Stuart Scott, ESPN, documentary
by Daniel Johnson

April 16, 2024

Stuart Scott Will Be The Focus Of A New ESPN Documentary

Scott passed away in 2015 at the age of 49 following a long battle with cancer, six months after being awarded the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at the 2014 ESPY Awards.

ESPN Films announced on April 12 that it had approved a 30 For 30 documentary honoring Stuart Scott’s life and legacy. Scott, best known for his iconic voice and catchphrases like “boo-yah” and “cooler than the other side of the pillow,” interjected Black culture into SportsCenter, ESPN’s flagship program. 

As Deadline reports, the film will be directed by Andre Gaines. Gaines told the outlet about the profound impact that Scott had on ESPN. “Stuart Scott transcended broadcasting, journalism, sports, and culture in ways that we’re only beginning to really understand and appreciate now,” Gaines said. “He made his mark on so many people, especially young Black men, and his legend has only grown since his passing. The opportunity I’ve had now to examine his life, visit his home, get to know his daughters, Taelor and Sydni, and understand how incredibly vast and rich a life Stuart lived, I can only hope that audiences find the same catharsis I’ve already experienced in making this film.”

Scott passed away in 2015 at the age of 49 following a long battle with cancer, six months after being awarded the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at the 2014 ESPY Awards.

As Deadline reports, the documentary will chronicle his impact on culture, his rise at ESPN, his struggle with divorce, and his fight with cancer. The film, which is currently in production, was described by Marsha Cooke, the vice president and executive producer of ESPN Films, as a perfect tribute to Stuart Scott. 

“We pride ourselves on telling the stories of true originals who changed the world, and Stuart epitomized that in so many ways,” Cooke told Deadline. “This film is the perfect tribute to a man who touched lives in front of and behind the camera. Andre Gaines has begun crafting a film that will shine a new light on who Stuart really was–-from his relationship with Taelor and Sydni to the many people who saw the world differently just from spending time with him. The film will be Stuart through and through–-funny, smart, edgy, touching, and transformational.”

In 2023, his daughters, Sydni and Taelor, appeared on an episode of the Rich Eisen Show, and they talked about how much it meant to them that people had a lot of personal impact stories for them about how their father would make the time to speak to them whenever they approached him in public. His daughters mentioned that Scott did not perform an act for the camera but gave people himself.

Following his death six months after the ESPY speech, the V Foundation honored Scott’s legacy by establishing a cancer research fund. The Stuart Scott Memorial Cancer Research Fund is dedicated to eliminating cancer disparities among Black Americans, inspired by his ESPY speech and dedication to cancer research. The foundation has given nearly $16 million in grant money to support cancer research. The Scott sisters started a campaign, Scoops for Stu, that raises money for cancer research and the V Foundation each year. 

As Jeff Friday, assistant director of Brand Communications for the V Foundation told ABC 11, one of the biggest impacts the foundation has had since its inception has been funding the work of underrepresented cancer researchers. “I think a lot of the ways that we really see disparities in cancer research, one of the main focuses of the Stuart Scott fund, is funding underrepresented researchers. And we hear stories all the time of researchers saying, ‘I couldn’t find funding; I couldn’t get funding for this idea.’ And we’re really proud to invest in communities and invest in researchers that we know will do great things in the future.”

RELATED CONTENT: A Tribute to ESPN Sportscaster Stuart Scott

Quitclaim Deed Scam, Mississippi Homeowner
by Sharelle Burt

April 16, 2024

Mississippi Homeowner Labeled A Squatter After Falling Victim To Quitclaim Deed Scam 

This is what the government should be focused on....

A Mississippi homeowner is living a nightmare after falling victim to a scam that caused her to be kicked out of her home and labeled a squatter. 

Marcia Naylor of Olive Branch trusted a local company, introduced to her by a family member, to borrow against her home to assist with her finances after she found herself struggling after her husband passed away.

“He (said he) would borrow money against my house to give me wiggle room,” Naylor said. “I didn’t sign anything. He asked me to share a copy of the deed of trust to my home.”

Shortly after, Naylor was added to a list of victims who signed over their deeds for quick cash from the property’s value. The scammers then file a “quitclaim deed,” leaving it up to a judge to remove her from her home, stating she was squatting. “He upholds that document and tells me I have to be out of my home and that I’ve been squatting in my home for I don’t know how long,” the grandmother of two said. 

Now, she has a $19,000 debt and rents an apartment with her grandkids. 

In a statement, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) defined quitclaim deeds as “an easy way to legally transfer homeownership to someone else.”

However, they mentioned that “scammers are using them to steal property from the rightful owner.” 

The organization highlighted how homeowners are targeted and how to avoid the situation. A scammer will contact homeowners by offering to modify their mortgage and lower payments, but legal documents must be signed first. BBB warns that those signed documents may be paperwork that transfers the title of your home over to the scammer.

Quitclaim deed scams are quietly making rounds across the country. In Dayton, Ohio, a judge ruled that a woman’s property was stolen from her through a similar scam; however, according to the Dayton Daily News, she won’t be getting the property back as the people who purchased it are also victims of the alleged fraudsters, 

Another woman still has her home listed under the names of people to whom she claims she never sold it, although a judge ruled to invalidate the quitclaim deed. Since 2023, the Montgomery County Recorder’s office has received 91 complaints regarding questionable deeds. 

According to the BBB, the best way to avoid the situation is to check your property records, keep an eye on your credit, and never transfer ownership of your property to any mortgage assistance company. Cases such as these are rarely prosecuted criminally due to the length of time that passes before the alleged fraud is found. In the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office, fewer than 10 cases are being investigated.

Tape on mouth, Elementary School
by Sharelle Burt

April 16, 2024

Elementary School Teacher’s Aide Accused Of Taping Students’ Mouths Shut

What happened to regular spelling bees?

Parents of students at Woodson Elementary School in Illinois are accusing a teacher’s aide of taping students’ mouths shut.

The angry parents said they were alerted that what was supposed to be a fun assignment at the school in Bronzeville was anything but. One parent said she received a phone call from the accused aide saying a game would be played in her 5-year-old son’s kindergarten class but never giving details. Moments later, the school’s principal called with a more detailed account.

“Never, not once, she said what the game was. She never said anything about tape,” the parent, who goes by Jil, said. “Stating that an incident has taken place with a tape. They never said what kind of tape. All I knew was my son was taped,” she said.

Another parent said the T.A. initially told the principal, “They were having a spelling bee, and they didn’t want all the smart kids to blurt out the answers, so they duct-taped their mouths.”

Jil said her son told her that his mouth was taped as well.

The school sent out a letter to parents with a statement about what occurred on Mar. 18 to approximately seven kids. “There have been allegations that one of our staff members engaged improperly with students,” the letter read, according to Local 12.

“An investigation has been initiated by the Office of Student Protections and Title IX (OSP), and this individual has been removed during the investigation.”

The staff member has yet to be named or has charges filed against them; however, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) confirmed they have been made aware of the issue and “the investigation is currently open at this point in time.”

Woodson administrators continued in the letter that they “are taking this situation seriously” and “remain committed to providing your children with a safe, positive learning environment where they can reach their full potential.” School leaders announced they would determine whether the teacher’s aide could return to the school at a later date, but this would be contingent on the results of the investigation.

Bobrisky, Nigerian, Transgender, International, Global
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 16, 2024

Transgender Star Bobrisky Gets 6 Months In Jail For Throwing Nigerian Money

A popular transgender woman in Nigeria has been sentenced to six months in jail for throwing money during a film premiere.

A famous transgender woman in Nigeria has been sentenced to six months in jail for throwing money during a film premiere.

Bobrisky was arrested last month after she allegedly “sprayed” or threw money during the premiere of “Ajakaju” at Film One Circle Mall in the upmarket Lagos district of Lekki, BBC reports. Known as “spraying,” the practice is common in Nigeria at weddings and celebrations, where people throw banknotes as a sign of appreciation.

However, it is still illegal to do as the naira falls onto the ground and can be stepped on, which is deemed disrespectful in the West African country. The conviction holds a maximum sentence of six months in jail.

Authorities swiftly arrested and charged Bobrisky after she threw the money in celebration of the highly awaited film by actress and producer Eniola Ajao. Videos were shared across social media, showing the influencer, who has over five million followers, “spraying” for the banknotes during the public event.

@hiptv__ Throwback video of Bobrisky spraying naira notes. #bobrisky #bobrisky222 #bobriskyoncesaid #throwback #throwbackthursday #throwbackvideo #hiptv #fyp #viral ♬ original sound – HipTv

Bobrisky claims she was unaware that the practice was illegal.

“I am a social media influencer with 5 million followers … I wish I can be given a second chance to use my platform to educate my followers against the abuse of the naira,” she told the judge, via The Star.

Many are criticizing the conviction and calling out the conservative country for its history of harsh treatment against the LGBTQ+ community, including the banning of same-sex relations. Human rights lawyer Festus Ogon has questioned why Bobrisky was “singled out” by Nigeria’s anti-graft agency for the offense and not the others throwing naira.

“Selective enforcement of the law is a problem in Nigeria,” Ogun said.

Presiding Judge Abimbola Awogboro believes Brobrisky’s conviction will deter others from participating in the illegal practice.

“Enough of people mutilating and tampering with our currencies. It has to stop,” Awogboro said.

Vanessa Bryant, Los Angeles Dodgers
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 16, 2024

Vanessa Bryant Gives Los Angeles Dodgers New Kobes

The Major League Baseball team was given the Nike Kobe 6 LA Dodgers PE shoes on Mamba Day, April 13, the eighth anniversary of Kobe Bryant's last game.

On April 13, “Mamba Day,” the anniversary of the late Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant’s last NBA game, his widow, Vanessa, gifted the Los Angeles Dodgers exclusive Kobe footwear.

According to Sports Illustrated, the Major League Baseball team was given the Nike Kobe 6 LA Dodgers PE shoes on April 13, the eighth anniversary of Mamba Day.

Every member of the Dodgers received a pair of custom Kobes. “These are ridiculous,” said Dave Roberts, the Dodgers’ manager. “I’m going to rock these with Mamba pride.”

It was an exciting day for Kobe Bryant fans.

According to SportsNation, Nike celebrated Mamba Day when it released three past versions of Kobe sneakers: the Kobe 8 Protro Venice Beach, the Kobe 6 Protro Italian Camo, and the Kobe 4 Protro Philly. Fans and customers could purchase them on the SNKRS app or the Nike site.

All three sneakers cost $190 each. The Kobe 8 Protro Venice Beach was also available for $120 for grade school sizes and $90 for little kids’ sizes.

As a bonus, Nike’s competitor, Adidas, released a Kobe-branded sneaker on Mamba Day. The Adidas Crazy 98 cost $150 and was sold on the Adidas website.

Bryant, who spent his entire career with the Lakers, won the NBA championship five times, was a two-time Finals MVP, and the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player.

During his career, he was an 18-time All-Star and the youngest player to reach 30,000 points. Bryant retired in 2016 and scored an NBA season-high 60 points in his final game. The 41-year-old basketball legend died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, along with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others on Jan. 26, 2020.

Athing Mu, Nike, Olympic uniform, track and field
by Stacy Jackson

April 16, 2024

Nike Addresses Controversy On ‘Skimpy’ Olympic Women’s Kit

Nike says women athletes have other options to choose from that weren't featured in the launch show lineup in Paris.

In an effort to accommodate the diverse preferences of athletes, Nike has expanded its apparel options for the Team USA track and field kit amid criticism from Olympians who deemed the women’s uniform too “revealing,” “skimpy,” and “sexist.”

The controversy arose when images surfaced of a mannequin donning the women’s kit, featuring a high-cut panty that prioritized skimpiness over functionality, according to some athletes. A spokesperson for the USA Track & Field (USATF) governing body told Reuters, “Athlete options and choices were the driving force for USATF in the planning process with Nike.”

Nike has acknowledged concerns, revealing its offering of unitard options with both briefs and shorts for this year’s Olympics, while only briefs were available for the Tokyo Olympics. The brand’s track and field kits now encompass nearly 50 apparel pieces and 12 competition styles tailored to specific events.

At the launch show in Paris on April 11, athletes like U.S. middle-distance runner Athing Mu and sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson modeled Nike’s Olympic kits, showcasing the diverse options. Nike released the styles in an April 13 Instagram teaser that featured athletes from across sports. “Here’s your front-row seat to the future,” the footwear and apparel brand wrote. In the video, Mu sports the briefs while Richardson models a shorts version.

Pole vaulter Katie Moon, who is sponsored by Nike, addressed the controversy surrounding the mannequin kit. “What was shown on the mannequin kit was concerning and warranted the response it received,” she wrote. “I absolutely love people defending women, but we have at least 20 different combinations of a uniform to compete in with all the tops and bottoms available to us.” She clarified that the men’s uniform is also available for women, and they “do have the option “DO have the choice of what to wear.”

“The 2024 national and federation kits are the most athlete-informed, data-driven, and visually unified the company has ever produced,” Nike stated in a press release. Leveraging cutting-edge 4D motion-capture technology and meticulously refined algorithms, Nike stated that the design teams crafted each kit with pixel-perfect precision tailored to the nuances of every competition. The brand added that the designs were meticulously engineered to encapsulate the distinct identities and diverse cultural tapestries woven into the fabric of each nation and sporting discipline.

Nike has ensured tailors will be available for Olympic and Paralympic athletes this year, allowing for customized fittings, which U.S. steeplechaser Colleen Quigley advocated for in her response to the outfit she believes is “absolutely not made for performance.”

Westbound Equity Partners
by Sharelle Burt

April 16, 2024

Westbound Equity Partners Creates $100M Fund For Black- and Diversity-Focused Founders

This is how you help entrepreneurs grow!

Westbound Equity Partners is on a mission to pour millions into Black, Latino, and diversity-driven founder-driven companies by raising $100 million to focus on the early stages of startup development.

The Black-co-owned venture capitalist firm, formerly known as Concrete Rose Capital, created the fund to help entrepreneurs mitigate a more diverse and inclusive tech ecosystem. Firm co-founder Sean Mendy wants business owners in the early stages to be able to focus on making substantial investments. “We aren’t investing in underrepresented founders as this altruistic thing,” Mendy said. 

“This fund is about investing in the best companies and performance. On the foundation side, we’re focusing on explicit impact.”

According to Philanthropy News Digest, the company’s new name pays homage to the Great Migration, where between 1910 and 1970, millions of Black Americans left the south to make homes in the North and West. During this time, a cycle of racism increased in the South, leaving a lack of opportunity. 

With support from heavy hitters, including Google parent Alphabet, MetLife, and the Ford Foundation, Westbound commits 50% of its profits to fund a partnering foundation that will distribute capital to equity-focused non-profit organizations and programs. 

Westbound was created in 2019 with partners Ian Beadle, Will Bumpus, and Danae Sterental. Since then, the firm has invested in more than 40 startups with its first $25 million initiative fund and is focusing on what Mendy calls “the diversity opportunity” —providing capital to underrepresented founders, in particular Black and Latino companies. 

Mendy said the goal is to invest in startups that serve their communities. “If we can make the next Yahoo, the next LinkedIn, Facebook, or Google diverse in those early days, then the folks that build wealth are going to be more diverse, and they’re going to have the opportunity to go out and be deemed more investable as founders or become investors themselves,” Mendy said, according to Philanthropy News Digest.

“It transforms this vicious homogeneous cycle into a virtuous one that compounds over time.”

Startups like Sierra, an AI firm led by OpenAI chairman Bret Taylor, have already received an undisclosed investment from the California-based firm. Esusu, a credit-building rent payments tool described as one of the latest — and few — Black-led billion-dollar startups, also received funding. 

After Esusu’s co-founder and co-CEO Wemimo Abbey said he “fundamentally believes” in what Westbound is doing, Mendy calls it “the biggest win for the team,” knowing his company is helping underserved and underrepresented founders.

Atlanta, Housing Market
by Rafael Pena

April 15, 2024

Atlanta Housing Market Sees Spring Surge with 20% Sales Jump, Increased Listings

As the housing market in Metro Atlanta gears up for spring, March witnessed a notable uptick in sales, with a 20% surge from February.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that as the housing market in Metro Atlanta readies for spring, March witnessed a notable uptick in sales, with a 20% surge from February, accompanied by a rise in the number of homes listed, according to data from the Georgia Multiple Listing Services.

But the real estate landscape continues to grapple with challenges such as housing supply, which remains a key concern. John Ryan, chief marketing officer for Georgia MLS, has noticed “some signs of improvement, but the market is still challenged.”

In the 12-county core centered around Atlanta, a total of 4,843 homes were sold last month, with a median price of $402,000. Furthermore, the inventory of homes listed for sale witnessed a 6% increase during the same period. Despite these improvements, the current listings represent less than three months of sales, indicating a market still in flux.

While the median sales price in March saw a modest 6% increase from the previous year, the region’s affordability remains a concern. Atlanta’s housing market has become notably overpriced, with home prices soaring over the past decade.

Economists warn of a potential correction in prices as the market continues to face affordability constraints.

Kristen Jones, owner of Re/Max Around Atlanta, challenged the notion of Atlanta being overpriced, citing market-driven values based on supply and demand dynamics. “And demand still far outweighs supply in Atlanta with no end in sight,” Jones observed.

However, the housing market’s challenges extend beyond pricing concerns. Zoning laws limiting higher-density housing options have contributed to supply shortages, exacerbating the affordability issue. Efforts to address zoning regulations and increase housing production are deemed essential to alleviate pressure on prices.

Despite the recent surge in sales and listings, constraints persist on both the supply and demand sides, with mortgage rates posing a significant challenge to prospective buyers. With rates on the rise, buyers face heightened monthly costs, further complicating affordability issues in the housing market.

Trey Songs, lawsuit, sexual assault
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 15, 2024

Trey Songz Settles With Woman In $25 Million Sexual Assault Lawsuit

The unidentified woman accused Songz of sexually assaulting her in 2016 at a private party in Los Angeles.

Trey Songz won’t be headed to trial this fall after settling with a woman who named him in a $25 million sexual assault lawsuit.

The Grammy-nominated singer filed recent documents informing the courts that he reached a confidential conditional settlement with a “Jane Doe” accusing him of violently raping her in 2016, Radar Online reports. The lawsuit demanded $25 million from Songz (real name Tremaine Neverson), but the settlement terms have not been disclosed.

A trial was due to begin on Sept. 16 but will be vacated if the settlement agreement is met.

“The settlement agreement conditions dismissal of this matter on the satisfactory completion of specified terms that are not to be performed within 45 days of the date of the settlement,” the document states. “A request for dismissal will be filed no later than June 10, 2024.”

The unidentified woman accused Songz of sexually assaulting her on March 24, 2016, after she attended a private party at a Los Angeles residence. The woman admitted to sleeping with the singer on another occasion before the alleged assault and assumed they would engage in a “consensual sexual encounter” during the party.

However, after inviting her upstairs, Jane Doe claims she was forcibly anally raped after denying the singer’s alleged requests for anal sex.

“While going up the stairs at the Home, Songz repeatedly asked [Doe] if DEFENDANT SONGZ could “get that a–,” meaning have anal sex. “[Doe] repeatedly told DEFENDANT SONGZ NO in response to DEFENDANT SONGZ’s requests,” the lawsuit alleges.

“[Doe] alleges that after entering the upstairs bedroom, DEFENDANT SONGZ immediately threw [Doe] to the ground, pulled her dress up, ripped her panties off, pinned [Doe] face down on the floor, scratching her elbows and knees, and forced his penis into [Doe’s] anus without [Doe’s] consent, causing severe physical and emotional injury. [Doe] screamed in pain, fought to get free, and begged Songs to stop but was overpowered by DEFENDANT SONGZ,” the lawsuit added.

The woman claims to have seen Songz multiple times after the alleged assault, and he berated her in front of others. The woman was suing Songz for $25 million in damages attributed to her alleged emotional and mental distress.

Songz attempted to get the lawsuit dismissed. The woman was represented by a lawyer who brought three separate cases against the singer, all dismissed by the court without a settlement.

RELATED CONTENT: Artist Trey Songz Lands in Legal Trouble After Turning Himself In For Alleged Bowling Alley Brawl in October

Minneapolis College
by Rafael Pena

April 15, 2024

Minneapolis College Steps Up To Support Students In Recovery

Inside Minneapolis College, a quiet revolution is taking place as students in recovery find solace and support in their pursuit of education.

According to The Hechinger Report, amid the bustling hallways and classrooms of Minneapolis College, a two-year urban college, a quiet revolution is taking place as students in recovery find solace and support in their pursuit of education. At a recent gathering of the school’s collegiate recovery program, individuals shared their stories of resilience, highlighting the pivotal role education plays in their journey toward recovery.

Collegiate recovery programs have gained traction in recent years, with over 170 programs established across the U.S. and Canada. However, it wasn’t until the last decade that these programs began to emerge at community colleges, offering a lifeline to individuals seeking a fresh start. Today, there are at least 23 recovery programs at community colleges, reflecting a growing awareness of the need to support survivors of substance use disorders.

For Nomi Badboy, 43, attending the collegiate recovery program at Minneapolis College signifies more than just pursuing an education—it symbolizes a crucial step in her path to recovery. Reflecting on the challenges she faces as a parent, Badboy remarked, “Gifting myself with an education is a part of my recovery.” Her sentiments resonate with many others who have found sanctuary in the program.

Ray Lombardi, 50, echoed Badboy’s sentiments, recognizing the shared struggles faced by those in recovery. “It’s hard to be a parent. It’s hard to stay sober. And it’s hard to go back to school as an adult,” Lombardi emphasized, underscoring the program’s role in providing a supportive community for individuals navigating these challenges.

Despite the demand for these programs, many face significant obstacles, including funding shortages and staffing challenges. However, advocates remain steadfast in their commitment to expanding access to recovery support services on college campuses.

Jessica Miller, who oversees collegiate recovery programs at Ten16 Recovery Network, emphasizes the pivotal role of community colleges in providing accessible education and support services. Miller notes that community colleges offer flexible coursework and affordable tuition, making them ideal starting points for individuals in recovery.

While the benefits of collegiate recovery programs are evident, the need for sustained funding and support remains a pressing concern. Advocates hope to secure additional funding, including a portion of the state opioid settlement funds, to bolster these vital programs.

Despite the challenges, individuals like Badboy find hope and resilience in their journey toward recovery. As she looks toward graduation in 2025, Badboy remains committed to her education, recognizing the profound impact it has had on her well-being and sense of purpose. For Badboy and countless others, collegiate recovery programs represent a beacon of hope—a testament to the transformative power of education in fostering healing and renewal.

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