Shaquille O'Neal
Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images for TLA
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 27, 2024

Shaquille O’Neal Introduces Shaq-A-Licious XL Gummies

'I’m just a big kid at heart. I love making people smile and having fun--that’s why I created Shaq-A-Licious XL Gummies.'

NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal has entered the candy business with his latest venture.

The Inside the NBA host has introduced the world to Shaq-A-Licious XL Gummies. The new candy line comes in two different varieties: Shaq-A-Licious Original, which is shaped like Shaq’s face, and Shaq-A-Licious Sour. The sour oversized gummies come in three different shapes and flavors, named after some of the nicknames he picked up throughout his basketball career: “Diesel,” “Big Cactus,” and “Big Shamrock.” The flavors for the Shaq-A-Licious Sour are pineapple, mixed berries, and watermelon.

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Shaq-A-Licious XL Gummies (@shaqalicious_official)

“I’m just a big kid at heart. I love making people smile and having fun–that’s why I created Shaq-A-Licious XL Gummies. So go ahead, bite my head off. Life’s too short not to have fun!” Shaq said in a written statement.

The gummies were launched in partnership with The Hershey Company.

Shaq was in New York City to promote Shaq-A-Licious XL Gummies, appearing at Hershey’s Chocolate World in Times Square. He was seen handing out the product to people who were in the store. He also went on The Tonight Show with comedian Jimmy Fallon to discuss the new candy, among other topics.

For more information about Shaq-A-Licious XL Gummies, visit Shaqalicious.com and Instagram, @shaqalicious_official, or TikTok, @shaqaliciousofficial.

Big Diesel will be honored in November when the Muhammad Ali Center bestows him with the organization’s highest honor:  the 2024 Muhammad Ali Humanitarian of the Year. The Louisville, Kentucky-based organization is giving Shaq the 11th annual Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award on Saturday, Nov. 9.

He will be joined by Grammy-Award-winning music producer Niles Rodgers, who will be receiving the Global Citizenship Award; public interest attorney Bryan Stevenson, who will take home the Lifetime Achievement honors; and award-winning journalist Dawne Gee, who will be honored as Kentucky Humanitarian.

RELATED CONTENT: Shaquille O’Neal To Receive ‘Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Of The Year’ Award

Teresa Weatherspoon, WNBA, Chicago Sky
Jason Grohoske, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 27, 2024

WNBA’s Chicago Sky Fires Teresa Weatherspoon After One Season

The move left Angel Reese 'heartbroken.'

Teresa Weatherspoon, a former WNBA player, was hired less than a year ago to be the head coach of the WNBA’s Chicago Sky. Less than a year later, she was terminated from her position.

According to The Chicago Sun-Times, the team fired Weatherspoon after not making the playoffs for the first time in five years. After winning the WNBA title in 2021, the Sky had three coaches and will be looking for their next one after the latest move. James Wade, the coach who led the Sky to the championship, left the franchise mid-last season before Emre Vatansever was given the interim title.

The WNBA team announced the decision via social media on Sept. 27.

Weatherspoon left the coaching staff of the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans in June 2023 before taking the reins in Chicago. She has worked with the team since she was initially hired as a player development coach and became an assistant coach in 2020.

The Sky had a 13-27 record this season.

The move has left its rookie player, Angel Reese, disheartened. She took to social media to express her disappointment with the move. She told her now-former coach that she was “an unsung hero” in her life, and they’ve “built a relationship” that will last forever.

Several players reportedly spoke up about the change in play throughout the season in their exit interviews with management. It was a difficult year, as the Sky only had two games with a healthy roster, and multiple injuries, including Reese’s season-ending one, occurred.

Yahoo Sports reported that the Sky finished the regular season with their worst record since they joined the league in 2006. The team elected to trade Kahleah Taylor and Marina Mabrey while allowing Courtney Williams to leave via free agency.

Underground Railroad, Pennsylvania
Photo by AS Photography: https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-handled-key-on-key-hole-101808/
by Mitti Hicks

September 27, 2024

A Pennsylvania Building Believed To Be A Underground Railroad Stop Will Turn Into Apartments

Equity Platforms, a Black-led company, will turn the three-story building and the carriage house behind it into apartments, renaming them “Front Street Lofts.”

A Pennsylvania building believed to have once been an Underground Railroad stop will be turned into apartments.

The building, located on North Front Street in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was a law office for nearly 40 years but has been vacant for the last two-and-a-half years.

Equity Platforms, a Black-led company, will turn the three-story historic building and the carriage house behind it into apartments, renaming them “Front Street Lofts.”

Two of the eight apartments will be designated for affordable housing. Company CEO Vernon Jay told Penn Live he will work with Section 8 and VASH (HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing). He adds that he’s enthusiastic about the 8,600-square-foot property because of its location along the river in downtown Harrisburg and its possible ties to the Underground Railroad.

“As a Black man in America and as an investor it feels good to be able to convert this office building that is kind of older and it needs to be rejuvenated,” he told the outlet.

Located in the historic downtown Harrisburg Waterfront District, the building, built in 1850, is recorded as a stop on the Underground Railroad. It was built the same year the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 went into effect. The act required that enslaved people be returned to their owners, even if they were in a free state. According to the American Battlefield Trust, the act also made the federal government responsible for finding, returning, and apprehending those who escaped.

While it wasn’t a physical railroad, the Underground Railroad was a network of safe houses, stations, and routes that helped enslaved people avoid capture. The routes followed natural and artificial modes of transportation, including rivers, canals, bays, the Atlantic Coast, ferries and river crossings, roads, and trails, as the National Parks Service points out.

A Vision for Revitalization and Community Benefit

Equity Platform’s latest venture aligns with President Joe Biden’s initiative to create more affordable housing by converting commercial properties into residential uses.

With federal incentives, including low-interest mortgages and tax breaks, the project is positioned to enhance the community while preserving a piece of American history, according to a news release obtained by Black Enterprise.

“The pandemic has created a more permanent shift in the use of office buildings. By transforming these historic structures into affordable housing, we can reinvigorate our communities while optimizing downtown corridors to their highest and best use,” Jay added.

NYC mayor Eric Adams, trial, Trump,
(Photo: Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
by Sharelle B. McNair

September 27, 2024

NYC Protestors Call Mayor Eric Adams ‘A Disgrace’ After Federal Indictment

Adams has faced criticism for the rise in illegal police stops

Protestors blasted NYC Mayor Eric Adams during a press conference, telling him that his federal indictment is not “a Black thing” but a “you thing,” MSNBC reported. 

During the first press conference since the indictment was placed against Adams, a protester used a megaphone to make sure he was heard, and listed a number of reasons why he feels the mayor should move on.

“This is not a Black thing, this is a you thing. This is a you thing, Eric Adams,” the protestor started as Adams grinned outside of Gracie Manor.  

“This is not a Black thing. Your policies are anti-Black. You are a disgrace to all Black people in this city. The things that you have done are unconscionable. You hurt our schools, our streets are dirty, our children are harassed by police…this is ridiculous. You can ‘shush’ me all you want but the people are with us. And this is not a Black thing, this is a justice thing.” 

During this tenure, Adams has faced criticism for the rise in illegal police stops, often disproportionately targeting Black and Brown men. Reports from June 2023 revealed the controversial “stop-and-frisk” teams are making some unlawful stops, finding 24% of the stops were unconstitutional. The task force was disbanded by Adams’ predecessor, former Mayor Bill de Blasio, but was reinstated after Adams took office in 2022. 

His first initiative sought to bring back undercover, plain-clothed cops, similar to the ones involved in the case of Eric Garner in 2014. 

The protestor, identified as Black Lives Matter member Hawk Newsome, according to The New York Post, isn’t the only one who called Adams out for his legislation that has often been labeled anti-Black . Activist and lawyer Olayemi Olurin grilled the mayor during a heated segment of Power 105’s The Breakfast Club, while presenting the very public stop-and-frisk report. Fans supported Olurin, calling Adams out for what they described as the mayor looking guilty as he attempted to defend himself, interrupting the attorney continuously. 

Newsome led the crowd of critics in chants shouting, “no bail,” as Adams stood surrounded by religious leaders and former NAACP president Hazel Dukes. Another protestor correlated Adams’ case to that of disgraced media mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. “You belong in jail with no bail next to Sean ‘P-Diddy’ Combs,” the protestor yelled. 

When Dukes projected the idea that “We’re not here to criticize,” one protester responded saying, “Yes we are!” Another critic called Dukes “a political pawn” who is seemingly “in favor of the cops.” 

Adams is the first NYC mayor to be criminally charged while still sitting in office. If he is forced out of office, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams will become mayor.

RELATED CONTENT: NY Mayor Eric Adams Criticized For Alleged Pay-To-Play Scheme

Gen Z, jobs, employers
https://nappy.co/photo/4269
by Shanique Yates

September 27, 2024

Half Of Employers Say Gen-Z Job Seekers Lack Motivation And Initiative, Leading To Early Terminations

A new report reveals that one in six employers have cut ties with Gen-Z employees hired earlier this year upon receiving their college degrees.

Employers are parting ways with Gen-Z employees months after hiring them, citing unprofessionalism and unpreparedness as issues when hiring students fresh out of college.

A new report reveals that one in six employers have cut ties with Gen-Z employees hired earlier this year upon receiving their college degrees. While many company leaders have complained that the generation is “difficult to work with,” others say that their lack of preparation for the workforce greatly influenced their decision to let them go.

According to the data, 50% of management surveyed say that the recent college grads’ lack of motivation or initiative was also grounds for them to be terminated from their fairly new positions as they look to navigate life after school. Moreover, leaders reveal that the generation born between 1997 and 2012 is often late to work and meetings, does not abide by work dress codes, and uses unprofessional language. 

While there are no set factors as to why Gen-Z struggles with authority in the workplace or maintaining a professional attitude, it is important to note that this is the first fully digital native generation compared to the millennials who came before them. Most of today’s youth cannot recall life before the smartphone, whereas millennials, born between 1981 and 1996, lived through the rise of the Internet, experiencing cable television and landline phones.

For Gen-Z, the digital landscape is all they know, especially regarding social media.

In a study conducted by the platform on a mission to help young professionals navigate their future in the workplace, Intelligent.com surveyed approximately 1,000 leaders in the U.S. and determined that the issues with the Class of 2024 will directly impact future graduates.

One in six bosses says they are skeptical about hiring college grads in the future. Moreover, one in seven bosses revealed plans to avoid hiring young people next year. Three-quarters of the businesses in the survey noted that many, if not all, of their recent graduate hires were not up to par with workplace demands in some form or fashion.

RELATED CONTENT: Gen-Z And Millennials Venture Into ‘Co-Homeownership’ To Ease Costs

Tuskegee Airmen, Black Aviators
photo credit: pexels
by Shanique Yates

September 27, 2024

Tuskegee University Launches Alabama’s Only HBCU Aviation Program To Train Black Pilots

Students enrolling in the university’s new aviation program will also have the opportunity to train at Moton Field, the same grounds as the Tuskegee Airmen.

With its newly accredited aviation program, Tuskegee University is one step closer to fulfilling its mission of training the next generation of Black pilots.

The historic HBCU is now the only historically Black college or university in Alabama with an aviation program available to students who want to become certified pilots. Previously, students training to receive wings studied under Tuskegee’s aerospace engineering program while taking the required certifications to become pilots, 12 WFSA reports.

“We have responded to the demand for pilots,” said S. Keith Hargrove, provost and senior vice president of academic affairs. “There are more than 10,000 to 15,000 pilots that are needed here in the U.S.”

This is a full-circle moment for the university and the state of Alabama. It was home to the famous Tuskegee Airmen, who made history when they became the first African American pilots in the United States military service in 1945. Moreover, the first Black commander of an Air Force fighter squadron was also a Tuskegee Airmen.

They walked so students like Tuskegee University Air Force ROTC sophomore Hannah Heaston could run when pursuing an aviation career.

“It’s like a roller coaster on steroids,” said Heaston. “It’s very fun. It’s very relaxing. Once you get in the air, it’s very peaceful.”

Students enrolling in the university’s new aviation program will also have the opportunity to train at Moton Field, the same grounds as the aforementioned Tuskegee Airmen. Additionally, Tuskegee University has been working to scale the program through partnerships with local high schools that offer similar aviation-focused career pathway curricula.

Applications for the university’s first aviation sciences degree program cohort are due by Wednesday, Oct. 30.

In a 2022 study conducted by Data USA, it was found that roughly 2.59% of pilots were Black, compared to 87.1% of their white counterparts who operate planes in the sky.

RELATED CONTENT: 17-Year-Old Becomes Youngest Black Pilot In North Carolina History

Shelitha Robertson, PPP, Atlanta attorney, SBA, ppp loan fraud, lawyer, Juventus Duorinaah, Carlos Moore
(Photo: lexrvulescu/500px via Getty Images)
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 27, 2024

Former Basketball Player Admits Guilt In PPP Loan Scheme

Former Illinois State University basketball player Lorenzo Gordon was given $272,774 after fraudulently applying for PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) and EIDL (Economic Injury Disaster Loan ) loans.

A former professional international basketball player admitted to committing fraud after applying for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Missouri, announced that Lorenzo Gordon, a St. Louis resident, has pleaded guilty to one felony count of theft of government money. On Sept. 25, he admitted to committing $272,774 in fraudulent activities regarding two pandemic aid programs.

Gordon gave false information when he applied for two loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and three loans from the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program during the COVID-19 pandemic. He admitted to the crime as part of his plea agreement with the federal government.

The application he filled out for the PPP and EIDL programs contained fraudulent information for three companies: Logo Fitness LLC, Elite 50 Basketball Training LLC, and Elite Health and Fitness Company LLC. The former basketball player received $107,074 in PPP loans and $165,700 in EIDL loans and advances.

According to KMZU, Gordon attended Illinois State University, during his collegiate career before embarking on a professional journey in France, Germany, Turkey, and Israel.

Gordon’s girlfriend at the time, Brittish “Cierrah” Williams, was also arrested and charged with fraud related to her application for a PPP loan. In 2014, she was a cast member on “Basketball Wives.”

Williams was charged with several frauds in 2021, including tax fraud, bank fraud, insurance fraud, and pandemic-related fraud. Last year, she pleaded guilty to 15 counts and admitted to submitting fake bills for insurance payouts, lying to the IRS, and giving false information on pandemic loan applications, as well as opening bank accounts and lines of credit using other people’s Social Security numbers.

She was sentenced to federal prison in October 2023 and is currently incarcerated in Minnesota. She is scheduled to be released in April 2027.

Gordon can be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both prison and a fine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 9, 2025.

Medgar Evers, Niki Evers Everette, Missing
Courtesy of Red Horse Agency
by Mitti Hicks

September 27, 2024

Civil Rights Icon Medgar Evers’ Granddaughter Is Missing In Georgia

Nicole Evers-Everette, affectionately known as “Niki,” has been missing from her Duluth apartment since Sunday, Sept, 22

Police in Atlanta are looking for the granddaughter of civil rights icons Medgar and Myrlie Evers, according to a press release shared by the family spokesperson.

Nicole Evers-Everette, affectionately known as “Niki,” has been missing from her Duluth apartment since Sunday, Sept. 22, when her mother, Reena Evers-Everette, last spoke to her just before 6:00 PM.

“I am worried and terrified for my daughter, Niki. She has not reported to work this week, which is highly unusual,” her mom stated in a news release.

“We talk regularly, and it is also unusual for me to not be able to reach her. She has no cell phone, purse, or other personal effects.”

According to Reena, Niki’s car was missing from her apartment complex and was last seen on Monday night on Keys Ferry Road and McCart Road in McDonough, Georgia. McDonough is a little more than an hour away from Duluth.

“I am in constant prayer that she is safe and comes back to us soon. Timing is critical because Niki has a medical condition that requires medication, which she does not have,” said Reena.

“We are diligently working with law enforcement officials as we try to locate Niki. We are urging everyone to keep their eyes open and report any sightings of Niki or relevant information to the Gwinnett County Police Department.”

The Gwinnett County Police Department can be reached at (770) 513-5700.

“She has a kind soul, a big heart, and a smile that lights up the room. We need all the help we can get to bring her home safely.”

Medgar Evers was a pioneering civil rights leader in the Deep South. On June 12, 1963, the devoted husband and father and distinguished WWII veteran was shot and killed as he returned home from an NAACP meeting. His wife and three children were just steps away. Medgar was only 37-years-old. Justice was served in 1994 when Byron De La Beckwith was convicted for his murder.

RELATED CONTENT: Kamala Harris Says A 28-Year-Old Single Mom Died A ‘Preventable Death’ Caused By Georgia’s Abortion Ban

Delta, Airlines, Luggage
(Photo: Jeff Greenberg/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
by Shanique Yates

September 27, 2024

Delta Airlines Responds To Hurricane Helene With Flight Waivers Amid Atlanta Travel Disruptions

The Delta flight waivers apply to individuals with affected travel plans for Friday, Sept. 27, and to qualify, a new ticket must be issued on or before Tuesday, Oct. 1.

With weather conditions affecting travel in Atlanta due to Hurricane Helene, Delta Airlines is taking action to ensure affected customers can quickly resume their plans through flight waivers.

According to 11 Alive, Delta Airlines, whose hub is in Georgia, will issue travel waivers to customers impacted by travel delays and cancellations caused by Hurricane Helene. The storm, which made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend area late Thursday (Sept. 26), hit the area as a Category 4 hurricane and is expected to weaken as it continues on its path up the southeast region of the nation.

More than 200 flights at Atlanta’s primary airport, Hartsfield-Jackson International, were canceled before the storm pummeled the area, with high winds and heavy rain impacting travel. The worst of Hurricane Helene for the Atlanta area began in the wee hours of the morning on Friday (Sept. 27) and is expected to last through midday, mainly having a direct effect on customers traveling to and from the Atlanta area as well as those in Florida, where some airports have even closed its doors due to the severe nature of the storm.

“Delta anticipates possible changes to Friday morning’s scheduled operations at ATL as weather conditions (primarily winds) affect the airport early in the day,” said Delta Airlines in an official news release. “Delays and some cancellations may be necessary to safely serve our customers after peak weather concerns have passed by midday Friday.”

The Delta flight waivers apply to individuals with affected travel plans for Friday, Sept. 27, and to qualify, a new ticket must be issued on or before Tuesday, Oct. 1. Price differences for rebooked flights will only be honored for the same booking class that was initially issued for the original ticket and the flight must be rescheduled for on or before the aforementioned date next month. Customers will only have to come out of pocket if their travel is rescheduled for a date after Oct. 1 or if they decide to switch booking classes on the new flight.

A CBS News report revealed that roughly 840,000 people in Georgia were without electricity due to the storm. Approximately 552,000 individuals in South Carolina and 191,000 in North Carolina were also directly impacted by power outages. The number of people without electricity continues to increase steadily, with customers in the far north, such as Virginia, experiencing disruptions.

The outlet also revealed that at least three weather-related deaths, two in Wheeler, Georgia, and one in Florida’s Tampa area, have occurred as a result of Hurricane Helene.

RELATED CONTENT: How Carnival Restored Joy In St. Lucia And Across The Caribbean After Hurricane Beryl

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