Scottie Pippen, Larsa Pippen, Stalking, Sued

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 5, 2024

Scottie Pippen Sued By Former Lover For Stalking; Larsa Pippen Accused of Causing ‘Suffering’

The woman claims to have engaged in an on-and-off relationship with Scottie Pippen from 1987 to 1993.

A former lover is suing Scottie Pippen for stalking and has pulled his ex-wife, Larsa Pippen, and brother into the case.

On Feb. 28, Chyvette Valentine sued the NBA star and Larsa Pippen in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, for alleged harassment and stalking, Page Six reports. Valentine, who claims to be the ex-girlfriend of Scottie Pippen, accuses him, the Chicago Bulls, his brother, Carl T. Pippen, and Larsa Pippen of causing her suffering.

She claims to have engaged in an on-and-off relationship with Scottie from 1987 to 1993 that ended after she was allegedly raped by Scottie and Carl, which led to the birth of her son, Devonte Pippen, who was killed in 2011.

Valentine alleges that since the romance ended, Scottie “used his celebrity as a Chicago Bulls player” to “stalk, harass and torment” her in ways that caused her “severe mental and emotional issues.” She also claims to have lost several jobs as a result.

Scottie Pippen is accused of influencing law enforcement to cancel a police report Valentine filed against him. The NBA champion is also accused of falsifying documents to get Valentine diagnosed as “mentally ill.”

Valentine is suing Scottie Pippen, the Bulls, and his family members for $250 million. It’s the second time Valentine has sued the retired NBA great, following her 2019 small claims court case that went after him for $9,999, the maximum allowed in small claims court.

She claims to have spent thousands of dollars on travel expenses during her relationship with Scottie Pippen, which he promised to repay. Valentine claims Scottie never told her about his first marriage to Karen McCollum, which lasted from 1988 to 1990. He married Larsa in 1997 before The Real Housewives of Miami star filed for divorce in 2018. Larsa is currently dating Marcus Jordan, the son of Scottie’s former teammate Michael Jordan.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 5, 2024

Big Meech, Black Mafia Family Founder, Could See Early Prison Release In 2025

Flenory was initially sentenced to 30 years after being found guilty of large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering.

Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory is seeking an early release date in 2025 if the courts agree with his attorney’s recent filing.

Recently unveiled court documents show that Flenory’s attorney, Brittany K. Barnett, filed an early release petition for the former crime boss last month that could see him released three years early, The Detroit News reports. Citing Amendment 821 of the United States Criminal Code, Barnett argued that Flenory should be released earlier than his latest reduced sentence, per new sentencing guidelines.

She argues that the Black Mafia Family founder has remained an upstanding citizen while serving time, including obtaining his GED, performing well in other prison classes, and staying out of trouble while incarcerated since 2021. As a result, Barnett cites the credit Flenory has earned for his sentence under the U.S.S.G. (United States Sentencing Guidelines) Amendment 782, and, therefore, should be released by 2025.

Flenory was initially sentenced to 30 years after being found guilty of large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering. He later had his sentence reduced to 20 years, which put him at a 2028 release date. However, if Barnett’s recent filing is successful, the ex-BMF leader will be a free man again in 2025.

His son, Demetrius “Lil Meech” Flenory Jr., has since taken to social media to express his joy over the good news surrounding his father’s potential prison release.

Lil Meech reacts to Big Meech's sentence being shorten pic.twitter.com/rLnvLiIzub
— HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) February 29, 2024

Flenory Jr. portrays his father in the Starz’ hit scripted series BMF. The show was recently greenlit for season 4 amid the season 3 premiere on March 1. Flenory Jr. recently spoke with BLACK ENTERPRISE about his ability to humanize his family’s story in the hit series and learn about his family history that took place years before his birth.

“I was born in 2000, so this is all new to me. It’s all a learning experience. I got to learn a lot about my family that I didn’t know about,” he explained.

“When I came to set, it was like a clash. Like, I was going to tell everything about my roots and about my family that I didn’t know. And with that, I get to play my father and still live up to his name.”

Meanwhile, Barnett has proven successful in aiding in the release of incarcerated persons. In 2018, Kim Kardashian joined the Buried Alive Project founder in advocating for clemency for Alice Johnson, a nonviolent drug offender who was sentenced to life in prison in 1997 for cocaine trafficking despite it being her first offense. Johnson served 21 years before being released in June 2018 by the Trump administration.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 5, 2024

Ye Reveals Alleged Internal Memo From Adidas With Talking Points On Selling Yeezys

The document allegedly gave salespeople talking points for Yeezys.

Ye revealed an alleged internal document from the company in a since-deleted Instagram post. He showed a document allegedly giving Adidas employees talking points about the Yeezys.

The document was posted on Ye’s social media on Feb. 26. It allegedly showed the script employees were to use when speaking about the Yeezy product.

“Adidas is the sole owner of the product, including the design rights for existing products and previous colorways. The products are existing Yeezy designs initiated in 2022. Adidas honored contractual obligations and discussed releasing products before the announcement with the former partner.”

The internal memo was sent out last week as Adidas announced that they will sell the remaining stock of Yeezys. Ye then accused the company of selling fake Yeezys and stated that they were suing him for $250 million.

“This is the document that they give employees at Adidas when asked questions about Yeezy,” Ye said.

He says the company is suing him and that he will be making no money from the current sales. He says they are also using 50 years of business experience and contract clauses to “assault” him.

Ye speaks on the Adidas Yeezy situation pic.twitter.com/kMemoxHkoK

— Complex Sneakers (@ComplexSneakers) February 26, 2024

Last summer, according to Insider, the sports brand received orders reportedly worth 508 million euros ($564 million). Before deciding to put the Yeezys back on the market, Adidas anticipated writing the product off for $500 million. When shareholders pressured them, the company changed direction earlier in 2023. In November, after making plans to release another round of Yeezys, an internal memo from Adidas stated that the company decided to postpone the release of Yeezys. It was speculated that the sale of the popular sneakers has been paused due to the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 4, 2024

Dwight Howard Dismisses Lawsuit Against Alleged Former Male Lover Ahead Of Sexual Assault Trial

The NBA star quietly dismissed his countersuit against Masin Elije, 28, who sued Howard in 2019 for “assault.”

Dwight Howard has decided to dismiss his lawsuit against an alleged former male lover ahead of an impending trial accusing him of sexual assault against another man.

The NBA star decided to quietly dismiss his countersuit against Masin Elije, 28, who sued Howard in 2019 for “assault” and “intentional infliction of emotional distress,” Radar Online reports. Elije claims to have engaged in a hot and heavy romance with Howard, but the professional athlete denies the claims.

According to Elije’s lawsuit filed in Gwinnett County Superior Court, Howard allegedly dispatched thugs to harass and intimidate him into signing a non-disclosure agreement to force him into silence about their secret relationship. Elije also names Howard’s pal Kitty as someone who allegedly threatened him in 2018 after he started speaking out about Howard’s sexual activities.

Elije’s claims were dismissed in 2023, with Howard getting a pass to move forward with his counterclaims of libel, slander, and invasion of privacy. However, Howard has changed his tune and has decided to dismiss his countersuit after a man named Stephen Harper sued the NBA alum for assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and false imprisonment over an alleged forced threesome in 2021 that involved Howard’s friend Kitty.

Fans were shocked when Howard admitted to the threesome and claimed it was consensual and not sexual assault. Harper claims the same Kitty told him, “Someone will put a bullet in his head” if he opened his mouth about the alleged threesome, according to court documents.

With Howard dismissing his countersuit against Elije, Howard’s lawyers say there is no relation to the ongoing case with Harper.

“Yes, Mr. Howard’s attorneys filed a dismissal with the court, so that case is now closed,” Elije’s lawyers Olga Izmaylova and Sadeer Sabbak said in a statement.

“I don’t want to speculate on what Mr. Howard is thinking but I will say that his claims in the [Elije] matter and his defenses in the Harper matter are inconsistent with one another.”

Gwinnett County’s Chief Judge Carla E. Brown rejected Howard’s request to toss out Harper’s claim, stating that an “affidavit and other evidence raising triable issues of material fact” had been provided. Harper claims to have met Howard on Instagram and spent months engaging in X-rated conversations before meeting up in July 2021 where after kissing, Harper claims Howard left the room and returned with Kitty to engage in a threesome Harper was not in agreeance with.

Harper accuses Howard of forcibly performing a sexual act on him without consent. Howard denies the claims and says the tryst was consensual, and Harper only filed the complaint after the ball player cut off communication with him.

Home, house, home buying, real estate, homeowner, homebuyer, home buying

by Rafael Pena

March 4, 2024

Homebuyers Need An Additional $50K Income To Achieve Homeownership In Today’s Market

The dream of homeownership has become even more elusive.

The dream of homeownership has become even more elusive. Prospective buyers now require an average income of $106,000—approximately $50,000 more than pre-pandemic levels—to comfortably afford a home, according to a Feb. 29 Zillow report.

The once favorable sub-3% mortgage rates that emerged during the pandemic, enabling younger potential homeowners and lower-income buyers to enter the housing market, were short-lived. In 2022 and 2023, mortgage rates and home prices soared, reaching an alarming peak of 8% in October 2023.

This drastic shift created an intensely strained market, causing existing homeowners to cling to their properties amid fears of higher mortgage rates while new buyers found homeownership increasingly out of reach.

“Comfortably affording a home in today’s market means having the financial capacity to cover mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, and other associated costs without significant financial strain,” Stacy Brown, director of technical training at Real Property Management, told Fortune.

According to Zillow, buyers now need an average annual income of $106,000, an 80% increase from January 2020, to afford a home. Monthly mortgage payments for a “typical home,” valued at $343,000, have nearly doubled since then, reaching $2,188 with a 10% down payment.

The surge in home prices, rising nearly 43% since January 2020, and the increase in mortgage rates from 3.5% to today’s 7.1% contribute significantly to the challenges of affordability. Compounded by stagnant wage growth, the gap between income levels and housing costs has widened, making homeownership more elusive for many Americans.

Filippo Incorvaia, owner and broker at FI Real Estate, observed that housing affordability feels more intense than at any point in his 20-year career. “Six-figure incomes are essential to affording a home today. Purchasing a property alone is more challenging than ever.”

The trend of “house hacking,” where individuals or couples co-buy properties with friends or family and rent out parts to generate extra income, has gained popularity. However, this solution comes with downsides, including reduced equity and long-term viability concerns.

As the struggle for affordable homeownership persists, many potential homebuyers, particularly those in their 20s, are delaying their dreams while others explore alternative solutions to navigate the challenging housing market.

Captain Zeita Merchant, Zeita Merchant, U.S. Coast Guard

by Stacy Jackson

March 4, 2024

Zeita Merchant Shatters Glass Ceiling As First Black Woman Admiral In U.S. Coast Guard

In April, Merchant will command one of the nation’s busiest and most economically vital port complexes as an admiral for the U.S. Coast Guard.

Jackson, Mississippi, native Zeita Merchant will etch her name in the annals of history this April when she becomes the first Black woman to reach the rank of admiral in the U.S. Coast Guard’s 233-year existence.

The decorated captain, currently Commander, USCG Sector New York, will take the helm of the Port of New York as Rear Admiral, according to HBCU Buzz.

Merchant moved to Jackson from Chicago with her family in the mid-1980s, where her parents instilled values of community service and family even in the face of economic challenges. Her path to the Coast Guard was unexpected; she initially wanted to become a doctor. However, financial constraints steered her in a different direction.

“I always had this passion for service, but I never thought it would be in the form of military service,” Merchant said.

The Coast Guard’s College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative, a scholarship program, opened doors for her, and what was meant to be a temporary commitment blossomed into a 27-year career.

“I really feel like this is God’s plan and not my plan,” she said. “…This is another door that has opened for me, and the sky’s the limit.”

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, Merchant stands as a beacon of excellence in maritime safety, security, and crisis management. She assumed her position as Commander, USCG Sector New York, in May 2021, overseeing all Coast Guard missions at one of the nation’s most economically vital port complexes.

Merchant’s expertise extends far beyond her current command. She has served in a diverse array of assignments at both operational and executive levels, earning her recognition as one of the Coast Guard’s preeminent emergency managers.

Merchant’s impressive resume includes influential staff assignments such as Special Assistant to the 27th and 28th Vice Commandants of the Coast Guard, Congressional Fellow on the Committee of Oversight and Reform and Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Executive Strategic Planner for the Coast Guard Flag and Senior Executive Service Corps.

Her academic credentials include a doctorate of business administration and master of quality systems management from the National Graduate School at New England Institute of Business, a master of public administration from George Washington University, and a bachelor of science in biology from Tougaloo College.

Merchant also graduated from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government’s Executive Education Leadership in Homeland Security course and was Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Seminar XXI National Security and Foreign Affairs Fellow.

by Daniel Johnson

March 4, 2024

Photos Of Black Trump Supporters Are Fake News AF

Experts caution against the proliferation of digitally manipulated images and deepfake technology aimed at influencing Black voters, emphasizing the need for scrutiny and regulation.

In the latest example of Trump supporters engaging in a disinformation campaign, digitally manipulated images have proliferated across social media in a concerted attempt to get Black voters to vote for the likely Republican Party nominee, Donald Trump.

As the BBC reports, even though there is nothing that ties the images directly to former President Donald Trump’s campaign, Cliff Albright, the co-founder of Black Voters Matter, a group encouraging Black people to participate in civics, says that they represent yet another attempt to sway voters using technology.

“There have been documented attempts to target disinformation to Black communities again, especially younger black voters,” Albright told the BBC. He also cautioned that the images were part of a “very strategic narrative” on the part of conservatives to influence the election.

In 2016, when Trump won the presidential election, the worry was about foreign meddling by Russia via cyberattacks, but this time around experts caution that both foreign and domestic attacks could have an effect on the election’s outcome.

This is mirrored by an anecdote in the BBC’s reporting, where it showed an image of Trump surrounded by Black voters created by artificial intelligence. Douglas, a Black taxi driver from Atlanta, was unable to discern that the image was fake and believed that Trump had large groups of Black supporters.

Once the ruse was revealed, Douglas remarked, “Well, that’s the thing about social media. It’s so easy to fool people.”

According to The Guardian, AI has already reared its head in this election cycle via a “deepfake” robocall using the voice of President Joe Biden to tell voters to stay at home. Lisa Gilbert, the executive vice president of Public Citizen, a group dedicated to federal and state regulation of AI in American politics, told the outlet that it doesn’t matter how many people were deceived, what ultimately matters is that the capability exists.

“I don’t think we need to wait to see how many people got deceived to understand that that was the point,” Gilbert said. “It could come from your family member or your neighbor and it would sound exactly like them.”

Gilbert continued, “The ability to deceive from AI has put the problem of mis- and disinformation on steroids.”

As NBC News reports, in the absence of federal policy on AI, some states are stepping in to fill the gap by proposing laws aimed at regulating AI by either banning or restricting how AI is used in political advertisements, but proposing such legislation does not mean that the bills will become law. If AI technology continues to outpace regulation, the 2024 presidential election could be largely contaminated by mis- and disinformation campaigns.

As Thompson-Reuters points out, the lack of regulation in this key area leaves the political arena wide open to be exploited, as the “deepfake” robo call demonstrated.

“Indeed, unregulated AI poses various risks, such as the spread of deep fake misinformation campaigns, extensive personal data collection, and employment disruption,” Allyson Brunette, Thompson-Reuters’ workplace consultant, wrote. “These potential harms fall under federal jurisdiction and encompass issues like unlawful discrimination in housing and employment, improper data collection practices, and harmful outcomes that endanger consumers.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 4, 2024

Shaquille O’Neal Escorts Angel Reese To Basketball Court For Senior Day At LSU

It was Senior Day for the women’s basketball team at Louisiana State University, and Angel Reese was escorted by an even bigger star at the arena on Sunday, March 3. Reese was proudly escorted to the game by an alumni of the school, NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal.

LSU was honoring the seniors on the team, Reese and Hailey Van Lith, for possibly their last home game at the arena. Shaq, who has become close with Reese, appeared at the game wearing a black T-shirt with Reese’s name on the front.

pic.twitter.com/eh1L8eFVqc

— No Context College Basketball (@ContextFreeCBB) March 3, 2024

The TNT commentator walked out with Reese and her mother as she was being introduced at the gymnasium.

Shaq is escorting Angel Reese, along with her mom, for Senior Day ceremony.#LSU pic.twitter.com/QHWnk66ina

— Cory Diaz (@ByCoryDiaz) March 3, 2024

The game took place at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center at the university. While the crowd was cheering on the players and the team, fans were heard yelling out, “One more year!” according to The Associated Press. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the world, the NCAA has given players the option of playing another year if they want to. Reese says she is unsure of what she will do and will not think about it until after the season ends.

“The fan base here is amazing and of course, I probably would never see anything like this again,” said Reese. “You think about that when you’re trying to make a decision because I do love LSU … and the support here that made me who I am.”

LSU played against Kentucky on Sunday, and Reese scored 22 points, pulled down 14 rebounds, and had five blocks and three steals. LSU is primed to enter the playoffs to try to repeat as NCAA champions. But first, they have to play in the SEC tournament in Greenville, South Carolina. Finishing as the No. 2 seed and earning a double bye, they are slated to play in the quarterfinals on Friday, March 8.

Reese is averaging 19 points and 13 rebounds as the Tigers, ranked No. 9 in the nation, defeated Kentucky 77-56.

by Daniel Johnson

March 4, 2024

Supreme Court Unanimously Rules States Can’t Boot Trump From Ballot

This decision will restore Trump on the presidential ballots in Maine, Colorado, and Illinois.

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that according to the powers enumerated in the United States Constitution, states cannot individually bar candidates from federal ballots.

As the Huffington Post reports, the ruling overturns decisions rendered by a handful of state Supreme Courts, restoring Trump to the presidential ballots in Maine, Colorado, and Illinois. Those courts ruled that Trump was in violation of the 14th Amendment, but according to the Supreme Court, “We conclude that States may disqualify persons holding or attempting to hold state office. But States have no power under the Constitution to enforce Section 3 with respect to federal offices, especially the Presidency.”

However, the Supreme Court was split on a separate argument regarding the specifics of the enforcement of Section 3, or the clause referring to insurrection. In a concurring decision from the three liberal judges on the court, Sonia Sotomayer, Ketanaji Brown Jackson, and Elena Kagan, the trio questioned whether Section 3 should be limited to federal legislation.

“Today, the majority goes beyond the necessities of this case to limit how Section 3 can bar an oathbreaking insurrectionist from becoming President,” the trio wrote. “Although we agree that Colorado cannot enforce Section 3, we protest the majority’s effort to use this case to define the limits of federal enforcement of that provision.”

Justice Amy Coney Barrett also agreed with the liberal justices, writing in a separate concurring decision that the case “does not require us to address the complicated question whether federal legislation is the exclusive vehicle through which Section 3 can be enforced.”

The court, notably, did not issue a ruling on if Trump committed an insurrection or not, which Noah Bookbinder, the executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, the group that brought the Colorado lawsuit, counted as a win in a statement.

“While the Supreme Court allowed Donald Trump back on the ballot on technical legal grounds, this was in no way a win for Trump,” Bookbinder said. “The Supreme Court had the opportunity in this case to exonerate Trump, and they chose not to do so.”

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 4, 2024

QGTM: Nas Collabs With Resort World Casino To The Tune Of $5BIL

Nas announces his partnership with Resorts World's $5 billion plan to expand its Queens casino, along with new amenities to elevate the surrounding neighborhood.

Nas is officially joining forces with Resorts World and its casino expansion in Queens, New York. The plan to redevelop the property will cost a whopping $5 billion, as announced on Feb. 29.

Nas will be part of its initiative to invest in the community around the casino, which has been operating since 2011. He referred to the plan as an “ambitious” way to uplift his hometown.

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A post shared by Nasir Jones (@nas)

“This is an ambitious project that will give new opportunities to the hard-working families who call Queens home, attract top-tier talent, and build up the next generation of leaders,” said the hip-hop artist. “Clearly, with this project, the world is ours.”

Not only will the establishment get a makeover fitting for the Las Vegas strip, but its surrounding neighborhood of Jamaica, Queens, will also get some major upgrades. New amenities include a community park spread across 10 acres, renovations to the Hyatt Regency at John F. Kennedy Airport, and improved methods of travel to the facility.

Robert De Salvio, president of Resorts World’s parent company, Genting America East, released a statement on its “vision” to bring luxury high-rolling to the Big Apple.

“When we stood here more than a dozen years ago to break ground on Resorts World New York City, our vision extended well beyond that already-ambitious original plan — today, that vision can soon become a reality,” expressed DeSalvio, restated in Forbes.

Genting America East also intends to build 3,000 units dedicated to employees who would work at the facility as well. The Nas-backed project is expected to be one of the largest casinos in the world, with construction to begin upon approval for one of three downstate casino licenses available in New York.

The Queens Community Board has already accepted the plans to build the 350,000 square feet property due to its benefits to residents. However, the New York Gaming Commission has to approve Resorts World’s license bid. They are also considering plans from Caesars Entertainment, which is collaborating with fellow New Yorker Jay-Z and his company Roc Nation.

With Nas as the face of its Queens expansion, Resorts World hopes to continue growing its New York casino through this partnership and overall impact in the city.