Oakland College, Robbery, Car break-in — (Larina Marina/Getty Images)

by Jameelah Mullen

June 20, 2024

Florida Family Pulls Teen Out Of Oakland, California College After Robbery

Victim warns others to "be careful" when visiting the Bay area city.

A Florida family has pulled their son out of an Oakland, California university after thieves broke into their rental car and stole their belongings, including their passports and $3,000 in cash.

Rhomel Crossman arrived in Oakland on Saturday to attend Lincoln University, where he was slated to join the school’s football team as a defensive tackle. But the harrowing incident has caused the family to reconsider.

At around 6:15 p.m. Saturday, the family parked their rented Nissan Rogue on the corner of 15th and Franklin, a block away from the University. The family then went into a nearby Jamaican restaurant to pick up some food. They returned approximately 15 minutes later to find the car’s windows smashed and five suitcases gone. Along with their clothes, the thieves took personal documents, including three passports, social security cards, Crossman’s birth certificate, his high school diploma, and a sleep apnea machine. According to the family, a witness saw masked men driving in a car without license plates.

“I didn’t know that these things happen in America so it’s really strange to me,” Crossman’s mother, Nerrisa Murray Watson, told KTVU News.

Recently, San Francisco has earned the name “Bip City.” “Bipping” is slang that comes from the police term “burglary in progress,” according to The San Francisco Standard. Robbers commonly use a small hammer to break car windows without much force. As of March 2024, Oakland has seen a 32% increase in smash-and-grab robberies since last year.

According to Murray Watson, the family called 911 three times but were told that they had to go to a police station to file a report. Murray Watson referred to Oakland as a “lawless” city and she is concerned for her son’s safety.

“I have to bring my son to Florida because it’s not safe here,” she told KTVU News.

The outlet reached out to the University but did not receive a response.

Texas Family, Juneteenth, Shooting, Police, mass shooting, queens — (Photo: Kindel Media/Pexels)

by Stacy Jackson

June 20, 2024

Texas Family Mourns After Respected Attorney Dies In Juneteenth Shooting

The 33-year-old attorney was not involved in the altercation that police say erupted before the shooting took place.

In a tragic turn of events, Lyndsey Vicknair, a respected attorney and North Texas native, died during a Juneteenth celebration after a shooting took place in Round Rock, Texas.

The incident occurred on June 15 at Old Settlers Park, approximately 20 miles north of Austin, where Lyndsey and her husband, Kevin Vicknair, were enjoying the festivities, NBCDFW reported. The couple was dining when gunfire erupted just before 11 p.m. Kevin recounted the heart-wrenching moment during a press conference: “She said, ‘I’m hit.'” Despite her husband’s efforts to perform CPR, Lyndsey succumbed to her injuries, leaving Kevin to break the news to their three children, ages one to seven, on June 16.

Dr. Michael Evans, senior pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church, expressed shock at the loss of Lyndsey, whom he had known since childhood. “It was a sense of disbelief,” he said about the 33-year-old woman baptized at the church.

Lyndsey’s academic background included degrees from Prairie View A&M University, South Texas College of Law, Southwestern Law School, and the University of Oklahoma. Her commitment to community service was evident through her involvement in fundraisers, food drives, and other outreach events.

The Austin Bar Association extended condolences, stating, “Our prayers go out to her husband, Kevin, and their three children.”

Another victim of the shooting, Ara Duke, was also reported dead. Austin-Travis County EMS reported that six individuals, which included four adults and two children, were transported to trauma facilities with “potentially serious injuries.”

2/2 #ATCEMSMedics transported a total of 6 patients- 4 adults & 2 children- to local trauma facilities, all with potentially serious injuries. #ATCEMS has no additional information, follow up media inquiries should be directed to @roundrockpolice & @wilcotxgov.
— ATCEMS (@ATCEMS) June 16, 2024

Round Rock Police confirmed that the shooting stemmed from an alleged altercation between two groups, emphasizing that neither Lyndsey nor Duke were involved in the dispute. Authorities are currently in pursuit of the shooter, described as a young African American male, approximately 19 to 20 years of age and about 5 feet 7 inches tall. Law enforcement officials have urged the individual to turn himself in. The department has established an online portal for witnesses to submit photo or video evidence.

A GoFundMe campaign has been initiated to support Vicknair’s family. An obituary for Lyndsey states that visitation service is scheduled for June 21 in Mansfield, followed by a celebration of life on June 22, officiated by Pastor Evans.

Army Veteran, disability — (Photo: pch.vector/freepik)

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 20, 2024

Army Veteran Accused Of Faking Paralysis To Obtain More Than $750K In Benefits

William Rich is on trial facing five counts of wire fraud and one count of theft of government property.

A man has been accused of falsely claiming that he has paraplegia and collecting more than $767,000 in Veterans Affairs disability benefits. Now, he is on trial, facing five counts of wire fraud and one count of theft of government property for faking paralysis.

According to The Military Times, William Rich was indicted in 2021 over allegations that he “engaged in a scheme to defraud where he feigned paralysis while attending VA medical appointments and made false statements to the VA that he was confined to a wheelchair to receive disability compensation and other benefits.

The Baltimore Banner reported that the 43-year-old was injured while sitting at his desk when a suicide bomber detonated explosives inside a dining facility in Baqubah, Iraq. The incident occurred on Aug. 23, 2005, when a concrete wall fell on top of him. Two Americans died in the attack, and most likely, Rich’s fragmentation vest saved him.

Military Times reported that the Department of Veterans Affairs stated he was 100% disabled due to the “loss of use of both lower extremities.” Yet, after about six weeks, he began to make substantial progress toward recovery and was pronounced no longer paralyzed by the Department of Justice in 2021.

In 2018, the VA Office of Inspector General conducted an audit and discovered that Rich’s condition was inconsistent with what had previously been reported. He was placed under surveillance over the next two years, and officials observed Rich walking, going up and down stairs, entering and exiting vehicles, lifting, bending, and carrying items. He allegedly did so without visible limitation or assistance from a wheelchair.

In the prosecutor’s opening statement on June 18, Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen McGuinn said, “People who play roles will eventually forget their lines.”

“What is an act? Claiming to be wheelchair-bound.”

McGuinn promised to show evidence revealing a video of Rich allegedly lifting weights and other surveillance footage showing him using his lower extremities, proving he wasn’t 100% disabled.

Rich’s attorney, Gerald Ruter responded, “This man is a patriot. This man is a hero. And I’ll also tell you what he’s not. He’s not an actor. And he’s not guilty.”

Mobile Laundry Bus, Atlanta, homeless, unhoused — (Photo: 11Alive News)

by Jameelah Mullen

June 20, 2024

Atlanta Man Launches Mobile Laundry Bus For Unhoused People

This repurposed school bus serves as a resource to Atlanta's homeless community

Nicky Crawford is helping Atlanta’s growing homeless population by providing access to basic human necessities. With the help of Georgia Tech engineering students, Crawford turned a school bus into a mobile laundry facility.

Crawford revealed the laundry bus at the Juneteenth Block Party on Wednesday. He partnered with other organizations, including PAD (Policing Alternatives & Diversion Initiative), Morehouse School of Medicine, The Department Of Veterans Affairs, and local barbers.

“What we’re trying to do is get them clothes they can have for the week so they can change clothes because a lot of times it’s not them that smell, it’s the clothes,” Crawford told 11 Alive News.

In 2022, Crawford unveiled a mobile shower for the homeless community. Located behind Grady Hospital, the three-stall trailer has sinks, toilets, and showers that serve at least 50 people each week. Crawford also provides towels, toiletries, undergarments, and socks for its guests.

“When you actually sit down and talk to them, it’s just a family member. A family member who had a rough time. So we can all do something. Maybe not this. But we can all do something to help the unhoused in the Atlanta area,” Crawford said in an interview with WSB-TV Atlanta.

The retired administrator says he believes it’s his life’s mission to help the homeless and unhoused community.

“God has blessed me so much, I knew this is what I was supposed to be doing,” Crawford said in a 2023 interview.

Crawford founded Flowing with Blessings, a nonprofit organization that assists the unhoused community with basic human needs such as haircuts, showers, health checks, and meals.

“At Flowing with Blessings, we believe that every person deserves to feel clean, comfortable, and valued. With our services, we aim to empower those facing homelessness and help them rebuild their lives with dignity.”

To find out how you can support Flowing With Blessings, click here.

YouTube, Cash Money, Birdman, Slim Williams — (Photo: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 20, 2024

Cash Money Founders Birdman And Slim To Receive YouTube’s Leaders And Legends Award

'This honor shines a light on all the artists who have been on Cash Money Records or have been affiliated with the label. They share in this honor, too,' Birdman said.

New Orleans hip-hop legends Birdman and his brother, Slim, are the recipients of this year’s YouTube’s Leaders and Legends Award.

According to Billboard, the platform has announced that the founders of Cash Money Records will be honored at YouTube Music’s second annual Leaders and Legends gala on June 27 in Los Angeles.

“I appreciate Lyor [Cohen] and YouTube for respecting what we’ve accomplished and what we continue to do,” Birdman told Billboard. “This honor shines a light on all the artists who have been on Cash Money Records or have been affiliated with the label. They share in this honor, too.”

“Over the years, we just stayed out of the way and let the music speak for itself. But it feels great to be recognized for our contribution to the culture,” said Slim.

Cash Money Records, based out of New Orleans, was started by the two brothers in 1991. Over the past 33 years, the label has been home to artists such as Lil Wayne, Juvenile, Busta Rhymes, Drake, Mystikal, Nicki Minaj, Drake, Tyga, Lil Mo, and Bow Wow.

“We at YouTube are committed to pushing the culture forward, so leading the charge to celebrate Cash Money’s impact via Birdman and Slim’s leadership is an honor,” said Tuma Basa, YouTube’s director of Black music and culture. “As a platform with a global reach and influence, it is our responsibility to acknowledge and elevate the stories of Black trailblazers in the industry and remind the world of the immeasurable impact Black music has on the culture globally. That’s what Leaders and Legends is all about.”

WGNO reported that Birdman and Slim were presented with keys to New Orleans by Mayor LaToya Cantrell on Feb. 5. Birdman and Cash Money Millionaires will also celebrate 30 years in the music industry at this year’s 30th Annual Essence Festival.

Debbie Allen, LA City Council — (Photo: Library of Congress Life, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons)

by Stacy Jackson

June 20, 2024

Dance Legend Debbie Allen Honored By Los Angeles City Council

Los Angeles city council members were graced with a dance performance and words from Allen as they kicked off Juneteenth.

Celebrated dancer and choreographer Debbie Allen received a prestigious certificate of recognition from the Los Angeles City Council on June 18, honoring her illustrious career and contributions to the city.

This accolade, presented by Councilmember Heather Hutt, marked the commencement of LA’s Juneteenth festivities. “It just means a lot because it is essential to be in a community where you feel not just loved but supported and respected,” Allen said, according to ABC7.

We kicked off #Juneteenth yesterday w/an incredible honor and celebration @ City Hall.

Thank you Councilwoman Hutt and CD10 for recognizing @therealdebbieallen, #NormNixon (Co-Founder) & DADA for the work we do to provide arts access, inspire & transform the lives of students. pic.twitter.com/PnYlcKwhbw
— Debbie Allen Dance Academy (@OfficialDADance) June 19, 2024

The ceremony featured a performance by students from the Debbie Allen Dance Academy (DADA), prompting Hutt to remark, “When you think about Juneteenth, that is what happened: we danced. That is a part of something coming from within, and [Allen] is the right person to really dedicate this day to.”

DADA members later highlighted Juneteenth’s significance during a post-council meeting feast. Dance instructor Sarah Anindo Marshall deemed Allen’s recognition during this period “amazing,” while academy Director Karen McDonald emphasized the importance of reminding the community about leaders like Allen’s “incredible work.”

The internationally recognized director dedicated her honor from the council to young aspiring dancers, sharing her struggle as an 8-year-old Black girl seeking acceptance into a dance academy. Her experience influenced DADA’s mission, which the academy states on its website aims to enrich and transform lives through dance, mainly focusing on underprivileged Black and Latino communities.

Throughout her illustrious three-decade career, Allen has amassed an impressive array of accolades, including six Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe, and five NAACP Image Awards. Her influence extends beyond performance, with notable directing and producing credits spanning television classics from “FAME” to “Grey’s Anatomy.” Allen’s impact on the arts has been formally recognized with four honorary doctorates, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and an appointment as Cultural Ambassador of Dance by President George W. Bush. As a Kennedy Center Honoree and long-time artist in residence, she continues to create original works that inspire and push boundaries.

Nia Long, College — (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images for STARZ

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 20, 2024

Nia Long Started College Fund Before Motherhood

Nia Long's son graduated from NYU loan-free thanks to her saving long before she became a mother.

Nia Long is a proud mommy after watching her eldest son Massai Z. Dorsey II graduate from New York University loan-free thanks to her early investments into his future.

The You People actress recently opened up about how she put her eldest son through college after launching a savings account for her children before she even became a mother. Long was the guest speaker for “Money and Mindfulness: A Conversation with Nia Long,” a panel at the 2024 American Black Film Festival, where she told Ally’s Head of Money Wellness, Jack Howard, all about her values with money, Blavity reported.

“One of the things is [that] I started saving for my children before I became a mother,” she said.

“I took $3,000 and I just put in this account. I was like, I’m never touching that. And it allowed me to get my son through NYU without any student loans. And he just graduated and I’m so proud. It makes me cry, because we did it. Yes, we did it. And it was a plan. And if you put that plan into action and you just don’t waver from your ultimate goal, God will show you the way to get there. I can’t even explain it any other way. You just have to trust the process.”

Long went on to share her excitement at Massai’s graduation and how she supported his dreams, even when they didn’t fully align with her hopes for his future.

“When he walked, I was the most loud mama at that graduation,” she explained. “That was me. I was screaming. I flew my whole family to New York, and it was just amazing to see him do something that I always wanted to do, because my mother couldn’t afford to put me through school.”

“And things turned out differently for me. I left high school and I went straight to a soap opera, and then my career just kept happening,” Long continued. “I really planted the seed in him that he would graduate from NYU, even though he thought he was going to be a professional baseball player [laughs]. Which I never killed the dream, I just kept planting the seeds. Kept planting the seeds. And that’s what I think we have to do for our children to create generational wealth. But we have to do that for ourselves.”

Now with a bachelor’s degree from NYU, Massai is off to law school to become a lawyer. In the meantime, Long is teaching him early lessons on paying his own bills and to not always look to mommy for help.

“I’m trying to navigate those two things for him to feel like he can walk in any room, but for him to understand that you still have to work hard and you are Black, and you are, yes, [and] you’ll be your mom’s son, but no one cares,” she explained.

“Just go out there to make a way for yourself. It’s you have to know that balance and understand that making a way for your children is great, but don’t overindulge. Don’t spoil them. Some days it hurts my heart to be like, ‘Here’s $60, make it last for three weeks.’ He’s like, ‘Mom, I live in New York.’ I’m like, ‘I don’t care. Figure it out.’ And then I go cry.”

Long was born in Brooklyn, NY, and knows firsthand how The Big Apple can mold someone into a devoted hustler and go-getter. It’s why she wants her son to experience living in the city as he learns to navigate adulthood.

“When he comes home to visit LA, [I’m] like you need to stay in New York because if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere,” she said.

“So he’s living in Brooklyn where I’m from, so he’s learning how to make that money work, and understanding what taxes mean. Because it is a very different check.”

Nelly, Ashanti, Married — (Photo: Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

by Jameelah Mullen

June 20, 2024

Congratulations! Nelly And Ashanti Secretly Wed In December, Records Show

Meet The Haynes.

Ashanti and Nelly announced their engagement in April, but records show they have been married for four months. According to public records obtained by TMZ, the famous couple tied the knot on December 27, 2023, in St. Louis County.

Pregnancy rumors began to swirl when the pair appeared on stage at Nelly’s annual Black and White Ball. Nelly playfully rubbed Ashanti’s belly, garnering cheers from the crowd.

The hip-hop royals remained tight-lipped until April when Ashanti confirmed her pregnancy via Instagram. On the same day, she announced that she was engaged to the rapper in an Instagram video with Essence.

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A post shared by ESSENCE (@essence)

“This new year of my life is such a blessing full of love, hope, and anticipation. Motherhood is something that I have looked forward to, and sharing this with my family, fiancé, and loyal fans, who have been so supportive of my career, is an amazing experience,” the caption read.

The couple dated on and off from 2003 to 2013. After a decade apart, they famously spun the block on their romance. Ashanti and Nelly reunited in 2021 on stage at the Fat Joe, Ja Rule Verzuz battle. Nelly walked across the stage and appeared to hug the “Foolish” singer. Ashanti said she didn’t know her ex would be attending the event.

“It was very unexpected, I hadn’t seen him (Nelly) in like six years or more- spoken or seen, so it was a little awkward,” she said to Angie Martinez.

Dating rumors swirled when the songstress and the rapper were spotted holding hands at a boxing in Las Vegas last spring. A few months later, Nelly later confirmed the relationship.

Ashanti spoke about their rekindled romance in an interview with Entertainment Tonight.

“The growth has been like superb, you know, like on both ends,” she said of their relationship now as compared to a decade ago. “We are both at a place where like before, sometimes we would argue and walk out, slam the door, and not talk for a few days.”

Ashanti and Nelly prove that sometimes it’s OK to get that “Old Thang Back.”

Governor Wes Moore, Maryland, Marijuana Convictions — (Photo: Elsa Olofsson/Pexels; Inset: Maryland GovPics/Flickr)

by Sharelle B. McNair

June 20, 2024

Gov. Wes Moore Grants 175K Pardons For Marylanders With Marijuana Convictions

Such an amazing move, Gov. Moore!

Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD) is reversing the damage done by the war on crime by ordering more than 175,000 residents in the state of Maryland to be pardoned for marijuana convictions.

During a press conference on June 17, Moore called the move the “most sweeping state-level pardon in any state” that will affect “tens of thousands of Marylanders” convicted of misdemeanors. “We are taking actions that are intentional, that are sweeping and unapologetic, and this is the largest such action in our nation’s history,” Moore said.

Yesterday's Executive Order was the most sweeping state-level pardon for cannabis possession in American history. pic.twitter.com/utOppWTY9n
— Governor Wes Moore (@GovWesMoore) June 18, 2024

Executive Director of the University of Baltimore School of Law Center Heather Warnken labeled the pardons “a win for thousands of Marylanders getting a fresh start to pursue education, employment, and other forms of economic opportunity without the stain of a criminal conviction.”

That holds for people like Shiloh Jordan, who lost his job on his second day as the result of a minor cannabis conviction that appeared in a background check. Jordan attended the press conference, and although Moore highlighted how he was able to go back to school and is now employed at the Center for Urban Families in Baltimore, the cannabis conviction was still on his record.

“Well, today, that ends,” the governor said.

“This is about changing how the government and society view those walled off from opportunity because of broken and uneven policies.”

Recreational cannabis was made legal in the state in 2023 following the 67% voter approval of a constitutional amendment in 2022. On Jan. 1, 2023, the state decriminalized possession of personal use amounts of cannabis. Following suit, 24 states and the District of Columbia now label recreational cannabis as legal.

The pardons will affect over 150,000 misdemeanor convictions for simple possession of cannabis and will cover more than 18,000 misdemeanor convictions for use or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia. As a result of the ordered pardons, the state judiciary will update each electronic docket to show Moore pardoned the conviction.

While that process takes up to two weeks, Moore also directs the state corrections department to curate a process that will indicate a pardon in a person’s criminal record, which can take close to 10 months to complete.

Maryland’s Attorney General Anthony Brown supports the measure, calling it “long overdue.” “As a nation, we have taken far too long to correct the injustices of a system that is supposed to be just for all,” Brown said. “It’s about racial justice. While the order applies to all who meet its criteria, the impact is a triumphant victory for African Americans and other Marylanders of color who were disproportionately arrested, convicted, and sentenced for actions yesterday that are lawful today.”

Moore’s news came just one month after the Biden administration officially moved forward with reclassifying marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, according to ABC News. If approved — after going through a 60-day public comment era — the move would limit punishment for persons in possession of marijuana regarding a federal crime.

Afterward, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will assign an administrative law judge to consider the evidence and make a final scheduling recommendation.

50 Cent, Boxing, Oscar De La Hoya — (Photo: Sergione Infuso/Corbis via Getty Images)

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 20, 2024

50 Cent Announces ‘Humor & Harmony Festival’ Coming To Shreveport

Katt Williams, DC Young Fly, and 2 Chainz have been confirmed.

Q50 Cent, after committing to bringing G-Unit Studios to Shreveport, Louisiana, will bring a music and comedy festival to the city this August.

The rapper told his almost 33 million followers on social media that from August 8 to 11, he will present The Humor & Harmony Festival in Shreveport. He said more than 29,000 people have already registered for the planned festivities.

“You don’t want to miss this over 29,000 people have registered already go to Humor HarmonyWeekend.Com 💣Boom💨 36,000 Super Bowl of comedy, music. Wait till you see who’s confirmed 🤦 @humorharmonyshreveport @bransoncognac @lecheminduroi“

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A post shared by 50 Cent (@50cent)

The Shreveport Times reported that the festival will include comedians, music shows, classic car shows, and a scheduled celebrity basketball tournament. Some of the high-profile talent announced for the weekend include Katt Williams, DC Young Fly, 2 Chainz, Tank, Monifah, Ray J, Bill Bellamy, Jeremih, French Montana, DaBaby, and Lavell Crawford.

The Live Rich or Die Trying star promised fans that the festival will be “Super Bowl Big” as he anticipates 60,000 heads to come out that weekend.

“Of course I’m confirmed, I’m gonna turn Shreveport all the way up. I’ll have 🤨60,000 people out there 😆I’m laughing but I’m serious. LOL @humorharmonyshreveport @bransoncognac @lecheminduroi“

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The Power executive has been well-received in Shreveport since it was reported that the entrepreneurial lyricist obtained a lease for the city-owned studio, once known as Millennium Studios, for an annual cost of $2,400.

After a unanimous vote from the city council to approve giving the G-Unit boss a lease for the property, 50 inked a deal to manage the building maintenance with a 30-year lease that has an option to renew for another 15 years.