Video released on March 16 shows Officer Myth Louis-Jeune, who was charged in January with misdemeanor battery, repeatedly striking inmate Spencer Butler while he was handcuffed inside an elevator at the Miami-Dade County Pre-Trial Detention Center on March 1, 2023, NBC Miami reported. Following the footage’s release, questions have emerged about why the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office did not bring charges against Louis-Jeune until Jan. 30, 2026, despite the incident occurring nearly three years earlier.
“I got my a** beat,” Butler is heard yelling to an officer a day after the incident.
NEW: Miami-Dade corrections officer repeatedly punches a handcuffed inmate inside a jail elevator
Officer Myth Louis-Jeune, 36, was charged in January with misdemeanor battery for allegedly striking inmate Spencer Butler on March 1, 2023, inside the Miami-Dade County Pre-Trial… pic.twitter.com/k0pcB0LIKx
The video then shows Butler being placed in a window-lined room, where an officer is seen pointing a weapon through the glass. Several officers can be heard coughing before one shouts that there is “no ventilation.”
“Turn on the exhaust fan,” another officer yells.
Moments later, Butler is surrounded by multiple officers and taken to a shower for “decontamination.” One officer is heard informing him that he had been pepper-sprayed, though it remains unclear what prompted officers to deploy the spray.
“I didn’t have to get sprayed,” Butler yelled.
In another video, an officer asks Butler to write a statement detailing “what transpired in the elevator with Officer Louis-Jeune,” as Butler is heard asking how to spell words like “aggressive” and “excessive.”
Larry Handfield, an attorney for Louis-Jeune, said his client acted in self-defense and was “just doing his job,” describing Butler as an uncooperative and violent inmate who attacked the officer. Louis-Jeune has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.
Prosecutors said the delay in filing charges came at the request of Louis-Jeune’s former defense attorney, who sought time to investigate, present mitigating evidence, and potentially introduce expert testimony.
However, a labor management report indicates the officer had previously been suspended following a November 2021 use-of-force incident.
Cécred To Launch New Styling Products That Beyoncé Says Are ‘Cowboy Carter’ Tour-Approved
The styling products were developed to help Beyoncé maintain her hair health during the "Cowboy Carter" tour.
Cécred, the haircare brand founded by Beyoncé, is launching a new collection that the singer already tour-approved.
Beyoncé assured her fanbase and Cécred lovers that the brand’s styling products can withstand anything, even a worldwide stadium tour. The seven-piece collection will feature products directly used on Beyoncé’s mane, assuring customers that the products’ hold means business.
Beyoncé came up with the new line from her own experiences managing her hair strength and health on tour. She informed WWD that she does not use chemical treatments to keep her tresses in place.
“A lot of these products were designed from a desire to solve my own issues with my hair while on tour,” explained Beyoncé. “I don’t use relaxers, so I’m very big on protecting the hair from heat damage when I style.”
Instead, she developed a solution of products that could create similar results without jeopardizing one’s hair follicles. The collection includes a Thermal Shield Mist, Heat-Activated Silk Glaze, Volumizing Mousse, Wrap & Set Foam, Strong Hold Gel, Flexible Hold Hairspray, and an Edge Brush.
Each product served a purpose during Beyoncé’s latest tour run. She also noted that the “unpredictable” tour led her to build products that could protect hair no matter the situation.
The mother of three added, “Tour weather is unpredictable. Pouring rain, crazy humidity, some shows in 100 degree weather. I’m drenched in sweat and those styles must make it through a three-hour show. I wasn’t finding stylers that could perform at the necessary level without affecting my hair health.”
However, the brand also uses science-backed technology and ingredients to back their results. Cécred incorporated a StemShield Complex to keep hair intact with each use.
“There is a styling product in the collection for whatever hair you are wearing: silky straight, big-body blowouts, buss-downs, braid-outs, slick-backs. And our advanced new technology, StemShield Complex, is something special to keep your hair healthy,” Beyoncé added. “I am proud that we have you covered from wash day to everything in between, and we will continue to invest in the best innovation for everyone’s hair needs.”
Co-founded with her mother, Tina Knowles, Beyoncé has garnered numerous awards for her innovative haircare solutions. While Beyoncé has always championed her brand as a real-life user, she used her unique day job as further prove of this latest rollout’s effectiveness.
“People assume my fans on stage are blowing just for the drama and hairography, but the heat under those lights gets real,” she continued. “I need products strong enough to keep my style while keeping it weightless enough to take flight. It’s taken years with lots of trial and error to find the best formulas. We have put each one of these to the test and I use it on my daughters before everything: blow dry, silk press, braid-out. We tested the mousse on my big Texas blowout all the way back in 2024 for the Super Bowl [ad].”
Each product cost ranges from $18 to $38, so buyers can use it whether on tour or on the clock. The set officially launches March 19 on the Cécred website, with an in-person release at Ulta stores this April.
Juliana Stratton Will Continue To Yell ‘F*** Trump’ Following Illinois Democratic Primary Win
If elected, she will hold the title of becoming the second Black woman to be nominated to the Senate from Illinois after Carol Moseley Braun, who was elected in 1992.
Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton may be heading to Washington, D.C. after securing the Democratic primary vote to potentially become the country’s sixth Black woman senator, Politico reports.
Taking over for Sen. Dick Durbin, who is retiring, Stratton beat out frontrunner Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi with millions in campaign donations, an endorsement from Gov. JB Pritzker, and a catchy campaign slogan where she and other supporters said, “F*** Trump.”
Her victory will put her on the ballot against former Illinois Republican Party chair Don Tracy in November. If elected as a senator, she will be the second Black woman to be nominated to the Senate from Illinois. Carol Moseley Braun was the first in 1992, passing the torch to Stratton with an endorsement.
Stratton was introduced by her daughter before giving her victory speech to dozens of supporters. “I am proud to serve as your lieutenant governor and I am humbled and honored to stand before you tonight as your Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate!,” she shouted.
“We did it! Tonight we showed what’s possible when you listen to the people and give the people what they want.”
"I'm so proud to call her Mom and especially proud tonight to call her your Democratic nominee for United States Senate, Juliana Stratton."
—Cassidy Stratton calling up her mother on stage minutes after she became the Democratic nominee for Senate.
Stratton’s success painted a different picture than that of those who were assumed to have supported her. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus, who endorsed contender Rep. Robin Kelly, another Black woman, issued a warning that interference from Pritzker, who appeared in Stratton’s video, could split the Black vote and cost Democrats a chance at electing a Black woman to the Senate later this year.
But they may have been wrong, defying the beliefs of some strategists. Voters like Jade Brown admitted to struggling about who to vote for as senator, but after deep thought, came to the decision of Stratton. “She has a proven record of doing what she thinks is right and not tying herself to anybody else. She’s always been an independent voice,” Brown said, according to CNN.
Born and raised on Chicago’s South Side, the political leader began her career as a lawyer before winning a state House seat in 2016. In 2018, Pritzker leaned on her to join him on the Democratic ticket, and she has served the state of Illinois for the past eight years.
Receiving support from other powerful Democratic female figures on Capitol Hill, like Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, while on the campaign trail, the lieutenant governor promised to work toward abolishing US Immigration and Customs Enforcement — ICE — and supported raising the minimum wage to $25 per hour, in addition to expanding Medicare access to all Americans.
Black Women’s Artwork That Everyone Should Have Eyes On
Black women artists have persistently transformed modern art through their presence in museums and galleries as well as public art spaces. Their artistic production gives widespread recognition to both restore forgotten histories and celebrate Black existence while transforming institutional approaches to Black representation.
These artists create their most culturally significant modern artworks through portraiture, sculpture, photography, collage, and large-scale installations. The following selection features Black American women artists whose work has received both critical acclaim and institutional acknowledgment, and you should keep your eyes on them.
In 2018, artist Amy Sherald created a powerful portrait of former first lady Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama. The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery commissioned the oil painting, which became the official Obama portrait for its presidential collection. Sherald’s distinctive artistic approach breaks conventional portrait rules through her depiction of Obama, who sits before a light blue backdrop in a Milly-designed geometric dress. The painting’s effect is enhanced through Obama’s distinctive grayscale skin tones. The portrait’s debut attracted unprecedented crowds, which established it as the museum’s most popular exhibition piece.
Simone Leigh: Brick House (2019)
The bronze sculpture “Brick House,” by Chicago-born artist Simone Leigh, debuted in 2019 as the first public art installation for the High Line Plinth program in New York City. The sculpture reaches about 16 feet above 10th Avenue in Manhattan, while merging a Black woman’s bust with architectural elements that reference African and African American building heritage. This artwork represents a continuing investigation by Leigh into Black womanhood alongside labor and public art representation of Black women.
Phyllis Stephens: The Movement of Material (2023)
In 2023, Atlanta-based quilt artist Phyllis Stephens showcased The Movement of Material textile series, which features large-scale quilted artworks that honor dance rhythms and storytelling abilities.
Stephens displayed her hand-painted fabric quilted artworks at Almine Rech Gallery in a solo exhibition, which showed Black figures dancing through joyful, intimate, everyday moments. The ten-piece series unites African American quilting heritage with dance movement to study how rhythm and memory, and community influence Black cultural identity. Stephens found her inspiration in the shared characteristics of quilting and dance because both disciplines need rhythm and structure and emotional expression to create visual motion through color and fabric in each composition. The exhibition solidified Stephens’ status as a fifth-generation quilt maker who creates vibrant textile narratives that unite fine art with Black storytelling traditions.
LaToya Ruby Frazier: Flint Is Family (2016)
In 2016, documentary photographer LaToya Ruby Frazier started the photographic project “Flint Is Family” while she covered the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. Frazier received a commission from Elle magazine to document the crisis. Yet, she spent several months living among the community members while she focused her lens on poet and activist Shea Cobb and her family. Frazier portrays the human side of the environmental disaster that impacted Flint residents.
The photographic collection depicts the family in everyday routines as well as in activist activities. The images demonstrate the impact of water contamination on ordinary life in the predominantly Black urban area. The initial photo essay developed into a multi-year project called “Flint Is Family in Three Acts.”
Mickalene Thomas: Resist (2016)
The 2016 mixed-media painting “Resist” by Mickalene Thomas depicts a Black woman who reclines amid colorful, patterned fabrics and rhinestone decorations. These elements are hallmarks of Thomas’s artistic style. This artwork demonstrates Thomas’s continuous effort to redefine traditional art history while promoting Black feminine representation in modern visual arts.
Deborah Roberts: Let Them Be Children (2018)
In 2018, “Let Them Be Children” was created by Austin-based mixed-media artist Deborah Roberts. The collage shows groups of Black children through its combination of photographic fragments and painted elements. The artwork joined institutional collections after its creation and established Roberts as a leading contemporary artist who examines race identity and childhood in America through collage.
Jordan Casteel: The Baayfalls (2017)
In 2017, painter Jordan Casteel created “The Baayfalls,” a large-scale portrait that shows two Senegalese street vendors working in Harlem, New York. The painting became a mural installation, which was displayed along NYC’s High Line during 2019-2020. Casteel wanted to bring attention to the ordinary people who form the backbone of Harlem’s community with her artwork. Through bold color and intimate composition, she presents her subjects with dignity and individuality. Through her work, Casteel has helped to broaden contemporary portraiture by capturing Black urban life in America.
Bisa Butler: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (2019)
In 2019, textile artist Bisa Butler made a quilted portrait called “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.” Butler used layered African wax fabrics and patterned textiles to create the portrait, which was inspired by Maya Angelou’s autobiography of the same name. Through this work, Butler demonstrates her commitment to advancing quilting as a contemporary fine art form while honoring its Black American cultural heritage.
The Art Institute of Chicago and the Smithsonian American Art Museum have displayed Butler’s quilts.
'Mr. Kelly has been released from special housing. No impropriety whatsoever was found with respect to his possession of the telephone number of a former prison official,' Kelly's attorney, Beau Brindley said.
R. Kelly is reportedly back in gen pop (general population), following a brief stint in solitary confinement. The disgraced entertainer was released on March 14.
“Mr. Kelly has been released from special housing. No impropriety whatsoever was found with respect to his possession of the telephone number of a former prison official,” Kelly’s attorney, Beau Brindley, told the media outlet. “He was kept in special housing for approximately two weeks without legitimate cause before the facility was compelled to release him.”
According to Los Angeles Magazine, the “I Believe I Can Fly” producer spent about two weeks at the Federal Correctional Institution in Butner, North Carolina, as prison officials investigated how and why he had the retired warden’s phone number. The disgraced singer had the retired prison leader’s digits in his personal possession, and upon officials discovering the information, Kelly was thrown into solitary confinement. Nothing improper was determined to have taken place after obtaining the warden’s number; prison officials released him from solitary confinement, leading his attorney to accuse officials of unfairly holding the crooner without cause.
Brindley explained that the singer had obtained the phone number while participating in a prison mentorship program. He stayed in contact with the warden after he retired. He received the number when the warden stated that he could reach out to him directly if he needed guidance in the program.
“His only reason for having the phone number or contact with that prison official is because he was involved in a mentor program at the jail,” Brindley told People when he was initially placed in solitary confinement. “And so he’s involved in a mentor program, and because of that, he has a relationship with the prison official. That official retired and left the phone number for Mr. Kelly, and then, as a result of that, now Mr. Kelly’s locked up in special housing, for what they call an investigation.”
Kelly is currently serving a 30-year federal sentence after being convicted of several charges, including racketeering, sex trafficking, and child pornography, in cases in New York and Chicago between 2021 and 2022.
A Natural Hair Club At One Harlem Prep School Boosts Students’ Confidence In Their Crowns
The natural hair club teachers students about the history of hair discrimination alongside tools to style their tresses.
A prep school in Harlem has created a natural hair club to help Black and Brown students feel confident and take care of their textured hair.
The club’s beginnings were led by Jade Lambert, a teacher at Patrick Henry Prep School in Harlem. The public school teaches a wide range of students from grades 3K to 8th, serving its surrounding neighborhood as a hub for education and community.
Lambert saw a need for students to feel uplifted and knowledgeable about their natural hair. Wanting to supply them with the tools and skills needed to make their kinks and coils thrive, she launched the natural hair club last October.
“I just remember how I felt about my hair at that age, and I see it a lot in them.” explained Lambert to CBS News. “So, it was natural once I started teaching, it was the one of the first things that came to my mind because it’s something that we have in common.”
She obtained a grant that funded hair tools for young participants. However, the club meetings do more than teach new tricks for one’s hair. Lambert also uses the club as an educational opportunity, teaching students about the discrimination and subsequent advocacy surrounding natural hair.
“I just feel proud that I can give that information to them,” added Lambert.
In New York specifically, lawmakers passed the CROWN Act in 2019 to prevent discrimination against natural hair. With new legislation protecting individuals in school and the workplace, Lambert is adding to this cultural shift regarding textured hair.
Although the CROWN Act prevents discrimination, the law does not cover all forms of hate toward one’s hair. Especially in school settings, students can face bullying for having certain hair types.
According to the 2021 CROWN Research Study for Girls, nearly 100% of Black elementary school girls who experienced hair discrimination in majority-white schools did so by age 10. Over 60% of all Black school children in such institutions experienced it by age 12.
Wanting to combat bullying at the source, Lambert ensures that her natural hair club encourages self-love and celebrates all hair styles, especially those historically disenfranchised.
Furthermore, she wants students to feel encouraged to rock their hair in whatever style they feel best in. Calling it “an act of protest,” she intends to create a new generation of students who feel empowered and not ashamed of their natural crowns.
“Natural hair isn’t some form of being unkempt or isn’t you not caring about it. Maintaining your natural hair is probably the most care you can take to do hair at all,” Lambert said. “It’s quite literally an act of protest to wear your natural hair out.”
Hundreds Gather In Nation’s Capital For 15th Annual Black Women’s Roundtable Women of Power National Summit
The 15th annual Black Women’s Roundtable Women of Power National Summit brought together Black women leaders from nearly 20 states.
Hundreds of Black women leaders from across the country recently gathered in Washington, D.C. for the 15th annual Black Women’s Roundtable Women of Power National Summit, coming together to advance policy change, community organizing, wellness, and empowerment.
“There’s no sadness in this place — we come together and have joy,” said Melanie Campbell, president and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP). “It’s our way of celebrating Women’s History Month by bringing together Black women leaders from across the country.”
“Our theme is ‘United We Win,’” she added. “People leave these five days feeling more encouraged that whatever obstacles are in the way can be overcome, and how important it is that we overcome them together.”
Organized by the NCBCP and its Black Women’s Roundtable initiative, this year’s summit arrived at a pivotal moment as many Black women navigate economic uncertainty, workplace barriers, and ongoing concerns around civil rights and voting access. Designed to offer both strategy and support, the event centered on sparking meaningful conversations to strengthen leadership pipelines, boost entrepreneurship, and expand civic engagement. Attendees also met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill and participated in sessions focused on education, health, and community resilience.
“We focused on issues around freedom, democracy and justice, but also empowerment and quality of life,” Campbell said, noting this year’s focus on issues ranging from equal pay and barriers in healthcare to voting rights and the state of American democracy. “We’re also concerned about rights we believe have been eroded and what we must do collectively to protect them.”
Organizers also highlighted the economic power of Black women—who account for $1.7 trillion in annual consumer spending—and stressed the importance of using that influence to uplift communities through entrepreneurship and collective investment. The summit also featured a marketplace spotlighting Black women entrepreneurs, leadership awards, wellness programming, faith-based gatherings, and an intergenerational leadership track for young Black girls focused on mentorship and skill-building.
“We are very determined about exercising our power as Black women,” Campbell said. “Politically, we have power. We know we help drive the Black vote.”
Atlanta Airport Juggles Storm-Induced Flight Delays, Cancellations As TSA Wait Times Increase
Delta, whose major hub is located at the airport, had two ground stops due to "operational issues."
Atlanta’s main airport, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, had a rough Monday to start a busy travel week, dealing with storm-induced flight delays and cancellations as TSA troubles mount.
The Atlanta area dealt with severe weather on March 16, experiencing thunderstorms and even snow in some parts. The weather issue was heaviest in the morning, as the downpour impacted many early Monday flights.
As a result, WSB-TV reports the world’s busiest airport faced nearly 800 flight delays and over 300 cancellations. Delta, whose hub is at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, even preemptively asked passengers to reschedule their flights, if possible, to mitigate travel issues.
The major U.S. airline even prompted two ground stops amid the travel chaos. It requested a halt to all inbound flights to Atlanta for “operational purposes.”
“Delta requested a brief Air Traffic Control management program with the FAA on Monday evening to meter inbound flights to our Atlanta hub for operational purposes. We appreciate the partnership with Air Traffic Control and our customers’ patience as we work through ensuing delays caused by severe weather in eastern North America today,” shared Delta in a statement obtained by the news outlet.
However, weather was not the only concern for Hartsfield-Jackson and Delta, as TSA officer shortages stemming from the government shutdown exacerbated issues as the Department of Homeland Security went a fifth week without funding. TSA officers have officially missed a full paycheck, leading to worker shortages during this travel season.
Although already coming to a head at airports in Dallas and Austin, the issue is now causing hour-long waits at Atlanta’s security checkpoints. Personnel have used social media to warn travelers to arrive extra early to make their flight. Videos about the lengthy airport lines have gone viral on social media.
As of now, airport officials have encouraged passengers to exercise caution amid the long security lines.
Officials wrote, “Travelers are encouraged to allow extra time for security screening and arrive at least three hours ahead of their flights. We appreciate our passengers’ patience while we work to resolve the issue.”
Atlanta’s significant wait times, now ongoing due to TSA staffing issues, signal that another major airport has become impacted by the lingering government shutdown.
Amazon Becomes Largest Parcel Carrier, Dethroning US Postal Service Amid Money Woes
Amazon now reigns as the largest parcel carrier in the United States, dethroning the country’s own federal agency for mail deliveries.
FreightWaves confirmed that Amazon surpassed the U.S. Postal Service in delivery volume, handling more than 6.7 billion parcels in 2025. The online retailer saw a 9.8% year-over-year growth in parcel deliveries, compared to the 6.6 billion parcels handled by the USPS, which has faced an 8.3% decline.
The outlet noted that Amazon’s rise to the top of domestic parcel handling is not only due to its millions of users on its e-commerce platform. It also handles shipments through contract from third parties, adding to its shipment loads annually.
However, it is not the only upside. FedEx also reported a 5.9% increase in parcel deliveries. However, their load is still several billion parcels below Amazon, sitting at 3.6 billion for the past year. Another major shipping company, UPS, noted a 8.3% decline with only 4.4 billion deliveries handled.
The news comes amid other reports of an ongoing financial crisis plaguing the USPS. A December 2025 Government Accountability report found that the postal service has lost over $109 billion since it became unprofitable in 2007. The self-funded federal agency relies on its own revenue through stamps and shipments to stay afloat, but has struggled throughout the years to do so.
Without government support, the USPS expects to run out of cash by 2027, which would halt its delivery service. In light of this, the Trump administration has already warned that it will either insert new leadership or privatize the agency as its financial constraints worsen, as reported by USA Today.
Now, Amazon’s bypassing the federal agency for the most delivered parcels raises more concerns about the USPS’s relevance and efficiency, potentially thwarting its request for assistance. The USPS also has among the lowest revenue market shares of the major shipping companies.
Despite increases in parcel revenue, the USPS captures only 16.6% of these profits, with UPS dominating the market by nearly a third, taking in $58.3 billion in revenue. As more adults receive items through online retailers and their delivery services, USPS continues to be squeezed out of an increasingly tough market, with Amazon leading the charge.
2-Year Shutdown Planned For The Kennedy Center As Resignations And Trump-Led Changes Take Effect
The Kennedy Center will close for two years as Trump leads a major overhaul at the arts institution.
The board of directors at Kennedy Center has announced a two-year pause in operations as President Donald Trump leads a sweeping overhaul of the renowned Washington, D.C.-based arts institution.
The decision was announced on March 16 as part of Trump’s effort to reshape the Kennedy Center, CBS News reports. The board—now largely made up of members appointed by Trump—previously voted to rename the venue the Trump-Kennedy Center. Trump has said the closure is necessary for repairs, which are expected to begin after this summer’s July 4 celebrations.
“We’re going to ensure it remains the finest performing arts facility of its kind anywhere in the world,” Trump told reporters while speaking at the White House.
In a statement, the Kennedy Center said it approved a $257 million “comprehensive revitalization project” set to last two years, beginning after the July Independence Day celebrations, with a grand reopening planned afterward. The closure announcement comes about a month after Trump said he planned to shut down the Kennedy Center to address what he described as a deteriorating facility. Alongside the shutdown, the board voted to appoint Matt Floca as CEO and executive director, replacing Trump ally Richard Grenell, who previously oversaw sweeping changes and warned staff of cuts that could leave “skeletal teams.”
“From day one, our mission was to make the Trump Kennedy Center a place every American could be proud of, and this renovation is the fulfillment of that promise,” Grenell said in a statement. “What comes next will be worth the wait.”
Since the vote to rename the center—a move scholars and lawmakers say would require congressional approval—artists and performing groups have canceled appearances in protest, including a run of “Hamilton.” Notable figures such as Issa Rae, Béla Fleck, and Louise Penny withdrew from scheduled events, while advisers like Ben Folds and Renée Fleming stepped down. Earlier this month, National Symphony Orchestra Executive Director Jean Davidson left to lead the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts.
In the wake of these departures, the Kennedy Center’s programming has shifted toward aligning more closely with the White House’s cultural agenda. Recent developments include hosting the premiere of Melania Trump’s documentary “Melania,” securing the FIFA World Cup draw after outreach from Trump to Gianni Infantino, and Trump personally hosting the Kennedy Center Honors last December.
