32nd annual MLK Celebration Banquet: Neurosurgeon discusses the impact of exclusion on the brain
By Baylie Simon/West Texas Tribune Over 500 people gathered for the 32nd annual MLK Celebration Banquet hosted by the Abilene Black Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Leslie Marian Hutchins delivered the keynote speech. Hutchins is one of around 35 Black female neurosurgeons in the United States. She grew up in Abilene, graduating as valedictorian of…
Read MoreRecognizing escalation in domestic abuse, how to get help
By Baylie Simon/West Texas Tribune In 2024, 161 Texans were killed in domestic violence incidents. Just this past December, Desree Sanchez was stabbed to death, and her husband, Anthony Emilio Sanchez, was arrested by the Abilene Police Department and the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office on a murder charge. According to jail records, Sanchez has been…
Read MoreRoyals family carries Dr. King’s legacy through annual MLK March
By Baylie Simon/West Texas Tribune In 1987, Claudie Royals established Abilene’s annual MLK March. Today, Michael Royals carries on the tradition his father began. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy was built through peaceful protests, powerful speeches and letters, and the faith-based conviction that all people are created equal under God. On Aug. 28, 1963,…
Read MoreCommunity and connection: Improving mental health for older adults
By Baylie Simon/West Texas Tribune Mental health struggles in older adults are sometimes brushed off or considered a normal part of aging. Cases of anxiety and depression frequently go undiagnosed, having detrimental consequences to the quality of life of older adults. Data from the National Center for Health Statistics shows that as men get older,…
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