Mike Epps
(Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/WireImage)
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 25, 2025

Mike Epps Drops Nugget On Freshly-Released Brothers, ‘There’s No Reward For Coming Home After 30 Years’

He has unloaded on young men returning home from prison and SNAP recipients.

Comedian Mike Epps shared some words of wisdom for Black men during a recent episode of the podcast Artist 2 Artist with Harlem rapper Jim Jones.

It’s doubtful that everybody was happy to hear from Ice Cube’s right-hand man and the HGTV star.

The Indiana-raised actor had some controversial views on certain aspects of the Black community. He expressed disappointment that, when some people come home from a prison stint, they are often celebrated for it.

“Those are the wrong journeys to celebrate,” he said. “Young man, there’s no reward for coming home after 30 years. You don’t get no f**king care package, n**ga, you are a failure. Get your ass out here and help these kids, n**ga, pay that back forward.”

Some people responded with some reactions to his comments.

But that’s not all. In a recent interview with The Breakfast Club, Epps caused controversy when he said that Black people need to get cut off from food stamps or SNAP, which some 40 million Americans take advantage of.

“So, don’t take this as personal about the food stamps and all that. I’m actually glad they’re cutting some of these n**gas off food stamps because some of us need to not be on food stamps because it’s a trickle-down effect,” he told Charlamagne the God.

He said accepting the benefits is more detrimental than it seems.

“You get the food stamps, then you go buy the food that gives you cancer, then you eat the food that gives you cancer, then you’re sad, you’re walking around here upset, your diet’s f**ked up. “Now, I’m gonna tell you some honest God truth. Your diet done sent a lot of n**gas to prison.”

Some people chimed in on what Epps had to say.

RELATED CONTENT: Mike Epps Is ‘Buying Back The Block’ In Indiana For HGTV Show

africa
photo credit: pexels
by Kandiss Edwards

November 25, 2025

UAE Announces $1B Investment In Africa ‘AI For Development Initiative’

Africa will receive a $1 billion dollar infusion into its technology and artificial intelligence infrastructure.

On Nov. 22, the United Arab Emirates announced a $1 billion investment to expand artificial intelligence infrastructure and services across Africa.

According to the Emirates News Agency, the effort, “AI for Development Initiative,” aims to support education, healthcare, and climate-adaptation technology on the continent.

UAE Minister of State Saeed Bin Mubarak Al Hajeri unveiled the initiative during the G20 summit in Johannesburg. The initiative signals a deeper push by Abu Dhabi to strengthen ties with African governments and businesses. The UAE’s bilateral trade with Africa reached roughly $107 billion in 2024, and investments between 2020 and 2024 topped $118 billion.

The fund will focus on building data center capacity, deploying AI applications in healthcare systems, and setting up training programs for local talent.

“Why is Africa strategic for the UAE?” Hajeri said to reporters at the summit. “You know the relationship between UAE and Africa is more than 53-year relationship. So it’s nothing new. It’s a natural relation people to people that extended through history. Investors in Africa are out of choice, and we are actually welcome. We find that our investment in Africa is welcomed. We see value in both. It’s good for Africa, and it’s good for us. And we’re investing across the board.”

Hajeri deemed AI as “not just as a future industry, but a cornerstone of humanity’s future.” He added that his country is “actively accelerating innovation to enhance productivity and drive significant advancements in the global economy, with a strong commitment to developing responsible and inclusive AI for the benefit of everyone.”

African officials welcomed the investment. Ghana’s ICT minister described the plan as “a game-changing opportunity” to Reuters. Meanwhile, South Africa’s minister of higher education said the initiative could help narrow the continent’s tech-skills gap. 

Under the initiative, priority areas will include rural-healthcare AI deployments, climate-resilient urban planning systems, and AI-enabled educational tools. Reuters said the UAE will partner with governments, foundations, and private-sector firms to develop local infrastructure. The fund is expected to be deployed in phases over several years with the goal of spurring sustainable growth and digital transformation.

RELATED CONTENT: North Carolina Central University Launches 1st Of Its Kind Artificial Intelligence Institute

Judge,, gavel, signing papers
(Photo: Katrin Bolovtsova/Pexels)
by Keka Araújo

November 25, 2025

Judge Throws Out Charges Against James Comey And Letitia James, Delivering Blow To Trump Retribution Efforts

Separate motions by Comey and James to dismiss the cases because they were improperly driven by Trump’s vindictive animosity remain pending.

A federal judge on Nov. 24 dismissed the criminal indictments against former FBI Director James B. Comey and current New York Attorney General Letitia James, delivering a significant legal rebuke to President Donald Trump’s efforts to leverage the power of the Justice Department against his political adversaries.

U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie ruled that the prosecutor overseeing both cases, Lindsey Halligan, had been unlawfully appointed to her position, rendering the indictments she secured against Comey and James invalid.

“All actions flowing from Ms. Halligan’s defective appointment, including securing and signing Mr. Comey’s indictment, constitute unlawful exercises of executive power and must be set aside,” Currie wrote in her blistering opinion. “There is simply ‘no alternative course to cure the unconstitutional problem.’”

Currie, a visiting appointee of President Bill Clinton, was specifically tasked with reviewing the validity of Halligan’s appointment as interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. 

Her decision directly challenges the Trump administration’s strategy of installing political loyalists into top prosecutorial roles without Senate confirmation.

The ruling centered on the Justice Department’s expansive interpretation of its authority to fill U.S. attorney vacancies. 

Federal law typically requires Senate confirmation but allows the attorney general to make a temporary 120-day appointment; if a nominee is not confirmed within that window, the law permits federal judges to name a replacement

Attorneys for Comey and James successfully argued that allowing the administration to make successive 120-day interim picks—as was done when Halligan replaced the ousted Erik S. Siebert—undermines Congress’s intent to rein in the process and bypass the Senate’s confirmation role entirely.

Statute of Limitations Looms for Comey

While Currie set aside the indictments, she did deny the defendants’ request to permanently bar the Justice Department from re-indicting them under a lawfully appointed prosecutor. However, in Comey’s case, the judge strongly suggested that the window for a renewed prosecution had closed.

Comey’s lawyers contended that the statute of limitations in his case expired just days after his initial indictment in September. 

Currie appeared to endorse this view, signaling that the Justice Department’s subsequent attempts to remedy the issue came too late.

The charges against James, a Democrat who secured a multimillion-dollar civil fraud judgment against Trump last year, face a less specific path but have been temporarily halted.

The now-invalidated indictments were the direct result of Trump’s public and consistent calls for retribution against Comey, whom he fired in 2017, and James.

When Siebert, the Trump-appointed interim U.S. attorney, concluded that the evidence against the pair did not warrant charges, Trump forced him out. Siebert was replaced by Halligan, a former White House aide and one of the president’s personal lawyers who lacked previous prosecutorial experience. Halligan secured both indictments within days of taking office.

A spokesperson for the Justice Department could not immediately be reached for comment, though officials are widely expected to appeal the federal judge’s decision. Separate motions by Comey and James to dismiss the cases because they were improperly driven by Trump’s vindictive animosity remain pending.

RELATED CONTENT: Trump Announces Federal Law Enforcement Surge In D.C., Pledges Removal of Homeless Encampments, Despite City’s 30-Year Low In Crime

Walmart, skilled training, Atlanta
(Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 24, 2025

Walmart Opens Debut Store in Africa Ahead Of Black Friday

The Johannesburg store is the first of many that Walmart hopes to open in the continent.

Walmart, known for its “roll back” prices, has initiated its roll out in Africa. Now, shoppers can venture into the Johannesburg mega-store to get its wide range of products.

The store held its grand opening on Saturday, Nov. 22, allowing patrons in the South African city to get access to international products typically unsold in the region, including the coveted children’s toy Labubus. Others looked to take advantage of Walmart’s low prices, especially ahead of Black Friday.

The South African store is the first of many planned across the country and continent.

“Opening the first Walmart store in South Africa is about much more than a business milestone; it is a commitment to helping customers save money and live better by consistently delivering the lowest total cost for the basket of products they need,” Andrea Albright, executive vice president of Walmart, said in a statement obtained by Reuters.

The store’s opening also brought new jobs to the area, while partnering with several businesses in the community to stock locally-sourced products.

A delivery service also accompanies the launch. “This places it in direct competition with Checkers’ Sixty60 on-demand delivery service owned by South Africa’s largest grocery retailer Shoprite,” Reuters reported.

With Black Friday already expected to provide a boost in profits in the U.S. and abroad, eyes remain on Walmart’s first African location to see how it sales compare on the world’s biggest shopping day.

RELATED CONTENT: Chris Paul’s Plant-Based Brand ‘Good Eat’n’ Now Available In Over 1,000 Walmart Stores

DoorDash, doordash, tips, delivery, driver, shooting, bullets
(Photo: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 24, 2025

DoorDash Settles With Chicago For $18M After Investigation Reveals Deceptive Business Practices

'This settlement demonstrates Chicago’s commitment to standing up for workers and small businesses while maintaining a fair and honest marketplace,' said Mayor Brandon Johnson.

The City of Chicago announced that the food delivery service DoorDash has settled a lawsuit filed against it for $18 million.

Mayor Brandon Johnson stated that the company has agreed to provide restitution to delivery drivers, restaurants, and consumers following an investigation that found the company engaged in deceptive and unfair business practices.  

The city of Chicago announced an $18 million settlement Friday in its lawsuit against DoorDash alleging the food delivery service engaged in deceptive business practices during the pandemic — at the expense of customers, restaurants and drivers.https://t.co/bcpTo1xkEe

— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) November 15, 2025

“This settlement demonstrates Chicago’s commitment to standing up for workers and small businesses while maintaining a fair and honest marketplace,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson in a written statement. “Our hospitality industry is critical to our economy, and it works best when companies play by the rules, workers are treated fairly, and consumers see transparent pricing. We are proud to have delivered justice and relief to the Chicago workers, small businesses, and residents who’ve been affected by these practices.” 

The investigation revealed that during COVID-19, DoorDash violated the Chicago Municipal Code by listing restaurants without their consent. They also alleged that the company did not initially inform customers of the full cost of its service; it imposed a misleading “Chicago Fee” that was not mandated by the city; and did not reveal that menu prices were listed at a higher price than what the restaurant charges. DoorDash also allegedly misled customers into believing the tips they were giving were going directly to drivers, when they were actually used to subsidize its own payments to drivers.  

In its response to settling the lawsuit, DoorDash stated that the aforementioned business practices no longer exist.

“We’re pleased to have settled this years-old lawsuit with the City of Chicago. To be clear, this settlement isn’t an admission of wrongdoing and the allegations in this lawsuit focus on business practices that no longer exist.”

RELATED CONTENT: Shilo Sanders Sued By Former Law Firm For $164K For Unpaid Bill

volunteer, vending machine, Florida malls, donations, Altamonte Springs,
Photo by RDNE Stock project: https://www.pexels.com/photo/food-love-africa-travel-6647119/
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 24, 2025

Giving-Focused Vending Machines At Florida Malls Allow Shoppers To Donate To Those In Need

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints launched Giving Machines at malls nationwide, letting shoppers donate to families in need this holiday season.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has launched its annual holiday giving campaign by placing donation-focused vending machines throughout Almonte Springs Mall in Florida.

On Nov. 20, the community gathered for the unveiling of three Giving Machines donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the holiday season, Click Orlando reports. The machines, open through Dec. 14, let shoppers make direct donations of moving kits, mobile shelters, and more to families and nonprofits in need.

“With as little as five dollars to fifty dollars, you can donate something as simple as underwear to a homeless shelter here in Florida. You can also donate a goat to a family in Africa,” said Elder Daniel Amato, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The machines also support local and international charities, with gifts starting at just $5 and 100% of each donation going directly to those in need. Last holiday season, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints placed Giving Machines in 107 cities across 13 countries on five continents.

The three machines at Altamonte Mall alone raised over $100,000 from more than 6,400 donors, according to Light the World. Since the first Giving Machine launched in 2017, 2.4 million people have contributed over $50 million, positively impacting millions of lives.

The church’s 2025 Light the World campaign was also launched at St. George’s Red Cliffs Mall in Utah, where Giving Machines will remain on display near Dillard’s until Dec. 27. Giff Nielsen, a former leader in the church’s missionary department and this year’s keynote speaker for the ceremony, explained that the machines and campaign provide a fun and meaningful way for people to help those in need.

Shoppers use the machines like regular vending machines, donating items via a mobile app, credit card, or debit card to support families locally or around the world.

“Some of these items that you pick will stay here locally in St. George to bless the people here,” Nielsen said. “But then, others of these items will bless people all over the world.”

RELATED CONTENT: David Banner: Stillness, Systems, and Self-Mastery: A Revolutionary Path

bodycam, kids, car chase, viral video
Photo: Gregory Rec/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images,
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 24, 2025

‘Red Devil’ Cop Found Guilty for Fatally Shooting Black Man Granted New Trial By New Mexico Court

The judge agreed with a motion filed by the cop's defense about certain clerical errors regarding jury selection.

A New Mexico cop will see a new trial despite his initial guilty verdict in the fatal shooting of a Black man over an alleged stolen beer can.

In February, former Las Cruces Police Officer Brad Lunsford received a guilty manslaughter verdict for the fatal shooting of a 36-year-old Black man named Presley Eze.

Eze, a husband and father, was shot in 2022 after shoplifting a can of Budweiser beer from a gas station store.

Deeming the evidence used as “weak in proof,” New Mexico District Judge James B. Foy ordered a new trial in October, but Lunsford has continued to jeopardize his own upcoming civil trial. According to the Atlanta Black Star, he deleted messages sent by his fellow officers and chiefs who supported him in the courtroom during his criminal case.

Lunsford, who sports a red devil tattoo on his forearm, has returned home to his family but must face a civil trial in addition to the retrial.

“If you try this case 10 times, the fact is, Brad Lunsford took a gun, put it on my son’s head, and shot him at point-blank range,” his mother, Loretta Eze, told KFOX14.

Eze sat in the passenger seat of a friend’s car in the gas station parking lot when the officer arrived over the alleged shoplifting. Despite the gas station attendant’s claims, Eze, a first-generation Nigerian-American, told law enforcement that he already had the beer can when he appeared at the store to buy a box of cigarettes.

However, the cashier refused to ring him up because he lacked identification. Later footage revealed that Eze had already entered the store with the can, trading it in for a colder one inside.

Accused of stealing the beer, Eze urged the officer to check the security footage to prove his innocence, but the officer did not do so. Body camera footage showed the cop mispronouncing Eze’s name, leading him to run it through the system to check for warrants inaccurately.

Lunsford and another officer then pulled Eze out of the car, putting him on the ground. One of the cops’ tasers fell next to Eze’s right hand as they pinned him down. However, as Eze pulled himself up and seemingly touched the taser, Lunsford reacted by pulling out his gun and killing him. The district attorney’s office charged him with voluntary manslaughter with firearm enhancement.

A motion filed by Lunsford’s attorneys citing judicial errors, including an improper juror switch and juror bias, led Foy to reverse the decision.

“The defense’s accusations of bias based on a juror’s political beliefs is contrary to the law and to the impartial administration of justice,” said New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, said in a statement to FOX14, in March when Lumsford was released. “Jurors are entrusted to decide cases based on evidence, not to be subjected to public humiliation and personal attacks for an unpopular verdict. The defense team failed to do their job during jury selection. It should not be allowed to engage in a partisan witch-hunt now that a properly seated jury rejected Lunsford’s defense and found him guilty of manslaughter.”

As for the civil trial, the Eze family’s attorney stated in a motion that the deleted text messages hold ground for a default judgment, claiming that the cop destroyed crucial evidence. The default judgment would evade trial and grant the Eze family the monetary damages they seek for the loss. However, another judge ruled against the default judgment, instead ordering the cop to pay the family’s attorney’s fees.

RELATED CONTENT: SCAM ALERT: Chicago Mother Warns Public As Fake GoFundMe Campaigns Exploit Attack Trauma

DONALD GLOVER
Donald Glover attends GQ's Global Creativity Awards on April 06, 2023, in New York City. (Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 24, 2025

Donald Glover Reveals Stroke Forced Him To Cancel His World Tour

Donald Glover reveals it was a stroke that forced him to cancel his 2024 world tour.

Donald Glover is opening up about the stroke he had last year that put a stop to his Childish Gambino New World Tour.

The Grammy-winning rapper took the stage at Camp Flog Gnaw on Nov. 23, where he revealed the health scare that struck during the Louisiana stop of his 2024 world tour. Glover, also known as Childish Gambino, said he was performing when he suddenly felt a “really bad pain in [his] head.”

“I did the show anyway,” he said in a video clip shared on X. “I couldn’t really see well, so when we went to Houston, I went to the hospital and the doctor was like, ‘You had a stroke.’”

https://twitter.com/mosthiphop/status/1992513497880842455?s=46&t=qmzb_I2N1DzN_GymACe90A

Adding a touch of somber humor, Glover referenced Jamie Foxx’s 2023 health scare, which was later revealed to have been caused by a brain bleed that resulted in a stroke.

“And the first thing I thought was like, ‘Oh, here I am still copying Jamie Foxx,’” Glover quipped.

“That’s really like the second thing,” he added. “The first thing was like, ‘I’m letting everybody down.’”

The “This is America” singer went on to share that he underwent multiple surgeries after doctors “found a hole in his heart.” He ended his reveal expressing his love for his fans.

“They say everybody has two lives and the second life starts when you realize you have one,” Glover continued. “You got one life, guys. And I gotta be honest, the life I’ve lived with you guys has been such a blessing.”

The “Redbone” singer also encouraged fans to live their lives to the fullest.

“If we have to do this again, it can only get better,” he said.

The stroke revelation comes a year after Glover announced he was canceling the rest of his North American and European tour. At the time, he confirmed his hospitalization but did not disclose the medical issue behind it.

RELATED CONTENT: Shilo Sanders Sued By Former Law Firm For $164K For Unpaid Bill

Starbucks, closures, restructuring, tariffs
(Photo: Dom J: https://www.pexels.com/photo/starbucks-signboard-303324/)
by Kandiss Edwards

November 24, 2025

Albany Starbucks Employees Join The Picket Line In Ongoing National Strike For Better Pay And Work Conditions

Stores that have recently joined the movement include Cleveland, Memphis, Springfield, and Albany. 

Starbucks workers in Albany, New York, have joined the strike shortly after Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani expressed support.

Employees in nearly 30 cities and 65 stores across the country are now standing in solidarity to fight for increased wages and better work conditions. The ongoing dispute centers on pay, scheduling, and stalled discussions between Starbucks Workers United and the company, which has faced waves of labor actions nationwide.

Workers involved in the new phase of the strike have cited rising living costs and unpredictable scheduling as major concerns. Several stores participating in the walkouts have seen staff shortages tied to burnout. Stores that have recently joined the movement include Cleveland, Memphis, Springfield, and Albany, Associated Press reported.

The Albany Times Union spoke to the new members of the strike. Employee of the Clifton Park location, Lee Wendell, talked to the outlet about the necessity of the strike.

“I’m here for the resolving of the over 700 unfair labor practices that are unresolved,” said Wendell, who has worked at the Clifton Park location for five years. “I’m tired of people I work with coming up to me and saying, ‘I had water for dinner.’ You should be able to afford your bills, your medication.”

Chantelliegh Graham, another Starbucks employee, reinforced the need for a strike while speaking with the outlet. Graham believes that while one individual may not be able to make a difference, there is “power in numbers.”

“We’re not alone,” said Graham, who has worked as a barista at the 62 New Scotland Ave. shop for five years. “Voices individually are small, but as a collective, they are very loud. Workers’ rights are for everybody. That’s what we’re really here fighting for.”

In a statement, a Starbucks spokesperson responded to the latest strike plans, saying the company prefers “direct bargaining” and wants to work with employees “to reach agreements that support partners in stores.” The spokesperson told the outlet that Starbucks remains committed to “constructive conversations.”

In a message posted to X on Nov. 13, Mayor-elect Mamdani said he is no longer a patron of the chain and urged New Yorkers to spend their money elsewhere.

“Starbucks workers across the country are on an Unfair Labor Practices strike, fighting for a fair contract. While workers are on strike, I won’t be buying any Starbucks, and I’m asking you to join us. Together, we can send a powerful message: No contract, no coffee,” he wrote.

Mamdani’s call for a boycott is the latest example of political leaders inserting themselves into workplace disputes in New York. The mayor-elect has emphasized worker issues throughout his transition period.

RELATED CONTENT: NYC Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani Stands With Striking Starbucks Workers, Supports Boycott

HAITIAN, HANDBAG,Pierre Laborde,
Photo by Blessing Niniola: https://www.pexels.com/photo/fashionable-duo-posing-by-classic-car-32472108/
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 24, 2025

Meet The Haitian Designer Behind These Viral Hard-To-Find Handbags

There's a waiting list to purchase one of Pierre Laborde's viral luxury handbags.

Meet Pierre Laborde, the Haitian-born designer behind the coveted luxury handbags taking over New York City’s Grand Bazaar.

On Nov. 11, the luxury handbag TikTok page Via Giulia offered a glimpse inside Laborde’s NYC design studio, drawn by the buzz around his handmade bags. The clips showcase Laborde’s sought-after pony hair and leather handbags with a dropped middle design and tell of his weekend sales at New York City’s Grand Bazaar on West 77th Street.

“His unique play on color and style and shape, his bags are so popular, and the waitlist is super, super long,” the TikToker shared. “So we were lucky enough to get a visit to his studio, and he showed us around his amazing collection of bags.”

@rentviagiulia Meet Pierre Laborde, Haitian born designer based in New York. After @marlylake viral video featuring his work, he graciously hosted us for a studio visit! His bags are hand made and no two are the same. We are so excited to be carrying a few of Pierre’s pieces in our inventory that are available to rent. Sign up for our waitlist in our bio to be first in line! 👜💞 #luxurybag #designerbags #bagrental #clothingrental ♬ original sound – Via Giulia | Luxury Bag Rental

Born in Haiti and now based in NYC, Laborde creates handbags guided by his design pillars of color, function, and expression. His distinctive style has won acclaim from handbag enthusiasts. A visit to his website reveals that prospective buyers must join a waiting list to be notified when new bags are back in stock.

Each bag is handcrafted, and because it’s a one-person operation, creating these highly sought-after pieces takes time—hence the waitlist. Those eager to get their hands on a Pierre Laborde bag can follow his Instagram page and wait for his next shop day announcement.

RELATED CONTENT: David Banner: Stillness, Systems, and Self-Mastery: A Revolutionary Path

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