by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

February 25, 2026

Sarah Bond, 1st Black Woman President Of Xbox, Steps Down From Role At Gaming Company

Bond was first appointment to the role in October 2023.

Sarah Bond, the first Black woman to serve as chief operating officer and President of Xbox, is stepping down from her storied position.

Bond announced her departure from the role on LinkedIn, expressing her gratitude toward the company and her colleagues for transforming the world of e-console gaming. The Yale and Harvard Business School alum was first appointed to the position in October 2023, marking a historic first for Black women in executive leadership, especially for a multinational conglomerate.

Bond shared how she felt “incredibly proud” of the new tech advancements made before and within her leadership, including a new console underway.

“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together over the past eight-plus years,” she began the message, re-shared from an internal company email sent earlier. “When we announced our intention to acquire Activision Blizzard in 2022, I committed to helping lead Xbox through what would be a critical period of change. Over the past four years, we’ve navigated that moment together and positioned the business for what comes next. We took on some of the biggest challenges this organization has ever faced and did it as one team.”

During her tenure as president, she led the strategic direction of the company, including its acquisitions to scale its reach across the gaming industry. As the operational lead and face of Xbox, she also helped innovate its product development and marketing strategies to strengthen and grow its consumer base. Owned by Microsoft, Xbox is the tech corporation’s signature gaming brand.

Bond has been a long-time employee under the Xbox-Microsoft umbrella, previously serving as corporate vice president, as reported by Afrotech. She has also championed diversity within the workforce, serving as an executive sponsor of the Blacks @ Microsoft employee resource group.

However, her time with Xbox will evolve as she believes that new leadership should rise in the wake of a new technological era. While another woman in leadership, Asha Sharma, will take over as EVP and CEO of Microsoft Gaming, she hopes to aid her as they thoughtfully integrate AI into their operations. Despite this new development, Xbox remains committed to developing the next level of console gaming.

She continued,” With that, I’ve decided this is the right time for me to take my next step, both personally and professionally. We’re living through a transformative technological era that will shape the next generation of our industry, and I’m energized by what’s ahead. This moment also presents a unique opportunity for fresh eyes and new leadership to guide the team into its next chapter.”

Bond will not completely leave the Xbox community. She will serve as special advisor to help Sharma and their team transition to a new era of leadership.

Prairie View A&M, Howard University, NCAA Tournament Games

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 25, 2026

Coca-Cola Makes BodyArmor NCAA Official Sports Drink, Taps Flau’jae And Brunson for TV Ads

Coca-Cola has made BodyArmor the official sports drink of the NCAA, replacing Powerade.

Coca-Cola is naming BodyArmor the official sports drink of the 2026 NCAA, replacing Powerade and expanding its growing presence as the official sports drink of NASCAR.

On Feb. 23, Coca-Cola announced it will spotlight BodyArmor across the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, marking a major promotional push since acquiring full control of the brand more than four years ago, Forbes reports. As part of the campaign, BodyArmor branding will appear on sideline cups, coolers, water bottles, and towels used by players and coaches during games.

The brand will also partner with more than 20 athletes through Name, Image, and Likeness deals for social and digital promotion, alongside TV commercials featuring Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks and Flau’jae Johnson of the LSU Tigers women’s basketball. The move replaces Powerade, another Coca-Cola product, which had served as the NCAA’s official sports drink since 2010.

Brunson, who joined BodyArmor in October 2024, brings his own championship pedigree, having won national titles with the Villanova Wildcats men’s basketball team in 2016 and 2018. BodyArmor brought Johnson onto its roster after the LSU star previously promoted Powerade. The four-year starter, who served on LSU’s 2023 national championship team, is projected as a top-five pick in April’s WNBA draft and also holds a music deal with Roc Nation.

“We wanted to make the shift over to the asset because we think she’s a perfect fit for the BodyArmor brand,” said Tom Gargiulo, chief marketing officer for BodyArmor and Powerade. “She’s had a ton of success with March Madness in the past…She’s just an incredible person that really represents the BodyArmor brand and ethos.”

BodyArmor becoming the NCAA’s official sports drink reflects Coca-Cola’s strategy to position the brand more heavily within U.S. sports, while shifting Powerade toward global events like the 2026 World Cup, major soccer leagues, and the Olympics. Powerade has held the NCAA title every year since 2010, except for 2019, when BodyArmor briefly took the spot after Coca-Cola’s initial investment, and Coca-Cola has been an NCAA sponsor since 2002.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 25, 2026

Pat McGrath Labs Secures $30M Financing After Filing Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

It's new financing from an existing lender.

The future is looking brighter for Pat McGrath after the beauty company secured $30 million in financing following a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.

On Feb. 17, the company announced $30 million in new financing from existing lender GDA PMG Funding, Retail Dive reports. As part of the agreement, founder and makeup artist Pat McGrath will step down as CEO and serve as chief creative officer.

“Pat McGrath Labs is a house built on audacious artistry, cultural relevance, and singular creative vision—one that has shaped the modern beauty conversation for over a decade,” a press release stated. “GDA Luma undertakes this investment with profound respect for that legacy, combined with the operational discipline and strategic perspective of an experienced global investor with a proven track record of repositioning iconic brands for enduring success.”

The agreement includes $10 million in new debtor-in-possession financing and at least $20 million in post-emergence working capital. GDA Luma will take a controlling equity stake in Pat McGrath Cosmetics—commonly known as Pat McGrath Labs—with court filings showing the firm plans to create a holding company that will own the reorganized brand outright. McGrath is expected to remain a significant equity owner.

A full recapitalization of Pat McGrath Labs is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks, with Paladin Management Group serving as chief restructuring officer throughout the Chapter 11 process. The restructuring follows earlier tensions between GDA Luma and the beauty brand’s founder when the bankruptcy filing was first announced in January.

At the time of the bankruptcy filing, McGrath sought court approval for $1 million in debtor-in-possession financing she planned to provide herself, a proposal GDA Luma opposed. In her declaration, McGrath said she had been acting at her lenders’ direction for months and wanted to remain in control of Pat McGrath Labs.

GDA, however, accused her of mismanaging the company’s assets and taking on high-interest debt rather than pursuing recapitalization talks. With the new financing in place, McGrath is stepping into a reduced executive role as part of the effort to keep the brand alive.

by Sharelle B. McNair

February 25, 2026

How Lengthy Unemployment Stints Can Eat Away At Life Savings

As of January 2026, the average unemployment stint for U.S.-based job seekers was a little over 11 weeks -- about three months.

The amount in some American savings accounts does not match how long it takes for those facing unemployment to find jobs.

Data from a Federal Reserve survey shows that close to half of Americans fail to have three months’ worth of expenses saved for emergencies or a “rainy day,” adding to the stress of not being able to pay bills during unemployment stints, Business Insider reports.

Michele Wilke from Chicago found herself in that category after realizing she had less than $2,000 in her bank account following being laid off from her job. Concerned about being evicted from her apartment, she was forced to start a GoFundMe, raising roughly $3,000, and borrowed money from friends, accumulating over $20,000 in personal debt.

She remained unemployed for eight months before finally landing a role as a catering sales manager in September 2025. “My goal is to make some money and pay off my debt,” Wilke said. “I want a fresh start.”

Wilke’s story is one of an ever-growing tale of how long bouts of joblessness can last in comparison to the rising cost of living expenses such as groceries, rent, and other essentials, squeezing the life out of household budgets.

As of January 2026, the average unemployment stint for American-based job seekers was a little over 11 weeks — about three months — which is a massive increase from eight weeks in 2022. That’s not even the worst of it. During the same period, one-fourth of unemployed Americans had been looking for work for almost seven months or more.

Others put in the unemployed category have described the job search as a “ticking time bomb.” Joanelle Cobos said that by the time she was laid off as a design manager at Amazon, her emergency fund had grown to about $25,000. However, she touched on that if being jobless continues, the Las Vegas native says it will soon run out.

Overzealous job seekers in this bleak American economy should also be cautious of scams. According to ABC 7 News, Dawn Furseth, 60, lost $176,000 of her life savings after accepting what she thought was a remote job with Facebook after finishing contract work for a software company in the Bay Area of California.

But after restarting her job search in October 2025, she thought she had found a position after being paired with a “training mentor” who coached her during the onboarding process — only communicating on WhatsApp.

Furseth said within the blink of an eye, her savings were gone, calling the issue “infuriating.” “It’s terrifying… because I had a good job for most of my career… and one stupid mistake and it’s gone…” she said.

Jarred Shaw, cannabis gummies, basketball, Indonesia

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 24, 2026

American Basketball Player Jarred Shaw Avoids Death Penalty But Faces Health Challenges in Indonesian Prison

He has Crohn's disease, and his incarceration makes it difficult to receive the proper nutrition.

American basketball player Jarred Shaw, who was playing professionally in Indonesia before being arrested for receiving imported cannabis gummies, was staring down the prospect of execution, but, after a judge found him guilty of drug possession and cleared him of the trafficking charge, he took the death penalty off the table.

According to The Guardian, Shaw learned his fate in December when the presiding judge sentenced him to 26 months in jail, including time served, and fined him $50,000—a relief in comparison to facing a firing squad in a foreign land. However, the reason he ordered the gummies was to treat his Crohn’s disease. Unfortunately, the prison food he eats does not help his condition; in fact, he has lost 35 pounds since being locked up.

“When I got arrested, I was 245lbs,” says the six-foot, 11-inch Shaw. “I’m down to 210lbs now, and it’s concerning. The proper nutrition isn’t here.”

So, although he is not facing the death penalty, he is suffering from a condition that could potentially lead to his death.

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, according to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. There is no known cure at the moment.

The basketball player’s ordeal began last May when he grabbed a package from the lobby of his apartment complex. On May 7, Indonesian police confiscated 132 pieces of cannabis candy. Law enforcement officials were tipped off by customs at the airport that Shaw had received a suspicious package via air from Thailand, according to Ronald Sipayung, the Soekarno-Hatta Airport police chief.

Shaw stated that cannabis helps alleviate symptoms of the disease, and he would use it for medical purposes in Thailand, where he lived during the offseason.

“Looking back, it’s just a f**ked situation,” Shaw told the media outlet via telephone from his prison west of Jakarta. “I wish I could go back and change my actions, but it was definitely a relief to know I wasn’t getting the death penalty.”

After being in jail for six months, Shaw was assessed by a doctor who said that the basketball player was enduring abdominal pain, had mild anemia, and tested positive for E coli infection. If not properly cared for, it can cause diarrhea, bleeding, and fever. The doctor also said Shaw was previously diagnosed with ulcerated colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease.

Since the doctor’s assessment, Shaw has been waiting to be taken to the hospital for three days of testing, including a colonoscopy and intestinal ultrasound, which the doctor recommended.

“We’re trying to get them to understand,” he says. “Even though there’s no cure for [Crohn’s], you have to treat it, or it could get worse. Hopefully, someone with higher power can at least help me get to the hospital.”

He is still hoping to get out of jail, as his attorneys are petitioning Indonesia’s minister of health to consider a compassionate release. They hope his lack of a criminal record and his cooperation in court will be enough to secure his release.

Jay-Z, old west, black folks, book of Clarence, new testament, film, produce, movie, Reebok, super bowl

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 24, 2026

JAY-Z Reissues ‘Dead Presidents’ On 30th Anniversary Of Original Release

It's the first time the original single has been released in digital form.

On Feb. 20, 1996, Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter released the single “Dead Presidents” on Roc-A-Fella Records. To celebrate the release’s 30th anniversary, the hip-hop icon has released the original version of the song online for the first time ever.

According to Billboard, the latest original single was released with the original artwork—older hip-hop fans may notice the original spelling of Jay-Z with an umlaut “Hovering” over the “y.” The single has also been released as a limited-edition cassette, vinyl, and CD, as it was originally sold in 1996.

The single preceded Jay-Z’s debut album, Reasonable Doubt, by nearly four months. A different version of “Dead Presidents” appeared on the album under the title “Dead Presidents II.”

Although this was the first single under Roc-A-Fella’s distribution deal with Priority, it was not the first song released by the rapper, who has become a household name in business and the wider culture.

That feat was accomplished two years earlier, when Jay-Z, Damon Dash, and Kareem “Biggs” Burke pooled their money to start the label.

In 1994, on a white label that featured the first Roc-A-Fella Records logo, featuring a champagne bottle with “Jay-Z” embedded on it, the rapper released a song called “In My Lifetime.” That single was produced by Ski from the Bronx hip-hop group Original Flavor, who also produced “Dead Presidents.”

The flip side featured a song with production from DJ Clark Kent, “I Can’t Get Wid Dat.”

Fans who want to hear the song without jumping through membership hoops can head to JAYZ30.com. While there, visitors can sign up for updates. Rumor has it that this is the beginning of a rollout for a 30th anniversary Reasonable Doubt, though there has been no indication from Roc Nation.

by Kandiss Edwards

February 24, 2026

Video Shows Distraught Dad Attacking Son’s Alleged Murderer In Courthouse

The altercation occurred during a scheduled court appearance tied to a motion to revoke Marion McKnight’s bond.

A Charlotte father was arrested after attacking the man accused of killing his teenage son inside the Mecklenburg County Courthouse on Thursday, Feb. 19, an act that was caught on video.

Shaheem Snype, 47, faces a misdemeanor charge of assault inflicting serious injury.

Video of the incident depicts Snype running toward Marion McKnight, who is charged in the killing of Snype’s 16-year-old son, Jamariyae Dixon, punching him several times, and then knocking him to the ground.

Once on the ground, Snype is shown repeatedly kicking McKnight. The officer escorting McKnight attempted to intervene and appeared to also fall to the ground.

Authorities said McKnight was transported to a hospital following the incident.

The altercation occurred during a scheduled court appearance tied to a motion to revoke McKnight’s bond, Queens City News reported. Prosecutors had filed the motion one day earlier. McKnight had been granted pretrial release in November 2025 under conditions that included electronic monitoring and a $100,000 secured bond.

Shaheem Snype, the father of now deceased Jamariyae Dixon, dispensed a little street justice on Marion McKnight who is accused of shooting and killed his son in the Charlotte Mecklenburg courthouse yesterday.

McKnight is charged with first-degree murder, as well as the attempted… pic.twitter.com/5LahVdmVsG
— Mrgunsngear (@Mrgunsngear) February 21, 2026

Dixon’s aunt, Susan Sherrill, told Queen City News that Snype “did what he had to do as a father.”

She added, “Any father would’ve did the same thing. We’re still grieving. This is a wound that will never ever close because my nephew was 16 years old, and he should still be here with us.”

McKnight’s attorney, Mike Kabakoff, said it “was the most violent assault I’ve seen in a courthouse in my 22 years as a lawyer. Any parent can sympathize with the intense grief of losing a child, but the violence we saw in court on Thursday was unacceptable.”

Jamariyae Dixon’s mother disagreed.

“My face smiled,” Lynette Dixon said. “I smiled. That was the first time I had a real smile since my son been gone.”

Snype was released later that day after posting a $1,000 bond.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Police said Jamariyae Dixon was shot on May 23, 2025, on Stroud Park Court and died four days later at Atrium Health. Detectives identified McKnight as a suspect and charged him with murder.

The bond revocation hearing will be rescheduled due to the incident.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

February 24, 2026

Ghanaians Wear Fugu Smocks For Cultural Pride After President Was Mocked On Social Media

"Fugu Day" now takes place every Wednesday in Ghana, encouraging everyone to wear the traditional outfit.

Every week, Ghanaians wear Fugu smocks in an act of cultural pride after their president was mocked for the attire.

The countrymen wanted to showcase their love for Ghanaian clothing and heritage after their President, John Dramani Mahama, became the subject of jokes for his traditional outfit. According to AP News, President Mahama wore the Fugu smock during a visit to Zambia. Released photos of the February trip prompted social media users to unjustly clown the attire.

While the incident left many Ghanaians rightfully offended, West Africans chose to show their love for their country by wearing fugu smocks around Accra. Every Wednesday is now “Fugu Day,” as coined and legalized by Tourism Minister Abla Dzifa Gomashie on Feb. 10.

In celebration of the new holiday, Peace Corps Ghana shared photos of participants in the fashionable festivities.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Peace Corps Ghana (@peacecorpsghana)

“Fugu, also called batakari, is a handwoven smock with deep cultural roots originating in Northern Ghana. Today, it’s worn across the country for cultural events, formal gatherings, and traditional ceremonies,” explained the nonprofit.

Not only are Ghanaians wearing the traditional outfit to work on this designated day, but they are also incorporating it more into their everyday fashion.

“It makes me feel connected to where I come from,” explained one businessman, Wango Abdul Karim, to the news outlet.

AP also explained the deeper cultural history behind the fugu smock. The art form itself stems from centuries-old weaving traditions. However, the smock became a symbol of Ghanaian pride after the country’s first President, Kwame Nkrumah, wore the outfit at Ghana’s inaugural independence ceremony in 1957.

The cloth still takes shape using traditional methods, as weavers stitch together handwoven strips of cotton fabric. Often paired with a matching cap, the fugu smocks’ patterns also vary by region. The clothing item remains a beacon of African heritage, with contemporary designs helping Ghanaians keep a piece of the batakari even with modern fashions.

“We want to show that you can wear the northern fabric in different ways,” shared one designer, Perfectual Linnan, whose line incorporates the traditional cloth into contemporary pieces. “If you’re not into the traditional smock, you can still carry a piece of culture with you.”

The resurgence of the fugu smock and the national call for Ghanaians to wear it at least once a week could also benefit the local economy. Big and small designers in Accra can take part in this new initiative and subsequent “Wear Ghana” campaign, which promotes homegrown fashion boutiques.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 24, 2026

Google Sued For Allegedly Firing Pregnant Software Engineer Who Took FMLA Leave

A former software engineer has filed a lawsuit against Google, alleging she was fired after taking FMLA leave during her second pregnancy.

A former software engineer has filed a lawsuit against Google, alleging she was fired after taking FMLA leave during her pregnancy.

In Yao v. Google LLC, filed Feb. 18, the plaintiff alleges a former manager engaged in unlawful discrimination based on sex, pregnancy, and disability, HR Drive reported. According to the complaint, Google terminated her after she took leave for two pregnancies, in violation of state and federal law.

In the suit, the plaintiff describes how she was forced to end her first pregnancy due to a medical complication and took five days of sick leave followed by four weeks of bereavement leave. When she returned, she alleges her supervisor began giving her poor performance reviews despite meeting project deadlines, setting what she described as “unachievable” goals, and subjecting her to heightened criticism, even though she had no prior performance issues and continued fulfilling her work responsibilities.

The plaintiff alleges that when she questioned her negative reviews, her manager blamed her time off, citing “slow velocity” and project delays. Less than a year later, she became pregnant again and informed her supervisor that the pregnancy would likely be high-risk. After a fall, her doctor recommended that she take leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

She claims that once she disclosed the pregnancy, her manager imposed increasingly strict weekly planning requirements and added new milestones despite her meeting expectations. According to the lawsuit, she was fired just one day after beginning her leave.

The plaintiff claims her high-risk pregnancy significantly limited major life activities and normal bodily functions, making it a disability under Washington state’s anti-discrimination law. She also alleges Google failed to provide reasonable accommodations and unlawfully interfered with her right to take FMLA leave during her second pregnancy.

The lawsuit adds to past pregnancy discrimination claims against Google, including a 2019 complaint from a former employee who alleged bias after maternity leave.

Cases like this remain a major focus for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which reached several settlements with employers last year over alleged pregnancy-related discrimination.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 24, 2026

Alabama’s Charles Bediako Is Requesting To Play College Hoops While Appeal Is Pending

After being told he is ineligible to play college sports, he is appealing the decision but wants to play the rest of the season, which ends next month.

Less than two months after a judge ruled that he was not eligible to play college sports, Alabama basketball player Charles Bediako has returned to court, requesting that he be allowed to play the rest of the basketball season while his appeal is pending.

According to ESPN, attorneys for Bediako have filed an appeal on Feb. 23 in Tuscaloosa of the decision by Circuit Court Judge Daniel Pruet, who ruled that Bediako did not have a “reasonable expectation” to return to the college ranks, as no other player before him had been given that opportunity after playing professional sports.

But, in the meantime, as the college basketball season is winding down, Bediako’s lawyers are asking the Alabama Supreme Court to give the player “interim injunctive relief” so he can play the rest of the season for the University of Alabama.

“Injunctive relief is warranted while Plaintiff’s appeal to the Alabama Supreme Court is pending,” it states in the motion of his appeal. Not allowing him to play (the regular season ends March 7, with the postseason ending April 6) “will become moot without interim relief” as the appeal “is unlikely to resolve before the season concludes.”

Bediako, who played for Alabama from 2021 to 2023, made himself eligible for the NBA Draft. He signed a two-way NBA contract and played the last three seasons in the G League.

After the judge granted him a temporary restraining order earlier this year, allowing Bediako to return to the basketball court, Judge Pruet denied the basketball player’s motion for a preliminary injunction on Feb. 9, effectively ending his college basketball career, again. Bediako has played in five games, averaging 10 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks a game.

The University of Alabama feels the rules are unfair, since several foreign players have been granted the right to play in college even after playing professionally overseas. Several G League players were deemed eligible, including James Nnaji, a 2023 NBA draft pick, who was allowed to play this season.