Grant Hill, Tamia Hill, Orlando City Soccer Club, Pride, sports

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 1, 2025

Grant Hill Found Another Way To Deal With Pain After Being Prescribed Opioids Early In His Career

After experiencing several issues after taking the drug, he found a better way to deal with pain after having multiple surgeries

The widespread opioid crisis that recently blared from headlines around the world had already gripped the sports world many years ago, as evidenced by and recalled by former NBA player Grant Hill in an article published in 2017, when he discussed how he dealt with pain while he was still playing basketball.

According to The Basketball Network, it looked back on a 2017 GQ article that featured Hill as he spoke about the detrimental effects of having to deal with opioids. Back then, players really had no choice after an injury that required surgery; they were often prescribed opioids to deal with pain management, making it easier for some to get hooked on them. Hill told GQ that most people, including him, did not know what the side effects were of taking the drug, but he had to do some research to figure it out. But, being that the drug was the only option, he tolerated what came with taking it.

He first took opioids in 1993 after his first surgery. By the time 2000 came around, he started to experience a negative reaction around his second or third surgery, which caused several issues while taking the drug.

“My first surgery was in ’93. From that point forward—for my next nine procedures—I was prescribed opioids. Sometime in early 2000, around my second or third surgery, I started to experience an allergic reaction to that medication. I felt nauseous and my stomach hurt, and I developed an itching sensation and a rash. My body was…not a fan.”

He decided to find out why the drug was having the effects he was experiencing.

“When I first had surgery, I didn’t even know what an opioid was, let alone anything about the potential side effects. This experience really incentivized me to learn more about why that was the case, and after talking with doctors, I became aware of the problems associated with opioids—their side effects and their addictive nature. At that time, though, that’s all they had for surgery. That was what you did.”

Hill decided later to just avoid opioids altogether and found other ways to deal with pain. He did state that he relied on long-acting local anesthetics injected during surgery, which was a better option than him taking any chance of becoming addicted to the drug.

Serena Williams, super bowl, commercials

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 1, 2025

Serena Williams To Mentor Early-Stage VC Founders In New ‘Entrepreneur-In-Residence’ Role

Serena Williams is deepening her commitment to empowering the next generation of business leaders.

When Serena Williams launched Serena Ventures over a decade ago, she didn’t have a mentor—an experience that inspired her to now serve as one for early-stage VC founders.

The tennis legend recently joined Reckitt Catalyst as an “entrepreneur-in-residence,” mentoring U.S.-based founders through the British hygiene company’s social impact investment program. Her guidance supports Reckitt’s mission to provide health and hygiene solutions to 5 million people worldwide by 2030, aligning with her passion for helping early-stage VC founders receive the guidance she wishes she had starting out as an investor.

“In hindsight, I feel like I should have had more mentors,” Williams told Business Insider.

While she values the lessons she learned along the way, she often asks, “Why learn them when you can learn them from someone else?”

Since retiring from a stellar sports career, Williams has fully embraced the world of venture capital. As part of her new role at Reckitt, the tennis champion and mother of two continues to challenge herself, learning and growing as both an entrepreneur and investor.

“I feel like you learn something new every single day,” Williams said of joining the initiative. “I loved school, and I feel like I’m in school all day.”

With a $111 million VC fund that has backed 16 unicorns, Williams understands what it takes to attract the right investors: addressing a real need and showing genuine passion for the product.

“The founder can be amazing and smart and super likable, but if it’s not needed in the market, then it doesn’t fit,” she said.

“If they have a true connection to it, the businesses tend to do better,” Williams added, “as opposed to ‘Oh, there’s a white space, so we’re going to do it.'”

Connection is crucial for attracting investors and mentors in a startup. Williams advises founders to focus on building meaningful relationships with potential investors, rather than relying solely on the strength of their idea.

“When I think about what mentorship means and what I’ve learned, it’s really just about connections and unlocking how to get people to know about your product,” she said.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 1, 2025

Jay-Z Celebrates Grandmother’s 100th Birthday With Star-Studded Bash

Jay-Z brought the stars out to celebrate his grandmother's 100th birthday.

Jay-Z beamed during a recent celebrity gathering he hosted to celebrate his grandmother’s 100th birthday.

The hip-hop mogul and Beyoncé returned to Jay-Z’s hometown of New York City on Sept. 27 for a star-studded celebration honoring his grandmother, Hattie White, on her 100th birthday. The Carters were joined by Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles; Roc Nation artist Megan Thee Stallion; her boyfriend, NBA champion Klay Thompson; Grammy-winning rapper Nas; Coldplay frontman, Chris Martin; and many more.

Legendary musician Stevie Wonder performed at the event, which Tina Knowles gushed about in an Instagram recap of the milestone event.

“Stevie said ‘Happy Birthday to Ms Hattie White,’” Tina wrote. “The mayor of Brooklyn declared Sunday Ms. Hattie White Day! The elegant, classy, beautiful lady turned 100 and was celebrated by her family and friends at a party, fit for the Queen she is!!!”

“Stevie Wonder, one of her favorite artist [sic] paid tribute to her with her own private concert!!!,” she added. “Stevie reminded us of the many hits that he’s made!!! We danced the night away. Those Carters know how to party!!!!!!!!!”

A follow-up post showed Stevie serenading Ms. White, “the Golden Lady of the night,” Knowles said.

“What a glorious human being she is,” Tina wrote. “I can hear her famous quote, ‘life gave me lemons and I made lemonade!’ Jay you showed out for your grandma and she deserved every moment of it!”

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A post shared by Tina Knowles (@mstinaknowles)

In a video from the celebration shared on X, Jay-Z beamed with pride while holding the microphone, as his grandmother — dressed in a blue suit — stood beside him and her impressive gold cake, addressing the guests.

“I want to thank you for coming out and celebrating my 100th birthday,” Ms. White told the crowd. “May God bless all of ya’ll who traveled the road that I have traveled.”

https://twitter.com/TheRocSupremacy/status/1972127878675620348

Jay-Z has always embraced honoring the strong women in his family and their resilience in raising their loved ones from humble beginnings in Brooklyn, a legacy he acknowledged when accepting the NAACP President’s Award in 2019.

“I grew up knowing that I could accomplish anything because of those strong women in my house,” he said of his mom, Gloria Carter, and grandmother. “I would like to dedicate this award to those beautiful women.”

by Mitti Hicks

October 1, 2025

California Governor Signs Law To Regulate Top AI Companies

'California has proven that we can establish regulations to protect our communities while also ensuring that the growing AI industry continues to thrive,' Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement.

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law Monday, Sept. 29, aimed at enhancing online safety and establishing guardrails for artificial intelligence (AI).

According to the California Governor’s office, The Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act, or SB 53, imposes new AI-specific regulations on companies, establishes transparency requirements, and establishes a framework for reporting AI-related safety incidents.

“California has proven that we can establish regulations to protect our communities while also ensuring that the growing AI industry continues to thrive,” Newsom said in a statement.

“This legislation strikes that balance,” he added. “AI is the new frontier in innovation, and California is not only here for it—but stands strong as a national leader by enacting the first-in-the-nation frontier AI safety legislation that builds public trust as this emerging technology rapidly evolves.”

What California’s AI Law Could Mean Globally

As NBC reports, California’s new law could have significant ramifications globally, as 32 of the world’s top 50 AI companies are based in the Golden State.

According to Newsom, the legislation follows a report he requested from a group of world-leading AI academics and experts on “sensible AI guardrails, based on an empirical, science-based analysis of the capabilities and attendant risks of frontier models.”

The report included recommendations on ensuring evidence-based policymaking, striking a balance between the need for transparency and considerations such as security risks, and determining the appropriate level of regulation in the evolving industry. SB 53 is responsive to the recommendations in the report.

“With a technology as transformative as AI, we have a responsibility to support that innovation while putting in place commonsense guardrails to understand and reduce risk. With this law, California is stepping up, once again, as a global leader on both technology innovation and safety,” said State Senator Scot Wiener (D-San Francisco), who authored the legislation.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 1, 2025

Basketball Court Flooring With Michael Jordan’s Signature At The Center Of Legal Dispute

There’s legal dispute about the authenticity of a section of a United Center floor

In a legal dispute about the authenticity of a section of a United Center floor signed by NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan, boxer Logan Paul, who won an auction for what was marketed as “the ultimate Michael Jordan display piece,” has filed an injunction against Heritage Auctions.

According to ESPN, the popular YouTuber filed the paperwork in a Texas courtroom after he claimed that the auction house did not allow him to investigate the authenticity of the floor that was auctioned. The lawsuit states that the court’s condition “does not match the court from 1995-1998, as a result of the court either being replaced or, as Heritage claims, repainted and resurfaced.”

Paul says that Heritage informed him that if he did not initiate payment (his winning bid was $562,555.42) before Sept. 25, he could lose the rights to the item.

“It goes without saying that authenticity is everything in the collectibles community,” Josh Bernstein, Paul’s attorney, said in a written statement to the media outlet. “Collectors like Logan deserve, and are entitled to, proof of authenticity that holds up under scrutiny and addresses glaring holes and inconsistencies.”

Bernstein asked for and received a temporary restraining order and temporary injunction against Heritage Auctions, as the motion was granted on Sept. 26. The next court date for the temporary injunction has been scheduled for Oct. 9.

A spokesperson for the auction house stated that it does not believe the boxer’s injunction has any merit. Heritage claimed it made allowances for Paul “to accommodate any in-person inspection and reasonable efforts for additional review.”

“We stand behind every item that we sell,” Heritage said. “This lot would not have been included for sale at auction unless we were fully confident in its authenticity.”

The original listing described the floor as an 8-by-8-foot section of “1994-98 United Center Original Game Used Court,” which was signed by Jordan and includes the inscriptions “Air Jordan,” “5X MVP,” “6X Finals MVP,” “10X Scoring Title,” and “HOF 2009.” It was also listed with a certificate of authenticity from Upper Deck Authentication, as well as third-party authentication from PSA/DNA and Beckett Authentication Services.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 1, 2025

Regina King Celebrates Teyana Taylor In TIME100 Next, ‘Vibrant, Confident, And Unapologetically Herself’

Teyana Taylor is being honored as a one of the world's most influential rising stars.

Regina King is lending her voice to celebrate the multifaceted artistry of Teyana Taylor, a leading entertainer featured in the 2025 TIME100 Next list.

For those who have watched Taylor’s journey from MTV’s Super Sweet 16 to music superstar, Hollywood actress, and creative director, her inclusion on the TIME100 Next list comes as no surprise. For many, it’s an “about time” recognition, especially after her brief 2020 music retirement, when she cited feeling undervalued by the industry.

With new music released, an album on the horizon, and growing acclaim for her role in One Battle After Another alongside an A-list cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, and Regina Hall, Taylor is finally entering a season of well-deserved recognition. Regina King noted that this success is a testament to Taylor staying true to herself from the very beginning.

“I first met Teyana Taylor years ago, when my son and his friends were putting together a pilot and she was one of the artists they interviewed,” King wrote in her TIME100 Next feature. “Even then, she struck me as singular … vibrant, confident, and unapologetically herself. That hasn’t changed.”

She’s captured global attention with her iconic dance performance in Ye’s “Fade” music video, taken fashion runways by storm, and wowed audiences with electrifying stage performances. Taylor seamlessly advanced her own music career while guiding artists like Summer Walker and NBA Young Boy as a creative director, enhancing their live performances, and choreographing for major names such as Beyoncé, the Backstreet Boys, and productions like The Color Purple musical, among numerous other projects.

She also moved moviegoers with her breakout role in the family drama A Thousand and One, a powerful story infused with nods to her New York City roots. All of this she accomplished while raising her two daughters, Junie and Rue, and recently announced her enrollment in culinary school to pursue her lifelong passion for cooking. It’s all a testament to her resilience, work ethic, and undeniable artistry.

“Teyana moves through the world as an artist in every sense,” King wrote. “Whether she’s dancing, directing, singing, creating, or simply speaking, there is a depth and honesty that radiates from her. Her work reaches people because it is rooted in truth. You feel it, you recognize yourself in it, and you want to move with her. When Teyana takes the stage, she doesn’t just perform. She ignites!”

Alongside Teyana Taylor in the Artist category of the TIME100 Next list are Emmy-winning actor Tramell Tillman, Sinners breakout star Miles Caton, actor Damson Idris, and actress Kara Young, among others. Glorilla and Rema were featured in the Phenoms category, while Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott appeared in the Leaders category. See the full list HERE.

Actress ,Harvard’s American Repertory Theater, lawsuit

by Sharelle B. McNair

October 1, 2025

U.S. Civil Rights Agency Skips Out On Responsibilities By Eliminating Prominent Tool That Investigates Workplace Discrimination

Disparate-impact liability was first recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in case titled Griggs v. Duke Power Co.

In a memo, the U.S. civil rights agency announced plans to stop investigating complaints regarding company policies that don’t involve accusations of discrimination but may harm targeted groups, according to the Associated Press.

The note, dated Sept. 15, was sent to directors of all levels of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), stating that the agency, which is responsible for enforcing worker rights, will dismiss any complaints based on the legal concept of “disparate impact liability.” The concept argues that even if a policy appears fair, it can still be perceived as discriminatory if it creates unnecessary barriers that hinder specific groups of people from thriving.

Industry leaders label it as an effective tool used to weed out workplace discrimination, particularly at a time when algorithmic bias has grown more pertinent, with employers relying on A.I. during the hiring process. But the concept isn’t as popular as one may think.

Pushing disparate impact claims is less common than accusations of intentional discrimination, which is defined as disparate treatment. However, attorney Bradford Kelley, who also served as chief counsel to former Republican EEOC Commissioner Keith Sonderling, says, “The risk is still there,” with discrimination more likely to occur in new A.I. systems.

He pointed out that companies and federal agencies should be vigilant in monitoring their algorithms, as they may lead to disparate impact complaints. Civil rights and plaintiff-side employment attorney Christine Webber strongly agrees. “As AI is becoming more and more popular, it’s particularly important that we have the disparate impact tools available to be able to police it and make sure it’s not being used to resegregate the workforce,” Webber said.

Disparate-impact liability was first recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in the case titled Griggs v. Duke Power Co. According to the law firm Mayer Brown, the high court ruled that the listed employer’s practice of requiring potential employees to pass an “intelligence” test held no connection to the applicant’s ability to perform the job duties.

Title VII was violated because it disproportionately disqualified non-white applicants. The case resulted in Congress amending Title VII in the Civil Rights Act of 1991 to add Section 703(k), recognizing that discrimination could be based on “an unlawful employment practice based on disparate impact.” Following suit, disparate-impact liability has been embedded in several federal anti-discrimination laws, including the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Fair Housing Act (FHA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The move is being marked as a bold shift in EEOC enforcement, but not surprisingly, as it aligns with an April 2025 executive order signed by President Donald Trump, cited in the memo, demanding federal agencies make less use of disparate impact in civil rights enforcement, as he felt it encourages assumptions that any form of racial workplace imbalance is a result of discrimination. Workers with submitted complaints on such grounds are scheduled to receive a notice encouraging them to pursue the case in court on their own will.

Former EEOC General Counsel Karla Gilbride, who was fired from the agency in January 2025, said she was “disturbed” by the decision. Another former commissioner, Chai Feldblum, highlighted how this will affect employees since disparate impact ties into company-wide or industry-wide policies. “You’re talking about thousands of people who could be affected by this,” Feldblum added.

Shaquille O’Neal, shaq, Georgia, Sheriff's Office, Teen, VIO, Tip

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 1, 2025

Shaq Gifted Kobe Bryant’s Mother Restored Land Cruiser Her Son Owned In High School

The NBA Hall of Famer presented it to her on Kobe Bryant's birthday, Aug. 23.

Shaquille O’Neal gave Kobe Bryant’s mom the 1996 Toyota Land Cruiser that her son owned in high school—fully restored.

Bryant’s former teammate gave the car to Pam Bryant on August 23, what would have been the late NBA legend’s 47th birthday.

According to Japanese Nostalgic Car, the TNT analyst took his request to Effortless Motors, a Riverside, California, customization shop that had previously worked on several automobiles for Shaq.

As a surprise gift for Kobe’s mother, he wanted the shop to bring the vehicle to its original look. Pam Bryant now resides in Las Vegas, where the car sat for years exposed to various natural elements that corroded the decades-old vehicle. Then, there were the Pennsylvania winters the car endured when Bryant was a star at Lower Merion High School, outside of Philadelphia.

NBC Los Angeles spoke to the men responsible for the restoration of the Land Cruiser, Ahmad Abdelrahman and Daniel Ubario, owners of Effortless Motors, about taking on the task.

“Anybody that’s fortunate enough to get to work with Shaquille O’Neal, the number one thing you don’t want to do is let Shaq down, man,” Abdelrahman said.

“It was in a little rough condition,” Ubario said. “The paint, we had to do a fully, fully restore, 360 restore. Interior was a little rough.”

The job was completed to Shaq’s satisfaction, but, more importantly, to Kobe’s mom’s.

“She was extremely thankful and to be there on Kobe’s birthday, and I met her for the first time. It meant a lot to me, too,” Abdelrahman said.

Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, 13, died in a helicopter crash in January 2020. Bryant, who retired from the Los Angeles Lakers in 2016, was 41 years old.

Supreme Court,Mississippi, jury selection

by Kandiss Edwards

October 1, 2025

Georgia Gullah-Geechee Community Favored In Supreme Court Ruling

The ruling overturns a lower court’s decision blocking the Gullah-Geechee community from opposing McIntosh County.

The Gullah-Geechee community in Georgia is celebrating after the state’s Supreme Court ruled the citizens’ referendum on Sapelo Island may move forward.

The Sept. 30 referendum ruling overturns a lower court’s decision that had blocked voting on proposed amendments that allow large new construction projects in the area.

McIntosh County appealed to courts, asserting that citizens did not have the power to stop county zoning decisions.

The Georgia Supreme Court disagreed with the argument. Justice John Ellington wrote, “Nothing in the text of the Zoning Provision in any way restricts a county electorate’s authority to seek repeal of a zoning ordinance.”

Supporters of the referendum called the decision a vindication, with resident Jazz Watts quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.“: The time is always right to do what’s right,” Watts told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Residents in the Hogg Hummock community, which is registered on the National Register of Historic Places, are challenging the McIntosh County zoning ordinance. The ordinance would double the maximum square footage allowed for homes in the area. As the proposed increase in allowable home square footage would double from 1,400 to 3,000, precipitating a rise in property taxes, residents are resisting.

While property taxes are one consideration, residents fear displacement and erosion of the island’s cultural fabric. Local advocates gathered more than 2,300 signatures to force the referendum. The petition prompted legal countermeasures from county officials who argued zoning matters should not be subject to voter repeal.

McIntosh County officials said they will respect the ruling.

While the decision allows the referendum to restart, no new date has been announced. In the meantime, the zoning ordinance cannot be enforced until the people have their day in court.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 1, 2025

Spike Lee Urges African Americans To ‘Come Back To The Motherland’ In Africa

Spike Lee wants African Americans to tap into their roots in the African motherland.

Spike Lee is fully immersed in his ambassadorship role in Benin, where he’s urging African Americans to reconnect with their ancestral roots on the continent.

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Spike Lee and his wife, Tonya Lewis Lee, were recently appointed as thematic ambassadors to Benin, representing the African American diaspora in the U.S. In this role, the couple is charged with inspiring African Americans to make pilgrimages to Benin, a West African nation with profound ties to the Atlantic Slave Trade.

With nations such as Benin, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Guinea-Bissau opening pathways to citizenship for African Americans, Lee emphasizes that now is the moment to return to the motherland.

“Our brothers and sisters in Benin are telling us: come home, welcome us home, come back to the motherland. Come back [to] where your roots are,” Lee told France24.

In July, Lee and his wife stepped into their new roles as thematic ambassadors for Benin to the African diaspora in the United States. Their appointment aligns with Benin’s wider initiative to reconnect the diaspora with its heritage, boost cultural tourism, and encourage nationality applications from descendants of those taken from Benin during the transatlantic slave trade.

The couple plans to leverage their global platforms to amplify awareness and support for these efforts, which they describe as a “blueprint” for African Americans in the U.S. Whether it’s a trip to Benin or exploring dual citizenship, Lee believes it’s an option worth considering as Americans navigate what he calls “the year of living dangerously,” a nod to the 1982 Peter Weir film, under Trump’s second presidential term.

For Lewis Lee, the president’s rhetoric is nothing new, pointing to her parents’ experiences growing up in the segregated South. She says Trump’s controversial remarks and actions merely bring to the surface sentiments that are often kept hidden.

“To me, Donald Trump is nothing new. I think he’s he’s saying the quiet parts out loud,” she said. “I think we make we make a lot of progress, and then we make steps backwards, and then we make progress again.”

“The good news is, Donald Trump will not be president forever,” Tonya added. “And people will rise up, as they are [doing].”

The BlacKkKlansman director pointed to the recent controversy over the temporary suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show, which was swiftly reinstated after widespread backlash from Americans who protested by canceling their Disney, Hulu, and ESPN subscriptions.

“People are being galvanised by what’s happening in the White House. So justice is going to prevail,” Lee said.