Three Things for January 18
1. Organization receives $20 million to help preserve Black churches
The Preserving Black Churches Project, an organization dedicated to preserving historic Black churches in Birmingham, Alabama received a $20 million donation as seed funding. The funds donated by Lilly Endowment Inc. will aid in restoring over 50 churches nationwide.
According to AP News, the announcement about the donation from the Lilly Endowment was timed to coincide with the Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday this week.
This project aims to revitalize the face of the churches and provide funding for the church operating budgets. The first church to receive funds will be St. James AME Church.
St. James is expected to receive $100,000 in emergency funding.
“The fund calls itself the largest-ever attempt to preserve sites linked to African American History,” reports AP News.
2. James Earl Jones celebrates 91st birthday
On Jan. 17 actor James Earl Jones celebrated his 91st birthday.
Jones is known for his many roles throughout the years, including his most famous role as the voice of Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise.
“James Earl Jones has been described as ‘one of America’s most distinguished and versatile’ actors and ‘one of the greatest Actors in American History’,” said the Hollywood Golden Age of Cinema.
Jones has been featured in “Red October” and "The Sandlot,” as well as in Disney’s “The Lion King” as the voice of Mufasa.
“His illustrious career spanning more than seven decades, Jones has been widely recognized for his work with various awards including multiple Emmys, Tonys and a Grammy,” said People.
3. Yellowstone bison species decision questioned
A federal judge ordered the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to revisit their decision not to register the Bison species as endangered.
The Buffalo Field Campaign and Western Watersheds Project groups have been fighting since 2014 to have Yellowstone’s bison declared endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act, reports AP News.
According to Billing Gazette, “The request is based on an argument that Yellowstone contains two genetically distinct subpopulations, the Central and Northern herds, which are often separated geographically but do intermix.”
The Fish and Wildlife Service argues the two herds are not genetically distinctive enough.
The federal agency is now pushing for a new study to influence the decision.
“There has been no deadline for the Fish and Wildlife Service to respond but will require both sides to update the court on the case within 90 days,” said AP News.
