by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 1, 2023

Deion Sanders Wants NCAA Or The Rose Bowl To Reimburse Players For Stolen Jewelry

After five University of Colorado football players were robbed of their jewelry during Sunday’s road loss to UCLA, University of Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders said the NCAA and/or the Rose Bowl should reimburse the student-athletes.

The missing chains are said to be worth several thousands of dollars.

During the Colorado vs UCLA game, thieves stole Colorado’s players’ jewelry from the locker room. Crazy 😳 pic.twitter.com/8mTeDab9zA

— College Transfer Portal (@CollegeFBPortal) October 30, 2023

“Our kids got robbed during the game last week,” Sanders said. “I think that’s a travesty. I would expect the NCAA to do something about that…This is the Rose Bowl. They said the granddaddy of ’em all, right? I’m sure Granddaddy had some money. Grandpa should have some money to give these kids.”

UCLA’s athletic department confirmed that the Pasadena Police Department has started an investigation into the alleged theft.

“I’m going to have a list made out from these young men, and I know they’re going to be truthful about what they lost, so we can try and get it back for them,” Coach Prime said.

“They may not be able to get the items back, but they should be able to reimburse them. That was unbelievable,” he continued. “…It don’t make no sense when you’re out there ballin’ and playing your heart out and you get robbed at the same [time]. I hope we can do something about that, NCAA. You do something about everything else. Do something about that.”

“I was just told walking over here, awful,” UCLA’s head coach, Chip Kelly, said, according to Fox Sports. “The Pasadena police were looking into it, but I literally just found out one minute ago. That’s awful for anybody. You would think that when you go anywhere that your valuables are safe.”

The Buffaloes will play at home against Oregon State on Saturday, Nov. 4.

by Iman Milner

November 1, 2023

This Black Woman Turned A Delivery Business Into A Million-Dollar Brand By Partnering With Amazon

Learning 2 Exhale Industries (L2E) founder Sophia Strother turned her delivery business into a multimillion-dollar brand in just 18 months after partnering with Amazon.

Taking the online retail giant up on its pledge to partner with small businesses, Strother invested $10,000 into her dreams in 2020; in three years, her company has cleared over $3 million.

But it almost didn’t happen, Business Insider reports.

Strother was asked to meet with Amazon partners in Seattle in 2019. As a single mother, the 43-year-old founder didn’t have the funds to travel from Austin, Texas, to the Pacific Northwest, so “with only one week to accept the interview, I turned it down,” she said.

Amazon came knocking again a day after Christmas.

“This time, I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t let things play out. I went to Las Vegas for the Amazon event and there were over 200 people in the room,” Strother said. “Each candidate had to be interviewed by an Amazon executive.”

Despite having operated her own consulting business for over 15 years, Strother had no transportation experience. Instead, in her application she “talked about initiatives I’ve led and how passionate I was for serving people and families in my community,” she said.

L2E is now responsible for providing service to communities in a large portion of Central Texas. The business employs nearly 80 associates and a fleet of 38 vans.

“We’re given 25 to 35 daily routes, and I have to make sure the vans are in place and my staff is dressed and ready to go,” Strother said. “On the backend, I lead the operational duties for my company and plan ahead for the various routes my associates need to take—whether the route is rural, urban, or underdeveloped.”

While she enjoyed relatively quick success in her partnership with Amazon, the founder has also experienced the pains that come with a growing business.

In February 2021, an unprecedented winter storm hit Texas, causing L2E to shut down for a week and resulting in a significant decrease in deliveries and earnings. That tough quarter led Strother to empty her retirement and savings accounts to continue paying her employees and keep the business afloat. She also stopped paying her own salary. After meeting with a temporary business coach from Amazon, Strother got the wheels moving once again.

“Since then, I haven’t missed a payroll check, and I’ve been able to start paying myself again,” she said.

Real estate, Realtors, Inflated commission, Crime

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

November 1, 2023

US Jury Finds Realtors Liable For Inflating Commissions, Awards $1.78 Bln Damages

*Originally Reported by Reuters

Oct 31 (Reuters) – A U.S. jury on Tuesday found the National Association of Realtors and some residential brokerages, including units of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (BRKa.N), liable to pay $1.78 billion in damages for conspiring to artificially inflate commissions for home sales.

The verdict by a federal jury in Kansas City, Missouri, could upend decades-old practices that have allowed real estate agents to boost commissions as home prices and mortgage rates rise, hurting consumers by making housing transactions more expensive.

Plaintiffs in the class action included sellers of more than 260,000 homes in Missouri, Kansas and Illinois between 2015 and 2022, who objected to the commissions they were obligated to pay buyers’ brokers.

The verdict followed a two-week trial, and the damages award can be tripled under U.S. antitrust law to more than $5.3 billion.

“Today was a day of accountability,” said Michael Ketchmark, the lead lawyer for the plaintiffs.

The defendants included Berkshire-owned HomeServices of America and two subsidiaries, as well as the realty Keller Williams.

NAR spokesperson Mantill Williams said the trade group plans to appeal, and seek reduced damages.

HomeServices said it was disappointed in the verdict and planned to appeal, while Keller Williams spokesperson Darryl Frost said the realty company would consider its options for an appeal. “This is not the end,” Frost said.

Broker compensation in the U.S. has typically been about 5% to 6% of a home’s sales price, with about half paid to a buyer’s broker.

Home sellers complained that this model suppressed competition by keeping commissions for buyer brokers in the 2-1/2 to 3% range despite the brokers’ diminishing role, with many buyers able to find homes independently online.

Sellers said the arrangement had “severe anticompetitive effects” and made “no economic sense, except for the buyer broker.”

The defendants denied wrongdoing, with the NAR saying there was no evidence agents were required to “make offers of compensation at all, let alone at amounts that stabilize, fix, or raise commissions.”

Re/Max (RMAX.N) and Anywhere Real Estate (HOUS.N), whose brands include Century 21, Coldwell Banker and Corcoran, had been defendants but settled before trial, with Re/Max paying $55 million and Anywhere paying $83.5 million, without admitting liability.

Shares of real estate brokerages not involved in the verdict closed lower.

Re/Max fell 4.4% and Anywhere fell 2.7%, while online brokers Zillow Group (ZG.O) and Redfin (RDFN.O)declined 6.9% and 5.7%, respectively.

The U.S. Department of Justice is separately asking a federal appeals court in Washington to let it revive an antitrust probe into the NAR’s practices.

by Iman Milner

November 1, 2023

BLM Protest Organizer in UK Sent to Jail After Using $30K In Donations On Personal Expenses

Xahra Saleem, the 23-year-old former director of the youth group Change Your Mindset, has been sentenced to two years in jail for spending over $30,000 in donated funds on a variety of personal expenses, The Independent reports. Saleem raised the money via a GoFundMe created to help organize a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Bristol, which resulted in the toppling of a statue erected in memory of former slave owner Edward Colston.

The publicity and success of the Black Lives Matter event led to nearly $40,000 in donations. Saleem promised to pour any remaining funds into Change Your Mindset.

Saleem used the donated money to fund everything from excessive Uber trips to beauty products and food deliveries. After relocating the money to a personal bank account, Saleem began a 15-month spending spree.

“With no other regular income or wage coming into the account, she made 2,512 payments, including amounts on an iPhone, iMac, hair and beauty treatments, clothing stores, Amazon purchases, food takeaways, and more than £5,800 on Uber,” said prosecutor Alistair Haggerty.

After being approached by members of the organization, who presented her with an ultimatum to transfer the funds in June 2021, Saleem confessed to spending the misappropriated funds via an email, The Independent reports.

“I am so sorry, I am still trying to understand my actions as well,” she wrote in the email. The fallout from Saleem’s action included a canceled educational trip to Africa as well as the eventual closing of the organization. The funds were also meant to provide weekly cooking classes and career and life coaching for minors.

“We were led on a journey of deceit which was full of lies and left us having to clear our own names and stop the group sessions,” the group said, according to The Independent.

Saleem initially denied any fraudulent behavior when she appeared in court in January 2023 before she entered a guilty plea in September.

“You did not set out to defraud anyone, but you took the opportunity when you had control of the company’s money to spend it on your own expenses,” Judge Michael Longman said at the sentencing.

student walkout, California, N-word, student protests

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 1, 2023

Racist Video At California High School Prompts Student Walkout, Demands

A racist video and subsequent violence at a high school in California’s North Bay has Black student activists demanding more be done to protect them.

The call for the North Bay School District to enforce more anti-racist policy and protocol to ensure their Black population feels safe came after students at Tamalpais High School released a video in early October where a racial slur was used.

The video, according to the Marin Independent Journal, showed several students saying the n-word.

The racist incident led to violence at the school, including fights in which a Black employee was hurt, as confirmed by KTVU. Principal Kimberly Clissold held an assembly with the entire student body to apologize for the matter, in addition to creating spaces for the Black students to express their feelings on the issue.

“The administration is investigating and actively addressing this incident with the students involved,” Clissold said. “As a district and school, we condemn all acts of racism and will continue efforts to educate our student body about the harmful impact these acts have on our fellow students and our broader community.”

The leaders of the school’s Black Student Union organized a walkout to protest the use of the slur and to ensure those involved in the racist video are held accountable.

“This protest really showed the school how we really care about our community and we really want our voices to be heard,” said freshman Shaniya Valentine, one of the walkout speakers. “I feel like our walkout showed we were really serious and we believe things should have been handled better.”

Members of the community also showed up to support the students’ concerns.

The union issued a list of recommendations to enforce in the district’s school policies to ensure that the educational environment remains safe for students of all backgrounds.

“We are engaging in ongoing dialogue about race, discrimination, prejudice, and privilege and the role each plays in our community and the larger society,” Clissold wrote in an email. “Our commitment to this work is focused on providing a school environment that is free of prejudice and is safe for all staff and students who rightly call Tam High their school.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 1, 2023

2 Additional Suspects Charged In Connection With PnB Rock’s Murder

There are now four suspects in the rapper's 2022 shooting death in Los Angeles.

Two additional suspects have been arrested in connection with the September 2022 murder of Philadelphia rapper PnB Rock at Roscoe’s House of Chicken & Waffles in South Los Angeles.

According to The Los Angeles Times, Trenton Jones, who was charged with two counts of robbery and conspiracy to rob the rapper, and Wynisha Evans, were charged with being an accessory. They were indicted in September.

Jones and Evans pleaded not guilty and were arraigned at the Compton Courthouse, according to Venusse Dunn, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The charges were initially filed as a separate case when police officers arrested them in May in connection to PnB Rock’s killing.

In the latest court filing, prosecutors claimed that Jones helped two suspects, Freddie Lee Trone and his teenage son. Jones met with Trone at a parking lot near the eatery and talked for several minutes before giving Trone what prosecutors believe was a firearm. Trone then left in a car and returned to drop off his son, who was wearing a ski mask and armed with a gun.

Jones allegedly stayed behind but eventually left a nearby parking lot as Trone’s son entered Roscoe’s.

Evans was accused of leaving the scene of the killing with Trone after PnB Rock was shot. After finding out that Trone was a suspect in the shooting, she reached out to Trone and allegedly rented a car and drove him from L.A. to Nevada “for safety,” based on the document filed.

Jones is currently incarcerated at Men’s Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles while being held on $1 million bail, according to county jail records. Evans was released on her own recognizance. Based on Los Angeles’ new zero bail policy, she was released because it fell within the non-violent charge.

Both Jones and Evans, as well as Trone, are scheduled for another hearing in December.

On September 12, 2022, PnB Rock, nee Rakim Hasheem Allen, was allegedly involved in a verbal altercation with the killer as he entered the eatery. The suspect shot the rapper, who was eating with his girlfriend, grabbed some personal items, and left the scene in a getaway car.

PnB, 30, died in the hospital.

by Iman Milner

November 1, 2023

Houston Teen Arrested After Video Showing Assault Of Strangers In Park Goes Viral

A TikTok video that showed 19-year-old Alford Lewis and 18-year-old Kingston Miker punching strangers in a Houston park went viral last week. Now one of the teens has been arrested for assault.

The quote-unquote prank attacks, which took place in Wortham Park, generated thousands of views and caused residents to fear walking in the area, Fox 26 Houston reports.

Lewis was arrested for allegedly assaulting two people and pointing a gun at them while Miker filmed the attacks.

“These hashtags, prank, knockout, punch: they’re in the hundreds of millions if not billions of views,” said Rania Mankarious, CEO of Crime Stoppers Houston, told Fox 26. “This generation of children desire to be consumed. They want to be online, part of a viral conversation. They want to create content that trends.”

Mankarious added that the increase in violent videos aimed at cementing infamy for their creators is a growing problem TikTok is well aware of.

The popular social media app reportedly removes millions of videos from its platforms monthly, using data collected in three-month increments to decide what violates the terms of its user agreement. In October 2022, TikTok created the category “dangerous acts and challenges,” which accounted for five percent of the material removed from the platform, Fox 26 Houston reports.

From January to March 2023, the number of videos removed categorized under the aforementioned description grew to 5.2%. Mankarious is urging residents in the Houston area to contact Crime Stoppers for resources on how to stress the importance of not engaging in dangerous acts or pranks for entertainment to young people.

“Come to us; we’ll have these conversations with your kids for you, but it should be part of daily conversation,” she added.

The Child Mind Institute names an increase in callousness as well as a decline in the ability to read important social cues, develop healthy interpersonal skills, and heightened aggression as negative risks associated with teenagers using social media.

by Stacy Jackson

November 1, 2023

15-Year-Old Arrested For Killing Pregnant Preschool Worker in Hit-And-Run

An unidentified 15-year-old boy was arrested over a hit-and-run involving a stolen vehicle that killed a pregnant preschool teacher in San Jose, California, on Oct. 24.

The teenager allegedly operating the 2008 Nissan sedan was arrested over the weekend, on Oct. 28, according to The Mercury News. Two other people in the vehicle – which had not been reported stolen when the collision happened – are still on the run, Daily Mail reported.

The 21-year-old teacher, who worked at Play ‘N’ Learn Preschool, was identified as April Zoglauer. The expectant mother was 27 weeks pregnant when she was fatally hit. Her due date was Jan. 25, The Mercury News noted. Doctors at a nearby hospital delivered her baby, Devontae Aaron Zoglauer, via an emergency C-section, according to Daily Mail. The premature newborn unfortunately died later.

The outlet reported that a memorial and a GoFundMe were set up for Zoglauer, who started working at the preschool as a teenage volunteer. Tammy Lariz, co-owner of Play’ N’ Learn, said Zoglauer was one of a kind. “Her job was just to love on them, and she was good at it.”

“Honestly, I’ve been doing this for 27 years, and I’ve never had somebody else who could do that job. Not the way she could do it,” Lariz said.

Zoglauer was remembered for her work to calm children who were adjusting to school, the outlet noted. Lariz also said that Zoglauer was a “blessing” and “she meant everything to us.”

Angie Loza, director of Play’ N’ Learn, said, “April’s grown up here, so we’ve known her for a very, very long time.” Loza also said, “The baby was a joy for all of us.”

The preschool employees said Zoglauer and her friends and family were excited about her pregnancy. The expectant mother had support from so many people that she had two gender reveal parties so everyone could attend, The Mercury News noted.

by Rafael Pena

November 1, 2023

DoorDash App Now Warns Tip-Wary Customers of Longer Delivery Times

The Verge reports DoorDash has recently introduced a pop-up feature within its app that serves as a reminder for customers who opt not to include a tip when placing their orders.

When a customer enters $0 as the tip amount in the app, a message appears, warning them that orders without tips might experience longer delivery times. According to Jenn Rosenberg, a spokesperson for DoorDash, the feature is being tested to enhance the overall experience for the app’s users.

“As independent contractors, Dashers have full freedom to accept or reject offers based on what they view as valuable and rewarding,” Rosenberg said. “While most customers do leave a tip, offers that don’t include a tip can be seen as less desirable–this impacts our entire community, leading to longer wait times for customers, orders sitting longer at merchants, and less value for Dashers.”

Rosenberg clarified that the reminder screen is in its pilot phase, and the company is eager to evaluate the results and gather user feedback.

The Verge reports that the feature is not available in every state. A colleague in New Jersey received the prompt; another in South Carolina did not.

While tipping is a common practice in the United States, the concept of pre-tipping in the gig economy is relatively recent. Customers can still provide a tip in cash or through the DoorDash app after delivery, depending on their preference.

The preference for pre-tipped orders among drivers may be linked to DoorDash’s modified payment method. In 2019, DoorDash altered its payment structure after revelations that it wasn’t passing the full amount of customer tips to drivers. Under the revised system, drivers receive a base rate, and any tips are added on top of that amount. Drivers may favor orders with upfront tips since it provides them with more predictable earnings.

Kaavia James Wishes Mom Gabrielle Union A ‘Loud’ Happy Birthday

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 1, 2023

Kaavia James Wishes Mom Gabrielle Union A ‘Loud’ Happy Birthday

Gabrielle Union turned 52 over the weekend and received an adorable happy birthday message from her 4-year-old daughter, Kaavia James.

On Sunday, Oct. 29, Kaavia shared a heartfelt video message to her celebrity mom wishing her a “loud” happy birthday.

“Happy Birthday to my Mommy! Hope this next year is as strong as your genes,” the post’s caption read.

In the short video message, Kaavia took a break from eating breakfast to say “Happy Birthday” to her mom who was away on business.

“I just love you so much. I want you to come back,” Kaavia told the camera. “And I love you so much.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kaavia James Union Wade (@kaaviajames)

She blew a kiss to the camera before telling Union she loves her three more times. Kaavia concluded her birthday message with a special reminder to the Being Mary Jane star.

“Oh, I just need to say one more thing. When it’s your birthday, you can be loud. You can be anything you want,” Kaavia said through hand claps.

“I wonder what you’re gonna wear,” she added.

Union responded to the post with laughing emojis in response to her daughter’s message.

“She said I can be loud!!!!” she exclaimed.

Kaavia was born via surrogate in November 2018 when Union was 46 and her husband, NBA legend Dwyane Wade, was 36.

Last month, Union shared a heartfelt video explaining why believes she “became a mom at the right time” in response to questions she receives about if having children so late was “worth it.”

“There’s a lot that goes into that answer, but in a nutshell, hell yes it’s been worth it,” she said.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gabrielle Union-Wade (@gabunion)

The Bring It On star admitted to wishing she had “done it earlier” to have more time with her daughter and as a mother. But she also noted how much being a mother has changed her in “wondrous” ways.

“I became a mom at the right time because I was healed and I had committed to healing eternally so I didn’t pass all that generational trauma on to Kaav,” Union explained.

“Had I been a day younger, even certainly 10, 15, 20 years before, I would have passed along way too many traumatic things to my child.”

Welcoming a child four years before turning 50 was ‘”absolutely worth it,” Union said.

“She is the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” she added.

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