Laila Edwards Will Be The 1st Black Woman To Play Ice Hockey For Team USA In Winter Olympics
'It still hasn’t really kicked in yet. Getting that call is like a dream come true.'
Laila Edwards will make history as the first Black woman to play for Team USA’s Women’s Ice Hockey Team at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy from Feb. 6-22.
According to Olympics.com, Edwards, who is currently a senior at the University of Wisconsin, has made the 23-player roster for the Milano Cortina 2026 Games. Team USA announced the roster on NBC on Friday, Jan. 2.
The 21-year-old was named along with Cayla Barnes, Hannah Bilka, Alex Carpenter, Britta Curl-Salemme, Joy Dunne, Aerin Frankel, Rory Guilday, Caroline Harvey, Taylor Heise, Tessa Janecke, Megan Keller, Ava McNaughton, Abbey Murphy, Kelly Pannek, Gwyneth Philips, Hayley Scamurra, Kirsten Simms, Lee Stecklein, Haley Winn, and Grace Zumwinkle.
“It still hasn’t really kicked in yet. Getting that call is like a dream come true,” Edwards expressed to the Associated Press. “Always had dreams of playing in the pros, but the biggest dream was to go to the Olympics for sure.”
When she was 20, she was the youngest American to win the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award at the women’s hockey world championships, helping the USA win its 11th title last April. She became the first Black woman to play for the US women’s hockey team at 19 and the first to win the IIHF Women’s World Championship (the International Ice Hockey Federation, the governing body of international ice hockey).
A GoFundMe has been started to help bring Edwards’ family to Italy to witness history in the making.
“Laila Edwards is going to the Olympics! On New Year’s Eve, Laila received the call that was the culmination of a dream. Our daughter/sister is headed to Milan Cortina to compete with the US Women’s Hockey Team in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games this February!”
Alicia Johnson Sworn In As 1st Black Woman To Serve In Georgia’s Public Service Commission
Johnson is also paving the way for Black women politicians to win big in Georgia.
Alicia Johnson has officially made history as the first Black woman to serve in Georgia’s Public Service Commission.
Johnson participated in a ceremonial swearing-in ceremony Dec. 29 at the commission chambers in Atlanta. However, she officially assumed the role at the start of the new year.
She not only makes history for the Public Service Commission, but for Black women leaders in Georgia politics. With her appointment, she has become the first Black woman elected to a statewide post that isn’t a judgeship.
“I think that anybody who does something for the first time has a — you know it could be an overwhelming sense of responsibility,” Johnson told reporters, according to ABC News. “It’s a shame that a commission that has over a 100-year history, that I’m the first anything on it. But the reality is, that’s who we are.”
As the Public Service Commissioner for District 2, Johnson will regulate the rates charged by Georgia Power Co. However, the races themselves for the Georgia PSC proved successful for the state’s Democrats in general.
Winning alongside fellow nominee Peter Hubbard, the two PSC hopefuls flipped two seats in the statewide office, beating out two incumbent Republicans. As Georgians became fed up with rising electricity bills, the insertion of two Democrats into the once all-Republican office has paved the way for left-leaning policies to take shape.
However, Johnson and Hubbard remain in the minority of the five-person commission. The rest of its elected officials identify as Republican leaders. Despite this, Johnson aims to uphold her district’s interests within the PSC. As a commissioner, she will help authorize and oversee essential services in Georgia.
Johnson added, “I accept this responsibility fully aware that the decisions made in this room and in this role affects families’ monthly bills, their community health, their economic opportunity and our shared future.”
Johnson’s new appointment involves setting fair utility rates while maintaining quality. However, she also sets a new standard for Georgia. Her successful run and new appointment prove that Black women can win statewide roles in Georgia, a growing pattern that may continue into the midterms.
Jordan Brand Readies Release Of Air Jordan 12 Retro ‘Bucks’
These sneakers are patterned after the ones former Milwaukee Bucks/Boston Celtics legend, Ray Allen, wore when they debuted 30 years ago
The throwback sneaker game remains popular, as one of the sneakers Ray Allen wore during his basketball career, the Air Jordan 12 Retro “Bucks,” is returning 30 years after its debut.
According to Anthlon Sports, the expected release date for the “Bucks” is Sept. 19, 2026, at a price of $205. Allen, who was a member of the Milwaukee Bucks when he was drafted into the NBA in 1996, signed with Jordan Brand the following year and was hand-picked by Michael Jordan, along with Derek Anderson, Vin Baker, Michael Finley, and Eddie Jones, as the first wave of players endorsed by the brand.
The sneaker is expected to be released in the Bucks’ green-and-white color scheme.
When the shoe is released, it can be purchased from Nike SNKRS and select Jordan Brand retailers like Foot Locker, Finish Line, Hibbett, and Dick’s Sporting Goods.
This news comes on the heels of Nike announcing that another popular sneaker, the Nike Air Force 1, will release a special edition celebrating Atlanta hip-hop group OutKast. The sneaker also celebrates the 30th anniversary of the release of their second album, ATLiens. According to Sneaker Files, the shoe is aptly named The Nike Air Force 1 ATLiens, and although no official date has been announced, it is expected to be released in Fall 2026. ATLiens was released Aug. 27, 1996. The two-times platinum album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Top 200 chart while scoring No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in 1996.
Sneaker Files reported that the sneaker will have a black, vivid purple, deep night white, barely volt, and desert bronze color scheme. The colorway would match the vibrant colors shown on the ATLiens album cover. The media outlet also noted that it’s not an “official collaboration” with OutKast members Big Boi and André 3000, but rather a tribute release.
Here’s how to move smartly — not fearfully — through this season
Dear Fairygodmentor®,
My company recently announced that 2026 is a “rebuild year.” They’re reorganizing teams, cutting budgets, freezing promotions — and everyone’s walking on eggshells. I’m worried about job security and not sure how to stand out without overworking. How do I protect my career during a transition like this? — Rebuild Season Nervous
Dear Nervous,
When a company says they’re entering a “rebuild year,” it often feels like code for: “We’re changing things…and your role may or may not make it. May the odds be ever in your favor!”
And for Black professionals — especially those who’ve already had to navigate glass cliffs, limited advancement, and constant proving of ourselves — uncertainty hits differently.
But here’s the good news: A rebuild year doesn’t have to be a threat. It can actually be a strategic window for you to reinforce, reintroduce, and re-energize your professional value.
Here’s how to move smartly — not fearfully — through this season:
1. Get Crystal Clear on the New Priorities
Don’t guess what leadership wants — Show Your Ask! Try questions like:
• “What does success look like this quarter?”
• “What are the biggest challenges we’re rebuilding to address?”
• “Would you like to hear a few ideas I have for our team’s success?
Alignment is your first layer of protection. And I say this often, but leaders don’t just seek problems, they create solutions. That last bullet item is a way for you to shine a light on your ability to strategize and stay visible. Show your value. I’ll get into more of this in a bit.
When you know the mission, you can position yourself as essential to it.
2. Make Your Value Visible — Not Just Valuable
Don’t fall for that old adage “If you work hard – your hard work will speak for itself.” It doesn’t. As I say in my book, Show Your Ask, “It’s one thing to know your value, it’s another thing to show it.”
During rebuild years, visibility is currency.
Share your wins. Document your results. Send periodic updates on progress.
I’m going to keep saying this over and over again, it’s not bragging — it’s branding.
When leaders know your impact, they’re more likely to preserve your seat when the org chart shifts.
3. Strengthen Key Relationships
Rebuild seasons rely on collaboration, trust, and reputation. Communication breaks down and self-preservation builds up. This is the time to:
• reconnect with partners
• build alliances
• volunteer for visibility-building projects (not burnout builders)
• nurture relationships with decision-makers
You want people mentioning your name in rooms you’ll never enter, saying, “We need them.”
4. Be Ready and Stay Ready
Update your resume and LinkedIn profile regularly. Not because you’re leaving immediately — but because you should always have options.
An updated resume is emotional insurance.
It reminds you: You are employable. You are talented. You are not trapped.
5. Pay Attention to Whether This Rebuild Includes You
Sometimes companies rebuild around you. Other times…they’re making decisions that shrink your role, erase responsibilities, or redirect influence.
Be aware of the following:
• decreasing authority
• vague feedback (this is a big one, push for specifics!)
• removed responsibilities
• unclear future plans for your team
If you’re seeing this happen to you, it may be time to prepare for your own rebuild — one that centers your growth, not the company’s survival.
Nervous, the economy may be unpredictable, but your career strategy doesn’t have to be. A rebuild year is not just the company’s moment to reorganize. It’s your opportunity to reinforce your value, expand your visibility, and ensure that whatever happens — you remain in control of your professional story.
You’re not powerless. You’re preparing.
With strategy and confidence, Your Fairygodmentor®
About Joyel Crawford:
(Photo: Kirten White Photography/BE)
Joyel Crawford is an award-winning career and leadership development professional and founder of Crawford Leadership Strategies, a consultancy that empowers results-driven leaders through coaching, training, and facilitation. She’s the best-selling author of Show Your Ask: Using Your Voice to Advocate for Yourself and Your Career.
Have a question for Your Fairygodmentor®?
Submit your career and leadership questions, whether it’s about navigating a micromanager, setting boundaries, negotiating for a raise, or handling burnout. Ask Your Fairygodmentor® today!
8 Books That Call Out Tax Disparity And Call Attention To Money Management
Tax season is a critical juncture for financial reclamation
In 2026, tax season stands as a critical time for financial reclamation. For the Black community, the U.S. tax code has long served as a “silent architect” of the racial wealth gap — a complex web of property tax inequities, marriage penalties, and capital gains structures designed to favor established capital over labor.
To transform the tax season from a period of extraction into one of empowerment, one must master both the historical context and the modern mechanics of the system. These eight essential books offer the analytical depth and practical literacy required to navigate the “Black Tax” and secure generational wealth.
The Black Tax: 150 Years of Theft, Exploitation, And Dispossession In America
Andrew W. Kahrl, who is both a historian and professor of African American studies, wrote a book that presents an in-depth historical examination of American tax systems which have created economic inequality between Black Americans and other groups through property taxes and ongoing economic disparities. The 2025 publication delivers crucial historical understanding about the importance of taxes beyond document submission, while linking historical injustices to present-day wealth disparities.
Tax Law and Racial Economic Justice: Black Tax
In Tax Law and Racial Economic Justice: Black Tax, legal scholar Andre L. Smith states that tax systems cannot be considered “race neutral” because tax law connects with racial issues and economic justice. The book analyzes taxation within larger racial economic frameworks and serves activists together with scholars and policy thinkers. Although this book was published in 2015, it remains essential for tax justice discussions in 2026.
The Whiteness of Wealth: How The Tax System Impoverishes Black Americans — And How We Can Fix It
Dorothy A. Brown, a tax law expert and professor, wrote The Whiteness of Wealth to reveal how tax rules create advantages for white households while disadvantaging Black households through both everyday examples and policy analysis. Published in 2022, the text remains a key reference in discussions about tax equity. The book links tax law directly to real-life experiences of inequality, which helps readers fully grasp both the problem and possible solutions.
Get Good With Money
The Budgetnista financial educator, Tiffany Aliche, wrote Get Good with Money as a personal finance guide that helps readers learn effective money management skills, including tax planning strategies for wealth building. Aliche delivers crucial tax management advice specifically designed for Black readers interested in mastering money management. The book was published in 2021 and continues to be a leading financial empowerment resource which delivers practical money management techniques for both individuals and families.
Blueprint For Black Power: A Moral, Political & Economic Imperative For Our People
Dr. Amos Wilson presents a structural analysis of taxation, labor, wealth, and Black empowerment as an ecosystem in Blueprint for Black Power. The book presents strategies for economic self-determination through tax literacy, which is integrated into community economic empowerment and remains a key reference in financial justice discussions.
The Guide To Black Wealth
Sheldon Campbell wrote The Guide to Black Wealth, which explores taxes as a vital expense for building wealth. The 2021 publication continues to serve as an essential resource for personal finance and tax planning. Through a distinctive viewpoint, Campbell delivers practical guidance for budgeting and investing along with tax awareness.
Legacy Hoops! Steph, Dell Curry Set Record For Most Combined Games By Father-Son Player Duo
The father-son duo have another NBA player to add to their dynasty, Steph's younger brother Seth.
Steph and Dell Curry have a new NBA record to celebrate together.
Although Dell Curry has been retired for decades, he now holds a new NBA record thanks to his son, Steph. As a father-son player duo, the Currys have set the record for most combined games played.
As the Golden State Warriors guard made his 1,052nd regular-season appearance, he set a record alongside his father. The Athletic confirmed the news following the Jan. 3 game against the Utah Jazz.
As a duo, the two have now played 2,135 combined games. They beat a record previously held by Dolph Schayes and Danny Schayes, who had 2,134 combined games under their shared belt.
Steph has played with the Warriors since the franchise drafted him in 2009. Since then, he has gone on to secure four NBA titles with the team, as well as two MVP titles.
While Steph’s tenure with the Warriors cementing him as a future NBA Hall of Famer, his father also had a considerable career in the league. He played in the NBA for nearly two decades. The elder Curry played on several teams, including the Utah Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Toronto Raptors.
However, the Curry’s basketball legacy goes beyond the two, with Steph’s younger brother, Seth, also joining the NBA in 2013. According to the news outlet, the father-son/brother trio holds the record for the most combined NBA 3-pointers.
Seth and Steph also had their joint debut together as brothers-turned-teammates after Seth joined the Warriors for the 2025-2026 season.
However, Steph’s latest record with their father may continue to grow as Steph plays through the Western Conference. Although previously injured earlier this season, he has returned as the Warriors fight for the 8th seed with a 19-17 record. As an emerging dynasty in the NBA, the Curry family continues to make a name for itself and set records.
Justin and Christian Combs To Break Silence In New Zeus Network Docuseries Following Diddy’s Conviction
The docuseries is expected to debut on the Zeus Network video-on-demand service later this year.
As Sean “Diddy” Combs begins serving his 50-month federal prison sentence, his sons, Justin and Christian “King” Combs, are turning to the camera to reclaim their family’s narrative. The brothers have partnered with the Zeus Network for a new documentary series slated for a 2026 release, promising an unfiltered look at the fallout from their father’s high-profile legal battles.
The upcoming untitled project follows the Combs family through a tumultuous year. In July 2025, the music mogul was convicted on two prostitution-related charges, followed by an October sentencing that saw him ordered to federal prison.
According to Federal Bureau of Prisons records, the elder Combs is currently scheduled for release on June 4, 2028.
A trailer shared on Instagram by Zeus Network Founder Lemuel Plummer suggests the series will feature Justin, 31, and Christian, 19, as they view and react to footage from their father’s trial.
The teaser indicates the brothers will address the widely publicized raids on Diddy’s properties and respond to the intense public scrutiny that has followed the family for years.
The timing of the series is particularly pointed, as Christian Combs continues to navigate his own legal challenges, including an ongoing lawsuit alleging a 2022 sexual assault aboard a yacht.
While the announcement has sparked debate over the ethics of profiling the family of a convicted felon, Lemuel Plummer was quick to clarify the network’s editorial stance.
“To be clear, this documentary is about allowing Justin and Christian to share their personal story,” Plummer wrote. “We’re not here to endorse Diddy or anyone else. As a network, we believe in giving individuals a platform to tell their own experiences… We’re simply allowing these stories to be told.”
The series marks a significant shift in strategy for the Combs sons, who have largely maintained a low profile since their father’s incarceration began. By choosing Zeus—a platform known for high-drama reality content and raw, personal storytelling—the brothers appear ready to bypass traditional media gatekeepers to speak directly to their audience.
The docuseries is expected to debut on the Zeus Network video-on-demand service later this year.
Hakeem Jeffries Calls For Investigation Into Trump’s Health Claims
Jeffries says lawmakers have a duty to ensure the nation’s leader is fit to carry out the duties of the office.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Congress should launch an investigation into President Donald Trump’s health.
Jeffries believes there is a lack of transparency surrounding Trump’s health. Speaking with content creator and political commentator Aaron Parnas, Jeffries says lawmakers have a duty to ensure the nation’s leader is fit to carry out the duties of the office. He said the question of Trump’s health should be addressed by Congress now rather than waiting for next year’s elections.
“I don’t believe that this is something that should wait until the American people give Democrats the majority,” Jeffries said. “I think that it’s something that James Comer [Chair of the House Oversight Committee] if he’s actually being honest about Congress being a separate and coequal branch of government – we don’t work for Donald Trump. We don’t work for JD Vance. We don’t work for their billionaire donors. We work for the American people, and Congress, in its role as a separate coequal branch of government, should make sure that the administration comes clean as it relates to the president’s ability to continue to do the job at the level that the American people deserve,” he continued.
Jeffries said the White House has not been transparent about Trump’s health and suggested lawmakers have a responsibility to ensure the president is physically and mentally able to fulfill his constitutional duties. At 79 years old, Trump’s actions have drawn increased attention and discussion about his mental and physical capacity. He has been observed, seemingly sleeping, during White House press conferences and meetings. Photographs of visible bruising on his skin have circulated on the internet. Additionally, Trump appears to be overweight, though he boasts his 5’10’ frame holds no more than 224 lbs.
Trump and his press team have repeatedly asserted that he is in excellent health and that his White House doctors have found no issues. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has described the president as vigorous and hardworking. He has also recently boasted that he is healthier than former President Barack Obama.
NIH Agrees To Resume Grants Considerations Stalled By Trump Orders But Not For Long
Some of the grants funded Alzheimer's, cancer, and other illnesses, which impacts people of all races and ethnicities.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has agreed to continue evaluating grant applications that were previously denied or left in limbo by the Trump administration’s ideological targeting of research grants. The NIH has decided to move forward following two separate lawsuits filed in federal court.
U.S. District Court Judge William Young ruled that the government broke the law by terminating grants that the administration deemed “DEI.” As WGBH reported, the Trump administration terminated grants in areas of diversity, transgender issues, and other research areas with which it disagreed.
The government appealed Judge Young’s decision to the Supreme Court, which ruled in August that the district court likely overstepped its jurisdiction and lacked authority to review the termination of those research grants. The high court, however, did not stay the ruling that the NIH directives used to terminate the grants were unlawful.
NIH Grants In Legal Limbo
In one lawsuit, at least 16 state attorneys general challenged the federal government over its termination of the grants. The ACLU of Massachusetts, Protecting Democracy, and other plaintiffs, including individual researchers, filed a second federal lawsuit.
While the NIH has restored some funding to terminated grants, other applications have been delayed, denied, or stuck in legal limbo. The agreements this week now commit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to resume its usual process for considering NIH grant applications. The agreements also reportedly limit the NIH from applying disputing ideological directives while reviewing applications for new grants.
“This stipulation means that NIH will be reviewing these applications based on scientific merit and not based on unlawful policy directives that had elevated political ideology over science,” Olga Akselrod, senior counsel at the ACLU’s racial justice program, told WGBH.
According to Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, the administration’s funding delays and terminations posed significant harm. Campbell said the University of Massachusetts (UMass) had 353 NIH funding applications under review that were delayed at the time of the lawsuit.
“[This signifies] millions in potential grant funding that would aid in lifesaving medical research,” Campbell wrote. “One such study aimed to investigate a gene that could inform the development of new treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease.”
Despite expensive investments made in preparation for this research, which had an anticipated start date of April 1, 2025, Campbell said UMass had to put the project on hold. The university also scaled back admissions to doctoral programs due to funding uncertainty for critical research.
NIH Director Signals The Consideration For Grants Won’t Last Long
Even with the agreements reached in federal court, NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya is signaling that the grant considerations will not last long. During an interview with Paul Thacker, Bhattacharya hinted that some of these grants will eventually be tossed out, Stat News reported.
“As best I can understand the legal aspects of things, that for those grants that were paused … that they forced us to restore… we can’t cut them,” he said. “But when it comes to renewal, those grants no longer meet NIH priorities.”
He made it clear on the podcast that funding for the “DEI grants” will not be renewed throughout the year.
Some of the grants funded Alzheimer’s, cancer, and other illnesses, which impact people of all races and ethnicities.
Russell Westbrook Becomes NBA’s Highest Scoring Point Guard
Westbrook, 37, finished the game with 17 points, nine rebounds and six assists, playing for the Kings in his 18th NBA season.
Russell Westbrook became the highest-scoring point guard in NBA history.
On Jan. 2, Westbrook surpassed Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson’s career point total. The milestone came during the Sacramento Kings’ 129-102 loss to the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center in Phoenix.
With a driving layup early in the fourth quarter, Westbrook recorded his 26,711th career point, eclipsing Robertson’s mark of 26,710 points previously set as the highest total by a point guard in NBA history, Sports Illustrated reported.
Westbrook, 37, finished the game with 17 points, nine rebounds and six assists, playing for the Kings in his 18th NBA season. The 2017 NBA Most Valuable Player previously set other league records, including the most career triple-doubles in NBA history. His history-making feet moves him to no. 15 on the NBA’s all-time highest scorer list.
Westbrook has spent parts of his career with several teams, including the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, and now the Kings. His longevity and versatility have contributed to his ascent up the NBA’s scoring charts and a place among the league’s all-time leaders.
In addition to becoming the highest-scoring point guard, Westbrook moved into 15th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, joining an elite group of scorers that includes active and retired legends. At the time of the milestone, he was averaging more than 14 points per game, along with notable contributions in rebounds and assists for Sacramento. In a post-game conference, head coach for the Sacramento Kings and former NBA player Doug Christie celebrated Westbrook’s career accomplishments.
“I didn’t know that he broke another record tonight. He continues to break records,” Christie said. “Russ is a freak of nature. His competitiveness, his competitive drive, his spirit to continue to play as hard as he does, I think this is year 18 or whatever it is. Always been a fan of his and it’s an absolute honor to coach him.”
Westbrook’s achievement adds to a list of historic accomplishments that place him among the most decorated guards in league history, further cementing his legacy as he continues to play.
