Gayle King, CBS News, new deal, morning show

by Jameelah Mullen

October 31, 2025

CBS Addresses Gayle King’s Rumored Departure

King has appeared on the network’s morning show for nearly 14 years.

Rumors began circulating about Gayle King’s future with CBS after Variety reported that the anchor may leave the morning news show when her contract expires in May 2026. However, a CBS spokesperson refuted portions of the report.

“There have been no discussions with Gayle about her contract that runs through May 2026,” a CBS News spokesperson said in a statement to People.

The spokesperson added, “She’s a truly valued part of CBS, and we look forward to engaging with her about the future.” 

Sources at Variety indicated that King might assume a new role at the network, which is currently undergoing internal restructuring amid Paramount’s $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media. The company’s corporate ownership will shift from the Redstones, the former controlling shareholders, to the Ellisons, who, according to Variety, plan to steer CBS News away from content they believe leans too far to the left. In Oct 2025, CBS named Bari Weiss, founder of the conservative opinion site The Free Press, as editor-in-chief of CBS News.

During her over 40-year career as a journalist, King has interviewed prominent figures such as President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and Cardi B. One of her most unforgettable interviews was in 2019 with R. Kelly, during his legal battle over federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges. During a tense exchange, Kelly became visibly upset, stood up, and started yelling. King was praised for staying calm as she called him by his first name, “Robert,” repeatedly.

King said that she was surprised by the unexpected change in Kelly’s demeanor, which she described as “0 to 200.”

“When he jumped out of the chair, and he’s hitting, and he’s screaming, and spit is flying because he’s angry, I just thought, ‘You can’t respond in kind to that.’ If you respond in kind to that, then we’re both off the rails.” King told People in 2019.

Weather, Earthquake, Jamaica, Hurricane Melissa,

by Jameelah Mullen

October 31, 2025

Foundation Seeks Support To Rebuild School Devastated By Hurricane Melissa

A Category 5 hurricane, which also swept through Cuba and Haiti in the Caribbean, made landfall in Jamaica as the strongest recorded storm to ever hit the island.

Category 5 hurricane Melissa, which also swept through Cuba and Haiti in the Caribbean, made landfall in Jamaica as the strongest recorded storm to ever hit the island.

As Jamaican residents continue to recover from the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa, a nonprofit organization is rallying support to help rebuild a local public school.

The Rockhouse Foundation, a nonprofit based in New York City that seeks to improve education in Jamaica, has launched the Rockhouse Foundation Hurricane Recovery Fund. The foundation, which focuses on supporting teachers and improving learning environments across the island, built the Sav Inclusive School, which the storm has severely damaged.

“The storm made landfall less than ten miles from our campus. Roofs were torn off, classrooms flooded, therapy rooms and learning materials destroyed, and our grounds left badly damaged. Many in the surrounding community suffered even greater loss,” the organization notes on its GoFundMe page.

“Every act of kindness brings us closer to reopening our doors and continuing to change young lives through inclusion, love, and learning.”

The organization noted that the fund will not only assist with repairs but also support broader recovery efforts in the surrounding community.

The Sav Inclusive School is a public school where children with disabilities can learn in a fully inclusive environment. Currently, the school has 265 students from ages 3 through grade 6. Following its success, The Rockhouse Foundation and Jamaica’s Ministry of Education have pledged to expand the school through the 12th grade. The organization plans to add one new grade each year over the next seven years.

Launched in 2004, The Rockport Foundation has invested over $11 million in building schools. The Sav Inclusive School is one of six educational facilities on the island established by the organization, including Moreland Hill Primary School, Little Bay All Age and Infant School, and the Negril Public Library.

The Rockhouse Foundation is both a registered Jamaican charity and a New York–based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. To find out how you can support the organization and its hurricane relief efforts, visit the GoFundMe page or Rockhouse’s website.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 31, 2025

Laila Ali Says ‘Absolutely Not’ To Claressa Shields $15M Fight Offer

Laila Ali says "absolutely not" to Claressa Shields' $15 million fight offer.

Laila Ali has put to rest rumors about a potential comeback to face Claressa Shields for $15 million, and her answer is a firm “absolutely not.”

In part two of her “Set the Record Straight” message on her Laila Ali KO podcast, the undefeated boxing champion addressed Shields and explained why she won’t come out of her nearly 20-year retirement to face her. Ali stated that Shields has repeatedly disrespected her name and legacy as Muhammad Ali’s daughter, and she has no intention of giving Shields the “opportunity” to earn a big payday at her expense.

“So did her plan work? Did she make me mad enough to come out of retirement after 18 years and start training again to make her dream of fighting me and having a big payday courtesy of Laila Ali come true? Absolutely not,” Ali quipped in a reposted clip of the podcast.

“After years of blatant lies and vile disrespect, making unsolicited negative remarks about me, questioning the legitimacy of my boxing legacy, and having the audacity to cross the line by disrespecting my deceased father, trying to use his name to discredit his daughter.”

Laila Ali confirms she will NOT be getting in the ring and ‘rewarding’ Claressa Shields with a fight, that’ll give her her biggest payday, due to years of disrespect, spreading false narratives, and mentioning her father, Muhammad Ali https://t.co/Gy2pLUH0LL pic.twitter.com/i6qbWOkjtS
— Glock Topickz (@Glock_Topickz) October 30, 2025

Ali also shared a clip of Shields referencing the late Muhammad Ali and seemingly suggesting that Laila doesn’t have the “genes” to match her skill in the ring.

“Muhammad Ali would never. Her daddy would never,” Shields said in the throwback clip. “Maybe she don’t have the genes.”

Following the clip, Ali made it clear why she has no plans of ever seeing Shields in the ring.

“She will not be rewarded with the opportunity to share the ring with me or anything else. There’s your answer,” Ali said.

Ali competed professionally from 1999 until retiring undefeated in 2007, capturing the WBC, WIBA, IWBF, and IBA female super middleweight titles, as well as the IWBF light heavyweight title. Shields, meanwhile, has won 18 major world championships across five weight classes and holds the record for becoming a two-, three-, four-, and five-division world champion in the fewest professional fights.

The Flint native has openly expressed her desire to face Ali, most recently offering a $15 million payday after Ali mentioned she might fight Shields for the right price. However, Ali has made it clear that she has no intention of accepting Shields’ challenge.

by Sharelle B. McNair

October 31, 2025

BREAKING: Judge Rules SNAP Benefits Must Remain During Shutdown

The Oct. 31 oral ruling by Judge Jack McConnell of Rhode Island came just 24 hours before the Department of Agriculture (USDA) was set to cut off the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Just in the nick of time, a federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration must keep SNAP benefits going during the government shutdown, as 42 million Americans depend on the program, CNBC reported.

The Oct. 31 oral ruling by Judge Jack McConnell of Rhode Island came just 24 hours before the Department of Agriculture (USDA) was set to cut off food stamps of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Department of Justice attorney Tyler Beckler argued that the program no longer exists because there were no further congressionally allocated funds for it due to the shutdown.

Following conversations among numerous attorneys general and members of Congress about the $6 billion in a contingency fund that could be used for SNAP benefits, Beckler claimed the decision on its use was at the administration’s discretion.

“There is no SNAP program and, as a result, the government cannot just provide SNAP benefits,” Becker argued.

But McConnell had the affected American people to consider, finding the SNAP suspension arbitrary, according to ABC News, and likely to cause irreparable harm, as Americans are fearful of how they will meet their basic nutritional needs without it.

“There is no doubt, and it is beyond argument, that irreparable harm will begin to occur—if it hasn’t already occurred—in the terror it has caused some people about the availability of funding for food for their family,” he said during the emergency hearing. “The court is orally at this time, ordering that USDA must distribute the contingency money timely, or as soon as possible, for the November 1 payments to be made.”

The ruling also included a temporary restraining order against the plaintiffs—a coalition of local governments, nonprofits, small businesses, and workers’ rights organizations—in a lawsuit filed against the Trump administration to keep the benefits flowing. The group celebrated McConnell’s ruling, saying it sets a precedent that no administration is above the law.

“Today’s ruling is a lifeline for millions of families, seniors, and veterans who depend on SNAP to put food on the table,” the coalition said in a statement. “It reaffirms a fundamental principle: no administration can use hunger as a political weapon. This victory is about more than one program — it’s about the American values of fairness, compassion, and accountability that hold our democracy together.”

Other federal judges stood firm alongside McConnell’s ruling. Minutes before, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani of Boston ruled in a separate case that the administration’s suspension attempt was “unlawful,” but did not order the program to be funded. However, she did not issue a temporary restraining order and pushed for the Trump team to decide whether they would adhere to reducing November SNAP benefits.

The administration has until Nov. 3 to decide.

Sean Combs, ‘Reckoning’ Doc, Abuse Claims, Slap Story, Janice Combs,

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 31, 2025

Diddy Transferred To Fort Dix To Serve 50-Month Sentence

The Federal Bureau of Prisons granted the mogul's choice so he can enter the facility’s drug treatment program

Less than a month after his attorneys requested that he serve his 50-month prison sentence at Fort Dix in New Jersey, Sean “Diddy” Combs was transferred to the facility Oct. 30.

According to CNN, the convicted entertainment mogul was granted the request by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The prison is a low-security federal correctional institution that houses fewer than 4,000 inmates. The request was made by Diddy’s legal team, Oct. 6, so he could take advantage of the facility’s drug treatment program and be closer to family.

“In order to address drug abuse issues and to maximize family visitation and rehabilitative efforts, we request that the Court strongly recommend to the Bureau of Prisons that Mr. Combs be placed at FCI Fort Dix for RDAP purposes and any other available educational and occupational programs,” his team wrote in a letter to Judge Arun Subramanian.

According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the RDAP (Residential Drug Abuse Program) is the bureau’s most intensive treatment program and is typically completed in nine months. Prisoners participating in the program reside in a separate unit from the general population. Participants are enrolled in half-day programming and half-day work, school, or vocational activities.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons also recently announced that Diddy’s expected release date is May 8, 2028.

Combs had been at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since he was arrested and accused of sex trafficking, operating a criminal enterprise, and transporting to engage in prostitution in September 2024. The former Bad Boy label owner was convicted in July on two counts of transporting individuals to engage in prostitution, under the Mann Act. He was acquitted of the more serious racketeering charges. Subramanian sentenced him Oct. 3 to his prison term, a $500,000 fine, and five years of supervised release.

Earlier this week, his attorneys filed a request with a federal appeals court to expedite his appeal of two prostitution-related convictions, ABC 7 NY reported. In the filing, they argued that, under a standard timeline, Diddy could complete his 50-month prison sentence before the appeal is heard.

by Kandiss Edwards

October 31, 2025

Nobel Prize Winner Wole Soyinka Is Unbothered About His Revoked Visa Status

Before Soyinka’s visa was taken, he’d already destroyed his U.S. green card.

Nobel Prize-winning author Wole Soyinka said his U.S. non-immigrant visa was revoked by the American government.

In a video on The Cable YouTube channel, Soyinka suggested the cause of revocation may be linked to his vocal criticism of Donald Trump. The 91-year-old laureate announced the decision during a news conference in Lagos on Tuesday. The letter cited “additional information became available” after the visa was issued, but did not provide specifics.

Soyinka said he believes the revocation was prompted by his remarks comparing Trump to Ugandan dictator Idi Amin.

“Idi Amin was a man of international stature, a statesman, so when I called Donald Trump Idi Amin, I thought I was paying him a compliment,” he said.

Soyinka won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986, becoming the first Black African to receive that honor. He said a letter dated Oct. 23 from the U.S. Consulate in Lagos instructed him to bring his passport to have the visa physically cancelled.

“I have no visa. I am banned obviously from the United States, and if you want to see me, you know where to find me,” Soyinka said.

The Nobel winner said he believes the government’s actions highlight the emerging culture of punishing dissent.

“It’s not about me, I’m not really interested in going back to the United States,” he said. “But a principle is involved. Human beings deserve to be treated decently wherever they are.”

The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria declined to comment on the case, citing the confidentiality of visa records. State Department rules grant consular officials broad discretion to revoke non-immigrant visas when circumstances warrant.

Soyinka’s situation is only the latest among prominent global figures whose U.S. visas were revoked in recent months. In one example, former Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, also reported having his visa cancelled without explanation after public criticism of U.S. policy.

by Jameelah Mullen

October 31, 2025

EPIC! Patti LaBelle Lands Catalog Deal With Primary Wave

Patti Labelle proves she is the queen of the stage, the kitchen and the boardroom.

Patti LaBelle has signed a partnership deal with music publishing and marketing company Primary Wave Music Group.

The company remained tight-lipped on financial details; however, it confirmed that the partnership includes the singer-songwriter’s artist royalties across her entire catalog, comprising 18 studio albums, three live albums, 14 compilation albums, and 47 singles. LaBelle has sold more than 50 million records worldwide to date.

“We are so honored to be in business with a legend such as Ms. LaBelle,” Primary Wave’s Steven Greener said in a statement to Hollywood Reporter. “She’s a true icon and trailblazer. We are looking forward to doing great things together.”

The deal represents another significant acquisition for Primary Wave. Earlier this year, the company completed the acquisition of Biggie Smalls’ catalog. In 2020, the company purchased the producer royalty income streams of R&B and hip-hop super producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, who has produced hits for artists like Destiny’s Child, Michael Jackson, Tony Braxton, and Mary J. Blige.

With a career spanning over 60 years, LaBelle has landed forty-two hits on Billboard’s Hot/R&B Hip-Hop Songs chart, 13 of which reached the Top 10. She is an iconic artist of her generation, best known for hits like “If Only You Knew,” “You Are My Friend,” and “On My Own,” a duet with Michael McDonald. The singer recorded “Lady Marmalade” while she was a member of the three-person girl group Labelle; the song topped Billboard’s Hot 100 in 1974. In 2001, Lil’ Kim, Mýa, Christina Aguilera, and Pink brought it back into the spotlight. Similarly, Kelly Rowland and Nelly’s 2002 duet, “Dilemma,” sampled the songstress’s 1983 hit “Love, Need and Want You,” introducing the classic to a new generation. The Grammy Award-winning singer and actress received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1993.

The Godmother of Soul recently performed on The Queens Tour, alongside Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, and Stephanie Mills. The 20-city tour concluded on Oct 20 in Cleveland, Ohio.

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 31, 2025

Artist Jennia Fredrique Aponte’s ‘The Clockwork Academy’ Reimagines Black Girls Scholars At Paris Art Week

The feature focused on a reimagined history of Black girl students in Mississippi.

The ClockWork Academy, curated by Black artist Jennia Fredrique Aponte, reimagines Black academia and history at her Paris Art Week debut.

Presented by Art Melanated, the sold-out collection of pieces made waves at the Also Known As Africa Art Fair (AKAA). The series, titled “Clockwork Academy: School for Girls,” focused on an alternative yet imaginative history of Black girl scholars in the American South. The renowned gallery also made history as the only U.S.-based gallery included in the exhibit, which ran from Oct. 24-26.

The paper pieces set their stories in 1892, when academia champions and uplifts Black girlhood. These portraits focused on the Black girls’ intellect, identity, and power during the Industrial Revolution. One of its most prized works, Bailey, has become a representative piece from the series.

“I love collage, I love paper, and now we’re in Paris, my very first, solo show,” Aponte told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

“There are eight girls from the 1800s and it’s the body of work is designed to shine a light on the greatness of my ancestors.“

Aponte added: “They are the chefs and mathematicians and architects and the true creatives of the artists of America …”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ART | MELANATED (@artmelanated)

In this era of alternatives, these featured pupils studied the arts and sciences at a revolutionary school founded by Benjamin Banneker’s students. This unheard-of history symbolizes the hope and power found within our future leaders, all by reconnecting with one another through the past.

“When you hear stories about my people in 1892, you think post slavery, you think extreme poverty, you think you know what I mean. You think about sharecropping,” shared Aponte with the AKAA Fair. “But in truth, we were there, in this city that these girls are from, Mound Bayou, Mississippi. It was a self-sustained Black town. It’s a world I created.”

Art Melanated also revealed the supportive response from the Parisian art community and beyond. Local and international visitors found inspiration within this collection, while they hope to charter a new legacy of unity, innovation, and strength from this newfound history.

As Aponte’s first solo international exhibition, the series speaks to her purpose through art, to create new worlds and experiences that revolutionize Black people. An award-winning artist, director, writer, and curator, Aponte helped foster the Art Melanated community as groundbreaking creatives showcase their work.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ART | MELANATED (@artmelanated)

Now with her own collection out in the world, it furthers her mission while highlighting Black life and creativity. As Paris Art Week finally concludes, those inspired by the exhibition’s themes and impact can also take a signature piece for their own collection. Limited Edition prints of “Bailey” are now available on Art Melanated’s website.

Wallace peoples, reform alliance, Wallo267, CMO, Chief marketing officer

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 31, 2025

Wallo267 And Gillie Join Global Gaming League, Will Face Howie Mandel In First Match

'I love Howie Mandel, but we’re about to embarrass that man in 4K,' said Gillie the King

Hip-hop podcasters Gillie the King and Wallo267, of a Million Dollaz Worth of Game fame, have become a part of the Global Gaming League (GGL) as the league’s newest team owners.

The two Philadelphia natives will participate in the entertainment and esports/gaming platform that merges music, media, and celebrity competition. Their first competition will place them against comedian and game show host Howie Mandel. Already, before the opponents meet, Gillie and Wallo have taken shots that will surely make the match more competitive.

“I love Howie Mandel, but we’re about to embarrass that man in 4K,” said Gillie, the former rapper and ghostwriter.

His cousin, Wallo, said, “Howie better bring his A-game. We don’t lose on the mic or the monitor.”

Million Dollaz gaming team vs. Howie Do It gaming team, originally slated to take place in Las Vegas on Oct. 29, has been rescheduled for Nov. 18, a day before the Esports Awards during F1 Week. The match will then stream on GGL’s YouTube channel on Black Friday, Nov. 29, 2025, featuring interactive fan engagement, live commentary, a halftime performance, and surprise guest appearances.

“Gillie and Wallo bring the type of passion, competition, smack talking, and credibility that defines what GGL is all about,” said Clinton Sparks, founder of the Global Gaming League. “Pairing them against Howie Mandel’s team aligns with what the mission of the GGL is all about — bringing different cultures, industries, and worlds together.”

A halftime performance is scheduled featuring the band Wheatus, who have a chart-topping anthem, “Teenage Dirtbag.”

A typical GGL matchup begins with a pre-show live performance, followed by the first-round fight game. Then, there is a live entertainment intermission before the second round of the shooter game. Then, the halftime show before the third-round sports game. Then, a sponsored intermission precedes the fourth-round retro game, which leads to the final winner’s selection.

For more information, please visit www.globalgamingleague. com and/or connect via social media @globalgamingleague.

The Cutting Room Floor', Podcaster,Assistant Gig

by Kandiss Edwards

October 31, 2025

New Report: In-Office Work Carries Steep Price Tag

Making money costs money—especially if you head to the office.

A new report by Owl Labs shows that workers returning to the office are spending more.

Daily costs average about $55 per day for hybrid or in-office employees, compared with about $18 for remote workers, according to the 2025 State of Hybrid Work report.

The breakdown by Owl Labs shows the average in-office daily cost at nearly $15 for commuting, $18 for lunch, $13 for coffee or breakfast, and $9 for parking—totaling $55. The figures are slightly lower than $61 in 2024; it was $51 in 2023.

Frank Weishaupt, CEO of Owl Labs, said, “As companies plan 2026 budgets and RTO policies, balancing in-office expectations with cost support will be key to keeping employees engaged and loyal.”

He added that 92% of workers said the right incentives could convince them to return; one-third cited commuting or parking coverage, and another third listed free food and drinks.

The shift to increased office presence is being rolled out by major tech firms, including Amazon, Dell, Apple, Google, IBM, and Meta, many of which require employees to be on-site three to five days per week.

Labor economists say the hidden costs of commuting and in-office attendance can chip away at take-home pay and dampen worker morale.

Linda Chen, a retail and employment economist at the University of Texas, told Fast Company, “Even a long-standing brand can be vulnerable when costs rise and workers migrate out of cities or remote work becomes an expectation that companies can no longer ignore.”

As firms continue to implement return-to-office mandates for 2026, the financial impact of commuting and in-office costs may become a major factor in recruitment and retention. For workers, the message is clear: returning to the workspace now comes with a price tag—one many may be unwilling or unable to pay.