by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 14, 2025

Federal Judge Won’t Toss Out Assault Charges Against NJ Rep. LaMonica McIver

On Nov. 13, U.S. District Judge Jamel Semper declined to dismiss two of the three charges against McIver, the first-term Democrat accused of assaulting federal officers during a chaotic clash outside an immigration detention center in May. Semper held off on ruling on the third, pending more evidence, Politico reported.

A federal judge has refused to dismiss assault charges against New Jersey Rep. LaMonica McIver over allegations she assaulted immigration agents outside a private migrant detention facility.

On Nov. 13, U.S. District Judge Jamel Semper declined to dismiss two of the three charges against McIver, the first-term Democrat accused of assaulting federal officers during a chaotic clash outside an immigration detention center in May. Semper held off on ruling on the third, pending more evidence, Politico reported.

“Defendant’s active participation in the alleged conduct removes her acts from the safe harbor of mere oversight,” he wrote in a 41-page opinion. “Lawfully or unlawfully, Defendant actively engaged in conduct unrelated to her oversight responsibilities and congressional duties.”

McIver contends the case is politically driven, led by Alina Habba, a former Trump attorney who is now New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor. According to McIver, she’s protected by the Constitution’s “speech or debate” clause, which shields lawmakers from liability for official duties.

Her legal team, maintaining her innocence, has signaled that it will appeal after Judge Semper rejected her claim that the jail visit qualified as protected congressional oversight. Semper, a Biden-appointed judge, also dismissed her argument that Trump’s Justice Department was targeting her with selective or vindictive prosecution due to her being a Democrat.

“Even if a presumption of vindictiveness could be invoked in the pretrial context,” Judge Semper wrote, McIver had “failed to demonstrate that such a presumption is appropriate here.”

McIver voiced disappointment in the ruling, saying her case is yet another example of the Trump administration using legal action to target opponents of the president and his agenda.

“I am not in this fight only for myself, and I am concerned that this decision will simply embolden the administration,” she said.

McIver is charged in a three-count indictment with striking a federal agent with her forearm, forcibly grabbing him, and using her forearms to hit another agent, allegations of physical violence that are rare for a sitting member of Congress. Her attorney, Paul Fishman, said McIver and her legal team are “evaluating next steps” in response to legal decisions they believe are “wrong.”

by Mary Spiller

November 14, 2025

HBCUs Confront New Financial Strain As Revenue-Sharing Era Threatens Opportunities For Women Athletes

Leaders warn that roster caps and limited budgets could erode decades of progress in women’s sports—even as schools opt in to stay competitive.

Morgan State Athletic Director Dena Freeman-Patton says the school faced an agonizing decision this year as it weighed whether to join the new structure created by the House antitrust settlement. This unprecedented system will allow schools to compensate athletes directly.
Choosing to opt in helps programs remain competitive in recruiting, she said, but also forces already strained athletic departments to find new sources of funding.

And for HBCUs like Morgan State, concerns run even deeper as roster caps and budget pressures threaten opportunities in women’s sports, which often rely on institutional support rather than revenue.

“When you make that decision, then your question is, ‘OK, where’s the money coming from?’” Freeman-Patton said. “One of the things we were adamant (about) is that we’re not going to cut from what we are already offering to our student athletes. Especially,” she added, “our women’s programs.”

As reported by the Associated Press, more than 300 schools ultimately signed onto the $2.8 billion settlement when it took effect in July. Morgan State pledged equal revenue-sharing pools for men’s and women’s teams. But its athletic revenue—about $21.7 million last fiscal year—doesn’t come close to the massive budgets of power-conference institutions. Female athletes across the country say the system overwhelmingly benefits football and men’s basketball, raising alarms about gender equity in a model with no explicit parity requirements.

“I don’t even see how the spirit of Title IX is kept in place, let alone Title IX at all,” said five-time Olympic medalist Elana Meyers Taylor. “You’re talking about maybe the top SEC schools that can actually afford this. What are the other schools going to do?”

Some schools have already begun cutting sports. Prairie View A&M eliminated its men’s and women’s tennis teams, citing “the evolving landscape of collegiate athletics.” Stephen F. Austin attempted to shut down beach volleyball, bowling, and golf before a Title IX lawsuit brought by six women temporarily halted the cuts.

The uncertainty is rattling athletes as well.

“The lack of information is scarier than the settlement itself,” said Campbell University distance runner Emily Pierce. “We just want to make sure opportunities aren’t taken away, especially in women’s sports, where it’s taken such a long time to get to where we are now.”

HBCUs, which operate on far smaller budgets than power-conference giants, have joined the settlement largely out of fear of falling behind. “We’ve always felt we’ve had the short end of the stick,” said Dillard Athletic Director Linda Bell. “We’ve always been able to adjust and adapt.”

Some schools are turning to new revenue sources—concerts, community events, and “guarantee games”—to fund athlete compensation.

Still, athletes like Sydney Moore say the broader issue of inequality persists: “There is a feeling on campuses that there are perks to being a football player, basketball player or a high-attention, high-prioritized sport… ‘Why can a football player go in and get a haircut at any time of the day, and we don’t have applesauce in the snack room?”

by Kandiss Edwards

November 14, 2025

Johns Hopkins Eliminates Tuition To Attract The Best And Brightest

Johns Hopkins says the free tuition offer applies to current and future undergraduates who meet the income threshold.

Johns Hopkins University announced its free tuition initiative for families earning under $200,000.

The free tuition initiative will begin in 2026. Johns Hopkins said the policy applies to all domestic undergraduates. The offer applies to current and future undergraduates who meet the income threshold. Tuition at the Baltimore-based institution costs $63,000 as of Fall 2025.

According to the university’s website, the initiative is part of the Johns Hopkins Tuition Promise, which aims to help the institution find the best and brightest regardless of their economic status.

“By expanding financial support now, we’re continuing our commitment to reduce financial barriers so talented students from a broader range of economic backgrounds can thrive here, without worrying about debt,” the website states.

School leaders say the shift is part of a multi-year effort to expand access and reduce the financial hardship traditionally linked with elite private universities. In a statement to WMAR-2 News, university President Ron Daniels reinforced Johns Hopkins’s commitment to merit-based access.

“This is about ensuring that we recruit the best and brightest students to Johns Hopkins irrespective of their financial wherewithal,” Daniels told the station.

Housing, meals, and fees will not be fully covered, but the university noted that financial aid packages will expand to reduce those costs.

For students in Baltimore and beyond, the Tuition Promise represents a structural shift that university officials say will remain permanent. The school also noted that the expansion was possible due to sustained fundraising, rising endowment support, and institutional prioritizing of access.

“It’s about hope, dignity, and the belief that financial barriers should never dictate what a young person can achieve,” Daniels said.

Johns Hopkins’ announcement arrives as more universities adopt affordability policies meant to increase access and competition. Emory University introduced its own expansion earlier this year through its Advantage Plus program, as BLACK ENTERPRISE reported. Like Johns Hopkins, Emory’s Advantage Plus will eliminate tuition for undergraduate families making under $200,000. The school said the initiative is “designed to reduce student debt and support long-term financial stability for graduates.”

Together, the moves by Johns Hopkins and Emory signal a shift in how elite institutions understand their responsibility to the families they serve.

Detroit, golf, Eastside,, Morehouse,, Earl Cooper,Olajuwon Ajanaku

by Jameelah Mullen

November 14, 2025

‘Let’s Geaux:’ New Orleans Man Creates Virtual Golf Course In Honor Of His Trailblazing Ancestor

A virtual reality experience that connects the past with the future.

Born from his family’s historical ties to golf and his ancestral lineage, Jeff Smith has introduced Let’s Geaux Golf, a mobile clubhouse featuring AI-powered and virtual-reality golf simulators. The virtual pop-up golf courses can bring the game to any setting, including schools, festivals, and corporate events.

Smith credits his inspiration for the tech startup to his great-grandfather, Joseph Bartholomew, one of the first Black golf course architects in U.S. history. Born in 1888, Bartholomew started as a caddy at Audubon Park Golf Course and later worked as a landscaper at various white-only clubs. He then studied golf course design in New York. After returning to New Orleans, he designed golf courses across the state. According to Smith, his great-grandfather built or helped create over 15 golf courses, but due to racism and segregation, Bartholomew often didn’t get credit for his work and wasn’t allowed to play on some of the courses he designed.

Smith says that while growing up, he and his siblings heard stories about their ancestor, who also founded a construction company using the earnings from designing golf courses.

“He was, I’d say, the first entrepreneur I ever knew of,” Smith told Afrotech.

In April 2024, Smith launched Let’s Geaux Golf with help from his brother Errol, who is the company’s chief technology officer. The mobile clubhouse aims to make golf accessible to everyone through portable AI and VR simulators. The startup’s technology includes a handheld device with AI swing analysis that shows where players hit the ball, its trajectory, and speed, helping them improve their swing. It also includes a coaching function that analyzes performance, provides improvement tips, and allows video playback.

Additionally, Geaux Golf partnered with GOLF+ to offer a virtual reality headset that lets players experience Topgolf and PGA courses, along with practice modes suitable for all skill levels.

Smith plans to develop a mobile app that includes golf training, an e-commerce store, merchandise, esports challenges, and community features, allowing players to connect both virtually and in person. The app is expected to launch in early 2026.

Emmanuel Chase, betting,, Cleveland Guardians

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 14, 2025

Cleveland Guardians Pitcher Emmanuel Clase Arrested For Alleged Role In Betting Scandal

He was arrested at JFK airport in New York City and taken to a Brooklyn courtroom, where he pleaded not guilty

After an alleged betting scandal recently hit the NBA, Major League Baseball is now embroiled in its own scandal: Cleveland Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase (de la Cruz) has been arrested for his alleged involvement in a “scheme to rig bets on pitches thrown during Major League Baseball games.”

According to CBS News, Clase was arrested at JFK Airport in New York and taken to a Brooklyn courtroom, where he was arraigned on Nov. 13. The pitcher pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Federal prosecutors announced earlier this week that he would face charges of wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, and money laundering conspiracy. Clase left his native Dominican Republic to arrive in the city to face the charges in person. His attorney, Michael Ferrera, joined him in court after the arrest.

After the baseball player agreed to surrender his passport and his attorney stated that he was trying to bring his wife and daughter into the country, U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Marutollo, citing Clase’s financial means and the necessity of location monitoring, requested a bond of $600,000. He was able to post that and was released.

Clase is the second Guardians player to be accused of fixing games.

Fellow pitcher Luis Ortiz (Ribera) was named in the scheme and arraigned in court on Nov. 12 on the same charges as Clase. He appeared in court, was released on $500,000 bond, and was also assigned a location monitoring device.

The league placed both pitchers on non-disciplinary leave earlier this summer after opening an investigation into their potential involvement in altering their pitches to help bettors.

“Luis Leandro Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase de la Cruz allegedly rigged their pitches in professional baseball games, so that an inner circle, and occasionally themselves, could quietly cash out their winnings,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G Raia, in a written statement. “The defendants’ alleged greed not only established an unfair advantage for select bettors, but also sullied the reputation of America’s pastime. The FBI will ensure any individual who exploits their position as a professional athlete at the expense of others strikes out.”

Both Clase and Ortiz face a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment on the wire fraud conspiracy count, 20 years’ imprisonment on the honest services wire fraud conspiracy count, five years’ imprisonment on the conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery count, and 20 years’ imprisonment on the money laundering conspiracy count if they are successfully convicted.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 14, 2025

Pharrell Williams/Adidas Collaboration Wins 2025 FNAA ‘Shoe Of The Year’

'The Virginia Adistar Jellyfish started as a really big idea that we kept pushing, shaping, refining until it became real. I wanted it to feel fluid, futuristic and free, not just another shoe but a living design,' says the producing fashionista

Pharell Williams’ partnership with adidas is making waves as the collaborative “Jellyfish” footwear has been named “Shoe of the Year” for the upcoming 2025 Footwear News Achievement Awards (FNAA).

According to Footwear News, the Virginia Adistar Jellyfish by Pharrell Williams has been selected for this year’s coveted award. The awards ceremony will take place in downtown Manhattan, New York City, Dec. 3.

“I dreamed of a shoe that felt alive, something that moved like water, that had its own rhythm, energy and glow,” Williams stated to the media outlet. “The Virginia Adistar Jellyfish started as a really big idea that we kept pushing, shaping, refining until it became real. I wanted it to feel fluid, futuristic and free, not just another shoe but a living design. Seeing people connect with that spirit is the most rewarding part.”

Adidas released the Jellyfish to retail earlier this summer in August with an orange colorway, before releasing a blue one in October in Las Vegas.

The FNAA, entering its 39th year, is known as the “Shoe Oscars.” It acknowledges the legends involved in footwear, including emerging talent, industry leaders, style stars, and hot brands. Honorees for this year’s awards are listed below:

Shoe of the Year: Virginia Adistar Jellyfish by Pharrell Williams
Lifetime Achievement Award: Tommy Hilfiger
Person of the Year: Ronnie Fieg
Company of the Year: Wolverine Worldwide
Designer of the Year: Nina Christen
Retailer of the Year: Nordstrom
Brand of the Year: Jordan Brand
Collaboration of the Year: New Balance x Miu Miu
Style Influencer of the Year: Coco Gauff
Launch of the Year: Favorite Daughter
Emerging Talent Award: Jurgita Dileviciute and Denitsa Bumbarova
Hall of Fame: Michael Greenberg; Laura O’Brien; Massimo and Sabrina Bonini

However, before Pharrell accepts the “Shoe of the Year” award, his Black Ambition initiative is hosting its fifth annual Demo Day to champion diverse entrepreneurs and innovators. The two-day event will take place on Nov. 14 and Nov. 15, during which the Pharrell-founded initiative will bring together a cohort of trailblazing founders, visionaries, icons, and investors to connect with those next up to change their industries. It aims to amplify the work and vision of Black and Brown entrepreneurs.

Texas A&M, classes, students, gender,race

by Mary Spiller

November 14, 2025

Texas A&M System Imposes New Limits On Race And Gender Instruction

Faculty warn new rules requiring university presidential approval for certain classroom topics threaten free inquiry as political scrutiny of universities escalates nationwide.

The Texas A&M University System approved a sweeping new rule on Thursday that requires professors across its 12 campuses to obtain authorization from their campus president before teaching specific subjects involving race, gender, or sexual orientation. The move marks one of the most far-reaching efforts in Texas to regulate how public universities address identity-based topics in the classroom.

According to the Associated Press, under the new directive, no course may “advocate race or gender ideology, or topics related to sexual orientation or gender identity” without prior approval. System officials said the rule creates a formal process for reviewing sensitive content. Still, faculty critics argue it represents a direct intrusion into classroom autonomy and could violate core First Amendment protections.

“It really strikes at the heart of what education means and what universities do, which is circulate the exchange of knowledge without fear of retaliation, without fear of censorship,” said Rana Jaleel, who chairs the American Association of University Professors’ academic freedom committee.

The policy arrives amid intense political attention on universities’ approaches to diversity, equity, inclusion, and campus speech. Institutions such as Harvard, Columbia, and the University of Texas at Austin have faced heightened scrutiny from conservatives and the Trump administration. Just last month, President Trump pressed nine major universities to adopt measures eliminating race and sex from admissions and boosting conservative representation on campus.

Texas A&M’s policy defines “race ideology” as any idea that “attempts to shame a particular race or ethnicity, accuse them of being oppressors in a racial hierarchy or conspiracy,” or assigns “intrinsic guilt based on the actions of their presumed ancestors.”

“Gender ideology” is described as a “concept of self-assessed gender identity… disconnected from the biological category of sex.”

James Hallmark, vice chancellor for academic affairs, told regents that the aim was to create “transparent and document cocurricular review, not policing individual speech.”

The vote comes months after a viral classroom confrontation led to the firing of Melissa McCoul, a senior English lecturer whose discussion of gender identity in a children’s literature class sparked political backlash, including from Gov. Greg Abbott. She was dismissed shortly before Texas A&M’s President Mark A. Welsh III resigned.

Faculty members say the new rule appears to cement those political pressures. “Our job is to teach facts, teach the truth,” said Leonard Bright, head of the university’s AAUP chapter. “And if we have to use a litmus test of whether or not it meets someone’s approval… then we have no truth.”

Despite significant faculty pushback, Regent Sam Torn defended the move, saying it ensures the system is “educating, not advocating.”

Texas A&M, one of the nation’s largest universities, is located in College Station, about 95 miles northwest of Houston.

roe v wade, adolescent, baby, abortion, C-section

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 14, 2025

Black Maternal Crisis: Nurse Dismissed Laboring Woman’s Pain At Dallas Regional Medical Center To Ask Dumb Questions

Now-viral video has Dallas Regional Medical Center being accused of mistreating a Black woman in active labor.

A mother is calling out Dallas Regional Medical Center after reportedly witnessing the mistreatment of her daughter, who was in active labor.

A viral TikTok video by user kashman2814 is drawing widespread attention for alleged medical negligence against a Black woman in labor. The clip, which had over 18 million views by Nov. 14, shows the creator’s daughter screaming in pain from a wheelchair while staff asked her check-in questions.

“This woman had her in the waiting area for more than 30 mins. The delivery was awful,” the TikTok user wrote.

@kashman2814
deathly charge nurse! donot care bout black women and babies uncaring paperwork over life this baby had to have severe test in the 24h of birth do to her actions
♬ original sound – Suggababies❌

In a separate six-minute video, the TikTok user shared more details about her daughter’s delivery, explaining that she was told to wait for induction because no beds were available. Once her water broke and she returned to give birth, the alleged mistreatment occurred.

The TikTok user says they were directed to enter the hospital through the front entrance, even though they arrived via the ambulance area while she was in active labor. When they requested a wheelchair, a nurse brought it out but refused to assist the birthing mother inside.

Once inside, the birthing mother was screaming in pain, but the front desk staff told the TikTok user they couldn’t assist until paperwork was completed. After signing multiple forms while in active labor, they were moved to another waiting area, where the initial video shows the mother still in pain while being questioned, prolonging her delivery.

After the incident, the TikTok user publicly criticized Dallas Regional Medical Center, accusing staff of mistreating Black women.

“Do not go to this hospital. This hospital is ghetto as hell. They do not care about black women or their babies,” she said. “This is crazy. I read about stuff like this all the time, but to see this firsthand, this lady did not care the none of them.”

@kashman2814 Replying to @Jackson #dallasregionalmedicalcentermesquite ♬ original sound – Suggababies❌

Viewers have supported the family in criticizing the hospital, with one TikTok user reporting that when they called to complain, the operator said they were aware of the incident but only asked if the caller had a medical emergency.

“I CALLED THE HOSPITAL EARLIER TODAY TO FILE A COMPLAINT after watching your videos,” they wrote. “The operator said she was aware of the video and asked was I there and what was I calling for. AT THIS MOMENT I, remembered I worked in healthcare for 14 years and asked to be transferred to RISK MANAGEMENT. I spoke with Ms. Patel and filed a complaint!!!!!!!!!!!”

The TikTok user posted another video featuring a former ER nurse and current labor and delivery nurse, who expressed outrage over the incident and highlighted racial bias against Black patients, especially Black women, in the hospital.

“There is no excuse for the blatant neglect I just witnessed,” the woman said, highlighting the maternal health crisis and its disproportionate impact on Black women. “As a reminder, Black women are three times as likely to die in and around childbirth than their white counterparts.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 14, 2025

Swizz Beatz Denies $7M Fraud Allegations Linked To Fugitive Financier In Pras Conspiracy Case

Swizz Beatz maintains that his transactions with fugitive financier Jho Low were strictly business and unrelated to any Malaysian corruption scandal.

Swizz Beatz denies that the $7.3 million he received from fugitive financier Jho Low was stolen 1MDB funds, insisting the payments were for legitimate music ventures.

Attorneys for Swizz Beatz, born Kasseem Dean, argue the Grammy-winning producer never received “fraudulent transfers” from Jho Low’s shell companies linked to Malaysia’s 1MDB scandal involving Fugees rapper Pras, All Hip Hop reports. The lawsuit, filed by British Virgin Islands liquidators for defunct entities allegedly used to divert Malaysian state funds, seeks to recover millions of dollars allegedly paid to Dean, Swizz Beatz Productions Inc., and Monza Studios Inc. between 2012 and 2014.

While Dean acknowledges receiving $7.3 million in transfers, he denies any wrongdoing. His lawyers say the funds were payments for professional services and investments, not bribes or laundered money. They highlight a $1.5 million transfer labeled “Alsen Chance investment in music production (Everyday Is Your Birthday),” which they argue clearly shows a legitimate business purpose tied to his music career.

“Defendants deny such funds were fraudulently or improperly transferred,” the filing states, arguing that all payments were “received without actual fraudulent intent and for reasonably equivalent value.”

The funds reportedly flowed through JPMorgan Chase accounts in New York between September 2012 and September 2014, with $3.3 million going to Swizz Beatz Productions, $1.8 million to Monza Studios, and $2.2 million to Dean personally. Attorneys at Blank Rome LLP assert the hip-hop producer had no knowledge of Low’s 1MDB scheme and was unfairly implicated in a global scandal years later.

Dean’s lawyers also deny allegations of a close friendship with Low, saying they met in the 2010s and had only a limited connection.

“Dean was introduced to Low but denied that Low and Dean were friends,” the document states.

Meanwhile, Pras Michel is still awaiting sentencing after being convicted of trying to influence Trump administration officials to halt an investigation into Low, the fugitive accused of embezzling Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund. In September, his sentencing was delayed after the Grammy-winning rapper underwent emergency colon cancer surgery.

by Mary Spiller

November 14, 2025

DHS To Award $10,000 Bonuses To TSA Officers After Lengthy Government Shutdown

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says the payments will recognize TSA staff who showed “exceptional service” during the 43-day halt in federal operations.

The Department of Homeland Security plans to issue $10,000 bonuses to Transportation Security Administration officers who continued working through the recent federal shutdown, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced during a Nov. 13 press conference in Houston.

Noem said the bonuses are intended to recognize “tens of thousands of individuals who stepped up and continued to serve,” even though TSA staff received no pay during the 43-day shutdown.

When asked whether the incentive would go only to officers who reported to work consistently, she clarified that “that’s not necessarily the parameters,” adding that the department will evaluate “every individual that did exceptional service during this period of time when there were so many hardships.”

View this post on Instagram

DHS has not yet defined which employees will qualify, and the department did not respond to follow-up questions. With roughly 50,000 officers in TSA’s workforce, covering every employee would amount to about $500 million in payouts.

In a message posted on X, Noem praised the agency’s frontline staff: “Americans can be proud of TSA workers across the country who continued to serve with excellence throughout the shutdown — many going to great lengths to protect our country, care for their fellow Americans, and keep our nation moving.” She added, “President Trump and I are giving a $10,000 bonus to exemplary TSA officers across our nation who went above and beyond their performance. Thank you to the men and women of @TSA — patriots!”

Americans can be proud of TSA workers across the country who continued to serve with excellence throughout the shutdown—many going to great lengths to protect our country, care for their fellow Americans, and keep our nation moving.

President Trump and I are giving a $10,000… pic.twitter.com/wyZSDDpASa
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) November 13, 2025

According to DHS, the department plans to cover the costs using leftover funds from the 2025 fiscal year.

Travel disruptions escalated in the final stretch of the shutdown as more TSA officers called out, contributing to longer checkpoint lines. Air travelers also faced a spike in delays and cancellations as Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers began missing work after going without paychecks.

Noem’s announcement followed a Truth Social post by former President Donald Trump criticizing air traffic controllers who called out during the shutdown. He similarly endorsed a $10,000 payout for controllers who, as he put it, “didn’t take any time off for the ‘Democrat Shutdown Hoax.’”

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy supported the bonus plan but acknowledged that some employees missed shifts for legitimate financial reasons. “They’re young. They don’t make a lot of money when they first start out… They may be the sole source of income, and they were confronted with a real problem,” he said.

Still, Duffy emphasized that the FAA will scrutinize “continual bad actors” who may have used the shutdown as an excuse to skip work.

According to an Office of Management and Budget memo obtained by Semafor, TSA and other affected federal workers are expected to resume receiving paychecks by Nov. 19.