Month: June 2022

Troubling news comes out of San Antonio, Texas today as 51 people have been found dead inside the back of a semi-truck, with more being rushed to hospital in critical condition.

As CNN reports, authorities were alerted to the scene around 6 PM on Monday after a nearby worker overheard a plea for help. Police Chief Bill McManus revealed that the employee discovered the trailer with the doors partially opened, and witnessed people deceased inside.

Migrants from Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras were included in the death toll. It’s been noted that the medical examiner has managed to identify a potential 34 of the 51 victims, though they’ve also asked for help from neighbouring counties due to the high volume of tragedies.

“This is the worst human-smuggling event in the United States. This sheds light on how dangerous human smuggling is,” Homeland Security Investigations Sam Antonio’s acting special agent in charge, Craig Larrabee, told CNN.

“In the past, smuggling organizations were mom and pop. Now they are organized and tied in with the cartels. So you have a criminal organization who has no regard for the safety of the migrants. They are treated like commodities rather than people.”

Jordan Vonderhaar/Getty Images

Three people who were detained away from the trailer site remain in police custody at this time, although their possible collection to the incident remains unclear.

A total of 48 migrants passed away in the trailer, with two more deaths in hospital, though the numbers are subject to change as we get updates on more victim’s conditions. 12 adults and four children were taken alive and conscious to medical facilities on Monday night for treatment.

Those stuck inside didn’t seem to have access to working air conditioning or water with temperatures in the area reaching as high as the low 100s.

President Joe Biden expressed his sympathies in a speech this morning, saying, “Exploiting vulnerable individuals for profit is shameful, as is political grandstanding around tragedy, and my administration will continue to do everything possible to stop human smugglers and traffickers from taking advantage of people who are seeking to enter the United States between ports of entry.”

Tap back in with HNHH later for any updates on the San Antonio mass causality. RIP.

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Muni Long delivered a rousing performance of her hit single “Hrs And Hrs” at the 2022 BET Awards, and now she’s got even more exciting news for her fans. Earlier this week, the singer-songwriter revealed that her Public Displays of Affection Too EP will be hitting streaming platforms this weekend.

The 5-track release is due out on Friday, July 1st via Supergiant/Def Jam Recordings, and will include Muni’s recently released collaboration with Saweetie on “Baby Boo” as well as “Pain” and “Another,” which we’ve already heard (and even spotlighted on our R&B Season playlist).

Other recent successes for the R&B darling include being named MTV’s Global PUSH Artist for the month of June and netting over 200 million streams on one of her most popular singles.

On top of that, her rise to fame helped her come the subject of an ABC News profile, telling the story of how she went from being one of the best-kept behind-the-curtain secret weapon song makers in the industry to a superstar on her own account.

If you didn’t already know, Muni spent years penning hits for artists like Rihanna, Mariah Carey, Madonna, Chris Brown, Ariana Grande, Mary J. Blige, Kelly Clarkson, and Selena Gomez, among others, before her own big break.

Leon Bennett/Getty Images

After having some intimate and open conversations with those that she loves, the 33-year-old –born Priscilla Renea – adopted her new moniker and stepped into the studio (and later onto the stage) with absolute confidence.

“Priscilla is the name I was born with,” the multihyphenate has explained. “I always wanted to be Muni Long though.  She’s fearless.  She has intent.  She is me.”

Tap back in with HNHH this Friday to stream Public Displays of Affection Too, as well as new releases from other hip-hop and R&B hitmakers.

The Martin reunion brought back fond memories of the 1990s hit comedy sitcom that has gone down in television history. Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, Tichina Arnold, Thomas Mikal Ford, and Carl Anthony Payne were the core of the star-studded cast that brought laughs for years, but as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end.

The behind-the-scenes drama between Lawrence and Campbell was said to have aided heavily in the conclusion of the series, but 30 years later, the cast—sans Ford who passed away in 2016—came together for an unforgettable reunion. The re-gathering has sparked conversations of a potential reboot, but during his appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Lawrence didn’t seem to encourage the possibility.

Fallon spent the interview revisiting Martin‘s greatest moments and eclectic characters, and Questlove even joined in on the fun by answering a few trivia questions about the show. When Fallon asked about a reboot, Lawrence seemed hesitant. 

“I think, well, you know, the Martin show was like catching lightning in a bottle and I don’t think we can redo that again,” he said. “I wouldn’t mind working with the cast again on something but I don’t think we can do that again.” Fallon suggested this would be “like the Martin Cinematic Universe,” to which Lawrence said he “would love to see a movie with Sheneneh.”

“We were supposed to do a movie with Sheneneh and Jamie Foxx with [his In Living Color character] Wanda, but that never came about,” Lawrence added. “If we could ever get that together, I think y’all would love this.”

 Watch both clips of Martin Lawrence’s interview below and let us know if you would want to see a Sheneneh-centered movie.

While she’s already done impressive things with KKW Beauty/Fragrance and SKIMS, Kim Kardashian’s latest endeavour has found her diving into the world of skincare with her SKKN By Kim brand.

In the past, the mother of four has been faced with lawsuits when launching new products, and this time around was no exception. As TMZ notes, she’s being sued for trademark infringement by a small, Black and female-owned business in Brooklyn, though her lawyer, Michael Rhodes, insists that the effort is nothing more than a “shakedown.”

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

In a statement obtained by TMZ, Kardashian’s legal counsel explained, “This lawsuit is not what it seems. SKKN By Kim is a new brand that follows in the footsteps of Ms. Kardashian’s successful KKW line of products. Building on independent research and development, her company filed a trademark application to protect the new branded products. This prompted the current shakedown effort.”

“Mid-last year, we received a letter from Beauty Concepts, an esthetician studio in Brooklyn owned by Ms. Lundsford. We applaud [her] for being a small business owner and following her dreams, but that doesn’t give her the right to wrongfully claim that we’ve done something wrong.”

Rhodes pointed out that Lundsford’s shop was run by a single person, and offered facials from just one location. “The salon had no signage and was by appointment only. To our knowledge, Beauty Concepts sold no products under the SKKN+ name,” he added.

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A post shared by SKKN BY KIM (@skkn)

“Beauty Concepts asked that we drop the SKKN name. Of course, we said no. Beauty Concepts then challenged Ms. Kardashian’s trademark applications at the USPTO. Unsurprisingly, the USPTO rejected Beauty Concepts’ own SKKN+ mark saying that “skkn” just means “skin.” Undaunted, Beauty Concepts then tried to make its business seem more than it was – it leased a new storefront, changed its website, etc.”

The reality star’s defence said that they made an attempt to work on a plan of coexistence with Beauty Concepts, though the small business reportedly “didn’t really engage with [them] a lot beyond demanding a lot of money.”

Read the full statement below, and tap back in with HNHH later for any updates on Kim Kardashian’s SKKN trademark lawsuit.

TMZ

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The U.S. Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has stricken fear and anger into the hearts and minds of millions of Americans as they wait to see whether they’ll still have access to legal abortion services in their state or not.

As panic ensues, some have begun stockpiling contraceptive supplies, such as the morning-after pill, though pharmacies across the country announced on Tuesday (June 28) that they have placed limits on the quantity of Plan B consumers are able to purchase per shopping trip.

As The Hill reports, CVS and Rite Aid confirmed a three-per-customer purchase limit on both Plan B One-Step and Aftera (brand-name products for the drug Levonorgestrel). The former noted that they have an “ample supply” of products, although they want to ensure “equitable access” and keep their numbers consistent to avoid any shortages.

Walmart is a bit more lenient, allowing shoppers to take home four to six packages. Their online store still offers some online purchases, though it’s worth noting that the pills won’t be shipped until next month.

Another option, Walgreens, has no restrictions on their morning-after pills, though they’re no longer doing home delivery due to high demand at this time.

While some are struggling to figure out where they’ll get their Plan B supply from, Sukihana dropped by her Instagram feed earlier today to flex her vast collection. “Got all mines, you can’t tell me how many I can buy when I’m the reason everybody supported y’all company,” she wrote in the caption – check it out below, and tap back in with HNHH later for more updates on Roe v. Wade.

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