Author: BLK ALERTS

Black News Alerts is a news service offered by Urban Newsroom that roots for and alerts black people on black news and issues.

Patrick Lyoya was fatally shot by a white Grand Rapids officer during a traffic stop, renewing a national debate about police conduct and use of force. What We Know: A white Grand Rapids, Mich., police officer who fatally shot Patrick Lyoya, a Black man, during a traffic stop in April was charged on Thursday with one count of second-degree murder. Christopher Becker, the Kent County prosecuting attorney, said the officer, Christopher Schurr, acted unreasonably when he shot Mr. Lyoya, 26, while wrestling with the motorist, who had run away. The officer told Mr. Lyoya he pulled him over for having…

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Ryan Kelley, a Republican candidate for Michigan governor, was arrested by the FBI at his home in West Michigan on Thursday morning. What We Know: The FBI also conducted a search warrant at the home, an FBI spokesperson confirmed to 7 Action News, WXYZ. According to a statement of facts from the FBI filed in federal court in Washington D.C., the arrest stems from Kelley’s alleged attendance at the Jan. 6 insurrection. A complaint charges Kelley with knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, knowingly engaging in…

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BLK ALERTS has confirmed that Rihanna and A$AP Rocky are new parents! What We Know: Just over two years after the couple started dating, they welcomed their first child together, according to multiple outlets. TMZ reports that the baby boy was born on May 13 in Los Angeles, but there are no further details yet, including the baby’s name. “They have not left each other’s side,” a source told Entertainment Tonight of the new parents. “They are over the moon. She’s been looking forward to motherhood for a long time. This little boy is going to have the best baby fashion.” This is a developing…

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Police apprehended Frank R. James, who will face federal prosecution for allegedly opening fire on a Brooklyn subway, wounding 10 and injuring 13 others, officials said Wednesday. What We Know: James was taken into custody after police received a Crime Stoppers tip directing them to the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, authorities said. “My fellow New Yorkers, we got him,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who is in isolation following a positive Covid-19 test, told reporters in a video feed. He will be charged with a federal crime, for allegedly carrying out a terrorist act on mass transit, U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said.…

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The Biden administration is extending a mask mandate for airplanes and transit for 15 days, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday. The mandate was set to expire after April 18, following a one-month extension announced in March. Airlines have required masks on planes since early in the pandemic in 2020, but the Biden administration made them mandatory in early 2021. What We Know: The Biden administration is extending the transportation mask mandate for an additional 15 days. The U.S. has repeatedly extended the mask mandate during the pandemic. Airlines have urged the Biden administration to drop the…

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WNBA Legend Lisa Leslie this week said that she was advised not to make a “big fuss” over the arrest of WNBA star Brittney Griner, who is currently being held in Russia over her possession of vape cartridges containing hashish oil. “What we were told, and again this is all sort of passed along through hearsay, but what we were told was to not make a big fuss about it so that they could not use her as a pawn, so to speak, in this situation, in the war,” Leslie said in a clip of an interview with the “I am Athlete”…

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Polo G was arrested on in Los Angeles on Monday, TMZ reports. What We Know: According to the outlet, Polo G was arrested after police allegedly found a concealed firearm on the Hall of Fame rapper, which TMZ points out is a felony. The supposed discovery of the firearm occurred when a vehicle Polo G was a passenger in was stopped. It’s currently unclear why the vehicle was pulled over in the first place but it was reported that a male juvenile was also detained during the stop. Polo was similarly arrested while he was in Miami for his Hall of Fame album…

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Cardi B welcomed her and Offset’s second child together on Saturday, September 4. What We Know: “9/4/21,” Cardi, 28, captioned a Monday, September 5, Instagram upload, alongside a blue heart emoji. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cardi B (@iamcardib) The couple announced the Grammy winner’s pregnancy in June at the BET Awards. The “WAP” rapper showed her baby bump in a sheer jumpsuit during a joint performance. The couple welcome Kulture, 3, July 2018. Offset, 29, previously welcomed Jordan, 11, Kody, 6, and Kalea, 6, in previous relationships.

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Pop Smoke has the No. 1 album in America.  The rapper died February 19, 2020. What We Know: A little over a year after the world received his posthumous debut album, Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon, Pop Smoke’s team regrouped to unveil another one, entitled Faith. It arrived earlier this month, with 20 songs and appearances from Kanye West, Pusha T, Rick Ross, The-Dream, 42 Dugg, 21 Savage, Dua Lipa, and many more. A week and a half after its release, Faith just became the second No. 1 album for the late musician. The album debuted atop…

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