report, Blackness
by Kandiss Edwards

January 8, 2026

The North Has Something To Say: Urban Civil Rights Museum To Tell The Tale Of Northern Black Activism

The Urban Civil Rights Museum will be housed in the Urban League's Empowerment Center in Manhattan. 

A museum dedicated to the history of civil rights movements and its impact on Northern cities is set to open in Harlem this year.

The Urban Civil Rights Museum is being developed by the National Urban League and will be housed in its Empowerment Center on 125th Street in Manhattan. Occupying about 20,000 square feet of exhibition and programming space, the museum aims to educate visitors about how the struggle for racial justice shaped major urban centers.

The permanent exhibit will include stories of people and organizations central to the movement. 

The museum is being developed in partnership with Local Projects, a design and technology firm, to provide interactive installations, rotating exhibits, and public programs that explore topics including the Harlem Renaissance, the Great Migration, and Northern civil rights activism. It will also highlight the National Urban League’s work in advancing economic and social opportunities for Black Americans. 

“As a museum focused on social justice, we hope to connect and communicate with the people, communities, and initiatives that are interested or becoming interested in fighting for change,” Jennifer Scott, the museum’s director and chief curator, said in a statement. “The museum will be a place where one can see and feel the work of the many people who fought for justice in urban centers in the North and reflect on past civil rights efforts so that we can imagine and inspire new possibilities of collective action.”

Scott said the permanent installation will also attempt to answer questions about Black people in the North “pre-Civil War” and how they engaged with the concept of freedom when many were still enslaved.

The museum, expected to open in June 2026 to coincide with the organization’s 250th anniversary, will be the first in New York City dedicated specifically to the American civil rights movement with a focus on northern urban environments.

The Urban Civil Rights Museum will be part of the Urban League Empowerment Center, a recently opened headquarters and community hub that also includes affordable housing and space for minority-owned businesses. The National Urban League said the museum will serve as a resource for scholars, residents, and tourists, connecting local history with broader national stories of activism and change. 

RELATED CONTENT: Angola’s National Museum Of Slavery Aims To Unite The Diaspora

monks, Selma
by Jameelah Mullen

January 8, 2026

‘Your Soul Is on the Line’: Christian Protester Disrupts Monks’ Peace Walk In Georgia

What would Jesus do? Probably just mind his business.

A group of Buddhist monks is currently participating in a 2,300-mile “Walk for Peace,” which will go from Texas to the Nation’s capital. The peace-promoting trek has drawn massive crowds who come to witness the historic event and offer their support. But some Georgia-based Christians had a different agenda. 

As the monks made their way through Walton County, Georgia, an unidentified man appeared, holding a sign that included words and phrases such as “Drunkards, thieves, liars, homosexuals…. hell awaits you.”  

“You have to turn to Christ, he’s the only way,” the man stated in the clip of the incident that circulated on social media. 

One Walk For Peace participant responded that they were not promoting any religion during their walk. 

“If your peace is not rooted in Christ, then it’s false peace. You’re walking your way to hell, and I don’t want that for you,“ the protestor stated. 

“If we have to go to hell, that’s our choice,“  a monk-supporting onlooker declared. He then asked the monk if he thought that.

Onlookers supporting the monks defended the holy men and asked the unidentified man to step out of the monks’ path so they could continue their walk. 

“I wish you well,” the monk told the church-going protester. 

Social media users flooded the comment section to condemn the righteous protester for his actions. 

A lot of “Christians” would turn Jesus himself away if he didn’t fit what they think Jesus should be. The same folks they judge are the same people Jesus would have made community with, one commenter wrote on The Neighborhood Talks’ Instagram video depicting the incident. 

The monks started their 2,300-mile journey in Fort Worth, Texas, on Oct 26, making several stops along the way. They plan to walk through 10 states with additional stops. The walk will end in Washington, D.C., around Feb 13, where the monks plan to hold a peace rally. Visit the Walk For Peace Facebook page to follow their journey. 

RELATED CONTENT: Black Churches Can Apply For Grant To Preserve African American Heritage

OJ Simpson, Florida
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 8, 2026

O.J. Simpson Lawyer Sues Estate For $1.1M In Alleged Unpaid Legal Fees

Simpson died in April 2024.

A lawyer has sued the estate of O.J. Simpson, claiming that his former client owes him more than $1 million in unpaid legal fees.

Ronald P. Slates, a California-based creditor attorney, filed the lawsuit on Jan. 2 against Malcolm LaVergne, executor of Simpson’s estate, CBS Austin reports. The suit claims Slates represented Simpson in multiple matters, beginning in 2006, and accrued $1,147,373 in legal fees.

Simpson died at his Las Vegas home in April 2024. According to his family, the NFL legend who became one of the 1990s most scandalous figures after a long career as an actor and broadcaster, died of cancer. He was 76.

The complaint, which cites several 2021 receipts allegedly billed to Simpson, states that LaVergne was named executor of Simpson’s estate in 2024. By October 2025, the unpaid legal fees reportedly totaled $1,147,373.36.

According to Slates, when he filed a creditor’s claim on October 30, 2025, LaVergne rejected it just days later.

The lawsuit, filed last week in Clark County’s Eighth Judicial District Court, claims LaVergne breached a contract by not paying for services provided.

The case follows a high-profile November settlement in which Simpson’s estate agreed to pay Ron Goldman’s family $58 million, resolving a decades-old civil judgment holding Simpson liable for Goldman’s 1994 murder, for which he was acquitted in the now infamous criminal trial.

Fred Goldman, Ron Goldman’s father, won the civil judgment after initially seeking $117 million from Simpson’s estate. But with Simpson’s death and the estate valued between $400,000 and $500,000, collecting the full amount was always unlikely.

LaVergne, the estate’s executor, had said he did not want any of the estate’s funds going to the Goldman family.

RELATED CONTENT: Cam’Ron Pays Homage To OJ Simpson Amid Ongoing Criticism

Amazon, lawsuit, worker, injuries, warehouse
by Kandiss Edwards

January 8, 2026

Amazon To Invest $800K Into AI Training For Teachers And Students

The initiative includes support for the White House Presidential AI Challenge, a national effort designed to encourage students, educators, and community teams to apply AI to real-world problems. 

Amazon, the online retail giant, is expanding its efforts in order to give K-12 students and educators hands-on experience learning artificial intelligence (AI).

At the CES 2026 tech conference in Las Vegas, Ben Moskovich, senior manager of public policy at Amazon Web Services, said the company aims to train 4 million learners. The goal: prepare 10,000 educators with AI-ready curricula by 2028.

The initiative includes support for the White House Presidential AI Challenge, a national effort designed to encourage students, educators, and community teams to apply AI to real-world problems. 

The Amazon program is backed by $800,000 in investment through a partnership with education nonprofit PlayLab, which will help deliver AI tools and training across 18 education partners in seven U.S. regions. That expanded support will reach nearly 500,000 students, according to a recent announcement.

Moskovich said at CES that Amazon and PlayLab recently held a two-day workshop in Washington, D.C., bringing together about 60 middle and high school students to build AI-powered mobile applications and brainstorm future project ideas for the Presidential AI Challenge. Many participating students had limited or no previous experience with AI prior to the event, Moskovich said. 

The expanded AI education program is meant to integrate AI learning tools directly into classroom environments, giving educators the support and resources needed to incorporate artificial intelligence into traditional lesson plans. Schools participating in the program receive custom AI tools and access to professional development so teachers can help students design and test AI-based solutions to real-world challenges. 

Education officials and technology advocates say equipping young learners with AI skills may help prepare students for future careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and close gaps in access to emerging technologies across school districts. 

RELATED CONTENT: North Carolina Central University Launches 1st Of Its Kind Artificial Intelligence Institute

Ghana President, Reparations, UN
by Ahsan Washington

January 8, 2026

9 Ghanaian Business Leaders You Need To Know

A demonstration of Ghana's expanding economic power

The future of West African business depends on Ghana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, which is driven by founders who establish legacy companies while transforming traditional industries and developing global connections from local innovations. The 9 Ghanaian business owners who lead media, manufacturing, fintech, agribusiness, and tech education sectors demonstrate how vision, resilience, and strategic leadership transform economic growth while redefining African-led enterprise globally. 

They demonstrate Ghana’s expanding economic power across Africa, as the country establishes itself as a continental center for investment, innovation, and talent. These individuals form a diverse group of Ghana’s top dealmakers, builders, and changemakers who are essential to know now.

Osei Kwame Despite

The CEO of Despite Group of Companies, Osei Kwame Despite, manages a media, manufacturing, and retail conglomerate that includes utility terrain vehicles (UTV), Peace FM, Okay FM, Neat FM, and Hello FM in Ghana. Despite having operated since the 1990s and having received the Africa Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2021.

Richard Nii Armah Quaye

The business world has received important contributions from entrepreneur and investor Richard Nii Armah Quaye. In 2009, Quaye founded Bills Micro Credit at Jamestown, in the Greater Accra Region, before converting it into Quick Angels Limited in 2019. Quick Angels Limited delivers support services to startups and small-to-medium enterprises. Quaye led the company to expand its philanthropic food-security initiatives in 2025. Quaye has been essential for Ghanaian investment practice development while speeding up business growth and aiding new enterprises.

Anthony Dzamefe

The founder of Caveman Watches, Anthony Dzamefe, established a luxury watch brand that expanded from street-level sales to nationwide fame. Dzamefe started his business journey in 2015 by selling watches at age 22 after growing up in Ghana’s Volta Region. Caveman Watches started its official operations in 2018 and now serves customers in Accra and other locations. Dzamefe achieved remarkable success, which made him one of Ghana’s youngest iconic entrepreneurs, while his creative branding earned worldwide recognition.

Ernest Ofori Sarpong

Ernest Ofori Sarpong established Special Ice Company Limited to manage his manufacturing, water production, salt mining, finance, and media businesses. Through his leadership of UTV and other enterprises, Sarpong developed local brands that earned respect throughout Ghana while generating thousands of jobs and expanding the nation’s industrial sectors.

Foster Awintiti Akugri

Through the Hacklab Foundation, Foster Awintiti Akugri leads youth education and innovation through tech training and job creation programs in Ghana. Akugri received recognition as one of the most influential Ghanaian entrepreneurs under 40 in 2025, due to his work to create inclusive tech development for Ghana’s digital economy.

Regina Honu

Regina Honu established Soronko Academy as the first coding and human-centered design school for youth in West Africa. Honu’s work received global recognition from BBC 100 Women for breaking barriers in STEM and empowering future innovators.

Nii Osae Osae Dade 

Nii Osae Osae Dade is a fintech and blockchain founder who creates financial inclusion solutions for Africa through his work with Mazzuma and Utopia Technologies. Dade operates from Ghana, yet maintains a worldwide reach in fintech. Forbes recognized Dade as part of the 30 Under 30 Africa list. Through his innovative financial-technology approach, Dade creates solutions that can transform the lives of millions.

Alloysius Attah

The traditional farming methods are being transformed by digital tools through Farmerline founder, Alloysius Attah, who is a tech leader. Through his role as CEO, Attah delivers agricultural services to smallholder farmers in Ghana and West Africa by providing them with weather alerts and financing options, and market access. Attah received multiple awards for his leadership, including a spot on Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 because of his work to create economic sustainability in agriculture.

Khadija Serwaah Owusu

Khadija Serwaah Owusu leads the AKAYA Foundation as its founder and CEO. AKAYA creates mentorship and leadership development programs for young women in Ghana and beyond. Owusu appears in Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30 in 2025, as a female empowerment champion who creates more opportunities for future women leaders.

RELATED CONTENT: Ghana’s Move To Pivot From ‘Detty December’ To Heritage Tourism

Bank of America, employee, disabled client
by Jameelah Mullen

January 8, 2026

Feds Charge Second  Georgia Lawmaker With Fraudulently Receiving COVID-19 Employment Benefits       

Karen Bennett announced her retirement from office days ahead of indictment.

A former Georgia lawmaker is accused of lying to receive $13,940 in federal unemployment benefits during the pandemic. On Jan. 5, federal prosecutors filed charges against Karen Bennett, alleging she made false statements to obtain the benefits. Bennett served as Georgia State representative for District 94.  

Bennett waived indictment, pleaded not guilty to the charges, and was released on $10,000 bail after a Jan. 5 court appearance. Waiving indictment means a defendant gives up their right to a grand jury review for a felony, which allows the U.S. Attorney to file charges through  “information.” In federal court, waiving indictment often results in a defendant pleading guilty.

According to prosecutors, Bennett, a physical therapist, stated that COVID-19 quarantine mandates prevented her from working at Metro Therapy Providers, which she owns. However, they allege the business continued to operate and generate income, aside from a brief closure.

Additionally, prosecutors say Bennett failed to disclose that she was also receiving $905 in weekly pay from a church where she served as a minister. 

Since 2013, Bennett has served as Georgia State representative for District 94, which covers parts of DeKalb and Gwinnett counties in suburban Atlanta. The Democrat resigned from the House effective Jan. 1. 

Bennett is the second House member to be charged with falsely collecting unemployment assistance during the pandemic. Rep. Sharon Henderson was indicted in December 2025 on charges of theft of government funds, and Henderson is accused of illegally receiving $17,811 in unemployment benefits. Henderson was released on bail and currently remains in office.

Following Henderson’s arrest, U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg said that other Georgia state House members were being investigated. It’s unclear if more lawmakers will face charges.

Georgia lawmakers will return to session on Monday, Jan 12, with two fewer members. Democratic state Rep. Lynn Heffner of Augusta resigned on Jan 5. Heffner said her resignation was due to a potential residency conflict. The lawmaker noted her home suffered structural damage from Hurricane Helene in 2024, she was involved in the rebuilding process, and it has reached an “impasse,” leaving her unsure if she could maintain residency in House District 130, which she represents. 

RELATED CONTENT: Small Business Association Confirms Scammers Reaped More Than $200B From PPP Programs

Obama Center
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 8, 2026

Obama Presidential Center Wants to Hire 150 Chicagoans Who Can ‘Come Together To Make A Difference’

The Obama Presidential Center is looking to fill 150 full-time positions ahead of the facility's June opening.

With the Obama Presidential Center set to open later this year, former President Barack Obama is calling on Chicago residents to apply for 150 full-time positions at the new facility.

The Obama Center in Jackson Park has been rolling out job postings over the past month, with new listings added on Jan. 5. Open positions range from visitor services associates to curatorial assistants, building managers, engineers, and custodial staff.

“The Obama Presidential Center is more than a few buildings; it’s a hub for citizenship and a place where people can come together to make a difference,” the career section on the center’s website states. “Be a part of a mission that will inspire generations to come!”

For those eager to engage directly with the public, Obama sees these roles as a chance to help shape the visitor experience and be part of the team from the center’s very beginning.

“People come here, we want them to feel what makes the South Side so special, the mix of warmth and grit, the sense of humor that can brighten any day,” Obama said in a video announcing the hirings.

“As the Center gets ready to open its doors to the world, we’re looking for folks to join our team—people who understand that every job here matters: people who’ll keep this place safe and welcoming as security officers, who’ll keep it shining as custodians, and who’ll greet visitors from around the world as visitor associates — our ambassadors of hope,” Obama said in a statement.

To boost hiring, the Obama Foundation has teamed with local organizations like Cara Collective, North Lawndale Employment Network, Skills for Chicago, and St. Sabina Employment Resource Center to recruit community candidates.

“From a South Side gardener planting our gardens, to a local foodie in our restaurant, or a history buff caring for the building, each role will shape the visitor experience,” the center’s CEO, Valerie Jarrett, said in a statement. “By hiring from our local community, we will ensure the Center reflects the spirit of the South Side. Our partners’ experience and community ties will help us identify talent, unlock opportunities, and power the Center with people who know and love this city.”

Hiring set to start in late March, joining 325-plus employees. Those interested in joining the center’s inaugural team can apply at Obama.org.

RELATED CONTENT: Trump Proposes Shortening ObamaCare Enrollment, Dropping Dreamers From Coverage

ICE, Syracuse Player, Deportation, South Sudan
by Kandiss Edwards

January 8, 2026

Mayor Frey, Governor Walz Tell ICE To ‘Get The F**k Out’ After Shooting Of Local Resident

While addressing residents Walz seemingly encouraged the public to protest.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz are asking ICE to leave Minnesota after a resident was killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer.

On Jan. 7, ICE agents in Minneapolis shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good in what they claim is self-defense. The killing was caught on video by multiple pedestrians and received widespread attention. In the video, Good is seen in her vehicle when an ICE agent suddenly approaches and attempts to open the driver’s door. Her vehicle then reverses, moves forward, and begins to turn. During her turn, another ICE agent fires his weapon into the car, subsequently killing the mother of three. 

In the wake of Good’s death, Minneapolis Mayor Frey spoke about what he observed when reviewing the video. Frey asserts the killing was unnecessary and reckless and rejected the ICE agency’s self-defense narrative. After Mayor Frey and other city officials reviewed video evidence of the incident, they believe the visuals do not clearly support the federal account of events. As a result, he has demanded that ICE “Get the f**k out of Minnesota.”

“Your stated reason for being in the city is to create some kind of safety, but you are doing exactly the opposite…. Somebody is dead, that’s on you. This was a federal agent recklessly using power that resulted in somebody dying… To make sure that in this very difficult moment, we do not take the bait that these ICE agents are trying to create.”

Similarly, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz echoed Frey’s sentiments. In a conference, Walz spoke about his apprehension to welcome ICE into the state as the Trump administration’s operations are often “dangerous” and “sensationalized.” Additionally, Walz made clear to the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and the Trump administration that they are not needed.

“We do not need any further help from the federal government. To Donald Trump and Kristi Noem, you’ve done enough. I’ve issued a warning order to prepare the Minnesota National Guard…Minnesota will not allow our community to be used as a prop in a national political fight.”

The Minneapolis shooting is at least the fifth fatality linked to federal immigration enforcement operations in the United States since 2024.

Agents shot the 37-year-old Minneapolis driver during a traffic stop in a residential neighborhood south of downtown Minneapolis. Department of Homeland Security officials said the officer fired at the motorist after she allegedly attempted to ram law enforcement officers with her vehicle during the immigration crackdown, which has deployed thousands of federal agents to the area. The Department of Homeland Security described the shooting as an act of self-defense. 

Gov. Walz and Mayor Frey wholeheartedly disagree. While addressing residents, Walz seemed to encourage the public to protest and promised to continue the quest for accountability and justice.

“I want Minnesotans to hear this from me. The desire to get out and protest and to speak up to this administration of how wrong this is — that this is a patriotic duty at this point in time. But it needs to be done safely.”

RELATED CONTENT: Trump Says He’s Not Calling ‘Whacked Out’ Tim Walz After Minnesota Lawmaker Killings 

Arson, Fire ,Clayborn Temple, Restoration
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 8, 2026

One Year After Altadena Fires, Operation HOPE Remains Committed To Rebuilding

It’s been a year since the devastating LA wildfires tore through communities like Altadena, but Operation HOPE continues to support locals as they rebuild their lives.

One year after the devastating Eaton Fire ravaged through the historic Black neighborhood of Altadena, headlines have faded, but the work hasn’t. Operation HOPE remains on the ground, continuing its commitment to rebuilding and restoring Altadena.

With the recent passing of the fires’ one-year anniversary, Operation HOPE is highlighting how its HOPE Inside Disaster and Project Restore HOPE–LA initiatives have helped hundreds of Altadena residents regain a sense of stability after losing everything. Over the past year, the organization has provided direct financial recovery support to hundreds of individuals, among other efforts.

Operation HOPE views its work as a pathway to restoring stability, rebuilding confidence, and helping families reclaim their futures after the fires upended homes and livelihoods. For Alisha, a Pacific Palisades resident whose home was left uninhabitable by smoke damage and hazardous materials despite still standing, the aftermath meant displacement, health concerns, and a stalled insurance process — prompting her to turn to HOPE Inside Disaster for guidance and advocacy.

“I want people to know that Operation HOPE is a literal godsend,” Alisha said in a press release. “There is support that has no agenda, but to help.”

With the guidance of a HOPE Disaster Recovery Coach, Aisha navigated FEMA and insurance hurdles, assessed remediation options, and ultimately avoided over $120,000 in unnecessary expenses and hurdles in restoring her home. In addition to the financial recovery Operation HOPE offered locals, other efforts include completing 226 disaster recovery and preparedness plans, assisting with 49 FEMA and SBA applications — including 30 appeals — and helping survivors boost their financial readiness by an average of 50%.

Despite the destruction caused by the fires, Operation HOPE emphasizes what has been rebuilt. In the aftermath of the Altadena fires, a permanent HOPE Recovery Office now operates in the community. Small businesses have reopened, and families are making strides toward stability as the mission to fully restore the area continues.

“As we mark this anniversary, we remain committed to walking with Los Angeles for as long as it takes, helping communities rebuild stronger, more resilient, and more prepared for the future,” the organization said.

RELATED CONTENT: Massive Fire Destroys Hundreds Of Stalls At Ghana’s Kantamanto Clothing Market

Cam Newton, Natalie Nunn, interview
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 8, 2026

Cam Newton Returns For Carolina Panthers’ 1st Playoff Appearance Since His 2016 Super Bowl Run

It will be the former quarterback's first time there since 2021

Last year, the Carolina Panthers extended a hand to welcome back former quarterback Cam Newton, who had not been to the stadium in recent years, but with the team making the playoffs for the first time since Newton led them to the Super Bowl, Newton is expected to participate in a pregame ceremony before the team plays the Los Angeles Rams on Jan. 10.

Newton, possibly the most accomplished quarterback in the franchise’s history, can now be seen hosting his podcast, Funky Friday, and on ESPN as an analyst. The Panthers posted a video on their social media accounts, hinting at Newton’s return by using his voice. You can hear him say, “I know I said I’m back, but in essence, we back.”

The post is welcome news for Panthers fans, as Newton admitted on his other podcast, 4th & 1 with Cam Newton, in November 2024 that he had not been to Bank of America Stadium since 2021.

He said he has no issues with the Carolina Panthers’ owner or management, but he discussed one particular instance that affected his stance toward the team. During a visit to the stadium, he noted that his son noticed there were no visible pictures of him. That was disrespectful in his eyes, especially given what he has done with the franchise.

“We went into the Panthers’ facility and, you mean to tell me that one of the greatest Panthers to ever play ain’t up nowhere? I’m talkin’ nowhere. Who brought it to my attention? My son.”

“So as a man, when you have to explain to your son, ‘Daddy, where’s your picture?’”

https://twitter.com/4thand1show/status/1857145409342427598

The team issued a statement after getting wind of the episode.

“Cam Newton has been and will continue to be welcomed by the Carolina Panthers. Our doors are open, as they are to all team Legends.”

RELATED CONTENT: Cam Newton Signs Multi-Year Deal With ESPN

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