NeNe Leakes, child support, Bryson Bryant, Symone Davis

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 19, 2024

NeNe Leakes’ Son Sued for $30K In Alleged Unpaid Child Support, Ex Wants Him Thrown In Jail

NeNe Leakes' eldest son is being called out by his ex-girlfriend for the alleged $30,000 in unpaid child support he owes her.

NeNe Leakes’ eldest son is being called out by his ex-girlfriend for an alleged $30,000 in unpaid child support he owes her.

Bryson Bryant, the elder son of the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star, was named in a lawsuit filed by his ex Symone Davis, Radar Online reports. According to the filing made in Gwinnett County, Georgia, on Feb. 2, Davis accused Bryant of failing to follow through on a court-ordered monthly child support payment of $708 after he was declared the biological father of their son, Blaze, in July 2020.

The child support payments were to begin in August 2020. However, Davis claims Bryant hasn’t made a single payment since the court order, resulting in an overdue amount of $29,736 in unpaid child support.

Davis is not only after the child support but also wants Bryant thrown in jail over not being “able to perform what the Court ordered as to his child support obligations.”

His “refusal to do so is willful,” the filing states. “The Respondent should be held in contempt and incarcerated for failure to comply with the Court’s Order.”

The lawsuit comes two months after Davis opened up about the neglect she said her son is subjected to by Bryant and Leakes. She claimed to have reached out to both parties to create a relationship with her son, but to no avail.

“I sent him pictures of Blaze. He opens the message but doesn’t respond,” Davis said.

Bryant’s lawsuit follows his October 2023 arrest for giving police a fake name during his July 2023 arrest for fentanyl possession. At the time, he got himself out of jail after paying a $6,100 bond for charges including loitering, giving law enforcement a false name, and possession of a schedule II controlled substance. Bryant initially identified himself to police as his younger brother, Brentt Leakes.

Suspect, Revenge Killing, Woman, Brother's Death

by Lauren Nutall

February 19, 2024

Shooting Claims Four Lives In Birmingham; Community Seeks Answers

The victims were believed to have been targeted, according to investigators.

A drive-by shooting in Birmingham, Alabama, claimed the lives of four men, leaving their community devastated and in search of answers as violence escalates across the city.

On Feb. 16, Cortez Ray, 32, Talton Tait, 36, Terrell Edwards, 38, and Kevin McGhee, 38, were standing outside a neighborhood car wash in Smithfield when shots began to ring in the air, according to AL News.

“I heard the gunshots and kind of ran,” said Jimone Griffin, one of the victim’s mothers. “I turned around, and they were still shooting.” Griffin revealed that she had just finished having lunch with her son, Tait, when the fatal attack began. She recalled the moment she realized her son had been killed. “I was just pacing. I didn’t want to come back over here because I knew.”

Tait, along with Ray and Edwards, was pronounced dead at the scene. McGhee died at UAB Hospital shortly after. The victims had been childhood friends and, according to investigators, were targeted. This incident was one of seven shooting homicides in Birmingham in just 24 hours, according to USA Today.

Mayor Randall Woodfin released a statement on Facebook addressing the recent spate of violence in Birmingham. “This has been a heartbreaking afternoon for our city. A half dozen families are in mourning,” he wrote. “That includes the family of one of our city employees. That also includes my own family.” Woodfin’s own cousin was found dead in a separate double-homicide shooting that same Friday. The victims were Christan Norris and his girlfriend, Angeliyah Webster, both 20. Their bodies were found in the Wylam area, according to WVTM 13.

“My family is no stranger to the devastating consequences of violence,” Woodfin continued. “The pain never gets easier. This level of loss is distressing, unacceptable, and cannot – must not – be tolerated. But right now, I’m not thinking about myself. I’m thinking about that employee’s family, who now has an empty chair at the dinner table. I’m thinking about my cousin’s mother. I’m thinking about the other four families who are facing the unimaginable right now.” He instructed anybody with knowledge surrounding the murders to contact CrimeStoppers at 205- 254-7777.

Birmingham Police Department Chief Scott Thurmond also published a statement. “Our city has been rocked to its core by today’s events,” he wrote. “Our city and communities are hurting beyond belief. Our citizens and the City of Birmingham deserve better. The Birmingham Police Department will work tirelessly to solve these murders as well as many others that remain unsolved.”

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

February 19, 2024

Detroit Police Rally Community In Search For Missing Teen

The Detroit Police Department continues its search for Na'Ziyah Harris, a 13-year-old who went missing in January after leaving school.

The Detroit Police Department (DPD) is urging the community to be on the lookout for a teenage girl who went missing in January. Na’Ziyah Harris has not been seen since leaving school on Jan. 9.

Upon Harris’ not returning home from J.E. Clark Preparatory Academy despite being seen getting off the school bus, her family called authorities to report her missing. According to The Detroit News, federal investigators began their search of the 13-year-old’s whereabouts, including speaking with her friends and others in surrounding neighborhoods. However, the investigation was handed over to the DPD on Feb. 13.

During a news conference the following day, the agency’s chief encouraged city residents to take part in the search of Harris, who they believe could be in serious danger.

“We’re very, very concerned,” shared Chief James White. “… We will be bringing in our local, federal, state partners, a very concerned community, our board of police commissioners, our civic leaders … to assist us in bringing little Na’Ziyah home.”

The missing girl’s family members, including her grandmother Annette Harris, were present at the news conference and pleaded with fellow community members to help save their loved one.

“When a child is missing, you gotta look everywhere,” expressed the elder Harris. “I don’t want to think the worst about it — about her being abducted. I’m hoping and praying that that is not the case. I’m standing on my faith that God is going to bring my baby home.”

According to Fox 2, no one has come forward with new information or a sighting of Harris as of yet. She was last seen wearing a white, pink, and black jacket, blue jeans, and white Nike sneakers. However, authorities are still “not ruling anything out” regarding her disappearance, with White emphasizing that a joint effort is crucial to bringing Harris home safely: “We’re hopeful that we find her well, but we can’t operate on hope.”

Star Brim, Cardi B, Brims Street, Crips, Gang, Prison

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 19, 2024

Former Gang Godmother And Friend Of Cardi B Pleads For Probation Instead Of Prison Time

Star Brim has reportedly changed her life.

A purported gang member, who’s a close friend with hit-making hip-hop recording artist Cardi B, asked a judge to have leniency on her since she has allegedly cut ties with the Bloods gang she’d been involved with previously. She is requesting probation for her sentence instead of prison time.

According to Radar Online, Star Brim, née Yonette Respass, was known as the “Godmother of the 5-9 Brims.” She has taken a plea deal and wants probation due to the positive change in her lifestyle since her arrest.

Brim has been accused of ordering several gang members to attack two female bartenders at the Angels strip club in Queens, New York. The United States Attorney’s Office said the incident took place on August 15, 2018, when members of the 5-9 Brims followed Respass’ order to “pop that bottle” on the women. According to the claim, one of the “drops” (a younger female gang member) lured one of the bartenders across the bar and “beat her head and threw a bottle at her.”

In a newly filed motion, Brim said she was now worthy of the “Court’s mercy.”

Her attorney said, “[Brim] is a mother, sister, and friend who has undergone an extraordinary transition from a young woman with little regard for the law to a responsible, hardworking, single parent and has done so under challenging circumstances.”

After stating that she started in the gang at age 12 and rose through the ranks to become its godmother, Brim said that since her arrest in 2020 she has cut all ties with the 5-9 Brims.

Her attorney said that Brim’s life has changed since her child was born in March 2020, and that she now makes money on social media and works at a men’s shelter in Brooklyn. “She is a different person than the one who was arrested for these crimes four years ago. She is someone who is a productive member of society, who is self-reliant, and who contributes to her life and to the lives of those around her.”

Brim is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 21.

Georgia bus driver shortage, Florida, fire, Sea World, Broward COunty, School, field trip

by Sharelle Burt

February 19, 2024

Sixth-Grade Students Safe After Bus Catches Fire Following SeaWorld Field Trip

Thankfully, everyone was safe!

Students from Broward County, Florida, are safe following an incident where a bus transporting them back from SeaWorld caught fire.

The fire occurred on Feb. 16 after the bus pulled over near a Florida turnpike rest stop. Aboard the charter bus were 47 students and four chaperones from Seminole Middle School who’d enjoyed a day at the Orlando aquatic attraction.

Cathleen Brennan, a Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) spokesperson, says it still isn’t clear what caused the fire and is glad no one was hurt. “All students and staff had been safely evacuated from the bus before the fire started,” Brennan said. “We are proud of the quick response to this situation by all the chaperones, including the school resource officer and assistant principal, as well as the charter bus driver.”

BUS CATCHES FIRE – A bus carrying 47 students and four chaperones from a Broward County middle school caught on fire while returning from a trip to Orlando. https://t.co/5Tolm4waMk
— WPLG Local 10 News (@WPLGLocal10) February 18, 2024

Students began texting and video-chatting their parents while heading back to Broward County on the bus, which was provided by Hollywood, Florida-based My South Bus Tours. Brennan said all parents and guardians were updated constantly as new developments developed.

“Parents were kept informed about the incident through phone calls with their students and chaperones, as well as through messages from the principal, which provided updates on the replacement charter bus, including when the bus would arrive when the students were onboard and information about their expected arrival time back at the school,” Brennan said.

“All children were safe during this process, and the school appreciated the support from parents.”

The frightening incident was supposed to be a fun-filled day for the preteens. BCPS said it may change how students and chaperones are transported on future field trips.

But all parties involved, especially the students and the chaperones, were praised for their handling of the situation.

The district released a statement emphasizing safety. “Once the replacement charter bus arrived, the students and chaperones returned safely to the school,” the statement read. “We are proud of the quick responses to this situation by all those involved, as the safety of students and staff is always our priority.”

SeaWorld, which kicks off its 60th anniversary starting March 21, hasn’t yet released its own statement regarding the incident.

San Francisco, apology, Black residents,

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

February 19, 2024

San Francisco Set To Apologize To Black Residents For ‘Racial Inequity’

In a draft resolution, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors intends to apologize to the Black community for the "racial inequity" faced by city-wide legislation, as the fight for reparations continues.

The board of supervisors for San Francisco has plans to formally apologize to Black residents for the city’s history of “racial inequity” found within its policies and legislation. Their resolution to do so comes as a task force urges for reparations on behalf of its long-standing Black community.

A committee hearing on Feb. 15 led to the resolution, which will acknowledge and detail the city’s remorse for its displacement of and lack of public investment in the Black community’s growth, in addition to historical police injustice and distrust. According to the National Review, the apology also mentioned how redlining practices led to wealth inequities and educational divestment in the areas that Black people were heavily concentrated or pushed into.

“San Francisco has a long history of creating and/or enforcing laws, policies, and institutions that have perpetuated racial inequity in our city, much of which is difficult to document due to historical erasure,” the draft resolution stated.

As for reparations, the task force recommended in December 2022 that $5 million be designated to each Black resident who has been a part of San Francisco’s community for a substantial amount of time, which would cost the city over $100 billion to thoroughly allocate. This hefty amount doubles when accounting for additional wealth redistribution policies.

The city’s political figures are divided on instituting reparations, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. One board member, Shamann Walton, believes that the a $5 million allotment to each Black individual is not sufficient to absolve all the racial injustice and trauma endured directly by the San Francisco government, but says the apology is the first step in a lengthy process of action to remedy these generational issues.

“I want to acknowledge all the work around reparations here in San Francisco, so as we continue to improve outcomes for Black people in this city, this apology will bring us all closer to that end goal,” stated Walton.

On the other hand, Mayor London Breed proposed to dismantle their reparations office to aid in budget cuts. Her own Dream Keeper Initiative has already designated $100 million of local government funds to be poured into the economic and professional development of Black natives to the city.

Several other cities, including Boston and church communities in East Lansing, Michigan, have made steps toward rectifying the systemic violence and discrimination toward Black people via monetary aid. However, San Francisco still has a long way to go before passing legislation that would allocate funding of that magnitude on behalf of the demographic.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

February 19, 2024

Powerball Refuses $350 Million Jackpot Winner Due To ‘Mistake’ On Website

John Cheeks is suing Powerball and the D.C. Lottery for withholding what he believes are his rightful earnings.

Powerball is not granting an alleged winner his $350 million winnings due to a website error. In response, John Cheeks is suing Powerball and the D.C. Lottery for withholding what he believes are his rightful earnings.

Cheeks spoke to NBC 4 about the incident, saying he bought the ticket and played numbers derived from family birthdays, on Jan. 6, 2023. At the time, the jackpot had reached a massive $340 million. However, believing the odds were not strongly in his favor, he did not check his numbers on the live broadcast, only going on to the D.C. Lottery’s website the next day to find that he seemingly won the grand prize.

For days, the website showcased the numbers found on Cheeks’ ticket, but the issue stemmed from the set of seven not matching what was broadcasted. Cheeks only discovered this went he went to turn in his ticket, which had none of the winning numbers present.

Cheeks then went to present his case to the D.C. Office of Lottery and Gaming prize center, which also denied him the cash. The ticket was deemed so worthless by the center that he was told to trash it.

“’Hey, this ticket is no good. Just throw it in the trash can,’” remembered Cheeks of the employee’s words. “And I gave him a stern look. I said, ‘In the trash can?’ ‘Oh yeah, just throw it away. You’re not gonna get paid. There’s a trash can right there.’”

Despite Cheeks’ quest to be the jackpot’s rightful winner, the Powerball continued to rise to $754.6 million before a new winner was announced on Feb. 6. His lawyer remains adamant that something must be done to give his client some semblance of justice for the website error.

His lawyer said, “Even if a mistake was made, the question becomes: What do you do about that?”

Cheeks continues to keep the ticket in a safe compartment as his lawsuit gets underway.

RELATED CONTENT: Does Powerball Really Fund Education?

Harrison Floyd (Fulton County Sheriffs Office)

by Daniel Johnson

February 19, 2024

Former Blacks For Trump Leader Harrison Floyd Wants Bond Relaxed So He Can Campaign For Trump

Floyd asked a Fulton County judge to allow him to communicate with Donald Trump so he can help the campaign.

Harrison Floyd, one of the defendants at the center of former President Donald Trump’s Georgia election interference case, submitted a request to a Fulton County judge asking to be allowed to communicate with Trump so he can work on Trump’s 2024 election campaign.

As Fox 5 Atlanta reported, Harrison also asked Judge Scott McAfee for permission to use Twitter/X to discuss work or things outside of the case. McAfee indicated that he was open to amending Floyd’s bond but has not yet made a ruling.

As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, Floyd initially was placed on a $100,000 bond before the State of Georgia’s attorneys argued that his conduct toward witnesses constituted grounds to revoke his bond. That motion, however, was denied, even though Floyd committed “technical violations” of his bond agreement.

Though McAfee did indicate openness to changing the conditions of Floyd’s bond, he also seemed cautious, saying he wanted “reasonable restrictions” and that he would assess “where we are,” as Trump, despite his multiple court cases, remains the frontrunner for the Republican Party nomination. The former leader of Blacks for Trump’s attorney argued, according to The Hill, that communication could be restricted to “work purposes.” His attorney also said that his client’s ability to fundraise has been affected, saying “the court essentially silenced him.”

Judge McAfee also said there is “really no method of oversight” and that letting Trump and Floyd speak is not “something we’re going to be able to allow,” though he does think the current restrictions may not be necessary.

McAfee indicated that he is “at a minimum willing to modify that” and will re-examine the language concerning Floyd’s ability to have indirect contact with other defendants, and will be looking at the matter more closely before making a decision.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 19, 2024

NBA Players Discuss Who Might Be The Next Face Of The League

During All-Star Weekend, NBA players Steph Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, and others weighed in on who they believe to be the next stars in the league.

Although there is no clear answer or consensus, several players gave their opinions.

According to ESPN, the Golden State Warriors’ Curry had this to say about this topic.

“There’s a lot of guys to pick from in this group of 24 that are here,” Curry said over the weekend. “You see Luka [Doncic], Ant [Edwards], Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander], guys that are really coming into their prime, and they’re highly decorated already as All-Stars and All-NBA guys.”

The Milwaukee Bucks’ Antetokounmpo threw an endorsement toward San Antonio Spurs player Victor Wembanyama.

“As long as Victor is healthy, the league is his. LeBron is kind of like that. He’s close to the end of his career … but we have to deal with this problem now moving forward,” he said.

Yardbarker reported that Kevin Durant also gave his thoughts when asked who could be the next face of the league.

“I think each era has five, six, seven guys that can help carry the game forward,” said Durant. “It’s more than just Steph, LeBron, and myself. It’s James Harden, it’s Russell Westbrook, it’s Kawhi Leonard… a lot of these guys will inspire the next generation of hoopers to want to be professionals. It’s more than just a few guys. I look around the league and I see Shai, Ant, Book, Luka, Tyrese Maxey, Tyrese Haliburton, it’s so many guys that are inspiring the next generation of hoopers after them to become basketball players.”

Kevin Durant was asked who are the next ones who to serve as face of the league with LeBron James, Stephen Curry and himself having been those guys.”

He dropped a few names with Devin Booker being one of them. #Suns #NBAAllStar2024 pic.twitter.com/3WsujvEjzD

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) February 17, 2024

Boston Celtics player Jayson Tatum threw his own name in there.

“When LeBron retires, the face of the league, that’s tough, but we win a championship, I’ve got something to say about it, I know that,” Tatum said. “The league is in a great place right now, the amount of high-character guys, of talent throughout the NBA.”

With a number of talented players already making a name for themselves in the NBA, as Dres from Black Sheep says, “The Choice Is Yours.”

by Daniel Johnson

February 19, 2024

‘Dukes Of Hazzard’ Actor John Schneider Under Fire For ‘Racist’ Remarks About Beyoncé Singing Country Music: ‘Every Dog Must Mark Every Tree, Right?’

Black artists have been in country music for a long time — it didn't start with Beyoncé.

John Schneider, better known as Bo Duke from the “Dukes of Hazzard” television series, said that Houston-born Beyoncé’s entering country music was like a “dog peeing on a tree.” As Newsweek reported, Schneider used the interview to bemoan “lefties” during an interview on the conservative One America News network.

Schneider said, “They’ve got to make their mark, like a dog at a dog walk park, you know every dog has to mark every tree, so that’s what’s going on here.”

Former Dukes of Hazzard actor and country singer John Schneider and the OAN host are upset about Beyoncé releasing a country song, saying that leftists are trying to take over everything and Beyoncé doing a country song is like a dog peeing on their tree. pic.twitter.com/8iWSkSidyj
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) February 15, 2024

Black artists have been in country music for a long time; it didn’t start with Beyoncé. In 1974, The Pointer Sisters went back to their Arkansas roots and performed “Fairytale” at the Grand Ole Opry after receiving an invitation. They would also go on to win that year’s Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group, which is the first and only time that Black women have won any award for country music.

As NPR reported, Anita Pointer described the group’s experience at the Opry in her autobiography Fairytale: The Pointer Sisters’ Family Story. “When we arrived at the Grand Ole Opry, there were protesters carrying signs that said, ‘Keep country, country!’ It was a jarring sight for us. We had fought during the tumultuous civil rights era, which was still fresh in our minds. To see people protesting us because of our race was unsettling,” she wrote. “As we took the stage a man screamed, ‘Hot damn. Them girls is Black!’ Fortunately, we won the music lovers over with our live performance…After we performed the song, the same man screamed again, ‘Sing it again, honey!’ And we did. We sang it three more times that night.”

As for Schneider, many on social media believe his comments were code for “keep country white.” That statement is not only ignorant of country music’s past, which extends well before The Pointer Sisters, but also of the genre’s present and its future, which includes stars like Mickey Guyton, Kane Brown, and Breland.

Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns’ 2019 film Country Music explored the roots of county music. In it, historian Bill C. Malone said, “African-American style was embedded in country music from the very beginning of its commercial history. You can’t conceive of this music existing without this African American infusion. But then, as the music developed professionally, too often, African Americans were forgotten.”

Who can forget the late Charley Pride, a much respected and recognized country singer who paved the way for many Black country artists.

It comes as little surprise that when Beyoncé released two country songs, some country radio stations initially refused to play them during broadcasts because they don’t consider her a country artist. Black country artists have long dealt with country music radio’s reticence to play their music, with a 2021 study revealing that only 2.3% of country music played on country music airwaves over the last 20 years was by Black people or other people of color. This is despite the chart-topping success of artists like Pride, Brown, and Guyton.