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Several Drive-Thru Testing Centers to Open in Metro-Atlanta in Preparation for Georgia’s Re-opening
NNPA NEWSWIRE — “We cannot wait for the government to step in and save us, says Atlanta Medical Association President Dr. Frank Jones. “We have to initiate testing of our community on our own and have found a clinical partner that is ready to set up several drive thru testing centers throughout metro Atlanta, but we are going to need some financial support from the business community to help move this forward,” he said.

Majl Diagnostic Laboratories Partners with Atlanta Medical Association to Initiate Aggressive COVID-19 Testing in African American Communities
Atlanta, GA, Tuesday, April 21, 2020 — The African American community is being severely impacted by COVID-19 infection and although African Americans make up a small part of the demographics of most states, they are dying at an alarmingly high rate compared to other races. According to an association of African American doctors in metro-Atlanta, the only way to address this tragedy is to immediately increase the amount of testing being done in the African American community.
The Atlanta Medical Association, an organization comprised of almost 1000 Black doctors from metro Atlanta, says that at the current time the amount of testing being done in the African American community is unacceptable.
“We cannot wait for the government to step in and save us, says Atlanta Medical Association President Dr. Frank Jones. “We have to initiate testing of our community on our own and have found a clinical partner that is ready to set up several drive thru testing centers throughout metro Atlanta, but we are going to need some financial support from the business community to help move this forward,” he said.
MAJL Diagnostic Laboratories, an accredited national laboratory testing and diagnostics center with locations in Atlanta and Tulsa, is working with The Atlanta Medical Association and other community partners in a concerted effort to provide COVID-19 testing to anyone who needs it.
Dr. Darren Naugles, an emergency medicine physician, is the Chief Medical Officer at Elite Medical Associates, and is one of the medical professionals who will be working closely with MAJL Diagnostic Laboratories to address the serious lack of adequate testing in the Atlanta area.
“This is about lack of testing and the critical need to get people access to the test,” says Dr. Naugles. “We know the mortality rate is much higher in minority communities and the earlier a person knows their COVID-19 status, the earlier they can seek proper medical attention,” he continued.
“Although testing is slowly becoming more available in the Atlanta area, most people are still not able to get tested– especially if you do not have severe symptoms, and this is especially critical for people who may be asymptomatic carriers of the virus,” said Dr. Naugles.
Naugles said that MAJL will be offering the rapid fingerstick antibody test and the nasal swab molecular test. However, he shared that as a small commercial lab, they are unable to offer free testing and are charging just enough to cover the costs of the test, processing of the test, and to pay medical personnel administering the test. The cost for the antibody test is $100 and the nasal swab test is $250.
“We want to be an accessible and trusted resource to the community and are very sensitive to the fact that many within minority communities may not have the funds to pay for testing, so the lab has submitted proposals to the state, local municipalities, and philanthropic organizations for funding to be able to offer free tests in the near future,” shared Naugles. “However, cash pay patients do not need a physician’s order, nor do they have to be symptomatic. This is important for patients who do not qualify for free testing at health departments or local hospitals,” he said.
The MAJL Diagnostic Laboratories began testing on Friday, April 16, initially preparing to run tests three days a week from 9:00am to 5:00pm at their clinic located at 6320 McDonough Drive, Ste. D., Norcross, 30093. In addition, in partnership with key community organizations like the Atlanta Medical Association and drive thru clinics will also be established three days a week to meet the need, beginning in late April. One drive thru clinic is currently open in Norcross located at 6290 McDonough Drive, Suite D and there are plans for drive thru clinics in the southeast and southwest parts of Atlanta. Depending on the intensity of demand, testing may be expanded to five days a week and the laboratory is expected to accommodate approximately 300-500 tests a day.
All patients interested in testing must register online at www.covidtestkitnow.com, where they can order a test. Upon receipt of order, patients will be called to schedule an appointment time. They can also schedule an appointment and register by calling 877/272-5008. No walk up testing at the clinic is available.
For more information on MAJL Diagnostic Laboratories, or to register, go to www.covidtestkitnow.com. For media inquiries, contact Norma Stanley, E.E.E. Marketing Group at 404/451-1811 or email her at eeemarketinggroup@gmail.com.
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Tiguan’s AI Touchscreen & Gear Shift: VW Just Changed the Game! #2
Explore the Tiguan’s cutting-edge 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen featuring wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, voice control, and a new AI assistant. See how VW innovatively moved the gear shifter to the steering column, enhancing the center console and navigation system! #AutoNetwork #Tiguan #Infotainment #AppleCarPlay #AndroidAuto #AISystem #NavigationSystem #CarTech #TechReview #CarInnovation #Automotive

https://youtube.com/watch?v=0xUKM6U2Lpc&autoplay=0&cc_lang_pref=en&cc_load_policy=0&color=0&controls=1&fs=1&h1=en&loop=0&rel=0
Explore the Tiguan’s cutting-edge 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen featuring wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, voice control, and a new AI assistant. See how VW innovatively moved the gear shifter to the steering column, enhancing the center console and navigation system! #AutoNetwork #Tiguan #Infotainment #AppleCarPlay #AndroidAuto #AISystem #NavigationSystem #CarTech #TechReview #CarInnovation #Automotive
#NNPA BlackPress
IN MEMORIAM: Legendary Funk Pioneer Sly Stone Dies at 82
Sly Stone’s musical approach radically reshaped popular music. He transcended genre boundaries and empowered a new generation of artists. The band’s socially conscious message and infectious rhythms sparked a wave of influence, reaching artists as diverse as Miles Davis, George Clinton, Prince, Dr. Dre, and the Roots.

By Stacy M. Brown
BlackPressUSA.com Newswire
Sylvester “Sly” Stewart—known to the world as Sly Stone, frontman of the groundbreaking band Sly and the Family Stone—has died at the age of 82.
His family confirmed that he passed away peacefully at his Los Angeles home surrounded by loved ones, after battling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other health complications.
Born March 15, 1943, in Denton, Texas, Stone moved with his family to Vallejo, California, as a child. He began recording gospel music at age 8 with his siblings in a group called the Stewart Four. By his teenage years, he had mastered multiple instruments and was already pioneering racial integration in music—an ethos that would define his career.
In 1966, Sly and his brother Freddie merged their bands to form Sly and the Family Stone, complete with a revolutionary interracial, mixed-gender lineup.
The band quickly became a commercial and cultural force with hits such as “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People,” and “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”—all penned by Stone himself.
Their album “Stand!” (1969) and live performances—most notably at Woodstock—cemented their reputation, blending soul, funk, rock, gospel, and psychedelia to reflect the optimism and turmoil of their era.
Sly Stone’s musical approach radically reshaped popular music. He transcended genre boundaries and empowered a new generation of artists. The band’s socially conscious message and infectious rhythms sparked a wave of influence, reaching artists as diverse as Miles Davis, George Clinton, Prince, Dr. Dre, and the Roots.
As the 1970s progressed, Stone confronted personal demons. His desire to use music as a response to war, racism, and societal change culminated in the intense album “There’s a Riot Goin’ On” (1971). But drug dependency began to undermine both his health and professional life, leading to erratic behavior and band decline through the early 1980s.
Withdrawn from the public eye for much of the 1990s and early 2000s, Stone staged occasional comebacks. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammys in 2017, and captured public attention following the 2023 release of his memoir “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”—published under Questlove’s imprint. He also completed a biographical screenplay and was featured in Questlove’s documentary “Sly Lives!” earlier this year.
His influence endured across generations. Critics and historians repeatedly credit him with perfecting funk and creating a “progressive soul,” shaping a path for racial integration both onstage and in the broader culture.
“Rest in beats Sly Stone,” legendary Public Enemy frontman Chuck D posted on social media with an illustrative drawing of the artist. “We should thank Questlove of the Roots for keeping his fire blazing in this century.”
Emmy-winning entertainment publicist Danny Deraney also paid homage. “Rest easy Sly Stone,” Deraney posted. “You changed music (and me) forever. The time he won over Ed Sullivan’s audience in 1968. Simply magical. Freelance music publicist and Sirius XM host Eric Alper also offered a tribute.
“The funk pioneer who made the world dance, think, and get higher,” Alper wrote of Sly Stone. “His music changed everything—and it still does.”
Sly Stone is survived by three children.
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PRESS ROOM: Clyburn on 10th Anniversary of Mother Emanuel AME Church Shooting in Charleston
BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06) released the following video on X, paying tribute to the 10th anniversary of the shooting that took place at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17, 2015.

By Congressman James E. Clyburn
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06) released the following video on X, paying tribute to the 10th anniversary of the shooting that took place at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17, 2015.
“Over 6 years ago, the House first passed my Enhanced Background Checks Act to close the Charleston Loophole that allowed a white supremacist to obtain the gun he used to murder nine worshipers at Emanuel AME Church on June 17, 2015.
“I’ll never stop fighting to pass this law.”
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