by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 24, 2025

Walmart Opens Debut Store in Africa Ahead Of Black Friday

The Johannesburg store is the first of many that Walmart hopes to open in the continent.

Walmart, known for its “roll back” prices, has initiated its roll out in Africa. Now, shoppers can venture into the Johannesburg mega-store to get its wide range of products.

The store held its grand opening on Saturday, Nov. 22, allowing patrons in the South African city to get access to international products typically unsold in the region, including the coveted children’s toy Labubus. Others looked to take advantage of Walmart’s low prices, especially ahead of Black Friday.

The South African store is the first of many planned across the country and continent.

“Opening the first Walmart store in South Africa is about much more than a business milestone; it is a commitment to helping customers save money and live better by consistently delivering the lowest total cost for the basket of products they need,” Andrea Albright, executive vice president of Walmart, said in a statement obtained by Reuters.

The store’s opening also brought new jobs to the area, while partnering with several businesses in the community to stock locally-sourced products.

A delivery service also accompanies the launch. “This places it in direct competition with Checkers’ Sixty60 on-demand delivery service owned by South Africa’s largest grocery retailer Shoprite,” Reuters reported.

With Black Friday already expected to provide a boost in profits in the U.S. and abroad, eyes remain on Walmart’s first African location to see how it sales compare on the world’s biggest shopping day.

DoorDash, doordash, tips, delivery, driver, shooting, bullets

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 24, 2025

DoorDash Settles With Chicago For $18M After Investigation Reveals Deceptive Business Practices

'This settlement demonstrates Chicago’s commitment to standing up for workers and small businesses while maintaining a fair and honest marketplace,' said Mayor Brandon Johnson.

The City of Chicago announced that the food delivery service DoorDash has settled a lawsuit filed against it for $18 million.

Mayor Brandon Johnson stated that the company has agreed to provide restitution to delivery drivers, restaurants, and consumers following an investigation that found the company engaged in deceptive and unfair business practices.

The city of Chicago announced an $18 million settlement Friday in its lawsuit against DoorDash alleging the food delivery service engaged in deceptive business practices during the pandemic — at the expense of customers, restaurants and drivers.https://t.co/bcpTo1xkEe

— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) November 15, 2025

“This settlement demonstrates Chicago’s commitment to standing up for workers and small businesses while maintaining a fair and honest marketplace,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson in a written statement. “Our hospitality industry is critical to our economy, and it works best when companies play by the rules, workers are treated fairly, and consumers see transparent pricing. We are proud to have delivered justice and relief to the Chicago workers, small businesses, and residents who’ve been affected by these practices.”

The investigation revealed that during COVID-19, DoorDash violated the Chicago Municipal Code by listing restaurants without their consent. They also alleged that the company did not initially inform customers of the full cost of its service; it imposed a misleading “Chicago Fee” that was not mandated by the city; and did not reveal that menu prices were listed at a higher price than what the restaurant charges. DoorDash also allegedly misled customers into believing the tips they were giving were going directly to drivers, when they were actually used to subsidize its own payments to drivers.

In its response to settling the lawsuit, DoorDash stated that the aforementioned business practices no longer exist.

“We’re pleased to have settled this years-old lawsuit with the City of Chicago. To be clear, this settlement isn’t an admission of wrongdoing and the allegations in this lawsuit focus on business practices that no longer exist.”

volunteer, vending machine, Florida malls, donations, Altamonte Springs,

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 24, 2025

Giving-Focused Vending Machines At Florida Malls Allow Shoppers To Donate To Those In Need

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints launched Giving Machines at malls nationwide, letting shoppers donate to families in need this holiday season.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has launched its annual holiday giving campaign by placing donation-focused vending machines throughout Almonte Springs Mall in Florida.

On Nov. 20, the community gathered for the unveiling of three Giving Machines donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the holiday season, Click Orlando reports. The machines, open through Dec. 14, let shoppers make direct donations of moving kits, mobile shelters, and more to families and nonprofits in need.

“With as little as five dollars to fifty dollars, you can donate something as simple as underwear to a homeless shelter here in Florida. You can also donate a goat to a family in Africa,” said Elder Daniel Amato, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The machines also support local and international charities, with gifts starting at just $5 and 100% of each donation going directly to those in need. Last holiday season, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints placed Giving Machines in 107 cities across 13 countries on five continents.

The three machines at Altamonte Mall alone raised over $100,000 from more than 6,400 donors, according to Light the World. Since the first Giving Machine launched in 2017, 2.4 million people have contributed over $50 million, positively impacting millions of lives.

The church’s 2025 Light the World campaign was also launched at St. George’s Red Cliffs Mall in Utah, where Giving Machines will remain on display near Dillard’s until Dec. 27. Giff Nielsen, a former leader in the church’s missionary department and this year’s keynote speaker for the ceremony, explained that the machines and campaign provide a fun and meaningful way for people to help those in need.

Shoppers use the machines like regular vending machines, donating items via a mobile app, credit card, or debit card to support families locally or around the world.

“Some of these items that you pick will stay here locally in St. George to bless the people here,” Nielsen said. “But then, others of these items will bless people all over the world.”

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 24, 2025

‘Red Devil’ Cop Found Guilty for Fatally Shooting Black Man Granted New Trial By New Mexico Court

The judge agreed with a motion filed by the cop's defense about certain clerical errors regarding jury selection.

A New Mexico cop will see a new trial despite his initial guilty verdict in the fatal shooting of a Black man over an alleged stolen beer can.

In February, former Las Cruces Police Officer Brad Lunsford received a guilty manslaughter verdict for the fatal shooting of a 36-year-old Black man named Presley Eze.

Eze, a husband and father, was shot in 2022 after shoplifting a can of Budweiser beer from a gas station store.

Deeming the evidence used as “weak in proof,” New Mexico District Judge James B. Foy ordered a new trial in October, but Lunsford has continued to jeopardize his own upcoming civil trial. According to the Atlanta Black Star, he deleted messages sent by his fellow officers and chiefs who supported him in the courtroom during his criminal case.

Lunsford, who sports a red devil tattoo on his forearm, has returned home to his family but must face a civil trial in addition to the retrial.

“If you try this case 10 times, the fact is, Brad Lunsford took a gun, put it on my son’s head, and shot him at point-blank range,” his mother, Loretta Eze, told KFOX14.

Eze sat in the passenger seat of a friend’s car in the gas station parking lot when the officer arrived over the alleged shoplifting. Despite the gas station attendant’s claims, Eze, a first-generation Nigerian-American, told law enforcement that he already had the beer can when he appeared at the store to buy a box of cigarettes.

However, the cashier refused to ring him up because he lacked identification. Later footage revealed that Eze had already entered the store with the can, trading it in for a colder one inside.

Accused of stealing the beer, Eze urged the officer to check the security footage to prove his innocence, but the officer did not do so. Body camera footage showed the cop mispronouncing Eze’s name, leading him to run it through the system to check for warrants inaccurately.

Lunsford and another officer then pulled Eze out of the car, putting him on the ground. One of the cops’ tasers fell next to Eze’s right hand as they pinned him down. However, as Eze pulled himself up and seemingly touched the taser, Lunsford reacted by pulling out his gun and killing him. The district attorney’s office charged him with voluntary manslaughter with firearm enhancement.

A motion filed by Lunsford’s attorneys citing judicial errors, including an improper juror switch and juror bias, led Foy to reverse the decision.

“The defense’s accusations of bias based on a juror’s political beliefs is contrary to the law and to the impartial administration of justice,” said New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, said in a statement to FOX14, in March when Lumsford was released. “Jurors are entrusted to decide cases based on evidence, not to be subjected to public humiliation and personal attacks for an unpopular verdict. The defense team failed to do their job during jury selection. It should not be allowed to engage in a partisan witch-hunt now that a properly seated jury rejected Lunsford’s defense and found him guilty of manslaughter.”

As for the civil trial, the Eze family’s attorney stated in a motion that the deleted text messages hold ground for a default judgment, claiming that the cop destroyed crucial evidence. The default judgment would evade trial and grant the Eze family the monetary damages they seek for the loss. However, another judge ruled against the default judgment, instead ordering the cop to pay the family’s attorney’s fees.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 24, 2025

Donald Glover Reveals Stroke Forced Him To Cancel His World Tour

Donald Glover reveals it was a stroke that forced him to cancel his 2024 world tour.

Donald Glover is opening up about the stroke he had last year that put a stop to his Childish Gambino New World Tour.

The Grammy-winning rapper took the stage at Camp Flog Gnaw on Nov. 23, where he revealed the health scare that struck during the Louisiana stop of his 2024 world tour. Glover, also known as Childish Gambino, said he was performing when he suddenly felt a “really bad pain in [his] head.”

“I did the show anyway,” he said in a video clip shared on X. “I couldn’t really see well, so when we went to Houston, I went to the hospital and the doctor was like, ‘You had a stroke.’”

https://twitter.com/mosthiphop/status/1992513497880842455?s=46&t=qmzb_I2N1DzN_GymACe90A

Adding a touch of somber humor, Glover referenced Jamie Foxx’s 2023 health scare, which was later revealed to have been caused by a brain bleed that resulted in a stroke.

“And the first thing I thought was like, ‘Oh, here I am still copying Jamie Foxx,’” Glover quipped.

“That’s really like the second thing,” he added. “The first thing was like, ‘I’m letting everybody down.’”

The “This is America” singer went on to share that he underwent multiple surgeries after doctors “found a hole in his heart.” He ended his reveal expressing his love for his fans.

“They say everybody has two lives and the second life starts when you realize you have one,” Glover continued. “You got one life, guys. And I gotta be honest, the life I’ve lived with you guys has been such a blessing.”

The “Redbone” singer also encouraged fans to live their lives to the fullest.

“If we have to do this again, it can only get better,” he said.

The stroke revelation comes a year after Glover announced he was canceling the rest of his North American and European tour. At the time, he confirmed his hospitalization but did not disclose the medical issue behind it.

Starbucks, closures, restructuring, tariffs

by Kandiss Edwards

November 24, 2025

Albany Starbucks Employees Join The Picket Line In Ongoing National Strike For Better Pay And Work Conditions

Stores that have recently joined the movement include Cleveland, Memphis, Springfield, and Albany.

Starbucks workers in Albany, New York, have joined the strike shortly after Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani expressed support.

Employees in nearly 30 cities and 65 stores across the country are now standing in solidarity to fight for increased wages and better work conditions. The ongoing dispute centers on pay, scheduling, and stalled discussions between Starbucks Workers United and the company, which has faced waves of labor actions nationwide.

Workers involved in the new phase of the strike have cited rising living costs and unpredictable scheduling as major concerns. Several stores participating in the walkouts have seen staff shortages tied to burnout. Stores that have recently joined the movement include Cleveland, Memphis, Springfield, and Albany, Associated Press reported.

The Albany Times Union spoke to the new members of the strike. Employee of the Clifton Park location, Lee Wendell, talked to the outlet about the necessity of the strike.

“I’m here for the resolving of the over 700 unfair labor practices that are unresolved,” said Wendell, who has worked at the Clifton Park location for five years. “I’m tired of people I work with coming up to me and saying, ‘I had water for dinner.’ You should be able to afford your bills, your medication.”

Chantelliegh Graham, another Starbucks employee, reinforced the need for a strike while speaking with the outlet. Graham believes that while one individual may not be able to make a difference, there is “power in numbers.”

“We’re not alone,” said Graham, who has worked as a barista at the 62 New Scotland Ave. shop for five years. “Voices individually are small, but as a collective, they are very loud. Workers’ rights are for everybody. That’s what we’re really here fighting for.”

Starbucks workers are still out on ULP strike! Support us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS anywhere until the strike is resolved!! We’re fighting for fair union contracts with better pay, better hours, and an end to union-busting – learn more at the link in our bio! #tobeapartner pic.twitter.com/28sMUepeZQ
— Starbucks Workers United (@SBWorkersUnited) November 23, 2025

In a statement, a Starbucks spokesperson responded to the latest strike plans, saying the company prefers “direct bargaining” and wants to work with employees “to reach agreements that support partners in stores.” The spokesperson told the outlet that Starbucks remains committed to “constructive conversations.”

In a message posted to X on Nov. 13, Mayor-elect Mamdani said he is no longer a patron of the chain and urged New Yorkers to spend their money elsewhere.

“Starbucks workers across the country are on an Unfair Labor Practices strike, fighting for a fair contract. While workers are on strike, I won’t be buying any Starbucks, and I’m asking you to join us. Together, we can send a powerful message: No contract, no coffee,” he wrote.

Mamdani’s call for a boycott is the latest example of political leaders inserting themselves into workplace disputes in New York. The mayor-elect has emphasized worker issues throughout his transition period.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 24, 2025

Meet The Haitian Designer Behind These Viral Hard-To-Find Handbags

There's a waiting list to purchase one of Pierre Laborde's viral luxury handbags.

Meet Pierre Laborde, the Haitian-born designer behind the coveted luxury handbags taking over New York City’s Grand Bazaar.

On Nov. 11, the luxury handbag TikTok page Via Giulia offered a glimpse inside Laborde’s NYC design studio, drawn by the buzz around his handmade bags. The clips showcase Laborde’s sought-after pony hair and leather handbags with a dropped middle design and tell of his weekend sales at New York City’s Grand Bazaar on West 77th Street.

“His unique play on color and style and shape, his bags are so popular, and the waitlist is super, super long,” the TikToker shared. “So we were lucky enough to get a visit to his studio, and he showed us around his amazing collection of bags.”

@rentviagiulia Meet Pierre Laborde, Haitian born designer based in New York. After @marlylake viral video featuring his work, he graciously hosted us for a studio visit! His bags are hand made and no two are the same. We are so excited to be carrying a few of Pierre’s pieces in our inventory that are available to rent. Sign up for our waitlist in our bio to be first in line! 👜💞 #luxurybag #designerbags #bagrental #clothingrental ♬ original sound – Via Giulia | Luxury Bag Rental

Born in Haiti and now based in NYC, Laborde creates handbags guided by his design pillars of color, function, and expression. His distinctive style has won acclaim from handbag enthusiasts. A visit to his website reveals that prospective buyers must join a waiting list to be notified when new bags are back in stock.

Each bag is handcrafted, and because it’s a one-person operation, creating these highly sought-after pieces takes time—hence the waitlist. Those eager to get their hands on a Pierre Laborde bag can follow his Instagram page and wait for his next shop day announcement.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Francis Laborde (@pierrelabordenewyork)

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 24, 2025

Trump Grants Selective $10K Bonuses To Air Traffic Controllers That Clocked In During Shutdown

The Trump-ordered bonuses were to award some controllers for their "loyalty."

Trump and the Federal Aviation Administration followed through on their promise of $10k bonuses to air traffic controllers, but only to a select few.

Of the more than 20,000 air traffic controllers who missed multiple paychecks in the most extended government shutdown in U.S. history, only 776 received the coveted bonuses Trump promised. Those who clocked in for all their shifts, despite the missed pay, received the bonuses, while the rest play catch-up with their expenses as the checks start rolling back in.

The FAA announced the rollout of the bonuses on Nov. 20, confirming an order first suggested by Trump on social media. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced “Santa’s” early arrival as they delivered the checks to the “patriotic men and women” who stayed the course.

Santa’s coming to town a little early🎄🎅

President Trump wanted to give air traffic controllers and technicians BONUSES for showing up to work EVERY DAY during the government shutdown… and TODAY IS THE DAY!

776 patriotic men and women will get $10K checks, just in time for… pic.twitter.com/r9CHT0UyF7
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) November 21, 2025

“Santa’s coming to town a little early,” wrote Duffy. “President Trump wanted to give air traffic controllers and technicians BONUSES for showing up to work EVERY DAY during the government shutdown… and TODAY IS THE DAY! 776 patriotic men and women will get $10K checks, just in time for Christmas. God bless the patriots of our skies!”

However, Trump’s plan to thank air traffic controllers for their dedication to their jobs did not include those who had to find other means to support themselves. As the shutdown waged on for weeks, many controllers had to call out for various reasons.

Some had to get side jobs to keep their lights on, while others couldn’t afford the childcare or gas needed for transportation. The issue led many to hold drives to get free gas cards to get to work.

While rewarding those who could maintain their work schedules, Trump has threatened to punish those who had to miss out on shifts. Although he suggested docking their pay, the FAA has yet to issue any official orders to that effect.

On the other hand, the National Air Traffic Controller Association (NATCA) has criticized the recognition of only some workers. The labor union condemned the allocation of bonuses only to those who could afford to work for free.

“Although we agree that the work performed by these aviation safety professionals during the shutdown deserves recognition, praise, and our collective gratitude, we are concerned that thousands of air traffic controllers who consistently reported for duty during the shutdown, ensuring the safe transport of passengers and cargo across the nation, while working without pay and uncertain of when they would receive compensation, were excluded from this recognition,” NATCA said in a statement to Fortune.

Despite Trump’s discontent with air traffic controllers who missed shifts, Secretary Duffy had greater empathy for them. He denied claims that they were on the chopping block from their essential positions.

“Again, when they’re making decisions to feed their families, I’m not going to fire air traffic controllers,” he said on CBS’s Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan. “They need support, they need money, they need a paycheck. They don’t need to be fired.”

by Keka Araújo

November 24, 2025

Reggae Music Icon Jimmy Cliff Dead At 81

Throughout his distinguished career, Cliff championed the genre he helped define, building cultural bridges and inspiring countless individuals.

Jimmy Cliff, the Jamaican vocalist, songwriter, and actor whose artistry was instrumental in launching reggae onto the global stage, has died at 81.

The cause of death was attributed to a seizure followed by pneumonia, his wife, Latifa Chambers, confirmed Nov. 24 in a heartfelt statement on the late artist’s official Instagram page.

The artist’s death announcement provides the definitive medical context for the passing of the revered pioneer, who leaves behind a monumental legacy defined by passion and a commitment to the positive social messages of Jamaican music.

“It’s with profound sadness that I share that my husband, Jimmy Cliff, has crossed over due to a seizure followed by pneumonia. I am thankful for his family, friends, fellow artists and coworkers who have shared his journey with him.”

“To all his fans around the world, please know that your support was his strength throughout his whole career. He really appreciated each and every fan for their love. I also wanted to thank Dr. Couceyro and the whole medical staff, as they have been extremely supportive and helpful during this difficult process,” Latifa wrote in the post, signed alongside two of the artist’s children, Lilty and Aken.

The family requested privacy while assuring fans that further information would be shared at a later date.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jimmy Cliff Official (@jimmycliff)

Cliff, born James Chambers in 1944, began his musical career in the local Pentecostal church at age six. His prodigious talent led him to relocate to Kingston at 14, where he adopted the symbolic stage name ‘Jimmy Cliff,’ a sign of his high ambitions, according to a statement from VP Records–his longtime label.

His early work placed him at the core of the burgeoning Jamaican music scene. He cut his first tunes and soon became an integral part of Leslie Kong’s Beverley’s imprint, notably participating in the auditions for future icons like Desmond Dekker and Bob Marley.

Cliff’s global trajectory was solidified when he signed with Island Records Founder Chris Blackwell, who saw him as the key to exposing mainstream audiences to reggae. This vision resulted in the 1967 album, Hard Road To Travel.

The turning point that cemented his global superstardom came after his return to Jamaica in 1969.

His self-titled album from that era delivered three evergreen hits that remain foundational to popular music: “Wonderful World, Beautiful People,” the spiritual standard “Many Rivers To Cross,” and the anti-war anthem “Vietnam.”

The cover photograph from that album piqued the interest of director Perry Henzell, who cast Cliff in the lead role of the 1972 film, The Harder They Come. The film and its accompanying soundtrack are universally acknowledged as the single most critical force in shattering cultural barriers and firmly establishing reggae as an international genre.

Throughout his distinguished career, Cliff championed the genre he helped define, building cultural bridges and inspiring countless individuals.

His contributions were formally recognized with his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.

Cliff is survived by his wife and children.

100 Black Entrepreneurs, Biden, Harris, Funeral, Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman,,Marcyliena H. Morgan

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 24, 2025

Former Black Power Activist Jamil Al-Amin Dies In Prison At Age 82

Former civil rights activist Jamil Al-Amin has died in prison at 82 while serving a life sentence.

Famed Black Power activist Jamil Al-Amin, formerly known as H. Rap Brown, has died in prison at 82 while serving a life sentence.

Kristie Breshears, communications director for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, confirmed his death at the Federal Medical Center, Butner, in North Carolina, on Nov. 23, The New York Times reported. She did not provide a cause, but it follows a February report that Al-Amin had multiple myeloma and was in declining health.

Al-Amin’s son announced his father’s death in a since-removed Facebook post through the Davis Bozeman law firm.

“On behalf of our entire family, I thank every single person who prayed, stood, marched, researched, wrote, advocated, and fought to clear my father’s name,” the statement read. “Your love sustained us. Your belief in his innocence strengthened us. We ask for your continued prayers as we mourn a father, a husband, a brother, a leader, and a servant of the people.”

Under the name H. Rap Brown, Al-Amin emerged as a leading voice in the Black militant wing of the 1960s civil rights movement. As chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and an admirer of the Cuban revolution, he pushed to remove “nonviolent” from the organization’s name, leading to its rebranding as the Student National Coordinating Committee.

Wearing his signature black beret and sunglasses, he championed armed resistance and separatism from white oppression, famously declaring, “Violence is necessary. Violence is a part of America’s culture. It is as American as cherry pie.”

As riots swept more than 100 American cities in the summer of 1967, the 6-foot-5 Al-Amin — standing nearly 7 feet with his afro — emerged as a cultural force, delivering impassioned speeches on street corners and college campuses that gave voice to the frustrations within the Black community after over a century of unfulfilled promises since the end of slavery.

“Black folk built America, and if it don’t come around, we’re gonna burn America down,” he said during countless speeches.

By the 1970s, Al-Amin had converted to Islam, changed his name, and settled into a quieter life as a Muslim cleric and shopkeeper until his 2000 arrest in the killing of a sheriff’s deputy. In 2002, he was convicted of murdering Fulton County Deputy Ricky Kinchen.

Kinchen and Deputy Aldranon English were attempting to serve an arrest warrant at Al-Amin’s home in Atlanta’s West End when gunfire erupted. The Georgia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Imam Jamil Action Network, the Islamic Circle of North America, and other advocates later called on the Fulton County District Attorney to reopen the case, saying another individual had confessed to the shooting.

At the time of his death, Al-Amin was serving a life sentence without parole.