Air Force Veteran Capt. Stacia Robinson Selected To Head Alabama Office Of Minority Affairs
Air Force Veteran Stacia Robinson has been selected to lead the Alabama Office Of Minority Affairs, taking over the post from Michelle Nix, who is moving to the private sector.
According to a release from the office of Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, Robinson moves to the post from BeneChoice Cos. The veteran sports a wealth of knowledge in employee benefits design, advertising, consulting, and public speaking.
In a statement, Ivey called Robinson a small business champion that will support the state’s HBCUs and women-owned businesses.
“As we prepare to turn the page and reset state government with the upcoming Inauguration in January, I am proud to assemble the strongest team possible to serve every Alabamian to the best of our abilities. Today in 2022, we can reflect on the significant progress we have made during my first term and can be excited for what work remains ahead, and I am proud to have Stacia Robinson be part of that effort,” said Ivey.
“From looking to engaging our students at Alabama’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities to supporting minority and women-owned businesses to ensuring every Alabamian has the opportunity to provide for their families, we are setting important and necessary goals and having Stacia at the helm of the Alabama Office of Minority Affairs will be instrumental. I am sure that good things are in store for our folks.”
Robinson, a Denver, Colorado native, spent seven years in the Air Force as a communications-computer officer. She also sports Master of Science degrees in counseling and human development from Troy University. She is also an HBCU alum, receiving a Master of Science degree in mathematics from Spelman College.
“I am looking forward to serving the great state of Alabama in this role on behalf of women and minorities,” said Robinson.
“I hope to bring my own experiences and curiosity of others to the role as this Administration strives to make ‘Alabama the Beautiful’ also Alabama the better for its citizens, especially for its women and all minorities.”
According to WHNT News, Robinson’s appointment will begin on Jan. 1.
California Man Suspected of Being a Serial Killer Charged with Seven Counts of Murder
A suspected serial killer was charged with another murder earlier this week in California.
According to Fox News, the Stockton Police Department has charged 43-year-old Wesley Brownlee with a seventh murder and labeled him a serial killer. He is suspected of killing seven men and also injuring a homeless woman. The crimes have allegedly been a rash of random attacks in California since April 2021.
The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office has filed an amended complaint against Brownlee while adding more charges. The suspect, who is already in custody, has been charged with the following crimes:
An additional count of violating PC 187 (A) for the murder of victim Juan Alexander Vasquez, from the jurisdiction of Alameda County
An additional count of violating PC 187 (A) for the murder of victim Mervin Harmon, from the jurisdiction of Alameda County
An additional count of violating PC 187 (A) for the murder of victim Paul Yaw, in San Joaquin County
An additional count of violating PC 187 (A) for the murder of victim Salvador Debudey Jr., in San Joaquin County
An additional count of violating PC 664/187 (A) attempted murder of Natasha LaTour, in San Joaquin County
District Attorney of San Joaquin County Tori Verber Salazar released a statement regarding the recent charges.
“The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office continues to collaborate with our local law enforcement agencies to ensure justice for these victims,” said Salazar. “We would like to thank the community for their support and law enforcement for their diligent investigation and apprehension of the suspect.”
Earlier this year, Salazar announced charges against Brownlee when the Stockton Police Department initially arrested him. Brownlee allegedly jumped on his victims in parks and sidewalks during night hours. The motive for his attacks is still unknown.
The random attacks started on April 10, 2021, in Oakland. Police have stated that all of the shootings appeared related due to ballistic evidence and surveillance video. The lone victim to survive, LaTour told police officers that nothing was said between her and Brownlee when she was confronted.
In an interview with 209 Times, she said, “There were no words exchanged. Didn’t come any closer. Didn’t say anything. Just started shooting. I saw, I saw flashes.”
Brownlee is scheduled to return to court on Jan. 3, 2023, for further arraignment.
How Olympic Gold Medallist Sanya Richards-Ross Is Helping Black Moms Through Mommi Nation
Sanya Richards-Ross is a Jamacian-American Olympic track gold medallist, 6x World Champion, and the newest addition to Real Housewives of Atlanta. What you may not know is that she is also a brand ambassador for Nike (and has been for over 20 years), a serial entrepreneur, a sports analyst on NBC, iFit Partner, and the founder of Mommi Nation, a site that is creating a much-needed community for Black mothers.
The Golden Mindset
Richards-Ross shared that crossing the finish line and getting her Olympic gold medal gave her the extra boost of confidence she needed to feel as if she could accomplish anything she put her mind to.
“It was like, I set this goal, worked my butt off, I went through and endured the highs and the lows, and I did it, which means I know I can tackle motherhood, entrepreneurship, anything I want to do. I can do it if I put my mind to it,” she told BLACK ENTERPRISE.
The Birth of Mommi Nation
When Richards-Ross became a mom, she wanted to be a mom at that time in her life more than anything. She and her husband, college sweethearts, had been together for 12 years and wanted to start a family.
“I felt like I was prepared in every way. And I’ll never forget the first couple months of motherhood – how challenging it was for me.”
She felt like she had read all of the books, and because she had her mom to guide her and her sister had just become a mom, she thought she’d have everything she needed.
“I was like, wow, there were still so many things about motherhood that I wasn’t prepared for and I didn’t know. And simultaneously, it was right before the time that there was this social uprising with the George Floyd situation and all these things happening in the world, and I thought to myself, “Wow, it’s hard being a mom, but it’s particularly hard being a Black mother in America. I’d like to start this community specifically for Black moms because I needed that.”
The Rise of Mommi Nation
Richards-Ross shared that when she was successful on the track, it was because she had community.
“I had people around me who loved me, who poured into me, who supported me, who were like-minded. And so, I thought to myself, man, if I have resources, I’ve got a husband, and I’m struggling in motherhood, I can only imagine all the women out there who might be doing it with limited resources. Or without a partner, how hard that might be for them.”
Mommi Nation allows its community to remove the disclaimers and start with where they’re struggling. “There were resources out there. But very limited and not specific to the Black Mom Experience, so I’m very proud to provide that for Black women.”
The Olympian started with a blog, where she had 25 moms writing their stories. She shared,
“I know when you feel seen and heard, and when you feel connected, that encourages and inspires you. So, it started as a blog that has just transformed into something so much more. We have a vibrant Instagram and social media community. We’re over 130,000 strong. We are nearing a million views on our blog, we’ve done incredible events. We do challenges online. It’s just blowing my mind and it is the thing that is my passion project. The thing I most love doing and really want to continue to grow…. And hopefully reach a million moms all around the world.”
The Future of Mommi Nation
The track star is on a mission and her goals for Mommi Nation go far beyond a blog . Richards-Ross shared, “I want to see Mommi Nation reach the goal of serving over a million Black moms all over the world, hiring over 100 Black moms, and really supporting Black mothers in a way that no other organization is currently doing.”
Aside from Mommi Nation, Richards-Ross is also assisting her community through an iFit series where she is a trainer alongside her husband, football champion Aaron Ross. As well as through her books Chasing Grace, Run with Me and Right on Track.
When asked what inspired her to join Real Housewives of Atlanta, she shared that when she received the call with the opportunity, she spoke to all the people that mattered most in her life. Richards-Ross really thought about where it fit into her brand, and about all the things she still wanted to do. Ultimately, she decided to go through with it as she knew it was an awesome opportunity to be exposed to a new audience. She’s really passionate about Mommi Nation, and a huge part of RHOA fanbase is Black women and mothers.
“To be able to expose them to what I was doing there felt like a great opportunity.”
It has indeed helped.
“The growth has been exponential.”, Richards-Ross exclaimed.
She’s not done, though. She’s also a sports analyst on NBC and would also love to do more hosting and hone in on her journalism skillset in a big way.
Grambling State Receives More Than $17K From McDonald’s ArkLaTx To Support Student Services
The McDonald’s restaurant corporation had a famous slogan in the 1970s — “You deserve a break today.”
On Monday, McDonald’s helped provide a break for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the region, including Grambling State University.
McDonald’s representatives were on the GSU campus Monday morning to present a check for $17,992.26 as part of a special HBCU-branded deal launched in the McDonald’s App during the 2021-22 academic year that allowed McDonald’s customers, HBCU alumni, students, and others to support regional HBCUs from local McDonald’s owner-operators donating a portion of every sale to support student services programs.
A total of $27,280 was donated by McDonald’s in this region, with LSU-Shreveport also receiving $9,387. With individual check presentations held across northern Louisiana, the total amounts for each school were allotted based on enrollment sizes.
“Historically Black colleges and universities in Louisiana provide services and learning environments of incredible value to our communities,” local owner-operator Roy Griggs said in a statement. “Not only do they create economic opportunity, but they work to prepare these students to become our future leaders. We are proud to work together with our loyal customers to support our Louisiana HBCUs.”
Grambling State President Rick Gallot was on hand to receive the check during a presentation held in the atrium of GSU’s Favrot Student Union.
“We are really excited to be beneficiaries of this gift from Roy Briggs and the McDonald’s corporation to support student services,” Gallot said. “Mr. Griggs is someone who always finds a way to give back, so today we just thank him for his continued support of our students here at Grambling State University.”
Gallot said GSU’s Office of Student Affairs will decide how the donation will be used.
“The donation will be administered by our Student Affairs team,” Gallot said. “We want this money to go directly to support students and student services. That office is certainly engaged with our students. We know that this money will be used to help them along their pathway to their degree.”
McDonald’s also supports HBCUs through other initiatives including the Thurgood Marshall Black and Positively Golden Scholarships and Archways to Opportunity, a tuition-assistance program that promotes opportunity and mobility for McDonald’s diverse employee community.
“There are three things we think about when addressing student needs,” said GSU Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Rudolph Ellis. “Something that’s good for the students, something that’s good for the school, and something that’s sustainable.”
“This donation provides all three of those key factors. It’s great for students, it’s great for the school, and hopefully, it will remain sustainable in the future. I’m ecstatic about it and can provide changes and meet needs that any higher education institution can appreciate.”
Jean Mosley, public relations director for Griggs Enterprise, Inc., said the donation funding presented to GSU on Monday started being collected earlier this year.
“In February, as part of Black History Month, McDonald’s launched an effort to utilize McDonald’s global footprint for its global app — and what that does is take the orders placed on that mobile app, and a portion of those funds are donated to support student services at our HBCUs in northwestern Louisiana and Arkansas.
“We look forward to a growing relationship and making the community here at Grambling State University even stronger.”
Good Morning America Anchor TJ Holmes’ Estranged Wife Breaks Silence Amid Affair Chatter
The T.J. Holmes/Amy Robach saga at ABC News has taken its toll on Holmes’ estranged wife.
Marilee Fiebig took to Instagram to sound off about the after-effects of her husband’s affair, saying she’s “exhausted.” This is reportedly the first time Fieberg publicly shared a statement since news of the affair broke.
According to Radar Online, Fieberg shared a video on her social media page of herself and her daughter seemingly going on a holiday adventure without Holmes. The couple was married for more than 22 years.
(Image: Instagram/@marileefholmes/Screenshot)
Holmes and Robach, who hosted GMA3: What You Need To Know are both currently suspended, as an investigation has been placed to look into the alleged affairs.
BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported that, according to The Daily Mail, Holmes and Robach were engaging in a romantic relationship. Although, on paper, both hosts are still married. The two recently separated from their respective spouses this past summer in August. Robach is almost officially divorced from Melrose Place actor, Andrew Shue.
Once word leaked that Holmes was romantically involved with his co-host, according to Page Six, it was also revealed that Robach wasn’t the first woman on set who engaged romantically with Holmes. Producer, NatashaSingh, was named as a staffer who was involved with Holmes.
Page Sixreported that Holmes and Singh were involved for three years, beginning in 2016. Holmes’ estranged wife discovered the two were an item back in 2019 after finding several emails between the two.
ABC executives initially stated that the romantic involvement between the two hosts did not violate any company policies. Now that his previous relationships have been discovered, sources say that the human resources department at ABC is trying to see if Holmes was involved with anyone who wasn’t on the same corporate level as him.
“It’s one thing for him to have a relationship with another anchor,” an insider said. “The question is whether he violated company rules by dating less senior employees.”
Job Seekers, Ziprecruiter Wants To Land You A New Job — For Free
Professionals know finding a job — the right job — is practically a full-time job in itself. In fact, it usually takes the typical job seeker about five months from starting their search to finally coming aboard with a new company.
Sure, you can enlist the services of a professional job recruiter (i.e., a headhunter) to help personalize your search. But of course, it is by no means cheap, often costing 20 to 30 percent of your new annual base salary just for brokering the deal. Meanwhile, services like ZipRecruiter can offer opportunities to find a job, but without costing job hunters a dime.
After nearly a decade as one of the world’s top employment apps, ZipRecruiter has streamlined the process of helping bring companies needing talent together with potential employees ready to work. That meeting of the minds comes from a lot of job matchmaking expertise.
ZipRecruiter utilizes artificial intelligence to analyze literally billions of interactions between employers and job seekers, unlocking some of the secrets behind what both sides genuinely want. That analysis helps determine where to post a job seeker’s resume and which open jobs they may already match.
Using ZipRecruiter’s new AI-powered personal recruiting tool called Phil, job seekers get a truly personalized experience. Phil gets smarter as your job search continues, optimizing your resume and digging deeper into available jobs to find suitable matches. In addition to assessing your interest in the positions he finds, Phil also keeps you updated with status reports, so it’s easy to keep track of applications, interviews, and offers.
And Phil is only helping to boost ZipRecruiter’s already solid stats. For example, about 80 percent of companies say they have a qualified candidate applying for their open positions within just 24 hours of posting the job.
“I was laid off from my job right as the COVID-19 crisis hit. Within a week of uploading my resume, ZipRecruiter matched me with jobs that fit my experience and what I was looking for. The process was so easy,” said Kathryn, who eventually accepted a position with pharmaceutical heavyweight Novartis.
Since job seekers are often watching their dollars more than ever, ZipRecruiter is a perfect fit, never charging prospective employees for any job search, resume posting, or application services. Just head over to ZipRecruiter, and you can begin the search for your new job right now.
Reginae Carter Calls Out ‘Aunties’ Hating On Promise Ring Her Boyfriend Gifted Her
Reginae Carter is clapping back at all the “aunties” hating on the promise ring her boyfriend Armon Warren gifted her for Christmas.
On Christmas, Carter shared a video showing the moment her boyfriend gifted her with a brand new promise ring in honor of their six-month anniversary.
“This my promise ring to you, baby,” Warren says in the viral video, captured by The Shade Room.
“This is my loyalty, this is love. This is everything. This is me, investing my time, and everything into you. I only want to be with you.”
But soon after sharing the heartwarming moment, Carter caught wind of the shady responses some trolls had about the ring.
“[I] just feel like promise rings childish at this big grown age,” one viewer wrote.
Carter is not one to bite her tongue and soon took to Twitter to call out the “aunties” and anyone else hating on her love with Warren.
“Yall old a***s mad at my promise ring but been in 10 year relationships with a bunch of broken promises,” Carter quipped. “Get you somebody to take care of your time not waste it aunties.”
After the initial shade, many others defended Carter and the promise ring Warren gifted her.
“Not sure what the problem is they’ve been dating for 6 months was he supposed to give her a baby like ni***s do y’all ?” one user wrote.
“It’s only 6mo at least it’s a promise ring and not a baby tf,” added someone else.
Warren is the first person Carter has publicly dated after her breakup with rapper YFN Lucci who remains incarcerated facing a slew of criminal charges.
Meanwhile, Carter is ignoring the haters and celebrating her six-month anniversary with her YouTube personality boyfriend. She shared a celebratory post recapping her time with Warren.
“Happy Anniversary baby ! This Christmas is more special to me than ever because you came into my life and brought me so much joy🥰,” she captioned the post.
Former Talk Show Host Wendy Williams Appears in Good Spirits Promoting Merchandise Online
The Wendy Experience appears to be a happy one for the future podcaster this holiday season!
Wendy Williams, the former talk show host, is gearing up for the debut of her podcast, The Wendy Experience, and released a video clip on Instagram on Christmas.
In the clip, she promotes merchandise associated with her catchphrases and former talk show and brings a holiday greeting, assuring her followers that she is “just happy to be here.”
“Happy holidays! Tis the season for the winter. Listen, don’t forget to check out your favorite Wendy Experience merchandise. I don’t know what else you’re doing. I’m just happy to be here—and be, well, happy to be here.”
Williams’ publicist, Shawn Zanotti, described the merchandise to E! News. “The gear features comfortable hoodies and caps featuring many of Wendy’s famous quotes. Shirts lined with words like ‘How You Doin’, ‘Excuse Me,’ and many more classic Wendy sayings.”
In October, Williams was released from a “wellness facility” she checked herself into to “manage her overall health issues,” Zanotti told TheU.S. Sun at the time.
Williams informed TMZabout her intentions of entering the world of podcasting after losing her talk show earlier this year. Williams stated that she already had plans to include big-name celebrity guests. In a brief interview, Williams told the media outlet that she would make more money podcasting than she did on her popular syndicated talk show.
The Wendy Williams Show aired from 2008 to 2022 until health issues forced her off the show for the past year and a half. Several guest hosts occupied Williams’ seat with the intention of keeping it warm until she could return. Instead, the show was replaced with another hosted by comedian Sherri Shepherd.
NY Rep. Presents Bill To Stop Conservative Judges From Halting Democratic Policies Like Debt Relief
New York Rep. Mondaire Jones (D) believes conservative judges shouldn’t have the power to stop Democratic policies and has introduced a bill barring district courts from issuing nationwide injunctions of federal policies.
The New York Democrat wrote an opinion piece for the Huffington Post last week where he criticized Republican-appointed judges “unrestrained use of nationwide injunctions” to block Democratic policies. In the article, Jones cited federal judge Mark Pittman, appointed by former President Donald Trump, and ruled that PresidentJoe Biden’s student debt relief plan is illegal.
The ruling has blocked millions from student debt relief, and the Supreme Court is now hearing the case. According to Jones, Pittman and other federal judges should not have that power.
“Although the Biden administration has appealed this ruling, its long-overdue student debt relief program will now, at a minimum, be stalled for many months,” Jones wrote in his piece. “This begs an important question: How can a lone Trump-appointed judge in Texas, through a single opinion, overturn the Biden administration’s meticulously planned executive order in all 50 states?”
Other instances Jones cited included when U.S. District Court Judge Kathryn Mizell, also appointed by Trump, struck down President Biden’s mask mandate for public transportation earlier this year.
Those instances led Jones to introduce the Injunction Reduction Act, which would ban the district court from issuing nationwide injunctions of federal policies and give that authority to the federal district court in Washington D.C., the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, or the Supreme Court.
“By making these three courts the only ones that can universally enjoin federal laws, regulations, and executive orders, my bill would vest this authority in the courts best suited to make decisions with national implications — as judged by their jurisprudential history and subject-matter expertise,” Jones said in a release on the Act.
Biden’s Student Debt Relief Plan has been blocked in federal courts twice. Pittman oversaw one of the lawsuits filed by two student loan borrowers who did not qualify for the full amount of relief. The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals also blocked the plan on behalf of six Republican-led states who say it would hurt their tax revenues and the student loan company MOHELA.
Next month, the Supreme Court will hear arguments regarding whether the Biden administration can move forward with student loan forgiveness.
This isn’t Jones’s first attack on the Republican Party or its methods. Last year, Jones said Republican arguments denying Washington D.C. statehood are “racist trash.”
Baby Fever: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Newborn Daughter, Love, Makes Public Appearance
Sean “Diddy” Combs finally shows the face of his newborn daughter, Love Sean Combs, for the world to see.
On Tuesday, the Bad Boy mogul posted two photos of the latest addition to his family. One of the pictures shows the newborn in a baby seat, and the other shows the billionaire holding her while she sleeps on his chest.
This past weekend, Combs posted a family picture with his children in matching pajamas; Love made her first public appearance. All of Diddy’s children, not including his first one, Justin, appeared in the photo. In the picture, Love sits in Diddy’s arms, facing away from the cameras while his other children, Quincy, 31; King, 24; Chance, 16, and twins, D’Lila Star and Jessie James, both 16, were facing forward.
News of Diddy’s daughter took people by surprise. Love entered the world in October, and Diddy made the official announcement on his Twitter account earlier this month on Dec. 10., sparking speculation about the mother of his newborn daughter.
Several days later, the identity of Love’s mother was reported by TMZ. After accessing Love’s birth certificate, the media outlet disclosed that 28-year-old Dana Tran was confirmed as the newborn’s mother. She reportedly has a job working in the cybersecurity industry. No one has come forward with any information about how Diddy and Tran met or how long they’ve known each other.
After Diddy made the surprising announcement, Tran reportedly deleted her social media accounts.
According to Entrepreneur, the proud father hosted a memorable futuristic-themed partyfor his twin daughters’ 16th birthdays less than two weeks ago on Dec. 18. The twins were given matching Range Rover SUVs from Diddy.
