Nicki Minaj, Trump, gold card,citizenship

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 28, 2026

Nicki Minaj Calls Herself Trump’s ‘No. 1 Fan’, Says Backlash ‘Motivates Me To Support Him More’

Nicki Minaj further affirms her support for President Donald Trump, dubbing herself the president’s "No. 1 fan."

Nicki Minaj is fully backing President Donald Trump, dubbing herself the President’s “No. 1 fan” and dismissing critics of her political stance.

The platinum-selling rapper took center stage at Trump’s Accounts Summit on Jan. 28, joining Trump, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and others to promote the program’s tax-deferred retirement accounts for children, the NY Post reports. While there, Minaj spoke alongside Trump, reaffirming her support for the president and his administration despite facing backlash.

“I am probably the president’s number one fan. That’s not going to change,” Minaj said in a clip shared online. “And the hate or what people have to say does not affect me at all. It actually motivates me to support him more. We won’t let them get away with bullying him. God is protecting him.”

Nicki Minaj: I am probably the president's number one fan. That's not going to change. And the hate or what people have to say does not affect me at all. It actually motivates me to support him more. We won't let them get away with bullying him. God is protecting him. pic.twitter.com/872R9Lzo0C
— Acyn (@Acyn) January 28, 2026

Minaj has faced criticism in recent months for becoming increasingly vocal about her political views, moving from criticizing Trump’s immigration policies to praising his leadership. In November, the ‘Super Bass’ rapper made a surprise appearance at the United Nations, backing the Trump administration’s call to end faith-based persecution in Nigeria—a claim the Nigerian government disputes. The following month, she discussed faith and politics with Erika Kirk at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest.

In her latest effort supporting Trump, Minaj is reportedly pledging hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund $1,000 tax-advantaged investment accounts for her fans’ newborns, part of a program the administration plans to launch this year. Her contributions could total between $150,000 and $300,000, sources say. She is expected to make the announcement alongside Trump adviser Alex Bruesewitz, who has cultivated a close relationship with Minaj as the administration’s “celebrity whisperer.”

“I absolutely love my Barbz,” Minaj said in a statement, referencing her fanbase. “I want to see them bring healthy and successful children into the world. Becoming a mother was the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me, and I want others to experience the same joy my son has brought into my life.”

“I know raising a child can be expensive and challenging at times, so I’m committed to doing whatever I can to support them,” she added.

The new program provides $1,000 from the Treasury Department to children born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028, to start their own accounts. Parents and employers can contribute up to $5,000 and $2,500 per year, respectively, until the child turns 18, with funds not accessible until then. Minaj hopes her contributions will help boost the next generation’s financial literacy.

“This program will benefit everyone, decreasing the gap for future prosperity between children who traditionally aren’t born with a full bank account & children who are,” Minaj said. “I believe it will have the most profound impact on urban communities, which often face greater financial challenges. It’s an excellent way to educate kids on the value of investing, saving, and managing money responsibly.”

Steph curry, Century, Golf, celebrity, win

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 28, 2026

Stephen Curry’s Short Film Wins Grand Jury Prize At Sundance Film Festival

"The Baddest Speechwriter of All" is about the life of Clarence B. Jones, Martin Luther King Jr.'s speechwriter.

Already a winner on the basketball court, Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry is now the co-director and producer of an award-winning short film.

The Baddest Speechwriter of All has won the the coveted Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, Deadline reports. The prize is the highest presented to winning films and filmmakers at the popular film festival.

Oscar winner Ben Proudfoot, who co-directed the film, accepted the award. Curry, who is in the middle of another NBA season, could not attend.

“Stephen and I are jumping for joy (him a lot higher than I) with this extraordinary recognition, especially as the final sun slowly sets on Sundance in Park City,” Proudfoot said. “Clarence B. Jones’s extraordinary story feels tailor-made to this very moment. He calls on all of us to follow in his footsteps in times of injustice: exit our comfort zones, live with purpose, and non-violently kick ass.”

The Baddest Speechwriter of All is about Clarence B. Jones, an attorney, adviser, and key speechwriter for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The project focuses on Jones’ trials and tribulations as he experienced history firsthand while fighting in the Civil Rights Movement.

“On a personal note, to share creative duties with Stephen, one of the greatest living athletes and just a truly good man, has given me an opportunity to grow as a filmmaker and be part of a telling a story I probably never would have learned until Stephen called me. To him and to Clarence, I am forever grateful,” Proudfoot added.

This is Curry and Proudfoot’s second project together. Curry, along with Shaquille O’Neal, served as an executive producer of the 2021 short film, The Queen of Basketball, which earned Proudfoot his first Academy Award. The documentary is about Lusia Lucy Harris, widely regarded as the greatest women’s basketball player of all time.

Jamaica, travel, violent crimes, Jamaican restaurant

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 28, 2026

Jamaican High Schoolers Set Three Records At New York International Showcase

Jamaica’s high school sprint stars shined last weekend.

Jamaican high school athletes set three national and facility records at the second New York International Showcase in Staten Island.

On Jan. 24, junior sprint star Shanoya Douglas, the Jamaica College’s boys’ 4×200m relay team, and the Hydel High’s girls’ 4×200m relay squad delivered record-breaking performances at the indoor meet held at Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island, the Jamaican Observer reports.

Douglas shattered her own national U-20 indoor 300m record, finishing in 36.98 seconds, well ahead of Breanne Barnett of Baldwin High (NY) who ran 38.08 seconds, and Rhia Randolph of West Orange High (NJ) who ran at 38.16 seconds.

Douglas, who transferred to Holland High from Muschette High to continue training with longtime coach Gary Smythe, also set a new facility record, surpassing Elise Cooper’s 37.32-second mark from the 2024 Ocean Breeze Elite Invitational.

“I did not know that I was running this fast. My aim was to run faster than I did last year,” she said, noting her national U-20 indoor record last year of 37.78 seconds in her indoor debut. “I am very happy.”

At the high school meet founded by Jamaican Olympian Sanjay Ayre, Jamaica College’s 4×200m relay team—DeAndre Gayle, Nathaniel Martin, Omary Robinson, and Makaelan Woods—made their country proud, winning in 1:25.54. They broke the facility record of 1:26.90 set by Calabar High last year and set a new national record, outpacing Danbury (CT) High (1:30.30) and Deptford (NJ) High (1:30.51).

Elsewhere, Hydel High’s girls’ 4×200m relay team of Sashana Johnson, Kevina Bourne, Nastassia Fletcher, and Shemonique Hazel set a national record of 1:36.56, smashing the previous facility mark of 1:40.00 from 2020. Shaker High (1:45.72) and East Stroudsburg South (1:46.49) finished second and third.

Other Jamaican highlights included Jamaica College’s Kai Kelly winning the boys’ 60m in 6.97 seconds, while DeAndre Gayle placed second in the boys’ 60m (6.87). Holland High’s Johan-Ramaldo Smythe took second in the boys’ 200m (21.18).

In the girls’ 60m, Hydel’s Shemonique Hazel was second at 7.61 and Kevina Bourne was runner-up in the girls’ 200m at 24.55.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

January 28, 2026

93-Year-Old Woman Dies From Winter Storm A Block Outside Her South Carolina Home

Last weekend's winter storm took the life of a beloved 93-year-old aunt in South Carolina.

A 93-year-old woman in South Carolina has died after leaving her home during last weekend’s historic winter storm.

Neather Kelly was supposed to turn 94 next month, with her family preparing to celebrate the milestone birthday. Before the celebration, her loved ones warned her to remain inside and stay warm as last weekend’s winter storm brought a blast of snowy weather to their small South Carolina town.

A widow who lost her son years back, Kelly had multiple family members who continued to check on her. Unfortunately, Kelly’s dementia made her unable to fully heed their warnings to stay inside.

“Although she was my aunt, she was like a mother and grandmother to us all,” explained her niece Brenda Austin to People. “After her husband passed, she lived alone. She was very independent, but we checked on her daily.”

The family let her keep her car despite her diagnosis, wanting her to hold some semblance of independence. However, Kelly decided to venture out during the winter storm, driving her car through the below-freezing temperatures for reasons unknown. She took the drive Jan. 24, and a neighbor later found her vehicle abandoned in a ditch.

Austin added, “People had talked to her, told her to stay in the house.”

The neighbor saw the car in the water-filled hole with Kelly’s purse inside. They saw a relative’s information in the handbag and called 911. Police began searching for Kelly during the storm, amid low visibility from heavy rain.

As the search waged on, another of Kelly’s nieces decided to look in an unlikely yet familiar street. The occurrence proved useful, given Kelly’s diagnosis.

People with developing dementia frequently want to go to places they went to when they were younger,” shared Austin’s daughter, Stephanie Bell, to the news outlet. “She was found across the street from a church they used to go to.”

Unfortunately, the elderly woman never made it back to her home in the extreme winter weather. The niece found Kelly curled up near a power pole, a short walk from her house. Her loved one, however, has found a silver lining in the tragedy. Through it all, she kept her spark alive with her love of sparkles and high heels.

“And at 93 years old, she was still wearing heels,” added Austin. “She loved her fashion. Everything bedazzled or sparkly, that was her.”

Now her family and community are grieving the loss of an elder turned ancestor. Despite their grief, they remain united through the pictures she kept of the family, as they now represent her legacy.

The winter storm impacted millions of Americans across the southern and eastern coasts. Hundreds of thousands faced power outages, with some still ongoing, as CNN reports that over 30 people died from weather-related causes. Another wave of wintry weather is expected to hit the Carolinas this upcoming weekend.

INGRID LLEWIS-MMARTIN, NYC, MAYOR, EERIC ADAMS, RESIGNATION

by Sharelle B. McNair

January 28, 2026

Prosecutors Allege Ex-Adams Aide Took Diamond Earrings As Bribe

Crowned as the so-called “Lioness of City Hall,” the corruption case is one of many high-profile cases Lewis-Martin is involved in.

New details emerged in the bribery case against former New York City aide Ingrid Lewis-Martin, who prosecutors allege participated in a corruption scheme for gifts in exchange for pressure to approve unsafe building projects, the New York Times reported.

Lewis-Martin, the former chief adviser to ex-NYC Mayor Eric Adams, has been tied up in numerous criminal indictments accusing her of abusing her authority while in a position of power to benefit her friends and associates in a bribery scheme.

New details have been added to the long list of bribes, including 2-carat diamond earrings priced at $3,000, offered by two developers who ran into delays with the city’s Building Department.

As prosecutors allege she once received thousands of dollars in catered events and cash in exchange for fast-tracking permit approvals for a karaoke bar, the diamond-cut details allege that one of the developers, Raizada Vaid, sought help with renovation plans for a hotel on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Texts show Vaid contacted the former aide to step in, saying, “Please call your DOB contact” after alleging the project was “stuck.”

Lewis-Martin allegedly followed orders, getting in touch with the department’s acting commissioner just two days later. However, when staff expressed safety concerns while Vaid described it as “simple” interior renovation issues, Lewis-Martin kept the pressure up.

Ultimately, the permit was approved.

While Lewis-Martin’s lawyer, Arthur L. Aidala, released a statement saying, “We look forward to a robust reply that we will be filing to these charges,” the allegations are listed as a new addition to five indictments, in which she benefited from project approvals.

She once received crab cakes, home renovations, and a television show appearance after playing favorites for a contractor and attempted to dump another project for protected bike lanes in Brooklyn.

Lewis-Martin and the other former Adams administration defendants have all issued not guilty pleas as the team was hit with several indictments, including a federal corruption indictment in 2024 against Adams himself.

Crowned the so-called “Lioness of City Hall,” according to The Gothamist, the corruption case is one of many high-profile cases in which Lewis-Martin is involved. Prosecutors allege she once helped a supporter of Adams, Tian Ji Li, receive a $1.2 million contract in an effort to provide housing for asylum seekers.

The former aide allegedly told a City Hall employee, “Whatever site TJ wants, I need him to get them. Because that’s our f—ing people.”

Later, it was alleged that Li wired $50,000 to a bank account controlled by Lewis-Martin’s son.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 28, 2026

2026 Zora! Festival Season Returns To Central Florida To Celebrate Zora Neale Hurston’s Legacy

The 2026 ZORA!® Festival commemorates the literary icon and celebrates the contributions of the diaspora as part of America's 250th anniversary.

The 2026 ZORA!® Festival returns to Central Florida Jan. 30 and Feb. 1, honoring the legacy of literary icon Zora Neale Hurston and celebrating the diaspora’s contributions to American history during the year-long “America 250” anniversary.

Hosted in historic Eatonville, Florida, the festival provides a vibrant celebration of African-American culture and heritage. Artists, scholars, educators, students, and visitors from across the U.S. and beyond take part in events blending music, art, history, and education.

Festival highlights include the three-day Outdoor Festival of the Arts, the “Cotton Club, Reimagined—1930s Harlem Nightlife” event, and a traditional worship service. Other featured programs are the Placemaking Conference, the themed “Entering the Zoraverse: People, Places, Spaces,” and the Africa-America Women Economic Forum, “Leading for Economic Impact.”

The HATitude Cultural Flair Event is set for October.

Attendees can experience live performances, art exhibitions, and interactive activities, including the Tribute to the Legends, which honors individuals who have shaped African-American culture via performances and educational segments spotlighting contributions in literature, music, and social activism.

The annual festival commemorates the literary icon who died in Florida on Jan. 28, 1960, at age 69.

It celebrates her profound impact on the Harlem Renaissance and her works portraying African-American life. The festival features music, interactive art, and live performances, offering attendees a chance to explore Hurston’s lasting influence on American culture.

Festival exhibitions will highlight African-American art, literature, and history in ways that offer an in-depth look at the cultural heritage that helped shape the nation. Academic conferences and panel discussions bring scholars, artists, and community leaders together to explore challenges and achievements throughout the diaspora.

This year’s festival, a meaningful start to the United States’ 250th anniversary, uses art to highlight the nation’s history and the essential contributions of African-Americans, giving visitors a deeper understanding of the culture’s roots and modern impact.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 28, 2026

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Company, Ante, Purchased Chicago Residential Building For Over $21M

The Harmony Apartments were purchased by the player's company, Ante

NBA All-Star player Giannis Antetokounmpo recently purchased a Chicago building to add to his extensive off-court business empire.

According to CoStar, the “Greek Freak” acquired the property through his family-owned-and-run company, Ante, which paid over $21 million for the apartment building. The building, Harmony Apartments, was completed in 2024 and is a four-story complex with 56 units.

Harmony Apartments is approximately 85 miles from the Milwaukee Bucks’ home stadium, Fiserv Forum (Antetokounmpo is the Bucks’ star player).

Essex Realty Group sold the property to Ante and was backed by Old National Bank, which provided the company with an $11 miilion loan.

The property was the most recent in the company’s real estate acquisitions, with Ante investing more than $69 million in several buildings totaling 186 apartment units over the past several months. Those purchases have taken place in Chicago, Wisconsin, and Brooklyn.

In October, Ante purchased a 39-unit building, The Atwater, in Shorewood, Wisconsin, for $11.75 million. The following month, the company acquired The Emerson in Madison, a 41-unit building, for $11.6 million.

The buildings in Brooklyn were purchased in November for about $25.2 million. The neighboring buildings, The Lawrence, are located in the Prospect Lefferts Garden section of the borough and have a combined 50 units.

Antetokounmpo launched the company in 2023 with his three brothers, Thanasis, Kostas, and Alex. When the company was announced, it stated that Ante would oversee a global portfolio of businesses, investment assets, and brand holdings.

In 2024, the brothers announced the launch of Improbable Media, a production and brand strategy, co-founded by the Antetokounmpos and former Chicago Bulls guard and ESPN basketball analyst Jay Williams.

Giannis Antetokounmpo has achieved numerous accomplishments throughout his NBA career. The 10-year veteran is a 10-time All-Star and All-NBA player and a four-time All-Defense member. He also won the 2019-’20 Defensive Player of the Year and was the 2021 NBA Finals MVP.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 28, 2026

Pusha T Reacts to Clipse’s Vatican Performance Becoming a ‘Jeopardy!’ Question, ‘We Made It’

Pusha T honors his late grandmother after Clipse' Vatican performance becomes a "Jeopardy!" question.

Pusha T paid tribute to his late grandmother after his hip-hop group appeared as a question on her favorite show, Jeopardy!

The “Grindin’” rapper took to Instagram on Jan. 28 after watching a Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions episode and seeing Clipse—his group with brother, No Malice—appear in the category “It Happened in 2025.” The moment felt especially meaningful, Pusha shared, as it served as a tribute to their late grandmother.

“Hey Shank (my grandmother in heaven), we made it!!!” he captioned an Instagram post of the Jeopardy! clip. “Watching @jeopardy was what we would do every night…I was too young to know the answers, but turning the TV off wasn’t an option. I caught on quick, and it became ‘our’ thing…look at your grandsons. Hope you were watching and playing along tonight.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Pusha T (@kingpush)

The Jeopardy! clue spotlighted the Virginia rap duo’s history-making performance at last year’s “Grace for the World” concert in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

“In 2025, Clipse gave the first-ever rap performance in this city-state during the ‘Grace for the World’ concert,” host Ken Jennings said in the clip. After two wrong answers, one contestant finally answered correctly. “What is the Vatican?”

“Even less rapping the Vatican,” Jennings jokingly quipped.

Clipse performed “The Birds Don’t Sing” alongside John Legend for more than 250,000 attendees at the Pharrell Williams–co-directed event. With the song serving as a tribute to their late parents, the performance, which landed them on their late grandmother’s favorite show, adds to the full-circle moment.

“It was definitely a moment for us,” Malice said of the 2025 event. “I think we definitely broke ground. It’s overdue and past time that people understand that hip-hop belongs everywhere. It’s expression, it’s communication, it teaches the world about our culture. It’s an art form that’s celebrated in every walk of life. It’s nothing that should be surprising — we should be celebrated everywhere.”

car payment, loans, affordbale, affordability

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 28, 2026

$1,000+ Monthly Car Loans Reach New High, Adding Pressure On Drivers

New data reveals a rise in the number of drivers paying over $1,000 per month on car loans.

New data shows a growing number of drivers now paying $1,000 or more each month on auto loans, adding financial strain in an already tight economy.

Car website Edmunds recently unveiled new analysis that shows a record 20.3% of new-car buyers paid $1,000 or more per month on auto loans in the fourth quarter of 2025, up from 19.1% the prior quarter and 18.9% a year earlier. Among used-car buyers, 6.3% now face $1,000-plus monthly payments, also up from previous quarters.

Edmunds found that auto loan costs have risen across the board, even for buyers avoiding four-figure payments. The average monthly payment for a new vehicle hit a record $772 in the fourth quarter of 2025, up from $754 the previous quarter.

The data reflects a K-shaped economy, according to Edmunds Insights Director Ivan Drury, with wealthy consumers spending more, while lower-income households face mounting pressure from higher living costs.

“For the haves, things are perfectly fine; for the have-nots, it’s a struggle from one payment to the next,” Drury said.

Melissa Dickerson of Orting, Washington, was shocked when her used-car loan for a replacement SUV jumped to $1,100 after her son totaled her Acura. The $400 monthly payment she had previously enjoyed was no longer an option.

“It was quite a shock,” Dickerson said. “When I heard my interest rate was going to be 15%, I almost crapped my pants.”

She had to extend the loan to 72 months, or six years. The steep car payments, along with rising household costs like rent, pushed Dickerson deep into credit card debt.

“Now I’m relying on the credit cards to live, to pay for things that I can’t pay for now,” she said. “Food and stuff you need — the electric bill, phone bill. You think you’ll be able to pay them off next month, and then you can’t.”

As car prices rise, buyers are financing larger amounts, with the average new-vehicle loan reaching $43,759 in Q4 2025, up from $42,647 the prior quarter. To manage costs, more consumers are choosing longer loans—84 months or more accounted for 20.8% of new-car purchases, up from 17.9% a year earlier.

Experts advise keeping monthly car payments within a manageable range before committing to four-figure loans.

“If your goal is to not have a $1,000 monthly payment on a car, then you’ve got to either buy a less expensive car, or save and have a nice down payment toward a vehicle,” said Crystal Cox, a certified financial planner and senior vice president at Wealthspire Advisors in Madison, Wisconsin.

Data shows people are keeping cars longer before upgrading, with the average trade-in age rising to 7.6 years in Q1 2025—the oldest since 2019. Holding onto vehicles longer allows buyers to save for a down payment or pay in full, reducing interest on big-ticket purchases. Financial advisor Jake Martin suggests keeping total debt, including a car loan, below 36% of gross income to maintain affordability after accounting for other obligations, such as mortgages and credit cards.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 28, 2026

A Vintage Revival: Air Jordan 6 Joins Prestigious Bin23 Collection For 2026 All-Star Weekend

The sneakers will cost $350 with only 2,300 pairs available

For $350, you can own a new pair of Air Jordan 6 Bin23, but you’ll need to act quickly, as only 2,300 pairs have been produced for this limited-edition release.

According to Footwear News, the Air Jordan Bin23 is the first sneaker released from the luxury collection in over 15 years; the last release was in 2011.

What makes the latest release special is that these Jordans were the ones Michael Jordan wore when he won the first of his six NBA Championships with the Chicago Bulls in 1991. The all-black footwear features a high-end leather-and-suede tongue and the “Bin 23” logo on the heel. A bright red Jordan Brand logo appears on the tongue.

Air Jordan 6 "Bin 23" Releasing Spring 2026 For $350 🍷😳

DETAILS ➡️ https://t.co/c5r9CiT4sp pic.twitter.com/zWQwh1S9Og
— House of Heat° (@houseofheat) June 10, 2025

Reportedly, the original plans for the Bin23 series in 2010 and 2011 were to release refined looks to the Air Jordan 2, Air Jordan 5, Air Jordan 7, Air Jordan 9, and Air Jordan 3.

Nike is labeling this release, The Jordan Brand AJ6 Infrared “Salesman” as the sneaker is slated to be released Feb. 14 at nike.com and at select retailers.

“It’s the centerpiece of the Infrared Collection,” Terrance Harvey, Expert, Streetwear Footwear Product Management Icons, Jordan Brand, said in a written statement. “MJ won his first championship in this colorway, and since then, it has represented greatness. I’m excited for this newly reimagined icon to inspire fans to always strive for more.”

The AJ6 Infrared colorway has been released several times over the years, with the first release in 2000, followed by re-releases in 2010 and 2014 with different looks.

The brand just released a preview of the Air Jordan “Concrete Rose,” a collaboration with Golden Globe winner Teyana Taylor (for her role in the movie One Battle After Another), set to release this year, though no date was given. That sneaker will be the second one featuring the Harlem-bred entertainer, continuing the “rose” theme after the Air Jordan 1 Zoom CMFT 2 “A Rose From Harlem” was released in 2023.

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