50 Cent, ex-girlfriend, instagram, lawsuit

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 24, 2025

50 Cent Approved For Downtown Entertainment District In Shreveport

50 Cent has received approval to transform Shreveport’s downtown district into a thriving entertainment hub.

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson has received approval to transform downtown Shreveport, Louisiana, into a thriving entertainment hub.

On Sept. 22, Shreveport’s City Council approved plans for the new downtown entertainment district, KTBS reports. Reps for the hip-hop mogul confirmed construction could begin as early as late 2025 or in the first quarter of 2026.

Jackson is reportedly investing $50 million of his own money into the project, which includes upgrades to Millennium Studios, where work has already begun at Shreveport’s Stage Works Studio to prepare for production. Councilmembers voiced strong support for Jackson’s presence in the city during the administrative session.

“We’re talking about risk failure and fear, from what I see, there is very little risk for the city from what I see,” said Councilman Grayson Boucher. “I’m not fearful of doing this because 50 is willing to invest $50 million into Shreveport. We don’t have very many multimillionaires knocking on the door to invest.”

Discussions also took place about naming the new entertainment hub the Sam Cooke Cultural Arts District, honoring the late music legend who was inspired to write his timeless classic “A Change Gonna Come” after facing racism in Shreveport.

“The name doesn’t say film or entertainment. It doesn’t say anything,” Shreveport resident Craig Lee said. “This project is going to be the largest development in the history of North Central Louisiana, spearheaded by an African American. Sam Cooke was inspired here to write ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’ — that’s a branding opportunity the world would recognize.”

A local business owner voiced support, noting that Jackson’s project would boost economic growth in the downtown area.

“I know that there are great things coming to downtown Shreveport,” the business owner said. “This will help us do what we need to do downtown, especially in the district where I do a lot of business.”

The proposed Film and Entertainment Gateway Economic Development District would impose a 2% sales tax within its boundaries, directing all revenue into a dedicated trust fund for redevelopment. A companion ordinance establishes the trust fund and sets guidelines for the use of the money.

Council members also raised concerns about protecting longtime downtown property owners from being “disenfranchised,” a concern Boucher assured would not occur.

“When we’re talking about the downtown area, what we’re looking at is 50 not competing with those existing structures, but to enhance those particular businesses that are here,” Boucher said. “We’ll give the same we’re trying to give 50 Cent. I just want local businesses to know that we’re there for them too … if they want to come knock on the door, we’ll help them any way we can.”

Jamaica, travel, violent crimes, Jamaican restaurant

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 24, 2025

Jamaican Man Wrongfully Deported From U.S. To Eswatini Finally In Home Country

Orville Etoria was transported to and detained in the Southern African nation for months.

A Jamaican man who was deported and detained in Eswatini has finally been repatriated to his home country.

Orville Etoria, along with four other migrants, sat in a maximum-security prison in the Southern African nation for two months before his repatriation. According to the Associated Press, he was refused access to legal counsel multiple times and remained in custody despite no charges being filed against him.

He was sent to Eswatini under a Trump administration order, as part of the U.S. president’s third-country deportation program. Despite not being a native of Eswatini, and Jamaica’s willingness to receive him, Etoria was sent there. Amnesty International also noted how the nation had claims of rights abuses, heightening the stakes for the men’s legal justice.

With the help of the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration, Etoria was officially repatriated to Jamaica on Sept. 21. An Eswatini spokesperson confirmed the news.

Initially, the five men were brought to Eswatini, currently under absolute rule by its king, in mid-July. The Department of Homeland Security said the migrants were dangerous and were convicted of serious crimes, prompting their relocation. The DHS also asserted that they lived in the U.S. illegally and had deportation orders out against them.

The men’s lawyers doubted the legitimacy of the claims, saying they had all completed their criminal sentences and were sent to Eswatini without due process. Trump’s deportation program currently exists in four countries, including South Sudan, Ghana, and Rwanda.

The program has faced criticism from legal and human rights advocates, with opponents saying the program puts migrants at risk by transporting them to countries they are not connected to or do not hold citizenship in.

The DHS has said it has the right to transport dangerous migrants to any of these countries or they must leave the U.S. willingly.

While Etoria has found resolution, others remain detained in Eswatini with little information on the prison’s conditions.

by Sharelle B. McNair

September 24, 2025

Groundbreaking Ruling Forces Uber To Pay Lost Wages To Driver Whose Account Was Deactivated

The passengers filed a complaint, claiming the driver threatened them but the driver said he asked his passengers to stop using drugs in his car and to leave.

After an Australian Uber driver was falsely accused of threatening a passenger with a baseball bat, the rideshare company is being held accountable for lost wages in a ruling that is challenging the Albanese government’s gig economy laws, Financial Review reports.

A ruling from the Fair Work Commission ordered the company to pay the driver, Mohammad Shareed Hotak, for six weeks of lost pay, the time between being removed from the app and his reactivation. The commission labeled his removal as “plainly unfair” after he had worked for the company for four and a half years without any incident.

The Sept. 23 ruling was the first time ever that a rideshare driver won an unfair deactivation case, in addition to securing lost wages.

Transport Workers Union (TWU) national secretary Michael Kaine, who has fought for dozens of rideshare drivers who have had their accounts deactivated, called the decision “a huge win for gig workers who, until recently, could just be kicked off an app and have absolutely no recourse for it.”

“Uber has done its best to avoid scrutiny by settling cases rather than having its practices put under the microscope,” Kaine added, pointing out that the union has pushed for cases to go before the commission before Uber reactivated accounts. “This decision by the Fair Work Commission is a step toward fairness for gig workers who are now able to stand up for their rights, and it’s proof that Uber now has to be accountable for its AI-fueled systems, which are impacting real human lives.”

According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Hotak’s incident took place March 24 after picking up a rider and two additional passengers on Hindley Street, a popular area of Adelaide. The passengers filed a complaint, claiming Hotak threatened them, but the driver said he asked his passengers to stop using drugs in his car and to leave.

The passengers, Hotak said, assaulted him from behind before exiting his vehicle.

Days later, he received a notice from Uber that his account was being deactivated, beginning April 8. He had completing over 6,000 trips in four-and-a-half-years and boasted a 4.99 rating out of 5.

Hotak said he spoke out to let other drivers in similar situations know they aren’t alone in the fight. “I know how stressful and frightening it feels when your income is suddenly cut off,” he said. “But we have rights. Reach out to your union, speak up, and don’t be afraid to challenge Uber’s unfairness.”

ACTU secretary Sally McManus shared similar thoughts.

“For too long, the livelihoods of workers and their families were devastated by unfair deactivation by powerful multinational companies like Uber,” McManus said. “The Fair Work Commission’s ruling makes clear that gig workers now have enforceable rights, and that companies must respect them or be held to account.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 24, 2025

Chicago Sky Cancels Angel Reese Exit Interview With Media, Fueling Speculation She’s Leaving Team

She also vented her frustration with the Sky to the 'Chicago Tribune' earlier this month.

Angel Reese’s rocky relationship with the Chicago Sky seems to have hit another bump after team cancelled the star player’s exit interview with the media.

According to The Sporting News, after initially announcing that Reese, along with two other Sky players, Ariel Atkins and Courtney Vandersloot (both pending free agents), would be available to speak to the press, the team said the none of them would. Their teammates ended up conducting theirs.

Although Atkins and Vandersloot will be free to sign with other teams in the offseason—Vandersloot is expected to resign—Reese is still under contract, making the situation worthy of speculation.

Update from the Sky:

Courtney Vandersloot, Ariel Atkins and Angel Reese will no longer conduct exit interviews. The team previously said these three would hold exit interviews at a later date after they did not participate with the rest of the team when the season ended.

— Annie Costabile (@AnnieCostabile) September 22, 2025

Nearly three weeks ago, Reese caused a controversy when during an interview with the Chicago Tribune, she expressed frustration with the franchise, which ended up 10-34, tying for the worst record in the WNBA.

“I’m not settling for the same s**t we did this year,” Reese, a second-year player, told reporter Julia Poe. “We have to get good players. We have to get great players. That’s a non-negotiable for me. I’m willing and wanting to play with the best. And however I can help to get the best here, that’s what I’m going to do this offseason. So it’s going to be very, very important this offseason to make sure we attract the best of the best because we can’t settle for what we have this year.”

Reese apologized to the team, staff, and teammates afterward. The Sky suspended Reese for a half-game when it played the Las Vegas Aces on Sept. 7.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 24, 2025

Mary J. Blige’s Copyright Lawsuit Over ‘Real Love’ Gets Dismissed

A copyright infringement lawsuit against Mary J. Blige’s “Real Love” has been dismissed.

Universal Music Group helped Mary J. Blige avoid any damage to the legacy of her 1992 hit “Real Love” by getting a copyright infringement lawsuit dismissed.

On Sept. 23, Tuff City Records suffered a setback when U.S. District Judge Dale Ho ruled that Blige’s “Real Love” was not substantially similar to the Honey Drippers’ 1973 track “Impeach the President,” Reuters reports. As a result, the lawsuit, which did not directly involve Blige, was dismissed.

Tuff City, which claims to own tens of thousands of music copyrights spanning blues, R&B, jazz, funk, soul, hip-hop, New Orleans, and Latin music, sued UMG last year. The label alleged that Blige’s “Real Love” used a drum part from “Impeach the President” without proper clearance.

The label is no stranger to dismissed copyright infringement lawsuits, having filed suits against high-profile artists, including the Beastie Boys, Jay-Z, Kanye West (also known as Ye), and Frank Ocean. Lawsuits against the Beastie Boys and Jay-Z were later dismissed. Tuff City settled its dispute with Ye’s label, and two months after filing, it dropped its lawsuit against Ocean’s label.

”Real Love” was a major hit early in Blige’s career. From her debut album, What’s the 411?, the song reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1992.

With the lawsuit dropped, Blige can now concentrate on more pressing legal matters, including her ongoing $5 million court battle with former stylist and longtime friend Misa Hylton. Blige is accused of interfering with a management deal between Hylton’s agency, M.I.S.A. Management, and rapper Vado, withholding his completed album and blocking touring opportunities to pressure him into severing ties with Hylton.

In July, Blige fired back at Hylton’s “frivolous” lawsuit, calling it a ploy from a “non-existent entity” to force a settlement out of the Grammy-winning singer.

“Plaintiffs and their counsel appear to enjoy fabricating accusations that will be discussed in the press and on social media for the purposes of harassing Defendants and trying to coerce a favorable settlement,” Blige’s lawyer, Sarah M. Matz, said in a statement.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 24, 2025

Cornelius Taylor’s Death Intensifies Opposition to Laws Criminalizing Homelessness

New calls against the criminalization of homelessness is bringing new attention to the horrific death of Cornelius Taylor.

As President Trump pushes to clear homeless encampments, Cornelius Taylor’s death in Atlanta is drawing fresh attention to the dangers of criminalizing homelessness.

In the early hours of Jan. 16, 2024, Taylor was fatally crushed by a five-ton front loader in an alley behind Atlanta’s historic Auburn Avenue, The Guardian reported. The incident occurred after the city, citing complaints, ordered the nearby homeless encampment cleared, just four days before the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations were to take place less than a block away.

Taylor was inside his tent with partner Lolita Griffeth, unaware of the operation outside that would take his life. Initially, police gave conflicting reports, claiming Taylor died from a drug overdose and only had a “bloody nose” with no other apparent injuries.

However, an autopsy released 10 weeks later confirmed he died from blunt force trauma, with a lacerated spleen and liver and a fractured pelvis. Tim Franzen, director of the Atlanta Economic Justice Program at the American Friends Service Committee, arrived at the scene a few hours later and reported seeing “a lot of Cornelius left on the street.” Griffeth later recalled discovering traces of Taylor’s injuries on his clothing while going through his belongings.

Taylor’s death occurred amid a rising homelessness crisis, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which has prompted more state lawmakers to pass laws criminalizing sleeping outside and authorizing the removal of encampments.

In July, Trump signed an executive order making it easier for states to clear homeless encampments and compel residents into drug or mental health treatment, while cutting funding for Housing First programs.

This proven approach prioritizes placing people in housing before addressing other needs.

Now, critics are speaking out against these measures, saying they only worsen, rather than solve, the homelessness crisis.

”There’s nothing in the executive order that will help people,” said Jesse Rabinowitz, who directs the Housing Not Handcuffs campaign. “No funding for housing, no funding for additional services. It will only make homelessness worse.”

Critics argue that policies like Trump’s executive order contributed to Taylor’s tragic death.

“The way that I describe what killed him was not a guy driving a back loader,” Franzen said. “It was years of bad policy that was driving that thing.”

Janice Smalls Combs, Diddy's, lawsuit, Kirk Burrowes

by Sharelle B. McNair

September 24, 2025

Just Having A Will Won’t Guarantee Your Money Goes To Loved Ones When You Die—Here’s Why

The lack of preparedness in having a will, trust, and estate planning documents trickles down from generation to generation.

It’s not uncommon for people to wait until it’s too late to start estate planning if something happens to them. Still, experts are highlighting the ways of having a trust in place to guarantee your beneficiaries are taken care of, CNN reports.

While many people think having a will with named beneficiaries fast-tracks assets to them, it’s not always that simple. Jeffrey R. Gottlieb, a Chicago-based estate planning attorney, notes that an additional step is missing. “If you have designated beneficiaries on an account and they’re living, that trumps your will or trust — unless the beneficiary designation is to the trust,” Gottlieb said.

The process is beneficial as it facilitates the quick transfer of money from an identified account to the beneficiaries. The reason is that the named beneficiaries on the account won’t be listed in the estate, which requires going through the court process of probate. A court process of probate is defined as what authenticates your will after passing away and permits the net proceeds of your estate to be given to your heirs once all debts and expenses are finalized and paid for.

Financial speaker and educator Anthony O’ Neal often speaks of the importance of putting your affairs in a trust on his show, “The Table With AO.” During an Oct. 14, 2024, episode, O’Neal opened up about putting assets in a trust – both for his business and personal brand. “You can literally put anything inside of an estate,” he said while speaking with Lillie N. Nkenchor, Esq., LL.M.

A trust provides more control over how your assets, like a 401(k), are distributed. If children are directly named on your 401(k) account, funds would be paid out right away. However, if a trust is set up for them and the trust is named as a beneficiary of your 401(k), it can dictate the terms and conditions under which the money is managed and when it can be paid out.

Several people across the nation have failed to have an estate plan and trust, as Nkenchor said, “a lot of people kind of stick their head in the sand because we’re speaking of a time when people aren’t here, and it makes them uncomfortable.” According to Trust & Will, the lack of preparedness trickles down from generation to generation. The Silent Generation, comprising people born between 1928 and 1945, is the most prepared, at 66%, followed by baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, at 44%.

However, Generation X, born between 1965 and 1980, has a 26% chance, which is still behind the national average. Millennials, at just 22% and born between 1981 and 1996, have a will, but over 60% don’t have any estate planning documents in place. In last place is Gen Z, born in the late 1990s and through the late 2010s, with only 15% having a will, labeling them as the least prepared.

Another way to ensure your loved ones are protected and your wishes are upheld is to keep your beneficiary list up to date, particularly when a major life change occurs, such as divorce, marriage, or having children.

“It’s very important to update your beneficiary designation whenever there’s a (big) life change,” Gottlieb continues.

Suppose the person listed as your beneficiary passes away before you. There is a chance that the person next in line to receive the share of money may depend on what was specified when filling out the beneficiary form.

Broward County, jail, gay inmate killed, Cierre Wood, Gwinnett county jail,, Riker's,, doulla, pregnant, inmates, Councilwoman, Rosenthal

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 24, 2025

Child Actor In ‘Belly’ Is Trying To Get Life Together After Lengthy Prison Term

'Literally from 1999 to 2019, I was incarcerated. And now I'm out, and I have no job, I'm homeless.'

A social media post revealed that a former child actor, Eric Keith McNeil, who had a role in “Belly,” has not reaped the benefits of starring in the film. He has been in jail, is currently homeless, and is looking to get back on his feet at this point, willing to tell his story to children who can avoid his tragic past.

In a video clip posted to the social media account of Marcus J. Carothers, who identifies himself as a movie producer and owner of SPEAKTV Film Studios in Chicago, McNeil explains how his involvement in the movie industry and the absence of parental guidance led to his stint in prison. He was cast as a young “thug” on the streets and shared the screen with legendary Queens rapper and entrepreneur Nas, who had a starring role in “Belly,” a 1998 movie, alongside DMX.

Showing a clip from the movie, it seemed like life imitating art as he told Nas that he had shot someone on the roof. In the clip from the movie, he admits to shooting someone. In his discussion, he also says that he was arrested in the same building where the film was shot in 2004.

He did appear in another movie, “Black and White” (1999), according to McNeil, but a Hollywood career was not in the cards, as he was incarcerated a year later in 1999 and remained in prison until 2019.

“Literally from 1999 to 2019, I was incarcerated. And now I’m out, and I have no job, I’m homeless.”

He said that several family members passed away while he was locked up, and when he came out, he had no one to go to, which is why he is homeless. He says he’s been kicked out of four different shelters and rides the trains at night. Although he has tried to reach out to some of the men who worked on “Belly,” he has been unable to reach any of them, including Nas and Hype Williams, who directed the film.

“So now I’m in the street, and I try to reach out to Hype Williams, to Nas, to certain people, you know, in the industry, and it’s hard, you know?”

And although he has to steal at times (things like deodorant), due to his situation, he feels he may be better in jail, where he can have accommodations that elude him on the street.

“I think I lived better in prison than when I’m on the street, honestly.”

McNeil stated that he was glad to be recognized and hopes to get back on track. However, he also mentioned that he wants to talk to kids, in the hopes of reaching them, because no one, especially with no parents around, had done it for him.

“I would like to tell my story. I want to talk to kids… I was in “Belly” because I didn’t have parents. I was 12 years old, running around the streets.”

He said having access to money and the status of being in the movie, with no parental guidance, led him down this path he is on, but he is looking to do better.

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A post shared by Marcus J. Carothers (@marcusjcarothers)

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 24, 2025

Kappa Sigma Fraternity At Texas A&M Suspended Amid Criminal Investigation Into Extreme Hazing

The fraternity has come under fire for putting their pledges in extreme distress.

The Kappa Sigma fraternity at Texas A&M University has been suspended amid an investigation into its extreme hazing allegations.

The chapter’s suspension comes as several pledges became hospitalized after a gruesome hazing ritual. According to the New York Post, some of the pledges left the scene unable to walk, with others having “almost black” urine. The ordeal has since prompted a criminal investigation into the actions of the members.

The Brazos County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the hazing took its almost-deadly toll Sept. 14. Members whisked pledges away to a hidden location away from the College Station campus to undergo the process.

One unidentified pledge told KPRC 2 News about the excruciating workouts in the dark, muddy area, with the physical toll resulting in some losing consciousness.

“You have to put your hands on your heels and squat all as a group. And they’re yelling at you, making you squat together. And that’s where we did three, four or 500 of those,” shared the victim. “All in the mud, all real, real dark, people yelling at you, shining lights in your face, you’re getting dizzy, you’re throwing up.”

Harmed pledges were reportedly told by Kappa Sigma brothers to go to different hospitals to treat their injuries. They also claimed fraternity leaders encouraged them to lie about what caused the damage.

In light of the scandal, Kappa Sigma’s leadership confirmed that the school’s chapter had been suspended indefinitely. The fraternity’s executive director also emphasized their strict anti-hazing policy.

“The Kappa Sigma Fraternity is aware of an incident involving members of our Texas A&M University Chapter. Any member found to violate the Fraternity’s Code of Conduct, which strictly forbids hazing, will be held accountable. The operations of our Chapter at A&M are suspended pending an investigation,” said Bradley Bailey, Kappa Sigma’s executive director.

According to its website, Kappa Sigma is “the largest college social fraternity in the world,” with over 300 chapters globally. With over 250,000 living members, it describes itself as a “volunteer-driven” brotherhood that has sustained itself since its founding in 1869.

As for Texas A&M, the school has confirmed its willful cooperation with any police investigations.

“The allegations are currently under investigation for possible violations of the Student Conduct Code. The university will fully cooperate with any law enforcement investigations related to these allegations. Given the active investigation, we cannot share additional details at this time,” wrote Texas A&M.

Serena Williams, Sha'Carri Richardson, NikeSKIMS

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 24, 2025

Serena Williams And Sha’Carri Richardson Appear In New Ad For SKIMS Collab With Nike

The two women appeared alongside other women in sports for the launch of the joint line between Nike and Skims.

The new collaboration of NikeSKIMS is making its mark with the help of some high-profile Black women in sports.

The Kim Kardashian-founded shapewear brand has inked a deal with the sportswear company to combine their two specialities. Now, they have created a new NikeSKIMS line that uplifts and supports women’s bodies.

“Built from Nike’s unparalleled relationship with athletes and SKIMS’ solutions-first approach, NikeSKIMS delivers what no other brand can: a new aesthetic and system of dress, obsessively crafted for the body, from the studio to the gym and beyond,” stated a news release obtained by People.

In celebration of NikeSKIMS, Serena Williams, Sha’Carri Richardson, and other women athletes appeared in its launch. The advertisement featured the women in full training mode with NikeSKIMS pieces on, putting their physiques at the forefront.

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A post shared by Nike (@nike)

“Give my body your full attention,” said Williams in the video.

Williams and Richardson joined the promotional video to describe the materials, which focus on Nike’s proven performance tech intermixed with SKIMS’ sculpting fabrics. They also shared their initial thoughts on the seven collections from the line, which offers 58 silhouettes for women of all ages and activities.

“It feels like butter on your skin,” the tennis legend explained. “I feel unstoppable when I’m training in it.”

Richardson added, “Wearing NikeSKIMS makes me feel confident and unrestricted. I feel fierce knowing I can look and feel this good while working hard.”

Other athletes, such as USA gymnast Jordan Chiles and professional snowboarder Chloe Kim, also celebrated their new set of NikeSKIMS. Highlighting active women of all body types, the collections will also reflect this diversity. Its inclusive sizing will range from XXS to 4X.

“I really wanted to make sure there was something for everyone,” Kardashian told Vogue. “Both SKIMS and Nike have really inclusive sizing, so we wanted to make sure that we would have a broad size range, and that everyone can feel good in what they’re wearing.”

Debuting on both Nike and SKIMS’ websites Sept. 26, prices for the products range from $38 to $148.