KISS Colors & Care, an award-winning textured hair brand, has announced its newest brand partner: international rapper, songwriter, and model, JT.

KISS Colors & Care is dedicated to celebrating individual empowerment and self-expression in its consumers’ hair journey by delivering high-quality, nourishing, innovative products to style confidently. As a longtime fan of the KISS brand and a trendsetter herself, JT was the perfect celebrity to align with the ethos of the brand message and belief – Your Hair, Your Style.

“I’ve always been the girl who was creative with her hair and looks. I’m not afraid to try different styles and different colors that are trendsetting. I love having options that cater to my texture and creativity, so being the face of KISS Colors and Care was the perfect collaboration. Let’s Be Bold!” said JT.

As the KISS Colors and Care brand partner, JT will champion their products through her unique content creation for editorials, press, and events. She will also give her fans and followers an exclusive sneak peek of how KISS Colors & Care is essential to her day-to-day beauty routine through her social platforms.

“JT is the epitome of confidence and self-expression. Because KISS Colors and Care celebrates creativity and style versatility, we could not think of a more iconic brand partner to represent the brand and its philosophy. We’re thrilled to have JT as our celebrity partner – she continues to be a disruptive force in the music, fashion, and beauty industries. She is bold and embraces new hair looks with confidence and authenticity, which aligns perfectly with our new styling collection,” said SVP of Global Marketing Annette DeVita-Goldstein.

JT’s love for different hairstyles has kept her a pro at switching up her look and vibe. Her passion for braids, stunning updos, and gorgeous locks make her the perfect advocate for the new KISS Colors & Care styling products. The new styling collection includes Braid, Loc and Twist stylers, Edge Fixer Wax sticks, and Reversible Premium Crepe Satin Hair Bonnet Super Jumbo and Braid Bonnet available at KISSColors.com, Amazon.com and select Walmart and CVS stores.

With KISS Colors & Care, everyone can express themselves and showcase their different sides, styles, and attitudes. Go JT!

• News

by Booker Jones

February 10, 2023

Prosecutor Will Review Cases Previously Handled by All Officers Involved in Tyre Nichols’ Death

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The Shelby County District Attorney’s office in Tennessee said Thursday it will review all cases previously handled by the five Memphis police officers charged in the beating and killing of Tyre Nichols.

According to CNN, District Attorney Steve Mulroy did not say how many cases would be reviewed, but said in a statement that it would include both closed and pending cases. The five former officers were also added to the county’s list of law enforcement officers whose credibility had been questioned, CNN reported. 

Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills, Jr. and Justin Smith were charged last month with second-degree murder, kidnapping, official misconduct, and official oppression in connection with the deadly Jan. 7 assault on Nichols.

Body and police camera video footage captured the beating, which led to his death three days later, igniting outrage across the country.

Despite claims that Nichols was stopped for reckless driving, the Memphis police chief later said there was no evidence to substantiate those allegations.

All of the officers charged were members of a special crime-fighting force called Scorpion that was disbanded shortly after Nichols’ killing. The unit had made hundreds of arrests within the first few months of its launch in 2021, Mayor Jim Strickland said in an address to the city last year.

CNN also reported that in 2021, Haley was involved in an incident where another officer received a sustained complaint for “excessive/unnecessary force” after a  woman suffered a dislocated shoulder. Haley was reprimanded for failing to document his role in the detention.

Also, in 2019, Mills was reprimanded for not filing a form after the use of physical force against a suspect after taking a woman “to the ground so that she could be handcuffed,” according to CNN. 

Yesterday (Feb. 9),  22-year-old Monterrious Harris filed a federal lawsuit claiming Scorpion officers had beaten him just days before Nichols was assaulted.

Tre Rogers appeared on Hip Hop & Enterprise to dish on his journey as a child actor to NFL player, and his return to the screen.

The NFL free agent appeared in a major role in season 2 of Starz’s BMF, all while continuing his career in professional sports and running multiple businesses across several industries. Starring as Sterling “Sterl” Black — head of the PAs (a local Detroit gang) and an ally to BMF — Rogers has been immersed back into the industry he put on hold as a child to pursue school.

 

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Rogers is no stranger to the big screen, he got his start acting as a child in several notable films including Constellation (2005) with Billy Dee Williams, Dirty (2005) with Cuba Gooding Jr., and Tyler Perry’s Madea Family Reunion (2006). Having worked alongside major, A-list talent at such a young age, Rogers was able to perfect his range as an actor early on.

 

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But as he grew, Rogers decided to put acting on hold to focus on his education, which led to his start in sports. After college, he was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in May 2016. Over the years, Rogers has played for the Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans, Houston Texas, and most recently, the Cleveland Browns.

 

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With his time away from the game, Rogers was able to make his return to television after 18 years. But he is still simultaneously playing in the NFL. Raking in decent salaries from the NFL and onscreen roles, the Huntsville, AL native has used his financial success to pour into his businesses, ranging from fashion, cannabis, food and beverage, real estate, and home health care.

Between professional football, acting, and being an entrepreneur, Rogers is setting the blueprint for his “Only Dreamers Sleep” brand and life motto. He is currently auditioning for new and dynamic roles to showcase the full range of his acting capabilities and elevate his profile in the TV and film space.

Press play below to hear more about Tre Rogers’ journey in pro football and acting and get insight on the fate of his role on  BMF.

Ten former NFL players sued Commissioner Roger Goodell and the league’s disability plan and its board members on Thursday, accusing them of systematically denying benefits to the players by lying about and misinterpreting the results of their medical examinations and the plan’s guidelines.

According to AP News, the class action lawsuit, filed in federal court in Maryland, where the NFL Player Retirement Plan has its office, said that purportedly neutral doctors hired by the plan to evaluate the players’ injuries were rewarded with more cases if they denied more claims, all in an effort “to limit the payment of benefits to the very Players whom the Plan was designed to help.”

At the same time the six board members — three representing the NFL and three representing the players’ union — claimed that they reviewed medical records to assess cases but often did not, according to the lawsuit.

“I’m trying to look out for all the other guys that have gone through this and gotten the short end of the stick with these evaluations,” Eric Smith , a defensive back for the Jets for seven seasons and one of the 10 players who filed the suit, said to AP News. 

The lawsuit seeks to have all players who have been denied benefits reassessed and made whole, and for penalties to be assessed against the disability plan and its board members for breaching their fiduciary responsibility to the players and the plan. The players also want the board members to be removed and the plan’s rules to be more strictly enforced.

The lawsuit comes on the heels of a regular season that was in some ways was defined by shocking injuries to players. Damar Hamlin, a Buffalo Bills defensive back, went into cardiac arrest during a game and was on a breathing tube for several days. Miami Dolphins quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa suffered two concussions and absorbed a third head hit early in the season, which prompted the league and players’ union to revise their protocols for evaluating concussions.

The high-profile injuries prompted a re-examination within the league and widely among fans of the brutality of the game as well as the measures designed to minimize injuries.

The lawsuit filed by the 10 former players, including running back Willis McGahee and the 11-year cornerback Mike McKenzie, highlighted the resources available to retired players who have for decades complained that they have been unfairly denied collectively bargained benefits.

Some players who have had their total and permanent disability claims approved have sued the plan because they believed they were shorted out of thousands of dollars a month. According to another court filing cited in the suit, only 30 out of thousands of former players received the highest benefits worth $265,000 per year. The lowest tier of the plan awards $65,000 per year.

McDonald’s USA has a long history of investing in Black leaders who are taking steps now to create a brighter tomorrow. And, yesterday, the Golden Arches and its Owner/Operators unveil the 2023 Black & Positively Golden Change Leaders – a collective of 10 young, Black movers-and-shakers who inspire and enact remarkable change in their communities and beyond. Each Change Leader will receive $20,000, totaling $200,000collectively, and will have access to elevated platforms to amplify their community missions, ranging from financial literacy to equality across the education system to mental health advocacy.

To further propel their leadership and underscore that Black history and excellence should be celebrated all year, beyond Black History Month, Change Leaders will be featured in a national advertising campaign voiced over by the multitalented award-winning actress, singer and entertainer Keke Palmer. They will also attend culturally impactful events to elevate awareness of their missions, and will have their stories profiled on McDonald’s Black & Positively Golden Instagram, @wearegolden, each month.

“Historically, McDonald’s has celebrated the accomplishments of the people in the communities we serve, and we also recognize the importance of celebrating the community leaders who are starting something today to change everything tomorrow,” says Alexea Gordon, McDonald’s Manager of Cultural Engagement. “This program was created to provide the proper resources needed to help young Black community leaders succeed in their endeavors. These change leaders have the opportunity that we know will have a lasting impact on their communities, and we remain committed to not only celebrating but assisting change makers of the future.”

Much like the Change Leaders, Keke Palmer remains passionate about uplifting young adults, highlighting Black excellence and giving back to the community, making her the perfect ambassador for the Black & Positively Golden Change Leaders TV and radio spots.

“I am so excited to partner with McDonald’s again to pay homage to these young trailblazers who are creating the change they want to see in their communities,” said Keke Palmer. “Each day, they are shaping history for the next generation, and I can’t wait for the world to see how they are creating a better tomorrow.”

MEET THE 2023 BLACK & POSITIVELY GOLDEN CHANGE LEADERS

• Andrew Ankamah, Jr., Philadelphia, PA, Founder & Director of The Accountability Initiative
• Brianna Baker, Arlington, VA, Activist and Founder of Justice for Black Girls
• Dr. Garrick Beauliere, Baltimore, MD, Post-Doctoral Fellow
• Kemia Bridgewater, Detroit, MI, Co-Founder of First Generation Gems
• Kamarie Brown, Atlanta, GA, Educator
• Hope Bryant, Houston, TX, Filmmaker
• Nyla Choates, Atlanta, GA, Community Activist & Author of “My Roots Are Rich”
• Aaliyah Duah, Brooklyn, NY, Founder of Financial Revolution
• Dorian Hollingsworth, Jr., Norfolk, VA, Founder & Executive Director of Teen Care Network
• Aaliyah Alicia Thompson, Hampton, GA, Owner of Aaliyah’s Beauty Bar

Each Change Leader was carefully chosen by our selection committee. To learn more about each Change Leader click here.

“I’m honored to be recognized by McDonald’s as a Change Leader and hope my journey inspires others that look like me,” said Nyla Choates, 2023 Black & Positively Golden Change Leader, Author, and Community Activist. “When I started my nonprofit organization and wrote the children’s book My Roots are Rich, it was important for me to showcase the positive contributions Black people made to American culture, and I am excited to have a company like McDonald’s to help me raise awareness and continue impacting culture and change in our neighborhoods and beyond.”

Since its inception, initiatives under the Black & Positively Golden platform—Change Leaders, HBCU student scholarships and program funding—have invested in the voices of tomorrow to help serve up bright futures in the Black community.  And for decades, McDonald’s has partnered with impactful organizations like The National Urban League, NAACP, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Hope Chicago and more to help close the opportunity gap and provide meaningful resources to the community.  In fact, the brand announced this month a new partnership with Included Health to provide specialized physical, social and emotional healthcare support that is culturally affirming and clinically-competent to meet the needs of Black U.S.-based employees and their families.

The Golden Arches is committed to feeding and fostering education and career development for the communities it serves, with programs like the HACER® National Scholarship and Education Tour, created to support Hispanic high-school students and their families; the McDonald’s/APIA Scholarship program catered to Asian and Pacific-Islander American students; and the Archways to Opportunity® program, which provides a variety of educational resources to eligible crew at participating U.S. restaurants.

To learn more about the McDonald’s Black & Positively Golden movement and the 2023 Change Leaders program, follow @wearegolden on Instagram and visit mcdchangeleaders.com

• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 9, 2023

Michigan Teenager Who Suffered Cardiac Arrest While on Basketball Court Passes Away

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A teenager from Michigan who had been on life support since Jan. 31, when he collapsed on a basketball court, has passed away.

According to Fox 2 Detroit, 18-year-old Cartier Woods has died after suffering a cardiac arrest last month. Woods had been on life support since he was taken to Henry Ford Hospital, after he collapsed on the basketball court. He attended Detroit Northwestern High School.

The Detroit Public Schools Community District released a statement regarding Woods’ death:

“It is with heavy hearts and deep sadness that we share that Cartier Woods has passed.His aunt made the decision to remove him from life support after vital signs continued to be absent. The DPSCD community is heartbroken by this sudden and untimely loss. We deeply thank everyone who has provided their prayers and well wishes. When the information regarding arrangements become available it will be shared.”

The Detroit Free Press reported that Woods suffered cardiac arrest during a Jan. 31 game against Fredrick Douglass Academy. The 18-year-old player fell down at the start of the basketball game. He informed one of the coaches that he was feeling dizzy.

His coach, George Tyson, performed CPR on Woods as other people prepared the use of an automatic external defibrillator. Soon after, emergency medical workers arrived, according to the assistant superintendent of communications for the Detroit Public Schools Community District, Chrystal Wilson.

“He was very healthy – he loved basketball,” said his cousin, Shantell Woods. “He was very amenable, respectful. We’re just asking for prayer – we need it.”

His family had set up a GoFundMe account to help with costs of medical assistance. Although the fundraising “Help Cartier” was set up for the costs of hospital care, the fund is still accepting donations.

• Business

by Sharelle B. McNair

February 9, 2023

African Child Labor Laws in Question After High Demand for Electric Vehicles

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Electric cars seem to be the next hot topic in the automotive industry, but who does it really affect? A report obtained by Forbes claimed Tesla’s plan for a new lithium-ion battery plant in Nevada would only be successful given the expensive materials, including cobalt, mined mostly in Congo. Sadly, in some cases those miners may be children.

Researchers are finding that major manufacturers aren’t taking child labor into consideration. According to Forbes, New York University and the Geneva Center for Business and Human Rights found that cobalt mining in Congo is unsafe and are calling on companies to create safe ways, eliminating the practice and improving overall safety.

The report’s creator, Michael Posner, told Forbes these electric cars wouldn’t be possible without the amount of cobalt coming from the African nation. “About 80% of the world’s cobalt is in the Congo and 20% of that comes from these informal artisanal mines,” Posner said. “And although companies including Tesla claim they don’t source cobalt from operations using child labor, “10% of the world’s cobalt is coming out of these artisanal mines—it’s a huge amount of product.”

Posner, who worked with the Obama administration told Forbes the reason children are primarily used for these projects is because of their size. Artisanal mining sites generally consist of small tunnels and holes. “You have people coming onto these mine sites with their families, digging a hole in the ground, which is unstable, then sending their kids down the shaft, and shafts are collapsing,” Posner said.

According to Tesla’s 2021 Impact Report found on their website, the company has “zero tolerance” for child labor and has worked with a sourcing committee in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the past to inspect the mining conditions. Congo isn’t the only country automotive companies look at for creating lithium batteries. Energywire News reported in October that the Biden administration stated batteries coming from China may be “tainted” by child labor, putting a hold on the push for electric vehicles.

When someone says they are a fan, there are ways to prove it. This year’s Grammy Awards host, South African comedian Trevor Noah, provided proof to another artist named Trevor, although he’s better known as former Leaders of the New School group member, Busta Rhymes.

In an Instagram post, Noah approached the Long Island-bred rapper shouting to him the hook to one of his more popular songs, “Busta, what it is right now!”

As the two embraced and stared to talk, an excited Noah acknowledged Busta aka Trevor (Tahiem) Smith’s Grammy performance. Busta performed as part of the collective of rappers who were celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop at the awards show. Some of the other rappers featured in that performance included Missy Elliott, Queen Latifah, De La Soul, Salt-N-Pepa, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Method Man, KRS-One, Ice-T, LL Cool J, Rakim, and many others.

Busta performed a song, “Party Is Goin’ On Over Here,” from his album, Extinction Level Event: The Final World Front, which was released in 1998.

Noah told Busta that he was amazing and Busta revealed to Noah that they both have the same name.

As Noah remembered that they are both named Trevor, he confessed that he never knew that but found out, pre-internet that Busta’s real name was Trevor. He then said Busta’s full name in front of him. Typically, most rappers don’t allow other people to call them by their real names, but Busta repeated his full name to acknowledge that the comedian was correct.

After offering to fill in for Busta Rhymes’ sidekick, the infamous Spiff Star, Noah started to recite some lyrics from Busta verbatim, as Busta rocked along with him. As Noah got into the mode of a performing artist, he recited the lyrics as Busta joined in. As they both said the lyrics, Busta took on the role of hypeman to Noah, as if the comedian was the main act on stage!

“Flipmode is the greatest!!! 🔥 #grammys”

 

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Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson made Adele a happy woman at the 65th Grammy Awards when he granted her wish of meeting the pro wrestler-turned-actor.

Fans got to see Adele’s reaction on Sunday night when Trevor Noah surprised the 16-time Grammy-winner with an official introduction to Johnson. Noah told the live audience how huge a fan the “Hello” singer is of the Black Adam star, and how she had never met him in person, E! News reported.

But all that changed when Johnson — who is also a big fan of Adele’s —popped out from the audience to embrace the chart-topping singer.

“We wanted to do something special for Adele,” he told Variety on Tuesday.

“I know that she is a very big fan of mine and has made that clear publicly many times. But I’ve got to tell you, I am a huge fan of hers, as well—her music, her journey, her openness and directness in how she speaks. I’ve always admired that about her.”

The Rock took to Twitter after the award show to share his official meeting with his new “best friend.”

https://twitter.com/TheRock/status/1622698247017070593?s=20&t=oDkgi74WgO-DAe6xtIhWLQ

The last-minute surprise was arranged after Johnson confirmed his attendance at music’s biggest night. His confirmation prompted the show’s executive producer, Ben Winston, to recall the personal invitation Adele once sent the Jumanji star to her One Night Only concert special in Los Angeles, which he wasn’t able to attend.

“We were trying to figure out something to do that was going to be fun and surprise her, and we had kicked around ideas all week,” Dwayne explained. “The key to a surprise like that is to actually keep it a surprise. Myself and the Grammys went to great lengths to make sure that Adele was authentically surprised in the moment, and she was.”

To add to the special moment, Johnson presented Adele with the Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance for “Easy on Me.”

“And talk about the universe meeting our friendship halfway: I get up onstage and I open that Grammy envelope and it said ‘Adele.’ So that’s why I was able to say, ‘Get up here best friend, Adele!’ It was such a special night,” he explained.

“And she’s such a special iconic brilliant inspiring artist who has inspired a generation and who will continue to inspire generations to come. I love that woman.”

As he continues to recover from suffering a cardiac arrest while playing in front of a live audience on national television, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has gotten more good news. The defensive player was announced as the NFL Players Association’s winner of the 2023 Alan Page Community Award.

The award is the NFLPA’s highest honor. Every year, the Alan Page Community Award acknowledges one NFL player who demonstrates a dedication so deep that it positively impacts his team’s city and communities across the country. The award was named after Pro Football Hall of Famer Alan Page.

“Being recognized for the NFLPA Alan Page Community Award is humbling and a dream come true,” Hamlin said in a written statement. “I’m humbled to even be mentioned amongst those guys. I’ve always wanted to impact my community and show that it’s possible to do great things. With this award, we’ll be able to impact even more people and keep this mission going.”

Along with being acknowledged for his contributions with this award, the NFLPA will also donate $100,000 to Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation.

Hamlin was recognized by his fellow players, as each year’s winner is selected by their NFL peers.

Hamlin started the Chasing M’s Foundation through a GoFundMe page when the pandemic was gripping the world in 2020. He was still an NFL hopeful at the University of Pittsburgh at the time. He envisioned raising $2,500 for camps, toy drives, back-to-school events, as well as other initiatives to give back to the Pennsylvania community that helped raise him. The “M” stood for the “millions” of people, scholarships, and other avenues by which he hoped to make a difference.

In December, before his shocking health crisis, the safety played host to his third annual Community Toy Drive in Pittsburgh. After the near-death experience on January 2, donations totaling more than nine million dollars were made to his Chasing M’s Foundation.

The defensive player is currently recovering in hopes of returning back to the football field next season.