Joseph Badio, Suspected In The Assassination Of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse Arrested
One of the main suspects in the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse has been arrested in Port-Au-Prince. According to the Associated Press, Joseph Badio, a former employee of the Ministry of Justice, was arrested Oct 19 after nearly two years on the run from authorities.
Badio was formerly employed by the Haitian government in their anti-corruption unit, until he was fired for alleged ethics violations a few weeks before the president was assassinated. Moïse, according to the AP, was shot in his private home 12 times and his murder sent the country into political turmoil.
Following the assassination, several people were arrested in connection with the killing of Moïse, including Badio. 11 men who are also in the custody of the United States, including former Haitian senator John Joel Joseph, are alleged conspirators in a plot to remove Moïse so they could benefit from another administration.
Joseph has already pled guilty to charges relating to the assassination of Moïse and his sentencing date is Dec 19. Joseph was extradited from Jamaica to the US to face charges of conspiring to commit murder or kidnapping outside the United States as well as providing material support resulting in death. Two others, Rodolphe Jarr and German Alejandro Rivera Garcia have already plead guilty, Jarr was sentenced to life in June 2023 and Garcia will be sentenced on Oct 27.
Following the murder of Moïse, Haiti was besetby gang violence which resulted in Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry petitioning the United Nations to send troops to Haiti. The UN’s Security Council voted early in October to authorize a deployment of troops in an effort to help protect the citizens of Haiti. Kenya, the country supplying the bulk of the forces, has not yet set a date it will deploy the troops.
According to the BBC, Moïse was murdered in his bedroom by Colombian mercenaries who have either been arrested or killed. Within hours of the murder, Badio was named by at least one of the mercenaries as the person who ordered the hit. Somewhat complicating things, some of the mercenaries also named Antonio Intriago, owner of CTU in Florida as the one responsible for ordering the hit.
According to the Brookings Institute, Haiti’s police and their politicians are deeply connected with the gangs currently terrorizing the country’s capital city. As their report notes, the will of other countries to send armed forces has been non-existent, evidenced by Kenya’s lack of a declaration of a date. The political situation in Haiti is tenuous and throughout many of its administrations, the various Haitian gangs have been used to the ends of the Haitian government. Its police force is frustrated by Henry’s leadership and under equipped to curb the violence facing its citizens.
RELATED CONTENT: https://www.blackenterprise.com/kenya-gets-ok-to-lead-international-forces-to-stop-violent-outbreaks-in-haiti/
Missy Elliott Donates $50K To Hometown For Families Facing Eviction
Grammy Award-winning rapper and singer Missy Elliott has donated $50,000 to the Portsmouth Virginia Redevelopment and Housing Authority, The Virginian-Pilot reported. Elliott, a Virginia native, will be helping families in housing crisis on the verge of being evicted, with her Oct. 17 donation.
Director of the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority Alisa Winston said that the money will be distributed to 26 different families to help them pay for their overdue rent after just a short ceremony celebration. The ceremony was held at the city’s oldest African American Baptist Church, Dr. O. Marriner Family Life Center at Grove Church.
Last year, 52-year-old Missy Elliott had a street and day named in her honor in her hometown of Portsmouth, and during her ceremony speech, she said she’s been considering what to do for the anniversary for quite some time. After brainstorming different ideas, she knew that she wanted to continue giving back to her city on a monumental day.
“Instead of it being a celebration of Missy Elliott — you know, about me — I wanted to give back and let that be the celebration of Missy Elliott, just to show that I love everybody out here,” she said during the ceremony.
“Just know that P-Town is with me no matter where I go.”
She continued to express that her mother had raised her with a “giving heart” and that she had a deep love of her city, despite all of her international successes. She continued, “I love my city. I love my state. I love everything about it.”
She added, “Everything about Missy comes from here — the hospitality, the humility, the confidence. If you mess with me, it’s a problem. We sweet, but don’t try us.”
Patricia Elliott, Missy’s mother, also chimed in about her daughter’s donation following the ceremony.
She gave a little advice about giving and humility, saying, “So when you give, you give because you remember those days when you didn’t have. If each person would give when they get to the top, then, what a real beautiful world we would be in.”
Super Agent Rich Paul Explores Sports Investment Options Beyond NBA And NFL Ownership
Super sports Rich Paul knows what he wants, and he revealed on Oct.14 at the UNLOQ404 creators summit in Atlanta. And, for now, it is not ownership of an NFL or NBA team.
According to People Magazine, Paul’s assertion is partially one of prudence; he simply doesn’t have the money required to be a principal owner of a major American sports team. Paul also enjoys sitting on the basketball court floor andthe ability to park near players, and he would want a salary cap of some kind if he were to get involved on that level with a team franchise in the NBA or NFL.
When asked about his stake in the team at the event, Paul coyly responded, “So, we will see what happens with that.”
As the Phoenix Suns were in the position of shopping the ownership of their team in 2022 due to Robert Sarver’s highly publicized mistreatment of employees, use of racially insensitive language, and language involving sexual harassment of female employees, the topic of how much the team would be sold for inevitably surfaced. According to NBC Sports, the cost of owning an NBA team has skyrocketed over the last half-decade. The Suns eventually sold for $4 billion to Mat Ishiba, a mortgage lender executive and former NCAA basketball champion. Sarver also owned the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, but they are not valued nearly as highly as the Suns franchise.
Rich Paul’s net worth is estimated at somewhere around $120 million by Parade. Paul does have enough to invest in a sport that is valued at a fraction of the cost of the major leagues in American sports, pickleball. According to People, Paul joins sports stars Patrick Mahomes II, Naomi Osaka, and Nick Kyrgios, as well as musician Kygo in the ownership group of the Miami Pickleball Club. According to Front Office Sports, teams in Major League Pickleball are valued at up to $10 million currently, which represents a much more affordable investment.
Tom Brady, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and others have essentially gotten in on the ground floor of pickleball and helped raise the profile of the fast-growing league and sport; teams have increased in value 100 fold their initial worth over two years.
MLP’s CEO Julio DePietro told CNBC that team values are way up from the $100,000 they were valued at when the league started in 2021. DePietro thinks the league has a massive ceiling, he told CNBC.
“We have barely turned on any of the advertising knobs, much less the subscription knobs,” DePietro said. “We think there’s a massive opportunity to leverage a lot of the installed base, the excitement behind it, the avidity of the fans, of the players, and there’s tons of sponsorship and marketing opportunities for the league.”
Paul’s debut book, a memoir titled “Lucky Me: A Memoir of Changing the Odds,” was released on Oct. 10. So far, the book has garnered rave reviews from readers on the popular book rating site Goodreads. USA Today also has the book listed at number 9 on its Best-Selling Booklist, which they note combines both physical and electronic copies of works sold.
Paul reflected a bit on the process of writing the book and what he hopes comes across to readers of the book.
“When you read the book, you get to dive into a lot of the things that I had to overcome,” Paul told People. “But hence the title of Lucky Me. I was lucky enough to be able to continue down a path where there wasn’t a ton of light, but the door was cracked with a little light and I was smart enough not to invest in the pitfalls that were there for me every day in my environment.”
In a video posted to YouTube, Moore opened up about how service helped him navigate through the years.
“Service has impacted my life in immeasurable ways, and our Maryland Serves programs will allow us to build a stronger, more compassionate, and competitive state,” Moore said.
“The Maryland Serves application portal offers an unprecedented opportunity for Marylanders to explore career pathways that allow their talents and purpose to come together to serve their community,” he said.
There are applications in the portal for two nine-month programs that opened on Sept.1. The program is open to high school graduates between ages 18 and 21, who have their high school diploma, completion certificate, or earned their GED in Maryland. Under this option, program participants will have the opportunity to work with organizations across the state that provide job training and professional development to get paid at least $15 an hour.
The other option is the Maryland Corps, which is open to adults of all ages interested in performing public and community service. Also, earning close to $15 an hour, members will work with organizations to receive access to resources like personal money management training.
At the completion of either program, members will earn $6,000 that can be put towards tuition costs or will receive a cash stipend.
The Service and Civic Innovation Secretary Paul Monteiro says he is proud to support the governor for an initiative of this magnitude.
“I am pleased to support Governor Moore’s call to make service the foundation for a stronger Maryland,” Monteiro said. “Our programs provide Marylanders the opportunity to explore their possibilities and discover their power through service.”
Moore has been keeping an eye on the state of service jobs in Maryland. In September 2023, he visited Baltimore City Community College to discuss the severe nurse shortage, according to WBAL TV 11. The state will need close to 14,000 healthcare workers by 2035 and to help expedite the need, Moore’s administration provided close to $6 million in funding to nearly a dozen schools in an attempt to improve nursing programs.
‘I Find It Very Interesting’: Jussie Smollett’s Accomplices Question Timing Of His Rehab Announcement
Abimbola (Bola) and Olabinjo (Ola) Osundairo, the brothers who allegedly helped actor Jussie Smollett carry out an elaborate hate crime hoax in 2019, say they are suspicious of the actor’s recent decision to enter rehab.
Smollett was found guilty on six counts of felony disorderly conduct and sentenced to 150 days in jail and ordered to pay $120,106 after he reported that he had been attacked by two homophobic and racist Trump supporters. Smollett was released from jail after appealing his conviction.
The Osundairo brothers say that the actor may be trying to garner sympathy from the courts amid his pending appeal.
“I find it very interesting that he decided to check in at this moment, on the verge of the appeal being decided upon. And I think you, yourself, and anyone with a brain can find it a little suspicious that it’s this moment that he’s used and people are skeptical,” Bola told TMZ.
The brothers say that they have never known the actor to have a substance abuse problem, but they did admit to seeing him use drugs recreationally.
“If you really do have a problem. We hope you get well and you find the help that you need.” Ola said.
Bola encouraged his former friend to come clean.
“They’re not lying by saying that it will set you free. So once you come out and speak your truth, the truth, not just your truth, because your truth can be a little wishy washy, you know? I think. You’ll feel better.”
Olabinja, an aspiring actor, told The Daily Mailthat he helped Smollett carry out the hoax because he thought it could be beneficial to him and his brother’s acting careers.
“I was down to do it, cause if we could do this for him, he could probably help us out with our careers,” he said.
Abimbola testified that Smollett paid he and his brother $3,500 for assisting him in the staged attack.
Study Finds That 25% Of Black Americans Consider Adopting New Research Shows High Desire Among Black Americans to Become Foster Parents, But Distrust And Discrimination Prevents Them
Black Americans have a disproportionate desire to become foster parents but have been reluctant to try due to continuous racial discrimination in the foster care system, according to new research conducted by Kidsave International and Gallup. The results, collected from March 22 to April 11 of this year, suggest a need for foster care procedures to change.
The research showed that a whopping one in three Black Americans have “thought a lot” about fostering a child, which is 10% higher than the average of other racial groups. 25% of Black adults have even seriously considered adopting a child from foster care or getting involved in a program to work with foster kids.
The interest is good because although Black minors only account for 14% of the U.S. population, 22% are in foster care. The overrepresentation in the system doesn’t translate to adoption rates, as they’ve been found to be re-homed more consistently and less likely to be adopted than white children. Federal statistics and psychological research have found that paring Black children with Black parents increases the success rate of the adoption process, as it promotes a “culturally responsive foster care environment.”
However, as the statistics show, the number of Black youth who need a home dramatically exceeds those who will adopt, leading to many children falling through the cracks. The new research has exposed a severe need for more Black care providers.
The difference, explained by Kidave and Gallup, was characterized by the fact that Black Americans express a greater distrust in the foster care system than adults of other races; they also face more concerns regarding “age, stage of life and finances.”
The new research results suggest that foster organizations should put more resources into addressing the mistrust and implicit discrimination between Black caregivers and the system to support better the Black youth who need homes.
While Black foster parents can positively impact a child’s life, the study suggests that more organizations should address these concerns to increase the number of caregivers available for Black youth.
New Research Shows High Desire Among Black Americans to Become Foster Parents, But Distrust And Discrimination Prevents Them
Black Americans have a disproportionate desire to become foster parents, but have been reluctant to try due to continuous racial discrimination in the foster care system, according to new research conducted by Kidsave International and Gallup.
The results, collected from March 22 to April 11 of this year, that one in three Black Americans have “thought a lot” about fostering a child, which is 10% higher than the average of other racial groups. 25% of Black adults have even seriously considered adopting a child from foster care or getting involved in a program to work with foster kids.
The interest is good because although Black minors only account for 14% of the U.S. population, 22% are in foster care. The overrepresentation in the system doesn’t translate to adoption rates, as they’ve been found to be re-homed more consistently and are less likely to be adopted than white children. Federal statistics and psychological research have found that paring Black children with Black parents increases the success rate of the adoption process, as it promotes a “culturally responsive foster care environment.”
However, as the statistics show, the number of Black youth who need a home dramatically exceeds those who will adopt, leading to many children falling through the cracks. The new research has exposed a severe need for more Black care providers.
The difference, explained by Kidave and Gallup, was characterized by the fact that Black Americans express a greater distrust in the foster care system than adults of other races; they also face more concerns regarding “age, stage of life, and finances.”
The new research results suggest that foster organizations should put more resources into addressing the mistrust and implicit discrimination between Black caregivers and the system to better support the Black youth who need homes.
While Black foster parents can positively impact a child’s life, the study suggests that more organizations should address these concerns to increase the number of caregivers available for Black youth.
Meet 5 Black Women At The Forefront Of The Green Movement
Conversations being green and Eco-friendly have continued to expand, and Black women in the green space are leading the charge to reach Black communities.
From the recycling hustle and Eco-advice gigs to rocking natural hair vibes and farming, these green queens are showing the world that, yeah, Black girls are all about that green life, too.
BLACK ENTERPRISE spoke with five women at the forefront of the green movement.
Brandi Harleaux: Sustainability In Houston
More than a decade after leaving the corporate world to take over her family’s Houston-based business, South Post Oak Recycling Center, Brandi Harleaux is uplifting and empowering her community through sustainability and job creation. Her Fortune 500 corporate knowledge has helped her to not only level up her family’s legacy but to also create positive and measurable impact. When Brandi isn’t serving as director-at-large for the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), she is using her unique platform to support and advocate for more women in STEM, sustainability, and the recycled materials industry.
“I’m proud of the contributions that my company makes to the community, specifically regarding the local economy,” Harleux told BE. “We are directly a part of the over 40,000 jobs that are created within Texas and the economic impact, which is $9.77 billion in this state.”
She added, “When people come and recycle their materials with us, they get money, and that money is then recycled right back into this community at gas stations, grocery stores, shopping malls, etc. We’re also local tax contributors who serve and give back to schools and churches, all with the hope of making the community more economically and socially sound.”
Chrystal Beasley: Helping Protect Global Ecosystems
The daughter of a chemical manufacturing employee, Chrystal Beasley was informed at an early age about the effects that toxic exposure and poor air quality have on minority neighborhoods like the one where she grew up. That’s why she centered her education around engineering, sustainability and environmentalism. Just over a decade into her career, she had already helped to mitigate sediments going into the Chesapeake Bay with the Maryland Department of the Environment, helped develop state permits and guidance documents for the discharge of oil and gas wastewater with the United States Environmental Protection Agency under the Obama administration, worked on the BP Oil Spill Emergency Response team in Washington, D.C. and helped to reduce and recycle hazardous materials at Dow Chemical.
These days, Beasley is going back to the basics in order to prioritize sustainability. She is a farmer and beekeeper who assists with her family’s cattle ranching operations and timber trading on their heritage land. Learning from her own family’s challenges and triumphs, she was inspired to create BeAspire Enviro Consulting firm, where she uses her corporate expertise to empower Black businesses and landowners. Beasley exclusively serves Black families, many of whom are multi-generational heirs of land and property but need help generating income to clear property titles, finding resources to work the land, maintaining compliance, preserving safety and sustainability, and practicing conservation.
“I have a corporate, government, and consulting background. That just helped me to build an understanding of what Black people are unknowingly being exposed to and the knowledge on how to go about advocating for policies for change. Somebody’s got to be there to help mitigate some of these issues and figure out solutions that are beneficial to all parties,” Beasley told BE.
Karena Poke: Serving Marginalized Communities
According to Karena Poke, despite the perceived absence of Black women in environmentalism, she is part of a thriving movement of African-American women serving marginalized communities through urban farming and community gardens. In 2014, she decided to open Lettuce Live: An Urban Farm Project, which does more than simply provide fresh produce in an area with limited access to healthy food. Poke told BE that urban farm projects like hers are meant to strengthen communities and build engagement.
Lettuce Live sells various herbs, produce, and fresh-cut flowers to customers onsite, local grocers, and restaurants. The organization also helps high school students to earn community service hours for college admissions requirements, provides free food for any patron diagnosed with cancer, organizes community workshops, hosts supply drives and distribution, and facilitates Dudes and Donuts, a monthly male mentoring event where sons of single mothers learn how to use common tools.
“When I consult with people who are building community gardens, I say, find out what the needs are and figure out the different ways that you can serve that community,” Poke said. “The vision is bigger than food. Talk to the people. Who are you serving? What does that look like? For me, that’s what a community garden is; we don’t focus so much on growing food as we do growing people.”
Tamika Fletcher and Monique Mack: Clean Beauty, Natural Hair Care
Natural hairstylists Tamika Fletcher and Monique Mack noticed a void in the Black community and filled it with award-winning Earth’s Nectar Hair Care Products. Fifteen years ago, during the rebirth of the natural hair movement, the duo opened their first full-service natural hair salon in Houston. Not only did Fletcher and Mack want to improve the health and appearance of their clients’ hair, but they wanted to do so without the use of ingredients that were harmful to people and the planet. So, they launched Earth’s Nectar to advocate for healthier, cleaner, and more sustainable beauty options for all hair types.
Committed to the promotion of environmental sustainability, they have opened their first zero-waste beauty refillery, retail store, and natural hair care salon. Earth’s Nectar Hair Care Products sold in refillable, Eco-friendly packaging. The salon also features a DIY beauty bar where customers can purchase raw beauty ingredients by the ounce.
“Being a Black woman has influenced my journey, driving me to challenge norms and fight for inclusion in spaces where our voices and beauty are still striving to be heard,” Fletcher shared with BE. “The strength and inspiration of Black women, especially my late mother, have shaped my professional journey. Their trailblazing spirit fuels my determination to overcome obstacles. Representation means more than just having a seat at the table; we deserve to (eat) actively participate and make an impact that benefits ourselves and our community.”
Homebuyers Must Earn $115,000 To Buy A Moderate-Priced Home, Redfin Says
According to a report released by Redfin this week, prospective homebuyers need to make $114,627 annually to purchase a moderate-priced home. This is a 15% increase from 2022 and a 50% increase since the beginning of the pandemic.
Monthly mortgage rates have reached an all-time high of $2,800. As of July, one-quarter of mortgage payers paid more than $3,000 monthly. According to CEIC data, the average monthly earnings of U.S. households were $4,654. On average, Americans are spending more than 60% of their earnings on mortgage payments.
“In a homebuyer’s ideal world, rising mortgage rates would push demand and home prices down enough to make up for high-interest payments. But that’s not what’s happening now: Although new listings are ticking up slightly, inventory is still near record lows as homeowners hang on to their low mortgage rates – and that’s propping up prices,” said Redfin Economics Research Lead Chen Zhao.”
Zhao encourages prospective homebuyers to look for less expensive options such as condos and townhouses, or consider moving to a suburb or a more affordable part of the country.
Renters are not faring much better. New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles have seen significant increases in rent prices. In New York, landlords require renters to make 40 to 45 more than their rent to qualify. The average monthly rent in Manhattan is $4,400, meaning renters would need to earn approximately $176,000 annually to be eligible to rent.
“Renting is more affordable than borrowing to buy a home in most metro areas,” Daryl Fairweather, Redfin’s chief economist, told Fortune.
According to Redfin, only four major markets are less expensive to buy than to rent: Detroit, Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Houston.
Homebuyers Must Earn $115,000 To Buy A Moderate Priced Home, Redfin Says
According to a report released by Redfin this week, prospective homebuyers need to make $114,627 annually to purchase a moderate-priced home. This is a 15 %-year increase from 2022 and a 50% increase since the beginning of the pandemic.
Monthly mortgage rates have reached an all-time high of $2800.As of July, one-fourth of mortgage payers paid more than $ 3,000 monthly. According to CEIC data, the average monthly earnings of U.S. households were $4654. On average, Americans are spending more than 60 percent of their earnings on mortgage payments.
“In a homebuyer’s ideal world, rising mortgage rates would push demand and home prices down enough to make up for high-interest payments. But that’s not what’s happening now: Although new listings are ticking up slightly, inventory is still near record lows as homeowners hang onto their low mortgage rates–and that’s propping up prices,” said Redfin Economics Research Lead Chen Zhao.”
Zhao encourages prospective homebuyers to look for less expensive options such as condos and townhouses or consider moving to a suburb or a more affordable part of the country.
Renters are not faring much better. New York, Chicago and Los Angeles have seen significant increases in rent prices. In New York, landlords require renters to make 40 to 45 more than their rent to qualify. The average monthly rent in Manhattan is $4,400, meaning renters would need to earn approximately $176,000 annually to be eligible to rent.
“Renting is more affordable than borrowing to buy a home in most metro areas,” Daryl Fairweather, Redfin’s chief economist, told Fortune.
According to Redfin, only four major markets are less expensive to buy than to rent: Detroit, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Houston.
