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WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW: AUGUST 26 2026 · What You Need To Know

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  Speaker 1: It's Sybil Wilkes with what we need to know. Today,
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  Speaker 1: it's Wednesday. Getting over that hump on August 26, 2026.
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  Speaker 1: Number one. Severe weather and a weekend derecho knocked out
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  Speaker 1: power to thousands of households across the majority black cities
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  Speaker 1: of Memphis, Tennessee and Gary, Indiana. That's right, Gary residents
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  Speaker 1: have been without electricity for two weeks. And as a result,
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  Speaker 1: community leaders and local volunteers transformed neighborhood churches into emergency
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  Speaker 1: resource hubs to distribute water, food, and generators to residents
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  Speaker 1: in need. Local utility providers warn that full restoration efforts
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  Speaker 1: remain ongoing as line crews worked to repair extensive wind
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  Speaker 1: damage across both cities. Gary Mayor Eddie Melton called the
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  Speaker 1: slow repair time unacceptable, while Indiana Governor Mike Braun ordered
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  Speaker 1: an investigation into that area power company, NIPSCO. After a
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  Speaker 1: heavy storm swept through Memphis this weekend, tens of thousands
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  Speaker 1: of homes and businesses lost their power managed by Memphis Light,
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  Speaker 1: Gas and Water. And Tennessee State Representative Justin J. Pearson
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  Speaker 1: criticized public officials for ignoring the needs of working class
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  Speaker 1: black neighborhoods during this crisis. Number two, iconic country singer, songwriter, humanitarian,
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  Speaker 1: and philanthropist, Dolly Parton died at the age of 80
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  Speaker 1: Tuesday following a brief battle with cancer. Beyond her legendary
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  Speaker 1: musical career, Parton championed early childhood literacy by sending millions
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  Speaker 1: of free books to children worldwide through her Imagination Library Foundation.
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  Speaker 1: And she was also known for her support of racial
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  Speaker 1: justice in 2020, saying, of course, she was in favor
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  Speaker 1: of Black Lives Matter. Tributes poured in across the globe
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  Speaker 1: honoring her historic artistic legacy, humor, and commitment to social causes.
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  Speaker 1: Thank you, Doc. 3. Retail giant Target removed a children's
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  Speaker 1: Halloween costume from its online marketplace following widespread criticism that
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  Speaker 1: the outfit mimicked 19th century minstrel show imagery. Social media
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  Speaker 1: users highlighted the costume featured enlarged facial features and styling
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  Speaker 1: reminiscent of racist caricatures. Target issued an official apology, stating
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  Speaker 1: the product was offensive and should never have been included
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  Speaker 1: in its seasonal inventory. Number four, Southern University's Human Jukebox
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  Speaker 1: Marching Band stars in the Gap's Denim on Your Own campaign.
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  Speaker 1: Putting the HBCU musical excellence at the center of national
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  Speaker 1: fashion advertising, band members perform a custom brass arrangement of
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  Speaker 1: Robin's hit song, Dancing on My Own, while wearing dark
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  Speaker 1: wash denim sets and custom university jackets. Filmed directly on
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  Speaker 1: the Baton Rouge campus, the collaboration highlights individual style and
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  Speaker 1: cultural identity ahead of the fall homecoming season. Number five,
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  Speaker 1: It's Black and Missing Wednesday and 35-year-old Neil George Gibson
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  Speaker 1: has been missing from Los Angeles, California since August 14th
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  Speaker 1: when he was last seen in the 100 block of
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  Speaker 1: North Los Angeles and may be suffering from a mental
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  Speaker 1: health crisis following recent surgery. He's described as a black male,
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  Speaker 1: medium brown complexion, standing six feet tall and weighing 190
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  Speaker 1: pounds with a shaved bald head and brown eyes. Take
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  Speaker 1: a look at his picture in the What We Need
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  Speaker 1: To Know newsletter and anyone with information regarding Mr. Gibson's whereabouts,
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  Speaker 1: urge to contact the Los Angeles Police Department or the
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  Speaker 1: Black and Missing Foundation. Here's your daily inspiration from Yogi's Jewels.
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  Speaker 1: Seek wise counsel before making major decisions. Experience often reveals
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  Speaker 1: what emotions, cannot. I'm Sybil Wilkes. Be informed, be empowered.