by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 14, 2024

Bronny James Accused Of Receiving Star Treatment After Reports Surface He’ll Just Play Home Games With G League Team

The Los Angeles Lakers announced that he will only play home games for the South Bay Lakers.

After lackluster play, Bronny James, the son of future NBA legend LeBron James, was assigned to the G League to help develop his game. But the move comes with a controversial wrinkle: reportedly, the rookie will only play home games for the South Bay Lakers, an unprecedented move that some argue will stifle his development.

According to The New York Post, ESPN writer Brian Windhorst explained the situation on The Hoop Collective.

“I’m gonna apply the brakes on my ‘everything is fine on the Bronny front’ with this thing that is now happening, which is that from my understanding, he’s only gonna play in the South Bay Lakers home games, that he’s only gonna kind of be a part-time G League player, and he’s not getting on United Airlines and going to fly and go see these other teams, play in these road games,” Windhorst said.

Basketball analysts, fans, and even former basketball players have been giving their opinions about Bronny’s star treatment since his underwhelming college career—he averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game at USC before declaring for the NBA Draft—and uninspired Summer League play. The Lakers chose Bronny in the second round of the draft.

“Honestly, I know he was getting somewhat special treatment and nepotism, that’s fine,” Windhorst added. “I don’t care. It’s normal. Now, I think it’s actually detrimental to him. I don’t like that. I don’t know whose idea it was. The Lakers are fine with it; they’re doing it.

“On this particular instance, I think that’s gone too far, and I don’t think that benefits Bronny, I don’t think it benefits the South Bay Lakers, and I don’t think it benefits LeBron at that point.”

by Sharelle B. McNair

November 14, 2024

NYC Mayor Eric Adams Signs Safe Hotels Act Into Law Despite Industry Protests

The law's critics have not been silent.

New York City’s Mayor Eric Adams is receiving backlash from the hospitality industry after signing the controversial Safe Hotels Act into law, Asian Hospitality reports.

The legislation requires hotels across the city’s five boroughs to obtain operating licenses. Also known as “Intro. 0991,” the law opens up room for stricter standards on safety, staffing, cleaning, and licensing in order to guarantee protections for workers and guests.

“Our top priority from day one has been to keep people safe, and that includes protecting workers and tourists at our city’s hotels,” Adams said. “That’s why we are expanding protections for the working-class New Yorkers who run our hotels and the guests who use them. The Safe Hotels Act ensures our hotels are safe, healthy, and clean, enabling our tourism industry to thrive and create jobs. This is a win for working people, the tourism and hotel industry, and all New Yorkers.”

Sponsored by City Council Member Julie Menin, the legislation was revised twice before passing and faced criticism from industry groups, including the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) and the American Hotel and Lodging Association. AAHOA chairman Miraj Patel says the law dims a light on the issues really concerning hoteliers.

“While we acknowledge the passage of the Safe Hotels Act and its attempt to accommodate smaller properties, this revision still falls short of addressing our broader concerns,” Patel said. “Hoteliers of all sizes deserve flexibility in managing operations. The act’s unintended consequences will disproportionately affect minority-owned businesses, stifling entrepreneurship and innovation in hospitality.”

With close to 800 hotels in the boroughs, all will now be required to be licensed by the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), according to AM NY. As crime in the city has increased, hotels will have to employ hotel staff for front desk and housekeeping over contracted workers, as well as have panic buttons for workers when dangerous situations arise.

Under the DCWP, 45,000 businesses in NYC have licenses except hotels. Menin, a former DCWP commissioner, said it is one of the few industries without regulations.

“There are so many incidences of hotel workers, who largely tend to be female, with real issues of sexual assault,” Menin said. “It also protects guests because at the end of the day, we don’t want guests coming to our great city and having an experience in one of these bad actor hotels…the reason this is important is because it’s a public safety issue. There have been 39 murders in recent years at hotels.”

Thirty-four of 51 council members signed the act, but industry say the new laws will lead to the elimination of jobs and an increase of room rates resulting in a lack of tourists visiting the Big Apple.

“Hotels are already safe,” president and CEO of the Hotel Association of NYC, Vijay Dandapani, said. “NYC has the best, cleanest, and safest hotels in the nation, if not in the world. This is the center of innovation. We are the center of ideas. So to say our hotels aren’t safe is a travesty.”

The New York Police Department has filed more than 14,000 criminal complaints from hotels and motels over the past five years.

Black Creative Technologists To Present Film, Art Concepts At Torrents BPMplus Showcases

by Stacy Jackson

November 14, 2024

Black Creative Technologists To Present Film, Art Concepts At Torrents BPMplus Showcases

Black Public Media's BPMplus fellows will share their creative process and unveil finished works during its Art & Tech Showcases at Torrents.

Black Public Media’s immersive BPMplus program will hold two showcases for creative technology productions at “Torrents: New Links to Black Futures” on Saturday, Nov. 16.

Based in Harlem, New York, Black Public Media is a national media arts nonprofit that supports the development and distribution of Black film, television, and immersive projects by Black creators who use technology to produce content relating to the global Black experience.

Starting at 12 p.m. Saturday, filmmakers and artists will converge at Songbyrd Music House to discuss the art of creating artificial intelligence, augmented reality, projection, and video projects. Moderated by BPM Emerging Media Director Lisa Osborne, the 2024 presenting artists will connect with attendees as they share their workflow and creative processes, reveal intentions behind their projects, dive into concept art, and unveil clips of finished works.

From AR to AI, Black creators are shaping the future of immersive tech. Join us at TORRENTS @cultural_dc on November 16 to experience their groundbreaking work! https://t.co/W6kGFaMCO8 ✨ #TORRENTS #BPMplus #BlackCreative pic.twitter.com/LLoQgdfIIE
— Black Public Media (@BLKPublicMedia) November 1, 2024

Launched in 2018, BPMplus offers producers and technologists access to grants, fellowships, workshops, showcases,and networking opportunities as they create projects using augmented reality, motion capture, artificial intelligence, and other technologies.

“As AI and other new technologies become more embedded in our daily lives, it is important that access to these tools is available for everyone during their liminal or pre-commercial phases,” Osbourne said in a press release.

Creators also have access to artists-in-residence programs and the national PitchBLACK Immersive Forum.

CulturalDC has welcomed BPMplus back for its annual showcase at Torrents as the interdisciplinary series celebrates the innovative future of visual arts, technology, music, film and performance.

“For decades, tech training, grants and other opportunities have been funneled into the hands of a few, essentially imprinting biases that exist in old or traditional media onto new storytelling tools long before they gain mass adoption,” Osbourne said. “Our BPMplus programs strive to counter that larger tendency in the tech, film, arts and philanthropic worlds by giving our immersive filmmakers and artists a seat at the table to ensure a future where all communities are represented.”

Sponsored by Shutterstock and Rolling Out, the BPMplus Art & Tech Showcases will feature Baff Akoto, Collateral Echoes (2025); Ethel-Ruth Tawe, Image Frequency Modulation (2025), 2024 PitchBLACK Immersive Forum winner; LaJuné McMillian, The Portal’s Keeper (2024), 2023 PitchBLACK Immersive Forum winner; MaryAnn Talavera, The ORIXA Project: Planet Aris (2024); Georgiana Wright, Synthetic Ferality (2024); and Andrea Walls, Variance: Ritual for a Home (2024), 2024 PitchBLACK Immersive Forum winner.

“Torrents: New Links to Black Futures” runs from Nov. 14-17. The BPMplus Art & Tech Showcase I starts at noon on the final day; Showcase II follows at 2 p.m. ET. A networking mixer featuring a cash bar will follow from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Registration is recommended to attend the free events.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 14, 2024

Hit-Boy Partners With D’USSÉ To Launch Limited-Edition Augmented Reality Experience For The Holiday

D'USSÉ's limited-edition release brings Grammy Award-winning producer Hit-Boy into your holiday parties.

D’USSÉ cognac has teamed up with Grammy Award-winning producer Hit-Boy for a special AR experience that puts the “SICKO MODE” hitmaker in your living rooms this holiday season.

Named “The Set,” this augmented reality (AR) experience lets anyone who buys a D’USSÉ VSOP Holiday Gift Box access an exclusive AR DJ performance by Hit-Boy to enhance their holiday celebrations. This marks D’USSÉ’s first foray into tech and its largest investment in tech-driven experiences to date.

The D’USSÉ VSOP Holiday Gift Box features a 750 mL bottle of D’USSÉ VSOP and a QR code that unlocks access to “The Set” AR experience. After scanning the code with their smartphone, recipients can activate a lifelike AR filter of Hit-Boy behind a DJ booth right inside their event space.

From there, users can choose a cocktail that suits their party vibe—whether it’s a D’USSÉspresso Martini or a Spicy Sidecar—and Hit-Boy will respond with custom playlists he’s curated for each drink. Through the new-age digital experience, “The Set” lets you bring Hit-Boy into the heart of your holiday celebrations this year.

“Music is the universal spirit of the holidays,” Hit-Boy said in a statement. “You can’t celebrate without it. But just like collaborating with artists, it’s all about finding a certain energy.”

“D’USSÉ and I wanted to spread the right vibes and had a lot of fun playing with the AR technology to create a unique fan experience,” he added. “Once you scan the QR code, the AR filter will allow me to pull up to your holiday hangs and spin-off my favorite tracks for the festivities. We hope you’ll enjoy ‘The Set’ wherever you and your loved ones are this holiday season.”

Step behind the scenes with @Hit_Boy as we craft an exclusive AR DJ experience for D’USSÉ. Prepare to immerse yourself in a captivating fusion of sound and spirits. #DUSSE #HitBoy pic.twitter.com/Equ4ysjm4h
— D'USSÉ (@DusseCognac) November 12, 2024

Partygoers can engage with “The Set” by positioning themselves “next to” or “behind” the DJ booth in the AR experience. The filter also allows users to take photos, so you can quickly share the fun with loved ones or on social media. With the added option to connect to speakers, this immersive visual-audio experience makes Hit-Boy the ultimate headliner for any holiday party this season.

The D’USSÉ VSOP Holiday Gift Box is available now in stores nationwide and at dusse.com (SRP $50).

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 14, 2024

Green Book Global Launches Road Trip Planner Tool To Provide Inclusive Options For Black Travelers

Green Book Global unveils a new road trip planner feature to help Black travelers plan safe journeys across the U.S.

Building on its success as the first and only Black travel booking and review platform, Green Book Global is expanding its services with a new Road Trip Planner app feature.

With Green Book Global already established as a modern interactive guide for Black travelers, the company has now added a feature to help plan safer and more enjoyable road trips across the U.S. This new Road Trip Planner tool, launched within its redesigned mobile app (available on iOS and Android) and accessible via web application, is powered by community-driven insights and data.

“Our mission has always been to empower Black travelers with information that fosters a safer and more inclusive travel environment,” Lawrence Phillips, founder and CEO of Green Book Global, told Forbes. “With the Road Trip Planner, we are turning the collective experiences of our community into a powerful tool that maps out the best routes and highlights areas to avoid based on historical and recent data.

“This is more than a planning tool. It’s a new layer of security for our community,” he added.

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A post shared by Green Book Global®(Black Travel Review Platform) (@greenbookglobal)

Named after The Negro Motorist Green Book, which provided travel guidance for African Americans navigating Jim Crow America from 1936 to 1966, Green Book Global is a modern-day app and interactive guide designed to aid Black travelers in the 21st century. By tapping into thousands of user-generated reviews from Black travelers, the app can help users plan safer trips by identifying optimal routes and avoiding areas known to be unwelcoming or potentially unsafe.

“Our goal is to provide information so that Black travelers can make that very personal decision about where they want to go,” Phillips said.

According to data from Green Book Global, some of the most welcoming destinations in the U.S. for Black travelers include Atlanta, Houston, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Charlotte, and Chicago. The platform also offers an International Destination Discovery Tool, featuring recommendations for diverse places such as Kenya, Slovenia, and Argentina.

Phillips highlights that the new Planner tool enables motorists to select “Avoid City” to bypass sundown towns, automatically rerouting them.

“Cities are rated on a five-star scale by our community for what it’s like Traveling While Black and cities receive an overall score,” he explains. “Green represents the safest and most welcoming destination, yellow indicates average, and red means it needs improvement. Red indicates a city where Black travelers generally have not felt safe or welcome, and it may even signify a former sundown town.”

The research has also brought some unexpected findings to light on cities that may be predominantly white but contain a small but mighty Black population.

“Portland, Maine, was a big surprise,” Phillips says. “Although Maine is one of the whitest states in America, with a Black population of almost 2%, the city of Portland is nearly 10% Black. It was amazing. Great food, plenty of activities, and a welcoming atmosphere.”

model, stabbing, nyc, ice cream truck, Detroit,

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 14, 2024

Woman Arrested And Charged With Killing Father On Election Day

Corey Burke allegedly killed her father, Timothy, after stabbing him multiple times in the head with an ice pickax.

Last week, a Seattle woman was arrested after being accused of killing her father with an ice pickax after arguing with him about the lights being on.

According to Law & Crime, Corey Burke, 33, allegedly killed her father, 67-year-old Timothy Burke, at their home at around 8 pm on Election Day. He was stabbed multiple times in the head as the two argued about the lights in the house being on. When police officers arrived at the home, Corey Burke admitted that she had killed her father. Court documents stated that she was “having a mental health crisis” due to the election.

She is being held at the King County Correctional Facility on a $2 million bond after being charged with first-degree murder.

According to detectives, Corey Burke told them there was “something important” about the election between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. She was “overwhelmed” by emotions before the incident. Police officers said that Timothy tried to turn off the lights during his daughter’s emotional episode, and that led to an argument before Corey killed him.

“Corey stated that she had to bite her father while choking him because he was too strong,” legal documents said. “Corey stated that once her father ‘went limp,’ she felt better. Corey said that she then hit him with the ice pickaxe in the head several more times. Corey then sat next to her father and watched him until she saw that he was not breathing anymore.”

According to the autopsy, Timothy Burke died from a combination of severe blunt force trauma, asphyxiation, and puncture wounds.

NEW INFORMATION: A woman will enter a plea to murder charges in court later this month after the death of her father. Investigators say she killed him with an ice axe.

Prosecutors say it all started as an argument about lights inside a living room, per @RyanTVnews. pic.twitter.com/sRwAvVCqTf

— Steve McCarron KOMO (@SteveTVNews) November 12, 2024

Corey Burke is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 21.

by Sharelle B. McNair

November 14, 2024

Republicans Now Dominate Washington, D.C. As GOP Gets House Majority

This was not the House that Democrats were hoping for.

Republicans delivered Democrats another devastating blow as the GOP now has control of the House of Representatives with 218 seats, the Associated Press reports.

President-elect Donald Trump can thank House victories in Arizona and California, which were finalized November 13. Republicans also secured control of the Senate, giving Washington a GOP trifecta. The victory gives conservative leaders the power to move quickly to implement Trump’s vision for “making America great again.”

During the campaign trail, the four-time indicted politician made extreme promises, including starting the country’s largest deportation operation, extend tax breaks, pushing political revenge on his enemies, and redesigning the economy.

House Speaker and ardent conservative, Mike Johnson, who recently won the party’s nomination to remain as speaker through 2025, has mentioned taking a “blowtorch” to the federal government and some programs as a way of overhauling even the popular ones championed by Democrats during the Biden-Harris reign.

“Republicans in the House and Senate have a mandate,” Johnson said. “The American people want us to implement and deliver that ‘America First’ agenda.”

Johnson’s victory comes after some conservatives pressed him over several matters including the refusal of sending more money to Ukraine and blaming him for why the GOP didn’t win more seats in 2022, according to CNN. However, a sense of unity amongst Republicans has taken over Congress.

“If Donald Trump says jump three feet high and scratch your head, we all jump three feet high and scratch our heads,” Texas GOP Rep. Troy Nehls said. “That’s it.”

Democrats had their eyes set on certain districts coming their way, like in New York and California. Another seat in Nebraska, whose Omaha-area district gave Vice President Kamala Harris an electoral vote, was secured by GOP Rep. Don Bacon. The swing states of Pennsylvania and Michigan also garnered GOP candidates.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 14, 2024

4 People Arrested After Allegedly Faking Bear Attacks Defrauding Insurance Companies Of $141,839

The four suspects were charged with insurance fraud and conspiracy for claiming that a bear damaged their vehicles, but video shows it was a human in a bear costume.

An insurance scam was revealed when four people were arrested after allegedly staging a bear attack with the intent to defraud an insurance company. It was shown that they allegedly filmed someone wearing a bear costume breaking into their cars to claim damages.

According to the California Department of Insurance (CDI), four people from Los Angeles, Ruben Tamrazian, 26, Ararat Chirkinian, 39, Vahe Muradkhanyan, 32, all hailing from Glendale, and Alfiya Zuckerman, 39, of Valley Village, were charged with insurance fraud and conspiracy for claiming that a bear damaged their vehicles. Authorities found out that there was no bear involved, just someone posing as one in a bear costume.

In an investigation dubbed Operation Bear Claw, CDI initially suspected fraud when the people charged made a claim that a bear got into their 2010 Rolls Royce Ghost and caused damage inside the vehicle. The incident took place earlier this year on January 28 in Lake Arrowhead. After submitting a video to the CDI, the agency was suspicious of the alleged bear seen in the video.

After looking further into the video submitted, the agency determined that it was a person in a bear costume. During the investigation, detectives discovered two other insurance claims, with two different insurance companies making similar claims and the same people at the helm. They also claimed the exact date and location for those claims.

The fraudulent claims detailed two vehicles: a 2015 Mercedes G63 AMG and a 2022 Mercedes E350. Videos of the same “bear” were used with the same claim as the initial one submitted to CDI as “proof” of the culprit damaging the vehicles.

Investigators from CDI had a biologist from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife review all three alleged bear videos. They determined that it was not a bear but a human in a bear suit. A search warrant was produced, and the bear costume was found there after searching the suspects’ home.

The insurance companies were defrauded of $141,839 as determined by the CDI.

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

November 14, 2024

Alabama State Univ. Professor Launches 2 Children’s Books On Loss, Divorce And Death

Dr. Holloway thought it was imperative to create books on death and divorce as a point of reference to start conversations with children.

Dr. Linda Holloway is a professor at Alabama State University with over 30 years of teaching experience. She wanted to develop books that could be used to help counselors, social workers, mental health professionals, teachers, administrators, families, churches, and funeral homes discuss the concept of loss with children. When we think of divorce, we do not always think of loss in the same way we think of loss when it comes to death. However, with both of these events, children experience an incredible amount of grief.

With divorce, children have to learn how to navigate the loss of their parents being together, and with death, children have to adjust to life without the other person. Such events can take a toll on our children’s mental health if not properly attended to.

It is reported that 50% of marriages will end in divorce. Divorce for children is a very pivotal moment in children’s lives. It represents a time of instability, a loss of the family unit as they once knew it, and it impacts children’s perspective of what a family can look like. The consequences of divorce can be innumerable for children, leaving them with a range of emotions: anger, sadness, frustration, surprise, loneliness, depression, and much anxiety.

Additionally, children in today’s society are having to cope with death at an alarming rate. It is believed that approximately 6 million U.S. children will die without a parent by the time they are 18. In addition, as many as 1 out of 12 U.S. children will have experienced the death of a sibling by the age of 18. Childhood grief plays a tremendous role in impacting the developmental functions of children in the areas of academic achievement, relationships, substance use, mental distress, and suicide.

Therefore, Dr. Holloway thought it was imperative to create these books as a point of reference to start conversations with children about loss and how to cope with losses. The titles of her two books are Little Miss Linda Copes with Divorce and Little Miss Linda Speaks Out About Death.

Even though divorce and death can be the most challenging subjects to have with children, you will find both of these books are very warm and inviting when addressing these topics. The divorce book about Little Miss Linda entails her parents informing her they are getting a divorce while reassuring her they will be there to help with any questions she might have. Thus, they help her create a We Love You Jar, where Little Miss Linda gets to put any questions she might have in the jar for both her parents to provide answers to. The death book about Little Miss Linda entails her being told by her mother she only has 7 months to live and decides to create memorable moments together.

This book addresses many questions Little Miss Linda has about death. Both books include Learning Out Loud questions for children to discuss about the books. Additionally, there are more questions included to engage in deeper discussion on both divorce and death. Lastly, to make the book a bit more interactive and lighthearted as possible, Dr. Holloway included scavenger hunts in both books.

The books are available for purchase on Amazon.

This news was first reported by Blacknews.com

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

November 14, 2024

Shirley Neal To Release New Book ‘Afrocentric Style: A Celebration Of Blackness & Identity in Pop Culture’

Afrocentric Style: A Celebration of Blackness & Identity in Pop Culture by author, screenwriter, and TV/Film Producer Shirley Neal links the vibrancy of Black identity and expression with mainstream popular culture

Filled with more than 200 color and black-and-white photos, Afrocentric Style: A Celebration of Blackness & Identity in Pop Culture by author, screenwriter, and TV/film producer Shirley Neal links the vibrancy of Black identity and expression with mainstream popular culture from the past to the present. The book highlights the top memes, movements, and milestone moments permeating today’s social media, showcasing the indelible influence of Black artistry and celebrity on global pop culture.

From Beyoncé to the Black Panthers, Serena Williams to Kamala Harris, AfroCentric Style explores how dozens of icons and events have revived Black identity, culture, and history on a profound level. It asserts that the current impact of Blackness in pop culture is unrivaled, with African-themed searches growing exponentially, indicating a surging interest in Black pop culture across all generations.

AfroCentric Style, beautifully designed and thoughtfully written, interweaves commentary and archival photographs, offering a fresh take on contemporary Afrocentric stories and their historical roots. The book is not just a stunning anthology, but also an educational tool that celebrates and enhances readers’ understanding of Black culture’s powerful influence on mainstream pop culture and America’s increasingly diverse society.

AfroCentric Style‘s Major Focus Points:

Blackness in Mainstream Pop Culture

• How pop culture is used as a conduit to help all cultures and demographics better understand Black History and Black culture, particularly in the areas of Fashion, Hair, and Beauty.

• How can Black pop culture be used beyond entertainment to make people think?

Fashion

• The influence of Black culture on global fashion trends — from hip hop to high fashion to dashikis, dandies, hoodies, and all the trends in between.

• Activism fashion — when fashion is used to make statements to create Black awareness or as a form of protest.

Black Identity

• How Black identity through pop culture can improve self-esteem and mental health.

• How pop culture provides Black youth with various role models and narratives, helping them explore and develop their identities.

• The trend of Black Americans tracing lineages to Africa (Neal is an Advisory Board Member of AfricanAncestry.com)

Black History

• The impact of Black history on mainstream pop culture.

• How, through pop culture, we can learn about unsung Black trailblazers like cowboys, inventors, literary greats, musicians, and even beauty queens.

This news was first reported by Blacknews.com