GettyImages-168625519-1

WNBA star Brittney Griner has officially been sentenced to 9 1/2 years for drug possession and smuggling drugs with criminal intent in a Russian court.Along with her sentencing, Griner was also fined 1 million ruble ($16,000) for conscious drug possession and smuggling. The verdict was made shortly after it was announced that she was found guilty of her crimes. Earlier this year, we reported that Brittney Griner was arrested in Moscow after being stopped by local authorities after they found a number of vape cartridges with cannabis oil in them.Since her arrest, many people have voiced their concerns and support for Griner, including her wife, Cherelle Griner, and NBA basketball star LeBron James. Brittney Griner wrote a letter to President Biden stating that she was scared that she may be a prisoner there forever. "I realize you are dealing with so much, but please don't forget about me and the other American Detainees," she said in her letter. "Please do all you can to bring us home. I voted for the first time in 2020 and I voted for you. I believe in you. I still have so much good to do with my freedom that you can help restore. I miss my wife! I miss my family! I miss my teammates! It kills me to know they are suffering so much right now. I am grateful for whatever you can do at this moment to get me home." President Biden and Vice President Harris spoke to Griner's wife, Cherelle over the phone to assure her that they are working to bring Brittney home safely and as soon as possible.

Brittney Griner Sentenced To Nine Years In Russian Prison

GettyImages-1233293641

It has been two years since the shooting death of Breonna Taylor and the four former and current Louisville police officers have been charged with federal crimes in her death. Kyle Meany, Kelly Goodlett, Joshua Jaynes, and Brett Hankison have all been charged with civil rights and obstruction offenses, unlawful conspiracies, and unconstitutional use of force. The Department of Justice alleged that three of the officers, (Jaynes, Meany, and Goodlett) “knowingly falsified the affidavit used to obtain a search warrant for Taylor’s house. The DOJ also claims that the officers covered up the unlawful raid after Taylor was killed by lying to authorities. Former Louisville police officer, Brett Hankison, was accused of using excessive force during the no-knock raid at Taylor’s home, violating the rights of her and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, and their neighbors. Attorney General Merrick Garland said, “We share, but we cannot fully imagine, the grief felt by Breonna Taylor’s loved ones and all of those affected by the events of March 13, 2020. Breonna Taylor should be alive today.” Taylor’s death along with the death of George Floyd sparked national outrage and protests against police violence and racism. Brett Hankison was taken to trial for shooting into the neighboring apartment when he opened fire in the apartment Taylor shared with her boyfriend. He was found not guilty of wanton endangerment. This is a developing story and we will keep you posted with updates.

Four Louisville Police Officers Were Hit With Federal Crime Charges in Breonna Taylor's Death

shutterstock_1469468927

A shooting occurred at Mall of America.According to a Tweet, Bloomington Police are currently “working an active incident inside” the mall on the northwest side. It also says, “Numerous officers are on scene.“https://twitter.com/BPD_MN/status/1555310460345503746?s=20&t=nyxvlhnKlqj24BAu8UVW8wIn another online message, it’s being reported the Mall of America is currently under lockdown. It says, "Please stay where you are until the lockdown is lifted.”https://twitter.com/mallofamerica/status/1555308604470738944?s=20&t=m7zaRdfeoYYpz9VMs-rBJghttps://twitter.com/TylerReide/status/1555312700221267968?s=20&t=FyfOn0ennmpoUD-QeydjaAStory developing, we’ll keep you updated as more details become available.

Mall Of America Reportedly Locked Down, Police Investigating An 'Active Incident'

GettyImages-8015385181

NBA Legend Bill Russell, one of the greatest basketball players in the history of the sport has passed away at the age of 88. The Boston Celtics legend passed away "peacefully" alongside his wife Jeannine according to a statement written on social media announcing the tragic passing. https://twitter.com/RealBillRussell/status/1553790050839588865?"Bill's wife, Jeannine, and his many friends and family thank you for keeping Bill in your prayers. Perhaps you'll relive one or two of the golden moments he gave us, or recall his trademark laugh as he delighted in explaining the real story behind how those moments unfolded. And we hope each of us can find a new way to act or speak up with Bill's uncompromising, dignified and always constructive commitment to principle. That would be one last, and lasting, win for our beloved #6," part of the statement read. Russell's accolades cannot be overstated. He won the MVP award five times, and is a 12-time All-Star. Yet, his is best known as a champion as he holds 11 championships with the Celtics, which included eight in a row. He also finished with 21,620 career rebounds, a crazy average of 22.5 per game finishing second all -time. The NBA in 2009 renamed the NBA MVP trophy after the legend. He is also the first Black man to coach an NBA and in one of the major sports in 1966.As big of a man he was on the court, he was just as important off the court being involved in issues of racism, especially in the difficult times of the late 1950's and 1960's. He was present at the March on Washington where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famed "I Have A Dream" speech, and also was a big supporter of Muhammad Ali in 1967 after the boxer's refusal to attend the military after being drafted. President Barack Obama awarded him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011.

Basketball Legend Bill Russell Passes Away At 88-Years-Old

GettyImages-1189475527

<h1>Music Executive Chaka Zulu, shot in Atlanta's Buckhead neighborhood.</h1>According to <a href="https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/chaka-zulu-shot-buckhead-atlanta/85-7bcf6c2b-5810-4631-ad45-eeecae1a1f02">11Alive, an Atlanta NBC News affiliate,</a> prominent hip-hop executive Chaka Zulu was shot in the Atlanta neighborhood of Buckhead along with two other people. Around 11:35 pm on Sunday night three men were shot, one of which was killed. Police told 11Alive that the shooting followed an argument outside of a strip mall on Peachtree Road.Chaka Zulu is Co-CEO of Disturbing Tha Peace Records and Ebony Son Entertainment Inc, both of which are based out of Atlanta. Zulu is partially responsible for managing and branding T.I., Ludacris, 2 Chainz, Travis Scott, Iggy Azalea, Outkast, Cee-Lo Green, 8 Ball & MJG, B.O.B., Dj Drama, and Big K.R.I.T, according to the National Black College Alumni Hall Of Fame Foundation. He achieved success working as Ludacris’s manager, even earning some production credits on Luda’s music videos. Authorities have told 11Alive that they “do not have a suspect in custody and have not released the condition of Zulu or the other surviving victim.” News will continue to come out on this case as the investigation advances. Zulu has been a mainstay in Atlanta hip-hop for more than two decades. He’s worked as an on-air talent in Atlanta radio, as well as the front offices of Sony, Universal, and Spotify. One major credit of Chaka Zulu’s is that he’s the director of Ludacris’s <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1798812/">Move Bitch </a>music video. That video has been viewed more than 35 million times on YouTube, and spent multiple weeks in rotation when Move Bitch was on the charts. This was Ludacris’s first song to crack the Billboard Top 10. This news comes just a few weeks after the fatal shooting of <a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/06/06/1103287456/authorities-arrest-suspect-killing-atlanta-rapper-trouble">Atlanta rapper Trouble,</a> and about a month after the arrests of Young Thug and Gunna. HOT 97 will keep you posted on this developing story.

Atlanta Music Executive, Chaka Zulu Shot In Buckhead

GettyImages-1404878261

The Supreme Court has decided to overturn the 1973 decision of Roe v. Wade in a split decision that has become one of the biggest debates in America about abortion.This decision allows states to create their own laws on abortion, with a number across the nation readying a complete ban on abortion.As written by <a href="https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/3523884-supreme-court-strikes-down-roe-v-wade/">The Hill</a>, "the ruling upholds Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban, which directly clashed with Roe’s requirement that states permit abortion up to the point of fetal viability, around 24 weeks. More than two dozen states, primarily in the South and Midwest, are expected to tighten abortion access as a result of Roe falling, including 13 states with “trigger bans” set to take effect automatically or through minimal effort by state officials."What it means for you.<ul> <li>Some states that will trigger laws banning or severely limiting abortion include: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming according to the Guttmacher Institute.<ul> <li><a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/06/24/abortion-laws-by-state-roe-v-wade-00037695">Politico</a> details each state's laws and limits after this decision.</li></ul></li> <li>In 2019, New York passed the Reproductive Health Act, which enshrined Roe v. Wade into state law and allows an abortion to be performed up to 24 weeks of pregnancy. New York Attorney General Tish James made a statement on the decision. “Today’s ruling is a vicious, dangerous, and deliberate attack on our most basic freedom as humans," she said. "Every single person in this country should have the right to make their own decisions about their own bodies. Regardless of the situation at the national level, New York will always be a safe haven for anyone seeking an abortion."</li> <li>Abortion will remain legal in New Jersey after the passing of the <a href="https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/health/2022/06/24/supreme-court-abortion-new-jersey-legal-roe-v-wade-dobbs/7683890001/">Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act</a> which was signed by Governor Phil Murphy on January 13.</li> <li>Justice Kavanaugh rules that states cannot block residents from<a href="https://nypost.com/2022/06/24/live-updates-supreme-court-overturns-roe-v-wade/#22792975"> perusing an abortion</a> in a state where it is legal.</li></ul>We will continue to provide updates as available.

Roe V. Wade Has Been Overturned By The Supreme Court: What It Means

GettyImages-915164976-e1654457430492

What a terrible tragedy.According to <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2022/06/05/metro-boomin-mother-killed-by-husband-commits-suicide-after/?adid=social-twa">TMZ</a>, Leslie Joanne Wayne, the mother of super producer Metro Boomin was reported killed by her partner, who then took his own life. This all happened on Friday night according to their sources.Details seem to be scarce at the moment, as investigators investigate the incident and conduct an autopsy to her official cause of death.Metro Boomin and his family are requesting privacy during this time.Many people from the hip hop community have come out to pay their respects to the family.https://twitter.com/itsthereal/status/1533494652589973504?s=20&t=Fg6NODgWz_TuP7tHiwLoEQhttps://twitter.com/RaeSremmurd/status/1533520366043291649?s=20&t=Fg6NODgWz_TuP7tHiwLoEQhttps://twitter.com/KarenCivil/status/1533489880889561089?s=20&t=Fg6NODgWz_TuP7tHiwLoEQhttps://twitter.com/therealjuicyj/status/1533504303666565121?s=20&t=Fg6NODgWz_TuP7tHiwLoEQhttps://twitter.com/mustard/status/1533518003341471746?s=20&t=Fg6NODgWz_TuP7tHiwLoEQWe send our thoughts prayers to the family at this time.

Leslie Joanne Wayne, Mother Of Metro Boomin Reportedly Killed By Boyfriend

shutterstock_1469990009

Heartbreaking.Yesterday we reported that 18-year-old Salvador Ramos shot and killed at least 20 people including 2 teachers and elementary school students. Texas Governor, Greg Abbott, revealed that the Ramos was killed by the police who reported to the scene at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. “He shot and killed horrifically and incomprehensibly 14 students and killed a teacher,” Abbott said.Abbott continued, “When parents drop their kids off at school, they have every expectation to know that they’re going to be able to pick their child up when that school day ends. And there are families who are in mourning right now. The state of Texas is in mourning with them for the reality that these parents are not going to be able to pick up their parents.”<a href="https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/texas-elementary-school-shooting-05-25-22/index.html">Abbott also revealed </a>that prior to the Uvalde elementary school shooting, the gunman shared his plans on Facebook about 30 minutes before reaching the school. Abbott said in the first message, he wrote: "I'm going to shoot my grandmother."Ramos then said,"I shot my grandmother" and "I'm going to shoot an elementary school," according to Abbott.Our thoughts, prayers and hearts go out all of the victims, and their loved ones.

Texas Mass Shooter Reportedly Shared His Plans On Facebook Before School Shooting

Texas-Shooting

Ebro in the Morning discuss the tragic mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas in which 19 children and two teachers were killed as well as the 18-year-old gunman.

Breaking News

Brittney Griner Sentenced To Nine Years In Russian Prison