Jussie Smollett surprises kids in Flint with holiday toy drive, donations

Jussie Smollett took holiday cheer to Flint, Mich., and donated money to kids programs, while also organizing a backpack and toy drive for Christmas.

The visit by Smollett to Flint was a surprise and was done in coordination with youth and environmental activist, Mari Copeny, aka Little Miss Flint. The duo surprised a school with the new toys and backpacks.

READ MORE: Marshawn Lynch spreads Christmas cheer after Seahawks return

In addition to the toy drive, Smollett donated $10,000 to the Flint KIDS program, according to TMZ.

Jussie Smollett Donates $10k to Flint Kids Program https://t.co/XI8oidwJ0p

— TMZ (@TMZ) December 24, 2019

Last year, Smollett donated $125,000 to charities before the holidays, which included Flint KIDS and the Black AIDS Institute.

Parents of the children who recipients to the toys and backpacks from Smollett state the actor was in “great spirits” and made sure to provide to the children a feeling of a complete Christmas.

Smollett is currently counter suing the City of Chicago for malicious prosecution in regard to the attack he allegedly endured back in January.  The Chicago Sun-Times reports lawyers representing the city and the police officers named in the suit are asking for a judge to throw out Smollett’s lawsuit because he could face more criminal charges for what is believed to be a fake hate crime.

The countersuit from Smollett stated the 16-count criminal indictment causes economic harm to the actor along with inflicting “humiliation, mental anguish and extreme emotional distress.”

READ MORE: President Obama’s tweet prompts ‘Merry Christmas, Mr. President’ to trend on Twitter

“Smollett’s criminal proceeding is thus not over — an investigation into his potential crimes is ongoing and criminal charges may well be re-instituted,” the city’s lawyers wrote. “For this reason alone, Smollett’s malicious prosecution claim fails.”

Attorney Dan Webb has been named the special prosecutor for Smollett’s case but will also be investigating Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx for her decision to drop all charges against the Empire star. Foxx has admitted to mishandling the case, stating “Truth is, I didn’t handle it well.”

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South Carolina State Rep. Apologizes for Accusing Military Cadets of Using White Power Hand Signs

South Carolina state Rep. Mandy Powers Norrell, a Democrat from Lancaster, issued an apology Monday after an internal military investigation concluded that the hand signals flashed by a group of cadets during the Dec. 14 Army-Navy game were not white nationalist symbols.

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Marshawn Lynch spreads Christmas cheer after Seahawks return

After injuries ravished its fleet of running backs, the Seattle Seahawks brought back running back Marshawn Lynch, who brought the holiday spirit to his first media appearance on Christmas Eve.

READ MORE: Oakland Raiders’s Marshawn Lynch sits during national anthem, scores touchdown, then sets the internet on fire with throwback pic

Lynch and the Seahawks agree to a deal that will return him to Seattle football for a run that will include the final game of the season against the San Francisco 49ers and the playoffs. The Seahawks have also brought back Robert Turbin, another former running back.

“Happy holidays. Merry New Year. You all have a great day. It’s a great feeling to be back,” Lynch said according to Fox Sports before leaving the podium.

Marshawn Lynch rolling up to the Seahawks facility 😂😂

pic.twitter.com/2vySaXTN1E

— Shed Sports (@shedsports) December 24, 2019

The last time Lynch addressed the media as a member of the Seahawks was before Super Bowl XLIX where he would dance around questions, not wanting to participate in media interviews but knowing he had too. During those sessions, he coined the popular phrase “I’m just here so I won’t get fined.”

The year before that Super Bowl he won a championship alongside Russell Wilson and the Seahawks in a rout of the Denver Broncos. Against the Patriots the following year, head coach Pete Carroll was scrutinized for not giving Lynch the ball in a goal-line scenario to win the game.

ESPN details the Seahawks lost their starter Chris Carson and back up C.J. Prosise to season-ending injuries this past weekend. The battle this weekend with the Niners will crown the NFC West champion.

“He’s an extraordinary person,” coach Carroll said. “He’s just been through so much, and we know him as well as I think you could know a guy, and what he brings and what he offers and all. He brings a lot to the table. He’s as physical of a player as I’ve ever been around, as great of a competitor as I’ve ever been around.”

Marshawn Lynch and the Seahawks have an agreement on a deal, per @AdamSchefter

Beastmode is back. pic.twitter.com/UMfm1DXuR5

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 24, 2019

ESPN also details the Seahawks kept their eye on Lynch for a run-on in case of an injury situation like the one they are currently in.

READ MORE: Marshawn Lynch allegedly calls it quits, retires from the NFL

Prior to signing, Lynch took a physical and participated in a workout, but many are curious about how he will fare on the football field. He was last seen at the RingCentral Coliseum parking lot in Oakland before the last home game there for the Oakland Raiders. He was serving tequila shots to fans. The last time Lynch played was as a member of the Raiders.

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White Iowa woman who ran over teen because she ‘was Mexican’ also hit Black boy

Police say a Des Moines, Iowa woman who ran over a teen girl because she “was a Mexican” has also been charged in another attempted murder case, charged with hitting a 12-year-old Black boy on the same day.

The woman, Nicole Poole Franklin, admitted to intentionally running over a 14-year-old girl, Natalia Miranda, in her car. She was charged with attempted murder last week after the hit, which followed her making “a series of derogatory statements about Latinos,” CNN reports.

READ MORE: Brutal stabbing of Black veteran at Oregon truck stop probed as hate crime

Police in Iowa now say that before Nicole Marie Poole Franklin targeted a 14-year-old girl with her SUV, she also struck a 12-year-old black child in Des Moines https://t.co/zTlmRqY3Pz

— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) December 24, 2019

The 14-year-old wounded in the attack by Franklin states she was walking to school. According to KCCI, she has no returned to school after being in the hospital to take care of her injuries.

“I didn’t do anything,” Miranda said. “I’m just a girl just walking to a basketball game.”

Des Moines Police Sgt. Paul Parizek said before Franklin hit the 14-year-old, she hit the 12-year-old Black boy by jumping a curb. She ran over the boy’s leg and fled the scene. He sustained minor injuries from the attack.

CNN details an hour-and-a-half after hitting the girl, Franklin would use racist slurs at a clerk at a West Des Moines store then throw things at him. The clerk noticed that she was stealing from the store. That incident resulted in an assault, theft and public intoxication charges. Franklin would detail to officers she smoked meth within the past five hours.

The Des Moines Adult Public Defender’s Office has withdrawn from Franklin’s case, but she will receive a new attorney during her hearing for the first attempted murder charge on December 30.

READ MORE: Black Missouri man, 20, killed in shoe sale gone awry

“Looking at the three incidents collectively, the hate-filled motivation is apparent,” Sgt. Parizek said in a statement received by email.

“There is no place in our community (or any other) for this kind of hatred and violence,” Clive, Iowa Police Chief Michael Venema said in a statement.

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Black Missouri man, 20, killed in shoe sale gone awry

A 20-year-old Missouri man was killed in a deal for a pair of shoes that went bad. The Grandview Police Department were called to a home in the Kansas City metropolitan area at 9 p.m. Sunday and discovered Jaylen Blackmon on the sidewalk dead of a gunshot wound, according to The Daily Mail.

READ MORE: Slain Baltimore salon owner feared for her ‘life and business’

Blackmon and his girlfriend had gone to the home to purchase shoes from a teenage boy, the report says. They met outside the house, but upon realizing the shoes were likely fake, Blackmon requested a refund. He was killed while trying to get his money back, the report says. Police are still searching for a suspect in the shooting.

“There are no words to adequately express the heartache we are walking through at this time,” the family said in a statement. “Jaylen was the most tender-hearted, caring, fun-loving and joyful people you could ever meet. He was a friend to everyone and a best friend to all his siblings.”

My cousin was shot and killed yesterday and my family needs help covering expenses. Anything helps, please keep them in your prayers. https://t.co/qlAnoeznea

— ella tarabocchia (@ella0elaine) December 24, 2019

His family said Blackmon loved cars, basketball, and music. The statement also notes that he loved his family, and going to church, among other things.

Blackmon was also a practical joker.

“He was a complete goofball and would light up a room. This senseless murder is a huge and devastating lose [sic] to our family and so many more. The only comfort we have is knowing that he is with Jesus.”

The family told KSHB the murder was “senseless” and have started a GoFundMe page to help with funeral expenses. So far the campaign has raised just under $6,000 of the $8,000 goal.

“Jay’s family and those whom loved him need our prayers and financial support during this terribly hard time,” the campaign reads. “They are unexpectedly having to plan and pay for a funeral. All finances raised will go directly to the Blackmon family for this very purpose.”

READ MORE: Missouri brothers, ages 8, 7, drown in frozen pond after going on bike ride

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