• Uncategorized

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

November 2, 2023

Uber, Lyft To Pay $328 Million To Settle New York Wage Theft Claims

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*Originally reported by Reuters 

Uber (UBER.N) and Lyft (LYFT.O) will pay a combined $328 million to settle claims by New York’s attorney general that the ride-sharing companies systematically cheated drivers out of pay and benefits.

Attorney General Letitia James said Uber will pay $290 million and Lyft will pay $38 million to resolve her office’s multi-year investigation into the companies, calling it the largest wage theft settlement in her office’s history.

Drivers will also be guaranteed minimum hourly rates and paid sick leave. They will be given notices and in-app chat support to address questions about earnings and other working conditions.

James’ probe addressed claims that Uber and Lyft improperly collected some taxes and fees from New York drivers rather than passengers.

It also addressed the companies’ practices of classifying drivers as independent contractors instead of employee

obe into the NAR’s practices.

More than 100,000 current and former drivers in the state are eligible to benefit from the settlements.

“These settlements will ensure they finally get what they have rightfully earned and are owed under the law,” James said in a statement.

Uber and Lyft, both based in San Francisco, denied wrongdoing, and called their settlements a “win” for drivers.

Tony West, Uber’s chief legal officer, in a statement said Uber’s settlement “helps put to rest” the classification issue and will be a model for other states.

Lyft said in a separate statement it believes it has always properly classified drivers as independent contractors.

DRIVER CLASSIFICATIONS

Uber and Lyft have long defended against claims nationwide that they shortchange drivers, many of whom are immigrants, out of pay and benefits, including by refusing to classify them as employees.

Both companies have said many of their drivers prefer working as independent contractors.

The payments equal a little under 1% of Uber’s and Lyft’s annual revenue.

James accused Uber and Lyft of improperly deducting sales taxes and fees for a workers compensation fund from drivers’ payments, though passengers should have paid those amounts.

Uber’s alleged violations occurred from November 2014 to May 2017, and Lyft’s from October 2015 to July 2017.

James said both companies also denied drivers sick leave that state and New York City employees are legally entitled to receive.

The probe arose from concerns from the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, which says it represents about 21,000 yellow taxi, green cab, app-based, livery and corporate car drivers.

Under the settlements, drivers outside New York City will receive a minimum $26 per hour for rides and sick leave, adjusted annually for inflation.

Drivers in New York City already receive minimum pay and some paid time off, as required by the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission. James said Uber and Lyft drivers there will receive $17 per hour for sick leave, with inflation adjustments.

RELATED CONTENT: 55-Year-Old Lyft Driver Sexually Assaulted In Georgia

• Entertainment

by Rafael Pena

November 1, 2023

Suge Knight Claims Akon Raped 13-Year-Old Girl On His ‘Collect Call’ Podcast

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In a report by Vibe, Suge Knight accused Akon and producer Detail of sexually assaulting two teenage girls on his Collect Call with Suge Knight podcast on Oct. 29. Akon has vehemently denied these allegations, calling them a “lie” and expressing a wish for Knight’s well-being.

In a statement posted on X on Sunday, Knight addressed the allegations against Akon and Detail, describing them as “sad and embarrassing.” Akon responded to a clip from Knight’s Collect Call podcast, shared on social media on Oct. 28, by stating, “The world knows a lie when they hear it. It’s unfortunate that this man is going out like this. It’s sad and seriously embarrassing.” Despite their different accounts, Akon emphasized that he would continue praying for Knight.

The accusations made by Knight involve allegations that Akon allegedly sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl and Detail abused a 12-year-old girl. According to Knight, the 13-year-old was the younger sister of one of his female associates, and the 12-year-old was the best friend of the other minor.

Knight shared the details of the alleged incidents in the podcast clip. He explained that one of his associates, referred to as his “homegirl,” had her little sister (13 years old) and her best friend (12 years old) with her. They were in a car together, heading to meet Akon and Detail, who had invited them. Knight continued, “She said, ‘I got my little sister and her best friend with me.’ I said, ‘Well, then stop by for a second.’ She goes by your hotel to your room, and she gets a call from the men she met at the hotel.”

In his account, Knight alleges that Akon persuaded his “homegirl” to leave the two minors in the hotel room while she went to meet with a client. Knight said, “You, Akon, said, ‘Go ahead. You can leave your little sister and her friend right here. We can order them something to eat.'” According to Knight, it was during this time in the hotel room with Akon and Detail that the alleged sexual assaults occurred. He claimed that when the girls returned, they were visibly frightened and in tears.

Knight explained that the “homegirl” initially wanted to take legal action against Akon and Detail, but he convinced her not to involve the police, promising to handle the situation himself.

The notorious label owner Knight recently announced the launch of his Collect Call podcast, where he will address past and current adversaries within the music industry. This podcast will be released through Dave Mays’ Breakbeat Media venture and feature discussions with figures like Snoop Dogg and Wack 100.

Knight is currently serving a 28-year prison sentence after pleading no contest to voluntary manslaughter in 2018 in connection to the 2015 hit-and-run death of Terry Carter.

RELATED CONTENT: ‘Collect Call With Suge Knight’ Podcast Set To Debut On Halloween

• Sisters Inc

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

November 1, 2023

Xbox Now Has a Black Woman President For The First Time Ever

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This news was first reported by Blackbusiness.com

Sarah Bond, a former corporate vice president of of Xbox, is now president of the brand, making history for Microsoft and the gaming industry. The graduate of Yale and Harvard Business School also held senior roles at T-Mobile.

Xbox, a division of Microsoft, generates about $16 billion every year in annual revenue, and Sarah has been pivotal in helping the company become and remain successful. In her former role as Vice President, she led the Xbox division dedicated to building and commercializing products and services for game creators and partners. She worked with thousands of developers and partners to bring games to players on console, PC, mobile, and the cloud and was instrumental in directing strategy, policy, mergers & acquisitions, and integration.

In her new role as President of Xbox, Sarah will be in charge of all software and hardware platforms which will include the redesigned disc-less Xbox Series X to be released in 2024 and a next-gen hybrid Xbox console in 2028. She will also oversee player and creator experiences, platform engineering, strategy, business planning, data and analytics, and business development.

Sarah currently sits on the Board of Councilors at the USC School of Cinematic Arts and the Board of Directors at the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), Zuora, the leading subscription management platform, and CHEGG, a leading student-first connected learning platform.

Prior to joining Microsoft, Sarah held senior roles at T-Mobile, including leading the Corporate Strategy and Development team, responsible for cross-functional strategic initiatives, major investments, partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions, and was a member of the team that led T-Mobile’s turnaround. She started her career at McKinsey, where she was an Associate Partner in the Seattle office. Sarah holds a BA in Economics from Yale University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Sarah has dedicated her career to transforming cultures, rearchitecting organizations, accelerating businesses, and, most importantly, empowering others to do the same.

Be sure to follow her on Twitter and LinkedIn.

• Celebrity News

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 1, 2023

North West Debuts First-Ever Solo Cover For i-D Magazine

Even at ten years old, North West is coming into he own!

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North West, the oldest daughter of rapper Ye and Kim Kardashian, nabbed her first-ever solo cover for VICE’s i-D magazine on Oct. 31.

The 10-year-old socialite and influencer was styled in looks from her own closet. She spoke with the publication about many subjects, including her memories, hobbies, and favorite rapper and song: Tupac and her father’s 2004 smash debut hit, “Through the Wire.” A confident North navigated each question effortlessly. She also deemed herself as her favorite style icon. The “blessed, awesome, cool” celebrity child was incredibly self-aware in the interview.

When i-D editors asked North about her future career plans, Ye’s mini-me said she would eventually take over her parents’ companies.

“When I’m, like, thirteen, I want to walk dogs, to make money to buy art supplies, because everything around here is so expensive,” North explained, seemingly grasping the concept of inflation and expenses. “So a rapper, a basketball player, and I’m going to make artwork that I sell. Also, one day, I want to own Yeezy and SKIMS, and I want to be a business owner.”

North unabashedly hypes herself up when given the opportunity to describe herself in three words.

“The best ever,” she says.

Despite this being her first solo venture, it wasn’t her first magazine spread, as the tween icon was featured with Ye and Kim for her parents’ 2014 Vogue cover shoot. North was a few months old when the cover was shot.

The full i-D interview on the eldest West child is available now.

• Celebrity News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 1, 2023

Nas, Steve Stoute, And Others Give $500K To Hip-Hop ‘Contributors Who Didn’t Get What They Deserved’

Nas and Steve Stout have joined forces to pay homage to hip-hop greats in the form of financial support.

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Hip-hop has created a lot of millionaires and even billionaires in its 50-year history. But some early pioneers never got their just due, and Nas, Steve Stoute, and others are looking to change that. Nas and Stout have joined forces with Andreessen Horowitz co-founder Ben Horowitz and his wife, Felicia Horowitz, to pay homage to hip-hop pioneers through financial support.

The inaugural Hip Hop Grandmaster Awards is set to take place and honor hip-hop legends Rakim and Scarface in a celebration where 100% of proceeds will go “to support hip-hop greats and other creatives,” the Paid In Full Foundation states.

“Over the past several decades, hip-hop music and culture rose from a local niche New York art form into a global phenomenon,” said the foundation. “In doing so, it has created countless careers, many fortunes, and, most importantly, gave hope and aspiration to a generation of young people.”

However, many pioneers were ahead of their time in shaping hip-hop culture before the art form received the financial backing and success that came in the late ’90s into the 2000s. Because of this, the Paid In Full Foundation intends to right the wrongs by securing a financial future for many of those early trailblazers.

“The Paid in Full Foundation aims to rectify that through its grantmaking program by both honoring the people who built hip-hop and enabling them to pursue their creative and intellectual pursuits for the benefit of society.”

Stoute says the foundation will give $500,000 and healthcare to hip-hop “contributors who didn’t get what they deserved.” The Hip Hop Grandmaster Awards will also become an annual event.

“What I wanna do is, all of the artists who [came in] early who signed bad deals or were taken advantage of, that the least we could do is give to them,” Stoute said on the Rap Radar podcast. “Pay that forward and give to them.”

He continued, “No one’s ever done this before. No one’s given the people who’ve helped move this industry forward reparations of some sort for what they’ve done but didn’t get back.”

The Hip Hop Grandmaster Awards is sold out and will take place on Nov. 17 in Las Vegas.

RELATED CONTENT: ‘Grammy Salute To 50 Years Of Hip-Hop’ To Air On CBS In December

• News

by Iman Milner

November 1, 2023

The Groundbreak Coalition Has Raised $1B In Funds To Help Boost Black Ownership of Homes and Businesses In Minneapolis

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The Groundbreak Coalition (Groundbreak), a group including more than 40 philanthropic organizations and corporations, has reportedly raised almost $1B toward boosting Black ownership of homes, businesses, and developments in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. The coalition has hit the milestone in less than a year, putting it closer to its overall goal of $5.3 billion in funds dedicated to closing the racial wealth gap, the Star Tribute reports.

“What makes this unique is that we’re not trying to raise a fund, we’re trying to create fundamental change,” said Tonya Allen, president of the McKnight Foundation in Minneapolis.

“This is about changing the rules and changing the way that capital grows, and I think that those are game-changers.”

The coalition was created in 2022, aimed at rebuilding areas destroyed in Minneapolis and St. Paul following the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent riots that followed. The funds are also intended to address the longstanding racial wealth gaps for Black and Indigenous Minnesota residents.

“We’re really doing this work because we believe that every person, no matter their race or their background, should have the opportunity to have incredible prosperity,” Allen said.

“And we know if we do this work together and if we do it smartly, it’s not just about those individual people, it’s about the magnifying, the amplifying effect that will happen in our region.”

There is a wide gap in the state between white and Black residents when it comes to homeownership, the outlet reports. Only 1/3 of Black Minnesotans own homes, while 78% of white residents are homeowners. In fact, Black people make up the racial group least likely to own a home in the state, the outlet reports.

The coalition is also working to fix issues that face not only Black Minnesotans but many members of the community in other states who face discrimination from banks and other lending institutions when trying to purchase a home. Groundbreak has focused on implementing tools to provide special loans with financial assistance, startup funding designed specifically for Black entrepreneurs, and commercial mortgage loans to even the playing field for Black-led neighborhood developments.

“People are just being creative, innovative, and bold in their thinking,” Allen said. “If we can … change the rules in the way that banking institutions work, what we aim to do is really create this long-term, systemic change.”

Minnesota is one of few states still making good on the promises made in the aftermath of Floyd’s death, something that Allen attributes to fully understanding the importance of closing the racial divide to prevent further tragedies.

“We know the ramifications if we do nothing,” she said. “We will be the scene-setters for the rest of the country on how we solve these challenges.”

by Daniel Johnson

November 1, 2023

Clinical Gene Editing Emerges As Promising Path To HIV/AIDS Cure

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An academic paper published in the National Library of Medicine suggests a relatively new technology has the potential to provide a solution to HIV/AIDS. The paper, authored by Mourya Hussein, Mariano A. Molina, Ben Berkhout, and Elena Hererra-Carrillo, argues that employing CRISPR technology, which can be used to edit genes, to target host and viral genes, activate antiviral host factors, and inhibit viral replication, could lead to the elimination of the virus.

HIV currently affects 38 million people worldwide, resulting in approximately 800,000 annual deaths from virus-related complications.

The paper acknowledges that while promising, there are challenges in developing a viable pathway to curing HIV/AIDS through gene therapy, such as the risk of affecting genes unrelated to HIV/AIDS production and spread in the body. Nonetheless, the study recommends further examination of gene-editing therapy through clinical trials to assess its effectiveness.

In July 2023, the FDA fast-tracked a trial for gene therapy relating to HIV/AIDS to test the efficacy and safety of using CRISPR to treat the disease in conjunction with antiviral drugs. According to Medical Professionals Reference, a fast-track designation from the FDA is intended to accelerate the development of promising treatment for conditions for which either no treatment exists, or the therapy being investigated is expected to provide advantages over currently available treatments.

Excision BioTherapeutics CEO Daniel Dornbusch, whose company received the designation, said in a press release, “We are pleased with the FDA’s decision to grant Fast Track designation to EBT-101. This designation underscores the importance of finding a cure for people living with HIV and bolsters Excision’s efforts to rapidly develop potentially curative therapies for significant unmet medical needs.”

Following that news, MIT Technology Review reported on Oct. 25 that Excision added the gene-editing tool to the bodies of three people living with HIV. The company directed the gene-editing tool to eliminate the virus but has not yet revealed any data about the effects of the treatment, which leaves experts in the field wondering exactly how effective it has been at achieving the intended goal.

Fyodor Urnov, a genome editing expert at the University of California-Berkeley, told MIT, “This is an exceptionally ambitious and important trial,” before adding that it “would be good to know sooner than later” the effects of the treatment, “including, potentially, no effect.” 

Excision says the trials have yielded no major negative side effects and that it has plans to increase doses of the treatment in 2024. The company says it wants to have six additional patients receive three and 10 times the amount of treatment delivered thus far.

William Kennedy, senior vice president of Excision’s Clinical Development division, says that the full results for the original three clinical participants will not be available until 2024.

Kamel Khalil, a Temple University professor who helped start the company, says that even if the treatments don’t cure HIV, they represent an important step toward development in treating the disease, as he told MIT. “Even if we don’t completely cure [HIV], we might be getting a significant delay in the rebound of the virus. That could set us up for the next stage, like any drug where there are first and second generations.”

RELATED CONTENT: Meharry To Study Genetic Roadmap Of Black People

• Women

by Stacy Jackson

November 1, 2023

Florida Woman Surprises Mom With First Home For Her Birthday

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Nyomi Jackson surprised her mother, Wanda Fields, with a tour of her first home.

According to a video posted to TikTok on May 4, what Jackson’s mother thought was an Airbnb rental for her visit to The Sunshine State was actually her daughter’s newly purchased property in Jacksonville, Florida. Since posting, the prank has gone viral, amassing over 3.5 million views.

“What many of you see in the video is my mom. She’s coming in from Virginia, where she currently resides, as well as my younger sister Nia, to come spend some time at what they think is an Airbnb with the rest of our family, in celebration of my mom’s birthday,” Jackson told Good Morning America.

“But what she doesn’t know … is that I [had] actually moved into the house within the last three previous weeks.”

The new homeowner’s younger sister, Nia, was also shocked at the news.

The home is a major achievement for Jackson, who recalled their upbringing in a one-bedroom New York City apartment. She’s been working on her home for a year and wanted to present it to her family once everyone was together.

“She never said anything,” her mother told GMA. Jackson would take calls from her mother inside a closet, careful not to give away any hints.

“For my mom to see me purchase my first house and do something really incredible, I think it speaks volumes to what’s possible,” Jackson said. “If you have a vision, you stick to it, and you make it happen.”

Fields said she rewatches the viral TikTok video sometimes just because the prank makes her so happy. Seeing friends, family, and strangers so receptive and supportive of her daughter’s moment of success makes her cry.

• Celebrity News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 1, 2023

Marcus Jordan Wants Michael Jordan As His Best Man When Marrying Larsa Pippen

Marcus Jordan is hoping to continue his family tradition by having his father Michael Jordan serve as best man when he marries Larsa Pippen.

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Marcus Jordan hopes to continue the family tradition by having his father, Michael Jordan, serve as best man when he marries Larsa Pippen.

The NBA legend has publicly expressed his disapproval of his 32-year-old son dating the 49-year-old ex-wife of his former teammate turned nemesis Scottie Pippen. When asked if he supported their romance, Jordan replied, “No.”

But that didn’t stop Marcus from taking things further with Larsa and embarking on a high-profile public relationship despite their nearly 20-year age gap. The couple is sharing their love life on the new season of The Real Housewives of Miami and appeared on Pablo Torre Finds Out, where they teased the possibility of getting married.

When the time comes for them to tie the knot, Marcus expects his dad to serve as best man, as he did for his older brother, Jeffrey.

“I was the best man at his wedding and the best man at my brother’s wedding, and so obviously, we’ll keep that tradition going is my thoughts on it,” Marcus said.

When asked if the wedding would be televised, Marcus didn’t shut down the possibility.

“Now that I’ve been on The Housewives of Miami, all the producers are inquiring around when’s the wedding, are we going to film it on TV, so that’s another thing that we’re playing along with is whether or not we’ll air it.”

While Larsa appears comfortable with the limelight and sharing her private life on reality TV, Marcus comes from a more private family who likely wouldn’t be comfortable attending a televised wedding.

“We’re very private people, the Jordans, and so if it was up to me, I think we would do multiple weddings, one private for our family and friends and then maybe there’s one that’s a little more public but I guess time will tell,” Marcus said.

Larsa and Marcus first sparked dating rumors one year after she finalized her divorce from Scottie Pippen. In early 2023 the couple made things Instagram official.

After Michael Jordan publicly shaded their relationship, Marcus seemed to defend his dad on his and Larsa’s Separation Anxiety podcast, chalking it up to the six-time NBA champion being intoxicated. Marcus even said he thought his dad’s response was funny. Larsa, however, was “traumatized” by the response.

“You thought it was funny,” she told Marcus. “I didn’t think it was funny. There is nothing funny about it.… I kinda felt like it went everywhere, and I was kind of embarrassed.”

• News

by Rafael Pena

November 1, 2023

TikTok Food Critic Keith Lee Shuts Down Foolishness After Review of ATL Restaurants

Points were made.

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On Oct. 31, amid the furor surrounding his candid critiques of Atlanta restaurants, Keith Lee, the popular TikTok food critic, felt compelled to address the controversy and the alleged threats he and his family received in a new video posted to his TikTok.

In the video, Lee expressed his perspective, saying he shares his opinions because people ask for them, and he finds some of the narratives surrounding his reviews “insane.”

“I can’t win for losing. I understand everybody’s going to have an opinion on the situation. You can disagree with me. You can like what I say. I completely understand. I’m okay with that. But when my safety and my family’s safety are coming into play, that’s where I draw the line,” Lee said.

The native Detroiter emphasized that he meant no harm and his intentions were not malicious. He encouraged his viewers to form their own opinions and discouraged directing hate at any specific restaurant based solely on his personal experiences.

He concluded the video by recognizing the weight of his influence and the responsibility that came with it, affirming his purpose in sharing food experiences. He said he valued honesty over everything else and would never compromise his integrity by lying.

Lee said plainly, “Nobody’s safety should be on the line. Not mine, not my family, not the restaurants that we go to. Relax. Like, relax, bro. Like I understand, I get it. I get it. But at the end of the day, what you want me to do? You want me to lie? I can’t do that. I’ll walk away from everything before I lie. I’m telling you that right now. On ten toes, everything. God bless me.”

Meanwhile, The Real Milk & Honey restaurant issued a statement following Lee’s unfortunate experience there. The statement arrived after the restaurant had reportedly posted a video claiming not to be aware of Keith Lee, which has since been deleted.

Even Cardi B chimed in on dining in Atlanta, revealing that she often uses her celebrity status to secure a table at most Atlanta restaurants. The Bronx native commended Lee’s videos as a “delightful adventure to watch.”