DeAndre Ayton — photo credit: Jmnutt, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 18, 2026

Los Angeles Lakers Center DeAndre Ayton Detained In The Bahamas After Allegedly Being Caught With Weed

The incident took place at Lynden Pindling International Airport

Los Angeles Lakers player DeAndre Ayton was recently detained in the Bahamas, but was released on Feb. 16 after he was suspected of possessing a small amount of marijuana at Lynden Pindling International Airport.

According to Reuters, the center was making a return to the United States after visiting his native Bahamas during the NBA All-Star break. Initial reports claimed that he had been arrested by police officers from the Central Division of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, but his attorney, Devard Francis, told the media outlet that he was not arrested, only detained, before police allowed him to leave the airport. A small amount of marijuana was discovered on him after he was seen smoking at the airport.

Marijuana is illegal in the Bahamas.

“The investigators saw that the actual very small amount of marijuana wasn’t in Deandre’s bag, but they still went through their investigations, and he was released expeditiously,” Francis said. He also mentioned that police officials found the marijuana in someone else’s bag.

The 27-year-old is currently playing his first season with the Lakers, after he signed a two-year contract for $16.6 million last year. He is averaging 13.2 points on 67.5% shooting and a team-high 8.5 rebounds per game. He is a former No. 1 NBA draft pick who, before joining the Lakers, played for the Phoenix Suns and the Portland Trail Blazers.

The New York Post reported that Ayton played for the Bahamian National team during Olympic qualifying in 2024. While on the team, he averaged a double-double of 19.5 points and 11.8 rebounds, joining current NBA players Buddy Hield and VJ Edgecombe Jr., as well as former NBA player Eric Gordon.

Upon his return, Ayton is expected to be back at practice and faces no punishments or penalties since the NBA no longer has marijuana on its banned drugs list. The Lakers will be back in action Feb. 20 when they play their hometown rivals, the L.A. Clippers.

NFL, Brian Flores, discrimination lawsuit — (Photo: greenleaf123/Getty Images)

by Sharelle B. McNair

February 18, 2026

NBCUniversal Accuses Group Black Of Breach of Contract In Massive $35.8M Lawsuit

Despite selling over $30 million in advertising on NBCU’s streaming platform, Peacock, the suit claims Group Black agreed to shift its revenue share to zero in effort to pay down the shortfall.

Group Black, a firm created to push ad dollars toward Black-owned and Black-led media, has a $35.8 million lawsuit filed against it by Comcast’s NBCUniversal for breach of contract, unpaid invoices, and guaranteed payments, Business Insider reported.

Filed Feb. 11 in the New York Supreme Court, the lawsuit alleges Group Black failed to fulfill the terms of the contract after the firm predicted NBCU would be its largest source of revenue in 2024 after more than 30 brands signed on to the partnership in its first year, starting September 2023. Despite selling over $30 million in advertising on NBCU’s streaming platform, Peacock, the suit claims Group Black agreed to shift its revenue share to zero in an effort to pay down the shortfall.

The company says co-founder Bonin Bough acknowledged liability several times, even saying at one point he took it “very seriously.”

Despite the partnership ending in September 2025, in a statement, the Black-owned company says they “dispute the claims made by NBCUniversal and intend to respond through the appropriate legal process.”

“Group Black remains focused on its mission and serving its partners,” the firm said.

However, this isn’t the first time the firm has been hit with legal troubles, stemming from nonpayment accusations.

In 2024, two Essence Ventures-owned companies sued Group Black over accusations of the company owing close to $20 million. In the ongoing lawsuit, the firm claimed Essence loaned it money but denied the allegations in the suit.

Another ad agency, Audiomob, that provided mobile app advertising inventory for Group Black to push for their clients, demanded roughly $181,000 in invoices from Group Black, alleging the company had failed to pay. However, the suit was dismissed after Audiomob announced the company had made a “partial payment” of the funds owed.

Group Black launched in 2021 in response to the uproar amid the killing of George Floyd. When major advertisers sought to increase their spending on Black-owned media, the firm answered the call. But then the company dealt with internal challenges like market struggles and executive departures, forcing them to pivot to catering to a broader audience with the launch of a new venture, Portrait Media Group.

According to AInvest, Peacock’s ad partnership strategy vulnerability is put under the spotlight with the lawsuit, relying on third-party partners and giving them the responsibility to sell premium ad inventory and spread the wealth. Financial strain can come when the projected revenue stream becomes uneasy.

drake — photo credit: (Image: WIREIMAGE)

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 18, 2026

Drake Connects With McDonald’s Canada For ‘Afters Meal’

Select McDonald's locations carry the limited edition meals.

Drake may no longer bet on sports, but the rapper has placed a bet that a collaboration meal with McDonald’s will work. The fast-food franchise has launched the “Afters Meal” in Canada in partnership with Drake’s company, OVO (October’s Very Own).

The meal is currently available and includes either a junior chicken or McDouble sandwich, a regular-sized poutine (a Canadian dish of French fries topped with cheese curds and smothered in brown gravy), and The Nite Sprite, a blue-raspberry-flavored Sprite, in a limited-edition OVO cup.

The cup features the OVO owl.

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A post shared by Food Blog Canada (@foodblogcanada)

While Drake is reportedly preparing to release his long-awaited project, Iceman, he has other projects.

Hypebeast reports that the OVO owner released his collaboration with Nike, the NOCTA x Nike Cardinal Stock Spring 2026 collection on Feb. 18 on NOCTA. There was an even wider release the next day via the Nike SNKRS app and select retailers.

The Spring 2026 collection includes the NRG NOCTA CS Hoodie, Crewneck, and Sweatpants, all with a “Wash” treatment that imparts a lived-in, vintage feel to the fabric.

NOCTA, a joint venture between Nike and Drake, launched in 2020, according to Complex. NOCTA refers to Drake’s “nocturnal creative process.”

When the brand launched, Drake said, “This moment is full circle for me. I mean, growing up, Nike was everything. It felt like every shoe I wanted, every athlete I liked, everything I owned was Nike. It didn’t mean anything unless it had a Swoosh.

“With NOCTA, we were trying to make the hardest jacket, the hardest tracksuit, the hardest gloves. Just the best of that world.”

The brand had its official worldwide launch on Dec. 18, 2020.

ICE, Dr. Linda Davis, Georgia, — Photo provided by Davis family

by Kandiss Edwards

February 18, 2026

George Special Education Teacher Killed In Crash By Man Fleeing ICE

The crash occurred around 7:45 a.m. near Herman W. Hesse K-8 School, where Dr. Linda Davis, 55, worked as a special education teacher,

Georgia special education teacher Dr. Linda Davis was killed Feb. 16 when a man fleeing a federal immigration stop in Savannah crashed into her vehicle.

The crash occurred around 7:45 a.m. near Herman W. Hesse K-8 School, where Dr. Linda Davis, 55, worked as a special education teacher, the Associated Press reported. Officials said Oscar Vasquez Lopez, a 38-year-old Guatemalan national, was responsible. Lopez has been sought by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since 2024 in order to execute a deportation order. Lopez fled officers after the traffic stop attempt. He made a U-turn, ran a red light, and collided with Davis’s car, according to the Chatham County Police Department.

Lopez was taken into custody and faces multiple charges, including first-degree vehicular homicide, reckless driving, and driving without a valid license. After receiving due process for the death of Dr. Davis, he will be subject to deportation.

In a statement shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE, Davis’s family praised the “magnificent” woman Dr Davis was in life.

“Linda was a devoted wife, mother, sister, colleague, friend, and teacher. She understood that life is a divine gift, and she believed that all God’s children deserve compassion and respect. An educator for nearly 18 years, she devoted her life to serving others, and her impact extended far beyond the classroom. She poured herself into her community, mentored countless individuals and students, and led with grace, integrity, and deep care for people. One act at a time, Linda built a life of extraordinary meaning and influence. Much of her legacy will live on in the lives of those she touched. She was magnificent.”

A tragic crash in Chatham County, Georgia, claimed the life of beloved teacher Dr. Linda Davis when a driver fleeing ICE struck her vehicle.

Authorities have arrested the suspect, and the community mourns the loss of an inspiring educator. pic.twitter.com/AHJwlJ7jmH
— Everything Georgia (@GAFollowers) February 17, 2026

School officials identified the victim as Davis, describing her as a teacher “who dedicated her career to ensuring that every child felt supported, valued and capable of success.”

In a post on Facebook, Principal Alonna McMullen said the school has “implemented a plan” that will help support students in processing their emotions.

“Our teachers and counselors have been briefed on our plans and have received guidelines for discussing about death and reactions to it. There will be district counseling personnel available to students and staff who need special attention and support,” the statement read.

Chatham County police said they were not notified of the ICE traffic stop or pursuit before the crash, and that local law enforcement did not participate in the chase.

Savannah Mayor, Van Johnson, also questioned the necessity of the pursuit near a community school. “What this individual was wanted for, did it necessitate the end result?” he asked reporters.

Many echo Mayor Johnson’s sentiments, blaming ICE and its blanket tactics in regard to immigrants, criminal or not.

Conversely, other interested parties blame Dr. Davis’s death on the growing anti-ICE sentiments sweeping the nation. On X, @WellsJorda89710 called the perceived lack of outcry for Dr. Davis an example of “BLMHypocrisy.”

“No marches, no protests, crickets from BLM. If a cop were involved, streets would burn. But illegals get a pass?” he wrote.

To support the Davis family in their time of need a GoFundMe has been set up in her honor. Donations will “established to provide stability for the family as they navigate this loss and to help preserve Linda’s legacy of mentorship and community care.”

Real estate, black millennial, home, buying, market, home, tips — (Photo: The Good Brigade/Getty Images)

by Kandiss Edwards

February 18, 2026

Georgia Legislators Seek To Limit Corporate Ownership Of Single-Family Residences

The measure is also taking an America First approach, barring foreign investors purchasing homes under the same rental property rules.

Georgia lawmakers are advancing legislation that would limit how many single-family homes large companies can own.

Under Senate Bill 463, proposed by Cumming Republican state Sen. Greg Dolezal, large corporate investors would be limited to owning no more than 500 homes statewide. Corporations that exceed the limit would lose certain tax incentives.

The bill does not require companies to sell properties they already own, but the limit intends to reduce cash-buying investors who are pricing out regular potential homeowners at an accelerated rate.

It bans natural citizens and corporations from “owning an interest in more than 500 single-family residential properties” and prohibits “foreign investment vehicles from owning any interest in a single-family residential property to be used as rental property.”

Dolezal said the cash component in home buying creates a race against time that potential homeowners cannot overcome.

“These are families who have been priced out of a home,” he said. “They place an offer at the same price point as a hedge fund, but the hedge fund can close in two weeks.”

Homeownership built the middle class.

Now Metro Atlanta leads the nation in hedge funds and foreign wealth funds buying up homes — pricing out working families.

First-time buyers are 41 years old on average.

That’s not sustainable.

Today, I passed my bill in committee to stop… pic.twitter.com/GM7r2SqhWf
— Senator Greg Dolezal (@DolezalForGA) February 17, 2026

The measure is also taking an America First approach, barring foreign investors from purchasing homes under the same rental property rules. There’s bipartisan support for the bill: Nineteen Georgia legislators from both parties have signed on to back SB 463.

The bill also gives individual tenants and homeowners the power to “elicit a private cause of action” against corporations if they suspect or can prove they have violated the law. An individual who brings a lawsuit for perceived violations can receive up to $100,000 in statutory damages if claims prove accurate.

The proposed legislation was received by the Senate committee Feb. 17 and still has a way to go before it becomes law.

Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rainbow coalition, Black men xcel — WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 22: Jesse Jackson poses for a portrait during the 55th Anniversary of Ben's Chili Bowl on August 22, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images)

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 18, 2026

‘Run, Jesse, Run!’ Could Have Also Referred To Jackson’s Football Career at North Carolina A&T

Jackson was inducted into the North Carolina A&T Hall of Fame in 1984

With the reported death of civil rights icon Rev. Jesse Jackson, who died at 84 after a prolonged illness, people are celebrating his efforts to further the cause of equality amongst people of color, but we also shouldn’t forget about his athletic career at North Carolina A&T University.

According to the Mississippi Clarion Ledger, Jackson was inducted into the North Carolina A&T Hall of Fame in 1984 for his football accomplishments during his first presidential campaign.

Years before earning that honor, he played multiple sports at Sterling High School in Greenville, South Carolina, where he lettered in basketball, baseball, and football (he was the starting quarterback during the 1957-58 season).

After playing spectacularly at Sterling, Jackson was offered and accepted a football scholarship to play at Illinois. After his freshman season, he transferred to North Carolina A&T. In 1962, although he initially played quarterback, he mostly played as a defensive end and occasionally as a fullback on offense. While at the university, his calling led to his election as president of the A&T College Student Government. It was there that he helped lead several demonstrations that year. During the summer, due to his newfound political stance, Jackson was tried for inciting a riot, but it went nowhere as a non-suit was declared due to insufficient evidence.

In 1963, Jackson returned to quarterback, splitting the duties with Cornell Gordon, who went on to play in the AFL and NFL.

A blowout game against Winston-Salem State, which the Aggies won 60-18, the future activist threw for two touchdowns, throwing one for 49 yards and another one to Gordon that went for 23 yards.

Jackson helped the team to a 6-3 record in 1963. They lost the last game of the season in a shutout defeat against Borth Carolina College (now North Carolina Central), 6-0.

As history has shown, Jackson continued to quarterback when he took to the streets, wherever justice was needed, becoming the civil rights icon we witnessed over the years.

Detroit Police,facial recognition — The emblem for the Detroit Police Department is seen on the sleeve of an officer outside of the Theodore Levin U.S. Courthouse in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., on Wednesday, July 24, 2013. Detroit began its first court hearing after filing the biggest U.S. municipal bankruptcy. The city plans to seek a court order barring lawsuits against Michigan Governor Rick Snyder that are related to the case. Photographer: Jeff Kowalsky/Bloomberg via Getty Images

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

February 18, 2026

Detroit Police Chief Draws Line, Firing Officers Who Sold Out Individuals To ICE

The calls to immigration officers led to two individuals' detainment.

Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison revealed his plans to fire officers who contacted ICE during traffic stops, a move he says violated the department’s policy.

Bettison said the officers called ICE for translation services on two separate occasions. According to CBS News, the call to federal agents at the scene resulted in each individual’s detainment.

Bettison disclosed at a Board of Police Commissioners’ meeting on Feb. 12 that the officers will face further consequences for their actions.

“Contacting Border Patrol, ICE, or other federal agencies for translation services is strictly prohibited, as it subjects individuals to extreme scrutiny,” Bettison said.

The wrongful procedures reportedly occurred within a few months of each other: the most recent on Feb. 9, and the prior one on Dec. 16 last year. During the February incident, a sergeant arrived at a traffic stop after an officer asked for a supervisor. After learning that the person being stopped did not speak English, the sergeant called Border Patrol, which took the person into custody.

The 2025 incident came to light through an audit of body camera footage. An officer investigated one individual regarding a felony warrant and later determined the person was not a U.S. citizen. The finding sparked their call to immigration enforcement. ICE agents subsequently detained the person.

Of the officers’ actions, Bettison condemned their use of the federal agency at the traffic stops. The calls occurred at the height of ICE raids and subsequent resistance protests across multiple U.S. cities.

He added,” There’s absolutely no reason to contact federal law enforcement agencies to assist with translation services.

Although the officers initially received suspensions without pay, Bettison has now called for their permanent termination from the Detroit Police Department. The police chief hopes the firing will hold them accountable for a violation that ultimately changed two families’ lives.

“I will say this to everyone that 98, 99% of our officers do it the right way each and every day. They’re out there working hard. But I do have 1-2% who decide to violate our rules, policies, and procedures. And to those officers, I will hold them accountable,” he added.

The issue heightened tensions surrounding ICE agents’ presence in U.S. cities and the safety of all people, regardless of their legal status. One local official, City Councilwoman Gabriela Santiago-Romero, also released a statement urging Detroit residents to band together.

“This moment requires us to listen and to be intentional, in order to not cause greater harm,” wrote the councilwoman. “We, as a beloved community, above all else, need to practice mutual aid. I call upon residents across this great city to join together and build communities of care, whereby folks of all backgrounds support one another, care for one another, and love one another.”

While Bettison has asserted his intent to fire the officers, the Board of Police will still decide whether the cops violated policy in their actions.

Drea Kelly, R.Kelly, book — (Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 18, 2026

R. Kelly Reportedly In Solitary Confinement For Having Retired Warden’s Phone Number

"His only reason for having the phone number or contact with that prison official is because he was involved in a mentor program at the jail," Kelly's attorney told People.

R. Kelly’s time in prison just got a lot harder. The disgraced singer was placed in solitary confinement after officials learned he had a former warden’s phone number.

According to his attorney, Beau Brindley, the incarcerated singer, born Robert Sylvester Kelly, was placed in isolation at the Federal Correctional Institution in Butner, North Carolina, after officials said he had a retired warden’s phone number in his cell, TMZ reports.

R. Kelly will reportedly remain in solitary confinement while the investigation continues.

The situation started when R. Kelly’s cellmate was caught with a contraband cellphone. Brindley said officers then searched the shared cell and discovered a notebook belonging to R. Kelly that contained the retired warden’s phone number.

Prison officials then moved R. Kelly to the Special Housing Unit (SHU) while they investigate how the former warden’s number ended up in his possession, according to his attorney.

“For privacy, safety, and security reasons, we do not discuss the conditions of confinement or internal security procedures for any inmate or group of inmates,” a rep for the federal Bureau of Prisons said.

Brindley said R. Kelly was participating in a mentoring program for inmates at FCI Butner Medium I, overseen by the warden, and that the retired warden had given him R. Kelly’s phone number so he could reach out for guidance on the program.

“His only reason for having the phone number or contact with that prison official is because he was involved in a mentor program at the jail,” Brindley said, according to People. “And so he’s involved in a mentor program, and because of that, he has a relationship with the prison official. That official retired and left the phone number for Mr. Kelly, and then, as a result of that, now Mr. Kelly’s locked up in special housing, for what they call an investigation.”

Brindley said it’s unclear how long the investigation, or R. Kelly’s stay in isolation, will last, adding that the experience has been “devastating” for his client.

“They will not give us that timeframe, so we don’t know. We’re trying as hard as we can to make it as short as possible, but we don’t know how long he’s going to be held in there on this, unfortunately,” Brindley said.

R. Kelly is serving a 30-year federal sentence following convictions in New York and Chicago between 2021 and 2022 on charges including racketeering, sex trafficking, and child pornography.

He was transferred to the Federal Correctional Institution in Butner, North Carolina, in April 2023 after beginning his sentence at Chicago’s Metropolitan Correctional Center earlier that year.

milliner, Deborah Lorenzo, hat,furniture — https://nappy.co/photo/QJC2dI4rSmN9_Bmtm-7Jr

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 18, 2026

Deb Lorenzo, Irv Gotti’s Widow, Shutters Hat Business To Join Homeware Market

Deborah Lorenzo, the ex-wife of the late hip-hop mogul Irv Gotti, has announced she’s closing her luxury hat brand and pivoting to expand into the homeware space. The New York-based milliner took to Instagram Feb. 17 to announce Frances Grey’s wind-down as she shifts her focus toward expanding into the lucrative home décor market.

“It feels like just yesterday Frances Grey began with a love of hats and a belief that style should be timeless and transformative,” Lorenzo wrote. “What started as one creative vision grew into a vibrant community I’ll always cherish.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Frances Grey Millinery (@frances.grey)

The video captured Lorenzo admiring a display of her signature hats and revisiting an early feature on the Frances Grey brand, a Caribbean-inspired line she created in honor of her Jamaican great-grandmother, which drew clients such as Beyoncé and Julia Stiles.

The clip then shifts to Lorenzo reviewing fabric swatches with a partner, teasing the upcoming launch of her new home décor venture, Frances Grey Home.

“Frances Grey has always been about more than hats; it’s about confidence and embracing your true self. Every design carried your stories with it,” Lorenzo wrote in her caption.

She went on to announce her upcoming home décor debut, emphasizing that she plans to carry the same purpose and passion that defined her Frances Grey hat brand into this new chapter.

“As this chapter closes, a new one begins,” Lorenzo wrote. “We’re stepping into the home market, bringing the same purpose and passion to pieces for your living spaces. We hope you’ll join us in this next adventure, creating homeware as stylish and unique as you are.”

The brand is encouraging supporters to visit its New York showroom and to watch for upcoming announcements about an in-studio hat sale ahead of its transition into a new market.

TSA, precheck, DHS, shutdown, tsa agent — Photo by Bloomberg/Getty Images

by Sharelle B. McNair

February 18, 2026

New Lawsuit Attempts To Block TSA From Taking Travelers’ Cash

The issue isn't about the money being seized but more so about the limited guidelines on what amount of cash is deemed suspicious.

Did you know that if travelers pass through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents with more than $100, agents can take it?

A new lawsuit claims TSA agents have allegedly stripped money from more than 10,000 travelers since 2014, labeling them as criminals but never charging them, the New York Post reports.

A federal law, not widely known among travelers, bans taking more than $10,000 in cash into or out of the United States without an official form.

Dan Alban, the attorney leading the nationwide class-action lawsuit against the agency, hopes the suit will put an end to this.

“TSA has secret policies that tell its screeners that they must seize travelers’ cash,” Alban, who works with the Institute for Justice, fighting to stop airport checkpoints from becoming Constitution-free zones, said.

While traveling within the U.S. with large amounts of cash is perfectly legal, TSA continues to push back against passengers like Rebecca Brown, one of the leading plaintiffs in the suit.

Brown, 57, was traveling through Pittsburgh International Airport with her father’s life savings—a total of $82,373—which she was trying to deposit into a joint bank account close to her home in Boston.

Carried in a Tupperware container, the cash became a sore eye for TSA agents during a luggage scan, prompting a Drug Enforcement Administration agent to seize it.

It wasn’t until Brown publicized the lawsuit that the money was returned to her— seven months later. “I do think that this was unconstitutional, what the TSA did to me,” Brown said, according to CBS News.

Alban says the issue isn’t about the money being seized, but more about the limited guidelines on what amounts of cash are deemed suspicious. With the Drug Enforcement Agency’s unofficial motto being, “you make it, we’ll take it,” the federal agency doesn’t have to determine if a person is guilty or not of a crime, but can take the cash, forcing citizens to engage in a long and expensive battle to get it back.

Money kept in rubber bands, “store-bought bands,” or bundled with “handmade bands” can be seen as a threat, even if it has a handmade label, the Post reports. TSA agents can even seize money if all the cash has the same denomination of currency or different denominations. Carrying money in socks can also be considered suspicious.

Alban feels the suit is the first step in getting the government to iron out the guidelines for travelers carrying cash or other items that TSA has labeled as threats. “There is all kinds of stuff that TSA considers to be Sensitive Security Information that is laughable and nobody would consider this secret,” he said.

“The government shouldn’t be able to take money for no reason…” Brown said. “No one should be forced to go through this nightmare.”