by Mary Spiller

April 14, 2024

Police Who Fired 96 Shots In 41 Seconds, Killing 26-Year-Old Black Man During Traffic Stop, Under Investigation

A video showed the driver, Dexter Reed, firing the first shot and injuring an officer. The other four officers then fired 96 shots in 41 seconds.

The incident in which several plainclothes Chicago police officers fired nearly 100 shots in under a minute, killing 26-year-old Dexter Reed, has prompted a police investigation agency and Cook County prosecutors to look into the use of excessive force in the police department over the March 21 stop.

According to the Associated Press, videos and statements surrounding the deadly traffic stop have raised questions about the officers’ conduct. The investigative agency expressed concerns over the officer’s actions to Police Superintendent Larry Snelling.

They also noted that their agency was currently investigating the same five officers for a complaint that was filed over a traffic stop a few weeks before the shooting of Reed.

The March 21 incident began when officers in an unmarked car pulled Reed over for allegedly not wearing a seatbelt, according to the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA). The situation turned violent when he allegedly refused to get out of the SUV.

The video showed Reed firing the first shot and injuring an officer in the wrist. The other four officers then fired 96 shots in 41 seconds. They continued to fire even after Reed exited the vehicle and collapsed.

COPA Chief Administrator Andrea Kersten wrote in an April 1 letter, “Based on the totality of the available evidence, COPA has grave concerns about the officers’ ability to assess what is a necessary, reasonable, and proportional use of deadly force.”

The American Civil Liberties Union pointed out that the officers immediately drew their guns and cursed at Reed while they ordered him around.

ACLU of Illinois spokesman Ed Yonka said, “From the moment they all jump into the vehicle to chase the car, you can feel the adrenaline rush. There were no efforts at de-escalation.”

The officers are currently on a 30-day administrative leave during the investigation, but Kersten has recommended relieving all officers involved of their police power until the investigation is concluded.

State’s Attorney Kim Foxx revealed that there is a possibility of criminal charges being brought against them as well.

Several investigative forces have asked questions about the validity of the stop itself.

“Why would a police officer, not in uniform, bother with something like that?” Geoffrey Alpert asked.

“The available evidence calls into question the veracity of this account,” Kersten wrote.

Reed’s family members and friends are also skeptical of the legality of the stop. They said, “If he was supposedly pulled over for a traffic stop, why did they have four guns pointed at him? He was scared.”

Tynesha Lewis, Elizabeth City State University, coach, Memphis

by Mary Spiller

April 14, 2024

Tynesha Lewis Leaving Elizabeth City State University To Coach At UNC Asheville

Elizabeth City hadn't had a winning season before Lewis joined the HBCU campus.

After three years at Elizabeth City State University, Tynesha Lewis is moving on from HBCU coaching. On April 12, Lewis was named the head coach at the University of North Carolina Asheville.

Lewis has put out an impressive record of 61-29 over her three seasons at ECSU. Her team appeared in three different CIAA tournament championships, supported by her coaching skills and experience as a WNBA player.

UNC Asheville Athletic Director Janet R. Cone said in a statement, “We are so excited to have Tynesha Lewis as our next head women’s basketball coach. Her experiences as a player at NC State and in the WNBA, and as a successful head coach at Elizabeth City State demonstrate that she knows how to compete and win at a high level, that she cares deeply about her student-athletes and their holistic development and off the court and that she places a high value on doing things the right way. Tynesha will work tirelessly in getting our women’s basketball program to a place of consistent competitive excellence.”

Elizabeth City hadn’t had a winning season before Lewis joined the HBCU campus. The team earned 20 wins straight, with Lewis leading the Northeastern, North Carolina, team.

Lewis has experience on the court after playing for the WNBA in 2001 as the 31st pick for the Houston Comets from her collegiate NC State University team. Before being drafted by the Houston Comets, she played in the WNBA for six seasons, with the Charlotte Sting and the Minnesota Lynx after the Comets.

The 44-year-old athlete was a four-time All-ACC selection, helping to lead the Wolfpack to the Final Four in 1998 and a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2001. She left her mark on the program, ranking first in triple-doubles and recording the only two triple-double performances in school history at that time (male and female programs). She had an impressive career average of 13.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.3 steals.

by Mary Spiller

April 14, 2024

Anti-Smoking Groups File Lawsuit Against Government Over Delay On Menthol Ban

The Black community is disproportionately negatively affected by the use of menthol cigarettes.

On April 9, anti-smoking groups launched lawsuits against the U.S. government over the delay in passing a proposed ban on menthol cigarettes.

The Food and Drug Administration has been trying to pass a similar ban on menthol cigarettes for nearly 15 years, considering that “300,000 to 650,000” smoking deaths could be prevented over the course of a few decades. The lawsuit pointed out that the tobacco industry’s lobby has made it difficult for advocates and lawmakers to pass the bill.

A big component of pushing the ban on menthols is the disproportionate effect on Black Americans. In the 1960s, advertisements specifically pushed menthol to Black people. The targeted marketing was successful, causing “1.5 million Black Americans to begin smoking menthols.” As a result, nearly 200,000 Black Americans died from smoking-related health issues. Back in 2020, out of all smokers, 81% of Black people smoked menthol cigarettes, while 34% of white people did.

Dr. Yolanda Lawson, the president of the National Medical Association, said in a statement, “As African American physicians, we are deeply disturbed at the continuing delays in FDA’s finalizing of the ban on menthol cigarettes.”

She continued, “Our patients, more than any other group, become disabled and die prematurely due to the continued use of these cigarettes.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the majority of all people who smoke cigarettes started while they were still adolescents and continued consistently smoking to adulthood.

“The FDA’s research confirms that a menthol ban would save lives,” the Executive Director of Action on Smoking and Health Laurent Huber told the public. “There is no scientific reason to delay finalizing this rule.

Overall, cigarette smoking has decreased over the past two decades, but there has been an increase in menthol smokers, specifically among young adults, racial minorities, women, and people with mental health issues.

by Sharelle Burt

April 14, 2024

New Report: Millennials And Gen-Z Love To Splurge On Groceries

Gen Z doesn't seem to mind an expensive grocery bill while choosing more high-quality snacks and beverages.

Spending money on groceries seems to be a top spending priority for millennials and Gen-Z, according to a new report from McKinsey & Company.

Survey results from February 2024, with participants ranging from baby boomers to Gen Zers, found groceries at the top of the spending priorities for millennials and Gen Zers. The category beat travel, personal care and beauty, restaurants, apparel, and fitness. With over 4,000 responses, the shift has been recognizable since 2018, when the baby boomer and Gen X generations spent more on groceries than millennials.

The shift in spending habits among millennials is not solely driven by new parenthood. A significant health element is also at play. Consumers, on average, anticipate spending more on fresh produce, meat, and dairy, as well as center-store categories like shelf-stable foods or frozen foods. This change is reflected in their shopping habits, as one female millennial from Ohio shared, “We’ve been shopping at the grocery store more often to buy things that are healthier for us.”

“And in the process, we get to save money and spend time with each other cooking and eating together. So it’s really a win-win for everybody.

Gen Z doesn’t seem to mind an expensive grocery bill while choosing more high-quality snacks and beverages. With brands like Liquid Death, a canned water brand, becoming more popular, one Gen Z shopper said, “fancy sodas and drinks” add to the bill. The report also found fewer consumers were switching to lower-priced retailers and brands in February 2024 compared to the end of 2023, thanks to “buy now, pay later” services. “I plan to splurge on myself every now and then. Some of the things I’m most excited to buy are new makeup, new clothes heading into the new season, and even being able to travel to try new foods,” a female Gen Z shopper from Arizona said.

“I definitely think it’s important to have a healthy balance, and splurging helps to enjoy life a lot more.”

Millennials continue to eat meat at increasing levels. According to Supermarket News, millennials spent the most on average per purchase, under $17 per purchase. Gen Xers account for 32% of sales and baby boomers made the list as the most frequent meat purchasers — 53 times per year.

However, every generation is feeling the pressure of grocery inflation. A Moody report found the average American household needs to spend an extra $445 per month to purchase the same goods and services as it did in 2023.

by Daniel Johnson

April 13, 2024

Tiger Woods Makes History With His 24th Consecutive Masters Cut

Woods' seems more than confident, saying, 'I have a chance to win the golf tournament.'

Tiger Woods set another record at Augusta National Golf Course on April 12 when the legendary golfer made his 24th straight Masters cut. Woods passed the record previously shared by Fred Couples and Gary Player while battling his body and fatigue the whole way.

As USA Today reports, Woods casts a long shadow over the game of golf, as evidenced by the admiration expressed by one of his playing partners, 33-year-old Max Homa. Homa told USA Today, “It really is a dream to get to play with him here. I’ve been saying, I always wanted to just watch him hit iron shots around here, and I was right up next to him. It was really cool. His short game was so good.” Homa explained. “I don’t think I can explain how good some of the chip shots he hit today were. We had a really quick turnaround, and if I was feeling tired and awful, I imagine he was feeling even worse.”

Woods had 52 minutes to prepare between rounds one and two, and as Golf Magazine reports, his routine involved applying what the outlet surmised to be Icy Hot across his stomach and lower back area. Woods also hit some golf balls using wedges, irons, and woods before working on his long-putting game shortly before tee time.

Tiger Woods makes the cut at the Masters in Augusta, setting a Masters record with 24th straight consecutive cuts. pic.twitter.com/952YGKGv5q
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) April 13, 2024

Woods appears to view his current standing (tied for 22nd place) as a position from which he can mount a strong challenge. Woods told USA Today after the conclusion of the second round, “I’m right there,” Woods said, despite the leaders sitting at 6- or 7-under par at the time of his comments. “I don’t think anyone is going to run off and hide right now, but it’s really bunched. The way the ball is moving on the greens, chip shots are being blown, it’s all you want in a golf course today.”

Woods also acknowledged how much he had to fight on the course. “A long day, it’s been a long day, it was a good fight, we did really well out there,” Woods said. “I’m tired. I’ve been out there for a while, competing, grinding. It’s been a long 23 holes, a long day.”

Woods was uninterested in taking the time to celebrate the history-making cut, as he told ESPN, “It means I have a chance going into the weekend, I’m here. “I have a chance to win the golf tournament. I don’t know if they’re all going to finish today, but I’m done. I got my two rounds in. I just need some food and some caffeine, and I’ll be good to go.”

Woods continued, seemingly undaunted. “If everything comes together,” Woods said. “I think I can get one more. I’ve always loved playing here, I’ve been able to play here since I was 19 years old. It’s one of the honors I don’t take lightly, being able to compete. The years I have missed, I wish I was able to play because there’s such an aura and mystique about playing this golf course that I don’t think – unless you have played and competed here – you probably don’t really appreciate.”

by Mary Spiller

April 13, 2024

Mary J. Blige To Headline Strength Of A Woman Festival And Summit In NYC, Celebrating Black Female Excellence

Blige prepared the festival with an all-Black woman staff and management team.

The third annual Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit in New York City will be headed by Mary J. Blige. The festival is a three-day event from May 10 to May 12.

The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul has planned the Strength of a Woman Festival with an all-Black female team. The marketing team, management, and staff members reflect Blige’s commitment to the festival’s message. In an exclusive interview with Forbes, she revealed what went behind her decision to conduct the preparation this way.

She said, “Black women in any business are the most overlooked, underpaid, underestimated. I wanted to put them in a light where people see how amazing we all are and not overlooked.”

“This is my identity. The whole goal is to elevate and sustain, and not to stay in the same place. You do that through entrepreneurship, by figuring out new ways to invent yourself and create revenue streams to have longevity.”

The festival is stacked with an impressive lineup of sponsorship deals, all Black and female-owned. It will feature products from Mielle Organics, On a Mission by Ciara, Sister Love — a brand created by Mary J. Blige and Simone I. Smith — and Sun Goddess Wines.

The Mother’s Day weekend event will begin at the Apollo Theater, hosted by Tiffany Haddish.

The next day will kick off the music performances. The Barclays Center will have live performances by Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott, 50 Cent, Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Muni Long, Lola Brooke, and Funk Flex.

Blige told Forbes that having the event over Mother’s Day weekend was an important choice for her. “Mothers are extremely important because, without them, there would be no hip-hop culture, as there would be no hip-hop artists,” said Blige.

She continued, “Mothers are the reason these people are here. They birth these people, and we have to always acknowledge that, especially on Mother’s Day.”

“Instead of being a Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, be the biggest and best Queen of Hip-Hop Soul in the world that you can be for yourself.”

Fairview Capital Partners, New York Life

by Jeffrey McKinney

April 13, 2024

Black Private Equity And Venture Capital Firm Fairview Capital Sells Minority Ownership Stake To New York Life

New deal is expected to help Fariview Capital spur growth with venture capital firms, along with diverse and emerging fund managers.

Fairview Capital Partners has sold a minority ownership stake to mutual life insurance giant New York Life.

With Fairview, New York Life buys into one of the nation’s largest Black-owned private equity and venture capital investing firms. Since its founding 30 years ago, Fairview has amassed over $10 billion in assets under management. The firm invests on behalf of institutional investors like public and private pension plans, foundations, and endowments, per a news release. The financial terms of the deal were undisclosed.

Fairview told BLACK ENTERPRISE that the deal will help spur the West Hartford, Connecticut-based firm’s overall growth. The company’s top executives further shared what the deal means for the business.

Fairview Co-Founder Larry Morse stated, “New York Life’s partnership and capital will create even more opportunities for Fairview. This includes accelerating our growth and expanding our investing with the industry’s foremost venture capital firms, along with the leading diverse and emerging fund managers.”

In her statement, Fairview Co-Founder JoAnn Price added, “We will also continue to build on our commitment to transforming business and culture in the venture capital and private equity industry as we work to unlock additional value for our investors.”

Fairview disclosed that the firm is focused on expanding its existing business in the venture capital, diverse and emerging managers, and co-investment categories. The relationship with New York Life may allow Fairview to innovate further and enter new or existing adjacent categories in the future.

Fairview Capital is No. 2 on the BE Private Equity list. The company’s fresh accord is immense as New York Life is a Fortune 100 company and the nation’s largest mutual life insurance company.

Tony Malloy, executive vice president and chief investment officer at New York Life, stated, “New York Life and Fairview are very much aligned in terms of our shared core values and missions to build and sustain meaningful economic outcomes over the long term while also generating positive investment returns for clients.”

He added, “Our investment is a testament to our long-standing relationship and Fairview’s established and storied track record. This investment will support the Fairview team in furthering their growth and evolution as pioneers in the industry.”

Two years ago, investment vehicles run by Fairview and Ariel Investments got a combined $25O million commitment from billionaire Steve Ballmer. This was part of the $400 million the former Microsoft Corp. CEO and his wife, Connie Ballmer, invested in four vehicles focused on helping cure insufficient capital accessible to Black entrepreneurs.

It was stated the partnership with New York Life further solidifies Fairview’s continued leadership and longevity in the market. Co-founders Price and Morse and managing partners Kola Olofinboba, Alan Mattamana, Aakar Vachhani, and partner Kwesi Quaye will remain in control as Fairview’s majority owners.

Since 2021, New York Life has committed $200 million to Fairview tied to the mutual life insurer’s initial $1 billion impact investment to help bridge the racial wealth gap by investing in underserved and undercapitalized communities.

Through that initiative, New York Life stated it made various commitments to diverse and emerging fund managers supporting dozens of businesses, resulting in several hundred impacted companies overall. Further, Fairview’s Morse serves on New York Life’s Impact Advisory Board.

RELATED CONTENT: 2. Fairview Capital Partners Inc.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 13, 2024

Drake Dismissed From Astroworld Festival Lawsuit

The Harris County District Court of the 11th civil district in Texas granted the rapper's request.

Canadian superstar Aubrey “Drake” Graham was dismissed from an Astroworld lawsuit that named him as a defendant in the festival that took the lives of 10 concertgoers and injured hundreds more in November 2021.

According to USA Today, Drake filed a motion in March to be dismissed from the lawsuit, which included additional defendants Travis Scott and his company, Cactus Jack Enterprises, and Apple. The Harris County District Court of the 11^th civil district in Texas granted Drake’s request on April 10.

The court agreed to the “Thank Me Later” recording artist’s request for a summary judgment and dismissed “all claims asserted against defendant (Drake) by all plaintiffs and intervenors in this multidistrict litigation.”

Apple and Cactus Jack filed similar paperwork, but their requests for dismissals were denied on April 8.

KCRA reported that state District Judge Kristen Hawkins dismissed seven companies and individuals in the lawsuit. Ten other companies and individuals were denied motions to dismiss. Hawkins is slated to hear more motions to dismiss, including one from Scott, who headline the event, on April 15.

On Nov. 5, 2021, 10 people, ranging in age from 9 to 27 years old, died at the Astroworld festival. Approximately 300 attendees were injured and treated at the venue; 25 were taken to local hospitals.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 13, 2024

Shark Tank’s Daymond John Offers Reward To Find Hit-And-Run Killer

'The Patel family and I are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual and any accomplices who were involved in the hit and run of Samir Patel,' said John.

On July 2, 2023, a car struck and killed Samir Patel, an entrepreneur who owned OxyHealth located in Santa Fe Springs, California. The driver has not been found, and police officers are still searching for him. “Shark Tank” host Daymond John has recently offered a $20,000 reward (along with Patel’s family) to whomever can find the person or can supply information leading to finding the person involved in the hit-and-run incident.

John took to his Instagram profile to get help solving the case for his fellow entrepreneur. He expressed that it is still an open case and wanted to spread the word in hopes of finding the person responsible for killing Patel.

“Together, the Patel family and I are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual and any accomplices who were involved in the hit and run of Samir Patel. I sincerely hope that with a collective effort, the authorities can gather new leads and the necessary evidence to bring those responsible to justice and provide closure for the Patel family.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Daymond John (@thesharkdaymond)

ABC7 reported that Patel’s son, Dr. Mayur Patel, stated that his father had gone outside for a walk at 1 A.M. that night.

“He had gone for a casual walk. When he was crossing the road, unfortunately, there was — whether it was a drunk driver, we’re really not sure, the police still don’t know — but somebody had run a red light and didn’t bother stopping. They hit him, and they just kept going,” Mayur said. Whittier Police say the vehicle was a silver or gray four-door small SUV or hatchback with black window tint.

With John’s involvement, Mayur hopes his posting leads to finding out who did this to his father.

“If I had a friend who had done something like this, I’d definitely would be guiding them in the right direction,” he said.

Whittier Police ask that anyone with any information please contact Officer Medina at (562) 567-9259 or emedina@cityofwhittier.org.

roc nation, basketball doc, NYC Entertainers Basketball Classic

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 13, 2024

Roc Nation To Produce Documentary On Legendary NYC Entertainers Basketball Classic League

The EBC was better known as The Rucker and featured NBA players like Allen Iverson, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant.

A documentary about New York City’s most famous summer basketball league, the Entertainers Basketball Classic, will be brought to life by Roc Nation, EverWonder Studios, and 3 Legends Productions.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the documentary will detail the origin and infamous stories about the tournament that drew celebrities, NBA players, and people from all walks of life over the years. The EBC, better known as The Rucker, took place in Harlem near the Polo Grounds on 155th Street and Eighth Avenue, at Rucker Park.

“The Rucker is an integral part of basketball culture. I’m honored to have been a part of its legacy. We’re looking forward to sharing the history in a way that’s never been done before,” says Juan Perez, executive producer and president of Roc Nation Sports in a written statement.

The project will include never-before-seen video footage of some of the classic games played and highlight the ballplayers who participated in the tournament to electrify many summers in Harlem.

“As individuals who lived the culture that was revolutionized by the EBC, we knew that Juan Perez and Roc Nation were the only ones who would be as passionate about telling this story as we are. We’re thrilled to bring this series to life and showcase the expansive impact of The Rucker,” says executive producer Dorian “Black” Graham, who also played in the tournament during its heydays.

The Entertainers Basketball Classic was started in 1982 by Greg Marius ( a rapper with the group, Disco Four, who were signed to Profile Records in 1982). After organizing a basketball game against another hip-hop group, the Crash Crew, whom they beat by 59 points, they started gathering for more games and then an official league was started. Over the years, the tournament featured many NYC basketball legends like Rod Strickland, Malik Sealy, and Stephon Marbury before they became NBA players. The EBC grew in popularity and became the “must play in” league for burgeoning and professional basketball players.

The EBC also brought out rappers like Fat Joe and JAY-Z, who, not only sponsored the teams but also coached the players. The tournament also brought out future NBA legends like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Allen Iverson, and Kevin Durant.