New York Man Found Dead In Virginia After Missing For 2 Months
Smith had traveled from New York and arrived in Spotsylvania on Oct. 28 to visit a female acquaintance.
A New York man who went missing two months ago was found dead in Spotsylvania, Virginia, with authorities investigating the circumstances leading to his disappearance and death. The Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office confirmed that skeletal remains discovered on Nov. 16 were those of 33-year-old Terrence Smith, according to People.
Smith had traveled from New York and arrived in Spotsylvania on Oct. 28 to visit a female acquaintance. Concerns arose when he failed to return to New York, prompting his family to report him missing on Nov. 1. According to a press release from the sheriff’s office, Smith’s family grew worried, as his prolonged absence was out of character.
The investigation into Smith’s disappearance led detectives to his remains, located “not far from the home of the female acquaintance in the area of Timber Ridge Townhomes.” The sheriff’s office revealed that Smith’s bank account had also been emptied during his time in Virginia, adding another layer of complexity to the case, Pix11 reported.
“I just don’t understand what’s happening down there. We know the prime people involved,” said Michael Perry, Smith’s older brother, expressing the family’s bewilderment at the developments.
The Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating the incident, and a cause of death has yet to be determined. The press release emphasized that detectives are diligently working on the case, leaving room for further updates.
The circumstances surrounding Smith’s disappearance and the subsequent discovery of his remains, coupled with his emptied bank account, have raised questions about the events leading to his tragic end. Authorities are expected to conduct a thorough examination to uncover the details and provide clarity for the grieving family.
The case underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement when investigating missing person cases, highlighting the need for a comprehensive inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Smith’s death.
Prisoners Sue Alabama Prison Labor System Over ‘Modern-Day Slavery’ Work Programs
Alabama takes 40% of its prisoners’ gross earnings in work-release jobs.
Alabama prisoners, both current and former, filed a class action lawsuit in federal court on Dec. 12 alleging that prison labor system programs equate to a “modern-day form of slavery,” HuffPost reports.
The lawsuit claims the amount of work performed in these programs is a violation of the U.S. and Alabama constitutions. Supported by the labor unions, the prisons accuse the state of profiting more than $450 million a year through coerced work, adding fast food companies and other corporations are benefitting from a “labor trafficking scheme.” Two labor groups, the Union of Southern Service Workers and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, are the plaintiffs, arguing that the state’s parole system purposely trapped Black prisoners into working jobs with little to no pay.
Under the program, Alabama takes 40% of the prisoners’ gross earnings in work-release jobs while the inmates are prone to other deductions just for transportation and uniform cleaning. In total, rates fall below the state’s minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. Prisoners working for state and local government agencies are only paid $2 per day, not too far off from the daily wage rate set for prisoners in 1927.
Janet Herold, attorney for the plaintiffs and legal director of the legal aid group Justice Catalyst Law, described the prison work programs as the “the modern reincarnation of the notorious convict-leasing system, replacing slavery after the Civil War.”
“We are not talking here today about a new Jim Crow,” Herold said. “We’re talking here about the old Jim Crow.”
Lakiera Walker, who was imprisoned from 2007 to 2023, said she was forced to work long, uncompensated hours after being threatened with “discipline.” Her duties included housekeeping, stripping floors, being a caregiver for mentally disabled or sick inmates, unloading chemical trucks, and working inside freezers, on top of working at Burger King — all for $2 a day. Walker said she was also subjected to sexual harassment by a supervising officer.
Walker remembers an officer telling her to “get up and go make us our 40 percent” when she was too sick to work. She said it was time to take a stand. “Those women need help. They really need a voice,” Walker said. “I knew I had to do something. I want justice for this forced labor.”
The defendants listed in the suit include the state’s Republican governor, Kay Ivey; attorney general Steve Marshall; and Alabama corrections and parole officials. Inmates want the state to abolish a “captive labor source” and pay current and past prisoners with damages.
According to the complaint, there were more than 1,300 incarcerated people enrolled in the work program as of September 2023.
Cam’ron Reveals That Jadakiss Was Originally Tapped To Co-Host ‘It Is What It Is’
After Ma$e was a guest, the chemistry between Cam and him just made sense for the Harlem natives to co-host the program together.
Two Harlem buddies with basketball dreams became successful in hip-hop instead of sports. But after a fallout and feud between the two, the bond has been mended as the two rappers turned broadcasters are having a successful run in the sports world.
Now that Cam’ron and Ma$e are true buddies again, it was revealed that the pairing almost didn’t happen, as Killa Cam wanted his co-host of “It Is What It Is” to be Jadakiss, of the hip-hop group The Lox.
Luckily, Jadakiss’s busy schedule changed the trajectory of the new sports show that Cam’ron brought to fruition, which led to the reunion of Killa Cam and Murder Ma$e. The two Harlem natives and childhood friends were part of the Harlem group Children of the Corn. The group was formed in the ’90s with Big L (who was signed as a solo artist to Epic Records before being killed), Herb McGruff (once an Uptown Records signee), and the late Bloodshed.
In a conversation with Complex, Cam’ron (Cameron Giles) explains how the two reconnected to do the sports show “It Is What It Is.”
“We reconciled maybe a little over a year ago,” said Cam’ron. “Mase actually helped me get my first record deal ever, and it was kind of my fault that we was beefing. I was going hard at him for years, pause, and saying a bunch of slick shit. So when we got cool again, I just wanted him to know that all that shit was dead for me.”
Once Cam’ron took responsibility for the feud he started with the man that essentially “put him on,” he felt he needed to gain the trust of his longtime friend turned adversary.
“I just wanted to gain his trust back because I don’t want him to think that I could flip out again. I’m a grown man now. I can look back because I’m old enough to say that’s maybe what I was going through because he just left and was like, fuck everybody—not fuck everybody, but he was following his path of what he needed to do, and I didn’t recognize that at the time,” Cam’ron explained.
He also revealed that Ma$e wasn’t even the co-host when he started the show. He had a plan to do it with Yonkers-based Jadakiss, who was a labelmate to his Harlem friend when both were on Bad Boy Records. But due to Jadakiss keeping a busy schedule with running businesses, it just didn’t happen.
“It was supposed to be me and Jadakiss, but Jada is busy as well. Jada got sh** to do, so he never came. He kept saying he’s gonna come, and it’s not his fault, but he’s busy as well. But that was my plan, to do this show with me and Kiss,” said Cam’ron.
He then decided he’d be the sole host and invited Ma$e on as a guest.
“One day, I was like, I’ll do this shit by myself. I’m gonna just have guests, and I had Mase as a guest. So when Mase came on as a guest, and we vibed, I was like, ‘That shit was dope. Come back every week. We could do this once a week.’ So he called me. He’s like, ‘Would you wanna be partners on this?'”
No Charges Filed Against Mississippi Police Officer Who Shot 11-Year-Old Boy
Aderrien was taken to the hospital and treated for a collapsed lung, fractured ribs, and a lacerated liver.
A Mississippi grand jury has determined that an officer will not be held liable after shooting and wounding an 11-year-old boy. Aderrien Murry was shot in the chest on May 20 by an Indianola police officer responding to the boy’s call about a domestic disturbance.
According to Aderrien’s mother, Nakula Murry, her son called police when her child’s father came to her home and started behaving erratically. Murry told CNN that Sgt. Greg Capers came to the door with his gun drawn and asked the house occupants to come outside. When the Aderrien attempted to walk outside, Capers shot him.
Aderrien was taken to the hospital and treated for a collapsed lung, fractured ribs, and a lacerated liver.
Capers was suspended without pay, pending an investigation.
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch released a statement Dec. 14 that said Capers would not be charged for the incident:
“The Office of the Attorney General completed its review into the May 20, 2023, incident involving an officer-involved shooting in Indianola, Mississippi, and presented it to the grand jury in Sunflower County yesterday. The grand jury reported that it found no criminal conduct on behalf of the officer involved.”
Attorney Carlos Moore, representing the Murry family, told NPR that he will continue to pursue legal action to ensure that his clients receive justice.
The Murry family has filed a $5 million federal lawsuit naming the city of Indianola and the two responding police officers as defendants. The lawsuit accuses the officers of gross negligence and reckless disregard, and accuses the city of failing to provide adequate training for their officers. The Murrys are also demanding that police bodycam footage be released to the public.
The judge overseeing the case did allow the family to view the footage last week but has prohibited it from being released to the public.
Credit cards combined with massive consumer spending are the cornerstone of the highly profitable credit card industry.
Originally published December 29, 2015
“Buy now, pay later” is the mantra that drives much of American holiday spending. Credit cards mixed with massive consumer spending are the cornerstone of the highly profitable credit card industry. Therefore it’s no surprise that banks continue to inundate consumers with credit card offers, especially during the shopping frenzy of the holiday season.
From the many varieties of Visa and MasterCard to Discover and American Express, credit cards are a common fixture in the wallets of millions of Americans. According to Forbes, “Federal Reserve credit card balances rose by $45 billion to a high of $1.03 trillion.” Credit card offers are mailbox staples, and — no surprise — the volume of unsolicited offers tends to increase the day after Thanksgiving.
Here’s some important information that will help you separate the good values from the rip-offs.
The Introductory Rate
The introductory rate, or “teaser rate,” expires after a designated period of time. Federal law requires introductory rates to remain in effect at least six months after sign-up. This rate is below market and typically applies only to balance transfers and cash advances, although it can also apply to purchases. Introductory rates are usually extremely low, ranging from 0% to 4% for up to 12 months. But be sure to read the fine print on when the initial rate will expire and what the percentage rate will be once the period ends.
Annual Percentage Rate: Fixed vs. Variable
If you don’t pay your balance in full by the due date, you’ll be charged interest on the remaining balance. How much interest you pay is determined by the annual percentage rate (APR) on the card.
If you pay the full balance on your credit card every month, you won’t have to pay any interest on your $0 balance and can ignore APRs. All credit cards have either a fixed or variable APR, determined largely by the “prime rate,” which is the interest rate commercial banks charge their most creditworthy customers. For example, if a bank is offering a credit card at “prime plus 4” and its prime rate is 5%, then the bank is essentially offering customers an 11% loan (4% + 5%).
A fixed APR locks in your rate so that it does not fluctuate with changes to the prime rate on which it is pegged. The variable APR, on the other hand, moves in step with the prime rate. If conditions are volatile and interest rates spike, the variable APR that originally enticed you can end up bearing little resemblance to what you actually pay. While it’s preferable to have a card with a fixed APR, these cards are few and far between. Currently, the average fixed APR is 13.1% and the average variable APR rate stood at 15.7%.
Cards for Bad Credit
Everyone deserves a second chance: That’s the reasoning behind credit cards targeting those with bad credit. Moreover, in today’s technologically driven world, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to function by only using cash, which makes a strong case for the ease and convenience of access to a credit card. Additionally, if you have bad credit but you rack up a good history with these types of cards, you can repair your damaged credit score.
In most cases, these types of credit cards are “secured,” which means users must first load money onto the card in order to access the credit via the card. Some companies offer “unsecured” credit cards with low credit limits and high interest rates. But be warned, these rates can be high—think at least 20 percent.
Rewards
Increasingly, credit cards are tied to charges for hotels, rental cars, air travel, grocery and gas purchases. The idea is that the more products and services you purchase, the more “points” you earn in return for free or discounted rewards, offering additional incentive to use the card again and again.
But beware: Many of these incentive-based cards come with high interest rates and big annual fees. However, if their interest rates aren’t excessive and there aren’t a lot of hidden restrictions or fees, reward cards can be a good deal, offering free hotel rooms, bonus rental car use, free airline tickets, and more. Nonetheless, make sure it’s worth your while by casting a discriminating eye on the agreement and the fine print. For most frequent flyer credit cards, for example, you’ll see high interest rates, blackout dates, and restrictions for the privilege of getting miles in return. It’s not worth it and tantamount to paying for overvalued stocks.
Evaluating the Key Areas
Know the interest rate and spend the time to compare fixed and variable APRs. If you think interest rates will remain stable, you might want to opt for the lower variable rate. But remember, that’s a risky choice. If interest rates go up, you lose and you’re stuck with the card. The good news is, thanks to the new credit card laws, card-issuing companies can’t raise rates on existing balances during the first year unless a prior promotional rate expired, the index on a variable index rate increased, or you were 60 days late in paying your bill. If your rate increase as a result of a late payment, the bank is required to restore it to its lower rate once you’ve made six consecutive monthly payments on time.
Be aware of your credit card’s annual fee, which can range from $15 to $300. Don’t agree to pay more than about $50. If possible, choose a card with no annual fee.
If you make a late payment, you will be charged a fee which could run you approximately $35. Avoid cards that impose over-the-limit charges and hidden fees for balance transfer and account termination. Some cards will notify you if you’ve gone over your limit without hitting your wallet with a penalty. Also, beware of fishy interest calculations. There are many ways a card issuer can calculate interest owed. One of the shadiest tricks is to use a late payment as a reason to jettison the interest-free period for new purchase transactions and then calculate the interest as far back as the original purchase date.
But the best way to safeguard against insidious fees is to be your own best advocate. Read the fine print on your credit card statement. If the contract allows the card company to get away with either of these schemes, cancel your card and find one that only charges interest from the date the new statement was produced.
Creating a personal brand that others recognize and trust is essential. Here are five things you can do to take your brand to the next level.
Originally Published Mar. 7, 2017
You probably already know it’s important to have a personal brand. Creating a personal brand that others recognize and trust is essential to success as a freelancer or as any other business owner.
Now, you’ve probably already built something of a personal brand. You probably have a branded website and all the requisite social media accounts. So what next? Here are five things you can do to take your brand to the next level.
Review Your Strengths
One of the best things you can do to keep working on your personal brand is to review your strengths. Periodically look at what you bring to the table.
Have you developed new strengths? What are your best qualities? Understanding your strengths will help you determine how to make the most of your brand. Plus, you can highlight those strengths and play them up.
Understand Your Value
Now that you know your strengths, you can put them to good use. Understand your value.
How do you fit into your industry? Do your strengths lend you the ability to provide value that others can’t? You need to be clear about that.
As you strengthen your brand, make sure you illustrate the value you bring to the table. You want others to know what you offer. Whether through a business proposition or freelancing, you want to make sure that you provide solid value and communicate that value.
Post Meaningfully on Social Media
You might have social media profiles, but are you doing anything meaningful with them? As you work to strengthen your personal brand, you must ensure that what you post online adds something to the conversation. Do you provide meaningful insights into your industry? Do you offer value? Do you share information others find useful?
These are important things to consider. If you take the time to craft thought-out online posts, you will have a better chance of creating a brand others value and want to follow.
Show Authenticity
Whether managing a business or offering great freelance content, you must be authentic. Your personal brand should reflect who you really are. Someone who meets you in person should feel as though the face you show online is compatible.
Be yourself. After a while, it becomes clear when you are fake, and that can show through. People like to feel like they know you, and you can create a brand that people identify with to increase your success.
Tweak as Needed
Just because you want to be authentic doesn’t mean you shouldn’t change. The key to a strong personal brand is the ability to adapt and tweak as needed.
Keep improving yourself. As you do so, your brand will improve as well. As you learn new skills and information, update your brand and value proposition. It’s a good way to stay up to date with the latest developments. You’ll remain relevant and continue to offer customers and clients the best value.
This article was written by Miranda Marquit and originally appeared on DUE.com.
Here are five tips to help take your small business to the next level and help you build a $10 million enterprise.
Originally published Dec. 23, 2015
Getting past $1 million in revenues is a goal that most entrepreneurs would love to achieve, and one that frequently remains as elusive as it is attractive. But if your business can make it to $1 million and reach a level of sustainability, it will have a much higher chance of survival.
Better still, you can grow your business to reach the $10 million revenue mark.
“Getting over the $10 million hump in our business has taken some time and has not been an overnight process, as some might think,” says Nicole Smartt Serres, the former vice president and co-owner of Star Staffing. “We worked tirelessly on repositioning ourselves in the market and becoming known as an industry leader. In two short years (during the recession), we broke our companies’ sales and profit record. We had finally exceeded the $10 million hump that seemed so hard to get past years before and have continued to increase our profit each year since.”
Smartt Serres, who received the 2015 North Bay Business JournalForty Under 40 award recognizing business leaders under the age of 40, offers five tips to help steer business owners in the right direction and, with time, over the $10 million hump.
Hire Talented, Driven People
It may seem like a no-brainer, but the quality of your staff reflects your company. Aim for people who are more talented at what they do than you are at what you do, and you’ll be on the right track. Spend time hiring candidates who add to both your business and your company culture. Focus on hiring people with a can-do attitude over flawless experience. Candidates who are engaged and willing and able to tackle any challenge can be more teachable and bring valuable energy.
Find Your Uniqueness
Think about what will set you apart from your competition.For Smart Serres, it was personalization. “I spent a lot of time closing every deal that I had the opportunity to, and for each deal I put together a unique proposal for that client. I researched each business inside and out to truly understand their needs. I focused on providing a personalized approach to everything we did; it really set us apart from other agencies,” she says. “There is no ‘one size fits all’ for clients.”
Remember Marketing and Networking Go Hand in Hand
“My goal has always been to be like Starbucks: on every corner. While we can’t have an office in every location, we can use mobile signs, flyers, and so on,” says Smartt Serres. Spend at least one hour a day on social media, growing your network and strategically connecting with leaders. Your target audience should dictate where you spend your time, and there’s ample research out there to help you determine which social media tools to focus on.
Listen to Feedback
Your employees, clients, and community members are your single biggest asset. Your staff will have some good ideas. Listen to their input, ask questions, and consider any angles you have missed. “We use a suggestions form on our website that we ask all staff and employees to fill out. You can make yours anonymous for more candid suggestions,” says Smartt Serres. “Some of the most innovative solutions have come from surprising market pressures, and when you’re open to feedback, you will be better prepared to act before anyone else can.”
Stay True to Your Vision
While feedback is invaluable, don’t let naysayers sway your ultimate vision. While we would ideally like for everyone to be in agreement, we don’t make decisions based on consensus. Instead, we want to disrupt our industry, and that means breaking the change barrier. Your clarity of vision will guide your hard work right on past the $10 million mark. Write down your goals and put them where you will see them every day. Make sure your entire staff knows the direction in which you are heading. This way, everyone is working toward the same goal.
Jonathan Majors & Meagan Good Share An Emotional Moment During Defense Attorney’s Closing Statement
Defense attorney Priya Chaudhry gave a moving closing statement on behalf of her client at the conclusion of his misdemeanor assault trial.
Actor Jonathan Majors and his girlfriend Meagan Good got emotional during his defense attorney’s closing statement. As Majors’ attorney closed out the trial for his misdemeanor assault trial Thursday morning, Dec. 14, the couple shed a few tears.
Majors’ attorney, Priya Chaudhry, asked the jury, “Why are you here? You are here—You are here to end this nightmare for Jonathan Majors.”
According to People, Majors began crying as Chaudhry started her closing statement and wiped his tears on his coat sleeve as she told the jury, “Jonathan Majors is innocent.”
Meagan Good was present in the first row of the courthouse, sitting in the reserved seating, beside her boyfriend’s mother. She attended every court date of Majors’ trial and cried after Chaudhry’s closing argument statements.
She said, “His fear of what happens when a Black man in America calls 911 came true. And now we’re here.”
“These prosecutors bought Grace’s white lies, her big lies, and all her pretty little lies.”
As previously reported, Jonathan Majors is facing a charge of third-degree assault with intent to cause physical injury charges, assault in the third degree recklessly causing bodily injury, aggravated harassment in the second degree, and harassment in the second degree due to an alleged physical altercation with his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari. While in New York City in March, the pair reportedly had a fight that led to his arrest.
The incident was recounted over the past few days of testimony. Jabbari told the court that for a year and a half Majors had bouts of “rage and aggression” during their relationship. She recounted that on the night of March 25, she and Majors got into a fight that resulted in the authorities being called and him being arrested.
The Lovecraft Country actor maintained his innocence throughout the trial, but if deliberations find him guilty and he is convicted, he will face up to a year in prison.
Mindful Approach: How To Stay Healthy During The Holidays
Schedules fill up quicker, our stress levels increase, and we all indulge in the goodies. Take a mindful approach to staying healthy during the holidays
Originally Published by Dec. 8, 2015
Holiday time is here. Our schedules fill up quicker, our stress levels increase, and we love to indulge in all the goodies. It is important to take a mindful approach to staying healthy during the holidays. Here are some suggestions:
Plan ahead
When you plan, you will be less stressed and more at ease. Whether you are visiting or hosting a holiday gathering, there is preparation that needs to take place. Sit down and write out your usual schedule, the events you are attending, and what you need to do to prepare.
Eat mindfully
Remember, during this time of year, stress levels are naturally increased. When you are munching, please be mindful. If you know you have a day of errands, pack a snack with nutrients that will help you get through the day and evening. If you have several events to attend, try to eat a light meal just before you leave home; you will not be as hungry, and your food intake will be less while you’re at the event. If you choose to indulge, keep it in moderation.
Be present
Remember, this is a great time to create lasting memories. Try to be present at all times; this helps with your decision-making, food choices, enjoyment of the moment, and reducing stress levels.
Move more
Our schedules are packed, but it is important that you schedule and keep time for exercise. You are worth it. One hour out of your day can make a world of difference. This will also keep you balanced if you tend to overindulge in the delicious food options.
Practice Self-Care
You can’t help anyone if you don’t take care of yourself. Schedule some time and do some activities you truly enjoy and find relaxing. If that trip to the spa is overdue, schedule it. We are more stressed this time of year, so relax and take care of yourself. You want to be healthy for a fabulous 2024.
Networking Hub The Gathering Spot Is Independent Again After Split From Greenwood
The drama between The Gathering Spot and Greenwood has come to an end.
The Atlanta-based, Black-owned networking hub and co-working space The Gathering Spot has split from the Greenwood digital banking platform.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitutionreports The Gathering Spot’s two co-founders, Ryan Wilson and T’Keel “TK” Petersen, have reacquired majority ownership. The split marks the end of a partnership between two notable Black-owned companies that merged last year but whose issues became public and were pushed into court.
Despite the split, there is no animosity, and both entities realize their importance to the city of Atlanta and the Black community at large. Greenwood CEO Ryan Glover is still a board member and adviser to The Gathering Spot, and Greenwood will remain a shareholder in the space.
“Ultimately the goal is to try to position both of these companies for success,” Wilson told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution about taking the company independent. “We wish each other well. Both of these companies play an important role in the community.”
Greenwood, founded by rapper Michael “Killer Mike” Render and former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, purchased The Gathering Spot in May 2022 as the two companies shared an interest in closing the racial wealth gap and providing more opportunities and access for Black residents in Atlanta.
However, tensions rose between the two companies. In February, Wilson and Petersen filed a suit against Greenwood for allegedly withholding payments after purchasing the company. Greenwood countersued in June, saying The Gathering Spot founders misconstrued the agreement.
A month later, Wilson filed a second suit against Greenwood, alleging it engaged in intentional misconduct. Days later, it was announced that Petersen would no longer be the chief operating officer of The Gathering Spot.
Eventually, The Gathering Spot’s 10,000 members made a public outcry concerning the dispute, leading to the two sides settling their issues.
“Both companies remain supportive of each other’s growth as they transition back to operating as separate entities,” Glover said. “Greenwood and The Gathering Spot remain committed to the community, continuing to offer innovative solutions and services that foster growth and empowerment.”
