by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 9, 2023

Jonathan Majors’ Ex Claims He Showed ‘Rage And Aggression’ During Their Relationship

Majors hasn't testified or commented.

Actor Jonathan Majors’ criminal trial over an alleged assault involving his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari started with her recounting what she called his “rage and aggression” during their two-year relationship.

Majors is facing two counts of third-degree assault, one count of second-degree aggravated harassment, and one count of second-degree harassment stemming from the reported altercation in March. The actor, who faces a maximum sentence of one year in jail if found guilty by a Manhattan jury of six, has consistently asserted his innocence from the outset. He officially entered a plea of not guilty to all charges through his legal representation.

Prosecutors gave their opening statements on Dec. 4 to recall the events that led to his alleged assault against Jabbari in New York City in March 2023. Prosecutors claimed the melee started after Majors received a text message from a woman named Cleopatra, People reports.

According to prosecutors, Jabbari, a 30-year-old British dancer, dancer, leaned over Majors’ shoulder and read the text that included a link to D’Angelo’s song “Lady” and Cleopatra’s message saying, “Wish I was kissing you.”

Majors, 34, remained focused on his lap while seated at the defense table.

Jabbari took the stand and cried throughout her testimony, describing the fear she experienced if he was provoked. “His face kind of changes when he gets into that place,” Jabbari told the jury, according to People. “He’s a big guy so you just want to step back.”

Among the evidence presented at trial included a photo Jabbari had taken after the fight with Majors inside his apartment. Jabbari claims the Creed III star was throwing “anything within reaching distance,” including candles, denting a bedroom wall with an object and shattering glass on the floor.

“I took the photo because the shift in his temper was something I was aware of, and I just wanted to remember,” Jabbari said. “I knew I kept forgiving him, but I just wanted to have a bit of a memory of him.”

Majors hasn’t testified and made no comment while going to and from the trial with his girlfriend, actress Meagan Good. He could possibly take the stand in a trial that’s expected to last several weeks.

by Derek Major

December 9, 2023

New York Congressman Jamaal Bowman Censured By U.S. House Over Fire Alarm Incident

Bowman was caught on video pulling a fire alarm in the Cannon House Building in September, shortly before the House was to vote on a government funding bill.

The U.S. House voted to censure New York Congressman Jamaal Bowman on Dec. 7 for triggering a fire alarm in a House office building.

CNN reports a censure amounts to a rebuke of a member of Congress; it does not carry a penalty or result in expulsion. Bowman, a Democrat, was censured in a 214-191 vote, with five lawmakers — primarily Democratic members of the House Ethics Committee — voting present.

Censures rarely happen, but Republicans have been using them more frequently against Democrats. Bowman is the third Democrat who has been censured since June.

Bowman was caught on video pulling a fire alarm in the Cannon House Building in September, shortly before the House was set to vote on a government funding bill. The building was evacuated as a result. Bowman later said it was an accident.

“I was trying to get to a door. I thought the alarm would open the door, and I pulled the fire alarm to open the door by accident,” Bowman said at the time.

Rep. Adam Schiff of California was censured in June over comments he made several years ago about investigations into Donald Trump’s ties to Russia. Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib was censured in November over comments she made concerning the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Bowman told CNN that his censure is yet another sign of the Republicans’ apathy and shows that they are not serious about governing.

“They have no ideas, they have no policies, they can’t inspire the American people, so they focused on censuring me even though after the fire alarm incident I took full responsibility right away,” Bowman told CNN’s Abby Phillip on “Newsnight.” The congressman also denied that he pulled the fire alarm to delay a House vote, which several Republicans accused him of doing.

Bowman was charged by the D.C. attorney general in November over the incident and pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge.

On Dec. 6, Westchester County executive George Latimer in New York, backed by Jewish donors, announced he would mount a Democratic Primary challenge against Bowman. The race could become highly contested, testing the durability of the Democratic progressive wing.

by Sharelle B. McNair

December 9, 2023

Suspended Florida State Prosecutor Fights For Reinstatement, Alleging Gov. DeSantis’ Political Motives

Attorney Laura Ferguson said Monique Worrell was simply doing her job to the best of her ability.

Monique Worrell, the Florida state prosecutor who was suspended by Gov. Ron DeSantis, is fighting to get her job back.

Before the Florida Supreme Court, Worrell’s attorney, Laura Ferguson, argued that the Republican governor exceeded his authority when he suspended her from her elected post, the Associated Press reports. The Democratic DA was removed after DeSantis claimed she was too lenient in how she prosecuted crimes in her central Florida district, which includes Orlando. According to the state constitution, elected official suspension can only occur for reasons of egregious misconduct.

Ferguson said her client was simply doing her job to the best of her ability.

“It is the voters, not the governor, to whom Ms. Worrell is accountable,” she argued.

Worrell contends that her suspension is invalid and believes she was removed for the political motivations of the governor, who is currently campaigning for the Oval Office in 2024. But DeSantis’ lawyer, Jeffrey DeSousa, claims Worrell’s suspension is no one’s fault but her own. DeSousa says her history of failing to prosecute crimes committed by minors and not seeking mandatory minimum sentences for gun crimes endangers the residents in her district.

An investigation into Worrell’s practices started in early 2023, after a 19-year-old gunman was charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Spectrum News 13 reporter Dylan Lyons, Nathacha Augustin, and T’yonna Major, 9. The child’s mother and a Spectrum News 13 photographer were also shot. General counsel from the DeSantis administration sent Worrell a memo claiming she’d failed to hold the gunman, Keith Moses, accountable for crimes allegedly committed prior to the shootings, including a traffic stop for cannabis possession in November 2021.

After the hearing, Worrell stood with numerous supporters, and said she was hopeful the court would side with her.

“Our votes have been stolen, our justice has been killed and our democracy is being destroyed,” Worrell said, according to Politico. She continued to describe DeSantis’ actions as “authoritarian” and said the justices siding with the governor “will set the precedent whether or not the governor can single-handedly remove every Democrat in this state.”

Worrell isn’t the only Democratic legal rep being questioned by the controversial governor. State Attorney Andrew Warren was removed in 2022 after announcing he wouldn’t press criminal charges against persons seeking abortions or medical providers of gender-transition treatments.

deficit, budget deficit, government spending

by Mary Spiller

December 9, 2023

Congressional Budget Office: U.S. Government Records $383 Billion Deficit In The Last Two Months

The CBO cited bank failures, public debt, and federal programs as major causes of the deficit.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has released concerning numbers regarding the federal budget deficit. According to an estimation shared on Dec. 8, the deficit in the federal budget has reportedly hit $383 billion in just the past two months.

The budget keeper, a nonpartisan entity, claimed that in November alone the United States government accrued a deficit of $317 billion, which is $68 billion higher than the deficit recorded for this same period during last year’s estimation. Furthermore, it’s $250 billion higher than the reported deficit reported by the Treasury Department just a month before, The Hill reported.

The CBO posited that the numbers could be moderated by a slight increase in estimated revenue in October and November. There was a 19 percent increase from last year’s period, but the deficit recorded over the last two months of this year still beat out the revenue increase by $47 billion.

The budget office outlined several specific sectors that “spending had increased substantially” over the initial estimates.

In the report, there was an increase in outlays for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to the tune of $63 billion, as it was tasked with “facilitating the resolution of bank failures that occurred in 2023.”

The CBO explained, “The FDIC expects to recover much of that amount by continuing to liquidate the banks’ assets and by collecting higher premiums from FDIC-insured institutions over the next several years.”

The second largest increase from the 2022 two-month period last year came from interest rates being much higher than they were before, causing a significant increase in the public debt.

Other concerning aspects of the deficit increased were caused by more spending on Social Security benefits, Medicare and Medicaid, the Energy and Defense Department, plus an 18 percent increase in the spending for the Department of Veteran Affairs.

The CBO explained the changes were “mostly because of increased spending per person and veterans’ increased use of health care facilities, [and] because last year the administration sold a substantial amount of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Some of the largest increases were for military personnel and for operation and maintenance.”

Biden, Harris, campaign, 2024 elections, Black voters, Black History Month

by Mary Spiller

December 9, 2023

Biden-Harris’ Campaign Targets Black Voters With New Advertisements, Highlighting Efforts For The Community

The administration recently released an ad campaign featuring a Black Detroit entrepreneur supporting their agenda.

A recent ad released by the Joe Biden and Kamala Harris 2024 election campaign is targeting Black voters as next year’s upcoming presidential election nears. The ad, titled “List,” was released on Dec. 6 and seems to highlight what the administration can do for the Black community, if Biden and Harris are reelected.

The ad campaign takes time to highlight President Biden and Vice President Harris’ economic investments, and how the administration intends to boost financial prosperity in Black communities.

“List” features Black small-business owner and entrepreneur Darren Riley from Detroit. In the video, Riley expresses his support for Biden and Harris and talks about how they’ve made a big difference in marginalized communities across the country.

He said in the ad, “President Joe Biden’s got our backs because he’s not only thinking about our present but also our future. My community is usually last on the list to receive any type of funding.”

Riley said Biden’s Infrastructure Investment, which sits at a proposed $1.2 trillion, and the president’s Job and Inflation Reduction Act as working for the Black community.

“The policies and things that he puts in place are striving to make a difference for these matter — how to put food on the table for our kids and families, how to get the next job, how to skill up. Joe Biden is actually doing stuff that helps everyday people,” said the voter.

“President Joe Biden’s got our backs because he’s not only thinking about our present but also our future,” Riley concluded.

According to reports obtained by TheGrio, the “List” ad is set to run on channels with a majority of Black audiences, especially in cities that are considered crucial in the upcoming election. The push to drum up support from Black voters comes amid a concerning November poll conducted by The New York Times for the Biden-Harris administration. The results showed that 22 percent of Black voters in largely populated and extremely crucial swing states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Georgia would support Trump for next year’s election. The statistical increase from the 2020 election has prompted campaign efforts to boost the Biden-Harris population.

Quentin Fulks, principal deputy campaign manager for Biden-Harris, told the Times, “While MAGA Republicans push an extreme agenda that would harm Black Americans and take our country backward, President Biden and Vice President Harris have been fighting for and delivering on policies that make a real difference in our communities by providing access to capital and creating generational wealth.”

career, 50, new career, tips, advantages, AI, Opportunity

by Jeffrey McKinney

December 9, 2023

Crucial Tips To Help Small Businesses Pay Rent As Delinquency Rate Soars

Some 61% of those firms could not pay their rent in November.

While news of the Federal Reserve potentially implementing future rate cuts has fueled optimism in the stock market, leading to its best performance since 2022, this positive outlook contrasts sharply with the ongoing challenges many small businesses face, particularly those owned by minorities. These businesses continue to grapple with obstacles such as rising rents, diminished revenue, persistently high-interest rates, and the specter of inflation.

The delinquency rate among U.S. small businesses hit a new high this year, with 41% unable to afford to pay their rent in full and on time in November, per a report from Alignable. The online referral network for small businesses reported the finding succeeds two straight months at a 40% rate in October and September.

Further, the news is grimmer for minority-owned businesses. Some 61% could not pay their rent in November, representing the highest delinquency rate in a minimum of six months.

The inability of entrepreneurs to pay their rent raises worries over what else they cannot afford and boosts fears about how long they will be able to remain in business.

Such discoveries were among those in the report tied to nearly 3,770 small business owners surveyed last month, along with input from over 48,000 other respondents in the past year.

Among the report’s top disclosures was that 55% of small businesses reported higher rent requirements now than they had six months ago. Nearly 60% indicated they expect to make less money in this year’s fourth than they did in the same quarter last year.

Here are some actions proprietors can consider to cover their rent, based on research by BLACK ENTERPRISE:

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Contact your landlord and explain your position. Ask them for more time to pay until you know for sure you will have the finances. Ask them if an installment payment plan and waived late fees are options. Be sure to get whatever is agreed to in writing.

Try renegotiating your rent. This might be daunting to some small business owners when dealing with landlords. But you may have more bargaining power than you think. Be aware you’re not the only small business facing a rental payment crisis. Your landlord might be more open to rent renegotiation to retain you as a tenant. Do your homework before beginning the process to learn what the market rates are for commercial rent in your area. This could provide you with more leverage and support your case. Informing your landlord soon about financial aid headed your way could also be helpful.

Sublet unused space. Investigate the chance of renting any unused space to other businesses to help gain new revenue. Be sure to check with your landlord to see if the option is feasible and works with your rental agreement.

Cut expenses. Closely inventory all your expenses and see if any can be cut or reduced, including rent, supplies, and software subscriptions, for instance. Stop eating out or eliminate multiple streaming services. Be mindful that erasing nonessential expenses can help free up money to help pay the rent.

Research funding options. Explore the state government along with small business offices in your city or county to see what advice, information, or links they can offer pertaining to rental aid in your circumstance. Telling your landlord that you are pursuing extra funding might work favorably in your case.

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Brandon Jenkins Celebrates The Legacy Of Morehouse Men With New Nike Collaboration

by Derek Major

December 9, 2023

Brandon Jenkins Celebrates The Legacy Of Morehouse Men With New Nike Collaboration

For Jenkins, representing Morehouse College is special.

Brandon “Jinx” Jenkins, an award-winning TV, podcast host, photographer, and DJ, has teamed with Nike to create the new Terminator High sneaker to represent Morehouse College, his alma mater.

Andscape reports the sneaker is part of Nike’s 2023 Yardrunners 4.0 campaign, started in 2020 by HBCU students who work at Nike to celebrate the unique culture, style, and history of HBCU campuses, students, and alums across the country through events on campus, scholarships, and of course sneakers and apparel.

Jenkins, who was part of the Yardrunners 3.0 cohort, is one of five former Yardrunners who received the chance to design a sneaker. The other Yardrunners alumni selected to design a sneaker represent Spelman College, Tuskegee University, Alabama A&M, and Tennessee State.

For Jenkins, representing Morehouse College is special.

“Morehouse has that long legacy, that long lineage,” Jenkins told Andscape. “The first time you get to campus, they let you know that you’re standing on the shoulders of people before you, and it’s on you to keep that baton passing. And I thought a lot about those days and that conversation throughout the design.”

According to Jenkins, part of the design of the sneaker was to ensure it could be worn with a suit, which is a staple of being a Morehouse Man.

“I know how the Morehouse dudes dress. When you’re a freshman, you wear suits like, three days out of the week. It’s like, all right, can this sneakily go with a suit? Can you wear them out at a club? Can a freshman wear these and beat them to s— for years by the time he’s graduated?”

The Terminator model is mostly synonymous with the Georgetown University basketball teams of the early 1980s, including former New York Knicks center Patrick Ewing.

Jenkins outfitted the shoes in the school’s maroon-and-white colors and with Morehouse’s school logo on the tongue. The word “brotherhood” is printed on the laces, representing the bond between men who graduated 50 years ago and the Men of Morehouse who have yet to step on campus. On the inside of one of the sneakers are the motivational statements “Stay excellent” and “You got this.”

Morehouse College was founded as Augusta Institute on February 14, 1867, at Springfield Baptist Church in Augusta, Georgia, and is one of the most prominent HBCUs in the U.S. Notable alumni include Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., actors Samuel L. Jackson and John David Washington, filmmaker Spike Lee, and rapper Michael “Killer Mike” Render.

by Iman Milner

December 9, 2023

Army Fires Black Woman Commander, Cites ‘Loss Of Confidence In Her Ability’

She had been tasked with overseeing a brigade that provided support to Army units in Europe and Africa.

The U.S. Army has relieved commander Col. Crystal Hills of the 405th Army Field Support Brigade of her duties, citing a “loss of trust and confidence in her ability to command.” Hills had been tasked with overseeing a brigade that provided support to units in Europe and Africa, the Army Times reports.

The commander’s firing was handed down by Army Sustainment Command boss Maj. Gen. David Wilson and confirmed by a spokeswoman for the military branch on Dec. 4. Hills was appointed to the role in August 2022. The Army has not confirmed whether any misconduct was alleged prior to Hills’ firing and has not named a successor for her position.

The Germany-based brigade that Hills led is in charge of great amounts of weaponry and supplies, according to Stars and Stripes, and plays a pivotal role in making sure soldiers have the necessary artillery for service in both Europe and Africa. It’s unclear whether Hills will be given a position elsewhere.

Many Black women have risen in the ranks of leadership in the Army.

According to The War Horse, of the more than 400 women serving as sergeants major in this branch of the military, more than half of them identify as Black. That number is meaningful, considering Black women account for 36% of the Army. Black female recruits in the Army rank higher than their appearance in the civilian workforce.

“I know for me, as a woman, one of my big things is how am I going to be secured?” said Lynice Thorpe-Noel, a retired command sergeant major. For many women of color in the Army, Thorpe-Noel says her decision to remain in the armed forces is rooted in the idea that “as long as I’m moving up, I’m staying.”

Chicago Gang Leader Admits To Drug Trafficking And Attempting To Send Money To ISIS

by Iman Milner

December 9, 2023

Chicago Gang Leader Admits To Drug Trafficking And Attempting To Send Money To ISIS

Jason Brown also admitted to harboring loaded handguns to further his criminal activities.

A Chicago gang leader pleaded guilty to federal charges of attempting to provide material support to ISIS, distributing fentanyl, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, Fox News reports. Jason Brown, who allegedly shepherded the AHK street gang, was apprehended after giving money to an undercover law enforcement officer he believed was an ISIS fighter.

The 41-year-old man allegedly attempted to give payments of $500 on three different occasions.

Brown also admitted to harboring loaded handguns to further his criminal activities. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison for possession of the firearms; a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison for his role in distributing various narcotics; and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for his attempt to aid a terrorist group. He will face sentencing in May 2024.

Gang violence in Chicago continues to be cause for concern in a city often ravished by firearm homicides. Brown’s AKH gang included members of other criminal organizations like the Black P Stones, Gangster Disciples, and Four Corner Hustlers.

In August, Chicago Alderwoman Maria Hadden promoted an ordinance from a community group called Native Sons that asked gangs to commit to a ceasefire between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. in order to reduce the number of innocent civilian deaths.

“We have to start somewhere,” co-founder of Native Sons Tatiana Atkins said, according to ABC 33 News. “Our goal is to approach our city’s gun violence problem strategically and not all at once. Things didn’t become this way overnight, and change won’t happen overnight.” City officials had grown weary of attempts to quell gang violence, forcing citizens to deal with horrific and devastating aftermaths.

Brittany Griner, jersey, Baylor University, Russian, penal colony, coming home, Russia

by Iman Milner

December 9, 2023

Brittney Griner Strikes Deal With Disney To Produce Three Projects Detailing Russian Detainment

The six-time WNBA All-Star was arrested at a Moscow airport in 2022 and detained for months.

WNBA star Brittney Griner has inked a massive deal with ABC and its parent company, Disney, to produce three separate projects that will tell the story of her detainment in a Russian prison. Her wife, Cherelle Griner, will serve as an executive producer on the projects, Variety reports.

The entertainment giant will tell the athlete’s story in a documentary, a scripted series, and an exclusive interview with ABC News anchor Robin Roberts. The anticipated first-person account slated for ESPN Films will detail “the circumstances that led to her playing outside the U.S. despite being one of the best players in the sport to her harrowing detainment and the unwavering determination to secure her freedom, as well as her subsequent advocacy for the release of other wrongful detainees,” and will use “exclusive footage, recordings and letters to and from Griner during her time in prison.”

While there is no word on the scope of the scripted series, Griner’s resolve will be the common thread in all three, according to Variety.

“The last two years have been the most harrowing, transformative and illuminating period of my life, and I am grateful to be in a place now to share my story with the world,” Griner said. “I’m proud to partner with ESPN and Disney to share this very personal story because of its incredible potential to inspire hope around the world and their proven ability to do just that.”

The six-time WNBA All-Star was arrested at a Moscow airport in 2022 and detained for months. She was sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison for possession of marijuana, but would later be released in a one-for-one swap for arms dealer Viktor Bout.

Griner, who made her official return to basketball on May, recorded 18 points in the Phoenix Mercury’s loss to the Los Angeles Sparks and was named Comeback Player of the Year by the Associated Press.