The Francis family said he died Feb. 18 at Ochsner Hospital, WBRZ reports. A recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the first Black president of Xavier University of Louisiana, he is being remembered by loved ones as a devoted family man and a trailblazing leader.
“While many knew him as the former president of Xavier University, as a civil rights leader, and as a respected voice for justice and equality on both the local and national stage, we knew him simply as Daddy — a man whose greatest joy came from family gatherings, quiet moments of prayer, and encouraging those around him to live with purpose and kindness,” his family said.
Francis broke barriers by integrating Loyola University New Orleans College of Law and later went on to advise eight U.S. presidents. He also helped establish Liberty Bank and Trust Co., one of the nation’s largest Black-owned banks.
But his greatest impact in higher education remains at Xavier University, which he led through the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina while also chairing the Louisiana Recovery Authority created after the storm. Following news of his death, the university shared a tribute honoring his legacy.
“For seven decades, including a resounding 47 years as University President, Dr. Francis shaped Xavier into a national model of excellence and access, cementing it as a national leader in education and beyond,” the school wrote in an Instagram post. “His legacy will live on in every Xavier student and graduate whose life was changed by his belief that education could change the world.”
Local leaders have shared tributes following his passing, with Troy Carter saying his heart is “truly broken,” while Jeff Landry called Francis a “tremendous icon.”
“Norman Francis was a tremendous icon in both civil rights and education. His courage and vision shaped Xavier University into the institution it is today. He will be deeply missed by all. Sharon and I are praying for the Francis family and trust he is reunited in Heaven with his wife, Blanche.”
Norman Francis was a tremendous icon in both civil rights and education.
His courage and vision shaped Xavier University into the institution it is today.
He will be deeply missed by all. Sharon and I are praying for the Francis family and trust he is reunited in Heaven with…
Call Him SouljaAI, Soulja Boy Crowns Self As First Rapper To Automate Voice With Artificial Tech
The rapper has deemed himself the first hip-hop crooner to engage with AI in this way.
Soulja Boy is a trailblazing rapper in his own right, with his latest alleged accolade earning him another first.
The “Turn My Swag On” rapper shared with X about his latest technological feat. In the clip, he noted how his other history-making career highlights, such as being the first rapper on YouTube and having his own star.
Now, he claims to be the first rapper to automate his voice with artificial intelligence.
I was the first rapper to automate his voice with AI.
“I was the first rapper to automate his voice with AI. Give me a call,” Soulja Boy shared in the Feb. 17 post.
He ended the clip with a phone number and a jingle referencing his 2008 hit, “Kiss Me Thru The Phone.”
According to Hot 97, not much is known about the project, which many have coined “SouljaAI,” thus far. Reps for the rapper did not disclose any further information about what fans and listeners should expect either. However, some reports have shared that fans could soon interact with “SouljaAI” via calls.
Although the exact nature remains unverified, Soulja Boy has evidently hopped onto the bandwagon of artificial technology. However, the use of AI in music has already divided many in the hip-hop and R&B communities, especially as Black artists continue to fight for recognition and just pay for their work. AI artists like Xania Monet have received polarizing views from listeners and artists alike as the inhuman singer takes up space in an already competitive industry.
Soulja Boy has not shied away from technological advances to boost his brand and music before. He is often recognized for using emerging social media platforms and viral marketing strategies, such as “Kiss Me Thru The Phone’s” cell number hook, to engage his growing audience.
Despite the pushback, Soulja Boy seems more than ready to launch his career into the future. However, how exactly his AI-automated voice will serve fans remains unclear.
Snoop Repays Italian Restaurateur With 5 Tix To Olympics After Credit Card Blunder
The rapper repaid the owners by blessing them with complimentary tickets to the snowboarding finals
What we thought would be impossible happened at a restaurant in Milan when recording artist Snoop Dogg’s credit card was declined after he went in for a bite to eat. Since the owners allowed the Doggystyle rapper to get the meal free of charge, due to the mishap, the California rapper rewarded them with five complimentary tickets to the snowboarding finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The New York Post reported that the 54-year-old entertainment legend had stopped at a restaurant named Cronox in Livigno, Italy. Snoop ordered a cheeseburger, chicken wings, chicken nuggets, and French fries.
When he presented his credit card to the cashier, it was reportedly declined, but the owners allowed him to get the meal, without having to pay for it.
The daughter of the owners of Cronox, Sofia Valmadre, spoke about the incident and told the media what Snoop did in appreciation of getting the meal from the restaurant, acknowledging receiving free tickets for the Olympic event.
“He sent his staffer to take it and pay, but they couldn’t pay. I don’t know why, it wasn’t going,” Valmadre said. “So my mother told him that it was OK. Today, he sent us five tickets to see the final.”
After Snoop Dogg’s credit card didn’t go through on a takeout order in Livigno during the Winter Olympics, he paid the next day and gifted the restaurant owners five tickets to the men’s snowboard halfpipe final. pic.twitter.com/nS4H99M2ox
Snoop is working at the Winter Olympics, serving in dual roles as Team USA’s first honorary coach for the 2026 Winter Olympics and as an analyst for NBC. As an honorary coach, which is a voluntary position, his job is to help celebrate and support athletes from his home country when they are not competing.
The 2026 Winter Olympics, dubbed Milano Cortina 2026, are taking place in Italy. They started Feb. 6 and will end Feb. 22. Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo are co-hosting the games.
Tyra Banks isn’t just a model. She has become a media powerhouse, launching Bankable Productions in 2007, producing such hit shows as The Tyra Banks Show and America's Next Top Model. An accomplished woman in fashion, television, and business, Tyra Banks has a net worth of $90 million: (Photo: VOGUE Taiwan, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons):
Tyra Banks Apologizes To Former ‘ANTM’ Contestant Who Was Sexually Harassed, ‘She Deserved More’
Tyra Banks has apologized to former "America's Next Top Model" contestant Keenyah Hill for her handling of a photoshoot that involved allegations of sexual harassment.
Tyra Banks did issue one apology in Netflix’s “Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model” documentary to a former contestant who complained on camera about the sexual harassment she endured during a photoshoot.
The coveted supermodel is facing renewed criticism following the release of the three-part Netflix docuseries, which revisits the complicated legacy of the hit modeling competition. Among the controversies highlighted is a Cycle 4 photoshoot in South Africa, where contestant Keenyah Hill said model Bertini Heumegni “aggressively” flirted with her during filming, a concern she later raised during judging, describing feeling uncomfortable.
Remember when Tyra told Keenyah to get over being harassed by the male model and just pose? pic.twitter.com/4ck70Sqhds
At the judging panel, Banks advises Hill on how to handle the situation, suggesting she use her “feminine wiles” to ask Heumegni to step back “in a fun way” during the shoot, as captured by Entertainment Weekly. Now, looking back at the moment in the Netflix doc, Banks recalled the moment and admitted fault, saying the then-19-year-old contestant “deserved more” support from her and the rest of the team.
“I was trying to empower her with the information that I had,” Banks said. “I felt like that was empowering her based on the information I had. And I thought that was the best advice, but it should have been, ‘Stop,’ down. And that’s what would happen today.”
She continued. “We all now understand the protections that women need. So I say to Keenyah, boo boo, I am so sorry. None of us knew. Network executives didn’t know, and I did the best that I could at that time. But she deserved more. She did.”
Nigel Barker, the photographer and former male model who served as a judge, reflected on his initial critique, saying it was shaped by what he saw as the realities of the fashion industry at the time.
“Some of those things are also kind of a reality of the world, unfortunately. In the fashion industry, there’s always been a lot of issues with, you know, sort of harassment,” Barker said in the doc. “In any shape or way, whether you’re a male or female model,” Barker says in the series. “And not everyone is going to handle the same situation in the same way, but you as an individual should be able to stand up for yourself and say, ‘Hey, no, this isn’t working,’ or figure it out and get the job done. There were people — cameras — everywhere!”
“I didn’t get the response I thought I was going to get,” she said in the doc. “The looks on their faces were just like, How dare you stop our production!”
She added. “To be on a TV set in front of so many people and still not be protected is some pretty dark stuff.”
South African Billionaire Patrice Motsepe Exits From Role At Mining Company He Founded
Under JSE's new rules, one key reform is that the chair of a listed company can no longer hold an executive position with the company.
There are more leadership changes among some of Africa’s richest people. In the latest move, South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe has stepped down as executive chairman of African Rainbow Minerals.
According to Business Insider Africa, Motsepe is retiring to adhere to new governance requirements under the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) Simplification Project. Under the new rules, effective for 2026, the JSE adopted major governance changes to align with international standards.
One key reform is that the chair of a listed company can no longer hold an executive position with the company.
Motsepe will remain on the board as non-executive chairman and stated that he looks forward to “continuing to contribute to the global competitiveness” of the company in his new role.
Other leadership roles will remain. David Noko is expected to continue as lead independent non-executive director. Jacob van der Bijl has been appointed chief operating officer, whom Motsepe reportedly described as a “world-class mining engineer.”
About Patrice Motsepe and African Rainbow Minerals
Motespe founded African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) in 2003. Headquartered in Sandton, the company is one of Africa’s most prominent mining companies. The company produces iron ore, manganese, chrome, platinum group metals (PGMs), nickel, and coal, with significant investments in gold.
ARM owns a 20% stake in Harmony Gold, one of the world’s largest gold mining companies. The company also produces 6.7 million tons of coal per year, according to Gold Newswire.
As of 2025, Patrice Motsepe has an estimated networth of $3 billion, making him one of Africa’s wealthiest individuals. In 2008, he was the first Black African on the Forbes List of billionaires.
In 2016, Motsepe launched a private equity firm focused on investing in Africa. In addition to mining, he has a stake in Sanlam, a listed financial services firm, according to Forbes. He is also the president and owner of the Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club.
Jaden Smith Reveals His Philanthropic ‘Dream’ To Feed Unhoused People On Skid Row
Smith has a dream to feed the unhoused community of Skid Row, and has already launched efforts to do so.
Jaden Smith is continuing his philanthropic journey, revealing his biggest dream: helping those living in unhoused settlements.
According toWBLS, Smith spoke during a recent interview about his desire to feed the people living on Skid Row, a street in Los Angeles known for its homeless population. Smith, a native Southern Californian, wants to ease the struggle with food insecurity often faced by those experiencing homelessness.
“My dream is to just go down to Skid Row and give out free food,” the 27-year-old said in a recent interview. “That’s something that’s always been close to my heart.”
The son of actors Will and Jada Pinkett Smith has always had a charitable heart, using his platform for new ventures that help vulnerable communities.
At just 12 years old, he co-founded Just Water, a spring water company and initiative that seeks to provide affordable access to clean water in underserved areas.
As for feeding the nation, Smith has already gotten started in doing so through his I Love You restaurant. The pop-up and food truck serve free, healthy, and vegan meals to communities across America, but especially Skid Row.
“I want to make sure people are fed and feel cared for,” he added. “That’s really what it comes down to.”
With every activation, the charity serves 500 meals and a bottle of JUST water to anyone, regardless of their financial situation. Always focused on those with less, Smith is expanding his impact while helping others with necessities.
“Food is a basic human right,” Smith said. “No one should have to wonder where their next meal is coming from.”
His overarching goal with The I Love You Company, and its direct impact on Skid Row, is to provide three nutritious meals free of charge every day. Although the actor and musician has his own busy schedule, he hopes to stay on the front lines as well, passing out meals and connecting with members of the unhoused community.
“At the end of the day, I just want to be there handing out meals,” he said. “That’s the dream.”
However, he does not accomplish this feat alone; Smith also mentions the partners who share his altruistic dream.
While embracing a wide network of volunteers, community kitchens, and outreach teams, he says this social responsibility is what will drive actual change in this world.
“I believe we all have a role to play,” he said. “If you have the ability to help, you should.”
Avel Gordly in March 2011. Photo by Flickr member arthuralex. arthuralex from Portland, OR, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Avel Gordly, Oregon’s First Black Woman Senator, Dies At 79
The trailblazing activist, politician, and menstrual health advocate leaves a lasting legacy of public service.
Avel Gordly, who made history as the first Black woman elected to Oregon’s state senate, has died. She was 79.
The beloved politician and civil rights activist died of natural causes in her home on Feb. 16.
In 1991, Gordly began serving in the Oregon House of Representatives. She served three terms, representing parts of north and northeast Portland. In 1996, she was elected to the State Senate, where she served until 2009.
During her time in the state senate, Gordly worked to remove laws from the state constitution that banned Black people from settling in Oregon. She sponsored Senate Bill 300, also known as the Expanded Options Bill.
The legislation allows Oregon high school students to take courses at local colleges and earn college credit while still in high school. In addition to advocating for educational initiatives, Gordly championed mental health and social justice reform. She served as co-chair of Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber’s Task Force on Racial and Ethnic Health.
Additionally, she advocated for the state to recognize Juneteenth as a holiday. She also collaborated with community leaders to push for the creation of Harriet Tubman Middle School in Portland.
“She worked really hard to get Tubman Middle School into our neighborhood,” Lakeitha Elliott told KPTV News.”
Elliot, who describes Gordly as both “a mother and a mentor,” reflected on their final conversation. She recalled Gordly expressing pride in her “community daughters,” and in the values she had helped instill in them.
“I think she went trusting that the community was in good hands because of the mentorship that she provided to us,“ Elliot said.
In 2009, Gordly retired from public office and became an associate professor in the Black Studies Department at Portland State University, her alma mater. In 2017, she received an honorary Doctor of Letters from the same institution.
U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum took to Instagram to reflect on the legacy of the former senator, who she called a “mentor and a true friend.”
“I knew I was standing on the shoulders of a giant. Sadly, her tenure as an elected Black Oregonian was so rare that many in the chamber thought she was a relative rather than the esteemed public servant who had dedicated and delivered so much to Oregon,” Bynum wrote.
Avel Gordly leaves behind a son, Tyrone Wayne Waters; a sister, Faye Burch; and many family members and friends.
Former NFL All-Pro Hardy Nickerson Asks For Help In Retrieving Stolen Mementos
While taking a break at a hotel, it was discovered that some of his items had been stolen from the moving truck while they slept through the night
Former NFL player Hardy Nickerson was moving to San Juan Capistrano, California, to start a new job as a high school football coach when the moving crew, while taking a break at a hotel, discovered that some of his items had been stolen from the moving truck while they slept through the night.
According to CBS News, the former linebacker and his family were moving from Oakland to San Juan Capistrano when the incident took place.
Most of the items taken were mementos from his 16-year NFL career, where he was a five-time Pro Bowl linebacker in the 1990s.
Last month, Nickerson was announced as the new head coach of the JSerra High School football program. He was recently the head coach of the CIF Division 5-AA State Champions at Bishop O’Dowd in Oakland. While moving to his new residence, a storm momentarily cut their trip short, so his family and the moving crew stopped at a Hampton Inn in Santa Clarita.
Upon waking the next morning, the crew discovered that the locks on the back of the truck had been cut and that some of Nickerson’s mementos from his NFL days were missing.
Some of the things taken were awards, football jerseys, and autographed helmet memorabilia.
Now, Nickerson is hoping that some of those items can be recovered and returned to him. He is asking that collectors be on the lookout for people trying to sell the valuable pieces to them.
“Hopefully, someone will see that if they’re trying to sell it and say, ‘Hey, wait a minute, I believe that was lost,’ or no, ‘Stolen!’” Nickerson said. “If it has my name on it, please get it back to me.”
He also said that if anyone comes across any of the memorabilia, they should contact him at Junipero Serra Catholic High School so the items can be returned to him.
Nickerson played in the NFL for over 15 years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Green Bay Packers. One of the highlights of his career is breaking a regular-season record for most combined tackles in a season with 214.
Bermuda Harbour - crossing Hamilton Harbour towards Southampton with Gibbs Hill lighthouse in the distance / Photo by David Broad / Wikimedia Creative Commons
Announced Feb. 17, the newly launched national survey looks to examine the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ people connected to the island, TNN reports. Led by Global Research in partnership with OUTBermuda, the survey invites participants, both openly LGBTQ+ individuals and those who may not feel safe being out, to anonymously share their lived experiences in Bermuda.
“This survey is about listening,” said Joshua Samuels, Executive Director of OUTBermuda. “It creates space for people to share their experiences in their own words, including those who have not always felt safe enough to be visible.”
The survey examines key aspects of daily life, including safety and belonging, access to health and mental health care, experiences in schools and workplaces, community connection, and instances of support or discrimination. Its findings aim to provide a clearer understanding of LGBTQ+ experiences and help shape advocacy efforts, guide policy discussions, secure funding, and inform the ongoing development of OUTBermuda’s Policy Manifesto as the group works toward a more inclusive future across Bermuda.
The survey marks another step forward for LGBTQ+ advocacy in Bermuda, where the island’s first Pride parade in 2019 drew thousands before smaller gatherings followed during the pandemic. In 2022, OUTBermuda, a charity focused on supporting the local LGBTQ+ community, took over organizing Pride events.
Ahead of the 2023 celebration, executive director Tiffany Paynter noted that while LGBTQ+ residents participate in everyday island life like anyone else, many still question whether they can fully be themselves in every space.
“Our culture is very casually homophobic in ways that people don’t even know or truly appreciate, and we’re overtly homophobic as well,” she told theRoyal Gazette at the time. “So these are the things that we have to navigate as we plan for our community to come together and celebrate.”
“We’re doing this for our community to feel a sense of pride and belonging because the idea of homecoming is, this is our island too, we belong too.”
Bermuda’s national LGBTQ+ survey is open to participants age 18 and older, including residents on the island and LGBTQ+ Bermudians living abroad. Take the survey HERE.
‘Pleasure, Please!’: Ashley Cobb Discusses New Book And The Leap Of Faith That Paid Off
The small-town girl-turned-sexpert-author discusses her journey from a Bible Belt childhood to a life of self-defined freedom.
Ashley Cobb is an award-winning sex expert, HIV activist, writer, speaker, and social media influencer. She is known for her no-holds-barred approach to sexual freedom, especially for Black women, through her online platform, Sex With Ashley. The sexpert has a new title to add to her repertoire — author. Her new book, Pleasure, Please!: The Black Woman’s Guide to Unapologetic Pleasure and Confidence hit bookshelves on Feb. 17.
Cobb recently sat down with BLACK ENTERPRISE to discuss the book and her ever-evolving brand, Sex With Ashley.
The sex educator first gained attention in 2015 with her Sex With Ashley blog, a platform she created not because she had all the answers, but because she was searching for them. Before becoming a sex educator, she once served as a “purity-culture leader,” encouraging women to abstain from sex until marriage. At the time, she embraced messaging that framed sexuality through rigid religious ideology instead of her own autonomy.
“I kind of felt like I was doing that because that’s what I was told to do, but it really wasn’t what I wanted to do,” Cobb told BE.
Stepping away from those teachings allowed Cobb to explore her sexuality more honestly. Cobb, who grew up in the small town of Raeford, North Carolina, says that talking openly about sex was considered a sin in her household, making her path to becoming a sex educator especially taboo. Cobb said that she knew that other Black women, especially those who shared her Black Southern church roots, probably had similar trepidations around their own sexuality. She was correct. Her blog resonated with thousands of readers who were also unlearning shame and seeking more affirming conversations about sex.
While working as a middle school teacher during the day, Cobb blogged about all things sex in her free time. The Sex With Ashley blog saw significant growth early on, not only gaining Cobb online fame but also earning her the nickname “the sex lady” when people recognized her in public.
But the popularity came with consequences. One of her students’ parents reported the online platform to the school administration. Cobb explains that although Sex With Ashley was informational, targeted at adults, and contained no explicit images, her employer still found it inappropriate.
School officials gave Cobb an ultimatum: either delete the blog and keep her job, or keep the blog and resign.
“I chose the latter,” Cobb said.
The writer states that she knew Black women needed a space that centered them and the complexities of the Black experience. She decided to find a new job and continue writing. Her new employer also eventually let her go after learning about the blog. She experienced the same fate at her next job.
After three consecutive dismissals, Cobb knew she was at a crossroads: she had to either stop blogging or go “full throttle” with the Sex With Ashley brand.
As part of her leap of faith, the sexpert began teaching sex-focused classes and became a Bedroom Kandi sex toy consultant. She says she didn’t set out to become a social media influencer, but when she started sharing educational videos on Instagram, she naturally took on that role.
Cobb shifted her focus from blogging to content creation. In 2021, she launched a podcast. The Sex With Ashley Podcast is a weekly show offering “unfiltered conversations about Black sexuality.”
The content creator returned to school to earn a degree in Public Health, which led to a shift in her platform. She began incorporating sexual health topics into her sex-positive space and started discussing subjects like STIs, HIV, and fertility. Additionally, she began writing articles and columns for Black women’s lifestyle publications.
Pleasure, Please!
In 2023, her successful online brand gained the attention of a book editor who reached out to Cobb with a book proposal. The two began developing ideas that led to the creation of Pleasure, Please!: The Black Woman’s Guide to Unapologetic Pleasure and Confidence. Cobb says that the book offers practical advice for Black women of all ages who want to unlearn unhealthy ideas about sex that are often rooted in patriarchy, religion, and social conditioning.
“This book is for any Black woman who wants to learn how to have better sex, wants to feel more confident in her body, and wants to be able to learn how to make pleasure a priority in their life,” the author tells BE.
Additionally, Cobb shares her personal journey to sexual liberation. In the book, she recounts several eye-opening experiences, including hosting a nude yoga class. She recalls watching women arrive shy and hesitant, only to become more confident in their bodies as they saw other women doing the same.
Released on Feb. 17: Pleasure, Please!: The Black Woman’s Guide to Unapologetic Pleasure and Confidence is available for purchase online and at most major book retailers.
