by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 31, 2024

Newborn Girl Abandoned In A Tote Bag In Front Of A Bronx Home As Police Try To Locate Mother

A neighbor found the child wrapped in blankets and placed within a tote bag outside the home.

A newborn girl was placed in a tote bag and left abandoned in front of a Bronx home as police asked the public to help find her mother.

According to the New York Daily News, a woman dropped the child off at the doorstep of a brick house in the borough on Dec. 29. A neighbor saw the bag and heard crying coming from it. Calling 911, the man discovered a newborn baby wrapped in blankets in the tote.

“I didn’t want to mess up any evidence, but it was too cold,” Mamadou Hafiz Jallow recalled to PIX11. “I picked up the baby [and] put it inside the house where it was warm.”

The child survived the New York winter despite her estimated age of five days old. Medics later took the infant to the Jacobi Medical Center. The child is now in stable condition.

However, the police continue searching for the woman who placed the tote on that Bronx doorstep. While a New York law, the Abandoned Infant Protection Act does not criminalize those who abandon babies one month old or younger. They must leave the child in certain safe places and tell someone of its location.

Instead, the woman left the baby in a tote bag at a random house, also a few doors away from a nonprofit specializing in health services.

Despite this, police have released surveillance footage that could lead to the presumed mother’s identity. The video revealed a woman in the area carrying the green tote the baby was found in.

However, the woman wore a black face mask and a black coat. Thus, making an identification remains a considerable task. Regardless, authorities have implored the public to join in the search to gain some answers on the child’s abandonment.

If you have any information about the woman or the child she left, please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

Dora Moono Nyambe, Zamia, influencer,Ryan Levert, death, Eddie Levert, daughter

by Stacy Jackson

December 31, 2024

Humanitarian Influencer, Dora Moono Nyambe, Who Built A School In Zambia, Dies At 32

Nyambe built four schools in Zambia to house over 500 kids and provide them with food and resources. She was working on purchasing a new bus.

Humanitarian and TikTok star Dora Moono Nyambe, founder of the nonprofit Footprints of Hope School, is dead at 32.

“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the sudden departure of our beloved Dora,” a Dec. 27 Instagram post read. No cause of death has been revealed. However, the message read that Nyambe will be remembered as “a loved mother, heroine, peace philanthropist and an extraordinary woman.”

The 32-year-old influencer drew over 4 million followers on TikTok, who followed her journey as she documented her work as a humanitarian and educator in Zambia. Daily Mail said Nyambe launched her nonprofit, Footprints for Hope School, in 2019. In an Oct. 10 video, the humanitarian influencer explained that she initially came to her friend’s village, Mapapa Village, while she waited for her visa to be approved.

After she observed the conditions of the kids in the village, she decided to stay and build a school in Zambia to provide them with resources. “When I came here, I saw that there were a lot of kids getting [sexually assaulted], there were a lot of kids that had babies; just a lot of bad things happening.”

Nymabe’s resources attracted many children from the village, so she built four schools to accommodate over 500 students.

@doramoononyambe
Love and appreciate you guys so much.
♬ original sound – Dora moono Nyambe

In a follow-up video, Nyambe, who said she did not have biological kids, revealed that she adopted the younger kids in the village while the older kids moved on from her schools and were able to sustain themselves.

With a lack of resources and no government funding to accommodate all of the kids in the village, she used her social media platforms to raise awareness as the community continued to grow in its demand for resources.

“I can’t turn any kids away,” she said then. “I don’t operate like that.”

Before she died, she was raising funds for a new bus to replace the old one gifted to the school. The bus, which picked up kids from four different villages and transported food and supplies for teachers and staff to run the school, repeatedly broke down, making it difficult to transport the school’s supplies. According to a GoFundMe set up for the bus funds, the school has raised $47,545 of the $80,000 goal.

A fellow teacher for Nyambe’s nonprofit announced the death of her colleague in a video posted on TikTok. “I am officially announcing the loss of my beloved CEO, director, manager and founder of Footprints of Hope School, who died on Wednesday, Dec. 25 2024,” she said.

@doramoononyambe
♬ original sound – Dora moono Nyambe

Burial services for the social media personality were scheduled for Monday, Dec. 30, at 12:00 p.m. at Footprints of Hope, Mapapa Village in Mukushi, Zambia.

Footprints of Hope provided contact info to a family representative and school administrator on Instagram for those who wished to support.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 31, 2024

Claressa Shields Slams Female Boxing Community After Only 2 Champs Show Support For Biopic

'So let's talk about it!'

Boxing champ Claressa Shields is not holding back any punches about the lack of support for the release of her biopic, The Fire Inside.

On X, Shields revealed that only two female champions vocally supported her film’s theatrical debut.

So let’s talk about it! A whole biopic about my life & my journey in boxing but only 2 female champions have said anything about it! But y’all love to call me a hater! FOh! These girls been hating on me! That’s why I shine so bright ✨ AND Still! GOD GONNA ALWAYS DO HIS BIG ONE…
— Claressa Gwoat Shields (@Claressashields) December 28, 2024

“So let’s talk about it! A whole biopic about my life & my journey in boxing but only TWO female champions have said anything about it,” wrote the 29-year-old. “But y’all love to call me a hater! FOh! These girls been hating on me! That’s why I shine so bright…AND Still! GOD GONNA ALWAYS DO HIS BIG ONE FOR ME!”

Shields did not mention names, but many noted her own past issues with female boxers. Notably, Shields had a beef with boxing legend Laila Ali, as reported by Forbes. The two had been developing a fight for years, but a harsh exchange of words led to the opportunity fading away.

One boxer did publicly support Shields and the film, welterweight champion Mikaela Mayer.

I haven’t seen it yet but I can’t wait and I’m proud of you, always.
Still gonna whoop you when you’re ready…but I love you ❤️😈 https://t.co/g1IMfeJUen
— Mikaela Mayer (@MikaelaMayer1) December 28, 2024

“I haven’t seen it yet, but I can’t wait, and I’m proud of you, always. Still gonna whoop you when you’re ready…but I love you,” wrote Mayer.

Shields cheekily responded: “Go see it! And then you’ll understand why I’m unbeatable… love you [too].”

The movie stars Ryan Destiny as the professional boxer and Oscar nominee Brian Tyree Henry. Produced by Barry Jenkins (the director of Moonlight), the feature focuses on Shields’ upbringing in Flint, Michigan, and her rise to compete in the 2012 Summer Olympics.

The film, released on Christmas Day, is a critics’ darling, with a stamp of approval from Rotten Tomatoes and a 94% rating.

RELATED CONTENT: Claressa Shields, America’s Best Kept Secret

by Stacy Jackson

December 31, 2024

FDA To Determine Ban On Synthetic Red Dye Found In Foods

FDA representatives have urged Congress to review its request for funding as it embarks on a more modern reassessment of chemicals.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may soon decide whether to ban the synthetic dye Red No. 3, which gives foods and drinks a bright crimson color.

The federal agency has been actively reviewing a petition filed in 2022 requesting to revoke authorization of the color additive in foods and ingested drugs.

“With Red 3, we have a petition in front of us to revoke the authorization board, and we’re hopeful that in the next few weeks, we’ll be acting on that petition,” said FDA Deputy Commissioner Jim Jones at the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee meeting on Dec. 5.

The FDA said the red dye, made of petroleum, is known to cause cancer in animals, but according to studies, it did not raise safety concerns for humans.

“Any chemical that is shown to be carcinogenic in animals or humans, or should I say, ‘humans or animals,’ cannot be authorized by FDA,” Jones said at the meeting. “Even though we don’t believe there is a risk to humans under the Delaney Clause of the FFDCA, red dye, because it is known to cause cancer in laboratory animals, should not be authorized.”

FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert M. Califf claimed the agency has repeatedly asked for better funding for chemical safety. “Remember that, when we do ban something, it will go to court, and if we don’t have the scientific evidence that will stand up in court, we will lose,” he said.

Examining the U.S. agency’s review system compared to The European Union’s, which bans the use of specific dyes in foods, Jones noted the FDA is several decades behind Europe, which has conducted post-market reviews of chemicals for over 20 years. He added that although there is no statutory mandate for the FDA to do post-market reviews, an entire office will be dedicated to undertaking chemical reevaluations as part of the agency’s reorganization. Without help from Congress, Jones and Califf said the FDA may struggle with the resources to carry out the reassessment of chemicals.

“We are not waiting to act where the evidence is clear.” @DrCaliff_FDA discusses the agency’s current initiatives to improve nutrition at today’s Senate HELP hearing. pic.twitter.com/qZEg0Yl6tI
— U.S. FDA (@US_FDA) December 5, 2024

Certified FD&C color additives approved for use in foods include FD&C Blue Nos. 1 and 2, FD&C Green No. 3, and FD&C Red Nos. 3 and 40, and FD&C Yellow Nos. 5 and 6. FD&C color additives are used in several processed foods, like candies, jams, jellies, snacks, and pie fillings, to create different hues and reflect an intense color.

The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment examined the neurological effects of food dyes, which are also found in drugs and cosmetics. It found that some children’s consumption of food dyes was linked to hyperactivity and neurobehavioral problems.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 30, 2024

Will Smith Appears In Concept Video For Black Panther 3

Another concept video was recently released featuring Denzel Washington.

A video was released by KH Studio that placed “Wild Wild West” actor Will Smith as the lead character in the sequel to Marvel Comics’ Black Panther.

According to Screen Rant, the concept video, released online in October, shows the Philadelphia-bred entertainer as Wakanada’s T’Challa. Although Disney has not officially announced another Black Panther movie, fans are anxious to find out if and when it will be released and how it will play out.

The video shows Smith in the title role, replacing the character the late Chadwick Boseman brought to life over the years. For those who may not have seen the sequel to the first Black Panther film (Spoiler alert!) At the conclusion of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, one of the last scenes revealed that T’Challa had a son.

The video starts with a voiceover stating that someone has to lead until T’Challa Jr. grows up. Smith’s voice says, “I wasn’t looking for this role, but without me, there will be chaos.”

Throughout that video, scenes played out with Smith incorporating T’Challa’s features and characteristics.

In the sequel to the first film, Letitia Wright plays Shuri, who takes over the role of Black Panther to save Wakanda from destruction. In the concept video, Smith’s image is seen with her as they interact.

Smith has played several superheroes throughout his cinematic career, including roles in Suicide Squad and Hancock.

On Dec. 25, KH Studio released another concept video for Black Panther 3, this time starring Denzel Washington. The video starts with the scene where T’Challa Jr. was introduced in the last film. He is seen with Shuri as she states that she is trying to make sure her nephew is equipped to take his father’s place. But, according to the concept video, it appears that Washington is T’Challa’s father and has come back as a protector, but not to take on the role of the king of Wakanda.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 30, 2024

Deadly Tornadoes, Strong Winds Wreak Havoc Across The South

More than 300,000 people were left without power during the deadly storms.

Bad weather in the South, including tornadoes, caused multiple deaths, power outages, and severe damage, leaving more than 300,000 without power.

The Weather Channel has reported that severe weather wreaked havoc in the southern region of the country on Dec. 28 and Dec. 29. The serious weather has left at least four individuals dead as it ripped through Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Florida and Georgia. One person was reported dead in the Houston metro area, while there were two confirmed deaths in Mississippi. North Carolina also reported a death took place in the state.

The weather also left hundreds of thousands without power as officials in various states reported the number of outages over the weekend.

Mississippi – 73,899 outages

North Carolina – 22,093 outages

Georgia – 64,982 outages

Texas – 40,000 outages

Alabama – 47,557 outages

Tennessee – 45,000 outages

Florida – 13,134 outages

South Carolina – 31,000 outages

Louisiana: 52,623 outages

The National Weather Service in Houston confirmed that five tornadoes touched down in the area on Dec. 28, while Georgia reported one occurred in the state.

The tornadoes and strong winds delayed more than 500 flights at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina on Sunday morning while also canceling nearly 30 flights due to the Charlotte area’s heavy rain, gusty winds, and tornado threats. It was much worse in Texas, where almost 2,000 flights were either delayed or canceled due to the tornadoes. At Dallas-Fort Worth International, 1,087 flights were affected by the weather, while at Dallas Love Field, 222 flights were impacted, and at Houston Bush Intercontinental, 604 flights were affected as well.

In several states, roads were closed, and severe damage was reported. At least five homes were impacted in Porter Heights, Texas, and the emergency crew conducted search-and-rescue operations there. In Liverpool, emergency officials reported that several homes were completely destroyed.

Meanwhile, the winds were so strong in Eastern Louisiana that trees and power lines were knocked down as reported winds reached 81 mph in Fort Johnson, Vernon Parish, 72 mph in Zwolle, Sabine Parish, and 64 mph in Boyce, Rapides Parish.

by Sharelle B. McNair

December 30, 2024

Jacksonville Woman Charged With Defrauding Retailers In $334K Couponing Scam

These scammers are getting clever....

News4jax reports that a woman from Jacksonville, Florida, is being charged with allegedly defrauding retailers out of more than $32 million through a fraudulent coupon scheme.

Cindi Swindle was federally indicted after she allegedly “knowingly purchased” coupons for $5,000 from couple Lori Ann and Pacifico Talens between April 2017 and Feb. 2020. With more than 42 transactions, the counterfeit coupons were worth $334,388.60 to manufacturers and retailers. Law enforcement says the Talens, from Virginia Beach, sold fake coupons through social media and communicated to their clients using an encrypted messaging app.

Lori Ann would allegedly print the coupons and ship them to Swindle in Jacksonville after accepting online payments through Bitcoin and PayPal. At times, Lori Ann would exchange coupons for stolen rolls of the special paper stores that used to print out coupons. When authorities searched the Talens’ residence, thousands of fake coupons, coupon paper, and coupon designs for more than 13,000 products were found on her computer.

The Talens are already serving close to 20 years in prison for the scheme, with Lori Ann sentenced to 12 years and Pacifico sentenced to seven years due to his knowledge of the crime and profiting from it. Attorney at Plata Schott Law, Shannon Schott, warned of the dangers of such incidents and claims those involved aren’t what some may think.

She also alleges retailers are paying close attention to their bottom lines. “It’s easy to think, ‘Oh, nobody’s getting hurt by this.’ But the reality is that the people who stock the shelves, the people who run the cash registers, who are making minimum wage, the margins are covering their paychecks, and when a company is not making the money that they expect to make, even with the coupons that they did the math to issue, what we are going to see is bankruptcy and things of that nature,” she said.

Scammers have become clever at promoting fake coupons for consumers looking to save money, mostly around the holiday season. WTHI reports the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has received several reports of scammers using counterfeit coupons to trick consumers into getting their personal information. Consumers find a coupon for a recognizable brand via social media, text, or email, with a steep discount of around 80% off the regular price. With the website being fake, credit card information is exposed.

The BBB says to avoid being scammed, consumers should look at the URL. Don’t click if it looks like a random assortment of letters and numbers or is a shortened link. Customers should only visit official websites to avoid downloading malware onto their computers. If customers aren’t sure, the agency recommends visiting the company’s website directly to look for the coupon.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 30, 2024

Kentucky Man To Serve 20 Years In Prison For Killing Infant Son After Losing Video Game

The man allegedly hit the 1-month-old with his fist out of frustration over losing the video game.

A Kentucky man will now serve 20 years in prison for allegedly killing his infant son after losing a video game.

Anthony Trice pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the May 2019 incident in which he fatally punched his 1-month-old son due to frustration over losing the video game. According to an arrest citation obtained by the Louisville Courier-Journal, he was home alone watching his son as he played the game. Upon losing, he threw the controller and punched the newborn.

While trying to soothe the baby by picking him up, the 32-year-old reportedly dropped him as he went into the kitchen to prepare a bottle. He left the baby unattended in a seated position as he used the restroom, only to find the infant “in distress” upon his return. He then called 911, leading to his arrest the following day for first-degree criminal abuse of a child.

The child was taken to Norton Children’s Hospital in Louisville, where he later died. Initially, the man told the child’s mother and her family that the baby needed to go to the hospital after choking on milk. However, a further investigation revealed Trice’s foul play.

A GoFundMe reportedly made by the child’s grandmother disclosed the child was just over one month old. The woman, who identified as Tonjia M. Howlett, says that Trice “severely [beat]” her grandchild. She also confirmed the deceased boy’s name as De’Anthony Lee Trice.

“None of us saw this coming, and my grandson De’Anthony Lee Trice was only 36 days old when his life was taken from his father,” she wrote in the page’s description.

Following the young child’s death, Trice’s charges upgraded to murder. While Trice initially pleaded not guilty, he later agreed to charges of manslaughter. He entered the Alford plea, used in cases where a defendant doesn’t admit guilt but understands there is enough evidence to convict him. The acceptance of the plea led to his conviction.

The grandmother told WLKY at the time of the incident that she “wouldn’t have ever thought” a tragedy like this would occur.

“I’m mad,” she expressed. “I wouldn’t have ever thought this would happen to our family.”

A Jefferson Circuit Court sentenced Trice to two decades behind bars on Dec. 19.

GOP, Black Conservative Federation, Trump, black men, freedom ball

by Sharelle B. McNair

December 30, 2024

Social Media Reacts To List Of ‘Special Guests’ Attending Black Conservative Federation’s Legacy Of Freedom Ball

Think Trump and Vance will even show up?

The Black Conservative Federation—“the premier hub for Black conservatives”—is hosting its annual Legacy of Freedom Ball, and the guest list is garnering reactions on social media.

A flyer posted on social media shows several Black influencers, hip-hop stars, and retired athletes scheduled to attend the ball taking place during President-elect Donald J. Trump’s inauguration weekend on Jan. 19 in Washington, D.C.

Faces of former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown, rappers Waka Flocka and Fivio Foreign, and conservative YouTubers The Cartier Family and Anton Daniels, are plastered on the flyer as “special and celebrity guests.”

Activist Deray Mckesson reposted the flyer on X, calling the lineup “embarrassing.”

Embarrassing. pic.twitter.com/3nenAwJIdo
— deray (@deray) December 30, 2024

The “honorary event chairs” include some of Congress’ Black GOP members, such as Reps. Byron Donalds (FL) and Wesley Hunt (TX). Sports journalist Sage Steele and former NFL player Jack Brewer are on the list as are Florida’s former Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll and Dr. Alveda King, the evangelist niece of civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Social media users criticized the guests for potentially switching up their platforms for “clout.” @DCAZ480 specifically mentioned the Cartier Family: “So Cartier Family went from posting videos of seeing songs/videos for the first time to this?!”

So Cartier Family went from posting videos of seeing songs/videos for the first time to this?!
— Darnell Calhoun (@DCAZ480) December 30, 2024

Another user, @navygirl84, alleges that appearances are all about money. “People will do anything for clout. Some of us have lost our way. Sheer Coonery.”

People will do anything for clout. Some of us have lost our way. Sheer Coonery. pic.twitter.com/YrwyfrRDjE
— Lets have Thee conversation. (@navygirl84) December 30, 2024

But fellow Black conservatives celebrated the lineup. CEO of Spectre Strategies, Javon A. Price, responded to Mckesson’s tweet.

“Embarrassing? What’s embarrassing is dismissing a historic celebration of freedom, diversity of thought, and President Trump’s victory,” he wrote. “BCF should be proud to honor this legendary win.”

https://twitter.com/JavonAPrice/status/1873714459447062634

Brown and Flocka, whose real name is Juaquin James Malphurs, made headlines after both became avid Trump supporters, endorsing him early in his campaign. The Queens, NY-born rapper even claimed he would leave the country if Vice President Kamala Harris won the 2024 presidential election.

Fivio Foreign, a fellow New York-born rapper, released a pro-Trump song with artist Kodak Black in August 2024. He was also seen at several Trump rallies.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 30, 2024

Kroger Apologizes For Staff Issues After Shopper Forced To Bag $400 In Groceries On Floor

Kroger and other retailers have face backlash for their staffing and self-checkout issues.

Kroger is apologizing for staffing issues after a customer was forced to bag $400 in groceries on the floor of a self-checkout.

An X user named Colby Eggleston shared their distress on social media, posting the nearly $400 total alongside the bags on the floor. Eggleston wrote about the hostile experience of shopping at the grocery, which left them to do the heavy lifting due to the lack of cashiers available.

Seriously, @kroger? Almost $400 in food and NOT ONE SINGLE REGISTER OPEN! And the self- checkout is so small, I literally had to bag my food onto the floor. What about the old people and the infirm who can't do this? So totally unacceptable. Customer service fail! pic.twitter.com/aICzx9O38e
— Colby Eggleston (@colbster1) December 22, 2024

“Seriously, @kroger? Almost $400 in food and NOT ONE SINGLE REGISTER OPEN,” exclaimed the social media user on Dec. 22.” And the self-checkout is so small, I literally had to bag my food onto the floor. What about the old people and the infirm who can’t do this? So totally unacceptable. Customer service fail!”

Kroger’s own X account responded around an hour later. In the message, they asked Eggleston to send them a private message to further help in the matter. However, Eggleston refused the offer, claiming it could be a scam.

“I don’t trust any dm or account to not be a scam, so I’m not accepting or sending a message. If you’re the legit account, it was Waycross, Georgia, at 0745,” responded Eggleston.

However, as the original tweet gained traction, other X users commented to share their own complaints about the grocery chain. One disgruntled Kroger customer, Linda, was on the platform and called the cashier lanes “deserted.” The post noted that this mainly happens during the store’s early shopping hours, which the X user says older people typically use to avoid crowds.

I'll take photos/video from now on of my deserted Kroger cashier lanes and post to x. Old people like me shop early to avoid the mayhem plus are up early anyway. Unfortunately Kroger doesn't go to work when the store opens at 6am. They are supposed to open a register at 8 but…
— Linda B (@LindaBumpass) December 26, 2024

“I’ll take photos/video from now on of my deserted Kroger cashier lanes and post to x,” detailed the post. “Old people like me shop early to avoid the mayhem, plus they are up early anyway. Unfortunately, Kroger doesn’t go to work when the store opens at 6 am. They are supposed to open a register at 8, but good luck with that.”

Kroger also responded to this accusation, stating they were “sorry” for the shopping conditions.

“The company shared, We are very sorry for any frustrations you may have with store conditions, and we would be happy to discuss your concerns with our Store Leadership Teams. “

The issues surrounding self-checkout and the hours of open registers remain controversial for many stores. With some retailers eliminating the option altogether, despite not supporting the alternative with enough cashiers, customers are airing out the shops for the failure in operations.