• Education

by Kandiss Edwards

November 7, 2025

Spelman Partners With NEON To Offer College Courses To High School Students

Spelman and NEON aim to expand college readiness and awareness for students who are historically under-represented in higher education. 

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Spelman College is expanding its reach beyond its Atlanta campus. In partnership with the National Education Opportunity Network (NEON), the HBCU is offering college-credit courses to high schoolers who might otherwise never step into a college lecture hall.

Previously known as the National Education Equity Lab, the NEON initiative brings credit-bearing courses to Title I schools. 

The Education of Black Girls, taught by Andrea Lewis, Ph.D., was the first course offered in 2023. After a successful run, the program now includes another course, African Diaspora and the World, which began Fall 2025, taught by Chatee’ Omísade Richardson, Ph.D. Beginning at 50 students, the courses now serve up to 300, according to a press release from Spelman College.

“The growth has been outstanding,” said Lewis. “To be able to offer a college-level course to high school students in underserved communities has been transformational. Spelman has always been community-oriented, but this has taken our mission to the next level. It speaks directly to high school students’ continued interest in HBCUs and recent national trends in increasing admission rates at HBCUs.”

Laura Moore, NEON’s chief higher education officer, stressed the need for educational equity. 

“With 60 percent of NEON scholars identifying as female and 93 percent self-reporting as students of color, we are honored to not only bring rigorous courses but ones that have proven deeply impactful for our scholars,” Moore said.

To date, the initiative has reached 767 students from 47 high schools across 19 cities. Since 2019, NEON’s model has connected colleges like Harvard, Stanford, and Spelman to more than 25,000 students across 30 states.

By opening its curriculum to high-school students and reinforcing mentorship-based models, Spelman and NEON aim to expand college readiness and awareness for students who are historically under-represented in higher education. 

Spelman is riding a high in the second half of 2025. As the institution continues to invest in the community others are investing into the HBCU. Just recently, Mackenzie Scott, philanthropist and former wife of Jeff Bezos, gifted the school with a $38 million donation. The HBCU thanked Scott for her generous donation, hailing the windfall as an opportunity for “enhancing the student experience, modernizing technology, and expanding financial opportunity.”

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• Sports

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 7, 2025

Former NFL Player Jamal Anderson Arrested For Alleged Domestic Violence Act

He is slated to return to court Dec. 3 after posting $50,000 bond

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Former Atlanta Falcons player Jamal Anderson was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence in Los Angeles on Nov. 5.

According to NBC Los Angeles, the 53-year-old former running back was taken into custody at his San Fernando Valley house after police officers responded to a call around 11 a.m. Police say that he was involved in a verbal altercation that turned physical after he allegedly strangled the victim.

Paramedics were called to the scene, but the victim declined treatment.

Anderson was released after posting a $50,000 bond, according to Los Angeles County jail records. No information was available about any upcoming court appearances.

The New York Post reported that the former Falcons player has a scheduled court date for Dec. 3 at 8:30 a.m.

Anderson, whom the Falcons selected in the 1994 NFL Draft in the seventh round, played his entire football career with the Atlanta team. He retired in 2001 after suffering a knee injury.

Before joining the NFL, Anderson, who was born in Woodland Hills, attended El Camino Real High School in Los Angeles. He played collegiate football at Moorpark College and the University of Utah. Although he wasn’t a household name, his best season came in 1998, when he rushed for 1,846 yards and scored 14 touchdowns. He earned a spot in the Pro Bowl that season, despite the Falcons’ loss to the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl.

Sadly, this is not Anderson’s first brush with the law, according to WSB-TV. He has been arrested several times in Georgia since leaving the NFL.

Police officers arrested Anderson in 2009 for suspected cocaine possession. In 2016, Anderson was accused of exposing himself at a QuikTrip in Gwinnett County, but the clerk at the gas station refused to press charges, although the former athlete was banned from returning to the property.

Then in 2018, he was arrested after having a dispute with a limo driver who accused him of not paying a $50 fare. He was arrested repeatedly on several Driving Under the Influence (DUI) charges in DeKalb, Gwinnett, and Hall County.

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• Celebrity News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 7, 2025

Ye Cites Bipolar Disorder While Apologizing For Past Antisemitic Remarks

Ye sat down with a Jewish Rabbi to issue a public apology for his past antisemitic actions.

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Ye has made the bold move to sit down with a rabbi to atone for his past antisemitic remarks, attributing his behavior to his bipolar disorder diagnosis.

Video shared online from the Grammy-winning mogul’s Nov. 4 meeting with Rabbi Yoshiayao Yosef Pinto shows Ye holding the Rabbi’s hands while apologizing to the Jewish community for his past antisemitic behavior, which he attributed to personal “issues” he was struggling with at the time due to his personal mental health battles.

“I feel really blessed to sit here and take accountability,” West said in a clip shared online. “I was dealing with various issues. I was dealing with bipolar also, so I would take the ideas I had and forget about the protection of the people around me and myself. So I wanted to take accountability.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by הרב יאשיהו פינטו | Rabbi Yoshiayao Yosef Pinto – Official (@rabbi_pinto)

Without directly referencing his past actions, which included antisemitic social media posts, controversial interviews, and public appearances wearing swastika shirts, Ye issued an apology, comparing his behavior to the effects of his bipolar episodes.

“So it’s like if you left the house and you left your kid at the house and your kid went and messed up the kitchen and messed up the garage and messed up the living room,” Ye explained. “Then, when you get back, it’s your responsibility because that’s your job. That’s the way I look at it. It’s like I gotta go clean up the kitchen, I gotta clean up the living room, I gotta clean up the garage.”

Ye said his public apology demonstrates his desire to “take accountability,” describing it as the “first steps” in rebuilding his relationship with the Jewish community “brick by brick” to create “strong walls” of repair.

Pinto, head of the Shuva Israel institutions, had a translator convey his acceptance of Ye’s apology.

“This is the true strength of man: The ability to return, to learn, and to build bridges of love and peace,” Pinto said.

The apology represents a turning point for Ye, whose antisemitic remarks severely impacted his billionaire status. Following the backlash, the Chicago native lost partnerships with Adidas, Balenciaga, Gap, Universal Music Group, and others, causing his net worth to drop from an estimated $2 billion to roughly $400 million.

While Ye has continued releasing music over the years, he has not worked within the major label system since his split from UMG in 2022, nor has he performed a U.S. concert this year. He has taken his shows international, including a July performance in South Korea, with upcoming concerts in South Africa in December and Mexico in January. The “Stronger” rapper has also postponed the release of his upcoming Bully album.

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• News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 7, 2025

SNAP Benefits To Drop to 65% In November As Trump Administration Appeals Court Order For Full Payments

SNAP recipients will get 65% of their November benefits, up from 50%, as the Trump administration appeals to release full payments during the government shutdown.

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When November SNAP benefits are finalized, recipients will receive a larger portion of their monthly payments than originally expected, as the Trump administration appeals a judge’s order mandating full coverage of food stamp benefits for tens of millions of Americans.

On Nov. 5, Patrick Penn, a U.S. Department of Agriculture official overseeing food and nutrition services, including SNAP, stated in a court declaration that maximum allotments for food-stamp recipients will be reduced by 35% this month, rather than cut in half, CBS News reports. This means beneficiaries will receive up to 65% of their benefits, higher than the 50% initially directed for states to implement earlier this week.

However, amid the daily changes in information regarding the benefits, received by over 40 million Americans, by Nov. 7, the Trump administration made an emergency request to the First Circuit Court of Appeals, a day after a federal judge in Rhode Island said the U.S. Department of Agriculture must find additional money to make the payments, a rejection of the administration’s decision to only partially fund the food benefits program this month.

Addressing the change in partial SNAP benefits from 50% to 65%, the Justice Department stated in a separate filing that the USDA “realized this error” after further calculations. On Nov. 4, the agency initially notified states of the November benefits reduction but later issued updated guidance to help states determine the correct allotments for each eligible household, according to government lawyers.

Meanwhile, the Justice Department, representing the USDA in court, told the Boston-based appeals court that U.S. District Judge John McConnell exceeded his authority with his Nov. 6 order to secure additional funds for full SNAP benefit payments. The DOJ argued that McConnell’s decision “thrust the Judiciary into the ongoing shutdown negotiations and may well extend the lapse in appropriations, worsening the problem the court was attempting to address.”

“This unprecedented injunction makes a mockery of the separation of powers. Courts hold neither the power to appropriate nor the power to spend,” they wrote. “There is no lawful basis for an order that directs USDA to somehow find $4 billion in the metaphorical couch cushions.”

Late last month, the Trump administration warned states that November SNAP payments would be delayed due to the ongoing government shutdown. After a coalition of municipalities and nonprofits filed a lawsuit, a federal judge in Rhode Island ordered the USDA to use a contingency fund to cover the benefits gap.

Amid the legal dispute and the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, the USDA has now provided enough funding for states to issue partial November benefits, following Judge McConnell’s order, which has since been appealed to the First Circuit. Nearly 42 million Americans rely on food stamps, with payments issued on a staggered schedule throughout the month. States are processing partial benefits at different speeds, with some indicating recipients may start receiving assistance next week, while others warn it could take longer.

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• Health and Wellness

by Jameelah Mullen

November 7, 2025

New Study Links Melatonin Use To Heart Failure, Here’s What You Need To Know

Is melatonin bad for your heart?

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A preliminary study suggests melatonin may pose risks to heart health. The American Heart Association reported.

In a review of medical records, thousands of adults with chronic insomnia who took melatonin for a year or longer faced a 90% higher risk of heart failure over the next five years compared to those with chronic insomnia who did not take melatonin, the Nov. 3 press release noted. Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced by the pineal gland and helps regulate the body’s sleep-wake cycle. Synthetic versions of the hormone are used to treat insomnia.

The American Heart Association advises caution before viewing melatonin as a threat. The study had notable limitations and wasn’t designed to establish cause and effect, which conflicts with earlier research indicating potential heart health benefits.

“The findings are certainly provocative and warrant attention, especially given the widespread perception of melatonin as a benign, ‘natural’ sleep aid,” Muhammad Rishi, an associate professor of clinical medicine and spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, who was not involved in the study, told the Washington Post. “However, the study is observational and based on electronic health record data, which limits its ability to establish causality.”

Dr. Ekenedilichukwu Nnadi, the lead research author and chief resident in internal medicine at SUNY Downstate/Kings County Primary Care in Brooklyn, NY, expressed his surprise about the study’s findings. 

“Melatonin supplements are widely thought of as a safe and ‘natural’ option to support better sleep, so it was striking to see such consistent and significant increases in serious health outcomes, even after balancing for many factors,” Dr. Nnadi said in a press release.

The study hasn’t undergone peer review or journal publication yet, but researchers will present it at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2025 in New Orleans from November 7–10.

The American Heart Association defines heart failure as a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the body’s organs for them to function properly. According to the 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, heart failure affects 6.7 million adults in the United States. 

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• Arts and Culture

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 7, 2025

Studio Museum In Harlem To Celebrate New Home With Community Day

The ceremony will take place Saturday, Nov. 15.

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The Studio Museum in Harlem is continuing its legacy of celebrating art across the African diaspora with the unveiling of a building.

On Saturday, Nov. 15, the museum will host a Community Day celebration to welcome visitors into its new home, according to a press release. Designed by Adjaye Associates with Cooper Robertson as executive architect, the seven-story, 82,000-square-foot building marks the first purpose-built home in the Studio Museum’s 57-year history, made possible through a holistic campaign that has raised over $300 million.

“With deep gratitude to our visionary founders, who dared to create the Studio Museum amid the ferment of 1968, and to all the Trustees, staff, campaign supporters, artists, curators, educators, architects, community members, and partners in the City of New York who have made the Studio Museum into what it is today, we welcome Harlem and all the world into the home we have dreamed of having,” said Thelma Golden, Ford Foundation Director and the museum’s chief curator. “Our mission as champions of artists of African descent and their practices is as urgent today as it ever was and is made all the more possible because of our remarkable new building.”

As part of its Nov. 15 unveiling, the Studio Museum will offer free admission, inviting the public to explore its inaugural exhibitions, participate in art-making workshops, and enjoy performances, games, giveaways, and DJ sets throughout the day.

The celebration continues the next day with the premiere of Studio Sundays—a weekly day of free, family-friendly programming featuring art workshops, guided tours, gallery talks, and storytime sessions.

The museum’s inaugural exhibitions will include a major showcase of Tom Lloyd, the pioneering artist featured in the Studio Museum’s first-ever exhibition in 1968; From Now: A Collection in Context, a rotating display of works from the museum’s 9,000-piece permanent collection of artists of African descent spanning the 1800s to today; From the Studio: Fifty-Eight Years of Artists in Residence, featuring new works on paper by over 100 program alumni in an intergenerational dialogue; and To Be a Place, an archival exhibition highlighting photographs and ephemera from nearly six decades of the museum’s history, tracing its evolution through eras of cultural and political change.

Founded by a collective of artists and activists in 1968, the Studio Museum closed its 125th Street location in 2018 to begin construction on its first purpose-built home. The museum originally opened on Fifth Avenue before relocating in the 1980s to 125th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard, occupying the former New York Bank of Savings building.

The new state-of-the-art facility features expansive galleries, a spacious lobby, flexible program areas, and a dedicated Education Workshop—designed to deepen community engagement and enhance the museum’s service to artists, visitors, and Harlem alike. The new space also expands exhibition areas and doubles the size of the artist-in-residence program, while increasing indoor and outdoor public spaces by 60%.

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• Celebrity News

by Kandiss Edwards

November 7, 2025

Michael Jackson Fans Can’t ‘Get Enough’ Of The Trailer For ‘Michael’ Biopic

In the trailer Jaafar moonwalks in the iconic red leather Thriller jacket, donning Micheal’s signature fedora and commanding the stage.

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The official trailer for the Michael Jackson biopic Michael dropped Nov. 6, and social media is in a frenzy. 

Audiences received their first look at actor Jaafar Jackson, the nephew of Michael Jackson. The young Jackson will take on the much-anticipated performance-heavy tribute to the King of Pop’s legacy. The film is set for release in April 2026 and is directed by Antoine Fuqua and produced by Graham King. 

In the trailer, Jaafar moonwalks in the iconic red leather Thriller jacket, donning Michael’s signature fedora and commanding the stage. Michael’s voice echoes the opening of Don’t Stop till You Get Enough. The supporting cast includes Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, and Miles Teller as attorney John Branca.

According to the trailer’s synopsis, the film traces Jackson’s early days with the Jackson 5, his rise to global fame, and the behind-the-scenes struggles that shaped him. 

As the King of Pop is one of the most notable figures in Pop history, his loyal fanbase is ecstatic. Many took to social media to express excitement at what appears to be a historically accurate depiction. Fans have created side-by-side comparisons of Jaafar and Michael’s performances. 

X user @ofanoftherI9ver commented about the detailed performances and how they honor the late musician.  

“Video comparison of the new MJ biopic, their dedication and accuracy to nailing down the costumes, dance moves, and cinematography is deeply admirable and is truly a love letter to Michael Jackson himself.”

@bigfairee expresses the depths of her fandom and vows to fall apart exiting the theater “both times” for what is rumored to be a two-part biopic. 

“Y’ALL DON’T UNDERSTAND! I’VE LOVED THIS MAN FOR MY WHOLE LIFE. I’M READY TO LEAVE THAT THEATER A F*CKING MESS BOTH TIMES.”

@ugust_moon points out the details, calling them “biblically accurate.”

“Him being the only one w/ orange juice?! This is biblically accurate, I’m going crazy.”

Another X user, @ScottDMenzel, predicted a mass turnout and monetary payout for the film. 

“If you grew up with the music of Michael Jackson, it’s almost impossible to watch this trailer and not get goosebumps. This movie is going to make so much money. “

Fans are in a frenzy. The King’s story has been told, to some extent, in the 1992 mini-series The Jacksons: An American Dream, co-produced by Margaret Maldonado Jackson, and in other unsanctioned films. However, the story stopped shy of Jackson’s early career. For fans, the ability to relive such an exciting time in music history is irresistible. Michael, the biopic, will hit theaters on April 24, 2026. Plan accordingly. 

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• Culture

by Jameelah Mullen

November 7, 2025

Prince Hall Freemasons Retain Historic Site In Washington, D.C.

This historic landmark stands tall despite gentrification.

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The Prince Hall Free and Accepted Masons and Eastern Stars of the District of Columbia has won the right to retain ownership of its historic location in the District’s U Street corridor, a neighborhood once known as the hub of Black business, arts, and culture. 

The organization, through its charity, the Prince Hall Free and Accepted Masons and Order of the Eastern Stars Educational Charitable Foundation, received approval from the D.C. Council to retain its tax-exempt status of its building, located at 10th and U.. 

The temple’s tax-exempt status was at risk due to a name change and required reapplication. In 2022, the former Prince Hall Freemason and Eastern Star Charitable Foundation became the Prince Hall Free & Accepted Mason and the Order of the Eastern Star Charitable Educational Foundation (PHFAMOESCEF).

“In 2022, we at the foundation wanted to keep the tax exemption, but when we changed the name, the exemption did not come with that,
Marquis McCants, president and CEO of Prince Hall, told the Washington Informer. 

The Foundation leaders had to then reapply for a tax exemption with assistance from D.C. Council member Brianne Nadeau (D-Ward 1). They applied for the exemption in 2024 and reintroduced it this year.

The neighborhood, which once had over 200 Black-owned businesses, has gone through significant gentrification in the past decade, forcing out Black residents and erasing the vibrant history and culture of what was once a self-sustaining Black community.

Founded in 1825 by both enslaved and free Black people, Prince Hall Masonic Temple became the meeting place of the nation’s first and largest Black fraternity. The group purchased the lot on U Street and built the temple in 1929. The building once housed a restaurant, a bowling alley, and a ballroom, and rented office space to Black businesses.

Glenn Ruffin, the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Prince Hall Masons, said “the U Street Building has a historic value to Black people.”

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• Celebrity News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 7, 2025

Soulja Boy, Safaree Among Celebrities Trying To Persuade Trump to Pardon Sean Kingston

Kingston is currently serving a three-and-a-half year prison sentence.

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Sean “Diddy” Combs is not the only celebrity seeking a pardon. TMZ Hip Hop reports that recording artist Sean Kingston is seeking one and that several of his famous friends have written to President Donald Trump in an effort to secure his release and his mother’s release from prison.

The media outlet reports that hip-hop recording artist Soulja Boy, reality TV star and songwriter Safaree, and streamer Jack Doherty have all written letters to Trump.

Among the highlights, according to TMZ Hip Hop: “Soulja Boy calls the situation heartbreaking and wrong, having endured his own legal issues in the past … while Safaree, who long bonded with Sean through their Jamaican heritage, pointed out to Trump this is the type of injustice he’s been trying to combat.”

TMZ Hip Hop obtained a pardon application that was filed by Kingston’s legal team. Along with the application were the letters from the aforementioned personalities. It was submitted to the White House in July.

Janice Turner was sentenced to five years in prison in July, while her son was given three-and-a-half years in August. U.S. District Judge David Leibowitz ordered Kingston and Turner to pay $38,500 in restitution to a victim identified as “B.C.”

Kingston and his mother were found guilty March 28 of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud after being accused of defrauding a handful of different businesses, including a jewelry business, a luxury bed company, a used luxury and exotic car dealership, and a luxury microLED TV company. The pair’s crimes totaled more than $1 million.

6 South Florida reported that Turner may face deportation to her home island of Jamaica after she completes her sentence.

The duo committed multiple crimes between April 2023 and March 2024.

Turner was arrested during a May 2024 raid at the Southwest Ranches mansion that Kingston lived. Kingston was arrested the same day in California after arrest warrants were issued for him and his mother.

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• Sports

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 7, 2025

Former NFL Player Antonio Brown Extradited From Dubai To Face Attempted Murder Charge In Miami

The charge came on the heels of an incident that took place at an event in May.

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Former NFL player Antonio Brown has been arrested and extradited from Dubai after leaving the country following the issuance of an arrest warrant. The warrant was for an attempted murder charge after an incident in Miami that took place in May.

According to People, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers player was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service and transported to New Jersey, where he is being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility. He will stand trial after being charged with second-degree attempted murder with a firearm and will be taken back to Miami.

The Miami Police Department released a statement to the media outlet.

“Following a thorough investigation, Antonio Brown (AB) has been identified as the shooter. This is just another example of the relentless work and dedication of Miami Police Detectives, working closely with Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, and U.S. Marshals to identify and arrest those who commit crimes in the City of Miami.”

Miami police issued the warrant after an incident that occurred on May 17 at an event hosted by streamer Adin Ross. According to the warrant, witnesses identified Brown as the shooter in an incident where several shots were fired.

The dispute was between Brown and the man he allegedly shot at, whom he had known since 2022. The man, identified by CBS News as Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, told investigators one of the bullets fired had grazed his neck. He told them that Brown “began to run toward him with a firearm” after the two had fought earlier that night. Nantambu said that after they fought, Brown returned with a gun and fired two shots at him.

Police officers detained Brown on the night of the incident but released him without arresting or charging him. He took to social media, claiming that he was jumped by several people who attempted to steal his jewelry.

Regarding the boxing event that happened last night. I was jumped by multiple individuals who tried to steal my jewelry and cause physical harm to me. Contrary to some video circulating, Police temporarily detained me until they received my side of the story and then released me.…

— AB (@AB84) May 17, 2025

Brown played in the NFL from 2010 to 2021. He suited up for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the New England Patriots, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, winning a championship with the Bucs in 2021.

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