by Sharelle B. McNair

June 6, 2025

White Wisconsin Inmate Convicted In Hate Crime, Killing His Cellmate For Being Black & Gay

A criminal complaint said it didn't take much for Vogel to make up his mind about his disdain toward Laureano - who had only been his cellmate for five days.

A jury determined that a white Wisconsin inmate should never be released after being convicted of killing his cellmate. His crime: being Black and gay, Fox 6 News reports.

Jackson Vogel, 25, was found guilty of first-degree intentional homicide for killing 19-year-old Micah Laureano at the Green Bay Correctional Institution in 2024. Vogel admitted to investigators that he killed Laureano due to his sexual orientation and race.

The victim’s body was found hanging from the top bunk of the cell shared with Vogel by a guard Aug. 27. A criminal complaint revealed Laureano’s hands and feet were tied together with orange material. Vogel claims he knocked Laureano out, tied his hands and feet together, and then strangled him.

Vogel faces a mandatory life sentence ahead of his scheduled June 27 sentencing.

According to the Green Bay Press Gazette, it didn’t take much for Vogel to make up his mind about his disdain toward Laureano, who had only been his cellmate for five days. Laureano was serving a three-year prison sentence for assault and vehicle theft, but he served only seven months of his term. In closing arguments, Brown County Deputy District Attorney Caleb Saunders used quotes that Vogel made to officers after killing the victim. ‘I wanted to kill him the first day I met him,’” Saunders quoted.

“‘I told a psychologist I would do this, and they still put me in a cell with him. … I just wanted to have killed a person. I got my wish.”

Vogel allegedly told investigators he committed the crime due to being “bored,” and Laureano “checked all the boxes,” including race and sexual preference, referred to by Vogel using slurs.

His hateful ways were on record as he was known for making white supremacist statements and death threats before being paired in a cell with Laureano. Pieces of the same orange material were found in the cell in addition to handwritten notes reading, “Kill all humans!” and profanities toward Black people and gay people.

The rate of hate crimes toward members of the LGBTQ+ community has grown at an alarming rate. A report from UCLA’s School of Law Williams Institute found gay people experienced 106 out of 1,000 chances of experiencing violent crimes in comparison to 21 in every 1,000 people who are not members of the LGBTQ+ community. among non-LGBT persons.

Black members of the demographic had the highest rates of victimization overall, with Hispanic and white members following after.

Vogel’s defense attorneys, Ann Larson and Luke Harrison, didn’t deny that their client, serving 20 years for the attempted murder of his mother at just 16 years old, killed Laureano, but tried to prove it wasn’t intentional. The legal team claimed the victim made sexual advances toward Vogel on several occasions before Vogel strangled him in a “fight or flight” moment.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 6, 2025

PRAYERS UP: ESPN ‘SportsCenter’ Anchor Jay Harris Reveals Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

"My goal in sharing this is to join the many others who also want to normalize this conversation and hopefully provide a bit of guidance and preparation, just as it has been offered to me."

During a recent interview, ESPN’s Jay Harris admitted that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and will have surgery due to the disease.

Harris, an anchor on the sports program, SportsCenter, revealed the news on Good Morning America June 5. He said he will take time off from the program and will have surgery June 10.

In a letter posted on ESPN Front Row, the anchor said he found out over a month ago about the cancer, revealing that his father also had prostate cancer and won the battle against the dreaded disease. He explains what’s next in the process, hoping it will lead to better news for him. If all goes well, he anticipates returning to work in about a month.

“My treatment plan begins with surgery, which is scheduled for Tuesday, June 10. After my diagnosis, a PET scan showed no spreading. While that was quite the relief, I know that’s not the final word, and they’ll find out more when they go inside. My hope is that they won’t find anything extra so that I can return to work in a month or so, 100 percent healthy.”

He goes on to say that he had conversations with two co-workers, SportsCenter anchors Hannah Storm and Brian Custer, who have dealt with cancer, as well as friends of his at the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Harris received guidance from all parties involved and wants to spread the word in hopes of helping others and to “normalize” the conversations regarding having to deal with cancer.

“My goal in sharing this is to join the many others who also want to normalize this conversation and hopefully provide a bit of guidance and preparation, just as it has been offered to me.”

He concludes his letter by thanking his supporters and expressing appreciation for the prayers that have come his way.

“Anyway, I just wanted you to know. I appreciate the prayers, well wishes, and the love. Talk soon.”

Howard University, 14th Amendment Center For Law And Democracy

by Sharelle B. McNair

June 6, 2025

Howard University Makes Bold First-Of-Its-Kind Move By Promoting Athletics Director To Vice President of Athletics

With Davis’ more than 25 years of experience in collegiate athletics, television, and entertainment, the role is the first ever created position at the Washington, D.C. based HBCU.

Howard University is taking its athletics department to new heights by naming Athletics Director Kery Davis as the first-ever Vice President of Athletics, HBCU Game Day reported.

With Davis’ more than 25 years of experience in collegiate athletics, television, and entertainment, the role is the first-ever created position at the Washington, D.C.-based HBCU. He has been a member of the Bison family since 2015, and as the Athletics Director, Davis has made tremendous strides in ensuring the school makes its mark in national sports highlights.

https://twitter.com/HUBisonSports/status/1930244234004639911?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1930244234004639911%7Ctwgr%5E7cf929cd24f3f5c5cefb477cdee72554f3dbf6d0%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fhbcugameday.com%2F2025%2F06%2F05%2Fhoward-university-makes-historic-promotion%2F

Howard’s sports teams have won national, conference, and regular season titles under Davis’ leadership, including its basketball team’s first NCAA win and six consecutive volleyball championships and NCAA appearances. Other accomplishments include consecutive NCAA tournament appearances by the Bison men’s basketball team in 2023 and 2024, MEAC football championships in 2022 and 2023, as well as game-changing performances by the only swimming and diving teams within HBCUs.

The former HBO Sports executive also oversaw the launch of the university’s first-ever men’s and women’s Division I golf programs, made possible by a donation from four-time NBA champion Steph Curry in 2020.

In a statement from Davis, the new VP says he looks forward to building a championship climate at the home of the Bisons. “Howard University is an institution steeped in incomparable history with an amazing legacy of accomplished and loyal alumni, renowned faculty and some of the brightest students a person could ever meet,” Davis said, according to The Dig at Howard.

“I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to continue building a championship culture and ensuring that our student athletes have state-of-the-art facilities that will go far in helping them exceed their athletic goals.”

Creating a championship climate involves athletes maintaining their academic endeavors at a high standard. With that mindset, Davis managed the Athletics Department’s Academic Improvement Plan, which resulted in over 300 athletes being added to the Conference All-Academic teams list, with an overall department GPA of 3.34.

His work in sports leadership led to the Dartmouth College graduate being named the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) FCS Athletic Director of the Year in 2024, in addition to being recognized in BLACK ENTERPRISES’ “Most Powerful African Americans in Sports.”

Martha's vineyard film festival, Michelle Obama

by Stacy Jackson

June 6, 2025

Beyond the Clothes: Michelle Obama Shares Her Fashion Evolution In New Memoir

"The Look" will feature over 200 photographs and never-before-seen images as Obama shares her fashion journey as an influential figure.

From the moment she made history as the first Black first lady of the United States in 2009, Michelle Obama captured the hearts of Americans with her brains and beauty.

The former FLOTUS made back-to-back headlines every time she stepped into the public eye and had crowds roaring in support as she donned the most stunning fashion ensembles. This year, the best-selling author will invite the world inside her journey with fashion, hair, and beauty in her new book, “The Look.”

It’s always been about more than fashion for Obama, who has become one of the most influential women in the nation. “The Look” is her moment to reclaim her story and share it with the world–her way. In a June 5 book announcement on Instagram, she shared a piece of her journey during her family’s time in the White House. “The way I looked was constantly being dissected — what I wore, how my hair was styled,” she said.

“Inside, you’ll find some of the outfits that have meant the most to me, but more importantly, the moments that I lived through in them—big and small, personal and political, historic and ordinary—that were as memorable as the clothes themselves,” she wrote.

Currently in the stage of her life where she’s comfortable expressing herself and unapologetically doing what she loves, Obama’s forthcoming project will seamlessly align with the powerful messages of confidence, authenticity, and identity she has repeatedly asserted through her platform.

“My hope is that this book sparks conversation and reflection about the ways we see ourselves — and the way our society defines beauty,” Obama wrote.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Michelle Obama (@michelleobama)

“The Look” will showcase over 200 photographs and never-before-seen images, according to Penguin Random House. As Obama details how her approach to dressing has evolved throughout her life, readers will turn pages to view ensembles like the attorney’s colorful sheath dresses, cardigans, and brooches she wore during her years as FLOTUS, as well as the bold suits, denim, and braided hairstyles of her post-White House era.

As fans get the scoop on all of her active looks, breathtaking gowns and more, Obama will introduce the team that supported her through it all, including her stylist Meredith Koop, makeup artists Carl Ray, hairstylists Yene Damtew, Johnny Wright, and Njeri Radway, and several of the designers behind her notable looks.

“The Look” will be released by The Crown Publishing Group in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats issued by Penguin Random House Audio. Preorder a copy now ahead of its Nov. 4 release.

by Mitti Hicks

June 6, 2025

Judge Orders Saint Augustine’s University To Pay More Than $20M To Wireless Company in Lawsuit

Court documents show that a Wake County, North Carolina judge certified an entry of default for the university to pay SBA Connect, LLC $20,234,785.30 plus interest along with $11,551.23 in attorney’s fees.

The financial troubles for Saint Augustine’s University are mounting after a judge ordered the HBCU to pay one of the companies that filed a lawsuit against the school for unpaid services.

Court documents show that a Wake County, North Carolina, judge certified an entry of default for the university to pay SBA Connect, LLC $20,234,785.30 plus interest and $11,551.23 in attorney’s fees. The judge also ordered the school to pay any fees related to the court action, according to CBS 17.

The Boca Raton-based company filed a lawsuit against Saint Augustine’s in March, claiming the school did not pay them for their services, as BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported. The Raleigh-based IT company Avaria also filed a lawsuit.

Instead of fulfilling invoices, both Avaria and SBA Connect, LLC gave SAU the option of paying an early termination fee of nearly $17 million for each company.

All this comes after what has been an uphill financial battle for the school over the last several years. As a result, Saint Augustine’s lost its accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The school also lost its appeal to reinstate its accreditation, prompting a heated town hall on April 11, attended by alums, current students, and the community. Those in attendance accused university leaders of withholding information.

Weeks later, Board Chairman Brian Boulware responded to the town hall. He stated the information circulating on social media and public forums was misinformation.

“We have refrained from engaging in public disputes to protect the university’s ability to negotiate with partners, respond to accrediting bodies, and operate with integrity in accordance with its legal obligations,” said Boulware.

Before the lawsuit was filed, the university was placed on probation in 2022 after failing to meet accreditation standards. The institution has faced financial issues totaling more than $30 million, and nearly $10 million in tax liens.

Speaking on behalf of the board, Boulware said university leaders are fighting for its future and not just its “reputation” and welcomes everyone to “contribute constructively to that mission.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 6, 2025

JAY-Z Wages $1M That Oklahoma City Thunder Will Beat Indiana Pacers In 5 Games

The billionaire will win $3.3 million if the Thunder wins the NBA Finals in five games.

After the Indiana Pacers won the first game of the NBA Finals, we know Brooklyn rapper Jay-Z is looking for them to lose the next four games since he has placed a big bet on the Oklahoma City Thunder.

TMZ Sports reported that the Brooklyn’s Finest lyricist placed the hefty wager using Fanatics Sportsbook that the Thunder will will the championship in five games. The sports betting platform informed its followers that the rap mogul, who is a partner with Fanatics Founder and CEO Michael Rubin in the Fanatics Sportsbook at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, would make $2.3 million ($3.3 million in winnings) if the Thunder wins in five.

The team is favored by +230 to beat the Pacers.

JAY-Z bets $1 Million on OKC to win in 5 @RocNation @RocNationSports @Fanatics pic.twitter.com/27aysHGKSr

— Fanatics Sportsbook (@FanaticsBook) June 5, 2025

The Thunder would have to win the next four games to make Jay-Z a happy man.

In Game 1 on Thursday night, Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton hit his patented push shot with one second remaining to score a 111-110 win. The Pacers never had a lead until the point guard iced the game, stunning the Oklahoma City crowd.

According to The Associated Press, Haliburton is 4 for 4 in the final 2 seconds during this year’s playoffs. Either he has hit the shot to send the game into overtime, or he has won the game with the ability to make the clutch shot at the exact moment needed.

“I think as a group, we take everything personal,” Haliburton said. “It’s not just me. It’s everybody. I feel like that’s the DNA of this group and that’s not just me.”

Well, it’s only a matter of time before we find out if Jay-Z becomes a (slightly) richer man.

by Sharelle B. McNair

June 6, 2025

Black Supreme Court Justices Take Different Tacks In Majority Ruling Of ‘Reverse Discrimination’ Case From Straight Woman

A straight white woman claims she was passed over for a promotion in favor of a lesbian woman and later replaced by a gay man.

The only two Black Supreme Court Justices—Clarence Thomas and Ketanji Brown Jackson—share a difference of opinion in a recent decision that may make it easier for “reverse discrimination” lawsuits in the workplace to be filed, CNN reports.

Thomas, who is conservative, blames employers’ obsession with diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the case of a straight white woman who claimed she was passed over for promotions in favor of gay employees.

“American employers have long been ‘obsessed’ with ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ initiatives and affirmative action plans,” Thomas wrote. “Initiatives of this kind have often led to overt discrimination against those perceived to be in the majority.”

Marlean Ames from Ohio challenged a requirement from an appeals court that outlined the need to demonstrate “background circumstances” for the suit to move forward when members of a “majority” group push claims of discrimination. A plaintiff can meet the requirement with evidence that documents patterns of discrimination against members of a majority.

This is something Ames couldn’t do, so after losing in lower courts, she took her case to the country’s highest court.

Despite the climate of political division, the ruling came from a unanimous coalition of both conservative and liberal justices who ruled in her favor. In the opinion, the liberal Jackson wrote that past cases of the Supreme Court made it clear that the requirements needed for a successful lawsuit under federal anti-discrimination law “do not vary based on whether or not the plaintiff is a member of a majority group.”

The “background circumstances” rule, she added, “flouts that basic principle.”

Ames’ case goes back to when the heterosexual woman started working for the Ohio Department of Youth Services in 2004. She alleges discrimination against her due to her sexual orientation after being passed over for a promotion in 2019 in favor of a lesbian woman. Ames said she was replaced in her role by a gay man, according to Fox News.

The Justice Department, the American First Legal Foundation, and the libertarian Pacific Legal Foundation, supported her. The NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund was one of the first major organizations to support Ohio in the case.

The Cincinnati-based 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled for Ohio when it came to the “background circumstances” requirement. Federal appeals courts in Denver, St. Louis, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.. all have the same rules. Ames’ lawyer and director of the University of Virginia School of Law’s Supreme Court Litigation Clinic, Xiao Wang, celebrated the victory.

“We wanted to make sure that the same laws and standards apply to everyone,” Wang said. “This Supreme Court ruling makes it easier for courts to root out unlawful discrimination in the workplace.”

The justices’ decision doesn’t guarantee an automatic suit win for the Ohio resident or others in similar circumstances. Instead, the opinion may eliminate barriers that plaintiffs experienced in demonstrating that employers acted with discriminatory motives.

by Jameelah Mullen

June 6, 2025

Atlanta Leaders Host Job Fair To Help Job Seekers Clear Criminal History

Prospective employees can receive a fresh start with the assistance of Atlanta city and county officials.

Atlanta job seekers have an opportunity to clear their records at the Record Restriction (Expungement) Job and Resource Fair.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, June 7, from 10 a.m. to noon at the C.T. Martin Recreation Center, located at 3201 MLK Drive S.W. Job seekers will have the chance to review their records and receive advice on which charges may be eligible for removal.

Atlanta City Councilmember Andrea Boone, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, Superior Court Clerk Ché Alexander, and Judge Thomas A. Cox Jr. gathered to announce a new initiative aimed at helping eligible residents expunge or restrict their criminal records.

“A criminal record—especially one that’s old or was dismissed—shouldn’t be a lifelong sentence,” Willis told 11 Alive News. “We want to make sure people can move forward and contribute to their communities.”

For some job seekers, clearing a record is a complicated process that often requires costly legal assistance.

“This is about bringing the system to the people,” said Judge Cox. “We’re removing barriers, not adding more,” he told the outlet.

An expungement is the legal process of sealing eligible criminal records on a person’s official criminal history report. This makes those records inaccessible to the public and available only to law enforcement.

To be eligible to have their record expunged, one must have been arrested in a Fulton County jurisdiction, committed certain misdemeanors under age 21, or be a “youthful offender” who has completed a pre-trial intervention/diversion program.

The Fulton County government states that the court will not expunge the record if prosecutors decide not to prosecute the case (nolle prosequi), place it on the dead docket, or dismiss it for any reason, provided that the defendant did not plead guilty, plead no contest, or get convicted at trial.

According to the National Background Screening Association, nearly 95% of U.S. employers conduct background screenings to vet potential candidates before extending a job offer.

The Atlanta City Council, the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office, the Superior Court Clerk’s Office, and the Fulton County Superior Court are co-sponsoring the event.

by Kandiss Edwards

June 6, 2025

Texas Southern University Athletics Director Accused Of Sexual Harassment

Kevin Granger is being sued by a former staffer for for $1 million.

Texas Southern University’s Athletic Director, Kevin Granger, is being sued by a former staffer for sexual harassment, KHOU reported.

The suit filed June 2 alleges Granger invited a female staffer into his office. During the April 2025 meeting, Granger allegedly groped and fondled the unnamed staffer. Granger is also accused of making inappropriate comments and using the victim’s job as a bargaining tool. The athletic director claimed he could “help her career.”

The plaintiff is seeking $1 million, which includes all costs incurred in the suit, including attorney’s fees. Attorney for the victim, Tony Buzbee, made a statement describing Granger’s actions.

“Texas Southern University staff member accused Dr. Kevin Granger of asking vulgar and graphic questions, as well as inappropriately touching her.”

Tony Buzbee's law firm claimed TSU Athletic Director Kevin Granger told the woman he could "help her career" if she complied with his requests. https://t.co/kKjRVHhodk
— KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) June 3, 2025

TSU declined to comment on pending litigation. However, the university released a statement to students and alumni addressing the issue, HBCU Legends reported. TSU claims it became aware of accusations after the filing and is launching an independent investigation. Granger has also been put on administrative leave.

“While the University is not named as a party in the litigation, please be assured that Texas Southern University takes all allegations of misconduct seriously. In alignment with our policies and values, we have initiated an independent investigation to ensure a fair and thorough review of the matter. The executive in question has been placed on administrative leave,” the statement read.

Letitia Quinones-Hollins, Granger’s attorney, released a short statement denying all allegations and guaranteeing a response “in court.”

“These are serious allegations, and they deserve a serious response, which we will make at the appropriate time and in court,” Quinones-Hollins said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. “In the meantime, I can tell you that no sexual assault occurred and any indication that it did, is false.”

Granger has been a part of the TSU athletics department for over 30 years. If the allegations prove true, it will spell the end of his time at the notable HBCU.

Diddy, delay, trial, judge Prison, Sean combs

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 6, 2025

Diddy’s Courtroom Antics Over Testimony Anger Judge

Judge Arun Subramanian called Diddy's actions "absolutely unacceptable."

During a witness’ testimony against Sean “Diddy” Combs, the hip-hop mogul’s facial expressions and movements toward jurors caused Judge Arun Subramanian to sternly warn Diddy’s counsel over his behavior.

According to People, the admonition took place on Thursday, June 5, as one of Cassie‘s friends, Bryana Bongolan, was being cross-examined by the defense.

Subramanian directed his fury to Diddy’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo.

“I saw your client looking at the jury and nodding vigorously. That is absolutely unacceptable,” the judge told Agnifilo out of the presence of the jury. “If it happens again, if it happens even once, I will hear an application from the government to give a curative instruction to the jury, which you do not want. Or I will consider taking further measures, which could result in the exclusion of your client from the courtroom.”

According to LSD.Law, curative instruction is when a judge tells the jury “to ignore or correct a mistake that was made during the trial.”

Diddy’s lawyer told Subramanin that his client would not do it again.

The judge noticed Diddy’s actions when Bongolan testified that Diddy held her over Cassie’s 17th floor, apartment balcony in 2016. She also claimed the former Bad Boy Records executive threw her onto the balcony furniture, which caused bruising, ongoing night terrors, and paranoia.

However, “Bongolan’s accusations came under intense scrutiny on Wednesday, June 4, and again on Thursday, when she was questioned by Nicole Westmoreland, one of Combs’ attorneys, about inconsistencies in accounts she has given in interviews with the government, a civil lawsuit she filed against Combs last year and in separate demand letters that were sent to the mogul by her attorneys,” People reported.

Diddy has pleaded not guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution. If found guilty on some of the charges, he faces a life sentence.

The trial is wrapping up its fourth week.