Donald Lee Reynolds was a pastor at High Plains Ministry in North Dakota. Over a 14-year period, he stole nearly $35,000 from his congregation. Now Reynolds is facing 10 years in prison.

According to Grand Forks Herald, “A criminal complaint filed in late October alleges he stole $34,668. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Bishop Terry Brandt of the Eastern North Dakota Synod in Fargo confirmed the document refers to funds allegedly stolen from the High Plains Ministry, a congregation of six churches in northeast North Dakota that consolidated in 2004.” [Read more]

Marsai Martin—best known for her role on the hit show Black-ish—is going to hit a historic milestone in the entertainment industry. According to Pop Sugar, Martin is on track to become the youngest executive producer in Hollywood history.

Martin, 14, stars alongside actresses Regina Hall and Issa Rae in the film Little, the news outlet writes. Aside from playing a lead role in the film, she led behind the camera as well; serving as executive producer for the project. When the film is released in the spring, she will be named the youngest executive producer in Hollywood history. [Read more]

Black women are continuing to break major racial barriers in the realm of academia. According to the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, Kimberly Mutcherson was recently selected to become the dean of Rutgers University’s law school.

Mutcherson’s historic appointment is one of many firsts, the news outlet writes. She is the first woman, the first Black person and the first LGBT individual to serve in this role. Mutcherson started her journey at Rutgers 17 years ago as an assistant professor. She then moved up the ranks and in 2015 was named vice dean of the New Jersey-based university’s law school. [Read more]

Big Boi From Outkast Agreed To Perform With Travis Scott At The Super Bowl

Countless musicians have reportedly turned down performing at the Super Bowl due to the NFL’s ban on Colin Kaepernick. However, Travis Scott, Kylie Jenner‘s baby’s father, was the lone Black artist to say yes. Now, another person has agreed: Big Boi from the legendary hip hop group Outkast.

The NFL said in a statement that he has agreed to perform. Big Boi wrote on Twitter, “ATL let’s get it!” [Read more]

Missy Elliott is a visionary who has and continues to shape music. She’s graced us with pivotal albums like Supa Dupa Fly, Under Construction, and The Cookbook and has penned songs for some of our favorite artists. Elliott—whose real name is Melissa Arnette Elliott—has hit a major career milestone. According to Entertainment Weekly, she will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

The honor is historic, making her the first woman rapper to ever be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the news outlet writes. She’s the third rapper to be inducted. Jermaine Dupri and Jay Z received the honor two years ago. Elliott is humbled by the accolade. “I want to CONGRATULATE all the AMAZING songwriters who have been inducted into the 2019 “Song Writers Hall of Fame,” she posted on Twitter. “Also those who were nominated because their body of work is AMAZING. I AM SO HUMBLY GRATEFUL to now be inducted also.” [Read more]