Marijuana, Recreational Weed, Drug, illegal weed

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 13, 2025

As The Government Reopens, New Funding Bill Bans Some THC Products

The bill has led to a ban against intoxicating hemp products, with some lawmakers on both aisle opposing the provision.

As the government officially reopens with the passing of a new funding bill, certain THC products are on the chopping block.

President Donald Trump signed the bill to reopen the government in the late hours of Nov. 12, following a necessary passing vote in the House. However, the legislation included a controversial provision, particularly impacting the growing cannabis industry.

According to Axios, the bill will re-criminalize some products containing THC, a drug found primarily in marijuana plants. While some senators opposed the criminalization, which was previously reversed in a 2018 farm bill, the legislation moved forward to Trump’s desk.

Initially, the farm bill provision detailed that products listed as hemp could contain a THC concentration above .3%, so long as it was not the delta-9 compound. However, conservative lawmakers felt the cannabis producers took advantage of the regulation, creating the “intoxicating” yet legal drug consumption throughout the nation.

“Following the enactment of the 2018 farm bill, the cannabis industry began producing certain cannabis products that contain less than 0.3% delta-9 THC but a total THC concentration that exceeds 0.3%. Some of these products may be intoxicating to the user,” the bill’s summary says.

Now, the loophole once upheld in the farm bill no longer exists. A federal ban is now in place against the selling of “intoxicating” THC products, even when sold in low doses.

Gas stations, convenience stores, and online shops must stop allowing customers to purchase the products. These offerings also range from edible products such as pills, food, and drinks to lotions.

Opposing lawmakers deem the bill a blow to the hemp farmers and business owners within the billion-dollar cannabis sector. The cannabis market was estimated at around $38.50 billion in 2024, with growth expected, as confirmed by Grand View Research.

“The bill, as it now stands, overrides the regulatory frameworks of several states, cancels the collective decisions of hemp consumers and destroys the livelihoods of hemp farmers,” shared Senator Rand Paul on the Senate floor ahead of the Nov. 11 vote.

This news would also stifle the already underrepresented Black cannabis entrepreneurs. A 2017 survey detailed by the Congressional Black Caucus confirmed that only 4.7% of entrepreneurs within the cannabis market identified as Black.

While Congress may continue its fight to amend the bill, hemp products may experience a rapid decline as the ban takes place.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 13, 2025

Texas Southern Investigated By Governor After Audit, University Officials Allege Racism

Supporters of the HBCU have called Abbott's crackdown racially motivated.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has launched an investigation into Texas Southern University, warning the HBCU about its potential financial issues.

Abbott and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick approved an investigation into the Houston-based institution over claims of fraud and financial abuse. Gov. Abbott did not mince words toward school officials after a state auditor noted “deficiencies in oversight, contracting, processes, and reporting,” especially given that TSU does receive state funding.

The allotted dollars that TSU receives from Texas remain undisclosed. However, the governor noted that “hundreds of millions of dollars” were allegedly misallocated. Abbott called upon the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Comptroller’s Office to assist in the state investigation.

“The Texas State Auditor uncovered significant financial and operational issues with Texas Southern University’s accounting procedures, alleging the potential misappropriation of hundreds of millions of dollars,” Abbott said, as reported by Afrotech.

He continued, “Waste, fraud, and abuse will not be tolerated. TSU’s Board of Regents and all university officials must fully cooperate with these investigations to ensure taxpayer dollars are not squandered.”

As for his second-in-command, Patrick shared on X about the “shoddy work” contractors completed for the school. The Lt. Governor also warned that the state could potentially freeze funding if corrections are not made.

Over the last few months, the Texas State Auditor has been auditing Texas Southern University. They have been reviewing TSU’s financial processes, procurement operations, and inventory records.

Over the weekend, I was informed of disturbing information suggesting the misuse of… pic.twitter.com/c93sBTO826
— Office of the Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (@LtGovTX) November 10, 2025

“Sadly, TSU has come under scrutiny in the past over how finances and contracts have been handled, as well as shoddy work done by contractors. There has been a revolving door of presidents, board members, and school officials. Graduation rates have not met expectations.”

He added, “The losers are not only Texas taxpayers, but the students of TSU, having no idea that funding meant for their quality education was either fraudulently spent or thrown away by sloppy, unprofessional accounting processes.”

According to the audit shared, 743 invoices totaling $282.2 million were paid directly to vendors with expired contracts. The state auditor also detailed that $158 million in invoices were dated before the purchases gained approval. However, they also noted that the school had delayed reporting of fiscal documents due to staffing issues.

However, some Texas officials believe Abbott’s treatment of the HBCU is racially motivated. The GOP-led state government has followed the federal government’s lead in eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. In light of this, state lawmakers believe that Abbott’s actions seek to demean the historically Black institution.

State Rep. Jolanda Jones argued that Abbott is attempting to erase the school’s diverse history with this crackdown. Jones also noted how the governor appoints members of TSU’s Board of Regents.

“If there’s any malfeasance going on, what does that have to do with the university when you appointed the people who run the university? “You are literally trying to erase Black excellence, you’re trying to erase us,” said the lawmaker.

The school faced and overcame a financial scandal years prior, particularly over law school admissions in 2020. However, state officials’ current threats to freeze funding for one of the largest HBCUs have alarmed many nationwide.

College dorm, Move in, Undergrad, school, Dorm room, hbcu, Mizzou, Camp HBCYouth

by Kandiss Edwards

November 13, 2025

HBCU Donations Are On The Rise As Billionaires Tap In

Black donors have collectively funneled more than $1 billion into HBCUs over the last five years.

Historically Black colleges and universities are receiving an influx of financial donations amid the government’s pulling of formerly established grant funding.

Black donors have collectively funneled more than $1 billion into HBCUs over the last five years. However, billionaire MacKenzie Scott remains the single largest individual donor to HBCUs in modern history. In 2020 and 2022, Scott announced more than $560 million in unrestricted donations to schools, including Tuskegee University, Xavier University of Louisiana, and Prairie View A&M University.

In a public statement, Scott said she has committed to uplifting HBCUs because they are “agents of change” that “support communities that have been chronically underserved.”

Michael Jordan followed with a $100 million pledge through the Jordan Brand to support racial equity initiatives, including multi-year funding for several HBCU athletic and academic programs. Jordan said the goal was to “make a real investment in the next generation.”

Jay-Z added to the groundswell through the Shawn Carter Foundation and Roc Nation. His organizations contributed scholarship funds and pledged support for financial assistance programs at institutions such as Lincoln University and Central State University.

In a statement posted by Roc Nation, Carter emphasized that “education creates pathways for families to build futures.”

While billionaire donors brought unprecedented funds, Black donors in particular helped shape the movement’s direction. AfroTech reported that investor Robert F. Smith and media executive Oprah Winfrey played prominent roles in the more than $1 billion donated to HBCUs.

Smith drew national attention in 2019 when he erased the student debt of the entire Morehouse College graduating class. Winfrey has been supporting historical institutions for decades. She continues her support for HBCUs by expanding scholarship programs and funding leadership centers at Tennessee State University and Morehouse College.

Several HBCU presidents have expressed gratitude. The lack of stipulations attached to the donations allows schools to bolster institutional coffers while investing in research, technology upgrades, and financial aid.

Larry Wilkens, NBA, coach, rSeattle, SuperSonics

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 13, 2025

NBA Legend Lenny Wilkens Dead At 88

'Lenny Wilkens represented the very best of the NBA – as a Hall of Fame player, Hall of Fame coach, and one of the game’s most respected ambassadors,' acknowledged NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.

Legendary former NBA player and coach Lenny Wilkens is dead at the age of 88.

According to NBA.com, the family of Wilkens announced to the world on Nov. 9 that he had died. Wilkens, who spent part of his playing career and the bulk of his coaching career with the Seattle SuperSonics (the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008 and is now known as the Thunder), was acknowledged by the NBA in a video posted on social media.

Remembering Lenny Wilkens (1937-2025) pic.twitter.com/x3S8bmM4Dg
— NBA (@NBA) November 10, 2025

The legend was surrounded by loved ones when he died, and no cause of death has been released. The 88-year-old has the distinction of being enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame three times, as a player, a coach, and as an assistant coach on the 1992 U.S. Olympic basketball squad, better known as “The Dream Team” that featured NBA players for the first time in the Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released a statement:

“Lenny Wilkens represented the very best of the NBA – as a Hall of Fame player, Hall of Fame coach, and one of the game’s most respected ambassadors. So much so that, four years ago, Lenny received the unique distinction of being named one of the league’s 75 greatest players and 15 greatest coaches of all time.

“But even more impressive than Lenny’s basketball accomplishments, which included two Olympic gold medals and an NBA championship, was his commitment to service – especially in his beloved community of Seattle, where a statue stands in his honor. He influenced the lives of countless young people as well as generations of players and coaches who considered Lenny not only a great teammate or coach but also an extraordinary mentor who led with integrity and true class.”

No one has coached more NBA games than Wilkens, who has the record of doing it for 2,487 games. After winning the 1994 NBA Coach of the Year Award while guiding the Atlanta Hawks, he retired from coaching with 1,332 wins. That was a league record that was later surpassed by Don Nelson (1,335) and Gregg Popovich (1,390).

He coached the SuperSonics for 11 seasons (two separate stints, winning the championship in 1979), the Portland Trail Blazers for two seasons, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Hawks for seven seasons, the Toronto Raptors for three seasons, before ending his coaching career with the New York Knicks after leading them for parts of two seasons.

As a player, the New York City-born and raised Wilkens played 15 seasons after being drafted by the St. Louis Hawks. He then played for the SuperSonics, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Portland Trail Blazers. The nine-time All-Star became the first person to have won 1,000 games as an NBA coach and was the second person inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player and coach.

Wilkens was recently honored with a statue outside Climate Pledge Arena in June.

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; their children, Leesha, Randy, and Jamee; and seven grandchildren.

Tory Lanez, megan shooting, Nicci Gilbert, apology

by Kandiss Edwards

November 13, 2025

Tory Lanez Remains Jailed After Appellate Court Upholds His Felony Conviction

A three-judge panel of the 2nd District Court of Appeal rejected Lanez’s direct appeal.

A California appellate court has closed the door on rapper Tory Lanez’s most recent appeal efforts.

A three-judge panel of the 2nd District Court of Appeal rejected the case brought by Lanez (real name Daystar Peterson), a direct appeal of three felony counts linked to the shooting of Megan Pete, also known as rapper Megan Thee Stallion. The 46-page decision stated plainly that Lanez’s assertions of prosecutorial misconduct were baseless.

“The record does not support Peterson’s contention that prosecutorial misconduct interfered with his “right to Conflict free counsel,” the decision stated.

Peterson’s legal team questioned the validity of key evidence presented to the jury. Subsequently, the appeal sought to throw out the evidence, triggering a new trial. The court upheld the key trial rulings, including admission of the victim’s testimony, previous taped statements by a witness, and Instagram posts made by Lanez.

The appellate court rejected the need to reexamine evidence stating, “the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting evidence.”

Furthermore, the court decision reinforced the prosecutor’s narrative which is often questioned by Lanez’s fans.

“Substantial evidence established, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the injuries Peterson inflicted on Pete were more than moderate harm. . . The orthopedic surgeon who operated on Pete’s feet testified at trial and the jury saw x-rays and a report of the operation.”

The rapper was charged with assault with a semiautomatic firearm, possession of a loaded and unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.

At the time of his December 2022 conviction, Lanez was immediately sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was recently transferred to California Men’s Colony after a prison-stabbing incident.

For Lanez, the decision decreases his remaining options to circumvent the ruling. Further attempts require petitioning the California Supreme Court or pursuing habeas relief, neither of which offer an immediate resolution.

For now, Lanez’s 10-year sentence remains. The shooting case appears nearly closed in the courts. Peterson will be up for parole in 2029.

SNAP, NYC bodega, Dia Alqalisi,Dawood Kassim

by Kandiss Edwards

November 13, 2025

Oh, SNAP! Millions Of Families To Receive Benefits When Government Reopens

On Nov. 11, the plan was outlined in a directive to state agencies, according to The Associated Press.

The Trump administration says Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in most states will be administered “within 24 hours” of the federal government reopening.

On Nov. 11, the plan was outlined in a directive to state agencies, The Associated Press reports.

The Department of Agriculture would “ensure all November SNAP benefits are issued immediately once the lapse in appropriations ends.” The guidance instructs states to prepare distribution files in advance so that a 24-hour window can be met.

Forty-two million Americans receive SNAP food aid benefits.

During the shutdown, many state agencies lacked the authority and financial means to issue new payments. The pause on disbursements created a gap in the typical distribution calendar. A few states managed to continue SNAP benefits by using emergency funds.

“Based on my review of state issuances, approximately 19 states have issued or are in the process of issuing full November benefits, and about 18 states have already issued partial benefits or they are still in the process of calculating them based on USDA guidance issued last week,” Stewart Fried, principal attorney at OFW Law in Washington, D.C., told The Hill.

The National Association of State Directors of Human Services noted that “states can run issuance files as soon as USDA gives the green light.” That will allow payments to reach electronic benefit cards soon after the federal budget is restored. There is already precedence for resuming payment: the issue arose during the 2019 government shutdown.

The Trump administration is framing the restart as a top priority, though during the government shutdown, it made multiple efforts to deny funding, going so far as to present a case to the Supreme Court in an attempt to circumvent the use of SNAP contingency funds.

Food banks and anti-hunger advocates kept a close eye on local needs during the shutdown, noting that the interruption created immediate strain in households across America. Victoria Negus, a senior economic justice advocate at the nonprofit Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, told CBS News that though funding will resume, the harm to American citizens is already done.

“You can’t eat retroactively when your SNAP was delayed.” Negus continued, “Getting your [delayed] benefits is better than never getting them at all, but it doesn’t help the harm that you experienced in the past.”

While the restart can be fast, longer delays in reopening the government risk deeper structural challenges for states that must manage staffing, verification workloads, and high-volume benefit processing.

NFL, Brian Flores, discrimination lawsuit

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 13, 2025

White Woman Who Fatally Shot A Black Mom Plans Countersuit To Wrongful Death Suit

Susan Lorincz has announced plans to countersue the family of Ajike “AJ” Owens, the Black mother of four she fatally shot through a locked front door.

The woman serving 25 years for killing her neighbor plans to countersue the victim’s family over their wrongful death lawsuit.

Susan Lorincz, the Florida woman serving time for fatally shooting her neighbor, Ajike “AJ” Owens, in 2023, has filed court records that include a handwritten four-page letter outlining her intent to countersue Owens’ mother, Pamela Dias, who brought a wrongful death case against her, WCJB reports.

In her filing, Lorincz accuses Owens’ children of lying in their depositions and trespassing on her property before the shooting, alleging one falsely claimed she threw a skate at him. The child told his mother, prompting Owens to confront Lorincz at her door. Lorincz then fired a single shot through the locked door, killing Owens as she stood beside her son.

“Ajike Owens and her children were trespassing,” Lorincz claimed in the handwritten letter filed with the court on Sept. 2. “There were multiple ‘no trespassing signs’ on the property. Ms. Owens did in fact scream, threaten to beat me multiple times while trespassing.”

Lorincz also blames her former landlord for failing to properly secure her home. Lorincz says she plans to sue for slander, libel, and defamation, seeking over $50,000 in damages. In her letter, Lorincz repeats her claim that she shot Owens in self-defense, despite choosing not to testify at her trial.

“Ms. Owens did not knock politely and speak reasonably on June 2, 2023. She pounded and screamed profanities like a lunatic,” Lorincz wrote. “Ms. Owens’ children had lied to her and stated I hit [the 10-year-old boy] with a roller skate.”

Court records show Lorincz has not formally filed a countersuit against Owens’ estate or family. Her threats come amid renewed attention to the case following the release of Netflix’s The Perfect Neighbor, which became the platform’s top U.S. film the week of Nov. 3.

The documentary revisits the 2023 shooting, exploring Lorincz’s growing hostility toward neighborhood children and reigniting debate over Florida’s “stand your ground” laws. Lorincz, 58, is currently serving her 25-year sentence at Homestead Correctional Institution in Florida.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 13, 2025

U.S. Ethics Officials Ousted Amid Investigation Into Access Of Letitia James’ Mortgage Records

The recent removal of Fannie Mae ethics officials comes amid probes into improper access to mortgage records of Letitia James and other Democrats.

Fannie Mae’s abrupt removal of ethics officials is drawing scrutiny amid probes into whether Trump allies improperly accessed mortgage records for Letitia James and other Democrats.

Experts are raising concerns about William Pulte, a strong Trump supporter and head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), who has accused James, Rep. Adam Schiff, and Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook of mortgage fraud, The Guardian reports. All three deny the claims, and analysts are viewing the cases as a possible attempt by Trump to target political opponents.

Mortgage data is highly sensitive, and fraud investigations are rarely handled by the FHFA inspector general, whose office typically acts as an internal watchdog. After Pulte made the referrals, former officials and experts have been noting how unusual they are.

Amid the review, Fannie Mae ethics officials who investigated Pulte’s potential improper access to mortgage records were removed. Acting Inspector General Joe Allen was asked to step down, leaving the office vacant, while roughly a dozen ethics and internal investigations staff, including Chief Ethics Officer Suzanne Libby and General Counsel Danielle McCoy, were fired or resigned under pressure last month.

Fannie Mae ethics and internal investigations officials had received complaints that FHFA senior officials ordered employees to access the mortgage records of James and others. They referred the matter to the inspector general, who then sent it to the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Trump recently installed ally Lindsey Halligan in that role. According to a source, Halligan was reportedly displeased to receive the information, which could become part of the discovery for James’s lawyers, and allegedly forwarded it to the White House. Halligan denies this, calling the claim false.

“This is more Fake News from people who are trying to impede the criminal justice system,” a spokesperson for FHFA said in a statement.

Pulte says the employees were fired as part of a broader effort against diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Still, many note the suspicious timing of removing internal watchdogs investigating his potential access to mortgage records.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 13, 2025

This Guy! New Mexico Man Claims Cockroach Whispered Deadly Commands Before He Allegedly Killed Two Men

Alexis Hernandez has been arrested after being accused of killing two men

A man, Alexis Hernandez, has been arrested in New Mexico after being accused of killing two men. The suspect allegedly told police officials that he had “received an encrypted message in a cockroach” to kill one of the men in the residence.

The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office posted to its social media page that police officers responded to reports of gunfire in the area on Nov. 7 at around 10:27 p.m. Deputies arrived at the residence to see two dead men with apparent gunshot wounds. There were also three other adults and two children at the place, unharmed. The police detained the three adults for questioning, while the children were removed from the scene.

One of the men was taken into custody as the investigation is ongoing.

According to People, the suspect is 25-year-old Alexis Hernandez, who was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center on Nov. 8 and is facing charges for two open counts of murder in the first degree. The affidavit states that when deputies arrived at the residence, they were confronted by Hernandez, who met them at the front door. He was observed with “a firearm on his waistband and a Marine Corps Sabre on his hip,” and told officers that he was in the Marines and “had to do what he had to do,” because of said cockroach.

He claimed that the property owner was stalking him and had cameras in the lights, and he heard “creepy voices coming from the vents.”

He stated that he had “been getting signs” to kill the property owner. He also told them that he had “received an encrypted message in a cockroach because [the property owner] did not like cockroaches.”

The message was verification, in Hernandez’s mind, that he needed to kill the owner. He also said that he was “seeing signs all around him that he saw and couldn’t ignore,” before carrying out the alleged crime.

Hernandez said that he previously bought a Glock for protection, and had it with him because he was “afraid for his life” when the two men reportedly took him to the back room of the house. The property owner was shot in the head, and the other victim, unidentified, was shot in the kitchen. He allegedly shot both men again after he went to his vehicle to reload his gun.

He acknowledged that he knew that there were two children in the home, but he had no intentions of taking or doing “anything to them,” although they did witness the shootings.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 13, 2025

Guadeloupe And Martinique Seek Compensation And Justice From France For Pesticide Poisoning

Guadeloupe and Martinique residents exposed for years to a toxic pesticide are demanding justice from the French government.

Residents of Guadeloupe and Martinique are demanding financial compensation and accountability from the French government over years of forced exposure to toxic pesticides.

In a landmark March 2025 ruling, a French court held the state responsible for the reproductive issues of two women and nine men who developed prostate cancer, acknowledging that France had knowingly exposed them to a toxic pesticide with lifelong consequences, Inside Climate News reported. With over 90% of Guadeloupe and Martinique’s populations carrying traces of chlordecone in their blood — and both islands reporting some of the world’s highest prostate cancer rates — residents are demanding recognition and justice from the French government.

“We were exposed to this chemical that was known for its harmful effects, daily and constantly. And it has ruined lives,” said Georgina Lambert, a native of Guadaloupe who suffered six consecutive miscarriages before realizing her reproductive struggles were because of her forced exposure to the toxic pesticide.

Lambert, now living in France, grew up in Guadeloupe, swimming in rivers and playing among banana trees rooted in soil contaminated with chlordecone. The French government continued using the toxic pesticide on banana plantations until the mid-1990s, despite its known danger, with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency banning it in 1976 and the World Health Organization labeling it a carcinogen three years later.

Today, much of Guadeloupe and Martinique remains covered in banana fields bordered by homes and schools where chlordecone was once heavily used. The chemical continues to seep into soil and water with each rainfall, contaminating streams, livestock, and crops, with its toxic effects expected to linger for up to 600 years.

“The food chain was contaminated,” said Luc Multigner, one of the lead researchers at Iserm, who spent two decades studying the pesticide. “As a result, contamination wasn’t limited to banana plantation areas only.”

Recent studies from France’s National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm) show that chlordecone is an endocrine disruptor linked to prostate cancer, premature births, and developmental issues in children. New research published on Oct. 16, 2025, found it also reduces women’s fertility — those with high blood levels were 25–28% less likely to conceive.

However, the journey to justice continues as French Caribbean residents residing over 4,000 miles from Paris endure the scars of this environmental disaster. Each call for justice reignites long-held resentment over France’s colonial legacy, inequality, and neglect of its overseas territories.

In 2019, Lambert learned of a lawsuit filed by nearly 1,300 Guadeloupe and Martinique residents seeking compensation for chlordecone exposure. She joined the case, and in March 2025, a court ordered the state to pay her and 10 others up to €10,000 each. Though few plaintiffs succeeded, the ruling could set a precedent for future claims. As a result, the French government has appealed the decision, drawing criticism from the victims’ lawyer, Christophe Leguevaques.

“The state is engaging in double-talk. The president and some ministers have publicly acknowledged the state’s share of responsibility, so why does it bother them when the courts agree?” Leguevaques said.

“[The state] claims it wants to improve the situation for its citizens, yet when there is a tool that allows them to do so, they challenge it. It’s incomprehensible to the residents of the French Caribbean.”

In response to the crisis, France has introduced measures such as free “chlordeconemie” blood tests and government-funded soil testing through groups like Jafa in Guadeloupe. A “maximum residue limit” policy also permits food with low chlordecone levels to be sold — an approach often criticized by locals.

“They’re trying to contain the problem, not solve it,” said Josiane Jos Pelage, a pediatrician who hosts community meetings to help residents better understand chlordecone and its dangers. “It’s not ambitious enough.”