Kelly Oubre Jr., crash, Lamborghini
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 16, 2023

Police State Surveillance Video Doesn’t Show Hit-and-Run Incident Involving 76ers Kelly Oubre Jr.

“The Police Department currently does not have any video or photographic evidence that depicts this collision.”

Philadelphia 76ers player Kelly Oubre Jr. is currently not playing after allegedly being involved in a hit-and-run accident on Nov. 11 near his home. Yet, police officials say there doesn’t appear to be video surveillance footage of the incident, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Oubre told police officers that the accident occurred at an intersection in Center City, the popular Philadelphia neighborhood.

“The Police Department currently does not have any video or photographic evidence that depicts this collision,” Sgt. Eric Gripp, a department spokesperson, said Wednesday. “We continue to work in hopes of gathering evidence, and we encourage anyone who has information to reach out to our crash investigation unit.”

Gripp said the police isn’t saying that Oubre is lying but there is a possibility that based on what has been viewed, he could have given incorrect information. Footage was provided by two employees of businesses near where he claimed the accident took place. Investigators have confirmed that the crash supposedly happened on a well-trafficked downtown street.

Oubre, who just joined the team and is new to the area, was shaken up when giving the information to police officers. A source told the Inquirer that Oubre was only certain about walking back to his home after the incident.

“Listen, I don’t think it’s very fair to him to say that he’s made up some story,” 76ers head coach Nick Nurse said. “He’s one of our players, and we’re going to stand behind him. So am I. If some more evidence or anything else comes to light, we’ll handle it when it comes to light.”

On Wednesday, Oubre was at the practice facility doing a light workout. There is no word on when he is expected to return.

Ourbe has played for five teams, including the Washington Wizards, since entering the NBA in 2015.

New Policy Bans Chicago Police Officers From Joining Hate or Extremist Groups
by Sharelle B. McNair

November 16, 2023

New Policy Bans Chicago Police Officers From Joining Hate or Extremist Groups

It's been a long time coming.

Chicago’s civilian police oversight agency recently approved a new policy that prohibits police officers from joining hate or extremist groups.

On Nov. 13, the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) unanimously approved the policy, giving the Chicago Police Department 60 days to respond before it would officially take effect. The department’s general orders already prohibit officers from having “membership in or affiliation with criminal organizations and from association with known members of criminal organizations.”

According to a WBEZ Chicago investigative report, dozens of current and former Chicago cops are members or once participated in right-wing extremist groups, including the Oath Keepers. The policy would expand the reach for members of criminal groups from becoming Chicago police officers, something Commissioner Remel Terry says he is taking seriously.

“Given the seriousness and urgency of this issue, we feel it’s important we vote on this policy today,” Terry explained. “We will continue our work to ensure that the Chicago Police Department effectively implements this policy, monitors the implementation and provides regular reporting on the outcome.”

This change in CPD policy was inspired by Robert Bakker, who was accused by the city’s inspector general of being associated with leaders of the Proud Boys, labeled by the FBI as an antisemitic white supremacy organization. While he was given a 120-day suspension, Bakker is still a member of the police force. With the new policy, the change would have likely ended his career.

The new policy also includes “bias” groups, described as organizations that “advocate for systematic illegal prejudice, oppression, or discrimination, including disparate treatment, against an individual or group based on any protected class under federal, state, and local law, including race, color, sex, gender identity, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, military status, source of income, credit history, criminal record, or criminal history.”

To expand on monitoring their officers, Bureau of Internal Affairs Chief Yolanda Talley said CPD is conducting its internal investigation, which she said would be finished “in less than six months.”

Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson’s new police superintendent, Larry Snelling, has promised City Council members there will be more “stringent” efforts to rid the department of extremists and “remove those members from our ranks.”

CCPSA said it will monitor how the policy is implemented as Johnson has the power to veto. However, that’s unlikely, as he has promised to fire officers associated with extremist hate groups.

Amber Rose, OnlyFans
by Iman Milner

November 16, 2023

Amber Rose Shares Her Thoughts On Parenting, Says Oldest Son ‘Doesn’t Care’ About Her OnlyFans Page

The 'Slut Walk' creator and mother of two says she hides nothing from her children.

Amber Rose has spent much of her time in the spotlight being unapologetic about her body, sexual expression, and belief that women should have complete autonomy over their self expression. Now, the “Slut Walk” creator and mother of two says she hides nothing from her children, but instead chooses appropriate times to reveal the more mature parts of her life and career, People reported.

Rose, who has reportedly brought in $23 million via her OnlyFans account since 2020, revealed during an episode of the No Jumper podcast that her 10-year-old son, Sebastian, whom she shares with rapper Wiz Khalifa, knows about her adults-only page.

“He has the Internet, and I got to say he’s a really smart, funny kid, so he’ll be like, ‘Mom, I have an OnlyFans too,'” she said. “He doesn’t. But if Bash was sitting right here, you’d think you’re talking to an 18-year-old kid. He cracks jokes because he’s just a smart, funny kid.”

The 34-year-old model believes it’s her job to introduce her children to things before their own curiosity or the internet does the job on her behalf.

“Listen, you can’t hide anything. You can’t hide anything from your children nowadays. If you do try to do that, they will go somewhere else and get misinformed,” she continued. “At the end of the day, sex is natural. It’s a natural thing and people do it.”

Rose has spent the better part of the last decade advocating for sex-positivity via her annual Amber Rose Slut Walk, started in 2015 to empower women alongside the LGBTQ community and to put an end to sexual injustice, derogatory labeling, and gender inequality. The model believes her clear mission has made both of her sons “feminists already.”

“He doesn’t care. I taught him from a very early age that you cannot tell women what to do with their bodies. That’s it,” she said of her eldest son’s feelings about the explicit nature of her content. “So, if a girl is on OnlyFans and she’s making money off her feet pictures or if guys are stupid enough to buy pictures and videos of girls, let the girl make the money.”

Rose is not the only celebrity to rake in big bucks through their OnlyFans content. In 2021, Angela White, more famously known as Blac Chyna, reportedly earned $20 million per month, according to iHeart, while rappers Cardi B and Tyga brought in $9.3 and $7.6 million per month, respectively.

RELATED CONTENT: Saweetie Promises ‘Spicy Content’ On OnlyFans Competitor Fansly

This BIPOC Farmer’s Collective Sows More Seeds With California State Grant
by Atiya Jordan

November 16, 2023

This BIPOC Farmer’s Collective Sows More Seeds With California State Grant

Black farmers are still fighting for equal access.

A collective of Black farmers in West Sacramento, California, is sowing seeds for a sustainable tomorrow with its a recent $1.25 million grant.

Black farmers and co-founders Nelson Hawkins, Nathaniel Brown and Keith Hudson introduced the collective in 2021. Thanks to a state grant, Ujamaa Farmer Collective is expanding its mission to ensure secure land tenure and equitable access to resources for historically underserved farmers of color.

But they got help from a family of farming, racial justice and environmental groups that have come together for the love of growing food and maintaining relationships in the Sacramento area and Yolo County specifically. The family of local farms includes We Grow Farms and Brown Sugar Farm, two Black-led farms.

In response to the community rally, the California legislature allotted the funds 2022 for Ujamaa to purchase a medium-sized plot of land in Yolo County. Civil Eats reported that “the deed secures the tenure for multiple farms to operate on individual plots ranging in size from half an acre to 5 acres, each with a voice in collective governance and access to shared resources.”

“It’s also us facilitating that dynamic where we can really reduce the burden of entry,” Hawkins told Spectrum News. “And really help each other out because farming in and of itself, taking land out of the situation, is not easy.”

Today, the movement continues to shed light on the stark reality that the number of Black farmers has sharply declined. In 1910, African Americans owned more than 16 million acres of land. Today, they comprise just 1.3% of all farmers and own fewer than 5 million acres. The Golden State has witnessed even worse declines. The 2017 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) census counted just 429 African Americans out of approximately 124,000 growers.

According to a report by NPR, farmers of color face high rejection and withdrawal rates from the USDA’s lending process. Even though “direct loans are supposed to be among the easiest to get at USDA,” in 2022, the department granted direct loans to only 36% of farmers who identified as Black.

Hawkins, recently elected to California’s Land Equity Task Force, aims to provide security from the pitfalls of exclusion and discriminatory systems. “The more we can work together, nudge each other, and educate each other—we’re stronger together.”

In recent news, Ujamaa is teaming up with pepper farmer Nathaniel Brown, owner of Brown Sugar Farm. Thanks to the grant, Brown will gain access to agricultural land and financial stability for the legacy inspired by his grandmother. He is cultivating a half-acre parcel behind his family home in Citrus Heights. It is where residents and market goers can get a taste of the farm’s unconventional crops, such as Caribbean red, striped, and fish peppers, stinging nettles, and flowers. They are all grown using a home-brewed, brown sugar-based fertilizer.

The collective envisions a future where the BIPOC farming business can flourish without the burdens of land insecurities and financial strain. “We’re trying to get away from the more colonial, extractive, and destructive systems that have shaped farming over the last 100 years,” Brown told Civil Eats.

Haitian Gang Traps People Inside Hospital In Port-au-Prince
by Rafael Pena

November 16, 2023

Haitian Gang Traps People Inside Hospital In Port-au-Prince

A dire situation unfolded in Haiti on Nov. 15 as a heavily armed gang besieged Fontaine Hospital Center in Port-au-Prince.

According to the Associated Press, on Nov. 15 a heavily armed gang besieged Fontaine Hospital Center in Port-au-Prince, trapping vulnerable individuals, including women, children, and newborns.

Jose Ulysse, the hospital’s founder and director, urgently sought assistance through social media, highlighting the perilous conditions in a community overwhelmed by escalating gang violence.

Situated amid the Cité Soleil slum is the Fontaine Hospital Center, which has long served as a vital refuge from rampant gang activity. Residents of the area routinely suffer atrocities including rape, assault, and homicide.

Ulysse recounted that the gang members surrounded the hospital, setting homes ablaze in the vicinity and obstructing the exit of those inside. While he initially reported that some gang members had entered the hospital, he later clarified that they did not breach its confines.

Responding to Ulysse’s call, Haiti’s National Police force arrived with three armored trucks to facilitate the evacuation of 40 children and 70 patients to a secure location within the city. The delicate operation included transporting children reliant on oxygen.

“Gangs are in total control of the area,” Ulysse emphasized to the Associated Press, underscoring the security challenges faced by the community. A spokesperson for the National Police was unavailable for immediate comment.

Ulysse attributed the incident to the Brooklyn gang led by Gabriel Jean-Pierre, known as “Ti Gabriel,” who also heads G-Pep, one of two rival coalitions in Haiti. With approximately 200 members, the Brooklyn gang exercises control over specific communities within Cité Soleil, engaging in extortion, goods hijacking, and pervasive violence.

“The G-Pep coalition and its allies strongly reinforced cooperation and diversified their revenues, in particular by committing kidnapping for ransom, which has enabled them to strengthen their fighting capacity,” per a UN report.

The distressing event adds to the mounting challenges faced by Haiti since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, with gangs wielding increasing influence and a surge in kidnappings and killings.

Earlier this year, armed gang members infiltrated a hospital run by Doctors Without Borders, forcibly seizing a patient from an operating room by fabricating a life-threatening emergency.

home invasion, Oklahoma
by Rafael Pena

November 16, 2023

6-year-old Dies From Baseball Bat Attack 60 Days After Incident

Six-year-old Jeremy Diaz, who battled for his life after a vicious attack by a neighbor in September, died Nov. 14.

Six-year-old Jeremy Diaz, who has battled for his life since he was allegedly attacked with a baseball bat by a neighbor, has died.

On Jeremy’s GoFundMe page, his father, Arturo Diaz, said the boy died November 14 after the September 11 attack, The Huffington Post reported.

Jeremy was allegedly assaulted by his adult neighbor, Daniel Logan, who, armed with a baseball bat, forcibly entered the Diaz family’s Texas home. According to the Austin-American Statesman, Logan’s mother, attempting to intervene, also suffered injuries.

Logan’s wife, HuffPo reported, told police she called 911 when she saw her mother-in-law come back home covered in blood and “frantically screamed that Daniel was killing everyone inside.”

Following the assault, the community rallied, launching a GoFundMe to assist Jeremy’s parents with medical expenses. Jeremy’s father regularly updated well-wishers on the platform, sharing his son’s ups and downs.

According to court records, Logan was deemed incompetent to stand trial in October; a mental health evaluation is scheduled for Nov. 28. His attorney, Marc Chavez, emphasized the involvement of mental illness in the case.

“While the allegations sound troubling, we ask everyone to reserve judgment until all the facts come to light, especially while we investigate issues related to serious mental illness,” Chavez told USA Today.

Despite signs of improvement in Jeremy’s vital signs, a sudden and severe “neural storm” occurred Monday night, according to his father’s GoFundMe update. Neurostorming, often seen after traumatic brain injuries, can manifest in heightened heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature regulation issues.

“It was the worst storm we had seen, and it came out of nowhere. It was almost 6 hours of hell on earth―I can only imagine the torture he went through,” Arturo Diaz wrote on the GoFundMe page.

In a heart-wrenching farewell, Diaz expressed the profound pain of covering his son’s face for the last time, witnessing the bookends of Jeremy’s life. No parent, he wrote, should endure the agony of burying their child.

Biden, Student loans, senate, senate republicans, Arab, muslim, questions, visit
by Derek Major

November 16, 2023

Senate Republicans Fall Short In Bid To Stop Biden’s SAVE Student Loan Repayment Plan

Senate Republicans have fallen short in their bid to pass a resolution overturning President Joe Biden’s SAVE student loan plan.

Senate Republicans fell short in their bid to pass a resolution to overturn President Joe Biden’s income-driven plan for addressing student loans, Saving on Valuable Education (SAVE).

The Hill reported all Republicans and Democratic Senator Joe Manchin (W.V.) voted in support of a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution that would have discontinued the SAVE plan that went into effect this fall.

However, the 49 votes weren’t enough, as all Democrats except Manchin voted to fight off the latest challenge to the repayment plan, a 50-49 vote. 

Senate Republicans saw the loss coming and did not take it well.

“This is irresponsible. This is deeply unfair,” Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, said before the vote, according to The Hill.

The SAVE Plan is a two-part plan. This fall, borrowers will see a rise in their income exemption for student loan payments from 150% to 225% above the federal poverty guidelines. Borrowers will also not see their unpaid interest grow. Next year, monthly payments from discretionary income will be cut from 10% to 5%, according to the outlet.

In their bid to derail the SAVE plan, Republicans noted the plan will cost taxpayers more than $550 billion, adding that individuals who never attended college and those who have paid off their loans would be picking up the tab for others. 

According to Business Insider, student loan debt is Americans’ fourth-highest debt after mortgages, auto loans, and credit card debt, totaling $1.57 trillion. Millions of Americans with student loan debt were given a break during the COVID-19 pandemic as loan payments were paused and interest rates were set to 0% between March 13, 2020, and Sept. 1, 2023. Additionally, Biden has canceled the student loan debt of nearly 3.6 million Americans, totaling more than $127 billion.

Black-Owned Brewery Set To Open in Chicago Neighborhood
by Rafael Pena

November 16, 2023

Black-Owned Brewery Set To Open in Chicago Neighborhood

In the heart of Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood, a new Black-owned brewery is poised to make its mark on the local scene.

In the heart of Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood, a new Black-owned brewery is poised to make its mark on the local scene when it opens November 30.

Turner Haus Brewery, on 47th Street and Michigan Avenue, is the brainchild of the Turner family. It’s driven by a passion to both serve pints and address community needs, as reported by NBC Chicago.

The Black-owned and family-operated establishment will share its space with Sip and Savor Coffee Shop, creating a hub for socializing and gathering in the neighborhood.

It’s a labor of love.

“We named all of our beers after a matriarch in our families, and we really think about who they were as a person as we’re coming up with a recipe to honor them, so we really put that into the ingredients,” co-owner Blair Aikens told NBC Chicago.

The brewing process becomes a tribute to family matriarchs, with each beer named after a beloved grandmother or figure. “These are people that poured into us, and now we pour pints of them,” Turner explained.

“I look at it as an opportunity because at that point it’s an opportunity for us to get into this community, educate them not only who we are, but beer and craft beer in itself,” he added.

With less than 1% of craft breweries being Black-owned, Turner Haus Brewery seeks to contribute to changing this statistic.

Living in Bronzeville, Turner is committed to reinvesting in the community and has found a supportive partner in Trez Van Pugh III, owner of Sip and Savor Hospitality Group. Van Pugh sees the brewery as a positive force for the community, creating jobs and generating excitement.

The brewery plans to operate Thursday through Sunday, offering a selection of five craft beer options on tap, including a grapefruit lager. Turner hopes the brewery encourages others to invest in the area and expand entertainment options in Bronzeville.

Atlanta Rapper T.I. Appears With Mayor Andre Dickens At Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony For Affordable Housing Development
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 16, 2023

Atlanta Rapper T.I. Appears With Mayor Andre Dickens At Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony For Affordable Housing Development

T.I.'s affordable housing development, Intrada Westside is located on Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway

Turning an old shopping center, where his grandmother used to get her groceries, into an affordable apartment complex, Atlanta rapper T.I. was present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony that took place on Nov. 14.

According to WSB-TV, the “Rubber Band Man” lyricist, who talked about the construction of this housing development over two years ago, finally got the chance to show off the site. Along with his wife, Tiny; the mayor of Atlanta, Andre Dickens; and several groups involved in making this project happen, he helped unveil the housing unit.

The housing development includes 143 apartments and has 25 special units that have been set aside for homeless youth.

“The arts and entertainment industry in this city has been able to collaborate and, I guess, be profitable enough to offer the community so many things that are much needed,” the man born Clifford Harris told the media outlet.

Fox 5 Atlanta reported that the Intrada Westside is located on Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway.

“When you listen to Tip’s album… he shouts out all the neighborhoods right around here,” Mayor Dickens said.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, T.I. revealed a little tidbit about the location on which unit is built on.

“I’m going to tell y’all a secret. Don’t tell nobody. I got caught stealing from this Kmart,” T.I. said. “I thought that, you know, just to offset the shame that came with that, it would behoove me to invest in the community by acquiring these properties.”

The address for the development is 2174 – 2176 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway, and it includes commercial/retail space and community gardens, according to a press release from Atlanta Housing.

T.I. was raised in the Center Hill neighborhood near Bankhead Highway. A few years ago, he launched “Buy Back the Block,” in conjunction with APD-Urban Planning and Management and Dynasty Real Estate Development. The real estate venture buys properties in Tip’s childhood neighborhood and flips them into affordable housing for the community.

Letitia James, Fraud, Trump
by Sharelle B. McNair

November 16, 2023

You Mad? Trump Calls Out NY Attorney General Letitia James For ‘Smirking’ In Court

New York Attorney General Letitia James has Trump in his feels. HARD.

Former President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social social media platform to express his dislike of New York Attorney General Letitia James’ facial expressions.

James sat in on the civil fraud case on Nov. 14. According to Trump, she was “smirking all day long” while his legal team beefed up his defense.

“Racist A.G. Letitia James is smirking all day long from her seat in Court,” Trump wrote. “You have a (Trump-Hating!) Attorney General who’s seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages when not a single penny was lost by these banks, and that’s part of this (Unconstitutional!) Law. You can see from the reaction of A.G. James, every morning from that seat, that she is enjoying this, enjoying it a bit too much.”

https://twitter.com/Democracy1stE/status/1724430361113829798

Spectators who sat in on the trial claim Trump was visibly irritated with James’ presence, who rested her case Nov. 15. As his son Donald Trump, Jr. was set to provide his testimony when courtroom cameras panned to get a glimpse of James looking satisfied.

The now-four-time indicted businessman has attacked James for what he described as unfairly targeting him for politically motivated purposes. Judge Arthur Engoron found the Trump Organization and the leadership team liable for fraud before the trial started. Things have gotten so heated between Trump, James and Engoron that, according to Fox News, the judge had to implement a gag order against the former president after he lashed out against the court publicly.

On Nov. 6, James spoke to the media, saying the defendants’ actions were predictable, but she won’t be silenced.

“He rambled, he hurled insults—but we expected that,” James said. “Mr. Trump obviously can engage in all of these distractions…and engaging in name-calling. But I will not be bullied. I will not be harassed. This case will go on.”

Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba, sat in on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures to take jabs at James, accusing her of having political motives behind her Trump attacks.

“Mrs. James wanted a headline. She campaigned on this, remember, before she was even the attorney general,” Habba said. “That’s how she got the attorney general role. She campaigned on Trump, so she had to follow through, and she should really dismiss this case. It’s making her look bad, frankly, and the city needs her attention elsewhere.”

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