facial recognition, Burlington Coat Factory, AI

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 26, 2025

Burlington Coat Factory’s Alleged Use Of Facial Recognition Sparks Concern

Burlington Coat Factory is under fire for allegedly using facial recognition in its stores.

The public is speaking out over Burlington Coat Factory’s alleged use of facial recognition technology to enter its stores.

A video circulating on social media shows one shopper recording as another is seemingly forced to have his photo taken to enter a Burlington Coat Factory in Brooklyn, New York, according to News 12 Brooklyn.

”You have to let them take a picture before you can enter into Burlington,” the woman who filmed the video can be heard saying before exiting the store.

TikTok user Robby Harvey reposted the video, tagging the mega-retailer to ask whether it was true that they were “forcing customers to take photos.”

@therobbieharvey @Burlington ♬ original sound – Robbie Harvey

Critics quickly took to the comments, expressing outrage and pledging to boycott the store over its heightened security measures.

”No more Burlington for me,” one person wrote.

“My local Burlington recently added a fully armed security guard,” another user shared. “He lets you through the little gate like a bouncer at a club. There is nothing in Burlington that I need that bad that I have to feel like a criminal before I even get in the store. No thanks, Burlington. Good luck.”

A News 12 reporter who visited the Gateway Center location observed a loss prevention staffer taking shoppers’ photos before they entered the store, alongside cameras at the entrance. A worker claimed the cameras could identify individuals with prior theft incidents.

However, a Burlington Coat Factory spokesperson stated that none of their stores use facial recognition technology. BLACK ENTERPRISE also reached out to the retailer for details on its public security policies and is awaiting a response from the communications department.

There remains a mixed response to Burlington’s possible ramp-up in security measures, with some shoppers saying they don’t mind.

”I feel by them monitoring people in and out, people have an extra sense of security while they’re shopping,” one customer said. “It might deter people from doing something wrong.”

”Depends on how you look at it,” another customer added. “But, I think it’s a good thing.”

Studies have noted a rise in the use of facial recognition technology in retail, reportedly aimed at preventing theft, improving operations, and boosting security. However, its use has raised significant concerns and calls for greater transparency and regulatory compliance.

Although its use surged during the pandemic for contactless services, the technology continues to evolve as a tool to identify known offenders and enhance overall store security. In August, Home Depot was hit with a class-action lawsuit over its use of facial recognition technology in Illinois. Burlington’s use of the technology has reignited debates over its ethical implications.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 26, 2025

Brooklyn Nets Michael Porter Jr. Still Pays Half Of Ex-Girlfriend’s Rent, ‘She Needs to Act Right Month-to-Month”

Although they split up, he agreed to pay half the rent for a year.

Michael Porter Jr. of the Brooklyn Nets, who is slated to earn $40 million this upcoming season, is footing half the rent for his ex-girlfriend’s apartment.

Porter Jr. discussed the complicated situation Respectfully The Justin Laboy Show. The podcast host was agog.

“Hold on,” Laboy said. “I know you not worth $200 million and was splitting rent with your ex-girlfriend.”

Porter, 27, said his former girlfriend was looking for an apartment—for herself, as Porter refused to share an apartment with a woman unless they were married. She found a place that she liked, but the price was well above her budget.

The NBA star, who joined the Nets after a successful stint with the Denver Nuggets, offered a solution: “This is really nice. I want you to be able to stay here… what can you afford and…I’ll pay the rest.”

Not only did Porter do that, he agreed to continue doing so for a year, even if the couple broke up. Porter‘s instincts were on point. The two broke up after several months.

Now that they are not together anymore, he said his ex keeps “asking for the bread. But Porter is sticking to his promise. “I don’t blame her because she went into that apartment not being able to afford it, and I gave her my word,” he said.

Laboy asked why Porter doesn’t just give her the remaining months’ rent in a bulk payment and just be done with it.

Here was Porter’s logic as to why he’s not changing a thing: “Because she needs to act right month to month, I’m just saying. So, if I’m paying the remaining months—and I see she’s wilding—like, bro, it’s going to be hard to continue that agreement. That’s going to be tough because if you’re out here wilding, get that next dude to pay that rent.”

Check out the full interview below:

by Kandiss Edwards

September 26, 2025

St. Thomas University College Of Law Ruled Out of Compliance by ABA; Accreditation at Risk

St. Thomas university is on notice after violating Standard 205(c). The standard mandates non-discrimination and equality of opportunity.

The American Bar Association (ABA) has officially found that the St. Thomas University College of Law, formerly Benjamin L. Crump College of Law, has fallen out of compliance.

The college was cited with a violation of Standard 205(c), which mandates non-discrimination and equality of opportunity. The ABA council issued the finding after its August meeting, triggering a correction process before any accreditation decisions can change.

At its August 21–23, 2025, session, the ABA’s Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar reviewed St. Thomas’s status and concluded the school failed to meet the listed requirements.

The council has posted a notice allowing the institution to respond. The law school must submit a written report by October and appear before the council in early 2026.

Standard 205 is categorized by the ABA as one of its Core Standards, meaning that compliance is essential to maintaining accreditation status. It is unclear how the college has failed to meet the “non-discrimination and equality” mandate.

Although St. Thomas’s accreditation is currently approved, the council has warned that formal noncompliance can lead to disciplinary measures if the school fails to meet the requirements. If the school’s response demonstrates full corrective action, the council could cancel the hearing initially scheduled for February. If not, further steps may include probation or removal of accreditation.

In August, St. Thomas University announced it would change the law school’s name to St. Thomas University College of Law, ending its run as the Benjamin L. Crump College of Law. (The university and Crump said the change was mutual.)

At the same time, the school confirmed plans to launch the Benjamin L. Crump Institute for Environmental and Societal Law this fall.

Loss of ABA accreditation would affect access to many state bar exams and impact the school’s legitimacy. Until the council concludes its review, the law school retains its approval status.

by Sharelle B. McNair

September 26, 2025

Mortgage Fraud Probe Against Letitia James Moves Forward As DOJ Struggles To Build Case

Former lead U.S. attorney Erik Siebert abruptly resigned in mid-September 2025 after admitting there wasn't enough evidence to support charges against James.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is proceeding with its investigation into mortgage fraud allegations against New York Attorney General Letitia James, amid pressure from President Donald Trump, but is struggling to substantiate the claims, Yahoo! Finance reports.

The case will be handled through the Eastern District of Virginia, led by senior Justice Department official Ed Martin, after Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte alluded that James may have committed mortgage fraud due to the residence status listed on applications. Almost identical to the probe against Federal Reserve board member Lisa Cook, James has denied any wrongdoing.

However, the proceeding is at a standstill due to a shakeup at the DOJ. One of Trump’s top aides, Lindsey Halligan, took over Virginia’s U.S. attorney’s office after the former lead, Erik Siebert, abruptly resigned in mid-September 2025 after admitting there wasn’t enough evidence to support charges against James. The admission prompted Trump to lash out on his Truth Social platform, calling on U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to step in. “We can’t delay any longer, it’s killing our reputation and credibility,” the president wrote.

“JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!”

According to CNN, prosecutors are investigating whether James knowingly made false statements on a loan application, listing a property in Virginia as her primary residence, since May 2025. However, nothing seems to be sticking. Collected documentation from James’ legal team proves that James repeatedly stated the property wouldn’t be her permanent residence. One reviewed email showed that the NY attorney general wrote, “This property WILL NOT be my primary residence.”

Other mortgage forms reveal that when asked if the home would be her primary residence, she checked “NO.”

In a statement, James’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, slammed Trump’s probe, calling it a “revenge tour.” “It’s no surprise they are having trouble finding an objective and law-abiding prosecutor who would ignore the facts and the evidence to manufacture sham charges,” Lowell said.

James is also the subject of a grand jury investigation in Albany, facing accusations of deprivation of rights, defined as the violation of someone’s constitutional rights, against Trump. Martin is also leading investigative efforts into a property James owns in New York, personally visiting the property in August 2025 and posing for photos outside.

The attorney general has been a vocal critic of Trump, successfully spearheading cases against him prior to his 2024 presidential campaign. During a Nov. 14, 2024, civil fraud case, Trump lashed out against James, calling her “racist” due to her visibly smirking in court. “Racist A.G. Letitia James is smirking all day long from her seat in Court,” Trump wrote.

“You have a (Trump-Hating!) Attorney General who’s seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages when not a single penny was lost by these banks, and that’s part of this (Unconstitutional!) Law. You can see from the reaction of A.G. James, every morning from that seat, that she is enjoying this, enjoying it a bit too much.”

barbershop, mississippi, historic marker

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 26, 2025

Cleveland Barbershop Receives $10K Grant From Beyoncé’s BeyGOOD Foundation

The business was one of 37 chosen for their commitment to their community.

Cleveland barbershop Urban Kutz is celebrating after receiving $10,000 grant from the BeyGOOD Foundation, Beyoncé’s nonprofit organization.

Winners of the grant, distributed through the Cécred x BeyGOOD Fund, were selected based on their community involvement and impact as hair care professionals. Winners were also selected based on their experience of facing financial hardships as a business.

These grants are designed to help companies access resources that can enhance their business success.

“Out of millions of international applicants, WE WERE CHOSEN,” Urban Kutz wrote on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Urban Kutz Barbershop (@urbankutzbarbershop)

Aside from the money, the barbershop will gain access to business development tools, mentorship, and resources provided by The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC).

News 5 Cleveland spoke with Waverly Willis, owner of Urban Kutz, one of Ohio’s largest minority-owned barbershop chains, with three locations in Cleveland.

One of the great things about Urban Kutz is its health screening offerings at the locations. The barber shop also offers prostate cancer screenings in partnership with Case Western Reserve University.

“We’ve had men in here, their blood pressure has been so high that we would check their blood pressure and we would tell them skip the hair cut and go straight to the ER, and this has happened on more than one occasion they come back to us and say, they didn’t even know how I was walking around,” Willis told News 5 Cleveland.

Urban Kutz was one of 37 businesses that received at $10,000 grant. Here’s a complete list of the winners.

Majestic Beauty Salon (Tuskegee, Alabama)
4TheLoveOfHair (Altadena, California)
Art Beauty Equilibrium (Hawthorne, California)
Thee Hair Life (Los Angeles, California)
Strands Of Life Hair (Los Angeles, California)
Colored By Ernestine (Sacramento, California)
Groom Guy (Washington, D.C.)
Fadeology (Tampa, Florida)
The Cultivation Lair (West Palm Beach, Florida)
Barber Babez Barbershop (Atlanta, Georgia)
Rashad German Studios Shop (Atlanta, Georgia)
Salon Denise (College Park, Georgia)
Zulai Salon (Bolingbrook, Illinois)
Phenom Cuts Barber & Beauty Salon (Chicago, Illinois)
Curlology (Lawrence, Kansas)
5ifth Studio (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Edinburgh Williams Beauty Salon (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Shy Watters Hair Studio (Baltimore, Maryland)
Nossa Beauty Studio (Boston, Massachusetts)
J Cutz Studio (Royal Oak, Michigan)
The BeVel Barber Lounge (Kansas City, Missouri)
Mr C’s All in the Family Barbershop (Omaha, Nebraska)
Yogi’z Plus (Nyack, New York)
Isabella’s Hair Salon & Spa (Staten Island, New York)
Lavish Perception Studios (Charlotte, North Carolina)
Groomed Gentlemen’s Barbershop (Kinston, North Carolina)
Urban Kutz Barbershop (Cleveland, Ohio)
Studio 816 Hair & Beauté Bar (Dayton, Ohio)
Dean’s Beauty Salon & Barber Shop (Portland, Oregon)
Juss Vibes Hair & Beauty Studio (Lemoyne, Pennsylvania)
Hairtique Color And Design (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Desire Designs Hair Studio (Cypress, Texas)
Cheree Napturals (Houston, Texas)
Euphoric Essence Hair Salon (Missouri City, Texas)
Benjamin Avery Salon (San Antonio, Texas)
Rea.Dezell Salon (San Antonio, Texas)
Syncerely Beautiful (Chesapeake, Virginia)

by Sharelle B. McNair

September 26, 2025

Trump Administration Threatens To Withhold Funding From NYC Schools Due To Trans Students Protections

Since the districts failed to meet the demands, Trainor intended to list the schools as not falling into compliance with federal civil rights law, labeling them ineligible for the grants.

In another attack against trans youth, the U.S. Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights under the Trump administration has threatened New York City public schools with holding back $24 million in funding for failing to change a policy that protects trans students, CNN reports.

In a letter dated Sept. 16, the agency gave New York City Schools, in addition to Chicago Public Schools and Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia, until Sept. 23 to change a policy that permits students access to locker rooms and restrooms that correspond with their gender identity or risk losing funding for specialty magnet schools. The Education Department’s acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Craig Trainor, claims the policy violates Title IX, forbidding discrimination based on sex in education.

Since the districts failed to meet the demands, Trainor intended to list the schools as not falling into compliance with federal civil rights law, labeling them ineligible for the grants.

According to Chalkbeat New York, city officials requested 30 days to decide whether to appeal the administration’s decision to withhold the funding, as the timing was so short. Department of Education spokesperson Madison Biedermann said the tight timeline was due to the federal government’s requirement to certify compliance with civil rights laws before the end of the fiscal year, which is Sept. 30.

The threat prompted responses from NYC mayoral candidates Zohran Mamdani and Mayor Eric Adams, who questioned the city’s policies. “I don’t know what parent of a little girl would be comfortable with a boy walking into the shower where their baby is,” Adams said during an interview on PIX11.

“I’m just not going to support that.”

“Little boys should not be sharing bathroom showers with little girls,” Mayor Eric Adams told PIX11 News.

Read more: https://t.co/jjdh48RdOn pic.twitter.com/rQA1qROtyz
— PIX11 News (@PIX11News) September 22, 2025

Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos, appointed by Adams, defended the district’s decision to keep policies in place. “To date, you know, those policies remain in place, and we’re going to continue to uphold them as part of our values here in New York City Public Schools,” she said during a recent podcast appearance.

School districts across the country have been targeted for some of their policies that appear to conflict with the values of the current administration. In Chicago, schools were pressured to shut down a program that provides academic resources to Black students. Trainor described the program as “textbook racial discrimination.”

Jarred Shaw, cannabis gummies, basketball, Indonesia

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 25, 2025

2 Black Men Wrongly Accused Of Killing Pregnant White Woman Given $150K Settlement

Boston to pay $150K to two Black men wrongfully accused

The city of Boston, Massachusetts, is paying $150,000 to two Black men who were wrongfully accused of the murder of a pregnant white woman, a crime later determined to have been committed by her husband.

On Sept. 23, city officials approved a $150,000 settlement for Alan Swanson and Willie Bennett, two wrongfully identified suspects in the 1989 killing of Carol Stuart, NBC News reports. Stuart’s husband had claimed she was shot during an attempted carjacking by a Black gunman. But it was later determined that he orchestrated the murder after leaving a birthing class.

Bennett will receive $100,000, while Swanson will receive $50,000. The case prompted a police crackdown in a predominantly Black neighborhood and intensified racial tensions in the city.

During the orchestrated attack, Carol Stuart was shot in the head and died the following day, while her baby, delivered by cesarean section, survived for 17 days. Police initially arrested Swanson, then ruled him out, before taking Bennett into custody.

Charles Stuart, who was shot in the chest but survived, later identified Bennett as the gunman, though neither man was ever formally charged. Months later, Stuart died by suicide after his account of the crime unraveled.

The settlement comes two years after Mayor Michelle Wu apologized to Swanson and Bennett for the wrongful labeling of them as suspects and the harm and turmoil it caused the Black community.

“We are here today to acknowledge the tremendous pain that the city of Boston inflicted on Black residents throughout our neighborhoods 34 years ago,” Wu said at the time. “The mayor’s office, city officials and the Boston Police Department took actions that directly harmed these families and continue to impact the larger community, reopening a wound that has gone untended for decades.”

Police only turned to the real suspect after Matthew Stuart revealed that his brother, Charles, was responsible for Carol’s death. Before he could be arrested, Charles Stuart jumped from Tobin Bridge. The case has since drawn renewed attention with the release of the HBO docuseries Murder in Boston.

“There was no evidence that a Black man committed this crime,” Wu added. “But that didn’t matter because the story was one that confirmed and exposed the beliefs that so many shared…At every level and at every opportunity, those in power closed their eyes to the truth because the lie felt familiar. They saw the story they wanted to see.”

AfriCon Celebrates Achievements Of The Diaspora As It Paves Way For Future Innovators

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 25, 2025

AfriCon Celebrates Achievements Of The Diaspora As It Paves Way For Future Innovators

Africon 2025 showcased a diverse array of the diaspora as it celebrated African achievement.

AfriCon kicked off its 2025 convention with trailblazers, game-changers, and innovators from across the diaspora celebrating their storied impact.

Taking place at the Omni Hotel in Atlanta from Sept. 18-20, a diverse array of African and Black Americans came together to network and discuss innovations within a variety of industries. Speakers ranged from content creators to entrepreneurs and political officials, all engaging in conversations on how to elevate future leaders and drive progress.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by AFRICON (@africon.global)

Presented with Fidelity Nigeria International Trade and Creative Connect, attendees arrived in their cultural-infused business attire to start the jam-packed schedule of main stage sessions, workshops, and deal-room pitches. With a heightened emphasis on sustainable impact and direct support, AfriCon provided 1-on-1s to small-group meetings for emerging idea-holders to connect with capital experts.

As global entrepreneurship and diasporic connection took the forefront, the main stage held panels that brought pioneers in fintech sectors, multi media marketing, and more. With major themes of navigating a new job market in the age of AI to spearheading businesses despite the obstacles for Black owners, speakers shared their insights to the vast audience.

Panelist Azocha Nkobena spoke to BLACK ENTERPRISE about how one can sustain their career with AI, seeing the technology as a resource and not a hindrance in their career progression.

“I know within our community as Black and Brown folks, there’s a lot of fear about AI replacing our jobs… In order for us to protect ourselves, we need to educate ourselves on what it means. We need to understand how we can use it in order to help find our leadership traits,” explained Nkobena, Managing Director at Accenture.

She added, “From my perspective, we are in a transformative and disruptive environment right now. There’s a lot of change happening. Let’s not be fearful about it. Stay ahead of it, and as we get to know more about it, let’s create communities within our communities to help educate people around us.”

Workshops focused on the creative and entrepreneurial ambitions of attendees. These intimate gatherings focused on getting projects to the big screen and sourcing investors that can bring a brand to life. However, AfriCon’s offerings did not stop there. Throughout the weekend event, guests could also visit an art gallery and marketplace filled with African-owned businesses to support local entrepreneurs.

Rapper Wale also held a main stage session, speaking on his Nigerian-American upbringing. In his fireside chat, he encouraged all to embrace their cultures amid this renaissance of African music and art within the evolving entertainment industry.

“Lean into your culture, lean into your inspiration. It’s a rich culture that we have, no matter which tribe. There’s a lot to pull from. And even the culture that raised you here…lean into your truth and what made you, you,” shared the rapper.

To culminate the festivities, AfriCon also hosted its newly-imagined Icon Gala in Atlanta. Through its display of African brilliance, excellence, and fashion, the night embraced a diverse heritage and accomplishment while guests wore their finest cultural attire.

As AfriCon celebrates another year of empowerment, it commemorates those that have paved the way for future leaders, all while putting the diaspora on its own main stage.

by Kandiss Edwards

September 25, 2025

Sean Kingston And His Mom Ordered To Pay Restitution In Addition to Jail Time

U.S. District Judge David Leibowitz ordered the duo to pay a victim only identified as 'B.C.,' following convictions in a $1 million fraud scheme.

Rapper Sean Kingston (born Kisean Paul Anderson) and his mother, Janice Eleanor Turner, have been ordered by a federal court to pay $38,500 in restitution.

U.S. District Judge David Leibowitz ordered the mother and son duo to pay a victim only identified as “B.C.”, following convictions in a $1 million fraud scheme. The restitution order comes as Kingston begins serving a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence. Turner was sentenced to five years behind bars, the Miami Herald reported.

Kingston and Turner committed their multiple crimes between April 2023 and March 2024, procuring luxury merchandise deals where buyers were lured with promises of social media promotion

“[Kingston] contacted victims through a social media platform to arrange the purchase of high-end merchandise,” the Secret Service said in a news release. “[Kingston] used his celebrity status to gain his victims’ trust—offering to feature their products on social media or name-dropping high-profile celebrities as potential referral clients.”

When payment was due, Kingston or Turner sent the victims fake wire transfer receipts. “In reality, no funds were ever transferred from legitimate accounts. Most victims were never paid; others received payment after filing lawsuits or involving law enforcement,” the statement read.

More than $1 million worth of merchandise was obtained during the scam, including a bulletproof Escalade.

Kingston and Turner were indicted in July 2024 following a SWAT raid on Kingston’s luxury rental home in Southwest Ranches, Florida. Investigators traced dozens of victims and luxury items, including that bulletproof Escalade, designer watches, and a large LED television, tied to the scheme.

A federal jury found Kingston, 35, and Turner, 63, guilty of five wire fraud-related charges. ordered him to enter a 500-hour residential drug- and alcohol-treatment program, according to court records.

by Sharelle B. McNair

September 25, 2025

Kamala Harris Endorses NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani While Highlighting Other Democratic ‘Stars’

Harris, who is currently on tour for her upcoming memoir “107 Days,” hopes Democrats issue support for other rising stars of the party and not just Mamdani.

While some top Democrats remain silent on their endorsement for New York City’s hotly contested mayoral race, former Vice President Kamala Harris has spoken up — endorsing the Democratic candidate, Zohran Mamdani, NPR reports.

During an interview with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, Harris opened up about her thoughts on the race and announced who she thinks NYC should support. “Look, as far as I’m concerned, he’s the Democratic nominee and he should be supported,” she said.

“I support the Democrat in the race, sure.”

.@KamalaHarris's endorsement of @ZohranKMamdani:

Maddow: "Do you endorse his candidacy?"

Harris: "I support the Democrat in the race, sure." pic.twitter.com/4fcXMJlm5t
— Azi™️ (@Azi) September 23, 2025

Mamdani rose to prominence after handing a major upset to former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary; however, his critical views of Israel’s war in Gaza have created a stir, prompting a pause in receiving endorsements from other leaders of his party on a national scale. But not all have strayed away from supporting the members of the Democratic Socialist Party. New York’s Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul issued an endorsement, saying he is “a leader who is focused on making New York City affordable — a goal I enthusiastically support.”

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) also sent in endorsements.

However, Harris, who is currently on tour for her upcoming memoir “107 Days,” hopes Democrats issue support for other rising stars of the party, not just Mamdani, since New York City has no problem garnering attention from the media. “He’s not the only star,” Harris said. “He’s in New York, and I know New Yorkers think they’re the center of the world. … There are people like Barbara Drummond in Mobile, Alabama.

Drummond, a Black woman, was the frontrunner in the race for mayor of Mobile, Alabama’s capital city. However, following the Sept. 22 runoff election, she lost to Republican candidate Spiro Cheriogotis, making him the city’s first mayor in 12 years. She served as an Alabama State Representative for over 10 years in addition to holding the title of Mobile County Commissioner and Executive Director of Administrative Services and Community Affairs for the City of Mobile, according to Fox 10.

Her campaign focused on building healthy neighborhoods that would help address the growing violence in the city. As Harris labeled her a rising star of the party, Drummond also caught the attention of Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock, sending in his endorsement.

Even without additional endorsement, Mamdani, who would be the city’s first Muslim mayor if elected, holds a strong lead in the polls against current Mayor Eric Adams and Republican Curtis Sliwa.