Woman Struck By Gunfire In Encounter With Two Police Deputies
An investigation by the Illinois State Police is ongoing after the two deputies responded to a call at Sonya Massey's home.
The Illinois State Police has started an investigation after Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Illinois woman, was allegedly shot and killed while two deputies from the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office were responding to a prowler report.
The event unfolded at a Springfield residence around 12:50 a.m. on July 6. According to ABC News, the sheriff’s office stated, “Deputies reported that shots had been fired, resulting in a female being struck by gunfire.” The two deputies “immediately” provided first aid until emergency services arrived. Sangamon County Coroner, Jim Allmon, confirmed Massey was pronounced dead at 1:47 a.m. after being transported to St. John’s Hospital. “An autopsy was performed, and preliminary findings show Ms. Massey died from a gunshot wound,” Allmon stated.
The Illinois State Police is conducting an independent investigation into the shooting in collaboration with the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office, aiming for a thorough and transparent process.
“It is extremely hard to imagine how a woman who calls the police out of fear of an intruder ends up shot in the head by the police at her own home,” said Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, retained by Massey’s family. Crump is demanding the release of all body camera footage from the two deputies involved in the incident. However, the Illinois State Police has stated they will not yet share the footage, to maintain the integrity of the legal process. They assured that “when appropriate, additional information, including the video, will be shared with Sonya Massey’s family before releasing further.”
The incident involving the two deputies has sparked community action, with supporters of Massey’s family organizing a protest in Springfield, calling for justice and accountability. As the investigation continues, the Illinois State Police remains committed to a comprehensive examination of the events that led to this outcome. According to the sheriff’s statement, no deputies were reported injured during the incident.
HBCUs Allen University And Edward Waters University Elevated To NCAA Division II Status
Both institutions have completed the provisional membership process necessary to join the division.
Two HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) have been selected to join the ranks of teams in the NCAA Division II.
According to the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletics Association), HBCUs Allen University and Edward Waters University are being welcomed along with Emory & Henry University and Westmont College to become NCAA Division II members. All four schools have completed the provisional membership process necessary to join the division.
Four schools — Allen University, Edward Waters University, Emory & Henry University and Westmont College — will become NCAA Division II members after successfully completing the provisional membership process.https://t.co/mI3PVumP33
HBCU Game Day reported that both HBCUs have completed the four-year process and are members of the (SIAC) Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
In a written statement, Allen University President Dr. Ernest McNealey said, “I am pleased to announce that Allen University is now a full-fledged member of NCAA Division II. Becoming so was a long-standing goal of the Board of Trustees and decades of alumni, and as President, I am particularly pleased to share this news with them. I commend AD Jasher Cox, and his staff members, present and past, and others on the campus who worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome.”
All 12 varsity sports at Allen will be eligible for postseason and championship competition.
— Allen University Athletics (@auyellowjackets) July 11, 2024
“We are on the brink of a thrilling era in Allen’s Athletics history,” said Allen University Director of Athletics Jasher Cox. “Throughout the reclassification process, the university has demonstrated excellence at every turn. I am incredibly proud of the past three years and the hard work that has brought us to this moment. An exhilarating chapter now begins as we are officially eligible for postseason play and championships.”
With the four schools being approved by the Division II Membership Committee the total number of Division II schools has risen to 293 in 2024-25. An upcoming meeting of the Division II Management Council will review all membership decisions. The changes are expected to take effect on Sept. 1.
Jerry Rice Curses At Reporters During Recent Celebrity Golf Tournament
'If you want some, come get some!'
Former NFL player Jerry Rice confronted a couple of reporters, telling one of them that he would “f**k him up.”
TMZ Sports posted the video of the incident that occurred at the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament in South Lake Tahoe, Nevada, on July 11. The footage shows the two reporters asking Rice a question, visibly displeasing the former wide receiver. He confronts one of the men, stating, “I will f**k you up!” As he walks away, he shouts, “If you want some, come get some!”
Rice stated that he felt the reporters were being disrespectful by asking him a question about the Kansas City Chiefs, who earlier this year defeated his former team, the San Francisco 49ers (25–22), in the Super Bowl. He observed that the men asked the question with “smirks on their faces,” knowing it would provoke him.
“I’m going to defend the San Francisco 49ers,” he told the media outlet. “This is my history.”
The two men, Noah Gronniger and Clint Switzer of Starcade Media, responded to the incident in a social media post on July 12, a day after the confrontation.
“We meant absolutely no disrespect to Jerry or the 49ers when asking this question as we have a profound respect for the great players that have played this game, especially (in our opinion) the greatest receiver of all time.”
The men explained that they were not trying to “elicit a negative reaction” when approaching Rice and stated they had no smirks on their faces when posing the question. No apologies were offered, but they said they were open to speaking to Rice to “clear the air” about what took place that day. They also offered another video that shows Rice calling one of them “an a**hole.”
We have sat on this video for a day as we wanted absolutely no negative publicity for Jerry Rice or the tournament but this TMZ story has now come to light and we feel the need to set the record straight on what took place.
Candace Owens Tells Don Lemon He Is Living In ‘Sin’ By Being In A Gay Marriage
Some wondered why Lemon invited Owens on his platforms.
Journalist Don Lemon recently came to verbal blows with conservative analyst Candace Owens on YouTube’s The Don Lemon Show after she told him he was in a “sinful relationship” because he is openly married to a man.
The two strong-minded media hosts engaged in a heated discussion on an array of topics including trans people, gay rights and Owens’ views on the Jan. 6th insurrection. During the segment on same-sex marriage and interracial couples, Lemon asked her “What do you think about same-sex marriage?” and Owens didn’t hold back. “It’s a sin,” she answered.
After Lemon asked the follow-up question of if she thinks he is sinful because he is married to a man, the outspoken conservative doubled down. “Yes, you’re sinning. You are in a sinful relationship. I actually don’t believe that marriage can be between two men.”
Following a school shooting in Perry, Iowa, the BLEXIT founder correlated gender-affirming healthcare to the increase of mass shootings. “I am not interested in engaging in another discussion about a school shooter that does not begin and end with discussing big Pharma and its clinical promotion of insanity,” Owens wrote on X.
“We are mass drugging children and conducting psychiatric experiments on them in classrooms across America.”
After discussing her commitment to Christianity and conservatism, Lemon brought up her viewpoints on the meaning of words, in particular, the f-word used in a derogatory sense towards gay people. Lemon played an old clip from Owens’ past Dailywire show where she defended the use of the word, defined allegedly as “a bundle of sticks.” He then asked his guest if she thinks it’s okay to say the word to people’s faces. “When you start allowing perverts to dictate speech, then words just have to go away,” she said.
“And then they said you can no longer say this word that has a real meaning, a bundle of sticks, because some pervert took that and threw it as an epithet towards gay people. I think that’s a wrong way of thinking.”
Lemon checked Owens on her views, saying that “language evolves over time” and broke down his feelings about when people used the term towards him.
“When people say that word to me, they aren’t calling me a bundle of sticks,” he said. To take the conversation to another level, he asked if she would use the word toward him. “Why would I just randomly call you a f——?” Owens shockingly responded. “I’m a 35-year-old mother. I don’t go around saying, ‘Hey, you’re a f——!’ I’m not 18 years old.”
“Today I did Don Lemon’s podcast and he straight up asked me if I would ever look him in the face and call him a f*ggot,” she wrote on X. “I just never thought he’d ask me a question like that so sincerely. These are remarkable times we’re living in.”
Black Workers Would Take A Demotion And Pay Cut To Avoid Being Laid Off, Survey
Affording housing and food are among the largest concerns of Black workers about being laid off.
With a growing number of companies planning to erase jobs, 30% of Black workers would take a demotion to avoid being laid off, according to a new survey.
And the same percentage of those employees would accept a pay cut to prevent being out of work. Becoming jobless can be devastating, particularly if those affected have limited severance pay and are wrestling to pay essential bills.
Overall, those statistics nearly mirrored what ResumeBuilder.com discovered in a survey of 1,250 U.S. workers last month. Workers were quizzed to learn how a layoff would affect them and what workplace adjustments they would make to survive a possible cut. Some 257 Blacks were surveyed.
The latest examination comes after this recent report indicated that 60% of employers expect to have layoffs during the second half of this year.
For Blacks, 18% of those workers could only sustain their current lifestyle for a week or less if laid off. Affording housing and food are their largest concerns about being laid off. And one in five of them have made sacrifices at their current workplace to remain employed.
All told, 76% of workers indicated that they would be willing to work weekends, when questioned about compromises they would be willing to make. Some 58% would endure less preferable work, while 48% would avoid taking time off for the foreseeable future. Further, 43% would accept a longer commute, 38% would relocate, and 37% would switch to a part-time or freelance role.
The top concern with a layoff is paying rent or a mortgage, with 48% saying they would be very worried. And losing benefits, like health care, is a significant worry for 41% of respondents. Having money to buy food is another major concern, with 40% being very worried.
ResumeBuilder’s Chief Career Advisor, Stacie Haller, reflected on the survey in a news release.
“When facing a potential layoff, negotiating to retain your position, even if it involves a pay cut or longer hours, can provide valuable time to explore other options, such as seeking additional income or initiating a job search. Staying employed while you evaluate your next steps can offer stability and a clearer path forward,” she said.
Of workers surveyed, 19% reported they could keep their current lifestyle for one week or less if they were let go. Some 22% stated they could do that for two to four weeks, 28% for one to three months, 15% for four to six months. Ten percent said they could achieve that over a year.
Undergoing a layoff can be painful, especially if you are not prepared. Begin with understanding your immediate needs concerning benefits and the specifics of your severance package. Haller added that you should ensure you can secure good references from your former employer, and apply for unemployment benefits promptly to help get your first check quicker.
“Once your immediate needs are addressed, you can begin planning your job search and strategy. Taking the time to create a thoughtful and well-organized plan will help you navigate this transition more effectively and set you up for success in your next role.”
Report: Black Americans, Particularly Black Women, Among Those Hit Hardest By Wage Disparities
Fresh report by Oxfam suggests the essential need for the federal government to address working poverty and raise the minimum wage.
New research shows that a much larger percentage of Black Americans, particularly women in that group, now make less money than their peers nationwide.
While 23% of all U.S. workers are bagging low wages (defined in a report under $17 an hour), the proportions are much higher when broken down by race and gender.
Some 32% of Black workers earn less than $17 an hour, versus 21% of white workers, based on a fresh analysis by Oxfam, which describes itself as a global organization fighting inequality to end poverty and injustice. And 35% of Black women earn low wages, compared to 29% of Black men, 25.9% of white women, and 17.4% of white men.
The report, “The Crisis of Low Wages,” uncovered some startling findings. Over 39 million U.S. workers — nearly one in four — earn low wages. Single parents working make up 42% of those earning less than $17 an hour, opposed to just 12% of partnered parents.
Among Those Most Impacted: Women And Communities Of Color
The discoveries revealed that women and communities of color, including Black workers, are most affected by low wages and stagnating minimum wage policies. The federal minimum wage for covered nonexempt employees is $7.25 per hour, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Oxfam reported the $7.25 has been stuck at the level since 2009. Earlier this year, it was reported the minimum wage rose $15 per hour in 22 states as of Jan. 1.
The organization said states that have not raised their minimum wage above the federal standard have a higher share of workers of color making low wages, particularly in the South. Take Mississippi, with 34% of all workers earning low wages, 46% of Black workers earn low wages. In Texas, the state with the nation’s largest Black population, 34.2% of Black workers earn low wages.
The report stresses the urgent need for the federal government to address working poverty and raise the minimum wage.
“Low-wage workers, who are disproportionately women of color, are the backbone of our economy. The least this country can do is pay them wages that cover basic necessities—something the current federal minimum wage does not do, regardless of where in the U.S. you live,” stated Kaitlyn Henderson, the report’s author and senior researcher at Oxfam America.
She added, “We’re talking about the childcare and domestic workers who care for our families, and the agricultural workers who help put food on our tables. But decades of occupational segregation have meant these jobs that employ majority women, immigrants, or people of color have been systemically underpaid and undervalued. This needs to change.”
William Michael Cunningham, an economist and owner of Creative Investment Research, declared that the lack of effective federal action on reducing income inequality led to wider gaps and more significant hardships for the communities.
He said Black women are often doubly disadvantaged due to both racial and gender discrimination, leading to higher rates of low-wage employment versus other demographics.
He mentioned Black women are disproportionately represented in low-wage sectors such as healthcare support, retail, and food service. He added they earn just 63 cents for every dollar earned by white, non-Hispanic men. “Black women also shoulder significant caregiving responsibilities, both for children and elderly family members.”
Why Black Americans Are More Greatly Impacted
Henderson shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE that the higher percentages of low-wage workers in the Black community stem from long legacies of racial and gender discrimination in the United States that can be traced throughout the history of this country.
She explained when minimum wage laws were written in the late 1930s, industries that employed mostly Black workers in the South, such as agricultural workers and domestic workers, were written out of wage protections.
She said these exclusions are echoed today, with continued occupational segregation. She pointed out that includes jobs that employ disproportionately high numbers of workers of color, and especially women of color, who are paid lower wages.
“As we mention in our report, there was a recent study done by the Department of Labor Women’s Bureau that show how Black and Latina women lose literally billions of dollars due to occupational segregation.”
Suggestions To Help Improve Future Conditions
So, what can be done to help reduce those numbers? Henderson suggested that wages for all workers need to be raised as well as ending all exclusions to minimum wages by passing the Raise the Wage Act, to increase the minimum wage to $17. Oxfam indicated it partly was inspired to do the latest report by the changing terms of the act.
As for occupational segregation, Henderson said there are bills in Congress now that can confront head-on wage gaps, like the Paycheck Fairness Act. She said that that can support women entering higher paid professions that tend to be dominated by men — like the FAMILY Act and the Schedules That Work Act.
Going forward, Cunningham said the most critical factor in improving the economic situation for low-wage workers, particularly Black women, is robust policy intervention.
He said that increasing the federal minimum wage would provide immediate financial relief to low-wage workers. Further, he stated there’s a need to provide better access to affordable education and job training programs, including community colleges, vocational training, and apprenticeships. He also suggested strengthening childcare support, healthcare access, and paid family leave.
While the situation remains dire, Cunningham said there have been some improvements under the current administration compared to the Trump era. He pointed to a greater focus on addressing racial and economic inequalities through various policy measures, though progress has been slow. He sais some states, outside the South, have taken independent action to raise their minimum wages, providing a better standard of living for low-wage workers.
“The persistent high proportion of low-wage workers of color in the South highlights the need for comprehensive federal and state-level interventions to address wage disparities and systemic barriers. Significant efforts are required to ensure equitable economic opportunities for all workers, regardless of race or geography.”
Allyson Felix Receives $20M Grant From Melinda Gates, Invests In Advocacy For Black Maternal Health
Felix is among 12 grant recipients of Melinda Gates' initiative, which she will use to fuel her advocacy for Black maternal health.
Allyson Felix, the renowned Olympic track star and Black maternal health advocate, was awarded a substantial $20 million grant from Melinda Gates’ $1 billion investment initiative that Gates announced in May.
This grant honors Felix’s relentless dedication to advancing Black maternal health in the United States, reflecting Gates’ commitment to supporting organizations that champion women’s, families’, and reproductive rights. In a statement to The New York Times, Gates emphasized the severe underfunding of women-focused causes, stating, “Despite the pressing need, only about 2 percent of charitable giving in the United States goes to organizations focused on women and girls, and only about half a percentage point goes to organizations focused on women of color.”
Gates’ grant to Felix is part of a broader initiative. “In nearly 20 years as an advocate for women and girls, I have learned that there will always be people who say it’s not the right time to talk about gender equality,” Gates said. “Not if you want to be relevant. Not if you want to be effective with world leaders (most of them men). The second the global agenda gets crowded, women and girls fall off.”
The grant aims to tackle pressing concerns such as the disproportionately high maternal mortality rates among Black and Native American mothers, the loss of reproductive rights in 14 states, and the lack of national paid family leave in the U.S.
In addition to the grant, Felix’s personal experiences have driven her advocacy for Black maternal health. According to NBC Olympics, the athlete has partnered with Pampers to establish the first-ever Olympic Village nursery for the 2024 Paris Olympics. This innovative initiative, located at the Athletes’ Village Plaza, the heart of the athletes’ residential area during the Games, provides a sanctuary for competing mothers to nurture and bond with their infants.
“It was top of mind to support athletes who are mothers,” Felix said. “It’s a space where families can get away from it all and have some of the comforts of home. They can have playtime and places to feed their babies…It’s here so that mothers and families feel supported.”
Now this is our kind of of #Olympic news! Olympic gold medalist @allysonfelix has partnered with @Pampers to create the first-ever nursery to help athlete parents in the Olympic Village! https://t.co/UGUYMy2czu
She previously partnered with the brand to champion Black maternal health, securing a $250,000 pledge to the cause and providing $100,000 to the National Birth Equity Collaborative. As previously covered by BLACK ENTERPRISE, Felix spoke about her 2018 experience where she underwent an emergency C-section due to preeclampsia, later testifying before Congress about racial disparities in maternal care. Felix described her pregnancy as “a really isolating and lonely time,” revealing she had to conceal it from Nike due to contractual concerns.
Senior Citizens Are Catching Hell Economically Despite Inflation Dropping, Receiving Social Security Benefits
The Senior Citizens League reports that those living off Social Security continue to see an uptick in the cost of living despite declining inflation rates.
Inflation rates are decreasing, but the cost of living for Social Security recipients continues to rise.
The Senior Citizens League reports that nearly half of Social Security recipients continue to rely on monthly checks to survive. “About 50% of senior households depend on Social Security as the difference between [staying out of] poverty,” said Alex Moore, Senior Citizens League Social Security and Medicare statistician.
A 2021 report conducted by the Social Security Administration (SSA) reveals that 33% of Black and Hispanic people make up the amount of adults over age 62 who currently rely on Social Security due to lack of other income during their retirement years. On the other hand, 16% of their white counterparts count on the government-led program for their livelihood. Moreover, minorities are often responsible for taking care of others in their household, thus, making the need for Social Security more dire than others.
Living on a fixed income means that every penny counts. According to the Senior Citizen League’s most recent membership survey, 34% of retirees admitted to visiting a food pantry or applying for food stamps within the last 12 months, which may not change any time soon, given a recent forecast of the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment also known as COLA.
While it is estimated that they can expect an increase of 2.63% on their monthly checks in 2025, it is not a huge difference from the 2.57% forecasted in June.
“Social Security’s cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are based on the average inflation rate during the third quarter, the three-month period that includes July, August, and September. Curiously, COLAs are calculated using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), a subset of the better-known CPI-U,” according to Motley Fool.
In 2023, the COLA calculation was 8.7%,. However, the forecast for 2025 was 3% in June ,and it has recently slipped to 2.7% following reports that inflation declined more than what was previously anticipated last month.
While the most recent report shows that Social Security recipients may start to see their checks fall behind the overall pace of inflation, it is important to note that price surges are likely at any time of the year. The COLA may not account for the changes. The official forecast for the next year is generally announced in October.
As the economy continues to grapple with the effect that COVID-19 had on society both during and after, there has been a reported 20% increase in CPI-W from January 2020 to December 2023. The COLA only rose by 19% in that timeframe.
Issamade Asinga is suing the company after being given a supply of Gatorade Recovery Gummies before a banned substance was discovered
An Olympic hopeful banned after ingesting “recovery gummies” made by Gatorade is suing the company that labeled the product “NSF Certified for Sport.”
According to Reuters, Surinamese sprinter Issamade Asinga filed a lawsuit against Gatorade on July 10, alleging his doping ban was caused by the contaminated “recovery gummies” manufactured by the company. In May, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) suspended Asinga for four years after the detection of cardarine, a performance-enhancing drug. Inside Bodybuilding has reported that The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has cardarine on its list of prohibited substances.
The suspension stripped Asinga of his two South American Championship gold medals and his under-20 100-meter world record.
The paperwork was filed inManhattan federal court. The sprinter claims Gatorade provided the gummies to him a year ago. The packaging claimed the product was “NSF Certified for Sport” and, therefore, free from banned substances. The suit claims that the gummies lacked NSF certification and “had been made using shoddy manufacturing processes and were contaminated with trace amounts of an illegal performance-enhancing drug.”
The sports drink company provided a statement to the media outlet.
“The product in question is completely safe and the claims made are false. Gatorade products are FDA compliant and safe for athlete consumption, which was validated by the findings of the Athletics Integrity Unit investigation.”
“Gatorade fully complied with the Athletics Integrity Unit investigation, including producing evidence that was accepted by the AIU that the gummies were not contaminated with the banned substance in their original ruling.”
The Washington Post reported that Gatorade honored Asinga as its high school track and field athlete of the year last July. He was given a gift basket that included Gatorade Recovery Gummies. Asinga alleges that the product is the reason he tested positive for the banned substance. He also accused the company of taking measures to protect its reputation while damaging his reputation in the process.
Asinga is attempting to “recoup the millions of dollars he has lost in economic opportunities, as well as compensation for the devastating emotional harm he has suffered.”
The teenager believes his performance at the Olympics could have yielded large monetary gains by way of sponsorships. His ban effectively stops his future opportunities in the sport.
“You’re either guilty or you’re not,” Asinga said in a Zoom interview. “I know I’m not, so I’ve got to chase my dream. I’ve got two Olympian parents; I was born to run. Am I going to destroy my dream because of something I didn’t do, or am I going to keep fighting until the end?”
During Mitchell’s funeral on Jul. 11, chants of “Justice for D’Vontaye” flooded Milwaukee’s Holy Redeemer Institutional Church of God in Christ as friends, family and supporters remembered Mitchell as a son, husband and brother who his mother, Brenda Giles, described as a “harmless teddy bear” and “a joy in his family.” “We’re going to fight. We’re not going to give up,” Giles said.
Mitchell, 43, lost his life on June 30 after being held down on his stomach outside of the held down on his stomach June 30 outside of a Hyatt hotel. Police report he allegedly entered the hotel and, after causing a disturbance, fought with security guards as they were escorting him outside. Civil rights attorney representing Mitchell’s family, Ben Crump, claims Mitchell was having a mental health crisis, according to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Attorneys working alongside Crumo, B’Ivory Lamarr and William Sulton said the victim spent the last few minutes of his life allegedly being beaten repeatedly by a security guard with a retractable baton while witnesses just looked and did not intervene. The legal team said video footage sent by the Hyatt shows Mitchell running from something or someone and hiding in the women’s bathroom.
Crump said a signed affidavit from a hotel employee said a security guard was striking Mitchell with a baton, and Mitchell posed no threat while on the ground. When the guards approached him, footage shows his hands were up, but he was still dragged to the ground, beaten, begging for the blows to stop, according to the legal team. “D’Vontaye was trying to run for his life,” Sulton said.
Mitchell’s widow, DeAsia Harmon, saw the surveillance videos and called the content “disgusting.” She said the video showed her husband being dragged outside while he was bleeding. “It makes me sick to my stomach,” Harmon said during a news conference.
“He ran for his life. He was trying to leave. He said, ‘I’ll go,’ and they didn’t let him go.”
Aimbridge Hospitality, the company that manages the hotel, released a statement saying several employees involved have been fired. “The conduct we saw from several associates on June 30 violated our policies and procedures and did not reflect our values as an organization or the behaviors we expect from our associates,” the statement read.
“Following review of their actions, their employment has been terminated. We will continue our independent investigation and do everything we can to support law enforcement with their investigation into this tragic incident.”
However, Civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton, who gave the eulogy at the funeral, said termination isn’t enough and questioned if Mitchell was white, would this have happened. “You should not lose just your job when D’Vontaye lost his life. What they did was a crime and criminals need to be prosecuted. And criminals need to face the penalty of their action,” he said.
“This wasn’t a mistake at the job. This was taking somebody’s life, and there is no justice until you pay for the life you’ve taken. We’re not asking for an apology. We’re asking for justice.”
“But if we have to go from Minneapolis to Milwaukee, you’re going to learn to keep your knees off of our necks.”
The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office announced they, along with police investigators, were waiting on full autopsy results and that the case was being reviewed as a homicide.
