Sonya Massey, father — (Photo: Ruby Funeral Services via Wiki/editorial use)

by Mary Spiller

December 7, 2024

Sonya Massey’s Father Speaks Out About Sean Grayson’s Potential Pre-Trial Release

James Wilburn, the father of Sonya Massey, said he's "going to fight to keep my daughter’s killer in a jail cell.”

James Wilburn, the father of Sonya Massey, spoke out after the appellate court declared former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson should be released pre-trial. Wilburn addressed a crowd at the Illinois Capitol on Dec. 5.

Wilburn said, “Until an undertaker puts an embalming fluid in this body, I’m going to fight to keep my daughter’s killer in a jail cell.”

Massey was a 36-year-old Black woman shot and killed by Grayson, a white sheriff’s deputy, in her home in Woodside Township, Illinois, on July 6. Grayson shot Massey in the face after she moved a pot of water from the stove at their request.

Recently, an Illinois appellate court ruled against Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser. The appellate court denied that Grayson would be a threat to the public if released, and opposed him being reprimanded until his trial. The court ordered his release with a few behavioral conditions in just 35 days.

Grayson has been in jail since his arrest, but after this appellate court decision, Grayson could be released before his trial.
“Will it ever make sense? If these three appellate court justices think that Sean Grayson is not a danger to society, move them into their house. Let’s see if their wife and kids would allow him to move and live in their house with him,” Wilburn said.

As reported by WCIA, Wilburn also said, “My friends, my family, they try to keep me busy so that I’m not alone. It’s when I’m alone that I really, really meditate on the conversations that we used to have.”

Massey’s cousin, Shadia Massey, also spoke out, stating, “I think will hurt my auntie real bad. So I’m just asking (the appellate court) to do anything to not let him out of jail.”

Wilburn made it clear that he wouldn’t stop fighting for his daughter, no matter what the court said.

“I’m going to be in the face of those leaders in Washington, D.C. I know that we need to pass the George Floyd Policing Act. We need to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. We need to close up these holes in the safety here and our doors. Those are the kinds of things that I’ve dedicated my life to, to make those kinds of changes, whatever it takes.”

GeneralMotors, charging stations, EV, electric vehicles — Drivers charging Chevrolet EVs at chargers that utilize the North American Charging Standard.

by Kandiss Edwards

December 6, 2024

Georgia’s Black Drivers Paying As Much As 25 Percent More In Auto Insurance

Black Georgians are paying more to sit in that awful traffic.

Black Georgia drivers may be paying up to 25% more in vehicle insurance depending on ZIP code, according to a study by ValuePenguin.

The study looked at the insurance costs for majority Black and white neighborhoods. The analysis indicates that the higher the percentage of Black people in any given zip code, the higher the insurance premium.

“In areas where Black residents make up at least 50% of the population, annual auto insurance premiums average $3,929. That compares with $3,537 across all Georgia ZIP codes—a difference of 11.1%. In areas with 70% or more Black residents, the disparity jumps to 25.1%.”

Other variables considered when setting the price of an insurance premium are projected yearly mileage, make, model, and year of the vehicle, and whether or not the vehicle will be used for work purposes. Still, the evidence overwhelmingly suggests electric vehicles, owned in majority-white neighborhoods, will yield the cheapest results.

Average premiums for five vehicle types were analyzed in three different categories: ZIP codes with 50% or more Black people, ZIP codes with 70% or more Black people, and the average premium for every ZIP code in the state. The Toyota Rav4 is the most expensive vehicle to insure overall, 16.4% more expensive to insure in a 50% or more Black-populated neighborhood and 33.9% more expensive in a 70% or more Black-populated neighborhood.

The Tesla Model Y Long Range was the least expensive vehicle, but it was still 14% more expensive to insure in a 50% or more Black-populated neighborhood and 29.5% more expensive in a 70% or more Black-populated neighborhood.

While insurance companies continue to dictate the parameters of premium calculation, Black people need to look at options. Finding cheaper insurance or driving fuel-efficient vehicles so they can take advantage of lower premiums and taxes.

According to the study, the cheapest insurance companies for Black neighborhoods in Georgia were Farm Bureau and Farmers Insurance. The premiums are still much higher in other neighborhoods, but even a small percentage decrease is one penny less spent.

Electric vehicles are fuel-efficient, and the state of Georgia provides tax incentives, including the removal of the Ad-Valorem tax typically applied when registering a vehicle yearly. Electric vehicles can also save money on gas, one way to offset the “Black tax” associated with insurance.

CommScope, Settlement, Data Breach, Tyre Sampson — (Photo: iStock)

by Kandiss Edwards

December 6, 2024

Parents Of 14-Year-Old “FreeFall” Victim Receive $310M ‘Band Aid’ Settlement

Tyre Sampson died in March 2022.

The family of Tyre Sampson won a $310 million verdict from Funtime Handels GmbH. after the 14-year-old fell to his death on an amusement park ride in March 2022.

Funtime Handels GmbH. is the Austrian manufacturer the jury held liable for faulty construction of the ride, the Orlando FreeFall.

“This verdict is a step forward in holding corporations accountable for the safety of their products,” said Ben Crump, an attorney for teh family. “The jury’s decision confirms what we have long argued: Tyre’s death was the result of blatant negligence and a failure to prioritize safety over profits.”

Sampson’s father, Yarnell, tearfully spoke to reporters about his feelings after the Dec. 5 verdict.

“Ain’t no money going to solve this problem,” he said. “It won’t solve it; it’ll put a band-aid on it, maybe. But every day I wake up, and I still can’t see him.”

According to investigators, Sampson’s death was the result of an equipment malfunction. He was visiting ICON Park in Orlando on spring break with his Missouri football team when he decided to ride the Orlando FreeFall. The attraction hoists riders 400 feet into the air then plummets toward the ground.

Sampson weighed 383 pounds. The ride’s limit was 285 pounds and had no seat belts, according to the lawsuit. While suspended in the air, Sampson’s restraints released, causing the young man to fall at least 100 feet from the ride.

After Sampson’s death, Icon Park decided to permanently close FreeFall.

“We are devastated by Tyre’s death. We have listened to the wishes of Tyre’s family and the community and have made the decision to take down the FreeFall,” said an Icon Park representative.

The ride’s manufacturer did not send a representative to court, NBC affiliate WESH of Orlando reported. No attorney was listed in court records.

50 Cent, Boxing, Oscar De La Hoya — (Photo: Sergione Infuso/Corbis via Getty Images)

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 6, 2024

50 Cent Will Share His Favorite Films And TV Series From Lionsgate On Ad-Free Roku Channel

50 Cent is curating a new action-packed channel of Lionsgate content on Roku.

50 Cent is lending his talents to Roku, where he’ll curate an ad-free channel featuring his favorite films and TV series from Lionsgate’s 20,000-plus titles.

On Thursday, Lionsgate announced its partnership with Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, which will launch Dec. 10 on The Roku Channel, Variety reports. The 50 Cent Action Channel will dig into Lionsgate’s library of content, including films like The Expendables, The Hitman’s Bodyguard, and Rambo, and titles 50 Cent starred in himself like Expend4bles. The new channel will also play episodes of 50 Cent’s hit series Power, which spawned the Power Universe.

The channel will also integrate its programming with 50 Cent’s music, including a heist-themed lineup inspired by his iconic album Get Rich or Die Tryin’, featuring films like Empire State, Reservoir Dogs, and Man on a Ledge. Additionally, a female-led action showcase, inspired by his 2008 single “I Like the Way She Do It,” will feature titles such as Kill Bill: Volume 1 and Volume 2, The Protégé, and Haywire.

“Roku’s reach and success in the free TV space make them the perfect launch partner for 50 Cent Action,” the rapper said in a statement. “My channel created in partnership with Lionsgate will deliver exactly what my audience loves to watch all in one place. We’ll be number one in no time.”

The hip-hop mogul donned his signature bulletproof vest and white T-shirt to announce the new venture in a video trailer Roku released as part of the official announcement.

“I’ve launched a new channel called 50 Cent Action. It’s where you gotta be,” he says.

Roku executives expressed enthusiasm for partnering with 50 Cent on the new channel designed to cater to action film enthusiasts.

“We’re excited to collaborate with our longstanding partner Lionsgate and Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson on this innovative channel,” said Jennifer Vaux, vice president of content acquisition and programming at Roku. “50 is one of the biggest stars in the world, with a massive audience and an unmatched impact in the content space. Viewers are going to love this fun, unique way to explore Lionsgate’s awesome lineup of action programming, as well as behind-the-scenes content from 50 Cent.”

Autistic Teen, Prison, Jail, beating elderly — (Photo: AnnaStills/Getty Images)

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 6, 2024

D.C. Teenager Sentenced For Role In Fatally Beating Elderly Disabled Man

She was 13 when she and four other teens beat 64-year-old Reggie Brown to death.

One of the three teenage girls responsible for beating an elderly and disabled man to death in Washington, D.C., in October 2023 has been sentenced to eight years in a juvenile facility.

According to FOX 17, the unidentified teenager, who was 13 when the incident took place, was found guilty of second-degree murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and conspiracy to commit assault. She was also found guilty of tampering with physical evidence (made of a lie) and conspiracy to commit tampering (deleting video).

When the crime took place, she reportedly took a selfie.

According the Metropolitan Police Department, on Oct. 17, 2023, at approximately 12:54 a.m., officers responded to a call and found the victim, Reggie Brown “with trauma consistent with an assault.” Brown died at the scene. An autopsy from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the cause of death to be blunt force trauma, and it was ruled a homicide.

The Washington Post reported that the attack was caught on mobile phone footage, and the clip revealed a group of five girls running after Brown. As he attempted to escape, he tried to climb up a chain fence, but the teenagers pulled him off and stomped his head into the concrete. They then pulled his pants down around his ankles, took off his belt, and beat him with it.

As he lay on the concrete, surrounded by blood, the girls were laughing, and one of them was heard saying, “He’s leaking.”

“During two days of hearings, D.C. homicide detective Harry Singleton testified that Brown was disabled, had mental health issues, and had a metal plate in his head and only two fingers on each hand,” The Washington Post reported.

During the court hearing on Dec. 4, the girl’s attorney asked if she could be committed until she was 17. However, the judge sentenced her until her 21st birthday, in restrictive commitment at DYRS (Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services).

According to NBC Washington, the judge described the girl’s action as “horrific” and that she was in “desperate” need of services.

The girl spoke to Brown’s family in court. “This is not like me,” she said, adding that she should have walked away. “I am so sorry.”

“It saddens me that these young girls could be so brutal and do something so severe,” Brown’s sister, Malda Brown, said after the sentencing. “But I’m just grateful that the judge did give the time that D.C. commits until 21.”

Two of the girls, ages 13 and 14, were found guilty of second-degree murder and other charges. All pleaded guilty in the case, including one who stated she participated in the beating because they were bored. A 14-year-old girl pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit assault.

Authorities say five girls and an unidentified man attacked Brown.

50 Cent,Jim Jones, studio — (Photo: Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic, small image)

by Kandiss Edwards

December 6, 2024

50 Cent’s G-Unit Studios’ Lease Reveals Commitment To Shreveport Residents

50 Cent is pouring into the Shreveport community according to lease details.

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson is taking the next step as a mogul with the lease of Millennium Studios in Shreveport, Louisiana. A local news outlet obtained a copy of what’s now named G-Unit Studio’s lease and revealed how the studio intends to support the local community.

According to KLSA, the lease requires ” G-Unit Studios to assist with internships and job training to unemployed and underemployed people in Shreveport as part of the American Rescue Plan.

On Nov. 20, Shreveport’s Mayor, Tom Arceneaux, announced the deal. On the surface, Jackson received the better end of the agreement as he negotiated a yearly rent of $2,400. Mayor Arceneaux, however, believes the deal heavily favors the city’s residents. The operation of G-Unit Studios will provide jobs and added income to locals. The new workforce will also stimulate the local economy. Providing internships, as required under the lease terms, will create pathways for Louisiana residents to enter the film and entertainment industry.

While these incentives have not yet yielded fruit, leasing the building is a concrete way to save the city of Shreveport money on studio upkeep.

“This will relieve the city of about $180,000 per year in maintenance and upkeep expenses,” said Arceneaux. “I’ve been asked why the low rent; the low rent is because of the savings to the city.”

Louisiana is one of the first states in the nation to provide significant tax breaks to the film industry. The potential savings might have made the state an attractive option for Jackson.

Recently, BLACK ENTERPRISE reported on the Louisiana legislature’s vote to remove the $150 million tax credit for the film industry.

In light of the news, Jackson kept a positive attitude while encouraging Louisiana residents to keep the faith.

“I know people in Shreveport are sick right now; stay positive everything happens for a reason.” He continued, “I’m committed to the people of Shreveport; they held me down. Do you know a place in the world where you can stop violence for 16 days? There are things more important than money; you will find out when you get a bunch of it.”

Eventually, the Louisiana legislature modified the bill to reflect a reduction in the incentive to $125 million. Jackson seems to be able to keep his commitment to the people of Shreveport by providing career opportunities.

weapons — (Photo: Clinger Holsters/Flickr)

by Sharelle B. McNair

December 6, 2024

Investigation Reveals Law Enforcement Officials Nationwide Sold Restricted Weapons Illegally

No one is above the law.

A CBS News investigation has revealed dozens of law enforcement leaders, ranging from sheriffs to police chiefs, bought and illegally sold firearms, including weapons of war.

A statewide review of government audits and court records from the last 20 year found that there were at least 50 cases of police officers accused of illegally selling their weapons online. In Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and 23 states, weapons were sold to dealers out of the officers’ homes or the back of their cars. In some instances, the weapons were sold to gun enthusiasts for prices 10 times higher than ther original price.

The former chief of police at the Adair Police Department in Iowa, Bradley Wendt, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison in July 2024 after he was convicted by a federal jury of conspiring to make false statements to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and illegal possession of a machine gun. Prosecutors argued he knowingly used his position of power in the department to acquire machine guns for himself and his for-profit business.

“This chief (of) police gig is awesome,” Wendt wrote in an email to an associate in 2019. “Send machine guns to my own gun store. LOL.”

Red flags were raised after an audit found the small department, consisting of three people to police a town of 794 people, sought to buy 90 machine guns from regulators, including an M134 Gatling-style minigun with the ability to shoot up to 6,000 rounds of ammunition per minute. Wendt wrote close to 40 similar letters with requests to purchase or demonstrate 90 machine guns for the Adair Police Department between July 2018 and August 2022.

Prior to being convicted, Wendt told CBS News, “If I’m guilty of this, every cop in the nation’s going to jail.”

In a number of the cases prompted by the investigation, guns wound up in the hands of violent felons and were used to commit crimes such as international arms dealing and drug trafficking. One weapon was used in a case involving the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old boy attending a high school football game. A police chief, mayor, and village trustee in New Mexico were busted in 2011 for a smuggling ring involving the delivery of automatic firepower and tactical gear to a Mexican cartel.

Years later, more law enforcement officers with high rankings—three police chiefs, one sheriff, and a Delta Force veteran—were caught by prosecutors for being linked with a sanctioned Russian arms dealer who sold machine guns to a criminal trafficker directly. After all pleaded guilty, the name of an alleged co-conspirator then working as an intelligence analyst for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security was brought up. However, he denied any wrongdoing.

Close to 26,000 guns from crime scenes in the United States were traced back to a government agency, law enforcement, or the military between 2017 and 2021. Out of the 58 cases listed in the investigation involving law enforcement criminally charged with illegal weapon sales, 56 of them admitted guilt or were convicted.

fulani, microsoft — (Image: Getty Images)

by Mitti Hicks

December 6, 2024

UnitedHealth CEO Killing Forces Healthcare Insurance Industry To Secure Its Company Leaders

Health insurance companies in the United States are scrubbing photos of executive leadership

It will be harder to find the people running America’s healthcare companies. The healthcare industry is already changing its practices, mainly the information people can find online, following the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The company, which is the largest health insurance payer in the United States, has already scrubbed photos of its executive leadership team from its website, as Reuters points out, signaling a changing in the industry.

Elevance Health, formerly known as Anthem, is the second-largest health insurance payer in the country. The website has also removed pictures of the president, chief executive officer, and other senior leadership team members.

Centene, Aetna, and Cigna round the top five list of largest health insurance payers in the U.S. At the time of this report, David Cordani, chairman and chief executive officer of The Cigna Group, is the only picture BLACK ENTERPRISE could find on the website.

However, Robert D’Amico, founder of Sierra One Consulting, told Reuters the removal of the photos revealed, “These companies are hearing what experts like me have been saying about how easy it is to identify and then find their executives.”

Beyond removing the pictures of top executives, D’Amico expects companies to increase physical security as well.

Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, confirmed with NBC News that her husband had faced threats over the last few weeks.

“I don’t know details. I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him,” she said.

Despite the threats, Paulette added that he didn’t change his travel routine. Thompson was attending an investor conference in New York City when he was fatally attacked. Police say a masked gunman shot him several times outside the New York Hilton Midtown on Sixth Avenue in the heart of Manhattan.

“Speaking to other employees that traveled with him to New York, it doesn’t seem like he had a security detail,” said NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny. “He left the hotel by himself, was walking, didn’t seem like he had any issues at all.”

Flau'jae Johnson, NIL, SCORE Act — (Photo: Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 6, 2024

Flau’jae Johnson Joins Unrivaled Basketball League With NIL Deal

'Being somebody that’s going to be in the WNBA soon, having another option, this is big', says the LSU junior.

Louisiana State University’s women’s basketball player Flau’jae Johnson has recently announced that she is now an ambassador for the upcoming women’s professional basketball league, Unrivaled.

After signing an NIL (Name, image, and likeness) deal with the burgeoning sports league, Johnson is the second college player to ink a contract with Unrivaled. The league signed Paige Bueckers, who plays for the University of Connecticut (UConn), in August. Johnson joins her former teammate, Angel Reese, who signed with the league earlier this year. The college junior posted about joining the league on her social media platform.

“The Future is Unrivaled. Excited to join the Unrivaled team as an NIL Ambassador 👑💜4️⃣.”

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Johnson’s NIL deal includes equity in Unrivaled, ensuring possibly more financial success outside of her athletic skills.

She spoke to Fox News about what the deal means to her and her future.

“I think the equity is the most important part, just being able to be invested in something like that,” Johnson said. “And for me, being able to leverage my brand and to create business opportunities. That’s really what this NIL space is all about. When you’re in NIL, you literally have this short window where everybody wants to have you a part [of something], so to really leverage that into something that’s going to last for a long time. It’s going to be in my business portfolio and gain capital in the future, that’s a really big deal.”

Unrivaled is a new women’s basketball league started by Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier and New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart last year in July. The league is slated to begin on Jan. 17, 2025. It’s a 3-on-3 format that already pays players higher salaries than the WNBA. The ladies started the league to allow players to make money during the offseason playing basketball without having to go overseas to do so.

“Leagues like this, women don’t have to go overseas anymore,” Johnson told Fox News. “Now, they could stay home, be playing in Miami where the sky is beautiful and collect a check. I think it’s so important what they’re doing -– they’re really changing the game. Being somebody that’s going to be in the WNBA soon, having another option, this is big.”

Black Business Leaders Educate Aspiring Entrepreneurs At ReSURGEnce Conference 2024 — Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels

by Stacy Jackson

December 6, 2024

Black Business Leaders Educate Aspiring Entrepreneurs At ReSURGEnce Conference 2024

This year's ReSURGEnce Conference welcomed aspiring entrepreneurs to participate in discussions on growing wealth in the Black community.

Business leaders, clergy, government officials, and aspiring entrepreneurs convened last month in New York for “A Thicker Slice of Economic Pie” at ReSURGEnce Conference 2024, a transformative event aimed to highlight Black business in America and across the globe.

For three days, attendees were equipped with resources to become successful entrepreneurs within their communities and delved into conversations focused on bridging the Black wealth gap and growing Black businesses. According to a press release, the November ReSURGEnce Conference featured panels, keynote addresses, and breakout sessions led by Black business pioneers from New York to Africa.

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“The reSURGEnce conference will arm attendees with the tools they need to participate in a rapidly changing economy,” said Rev. Dennis Dillon, chief convener for the ReSURGEnce Conference. The event was designed to provide aspiring entrepreneurs networking opportunities and strategies to access funds to scale their businesses, conduct business with government agencies and corporations, build wealth through real estate and homeownership, and more. Additionally, guests were educated on conducting business in the renewable energy and green economy sectors.

Dillon, publisher of The New York Christian Times, said that as new technological advances arise and the world evolves into a new wave of economic globalization, the Black community is still behind the curve. Ahead of the conference, The New York Christian Times published the “2024 Economic State of the Black World Report,” revealing how far behind Black Americans lag in every area of economics compared to their white counterparts. The report, penned by Dillon, shows that although Blacks represent over 19% of the New York population, only 9% account for the buying power in the state. Dillon hopes conference attendees use the resources and education to grow their businesses and further educate their communities so Black people worldwide can “reap the benefits of economic globalization just like their counterparts do.”

The ReSURGEnce Conference 2024 also celebrated the Black church and discussed strategies for empowering communities worldwide. The initiative’s official website stated that the event provides an opportunity for leaders and entrepreneurs to discuss ways to strengthen the economic state of the Black community, create jobs, and permanently close racial wealth gaps.

This year’s conference, which hosted a Global Roundtable and Durban Investment Forum, returned to Queens, New York, from Nov. 22 – 24.