by Kandiss Edwards

November 22, 2024

Lil Baby Completes Weeklong Harvard Business Course

Dominique Jones, aka Lil Baby, brushed up on business at Harvard.

Dominique Jones, also known as rapper Lil Baby, completed “Launching New Ventures,” a program facilitated by Harvard Business School.

According to the “Learning New Ventures” website, the program is a weeklong course requiring 12-15 hours of pre-work. Unlike traditional programs, participants do not need any formal education requirements. Even though enrollees pay a steep admission price, $19,000, the program is not open to just anyone who can afford it.

According to the site, the “selective admissions process is based on professional achievement, organizational responsibility, and the admissions criteria.“

The rapper’s family surprised him after he achieved his latest milestone. In a video posted to X, Jones is seen entering a home in Atlanta decorated with red and white balloons, smiling and hugging family members.

The rapper has multiple No. 1 albums on the Billboard charts, including his 2022’s “It’s Only Me.”

Jones is also the CEO of the record label Glass Window Entertainment. The label signed its first artist, Rylo Rodriguez, in August 2024. The label has been active since 2017 but is re-branding to fit the new era Jones is entering.

In 2023, he opened The Seafood Menu restaurant and Lounge in Atlanta.

“Restaurants are one of the few businesses that have lasted for 50 years, standing strong even through the challenges of the pandemic,” Jone said in a press release. “I believe in the power of endurance.”

While operating multiple successful businesses and having a rap career, Jones gives back to his hometown of Atlanta. In 2023, Jones partnered with Foot Locker to host “ Lil Baby’s Annual Back 2 School Festival,” which was held in three different locations on the same day.

The rapper handed out snacks and school supplies for the upcoming school year. The 2024 festival was held July 28 at The Mall West End in Atlanta.

by Sharelle B. McNair

November 22, 2024

X Users Answered Elon Musk’s Request, Uploaded Medical Information For His AI Company To Review

Judging from X users' feedback, Grok needs a lot of work.

X owner and White House cabinet nominee Elon Musk asked users to upload MRIs, CT scans and other medical information for his artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok to review and some fell for it, Fortune reports.

Musk pitched the idea on X in late October 2024.

“Try submitting x-ray, PET, MRI or other medical images to Grok for analysis. This is still early stage, but it is already quite accurate and will become extremely good,” he wrote. “Let us know where Grok gets it right or needs work.”

Try submitting x-ray, PET, MRI or other medical images to Grok for analysis.

This is still early stage, but it is already quite accurate and will become extremely good.

Let us know where Grok gets it right or needs work.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 29, 2024

Some people who volunteered images celebrated Grok being “spot on” with blood test results and breast cancer detection but others waved red flags against the platform.

Josh Sharp, who goes by @showinvestment on social media, pointed out how a broken clavicle was looked at as a dislocated shoulder.

I submitted my Xray to Grok and it said I had a dislocated shoulder.

Pretty obvious broken clavicle.
Grok still has some work to do… pic.twitter.com/JlcSUUbjv4
— Josh Sharp (@ShowInvestment) October 30, 2024

Radiologist Docteur TJ, provided an in depth analysis on an MRI image that he partially labeled as “too generic.”

Hello Elon,
Radiologist here.
Just tried with the last MRI image I had (adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder, level: easy, typical pattern)
Heading + 1: true
2: not true
3: true but too generic
4-5-6: not true
Conclusion: too generic + no diagnosis
Will try again next time ! pic.twitter.com/O0TXO9HmDn
— Docteur TJ (@docteur_TJ) October 29, 2024

Another example is the bot mistaking a mammogram of a benign breast cyst for an image of testicles.

Grok was launched in May 2024 after, through Musk’s tech startup, xAI, raised $6 billion in an investment funding round. Grok is not the first of its kind: Google’s Gemini or OpenAI’s ChatGPT also allows people to submit medical images.

While some have praise the potential technology advancement, medical privacy experts are not in that camp.

“This is very personal information, and you don’t exactly know what Grok is going to do with it,” Vanderbilt University’s professor of biomedical informatics, Dr. Bradley Malin said, according to the New York Times. “Posting personal information to Grok is more like, ‘Wheee! Let’s throw this data out there, and hope the company is going to do what I want them to do.”

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects medical information when shared with doctors or on a patient portal, as federal guidelines protect it from being shared without consent. But protections do not reach social media sites—only for doctors’ offices, hospitals, health insurers, and some companies they work with.

Mike Tyson, Jake Paul, Boxing, professional record, July 20, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 22, 2024

Netflix Sued Over Streaming Issues During Mike Tyson-Jake Paul Fight

Ronald 'Blue' Denton sued, citing 'no access, streaming glitches and buffering issues.'

Over 60 million people reportedly tuned in to view the boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, and many encountered problems while streaming the event on Netflix. Based on the issues one man had to deal with due to streaming difficulties, he sued the streaming giant for $50 million.

According to TMZ, Florida resident Ronald “Blue” Denton filed a class action lawsuit on Nov. 18. The suit involved the fight between the two men on Friday, Nov. 15, which saw Paul win unanimously over Tyson. The viewer is suing the company for breach of contract, among other things.

In the lawsuit, the New York Post reported that Denton wrote, “60 million Americans were hyped to see ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson, ‘The Baddest Man on the Planet’ versus YouTuber-turner-prizefighter Jake Paul. What they saw was ‘The Baddest Streaming on Planet.’”

When the fight was going on, many people took to social media to complain about having issues with trying to view the fight. Some of the complaints ranged from buffering issues to not being able to access the app.

Saying that there were “over 100,000 people complaining online,” the lawsuit stated that “boxing fans, along with the average Americans wanting to see a legend in what would most likely be his last fight, were faced with legendary problems, including no access, streaming glitches and buffering issues.”

TMZ reported that Netflix acknowledged being aware of its customers’ streaming issues during the boxing match.

“We don’t want to dismiss the poor experience of some members and know we have room for improvement, but still consider this event a huge success.”

Netflix announced that the fight was viewed by 60 million people worldwide and peaked at 65 million concurrent streams.

Tyson, 58, who had not boxed in several years, is over 30 years older than Paul, 27.

by Mitti Hicks

November 22, 2024

American Communities Are Pushing Back On Using Fluoride In Public Drinking Water

A battle is brewing across towns in America over whether or not to continue using fluoride in the water.

It’s a process known as fluoridation, which began around 1945. According to the American Cancer Society, it became popular nationwide after scientists noted that people living in higher water fluoride levels had fewer cavities.

By 1962, the United States Public Health Service (PHS) recommended fluoride in public drinking water supplies to mitigate tooth decay. The American Cancer Society estimates that fluoride is now used in the public drinking water supplied to roughly three out of four Americans.

However, opponents have been sounding the alarm over the years that fluoride in drinking water is unsafe for consumption. One organization leading the charge is the Fluoride Action Network (FAN). The organization, on a mission to broaden awareness of what it says, is the “toxicity of fluoride compounds,” says most developed countries worldwide are not using fluoride in their drinking water on the same level as America or, in fact, at all.

The organization says it has helped more than 500 communities successfully reject fluoridation, and there could be more.

Federal Leaders Getting Louder About Halting Fluoride Usage

While FAN says communities have rejected fluoridation for the last few decades, and as a result, the process has declined, this battle has taken center stage over the last few months.

For starters, the National Toxicology Program, a federal agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, reported with “moderate confidence” that there is a link between communities with higher levels of fluoride exposure and lower IQs in children. These communities are using more than twice the recommended limit, according to the Associated Press.

A month later, a federal judge reportedly ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate fluoride in drinking water further because higher levels could impact children.

President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to run the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, said he would end fluoridation.

Jobs, Workplace, Resenteeism,, federal employees

by Jameelah Mullen

November 22, 2024

The Great Resignation May Be Making A Comeback In 2025

According to a recent report, workers are frustrated and ready to make a change.

Employers may soon see a trend of workers quitting their jobs, according to a new Glassdoor report.

In the October 2024 survey of 3,390 employees, nearly 65% of the participants said they felt stuck at their jobs. This is especially evident with tech professionals, where nearly three-quarters of the participants reported feeling unsatisfied with their current role. The survey shows that overall employee satisfaction has declined since 2022.

Although employees desire new opportunities, scarcity in the job market forces some to stay in their current roles.

“People don’t feel like the job market is working for them right now, even if you hear economists and policymakers talk about how strong and resilient the job market is,” Glassdoor senior economist Daniel Zhao told CNBC Make It.

Zhao predicts employees may see more job prospects as businesses revamp their hiring plans for 2025.

Terry Petzold, managing partner at the executive recruiting firm Fox Search Group, said the presidential election may also lead to an uptick in hiring trends, particularly in the transportation, logistics, and oil and gas industries.

According to the Glassdoor report, more employees are making lateral moves and accepting pay cuts to secure more suitable roles. Seventeen percent of workers took a pay cut when moving jobs in 2024 — up two percent from the prior year

Experts say pay cuts are more common with people in management roles. Zhao says managers who survive a layoff are frequently tasked with additional work to pick up the slack. The additional responsibilities could lead to burn out.

“We are seeing many folks who switch from being a manager back to an individual contributor,” Zhao told CNBC Make It.

He continued, “We do also hear anecdotally from some workers that they don’t necessarily want to be a manager right now, or they’ve tried it and find it too stressful or not really aligned with where they want to go in the future,“ Zhao told the outlet.

Additionally, the Glassdoor report shows more workers are turning to side hustles to make ends meet. The Poll shows that nearly 40% of those surveyed have a side hustle. Fifty-seven percent of Gen Z and 48% of millennials have an additional income stream. Entrepreneurship and self-employment continue to rise. New business applications have surged 47% from 2019 to 2024.

by Kandiss Edwards

November 22, 2024

Jackson State Leading HBCUs In Graduation Success Rates

Jackson State University is leading HBCUs in student-athlete graduates.

According to the latest NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) Report, Jackson State University is prioritizing the education of its student-athletes.

The HBCU boasts a cumulative 87% graduation rate amongst active student-athletes, making Jackson State University the highest-scoring HBCU on the report.

Four of Jackson’s teams received perfect scores, indicating that 100% of its eligible student-athletes graduated on time. Many other teams scored above 90%.

“Men’s tennis, women’s bowling, softball, and women’s tennis. The women’s basketball team finished at 95 percent, soccer at 93 percent, and volleyball at 92 percent for Jackson State,” HBCU Gameday reported.

Malone Silver, the assistant director for academics and compliance posted about the Jackson State Tigers’ success:

The Division of Athletics at Jackson State University overall Graduation Rate of 87% is the highest amongst all HBCUs in the country and is the third highest in the state of Mississippi according to the NCAA’s latest Graduation Success Rate Report!

The Division of Athletics at Jackson State University overall Graduation Rate of 87% is the highest amongst all HBCU’s in the country and is the third highest in the state of Mississippi according to the NCAA’s latest Graduation Success Rate Report! #gotigers pic.twitter.com/7Y5uWGqn2m
— Malone Silver (@SilverMalone) November 20, 2024

The status of the graduation success rates have improved dramatically, increasing from 56% to 82% since 2002.

While Jackson State is celebrating its athletes’ success other institutions are letting go of its student-athletes.

BLACK ENTERPRISE recently reported on Mississippi Christian College’s name change and elimination of its football program.

On the cusp of the institution’s bicentennial the college chose to refocus on its religious mission. It is unclear how the elimination of the football team helps with the mission. What is clear is that many athletes will no longer be eligible for scholarships and will need to look for new institutions to employ their talents.

Massachusetts, rideshare drivers, Uber, Lyft

by Sharelle B. McNair

November 22, 2024

Former Lyft And Uber Driver Sues Rideshare For Allegedly Violating Her Rights When They Deactivated Her Account

Could this be justice for some drivers?

Rideshare services Uber, Lyft and the city of Chicago have all been hit with a lawsuit from a former driver over city rules she claims violate her rights, Fox 32 Chicago reported.

Ceresa Cohran drove for both Uber and Lyft for five years before she claims she was removed from the platforms due to city rules. The rules allow companies to deactivate drivers without reason, proper evidence, or even an appeal process. Her attorney, Matthew Custardo, says city regulations and the movement of the companies left his client defenseless.

“Uber accused my client of spitting on a passenger,” Custardo said.

“I mean… there’s no evidence, and there’s no appeal process.”

Cohran said her case started in April 2024 when she was terminated over claims that she says are simply not true.

“That’s assault. I’ve never assaulted anyone ever, so it was crazy,” she said, according to Audacy. “My life being turned around, and they wouldn’t even really hear me out.”

Without proper investigation or due process, Cohran losing her sole income left her struggling to earn a living. “I just now found employment last month, almost lost my house,” Cohran said.

“I’m still, to this day, without a car, in a hole and trying to find a way to dig myself out and, basically, rebuild my life.”

Her case is just one of several implications affecting Chicago’s approximately 90,000 licensed rideshare drivers. Advocates and fellow rideshare drivers blame pending legislation for the severity of Cohran’s case. Some argue that if the Chicago City Council passed the Rideshare Living Wage and Safety Ordinance, Cohran’s situation may be different. The goal of ordinance, which has stalled since May 2023 and sponsored by Ald. Mike Rodriguez of the 22nd Ward, is to implement stricter protections for drivers.

During a rally in July 2024, participants highlighted that limited protections have resulted in drivers being victims of violence, with some even losing their lives.

Cohran’s lawsuit pushes Chicago to overturn its regulations and give drivers a chance to defend themselves. She hopes that such moves will lead to her being “reinstated” and “possibly, to be reimbursed on my livelihood.”

“Everything has changed for me now,” she said.

At the time of the rally, both Uber and Lyft defended their rules and city regulations that are on their side, saying they lose out on money when a driver’s account is deactivated. “Our business is literally connecting riders with drivers, which means we lose every time we have to remove a driver’s access to our platform,” a statement from Uber read.

“However, we can’t sacrifice safety or quality, and unfortunately, when a driver poses a serious threat to either, we have no choice but to deactivate them.”

Microschool, student, classroom, four-day. school week

by Kandiss Edwards

November 22, 2024

Fifth-Grade STEM Student Creates Air Filter To Combat COVID

Eniola Shokunbi Is making moves as a Black girl in STEM.

Eniola Shokunbi led a team of middle schoolers in creating an air filter to combat COVID, NBC Connecticut reported.

Shokun is a fifth-grader at Commodore MacDonough STEM Academy in Middletown, Connecticut. The academy, which partners with the University of Connecticut’s science department, helps students learn and excel in STEM.

Without the use of high-tech supplies, Shokunbi created the air filter using a box fan, four furnace filters, duct tape and cardboard. After sending the filter out for testing, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gave the device a 99% efficiency rate.

“It showed that the air filter took out over 99% of viruses in the air,” Shokunbi said. “And that it was effective.”

Shokunbi’s creation led to a wealth of attention and accolades. State Senator Matt Lesser praised the preteen scientist.

“Eniola is fabulous. She wows every room she’s in front of. She’s a real rock star.”

Shokunbi’s air filter project will continue to be developed at the Supplemental Air Filtration Program at UConn. The program received $11.5 million to construct filters for Connecticut classrooms.

The young innovator is passionate about eliminating preventable illnesses.

“A lot of people, they don’t realize sometimes that the only thing standing between them and getting sick is science,” Shokunbi said.

She takes joy in sharing her love for science with others and believes that investing in science creation is an investment in children’s futures.

Shokunbi wants all students to be able to learn without fear.

“I want them to go to school knowing that they’re safe, that they’re healthy, that they can learn,” Shokunbi said

Recently, BLACK ENTERPRISE reported on another group of excellent Black youth in STEM. Spelman University’s team of coders took the top honor “Best of the Best” at the 9th Annual BE Smart Hackathon.

The event hosted 205 students from 30 HBCUs across the country. Each team used artificial intelligence to create apps that positively impacted their prospective communities. It was a four-day tournament.

“The Spelman team, Protege, comprised of seniors Brianna Bray, A’laysia Miller-Chambliss, Morgan Lee, and Jasmine Singleton, used the entire 24 hours allowed to develop every aspect to ultimately win the judging. The winning team received DJI Drones Mini 4 Pro, MacBook Air, and 100,000 miles from American Airlines,” BE reported.

Philander Smith University and Talladega College came in second and third place, respectively. Morgan State University also received an honor for “Best technical skill.”

Shelitha Robertson, PPP, Atlanta attorney, SBA, ppp loan fraud, lawyer, Juventus Duorinaah, Carlos Moore

by Jameelah Mullen

November 22, 2024

Florida Man Pleads Guilty To $1 Million COVID-19 Relief Scam

Bernard is scheduled to appear in court for sentencing on February 5, 2025 for sentencing.

A 24-year-old Florida man pled guilty to stealing the identities of 14 people to collect over $1 million in unemployment benefits and COVID-19 relief funds.

Conrad Brandon Bernard faces up to 30 years in federal prison for bank fraud convictions, to be followed by a mandatory consecutive term of two years for aggravated identity theft.

According to the United States Attorney’s Office, from May 2020 through December 2022, Bernard applied for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EDIL) using the names and social security numbers of 14 people “without their knowledge or consent.“

The U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) approved Bernard’s COVID-19 relief loans and deposited the funds into multiple bank accounts per his direction. Bernard then transferred the money to accounts he created using the names of various individuals without their knowledge.

Additionally, Bernard received unemployment benefits using several victims’ names and social security numbers. The Department of Labor deposited payments to various accounts in several states.

According to the States Attorney’s office, Bernard collected $1,083,340 from EIDL and unemployment benefits.

In May of 2022, police pulled Bernard over during a traffic stop. Upon searching his car, officers found several laptops, phones, and 16 blank credit cards. Authorities then obtained a search warrant for Bernard’s home, finding more evidence of the items Bernard could have used to carry out the elaborate scheme. Among the evidence were 43 Florida identification cards or driver’s licenses, 29 Humana insurance cards, and 31 W-2 tax forms with different names.

“Bernard possessed numerous false identifications, including counterfeit passport cards, false Florida driver’s licenses and identification cards, the means to create false identification, and the PII of several thousand individuals including their names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers,” the report says.

The report did not specify how Bernard procured their personal information.

A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Bronx, restaurant, incarcerated, rapper

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 22, 2024

Bronx Rapper Showed Up And Out For Kids Of Incarcerated Family Members

The Bronx rapper showed up at Sei Less restaurant to support a nonprofit group, Children of Promise NYC.

Bronx recording artist A Boogie With Da Hoodie celebrated children with incarcerated family members at a dinner at a fancy restaurant in New York City.

According to the Bronx Times, the rapper dined with 50 young people at Sei Less restaurant in Manhattan through a nonprofit program named Children of Promise NYC. The gathering was done in association with the restaurant’s owner, Dara Mirjahangiry. This is the second year that Mirjahangiry has partnered with the program.

Last year, Sei Less catered a dinner for a nonprofit organization at a local school. This time, it brought the children to the restaurant, which is typically occupied by prominent rappers and celebrities who frequent the venue.

“The goal is to give back and see a smile on their faces,” Mirjahangiry said.

The kids in attendance knew they were in for a treat but did not know beforehand who the surprise guest was. Once A Boogie emerged in front of the children, they were excited to see a real live celebrity who greeted the kids, signed T-shirts, and took photos with the “Look Back At It” artist.

TMZ posted a video of the interaction between the kids and the 28-year-old rapper.

“It’s good being a part of the whole movement,” A Boogie told the media outlet.

The Bronx rapper grew up in the Highbridge section of the Bronx.

According to the Children of Promise’s website, the organization, based in New York City, “is a community-centered organization that partners with children and families impacted by mass incarceration to dismantle the stigma and heal from the trauma plaguing Black and Brown communities.”

The organization tries to help children and their families deal with a family member in prison. This affects approximately 2.7 million children in the United States, mainly in Black and Brown communities. The stress and issues with an incarcerated parent inflict social, emotional, and economic harm, and Children of Promise attempts to help the children deal with the pitfalls that affect them because of it.