Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Atlanta Dream name Tanisha Wright as Head Coach

The Atlanta Dream today announced industry veteran Tanisha Wright will join the team as head coach. As the fifth head coach in franchise history, Wright brings over 14 years of experience in the league as a player and coach to this role, most recently serving as an assistant coach for the Las Vegas Aces.

“It’s an honor to be chosen as head coach for the Atlanta Dream, and I’m excited to play a role in building a successful organization centered around the player experience,” said Wright. “I have been part of championship teams and understand what it takes to win in this league. I look forward to bringing my talents to this franchise and helping the Dream achieve success.”

As head coach, Wright will be responsible for fostering the growth of the Dream’s players and establishing a culture of integrity and accountability. She comes to the Dream during a pivotal year in which the organization welcomed the new ownership group including WNBA All Star Renee Montgomery, the first former player to become both an owner and executive in the WNBA. Wright’s announcement is yet another positive milestone in building the Dream organization, as former NFL executive Morgan Shaw Parker was recently named President and COO. Earlier this year, the Dream was also named the 2020 ESPN Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year for the players’ remarkable work last year championing social justice efforts that influenced the Georgia Senate election.

“Known for her defensive mindset, emotional intelligence, and grit, we are beyond thrilled that Tanisha Wright is joining the Atlanta Dream,” said Larry Gottesdiener, Owner and Chairman of the Atlanta Dream. “Tanisha demonstrates a rare depth of character that is inspiring, and we can’t wait to see the positive impact she will have on this team.”

“Words cannot express how excited I am for a rising talent like Tanisha to join the Dream,” said Renee Montgomery, Owner and Vice President of the Atlanta Dream. “Tanisha is widely respected across the league, and as with all great leaders, she will set a strong example for our team.”

Wright spent ten seasons as a guard with the Seattle Storm, where she helped lead the team to nine straight playoff appearances, and a WNBA Championship in 2010. During her basketball career, she joined the Charlotte 49ers as an assistant coach, before retiring as a player in 2019. In 2020, the Las Vegas Aces signed her as an assistant coach, where she worked closely with industry leader Bill Laimbeer.

Prior to joining the WNBA, Wright was a three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year at Penn State and was named a First-Team USBWA All-American.

Monday, October 11, 2021

Patrice Andrews named new Durham North Carolina police chief

City Manager Wanda Page has named Patrice V. Andrews as the next police chief of the Durham Police Department (DPD).

Andrews has served as the police chief for the Town of Morrisville Police Department since 2016, and will join the City of Durham on November 1.

According to Page, during the intensive interview process with four finalists, Andrews demonstrated that she is prepared and possesses the right combination of leadership skills, training, and knowledge to lead the Durham Police Department into the future. 

“I am confident that Chief Andrews is the right leader for Durham, where she spent most of her law enforcement career,” said Page. “I am happy to welcome her back to Durham, where she also has deep family roots and developed lasting relationships in the community while working and living here.” 

Page added that throughout the interview process, Chief Andrews consistently demonstrated by her responses that she would be a progressive and innovative 21st century policing leader, while making a strong impression on the members of the diverse interview panel, most whom were Durham community, business, faith-based, and law enforcement leaders.

"I am honored to have been chosen as the next Chief of Police for the Durham Police Department,” Andrews said. “This is a full-circle moment for me during a pivotal time for our city and police department. I am committed to working collaboratively with the City of Durham management team, members of the Durham Police Department, and the entire Durham community to build upon established successes and identify innovative strategies to reduce violent crime while addressing recruiting, retention, and morale. Durham is a vibrant, inclusive community with a rich civil rights history where all are welcome to live, work, and play. I look forward to the future that we will create together." 

Andrews has more than 25 years of experience, most of which were gained at the Durham Police Department as she rose through the ranks, starting as a patrol officer in 1997, walking the beat, advancing to district commander, to captain, where she most notably supervised units within the Criminal Investigation Division, including the Special Victims, Homicide, Domestic Violence, and Fraud units. Additional responsibilities included responding to all major incidents including homicides, and any other incident as assigned by the Executive Command Staff. She also helped put strategies in place to assist the Forensics and Intelligence/Crime Analysis Unit to investigate crimes.

Her experience also includes serving as a sergeant in the DPD’s High Enforcement Abatement Team, which was a street-level gang and narcotics enforcement unit, a detective corporal, investigative corporal, and police corporal as well as an investigator in the DPD’s Special Operations Division.

In 2016, Andrews was selected as the Morrisville Police Chief, where she was responsible for all operations of the department, including the Administration, Patrol Operations and Support Services divisions. There, she led the creation of a multi-phase career development and succession policy while also addressing compression and compensation. She also implemented a body-worn camera program, and worked with surrounding agencies to develop and implement a response to the death of George Floyd, which resulted in Morrisville’s adoption of the Project 8 Can’t Wait recommendations.

Andrews is a 2016 graduate of the Executive Law Enforcement Management from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Academy as well as a 2012 graduate of the Executive Leadership Program from the West Point Leadership Program at Methodist University. She also has a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from North Carolina Central University, and currently serves as General Instructor for the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission.

Andrews is a member of the National FBI Academy Associates Session 263, International Association Chiefs of Police (IACP), National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), North Carolina Police Executives Association North Carolina Chapter – FBI National Academy, North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police, North Carolina Law Enforcement Women's Association, Governor's Crime Commission, Chair of the Governor's Crime Commission Crime Victims Service Committee, and the Governor's Crime Commission School Safety Task Force.

Open forums in English and Spanish were held virtually earlier this year, and an online survey was posted on the City’s website, to obtain feedback on the characteristics the Durham community hoped to see in next police chief. There were also 608 responses collected in an online survey, which was also available in Spanish. 

Jennifer Sewell is missing!

UPDATE: JENNIFER SEWELL HAS BEEN FOUND ALIVE

FORT HOOD, Texas –The Fort Hood Directorate of Emergency Services, commonly known as DES, is seeking the public’s help in locating Fort Hood soldier, Pfc. Jennifer Sewell.

On Oct. 7, Sewell’s unit reported that she failed to report to work. Attempts to contact Sewell by law enforcement, her chain-of-command and her Family have been unsuccessful.

Sewell is an African American female, 5 feet 5 inches tall, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Sewell was last seen leaving her on-post barracks at approximately 4 p.m. on Oct. 7.

Anyone with information related to the location of Sewell or details related to the conditions she went missing should contact the Fort Hood Military Police at (254) 288-1170.

Sunday, October 10, 2021

Andrea Shaw Wins 2021 Ms. Olympia

Andrea Shaw wins the 2021 Ms. Olympia title giving her back to back Olympia titles. She took home $50k in prize money foe her victory.

2021 Ms. Olympia Results

Andrea Shaw, $50,000

Helle Trevino, $20,000

Margie Martin, $10,000

Mona Poursaleh, $5,000

Irene Andersen, $4,000

An interview with the 2021 Ms. Olympia Chamion

Cydney Gillon Is The 2021 IFBB Figure Olympia Winner

Cydney Gillon is now a 5X Figure Olympia champion. Not only that, but she has won the title 5 times in a row from 2017-2021.

Cydney posted this on Instagram following her historic victory on Instagram:

So honored to be the FIRST woman to hold 5 FIGURE OLYMPIA titles!

I work 365 to earn every title and when that work pays off, there are no words to express the feeling of accomplishment.

We did it y’all! Now back to work!!!!

The The 2021 IFBB Figure Olympia Top 5

1. Cydney Gillon – $50,000

2. Natalia Soltero – $20,000

3. Stephanie Gibson – $10,000

4. Jessica Reyes Padilla – $5,000

5. Nicole Zenobia Graham – $4,000

An interview with 2021 IFBB Figure Olympia Winner Cydney Gillon