On Oct. 28, Biles joined seven other women in Madrid to receive an “Icon” award at the Harper’s Bazaar Women of the Year 2025 ceremony.
Biles, 28, was honored not just for her athletic dominance but for her impact as a global advocate for mental health and authenticity.
The awards specifically recognize exceptional women who have inspired younger generations and left indelible marks on their respective fields, transforming their achievements into powerful messages of hope and societal change.
The theme of the evening centered on celebrating women who have turned their dreams into reality, affirming a commitment to the values that drive the pursuit of a more just and inclusive future, Harper’s Bazaar Spain reported.
On Instagram, Biles shared photos from the gala. Dressed in a white sparkling evening gown, she captioned the image “a night celebrating women.”
Biles first captured international attention at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she secured four gold medals and one bronze. She is now the most decorated gymnast of all time, winning a total of 11 Olympic medals as well as multiple national and world honors. However, her influence now stretches far beyond the confines of the gymnastics mat.
Biles has revolutionized the sport through an athletic perspective and a social one. Her openness regarding her personal struggles and decision to prioritize her well-being during international competition offered a new understanding of strength, one that embraces vulnerability.
The ‘Icon’ award recognizes Biles as a woman who transcends borders, emphasizes that her excellence goes beyond her indisputable athletic greatness.
But even though it may feel like a chore, the end of the year is precisely the right moment to consider your money.
It’s hard to believe, but 2025 is racing to a close already. That means people are already daydreaming about holidays, travel, and gifts — and probably not about more uncomfortable things, like money.
But even though it may feel like a chore, the end of the year is precisely the right moment to consider your money. Where did you get off track in the last year? What can you do better, and what steps can you take to get there?
Whether you are looking to deal with last year’s debt, rebalance your portfolio, or make your cash work harder for you, or implement tax-savvy moves before the year winds up, an annual review can help you chart a much better course for 2026.
“As the year winds down, it’s the perfect time for a financial tune-up,” Nathan Sebesta, a financial planner with Access Wealth Strategies in Artesia, N.M., tells Current, a consumer fintech banking platform. “A strong cash position and balanced portfolio will help you start 2026 with clarity and confidence.”
So what are some smart money moves to help get next year started on the right foot? A few ideas:
Contribute to your IRA. Current annual contribution limits for these retirement accounts are $7,000 or $8,000 for those aged 50 and over. So if you are able, max out those limits and book it for the 2025 tax year. The same goes for your 401(k) or 403(b): Annual limits are $23,500, with a $7,500 catch-up provision for those over 50, so put away as much as you are able (at the very least, taking advantage of your employer’s matching funds).
Make your charity count. This is the time of year when people donate to the causes they care most about. If you do it by Dec. 31, you can enjoy the deductions when tax time rolls around in April. And here’s a new wrinkle: “The biggest item I’m discussing with my clients is that charitable contributions are probably worth more this year than next year, based on changes in the tax code,” says Mitchell Kraus, a financial planner at Capital Intelligence Associates. “I’m encouraging clients to set up Donor Advised Funds.” These are vehicles that let you take an immediate tax deduction, invest those funds for growth, and then make grants over time on a schedule of your choosing.
Tap your Flexible Spending Account. If you have put money into an FSA account—perhaps to cover out-of-pocket medical costs, for instance— the rules are often “use it or lose it,” meaning you have to spend it by the end of the year or forfeit it altogether. So make sure to do so on any number of items, such as deductibles, copayments, prescriptions, or eyeglasses.
Review your cash. When you have cash sitting in your portfolio—whether it’s your emergency savings or it’s meant for a specific goal like a down payment on a home—there’s no reason for it to be earning nothing, as is often the case with big banks. “Revisit your cash reserves,” suggests Sebesta. “Make sure your emergency fund is fully funded and earning a competitive yield in a high-interest savings account.” By doing so, you could easily start generating returns of 4% or even more, without taking on the risk of more volatile asset classes.
Rebalance. Whatever your target portfolio allocation is, you have probably strayed from that over the course of the year. So it’s a good time to get back on track with the proportions of stocks, bonds, cash, or alternatives that make sense for you. While you’re at it, don’t forget tax-loss harvesting: If you’re looking to sell disappointing stocks, book that loss by the end of the year to offset up to $3,000 of ordinary income.
Be smart about gifting. If you’re in a position to be generous with your money — to an adult child or grandkid, for instance — you might as well get the most out of it yourself. Right now, the 2025 limit, before gift taxes take effect, is $19,000.
“If utilizing the annual gift tax exclusion, complete the gift by year-end,” advises Kevin McLoughlin, a financial planner with Trio Wealth Management in Great Falls, Va. In a similar way, when it comes to college savings, “Make 529 contributions by year-end to take advantage of state tax deductions,” he says.
Trim spending plans. As enjoyable as the holidays are, it’s also the time of year when people tend to dig themselves a big financial hole. According to one survey from the financial site NerdWallet, 31% of people still haven’t paid off their credit card balances from last year’s holidays.
So be proactive and avoid loading up on debt to start 2026. That might mean staying close to home instead of taking a lavish trip, or limiting the dollar amount on gifts between friends and family, or using a year-end bonus for something smart like trimming high-interest debt. If your credit could use a bump, consider using a secured charge card for your holiday purchases, which can help you build your credit history as you spend without taking on debt, as you can only spend the amount of money available in your account.
Take all of these steps, and instead of being weighed down by the missteps of 2025, you can enter 2026 with that most valuable of gifts: A financial head start.
Trump Administration Eliminates Prison Standards That Protect Transgender Inmates
Data from the National Institutes of Health reveal that physical and sexual assault are a part of the prison experience. Approximately 21% of male inmates are physically assaulted during a six-month period.
The Trump administration is eliminating prison standards to protect transgender, intersex, and gender-nonconforming inmates. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has instructed inspectors to forgo the standards that aim to protect inmates from sexual violence, according to an internal memo first reported by NPR.
The memo comes as the DOJ works on revising federal standards related to the 2003 Rape Elimination Act to align with President Donald Trump’s executive order on “gender ideology extremism.” The executive order only recognizes two sexes: male and female.
On Sept. 4, 2003, President George W. Bush signed the PREA law into effect to eradicate prisoner rape in correctional facilities nationwide. As a result of PREA, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) established the Protecting Inmates and Safeguarding Communities Program in 2004. Funding allowed states to support the efforts in preventing and eliminating prisoner rape between inmates in state and local prisons, jails, and police lockup facilities.
Sexual Violence Inside Prisons
Data from the National Institutes of Health reveal that physical and sexual assault are a part of the prison experience. Approximately 21% of male inmates are physically assaulted during six months.
Inmates who identify as transgender, intersex, or gender-nonconforming are uniquely vulnerable to sexual violence, according to the internal memo.
This latest move from the Trump administration peels back another layer of protection for the LGBTQ+ community, particularly those who identify as transgender. In a series of executive orders signed in his first few days in office, Trump eliminated a long-standing federal policy that allowed for incarcerated trans women to be housed in facilities that aligned with their gender identity. He also signed an executive order that banned transgender troops from serving openly in the military.
As a result, the Trump administration rescinded the retirements of United States Air Force and Space Force members who had earned the right after over 15 years of service. Seventeen transgender servicemembers fileda lawsuit, Ireland v. United States, against the Trump administration to receive the benefits they earned.
Williams said his frustration was explicitly aimed at the immediate drying up of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) funding following changes in policy and a shift in the political climate.
He made the clarification while accepting the Shoe of the Year award at the 2025 Footwear News Achievement Awards in New York City on Wednesday, Dec. 3.
He acknowledged that his initial remarks could be easily condensed into a negative soundbite, but he refuted any suggestion that he plans to cease his efforts toward systemic change.
“That’s where the soundbite of me saying I hate politics [came from],” he said in a video from the event. “Which was in response to the DEI support and donations drying up because of new policies.
“So yes, I got frustrated. And the soundbiters, they caught me lacking. But sound bite this…I will never stop fighting. I will never stop raising money to help level the playing field. Never.”
Pharrell Williams responds to the recent controversy surrounding his political comments while accepting the 2025 FNAA 'Shoe Of The Year' award:
“Sound bite this. Since most people don’t like to read or do research anymore, sound bite this. God is the greatest. Sound bite this.… pic.twitter.com/llDF3dK4Sh
Furthermore, the creative director of Louis Vuitton spoke of his humble beginnings in Virginia. “You don’t know what I know and you ain’t seen what I saw. No, you ain’t been where I go. I’m from the mud.”
In his speech, Williams continued with personal stories of his family enduring multiple evictions, utility shut-offs, and having to pump water as a child. He gave his ancestors who arrived in Virginia as enslaved captives their due. He noted the perseverance required to stay on their feet without even having shoes.
“I’m proletariat,” he continued. “In fact, I’m lumpenproletariat. Sound bite this. I had to stay on my feet.”
The fashion icon stressed that his deep connection to the working class and the struggles of Black folks means he is committed to sustained advocacy, regardless of the political environment.
Ray J had a not-so-great November. The R&B singer was arrested on a charge of making a criminal threat days after he was hit with a lawsuit by American Express.
According to US Weekly, the finance company filed paperwork stating that the entrepreneur and his company, Tronix Network, breached a contract by owing American Express $139,849.85.
In the lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Nov. 19, the credit card company accused the “I Hit it First” recording artist of failing to make payments on his American Express account since May.
The Tronix Network is a streaming platform Ray J launched in 2024. He said he sold his shares in Raycom Global to fund it.
On Nov. 27, he was arrested after a domestic dispute involving his estranged wife, Princess Love, with reports that he was possibly armed with a handgun during an Instagram livestream.
But that’s not all. He also chastised Beyoncé and Jay-Z, who have apparently attended multiple shows during Brandy’s joint tour with Monica, on social media earlier this month. (Brandy, of course, is Ray J’s sister.)
“N**gas need to pull up when they come to the show,” he said, according to Billboard. “Come say what’s up to Brandy too, Jay-Z and Beyoncé. We big fans, we got our family there and we know y’all there and we love y’all and we look up to y’all.”
He added, “For y’all to come to every one of Brandy and Monica’s shows and never say what’s up to B and take all the pictures, I don’t like it.”
Ray J clarified that he was speaking for himself, not for his sister or his family.
On Dec. 3, the Portland City Council approved a $60,000 settlement for David Barron, a 25-year veteran of Portland Fire & Rescue, KOIN reports. Barron, who had initially sought $3.25 million, claimed he faced years of race-based discrimination and retaliation, including denied promotions, racist harassment, and punishment for reporting discriminatory behavior.
In his lawsuit, Barron—who began with Portland Fire & Rescue in 1999 as an entry-level firefighter and now serves as a district-level fire inspector in the Fire Marshal’s Office for District 14—alleges that bureau leadership ignored complaints and gave white firefighters an advantage in promotions. After Barron filed the lawsuit in June 2024, a City of Portland attorney launched an investigation and found that he had made no prior HR complaints, union grievances, or professional standards complaints.
A professional standards review was initiated following the lawsuit to examine his allegations, but the city’s attorney stated that Barron declined to be interviewed or participate. The city maintained that its actions were lawful and that many of Barron’s claims were unsupported, time-barred, or based on hearsay. Ultimately, Barron chose the $60,000 settlement to resolve the lawsuit rather than face the expense and uncertainty of a trial.
Barron’s lawsuit is one of three recent discrimination cases involving Portland Fire & Rescue. In June, Black firefighter Eric Heard filed a suit alleging years of racial discrimination, retaliation, biased testing, and blocked promotions, seeking $3.25 million in damages. Earlier this year, a Multnomah County jury ruled that longtime firefighter Jason Wilson faced racial discrimination and retaliation, awarding him $275,000 in damages.
At a City Hall meeting, the Fire Chief of PF&R acknowledged there is “room for improvement” in employee training, citing the ongoing pattern of race-based discrimination lawsuits.
“I think there’s always room for improvement,” Fire Chief Lauren Johnson said. “I want to reassure you that this starts at the top. Anti-racism and equity are values of the city of Portland, they’re values for the fire bureau, and they’re personal values for me. So we lead against these issues from the top.”
Jermaine Jackson Unveils Plans For Ambitious Monaco Museum With Unseen Michael Jackson Art
A main attraction of the museum: 120 paintings by the King of Pop.
Jermaine Jackson has announced plans to open a Jackson Museum on the Côte d’Azur, which will showcase an estimated $1.6 billion worth of artwork created by the late Michael Jackson, MonacoLife reported.
He revealed the ambitious project while attending a gala in Monaco. Speaking to media outlets, he confirmed that the French Riviera is the target location for the museum, although the exact site has yet to be determined.
The former Jackson 5 member wants to position the museum, which has been in the planning stages for five years, as a hybrid institution that blends an immersive show with a culturally relevant exhibit.
Jermaine Jackson said his late brother’s collection comprises 120 paintings created by the global superstar throughout his career. These works have never been displayed before.
Jermaine Jackson said Michael used the canvas to capture defining moments of his life and of the Jackson family’s legacy.
The total collection slated for the museum includes more than 500 items, with approximately 200 pieces belonging directly to the King of Pop. These pieces include personal objects from the family’s early days, original costumes, and handwritten notes.
Jermaine Jackson said he wants to create a dynamic, living exhibition, rather than a static gallery. His vision includes live narration of the artworks, accompanied by a DJ mixing classic hits from the Jackson 5 and Michael Jackson’s storied solo career. This format aims to take visitors on a musical and visual journey that tells the story of the family’s evolution, from their origins in Gary, Indiana, through the Motown era, and into Michael’s solo stardom.
While the grand opening date remains “a few years away,” Jermaine teased the possibility of a world-preview exhibition in Monaco within the next one to two years.
Brooklyn Man Busted For Using Stolen Credit Cards To Purchase $65K Worth Of Liquor In Pennsylvania
Eugene Antwi was charged with identity theft, access device fraud, theft by deception, forgery, and other related offenses.
Pennsylvania police have arrested a Brooklyn man after he was accused of using stolen credit cards to buy more than $65,000 worth of liquor from stores across the state.
The Attorney General of Pennsylvania, Dave Sunday, announced that Eugene Antwi was charged with identity theft, access device fraud, theft by deception, forgery, and other related offenses. Pennsylvania State Police claim that Antwi orchestrated an identity theft scheme where more than 200 orders were placed for expensive liquors in several Pennsylvania counties. The 26-year-old was arrested in New York by the New York City Police Department and will be arraigned on the charges in Pennsylvania.
This defendant went to great lengths to steal from unsuspecting Pennsylvanians and defraud the Liquor Control Board, which oversees legal purchases of alcohol in the Commonwealth,” Attorney General Sunday said in a written statement. “Our Organized Retail Crime Section is committed to collaborating with partners like the Pennsylvania State Police to combat theft and fraud that raise the prices of goods for hardworking Pennsylvanians.”
The alleged scheme took place between August 2023 and September 2024, as Antwi was accused of using false identities and stolen credit and debit cards to place more than 200 online orders. The total amount he was able to get away with was more than $65,000.
The Philly Voice reported that at least 134 of the orders were placed at several Fine Wine & Good Spirits locations in Philly and the surrounding suburban counties. Antwi typically issued purchase orders for “expensive liquors,” such as bottles of Johnnie Walker Scotch and Don Julio tequila. He would pick the orders up in person. Although a spokesperson for the Attorney General’s office would not say what the suspect did with the alcohol he bought, they did state that the amount of liquor purchased exceeded “what would ordinarily be considered commensurate with personal consumption.”
The joint investigation included a presentment from the 52nd Statewide Investigating Grand Jury.
Supreme Court Clears GOP Gerrymandered Maps In Texas, Putting Black Democratic Reps At Risk
Liberal Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jackson condemned the ruling, saying the decision "ensures that many Texas citizens, for no good reason, will be placed in electoral districts because of their race."
Christmas came early for President Donald Trump as a recent Supreme Court ruling permits Texas to use a new congressional gerrymandered map that could give Republicans the path to win five additional U.S. House seats during the 2026 midterm election, NPR reports.
The high court’s Dec. 4 ruling heightens Republicans’ chances of keeping their slim majority in the House of Representatives after Trump pressured his party members to redraw congressional districts in an effort to give the GOP a leg up. The ruling is also a turn of events after a three-judge panel’s ruling once blocked the state’s recently redrawn map, which would potentially eliminate existing voting districts where Black and Latino voters together make up the majority.
However, the Supreme Court sided with Texas, which filed an emergency request for the justices to pause the block, arguing the panel “failed to honor the presumption of legislative good faith by construing ambiguous direct and circumstantial evidence against the legislature.” In addition, the ruling projected the lower court “improperly inserted itself into an active primary campaign, causing much confusion and upsetting the delicate federal-state balance in elections.”
Liberal Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jackson condemned the ruling saying, the decision “ensures that many Texas citizens, for no good reason, will be placed in electoral districts because of their race.” “And that result, as this Court has pronounced year in and year out, is a violation of the Constitution,” the justices wrote in a dissenting opinion.
With Republicans holding 25 out of 38 congressional seats, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a member of the GOP, celebrated the ruling and said in a statement the GOP-drawn map “reflects the political climate of our state and is a massive win for Texas and every conservative who is tired of watching the left try to upend the political system with bogus lawsuits.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott was more than happy with the decision, issuing a statement saying: “We won! Texas is officially — and legally — more red,” according to The Associated Press.
But law experts like election law expert Richard Hasen at the University of California at Los Angeles law school, feel it’s a warning sign against lower courts, calling the vote “a green light for there to be even more re-redistricting, and a strong message to lower courts to butt out.”
The Supreme Court’s decision puts the seats of some of Texas’s Black Democratic leaders at risk. With five additional seats, the leadership of Reps. Mark Veasey, serving the 33rd District, and Al Green, serving the 9th District, would be moved. Veasey’s area would remain somewhat blue-leaning, but the metro city of Fort Worth would drop off, opening a window for a primary run-off between him and fellow Democrat, Rep. Julie Johnson.
For Green, who has served the majority of Harris County since 2005, the map would shift things to the eastern part of Houston, where data show could have been won over by Trump in the 2024 election by as little as 15 points.
Democrats such as Washington Rep. Suzan DelBene, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, slammed the decision. DelBene said the map isn’t in the best interest of Texas residents and more so “put in place at the behest of national Republicans who are desperate to cling to their majority in the House of Representatives by decimating minority voting opportunity.”
The redistricting battle is in full force across the country, with Democratic leaders like California Gov. Gavin Newsom coast to coast matching Republican energy with redistricting maps that favor the blue aisle. Republicans in Missouri and North Carolina achieved victory with a three-judge panel greenlighting the Tar Heel state to use the map in the 2026 elections.
Ahmaud Arbery ‘s Mother Keeps His Legacy Alive By Creating A Safe Space For Black Teens
The Ahmaud Arbery Foundation was founded in 2020
Since the tragic murder of Ahmaud Arbery in 2020, a hate crime where he was fatally shot by racist white men while jogging in Georgia, his mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, has found a way to move forward while honoring her son’s legacy.
She founded The Ahmaud Arbery Foundation to create safe spaces for Black boys and teens to convene and to educate them on the importance of physical and mental wellness.
“Watching Ahmaud Arbery’s legacy live on through this foundation means everything to me,” she shared. “As a mother, nothing prepares you for losing your child. Some days are still heavy, and that grief never really leaves you. But when I see Black boys like my son, along with young people from all backgrounds, running, learning, laughing, and being supported in his name, it truly touches my heart. It reminds me that his life still matters and that his story is still bringing light into the world,” Cooper-Jones told Blavity.
Cooper-Jones said that being around the children has helped her heal in unexpected ways. She notes that they give her strength on days when the grief over her son’s loss feels especially heavy. Arbery’s mother says that she often “gets to see her son’s spirit” when working with the children in the program. She also aims to create an environment where boys, especially Black boys, can exist freely without fear—and to build a community that prioritizes mental health.
However, running is at the heart of the Ahmaud Arbery Foundation, inspired by Ahmaud’s passion for it, which Cooper-Jones says brought her son a sense of peace. This paved the way for a partnership with adidas, which honored her through its Honoring Black Excellence initiative. She is also featured in Community Archives, adidas’s limited-edition zine showcasing changemakers connected to its Purpose division.
“Working with Adidas has truly been a blessing,” she told the outlet. “Their support has helped us reach more young people and bring more visibility to the work we are doing. It means so much to know that our mission is being recognized and valued on a larger stage.”
“Some of the most meaningful moments for me have been watching young people walk into new rooms with confidence, realizing that their lives, their stories, and their dreams matter. Seeing them feel seen and celebrated is something I will never take for granted. This partnership has helped us make hope louder in ways I never imagined,” Cooper-Jones said.
Cooper-Jones says she is focused on expanding the foundation’s reach and creating additional programs, especially those that provide access to mental health support.
