by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 12, 2024

Jay-Z Teases Possibility Of Super Bowl Halftime Show Performance In The Future

The hip-hop mogul left the door open to a potential Super Bowl stage takeover.

Will Jay-Z ever perform the halftime show at the Super Bowl? That question was posed to the man responsible for lining up the talent for the yearly halftime performance during the NFL championship game. Jay-Z hasn’t headlined the widely watched event yet, but he doesn’t rule out the possibility of gracing the stage as the main performer sometime in the future, according to Entertainment Tonight.

In a deal with the NFL, Jay-Z’s Roc Nation is solely responsible for booking talent for the iconic Super Bowl halftime show. In 2020, Latina powerhouses Jennifer Lopez and Shakira graced the football field, while The Weeknd took to the stage in 2021. In a masterful performance that brought together some of hip-hop’s biggest superstars, Dr. Dre took the lead when he brought Snoop Dogg, Eminem, 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, and Anderson.Paak the next year, in 2022. A very pregnant Rihanna shocked the world when she showed her baby bump while performing in front of a worldwide audience in 2023.

This year, one of the greatest crooners and performers of our time, Usher Raymond, will command the area around the 50 yard line. At the premiere of the movie The Book of Clarence, Entertainment Tonight caught up to Jay-Z to discuss the upcoming performance by Usher, who has an upcoming album and tour both dropping after he leaves the stage at the football game.

“I think that he’s going to take his rightful place,” the Streets Is Watching lyricist said when approached by the media outlet. “He’s one of the greatest performers we’ve seen in our time, and I think he’ll take his rightful place.”

But the million dollar question is, will Shawn Corey Carter (Jay-Z’s “government” name) ever perform on a Sunday in February when the Super Bowl is usually played?

He slyly stated, “I don’t know. I thought it would be selfish to pick myself too early.” Still, would he ever step onto the coveted football field? “Maybe one year,” he replied.

RELATED CONTENT: Jay-Z Talks ‘Putting Ourselves’ In The ‘New Testament As We Should Be’ In ‘The Book Of Clarence’ Film

Joan Littlejohn, South Carolina, heater, Glenwood Fowler

by Jameelah Mullen

January 12, 2024

Elderly South Carolina Couple Found Dead In “Extremely Hot” Home

No foul play is suspected, police say.

A Spartanburg, South Carolina, couple was found dead in their home where the temperature of their heater measured over 120 degrees.

The elderly couple has been identified as Joan Littlejohn, 82 and Glenwood Fowler, 84, WSPA news reported.

According to a police report obtained by WHNS, the couple’s family requested a welfare check after not hearing from their parents since Jan 3. Police and medics arrived at the home on Woodview Avenue around 6 p.m. Saturday.

Police said the doors were locked, but they could access the house through an unlocked bedroom window. They found the deceased couple in their bedroom. Fowler was lying in the bed, Littlejohn was sitting in a chair.

When authorities entered, they noticed the home was “extremely hot.”

Medics measured victims’ body temperatures with a device that went up to 106 degrees. Both victims’ temperatures surpassed that reading.

Relatives told police that both the gas and the hot water heater were not working. When they noticed the pilot light wasn’t working, they started “fiddling” with it until the pilot light came on. According to the police report, the inside of the home was more than 120 degrees after being opened and exposed to cold temperatures for 20 minutes.

“Temperatures reached upwards of 800 to 1,000 degrees,” Assistant Chief Brad Hall of the Spartanburg Fire Department told WSPA News.

They authorities entered the basement, where the water heater was located.

“The heater was so hot it looked as if the basement was currently on fire,” the police report read.

When they realized the heater was not on fire, they deactivated it. The temperature of the heater was measured at more than 1000 degrees, according to reports.

Relatives said the couple had multiple health and mobility issues. Fowler recently had hip surgery.

Autopsies were performed on both victims, but the Spartanburg County coroner said further testing is needed to determine the exact causes of death.

fani Willis, Nathan Wade, Fulton county, superior court, judge, affair, wade, Bryant-Yeartie, Georgia DA Fani Willis

by Stacy Jackson

January 12, 2024

Fulton County DA Fani Willis Faces Accusations Ahead Of Appearance At Big Bethel AME’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Service

Willis' office was hit with allegations on Jan. 8 that claim prosecutor Nathan Wade used case funds to take vacations with the district attorney.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ office was hit with allegations ahead of her appearance on Jan. 14 at the historic Black church’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day service.

Willis, who was thrust into the national spotlight for investigating former President Donald Trump for election interference charges, will address the congregation of Atlanta’s Big Bethel AME Church during its 10 a.m. service to honor Dr. King’s legacy, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Big Bethel AME, established in 1847, is the oldest Black church in Atlanta, the Atlanta History Center notes. The church was founded by enslaved African Americans after they were denied worship with white parishioners at Union Church. The congregation integrated into the African Methodist Episcopal denomination after the Civil War and made its move to 220 Auburn Avenue. According to Big Bethel’s website, Rev. John Foster, Ph. D., is the current Senior Pastor. Beyond Sunday services, the church has hosted the first public school for Black students, shared space with Morris Brown College and welcomed the space for civil rights assemblies.

As the district attorney, who has led the prosecution of Trump and his allies for allegedly seeking to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia, prepares for Sunday’s MLK service, her office also faces accusations of financial and romantic misconduct tied to the case.

A Jan. 8 court filing on behalf of defendant and former Trump campaign official Michael Roman claims special prosecutor Nathan Wade improperly used case funds to pay for vacations with Willis, with whom he allegedly has a relationship. Records show Wade has been paid over $650,000 in fees since January 2022, authorized by Willis.

The motion seeks dismissal of charges against Roman and the disqualification of Willis, Wade and the entire DA’s office from moving forward with any persecutions in the Trump investigation. Willis’s office stated they will address the allegations “through appropriate court filings.”

SBA, business, Small Business Administratikon

by Derek Major

January 12, 2024

Small Business Administration’s Growth Accelerator Is Reviving Small Business Research And Development

The SBA will award up to $3 million in the first stage and up to $5.75 million in total for the competition.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) announced Monday it has opened applications for its annual accelerator competition.

Inc. reported the SBA Growth Accelerator Fund competition brings organizations together to advance small business R&D efforts and compete for cash prizes from $50,000 to $200,000. The competition also allows universities and research organizations to forge partnerships with small businesses.

“The SBA’s 10-year strong Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC) strengthens the nation’s innovation ecosystem and builds local partnerships critical to ensuring all of America’s great ideas can thrive through the vast resources available through the federal government,” SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman said in a statement.

The SBA competition consists of two stages. The first stage focuses on organizations with the ability and capacity to build ecosystems for a given business sector and comes with a $50,000 prize. Companies and research organizations that earn cash in stage one qualify for a stage where they can earn another $50,000 to $150,000.

In stage 2, business owners can receive direct assistance from stage one winners. Prize winners from stage 2 can use the earnings for training and mentorship opportunities, or for putting entrepreneurs in touch with new customers and suppliers.

The SBA will award up to $3 million in the first stage and up to $5.75 million for the competition.

“If the SBA doesn’t award the full $3 million allocated in stage one, those unused funds may be awarded in stage two so long as the total amount awarded remains below $5.75 million,” an SBA spokesperson told Inc. “It is possible that other federal agencies may join with SBA to provide additional awards.”

Those who apply must submit their materials by Feb. 16. Winners from stage one will be notified in April, while stage two winners will be notified in September. Those interested in being a judge for the competition can fill out an interest form here.

Rachel Roy, Damon Dash, child support, court, payment

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 12, 2024

Damon Dash Asks Court To Lower Child Support Payments

The entrepreneur claims he only made $5,140 in 2022.

Roc-A-Fella label co-founder Damon Dash has pleaded with a judge to lower the child support payments he pays to his former wife, Rachel Roy.

Dash stated that his current income doesn’t allow him to pay the required amount. According to TMZ Hip Hop, the Harlem-bred entrepreneur asked the judge to lower his monthly payment to $428 a month because of his lack of cash flow. He is currently required to pay Roy $3,000 monthly for the 15-year-old daughter they share. They also have an older daughter. The explanation for his lowered annual salary is that his business ventures are not making any money currently.

He stated in his court filing that he only made $5,140 in income for the 2022. He said his income has reduced immensely since 2020 and hasn’t picked up due to the pandemic. Yet, Roy is disputing his claim. She alleges that he is not fully disclosing income from his businesses, and since he still owns a significant stake in Roc-A-Fella Records, that should supply a substantial stream of income.

The judge has not ruled on his motion yet.

While appearing on The CEO Show with Dr. Taje Moreno last October, he expressed that his recent earnings pale in comparison to when he earned $8 million a year.

“While I’m investing in something else, I might not be making the money and the profit, so I can’t afford to pay out what I was when I was having EBITA [earnings before interest, taxes, and amortization] of $8 million a year,” Dash said on the Oct. 19 episode. “So you can’t judge how much I’m gonna pay out by how much I made 20 years ago.”

Although the cash flow isn’t what it was during the height of the Roc-A-Fella Records era, he stated that he wasn’t ashamed of his current financial status and described himself as a “proud broke,” but that his situation was temporary.

Sara Sidner, breast cancer, mammogram, CNN

by Sharelle Burt

January 12, 2024

CNN’s Sara Sidner Reveals Stage 3 Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Pleads With Women To Get Mammograms

We're rooting for you, Sara!

The world got a shock when CNN anchor Sara Sidner revealed her battle with stage 3 breast cancer live on thje air, CBS News reports.

During an episode of CNN News Central on Jan. 8, Sidner, 51, ended her show with both a heartbreaking announcement and an essential message to women worldwide.

“I have never been sick a day of my life. I don’t smoke. I rarely drink,” Sidner said. “Breast cancer does not run in my family. And yet, here I am with stage 3 breast cancer. It is hard to say out loud.” She told viewers she was in her second month of chemotherapy and will undergo radiation and a double mastectomy. Optimistic about her treatment plan, Sidner touched on how stage 3 breast cancer “is not a death sentence anymore for most women.”

Please for the love of God get your mammograms and do your self exams. I want you to thrive my sisters. 🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷 pic.twitter.com/jIuW8WwSb2
— Sara Sidner (@sarasidnerCNN) January 8, 2024

Sidner’s breast cancer journey began in October 2023, when she was covering the Israel-Hamas war in Israel. While she was overseas, doctors alerted her that she needed to get a biopsy after her routine mammogram alarmed her doctors. Sidner told People magazine that receiving the news amid the devastation she was witnessing daily grounded her. “Seeing the kind of suffering going on where I was and seeing people still live through the worst thing that has ever happened to them with grace and kindness, I was blown away by their resilience,” Sidner said.

“In some weird way, it helped me with my own perspective on what I am going to be facing.”

Sidner’s announcement came with some eye-opening statistics. One in eight women is diagnosed with breast cancer every year. The numbers increase for Black women, as 41% of those battling the disease are more likely to die than white women. Higher death rates from breast cancer among Black women are likely related to greater cases of inflammatory breast cancer, which data shows to be aggressive but less common.

“So to all my sisters, Black and White and Brown out there, please, for the love of God, get your mammograms every single year,” Sidner said.

“Do your self-exams; try to catch it before I do.”

Fortunately there are several new scientific developments for breast cancer detection. A study from the Lancet Oncology journal found that AI can detect breast cancer just as successfully as an experienced radiologist.

After coming to grips with her diagnosis, Sidner decided she wasn’t going to let it define her.

“I just made a decision. I’m like, ‘No, you’re going to live, and you’re going to stop this, and you’re going to do every single thing in your arsenal to survive this,'” she said. “Period. And I have been so much happier in my life since … I mean happier than I was before cancer.”

real estate, Detroit, Miami, housing market

by Derek Major

January 12, 2024

Detroit Passes Miami As The Fastest-Appreciating U.S. Housing Market

Metro Detroit has bested Miami in the housing market...find out how!

Miami’s long reign as the nation’s hottest housing market is over, with Detroit now at the top of home appreciation growth.

Fortune magazine reported that home prices shot up 5.2% year-over-year in November 2023, the most substantial annual growth rate recorded since January.

Detroit, an auto manufacturing hub until the 1970s, posted the highest year-over-year gain at an 8.7% increase, knocking Miami from its 16-month run in the top spot of highest-appreciating cities.

The news is significant for the Motor City, considering that as recently as 2010, homes were being sold in Detroit for $1, and one in five houses in the city was empty. Detroit’s downtown area has been revitalized in recent years, with a construction boom leading to a rise in green spaces, businesses, and housing.

Miami didn’t fall too far, however, landing in second place at 8.3%. Charlotte, North Carolina, finished in third place at 7.4%.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused millions of people to relocate while keeping their jobs, as working from home became commonplace for computer-based workers. One of the most popular places Americans relocated to was the Sunshine State.

Business Insider reports that Florida’s population jumped by 1.9% from 2021 to 2022 — a net gain of 417,000 new residents. It was the first year since 1957 that Florida held the distinction of being America’s fastest-growing state.

As a result, housing demand skyrocketed there, and in September 2023 Zillow named Florida the second-most valuable real estate market in the U.S. The top housing markets have stayed hot through the pandemic, defying the belief that home prices would drop as interest rates continue to climb.

“This continued strength remains remarkable amid the nation’s affordability crunch but speaks to the pent-up demand that is driving home prices higher,” Selma Hepp, CoreLogic chief economist, said, according to Fortune. “Markets where the prolonged inventory shortage has been exacerbated by the lack of new homes for sale recorded notable price gains over the course of 2023.”

CoreLogic credits gains in home values to job gains thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPs Act as “helping to spur housing demand.”

VR, met averse, Doja Cat, JDun, JoyReign

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 12, 2024

How These Black Content Creators Enjoy Virtual Concerts In The Metaverse

It's a new year with new opportunities for a music festival. But did you know that the high-energy excitement of a festival can be enjoyed from the comfort of your home?

It’s a new year with new opportunities for a music festival. But did you know that the high-energy excitement of a festival can be enjoyed from the comfort of your home?

Thanks to Meta Quest, virtual reality offers Horizon World users a front-row ticket for immersive shows, both live and via replay. Through the Meta Horizon Worlds Music Valley feature, users can enjoy up close and personal VR concert experiences with music stars like Victoria Monét, Jorja Smith, and even Doja Cat.

“On My Mama” singer Monét hosted her iHeartRadio LIVE show on Dec. 4, and Doja Cat: The Scarlet Tour in VR will be coming to Meta Horizon Worlds on Jan. 20 at 5pm PT. The Scarlet Tour in VR allows users to see Doja Cat perform her biggest hits, including “Paint the Town Red,” “Agora Hills,” and “Demons,” along with her dynamic choreography.

“Bringing The Scarlet Tour to life was an amazing experience for me. Taking it from an idea to real life and sharing that with my fans at arenas was surreal and rewarding,” Doja Cat said. “To now be able to share the live show through VR with Meta and The Diamond Bros for ‘Doja Cat: The Scarlet Tour in VR’ is a perfect way for fans who did not get to come to a show to feel like they did. I can’t wait for everyone to see what we have created.”

The VR world offers opportunities for everyone. As the technology advances, more and more creators are taking to Meta to take advantage of the new way to enjoy a music concert and connect with fans.

Jeremy “JDun” Duncan and JoyReign, both metaverse content creators, aspire to promote representation and positivity within the XR space. A married couple, they jointly operate Onyx Leaf Media, the platform behind the acclaimed talk show “Joy in the Morning With JoyReign” on Horizon Worlds and the YouTube channel “Getting Things Dun,” whose subscriber base of 2,800 is steadily growing.

Their dedication extends to their podcast “Get’Em to the Metaverse,” where they continue their mission to integrate the extraordinary metaverse into everyday life.

“The power of any experience in VR is immersing you in a new environment and making it feel like you’re physically there with people,” JDun tells BLACK ENTERPRISE. “In the case of attending a VR concert, it feels like you’re in the venue with the best seat in the house and surrounded by friends.

“The sense of presence that VR brings to a music setting is incredible. From the moment the VR concert begins, the attendee gets an experience unlike any other.”

JoyReign described how VR concert attendees can interact and engage with each other during a performance.

“I absolutely love how the virtual environments are interactive. While watching the concert, the attendees could play interactive games and win prizes while enjoying your favorite music artist,” she says.

As with anything new, there are stigmas associated with virtual reality and programs available in a tech-based environment.

“A ton of folks think VR is only individual experiences, but what we’ve come to learn is that virtual reality’s greatest feature is social,” JDun says. “We want people to know that community is a huge part of why we went all in on the metaverse, and Horizon Worlds is the best metaverse to connect with so many diverse communities.”

As they continue to grow their brand in the metaverse, JDun and JoyReign are hoping to see more people who look like them there.

“We are proud people of color with a strong desire to show representation in the VR space,” JDun says.

“This technology has the potential to be transformative well into the next decade, and we want to make sure minorities are not left behind and everyone has an opportunity to be exposed to this technology. We are laying the foundation right now in the VR space for the next generation to know they have a seat at the table.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 12, 2024

Black Man Imprisoned 44 Years For Crime He Didn’t Commit Receives $25M Settlement

Ronnie Long, 68, was 21 years old when he was wrongfully convicted after being falsely accused of raping a white woman.

After being imprisoned 44 years for a crime he did not commit, Ronnie Long received a $25 million settlement Jan. 9 from the city of Concord, North Carolina, and the state of North Carolina. The bulk of the settlement, $22 million will come from Concord, where he was convicted.

Long had his sentence vacated by the state of North Carolina in August 2020, according to CBS News.

The agreement ends the wrongful incarceration lawsuit filed by Long’s attorneys. Included in the settlement was an apology from the town, located approximately 25 miles northeast of Charlotte.

“We are deeply remorseful for the past wrongs that caused tremendous harm to Mr. Long, his family, friends, and our community. Mr. Long suffered the extraordinary loss of his freedom and a substantial portion of his life because of this conviction. He wrongly served 44 years, 3 months and 17 days in prison for a crime he did not commit. While there are no measures to fully restore to Mr. Long and his family all that was taken from them, through this agreement we are doing everything in our power to right the past wrongs and take responsibility. We are hopeful this can begin the healing process for Mr. Long and our community, and that together we can move forward while learning valuable lessons and ensuring nothing like this ever happens again.”

The 68-year-old Long was 21 years old when he was wrongfully convicted after being falsely accused of raping a white woman. When he did go to trial in Cabarrus County, an all-white jury convicted him of burglary and rape and he was given two life sentences.

A wrongful convictions clinic at Duke University’s law school helped Long gain his freedom. His attorneys stated that none of the more than 40 fingerprints collected from the scene were not given to his defense team and none of the prints matched Long’s. Semen samples taken were never disclosed to the defense and later disappeared.

After a federal appeals court ordered a new hearing for Long in August 2020, the conviction was immediately vacated and Long was released from prison as a free man. Gov. Roy Cooper also granted him a full pardon of innocence.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 11, 2024

Charges Dropped Against Ohio Woman Who Miscarried In Toilet

The Ohio woman who was facing criminal charges after miscarrying at home will have the charges dropped.

The Ohio woman who was facing criminal charges after miscarrying at home on the toilet will have the charges dropped.

Brittany Watts, 34, made nationwide headlines after she was indicted on charges of abuse of a corpse following an at-home miscarriage. However, on Thursday, Jan. 11, the Trumbull County prosecutor’s office said the grand jury declined to return an indictment, the AP reports.

Watts’ case sparked a national debate after she was criminally charged after miscarrying into a toilet on Sept. 22. City prosecutors said she miscarried, flushed, and scooped out the toilet before leaving the house for a hair appointment and leaving the 22-week-old fetus lodged in the pipes.

Watts visited Mercy Health-St. Joseph’s Hospital twice in the days leading up to her miscarriage and was told by her doctor that she was carrying a nonviable fetus and would have to have her labor induced or risk “significant risk” of death.” Delays and complications caused Watts to leave the hospital each time without being treated, her attorney said.

Following the miscarriage, she tried to go to a hair appointment, but friends sent her to the hospital instead. A nurse called 911 to report a previously pregnant patient returned to the hospital and told them, “The baby’s in her backyard in a bucket.” The call led to an investigation and eventually criminal charges against Watts.

Her attorney told the judge that Watts has no criminal record and was being “demonized for something that goes on every day.” An autopsy determined the fetus died in utero and identified “no recent injuries.”

Warren Assistant Prosecutor Lewis Guarnieri told Municipal Court Judge Terry Ivanchak the issue wasn’t “how the child died, when the child died” but “the fact the baby was put into a toilet, was large enough to clog up the toilet, left in the toilet, and she went on (with) her day.”

The story sparked outrage and debates around state laws governing women’s reproductive healthcare access. The dropped charges were announced hours before a planned “We Stand With Brittany!” rally on Warren, Ohio’s Courthouse Square.