by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 27, 2024

Ex-Police Officer Sues Texas Town After Arrest for Sexual Assault

Freddie Douglas was fired after being arrested for sexual assault but claims prosecutors knew of a video that would have exonerated him.

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Former El Campo, Texas, police officer Freddie Douglas has filed a civil rights lawsuit in federal court against the city of Manvel, Texas, claiming that police arrested him for rape without due process.

He also claims authorities knew about footage recorded in the apartment proving that the accuser had consensual sex with him and a friend, John Marks.

The alleged sexual encounter took place on Nov. 8, 2023, at Marks’ residence. The woman, who is white, accused both men, who are Black, of sexually assaulting her after she had sex with Douglas, who was celebrating his birthday.

“The Manvel Police Department had not even attempted to contact either Freddie Douglas or John Marks for their side of the story regarding (the woman’s) claims. However, within minutes of their arrest, both Douglas and Marks made it clear to the Manvel Police Department that there was proof that (the woman’s) claims were fabricated,” according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit also states that the arrest was made without probable cause, without an interview by the Manvel Police Department, with police officers not checking a videotape of the interaction between the accuser and the men.

The New York Post identified the accuser as Amanda Zawieruszynski, who lived across the street from Marks and was allegedly dating him then. She told police officers that she was assaulted by the men when she went over to Marks’ house for a late-night swim.

The lawsuit states, “No one became intoxicated. At some point, John Marks and AZ started having consensual sex in the pool. After that, AZ wanted to have sex with Freddie Douglas and did. This sexual activity was completely consensual on the part of all involved.”

Yet, the next month, Zawieruszynsk told police that Douglas and Marks forced themselves on her and that they needed to be locked up immediately, the papers state.

On Dec. 7, while Douglas was at work, the El Campo police chief told him the Manvel Police Department was arresting him. He was informed that it was due to Zawieruszynski’s claims.

Douglas said investigators from the Manvel Police Department never interviewed him. He told them about the footage that would prove his innocence, but it was ignored. The suit claims that the police officers who searched his home were overheard on the home security system talking about the footage, yet they never searched for it.

Douglas told the Brazoria County district attorney that Manvel cops never came to his agency to recommend charges. He added that if the video evidence had been examined, charges would never have been brought against the men. After the district attorney took the case before the grand jury, the charges against both men were thrown out.

ABC 13 reports that Marks has also filed a lawsuit against the City of Manvel, Police Chief Keith Traylor, two officers, and Zawieruszynski.

• Celebrity News

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

August 27, 2024

Keke Palmer Celebrates 31st Birthday With Son’s Dad While Denying She’s Pregnant

Palmer's ex-boyfriend and baby daddy, Darius Jackson, was also in attendance at her birthday celebration.

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Keke Palmer is enjoying this new year of life without a new child on the way. The Nope actress denied brewing pregnancy rumors as she celebrated her birthday with ex-boyfriend Darius Jackson.

Palmer hosted a birthday bash over the weekend before her actual birthday on Aug. 26. In a lengthy Instagram post, the newly minted 31-year-old expressed her gratitude to God.

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A post shared by BIG BOSS 🔑🔑 (@keke)

“I don’t want to be long. I just wanna be clear! I AM GRATEFUL TO GOD FOR ANOTHER YEAR,” she captioned the post. “I’m not here for a long time, but I am here for a community-rich time, and that’s what I have. It’s my birthday, but it’s my community’s birthday, too, because they are the ones that got me this far.”

Fans quickly noticed that one of the photos included a hand on Palmer’s stomach. This led to rumors about her expecting another child.

“That hand on the stomach almost made me think ‘we’ had another Keke coming,” wrote a fan under the entertainer’s post, as reported by Page Six.

However, the mother of one shut those claims down immediately.

Palmer responded, “Idk why her ass [put her hand there] haha cause honey the way I was drinking last night the ‘baby’ wouldn’t be making it 🥴.”

Despite the denial, fans did not think the claims would be far-fetched, considering Palmer’s ex and the father of her child, Darius Jackson, was also at the event. Jackson and Palmer welcomed their one-year-old son, Leodis, in February 2023.

While the co-parents also snapped a pic with their little one, lovingly nicknamed Leo, the two have not always been on the best terms. Palmer accused her former partner of physically assaulting her in November 2023. Released security footage, which showed Jackson assaulting Palmer, seemingly confirmed the allegations to the public.

However, the estranged parents have been seen out together, leading fans to speculate about their reconciliation. Although Palmer remained mum on that subject, she has recently been publicly friendly to her child’s father.

RELATED CONTENT: Keke Palmer’s New Memoir, ‘Master Of Me,’ Explores Her Journey Back To Herself

by Daniel Johnson

August 27, 2024

NYC Mayor Eric Adams Wants To Put ‘Money In Your Pockets’

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is pushing to help low-income residents take advantage of programs.

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After legislation proposing a modest increase to New York-based Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients in February, recipients are poised to potentially receive more money—an additional $500—via various city programs they may have been unaware they qualify for.

According to Newsweek, New York Mayor Eric Adams announced Aug. 26 that the city will launch a “Money in Your Pockets” initiative across 20 New York neighborhoods, in an effort to make living in the city more affordable.

New York residents have access to a suite of programs and initiatives that can help ease the burden of their cost of living, particularly those in low-income situations. However, many of the city’s programs remain underutilized, and Adams’ office wants those citizens plugged into programs they qualify for. 

“Today, we are launching our ‘Money in Your Pockets’ initiative to help New Yorkers find out which benefits they are eligible for and build on the billions of dollars we have helped put into the pockets of hard-working families,” Adams said in a statement. “We are building a city that expands opportunity and prosperity to every neighborhood and community because New Yorkers deserve their fair share, and we’re going to deliver that to them.”

According to a press release issued by Adams’ office, the program is, first and foremost, an education program that will seek to connect New Yorkers with the services they are eligible for through programs such as Big Apple Connect, Fair Fares, and the Earned Income Tax Credit among others. 

According to Adams’ Chief of Staff Camille Joseph Varlack, “By connecting New Yorkers directly to critical resources and support, we’re taking another major step toward making our city more livable for everyone.”

Anne Williams-Isom, deputy mayor for Health and Human Services, said the emphasis on door-knocking in neighborhoods is aimed at connecting people with resources. She also encouraged New York residents to take time to learn about services that may benefit them. 

RELATED CONTENT: Grocery Taxes Increase Likelihood of Food Insecurity in Low-Income Communities

• News

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

August 27, 2024

Care.com Set To Dish Out $8.5M For ‘Unlawful Practices’ That Misled Customers

The online caregiving platform was accused by the FTC for having inflated numbers and deceptive subscription plans.

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Care.com has accepted the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposal to pay an $8.5 million settlement for its “unlawful practices.”

According to the FTC, an online marketplace for caregiving services used exaggerated or “baseless” numbers to entice job seekers to join its site while also using misleading practices to keep members in the platform’s subscription plan. Care.com reportedly also inflated the number of jobs available on its website. The organization also proposed unconfirmed wages that job seekers could earn through these opportunities.

Additionally, Care.com allegedly encourages job seekers to purchase a subscription based on these numbers, promoting an abundance of jobs. However, the number of jobs listed would also include postings with “little to no chance” of hiring someone—moreover, the amount they could earn on average. While displayed on the website as between $13 and $14.25 an hour, the earnings were not tracked by Care.com at all.

The FTC released a statement on the settlement, claiming that the website’s marketing messages supported these untrue claims.

“Care.com used inflated job numbers and baseless earnings claims to lure caregivers onto its platform and used deceptive design practices to trap consumers in subscriptions,” said Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The order announced today puts a stop to these unlawful practices, returns millions of dollars to consumers, and helps ensure an honest marketplace for families looking for care and caregivers looking for work.”

As for the auto-renewing subscriptions, Care.com allegedly locked users into paying for the platform before accessing job opportunities or caregivers. Both speakers and posters need a paid subscription before discussing the work opportunity. Moreover, they allegedly took displeased users through multiple obstacles in their efforts to cancel their plans.

After the federal investigation, the FTC issued a plan for Care.com to rectify its unlawful practices toward customers. Now, the $8.5 million will go back to those who fell victim to Care.com’s misleading business model.

With the financial settlement, Care.com can only make substantiated claims about earnings and jobs available. It must not include listings that most likely would not lead to actual employment. Furthermore, the website must be “upfront” about the communication requirements before customers start a subscription. Cancelation methods will also face fewer issues.

• Business

by Daniel Johnson

August 27, 2024

Tesla Posts Work-From-Home Jobs, A Reversal of Elon Musk’s Philosophy

Although Tesla CEO Elon Musk detests work from home jobs, and once called them 'morally wrong,' his company has posted open work from home positions with wide and lucrative salary ranges.

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Although Tesla CEO Elon Musk detests work-from-home jobs and once called them “morally wrong,” his company has posted open positions with wide and lucrative salary ranges. 

According to Tododisca, Musk’s company is offering salaries between $79,000 and $270,000 to become one of the company’s teleworkers; that salary depends on a prospective employee’s position and qualifications.

However, according to Business Insider, Elon Musk has made it no secret that he is no fan of remote work. In 2022, Musk told the company’s executive staff that they would either return to the office or be terminated. 

Musk described work from home as illogical in a 2023 interview with CNBC, “It’s like really, you’re going to work from home, and you’re going to make everyone else who made your car come in [to] the factory?” Musk said. “The people who make your food that gets delivered, they can’t work from home? The people that fix your house, they can’t work from home?”

Musk continued, “I think that the whole notion of work from home is a bit like the fake Marie Antoinette quote, ‘Let them eat cake. It’s not just a productivity thing. I think it’s morally wrong. People should get off the God damn moral high horse with the work-from-home bullsh*t.”

Nicole Penn, the president of ECG Group, an advertising and marketing company, told Business Insider that although Tesla’s culture may make work from home less feasible, Musk’s stance could potentially lose him talented workers. 

“Every employee has environments that either increase or decrease their productivity. If Tesla’s culture is built on collaboration and ideas born on the factory floor, it’s not possible for a remote team member to plug into that efficiently.” Penn told Business Insider. “You have to wonder if Elon will retain top talent that needs and appreciates more flexibility.”

The opening of Tesla to remote work, where previously, in 2023, Musk’s company only had three positions involving work from home, and Musk had to approve those positions personally, represents a sharp turn from Musk’s previous degradation of work-from-home positions. 

Nick Gallimore, the director of innovation at Advanced People Mechanics, told Business Insider that unless Musk changed his policy, he would need “something of a miracle if he expects people to even stick with him … let alone be more productive.”

Gallimore continued, “Musk’s comments –- that remote work simply can’t be as effective or as productive as working from a physical location –- put him in a small minority of business owners who are betting the future of their organizations on the organization design principles of the past. The odds are stacked against him: with many different pieces of research suggesting that as few as 10% of people actually want to work from the office full-time.”

RELATED CONTENT: Black Folks Drag Elon Musk For Saying Remote Work Is ‘Bulls**t’

• Health and Wellness

by Ashlei Stevens

August 27, 2024

Howard University Hospital Names Alum and Professor As New President

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Howard University alum, professor, and gun violence prevention advocate Roger A. Mitchell, Jr., MD, will become the new president of Howard University Hospital.

Adventist HealthCare and Howard University made the leadership announcement on Aug. 26 as part of the Management Service Agreement as they continue discussions for a long-term partnership. Dr. Mitchell will begin his new role Sept. 13, after current Howard University Hospital president Anita Jenkins steps away.

“The start of a brand new journey,” Dr. Mitchell posted on Instagram in response to the announcement. “Thank you, Howard University and Adventist HealthCare, for trusting my leadership in a critical time such as this.”

Mitchell will resign from his current position as the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for the Howard University Faculty Practice Plan. He will also take a leave of absence from his tenured position as Professor of Pathology at the Howard University College of Medicine, a department he previously chaired. In his current CMO post and his current role in the hospital’s Management Service Agreement, he helps oversee practice development and operations.

Wearing many hats at the university, the hospital, and in the community, Dr. Mitchell serves as the university’s director for the Center of Excellence for Trauma and Violence Prevention, leading outreach efforts to decrease gun violence in D.C. Additionally, he serves as the chair of the Performance Improvement Committee for Howard University Hospital and formerly served as director of the university’s COVID-19 Testing Laboratory. Prior to his service at Howard University, Mitchell worked in the D.C. government for seven years, including as the Chief Medical Examiner, Interim Director of the Department of Forensic Sciences and Interim Deputy Mayor for Public Safety & Justice.

“Dr. Mitchell is uniquely qualified to lead Howard University Hospital, bringing decades of strong leadership experience and insight from regional, national and international healthcare roles,” said John Sackett, President and CEO of Adventist HealthCare. “Dr. Mitchell will provide the guidance needed to provide high-quality care for the the D.C. community, attract the best physicians in the nation to support comprehensive healing and ensure a superior learning environment for medical students and residents.” 

According to a university statement, Dr. Mitchell holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Howard University and a Doctor of Medicine from UMDNJ New Jersey Medical School. He completed a New York University/NY OCME fellowship and a George Washington University residency. Having published numerous works and serving as a featured presenter for national and global organizations, Dr. Mitchell is the President-Elect of the National Medical Association, the United States’ oldest and largest group representing Black physicians and their patients.

“Dr. Mitchell’s extensive medical and public health experience, as well as his understanding of the needs of the D.C. community, will inform his leadership so that Howard University Hospital continues to advance initiatives to support the best health outcomes,” said Howard University President Ben Vinson III.

“His deep connections to Howard University as an alumnus, professor and executive leader will inform how our students can best participate in ground-breaking clinical and research work with significant influence and impact.”

by Keka Araújo

August 27, 2024

British Mom Dies After BBL Procedure In Turkey, Family Claims Organs Missing

In 2022, a moratorium and additional safety measures were implemented for Brits traveling abroad for cosmetic procedures. 

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Kaydell Brown, a 38-year-old mother of two from Sheffield, England, died following a BBL, tummy tuck, and breast augmentation at a clinic in Istanbul, Turkey. Her family also claimed that her vital organs, including her heart, brain and kidneys, were removed before Brown’s body was returned.

The surgeries, which cost her £5,400, equal to $7,121.14, were intended to transform her life.

Brown’s sister, Leanne, who was also scheduled to undergo a BBL at the same clinic, claimed portions of Kaydell’s organs were missing. The clinic, however, denied any wrongdoing, stating the body was handed over “untouched” and that a government doctor confirmed no organs were missing. The medical facility suggested it’s “highly possible” the government coroner’s office removed the organs during the investigation into the cause of death.

The physician who performed Brown’s procedures is reportedly working at another clinic. The Turkish coroner didn’t specify the mother’s cause of death on the death certificate.

“They told me that evening that she didn’t make it. I couldn’t believe it,” Leanne Brown told The Mirror. The sister was handed an envelope of cash as a refund and booked on the next flight home.

Brown had hoped the surgery would help her regain her confidence after gaining weight due to a broken ankle. Her sudden death leaves behind her two young sons and a grieving family.

The clinic, which has operated for 13 years and has performed over 23,000 aesthetic surgeries, defended its safety record, citing a low mortality rate. However, the facility acknowledged the loss of two patients, including Kaydell, and stressed the seriousness of the situation.

The United Kingdom government expressed condolences to Brown’s family and emphasized the importance of thoroughly researching cosmetic procedures and the qualifications of clinicians abroad. They have been working with the Turkish government to improve patient safety for those traveling for medical treatments.

Leanne Brown remembered her sister as “the funny one,” adding, “She was talented and a good mum.” 

In 2022, a study reported that liposuction, rhinoplasty and breast augmentation were Turkey’s three most popular cosmetic procedures. 

Death rates from cosmetic procedures in Turkey, on average, are lower than in other places like South America, but the European nation isn’t exempt from loss of life following surgical procedures. 

In 2019, 31-year-old Melissa Kerr flew to Istanbul for a Brazilian Butt Lift. A report suggested that her pre-op assessment wasn’t as thorough as it was supposed to be. Melissa’s cause of death was a pulmonary embolism—a blood clot traveled to her lungs.

The British government also tried to crack down on its citizens’ casualties when traveling for plastic surgery. In 2022, a moratorium and additional safety measures were implemented for Brits traveling abroad for cosmetic procedures.