The head of the Urban League of Greater Kansas City (Kansas City, MO) is seeking court action, filing a motion Monday to join a lawsuit filed by the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners against Mayor Quinton Lucas and the City Council challenging a measure that gives the city authority over a portion of the police department’s budget,

In her filing, Urban League president Gwen Grant alleges that the “current policing structure” fails to give Kansas City taxpayers a voice in how the police department spends its money.

Grant said she took the action on behalf of the city’s taxpayers because “the ‘Taxation Without Representation’ scheme maintained in the police board’s lawsuit and the current policing structure violates” the Missouri Hancock Amendment, which is a citizens’ initiative that limits state revenues and local taxes.

Residents of Columbus, Ohio will soon have a hundred new reasons to get vaccinated.

The Columbus City Council is set to vote Monday on legislation offering $100 as an incentive to get vaccinated against coronavirus, though the jab must be received after Monday.

Though there are no income eligibility restrictions, only 2,750 people can get the $100 — $50 for each of the two doses administered for Pfizer or Modern’s jab — as there is only $275,000 is available to dispense, according to the outlet.

For those who take part in the program and get Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose shot, they’ll receive $100 at once.

Administered by the Columbus Urban League (Columbus, OH), residents will be able to register on a website for the program once the legislation is given the green light.

Five hundred volunteers across St. Louis cleaned up the city during the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis (St. Louis, MO)’s Clean Sweep.

Volunteers walked neighborhoods, cleaning up trash, debris and overgrowth. Nine abandoned, unsalvageable buildings were knocked down.         

"It is an effort to work on the physical appearance of some of our more challenged neighborhoods," said James Clark of the Urban League.

Clark said Clean Sweep targets vacant properties and neighborhood eyesores that can't be saved.

"We really want Clean Sweep to be a day where the entire St. Louis Metro area wakes up, picks up a trash bag and just goes out into their neighborhood on their block and cleans up," Clark said.

The Urban League hopes this effort unifies the city. Two more Clean Sweeps are scheduled this summer and fall.

We’ve got a new home. On June 17th we’re hosting a construction kickoff for our new headquarters in Harlem with expected completion by January 2025! | Celebrating Juneteenth! We are one week away from the 156th anniversary of the emancipation of enslaved people in Texas. Learn more. | Three days away! On Tuesday, we are kicking off day one of #LPC2021 with a full lineup of virtual sessions. Reserve your seat at the table NOW. | Vaccine update. Ready to get vaccinated but need help finding a location? We’ve got you covered. Here’s how to find vaccine locations in your area. | Justice in Policing Act. Daunte Wright, Ma’Khia Bryant + Ronald Greene are just a few of many who deserve justice. Here’s how you take action now. | The Secret Fear of High Achievers. On June 16th, join our webinar to learn new strategies on how to conquer imposter syndrome. RSVP today. | #PulseNightClub. Today marks the five years since the tragic shooting that claimed the lives of 49 people. Tune in for a live discussion at 5PM ET. | Congrats, grads! Watch a special message from Marc Morial’s commencement address for Case Western Reserve University.

Civil Rights Leader Joins Lawsuit, Alleging ‘Taxation Without Representation’ and Violations of the U.S. and Missouri Constitutions in Kansas City Policing  

Raises Claims on Behalf of all Kansas City Taxpayers, Particularly the 200,000 Minorities in Kansas City, Who Have Had a Diminished Voice in Police Governance for Generations 

Learn more about how you can support the EveryTown Support Fund and watch the National Discussion on the tragedy at Pulse that streamed live on Facebook or Twitter.

Governor John Carney on Friday announced he will nominate Eugene Young, Jr., currently the President and CEO of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League (Wilmington, DE), as the next Director of the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA).

The Delaware Senate is expected to consider Governor Carney’s nomination on June 23. If confirmed by the Senate, Young would replace Director Anas Ben Addi, who has led Delaware’s housing and community development agency since 2009 and is leaving to become Chief Financial Officer at Delaware State University.

The Ford Motor Company and the New York Urban League (New York, NY) partnered to award unrestricted grants in the amount of $5,000 to Black-owned small businesses that operate in predominantly Black neighborhoods in New York City.  Funding granted will be used for payment of outstanding rent, utilities, and payroll expenses, inventory and operational equipment purchases, protective supplies to stop the spread of Covid-19, property damage repair, website and customer engagement staff hire, and/or equipment upgrades to enhance web content and drive online sales.