Two California Pastors Face Up To 20 Years In Prison For $14M Loan Fraud Scheme

Sheila Quintan Staccato Powell,

*Two former pastors at the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in California are facing up to 20 years in prison for allegedly defrauding churches across the state out of $14 million. Sheila Quintana, 67, and Staccato Powell, 62, who were leaders of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (AME Zion), were arrested and indicted on […]

Creator Of NFL’s Rooney Rule Says it Works with Enforcement | VIDEO

*(By George A. Willis) – Twenty years ago on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, there was one black head coach in the National Football League, Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin. Tony Dungy in Tampa and Dennis Green in Minnesota had been fired earlier that January. This year on MLK Day, the NFL had just one black head […]

Sean Penn Blames ‘Cowardly Genes’ for Men Wearing Skirts

sean penn

*Sean Penn appears to not be too fond of men wearing dresses.  “There has been an absence of male behavior,” Penn, 61, said in an interview with British outlet iNews. “I don’t think that being a brute or having insensitivity or disrespect for women [has] anything to do with masculinity, or ever did. But I […]

Steven Ivory: ‘Operators Are Standing By’ and Other Words That Rule Our Lives

Phone Operators (B&W - YouTube screenshot)

*I was headed for the kitchen when the network TV news anchor shifted to a somber tone. “Warning,” he said, his expression effectively empathetic, “some of the footage you’re about to see may be disturbing.” To some, those words could mean putting their hands over their eyes and peeping at the screen through their fingers. […]

Gladys Knight and Diana Ross Had 37-Year Feud [VIDEO]

*Fans of Motown icons Gladys Knight and Diana Ross may not know that they had a nearly 40-year feud that didn’t end until 2005. Knight spilled the tea in a prior interview with The Insider, claiming the feud stemmed from when Gladys Knight & The Pips were signed to Motown Records. As reported by I […]

‘Friday’ Star Anthony Johnson Gets New Tombstone

*”Friday” star Anthony Johnson is getting a new tombstone on his grave … and it comes four months after his death in September. As reported by TMZ, the guy who honored Eazy-E and Nate Dogg with grave markers designed Johnson’s new tombstone in honor of what would have been the actor’s 56th birthday on Feb. […]

Apply Now! HBCU 20×20 & DreamWorks Animation Announce New Talent Fellowship Program!

HBCU 20x20 and DreamWorks Animation

HBCU 20×20 and DreamWorks Animation are teaming up for a new talent development initiative kicking off this spring, called LAUNCH: HBCU Fellowship Program. The professional development program will identify 15 students from HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) to participate in an eight-week curriculum of various workshops, courses and speaker series that aim to open […]

Warner Bros. TV Renews Overall Deal w/ Writer & Showrunner Janine Sherman Barrois

Janine Sherman Barrois

This week, Warner Bros. Television Group announced it has renewed its overall deal with award-winning executive producer, writer and showrunner Janine Sherman Barrois (“Claws,” “The Kings of Napa”). The agreement continues the Studio’s ongoing relationship with Sherman Barrois, who has been under a series of overall deals with WBTV since 2015. This is her third […]

Washington Unveils New Name (The Commanders), Logo and Uniforms

*Washington’s NFL team revealed its new name Wednesday…. The Commanders, a tribute to the state’s military ties. Team owners Daniel and Tanya Snyder along with team president Jason Wright made the announcement at FedEx Field, where they were joined by nearly a dozen current and former players, The Washington Post reports.  The name change “formally […]

Mother of Cheslie Kryst Says Ex-Miss USA Suffered With Depression

Cheslie Kryst - Getty

*Former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst was suffering from depression before she committed suicide on Sunday — and her mother is speaking out about her daughter’s private battle.  Kryst’s mother April Simpkins says … “I have never known a pain as deep as this. I am forever changed.” Simpkins is speaking out following the autopsy that […]

Method Man is Holding Down ESSENCE’s Feb Digital Cover | WATCH

Method Man - Essence Feb Digital Cover

*Power Book II: Ghost star Method Man is featured on ESSENCE.com’s February digital cover issue! In the cover story, The Man Means Business, the iconic rapper turned actor talks about his legendary thirty years in the industry, being taken seriously, his successful transition to acting and more: On Believing in Himself: “Understand, I was a […]