doctor, Black Income — (Image: iStock/dragana991)

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 12, 2026

BlackDoctor Launches AI-Powered Update to Improve Health Access for Black Communities

BlackDoctor.org is using AI to improve how Black communities access healthcare resources.

BlackDoctor.org is refreshing its brand with a new platform strategy and a suite of AI-powered tools to close critical gaps in how health information and care reach Black Americans.

On March 11, BlackDoctor Inc., the health and wellness platform behind BlackDoctor.org that has served Black America for more than 20 years, unveiled a new strategy centered on AI-powered wellness tools. The update includes a proprietary clinical simulation platform and a wellness tool, as well as the launch of a new Medical Advisory Board, a podcast, and a video series.

“This launch is about enhancing how health information is built and delivered,” Reginald Ware, chief executive officer of BlackDoctor, said in a press release. “When guidance is generalized from population-level data, it misses how care actually works for Black people. We built this platform to translate that complexity into clear, usable guidance –- so people can act earlier, make informed decisions, and get better outcomes.”

Among the new features is WellBot, a proprietary AI clinical simulation tool that allows healthcare providers to interact with virtual patients from diverse backgrounds while navigating complex diagnostic and social factors. The system analyzes decision-making, communication, and treatment choices, then provides feedback designed to reduce bias and strengthen patient-centered care.

Another addition, Health On Point, is a wellness tool trained on more than two decades of BlackDoctor.org content and insights from Black physicians and health experts. It enables users to ask questions, explore health concerns, and receive guidance to better prepare for medical visits. Together, the tools are designed to reflect how health risks, symptoms, and care decisions affect Black communities.

The platform also expands BlackDoctor Inc.’s healthcare professional network by more than 20,000 practitioners and launches a new Medical Advisory Board to guide its mission of advancing health equity. Additional updates include a new podcast, The Pulse, featuring patient stories from the Black community, and BlackDoctor Sessions, a video series exploring culturally relevant topics in medicine, wellness, and health equity.

“Trust gaps in healthcare aren’t abstract -– they show up as delayed diagnoses, lower adherence, and higher costs,” said Akinwole “Aki” Garrett, President of BlackDoctor. “This platform is built to operate on both sides of that problem. We’re giving consumers tools that reflect how health actually works for them, and we’re giving healthcare practitioners the insight they need to engage Black patients more effectively.”

As part of its broader strategy, BlackDoctor.org will be front and center for major health awareness campaigns, including National Kidney Month and Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, as well as 10 signature live events to drive year-round education, promote preventive screenings, and deliver data-driven health reporting.

Dwight howard, kitty, rape, allegations, sexual assaults respond — Dwight Howard of the Taoyuan Leopard reacts during the T1 League game between TaiwanBeer HeroBears and Taoyuan Leopards at University of Taipei Tianmu Gymnasium on February 19, 2023, in Taipei, Taiwan. (Photo: Gene Wang/Getty Images)

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 12, 2026

Dwight Howard Denies Wife’s Accusation Of Drug Use

'Never done Coke in my life'

The marital issues between NBA Hall of Famer Dwight Howard and his wife, Amber “Amy Luciani,” emerged after she took to social media to accuse the former basketball player of alleged drug use. He has publicly denied the accusation.

According to TMZ Sports, the former Orlando Magic player took to his Snapchat account to respond to his soon-to-be ex-wife’s allegations, which she had revealed on social media.

Howard posted these words to dispute his wife’s recent claim.

“Never done Coke in my life; y’all will believe everything y’all see on the internet lol.”

The latest controversy involving Howard was initiated publicly when Luciani posted a video that went viral when she claimed that child protective services had taken her daughter from her. Amid several other allegations, she blamed this latest issue on cocaine use. As she cries on video, she expresses some of the problems that have arisen since the two got married.

She stated that, although they have had problems, she did not want to leave him. But recently, she has been at her wits’ end over what she has accused him of doing. Luciani also states that Howard has been coaching his son to lie to authorities.

In the video clip, she shows some white powder, seemingly alleging that it was cocaine, and states that she is “losing” her marriage to the use of the drug.

https://twitter.com/Raindropsmedia1/status/2030463934910562783

TMZ also reported that Howard filed for divorce on March 9 after she released the video to the public. The couple has been married for a little over a year, as Howard has stated they got married on Jan. 11, 2025. In the filed paperwork, he stated that the marriage was “irretrievably broken” with no hope of reconciliation.

Luciani told the media outlet that she is also filing for divorce from her husband. She filed for divorce last year but reversed her decision.

Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, PUMA — (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 12, 2026

Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, 3 Children Were At Home During Shooting

Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, 35, has been charged with 14 felonies related to the shooting.

After arresting a woman for shooting at the gates of Rihanna’s home, authorities have revealed that the singer, her boyfriend, A$AP Rocky, and their three children were in the house during the March 8 incident.

According to The Associated Press, the family was gathered in a trailer on the property when Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, 35, allegedly approached the property and started shooting.

There were other family members and staff on the property, but no one was hit by gunfire, according to Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman.

Ortiz has been charged with an attempt on Rihanna’s life, along with 10 counts of assault on a person with a semiautomatic firearm and three counts of shooting at an inhabited vehicle or dwelling, authorities stated. All the charges are felonies.

The three counts of firing at a dwelling were for shooting at Rihanna’s house, her trailer, and a neighbor’s house, prosecutors said.

The 10 assault counts were for the occupants on the property, including Rihanna and her immediate family, two staffers, and two people in the neighboring house. If convicted of all the charges, Ortiz could spend life in prison.

“LA-based celebrities should not be additionally worried because of this,” Hochman said, “in large part because of the response of the police.”

Although Ortiz is in custody, Judge Theresa McGonigle has issued a protective order for her to stay away from Rihanna and Rocky, as well as their home. She is also not allowed to possess any firearms or ammunition.

Ortiz, who hails from Florida, was reportedly placed on involuntary psychiatric hold a few years ago. TMZ reported that her ex-husband’s attorney revealed that Ortiz was involuntarily committed under Florida’s Baker Act before 2023. She was held for 72 hours for a mental health evaluation and treatment.

Ye, Kanye West, Kamala Harris, Trump — Photo by Gotham/GC Images

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 12, 2026

Ye Ordered to Pay Former Staffer $140K Over Malibu Mansion Fallout

Ye must shell out $140,000 to the former project manager who claimed wrongful termination and breach of contract.

Ye has been ordered to pay a former employee $140,000 in a breach-of-contract lawsuit tied to his $57 million Malibu mansion.

The ruling came on March 11 after a Los Angeles jury found the hip-hop mogul liable for breaching his agreement with former employee Tony Saxon, who had been hired to oversee a major home renovation, Fox 11 reports.

The verdict stems from a two-week trial and a lawsuit Saxon filed in September 2023 against Ye, alleging the rapper agreed to pay him $20,000 a week to oversee the extensive renovation. Saxon said the rap/fashion mogul hired him to serve as “full-time security” and a live-in caretaker for the property.

According to his testimony, Ye allegedly told him, “Stay here now. You can’t leave.”

Saxon claimed he ultimately received only one $20,000 payment and was forced to sleep in makeshift conditions on the property, often using his coat as bedding, the civil complaint states. He also alleged his complaints about the living situation were ignored.

During closing arguments, Saxon’s attorneys said Ye owed tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid wages and overtime and argued that Saxon was wrongfully fired after suffering back and neck injuries on the job, a claim of alleged disability discrimination.

However, attorneys for Ye argued that bank records show Saxon was paid $240,000 for his work. They also claimed Saxon failed to seek consistent medical treatment and fabricated aspects of his alleged injuries.

“The lies are so deep and so wicked, not a thing can be believed that came out of his mouth,” West’s attorney, Andrew Cherkasky, said.

Judge Brock Hammond formally read the verdict a day after the jury reached its decision, awarding far less than the $1.7 million Saxon’s attorneys had sought from Ye. The judge also ordered the “Stronger” rapper to pay $3,320 in sanctions tied to discovery delays during the case.

The ruling comes two months after Ye filed a lawsuit against Saxon and his attorney, alleging they improperly placed a $1.8 million lien on the property. The complaint claims Saxon filed a “mechanics lien” on the mansion in January 2024 — a legal claim typically used by unpaid contractors or laborers to secure payment for work performed.

Following the announcement, attorneys for both sides are expected to review the jury’s findings as they consider whether to pursue an appeal. If the ruling stands, the court will proceed to enforce the judgment, including the previously ordered sanctions.

Michael Johnson, Track star — Kb1367, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 12, 2026

Michael Johnson Accused Of Paying Himself $500K From Bankrupt Grand Slam Track League

In the bankruptcy case, Grand Slam Track revealed that it owed between $10 million and $50 million to more than 200 creditors.

Four-time U.S. Olympic champion Michael Johnson, who co-founded Grand Slam Track, has been accused of paying himself $500,000 while athletes and creditors went unpaid before the league collapsed and filed for bankruptcy in December.

According to The Guardian, eight days before the last Grand Slam Track event, Johnson allegedly accepted payment of half a million dollars, according to legal paperwork filed against him. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. bankruptcy court in Delaware by the league’s vendors.

“Mr. Johnson initiated a payment of $500,000 purportedly on account of an unsecured note,” lawyers stated in the paperwork. “Shockingly, Mr. Johnson elected to secretly prefer himself over the athletes and other, non-insider creditors, while at the same time feigning to the public that he was selflessly looking to advance the interests of the athletes.

“Moreover, at the same time, the debtor knew it was in precarious financial straits without sufficient cash to complete its contemplated season.”

The attorneys stated that Johnson was owed $2.2 million, and he took $500,000 on June 4, 2025, knowing the league was heading toward financial ruin and couldn’t pay its debts.

When the league filed for bankruptcy, it owed between $10 million and $50 million to more than 200 creditors.

A league spokesperson, Alex Tourk, released a statement to the media outlet regarding the accusation, calling it “unfounded and false.”

“As was previously explained to the UCC, Mr. Johnson advanced millions of dollars for GST’s operating expenses, including athlete travel, accommodation, and costs, only a portion of which was repaid through the reimbursement,” Tourk added. “It is unfortunate that the UCC chose to ignore facts and is instead attempting to discredit the company and Mr. Johnson through false statements.”

The Athletic reported that the vendors also requested permission to sue the league’s management and board members for at least $25 million.

Tina Knowles, fifteen Percent Pledge — NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 23: Tina Knowles attends Angel Ball 2023 hosted by Gabrielle's Angel Foundation at Cipriani Wall Street on October 23, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Gabrielle's Angel Foundation )

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 12, 2026

Tina Knowles Whips Up ‘Mama Tina’s Gumbo’ for Houston Rodeo

She explained what gives her gumbo the "Mama Tina's" difference.

Although known for her fashion stylings and “corny joke time,” Tina Knowles has more to offer her fans.

The mother of Beyoncé and Solange Knowles has debuted Mama Tina’s Gumbo, for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, which runs through March 22 in her hometown.

Attendees can grab two versions of the Louisiana classic. One includes a $25 seafood version with beef sausage, chicken, shrimp, and blue crab. Non-shellfish eaters, can grab a slightly cheaper chicken-and-sausage bowl for $23.

Knowles announced her inclusion at the Houston Rodeo on Instagram. The A-list mother and grandmother has already appeared at her booth, serving cups of the thick stew for all to try.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tina Knowles (@mstinaknowles)

“Hi, guys, I’m at the booth, and I’m about to have my gumbo for the day. I’ve been eating it every single day,” shared the 72-year-old businesswoman to her followers.

She told a TikToker about what makes her cups have the “Mama Tina’s difference.”

@hey_vagney
I just interviewed Mama Tina!Yes, Beyoncé’s mother! What a way to kick off the rodeo in Houston! Y’all, the gumbo is good too!
♬ original sound – heyvagney

“You need to try it because it’s delicious, first of all. It’s sort of like a soup. I would liken it to Bouillabaisse, but it’s better,” she said. “It comes from the origin of Louisiana, and we mix a little Texas in with it.”

As for what led Knowles to open the food stand, fans and family alike urged her to let Houston try a bite.

“Everybody’s been wanting to try my gumbo. I’ve been making gumbo for 40-something years. People have been asking for it and asking me to put it out. And I finally found a way to do it that’s affordable. I’m just really excited,” the emerging chef explained.

Knowles confirmed to the Beyhive that the gumbo is Bey-approved.

“Beyoncé absolutely loves this gumbo. She would have it all the time; she’s always asking. So now I can have it readily because it’s such a production for me. It takes 20 hours.”

Target , boycott, target fast, jamal bryant — Pastor Jamal Bryant (inset) plans to protest on the anniversary of George Floyd's killing at a local Target store in Atlanta over the retailer abandoning DEI initiatives.

by Sharelle B. McNair

March 12, 2026

Pastor Jamal Bryant Says Target DEI Boycott Is Over, Social Media Says Otherwise

Bryant said he will continue to hold Target accountable to Black consumers, employees, and communities.

After a year and change, the national Target boycott over its rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies has ended, according to the boycott’s leader, Pastor Jamal Bryant, but without any changes to the policies.

Social media users are not giving up the fight.

Bryant, senior pastor at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church outside Atlanta, told USA Today that the boycott made eye-opening progress, but he will continue to hold Target accountable to Black consumers, employees, and communities. Bryant said the retail giant still has some components of DEI left.

“They have a program called Belonging, which gives access to everybody, not just for entry-level positions, but to be able to ascend into C-suites,” he said. “It is essentially DEI as I read it. It is the exact same thing.”

But data shows otherwise. Target failed to offer concessions or to reverse the changes made following President Donald Trump’s January 2025 executive order.

Since the March 2025 boycott started, foot traffic had dropped by nearly 8% overall, and the corporation’s stock declined from $145 to $93 per share in 2025. This slump eliminated almost $12 billion in market value, putting the boycott’s effectiveness and reach on the map.

Target’s former CEO, Brian Cornell, also stepped down and was replaced by COO Michael Fiddelke.

In a statement, Target said it is “more committed than ever to creating growth and opportunity for all. We’re pleased to be moving forward, and we will continue showing up as trusted neighbors while delivering results for our team members, guests, and the more than 2,000 communities in which we serve.”

Social media users and diversity advocates say they will continue to boycott Target without an end date in sight. On X, @nikkibarnes said as long as the Trump Administration is in office, the boycott still stands.

“@target caved to THIS administration. As long as THIS administration is in power, the boycott STANDS. I don’t care WTF Bryant is talking about,” she wrote.

https://twitter.com/NikkiBarnes/status/2032055973498573230

After Roland Martin made the announcement on X, @KYMOTOSIS retweeted and added, “The boycott of Target had nothing to do with religion. It’s about respect! I’m still not going to target.”

The boycott of target had nothing to do with religion. It’s about respect! I’m still not going to target https://t.co/hkEbKx3fVt
— Auntie Kym (@KYMOTOSIS) March 12, 2026

Another user said Target should have done better on their promises, and maybe they wouldn’t be in this situation. “Target would rather spend their marketing budget to launch a media campaign falsely declaring the boycott is over rather than apologize publicly, reverse the policies that led to this, and meaningfully invest in the communities they wronged,” @fallonfoxx wrote with hashtags #TargetBoycott #Boycott4Ever.

https://twitter.com/FallonFoxx/status/2031946780208775630

Advocates and civil rights attorneys like Nekima Armstrong rebuked Bryant’s statements. Since many shoppers felt “betrayed” by Target after believing the company was a “hometown company that invested in our community,” the boycott must continue, Armstrong said, according to Fox 9.

“From the beginning, we said the Target boycott would be indefinite, unless and until Target took the steps to address the fact that they rolled back diversity, equity, and inclusion in order to capitulate to the Trump administration.”

tip, tipping, braids, refuse, service, hair, Dosso Beauty, Hypoallergenic Braiding — Photo by Nicky Lloyd/Getty Images

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 12, 2026

Detroit Hairstylist Allegedly Pulls Rifle On Customer Over $10—Now That’s a Bad Hair Day

The customer, Robin Philips, was there with her daughter.

A Detroit hairstylist allegedly took drastic measures while fighting with a customer about the cost of her services.

When Robin Phillips and her young daughter arrived for their appointment with an at-home hairstylist in Detroit, they expected to pay the discounted rate advertised on social media. However, when the stylist ordered her to pay more for their completed styles, Philips said things took a frightening turn.

The Neighborhood Talk reposted an interview with Phillips with Fox 2. Video shared with the local news outlet shows the hairstylist, with her face digitally blocked out, toting an AR-style gun on her shoulder.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Neighborhood Talk (@theneighborhoodtalk)

Before she had no choice but to pay the higher cost, Phillips initially questioned the price hike with the hairstylist. Apparently, while holding scissors, the stylist allegedly threatened to cut her child’s hair.

“If you’re not going to pay me, then I’m going to cut your child’s hair,” recounted Phillips of the stylist’s threats.

The cost debate nearly became deadly when the stylist allegedly pulled out the next weapon.

“She runs upstairs, and she grabs an AR [gun],” remembered Phillips. “She’s like, says, ‘You’re not leaving out of here until you run me my money.’ She’s still going on and on about it, ‘I want more money. I want more money.'”

Under distress, Philips claimed she gave her “basically everything that I had.”

In the recorded footage, the hairstylist is heard saying, “Big Gun ‘ho. Get the f-ck out my house. I’ll shoot you.” She also seemingly called Phillips a “broke a– ‘ho” while holding the AR-style gun in front of her and her child.

Phillips remains disappointed and “distraught” by the entire encounter. She told the news outlet that she wishes they could’ve handled the cost dispute “like adults.”

Instead, according to Phillips, the hairdresser said, “‘I will shoot you, I will bury you over $10.’…So we pushed past her; we had to get out of there.”

It remains unknown whether law enforcement has found and arrested the hairstylist: Phillips did file a police report.

Massachusetts, rideshare drivers, Uber, Lyft — (Photo: Sundry Photography/iStock)

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 12, 2026

Uber And Lyft Drivers Canceling More Rides As Fuel Costs Climb

According to AAA data, the average price of a gallon of gasoline in the U.S. rising about $0.40 over the past week.

As the war in the Middle East rages on, rising gas prices are prompting more Uber and Lyft drivers to cancel rides.

As oil prices surged past $100 per barrel on March 9 before falling back to around $90 after Donald Trump suggested the war with Iran could soon wind down, rideshare drivers began voicing concerns about rising fuel costs, Business Insider reports.

Justin Fisher, an Uber driver in Houston, said he now prioritizes the most profitable trips, even if they take him to areas he considers unsafe.

“The cost of gas is an unpleasant reality,” Fisher said.

According to AAA data, the average price of a gallon of gasoline in the U.S. rising about $0.40 over the past week.

The spike is affecting rideshare drivers like Sergio Avedian, a former Wall Street trader who now drives for Uber and Lyft in Southern California. He said gas at two stations near his suburban Los Angeles home jumped by about $1 in the past week. “It’s been extremely noticeable,” Avedian said.

Meanwhile, drivers using electric vehicles (EVs) say they are largely unaffected by the spike in gas prices. One driver in North Carolina who works for both Uber and Lyft reported staying busy over the weekend.

The driver, who owns a Tesla Model Y and charges it at home, said rising fuel costs haven’t been on his mind. “I haven’t been in a gas station in forever,” he said.

Avedian said the biggest challenge for drivers is that Uber and Lyft set the fares, leaving drivers unable to raise rates when operating costs rise. “Uber and Lyft aren’t paying us more to offset the difference, which is significant,” he said.

North Carolina–based rideshare drivers Jason Bowers and Omar Lewis said that while the price increase hasn’t stopped them from working, they acknowledge that such a sharp rise in fuel costs can make the job more challenging.

“It’s putting a damper on drivers, of course. I mean, we’re paying more per gallon. We’re paying more for giving rides,” Bowers said.

According to Business Insider, Uber and Lyft did not respond to questions about whether they plan to introduce a surcharge, similar to the one implemented in 2022 after oil prices surged following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Avedian said he encourages rideshare drivers to be more selective about the trips they accept. “If a trip that is offered to you as a driver is not profitable, I tell them to ‘decline and recline.’ You have to decline bad offers, because this is not a public service.”

Georgia GOP, Chris Carr, Black Voters, Social Issues — (Getty Images)

by Kandiss Edwards

March 12, 2026

Georgia GOP Hopeful Chris Carr Courts Black Voters

The Georgia race is competitive as the state will replace term-limited Gov. Brian Kemp.

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr lobbied the Black vote, highlighting public safety and economic opportunity as central themes in his campaign for governor.

Carr, a Republican who has served as attorney general since 2016, is one of several candidates competing in the 2026 race. The Georgia race is competitive as the state will replace term-limited Gov. Brian Kemp. The nominee is reaching out to multiple local and Black outlets, and his message is clear: forget social issues, focus on the economy.

“At best we’re a 48-46 Republican state. The way you win is appeal to independent voters who care about jobs, safety, education, affordability and don’t really want to talk about social issues the way the right or the left typically has,” Carr said to the Black Information Network News.

Additionally, the gubernatorial candidate said safety is of the utmost concern as the core responsibility of government is ensuring safety for all residents, regardless of political affiliation or background.

“I truly believe that government is supposed to keep people safe,” he told Capital B. “I don’t care your race, your gender, your religion, your sexual orientation, your political party and where you’re from. You deserve to be safe in this state.”

Candidate quality matters. I’m the only Republican in this race who can win in Georgia and deliver on the issues that matter most: jobs, safety, and affordability. @blackinfonet pic.twitter.com/I2t7NusPgf
— Chris Carr (@ChrisCarr_Ga) March 11, 2026

Carr said his campaign priorities include improving affordability, expanding educational opportunities, and strengthening economic development across Georgia. He pointed to his previous role as the state’s commissioner of economic development, where he worked with companies to bring jobs to the state and support business expansion.

“I spent three years as the commissioner of economic development, helping the private sector either bring good-paying jobs to this state or helping businesses here create good-paying jobs,” Carr said.

The 2026 race for Georgia governor is expected to be highly competitive. On the Republican side, Carr is competing with candidates that include Lt. Gov. Burt Jones. Democrats are also assembling a crowded field that includes high-profile figures such as former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

Carr’s outreach to Black voters reflects a trend in Georgia politics, where turnout among Black communities has played a decisive role in statewide elections. Though, the state typically leans Republican it has also earned Democratic votes in federal elections, most notably in the 2008 presidential election which favored Barrack Obama.