by Sharelle Burt

November 12, 2024

New Data Highlight Why Companies Should Stay Remote Rather Than Return To The Office

Are you team remote or pro-office?

As some companies start mandating employees to return back to the office five days a week, new data shows why flexibility may be a better option, Fast Company reported.

Top industry leaders issued concerns about why their company has pushed the back-to-office mandate. Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase feels that remote workplaces have limitations on spontaneous ideas, along with making it challenging to manage a team. An Amazon executive mentioned in-person work projects more seamless learning and teaching after Amazon’s return-to-office announcement. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt went a step further to claim that remote work was the reason behind the company’s AI development.

Other companies see it differently. An internal analysis from Pinterest, a pinboard social media platform, revealed that flexibility is the name of the game. In 2023, the company’s flexible work policy resulted in a boost in productivity, garnered heightened collaborative efforts, and an overall enhancement of well-being. Their approach also attracted a new generation of a diverse talent pool. “So while some leaders insist that remote work is stifling innovation, collaboration, and productivity, hard evidence shows the opposite,” Doniel Sutton, Pinterest’s Chief People Officer, said.

A study from Stanford University found flexibility within remote work can boost productivity by 13%. The data was backed up by reports from Global Workplace Analytics, showing reports that over two-thirds of companies saw increased productivity from remote workers.

Data from Scoop also found remote work companies outperform in-office companies by an average of 16%. Leading business management consulting firm McKinsey & Company listed flexibility as one of the top three motivators behind potential employee job search.

Following the slowdown of the COVID-19 pandemic, corporations struggled to find ways to incorporate a hybrid transition, especially tech companies. Salesforce mandated employees to come back to the office at least four days a week, while other tech giants like Apple used the excuse of a beautiful empty office in Cupertino as the reason for back-to-the-office policies, according to The Verge.

It was announced in early November 2024 that the team at The Washington Post will be sentenced back to the office starting in June 2025. In a memo from chief executive William Lewis, he claims the team is “really good when we are working together in person.” As the new policy resonates the same as Amazon, as the post is owned by creator Jeff Bezos, the change was met with instant pushback.

The Washington Post Guild, an employee union, labeled the policy as “inflexible and outdated.” “Guild leadership sees this for what it is: a change that stands to further disrupt our work rather than to improve our productivity or collaboration,” the group said in a statement. The move may add to the already existing turmoil at the publication after Bezos blocked an endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election cycle. The decision resulted in resignations from award-winning journalists and the termination of thousands of paid subscriptions.

by Kandiss Edwards

November 12, 2024

Snoop Dogg Leads Martha Stewart In The Art Of Negotiation

Snoop Dogg sets the tone for business - Martha Stewart follows.

Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg have been the ultimate odd couple for the last few years. Recently, Stewart spoke to People and revealed the “Drop It Like It’s Hot” rapper also advises her on business negotiations.

The Martha Stewart Living host praised Snoop’s business acumen and his positive personal attributes.

“He is curious, he is a great student, he is a phenomenal negotiator (he’s taught me a lot), he’s tough, and he is ultra sweet,” Stewart said.

She told the Wall Street Journal how Snoop often leads the way when it comes to negotiating terms for their joint business ventures.

“We do a lot of work together, and I wait for him to negotiate the contract, then I go and follow him.”

While Steward finds Snoop a valuable asset in business and friendship, Snoop spoke about their willingness to pass opportunities to one another. One example is Snoop’s Skechers partnership, which happened, in part, due to Stewart bypassing Snoop’s team and showing him the value of working with the brand.

“It’s been numerous calls where she would call me and be like, ‘Snoop, I was trying to get you to do a deal with Skechers, but your people was in the middle. They didn’t want to do it.’ I’m like, ‘For real?’ She’s like, ‘Yeah, you should fuck with them. Look at my shoes.'”

Similarly, The Dogfather reached out to Martha to pitch a wine venture with 19 Crimes.

“On the flip side of that, I got the 19 Crimes wine deal, red wine, we popping off. Boom, boom, boom. ‘Hey Martha, what’s happening? You ain’t got no wine deal. You want to come on over here and play with us?'”

The odd pair appear to have formed a genuine relationship. They were spotted at the 2024 Paris Olympics supporting American athletes and even took a little time to horseback ride.

Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart horse back ridding at the Olympics 🐎 pic.twitter.com/IQvRVE1Rhe
— DailyRapFacts (@DailyRapFacts) August 4, 2024

Snoop Dogg has come a long way since the early days of his rap career. The musician is a full-fledged businessman nearly 30 years after his rap debut.

BLACK ENTERPRISE reported on Snoop laying to rest a tumultuous time in his life and career when his criminal case for the murder of a 20-year-old gang member was sealed.

Snoop was charged with voluntary manslaughter in 1993. The charges loomed over his head until his 1996 acquittal. The record has been open to the public for the last 30 years, but Snoop will no longer have to worry about his legacy in posterity.

“With the record now sealed, it will be concealed from public access, and in most cases, the defendant will receive their fingerprints, booking photos, and DNA samples back, according to the New York State Unified Court System.”

misdiagnosed, diabetes, aca, affordable care act

by Sharelle Burt

November 12, 2024

Millions Of Americans Could Lose Medical Insurance As ACA Subsidies Expire In 2025

Great! What's next?

Millions of Americans may have to go without health insurance as the subsidies underwriting the costs through Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces are at risk with the Republican party hoping to gain control of Congress, CBS News reported.

If the GOP gets its wish, healthcare policy experts expect them to allow the enhanced ACA subsidies to expire at the end of 2025. The result would deprive people with ACA coverage, known as Obamacare, and others who receive these subsidies providing financial assistance. The subsidies passed under the Biden-Harris administration and will hang by a thread unless lawmakers – from both parties – renew them.

During President-elect Donald Trump’s first term in the White House, he supported efforts from GOP lawmakers to repeal the ACA, and there has been no rollout for the program during his new reign. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) mentioned a repeal during a campaign stop prior to Trump’s victory, saying, “The ACA is so deeply ingrained, we need massive reform to make this work, and we’ve got a lot of ideas on how to do that.”

Experts saw this coming from miles away. According to NBC News, investment firm Raymond James’ health policy research analyst and former senior Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) official during Trump’s first term, Chris Meekins, says the odds of renewal are slim, regardless of which party is in control of Congress. “If Republicans end up winning the House, in addition to the Senate and White House, having a GOP sweep, I think the odds are less than 5% they get extended,” Meekins said.

Since the subsidies went into effect in 2021, enrollment in ACA plans with reduced payments increased by double, with a spotlight on Southern red states. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, passed in 2022, subsidies were extended through 2025. Data from the nonpartisan health care policy research group KFF revealed that 15.5 million people receive subsidies in 32 states.

If Congress doesn’t extend, the Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan agency that gives budget and economic information to Congress, projects approximately four million people will lose their coverage by 2026 as they won’t be able to afford it. Enrollment will continue to decrease by the year, falling as low as 15.4 million people by 2030. Cynthia Cox, director of the program on the ACA at KFF, says Congress can extend the subsidies during the “lame-duck session,” a time when Congress meets following the election of the successor, but following the results of the 2024 election, it’s unlikely. “The election results make it much less likely. And what we’re looking at is significant increases in what people pay for their premiums,” Cox said.

“It’s going to average more than 75% increase. For some people, it will be more than double.”

Until the Trump-Vance administration makes an announcement on their subsidies decision, enhancements will remain in place through 2025. Health policy analyst at healthinsurance.org, Louise Norris, said, “If people are signing up now during open enrollment, their coverage will take effect in January, and it will cover them for the whole year.”

“Their premiums won’t change — they’re good for 2025,” she continued.

Providing permanent enhanced subsidies would cost $335 billion over 10 years.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 12, 2024

NYC Department Of Transportation Is Selling Official ‘Wu-Tang Clan District’ Street Signs

The limited edition street sign is a facsimile of the one located at the corner of Targee Street and Vanderbilt Avenue in Staten Island

Wu-Tang Clan enthusiasts and/or hip-hop fans can now get their hands on an official “Wu-Tang Clan District” street sign but will have to hurry up, as there are only 100 available for purchase.

The New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) announced that the latest collectible item that can be purchased will be street signs representing Staten Island’s hip-hop collective, the Wu-Tang Clan.

“The Wu-Tang Clan’s rhyme schemes and lyrical styles were influential in hip-hop history and gave voice to their New York City roots,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez in a written statement. “The Wu-Tang Clan is a legendary part of Staten Island’s North Shore, and now fans can own an authentic piece of our city to honor their legacy.”

The street that the limited edition street sign represents is located at the corner of Targee Street and Vanderbilt Avenue, near the Park Hill Apartments. “Wu-Tang Clan District” street signs can be bought online for $75, but it’s limited to just one per customer. Customers will have the choice between an authentic green sign and a custom black and yellow sign. There are only 100 available for sale, 50 green and 50 black and yellow signs.

This sale comes more than a month after NYC DOT sold a limited number of commemorative “Christopher ‘Notorious B.I.G.’ Wallace Way” street signs to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first album released on Bad Boy Records, The Notorious B.I.G.’s Ready to Die.

“Critically acclaimed and cultural juggernauts, the Wu-Tang Clan have been a global fixture in hip-hop for decades,” said NYC DCAS Commissioner Louis A. Molina. “Now is your chance to make them a fixture in your home, office, or favorite place with this exciting signage release. Bring home a piece of New York history today exclusively through our CityStore.”

The group released their first project, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), in 1993 with nine rappers, RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and Ol’ Dirty Bastard.

by Daniel Johnson

November 12, 2024

New Orleans Schools Face $36M Shortage From Accounting Issue

Schools in New Orleans Parish are facing a $36 million shortage in funding due to an accounting error

Schools in New Orleans Parish are facing a $36 million funding shortage due to an accounting error. Although the New Orleans Parish School Board is attempting to devise a plan to resolve $20 million of this debt, the remaining $16 million is currently unaccounted for.

According to WWLTV, the school board plans to vote on a plan to allocate up to $5 million of that debt during the week of Nov. 18.

In October, district officials told reporters that the figure they received in March, which was intended to help them budget for next year, “was likely inflated due to a miscalculation.”

However, the City of New Orleans has not yet given the district an updated number, so they are still working with unofficial numbers. The board and the city have been working in concert to confirm sales and property receipts. Some leaders, like Joe Keeney, a founder of 4th Sector Solutions, a financial consulting firm that works with 15 of the city’s charter schools, said that it won’t help them balance the budget.

“It will help with cash flow, but not with the underlying problem of balancing the budget,” Keeney told Nola.com.

Caroline Roemer, the President of the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools, said there will likely be some debate as to whether the schools will have to pay back the $15 million or not, and also said they didn’t know exactly how bad the discrepancy would be.

“What we knew was classrooms were going to be impacted, budgets were going to be impacted, but what we didn’t know was how bad it was going to be,” Roemer told the outlet.

According to Taslin Alfonzo, a spokesperson for NOLA-PS, the district was initially supposed to send schools reduced payments in October, but held off after school leaders informed the district that they needed time to adjust their budgets.

The Rooted School, a small charter high school with only 24 employees located in Pontchartrain Park, laid off four employees per United Teachers of New Orleans.

According to Nola.com, the school’s leadership indicated that the dismissal of the employees (its front office manager, director of curriculum and instruction, director of the school environment, and a custodian) is a move to help shield The Rooted School from any further financial repercussions related to the inflated tax revenue projections from the school district.

“While we regret that we are forced to take critical actions,” The Rooted School leaders said in a statement, “it is our responsibility to be stewards of our school’s resources, especially when they are limited by actions we did not take or foresee.”

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 12, 2024

23andMe Lays Off 40% Of Employees As Company Undergoes Restructuring

23andMe's CEO called the decision to lay off 200 employees "difficult but necessary."

23andMe has laid off 40% of its employees as the company undergoes restructuring. They have also discontinued the therapeutic development programs.

CNN confirmed the news of 23andMe’s latest shakeup, as the genetic testing firm has faced multiple internal disputes in the past year. Regarding its workforce reduction, which will total 200 employees, CEO Anne Wojcicki called the layoffs a “difficult but necessary” step to keep the company alive.

“We are taking these difficult but necessary actions as we restructure 23andMe and focus on the long-term success of our core consumer business and research partnerships,” explained Wojcicki.

For its therapeutic programs, Wojcicki confirmed that they are pursuing alternatives such as licensing agreements and asset sales. By eliminating hundreds of jobs and stripping the therapeutic programs, 23andMe expects to save around $35 million.

The company, once valued at $6 billion, experienced a severe drop in share prices following leadership struggles, a data breach in 2023, and merger issues. The suffering company faced another blow in September when its board of directors resigned. The board’s seven members quit after Wojcicki failed to offer a satisfactory plan to take the company private.

Moreover, due to last year’s data breach, the company may have to pay customers up to $10k for compromising their sensitive data. In September, they settled a class-action lawsuit brought against them for $30 million. The breach impacted nearly 7 million customers, with hackers potentially taking their birth years, ancestry reports, and raw genotypes.

Wojcicki co-founded the San Francisco-based company in 2006, which became famous for its at-home DNA testing kits. Despite its decline, she remains committed to restoring the company to financial stability. As of Nov. 12, 23andMe’s share price increased by 6% to $4.87. Additionally, Wojcicki continues her quest to replace the board members.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 12, 2024

T-Pain Honored In Hometown With Street Renamed ‘T-Pain Lane’

'Everything that went on today was just a dream come true,' the Tallahassee, Fla. native told fans at a concert

Tallahassee, Florida, native Faheem Najmm, who goes by the stage name T-Pain, was recently honored in his hometown, with the city naming a street after him.

The ceremony took place on Nov. 11, during which the recording artist was presented with a key to the city from the town’s mayor. A portion of Pasco Street was renamed “T-Pain Lane” to celebrate the success of the singing-producing songwriter. A sold-out concert also took place for thousands of people at Cascade Park.

Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey was there to acknowledge T-Pain and spoke about the significance of the honor for the “I’m Sprung” singer.

“He has had a tremendous impact on Tallahassee,” Dailey said. “He’s had a tremendous impact on the kids of Tallahassee, and he’s a great role model and a great example. I’m just proud to celebrate with him today.”

Today, I had the incredible honor of presenting @TPain with the Key to the City in recognition of his contributions to music and his ongoing commitment to this community. As a hometown hero, T-Pain has inspired countless fans and artists worldwide, and we’re proud to call him one… pic.twitter.com/WZ1fYCPgVZ

— Mayor John Dailey (@MayorOfTLH) November 10, 2024

According to The Tallahassee Democrat, the newly renamed street was on a road that T-Pain walked through as a child from Nims Middle School to the Walker Ford Community Center. His parents, Aliyah and Shaheed, were in attendance to witness the proud moment for their son.

“I’m extremely proud of my son at this moment because he’s worked so hard to become the gentleman and the person that he is today in the music industry,” Aliyah said. “He had some ups and downs, but he made it through. Now he’s being recognized for it.”

The concert, where the singer performed, was billed as a bicentennial concert that took place at The Adderley Amphitheater at Cascades Park. The tourist group of Leon County Government, Visit Tallahassee, was responsible for the event.

“Everything that went on today was just a dream come true,” T-Pain told the crowd from the stage.

Next up for “Tallahassee Pain” (the meaning of T-Pain) will be headlining the upcoming Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the forthcoming iHeartRadio Jingle Balls in Los Angeles, Miami, and Atlanta.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 12, 2024

Michael Strahan Seemingly Responds To Veterans Day Controversy

The football analyst was criticized for not placing his hand over his heart during the national anthem on Nov. 10

On Nov. 10, former NFL champion Michael Strahan was labeled disrespectful to veterans while at San Diego Naval Base. Instead of placing his hand over his heart during the national anthem, he stood there with arms crossed, one hand holding his wrist.

The “Good Morning America” host responded to the critics in a social media post on Nov. 11.

The incident took place before the NFL games scheduled for the day. Strahan stood with his co-hosts, Howie Long, Jay Glazer, Curt Menefee, Terry Bradshaw, Jimmy Johnson, and Rob Gronkowski, on “NFL on Fox” when they were shown standing at attention during the national anthem.

We conclude our show at the Naval Base San Diego with the national anthem 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/lDb2g6oF0f

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 10, 2024

People responded on social media, stating that it was unpatriotic for Strahan to stand there and not place his hand over his heart.

Seemingly, the former New York Giants defensive player responded to the controversy by posting a photograph of his father, who served in the army, with a message to all veterans.

“Thank you to all veterans and active service members who courageously risk their lives to protect us daily. Your selfless service is beyond measure.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by michaelstrahan (@michaelstrahan)

Although many people called for Strahan to be punished in some way, Fox Sports has stated, according to Daily Mail, that there will be no fine, suspension, or discipline.

A source told the media outlet: “His peers have his back and understand that he wasn’t making the moment about himself. There isn’t going to be any type of punishment or fine going Michael’s way.”

They added that he may or may not address the controversy, as he wants to extend the life of the controversy it presented.

“Michael wants Veterans Day to be for those men and women who deserve it and deserve the praise. To be in the conversation this way and to extend the talk on what people think he was doing would be a disservice to what the day means.’

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 12, 2024

Mattel Blames ‘Wicked’ Doll Packaging Listing Porn Site As ‘Print Error’

The toy's packaging features a link to an adult website and not the musical film.

Upon fans discovering that the Wicked doll packaging listed a porn website, Mattel has apologized for the “print error.”

The product inaccurately lists a site called Wicked.com, believing it was the correct web address for doll purchasers to view more about the upcoming musical film. However, as fans began to buy the doll, they realized that the website actually stood for something not so age-appropriate. According to Metro UK, Wicked.com actually takes people to an 18-and-older website.

@metrouk Mattel has addressed an unfortunate misprint on their Wicked doll packaging that actually led customers to a corn site… Eagle-eyed fans spotted the error after following the link that was meant to take them to the movie site. The producers of Barbie have apologised and advised parents that the site 'is not appropriate for children'. #fyp #wicked #universal #arianagrande #cynthiaerivo #movie #wickedmovie #cinema #elphaba #wickedthemusical #barbie #mattel #awkward #news #celebnews #barbiedoll ♬ original sound – MetroUK

This misprint is quite troublesome to some parents, especially as the toy is meant for children ages four and up. Two of the dolls feature the likeness of the movie’s two stars, singer-actresses Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. Moreover, they include snippets of the duo singing. The two-part film is an adaption of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical.

Mattel confirmed the mistake to multiple news outlets. However, they have urged those who purchased the dolls to discard the defunct packaging or cover up the wrong website.

The highly anticipated film covers the time before and during Dorothy’s journey through Oz, as depicted in the classic film The Wizard of Oz. Wicked details the story of the Wicked Witch of the West and her tumultuous friendship with Glinda the Good Witch during their young adulthood.

The 2024 adaption, directed by Jon M. Chu, reportedly cost $145 million. Its marketing campaign featured collaborations with multiple brands outside of Mattel, including Stanley, Crocs, and H&M. No one directly attached to the film has commented on the doll-packaging controversy.

The movie opens in theaters on Nov. 22, and a sequel is expected in 2025. As for its accompanying merchandise, specifically the controversial dolls sold at major retailers, Mattel has removed them from store shelves. NBC News also reported that stores have made the dolls unavailable for purchase online.

Spirit Airlines Flight, Racial Slur, Woman

by Daniel Johnson

November 12, 2024

Spirit Airlines Flight Reportedly Struck By Gunfire In Haiti

After Spirit Airlines issued a statement confirming that a flight attendant received minor injuries, the airline suspended flights to Haiti and has taken the plane that was hit with gunfire out of service

A Spirit Airlines flight to Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital city, was allegedly hit by gunfire on Nov. 11, and it was diverted to the Dominican Republic, where it was examined and found to have damage consistent with gunfire.

According to NBC News, after the airline issued a statement confirming that a flight attendant received minor injuries, Spirit suspended flights to Haiti and took the plane that was hit with gunfire out of service.

“Flight 951 from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Port-au-Prince (PAP) diverted and landed safely in Santiago, Dominican Republic (STI). Following the flight’s arrival at STI, an inspection revealed evidence of damage to the aircraft consistent with gunfire,” the statement said.

The statement continued, “One Flight Attendant on board reported minor injuries and is being evaluated by medical personnel. No Guest injuries were reported.”

The United States State Department also subsequently issued an alert warning of “gang-led efforts” at stopping travel to Haiti and cautioned Americans not to travel there.

As for the Spirit customers and employees forced to land in the Dominican Republic, a separate flight is being arranged for them to return to Florida.

A separate outbound JetBlue flight from Port-au-Prince to New York City also showed evidence that it was likely struck by gunfire, according to a statement the airline issued.

“No issues were initially reported by the operating crew,” the airline said.

JetBlue, similar to Spirit Airlines, launched its own post-flight investigation of its aircraft and suspended all flights to and from Haiti through Dec. 2 after discovering its plane was hit by gunfire as it blamed the suspension of services to and from Haiti on “ongoing civil unrest.”

American Airlines also issued a statement stating that it would suspend flights from Miami to Port-au-Prince.

“We will continue to monitor the situation with safety and security top of mind and will adjust our operation as needed,” the statement read.

The U.S. State Department also issued a statement warning against traveling to and from Haiti through an alert from the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince.

“The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince is aware of gang-led efforts to block travel to and from Port-au-Prince, which may include armed violence and disruptions to roads, ports, and airports,” the alert said.

The alert continued, “You should consider your personal security situation before traveling anywhere in Haiti. Only attempt to depart Haiti or travel within Haiti if you believe it is safe for you to do so.”