by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 9, 2025

Trey Songz Wants His $11M Assault Lawsuit Thrown Out Or Else It Will ‘Ruin’ Him

Trey Songz is asking a judge to toss out the $11 million default judgment his alleged battery victim won last November.

Trey Songz’s attempt to throw out a $11 million default judgment to his alleged battery victim is being met with opposition.

Newly obtained court documents reveal that the 40-year-old singer has requested the judgment be overturned in the battery lawsuit filed by Tyrelle Dunn, In Touch Weekly reported. However, Dunn, a Maryland Capitol police officer, is urging the court to reject the singer’s request to overturn the default judgment.

The judgment stems from Dunn’s lawsuit over an alleged encounter he had with Songz, real name Tremaine Neverson, when he went to save his wife from the singer’s hotel room at The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas in 2021. According to Dunn’s lawsuit, his wife went to the hotel room to meet the singer but was instead assaulted and prevented from keeping her phone.

“[Tyrelle’s] wife was escorted by Defendant security personnel to room 6014 where she was told she would meet Trey Songz,” the lawsuit read. “That while in room 6014, the plaintiff’s wife was assaulted, tried to leave, and had her phone taken away.”

Upon finding the hotel room to save his wife, Dunn was allegedly assaulted by Song’z security team and left with a fractured eye socket. However, no criminal charges were filed against the “Say Aah” singer.

In November 2024, a Las Vegas judge entered the default judgment in the lawsuit Songz claimed he didn’t learn about until the judge’s ruling.

“[Trey] did not know about this lawsuit until November 27, 2024, when he received Instagram messages from fans extending their support after news broke about Dunn’s default judgment,” Songz’s lawyers wrote in a motion.

“[Trey] promptly engaged civil defense counsel over the Thanksgiving holiday and filed this Motion to set aside the default judgment the next week.”

The singer denies Dunn’s allegations and is requesting a day in court to defend his honor from the “massive default judgment which was improperly obtained in an underlying case that [Trey] knew nothing about until a week prior to filing this Motion,” his lawyers stated.

“The enforcement of this default judgment will be devastating to [Trey] and will ruin his life,” they add.

Songz’s lawyers also note the investigation Las Vegas police conducted, which “found no wrongdoing by [Trey]” and led to him not facing criminal charges. The singer also claims he was never properly served Dunn’s lawsuit, but Dunn claims he was served the papers by a process server.

by Kandiss Edwards

January 9, 2025

Washington D.C. Reporter Derrick Ward Dies At 62

Ward has been a trusted voice in Washington D.C. for decades.

Washington D.C. news reporter Derrick Ward has died at 62, according to NBC4 Washington.

Ward passed away on Jan. 7 from complications related to cardiac arrest. He is survived by his three children: Derrick Jr., Ian, and Marisa. In a statement, the Ward family honored their patriarch, praising him as an inspiration and cherished community member.

“It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Derrick Ward Sr. on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, following complications from a recent cardiac arrest. Derrick has been an inspiration and cherished member of our family and his hometown community as a longtime reporter at News4 Washington and previously at WTOP Radio. As a distinguished journalist, Derrick’s storytelling, prolific writing, warmth, and humor touched countless lives. Our children and our entire family will miss him dearly.”

A native of Washington D.C., Ward graduated from the University of Maryland and began his reporting career in radio. He worked at WPFW, WAMU, and WTOP before moving to television news in Buffalo, New York. He returned to the Washington news market in 2006.

NBC4 Washington produced a moving tribute to Ward, celebrating his accomplishments as a newscaster. The clip included viewer messages, colleague testimonials, and career highlights.

For nearly 20 years, Ward was a trusted voice on the Washington beat, covering some of the nation’s most critical events, including the Iran-Contra hearings, the Sept. 11 attack on the Pentagon, and the Washington-area sniper shootings.

President of WTOP News, Joel Oxley, praised Ward’s character highly.

“Derrick Ward was truly an outstanding journalist. His passion and dedication are shown through every day. But what set him apart was what a great person he was. His warmth and caring were evident at every turn. Everybody liked Derrick. I saw why right away. He’ll be missed tremendously,” Oxley said.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

RELATED CONTENT: Sportscaster Greg Gumbel Passes Away At 78

social media, employees, office, guidelines, policies, triller

by Kandiss Edwards

January 9, 2025

Triller Steps Up Amid U.S. TikTok Ban Concerns

The app is targeting TikTok content creators and users, encouraging them to set up Triller accounts and download and save their content through its "SaveMyTikTok" campaign, according to TechCrunch.

The multimedia app Triller is making a push in response to the uncertainty surrounding a potential U.S. ban on TikTok. The app is targeting TikTok content creators and users, encouraging them to set up Triller accounts and download and save their content through its “SaveMyTikTok” campaign, according to TechCrunch.

The Jan. 19 ban on TikTok is now uncertain after President-elect Trump requested the Supreme Court put a hold on the law. In April 2024, President Biden signed the bill, which received unprecedented bipartisan support, into law.

Concerns about TikTok emerged due to its connection to Chinese parent company ByteDance. U.S. lawmakers believe the app poses a national security threat and compromises the safety of American citizens’ personal data. If ByteDance does not sell the app to an American-based company, it could face a ban in the U.S.

TikTok has become highly popular, with an estimated 100 million users in the U.S. According to Pew Research, the platform is used by all age groups, primarily for entertainment.

“59% of adults under 30 say they use the app, compared with 40% of Americans ages 30 to 49, 26% of those 50 to 64, and 10% of those 65 and older.”

TikTok allows users to gain followers and earn money through its ad revenue sharing, brand partnerships, and “Creator Rewards Program.” Users with 10,000 followers become eligible for payment based on engagement, a model similar to YouTube’s monetization program.

The potential ban of TikTok alarms many users who rely on the rewards program as a secondary income or, in some cases, their sole income.

Triller has not yet introduced a monetization plan for new users that rivals TikTok’s format.

While Triller claims a worldwide user base of 550 million, questions have been raised about these numbers.

“In its S-1 filing, the short-form video app reported 550 million lifetime sign-ups, but market intelligence firm Apptopia estimates Triller has been downloaded only 73.2 million times since its launch in 2015—87% lower than Triller’s reported figures,” TechCrunch reported.

The debate over the company’s financials isn’t the only issue Triller is facing. In December 2024, Digital Music News reported on a lawsuit filed against the company. Triller allegedly failed to repay a $35 million promissory note to Yorkville Advisors. During a merger, Triller, then called AGBA Group, was responsible for monthly repayments to Yorkville for the initial $8.1 million investment and a subsequent $25 million advance. According to filings, the companies renegotiated terms multiple times throughout 2024. Triller’s failure to make the required monthly payments has prompted Yorkville to seek full repayment.

by Jameelah Mullen

January 9, 2025

The U.S. Falls To No. 9 In World’s Most Powerful Passport Index

In 2014, The United States shared the No.1 position with the United Kingdom.

Henley Global has released its 2025 Henley Passport Index, which ranks 199 passports worldwide using data from the International Air Transport Association. The United States ranked ninth, down from 7th last year.

Some experts blame the decline on the current U.S. political climate.

“Even before the advent of a second Trump presidency, American political trends had become notably inward-looking and isolationist,” Annie Pforzheimer, senior associate at Washington thinktank, The Center for Strategic and International Studies, said to Forbes.

Dr. Tim Klatte, a partner in Grant Thornton China and an adjunct professor at Shanghai New York University, says that the Trump administration’s impending foreign policies will impact U.S. Passport rankings.

“The Trump-era trade wars will not only be viewed as bilateral disputes — they will serve as transformative events for the global economy. Disrupting trade flows, raising costs, and sowing uncertainty will require businesses, governments, and international institutions to adapt to a new reality. This strategy raises serious concerns about the fragmentation of the global economy and the potential for increased geopolitical tensions. Trump has not been shy about his foreign policy strategies, from Canada to China, and his direct approach will continue to present doubts in the confidence of the USA’s passport power moving forward, Klatte told Henley and Partners.

American passport holders can access 186 out of 227 destinations visa-free, but the U.S. allows only 46 other nationalities visa-free access to its borders. This lack of mutual exchange places the U.S. in the 84th spot on the Henley Openness Index.

Along with the United States, several European countries, including France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, dropped in ranking. Seven EU nations—Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden—share fourth place on the list.

In contrast, China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have consistently improved their rankings. The UAE is now ranked 10th on the list, offering visa-free access to 185 locations. China is 60th on the list, up from 94th in 2015.

Singapore secured the No. 1 spot on the list, with visa-free access to 195 destinations for Singaporean passport holders.

Fan Favorite, 'Mr. CIAA' Abraham Mitchell Dies At 95

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 9, 2025

Fan Favorite, ‘Mr. CIAA’ Abraham Mitchell Dies At 95

The committed basketball fan was inducted into the CIAA Hall of Fame in 2016 because of his dedication to attending games

A man dubbed “Mr. CIAA” because of his continued and committed attendance at Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) basketball games has recently died.

Abraham Mitchell, who was 95 when he died, was so revered as a fan that he was inducted into the CIAA Hall of Fame in 2016. The organization’s Facebook account announced his death on Wednesday, Jan. 8.

“It is difficult to put into words the depth of our loss with the passing of Mr. Mitchell. Since 2018, his absence at the tournament has been profoundly felt. Mr. Mitchell will forever hold a cherished place in the CIAA family, having created countless beautiful memories for our fans, students, and partners over the span of more than four decades. As a distinguished member of the CIAA Hall of Fame, Class of 2016, his remarkable legacy will endure for generations to come. During this time of honoring and celebrating his extraordinary life, we extend our heartfelt prayers for comfort and peace to the Mitchell family.”

According to QCity Metro, Mitchell was also known for the dazzling suits he would wear to the basketball games, even changing multiple times during the game. His family said the former mortician died in Suffolk, Virginia.

CIAA officials stated that he was inducted into the Hall of Fame after being a regular at the contests for about 30 years when enshrined in 2016. Often seen in fedoras and dark glasses, he spoke to the media outlet when receiving his flowers in 2016.

“Everyone is just so friendly and excited because I was inducted,” he said. “Everyone said I deserved it years before now, but I appreciate what they did for me.”

“I get a joy out of being Mr. CIAA. I don’t find no enemies.”

In 2016, Mitchell said he bought about 27 suits for that year’s tournament. He stated that he often attempted to match the suits he brought to the tournaments to the colors of the teams playing. He bragged about having between 300 and 400 suits, most of them self-made, while he designed the others.

The Charlotte Observer reported that Mitchell started attending the tournaments because his nephew, Peter Mitchell, was playing at Norfolk State. Even after his nephew graduated from college, Mitchell continued attending the tournaments.

No details on the cause of his death were revealed.

by Mitti Hicks

January 9, 2025

Fani Willis Asks Georgia Supreme Court To Reverse Removal From Trump Election Case

In Fani Willis’s petition to the court, she asks the Georgia Supreme Court to review and reverse the lower court's decision.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is asking the Georgia Supreme Court to review a lower appeals court’s ruling that removed her from the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump and several others.

Her request comes after the Georgia Court of Appeals ruled in December that Willis and her office could not continue prosecuting the case because of an “appearance of impropriety” created by a romantic relationship she had with special prosecutor Nathan Wade. Willis hired Wade to lead the case.

In Willis’s petition to the court, she asks the Georgia Supreme Court to review and reverse the lower court’s decision.

According to The Associated Press, Willis argued that the 2-1 ruling “overreached the Court of Appeals’ authority,” creating a new standard for disqualification of a prosecutor and disregarding decades of precedents.

Fani Willis Files Petition To Georgia’s Highest Court

With Trump returning to the White House on Jan 20, it’s unlikely that Willis will be able to prosecute him if the Georgia Supreme Court rules in her favor. However, besides Trump, 14 other defendants still face charges in the case.

In August 2023, a grand jury in Atlanta indicted Trump and 18 others for racketeering after authorities accused them of participating in a wide-ranging scheme to try to overturn Trump’s loss in Georgia to Joe Biden, illegally.

Willis is now asking Georgia’s highest court to review if the lower appeals court was wrong to disqualify her “based solely upon an appearance of impropriety and absent finding of an actual conflict of interest or forensic misconduct,” The AP reported. Willis also asked the state Supreme Court to review whether the Court of Appeals erred “in substituting the trial court’s discretion with its own” in this case.

“No Georgia court has ever disqualified a district attorney for the mere appearance of impropriety without the existence of an actual conflict of interest,” Willis’ filing says. “And no Georgia court has ever reversed a trial court’s order declining to disqualify a prosecutor based solely on an appearance of impropriety.”

Black Youth, Incarceration, Racial Disparities

by Sharelle B. McNair

January 9, 2025

Staffers At Virginia Prison Considered Charging Inmates For Self-Inflicted Burns During ‘Intolerable’ Conditions Protest

And, yes, there's an email chain.

Court documents revealed staffers at Virginia’s Red Onion State Prison thought about charging inmates who burned themselves while staging protests of the “intolerable” conditions they face, The Appeal reports.

Six inmates allegedly intentionally burned themselves during the 2023 protests, and according to emails, staffers at the maximum security prison considered charging the inmates “thousands of dollars for the hospital and medical treatment,” while assistant warden Dwayne Turner recommended prosecuting them for setting fires in their cells.

“I believe on Monday, we pull policy and start charging the inmates thousands of dollars for the hospital and medical treatment,” one officer wrote. “Once we iron through this, we can send the word through the inmate population that they’re going to be changed [sic] thousands for their medical due to intentional manipulation. Just my thoughts on how to prevent this kind of behavior.”

Turner responded with, “Yeah, sounds good. But the first thing we need to figure out is why. Do they think they will get transferred? If so, we need to make sure they don’t…. obviously, they think they can gain something from doing that. We need to make sure they know they won’t gain anything….but making them pay money is good too[.]”

The six listed inmates, along with others, allege being denied necessary medication and suffering from physical torture by correctional officers. Virginia Del. Michael Jones said during a visit to Red Onion, he witnessed injuries on an inmate obtained from a prison dog attack, according to NBC News. Jones also claimed he received a number of complaints from other inmates regarding the quality of food, medical care and racism.

Long bouts in solitary confinement are one of the main complaints heard by the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia. Former inmate Kenneth Hunter, who was sentenced to 23 years in prison for a nonviolent drug offense at 21, said he spent his first year at Red Onion in solitary confinement. Prior to his sentence ending in 2021, Hunter said there were plenty of “instances of physical abuse and excessive force.”

Ekong Eshiet, one of the prisoners who, in an email to Natasha White, director of community engagement at Interfaith Action for Human Rights, admitted to setting his leg on fire and sustaining burns, said he experienced abuse once he returned from the hospital.

“Plz be notified that I set my leg on fire 09/15/24, went to VCU 09/18/24 and came back to ROSP 09/24/24,” he wrote in the message. “Since I’ve come back, I have faced retaliation and discrimination due to my complaints about all the crookedness I and other inmates continuously have dealt with up here.”

The Commonwealth’s Attorney for Wise County and the City of Norton, Virginia, Brett Hall, said no decision has been made regarding any charges.

“We have a great working relationship with the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) and will continue to do so,” he wrote. “These matters, just like any others, take time and require extensive review of the facts and the law.”

by Sharelle B. McNair

January 9, 2025

Jasmine Crockett Graciously Checks GOP Analyst For Blaming LA Wildfires On DEI Initiatives

Let em' know, Rep. Crockett!

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) once again had to step into school DEI critic Scott Jennings for blaming the devastating Los Angeles-area wildfires on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

During an appearance on CNN’s NewsNight, Jennings, a frequent commentator, discussed the wildfires, already labeled as the worst in California’s history, as a result of DEI practices by Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Chief Kristin Crowley, a white woman, and Mayor Karen Bass, a Black woman.

When Jennings alleged that DEI advocates’ efforts to increase diversity in the department, after claims of “too many white men” being hired as firefighters, as the reason for a lack of fire control, Crockett took the wheel to divert the narrative. “Let me be clear: because you are a woman.. because I know some of the rights, I have been sharing these photos of the fact that I believe that the fire chief may be a woman, which has nothing to do with it. We are looking at qualifications where diversity, equity, and inclusion have always been about saying, ‘You know what? Open this up. Don’t just look at the white man. Open it up and recognize that other people can be qualified,’” she said.

“And the fact that we want to, at a time where people are dying, decide that a country of immigrants is failing or people are dying because the same very people that built this country, cause the last time I checked, yall didn’t say anything was wrong with the White House, and I can promise you it was my ancestors that built the White House.”

https://twitter.com/TheTNHoller/status/1877213042632499330

The passionate congresswoman continued to profess, “If we have been good enough to build this country, we are good enough to serve and die overseas; we are good enough to serve in other ways.” “And the fact that people actually decide that they want to engage in public service, whether it’s sitting in Congress or whether it’s serving in the fire department or the police department, should not be an issue,” Crockett said.

Crockett’s sentiments were celebrated on social media, while Jennings was seemingly dragged for his thoughts. “Scott Jennings needs to take his toys and go home. @JasmineForUS is in the house, and she can our word-wrestle him any day, any time,” @MairseyDotes said on X.

https://twitter.com/MairseyDotes/status/1877233760057356751

“Someone needs to send firefighters to CNN because Jennings got BURNED!” @ajdiva99 said.

https://twitter.com/ajdiva99/status/1877225809452072969

However, the commentator is simply following the lead of President-elect Donald J. Trump, who blamed the fires on California Gov. Gavin Newsom for embracing environmental issues. Trump said the focus led to LAFD’s inability to contain the fires. “Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snowmelt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform, according to Wired.

“He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt by giving it less water (it didn’t work!), but didn’t care about the people of California.”

Sirius XM’s Megyn Kelly sounded off, stating that DEI programs distracted them from firefighting duties. “In recent years, LA’s fire chief has made not filling the fire hydrants top priority, but diversity,” Kelly said during a segment on The Megyn Kelly Show. “Diversity is at least among the top priorities for the department.”

Bourbon Street , Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, New Orleans, New Year's Eve,

by Kandiss Edwards

January 9, 2025

United Way Will Begin Dispersing Payment For Victims Of New Orleans Terror Attack

Victims of the New Year’s terror attack in New Orleans will begin receiving payments from the United Way of Southwest Louisiana, WDSU reported.

The United Way began taking donations to help those directly impacted by the Bourbon St. attack that killed 14 people and wounded 35 others. To date, the fund has raised $360k. After the fund’s expenses were vetted by the FBI, the organization was given the approval to begin distribution.

The allocation of the funds is as follows:

Up to $15,000 per family to assist with funeral and trauma-related expenses for the deceased victims
Up to $3,500 to each of the injured victims for medical and trauma-related expenses
A $10,000 grant to the New Orleans Family Justice Center to provide essential needs to impacted individuals through the FBI’s Family Assistance Center

Following the attack, the President and CEO of the United Way, Micheal Williamson, conveyed his sympathies and vowed to assist in any way possible. The organization began soliciting donations on Jan.2.

“Our hearts are heavy as we grieve with the victims and all those affected by the tragic attack in New Orleans,” he said. “In times like these, we must come together as a community to support one another. We stand United with our city.”

The organization has set up a resource page for victims in need of more than monetary assistance. For those in need of mental help, there is a Disaster Distress hotline, trauma recovery center for those in need of physical help, and donation relief.

The remaining funds will be used to support victims’ long-term needs to help them recover from the trauma they experienced. To request assistance from the fund, contact the FBI at 504-355-0846.

Click here to access other available resources.

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

January 9, 2025

U.S. Virgin Islands Breaks Tourism Record For 2024 As Visitors Arrive In Unprecedented Numbers

The Virgin Islands saw a near 16% increase in passenger arrivals since 2023.

The U.S. Virgin Islands had a busy 2024, with the territory setting a new tourism record for the year.

The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism shared the groundbreaking news on Jan. 8. It noted that passenger arrival numbers for the past year totaled close to 1 million people.

According to a press release obtained by BLACK ENTERPRISE, travelers who arrived at airports in St. Thomas and St. Croix amounted to just over 927,000. This figure marked a 15.9% increase from 2023. However, it is not the only record broken in passenger arrivals for the year.

The Virgin Islands also surpassed its weekly arrival record, allowing over 24,000 travelers into the area during late December. On Dec. 28, as travelers prepared to celebrate the Crucian Christmas Festival, a record was broken for single-day arrivals previously set in March. The new record boasted 4,606 people entering the territory.

Virgin Island Department of Tourism Commissioner Joseph Boschulte said the numbers reflect its initiative to “elevate” the islands.

“As a destination, we continue to explore, elevate, and improve, which further supports the ongoing goal to build upon our commitment to be a premier Caribbean destination,” stated the commissioner in the presser.

The U.S. Virgin Islands are 40 miles east of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea. Of its popularity, the territory has earned numerous awards for its pristine coast and optimal choice as a domestic summer getaway. Its three islands, St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John, have emerged as popular beach destinations for American travelers, as the territory does not require a passport for U.S. citizens to enter.

The arrival influx also stemmed from expanding flight routes by multiple airlines. Furthermore, more cruise passengers stopped in its ports. Through this channel, cruises brought in over 1.7 million visitors, a 10% increase from last year.

Boschulte also hopes these numbers indicate an even busier 2025 as the Virgin Islands becomes a go-to hotspot for Caribbean vacations.

The commissioner added, “As we look to 2025, we will continue to push the creativity of our marketing strategies, which includes advertising, social media, public relations, and partnerships to connect with and keep the U.S. Virgin Islands top of mind for new and returning travelers.”