New Edition, Toni Braxton, Boyz II Men, tour

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 25, 2025

New Edition Announces 2026 ‘New Edition Way Tour’ With Boyz II Men And Toni Braxton

The tour will land in 30 cities across the country.

The Black Promoters Collective has recently announced that ’80s boy group, New Edition, is headlining a new tour with Boyz II Men and Toni Braxton joining them on the road.

The New Edition Way Tour, coming less than two months after the popular R&B group was celebrated in their hometown of Boston with a street renamed “New Edition Way,” will head to Oakland in January 2026.

Collectively, the members of New Edition have amassed multiple No. 1 singles, American Music Awards, and Soul Train Awards, and have sold over 50 million albums—solidifying their position as one of the most influential groups in music history.

All members of New Edition Way will be on the tour–Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Ronnie DeVoe, and Johnny Gill.

https://twitter.com/jxinfante69/status/1981864117003755791

The tour will land in 30 cities across the country, starting Jan. 29, 2026, with the first performance taking place at the Oakland Arena in California, rolling through New Edition’s hometown of Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, and New York, before ending in Houston on April 4, 2026, at the Toyota Center, ABC News reports.

“New Edition and Boyz II Men. We’ve never, all these years, never shared the stage together,” Johnny Gill says.

Fans and music lovers can purchase tickets online through Ticketmaster starting on Halloween, Oct. 31, at 10:00 a.m. local time. Tickets can also be bought at participating venue box offices.

Presales will take place from Oct. 27 through Oct. 30 at 11:59 p.m.

Presale Schedule:

● American Express Presale: Oct. 27

● New Edition Presale (Password: WAYTOUR26): Oct. 28

● Spotify Presale (Password: NE4LIFE): Oct. 29

● BPC (Password: BPC), Boyz II Men (Password: BIIMBLVD), and Venue Presales: Oct. 30

The New Edition Way Tour brings Boyz II Men, who were discovered by N.E. member Michael Bivins, to share the stage with New Edition for the first time.

“You’re seeing artists who’ve shaped the culture come together to celebrate music that continues to stand the test of time,” says Gary Guidry, CEO of the Black Promoters Collective, in a written statement.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 25, 2025

Donnell Whittenburg Sticks The Landing: Becomes First American To Win Gold On Still Rings At World Championships

He became the oldest American man to win a world title at 31 years and 61 days.

Gymnast Donnell Whittenburg won a gold medal on still rings, becoming the first American man to do so at the World Championships.

According to USA Gymnastics, the 31-year-old performed the feat Oct. 24 at the 2025 FIG Artistic World Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia. He also achieved another accomplishment. The gymnast became the oldest American man to win a world title by doing so at 31 years and 61 days. He surpassed a record held by Kurt Thomas, who won two gold medals at 23 years and 254 days old in 1979.

In his record-setting feat, Whittenburg won the title on rings with a 14.700 to win a World gold medal on the apparatus. He bested Adem Asil of Turkey, who came in second place with 14.566, and Xingyu Lan of China, whose 14.500 score placed him in third place. Whittenburg’s gold medal win on rings is his first Worlds win of his career, while making this his third World medal. The last time he won a medal was 10 years ago in 2015, when he took home a bronze medal on vault.

With the gold medal, he joins Brandon Wynn, who won a bronze medal in 2013, and Paul O’Neill, who brought the silver medal home in 1994, as the only Americans to have medaled on rings. He took over O’Neill’s place (28 years and 354 days) as the oldest U.S. medalist in World Championships history.

Whittenburg has a chance to bring another win home when he competes Oct. 25 on the parallel bars as the 2025 FIG Artistic World Championships ends in Jakarta.

Other American athletes who are bringing home medals include Leanne Wong, Patrick Hoopes, and Joscelyn Roberson. Wong won the silver medal for women’s all-around, while Hoopes took the bronze medal in the pommel horse, and Roberson is taking home her bronze medal in women’s vault.

NBC Sports reported that during his competition, he performed a move named after him, the “Whittenburg” dismount (a triple pike back somersault). This was named after him because he was the first gymnast to perform it internationally in 2017.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 25, 2025

LeBron James Building 2 Large Mansions On $37M Beverly Hills Estate

The Lakers superstar bought the property in 2020

After purchasing an estate for $37 million in 2020, Los Angeles Lakers player LeBron James reportedly has plans to build two large mansions on the Beverly Hills property.

According to Realtor.com, when the future NBA Hall of Famer bought the property, he immediately had the estate razed to the ground, and recently received permission to split the 2.72-acre land into two plots. Each plot will have its own mansion.

Documents viewed by the media outlet revealed that one of the homes will span close to 16,000 square feet across two stories, including a 7,700-square-foot basement garage. That house will also have a two-level garage built on the ground level. A pool and a spa will be set in the backyard. There will be an outdoor kitchen, and the roof will have solar panels.

The second home, which will be a tad smaller, will be a 6,550-square-foot single-story house with a basement movie theater, an entertaining area, and a ground-level two-car garage. A terrace will be included, equipped with hot and cold plunge pools, and a spacious courtyard with multiple palm trees already planted.

When James bought the property, it was a four-bedroom estate built in the 1930s. Construction of the compound began in 2023, following the securing of planning permission for the ornate dwellings.

Original reports were that it would be the primary residence for James and his immediate family (his wife, Savannah, and three children, Bronny, Bryce, and Zhuri). Now, it’s speculated that the second home may be for his Lakers teammate and first son, Bronny.

James will break another record when he steps back on the court this season (he’s currently injured), as he’s tied with former NBA player Vince Carter for playing 22 seasons in the league. When he returns, he will be the first player in NBA history to play for 23 seasons.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to be able to play the game that I love for another season,” he said. “However, the journey lays out this year, I’m super-invested because I don’t know when the end is. I know it’s a lot sooner than later.”

Zohran Mamdani,Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, NYC mayor, endorsemnt

by Mary Spiller

October 25, 2025

Hakeem Jeffries Endorses Zohran Mamdani For NYC Mayor

After months of speculation, the House Democratic leader throws his support behind Mamdani, urging the party to unite against Trump’s influence.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, who represents New York’s 8th congressional district, has endorsed Zohran Mamdani for New York City mayor, marking a pivotal moment in a race that has divided Democrats and tested party unity.

Jeffries, one of the city’s most influential Black political figures, has often been critical of the Democratic Socialists of America, of which Mamdani is a member. Yet in a statement to The New York Times, Jeffries said that while the two have “areas of principled disagreement,” Mamdani earned his place as the nominee through a “free and fair” primary.

“Zohran Mamdani has relentlessly focused on addressing the affordability crisis and explicitly committed to being a mayor for all New Yorkers, including those who do not support his candidacy,” Jeffries said.

“In that spirit, I support him and the entire citywide Democratic ticket in the general election.”

The endorsement, announced just before early voting begins, follows weeks of internal debate. Sources close to Jeffries said he delayed his decision due to the ongoing government shutdown. His backing represents another major win for Mamdani, who has recently secured endorsements from Gov. Kathy Hochul and State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.

For Jeffries, the decision balances competing pressures from within his party. Some Democrats view Mamdani’s rise as proof that progressive energy can carry elections, while others worry his policies will become fodder for Republican attacks in the upcoming midterms.

Mamdani, a 34-year-old state assemblyman, welcomed the endorsement as validation of his campaign’s mission “to turn the page on the politics of big money and small ideas.”

Jeffries’s decision also undercuts former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is running as a third-party candidate after losing the Democratic primary. Cuomo’s team reportedly tried to persuade Jeffries to withhold his endorsement, but those efforts were unsuccessful.

In recent weeks, Mamdani has sought to moderate his image, apologizing for past remarks about the police and clarifying his stance on Israel. He also pledged to retain Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch if elected — a move Jeffries praised as “the approach that this moment requires.”

“Assemblyman Mamdani has promised to focus on keeping every New Yorker safe, including the Jewish community that has confronted a startling rise in antisemitic incidents as well as Black and Latino neighborhoods that have battled deadly gun violence for years,” Jeffries said.

With polls showing Mamdani leading as Election Day nears, Jeffries’s endorsement may signal a broader shift: a Democratic establishment willing, at least for now, to embrace the party’s left wing in the name of unity.

However, Mamdani’s popularity has sparked adversity.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams stated that he plans to endorse Cuomo in the city’s mayoral race, marking a surprising reconciliation after months of public hostility.

Adams, who ended his own re-election bid last month, had previously called Cuomo “a snake and a liar” for urging him to withdraw. The two appeared to have patched things up on Oct. 22, sitting courtside together at the Knicks’ season opener.

Adams reveals that he intends to campaign with Cuomo in his strongest neighborhoods to help the former governor counter Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani’s growing momentum.

Michael Jordan, lawsuit, NASCAR, antitrust

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 25, 2025

Michael Jordan’s Antitrust Lawsuit Against NASCAR Heads to Court After Failed Mediation

Jordan's team, 23XI Racing, sued NASCAR and CEO Jim France, claiming that NASCAR used anticompetitive practices to prevent fair competition in the sport.

After a failed attempt at mediation, Michael Jordan’s antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR is heading to court, the Associated Press reports.

23XI Racing, co-owned by the NBA legend and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, along with Front Row Motorsports, owned by Bob Jenkins, sued NASCAR and CEO Jim France, claiming the racing organization used anticompetitive practices to prevent fair competition in the sport.

Both owners were the only two of 15 organizations to decline to sign extensions to new charter agreements following more than two years of negotiations.

“Today’s hearing confirmed the facts of NASCAR’s monopolistic practices and showed NASCAR for who they are—retaliatory bullies who would rather focus on personal attacks and distract from the facts,” said Jeffrey Kessler, attorney for the 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports. “My clients have never been more united and committed to ensuring a fair and competitive sport for all teams, partners, drivers, and fans. We’re going to trial to hold NASCAR accountable.”

Both teams take issue with NASCAR controlling all aspects of the business, including buying the racetracks that host its races and allegedly requiring teams to purchase supplies from single-source suppliers chosen by NASCAR. Another point of contention is not allowing teams to participate in other stock car races.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell and Jeffrey Mishkin, a former executive vice president and chief legal officer of the NBA, led the mediation, which took place Oct. 20 and 21.

The sessions focused on NASCAR’s bid to narrow the scope of damages the two teams say they are owed. The league accused 23XI and FRM of manipulating the other teams and conducting themselves with “classic cartel behavior, ultimately because they received less than they would have,” under the charter extensions signed last year.

According to the AP, “Jordan multiple times laughed and smiled at NASCAR’s claims, and at one point Hamlin and Jenkins vehemently shook their heads at NASCAR’s assertion that it pays its teams a higher percentage of revenue than F1 does to its teams.”

The original charters, signed by the teams from 2016 through 2020, were renewed to continue through Dec. 31, 2024.

23XI and FRM initially won a preliminary injunction recognizing them as chartered teams this season. That ruling was overturned, and the combined six cars have been racing as “open” this season.

Both sides are back in court Dec. 1, exactly one month after the NASCAR season concludes.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 25, 2025

5 People Shot Near Howard University During Homecoming Weekend

None of the victims were students at the school, but one was a Morgan State attendee.

Washington, D.C., police have stated that five people, four adults and one teenager, were shot near the Howard University campus Oct. 24, during the school’s homecoming weekend.

All shooting victims were taken to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.

According to WTOP, the shooting took place near the institution at approximately 8:20 p.m., but none of the victims were students at the famed HBCU. Two people have been arrested in connection with the shooting. No details were released, but authorities said that three weapons were recovered from the scene.

At a press conference, Police Chief Pamela Smith said that three men, one woman, and a teenage boy were discovered shot when police officers arrived at the scene.

“Whether they’re young people or adults with guns, we need folks to put these guns down in our city. What we do know is that this is Howard’s homecoming, and most of the homecoming festivities around our cities are joyous occasions for our families to come out and enjoy a good time,” Smith said.

Smith said a motive is not known as to why the shooting occurred, but investigators will be obtaining surveillance footage from the area.

The incident happened as the university was hosting a welcome reception for alumni, a block away from the shooting.

“We’re not going to tolerate individuals coming into our cities with firearms and don’t think for one second that we’re not going to look for you and search for you and find you. And when we do, we will hold you accountable,” she stated.

Fox 5 reports that one of the people shot is a Morgan State University student. Howard and Morgan State will meet on the football field Oct. 25 at 3:30 p.m. for the 101st homecoming game at the university.

Smith also assured visitors and students at Howard that the police force would keep them safe during the activities.

“What we’re going to do tomorrow is ensure that we keep those visitors safe,” Smith said.

by Kandiss Edwards

October 25, 2025

Girls Trip: ‘Tiffany Haddish Goes Off’ In New Travel Docuseries

The six-part docuseries will premiere Nov. 13 on Peacock.

Tiffany Haddish is the latest celebrity to invite viewers to join in on travel with her new show, “Tiffany Haddish Goes Off.”

The six-part docuseries will premiere Nov. 13 on Peacock. Haddish will travel to Africa with three of her childhood best friends. Along with Selena Martin, Shermona Long, and Sparkle Clark, the women will explore multiple countries, including Cape Town, South Africa; Zimbabwe; and Tanzania.

In the newly released trailer, the group engages in a wide range of activities, including bungee jumping and feeding giraffes. Additionally, they engage in emotionally charged conversations about friendship, trauma, healing, and identity.

For Haddish, the series combines laughter, her personal brand of spectacle, and self-discovery.

“These girls are my real friends, my day ones … I just really wanted to be with people I feel safe with, who I don’t have to perform for,” she says in the trailer.

Beyond adventure, Haddish said the trip is about reconnecting with roots and her chosen family. As an executive producer of the project, she aims to center authentic Black sisterhood experiences and bring to the screen stories often overlooked in travel and reality TV.

While Haddish is exploring the world with friends, another celebrity, Tracee Ellis Ross, is inviting viewers to explore the wonders and joys of solo travel. Ross’s show “Solo Travelling With Tracee Ellis Ross” premiered Jun. 25 on Roku TV.

Ellis Ross says the show is true to her authentic way of life since she began solo traveling in her youth.

“I took my first solo trip at 24 or 25 and I’ve been doing it ever since. . .It was a really joyful experience to be able to figure out how to share that very intimate experience of solo travel in a show environment and how to create a kind of video diary of sorts,” Ellis Ross told Thrillist.

It appears Haddish is on the road to creating a video diary of her own. All six episodes of “Tiffany Haddish Goes Off” will be available immediately upon release. Haddish and Peacock hope to captivate audiences searching for joy, connection, and new kinds of storytelling.

To those tuning in, she offers one invitation: “Bring your passport, your heart, and your laughter because we’re about to go off together.”

partnership, Swizz Beatz, Qatar airways,

by Kandiss Edwards

October 25, 2025

Swizz Beatz Is Flying High With New ‘Qatar Airways Creative 100’ Partnership

The launch aligns with major cultural events beginning with Art Basel Paris in 2025.

Grammy-winning artist and entrepreneur Swizz Beatz is solidifying his place in the art world, partnering with Qatar Airways to introduce Qatar Airways Creative 100.

In the Qatar Airways Creative 100, Swizz Beatz and The Dean Collection will curate and celebrate 100 global visionaries whose work spans art, music, design, technology, and sport. The inaugural list includes Grammy-winning South African DJ Black Coffee, Olympic fencing champion Miles Chamley-Watson, designer Yoon Ahn, and Ferrari’s Chief Design Officer Flavio Manzoni.

“Qatar Airways doesn’t just move people, it moves the world. That’s why this partnership feels so natural,” Swizz Beatz said, referring to his collaboration with the airline.

Swizz, a Harvard Business School alum, said this concept fuses his creative roots with strategic ambition to shine a light on inspirational artists across media.

The launch aligns with major cultural events beginning with Art Basel Paris in 2025 and culminating at Art Basel Doha in February 2026, during which inductees will be honored at the gala. The initiative expands beyond celebrations into actionable partnerships, including limited-edition merchandise and immersive in-flight experiences. Master classes will also be available to select Qatar Airways Privilege Club members. Dean describes the collaboration as “a platform that shines a light on the most inspiring people of our time.”

Qatar Airways’ CEO Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer framed the alliance as central to the airline’s branding.

“At Qatar Airways, creativity fuels everything we do. … Our partnership with Swizz Beatz reflects that same spirit,” Al-Meer said in a press release.

Swizz Beatz, real name Kasseem Dean, co-founded The Dean Collection together with his wife, Alicia Keys. The collection, which launched the large‐scale “Giants” exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum in 2024, has toured globally, showcasing more than 500,000 visitors across three shows, according to a press release.

Dean is steadily excelling in his quest to expand artistic outlets. The producer, collector, and curator has transitioned from artist to gatekeeper of global creative culture. Through this new partnership with Qatar Airways, he is positioned as a bridge between high art, commercial brands, and international cultural movements.

Upcoming Qatar Airways Creative 100 Activations Include:

November 2025: Activation at the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix
December 2025: Preview event at Art Basel Miami
February 2026: “Creative 100” Gala at Art Basel Doha, featuring the reveal of the custom “Air FIFA” aircraft livery designed under Swizz Beatz’s creative direction

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 25, 2025

Harvard Sees Drop In Black And Hispanic Student Enrollment

There has been an increase in Asian American enrollment.

Harvard’s Class of 2029 admissions show a decline in Black and Hispanic students and an increase in Asian American enrollment.

Admissions data released on Oct. 23 reveals that Harvard’s Class of 2029 comprises 11.5% Black students, 11% Hispanic students, and 41% Asian American students, down from 14% Black and 16% Hispanic, The Hill reports. Asian American students are up from 37%.

The number of Black students at Harvard has steadily declined since the 2023 Supreme Court ruling that banned affirmative action in college admissions. Before the decision, Black students represented 18% of Harvard’s student body.

Hispanic enrollment initially increased following the ruling, then dropped.

Harvard did not disclose the percentage of freshmen who identify as white or report multiple racial backgrounds. Eight percent of students opted not to report their race.

Harvard’s slight decline in Black and Hispanic student enrollment follows similar trends at fellow Ivy League institutions Yale and Princeton. Princeton’s Black freshmen population fell to its lowest share since 1968. The long-awaited data, usually released earlier in the year, came this fall for the first time, aligning with the university’s federal reporting requirements.

The school has been under intense scrutiny since the Supreme Court’s ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which overturned 45 years of precedent on affirmative action. Critics of affirmative action, such as President Donald Trump, have closely monitored the racial makeup of the student body. At the same time, the university risks backlash from its own students if enrollment of underrepresented minorities declines.

Harvard continues to face scrutiny from Trump, who has used his second term to attempt to cut billions in funding and block the university’s enrollment of international students; both actions were ruled illegal by the courts. The share of international students has declined slightly, from 16% to 15%.

The pressure on the university seems to be taking a toll, as Harvard has implemented hiring freezes and reduced Ph.D. admissions. In its fiscal 2025 report, the university posted an operating loss of $113 million, marking its first budget deficit since 2020.

Uncle Nearest , whiskey, fawn weaver, barriers business

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 24, 2025

Fawn Weaver Calls Out ‘Smear Campaign’ In Battle Over Uncle Nearest Receivership

Weaver addressed the ongoing receivership battle at the 'Inc. 5000 Conference' on Oct. 24.

Uncle Nearest Founder and CEO Fawn Weaver is denouncing what she calls a “smear campaign” in her company’s ongoing receivership case.

Weaver addressed the ongoing receivership battle during a fireside chat titled “Reclaiming Your Company in Turbulent Times” at the “Inc. 5000 Conference” on Oct. 24, discussing the company’s reported default on $108 million in loans to Kentucky lender Farm Credit.

“Martha’s Vineyard was a smear campaign tactic,” Weaver said, as captured by Inc. “Their hope was that the judge would see it, would accept the smear, and would turn over the keys of my company to them.”

Earlier this month, receiver Phillip Young asked a judge to rule on whether additional assets tied to the Uncle Nearest distillery—including the whiskey, a restaurant and entertainment venue in Shelbyville, Tennessee, and a Martha’s Vineyard property purchased by the Weavers in 2023—should be included in the receivership.

On Oct. 21, Weaver, who founded the company with her husband, Keith, filed a response opposing the receiver’s request to bring 10 additional businesses under court control. The receiver had sought “clarification” on whether to include these entities, citing the apparent intermingling of finances with the distillery placed in receivership in September.

In their filing, the Weavers argued that the entities are separate from the distillery and not responsible for its debts, warning that placing them under the receiver’s control would strip them and others of their financial interests. The motion also claims that Uncle Nearest is not insolvent and has enough assets to cover the defaulted loans without involving other businesses.

“If you can get the judge to believe that we misappropriated funds to buy a property, a vacation home—let’s be clear, I’m from California, what I’m not going to do is buy a vacation home that’s not on the water in a town that is not sunny nine months out of the year,” Weaver said at the conference.

Weaver’s latest filing follows an August motion asserting that Farm Credit’s receivership request “ignores critical context” and that the lender failed to take proper legal steps to secure its claim on the property as collateral in the event of a loan default, a point Weaver reiterated during the conference.

“They didn’t have security over any of our collateral. And the question becomes, why not? Why did you not ask to perfect seven of our eight pieces of real estate? Martha’s Vineyard is just one of them,” Weaver said.

Nearest Green Distillery and Uncle Nearest whiskey were placed under a receiver’s control last month. Celebrated as the second-best-selling Tennessee whiskey in the United States after Jack Daniel’s, the brand has earned numerous awards and sustained sales growth despite a post-pandemic downturn in alcohol consumption.

But the distillery is among several facing financial challenges as Americans drink less and exports decline amid trade tensions from President Donald Trump’s tariff war. Despite the receivership, Weaver remains committed to the company she founded, viewing the struggles as part of the risks inherent in entrepreneurship.

“Every entrepreneur is going to have a moment in time where it looks like all is lost,” Weaver said. “The only difference between those who have been the most successful entrepreneurs in American history and those who have failed are those who gave up in the in between.”