by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 2, 2025

Morgan Freeman Joins Al Green On Stage To Sing ‘Let’s Stay Together’

The 'Driving Miss Daisy' actor joined the Memphis singer at his Clarksdale, Miss., club, Ground Zero

Talented thespian Morgan Freeman recently displayed another talent of his on Dec. 31 when he took to the stage with legendary soul singer Al Green when the Memphis recording artist performed at a club the actor co-owns.

A video clip of Freeman taking the microphone and singing alongside the “Love and Happiness” singer was posted by CNN’s Omar Jiminez, who placed the clip on his X (formerly known as Twitter) profile.

As he is standing on stage with the soul singer, the “Glory” actor is seen belting out the lyrics to Green’s song, “Let’s Stay Together.” The crowd goes crazy watching Freeman doing his Green impersonation.

Morgan Freeman got on stage to make his “dream come true.” He said it was to sing with Al Green 😂 pic.twitter.com/gLzFlkX2F9

— Omar Jimenez (@OmarJimenez) January 1, 2025

Jiminez also posted a clip of himself speaking to Freeman, a co-owner of Ground Zero, a venue in Clarksdale, Mississippi.

According to Atlanta Black Star, the venue opened in 2001 and is co-owned by Freeman, Eric Meier, and Howard Stovall. A previous owner, former Mayor Bill Luckett, died in 2021.

Freeman tells Jiminez that the spot was opened after he and his business partner opened a nearby restaurant, Madidi.

“I have a partner in business, as it were; he’s in a lot of other businesses, but we were getting ready to open a restaurant just up the street called Madidi. Madidi is a place in the South American forest,” he said. “While we’re working on Madidi, we look out the window, and there’s a couple of young people up on the street, and Bill — a person who will jump into anybody’s business — he was the former mayor. He’s a lawyer. And he went across the street and introduced himself.”

While interacting with younger people at the time, he said they were looking to hear blues music. That is when they decided to open Ground Zero so people would have a place to go to hear blues.

“So the decision was made right then. We got to have a blues club here. We got to do something.”

Talking blues, Mississippi, and bringing it all to life with my friend (I’m calling him a friend) Morgan Freeman. He co-owns this blues club which, until him and others, was just an abandoned building for decades. Clarksdale is considered by many to be the birthplace of blues. pic.twitter.com/zvhYgKkkl8

— Omar Jimenez (@OmarJimenez) January 1, 2025

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts

by Sharelle B. McNair

January 2, 2025

Justice John Roberts Warns of Consequences Of Defying High Court Ruling Days Before Trump’s 2nd Term

You heard him.....

Politico reports that in his year-end report, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts issued a stern warning about defying or resisting rulings just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.

While not targeting the indicted politician directly, the warning, published on New Year’s Eve, was seemingly thrown at Trump as Roberts reflected on past politicians who openly disregarded different rulings, saying it’s “dangerous.” “Every Administration suffers defeats in the court system — sometimes in cases with major ramifications for executive or legislative power or other consequential topics. Nevertheless, for the past several decades, the decisions of the courts, popular or not, have been followed,” Roberts wrote.

“Within the past few years, however, elected officials from across the political spectrum have raised the specter of open disregard for federal court rulings. These dangerous suggestions, however sporadic, must be soundly rejected.”

During Trump’s first presidential term, he was accused of ignoring the high court’s decision to limit spending on his Mexican border wall project. He also openly led personal attacks on Supreme Court justices who blocked his policies — Roberts included — and publicly rebuked some remarks in 2018. According to CNN, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance has experienced scrutiny after raising doubts about his faithfulness to Supreme Court decisions. During a podcast appearance in 2021, he urged Trump to take an approach to adverse court rulings like former President Andrew Jackson did. “Like Andrew Jackson did and say, ‘The chief justice has made his ruling. Now let him enforce it,’” Vance said.

The Democratic Party and its leaders aren’t off the hook from Roberts’s sentiments. In 2023, after a Trump-appointed judge revoked approval of an abortion drug, some Democratic lawmakers and one Republican pressured the Biden administration to ignore the ruling, resulting in a rejection of the notion from the White House and securing a vote from the high court to keep the pill on the market.

Roberts also took the time to express gratitude for heightened security as threats of violence against judges have increased, stressing that “a judicial system cannot and should not live in fear.” “Public officials certainly have a right to criticize the work of the judiciary, but they should be mindful that intemperance in their statements when it comes to judges may prompt dangerous reactions by others,” Roberts wrote.

“I am grateful to the many federal and state legislators who have stepped forward to sponsor bills shielding judges’ personal identifying information from the public domain,” he continued, showcasing support of laws that place limits on the personal information of judges being publicized. The chief justice suggested addresses and office phone numbers should be considered “private.”

As controversial rulings are ahead, including a decision about transgender care bans and a First Amendment challenge to a bipartisan ban on social app TikTok, Roberts warned of foreign entities that are deliberately spreading false narratives about the judicial system, including “bots” that mischaracterize rulings. “Because these actors distort our judicial system in ways that compromise the public’s confidence in our processes and outcomes, we must as a Nation publicize the risks and take all appropriate measures to stop them,” he declared.

Taylor Swift, Kidz Bop, Mary J. Blige, Family Affair

by Mary Spiller

January 2, 2025

Taylor Swift Dragged For “Kidz Bop” Rendition Of Mary J. Blige’s ‘Family Affair’

One commenter said Swift's performance is "giving unseasoned, undercooked fried chicken."

Taylor Swift, a 35-year-old singer with 15 Grammys under her belt, is under fire for doing what netizens are calling a “Kidz Bop” rendition of Mary J. Blige’s classic hit “Family Affair” in a recently resurfaced clip.

Swift, who has cemented herself as one of the most successful singers of the century in the eyes of her fans, was inspired by Blige to perform a cover of one of her most popular songs.

A clip of Swift performing during her 1989 World Tour in Los Angeles for her recently released “1989” studio LP at the time was shared on Instagram on The Neighborhood Talk’s page.

In the clip, now 53-year-old Blige joined her onstage at the Staples Center in August of 2015 so they could also perform Blige’s track “Doubt.”

Swift began to sing a rendition of “Family Affair” in the clip, which drew some criticism from the comment section beneath the video.

One commenter wrote of Swift’s effort to sing with the “Be Without You” singer, “It sounds like the ‘Kidz Bop’ version. I know that’s right Taylor.”

Another added, “It’s giving karaoke…giving unseasoned, undercooked fried chicken.”

Another comment that received quite a few likes read, “Us white girls love singing along; we are not good at it, but we still know every word.”

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEPo-w3JOZd/?igsh=Znl5YzF4a3FqeGIx

Despite online media users’ mixed reactions to the “Bad Blood” singer’s performance beside Blige, the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul praised Swift for the performance.

Following the LA show, Blige told Yahoo, “It was just beautiful singing with her because she has a beautiful, strong voice and an amazing soul. I was honored, and it was a blessing to be up there with her.”

Blige continued, “I’ve always been a fan. I’ve always loved and truly, truly respect Taylor Swift as a woman, as a businesswoman, and as an artist. So I immediately said yes because I just love her that much.”

The veteran singer told the outlet that Swift’s songs have “relatable lyrics” and set a “great example for a lot of women.”

DFW Airport Suffers $5M In Car Thefts At The Hands Of Organized Crime Ring

by Mary Spiller

January 2, 2025

DFW Airport Suffers $5M In Car Thefts At The Hands Of Organized Crime Ring

Texas authorities has worked with DFW to apprehend three suspects in the car thefts, including the group's ring leader.

An international car theft ring has reportedly stolen almost $5 million worth of vehicles from the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport in Texas. According to a new search warrant obtained by NBC 5 on Jan. 1, the group’s leader was arrested last month for the nationwide conspiracy.

DFW Airport Police experienced a rise in car thefts over the past year, and officials believed at the time that it was indicative of an organized crime ring at work. Investigators said, “[We] do believe there is an element of crime rings behind many of the thefts.”

NBC 5 reported that Tarrant County authorities and the DFW Airport Police had officially identified a nationwide crime group stealing vehicles from the airport after apprehending its alleged leader. Texas police had been tracking this ring out of Houston since February of last year.

The warrant stated, “Approximately 14 suspects have been identified…the suspects in this group have stolen approximately 52 cars from DFW, for a total loss of $4.9 million.”

The thefts mainly occurred when cars were left at DFW Airport garages while the owners were traveling.

So far, three suspects have been arrested In the crime ring, including one member who investigators believe to be the leader.

The search warrant identified the ring leader as “Yoel Hernandez-Frometa [who] uses Autel devices to reprogram key fobs so he can steal vehicles.”

The organized crime ring has been active across other Texas airports and New Mexico, Utah, and Nevada.

The car thieves would obtain the cars from airport garages, change their “Vehicle Identification Numbers,” illegally retitle them, sell them, and often take them across the border to Mexico.

In a new statement, spokespersons for the DFW airport announced, “Investigators with the DFW Airport Department of Public Safety remain in close contact with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to identify and disrupt organized crime rings targeting airport parking facilities throughout the country. Due to the work of DFW Airport Police, the airport has seen a more than 40% reduction in car thefts from the terminal areas so far this year compared with 2023.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 2, 2025

Sugar Bowl Rescheduled After Fatal New Orleans Terror Attack On New Year’s Day

Notre Dame will play Georgia at the Caesars Superdome on Thursday, Jan. 2

The Sugar Bowl, which pits the University of Notre Dame against the University of Georgia for the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal, initially scheduled for Jan. 1 in New Orleans, has been postponed to Thursday, Jan. 2, due to the recent tragedy on Bourbon Street Jan.1 after a man drove his truck into an unsuspecting crowd.

The game will still take place at the Caesars Superdome.

🚨 UPDATE 🚨

🏆 The 2025 #CFBPlayoff Quarterfinal at the @Allstate #SugarBowl will kickoff January 2 at 3:00 PM CT! pic.twitter.com/wpCS52JnPN

— Allstate Sugar Bowl (@SugarBowlNola) January 1, 2025

The game is scheduled to start at 3 pm Central time. The contest organizers worked with local and federal officials, as well as the schools and venue, to make this decision.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families as we work through this,” said Jeff Hundley, the chief executive officer of the Allstate Sugar Bowl, in a written statement. “We have full faith and confidence in the governor and the mayor and all the federal, state, and local first responders that they’ve applied to this horrific event. Anytime we have an event like the Sugar Bowl, public safety is paramount, and all parties involved agree that could only be achieved with a postponement. Now we will move ahead to take care of the details to make the Sugar Bowl the first-class, fun, and safe event that it has been for over 90 years.”

Due to the local tragedy, all involved had to ensure that security resources for the game would be adequate for the number of people expected to attend the contest between Notre Dame and Georgia.

At least 15 people were killed and dozens injured after the alleged driver, identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, struck multiple people with his vehicle in the early morning on New Year’s Day. After shooting at police officers, Jabbar was shot and killed by them as he injured two of the officers on the scene. Investigators are still working on the details of what transpired and why it may have taken place.

“On behalf of the College Football Playoff, we are devastated by this morning’s attack, and our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those affected by this tragedy,” said Rich Clark, the executive director of the College Football Playoff. “We are grateful to the leadership of the Sugar Bowl, New Orleans, the State of Louisiana and federal authorities as we work together to ensure we can provide a safe environment for everyone. We are also appreciative of ESPN’s flexibility in moving the game to tomorrow afternoon.”

The game can be seen on ESPN.

by Mary Spiller

January 2, 2025

Seattle Children’s Hospital Found Responsible For Racial Discrimination & Creating Hostile Work Environment For Black Employees

The lawsuit was brought about by former employee and Black doctor Benjamin Danielson, who described the working conditions and treatment of non-white patients at the hospital.

On Dec. 23, a jury declared the Seattle Children’s Hospital guilty of creating a race-based hostile work environment against the former Black medical director of the hospital’s Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic, Benjamin Danielson. The lawsuit awarded Danielson $21 million in damages.

As a result of the racial discrimination verdict, a trial that brought to light the effects of systemic racism in the white-dominated medical field and an individual’s hospital management’s responsibility to mitigate harmful inequity was finally concluded.

Danielson served as director of the Seattle Children’s Hospital clinic for well over two decades. In this position, he upheld the clinic’s original mission, begun over 50 years ago: to help increase healthcare access for Black people and to bring attention to their racially divided treatment and health outcomes. The Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic primarily focused on serving families of color and low-income individuals.

Despite the original mission of the clinic, Danielson filed a lawsuit and sued the Seattle Children’s Hospital system and resigned in November 2020 after accusing the children’s hospital of perpetuating institutionalized racism against its patients and Black employees. He claimed that the hospital management allowed race-based disparities to grow and retaliated against employees who drew attention to the issues. The lawsuit caused an independent investigation to be launched.

Danielson’s lawsuit states that Seattle Hospital created a racialized hostile work environment, “including by permitting the use of racial slurs, failing to remedy known incidents of systemic racism, fostering an environment of conformity to the status quo of racial inequity, and subjecting its Black and Brown employees to a double standard of conduct.”

He continued to call out a hospital administrator in particular, Dr. Jim Hendricks, for reportedly calling him the N-word and referring to Asian people inside the hospital as “Japs.” Danielson alleged that the hospital ignored all of these instances of misconduct.

The administration was not only complacent in the racist environment but also contributed. Danielson said that the hospital disproportionately used security against Black people and that security calls on Black patients at Seattle Children’s were more than twice as likely as they were for white patients for similar incidents. They also systematically undermedicated Black patients with sickle cell disease, which is a blood disorder that can cause severe pain in those afflicted and one that overwhelmingly affects Black people. The hospital reportedly undermedicated these patients due to “a racial stereotype that they or their families were drug seeking.”

One specific incident described in the lawsuit outlined the treatment of a Black father who advocated for his sick child. The father was escorted away by hospital security after requesting the doctors to use a needleless injection device on his child instead of a needle and numbing cream.

According to the lawsuit, he said, “As a Black man, being escorted away from my very sick child by a security officer left me powerless, embarrassed, and seen in the eyes of other families on the unit as a criminal.”

Danielson’s attorneys recited an independent investigation by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder’s law firm as evidence of the lawsuit’s claims. The investigation found that Seattle Children’s “culture of conflict avoidance and failure to address microaggressions, combined with widespread distrust in the Human Resources function, contributes to an environment that excludes and undervalues BIPOC workforce members.”

According to Health Affairs, the claims made by Danielson against Seattle Children’s are not isolated, and they reflect a broader issue in the medical field of doctors systemically implementing race bias in their practices.

For example, Black patients are seen as being more “aggressive” when expressing their pain and tend to meet with security guards rather than adequate treatment, are believed to have higher pain tolerance than their white counterparts, and are consistently undermedicated or treated as drug-seeking, and tend to be criminalized for advocating themselves within a system that is wrought with race-based health disparities.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

January 2, 2025

Indiana Man Says Self-Defense Led Him To Bludgeoning Woman With Frying Pan, Space Heater

Baka claims that the victim repeatedly threatened and assaulted him before the deadly escalation.

An Indiana man alleges that self-defense led him to fatally bludgeoning a woman with a frying pan and space heater.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department arrested Regulus Baka and charged him with one count of murder for the death of Shanaiya McDonald. McDonald was found by her roommate in the bloody scene in her bedroom, as detailed by Law and Crime.

Upon arriving at the apartment on Indianapolis’ south side, medical responders noted McDonald endured blunt trauma to the head. Officers also at the scene documented a plastic bag drenched in blood, with tape placed on top of the victim’s head. The mounting evidence pointed to signs of struggle during the deadly exchange.

Surveillance footage outside the apartment complex led to Baka, who allegedly threw McDonald’s phone and laptop in a nearby dumpster. Moreover, the tape used on the woman was found in the dumpster.

A vehicle found fleeing the scene also connected to Baka’s family. The car’s owner told authorities that the 22-year-old used the vehicle and pointed the officers to his parents’ house, where he currently slept.

Baka later confessed to the killing upon police interrogating him. He insisted on speaking English, despite officers using a French translator to explain his Miranda rights.

Speaking to police, he proclaimed that his relationship with McDonald was volatile. Baka claims she cheated on him multiple times, as well as threatened and assaulted him. According to The Indianapolis Star, Baka was also the father of her child.

By the man’s account, the victim had threatened to kill his family and repeatedly slapped him without reason. After he arrived on Dec. 29, the assault and subsequent threat to get someone else to hurt him escalated the next day.

Taking multiple blows, Baka allegedly began to fight McDonald back in self-defense. The two engaged in the brawl, with the now-deceased woman reportedly threatening to kill him with a knife, prompting Baka to punch her in the head.

Allegedly telling police he “just wanted her dead,” Baka began to hit her with a space heater and frying pan. He allegedly used each item to bash her head multiple times.

However, Baka did more to confirm her death. After allegedly wrapping tape around McDonald’s nose to stop her breathing, Baka also allegedly stabbed the woman with a knife. He then fled the scene, despite officers catching up to him within days.

He remains detained at Marion County Jail in Indiana, with his court hearing scheduled for Jan. 3.

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

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

January 2, 2025

Suspect In New Orleans Terror Attack Reportedly Made Videos Pledging Allegiance To Isis Before Committing Act

Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar drove into Bourbon street on early New Year's Day, leaving 15 people dead and dozens injured.

The suspect in the New Orleans terror attack reportedly posted videos to social media about pledging his allegiance to ISIS.

Authorities revealed the man who allegedly drove into crowded Bourbon Street and killed 15 people as Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar. In the early hours of New Year’s Day, Jabbar allegedly took a rented truck to plow through the area. He also had an ISIS flag on display in the Ford F-150 truck with bombs placed inside, according to The Daily Mail. Jabbar later died during a gunfire exchange with police.

However, ahead of driving into the street known for its hordes of restaurants and shops, Jabbar allegedly took to social media to share his inspiration from ISIS, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham. President Biden updated the public on the man’s potential motives, which he shared through videos leading up to the attack. Despite this, Biden also noted that the situation is still developing.

“The law enforcement and intelligence community continue looking for connections, associations or coconspirators. We have nothing additional to report at this time. The investigation is continuing to be active and no one should jump to conclusions,” Biden said, as reported by ABC7.

Jabbar, a U.S. citizen from Texas, also served in the Army, with placement in active duty from 2007 to 2015. Following this, he served in the Army Reserve. He later moved on to IT and data engineering, working for multiple big-name consulting firms like Accenture and Deloitte until 2022. He also released a video introducing himself and his professional background during that time period. In the clip, he explained how his expertise helped in his new role as a real estate agent.

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A post shared by Daily Mail (@dailymail)

Jabbar is currently deemed the lead suspect in the Jan. 1 terror attack but may have worked with others to commit the deed that left tens of people also injured. According to the news outlet, an internal police document obtained by the Associated Press reported footage that showed a group of people planting an explosive device in connection with Jabbar’s car attack. The FBI remains on the hunt for these “people of interest” who potentially conspired with the now-deceased suspect.

As New Orleans continues to reel from the tragic events, city officials have asked residents to come together and help the victims by participating in a blood drive.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 2, 2025

CDC Releases Data Revealing Whooping Cough Cases Increased More Than Sixfold Since 2023

In 2024, there were 32,085 reported cases while in 2023, the amount was 6,479

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released data revealing an uptick in Pertussis, commonly called whooping cough.

The agency reported that the number of cases of whooping cough in 2024 was more than six times higher than that recorded in 2023. The total number of occurrences totaled 32,085, compared to 5,198 in 2023. The current numbers are the highest since 2012 when there were 40,411 cases.

According to CNN, whooping cough is a contagious respiratory illness that starts with symptoms similar to the common cold. It begins with a runny nose, sneezing, low-grade fever, and a tickly cough. However, those symptoms can increase to a painful, full-body cough in about a week or two. There are instances when whooping cough can be so severe that some people will vomit or break ribs. Another telling sign is that the coughs can make the person make a whooping sound as they try to catch their breath.

The cough can persist for weeks or even months. It is an infectious bacteria easily passed on to others, even with milder symptoms.

The CDC has stated that whooping cough cases were at their lowest in the past several years due to the pandemic. The cause was most likely due to the preventative measures people took during the pandemic. Masking up, staying out of public places, and remote learning and working may have helped lessen the chances of getting the bacterial infection.

The lowest number of cases of whooping cough reported was 1,478 in 2021. That total slowly rose to 2,265 in 2022, almost tripling to 6,479, and then exploded to 32,085 in 2024.

The agency has stated that vaccination is the best way to avoid whooping cough.

But, the CDC also anticipates that the number of cases will increase in unvaccinated and vaccinated populations. Pertussis occurs in vaccinated people since the vaccinated will lose protection over time from the inoculation. It is recommended that adults receive the TDaP (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis) vaccine, while children should get the DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis) vaccine.

by Mary Spiller

January 2, 2025

Power Restored To 98% Of Puerto Rico After New Years Eve Blackout

Nearly 1.5 million Puerto Rican citizens were left without power while ringing in the New Year due to an island wide blackout.

Puerto Rico finally has power again. Nearly all Luma electric customers had power after January 1, following a disruptive blackout across the island that left over 1.2 million households in the dark.

The private company that oversees electricity transmission and distribution on the island, Luma, announced that power has been restored to 98% of their customer base, including Puerto Rico’s hospitals, sewage facilities, and water plants.

Luma declared that the company’s employees are still working hard to get power to the last of their customers, but total power restoration could take up to two days all across the island.

President of Luma Energy Juan Saca said, “Given the fragile nature of the grid, we will need to manage available generation to customer demand, which will likely require rotating temporary outages.”

According to previous reports, the power went out across Puerto Rico early on Tuesday morning, just before the New Year.

As reported by CBS News, a Luma Energy spokesperson claimed that the blackout was a product of a failure in one of the several main electric lines at the island’s main power plants. The failure was so catastrophic that it took down power through the entire plant and then “created a waterfall effect in the system, which led to the other power plants on the island going out of service.”

Although the initial outages began at one of Luma’s plants, the affected power plants extended to even those owned by Puerto Rico’s primary energy generator — Genera — as well as some other private electricity generators on the island.

The blackout has exposed a chronically growing issue with electricity in Puerto Rico, which the 2017 Category 4 Hurricane Maria has exasperated. The power system across the island has been suffering from blackouts and a lack of maintenance and financial investment from the U.S. government.

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo spoke out about the American government’s lack of action in Puerto Rican affairs. He wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, “Puerto Ricans have been treated as second-class citizens for far too long.”

He continued in the post, “The fact that, as Americans, they don’t have a reliable electric grid and suffer sporadic blackouts continuously is indefensible and would not be tolerated anywhere else in the United States. The federal government must finally acknowledge its responsibility to Puerto Rico and provide the resources and expertise necessary to end this cycle of insanity once and for all.”

Puerto Ricans have been treated as second class citizens for far too long.

The fact that, as Americans, they don’t have a reliable electric grid and suffer sporadic blackouts on a continuous basis is indefensible and would not be tolerated anywhere else in the United States.… https://t.co/Vw7asn7s04
— Andrew Cuomo (@andrewcuomo) December 31, 2024