Search For Missing Ohio Woman Intensifies; Concerns Mount After Communication Lapse
We're praying for her safe return.
Authorities and family members are intensifying the search for 26-year-old Ash Lee Moore, also known as Ashlee Moore-Vongmepunt, who last contacted relatives in September. Concerns for her well-being have escalated due to an uncharacteristic period of silence.
Moore, described as Black, 5 feet 6 inches tall, and weighing approximately 120 pounds, was reported missing from the Hartwell area of Cincinnati. She has a tattoo on her right arm and a nose piercing.
While the missing persons report references her disappearance beginning in August, her grandmother was able to establish contact with her as recently as September 2025. Her family emphasizes that this sustained lack of communication is highly unusual and causes them great worry.
Moore may be traveling toward Las Vegas. She could be driving a 2018 white Nissan Sentra. License plate information is currently uncertain but may involve a temporary Ohio tag (T823089) or a temporary Nevada plate (696-MB6).
On Oct. 25, Moore’s cousin, Shante Jackson, took to Facebook to ask friends to spread the word about her cousin’s disappearance, posting a flyer across social media featuring a clear photo and all the known details about the missing woman.
“Family and friends, please share. We are praying for the safe return of my little cousin. We love you, Ash Lee,” Jackson wrote.
She stressed that the family has exhausted every usual line of contact and is now relying on the public to circulate the information, especially the possibility that Moore is heading to Las Vegas.
The family noted that Moore’s frequent communication is a staple of her routine, making this sudden, lengthy silence a major red flag and a complete departure from her normal behavior.
They know that every share of the flyer ups the chances of reaching someone who might spot the white Nissan Sentra or know something about her movements since September. The family remains hopeful that this widespread public attention will lead to her safe return home.
The Cincinnati Police Department is actively seeking information. Anyone with knowledge of Ash Lee Moore’s whereabouts is urged to contact Det. Colonel at 513-765-1212.
Anti-Affirmative Action Group Ends Black-Only Scholarship At UC San Diego After Citing KKK Act of 1871
The law was signed by President Ulysses S. Grant to protect the 14th Amendment after the white supremacy group launched “one of the worst campaigns of domestic terrorism in American history” in South Carolina.
Affirmative action strikes again as a lawsuit from a legal organization resulted in a scholarship for Black students being dumped at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), all by citing legislation put in place to protect African-Americans, Inside Higher Ed reported.
Pacific Legal Foundation, known for filing lawsuits to end affirmative action in public education, targeted a scholarship for Black students, Black Alumni Scholarship Fund (BASF), at the university by using the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, passed to protect African Americans, in an effort to halt the financial aid program geared towards helping only Black students.
The conservative group was victorious, as the scholarship was renamed the Goins Alumni Scholarship Fund (GASF) in honor of scholarship founder Lennon Goins. It is also open to students of all demographics, with the website — rebranded from basf-sandiego.com to gasf-sandiego.com — stating that applications will be sent to any students who identify “on the UC application as Black or African American.”
Pacific Legal celebrated the win, praising the KKK Act for coming in handy.
“I think that the lawsuit fulfilled the promise of what the law was intended to do,” an attorney in the firm’s equality and opportunity practice group, Jack Brown, said. A spokesperson from the Foundation said it is “pleased that this lawsuit was amicably resolved” while being “committed to complying with all federal and state anti-discrimination laws.”
The law was signed by President Ulysses S. Grant to protect the 14th Amendment after the white supremacist group launched “one of the worst campaigns of domestic terrorism in American history” in South Carolina. After the Civil War ended in 1865, several states modified the 14th Amendment to include freed slaves. It states that states can’t “deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law,” or deny anyone “the equal protection of the laws.”
In response, klansmen targeted Black people and white Republicans, including rape and murder, in an effort to reconstruct the government. That same legislation is now being used against the demographic it was created to protect.
In collaboration with the Californians for Equal Rights Foundation (CFER), one of its members — a white transfer student —became a plaintiff in Pacific Legal’s case. CFER argued that several “Asian-American high school members who plan to apply to UCSD” could be excluded if it is geared toward Black students only. “I think the law was intended to kind of fulfill the promise of the Declaration of Independence, that all Americans are created equal,” Brown said.
“That’s true whether you’re white, whether you’re Black, whether you’re Asian or what have you.”
According to The College Fix, legal experts labeled the organization’s victory as “a novel legal strategy that could be used to challenge similar programs.”
The successful scholarship program lasted 42 years, awarding more than $1 million to over 400 black UCSD students pursuing degrees in engineering, math, science, and technology.
50 Cent Responds To Reimagined Songs Posted On Social Media, ‘I Don’t Think You Can Beat AI’
After posting AI (artificial intelligence) renditions of two of his songs, “21 Questions” and “God Gave Me Style,” Queens entrepreneur and rapper 50 Cent received mostly positive feedback for using the technology, and he speaks about using it in a recent interview. He states, “I don’t think you can beat AI.”
The G-Unit executive sat down for an interview with Complex News, and when asked about it, he seemed content with what AI presented. He posted the videos to his Instagram account, and the known troller had some people who loved how AI reimagined his songs as R&B, while some still had doubts about how AI is being used.
“This feels good to, WTF going on now, this version lets you see my vision. It’s softer! @bransoncognac@lecheminduroi“
Fifty said he appreciated using AI to potentially reach a new audience who might tune in to songs they may not have heard, and that they are getting a different version that may draw them to his music.
“I really like those songs!” 50 Cent states.
“Look, it will reach someone that I missed. Someone who couldn’t hear what I was trying to say to them in the writing can hear it now that it’s in that format. They’ll go, ‘Oh, yo! Play that again!’”
He was happy with the outcome generated using the technology.
“I don’t know where AI gets these voices from, but these are some good voices! If these guys came out in that time period, they would have been competition for the guys that were there.”
The “Many Men” recording artist is an advocate for AI and encourages people to utilize it “because it’s not gonna stop progress.”
“I don’t like fighting fights that I can’t win, I don’t think you can beat AI,” 50 Cent continues. “I think we need to look at how we create businesses that work well with it and performs faster and progresses as [AI] progresses because it’s not gonna stop progress.”
An Alleged Down South Drug Runner Calls Out Feds For ‘False And Fabricated’ Testimony
Glennie Antonio “Little Man” McGee says they presented “false and fabricated” testimony to the grand jury to obtain an indictment against him.
Glennie Antonio “Little Man” McGee, an Alabama man accused of running a drug operation in the Mobile area, has accused federal prosecutors of presenting “false and fabricated” testimony to the grand jury to obtain an indictment against him.
According to Fox 10 News, McGee, who has been accused of operating a multimillion-dollar drug distribution network using children as couriers, has asked that charges be dropped because of the alleged false testimony. In 2024, Mobile County sheriff’s deputies raided a home and reportedly encountered a 3-year-old child who was carrying a backpack full of drugs.
This is the accused’s second request to dismiss the charges. He previously argued in August that prosecutors withheld key evidence and accused the judge of being biased.
McGee claimed that the testimony presented to the grand jury violated his Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights.
Earlier this year, U.S. District Judge Terry Moorer declared a mistrial in the case. He was worried that the length of the trial could jeopardize the availability of some jurors.
The suspect is scheduled to go to trial in January with two co-defendants. The testimony that McGee claims is fabricated includes undercover drug buys that he denies ever taking place. Drug calls that were intercepted, he stated, were “either altered or wholly manufactured and attributed to Defendant.” He declares that prosecutors presented “knowingly false” testimony that he admitted to ordering children to destroy drug evidence. He denies that he confessed to earning $20,000 a month in drug proceeds and using the money to buy real estate for seven years.
“The government either knew these representations were false or acted in reckless disregard of their truth, and it suppressed contradictory exculpatory and impeachment evidence,” he wrote in the filing.
McGee is representing himself after his court-appointed lawyer was removed following revelations that the attorney used an artificial intelligence program that included false case citations in a court filing earlier this year.
Prosecutors have to respond by Nov. 6, and a hearing is set for Dec. 1.
Jamaicans Brace For Impact As Hurricane Melissa Barrels Through – It’s Now Stronger Than Katrina
Hurricane Melissa is stronger than Hurricane Katrina 20 years ago, forecasters warn. While both storms reached sustained winds of 175 mph at their peak, Katrina made landfall as a Category 3 storm.
Jamaicans are bracing for Hurricane Melissa, which meteorologists and scientists are predicting could be the most destructive storm on record and one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded. Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, has sustained winds of around 175 mph with even higher gusts. The associated storm surge could reach up to 13 feet, indicating Hurricane Melissa is stronger than Hurricane Katrina, which made landfall 20 years ago, on August 29, 2005.
While both storms reached sustained winds of 175 mph at their peak, qualifying them as Category 5 hurricanes on the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale, Katrina made landfall as a Category 3 storm. Melissa is expected to make landfall as a Category 5 between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET, the Hurricane Center predicts. In terms of intensity, Melissa’s central pressure of 901 millibars is more intense than Katrina’s 902 millibars at its peak. Lower central pressure indicates a stronger storm.
In the National Hurricane Center’s latest bulletin, forecasters say Hurricane Melissa is expected to bring “catastrophic winds, flash flooding, and storm surge.”
“A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area,” the bulletin reads. “Residents in Jamaica should remain in a safe shelter. In the warning area in Cuba and the Bahamas, preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.”
The Hurricane Center also says the storm will likely cause structural damage in Jamaica.
Hurricane Melissa Is ‘Storm of the Century,’ Forecasters Warn in Jamaica
Currently, more than 800 shelters have opened across Jamaica to house residents whose homes are affected by flooding and landslides, CNN reported.
“This is reaching the upper echelon, the upper threshold of what nature can produce in this part of the world. We’re in very rare territory for Hurricane Melissa in terms of its strength and pressure,” Meteorologist Derek Van Dam said on CNN News Central.
“It’s a catastrophic situation expected in Jamaica,” the World Meteorological Organization’s tropical cyclone specialist, Anne-Claire Fontan, told a Geneva press briefing. “For Jamaica, it will be the storm of the century for sure.”
The International Federation of the Red Cross estimates that up to 1.5 million people in Jamaica will be directly affected by the storm.
“Today will be very difficult for tens of thousands, if not millions of people in Jamaica,” IFRC’s Necephor Mghendi said from Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago. “Roofs will be tested, flood waters will rise, and isolation will become a harsh reality for many.”
ONE Musicfest 2025: Atlanta’s Homecoming Of Culture And Sound
One Musicfest 2025 proved unstoppable—a reflection of the culture it celebrates
ONE Musicfest returned to Atlanta’s Piedmont Park on Oct. 25 and 26, reaffirming its place as one of the South’s most significant celebrations of Black music and culture after 16 years. Despite chilly temperatures and rain over the OMF weekend, the festival delivered a dynamic lineup that honored Atlanta’s legacy while spotlighting the next generation of stars.
“Atlanta is our home, and this year we’re celebrating it in the biggest way possible—with Future, Ludacris, and a historic Dungeon Family Reunion honoring the life and legacy of Rico Wade, a true giant in hip hop,” ONE Musicfest Founder Jason “J.” Carter said via press release.
Moving the largest Black-owned music festival in the nation to its Piedmont Park location this year made for a game-changer—allowing more space for fans, activations, and accessibility. Multiple entrance gates, ADA-friendly viewing sections, and a partnership with MARTA made arriving and leaving seamless. Brand activations from Toyota, Herradura, Hennessy, Teremana, Bevel, and other P&G brands dotted the park alongside a buzzing food truck village, a karaoke stage, and lines of outdoor toilets. The result was a more expansive, inclusive experience that still felt intimate.
Kehlani took the OMF Stage, bringing a soulful set, her voice floating effortlessly across Piedmont Park as she performed “Folded” and crowd favorites like “Nights Like This.”
As the sun set, the Dungeon Family turned the P&G Stage into an Atlanta time capsule. Performing a plethora of classics like “Get Rich To This,” “They Don’t Dance No Mo’,” “Elevators (Me & You),” “Ms. Jackson,” “Git Up, Git Out,” “The Whole World,” and “I Like The Way You Move,” the collective—featuring Goodie Mob, Big Boi, Killer Mike, Backbone, Cool Breeze, Witchdoctor, and Sleepy Brown—reminded fans why they are the heartbeat of Southern hip-hop.
While André 3000 was noticeably absent, Big Boi, draped in a full-length fur, made his presence felt. Khujo Goodie, who lost a leg in a 2002 car accident, performed triumphantly from a black motorcycle. CeeLo Green took a solo turn for “Crazy,” proving that decades later, Dungeon Family’s creativity still commands the stage.
Over on the OMF Stage, The Roots & Friends put on a show that blended live instrumentation, lyrical prowess, and impactful guest appearances. Opening with “What They Do” and “You Got Me,” Black Thought, Questlove, and company were joined by Havoc of Mobb Deep for a few East Coast classics before Busta Rhymes and Spliff Star stormed the stage. Busta’s kinetic energy—backed by his verses from “Look At Me Now,” “Pass the Courvoisier,” and “Scenario”—set the tone for a powerful close featuring Mary J. Blige, who emerged to perform “Be Happy” and “Love Without a Limit.”
Across the park, Future headlined the P&G Stage with a pyrotechnic-heavy performance that paid homage to Young Scooter before unleashing a flurry of hits: “Same Damn Time,” “Commas,” “March Madness,” and “Mask Off.” The set design—a backlit trap house accented by bursts of flame and fireworks—captured Future’s dynamic energy.
On day two, the rain, wind, and cool temperatures couldn’t dampen the ONE Musicfest spirit. Early in the day, Keypsiia—daughter of Joi and Gipp Gilliam of Goodie Mob—kicked things off, symbolically bridging generations. On the P&G Stage, the OMF Trail Ride lineup, including 803 Fresh, DJ Smooth, Tonio Armani, Mike Clark Jr., Cupid, Sky Watley, and Big Chad Reed, kept the energy up as fans line-danced their way through the weather.
Though Chief Keef was unable to perform, D-Nice kept the crowd entertained with a star-studded set featuring Ari Lennox, Carl Thomas, Tweet, and Case, turning the OMF Stage into a nostalgic R&B party. Actor and musician Leon Thomas followed with standout performances of “Yes It Is” and “Mutt,” inspiring the audience to sing along.
When Clipse hit the P&G Stage, fans migrated in droves for what became one of the weekend’s most talked-about sets. The Virginia brothers delivered classics like “Grindin’,” “What Happened to That Boy,” and “Keys Open Doors” while introducing newer material from Let the Lord Sort ‘Em Out including “So Be It,” “Ace Trumpets,” “F.I.C.O.,” and “P.O.V.” Pusha T and Malice offered an impactful performance, but with a later time slot their visual impact could have been even greater in the dark because the video footage that accompanied their show, didn’t pop as much as it might have at night.
Back at the OMF Stage, Jazmine Sullivan braved the cold in all black, dedicating her performance to her late mother on her birthday. Her vocals soared through heartfelt renditions of “Pick Up Your Feelings,” “Let It Burn,” and “Girl Like Me.”
Then came Lloyd, whose smooth falsetto on “Lay It Down” and “You” had the crowd swaying before Jagged Edge joined to deliver an emotional, nostalgia-fueled set. From “Promise” and “Walked Outta Heaven” to “Where the Party At?” and “Let’s Get Married,” the group’s harmonies carried through the crisp night air, inspiring sing-alongs and slow dances across the park.
Doechii, the self-proclaimed Swamp Princess, might take home the crown for best set design of the weekend. Surrounded by ethereal forest projections, she turned her performance into a vivid escape, rapping through “Persuasive,” “Alter Ego,” “Boiled Peanuts,” and “Anxiety.” Even as she teased the crowd—“Why is it so cold, Atlanta?”—her confidence never wavered. Her charisma and energy turned the chill into pure electricity.
By the time Ludacris took the P&G Stage as Sunday’s headliner, the rain had stopped, and the crowd of thousands swelled in number, revealing a sea of lights from those gathered with their phone cameras poised to capture his set. His opening—a surprise performance of “Welcome to Atlanta” with Jermaine Dupri—set the tone for an Atlanta homecoming 25 years in the making.
Clad in a blue leather Braves-themed outfit with white compression layers underneath, Luda ripped through hit after hit: “Number One Spot,” “Throw Them Bows,” “Area Codes,” “Rollout (My Business),” and “Stand Up.” Each track came with a surprise guest. Chingy joined for “Holidae In” and “Right Thurr,” Bobby V slid through for “Pimpin’ All Over the World” and “Slow Down,” and Jadakiss ignited the crowd with “Knock Yourself Out” after teaming up with Luda for Nas’s “Made You Look (Remix).”
Then came Shawnna for “What’s Your Fantasy” and “Gettin’ Some,” followed by Jeezy, who raised the energy with “Dey Know (Remix),” “All There,” and “Put On.” Just when it felt like the night couldn’t climb higher, Fergie shocked the crowd with her first live performance in seven years—flying in from Los Angeles to duet on “Glamorous” and “London Bridge.”
And then, Atlanta lost its collective mind. Usher joined Luda for “Lovers and Friends” and “Yeah!” before LL Cool J, the artist who inspired Ludacris to rap, appeared to perform “Who Do You Love.” The moment brought Luda to tears.
“I’m gonna remember this for the rest of my life,” he told the crowd.
The night ended with a coordinated drone show lighting up the Atlanta sky as Luda powered through “All I Do Is Win” and “Move (B****).” “The biggest flex of the night is all my songs are still relevant because of fans like you,” he said, closing with the opening notes of “Georgia” before the stage went dark.
Even through rain and cold, One Musicfest 2025 proved unstoppable—a reflection of the culture it celebrates. Between the Dungeon Family reunion and Ludacris’ star-studded finale, the festival captured every facet of Atlanta’s musical DNA: history, innovation, and heart.
Design Essentials Pledges $250K To Spelman College To Support Future Female Chemists And Innovators
The Black-owned, Atlanta-based beauty brand made a bold statement Homecoming Week
Design Essentials is supporting the next generation of female chemists and innovators at Spelman College through a $250,000 commitment.
The Black-owned, Atlanta-based beauty brand made a bold statement at Morehouse and Spelman’s Homecoming Week, unveiling its multi-year pledge to support scholarships, student programs, and the next generation of Black women leaders for years to come. In addition to the pledge announcement, Design Essentials hosted on-campus activations and beauty experiences, engaging directly with students and alumni and reinforcing its commitment to the future of HBCU excellence.
Photo credit: By Joel Joseph
“From the yard to the lab, we’ve been showing up and pouring into the next generation of beauty innovators,” the beauty brand wrote in an Instagram recap of the event. “Through our $1M partnership with @spelman_college, we’re helping young women chase dreams in cosmetic chemistry—because when she grows, the culture glows.”
The beauty brand fully embraced Homecoming, hosting a kickoff concert with Ari Lennox and a golf tournament featuring personalized styling experiences. Throughout the events, Design Essentials aimed to ampify the importance of self-care, culture, and community, staying true to its mission of giving back to the people and places shaping the future.
Photo credit: By Joel Joseph
“As a member of the Design Essentials family, I’m incredibly proud to celebrate Spelman’s Homecoming,” Cornell McBride, President of McBride Research Laboratories, said in a statement. “As a Black-owned, Atlanta-based beauty brand, we’ve pledged a $250,000 donation to Spelman College to help empower the next generation of female chemists and innovators.”
The partnership arrives at a critical moment, as higher education institutions face potential funding cuts amid political pressure from the Trump administration’s pushback against DEI efforts. With many major companies scaling back support for DEI initiatives, Design Essentials’ commitment is especially significant.
Photo credit: By Joel Joseph
“This contribution is part of our 35th anniversary celebration — a moment to reflect on more than three decades of helping people embrace their hair, their culture, and their self-defined beauty,” McBride said. “Congratulations to Spelman, and thank you for allowing us to be part of your remarkable legacy.”
Fashion And The Breezy Bowl: Chris Brown’s Partner John Dean Details Their Collaboration
The two are partners in The Auracles
Ohio native John Dean, who runs a company with R&B singer Chris Brown, discusses how his humble beginnings in Akron led him to partner with the soulful recording artist.
In an interview with the Akron Beacon Journal, the 33-year-old designer tells the media outlet that reaching out to the “Run It” singer’s stylist in 2014 led to the two becoming partners in The Auracles. He most recently created merchandise for the “Breezy Bowl XX” tour, which is celebrating Brown’s 20-year singing career.
“Chris and I have a really close relationship now, I’m in tune with his design aesthetic just naturally because we’ve had so much time together just working on the brand,” Dean said. “I’m glad he trusted me with his vision to be able to create clothing that represented and embodied his work.”
While attending St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, he found inspiration for fashion, and in his senior year, he started his own company, Renowned.
“When I ran my brand Renowned, I reached out to one of Chris’ stylists because I’m just a big fan of his and I wanted to get him some of my Renowned stuff,” Dean recalled. “Basically, Chris ended up wearing the stuff, and he liked it. The stylist came back to me and said ‘Hey, Chris would like more of your stuff, but can we have these colors? Can we do this, that?’ and then I started making custom clothes for Chris.”
That led Dean to create pieces for his first Brown tour, “Between the Sheets Tour,” in 2015. He went on to design merchandise for Brown’s “Under the Influence Tour” in 2023, “11:11 Tour” in 2024, and the most recent, “Breezy Bowl XX Tour.”
“Basically, our brains were on the same wavelength and at the end of the conversation, we were like ‘we should do something together, we should do a little art project,’ and to make a long story short, that art project is our brand, The Auracles,” Dean said.
The Auracles footwear was sold at the “Breezy Bowl XX” tour, and after releasing boots in 2024, the brand is prepping to release a new shoe on Black Friday, as well as a new toy, Dean said.
Chug It Up With These Black Brewers On National American Beer Day”
National American Beer Day, observed on Oct. 27, recognizes the tradition of Black beer brewed in the United States. This year, our focus shifts to the unmistakable impact of Black‑led breweries. Although Black‑owned craft breweries make up less than 1% of all U.S. operations, Black brewers are reshaping the conversation, creating standout brews, safeguarding heritage, and championing equity within an industry that rests on community and craftsmanship. BLACK ENTERPRISE celebrates that excellence by delivering a glimpse of the innovators, brands, and movements that are brewing culture and catalyzing change throughout the brewed beer industry and landscape.
Harlem Brewing Company
Harlem Brewing Company opened its doors in November 2000, under the leadership of Celeste Beatty, an entrepreneur and brewer who became the first Black woman to own a brewery in the United States. The brand crafts beers that reverberate with Harlem’s history. Each pour contributes to the neighborhood’s cultural narrative. Though its headquarters are firmly planted in Harlem, the operation has pushed southward, launching Harlem Brew South in North Carolina. At its heart, the company seeks to redress the under‑representation of Black owners in the craft‑beer arena.
Cajun Fire Brewing Company
Cajun Fire Brewing Company (New Orleans) burst onto the scene thanks to brewmaster‑CEO Jon Renthrope, a Black and Native American entrepreneur determined to put the South in the driver’s seat of its craft‑beer destiny. Their Honey Ale, along with a suite of signature concoctions, marries deep‑rooted flavor with the daring inventiveness of modern brewcraft, delivering both a palate‑pleasing sip and a purpose‑filled pour. Though the taproom sits in the heart of New Orleans, the brand’s reach extends beyond the Crescent City, earning Cajun Fire a spot as a pioneer on the national craft‑beer map. In filling a glaring representation void, the company also pumps life back into Eastern NOLA, uplifting the neighborhood’s community spirit and economic pulse.
Hippin’ Hops, the brick‑and‑mortar brewery and taproom that set up shop in Atlanta, serves up hallmark pours, like the assertively hop‑forward “Baby Mama Drama” IPA and the tart, summer‑ready “So Peachy” sour, each alongside a full‑scale restaurant menu that feels more like a dining experience than a bar snack. The space pulses with a neighborhood‑driven vibe, earning its reputation as a cornerstone of Atlanta’s Black craft‑beer scene. Hippin’ Hops crafts a communal, rich gathering place around craft beer. It’s an oasis that’s often absent from the more generic mainstream beer landscape.
Urban Garden Brewing Co., a venture born in 2021 in Washington, D.C., out of a vision of Eamoni, is on a mission to plant a full‑scale, Black‑owned brewery into the capital’s thriving beer scene. For the moment, Urban Garden Brewing Co. is producing small‑batch craft ales under contract, all the while laying the groundwork for its brick‑and‑mortar brewing hub.
Moor’s Brewing Company
Moor’s Brewing Company in Chicago was founded by three friends, Damon Patton, Jamhal Johnson, and Anthony Bell, right on the South Side of Chicago. The brewing company already ships its craft beer to more than 500 locations, and the owners are eyeing a 2025 opening of a Black‑owned taproom in the city. Launched on Juneteenth in 2021, Moor’s stands as a testament to ambition and cultural representation in the U.S.
Brown Girl’s Brew operates out of New York and Chicago and was founded by Christina Thomas, a woman who links craft beer, dessert‑inspired flavors, and Black female entrepreneurship in a space where women of color remain scarce. The brews read like a dessert menu, featuring Carrot Cake Amber Ale, Lemon Pound Cake Lager, and Banana Pudding Hefeweizen. It is already making its way through New York, New Jersey, and beyond.
Rhythm Brewing Co., located in the heart of New Haven, Connecticut, is the brainchild of Alisa Bowens‑Mercado, Connecticut’s brewery proprietor. She blends a music‑driven environment, dubbed “The Rhythm Nation,” with the timeless craft of brewing, turning each glass into a kind of jam session. Since its 2018 launch, Bowens‑Mercado’s story highlights the hurdles of race and gender that still loom over the craft‑beer world. Bowens‑Mercado also underscores how a sharp, niche‑focused brand can serve as a foothold for Black‑owned brewing ventures.
Fresno, California’s Full Circle Brewing Co., proudly holds the title of the Central Valley’s brewery. It functions both as a full‑scale production craft brewery and as a vibrant live‑entertainment venue. The operation has shone a spotlight on brewing entrepreneurship and breaking into emerging markets and craft‑beer regions that aren’t traditionally on the map, while keeping live events and community engagement at the forefront.
Vine Street Brewing Co. is based in Kansas City, Missouri and proudly bears the distinction of being the state’s brewery. Its relaxed, welcoming taproom offers a lineup of beers. Since opening its doors in 2023, Vine Street Brewing Co. has quietly underscored how the craft‑beer equity movement is finally taking hold in the Midwest, reminding its consumers and peers that diverse ownership matters, especially in markets that often slip under the radar.
SAIC Says Goodbye To Toni Townes-Whitley After Serving Two Years As CEO
Under Townes-Whitley’s leadership since 2023, SAIC posted $7.48 billion in 2024 revenue, ranking as the 20th-largest public company based in the Greater Washington, D.C. area.
There is a significant shift within the Fortune 500 as Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) announced that CEO Toni Townes-Whitley will step down, effective immediately after two years of leadership, Washington Business Journal reports.
In a regulatory filing, SAIC said Townes-Whitley separated from the company “without cause,” making her eligible for unspecified benefits and severance. The former CEO released all claims and has a two-year noncompete. The announcement came after the markets closed Oct. 23. Under Townes-Whitley’s leadership since 2023, SAIC posted $7.48 billion in 2024 revenue, ranking as the 20th-largest public company based in the Greater Washington, D.C. area. The technology company saw revenue growth of 0.47% between 2023 and 2024 and employs roughly 24,000 people, making SAIC the 23rd-largest employer in the area.
As the board has tapped former Leidos CFO Jim Reagan as interim CEO until a permanent leader is named, Townes-Whitley says she has the “utmost confidence” that he will take the company to new heights. “I have collaborated closely with Jim during my time here, and I have the utmost confidence in his and the team’s ability to capitalize on and fully realize the Company’s growth prospects,” she said in a statement.
“With its talented employees, SAIC is in good hands until a permanent CEO is appointed.”
While SAIC board chair Donna Morea released a statement thanking Townes-Whitley for her leadership, her departure is notable, as she is one of two women of color to lose their positions in just one week.
According to Fortune, both Townes-Whitley and Priscilla Almodovar, former CEO of Fannie Mae, have stepped down in October 2025. With both companies being headquartered in the D.C. and northern Virginia area, there are ties to federal agencies. Fannie Mae, a government-sponsored entity (GSE), has been facing hurdles with the Trump administration—first with the President considering an IPO—and then with the Federal Housing Finance Agency removing eight members of its board and installing director Bill Pulte as chair.
SAIC has ties to the executive branch of the government, with $7.5 billion in revenue from serving as a contractor to the Department of Defense and other branches, providing IT and engineering services to the military, NASA, and more.
Townes-Whitley was one of only two Fortune 500 companies with Black women serving as CEOs, alongside TIAA’s Thasunda Brown Duckett. Almodovar was the only Latina to serve at the same level. Both women made the 2025 Most Powerful Women list, with Townes-Whitley listed as 95, but with her departure, the group is left with only 52 female chief executives.
The corporate world has seen the effects of President Donald Trump’s executive order that rolled back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). A Bloomberg report highlighted that white men made up a majority of new directors at 500 companies for the first time since 2017.
