Grand Rapids, Settlement, Girl, 11, Handcuffed, police

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 15, 2024

Ex-NFL Player Sued After Woman Claims He Intentionally Infected Her And Others With STD

According to this latest lawsuit, other women sued the athlete for allegedly targeting and spreading the disease to single mothers who were Buffalo Bills fans.

A former NFL player has been sued by a woman in New York who claims he intentionally infected her and others with an incurable sexually transmitted disease (STD).

Eric Moulds, who played ten seasons with the Buffalo Bills, allegedly met the unnamed plaintiff in January 2023. According to her complaint, she met him through Instagram. During their exchange started on the social media platform, the three-time Pro Bowler offered to fly her out to an “all-expenses-paid trip” to visit him in Charlotte, North Carolina.

She accepted the offer, traveling to the state where she did engage in intercourse with the athlete. The duo continued to be intimate throughout that year until November, according to Law & Crime.

However, unbeknownst to her, Moulds allegedly carries the Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2. The STD can be treated but remains incurable once diagnosed with it.

She became aware of his status after his pregnant fiancé of eight years reached out to her that December. The woman encouraged the plaintiff to seek testing as she was told Moulds had previously infected other women, including her.

The plaintiff maintains she was also unaware of Moulds’ engagement. However, she took the woman’s advice, later testing positive for the virus.

The plaintiff also discovered prior lawsuits against Moulds for the same issue. Other women sued the athlete for allegedly targeting single mothers who were Buffalo Bills fans, spreading the disease to the women he courted.

“Plaintiff subsequently learned that Defendant had also engaged with multiple women besides Plaintiff via social media. Based upon information and belief, Defendant targeted single mothers who were Buffalo Bills fans living in Western New York,” detailed the lawsuit

The filing also claims that Moulds paid the other women to keep quiet about the matter by signing non-disclosure agreements. The plaintiff also alleges that Moulds tried the same tactic with her.

Now, the plaintiff is suing for negligence and intentional causes of action, failure to disclose, and infliction of emotional distress. Moulds’ lawyer, Frank LoTempio III, released a brief statement stating that he intends to defend his client from these allegations.

“We are in the process of gathering information and responding to the complaint, which we will vigorously defend. I will have more information and comments once the litigation process starts,” stated the attorney.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 15, 2024

Famed British Musician Forced To Cancel Concert In Canada After Airline Denied His Booked Seat For $3M Cello

The airline denied Sheku Kanneh-Mason's pre-booked seat for his multimillion-dollar cello.

Famed British cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason abruptly canceled his concert in Canada after the country’s airline denied his a pre-booked seat for his multimillion-dollar cello.

Kanneh-Mason became a household name after performing at the 2018 wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at 19 years old. Since then, he has performed across the world, showcasing his talent. Currently, he is on a North American tour alongside his sister, pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason, CNN reports.

However, the musical duo postponed their Toronto show due to the mishap with Air Canada. They released a joint statement detailing the matter on Dec. 12. The pair are also part of a larger musical family from England, consisting of five other siblings.

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A post shared by Sheku (@shekukannehmason)

“We were deeply saddened not to be able to perform for you at Koerner Hall last night. We had severe misfortune with the flights and tried our very best to reach you,” they explained to the fans.

They also shared their unfortunate traveling experience, noting delays ahead of the cellist’s issue with confirming a seat for his instrument.

They continued, “First, we had delays, then a cancellation, and the day concluded by being denied boarding with the cello—despite having a confirmed seat for it—on a new, final flight into Toronto. After nine anxious hours at the airport, we realized our journey wasn’t going to be possible.”

The musician’s website also explains the historical significance and worth of the cello. On indefinite loan to him, the instrument was made in 1700 by Venetian luthier Matteo Goffriller. According to a short film about the esteemed item, it is worth over $3 million.

The siblings added, “We can only dream of a time when all airlines have a standardized, global and carefully considered approach to the carriage of precious instruments that are booked to travel in the cabin.”

Moreover, their management emphasized the constant hassles they face when transporting the instrument in cabin with Kanneh-Mason. They expressed how the frequent ordeal remains “frustrating” as artists try to perform in various places. The team also told CNN that Air Canada has yet to apologize for the circumstance. Despite this, they did refund all the tickets.

“This is a frequent and extremely frustrating experience for Sheku and many professional musicians with instruments that need to travel in the cabin of an aircraft,” explained Kanneh-Mason’s management at EMM Ltd/IMG Artists. “We would welcome some constructive discussion with the airline industry body. Whilst Air Canada has now at least refunded all the tickets, we have yet to receive any form of apology for their error which led to over a thousand people having their concert tickets cancelled that evening.”

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 15, 2024

100 Black Men Of Chicago Spread Holiday Cheer In 26th Annual Toy Drive For City’s Youth

The toy drive, now in its 26th year, also brought out communal leaders, business owners, and local public figures in support of the cause.

The 100 Black Men Of Chicago, Inc. continued its longtime tradition of gifting the city’s youth through its annual holiday toy drive.

At the Dec. 14 event, the organization collected over 1,500 toys for children in the area. In its 26th year, the toy drive has attracted communal leaders, business owners, and local public figures to support the cause. The celebratory occasion at the Hyatt Regency continues to grow as attendees dress up with gifts in tow.

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A post shared by 100 Black Men of Chicago (@100bmc)

The organization also partnered with over 15 homeless shelters and other groups throughout the region to further its reach. According to its board chairman, it strives to have all children open a gift this holiday season regardless of their housing situation.

“We’ll probably collect almost 1,500 toys tonight and we will also take some of the funds and buy additional toys if we’re running a little low,” explained Chairman Dr. David Day to Fox32. “… We want to make sure that we spread this out and make sure that the young kids get to have a chance to have a great Christmas.”

However, this toy drive does more than grant presents. It also raises funds for the group’s events and programming throughout the year and provides financial resources for single mothers in the city.

The Chicago chapter of 100 Black Men had even more to celebrate this year, such as the 30th anniversary of the organization. According to its website, the nonprofit’s mission is to “improve the quality of life and enhance the educational opportunities of African American males throughout the Greater Chicago area.” While the organization specializes in its mentoring program, it also boasts college prep and health education for all Black Chicagoans.

As it celebrates this milestone, the 100 Black Men of Chicago hope to continue uplifting the community beyond the holidays.

Daniel Penny, Jordan Neely, Trial, NYC, jury deadlocked, subway

by Sharelle B. McNair

December 15, 2024

Black Activists Say Daniel Penny’s Acquittal Pinpointed As ‘Painful’ Reminder Of ‘Inequities In Our Justice System’

Justice for Jordan Neely!

The acquittal of Marine veteran Daniel Penny has heightened a divide amongst lawmakers and activists as they search for the reasoning behind it, Fox News reports.

Outrage poured in from civil rights groups like the NAACP and lawmakers, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Tx.), after Penny was acquitted on manslaughter charges regarding the death of Jordan Neely. Neely was killed in May 2023 after Penny placed him in a chokehold on a New York City subway train. Some say the 30-year-old mentally ill homeless man was allegedly shouting death threats, prompting Neely to restrain him with the assistance of two other passengers.

Neely died shortly after.

Following the acquittal on Dec. 6, the NAACP released a statement calling for accountability. “The acquittal of Daniel Penny in the death of Jordan Neely has effectively given license for vigilante justice to be waged on the Black community without consequence. It’s a painful reminder of the inequities in our justice system. Jordan deserved compassion. Instead, he was met with violence,” the statement, posted on X, said.

“We stand with his family in calling for accountability.”

The acquittal of Daniel Penny in the death of Jordan Neely has effectively given license for vigilante justice to be waged on the Black community without consequence.

It's a painful reminder of the inequities in our justice system. Jordan deserved compassion. Instead, he was met… https://t.co/JOdxjZJXBi
— NAACP (@NAACP) December 9, 2024

With Neely being accused of being high on a type of synthetic marijuana known as K2, Crockett pointed out that he needed help — not to die. “Jordan Neely was unarmed. He needed support and care. Instead, he received a death sentence. His family grieves while the man who took his life walks free,” she wrote.

“This is more than a miscarriage of justice — it is a green light for more violence against unarmed Black Americans.”

This is more than a miscarriage of justice – it is a green light for more violence against unarmed Black Americans.https://t.co/0EQrl6y794
— Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (@RepJasmine) December 10, 2024

Co-founder of Black Lives Matter of Greater New York, Hawk Newsome, was present outside the courthouse where the Marine vet was acquitted. After hearing the news, he said America “has failed” Neely and his supporters.

“This system protects every other group except for the very group that built this country. Every group that comes here gets benefits and gets privileges except for the very people whose fingerprints are on the bricks that built this country,” Neely said, according to the New York Daily News.

“There is no love for Black people. There’s no love in the system. How can you make a moral appeal to a people that have no moral code? How can you preach love to racists?”

It wasn’t long before emotions circulated from social media to network television. In a heated debate on CNN, conservative political strategists compared Penny to accused assassin Luigi Mangione, labeling Penny as “a good guy.” “People on the left can’t seem to tell the difference between the good guys and the bad guys,” Scott Jennings said.

NEW: Scott Jennings pulls out a chart in front of a CNN panel as he rips the left for their reactions to UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s execution.

“Let me just help you understand if you're on the American left tonight.”

“The good guy today, Daniel Penny.”

“The bad guy,… pic.twitter.com/63RGG6k6ZS
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 10, 2024

Vice President-elect J.D. Vance seemingly agreed with Jennings. In an attack on New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg, he called the acquitted a “good guy” and invited him as his guest to the Army-Navy football game scheduled on Dec. 14.

by Daniel Johnson

December 15, 2024

Appeals Court Overturns Nasdaq Boardroom Diversity Rules In Latest Blow To DEI Efforts

The court ruled the SEC lacked authority to approve Nasdaq's board diversity requirements.

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, a Republican-dominated court, ruled on Dec. 11 that the Securities and Exchange Commission did not have the authority to approve rules requiring Nasdaq-traded companies to have at least one woman, a person of color, or LGBTQ+ on their boards or explain why they do not.

According to USA Today, the lawsuit was filed by the National Center for Public Policy Research, a conservative think tank, and the Alliance for Fair Board Recruitment, an organization led by anti-affirmative action activist Edward Blum. The conservative groups argued that the boardroom diversity requirements infringe on civil rights laws and promote racial and gender discrimination.

Although Nasdaq indicated it would not seek a further review, it also stood by its rule in a statement to USA Today.

“We maintain that the rule simplified and standardized disclosure requirements to the benefit of both corporates and investors.”

In a joint letter, 22 attorneys general said they are investigating whether Nasdaq has violated anti-discrimination laws.

“Given Nasdaq’s zealous desire to impose quotas on companies, several of which are headquartered in our states, we are interested in learning what policies Nasdaq has in place to ensure its listed companies are following federal and state anti-discrimination laws,” they wrote.

Although a wave of DEI initiatives and proclamations were initiated in 2020 after the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police, in recent years, those initiatives have been walked back despite a marked disparity in the boardrooms of corporate America.

Business leaders like JPMorgan Chase’s Jaime Dimon have repeatedly said that diversity is good for business.

In 2021, a three-judge panel ruled that Nasdaq’s rules fell within the SEC’s authority. However, in the recent full review of the appeal filed by conservative groups, the conservative judges overturned the earlier decision.

by Daniel Johnson

December 15, 2024

‘Sesame Street’ Up For Grabs: HBO And Max Decline To Renew Deal For New Episodes

It is speculated that 'Sesame Street' could be picked up by another streaming service.

Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of HBO’s streaming service, Max, has decided not to renew its Sesame Street output deal, originally established in 2019 to bring the iconic show to Max.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Max will continue its partnership with Sesame Workshop, the producer of Sesame Street. However, after season 55 airs on the platform, Max will shift its focus to adult and family programming and away from children’s content.

“It has been a wonderful, creative experience working with everyone at ‘Sesame Street’ on the iconic children’s series and we are thrilled to be able to keep some of the library series on Max in the U.S.,” a spokesperson for Max told The Hollywood Reporter. “As we’ve launched Max though and based on consumer usage and feedback, we’ve had to prioritize our focus on stories for adults and families, and so new episodes from ‘Sesame Street,’ at this time, are not as core to our strategy.”

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for “Sesame Street” said they look forward to continuing the agreement with Max.

“We are excited to extend our 10-year partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery, keeping Sesame Street’s iconic library available on Max through 2027. We will continue to invest in our best-in-class programming and look forward to announcing our new distribution plans in the coming months, ensuring that Sesame Street reaches as many children as possible for generations to come.”

The move to take “Sesame Street” from PBS, where it had been since 1970, initially sparked public doubt, but the deal allowed the program to increase its reach and visibility. New episodes still air on PBS, albeit several months after they stream on Max.

https://twitter.com/JeffMovieMan/status/1867607887352316008?s=19

https://twitter.com/SesameHistory/status/1867608857540788710?s=19

It is speculated that “Sesame Street,” initially created as a resource to prepare children for preschool education, could be picked up by another streaming service, such as Disney+ or Netflix, The Hollywood Reporter reports.

However, it is also unknown whether or not the existing licensing agreement would allow a new partner to access the 50 years of content in Sesame Street’s library.

According to the Smithsonian Magazine, “Sesame Street” is an amalgamation of several New York City areas, most prominent among them Harlem, The Bronx, and the Upper West Side.

In addition to these contextual roots, “Sesame Street” has often featured notable Black celebrities and figures like Jackie Robinson, Shirley Chisholm, and Nina Simone to broach topics that are reflective of larger issues in society, like the struggle for civil rights.

In the show’s initial pilot, much of the principal talent was Black, and since then, the show has made increased representation of various marginalized groups a hallmark of its brand.

The Smithsonian noted, “While the main goal of ‘Sesame Street,’ as it was for the Head Start program, was to level the early-education playing field for disadvantaged, inner-city children, the show has endured because it has been wildly successful at educating preschoolers of all backgrounds.”

It continued, “For its impact on education and television, the word educators and cultural critics most commonly use to describe ‘Sesame Street’ is revolutionary.”

Temple’s Charles L. Blockson Collection Celebrates 40th Anniversary, Preserving Black History

by Mary Spiller

December 15, 2024

Temple’s Charles L. Blockson Collection Celebrates 40th Anniversary, Preserving Black History

The Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection is dedicated to preserving African and Black American history.

The Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection, housed at Temple University’s Sullivan Hall, will hold a commemorative event on Dec. 11 to mark a milestone in its 40-year history of preserving African and Black history.

The collection, founded by author and historian Charles Blockson, contains more than 700,000 artifacts from 1581 to the present day. Temple celebrated the milestone at the Charles Library.

The special event opened with greetings and speeches from “Joseph Lucia, dean of Temple University Libraries; Gregory Mandel, Temple provost; and Diane Turner, curator of the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection.”

Turner began, “We’re excited to mark the 40th anniversary. We are enthusiastically committed to continuing Mr. Blockson’s legacy. Mr. Blockson used to say all the time that it’s not about him. It’s not about any of us. It’s about generations to come who will have access to a record of the global Black experience.”

Vice president for diversity, equity, inclusion, and community impact Valerie Harrison added, “As I have said on many occasions, the Temple University family, Philadelphia community, and people around the world are indebted to Charles Blockson for his unrelenting pursuit of the Black narrative and all of its historical significance.”

Harrison continued, “His legacy will always live on, and we are all better because of that. It is exciting to see the Blockson Collection celebrate 40 years, and I am eager to see the enduring impact that the collection makes over the next 40 years, too.”

Sen. Sharif Street, chair of the Mayor’s Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs, Jannie Blackwell, director of the social studies curriculum at the School District of Philadelphia, Ismael Jimenez, and others attended the Temple University celebration.

Blockson, who founded the collection, originally took on the endeavor of collecting African American materials after sitting in a fourth-grade history lesson with a substitute teacher who told the class that “Negros had no history and that they were born to serve white people.”

The Norristown, Pennsylvania, native started collecting pieces enriched with Black history to prove his teacher wrong; now, his mission has grown into a passion for preserving African history.

Blockson died June 14, 2023, in his home in Gwynedd, but his daughter, Noelle P. Blockson, recalled fond memories of her father developing his unique system to keep track of all the artifacts in the collection. She told Temple Now, “I remember clearly when shelves were being erected in our finished basement, which turned into his own personal library, and watching boxes of books coming into the home,” she said.

Before his passing, Blockson donated his collection of 20,000 artifacts to Temple. Now, it’s grown to include books, sculptures, newspapers, and other rare ephemera that tell the story of Black history.

Noelle stated, “It has been an incredible honor to watch it augment in recognition and volume over the years. It’s just been a beautiful, full-circle moment to see where it is today. Having people come from around the world to see it is amazing. I’m beyond proud and honored.”

Turner expressed that the space is a place for students to learn more about the Black experience.

“When they come in here and they research and find out these things, for the African-American students, it gives them a sense of pride, and for other students, it gives them an understanding and appreciation of the Black experience,” Turner said.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 15, 2024

Stress Of Caregiving Linked To Hypertension In Younger Black Women, New Study Finds

New research highlights the connection between hypertension and caregiving-related stress in younger Black women.

New research finds a link between stress from caregiving and younger Black women developing hypertension.

A recent analysis published in the American Heart Association Journal Hypertension reveals that the stress of caregiving is linked to a higher risk of developing hypertension among Black women aged 21 to 44. The study, which followed participants for an average of 7.4 years, found that 43.5% of all participants developed hypertension.

The research team, led by experts at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, also found that 51.7% of participants reported moderate or high caregiving-stress-developed hypertension, compared to 40.6% of those with low or no caregiving stress. Previous studies have linked caregiving to high blood pressure in middle-aged and older Black women, but this relationship has been less explored in the younger demographic.

“Our analysis suggests that caregiver strain as a source of chronic stress may significantly contribute to the development of hypertension, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, among reproductive-age Black women,” said corresponding study author Milla Arabadjian, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Foundations of Medicine at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine in a press release.

The study’s findings are particularly timely, following a recent advisory from U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, which highlighted that parents and caregivers have faced significantly higher levels of stress and mental health challenges over the past decade compared to non-caregivers. Authors of the study note that caregiving is a source of chronic stress, with women, who make up the majority of informal caregivers, being especially impacted.

Black women have been shown to have a higher prevalence of hypertension compared to women from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. In younger Black women with hypertension, rates of uncontrolled blood pressure are high. The study authors note that identifying “addressable” risk factors, such as caregiving stress, is crucial for developing targeted prevention strategies for this group.

“Given the high lifetime risk of CVD especially among reproductive-age Black women, we need to better identify the root causes contributing to the strain,” said senior study author Tanya M. Spruill, Ph.D., an associate professor in the departments of Population Health and Medicine at NYU Langone Health.

“If a lack of affordable childcare is a source, then linkage to childcare resources could be one solution. If the source of strain is a communication challenge with a child or elderly relative, education might be tailored to help with that,” added Dr. Spruill, who co-leads the Jackson Heart Study Hypertension Working Group, funding from which supported the current paper.

by Daniel Johnson

December 14, 2024

Trump: Kamala Harris’ Biggest Campaign Mistake Was ‘Taking The Assignment’

The decision to choose Trump as Time's person of the year has drawn backlash.

As part of his Person of The Year interview for Time Magazine, President-elect Donald Trump said he believed that the biggest mistake that Vice President Kamala Harris made during the 2024 presidential election was agreeing to face him in the first place.

According to Revolt, Trump repeated his embellishments to Time, saying that Harris didn’t talk to reporters, despite his own reported refusal to appear on 60 Minutes. He said Harris’ biggest mistake was “taking the assignment.”

“I think that when she wouldn’t talk to anybody, it shone a light on her,” Trump said. “You know, she didn’t do anything. And people said, ‘Is there something wrong with her?’”

He continued, somewhat contradicting himself, “She had some pretty [flawed] interviews, and maybe it was highlighted more than it [should’ve been]. In other words, if she did those same interviews, but [had done] another 15 interviews, you wouldn’t have really noticed it that much.”

He added, “She put so much emphasis on interviews. Somebody thought there was something wrong, and I don’t think she ever recovered from that.”

In the magazine’s explanation for why Trump was chosen, Time editor Sam Jacobs declared it was not a difficult choice for the magazine to make.

“Today, we are witnessing a resurgence of populism, a widening mistrust in the institutions that defined the last century, and an eroding faith that liberal values will lead to better lives for most people. Trump is both agent and beneficiary of it all,” Jacobs wrote. “For marshaling a comeback of historic proportions, for driving a once-in-a-generation political realignment, for reshaping the American presidency and altering America’s role in the world, Donald Trump is Time’s 2024 Person of the Year.”

The decision to choose Trump as its Person of the Year drew criticism from several notable figures and people on social media.

According to The Hill, former CNN anchor Don Lemon blasted the choice of Trump as the magazine’s Person of the Year.

“They could’ve done it to someone who actually stood for democracy, who stands for democracy in the country,” Lemon said on his podcast “The Don Lemon Show.” “Just because you are elected president of the United States does not mean that you should be Person of the Year.”

by Mary Spiller

December 14, 2024

Cache Of Michael Jackson’s Unreleased Music Discovered In California Warehouse

The tapes were found in an abandoned storage unit that reportedly belonged to singer and producer Bryan Loren.

Gregg Musgrove, a former California Highway Patrol officer and now stay-at-home dad, has made an impressive new find in his “treasure hunting” hobby. The 56-year-old recently uncovered a set of cassette and DAT tapes containing unreleased Michael Jackson tracks in a San Fernando Valley storage unit.

Musgrove found the tapes in an abandoned storage unit he purchased that once belonged to music producer and singer Bryan Loren.

There were some 12 unreleased tracks from when Jackson before his “Dangerous” album, circa 1989 to 1991.
Musgrove told The Hollywood Reporter, “I’ve gone to all the fan sites. Some of [the songs] are rumored to exist, and some of them have been leaked a little bit. A couple aren’t even out there in the world.”

The full inventory of what Musgrove found is impressive; there are full tracks and snippets of other unreleased songs.

Jackson and Loren can be heard on some of the tapes discussing the recording and creative process of the found tracks.

Musgrove told the outlet, “I’m listening to this stuff, and I would get goosebumps because nobody’s ever heard this stuff before. To hear Michael Jackson actually talk and kind of joke back and forth, it was really, really cool.”

One of the unreleased tracks, “Don’t Believe It,” seems to reference the swirling rumors surrounding the pop star in the media at the time. On another tape, Jackson explains the meaning behind his song “Seven Digits” as being about the identification number of bodies received in a morgue.

One of the most notable tracks on the cassette tapes is “Truth on Youth,” which reportedly includes Jackson and LL Cool J.

The exact value of Musgrove’s findings is estimated to be in the seven-digit range. He revealed that he plans to take the tapes to several major auction houses shortly to get a proper bid on them.

After finding the tapes, Musgrove and his attorney contacted the Jackson Estate, but the estate declined to purchase them and instead sent him a letter outlining what the recordings could be used for.

The estate told THR that they have the master recordings.

“The Estate of Michael Jackson was presented with DAT copies, NOT master recordings of Michael’s music, and we confirmed that the actual master recordings were, in fact, already located in the Estate’s vaults,” an estate representative said. “It should be clear to all that ownership and rights of exploitation to the recordings remain vested in MJJP Records and that nothing commercial or otherwise can be done with the DAT copies.”