Florida Sentinel Bulletin

Sonya Massey

Sonya Massey, the Illinois woman fatally shot by a deputy while responding to her 911 call, died by homicide due to a gunshot wound to her head, according to an autopsy report released Friday by the Sangamon County coroner.

Though the autopsy report did not state the manner of death, Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon confirmed it was homicide.

“The cause of death; gunshot wound of the head. The manner of death; Homicide,” Allmon told ABC News in a statement.

The bullet that killed Massey, 36, entered at the lower eyelid of her left eye and exited through the posterior left surface of her upper neck, according to the autopsy report.

Massey’s family held a press conference in Springfield, Illinois Friday after the autopsy report was released.

“Sonya meant the world to me. I loved her so much. This tragedy has been so much on my family. Her kids. Her daughter cannot sleep at night,” Shadia Massey, Sonya Massey’s cousin, said. “This is the hardest thing that we have ever been through as a Massey. It just breaks my heart that our family has to go through this.”

Taylor Casey

The family and friends of a Chicago woman who went missing in the Bahamas last month are calling on the United States to intervene in the investigation into her disappearance.

Taylor Casey was last seen on June 19, about two weeks into a monthlong yoga retreat on Paradise Island in Nassau. Her family and friends held a news conference in Chicago on Thursday, Casey’s 42nd birthday, demanding action from the federal government.

“Please help us find Taylor,” Casey’s mother, Colette Seymore, said through tears. “I just want the senators to light a fire under the people in the Bahamas feet so they can correctly search for my child and help to bring my child home.”

Casey’s friends and relatives have been urging Illinois’ senators to pressure the State Department and FBI for help. They said they want U.S. officials to intervene with Bahamian authorities in Casey’s disappearance.

The family and friends of a Chicago woman who went missing in the Bahamas last month are calling on the United States to intervene in the investigation into her disappearance.

Taylor Casey was last seen on June 19, about two weeks into a monthlong yoga retreat on Paradise Island in Nassau. Her family and friends held a news conference in Chicago on Thursday, Casey’s 42nd birthday, demanding action from the federal government.

“Please help us find Taylor,” Casey’s mother, Colette Seymore, said through tears. “I just want the senators to light a fire under the people in the Bahamas feet so they can correctly search for my child and help to bring my child home.”

Casey’s friends and relatives have been urging Illinois’ senators to pressure the State Department and FBI for help. They said they want U.S. officials to intervene with Bahamian authorities in Casey’s disappearance.

Dr. Taylor Dee

Dr. Taylor Dee is an innovative educator, song-singing children’s author, and dynamic entrepreneur. As a former school teacher, she has now launched her own academy and has also created a YouTube Channel that is making waves in the world of education and youth development with her creative way of thinking and passion to empower the next generation.

With a Doctoral Degree in Curriculum and Instruction, a Master’s Degree in Youth Development Leadership from Clemson University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Early/Elementary Education, Dr. Taylor Dee brings a wealth of experience and dedication to her multifaceted career and the understanding of how representation matters in the Educational space.

Transitioning from public school teaching to entrepreneurship, Dr. Taylor Dee took a leap of faith, investing her talents in writing, singing, movement, and literacy for children. Her journey began with the unexpected acquisition of a converted, seatless school bus, which she transformed into a mobile platform for promoting music, movement, and literacy across the Carolinas through her business, BEYOND Fit Kids and TUMBLEBUS. Despite the pandemic-induced closure of this venture, Dr. Taylor Dee pivoted to launch Right Now Works Education and Taylor Dee Kids TV Media. Since then, her YouTube has grown to 4.9K subscribers, with more than 70 videos uploaded and 1,580,768 views and counting.

For more information on Dr. Taylor Dee, visit DrTaylorDee.com or subscribe free to her YouTube channel YouTube.com/@taylordeekidstv

Also, be sure to connect with her @drtaylordee and @taylordeekidstv on Instagram.

Mychal Connolly Jr.,

Nationwide — Mychal Connolly Jr., known affectionately as Mikey, embarked on his entrepreneurial journey with a powerful message: Dreams come true. And dreams are meant to be pursued. During his senior year of high school, his teacher told him it was “unrealistic” for him to be a CEO. From the age of 10, Mikey had aspired to be a CEO, and he responded by asserting that it is realistic.

For more information about Mychal Connolly Jr. and his “Realistic CEO” initiatives, to watch the podcast, buy the book, or book Mikey to speak, visit RealisticCEO.com

For press inquiries, contact myke@realisticceo.com or 413-356-0820.

Now on his Realistic CEO Podcast, Mikey holds interview conversations with successful Founders, CEOs, Presidents, Business Owners, Executives, and Community Leaders to learn from them what it takes to be a successful CEO. He and his father also co-wrote a book entitled I Am a CEO. Realistic CEO, based on his story, to help people never give up on their dreams, no matter what.

Mikey is more than just a budding entrepreneur; he is also an avid basketball player and video game enthusiast. These interests have honed his strategic thinking and team-building skills, essential traits for any aspiring CEO.

Patricia McGill

Nationwide — Meet Patricia McGill, an African American woman from Houston, Texas, who recently celebrated her 80th birthday despite living with sickle cell disease. She is one of the oldest people with this condition, which affects Black people disproportionately.

Diagnosed at the age of 13, McGill surpassed the average life expectancy for someone with sickle cell disease, which is around 52 years. Reflecting on her journey, McGill recalled it all started with frequent and severe illnesses that set her apart from her siblings.

Despite the obstacles, McGill pursued her dreams. In the 1970s, she enrolled at Hampton University, an HBCU in Virginia, to study education. With determination to overcome distance and health challenges, she achieved her goal of becoming a teacher.

Her career spanned 37 years, where she dedicated herself to students with learning disabilities, a cause close to her heart due to her own challenges with orthographic dyslexia.

“I knew there were others like us who needed support and understanding,” McGill told NBC News. “I always made it a point to show them that they were not alone and that they could overcome their challenges.”

McGill, who also became a mother of 3, credits her longevity to her faith, family support, and proactive health practices, such as staying well-hydrated and maintaining a nutritious diet.

Beyond managing her own health, McGill is a vocal advocate for those with sickle cell disease, encouraging openness and raising awareness about the condition. Her recent 80th birthday party doubled as a fundraiser for the Sickle Cell Association of Texas Marc Thomas Foundation, raising $16,000 to support affected children and families.

A Quiet Place: Day One A Quiet Place: Day One , Inside Out 2 and Sony’s Bad Boys: Ride or DieSony’s Bad Boys: Ride or Die put the theaters back into business.

Paramount’s A Quiet Place: Day One not only set a domestic opening record for the franchise, it also did it at the international box office. Of the $98.5M global start, $45.5M is from 59 overseas markets, well exceeding expectations.

Overall, on a like-for-like basis, the offshore result on AQPD1 is 4% above A Quiet Place: Part II. When excluding China, it’s 20% higher.

The launch is also the biggest opening weekend in the franchise in 24 markets including Brazil, France, Mexico, Spain, Thailand, UAE, Portugal, Turkey, Colombia, Malaysia and Vietnam.

As previously noted , Disney/Pixar’s Inside Out 2 crossed the $1B mark globally this frame, and was the biggest movie internationally this weekend with an additional $108M. The worldwide cume is $1,014.8B which includes $545.5M from overseas. It is currently the No. 18 animated film ever at the international box office, and the highest grosser of the year. Still to come on IO2 is Japan on August 1.

Sony’s Bad Boys: Ride or Die topped $300M globally during the week and now counts $332M worldwide.

Daniel Muir

Authorities in Indiana have spent the last two weeks searching for Bryson Muir, the missing 14-year-old son of former Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle Daniel Muir.

Indiana State Police issued a Silver Alert Friday for Bryson, who was last seen by relatives on June 16, with his mom driving him away from his grandmother’s Ohio home.

Within minutes of Bryson’s mother driving off, though, Indiana State Police said her vehicle was stopped by local cops, who said the boy was nowhere to be found.

Authorities recently launched an investigation into the teen’s parents, Daniel and Kristin Muir, after his grandmother provided officials with a photograph allegedly showing the boy’s eye blackened and swollen.

Bryson Muir

Bryson, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs approximately 185 pounds, is believed to be in immediate danger. He was last seen wearing an orange Under Armor shirt and a pair of blue jeans.

His parents have been labeled persons of interest in the case.

His son, Bryson Muir, has not been seen since June 16. FOX 59

Local reports claim the onetime NFL player and his wife told cops they’d be bringing Bryson to Indianapolis State Police headquarters to meet with detectives and prove he was ok. However, they “backed out” of the arrangement an hour before, which state police said “signaled an unwillingness to cooperate.”

The Muirs live in Logansport, on land owned by the Straitway Truth Ministries , a religious sect based in Tennessee that some have called a cult.

The Straitway Truth Ministries website claims the group is a “nation of Hebrew Israelites who are commandment keepers; obedient to Yah and our savior, Jesus the Christ. We are blessed with a vibrant deliverance ministry and life changing truth from a true Jeremiah 3:15 Pastor.”

Hooters

The iconic restaurant started in Clearwater 1983 and has grown to more than 420 locations worldwide. But just like other restaurant chains, Hooters is closing a bunch of restaurant locations including what locals think is the second Hooters location ever made.

They said in a statement “Like many restaurants under pressure from current market conditions, Hooters has made the difficult decision to close a select number of underperforming stores.” Curbside Pickup and delivery services really took a hit on many restaurants throughout the country, but can these closings help current restaurants?

Hooters hasn’t released an official list of the closing restaurants, but according to News Press.com about 40 restaurant locations closed around the country, including at least four in Florida and six in Texas.

This past Sunday employees showed up to work at the location in Lakeland. This is said to be the second location ever, which opened in 1984 and they found that the restaurant was closed.

Tampa Bay Hooters Locations That Are Still Open:

• Petersburg, 4125 4th St N
• Tampa, 4215 W. Hillsborough Ave
• Tampa North, 13606 Bruce B Downs Blvd
• South Tampa, 4420 West Gandy Blvd

Alpha Phi Alpha

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity has announced it will relocate its convention that was scheduled to take place in 2025 due to new laws signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The fraternity’s general president made the announcement on Wednesday and said DeSantis has created “harmful, racist, and insensitive policies against the Black community.”

“Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has an unmatched legacy of social justice, advocacy, and leadership for the Black community,” General President Dr. Willis Lonzer said in a statement. “In this environment of manufactured division and attacks on the Black community, Alpha Phi Alpha refuses to direct a projected $4.6 million convention economic impact to a place hostile to the communities we serve.

“Although we are moving our convention from Florida, Alpha Phi Alpha will continue to support the strong advocacy of Alpha Brothers and other advocates fighting against the continued assault on our communities in Florida by Governor Ron DeSantis.”

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity also said the recent relocation of the convention comes after the State Board of Education approved new academic standards for instruction about African American history last week.

Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. pushed back on assertions by groups such as the Florida Education Association teachers union and the NAACP Florida State Conference that the standards “omit or rewrite key historical facts about the Black experience” and ignore state law about required instruction.