The Harris County District Court of the 11th civil district in Texas granted the rapper's request.
Canadian superstar Aubrey “Drake” Graham was dismissed from an Astroworld lawsuit that named him as a defendant in the festival that took the lives of 10 concertgoers and injured hundreds more in November 2021.
According to USA Today, Drake filed a motion in March to be dismissed from the lawsuit, which included additional defendants Travis Scott and his company, Cactus Jack Enterprises, and Apple. The Harris County District Court of the 11th civil district in Texas granted Drake’s request on April 10.
The court agreed to the “Thank Me Later” recording artist’s request for a summary judgment and dismissed “all claims asserted against defendant (Drake) by all plaintiffs and intervenors in this multidistrict litigation.”
Apple and Cactus Jack filed similar paperwork, but their requests for dismissals were denied on April 8.
KCRA reported that state District Judge Kristen Hawkins dismissed seven companies and individuals in the lawsuit. Ten other companies and individuals were denied motions to dismiss. Hawkins is slated to hear more motions to dismiss, including one from Scott, who headline the event, on April 15.
Although some of them have been settled, there are still other pending lawsuits. A grand jury determined in July 2023 that no one involved with the festival was criminally responsible, so no one faced criminal charges.
The Houston Police Department released a nearly 1,300-page report about the tragedy in late July 2023 after an extensive investigation. Rolling Stone reported that “the report detailed a chaotic scene in which fans, security personnel, and camera operators tried to relay the danger early in the show as the crowd constricted and festivalgoers were crushed—but the concert went on for an hour before finally concluding.”
On Nov. 5, 2021, 10 people, ranging in age from 9 to 27 years old, died at the Astroworld festival. Approximately 300 attendees were injured and treated at the venue; 25 were taken to local hospitals.
Shark Tank’s Daymond John Offers Reward To Find Hit-And-Run Killer
'The Patel family and I are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual and any accomplices who were involved in the hit and run of Samir Patel,' said John.
On July 2, 2023, a car struck and killed Samir Patel, an entrepreneur who owned OxyHealth located in Santa Fe Springs, California. The driver has not been found, and police officers are still searching for him. “Shark Tank” host Daymond John has recently offered a $20,000 reward (along with Patel’s family) to whomever can find the person or can supply information leading to finding the person involved in the hit-and-run incident.
John took to his Instagram profile to get help solving the case for his fellow entrepreneur. He expressed that it is still an open case and wanted to spread the word in hopes of finding the person responsible for killing Patel.
“Together, the Patel family and I are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual and any accomplices who were involved in the hit and run of Samir Patel. I sincerely hope that with a collective effort, the authorities can gather new leads and the necessary evidence to bring those responsible to justice and provide closure for the Patel family.”
ABC7 reported that Patel’s son, Dr. Mayur Patel, stated that his father had gone outside for a walk at 1 A.M. that night.
“He had gone for a casual walk. When he was crossing the road, unfortunately, there was — whether it was a drunk driver, we’re really not sure, the police still don’t know — but somebody had run a red light and didn’t bother stopping. They hit him, and they just kept going,” Mayur said. Whittier Police say the vehicle was a silver or gray four-door small SUV or hatchback with black window tint.
With John’s involvement, Mayur hopes his posting leads to finding out who did this to his father.
“If I had a friend who had done something like this, I’d definitely would be guiding them in the right direction,” he said.
Whittier Police ask that anyone with any information please contact Officer Medina at (562) 567-9259 or emedina@cityofwhittier.org.
Roc Nation To Produce Documentary On Legendary NYC Entertainers Basketball Classic League
The EBC was better known as The Rucker and featured NBA players like Allen Iverson, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant.
A documentary about New York City’s most famous summer basketball league, the Entertainers Basketball Classic, will be brought to life by Roc Nation, EverWonder Studios, and 3 Legends Productions.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the documentary will detail the origin and infamous stories about the tournament that drew celebrities, NBA players, and people from all walks of life over the years. The EBC, better known as The Rucker, took place in Harlem near the Polo Grounds on 155th Street and Eighth Avenue, at Rucker Park.
“The Rucker is an integral part of basketball culture. I’m honored to have been a part of its legacy. We’re looking forward to sharing the history in a way that’s never been done before,” says Juan Perez, executive producer and president of Roc Nation Sports in a written statement.
The project will include never-before-seen video footage of some of the classic games played and highlight the ballplayers who participated in the tournament to electrify many summers in Harlem.
“As individuals who lived the culture that was revolutionized by the EBC, we knew that Juan Perez and Roc Nation were the only ones who would be as passionate about telling this story as we are. We’re thrilled to bring this series to life and showcase the expansive impact of The Rucker,” says executive producer Dorian “Black” Graham, who also played in the tournament during its heydays.
The Entertainers Basketball Classic was started in 1982 by Greg Marius ( a rapper with the group, Disco Four, who were signed to Profile Records in 1982). After organizing a basketball game against another hip-hop group, the Crash Crew, whom they beat by 59 points, they started gathering for more games and then an official league was started. Over the years, the tournament featured many NYC basketball legends like Rod Strickland, Malik Sealy, and Stephon Marbury before they became NBA players. The EBC grew in popularity and became the “must play in” league for burgeoning and professional basketball players.
The EBC also brought out rappers like Fat Joe and JAY-Z, who, not only sponsored the teams but also coached the players. The tournament also brought out future NBA legends like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Allen Iverson, and Kevin Durant.
HBCU Alumna LaWanda Toney Promoted To Top Education Department Communications Role
Toney will advise on the coordination and implementation of initiatives with the Chief of Staff and Education Secretary.
LaWanda Toney has been named deputy chief of staff for Strategic Communications and Partnerships in the Office of the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Education.
Toney was recently promoted to this role after serving as senior advisor in the Education Department’s Office of Communications and Outreach for two years.
Toney told BLACK ENTERPRISE she’s most excited about “the ability to plan and coordinate with the Secretary and Chief of Staff on the agency priorities,” while “continuing our priorities around college affordability, mental health, and academic achievement.”
In her new role, Toney said she will be charged with providing advice on the coordination and implementation of initiatives with the Chief of Staff and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. She will also represent Secretary Cardona at conferences, seminars, and high-level meetings.
Before joining the Biden-Harris Administration, Toney served as the director of Strategic Communications at the National Parent Teacher Association (National PTA). Prior to working at National PTA, Toney managed marketing programs, planned special events and created communications campaigns for major retailers, nonprofits, publishing, and advertising companies.
Nathan Monell, National PTA executive director, lauded Toney’s leadership of the National PTA’s “award-winning strategic communications team” for more than a decade.
“She elevated the voices of parents on issues impacting schools and the well-being, safety, and educational success of students and families. She drove timely resources to the field in the advancement of our mission to create equitable and safe educational experiences for all of our nation’s children so they can reach their fullest potential,” Monell said. “Mrs. Toney will be a strong addition and tremendous asset to the objectives of Secretary Cardona and his team.”
An Orangeburg, SC, native, Toney holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcast journalism from Howard University and a Master of Arts in strategic communication with an emphasis in public relations from Trinity University. She is also a member of ColorComm, an organization for women of color in all areas of communications.
Toney noted that her education at a historically Black university helped prepare her for this top federal leadership role.
“Howard taught me perseverance, persistence, and high performance,” Toney said. “I have continued those tenets throughout my career.”
Aaron Anderson has more than eight years of experience in franchise operations, sales and development with multiple restaurant service brands.
Aaron Anderson is no stranger to the restaurant world. He has more than eight years of experience in franchise operations, sales, and development with multiple restaurant service brands. Anderson previously owned five The Original Hot Dog Factory restaurants, which received national exposure from being featured on Bravo’s Real Housewives of Atlanta numerous times. He also acquired two Rita’s Italian Ice franchises in 2021 and 2022 and also owned three Chef Rube Kitchen locations, including one in Subaru Park, Philadelphia’s soccer stadium.
Anderson is also the franchisor of Brunchaholics, a Metro Philly-based brunch spot that serves up unique twists on classic brunch dishes. With three current locations (in Philadelphia; Cherry Hill, New Jersey; and Chester, Pennsylvania), and three more coming soon to Miami, Atlanta, and Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, Anderson’s emerging brunch franchise concept is taking off. Brunchaholics has been named by Eater Philly as one of the 15 essential brunch spots in Philly. Brunchaholics offers financing options to their franchisees both directly and through partnerships with financial institutions.
Anderson shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE, “I got into franchising after I sold a previous business that I built from the ground up. Once I sold it, I started to look for an essential business that could produce daily cash flow and had structure – but this time, I wasn’t interested in building from the ground up. I started doing research on restaurant franchises and decided to go in that direction. I haven’t looked back since.”
Anderson went on to say, “I understood the challenges of creating and building a brand from scratch, and as a calculated risk, I felt like investing in a company with a proven business model would allow me to grow at a different pace, an exponential one. You are already working with a company or brand that is already recognized by the public and they have systems set in place to help you succeed, including marketing, software, and more.”
Recently, Anderson was tapped to become Co-CEO of The Market Place, the family-owned/operated North Carolina Pine Hurst-based restaurant known for its gourmet sandwiches, tasty smoothies, and iced tea spiced with cloves.
Anderson has advice for restaurant owners considering franchising their restaurant concept. “Proven business model, brand strength and differentiation, operations and systems, legal considerations, financial model and investment, support infrastructure, market research, growth strategy, adaptability and innovation, exit strategy. Also, look for a business in the lane/industry that’s flourishing. For example, breakfast/brunch concepts are thriving right now. According to the U.S. Restaurant and Brunch Trends Market Report 2023, there was nearly a 40% increase in consumers eating breakfast and brunch away from home since 2022.”
As a Certified Franchise Consultant, setting expectations for clients about investment costs, revenues, and overhead expenses is critical, and Anderson couldn’t agree more.
“For readers of BLACK ENTERPRISE considering purchasing a franchise, setting realistic expectations is crucial for navigating the franchise acquisition process successfully and ensuring long-term satisfaction with your investment. Here are things you want to consider: initial investment, due diligence, financial projections, support and training, compliance and restrictions, work involvement, market research, long-term commitment, legal and financial advice, impact on lifestyle, community and diversity initiatives.”
The Reginaldo Howard Scholarship, originally intended for students of “African descent,” will be turned into a leadership initiative. In partnership with the Office of University Scholars and Fellows, the Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture will establish the Reginaldo Howard Leadership Program — open to all undergraduate students, regardless of race, and “not including a competitive selection process.”
Revising the scholarship follows an influx of public universities ending race-based scholarship programs in response to the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling. The scholarship was named after Reginaldo “Reggie” Howard, Duke’s first Black student government president, who passed away following a car accident during his sophomore year in 1976.
Established in 1979, the merit scholarship required students to present financial need and covered full tuition — room and board included — for a special selection of Black students. According to an archived website, scholarship “candidates are considered to be among the top applicants of African descent to Duke University.”
Between 15 and 20 students are hand-picked by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to the Reginaldo Howard Scholarship Advisory Council in February of every year. Aside from tuition, the scholarship provided opportunities and funding for other activities, including domestic and international education experiences and independent research.
“It is very much disheartening to hear that this program that opened the door for me to come to Duke is now being closed essentially, even though it will take on a new form,” Junior Mya Harris said.
Senior Drew Greene said the program gave him a community with which he enjoys spending time.
“It has been a fantastic experience, so of course, in that regard, I am gutted.”
Other recipients felt blindsided by the decision after being informed on Apr. 9 via a summarized email explaining the changes occurred “in light of changes to the legal landscape related to race-based considerations in higher education.” “We were just kind of told what was happening as it was happening,” Hannah Gedion, a sophomore, said.
“We felt very powerless, to be honest with you.”
Current scholars are not at risk of losing funding; however, new merit scholarships will no longer be awarded for the Class of 2028 and beyond.
Perry accuses the program of violating Title IX as it “operates exclusively for female students and illegally excludes and discriminates against non-female students based on their sex and gender identity.”
The University of Michigan professor has filed over 2,000 Title IX and Title IX complaints at universities nationwide. After claiming Duke holds a pattern of a “hypocritical double standard,” Perry said the Home of the Blue Devils would have to either discontinue the Baldwin program, open the program to all students regardless of sex, or set up a program equal to a single-sex, male-only program.
If You Shopped At Walmart Within The Last 6 Years, You May Be Entitled To $500
The large retailer settled a class-action lawsuit for $45 million. Customers who shopped at Walmart between October 19, 2018, and January 19, 2024, could be compensated
A class-action lawsuit against Walmart garnered a $45 million settlement, and customers who shopped at the chain between October 19, 2018, and January 19, 2024, may be entitled to be compensated $500.
The retail giant was sued in 2022 for alleged “deceptive business practices” in Florida and has agreed to settle the lawsuit, although they deny any wrongdoing. The store was sued because customers were purportedly overpaying for “weighted goods” like bagged citrus fruits, meat, and seafood. Customers were paying more for the items than the lowest in-store advertised price for those products.
The lawsuit stated, “Walmart uses unfair and deceptive business practices to deceivingly, misleadingly, and unjustly pilfer, to Walmart’s financial benefit, its customers’ hard-earned grocery dollars.”
A website announced the results of the Kukorinis v. Walmart Inc. lawsuit to instruct consumers on how they could receive the award of $500.
“All Persons 1 who Purchased Weighted Goods and/or Bagged Citrus in-person at a Walmart retail store, supercenter, or neighborhood market in the United States or Puerto Rico (“Walmart Store”) from October 19, 2018, through and including January 19, 2024 (the “Settlement Class Period”).”
If this applies to you, you have a limited time to apply to receive the award. The deadline is May 22 (postmarked letter) if you decide to exclude yourself and/or want to object to or comment on the settlement offer. If you choose to claim the $500 award, you have until June 5 to submit your acceptance of the settlement offer online. If you choose to submit it via regular mail, it must be postmarked no later than the same June 5 date.
You do have the choice to do nothing. It states, “Unless you exclude yourself from the Settlement, you are automatically part of the Settlement. If you do nothing, you will get no payment from this Settlement, and you will give up the right to sue, continue to sue, or be part of another lawsuit against Walmart related to the legal claims resolved by this Settlement.”
USA Today reported that Walmart provided the media outlet with a statement:
“We will continue providing our customers everyday low prices to help them save money on the products they want and need. We still deny the allegations. However, we believe a settlement is in the best interest of both parties.”
Tameka Foster Accuses Wendy Williams Of Sparking ‘Negative Press Run’ About Her
Tameka Foster is recalling the first "negative press" she received that allegedly caused a downfall in her career thanks to Wendy Williams.
Tameka Foster recalls the first “negative press run” she experienced that allegedly caused a downfall in her career, thanks to Wendy Williams.
The Bold and Boujee star appeared on The Breakfast Club on Thursday, April 11, where she reminded Charlamagne Tha God about their first encounter, on Wendy Williams’ old radio show. It was a memorable experience for Foster, who credits the interview with starting a downward spiral in her public persona.
Foster recalled how excited she was to get invited on Williams’ show and talk about her job as a celebrity stylist. However, she ended up getting kicked out of the studio for not divulging the celebrity insider information Williams was after.
“As soon as I got there, she was like ‘So is so-and-so gay? And does dah dah dah get along with their mom'” Foster said of Williams. “She started asking about all of my clients.”
“So she went right in with those questions, and my face was like,” Foster continued, showing a surprised expression.
When Jess Hilarious told Foster that she should’ve researched how Williams conducts her interviews, she admitted to being unprepared and assuming the interview would be positive. Eventually, she was kicked out of the studio for not spilling the tea to Williams’ liking.
“She was like ‘There’s the door honey,'” Foster alleged of Williams.
Foster shared that the interview experience led to other media “jumping on the bandwagon” to blast her in the press. However, the reality star has used the negative experiences to empower others in her new book, Here I Stand. While it shares the title of a song and album from her ex-husband Usher, Foster says the book is all about perseverance and rising from the ashes of adversity.
Former Nanny Dismisses Wrongful Termination Lawsuit Against Diddy
Raven Walden, who worked for the mogul from 2018 to 2020, dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice
A former nanny of entertainment mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has unexpectedly dismissed a lawsuit she filed against the executive alleging she was wrongfully terminated.
According to RadarOnline, Raven Walden, who worked for Diddy from 2018 to 2020, dismissed the wrongful termination lawsuit against the “No Way Out” rapper. She revealed she was dismissing her case with prejudice. Walden originally filed the lawsuit in 2020, saying she was terminated after informing the entertainer that she was pregnant. She stated she was hired to care for Diddy and Kim Porter’s twin daughters, Jessie James and D’Lila after Porter died.
In the lawsuit, she said she was told Diddy did not think that having an unwed pregnant woman taking care of his daughters was a good example for them. In response to the suit, Diddy’s representative said he admitted to hiring her but it was never meant to be long-term.
“Her babysitting services were always intended to be temporary, especially since the girls were getting older and spending most of the day at school.”
Diddy’s attorney said that Walden was fired because she wasn’t performing well in her duties, not because she became pregnant. They requested that the lawsuit be dismissed because of her failure to “satisfactorily perform her job responsibilities and otherwise conduct herself in accordance with the standards and policies of Combs Defendants.”
She claimed to be Porter’s niece and Diddy denied the two were related.
Diddy is embroiled in several lawsuits accusing him of sex trafficking, among other alleged crimes. The recent avalanche of legal issues started when his former girlfriend and recording artist, Cassie, filed a bombshell suit on November 16, 2023, accusing Diddy of raping and physically abusing her for well over a decade. The former Revolt owner immediately settled the next day.
The latest lawsuit, filed on Feb. 26 by music producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, accused Diddy of sexual harassment and assault and also alleged that Combs drugged and threatened him for over a year.
Parents Of Teen In Viral Fight Say Text Messages Between Both Participants Were Equally Hostile
Kaylee Gain's father revealed that both teens agreed to the fight, "to meet up and settle what was going on."
The parents of Kaylee Gain have shed light on the text exchange between their daughter and 15-year-old Maurnice DeClue that escalated into a violent fight between the two teens, capturing global attention.
Clinton Gain, 41, and Kaylee’s stepmother, Jamie Gain, revealed to The New York Post that they scrutinized the 16-year-old’s device to understand the events leading up to the caught-on-video clash.
The teens belonged to rival friend groups at Hazelwood East High School near St. Louis. Tensions flared after Kaylee got into a fight with DeClue’s friend prior to the viral face-off. “They both agreed to the fight, to meet up and settle what was going on,” Clinton said, declining to disclose the exact content of the messages.
Jamie acknowledged that both teens made the “terrible decision” to address their dispute with violence. They met at a location known for hosting teen fights, roughly a mile away from their school. During the altercation, DeClue gained the upper hand, mounting Gain and repeatedly smashing her head against the sidewalk.
Prosecutors are now attempting to charge DeClue as an adult, with a hearing scheduled for May 1.
DeClue’s parents and attorney have portrayed their daughter as an honors student proficient in multiple languages and a violin player in the school band. They assert the fight stemmed from Kaylee’s bullying, a claim the teen’s parents vehemently refute, stating it is untrue. Clinton says Kaylee now requires assistance to walk due to her injuries, including a fractured skull and brain bleeding.
“She speaks, but it doesn’t always make sense,” Jamie said about her daughter, who is currently in a weak and wobbly state. “She sort of talks in a loop.” Jamie said DeClue nearly “killed her” daughter.
Kaylee’s parents refuted the claims that she was the bully, asserting that the hostile exchange went both ways through their text messages.
