Tiffani Lankford, 32, faces a charge of second-degree felony aggravated assault after several videos showed her allegedly beating a female student. https://t.co/UIyuFn005X — FOX 8 New Orleans (@FOX8NOLA) November 10, 2019 Texas Substitute Teacher Arrested After Viral Fight Video A Texas substitute teacher has been fired and charged after she was caught on camera brutally beating a student. Tiffani Shadell Lankford, 32, is charged with second-degree felony aggravated assault after she punched and stomped on the head of a student during class. Cellphone footage shows the violent altercation between the teacher and the pupil that took place at Kyle, Texas’ Lehman High School. ABC 13 reports that a student in the class said Lankford became agitated at the Spanish class and eventually closed in on the victim. There are other angles of the viral video showing the student hitting the teacher first. The local school district said Lankford passed a background check when they hired her in August, added that “there is absolutely no excuse or circumstance that can justify what you see unfold on the video.” The student’s family has obtained legal counsel so presumably, a lawsuit is forthcoming. “We are shocked and disgusted after seeing the abuse and excessive force used in this teacher’s attempt to discipline a special needs child,” said attorney Paul Batrice on behalf of the student’s family. “There is no excuse for this type of behavior. Given this teacher’s alleged criminal history of domestic violence and the video footage that has shaken our community, we have started an investigation into this teacher and Hays CISD in the hopes of ensuring justice for this family and so that no Texas student ever endures such extreme behavior again.” What. A. Mess.
Tiffani Lankford, 32, faces a charge of second-degree felony aggravated assault after several videos showed her allegedly beating a female student. https://t.co/UIyuFn005X — FOX 8 New Orleans (@FOX8NOLA) November 10, 2019 Texas Substitute Teacher Arrested After Viral Fight Video A Texas substitute teacher has been fired and charged after she was caught on camera brutally beating a student. Tiffani Shadell Lankford, 32, is charged with second-degree felony aggravated assault after she punched and stomped on the head of a student during class. Cellphone footage shows the violent altercation between the teacher and the pupil that took place at Kyle, Texas’ Lehman High School. ABC 13 reports that a student in the class said Lankford became agitated at the Spanish class and eventually closed in on the victim. There are other angles of the viral video showing the student hitting the teacher first. The local school district said Lankford passed a background check when they hired her in August, added that “there is absolutely no excuse or circumstance that can justify what you see unfold on the video.” The student’s family has obtained legal counsel so presumably, a lawsuit is forthcoming. “We are shocked and disgusted after seeing the abuse and excessive force used in this teacher’s attempt to discipline a special needs child,” said attorney Paul Batrice on behalf of the student’s family. “There is no excuse for this type of behavior. Given this teacher’s alleged criminal history of domestic violence and the video footage that has shaken our community, we have started an investigation into this teacher and Hays CISD in the hopes of ensuring justice for this family and so that no Texas student ever endures such extreme behavior again.” What. A. Mess.
Source: Atlanta Police Department / Via APD Barron Brantley and his girlfriend Jordyn Jones have been charged in the killing of Clark Atlanta University student and Jones’ roommate Alexis Crawford , days after Crawford reported Brantley for unwanted kissing and touching. One of the pair led investigators to the body of the missing 21-year-old CAU student in a Dekalb County park on Friday. A medical examiner concluded that Crawford died of asphyxiation. RELATED: Missing Clark Atlanta Student Found Dead, Roommate Suspected In Murder “I am so truly sorry that we could not provide you with a better ending,” Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields said, addressing her words to Crawford’s family. Crawford was reported missing on October 30, days after she filed the report against Brantley. She and Jones were “not on speaking terms” according to the report for an unrelated incident. Crawford had also begun sleeping on the couch as opposed to her bedroom since the incident with Brantley where Jones said she later discovered Crawford with “cut panties.” Brantley denied sleeping with Crawford but Crawford reported that Brantley had kissed her neck and grabbed her shoulder at a party, mistaking her for his girlfriend.
Source: Nicky Nelson/WENN.com / WENN Vince Staples let the world know that Ray J is a leader within the culture and it appears he’s using his status to help up his big homie. Reports say that the singer and entrepreneur is angling for a meeting with President Donald Trump in an attempt to pardon former Death Row Records boss, Suge Knight . Daily Mail exclusively reports : Sources tell DailyMailTV the 38-year-old Love & Hip Hop star has been lobbying for Trump to pardon rapper and friend Marion ‘Suge’ Knight, who was convicted of manslaughter in 2018. Knight, 54, was sentenced to 28 years behind bars for injuring Cle Sloan and killing Terry Carter after running over both men at a burger drive-thru in January 2015. He was originally facing 11 years in prison, but his sentence was later doubled under California’s three-strikes law based on his prior convictions. An additional six years was also added for using a vehicle as a deadly weapon in a ‘serious and violent’ felony. A source close to the singer says he is now hoping the president will pardon Knight for his crimes because he believes his friend has learned from his mistakes and is ready to turn over a new leaf. I mean this IS Ray J we’re talking about, so maybe he’ll have the touch to get Knight sprung from the joint. — Photo: WENN
The body of a missing Clark Atlanta University student was found in a park in Dekalb County on Friday, more than a week after she was first reported missing. Alexis Crawford ‘s body was discovered in a park off Columbia Drive. She was last seen by her family on October 30 and she had previously reported unwanted kissing and touching from her roommate’s boyfriend, according to Atlanta Police’s Erika Shields . Breaking News Update: Clark Atlanta Student Alexis Crawford's body has been found. Crawford's roommate and roommate's boyfriend confessed according to sources. Details on their involvement on CBS46 5pm pic.twitter.com/OfvcUupOTl — Tracye Hutchins (@TracyeHutchins) November 8, 2019 Crawford initially filed a police report on October 27th with APD stating that her roommate Jorden Jones, 21, identified as 21-year-old Barron Brantley, had kissed and touched her against her will. She went missing three days later, prompting a massive outpour on social media as to finding her whereabouts. According to CBS46 , sources say the roommate and her boyfriend allegedly confessed to playing a role in Crawford’s disappearance. RELATED: Remains Of Missing Toddler Kamille “Cupcake” McKinney Found In Landfill
More and more each day, it seems as though the youth are setting the tone for what it means to be a brave and loyal citizen. On Tuesday, a freshman high school student in California was tackled to the ground by classmates after authorities said he brought an unloaded handgun to school. Police say the 14-year-old boy took out a small gun during metal shop class at La Habra High School in Orange County. Want Exclusives First? Click Here To Sign Up For Our Newsletter! The school went on lockdown after the unidentified student yielded a .22 caliber gun in front of his classmates. Sgt. Jose Rocha told ABC News : “Two freshmen in the class ran up to him, wrestled him and got the weapon out of his hands.” Text “RICKEY” to 71007 to join the Rickey Smiley Morning Show mobile club for exclusive news. ( Terms and conditions ). Fortunately, all of the students and faculty are safe following the incident. No word on whether or not the student intended to sell the gun, or use it, however it was not loaded. The suspect has since been placed into a juvenile detention center. ALSO TRENDING ON RICKEYSMILEYMORNINGSHOW.COM : Amber Rose Welcomes Her Second Baby Boy [PHOTOS] Keshia Knight-Pulliam Confirms She’s Dating Actor Brad James [PHOTO] Kanye West & Kim K Have Sunday Service At Howard University [VIDEO] Follow @TheRSMS
B lack teenagers across the country are reaching new heights in academia and making history in the process. Months after 14-year-old Sydney Wilson became the youngest student to be admitted into Spelman College , a Washington, D.C.-based teen has hit a major milestone. According to The GW Hatchet , 14-year-old Curtis Lawrence is one of the youngest students to attend George Washington University full-time. At just 14, Curtis Lawrence, is navigating campus life at George Washington University, thanks to a program at his high school called Schools Without Walls. https://t.co/uJCPaIOkam — News4JAX (@wjxt4) September 8, 2019 Lawrence attended a magnet school on the university’s campus called School Without Walls. The school allows high school juniors and seniors to take college courses at the university so that they can earn both a diploma and an Associates of Arts degree. Lawrence was selected to participate in the Associate of Arts Cohort that provides 15 sophomores from the school with the opportunity to earn a degree. Lawrence’s parents were aware that he was gifted from an early age. At 2-years-old he learned how to read and started studying science and math. He skipped several grades during elementary school and middle school and was homeschooled during eighth grade. He then went on to attend School Without Walls which led him to the GW Early College Program. Lawrence plans on fully immersing himself in on-campus activities. He is a member of the African Student Association, the Black Student Union, and the Caribbean Students Association. He’s currently taking courses centered on African history, astronomy, calculus, and geology. “I feel like I was prepared for the academics because Walls is a very rigorous high school, it’s the top high school in D.C., so a lot of the work that we did reflected the work that I’ll be doing here in college,” Lawrence told the news outlet. “Most of the high school experience is replicated at GW for me in some kind of way.” After completing his associate degree at George Washington University, he plans on studying computer science at Florida A&M University. SEE ALSO: 14-Year-Old Sydney Wilson Becomes Youngest Student Accepted Into Spelman #BlackExcellence: 11-Year-Old Academic Standout Dionn Megginson Starts High School [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3039818″ overlay=”true”]
T wo Black women entrepreneurs paid it forward by giving back to students in need at their alma mater. Pinky Cole , the creator of the plant-based burger restaurant Slutty Vegan, and Harlem Hops owner Stacey Lee —both alums of Clark Atlanta University—helped 30 seniors who attend the historically Black college pay off their debt, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. These two women went back to their alma mater and asked for a list of seniors who wouldn’t be able to graduate due to outstanding balances. Then they partnered to clear them. https://t.co/UmdvX9MfAp — #becauseofthemwecan (@Becauseofthem) September 12, 2019 Lee, who founded Harlem’s first-ever Black-owned beer bar, was determined to find a way to assist students who are struggling with the cost of tuition. She contacted Cole to explore ways they could join forces and eliminate financial burdens for students so they’d be able to walk across the graduation stage. Cognizant of how the student debt crisis has hit HBCUs the hardest, the women were motivated to utilize their resources to make a difference in the lives of students of color. Cole and Lee—who are members of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated—connected with the school and asked for a list of seniors who needed to pay off debt so they would be able to graduate. They randomly chose 30 students to help and surprised them on campus to let them know that their outstanding balances have been handled. “God has been so good to us both. It just felt right,” Cold told Because of Them We Can . “Growing up in a single-family household, and being the first to go to college, I know what it feels like to not know where the money is coming from. But there were people who believed in me despite my circumstances and I wanted to be that person for someone else.” Since the inception of her fast-growing business, which has evolved into a staple in Atlanta, she has donated over $100,000 towards the education of college students in need. Entrepreneurs are stepping up to help students of different ages tackle their debt. In June, a Black-owned barbershop in North Carolina raised money to help high school seniors pay off their debt so they would be able to graduate. SEE ALSO: Black-Owned Barbershop Pays Off Debt For Students In Charlotte Billionaire Robert F. Smith Pledges To Eliminate Student Loan Debt For Morehouse’s Class Of 2019 [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3039818″ overlay=”true”]
Source: AAron Ontiveroz / Getty Referee Suspended For 2 Years After Making Student Cut His Locs Before Match After making 16-year-old high school wrestler Andrew Johnson cut his locs in order to compete in his next match, referee Alan Maloney has been suspended for two years. According to reports from USA Today , the announcement was made on Wednesday following a lengthy investigation into the incident that went down on December 19. During a Buena-Oakcrest meet, Maloney forced Johnson to either wear a hair cover, cut his hair, or forfeit his match. According to The Undefeated , the referee told Johnson that his hair was “unnatural,” and the ref only gave him 90 seconds to trim his locs down. A video showing Drew’s hair being cut went viral, and obviously, people were incredibly angry to see what the young man had to go through. Epitome of a team player A referee wouldn't allow Andrew Johnson of Buena @brhschiefs to wrestle with a cover over his dreadlocks. It was either an impromptu haircut, or a forfeit. Johnson chose the haircut, then won by sudden victory in OT to help spark Buena to a win. pic.twitter.com/f6JidKNKoI — Mike Frankel (@MikeFrankelJSZ) December 20, 2018 The Division on Civil Rights worked with the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association to come up with a suitable punishment for Maloney, and has now implemented a revised “Guidance on Race Discrimination Based on Hairstyle.” The new policy indicates that guidelines which previously banned, limitedm or restricted hairstyles closely associated with those of African-American descent are now in violation of New Jersey law. “Student athletes should be able to compete with each other on a level playing field,” New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said in a statement. “Racial discrimination in the enforcement of the rules of any sport is inconsistent with the spirit of fair play.” On top of punishment for the referee who so ignorantly asked the student to cut his dreadlocks, Maloney’s suspension created a tidal wave across the NJSIAA with all referees, coaches, and athletic administrators required to undergo implicit bias training. Wrestling officials will also need to undergo hair discrimination training with a focus specifically on Rule 4.2.1, which addresses concerns over hair length, and not on hairstyle. It’s about time this racist ref gets served with a proper punishment for what he made Andrew Johnson go through.
Source: CHRISTOPHE SIMON / Getty A lot of debate was sparked this past week over a high school swimming decision in Alaska. According to Anchorage Daily News , a Dimond High School swimmer was stripped of her victory last Friday after she was disqualified for a “uniform violation.” The National Federation of High Schools rule says that boys must cover their buttocks while girls must cover their buttocks and breasts with their suits. An official who oversaw Friday’s meet said the referee who disqualified the girl said she could see “butt cheek touching butt cheek.” This was the teen’s one disqualification out of the four races she competed in. Annette Rohde, an official who was present at the dual meet between Dimond and Chugiak, said she “froze in disbelief” when she witnessed the disqualification decision by the referee. “I told her, ‘I need to know how you’re defining this, because this is going to blow up,’” Rohde said. South High swim coach Cliff Murray explained that Anchorage High School coaches were told “that as far as the buttocks region goes, you should not be showing any part of the intergluteal cleft.” He continued, “If you’re in a situation where your suit creeps up, somebody comes over to a coach and says ‘hey, you’ve got an athlete who needs to adjust his or her suit,’ and they have that opportunity to fix it. And if they don’t, there are ramifications.” The school district explained that the disqualified swimmer “ was wearing the approved, school-issued suit during the race.” When news of the disqualification hit the swimming community, West High coach Lauren Langford slammed the decision in a Medium post, saying the girls’ bodies are being “policed.” She continued, “These young swimmers aren’t being punished for wearing their suits in scandalous or provocative ways, but rather, because their ample hips, full chests, and dark complexions look different than their willowy, thin, and mostly pallid teammates. Some will argue this scandal has nothing to do with race. But the issue becomes glaring when officials are overheard acknowledging that white athletes are baring too much skin as well, yet they’ve never been disqualified for a similar violation.” According to KTUU, the disqualified swimmer in question, 17-year-old Breckynn Willis, is of mixed race and is considered one of the school’s most promising athletes. “She’s one of three girls on the Dimond team who look like her,” said Langford . “Everybody else is in same suit, sized to fit, and yet on a team of however many girls she was the only one that got singled out?” Luckily, people in power took into account the backlash and according to Anchorage Daily News , Willis’ disqualification was overturned on Tuesday by the Alaska School Activities Association, the group that oversees Alaska high school sports. They made their decision based on the rule that says when an official finds a uniform violation, they must notify the swimmer’s coach. The ASAA said in a statement, “All evidence gathered, including the statement provided by the official, indicated the official did not notify the coach prior to disqualifying the student.” The Anchorage School District also called the decision to disqualify Willis “heavy-handed and unnecessary” and was “based solely on how a standard, school-issued uniform happened to fit the shape of her body.” They continued, “We cannot tolerate discrimination of any kind, and certainly not based on body shape.” The district said they’re seeking to have the ASAA decertify the official who disqualified Willis and they want revisions to the uniform rule, saying the National Federation of High Schools swimsuit coverage rule “is ambiguous and allows the potential for bias to influence officials’ decisions.”
