Isaiah Thomas, Phoenix Suns
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 19, 2024

Isaiah Thomas Signs 10-Day Contract With Phoenix Suns

Thomas last played in the NBA for the Charlotte Hornets in April 2022

Isaiah Thomas, who last played for the Charlotte Hornets in April 2022, is back in the NBA after signing a 10-day contract with the Phoenix Suns. This will be his second stint with the franchise after playing for them in the 2014-2015 season.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported the news on Saturday, March 16, via his X account (formerly known as Twitter).

Earlier this month, Thomas inked a deal to play in the G League with the Salt Lake City Stars in hopes of making it back to the NBA. With a strong showing in three games, Thomas averaged 32.0 points and 5.7 assists while shooting 37.9% from the floor and 40.9% shooting from three-point range.

Thomas was drafted by the Sacramento Kings as a second-round pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. During his career in the NBA, he played for the Boston Celtics, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Denver Nuggets, the Washington Wizards, the New Orleans Pelicans, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Charlotte Hornets.

Thomas had the best years of his career playing with the Celtics from 2015 and 2017. He was an NBA All-Star in 2016 and 2017 when he played for the franchise and was named second-team All-NBA in 2017. During those years, he averaged 25.5 points and 6.1 assists while playing in 158 games for the franchise.

During his last year in the NBA, he played for three teams: the Lakers, the Mavericks, and the Hornets. He averaged 8.4 points, 1.5 assists, and 1.3 rebounds in 22 games.

Hooprumors reported that the 10-day contract that Thomas signed will be for $183,704.

Student Loan Debt, Biden, Joe, president
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 19, 2024

What Biden’s Proposed Budget Plans May Mean For Your Money

Biden's 2025 budget proposal could lead to higher taxation for wealthy individuals, who should plan ahead of time to protect their assets and estates.

Biden announced his budget proposal for 2025 on March 11, which could impact one’s estate and its taxation.

The budget’s complete title is “General Explanations of the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2025 Revenue Proposals.” Within the document, Biden unveiled his plan for stronger taxation on the nation’s wealthiest, including those who will inherit these lofty estates. These increased taxes are not definitively in the works, as they must be passed by Congress, but could promote widespread change in wealth distribution.

These changes are intended to promote a redistribution of wealth across America. According to Forbes, the higher taxes would likely go toward funding social programs and addressing the wealth gap that prominently impacts communities of color. However, for those with more to lose from these legislative updates, Forbes suggests that wealthier individuals start planning now to protect and gain the most from their assets.

Biden intends to nearly double the capital gains tax rate, which was lowered during the Trump administration. Any income exceeding $1 million would face taxes at ordinary rates of 37%-39.6%, a much higher tax rate than the current 20%. His plans would also evoke new taxes on gifts of assets or upon one’s death. However, this would only impact richer Americans due to its $5 million exclusion. However, this realization includes collectibles like high-value artwork.

Preparation should occur as the election year means either Trump or Biden could take over the Oval Office. Whatever the outcome, one should further secure their assets in case taxes become stricter. Detailing the Biden budget as “harsh,” the publication promotes the creation of trusts and gifts for loved ones before any new tax laws. Thankfully, there is still time, with any legitimate deadline not being until the year’s end.

The business platform encourages flexibility in one’s financial strategy to make the most of monetary and valuable holdings. Incorporating “tax planning techniques” into money management is the safest course of action to maintain one’s money despite uncertain rates and regulations.

RELATED CONTENT: Debate Over Taxes And Reparations: Insights From Tiffany Cross, Angela Rye, And Andrew Gillum

Kyrie Irving, Texas, HBCU, Paul Quinn College
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 19, 2024

Kyrie Irving Makes Thrilling Left-Handed Hook At Buzzer To Win Latest Game

With 2.8 seconds remaining on the clock, Irving makes a hook shot over Denver Nuggets center, Nikola Jokić

Dallas Mavericks player Kyrie Irving made an amazing one-hand shot for a buzzer-beater that gave his team a thrilling victory in a recent basketball game.

According to Sports Illustrated, the New Jersey-bred Irving made a left-hand hook shot right before the buzzer sounded to end the game, giving the Mavericks a 107-105 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, March 18. The exciting play took place at the American Airlines Center on the Dallas team’s home court.

With 2.8 seconds remaining in the tied game, Irving’s teammate, Maxi Kleber, found him on the right side of the basketball court near the three-point line and passed him the ball. Once the point guard got the ball in his possession, he turned and focused toward the basket, took several steps, and threw up the one-handed shot before the timer hit :00 to pull out the victory.

He got the shot off while the Nuggets star center, Nikola Jokić, attempted to block his shot.

“Man, majority of it is instinctual and comes from preparation for hours that no one sees,” Irving said. “I saw a Jokić taking away my pull-up going left. I knew that he was going to come up, but I didn’t know he was going to commit like that, so he was forcing me inside the 3-point line. As soon as I felt him kind of behind me, I was like, oh, I have my left hand. It’s wide open, so why not go to it?”

Teammate Luka Doncic, said: “That shot was unbelievable, man. I couldn’t believe it.”

Most basketball fans know Irving is a right-hand player, so making that shot with his left hand was a fantastic feat. He brought attention to that after making the shot when he went to be congratulated by his teammates on the court. He stared at his left hand before jumping into his teammate’s arms and landing in a pile with them on the hardwood.

Irving ended the game with 24 points and nine assists.

Nyla Choates
by Stacy Jackson

March 19, 2024

Nyla Choates Wins $7K To Scale ‘My Roots Are Rich’ Brand

The Spelman College junior plans to expand her "My Roots Are Rich" children's brand beyond books and apparel.

Nyla Choates, a junior at Spelman College, claimed the first place prize in Amazon’s “Black is Entrepreneurial Pitch Competition” for her brand, ‘My Roots Are Rich.’

Hosted by Morehouse College in Atlanta, Choates collected her $7,000 prize after participating in the Shark Tank-style pitch contest sponsored by Amazon’s Black Employee Network. The young entrepreneur spoke to Rolling Out about the pitch for her children’s brand, which is aimed at empowering, inspiring, and educating about the rich history of African American contributions to America.

“Now, we’ll no longer only have children’s books and children’s apparel. We’ll also be able to have toys and dolls and backpacks to come,” she said, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to truly scale her business.

Expansion for the brand has been a driving force for Choates, who aims “to be able to not only give children the positive representation they deserve in the books that they read but also in the clothes that they wear and the toys that they play with.” Her ambitions extend to products like water bottles, school supplies, and potentially an animated television show. “The sky is definitely the limit,” she said.

Hailing from California, Choates understands the experience of being “the only little Black girl in the classroom.” She recalled, “What truly affected me was when I’d open the textbooks, and I would only be seeing negative images,” that mainly reflected Africans going through struggles like malnutrition, poverty, and diseases. These images made her feel “extremely sad and insecure” about her roots, prompting her mother to teach her “the untold, positive history of people of African descent,” which included their roles as kings, queens, doctors, and scientists. This knowledge inspired Choates to establish her My Roots Are Rich brand.

According to the My Roots Are Rich website, Choates has captured the attention of celebrities like Alicia Keys, Kevin Hart, and Thasunda Brown Duckett. Choates hosts book tours and workshops at different schools, libraries, and after-school programs.

BLACK ENTERPRISE covered Choates as one of the young visionaries at McDonald’s USA, and actress Keke Palmer was highlighted as one of the 2023 Black & Positively Golden Change Leaders.

In 2022, the Milpitas Unified School District recognized the entrepreneur after she published her “My Roots Are Rich” children’s book. She was a freshman at Spelman at the time.

Choosing Spelman College to pursue her higher education, Choates sought “a space surrounded by Black women and Black excellence.” She hopes her children’s brand will inspire Black boys and girls “to start planting the seeds they want to see grow now.”

My Roots Are Rich products are available to purchase online.

RELATED CONTENT: Concept E-Commerce Retailer Spotlights Cultural Merchandise And Women-Owned Brands

Fani Willis, speech2, judge
by Sharelle B. McNair

March 18, 2024

Community Reacts To Judge’s Criticism Of Fani Willis’ ‘Moving’ Speech

Fani Willis' touching speech at Big Bethel AME Church during its Martin Luther King Jr. celebration service drew the ire of a judge, but the surrounding community doesn't feel likewise.

Fulton County, Georgia, residents are responding to a judge’s comments regarding District Attorney Fani Willis’s speech at Big Bethel AME Church. 

In his March 15 ruling on whether Willis can continue prosecution in the 2020 presidential election interference case, Judge Scott McAfee mentioned Willis’s speech at the historic church in January 2024. While calling her remarks “legally improper,” the judge warned of a potential gag order against Willis in the future.

“Providing this type of public comment creates dangerous waters for the District Attorney to wade further into,” McAfee wrote. 

Now, the community is buzzing about whether the judge’s remarks were necessary. “I was surprised that he admonished her at the church because it wasn’t directly about these defendants,” Emory Law Associate Professor John Acevedo said. 

Church parishioner Keith Burnett said he was at the service the day Willis spoke and was moved by her words. “She talked about demons. She talked about darkness,” Burnett mentioned. “She talked about the fact that she’s doing her job and did everything in her power to pick the right people.” 

Willis served as the speaker for the church’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration service. During her time on the pulpit, she addressed issues surrounding the hearing and the challenges she faced both personally and professionally. “I appointed three special counsels as is my right to do, but they only attacked one,” Willis said at the time. 

The judge saw such remarks as Willis projecting she and Wade were being scrutinized because of their race. The DA said she wasn’t referring to the defendants in her accusations of racism, but McAfee warned that it wasn’t clear enough to make that distinction.

“In these public and televised comments, the District Attorney complained that a Fulton County Commissioner ‘and so many others’ questioned her decision to hire SADA Wade. When referring to her detractors throughout the speech, she frequently utilized the plural ‘they,'” he wrote, according to Fox 5 Atlanta. “The State argues the speech was not aimed at any of the Defendants in this case. Maybe so. But maybe not. Therein lies the danger of public comment by a prosecuting attorney.” 

He added that Willis’ reference to “so many others” in her speech at the church came too close to compromising the case.

Ultimately, McAfee’s decision to keep Willis on the case as long as Wade stepped down has received praise from community members. “I think his decision really reflects his desire to end distractions in this case,” Acevedo said. 

Following the ruling, Wade resigned effective immediately.

Tennis Star Gael Monfils, ATP Tour Title
by Stacy Jackson

March 18, 2024

Aced It! Tennis Phenom Sydney Brantley Signs With Tennessee State University

The student-athlete credited TSU's tennis teams and coaches for her decision to make the HBCU her "home for the next four years."

Standout tennis phenom Sydney Brantley has signed with Tennessee State University (TSU) to continue her athletic journey.

The Atlanta native has decided to take her athletic prowess to the esteemed institution. The school boasts an illustrious legacy, having nurtured the talents of Olympians Wilma Rudolph and Wyomia Tyus, and cultural icons like Oprah Winfrey and Maurice White of the renowned band Earth, Wind and Fire.

“It took a lot of hard work to get to this point,” Brantley told Rolling Out. “After visiting [several] schools, the difference in the cultural values and sense of community steered me towards desiring an HBCU experience for my undergrad journey.” The student-athlete credited the university’s women’s and men’s tennis teams and coaching staff for her decision. “…It was evident how invested they were in each player’s [growth] as athletes and, more importantly, as people,” she said. “This reaffirmed that TSU could be my home for the next four years.”

Despite receiving full scholarship offers from several colleges, Brantley chose an HBCU with expectations that she would be appreciated for her talents and presented with more opportunities for NIL deals as she builds her brand. “…At an HBCU…I have an opportunity to network with people who are like me and [have] possibly walked in my shoes before,” she said.

Brantley’s journey as an athlete has been marked by trials and tribulations, with moments where she felt her goals might not be accomplished. She expressed gratitude toward her parents for their unwavering support, constructive criticism, and continuous reminders of her capabilities.

The tennis star encourages African Americans to pursue the sport as it presents opportunities for growth, meeting new people, and traveling the world. “There are also so many rising stars within the African American tennis community who are extremely open to giving back to [those] who may follow in their footsteps,” she noted, and added that “the United States Tennis Association [and] many local tennis programs have invested specifically in [developing] rising African American and minority tennis players.”

TSU Tennis confirmed Brantley’s commitment to its program on X earlier this year. “Welcome to Roar City!” the Jan. 29 post read.

https://twitter.com/TSUTennis/status/1752003835906740525

In 2023, The Warrior Wire mentioned that Brantley secured impressive national and state rankings among the top 20 players in her age group. Her leadership was on full display as a captain for the Dubs Girls Varsity tennis team and played an instrumental role in their triumphant 2022 6A State Championship victory. She has set her sights on leaving an equally remarkable legacy at the collegiate level. Beyond her athletic endeavors, Brantley harbors aspirations of pursuing a career as a sports agent, leveraging her invaluable experiences as an athlete to guide and empower others on their journeys.

RELATED CONTENT: Coco Gauff Matches Serena Williams’ 6 Grand Slam Quarterfinal Appearances

Jack and Jill, Boston, sneaker gala
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 18, 2024

Jack And Jill Organization Hosts Sneaker Gala To Celebrate Future Black Leaders

The Eastern region of Jack and Jill of America hosted a sneaker gala to celebrate its high school seniors and their college plans.

Jack and Jill chapters in the Eastern United States hosted a sneaker gala to celebrate its future Black leaders.

WBZ TV reporter, Emmy winner Tammy Mutasa, took the mic to host the “Jack and Jill Sneaker Gala” on March 17. The gala was part of the teen conference for Jack and Jill’s overarching Eastern region an annual weekend event that brings together Black youth across the area.

The region’s 2023-2025 theme of “Unity in Excellence: Mighty in Culture, Community, and Joy” is reflected through this storied event that celebrates the next cohort of Black leaders.

In the annual celebration, high school seniors who are in the program dress elegantly as they make their introductions to Black society. The young women wear white gowns while their dates dress in black-tie suits as their college choices and career paths are announced. The tradition has been around for decades as a national organization to uplift and connect Black families.

While the event is typically a swanky affair, the attendees showcased their favorite kicks while still taking part in the time-honored tradition.

Founded in 1938, Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated, has been in operation for nearly a century. It has expanded to 262 chapters and over 50,000 families to celebrate their heritage and strengthen their communal bonds.

The late Marion Stubbs Thomas founded the organization’s first chapter and led a group of 20 Black mothers to provide educational and social opportunities for their children. Their work has developed a framework for the organization still supporting multiple generations of Black children.

“It was formed by mothers to prepare young people for social justice, activism, and community service,” explained Mutasa.

RELATED CONTENT: Boys & Girls Clubs of America Teams Up with Jack and Jill of America, Inc. to Strengthen and Diversify Club Leadership for America’s Youth

Vic Mensa, Black-Woman-Owned Bookstore, Chicago
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 18, 2024

Vic Mensa Gifts Black-Woman-Owned Bookstore In Chicago With One Year Of Free Rent

Vic Mensa helped amplify Chicago by awarding one Black-woman-owned bookstore with a check to cover their rent for the year.

Chicago hometown hero Vic Mensa recently decided to amplify his city by awarding one Black-woman-owned bookstore with a check to cover their rent for the year.

Self-described “African-American book store,” Da Book Joint, took to Instagram on Wednesday, March 13, to express its gratitude for the $7,200 check it received from Mensa and his community-driven cannabis brand 93 Boyz.

“Hey family! This has officially been the best Wednesday ever! We are thankful. We are honored. We are grateful. We are truly living a dream right now,” the book store shared in the lengthy caption.

Thanks to Mensa’s generous offer, Da Book Store will have its rent covered for the next year.

“Thank you for seeing our mission and helping us stand in our purpose. You are that breathe [sic] of fresh air we needed,” the caption stated. “His generosity ensures our doors stay open for all book lovers and dreamers. This act of kindness touches our hearts deeply and reaffirms the power of community and support. Thank you, Vic Mensa, for lighting up our world with hope and generosity!”

Mensa launched his “premium gas” weed brand in August 2022 to reinvest in the Chicago community. Serving as Chicago’s first Black-owned cannabis brand, 93 Boyz extends its service beyond marijuana with its core mission to give back to the community that raised the Chicago native.

“With a vision of lifting up the neighborhoods around him while lifting spirits across the state. That vision—paired with the heaviest, headiest gas available anywhere—is what fuels 93 Boyz today,” the company website states.

Mensa followed up Da Book Store’s announcement with a video interview highlighting the store’s mother-daughter duo owners and their mission to show kids in the community the importance of reading and seeing books that represent them. After revealing their struggles with paying rent and facing closure, the Chicago rapper blessed them with a personal check to cover the next year of rent.

“Our mission has always been creative strategies to the things we face as a people & a city, knowledge/information/literacy being one of the most significant challenges,” Mensa wrote.

“The first impact-based initiative 93 ever did actually was called Books Before Bars where we sent books into the jails & prisons so this was right up our alley.”

RELATED CONTENT: RuPaul Brings All Aboard The Rainbow Book Bus And Online Store

nursing home The family wants the nursing home to be held accountable.
by Daniel Johnson

March 18, 2024

Wheelchair-Bound Man Goes On A Stabbing Spree In NYC

All of the man’s alleged stab victims survived their encounters.

According to the New York Police Department, a man in a wheelchair allegedly carried out several stabbings, beginning with two victims, both in their 60s, on March 16. After these initial attacks, the man is alleged to have stabbed a 35-year-old man in the chest, who later sought treatment at Mt. Sinai Queens Hospital in Queens, New York. Subsequently, he is accused of stabbing a 46-year-old woman who arrived at a police precinct with a laceration on her forearm.

As Pix 11 reports, a video captured on the Citizen app depicts five police officers surrounding the wheelchair-bound man and apprehending him. According to the NYPD, the man is currently in police custody. All of the man’s victims survived their encounters and were treated at local medical facilities and released. A full investigation is pending, per the NYPD. 

Though the man’s victims were all adults, in 2023, New York City experienced a sharp uptick in youth stabbings. According to data from the NYPD, the 467 minors who were stabbed in the city represent a 48% increase from 2022. As CBS News reported, that specific population’s explosion is juxtaposed against a 6% increase in victims of all ages. 

New York Mayor Eric Adams told the outlet that he believed the rise in youth stabbings was due to a crackdown on guns. “I think there’s a combination of things that are giving way to the stabbings. Number one, the police department has done an amazing job of cracking down on guns. I believe over 13,000 were removed off of our streets, and you know, some young people have started to use knives.”

However, the NYPD CompStat tracker does not have a separate statistical category for stabbings, but felony and misdemeanor assaults in New York City have increased by nearly 2% since 2023. Feasibly, some of those could include stabbings, but without a clear delineation it is impossible to know for sure.

According to the Council on Criminal Justice, a nonprofit, independent think tank for the criminal justice field, in its study of crime trends in 38 U.S. cities, the council found that in 2023, “Overall, crime rates are largely returning to pre-COVID levels as the nation distances itself from the height of the pandemic, but there are notable exceptions. While decreases in homicide in the study cities (and many other cities) are promising, the progress is uneven and other sources of crime information, including household surveys of violent victimization, indicate higher rates and more pronounced shifts than reports to law enforcement agencies.”

The council concluded that crime does not occur in a vacuum but is often related to social and economic forces. They also called on leaders to implement strategies proven to reduce violent crime.

“In short, crime trends do not occur in isolation from broader social and economic forces but neither are they immune from short-term intervention. There are multiple strategies that do not require new laws or large new public expenditures that can reliably and sustainably reduce crime. Leaders in the public and private sectors should redouble their efforts to implement these approaches.”

RELATED CONTENT: 11-Year-Old Boy Fatally Stabbed While Protecting Pregnant Mother From Her Abusive Ex

FAFSA Application, Student Aid
by Rafael Pena

March 18, 2024

FAFSA Applications Plummet Prompting Concerns For Student Aid

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid cycle is in disarray.

A stark decline in Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) applications is raising fears that many students may miss out on vital financial assistance, thanks to a disastrous rollout by the Department of Education.

The Hill reports that as of March 17, only 5.9 million students have applied for FAFSA thus far. At this time last year, nearly 9 million 2023–24 FAFSA forms were submitted.

“I do think that because the FAFSA became available so much later than it did in a normal year and there were so many glitches at the beginning of the process that needed to be resolved, some of those folks who would normally file a FAFSA earlier in the process may have decided to set it aside temporarily,” Karen McCarthy, vice president for public policy and federal relations at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, said, according to The Hill.

National College Attainment Network (NCAN) reported a 34 percent decrease in FAFSA applications from high school seniors compared to the previous cycle, leaving advocates grappling with a compressed time frame to connect students with crucial financial aid.

Under Department of Education watch, technical difficulties marred the FAFSA application process, with limited availability and delayed data transmissions to schools causing widespread frustration among applicants.

Republican lawmakers have requested an investigation into the matter, while Democrats seek assurances from the Department of Education to mitigate the effects of the delays on families, especially low-income students.

The end of June looms as a crucial juncture in determining the trajectory of FAFSA application numbers. Bill DeBaun, senior director of data and strategic initiatives at NCAN stressed the importance of proactive measures to salvage the cycle. “Doing what we have done in previous years is not going to be enough this FAFSA cycle to get us the results that we need,” DeBaun emphasized.

As the rollout progresses, the focus now shifts to colleges’ ability to process FAFSA data efficiently, with hopes pinned on smooth operations to facilitate timely aid offers for students.

RELATED CONTENT: Families of Incoming College Kids are Fed up with FAFSA Delay

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