Julio Urias, domestic violence's MLB, Major League Baseball

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 5, 2023

Los Angeles Dodgers Pitcher Julio Urias Arrested For Domestic Violence

A Major League Baseball pitcher was arrested after an alleged physical altercation with his wife.

According to The New York Times, Los Angeles Dodgers player Julio Urias was arrested and charged with a domestic violence felony on Sept. 3, just after 11 p.m. The incident occurred after a Major League Soccer contest at the BMO Stadium in South Los Angeles.

The 27-year-old was released on $50,000 bail before 5 a.m. on Monday.

The Dodgers franchise is aware of the arrest and has responded with comments regarding the pitcher’s status.

“We are aware of an incident involving Julio Urías,” the Dodgers said in a written statement.

“While we attempt to learn all the facts, he will not be traveling with the team. The organization has no further comment at this time.”

Urias has had previous run-ins with law enforcement over suspected domestic abuse allegations.

Four years ago, the player was involved in a similar situation when the Los Angeles Police Department arrested him on suspicion of “intimate partner battery.”

The Los Angeles Times reported that Urias, then 22, was involved in an altercation with a woman in the parking lot of a shopping center. The team said the woman was his wife, and she later stated that she fell on her own. At the time, the prosecutor agreed not to file misdemeanor charges as long as Urias was not arrested for violent criminal behavior that year.

Urias was suspended for 20 games that year for that infraction, although no charges were brought against him. He was punished for violating the league’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse Policy. If he is suspended again under the same infraction, he will be the first and only player to be suspended twice under that policy. MLB instituted the rule in 2015.

He is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 27.

by Daniel Johnson

September 5, 2023

RICE Center Recieves $1M Grant To Create PayPal Retail Academy

The Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs received a $1 million grant from PayPal to launch a PayPal Retail Academy designed to help Black businesses get off the ground.

According to a press release, the grant is a continuation of PayPal’s Southern Communities Initiative, launched in April 2021, to address the racial wealth gap. MSN reported the initiative is set to launch in January 2024.

RICE President and CEO Jay Bailey shared the implications of the program.

“Beyond education, this partnership symbolizes growth for our entrepreneurial community,” Bailey said.

“We recognize the paramount importance of harnessing retail avenues and embracing digital transformation. The PayPal Retail Academy will serve as a conduit for this knowledge, empowering RICE Stakeholders to navigate the complexities of retail with resilience and innovation. Every facet of the academy is meticulously designed to elevate entrepreneurs to new heights.”  

PayPal is allowing RICE to manage and facilitate the formation of the academy, which will be open to all companies and businesses in the group, focusing on underrepresented communities served in the Atlanta metro area. Academy participants will receive grants from $2,500 to $10,000, along with mentorship and coaching from PayPal employees.

RICE’s hub is the largest in the country dedicated to providing resources to Black-owned businesses. It supports over 360 Black-owned businesses at different stages of development, ranging from ideation to scaling up.

PayPal previously awarded the RICE Center a $5 million grant in 2020 to help Black-owned businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the press release, PayPal’s CEO Dan Schulman said that the grant fits into PayPal’s mission of supporting a diverse financial system.

“Empowering entrepreneurs and helping strengthen small businesses are key to PayPal’s mission to make our financial system more accessible and inclusive,” Schulman said.

“Through invaluable partnerships with organizations like RICE, we can create greater economic opportunity and build thriving communities.”

AARON JONES, PACKERS, DOLPHINS, PURCHASE

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 5, 2023

Green Bay Packers Aaron Jones Purchases Miami Home For $7M

An NFL player scored big when he purchased the home of a rapper who listed his house in 2022 after having it for four years.

According to The New York Post, Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones recently bought the Miami Beach home of recording artist Lil Pump. The house has been described as a waterfront home with over 5,000 square feet. Lil Pump reportedly paid $4 million for the property in 2019.

The house is at 1510 Bay Drive and has five bedrooms and seven baths. The football player can also enjoy the 20-foot-high ceilings in the living room, a chef’s kitchen, and open water views.

The rapper reportedly purchased the home in 2019 for $4.65 million. The property was initially listed for $8.7 million last February.

Jones is coming off a career year where he registered personal highs in rushing yards (1,121) and receptions (59). The 28-year-old running back is entering the third year of a four-year, $48 million deal with the Packers, according to Sportac.

The football player has been with the Packers for six seasons and is going into his seventh. Yet, recent reports note that the team is engaging in talks for a trade with the Miami Dolphins for running back Jonathan Taylor, which has led to speculation that Jones’ time in Green Bay is just about up, according to WI Sports Heroics.

Fans took notice of the home purchase, which has led many of them to suggest that Jones may be heading to the Dolphins.

Aaron Jones = future Dolphin https://t.co/XGXPgYh0lp

— Troy (@mrburnerking) September 1, 2023

Aaron Jones, you are a dolphin

— Gabez(Fins Better) (@ShutupGabez) August 31, 2023

Aaron jones getting traded to the dolphins 🤣 https://t.co/HzHBjHHI3N

— Hitbox dawg (@FatsDomino09) August 31, 2023

Apparently Aaron Jones is gonna be a Dolphin

— L (@AlphaMach0) August 31, 2023

Jones’ 2022 rushing total was good enough for him to be in the top 10 as he came in at No. 9 as a running back with 1,121 rushing yards. His 1,516 yards from scrimmage also placed him at No. 9 in the league last year. He gained 5.3 yards per attempt last season, the second-highest number for a running back last season.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 5, 2023

Deion Sanders Leads Colorado Buffaloes In Upset Win Against Texas Christian University

Coach Deion Sanders was hired to take over the University of Colorado Boulder Colorado Buffaloes football team before the start of this season. People questioned whether he could take a team with a 1-12 record in 2022 and make them contenders. That question may have already been answered after the team’s first game of the season matched last season’s win total.

According to The Associated Press, the impact of Coach Prime was felt immediately as the Buffaloes scored an upset win over a top 20-seeded team in the first game of the young season. In Sanders’ first game as an FBS (The NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision) coach, he emerged victorious. He previously coached at an HBCU, Jackson State University, leading them to two conference championships.

His son, Shedeur Sanders, has already broken a school record, throwing for 510 yards with four touchdowns. The last was the game-winner, a 46-yard catch-and-run by freshman Dylan Edwards with 4:25 left. With a defensive stop, the Buffaloes were able to pull off an upset over the 17th-ranked Texas Christian University, who was last year’s national runner-up. The final score was 45-42.

“A lot of you didn’t believe in us,” Shedeur stated.

“It’s crazy because you just got to understand our coach, Coach Prime, my dad, everywhere he went, he was a winner. Every game, every opportunity, he took advantage of.”

The oddsmakers had the Buffloes as a three-touchdown underdog, and they won by three points. Impressive for a major college football coach debut.

“I’ve been talking about it and talking about it and you didn’t believe me,” Coach Prime said.

The team received praise from their opponent’s coach, Sonny Dykes.

“They showed up. They were more ready to play than we were, think more excited to play, think they played harder,” Dykes said. “It seemed like they had more determination down the stretch than we did. So again, that’s a real credit to them. I think their coaching staff, they really did a good job getting them ready to play.”

With this starting victory, the season already shapes up to be better than last season. The next game will be played in front of the home crowd this Saturday as the Buffaloes go up against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, who lost their first game this weekend.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 5, 2023

Nicki Minaj, Beres Hammond, And Buju Banton Honored At Inaugural Caribbean Music Awards

At last week’s inaugural Caribbean Music Awards big names like Nicki Minaj, Wyclef Jean, Buju Banton, and Beres Hammond were celebrated.

The show, honoring leaders in the Caribbean diaspora who have made significant contributions to the culture, took place Thursday, August 31 at King’s Theatre in Flatbush, Brooklyn, an area known as New York’s “Little Caribbean,” DancehallMag reports.

Among the night’s winners included Minaj who won Collaboration of the Year for her feature on “Likkle Miss” with Skeng; Machel Montano, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award and won Male Artist of the Year (soca); and Beres Hammond, who received an elite icon award and won male artist of the year (reggae), according to Billboard.

Nicki Minaj and Skeng’s “Likkle Miss Remix” won the Collaboration Of The Year at the inaugural Caribbean Music Awards on Thursday August 31, 2023.

This is Skeng’s first international award and he was on hand to collect it dressed in a tailored grey suit. pic.twitter.com/j8o8QLPD7m

— WMV (@worldmusicviews) September 1, 2023

Reggae legend Banton received a humanitarian award for his philanthropic efforts through his Buju Banton Foundation. Incarcerated dancehall artist Vybz Kartel won Artist of the Decade, and the Impact Award (Reggae) went to Kabaka Pyramid.

https://twitter.com/Vybz_Official/status/1697511076240183432?s=20

The event was filled with performances by the likes of Wayne Wonder, Alison Hinds, Kranium, Ding Dong (who also won an award), Rupee, and Baby Cham. Spice, Doug E. Fresh, and Michael Rainey Jr. made special appearances.

Grammy-winning artist Wyclef Jean hosted the inaugural award show, where he expressed his pride for the vibrant music, people, and culture that resonates throughout the West Indies.

“I’ve been to the Grammys, MTV Awards, all kinds of awards around the world. This is the only award show I feel so comfortable, I can wear my blood cl*t sandals,” Wyclef said during the show.

“Tonight is a very, very important night as we celebrate the Caribbean region. Tonight is history,” the Fugees rapper said.

“They steal our culture and they change the name of it. They call it ‘pop.’ Tonight, we’re taking everything back to the Caribbean.”

Baltimore Will End Efforts To Enforce The City’s Youth Curfew

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 5, 2023

Baltimore Will End Efforts To Enforce The City’s Youth Curfew

Youth enforcement efforts that were instituted in Baltimore will soon end.

According to CBS News Baltimore, a curfew for young people in Baltimore that went into effect right before the Memorial Day weekend will no longer be enforced. The curfew was an attempt to curb youth violence in the city.

In April, a shooting at Inner Harbor prompted Mayor Brandon Scott to enforce the curfew. Two teenagers were injured in that incident.

Although there was a renewal to enforce the curfew, the City of Baltimore claimed the curfew had been around for nearly 30 years but was never consistently enforced.

The city’s youth curfew policy required that those under 14 should be home before 9 p.m. For teenagers between 14 and 17, the curfew was set at 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends.

Parents of youth outside after the stated hours would face fines of up to $500. After hours, youth seen in the city would be taken to one of two Youth Connection Centers in Baltimore City.

The children would be encouraged by non-law enforcement staff to go home and given the chance to get in contact with a parent or guardian before being taken to an engagement center.

“The curfew itself is in effect all year,” Mayor Scott said after a 12-year-old boy was shot near a high school football field.

“It’s different in the school year than it is in the summertime. What’s different is the robust actions that we take, but we’re always going to be doing curfew. It’s just different in the school year than in the summertime.”

Baltimore teenagers said the concept behind the curfew was nice but lacked weight. Parents have stated that the city should find other ways to engage the youth of the city.

Megan thee stallion, Tory Lanez, documentary

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 5, 2023

Social Media Blasts Netflix Documentary On Megan Thee Stallion Shooting

A two-part documentary detailing the Tory Lanez and Megan Thee Stallion shooting is coming to Discovery+ and fans are not feeling how the network is seemingly trying to “profit off of someone’s trauma.”

A trailer was released on Sunday, September 3 highlighting Discovery+’s new two-part documentary on the shooting case that sent Lanez to prison for 10 years. Given the name “Megan The Stallion vs. Tory Lanez: Five Shots” the docuseries relives the details surrounding the three-year-long case where Lanez was found guilty of firing five shots at Megan and injuring her feet.

“Megan hears the five shots in her direction,” a clip from the trailer says. “Her life is forever transformed.”

“Who Shot Megan?” someone else says. “You’re either Team Megan or Team Tory.”

In another highlight, someone could be heard calling the case “the biggest case since OJ (Simpson).” But fans who viewed the trailer on Twitter were seemingly turned off by the documentary’s tone, considering Lanez’s guilty verdict and the 10-year sentence he was issued last month.

“THE BIGGEST CASE SINCE OJ? oh this is not serious,” one fan wrote.

“Team Megan or team Tory???? The girl was SHOT?? There’s quite a clear cut team to be on here,” added someone else.

The documentary comes on Labor Day September 4, a day before Lanez returns to court to appeal his sentence and if given an appeal, see if he can receive bail. Lanez’s legal team is working to prove he is no flight risk and will relocate to Florida if given the appeal.

The “Say It” singer is also now listed as married after previously claiming to have been engaged. According to new court documents, Lanez (real name Daystar Peterson) reportedly married Raina Chassagne, the mother of his 6-year-old son Kai.

Lanez was sentenced to 10 years in prison after he was found guilty of shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the foot after the pair left a Los Angeles party in July 2020. Megan was the victim of “repeated and grotesque attacks” even after the shooting in a case that highlighted the lack of support Black women receive when they report abuse, NBC News reports.

HBCUs tighten security, florida gunman, Dollar general, HBCU

by Mary Spiller

September 5, 2023

HBCUs Forced To Tighten Security Following Jacksonville White Supremacist Shooting

Historically Black colleges and universities have been spurred to action to address pressing security concerns on their campuses following last weekend’s Jacksonville, Florida, shooting.

According to U.S. News & World Report, the gunman who shot and killed three Black Florida residents at a New Town Dollar General stopped in the parking lot of Edward Waters University to dress in tactical gear before the shooting at the store. A vigilant campus police officer noticed the shooter, a young white male carrying a rifle with swastikas painted on it, and approached him, causing the armed man to speed away in his vehicle and away from the HBCU campus.

While the confrontation forced him off the campus, his initial presence sparked fear and anxiety in HBCUs nationwide. Nat Glover, a former president of Edward Waters and Jacksonville sheriff who himself was a victim of a violent racial incident, expressed his dismay following the Jacksonville shooting and the gunman’s brief presence on campus.

Glover said, “We are just in an environment now that is toxic as it relates to race,” said Glover.

“This notion of us against them, Black versus white, is being promoted. It would be almost criminal if we didn’t take notice and make sure we do everything we can to secure and present an image that these places where Black people congregate are secure.”

Current Edward Waters University President Zachary Faison Jr. announced in a press conference that he believed the HBCU to be the original target of the Jacksonville Dollar General shooting.

“[Our security thwarted] what we believe were the original aims of this white supremacist domestic terrorist, to come to the state of Florida’s first historically Black university and wreak murderous havoc.

“It was not by happenstance that he came here. He could have gone anywhere. Align that with the fact that he said he wanted to kill N*****s. He came to where he thought African Americans would be. It’s also not lost on me that he came to New Town community, the heart of the Black community in Jacksonville.”

The threat was not limited to Edward Waters. The FBI reported that threats to HBCUs in general have been increasing and cited an alarming number of bomb threats made toward more than 20 different HBCUs across America.

The continuous threat to Black student safety has forced these universities to address the concerns by increasing the presence of law enforcement, counselors, and social workers on their campuses. The recent uptick in violent incidents prompted the U.S. Department of Education to supply funds to four Black institutions that will allow them to conduct regular wellness visits and hire a “field training specialist” to teach staff members more specialized security actions and responses.

Additionally, most Black college campus police are certified law enforcement agencies with sworn officers to protect the student body.

National Urban League President Marc Morial acknowledged the importance of the security measures due to the fact that white supremacists with violent tendencies tend “to target a college, a university, a church, a synagogue … this is a pattern.”

Morial continued, “University campuses, like many campuses, are open spaces, welcoming to the community and to students. And now, in light of this threat, everyone’s got to be more vigilant and tighten up security.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 5, 2023

Nia Grace Opens The First Exclusive Black Woman-Owned Supper Club In Boston

Meet Nia Grace, the founder of Boston Seaport’s first Black-women-owned and first Black-owned liquor license-holding supper club, Grace By Nia.

Since launching Grace By Nia in partnership with nightlife and hospitality giants, Big Night Entertainment Group, the sprawling 5,000-square-foot supper club has introduced a historic, culture-next experience to New England.

Between the daily live music and the Southern cuisine, Nia is singlehandedly changing the perception of Boston’s nightlife by introducing a much-needed symbol of progress to the city’s dining and entertainment scene.

“It feels trivial to say this, but it feels amazing and pretty unbelievable that I was able to attain a liquor license as a Black woman in the Seaport,” Grace tells BLACK ENTERPRISE.

“I am happy to be the first, but I don’t want to be the last.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Grace By Nia (@gracebynia)

Grace By Nia has received a swarm of support from the community. Known for being the place “Where Soul Meets the Seaport,” it took just one month to become “Boston’s best restaurant with live music.”

“After opening, I have been continuously inspired by the overall reception, after 30 days of being opened we were named Boston’s best restaurant with live music and have exceeded our quarterly revenue projections,” Grace shares.

“I have dealt with imposter syndrome and self-doubt like a lot of Black women and I hope the success of GBN inspires Black women entrepreneurs to push past those thoughts and attain the unattainable.”

No stranger to the restaurant scene, Grace had already made her mark in Boston’s food and music scene with her respected establishments, Darryl’s Corner Bar & Kitchen and The Underground Cafe. But as a Black woman in the space, there are always hurdles when working to bring an idea to life in a male-dominated industry.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Grace By Nia (@gracebynia)

“As a woman I had to become OK with taking an unpopular stance and rubbing people the wrong in order to be heard and get out of my own way and be uncomfortable,” she says.

“I had to be ok with being told ‘no’ and not be jaded enough to give up.”

Citing her biggest challenge as “standing strong and taking the lead,” Grace also faced pricey construction costs and finding the perfect balance “of ensuring this space was Black-centered but welcomed everyone.” Remaining intentional about the design process, Grace enlisted Rob ‘ProBlak’ Gibbs and eight young artists from his fellowship program to produce custom ceiling-to-floor mural-like pieces that stand as a tribute to Boston’s Black community.

“I was very intentional about every piece of decor and menu item to ensure Black culture was felt, seen, and heard by anyone who dines at GBN,” GRace says.

“It is important that the community understands GBN isn’t just a restaurant but a convening space for music, art, and culture to beautifully collide.”

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A post shared by Boston Food & NYC Food (@twotastebuddiez)

With reservations booked out weeks in advance and a coveted spot as Boston’s best restaurant with live music, it’s clear that Grace By Nia is being well received by the local community.

“Everyone loves the space, and music and some are frustrated that we have a 30-day waitlist,” Grace says. “We have already built regulars within three months of being opened.”

The eatery is also helping showcase musicians in a city with limited live music spaces.

“So, the musicians are thrilled to have a state-of-the-art stage and a crowd full of enthused guests,” she adds.

14-Year-Old Massachusetts Student Dies After Taking ‘One Chip Challenge’

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 5, 2023

14-Year-Old Massachusetts Student Dies After Taking ‘One Chip Challenge’

A family in Worcester, Massachusetts, believes a social media challenge is the reason for a 14-year-old’s death.

According to NBC Boston, high school student Harris Wolobah died on the day that he took part in the “One Chip Challenge.” The challenge involves eating what is described as the spiciest tortilla chip in the world and then not drinking or eating anything for as long as possible. His family believes doing so may have contributed to his death. Wolobah ate the chip on Friday and died later that day. An autopsy is pending.

Wolobah was a 10th-grade student at Doherty Memorial High School in Worcester.

The tortilla chip made by Paqui, packaged in a coffin container, is only for adults and shouldn’t be eaten by anyone who’s sensitive to spicy food or with an allergen, according to the product packaging.

Harris’ mother, Lois, said a nurse contacted her to come to the school that Friday. Harris admitted that a classmate had given him the chip. After eating it, he had a stomach ache.

He felt well enough to go home, but at 4:30 p.m., as he was leaving for basketball tryouts, his brother informed her that he had passed out. Harris was then taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A statement was issued by Worcester Public Schools Superintendent Rachel Monárrez.

“It is with a heavy heart I share that we lost a rising star, Harris Wolobah, who was a sophomore scholar at Doherty Memorial High School. As a mother and educator, I cannot imagine how hard this is on his family, friends and teachers. My heart goes out to all who knew and loved him.”

As friends, family, and classmates mourn the 14-year-old, they would like to warn others against social media challenges, specifically the “One Chip Challenge.”