Police: Atlanta HOA Didn’t Pay Insurance Money to 18 Families Displaced by Fire

by Jameelah Mullen

November 11, 2023

Police: Atlanta HOA Didn’t Pay Insurance Money to 18 Families Displaced by Fire

Police say an Atlanta homeowners association never paid 18 out of 24 families their insurance money after a devastating fire.

Grace Smith and her husband, a retired Navy veteran, purchased a condo in Atlanta’s Camelot Condo complex in 2019. But the couple never moved into their retirement home. In January 2020, the complex was destroyed by a fire.

The Smiths, along with 23 other families, were displaced after two buildings burned down.

In a phone interview with WSB TV, Smith said that she and her husband were told the complex homeowners’ association decided not to rebuild, but they would get $45,000 in insurance money for their unit. The couple never received payment. And police say only six of the 24 families were paid.

“These were his retirement funds we invested. No income, no condo–nothing,” Grace Smith said.

The Smiths contacted the Fulton County District Attorney’s office to investigate Camelot’s Homeowners Association. When police subpoenaed the HOA’s bank records, they discovered the HOA received $1.5 million in insurance payments in 2020. Police say that former Camelot HOA President Bettye Ligon and treasurer Lyndon Baldwin Sr. wrote checks to themselves.

On Nov. 2, city officials announced that they have warrants against Ligon and Baldwin, charging them with theft by conversion and theft by taking.

Two state representatives are trying to help the Smiths and other condo owners get the money owed to them and writing legislation to prevent this from happening again.

On Nov. 4, District 5′s Kalvin Bennett hosted “The Forum at Camelot,” inviting residents to discuss the developing case and to propose ongoing solutions.

South Fulton County Police Chief Keith Meadows said he anticipates there will be more arrests.

Residents whose unit was destroyed and did not receive insurance funds should contact Lieutenant Ebony Bullock South from the South Fulton Police Department at 470-440-9681.

Megan Thee Stallion Returns to TSU To Give Out Scholarships To Students

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 11, 2023

Megan Thee Stallion Returns to TSU To Give Out Scholarships To Students

Megan Thee Stallion returned to her alma mater, Texas Southern University, to gift 20 lucky students with scholarships toward their education.

As part of Megan’s Flamin’ Hot scholarship initiative, the Grammy Award-winning rapper visited TSU on Nov. 8 to surprise recipients of the $175,000 scholarship fund, Houston Public Media reports. Students were shocked when the “Savage” rapper stepped out during a school pep rally to greet the crowd.

She sported pieces from her Melody Ehsani-designed Flamin’ Hot University merch line that partly funded the scholarship. TSU’s marching band, Ocean of Soul, helped welcome her on stage, where she participated in a chat with the university’s associate vice president for marketing and communications, Tracy Clemons.

“I had an absolute blast bringing Flamin’ Hot University to life and tapping into my love for food and fashion,” Megan said.

“But more than anything, I’m extremely proud that we were able to uplift TSU students, establish an impactful scholarship fund, support the Pete and Thomas Foundation, and promote the importance of education.”

The fund was established earlier this year, and 20 TSU seniors were selected out of all the applicants for a slice of the $175,000 scholarship. There’s also more scholarship money that’s on the way at TSU.

“We want to help graduating seniors because that helps to get them off on a fresh start once they graduate,” TSU’s Assistant Vice President of Alumni Relations & Special Events Connie Cochran said. “Students will have an opportunity to probably apply in December for the spring semester.”

In addition to the scholarship fund, Flamin’ Hot will also contribute $100,000 to Megan’s Pete and Thomas Foundation, which offers resources to women, children, senior citizens, and underserved communities in Houston with a focus on education, housing, and health and wellness.

“Everyone deserves to be their Flamin’ Hot self, but student loans can create a significant burden on college graduates –- especially at HBCUs where students graduate with 19% more debt than those at non-HBCUs,” senior vice president of marketing at Frito-Lay, Tina Mahal adds.

Military Medical Care, military, veterans

by Ahsan Washington

November 11, 2023

These 6 Books Tell The Stories Of Black Military Veterans

Each of these texts will a make great read or gift for that special service member on Veteran's Day.

Black military service dates back to the 19th century when 5000 individuals fought in the Revolutionary War. The Union Army and United States Navy enlisted upward of 200,000 Black servicemen to fight in the Civil War. As of 2019, 29.2% of Black men and 16.9% of Black women were currently enlisted in the service, according to Statista. One could only imagine the range of experiences and stories Black veterans have carried with them over the past 248 years. The downside is many of the stories we will never get to know but on a positive note, there are plenty we have access to. If you’re curious about the Black military experience or into wartime tales or happen to enjoy some good storytelling, then checkout these six books BLACK ENTERPRISE has curated about African Americans serving in the military. Each of these texts will a make great read or gift for that special service member on Veteran’s Day.

1) Half-American, Matthew Delmont

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2) One Woman’s Army, Charity Adams Earley

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3) The Families’ Civil War, Dr. Holly Pinheiro

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4) Sisters In Arms, Kaia Anderson

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5) Bloods, Wallace Terry

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6) The Warrior Code, Gunnery Sergeant (Ret.) Tee Marie Hanible with Denene Millner

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by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 11, 2023

Snoop Dogg And Martha Stewart Launch Weed-Friendly Bag Line ‘Best Buds’

Snoop Dogg and his BFF/business collaborator Martha Stewart have a new weed-friendly product that pairs perfectly with the lighter they previously released.

After launching their line of BIC EZ Reach lighters, Snoop Dogg and Stewart have the perfect line of crossbody bags to hold their lighters. Their newest product, the “Best Buds bag,” is a limited-edition crossbody bag that perfectly holds the EZ Reach lighter, Paper Magazine reported.

Martha and Snoop Made a Weed-Friendly Bag https://t.co/mPWHAYTfW0
— Paper Magazine (@papermagazine) November 9, 2023

To open the bag, you have to unlatch the lighter, which only adds to the weed-friendly product’s cool factor. Snoop took to Instagram on Nov. 7 to unveil the new product.

“U ready🔥 My best bud @marthastewart48 and I are excited to announce our limited edition bags, ft. a custom latch to keep ya BIC EZ Reach lighter from bein “borrowed” n secret pockets inside. 🎶 Checc it b4 it drops 11/9 on BIC.com,” the rapper wrote.

Snoop made sure to incorporate his favorite color, purple, into his half of the two-bag collection. The rectangular bag is kept closed with the help of the EX Rich lighter.

“You gotta know I always carry around a lighter, so why not make it swaggy?” Snoop said.

The bag has style and fashion-forward appeal that makes it the perfect accessory for a night out on the town. Stewart’s version of the bag has a bit more elegance with a round tubular shape and its champagne color. The clutch has an easily removable chain that helps it pair well with any look.

Perfect for the holiday season, Stewart noted it will take you on your holiday spark walks with friends and family.

“You never know when you’re going to need a lighter!” Martha added about the collection. “The Best Buds bag combines convenience and style into one.”

She also shared her version of the bag on Instagram.

“Fashion? Function? Yes! My best bud @snoopdogg and I are excited to announce the November 9th release of our limited edition BIC EZ Reach Lighter bags, featuring luxury details and a custom latch to keep your EZ Reach lighter from being “borrowed,” she wrote.

Anthony Anderson Champions Diabetes Education And Fitness As He Thrives With Type 2 Diabetes

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 11, 2023

Anthony Anderson Champions Diabetes Education And Fitness As He Thrives With Type 2 Diabetes

Anthony Anderson is a “proud advocate” for educating people about Type 2 diabetes, a chronic illness he’s been living with since being diagnosed in 2002.

Speaking with People about how “great” he’s been feeling, the Black-ish star explained what it takes for a Type 2 diabetes patient to live a fulfilling life while staying on top of their health.

“We have to be diligent about what we do as diabetics and do what our doctors have prescribed us to do, which means exercise, which means you can eat what you want but eat it in moderation,” he said. “And also realize that if you’re going to eat this cupcake, you’re going to spend that much more time in the gym.”

Ultimately, it comes down to discipline, the actor said. Being determined and resilient enough to stick to a fitness regimen even when you don’t want to.

“We all go through those mornings. The alarm clock hits and it’s like, ‘Ah, do I have to get up and go to the gym?’ And the answer is yes,” Anderson said. “We may dread it and the waking hours, but once we get there and get our bodies in motion and once that hour or hour and a half is up, you feel great about yourself and you feel great that you did make the choice to get up and not use an excuse to keep from going. And it always works out better for you when you do that.”

Surprisingly enough, it’s his fellow comedians who help Anderson stick to his fitness goals and stay active.

“My core group of guys are George Lopez, Cedric the Entertainer, D.L. Hughley, Don Cheadle, and Chris Spencer. We have a group chat that we call ‘The Thread,’” he shares.

“For a long time we would wake up every morning and do pushups and sit-ups and challenge one to do their pushups and their sit-ups. And this is my core group that I lean on in terms of motivation and just making the right choices that we need to make as friends and family.”

He added, “I can talk to them about my journey, they can talk to me about their journeys, and we are just there to support one another and lean on one another when we need to.”

Earl Thomas, arrested, thompson, nfl superstar

by Mary Spiller

November 11, 2023

New Orleans Man Arrested For Allegedly Scamming NFL Superstar Earl Thomas Out Of Almost $2 Million

The accused, Kevin J. Thompson, is the new boyfriend of Earl Thomas' ex-wife.

NFL superstar Earl Thomas is been caught up in an identity fraud scam. Thomas’ ex-wife’s new boyfriend has been arrested for allegedly stealing his identity and scamming him out of nearly $2 million.

According to NOLA, 38-year-old Kevin J. Thompson of New Orleans was arrested by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office back in June. Thompson is currently in a romantic relationship with Nina Thomas, the NFL player’s ex-wife.

Thompson is facing charges of “identity theft, forgery, money laundering, credit card fraud, computer fraud, and bank fraud,” as reported by Sergeant Brandon Veal, a spokesperson from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. Thompson’s crimes include cashing many of Thomas’ NFL checks, repeatedly stealing from his bank account, and even transferring the ownership of several expensive vehicles to himself after assuming his identity.

Thompson allegedly had a forged driver’s license and ID that listed Thomas’ information and his own photo on it, in order to open up a fake bank account and transfer car titles to himself.

He was arrested at Jefferson Financial Harvey branch while driving a blue Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV that he had allegedly transferred out of Earl Thomas’ name.

Thompson is also acccused of transferring several different car titles from Thomas and selling them to outsiders. Although authorities are unsure how he got “physical possession” of Thomas’ car at this point, Thompson is being accused of their distribution.

Authorities became suspicious after Thomas’ Texas credit union detected highly suspicious activity on his account at a Jefferson Financial location. After reviewing security footage, it was confirmed that Thomas was not the one who opened a new account with the bank, although it was under his name.

Thompson was picked up by police a second time while trying to retrieve the blue Rolls-Royce while driving a different stolen vehicle.

Investigators concluded that the man deposited Thomas’ NFL checks into different fraudulent accounts and even stole a substantial sum of money from his retirement fund.

Veal said that Thompson is now out of custody on a $730,000 bond. Due to being suspected to have scammed nearly $2 million from the former NFL player, federal investigators are involved with the case.

Thomas was active in the NFL from 2010 to 2019 and was a seven-time Pro-Bowler and a Super Bowl champion recognized as a member of the Seattle Seahawks’ “Legion of Boom.”

Taraji P. Henson Gives Mary J. Blige Her Flowers At Glamour’s ‘Women Of The Year’ Gala

by Jameelah Mullen

November 11, 2023

Taraji P. Henson Gives Mary J. Blige Her Flowers At Glamour’s ‘Women Of The Year’ Gala

The Woman of The Year award is one of many accolades that has received during her expansive career.

Glamour magazine hosted its annual Women of the Year award ceremony in New York City. Mary J Blige was one of four women honored at the star-studded event.

Taraji P. Henson was there to present the award to her longtime friend. Henson reminisced about hearing Mary J. Blige sing for the first time.

“That’s me! That girl is like me. She sounds like me, she is speaking the way my heart speaks. I felt seen,” Henson said.

The actress spoke about the singer’s raw emotion and honest lyrics.

“Vulnerability. It’s her superpower. “

Henson lauded the songstress for her extensive career that has spanned for more than 30 years.

The 52-year-old was also honored by the Sing Harlem Youth Choir, who belted out a harmonious compilation of some of the songstress’ biggest hits.

Overwhelmed with emotion, the “You Remind Me” singer decided to forgo her pre-written speech and address the audience organically.

“To all you women out there. Keep loving on you,” she said to the audience.

Blige said she was happy to be celebrating the other honorees which included Quinta Brunson of Abbott Elementary fame.

“I’m excited that we’re all here as women of power doing amazing things and living amazingly, feeling amazing, and understanding our power as women. I’m excited for all of us,” the “Real Love” singer said in a red-carpet interview.

Blige has been candid about her struggles with depression. She admitted that overcoming her obstacles is an ongoing battle.

“This is not an overnight success,” she told Glamour.

“This is not an easy thing, this new me, this new Mary. This is hard work,“ she said

“It’s easy to revert back to the past because that’s what you knew. Because you know the pain of the past will always try to pull you back.”

The Woman of The Year award is one of many accolades that Blige has received during her expansive career. She is the recipient of more than 20 BET Awards, nine Grammy Awards, over 30 NAACP Image awards, and an Emmy.

by Ahsan Washington

November 10, 2023

Black Military Veterans Have Stood The Test Of Time Despite Racial Challenges

29.2% of Black men and 16.9% of Black women are currently enlisted in the service

African Americans have a storied past with the United States military dating back to the Revolutionary War. In 1861 when the Civil War started, enslaved men who were considered subhuman by the federal government were given the opportunity to defend “their” country against the Confederate Army. According to the National Archives, around 200,000 Black men served the Union Army and the U.S. Navy, 179,000 and 19,000, respectively. Roughly, 38,000 of those men “died, the majority of disease,” while Black survivors of the war returned to an oppressive, racist reality, albeit emancipated.

Some 80 years later, over one million Black women and men would go on to register to volunteer and serve the U.S. during World War II. Postwar, Black troops and battalions who risked their lives in combat would return to a nation that subjected its Black citizens to segregation and lynching.

During the Civil Rights movement, African American men were drafted to fight in the Vietnam War at a disproportionate rate: “64 percent of all eligible African-Americans were drafted, but only 31 percent of eligible whites,” Amistad Resource documented. In one year alone, 1965-66, Black service members were casualties of the war at twice the rate of whites. The National Archive lists the number of fallen Black veterans at 7,243. Many of those service men who made it home from the war were devalued and disenfranchised and faced financial and mental health challenges.

The impact of more contemporary wars is no better than the ones that precede them. However, 29.2% of Black men and 16.9% of Black women are currently enlisted in the service according to Statista.

Military service isn’t for the faint at heart. After all, it’s a huge responsibility that takes bravery and commitment. On this Veterans Day, BLACK ENTERPRISE recognizes the officers, soldiers, and sailors who serve our country and humankind in the face of white supremacy and racism. We salute you.

Kevin Hunter, Wendy WILLIAMS, MANSION, MISTRESS, ALIMONY, WELLS FARGO, PAYMENT

by Mary Spiller

November 10, 2023

Wendy Williams’ Ex-Husband Ordered To Pay $20K On Mounting Overdue Credit Card Bill

Kevin Hunter was ruled against by a default judgement in a lawsuit with UBS Bank USA.

Kevin Hunter, the ex-husband of talk show host Wendy Williams, has been ordered by the Florida courts to pay a fine after refusing to acknowledge a lawsuit lodged by UBS Bank USA over his credit card bill.

Court documents obtained and released by Radar Online on Nov. 9 revealed that a judge granted the motion under default judgment for UBS Bank USA against Hunter. He was ordered to pay $20,176.83 with the stipulation that the owed amount would grow exponentially with interest if he did not pay it off. The default judgment was passed because Hunter was served the proper paperwork from the bank but repeatedly failed to make his required court appearances.

The lawsuit claims that Hunter missed extensive payments charged to his credit card, issued from Bank USA.

UBS explained that the company provided Hunter with a Visa Signature Credit Card back in 2014, and he made timely payments on it until he stopped amid his financial troubles. In total, Williams’ ex owes $20,176.83.

The lawsuit described, “Defendant has failed to make the minimum monthly payments by the payment due date, as required by the Cardmember Agreement. Despite UBS Bank’s demand, [Hunter] has failed and refuses to pay the outstanding Account Balance.”

UBS notified Hunter of the mounting missed payments twice in 2023, on Jan. 23 and March 1, but he reportedly ignored them.

The decision against Hunter comes after the television producer’s request for alimony checks from Williams was denied. As previously reported, Hunter was to be paid alimony from Williams following their divorce settlement, but the checks suddenly stopped after the courts seized Williams’ bank accounts.

In his plea, Hunter revealed that Williams’ fight for control over her money from Wells Fargo made him unable to pay his bills.

“I have fallen behind on most of my bills. I currently live in a community that requires payments to the homeowners association and I’m behind on that bill,” he pleaded with the court. “If the homeowners association fees are not paid, foreclosure will soon follow. I’m behind on credit card payments because I have no money since the severance payments were suspended.”

He added, “My life has been greatly affected since the plaintiff stopped making payments under our settlement agreement.”

by Stacy Jackson

November 10, 2023

Ayesha Curry and Sydel Curry-Lee Uncork New Domaine Curry Wine Brand Products

The brand, and the products created in collaboration with The Prisoner Wine Company, are a nod to the strong women in their lives.

Sisters-in-law and business partners Ayesha Curry and Sydel Curry-Lee have released new products for their Domaine Curry wine brand.

Curry is the wife of NBA great Stephen Curry, and Curry-Lee is his sister.

The Napa Valley brand’s recent products dropped on Nov. 1 and include a reimagined Cabernet Sauvignon and a newly introduced Founders Blend, according to Wine Industry Advisor.

Wine Industry Advisor described the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, which sells for $80, as a bold and balanced wine, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. The new $65 2021 Founder’s Blend comprises Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Merlot, the site reported.

The new Domain Curry products result from a collaboration between Curry, Curry-Lee, and Chrissy Wittmann, head winemaker at The Prisoner Wine Company.

The Prisoner Wine Company’s General Manager, Bukky Ekundayo, said, “The Prisoner Wine Company and Domaine Curry are driven by the shared values of inclusivity, authenticity, and innovation. We’re aiming to define and lead the wine category for Black and multicultural women, and we’re committed to combating barriers to make the space more approachable for women working in and enjoying fine wines,” Wine Industry Advisor reported.

Curry-Lee said of the collaboration with The Prisoner Wine Company, “Our partnership with The Prisoner Wine Company has allowed us to infuse our personal touches into the look and taste of these new wines, and we’re thrilled that more women will have the opportunity to enjoy them, just as our family does.”

The brand pays tribute to Curry and Curry-Lee’s heritage. More specifically, Domaine Curry is a dedication to the “strong women who have shaped the Curry family’s heritage,” from their mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, and daughters to future generations of women, Blavity noted.

Curry said about the Domaine Curry brand, “Throughout our lives, wine has always been a way to bring our friends and family together. We are fortunate to be surrounded by so many impressive women who inspire us each day, and we hope Domaine Curry will serve as homage to them while also empowering future generations.”

In 2024, Curry and Curry-Lee will release Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Wine Industry Advisor reported.