Welcome to Stay Woke! Your Dallas Weekly Newsletter for Wednesday, July 9, 2025!
Hey fam, it’s my mom’s birthday today, so I’ve been distracted enough to pray that I didn’t forget any details in giving her flowers. And lucky for you, my 2-year-old grandniece has come through and she’ll keep great-grandma busy for hours.
Editor’s Top Pick
Weather Warnings Gave Officials a 3 hour, 21 minute Window to Save Lives in Kerr County. What Happened Then Remains Unclear.
The National Weather Service issued multiple flash flood warnings and alerts to local officials and residents in Kerr County, Texas, but it is unclear if they were received or acted upon in time to prevent the devastating flooding that claimed over 90 lives.
Community
Community Rallies to Support Victims of Devastating Kerrville Flood
HILL COUNTRY, TEXAS — What began as a quiet Independence Day weekend turned tragic for residents of Kerrville and surrounding Hill Country communities. In the early morning hours of July 4th, a powerful surge of floodwater from the Guadalupe River swallowed homes, roads, and lives with terrifying speed. Within just 45 minutes, the water level rose […]
Social Justice
Community Movement Builders: A Quiet Revolution in Highland Hills
Community Movement Builders in Dallas, led by Davante D. Peters, are working to improve the lives of Black people in Highland Hills through patrols, urban agriculture, and community events, despite the challenges they face.
Finance
Money 101: Navigating Trade Wars: Protecting Your Money in a Turbulent World
Trade wars create uncertainty, but understanding which assets tend to perform well and the importance of embracing digital money like Bitcoin can help protect and grow your money.
Health
Shedding Light on Fibroids: Breaking the Silence for Black Women’s Health
Dr. Soyini Hawkins, founder of the Fibroid and Pelvic Wellness Center of Georgia, is dedicated to expanding treatment options for women with uterine fibroids, particularly Black women, and breaking the silence surrounding the condition.
Climate Justice
The Big Beautiful Bill Is Bad for Climate Justice Too
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law on the Fourth of July, rescinds the EPA’s Environmental and Climate Justice Program and jeopardizes billions in promised grants, putting environmental and climate justice at risk.
Retirement Planning
Debt and Lower Savings Leave Black Americans Behind in Retirement Readiness
Black Americans continue to face challenges in saving for retirement due to debt, lower savings, and uneven access to financial advice and planning, with 44% of Black retirees retiring earlier than planned due to health problems or disabilities.
Texas Legislature
Sirens, Gauges and Flood Prevention: What the Texas Legislature Could Do in Response to Hill Country Disaster
Texas’ elected leaders are promising to address gaps in the state’s flood warning and mitigation systems, with a focus on better flood sirens, flood gauges, and a new government council to establish emergency response plans and provide grants for emergency communication equipment, as well as providing short-term relief to help communities across the Hill Country recover from the devastating floods.
Word in Black
Lawsuit: Kennedy’s Anti-Vax Stance is an “Existential Threat”
Six organizations and a pregnant doctor have sued Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over his decision to stop recommending COVID-19 vaccinations for most pregnant women and children, which could have serious health consequences for Black Americans.
Newsletter for Wednesday July 9, 2025