Outlier.org, Urban Assembly, and New York City Public Schools are announcing a groundbreaking collaboration aimed at expanding access to financial accounting education for high school students in the New York area.

400 NYC public school students will have the opportunity to enroll in Outlier.org’s highly regarded Intro to Financial Accounting college course. These students will earn college credit and gain valuable skills and insights into what a future career could look like in the field of accounting. Urban Assembly, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing public school students’ social and economic mobility, will serve as implementation leaders within New York City Public Schools to drive student awareness, school execution, and success of the program this fall.

“At Urban Assembly, we believe in providing students with opportunities for career-connected learning that allows them to gain real-world skills while they’re still in high school,” said David Adams, Chief Executive Officer at Urban Assembly. “With generous support from the Deloitte Foundation, Urban Assembly will be able to contribute to a reimagined student experience that opens doors to promising careers.”

According to the AICPA 2021 Trends Report, only 2% of Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) are Black and 5% are Hispanic/Latinx despite significant job opportunities across the sector. By providing access to top-tier educational resources in high school, this initiative seeks to empower students and create a more diverse and inclusive workforce in the accounting industry.

“I teach accounting through the lens of fraud and true crime to show students the side of this industry that is exciting and requires true grit and skill,” said Kelly Richmond Pope, a world-renowned accounting professor at DePaul University and the course’s lead lecturer. “New York City high school students will get access to a top quality online learning experience on Outlier.org alongside hands-on support and oversight from faculty in their school.”

Leveraging Outlier.org’s best-in-class high school dual enrollment course experience, 400 select juniors and seniors will participate in a year-long elective course built into the standard New York City Public School schedule that counts toward their high school diploma, while also earning three college credits to transfer into an undergraduate degree from Outlier.org’s accreditation partner University of Pittsburgh, a top 50 university. Students will learn the basics of accounting from Pope with additional classroom oversight from an on-site faculty member and have access to 24/7 academic support and unlimited 1-on-1 tutoring via Outlier.org.

“This collaboration with Urban Assembly and New York City Public Schools directly furthers Outlier.org’s mission to increase access to high quality higher education,” said Aaron Rasmussen, CEO and Founder of Outlier.org. “We look forward to piloting this program in New York so that it can be replicated in school districts across the country.”

• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 17, 2023

2 Alabama Teenagers Die in Post-Prom Car Accident

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After attending a high school prom together in Alabama, a couple of teenagers lost their lives in a car accident over the weekend.

According to AL.com, a car accident in Tuscaloosa around 1:50 a.m. on Saturday left 17-year-old Madison Sims and 18-year-old Samuel Brown dead after the 2022 Tesla they were traveling in collided with a semi-truck near Interstate 20/59 and Skyland Boulevard East.

Brown attended R.C. Hatch High School in Uniontown in Perry County, where he played on the football team. “To say we will miss him would be an understatement,” Hatch High School posted on its Facebook page.

Sims attended Bryant High School in Cottondale and was an athlete and member of the track team.

“We extend our most sincere condolences to the Brown and Sims family,” the Perry County School District post read. “We ask that you please keep everyone in your thoughts and prayers as we navigate the days ahead together.”

• Health and Wellness

by Sharelle B. McNair

April 17, 2023

‘What Went Wrong?’: Grandmother Left To Raise 12 Grandchildren After Daughter Dies During Childbirth

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Nikita Washington died one day after giving birth to her son, Nathaniel, at Harper University Hospital in Detroit. ABC 57 reports that her mother, Patricia Pouncey, is left with questions and responsibility for her 12 grandchildren.

Pouncey said her daughter went to the hospital in December 2022 alone to give birth via cesarean section since her husband is incarcerated, and she had to stay home with the other 11 kids. However, her absence has left her with many unanswered questions. “I just have a lot of questions right now,” Pouncey said. “I ask myself all the time, ‘What went wrong?’”

Washington received treatment for high blood pressure at the hospital and underwent a C-section. After hours went by with no updates, her sister went to the hospital to check on her. The excited family was told the baby was born healthy the next day, but the mother was still being treated for loose stitching and excessive bleeding. She then died. “I haven’t talked to anyone from the hospital. I have not received anything from them,” the grieving mother said. “All I have is the death certificate.”

The death certificate from the Wayne County Clerk claims that the 35-year-old died from “postpartum hemorrhage” and “complications from multiple cesarean sections.”

Childbirth complications for Black women happen more than most, hence the reason for Black Maternal Health Week. The awareness campaign starts on Apr. 11. The annual campaign was founded by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance to bring awareness to the rise of maternal mortality in the U.S. According to the CDC, Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women.

Pouncey says she regrets not going with her daughter to the hospital that day. “I’m worried about every mother,” she told CNN. “Don’t ever, ever make the mistake that I made, letting your child go to the hospital alone. We need to give more attention to what’s going on.” A spokesperson from the Detroit Medical Center, operator of Harper University Hospital, released a statement regarding the incident but did not comment on Washington’s death due to privacy laws. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family for the loss of their loved one.”

• News

by Sidnee Michelle Douyon

April 17, 2023

Breaking: Kansas City Homeowner Charged for Shooting Black Teen

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A Kansas City man was charged with two felonies on Monday in the shooting of a black teenager who rang the doorbell of the wrong house when he went to pick up his twin brother.

The Clay County Prosecutor’s Office announced the charges in the shooting of Ralph Yarl, 16, in the head and arm on the doorstep of his suburban home around 10 pm last Thursday.

Kansas City has seen two days of protests after the white homeowner shot Yarl, who was released from the hospital and is recovering, according to his family.

Demonstrators gathered at the single-story house on a tree-lined street, shouting “Black lives are under attack” and “Stand up, fight back,” online videos showed.

“No child should ever live in fear of being shot for ringing the wrong doorbell,” Vice President Kamala Harris tweeted in response to the shooting.

The homeowner was taken into custody, placed on a 24-hour investigative hold, then released pending an interview with Yarl and the collection of forensic evidence, Kansas City police Chief Stacey Graves said.

The family’s lawyer Ben Crump on Monday demanded the homeowner be arrested and charged with attempted murder of a teenager described by his school district as an “excellent student and talented musician.”

Missouri has a “stand-your-ground law” that allows homeowners to use physical force to defend themselves against suspected intruders.

The law says a person cannot use deadly force unless they reasonably believe it is necessary to protect themselves or another person against death or serious physical injury, or a possible felony.

Even a risky injury couldn’t hold back the reigning NCAA All-Around Gymnastics Champion, Trinity Thomas.

At the 2023 NCAA women’s gymnastics championship finals, Black girl magic was in the air. The “super senior” of the University of Florida closed out her collegiate career with 12 perfect 10s on floor, six on beam, five on bars, and five on vault routines.

Competing fifth in Florida’s third rotation, Thomas began last Saturday’s meet with the first perfect 10 on a Yurchenko 1½ vault, marking her 28th perfect score. ESPN reported that she tied the 27-year record set by Kentucky’s Jenny Hansen in 1996 and matched by UCLA’s Jamie Dantzscher in 2004.

“I was not focused on [the record] at all,” said Thomas, who returned to the UF program for a master’s in Health Education and Behavior. “I was just focused on being out here one last time with my team. We left it all out there on the floor and I could not be more proud of us.”

For proud fans far and wide, Thomas’ history-making meet was both legendary and bittersweet.

 

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Perfect 10s

For weeks, it was uncertain whether Thomas would ever hit the floor in the postseason after she suffered an injury at Regionals last month. But she miraculously pulled through without two weeks’ practice since the competition, helping the Gators qualify for Saturday’s final.

With a “nearly perfect” return on bars, Thomas finished with a 9.90 score on vault, per the sports news outlet.

The champion’s winning streak of perfect 10s is part of Thomas’ remarkable and storied career. Coming off a phenomenal senior season in which she won the NCAA all-around, she kicked off her fifth year and last season by earning her 21st perfect 10 on beam.

Between Jan. 6 and March 19, Thomas landed a “gym slam” with at least one perfect 10 on each apparatus when she earned two 10s during SEC championships.

In the championship final, Thomas and the Gators finished the final second overall.

 

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One last time to shine

The legacy of Thomas, a Region 6 Gymnast of the Year, is empowering to many. Some have called her a superhero, and others have acknowledged her “GOAT” status.

“This was literally the saddest moment in college gymnastics 😭💙,” one commenter wrote.

 

“She’s the GOAT. There’s no debate,” another chimed in.

 

“Queen. Legend. What an example of grit & grace. 🐊👑🐐,” wrote a third user.

 

With the longevity and body of work that actor Morgan Freeman has, it comes as a surprise that he is actually “envious” of another actor.

According to Insider, 85-year-old actor, admitted in an exclusive interview with The Sunday Times that he is “so very envious” of Denzel Washington‘s career, because of the artistic freedom that the 68-year-old “because he’s doing what I wanted to do.”

Freeman said he appreciates the progress that Black people in the arts have made over the years in Hollywood.

“When I was growing up there was no ‘me’ in the movies,” Freeman said. “If there was a Black man in a movie he was funny. Until Sidney Poitier came and gave young people like me the idea that, ‘OK, yes, I can do that.'”

He also spoke about speaking to the legendary Poitier, saying that the older actor admired Freeman in pretty much the same way he acknowledged Washington’s breadth of work.

“And I spoke with Sidney way back. He said, ‘I wanted to be like you,'” he said. “Generationally, though, I do think we’re moving ahead in leaps and bounds.”

These days, the roles Freeman plays have a different meaning. It either has to be something that strikes his interest or it may be as simple as just taking the role based on how much it pays him.

“Now?” Freeman says, “It’s just… me. The character will adapt itself to you rather than the other way round, so I do what piques my interest. Sometimes it’s just the money alone.”

The Sunday Times interview was also notable for Freeman’s disdain for the term “African American” and “Black History Month,” both of which deemed an “insult.”

Freeman and Washington did appear together in the 1989 Civil War drama Glory. Washington received rave reviews for the role, won the Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards. Maybe before it’s all said and done, the two will appear in another together—presumably if the terms are OK with Freeman, of course.

Tiffany Haddish is aware of the dating rumors surrounding Common and Jennifer Hudson and threw some subtle shade at her ex and his new boo!

The Girls Trip star recently took to TikTok to respond to one fan who asked about a pair of earrings they gave to Common to give to her back when they were dating.

“I’m still waiting to see if Common gave you the earrings I gave to him for you when he came to Charlotte,” the fan wrote.

“Girl, he never gave me no d-mn earrings. He probably gave those to Jennifer,“ Haddish joked.

@tiffanyhaddish Replying to @bkbyrd69 ♬ original sound – TIFFANY HADDISH

Her response seemingly confirmed her awareness of Common dating fellow Chicago native Hudson. The pair have had the rumor mill spinning since they were caught on a dinner date while filming their upcoming movie Breathe.

In February, Common and Hudson were spotted leaving Nobu in Malibu together after what appeared to be a dinner date, People reports. Hudson is the first person “The Corner” rapper has been romantically linked to since calling it quits with Haddish in 2021.

Haddish and Common dated publicly for one year before parting ways due to their busy schedules.

“They are never in the same city together, and both of them are just too busy for a serious relationship,” a source told People at the time.

But Haddish later claimed she was “disappointed” in Common’s public response to their split.

“I was very disappointed. I was like, ‘Oh, OK. ‘Cause that’s not what you told me, but OK,” she said at the time.

Haddish has also moved on and has been publicly dating bitcoin investor Marvin Jones. Daily Mail reports that the pair made their red carpet debut at the Sundance Film Festival premiere of Landscape With Invisible Hand in January.

They were first linked together in October 2022 and have been confirming their romance in recent months after being spotted kissing each other in Studio City last month.

• News

by Booker Jones

April 17, 2023

Four People Dead After Shooting At Sweet 16 Party In Alabama

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A shooting at a Sweet 16 party in Dadeville, Alabama, has left four people dead and several others injured.

According to numerous reports, at least 15 victims were taken to the hospital, where they were treated for gunshot wounds. Six of those victims have been released from the hospital. CNN reports that the remaining victims have been transferred to other hospitals, and at least five are in critical condition. 

One of the victims, Keke Smith, a high school senior at Dadeville High School, would have attended The University of Alabama this fall. Amy Jackson, Smith’s cousin, told CNN that Smith was always in good spirits and always kept a smile on her face. 

CNN also added that Smith was Dadeville High School’s track team manager. She also helped manage the basketball and football teams. 

Another victim, Philstavious Dowdell, excelled on the football, track, and basketball teams, according to Dadeville High School’s track and basketball coach, Michael Taylor. 

“Anything put in his hand, God blessed him to be able to do it,” Taylor said to CNN. 

CNN reported that Dowdell, the oldest of three siblings, was killed while attending his younger sister’s birthday party.  

Recently, Dowdell told Coach Taylor if anything should ever happen to him when he goes to college to take care of his two sisters, Coach Taylor remembered while speaking to CNN. 

Dowdell received a football scholarship to play at Jacksonville State University. Coach Taylor described Dowdell as “kind of like the hometown hero.”

Also, Jacksonville State’s head football coach Rich Rodriguez said in a statement, cited by CNN, on Sunday that Dowdell was “a great young man with a bright future.”

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Philstavious Dowdell and the other victims of the senseless tragedy last night,” Rodriguez said, cited by CNN. 

Sgt. Jeremy Burkett did not take questions during the press conferences. Nor did Burkett say if anyone had been arrested or whether or not a suspect was in custody.

A star from Netflix’s newest series, Beef, might be canceled thanks to an old disturbing account of allegedly sexually assaulting a Black woman.

David Choe plays Isaac in the new comedy/psychology drama that tells the story of two strangers who launch a disturbing war against each other after getting into a road rage incident.

While Choe isn’t one of the two main leads in Beef: his portrayal of Isaac, the cousin of Steven Yeun’s character, David Cho, plays a central figure throughout the series’s 10 episodes. Many were alarmed when footage from a 2014 podcast resurfaced online showing Choe explaining why he sees himself as a “‘successful rapist,” as noted by Madame Noire.

His revelation on the now-defunct “DVDASA” podcast came to light when journalist Aura Bogado responded to a tweet praising Choe’s artwork displayed at the start of each episode of “Beef.”

“David Choe, as in the guy who detailed the way he raped a woman?” Bogado tweeted. “And then came back to say it was just a misunderstood version of his reality? Ok.”

David Choe, as in the guy who detailed the way he raped a woman? And then came back to say it was just a misunderstood version of his reality? Ok. https://t.co/qL2yhiU3bG

— Aura Bogado (@aurabogado) April 13, 2023

She followed up with a link to a Buzzfeed article that detailed Choe’s disturbing encounter with a masseuse he called “Rose.”

https://t.co/9nkDEejAfZ pic.twitter.com/h8bzN92XPR

— Aura Bogado (@aurabogado) April 13, 2023

“According to his own telling, the woman David Choe assaulted is Black. He describes himself as a ‘successful rapist,’” Bogado wrote in a separate tweet.

According to the since-deleted podcast, Choe recalled getting a “thrill” after becoming aroused from the massage.

“But the thrill of possibly going to jail, that’s what achieved the erection quest,” he said.

“Ew, you’re basically telling us that you’re a rapist now. And the only way to get your di*k really ha*d– is rape,” his co-host Asa Akira replied.

“Yeah,” Choe responded.

No one appeared too bothered by Choe’s confession, and instead, someone off-camera asked what the masseuse looked like.

“Beautiful,” Choe said of his alleged victim. “Half-Black, half-white…”

“Like Leona Lewis,” Akira asked.

“Long curly hair,” he replied.

Choe reportedly claimed to have just made up the story. But many still question why the graffiti artist/actor would make up such a disturbing tale.

Now Netflix is facing backlash from viewers calling for a boycott of Beef, Page Six reports. Choe, who was best known for acquiring millions after he decorated Facebook’s headquarters and asked for stock as his form of payment, hasn’t responded to the backlash.

• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

April 17, 2023

Long Island Nurse Arrested and Charged After Video Shows Her Violently Slamming Newborn Baby

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NBC 4 reports a registered nurse from Long Island’s Good Samaritan Hospital has been fired and charged criminally after being seen violently slamming a baby.

Raymond Tierney, Suffolk County District Attorney, announced that Amanda Burke, 29, has been charged with a single count of endangering the welfare of a child. The baby’s father, Fidel Sinclair, visited his son, Nikko, who was placed in NICU at the West Slip, New York, hospital for observation in February. When he noticed the baby crying, he pulled out his phone to record and captured Burke turning him around and slamming him face-first back into the bassinet.

When he showed the video to the child’s mother, Consuelo Saravia, she confronted the nurse. “I don’t know, it just broke me,” Sinclair said. “I didn’t know what to do.”

According to the New York Post, the parents immediately notified other nursing staff at Good Samaritan, and the district attorney’s office says she was fired within hours of the incident. “The allegations against this defendant, who is someone entrusted with the care of our most vulnerable citizens, are truly disturbing,” Tierney said. However, Burke’s attorney, Robert C. Gottlieb, says they got it all wrong. “The infant in this case is healthy and was never injured,” Gottlieb said. “Amanda is an exceptional nurse who has always cared for infants under her care with love and compassion and the evidence will prove that without any doubt.”

Burke turned herself in to Suffolk County police and was given a desk appearance ticket for an arraignment on May 2. NBC reports Burke’s license to practice as a registered nurse has not been suspended.

Catholic Health, which runs Good Samaritan, said that the Department of Health was also notified for further review at the time of the incident. “Keeping our patients safe remains our paramount concern.”