Exonerated Man Now Clerk Of Criminal Court In New Orleans
Duncan believes time is of the essence to many inmates when dealing with documents that can assist in exonerations.
Calvin Duncan, who spent more than 28 years in prison before his murder conviction was overturned, was elected as Orleans Parish Criminal Court Clerk by the citizens of New Orleans.
Duncan, an advocate and attorney, secured 38,681 votes, about 68% of the vote, in the Nov. 15 run-off election, according to the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office.
Duncan said he ran for clerk because he saw first-hand how long it took incarcerated people to get basic documents and to have their cases reviewed.
In a press conference, he spoke candidly about his time as an inmate and the difficulties he faced while navigating his case. Duncan believes time is of the essence to many inmates when dealing with documents that can assist in exonerations.
“Tonight is a dream that’s been 40 years in the making,” Duncan said. “I hope that all those people who died in prison because we couldn’t get their records are looking down now. I hope they’re proud of me. We never stopped fighting for each other’s rights, and I will never stop fighting for yours. Thank you for this privilege.”
Incumbent Darren Lombard quickly conceded the race on election night.
“I want to congratulate Calvin Duncan on his victory,” Lombard said. “I stand ready to support a smooth and professional transition so that the important work of this office continues without interruption.”
Duncan spent decades fighting to clear his name in a 1981 fatal shooting, all while maintaining his innocence.
After years of searching, Duncan and other investigators uncovered evidence that police officers lied in court. His conviction was tossed by a judge in 2021. Duncan has since become known for helping fellow inmates file their appeals and understand court procedure.
In 2020, his advocacy helped drive the Supreme Court decision that ended non-unanimous jury convictions in Louisiana and Oregon. The states were the last two states that still allowed the Jim Crow–era practice.
West African Woman Attempted Suicide After Deported To Non-Native Country Under Trump Order
The woman reportedly feared for her life as she was forced into a detention center upon arriving to Ghana.
A West African woman reportedly tried to commit suicide after being deported to a non-native country in the region due to a Trump order.
The woman reportedly attempted to take her own life while she was in custody for the forced deportation to Ghana, despite not being a native citizen. Her deportation follows a growing list of others, particularly Black migrants, removed from the United States under the Trump administration’s sweeping deportation efforts.
Immigration officials have signed deals with several African nations, including Ghana, Rwanda, and South Sudan, to facilitate the passage of African migrants through their territories. However, the Trump administration has garnered significant backlash over its alleged handling of migrants, including shipping them off to these countries regardless of their native roots.
This third-country deportation program has already sparked international concern by global human rights organizations, especially as some deportees are imprisoned in these nations’ jail systems upon arrival. Furthermore, concerns about their safety if returned to these nations have led U.S. judges to impose legal blocks.
Several other fellow deportees taken with the woman have also endured transfers in secret, according to Ana Dionne-Lanier, an attorney for one of the deported people.
While countries that are part of these agreements promised to ensure deportees’ safety within their borders, Dionne-Lanier told Capital B News that this is an unregulated provision. Upon arriving in Ghana, her clients and the woman stayed in a hotel with limited phone access before being taken to a detention camp.
Given the alleged conditions and safety concerns of this classified deportation measure, the West African woman opted to no longer be on this earth than stomach the inhumane ordeal. The woman was immediately hospitalized following the attempt.
Dionne-Lanier also suggested that the woman drastically feared for her life once she returned.
“The risk of being removed back to her own country was too much for the person,” explained the attorney.
However, her client had legal cause to be in the U.S. without typical immigration documents. He had won a “withholding for removal” before an immigration court, as he proved that he would face potential persecution or torture if returned to his native country. Under U.S. law, the government cannot return individuals to countries under these stipulations.
However, the Trump administration has allegedly been bypassing this order to continue its mass deportation policies. Sweeping criticism of the new policy, including concerns about constitutional violations and safety risks to migrants, continues in the U.S. and West Africa.
“We are aware of the situation involving Kris Boyd and will have no further comment at this time,” a rep from the Jets said per the paper.
Police officials said two gunshots were fired. It was not clear if Boyd was the intended target.
Witnesses weren’t forthcoming with information on what took place, but sources said the suspected gunman left the scene in a BMW X6 SUV. Reportedly, another vehicle, a silver Mercedes-Benz Maybach, left the scene shortly after the shooting.
Before being taken away from the scene, Boyd lapsed in and out of consciousness. The incident occurred just after 2 a.m.
Authorities said the shooting is under investigation and there have been no arrests. The New York Police Department released a video/photo of the man suspected of shooting Boyd.
“SUSPECT WANTED: The NYPD have released new surveillance video showing the person they believe shot New York Jets cornerback Kris Boyd in Midtown.”
SUSPECT WANTED: The NYPD have released new surveillance video showing the person they believe shot New York Jets cornerback Kris Boyd in Midtown. – https://t.co/4p0qNuor9epic.twitter.com/7TmZRybrHV
Sei Less, an Asian-fusion spot, is popular among the hip-hop and sport celebrity crowd.
Boyd, a cornerback, was placed on injured reserve Aug. 18 after injuring his shoulder in the preseason. Surgery ended his first season with the Jets. Boyd has also played for the Minnesota Vikings, the Arizona Cardinals, and the Houston Texans since 2019.
Located in New York City, URI is the country’s largest provider of domestic violence shelter services. The team serves more than 40,000 people annually, and on any given night, 4,000 people sleep in one of its safe beds. The experts at URI say domestic violence is not only a crisis of safety but one of economics and multigenerational trauma.
“There are many misconceptions when it comes to domestic violence,” Nathanial Fields, URI CEO, tells BLACK ENTERPRISE. “It’s believed that women are the overwhelming victims of domestic violence, but what we know is that 1-in-4 women and 1-in-7 men are impacted by domestic violence.”
Another misconception is that domestic violence is physical because those bruises can be seen. However, there are other forms of domestic violence, including psychological abuse, emotional abuse, and economic abuse.
Economic Abuse: The Hidden Crisis Affecting 98% of Domestic Violence Victims
The staff at URI works with numerous individuals who’ve been impacted by economic abuse, which involves exerting control over income, spending, bank accounts, and other financial assets. Abusers can also maintain control by taking identification cards, documents, or taking out lines of credit or debt to prevent victims from leaving.
“About 98% of victims of domestic violence are impacted by economic abuse,” says Fields. “About $3 to $5 billion is lost in the United States on healthcare, other expenses, and loss of productivity because of domestic violence. Eight million people miss work, and half of the survivors are forced to quit their jobs.”
URI has developed innovative programming that provides victims with tools for financial empowerment, including financial coaching, credit repair, and career pathways. Through its economic empowerment center, the team works with individuals in shelters as they heal by assessing their interests and connecting them with opportunities through community partnerships and educational institutions.
“We provide internship opportunities with entities around the city, and we have relationships with job placement centers for individuals moving forward with their lives,” says Fields.
“When I was at URI, I was at a survival stage. When I left URI, I was able to save money. I saved over $10,000 and … [eventually] started my own business,” said Obina Escort, a domestic violence surivivor.
The team is also out in the community, educating younger generations and abusers about domestic violence to help break the generational cycle.
How URI Is Breaking the Domestic Violence Cycle With Early Intervention
A key component of prevention in URI programs is targeting middle- and high-school-aged students and teaching them about healthy relationships. The organization has educated thousands of young people about the behaviors consistent with domestic violence, so they can avoid these kinds of relationships or obtain the help they need if they are involved in an abusive relationship.
URI also tackles the problem head-on by educating abusers and working with those who have caused harm.
“We can’t end domestic violence unless we work with those who harm,” Fields adds.
As for what’s next for URI, Fields hopes they can continue to be at the forefront of groundbreaking initiatives. Recently, the organization became the only domestic violence provider that accepted people with pets. Fields hopes URI continues to inform policy for New York City as it did with the Paws Act of 2018, New York State, and beyond.
Currently, URI is working to have polices and laws passed so victims are not held accountable for debt that their abusive partner exposed them to.
“As we move forward, we want to continue to raise awareness around domestic violence,” says Fields. “We know it’s underreported. We want people to know that there are resources and know how to get help.”
GŪD Essence: Inside The New Black Woman-Owned Retail Dispensary In Clearwater, Florida
A recent analysis revealed that Black people own less than 2% of all national dispensaries.
The Black woman-owned medicinal cannabis brand, GŪD Essence, has opened its first retail dispensary in Clearwater, Florida. Jasmine Johnson, the founder of the brand, says that opening the first retail space is more than a milestone, but a homecoming for the born-and-raised Floridian.
“This is very big,” says Johnson. “Getting into Florida is one of the most difficult markets to break into … I’m really proud to be able to do this with my family support, my parents, and also not to have outside dollars interrupt the integrity of what we’re trying to do here.”
While the exact numbers are difficult to pinpoint due to the evolving nature of the industry, a recent analysis revealed that Black people own less than 2% of all national dispensaries. In Florida, where medical marijuana and low-THC cannabis are permitted, Shop Cuzzies reveals that there are fewer than five Black-owned dispensaries. High entry costs are one factor contributing to the lack of retail diversity, along with the challenges faced by equity candidates without significant corporate backing.
Johnson has had her fair share of setbacks.
Pivoting After Denial by the State of Florida
Johnson says the first round of licenses awarded felt like a mystery. It was only after the first five licenses were awarded around 2017 that she realized an application was needed to apply. She and her team thought the next round of applications would open up in less than a year, but the opportunity to apply again was a 7-year wait.
After spending $148,000 on the application fee and dedicating time to a 750-page application, she was not awarded a license. Florida hadn’t reopened its application since she applied, so she went in a different direction, involving a partnership and an acquisition.
“Right now, we are waiting on the license to be awarded,” says Johnson. “There were 22 notices of intent to award. We have entered a purchase agreement to purchase one of those licenses.”
She adds, “It has been ups, downs, and all arounds, but it has never been, ‘Let’s give up or look at a different state.’”
What To Expect Inside GŪD Essence Dispensary
What sets GŪD Essence apart from its competitors is that Johnson prioritizes the “good part” of the cannabis industry and its culture. The “Ū” in her brand represents unity.
Johnson wants people to focus on centering themselves and understanding why they are consuming the cannabis plant, what they want their experience to be, and ultimately, what they want to gain.
“It’s not about getting high. It’s beyond that,” says Johnson. “Our model is all things cannabinoids. For example, some cannabinoids are a bit stronger than Ozempic. If people are looking for an Adderall version, there’s a cannabinoid for that.”
According to Johnson, Florida has one of the largest patient markets in the world for medicinal cannabis, and she feels cannabinoids don’t get the attention they deserve for their medicinal value. While educating people about the benefits is a priority for anyone who walks through her doors, she hopes the dispensary’s bold, bright colors serve as an invitation to those seeking a welcoming space.
“That’s something I think is desperately needed in the cannabis space. Cannabis is supposed to be a fun, friendly experience,” says Johnson, who also has a background in hospitality and tourism management. “We’re here to bring the color back, along with the warmth and hospitality.”
A medical patient card is not required, as the products at the Clearwater location are available to both patient and non-patient cardholders.
Maryland Sisters Lead Bold Fight To Reclaim Ancestral Land Taken From Their Family
Descendants of William Dove, the Gasaway sisters, are building economic power, community coalitions, and a vision for affordable housing on the land.
In the late 19th century, William Dove—a man born into slavery—made an extraordinary investment in his family’s future when he purchased 36 acres in what is now Potomac, Maryland, for $210. Though Dove never lived to see the lasting impact of that choice, his descendants grew up understanding its meaning. Over time, that land was stripped away through eminent domain and the discriminatory systems routinely used to dispossess Black landowners. By the time Dove’s great-great-granddaughters were born, every acre had been absorbed by Montgomery County and private developers.
In an interview with Essence, LaTisha Gasaway-Paul, Teresa Gasaway-Gleaton, and LaTrice Gasaway-Johnson, known locally as the Gasaway sisters, were raised on those stories. “I could hear the pain in her voice,” LaTisha recalls of their grandmother’s retellings. “But I also heard something else: determination. She made us promise we wouldn’t forget.” They kept that promise—and turned it into a mission.
Today, the sisters operate Montgomery County’s largest Black-owned childcare company and host the region’s biggest Juneteenth festival, which has drawn thousands since 2021. Their most ambitious effort, however, is a plan to reclaim county-owned parcels that once belonged to Dove and develop affordable homes for families descended from those displaced. It is, they acknowledge, a lofty undertaking. But their approach has been steady and intentional.
Teresa emphasized the strategic power of their business success. “The business has given us something our ancestors didn’t have: economic power,” she said. Revenue from childcare helps fund their Juneteenth festival and supports their long-term fight for the land. “William Dove may have lost his land, but he gave us something more valuable. He showed us that ownership is power.”
That philosophy guides the sisters’ work in Scotland, a historic Black settlement founded by formerly enslaved residents. Dozens of such communities once existed across Montgomery County; many have disappeared entirely. The sisters hope to reverse that cycle of erasure. LaTrice envisions homes where descendants can put down lasting roots. “When I envision that reclaimed land, I see homes,” she says. “This won’t look like every other development. It will look like us.”
Their advocacy has drawn recognition from Montgomery County leaders, Gov. Wes Moore, Congressman Jamie Raskin, and Sen. Angela Alsobrooks. But progress has demanded years of meetings, planning, and persistence.
“Let me be clear: it isn’t easy, and it isn’t a handout,” Teresa notes. “We’re fighting this fight every single day. But we’re powered by attorneys, architects, and our village, and we’re one step closer.”
Their Juneteenth festival has become central to community mobilization. “When you celebrate together, you build power together,” LaTisha says. Those who gather for music and food often become the same supporters who sign petitions or attend public hearings.
Momentum grew further in 2024 when Scotland A.M.E. Zion Church received a $1 million donation from the Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation.
This year, the sisters brought together more than 10 historic Black communities for what they believe is the first “Kinship Communities Dinner.” The gathering revealed the scale of shared struggles—and the strength in collaboration. One elder told them he had “never seen anything like it.”
For the Gasaway sisters, reclaiming Dove’s land is about more than recovery—it is about rewriting what the future looks like.
“Our great-great-grandfather invested $210 in our future,” LaTisha says. “We’re investing everything—our time, our resources, our very beings—in making sure his investment pays dividends for generations to come.”
Biology Student From Antigua Makes History As Hofstra University’s First-Ever Rhodes Scholar
Nelson's research in sustainable energy uses her home country's native resources.
An international student has made history at Hofstra University as the college’s first Rhodes Scholar.
Resa Nelson of Antigua has become Hofstra’s first recipient of the coveted scholarship. Nelson has also made history for Antigua, becoming the second Rhodes Scholar to hail from the Caribbean nation.
The Rhodes Scholarship offers students a post-graduate award to the University of Oxford in England. Candidates are selected from thousands of applicants, chosen based on criteria such as academic excellence, moral character, and “devotion to duty,” as reported byForbes.
Majoring in biology, the college senior stood out for her research that focuses on sustainability in her home country. According to ABC7, her work focuses on transforming local seaweed in Antigua into sustainable biofuel.
She now takes her place with the cohort selected for the class of 2026. One of the most prestigious honors in academia, Rhodes Scholars alums include former presidents, Nobel Prize winners, and acclaimed scientists.
“I would not be surprised if we’re talking about Resa becoming not only a Rhodes Scholar, but the president of a corporation or a Nobel Prize winner at some point,” shared Dr. Javier Izquierdo, a professor at Hofstra and mentor to Nelson. “She’s someone who is dedicated to doing positive things for our world.”
Nelson originally hoped to obtain a medical degree. However, she discovered her passion for research, leading her to a new career path that may revolutionize her country’s energy resources.
“I realized I loved the act of discovery, the process of asking questions, and finding answers,” she said.
Nelson also recognized how many from her background lack representation in the sciences, an issue she hopes to dismantle. A mentor to her community, she also supports the youth as they develop their own academic passions.
Beyond environmental sciences, Nelson also has a knack for medical research, particularly in stem cell development. She hopes her time at Oxford will further this mission to help transform the health of Afro-Caribbean people.
“I see myself developing the first Afro-Caribbean stem cell line, that’s my big dream that we can take a stem cell and turn it into anything, and then that can be used as a diagnostic tool,” Nelson said.
As she prepares for her time at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, Nelson has already made history with a mission to break even more barriers for Afro-Caribbean women in bio-research.
Virginia Lottery Plans $43M In 2026 Spending With Minority Firms, Including Black Businesses
A focus on transparency and equitable community engagement will be among tools used to broaden activity and business relationships.
Several reports claims that state lotteries can have drawbacks for Black Americans. Research has shown that Black people spend much more on lottery tickets than other minority groups, including the total dollar amount and percentage of income.
However, from a business perspective, Khalid Jones is taking action to provide minorities, including Blacks with favorable outcomes as executive director and CEO of the Virginia Lottery. He told BLACK ENTERPRISE that he aims to spur change by focusing on transparency and equitable community engagement.
For its fiscal 2025, he helped the lottery achieve record revenue of over $5.7B. That windfall shows it truly has the capital to boost business prosperity.
Its revenue mostly stems from instant in-state draw games, online lottery games, virtual sports, and national jackpot games like Powerball and Mega Millions. The lotto revealed that all its $901M in current profits supported K-12 public education. Jones was appointed the lottery’s top leader in April 2024.
Simultaneously, Jones stressed that the Virginia Lottery highly emphasizes responsible gaming, reinforcing that through advertising efforts, community events, and direct outreach.
While his lottery’s research shows people from all socioeconomic levels gamble, Jones says he strongly urges them never to play beyond their means or budget. “We understand that the lottery has critics, and as any organization should, we are always committed to listening to ways that we can improve what we do for our players, retailers, and our beneficiaries.”
Commerce-wise, Jones says his goal is to ensure that all businesses have access to the lottery’s resources, including partnership and procurement opportunities.
He laid out several of his initiatives that include:
Expanding a procurement awareness program to elevate prospects for small, women-owned, and minority (SWaM) businesses. “We anticipate a total of $180M in total procurement spending by next year, of which we expect roughly $43M to go to SWaM businesses.”
He added that the lottery connects with local chambers and other trade groups to inform how SWaM vendors can more effectively work with the enterprise. “I want to make sure that lack of knowledge of opportunity is never an impediment to working with us.”
Boosting diversification among the lottery’s game providers. As of now, Jones says there are zero Black-led or -owned game providers who supply content to the lottery. Jones says he is making it a point to get those providers on the pipeline. He says that’s a big deal as the Virginia Lottery operates the largest digital lottery platform in America. “I think there is uncovered content we can unlock if we can introduce different voices into the game creation itself.”
Escalating spending with various Black organizations. That includes advertising more in Black-owned newspapers like the Richmond Free Press and being a sponsor for the Richmond Jazz & Music Festival. Jones plans to maintain partnerships with Norfolk State University and Virginia State University and extend relationships to other HBCUs statewide.
Continuing a community partnership in supporting the Hampton Roads Committee of 200+ Men Scholar’s Breakfast. He says the annual event backs young Black men from the seven cities of Hampton Roads who graduate with a 3.0 or higher. This past year, Jones was the keynote speaker, a first for a lottery director with the group. “It shows the lottery is committed daily to supporting students, teachers, and school personnel in all parts of Virginia.”
Jones’ background includes over 20 years of experience applying business growth and expanding strategies in the lottery, gaming, and sports industries. Among his stints: A partner in a licensing consulting firm and a lawyer working on large-scale government investigations.
Further, his lottery agenda consists of focusing on attracting a younger audience and higher-valued players. He, too, is tapping into innovative technology, such as implementing AI-powered tools to streamline operations.
He has adopted some tactics from casual gaming platforms like Candy Crush to entirely reimagine how players interact with lottery products.
Altogether, his efforts to share wealth with the Black community and change the lottery could be transformative for the enterprise.
“My charge is to provide funding to K-12 public education,” he says. “I think that we can do that best when we expand opportunities to all communities and avoid exclusivity.”
Avery Research Center Marks 160 Years Of Preserving Black History In South Carolina’s Lowcountry
The research center hosts an extensive collection of archives surrounding Black Lowcountry culture.
The Avery Research Center, focused on Black life in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, has reached a milestone.
Around 160 years ago, the Avery Normal Institute was founded to educate formerly enslaved Black people in the Lowcountry region, a coastal area in the southeastern United States, to Black people there learn new careers and livelihoods post-slavery.
Later, it educated the children of formerly enslaved people as a traditional private school. Now a part of the College of Charleston, it was officially renamed the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture at the College of Charleston. It serves as a holding place for many of the archives surrounding this lesser-known part of history. Those seeking to reconnect with their familial or cultural heritage tied to Lowcountry often look to the Avery Research Center.
“Whenever you come into the Avery, we’re always going to tell you welcome home. No matter who you are. Because you will be able to find yourself. You’ll be able to find your family. You’ll be able to find anything within our building,” said Daron Lee Calhoun II, a leading figure at the center, to WCSC.
Parts of its initial schooling house remain intact, including the pillars that helped its foundation stand. Built by the community of formerly enslaved Black people it once served, the fingerprints of these builders are also visible.
Many come not only to discover more about African American history, but to reconnect with their own. With its extensive archives, visitors can discover their own family records if they are tied to this land.
Its vast collection of documents has inspired the travels of many scholars, including famed writer and scholar W.E.B. Du Bois and civil rights activist Septima Clark, an alumnus of the original school. Clark kept some timeless artifacts at the institution, including handwritten papers and a personal note from Langston Hughes.
“We are not gatekeepers of history, but we are here to share the history with the world,” Calhoun said.
To mark its generational legacy of preserving Black life in the Lowcountry, the Avery Research Center will host a 2025 Avery Family Reunion. The communal celebration, which will take place Nov. 16, includes live music and traditional storytelling.
Sports World Calls Out Cop At Texas A&M Game For Bumping, Yelling At South Carolina Player
The Texas Department of Safety trooper was relieved of his gameday duties.
Sports legends and enthusiasts joined the growing opposition against a state trooper at a Texas A&M-hosted football game on Saturday who bumped into and then berated University of South Carolina players.
In the now viral footage, a white Texas Department of Public Safety trooper yelled at South Carolina wide receiver Nyck Harbor after he scored a touchdown, which put South Carolina up 20-3 with under a minute left in the second quarter.
Following the TD, Harbor entered the tunnel. As Harbor and his teammates began to walk back to the field, the trooper bumped past them and began angrily pointing his finger at the players. The players, who appeared confused by the act, walked away.
what in the world was this officer thinking here trying to bump through Nyck Harbor and another South Carolina player before scolding them? pic.twitter.com/Bdp3ja9s4I
As the incident made waves on social media, the internet began to condemn the man for his own unnecessary roughness. LeBron James called the trooper’s action “premeditated” and “corny [as f-ck].”
That A&M cop needs to suspended! That was premeditated and corny AF!! 🤦🏾♂️. He went out his way to start some shit. Do better man
“That A&M cop needs to suspended! That was premeditated and corny AF!! . He went out his way to start some sh*t. Do better man,” shared the NBA star.
Texas A&M Police announced that the state trooper would be “relieved of his game day assignment.” The Texas Department of Public Safety added that officials sent the trooper home from the game afterward. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) will also reportedly look further into the issue.
However, the altercation also speaks to the treatment of young Black men by law enforcement even when on the world’s biggest fields.
