by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 13, 2026

President Trump Pardons 5 Former NFL Players, Including Drug-Related Convictions

Pardons were granted to five former NFL players—Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry, and the late Dr. Billy Cannon.

President Trump has pardoned five former NFL players: Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry, Joe Klecko, and the late Billy Cannon.

White House Pardon Czar, Alice Marie Johnson, took to social media to announce that President Donald Trump had granted clemency to the former football players.

“Today, the President granted pardons to five former NFL players—Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry, and the late great Dr. Billy Cannon. As football reminds us, excellence is built on grit, grace, and the courage to rise again. So is our nation.”

Today, the President granted pardons to five former NFL players—Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry, and the late great Dr. Billy Cannon.

As football reminds us, excellence is built on grit, grace, and the courage to rise again. So is our nation.

Special thanks… pic.twitter.com/Y4FC5lQwGE
— Alice Marie Johnson (@AliceMarieFree) February 13, 2026

Three of the former NFL players were pardoned after pleading guilty to numerous drug charges.

Newton, an offensive lineman who played for the Washington Redskins, the Dallas Cowboys, and the Carolina Panthers between 1983 and 1999, had pleaded guilty to a federal drug trafficking charge after $10,000 was discovered by law enforcement in his pickup truck and 175 pounds of marijuana in another car driven by someone else. Newton was a two-time All-Pro player and six-time Pro Bowler.

Lewis, a former player for the Baltimore Ravens and the Cleveland Browns, pleaded guilty in a drug case. He used a mobile phone in an attempted drug deal shortly before becoming a top pick in the 2000 NFL draft. The 2003 AP Offensive Player of the Year was an All-Pro who was selected to the Pro Bowl during his career. He played in the NFL from 2000 to 2009.

Henry, a running back who played in the league from 2001 until 2007, had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic cocaine. He financed a drug ring that moved the cocaine between Colorado and Montana. The Pro Bowler played for the Buffalo Bills, the Tennessee Titans, and ended his career with the Denver Broncos.

Klecko, a defensive tackle who spent his career with the New York Jets and the Indianapolis Colts between 1977 and 1988, pleaded guilty to perjury after lying to a federal grand jury investigating insurance fraud. Klecko was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023 and was a four-time Pro Bowler.

Cannon, who died in 2018, played for the AFL (American Football League) and the NFL for the Houston Oilers, the Oakland Raiders, and the Kansas City Chiefs from 1960 to 1970, pleaded guilty to counterfeiting during the mid-1980s.

Historic Houston Hospital, ‘Negro Hospital’

by Kandiss Edwards

February 13, 2026

Historic Houston Hospital Founded As ‘Negro Hospital’ To Reopen As Community Health Center

Harris County invested $200 million in the property covering acquisition and redevelopment costs.

A long-vacant hospital in Houston’s Third Ward is set to reopen as a community health and services center after Harris County approved a plan to acquire and renovate the property.

County commissioners voted to move forward with purchasing the former Riverside General Hospital campus on Ennis Street. The redevelopment plan includes transforming the site into a hub that will house the Harris County Health Department and provide expanded health and social services to residents.

The facility was founded in the 1920s as the Houston Negro Hospital to serve Black patients during segregation. It later became Riverside General Hospital and operated for decades before closing in 2015, following the arrest of 12 employees by the FBI for Medicaid fraud.

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Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, who said he was born at the then-Riverside General Hospital, told ABC13 that the reopening is planned for Feb. 28, the final day of Black History Month, in honor of its origins as a Black-serving space.

“Here in the shadows of the largest, most prestigious medical center in the world, there are many people who don’t have access to healthcare,” Ellis said. “This building will be a part of that package to give people who can’t afford great health insurance like we have, that they too ought to be respected and can come here for services.”

Former volunteer Dorothy Booker, 92, reflected on her time at the hospital in an interview with ABC13. “I’m proud to be a part of something that started in my life, advanced in my life, that I was able to help somebody,” Booker said.

The county’s investment in the property is approximately $200 million, covering acquisition and redevelopment costs. The restored campus is expected to provide coordinated services, including healthcare access and other public assistance programs.

The former Negro Hospital building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places; as such, county leaders view the project as a way to restore a historically significant site while expanding access to public health services in the Third Ward community.

Kennesaw State , Georgia, Bachelor's Degree, Artificial Intelligence, AI

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 13, 2026

Kennesaw State Introduces Georgia’s First Bachelor’s Degree In Artificial Intelligence

Kennesaw State University is leading Georgia’s higher-education push into artificial intelligence with its newest degree program.

Kennesaw State University is leading Georgia’s push into the AI era within higher education, becoming the first in the state to launch a bachelor’s degree focused on artificial intelligence.

Announced Feb. 10, the school said its Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence has been approved by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia and will launch in fall 2026, making it the first institution in the state to offer both undergraduate and graduate degrees in AI, CBS News reports.

The program, based in the College of Computing and Software Engineering and available at KSU’s Marietta campus and online, aims to prepare students for the fast-growing demand for artificial intelligence expertise.

“With AI driving innovation across industries including health care, manufacturing, logistics, public safety and business services, our new degree is structured to help meet Georgia’s expanding need for a highly skilled workforce,” said Ivan Pulinkala, KSU’s provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “Students will gain the training necessary to enter careers that support the state’s economic competitiveness and respond to employer demand for professionals who can build and apply AI-driven technologies.”

The new bachelor’s degree builds on KSU’s broader push to align education with industry demand across Georgia. The Georgia Chamber of Commerce recently projected that AI could help create 186,000 new STEM jobs in the state over the next five years, with more than 60% of executives planning to boost AI investments within three years. The program adds to KSU’s expanding AI portfolio, which already includes a computer science AI concentration and a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence launched in 2024.

“The interdisciplinary nature of the degree, including the core foundation in computing and the required minor in a field where AI applications are growing, will equip our students to maximize the limitless potential of artificial intelligence,” said Yiming Ji, interim dean of the College of Computing and Software Engineering. “At a time when technology is transforming business and industry at an extraordinary pace, our graduates will be prepared to apply artificial intelligence ethically and effectively in real-world settings.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 13, 2026

Music Vet Jazz Young Launches Global Record Label, VRTEXX

The new label will focus on helping discover and develop global artists from West Africa and the diaspora for international markets

Former Def Jam executive and seasoned veteran Jasmine “Jazz” Young has announced the official launch of a new global record label, VRTEXX.

The new company, a creative ecosystem, will focus on helping discover and develop global artists from West Africa and the diaspora for international markets, while blending artistry, education, and technology to create global pathways for creatives. VRTEXX will be distributed by Warner Music’s Distribution arm, ADA. ADA focuses on independent labels, breaking new artists, and supporting established ones who are still developing their craft. ADA has partnership deals with labels including Rostrum Records, Sub Pop, Mute Records, VP Records, and Centricity Music, while representing recording artists such as Daft Punk, Macklemore, Papa Roach, and Murda Beatz.

Young oversees VRTEXX, which will represent the next evolution in artist development and international collaboration. Artists on the burgeoning label will make their stage debuts at the next West Africa Music & Arts Festival, which will take place in Accra, Ghana.

Youing has experience developing artists and guiding them to successful careers, having worked with Jay-Z, DMX, Waka Flocka, Foxy Brown, EPMD, Slick Rick, and Run-DMC, among many others. Her leadership includes working with students while being the director of the Warner Music/Blavatnik Center for Music Business at Howard University. At the helm, Young has transformed the program into one of the world’s top music business schools.

She has played a vital role at the center, which has become a hub for academic innovation and real-world opportunities. By connecting Howard students and the DMV community with executives, labels, and artists, she has created opportunities for students through partnerships with Warner Records, Atlantic Records, 300 Entertainment, CAA, Wasserman, Paramount, The Tom Joyner Foundation, and CEEK.com.

The 2025 Billboard Global Power Player is ready to help the next round of artists gain international recognition for their art and is accepting artist submissions for VRTEXX at WWW.VRTEXX.COM and @THEVRTEXX.

retirement, savings, social security, worker

by Kandiss Edwards

February 13, 2026

Typical U.S. Worker Has Less Than $1K Saved For Retirement As Social Security Cuts Loom

The median retirement savings balance rises to $40,000 for workers with a retirement plan, such as a 401(k), IRA, or similar account.

Most U.S. workers have independently saved less than $1,000 for retirement, according to a new report.

Data from the National Institute on Retirement Security reveal that the typical American worker aged 21 to 64 has just $955 in personal savings. That figure includes people with retirement accounts as well as those without access to employer-sponsored plans. The numbers are shocking and paint a bleak picture of the future for workers preparing to enter post-career life.

The median retirement savings balance rises to $40,000 among workers with a retirement plan, such as a 401(k), IRA, or similar account. Even so, many financial advisers say that the amount falls short of what individuals need to retire comfortably.

The report also factors in roughly 56 million U.S. workers who lack access to an employer-sponsored plan. Workers without such access often struggle to build savings because they must manage contributions on their own, in addition to covering current living expenses. Additionally, personal retirement accounts forgo benefits such as employer matching contributions.

This savings gap exists as the Social Security system faces long-term funding challenges. Without congressional action, some estimates suggest Social Security benefits could be reduced by about 20% starting in 2034, a prospect that adds uncertainty to many workers’ retirement planning. Carly Roszkowski, vice president of financial resilience programming at AARP, said the slow growth of personal savings and the struggling Social Security system could lead older adults to work longer out of necessity.

“With the cost of living still high and many people worried that they don’t have enough saved for retirement, the trend of older adults working longer will likely continue,” Roszkowski said in a statement.

The low median savings figure reflects broader economic realities, including stagnant wages, inflation, and rising costs for essentials such as housing and healthcare. Many workers may be forced to rely more heavily on Social Security benefits or delay retirement as they try to close the gap between current savings and future needs.

ICE, warehouse, detention center, Georgia

by Kandiss Edwards

February 13, 2026

ICE Purchases Georgia Warehouse To Use As Immigrant Detention Center

The space is rumored to be able to hold up to 10,000 detainees.

Federal immigration authorities have purchased a property in Walton County, Georgia, with plans to use it as a large immigration detention center as early as April, CBS Atlanta reports.

Up to 10,000 detainees are able to be housed at the facility located less than a mile from Social Circle Elementary School.

City officials say they were not involved in key stages of the process nor were they included in an engineering evaluation of city utilities conducted by the Department of Homeland Security.

“The City of Social Circle has been informed by multiple sources that the sale of 1365 E. Hightower Trail has been completed. PNK no longer owns the facility; ICE is now the owner. The City of Social Circle will continue to monitor developments and will share confirmed information with the public as it becomes available,” the city said in a statement.

Many worry the project will overwhelm local resources in the small town of approximately 5,000. In December 2025, the City of Social Circle denied the building of the facility, calling it “infeasible.”

“A key reason that such a facility is infeasible is because the City does not have the water and sewer infrastructure to support this type of facility. Current capacity limitations would not support a development of the size described in media reports. This proposal could result in an effective tripling of the City’s population that is hovering right around 5,000 citizens.”

To date ICE has made approximately 393,000 arrests nationwide from President Donald Trump’s inauguration through Jan. 31, 2026. Nearly 40% of those arrested by ICE in the past year had no criminal record and were detained for civil immigration offenses.

“There are people in this town who support what ICE is doing and people who oppose it, but this has managed to bring everybody together,” said Rick Burt, a Social Circle resident and activist, according to CBS Atlanta.

State Farm Arena, cultural fest, atlanta hawks

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 13, 2026

Atlanta Hawks To Celebrate City’s Diversity With Pre-Game Culture Fest

The annual event will celebrate the city's African, Caribbean, Hispanic, and Latin communities.

The second annual Culture Fest by the Atlanta Hawks will take place Feb. 20, when the team hosts the Miami Heat at State Farm Arena.

The team announced that the event will be an evening celebrating the African, Caribbean, Hispanic, and Latin communities that play an important role in the city’s rich cultural landscape. The first 5,000 people arriving at the stadium for the 7:30 p.m. start will receive a limited-edition red reversible bucket hat, courtesy of Verizon.

“We are proud to continue Culture Fest in partnership with Verizon, reflecting both who Atlanta is today and the city it is becoming, a vibrant center shaped and strengthened by the African, Caribbean, Hispanic, and Latin communities that drive its creativity, growth, and global influence,” said Camye Mackey, executive vice president and chief people, diversity and inclusion officer for the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena in a written statement. “This celebration provides a space where culture is recognized, fully experienced, and honored, and underscores our ongoing commitment to inclusion and amplifying the diverse voices that make Atlanta unique.”

Before the Hawks take on the Heat, there will be a pregame parade on the concourse featuring the ATL Hawks Dancers. Performing alongside them will be people from the African, Caribbean, Hispanic, and Latino communities, celebrating their cultures through dance and artistic expression. Fans will be treated to music highlighting global communities by DJ Kash, blending Amapiano, Afrobeats, and Afro-house, while DJ Sidd Kel will feature a fusion of Indian soundtracks for fans on the concourse.

Other DJs participating in the celebration of cultures include DJ ECool, DJ EU, and Mix Master David, who will perform during halftime on the court.

“Culture Fest is about honoring Atlanta’s roots, and I’m thrilled to partner with the Hawks for a night where fans can dance and experience all of the city’s vibrant cultures under one roof,” said DJ EU.

Culture Fest will showcase the cultural impact of those who have shaped Atlanta’s identity through their sounds, customs, and heritage, while honoring their lasting influence on the city’s spirit.

According to the Atlanta Regional Commission, over 60% of the area’s population is projected to be racial and ethnic minorities by 2050.

Tickets are still available for the game and can be purchased at Hawks.com/tickets.

by Jameelah Mullen

February 13, 2026

Some Employees Actually Like Their Jobs: Forbes Reveals 2026’s Top Workplaces

Did your employer make the list?

The results are in. Forbes has released its 2026 list of America’s Best Large Employers. It’s the moment when companies earn bragging rights and fresh leverage, and when job seekers scan the rankings to size up where they might find their best fit.

Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista to survey over 217,000 employees. Survey respondents were asked whether they would recommend their employer to others. The survey also asked respondents to rate their employers on criteria such as wages, work-life balance, leadership development, and opportunities for advancement. Additionally, the survey inquires whether participants would recommend their previous employers or employers they know through industry experience, friends, or family members who work there.

Trader Joe’s claims the top spot this year, rising from No. 2 in 2025.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital ranked second on America’s Best Large Employers list. Employees praise the bonus program and the strong sense of purpose they find through their work at the hospital. The organization offers generous benefits, high morale, and enjoyable activities.

Stanford University makes an impressive leap to claim the No. 5 spot (up from No. 26). American Express also makes a big jump; the financial giant sits at No. 8, up from No. 25 last year.

Sitting at No. 13 is a familiar name on the list: Delta Air Lines, where survey respondents highlighted its profit-sharing model as one of its top perks.

This week, over 100,000 employees participating in the company’s profit-sharing program will receive a one-time payment of 8.9% of their annual salaries, equivalent to about four weeks’ worth of pay.

“We listen to and invest in our people so they can put 110% into taking care of our customers, Allison Ausband, Delta’s executive vice president and chief people officer, tells Forbes. “And when the business does well because of their hard work, they deserve to share in that success.”

Other employee favorites include the company’s generous parental leave policy, which provides 12 weeks for birth parents and two weeks for non-birth parents. The airline also offers frontline workers opportunities to receive mentorship from leadership.

To see the full list of America’s Best Large Employers, view the Forbes ranking.

U.S. Optimism, Americans, Pessimistic, Future, Pull

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 13, 2026

Poll: Americans’ Optimism Hits New Low As Pessimism About The Future Grows

This is lowest level of optimism recorded since Gallup began tracking the question nearly two decades ago.

A new poll shows Americans’ optimism about the future has dropped to a record low, underscoring the growing feeling of doom across the country in recent years.

A new Gallup poll found that in 2025, just 59% of Americans gave positive ratings when asked how they expect their lives to be in five years, the lowest level recorded since Gallup began tracking the question nearly two decades ago.

“While current life is eroding, it’s that optimism for the future that has eroded almost twice as much over the course of about that last 10 years or so,” said Dan Witters, research director of the Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index.

The results come from a long-running Gallup survey that asks Americans to rate their current and future lives on a scale of 0 to 10, with respondents who score their future an 8 or higher classified as optimists. Gallup defines people who rate their current life at 7 or higher and their future at 8 or higher as “thriving,” a category that now includes about 48 percent of Americans.

The poll suggests Democrats and Hispanic Americans were particularly pessimistic last year amid the political climate surrounding President Donald Trump and his push against DEI initiatives. But Republicans aren’t feeling as optimistic as they did at the end of Trump’s first term either.

As Joe Biden’s presidency ended and Trump’s second term began, Democratic optimism dropped from 65% to 57%, while Republican confidence rose only slightly—still trailing previous highs. A January AP-NORC survey also found that although most Republicans continue to support Trump, many feel his economic performance has fallen short of expectations.

“The regime change in the White House almost certainly was a big driving factor in what’s happened,” Witters said. “And a lot of that was just because the people who identified as Democrats really took it in the chops.”

Optimism among Hispanic adults reached a new low during Trump’s first year back in office, declining from 69% to 63%, a bigger drop than among white and Black Americans. Analysts say the shift may reflect concerns about inflation, access to health care, and anxiety over Trump’s immigration crackdown.

“(Deportations are) something that everybody can see and look at with their own eyes,” Witters said. “But if you’re Hispanic, I think it’s fair to think that that might hit a little closer to home.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 12, 2026

KISS Singer Says Hip-Hop Doesn’t Belong In Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: ‘I Don’t Come From The Ghetto’

Gene Simmons is doubling down on his disapproval of hip-hop acts being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Gene Simmons of the rock band KISS is sharing his perspective on why he doesn’t think hip-hop belongs in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

During a recent interview on the LegendsNLeaders podcast, the KISS frontman doubled down on his opposition to hip-hop’s presence in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

“The fact that, for instance, Iron Maiden is not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, when they can sell out stadiums and Grandmaster Flash is, right?” Simmons said in a clip shared online. “Ice Cube and I had a back and forth [about this]. He’s a bright guy, and I respect what he’s done. It’s not my music. I don’t come from the ghetto. It doesn’t speak my language.”

He continued. “And I said in print many times: Hip-hop does not belong in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Nor does opera, symphonies, orchestras. How come the New York Philharmonic doesn’t get in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame? Because it’s called the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame!”

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Elaborating on his past conversation with Ice Cube, Simmons said the rapper believes hip-hop embodies the rebellious “spirit” of rock, while he sees clear distinctions between the two genres.

“But [Ice Cube] shot back and said, ‘No, it’s the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll.’ OK, fine,” Simmons said. “So Ice Cube and Grandmaster Flash and all these guys are in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I just want to know when Led Zeppelin will be inducted into the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame. ‘Oh, you can’t do that.’ Oh, really? Music has labels because it describes an approach. Hip-hop and rap is a spoken word art. There are some melodies but, by and large, it’s a verbal thing.”

“It just doesn’t speak to me,” he added. “The genius of being able to put music and words and arrange it is much more complex.”

KISS was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, followed two years later by Ice Cube’s group N.W.A.

Other hip-hop artists honored include Eminem, Jay-Z, Outkast, and Missy Elliott. The hall’s inclusion of non-rock acts continues to spark debate among fans, including critics like Simmons.