• Celebrity News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 25, 2024

Wiz Khalifa Indicted For Smoking Marijuana At Romanian Music Festival

The rapper could go to jail for up to two years if he's convicted.

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Wiz Khalifa, who was arrested and charged after smoking marijuana on stage while performing at July’s Beach, Please! Festival in Costinesti in Romania, has been indicted on an illegal drug possession charge. 

According to Rolling Stone, the Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism issued a press release that stated that the rapper was in possession of 18.53 grams of cannabis in addition to “a cigarette that contained cannabis” on that night.

Under Romanian law, he faces anywhere between three months and two years in prison or a fine for having drugs (marijuana) that were classified as risk.

People reported that on Oct. 21, the DIICOT stated that Khalifa was indicted on Oct. 15 “for committing the crime of possession of dangerous drugs, without the right, with a view to consumption [of his] own,” according to a translation. Marijuana is illegal there and can’t be used for recreational or medical use.

“Based on the evaluation of the drug user by the Centre for Anti-drug 
Prevention, the prosecutor decides to include a user in an integrated assistance program for drug users, with consent,” the agency said. “If the user follows the protocol, the court can decide to renounce the application of the punishment (or to postpone the punishment).”

Drugs classified as high-risk warrant a potential prison sentence of six months to three years, according to the European Union Drugs Agency.

• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

October 25, 2024

Popular Dallas Pharmacy Owner Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison For $41M Healthcare Scheme

Did they think they would get away with this?

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A Dallas pharmacy owner and Hollywood screenwriter, Ivor Jallah, is turning in his jewels for a jumpsuit after being sentenced to 10 years in prison for running a $41 million healthcare scam, Fox 4 reports. 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas claims that Jallah and co-conspirator Shannon Turley submitted nearly $46 million in bogus claims to insurance companies. Prosecutors allege Jallah used the stolen millions to fund his “promising” Hollywood career and lavish lifestyle to match. Court documents show Jallah and Turley operated close to nine Texas pharmacies and would pay “marketers” for the personal information of insured patients. 

The 37-year-old was pursuing a career as a screenwriter and director and used the money to purchase land, luxury vehicles, and more. An IMDB page lists him as a screenwriter for the 2019 movie Grand Isle, starring Nicolas Cage.

Jallah’s former neighbor, Fred Moyini, became suspicious when he noticed more high-end vehicles were consistently seen going in and out of his Far North Dallas home. “He was probably doing something bad. Who knows,” Moyini said. 

“Outlandish. I can say that. Way outlandish.”

According to The Dallas Morning News, the pair admitted to scamming insurance companies with fake prescriptions for headache sprays and pain and scar creams starting in 2017. As part of the scheme, Turley and Jallah would pay physicians to stamp phony prescription forms when, in reality, they didn’t treat the patients. In other instances, they used physicians’ stamps without consent.

Once the pharmacies shipped out a portion of the medications billed to insurance, Jallah stopped shipping them. When insurance companies started audits to determine whether prescription claims were legitimate, the duo used false drug purchase invoices to support claims submitted to insurance companies. 

To take things further, Jallah selected pharmacy employees to create fake prescription delivery logs and instructed the “marketers” to ask patients to sign the logs regardless of whether they received the prescriptions or not. When the marketers didn’t get the patient signatures, Jallah asked pharmacy employees to forge them.

When law enforcement officers discovered the scam, the military’s healthcare system, Tricare, stopped payment for the creams as the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud said each container of cream contained up to 10 different drugs, some as powerful anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxants. U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton said healthcare is too much of an issue in the country for people to be taken advantage of. “By billing for prescription medication patients never needed nor received, these defendants brazenly lined their pockets at the expense of each and every client who paid into health insurance,” Simonton said in a statement. 

“Healthcare is already a significant expense for many Americans. We cannot and will not allow pharmacy operators to abuse the system in this way.”

U.S. District Judge Sam Lindsay ordered Jallah to pay more than $41 million in restitution, and eight defendants pleaded guilty to charges related to the pharmacy scam, receiving a combined sentence of  24 years in prison. 

Turley is scheduled to be sentenced in November 2024.

RELATED CONTENT: Report: Black Americans Are More Likely To Feel The Impact Of Rising Prescription Costs

• Celebrity News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 25, 2024

Oprah Winfrey And Gayle King Credit 48-Year Friendship As A Key Factor In Career Success

Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King believe they wouldn't be where they are if not for each other.

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Having friends in high places can be valuable, but having the right friends is priceless—Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King are prime examples of this.

The two met in 1976 while starting their media careers at a Baltimore news station. Their genuine connection and unwavering support for each other fostered a lasting friendship that both have credited with boosting their career success.

“She fills a role for me that is as solid as mothering or sistering or anything could be,” Winfrey said of King on Melinda French Gates’ Moments that Make Us.

The billionaire media mogul remembers being 30 and hesitant to move to Chicago to launch her talk show and compete with Phil Donahue, who was then dominating the talk show landscape.

“Gayle was the only person who said, ‘I think you could do it,’” she said. “Had I not had somebody who believed that me moving to Chicago could be successful, I might have not made the move.”

Forty years later, Winfrey continues to be grateful for King’s unwavering support of her career choices.

“The reasons why I think our friendship has worked is because Gayle is happier—not happy but happier—for me, for any kind of success or victory or challenge I get through than I am for myself,” she shared.

King shares the same sentiment about Winfrey, crediting the OWN founder for her role at CBS and attending the Met Gala.

“I wouldn’t dream of [making a big decision] without getting Oprah’s take,” King said.

French Gates revealed that she prioritizes time with her three closest female friends by reserving spots on her calendar for their Monday morning walks together.

“I’ve been incredibly lucky to have three female friends now for over 30 years,” French Gates shared. “They are my truth counsel. Whenever I’m going to make a really hard decision or make a big transition, I know I have to have the courage to tell them, and they’re honest with me.”

“They’re your kitchen cabinet,” Winfrey added.

RELATED CONTENT: ‘Unite For America’ Live Stream Hosted by Oprah, Win with Black Women to Gather All VP Harris Supporters

• Politics

by Kandiss Edwards

October 25, 2024

Lincoln Project Highlights Trump’s Lies Through The Mouths Of Babes

The Lincoln Project's new ad highlights Donald Trump's non-presidential nature.

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On Oct. 24, the Lincoln Project released an advertisement focusing on the most absurd claims and lies told by presidential candidate Donald Trump.

The video, posted to YouTube, uses the innocence of youth to convey the character of the man who can potentially hold the highest office in America. 

The diverse group of children featured in the ad appear prepubescent; some young enough to still have baby teeth. The kids are seen speaking, but the audience hears Trump’s voice as he criticizes soldiers captured during war and how Haitian immigrants living in Springfield, Ohio, are “eating the dogs” and “eating the cats.” 

Children are taught to tell the truth, not embellish when speaking about problems and how to work through strong emotions to facilitate good communication. The ad shows how the rules seem not to apply to Trump.

The Lincoln Project is not the first to speak out against Trump’s unpresidential conduct and baseless claims. Radio personality Charlamagne tha God called out CNN and other news platforms for spending too much time discussing frivolous points and not amplifying “fascist” statements made by Trump. 

The Lincoln Project calls itself a “leading pro-democracy organization in the United States—dedicated to the preservation, protection, and defense of democracy.”

“Trump’s racism, xenophobia, and sexism is on full display every time a family turns on the TV,” said Ryan Wiggins, Lincoln Project’s chief of staff. “Hate is taught, and Trump is a damaging example to young children. The policies he wants to enact are full of hate and will destroy the fabric of the nation. Our children will not inherit the America of the last 250 years, but the America Trump remakes in his own image. This nightmare must be ended once and for all.”

The organization’s content is not solely focused on Trump. Many of its ads focus on current issues being litigated in the Supreme Court and voted on by Congress.

The Lincoln Project sends out a weekly newsletter informing the public about active threats to democracy, which you can receive by clicking here.

RELATED CONTENT: Charlamagne Tha God Indicates He Won’t Vote Trump: ‘I’m Voting To Preserve Democracy‘

• Sports

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 25, 2024

New Kansas City Chiefs Player DeAndre Hopkins Will Honor Kobe Bryant By Wearing No. 8

'Kobe Bryant, one of my favorite athletes of all time.... No. 8 is a special number.'

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The Tennessee Titans recently traded DeAndre Hopkins to the Super Bowl-contending team, the Kansas City Chiefs, where the wideout will get to play for a potential playoff-bound team. On his new team, he stated he would be wearing a new uniform number so he couldn’t honor one of his favorite sports athletes, Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.

According to CBS Sports, after Hopkins was traded to his new team, he announced that he was switching from No. 10 to No. 8, which Kobe wore during his NBA career. He mentioned why he initially chose No. 10 and why he is now picking the number he has now.

“Kobe Bryant, one of my favorite athletes of all time,” Hopkins said. “I knew if I ever got a chance to wear No. 8, just like when I put when I picked No. 10. (Lionel) Messi was my favorite soccer player. Underdog; felt like me at the time coming out of college. Kobe, No. 8 is a special number.”

Officially official.

Welcome to Chiefs Kingdom, @DeAndreHopkins 🫡 pic.twitter.com/9yqz7pqSMi

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) October 24, 2024

Hopkins did thank his former team’s general manager for giving him a chance to play on a team that may return to the Super Bowl as the Titans, who are 1-5, look to have another dismal season. He told NFL.com, “I’ve got to thank (Titans general manager) Ran (Carthon) and his staff for trading me to a contender, first of all because those guys could’ve traded me anywhere.”

• Celebrity News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 25, 2024

Beyoncé Reportedly Set To Endorse Kamala Harris At Houston Rally Appearance

Beyoncé is expected to officially endorse Harris on Friday.

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Kamala Harris is expected to get Beyoncé’s official endorsement when the superstar singer appears at the presidential candidate’s Houston rally on Friday.

Beyoncé’s appearance puts an end to months of speculation over whether the global pop star would endorse Harris. Sources familiar with planning for the event say the “Halo” singer is set to attend the rally alongside her mother, Tina Knowles, and country music legend Willie Nelson, Washington Post reports.

The endorsement follows that of fellow global pop star Taylor Swift, who endorsed Harris for president last month. Rumors swirled that Beyoncé would perform a close-out performance at the Democratic National Convention in August.

Beyoncé has been a public supporter of Democratic presidential nominees since Barack Obama’s win in 2008. The “Cuff It” singer performed the “Star-Spangled Banner” in Washington, DC.C. at Obama’s inauguration ceremony in 2009 and followed up with a cover of Etta James’ “At Last” for President Obama and Michelle Obama’ 2009 Inaugural Ball dance.

She performed at a rally for Hillary Clinton shortly before the 2016 presidential election, and in 2020, Beyoncé showed her support for the Joe Biden-Harris ticket when she displayed her “I Voted” sticker while wearing a “Biden Harris” face mask on the eve of the election.

“Come thru, Texas! #Vote,” she captioned her black-and-white Instagram boomerang.

Lady Gaga reposted the image to her Instagram Story, writing, “Let’s go blue, Texas. Queen B says so!”

Beyoncé joins a growing list of celebrities who have worked to help get Harris elected, including Oprah Winfrey, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Matt Damon, Robert De Niro, and Lizzo. Earlier this week, Eminem introduced Barack Obama at a Harris campaign rally in Detroit and on Thursday, Bruce Springsteen performed in Atlanta at a rally with Harris and Barack Obama.

Harris is heading to Texas, which her campaign describes as “ground zero of the nation’s extreme abortion bans,” to hold a rally focused on abortion rights. Campaign officials say Harris intends to address the threat she believes former President Donald Trump poses to women and supporters of reproductive rights.

RELATED CONTENT: Queen Latifah Encourages People To Vote For Kamala Harris

• News

by Kandiss Edwards

October 25, 2024

Atlanta Radio Legend Wanda Smith’s Funeral To Be Open To The Public

Smith, 59, died on Oct. 13.

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Beloved radio personality Wanda Smith’s funeral will be held Sunday, Nov. 3, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Willie Watkins Funeral Home at 1003 Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard in Atlanta, according to her former employer, radio station V-103. 

Her home-going service is also public and will take place Monday, Nov. 4, at 11 a.m. at the Word of Faith Cathedral on Riverside Parkway in Austell.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by V-103 The People’s Station (@v103atlanta)

Smith died unexpectedly on Oct. 13, a day after her 59th birthday. No cause of death has been released. 

The comedian held down the morning slot on Atlanta air-waves for over two decades. Most of her career was co-hosting the Frank Ski and Wanda In the Morning show. 

As a popular voice in a major American city, Smith interviewed and sat down with multiple notable people. 

“We not only trusted her—we relied on her for her acumen, a commonsense way of speaking to her listeners… and perhaps most importantly, telling us it was okay to laugh in good times and bad,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said in a statement. “She was a voice for so many Atlantans, and my thoughts and prayers are with her family, loved ones and folks like me who just loved her love for our city,” 

V-103 posted a moving tribute to Smith on Instagram. The visual featured Smith’s interactions with notable celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young.

The Instagram Reel shows “Atlanta’s Favorite Girl,” speaking about her passion for humanity and philanthropy. She emphasizes her love for the people. 

“I get to talk to people, and then one day, I get to meet those people, and when they get to meet me, it’s a magical moment.” 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by V-103 The People's Station (@v103atlanta)

Smith appeared to have a genuine regard for people. However, she was sometimes in contention with her guests. One of her most notable scuffles was a verbal spar with comedian Kat Williams. 

Still, the intensity of the interaction did not detract from what she brought to the show: humor, knowledge and realness.

RELATED CONTENT: Atlanta Radio Host And Comedian Wanda Smith Dies A Day After Her Birthday

• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

October 25, 2024

New Polls Show Low Turnout Rate For Black Voters In Georgia

Georgia....wake up!

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The numbers of early voting in Georgia are starting to pour in, and they are low for Black voters, WJCL reported. 

The state’s secretary of state office reports that only 26% of early voters were people of color, compared to 30% of white voters. With an anticipated 200,000 submitted ballots across the state on a day-to-day basis, Black voters not exercising their rights is a growing concern for many. Taiyanika Owens touched on the historical context behind voting. “Our ancestors fought hard for us to vote,” Owens said. 

“Please get out and vote. You can’t expect the change if you don’t get out and act on the change.”

Another voter, Brittany Clay, mentioned that Black people have no issue standing in line for other things, so voting shouldn’t be an issue. “You stand in line for Jordan and phones. Why not stand in line to vote?” she said. 

Georgia was a key element in President Joe Biden securing the White House during the 2020 election, primarily because of Black voter turnout — more than 700,000 voters were Black. “In the last election, Chatham and Fulton County were the ones who made a difference,” voter Doug Collins said. Chairman of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, Carl Gillard, is hoping for the same results during the 2024 election cycle as Vice President Kamala Harris is lacking over former President Donald Trump in the Peachtree state. “So we’ve got work to do,” Gillard said. 

“We’ve got people who have done early voting. The lines are long and consistent, but we need the full turnout, not a partial turnout.”

Georgia Democratic leaders like Sen. Raphael Warnock have acknowledged similar sentiments. While both candidates are banking on Black voters, Warnock, an advocate for Harris, wants Black voters to keep looking ahead and get to the polls. “Oh, we just have to keep doing the work. And the good news is, that’s exactly what Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are doing. They’re not taking anything for granted,” Warnock said, according to The Hill, during an appearance on CBS’s Face the Nation.

“So, we’ll keep doing the work, and we’re going to get her over the finish line in Georgia and in the country.”

Harris has been spending time in Georgia, catering to Black voters with rallies with record-breaking attendance. Former President Barack Obama has been traveling with her on the campaign trail in hopes of garnering support for the former California senator. If elected, Obama will be passing the torch to Harris as the second African-American and first women-elected President of the United States.

RELATED CONTENT: Black Men Speak Up For VP Harris At Atlanta’s Brothas And Brews Event, But Voters Elsewhere Remain Unsure

• Business

by Sharelle B. McNair

October 25, 2024

Earn Your Leisure & Chakabars Work With African Developers To Build 300-Acre Housing Project In Ghana

Talk about standing on business!

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In a press release shared with Black Enterprise, Earn Your Leisure, activist Chakabars, and developers Alvin Bekoe, Kwame Blay, and Tuyee Yeboah announced the groundbreaking development of a 300-acre housing project in Accra, Ghana, to promote economic prosperity in Africa. 

Earn Your Leisure co-founders Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings along with the group named the initiative the Sanbra City Project. The project aims to provide modern and sustainable housing options to the diaspora to help Diasporans reconnect to their roots in the Motherland. There are numerous phases, and phase one consists of competitively priced luxury homes called The Cascades. It will be built across 30 acres and feature amenities for the community, such as a pool, sports facilities, bicycle lanes, a grocery store, and co-working spaces. 

Housed just 15 minutes from the Kotoka International Airport, the team broke ground in August 2024 and anticipates completion by October 2027. 

Chakabars and the Earn Your Leisure team hope that this project will help African descendants reconnect with their roots in Africa. By working with developers from Ghana, they aim to create more opportunities for others to invest in the continent, provide economic growth opportunities, and connect back to what may have been lost. “Our vision is to create a sustainable and thriving community that not only addresses the housing deficit but also invites people from the diaspora to come home and invest in their future,” Blay said in a statement. 

According to the Daily Guide Network, the Cascades will host two-bedroom unit apartments starting at $180,000, four-bedroom townhouses from $275,000, and five-bedroom villas at $450,000. To help fund the massive project, developers are working with Plotus Investments Limited through EPC+F contracts, Turkish company ARSAN Group, and banks, including Stanbic Bank Ghana and First National Bank. Both financial institutions offer discounted mortgages to make homeownership accessible and affordable. 

Through this, more than 300 potential buyers have already been secured during Investfest 2024, proving that the interest in the development is real. 

Several prominent names have had their eyes on Africa’s economic growth and development, making moves for the continent to thrive in the future in several industries. Academy Award-nominated actor Idris Elba announced earlier this month that he is focusing on building new movie studios across the continent to give natives “the chance to tell their own stories.” His first project will be housed on the island of Zanzibar, known for its gorgeous white sand beaches. 

The island’s government has already committed close to 200 acres of land to the development, which Elba hopes will be the foundation for a global entertainment hub.

RELATED CONTENT: And Another One: Atlanta Will Host Super Bowl LXll

• Sports

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 25, 2024

Morehouse And Tuskegee Will Battle In NBA HBCU Classic During All-Star Weekend

The Fourth Annual NBA HBCU Classic will take place on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025

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The Fourth Annual NBA HBCU Classic will take place during the NBA All-Star Weekend on Feb. 15, 2025. The league has announced that the two teams competing will be Tuskegee University and Morehouse College.

The All-Star Game will be played at Oakland Arena, where the two SIAC (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) programs will compete.

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A post shared by NBA (@nba)

“We are thrilled to have Morehouse College and Tuskegee University compete in the fourth NBA HBCU Classic during NBA All-Star 2025,” said NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum. “The HBCU Classic has become a staple event within our All-Star festivities, and we look forward to both programs showcasing their talents during the game, as well as celebrating HBCU culture throughout the weekend.”

Last year, during the NBA All-Star Weekend in Indiana, Winston-Salem State University and Virginia Union University battled on the court as an HBCU Classic record 9,691 people were there to witness Winston-Salem defeat Virginia Union by a score of 64-47.

This year’s teams were selected in collaboration with the SIAC to showcase the rich tradition and on-court rivalry between the two institutions. The game will continue the NBA’s commitment to increasing support and awareness for HBCU athletics while also advancing educational, career, and economic opportunities in partnership with HBCUs.

“The SIAC is ecstatic that the NBA selected our conference to represent HBCUs during this year’s All-Star Weekend,” said SIAC Commissioner Anthony Holloman. “The NBA has been a longtime supporter of HBCUs, and we are excited that two of our institutions will headline the Classic, bringing elevated exposure on a national stage and a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our student-athletes.”

The two schools will each receive $100,000 for participating in the contest.

Basketball fans and supporters of HBCUs can purchase tickets for the 2025 NBA HBCU Classic by heading to https://www.nba.com/hbcus.

RELATED CONTENT: Texas Southern University Opens State-Of-The-Art Athletic Facility