by Sharelle B. McNair

April 22, 2026

Appeals Courts Hands Conservatives Victory Allowing Texas To Require Ten Commandments Posted In Classrooms

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton referred to the ruling as “a major victory for Texas and our moral values.”

Thanks to a U.S. appeals court’s April 21 ruling, Texas can now require the Ten Commandments to be posted in classrooms, handing a victory to conservatives seeking to incorporate more religion into schools, CNN reports.

The appeals court’s ruling reverses a district court’s judgment that blocked school districts from displaying the commandments. Close to two dozen school districts were barred from posting them starting Sept. 1, amid federal judges’ injunctions issued after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed a 2025 law mandating religious displays. Despite pushback from families of various faiths, the commandments went up at the start of the school year.

The decision held that Texas’s law did not violate the First Amendment, which protects religious freedom and prohibits the government from establishing a religion. The law “does not tell churches or synagogues or mosques what to believe or how to worship or whom to employ as priests, rabbis, or imams,” the ruling says.

“No child is made to recite the Commandments, believe them, or affirm their divine origin.”

After the law passed, conservative legal groups and churches raised funds to distribute posters to districts across the state. Kelly Shackelford, chief executive of First Liberty Institute, a Christian legal organization, called the Ten Commandments vital to the nation’s history.

“Banning them from schools because they are religious is not justified by the Constitution and would undermine a comprehensive education for America’s students,” Shackelford said in a statement, according to The New York Times.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton referred to the ruling as “a major victory for Texas and our moral values.” “The Ten Commandments have had a profound impact on our nation, and it’s important that students learn from them every single day,” Paxton said.

The Lone Star state isn’t the only state to pass such legislation; Arkansas, Louisiana, and Alabama have passed similar laws, along with court challenges. But not everyone is celebrating the move.

Lena Lee, a high school English teacher in Keller, Texas, said the ruling is “devastating” as she has hung more spiritually themed posters from a multitude of faiths in defiance of the law—something she says she will continue to do. “Students in Texas are being unjustly used as pawns in this game for conservatism,” she said.

“Schools should not be a battleground for conservatives to push their agenda.”

Her thoughts are supported by organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union, which said the ruling “goes against fundamental First Amendment principles and binding U.S. Supreme Court authority.”

“The First Amendment safeguards the separation of church and state and the freedom of families to choose how, when and if to provide their children with religious instruction,” they said.

“This decision tramples those rights.”

by Sharelle B. McNair

April 22, 2026

Southern Poverty Law Center CEO Vows To Fight Accusations of Fraud, Money Laundering By DOJ

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche accused the organization of paying close to eight people, including those affiliated with extremist groups like the KKK and Nazi organizations, roughly $3 million between 2014 and 2023.

Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) Interim President and CEO Bryan Fair says, “SPLC will vigorously defend ourselves” after the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched an investigation over claims of using paid informants, such as leaders of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), to infiltrate extremist groups, pushing potential criminal charges.

BLACK ENTERPRISE received a statement from Fair saying, “We are outraged by the false allegations levied against SPLC – an organization that for 55 years has stood as a beacon of hope fighting white supremacy and various forms of injustice to create a multi-racial democracy where we can all live and thrive.” “Taking on violent hate and extremist groups is among the most dangerous work there is, and we believe it is also among the most important work we do. To be clear, this program saved lives,” he continued.

“The actions by the DOJ will not shake our resolve to fight for justice and ensure the promise of the Civil Rights movement becomes a reality for all. SPLC will vigorously defend ourselves, our staff and our work; we will continue to fight hate; and we will continue to envision and create a safer and more just world.”

Politico reports that after an indictment by a federal grand jury in the organization’s home base of Alabama, SPLC faces 11 charges, including wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. During a combative press conference with FBI Director Kash Patel and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Blanche accused the organization of paying close to eight people, including those affiliated with extremist groups like the KKK and Nazi organizations, roughly $3 million between 2014 and 2023.

While taking questions from reporters, one journalist sought clarification if the DOJ was accusing SPLC of paying hate groups just to keep their operation running, to which Blanche responded, saying, “I’m not alleging. The grand jury returned an indictment that says that.”

REPORTER: I just want to make sure I understand. You're alleging that the Southern Poverty Law Center was paying the leaders of KKK and other groups?

BLANCHE: I'm not alleging it. The grand jury returned an indictment that says that pic.twitter.com/RwiQLpxCYR
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 21, 2026

Patel claims the civil rights group “used the money they raised from their donor network to actually pay the leadership of these very groups,” labeling it as a serious violation. “This is a serious and egregious violation of a group that purported to dismantle violent extremist groups, but in turn, actually only fueled the hatred,” the FBI director said.

This is not something SPLC denies. In a video released by the group, founded in 1971, interim President and CEO Bryan Fair admitted the group began paying informants to infiltrate hate groups as a way to protect its staff after the organization’s headquarters was firebombed in 1983. “When we began working with informants, we were living in the shadow of the height of the civil rights movement, which had seen bombings at churches, state-sponsored violence against demonstrators and the murders of activists that went unanswered by the justice system,” Fair said.

He said the group’s mission of fighting white supremacy and various forms of injustice is the reason why they aren’t too surprised by the accusations from the Trump administration. “They have made no secret of who they want to protect and who they want to destroy,” Fair continued.

According to The Washington Post, after SPLC pinpointed Turning Point USA as an epitome of the “hard right” in a 2024 report on hate and extremist groups following the assassination of Founder Charlie Kirk in September 2025, one month later, Patel announced the bureau was cutting relations with the organization after working with them for two years to identify and provide tips on domestic extremist groups.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 22, 2026

Pat McGrath Labs Exits Chapter 11 Bankruptcy With New Owner, Founder To Stay On As Chief Creative Officer

Pat McGrath Labs has exited its Chapter 11 bankruptcy process with GDA Luma taking control through a new holding company and the brand's founder becoming CCO.

Pat McGrath Labs has emerged from Chapter 11 with a new Miami-based owner, with founder Pat McGrath stepping down as CEO to become Chief Creative Officer.

On April 17, a Florida judge approved Pat McGrath Labs’s exit from Chapter 11, with Miami-based GDA Luma taking control through a new holding company, Business of Fashion reported. Founder, Pat McGrath, will transition to chief creative officer and transfer her equity to GDA Luma.

“Creating beauty that moves people has been my life’s work, and that never stops,” McGrath said in a statement. “I will continue pushing boundaries in my role as Chief Creative Officer alongside GDA Luma, and I look forward to the future.”

Following the acquisition, Pat McGrath Labs and GDA Luma plan to accelerate innovation, strengthen customer engagement, and expand globally. GDA Luma will take a controlling stake and work with leadership to improve operations, refine strategy, and drive growth with renewed creative and commercial focus, according to a press release.

“Pat McGrath Labs is an iconic brand with extraordinary creative equity and global potential,” said Gabriel de Alba, Founder and Managing Partner of GDA Luma. “Our priority has been to stabilize the foundation of the business, implement best-in-class operating disciplines, and invest in the next phase of sustainable growth while preserving the brand’s legacy of creative excellence.”

The update follows a week of hearings in a Florida bankruptcy court and comes two months after Pat McGrath Labs secured an investment from GDA Luma, following its January bankruptcy filing, ahead of a planned 2026 auction. In February, GDA Luma provided the company with $10 million in debtor-in-possession financing to support operations and restructuring, along with a $20 million commitment in post-emergence working capital to maintain liquidity.

During the bankruptcy hearing, the judge told McGrath she was pleased the founder “would be able to continue the legacy of the company she built and loves.”

Born in Northampton, England, Pat McGrath rose to global prominence as a self-taught makeup artist, reshaping runway beauty with bold, innovative work for top designers. She launched Pat McGrath Labs in 2015 with the viral Gold 001 pigment, which sold out within minutes, and expanded into a full collection by 2017. In 2025, she was named creative director of La Beauté Louis Vuitton, a role she continues to hold alongside her work with her own brand, despite its recent restructuring.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 22, 2026

Atlanta Unveils Largest Mural In City As Visitors, Residents Build Hype For FIFA World Cup

The piece highlights Atlanta's underserved neighborhoods and the city's place in the global community.

Atlanta is unveiling its largest mural to wow visitors ahead of the FIFA World Cup.

The city, known for its vibrant culture and diverse communities, has a new art display, titled “Wild Seed, Wild Flower,” in Atlanta’s southwest side. Local leaders, such as Mayor Andre Dickens, came together for the mural’s ribbon-cutting ceremony as the entire city prepares for the FIFA tournament.

“It is 10,000 square feet of art… everyone coming into downtown—whether they’re headed to City Hall, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, or State Farm Arena will pass through here and see this beautiful mural,” Dickens said during the ribbon-cutting, as reported by WSB-TV.

The piece spans 10,000 square feet of wall space located off Interstate 20. The mural’s placement at an intersection in the South downtown area also supports the mayor’s mission to revitalize its neighborhoods. Areas such as Mechanicsville and Vine City have faced underinvestment, which city leadership hopes to address with new initiatives and developments.

One initiative, Atlanta’s Bridges, Walls, and Tunnels program, led to the creation of the mural. The program offers an artistic spin on the city’s visible hotspots, creating lively pieces that complement Atlanta’s eclectic culture.

The program commissioned artist Charity Hamidullah to develop the piece, which she says took 15 days to complete. As the World Cup symbolizes global unity through the sport, her work reflects this mission through its use of butterflies, hands, and, naturally, soccer balls.

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A post shared by Living Walls (@livingwallsatl)

Hamidullah wants everyone to feel like a champion through her artwork, as she hopes the mural strengthens Atlanta’s ties to a global community. She also wants it to amplify the residents on the southwest side, emphasizing how they are an integral part of the city’s ecosystem.

“We’ve been tying each other’s shoes… picking up flowers… dancing through the streets… kicking the ball forward,” Hamidullah said. “This is a city about teamwork, and we do this together.”

Alongside new attractions, Atlanta will undergo several transformations as it hosts major games during the World Cup, which begins June 11.

Teyana Taylor, Essence, Apollo,, Innovator Award

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 22, 2026

Pucker Up! Teyana Taylor Is New Face Of Revlon For Makeup Brand’s Super Lustrous Lipsticks

Taylor is a new face for Revlon's "Be Unforgettable" era.

Teyana Taylor is the new face of Revlon, joining the makeup brand to promote its Super Lustrous Lipsticks line.

Taylor has become an influential figure in Hollywood, from her Grammy-nominated album to her Golden Globe-winning acting performance. Now, the multifaceted entertainer has inked a new deal with Revlon, starring in its “Be Unforgettable” campaign for one of its signature products.

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A post shared by Revlon (@revlon)

The One Battle After Another actress made her Revlon debut with the heritage shades of Super Lustrous Lipsticks, while also promoting newer collections such as Ultra Lipstick. Revlon, a household name in makeup, partnered with Hollywood’s latest trailblazer to highlight one of its mainstay offerings.

“Whether commanding the stage, directing behind the camera, or shaping style conversations, Taylor has become synonymous with authenticity and fearless creativity,” said Erika Woods, SVP of mass marketing. “Our partnership reflects the brand’s ongoing commitment to celebrating women who lead with substance just as much as style.”

Taylor is not only the face of the makeup brand itself but also of its “Be Unforgettable” platform. The platform uplifts women’s innate beauty as they play with style and colors that they feel most confident wearing. Taylor praised Revlon’s mission to empower women, while calling it an “honor” to become one of its spokespersons.

“Revlon has always championed women who define their own path, so stepping into this next chapter of ‘Revlon Be Unforgettable’ is an honor,” said Taylor.

Now, fans of the singer-actress and the makeup company can see Taylor rock its unforgettable shades in new advertisements. Showcasing a bold look is not foreign to Taylor, who said the Super Lustrous line is all about making an entrance and being oneself.

“Super Lustrous is all about that finishing touch – the kind of beauty that elevates your whole vibe without taking away from who you are. It’s about walking into every room with intention, confidence, and a sense of self. To me, unforgettable isn’t about being perfect – it’s about presence, depth, and owning your individuality.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 22, 2026

Those Most Reliant On AI Show Weaker Confidence In Their Own Thinking, Study Shows

A new study highlights how those who heavily rely on AI tools show weaker confidence in their own thinking.

New research is examining how artificial intelligence is reshaping self-perception and how those who rely heavily on these tools may lack confidence in their own thinking and intelligence.

A recent study published on April 16 in Technology, Mind, and Behavior found that nearly 2,000 working adults who rely heavily on AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini were more likely to feel that the tools were “doing the thinking” for them. They also reported lower confidence in their own reasoning and ownership of ideas.

By contrast, participants who actively challenged AI by editing, questioning, or rejecting its suggestions reported higher confidence and a stronger sense of ownership over their work. The findings suggest AI isn’t the main factor weakening our abilities, but may be subtly changing how we experience our own thinking.

“Generative AI can lead to cognitive decline or cognitive evolution—it depends on your interaction style,” study author Sarah Baldeo told Time. “When we look at brain activity contingent on how people choose to use the tool, we can see increases or decreases. It really doesn’t have to do with the tool itself.”

AI’s impact depends on how it’s used: those who engage critically receive help with projects and ideas, while those who defer to it may hinder their own abilities. The study found that heavy reliance, especially accepting outputs without modification, led many to feel tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini were “doing the thinking” for them.

The study tracked 1,923 adults in the U.S. and Canada as they used AI for simulated workplace tasks, comparing users with non-users and how they interacted with the tools. It found a clear divide: some accepted the first response, while others edited and challenged it — choices that strongly influenced their confidence in their own reasoning.

“If the AI solves a problem for you, you don’t think, and you don’t learn,” said Ethan Mollick, an associate professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania who studies AI and work. “If you make AI act like a tutor and push people, you get improved outcomes.”

Researchers hope the study helps workers not avoid AI but instead find that balance and use it intentionally. Mollick says the key is choosing which tasks to handle yourself and resisting the urge to outsource everything just because you can.

“It might be worth being less efficient for practice,” he said, before offering a comparison to working out. “There are a lot easier ways to move weights up and down than with your own hands, but we do it because we want to maintain muscle.”

New Jersey, Noiré Dispensary, cannabis, Black-owned

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 22, 2026

40 People Busted At Illegal Marijuana Pop-Up Event In Atlanta

'Operation No Smoke' a substantial amount of illegal narcotics, along with weapons, and more than $30,000 in cash.

The Atlanta Police Department arrested 40 people during “Operation No Smoke,” an investigation targeting a large-scale marijuana pop-up event.

According to Atlanta Police, with help from the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, police officers, acting on an anonymous tip, executed a search warrant at the location on April 18. Cops encountered over 70 people before apprehending 40.

Officers executing the search warrant seized large quantities of drugs, weapons, and cash, including 1,220 pounds of marijuana, 391 pounds of THC edibles, 29 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms, 15 firearms — two belonging to security guards — $32,329 in cash, and nine vehicles.

More than 1,400 people had registered for the event, with additional attendees expected.

According to Rough Draft Atlanta, the organizers of the pop-up were from 11 states, with 24 vendors, and the event was promoted on social media. Lt. Jason Smith said 18 customers were already waiting outside when officers arrived. He said some attendees attempted to flee, with vendors barricading doors while others tried to escape through a back entrance.

“More than 70 people ran from the location – jumping on roofs, running on the railroad tracks, and throwing guns and bags of raw marijuana and gummies,” Smith said. “It was a very chaotic scene.”

According to Atlanta News First, at a press conference announcing the bust, Chief Darin Schierbaum spoke about what the sale of marijuana could do, sometimes leading to violence.

“The wholesale distribution of it leads to violence. People are eventually going to come for the product, or they’re going to come for the proceeds… and there’s going to be a gun attached to either defending it or taking it,” he said.

Police also released video of the operation during the press conference.

Laptop, work, stress, credit score, FICO Credit Score, Student Loan

by Mitti Hicks

April 22, 2026

CFPB Ends Key Lending Anti-discrimination Requirements Under Trump Administration

For over 50 years, the ECOA law has made it illegal to discriminate against potential borrowers based on their race, sex, gender, marital status, ethnicity, religion, and other "protected characteristics."

The federal financial watchdog agency, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), finalized a rule that will roll back fair lending enforcement by eliminating a key tool that has long ensured equal and fair access to credit, loans, and homeownership.

Under the Trump administration, the CFPB announced that it will no longer use disparate impact, a statistical analysis used to identify discriminatory lending practices under the 1974 Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA).

Congress defines disparate-impact discrimination as occurring when a seemingly neutral policy or action causes a disproportionate and unjustified negative harm to a group, regardless of intent.

White House Budget Director, Russ Vought, who also serves as acting CFPB director and is a key architect of Project 2025, told Reuters that the ECOA encouraged “new forms of discrimination” rather than ridding the industry of unequal practices.

Democratic Lawmakers Push Back On CFPB’s Rule Change Over Discrimination

For over 50 years, the ECOA law has made it illegal to discriminate against potential borrowers based on their race, sex, gender, marital status, ethnicity, religion, and other “protected characteristics.”

Consumer advocates and Democratic lawmakers have defended the law and written letters stating that eliminating disparate impact would make it harder to bring discrimination claims, especially as more lenders rely on artificial intelligence in credit decisions.

“This would open the floodgates for discrimination in all consumer lending, including mortgages, credit cards, and car loans,” Democratic senators wrote to Vought in February over the proposed rule.

They continued, “It would also stop lenders from establishing Special Purpose Credit Programs (SPCP), which are designed to expand homeownership access in those same marginalized communities. This proposal would gut longstanding civil rights protections, widen the wealth gap, and increase housing, credit card, car loan, and other borrowing costs by undermining ECOA’s core purpose of ensuring everyone has fair and nondiscriminatory access to credit.”

The rule change comes just over a year after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to end diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

“The only sliver of good news is that courts may well see through this and reject the CFPB’s latest unlawful action,” Brad Lipton, Director of the Corporate Power and Financial Regulation Program at the Progressive Think Tank, The Roosevelt Institute, told Bloomberg Law.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 22, 2026

Atlanta Influences Everything Launches ‘Made In ATL’ Storefront At Hartsfield-Jackson Airport

Atlanta Influences Everything’s bold vision has materialized into a storefront at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

What began as a declaration of Atlanta’s culture-shifting influence has grown into Atlanta Influences Everything (AIE) securing a 10-year partnership at the world’s busiest airport.

On April 22, AIE will open a storefront in Concourse B of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, according to a press release.

Done in collaboration with Paradies Lagardère, a leading airport retailer and restaurateur, the brick-and-mortar location will feature a curated selection of exclusive apparel, including T-shirts, hoodies, hats, and sweatshirts that amplify a “Made in ATL” vision.

“This moment is about more than us,” said the AIE leadership team. “It’s about showing what’s possible when Black entrepreneurs are given the space to build, to dream, and to execute at the highest level. This is about Atlanta, but it’s also about every city, every creative, and every visionary who knows their impact deserves a global stage.”

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A post shared by ToNeTo Atlanta (@tonetoatl)

The launch event will run from 3 to 5 p.m., with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and a host of cultural leaders and special guests scheduled to attend the ribbon-cutting, which comes after three years of effort.

“For three years, this deal has been carefully built and negotiated,” the press release stated “And now, it stands as proof of what happens when vision, culture, and strategy align. Positioned inside the busiest airport in the world, AIE is no longer just a mantra, it is a movement with a permanent global footprint.”

Founded by Tory Edwards, Bem Joiner, and Ian Ford, Atlanta Influences Everything has helped shape Atlanta’s cultural narrative through initiatives like 404 Day and partnerships with brands including Coca-Cola, Lululemon, Prudential Financial, and Atlanta United FC. Guided by its “Three C’s”—Corporate, Culture, and Civic—the group focuses on driving lasting impact.

Now AIE is at the gateway connecting the city to the world.

Mike Tomlin, coach, Pittsburgh, steelers, Lombardi trophy, youngest coach

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 22, 2026

Mike Tomlin Heading To NBC As An Analyst On ‘Football Night In Amercia’

Tomlin recently resigned as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers

After resigning his head coaching position with the Pittsburgh Steelers after this past season, long-time coach Mike Tomlin is heading to the NBC studio booth for the upcoming football season.

According to The Athletic, Tomlin will be joining the NBC Sunday night pregame show, “Football Night in America.” The 54-year-old will join the current team of Maria Taylor, Jason Garrett, and Devin McCourty, as the other hosts who appeared on the show last season are question marks.

Former NFL Hall of Fame head coach Tony Dungy confirmed he will not be on the program after being an analyst on the show for 17 years.

Tomlin will most likely slide into the role of a knowledgeable former head coach, offering expert opinion as a veteran coach and Super Bowl winner. Dungy was also a Super Bowl-winning coach and former NFL player.

The former Steelers coach broke an NFL record for the longest coaching career without a losing record, spanning 19 straight years starting with his first year with the franchise.

It was more than likely, with two years remaining on his Steelers contract, that he would not return to the sidelines. If he did return to coaching with an NFL team, that team would have had to get permission from the Steelers to allow him to coach.

While at the helm, Tomlin’s teams have won one Super Bowl, two conference championships, and eight division titles. In only his second season, he coached the team to the Super Bowl title, becoming the youngest head coach, at 36, to win the championship, defeating the Arizona Cardinals 27–23 in 2009. The Steelers had an 8-12 playoff record. According to ESPN, Tomlin informed the team that he would not be coaching the day after the Steelers were eliminated from the playoffs. As successful as Tomlin has been during the regular season, he also has a nine-year losing streak in the postseason. The Steelers have not won a playoff game since 2016, when they beat the Kansas City Chiefs, 18-16.