Claressa Shields, free agent, history, multi-fight contract, $8 million, Papoose
by Kandiss Edwards

December 31, 2025

Claressa Shields Chooses Peace Over Pettiness With ‘Troll’ At Annual Holiday Giveaway

Hopefully, 2026 brings the record breaking, history making boxer more luck and positive press.

Boxing champion Claressa Shields is facing online scrutiny after asking a woman and her children to leave a holiday toy giveaway she hosted in Flint, Michigan.

On social media, Shields discussed the incident that occurred during her annual Christmas giveaway. She described the woman as a “troll” who had repeatedly criticized Shields online before attending the giveaway.

“She had been trolling me online and saying how she was going to spit on me. You know, just making up posts and talking about me all the time. It got to the point where I blocked the girl on everything.”

Shields told the woman, “Don’t even make a big scene, just go.” Shields believed the woman’s attendance was not in good faith but connected to prior antagonistic online behavior.

“I had my Christmas giveaway, and the girl came front of the line with her kids. The bigger person in me, the god in me, was like, man, it’s cool she’s here to get some gifts or whatever. But she was online, saying I was broke. I’m ugly this, I’m ugly that, I can’t dress, and she’s going to spit on me. . . I went and found her in the front of the line, smiled in her face and said, ‘Leave.’”

 

 

Shields later expressed regret after learning the woman and her children were unhoused. She stated that she possibly would have handled the situation differently had she known their circumstances. 

Shields, a Flint native and multiple-division world champion, has regularly hosted holiday giveaways and community events in the city as part of her philanthropic efforts, which have been covered positively. Though her events have always been well received, Shields herself sometimes rubs the internet the wrong way.

Lately, her relationship antics with married rapper Papoose have had the internet giving her the side-eye. The world champion boxer is often in back-and-forth internet commentary with fans and the rapper’s famous wife, Remy Ma. Shields also issued an open invitation to former women’s boxer Laila Ali to get in the ring once again for a purse of $15 million. Ali refused the offer. Reactions to her latest controversies are mixed. Which, unfortunately, casts a shadow over the boxer’s good deeds. Hopefully, 2026 brings the record-breaking, history-making boxer more luck and positive press.

RELATED CONTENT: ‘GWOAT’ Claressa Shields Inducted Into Michigan Sports Hall of Fame

Idris Elba
by Keka Araújo

December 31, 2025

Arise, Sir Idris: King Charles III Awards Knighthood To Idris Elba In New Year Honors

Elba joins an elite cadre of entertainers who have accepted the call to the palace.

Idris Elba, the Hackney-born actor who rose from gritty British television dramas to the heights of Hollywood stardom, has been awarded a knighthood by King Charles III in the 2026 New Year Honors List.

The Golden Globe-winning actor, 53, was recognized on Dec. 29 for his distinguished services to drama and his extensive humanitarian work with young people. The knighthood marks the highest honor for the “Luther” star, who has increasingly balanced his blockbuster career with high-profile advocacy to curb rising rates of knife crime across the United Kingdom.

“This year’s Honors list celebrates the very best of Britain,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement. “People who put the common good ahead of themselves to strengthen communities and change lives.”

The appointment follows a landmark year for Elba, who collaborated directly with both the King and Prime Minister Starmer on the BBC documentary Idris Elba: A Year of Knife Crime. The film, airing in early 2025, followed Elba as he met with bereaved families and young offenders to explore the root causes of youth violence. 

His elevation to Knight Bachelor recognizes a career spanning over three decades, beginning with his 1995 debut in Bramwell and culminating in his breakout role as Stringer Bell in HBO’s The Wire.

Beyond the screen, the Londonite has leveraged his global platform to advocate for social justice, earning a place on TIME magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people. 

His philanthropic efforts are funneled mainly through the Elba Hope Foundation, which he founded with his wife, Sabrina Elba. 

In November 2025, the foundation secured a £500,000 government investment to expand its “Creative Futures” program in partnership with The King’s Trust. 

The initiative provides 400 additional young people across England with professional mentoring and direct pathways into the music and creative industries.

In a “full-circle” moment just days before the Honors announcement, Madame Tussauds London unveiled Elba’s first-ever wax figure on Dec. 19, 2025. The meticulously crafted likeness—which took two years to create—captured Elba in a bespoke blue long-sleeved suit and donated Christian Louboutin shoes. 

Notably, the fly fit duplicated the ensemble the multihyphenate wore during his July 2024 meeting with King Charles to discuss youth violence, visually linking his cinematic presence to his real-world activism. 

Elba’s wax figure now stands in the attraction’s “Awards Party” zone alongside contemporaries like Zendaya and Harry Styles.

“From Hackney to Hollywood and back home again. Seeing my first ever figure standing tall at Madame Tussauds London is a real full circle moment. I grew up here, I was shaped here, and no matter where work takes me, this city is always part of who I am,” Elba captioned the honor in an Instagram post. 

The New Year Honors List is a centuries-old British tradition. While the monarch makes the final decision, recommendations are typically funneled through the Prime Minister and senior government ministers based on public nominations.

Elba joins an elite cadre of entertainers who have accepted the call to the palace, including soccer legend David Beckham, who was formally knighted last month. 

The 2026 list also features high-profile honors for actress Cynthia Erivo, who received an MBE, and ice skating icons Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, who were named a Dame and a Knight, respectively. 

Elba’s knighthood is definitely a full-circle moment for the actor, who famously started his own career with a £1,500 grant from The King’s Trust (then The Prince’s Trust) as a teenager.

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Newark Winter Village
by Mitti Hicks

December 31, 2025

Newark Winter Village Shines Spotlight On City’s Diversity And Small Business Revival

Since launching in 2020, the Newark Winter Village has grown into one of the most anticipated holiday experiences, featuring a premier ice-skating rink, private igloos, a chance to try specialty foods that highlight Newark’s diverse culture, a holiday marketplace, and more.

When BLACK ENTERPRISE caught up with Newark first lady Linda Baraka to discuss the Newark Winter Village, she was beaming with pride about a surprise proposal happening the following day.

“It brings me so much joy,” she told BE when asked about the one feeling the village evokes five years after creating it in 2020. “Just seeing young people, having a proposal, and witnessing others come out during the holiday season brings me so much joy.”

Mrs. Baraka created the Newark Winter Village to get people outdoors during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The village was also made to support small local businesses that were struggling amid the global health crisis.

Newark Winter Village
Newark Winter Village

Five years later, the holiday spectacular has grown into one of the most anticipated holiday experiences, featuring a premier ice-skating rink, private igloos, a chance to try specialty foods that highlight Newark’s diverse culture, a holiday marketplace, and more.

“A lot of our small businesses were suffering during the pandemic because they rely on the employees and employers in the downtown area,” she told BE. “People weren’t coming into the office during the pandemic. Those small businesses that relied on the lunch or after-work crowds were in jeopardy of closing.”

So, Baraka decided to put a plan into action that would get people to come outside safely, while keeping businesses from closing.

Rebuilding Newark Post-Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc in Newark. In 2020, approximately 16,000 Newark residents lost their jobs between February and May, according to city data. At its peak, the city’s unemployment rate rose to 19%. Those working in hospitality, social services, and retail took the biggest hit, with these sectors alone accounting for 60% of all jobs lost.

In response, the city adopted the NEWARK CARES Funding Plan to provide emergency grants to businesses with 25 or fewer employees that experienced direct revenue loss. Mrs. Baraka’s husband, Mayor Rus Baraka, also announced a two-year recovery effort that focused on revitalizing small businesses, which stimulated job growth and improved equitable development.

Since these efforts, a recent report from OpenPhone found that Newark is among the fastest-growing cities for small businesses. Ranking 16th on the list of 25, researchers analyzed business applications by county, city population growth rates, business survival rates by state, and access to small-business funding.

Newark Winter Village Spotlights The City’s Diversity Thanks To Small Businesses

Newark’s diverse culture is often overshadowed by its big sister, New York City. Still, Mrs. Baraka is on a mission to highlight the city’s rich history and unique identity with the winter village, with the help of small businesses.

“We bring our own authenticity to this holiday tradition,” said Baraka. “For example, last night we hosted a ‘Latin Night,’ we’re doing a Caribbean Night on Boxing Day […] and House Music takeovers on Wednesdays. These are little fusions that you get in Newark that you may not see in New York City.”

This inclusivity has attracted even more people to Newark’s Winter Village, allowing the holiday extravaganza to expand to include attractions such as the ice rink, bumper cars, a trackless train, and the holiday market.

As the winter village continues to expand as a holiday must-experience, Mrs. Baraka hopes that it doesn’t lose its most important quality.

“20 years from now, I hope this event doesn’t lose its sense of community. We attract a lot of people outside of Newark, but ultimately, we want people in the city to know that Newark is a holiday destination.”

Newark Winter Village will run through January 4, 2026.

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captain, boat,
by Kandiss Edwards

December 31, 2025

How One Man Reopened Florida’s Waterways For New Generation Of Black Boat Captains

Larry Johnson, whose career at Silver Springs helped reopen opportunities for Black Floridians to work as boat captains, is being acknowledged.

An Ocala, Florida, man’s work as glass-bottom boat captains is reshaping access at one of Florida’s most historic tourist attractions.

Larry Johnson, a lifelong Ocala resident, became one of the first African Americans in decades to pilot Silver Springs’ iconic glass-bottom boats, a role that had long been inaccessible to Black workers after desegregation-era shifts altered hiring practices, 352Today reported.

Johnson’s path to the job began in the early 1990s, when he joined the attraction during a period of transition and declining attendance.

Johnson’s connection to Silver Springs is deeply personal. His father, the Rev. Leroy Johnson, introduced him to the site’s history, including the legacy of Oscar Collins, a legendary Black boat captain who worked at Silver Springs for more than 60 years beginning in the 1920s. Collins’ tenure represented a time when African Americans were central to the attraction’s daily operations, long before employment barriers emerged.

Johnson told the outlet that learning to pilot the boats was both a technical and cultural responsibility, rooted in preserving institutional memory. He said Collins and other veteran captains taught him not only navigation skills but the importance of mentoring future workers and honoring the site’s history.

Silver Springs, now part of Silver Springs State Park, is one of Florida’s oldest tourist destinations, famous for its crystal-clear springs and glass-bottom boat tours dating back to the late 19th century. According to Florida State Parks, the attraction has played a major role in the state’s tourism and conservation history and remains a significant employer and cultural landmark in Marion County.

Johnson’s presence in the captain’s seat helped reopen a pathway that had been largely closed for decades. His work directly influenced the hiring and training of more African American captains.

Today, visitors boarding glass-bottom boats at Silver Springs may be unaware of the barriers once faced by Black captains or the individuals who worked to dismantle them. Johnson remains embedded in the attraction’s operations and in the careers of those who followed him onto the water.

RELATED CONTENT: The Youngest Black Woman To Obtain A Pilot’s License At 17-Years-Old Continues Studies At HBCU

campus housing, florida
by Mitti Hicks

December 30, 2025

Court Upholds Ruling For VA To Build 2,550 Housing Units In Los Angeles Amid Homelessness Crisis

The ruling from the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals comes amid a class-action lawsuit filed by advocates for veterans with severe disabilities against the VA.

A federal appeals court has ordered the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to finish a housing project that will serve thousands of homeless veterans in Los Angeles.

The ruling from the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals comes amid a class-action lawsuit filed by advocates for veterans with severe disabilities against the VA. Advocates argue that the VA must build housing on land the VA leased to private businesses.  

According to Task and Purpose, the land was originally deeded to the federal government in 1888 to provide care and housing to veterans. Things changed by the 1970s when the campus focused on healthcare with its large hospital. The VA reportedly began leasing portions of the campus to schools and private companies. In recent years, parts of the campus were known as “Veterans Row” because of the homeless encampments that surrounded the campus with a significant number of former service members. 

The decision from the three-judge panel on Dec. 23 upholds the 2024 ruling from a lower court, ordering the agency to build permanent and temporary housing units on the VA’s campus. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals judges ruled that the VA had “strayed from its mission” and must terminate commercial agreements with some private businesses at the site to complete the subsidized housing campus. The court’s decision keeps in place a stadium lease with the University of California at Los Angeles, Stars and Stripes reports.

“This class action lawsuit, and its numerous appeals, demonstrates just how far the VA has strayed from its mission,” Circuit Judge Ana de Alba wrote in the opinion. “Here are now scores of unhoused veterans trying to survive in and around the greater Los Angeles area despite the acres of land deeded to the VA for their care.”

Housing For Veterans Amid Homeless Crisis in Los Angeles

In 2025, there are approximately 72,308 people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County. While that’s a 4.8% decrease from 2024, LA has one of the highest numbers of homeless people in the United States.

Los Angeles County is also home to the highest number of veterans in the country. There are an estimated 3,000-3,900 homeless veterans in the LA area, according to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.

With the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling, the subsidized housing will provide veterans with traumatic brain injuries, mental illness, and severe physical handicaps with direct access to care, as the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center is located on-site.

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USPS, holiday shipping
by Keka Araújo

December 30, 2025

The Postmark Trap: New USPS Rules Could Trigger IRS Penalties & Missed Deadlines

A consequential shift in United States Postal Service (USPS) operations officially took effect on Dec. 24, 2025, creating a high-stakes “timing gap” that could leave taxpayers, donors, and voters facing unexpected legal and financial consequences.

Under the final rule (FR Doc. 2025-20740), the USPS has added Section 608.11 to the Domestic Mail Manual, codifying that a machine-applied postmark represents the “date of the first automated processing operation” — not necessarily the day a piece of mail was dropped in a collection box.

The Ramifications: Why the “Mailbox Rule” is at Risk

The primary danger of this policy shift is the potential for missed deadlines, late fees, and penalties. Traditionally, dropping a document in a blue box by the daily deadline ensured a same-day postmark. However, due to the nationwide implementation of the “Regional Transportation Optimization” (RTO) initiative, mail dropped off at local units is increasingly held overnight or transported to regional hubs before its first scan. This operational consolidation means an item mailed in a city like Tulsa, Oklahoma, may not be postmarked until it reaches a regional center over 50 miles away.

Key areas impacted by this change include:

  • Tax Filings and Payments: Under IRC §7502, the IRS uses the postmark to determine whether a filing is timely. A delayed postmark could result in failure-to-file penalties and interest charges. As of late December, the IRS has not issued official relief for these processing delays, making it critical for taxpayers to secure independent proof of mailing.
  • Charitable Contributions: To claim a 2025 deduction, gifts must generally be postmarked by Dec. 31. A January postmark on a check mailed in late December could shift the deduction into the following tax year, potentially impacting financial planning for high-net-worth donors.
  • Legal Filings & Ballots: Court proceedings, unemployment appeals, and mail-in ballots often rely on postmarks for eligibility. Rural communities face a disproportionate risk, as their mail is now statistically more likely to be processed one or more days after drop-off than mail in major metropolitan centers.
  • Bill Payments: Rent or property tax payments made by mail may incur unexpected late charges if automated processing occurs on a new calendar day.

The USPS admits the postmark is no longer a “perfectly reliable indicator” of the mailing date. The rule codifies that postmarking operations often cross calendar days, meaning the date inscribed only confirms that the USPS possessed the item by that specific time, not the moment they took custody.

Notably, the rule warns that pre-printed labels — including those from Self-Service Kiosks, Click-N-Ship, or personal meters — only show when postage was printed, not when the USPS accepted the item. Starting Jan. 18, 2026, the USPS will implement price hikes of 5% to 8% across Priority Mail and Ground Advantage services, adding additional pressure on the system.

How to Mitigate Risks and Secure Proof

To protect against “postmark creep,” the USPS and financial advisors recommend bypassing unattended drop boxes for time-sensitive mail.

To ensure a same-day postmark, utilize these retail methods:

  • Request a Manual Postmark: Present your mailpiece at a retail counter and request a “manual (local) postmark.” The final rule explicitly states that this service is applied free of charge.
  • Postage Validation Imprints (PVI): Paying for postage at the counter generates a PVI label that serves as evidence of the date of acceptance.
  • Certified or Registered Mail: This remains the only prima facie evidence of timely mailing under IRC §7502. A receipt stamped by a USPS employee is vital for legal protection as it serves as the deemed postmark date under federal law.
  • Plan Ahead: For those unable to visit a counter, experts recommend mailing essential documents at least 1 week before the deadline or filing electronically.

As the effective date coincides with the holiday peak and year-end tax season, the USPS reminds customers presenting 50 or more mailpieces for manual postmarks to contact local management in advance to ensure adequate resources are available.

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

December 30, 2025

‘Baddies’ Natalie Nunn Brags About Turning The Tables On Cam Newton During Podcast Interview

'Uno, reverse.'

Natalie Nunn, who was initially a cast member on the fourth season of Bad Girls Club and is now an executive producer and cast member of Zeus Network’s Baddies reality series, sounded off after appearing on Cam Newton’s podcast, Funky Friday. In a video clip, she advised her fellow “baddies” on how to conduct themselves in an interview, as she claimed that she “ate that man up, interviewed him, spit him out, took his hat, and walked up out that bitch.”

Nunn was talking to the former NFL player, and, according to her, the conversation went as she had envisioned, leading to her interviewing him. She took the stance that nowadays, podcast hosts typically “try you” on their shows, and she wanted to make sure that she was so on point that if anyone were to get played, it wouldn’t be her.

“They will try you. They will play in your face,” she stated in the clip. “They will ask you manipulative, sarcastic, underlying questions. They will do all of that, and baby, let me tell you. I read the room, understood it right from the beginning, and played that game right back. Amplified it on 10, ate that man up, interviewed him, spit him out, took his hat, and walked up out that bitch.”

As the clip continued, she said she thought Newton had won a Super Bowl ring but was surprised to hear from him that he hadn’t. But, even during the clip, she needed to find out from him how it felt to lose and be number two, but she still respected him in the end. But, she didn’t let him off easy.

While speaking to her “baddies” in the video, she reiterated that she felt he was trying to play her with some disrespectful questions.

“I just was being funny, running around in circles with him, and I didn’t want to answer his questions because they were underlying, disrespectful, sarcastic, and you’re not about to play in my face.

“So that’s why I answered the questions arrogantly. I mean, he said stuff about, so why should a man take a baddie serious? So I said the things that I knew a man like him doesn’t want to hear when a woman makes her own money and could do what the f**k she wants. 
And part of that is absolutely true. I do believe that too, but obviously, you guys don’t, like, play. I was playing my role, like he was trying to play his, and the roles were being reversed on his ass. 


“Uno, reverse, bitch.”

Check out the whole discussion below:

RELATED CONTENT: Cam Newton Apologizes For Role In Viral Scuffle

Obama-Appointed Judge, Trump Administration , Medicaid Data, Undocumented Immigrants, ICE
by Mitti Hicks

December 30, 2025

Obama-Appointed Judge Rules Trump Administration Can Share Medicaid Data Of Undocumented Immigrants With ICE

U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria, appointed by former President Obama, initially blocked the Trump administration from sharing personal information.

A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration can share location data about undocumented immigrants who receive Medicaid or any other public health insurance benefits with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It’s a significant blow for California Attorney General Rob Bonta and his 21 other Democratic counterparts, who sued the administration in July to prevent the administration from using Medicaid data to target undocumented immigrants.

According to Politico, California, along with other states, sued the Trump administration following reports that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was sharing personal data collected from undocumented Medicaid enrollees with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria, appointed by former President Barack Obama, initially blocked the Trump administration from sharing personal information for immigration enforcement temporarily in August. However, he changed his tune after ICE and HHS leaders published formal notices in November detailing how they plan to use Medicaid data for immigration purposes.

“The sharing of such information is clearly authorized by law, and the agencies have adequately explained their decisions,” Chhabria wrote in his updated ruling Monday.

While undocumented immigrants are not eligible to enroll in federal Medicaid programs, some states allow people to receive state-funded benefits regardless of immigration status. These states include California, Illinois, Colorado, New York, Washington, Oregon, and Minnesota, as well as Washington, D.C.

Chharbria’s order covers six categories of basic personal information, including citizenship, immigration status, address, phone number, date of birth, and Medicaid ID, according to Courthouse News Service. However, the judge sided with the states regarding data beyond basic information. According to the judge’s ruling, the Trump administration is only allowed to share Medicaid data about people unlawfully living in the United States. This means ICE cannot access personal information collected from other immigrants receiving Medicaid.

In addition, ICE and HHS remain barred from sharing personal health records and other potentially sensitive medical information for immigration enforcement under the judge’s preliminary injunction. Chhabria said the agencies did not provide a compelling reason for exchanging such information. California and other states argued that sharing this information would violate health privacy laws.

The California Attorney General’s Office told Courthouse News that it is disappointed with the judge’s decision.

“When individuals signed up for Medi-Cal, they did so with the understanding that their data would not be used for purposes unrelated to administering the program,” a spokesperson told Courthouse News Service. “The Trump administration’s effort to use Medicaid data for immigration enforcement is a violation of their trust and will lead to fewer people seeking vital health care, harming the overall health of our communities and increasing public health costs to the state.”

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Dwight Howard, military service
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 30, 2025

Dwight Howard Has One Suggestion He Thinks Every American Should Do

'One year of service mandatory for everyone born in America,' he suggests.

NBA Hall of Famer Dwight Howard took to social media to offer President Donald Trump a suggestion that many people, including the president, may disagree with: that “everyone born in America” should serve a mandatory year of service to the country.

The former Orlando Magic center took the stance that if we, as Americans, served one year, it would help with discipline and structure. He did ask people to chime in with their thoughts.

The people did not disappoint in their responses.

A suggestion was made that may benefit more citizens by promoting decency among them. Someone said people should spend a year working in customer service to learn how to better deal with different people.

However, Howard doubled down and continued to push for the mandatory military service. Another person advocated requiring people to take aptitude tests to be allowed to vote, then to serve a year.

This user is not part of that program at all, as he believes no one should be forced into service to “build discipline.”

X user Doran Maul wondered how this can happen when we can’t even get people to vote voluntarily.

Someone else had to remind him that even the president himself evaded service by claiming he had bone spurs.

Howard played 18 seasons in the NBA with the Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets, and Philadelphia 76ers. He won an NBA Championship while playing with the Lakers in 2020. He was the NBA Defensive Player of the Year for three straight seasons, named to the All-NBA First Team in five consecutive seasons for eight appearances, and selected for the All-Star Game in eight straight seasons. He also led the league in rebounds for five seasons and blocks in the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

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OJ Da Juiceman, Medical Emergency, Police Custody
by Kandiss Edwards

December 30, 2025

Time’s Up! Police Arrest Suspect In $250K 2022 Jewelry Heist — Three Years Later

Police in Columbus, Ohio, arrested 24-year-old Dashaun Allen in connection with the 2022 burglary.

Police in Columbus, Ohio, have arrested 24-year-old Dashaun Allen in connection with a 2022 burglary in which more than $250,000 worth of jewelry was stolen.

The Christmas day arrest came nearly four years after the crime, the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office reported. Officers were originally called to the jewelry store on the 5000 block of Tuttle Crossing on Jan. 2, 2022. Employees reported that several tempered glass display cases had been smashed and that large quantities of merchandise were missing.

Investigators filed a warrant for Allen’s arrest in November 2025 after evidence from the scene was finally processed. The suspect was taken into custody on Christmas Eve by deputies from the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Franklin County Jail on a theft charge tied to the burglary. After Allen was arraigned in Franklin County Municipal Court, a judge set bond at $15,000. His next scheduled court date is Dec. 30, CWColumbus reported.

Police have not indicated whether any of the stolen jewelry has been recovered. Additional details about the investigation and the evidence that led to the warrant filing have not been released. Columbus police encouraged anyone with further information about the burglary to contact investigators. 

Although little has been released about the details of the investigation, some may question the three-year delay. While forensic investigation is a meticulous and time-consuming process, years-long analysis may seem extreme. However, according to Legal Clarity, accurate forensic analysis hinges on multiple factors and is often the reason for prolonged investigation. Understaffed crime labs are often not able to keep pace with real-time investigations.

“Forensic analysis is a frequent source of delay in modern police investigations. The processing of physical evidence like DNA, fingerprints, and ballistics is a meticulous scientific process that requires time and precision. Crime labs often face significant backlogs, meaning evidence from a new case must wait in line behind hundreds or thousands of other samples. This can add weeks or months to an investigation’s timeline.”

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