cannabis
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 13, 2024

Raekwon The Chef Opens Dispensary In Newark

'Cannabis is just one part of our vision for Newark,” says Raekwon the Chef. “We’re not just normalizing cannabis use; we’re using it as a catalyst to uplift our people and culture, much like hip-hop has done for decades.'

Wu-Tang Clan’s Raekwon the Chef, has announced that he is opening a weed dispensary in Newark, New Jersey.

The Staten Island native posted the news to his social media account, stating that his dispensary, Hashstoria, is opening its doors on Nov. 13 with giveaways, raffles, a DJ, and more goodies for all in attendance. The dispensary is also co-owned by Charlamagne Tha God, former South Carolina legislator Bakari Sellers, and entrepreneur Jedd Canty. Newark Councilman and Lords of the Underground group member DoItAll  (Du Kelly) will also be there.

“NEW JERSEY and ALL of the surrounding areas, I’m going to need y’all to pull up to this! THIS Wednesday. NOV. 13th, your boy will be hosting an ALL DAY party to celebrate the OFFICIAL GRAND OPENING of my dispensary @HASHSTORIA. You know we are going to turn it up, which is the only way I know how! DJ, FOODTRUCK, GIVEAWAYS, RAFFLES AND TONS Of top tier flower !!!! yess ..

“My partners @cthagod @bakarisellers will be in the building as well alongside Brick City’s own hometown hero @doitallfornewark aka Mr funky Man himself ..who
help me put on for the entire state of NJ !!!”

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Raekwon The Chef (@raekwon)

Jersey Digs says the dispensary is located in the historic Four Corners District at 799-805 Broad Street.

“Cannabis is just one part of our vision for Newark,” says Raekwon the Chef. “We’re not just normalizing cannabis use; we’re using it as a catalyst to uplift our people and culture, much like hip-hop has done for decades.”

Hashstoria is starting as an adult-use cannabis retail space but has plans to become a bigger space for the community when it expands into a premier consumption lounge next year. A wellness center will be in place to improve the community’s health, education, and empowerment.

“We are committed to working with the great city of Newark to safely and legally expand the cannabis industry here,” says Sellers. “We appreciate the collaboration with the Mayor’s office and the City Council, and we look forward to making a meaningful impact in the community by creating opportunities and fostering local talent.”

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MARK CUBAN, Rashaun Williams, NBA, NFL, MLB
by Sharelle B. McNair

November 13, 2024

Mark Cuban Explains Deleting Pro Kamala Harris Material From Social Media

The affable 'Shark Tank' star says he is taking a break from politics.


Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban addressed the reasoning behind deleted tweets in support of Vice President Kamala Harris while claiming a break from politics following Donald Trump’s presidential win.

Popular X account Libs of TikTok pressed Cuban about why he was deleting specific posts after users caught wind.

“I’ve always gone back and deleted tweets. For years. Same with the 2020 election. 2016 election. Same with other stuff. You can use the Wayback machine if you really want to see them,” Cuban replied.

The account didn’t stop there, questioning why the billionaire about a tweet in which someone accused him of receiving payments from the Harris-Walz campaign, which he denied. However, Cuban did admit to them buying him lunch—twice.

The Shark Tank star was heavy on the Harris train during her presidential bid, calling Trump out for his anti-women rhetoric and lack of presidential capabilities.

While appearing on ABC’s The View, Cuban said Trump is “never seen around strong, intelligent women ever.” He later backtracked after President Joe Biden received backlash for seemingly calling Trump supporters “garbage.”

Cuban’s tone changed after the shocking results of the 2024 election. After Trump won, the businessman jumped on social media to congratulate him, saying he won “fair and square,” as well as X and Tesla owner Elon Musk, a staunch Trump ally.

According to Newsweek, on the social media platform Bluesky, Cuban claimed he is taking a break from the now GOP-crowded space. “Just an FYI. Don’t expect any politics or speculation about what might happen for a while. I’m sure there will be plenty to comment on when the time comes,” the billionaire said.

Former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey originally created the app, which is a rival to X. Although he congratulated Musk, Cuban took a little dig at the fellow billionaire.

“Hello, Less Hateful World,” he wrote in response to criticism of X becoming a more right-wing platform under Musk’s ownership.

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Bozoma Saint John, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 13, 2024

Ex-Netflix Marketing Exec, Bozoma Saint John, Turns Frustration To Fortune With New Wig Brand

After leading the marketing departments of tech giants, Saint John wants to start her own hair empire.

Bozoma Saint John is taking her marketing skills from the Fortune 500 to her own empire. The former chief marketing officer at Netflix has launched her own wig and haircare company, Eve By Boz.

Saint John, 47, has already reached historic pinnacles in her career. After leading the marketing departments of tech giants like Apple, Uber, and Netflix, she wants to start her own empire.

She left the uber-popular streaming platform in 2022, going on to release a memoir about losing her husband to cancer in addition to her premature-born daughter. While healing from the losses, Saint John wants to embark on a legacy that honors her past and future.

She saw a gap in the haircare industry, specifically for wigs, where women of color owned these businesses. Especially for products that cater to diverse women, having that same demographic leading the effort was too rare for Saint John.

 “There’s really no voice in the production process for women of color and Black women, who are the ones who are consuming a majority of the product,” she told Fortune.

Understanding this need, she began developing her line in spring 2023. She and her hair stylist attended a hair show in Guangzhou, China, to connect with vendors. She traveled throughout the continent to learn more about sourcing the products.

After doing her homework, Saint John decided to invest in herself and raise money to launch the wig venture. She put about a “couple million” into the business but has the expertise to make it succeed.

 “I’ve worked for enough big companies and got a lot of stock at a lot of places,” she explained. “It’s time to reinvest in myself, and that’s what I decided to do. Also, I can have total control. I don’t want anyone telling me what to do.”

Saint John’s brand is a game-changer in its addingferent lace colors for the wigs. Diversifying this color selection will better serve customers of all skin tones, which also remains a priority for Saint John.

 “I don’t want to have to go on YouTube or Google and see 14 million videos of Black women and women of color kitchen chemists dying their lace to match their skin,” she says. “My intention is that other companies will see the success of this one and will follow suit.”

Eve By Boz’s launch will be featured on Saint John’s other project, an entry as a cast member on the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.” While coincidental, Saint John welcomes the attention for what she deems a winning product. Eve By Boz’s 171-piece collection is available now for purchase exclusively on its website.

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hate speech, women, election
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 13, 2024

Hate Speech Against Women On The Rise Across Social Media Amid Donald Trump’s Election Win

Online hate directed at women surges following Donald Trump's election win.

Donald Trump’s reelection has sparked a surge in misogyny across social media platforms and even within schools. New research from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), a global think tank focused on protecting human rights, reveals a rise in online hate, harassment, and denigration targeting women since the days leading up to the election.

This behavior has been escalating since the 2020 presidential election and 2022 midterms, Fast Company reports. However, with Trump’s recent win, the manosphere is now expanding online, amplifying anti-women rhetoric that, according to the ISD, “could extend into the next presidential election and beyond.”

The surge in online misogyny is evident across social media platforms like X and TikTok, as well as in right-wing and conservative blogs, podcasts, and Reddit forums, where users are promoting extreme masculinity, attacking women, and questioning women’s roles. Researchers at the ISD tracked comments on platforms like X, TikTok, forums, blogs, Reddit, and YouTube from Oct. 1 to Nov. 6. They identified a notable spike in misogynistic content in late October, just ahead of the election, along with a rise in posts advocating for the repeal of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote in the U.S. in 1920.

The day after the election, phrases like “your body, my choice,” “get back to the kitchen,” and “repeal the 19th” surged across platforms and have continued to grow, according to the ISD. Researchers say the shift is primarily fueled by male bloggers, podcasters, influencers, and public figures who self-identify as free-thinkers or libertarians.

Inspired by Trump’s hyper-masculine appeal, figures like Joe Rogan, Shawn Ryan, Adin Ross, Andrew Schulz, and Lex Fridman have voiced support for Trump, making him seem more relatable. Many young male listeners have followed suit, feeling emboldened after voting for Trump to share anti-women rhetoric openly across social media.

The trend appears to be growing after far-right Gen Z political podcaster and white supremacist Nick Fuentes sent out a controversial tweet on election day that stated, “Your body, my choice. Forever.” The post, which garnered over 35 million views, spread to TikTok and Facebook, appearing in 52,000 posts within 24 hours. It even made its way into schools, with videos showing boys chanting the phrases at girls.

Throughout his administration and campaign, Trump has consistently attacked women’s reproductive rights and access to abortion. He also capitalized on the anxiety surrounding masculinity as a critical voting issue, often making sexist and crude remarks on the campaign trail. Additionally, Trump was found liable for sexual abuse, further fueling the controversy surrounding his treatment of women.

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Medicare,
by Mitti Hicks

November 13, 2024

Inside Look: The Companies Helping Insurance Companies Deny Pre-Authorization Claims

There's a hidden industry is making money by turning down doctors’ requests for payments, known as prior authorizations.

A KFF survey found that roughly 6 in 10 insured adults have experienced problems when using their insurance. The issues range from denied claims to network adequacy, preauthorization delays, and denials. According to a ProPublica investigation, this comes as no surprise. A hidden industry makes money by rejecting doctors’ payment requests, known as prior authorizations.

According to ProPublica’s investigation, one key player in this scheme is a company called EviCore by Evernorth. ProPublica’s investigation found that EviCore is owned by a major insurance company, Cigna. Major American insurance companies hire EviCore and provide coverage to 100 million consumers.

EviCore reportedly uses an algorithm backed by artificial intelligence that insurance insiders call “the dial.” The algorithm system can be adjusted, ultimately leading to higher denials of preauthorization claims.

Even more bizarre is that EviCore reportedly has some contracts that allow it to get paid more the more it cuts back on health spending for insurance companies.

EviCore is not alone. Another big player is Carelon Medical Benefits Management, an Elevance Health subsidiary formerly Anthem. While the company is being accused in court of wrongfully denying legitimate requests for coverage, it denies all charges.

How The Companies Are Responding

EviCore claims that the approval process ensures that procedures are safe, necessary, and cost-effective.

“We are improving the quality of health care, the safety of health care and, by very happy coincidence, we’re also decreasing a significant amount of unnecessary costs,” an EviCore medical officer said during the company’s webinar series.

Yet, according to the investigation, EviCore’s approach is far more sinister than it’s leading on. EviCore reportedly promises a 3-to-1 return on investment, meaning the insurer would pay $3 less on medical care and other costs.

For some perspective, EviCore turned down prior authorization requests nearly 20% of the time in Arkansas in 2021. According to ProPublica’s data analysis, Medicare Advantage plans turned down prior authorization requests about 7% of the time in 2022.

A Cigna spokesperson said on behalf of EviCore, “Simply put, EviCore uses the latest evidence-based medicine to ensure that patients receive the care they need and avoid the services they do not.”

The spokesperson added that the company uses algorithms for some clinical programs “only to accelerate approval of appropriate care and reduce the administrative burden on providers.”

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Keke Palmer, Real Estate, Mother, Nope, Wills, financial planning, finances, Tru Jackson VP,birthday, pregnant, Creme of Nature
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 13, 2024

Keke Palmer Recalls Co-Star’s ‘Weighted’ Racist Comment On ‘Scream Queens’ Set

Keke Palmer is getting candid about the racism and microaggressions she experienced on the Scream Queens set.

Keke Palmer is gearing up to release a new memoir, where she opens up about everything—including the racist incident she experienced on the set of Scream Queens.

In her new memoir, Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative, the Emmy-winning actress and TV star opens up about the sacrifices and self-control it took to reach her success. Reflecting on pivotal moments with The LA Times, Palmer shares an incident from her time on Scream Queens, where she kept her composure after a white co-star made a racist remark while she attempted to calm them down.

“Keke, literally, just don’t. Who do you think you are? Martin F— Luther King?” the co-star, whom she refers to as “Brenda” shouted out.

Palmer writes that Brenda became frustrated after a clash with a colleague. The Akeelah and the Bee star attempted to ease tensions by encouraging everyone to “have fun and show respect for one another.” That’s when Brenda lashed out at Palmer in a racist rage and spewed the MLK remark.

“It was such a weighted thing that she said, but I didn’t allow that weight to be projected on me because I know who I am,” Palmer says. “I’m not no victim. That’s not my storyline, sweetie. I don’t care what her ass said. If I allow what she said to cripple me, then she would.”

Palmer chose not to name the person involved, explaining that she wanted to remove the power from their words and keep the focus off them. However, while she refused to name the actress, social media has started doing their investigating to determine who the racist culprit is.

Many are convinced that the co-star is actress Lea Michele, whom many noted is the only Scream Queens alum Palmer doesn’t follow on Instagram.

“Considering she doesn’t follow Lea Michele, it was probably her,” one person tweeted.

Palmer delves into her challenging experiences during her two seasons on Ryan Murphy’s Scream Queens, including a tense call from the director reprimanding her for not showing up on her scheduled day off.

“It was kind of like I was in the dean’s office,” she says now, reflecting on the interaction. “He was like, ‘I’ve never seen you behave like this. I can’t believe that you, out of all people, would do something like this.’”

She recounts being given her shooting schedule and planning another business commitment for a scheduled day off. However, when that day arrived, production informed her she was actually needed on set. Instead, Palmer chose to honor her prior commitment, prompting Murphy’s angry call. Murphy “ripped” into her, accusing her of being unprofessional.

Palmer apologized and assumed things were smoothed over—until a few days later, a Scream Queens co-star visited her trailer and told her the situation was “bad.”

The veteran actress felt like the co-star was “trying to make me scared or something, which was a little irritating,” she writes.

While she hoped to become a recurring face in Murphy’s many productions, she feels she ended her working relationship with the American Horror Story creator by standing up for herself.

“I’m still not sure Ryan cared or got it, and that’s okay because he was just centering his business, which isn’t a problem to me,” she writes in the book. “But what I do know is even if he didn’t care, and even if I never work with him again, he knows that I, too, see myself as a business.”

Keke Palmer’s “Master of Me” memoir will be released on Nov. 19, 2024, in print and as an ebook.

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Oprah, Winfrey, AI, tv special
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 13, 2024

Oprah Winfrey Denies Being ‘Paid A Personal Fee’ By Kamala Harris Campaign, ‘My Time And Energy Were My Way Of Supporting’

Oprah Winfrey says she was never paid to support the Kamala Harris campaign.

Oprah Winfrey is shutting down speculation that she received a $1 million payment for her campaign event for Vice President Kamala Harris.

A report from the Washington Examiner, released three days after the election, ties billionaire media mogul Oprah Winfrey to rumors surrounding the Harris campaign’s $1 billion raised funds and its alleged spending of “over $15 million on event production,” per federal filings. The report claims Winfrey’s Harpo Productions received $1 million for the “Unite for America” livestream event with VP Harris.

However, according to her production banner Harpo Productions, Winfrey was never “paid a personal fee,” Variety reports.

“The campaign paid for the production costs of ‘Unite for America,’ a live-streaming event that took place Sept. 19 outside Detroit, Mich.,” a spokesperson for Harpo said. “Oprah Winfrey was at no point during the campaign paid a personal fee, nor did she receive a fee from Harpo.”

TMZ approached the OWN founder after the rumors surfaced and asked if it was “true that they paid you a million dollars for the endorsement for Kamala.”

“Not true,” Winfrey said. “I did not get paid a penny. Ever.”

She reiterated these claims in a lengthy Instagram response to one user who defended her against claims she only supported Harris’s campaign for a hefty financial payout.

“I was not paid a dime. My time and energy was my way of supporting the campaign,” Winfrey explained in a post captured by Pop Crave.

She confirmed the payments to her Harpo Productions staff, who brought in “set design, lights, cameras, crew producers, and every other item necessary (including the benches and chairs we sat on) to put on a live production.”

“I did not take a personal fee,” she clarified. “However, the people who worked on that production needed to be paid. And were. End of story.”

Winfrey interviewed Harris during the “United for America” event, where the VP discussed key issues like abortion rights and immigration. The virtual town hall, promoted as a star-studded gathering, also included appearances by Meryl Streep, Chris Rock, Ben Stiller, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Julia Roberts.

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Homebuyers
by Mitti Hicks

November 13, 2024

Average Homebuyers In America Are Now The Oldest and Wealthiest In History

The median buyer age has increased to a peak of 56, up from 49 in 2023.

A new report details a grim reality as America continues to deal with a housing shortage and financial hurdles for people looking to own a home. According to the National Association of Realtors, homebuyers are now older and wealthier than ever, as the average age of homebuyers has reached an all-time high.

The median buyer age has increased to a peak of 56, up from 49 in 2023. The median first-time buyer age increased to 38, up from 35 in 2023, and the repeat buyer age increased to 61, up from 58 in 2023.

“Underscoring the hurdles to entering the housing market, first-time homebuyers’ median age reached an all-time high of 38 years old. In the 1980s, the typical first-time homebuyer was in their late 20s,” the report reads.

But age isn’t the only factor that has increased. It’s also the median income of those who are buying.

“In the last two years, first-time homebuyer household income has grown by $26,000. This year’s report shows that the median household income of first-time homebuyers was $97,000,” the report states.

The Race Gap For Homebuyers Is Increasing

Unfortunately, there is still a race gap between white homeowners and Black homeowners. 

“Overall, 83% of buyers were White/Caucasian, up from 81 percent last year,” the report reads. Only 7% of recent buyers identified as Black/African-American.

According to a report from Fast Company, mortgages for Black Americans fell by 16% in 2022. Mortgage denial rates, however, increased by 2.6 percentage points.

Another dramatic change was revealed in the report: buyers with children are not purchasing homes as much.

Among all homebuyers, 62% are married couples, 20% are single women, and 8% are single men. The share of buyers with children under 18 dropped to the lowest level at 27% of all buyers.

Multigenerational living remains popular, with an all-time high of 17% of all buyers purchasing a home that will house different generations, the report reads. The most common reasons are cost savings, elder care, and young adults moving back.

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Bible, Trump, Oklahoma, IVF, education
by Sharelle B. McNair

November 13, 2024

Donald Trump Promises Reparations To White Americans, Labeling Them As Racial Discrimination ‘Victims’ 

You heard him correctly.

In a video posted across social media platforms, President-elect Donald Trump announced reparations to White Americans, labeling them as “victims” of racial discrimination in correlation to education polices.  

In video, posted days after Trump was elected the 47th President of the United States, claimed he will pursue federal civil rights cases against schools that “continue to engage in racial discrimination” and persist in “unlawful discrimination under the guise of equity.”

Trump also threatened the budgets of colleges and universities, saying he will tax their endowments and issue fines.

“A portion of the seized funds will then be used as restitution for victims of these illegal and unjust policies, policies that hurt our country so badly,” Trump said. “Colleges have gotten hundreds of billions of dollars from hardworking taxpayers, and now we are going to get this anti-American insanity out of our institutions once and for all. We are going to have real education in America.” 

Social media users reacted to Trump’s rhetoric. “The second season of this reality show just scares me minute by minute,” @onestpress said. 

“Biden’s investments in HBCUs will be gone. Pell grants, gone, grants to schools to fund special need services, gone,” @msgrumpybunny wrote. “And white people are stupid if they think they’ll get reparations – money will be going into Trump’s pockets.”

https://twitter.com/msgrumpybunny/status/1856427224540557424

@HarkemJ11 blamed the Black voters who elected Trump.

https://twitter.com/HarlemJ11/status/1856417611208097832

The video correlates to Trump’s idea of eliminating the Department of Education, which he discussed heavily on the campaign trail. According to the Washington Post, the President-elect continuously promised to “return” the education responsibility to the states. State and local governments have been responsible for providing nearly 90% of school funding.

Also, the DOE does not identify curriculum or have a hand in most school policies. It administers federal grant programs such as the $18.4 billion Title I program that gives funding to high-poverty K-12 schools and the $15.5 billion program that assists with the cost of education for students with disabilities. The $1.6 trillion federal student loan program is also supported by the department and sets rules for what colleges must do to participate.

However, to close the department, which was established in 1979, Trump would need congressional approval, which is unlikely.

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shooting, Howard, homecoming
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 13, 2024

7-Year-Old Girl Shot In Harlem; 2 Teenagers Arrested, Charged with Attempted Murder

Two alleged gang members were charged with attempted murder.

A 7-year-old girl was shot in the stomach after reputed gang members started shooting in the middle of the day on a Harlem street, ABC 7 NY reports. The incident occurred around 3 p.m. on Nov. 11. The girl was riding a pink scooter near West 145th Street and Bradhurst Street; her father was walking alongside her.

Police arrested 19-year-old Daniel Idowu and an unidentified 17-year-old. They have been charged with attempted murder.

The little girl, identified by police as Fatou Keita, was taken to nearby Harlem Hospital in a police vehicle, and officials stated that she arrived there in stable condition. A video reveals Keita’s father picking her up after she was struck by gunfire as the shots continued to fly.

“She was just in total shock looking down at her wound, it was just crazy,” witness Angel Casanova told ABC 7. “Her dad was inconsolable, he was saying that he wished it was him who was shot.”

Authorities said that nine rounds were fired but did not hit their intended target. The shooting was between rival gang members. The suspects came out from behind a parked car and started firing into the street.

CBS News reported that  Idowu was also charged with four counts of criminal possession of a weapon. A gun was recovered at the scene.

“It is never a good thing when a child is a victim of a shooting,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said. “It’s never good when any innocent bystander is a victim. But, again, I want to commend the quick response from the 30th and 32nd precincts.”

Community leader Dr. Iiesha Sekou said the girl was OK.

“They were distraught, very upset,” Sekou said. “She’s out of surgery. She’s stabilized. It’s not a perfect situation, but she’s doing well … to have endured the kind of trauma to a body that a bullet brings to a child.”

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