TikTok, hot dog stand, viral video — (Photo: Caleb Oquendo/Flickr)

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 25, 2024

Tough TikTok Food Critic’s Rave Review Boosts Sales of Atlanta Soul Food Spot

The eatery, located inside an Atlanta gas station, ended up with a rave review from the hard-to-please critic.

Mr. Chimetime, a TikTok food critic known for his no-holds-barred restaurant reviews, praised a local Atlanta soul food restaurant alongside a generous tip.

Born Rashad Mooreman, the food lover was encouraged by the owner of Red Rice restaurant to try out its signature dishes. The eatery, located inside a gas station in Atlanta, received a rave review from the hard-to-please critic. He detailed the experience in a Nov. 19 TikTok post.

@mr.chimetime The BIGGEST‼️ Hidden Gem In Atlanta GA🤯🔥 @RedRiceAtl .. #ncfoodie #foodreview #foodcritic #atlantarestaurants #atlantafood ♬ original sound – Mr.ChimeTime

“I’ve had a hard time, a very hard time finding some good soul food, and I think I may have found it,” he stated in the clip.

Mr. ChimeTime then inserted a clip of the restaurant owner urging him to grab a plate. “He done been all around Atlanta. He don’t like nobody food. I need him to come to Red Rice,” she exclaimed.

While advising her to have better over-the-phone service, he still indulged in the soul food plate featuring the restaurant’s signature red rice.

“It is really and truly chef’s kiss. You tell time and effort went into making this,” he shared in between bites. “It gets no better than this.”

He then went to speak to the owner directly. He proceeded to give her a $5,000 tip, with $1,000 going toward meals for other customers to try the next day.

“I cook this. My kids cook this. We cook this from the heart. We love what we do,” she explained.

Red Rice’s owner posted to social media about their influx of customers following the viral review. Another food blogger showed a line around the block as Atlanta residents waited to get in the restaurant.

@gourmetangiie @Mr.ChimeTime did a review at @RedRiceAtl and this is the effect the line was down the street all day !! So happy for my sis #foodtiktok #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #fyp ♬ original sound – 🧍🏾‍♀️🧍🏾‍♀️

The massive number of customers led the restaurant to delay the next day’s opening.

Ebony Alert, missing Black women, Missing child — (Photo: Ron Lach/Pexels)

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 25, 2024

Georgia Family Continues Search For Missing Elderly Women Suffering From Dementia

The 80-year-old went missing without a trace, with her loved ones noticing she was not at her home as expected.

A Georgia family continues the search for a missing elderly woman who has dementia. Rosa “Rose” Mae Dawson has been missing since Nov. 13.

Dawson’s family held a widespread search through DeKalb County on Nov. 23. In a press release obtained by BLACK ENTERPRISE, the family enlisted the help of their local community to find the matriarch. Extended relatives, community leaders, and volunteers came together at South Dekalb Mall for the effort.

“We are still searching tirelessly and will not stop until Rose is home,” a family spokesperson explained in the news release. Your help could make the difference in bringing her back to us.”

The 80-year-old went missing without a trace, with her loved ones noticing she was not at her home as expected. Her son, Ricky Dawson, told 11Alive about when they discovered her disappearance.

“My aunt, who comes over and spends the day with her, came over, and the door was open, and she wasn’t here,” explained Ricky. “They couldn’t find her. They went over to a couple of the neighbors’ houses thinking she might’ve just walked over there, and she wasn’t there.”

According to the news outlet, Ring camera footage never captured Dawson leaving her home. Her family has leaned on the wider community to keep looking for the older woman. Despite having dementia, Dawson can identify herself and her residence.

However, her son still worries about her safety, especially as the winter weather approaches.

“The worst part is the not knowing. Not knowing where she is, the weather being cold and rainy — just hoping that she’s safe,” he said. “In my heart, I believe she will be home safe. I miss her, and I love her. I just want to hold her again.”

Georgia authorities issued a Mattie’s call, intended for disabled or elderly people, but the emergency alert had not reached all phones statewide. An investigation into the matter continues but with no leads thus far. Those with information are encouraged to contact the Dekalb County SVU or the Dawson family at helpfindrosedawson@gmail.com.

RELATED CONTENT: 20-Year-Old Chloe Cooper Missing In Georgia

Carter G. Woodson — (Photo: Getty Images)

by Sharelle B. McNair

November 25, 2024

Black Beverly Hills High School Students Address Racism After MAGA Mob Following Trump’s Election Win

'One of my students said they looked like the KKK.'

Black students and a teacher at Beverly Hills High School are reeling after a MAGA mob stormed the hallways on Election Day in support of now President-elect Donald Trump, Fox 11 reports.

“It was just a mob of kids,” fashion teacher Bella Ivory explained. “So many kids outside my door. One of them had a Trump flag on a pole, some of them had on MAGA hats. Some just had Trump apparel.

“They looked so frightened,” Ivory added. “I said I’m not going to open the door, and one of my students said they looked like the KKK.”

STUDENTS EMBOLDENED BY TRUMP

Beverly Hills High School—the week of the 2024 election a mob of kids with a Trump flag on a pole, with Trump clothing and MAGA hats stormed the halls.

In recent weeks, Black students have been targets of racism, saying they’ve been called racial… pic.twitter.com/Bjve66a1ZQ
— Christopher Webb (@cwebbonline) November 23, 2024

During a school board meeting, Ivory and some students addressed some of the concerns involving a number of racial intimidation tactics used on campus.

A senior student named Jurnee said racism became “utterly impossible” to ignore the week of the election.

“From 8:30 to 2:30, all week, being in school felt like a nightmare. What the Black students and Miss Bella had to deal with that week had nothing to do with politics,” she said. “That week, [being] stormed, being called the N-word…Being shunned, all because you were Black became the normal.”

Another student named Alexander shared how he has seen “slurs scrawled across the walls of our bathrooms” along with hateful and “violent rhetoric used toward Miss Bella and our club.”

The Beverly Hills Unified School District said, “We remain deeply committed to upholding a secure and conscientious setting where students can responsibly and considerately engage in the democratic process.”

However, the district is investigating the racist claims, including alleged evidence of a cell phone from a student posted on social media. In the recording, Ivory can allegedly be heard saying, “If anything happens to me at this school, my family will come for your families. If anything happens to my son, I will come for your families.”

Ivory, who has yet to return to class, claims the alleged recording was edited and says her message wasn’t a threat but was essential, “saying my family is going to come after [any] family that hurts me, kills me whatever, legally, not physically.”

According to Beverly Press, Joanie Garratt, who became a substitute teacher after entering retirement, was terminated on Nov. 13 for expressing being “disheartened” by the acts of the mob, which “specifically targeted the class where the Black Student Union was meeting.”

“Some students arrived at school truly upset and even crying only to be bullied later by their classmates,” Garratt wrote. “And don’t blame the administration for this. They are dealing with it. This comes from their leader, His Majesty, King.”

Principal Drew Stewart said such events would be prohibited in the future.“Students may not assemble, create moving mobs or form circles to shout, jump and physically contact others,” the memo read.

paper power plant, Georgia, paper plant — photo credit: pexels

by Daniel Johnson

November 25, 2024

Canadian Paper Plant To Invest In $600M Factory In Georgia, Hire 100 Additional Workers

Irving Tissue, a Canadian paper company, announced on Nov. 21 that they would be spending $600 million to expand production at its paper mill in Macon, Georgia, including hiring 100 additional workers.

Irving Tissue, a Canadian paper company, announced on Nov. 21 that it would spend $600 million to expand production at its paper mill in Macon, Georgia, including plans to hire 100 additional workers.

Marc Doucette, Irving Tissue’s vice president of communications, told The Associated Press that the expansion was necessary because the plant had maxed out its current capability to produce paper goods.

“We’ve had tremendous success in Macon, and with the plant currently sold out, this is the right plant for the expansion,” Doucette said in an emailed statement.

The mill’s expansion includes an automated warehouse and new converting lines to convert tissue into paper products.

The wood pulp to supply the extra paper machine will come from the company’s paper mill in Saint John, New Brunswick.

The warehouse is expected to be ready by 2026, while the paper machine is scheduled to be completed in 2027.

Currently, the plant can produce 165,000 tons of tissue per year, but when the expansions are complete, that number will increase to 248,000 tons per year.

According to MBCIA, Macon’s population is approximately 54% Black, and the average income in Macon-Bibb County, Georgia, where Macon is located, was $41,334 as of 2019.

Workers make between $22 and over $30 an hour at the factory, which works out to a yearly salary of approximately $45,760 to over $62,400 for the highest earners.

Georgia’s state income tax credit system allows Irving to earn up to $2 million in state income tax credits.

As long as workers make over $35,600 a year, the company could earn as much as $4,000 per position over the next five years in state income tax credits, and the company could also receive property tax breaks and other incentives.

According to Doucette, the company is in talks with officials about creating tax abatements and other benefits for the company.

According to a press release, Robert K. Irving, the company’s president, indicated that the expansion was good news for the company’s workforce.

“I am very pleased to announce our Phase 3 expansion at Irving Tissue Macon. The $600 million (USD) investment will add another 100 jobs and include a third ThruAir Dry paper-making machine, additional converting lines, and a new fully automated warehouse.”

Irving continued, “It’s another great day for our employees, customers, Irving Tissue, and J.D. Irving. On top of the growth in Macon, this investment will also provide growth in our home region of the northeast—Maine and New Brunswick. Pulp will be supplied from our pulp mill in Saint John, which in turn is supplied from the six million acres we sustainably own or manage. Our fully integrated value chain ensures certainty of supply, exceptional service, and quality, as well as sustainable products for our customers. We are proud of the fact we have planted over one billion trees since 1957 and that these trees are now providing us with the opportunity for growth across our value chain, including in our sawmills, pulp mill, and tissue manufacturing plants like Macon.”

Bronny James, LeBron James, NBA — (Photos from left: Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images; Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 25, 2024

Stephen A. Smith Questions LeBron’s Social Media Exit And Its Connection To Son Bronny’s NBA Struggles

'Is that because of you, LeBron James, or is it because of your son, Bronny James, and his struggles?'

With LeBron James recent announcement that he’s swearing off social media for the moment, sports analyst Stephen A. Smith gave his thoughts on the reason why the basketball superstar really left social media.

Although the Los Angeles Lakers under head coach J.J. Redick have gotten off to a 10-6 start, the main focus has been on LeBron’s son, Bronny, and how the team is handling his development.

Many basketball fans, analysts, and even former NBA players agree that Bronny is not ready for the league and needs to spend time in the G League to develop his skills. The Lakers halfway agree—only allowing Bronny to play in home games in the G League. This has caused countless conversations with most saying it won’t help Bronny.

That includes Smith, who believe the problems that lie around Bronny’s lack of NBA skills are to be blamed on LeBron, who to start made sure his son was given a guaranteed contract for a player selected in the second round of the NBA Draft.

Smith and others believe that criticism surrounding Bronny is why LeBron removed himself off social media, which James announced on Nov. 20.

And with that said I’ll holla at y’all! Getting off social media for the time being. Y’all take care ✌🏾👑

— LeBron James (@KingJames) November 20, 2024

Smith took to his YouTube show, The Stephen A. Smith Show, on Nov. 25 to address why he feels LeBron did so.

“LeBron James electing to get off of social media. Is that because of you, LeBron James, or is it because of your son, Bronny James, and his struggles?”

Smith put the blame solely on the basketball champion for making it known years ago that he wanted Bronny as his teammate, seemingly forcing the Lakers to make that move last year.

“Respectfully, this is all LeBron’s fault. It was LeBron James that told the world I wanna play with him in the NBA…Because he is LeBron James, he greased the skids and facilitated it happening.”

The sportscaster alos reminded that LeBron declared Bronny, who wasn’t even having a good season at USC, was ready for the NBA.

“Most importantly, LeBron James was caught saying publicly that Bronny James is better than some players in the NBA. Do you think people were gonna forget that?”

Police Officer, Federal Prison, Jail, Gavel, Court, Susan Lorincz — (Photo: vladans/Getty Images)

by Daniel Johnson

November 25, 2024

Susan Lorincz Now Faces 30 Years In Prison For Killing Her Neighbor Ajinke ‘AJ’ Owens

Lorincz is facing a sentence of up to 30 years in a Florida state prison on Nov. 25 for shooting and killing Owens with her .380 caliber pistol.

As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, Susan Lorincz, the 60-year-old white woman who shot and killed her Black neighbor, 35-year-old Ajinke “AJ” Owens, was convicted of manslaughter in August.

According to The Associated Press, Lorincz faces up to 30 years in a Florida state prison during her sentencing on Nov. 25 for shooting and killing Owens with her .380 caliber pistol.

During the trial, prosecutors made note of a long-running feud between the two neighbors that eventually escalated when Owens accused Lorincz of throwing roller skates and an umbrella at her children, which the older woman denied.

When Owens came back to the woman’s house and pounded on her door while yelling, Lorincz shot Owens through the door and later told detectives in a recorded interview that she feared for her life.

“I thought I was in imminent danger,” Lorincz told the officers.

However, a jury did not agree with the substance of Lorincz’s claim of shooting Owens in self-defense and convicted her of manslaughter.

After the trial’s conclusion, Owens’ family, including her mother, Pamela Dias, argued for the maximum sentence for their daughter’s killer.

“While the pain of losing Ajike, we are hopeful that justice will prevail and that the court will give Susan Lorincz the maximum penalty for her actions,” Dias told the AP in an email statement ahead of the sentencing on Nov. 25. “Ajike’s legacy will live on through her children, and we will continue to fight for justice.”

According to criminal defense attorney Jonathan Rose, although the maximum sentence in Lorincz’s case is 30 years, she is likely to serve between 15 and 30 years despite her advanced age.

“I think what you can expect is for her to be sentenced, you know, somewhere between probably 15 to 30 years,” Rose told Spectrum News. “I think it’s extremely unlikely that she’ll be sentenced under whatever that presumptive minimum is. I’d say it’s next to impossible that she’ll be sentenced to a probationary sentence, even though she’s 60 years old.”

According to Newsweek, the case, which occurred in Ocala, Florida, sparked protests from Ocala’s Black community because it took prosecutors weeks to charge Lorincz with manslaughter instead of second-degree murder.

However, manslaughter carries a lower burden of proof than murder, which makes it more likely to return a guilty verdict, as it did in Lorincz’s case.

To that point, Florida State Attorney William Gladston explained the decision of his office to seek the lesser charge of manslaughter, saying that they possessed insufficient evidence to adequately prove that Lorincz harbored “hatred, spite, ill will, or evil intent” for Owens.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 25, 2024

Redman Reveals Getting $250K Publishing Check After Being Featured On A Christina Aguilera Song

'I couldn’t believe I got that much money for one verse. It was like over $250K, my first check.'

New Jersey native Reggie Noble, known to the world as recording artist Redman, recently appeared in a video clip and revealed that dropping one verse earned him a publishing check of over a quarter of a million dollars.

According to Billboard, during an interview for Red Bull Spiral, the “Time 4 Sum Aksion” emcee discussed getting a check for over $250,000 for appearing on a verse on Christina Aguilera’s “Dirrty” single in 2002. The song was nominated for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals at the 2003 Grammy Awards.

Showing enthusiasm, Redman tells the interviewer about what he deems “one of” his “favorite collabs.” He talks about how the collaboration came about and the results of the song he was featured on.

“Christina is like one of my favorite collabs because I did a song called ‘Let’s Get Dirty’ featuring DJ Kool— what up, Uncle Kool? And she liked that, so he made an R&B-pop version of that record. So I got on the record, and after that, that s**t took off. We was everywhere, bro. She brought me on tour, we was overseas.”

He then details receiving that nice check, the first check for that particular song, and how it was a six-figure check. Although he gives the wrong title of the album (he states the single as the album title, but the album was named ‘Stripped’), he acknowledges finding out how a pop artist moves as opposed to a hip-hop one.

“That album ‘Dirty’ was one of her biggest albums. And we was everywhere and I got to actually see how a pop artist shake and moves through this industry, and it’s another level than hip-hop. And plus, my publishing check, Oh my God! My publishing check, n**ga? Was…. I couldn’t believe I got that much money for one verse. It was like over $250K, my first check.”

Redman reveals that Christina Aguilera was one of his favorite collaborations and says he couldn’t believe he was paid over $250,000 from his first publishing check for their song “Dirrty,” all for just one verse.

(🎥 @redbull ) pic.twitter.com/ulf94v4YEJ

— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) November 21, 2024

Eddie George, Tennessee State, Bowling University — photo credit: Wikkimedia

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 25, 2024

Eddie George Leads Tennessee State University To First Conference Title In 25 Years

Tennessee State is back in the NCAA FCS Playoffs for the first time since 2013.

Former NFL player Eddie George pulled off a feat that hasn’t been done in 25 years. The head coach of the Tennessee State University football team has led them into the playoffs after capturing the title of Ohio Valley Conference champions. The Tigers have not won the conference title since 1999.

According to TSUTigers.com, the team won the conference after defeating No. 11-ranked Southeast Missouri, 28-21, on Nov. 23 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. The victory gives the Tigers a 9-3 record and 6-2 in their division. With the loss, it places Southeast Missouri with the same record.

With the latest victory, Tennessee State is back in the NCAA FCS (NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision) Playoffs. This is their first time back in the FCS playoffs since 2013. This season marks the 25th anniversary of the school’s last championship season, as they went undefeated (7-0) in conference play.

This will be the first time that the teams will play each other. The winner will advance to play the No. 3 seed, South Dakota State.

The former Tennessee Titans running back has brought the team back to a winning formula since being named the head football coach at Tennessee State University when he replaced Rod Reed in 2021.

Two months ago, George spoke about the progress the team was making despite the recent changes that not only affected the team but the university as well. The school experienced several changes since he was named to the head coaching position. A new school board was implemented this year after Tennessee State University was overwhelmed with underfunding from the state, multiple audits, housing, and scholarship mismanagement. In June, Ronald A. Johnson was named interim president.

“It’s been a big challenge both on and off the football field,” George told The Tennessean. “Trying to impact the lives of young men while also trying to win games but also trying to change the narrative around Tennessee State as a whole.”

Now, the team is primed to advance further in the FCS Playoffs.

BMIBB ACDONALD — 2C2K Photography, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 25, 2024

Prairie View A&M University Does Not Renew Contract With Head Coach Bubba McDowell

The team decides to go in another direction a year after winning conference title last season

Former NFL player turned college head coach Leonard “Bubba” McDowell will no longer coach the Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) football team.

The athletic director announced that Bubba was leaving the position after Prairie View A&M University decided not to renew his contract. The former Houston Oilers player had been the head coach since 2022.

PVAMU Athletic Director Anton Goff released a statement thanking Bubba for his professionalism while directing the team for the past three seasons. “Coach McDowell’s commitment to helping our student-athletes succeed in life both personally and professionally is admirable and a true reflection of his character,” he said in a written statement.

PVAMUATH: Prairie View Athletics announces head football coach leadership change. #WhereChampionsAreBuilt pic.twitter.com/UhEij6UhoN

— PVAMU Panthers (@PVAMUPanthers) November 24, 2024

Goff mentioned that they would begin the search for someone to replace him on the football field immediately. Assistant head coach Ashton Green will take over the position until a replacement is found.

HBCU Legends reported that Bubba told the media outlet that his departure is “the nature of the business.”

According to HBCU Game Day, the coach did lead the team to the SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference) West Conference Title last season, but having a bad season this year did him in. In three seasons as PVAMU head coach, his record was 17-17 with a 14-9 record in SWAC play. The team had a 5-7 record this past season, the worst record under the now-former coach. Bubba, who also played with the Carolina Panthers during his time in the NFL, played his collegiate career with the University of Miami (he helped the team win the NCAA National Championship as a starter on the undefeated team in 1987). After his time in the NFL, he became a long-time assistant at Prairie View A&M University before taking over the head coaching position when former head coach Eric Dooley left the school to coach at Southern University.