by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 19, 2023

Anthony Edwards Claims Texts Urging Woman To Get An Abortion Were Sent In The ‘Heat Of A Moment’

NBA star Anthony Edwards issued a statement in response to the alleged texts he sent a woman urging her to get an abortion.

The Minnesota Timberwolves guard released a statement on Twitter Monday, Dec. 18, addressing the alleged texts sent between him and a woman he seemingly forced to terminate a pregnancy.

“I made comments in the heat of a moment that are not me, and that are not aligned with what I believe and who I want to be as a man,” Edwards wrote.

“All women should be supported and empowered to make their own decisions about their bodies and what is best for them. I am handling my personal matters privately and will not be commenting on them any further at this time.”

pic.twitter.com/4EY6YE5E7c
— Anthony Edwards (@theantedwards_) December 18, 2023

The statement from Edwards, 22, came after screenshots of alleged texts between him and a woman by the name Paige Jordae were leaked online that showed a photo of a positive pregnancy test and his alleged responses telling the woman “hell nawl can’t do dis” and “Get a abortion lol.”

The screenshots revealed by Jordae also included a photo of a wire transfer of $100,000 with text messages saying, “I will send you money to help you out” and “you got da money whats the hol up.” According to the woman, Edwards was trying to get her to terminate a pregnancy of a child they allegedly conceived, TMZ reported.

Rest of the SS pic.twitter.com/sn6j4BkfXJ
— Nick (@nickiswashed) December 18, 2023

Edwards’ Twitter statement appears to confirm Jordae’s allegations about him urging her to get an abortion. The Timberwolves played on Monday night with Edwards finaling 32 points of the Wolves’ 112-108 win against the Miami Heat, ESPN reported.

Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith commented on the scandal on his YouTube show, noting the lesson it teaches young athletes to “watch who you deal with.”

“Let me say this, Anthony Edwards had to apologize because he is a public figure,” Smith said. “Having said that, once again here’s the bigger lesson to be learned, guard who you deal with.”

Stephen A Smith sounds off on the situation with Anthony Edwards & ig Model pic.twitter.com/hlDXgxxCYZ
— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) December 19, 2023

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Speaks After Hip Replacement Surgery, ‘Humpty Kareem Had A Great Fall’

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 19, 2023

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Speaks After Hip Replacement Surgery, ‘Humpty Kareem Had A Great Fall’

NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is remaining positive after his nasty fall that resulted in hip replacement surgery.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is remaining positive after a nasty fall that resulted in hip replacement surgery.

The Basketball Hall of Famer released a column on Monday, Dec. 18, after falling and breaking his hip last week. The reveal detailed the events leading up to Abdul-Jabbar falling while attending a concert in Los Angeles on Friday.

At the time, a statement from his business partner revealed the NBA legend took a nasty spill that required hip replacement surgery on Saturday.

Medical Statement from Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s longtime Business Partner, Deborah Morales

“Last night while attending a concert , Kareem had an accidental fall and broke his hip. He will have surgery today. We are all deeply appreciative of all the support for Kareem,…
— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (@kaj33) December 16, 2023

Now, in the wake of his treatment at UCLA Hospital, Abdul-Jabbar, 76, has returned to his Substack column to share photos from the concert, his accident, and his hospital stay, along with a full health update.

“You may have heard that Humpty Kareem had a great fall. It’s true,” he jokingly wrote before explaining the details of his accident.

“I was at The Manhattan Transfer’s final public concert at Disney Hall, ready to read a letter from (Vice President) Kamala Harris and provide some praise of my own for a group I love and admire. But I fell and was carted off to UCLA Hospital with a broken hip.”

The NBA alum, who played 20 seasons in the National Basketball Association for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers, acknowledged his old age’s role in his recent accident.

“I’d like to say I fell while trying to save a child from plunging over a balcony, but I just tripped,” he continued. “Hard for me to accept that a once world-class athlete just stumbled. But age is the great equalizer and humbles us all. Now, I’m a world-class patient in a bed convalescing from a hip replacement like 450,000 other Americans every year.”

Abdul-Jabbar shared his reasoning for writing the column from his hospital bed as he prepares for an extended holiday with family.

“I’m writing to you because…well because that’s what I do,” he wrote. “However, after this week, I will be taking a week or so off over the holidays to fully recuperate and spend time with my family. When I return, it will be with a shiny new hip and a lot of shiny thoughts to share.”

Abdul-Jabbar is regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. During his NBA career, he led the Lakers to five NBA championships and became the NBA’s only six-time MVP. He had the most career points in NBA history until LeBron James broke his record earlier this year.

Real estate, black millennial, home, buying, market, home, tips

by Derek Major

December 19, 2023

Sellers Slashing Listing Prices As High Interest Rates Concern Homebuyers

Home sellers across the country are cutting their prices as high interest rates keep home buyers at bay.

According to a new report, home sellers are slashing prices to attract buyers deterred by high interest rates.

Zillow reports about 23 percent of homes listed nationwide have dropped, which is abnormally high. That has been attributed to high interest rates, which remain above seven percent, resulting in mortgage payments being about $1,000 more per month than pre-pandemic levels.

The drop in home prices could also be due to the fact that new home sales have dropped 16 percent over the last two months and five percent from last November.

Home prices in New Orleans, parts of Florida, Memphis, and Chicago have dropped by at least 2% and by as much as 5%. Meanwhile, in Milwaukee, San Diego, and Providence, Rhode Island, home prices have increased by at least 7.5%.

The rise in interest rates was used to tame inflation and avoid a recession, which has largely worked as the unemployment rate has remained below 4% after hitting a high of 13% in 2020. As inflation cools, interest rates have flattened to 3.2% since July.

Additional decreases in home prices could lead to a boom in home sales, which is still the most tried and true way of building wealth in America.

Home buyers and sellers experienced a boom during the beginning days of the COVID-19 pandemic as millions of Americans used the rise of remote work to leave metro areas and get more space or move from rural areas to big cities with more entertainment options. However, according to a Home Bay survey, 75% of Americans who relocated during the pandemic regret doing so.

The two biggest regrets among those who relocated during the pandemic are people wishing they’d moved to a bigger home and those missing their old home. Additionally, 40% of respondents said they cried at least once during the moving process.

Christopher Gray Hated His Experience Looking For College Scholarships, So He Created Scholly

by Derek Major

December 19, 2023

Christopher Gray Hated His Experience Looking For College Scholarships, So He Created Scholly

Christopher Gray had a terrible experience looking for a college scholarship, so he decided to fix it with the Scholly app.

Christopher Gray, a native of Birmingham, Alabama, wanted to be the first person in his family to attend college, but he couldn’t afford it on his own and didn’t want to take out student loans that would leave him thousands of dollars in debt. He had to find a scholarship.

For him, the process was unforgettable because of his naivete.

“I went through this long process of looking for scholarships. It took months and months of going through different websites, watching out for scams,” Gray told BLACK ENTERPRISE. “It was a really painful and arduous process.”

Gray received more than $1 million in scholarships and attended Drexel University. However, he never forgot what he went through to find a scholarship and, along with two friends, founded Scholly, an app that helps students easily find scholarships for college, and for graduates to pay off their student debt.

Scholly uses an algorithm created by its team that uses factors such as age and the major a person is interested in to find the most compatible scholarships. Scholly’s team vets each scholarship to ensure it’s legitimate.

“One of the reasons why it’s hard to find a scholarship is everyone wants to create a scholarship, but people don’t know how to market scholarships, and so everyone’s posting everything everywhere,” Gray said. “We use eligibility keywords to ensure that we’re matching you with the scholarships that you are looking for as an individual.”

Scholly can be used by high school students and current college students looking for scholarships.

“Last year, 41% of families that qualify for scholarships did not apply at all, so nearly half of eligible applicants did not apply. Also, a lot of people don’t know that you can apply for scholarships while you’re attending college, so a lot of scholarships are going unclaimed because people just stop applying once they’re in college. So making students aware that you can still apply for scholarships is another big part of Scholly,” said Gray.

He began creating Scholly while he was still in school. In 2014, he took Scholly national when he appeared on NBC’s “Shark Tank” to promote the app. The idea of one centralized app for college scholarships was so popular among the hosts that Gray’s appearance led to an animated back-and-forth between the hosts, including FUBU Founder Daymond John.

“I was a senior in college at the time, so I was pretty young, and it was a really interesting experience,” Gray told BE. “The whole appearance was about 30 minutes, but it was edited down to seven minutes, and I didn’t even see the fight until it aired. The appearance was in the summer of 2014, but it didn’t air until February 2015.”

Gray’s “Shark Tank” appearance led to a barrage of offers and opportunities for Scholly. The app was No. 1 on iPhone and Android for a month after the episode aired, and Scholly received offers from cities and individuals alike to promote their scholarships.

Earlier this year, education lender Sallie Mae acquired Scholly, allowing the app to be free for students. Today, Scholly is the one-stop shop for scholarships and sports-exclusive scholarships from companies and celebrities including Amazon, Google, musician Lil Nas X, and actor Jesse Williams.

Last month, Sallie Mae commemorated National Scholarship Month by announcing the latest cohort of its Bridging the Dream Scholarship for high school seniors, providing 25 of them with $10,000 scholarships to attend HBCU schools.

As for Gray, he is about to film the “Shark Tank” update on Scholly, showcasing the app’s success since it was first introduced on the show.

“For me, this is a full-circle moment. Even getting ready to do the ‘Shark Tank’ update is powerful because it just shows you how many people we helped,” Gray told BE. “I have people walk up to me all the time and tell me they’ve got a scholarship through Scholly, and being able to be a part of that and being able to build something to this point is just a full-circle moment, and it’s just something me and my team are really proud of.”

LeBron James ‘Recipe for Change’ Wins Daytime Emmy

by Rafael Pena

December 19, 2023

LeBron James ‘Recipe for Change’ Wins Daytime Emmy

LeBron James added another accolade to his expansive list as a show he produced, "Recipe for Change" secured a Daytime Emmy.

The Associated Press reports that Los Angeles Lakers icon LeBron James added another accolade to his expansive list of achievements as a show he produced, Recipe for Change: Standing Up to Antisemitism, secured a Daytime Emmy. The recognition came in the category of Outstanding Daytime Special at the Creative Arts and Lifestyle ceremony held in Los Angeles.

Executive producers LeBron James, his business partner Maverick Carter, and three other contributors spearheaded the triumphant YouTube Originals special. Ilana Glazer, Moshe Kasher, and Idina Menzel expertly handled hosting duties.

The award marks another success for James in the world of television production. In addition to his prowess on the basketball court, James has demonstrated his ability to navigate the entertainment industry with commendable achievements. The acclaimed Recipe for Change sheds light on the critical issue of combating antisemitism, earning praise for its impact and delivery.

This isn’t the first time James has been acknowledged in the awards realm. The basketball superstar has previously secured three Sports Emmy awards, showcasing his versatility and impact beyond the basketball arena. Notably, one of his recent wins this year was for The Redeem Team, a documentary highlighting the journey of the 2008 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team. Another win was for his role in producing Turning The Tables With Robin Roberts, a compelling series that delves into the personal and professional journeys of remarkable women. James, Carter, and other collaborators demonstrated a keen eye for storytelling, earning critical acclaim and industry recognition.

The recognition of Recipe for Change reflects James’ commitment to leveraging his platform for meaningful conversations and social change. James continues to amplify voices and shed light on critical issues through various ventures, including media production.

The Daytime Emmy Award highlights James’ success in the entertainment industry and underscores the significance of using influential platforms to address societal issues and promote positive change.

Pittsburgh Steelers Safety Damontae Kazee Suspended For Remainder Of Season After Repeated Violations

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 19, 2023

Pittsburgh Steelers Safety Damontae Kazee Suspended For Remainder Of Season After Repeated Violations

This ruling means that Kazee will miss the Steelers remaining three games as they fight to try to get into playoff position

Safety Damontae Kazee will not be seen on a football field for the remainder of the current NFL season after being suspended by the league for “repeated violations.”

According to NFL.com, NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan, suspended the Pittsburgh Steelers player on Monday for the rest of the season, including the playoffs, if the Steelers make it that far. This decision was made after Kazee knocked out Indianapolis Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. in the second quarter of Saturday’s game, Dec. 16. Kazee delivered a hit after Pittman dived to try to catch a football and was hit in the head and neck area by the Steelers safety.

Of course you eject Damontae Kazee for this hit.
Michael Pittman Jr. doesn’t deserve a brain injury – or spine – for trying to make a great catch. (He got a #concussion)
It’s a new day in sports. These are human beings first.
We can adjust how we play. pic.twitter.com/agYEGM5khw

— Chris Nowinski, Ph.D. (@ChrisNowinski1) December 16, 2023

The penalty was implemented due to Kazee’s repeated violations of on-field health and safety rules, according to Runyan.

A letter sent to the player stated, “With 8:49 remaining in the (second) quarter, you were involved in a play that the (league) considers a serious violation of the playing rules. The video of the play shows that you delivered a forcible blow to the head/neck area of Colts’ receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who was in a defenseless posture. You had an unobstructed path to your opponent, and the illegal contact could have been avoided. Your actions were flagrant, and as a result, you were disqualified from the game.”

“When players violate the rules intended to protect player safety on a repeated basis, and particularly when the violations carry with them a significant risk of injury to an opposing player, it is appropriate to impose substantially greater penalties.”

This ruling means that Kazee will miss the Steelers remaining three games as they fight to try to get into playoff position.

The Associated Press reported that the seven-year veteran has been fined almost a half-dozen times this season alone. The games he will miss will cost him around $208,000 in salary.

The Steelers ended up losing the game 30-13.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 19, 2023

Moving On: Bryant Gumbel’s ‘Real Sports’ Ends After 29 Years

After 29 years, Bryant Gumbel's HBO show "Real Sports" is moving on.

After 29 years, Bryant Gumbel’s critically acclaimed sports journalism show Real Sports is coming to an end.

The long-running HBO show will air its last episode Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 10 p.m. Eastern, the Associated Press reports.

A cart of champagne awaited Gumbel and the production staff after the final taping ended. His wife and grandchildren watched from the control room as producers and their families said their farewells.

“I’m OK,” Gumbel, 75, said ahead of taping. “I’m sad, but everything has to end at some point and this is the right time for this to end.” Gumbel’s contract is also coming to an end; HBO, which is now controlled by Warner Bros. Discovery, is working to reduce spending.

https://twitter.com/CBSSunday/status/1736389661063364967

With many sports shows coming from networks owned by leagues, like the NFL, Gumbel’s Real Sports highlighted a golden era of truly impartial sports journalism that is gradually losing its luster.

“The show tried to do some things in sports journalism that no one else was doing,” Gumbel said. “I think it was one of the few avenues that could honestly explore issues without having to worry about ratings or sponsorships or relationships.

“I’ve been on the other side of that coin,” added Gumbel, best know for his work on The Today Show. “I’ve worked for networks who were what they would call now the ‘broadcast partner’ of a sports entity. And you’d only be a fool to think you can follow any story wherever it wants if it collides with that relationship. Life doesn’t work that way.”

Others in the field wonder if there will be a successor to fill the void. With more athletes resorting to social media to get their stories out rather than sitting down for a 60 Minutes-style interview with Gumbel and his reporters, it could be an end of an era.

“It has been the gold standard in sports journalism on TV for the last three decades and it really is quite a loss,” Mark Hyman, director of the Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism at the University of Maryland said. “It checked all the boxes—timely, ambitious, well-funded, independent.”

by Rafael Pena

December 19, 2023

Baltimore Mayor’s Business Recognition Awards Honor Community Commitment

Mayor Scott hosted the 49th annual Mayor’s Business Recognition Awards alongside the Greater Baltimore Committee.

AFRO reports Mayor Brandon M. Scott recently hosted the 49th annual Mayor’s Business Recognition Awards alongside the Greater Baltimore Committee and Baltimore Development Corporation, highlighting 14 firms dedicated to Baltimore’s growth and community well-being. The ceremony, held on Dec. 13, recognized businesses with outstanding leadership and a commitment to enhancing the quality of life for Baltimore residents.

Mayor Scott emphasized the event’s goal of inspiring leaders to innovate ways to support their communities and contribute to the city’s overall progress. In a statement, Scott said, “Collectively, we can address Baltimore’s most pressing challenges, create opportunities for growth, and continue to strengthen our connections to one another.”

This year, the GBC shifted the awards ceremony to align with its multi-year agenda focused on advancing the Greater Baltimore region toward equitable economic growth. Awardees were evaluated based on their contributions in at least one of five categories, including economic opportunity, acting as ambassadors for the Baltimore region, local investment, supporting safe and vibrant communities, and community development.

Among the distinguished winners were the B&O Railroad Museum, Carefirst BlueCross BlueShield, Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, Elocin Global Logistics, Hon’s Honey, No Struggle No Success, Northern Real Estate Urban Ventures, Parity, Pimlico Merchants Association, TEDCO, The BIT Center, UnitedHealthcare, The Verve Partnership, and Women of Valor.

Mark Anthony Thomas, president and CEO of GBC, expressed appreciation for the recognized organizations, stating, “The organizations celebrated with this year’s Mayor’s Business Recognition awards represent the type of transformation around economic opportunity that GBC has been working diligently toward fostering in the Baltimore region over the past 11 months.”

Parity, founded by Bree Jones in 2020, was recognized for its impactful community development work. The West Baltimore-based equitable development company employs a block-by-block approach to revitalize abandoned homes and create affordable homeownership opportunities. In June, Parity unveiled its first two completed homes in the Harlem Park neighborhood, with plans to renovate an additional 94 homes in the coming years.

Bree Jones, CEO and founder of Parity expressed gratitude for the acknowledgment, stating, “I appreciate GBC and the mayor for recognizing our small but mighty organization, working on the ground to tackle the vacancy issue while building wealth for Black homeowners.”

by Safon Floyd

December 19, 2023

Wondering What ‘The Lonely Do At Christmas’? Here’s Some Suggestions

Here's what you can do to make the most of—and even enjoy—the Christmas holiday, even if you happen to be feeling lonely.

Originally Published Dec. 25, 2016

This is the time of year when merriment is abundant, family and friends are gathering, and laughter, love, and togetherness are of the highest priority. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case for some.

For some, this time of year is spent alone. Many people find sadness in the idea of being “alone for the holidays.” What if your lonely Christmas was one of your best? Here’s how you can make this happen.

Watch a TV Marathon

I want to get cozy just thinking about this one! Put on a pot of coffee, make some tea, or have a few glasses of wine, and watch your favorite show(s) all day long. It is recommended that you watch something light, funny, and completed unrelated to the holidays. Revisit some of your old favorites that are now in syndication, Netflix it up, see what they have over there on Amazon. If you really, really want to have a ball, dedicate your binge watching to The Golden Girls—just trust me on this.

FaceTime Your Funniest Friend

Apple was sure was up to something smart when they introduced FaceTime for iPhone. Even if it’s only for a few moments, dial up your funniest, most ridiculous, obnoxious friend and talk about absolutely nothing. Share a few laughs, bring up old funny stories, tell them you miss them, and really be present in your interaction. Great conversations with great friends have a way of making you feel high, and leaving you there for a while.

Read a Book or Articles You Haven’t Had Time For

Get lost in someone else’s world, learn something new, and gain much-needed insight. Fall in love with new characters. Read something that blows your mind, and if you feel oh-so inspired, write something that will blow minds in due time.

Cook What You Enjoy

Takeout works, too.

Plan Your Next Steps

There is little that makes you feel more uplifted than productivity. While everyone else is away, use this time to really sit, think, plan, and strategize for the upcoming year. Create a vision board, write a wish list, and use your imagination. Realizing possibilities is igniting and rejuvenating. Use this as a sacred time to look into how to become your best self, and start putting this plan into motion.

Be Still

When is the last time you turned off the television, put down your gadgets, cut off the music, put down the book, and just sat with yourself? Check-in with you. Explore what you’re really thinking, feeling, and how you’re being. Try to be quiet and just enjoy being you in your own space. Remind yourself why you’re valued—minus the input, opinions or validations of others. This doesn’t take much to do; just be still and know.

What do the lonely do at Christmas, you wonder? They do it all, and they do it just for them.

Medi-Cal, program, California, healthcare, insurance, coverage, undocumented, Senator, Alexis Donald, menopause,

by Rafael Pena

December 19, 2023

California Black Health Network Launches ‘How Do I’ Campaign to Address Health Disparities

The California Black Health Network, in collaboration with the California Healthcare Foundation, has rolled out the "How Do I" campaign.

CBS News Sacramento reports that in an effort to bridge the health gap for Black Americans in California, the California Black Health Network, in collaboration with the California Healthcare Foundation, has rolled out the “How Do I” campaign. The initiative is designed to empower Black Californians to take charge of their health by providing resources to navigate the complex healthcare system.

Rhonda Smith, executive director of the California Black Health Network, emphasizes the challenges Black individuals face despite having health insurance. “About 94% of Black Californians have health insurance, but getting access to the procedures and services they need can often be a challenge,” notes Smith.

The campaign addresses various health concerns, including paternal health, chronic diseases like diabetes and cancer, and rare conditions such as lupus or sickle cell. Smith highlights that the lack of knowledge about the right questions to ask or the awareness of their right to inquire is a common issue within the community.

The online platform offers a range of resources, including information on patient rights and a list of questions to ask healthcare providers. Smith believes collective community education is crucial for empowering individuals to advocate for their health.

Recent studies highlight the alarming health disparities among Black Americans, indicating a public health crisis. Over the past two decades, the Black population has experienced over 1.6 million excess deaths and 80 million years of life lost compared to the white population. Dr. Harlan Krumholz from the Yale School of Medicine, the author of the research, identifies heart disease, cancer, and infant mortality as significant contributors to the excess deaths.

Dr. Krumholz emphasizes that race is a social construct and underscores the impact of living conditions, exposures, and systemic biases on life expectancies. The “How Do I” campaign aligns with the goal of addressing these disparities through policy changes, advocacy, and education.

“The bottom line of it all is around patient empowerment and to really help make the healthcare system work better for them,” concludes Smith. The campaign aims to empower individuals to ask the right questions, be aware of their rights, and actively participate in their healthcare decisions to ultimately create a more equitable healthcare landscape for Black Californians.