citi, bank, Citibank, group, Szabolcs, Fekete, meals, expense,

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 19, 2023

Judge Axes Lying Ex-Citibank Analyst’s Wrongful Termination Case

Guess he should have brown-bagged it that day.

A Citigroup financial analyst lost his wrongful dismissal case after he was terminated for gross misconduct connected to an expense report for food, according to the New York Post.

Initially, Szabolcs Fekete claimed he consumed a two-person meal during a business trip in July 2022. The London-based former analyst reported eating two sandwiches, two pasta dishes, and two coffees during a business trip to Amsterdam.

In response to his email, Fekete’s senior manager inquired about the items on the receipt, “Appears to have two sandwiches, two coffees, and another drink. “Are you advising that this was all consumed by you?”

“I was on the business trip by myself, and I had two coffees as they were very small,” Fekete claimed he had reviewed the receipt and found nothing amiss.

The Citigroup employee insisted that he did and that all his expenses adhered to Citibank’s daily spending limits.

The organization raised questions about two dinners, pesto pasta and pasta Bolognese, wondering if Fekete had shared them with his partner. At first, he denied the allegation. However, Fekete confessed to sharing the expensed food with his partner, leading to his termination.

Fekete argued there were mitigating circumstances, including the recent death of his grandmother and being under the influence of strong medication when he responded to the emails.

Judge Caroline Illing determined that the dismissal was justified because Fekete lied about the expensed meals. She emphasized that the case wasn’t solely about the money but more about Fekete’s failure to candidly disclose the actual events that happened involving his partner.

A Citibank spokesperson expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 19, 2023

DC Young Fly Reveals Sister’s Death Several Months After Jacky Oh’s Sudden Death

Earlier this year, the mother of DC Young Fly’s three children and partner, Jacky Oh, died at the age of 32. The comedian just announced that his sister has died several days ago.

DC Young Fly posted the news on his Instagram account, also revealing that his cousin died last year.

“In a matter of a year I lost 3 people☹️ my Kuzzin on last august my girl in may and my sister a couple days ago🤦🏽‍♂️.. u jus gotta stick through the mission knowin that GOD got u and he will grant you the strength…. Remember he parted the Red Sea not make it disappear .. the problems are still there he jus allowed u to get through it 🙏🏾 make sure Yu stay righteous don’t hold no grudge because GOD is love and love will always overcome adversity #StayPrayedUp #KeepGODFirst”

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A post shared by Atl..Da Crew RIP RICHIE (@dcyoungfly)

DC Young Fly did not reveal the cause of death for his cousin and his sister, but it was reported by The Los Angeles Times that before Jacky Oh’s death, she reportedly posted on her Instagram account that she was in Miami to allegedly undergo a “Mommy makeover.” That post was later deleted.

She was found unresponsive on May 31 in her Miami hotel room, according to the Miami Police Department. Smith went to Florida with her aunt to have surgery. An autopsy report listed her death as a result of complications from cosmetic surgery. It was ruled accidental.

The Wild ‘N Out model shared three young children with DC Young Fly: daughters Nova and Nala, and son Prince. The two met on the set of the Nick Cannon-led improv show in 2015 and maintained a steady long-term relationship.

RELATED CONTENT: DC YOUNG FLY DISCUSSES LIFE LESSONS & LOSS

Halle Bailey, DDG, pregnancy, Glamour, Women Of The Year, rumors

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 19, 2023

‘Glamour Magazine’ Faux Pas Fuels Halle Bailey Marriage And Pregnancy Rumor

As the buzz of Halle Bailey’s “pregnancy” continues to circulate, a misquote from the singer’s interview with the UK edition of Glamour Magazine appears to have created an even louder, inaccurate, buzz.

On Oct. 17, as part of being named one of Glamour UK’s Women of the Year, all eyes were on Bailey as she went to London to celebrate the occasion. However, in the related profile, the magazine used a quote from Leigh-Anne Pinnock from the girl group Little Mix and attributed it to Bailey.

“Being a mum, being newly married—there’s a positive side of it, but also the negative,” was the wrongfully attributed quote re-shared by Vulture. “I want to show that although things might look perfect from the exterior, that’s not always the case.”

Glamour owed up to the error, but not before the matter caused an online frenzy. The hype around Bailey’s possible pregnancy has sparked much conversation, especially because she’s reached a new height in her career.

The 23-year-old songstress has been in a relationship with rapper and streamer DDG since March 2022. DDG was her plus-one at the Glamour event. However, while the couple has been out and about at many of the emerging star’s appearances, they have remained “mum” on whether The Little Mermaid star is pregnant.

Despite the never-ending rumors, Bailey posted to Instagram expressing how “grateful” she was to be honored with Glamour‘s “Game-changer” award.

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A post shared by Halle Bailey (@hallebailey)

“I’m so grateful that I was honored with the Glamour Woman of the Year Gen Z Game-Changer award,” said Bailey. “This is such a special honor to me and feels oh so amazing to be recognized for the work that I have put in all the years of my career. Being a young woman in the spotlight is definitely not for the weak.. but because of God, my loved ones and mentors, I am able to face the world every day with my head held high.”

Without or without a baby on the way, the “Angel” songstress is busy. The release of her new film, the 2023 musical adaption of The Color Purple, will hit theaters on Christmas.

Digital ID’s, digital IDs, Georgia, TSA precheck, TSA pre check

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 19, 2023

Georgia Digital IDs Now Available For Android Users At TSA Precheck

Android phone users can now use their Georgia Digital IDs at the airport. The new rollout will be available to those with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) PreCheck when going through security, especially Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport, according to WSB-TV.

This update comes after iPhone users were given this same opportunity in May, according to WSB-TV. Now that users of both devices have the digital ID, travelers can use their phones at PreCheck to present their identification and, one hopes, speed up the security process.

This news comes is a big deal for Georgians given the long lines frequent the airport known previously as the world’s busiest.

“Across the state, Georgians expressed overwhelming excitement over the initial rollout of this new option, and today’s announcement is another exciting step forward in Georgia’s mission to provide cutting-edge technology to its citizens,” Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said. “We look forward to the continued rollout of this program and its growth in the days and years ahead.”

Before the newest Android expansion, Kemp detailed how the “No. 1 state for business” was setting new trends to evolve longstanding processes. Applicable users can add their mobile IDs to their digital wallets by registering with the DDS. Once confirmed, their phones can be used to verify their identities while going through TSA.

However, as this technological update continues its rollout nationwide, the government agency is still encouraging travelers to carry their physical ID at all times for extra precaution.

More airports across the country are adopting the use of digital IDs for security checkpoints as mobile driver’s licenses become widely available to all. Arizona, Colorado, and Maryland are also part of this latest initiative, with California and Iowa having their own state-wide apps for residents to use as well.

Tyga, Blac Chyna, son, custody, father, mother

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 19, 2023

Blac Chyna Files For Joint Custody; Tyga Countersues: ‘Stick To Your Schedule’

Blac Chyna recently filed for joint custody of her and Tyga’s 11-year-old son, King. But the “Rack City” rapper is seeking legal and physical custody of King, with Chyna only receiving visitation.

Tyga, real name Michael Stevenson, filed legal documents on October 13 requesting legal and physical custody of his son, E! News reports. He wants to allow Chyna visitation rights where she would spend time with King every Friday after school to Sunday at 5 p.m.

Tyga wants to follow “the parties’ mutual agreement on holidays,” the filing states. It comes after Chyna—real name Angela White—filed for joint custody in August and requested child support from the rapper. Currently, King primarily lives with his father.

Chyna responded to Tyga’s recent filing, claiming to be “shocked” by his attempt for sole legal and physical custody of their son.

“I have always respected him as King’s father and know that we both love him very much and want nothing but the best for him,” she told E! News in a statement.

“I never imagined that Michael would want to alienate me or distance me from King and strategically push me out of his life.”

According to Chyna, she’s blindsided by Tyga’s filing and believes it harms their son more than helps him.

“I do not know where all of this is coming from. It’s all very sad and definitely not what is best for King,” she continued.

“In a perfect world, Michael and I would be supportive, loving co-parents equally involved in King’s life.”

Chyna —who also shares daughter Dream, 6, with ex-Rob Kardashian—has said she only communicates with Tyga through nannies. When news of Chyna’s request for joint custody hit the press over the summer, Tyga left a comment in The Shade Room’s comments telling his ex, “10 years later…nah…stick to ur schedule sat-mon.”

The legal battle comes as Chyna attempts to rebuild her image. She has shared her journey to dissolve her fillers, remove her BBL, and return to using her real name in an attempt to clean up her brand.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 19, 2023

Jussie Smollett Checks Into Rehab After ‘An Extremely Difficult Past Few Years’

Actor Jussie Smollett is receiving outpatient rehab treatment to combat the “extremely difficult” personal battle he’s been having in recent years.

A rep for the Empire star confirmed that he has been receiving help through a rehab facility, TMZ reports.

“Jussie has had an extremely difficult past few years,” the rep said. “He has quietly been working very hard for some time now and we are proud of him for taking these necessary steps.”

News of his outpatient treatment comes amid his ongoing appeal in his 2019 Chicago hate crime hoax. Smollett, 40, filled headlines at the time when he was charged for allegedly paying two brothers, Abel and Ola Osundairo, $3,500 to help stage a homophobic and racist attack against him in January 2019.

In May 2022, the actor was sentenced to 150 days in jail and 30 months of felony probation after he was found guilty of five counts of disorderly conduct. In addition to the jail time and probation, the B-Boy Blues director was also ordered to pay over $120,000 in restitution to the City of Chicago and was fined $25,000, NY Daily News reports.

“There’s a side of you that has this arrogance, and selfishness and narcissism that’s just disgraceful,” Cook County Judge James Linn said while sentencing the actor.

“You’re not a victim of a racial hate crime, you’re not a victim of a homophobic hate crime. You’re just a charlatan pretending to be a victim of a hate crime, and that’s shameful.”

The Cook County state’s attorney’s office initially dropped the charges months after the alleged attack, via Chicago-Sun Times. But a new indictment was later brought against him by Special Prosecutor Dan Webb that eventually led to a Cook County jury finding Smollett guilty in December 2021 of lying to police.

Smollett appeared in Chicago’s First District Appellate Court last month to argue that backlash over the high-profile celebrity case resulted in properly dismissed charges being improperly restored.

A'Ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces, WNBA finals, championship, win, titles, back to back, historic win

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 19, 2023

Las Vegas Aces First Team To Win Back-To-Back WNBA Championships In 2 Decades

The WNBA has a back-to-back championship team for the first time in over 20 years after the Las Vegas Aces narrowly defeated the New York Liberty, 70-69, on Oct. 18, at Madison Square Garden.

The Aces won the championship series 3 games to 1, becoming the first team since the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001 and 2002 to win consecutive titles. The Houston Comets also won four straight titles from 1997 to 2000, the WNBA’s first four years of existence.

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The Las Vegas Aces are your 2023 @WNBA Champions!#RaiseTheStakes pic.twitter.com/jobnzWovzM

— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) October 19, 2023

The Aces secured the victory without two of their starters, Chelsea Gray and Kiah Stokes, who suffered foot injuries in the previous game. A’Ja Wilson, who was voted the Finals MVP, scored 24 points and snatched 16 rebounds. The superstar and University of South Carolina alumnus finished third in the regular-season MVP balloting.

“It’s not easy, as you know,” Wilson said. “This is what it’s all about. Not a lot of people get to do it. To be short-handed and win is amazing. It makes the win that much better. It’s hard to get back to the Finals to win again.”

“We’ve been facing adversity all season, playing without different player,” said Alysha Clark, who started for the Aces Wednesday. “We have some professional fighters. To weather the storm of everything we went through, to show up every single day. To be in this moment right now and do it together, it speaks volumes about us, our chemistry.”

Sadly, the Liberty weren’t able to become the first team to be down 0-2 in the Finals and win the championship. Every team that has fallen behind two games in the Finals has lost the best-of-five series nine times with a 2-10 all-time record.

by Daniel Johnson

October 19, 2023

Medical Groups Nic Support Of ‘Excited Delirium’ Which Was Used To Justify Excessive Force

On Oct. 12, a leading group of doctors formally retracted its approval of a 2009 academic paper discussing the concept of “excited delirium,” which has been used to defend police officers who employ excessive force. According to the Associated Press, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) released a statement condemning the concept as outdated. It stated that it should not be used by any of its members who are called to testify in court.

Dr. Brooks Walsh, who was one of the members who pushed the organization to make a principled stand, told the AP, “This means if someone dies while being restrained in custody … people can’t point to excited delirium as the reason and can’t point to ACEP’s endorsement of the concept to bolster their case.”

This follows the National Association of Medical Examiners’ rejection of the term in March, saying it should not be used when listing a cause of death. The term excited delirium has been receiving backlash in the medical community over its racist undertones before the groups came out this year and rejected the term outright. The emergency physicians’ 2009 report listed the symptoms of excited delirium as unusual strength, pain tolerance, and bizarre behavior.

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) produced a report on the term in 2022 that linked it with deaths in police custody. The report noted, “many people, disproportionately people of color, whose deaths at the hands of police have been attributed to “excited delirium” rather than to the conduct of law enforcement officers.” The report also mentions that as recently as 2020, during the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, it was used to defend the officer who murdered George Floyd.

The concept was also used to argue that Elijah McClain, Natasha McKenna, Daniel Prude, and Manuel Ellis—all of whom died at the hands of police—suffered from the alleged condition. In Prude’s case, the New York District Attorney’s office used the paper to investigate Prude’s death, which ended in a grand jury declining to pursue charges against officers.

Joanna Naples-Mitchell, a research advisor and attorney for PHR and a member of ACEP, told ABC News, “This is why we pushed to put out a stronger statement explicitly disavowing that paper. It’s a chance for ACEP to really break with the past.”

by Stacy Jackson

October 19, 2023

South Carolina Senior Crowned High School’s First Black Homecoming Queen

Amber Wilsondebriano is celebrating a historic senior year at her South Carolina high school.

The graduating senior became the first Black homecoming queen in Porter-Gaud High School’s 155 years.

“When I was nominated, I didn’t feel confident I would win,” Wilsondebriano said, according to USA Today. “However, throughout the week, many students told me they were voting for me. When the day came and my name was called, I was relieved and honored because I knew I was a part of history. I was elated the whole night. My peers made me feel special for the day.”

The historic crowning celebrates the teen’s exceptional contributions to her campus. The 17-year-old is a stellar student at Porter-Gaud who boasts a 4.66 GPA and several leadership roles. Porter-Gaud’s 2023 homecoming queen is a founding member of its Black Excellence Society, a club Wilsondebriano pitched to the school with five of her friends. Having less than 10 Black people in her senior class, she recognized the need to diversify the school and curate a safe space for Black students.

On Sept. 13, Wilsondebriano was present during the celebration of Porter-Gaud’s second annual breakfast dedicated to HBCU Week.

“I think opening this up to all people allows Black kids to feel less isolated,” she told WCSC about the event, which the Black Excellence Society initiated.

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A post shared by Porter-Gaud School (@portergaud)

She is also dedicated as co-leader of the Chinese and Art Club.

“I’m so happy to have been chosen as homecoming queen for my character and achievements, not because of my race,” she said.

The aspiring entrepreneur, illustrator, and children’s book author plans to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design next fall as a painting major.

Wilsondebriano’s mother, Monique Wilsondebriano, can attest to her daughter’s talents and good character.

“She has taught herself how to paint,” Monique said. “It’s not surprising to me that the kids voted for her to become queen. She is a good friend and is very loyal.”

South Carolina became home for the Wilsondebriano’ after the teen’s father was injured due to the 9/11 attacks. The family launched their business, Charleston Gourmet Burger Co., and expanded its products to major retailers and supermarkets, including Macy’s, Whole Foods, and Walmart.

SNAP, food stamps, Georgia, families, delays, delay

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 19, 2023

Georgia Families In Food Crisis Over Delayed SNAP Benefits

Since 2022, thousands of Georgia residents have faced delays in receiving their SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, with tens of thousands not getting them on time, 11Alive reports.

The Georgia Department of Human Services has grappled with a backlog issue for a year.

Many Georgians, such as Koren Gibbs, have encountered issues with their SNAP benefits. Although “approved,” the mother of a 4-month-old son has not yet gotten access to food stamps. In her case, as with others, calling a caseworker is futile, as state employees are bombarded with claims due to a staffing shortage.

Gibbs said she had to consider going to a food pantry because of the delay. She called to verify her benefits before shopping and confirmed that the claim still hadn’t been fully processed.

“I’m so glad I called before I went to the store because I would have had a cartful of food and no way to pay for it,” Gibbs said.

The delay in SNAP benefits has affected families across Georgia as they struggle to cope with not having access to food. Some have shared their stories, highlighting the hardship they face and the inadequate response from the authorities.

“For the past two weeks, I’ve had to wake up to ‘Mommy, I’m hungry.’ Or ‘Mommy, we don’t have any food,'” said one parent to 11Alive. Others faced challenges reaching caseworkers or supervisors who could assist.

11Alive has been investigating the issue for a year. As of October 16, more than 119,000 SNAP renewals are pending and 36,915 have exceeded the 30-day processing requirement imposed by federal law.

A spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Human Services explained that SNAP benefit renewals are being processed as quickly as possible, starting from the oldest renewal. The department has attempted to better manage the delays by offering overtime to current case specialists and hiring new employees.

“We are also offering stipends to incentivize field leadership staff to carry a caseload,” the spokesperson said. “Since January, we have hired 923 new Economic Support Specialist 1 workers–and secured millions in new funding through legislative advocacy to make that possible.”

However, a caseworker spoke anonymously and expressed concerns about staff turnover, the increased volume of new applications, and the backlog. Although there was some improvement in staffing and caseloads over the summer, the caseloads now appear to be back at similar levels.

Delays in SNAP benefits can have far-reaching consequences, affecting child welfare and parental stress, noted Melissa Carter, executive director of the Barton Child Law and Policy Center at Emory Law School. Families face difficulty covering essential expenses, and children’s needs often go unmet.

“We know that when those benefits are interrupted or when they’re delayed and certainly when there are extended delays to accessing those benefits, the parents are having to make choices about paying other bills or securing food for children,” Carter told 11Alive . “Tradeoffs like accessing timely and adequate health care, for example, or paying rent, and those issues of healthcare, of housing instability are also issues of basic needs of children and also give rise to concerns and reports about neglect.”