Echoing Green, Black-Led Women Groups, investors, social media, Fund, blog, network, Innovators, Black Founders, Black Businesses,Kathryn Finney'

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 17, 2025

June Ambrose Named Global Ambassador And Creative Director Of Naturalizer

June Ambrose is fusing fashion and functionality in Naturalizer's newest footwear as the legendary brand's new creative director.

June Ambrose quickly bounced back following her exit from Puma, landing a creative director and global ambassador role at Naturalizer.

Dubbed Naturalizer Sport, Ambrose’s latest venture will launch with three capsule collections set for spring 2026, Hypebae reports. Believing that uncomfortable shoes are simply “rude,” the stylist and designer prioritized blending fashion with functionality, perfectly aligning with Naturalizer’s legacy as the first brand to craft shoes specifically for women’s feet in 1927.

“I created a collection that really feels like it’s for the future of how women want to go through the streets and through life,” Ambrose said during a walkthrough of a Naturalizer showroom.

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A post shared by Hypebae (@hypebae)

Renowned for decades of fashion innovation, Ambrose aimed to create a shoe line that combined the comfort of a sneaker with the elegance of a stiletto pump.

“When you think about sport and footwear, you think sneaker. I wanted to merge those two worlds with comfort first and fashion second,” she explained. “And I approached developing each shoe and style with a character in mind.”

Together, the duo designed stylish yet practical footwear, including lace-up pointed pumps inspired by classic trainers, chunky slip-on models, and sporty strappy flats.

“I wanted it to be multi-generational, multicultural, and be able to attract a consumer who wanted to dance in her pumps, who wanted her sneakers to feel like a fashion statement, and incorporating mesh and that foam cushion sole and last was very important to me,” Ambrose said.

With the new partnership, Ambrose aims to introduce Naturalizer to a new generation of trendsetters, bridging past and present while ushering in a new era of stylish, women-focused footwear.

“The foundation starts with a good pair of shoes. It could start at the top or the bottom,” she said. “Naturalizer was the first company to create a woman’s last (shoe form). There is intention in the DNA of the brand. They understand that a woman’s foot is not a man’s foot.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 17, 2025

What’s Going On With NBA’s Gambling Scandal?

Chauncey Billups and Rozier have both pleaded not guilty to all charges

With Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups (currently on unpaid leave) and Miami Heat player Terry Rozier (also not playing, nor getting paid) having been arrested after allegedly being embroiled in an illegal gambling scheme, one Wall Street Journal writer feels that Billups won’t go to jail. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver spoke about the scandal for the first time since both men were arrested, and what he may do for the Heat since the scandal has removed Rozier from the roster until the situation plays itself out.

The Wall Street Journal‘s Jonathan Shapiro recently wrote that Billups will walk away from the case without going to prison. With the belief that Billups and maybe even Rozier were included in the indictments for publicity purposes. It was also reported that the mafia was involved in the scheme to bilk players. Allegedly using “insider” information from people like Billups, Rozier, and others about NBA players’ status, the info was used to hedge bets. That was one of the schemes alleged.

Both men, among others, were accused of partaking in illegal sports betting and rigged poker games.

Stating that he “used to prosecute federal gambling cases,” Shapiro believes that “none of the Brooklyn cases ever get to trial.”

According to The Associated Press, Silver told reporters he is considering offering the Heat some form of “satisfactory relief” because Rozier is not eligible to play, as no one knows how the case will turn out.

“This is an unprecedented situation,” Silver said.

Since Rozier is technically still on the team’s roster, any financial moves or roster changes that rely on the Heat’s salary structure (based on Rozier’s salary amount) will affect the team.

“We’re going to try to work something through, work this out with them,” Silver said. “But there’s no obvious solution here. I would just say that there’s no doubt at the moment they have a player that can’t perform services for them. … Obviously, he hasn’t been convicted of anything yet, either — but this is an unfortunate circumstance. Sometimes there’s these unique events, and maybe sometimes they require a unique solution.”

Both Billups and Rozier have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 17, 2025

Mother Speaks Out After Son Taken By DHS Is Assaulted In Foster Care ‘My Child Is Not Protected’

A mother whose teenage son was removed from her home by DHS says he has been abused while in the agency’s care.

A mother in Oklahoma is speaking out, sharing a harrowing video of her son after he was assaulted in the foster care facility where he was placed following an incident in which she recorded him throwing rocks at her car.

A now-viral video captures the moment Chaquilla Ta’junea’s teenage son hurled rocks at her car as she and his three younger children cried inside. Ta’junea later wrote on Facebook, in a post shared by The Neighborhood Talk, that the incident was the final straw that led to her son’s removal from her home.

“This is why my son is out of my home,” she wrote. “Multiple episodes like this, and I have 3 younger kids, which you can hear them screaming in the video.”

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A post shared by The Neighborhood Talk (@theneighborhoodtalk)

Ta’junea later confirmed that after reporting the incident, her son was taken into custody by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS), stressing that no abuse or neglect occurred and that he is “just a child who needs help.”

“I’m just a mother working on trying to help my child, regardless if it’s with me or family,” she wrote. “My son is not being protected under DHS custody.”

Days later, Ta’junea shared a follow-up video showing her son bruised and bloodied during a video call, where he apologized and begged to come home after allegedly being physically assaulted at the DHS facility where he was placed. In the clip, she says she is documenting his injuries “in case anything happens” while he remains in state care, and that she is urgently working to have him removed from the foster placement and returned to safety.

“Dis is what DHS allow to go on in foster homes. My child is not protected at all,” she wrote in a post shared online.

Under Oklahoma law, once DHS takes custody of a child, the state assumes full responsibility for that child’s safety, stability, and well-being. Child welfare planning is guided by three core principles: safety, permanency, and overall well-being. Advocates have long raised concerns that older youth in DHS custody are especially vulnerable and often overlooked. Anyone with information or concerns about a child’s safety is urged to report it immediately to both DHS and local law enforcement.

by Kandiss Edwards

December 17, 2025

Dionne Warwick Sued For Allegedly Trying To ‘Walk On By’ Paying Artists Rights Firm

Artists Rights Enforcement Corporation says it is entitled to ongoing payments under a long-standing agreement with Warwick.

Music legend Dionne Warwick is being sued by a royalty management firm that claims it is owed a share of proceeds connected to the use of her song “Walk On By” in Doja Cat’s hit “Paint the Town Red.”

On Dec. 15, the lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York by Artists Rights Enforcement Corporation. The company alleges it negotiated the sample deal that allowed Doja Cat to use Warwick’s 1964 recording. The company says it is entitled to ongoing payments under a long-standing agreement with Warwick, Billboard reported.

According to the complaint cited by the outlet, Warwick entered into an agreement with Artists Rights in 2002, under which the company would enforce and license her rights. In exchange, Warwick would split 50% of recovered royalties and settlements. The lawsuit states that the agreement applied “in perpetuity.”

Artists Rights alleges that it played a central role in securing compensation related to “Paint the Town Red,” which heavily samples “Walk On By.” The firm stated that it “provided resources and assistance to Warwick for decades at no cost to her so that she could obtain fair compensation for her vast body of work, which she had not been receiving.”

Dionne Warwick Sued by Rights Firm Over Doja Cat Sample Deal Fees: ‘Trying to Evade Paying’https://t.co/2fxuLn11Ia
— billboard (@billboard) December 16, 2025

The complaint further alleges that Warwick later attempted to terminate the agreement and instructed music companies to send royalty payments directly to her rather than to Artists Rights.

“After decades of service, Ms. Warwick is now trying to evade paying Artists Rights hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars,” the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit claims Artists Rights’ enforcement efforts increased Warwick’s royalty income by “approximately sixtyfold.” Artists Rights firm is seeking damages, interest, and a court declaration affirming its right to continued payments from Warwick.

Pitchfork reported that neither Doja Cat nor her record label is named as a defendant in the case. Representatives for Warwick did not respond to requests for comment from the outlet at the time of publication.

According to Billboard, the lawsuit adds to broader industry scrutiny around legacy artist contracts and how older agreements are interpreted as catalog recordings generate new revenue through sampling and streaming.

mental health, workplace, personal change, generational change, managers, change, utilize systems, increase communication

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 17, 2025

As Employers Require Workers To Return To Office, Spacing Issues Mount

Desk shortages may reveal more about a company's plans for its workforce.

As social distancing becomes a thing of the past, companies want employees to return to commuting for in-person work. While most employees are following employers’ requests, many have noticed that their work environments literally cannot fit this demand.

This issue has already taken shape at big tech companies like Instagram, which, according to Business Insider, has already had to shift gears in light of desk shortages.

With workers competing for desks to fulfill RTO demands, the issue raises the question of why these mandates remain.

Other big-name companies like AT&T and Amazon are faced with a similar conundrum, with the former previously saying it could not guarantee all employees would have available desk space. The shortage has led to in-office antics among employees to ensure their space, such as JP Morgan employees arriving extra early or leaving possessions on desks to claim them.

What seems to be an easily resolvable issue has yet to be resolved, partially due to poor logistical planning. The mandates are often issued by the highest levels of management, not by those overseeing office spaces, leading to a gap in communication about what is needed to get everyone back in.

Another reason has more sinister undertones. Some experts view the inept seating arrangements as an indicator of a “soft layoff.”

“Having insufficient seating is all part of the plan,” shared Nick Bloom, an economics professor at Stanford University. “If you want a 10% head count reduction, you only need seating for 90% of the folks.”

Other companies opted to downsize their spaces in light of the pandemic-induced remote work environment. However, sourcing a larger office to accommodate these new return-to-office requests takes time, leaving workers to maneuver in the meantime.

Desk shortages are among other issues associated with a brisk shift away from remote and even hybrid work, with Wi-Fi capabilities, desk equipment, and additional meeting rooms also in short supply. Given all these logistical concerns, experts want companies to unpack why they absolutely need everyone back in person.

One corporate culture consultant, Melissa Daimler, says employers are “conflating productivity and effectiveness with proximity,” preferring to see employees actually doing the work even if productivity did not lag during the remote era.

But in an age where remote work persists, the spacing issue could cause more strife in an already fraught job market.

Terence Crawford, Canelo Alvarez, bellts,

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 17, 2025

In Shocking Move, Undefeated Boxing Champ Terence Crawford Retires

"I gave this sport everything I had. I faced the best, moved through weight classes, and made history on my own terms. 42-0."

Terence Crawford, the current No. 1 pound-for-pound five-division champion, is unexpectedly walking away with an undefeated record and open mouths around the sports world.

Crawford, who beat Canelo Alvarez in September to become the undisputed super middleweight champion, revealed his decision to retire on his YouTube channel, saying that he had nothing left to prove.

The champion posted a photo of hanging boxing gloves to accentuate his point.

Walking away as a great with nothing else left to prove. #CrawfordERA #1P4P #3xUndisputed #5DivisionChampion #4xLinealChampion #BWAAFighterOfTheYear #2xEspyAwardWinner https://t.co/GwK3TYnIz6 pic.twitter.com/4DElhAJXIg
— Terence Crawford (@terencecrawford) December 16, 2025

“I gave this sport everything I had. I faced the best, moved through weight classes, and made history on my own terms. 42-0. 3x Undisputed. 5 Division World Champion. No shortcuts. No excuses.”

Crawford insisted that this wasn’t an end.

“This isn’t goodbye to boxing…it’s a thank you. Thank you to my family, my team, my city, and the fans who rode with me through every chapter. Thank you to the sport for shaping the man I am today. The gloves may have come off, but legacy is forever.”

The boxer was recently stripped of his World Boxing Council (WBC) super middleweight title after refusing to pay the sanctioning fees to the organization.

According to ESPN, Crawford leaves with an undefeated record of 42-0, with 31 knockouts. The undisputed super middleweight champion was also the undisputed welterweight champion after knocking out Errol Spence Jr. in July 2023. He became the undisputed junior welterweight champion after defeating Julius Indongo in August 2017.

Crawford has fought in five different weight classes (lightweight, junior welterweight, welterweight, junior middleweight, and super middleweight) and has won 18 major world championships.

He was ranked No. 1 on ESPN’s Top 100 fighters of 2025.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 17, 2025

Rick Ross’ 3rd Book, ‘Renaissance Of A Boss: Notes From A Creative Reawakening,’ On Deck For 2026

"This isn’t just a book; it’s a manual for greatness."

Showing he is still out here “Hustlin,” recording artist Rick Ross is prepping the release of his third book, Renaissance of a Boss: Notes from a Creative Reawakening.

According to People, the book is scheduled for release May 12, 2026.

“This isn’t just a book; it’s a manual for greatness,” Ross told the magazine in a written statement. “I’m cutting out the noise and showing you that when you execute with precision, success is too easy.”

In a social media post, the Florida-bred entrepreneur told his followers “the book is about that journey.”

It’s about rediscovering that fire, the creative process, and what it truly means to be the biggest.

It’s time. For twenty years, we’ve been hustlin’. Now, I’m taking you on a different kind of journey.

I hit the road to find a new spark, asking the big questions and finding answers in unexpected places. This book is about that journey. It’s about rediscovering that fire, the… pic.twitter.com/0EpGqW25Yw

— Yung Rénzél 👑 (@RickRoss) December 16, 2025

In 2020, Ross released Hurricanes: A Memoir. Two years later, he followed up with “The Perfect Day to Boss Up.”

The successful businessman was celebrated in his birthplace, Clarksdale, Mississippi, on June 19, when the town officially renamed a downtown street “Rick Ross Way.” for his various achievements, which include hosting a popular car show in Georgia, the city recognized his achievements.

“The City of Clarksdale is proud to announce the official naming of a downtown street in honor of Grammy-nominated, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and cultural icon Rick Ross,” according to an official statement from the city of Clarksdale. “Clarksdale leaders and community members will gather to celebrate Ross’ contributions and recognize the positive light he has brought to his ancestral hometown.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 17, 2025

Barack And Michelle Obama Had Plans With Rob And Michele Reiner On Night Of Murders

Michelle Obama shared the plans she and Barack Obama had with Rob and Michele Reiner on the night the couple was tragically murdered.

Michelle Obama shared her sorrow over the recent deaths of Rob and Michele Reiner, revealing the plans she and Barack had with the Hollywood couple on the night of the tragic murders.

The former First Lady appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Dec. 15, where she shared that she and her husband, former President Barack Obama, were supposed to see the Reiners the same day they were discovered stabbed to death in their California home.

“We’ve known them for many, many years, and we were supposed to see them that night when we got the news,” Michelle said, before seemingly pushing back at Donald Trump’s controversial remarks about the Reiner’s deaths, saying that Rob suffered from the “crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME.”

“Let me just say this, unlike some people: Rob and Michele Reiner are some of the most decent, courageous people you ever want to know,” she told Kimmel. “They’re not deranged or crazed. What they have always been are passionate people. In a time when there’s not a lot of courage going on, they were the kind of people who were ready to put their actions behind what they cared about. And they cared about their family. And they cared about this country.”

BREAKING: Michelle Obama on Jimmy Kimmel talking about Rob Reiner, and taking clear swipe at Trump. .

“We’ve known them for many, many years and we were supposed to be seeing them that night, and we got the news. Let me just say this, unlike some people: Rob and Michele Reiner… pic.twitter.com/vCkrzheaxx
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) December 16, 2025

Police are investigating the Reiners’ deaths as an “apparent homicide,” and on Monday, authorities confirmed that their son, Nick Reiner, is in custody as a suspect. He has been charged with murder and is being held without bail.

Rob Reiner was a longtime advocate for progressive causes, frequently hosting fundraisers and supporting Democratic initiatives. He was also a vocal critic of Donald Trump, which prompted the president to make pointed remarks about him on Truth Social following Reiner’s death.

“Rob Reiner, a tortured and struggling, but once very talented movie director and comedy star, has passed away, together with his wife, Michele, reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME, sometimes referred to as TDS,” Trump wrote.

Despite fierce criticism from both Democrats and Republicans, Trump stood by his remarks during a medal presentation Monday, telling reporters in the Oval Office that he “wasn’t a fan of Reiner at all.”

“He was a deranged person as far as Trump is concerned,” Trump said.

fentanyl, los angelos county, overdose, drug, resident

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 17, 2025

Trump Formally Classifies Street Fentanyl As A Weapon Of Mass Destruction

Trump labels fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction, though experts doubt it will curb U.S. overdose deaths.

Donald Trump is taking aim at the opioid epidemic by proposing to classify the street drug fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction.

On Dec. 15, the president signed an executive order designating illicit fentanyl and its key precursor chemicals as weapons of mass destruction, NPR reports. While the immediate impact of the order remains unclear, it aims to curb the devastation fentanyl has caused American families—losses Trump said surpass those of many U.S. wars.

“Two to three hundred thousand people die every year, that we know of, so we’re formally classifying fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction,” Trump said.

Although CDC data shows fentanyl caused about 48,000 deaths in the U.S. last year—a 27% decline from the previous year—Trump announced the executive order as part of his broader militarized approach to the war on drugs. He presented it while awarding medals to service members for their “central role in protecting our border.”

“Today I’m taking one more step to protect Americans from the scourge of deadly fentanyl flooding into our country with this historic executive order,” Trump said, adding, “No bomb does what this is doing.”

Most drug policy experts say labeling fentanyl as a WMD is unlikely to reduce street availability or U.S. overdose deaths. Globally, there is only one recorded case—Russia in 2002—of fentanyl being weaponized as a gas, with no such incidents reported in the U.S. Jeffrey Singer, a physician and Cato Institute drug policy expert, noted that U.S. fentanyl deaths result from widespread opioid addiction, not intentional weaponization by cartels.

“I don’t know how you can equate smugglers meeting market demand and selling something illegal to someone who wants to buy it as an act of war,” Singer said.

The executive order expands Trump’s military combat strategy to the U.S. war on drugs, including recent military strikes on suspected drug-running boats and labeling cartels as terrorist groups. There have been 22 strikes in the Caribbean near Venezuela and the eastern Pacific that have killed over 80 people this year.

During a recent appearance in Pennsylvania, Trump claimed the strikes are making Americans safer.

“Every boat that gets hit, we save 25,000 American lives, and when you view it that way, you don’t mind,” Trump said.

However, most experts on criminal cartels and street drugs say that military strikes on speedboats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific are unlikely to significantly reduce overdose deaths in the U.S.

“Killing a drug mule has minimal effect on the flow of drugs, or the systems of criminal organizations,” said Vanda Felbab-Brown, an expert on drug trafficking and addiction at the Brookings Institution.

Last year, drug overdose deaths in the United States fell to their lowest level in five years, though synthetic opioids, mainly fentanyl, contributed to most cases.

by Kandiss Edwards

December 17, 2025

911 Calls Released After Police Say Homeowner Shot 2 Teen ‘Porch Pirates’

Both victims, ages 15 and 16, were shot and are expected to survive, according to Atlanta police.

Newly released 911 calls reveal residents’ concerns after a southwest Atlanta homeowner allegedly shot two teenagers he believed were “porch pirates.”

DeKalb County investigators said homeowner Rakim Bradford opened fire Dec. 16 after seeing what he thought was a package theft outside his home in the Villages of Cascade community.

Both victims, ages 15 and 16, were shot and are expected to survive, according to Atlanta police.

Fox 5 released the 911 calls. According to the outlet, one caller told the operator he found a teenager bleeding from a gunshot wound and relayed advice and offered assistance to the wounded child before he ran away.

“So when the other boy said it was his arm, I told him to take his shirt to go wrap around his arm, you know, to put pressure on him till y’all get here. That’s why I called. I don’t really know what went on,” the caller said.

Police charged Bradford with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, according to court documents. Officers say Bradford left the scene after the shootings but later surrendered to police with the firearm.

“We believe a property crime was occurring, that some packages were being taken off of a front porch,” Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum told reporters “The homeowner did discharge his weapon to stop that theft of the packages.”

DeKalb County police have not yet charged the teens in the incident.

Investigators said that since the theft of property is not a life-threatening crime, Bradford is not free to walk away.

“Anytime a child is injured in our city, we take that very seriously,” Schierbaum said.