Tyga, Blac Chyna, son, custody, father, mother

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 19, 2023

Blac Chyna Files For Joint Custody; Tyga Countersues: ‘Stick To Your Schedule’

Blac Chyna recently filed for joint custody of her and Tyga’s 11-year-old son, King. But the “Rack City” rapper is seeking legal and physical custody of King, with Chyna only receiving visitation.

Tyga, real name Michael Stevenson, filed legal documents on October 13 requesting legal and physical custody of his son, E! News reports. He wants to allow Chyna visitation rights where she would spend time with King every Friday after school to Sunday at 5 p.m.

Tyga wants to follow “the parties’ mutual agreement on holidays,” the filing states. It comes after Chyna—real name Angela White—filed for joint custody in August and requested child support from the rapper. Currently, King primarily lives with his father.

Chyna responded to Tyga’s recent filing, claiming to be “shocked” by his attempt for sole legal and physical custody of their son.

“I have always respected him as King’s father and know that we both love him very much and want nothing but the best for him,” she told E! News in a statement.

“I never imagined that Michael would want to alienate me or distance me from King and strategically push me out of his life.”

According to Chyna, she’s blindsided by Tyga’s filing and believes it harms their son more than helps him.

“I do not know where all of this is coming from. It’s all very sad and definitely not what is best for King,” she continued.

“In a perfect world, Michael and I would be supportive, loving co-parents equally involved in King’s life.”

Chyna —who also shares daughter Dream, 6, with ex-Rob Kardashian—has said she only communicates with Tyga through nannies. When news of Chyna’s request for joint custody hit the press over the summer, Tyga left a comment in The Shade Room’s comments telling his ex, “10 years later…nah…stick to ur schedule sat-mon.”

The legal battle comes as Chyna attempts to rebuild her image. She has shared her journey to dissolve her fillers, remove her BBL, and return to using her real name in an attempt to clean up her brand.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 19, 2023

Jussie Smollett Checks Into Rehab After ‘An Extremely Difficult Past Few Years’

Actor Jussie Smollett is receiving outpatient rehab treatment to combat the “extremely difficult” personal battle he’s been having in recent years.

A rep for the Empire star confirmed that he has been receiving help through a rehab facility, TMZ reports.

“Jussie has had an extremely difficult past few years,” the rep said. “He has quietly been working very hard for some time now and we are proud of him for taking these necessary steps.”

News of his outpatient treatment comes amid his ongoing appeal in his 2019 Chicago hate crime hoax. Smollett, 40, filled headlines at the time when he was charged for allegedly paying two brothers, Abel and Ola Osundairo, $3,500 to help stage a homophobic and racist attack against him in January 2019.

In May 2022, the actor was sentenced to 150 days in jail and 30 months of felony probation after he was found guilty of five counts of disorderly conduct. In addition to the jail time and probation, the B-Boy Blues director was also ordered to pay over $120,000 in restitution to the City of Chicago and was fined $25,000, NY Daily News reports.

“There’s a side of you that has this arrogance, and selfishness and narcissism that’s just disgraceful,” Cook County Judge James Linn said while sentencing the actor.

“You’re not a victim of a racial hate crime, you’re not a victim of a homophobic hate crime. You’re just a charlatan pretending to be a victim of a hate crime, and that’s shameful.”

The Cook County state’s attorney’s office initially dropped the charges months after the alleged attack, via Chicago-Sun Times. But a new indictment was later brought against him by Special Prosecutor Dan Webb that eventually led to a Cook County jury finding Smollett guilty in December 2021 of lying to police.

Smollett appeared in Chicago’s First District Appellate Court last month to argue that backlash over the high-profile celebrity case resulted in properly dismissed charges being improperly restored.

A'Ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces, WNBA finals, championship, win, titles, back to back, historic win

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 19, 2023

Las Vegas Aces First Team To Win Back-To-Back WNBA Championships In 2 Decades

The WNBA has a back-to-back championship team for the first time in over 20 years after the Las Vegas Aces narrowly defeated the New York Liberty, 70-69, on Oct. 18, at Madison Square Garden.

The Aces won the championship series 3 games to 1, becoming the first team since the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001 and 2002 to win consecutive titles. The Houston Comets also won four straight titles from 1997 to 2000, the WNBA’s first four years of existence.

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The Las Vegas Aces are your 2023 @WNBA Champions!#RaiseTheStakes pic.twitter.com/jobnzWovzM

— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) October 19, 2023

The Aces secured the victory without two of their starters, Chelsea Gray and Kiah Stokes, who suffered foot injuries in the previous game. A’Ja Wilson, who was voted the Finals MVP, scored 24 points and snatched 16 rebounds. The superstar and University of South Carolina alumnus finished third in the regular-season MVP balloting.

“It’s not easy, as you know,” Wilson said. “This is what it’s all about. Not a lot of people get to do it. To be short-handed and win is amazing. It makes the win that much better. It’s hard to get back to the Finals to win again.”

“We’ve been facing adversity all season, playing without different player,” said Alysha Clark, who started for the Aces Wednesday. “We have some professional fighters. To weather the storm of everything we went through, to show up every single day. To be in this moment right now and do it together, it speaks volumes about us, our chemistry.”

Sadly, the Liberty weren’t able to become the first team to be down 0-2 in the Finals and win the championship. Every team that has fallen behind two games in the Finals has lost the best-of-five series nine times with a 2-10 all-time record.

by Daniel Johnson

October 19, 2023

Medical Groups Nic Support Of ‘Excited Delirium’ Which Was Used To Justify Excessive Force

On Oct. 12, a leading group of doctors formally retracted its approval of a 2009 academic paper discussing the concept of “excited delirium,” which has been used to defend police officers who employ excessive force. According to the Associated Press, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) released a statement condemning the concept as outdated. It stated that it should not be used by any of its members who are called to testify in court.

Dr. Brooks Walsh, who was one of the members who pushed the organization to make a principled stand, told the AP, “This means if someone dies while being restrained in custody … people can’t point to excited delirium as the reason and can’t point to ACEP’s endorsement of the concept to bolster their case.”

This follows the National Association of Medical Examiners’ rejection of the term in March, saying it should not be used when listing a cause of death. The term excited delirium has been receiving backlash in the medical community over its racist undertones before the groups came out this year and rejected the term outright. The emergency physicians’ 2009 report listed the symptoms of excited delirium as unusual strength, pain tolerance, and bizarre behavior.

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) produced a report on the term in 2022 that linked it with deaths in police custody. The report noted, “many people, disproportionately people of color, whose deaths at the hands of police have been attributed to “excited delirium” rather than to the conduct of law enforcement officers.” The report also mentions that as recently as 2020, during the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, it was used to defend the officer who murdered George Floyd.

The concept was also used to argue that Elijah McClain, Natasha McKenna, Daniel Prude, and Manuel Ellis—all of whom died at the hands of police—suffered from the alleged condition. In Prude’s case, the New York District Attorney’s office used the paper to investigate Prude’s death, which ended in a grand jury declining to pursue charges against officers.

Joanna Naples-Mitchell, a research advisor and attorney for PHR and a member of ACEP, told ABC News, “This is why we pushed to put out a stronger statement explicitly disavowing that paper. It’s a chance for ACEP to really break with the past.”

by Stacy Jackson

October 19, 2023

South Carolina Senior Crowned High School’s First Black Homecoming Queen

Amber Wilsondebriano is celebrating a historic senior year at her South Carolina high school.

The graduating senior became the first Black homecoming queen in Porter-Gaud High School’s 155 years.

“When I was nominated, I didn’t feel confident I would win,” Wilsondebriano said, according to USA Today. “However, throughout the week, many students told me they were voting for me. When the day came and my name was called, I was relieved and honored because I knew I was a part of history. I was elated the whole night. My peers made me feel special for the day.”

The historic crowning celebrates the teen’s exceptional contributions to her campus. The 17-year-old is a stellar student at Porter-Gaud who boasts a 4.66 GPA and several leadership roles. Porter-Gaud’s 2023 homecoming queen is a founding member of its Black Excellence Society, a club Wilsondebriano pitched to the school with five of her friends. Having less than 10 Black people in her senior class, she recognized the need to diversify the school and curate a safe space for Black students.

On Sept. 13, Wilsondebriano was present during the celebration of Porter-Gaud’s second annual breakfast dedicated to HBCU Week.

“I think opening this up to all people allows Black kids to feel less isolated,” she told WCSC about the event, which the Black Excellence Society initiated.

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A post shared by Porter-Gaud School (@portergaud)

She is also dedicated as co-leader of the Chinese and Art Club.

“I’m so happy to have been chosen as homecoming queen for my character and achievements, not because of my race,” she said.

The aspiring entrepreneur, illustrator, and children’s book author plans to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design next fall as a painting major.

Wilsondebriano’s mother, Monique Wilsondebriano, can attest to her daughter’s talents and good character.

“She has taught herself how to paint,” Monique said. “It’s not surprising to me that the kids voted for her to become queen. She is a good friend and is very loyal.”

South Carolina became home for the Wilsondebriano’ after the teen’s father was injured due to the 9/11 attacks. The family launched their business, Charleston Gourmet Burger Co., and expanded its products to major retailers and supermarkets, including Macy’s, Whole Foods, and Walmart.

SNAP, food stamps, Georgia, families, delays, delay

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 19, 2023

Georgia Families In Food Crisis Over Delayed SNAP Benefits

Since 2022, thousands of Georgia residents have faced delays in receiving their SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, with tens of thousands not getting them on time, 11Alive reports.

The Georgia Department of Human Services has grappled with a backlog issue for a year.

Many Georgians, such as Koren Gibbs, have encountered issues with their SNAP benefits. Although “approved,” the mother of a 4-month-old son has not yet gotten access to food stamps. In her case, as with others, calling a caseworker is futile, as state employees are bombarded with claims due to a staffing shortage.

Gibbs said she had to consider going to a food pantry because of the delay. She called to verify her benefits before shopping and confirmed that the claim still hadn’t been fully processed.

“I’m so glad I called before I went to the store because I would have had a cartful of food and no way to pay for it,” Gibbs said.

The delay in SNAP benefits has affected families across Georgia as they struggle to cope with not having access to food. Some have shared their stories, highlighting the hardship they face and the inadequate response from the authorities.

“For the past two weeks, I’ve had to wake up to ‘Mommy, I’m hungry.’ Or ‘Mommy, we don’t have any food,'” said one parent to 11Alive. Others faced challenges reaching caseworkers or supervisors who could assist.

11Alive has been investigating the issue for a year. As of October 16, more than 119,000 SNAP renewals are pending and 36,915 have exceeded the 30-day processing requirement imposed by federal law.

A spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Human Services explained that SNAP benefit renewals are being processed as quickly as possible, starting from the oldest renewal. The department has attempted to better manage the delays by offering overtime to current case specialists and hiring new employees.

“We are also offering stipends to incentivize field leadership staff to carry a caseload,” the spokesperson said. “Since January, we have hired 923 new Economic Support Specialist 1 workers–and secured millions in new funding through legislative advocacy to make that possible.”

However, a caseworker spoke anonymously and expressed concerns about staff turnover, the increased volume of new applications, and the backlog. Although there was some improvement in staffing and caseloads over the summer, the caseloads now appear to be back at similar levels.

Delays in SNAP benefits can have far-reaching consequences, affecting child welfare and parental stress, noted Melissa Carter, executive director of the Barton Child Law and Policy Center at Emory Law School. Families face difficulty covering essential expenses, and children’s needs often go unmet.

“We know that when those benefits are interrupted or when they’re delayed and certainly when there are extended delays to accessing those benefits, the parents are having to make choices about paying other bills or securing food for children,” Carter told 11Alive . “Tradeoffs like accessing timely and adequate health care, for example, or paying rent, and those issues of healthcare, of housing instability are also issues of basic needs of children and also give rise to concerns and reports about neglect.”

John legend, start up, its good, It good

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 19, 2023

John Legend Secures $5 Million In Funding For ‘It’s Good’ App

Award-winning musician and entrepreneur John Legend has taken a new step into the startup business arena with his social app, “It’s Good.” A report published in the Wall Street Journal revealed that the app has already secured $5 million in funding in early October as it readies itself for public launch.

Lightspeed Venture Partners, among other participants, supported the app in its recent funding round. “It’s Good” aims to provide users with personalized food and travel recommendations, setting itself up to compete with industry giants like Yelp and Google Reviews, as reported by Nairametrics.

Co-founder and tech entrepreneur Mike Rosenthal, who teamed up with John Legend during the COVID-19 pandemic to create the app, stated that the platform addresses a real-world problem that has remained largely unsolved since the inception of Yelp over two decades ago. The app’s concept is simple yet impactful: it allows users to share their delightful discoveries of great new places with their social circles.

“It’s tremendously satisfying to discover a great new place yourself and then share your delight with others,” noted Lightspeed Partner Nicole Quinn at the WSJ Tech Live Conference, emphasizing the significant potential she sees in “It’s Good.”

As a result, Lightspeed is leading the company’s $5 million seed round. The venture capital firm has previously invested in other celebrity-driven startups like Goop (Gwyneth Paltrow), HAUS LABS (Lady Gaga), and Autograph (Tom Brady), according to the outlet.

As “It’s Good” transitions from an invite-only platform to forming its community, the company’s primary focus will be growth rather than revenue generation. Additionally, the team is actively exploring potential partnerships with hospitality and food companies.

John Legend, well-known for his musical talents, introduced Loved01, his unisex skincare line, in February 2023, as reported by Men’s Health. Collaborating with dermatologist Dr. Naana Boakye, Legend’s mission is to bring inclusivity to the skincare market by catering to melanin-rich complexions. He expressed that he didn’t want his brand to be merely a celebrity endorsement but an answer to a marketplace need that hadn’t been adequately addressed—formulating products for diverse skin types and making them accessible.

This venture into the world of startups is not John Legend’s first entrepreneurial endeavor. In February 2022, he co-founded OurSong, a music and art NFT platform. The multiple award-winning artist’s foray into the startup world highlights his commitment to exploring new horizons and making a meaningful impact in various industries.

retirement, social security, Hockenmaier, 401(K), retirement, social security, tax break, georgia, Georgia

by Daniel Johnson

October 19, 2023

World Retirement Systems Get Assessment, U.S. Gets Only An C+

America’s retirement system is once again considered among the worst in the developed world in the 2023 version of the yearly Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index.

According to CBS News, the United States received a C+ largely due to the stratification embedded in the dual retirement systems it employs.

The report lists a C+ rating: “A system that has some good features but also has major risks and/or shortcomings that should be addressed; without these improvements, its efficacy and/or long-term sustainability can be questioned.”

Social Security and private pension plans like 401(K)s should, in theory, cover most Americans, but many slip through the cracks. With 401(K)s, for example, approximately half of U.S. workers do not have a retirement plan through their workplaces. Social Security will only replace around 40% of the income lost when American workers retire, putting a considerable strain on their finances.

By comparison, The Netherlands has one of the world’s best retirement systems, where corporate-sponsored employee pension plans cover 90% of employees. Its Social Security program, Mercer notes, is in the midst of an upheaval and, if not resolved, will result in a 20% decrease in benefits for retirees.

As Katie Hockenmaier, the U.S. defined contribution research director for Mercer, told CBS News, “Retirement savings coverage and institutional quality retirement vehicles remain out of reach for many Americans, creating a significant adequacy gap that needs to be addressed.”

Furthermore, Hockenmaier says the findings of the institute’s study indicate an “urgent need for action.”

Mercer suggests raising the minimum payment for low-income retirees and creating a system that places part of a worker’s retirement benefit into an income stream, like a residual payment.

The United States ranks 22nd in Mercer’s overall index out of 47 countries it surveyed, which is in line with its C+ rating, placing it around the middle of the pack. In its featured chapter discussing the impact of artificial intelligence on retirement systems, Mercer’s report says it will have a tremendous impact on how pension and Social Security systems function, “Artificial intelligence (AI) has been with us for years and is affecting our lives in many ways, from the use of search engines to institutional investment decisions. Yet, during the next decade, its prevalence is likely to increase significantly so that it will affect every aspect of our pension and social security systems.”

Overall, the chapter strikes a hopeful tone that the expansion of AI in the retirement system will be used to benefit retirees.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 19, 2023

3 New Orleans Children Die In House Fire Allegedly Started By Father

A tragedy occurred in New Orleans, where three children died in a house fire on Wednesday morning. Police officials have announced that the children’s father was arrested and faces charges for allegedly setting the house on fire.

According to ABC News, the father, 29-year-old Joseph Washington, allegedly started the house fire after an apparent domestic dispute, police said. He was taken into custody after police went on a manhunt to apprehend him.

New Orleans Deputy Superintendent Ryan Lubrano stated that Washington has been charged with three counts of second-degree murder, three counts of second-degree cruelty to a juvenile, and one count of aggravated arson. He also stated that the charges could change.

The New Orleans Police Department released details of the incident.

According to the outlet, when emergency workers got to the house, they rescued a 5-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy. The children were taken to the hospital, where they died about an hour later. A third child, a 3-year-old boy, died at the scene.

After initiating a search for the suspect, the Gretna Police Department informed NOPD that Washington’s car was found in the Mississippi River, partially submerged in the city of Gretna. He wasn’t in the vehicle but was apprehended on the I-610 Eastbound later in the day, where he was discovered in another car. He tried to escape authorities by jumping off the overpass.

Washington was then taken to a local hospital for treatment of potential injuries.

The coroner will determine the cause of death for the three children.

digital business, Black Liberation and the Digital Economy, BLADE, survey 900, digital platforms

by Lauren Nutall

October 19, 2023

Survey Shows Surge In Black Entrepreneurship Via Digital Platforms

Black entrepreneurship has witnessed unprecedented growth as more business owners are launching digital platforms. A recent survey from the Black Liberation and the Digital Economy (BLADE) called “The BLADE Blueprint” reveals that Black entrepreneurs are establishing wealth through new online businesses.

BLADE surveyed 900 Black digital entrepreneurs to observe how digital business is changing the economic landscape for the better. The survey found that 23% of respondents secured venture funding: a significant achievement in the field, as Black founders previously acquired only 1% of total venture funding. Some 77% of survey participants also own profitable businesses, a stark contrast compared to Guidant Financial’s 2023 reports, which found only 54% of small POC-owned businesses and 66% of small businesses maintained profitable companies.

The digital business world is as lucrative as it is competitive, and many young people are using it to their fullest advantage. According to the Black Liberation Alliance, there is a steep generational divide in the industry, with Black Gen Z and millennial entrepreneurs accounting for 90% of this new demographic. Of the survey’s respondents, an astonishing 76% are millennials, with another 12% being Gen Z. Social media has made it even easier for these entrepreneurs to reach wide audiences, relying on sites like TikTok and Instagram for promotional marketing.

Still, despite these statistics, digital business is not just a young person’s game. As more businesspeople discover the advantages of digital entrepreneurship, many are flocking to these platforms to leverage their businesses.

Supported by the Kauffman Foundation, the first BLADE Blueprint edition was published in spring 2022. However, this year’s edition, which was scheduled to release on Oct. 18, is funded by Walmart and the Walmart.org Center for Racial Equity as part of BLADE’s annual conference highlighting Black creators who are transforming the digital landscape. To register for the digital event, which takes place Oct. 18-20, visit here.