Dr. Wendy Osefo, arrested, Wife Swap, RHOP
Photo Courtesy of Dr. Wendy Osefo
by Mary Spiller

November 21, 2025

‘RHOP’s’ Wendy And Eddie Osefo Accused of Fraud As Prosecutors Seek Records Citing Aliases And Credit Card Misuse

Maryland prosecutors allege the couple used aliases and dozens of credit cards.

New details have emerged in the fraud case involving Real Housewives of Potomac star Dr. Wendy Osefo and her husband, Eddie Osefo.

Maryland prosecutors have moved to obtain additional financial records. The pair, arrested on Oct. 9 and who face multiple fraud-related charges, are accused of using an extensive array of credit cards and aliases to obscure their identities, according to new filings reported by People.

Prosecutors told the court that the Osefos hold “approximately 40 credit and/or debit cards, some of which are believed to be in company names” and others tied to the aliases “Pam Oliver” and “Eddie Hennessy.” They argued that these alleged pseudonyms and corporate accounts were a “deliberate attempt to mask their identity.”

The state also pushed for access to broader financial documentation, writing that they expect such material “to show a pattern of excessive spending, supporting motive in this case.”

“Insurance fraud is a financial crime, and in that, the amount of debt owed by the Osefos, jointly, individually and by the businesses that they own, is highly relevant to their motive,” the prosecutors said.

Attorneys for the couple called the probe a “fishing expedition,” with Eddie Osefo’s lawyer, Joseph Murtha, saying that prosecutors are “looking for something they haven’t figured out after 18 months of investigating.”

The couple is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 2.

“At the outset, Police failed to properly investigate the initial burglary despite clear indications of a break-in, displaying clear bias against the Osefo family,” the Osefos said in a statement released through their legal team. They also accused investigators of remaining unresponsive for more than a year, and of subjecting them to scrutiny not applied to other public figures.

“We believe it is deeply unjust for the Sheriff’s Office and Office of the State’s Attorney for Carroll County to publicly expose confidential financial information about Eddie and Wendy Osefo,” the statement continued, calling the release of personal details an act that “serves no lawful purpose.”

According to the statment, “the Osefos have never used an alias on any financial application; this allegation is false and misleading” and that the alternate names were used only for package delivery “to safeguard the identity of very public figures.”

The couple has been charged with 16 counts—seven of them felonies.

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Chicago, train, fire,Lawrence Reed
Gary Lee Todd, Ph.D., CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
by Mary Spiller

November 21, 2025

Man Accused Of Setting Woman On Fire on Chicago Train Faces Federal Terrorism Charge

Prosecutors say the attack on the CTA Blue Line was deliberate and targeted, leaving a 26-year-old woman hospitalized in critical condition.

Federal authorities have charged a Chicago man with carrying out a terrorist attack after he allegedly doused a woman with gasoline and set her on fire aboard a CTA Blue Line train earlier this week.

According to an affidavit from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, investigators say 50-year-old Lawrence Reed was seated at the back of a train car Monday night when he approached a 26-year-old woman who was sitting ahead of him. After removing the cap from a plastic bottle, Reed “doused the woman with what was believed to be gasoline,” the affidavit states.

Surveillance footage captured him at a gas station roughly half an hour earlier, filling a small container with fuel.

When the woman tried to move away, Reed allegedly ignited the bottle and approached her again, setting her on fire. Witnesses said the train car erupted into chaos as passengers scrambled to escape the flames.

The woman managed to stumble off the train at a downtown station, collapsing on the platform. She was rushed to the hospital with extensive burns to her head and body and remains in critical condition. Police have not released her name.

According to CNN, Reed, who fled the scene, was arrested Tuesday morning. Investigators said he was wearing the same clothing seen on surveillance video and “made incriminating statements about the attack.” In federal court on Wednesday, Reed repeatedly disrupted the hearing, shouting, “I plead guilty!” while insisting he wanted to represent himself and at one point claiming he was a Chinese citizen, according to local reporters.

Prosecutors say Reed committed the assault “with the intent to cause death and serious bodily injury” on a public transit system, a charge that carries a potential life sentence. Federal documents also note that during an argument with the victim on the train, Reed allegedly yelled, “burn alive, b****!” before lighting her on fire.

Reed’s extensive arrest history has raised questions about how he remained free. For now, it is unclear whether state charges will follow.

The attack drew comparisons to the recent fatal stabbing on a commuter train in Charlotte, where federal prosecutors charged a man with killing 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska. Among those who making a connections was U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

The Chicago Transit Authority said it is cooperating fully with investigators and emphasized that its security strategy includes surveillance cameras throughout the system.

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Pras Michel, lauryn Hill, lawsuit
(Photo: Hamit Huseyin/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 21, 2025

Fugees Member Pras Sentenced To 14 Years In Federal Prison

In 2023, the recording artist was found guilty on 10 charges, including witness tampering, conspiracy, and failing to register as an agent of a foreign government, China.

Fugees group member, Prakazrel “Pras” Michel, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison on Nov. 20, after the recording artist was found guilty on 10 counts, including witness tampering, conspiracy, and failing to register as an agent of a foreign government in 2023.

According to The Associated Press, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly gave him the 14-year sentence after federal prosecutors requested that he be given a life sentence because he “betrayed his country for money” and “lied unapologetically and unrelentingly to carry out his schemes.”

Pras’s attorney, Peter Zeidenberg, told the court that his client should be given a three-year prison sentence, as a life sentence would be an “absurdly high” punishment, especially when compared to what is given to deadly terrorists and drug cartel leaders.

🚨 BREAKING: Fugees star Pras Michel has been sentenced to 14 years for funneling foreign money into Barack Obama’s 2012 campaign.

Prosecutors say he took over $120 million from Malaysian billionaire Jho Low, used straw donors to pass it along, and later tried to shut down a DOJ… pic.twitter.com/gqsGaddWI6

— Digi Gal 🌸 (@DigitalGalX) November 21, 2025

The “Ghetto Superstar” rapper, who did not speak at the hearing, will appeal the decision, Zeidenberg stated. He feels that his client’s sentence is “completely disproportionate to the offense.”

Pras’s representative, Erica Dumas, released a written statement to Billboard.

“Pras has spent his career breaking barriers and defying expectations. While today marks a difficult moment, it is not the end of his story or his legacy. He is profoundly grateful for the continued support of those who believe in him as he prepares for what lies ahead.”

On Oct. 30, a federal judge ordered the Brooklyn native to surrender more than $64 million to the U.S. government.

In 2019, Pras was arrested and charged after being accused of funneling money from fugitive Malaysian financier Jho Low, who is purported to be the mastermind of a billion-dollar 1MDB embezzlement scheme, in a lobbying campaign aimed at persuading the Trump administration (during his first presidency) to drop its investigation into the financier.

The rapper was also accused of secretly funneling Low’s money to President Barack Obama’s 2012 presidential campaign, and trying to influence an extradition case on behalf of China.

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Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Bill, Environmental Hazards
(Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
by Mitti Hicks

November 21, 2025

Rep. Ayanna Pressley Pushing For Action To Address Unemployment Rate For Black Women

According to the report, the unemployment rate for Black women is 7.5%. Rep. Pressley, who sits on the House Financial Services Committee, is calling on the Federal Reserve to take action.

Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley is pushing for action to address the unemployment rate for Black women following the release of the September jobs report. The report, which was delayed over the government shutdown, reveals a troubling trend: Black women are affected the most.

According to the report, the unemployment rate for Black women is 7.5%. Rep. Pressley, who sits on the House Financial Services Committee, is calling on the Federal Reserve to take action.

“These numbers are damning and confirm what we’ve long known to be true: under Donald J. Trump, Black women continue to face a crisis of disproportionately high unemployment,” said Pressley.

Pressley added that Trump’s “reckless mass firings,” along with a growing affordability crisis, and relentless attacks on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives, have hurt Black women in the workforce.

“As the primary breadwinners for many households, Black women are the backbones of our families and our economy,” said Pressley. “Their systematic pushout not only has dangerous consequences for Black women, Black families, Black futures. It is also a glaring red flag for the entire U.S. economy.”

A Weakening Economy, Experts Warn Amid Jobs Report Release

A little more than a month after its scheduled release date of Oct. 3, the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) September jobs report was released after the most extended government shutdown in history. According to the report, 119,000 jobs were added in September, but experts warn that the numbers are a little more complex than that and reveal a slowdown in the labor market.

The unemployment rate jumped to 4.4% in September, up from 4.3% and the pace of wage growth slowed. Then, companies such as Amazon, General Motors, IBM, Microsoft, and others announced plans to lay off tens of thousands of employees. 

Experts at the Center for American Progress say the uncertainty brought on by President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, the “slash-and-burn” of the federal government, and historic cuts to healthcare and social services have led to a hiring slowdown and layoffs.

Rep. Ayanna Pressley Calls On The Fed To Intervene On Behalf Of Black Women

In a letter addressed to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, Pressley asked for the Fed to take immediate action.

“The U.S. Federal Reserve has a statutory mandate to promote maximum employment, and that must be true for all people, regardless of race and gender,” Pressley wrote.

According to the congresswoman, 6.7% of Black women faced unemployment in August 2025, a figure above the national average of 4.3%.

“This disparity should not go overlooked as unemployment of Black women is a key metric of the health of the U.S. economy,” she said.

The congresswoman noted that Black women are more likely than any other demographic group to be enrolled in higher education. Black women also represent the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs and are disproportionately the breadwinners for their families.

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Atlanta, TSA
Photo by Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
by Mary Spiller

November 21, 2025

TSA Wants to Include $18 Fee For Plane Travelers Without REAL ID

The fee would cover the cost of TSA’s upgraded verification technology.

Air travelers who show up to airport checkpoints without a REAL ID or passport could soon face an additional cost under a new federal proposal. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) plans to introduce an $18 identity-verification fee as part of a broader shift toward biometric screening, according to a rule slated for publication in the Federal Register.

Under the proposal, passengers missing the required identification would be processed through TSA’s upgraded verification system, which uses a combination of biometric and biographical data to confirm identity before granting access to the checkpoint. The agency says the fee would help offset the cost of deploying and maintaining the technology.

According to the notice, the payment would give travelers clearance to pass through TSA checkpoints for up to 10 days, allowing them to fly again within that window without an additional charge.

TSA has not indicated when the system will go into effect, but the publishing of the proposed rule will trigger a public comment period. The agency emphasized that the process does not guarantee “that an individual’s identity will be verified or that the individual will be provided access to the sterile area of the airport.”

Travelers using the alternative system may also encounter longer screening times or added security steps.

The shift is intended to replace TSA’s current manual identity-verification process. Officials say the enhanced system will make identity checks quicker and more efficient while also strengthening security. The agency notes that the $18 fee is non-refundable and tied solely to the resources required to support the upgraded technology.

The move comes as federal enforcement of the REAL ID Act—passed by Congress in 2005 following recommendations from the 9/11 Commission—finally took effect in May after years of delays. The law requires states to issue driver’s licenses and IDs that meet federal security standards for use in domestic air travel.

A TSA spokesperson described the proposed rule to ABC News as part of the broader effort to complete REAL ID implementation. The spokesperson added that TSA is coordinating with “stakeholders and partners to ensure both security and efficiency at our checkpoints,” and that additional updates will be released soon.

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Bill Cosby
Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 21, 2025

Report: Bill Cosby Sells Manhattan Townhouse For $28 Million, Avoids Foreclosure

Cosby paid $6.3 million for the townhouse in 1990.

Billy Cosby has sold his New York City townhouse for a reported $28 million.

According to Realtor.com, the home was listed by the actor in September at $29 million, sold for $1 million less than the asking price, and closed Nov. 9. The property is located on 71st Street on the east side of Manhattan. The house was close to going into foreclosure.

Cosby did make a profit on the home. He only paid $6.3 million when he purchased it in 1990. He and his wife, Camille, reportedly took out $17.5 million in loans against the property. First Foundation Bank filed a lawsuit against the couple in the Manhattan Supreme Court on Dec. 31, 2024, accusing them of defaulting on a loan.

The bank stated in the suit that Cosby defaulted on two loans: one totaling $12.25 million, taken in 2010, and another totaling $5.25 million, taken in 2014. The “Uptown Saturday Night” actor has not repaid the loan. He allegedly stopped repaying the loan on June 1, 2024, and was given a default notice on Nov. 18, 2024. Cosby was also accused of failing to pay property taxes totaling more than $300,000.

The couple had until Dec. 12, 2024, to pay back the loan, but First Foundation stated they had not done so.

Cosby’s troubles are not over. CitiMortgage claims he defaulted on a $4.2 million loan, and the Cosbies owe $3.7 million, plus interest and fees. The home was put up for sale in April for an asking price of $6.9 million, but was reduced to $6.75 million in July.

The disgraced comedian has been mostly unseen since the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court overturned his sex assault conviction in 2021, citing a previous agreement that prevented him from being charged for the crime in the first place. Cosby had already served two years of his three-to-10-year sentence. In 2018, Cosby was found guilty and sentenced for sexually assaulting and drugging Andrea Constand at his home in 2004.

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Firefighter, lawSuit , Racist Harassment, Noose
(Photo: LorenzoT81/Getty Images)
by Mary Spiller

November 21, 2025

Coast Guard Faces Backlash After Softening Classification Of Swastikas And Nooses

The new policy rebrands widely recognized hate symbols as merely “potentially divisive"

The U.S. Coast Guard is drawing intense criticism after unveiling a new policy that no longer designates swastikas, nooses, and related extremist emblems as hate symbols. Instead, beginning Dec. 15, the service will categorize them as “potentially divisive,” according to internal documents reviewed by The Washington Post.

Under the updated rules, these symbols fall into a downgraded category that stops short of explicitly defining them as tied to racial, ethnic, or religious intimidation.

While the Confederate flag remains banned in most contexts, the policy makes room for certain historical or artistic displays. The shift comes as the Coast Guard aligns its internal standards with the Trump administration’s broader effort to scale back existing regulations on harassment and hazing across the military. In September, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a government-wide reassessment, arguing that current rules were “overly broad” and harming combat readiness.

Initially declining public comment, the Coast Guard later responded after the Post‘s. Spokeswoman Jennifer Plozai said the service “disagreed with The Post’s reporting” but planned to reassess the policy language.

In a statement attributed to Adm. Kevin Lunday, the acting commandant, the service avoided explaining the shift but maintained that swastikas, nooses, and similar imagery “violate our core values and are treated with the seriousness they warrant.” He later sent a force-wide email reiterating that such symbols are “prohibited,” though the policy itself leaves ambiguity over when or whether commanders must act. The revised guidelines, Lunday wrote, are intended to “streamline administrative requirements.”

A comparison of the new rules with prior guidance reveals a clear change in tone. A 2023 policy had listed a swastika, noose, and Confederate symbols among items automatically considered “potential hate incidents” because hate-based groups “co-opted or adopted them as symbols of supremacy.” The new wording instead places them in the category of “potentially divisive symbols,” alongside flags or imagery used by extremist groups.

One Coast Guard official familiar with the revisions called the move deeply troubling. “We don’t deserve the trust of the nation if we’re unclear about the divisiveness of swastikas,” the official said.

The changes arrive after a year of upheaval inside the service. Former commandant Adm. Linda Fagan—the first woman to lead any U.S. military branch—was removed on President Donald Trump’s first day in office amid criticism of her diversity efforts and her handling of sexual-assault cases. Lunday, who halted the Coast Guard’s hazing and harassment policies within days of Fagan’s firing, has since been nominated to succeed her permanently. His Senate confirmation hearing took place this week.

Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) urged the administration to reverse course on the revised policy, warning that weakening standards “sends the wrong message” as antisemitism rises globally. The policy’s language, she said, “could allow for horrifically hateful symbols like swastikas and nooses to be inexplicably permitted to be displayed.”

The new rules also impose a 45-day deadline for reporting such symbols—a substantial change that critics say disadvantages personnel deployed at sea.

“If you are at sea, and your shipmate has a swastika in their rack…are you going to feel safe reporting that?” the Coast Guard official asked.

Jewish-American leaders also condemned the revisions. Rabbi Jonah Pesner wrote to Lunday that “there is no context aside from the educational or historical in which a swastika is not a hate symbol,” calling the policy shift “an indelible stain.”

The Coast Guard said it removed the term “hate incident” entirely and folded such cases under general harassment rules. Meanwhile, other military branches are reviewing similar policies—though none appear to have softened explicit language around swastikas.

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Morgan State, Miss New Jersey, Miss USA
Photo by Bestbe Models: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-silver-colored-crown-looking-right-side-2062542/
by Kandiss Edwards

November 21, 2025

Prayers Up! Miss Universe Jamaica Takes A Tumble In Her Evening Gown

Gabrielle Henry was taken to a hospital in Bangkok after a “major fall.”

Miss Jamaica Gabrielle Henry is recovering after what organizers called a “major fall” from the main stage.

Henry took the tumble during the preliminary evening gown round of the 74th Miss Universe competition in Thailand.

Video of the incident shows Henry slipping while walking in an orange gown and high heels. She then fell from the front of the stage as attendees stood in shock.

The footage shared on Instagram shows Henry posing at center stage before turning and losing her footing. The clip then shows people rushing to help the fallen pageant queen.

Hours after the fall, the Miss Universe Jamaica Organization released a public statement confirming that Henry “experienced a fall from the main stage during the evening gown round” and had been transported for immediate medical evaluation in Bangkok.

The organization later posted an update stating, “She was rushed to the Paolo Rangsit Hospital, where medical professionals are attending to her care and have advised that she is not suffering from any life-threatening injuries. However, they continue to conduct tests to ensure her full recovery.”

Miss Universe Organization President Raúl Rocha also shared that he visited Henry in the hospital.

“I was there with her family and her, and thankfully, there are no broken bones and she is under good care,” Rocha said.

Rocha added that he had spoken with Jamaica’s national team and promised ongoing support while she recovers.

The incident unfolded during a contentious time for the Miss Universe organization. Tension has been brewing at the event since it began. Earlier in the competition, a contestant expressed displeasure at insensitive remarks made in front of dozens of contestants. Fatima Bosch, Miss Mexico, said she was “singled out” and criticized by pageant executive Nawat Itsaragrisil at an official event. Itsaragrisil’s remarks prompted Bosch and other contestants to walk out of the room. Rocha later apologized to Bosch, calling the behavior “unacceptable.”

Despite the chaos, organizers say Henry remains in positive spirits. The Miss Universe Jamaica team asked supporters to “stay upbeat, lift her in prayer, and send positive thoughts as she receives the necessary medical care.”

They thanked fans for their “outpouring of love and support” as Henry continues tests and observation ahead of the Miss Universe finals this weekend.

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Stephen A. Smith, ESPN, Stephen A. Smith
(Photo: Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 21, 2025

Stephen A. Smith Reveals Why He ‘Negotiated’ Leaving ESPN’s ‘NBA Countdown’

Stephen A. Smith says it was his decision to step away from ESPN’s "NBA Countdown," not the network’s.

Stephen A. Smith said he “negotiated” being removed from ESPN’s NBA Countdown as part of his $100 million contract.

On the Nov. 18 episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, the sports commentator addressed ESPN’s Nov. 17 announcement that a “new-look NBA Countdown” was coming—without him. Despite speculation that Smith, a longtime fixture on the show and a leading face of ESPN’s NBA coverage, was being pushed out, he clarified it was quite the opposite.

“I didn’t want to be on the show,” Smith declared. “I negotiated coming off of it.”

The new NBA Countdown lineup includes host Malika Andrews and analysts Brian Windhorst, Michael Malone, and Kendrick Perkins, with frequent appearances by NBA insider Shams Charania.

”Now I love doing NBA Countdown, but once the countdown show is over, I got other things to do than to be in studio, watching the doubleheader, and coming on at halftimes,” he explained. “I got other stuff that I want to do, to prepare for First Take the next day, the next morning, and to do an abundance of other things that I aspire to do.

Aside from hosting First Take, Smith has his own production company and two SiriusXM shows,

He also pointed out that his departure from NBA Countdown is not breaking news. In March, The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reported that Smith would no longer be a regular on ESPN’s NBA pregame show.

ESPN later confirmed that his contract does not require him to appear regularly on any program other than First Take. Still, the outspoken broadcaster will continue making guest appearances on various ESPN shows, including NBA Countdown.

“If they need me in L.A. for NBA Countdown, I’ll be there,” Smith said on his show. “Matter of fact, I have days in my contract to be there. I just don’t have to be there full-time.”

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Jerry Rice
photo credit: Anthony Quintano from Hillsborough, NJ, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
by Kandiss Edwards

November 21, 2025

NFL Legend Jerry Rice Serves Up $667K To Clear School Lunch Debt

Jerry Rice and is wife, Latisha, are feeding the children!

Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice and his wife, Latisha Pelayo, have donated more than $667,000 to pay off lunch debt at 103 schools across the United States, a move that school officials say will lift a weight off thousands of families.

Rice, known for his record-setting career with the San Francisco 49ers, said the donation comes from a place of empathy.

“No child should ever step into a classroom hungry,” Rice reportedly said.

According to AfroTech, the donation is part of a broader philanthropic campaign ignited after Rice visited an elementary school in the Bay Area. The Hall of Famer observed how unpaid lunch debt can affect student morale and learning. The donation covers balances at more than 100 schools in multiple states, including districts in California and other regions. By clearing the debts, Rice and his wife hope to reduce stigma and remove a barrier to academic focus.

District administrators from affected schools praised the gesture as “life-changing” for families. One district reported that dozens of students would no longer have to worry about owing money for meals or being restricted in cafeteria access.

The action arrives amid a national trend. Unpaid lunch balances have increased since pandemic-era waivers ended and food costs rose. The School Nutrition Association reported that nearly 90% of responding school districts say lunch debt is growing faster than they can cover it.

Beyond the immediate relief, Rice’s gift may spur his peers to feed those in need. Silicon Valley entrepreneurs have pledged to match his funding and expand the effort to additional California districts. Additionally, former NFL player Steve Young has teamed with Rice to fund food shelters this holiday season.

Lunch debt nationwide has climbed in recent years as pandemic-era federal waivers expired and districts resumed charging for meals. According to the School Nutrition Association’s 2024 report, nearly 97% of surveyed districts reported growing unpaid balances. Mississippi administrators have said that families in rural counties often face the most strain because wages have not kept pace with increasing food costs.

RELATED CONTENT: Georgia Rep. McCormick Has A Problem With Kids Who ‘Sponge Off The Government’ For School Lunch

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