North Carolina A&T, Biotechnology, merck

by Stacy Jackson

June 24, 2024

North Carolina A&T Launches Biotechnology Learning Center With Merck

The Merck Biotechnology Learning Center will offer N.C. A&T students advanced training and insights into the biopharmaceutical industry.

A new initiative to foster talent in the biotechnology sector has been launched through a partnership between multinational pharmaceutical company Merck and research HBCU North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T).

The Merck Biotechnology Learning Center, a 4,025-square-foot facility, offers advanced training and discovery opportunities for N.C. A&T students pursuing careers in biotechnology. An April 22 press release by Merck revealed that the center, equipped with cutting-edge biopharmaceutical manufacturing equipment, a process laboratory, and classroom space, is strategically located near Merck’s Durham and Wilson manufacturing sites.

The collaboration aims to strengthen academic programming and provide hands-on experience for students. Sanat Chattopadhyay, executive vice president and president of Merck Manufacturing Division, expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating, “We’re pleased to launch this new collaboration with an institution that precisely aligns to our company priorities to invest in the growth and delivery of innovative health solutions and strong values around diversity and inclusion.”

The partnership invests in the local community’s future and supports broader bioeconomy initiatives across the state. It addresses the critical need for diversity in the biotechnology industry, where Black professionals remain underrepresented. According to a 2022 report by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, despite their representation in society, Black employees only constituted 6% of the biotech workforce.

Dr. Tonya Smith-Jackson, provost and executive vice chancellor of academic affairs at N.C. A&T, highlighted the significance of the collaboration with Merck, describing it as “a union between academia and industry, and a commitment to excellence, innovation, and the advancement of scientific knowledge.”

The Merck Biotechnology Learning Center offers N.C. A&T students valuable insights into the biopharmaceutical industry, helping them envision potential career paths. Additionally, the facility provides vaccine manufacturing process training for both new and existing Merck employees, further strengthening the company’s workforce development efforts.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 24, 2024

Detroit Pistons Terminates Head Coach Monty Williams A Year After Signing Him To Largest Contract In NBA History

Last year, Williams signed a reported six-year, $78.5 million contract with the Pistons.

A year after being issued the largest coaching deal in NBA history, Monty Williams has been terminated by the Detroit Pistons after only a year of service to the team.

The team announced its decision on June 19.

“Decisions like these are difficult to make, and I want to thank Monty for his hard work and dedication,” said Pistons owner Tom Gores in a written statement. “Coaching has many dynamic challenges that emerge during a season and Monty always handled those with grace. However, after reviewing our performance carefully and assessing our current position as an organization, we will chart a new course moving forward.”

“I have great respect for Monty as a coach and as a person and I am certain he will be successful in his future endeavors. I sincerely wish him and his family the very best.”

“I have great respect for Monty as a coach and as a person and I am certain he will be successful in his future endeavors”

The #Pistons announced today that Monty Williams will not return next season as the team’s head coach: https://t.co/8a4e7hHeOW

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) June 19, 2024

In June 2023, Williams agreed to take on the head coaching position with the Pistons for a reported six-year, $78.5 million contract. The agreement was the largest coaching deal in NBA history.

Williams won NBA Coach of the Year in 2022 as head coach of the Phoenix Suns. A year after winning the award, he was fired by the Suns after they were eliminated in the Western Conference Semifinals. He had a winning record as a head coach with a total of 194 wins against 115 losses (.628) in regular season games. His playoff record for the Suns stands at 27-19. The team made it to the NBA Finals in 2021 and won a franchise-record 64 games in 2021-22.

Williams played his collegiate career at Notre Dame from 1989 to 1994 before becoming the New York Knicks’ 24th NBA first-draft pick in 1994. He played for the Knicks, the San Antonio Spurs, the Denver Nuggets, the Orlando Magic, and the Philadelphia 76ers during his NBA career.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 23, 2024

Sha’Carri Richardson Qualifies For Paris Olympics After Winning 100-Meter Race

Richardson clocked her fastest time this year.

Sha’Carri Richardson has won her latest race and now qualifies for the upcoming Paris Olympics.

According to USA Today, Richardson won her latest race by clocking the fastest time this year for the women’s 100 meters with a time of 10.71 seconds.

Sha’Carri Richardson runs the fastest 100m in the world this year to qualify for the #ParisOlympics! pic.twitter.com/ke9xz7EZ7H

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) June 23, 2024

CNN reports that Richardson accomplished the feat on June 22 at the Olympic trials at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

Although Richardson didn’t have an explosive start, she bypassed the other sprinters at 60 meters and defeated her opponents with no ease when she crossed the finish line first.

“This time around, I feel as if it was more — definitely still confident, still my exciting, normal self, but more so the overwhelming feeling of joy,” Richardson said after she completed the race, according to USA Today.

She easily passed Melissa Jefferson, who came in behind Richardson when she ran a personal-best 10.80. Twanisha Terry came in the No. 3 spot with a time of 10.98. All three sprinters, who train together, are heading to the Paris Olympics.

“It definitely confirmed the year we’ve been training for. We’ve been preparing for this moment; it’s a full circle moment,” Richardson said. “We’re grateful and appreciative and I’m super excited to grow and build from this momentum that we’ve already established.”

Richardson previously qualified for the Olympics but was suspended after a failed drug test and was left off the roster for the team for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

“Everything I’ve been through is everything I’ve been through to be in this moment right now,” Richardson said. “And I would say going into the (Olympics), I don’t put a time on myself; I just know that if I execute and run the race that I trained and prepared for, the time comes with it. I’m just excited to go out there and run a well-executed race.”

police shooting, SWAT, Black man, Protector app

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

June 23, 2024

Family of Man Killed By SWAT Officer Call For Murder Trial

The family of Kilyn Lewis, who died after a SWAT officer shot him in May, urge for the officer to be charged.

The family of Kilyn Lewis, a Black man killed by a SWAT officer while holding a cellphone, are urging for a murder trial against the officer. The request comes as body cam footage revealed more of the shooting that occurred on May 23.

Lewis died after the police arrived to arrest him at a condo parking lot in the Denver suburb of Aurora. The 37-year-old had an arrest warrant for his alleged involvement in a shooting that occurred weeks prior and left a man injured.

According to AP News, the footage revealed officers yelling at Lewis to get on the ground. Shared with the public by interim Police Chief Heather Morris, the clip showed an officer shooting at Lewis as he began to bend his knees. Lewis held a cell phone while raising his hands in the air.

“I don’t have nothing,” Lewis yelled repeatedly in the video.

His family calls for justice, as his mother touched on the police brutality problem in the area. Elijah McClain, who resided in the Denver suburb of Aurora, died while detained by a police officer in 2019. The officer, alongside two paramedics, was convicted for his involvement. McClain’s death also sparked Black Lives Matter protests nationwide.

“This is not just about one officer or one incident. It’s about a broken system that devalues Black lives,” shared LaRhonda Jones, Lewis’ mother, during a press conference on the matter.

Jones called upon Denver’s local prosecutor and Colorado’s state attorney general to charge the officer and go to trial. The family’s lawyer, Edward Hopkins Jr., also stated that Lewis probably felt ambushed by the police’s approach, which he compared to gangs. Moreover, he argued that the video placed the police involved in a more favorable light.

“They wanted to start the conversation the way they wanted to,” explained Hopkins.

The officer’s identity remains under wraps as an investigation into the incident continues.

by Mary Spiller

June 23, 2024

Saint Augustine’s University Board Chair Addresses Lawsuit Against Trustees

The Saint Augustine University Board of Trustees was sued by the SAU Coalition.

The Chairman of the Saint Augustine’s University Board of Trustees, Brian Boulware, has spoken out against the allegations against him and the other seats at the Raleigh, North Carolina, HBCU. According to ABC 11, he responded to the backlash the board received from the SAVE SAU Coalition.

Boulware and the Board of Trustees found themselves the targets of a lawsuit headed by the SAVE SAU Coalition, which is comprised of Saint Augustine University alumni, parents, students, and others who have expressed interest in maintaining the university’s core values and future.

The lawsuit stated that the HBCU “now teeters on the edge of chaos, brought to its knees by the utter neglect of its board of trustees and especially its most recent chairmen, Defendants Brian Boulware and James Perry.”

The lawsuit continued, “It goes on to state that “the board is led by a dictatorial and vindictive chairman who is more concerned with lining his own pockets than leading the university.”

Boulware responded to the accusations in the lawsuit by penning a letter to Falcon Nation. He defended against the allegations and described the lawsuit as being nothing but “lies and deceptions.”

Boulware made another suggestion about why the SAU filed the lawsuit. He accused a group of local business heads of participating in a meeting to try to force the SAU and Shaw University to merge. The merger would allow real estate developers to tear down Shaw’s campus and use the land to build new projects on the property.

He claimed that the owner of a local television station — Capitol Broadcasting CEO Jim Goodmon — said in the meeting: “Raleigh doesn’t need two Black universities. We need the two to merge. I don’t care what you call it. However, we need them both on SAU’s property because we need downtown land to expand the development footprint.”

In the letter, Boulware said that the push for the merger has caused all the issues brought about by the SAU and the accreditation problems Saint Augustine University has faced.

Boulware said, “This unwarranted attention has disrupted our operations, leading to delays in meaningful projects and the need for additional resources. It has also jeopardized the trust of our community, with some stakeholders questioning our financial management.”

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

June 23, 2024

Buffalo Soldier Identified Nearly 80 Years After Disappearing In Battle

Lemuel Dent Jr.'s remains, previously marked as 'unknown' in the Florence American Cemetery, were recently identified.

The remains of a Buffalo soldier have finally been identified after decades missing. Pfc. Lemuel Dent Jr. was part of the African-American 92nd Infantry Division for World War II when he died in battle.

Dent Jr. hailed from Charles County, Maryland, when he went missing after a February 1945 battle at the Cinquale Canal in northwest Italy. His remains, which amounted to half a body, were discovered three months later by the U.S. Army’s Graces Registration Service. However, limited technology left the remains, which lacked a chest, head, and arms, unidentified for over half a century.

It was not until nearly 80 years later that the missing soldier’s name resurfaced. Before this, his body was laid to rest as an “unknown” in the Florence American Cemetery. The Washington Post reports the 30-year-old remained one of 13 men lost that day. He currently hails as only the fourth of recovered names.

His body was exhumed from the grave in June 2022 for the forensic analysis that led to his identification. DNA from Dent Jr.’s thigh bone matched with his family’s samples, providing closure to the loved ones who lost him long ago.

Generals considered the battle against the Nazi German soldiers a failure. However, they failed to acknowledge that racially-motivated inept training was a significant factor.

Moreover, Dent Jr. was not the only soldier part of the Buffalo division deemed missing in action. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) launched a project to recover the lost names of 50 men.

“These individuals were serving in a segregated military, in which they were not treated as the other soldiers,” said forensic anthropologist Traci Van Deest at DPAA. “They were not treated with the same type of honor and respect.”

The division’s namesake derived from a cohort of Black American soldiers who served in the late 1800s. The 16th division project aims to recover all missing from the cohort’s last battle.

Barry Sanders, statue, NFL legend, heart, health scare

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

June 23, 2024

NFL Legend Barry Sanders Speaks On Heart-Related Health Scare

Sanders did not disclose exactly what happened, but did note that it was related to his heart.

NFL Hall of Famer Barry Sanders revealed a recent health scare concerning his heart. The former running back detailed the incident over Father’s Day weekend.

Sanders, known for his legendary stint with the Detroit Lions, revealed the health issue to social media on June 21. Sanders remained tight-lipped on the “unexpected” ordeal but encouraged his fans to remain “vigilant” on their health.

.@Lions @NFL @NFLPA @ProFootballHOF @HeismanTrophy @okstate pic.twitter.com/1fGb790PlK
— Barry Sanders (@BarrySanders) June 21, 2024

“Over Father’s Day weekend, I experienced a health scare related to my heart,” began the 55-year-old. “It was unexpected and served as a reminder of the importance of staying vigilant about our physical well-being, even when we are feeling fine.”

Sanders did not disclose what exact heart condition he suffered from but expressed his gratitude for the medical professionals who cared for him.

He added, “I am grateful for the amazing doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals for providing me with needed care. My family and I are thankful for your prayers and support during this time.”

His finished the statement by emphasizing this focus on his health as he recovers from the illness.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, Black men remain at a higher risk, 70% exactly, of heart failure than their white counterparts. They are also twice as likely to be hospitalized for heart issues.

The Detroit Lions also expressed their well wishes for the beloved athlete, stating “Get well soon, Barry” to the Heisman Trophy Winner. Sanders’ induction into the NFL’s Hall of Fame occurred in 2004, with his No. 20 jersey also retired by the franchise.

Many consider Sanders one of the greatest running backs in NFL history. He acquired 15,269 rushing yards in 10 seasons during his professional career, placing him with the fourth-most ever. As reported by ESPN, he took home the co-awarded Most Valuable Player in 1997.

Sanders also made sports history last year. In September 2023, the Lions unveiled a statue of him outside Ford Field. Sanders remains the first and only player in the franchise to be honored in this way.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 23, 2024

Naomi Osaka’s Hana Kuma Production Company Secures Investment From The Players Fund

Hana Kuma is in partnership with LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s SpringHill Company.

According to SportsProMedia, tennis phenom Naomi Osaka has received an investment from The Players Fund for her production company, Hana Kuma.

Hana Kuma, which means flower bear in Japanese, is in partnership with LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s SpringHill Company, and was launched in 2022. The company said that the investment will provide “essential production, development, and strategic resources” to Hana Kuma. Other partners involved in the company include Stuart Duguid, founder of sports talent agency EVOLVE, Boston Red Sox owner Fenway Sports Group, and Epic Games, the owner of Fortnite.

“We are thrilled to welcome The Players Fund as an investor in Hana Kuma,” said Osaka in a written statement. “Their extensive network of elite athletes from all backgrounds aligns perfectly with our mission to uplift diverse voices and perspectives through innovative storytelling.”

Last year, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Osaka raised $5 million in a fundraising round for Hana Kuma.

Fergus Bell, managing partner at The Players Fund, said: “What Naomi, Stuart [Duguid, Osaka’s agent], and the team at Springhill are building with Hana Kuma shall be the framework for diverse storytelling for years to come. We have waited a long time for a female athlete-led content platform and believe that with The Players Fund’s global network, we can truly accelerate the Hana Kuma roadmap alongside partners such as Epic Games, Fenway Sports Group, Nike, and LeBron James.”

The Players Fund was launched last August, according to SportsProMedia, with England men’s cricketers Ben Stokes, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, and Jofra Archer among its backers. In December, female athletes were added as partners, including Olympic gold medallists Jessica Ennis-Hill and Allyson Felix, and English soccer players Nikita Parris and Danielle Carter. More than 50 athletes are involved.

According to Tennis.com, Osaka was one of four former Grand Slam champions awarded wild cards for the upcoming Wimbledon tournament, which starts on July 1. Caroline Wozniacki, Angelique Kerber, and Emma Raducanu were the other players.

Amandla Stenberg, diss track, The Acolyte

by Mary Spiller

June 23, 2024

Amandla Stenberg Releases Diss Track About Racist Response To Star Wars ‘The Acolyte’

Stenberg dropped the diss track on Juneteenth.

Los Angeles-born actress Amandla Stenberg responded on June 19 to the conservative backlash and “intolerable racism” that they’ve been dealing with as a lead star in the new Star Wars series. The 25-year-old The Acolyte actress, who uses she/they pronouns, dropped a diss track after critics slammed the series as being too “woke” and progressive. Stenberg released the diss track on Instagram and directed it to the critics who attacked her online, bringing up old interviews from her past.

The Bodies Bodies Bodies star brought up the negative attention that she’s been getting from watchers in her new song. As the Black queer lead of The Acolyte, the homophobic and racist Star Wars fandom members have been “review-bombing” the show.

The track, titled “Discourse,” delved into the hatred and prejudice that Stenberg has received throughout their accomplished career. Stenberg posted the song on Instagram with a self-directed music video. They captioned the post, “Happy Juneteenth and to those who are flooding me with intolerable racism— since it took me 72 hours on my laptop to make this song and video, u got 72 hours to respond. and I expect choreo!!”

The song started by referencing a 2018 interview with Trevor Noah discussing her feature in The Hate U Give. In the interview, Stenberg stated that “white people crying actually was the goal” of the film.

In the song, they sang, “They splice lines, make hate they recognize, make it look like the same propaganda that they spew/ Cuz they conflate our pain with violence and try to weaponize everything that we do.”

Stenberg continued in the song, “They spinning WOKE, bastardize it and appropriate it/Last I recall, WOKE was something we created, speak truth to power, keep an eye out for you silly racists. And now they use it to describe anything they threatened by/Remember when Gambino put it in the zeitgeist?”

Stenberg’s song has been well received on Instagram, with her supporters hyping up her self-produced song.

by Stacy Jackson

June 23, 2024

$1.58M Grant Funds Study On Cancer Among Black Women In Mid-South

The study is an extensive qualitative evaluation of socio-cultural and structural factors that affect cancer patients in the Mid-South.

A potentially groundbreaking study, funded by a $1.58 million grant from Gilead Sciences, Inc., aims to uncover the root causes of breast cancer disparities among Black women in the Mid-South.

Led by health communication expert Dr. Janeane Anderson and medical oncologist Dr. Gregory Vidal, the research will explore sociocultural and structural factors contributing to these disparities, according to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. The study’s significance is underscored by alarming statistics.

“In the South, we see delays, access issues, and unnecessary burden at every step of the cancer continuum for Black women,” said Anderson, an assistant professor and social scientist at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s College of Nursing.

Recent data from the American Cancer Society reveals that Black women face a 40% higher breast cancer mortality rate compared to their white counterparts. Additional research found that Arkansas and Mississippi rank among the top 10 states with the highest overall cancer rates.

This qualitative exploration will involve three distinct groups: Black women with metastatic breast cancer, those at high risk for breast disease, and healthcare providers in the Mid-South region. The research design incorporates the Socio-Ecological Model and Critical Race Theory to provide a comprehensive framework for analysis.

“This study would be the most extensive qualitative evaluation of how social, economic, and health factors affect cancer patients in the Mid-South,” Vidal said.

By examining multilevel factors influencing outcome disparities, the researchers hope to identify actionable insights to address this pressing health issue. This new study builds upon Anderson’s previous work, which has focused on patient-clinician communication and its effects on health outcomes for Black adults.

Set to commence on July 1, the three-year project will recruit participants from various clinic sites across Arkansas, Tennessee, and Mississippi.