by Mitti Hicks

March 17, 2026

Cubas Experiencing Island-Wide Black Out Amid Energy Crisis

This marks the third major blackout in Cuba in just four months.

Cuba is experiencing islandwide blackouts as the country grapples with an economic and energy crisis, as its power grid crumbles. On X, the Ministry of Energy and Mines tweeted that there is a “complete disconnection” of the country’s electrical system and that it would be investigating the outages.

According to the Associated Press, Lazara Guerra, the ministry’s electricity director, told state media that crews are trying to reboot several thermoelectric plants, which are key to restoring power on the island.

“It must be done gradually to avoid setbacks,” Guerra stated. “Systems, when weak, are more susceptible to failure.”

This marks the third major blackout in Cuba in just four months. While the country is facing challenges with eroding infrastructure that have led to daily outages, Cuban officials are also blaming its problems on a U.S. energy blockade. President Donald Trump warned of tariffs on any country that sells or provides oil to Cuba.

Cubans are in a tough spot. The Trump administration is demanding that leaders release political prisoners and move toward political and economic liberalization in return for lifting the sanctions. Even more worrisome is Trump’s calls for a “friendly takeover of Cuba.”

“I mean, whether I free it, take it. I think I could do anything I want with it,” Trump said on Monday about Cuba. He added that the island is a “very weakened nation.”

The Trump administration wants Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel to step down as the United States negotiates with the Cuban government about the island nation’s future, the New York Times reports.

Without coming to an agreement, Cuban residents will continue to struggle with a lack of power.

“We have to prepare a mattress for the girls here so that they can sleep here because we have no choice,” Yuneici Cecilia Riviaux told the Associated Press.

William LeoGrande, professor at the American University, who has tracked Cuba for years, told the publication that the country’s energy grid has not been properly maintained. He added that the infrastructure is “way past its normal useful life.”

YouTube, AI, fake news, Black celebrities

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 17, 2026

YouTube To Allow Politicians, Government Officials, And Journalists To Have Likeness Removed From AI-Generated Content

YouTube will begin allowing certain public figures to request the removal of AI-generated content that uses their likeness.

YouTube is expanding its crackdown on AI-generated content.

On March 10, YouTube announced it is expanding its likeness detection pilot—previously available to creators in the YouTube Partner Program—to include government officials, journalists, and political candidates. The tool, similar to Content ID, scans for a participant’s likeness in AI-generated content.

If a match is found, such as a deepfake using their face, the individual can review the video and request its removal if it violates the platform’s privacy guidelines.

“This expansion is really about the integrity of the public conversation,” said Leslie Miller, YouTube’s vice president of Government Affairs and Public Policy, in a press briefing. “We know that the risks of AI impersonation are particularly high for those in the civic space. But while we are providing this new shield, we’re also being careful about how we use it,” she noted.

While not every flagged video will be removed, YouTube said each request will be reviewed under its existing privacy policies. The company will assess whether the content qualifies as parody or political commentary—forms of expression that are protected. The pilot program is designed to balance free speech with the growing risks posed by AI tools capable of creating convincing likenesses of public figures.

“There’s a lot of content that’s produced with AI, but that distinction’s actually not material to the content itself,” explained Amjad Hanif, YouTube’s vice president of creator products, as to the label’s placement. “It could be a cartoon that is generated with AI. And so I think there’s a judgment on whether it’s a category that maybe merits from a very visible disclaimer,” he said.

Alongside tightening its rules on AI-generated content, YouTube is also pushing for federal protections by backing the NO FAKES Act in Washington, D.C. The proposed law would regulate the use of AI to create unauthorized versions of a person’s voice or likeness. YouTube also plans to expand its deepfake detection tools to cover recognizable voices and other intellectual property, including popular characters.

BLEXIT, Candace Owens, Segregation, Donald Trump,

by Sharelle B. McNair

March 17, 2026

‘Bride of Charlie’ Is Doing Historic Numbers On Viewership—But Is Candace Owens Going Too Far?

Owens hasn't stopped talking about the Kirks since Charlie's assassination, making it clear during an episode of her podcast there will be nothing stopping her from finding the truth.

The investigative series “Bride of Charlie” by conservative podcast host Candace Owens about Erika Kirk, the widow of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) Founder Charlie Kirk, is achieving historic numbers on YouTube. Yet, some critics feel she is taking things a little too far.

The first episode of the YouTube series has already surpassed five million views, with episode seven pulling in 2.2 million views and episode six 1.9 million. The series touches on claims that the widow is linked to disturbing things, such as satanic rituals, with unverified evidence, but the number of viewers resembles a hit-making Netflix show.

Since Kirk’s September 2025 assassination while giving a speech on a college campus, Owens, who used to work for TPUSA and labeled herself as a very good friend of the deceased, hasn’t taken her foot off the gas of claims that his wife is running the company into the ground, among other things. Just months after Kirk was killed, Owens claimed the company, now led by his widow, was hiding an unknown truth surrounding Kirk’s death. During a November 2025 episode of her “The Candace Show” podcast, she made it clear that nothing will stop her from finding the truth. “Charlie was right,” Owens said.

“He knew I would be the one to defend him after death.”

But allegations of her going a little off the edge started to fly when she dropped footage of the shooting from behind Kirk’s head without warning viewers. Owens told viewers she had been holding on to the footage for months — and then shifted to topics correlated to Freemasonry, claiming Kirk “was likely sacrificed,” according to Wealth of Geeks.

As Owens reads from notes or a teleprompter, critics are pushing claims of her being insincere and using the killing as proof that she’s turning a tragedy into content. But she has doubled down on naming TPUSA and accusing it of betrayals, and linking Kirk’s death to his views on issues like war with Iran. She even made bold claims that the widow once crossed paths with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. “I have a hunch, a growing hunch, that Erika and Jeffrey Epstein may have crossed paths,” she said in an episode titled “EXPLOSIVE! What Erika Kirk Was Doing In Epstein’s Orbit.”

Despite the critique, such as the series being a result of her needing content for her podcast, viewers can’t turn away. During an interview with NPR, Slate staff writer Molly Olmstead called the series somewhat of a “turning point” in what Americans believe in an environment of political uncertainty. “I do think we’re starting to see some people who are waking up to this reality right now. That being said, this is a discourse that’s still largely taking place on social media,” Olmstead said.

“We have not seen a lot of leading political figures who have spoken up about this at all. So the question is, you know, when will this jump from social media to the actual leadership of the Republican Party and the MAGA movement? And that’s a question that’s left to be answered.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 17, 2026

Cali By Snoop Releases Commemorative Wine Celebrating 30th Anniversary Of ‘2 Of Amerikaz Most Wanted’ Song

“It’s hard to believe it’s been 30 years since Pac and I got together to make ‘2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted.’ Nobody did it like us, and I can’t think of a better way to honor his legacy than with a drink,” said Snoop Dogg

With the 30th anniversary of Snoop Dogg’s and Tupac’s single, 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted, Cali By Snoop has released a special edition of its wine named after the collaboration.

The wine is now available in stores and online for a suggested retail price of $14.99.

Snoop released a video as a tribute to his former labelmate, reminiscing about key moments during their time together. The clip includes behind-the-scenes snippets from their collective video shoot for the single. Tupac was killed in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas, Sept. 13, 1996, after attending a Mike Tyson bout.

30 years since 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted. We’re pouring a little out for Tupac. Limited edition #calibysnoop out now. #pouralittleout pic.twitter.com/9TPXILGvR4

— Snoop Dogg (@SnoopDogg) March 10, 2026

“It’s hard to believe it’s been 30 years since Pac and I got together to make ‘2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted.’ Nobody did it like us, and I can’t think of a better way to honor his legacy than with a drink,” said Snoop Dogg in a written statement. “This wine is perfect for celebrating with loved ones, and I’m looking forward to the people pourin’ a little out with me for my friend.”

The two recording artists were labelmates on Death Row Records, and 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted was the only video that the two filmed together before Tupac’s death.

Cali By Snoop’s 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted has been described as a Petite Sirah-dominant red blend that features notes of toasty oak, dark fruit, toffee, and baking spice. It is now available at major retailers across the country, including Kroger, Total Wine & More, Instacart, Ralph’s, Albertson’s, Meijer, DoorDash, Jewel-Osco, and more.

More info about the product can be found at CaliBySnoop.com.

Cali By Snoop was launched in 2020 with the release of Cali Red. Other flavors include Cali Smooth, Cali Sweet, Cali Blanc, Cali Rosé, Cali Chill, and Cali Gold.

by Sharelle B. McNair

March 17, 2026

Family Mourns The Loss Of Airman With ‘Unforgettable’ Smile In War Labeled As ‘Uncalled For’

His mother, Cheryl, remembered the exact moments officers came to her door to deliver the heartbreaking news, saying it was shocking, remembering how much her son loved his job.

The family of a U.S. Air Force airman is mourning and seeking answers after Tech Sgt. Tyler Simmons was killed along with other service members in a refueling aircraft accident in Iraq, expressing feelings that his death could have been prevented, 10 TV reports.

Simmons, a 28-year-old airman with the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, died after the KC-135 Stratotanker he was aboard went down supporting operations in the area. U.S. Central Command claims the crash came following an unspecified incident involving two aircraft in neutral airspace and that the other plane landed safely. However, that doesn’t give answers to a grieving family. “He had a million-dollar smile. When people see my cousin, they’d be like, that smile is gonna take him places, and it took him to his dream job,” Tracy Peaks, Simmons’ cousin, said.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by vidamichelle (@vidamichelle)

His mother, Cheryl, remembered the exact moments officers came to her door to deliver the heartbreaking news, saying it was shocking, remembering how much her son loved his job as an airman. “When he opened the door, he said, ‘Oh no,’ and I jumped up and ran in there, and they were lined up out on the porch,” the grieving mother said.

“‘You got to be kidding me.'”

Other families and Simmons’ family members can relate. The Columbus, Ohio, native’s grandmother, Bernice Smith, said people shouldn’t be experiencing this type of grief right now, “just to create a war because you want to create a war is not right.” Cousin Stephan Douglas agreed, saying, “We believe this could have been prevented. It’s a sad day.” “We didn’t need to be in this war,” he continued, according to Daily Beast.

“This is uncalled for, and this is what we get.”

Americans woke up Feb. 28 to war rhetoric from President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, launching “Operation Epic Fury” in the Middle East. Since then, several members of the U.S. military and civilians have been killed, causing rifts at home between supporters and opponents.

Amid preparations for the midterms, the Simmons family, for those who don’t support this conflict, wants voters to take their issues out to the poll booths, to take their grief to the ballot box in November. “Our hearts are saddened beyond measure to learn of six more airmen being killed last night,” the family said in a written statement. “One of them is our beloved Tyler Simmons. Tyler’s smile could light up any room; his strong presence would fill it. His parents, grandparents, family, and friends are grief-stricken for the loss of life,” the family wrote in a statement.

“Vote for Tyler and the five others who lost their lives recently, and for all those serving our country. They are heroes who are loved and will be missed. Praying for Tyler, his fellow airmen, his family, and we pray for the United States to do better and be better.”

Elected officials at both the state and federal levels have shared in the Simmons’ family thoughts, with Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther saying his “life was taken far too soon in a recent accident in Iraq.”

Ohio Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty, who serves the Columbus area, released a statement on X, saying she was “heartbroken” to hear about the news. “My heart is with Tyler’s family and the families of the other five servicemembers who were killed, including two other Ohioans,” she wrote.

“In Columbus and across the nation, we will always remember the sacrifice of Tyler and his fellow servicemembers.”

WNBA, 2024 Season, Basketball, DICK BARNETT, BIG3

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 17, 2026

WNBA Players Union Pushes for Revenue Sharing And Housing In Ongoing League Negotiations

The WNBA players union remains in intense negotiations with the league over revenue share and housing that could delay the start of the season.

As the start of the Women’s National Basketball Association season approaches, the Players’ Union remains locked in intense negotiations with the league to finalize a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and avoid potential delays to the upcoming season.

Players Union President Nneka Ogwumike said revenue sharing and team-funded housing remain two of the biggest unresolved issues in negotiations, NBC Sports reports. The two sides are scheduled to meet for a fifth straight day on March 21 in hopes of finalizing a new CBA, with discussions expected to focus on those key points after the past two days centered on more minor issues.

“It’s very important for us to nail those two things down, which is, I think, the biggest thing on the agenda today,” Ogwumike said in between bargaining sessions. “So we want to make sure that we can get that.”

Revenue sharing is expected to be the biggest sticking point in negotiations. The league has proposed sharing net revenue—earnings after expenses—while the players’ union has pushed for a percentage of gross revenue —earnings before expenses.

When talks began more than a year ago, the union sought 40% of gross revenue but lowered its proposal to 26% ahead of the marathon in-person bargaining session on March 10. The league, meanwhile, has offered players more than 70% of net revenue. Still, Ogwumike has stressed the urgency of reaching an agreement on both revenue sharing and player housing, as teams have covered player housing since the league’s inception. Still, the league has proposed changes to that arrangement in the new CBA.

“We’ve talked a lot about revenue share, which that’s obviously going to be, I don’t even really like calling it the elephant in the room. Like it’s there, you know, like we’re going to talk about it,” Ogwumike said. “But housing is big, you know, and housing is really big. And I think that perhaps people understanding this negotiation or like learning about it has really shown like how meaningful something like a housing benefit is, especially for the women in the W.”

If revenue-sharing and housing issues are resolved, the Women’s National Basketball Association season is expected to begin on time, May 8. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said a deal needed to be reached by March 16 to avoid disruptions. She also stressed how the delay could impact the expansion draft for Portland and Toronto, as well as free agency for 80% of the league.

“We have to get it done without disrupting some part of the fact that we’ve got to run this two-team expansion (draft),” Engelbert said. “We have to get expansion going. We got to get free agency going. We gotta get the college draft.”

The first preseason games are set for April 25, featuring Caitlin Clark and Indiana against New York, and Seattle facing Golden State.

by Mitti Hicks

March 17, 2026

Chicago’s Summer Jobs Program Gets A Rebrand As Young People Lead The Way

The new program tagline is "Get Paid. Get Skilled. Get Ahead."

Chicago youth looking to secure one of many summer jobs will notice some changes to the city’s program. Mayor Brandon Johnson and his administration have made it clear that they are listening to what the city’s youngest employees want, which is why the mayor’s office has renamed the 2026 summer employment application Chicago Youth Works.

It’s more than a name change from its previous name, One Summer Chicago. Chicago Youth Works reflects the collaboration among local businesses, nonprofits, and city agencies to ensure that the needs of young workers are met.

According to city leaders, local youth themselves proposed the name change and the new program tagline: “Get Paid. Get Skilled. Get Ahead.” They also played a significant role in the review and decision-making process on the initiative’s new visual designs.

“Young people are Chicago’s future, and it’s on us to give them the opportunities they need and deserve,” Mayor Johnson said in a statement. “Chicago Youth Works goes beyond summer jobs. It offers real-world experience, leadership development, and a chance for young Chicagoans to make a difference in their communities.”

Chicago Summer Jobs Supported Over 31,000 Students In 2025

Under Mayor Johnson, Chicago’s youth employment opportunities have expanded. Johnson and his administration attribute this increase to more funding and the broadening of partnerships. Their efforts have contributed to a more than 55% increase in employment opportunities since Johnson took office. In 2025, employers hired 31,119 young people ages 14-24.

In 2025, across all employment partners, young employees worked more than 2.8 million hours and earned more than $30 million in wages. Over 90% of youth who completed the “youth impact survey” reported learning new work skills. Ninety-five percent said their program “helped them feel safe at work.”

“The youth of Chicago are ready for that chance to grow and succeed,” said DFSS Commissioner Angela Green. “We are deeply proud to have expanded these opportunities under the Johnson administration and to have now reimagined the City’s youth employment branding in a way that puts youth front and center and truly reflects their perspectives and creative vision.”

Applications for the 2026 summer season are open now. Youth can access the applications at ChicagoYouthWorks.org. The deadline to apply is May 29.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 16, 2026

Viral Video Shows Black Customer Dealing With Hostile Aldi Employees Who Accused Her Of Stealing

Staff at an Aldi grocery store in Ramsey, Minnesota, are facing criticism after an employee appeared to accuse a Black customer of stealing.

The incident was captured in a more than three-minute video posted on TikTok by a user named Wendy B. The footage shows a tense exchange between her and two store clerks, one of whom appeared to question why her receipt showed only two items despite her having a cart full of groceries.

However, the video also shows the shopper holding a receipt totaling more than $109, indicating she had paid for everything in her cart.

After asking to see the date on the receipt—which confirmed the customer had paid for all the items that day—the clerk questioned why the receipt wasn’t shown earlier when she first asked.

“You just accused me of stealing,” the customer shot back.

@wendybblountt This lady walked up to me and aggressively said “ are you going to scan the rest of these items?!” I was so confused because I had my receipt with EVERY SINGLE ITEM in my cart…and I didn’t purchase Frosted Flakes at all! TikTok do y’all thing! BLOW THIS UP! #aldi #aldis #fypシ゚viral #blowthisup #fyp ♬ original sound – Wendy B

Another store clerk stepped in to try to resolve the situation. After reviewing the customer’s receipt, he told her she was free to leave.

“You’re good,” the male clerk stated.

But the visibly upset customer demanded to know why the employee she first spoke with had accused her of stealing and behaved in what she described as a “hostile” manner.

The male clerk urged the customer to leave, saying the staff had already had a “long day.” As she continued demanding accountability for being accused of stealing, he pushed her cart toward the exit, which only heightened her frustration.

After she posted the video on TikTok—where it has received more than four million views—many viewers tagged Aldi in the comments and called for the employees involved to be fired.

“Aldi they better be fired,” one user wrote.

“I’ve neverrrr had my receipt CHECKED AT ALDI! they don’t even have BAGS,” added another user.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 16, 2026

As Iran War Intensifies, Here’s What To Know If A Military Draft Is On Horizon

Although a draft remains unlikely at this current point, it is not completely off the table for the government.

As tensions escalate in the United States’ war with Iran, some fears over a military draft, or conscription, have also risen.

The U.S. has not launched a military draft since the Vietnam War. However, Americans remain concerned about who could be impacted if revived. Currently, the U.S. military operates on a volunteer basis.

While Congress has yet to comment on or propose reinstating a draft, conversations have begun among citizens about a modernized version. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also noted that President Trump has not taken a military draft completely off the table.

“It’s not part of the current plan right now, but the president again wisely keeps his options on the table,” she asserted during a Fox News appearance on March 8, as reported by People.

However, Military.com reports that the Selective Service System, the federal agency that would oversee a military draft, still has a procedure for ordering new soldiers to report for duty. It entails a lottery system based on birthdays, which would randomly draw people, beginning with 20-year-old males. The order of induction would continue with 21-year-olds, then those between 22 and 25 years old, respectively.

Lastly, 18- and 19-year-olds would be the last to be inducted. However, before anyone puts on the uniform, they must first pass medical, physical, and administrative screenings.

However, once they are deemed eligible to serve, those drafted would become officially inducted into the military. For those wondering how the U.S. would find potentially draftees, male citizens and immigrants between the ages of 18 and 25 are required to register with the Selective Service System.

As it stands, millions of men within these requirements are already registered in this database. However, not all have abided by this self-registration. That being said, the U.S. does not have the most accurate count of eligible men, which could allow others to evade the lottery.

If one wished not to undergo the draft process legally, they would have to file a claim with a civilian-led draft board. Members of these local boards review requests for deferment and exemptions, making them a crucial part of a potential draft.

Women, on the other hand, have much less to fear when it comes to the draft. Women remain ineligible for a draft following the 1981 Supreme Court decision on Rostker v. Goldberg. However, the basis of that ruling centered on women’s ban from combat roles, a stipulation officially reversed in 2015.

Furthermore, less than a quarter of all potential male draftees meet the basic eligibility standards for military service. Many outliers have disqualifying factors, such as health issues, criminal offenses, or drug use, that would prevent their induction.

While a draft is not completely out of the question, the military prides itself on its current all-volunteer status. Given this, the U.S. will presumably look to avoid a military draft unless the government finds it necessary.

Dame Dash Says He's ‘Like a Proud Broke' and Has Actually Been 'Losing Money for Years’

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 16, 2026

Damon Dash To Host ‘OG Stories’ On BET

"This series is about telling those stories the way they actually happened," said Dash.

Beleaguered former Roc-A-Fella executive Damon Dash has been given a shot by the BET Network, which announced that it has picked up his series.

The Harlem native will host OG Stories, billed as an unfiltered docuseries that gives voice to the OGs in the game. Dash created the show and will serve as the series’s director.

“In OG STORIES, Damon Dash sits down with the only circle he can understand: people who know how to be bosses. OG Stories is a raw and real conversation series where cultural architects, hustlers-turned-entrepreneurs, and street legends drop timeless game,” the network said in a press release.

Dash, who has seemingly spent more time in court than in the studio in recent years, thanked the network for “believing in the vision and giving this show a home.”

He added, “OG STORIES is really MY Paid in Full, a depiction of real life and real people I know. These are friends and peers who lived this, built something out of nothing, and earned the lessons that come with it. This series is about telling those stories the way they actually happened.”

Viewers will witness dramatic visuals and gain insights from discussions Dash has with the people he speaks with as they share their history. The docuseries will capture the “mindset, moments, and blueprint” from the people who helped shape the culture and the communities connected to it.

This comes after an embarrassing time for Dash, when, due to legal issues, he had to put his film company, Poppington Inc., on the auction block after failing to pay the millions he owed to several creditors. However, instead of garnering a substantial amount that could be used to pay off part of his debts, the company was sold at auction for $100.50.

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