‘Interview With The Vampire’ Season 2 Includes Fresh Faces, Places & More Bloody Drama
So it would come as no surprise that Corriyon Bray, a 30-year-Black man, was allegedly beaten by police after he didn’t return a pen to a Georgia police officer during a traffic stop, according to WSB-TV.
Though the incident occurred in December 2023, the footage was just released over the weekend and it shows Bray’s entire encounter with authorities that led to him being tased and having one of his legs broken.
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The body camera video shows the officer hand a pen to Bray, who signed the ticket and then drove away with the officer’s pen. That’s when things escalated.
In the video, you can hear the officer demand Bray return his pen. Instead, Bray held the pen out of the window as he pulled away.
As Bray drove away, you can hear one of the officers yelling, “That motherf****r. He stole my f***ing pen!”
The officers followed Bray to his home where they asked for the pen again. One of the officers says, “Give it to me, or I’m going to tase you.”
Bray claimed that he did not have the pen. This resulted in one of the officers tasing Bray while the other attempted to take him into custody, allegedly breaking his leg in the process.
In response to the footage, Greenville Police Chief Wayne Frazier claims that his officers handled the incident perfectly, telling WSB-TV, “If he had complied, none of this would have happened. Our SOP [standard operating procedures] says verbal, hands-on, less lethal, and lethal, and he followed protocol.”
Bray has plans to file a lawsuit against the officers and says that a normal traffic stop should not have ended in his leg being broken over a pen.
In an effort to highlight the people who are leading colleges and universities across the nation, we at Watch The Yard reached out to Southern University at New Orleans and did an interview with Dana Bailey the 2023-2024 Student Government Association president.
The position of SGA president is a highly respected role and there is a special pride that one takes in being elected by their peers to lead. Bailey, who is majoring in Social Work, is from New Orleans.
We interviewed Dana Bailey, and talked to her about her position, goals, future and what it means to hold this type of leadership position in 2023-2024.
Read the full interview below.
What is the biggest thing you’ve learned as an SGA president so far?
The biggest thing I learned as SGA President is that nothing happens by mistake, and every lesson is an opportunity for improvement and growth.
What made you decide to attend Southern University at New Orleans for undergrad?
Southern University is not only affordable but also a hidden gem. We are a part of the Southern System, which is the ONLY HBCU system in the nation, and here, I was able to tap into my potential while receiving a quality education at an affordable price.
How has Southern University at New Orleans molded you into the person you are today?
Southern University at New Orleans took a student and molded her into a professional scholar. I have achieved many milestones throughout my matriculation, such as becoming the FIRST HBCU White House Scholar, the FIRST Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) Yard Ambassador and Influencer, and so much more. With SUNO, there would not be a “Madam President.”
What specific initiatives have you headed up this year (or are planning) and how do you think they will improve the school and surrounding community?
We [FORCE Admin] are planning voter drives and workshops that will showcase the importance of voting and voter registration drives, where we are encouraging the community and student body to register to vote and get involved in future elections.
How is your SGA administration/school currently working on attending to the mental health of students?
This year, the “FORCE” Administration, “Focused On Rebuilding the Collegiate Experience,” has spearheaded many initiatives such as SUNO Wellness Day. We, [FORCE Admin], have successfully advocated for additional mental health resources and will open a counseling center in the Summer of 2024. We are working to have university Mental Days where students can have excused days to refocus and recharge.
What does leadership mean to you?
Leadership is about inspiring others and leading by example. It’s about understanding one’s strengths and weaknesses while learning to identify the capabilities of others. Being in leadership teaches you that you must leverage strengths to overcome team challenges and accomplish goals. Leadership requires understanding that a group is more than a sum of individual parts. I learned that a good leader encourages and enables people to reach their full potential while providing support every step of the way. Leadership is the stepping stone to more incredible milestones!
We now live in a digital world, what do you think schools need to do to represent themselves online in 2023/2024?
Social media, especially, is vital in higher education. We now live in a world where what we see influences our daily lives, and perception is critical. Intuitions that utilize the digital field allow themselves to not only brand more but be more accessible to potential students who are in the digital arena. More digital branding means more exposure!
Why do you think Watch The Yard is important to Black students and college culture?
I believe Watch The Yard is essential to Black students and college culture because it exposes the nation to the value of a college education and the history and importance of African American Greek life. This platform effectively utilizes social media to showcase different experiences and opportunities for pursuing post-secondary education, especially in HBCUs. Watch the Yard is steadfast in showcasing Higher Education and collegiate excellence.
What do you plan on doing after graduation?
After graduation, I plan to attend grad school at another HBCU, hopefully up North, where it snows! I know I will graduate and walk in the footsteps of excellence, a journey destined for me.
We at Watch The Yard would like to commend Dana Bailey for her work as the SGA president of Southern University at New Orleans.
Share this on Facebook and help us highlight Dana Bailey and Southern University at New Orleans.
Disney has given fans a glimpse into the highly anticipated film “Mufasa: The Lion King,” set to hit theaters on December 20. Offering a fresh perspective on the beloved ruler of the Pride Lands, the film promises an exploration of Mufasa’s unlikely rise to power.
Accompanying the announcement is a captivating trailer, poster, and images, all available for download and sharing, teasing audiences with a taste of what’s to come.
One of the most exciting revelations is the lineup of talent behind the scenes. Award-winning songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda takes the reins in crafting the film’s songs, produced alongside Mark Mancina. Additionally, musical contributions from the likes of Beyoncé, Labrinth, and Ilya Salmanzadeh promise to elevate the film’s soundtrack to new heights.
Miranda expressed his gratitude, acknowledging the rich musical legacy of “The Lion King” franchise and expressing pride in contributing to it. He also praised director Barry Jenkins for his collaboration in bringing Mufasa’s story to life.
The narrative of “Mufasa: The Lion King” unfolds as Rafiki recounts the legend of Mufasa to a young lion cub, Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala. Flashbacks reveal Mufasa’s humble beginnings as an orphaned cub, his chance encounter with a fellow lion named Taka, and their journey alongside a diverse group of companions.
The cast boasts a stellar lineup, with Aaron Pierre taking on the titular role of Mufasa, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. portraying Taka. Tiffany Boone, Kagiso Lediga, and Preston Nyman are among the talented actors lending their voices to the ensemble.
Returning favorites such as Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, and Donald Glover reprise their roles as Pumbaa, Timon, and Simba, respectively. Notably, Blue Ivy Carter makes her debut as Kiara, while Beyoncé Knowles-Carter returns as Nala.
Directed by Barry Jenkins and blending live-action techniques with cutting-edge CGI, “Mufasa: The Lion King” promises to captivate audiences with its stunning visuals and heartfelt storytelling.
Produced by Adele Romanski and Mark Ceryak, with Peter Tobyansen serving as executive producer, the film is poised to reignite the magic of one of Disney’s most beloved classics.
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NEW YORK (AP) — College students taking up space and making demands for change. University administrators facing pressure to get things back under control. Police brought in to make arrests. At other schools: students taking note, and sometimes taking action.
Columbia University, 2024. And Columbia University, 1968.
The pro-Palestinian demonstration and subsequent arrests at Columbia that have set off similar protests at campuses nationwide these days and even internationally aren’t new ground for students at the Ivy League school. They’re the latest in a Columbia tradition that dates back more than five decades — one that also helped provide inspiration for the anti-apartheid protest of the 1980s, the Iraq war protests, and more.
“When you’re going to Columbia, you know you’re going to an institution which has an honored place in the history of American protest,” said Mark Naison, professor of history and African & African American Studies at Fordham University and himself a participant in the 1968 demonstrations. “Whenever there is a movement, you know Columbia is going to be right there.”
Students are aware of the history
It’s part of Columbia’s lore, students taking part in this month’s demonstrations point out — recognized by the school itself in commemorative anniversary programming and taught about in classes.
“A lot of students here are aware of what happened in 1968,” said Sofia Ongele, 23, among those who joined the encampment in response to this month’s arrests.
People listen to a speaker at a pro-Palestinian encampment, advocating for financial disclosure and divestment from all companies tied to Israel and calling for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza, at Columbia University on Sunday in New York. (Photo: Andres Kudacki/AP
The end of an academic year was also approaching in April of that year when students took over five campus buildings. There were multiple reasons. Some were protesting the university’s connection to an institute doing weapon research for the Vietnam War; others opposed how the elite school treated Black and brown residents in the community around the school as well as the atmosphere for minority students.
After several days, Columbia’s president allowed a thousand New York Police Department officers to be brought in to clear most demonstrators out. The arrests, 700 of them, were not gentle. Fists were flying, clubs swinging. Dozens of students and more than a dozen officers were injured.
It’s never been forgotten history. That includes now, when pro-Palestinian students calling on the university to divest from any economic ties to Israel over the war in Gaza set up a tent encampment earlier this month and more than 100 were arrested. It helped spark similar demonstrations at campuses around the country and world.
The storied protest past is one of the reasons Ongele chose Columbia for college and came here from her native Santa Clarita, California. “I wanted to be in an environment where people were indeed socially conscious,” she said.
When it comes to protest, “We have not only the privilege but the responsibility to continue in the shoes of those who came before us,” Ongele said. The goal, she said: to ensure “that we’re able to maintain the integrity of this university as one that is indeed socially aware, one that does have students that do care deeply about what goes on in the world, what goes on in our communities, and what goes on in the lives of the students that make up our community.”
Columbia University officials did not respond to an email asking about the school’s position on the legacy of the 1968 events. Those events, like the current protest, “sparked a huge increase in student activism around the country,” Mark Rudd, a leader of that protest, said in an email to The Associated Press. “Myself and others spent the entire year after April 1968 traveling the country, spreading to campuses the spirit of Columbia.”
Not everyone supports the protests
But the echoes of the past aren’t only in inspiration. Then, as now, the protest had its detractors. Naison said the disruption to campus life, and to law and order, angered many at Columbia and outside of it.
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“Student protesters are not popular people in the United States of America,” he said. “We weren’t popular in the ’60s. We accomplished a tremendous amount. But we also helped drive the country to the right.”
That has a corollary these days with those critical of the protests, who have condemned what they say is a descent into antisemitism. Some Jewish students have said they have felt targeted for their identity and afraid to be on campus and university presidents have come under political pressure to clamp down and use methods like police intervention.
Columbia University President Minouche Shafik had just testified in front of a congressional panel investigating concerns about antisemitism at elite schools when the camp initially went up. Despite her requesting police action the next day for what she called a “harassing and intimidating environment,” Republicans in Congress have called for her resignation.
“Freedom of speech is so important, but not beyond the right to security,” said Itai Dreifuss, 25, a third-year student who grew up in the United States and Israel. He was near the encampment this past week, standing in front of posters taped to a wall of the people who were taken hostage by Hamas in the Oct 7 attack that set off the current conflagration.
That feeling among some students that personal animosity is being directed against them is a difference between 1968 and now, Naison said. That conflict between demonstrators and their decriers “is far more visceral,” Naison asserts, which he says makes this time even more fraught.
“It’s history repeating itself, but it’s also uncharted territory,” he said. “What we have here is a whole group of people who see these protests as a natural extension of fighting for justice, and a whole other group of people who see this as a deadly attack on them and their history and tradition. And that makes it very difficult for university officials to manage.”
FLUSHING, NY – SEPTEMBER 3: Chanda Rubin returns a shot to Venus Williams during the US Open September 3, 2002 at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Flushing, New York.Photo: Al Bello (Getty Images)
Chanda Rubin was a force on the court in the 1990s and early 2000s. Once ranked number 6 in the world, she made it to the semifinals at the 1996 Australian Open and the quarterfinals three times at the French Open.
Rubin, who graduated cum laude from Harvard University, was inducted into the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame in 2009. Since retiring, she’s been a commentator for The Tennis Channel.
UFC fighter Michael Chandler is facing criticism on social media after comments he made about raising his two adopted black sons sparked controversy. Chandler, who is set to headline UFC 303, shared his thoughts on parenting and identity politics during an appearance on The Shawn Ryan Show.
Chandler, known as ‘Iron’ in the octagon, discussed his approach to raising his two adopted sons with his wife. He emphasized the importance of instilling values of character and integrity, regardless of race. “I’m not raising black children, I’m raising children,” Chandler stated. “Whether you are black or you are white, there are certain things about being a man and being a good man when it comes to character and integrity.”
His comments on transcending race and focusing on universal values drew criticism from some quarters of social media. Many users took issue with Chandler’s remarks, arguing that his perspective overlooked the unique challenges black children face in society.
On Twitter, reactions ranged from accusations of racial insensitivity to calls for Chandler to educate himself on the realities of raising black children. Some users argued that dismissing the significance of race in parenting overlooks the importance of cultural identity and the systemic inequalities faced by marginalized communities.
One user tweeted, “As a black person, I can tell you that raising black children requires acknowledging their unique experiences and preparing them to navigate a world that often discriminates against them based on their race. Ignoring race isn’t the answer.”
Another user wrote, “Michael Chandler’s comments reveal a lack of understanding of the complexities of raising black children in a society where racial discrimination persists. It’s not enough to just teach values; we must also equip them to confront and challenge systemic injustices.”
Chandler’s comments sparked a larger discussion on racism, parenting, and prominent individuals’ responsibilities when discussing sensitive matters. While some have praised Chandler’s objectives, others have advocated for a more nuanced approach to recognizing and confronting the reality of racial identity in parenting.
Michael Chandler has yet to reply publicly to the criticism, which is spreading on social media. However, his statements have sparked debate about recognizing and accepting variety in all aspects of life, including family upbringing.
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The Biden administration issued final rules Wednesday to require airlines to automatically issue cash refunds for things like delayed flights and to better disclose fees for baggage or canceling a reservation.
The Transportation Department said airlines will be required to provide automatic cash refunds within a few days for canceled flights and “significant” delays.
Under current regulations, airlines decide how long a delay must last before triggering refunds. The administration is removing that wiggle room by defining a significant delay as lasting at least three hours for domestic flights and six hours for international ones.
Airlines still will be allowed to offer another flight or a travel credit instead, but consumers can reject the offer.
The rule will also apply to refunds of checked-bag fees if the bag isn’t delivered within 12 hours for domestic flights or 15 to 30 hours for international flights. And it will apply to fees for things such as seat selection or an internet connection if the airline fails to provide the service.
A Delta Airlines is seen at its terminal at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on April 13, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Complaints about refunds skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic, as airlines canceled flights and, even when they didn’t, many people didn’t feel safe sharing a plane cabin with other passengers.
Airlines for America, a trade group for large U.S. carriers, noted that refund complaints to the Transportation Department have fallen sharply since mid-2020. A spokesperson for the group said airlines “offer a range of options — including fully refundable fares — to increase accessibility to air travel and to help customers make ticket selections that best fit their needs.”
The group said the 11 largest U.S. airlines issued $43 billion in customer refunds from 2020 through 2023.
The Transportation Department issued a separate rule requiring airlines and ticket agents to disclose upfront what they charge for checked and carry-on bags and canceling or changing a reservation. On airline websites, the fees must be shown the first time customers see a price and schedule.
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The rule will also oblige airlines to tell passengers they have a guaranteed seat they are not required to pay extra for, although it does not bar airlines from charging people to choose specific seats. Many airlines now charge extra for certain spots, including exit-row seats and those near the front of the cabin.
The agency said the rule will save consumers more than $500 million a year.
Airlines for America said its members “offer transparency and vast choice to consumers” from their first search.
The new rules will take effect over the next two years. They are part of a broad administration attack on what President Joe Biden calls “junk fees.” Last week, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced that his department will let state officials in 15 states help enforce federal airline consumer protection laws.
In three weeks, Aswad Thomas, 26, was supposed to be on a plane bound for Holland to live out his dreams of playing professional basketball overseas. The talented young athlete had recently graduated from Elms College in Chicopee, Massachusetts. He was the first man in his family to graduate from college, a fact he was immensely proud of — and his future looked brighter than ever.
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But on August 24, 2009, everything came crashing down.
Thomas was shot twice in the back during an attempted robbery at a convenience store in his neighborhood of Hartford, Connecticut. He survived, but his injuries ended his burgeoning basketball career.
“My doctors and nurses told me about the physical challenges,” reflects Thomas. “But they never told me about the psychological effects of being a victim of gun violence and the traumatic experience of having to live in the same place where you got shot.”
Unfortunately, Thomas wasn’t a stranger to gun violenceor the way the system handles survivors. “I come from a family of victims of gun violence,” explains Thomas. “My father was shot in the 80s. My second oldest brother was shot in the 90s. I have two cousins that were shot as well. I came from a deep-rooted family history of victimization. And the majority of us never got any support services.”
However, Thomas says the cyclical nature of what was happening in his community didn’t fully click until his doctor shared news that would change his entire perspective.
Shocking Revelation
“As my doctor was performing surgery on me, he started to tell me a story of another person he treated four years before me who also came from the same neighborhood,” recalls Thomas.
As the details kept pouring in, Thomas realized he recognized the young man the doctor was describing — he was one of the teens who’d shot him.
At that moment, Thomas felt pity for the teen, who was only 14 years old when he was shot, and only a few years older when he’d shot Thomas. “I strongly feel like his unaddressed trauma, his lack of support services for him and his family played a key role in me getting shot,” he explains.
At the trial, Thomas had a chance to speak with the teen. “I wanted to let him know I wasn’t angry anymore. I wanted to let him know that I forgive him,” he says. “And that whenever he would get out of prison one day, I’d be there to help support him.”
Thomas pleaded with prosecutors to offer the teen a plea deal, which he urged the young man to accept. Instead of 40 years, he was sentenced to six to ten years in prison.
But Thomas didn’t stop there.
With his basketball career over, Thomas decided to dedicate his life to a new dream — combining support for survivors with criminal justice advocacy.
A Voice for Survivors
In the years since the shooting, Thomas, who currently serves as the National Director of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, has worked to advocate for survivors of violent crime.
On Thursday, the Office for Victims of Crime awarded Thomas with the 2024 Office of Victims of Crime Survivors Voices award. The ceremony took place during National Crime Victim’s Rights Week.
Thomas, who also serves as the Vice President of the Alliance for Safety and Justice, says he’s proud of himself for taking all of his “pain and all the trauma” and using it to make a difference. “It’s very hard work, right? You’re organizing people who’ve been through the worst kind of experience you could imagine,” he says. “But it’s the work that’s so needed to make sure that survivors have a support system.”
For Thomas, helping survivors means going deeper than the individual level, it’s also about ending the cycle of violence that occurs in communities all across the United States.
“It’s extremely important for crime victims to uplift what safety looks like to us, and safety isn’t just locking people up and throwing away the key,” he argues.
If we want safer communities we can’t keep pushing the same failed policies, says Thomas. “Safety is actually enrolling people in systems of care by establishing more trauma recovery centers. Safety is about Wearable Solutions that’ve been proven to stop the cycle of violence, he says. “It’s also the community violence intervention programs. It’s more substance abuse and drug treatment programs and most victims want us to prevent crime from happening in the first place and invest in things that make communities safer.”
Grammy-winning country artist Kacey Musgraves reportedly joined forces with global icon Beyoncé for her highly anticipated Cowboy Carter album. Despite their creative synergy, none of Musgraves’ contributions ultimately made it onto the final tracklist.
The revelation came to light during an interview with INK, a producer involved in the album’s creation, who disclosed the intensive one-day session that yielded five songs. “I met Kacey because Parkwood, Beyoncé’s company, sent us down there, and it was (Beyoncé’s) idea for us to just go to Nashville,” INK revealed, highlighting Musgraves’ exceptional talent and the collaborative energy that permeated the studio.
As the buzz surrounding Cowboy Carter reached a fever pitch, Musgraves herself weighed in on Beyoncé’s foray into the country music genre. In an interview with The American Songwriter, Musgraves expressed her nonchalant attitude toward Beyoncé’s artistic exploration, stating, “The more the f—ing merrier. I don’t really care. It doesn’t affect what I’m doing. It doesn’t affect me. I’ve always been just doing my own thing. It’s just fun to watch.”
While the absence of Musgraves’ contributions from the Cowboy Carter tracklist may come as a disappointment to fans eagerly anticipating the fusion of their respective styles, the collaborative effort between two musical powerhouses remains a testament to the boundless creativity and cross-genre experimentation prevalent in today’s music landscape.
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NEW YORK (AP) — When Anna Branch, 37, had her hours at work reduced in 2019, she suddenly noticed ads for an app called EarnIn.
“You know how they get you — the algorithms — like they’re reading your mind,” Branch said. “The ad said I could get up to $100 this week and repay it in my next pay period.”
Branch, who was working as an administrative assistant in Charleston, South Carolina, downloaded the app and added the suggested “tip.” The cash helped her cover expenses until payday, when the app debited the borrowed $100, plus $14 for tip. Five years later, Branch said she still uses the app, as often as once a month.
EarnIn is one of more than a dozen companies that provide this service, billed as Earned Wage Access. The apps extend small short-term loans to workers in between paychecks so they can pay bills and meet everyday needs. On payday, the user repays the money out of their wages. Between 2018 and 2020, transaction volume tripled from $3.2 billion to $9.5 billion, according to Datos Insights.
While Earned Wage Access apps have been around for over a decade, the pandemic and its aftermath boosted their popularity. Some apps have approachable human names — like Dave, Clio, Albert, and Brigit — while others suggest financial freedom: Empower, FloatMe, FlexWage, Rain. The typical user earns less than $50,000 a year, according to the Government Accountability Office, and has experienced the pinch of two years of high inflation.
Anna Branch poses for a portrait Friday, March 29, 2024, in Chattanooga, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Proponents of the apps say they help people living paycheck to paycheck manage their finances and avoid the need for more onerous options, such as payday loans or overdrawing a bank account. But some analysts, consumer advocates and lawmakers say the apps are actually payday loans in a new tech wrapper, and that they can trap users in an endless cycle of borrowing that depletes their earnings.
Critics also say the costs of the loans are not always transparent. Many charge monthly subscription fees and most charge mandatory fees for instant transfers of funds, though there is typically a no-cost option to receive funds in one to three business days. The average APR for a loan repaid in seven to 14 days was 367%, a rate comparable to payday lending, according to a report from the Center for Responsible Lending.
Muddying the waters is the fact that some employers have integrated Earned Wage Access apps into their payroll, with different costs, models, and fee structures. Amazon and Walmart, for example, do not always charge employees for early access to earned wages outside of regular pay periods.
‘They get you hooked’
Sheri Wilkins, 60, who works as a home health aide in College Station, Texas, said she’s used the apps since 2020, and that she feels “dependent on the money.”
The health care contractor that employs Wilkins offers DailyPay, and Wilkins typically uses the app to transfer the amount of that day’s wages ($10.60 an hour) twice a day — once after each of her two shifts, for which she’s paid separately. Each time, she pays a $3.49 fee, for a total of $7 a day. At $35 a week, the app eats up more than three hours of her pay weekly, or a-day-and-a-half’s work per month.
“They get you hooked on having that money,” Wilkins said. “It’s fine and great to have it — to buy groceries and cigarettes — but when it comes time to have your paycheck, it’s only $50-$60.”
Wilkins said she was not aware the app had a free option, which would transfer the money in one to three days. She said the app always directed her to the instant transfer option.
A spokesperson for DailyPay said in a statement that the app offers two options with no fees to most users and a third with what they described as a “small ATM-like fee.”
Matt Bahl, who researches workplace issues for the Financial Health Network, said the growth of the Earned Wage Access industry is a symptom of widespread financial insecurity.
Sheri Wilkins talks about her experience using the DailyPay app outside of the clubhouse at her apartment complex in College Station, Texas on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
“It’s meant to help solve short-term liquidity challenges,” he said. “But if those challenges are the result of insufficient income, it won’t solve them. You can’t ‘tech’ your way out of material deficits.”
The tips
Andrew Lewis, 32, who lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, said he uses EarnIn, in part to meet unexpected expenses. Lewis works as a process technician for an electronics manufacturing company, and said he sometimes uses the app as often as every week, for gas money or something his toddler or wife needs.
Lewis usually pays the “tips” the apps suggest, he said, but he doesn’t “like them that much,” in part because of the messaging.
“Tips keep us running for millions of members like you,” EarnIn’s in-app copy reads. The company says it uses tips to maintain a no-fee option.
“I feel a little guilty because of how they make it sound,” Lewis said.
In 2021, the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation found “users often feel compelled to leave (tips) due to applied pressure tactics like… claiming tips are used to support other vulnerable consumers or for charitable purposes.”
In its report, the department found that borrowers who use Earned Wage Access take out an average of 36 loans a year. On 5.8 million transactions, 73% of consumers paid a “tip,” at $4.09 per tip on average. On three dozen loans, that’s $147 annually in tips alone.
Convenience and no credit check
Penny Lee, head of the Financial Technology Association, an industry group, says more people are turning to Earned Wage Access as a convenience that allows them to make up for the “disconnect between what the consumer needs to be able to spend … and their pay cycle.”
Like Buy Now, Pay Later loans, the apps don’t run credit checks and bill themselves as interest-free. Unlike payday loans or auto title loans, where borrowers pledge their vehicles as collateral, users of the apps don’t face balloon payments, black marks on their credit reports, or the possibility of losing their car if they fail to pay. Supporters also say the apps don’t sue or send collectors after unpaid debts.
The FTA says the average cost per use of an Earned Wage Access app is between $2.59 and $6.27. The companies say the charges are comparable to ATM fees and cheaper than overdraft fees, which people incur if they don’t have enough money left in a checking account to cover a bill before payday. The average overdraft fee is more than $25 and can be as high as $36.
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However, in its report, the Center for Responsible Lending found that users of the apps experienced a 56% increase in checking account overdrafts.
A pivotal moment for regulation
A number of states have moved to regulate Earned Wage Access by capping fees on these products. The industry backs a federal bill, currently before Congress, that would exclude the apps from being regulated by the Truth in Lending Act.
When Connecticut passed a law capping the fees the apps could charge, EarnIn stopped operating in the state. Asked why, EarnIn CEO Ram Palaniappan said it was no longer “economically viable.”
Both California and Hawaii are currently drafting laws to rein in Earned Wage Access fees.
Rep. Bryan Steil, R-WI, one of the federal bill’s backers said, it will “ensure workers across the country can continue to use these services, which help them to better connect work to reward.”
But Hawaii State Sen. Chris Lee, a Democrat who introduced regulation targeting Earned Wage Access in the state Senate, called the 300-plus percentage interest rates a “modern payday loan scheme.” Lee said he would like to see more transparency and worker protections.
Lauren Saunders, an attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, says this a pivotal moment for regulation.
“If (Earned Wage Access) were being used by people to cover one emergency cost a year, it could be better than being subject to overdraft fees or payday or auto title loans,” she said. “But being better than terrible predatory products shouldn’t be the bar.”
