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Former Minneapolis Cop Found Guilty of Murder in Death of Australian Native Justine Damond
A jury on Tuesday convicted a now former Minneapolis police officer of murder for shooting and killing a woman after responding to a 911 call she made to report a possible sexual assault. Mohamed Noor, who was the city of Minneapolis’ first police officer from its growing Somali American community, faces up to 16 years…
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Jussie Smollett Out on Empire Next Season
Empire is coming back for a sixth season, but not the beloved Jamal, aka actor Jussie Smollett. That’s the word from network and studio execs Tuesday, who said Smollett’s contract has been extended into season six, but there aren’t plans to have his character appear, according to multiple reports. “By mutual agreement, the studio has…
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Northern Virginia Schools Stand Up for Gavin Grimm in Transgender Bathroom Case
Four Northern Virginia school districts are showing support for Gavin Grimm, the young transgender man who’s been in a years-long battle with another Virginia school district over its policy when it comes to what bathroom transgender students can use. In a friend-of-the-court brief submitted in support of Grimm when his case against the Gloucester County…
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From Defendant to Defender: Theo Shaw, Once Almost Railroaded by the Justice System as One of the Jena 6, Is Now Officially a Lawyer
A Louisiana man whose life was almost thrown away by the criminal justice system when he was overcharged in a case that came to be known as the “Jena 6” is now officially a lawyer. Theo Shaw was sworn in to the bar of the District of Columbia on Friday, according to the New Orleans…
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They’ll Pass: Baltimore Courts Deny Mosby’s Attempt to Throw Out Some 5,000 Marijuana Convictions
Puff, puff — hard pass: A pair of Baltimore city judges have denied Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby’s request to throw out some 5,000 marijuana convictions. In a ruling Friday, Baltimore District Court Judge Kathleen Sweeney said Mosby had failed to show what “disparate impact” said convictions had on those found guilty. The judge…
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'God Bless America': Are Supporters of the Kate Smith Version Trying to Protect the Song—or the Singer?
For years, anyone attending a New York Yankees game would be subjected to the voice of Kate Smith singing “God Bless America” during the seventh-inning stretch. Smith, who died in 1986, was heralded in her day as the “Songbird of the South,” an uber popular songstress whose 1938 version of Irving Berlin’s song was so…
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Folks Busted by Killer Cop Amber Guyger Have Been Getting Some Get-Out-of-Jail-Free Passes by Dallas Prosecutors
Amber Guyger, the now former Dallas cop who killed an unarmed black man in his own home, is still awaiting trial in the case. But since her arrest and indictment, prosecutors have been dismissing charges against folks she hemmed up on drug and other crimes. It’s the latest development in the case surrounding the death of…
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Dazed and Confused: R. Kelly, Claiming He Was ‘Overwhelmed,’ Reportedly Wants to Fight Sex Assault Case He Just Lost
R. Kelly just won’t take the L. A judge this week entered a default judgment against Kelly when he didn’t show up to court to answer a civil suit that charged he sexually molested a woman, Heather Williams, years ago when she was only 16. Kelly was served notice about the civil suit while he…
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A Michigan Town Wants the Cops to Crack Down on the #BBQBeckys of the World — and We’re Here for It
You may remember #BBQBecky, the white woman who decided to call 911 on a group of black people who were simply barbecuing on a summer day in Oakland, Calif.? Or maybe you’ll recall #PoolPatrolPaula, the white woman who threatened to call 911 on three black teens for simply showing up at a public pool? Or…
