• Sports

by Ida Harris

May 23, 2025

Atlanta Dream And Brittney Griner Have Gains As A New Team Despite An L Against Indiana Fever

Atlanta Dream team has been putting in that work

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Under the roof of Atlanta’s State Farm Arena, Brittney Griner played her first at-home game with the Atlanta Dream. Along with her teammates, Brionna Jones, Te-Hina Paopao, Taylor Thierry, and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough. 

Coming off a winning game in Indiana against the Fever, Griner was greeted with welcoming cheers, like the GOAT she is. The former Phoenix Mercury star, affectionately called BG, appeared “rejuvenated” during a pregame shootaround and postgame with her son, Bash. This aligns with how she feels about Atlanta. 

“I definitely have a new energy being here in Atlanta. I feel like I’m at home,” Griner told the New York Times.

BG took to the paint with the arena’s newly-decorated court emboldened with new messaging: “Pay Some Respect To Women’s Sports.” The Atlanta Dream partnered with CashApp and Playa Society to drop this campaign, which will put people in the proper perspective about women’s work in the sports industry if there’s still any doubt.

Since the WNBA season began May 16, the Atlanta Dream team has been putting in that work, beating out Catlin Clark and the Indiana Fever 91-90 on May 20 in an away game. 

The Dream’s Brionna Jones showcased her all-around impact in her recent two-game stretch against the rival team. In the first victory, she recorded 19 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block, shooting 6-of-12 from the field. While the Dream fell 81-76 on May 22, Jones managed 15 points and 11 rebounds, along with three assists and a steal, doing so with zero turnovers in the game, and adding two three-pointers. Jones spoke on the team’s performance postgame: 

“We’ve gone through the first three games [and] we are getting a little bit more comfortable,” Jones said. “I think there’s still room to grow … playing off each other, the way the offense flows. We really have to know each other and know where we want our spots and what each other wants.”

Atlanta rookie Te-Hina Paopao, who her teammates praised as a great asset, provided an offensive spark with 11 points. Her perimeter shooting was particularly effective, as she drained 3-of-6 attempts from beyond the arc. Beyond scoring, Paopao also dished out three assists and grabbed two rebounds for her team. She finished the night with two turnovers.

Brittney Griner had a relatively quiet night offensively, scoring five points on 2-of-6 shooting, but was active on the boards with seven rebounds and one block. Turnovers were an issue for her, committing three in 24 minutes of game time. 

On the other hand, Rhyne Howard delivered a notable offensive effort, leading the Dream with 24 points on 8-of-17 shooting from the field, including 3-of-7 from beyond the arc. In 37 minutes of action, she filled the stat sheet with five rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block, converting five of her six free-throw attempts. Despite her all-around production, the Dream still suffered an 81-76 defeat to the Indiana Fever.

Post game, Howard shared Jones’ sentiment on the Dream’s performance when asked what she might have learned in the first few games of the season, being a new team:

“I’ve had different post players, we have different cards, and so the best thing about it is that we’re learning the new system together …” Howard said. “We’re all on the same page at the end of the day.”

RELATED CONTENT: Atlanta Dream Registers Its 1st Victory Of The New Season

• News

by Kandiss Edwards

May 23, 2025

Georgia Twins’ Suspicious Deaths Declared Double Suicide By Georgia Bureau Of Investigation

Georgia twins Naazir and Qaa'dir Lewis's deaths have been ruled a suicide by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

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Qaa’dir Malik Lewis and Naazir Rahim Lewis’s deaths have been ruled a suicide by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). 

The twin brothers were found deceased on March 8. GBI officials determined their deaths were the cause of a double suicide. Evidence from Qaa’dir and Naazir’s cellphone data, surveillance footage, and internet search history indicates the brothers acted alone and fired the gun that led to their deaths, Fox 5 reported. 

The GBI’s investigation revealed that Naazir purchased the ammunition used in the firearm and found it at the scene. The order of ammunition was delivered to their home on March 5. Internet searches on their devices included topics such as “how to load a gun” and suicide statistics from 2024.

Surveillance footage showed the brothers traveling alone from their home in Lawrenceville to Bell Mountain. Forensic testing confirmed both Qaa’dir and Naazir fired the weapon.

Despite the findings, the Lewis family disputes the GBI’s conclusion. Family members point to surveillance video from the night before the deaths. The video shows the 19-year-old Georgia residents eating snacks at a gas station. The presence of unused airline tickets still in their wallets at the time of their discovery led the family to expect foul play.

Qaa’dir and Naazir’s aunt Samira Brawner expressed disbelief. “I know that something happened to them. I know that they were murdered,” she told Fox 5.

Brawner spoke about Qaa’dir and Naazir’s positive disposition and their abundant support system. 

 “Both of them were funny. They loved spending time with family,” she said. “No, that doesn’t make any sense.”

The case drew national attention when a volunteer firefighter, Scott Kerlin, was arrested for taking unauthorized photos of the Georgia mountain death scene and sharing them publicly. Kerlin was arrested and charged with misdemeanor obstruction. 

The GBI has met with the family to share their findings and plans to formally close the investigation. In a Facebook post, the Towns County Sheriff’s Office stated records can be requested after the investigation officially closes.

“Our heartfelt prayers are with the Lewis family at this time,” “the post read. “For any and all information or open records requests, the GBI has stated that the investigation will be formally closed in the coming weeks.”

RELATED CONTENT: Firefighter Arrested For Obstruction After Taking Pics Of Twin Brothers Killed On Georgia Mountain

• Women

by Stacy Jackson

May 23, 2025

Study Shows Link Between Eviction And Poor Health Among Black Women In Metro Detroit

A quarter of survey participants experienced eviction during childhood, which linked to a higher risk of poor self-rated health.

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Eviction is common in the United States, but for Black women, the experience may be linked to more health inequities at the population level.

Social epidemiologist Shawnita Sealy-Jefferson examined the extremity of residential evictions among reproductive-age Black women in metro Detroit in a research study published May 14. The study, which also explored evictions associated with poor health, documented the association between “worse self-rated health” and Black women who have experienced court-ordered or illegal evictions across their lifetime.

“The link between having this experience and health at the population level is something that hasn’t been documented,” Sealy-Jefferson told the Detroit Free Press. “These eviction experiences may account for some of the other inequities that we see at the population level, in terms of health of Black mothers, Black families, and Black communities.”

Although eviction is vastly common, the numbers took Sealy-Jefferson’s breath away. A survey of The Detroit native’s research found more than half of the survey participants self-reported they had experienced eviction, with nearly half noted as illegal. A quarter of the study’s participants reported they experienced eviction during childhood, with 60% reporting adverse childhood experiences like abuse, losing a parent, or bullying. Childhood eviction experiences were linked to a 12% to 17% “higher risk of poor self-rated health,” along with court-ordered and illegal evictions reported by participants. Childhood and illegal eviction were linked to a 34% to 37% “higher risk of worse relative self-rated health” compared to most individuals their age.

“Without the human right to stable, safe and affordable housing, it really jeopardizes your ability to do all of the things that you need to do in order to have a good life, a good healthy life, and a productive life.”

Sealy-Jefferson’s community advisory board consists of local, national, and international Black women leaders. She also organized Black women from the Detroit community to share their eviction stories. “I know a lot of people who have been evicted,” said Sealy-Jefferson. “The housing crisis has been a problem for decades, so this is not only our problem, but this was our mother’s problem, and likewise, it’s going to be our daughter’s problem if we don’t do something about it.”

Sealy Jefferson plans to continue her work with the Detroit community, the community advisory board, participants, and interested parties as they spread information, share stories, and encourage advocacy.

RELATED CONTENT: Detroit Riverfront Conservancy Leaders Want Max Prison Sentence For Corrupt CFO

A $3.5 million computer science program at the University of Alabama was canceled ahead of its June 2025 start date. 

The program was designed to support Black women interested in STEM. The goal is to increase representation and provide resources for Black women pursuing careers in technology. Despite efforts to expand eligibility and address diversity gaps, AL reported that the university announced the program’s termination, citing unforeseen circumstances.

This decision has sparked criticism and concern among advocates for diversity in STEM fields. Many see the cancellation as a setback in the effort to create inclusive educational opportunities.

Dr. Christina Seidl, a University of Alabama Huntsville professor, told WAFF that the termination letter she received canceling UAH’s $200,000 grant revealed that engaging Black women in STEM was no longer a priority for the National Science Foundation. 

“Your program no longer aligns with the priorities of the National Science Foundation,” the letter stated. 

Jeff Gray, the program’s primary investigator, says arrangements for the summer course were well underway. Student lodging and food accommodations are in place. 

“I already had the dorms reserved and the meal plan set up, and we even were starting applications,” Gray said to AL.com. “Some of us have spent 300 or so hours on the project.”

Gray attempted to pivot as the federal government continues to slash funding grants for higher education. Instead of centering Black women, the school opened the program to other demographics. 

“We knew if we wanted to keep it alive at least for the next year, we’d have to pivot,” Gray said. “So, we expanded it to all genders, all races. And then the week after we did that, we got terminated.”

Funded by the National Science Foundation, the program provided a year-long preparatory experience for the AP Computer Science Principles exam. This includes summer workshops, academic year study sessions, and mentorship from Black female college students. Participants received a stipend of up to $2,000 with all costs covered. The program boasted a 72% AP exam pass rate, which is significantly higher than the national average.

Gray, a UA computer science professor, emphasized the program’s focus on equity, stating, “We believe that a girl at Francis Marion High School in the Black Belt of Alabama had every right to have access to a course as a white male at Mountain Brook High School.”

The University of Alabama is not the only institution that has lost critical funding. To date, Alabama universities have lost $17.6 million in federal grant funding.

RELATED CONTENT: Divine 9 Members Appear At Indiana’s Statehouse Meeting To Advocate For Medicaid And Education Funding

• Celebrity News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

May 23, 2025

Kid Cudi Testifies In Diddy Trial, Discusses House Break-In, Car Being Set On Fire, Relationship With Cassie

He also portrayed Diddy as "a Marvel supervillain"

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Rapper Kid Cudi testified in the Sean “Diddy” Combs trial, revealing details on a break-in at his house, the bombing of his car, and his relationship with Diddy’s former girlfriend, Cassie.

According to The Washington Post, the Day ‘n’ Nite recording artist took the witness stand in the government’s case against Diddy in a Manhattan courtroom. In his testimony, he expressed to the court that, possibly, due to a jealous rage when finding out he was dating Cassie, the record producer broke into his home, ransacked the house, locked his dog in the bathroom, and eventually, at a later time, blew up his car.

Kid Cudi, real name Scott Mescudi, admitted to dating Cassie after she informed him that she and Diddy had broken up. Cudi stated that after an incident where Cassie accused the former Bad Boy executive of hitting her, he went to pick her up, and they went to a hotel so she could get away from Diddy. While there, he said he received a phone call from Diddy’s assistant, and while speaking to Cudi, she was “on the verge of tears.” She explained to the rapper that Diddy had gone to his house and was inside his home. This prompted Cudi to go back to his house.

Once he arrived home, he discovered his security cameras had been altered, his dog was “jittery” and “on edge,” and it was locked in the bathroom. He also noticed that his intruders had opened the Christmas presents at the home.

Variety reported that Cudi got in his car and called Diddy.

“I wanted to confront him, I wanted to fight him,” Mescudi told the court. But, instead of going after Diddy, he decided to call the police and report the break-in. Several weeks later, his car was set on fire, and he immediately suspected Diddy was involved.

The next day, the two rivals for Cassie’s affection met at Soho House to discuss the situation revolving around the three of them. He said that when he got to the hotel and met with him, he was “standing there with his hands behind his back like a Marvel supervillain,” Cudi said.

After testifying, Cudi took to his Instagram page to thank fans for supporting him amid his involvement in the trial.

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