by Keka Araújo

October 28, 2024

FTC Cracks Down On Lyft For Deceptive Earnings Claims

The FTC's vote to authorize the DOJ to file the complaint in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California passed by one vote.

After the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a lawsuit against Lyft, claiming the company used deceptive advertising practices to mislead drivers about their potential earnings, the rideshare giant has agreed to a proposed settlement.

The lawsuit, filed by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) on behalf of the FTC, cites misleading claims regarding driver pay and promises of “earnings guarantees” that failed to deliver what drivers expected.

According to the FTC, Lyft misled potential drivers during increased demand in 2021 and 2022. Advertisements from Lyft touted impressive hourly earnings—up to $33 in Atlanta, $41 in Portland, and $43 in Los Angeles. However, based on the top 20% of drivers’ earnings, these figures did not represent what most drivers could expect. The complaint states that average earnings were inflated by as much as 30% and often included tips, though many drivers assumed tips would be in addition to hourly pay.

“It is illegal to lure workers with misleading claims about how much they will earn on the job,” FTC Chair Lina M. Khan said. “The FTC will keep using all its tools to hold businesses accountable when they violate the law and exploit American workers.”

The lawsuit also addressed Lyft’s advertising of “earnings guarantees,” promising set payouts if drivers completed specific rides within a time frame. For example, Lyft advertised that drivers could make $975 for 45 rides over a weekend. However, many drivers reported disappointment upon realizing the earnings guarantee would only cover the difference between their actual pay and the advertised amount. The FTC noted that complaints flooded in from drivers who assumed the guarantee was a bonus, not merely a supplement to regular earnings.

As part of the proposed settlement, Lyft has agreed to ensure that its pay claims reflect typical driver earnings. Lyft will also be prohibited from including tips as part of advertised hourly earnings and must communicate to drivers that guarantees are meant to bridge shortfalls rather than serve as bonuses. Lyft must keep accurate evidence of its pay statements moving forward to back these claims.

The settlement includes a $2.1 million civil penalty and mandates that Lyft notify drivers about the revised policy. The action is part of a broader FTC initiative to protect gig economy workers from false earnings claims. The FTC has also taken action against Amazon, HomeAdvisor, Arise, and Care.com, securing millions in redress and conduct relief for aggrieved workers.

The FTC’s vote to authorize the DOJ to file the complaint in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California passed with a 3-2 majority.

Central State University, Ohio, fiscal watch

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 28, 2024

Central State University, Ohio’s Only HBCU, Placed On Fiscal Watch

The school hopes to get off the fiscal watch within three years.

Central State University has been placed on fiscal watch by the Ohio Department of Higher Education due to financial challenges.

The department’s chancellor, Mike Duffey, made the announcement on Oct. 25, as reported by WKBN. With the declaration, the sole HBCU in Ohio will receive support as it undergoes a plans to improve its status.

Central State must create a financial recovery plan, which will include increased financial reporting requirements and engagement from the board of trustees. Moreover, a state auditor will perform an evaluation on the school, in addition to consulting on its budgeting and reporting procedures.

Classes are expected to run as normal for the university, which was founded in 1887.

“It‘s not something that any university wants to be on,” explained Central State’s president, Morakinyo Kuti, to Dayton Daily News. “When I came on, I knew that things were not what they were supposed to be, so we wanted to inform the state as soon as possible, and we also wanted to get their assistance as soon as possible.”

Upon taking office in September 2023, Kuti found discrepancies in the HBCU’s financial reports. Alongside unpaid balances to school vendors, Kuti discovered its 2023 audit was incomplete. The mounting issues led to Kuti informing the state about the matter.

“My goal, our goal as a university, is to get out as soon as possible,” Kuti said. “We asked for the state support and assistance because the future is bright at Central State University, but in order for us to get to that bright future, we have to get our house in order.”

Moreover, Central State has suffered from a significantly decreased online enrollment, dropping from 4,000 to 1,000.

“Central State is very important to the Miami Valley,” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said. “It supports the whole State of Ohio. It has not only a storied past, but it’s got a great future. We’re optimistic about Central State’s future, but this is certainly a bump in the road, … The quicker it can get dealt with, the better.”

Central State previously went on fiscal watch in 2015. This time, the school hopes to get off the watch within three years.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 28, 2024

Jordin Sparks Stresses Importance of Fire Safety In New Campaign: ‘I’d Rather Be Safe Than Sorry’

Jordin Sparks has a new campaign that's all about fire safety in our homes.

Jordin Sparks is the face of a new campaign focused on promoting fire safety education in households with young children.

The platinum-selling singer is part of Kidde’s Cause For Alarm™ campaign to promote the new Living Jingle, which features an emotional message and call to action from children affected by house fires. It’s a campaign that strikes a chord with Sparks, a proud mother to her 6-year-old son, Dana Jr., whom she shares with her husband, Dana Isaiah. She is actively teaching her child the importance of prioritizing safety in all aspects of life.

“We’re all about safety right now, safety at school, safety when you’re with your friends, safety when you’re at home,” Sparks tells BLACK ENTERPRISE. “And so when I was reading through this campaign and everything that it stood for, I was like, ‘This makes a lot of sense for us to do.'”

The “No Air” singer acknowledges that fire safety wasn’t always a top priority for her before she became a mother. However, partnering with the Cause For Alarm campaign has reminded her just how quickly a fire can start.

“It also, for lack of a better term, lit a fire under my behind, because it’s something that I don’t think about often. Fires can happen at any point to anybody.”

Sparks is right to admit this. The campaign found that 40% percent of people believe they’re more likely to win the lottery or be struck by lightning than experience a house fire. Yet, this year alone, over 1,000 people—including children—have died as the result of home fires across North America.

For the third consecutive year, Kidde’s Cause For Alarm campaign is dedicated to supporting vulnerable communities that face a greater risk of fire-related incidents. This initiative aims to enhance fire safety education and awareness by addressing gaps in knowledge and access to fire safety measures, offering essential resources and life-saving devices to at-risk populations.

To encourage people to make fire safety a priority, Kidde is introducing its new “Living Jingle,” an emotional appeal and call to action voiced by children who have been affected by house fires.

“It’s a very powerful message that can be driven home,” Sparks says of the “Living Jingle.” “For kids, especially in a musical format, and as a musician, I know how powerful a tool of music can be.”

With a last name like “Sparks,” the singer notes the irony in her plea while stressing its importance.

“If I can spark an idea or spark a movement or spark, you know, a thought like, ‘Oh, wow, I haven’t really thought about that in a long time,’ then I want to be able to be a part of that, especially as a mom now. It’s just really, really important. And I’d rather be safe than sorry.”

In addition to the Cause For Alarm campaign, Sparks released her first full-length non-holiday album in nearly 10 years, No Restrictions, which reflects her growth as a woman, wife, singer, and mother.

“I’m grateful that I was able to have that time to really grow within myself, grow within my family, my marriage as a mother, as a friend,” she shares. “As a human, I just feel like I’ve grown so much. And that’s why I called it No Restrictions. Because at this place in my life, I feel so free. And I feel like I’m letting go of outdated beliefs. I’m letting go of things that I used to think about myself, what I thought about, what other people thought about me.”

Sparks also teased what viewers can expect from the new skating competition show she’s hosting called Roller Jam and how much fun she had filming each episode. Press play to learn more.

by Daniel Johnson

October 27, 2024

‘Take Our Lives Seriously’: Michelle Obama Implores Men To Vote For Harris

Obama pleaded to the 'men who love us' to vote for Kamala Harris.

As the polling continues to show a deep gender divide for Vice President Kamala Harris, former first lady Michelle Obama made an impassioned plea to men to stand up for women on Election Day during a rally in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Oct. 26.

According to The New York Times, this marked Obama’s first appearance on the campaign trail. She pleaded “from the core of my being” to male voters “to take our lives seriously.”

“If your wife is shivering and bleeding on the operating room table during a routine delivery gone bad, her pressure dropping as she loses more and more blood, or some unforeseen infection spreads and her doctors aren’t sure if they can act, you will be the one praying that it’s not too late,” Obama said. “You will be the one pleading for somebody, anybody, to do something.”

She continued, “If we don’t get this election right, your wife, your daughter, your mother, we as women, will become collateral damage to your rage.”

Obama lambased the media and voters for “choosing to ignore [former President] Donald Trump’s gross incompetence, while asking Kamala to dazzle us at every turn.”

She continued, “We expect her to be intelligent and articulate, to have a clear set of policies, to never show too much anger, to prove time and time again that she belongs. But for Trump, we expect nothing at all, no understanding of policy, no ability to put together a coherent argument, no honesty, no decency, no morals.”

Harris underscored the points Obama made during her address. “We’re seeing women scrambling across state lines to get the care they need. Do you think Donald Trump is thinking about the consequences for the millions of women who will be living in medical deserts?”

The vice president continued, “I want the men in the arena to bear with me on this, because there’s more at stake than just protecting a woman’s choice to give birth. Sadly, we as women and girls have not been socialized to talk openly about our reproductive health. We’ve been taught instead to feel shame and to hide how our bodies work.”

She also stressed that unwanted teen pregnancy not only affects young girls, but also the young fathers who will have the course of their lives drastically change.

The urgency has its roots in polling data. As Vox reported, nearly every poll has indicated that men are lagging behind women in their support of Harris’s candidacy. A poll from ABC News and Ipsos of likely voters in the 2024 election, Black men currently lead the way, supporting Harris at an 85% clip while Latinx men are polling at 63% and white men lag far behind at 38 percent.

https://twitter.com/keithboykin/status/1850531732409520265?s=19

According to CBS News, the election may also shape up to be a referendum on personal views of progress.

Men who believe that the focus on diversity, equality, and inclusion has left them behind in favor of women tend to indicate support for Trump, while women who believe that Trump is incompetent and is unfit to serve as president tend to indicate support for Harris.

by Daniel Johnson

October 27, 2024

Natalie Williams Out As GM Of Two-Time WNBA Champion Las Vegas Aces

The Aces declined to renew Williams' contract as part of what the team described as a front office restructuring.

Natalie Williams is out as the general manager of the Las Vegas Aces after it did not renew her contract as part of a front office restructuring, the team said in an Oct. 26 statement.

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the 53-year-old Williams took the position in April 2022, three months after the team hired head coach Becky Hammon.

The Aces move follows their semifinals exit from the WNBA playoffs after two straight championships.

“It has been a joy and honor to serve as General Manager of the Las Vegas Aces,” said Williams, who thanked owner Mark Davis in her comments. “…I love the WNBA, and it has been wonderful watching the growth of the game. I’m looking forward to what lies ahead.”

According to the Review-Journal, there are some indications that the dismissal of Williams could be related to the federal lawsuit against the Aces brought by former player Dearica Hamby.

Williams, Hammon, and Aces team president Nikki Fargas are all named in Hamby’s litigation as she appears to be dissatisfied by the WNBA’s investigation which led to Hammon being suspended for two games and the team forfeiting its 2025 first-round draft pick.

Hamby’s federal lawsuit claims that the organization did not honor portions of her contract and then traded her to the Los Angeles Sparks once she told team officials she was pregnant, NBC News reports.

In Fargas’ statement, she alluded to Williams’ service of the organization, going back to when the franchise was known as the Utah Starzz.

“We are incredibly grateful for Natalie’s invaluable efforts in helping build the Aces into the premier franchise in the WNBA,” Fargas said. “Her time with the organization extends back to the league’s formative years in Utah, and she will forever be a part of our history, having left an indelible mark as both a player and an executive. We wish the best for Natalie and her family.”

Former St. Louis Prosecutor,Misusing Public Funds

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 27, 2024

Former St. Louis Prosecutor Admits To Using Public Funds To Cover Personal Court Fees

Kimberly Gardner used the funds to cover costs from a 2022 case against her by the Missouri Supreme Court.

Kimberly Gardner, a former St. Louis prosecutor previously supported by left-leaning billionaire George Soros, has admitted to using public funds to cover her own personal court fees.

Upon entering a pretrial diversion program with U.S. District Court in St. Louis, Gardner confirmed she had employees under her supervision write checks that amounted to over $5,000.

According to First Alert 4, employees took the money out of the Contingent Fund Account in her office. Gardner used the checks to cover the money spent in a 2022 case against her by the Missouri Supreme Court. In the case, the court found her in violation of ethical rules while prosecuting the state’s former governor, Eric Greitens.

The Contingent Fund remains reserved for prosecuting expenses. However, Gardner had the money “deposited in her personal bank account and used for her personal expenses unrelated to her job duties and the operations of the Circuit Attorney’s Office,” the diversion agreement stated.

Prior to her admission, Gardner faced pressure from both parties to resign from her role as the lead prosecutor in St. Louis. She did in June 2023.

Through her cooperation in the program, Gardner cannot break any laws and must report to a pretrial services officer. The agreement also defers prosecution for 18 months, but Gardner will have to pay back the funds as restitution.

“Ms. Gardner entered into a pre-charge diversion agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s office,” wrote her attorney, Ronald S. Sullivan Jr., in a statement. “The parties agreed to resolve the matter prior to any criminal action commencing and to spare the district the time and costs associated with defending any claim of criminal wrongdoing. While Ms. Gardner was prepared to vigorously defend any allegations that may have been lodged against her, she and the government agreed to end any dispute and terminate any investigation with the pre-charge diversion agreement.”

While no further investigation will take place, the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office did note that the current agreement is a “just and fair outcome” for the former official, said U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming.

Civil Rights Hall of Fame, Mississippi, Jackson, Mayor Lumumba

by Daniel Johnson

October 27, 2024

Civil Rights Activists Get Arrests Expunged 64 Years After Historic South Carolina Sit-In

A judge signed an order only a few blocks from where the group was arrested.

On Oct. 25, Simon Bouie and six others had their arrest records expunged more than 60 years after they staged a sit-in in a Columbia, South Carolina, lunch counter that was designated as whites-only.

According to The Associated Press, a judge signed an order only a few blocks from where the group was arrested.

Before he left to join the protest, Bouie assured his mother that he would not get himself into trouble and he kept that promise in mind as he and the other activists sat at the Eckerd Drug Store counter.

“We had a desire to fight for what was right and nobody could turn us around. We walked in that building with our heads held high and sat down,” Bouie told the AP.

Although South Carolina is not the genesis of the practice of the sit-in during the Civil Rights Movement—that honor belongs to Greensboro, North Carolina—Bouie and company’s sit-in helped to change laws in South Carolina, and more broadly, the Jim Crow South.

Of the seven men arrested during the two days of protesting, only Bouie and Charles Barr are alive to see their records expunged.

The other five men, David Carter, Johnny Clark, Richard Counts, Milton Greene, and Talmadge Neal, were represented at the table by white roses.

“It made me feel good we were a part of this movement that had helped to make everything easier for everyone to get along a little better in South Carolina,” Barr told the AP.

According to University of South Carolina professor Bobby Donaldson, the five men who died before they could see justice cared more about creating a better world than their freedom.

“In 1960, they were victimized. Today, they are vindicated. In 1960, they were prosecuted. Today, they are praised. In 1960, they were convicted. Today, they are exonerated,” Donaldson said.

Although the men had their convictions thrown out by the Supreme Court a few days before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into law, their arrests stayed on their records.

According to Solicitor Byron Gipson, who handled the paperwork that investigated the arrests and got the expungements before a judge, the men are heroes.

“These men stood bravely—sat bravely, quite frankly—in the face of adversity, in the face of threats, in the face of death. They did it because they wanted to guarantee the Constitution applied to all Americans,” Gipson said at the ceremony.

Judge Robert Hood, who signed the order, took the papers from Gipson and issued his own statement to the 150 attendees in the packed courtroom.

“These heroes stood firm against oppression often at great personal cost. They dared to dream of a world where equality is not an aspiration, but a reality,” Hood said. “Their unwavering commitment to justice serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration to us all.”

Florida Woman, Arrested , Child Neglect, Alleged Abuse, Girlfriend's Son

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 27, 2024

Alabama Pastor Allegedly Shot Dead By Daughter

The daughter's allegedly acted out against other family members as well.

A beloved Mobile, Alabama, pastor was allegedly shot dead by his daughter, WKRG reports.

Pastor Robert Matthews of Joy Tabernacle Full Gospel Church died after Charity Matthews allegedly shot her father on the evening of Oct. 20 at the Matthews’ residence in Mobile.

Matthews’ wife, Twinetta, was injured from gunshot windows and was expected to survive.

Charity Matthews, 36, was arrested at the scene. Her charges include two counts of attempted murder, one count of murder, and one count of reckless endangerment as her two young children were in the household at the time. Charity Matthews’ mental health evaluation will determine if she is eligible for the death penalty.

“We’ve already started the process of having her mentally evaluated to make sure that she is competent to face these charges and then her competency at the time of the offense will be evaluated later,” explained Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood. “Going and doing this to family members and people that she knew. It’s a very terrible thing. We’re going to hold her accountable for that.”

The day prior to reportedly shooting her parents, officials revealed that Charity Matthews shot at her brother’s car. Later that day, she also shot at the father of one of her two children.

She remains detained due to Aniah’s Law, which allows judges to deny bonds for those charged with violent crimes. The law takes its name from Aniah Blanchard, an Alabama co-ed who was kidnapped and killed, allegedly by a man with a violent criminal history.

“When I found out it was the Matthews family there really are no words,” explained close friend Shavon Buchanan to Fox 10. “Something that you would never expect. It’s almost like living in a nightmare only because they are such a good family.”

Buchanan remembered Charity Matthews as a “loving person” who struggled.

If Charity Matthews charges are upgraded to capital murder, she could face the death penalty if found guilty for the killing.

Martin Luther King III, Black Men, 2024 Election

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 27, 2024

Martin Luther King III: Black Men Should Not Be Blamed For Results Of 2024 Presidential Election

His thoughts come as concerns over Black men not voting for Kamala Harris become an issue for the Democratic Party.

Martin Luther King III is urging the public not to blame Black men for what happens in the 2024 presidential election.

The son of the civil rights icon believes the election outcome does not rest on the backs of Black male voters. However, he does believe that many are starting to point fingers at the demographic and will continue to do so if Vice President Kamala Harris loses.

“This election is not going to be won or lost by the number of Black men that support or do not support (Harris), even though it’s going to be probably razor-thin,” King told USA Today. “You can’t go and say, ‘Well, it’s Black men’s fault’…That’s where it seems like it’s trying to go.”

His words come as concerns over Black men voting for Harris becomes an issue for the Democratic Party. According to the New York Times/Siena College October survey, 70 percent of Black men intend to vote Democrat this election. This number is significantly lower than President Joe Biden’s support from the identity group, which was 87% in 2020, per the Pew Research Center.

“To win this election, it takes a coalition of women, of men, of Black men, of white men, of everyone, Latino and Hispanic people, in some cases Native American people,” King said.

Democratic heavyweights such as former President Barack Obama have leaned into the fears of Black men slipping away from the party. During his speech at Harris’ campaign office in Pittsburgh, Obama directed his thoughts to the group. In his criticized message, he suggested that their hesitation stems from issues with a woman as president.

“You’re coming up with all kinds of reasons and excuses; I’ve got a problem with that,” the former president said. “Because part of it makes me think—and I’m speaking to men directly—part of it makes me think that, well, you just aren’t feeling the idea of having a woman as president, and you’re coming up with other alternatives and other reasons for that.”

Despite the intensifying backlash toward Black men, King’s wife, Arndrea Waters King, doubts that the efforts of Black men at the polls would garner recognition even if it resulted in a Harris win. “I think that it’s like, as [King III] said, it seems the narrative is more skewed to blaming.”

Furthermore, how the Democratic Party treats Black voters, through policy and outreach, remains a concern for many across the electorate.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 27, 2024

Amber Rose Claims Beyoncé Stole Her Speech For Kamala Harris Rally In Houston

Amber claims Beyoncé's words on motherhood took inspiration from her own speech at the Republican National Convention.

Amber Rose claims that Beyoncé stole her speech while appearing at Kamala Harris’ rally in Houston. The newfound Trump supporter posted a shady comment regarding the singer’s words.

After Beyoncé made headlines for appearing at the Oct. 25 rally, Rose found the “Cuff It” singer’s speech too familiar. MAGA supporter Rose, who spoke at the Republican National Convention in July, suggested that Beyoncé’s talk about motherhood took inspiration from her thoughts. She wrote her hard feelings under the Shade Room’s Instagram post, which the tabloid quickly caught on to.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom)

“She wanna be me so bad. Literally took my whole speech,” commented Rose, referencing her speaking engagement at the Republican National Convention.

While at the rally in her hometown, Beyoncé told the audience how her concerns as a mother pushes her political action. Beyoncé shares three children with her husband and fellow entertainer, Jay-Z.

“I’m not here as a celebrity. I’m not here as a politician…I’m here as a mother,” urged the multi-Grammy winner. “A mother who cares deeply about the world my children and all of our children live in. A world where we have the freedom to control our bodies. A world where we’re not divided.”

According to Rose, the comparison stems from her reference to motherhood. During her own speech, she also mentioned her children and how she wants a better world for them.

“Most importantly, I’m a mother. My whole world revolves around my children, keeping them safe and giving them an opportunity for a better life. That’s something that unites all American parents,” expressed the 41-year-old.

While the two speeches share the theme of motherhood, the two women’s political views remain starkly different. Beyoncé has consistently supported Harris throughout her campaign, even clearing her song “Freedom” for the vice president’s use. Rose, who formerly spoke out against “slut shaming” and promoted female sexual empowerment on her “The Amber Rose Show,” surprised some with her endorsement of Trump.