African American museum in Baton Rouge vandalized after beloved founder’s murder

A month after Baton Rouge’s Louisiana’s founder of the African American history museum was killed, city leaders were shocked again to learn that the historic landmark had been vandalized.

—White man posing as ‘Black homosexual’ online gets arrested for violent article comment—

Sadie Roberts-Joseph, the 75-year-old founder of the Odell S. Williams African-American Museum and a well known community activist in the Baton Rouge area was murdered just three miles from her home last month.

An arrest was quickly made but now local police are investigating the destruction of the Odell S. Williams African-American Museum which was vandalized and has been left in shambles with damage to its windows and other structures, The Advocate reports.

Facebook images show the extent of the damage by vandals with broken chairs and garden equipment and windows smashed, looking like the aftermath of a hurricane.

“—Black man framed by NYPD for rape and robbery at 17 awarded nearly $10 million after 30 years in prison—

Roberts-Joseph body was found in the trunk of her car last month and police arrested her former tenant, 38-year-old sex offender Ronn Jermaine Bell for the murder. Police allege that Bell was behind $1,200 for rent and owed the money to Roberts-Joseph.

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Former NBA star loses it after being sentenced to nearly four years in prison for gun and drug charges

On Monday former NBA player Sebastian Telfair was sentenced to 3 ½ years after police found firearms, a semi-automatic rifle, ammunition, a ballistic vest and marijuana inside his vehicle in 2017.

—Georgia high school football team investigated after bloody bullying incident caught on video—

Although Telfair avoided a 15-year max prison sentence, the lighter sentence still apparently wasn’t good enough as he performed in the courtroom and broke into an unhinged rant, the NY Daily News reports.

“God still sits on the throne,” he said.

“My kids gonna think I hurt somebody,” he shouted out at another point.

“They’re going to give you everything you need to destroy yourself,” he said quoting Tupac Shakur.

“Please don’t take me from the society right now. I’m 34. I can go play in China for another six years, take care of my family,” he pleaded at another point.

Telfair was a first-round draft pick back in 2004. He began his career with the Portland Trail Blazers. He also played for the Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves and other teams before ending his career in China in 2014.

He also ranted about his daughter saying she’s “sick because I wasn’t around her, literally got sick, mental illness because I wasn’t around,” he said about his 14-year-old as Judge John Hecht sat patiently and listened to his outbursts in Brooklyn Supreme Court.

The judge explained that he had to render the decision by law.

“I’m not going to say very much, I’ve observed you throughout the trial,” Hecht said. “I don’t think the people disagree… the judgement in this case sir, is what the jury convicted you of … You’ve achieved greatness in your life and this case doesn’t take that away.”

—People keep stealing ‘Old Town Road’ street signs in Massachusetts—

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Snap Bets Its Future on a Stylish New Pair of Spectacles

The camera-enabled sunglasses get a face-lift, a second camera, and a few new viewing powers. It's all part of Snap's plan to dominate augmented reality.

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The Desperate Race to Neutralize a Lethal Superbug Yeast

*Candida auris* spreads explosively in hospitals, but little is known about its origins. Figuring that out could help prevent a pandemic.

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Allbirds Steps Into Apparel with Sustainable Socks

They’re made from a new proprietary yarn and meant to keep your feet sweat-free, whether you're wearing Allbirds' ubiquitous shoes or not.

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Alex Rodriguez’s jewelry and personal items stolen from rented SUV

A-Rod was robbed.

Yankees legend, and J. Lo fiancee, Alex Rodriguez reportedly had an estimated $500,000 in electronics and jewelry stolen from his rented SUV on Sunday.

A-Rod was reportedly in San Francisco working as a broadcaster at the San Francisco Giants game against the Philadelphia Phillies for ESPN.

—Why Jennifer Lopez and fiancé Alex Rodriguez went to strip clubs ahead of her stripper movie role—

TMZ reports that a camera, camera equipment, laptop, jewelry and miscellaneous electronics were boosted from a rented a black Nissan sport utility vehicle.

The vehicle was reportedly three blocks from where A-Rod was working but the robbers broke it while A-Rod and staff members were having dinner after work, The SF Chronicle reports.

Rodriguez has released a statement about the theft:

“I am saddened that several items that were of a personal nature and irreplaceable with sentimental value were taken. I am encouraged that local law enforcement has security footage of the crime and are doing all they can to get the items back.”

ESPN also released a statement:

“It’s an unfortunate situation,” ESPN officials said in a statement. “We are working with local authorities to address it.”

—Morehouse creates fund to help eliminate student loan debt—

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Why Lightning Strikes in an Arctic Gone Bizarro

Some rather peculiar weather over the weekend struck 300 miles from the North Pole. Here’s why that may be the new normal.

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VIDEO CONFESSION: T-Pain on going from $40 million to being so broke he couldn’t buy his kids burgers

T-Pain has felt the pain of being broke after he earned millions.

The rapper sat down with The Breakfast Club and opened up about his financial struggles and the lessons he’s learned going from really rich to financial ruin.

—WATCH: T-Pain bounces when hit with beach ball during concert for youth group—

“So now I know what the high end is and what the low end is,” he told Charlamagne tha God, DJ Envy, and Angela Yee. “I’ve been mega-rich, you know, I’ve been super broke, right in the middle of thinking I was mega-rich, and then got rich again, and you know learned how to really give a s— about money.”

The Florida native has been on both sides of the financial spectrum. At one point he said he had $40 million in the bank and then the next he recalls a time when he had to beg for a few bucks to buy his kids a burger, PEOPLE reports.

He explained, “I, like, had to borrow money to get my kids Burger King.”

Oh he was BROKE, broke!

The singer admits that he was irresponsible when it came to his spending so much so that his he “almost” lost his $6 million Atlanta home.

Also last year, T-Pain revealed that his brother was suffering from a mystery illness and he paid bills for his medical treatment totaling $1,402,977.

But he now says he’s financially back in the green.

“Once you give a s— about the money you’re making, then, you know what I’m saying, you feel much better about your accomplishments, you feel much better about what you’re doing, you start paying attention to your work that makes you money,” he said.

He’s also gearing up to make more records.

“There’s a lot of s— that comes with it,” he continued. “When you put out records, you gotta do the right things, you gotta, you know, you gotta go through the motions and really give a s— about it.”

—Cyntoia Brown reportedly married to Christian rapper after her release, but receives ‘warning’ from his ex-wife—

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Israeli billionaire Beny Steinmetz to be tried over 'Guinea bribes'

Swiss prosecutors are seeking a prison term for Beny Steinmetz for alleged bribery, which he denies.

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Lil Nas X’s viral song sets more records on Billboard charts

Lil Nas X is galloping his way to two new records on the Billboard charts thanks to the massive success of “Old Town Road.”

The song that beat out Mariah Carey and “Despacito” to become the longest-running No. 1 hit in the history of the Hot 100 chart has now set records on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs and Hot rap songs charts, respectively.

“Old Town Road,” which features Billy Ray Cyrus and is spending its 19th week at No. 1, surpasses the record set by Drake’s “One Dance” on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart. Drake’s track spent 18 weeks at No.1.

On the Hot rap songs chart, where Lil Nas X’s county-rap tune is also spending its 19th week on top, the 20-year-old beats the record set by Drake’s “Hotline Bling,” Iggy Azalea’s “Fancy” and Missy Elliott’s “Hot Boyz.” The latter three songs each spent 18 weeks at No.1.
Last month Lil Nas X’s viral song became the most successful No. 1 song of all-time when it reached its 17th week at No. 1 on the all-genre Hot 100 chart — Billboard’s main chart for singles — surpassing the 16-week record held by Carey and Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day” and Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber’s “Despacito.”

“Old Town Road” is now spending its 19th week on top of the Hot 100 chart.

Lil Nas X’s song, which has achieved most of its success through audio streaming, was originally a solo song but he added Cyrus to the track. The song also has remix versions featuring Diplo, Young Thug, Mason Ramsey and BTS, and Billboard counts the original song and its remixes as one when calculating chart position, thus helping “Old Town Road” stay on top.

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Missy Elliott will receive MTV Video Vanguard Award

Missy Elliott, one of the most iconic players in the history of music videos, will receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards.

MTV announced Monday that Elliott will also perform on Aug. 26 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Since her debut video for “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” in 1997, where she sported an inflated trash bag with confidence and charisma, Elliott has been a powerhouse on the music video scene with an oddball, eccentric and creative style that’s inspired generations after her.

Her upcoming performance on the VMA stage will mark her first since 2003.
Elliott became the first female rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame earlier this year.

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WFH: Chinese Engineers Abroad Come Back

As companies like Alibaba and apps like WeChat took off, China’s startup scene began to exert a growing pull on Chinese engineers overseas.

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The Biomechanical Perfection of Simone Biles in Flight

Behold the triple double: The gymnast’s precise control of her body as she moves through space sets her apart. Add tremendous strength and speed, and you’ve got a champion.

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How Many Uber and Lyft Drivers Are in Recalled Cars?

The Center for Auto Safety wants ride-hail companies to crack down on drivers whose cars have been recalled.

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Three Years of Misery Inside Google, the Happiest Company in Tech

Sexual harassment. Hate speech. Employee walkouts. The Silicon Valley giant is trapped in a war against itself. And there’s no end in sight.

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Zimbabwe businessman: My shelves are empty

As Zimbabwe's economic crisis bites, one man tells the BBC how shortages are crippling his business.

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London officer appears on Nigerian Big Brother

Scotland Yard said it was investigating as PC Khafi Kareem had gone on the programme 'without authority'.

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Joshua Akinotanhe plays several instruments and looks set for stardom.

Joshua Akinotanhe, who has starred on TV talent shows in his home country, says music is his life.

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INTERVIEW: Chaunte Wayans brings the laughs on ‘Tiffany Haddish Presents: They Ready’

Tiffany Haddish is doing her best to bring some of her fellow, female comedians on her ride to fame in her new Netflix special, Tiffany Haddish Presents: They Ready. In it, she features six female comedians she has gotten to know and love over the years.Haddish hosts and executive produces the series along with Emmy-nominated Wanda Sykes and Page Hurwitz.

One of the hilarious women you’ll meet on the special is Chaunte Wayans, a less-famous (for now) member of the infamous Wayans family. We caught up with the comedian to find out how she has navigated the comedy world with such a famous last name, and what it’s like to put her sexuality on full display.

Tiffany Haddish explains why she won’t perform in Georgia

Some folks may recognize Chaunte Wayans from Wild’N Out, but she certainly hasn’t reached the level of fame as many of her family members.

“I think in the beginning it was a little bit, more of I was adamant about starting a name for myself. When I first started my stage name was New York. It was so corny. It was about not having people feel like things were coming to me because I am a Wayans. It was like, ‘No, I’m really funny,'” she explains.

“There’s always pros and cons. When I first started I only had five jokes or less and people would use me to get people to come to their shows. I would be doing five minutes and they would have me on the billboard above the headliner. It was like, ‘What is happening right now?’”

Tiffany Haddish apologizes to fans after comedy show falls flat

Chaunte is the daughter of Elvira Wayans. In one of her first jokes of her set, Wayans jokes that she comes from the “poor” side of the Wayans family.  

“They got five kids a piece and all this stuff so they give us opportunities and give us money here and there but they can’t take care of a family of a trillion people and still have money themselves,” she says of her super successful uncles that include Marlon Wayans, Keenan Ivory Wayans, and Marlon Wayans. “My mom and my other aunts and uncles didn’t ‘make’ it. They weren’t famous.”

She also discussed her journey as an openly lesbian comic.

“Being a Black woman and a lesbian has made it a harder road for me. I get a lot of men, even in the gay world, who tell me I should show a little cleavage, or maybe let my hair out or wear some heels. If people saw me wear heels I would probably set myself back further. People have this image of what they think you should look like and the problem with that is people start looking the same,” she says. 

“My whole career, I always felt like I will make it if I just stay true to myself. At a certain point, I learned that you could build a real fanbase that believes in your journey and will fall in love with you without you having to change. I tried to get a little sexy and it was very awkward. My jokes didn’t land the same.”

“I get a lot of people that come up to me after my set, even pastors who say ‘ I don’t really believe in what you’re doing but that was funny.’ It’s a way to start a conversation. A lot of people are afraid of things. You’ve got people getting killed or committing suicide because of their identity and so when you are able to connect to somebody else through laughter, that opens up a conversation that hopefully brings new ideas out so these tragic things don’t have to happen,” she continues.

“Being black and being LGBTQ and even being a woman are all things that are important to represent. It allows you to have a voice. That is my main purpose, to be able to show there are different sides to all of us.” 

Check out the trailer:

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FGM ‘no longer just an African problem’

Former first lady of Somaliland Edna Adan Ismail looks at female genital mutilation among women in the UK.

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