#MAGFAB: The Cast Of Showtime's 'The Chi' Tell All To Ebony Magazine
Smiles are everywhere on this sunny day as Jacob Latimore, Luke James, Yolonda Ross, Birgundi Baker and Curtiss Cook strike various poses. They are about an hour from the South Side, where the drama of their hit Showtime series The Chi has stirred for the last five seasons.
Heading into the show’s sixth season as Emmett Washington, Victor “Trig” Taylor, the newly married Jada (Washington) Robinson, Kiesha Williams and Otis “Douda” Perry is more than enough reason to celebrate. But there’s also a sense of elevation in the air and, just as important, evolution.
Since the show created and executive produced by Lena Waithe (with Common also serving as an executive producer) first premiered, in 2018, the road to six seasons has been an active one. The Chi’s is a big cast that has also seen several big-name regulars and guest stars —Jason Mitchell, Sonja Sohn, La La Anthony, Tabitha Brown, Kandi Burruss, and, most recently, Lynn Whitfield, along with Chicagoans DeRay Davis, Cory Hardrict, Lil Rel Howery, Vic Mensa, Iman Shumpert, and Jason Weaver, as well as Common and Waithe themselves – tapping in and out. James and Latimore came to the show as known singers and actors.
But name recognition is not the glue that has kept The Chi, an ever-revolving drama set in the city the mainstream media infamously associates with unchecked violence regularly resulting in the mass murder of young Black people. The Chi has tried to get on the other side of that, humanizing a place that people think they know via compelling drama that highlights people instead of just headlines.
Creator Lena Waithe thinks the little Showtime show that could, produced by 20th Television, is now in its sixth season because fans “are watching us grow up and evolve every year,” and “our audience is evolving as well.”
From day one of the series, we first met Baker, Latimore, and Ross’s characters: Kiesha, Emmett and Jada, in the very first episode of The Chi. Kiesha was hiding under the bed as Emmett, already a teenage father, attempted to shield their sexual escapade from his mother, Jada, who returned home before they had finished hooking up.
“We’ve seen him struggle with accepting that he is a father, and he has to take these responsibilities and become a grown man,” shares Latimore, a Milwaukee native, during a roundtable with his castmates at the Gwen Hotel in downtown Chicago, reflecting on how Emmett began his stint on The Chi. “Every season, we’ve seen him grow and evolve in a way that’s raw and beautiful and just unedited, uncut. It’s been a beautiful thing to really just take on this role and this character. I’ve grown in a lot of ways in my personal life just by being in this role.”
Get more at Ebony!
#RHOA: NeNe Leakes Finds It ‘Painful’ the RHOA Cast Didn’t Fight for Her
NeNe Leakes continued her sizzling interview with Carlos King this week, and the product was posted today, August 1. NeNe also delivered, dropping all new bombshells.
Those who watched the first interview certainly recall NeNe wasn’t shy about taking shots at other Housewives. Meanwhile, she didn’t skirt away from blasting some fellow Real Housewives of Atlanta.
This time she’s going after all the Housewives – even those beyond the Atlanta sphere. She recounted how she felt with producers, costars, and crew as her time on RHOA continued.
NeNe got shafted by RHOA cast members
NeNe started by expressing that many things on the show were unfair. “A lot of girls and the [crew] know that there was things that just were not fair at all. And it pains me and hurts me deeply how I fought for some of the girls that are on the show. And how they did not fight for me to stay on the show, and how much I fought for them to stay on the show. That’s very painful.”
No one fought for NeNe …
Carlos asked “Who exactly” didn’t fight for her. NeNe responded, “The cast period. Like all these girls know that there was unfair treatment. Because we all have been in group text messages where all of these girls have … said that they were feeling unfair treatment … There’s no secret. I have the text messages. They have the text messages.” Basically, no one fought.
NeNe also expressed that she felt like she was being phased out of the show. But she didn’t know if the producers realized how much she knew that. “I’m not sure if they realized that I realized that I wasn’t getting fair treatment,” she explained. And if she knew, the other Housewives should’ve known just as well.
Additionally, she said part of the unfairness of it all was not understanding why she got singled out. “I would like to know what it is that I did that someone else did not do. These girls have done way worse.” In other words, the RHOA girls and Housewives across all franchises have done worse than NeNe, in her mind at least, yet none of them were phased out as she was.
TELL US – DO YOU AGREE WITH NENE?
#MusicNews: Tinashe And Shygirl Announce North American Co-Headlining Tour
Tinashe and Shygirl presented their co-headlining tour across North America. The show run will begin in Chicago this October and continue up until the middle of November. In addition to the pair, UNIIQU3 also joined the lineup as an opening act.
Both headlining acts sparked excitement by releasing an announcement poster this morning. It showed them in matching crimson dresses and boots lying on a mattress. Earlier this year, Shygirl extended an invitation to Tinashe for a remix of her hit song, “Heaven.” The collaboration gave fans an early glimpse of the exhilarating experience the tour promises.
Chatter among fans hinted at an increasing desire for the performance dates to cross over to Europe. For the time being, though, the joint tour is solely focused on 13 venues across the United States.
The pre-sale for the tour began in high spirits and will continue through 10 a.m. local time on Thursday (Aug. 3). Additionally, VIP packages went on sale the same day, giving fans a chance for a more immersive experience. Moreover, the general public sale is set to start at 10 a.m. local time on Friday (Aug. 4).
The show run will commence at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom on Oct. 28. From there, the duo will head to Toronto’s Rebel on Oct. 30 and New York’s Terminal 5 on Nov. 1. The next phase includes live performances in Boston, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and New Orleans. Afterward, the Texas leg features back-to-back shows in Dallas and Austin before heading west to Denver, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
The grand finale will take place on Nov. 18 with a highly anticipated performance at Oakland’s Fox Theater.
Tinashe is currently preparing to release her new LP, BB/ANG3L, which is the successor to her 2021 album, 333. Recently, she released a tantalizing single from the project titled “Talk To Me Nice.”
On the other hand, Shygirl dropped an EP last week containing remixes from her previous album, which was titled Nymph in the Wild.
#HipHopNews: Travis Scott Announces Concert at Circus Maximus in Rome Following Failed Egypt Pyramids Show
Smiles are everywhere on this sunny day as Jacob Latimore, Luke James, Yolonda Ross, Birgundi Baker and Curtiss Cook strike various poses. They are about an hour from the South Side, where the drama of their hit Showtime series The Chi has stirred for the last five seasons.
Heading into the show’s sixth season as Emmett Washington, Victor “Trig” Taylor, the newly married Jada (Washington) Robinson, Kiesha Williams and Otis “Douda” Perry is more than enough reason to celebrate. But there’s also a sense of elevation in the air and, just as important, evolution.
Since the show created and executive produced by Lena Waithe (with Common also serving as an executive producer) first premiered, in 2018, the road to six seasons has been an active one. The Chi’s is a big cast that has also seen several big-name regulars and guest stars —Jason Mitchell, Sonja Sohn, La La Anthony, Tabitha Brown, Kandi Burruss, and, most recently, Lynn Whitfield, along with Chicagoans DeRay Davis, Cory Hardrict, Lil Rel Howery, Vic Mensa, Iman Shumpert, and Jason Weaver, as well as Common and Waithe themselves – tapping in and out. James and Latimore came to the show as known singers and actors.
Creator Lena Waithe thinks the little Showtime show that could, produced by 20th Television, is now in its sixth season because fans “are watching us grow up and evolve every year,” and “our audience is evolving as well.”
From day one of the series, we first met Baker, Latimore, and Ross’s characters: Kiesha, Emmett and Jada, in the very first episode of The Chi. Kiesha was hiding under the bed as Emmett, already a teenage father, attempted to shield their sexual escapade from his mother, Jada, who returned home before they had finished hooking up.
“We’ve seen him struggle with accepting that he is a father, and he has to take these responsibilities and become a grown man,” shares Latimore, a Milwaukee native, during a roundtable with his castmates at the Gwen Hotel in downtown Chicago, reflecting on how Emmett began his stint on The Chi. “Every season, we’ve seen him grow and evolve in a way that’s raw and beautiful and just unedited, uncut. It’s been a beautiful thing to really just take on this role and this character. I’ve grown in a lot of ways in my personal life just by being in this role.”
Get more at Ebony!
#RHOA: NeNe Leakes Finds It ‘Painful’ the RHOA Cast Didn’t Fight for Her
Those who watched the first interview certainly recall NeNe wasn’t shy about taking shots at other Housewives. Meanwhile, she didn’t skirt away from blasting some fellow Real Housewives of Atlanta.
This time she’s going after all the Housewives – even those beyond the Atlanta sphere. She recounted how she felt with producers, costars, and crew as her time on RHOA continued.
NeNe got shafted by RHOA cast members
NeNe started by expressing that many things on the show were unfair. “A lot of girls and the [crew] know that there was things that just were not fair at all. And it pains me and hurts me deeply how I fought for some of the girls that are on the show. And how they did not fight for me to stay on the show, and how much I fought for them to stay on the show. That’s very painful.”
No one fought for NeNe …
Carlos asked “Who exactly” didn’t fight for her. NeNe responded, “The cast period. Like all these girls know that there was unfair treatment. Because we all have been in group text messages where all of these girls have … said that they were feeling unfair treatment … There’s no secret. I have the text messages. They have the text messages.” Basically, no one fought.
NeNe also expressed that she felt like she was being phased out of the show. But she didn’t know if the producers realized how much she knew that. “I’m not sure if they realized that I realized that I wasn’t getting fair treatment,” she explained. And if she knew, the other Housewives should’ve known just as well.
Additionally, she said part of the unfairness of it all was not understanding why she got singled out. “I would like to know what it is that I did that someone else did not do. These girls have done way worse.” In other words, the RHOA girls and Housewives across all franchises have done worse than NeNe, in her mind at least, yet none of them were phased out as she was.
TELL US – DO YOU AGREE WITH NENE?
#MusicNews: Tinashe And Shygirl Announce North American Co-Headlining Tour
Tinashe and Shygirl presented their co-headlining tour across North America. The show run will begin in Chicago this October and continue up until the middle of November. In addition to the pair, UNIIQU3 also joined the lineup as an opening act.
Both headlining acts sparked excitement by releasing an announcement poster this morning. It showed them in matching crimson dresses and boots lying on a mattress. Earlier this year, Shygirl extended an invitation to Tinashe for a remix of her hit song, “Heaven.” The collaboration gave fans an early glimpse of the exhilarating experience the tour promises.
Chatter among fans hinted at an increasing desire for the performance dates to cross over to Europe. For the time being, though, the joint tour is solely focused on 13 venues across the United States.
The pre-sale for the tour began in high spirits and will continue through 10 a.m. local time on Thursday (Aug. 3). Additionally, VIP packages went on sale the same day, giving fans a chance for a more immersive experience. Moreover, the general public sale is set to start at 10 a.m. local time on Friday (Aug. 4).
The show run will commence at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom on Oct. 28. From there, the duo will head to Toronto’s Rebel on Oct. 30 and New York’s Terminal 5 on Nov. 1. The next phase includes live performances in Boston, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and New Orleans. Afterward, the Texas leg features back-to-back shows in Dallas and Austin before heading west to Denver, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
The grand finale will take place on Nov. 18 with a highly anticipated performance at Oakland’s Fox Theater.
Tinashe is currently preparing to release her new LP, BB/ANG3L, which is the successor to her 2021 album, 333. Recently, she released a tantalizing single from the project titled “Talk To Me Nice.”
On the other hand, Shygirl dropped an EP last week containing remixes from her previous album, which was titled Nymph in the Wild.
#HipHopNews: Travis Scott Announces Concert at Circus Maximus in Rome Following Failed Egypt Pyramids Show
On Tuesday (Aug. 1), Travis Scott revealed plans for a new concert to celebrate the release of his Utopia album following the cancelation of his highly anticipated show at the Pyramids of Giza. La Flame shared an advert for the upcoming show on Instagram, below, which shows him standing on a stack of speakers and notes the show will take place at Circus Maximus in Rome, Italy on Aug. 7.
"FIRST STOP. UTOPIA LIVE AT CIRCUS MAXIMUS. WE OUT !!!!!" Travis Scott captioned the post. Tickets go on sale on Aug. 3 on the rapper's website: travisscott.com/live.
Circus Maximus is an ancient Roman chariot-racing stadium, which currently serves as a mass entertainment venue. It is also the title of Travis Scott's new movie.
Travis Scott was previously scheduled to play a show at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt on July 28, the same day his new Utopia album was released. However, the show was canceled on July 26, with the show's promotor, Live Nation, citing technical issues.
Travis Scott also released a statement promising fans a rescheduled event.
"Egypt at the pyramids will happen," the Astroworld rapper tweeted. "But due to demand and detail logistics. They just need a bit a time to set lay on lands. I will keep u posted on a date which will be soon love you alllll."
Lizzo Faces Lawsuit For Alleged Sexual Harassment Of Her Former Dancers
After wrapping up her “Special Tour” this past Sunday (July 30), Lizzo is now facing an unfortunate tune in court. A lawsuit filed on Tuesday (Aug. 1) accused the singer of creating a hostile work environment and sexually harassing three former dancers.
Notably, one dancer claimed that the singer called attention to her weight gain and later terminated her after she recorded a meeting due to a health issue. As reported by NBC, the court documents also contained an allegation of Lizzo pressuring her team members to interact with a nude performer at an Amsterdam club.
The suit further described the captain of the musician’s dance team, Shirlene Quigley, as a litigant. It accused her of voicing inappropriate sexual fantasies, scorning those engaging in premarital sex, and more. The plaintiffs believed that the “About Damn Time” hitmaker knew about these allegations but failed to address them.
In a statement made by the accusers’ lawyer, Ron Zambrano, he shared, “The stunning nature of how Lizzo and her management team treated their performers seems to go against everything Lizzo stands for publicly, while privately she weight-shames her dancers and demeans them in ways that are not only illegal but absolutely demoralizing.”
The lawsuit listed a number of accusations, including sexual harassment, a hostile work environment, racial and religious harassment, false imprisonment, and interference with prospective economic advantage. The defendants in the case are identified as Lizzo (real name Melissa Viviane Jefferson), Quigley, and the musician’s production company, Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc.
Arianna Davis and Crystal Williams, two of the plaintiffs, reportedly joined the artist’s team after participating in her Amazon reality show, “Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls.” The third plaintiff, Noelle Rodriguez, joined after a performance in the video “Rumors.” Davis and Williams were later dismissed, while Rodriguez resigned earlier this year.
At the time of publishing, Lizzo has not spoken out about the lawsuit or alleged incidents.
Jamie Foxx Says He's Would've Died Without Sister Deidra Dixon's 'Decisions' Following Health Scare
On Tuesday, August 1, the 55-year-old made use of his Instagram page to wish his sister Deidra a happy birthday. Sharing a photo of the two of them along with several of her solo shots, he wrote in the caption, "Happy birthday to my beautiful for sister @frequency11 'D'."
The "Spider-Man: No Way Home" star further gushed over the birthday girl, "you are magical you are beautiful you are the courageous lionesses #leoseason And without you I would not be here… had you not made the decisions that you made I would've lost my life…." He ended the note by declaring, "I love you forever and ever happy birthday sis."
It's not clear what "decisions" that Deidra made that saved Jamie's life, but he has been out of the woods two months after he was hospitalized in Atlanta on April 12. He was discharged from the hospital in late April and was subsequently treated in a physical rehab facility in Chicago.
In a July 21 post, the Oscar winner described the experience as going to "hell and back" while denying that he was "paralyzed." He said in a video, "First of all I want to say thank you to everybody that's prayed, sent me messages. I cannot even begin to tell you how far it took me and how it brought me back. I went through something that I never thought I would go through."
"My sister Deidra Dixon, my daughter [Corrine Foxx] really saved my life. To them, to God, to a lot of great medical people, I'm able to leave you this video," he added. "Some people said I was blind but as you can see my eyes are working just fine. Some said I was paralyzed, I am not but I did go to hell and back. My road to recovery had some potholes as well. But I am coming back, I am able to work, so I want to thank the people who let me work."
Ending the clip with humor, he responded to speculation that he was cloned following his public sightings since he was discharged from the hospital. "Some people talk about how I am clone, check this out," he said, pretending to take off a face-mask, before adding, "Just kidding!"
Zendaya Raves Over Angus Cloud's 'Infinite Beauty' In Moving Tribute After His Death
Zendaya Coleman says "words are not enough" to describe tragic Angus Cloud's "beauty." The actress, 26, broke her silence about her "Euphoria" co-star's shock death in an Instagram tribute on Tuesday, August 1, a day after the actor's family confirmed he had died aged 25 after "intensely struggling" with the loss of his father, who they buried the previous week.
Zendaya, who played addict Rue Bennett alongside Angus' drug dealer character Fezco on HBO's teen drama "Euphoria", said in her post, which used the actor's birth name, "Words are not enough to describe the infinite beauty that is Angus (Conor). I'm so grateful I got the chance to know him in this life, to call him a brother, to see his warm kind eyes and bright smile, or hear his infectious cackle of a laugh (I'm smiling now just thinking of it). I know people use this expression often when talking about folks they love… 'they could light up any room they entered' but boy let me tell you, he was the best at it. I'd like to remember him that way. For all of the boundless light, love and joy he always managed to give us. I'll cherish every moment. My heart is with his mother and family at this time and please be kind and patient as grief looks different for everyone."
Zendaya and Angus both attended the prestigious Oakland School for the Arts in California before making it big on "Euphoria". He told the Wall Street Journal in 2019, "We had some of the same friends … but I didn't really know her."
But the pair became close on the set of "Euphoria". Angus battled addiction in reality and had been in and out of rehab before his early death, according to his former manager Diomi Cordero.
His rumored on-off girlfriend Sydney Martin said she has been left "heartbroken" by his passing. And in a statement given to CNN, his family said, "It is with the heaviest heart that we had to say goodbye to an incredible human today. As an artist, a friend, a brother and a son, Angus was special to all of us in so many ways. Last week he buried his father and intensely struggled with this loss. The only comfort we have is knowing Angus is now reunited with his dad, who was his best friend. Angus was open about his battle with mental health and we hope that his passing can be a reminder to others that they are not alone and should not fight this on their own in silence. We hope the world remembers him for his humour, laughter and love for everyone. We ask for privacy at this time as we are still processing this devastating loss."
The Mic That Cardi B Threw At A Fan Is Up For Auction
These are the Wounded Warrior Project serving veterans, and Friendship Circle Las Vegas, supporting young adults with special needs. Despite the incident, the original $1,000 microphone still works, and bids are already reaching as high as $30,000 on eBay. Cardi B is now facing battery charges as the woman who was struck by the microphone went to the police and reported the incident.
Leonardo DiCaprio, Oprah, George Clooney, and More Donated at Least $1 Million to SAG-AFTRA Strike Relief Fund
Fourteen big-name celebrities have donated at least one million to the SAG-AFTRA's Emergency Financial Assistance Program as actors continue to strike for fairer compensation for their labor.
As reported by IndieWire, at least seven Academy Award-nominated actors and several others have donated a significant amount of money to support struggling actors without work amid the strikes. The list includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Oprah Winfrey, Meryl Streep, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman, and Dwayne Johnson. Several celebrity couples have donated, too, including Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness, Matt and Luciana Damon, Ryan Renolds and Blake Lively, and George and Amal Clooney.
“I remember my days as a waiter, cleaner, typist, even my time on the unemployment line. In this strike action, I am lucky to be able to support those who will struggle in a long action to sustain against Goliath," said Streep in a statement announcing her donation. "We will stand strong together against these powerful corporations who are bent on taking the humanity, the human dignity, even the human out of our profession. I am proudest of my fellow actors who have immediately offered to fund the Emergency Financial Assistance Program.”
Clooney also released a statement in which he said he is ready to help actors get a fair deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. He also thanked SAG-AFTRA Foundation president Courtney B. Vance for "putting this effort together by shedding light on the human toll happening right now, and how we can work together to alleviate some of the pain and suffering.”
Founded in 1985, the SAG-AFTRA Foundation is separate from the union and helps provide financial relief to union members who are struggling to make ends meet. The foundation is bolstered by showings of union member films and post-screening Q&As. The Foundation's Emergency Financial Assistance Program has raised over $15 million in the past three weeks.
When SAG-AFTRA announced a strike on July 13, Vance and executive director Cyd Wilson wrote a letter to 2,700 of the highest-earning actors in the union to ask for financial assistance for some of the lowest-earning actors. Considering the average yearly income of SAG-AFTRA members is $26,000, the shutdown of almost all productions has impacted a lot of individuals on the lower end. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the SAG-AFTRA Foundation issued a similar letter.
The strike coincides with the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike, which started on May 2. The main focus of the strikes is focused on residuals from streaming media and the exploitative use of AI, which takes labor away from real people.
As Breaking Bad actor Bryan Cranston put it during a speech last month, CEOs like Walt Disney Company's Bob Iger continue to unfairly make millions upon millions from the labor of others. "I know, sir, that you look through things through a different lens," Cranston said. "We don’t expect you to understand who we are but we asking you to hear us, and beyond that to listen to us when we tell you we will not be having our jobs taken away and given to robots. We will not have you take away our right to work and earn a decent living. And lastly, and most importantly, we will not allow you to take away our dignity. We are union through and through, all the way to the end."
Beyoncé honors dancer who was reportedly fatally stabbed for voguing to her music
Beyoncé paid tribute to O’Shae Sibley after he was reportedly killed for “voguing” to her music at a Mobil gas station on Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn this past Saturday (July 29). “Rest in power, O’Shae Sibley,” read the message that was written in white letters on the “BREAK MY SOUL” singer’s official website.
As previously reported, Sibley, who was a professional dancer and choreographer, and his friends were filling up a car with gas and voguing to Beyoncé’s latest album, RENAISSANCE, when a group of men allegedly approached them, using gay slurs, and told them to stop dancing. The situation escalated following an exchange of words and the 28-year-old was stabbed in the chest. He was taken to Maimonides Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.
According to ABC 7, witnesses are claiming a 17-year-old teenager, who works at a smoke shop right around the corner, to be the suspect. No arrests have been made as of yet. Following the incident, Sibley’s friend Otis Pena, who was at the location when everything went down, took to his Facebook page and detailed what happened. “They hated us ’cause we are gay! Screaming, ‘We Muslim and we don’t like gays!’ as we are innocently pumping gas and y’all decided to stab one of us!” Pena wrote. “We were VOGUING! Innocently voguing just two blocks from being dropped off at my house, pumping gas! Justice.”
Sibley was a member of The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Ailey Extension program. Yesterday (Aug. 1), the organization released a statement on Instagram following his tragic passing. “The Ailey organization mourns the tragic death of O’Shae Sibley, following an attack outside of a Brooklyn gas station on Saturday night,” the message began. “O’Shae was a cherished and devoted Ailey Extension student. He had incredible energy in the studio and was loved by instructors and fellow classmates. We are shocked and heartbroken that O’Shae’s life has been taken by senseless violence and extend our sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.”
Representatives for LeBron James' I Promise School respond to low test scores: "This work requires a long-term commitment"
Last Thursday (July 27), the Akron Beacon Journal published a report in regard to LeBron James’ I Promise School following a city board meeting that took place days prior. According to said article, none of the institution’s current eighth grade class passed math tests in three years. In addition, two of I Promise’s biggest subgroups, Black students and those with disabilities, are said to be testing in the bottom 5 percent in the state.
Board President Derrick Hall called the figures “disappointing,” despite the fact that COVID-19 and remote learning were “known factors.” “I just think about all the resources that we’re providing,” he said. “It doesn’t appear like we’re seeing the kind of change that we would expect to see.”
On Monday (July 31), an official statement was shared by The LeBron James Family Foundation, which oversees I Promise School and provides $1.4 million annually to bolster its faculty. “When we started this work to wraparound students through education, we entered this partnership with Akron Public Schools for the long haul because this work requires a long-term commitment, hard work, and a lot of love and care,” the statement read. “We’re here for the ups and downs, and will continue to wraparound our students and their entire families, so they can be successful in school and in life, no matter the challenges and obstacles that come their way.”
I Promise‘s newly minted principal, Stephanie Davis, added via WKYC, “At the recent board meeting, our preliminary OST data was shared, but it’s important to note that proficiency is based on mastering grade-level standards… When working with students who are achieving below grade level, growth is as important as a measure of progress as proficiency. And the type of growth that is important to us is not made overnight. It takes time.”
As the Akron Beacon Journal noted, students are entered into a lottery for I Promise if they are in the bottom 25 percent of reading scores in the district. This does not include those who are already being served through other specialty programs for significant disabilities. Upon being chosen, parents are invited to enroll eligible children.
Paul Reubens Finished Writing His Memoir Before His Death
Reubens’ publicist, Kelly Bush Novak, issued a statement to the station yesterday, following news of the actor’s death. ”He finished a first draft,” she said. “We are hoping it will be published posthumously.” No other details were given.
Novak’s confirmation that Reubens had finished a draft of the book comes several years after the Pee-wee Herman creator first started chatting about the memoir. In a February 2020 interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live, he was asked if the book would be about Paul or Pee-wee, to which Reubens replied: “Well, it’s about both of us, but I have to say, when I’m writing it, I get all confused with which story and who I am in each story… I love this story.”
About a month later, Reubens shared a few more details with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “I’ve been making notes and writing down ideas for a few years already,” he said. “I wrote all my funniest stories first and then moved on to more serious stuff. I’ve certainly lived an interesting life, met lots of amazing people and had all kinds of incredible experiences and opportunities.”
He added: “I’ve been smart and intuitive. Happy, sad, low, and elated. I’ve learned many things and feel like I’ve become wise. I have very few regrets. And above all, I’ve been wonderfully blessed and lucky. I have a fantastic book in me and I’m excited to finish it and then play myself in the movie version!”
Reubens died Sunday night, July 30, at the age of 70. The cause of death was an unspecified cancer, which the actor had reportedly been fighting for years. “Paul bravely and privately fought cancer for years with his trademark tenacity and wit,” the statement on his social media accounts read. “A gifted and prolific talent, he will forever live in the comedy pantheon and in our hearts as a treasured friend and man of remarkable character and generosity of spirit.”
Aretha Franklin’s Childhood Home in Detroit Sells for $355k
*Aretha Franklin’s childhood home in Detroit hit the market in May for $379,900 and sold recently for $355k.
As TMZ reports, the 6000-square-foot property located in Detroit’s La Salle Gardens neighborhood boasts 6-bed, 5-bath, fireplaces and an extra 1-bedroom unit upstairs.
“The crib could use a little bit of work, no doubt — you’ll recall, it was actually abandoned for a little while,” TMZ writes.
Franklin reportedly lived at the location from age 5 to 18. She famously visited the house in 2011 — watch YouTube clip below.
In related news, a jury in Michigan recently ruled that a note handwritten by the late soul singer is valid as her will. We reported previously, via CNN, that jurors found that a handwritten will, discovered under a sofa cushion by Franklin’s niece after the singer’s death, was signed by the music legend in 2014 and does show her intent.
At the heart of the legal dispute were two separate wills, CNN reports.
Two of her sons, Kecalf Franklin and Edward Franklin, wanted the document dated March 31, 2014 to be determined as her legal will, while another son, Ted White II, advocated that a document from 2010 should stand.
Franklin’s fourth son, Clarence Franklin, has special needs, is under legal guardianship and was not involved in the case.
Kecalf Franklin testified Monday that he believed the signature on the 2014 document is valid, particularly because it contains the smiley face “characteristic” of Franklin’s signature.
Referencing the first few lines of the document, attorney Craig Smith, who represented Edward Franklin, said, “She’s speaking from the grave, folks: ‘This is my will.’”
During closing arguments, Smith also addressed royalties stemming from the Queen of Soul’s iconic hits.
“Now, we may all be dead from global warming, but if we’re around, my belief is they’ll be playing ‘Respect’ 300 years from now,” he said.
Franklin died in 2018 after a battle with cancer.
Bed Bath and Beyond Makes Comeback as Exclusive Online Home Furnishings Brand
According to Overstock CEO Jonathan Johnson, the company will redirect its visitors to BedBathandBeyond.com, which offers a variety of home products, including bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen items, and an expanded selection of furnishings.
“Overstock has a great business model with a name that does not reflect its focus on home,” Johnson said. “Bed Bath & Beyond is a much-loved and well-known consumer brand, which had an outdated business model that needed modernizing.”
Overstock purchased Bed Bath & Beyond for $21.5 million in June through a bankruptcy auction, excluding the physical stores that closed this summer. The revitalized Bed Bath & Beyond has also reinstated shoppers’ earned loyalty points and updated its mobile app.
“We expect that over time, the relaunch of the Bed Bath & Beyond brand, growing mobile app adoption, and enhanced loyalty offerings will help improve this metric,” he added.
Company officials have indicated that the Overstock brand will gradually disappear over time after the renaming of its website.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
My Homie Looking for Diapers!
Pampers anyone?
EVENING GOODIES: Meet Jacques
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EFREM
