by Mary Spiller

July 27, 2024

Trader Joe’s Brings Its Goodies To New Harlem Store

The store said it is looking to hire more Harlem residents.

Trader Joe’s has opened its first store ever in Harlem, New York. On July 25, the store at 123 West 125th St. started serving the historic neighborhood.

Harlem, long considered New York City’s Black mecca, has seen a demographic shift over the last decade. In 2022, according to New York University’s Furman Center, there were an estimated 138,953 people in Central Harlem, of which 45.8% identified as Black, 28.2% identified as Hispanic, and 14.4% identified as white.

The brick-and-mortar store is a 17,800-square-foot building selling all of the favorite Trader Joe’s products that customers have come to know and love. The decor for the building features local landmarks in the greater Harlem community, such as the iconic Apollo Theater and the well-known strip of 125th Street.

According to a spokesperson via PIX II, the new location of the Trader Joe’s chain is seeking to hire around 100 new crew members from the area and offers a plethora of different employee benefits.

Its website reads, “We [Trader Joe’s] pay well. To keep the Crew developing and incentivize exceptional performance, we provide a performance review for each Crew twice a year. On average, Crew has the potential to receive a 7% annual increase.”

In addition to competitive pay, the company also offers a 401(k) retirement plan to invest in the future of its employees. Worker benefits also include “exceptional medical, dental, and vision plans” and accessible paid time off.

Not only does Harlem Trader Joe’s offer leadership training, scholarship programs, disaster recovery, and employee assistance programs to its employees, but the food donation program has also been able to donate over 104 million pounds of food to those in need.

A spokesperson for the Harlem location of Trader Joe’s said, “We’re honored and excited to be part of this community. We genuinely look forward to providing our customers with the best food and beverage values and a great customer experience.”

The company intends to back up its values by donating 100% of its unsold products to local profits and community-based organizations in the area. Through all of its locations, the company has donated more than $469 million worth of products to its extensive network of non-profit partners in the United States. The spokesperson said the Harlem site will continue the company’s tradition of donations to the community.

The Harlem Trader Joe’s is open daily from 8 A.M. to 9 P.M.

by Daniel Johnson

July 27, 2024

VP Harris Erases Trump’s Gain With Black Voters In New Polls

Many Black Trump voters have jumped to Harris, according to new polls.

Whatever gains former President Donald Trump has made with Black voters appears to have been erased in the aftermath of Vice President Kamala Harris announcing her run for the Oval Office, found newly released polls from several sources.

According to Newsweek, a CNN poll of 1,631 registered voters from July 22 to July 23 indicated that Black voters who may have soured on President Joe Biden are more energized by Harris’s campaign. A whopping 78% of Black voters indicated their support for Harris, and 15% indicated support for Trump, down from previous CNN polls that saw him capture 23% of support of Black voters.

Meanwhile, an ActiVote survey conducted between July 21 and July 23 showed an even bigger margin of support for Harris. In that poll, she captured 90% of the support from Black Americans compared to just 10% for Trump.

The Trump campaign, meanwhile, is trying to paint these early returns as the “Harris honeymoon.” According to a memo issued by the campaign’s pollster, Tony Fabrizio, “The honeymoon will be a manifestation of the wall-to-wall coverage Harris receives from the MSM.” Fabrizio admitted that the coverage would be “largely positive” and “energize Democrats” before the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 19.

Fabrizio continued in the memo, “Before long, Harris’ ‘honeymoon’ will end and voters will refocus on her role as Biden’s partner and co-pilot. The Democrats deposing one Nominee for another does NOT change voters discontent over the economy, inflation, crime, the open border, housing costs not to mention concern over two foreign wars.”

According to a New York Times/Siena College poll, Harris and Trump are effectively tied. However, the Times’s Chief Political Analyst Nate Cohn argued in his discussion of Harris’s chances at winning the White House that including a third-party candidate like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could help Harris overtake Trump’s razor-thin lead in the general election.

Summer Nesbitt, a 27-year-old Black school tutor from the Detroit-area, and a Harris supporter, told the New York Times that while Harris’s run is historic, she believes the Vice President is better served being herself than trying to sell the public what she thinks it wants.

“Her being president or even being in the running is very important just for history,” Nesbitt said before continuing, “I don’t think that you have to try to pretend to be more down or be more Black just so you can get the Black vote. Just be yourself.”

The Democratic Party has largely been coalesced by Harris’s campaign announcement, reflected by nearly 80% of Democrats or Democratic-leaning voters indicating that they would want Harris as the party nominee. This feeling was encapsulated by Michael Newman, a 59-year-old contractor living in Arlington, Texas, who is supporting Vice President Harris. “It would be a larger setback for the Democrats if they try to find someone else to try to fill in. She has a pretty good insight on the goals that Biden was working on,” Newman told the outlet.

Michael Kearney Jr., a 41-year-old community activist from Charleston, South Carolina, perhaps has the quote that most directly addresses the concerns of Black voters about a Kamala Harris campaign as Kearney told the Times, “My fears or any concerns I have are not about her ability to campaign,” before adding that his concerns were “not about her ability to raise money, not about her ability to handle Donald Trump in a debate. My concerns are with white people.”

by Shanique Yates

July 27, 2024

Netflix’s Co-Founder Donates $7M To Kamala Harris’ Campaign

Hastings previously expressed concern about the Democratic Party following the first presidential debate in June.

The rush of support for Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign continues. One of the most recent donations comes from Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings. Hastings donated $7 million to Harris’ campaign.

It has been a little under a week since President Joe Biden announced that he was stepping out of the upcoming November election, and the support for his Madame Vice President, as she looks ahead to joining the presidential race, continues to roll in.

Hastings, who is also Netflix’s executive chairman, previously expressed concern about the Democratic Party following the first presidential debate in June. “After the depressing debate, we are in the game again,” said Hastings at the time. He was also among the notable Hollywood big names calling for Biden to depart from the 2024 Presidential Election.

“Congrats to Kamala Harris – now it’s time to win,” said Hastings in a post on X on July 22.

Support for Harris’ campaign continues to roll in from all fronts. From Beyoncé to former Democratic presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, people continue to chime in to endorse her as she looks ahead to becoming the Democratic nominee for the November election.

“We called to say Michelle and I couldn’t be prouder to endorse you and to do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office,” former President Obama told Harris in a phone call posted in an online video on Friday (July 26) by her campaign.

It means so much to have your endorsements, @MichelleObama and @BarackObama.

Let’s get to work. pic.twitter.com/rAuTyIlCai
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 26, 2024

“I am proud of you,” former first lady Michelle Obama added. “This is going to be historic.”

It is also important to note that in less than 24 hours of Biden’s exit from the race, Harris’ nascent campaign fundraised a record-breaking $81 million. Earlier this week, the Washington Post revealed that Harris smashed more records with a whopping $250 million raised for her campaign in just two days.

As the nation’s first Black woman and Asian American vice president, Harris would make history yet again if she were elected into office in the upcoming November election.

The official nominee will be announced during the Democratic National Convention, set to take place in Chicago from Aug. 19 to Aug. 22.

by Sharelle Burt

July 27, 2024

WNBA Star Angel Reese Takes Her Shot With Women-Owned 3-On-3 Basketball League For A Game-Changing Off Season

Reese will be playing in the Unrivaled women’s basketball league, founded by fellow WNBA pros Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart.

WNBA All-Star Angel Reese will be keeping busy during the off season by playing in the Unrivaled three-on-three women’s basketball league.

WNBA pros Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart co-founded the league. Reese announced her participation officially on Instagram with a post dubbed “305 Barbie,” as the tip-off will occur in Miami in January 2025.

The league has promised “historic contract opportunities, offering the highest average salary in women’s professional sports history.” With the support of other women’s sports leaders like soccer greats Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan, Stewart says the new league will prioritize the needs of their stars. “For years, women have relied heavily on off-court sponsorships for a majority of their income,” Stewart said in a statement, the Daily Mail reports.

“With Unrivaled, we’re revolutionizing the game by prioritizing investments in our stars and ensuring their on-court performance is reflected in their pay.”

The impressive roster includes 30 of the professional league’s rising stars, including Chelsea Gray, Jewell Loyd, Rhyne Howard, Kahleah Copper, and Jackie Young. Collier said since the WNBA’s popularity has increased, Reese’s presence will surely bring new opportunities for the Chicago Sky forward and others. “With the growing popularity of women’s basketball and the WNBA, this is an opportunity for us to extend our visibility into the traditional basketball season,” Collier said.

Reese has become a household name since she helped lead LSU to a national title during the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Reese has starred in hip-hop music videos and secured massive NIL deals from leading brands, including Mercedes-Benz, Mielle Hair Products, and Goldman Sachs.

After becoming the No. 7 draft pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, the Bayou Barbie has had an impressive rookie season, according to Bleacher Report, averaging 13.5 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game. She also set the league record with double-doubles in 15 straight games and assisted her team in potential placement.

Basketball fans will see more of Reese after the 3-on-3 season ends. The WNBA recently secured a massive $2.2 billion media rights deal with the Walt Disney Company, which owns ABC and ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, and NBC Universal. The agreement starts in 2026 and, if successful, could be extended further.

RELATED CONTENT: Angel Reese Named WNBA Player Of The Week

DNC, Black-owned, Kamala Harris, Chicago

by Sharelle Burt

July 27, 2024

Atlanta Will Host Kamala Harris’ First Campaign Stop After Becoming Presumptive Democratic Nominee

ATL...you ready for the VP?

Vice President Kamala Harris will make Atlanta her first campaign visit since becoming the Democratic Party’s presumptive presidential nominee.

Harris is scheduled to visit the Georgia state capital on July 30 as her first official campaign appearance since being endorsed by President Joe Biden following his decision to end his reelection campaign. While there are very few details surrounding where she will be speaking, the vice president will be welcomed with open arms as she has made several trips to the Peach State this year.

However, this will be her first visit as a candidate for President of the United States.

Harris has hit the ground running since her campaign announcement on July 22, making numerous appearances across state lines. She spoke to a large crowd of supporters in Milwaukee just days later and then talked to Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. members during its convention in Indianapolis.

After being in the Midwest, Harris traveled to Houston to make remarks at the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Convention.

Her traveling seems to be paying off. According to The Hill, a poll by The New York Times and Siena College revealed Harris and her GOP opponent, Donald Trump, are close to being tied amongst voters. In a one-on-one match-up, the former President leads the VP by just one point at 48% to Harris’ 47%.

The new poll numbers are a promising sign to Democratic voters who are excited about the party’s new direction. Black Voters Matter, based in Atlanta, says it has watched a shift in the energy embedded in the race, especially amongst young voters. In the past, a host of younger voters were not too enthusiastic about voting for Biden again in November 2024, but now, they are ready to get more involved. “I tell you, the chat group for our college organizers has been lit,” Black Voters Matter co-founder Cliff Albright said.

“You’ve got new people looking to vote and knock on doors.”

The state of Georgia held the turning key that helped Biden secure the White House in 2020. As one of eight battleground states determining the election’s outcome, even bi-partisan voters feel rejuvenated. “Being an independent voter, I don’t normally give to a particular party,” voter Brian Weaver said.

“This was the first time I’ve actually donated to a particular party, and I did so the day after Biden dropped out.”

Poll results also found an increase in registered voters after Biden dropped out. Between July 22 and July 24 and 1,142 registered voters across the country, the margin of sampling error stopped at 3.3%.

JAY-Z, Alicia Keys, Empire State of Mind

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 27, 2024

Jay-Z And Alicia Keys’ Ode To New York City, ‘Empire State of Mind’ Certified Diamond

The record sold more than 10 million units.

A milestone has been reached by Brooklyn-bred rapper Jay-Z and Manhattan native songstress Alicia Keys for their ode to New York, “Empire State of Mind.”

According to Billboard, the New York-centric song recorded by the artists who grew up in the “Big Apple” has reached diamond status (meaning the record sold more than 10 million units). The record made the achievement on July 24 as certified by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America). This is JAY-Z’s second diamond certification and Keys’ first entry into the club. Originally released in October 2009, the song was the third single from the rapper’s “The Blueprint 3” album.

Keys reposted the news from the Roc Nation X page and wrote, “Empire is diamond!!!!!!!!”

Empire is diamond!!!!!!!!💎 💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎 https://t.co/Fkh1kWGJnU

— Alicia Keys (@aliciakeys) July 24, 2024

“Empire Stated of Mind” was a No. 1 record on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed on top for five weeks. The song also hit the top spot on several other charts, including the Rhythmic Airplay, Hot Rap Songs, and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.

Jay-Z received his first diamond single a little over a year ago on June 12, 2023, with Kanye West for their song, “N**gas in Paris,” off the joint album “Watch the Throne.”

There’s a chance that Keys will have her second entry into the diamond club as her song, “No One,” off her 2007 album, “As I Am,” passed the nine million mark last year on Feb. 14, 2023.

Speaking of diamonds, it was reported earlier this year that Jay-Z’s Marcy Venture Partners (MVP) was close to finalizing a billion-dollar merger with the investment arm of Pendulum Holdings. Bloomberg reported that the two investment companies were in advanced talks to collaborate on a deal combining more than $1 billion in assets.

Marcy Ventures launched in 2018 when Jay-Z co-founded the San Francisco and Los Angeles-based company with former Roc Nation CEO Jay Brown and former Walden VC General Partner Larry Marcus. The investment firm was named after Brooklyn’s Marcy Projects, where he grew up.

will smith, I am legend, sequel, Michael B. Jordan, Saudi Arabia, fim, cinema, movie

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 27, 2024

The Fresh Prince Is About To ‘Get ‘Jiggy Wit It’ Again: Will Smith Signs New Record Deal

This news comes after he performed his latest song, 'You Can Make It,' at the BET Awards.

A month after The Fresh Prince performed at the BET Awards, there was news that the rapping actor signed a new recording deal.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Will Smith, who started his career as a rapper, signed with a new record label, SLANG. SLANG, a label started by veteran music executive Rene McLean. This news comes after Smith performed his latest song, “You Can Make It,” at the BET Awards on June 30. He did the song with the Sunday Service Choir, Kirk Franklin, and Fridayy.

The upcoming project will be his first one in almost 20 years since he released “Lost and Found” in 2005. He started his hip-hop career in Philadelphia with his DJ, Jazzy Jeff, after releasing the song “Girls Ain’t Nothing But Trouble” (which sampled the theme song from the Barbara Eden/Larry Hagman-led sitcom “I Dream of Jeannie”) in 1986 before debuting their first album, “Rock the House” in 1987.

Smith, as The Fresh Prince, was the first rapper ever to be awarded a Grammy in 1989.

McLean, also a partner and founding advisor of music and entertainment company Influence Media Partners, released a written statement about the new record label.

“I’m proud to lead SLANG’s efforts to partner with quality artists and invest in their growth, regardless of genre or where they are in their respective careers. In a quickly changing music industry, SLANG artists will be surrounded by a team of like-minded strategists who will stop at nothing to further their trajectory and help them meet their goals. Our commitment to culture comes first, and we consider our SLANG roster family,” McLean said.

Smith is coming off a successful release of his latest film, the third sequel to the “Bad Boys” series. The film Bad Boys: Ride or Die was released on June 7 and has grossed $151 million at the domestic box office. Smith also recorded a song for the soundtrack to the movie with Sean Paul, “Light Em Up.

Keke Palmer, webby, awards, Tyler Perry,

by Stacy Jackson

July 26, 2024

Keke Palmer Thanks Tyler Perry For Sliding Her Extra Money Early In Her Career

The actress is grateful for the 'Madea's Family Reunion' creator giving her extra money to support her family.

During the July 23 episode of Keke Palmer’s Baby, This is Keke Palmer podcast, the 30-year-old actress directly expressed her gratitude to her guest, filmmaker Tyler Perry, who helped her during a tough time.

Palmer began her career as child actress, and Madea’s Family Reunion was a great experience for her—in more ways than one.

“I thank you so much for this,” she said. “Whatever the movie did, you gave me extra money in the backend, and that’s big. I really wanted to point that out because that’s not something that people are always doing, and that was very early on in my career. I was no big name or anything like that. It was not necessarily something that was my birthright, but for that to happen in that movie and for it to have been such a success — that extra money, what it did for my family and how it allowed me to maintain my time in California, moving from Chicago.

“I mean, we had nothing, and for you to do that was just really amazing, so I just wanted to mention that ‘cause I never forgot that.”

In 2006, Madea’s Family Reunion topped the box office during its debut weekend, raking in approximately $30.25 million, according to The Associated Press. Palmer played the role of Nikki, a rebellious runaway Madea’s character is court-ordered to look after. Box Office Mojo reported that the film grossed over $63 million. The comedy/drama had a $6 million budget.

Money is no object for Palmer these days. The multimedia talent just started producing some of her own projects. She has launched her own digital television network, KeyTV. Just like Perry, she stars in and produces content for her viewers. In a poignant moment, Palmer is now signing the checks and supporting upcoming actors and singers in the industry.

Young Thug, RICO Case, young thug, recuse, motion, Glanville, Jeffrey Williams, Steel

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 26, 2024

Young Thug’s Attorney Requests Bond Release From New Judge

Lawyers for the artist say that Thug has been 'languishing in the county jail' under conditions that have been 'tortuous.'

With the new judge in the Young Thug RICO case now settled in, the defendants’ attorneys have filed various motions, including a request by Young Thug’s attorney for the Atlanta rapper’s release on bond.

According to Billboard, Thug’s attorney Brian Steel requested the motion on July 23 from Judge Paige Reese Whitaker. After various dealings and several denied requests from the previous judge, Judge Ural Glanville, on various matters, Steel stated that his client has been forced to “languish” in jail for years without being convicted of a crime.

“The most fundamental premise of our criminal justice system is that the criminally accused cannot be punished for an offense until the prosecution proves guilt beyond a reasonable doubt,” he states in his latest filing. “In our society, liberty is the norm.”

Steel also asked if the artist could be released under strict conditions that include electronic monitoring, hiring of off-duty police officers for security, subjecting all communications to monitoring, and requiring anyone who enters his home to be searched by law enforcement.

“This will prevent any possibility to intimidate a witness or otherwise obstruct the administration of justice,” Steel wrote. “With these parameters in mind, it cannot be said that Mr. Williams would be a threat or a danger to the community or any person or property in the community.”

He mentioned that Thug has been “languishing in the county jail” under conditions that have been “tortuous.” The YSL boss is under isolation daily for 22 hours, while he is given “inedible food” and has to deal with an “ant-infested room” where he can’t see out the windows.

“Ordering Mr. Williams to wear an ankle monitor and to be in ‘total lockdown’ in his home is the equivalent to custody and confinement and has been deemed lawful confinement without the punishment imposed by the current county jail conditions wrongly imposed on Mr. Williams,” Steel wrote in the motion.

The jury is slated to return to court the week of Aug. 5.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 26, 2024

Gas Station Employee Arrested After Allegedly Stealing Winning $1M Lottery Scratch-Off Ticket

Meet Patel is being held on a charge of theft over $250,000

In Tennessee, an employee at a gas station has been accused of stealing a winning $1 million scratch-off lottery ticket from a customer and then trying to collect the cash prize.

According to CNN, Meet Patel was arrested after being asked to check two scratch-off tickets and after finding out that both were winners, he kept the one with the $1 million winning. The unidentified winner had no idea he had won the large prize until detectives contacted him to inform him of the employee’s theft. Patel is being held on a charge of theft over $250,000 at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center.

The incident took place at a Shell gas station in Murfreesboro on July 13. The customer scratched off the front of one of the tickets and asked Patel to scan both tickets to see if he had won. One ticket revealed a prize of $40, while the other showed a winning jackpot of $1 million. A surveillance video obtained by investigators of the Tennessee Lottery reveals Patel scanning the tickets but he threw the winning ticket in the garbage.

“If you scratch off the front bar code, it will tell you if it’s a winner or not, regardless of whether you scratch off everything showing how much you won,” Lt. Detective Steve Craig told News Channel 5.

Patel paid out the $40 winning ticket and left the bigger prize ticket on top of the trash. The video shows him retrieving the $1 million winner and placing the ticket in his pocket.

“Mr. Patel is then seen later in the video celebrating in the store after scratching off the front of the ticket and learning it was a $1 million winner,” Det. Dennis Ward said in a news release.

Patel tried to claim the cash prize when he went to the lottery commission. Lottery officials typically check security video where the tickets are purchased and that is when they saw what Patel had done.

“He went to the lottery commission to claim the ticket as his own, but there were red flags and they held onto the ticket,” Lt. Detective Steve Craig said.

Stealing a million-dollar ticket is a Class A felony and a bond was set at $100,000, and Patel is scheduled for a hearing on July 30.