by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

June 16, 2025

Goodr Is Bringing Food Sustainability And A Free Grocery Store To A Chicago Hospital

The company has already established two other free groceries stores across Metro Atlanta.

Goodr, a Black woman-founded tech startup focused on hunger relief and food sustainability, is expanding its efforts to the Midwest with a free grocery store in Chicago.

The venture will follow the company’s previous and current endeavors to ensure food does not go to waste, while also addressing food insecurity in vulnerable communities. Located at Trinity Hospital in Chicago’s South Side, the free grocery store will be its first permanent location in the city.

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A post shared by Jasmine Crowe Houston (@jasminecrowe)

“This week, @goodrco opened our FIRST-EVER Free Goodr Grocery store inside a hospital on the South Side of Chicago,” wrote Goodr’s founder, Jasmine Crowe, on Instagram. “It’s our first permanent location in the city, and I honestly can’t describe how much this one means to me.”

Although based in Atlanta, Goodr aims to help those in Chicago and throughout Illinois who fall outside the margins of food assistance. Its location will also better serve essential workers employed at the medical center, before expanding these resources to patients as well.

She added, “Here’s why this matters: in Illinois, nearly 60% of food-insecure households don’t qualify for SNAP because of the income cliff. That means people who are working and still struggling to put food on the table fall through the cracks every day.”

Previously covered on BLACK ENTERPRISE, the free grocery stores initially began in 2021. Partnering with Gunna, Goodr built its first free grocery concept inside the rapper’s former middle school in metro Atlanta. Its success led to the establishment of another one at Martin Luther King High School on the city’s east side this year.

Given ongoing inflation and a layoff-filled job market, Goodr’s mission alleviates the burden of putting food on the table. Furthermore, its work addresses the persistent issue of food, waste while keeping communities fed. Now, Chicagoans can feel the impact of tech-infused solutions for food relief.

“I could never overstate the true need for Goodr, especially at a time like this,” continued Crowe. “And no matter how hard it has been for us, every new store launch, every new customer, every delivery, reminds me that the work we do matters so much.”

RELATED CONTENT: Tips For Eating Clean On A Budget

by Sharelle B. McNair

June 16, 2025

Ex-Minnesota Vikings Player Jack Brewer Blames Gov. Tim Walz For Lawmaker Slayings

'I am heartbroken to see one of the most amazing states in America completely turned around under Gov. Tim Walz. Minnesota is confused,' Brewer said.

Former Minnesota Vikings player Jack Brewer had some harsh criticism for Gov. Tim Walz following the tragic killing of a state lawmaker and her husband, saying he has allowed the state to become the “capital of chaos,” Fox News reports.

Brewer, who also played at the University of Minnesota, pointed the finger at the former vice presidential candidate for turning it the state into a “liberal hub.”

“We need to start calling this what it is. These people have lost their minds. I am heartbroken to see one of the most amazing states in America completely turned around under Gov. Tim Walz. Minnesota is confused,” Brewer said.

On Father’s Day weekend, a gunman, Vance Luther Boelter, killed Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, in addition to injuring State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife. Disguised as a police officer, Boelter allegedly had other Democratic leaders in mind for assassination. Law enforcement found a “hit list” with other names, including Rep. Ilhan Omar and Attorney General Keith Ellison.

Walz was said not to be on the list. That didn’t stop Brewer from adding him to the list of people he blames for the turn of events.

“I played for the Vikings. I played for the Gophers. I lived in Minnesota for years. It was not like this. People were respectful. People could disagree and still have conversations. I still have a lot of family there, and it hurts to see what they’re living through,” Brewer said.

“Minnesota has become the capital of chaos in America,” he added. “That’s not right. It’s not a reflection of the true people of Minnesota. There are a lot of good people there. But the liberal hub around Minneapolis and St. Paul has taken over, and it’s dangerous. Tim Walz is the leader of that. His attorney general, Keith Ellison, is right there with him.”

Brewer, who made an appearance at the 2016 Republican National Convention, has been an outspoken critic of Democratic leadership, including Walz and former Vice President Kamala Harris. After the state pushed back against a lawsuit from a Texas-based nonprofit accusing it of violating Title IX and undermining fairness and safety for female athletes, Brewer sided with the company.

“The state has veered so far off course that it’s doing the exact opposite of what it once stood for,” he said. “It used to be a national leader on Title IX and women’s rights. Now, it’s destroying women’s sports, degrading women, and promoting situations where men are physically dominating women.”

https://twitter.com/jackbrewerfdn/status/1924610420653850911

After Walz labeled the attack as a “politically motivated assassination,” the CEO of The Jack Brewer Foundation took some time to say the killings reveal a motion for a “return to masculinity,” according to the New York Post.

“On this Father’s Day, I wish Minnesota would focus on restoring fatherhood — protecting women, protecting families,” he said. “Tim Walz is the example of a weak, emasculated leader. That is not what God made fathers to be. It’s pathetic.”

Starbucks, closures, restructuring, tariffs

by Sharelle B. McNair

June 16, 2025

Couple Claims Starbucks Denied Them Emergency Help Since They Didn’t Stand In Line

Thankfully, a competing coffee shop, Capital One Café, was able to save the day.

A Virginia couple alleges they were denied assistance during an emergency from a local Starbucks because they didn’t wait their turn in line, WABI 5 reported.

Kevin and Nelisa Key were in the Short Pump Town Center in Richmond when Kevin, who is battling stage 4 kidney failure, suffered a scary medical episode. Kevin, 38, is in Stage 4 kidney failure. Nelisa remembered her husband suddenly saying he didn’t feel well. “He started leaning over, and then he started vomiting,” she remembered. As he has suffered similar incidents, Nelisa said she was “frantic” to get him some ice water — something she knew would help him.

She noticed a Starbucks and ran inside.

Despite there being a long line, Nelisa explained the emergency to customers — and workers — and mentioned just needing some water. Patient customers were sympathetic, but not the barista at the time, who allegedly informed Nelisa that she would have to wait in line like the rest. “I pointed back, because you could see Kevin, and I was like, ‘That’s my husband right there. He’s in Stage 4 kidney failure. I just need water fast for him,’” Nelisa said she mentioned to the employee.

“And the employee looked at me and was like, ‘You need to get in line.’ And then I repeated what I said, I’m like, ‘But my husband, he’s in kidney failure, we just need ice water quickly.’ And he looked at me again and was like, ‘You need to get in line.’”

When his wife alerted him to what happened, Kevin was taken aback on the issue, saying a simple cup of ice water could have saved his life. “I could have possibly blacked out. It could have had a more dramatic impact on my body,” Kevin said, according to WWBT.

“My kidneys could have possibly just shut down.”

The American Kidney Fund defines stage 4 kidney failure as the kidneys being moderately or severely damaged and not properly filtering waste from the blood. Without properly filtered kidneys, waste products like urea and creatinine from the blood can lead to a condition called uremia. Kevin said choosing policy over compassion could have turned into a tragic situation. “A situation that should have taken, like, less than probably 10 seconds to get water, turned into a nightmare instantly,” he continued.

Thankfully, a competing coffee shop, Capital One Café, was able to save the day. “That’s when I walked in, and Emma was standing there. I told her the same thing and she acted fast,” Nelisa said.

“She was like, no problem at all. I hope he feels better. And when I got to Kevin and gave him the water, he almost instantly felt better.”

While Starbucks’ Media Relations representative Sam Jefferies said the company is trying to “make this right,” the spokesperson also alluded to wanting customers not to ask for water in the pick-up area since it disrupts the workflow. “As we continue to train our partners on the new Code of Conduct, we are working to ensure that everyone who visits our store has a great experience and training partners to communicate openly and from a place of kindness, compassion, and consideration for other patrons when determining how to proceed when a guest makes a request outside of our policies,” a statement read.

“We’re simply asking that water is handled like other orders — at the point of sale.”

They will be waiting to right the wrong as Kevin got a chance to meet hero Emma and thanked her for “being a caring human being.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 16, 2025

CNN Reporter Stephanie Elam Recalls Seeing Her ‘Ride Or Die’ Ananda Lewis One Day Before Her Death

Stephanie Elam is remembering her 'ride or die,' Ananda Lewis, who she saw just a day before she lost her battle with breast cancer.

CNN’s Stephanie Elam is remembering her last visit with her “ride or die,” Ananda Lewis, the iconic BET and MTV host who died at 52 from breast cancer.

Elam was emotional with CNN anchor Sara Sidner as she recalled visiting Lewis just one day before her passing on June 11, USA Today reported. Elam shared that she drove straight from an overnight shift covering the Los Angeles protests to be by Lewis’s side and hold her hand. She had planned to return the following day, but Lewis passed away before she could.

“After I got off the air, I looked down and had a message from her beautiful big sister, who has been such a strong champion for her and has kept me abreast of everything. She messaged me and told me that she passed away right before I finished that last hit,” Elam said. “And, so it was too late.

“One thing that I want everyone to know is that she was at peace with this decision,” Elam added of Lewis. “She had come to grips with it.”

Elam, who met Lewis ahead of their freshman year at the acclaimed HBCU Howard University, said the Teen Summit star’s health condition changed quicker than expected.

“We thought we had weeks, and it turned out that it turned into days, and then it was actually just a matter of hours,” Elam said.

Lewis was a standout TV personality in the ’90s and early 2000s. After graduating from Howard University, she got her start hosting BET’s Teen Summit, and by 1997, she had joined MTV, where she became a household name on Total Request Live and Hot Zone. In 2001, she stepped into the spotlight to host her short-lived talk show, The Ananda Lewis Show.

In October, Lewis appeared on CNN with Elam and Sidner following Sidner’s diagnosis of stage 3 breast cancer and spoke about the holistic approach she took to combat the deadly disease.

“The cancer diagnosis caused me to change things in my life I never would have changed otherwise, that I needed to change but would not change,” Lewis said at the time. “And those changes have allowed me access to more of my joy, more of the time.”

Ananda Lewis is survived by her son, Langston Lewis, whom she shared with Harry Smith, Will Smith’s younger brother.

strike, flight attendants,united airlines, la dodgers, biohazard, Dulles International Airport, vomiting

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

June 16, 2025

Federal Jury Finds Florida Man Guilty Of Posing As Flight Attendant In Free Flights Scam

Alexander was found guilty on all five charges against him for the years-long scam.

A Florida man has been found guilty of posing as a flight attendant to book over 120 free flights.

A federal jury found Tiron Alexander guilty June 5 of wire fraud, as well as entering a secure area of an airport under false pretenses. Alexander used a website designated for airline employees to obtain the free flights from 2018 to 2024.

During the timeframe, the 35-year-old flew on a total of 34 flights, none of which were paid for through the scam. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, he used 30 different badge numbers and dates of hire to trick the airline carrier’s website application process.

Alexander also claimed to work for several different airlines, posing as a flight attendant for three of them. Evidence submitted revealed his work history did include actual airlines, but during ineligible times for his booked flights. This includes work as a global ticketing support representative for Delta Air Lines from 2010 to 2012. He also once served as an actual flight attendant for Atlantic Southeast Airlines and Republic Airways.

The Transportation Security Administration, which investigated the case, expressed its own approval of Alexander’s guilty verdict. However, the TSA told Fortune that the deception stopped at the security procedures, despite the man’s fraud when booking.

“While Alexander was able to board flights by fraudulently obtaining a boarding pass, he underwent all applicable TSA security procedures, including ID verification and physical screening, and did not pose a threat to other airline passengers,” a TSA spokesperson told Fortune. “TSA remains dedicated to the security of the flying public and will continue to support the prosecution of those who break air travel laws.”

He used the deceitful method to travel through Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport at no cost to him. The news outlet also reported that Alexander used the booking site to secure flights primarily with Spirit Airlines. The airline did not respond to comment on the matter. Other airlines listed in the court documents included Southwest Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines.

As for Alexander, his sentencing remains scheduled for Aug. 25.

Former Baltimore Mayor, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake , lawsuit

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 16, 2025

NBCUniversal Reportedly Considers Axing ‘Real Housewives Of Atlanta’ Over Britt Eady’s $20M Lawsuit

The Kenya Moore drama with Britt Eady could end "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" indefinitely.

Bravo’s popular reality series The Real Housewives of Atlanta could be on the chopping block thanks to the $20 million lawsuit filed by Season 16 newcomer Brittany Eady.

Sources close to the show spilled the tea to Rob Shuter, who cites Eady’s lawsuit on claims of defamation, emotional distress, and a hostile work environment as cause for execs considering pulling the plug on the entire franchise, Radar Online reports. Eady’s lawsuit stems from a controversial incident with RHOA star Kenya Moore, who displayed explicit photos of Eady at the launch of her hair salon last year.

Producers decided to remove Moore from the show, but the incident did play out in episodes that aired in April. While Eady continued filming the remainder of the season, she recently skipped the reunion and followed up with her defamation suit.

“What made Housewives great–the chaos–is now its biggest threat. It’s just lawsuit after lawsuit,” an insider told Shuter on his Substack. “The drama made it great. But now it’s a walking lawsuit,” another source reportedly told him.

“The champagne’s flat, the taglines are tired—and Bravo may finally be done playing hostess,” Shuter wrote.

According to Eady’s lawsuit, Moore humiliated her when she unveiled her “Who Is This Ho?” poster board featuring explicit, allegedly fake blurred photos of Eady.

“She begged to see the photo before it aired,” a source close to Eady told Shuter. “They said no. They wanted drama—now they’ve got court dates.”

With Bravo’s parent company, NBCUniversal, already dealing with Real Housewives of New York City alum Bethenny Frankel’s threats of unionizing Bravo’s reality stars and fellow RHONY alum Leah McSweeney’s feud with Andy Cohen, the network in “full crisis mode,” sources say.

“Every cast member’s a legal liability. Bravo has become an embarrassment to NBC News,” an executive told Shuter.

The aftermath of Moore’s poster board incident has forced Bravo to respond to Eady’s lawsuit. With it adding to the scrutiny the network is already under over its handling of several cast member interactions and the behind-the-scenes workplace culture, there are rumors that one franchise could get cut indefinitely.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 16, 2025

Claressa Shields Will Give $100K To Any Woman Who Can Beat Her

'I got $100K for any girl that think they can whoop me. Street fighter, boxer, MMA. Hey, if you can beat me, I got a $100K for you.'

At the recent BET Awards ceremony, during an interview, the woman who refers to herself as the G.W.O.A.T. (Greatest Woman of All Time), Claressa Shields, has put up a $100,000 challenge to any woman who thinks they can beat her in the boxing ring or outside of it.

While being interviewed by Hollywood Unlocked, the undefeated boxer responded to a question about Baddies cast member Tesehki, challenging her to square off against her. That’s when she dropped the offer to not just her but to anyone who dared to challenge her.

“This is how a ‘call-out’ goes. You call me out, and I say yes. We scrap. That’s how we do it in my hood. I’ve never had a fight where it’s like, ‘Oh, if I stop doing XYZ, then I could do XYZ,’ I don’t know. But it’s free smoke; that’s all I’m sayin’.”

But it’s apparent that she has opened that offer to anyone who wants the smoke.

“Free smoke for anybody who feel like they can beat me in a fight. I got a $100K. I wish I would’ve brought $100K with me so I can just throw it on the table. But, I got $100K for any girl that think they can whoop me. Street fighter, boxer, MMA. Hey, if you can beat me, I got a $100K for you. And I just don’t see it happening.”

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She also took to X to reassure her followers that, despite Tesehki saying they saw each other at the BET Awards, they did not come face to face.

“Let’s set the record straight: I never ran into Tesehki at the BET Awards.”

Let’s set the record straight: I never ran into Tesehki at the BET Awards. I’m focused on real fights with real athletes—world champions, not randoms looking for clout. When you’ve got back-to-back Olympic gold medals and multiple world titles in five weight classes, maybe then…

— Claressa Gwoat Shields (@Claressashields) June 13, 2025

The undefeated pugilist has a record of 16 victories and no defeats and became the first-ever women’s undisputed heavyweight champion in boxing history.

bullying, Neijee hunter, P-diddy, sexual hazing,

by Keka Araújo

June 16, 2025

Brooklyn Teen Denies Hazing, Faces ‘P-Diddy’ Bullying After Charges Dropped

Hunter and his parents vehemently insisted that the incident was “typical horsing around” and did not involve any pervasive sexual contact.

A Brooklyn high school student who was previously accused in a high-profile sexual hazing incident last year, now alleges he has encountered relentless bullying from his classmates, vehemently denying the initial allegations that abruptly ended his team’s season and led to a coach’s dismissal.

Neijee Hunter, 15, a student at James Madison High School in Midwood, said that he remains stressed out over the ongoing harassment, maintaining that sexual hazing claims were entirely fabricated.

“The whole team is saying it’s a lie,” Hunter told The New York Post. “Now they’re calling me P-Diddy. They called me gay, and they’re saying this because of something I didn’t do. They’re leaving baby oil in my locker.”

Hunter and two other players on James Madison’s junior varsity football team were accused in October 2024 of forcibly restraining a teammate, removing his clothing, and touching his “private area.”

The alleged victim’s mother reportedly informed the school about the incident, leading to the immediate suspension of the team’s season and the termination of a coach.

However, Hunter and his parents vehemently insisted that the incident was “typical horsing around” and did not involve any pervasive sexual contact.

“When the school called us and told us we needed to get down there, I got there fast and the police were already there,” Hunter’s father, Early Hunter, told The New York Post.

He recounted the family’s experience with the legal system: “We went to court three times. They declined to prosecute in family court. The judge said he didn’t know why this was in court. The school made such a big thing about it before investigating. They called the police immediately. They charged them and took all three of them out in handcuffs like they were real criminals.”

The elder Hunter even publicly released a video he claims shows only roughhousing, not sexual abuse.

Despite charges being dismissed in court and the accused students returning to class, Neijee Hunter describes the aftermath as a “nightmare.” He states that the alleged victim, a former friend and teammate, is the sole individual maintaining the sexual hazing claims.

“He’s the only one saying that happened,” Neijee insisted of his accuser. “The coach was right there. It was after practice. We were getting psyched for the game Friday. We’re playing around. After practice, all regular horseplay in the locker room, tackling each other. We tackled him and he went home and told a lie. He was laughing, ready to play against the biggest team in the South Shore High School league.”

The taunts of “P-Diddy” by his classmates allude to the disgraced rap mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, currently facing allegations of sexual abuse and assault in unrelated legal proceedings.

A spokesperson for James Madison High School stated that the school was previously unaware of the bullying Hunter is now reporting. “Bullying and harassment have absolutely no place in our schools,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

“Prior to this inquiry, the school had received no escalation or report of bullying. Upon receipt of these allegations, the school launched a full investigation, and we are providing support to this student, as per school policies.”

Neijee’s mother, Nathifa Bembrey, articulated the profound and lasting damage inflicted by the incident. “This could have ruined someone’s whole life over a lie,” Bembrey told The New York Post. “It was very stressful. It was nerve-wracking. And that coach got fired, and they said he allowed this to happen. He’ll never coach again, all over a lie. The kids at school were calling them the Madison 3. They were so rude and mean. No apologies. They absolutely could’ve handled this better.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 16, 2025

Angel Reese Scores First Triple-Double After Hair-Pulling Altercation With Defender

With a stat line of 11 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists, the second-year player continues adding accolades

A hair pull almost ignited a brawl between the Chicago Sky and the Connecticut Sun as Sky center Angel Reese reacted to the unprecedented move on the basketball court, yet she still made it a history-making day.

In the Sunday afternoon contest, during the third quarter of the game, Sun guard Bria Hartley grabbed the ponytail of Reese as the Sky’s second-year player went up for a rebound. Reese immediately reacted and confronted the guard. Upon doing so, Hartley’s teammate, Olivia Nelson-Ododa, tried to intervene, and Reese pushed her off, leading to tension between the two players.

The referee and other players on the court jumped in to break up a potential fight between the two teams. Although Suns forward Tina Charles tried to rush Reese during the skirmish, the altercation did not escalate. Reese and Charles were assessed technical fouls due to their actions, and Hartley, who started the incident, escaped with only a regular foul on the play.

Things are getting chippy between Angel Reese and the Connecticut Sun 😳

pic.twitter.com/uZ6AEFftWN

— Ballislife Bets (@BallislifeBets) June 15, 2025

According to Fadeaway World, the Sky emerged victorious when they defeated the Sun by a score of 78-66, snapping the Sky’s three-game losing streak. After Reese became the fastest WNBA player to reach 30 career double-doubles by doing so in 42 games, breaking the record of Charles, who did it in 47 games, she added another milestone.

By finishing the game by scoring 11 points, pulling down 13 rebounds, and dishing out 11 assists, she recorded her very first triple-double.

ANGEL REESE HAS HER FIRST TRIPLE-DOUBLE IN THE W 👏 pic.twitter.com/6orkAxXNkG

— espnW (@espnW) June 15, 2025

The Sky now has a 3-7 record. Their next scheduled contest takes place in Illinois when they play against the Washington Mystics on June 17. The Sun also has a losing record of 2-8.

Reese recently won at the BET Awards when she took home the BET Sportswoman of the Year Award.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 16, 2025

Man Takes His Life After His Wife Is Found Dead Following Messy Fight On Facebook Live

A married Georgia couple issued insults on Facebook Live hours before their deaths from a possible murder-suicide.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the deaths of a married Georgia couple that followed a disturbing fight captured on Facebook Live.

Zaria Khadejah Carr, 27, was found unconscious and later pronounced dead after authorities responded to a call at her home in Twin City, Georgia, on June 13 around 9:30 pm, WJCL reported. GBI officials say Zaria’s husband, Shamarcus Jameal Carr, 36, could not be found, and Zaria’s 2021 Dodge Challenger was also missing.

Following an alert for Zaria’s vehicle, law enforcement located the car in the Wayne County area around 11 p.m. When officers attempted to stop Shamarcus, who was inside the vehicle, he later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office is investigating his death, while the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct an autopsy on Zaria Carr. Many on social media are responding to the disturbing incident that allegedly spilled over onto social media in a verbal dispute that occurred prior to their deaths.

The pair spewed out cheating allegations, financial woes, and threats of physical violence prior to law enforcement arriving at the residence.

“He getting mad because he don’t like the truth coming out,” Zaria told the camera in what appear to be her last words online before she was found dead.

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“So sad and unfortunate,” one viewer wrote in response.

“Individuals don’t even take the time to realize that they they brought a little baby girl into this world now that both her parents are dead by their poor choices; that little girl has to be raised in the unknown world with no one to love her ( unless have other family),” added someone else.

The GBI is investigating Zaria Carr’s death at the request of the Twin City Police Department and the Emanuel County Sheriff’s Office. The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office is investigating Shamarcus Carr’s death.