Urbana, IL, Witnesses Significant Drop in Cannabis-Related Arrests Following Legalization, Blacks Still Targeted More

by Rafael Pena

November 30, 2023

Urbana, IL, Witnesses Significant Drop in Cannabis-Related Arrests Following Legalization, Blacks Still Targeted More

In the wake of cannabis legalization, Urbana, Illinois, has seen a substantial decline in cannabis-related arrests over the past three years.

Since January 2020, in the wake of cannabis legalization, Urbana, Illinois, has seen a substantial decline in cannabis-related arrests over the past three years, a trend that experts and law enforcement officials expected but may have surpassed initial expectations, according to CU-Citizen Access.

Urbana maintains a public database meticulously logging all cannabis-related arrests within the city, covering offenses like possession over the limit, delivery, and manufacturing. The comprehensive data spans arrests, citations, and summons, categorized by arrest type and listed outcomes.

CU-CitizenAccess, a local news outlet, meticulously reviewed arrest data for 14 distinct cannabis-related crimes, ranging from 1988 to February of this year. The numbers reveal a continuous decline in cannabis-related arrests even before legalization, with 203 arrests in 2013 plummeting to a mere 34 in 2020 when cannabis became legal.

The downward trajectory persisted through 2022, reaching a strikingly low number of only 12 arrests. Notably, only one arrest was recorded in the data available until February.

Urbana Interim Police Chief Richard Surles affirmed that the decrease in arrests aligns with law enforcement’s shift in focus toward specific aspects of cannabis use, emphasizing charges related to large-scale possession and other offenses linked to cannabis use.

Surles stated in an email, “Cannabis certainly falls into the category of drugs that would trigger a DUI arrest,” highlighting the evolving legal landscape around driving under the influence of drugs.

Peter Contos, deputy director of the Cannabis Equity Illinois Coalition, a nonprofit advocacy group, noted that traffic stops not only lead to cannabis charges but also other violations, such as gun-related offenses.

The data, however, comes with its set of challenges, with discrepancies, typos, and incomplete information. The dataset, last updated in February this year, remains incomplete due to a transition to a new system.

The data reveals a persistent disparity in cannabis possession arrests, with men consistently arrested more frequently than women, even post-legalization. After legalization, the data indicates 54 men to 7 women being arrested for cannabis-related charges.

Examining the racial breakdown, Black individuals are disproportionately arrested, constituting 77% of arrests since legalization. Out of 61 arrests in Urbana over the past three years, 47 were Black,10 were white, and four were Hispanic.

Data further underscores that young Black men between the ages of 17 and 30 remain the primary demographic for cannabis-related arrests, making up about 52% of all arrested individuals since legalization in 2020.

Despite the overall decline in arrests, cannabis advocacy groups and criminal justice-based advocacy groups have been actively involved in expunging or sealing records related to past cannabis offenses. Peter Contos emphasized that even if records are expunged, the official data might still retain a record of the arrest.

Contos explained that individuals seeking expungement face a comprehensive process involving local and state police forces, the court system, and FBI records. Although the expungement process is rigorous, there are no limitations for people seeking to clear their records in Illinois. Despite these efforts, the data retains records but has limited identifying information.

As Urbana navigates the evolving landscape of cannabis legalization, questions about the social impact, law enforcement priorities, and equity in the enforcement of cannabis-related laws continue to be at the forefront of public discourse.

rick, ross, farm, promises land, bison, cows, acres

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 30, 2023

Rick Ross Is A Proud Farmer And Wants Others To ‘Just Try This’

"Sit you f-ck-ing phone down and just sit back and relax."

When he’s not rapping or performing on stage, Rick Ross enjoys farming and being a cowboy on his ranch.

The “Hustlin” rapper has proudly boasted about the “Promise Land” zoo he has created since purchasing his massive 235-acre Fayetteville, Georgia, estate. He has highlighted the bison on his ranch along with the trees he chops down during his free time.

It’s a far different lifestyle than most of his peers. But it’s one Ross relishes in and wishes others could experience to become one with nature. When asked if he identifies as a farmer, Ross explained why he happily embraces the title.

“F— yeah,” Ross tells People. “You just wish many others get to just try this. Try this for once. Try this for once. Just relax, let everything go. Sit your f—ing phone down and just sit back and relax. Let’s feed the cows some carrots. Let’s talk to the horses. Let’s fish for four hours. Let’s do that. Let’s do that.”

With swarms of livestock and acres of land, Ross enjoys “a different vibe” on his ranch that makes him feel like a “cowboy at times.” It’s what he credits for resetting him and not getting too caught up in life as a wealthy rap superstar.

“And maybe that’s how I recharge my battery and when I get around music, I’m ready to go, because I do a little bit of it all,” he said.

Ross’s new hobby is something he calls “salt life”—nice boat rides out on the water. “Being on the water, being in the boats, being on the boats. I’m taking different boats on test drives. Test rides. Yeah, different vibes,” he said.

He also recently purchased a boat that has become his “favorite.”

Ross has made headlines with his massive estate that sprawls across 235 acres and 45,000 square feet. Purchased in 2014 for $5.8 million, Ross’s add-ons have made it worth much more today, Square Yards reported.

EPA Proposes $45 Billion Overhaul To Remove Lead Pipes From U.S. Water Utilities To Protect Children

by Iman Milner

November 30, 2023

EPA Proposes $45 Billion Overhaul To Remove Lead Pipes From U.S. Water Utilities To Protect Children

Water utilities companies would be given 10 years to make the necessary adjustments.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a potential complete overhaul of the nation’s water utilities system that would call for the removal of all lead pipes in order to protect children. The changes would carry a price tag of $45 billion, according to an article in The Washington Post.

The new regulations would require companies to dig up existing lead piping in an effort to reduce the lasting effects of toxic chemicals leaking into the water supply. Lead has been known to cause significant health issues, including cognitive damage in young children. Currently, 9 million lead pipes remain in the U.S. and the government has never made it mandatory for them to be removed.

“This is a public health concern that has unfortunately spanned generations and an issue that has disproportionately affected low-income communities,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said during a call with reporters on Nov. 29. “Our proposed improvements are a major advancement.”

Water utilities companies would be given 10 years to make the necessary adjustments, with a percentage of the work required to be done annually. The proposed rule would not allow companies to make partial replacements, in which they only make changes to the portion of pipes they own despite high levels of lead leaking into the water of nearby homes. The changes would echo the promise of President Joe Biden, who made a declaration to remove every lead pipe by 2031.

“We’re replacing every single, solitary lead pipe in America. Hear me?” the president said during a White House event this summer.

Though environmental advocates are praising the Biden administration’s commitment to rectifying the ongoing lead pipe issue, it is unclear where the funds will come from to pay for such an undertaking.

The drinking water industry believes changes of this magnitude will cost an estimated $65 billion, a number significantly larger than what the infrastructure law has set aside. The neighborhoods that will face greater hurdles to a complete overhaul are those with a large number of older schools and homes, predominately those in Black and brown communities.

Aaron Perry Embarks On Nationwide Book Tour To Inspire Health Among Black Men

by Rafael Pena

November 30, 2023

Aaron Perry Embarks On Nationwide Book Tour To Inspire Health Among Black Men

Aaron Perry, founder and president of Rebalanced Life Wellness Association, kicks off his nationwide book tour on Nov. 30.

According to Madison365, Aaron Perry, founder and president of the Rebalanced Life Wellness Association, kicks off his nationwide book tour on Nov. 30. To spread the message of health and resilience, Perry aims to visit 250 Black barbershops and reach 30,000 Black men.

Perry was an overweight diabetic who turned his life around by competing as an Ironman athlete. He hopes to inspire more Black men through his book Through the Storm.

“That book has been shared with diabetics primarily in the United States, but also over the world. Still today, I get people who reach out to me regarding how inspired they were about my story of being diabetic and not knowing how to swim and doing the Ironman,” Perry told Madison365.

With a goal to create a once-a-month podcast after completing half of the book tour, Perry plans to revisit barbershops and reflect on the impact of his books. The discussions will center on improving the health of Black men further, acknowledging the persisting health crisis in this demographic.

While addressing health disparities through his books, Perry aspires for the Black barbershops to evolve into health centers. He envisions replicating the success of his Men’s Health and Wellness Center, located inside JP Hair Design in Madison, on a national scale. According to the outlet, the center provides preventative health screenings, insurance navigation, health information, blood pressure monitoring, COVID boosters, flu vaccinations, and mental health counseling.

Rebalanced Life Wellness Association, led by Perry, has already made history with its Men’s Health and Wellness Center. Perry’s advocacy work in Black men’s health gained national recognition, with appearances on the Megyn Kelly Show and honored in Time Magazine’s 2018 “50 Most Influential People in Health Care.”

Sponsored by Dean Health Plan by Medica, the nationwide book tour will extend its reach beyond Madison in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois. Perry anticipates completing the full tour by December 2026.

As the soft launch commences in Madison, Perry emphasizes the tour’s goal: “This book tour came about just looking for ways to continue to inspire and encourage men to focus on their health. While men are waiting to get their haircuts, they will be able to get the book in their hands, read a nice story, be inspired, and maybe even reflect on their health and be moved to take action. That’s really the goal of the book tour.”

school, training, income, potential, earning, education, wealth

by Carolyn M. Brown

November 30, 2023

The Importance Of Training To Boost Your Income Potential

How to maximize your earnings potential by getting more training and education

Originally Published Mar. 13, 2009

In today’s swelling jobless environment, most people are trying to batten down the hatches, hoping to hang on to their current employment and to avoid rocking the boat. Who would dare request a raise or seek a promotion? In fact, a number of companies have asked employees to take a salary reduction to help the company survive this economic tsunami.

Like most people, you may assume that a higher-paying job will bring you a better lifestyle. But financial advisers point out that an increase in income of $100 is the same as a decrease in expenses of $100.

Admittedly there are times when you just need to make more money to make ends meet. There are ways to boost your potential to earn more money. One is through formal education and training, as past career studies have shown.

Typically this has meant getting an advanced degree or taking continuing education courses. But today’s economic climate calls for greater scrutiny of what applies to your specific situation, said Karen D. Bowser, a Five O’Clock Club career coach and principal of New York-based Bowser Research & Consulting Inc.

Bowser suggests a more informal path of educating yourself about what is going on at your company and in your industry. For example, she says, participate in employee networking or affinity groups events.

“This way you get to know people in other parts of the company. Also, become more involved with professional associations or trade groups to learn about trends and challenges within your profession. “You become better informed and that makes you more of an asset in your company,” she added.

It also pays to develop a board of career advisers. Make sure you have several mentors inside and outside of the company who can provide specific training, advice, and direction on your career development and leadership responsibilities.

Regardless if you feel like your job might be in jeopardy, you need to do an assessment of yourself to drive your career forward, Bowser said. “Take a look at your past experience and education.

“What are the things that you do well and enjoy doing? What skills should you be using in the workplace? You can access career assessment tools as well as career counselors through The Five O’Clock Club.

Companies still rely heavily on the intellectual capital of key employees to manage resources and lead departments. So, upgrading your skills can still increase your chances of getting a higher salary, a promotion, or a better job. Career counselors caution that right now you may not want to invest in an advanced degree, but you can still take coursework.

If it will give you a leg up the ladder, enroll in executive management or career advancement programs. Such courses will help you to develop and enhance core competencies, as well as improve your standing within the company. By participating in an executive education program, you may learn how to put effective collaborative methods of leadership into play. Check out top colleges and universities across the county, a number of which offer career advancement, executive management, and business education programs.

Also, even if you aren’t prepared to change jobs to grow your career, continue to update and revise your resume. Go on exploratory interviews in order to stay abreast of the current market, Bowser suggested. This allows you to know what people are really looking for beyond what is placed in an ad, and how well you come across based on your experience and education level.

“It is important that you understand what you can and cannot control,” Bowser said.

“You cannot control whether your company is going to lay off employees. But you can control your skills set and what you have to offer–your desirability on the market.”

LAPD, Americans with disabilities act, bane, officers, police, lawsuit, veteran, 10M

by Rafael Pena

November 30, 2023

Fatal Stabbing At North Carolina High School Reportedly Fueled by Ongoing Feud

The fatal stabbing at Southeast Raleigh High School was preceded by weeks of escalating tensions and warnings, the parent of the alleged stabber says.

The fatal stabbing at Southeast Raleigh High School in Raleigh, NC, on Nov. 27 was preceded by weeks of escalating tensions and warnings, according to Cherelle McLaughlin, the mother of the 14-year-old student now charged with murder.

McLaughlin said she had alerted school officials about potential threats to her son’s safety just before two teenagers were wounded in the fight. The 15-year-old who died and a 16-year-old who remains hospitalized with what Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson called non-life threatening injuries, according to The News & Observer.

The conflict originated from an altercation involving McLaughlin’s older daughter and another female student at the high school several weeks ago. The dispute snowballed, involving multiple juveniles, and culminated in the fatal fight.

McLaughlin said more than a dozen kids, many of whom were later involved in the fatal fight, visited her house last week, where they assaulted McLaughlin and her mother.

Concerned for her son’s safety, McLaughlin informed the school’s case worker on the morning of Nov. 27, that she feared he might be attacked for defending his sister.

“My son was fighting for his life. They were threatening to jump on him. I warned the school that morning right before I dropped him off,” she told The News & Observer.

According to the newspaper, “The Raleigh police officer assigned as the school resource officer at Southeast Raleigh High responded at 11:01 a.m. Monday to a report that a juvenile was stabbed during an altercation involving other students. Video clips posted on social media by multiple students appear to show a fight spilling over from a hallway into the gymnasium, where a knife is visible.”

Raleigh police obtained a secure custody order for the 14-year-old, charging him with murder on a juvenile petition. The identities of the victims and the suspect have not been officially released, but McLaughlin identified her son as the charged 14-year-old.

Raleigh police spokesman Lt. Jason Borneo said the ongoing investigation may include examining relationships between the juveniles involved and their families.

The stabbing prompted a Code Red lockdown on Monday and the cancellation of classes on Nov. 28.

LeBron James Blasts NFL’s Suspension Of Tyreek Hill’s Photographer Following Celebration

by Iman Milner

November 30, 2023

LeBron James Blasts NFL’s Suspension Of Tyreek Hill’s Photographer Following Celebration

LeBron James calls for the NFL to 'Do better.'

NBA superstar LeBron James is using his platform to call out the NFL for what he feels is an unjustified suspension of wide receiver Tyreek Hill’s photographer. James took to Instagram to defend 20-year-old Kevin Fitzgibbons, who the league banned from its sidelines for participating in Hill’s touchdown celebration on Oct. 15, TMZ reports.

“Man, “this is F’d UP!!!,” the NBA’s oldest active player said, “Suspended for the year and possibly for good! C’mon NFL! Do better! S*** ain’t that serious.”

Hill’s on-field celebration, which included the player taking Fitzgibbon’s phone and recording himself doing a backflip after scoring a touchdown, became viral immediately, but the NFL was far from pleased. Hill was penalized by officials during the game and fined after; however, Fitzgibbons was given a much more stern punishment. The photographer had his NFL media credentials stripped for the remainder of the 2023 season, and it is unclear whether they’ll be reinstated in the future.

Fitzgibbons humbly accepted his penance with a gracious response posted to TikTok, CBS Sports reports.

“They said regardless if I knew the celebration was coming or not, I still had to be disciplined and that I shouldn’t have jumped on the sidelines after the play. One of the best moments of my life turned upside down in a matter of seconds. I get why the NFL had to make this decision and wish I could’ve done something to prevent it, but I’m thankful for the memory Tyreek gave me,” he said. “This was the greatest job in the world and I never took a day for granted. I can’t thank the NFL enough for the opportunity. Whether it’s back with the NFL or starting a new sport, I just hope to get another chance at doing what I love.”

Hill addressed his celebration after the game. “I seen the camera, and I just took it from him. And he didn’t want me to take it from him,” he said, according to The Athletic: “That’s my boy KFitz, man.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 30, 2023

Long Island Man Caught On Video Dumping Girlfriend’s Body Sentenced To 25 Years To Life

Goey Charles was sentenced for killing his pregnant girlfriend and then dumping her body on the sidewalk

On Oct. 23, 2020, Long Island’s Goey Charles was caught on surveillance video in Queens, New York, dumping the body of his then-pregnant girlfriend. He was arrested and charged with second-degree murder by the New York Police Department. Now, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, that man was given a sentence of 25 years to life in prison for the murder.

Goey Charles, who resided on Rochelle Court in Uniondale, New York, was given the sentence on Nov. 29 by Queens Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Holder for the murder of his pregnant girlfriend, 29-year-old Vanessa Pierre. A Queens jury convicted the 33-year-old Charles on Nov. 14.

In a written statement, Katz said: “We asked for the maximum sentence because of the brutality of the crime and the defendant’s remorseless discarding of the lifeless body of his girlfriend, the woman who was soon to be the mother of his child. The sentence does not bring Vanessa back, but it achieves justice in her memory.”

Pierre, a Hempstead resident, was three months away from having the couple’s child. She was discovered face down on the side of Horace Harding Expressway near Bell Blvd. in Bayside, Queens.

According to trial records, Charles had driven Pierre’s Dodge Challenger near 216-07 Horace Harding Expressway on Oct. 23, 2020, around 2:50 a.m. About 40 minutes later, he exited the car and headed toward the backseat where Pierre had been seated. About an hour later, at about 4:36 a.m., Charles allegedly dragged her out of the Challenger and left her lifeless body out on the sidewalk, then got back in the car and drove away.

An MTA bus driver saw Pierre’s body on the ground at approximately 6:00 a.m., with a pair of gray sweatpants wrapped around her neck. When emergency responders got to the scene, they pronounced her dead. The medical examiner determined that she died from asphyxia due to compression of the neck.

On October 23rd in the confines of the 111th precinct, 29-year-old Vanessa Pierre and her unborn baby were found deceased lying facedown on the sidewalk off of Horace Harding Expressway. pic.twitter.com/OiTW0AMzud

— NYPD Chief of Department (@NYPDChiefOfDept) October 27, 2020

When Charles was arrested, he initially told investigators that he hadn’t seen Pierre in a week.

live, within, means, hacks, money, wealth, income, net worth, budgenista, Tiffany cliche, investment, budget, assess, money,

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

November 30, 2023

Living Within Your Means Is The First Step In Wealth Building

Many people get into a bad habit of spending more than they earn In turn, they get trapped in more debt than they can handle.

Originally Published Mar. 13, 2009

Many people get into a bad habit of spending more than they earn or spending money on items they want rather than on those they need. In turn, they get trapped in more debt than they can handle.

For example, say someone buys a new car, not because his or her current vehicle is broke down but because he or she wants to impress friends, colleagues, and neighbors with the latest model. Or a person’s closet may be overflowing with shoes and clothes because he or she wouldn’t want to be seen wearing the same item more than once.

Even if you aren’t guilty of overindulging, you may still very well be living beyond your means. In other words, your average spending is exceeding your average earnings, explains Gwendolyn V. Kirkland, a certified financial planner and managing principal with Kirkland, Turnbo & Associates in Chicago.

Some tell-tell signs: You find yourself living from paycheck to paycheck. You owe outstanding balances on several credit cards. You regularly use payday loans or credit cards to pay household bills, such as rent, utilities, and groceries. You have zero savings or fail to keep an emergency fund equal to three months worth of living expenses. You try to float checks in order to pay your bills.

Assess your situation

What can you do to live within your means? For starters, assess your situation, Kirkland says. You need to monitor two important figures: your average monthly income and your average monthly expenses.

“List your income from all sources (i.e. salary, pensions, Social Security, rental property, child support, alimony, commissions or bonuses). “How much money is leftover once you subtract your monthly expenses? If everything is covered by your income, you are living within your means. If not, you are going to have to reduce your expenses or increase your income, Kirkland says. She suggests cutting back or cutting out unnecessary expenses, even if that means shutting off cable TV for six months to a year or eating out less often.

Develop a spending plan

Set a price that you are willing pay for items. This could mean that you don’t buy anything that isn’t on sale and you never pay full price for anything, be it a house, a car, clothing, etc.

Put in writing how much you plan to spend each week or each month. You can use spreadsheets and personal finance tools available via Quicken or BudgetTracker, or you can simply use an Excel spreadsheet or a pen and notebook to track spending.

Kirkland cautions that earning more money won’t make a bit of difference if you don’t understand how to save it and apply it toward paying off your outstanding credit balances. If you don’t break the bad money habit of spending more than you earn, Kirkland says, you’ll have nothing to your name but debts–and maybe a great wardrobe.

Janelle, Monae, Flyna Boss, genderless, spirit of soul, recipient, non binary,

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 30, 2023

Janelle Monáe First Recipient Of Genderless Spirit Of Soul Award

Singer/actress Janelle Monáe inspired the Soul Train Awards to go genderless for the Spirit of Soul Award.

Janelle Monáe inspired the Soul Train Awards to go genderless for the Spirit of Soul Award.

The 36th Annual Soul Train Awards took place Sunday, Nov. 26. Monáe became the first recipient of the Spirit of Soul Award, which since 2015 has been known as the Lady of Soul Award, per KSMB.

But Soul Train decided “to honor the diversity and inclusivity of this year’s recipient,” BET announced. Monáe accepted the award after performing two separate sets, one to her Age of Pleasure single “Float” and a more upbeat performance to her song “Champagne Sh*t.”

The rap duo Flyana Boss presented the award to Monáe, who gave an impassioned speech that touched on her musical influences, systemic justice, and being recognized by the Soul Train Awards.

“It’s nothing like being recognized by your own—by your own family—yall are family to me,” she said. “Thank you so much, BET. Thank you so much, Soul Train. Thank you for keeping the soul alive. So many people have reinvented that word and I’m just so honored to have something like this for us that continues to evolve and showcase so many different forms of what soul can be.”

https://twitter.com/JanelleMonae/status/1729264306137759958

Noting a line from Prince’s “I Would Die 4 U,” Monáe celebrated her nonbinary identity.

“The spirit of Prince, whose spirit taught me ‘I’m not a woman. I’m not a man. I am something that you’ll never understand.’”

“As we continue as a people to fight against the systemic injustices and abuses of power that have gone unchallenged for way to long yall-I ask us all to please in the spirit of love, let the spirit of kindness use you, let the spirit of empathy use you, let the spirit of peace be your guide, always and forever,” Monáe concluded. “May our spirits guide us toward creating a safe and equitable place for our people. May we all experience joy, the spirit of true joy. Let the spirit use you, baby!”

Monáe came out as nonbinary during an appearance on Red Table Talk in April 2022. “And if I am from God, I am everything. But I will always, always stand with women. I will always stand with Black women. But I just see everything that I am, beyond the binary.”

Later that year, she told the Los Angeles Times that her “pronouns are free-ass motherf***er – and they/them, her/she.” She had previously come out as pansexual in 2018.