Virginia High School Baseball Player In Coma After Batting Cage Accident
Jeremy Medina was injured on Nov. 20 at the high school.
A freak accident has led to a Georgia high school baseball player being in a coma.
According to NBC News, high school senior Jeremy Medina from Gainesville High School in Virginia was hit in the head with a baseball bat. The accident took place on Nov. 20 at the school’s batting cage. The school is located 60 miles northeast of Atlanta. A social media entry was posted on X from the Gainesville City School System.
“On behalf of the family we release the name of the student injured Monday, November 20th at 1:20 pm at Gainesville High School. Jeremy Medina, a senior at Gainesville High School and a pitcher and catcher for the 2022 baseball team, was accidentally struck in the head by a baseball bat while at the batting cage on campus,” the post read.
It continued, “Medina remains in a coma at Northeast Georgia Medical Center. Jeremy and his family are firm believers in Jesus Christ and His redemptive love, and are requesting prayer during this extremely difficult time.”
No further information was revealed on his condition nor about how he was struck by the bat.
WSB-TV reported that officials from Gainesville High School released their own statement as well.
“The entire Gainesville community is devastated by the news,” school officials said. “School administrators, the team and coaches are in contact with the family.”
A rival high school, Chestatee High School, posted well wishes toward Medina as well.
“We are praying for our neighbor and baseball friend at Gainesville. The baseball community is tight and We send all our love and prayers to the players, coaches and Gainesville Baseball family.”
NBC News also reported that the school wrote, “Jeremy is full of fight and grit on the baseball field and we pray he continues to fight with the same grit,” in a Facebook post.
Virginia State University To Be First HBCU To Host Presidential Debate In General Election
The Virginia HBCU will host the second general debate of the election season.
Virginia State University (VSU) is making history for historically Black colleges and universities. The academic institution is set to become the first HBCU to host a presidential debate during the upcoming general election in 2024.
NBC Newsconfirmed that the Commission on Presidential Debates selected VSU as one of its hosting venues on Nov. 20, as the Petersburg, VA institution will host the second debate of the general election season on Oct. 2 of next year. VSU, founded in 1882, also announced the historic honor to X.
Breaking News!!! We have been selected as one of the 2024 Presidential Debate sites. We are honored to serve as the first HBCU to host a General Election U.S. Presidential Debate. #GreaterHappensHere#VSUDebate24pic.twitter.com/nFXDi10ley
The university’s president, Dr. Makola Abdullah, expressed in a news release of how “grateful” they are for the opportunity to be a significant part of the election season.
“We are honored and grateful to have been chosen as a host for a 2024 Presidential Debate,” stated the educational leader. “This is a historic moment for our university and HBCUs nationwide. Our university mantra is ‘Greater Happens Here,’ and we look forward to welcoming the candidates, the Commission on Presidential Debates, and the entire nation to the GREATER at VSU.”
The press release also detailed the “momentous occasion” as the institution prides itself on sparking political discourse and enacting social change. Including a presidential debate on its campus only furthers its placement as a hub for diverse future leaders, as stated by the school’s Assistant Vice President for Government Relations, Eldon Burton.
“We have always been committed to excellence, inclusivity, and civic engagement,” shared Burton. “This incredible achievement will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on the campus community, the university’s reputation, and the nation as a whole. Now people will know that not only does Greater Happen at VSU, but history happens here as well.”
The debate will be held at the school’s Multipurpose Center, with the campus located 20 minutes outside Virginia’s capitol city of Richmond. While the candidates who will be in attendance are still vying for their spots, the event is sure to be groundbreaking for the country, especially HBCUs.
Potential Homebuyers Jump Into Mortgages As Interest Rates Continue To Fall
Mortgage applications went up 3% right before Thanksgiving 2023.
If you’re looking to purchase a home, now is the time. The amount of mortgage applications are coming in hot as interest rates continue to get lower, CNBC reports.
According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, applications went up 3% right before Thanksgiving 2023. Contract interest rates for typical 30-year fixed-rate mortgages went down to 7.61% to 7.41% – with points decreasing from 0.62 from 0.67 for loans requiring a 20% down payment. While the applications have been coming in strong, MBA’s deputy chief economist, Joel Kan, says they still are steady at very low levels.
“U.S. bond yields continued to move lower as incoming data signaled a softer economy and more signs of cooling inflation,” Kan said. “Mortgage applications increased to their highest level in six weeks, but remain at very low levels.”
Week after week, applications went up 4% but were still 20% lower than in 2022. Refinance applications went up just 2% during the Thanksgiving week and were close to 4% lower in the same week in 2022. Today, rates are going close to 75 basis points higher than last year but more than twice what they were in 2021 when refinancing was at a high. Most homeowners with mortgages have rates far lower than they would get now.
“The average loan size on a purchase application was $403,600, the lowest since January 2023,” Kan continued. “This is consistent with other sources of home sales data showing a gradually increasing first-time homebuyer share.”
Mortgage demands may be historically low, but the housing market is still struggling. A report from the National Association of Realtors shows sales for existing homes in October 2023 dropped to the lowest level in 13 years. To fight high financing costs, potential homebuyers have turned to larger down payments – with down payments rising to 14.7% in the third quarter.
Danielle Hale, chief economist for Realtor.com says, “the cost of borrowing remains high,” according to CNN. “If rates can hold onto this improvement, or notch a further decline, however, this could mean that ‘buying a home’ does seem like a viable new year’s resolution to a greater number of households,” she said.
Do your tastebuds a favor and cop these delicious Black cookbooks curated by BLACK ENTERPRISE
If you are at a loss for how to put it down in the kitchen, or you want to give the gift of meal prep to a dear friend or loved one, then these Black cookbooks will come through in the clutch—and right on time for your Black Friday shopping. These Black cookbooks not only provide recipes chock-full of yummy ingredients but invite cookers and readers to storytelling and visual experiences. They are one part how-to, one part narrative, and one part art. They are a perfect mashup to have on your bookshelf, coffee table, or kitchen counter. Do your tastebuds a favor and cop these delicious Black cookbooks curated by BLACK ENTERPRISE.
Original Flava
Photo credit: Ahsan Washington
British brothers Craig and Shaun McAnuff created a cookbook chock-full of your favorite Jamaican dishes. Check out the duo’s jerk chicken recipe.
From the restaurateur who brought us Slutty Vegan, Pinky Cole dropped a very vegan cookbook that shares veggie-inspired recipes along with her entrepreneurial journey. If you like chickpea meals, you’ll love the ones featured here.
Tanorria Askew’s cookbook is more than the typical. The former MasterChef contestant helps cooks use up the staple items in their pantry with 100 simple but satisfying recipes that you can purchase on this Black Friday.
Danni Rose’s cookbook was born from memories of growing up in Birmingham, AL at her dad’s juke joint. Rose shares the stories and the food of her childhood, and they’re perfect to add to your cookbook collection.
Surely the most urban contemporary cookbook in recent years. It’s made up of 75 plant-based recipes from the Bronx cooking collective known as Ghetto Gastro and written by James Beard award-winning writer Osayi Endolyn—and it is visually tasty.
HBCU Football Attract Tens Of Thousands Of Viewers On Average, According To FCS
Jackson State University’s football team had the highest attendance numbers out of all of the schools.
HBCUs have once again had a big year in sports based on the Football Championship Subdivision’s attendance numbers, HBCU Gameday reported.
Jackson State University’s football team had the highest attendance numbers out of all of the schools, garnering an average of 30,060 attendees in just four games and filling 75% of the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium’s capacity, where Jackson State holds its games. Though it’s a decline from last year’s season, which maintained an average of over 42,000 attendees between 2021 and 2022, this year’s numbers remain impressive and continue to surpass other collegiate football teams.
Trailing behind Jackson State in sixth place is Florida A&M University, which attracted 17,616 fans per game and meets 89.7% of capacity at Bragg Memorial Stadium. Southern University immediately follows in seventh place with an average of 17,465 in-person viewers. Alabama State University and Norfolk State University snagged two of the remaining top ten positions, landing at numbers eight and nine, respectively.
HBCUs have had resounding success in 2023, particularly in the sports world. In Oct., Nike announced its fourth annual Yardrunners 4.0 Class, which spotlights popular and influential people from HBCUs across the country, such as Bowie State University, Florida A&M, Hampton University, Howard University, and more. The campaign features exclusive college apparel representing the various schools, including the often-anticipated Terminator High collection, which offers sneakers inspired by different HBCU colorways.
Earlier this November, Bridgestone also announced a new partnership with the PGA Tour to create more inclusive and diverse spaces for golfers via its Bridgestone HBCU invitational tournament. The joint venture is part of Bridgestone’s Collegiate Development Program and the PGA Tour’s Pathway to Progression program, with aims to leverage resources so that underrepresented groups are given more opportunities to succeed.
Former Bad Boy Entertainment President Harve Pierre Accused Of Grooming And Sexual Assault In New Lawsuit
The suit has been brought forth by an anonymous plaintiff.
Former President of Bad Boy Entertainment Harve Pierre is at the center of a new lawsuit, which alleges that the producer used his position to groom and sexually assault his previous assistant, according to Rolling Stone.
The details of the suit, which has been brought forth by an anonymous plaintiff, were revealed on Nov. 22.
“Pierre used his position of authority as plaintiff’s boss to groom, exploit, and sexually assault her,” the complaint alleges. “Pierre engaged in a year-long pattern of grooming plaintiff, leading to sexual harassment of plaintiff, and sexual assault.”
The lawsuit indicates 2016 and 2017 as the height of the alleged sexual abuse, in which Pierre allegedly inflicted physical and mental trauma upon the victim. Bad Boy Entertainment is listed as co-defendant in the complaint for its complicity in Pierre’s behavior, stating that “defendants knew or should have known that Pierre was unfit to be in a position of authority before Pierre sexually assaulted plaintiff.”
The record label broke its silence about the accusations via spokesperson, saying, “We have recently become aware of a lawsuit filed in New York by a former employee. The allegations are from many years ago that were never brought to the attention of the company. Neither the plaintiff nor the executive are current employees of the company. We are now investigating the allegations, and our top priority is the safety and well-being of our employees.”
Pierre, also known as Joe Hooker, is most known for his close association and frequent collaborations with popular R&B and hip-hop performers such as the Notorious B.I.G, SWV, P. Diddy, and more. He worked under Bad Boy Entertainment for over three decades before his departure.
This newest lawsuit comes nearly a week after Sean Combs, commonly known as P. Diddy or Puff Daddy, was subject to a federal lawsuit filed by his ex-girlfriend and former artist Cassie Ventura, who accused the rapper of physical and sexual abuse, including trafficking, before reaching a settlement.
“After years in silence and darkness, I am finally ready to tell my story, and to speak up on behalf of myself and for the benefit of other women who face violence and abuse in their relationships,” she wrote in the initial lawsuit. Both Ventura and the anonymous plaintiff’s suits were filed under the Adult Survivors Act, which temporarily allows victims of sexual abuse to file civil cases that have passed the statute of limitations within one year, according to The Cut.
Ludacris’ Manager Chaka Zulu Will Not Face Trial For Murder After Prosecutors State He Acted In Self-Defense
During a confrontation, the music executive shot and killed a man in outside of his restaurant, APT 4B, in June 2022.
CEO of Disturbing Tha Peace Records and longtime manager of Atlanta hip-hop recording artist Ludacris, Chaka Zulu, will not be going to trial for shooting a man outside of his restaurant, APT 4B, in June 2022.
According to WSB-TV, Fulton County prosecutors have decided to drop a murder charge against the entrepreneur after saying that he shot and killed a 23-year-old man in self-defense. Zulu was approached in the parking lot by the shooting victim and others and after an argument ensued, he was shoved and reportedly shot the man after being attacked.
BREAKING: Prosecutors in Fulton County have dropped murder and other charges against Ludacris’ longtime manager, Chaka Zulu, after they determined he acted in self-defense when he shot and killed a 23-year-old during a fight in the parking lot of his Buckhead.@wsbtvpic.twitter.com/hm9gZVjFoW
A Fulton County D.A. Fani Willis Spokesman Jeff DiSantis emailed a statement to the media outlet.
“The Atlanta Police Department made an arrest on charges determined at a standard of probable cause, which is their duty in this and all cases The District Attorney’s office investigates cases to determine what can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt at trial…Our investigation of the facts and analysis of applicable law indicates that this is an appropriate resolution of this case based on the standard of proof required. Because the defendant is now involved in a pre-indictment diversion program, we will not comment further about the matter at this time.”
At the time of the shooting, multiple sources confirmed that Zulu, his assistant, and another friend were in the parking lot of the restaurant when approached by someone who had words with Zulu. The conversation intensified and escalated as the other man reportedly kept his hand on his waistband. A young lady pushed another man away from Zulu and he allegedly grabbed the man after he was bumped by him. Then a group of three or four other men, who were standing nearby, rushed in and knocked the music executive down. A melee ensued and shots were fired.
Zulu also was reportedly shot, with the bullet hitting close to his heart.
Zulu’s attorney also released a statement regarding his client’s dismissal of charges.
“Mr. Chaka Zulu, a beloved son of Atlanta, is pleased with the outcome of the thorough investigation conducted by District Attorney Fani Willis and her team of lawyers and investigators,” the statement read. “From the beginning of this case, Mr. Zulu was committed to a fair process. He fully believes that after a thoughtful examination of all the facts and evidence related to this matter, District Attorney Willis reached an appropriate and just decision. It is not lost on Mr. Zulu that there was a loss of life under extraordinary circumstances. However, it is now time for Mr. Zulu to put this difficult process behind him, and to focus on the support and nurturing of his family. Accordingly, we respectfully request privacy at this time, and that any inquiries be directed to the office of Gabe Banks, Esq.”
RELATED CONTENT: Ludacris’ Longtime Manager Chaka Zulu In ICU After Being Shot and Wounded Outside Atlanta Restaurant
Diddy Allegedly Forced Cassie To Get Breast Implants, Then Have Them Removed
Diddy allegedly forced Cassie to undergo a risky procedure.
Details emerged on Nov. 21, alleging producer Sean “Diddy” Combs forced singer Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura to get breast implants and have them removed shortly after.
An inside source spoke to Daily Mail about the exchange which took place after Thanksgiving in 2009. According to the anonymous witness, who said she was present when Cassie and Diddy appeared for a breast augmentation consultation with celebrity surgeon Dr. Frank Ryan, the rapper allegedly forced the “Me and You” singer to undergo the procedure. Unsatisfied with the size of the results, Diddy allegedly demanded that the doctor remove the implants the next day and have them replaced with smaller ones.
Dr. Ryan, who has worked with celebrities such as Heidi Montag, Gene Simmons, Shauna Sand, and Vince Neil, informed Diddy and Cassie of the health implications of quickly removing the implants. However, the source said Diddy challenged the surgeon’s advice.
“Diddy thought they could go into surgery, like now, and take them out,” the source said. In response, the doctor said, “No way,” after explaining why it should be six months before Cassie underwent another operation.
Diddy responded, “No, they’ve got to come out, call who you need to call, they’ve got to come out.” The source said Diddy was the main person voicing his opinions about how he envisioned Cassie’s breast implants during the 2009 office visits. Meanwhile, Cassie stood topless for photos in front of the surgeon and Diddy as he continued to describe what he wanted.
“She was like his doll, like a dress-up doll. She had a flat chest. He said he wanted a full shape, sexy but not too big,” the witness said. “Men are usually kind of quiet in these consultations. It was out of the ordinary that he was doing all the talking and she wasn’t saying anything. She appeared meek. She was more like a Stepford wife, agreeable, amiable, but quiet.”
“He wanted me there,” the source said. “He needed some support. He thought there would be strength in numbers, with me helping navigate him through this.”
Although the surgeon tried to stand firm on his stance that the procedure could not be done right away because Cassie needed time to heal and the fullness in her breast was due to fluid and swelling, Diddy pressured Dr. Ryan into performing the procedure.
“Privately, Dr. Ryan told me this was mutilation, that I can’t even believe this,” the witness added. “He was saying poor Cassie, this is awful.”
The source said this was the last time she saw Diddy or Cassie. The exchange, which took place at Dr. Ryan’s office, was just shortly before the doctor accidentally drove his car off a cliff in August of the next year, while driving and texting in Malibu.
As previously covered by BLACK ENTERPRISE, Cassie recently filed a $30 million lawsuit against Combs for his alleged abuse during their relationship. The allegations led to a settlement in less than a day. In the lawsuit, Cassie claimed Diddy beat her, forced her to have sex with multiple male prostitutes as he recorded the encounters, and had her use drugs.
Although the two parties reached a settlement quickly, more people are opening up to support Cassie’s claims. Daily Mail reported that the singer’s initial steps to share her truth has encouraged others to come forward and corroborate the claims. The witness refrained from speaking back then to avoid bringing up more issues in the former couple’s relationship. However, the source spoke out after the lawsuit was filed to support the claim in the lawsuit that Diddy had a very controlling nature when the couple was together.
The source spoke of how the occurrence was “always … traumatiz[ing],” further describing Cassie’s experience in the relationship as having no voice, being “treated like a rat,” and overall a “cruel” and “horrible” experience.
Cassie’s claims have also been reinforced by other people, such as rapper Young Joc, who said the rapper was the reason the singer shaved half of her head after seeing a woman with a similar haircut while at a club.
Former NFL Star Marcellus Wiley Faces Rape Allegations
In the lawsuit, the victim claims Wiley forced himself on her in a freshman dorm room, taking her virginity.
A Columbia University graduate has come forward to accuse former NFL defensive end Marcellus Wiley of rape during her time at the Ivy League school in 1994, according to a lawsuit obtained by TheNew York Post. The victim, now a sociologist and Ivy League professor focusing on race and culture, filed the lawsuit under the Adult Survivors Act, alleging that Wiley attacked her during his sophomore season as Columbia’s star running back.
In the lawsuit, the victim claims Wiley forced himself on her in a freshman dorm room, disregarding her objections and taking her virginity. The traumatic experience led to a suicide attempt by the victim, the suit claims.
“[Wiley’s] actions were intentionally designed to cause plaintiff severe emotional distress or were taken with reckless disregard of the significant and/or substantial probability of causing plaintiff severe emotional distress,” the lawsuit states, per The New York Post.
The victim recounted Wiley’s unwelcome visit to her dorm room, where she claims he forcefully ripped off her clothes and assaulted her multiple times. The victim alleged that Wiley verbally threatened her when she tried to escape, putting her back on the bed. When she reported the incident to Columbia administrators, her complaint was dismissed, purportedly to protect Wiley’s budding professional career.
The lawsuit accuss the late residential dean Kathleen McDermott of dismissing the victim’s case based on cultural differences, claiming that people from different cultures interpret things differently. Wiley faced academic probation but continued his successful football career.
The victim, along with a friend who encouraged the assault, said she faced harassment for months after reporting the incident. The lawsuit states that the victim attempted suicide during mandatory therapy, leading to a two-week hospitalization. Upon returning to campus, she claimed she discovered other women with similar stories about Wiley, leading her to join Columbia’s Take Back the Night chapter.
Wiley, a California native, enjoyed a fruitful NFL career after being drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 1997. The lawsuit claims that another woman reported a rape incident to Columbia’s athletics director, but it was allegedly buried until after a crucial game against Princeton. Wiley has not responded to requests for comment.
Diddy Hit With Second Sexual Assault Lawsuit, Victim Claims He Drugged And Recorded Her
A second lawsuit has been filed under the Adult Survivors Act, accusing Combs of sexual assault, drugging, and subjecting a woman to 'revenge porn.'
A second sexual assault lawsuit was filed on Nov. 23, under the New York Adult Survivors Act, against Sean “Diddy” Combs. In the latest suit, the music mogul is accused of drugging, sexually assaulting, and subjecting a woman to “revenge porn.” The civil suit, naming Diddy and his companies, including Bad Boy Entertainment, seeks unspecified damages for the alleged substantial and lifelong injuries plaintiff, Joi Dickerson-Neal, claims she suffered stemming from a 1991 incident when she was a Syracuse University student, as reported by CNN.
The lawsuit, filed in New York Supreme Court, demands a trial by jury and alleges that Diddy intentionally drugged Dickerson-Neal during a dinner date in Harlem, rendering her physically incapacitated. The suit further claims that Diddy sexually assaulted her, recorded the incident, and distributed the footage to others as “revenge porn.”
A spokesperson for Diddy dismissed the allegations as “made up and not credible,” describing the lawsuit as “purely a money grab.”
“This last-minute lawsuit is an example of how a well-intentioned law can be turned on its head,” the spokesperson said. “Mr. Combs never assaulted her, and she implicates companies that did not exist.” Bad Boy Entertainment has not yet provided a comment.
Dickerson-Neal’s life allegedly spiraled into severe depression and suicidal thoughts after the incident, leading to hospitalization. Despite filing police reports and speaking to prosecutors, she said that her allegations were not corroborated, and witnesses feared retaliation from Combs. The suit suggests that Dickerson-Neal continued working in the music industry, eventually leaving due to Diddy’s rising influence.
The lawsuit also connects Dickerson-Neal’s decision to come forward with the recent filing against Diddy by Cassie Ventura, his former girlfriend. Ventura accused Diddy of sexual abuse, rape, and trafficking, a case reportedly resolved amicably within a day of filing. Diddy’s representative clarified that the resolution was not an admission of wrongdoing.
