More than 50 years after Palm Springs officials demolished and burned the homes of a whole lot of black and Latino residents in Section 14 – a once-bustling majority-minority neighborhood – survivors have secured a historic $5.9 million settlement. The agreement marks a major moment in town’s reckoning with its past, because it becomes one of the few municipalities within the United States to offer compensation for racial evictions.

In the late Nineteen Fifties and Nineteen Sixties, a one-square-mile development generally known as Section 14 that housed Black and Latino homeowners and residents – who had been excluded from other neighborhoods due to racial discrimination – was demolished by city officials to create space for business development by primarily white business owners.

The destruction of Section 14 not only displaced over 2,000 families, but in addition deprived them of generational wealth, a loss that reverberated for generations to come. Today, this elegant desert resort is home to a thriving tourist industry and the typical home costs $649,000.

In 2021, the Palm Springs City Council issued an official apology for the destruction of the community. Although the $5.9 million settlement is significantly lower than the settlement $2.3 billion families initially demanded the displacement of 2,000 families, the ceremony was marked by Pearl Devers, president of the Palm Springs Survivors Section 14, who called it “a pivotal moment in the history of Palm Springs,” as reported Palm Springs Mail. In a press release, Devers said: “For years we have tried to bring attention to this case… This settlement is a long-awaited recognition of what we have experienced and how our lives have been changed by the destruction of our homes. While no amount of money can fully restore what we have lost, this agreement helps pave the way for all of us to move forward.”

Palm Springs Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein also expressed satisfaction with the agreement. “The City Council is deeply pleased that the former residents of Section 14 have agreed to accept what we believe to be a fair and equitable settlement offer,” he said in a press release.

The agreement was the result of continued support from survivors and their legal counsel, strengthened by the support of social justice and civil rights organizations, in addition to influential leaders including California Senator Laphonza Butler, the Human Rights Campaign, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and the California League of United Citizens Latin America (LULAC).

In addition to financial compensation, the compensation package emphasizes cultural protection. Plans include making a monument honoring the history of Section 14 and renaming a Palm Springs park in honor of the survivors. Additionally, town pledged to work with Section 14 Survivors, including 1,000 survivors and their descendants, to create a “community-led cultural and racial healing center.”

“We are making history in Palm Springs. This settlement demonstrates that it is never too late to acknowledge past wrongs and take meaningful steps toward justice,” said Areva Martin, an attorney representing Section 14 survivors in Palm Springs. “With this vote, Palm Springs has the opportunity to set a powerful precedent for how cities can meaningfully address historic injustices and create pathways to true healing.”

Approval of the agreement places Palm Springs amongst a small but growing group of municipalities grappling with the legacy of racial injustice through reparations. For example, Evanston, Illinois, became the primary city to offer compensation in 2021, earmarking 25,000 housing subsidies and direct money payments to address systemic discrimination in housing.

Meanwhile, cities prefer it New York and Tulsa, Oklahoma, have established commissions to study reparations, although progress has been mixed. However, two survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, during which the affluent Greenwood community generally known as Black Wall Street was burned to the bottom, killing a whole lot in the method, were repeatedly denied demands for reparations. The Palm Springs Accord highlights each the challenges and the potential for local governments to take significant steps toward restoration.

In addition to the nearly $6 million settlement, survivors can profit from an extra $21 million earmarked for the broader Palm Springs community. The City Council will allocate $20 million to housing programs, half of which can go to a primary-time homebuyer assistance program. The other half would establish a Community Land Trust Fund, prioritizing Section 14 families. $1 million would even be put aside for small business support specializing in Section 14 families.

At just 23 years old, New York-based designer Mounir Sakho has developed a loyal following for his emerging brand, Lumère. He recently released his first full-length album collection this excites the fashion world much more. The story of Lumère, which premiered in 2019, began exceptionally.

As a curious child, Sakho looked through his mother’s African textile books. A cloth called “Lumière” caught his attention, prompting him to ask his mother what it meant. He remembers how she responded to him with admiration in her eyes and exclaimed that it was the perfect solution for him. And the name of his brand was born. The designer’s name means “light”, like the French word lumière. He feels that his mother gave him a brand. This level of purpose is compelling to him, especially since he would not be here physically without her.

Sakho says he decided to name his brand Lumère as a tribute to his mother – adding that it could even be translated as “my mother”. He notes that the brand name stays close to the original word that launched his entrepreneurial journey.

The designer created his brand as an expression of his perspective as a primary-generation American with Guinean roots. The worlds of West Africa and America often mix, and his work is interesting in his eyes. Living on the Upper East Side of New York, she is usually exposed to a wide selection of styles, from streetwear to traditional African motifs. The designer deeply immersed himself in the diverse styles, sophistication and innovation that lie behind these influences. “I wanted to attract attention [my] heritage in a fresh way and tell a new story,” he shared.

Mounir attributes his talent for design to YouTube, which was an enticing learning experience for him. He engaged with the platform and thru the digital site learned a lot of the features he needed to grow as a designer. He didn’t study design in a proper environment, but that did not stop him from absorbing information and learning through his family’s wealthy design lineage.

“Fashion is in my DNA,” he said matter-of-factly. He stated that his great-grandmother was a highly respected textile designer in Guinea, so his passion for clothing and priceless designs stems from an extended-standing genetic predisposition. Sakho also learned by trial and error.

Lumère’s ethos is rooted in a balanced dance between classical and contemporary accents. It designs timeless yet forward-pondering pieces with palm red accents and the “Ètoile motif” to present a creative approach to modern fashion. When he creates, he all the time has his teenage self in mind, giving the designer space to explore, develop and experiment. She designs for many who are in search of a protected space to develop and express themselves. “Lumère is a combination of all the influences that have made me who I am; skater, nerd, artist, anime lover, proud New Yorker. I want the world of Lumère to be a place where all these things, no matter how different they are, can find common ground and coexist in harmony.” Sakho is constructing a community that’s inclusive, culturally wealthy and values ​​creativity, diversity and modernity, while also respecting the deep-rooted cultural heritage that shaped him growing up.

His favorite look to date was the embroidered calfskin biker jacket that was recently seen on British singer Zayn Malik’s show. After achieving this feat, Mounir realized what a milestone his young brand had achieved. The jacket is an example of the way it combines modern, refined details with classic silhouettes. The remaining models from the brand’s latest collection feature a star motif. Structured jackets, two-tone trousers, contrast stitching and velvet trim are also featured in this debut collection.

“I still have a lot of room to grow, but I’ve learned that the wisdom gained over time equips you with the tools to become your best self. Every challenge I faced while creating this collection shaped me and reminded me that growth often comes from discomfort,” he explained. Reflecting on how far he’s come as a designer, he would tell his younger self to be patient. The designer says that pursuing your dreams could make the waiting a chore, especially if you want to achieve a certain level of success. “Free time is invaluable, it teaches you about yourself and deepens your understanding of your mission,” he said. Although his latest collection is accessible for pre-order, he’s currently working on one other collection and is constructing on the momentum that’s electrifying.

The Lumère designer’s dream is for it to be recognized around the world for its innovation. He wants to be included in the list of top fashion designers who push boundaries and introduce changing perspectives in an industry that usually stagnates due to trends. Sakho focuses solely on creating clothes that tell a compelling story, similar to wearable artworks.

Australia Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) recently approved a brand new booster vaccine against Covid-19. The shot was developed by Pfizer and Targets subvariant JN.1 by Omicron.

This is now the fifth version of the COVID vaccines, that are updated often to maintain up with the rapidly evolving SARS-CoV-2 virus.

But nearly five years into the pandemic, it’s possible you’ll be wondering, why do we’d like one more style of booster vaccine? And will we still must take legal highs in any respect? Here’s what to contemplate.

Targeting the spike protein

JN.1 booster from Pfizer (and Moderna, although TGA has not approved this stage) relies on mRNA technology. This technology instructs our cells to provide a particular protein – on this case, the SARS-CoV-2 spike, a protein on the surface of the virus that permits it to connect to our cells.

This helps the immune system produce antibodies that recognize the spike protein and stop the virus from entering our cells.

In response to our enhanced immune response from vaccinations and former infections (called immune pressure), SARS-CoV-2 has continued to evolve over the course of the pandemic, modifying the form of the spike protein, making our antibodies less effective.

We’ve been coping with a soup of Omicron subvariants recently, including the JN.1. Since the detection of JN.1 in August 2023this subvariant of Omicron spawned many further subvariants akin to KP.2 (referred to as FLiRT), KP.3 (referred to as FLUQE), and XEC.

The spike protein consists of 1273 amino acidstype of like molecular constructing blocks. Mutations to spike protein change individual amino acids.

Certain amino acids are necessary for neutralizing antibodies to bind to the spike protein. This means the changes could give the virus a bonus over earlier variants, helping it evade our immune response.

Scientists are continually updating Covid-19 vaccines, attempting to sustain with these changes. The higher the vaccine’s “spike” matches the spike protein on the surface of the virus trying to contaminate you, the more protection you possibly can get.

So who should get vaccinated and when?

Updating vaccines to combat mutating viruses isn’t a brand new concept. This has since been the case with the flu vaccine around 1950.

We have develop into accustomed to the annual flu vaccine within the run-up to winter cold and flu season. However, unlike the flu, the coronavirus doesn’t follow an annual seasonal cycle. The frequency of waves of Covid-19 infections is variable, with recent waves occurring periodically.

Covid too more portable than the flu, which is one other challenge. Although numbers vary, a conservative estimate of the reproduction number (R0 – how many individuals one person infects) for JN.1 is 5. Compare this to seasonal flu with an R0 of about 1.3. In other words, COVID may be 4 times more contagious than the flu.

Add to this the immunity resulting from vaccination against Covid (or previous infection) begins to weaken in the next months.

Therefore, for some more vulnerable people, an annual Covid-19 booster isn’t considered sufficient.

For adults aged 65 to 74a booster dose is beneficial every 12 months, but every six months is eligible. For adults over 75, a shot is beneficial every six months.

Adults aged 18 to 64 are eligible every 12 months unless they’ve a severe immune deficiency. Immunodeficiency could cause many conditions, including genetic disorders, infections, cancer, autoimmune diseases, diabetes and lung diseases, in addition to organ transplantation. For this group, they’re beneficial to receive the shot every 12 months, but are eligible every six.

Understanding the recommendation

The JN.1-targeted vaccine should provide good protection against Omicron virus subvariants which might be more likely to be in circulation in the approaching months.

There are a couple of things that must occur before JN.1 vaccines are available, akin to the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization providing guidance to the federal government. However, we are able to reasonably expect that they will be implemented inside the subsequent month.

If they reach doctors’ offices and pharmacies before Christmas and you plan to make use of a booster dose, the vacation period may be a further incentive to purchase it, especially in case you plan to attend many family and social gatherings in the summertime.

In the meantime, XBB.1.5 vaccines remain available. While these are targeted against the sooner Omicron subvariant, they need to still provide some protection.

While young, healthy people should want to wait for updated booster doses, for many who are vulnerable and require vaccination, the choice to carry off on vaccination may be something to contemplate along with your doctor.

Australia’s COVID booster vaccine recommendations, with stronger wording (“recommended” relatively than “eligible”) used for vulnerable groups, reflect what we learn about Covid-19. People who’re older and medically vulnerable usually tend to develop into very unwell as a result of the virus.

For young, healthy individuals who may be wondering, “Do I even need a COVID booster vaccine?”, it is sensible to get one yearly. Although you’re less more likely to get Covid, it is feasible. Importantly, vaccines also reduce risk developing long Covid.

While COVID vaccines are superb at protecting against severe disease, they don’t necessarily prevent infection. Evidence that they reduce transmission has been mixedAND has modified over time.

We realized that vaccination will not free us from Covid-19. But it remains to be our greatest defense against severe disease.