s not good evidence that autism meets that definition.
Health officials have largely attributed growing autism numbers to better recognition of cases, through wide screening and better diagnosis. Last week, the CDC said diagnosis rate is up to 1 in 31 children.
There are no blood or biologic tests for autism; it is diagnosed by making judgments about a child’s behavior. Research has looked at a variety of other possible explanations, including genetics, the age of the father, the weight of the mother and chemicals in the environment.
Prior to his rise to health secretary, Kennedy joined anti-vaccine advocates in claiming childhood vaccines are responsible for autism, but studies by the CDC and others have ruled that out. A fraudulent single study that claimed a link between the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine was later retracted by the journal that published it.
Kennedy recently announced a major study into the cause of autism and told an April 10 Cabinet meeting: “By September we will know what has caused the autism epidemic and we’ll be able to eliminate those exposures.” But last week, he softened that to having ”some of the answers by September.”
— Mike Stobbe and Devi Shastri
Vaccines
KENNEDY, in interview with Sean Hannity that aired on Fox News on March 11: “There are adverse events from the vaccine. It does cause deaths every year. It causes — it causes all the illnesses that measles itself causes, encephalitis and blindness, et cetera. And so people ought to be able to make that choice for themselves.”
THE FACTS: The measles vaccine is safe and its risks are lower than the risks of complications from measles. There have been no documented deaths from the MMR vaccine in healthy, non-immunocompromised people, according to the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
Most people who get the MMR vaccine have no serious problems from it, the CDC says. The most common side effects are mild: a sore arm, fever, mild rash and temporary joint pain or stiffness in teenage or adult women who don’t already have rubella immunity. There is a very small risk of febrile seizures that increases as infants get older, which is why the shot is recommended as early as possible.
Some people can have allergic reactions; people allergic to the antibiotic neomycin should not get the shot, according to the CDC.
— Devi Shastri
KENNEDY, in an April interview with CBS: “We’re always going to have measles, no matter what happens, as the (MMR) vaccine wanes very quickly.”
THE FACTS: The measles vaccine is highly protective and lasts a lifetime for most people. Two doses of the vaccine are 97% effective against the virus, according to the CDC and medical experts worldwide. Before the vaccine was introduced in 1963, the U.S. saw some 3 million to 4 million cases per year. Now, it’s usually fewer than 200 in a normal year.
Usually, most measles cases come to the U.S. from abroad. This is why high vaccination rates are important. When 95% or more people are vaccinated, entire communities are considered protected from the virus, which is important for people who are too young or who cannot get the vaccine due to health issues.
— Devi Shastri
Measles
KENNEDY, in a CBS interview posted April 9, discussing death of 8-year-old child in Texas who had measles: “The thing that killed (her) was not the measles, but it was a bacteriological infection.”
THE FACTS: Two children in Texas have died — both from measles complications, according to the Texas State Department of Health and Human Services. The state health department has made clear that the children were not vaccinated and had no underlying conditions. Doctors at University Medical Center in Lubbock who treated the 8-year-old said she died of “measles pulmonary failure.”
Claiming that patients die of complications and not the actual disease that led to them is a tactic that anti-vaccine advocates have used to undermine Texas health experts since the first child died of measles in March — and in other outbreaks before that. It’s also a talking point that Kennedy, who spent 20 years as one of the world’s leading anti-vaccine activists, continues to amplify.
Measles complications can include pneumonia, brain swelling and other respiratory or neurological complications, which can lead to death in 1 to 3 of every 1,000 children who are infected, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—-Devi Shastri
KENNEDY, in April 6 in an X post, said two Texas doctors “have treated and healed some 300 measles-stricken Mennonite children using aerosolized budesonide and clarithromycin.”
THE FACTS: Pediatricians note there is no cure for measles: It is a virus that the body has to fight off on its own. The best way to protect against the risks of measles is to get vaccinated to lower the chance of contracting it.
Budesonide is a steroid used in different forms to treat asthma, ulcerative colitis and other conditions. Clarithromycin is an antibiotic; it fights bacteria, not viruses. Neither drug is recommended for treating measles — the use is “risky and unproven” — the American Academy of Pediatrics says.
“There are no miracle cures for measles,” Dr. Sean O’Leary, who chairs the academy’s Committee on Infectious Diseases, recently said in a fact check on the organization’s website. “If your child becomes sick with measles, doctors will do everything we can to care for them, but the truth is we do not have effective treatments against this viral infection.”
—-Devi Shastri
Nutrition and obesity
KENNEDY, at an April 15 event in Indianapolis, said 70% of Americans are obese or overweight, compared to 3% of Americans during President John F. Kennedy’s tenure in the early 1960s.
THE FACTS: Nearly three-quarters of Americans are overweight, including about 40% with obesity, according to recent figures from the CDC. Between 1960 and 1962, about 13% of people in the U.S. had obesity, according to historic CDC data.
The rise in obesity in the U.S. and other developed countries in recent decades has been well-documented and studied. Experts say there is no single explanation for the increase, but that it stems from a combination of factors, including biological and environmental contributors, an increase in available calories and a decline in physical activity. Changes in the food supply, including the development of high-calorie, cheap ultraprocessed foods have been linked to obesity, but exactly how these foods affect weight gain remains unclear.
KENNEDY at April 10 cabinet meeting regarding food dyes: “We’ve shown now that this directly affects academic performance, violence in the schools, and mental health, as well as physical health.”
THE FACTS: Recent research shows synthetic food colors common in U.S. foods are linked to neurobehavioral problems in children and that the dyes may cause or exacerbate symptoms, particularly hyperactivity. In addition, children may vary widely in their sensitivity to the dyes.
“It is clear that some children are likely to be more adversely affected by food dyes than others,” researchers in California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment reported in 2021.
Those responses have the potential to affect school work and behaviors such as aggression, but to date there is no clear evidence of a direct relationship between food dyes and academic performance, violence or other mental and physical conditions, scientists say.
To date, scientific evidence shows that “most children have no adverse effects when consuming foods containing color additives,” according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which regulates the dyes.
KENNEDY on March 28 during a speech in West Virginia to encourage restrictions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: “Twenty years ago, there was no diabetes in China. Today 50% of the population is diabetic.”
THE FACTS: Diabetes prevalence has gone up in China over the past two decades, driven by rising living standards, urbanization and an aging population. About 6.1% of the population had diabetes in 2001-2002, according to a 2005 analysis.
But that has only grown to to 12.4%, according to latest data included in a Lancet report in 2024.
— JoNel Aleccia
AP reporter Amanda Seitz in Washington contributed to this report.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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Job Summary
We are seeking a highly skilled Climate Finance Specialist to lead the coordination, development, and implementation of climate finance projects.
The successful candidate will be instrumental in securing funding from global climate finance mechanisms such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Adaptation Fund (AF), and Global Environment Facility (GEF), while ensuring ongoing compliance with accreditation requirements.
The specialist will identify and develop a pipeline of climate-related projects, manage proposal submissions, oversee implementation and monitoring, and foster stakeholder partnerships at national and international levels.
Key Responsibilities
Climate Fund Accreditation & Compliance:
Ensure continuous compliance with GCF accreditation standards.
Manage re-accreditation and readiness for AF and GEF accreditation.
Utilize Direct Access Entity (DAE) status to facilitate climate finance projects.
Project Development & Management:
Identify viable climate projects in collaboration with national stakeholders.
Develop concept notes and full funding proposals aligned with GCF/NDC priorities.
Design financial models and implementation frameworks.
Manage project implementation, monitoring, and risk mitigation.
Stakeholder Engagement & Capacity Building:
Build and maintain relationships with government, development partners, and global climate fund institutions.
Represent the organization in global climate dialogues.
Design and deliver internal training programs and GCF Readiness support.
Monitoring, Evaluation, & Reporting:
Develop and manage M&E systems in collaboration with internal teams.
Ensure accurate financial reporting and compliance with donor standards.
Oversee independent audits and submit periodic project reports.
Required Qualifications and Experience
Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Economics, Climate Finance, Sustainable Development, Business Administration, or related fields.
Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience, including 4 years in DFIs or multilateral climate finance settings.
Demonstrated experience with GCF accreditation and proposal development.
Familiarity with Nigerian NDCs and international climate policy frameworks.
Proficiency in project management tools (e.g., Asana, Jira) and MS Office Suite.
Relevant certifications (PMP, Climate Finance Essentials, CFA, etc.) are an advantage.
Strong communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.
Secunda Operations (SO) operates the world’s largest coal-to-liquids (CTL) facility and produces synthesis gas (syngas) through coal gasification and natural gas reforming, using Sasol’s unique and proprietary Fischer-Tropsch technology to manufacture synthetic fuel components, pipeline gas and chemical feedstock
Using authoritative level of experience in Instrumentation and Control engineering to:
Support operations by means of applying control engineering skills to solve challenging problems.
This includes controller simulation, design, implementation, end-user training and post implementation support, as well as sometimes supporting projects in accordance with established principles and standards to satisfy business requirements.
Guide and manage stakeholders, providing technical direction on control strategies, control relating to RCAs, Hazops, controller health, HMI (human machine interface) graphics, alarm health and alarm management configuration changes in support of meaningful alarms and provision of related operator training.
Key Accountabilities
Broad base of Instrumentation and Control engineering knowledge and competence in particular relating to: – conceptualising and configuring control strategies notably on Honeywell TDC2000,3000 and Experion systems, – control loop analyses and process troubleshooting and controller troubleshooting, also troubleshooting multifunction controller based CL logic and accurately translating this into the Experion environment from 2027 onwards – Instrumentation and control systems utilised in chemical and petro-chemical process plants. Detailed knowledge in defined fields of Instrumentation and Control engineering: e.g. Base layer process control and to a lesser extent model based predictive control (ARC/APC/CRO) Alarm management practices Control and Safety Systems – DCS/PLC/ESD. NO ESD system related configuration is required. Proficiency in HAZOPs, RCA’s and Functional Safety reviews. Ability to write a control narrative from a controller map and apply it! Field – Instrumentation, control valves, on/off valves and analysers, have understanding of compressor control Human Machine Interface (HMI) design and governance. Formulate the instrumentation and control engineering scope for small to medium single discipline projects. Ability to plan and prioritise instrumentation and control systems on a roadmap for replacements/renewals taking account of system health, OEM recommendations and operational requirements. Present the business case in support of capital for initiatives that require funding. Show the benefit (revenue, safety, equipment longevity etc.) of control engineering work relative to a base case. Knowledge and application of computer languages i.e. Honeywell TDC3000 and Experion system function block logics, sequential function charts and CL coding. Lesser ability in Python, Java, HTML etc. nice to have. Aware of best practices and able to ensure/ maintain compliance in own area: Utilise instrumentation and control engineering systems, tools and standards and techniques (own, local and international) to achieve optimised plant operation. Create, develop and update instrumentation and control engineering narratives, drawings, tools and standards.
Formal Education
B Chem Eng. / BSc Chem Eng. /B.Electronic Eng and B Eng. (Hons) and/or M Eng. in Control Engineering (Wish)
The Katsina State Command has successfully foiled a kidnap attempt along Funtua to Gusau highway and rescued ten kidnapped victims
Spokesperson of the command, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, April 20, 2025.
“On April 19, 2025, at about 2135 hours, information was received at Faskari Division that suspected armed bandits laid ambush at Marabar Bangori village along Funtua-Gusau Road with intent to kidnap occupants of two vehicles. The vehicles, a black Golf Saloon (BWR 781 SW) and an ash-colored Golf (DTM 179 TA), were en route from Katsina to Faskari,” the statement read.
“Upon receiving the information, APC patrol team attached to Faskri Division mobilized and responded promptly to the scene, engaging the bandits in a gun battle. The bandits were overpowered and fled into the nearby bush, abandoning their mission.
“Ten (10) victims, including two (2) drivers and eight passengers, were rescued unhurt. Efforts are being made to ensure the arrest of the fleeing suspects as the investigation proceeds. Further developments will be communicated in due course.
“The Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, CP Bello Shehu, psc, fdc, MNIM, commends the officers for their professionalism and prompt response, which undoubtedly saved lives.
“He reiterates the commitment of the command towards ensuring the safety and security of the good people of Katsina state.”
In the wake of yet another spate of killings in Plateau State, Governor Caleb Mutfwang convened a meeting with critical stakeholders on Monday, a move that critics argue offers little tangible solution to the decades-long insecurity plaguing the state.
Speaking at the event, Mutfwang stated that the meeting aimed at “fashioning out ways of tackling the recurrent attacks and wanton destruction of properties in the state.” However, for many residents, this convening represents a familiar pattern of reactive measures that have consistently failed to stem the bloodshed.
The governor, acknowledging that the “security challenges in the state had spanned for over two decades,” explained that the meeting also aimed at uniting critical stakeholders towards ending the menace. Yet, the very need for such a meeting after years of violence underscores the government’s persistent inability to ensure the safety of its citizens.
While Mutfwang decried that “insecurity had posed a serious threat to the economic prosperity of Plateau,” his commendation of President Bola Tinubu for the measures put in place to tackle the security challenges rings hollow to those who have witnessed the continued loss of life and livelihoods.
“Right from the time the Jos market was burnt to this point, you will discover that even food production in Plateau has been on the decline,” Mutfwang conceded. “Recently, we took stock of farmlands which our people have not been able to cultivate because attempting to cultivate those farmlands is at the risk of their lives.” This stark admission highlights the profound impact of the ongoing insecurity, raising questions about the effectiveness of past and present security strategies.
“There is no part of this state that does not have its share of insecurity, so we must come together as a people to address this issue,” the governor urged. “This is why we called all of you here, so we can rob minds and find lasting solutions to the security challenges in our dear state.” However, the repeated calls for unity and dialogue have yielded little practical improvement in the safety of Plateau communities.
Mutfwang called on the stakeholders to be open and make positive suggestions that would lead to lasting peace in the state. But for many, the time for suggestions has long passed, and concrete action is what is desperately needed.
The meeting, which later went into closed doors, included former governors Fidelis Tapgun, Joshua Dariye, Jonah Jang, and retired Rear Admiral Bitrus Atukum, alongside serving and former senators, House Representatives members, traditional and religious leaders, government officials, and youth and women groups.
The presence of these prominent figures highlights the long history of the crisis, yet the cyclical nature of these meetings without a clear breakthrough offers a bleak outlook for lasting peace.
Rocket McDonald (front) and Makos Swim teammates enter the water without starting blocks during practice at the YMCA’s O’Fallon Park Rec Complex on March 18 in St. Louis. (MICHAEL B. THOMAS FOR KFF HEALTH NEWS)
by Cara Anthony, KFF Health News
At a swim meet just outside St. Louis, heads turned when a team of young swimmers walked through the rec center with their parents in tow.
A supportive mom kept her eye on the clock while the Makos Swim Team athletes tucked their natural curls, braids, and locs into yellow swimming caps. In the bleachers, spectators whispered about the team’s presence at the pool in Centralia, Illinois — as they do at almost every competition.
“They don’t know that we’re listening,” Randella Randell, a swimmer’s mom, later said. “But we’re here to stay. We’re here to represent. We’re going to show you that Black kids know how to swim. We swim, too.”
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Randell’s son, Elijah Gilliam, 14, is a member of the Makos’ competitive YMCA and USA Swimming program based in North St. Louis. Almost 40 athletes, ages 4 to 19, swim on the squad, which encourages Black and multiracial kids to participate in the sport. Coached by Terea Goodwin and Torrie Preciado, the team also spreads the word about water safety in their community.
“If we can get everybody to learn how to swim, just that little bit, it would save so many lives,” said Goodwin, a kitchen and bathroom designer by day who is known as Coach T at the pool. “Swimming is life.”
But just like mako sharks, such teams of Black swimmers are rare. Detroit has the Razor Aquatics, Howard University in Washington, D.C., has a team that’s made headlines for winning championships, and some alums from North Carolina A&T’s former swim team created a group to offer water safety classes.
Elijah Gilliam swims during practice at the YMCA’s O’Fallon Park Rec Complex on March 18, in St. Louis. (MICHAEL B. THOMAS FOR KFF HEALTH NEWS)
In the past, Black Americans were barred from many public swimming pools. When racial segregation was officially banned, white Americans established private swim clubs that required members to pay a fee that wasn’t always affordable. As a result, swimming remained effectively segregated, and many Black Americans stayed away from pools.
The impact is still felt. More than a third of Black adults report they do not know how to swim, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics, more than twice the rate for adults overall.
Seeing a need in their community, the parents of the Makos swimmers formed the Black Swimmers Alliance at the end of 2023 with a goal of “bridging the gap in aquatic skills,” according to its website. But the group, which offers swim lessons to families of color, is concerned about the flow of grant money dwindling because of the recent federal backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Even so, they are fundraising directly on their own, because lives are being lost.
Randella Randell and son Elijah Gilliam attend Makos Swim Team practice at the YMCA’s O’Fallon Park Rec Complex on March 18, in St. Louis. (MICHAEL B. THOMAS FOR KFF HEALTH NEWS)
In late January, a 6-year-old died at a hotel pool in St. Louis. A boy the same age drowned while taking swim lessons at a St. Louis County pool in 2022. And across the river in Hamel, Illinois, a 3-year-old boy drowned in a backyard pool last summer.
Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 through 4, according to the CDC. Black children and Black adults drown far more often than their white peers.
Members of the Black Swimmers Alliance discussed those statistics before their advocacy work began. They also had to address another issue — many of the adult volunteers and parents with children on the Makos team didn’t know how to swim. Even though their children were swimming competitively, the fear of drowning and the repercussions of history had kept the parents out of the pool.
The Makos athletes also noticed that their parents were timid around water. That’s when their roles reversed. The children started to look out for the grown-ups.
Joseph Johnson, now 14, called out his mom, Connie Johnson, when she tried to give him a few tips about how to improve his performance.
“He was like, ‘Mom, you have no idea,’” the now-55-year-old recalled. “At first, I was offended, but he was absolutely right. I didn’t know how to swim.”
She signed up for lessons with Coach T.
Connie Johnson and her son, Joseph, attend practice at the O’Fallon Park Rec Complex on March 18. She signed up for swimming lessons for herself after he joined the Makos Swim Team. (MICHAEL B. THOMAS FOR KFF HEALTH NEWS)
Najma Nasiruddin-Crump and her husband, Joshua Crump, signed up, too. His daughter Kaia Collins-Crump, now 14, had told them she wanted to join the Makos team the first time she saw it. But among the three of them, no one knew how to swim.
Joshua Crump, 38, said he initially felt silly at the lessons, then started to get the hang of it.
“I don’t swim well enough to beat any of the children in a race,” he said with a chuckle.
Joseph Johnson swims during the Makos Swim Team practice at the O’Fallon Park Rec Complex on March 18. (MICHAEL B. THOMAS FOR KFF HEALTH NEWS)
Nasiruddin-Crump, 33, said she was terrified the first time she jumped in the deep end. “It is the only moment in my life outside of birthing my children that I’ve been afraid of something,” she said. “But once you do it, it’s freedom. It’s pure freedom.”
Mahoganny Richardson, whose daughter Ava is on the team, volunteered to teach more Makos parents how to swim.
She said the work starts outside the pool with a conversation about a person’s experiences with water. She has heard stories about adults who were pushed into pools, then told to sink or swim. Black women were often told to stay out of the water to maintain hairstyles that would swell if their hair got wet.
Bradlin Jacob-Simms stands with her daughter, Karter, at the O’Fallon Park Rec Complex on March 18. Through the Black Swim Alliance, Jacob-Simms is taking swim lessons and Karter is competing on the Makos Swim Team. (MICHAEL B. THOMAS FOR KFF HEALTH NEWS)
Bradlin Jacob-Simms, 47, decided to learn how to swim almost 20 years after her family survived Hurricane Katrina. She evacuated the day before the storm hit but said one of her friends survived only because that woman’s brother was able to swim to find help.
“If it wasn’t for him, they would have died,” she said, noting that hundreds did drown.
Karter Simms swims during Makos Swim Team practice. (MICHAEL B. THOMAS FOR KFF HEALTH NEWS)
“That’s the reason why swimming is important to me,” she said. “A lot of times, us as African Americans, we shy away from it. It’s not really in our schools. It’s not really pushed.”
Makos swimmer Rocket McDonald, 13, encouraged his mom, Jamie McDonald, to get back into the water and stick with it. When she was a child, her parents had signed her up for swim lessons, but she never got the hang of it. Her dad was always leery of the water. McDonald didn’t understand why until she read about a race riot at a pool not far from where her dad grew up that happened after St. Louis desegregated public pools in 1949.
Bradlin Jacob-Simms is learning to swim with instructor Mahoganny Richardson almost 20 years after her family survived Hurricane Katrina. Hundreds drowned in the storm. “That’s the reason why swimming is important to me,” she says. “A lot of times, us as African Americans, we shy away from it. It’s not really in our schools. It’s not really pushed.”(MICHAEL B. THOMAS FOR KFF HEALTH NEWS)
“It was a full-circle moment,” McDonald said. “It all makes sense now.”
Now, at 42, McDonald is learning to swim again.
Safety is always a priority for the Makos team. Coach T makes the athletes practice swimming in full clothing as a survival skill.
Years ago, as a lifeguard in Kansas City, Missouri, Coach T pulled dozens of children out of recreational swimming pools who were drowning. Most of them, she said, were Black children who came to cool off but didn’t know how to swim.
Jamie McDonald and son Rocket attend a Makos Swim Team practice. Rocket encouraged his mom to take swimming lessons.(MICHAEL B. THOMAS FOR KFF HEALTH NEWS)
“I was literally jumping in daily, probably hourly, getting kids out of every section,” Goodwin said. After repeated rescues, too many to count, she decided to offer lessons.
Swim lessons can be costly. The Black Swimmers Alliance aimed to fund 1,000 free swim lessons by the end of 2025. It had already funded 150 lessons in St. Louis. But when the group looked for grants, the alliance scaled back its goal to 500 lessons, out of caution about what funding would be available.
It’s still committed to helping Black athletes swim competitively throughout their school years and in college.
Years ago, as a lifeguard in Kansas City, Missouri, Terea Goodwin pulled dozens of children out of swimming pools who were drowning. Most of them, she says, were Black children who came to cool off but didn’t know how to swim. So, she started to offer swim lessons. Today, she is known as Coach T, coaching the Makos Swim Team and teaching adults how to swim in North St. Louis. (CARA ANTHONY/KFF HEALTH NEWS)
Most of the time, the Makos swimmers practice in a YMCA pool that doesn’t have starting blocks. Backstroke flags are held in place with fishing wire, and the assistant coach’s husband, José Preciado, used his 3-D printer to make red, regulation 15-meter markers for the team. Once a week, parents drive the team to a different YMCA pool that has starting blocks. That pool is about 5 degrees warmer for its senior patrons’ comfort. Sometimes the young swimmers fuss about the heat, but practicing there helps them prepare for meets.
Parents said white officials have frequently disqualified Makos swimmers. So some of the team parents studied the rules of the sport, and eventually four became officials to diversify the ranks and ensure all swimmers are treated fairly. Still, parents said, that hasn’t stopped occasional racist comments from bystanders and other swimmers at meets.
The Black Swimmers Alliance logo is seen on a shirt during practice at the O’Fallon Park Rec Complex on March 18. The group formed in 2023 with the goal of “bridging the gap in aquatic skills” for families of color. (MICHAEL B. THOMAS FOR KFF HEALTH NEWS)
“Some didn’t think we’d make it this far, not because of who we are but where we’re from,” Goodwin has taught the Makos swimmers to recite. “So we have to show them.”
And this spring, Richardson is offering lessons for Makos parents while their children practice.
“It’s not just about swimming,” Richardson said. “It’s about overcoming something that once felt impossible.”
Jamie McDonald (right) takes a swim lesson with another Makos Swim Team parent, Reggae Anwisye, during their children’s practice. McDonald’s son encouraged her to take lessons. (MICHAEL B. THOMAS FOR KFF HEALTH NEWS)
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.
Manchester United are emerging as the front runners for Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Matheus Cunha as he plans a move away from the Molineux this summer.
Cunha has found himself as one of the top strikers on United’s shortlist to replace Rasmus Hojlund in the summer, with the Danish striker struggling with consistency.
This season saw Hojlund go 21 consecutive games without a goal, only just managing an assist in the 20th match, failing to be a reliable goal contributor, let alone scorer.
As such, proven Premier League strikers such as Cunha and Ipswich’s Liam Delap have emerged as key targets, with several top clubs looking at the duo.
However, The Daily Mail have now revealed that it’s Ruben Amorim himself that has given United the edge on Cunha’s other suitors in the race for his signature.
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Ruben Amorim gives Manchester United the edge for Matheus Cunha
Cunha is reportedly being swayed towards an Old Trafford move by the prospect of being a vital component in Amorim’s rebuild to bring United back to their winning ways.
With this season being the club’s worst Premier League run on record, a bounce-back next season would be an incredible success for The Red Devils, with the project enticing Cunha enough to want in.
Despite United’s financial struggles, they are reported to be able to afford his £62.5 million release clause, making the move to Old Trafford a very real possibility.
Amorim’s side are confident they can get terms agreed by the end of the month to see the Brazilian striker arrive in the summer.
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