• Celebrity News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 23, 2024

Judge Mathis’ Wife Files For Divorce After 39 Years And 4 Children Together

Judge Mathis' wife has hit the gavel on their marriage after 39 years.

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Judge Mathis is a single man (almost) after nearly 40 years of marriage following his estranged wife’s recent divorce filing.

Linda Yvette Mathis filed for divorce from the famed TV judge (full name Gregory Ellis Mathis Sr.) on Aug. 22, citing irreconcilable differences, TMZ reports. Linda lists their date of separation as July 17 and requests spousal support from the judge, considering their four children are all adults and not eligible for child support.

She also wants her requirement to pay spousal support waived. The pair, who have been married since June 1985, appeared to call it quits just weeks after celebrating their 39th wedding anniversary.

Judge Mathis met his wife while they both studied at Eastern Michigan University, E! News reports. The two dated for four years before getting engaged and tying the knot. They went on to welcome their daughters Jade, 39, and Camara, 36, and sons Greg Jr., 35, and Amir, 34.

The famed judge has been a recognized figure for the last two decades, starring in his court TV show, Judge Mathis, for 24 years until 2023. He soon revived his court TV show following its cancellation and has been presiding over new cases on Mathis Court With Judge Mathis since last fall.

Judge Mathis and his family gave fans an inside look into their at-home life on the E! reality show Mathis Family Matters in 2022. It was the same year Mathis received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and praised his family for his success.

“The star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is certainly my highest professional achievement,” Mathis said on his reality show at the time.

“But I got to say, it was really my family that was the foundation of my success.”

“After coming out of the streets in Detroit, Linda allowed me to work 15 hours a day, five, six days a week,” he said of his wife.

“So it’s that support that allowed me to pursue the success that you see.”

Linda agreed at the time, saying, “Our love and support runs deep. That’s how the Mathis family rolls.”

• Celebrity News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 23, 2024

Taraji P. Henson Hires Emmy-Winning Jamila Jordan-Theus As Head Of Development And Production At TPH Entertainment

Taraji P. Henson hired the best of the best to lead her TPH Entertainment production company and bring "diverse voices to the forefront."

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Taraji P. Henson has tapped an Emmy Award-winning producer to lead her TPH Entertainment production company and bring “diverse voices to the forefront.”

Jamila Jordan-Theus, who’s produced on shows like Ink Master and Dreamland: The Burning of Black Wall Street, will oversee and develop scripted series, features, and unscripted content at the production company Henson founded in 2020, Variety reports.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jamila Jordan-Theus to TPH Entertainment,” Henson said of the new hire. “Her vision, creativity, and passion for storytelling aligns perfectly with our mission to bring bold, authentic, and diverse voices to the forefront. Together, we’re excited to push boundaries and create impactful content that resonates with audiences everywhere.”

Jordan-Theus, whose most recent credits include serving as supervising producer on an episode of Recipe For Change and as executive producer on Fantasy Football, shared Henson’s excitement in joining the company.

“Taraji P. Henson is a prolific powerhouse and an icon in this industry. I am elated to collaborate with her at TPH Entertainment where we will continue to build with dynamic visionaries, storytellers and artists,” Jordan-Theus said.

“We are dedicated to celebrating cultural depth and challenging social norms by producing thoughtful, liberating and compelling content.”

Jordan-Theus joins TPH Entertainment at a pivotal time as the production company works on its overall deal with BET Studios.
Its upcoming projects include Moorewood Family Rules, a series adaptation of the novel by HelenKay Dimon, which Henson will star and executive produce alongside director Justin Simien. TPH Entertainment produces its content in collaboration with Hartbeat and Culture Machine.

Jordan-Theus boasts a decorated resume with leadership roles as the head of motion pictures at Marsai Martin’s Genius Entertainment, where she led the development of feature films like Fantasy Football for Paramount+. She also worked as a creative executive at LeBron James’ The SpringHill Company and as the director of unscripted development at Sirens Media/ITV Studios.

Jordan-Theus specializes in diverse content, having credits on the Emmy-winning talk show Turning The Tables with Robin Roberts, YouTube Originals’ Best Shot, Netflix’s 7 Days Out, Paramount’s Ink Master, and CNN’s Dreamland: The Rise and Fall of Black Wall Street.

She also co-produced YouTube’s live social impact series “Bear Witness, Take Action.”

RELATED CONTENT: Taraji P. Henson Launches Her Own Haircare Line in Target

• Politics

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 23, 2024

Jermaine Dupri Says Kamala Harris Once Told Him Her ‘Hands Were Tied’ As Vice President

Jermaine Dupri claims Kamala Harris told him her "hands were tied" as Vice President.

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Jermaine Dupri is opening up about when Kamala Harris reportedly told him her “hands were tied” as vice president.

The rapper/producer and Atlanta native shared a video testimony in response to the 2024 Democratic National Convention, where the Georgia delegation joined other states to officially nominate Harris as the party’s presidential nominee. According to Dupri, the DNC is doing “amazing,” but he feels Harris has a “pretty difficult job” serving as the country’s vice president while also running for president.

In a video captured by The Art of Dialogue, Dupri recalled his second meeting with VP Harris, where he asked her about implementing policy changes as president that have seemingly gone unanswered while she serves as VP.

“What makes y ‘all believe that she’s going to get this stuff done if she becomes president and she’s already in the house,” Dupri asked while noting how “tricky” the question is.

“I asked her like as the vice president, why they don’t let her talk when, you know, Biden seems like he needs or he needed someone to speak up to him,” he went on to share.

The hip-hop artist claims Harris told him that her “hands were tied” as vice president and she couldn’t do more than what she was allowed.

“Basically she kind of let me know that her hands was tied, that they didn’t really allow her to be a voice like that in that space,” Dupri explained.

However, now, as the official Democratic nominee for president of the United States, Dupri believes VP Harris has a responsibility to answer that question and turn all those skeptical about her role in office into believers.

“Tonight, I don’t know if she’s gone. You know, I want to see how she, if she even touches on this, because if she doesn’t touch on it, that’s the question that I feel like the people that are, that have mixed decisions about voting for her, this is one of the questions,” he said.

Dupri referenced this as one of the biggest criticisms against Harris from the Republican Party and said it’s time for her to offer an honest answer. If VP Harris blames Democrats for her actions, or lack thereof, while in the White House, Dupri says it’s a bad look for the entire party.

“And if she says something about her hands being tied, then it makes it look like, it makes it look like the White House or the Democratic Party didn’t really want her to exceed,” he concluded.

Many who watched the video expressed frustration with Dupri for seemingly being uneducated about how the government works and blaming VP Harris for things she has no control over.

“I can’t finish this video, no disrespect, but we need to be realistic and understand that government is slow for a reason,” one person wrote. “You can’t get into office and just start signing off mad executive orders that will never hold up once someone else takes your seat.”

“This is so exhausting. There are so many Americans that do not understand how are government works,” added someone else. “Her hands are tied. She is not the president. She is the VP who does not really have a role in decision-making other than to break ties in the Senate.”

VP Harris is facing growing criticism for not having spoken with journalists for an interview since becoming the Democratic nominee. Her team has said she will hold a press conference soon. Harris also agreed to confront her opponent, Donald Trump, in a debate scheduled for September.

• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 23, 2024

O.J. Simpson’s Estate Considers Home Bought With Son To Pay Off Debts

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The executor of the estate of football legend O.J. Simpson is trying to find money to pay off some of the NFL Hall of Famer’s debts and may have to turn to O.J.’s son, Justin Simpson, to bring in over a quarter of a million dollars. Justin is one of two children O.J. had with his wife, ex-wife Nicole Brown, Simpson, whom he was accused of killing in 1994. 

According to TMZ, Simpson’s attorney, Malcolm LaVergne, is working to obtain more than $269,000 from O.J.’s “forever” home and may have to do so through Justin to achieve that goal. His son helped him purchase the house in Las Vegas in 2022, and LaVergne wants to get the property, which O.J. purportedly put $159,000 into when it was initially bought. The executor feels that the estate is worth $100,000 more now.

California hit the estate with a $572,402.69 tax lien. In response, LaVergne claimed that the estate was essentially worthless. He has debts with many creditors, the IRS, the California Tax Board, and the families of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. The Browns and Goldmans were awarded a $33.5 million judgment in a civil lawsuit against O.J. in 1997. With interest, the judgment has climbed to $100 million. In April, after O.J.’s death, the attorney met with the Goldman family at his Las Vegas office. A rep for Nicole Brown Simpson’s estate did not show up for the meeting, but the Goldman family reviewed O.J.’s tax returns, 401(K), bank statements, and other assets. Goldman’s lawyers were told they’d be accepted into the estate to help satisfy the debt.

O.J., who played with the Buffalo Bills when he was in the NFL, died after a brief battle with prostate cancer on April 10. Fred Goldman is the father of murder victim Ron Goldman, who was with O.J.’s former wife, Nicole, when the two were killed 30 years ago. O.J. was accused of killing both of them but was found not guilty in what was billed as the trial of the century. In a civil suit, the Goldman family sued the It Is What It Is guest correspondent and won a judgment of $33.5 million, which O.J. never satisfied.

On April 11, O.J.’s family announced he died of cancer at the age of 76.

RELATED CONTENT: Cam’Ron Pays Homage To OJ Simpson Amid Ongoing Criticism

by Sharelle B. McNair

August 23, 2024

John Hope Bryant Says The 40-Year Mortgage Is In and The 30-Year Mortgage Is Out

Some critics don't agree with Hope Bryant’s ideology.

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Operation Hope’s Founder John Hope Bryant wants homeowners to pay attention to the 40-year mortgage over the 30-year one, Fortune reports. 

In a new op-ed, Hope Bryant highlighted how the standard 30-year mortgage route for homeowners may no longer be feasible with the rising costs of living in the United States.

“The 30-year mortgage has been the American standard for decades, balancing affordable monthly payments with a reasonable repayment period,” Hope Bryant said. 

“However, as home prices soar and interest rates rise, particularly in urban areas, even 30-year mortgages can leave many families struggling with unaffordable payments.”

Once a former advisor in President Obama’s administration, the nonprofit founder touched on the 30-year mortgage being a product of the Great Depression when Americans lived shorter lives. In 2024, people are living longer, with life expectancy hitting 80 years, according to Macrotrends. However, in today’s world, mortgage rates have doubled in a short period of time, which has put homeowners in fixed debt for three decades, especially if there is a low interest rate. 

The result is accidental landlords and people pausing selling. Hope Bryant quoted real estate agency Redfin’s chief executive, Glenn Kelman, saying the 30-year mortgage has “the perverse effect of keeping home prices high” due to the rising interest rates of the Federal Reserve due to inflation.

“Critics may argue that a longer mortgage term increases the total interest paid, but the benefits of affordability and access outweigh this drawback. For many, the alternative is indefinite renting, which builds no equity and leaves families vulnerable to rising rents and economic displacement,” Hope Bryant said. 

“A 40-year mortgage allows more people to begin building equity sooner, offering a pathway to long-term financial stability and sustained human dignity—a key element of the American dream. A pathway up the repaired economic aspirational ladder in America.” 

The entrepreneur suggests the layout of the 40-year mortgage, using the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) system and federal subsidies for first-time homebuyers who finish financial literacy training. The concept combines extended mortgage terms with financial education, making homeownership more accessible while achieving economic growth. 

Some critics don’t agree with Hope Bryant’s ideology, claiming a longer mortgage term would just increase the amount of paid interest, but there are longer benefits aligned with affordability and access. The 40-year mortgage gives homeowners room to build equity sooner. The financial literacy portion equips first-time buyers with the necessary skills needed to navigate through finances effectively and potentially avoid predatory lending. 

He also feels the new mortgage trend can address the growing wealth gap in America that is often talked about by Democratic leaders. During the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC), former Housing and Urban Development (HUD) secretary Marcia Fudge and Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Ca.) gave some insight into presidential nominee Kamala Harris’s housing proposals. 

According to ABC News, Harris pledged to give up to $25,000 for down-payment support for first-time homeowners and a layout for new construction of three million new housing units to combat the housing supply shortage.

RELATED CONTENT: Celebrating Juneteenth with John Hope Bryant

• Education

by Shanique Yates

August 23, 2024

Grambling State University Breaks New Ground with First-Ever HBCU Digital Library

Not only is the digital library the first of its kind for an HBCU, but GSU is also the first and only school in Louisiana to have such a facility.

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Grambling State University has broken boundaries, becoming the first HBCU to have a digital library.

The institution unveiled the new Digital Library and Learning Commons during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 22. According to the school’s website, the $16.6 million project includes over 150 computer stations, 17,000 square feet of space to study, and multipurpose space to host everything from events to meetings and even seminars. GSU calls it the “ultimate intersection of academics, curiosity, and community.”

“We fought for this project because we know it’s important, and we fight for Dear Ole Grambling because we believe in the boundless potential of every student who walks through our doors,” said current Grambling State President Dr. Martin Lemelle, Jr. 

He was executive vice president when the initial planning for the Digital Library and Learning Commons was underway. Before this project, GSU first opened the doors to its A.C. Lewis Memorial Library in 1962. Leaders upgraded the building in 1986.

“It will be where we light the torch of victory,” Lemelle continued.

“Victory in learning. Victory in innovation. And victory in the community. It is here that we will fight for Dear Ole Grambling, and in this fight, we will arm ourselves with the knowledge, perseverance, and unyielding spirit that defines us.”

GSU’s Digital Library and Learning Commons Dean Adrienne Webber also spoke during the momentous occasion, noting how it will set GSU and its students apart from the rest of the world.

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She revealed that the facility would have a “Maker’s Space” that includes everything from 3-D imaging and 3-D printers to laser and etching machines, a Cricut maker, and other tools to help students put their dreams into motion.

“If you think it, you can make it,” said Webber.

“And then we’re going to be able to find out if an idea is an original or if someone has it already. We’re hoping to become a patent and trade resource center. These students are so creative. Their audio, video, and AI skills are tremendous, and we’re going to provide them with the tools to build on those skills.”

The digital library is the first of its kind for an HBCU, and GSU is the first and only school in Louisiana to have such a facility.

“There’s no Dewey Decimal system, no card catalog, and no dusty books for miles to go,” said Lousiana Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Kim Hunter, whose parents are both products of GSU.

“And no sweet librarians shushing you when you’re making too much noise. But a library is still the heartbeat of every campus, a place where students grow, gather, and collaborate. And this one is special because education today is about research, innovation, and technology around amazing online databases, AI, and information beyond that as well.”

Founded on Nov. 1, 1901, as the Colored Industrial and Agricultural School, Grambling State was founded by a group of African American farmers whose mission was to organize and operate a school for Black people in the region of Louisiana. By 1946, the institution became known as Grambling College, taking the name of the white sawmill owner who donated the land where the school was built. In 1974, the school officially took on its current name, Grambling State University. Today, the 384-acre campus includes a business and science building, a school of nursing, an intramural sports center, and a stadium, among other updates. 

The new Digital Library and Learning Commons has been an uphill battle for the university, yet they persevered and saw it complete.

RELATED CONTENT: Record Enrollment May Not Be Enough For North Carolina HBCU, Donations Needed For Scholarships

• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

August 23, 2024

Federal Charges Dropped Against Two Former Louisville Police Officers Who Issued Warrants In Breonna Taylor Case

So now what?

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CNN reports that two former Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) officers had felony charges dropped against them by a federal judge in the Breonna Taylor case.

Louisville Detective Joshua Jaynes and Sgt. Kyle Meany were hit with federal charges in 2022 after submitting a false affidavit to search Taylor’s home before LMPD raided the apartment, then worked together to create a fake narrative to cover up an attempt to avoid responsibility. The charges carried a maximum sentence of life in prison. 

The decision was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Charles Simpson on Aug. 23, ruling that the warning shot fired by Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, when officers entered the home was “the legal cause of Taylor’s death” over a warrantless entry, according to court documents. “There is no direct link between the warrantless entry and Taylor’s death,” the court ruled. 

Walker fired the shot, thinking Jaynes and Meany were intruders. A round of gunfire took place, resulting in the 26-year-old emergency room technician being shot multiple times. Simpson dropped the felony deprivation of rights under the color of law charges, according to Courier Journal, against both former officers, claiming the “alleged facts do not fit the … felony offenses as written.”

However, neither is completely off the hook. Jaynes still faces charges of conspiring with another detective to cover up the false warrant and falsifying a document to mislead investigators. The charges of making a false statement to FBI investigators are still against Meany. Jaynes’ lawyer, Thomas Clay, says his client is happy with the judge’s ruling, saying it holds a precedent on how the U.S. should handle dismissals.

“This dismissal places the burden on the United States as to how to proceed on the dismissal of this order,” Clay said.

Meany’s legal representative, Brian Butler, agreed, “We are very pleased by the court’s ruling.”

Taylor’s death was one of three in 2020 — including George Floyd in Minnesota and Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia — that chartered the Black Lives Movement, sparking nationwide protests. Court documents laid out the severity of her case, saying, “the tragedy of Breonna Taylor’s death and the gravity of her family’s grief [is] not lost on this Court.”

In contrast, a spokesperson from the Department of Justice said the judge’s decision is being reviewed, and the agency will announce next steps after it is assessed. 

Another former officer involved in the case, Brett Hankison, also faced federal charges and is waiting for a new civil rights trial scheduled for October after a jury was deadlocked in the initial 2023 trial. Prosecutors accused Hankison of using unjustified force on the night of Taylor’s death and violated her civil rights along with Walker and the next-door neighbors. He faces life in prison if found guilty.