Damon Jones, — Keith Allison from Baltimore, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 18, 2026

Former NBA Player Damon Jones Set To Plead Guilty In Illegal Gambling Scheme

The former Cleveland Cavaliers player was arrested, along with Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, and Miami Heat player Terry Rozier.

Former NBA player Damon Jones, who is embroiled in an alleged illegal gambling scheme involving other NBA personnel, is reportedly expected to plead guilty after being charged with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy in November.

According to NBC News, Jones, who initially pleaded not guilty to the charges, plans to change his plea when he appears before the judge on April 28. The paperwork was filed in the Eastern District of New York April 16.

Jones was working with the Los Angeles Lakers when he was accused of selling information about a player’s injury to bettors.

The former Cleveland Cavaliers player was arrested, along with Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups (currently on unpaid leave) and Miami Heat player Terry Rozier, for their alleged roles in an illegal gambling scheme. The three men were all arrested Oct. 23 after being accused of partaking in illegal sports betting and rigged poker games.

Authorities say Billups and Jones were paid to participate in the games, with Jones requesting a $2,500 partial prepayment before attending one of the poker games.

Jones, who played with LeBron James in Cleveland and remained close to the Lakers player, allegedly used that relationship to his advantage by allegedly informing bettors of LeBron’s injury ahead of a game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Feb. 9, 2023, according to the indictment. That information was not publicly available.

The former player was also accused of allegedly selling information about another Lakers player just hours before that player was listed as “probable” in the NBA’s injury report. This info was attributed to a game the Lakers played against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Jan. 15, 2024.

Anthony Davis was the only player listed as probable on the injury report. The information provided to the bettors led his co-conspirators to place a $100,000 bet on the game before the injury report was made public.

Suspect, White House Correspondents Dinner, Shooting, trump — (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

by Kandiss Edwards

April 18, 2026

Shocker! Trump Describes White House DoorDash Delivery, Other Stunts, As ‘Tacky’

Trump concluded his remarks by asserting that while his team’s PR tactics might be unconventional, they have helped him win "by landslides."

At an April 16 discussion in Las Vegas, President Donald Trump admitted that a viral White House delivery from a “DoorDash Grandma” earlier this week was “a little tacky” and “embarrassing,” even as he praised the stunt for aiding in him winning “landslide” elections.

Speaking about tax policy, Trump reflected on the afternoon event when Sharon Simmons, a grandmother of 10 from Arkansas, delivered two bags of McDonald’s directly to the Oval Office. The event was staged to highlight the first anniversary of the administration’s “No Tax on Tips” policy.

Simmons said the policy allowed her to keep an extra $11,000, which she said helped to pay for her husband’s cancer treatments. But Trump was not a fan of the orchestrated delivery, CSPAN reported.

“I met a wonderful woman named Sharon Simmons… a grandmother driving DoorDash,” Trump told the crowd. “She delivered McDonald’s to the Oval Office. It was a little bit of a—you know, I mean, to be honest, it was a little tacky,” Trump said.

President Trump on Door Dash delivery to Oval Office: "It was a little tacky." pic.twitter.com/ychnNJLz0f
— CSPAN (@cspan) April 17, 2026

The “DoorDash Grandma” moment was intended to humanize the “One Big Beautiful Bill”—passed earlier this year—but the event drew sharp criticism from economic analysts and media outlets.

Critics argued that a 58-year-old grandmother working gig jobs to cover medical bills for her husband’s Stage 3 cancer is not an example of “flexibility” but rather a “cautionary tale” as ailing elders should not be struggling in the workplace.

Further controversy arose when iternet investigators questioned if Simmons was a paid actress and MAGA plant. The White House maintained she is a legitimate gig worker selected to represent the benefits of the tax policy.

Trump concluded his remarks in Las Vegas by pivoting back to the economy, asserting that while his team’s PR tactics might be unconventional, they have helped him win “by landslides.”

flights delayed, Caribbean, Venezuela, — Photo by Nunzio La Rosa: https://www.pexels.com/photo/airplanes-behind-airport-windows-19821053/

by Kandiss Edwards

April 18, 2026

Flights at O’Hare To Be Reduced And Capped for Summer Travel Season

The Department of Transportation will implement mandatory caps and cuts designed to curb congestion.

There will be significant reduction in flights at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) this summer.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) will implement mandatory caps and cuts designed to curb congestion and chronic delays at one of the nation’s busiest international travel hubs.

The agency cited an urgent need to align flight schedules with the airport’s current staffing and infrastructure capacity. Under the new order, major carriers will be required to trim their daily peak-hour operations.

The move comes after a period of mounting frustration from travelers and a surge in flight cancellations that regulators say have rippled across the entire national airspace system.

“ORD is the busiest airport in America by flight volume, with more than 3,080 flights planned on peak days for summer 2026, which represents a 14.9% peak-day increase over summer 2025. The FAA’s action–known as a scheduling reduction–limits daily operations to 2,708 to prevent a dramatic increase from last summer’s peak daily schedule,” the DOT said in a press release.

DOT officials noted that O’Hare’s role as a primary connection point for both United Airlines and American Airlines means that bottlenecks in Chicago often cause a domino effect of delays in cities from New York to Los Angeles.

Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said the reduction method has been utilized in other major airports, such as JFK and LaGuardia.

“We successfully turned Newark Liberty International into the most on-time airport in the Tri-State Area by fixing telecoms issues at record speed and reducing overcapacity,” Duffy said. “Applying that same strategy at O’Hare, where unrealistic schedules were set to dramatically exceed what they could handle, will reduce delays and make this busy summer travel season a little easier. Along with our work to modernize air traffic control and boost staffing, the Trump administration is using every tool at its disposal to deliver a safe, efficient, and seamless flying experience.”

American Airlines is on board with the changes implemented by the FAA and Department of Transportation and believes it will greatly benefit its customers, the New York Post reported.

“We are grateful to Secretary Duffy, Administrator Bedford, and their leadership teams for acting swiftly to ensure that Chicagoans and all consumers continue to benefit from sensible competition and to help minimize flight disruptions during the busy summer season,” American said in a statement.

The changes will be in place from May 17 to Oct. 24.

Alshon Jeffery — photo credit: Keith Allison, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 17, 2026

Former NFL Player Alshon Jeffery Arrested, Charged With Insurance Fraud

Jeffery, through a representative, maintained his innocence.

Super Bowl-winning Pro Bowl wideout Alshon Jeffery was recently arrested in California and charged with insurance fraud.

According to TMZ Sports, Jeffery was taken into police custody on April 15 and charged with insurance fraud for concealing or failing to disclose an insurance benefit or payment. He is no longer in custody after being booked around 8 a.m. that day. No other details were immediately available.

“Alshon Jeffery categorically denies the allegations that have been reported. The underlying incident was a minor freeway fender bender, and he provided his information at the scene,” his representative, Denise White, the CEO of EAG Sports Management, said in a statement to PennLive. “These are unfounded allegations only, and Alshon has not been convicted of any offense. He will address this matter through the legal process, and he remains confident that the facts will demonstrate this was a misunderstanding and nothing more.”

Jeffery, 36, won an NFL championship in 2017, his first year playing for the Philadelphia Eagles. In Super Bowl LII, he caught three passes for 73 yards and scored a touchdown, helping the Eagles upset the New England Patriots ,41-33.

The wide receiver joined the team following five seasons with the Chicago Bears, who selected him in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Jeffery, a South Carolina native, was an All-American receiver at the University of South Carolina.

After spending four seasons with the Eagles, Jeffery retired after the 2020 season. During his NFL career, he caught 475 passes for 6,786 yards and scored 46 touchdowns.

In 2013, Jeffery caught 89 passes for 1,421 yards and scored seven touchdowns; those stats helped him make the Pro Bowl. The next season, he surpassed 1,000 yards again, catching 85 passes for 1,133 yards and scoring 10 touchdowns.

Sydney Kamlager Dove — photo credit: House Creative Services, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

by Kandiss Edwards

April 17, 2026

Rep. Kamlager-Dove Destroys Donald Trump In New Interview: ‘F*ck His A**’

At the Congressional Progressive Caucus, the congresswoman said that Trump has unfairly prioritized a war that lacks congressional legitimacy and is effectively stealing resources.

Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, (D-CA) delivered a blunt condemnation of President Donald Trump’s $200 billion request to continue the war in Iran and its impact on the national debt.

“Oh my gosh, yes, Stevie Wonder can even see how much this is costing us. Gas prices are going up. It’s almost $10 in California, fertilizer is going up. You name it, the prices have gone up, and this dude, Dr. Jesus, is wanting to spend $2 billion of your money every single day rather than help you get healthcare,” Kamlager-Dove told Meidas Touch.

Kamlager-Dove is no stranger to speaking about the stark divide between domestic needs and defense spending. She frequently points to the rising costs of basic goods as a primary concern. She characterized the administration’s proposed cuts to food assistance and healthcare as evidence of “unconscionable” priorities during a time of economic strain for many American families.

https://twitter.com/ArtCandee/status/2044836481252905006

At the Congressional Progressive Caucus last month, the congresswoman said Trump unfairly prioritized a war that lacks congressional legitimacy and is effectively stealing resources and opportunities from the working class.

“Trump is asking Congress, which never authorized this war in the first place, this dumpster fire, to fund it with no endgame in sight,” she continued. “…This president is messy. And now he is messing with Americans’ lives, our money, and our safety. You’ve already heard from members of what this money could be used for. I’m going to give you some more. You could cover nearly 3 million people on Medicaid for a full year. You could feed over 3 million families through SNAP for a full year. You could build 91,000 affordable housing units in a year.”

Warning of a severe human cost, Kamlager-Dove asserted that the administration’s current budgetary path could have fatal consequences. She told colleagues that “people will die” if the federal safety nets currently on the chopping block are eliminated.

RELATTED CONTENT: For The First Time, NAACP Urges 25th Amendment To Oust Trump—Could It Work?

by Sharelle B. McNair

April 17, 2026

President Donald Trump, A Queens Native, Doesn’t Know What A ‘Corner Store’ Is

"Who the hell wrote that, please?"

While celebrating tax breaks for small businesses as part of his “Big Beautiful Bill Act,” President Donald Trump admitted not knowing what a “corner store” is.

Speaking at a roundtable in Las Vegas during Tax Week, Trump promoted his no tax on tips policy, which pushes larger tax refunds for tipped workers and small businesses. But while reading some of the talking points given to him, he began questioning some things.

“The Great Big Beautiful Bill also slashed taxes on millions of American small businesses, including restaurants, dry cleaners, corner stores….what is a corner store?” the president asked the crowd. “I’ve never heard that term. I know what a corner store is, but I’ve never heard it described… A corner store. Who the hell wrote that, please?”

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Social media users in the comment section were taken aback by Trump not being familiar with the term, which describes a small grocery store, as he was born and raised in Queens, New York, where a corner store is seen at almost the end or beginning of every street.

“You cannot be from New York and not know that. That was deliberate,” @transvilla420 wrote.

@ch0ngkenny wondered how Trump “has all these black friends and doesn’t know what a corner store is?” The sentiment was echoed by newscaster Don Lemon in an Instagram post.

“Wait til he hears the word bodega,” @suegreene22 wrote.

This isn’t the first time Trump has spoken out about how other Americans refer to groceries. In April 2025, during a “Liberation Day” speech, he claimed the term “groceries” was old-fashioned, according to People, and provided his own definition.

“It’s such an old-fashioned term but a beautiful term: groceries,” he said at the time. “It sort of says a bag with different things in it.”

Not knowing what a corner store is, is not a good look for Trump as Americans are struggling to keep cabinets full due to the the rising costs. According to NBC News, though costs of some goods, like eggs, have gone down by 30% since spring 2025, the average price of items like orange juice and beef have increased by 22% and 15%, respectively, during the same timeframe.

Darrell Spencer, Crowned skin, Shark Tank — SHARK TANK - ÒMillion Dollar Offer: See Which Shark Makes a Million Dollar Offer for a Never-Before-Seen Idea!Ó - Bold entrepreneurs step into the Tank to pitch inventive concepts, including wildfire and tornado-proof homes, cologne-infused body butter, an allergy-free caf and specialized traction pads for athletes. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15 (10:02-11:00 p.m. EDT) on ABC. (Disney/Christopher Willard) DARRELL SPENCER

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 17, 2026

Rashaun Williams Invests $500K Into Crowned Skin On ‘Shark Tank’

The Chicago connection came full circle as Crowned Skin secured a $500,000 investment from Rashuan Williams on "Shark Tank."

The burgeoning men’s grooming company Crowned Skin came up big on the latest episode of Shark Tank, securing a $500,000 investment from Rashaun Williams.

The Chicago connection was real as Crowned Skin founder Darrell Spencer, a Chicago native, appeared on the April 15 episode. Bonding with Williams over their Chicago roots, Spencer secured a $500,000 deal for a 10% stake, plus a $ 1-per-unit royalty until $1 million is repaid, AfroTech reports.

“You did a great job. I’m so excited. Your growth, it speaks for itself. You got me out here smelling good,” Williams told Spencer following the onscreen deal.

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A post shared by Shark Tank (@sharktankabc)

Crowned Skin was already gaining major traction before its Shark Tank debut. Spencer scaled the brand to eight figures in under two years, carving out a niche in men’s grooming with its cologne-infused body butters and oils.

The brand has ranked among the top sellers on TikTok Shop, landed in Amazon’s top 10, and secured a national retail deal through Walmart’s Open Call, with a wider rollout set for 2026. It has also partnered with the National Basketball Players Association and expanded to Macy’s online, while earning a spot in Amazon’s Rising Stars campaign.

Spencer quickly grabbed the Sharks’ attention with his numbers, revealing he hit $2 million in a single month through direct-to-consumer sales and surpassed $10 million overall, with projected revenue of $14–15 million and strong traction on TikTok Shop.

Darrelll Spencer, Crowned skin, Shark Tank — SHARK TANK – ÒMillion Dollar Offer: See Which Shark Makes a Million Dollar Offer for a Never-Before-Seen Idea!Ó – Bold entrepreneurs step into the Tank to pitch inventive concepts, including wildfire and tornado-proof homes, cologne-infused body butter, an allergy-free caf and specialized traction pads for athletes. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15 (10:02-11:00 p.m. EDT) on ABC. (Disney/Christopher Willard)
DARRELL SPENCER

He initially sought $500,000 for 5% equity in Crowned Skin, surprising the panel. Kevin O’Leary and Barbara Corcoran countered with a joint offer of $500,000 for 20% plus a royalty structure. Still, Spencer ultimately struck a deal with a fellow Chicago native in a move that left him energized about the brand’s future and its impact on aspiring Black entrepreneurs.

“I feel like I’m in a dream and I haven’t woken up yet,” Spencer said on the show. “I’m most excited about just really being a beacon of hope and being a light for other Black men to see that things that you probably never thought or envisioned that you can do, you can absolutely do it because I’m a living witness to it.”

Zohran Mamdani, rental protections, tenant's rights — Photo credit: Bingjiefu He

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 17, 2026

Trump Accuses Mamdani Of ‘Destroying New York City’ Following Tax Hike On ‘Rich’ Non-Full-Time Residents

"The president and I both want the city to succeed. This is how you do it."

President Donald Trump appears to be taking back his initial support of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani following the mayor announcing a tax hike on non-full-time residents.

The president responded on Truth Social after Mamdani and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul jointly announced a proposed pied-à-terre tax targeting second homes valued at $5 million or more that are not primary residences. The tax would apply only to properties that are neither owner-occupied nor rented out or used by family members.

Trump, a New York City native, views the proposed tax as a setback for his hometown.

“Sadly, Mayor Mamdani is DESTROYING New York! It has no chance! The United States of America should not contribute to its failure,” Trump wrote. “It will only get WORSE. The TAX, TAX, TAX Policies are SO WRONG,” he continued. “People are fleeing. They must change their ways, AND FAST. History has proven, THIS ‘STUFF’ JUST DOESN’T WORK.”

https://twitter.com/PolitlcsUS/status/2044889499914662061

Mamdani remained diplomatic when responding to Trump’s social media rant.

“The president and I both want the city to succeed. This is how you do it. I’ve made it clear to the president and to the public that I am deeply supportive of taxing the rich,” Mamdani said during an April 17 press conference.

Trump’s sharp social media response comes after he struck a more positive tone about Mamdani following their first Oval Office meeting last November. The two met again at the White House in February, with both describing the conversation as productive.

However, their relationship began on rocky ground with Mamdani calling Trump a “despot” during his campaign, while Trump labeled Mamdani a “communist.”

The proposal comes as New York City faces a significant budget shortfall and tries to build on additional state support, including $1.5 billion in proposed aid for the FY2027 budget.

The measure targets ultrawealthy non-residents and global elites who treat New York City real estate as an investment rather than a home, and is projected to generate $500 million annually, a press release states.

Supporters argue the tax would ensure wealthy property owners contribute to city services, even if they don’t live there full-time or pay local income taxes.

“Thanks to the support of Governor Hochul, we are one step closer to balancing our budget by taxing the ultra-wealthy and global elites with a pied-à-terre tax — the first of its kind in our state,” Mamdani said. “Alongside the governor, our administration is fighting every day to make sure we address this fiscal deficit fairly, where the wealthy contribute what they owe and our budget reflects our commitment to the working New Yorkers being priced out of our city.”

HBCU, webinar, mental health event — (Photo; izusek/Getty Images)

by Sharelle B. McNair

April 17, 2026

What Is A ‘Cloud Bob’?! Vogue Tries To Rename The Afro And Black Women Are Fed Up

As the article hit social media, Black women slammed the fashion publication for trying to reshape a staple of Black culture.

Vogue Magazine is being slammed on social media for trying to reframe the “Afro” as a “cloud bob” in an article highlighting hairstyles for thick hair.

In a now-removed section of the article with an image of actress Tracee Ellis Ross with a stunning Afro cut, Vogue attempted to downplay the hairstyle, describing it as a “cloud bob.”

“Defined by hairstylist Tom Smith as a ‘rounded haircut with a soft, airy silhouette,’ the cloud bob plays well with wavy, curly, and coily thick hair that has natural movement and volume,” the article said. “Unlike the sharp, architectural bobs of seasons past, the version is light, weightless, and characterized by its effortless life and movement.”

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A post shared by The Neighborhood Talk (@theneighborhoodtalk)

As the article hit social media, Black women slammed the fashion publication for trying to reshape a staple of Black culture. “It’s 2026, and they’re calling an Afro a “cloud bob,” @lynda_ohhh wrote on X.

https://twitter.com/Lynda_Ohhh/status/2044499937275097191?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2044499937275097191%7Ctwgr%5E0d52d6046ab3629b47047846a892b1e3bf38d4b4%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theroot.com%2Fvogue-slammed-online-after-trying-to-rename-the-afro-2000100383

On Instagram, users criticized Vogue for trying to “gentrify” the hairstyle.

“We’re not going to let them Christopher Columbus the Afro,” @msrobinmason said.

“Rebranding a style that is not even yours to begin with is so audacious it has to be white,” @ellisdecor said.

The crown of the Afro hairstyle has donned the heads of Black women for decades. After being referred to as “nappy,” “woolly,” and “unruly,” the style became popular in the 60s after activists such as Angela Davis, Huey P. Newton, proudly rocked Afros to fight oppression, but later the hairstyle became a symbol for beauty and pride.

“Black activists were agitated with white supremacy and Jim Crow laws, and they wanted to show an outward sign of their frustration toward Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s nonviolent philosophy,” Chad Dion Lassiter, president of the Black Men at Penn School of Social Work, Inc. at the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice, said, according to Ebony.

“The Afro was Black beauty personified without white validation, and it did not care about critics. For many Black men, it was about cool pose and hyper-masculinity in the face of police brutality and constant oppression.”

This isn’t the first time that a publication has attempted to downplay the Afro’s beauty. In 2015, Allure published a tutorial titled, “You (Yes, You) Can Have an Afro, Even If You Have Straight Hair,” featuring white actress Marissa Neitling.

While Vogue has yet to release a statement regarding the backlash, Smith spoke out on Instagram, saying he was never briefed on the topic nor approved the imagery.

“I did not provide or approve the image used,” Smith wrote. “The commentary attributed to me was originally shared in relation to a different haircut and was used here in a different context without my involvement or awareness.”

Robert F. Kennedy Jr, RFK Jr., Trump — (Photos from left: Gage Skidmore/Flickr; Public Domain)

by Jameelah Mullen

April 17, 2026

Rep. Terri Sewell Lambasts RFK Jr. For Comments About ‘Reparenting’ Black Children On ADHD Medications

The congresswoman had some choice words for RFK, Jr.—and she came with receipts.

Alabama congresswoman Terri Sewell confronted Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about remarks he made suggesting that Black children taking ADHD medication be “reparented.”

“In a 2024 podcast interview, you suggested that Black children on ADHD medication should be ‘reparented.’ You said every Black kid is now just standardly put on Adderall, SSRIs, benzos, which are known to induce violence, and that those children are going to have to go somewhere to get ‘reparented,’” Sewell told Kennedy during the secretary’s April 16 testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee.

Kennedy denied making the remarks during his appearance on the Earn Your Leisure Podcast in 2024.

“I don’t even know what that phrase means,” Kennedy claimed. “I’m not gonna answer something that I didn’t say,” the politician said.

Sewell pushed right back. She insisted he did say it and pointed out that he has neither medical training nor any experience parenting a Black child.

“And yet you are suggesting that the federal government should take Black children away from their families and reparent them? And send them off to some wellness farm instead of providing them with evidence-based medical care,” Sewell, a Democrat from Birmingham, said.

Kennedy accused Sewell of fabricating the story, but the congresswoman and her office later provided footage of Kennedy’s appearance on the High Level Conversations podcast, Kennedy made those statements approximately 1 hour 25 minutes into the show.

“Every Black kid is now just standard put on Adderall, SSRIs, benzos, which are known to induce violence,” Kennedy said. “And those kids are going to have a chance to go somewhere and get re-parented—to live in a community where there’ll be no cellphones, no screens.

In the same episode, Kennedy also discussed his plan to open “wellness farms” in rural areas where Americans could go receive free rehabilitation,” legal or illegal drugs,” in which he suggests Black children could work on a “farm” to wean themselves off medication for common mental health conditions.

Removing Black children from their families and placing them in farm labor programs carries an eerie resemblance to a much darker period in American history.