News

Diana Ross is one of the greatest soul icons of all time and after over sixty years in the industry, she continues to grace the stage. Her career kicked off when she was just 15 when she joined the Primettes. Following the success of the group’s live performances, they auditioned for Motown and were signed, ultimately changing their name to The Supremes in 1961. Two years later, they landed their first hit, When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes. The single peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart and Ross would become the lead singer of The Supremes shortly after. 

From there, Ross’ career skyrocketed, with her touring worldwide and even starring in several films. Now at age 80, Diana Ross’ net worth and legacy are solidified. Let’s explore her lengthy career and how she managed to accumulate such a massive empire that is likely to keep growing.

Ross Had Much Success With Motown, Both in a Group and on Her Own

Hakaraia Wilson, an MMA fighter from New Zealand, has died. He was 26.

People reported that, at the time of his death, Wilson was in Gisborne, New Zealand, for the Rhythm and Vines Festival. Police initially responded to what was described as a “sudden death” at the three-day festival.

“The death is not suspicious and has been referred to the Coroner,” authorities said in a statement to Te Ao News.

Wilson’s cause of death has not been revealed.

Fans have taken to social media to share tributes and pay homage to the 26-year-old.

“It’s with profound sadness that we share the passing of a true pillar of our family and community—our brother, Hakaraia Wilson,” the Oliver MMA and Fitness Gym wrote on the company’s Instagram account. “There are no words that can truly capture what we’re all feeling right now.”

Pacific Island content network The Coconet TV honored Wilson by sharing a video of him stretching on the sand and enjoying nature.

“A young, talented & wise Hakaraia Wilson 🕊️” the network wrote in the caption. “Our heartfelt condolences to the aiga and whanau of Hakaraia Wilson who was a promising young MMA fighter. May you rest with the ancestors you spoke so fondly of.”

Wilson’s career kicked off almost five years ago, and TheNew Zealand Herald reported he had a 4-3 pro MMA record. His last fight was a win in October, per the outlet.

At least 10 people were injured in a mass shooting outside of a nightclub in Queens, New York, on Wednesday night, according to the New York Police Department.

A Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas Wednesday morning, killing the vehicle’s driver and injuring several other people nearby. Law enforcement has determined the explosion was intentional and is investigating it as a possible terror attack. The Las Vegas incident is one of two potential terror attacks to occur on New Year’s Day, though no explicit connection has been made between the two events.

Cybertruck Used in Bomb Attack; Elon Musk Assists with Investigation

The explosion outside the Trump International Hotel happened around 8:40 a.m., about an hour after the Cybertruck, rented in Colorado, arrived in Las Vegas, according to authorities. The vehicle reportedly drove up and down Las Vegas Boulevard for an hour before parking in front of the hotel, after which it exploded almost immediately, killing the driver and injuring seven people nearby.

Police have determined that the explosion was intentional; the truck was loaded with explosive material, including firework mortars, gasoline tanks, and camping fuel. A detonator set off the explosion. Despite the presence of so many explosives, the Cybertruck’s body limited the amount of external damage caused by the bomb.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a close advisor to President-elect Donald Trump, emphasized that the driver caused the explosion and was not related to any equipment or features of the Cybertruck itself. Musk has also shared data on the vehicle with law enforcement, including video footage from charging stations, as police track the vehicle and its driver. Turo, the online car rental service used to rent the Cybertruck, is cooperating with the investigation.

As Details Emerge, Many Questions Remain About Las Vegas and New Orleans Attackers

Multiple news outlets have identified the Cybertruck’s driver as 37-year-old Matthew Livelsberger, a Colorado Springs resident. According to sources and social media posts, Livelsberger served in the Army for nearly 20 years, joining the Green Berets as a communications specialist in 2006 and serving in Afghanistan. He reportedly had an active duty assignment to Germany but was on leave in Colorado at the time of the attack. Livelsberger’s wife is reportedly a registered Democrat, but little is known about his political leanings or potential motives.

The Cybertruck blast came only hours after another New Year’s Day terrorist attack in New Orleans. In that incident, a man drove a rented truck into a crowded street and opened fire before being killed by police. The death toll of the New Orleans attack is currently at 15.

The two attacks share some similarities: Both men were Army veterans who served at Fort Bragg and rented their vehicles through Turo. However, these parallels appear coincidental for now; no evidence has emerged linking the two attackers. CNN reported that the New Orleans attacker, identified as Texas-born Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was seemingly radicalized by the terrorist group ISIS and had initially planned to target his estranged family before deciding to carry out the Bourbon Street attack instead. By contrast, Livelsberger has no known connection to ISIS or other radical groups.

As authorities continue their investigations, many details remain unclear about what led these two men to commit these acts. For now, the two attacks combined have marked a tragic start to the new year.

The FBI is investigating after a car in New Orleans plowed into a crowd on Bourbon Street, killing 10 and injuring at least 30.

The agency is currently investigating the incident as an act of terrorism. The suspect has not been identified, but they were killed in a shootout with police shortly after 3:15 a.m., the Associated Press reported.

The injured were taken to five hospitals in the area, per the AP. There were large crowds on Bourbon Street and in the French Quarter to celebrate New Year’s Eve. There have been large crowds in aside from to the NYE festivities as the Sugar Bowl college football game between Georgia and Notre Dame is talking place Wednesday night.

Statement from the FBI

“This morning, an individual drove a car into a crowd of people on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing a number of people and injuring dozens of others,” the FBI’s official statement reads. “The subject then engaged with local law enforcement and is now deceased. The FBI is the lead investigative agency, and we are working with our partners to investigate this as an act of terrorism.”

New Orleans’ mayor, Latoya Cantrell, also referred to the incident as a terrorist attack and said they have been in conversations with the White House.

“President Biden called New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell this morning to offer full federal support following the horrific news that a driver killed and injured dozens of individuals in New Orleans overnight,” says a statement from President Joe Biden. “The President has been briefed on the latest developments by senior FBI and DHS leadership and his homeland security team, and he will continue to be briefed on this incident throughout the day. FBI is leading the investigation and is working closely with local and state officials.”

‘Hellbent on creating the carnage that he did’

New Orleans police said that this was an intentional act and that the suspect wanted to create “carnage.”

 “This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could,” said Anne Kirkpatrick, superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department, as WDSU reported. “He was hellbent on creating the carnage that he did.” WDSU also noted that officials have asked the public to avoid this area of Bourbon Street until further notice while the investigating is going on.

The two police officers were also shot in the attack and are in stable condition, per WDSU. Officials have also been discovering “at least one suspected improvised explosive device at the scene.”

Wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and race-based interference with housing and employment charges led to David Merryman recently being sentenced to 17 years in prison, according to Black Enterprise. The focus of his conviction was his harassing, discriminatory language and […]

Ashlee said the problem started when she and her sister spent a summer with one of her aunts. After the sisters returned home from their visit, Ashlee said the aunt’s partner sent her inappropriate messages. “When I leave her partner, […]

As the New Year approaches, people worldwide embrace traditional superstitions to bring luck, love and prosperity into their lives. From eating a dozen grapes to smashing plates and holding off on doing laundry, some people are superstitious about good fortune.