Notorious Haitian Drug Trafficker Guy Philippe Deported By U.S. Government

by Iman Milner

November 30, 2023

Notorious Haitian Drug Trafficker Guy Philippe Deported By U.S. Government

Philippe is the former police chief of the Haitian city of Cap-Haïtien.

Haitian drug trafficker and alleged coup leader Guy Philippe has been deported by the U.S. government following a four-year legal battle connected to a money laundering charge, ABC News reports.

He was released from prison Sept. 7 and returned to Haiti on Nov. 30.

Philippe, who is the former police chief of the Haitian city of Cap-Haïtien, was accused of leading attacks on law enforcement while living in exile in the Dominican Republic. He also allegedly played a pivotal role in the 2004 rebellion against former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. After being arrested during a public appearance in 2017, Philippe was extradited to the U.S., where he was made to answer for charges of cocaine trafficking conspiracy and money laundering before a federal court in Miami.

He was sentenced to nine years in prison after entering a guilty plea on the charge of money laundering.

Authorities claim Philippe’s high-ranking position with the Haiti National Police allowed him to protect drug shipments in exchange for money. He allegedly received up to $3.5 million in bribes, ABC News reports. There are concerns about what Philippe’s return to the reportedly gang-controlled country will mean for Haiti. There are mounting fears around the potential escalation of violence.

“One would have to wait and see what his return means, if anything at all,” Alex Dupuy, a Haiti-born sociologist and former professor at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn., told ABC News. “He’s not going to be necessarily the principal actor in the drama that’s going on in Haiti and the awful political situation.”

The U.S. government’s choice to return Philippe to Haiti amid ongoing tensions between gangs and political leaders could move power away from the former coup leader, according to Robert Fatton, a Haitian politics expert and professor at the University of Virginia.

“Whether those kinds of ties will be revised, it’s not clear. What is very clear is that Guy Philippe has always seen himself as some sort of a messianic figure who should lead Haiti,” Fatton said.

Black businesswomen, Black History Month, boss, imposter syndrome, career, work

by Atiya Jordan

November 30, 2023

Black Women In Leadership Is Still A Slippery Slope: Here’s Why

Black women are still struggling in the workplace.

In a new report, the Washington Area Women’s Foundation has “observed a disconcerting pattern where Black women leaders are vacating their roles” in the nonprofit sector. The data was collected after analyzing Black women’s experiences and innovative solutions to offset the “mounting barriers and challenges to their leadership.”

The Washington Area Women’s Foundation listened to 32 presidents, CEOs, and executive directors. Of the group, 90% of respondents said that they experienced “detrimental effects on their health and well-being,” such as chronic stress, fatigue, elevated blood pressure, and mental health concerns. Almost 70% of respondents “agreed or strongly agreed” that the state of Black women’s leadership has been vulnerable in recent years.

On behalf of the foundation, President and CEO Tamara Wilds Lawson wrote that Black women’s “words call us to take collective responsibility for ensuring Black women and Black gender-expansive leaders have the resources and support they deserve to thrive in this sector which relies so heavily on their valuable labor.”

Throughout the global pandemic and public health crisis, Black women have been elevated into senior leadership roles, especially in the healthcare and social services sector. Amid a racial reckoning, Black women leaders have even been hired with the “expectation of addressing organizational deficiencies that their predecessors were unable to overcome without added support or resources.”

Based on the data, the foundation determined an underlying issue for such a shaky infrastructure. Black women expressed the “fundamental absence of trust in their leadership” across fundraising, board engagement, staff management, and wellness policies. The women cited the lack of mentorship, community, support networks, and opportunities to express vulnerability without their leadership being undermined.

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For example, the report noted that the “current D.C. public and nonprofit sector environment produces a scarcity mindset,” discouraging Black woman-led organizations from shying away from working in collaborative spaces.

After hearing from the Black women, the foundation outlined specific ideas to provide Black women and Black gender-expansive leaders with the support, resources, and infrastructure they need to thrive as they lead.

A study by McKinsey & Co. found that women of color significantly lag behind their peers’ progress, including in representation in leadership positions.

In response, the women in the foundation’s study envision a space “curated and convened for and by Black women, not others who do not share the same experiences.” Ideas included rejuvenating retreats, cohort leadership development programs, regular conventions and events, and learning institutes for graduate-level programs tailored to Black women leaders.

According to Sucheta Misra, vice president of DE&I at North Highland consulting company, women have difficulty showing up authentically in their leadership styles. In turn, women tend to code-switch to fit into the corporate mold.

“This issue becomes exacerbated for women of color because they see so few women of color in leadership positions across the board, and therefore, they don’t have many in-person or even figures in media to look to as leadership models,” Misra said.

Furthermore, the foundation discussed Black women leaders’ challenges with accessing adequate funding, inadequate board governance, and persistent underpayment and undervaluation. The report suggested training for funders and philanthropic leaders and establishing an unrestricted general fund to support Black women leaders.

“Black leaders call for an urgency to identify and dismantle systemic disparities within the public and nonprofit sectors to improve their ability to create positive and meaningful change so that they can not only lead but thrive. Let’s follow their lead,” the report concluded.

by Sharelle Burt

November 30, 2023

Police: Howard University Student Robbed And Pistol Whipped While Walking To Class

Now students can't even go to class without being worried?

A student at Howard University was robbed and pistol-whipped on his way to class, according to a police report.

The attack allegedly happened Nov. 20. The student was walking on 6th Street NW near the Washington, D.C. campus. Police say two gun-toting assailants approached the victim from behind.

I just need all this,” one of the suspects said in reference to his belongings. He was then hit with the weapons, pushed to the ground and kicked. The criminals allegedly grabbed all the victim’s items, including a Gucci belt worth $600, before fleeing in a dark gray vehicle.

The student, a sophomore, refused to seek medical treatment. They said the attack happened around 9:30 a.m.

“I was just in shock,” the student told The Hilltop, Howard’s student newspaper. “It wasn’t the fact that I even got robbed. It was just the fact that it was on campus at 9:30. The fact that I can’t even walk to class at 9:30 and just relax. It’s crazy… I didn’t know how to react.”

“Our priority is creating a secure and nurturing environment where students can focus on their academic and personal growth without fear for their safety,” Howard University said in a statement. “We continue to collaborate with both local and federal law enforcement agencies to ensure a safe and inviting atmosphere for students, faculty, staff and visitors to your campus.”

This incident is the latest in a string of crimes happening at or near Howard and other HBCUs across the country. In August, someone was stabbed in front of Howard Plaza Towers as the victim started to wrestle with two men who were attempting to rob him.

In Maryland, the homecoming celebration at Bowie State University students was cut short when two people were injured after shots were fired. Similar incidents happened at Morgan State University after a shooting left five people injured. The historically Black university is in talks to build a wall around the campus to provide a safer learning environment for students.

Urbana, IL, Witnesses Significant Drop in Cannabis-Related Arrests Following Legalization, Blacks Still Targeted More

by Rafael Pena

November 30, 2023

Urbana, IL, Witnesses Significant Drop in Cannabis-Related Arrests Following Legalization, Blacks Still Targeted More

In the wake of cannabis legalization, Urbana, Illinois, has seen a substantial decline in cannabis-related arrests over the past three years.

Since January 2020, in the wake of cannabis legalization, Urbana, Illinois, has seen a substantial decline in cannabis-related arrests over the past three years, a trend that experts and law enforcement officials expected but may have surpassed initial expectations, according to CU-Citizen Access.

Urbana maintains a public database meticulously logging all cannabis-related arrests within the city, covering offenses like possession over the limit, delivery, and manufacturing. The comprehensive data spans arrests, citations, and summons, categorized by arrest type and listed outcomes.

CU-CitizenAccess, a local news outlet, meticulously reviewed arrest data for 14 distinct cannabis-related crimes, ranging from 1988 to February of this year. The numbers reveal a continuous decline in cannabis-related arrests even before legalization, with 203 arrests in 2013 plummeting to a mere 34 in 2020 when cannabis became legal.

The downward trajectory persisted through 2022, reaching a strikingly low number of only 12 arrests. Notably, only one arrest was recorded in the data available until February.

Urbana Interim Police Chief Richard Surles affirmed that the decrease in arrests aligns with law enforcement’s shift in focus toward specific aspects of cannabis use, emphasizing charges related to large-scale possession and other offenses linked to cannabis use.

Surles stated in an email, “Cannabis certainly falls into the category of drugs that would trigger a DUI arrest,” highlighting the evolving legal landscape around driving under the influence of drugs.

Peter Contos, deputy director of the Cannabis Equity Illinois Coalition, a nonprofit advocacy group, noted that traffic stops not only lead to cannabis charges but also other violations, such as gun-related offenses.

The data, however, comes with its set of challenges, with discrepancies, typos, and incomplete information. The dataset, last updated in February this year, remains incomplete due to a transition to a new system.

The data reveals a persistent disparity in cannabis possession arrests, with men consistently arrested more frequently than women, even post-legalization. After legalization, the data indicates 54 men to 7 women being arrested for cannabis-related charges.

Examining the racial breakdown, Black individuals are disproportionately arrested, constituting 77% of arrests since legalization. Out of 61 arrests in Urbana over the past three years, 47 were Black,10 were white, and four were Hispanic.

Data further underscores that young Black men between the ages of 17 and 30 remain the primary demographic for cannabis-related arrests, making up about 52% of all arrested individuals since legalization in 2020.

Despite the overall decline in arrests, cannabis advocacy groups and criminal justice-based advocacy groups have been actively involved in expunging or sealing records related to past cannabis offenses. Peter Contos emphasized that even if records are expunged, the official data might still retain a record of the arrest.

Contos explained that individuals seeking expungement face a comprehensive process involving local and state police forces, the court system, and FBI records. Although the expungement process is rigorous, there are no limitations for people seeking to clear their records in Illinois. Despite these efforts, the data retains records but has limited identifying information.

As Urbana navigates the evolving landscape of cannabis legalization, questions about the social impact, law enforcement priorities, and equity in the enforcement of cannabis-related laws continue to be at the forefront of public discourse.

rick, ross, farm, promises land, bison, cows, acres

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 30, 2023

Rick Ross Is A Proud Farmer And Wants Others To ‘Just Try This’

"Sit you f-ck-ing phone down and just sit back and relax."

When he’s not rapping or performing on stage, Rick Ross enjoys farming and being a cowboy on his ranch.

The “Hustlin” rapper has proudly boasted about the “Promise Land” zoo he has created since purchasing his massive 235-acre Fayetteville, Georgia, estate. He has highlighted the bison on his ranch along with the trees he chops down during his free time.

It’s a far different lifestyle than most of his peers. But it’s one Ross relishes in and wishes others could experience to become one with nature. When asked if he identifies as a farmer, Ross explained why he happily embraces the title.

“F— yeah,” Ross tells People. “You just wish many others get to just try this. Try this for once. Try this for once. Just relax, let everything go. Sit your f—ing phone down and just sit back and relax. Let’s feed the cows some carrots. Let’s talk to the horses. Let’s fish for four hours. Let’s do that. Let’s do that.”

With swarms of livestock and acres of land, Ross enjoys “a different vibe” on his ranch that makes him feel like a “cowboy at times.” It’s what he credits for resetting him and not getting too caught up in life as a wealthy rap superstar.

“And maybe that’s how I recharge my battery and when I get around music, I’m ready to go, because I do a little bit of it all,” he said.

Ross’s new hobby is something he calls “salt life”—nice boat rides out on the water. “Being on the water, being in the boats, being on the boats. I’m taking different boats on test drives. Test rides. Yeah, different vibes,” he said.

He also recently purchased a boat that has become his “favorite.”

Ross has made headlines with his massive estate that sprawls across 235 acres and 45,000 square feet. Purchased in 2014 for $5.8 million, Ross’s add-ons have made it worth much more today, Square Yards reported.

EPA Proposes $45 Billion Overhaul To Remove Lead Pipes From U.S. Water Utilities To Protect Children

by Iman Milner

November 30, 2023

EPA Proposes $45 Billion Overhaul To Remove Lead Pipes From U.S. Water Utilities To Protect Children

Water utilities companies would be given 10 years to make the necessary adjustments.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a potential complete overhaul of the nation’s water utilities system that would call for the removal of all lead pipes in order to protect children. The changes would carry a price tag of $45 billion, according to an article in The Washington Post.

The new regulations would require companies to dig up existing lead piping in an effort to reduce the lasting effects of toxic chemicals leaking into the water supply. Lead has been known to cause significant health issues, including cognitive damage in young children. Currently, 9 million lead pipes remain in the U.S. and the government has never made it mandatory for them to be removed.

“This is a public health concern that has unfortunately spanned generations and an issue that has disproportionately affected low-income communities,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said during a call with reporters on Nov. 29. “Our proposed improvements are a major advancement.”

Water utilities companies would be given 10 years to make the necessary adjustments, with a percentage of the work required to be done annually. The proposed rule would not allow companies to make partial replacements, in which they only make changes to the portion of pipes they own despite high levels of lead leaking into the water of nearby homes. The changes would echo the promise of President Joe Biden, who made a declaration to remove every lead pipe by 2031.

“We’re replacing every single, solitary lead pipe in America. Hear me?” the president said during a White House event this summer.

Though environmental advocates are praising the Biden administration’s commitment to rectifying the ongoing lead pipe issue, it is unclear where the funds will come from to pay for such an undertaking.

The drinking water industry believes changes of this magnitude will cost an estimated $65 billion, a number significantly larger than what the infrastructure law has set aside. The neighborhoods that will face greater hurdles to a complete overhaul are those with a large number of older schools and homes, predominately those in Black and brown communities.

Aaron Perry Embarks On Nationwide Book Tour To Inspire Health Among Black Men

by Rafael Pena

November 30, 2023

Aaron Perry Embarks On Nationwide Book Tour To Inspire Health Among Black Men

Aaron Perry, founder and president of Rebalanced Life Wellness Association, kicks off his nationwide book tour on Nov. 30.

According to Madison365, Aaron Perry, founder and president of the Rebalanced Life Wellness Association, kicks off his nationwide book tour on Nov. 30. To spread the message of health and resilience, Perry aims to visit 250 Black barbershops and reach 30,000 Black men.

Perry was an overweight diabetic who turned his life around by competing as an Ironman athlete. He hopes to inspire more Black men through his book Through the Storm.

“That book has been shared with diabetics primarily in the United States, but also over the world. Still today, I get people who reach out to me regarding how inspired they were about my story of being diabetic and not knowing how to swim and doing the Ironman,” Perry told Madison365.

With a goal to create a once-a-month podcast after completing half of the book tour, Perry plans to revisit barbershops and reflect on the impact of his books. The discussions will center on improving the health of Black men further, acknowledging the persisting health crisis in this demographic.

While addressing health disparities through his books, Perry aspires for the Black barbershops to evolve into health centers. He envisions replicating the success of his Men’s Health and Wellness Center, located inside JP Hair Design in Madison, on a national scale. According to the outlet, the center provides preventative health screenings, insurance navigation, health information, blood pressure monitoring, COVID boosters, flu vaccinations, and mental health counseling.

Rebalanced Life Wellness Association, led by Perry, has already made history with its Men’s Health and Wellness Center. Perry’s advocacy work in Black men’s health gained national recognition, with appearances on the Megyn Kelly Show and honored in Time Magazine’s 2018 “50 Most Influential People in Health Care.”

Sponsored by Dean Health Plan by Medica, the nationwide book tour will extend its reach beyond Madison in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois. Perry anticipates completing the full tour by December 2026.

As the soft launch commences in Madison, Perry emphasizes the tour’s goal: “This book tour came about just looking for ways to continue to inspire and encourage men to focus on their health. While men are waiting to get their haircuts, they will be able to get the book in their hands, read a nice story, be inspired, and maybe even reflect on their health and be moved to take action. That’s really the goal of the book tour.”

school, training, income, potential, earning, education, wealth

by Carolyn M. Brown

November 30, 2023

The Importance Of Training To Boost Your Income Potential

How to maximize your earnings potential by getting more training and education

Originally Published Mar. 13, 2009

In today’s swelling jobless environment, most people are trying to batten down the hatches, hoping to hang on to their current employment and to avoid rocking the boat. Who would dare request a raise or seek a promotion? In fact, a number of companies have asked employees to take a salary reduction to help the company survive this economic tsunami.

Like most people, you may assume that a higher-paying job will bring you a better lifestyle. But financial advisers point out that an increase in income of $100 is the same as a decrease in expenses of $100.

Admittedly there are times when you just need to make more money to make ends meet. There are ways to boost your potential to earn more money. One is through formal education and training, as past career studies have shown.

Typically this has meant getting an advanced degree or taking continuing education courses. But today’s economic climate calls for greater scrutiny of what applies to your specific situation, said Karen D. Bowser, a Five O’Clock Club career coach and principal of New York-based Bowser Research & Consulting Inc.

Bowser suggests a more informal path of educating yourself about what is going on at your company and in your industry. For example, she says, participate in employee networking or affinity groups events.

“This way you get to know people in other parts of the company. Also, become more involved with professional associations or trade groups to learn about trends and challenges within your profession. “You become better informed and that makes you more of an asset in your company,” she added.

It also pays to develop a board of career advisers. Make sure you have several mentors inside and outside of the company who can provide specific training, advice, and direction on your career development and leadership responsibilities.

Regardless if you feel like your job might be in jeopardy, you need to do an assessment of yourself to drive your career forward, Bowser said. “Take a look at your past experience and education.

“What are the things that you do well and enjoy doing? What skills should you be using in the workplace? You can access career assessment tools as well as career counselors through The Five O’Clock Club.

Companies still rely heavily on the intellectual capital of key employees to manage resources and lead departments. So, upgrading your skills can still increase your chances of getting a higher salary, a promotion, or a better job. Career counselors caution that right now you may not want to invest in an advanced degree, but you can still take coursework.

If it will give you a leg up the ladder, enroll in executive management or career advancement programs. Such courses will help you to develop and enhance core competencies, as well as improve your standing within the company. By participating in an executive education program, you may learn how to put effective collaborative methods of leadership into play. Check out top colleges and universities across the county, a number of which offer career advancement, executive management, and business education programs.

Also, even if you aren’t prepared to change jobs to grow your career, continue to update and revise your resume. Go on exploratory interviews in order to stay abreast of the current market, Bowser suggested. This allows you to know what people are really looking for beyond what is placed in an ad, and how well you come across based on your experience and education level.

“It is important that you understand what you can and cannot control,” Bowser said.

“You cannot control whether your company is going to lay off employees. But you can control your skills set and what you have to offer–your desirability on the market.”

LAPD, Americans with disabilities act, bane, officers, police, lawsuit, veteran, 10M

by Rafael Pena

November 30, 2023

Fatal Stabbing At North Carolina High School Reportedly Fueled by Ongoing Feud

The fatal stabbing at Southeast Raleigh High School was preceded by weeks of escalating tensions and warnings, the parent of the alleged stabber says.

The fatal stabbing at Southeast Raleigh High School in Raleigh, NC, on Nov. 27 was preceded by weeks of escalating tensions and warnings, according to Cherelle McLaughlin, the mother of the 14-year-old student now charged with murder.

McLaughlin said she had alerted school officials about potential threats to her son’s safety just before two teenagers were wounded in the fight. The 15-year-old who died and a 16-year-old who remains hospitalized with what Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson called non-life threatening injuries, according to The News & Observer.

The conflict originated from an altercation involving McLaughlin’s older daughter and another female student at the high school several weeks ago. The dispute snowballed, involving multiple juveniles, and culminated in the fatal fight.

McLaughlin said more than a dozen kids, many of whom were later involved in the fatal fight, visited her house last week, where they assaulted McLaughlin and her mother.

Concerned for her son’s safety, McLaughlin informed the school’s case worker on the morning of Nov. 27, that she feared he might be attacked for defending his sister.

“My son was fighting for his life. They were threatening to jump on him. I warned the school that morning right before I dropped him off,” she told The News & Observer.

According to the newspaper, “The Raleigh police officer assigned as the school resource officer at Southeast Raleigh High responded at 11:01 a.m. Monday to a report that a juvenile was stabbed during an altercation involving other students. Video clips posted on social media by multiple students appear to show a fight spilling over from a hallway into the gymnasium, where a knife is visible.”

Raleigh police obtained a secure custody order for the 14-year-old, charging him with murder on a juvenile petition. The identities of the victims and the suspect have not been officially released, but McLaughlin identified her son as the charged 14-year-old.

Raleigh police spokesman Lt. Jason Borneo said the ongoing investigation may include examining relationships between the juveniles involved and their families.

The stabbing prompted a Code Red lockdown on Monday and the cancellation of classes on Nov. 28.

LeBron James Blasts NFL’s Suspension Of Tyreek Hill’s Photographer Following Celebration

by Iman Milner

November 30, 2023

LeBron James Blasts NFL’s Suspension Of Tyreek Hill’s Photographer Following Celebration

LeBron James calls for the NFL to 'Do better.'

NBA superstar LeBron James is using his platform to call out the NFL for what he feels is an unjustified suspension of wide receiver Tyreek Hill’s photographer. James took to Instagram to defend 20-year-old Kevin Fitzgibbons, who the league banned from its sidelines for participating in Hill’s touchdown celebration on Oct. 15, TMZ reports.

“Man, “this is F’d UP!!!,” the NBA’s oldest active player said, “Suspended for the year and possibly for good! C’mon NFL! Do better! S*** ain’t that serious.”

Hill’s on-field celebration, which included the player taking Fitzgibbon’s phone and recording himself doing a backflip after scoring a touchdown, became viral immediately, but the NFL was far from pleased. Hill was penalized by officials during the game and fined after; however, Fitzgibbons was given a much more stern punishment. The photographer had his NFL media credentials stripped for the remainder of the 2023 season, and it is unclear whether they’ll be reinstated in the future.

Fitzgibbons humbly accepted his penance with a gracious response posted to TikTok, CBS Sports reports.

“They said regardless if I knew the celebration was coming or not, I still had to be disciplined and that I shouldn’t have jumped on the sidelines after the play. One of the best moments of my life turned upside down in a matter of seconds. I get why the NFL had to make this decision and wish I could’ve done something to prevent it, but I’m thankful for the memory Tyreek gave me,” he said. “This was the greatest job in the world and I never took a day for granted. I can’t thank the NFL enough for the opportunity. Whether it’s back with the NFL or starting a new sport, I just hope to get another chance at doing what I love.”

Hill addressed his celebration after the game. “I seen the camera, and I just took it from him. And he didn’t want me to take it from him,” he said, according to The Athletic: “That’s my boy KFitz, man.”