• News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 14, 2023

Mentally Ill Man Allegedly Eaten Alive By Bed Bugs Inside Infested Atlanta Jail Cell

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A family is demanding answers after the death of their loved one, whom they believe was eaten alive by bed bugs inside his Atlanta jail cell.

CBS News reports that LaShawn Thompson was arrested for a misdemeanor battery charge on June 12 and was taken to Fulton County Jail, where he was placed in the psychiatric wing due to mental health issues. However, Thompson was found unresponsive in his jail cell on Sept. 19 and pronounced dead after failed attempts to resuscitate him.

According to the family’s attorney, Michael Harper, Thompson “was found dead in a filthy jail cell after being eaten alive by insects and bed bugs.”

Jail records reportedly show that authorities noticed Thompson was deteriorating inside the jail cell but did nothing to help him. The medical examiner reported his cause of death as “undetermined.”

“They literally watched his health decline until he died,” Harper said.

“When his body was found one of the detention officers refused to administer CPR because in her words she ‘freaked out.'”

Thompson was diagnosed with schizophrenia but was physically healthy when booked into jail, Harper said.

“There is no excuse for a mentally ill inmate to be left alone in a jail, abandoned to die,” he declared.

Disturbing photos show the cell’s dirty conditions with Thompson covered in bed bugs. Harper said the cell was “not fit for a diseased animal.”

“He did not deserve this. Someone has to be held accountable for his death,” Harper said. “The Fulton County Jail must be closed and replaced.”

Thompson’s brother, Brad McCrae, said the family was horrified to see the photos.

“It was heartbreaking because nobody should be seen like that. Nobody should see that,” McCrae told WSB-TV.

The alarming death comes after Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat raised concerns last year about the extreme overcrowding at the jail and the need for funding.

“You have 3,500-plus points of data that show the dangers of where we are and the crisis that we’re in,” Labat said during a meeting with the Fulton County Commission.

He also noted the more than 400 inmates sleeping on the floor due to overcrowding, with the city’s commissioner, Bob Ellis, calling it a “humanitarian crisis.” Thompson’s family is calling for a criminal investigation into his death and for the Fulton County Jail to be replaced.

A Fulton County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson says a full investigation has been launched.

“The ongoing investigation is examining details regarding the medical care provided and ultimately will determine whether any criminal charges are warranted in this case,” the spokesperson said.

DeMar DeRozan admits that he owes his 9-year-old daughter money after she seemingly helped the Chicago Bulls win against the Toronto Raptors.

The Bulls are headed to Miami to battle against the Heat in the playoffs, and his daughter, Diar, was offered a free flight from United Airlines, TMZ reports. The free flight comes after Diar possibly helped her dad’s team stay in contention for the playoffs.

Diar became a viral sensation during Wednesday night’s game after screaming at the top of her lungs anytime the Raptors made a free throw shot. Her screams seemingly worked as the Raptors missed 18 free throws and ended up losing the game 109-105 to the Bulls, who go on to play against the Miami Heat for the eighth spot in the NBA playoffs.

https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1646334501218586625?s=20

After the game, DeRozen, who played for the Raptors for nine seasons, credited his daughter’s teamwork during the crucial match.

“Man, I just seen it, she went viral,” the six-time NBA-All Star said. “I haven’t let it soak in yet.”

“Everyone keeps saying. But that’s all right. I kept hearing something during the game, and it was on a free throw, somebody missed,d and I was like, ‘Damn, that’s my daughter screaming?’ I was just making sure she was all right, though.”

DeRozan admits his daughter wasn’t even supposed to be at the game due to her school schedule.

“What’s crazy, my daughter called me the other day when she was getting out of school… and she said, ‘Dad, can I come to the Toronto game? I remember coming to all the Toronto games’ when she was a kid,” he said during a post-game press conference.

“And I almost said no because she’s in school back home. She kept asking; she was just adamant about coming and support[ing],” he shared.

“And I said, ‘You can miss one day of school and come to a game.’ And I’m glad I did. I owe her some money, for sure.”

Now his daughter has a free flight offer courtesy of United Airlines ahead of Friday night’s match.

“The flight’s on us. What do you say, @DeMar_DeRozan? We’d love to take Diar’s talents to South Beach,” the airline tweeted on Thursday.

The flight's on us. What do you say, @DeMar_DeRozan? We’d love to take Diar’s talents to South Beach. https://t.co/6jnHOjecYy

— United Airlines (@united) April 13, 2023

Jill Biden caused a stir after the NCAA’s Women’s National Championship when the first lady invited both teams to the White House, breaking the tradition of the winning team visiting the president’s home.

Several people voiced their concern about Biden’s offer. Shaquille O’Neal has now weighed in on the matter. During an interview on The Big Podcast, Shaq suggested that Biden’s invitation was rooted in racism—LSU’s women’s basketball team is predominately Black, while Iowa’s women’s basketball team is mostly white. 

“That’s not what it was about,” Shaq said during The Big Podcast interview. “I want people to use their imaginations. You know what it was about. I’m not going to mention it. You know what it was about, right?’

‘We can say it,’ Nischelle Turner, co-host of The Big Podcast, said. ‘It became a race issue. It became a team of all-Black girls beating a team of all-white girls. That’s what it became.’

Spice Adams, co-host of The Big Podcast, added: If Iowa won, she probably wouldn’t have had LSU come there.

On April 3, after LSU beat Iowa to bring the NCAA Women’s National Championship to Baton Rouge, Biden praised both teams, highlighting Iowa’s sportsmanship.

“Last night, I attended the NCAA women’s basketball championship,” Biden said during an event. “So I know we’ll have the champions come to the White House, we always do. So, we hope LSU will come, but, you know, I’m going to tell Joe [Biden] I think Iowa should come, too, because they played such a good game.”

‘In the history of me going to the White House and all the champions going to the White House, we never even mentioned the second team, right?’ Shaq added on The Big Podcast. “But the fact that it was that versus that. And the other, that lost, that’s when they wanted to make it a participation. ‘Oh, they lost, but they were there and all that.’

LSU’s superstar hooper Angel Reese wasn’t excited about Biden’s offer, either. Reese appeared on the I Am Athlete podcast and shared her opinion on Biden’s offer.

“I don’t accept that; I’m not going to lie to you, I don’t accept that apology because she said what she said,” Reese said during the nearly hour-long sit-down. “You can’t go back on certain things that you say. You felt that they should have came because of ‘sportsmanship,’ right? They [Iowa] can have that spotlight; we’ll go to the Obamas. We’ll see Michelle. We’ll see Barack.”

Shaq, who voted for President Joe Biden, said Mrs. Biden’s offer to Iowa eats at his emotions. 

 ‘Stuff like that bothers me because you are a woman at the end of the day, white, black, Mexican, it doesn’t matter. You’re supposed to be standing behind us before anything.’

Fans of West Coast legend Tupac Shakur are finally getting the biography they deserve.

The story of the late rapper’s life, authorized by his estate, will be published later this year. Titled Tupac Shakur: The Authorized Biography, the book is being penned, as reported by Independent, by author and friend of Tupac, Staci Robinson. The book will explore the “controversial” artist who “continues to be one of the most misunderstood, complicated and prolific figures in modern history. Shakur’s mother, Afeni Shakur, entrusted Robinson to write the book.

Starting at the beginning of the civil rights movement, the book follows Shakur’s “awakening” and development through the early 1990s. It takes a deep dive into the rapper’s world-famous music and the messages that continue to touch and inspire past, present, and future generations. “My hope is that this book offers a new lens through which to explore Tupac’s complicated yet beautiful legacy,” Robinson said.

“I wanted to help readers understand him and view him not just as a rap artist and actor and entertainer, but as a human being—a man with a passionate message, a son who listened to his mother, and a loving brother.”

Published by Penguin Random House UK, Tupac Shakur will “peel back the myths and unpack the complexities that have shadowed his existence.” Music and book fans will receive exclusive access to his private notebooks, letters, unpublished lyrics, and uncensored conversations with the rapper’s loved ones. The rapper’s death shocked the world after he was shot in Las Vegas in 1996 at 25.

The life of the deceased rapper is highlighted in more ways than a book. A docuseries on the relationship between Pac and his mother, “Dear Mama,” is set to be released on FX and Hulu on April 21. Director Allen Hughes told GM3 that the series would make the audience feel like they know both Tupac and Afeni. “This is Tupac’s love note to his mother, you know, and the movement and to any Black women in the struggle and men in the struggle.”

Don’t mess with Meg’s bag.

Rapper Megan Thee Stallion’s battle with her label, 1501 Certified Entertainment, is heating up after she filed a new motion on Thursday regarding the label’s bank accounts.

According to TMZ, the “Hot Girl Summer” artist, whose real name is Megan Pete, claims 1501 founder Carl Crawford is pocketing all the money while she remains unpaid for her music. A major concern for the rapper is that the company’s primary account reflects less than $10,000, way lower than the deposited millions mentioned in the lawsuit. Reportedly, the only other people getting paid are J. Prince and Gee Roberson, who both help run the label.

The updated lawsuit claims that Crawford “dissipated millions of dollars held in 1501’s primary bank account.” This includes funds that may reportedly be owed to Meg.

“Instead of following its financial manager’s advice and holding the contested funds in reserve, 1501 has chosen to enrich itself and its consultants, leaving less than ten thousand dollars in the account,” Meg’s lawyers wrote. “Based on 1501’s undercapitalization, it is highly probable that 1501 will be judgment-proof by the time Pete is able to obtain a final judgment on the merits of her claims.”

“Pete seeks the appointment of a receiver to take possession of 1501 until this dispute is resolved, or in the alternative, the appointment of a receiver to take possession of all of 1501’s bank accounts and any other bank accounts controlled or owned by Carl Crawford, including the bank accounts to which the money siphoned out of the bank account was transferred into,” lawyers added.

Along with seeking royalties and requesting to be released from her contract, Meg is asking the judge to appoint a third party to manage the finances of the 1501 label.

Crawford called a truce with Meg earlier this year, hailing her as “iconic.”

 

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A post shared by Carl Crawford (@1501certifiedent)

• Business

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

April 14, 2023

Live Nation Entertainment Elects Rich Paul To Board Of Directors

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Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) today announced the election of Rich Paul to its Board of Directors. Paul is the Founder and CEO of KLUTCH Sports Group, as well as Head of Sports at United Talent Agency (UTA) where he also serves on the board. Paul represents some of the world’s top athletes, helping them make strategic decisions about professional playing careers as well as develop successful brand and business ventures.

“Rich brings a valuable perspective from sports, business, entertainment and more,” said Greg Maffei, chairman of the Live Nation Board of Directors. “We’re fortunate to welcome him as a new addition to our board.”

“Rich understands what it takes to help talent develop a long and successful career. His input will be a great addition as we continue driving more value for artists and their fans through live shows,” said Michael Rapino, President and CEO, Live Nation Entertainment.

“Live Nation’s artist-centric approach to business makes this a really natural fit for me,” said Paul. “Going to an event live is one of the most powerful ways to experience sports and music, and I look forward to contributing to the company and the industry in this new way.”

Paul has received a number of accolades for his excellence and innovation within the industry, including being named GQ’s 2019 “PowerBroker of the Year” as well as “The King Maker” on Sports Illustrated’s 2019 cover, and being honored on Variety’s “Variety500” list of the most influential business leaders shaping the global media industry. KLUTCH Sports has also been recognized by TIME on their inaugural TIME100 Most Influential Companies List. He has also become well known for using his influence to power important social impact – driving the reversal of what was known as the “Rich Paul Rule,” which would have banned agents without a college degree from representing NCAA student athletes.

This news first appeared on prnewswire.com.

Mariah Carey’s reign as Christmas Queen was further solidified after her “All I Want for Christmas Is You” hit was inducted into the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry.

On Wednesday, the decorated singer/songwriter took to social media to share the big news with her fans.

“I’m honored beyond belief!” she wrote on her Twitter and Instagram pages.

“I definitely did not even imagine this would happen when writing and recording this song! Thank you so much Ms. Hayden and the @librarycongress.”

https://twitter.com/MariahCarey/status/1646284833138655238?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1646284833138655238%7Ctwgr%5E0772f7d6fd482c85763c830723a89d37d9434749%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.billboard.com%2Fmusic%2Fawards%2Fmariah-carey-library-of-congress-national-recording-registry-induction-reaction-1235302373%2F

“This is major and this is so gratifying to me as an artist, as a songwriter, of course,” Carey said during an interview with the Library of Congress Chief Communications Officer Roswell Encina.

“You know, you can’t, like, come up with this. I wasn’t sitting there writing lyrics like, ‘I’m going to be in all these places and my song’s gonna mean something to people every Christmas.’

“I had no idea, I just wrote from my heart what I wanted,” Carey added. “So thank you for including me in this incredible company and the whole situation, thank you.”

Billboard reports that only 25 songs that are “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” and are at least 10 years old are inducted by the National Recording Preservation Board each year. Other songs that made this year’s list include Madonna’s Like a Virgin, Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This),” Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina,” the Super Mario Bros. theme song, John Lennon’s “Imagine,” Queen Latifah’s “All Hail the Queen,” and more.

Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” stands as her best-selling single in the UK, Canada, Australia, and Germany, with over 16 million copies sold. In 2019, Carey earned over $60 million from the Christmas anthem, as noted by Time Magazine.

Every year, the “Emotions” singer makes a big statement to help bring in the holiday season and begin the start of her musical domination with her globally chart-topping Christmas hit.

• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

April 14, 2023

Top University of Memphis Recruit Mikey Williams Arrested On Five Felony Gun Charges

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University of Memphis recruit Mikey Williams has been arrested on five charges of assault with a deadly weapon.

CBS 8 reports Williams, 18, was booked into San Diego Central Jail around 3:30 p.m. on April 13. Shortly after midnight, he was released on $50,000 bail. Sheriffs have not revealed how the arrest happened or how authorities were alerted of the crime. News broke that a suspect described as a Black male, 6 foot 3 inches tall, 180 pounds, with black hair, was booked, matching a description of Williams.

According to Lt. Carpenter with San Diego Sheriff’s Department, Williams was arrested in Jamul’s 2600 Block of Bratton Valley Road.

Williams is one of the nation’s rising stars on the basketball court. Not even starting his collegiate career, Williams has grown to fame off the court as a social media sensation. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, his popularity started a  multimillion-dollar endorsement empire that includes a sneaker deal with Puma. On Tiktok, his videos have generated a combined 321 million views. He boasts 3.8 million followers on Instagram, with posts showing him at his house or posing in front of exotic cars. With the latest updates, his IG account appears to be deactivated.

Last November, the San Ysidro High School student signed a National Letter of Intent to play college basketball for Memphis under the leadership of NBA Hall of Famer and head coach Penny Hardaway. With Williams joining the team, the incoming squad will attempt to lead the Tigers past the second round of the NCAA tournament for the first time under Hardaway’s leadership. Williams, rated a five-star guard and the No. 26 overall recruit in the Class of 2023 by 247Sports Composite, recently completed his senior season.

Memphis has been made aware of the situation, putting out a statement Friday afternoon. “We are aware of the situation and are gathering more information,” the statement read.

Williams is due in court on April 20.

An NFL player has been arrested for assaulting a woman he was dating.

According to ESPN, a second-year payer for the Cleveland Browns, Perrion Winfrey, who plays the defensive tackle position, was arrested earlier this week on a misdemeanor assault complaint in Texas. The incident took place on Monday, April 10.

The Cleveland Browns organization said through a spokesperson that the team is “aware of the situation and gathering more information.”

Winfrey was accused of grabbing the hand of a woman he was dating, and in doing so, he caused her “bodily injury,” according to Harris County court records. He was arrested and charged with one count of assault at 7 p.m. Monday. He is currently free after posting a $1,000 bond and was told not to have contact with the victim.

The complaint said that the Browns defensive player had “unlawfully, intentionally and knowingly” caused bodily injury to the woman by grabbing and pulling her with his hand. The charge was classified as an “assault of a family member” because the two are allegedly dating.

This latest arrest is not a good look for the Cleveland Brown,s who signed quarterback Deshaun Watson last summer after allegations from 22 women accusing him of sexual misconduct.

Watson missed the 2021-2022 NFL season due to the sexual misconduct allegations by the 22 women who provided massages during his time with the Houston Texans. Nearly two weeks after a grand jury refused to indict him, a second grand jury declined to indict him.

Watson, according to NFL.com, was suspended 11 games and had to pay a $5 million fine for multiple violations of the league’s personal conduct policy.

Last year, in March, Watson agreed to waive his no-trade clause with his previous team, the Houston Texans, to sign a five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract with the Cleveland Browns. Based on the allegations from almost two dozen women, the team was widely criticized by fans and the media.

• News

by Iman Milner

April 14, 2023

Let’s Talk About It: Oprah Opens Up About The Reality of Menopause

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If there’s one thing we know about Oprah, she never shies away from the naked truth.

It seems that she’s always been an open book and, by way of her own vulnerability, we’ve all found ways to cope with some of life’s most difficult moments. Recently, the media mogul opened up about her experience with menopause. In a world so often obsessed with the illusion of staying “young forever,” it’s often a topic women avoid, although it’s an experience every woman will have.

You cannot outfox the Big M,” said Winfrey. “The menopause train is coming no matter what.”

Drawing inspiration from the book, “The Wisdom of Menopause” by Dr. Christiane Northrup, the billionaire became one of the first media personalities to discuss the topic publicly and with honesty. Through her “The Life You Want” class, she’s become a menopause advocate by developing a detailed curriculum to provide people with the necessary tools to navigate both perimenopause and menopause fearlessly. And we all know that Oprah has no problem calling on her famous pals to join her on a journey. Drew Barrymore, Gayle King, Maria Shriver, and menopause experts Sharon Malone, MD, Heather Hirsch, MD, and Judith Joseph, MD, all joined Winfrey for a transparent and thought-provoking discussion.

This isn’t the first time the Cecil B. Demille Award recipient has opened up about her menopause-related symptoms. In 2019, she penned an essay detailing her experience with restlessness and extreme heart palpitations that led to multiple doctor visits, a heart monitor, and medication. Though these are symptoms that over 48% of women also share, no medical professionals drew a correlation to menopause. “Until that point in my adult life, I don’t recall one serious conversation with another woman about what to expect. Sure, I’d heard about hot flashes. But I wasn’t prepared for palpitations,” Winfrey wrote.

She hopes that with more open conversations around the matter, women, especially Black women whom research indicates go through menopause 8.5 times earlier than others, can be better prepared and know what to look for as indicators. “And, after my menstrual cycle stopped for good, at 53, I wasn’t prepared to have such difficulty concentrating. Reading, my favorite pastime, became a chore. Suddenly my attitude toward most things was ‘whatever.’ I wasn’t vibrant. My whole world dulled down a couple of notches.”

Suffering in silence can create shame cycles and feelings of isolation, so it’s great to see the topic being discussed in such open forums. Thanks, Oprah!