Community Tea

President Joe Biden revealed that former President Jimmy Carter asked him to deliver his eulogy. Said Biden, “He asked me to do his eulogy.” During a fundraiser in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif, Biden stopped himself, adding: “Excuse me, I shouldn’t say that.” The Carter Center, Carter’s Atlanta-based nonprofit, declined to comment on Biden’s remarks. The center announced last month that Carter, 98, had entered home hospice care in Plains, Georgia. Carter and Biden have enjoyed a relationship dating back to Biden’s first term as a senator from Delaware in 1976.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell was released from the hospital Monday after treatment for a concussion and will continue to recover in an inpatient rehabilitation facility, a spokesman said. McConnell’s office said his doctors discovered over the weekend that he had also suffered a “minor rib fracture” after he tripped and fell at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Washington on Wednesday evening. “Leader McConnell’s concussion recovery is proceeding well and the Leader was discharged from the hospital today,” McConnell spokesman David Popp said in a statement. “At the advice of his physician, the next step will be a period of physical therapy at an inpatient rehabilitation facility before he returns home.” The Kentucky senator, 81, was at a Wednesday evening dinner after a reception for the Senate Leadership Fund, a campaign committee aligned with him when he tripped and fell. 

Donald Trump said he expects to be arrested Tuesday and called on supporters to protest as a New York grand jury investigates hush money payments to women who alleged sexual encounters with the former president. In a Saturday morning post on his social media platform, Trump said he expects to be taken into custody as the Manhattan district attorney eyes charge in the investigation. Trump would be the first former president ever to be charged with a crime. There is no evidence, however, that prosecutors have made any formal outreach to him. Should Trump be indicted, he would be arrested only if he refused to surrender. Trump’s lawyers have previously said he would follow normal procedure, meaning he would likely agree to surrender at a New York Police Department precinct or directly to Bragg’s office. A Trump spokesperson said Saturday “there has been no notification” of a pending arrest.

A jury in Louisiana has awarded Georgia parents $6.1 million in their federal lawsuit following their son’s death due to hazing at LSU. Stephen and Rae Ann Gruver of Roswell filed the suit in November 2018, about 14 months after their son Max died during a hazing incident at the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house. At the time of his death, he had an alcohol level of .495 — more than six times the legal limit for drivers. “The verdict sends a message about how serious juries take hazing. And rightfully so,” the Gruvers said in a statement released by attorney Jonathon Fazzola. “Our son’s death was senseless and preventable, and the jury’s award reflects how much damage his loss has caused our family. Although the verdict does not — and cannot ever — repair that loss, it is another important step in our mission to end hazing.” After Gruver’s death, then- LSU President F. King Alexander suspended all Greek activities, and the fraternity’s national headquarters also investigated the death and suspended the chapter. 

Reports have emerged that Sean “Diddy” Combs is interested in pursuing ownership in BET Networks, which is in the early stages of being shopped by parent Paramount Global. He would join other interested parties in a stake sale of Paramount assets (including BET’s linear networks, BET+, BET Studios, and VH1). Already expressing interest are fellow moguls Tyler Perry and Byron Allen, who both have also thrown their hats in the ring. Said Combs, “It’s time for @BET to be Black-owned again so we have the power to tell our own stories, control our own narrative! This is not about me, it’s about WE!!!!.” 

Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church will observe its 137th anniversary Sunday. The church has a long history of being the spiritual home for many in the city and in the civil rights movement as it advocated for voting and civil rights, better housing, and economic opportunities. Ebenezer, also sometimes referred to as America’s Freedom Church was founded in 1886, nine years after the end of Reconstruction with 13 members under the leadership of the Rev. John A. Parker, according to the church’s website. Over time the church grew and was led by different pastors, including the Rev. A.D. Williams and the Rev. Martin Luther King Sr. His son, Martin Luther King Jr. later served as a co-pastor of the influential in-town church. After his death, the Rev. A.D. King replaced his brother as Ebenezer’s second co-pastor.

Henri’s Bakery & Deli, which opened in the Marietta Square Market in late 2020 serving sandwiches and salads as well as an array of baked goods, has closed. The restaurant announced the closure of its Marietta location for good with a note attached to the entrance of the store Monday that said, “We were unable to come to terms on a new lease renewal and for that reason have chosen to close our operations at the Marietta Square Market.” Henri’s thanked its customers in the announcement and said it is “actively looking for other locations in the area.

Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A has confirmed plans for a $1 billion expansion that will include restaurant openings in Asia and Europe. The family-owned company — which has grown to more than 2,700 restaurants, but only a relative few overseas — expects to have a presence in five international markets by 2030. During the 1990s, Chick-fil-A launched an expansion in South Africa that lasted only five years. In Great Britain, the company opened a London-area restaurant in 2019, but it closed after local protests over antigay marriage remarks by the former CEO. The company is the third-largest fast-food chain in the United States, according to Technomic Inc., a market research firm. It trails only McDonald’s and Starbucks in sales. The company is privately held and does not release detailed financial information. But officials say its restaurants average $6.3 million in annual sales, despite being closed on Sundays. 

“Dancing With the Stars” host Tyra Banks says she is ready to exit the ballroom after three seasons. The 49-year-old model and TV personality discussed her future on the dance competition on Thursday, telling a TMZ reporter that she is shifting her focus to other ventures, including her ice cream business, SMiZE & DREAM. The former “America’s Next Top Model” host said, “So, you know what? I think it’s time to graduate from the dance floor to the stock market floor.”

The Ezekiel Elliott era in Dallas is coming to an end as the Dallas Cowboys are releasing Elliott, who has four years remaining on a massive six-year, $90 million extension he signed in 2019, according to NFL Media reports. Elliott was arguably the worst starting running back in the league last season, finishing last in the NFL in yards per carry (3.8), tackles avoided (32), and percentage of runs that went for 10-plus yards (7.4%). The former No. 4 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft was set to earn $16.4 million. Cutting Elliott saves the Cowboys $4.86 million. 

Atlanta United 2 announced Wednesday that it had signed midfielder Alan Carleton, a Powder Springs native, to an MLS Next Pro contract through the 2024 season. Atlanta United Academy Director Matt Lawrey said, “Alan has been a talented player for the Atlanta United Academy since joining our original class in 2016. He is a very technically and tactically gifted player who has shown great composure on the ball in the midfield. We are excited to see him continue his development with our MLS Next Pro team this season.”

Novak Djokovic will not be able to enter the country and will not play in the Miami Open after his vaccination exemption status was denied. This will make three straight years where Djokovic does not play in the tournament. He hasn’t played in the tournament since 2019. Tournament director James Blake confirmed the news to Tennis.com. Djokovic has been trying to get back to playing in United States tournaments this year for the first time since 2021, but he’s been unsuccessful. He had to withdraw from the Indian Wells Masters, which has been going on for the past few weeks and ends on Sunday.

The Philadelphia Eagles and former Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota have agreed on a one-year, $5 million contract. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a person with knowledge of the deal told the AP that the deal, which has not been announced, is worth up to $8 million, including incentives. Mariota, who was released by Atlanta last month, will be the backup for Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia. 

The Indianapolis Colts acquired Matt Ryan last March thinking he would help them make a postseason run, maybe even win a Super Bowl. The two sides are now splitting up — and Ryan’s long career could be over. Indy plans to release the quarterback officially Wednesday, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press. The person requested anonymity because the decision has not been announced publicly. By releasing the 37-year-old Ryan, the Colts will save about $17.2 million in salary cap space next season. 

Frozen organic strawberries sold at stores across the U.S., including Costco, Aldi, and Trader Joe’s, have been recalled over the product’s potential link to an outbreak of hepatitis A infections in Washington state. The Food and Drug Administration is advising people not to consume certain frozen strawberry brands after five people who had eaten frozen strawberries last year were later sickened. Two people were hospitalized, according to the federal agency. An FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigation discovered that all five people infected had bought the same brand of frozen organic strawberries before becoming ill. Those berries, which came from a common supplier that imported them from some farms in Baja California, Mexico, “are the likely source of this outbreak,” the CDC said.

Sunbeam announced it is recalling thousands of electric blankets, saying that they can overheat and catch fire. The recall involved 43,000 queen-sized blankets that were sold from September 2022 through January 2023. They were sold online at Amazon and at other small, independent stores nationwide.

Ford is recalling more than 1.5 million vehicles in the U.S. in two actions to fix leaky brake hoses and windshield wiper arms that can break. The largest recall covers nearly 1.3 million 2013 through 2018 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKX midsize cars. The company says in documents posted Friday by safety regulators that the front brake hoses can rupture and leak brake fluid. The second recall covers more than 222,000 F-150 pickups from 2021. The windshield wiper arms can break. 

Honda is recalling a half-million vehicles in the U.S. and Canada because the front seat belts may not latch properly. The recall covers some of the automaker’s top-selling models, including the 2017-20 CR-V, the 2018-19 Accord, the 2018-20 Odyssey, and the 2019 Insight. Also included is the Acura RDX from the 2019-20 model year. 

Oprah Winfrey is credited with saying, ‘Failure is another stepping stone to greatness.’ 

Have a wonderful week and continue to pursue your greatness.