by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 22, 2022

Mississippi Police Fatally Shot Black Woman Holding Walmart Employee Hostage

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Mississippi police fatally shot a woman who was seen holding a Walmart employee hostage on Wednesday.

Corlunda McGinister, 21, of West Helena, Arkansas, was fatally shot by a member of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety after she held another woman hostage in a Walmart in Richland while demanding to speak to a news anchor, ABC News reports.

A video that has been widely shared across social media shows a woman holding a gun in one hand while using the other hand to hold the Walmart employee’s vest. The employee looked visibly shaken as the woman holding the gun demanded a news anchor.

“Get a news anchor here now!” the woman shouts while others in the store begged her to let the employee go.

https://twitter.com/DailyLoud/status/1605948690308513792?s=20&t=FZ7q0aoWD0ynQwSG90bJIw

The video shows police arriving at the scene and asking the woman to drop her weapon and put her hands up. The woman claimed she was not trying to hurt anyone.

The Richland Police Department initially reported the incident around 5:45 p.m. Wednesday through a social media post, WAPT reports.

“RPD is working an incident at Walmart involving a weapon. The scene is secure and we will provide updates when they become available,” the post said.

Just two hours later, police shared an update confirming an officer-involved shooting.

“RPD had an officer involved shooting this evening at Walmart,” they wrote.” All of our officers are safe. Walmart is secure and closed at this time. MBI will be conducting an independent investigation.”

Police later confirmed that the suspect was fatally shot and no one else was injured during the shooting.

“It’s devastating for all parties involved — the officers, everybody that was involved in this situation,” Richland Police Chief Nick McLendon said. “You know, with the Christmas season coming, mental health is a big deal because of the stress involved in the Christmas season.”

McLendon also said people who are struggling can reach out to the Richland police for help. “If you see something, say something,” he added.

• Celebrity News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 22, 2022

Ice Cube’s Son Defends His ‘Work Ethic’ Against Nepotism Criticism for Role as Dad in Biopic

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Ice Cube’s son O’Shea Jackson Jr. is responding to a viral article calling out the Hollywood figures who benefitted from nepotism.

While Jackson wasn’t named directly in Vulture’s “Year of the Nepo Baby” cover story, the actor found it necessary to explain why he doesn’t qualify as a “nepo baby” due to all the hard work he put into launching his acting career.

The Just Mercy star went on a Twitter tirade on Tuesday sending out a series of messages defending his career, despite receiving his first acting role playing his father in the 2015 biopic, Straight Outta Compton.

“My dad told me in a perfect world, I would play him in straight outta compton,” Jackson wrote. “I was already in college for screenwriting at USC.”

My dad told me in a perfect world, I would play him in straight outta compton. I was already in college for screenwriting at USC. I accepted the challenge. And auditioned for two years before getting the role. After that it was up to me, he couldn’t hold my hand through my career

— O’Shea Jackson Jr (@OsheaJacksonJr) December 20, 2022

The 31-year-old Los Angeles native shared the grueling process he endured before securing the role he admitted his father already wanted him to have.

“I accepted the challenge. And auditioned for two years before getting the role,” Jackson continued. “After that it was up to me, he couldn’t hold my hand through my career.”

Jackson went on to share how hard he had to work to keep his acting career alive after making such a big onscreen debut.

“I had to get my ass up and make it work. From the roles I chose. The work ethic I put into them. My professionalism on sets and promo tours,” he shared.

“Even leaving HIS agency and goin to find a team of my own. Once the door was opened it was up to me to walk through it and thrive.”

Jackson continued. “But none of that. NONE. OF. THAT. Happens that way without the love of my father,” he added. “The work he put in to get us to a place of opportunity. And for me to ignore that or not accept and use as a guide would be foolish and disrespectful. I am grateful and I use his teachings daily.”

Jackson went on to send love to anyone who’s able to benefit from the lanes their predecessors paved for them.

“I say this to say. To the people who are 2nd, 3rd or any number of generational talent/wealth. Embrace that shit. Because it’s something that’s been happening for centuries,” he tweeted. “Do not let anyone get it in your head that you should feel bad or your accomplishments are less than…”

Family first. May everyone who reads this, blaze a trail for their family to be able to walk in the future. And teach them to love themselves. To love their family. And pave the way for the next.

Thank you that was my TED talk.

— O’Shea Jackson Jr (@OsheaJacksonJr) December 20, 2022

Jackson ended his rant by encouraging everyone to build a legacy for their family to benefit from in future generations.

“May everyone who reads this, blaze a trail for their family to be able to walk in the future,” he wrote.

• News

by Atiya Jordan

December 22, 2022

White Couple Allegedly Tortured Special Needs Foster Child During ‘Humanitarian’ Work in Uganda

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A white American couple who moved to Uganda for humanitarian work faces the death penalty with charges of aggravated torture and trafficking of their 10-year-old foster son, New York Post reported.

Kampala Metropolitan police arrested foster parents Nicholas and Mackenzie Leigh Mathias Spencer on Dec. 9 after neighbors alerted officials about the alleged torture.

The couple have been residing in Uganda since 2017.  Nicholas and his wife fostered three children in 2018, including the victim, from Welcome Ministry in Jinja city. They all eventually moved to the capitol of Kampala.

Uganda police say that between 2020 and 2022, Kayima John, who is a special needs student with an HIV positive diagnosis, has been “constantly tortured” by his foster parents.

An investigation of the incident revealed that the Spencers kept John barefoot, and “naked throughout the day,” and “would occasionally make him squat in an awkward position, with his head facing the floor and hands spread out widely.”

John was also forced to sleep on a wooden platform without a mattress and was served cold meals directly from the fridge. A camera was also installed in his room to track all of his actions.

The police force concludes that the child “could have endured more severe acts of torture, away from the camera.”

According to the Daily Monitor, a caregiver reported to the police that the foster parents accused John of being stubborn, hyperactive, and mentally unstable, and wanted him to get in line.

“I wanted to leave the job, but I knew if I left without doing something about it, the torture would continue,” she said, per the local outlet.

Since the arrest, the Spencers have pleaded not guilty to aggravated torture, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. More recently, an additional charge of aggravated child trafficking has appeared in a magistrate’s court, which carries the death penalty if convicted, according to the state prosecutor.

• Celebrity News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 22, 2022

‘You Can Have a Man and a Peach’: Cynthia Bailey Hints at Return to ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’

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Cynthia Bailey recently teased her potential return to The Real Housewives of Atlanta (RHOA) and the possibility that she exited the show because of her ex-husband.

The veteran supermodel and Bravo star recently sat down for an interview where she announced her return to RHOA in a friend role.

“I can say that I am going to play with the girls a little bit this season, maybe some future seasons, but only as a friend,” Bailey announced in a clip captured by Jay’s Reality Blog.

Cynthia admitted how she missed “hanging out with the ladies a little,” adding, “I had some really great friendships with some of the girls.”

https://twitter.com/JaysRealityBlog/status/1604885676876566536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1604888336266457088%7Ctwgr%5Eb472f6a29aedae5f85b90eaddc56be8fdad26852%7Ctwcon%5Es2_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fatlantablackstar.com%2F2022%2F12%2F21%2Fcynthia-bailey-teases-return-to-rhoa-after-divorce-but-as-a-friend-of-the-show%2F

Since getting divorced from Mike Hill, Cynthia said she’s been back in Atlanta “spending more time at Lake Bailey.” As a result, she’s been invited to a number of filmed events for season 15.

When asked if she could confirm her addition to season 15, Cynthia said, “It’s looking that way.”

“I keep getting invited to some of their events,” Cynthia shared.

She did confirm that her possible return is only as a friend and not full-time, as she was in the past.

“I’m not filming. I’m not on the show anymore,” she said.

Cynthia confessed that she’s been missing reality television after her 11 seasons on RHOA.

“I think I’m ready to get back on camera with some of the ladies,” she said.

Fans praised the big news and applauded Cynthia’s positive spirit in the wake of divorcing her second husband.

“Cynthia said let me tie up those loose ends with Mike and come collect that friend bag,” one fan said. “I know that’s right.”

“I hope these women stop leaving the show for men. That’s your bread,” added someone else. “People loved you on it. You can have a man and a peach.”

The latter comment appeared to reference Cynthia’s past remarks about possibly exiting the show to “protect” her marriage with Mike, as noted by Page Six. “After going through my divorce with my ex [Peter Thomas], I’m very protective of my second marriage because, you know, I really want it to work, and I want to do everything that I can to protect it and to protect Mike,” Bailey said at the time.

• Food

by Stacy Jackson

December 22, 2022

Black Chef Sells Soul Food Out of Ohio Gas Station

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It’s not often that you find a spot where you can stop for gas and grab a bite of soul food at the same time.

Dominique Ian LeeShawn Boykin, self-taught chef and creator of Dinner By Dom, is serving his cuisine inside Akron’s Gas & Save station to address the lack of soul food options in Northeast OH.

According to the Akron Beacon Journal, Boykin was drawn to the culinary arts industry as a child, watching family members and television chefs whip up savory recipes. The Akron resident began his entrepreneurial ventures in 2015 with his  “Not your nana’s” banana pudding recipe, launching Dinner By Dom from his home.

After cooking out of his home kitchen for seven years, a friend presented him with the opportunity to open up in the new kitchen space a month ago.

“I do everything on my own. I cook alone. Nobody is with me in my kitchen. I have no training, just a gift,” he said. “I’ve never gone to culinary arts school so I’m running off support and word of mouth.”

Dinner By Dom presents a modern take on traditional southern classics. Boykin describes his business as “soul food with a flair.”

Customers can choose from soul food dinners and sides that include pot roast, mac and cheese, green beans, cornbread, wings, and loaded fries. Additionally, Chef Boykin offers catering services for events and businesses.

“I would say my company’s success is evolving. I’m a humble, passionate, transparent, spiritual business owner. I want to franchise and be able to employ people from all walks of life,” he said.

Boykin has accumulated over 48,100 social media followers across multiple platforms.

“I’m just a keeper of the garden and I’m here to plant a seed, a seed of mindfulness, a seed of positivity, and a seed of you are worthy and can be whatever you’d like to,” he added.

Gas & Save is located at 863 W. Exchange St.

James “J.H.” Atkins made history on Dec. 21 when he was sworn in as the first Black mayor of Danville, KY, according to WKYT News.

The city of Danville is 235 years old, and Atkins said he was humbled to be the first African-American mayor of the city.

“I’m proud, but at the same time, I’m very humble,” said Atkins.

“So it’s really not about me. It’s about the whole community. My campaign was vote Atkins, the people’s mayor. I listen to everybody in this town. It’s another example of kids in our community looking up and saying, ‘There’s a role model.’ I’m somebody who looks like them and if he can do it, so can they,” he added. “I stress my qualifications. I just happen to be Black.”

Atkins graduated from Kentucky State University and became a lifelong educator who taught history and civics. The Army veteran also served as Danville’s city commissioner for 12 years, as well as vice mayor for eight years.

The mayor’s wife Artie Atkins said that the people of Danville love her husband.

“He is an African American, we recognize that, but the best part is he is a citizen of Danville and the people actually love him and he loves them,” she said.

The new mayor says that he has lots of plans for the city of Danville and noted that homelessness and economic development are among them.

“Master plan for the parks, downtown master plan, economic development, homelessness, housing,” said Atkins. “We put in the work and we put the time in. Sometimes you get results.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by James “J.H.” Atkins (@atkins4mayor)

Atkins added that he knows some of his decisions as mayor will be questioned due to his race, but challenged those who do so to note his qualifications and come and talk to him.

“I realize that being an African-American male, there’s going to be some people who are going to question my decision making, my judgment, just because of that, but what I prefer for them to do is look at my qualifications and come talk to me.”

Mayor Atkins’ first city commission meeting will be held on Monday, Jan. 9.

• Sports

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 22, 2022

Dwyane Wade Leads List of First-Time Nominees for Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame

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The first member of the famed Banana Boat Crew has just been nominated for the Basketball Hall of Fame.

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the eligible candidates for the next class that will enter the exclusive club. The nominees for the Class of 2023 – which include several high-profile players, a coach, and a team – as first-time candidates for entry are Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, Gregg Popovich, Dwyane Wade, and the 1976 U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team.

https://twitter.com/Hoophall/status/1605659377389621248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Wade, who is expected to be accepted into the the Hall of Fame on his first try, is the first to represent the Banana Boat Crew and be placed on the ballot. The crew consists of future Hall-of-Famers, LeBron James, Chris Paul, and Carmelo Anthony.

The introduction of the eligible players was announced on ESPN.

The Hall of Fame finalists from the North American and Women’s committee for the Class of 2023 will be revealed on Feb. 17 and the unveiling will take place during the NBA All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City, UT.

The final entries for the entire Class of 2023, including those selected by the direct-elect committees, will be disclosed during the NCAA Final Four in Houston on April 1.

According to nba.com, next year’s ceremony will take place on Aug. 12 in Springfield, MA.

In order for players to be eligible for the Hall of Fame, they have to be retired for at least four seasons. This means that players who played their last professional game during the 2018-19 season are now eligible.

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement weekend will start at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut on Aug. 11. The Tip-Off Celebration and Awards Gala will take place there, followed by the Enshrinement ceremony on Aug. 12, at Springfield’s historic Symphony Hall.

• News

by Niko Mann

December 22, 2022

One Baby Missing After Twins Kidnapped In Ohio Carjacking

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Twin babies were kidnapped in Columbus, Ohio on Monday, according to ABC6 News.

Twin boys Kason Thomass and Ky’air Thomass were taken as they sat in their mother’s vehicle in a restaurant parking lot. The five-month-old twins were waiting in their mother’s four-door, black 2010 Honda Accord while she picked up an order at Donatos Pizza at approximately 9:45 p.m. Wilhelmina Barnett told the authorities that she left the car running when she went to pick up the order and when she turned around, her car and her babies were gone.

According to Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant, a 24-year-old homeless woman named Nalah Jackson was inside the restaurant and left through a side door after Barnett walked in. Jackson allegedly stole Barnett’s vehicle with the twins inside. She was later seen at a United Dairy Farmers (UDF) convenience store in Dayton asking for money.

One of the babies, Ky’air, was found at approximately 4:15 a.m. at the Dayton International Airport in the economy parking lot. The baby was sitting in a car seat and was brought inside by a passenger. Although, the other twin, Kason, is still missing.

WATCH NOW: Update on the Amber Alert issued for 5-month-old Kason Thomass. https://t.co/2nyWZ3Bzfg pic.twitter.com/NAOCXzhU93

— Columbus Division of Police (@ColumbusPolice) December 20, 2022

NEW PHOTOS OF AMBER ALERT SUSPECT

The search continues for Kason Thomass, who was in his mother’s car, which was stolen in the Short North last night. The suspect, Nalah Jackson, was later captured on video at a gas station in Huber Heights where she asked an employee for money. pic.twitter.com/baipObzCCK

— Columbus Division of Police (@ColumbusPolice) December 20, 2022

Jackson is described as having short brown hair, being about 5-feet 7-inches tall and weighing about 130 pounds. She was last seen wearing a dark-colored puffer jacket with a hoodie.

Barnett begged for the return of her son as she and the boys’ father, Chez Thomass, spent the day looking for their baby.

“I just miss my baby. I miss them being together and their smiles,” she said. “I can tell Ky’air misses his brother.”

The police are asking for the community’s help in locating Kason and has requested that anyone with information regarding his or Jackson’s whereabouts contact the Columbus Police Department at 614-645-4701. Callers can also contact Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS(8447).

The Mayor of Baltimore, Brandon Scott, held a press conference on Wednesday to announce that his plan to combat violent crime in the city is working, according to The Baltimore Sun. During a press conference held at City Hall, Scott announced a 10 percent increase in arrests.

Scott said that his plan to stop violent crimes in Baltimore includes freeing up police officers to pursue violent crimes, deploying resources to neighborhoods to help prevent shootings, and providing traumatized communities help to cope.

“It is clear that we are moving forward but that this work has just begun, because for me, one homicide, one shooting is one too many,” said the mayor.

“You have my commitment as the mayor of Baltimore, and more importantly as a Baltimorean, a son of Baltimore, that we continue to push ourselves to improve and deepen this work.”

More than 300 people have died from homicide in Baltimore for the eighth consecutive year. Of the 321 killings in Baltimore through Dec. 17, Baltimore police officers have arrested 111 suspects. The police have also seized 300 more guns by Dec. 17 of 2022 than on that same day in 2021.

Police Commissioner Michael Harrison also praised the arrest increases, which he attributed to the department’s innovation, technology, and maximization of resources, despite the city’s police officer shortage.

“All of this is happening with a greatly reduced workforce,” he said. “Our progress in transforming the department is clear, but there are many challenges that still exist and we continue to face an uphill battle with staffing, concerning recruiting new hires and retaining experienced officers.”

“Simply put, we do not have enough sworn officers to do everything we want to do all the time, exactly when we want.”

The Baltimore Police Department is under a federal decree for the death of Freddie Gray in 2015. Gray spent seven days in a coma before he died from injuries he sustained while in police custody. The actions of the city’s Gun Trace Task Force resulted in more than $16 million in settlements due to corrupt officers.

The leader of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, Shantay Jackson, said that her office has been successful in helping traumatized communities. Jackson noted that of the 81 people her office offered services to, 71 accepted the help.

“We know that more work lies ahead to increase and maintain sustainable outcomes for our communities and we know this work is not ever going to be done until we see zero homicides, zero nonfatal shootings and zero Baltimoreans who are impacted by the residual trauma that violence causes,” she said.

“My police department this year with 500 less officers that they’ve had in 2014 and 2015 seized more guns and made more guns arrests of people with violent guns…than they did when we had more cops because we’re not making them the end be all,” Scott said at a fireside chat at BLACK ENTERPRISE’s Black Men Xcel Summit this year.