by Shanique Yates

September 27, 2024

Tuskegee University Launches Alabama’s Only HBCU Aviation Program To Train Black Pilots

Students enrolling in the university’s new aviation program will also have the opportunity to train at Moton Field, the same grounds as the Tuskegee Airmen.

With its newly accredited aviation program, Tuskegee University is one step closer to fulfilling its mission of training the next generation of Black pilots.

The historic HBCU is now the only historically Black college or university in Alabama with an aviation program available to students who want to become certified pilots. Previously, students training to receive wings studied under Tuskegee’s aerospace engineering program while taking the required certifications to become pilots, 12 WFSA reports.

“We have responded to the demand for pilots,” said S. Keith Hargrove, provost and senior vice president of academic affairs. “There are more than 10,000 to 15,000 pilots that are needed here in the U.S.”

This is a full-circle moment for the university and the state of Alabama. It was home to the famous Tuskegee Airmen, who made history when they became the first African American pilots in the United States military service in 1945. Moreover, the first Black commander of an Air Force fighter squadron was also a Tuskegee Airmen.

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They walked so students like Tuskegee University Air Force ROTC sophomore Hannah Heaston could run when pursuing an aviation career.

“It’s like a roller coaster on steroids,” said Heaston. “It’s very fun. It’s very relaxing. Once you get in the air, it’s very peaceful.”

Students enrolling in the university’s new aviation program will also have the opportunity to train at Moton Field, the same grounds as the aforementioned Tuskegee Airmen. Additionally, Tuskegee University has been working to scale the program through partnerships with local high schools that offer similar aviation-focused career pathway curricula.

Applications for the university’s first aviation sciences degree program cohort are due by Wednesday, Oct. 30.

In a 2022 study conducted by Data USA, it was found that roughly 2.59% of pilots were Black, compared to 87.1% of their white counterparts who operate planes in the sky.

Shelitha Robertson, PPP, Atlanta attorney, SBA, ppp loan fraud, lawyer, Juventus Duorinaah, Carlos Moore

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 27, 2024

Former Basketball Player Admits Guilt In PPP Loan Scheme

Former Illinois State University basketball player Lorenzo Gordon was given $272,774 after fraudulently applying for PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) and EIDL (Economic Injury Disaster Loan ) loans.

A former professional international basketball player admitted to committing fraud after applying for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Missouri, announced that Lorenzo Gordon, a St. Louis resident, has pleaded guilty to one felony count of theft of government money. On Sept. 25, he admitted to committing $272,774 in fraudulent activities regarding two pandemic aid programs.

Gordon gave false information when he applied for two loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and three loans from the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program during the COVID-19 pandemic. He admitted to the crime as part of his plea agreement with the federal government.

The application he filled out for the PPP and EIDL programs contained fraudulent information for three companies: Logo Fitness LLC, Elite 50 Basketball Training LLC, and Elite Health and Fitness Company LLC. The former basketball player received $107,074 in PPP loans and $165,700 in EIDL loans and advances.

According to KMZU, Gordon attended Illinois State University, during his collegiate career before embarking on a professional journey in France, Germany, Turkey, and Israel.

Gordon’s girlfriend at the time, Brittish “Cierrah” Williams, was also arrested and charged with fraud related to her application for a PPP loan. In 2014, she was a cast member on “Basketball Wives.”

Williams was charged with several frauds in 2021, including tax fraud, bank fraud, insurance fraud, and pandemic-related fraud. Last year, she pleaded guilty to 15 counts and admitted to submitting fake bills for insurance payouts, lying to the IRS, and giving false information on pandemic loan applications, as well as opening bank accounts and lines of credit using other people’s Social Security numbers.

She was sentenced to federal prison in October 2023 and is currently incarcerated in Minnesota. She is scheduled to be released in April 2027.

Gordon can be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both prison and a fine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 9, 2025.

Medgar Evers, Niki Evers Everette, Missing

by Mitti Hicks

September 27, 2024

Civil Rights Icon Medgar Evers’ Granddaughter Is Missing In Georgia

Nicole Evers-Everette, affectionately known as “Niki,” has been missing from her Duluth apartment since Sunday, Sept, 22

Police in Atlanta are looking for the granddaughter of civil rights icons Medgar and Myrlie Evers, according to a press release shared by the family spokesperson.

Nicole Evers-Everette, affectionately known as “Niki,” has been missing from her Duluth apartment since Sunday, Sept. 22, when her mother, Reena Evers-Everette, last spoke to her just before 6:00 PM.

“I am worried and terrified for my daughter, Niki. She has not reported to work this week, which is highly unusual,” her mom stated in a news release.

“We talk regularly, and it is also unusual for me to not be able to reach her. She has no cell phone, purse, or other personal effects.”

According to Reena, Niki’s car was missing from her apartment complex and was last seen on Monday night on Keys Ferry Road and McCart Road in McDonough, Georgia. McDonough is a little more than an hour away from Duluth.

“I am in constant prayer that she is safe and comes back to us soon. Timing is critical because Niki has a medical condition that requires medication, which she does not have,” said Reena.

“We are diligently working with law enforcement officials as we try to locate Niki. We are urging everyone to keep their eyes open and report any sightings of Niki or relevant information to the Gwinnett County Police Department.”

The Gwinnett County Police Department can be reached at (770) 513-5700.

“She has a kind soul, a big heart, and a smile that lights up the room. We need all the help we can get to bring her home safely.”

Medgar Evers was a pioneering civil rights leader in the Deep South. On June 12, 1963, the devoted husband and father and distinguished WWII veteran was shot and killed as he returned home from an NAACP meeting. His wife and three children were just steps away. Medgar was only 37-years-old. Justice was served in 1994 when Byron De La Beckwith was convicted for his murder.

by Shanique Yates

September 27, 2024

Delta Airlines Responds To Hurricane Helene With Flight Waivers Amid Atlanta Travel Disruptions

The Delta flight waivers apply to individuals with affected travel plans for Friday, Sept. 27, and to qualify, a new ticket must be issued on or before Tuesday, Oct. 1.

With weather conditions affecting travel in Atlanta due to Hurricane Helene, Delta Airlines is taking action to ensure affected customers can quickly resume their plans through flight waivers.

According to 11 Alive, Delta Airlines, whose hub is in Georgia, will issue travel waivers to customers impacted by travel delays and cancellations caused by Hurricane Helene. The storm, which made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend area late Thursday (Sept. 26), hit the area as a Category 4 hurricane and is expected to weaken as it continues on its path up the southeast region of the nation.

More than 200 flights at Atlanta’s primary airport, Hartsfield-Jackson International, were canceled before the storm pummeled the area, with high winds and heavy rain impacting travel. The worst of Hurricane Helene for the Atlanta area began in the wee hours of the morning on Friday (Sept. 27) and is expected to last through midday, mainly having a direct effect on customers traveling to and from the Atlanta area as well as those in Florida, where some airports have even closed its doors due to the severe nature of the storm.

“Delta anticipates possible changes to Friday morning’s scheduled operations at ATL as weather conditions (primarily winds) affect the airport early in the day,” said Delta Airlines in an official news release. “Delays and some cancellations may be necessary to safely serve our customers after peak weather concerns have passed by midday Friday.”

The Delta flight waivers apply to individuals with affected travel plans for Friday, Sept. 27, and to qualify, a new ticket must be issued on or before Tuesday, Oct. 1. Price differences for rebooked flights will only be honored for the same booking class that was initially issued for the original ticket and the flight must be rescheduled for on or before the aforementioned date next month. Customers will only have to come out of pocket if their travel is rescheduled for a date after Oct. 1 or if they decide to switch booking classes on the new flight.

A CBS News report revealed that roughly 840,000 people in Georgia were without electricity due to the storm. Approximately 552,000 individuals in South Carolina and 191,000 in North Carolina were also directly impacted by power outages. The number of people without electricity continues to increase steadily, with customers in the far north, such as Virginia, experiencing disruptions.

The outlet also revealed that at least three weather-related deaths, two in Wheeler, Georgia, and one in Florida’s Tampa area, have occurred as a result of Hurricane Helene.

by Sharelle B. McNair

September 27, 2024

Detroit Judge Who Placed Teen In Handcuffs For ‘Lesson’ Demoted To Speeding Tickets

Talk about being humbled.....

It appears Detroit Judge Kenneth King, who was temporarily removed from the bench after placing a teenage girl in handcuffs during a field trip, is back on duty. Still, on a lower court, assigned to speeding tickets and other minor offenses, Associated Press reports.

King was ordered to take social-emotional training by the chief judge of the 36th District Court, Chief Judge William McConico, and as a result, was assigned to the court’s traffic division in late September 2024. In a statement, King’s attorney, Todd Perkins, said the judge is willing to work anywhere at the court and “understands and wholeheartedly embraces the concept of teamwork.”

In August 2024, King was reprimanded for singling out 15-year-old Eva Goodman, who fell asleep in the courtroom during a field trip. King labeled the minor as having a bad attitude while she was visiting his courtroom with other teens and placed her in jail clothes and handcuffs. The judge described the incident as a lesson. “It was her whole attitude and her whole disposition that disturbed me,” King said.

“That’s not something that normally happens. But I felt compelled to do it because I didn’t like the child’s attitude. I haven’t been disrespected like that in a very long time.”

It was later revealed the teen and her mother, Latoreya Till, were between homes and staying up late, which caused her sleepiness. At the time, McConico said King’s training would help him “address the underlying issues that contributed to this incident.” Under his new assignment, the chief judge thanked King for “his efforts in preparing for this role” and wished him success “as he transitions into this new responsibility.”

According to the Detroit Free Press, King sat before one of the most high-profile criminal case schedules in the Motor City. He sat behind the bench on cases such as the one against Michael Jackson-Bolanos, the man accused by prosecutors of killing well-known Jewish leader Samantha Woll. Jackson-Bolanos was eventually found not guilty of murder following King sending the case to the 3rd Circuit Court for trial.

Now presiding over the traffic division with smaller cases, King will oversee common issues, including speeding, making an illegal turn, and driving without insurance. His caseload will also handle city ordinance violations—but not those that necessarily break state law.

To get back on the bench, King completed a course called “Conscious Discipline,” conducted by longtime educator Tanyelle Hannah. The course is designed to assist teachers, administrators, mental health professionals, and parents find resources to navigate their own emotions while helping children or others under their care succeed. The company’s website described it as an “effective approach” that is “proven to increase self-regulation, sense of safety, connection, empathy, and intrinsic motivation in both children and adults.”

Regardless of the lesser caseload, King will still need to deal with the incident that resulted in his demotion. Goodman’s family filed a $75,000 lawsuit against King for pain and suffering, medical expenses, and attorney and expert witness fees.

Shady Rest Country Club Golf, New Jersey

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 27, 2024

The Nation’s First Black Country Club Is Getting A Makeover Thanks To $75K Grant

The nation's first Black-owned and operated country club is getting restored thanks to a $75,000 grant.

The first Black-owned and operated country club in the United States is restored thanks to a $75,000 grant.

Shady Rest Country Club in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, the nation’s first and oldest Black-owned country club, is one of 30 sites chosen to receive $3 million in grant funding to preserve its significance in Black history. In July, NPR reported that the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, a program under the National Trust for Historic Preservation, granted $75,000 to the country club to support its restoration efforts.

Originally constructed in the mid-1700s as a farmhouse, the building was later converted into a tavern and eventually became the Westfield Country Club. In 1921, a group of Black investors under the Progressive Realty Company Inc. acquired the property. It transformed it into the Shady Rest Country Club, creating a haven for sports and leisure for Black Americans at a time when racial segregation was the norm.

The funding will help the Preserve Shady Rest Committee, which has been working to restore the country club since the group’s 2013 formation.

“It’s history. Plain and simple. Period. History,” Sylvia Hicks, the former chairperson of the committee, said of the significance of preserving the clubhouse.

Throughout its history, Shady Rest welcomed numerous sports icons, including John Shippen Jr., the nation’s first professional and Black golfer, and Althea Gibson, the groundbreaking Grand Slam-winning tennis player who was the first Black woman to break the color barrier in international tennis. Shady Rest’s influence extended beyond sports, becoming a lively after-hours destination for East Coast entertainment. Musicians would perform at its basement nightclub, Villa Casanova, after their shows in New York City.

Bobby Mendelson is carrying on a family tradition as he regulars Shady Rest to play golf with his 6-year-old son, Leo, a pastime he used to enjoy with his father when he was a young boy. Mendelson sees the work done to restore the country club and is eager to see more.

“I think it’s really important to the history of the town and the area,” he said. “Not to mention, in this case, civil rights, and I think it gives us pride in the area. And honestly, it’s really nice. It’s important to remember those kinds of important things and to feel good about them.”

Brent Leggs, executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, notes the immense demand for preservation funding. The Action Fund must be highly selective. Since 2018, it has invested $27 million in supporting 304 heritage sites.

“Since inviting proposals, the Action Fund’s National Grant Program has received 6,169 funding proposals requesting $709 million,” Leggs said.

This year’s grant recipients represent various regions, sites, and stories from California to Georgia and Minnesota to Texas.

“We work with external partners like the Association of African American Museums or the Hutchins Center at Harvard University to help us evaluate the competitiveness and to select our grantees,” Leggs explained. “We are often looking for diversity of geography, of archetypes and stories.”

As for Shady Rest, Tom Donatelli, the current chair of the Shady Rest committee, says the funding will be used for “engineering and architecture” restorations, including the top floors of the building and The Villa Casanova.

by Jameelah Mullen

September 27, 2024

Report: Black Americans Are More Likely To Feel The Impact Of Rising Prescription Costs

According to the report, Americans pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs.

As prescription costs continue to soar, Americans find it increasingly difficult to afford their medications. A new report finds Black Americans are disproportionately affected by these price hikes.

Patients for Affordable Drugs (PFAD), an organization that advocates for affordable healthcare, released a report this month that showed price increases for 1,000 prescription drugs this year. Almost half of the prices were above the rate of inflation.

The research showed that one-third of Americans cannot afford their prescriptions. According to the report, Black and Latino patients aged 65 were most likely to report difficulty in paying for their medications.

Enhertu is a drug used to treat HER2-positive breast cancer, a form of cancer found primarily in Black women. The drug’s manufacturer raised the price of the drug eight times since 2019, the latest increase bringing the cost of the drug to more than $2,800 per month.

“Black women have a 34 percent higher risk of death from HER2+ breast cancer compared to white women. Black women are more likely to die from HER2+ breast cancer than white women,” the PFAD report says.

Revlimid is used to treat multiple myeloma, which rose by 7%. According to the report, Black Americans are more likely to be diagnosed and die from the condition.

Patients for Affordable Drugs’ Executive Director Merith Basey says that these price increases impact people of color the most.

“Black and Latino families are more likely to suffer from chronic conditions and certain cancers … that do require those long-term, very expensive drugs,” Basey told NBC News.

“A lot of that is also linked to racial disparities in healthcare that have been well documented due to systemic racism,” she said.

Organizations like Patients for Affordable Drugs and Health Care for America Now are pushing for policies that will lighten the financial load for many Americans. The Inflation Reduction Act, a law signed by President Joe Biden, strives to reduce prescription drug prices.

Health Care for America Now’s Executive Director Margarida Jorge critiqued the healthcare industry for the way they have handled conditions that disproportionately affect minorities.

“We’ve known about sickle cell anemia for many, many, years,” Jorge said to NBC News, “but there hasn’t been much attention to really getting down to the business of trying to cure sickle cell anemia with a drug that is affordable to regular people — and I think it has a lot to do with the fact that it’s a Black disease,” she told the outlet.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 27, 2024

Immigration Expert Claims Surge In Migrants Will Affect Job Opportunities For Black Americans

An immigration expert warns that the increase in immigration could significantly affect job opportunities for Black Americans.

A conservative immigration expert is warning how the recent increase in immigration to the U.S. could significantly affect job opportunities for Black Americans.

Roy Beck, founder of NumbersUSA, an organization advocating for reduced immigration levels, presents arguments against immigration that align with the Census Bureau’s recent findings on the significant gains made by foreign workers in the job market. Data from the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that native-born Americans lost over 1.3 million jobs in the past year. In comparison, foreign-born workers gained more than 1.2 million jobs.

Beck’s latest book, Back of the Hiring Line: A 200-Year History of Immigration Surges, Employer Bias, and Depression of Black Wealth, chronicles the historical impact of government-induced migration, emphasizing how it has disproportionately affected the job prospects of Black Americans. His argument references research from historians who have observed declines in income for Black individuals during periods of increased immigration.

“Economic historians say that every time that immigration has gone to a high percentage, the incomes of Black males have gone down and that income and that income disparity, racial disparity increases,” Beck tells Fox News.

“Every time you reduce immigration, the livelihoods of Black families and Black men increase.”

As of August, the unemployment rate is 4% for adult men and 3.7% for adult women. For white Americans, the rate is 3.8%, while Black Americans face a higher rate of 6.1%. Beck contends that although foreign workers can generate job opportunities, certain positions filled by them would typically be available to Americans of all races. However, he notes how racial discrimination often results in Black Americans being the last to be hired.

“There is still racial discrimination that happens among many employers and there’s a tendency that the last people recruited are the descendants of American slavery,” he said.

“And so African Americans, the descendants of American slavery, have always done best — all Americans have done best — but they’ve really done best in tight labor markets. And immigration is not the only thing that dictates loose and tight labor market, but it’s something you can control.”

When it comes to the limited response from Black civil rights leaders on this issue, Beck notes that while prominent national figures have remained silent, some local leaders are beginning to raise their voices more prominently.

“What you have is more and more Black leaders in the communities, places like Chicago and Philadelphia and Houston, more and more, you’re seeing local Black leaders who have their ear on the ground, their eyes on the ground, who are speaking out more and more.”

He also calls out political and national leaders for remaining silent due to “political alliances.”

“The tragic thing is that part of it seems to be that the Black leaders feel like they have to make an alliance with Hispanic political leaders,” Beck said. “But the fact is that polls show that a majority of Hispanic Americans don’t want this high immigration either.”

As of August, there were 129,712,000 native-born workers, a decrease from 131,031,000 in August 2023, indicating a significant loss of 1,319,000 jobs. In contrast, the number of foreign-born workers in the U.S. reached 31,636,000 last month, up from 30,396,000 in August 2023, reflecting an increase of 1,240,000 jobs.

“The government can control how many foreign workers it brings in,” Beck said. “But over the last three and a half years, there’s been virtually no control at all. I mean, we’ve never seen numbers, anything like the new foreign workers that have come over the last three and a half years.”

by Sharelle B. McNair

September 27, 2024

Former Black UPS Driver Awarded $238M Over Racial Discrimination And Retaliation

Talk about a payday!

A former UPS driver from Yakima, Washington, Tahvio Gratton, was awarded $237.6 million by a jury after finding he was discriminated against, a victim of retaliation, and was fired after filing complaints, The Columbian reports.

The jury in Spokane granted Gratton $198 million in punitive damages and $39.6 million for emotional distress. The delivery service company requested Judge Thomas Rice not to enter the judgment, claiming the amount was excessive and that Gratton’s case wasn’t proven. Federal court documents state that the former driver was fired after a female employee claimed Gratton sexually assaulted her, and an investigation was conducted.

UPS also plans to seek a new trial or a reduced judgment.

Gratton began working for UPS in September 2016 and transferred to the Yakima location in January 2018, where he held employment until he was terminated in October 2021. During his tenure there, the former driver said he felt that he was treated differently than his white peers, recalling times when his on-road supervisor would ignore him and speak down to him while being friendly with the white drivers.

According to the lawsuit filed in October 2022, a manager who was white and younger spent the day riding with Gratton in April 2018, repeatedly referring to him as “Boy.” “Move faster, Boy, let’s go!” and “Boy, I told you to hurry!” the white manager would allegedly say. When Gratton requested that he stop, the manager said he was from the South, and that’s just how he talked.

When the two stopped at a local Footlocker location for a route stop, an employee described the manager’s conduct toward Gratton as “shocking” and confirmed the “boy” references.

In Gratton’s complaints, he said part-time drivers were given routes before him, despite being a full-time driver, on days that all drivers weren’t needed, regardless of a union agreement that full-time drivers be given preference. The suit states Gratton was the only full-time driver who was not provided with work. When Gratton filed more complaints, the treatment worsened, as did his work assignments- even when managers filled in as drivers.

In order to receive assignments, Gratton volunteered for what drivers would label as the worst route. This route required delivering several large packages to a mall, which would take up more time. The center manager asked another driver to claim the mall route in an attempt to prevent Gratton from working, but the employee refused.

Attorney Dustin Collier, who was one of the lawyers who represented Gratton, claimed the verdict may be both the biggest of its kind and the biggest in the state, ever, according to the Seattle Times. However, he is happy that the jury and the judge saw “the truth.” We thank the jury for seeing the truth, vindicating our client’s rights, and sending a powerful message to UPS that our communities will not tolerate racial discrimination, harassment, or retaliation against the victims of discrimination and harassment,” Collier said.

While a UPS spokesperson says the company is disappointed in the verdict, Rice said during his ruling in April 2024 that a “reasonable jury could find Gratton was fired for speaking out” and UPS’ reasoning for Gratton’s firing was pretextual.

by Jameelah Mullen

September 27, 2024

You Can Purchase A Home For Under $100K In These Cities

The savings are in the South.

As housing costs continue to rise in the U.S., homeownership is becoming less attainable for many Americans. However, there are still some southern cities where homeownership remains somewhat possible.

Realtor.com says these five cities have multiple home listings for under $100,000. In most cases, the overall cost of living is lower in these areas, making homeownership attainable.

Columbia, South Carolina

The state’s capital city is ideal for those seeking homeownership on a budget. According to Rent.Cafe, the cost of living is 6% below the national average. GoBankrates.Com reported 446 active real estate listings in Columbia, 20 under $100,000. Columbia is home to South Carolina State University and two HBCUs—Allen College and Benedict College. According to AreaVibes.com, the city earned a livability score of 79.

Louisville, Kentucky

Dubbed the “Bourbon City,” Louisville is a cultural hub and home to the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage, Roots101 African American Museum, and The Civil Rights History Tour. Muhammad Ali’s hometown is also an affordable place to live. The overall cost of living for the city is 10.2% below the national average. The home of the Louisville Slugger has a whopping 165 active listings below $100,000. Additionally, housing costs run about 47% below the national average.

Tulsa, Oklahoma

This bustling city earned a livability score of 75. The overall cost of living is 10% less than the national average. Realtor.com reported 73 active home listings for under $100,000. Tulsa is the home to the famous Black Wall Street, the Greenwood Rising Museum, and several Black-owned restaurants.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Located on the Mississippi River, Baton Rouge is home to Southern University and Louisiana State University. According to Redfin, housing costs are 45% lower than the national average. AreaVibes gives the city a livability score of 69. Realtor.com says there are 100 active listings for less than $100,000.

Memphis, Tennessee

The Home Of The Blues is also ideal for affordable housing. Of its 1927 active listings, nearly 500 have a price tag under $100,000. Zillow.com reports that the average cost for a house in the city is $148,000, down 1.4% from last year.