by Mary Spiller

January 11, 2025

Louisiana State University Wide Receiver Kyren Lacy Wanted For Fatal Hit-And-Run

Lacy reportedly was involved in a crash that killed a 78-year-old veteran.

Louisiana State Police have issued an arrest warrant for Kyren Lacy, a Louisiana State University wide receiver, after he was allegedly involved in a fatal Dec. 17 crash in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana.

Authorities reported in the arrest warrant that the 24-year-old LSU player is wanted for negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run, and reckless operation of a vehicle. Police explained that Lacy reportedly caused a car accident that resulted in the death of 78-year-old Herman Hall and injured two others.

Rocky Arceneaux, acting as Lacy’s agent, revealed to CNN that the LSU star is cooperating with authorities and that the true facts “will ultimately demonstrate the truth, but we respect the need for a full and thorough investigation. It is being taken very seriously, and we are committed to resolving it responsibly.”

According to a police news release, Lacy was driving a 2023 Dodge Charger “recklessly” and illegally passing other vehicles at a “high rate of speed while crossing the centerline and entering the northbound lane while in a designated No-Passing Zone.”

Lacy’s alleged reckless driving reportedly caused a 2017 Kia Cadenza to swerve over the centerline to avoid crashing into him, where it then collided head-on with a Kia Sorento on the other side of the roadway.

The Sorento’s passenger was former US Marine Herman Hall, who died from his injuries after being rushed to the hospital following the crash. The drivers of both the other affected cars were injured.

Authorities accused Lacy of leaving the scene of the crash and fleeing “without stopping to render aid, call emergency services, or report his involvement in the crash.”

The accident occurred just two days before Lacy declared that he would enter the 2025 NFL draft after his successful LSU football career — where he started 12 games this past season and caught 58 passes for a total of 866 yards.

by Daniel Johnson

January 11, 2025

Sam Moore Of Soul Duo Sam & Dave Dies At 89

The legacy of Sam Moore and Dave Prater can be heard and felt in the work of musicians such as Al Green, Michael Jackson.

Sam Moore, the 89-year-old sole surviving member of the 1960s soul duo Sam & Dave, died on Jan. 10 in Coral Gables, Florida, due to complications suffered while he was recovering from surgery, according to his publicist, Jeremy Westby.

According to NPR, the legacy of Sam Moore and Dave Prater can be heard and felt in the work of musicians such as Al Green, Michael Jackson. The pair was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.

During the pair’s tenure at Stax Records, they were second only to the late, great Otis Redding, and, according to the “Stax: Soulsville USA” documentary, arguably their biggest song, “Soul Man” became a signifier for supporters of the Civil Rights movement, particularly the Black Power movement as depicted by Issac Hayes, another cornerstone of Stax following the untimely death of Redding.

According to NPR, the group, as many other 1960s era soul acts, faded from the charts after that decade ended, but would be revived in subsequent decades due to the 1970’s film “The Blues Brothers,” in which “Saturday Night Live” alums Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi revived and recorded the song with most of the members of Booker T & The MG’s who recorded the original song with Sam and Dave.

Moore, however, had mixed feelings about the song’s resurgence because some young people believed the song was originally the property of “The Blues Brothers” film.

Moore also took issue with the 2008 film, “Soul Men,” which starred Samuel L. Jackson and the late Bernie Mac, telling the story of a pair of aging and estranged singers because he believed the pair’s resemblance to the real life “Soul Man” duo was a bit too close for his liking.

Moore did file a lawsuit over the depiction, but ultimately lost his court battle.

True to the film’s depiction of its purportedly fictional amalgamation of various soul groups, Moore sued Prater for a number of years after the latter hired a singer to take Moore’s place and began touring as the New Sam & Dave.

Prater would later tragically die in a car crash in Georgia in 1988, leaving Moore as the group’s sole surviving member.

Moore would later agitate for retirement benefits he alleged that the recording industry had cheated him out of, joining a lawsuit against several record companies and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists in 1993.

According to a 1994 Associated Press interview, Moore recounted his reasoning for joining the lawsuit to the outlet.

“Two thousand dollars for my lifetime?” Moore said at the time. “If you’re making a profit off of me, give me some too. Don’t give me cornbread and tell me it’s biscuits.”

Curiously, Moore went from singing a song that was deeply associated with the Black Power movement in the 1960s to tacitly supporting President Donald Trump by performing at his 2017 inauguration.

Like most artists of his generation, Moore got his start in music by singing in church, where he learned to perform.

During the 1950s, he would sing at soul and R&B clubs, but did not meet Prater until 1961, and they became a popular duo in Miami once Moore helped Prater with the lyrics of a song he was working on.

This popularity led to Atlantic Records’ Jerry Wexler sending them to the company’s Stax subsidiary in 1965 after they signed to Atlantic.

Moore is survived by his wife, Joyce, daughter Michell, and two grandchildren.

by Daniel Johnson

January 11, 2025

Meta, Amazon Roll Back DEI Programs Ahead Of Trump’s Inauguration

Meta and Amazon joined the ranks of McDonald's, Walmart, John Deere, Tractor Supply Co., and others in dropping or substantially altering its diversity, equity and inclusion programs

Meta and Amazon have followed in the footsteps of McDonald’s, Walmart, John Deere, Tractor Supply Co., and other major companies by scaling back or significantly altering their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. According to multiple media reports, Meta’s decision, alongside other recent actions, is being viewed as an effort to align itself with the anticipated Trump administration.

According to CNN, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, announced in an internal memo that it would end “equity and inclusion programs and changing hiring and supplier diversity practices,” and Meta’s vice president of human resources Janelle Gale confirmed this to CNN in her own statement.

“The legal and policy landscape surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the United States is changing,” Gale wrote. “The Supreme Court of the United States has recently made decisions signaling a shift in how courts will approach DEI. It reaffirms longstanding principles that discrimination should not be tolerated or promoted on the basis of inherent characteristics.”

According to Gale, “DEI” has become “charged” due to the belief of some groups that it denotes “preferential treatment of some groups over others.”

In addition to this, per the memo, the company’s current chief diversity officer, Maxine Williams will have a new role which will focus on “accessibility and engagement,” this, according to Gale, is so the company doesn’t make hiring decisions based on “protected characteristics,” a philosophy pulled directly from the agitation of conservative activists like Robby Starbuck.

Meta, however, is not the only tech company pivoting away from prior commitments to DEI in the wake of the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor in 2020.

All in one day, META & AMAZON rolling back DEI. The billionaires are kissing the ring. https://t.co/NK1rdhw4hY
— Louis Pisano (@LouisPisano) January 10, 2025

According to CNBC, Amazon has joined Meta in ending or changing its approach to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Per a Dec. 16 note from Candi Castleberry, Amazon’s VP of inclusive experiences and technology, the company was “winding down outdated programs and materials,” as part of a larger review of the company’s initiatives.

Castleberry continued, “Rather than have individual groups build programs, we are focusing on programs with proven outcomes — and we also aim to foster a more truly inclusive culture.”

Although Castleberry’s memo does not specify which of the company’s initiatives will be ended as a result of its year-end review, there have been changes to its “Our Positions” webpage, the page that is dedicated to Amazon’s official stances on a number of issues.

Per records of the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine, that webpage previously contained separate sections regarding “Equity for Black people,” “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion,” and “LGBTQ+ rights.”

Currently, those separate sections have been condensed into a single paragraph indicating that Amazon believes in creating a diverse and inclusive company and affirms that the inequitable treatment of anyone is unacceptable.

According to Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel, “We update this page from time to time to ensure that it reflects updates we’ve made to various programs and positions.”

Per a report from The Washington Post, which Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns, employees responded to the Amazon internal memo with their own concerns, per screenshots obtained by the outlet.

“I’m a bit worried … if that will impact insurance coverage in the future,” one employee wrote in the comments section of the internal memo.

Another employee described the change as “a bit of a backward step” from Amazon’s previous position. Amazon, however, told The Washington Post that the company’s insurance benefit is still available for its employees.

by Mary Spiller

January 11, 2025

Black Women Unemployment Rate Falls In December

The decline comes post a concerning uptick in November for the Black community.

According to a new report from CNBC, the unemployment rate for Black women finally fell in December, after a consistent and alarming increase for the month of November.

For Black women, the unemployment rate for December dropped from 5.9% in November to 5.4% in December. November’s number preceded a jobless rate that rose almost an entire percentage point for the population.

The labor participation rate, which includes both those employed and those actively seeking work, rose to 62.4%.

Experts attribute the change to an unexpected increase in nonfarm payrolls. The payrolls grew during December and around the holiday season, rising to 256,000 in the month and quickly topping economists’ prediction for a gain of just 155,000. This caused the overall unemployment rate to fall to 4.1%, which indicates a resilient labor market and could have affected Black women as well.

As reported by UCA, the nonfarm payroll is a value that measures the number of workers in the United States, excluding only those who work in farming, private households, non-profits, and sole proprietorships or self-employment, as well as those who are certified active military service members. The value accounts for approximately 80% of the total workers who contribute to the gross domestic product of our country, which includes the majority of Black women.

For Black workers overall in the country, the unemployment rate was consistent with the trend of Black women, and also declined in December, falling to 6.1% from a rate of 6.4% in November and 5.7% before it in October.

Senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute, Elise Gould, spoke on the concerning trend in November and the months prior. She said, “There were some concerns about the Black unemployment rate going up. It’s still significantly higher than for other groups — and that’s still a concern — but nothing in this report jumps out as particularly problematic.”

Aside from Black women, Black men also saw an improvement. Unemployment rates for Black men fell to 5.6% in December from 6% in November — although the labor force participation rate for the group declined to 68.2% at the end of the year from November’s 68.7%.

In comparison, highlighting the racial disparity in the workforce, for white workers the jobless rate fell even further from 3.8% to just 3.6% in December.

Lee Daniels, Sister Lydia, Empire, Cookie

by Mary Spiller

January 11, 2025

Lee Daniels Mourns Loss Of Sister Lydia, Inspiration For Empire’s Cookie

Daniels described Lydia as his 'best friend' in a heartfelt Instagram post following her death.

Producer and director Lee Daniels shared a heartfelt post on Instagram revealing the loss of his younger sister, Lydia Ruth Daniels-Rook. He wrote in the Jan. 10 post that Lydia was the one who inspired his writing of Taraji P. Henson‘s Empire character, Loretha “Cookie” Lyon.

In an emotional post on Instagram, Daniels shared a photo of them together, as well as words about how he was mourning Lydia’s passing. Daniels didn’t specify the cause of death for Lydia, who was 64 at the time.

Daniels shared, “As the fires are burning, so is my heart. My younger sister Lydia has passed. She was also my best friend. In Empire, the character of Cookie was based partly on her life. She’s left four beautiful children and five grandchildren behind. RIP Girly…I LOVE YOU FOREVER.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/DEnEgIPR2t8/?igsh=aHFsbHd4MWEzb3k2

The 65-year-old Oscar-nominated director created the 2015 hit Fox series Empire. In it, powerhouse actress Henson played Cookie — the bold wife of Lucious Lion, who returns from prison to reclaim her stake at Empire Entertainment after being locked up for drug dealing.

For the character that Daniels revealed was in some part created from Lydia’s life story, Henson was nominated for several Emmys for bringing Cookie to life.

In the initial post, Daniels received words of support and condolences from his fellow industry stars such as Holly Robinson Peete, Hym Whitley, Kelly Rowland, Patti Labelle, and Billy Porter.

The comments underneath The Deliverance director’s tribute for Lydia, including Halle Berry, who starred in Daniels 2001’s film production of Monster’s Ball.

Berry said, “Sending all my love to you and your family.”

Porter added, “So sorry for your loss. Sending you all the love and peace that’s possible.”

Daniels was one of five siblings raised in West Philadelphia, and Lydia is survived by four children of her own and five grandchildren.

Homelessness, Los Angeles, homeless, VA, veterans

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 11, 2025

Louisiana Supreme Court Rules To Clear Homeless Encampments In New Orleans

The Louisiana Supreme Court is in favor of police clearing the homeless encampments throughout New Orleans.

The Louisiana Supreme Court has overturned an injunction, allowing police to resume clearing homeless encampments in New Orleans.

On Jan. 9, the court ruled in favor of Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, lifting the injunction that had halted state-ordered encampment sweeps, Fox 8 Live reported. These actions were directed by Governor Jeff Landry after the city failed to meet its November deadline to address the issue.

New Orleans City Council officials argue that the “sweeps” interfere with the city’s efforts to transition the homeless into permanent housing. However, the Supreme Court ruled that the state’s actions are justified in the interest of public health and safety.

This development comes after Judge Ethel Julien’s December 2024 decision requiring Governor Landry’s office to provide a 24-hour written notice to the unhoused before clearing encampments. However, Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Jay B. McCallum later ruled that the preliminary injunction was unconstitutional.

“This truth should be self-evident in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on Bourbon Street in the early hours of New Year’s Day, 2025. There is no absolute constitutional right to imperil public health and safety,” Judge McCallum said, citing public safety as cause for his ruling.

Landry has since responded to the ruling on social media.

“This afternoon, the Louisiana Supreme Court recognized the constitutional authority of the State Police and other State agencies to keep the city of New Orleans safe,” he tweeted. “This comes at a very important time given the events of last week, the upcoming Super Bowl, and Mardi Gras.”

“State Police has every legal right to clear the encampments. I appreciate the Louisiana Supreme Court for coming to a common-sense conclusion on this important public safety issue,” Murrill added in a separate tweet. “I’m proud of the hard work of my Solicitor General’s Office & Deputy Solicitor General Zach Faircloth.”

African designer, Nigeria, show, world records

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 11, 2025

Nigerian Fashion Designer Sets Guinness World Record For Making World’s Largest Sandal In 72 Hours

A young Nigerian designer has set a new world record after crafting the world's largest sandal.

A young fashion designer out of Nigeria just set a Guinness World Record by making the world’s largest sandal in 72 hours.

On Jan. 2, visionary designer Liz Sanya embarked on a bold challenge, and by Jan. 4, the Ibadan native had successfully created a massive pink clog measuring an impressive 4.8 meters (15 feet 9 inches) in length, News Central Africa reported. Sanya built the sandal in Lagos with the support of local celebrities and public figures including music artists Mayorkun, Pheelz, P.Priime, and Taves, as well as music entrepreneur Bizzle Osikoya, and filmmaker Korty.

“I’ll never be able to put into words what any of this means to me, I started designing shoes when I was 12 and by 14 I was selling them to fund a ‘habit’ I couldn’t afford,” Sanya said in a statement.

“None of this has been possible without the support and compassion of the people who see me and believe in my vision. Ibadan… where I was born. Lagos where I was inspired. It was only right to come back home and prove it. 1 world record to beat, within 72hrs…”

Sanya has now exceeded the previous record set by a team of artisans from Municipio De Sahauyo, Mexico, who crafted a traditional sandal measuring 10 feet 1.65 inches wide and 24 feet 5.31 inches long.

She documented her experience on Instagram in highlights that showed the accomplishment and all of the support she received from the local community.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by SANYA (@lizsanyaa)

“Stomp the world,” one of her supporters wrote.

“I’m rooting for you,” added another.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by SANYA (@lizsanyaa)

“Believing in me is free, doubting me will cost you,” she wrote after accomplishing the historical task.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by SANYA (@lizsanyaa)

“Left your footprint in the world fr,” one fan wrote.

“There’s nothing u can’t do! 🗣️🗣️Big up you fr mannn 👏👏👏,” one user added.

Tiger Woods, Luxury Apparel, Sun Day Red, Golf

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 11, 2025

Puma Sues Tiger Woods Over Sun Day Red Logo

The sports retail giant claims that the Sun Day Red logo created by Woods closely resembles Puma’s signature emblem.

Puma is going after Tiger Woods for what the legendary sports brand believes is a similarity between their two logos.

Puma, whose iconic logo has remained unchanged for 56 years, filed a notice of opposition against Woods’ brand on Jan. 2, Sports Illustrated reported. The sports retail giant claims that the Sun Day Red logo created by Woods closely resembles Puma’s signature emblem.

This move puts a stop to Sun Day Red’s efforts to trademark its logo of a leaping tiger, composed of 15 lines to symbolize Woods’s 15 major championship victories. Its red color comes from the red Woods always wears on Sundays.

“Due to the confusing similarity of the marks and the identical, legally identical, or closely related nature of the goods and services of the parties, consumer confusion is likely between the Challenged Marks and the Leaping Cat logo,” the filing says.

Woods continues to face legal challenges over his brand’s logo. Puma’s lawsuit comes after Tigeraire, a personal air product company, filed a notice of opposition three months ago, and is also currently in litigation in federal court.

Woods launched Sun Day Red with TaylorMade in February 2024, following the end of his 27-year partnership with Nike. Despite the opposition against the logo, TaylorMade told CNBC that they “feel very confident in our trademarks and logos.”

However, industry insiders believe Sun Day Red faces a “significant” challenge in trademarking its logo.

“This is a real fight,” said Josh Gerben, a trademark attorney at Gerben IP. “Any time you have open litigation you can lose. I think Puma has a legitimate case.”

The two parties may still reach a settlement before the case goes to trial, which is likely to occur in September 2026, Gerben predicts. He also noted that disputes over logos are less common than trademark conflicts involving names or slogans.

“Tiger certainly has a target on his back,” he said. “He’s big enough to move markets.”

RELATED CONTENT: Tiger Woods: Golfer or Inmate?

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 11, 2025

will.i.am Announces Jason Derulo As Ambassador And Intelligent Media Leader Of FYI.AI

'This deal with FYI builds on my existing passion for combining technology and creativity in new ways,' Derulo said.

Jason Derulo will serve as the ambassador and intelligent media leader of will.i.am’s FYI.AI.

The Grammy-award-winning music artist and tech innovator revealed the news at a Jan. 8 late-night press event at CES to celebrate his new partnership with LG Electronics, according to Celebrity Access.

“Jason’s passion about AI, his enthusiasm and optimism about the intersection of technology and creativity, entrepreneurial skills, and community reach make him a fantastic addition to the FYI team to help shape our creative strategy going forward.” said will.i.am.

Derulo will collaborate with will.i.am and other FYI creative partners to explore and develop innovative ways for creators to use AI technology to engage with audiences and make money through their AI-driven creations. The “Talk Dirty” singer will also lead new initiatives aimed at supporting growth strategies, designing projects, and enhancing the STAiTiON reaction feature to shape a new framework for RAiDiO.FYI.

will.i.am will also put Derulo in charge of beta testing innovative tools and features, collaborating on select projects with the FYI community, and representing the company at events, among other responsibilities.

Derulo and will.i.am’s relationship dates back to 2009–2010, when Derulo toured with will.i.am’s group, the multi-platinum Black Eyed Peas, on its END World Tour.

In November 2024, Derulo visited the FYI Campus in Hollywood as a guest on the newly launched FYI “CONVOS” program, which features musicians, athletes, and personalities engaging in deep and thought-provoking conversations with various AI personas. While visiting the FYI Campus, Derulo was captivated and asked how he could get involved with the company.

What followed was will.i.am extending an offer to Derulo.

“I’ve been exploring the tech world for a while now, from investing in innovative platforms to experimenting with cutting-edge AI for my music and entertainment projects,” Derulo said. “This deal with FYI builds on my existing passion for combining technology and creativity in new ways. Together, we’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, and I’m excited for what we will achieve.”

Derulo’s partnership with will.i.am follows his 2021 investment in Glory, an app designed to help Christians strengthen their daily connection to God. He also joined forces with Brent Faiyaz, Snoop Dogg, Drake, Lil Baby, and Lil Durk to contribute to an $87 million funding round in 2022 for Moonpay, a fintech company that enables users to easily buy and sell cryptocurrency.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 11, 2025

Claressa Shields Is Looking To Add Another Boxing Title To Her Mantle

The undefeated boxer will be fighting Danielle Perkins at the Dort Financial Center, on Feb. 2 for the heavyweight belt

Claressa Shields, professional boxer and undisputed two-division champion, is preparing for her next match in an attempt to keep her undefeated record while adding another championship belt to her waist when she goes home to Michigan to face undefeated boxer, Danielle Perkins.

According to The Detroit News, the Flint fighter will fight Perkins at the Dort Financial Center on Feb. 2, which will air live on DAZN. Her record is an impressive 15-0. She is going up against Perkins, who took two years off but has won her last two fights via knockout, and her undefeated record is now 5-0.

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A post shared by Lee William Mcallister (@leemcallister_boxer)

Shields, who calls herself the “G.W.O.A.T.,” a play off Muhammad Ali’s infamous “G.O.A.T.” proclamation when he declared himself the greatest of all time. She borrows the moniker but adds “woman,” making her the greatest woman of all time, according to her own admission. She has won two Olympic gold medals, and her last victory took place in July 2024 when she took the heavyweight title from Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse in July 2024 by knocking her out in two rounds.

She is extremely confident, although she is facing a fighter several inches taller than her at 5′ 11″ as she stands at 5″8.”

“She is fighting against the best,” Shields said, “and if she comes in there and she don’t put her chin down, and she feels like she can just come out there and bully me and put her size and her weight on me and just punch me hard and that’s going to win her the fight, she’s in for a rude awakening.”

The Sporting News has reported that Shields won gold at super welterweight, middleweight, and super middleweight before she captured heavyweight gold in July. But she’s not fighting a shrinking violet in Perkins, who is a two-time World Championship medalist who played basketball at St. John’s.

“If it’s going to be a dogfight, then so far, there’s going to be two dogs, and you’re not going to know who’s who,” Perkins said.

Shields is keeping her options open before the fight even starts by challenging yet another boxer before stepping in the ring with Perkins.

According to USA Today, she wants to get in the ring with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

“People who are against that are just sexist and they don’t know boxing,” Shields stated. “It’s very strange to me that they think that a YouTuber can beat a woman boxer who has two Olympic gold medals, (multiple) world titles, and fought as a heavyweight.”

She has so much disdain for Paul that she says even her next opponent would beat Paul.

“Jake Paul showed that he has not gotten better with his skills,” she said. “He needs to train harder and better. And honestly, I think the girl that I’m getting ready to fight against, Danielle Perkins, can beat Jake Paul, too.”