by Keka Araújo

April 18, 2026

ICE Agent Charged With Felony Assault In Minneapolis

ICE agent Gregory Morgan Jr. faces felony assault charges for allegedly pointing a service weapon at motorists on a Minneapolis highway.

A federal immigration officer is facing felony charges after allegedly brandishing his service weapon at civilians during a highway traffic dispute, an act Hennepin County prosecutors characterized on April 16 as a gross overreach of jurisdictional authority. ICE Agent Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr., 35, stands charged with two counts of second-degree aggravated assault.

The indictment stems from a Feb. 5 incident on Minnesota State Highway 62, where Morgan was reportedly operating an unmarked, rented SUV while on duty for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty noted that this prosecution appears to be a legal first regarding federal agents deployed during the recent surge in immigration enforcement across major metropolitan hubs.

“There is no such thing as absolute immunity for federal agents who violate the law in the state of Minnesota,” Moriarty stated during a morning press conference.

According to the arrest warrant, the confrontation was precipitated when Morgan attempted to bypass heavy traffic by driving on the highway shoulder. A nearby motorist, unaware of Morgan’s status as a federal officer in a civilian-style vehicle, maneuvered into the shoulder in an attempt to impede what appeared to be an erratic driver.

Once the vehicle returned to the legal lane, Morgan allegedly pulled alongside the occupants and pointed his firearm at them. While Morgan later told a Minnesota State Patrol officer that he drew his weapon and commanded the individuals to stop, charging documents indicate the victims could not hear him through their closed windows and felt an immediate threat to their lives.

Morgan and his partner were reportedly transit-bound to the federal building to conclude their shift at the time of the encounter. Prosecutors emphasized that the incident did not occur during an active enforcement action or tactical operation.

The case arrives amid heightened scrutiny of federal conduct in sovereign state jurisdictions. Moriarty’s office argued that Morgan’s actions fell entirely outside the scope of his federal mandate.

“Our community deserves to feel safe on our roads, regardless of who is behind the wheel,” Moriarty said, reinforcing that federal credentials do not provide a “get out of jail free” card for aggressive roadside conduct.

The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice have yet to issue a formal response regarding the charges. Attempts to reach Morgan for comment were unsuccessful as of Thursday afternoon.

In Minnesota, a conviction for second-degree aggravated assault carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison. If the assault is found to have inflicted substantial bodily harm, that sentence may be elevated to 10 years. A warrant remains active for Morgan’s arrest.

Blavity Media Group, Connected TV, Streaming Viewers

by Jameelah Mullen

April 18, 2026

Blavity Media Group Expands Into Connected TV, Unlocking Access To Nearly 100 Million Streaming Viewers

Blavity is coming to your TV through a new partnership with OTTera.

Blavity Media Group (BMG), the online platform for Black culture and millennial‑driven content, is expanding into connected TV advertising through a new partnership with OTTera.

The partnership adds connected TV (CTV) placements to BMG’s portfolio for the first time. Through OTTera’s network, advertisers can now distribute ads across more than 600 live streaming platforms and 2,000 FAST channels, expanding its reach to nearly 100 million users on platforms including Samsung, Vizio, Hisense, Sony, and Roku.

Additionally, the partnership will bring sports content to the BMG platform, leveraging OTTera’s FAST channel portfolio of live and on-demand programming.

Morgan DeBaun, the CEO and founder of Blavity, underscored how the partnership will broaden the company’s reach.

“Black culture has never been confined to one screen, and neither should the brands that want to show up authentically for our audience. This partnership with OTTera means that for the first time, a brand can walk into BMG and leave with a campaign that reaches Black America from their morning scroll to their living room couch. That is a first in Black media, and we built it,” said DeBaun in a statement.

Blavity Media Group reaches over 32 million monthly users across its various brands, including Blavity, AfroTech, 21Ninety, Travel Noire, Home & Texture, and Shadow & Act.

“Blavity has built a cultural engine that brands trust, and this partnership extends that power into connected TV at scale. Together, we’re creating a new standard—where reaching Black audiences isn’t fragmented across platforms, but unified across every screen,” said Stephen Hodge, CEO and co-founder of OTTera.

OTTera has experience working with Black-owned media platforms. The company has partnered with AfroLandTV, a streaming service that offers Nollywood films and shows from across the African continent, and the Remy Network, a streaming platform owned by rapper Remy Ma.

The partnership with Blavity Media Group marks OTTera’s largest partnership with a Black-owned media company to date.

Last month, BMG announced a new partnership with The Gathering Spot (THG), the private social club for Black business professionals. The partnership aims to connect brands with influential Black business professionals.

LATEST POSTS: Blavity Media Group Named Exclusive Sales And Activation Partner For The Gathering Spot

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 18, 2026

Former NBA Player Damon Jones Set To Plead Guilty In Illegal Gambling Scheme

The former Cleveland Cavaliers player was arrested, along with Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, and Miami Heat player Terry Rozier.

Former NBA player Damon Jones, who is embroiled in an alleged illegal gambling scheme involving other NBA personnel, is reportedly expected to plead guilty after being charged with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy in November.

According to NBC News, Jones, who initially pleaded not guilty to the charges, plans to change his plea when he appears before the judge on April 28. The paperwork was filed in the Eastern District of New York April 16.

Jones was working with the Los Angeles Lakers when he was accused of selling information about a player’s injury to bettors.

The former Cleveland Cavaliers player was arrested, along with Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups (currently on unpaid leave) and Miami Heat player Terry Rozier, for their alleged roles in an illegal gambling scheme. The three men were all arrested Oct. 23 after being accused of partaking in illegal sports betting and rigged poker games.

Authorities say Billups and Jones were paid to participate in the games, with Jones requesting a $2,500 partial prepayment before attending one of the poker games.

Jones, who played with LeBron James in Cleveland and remained close to the Lakers player, allegedly used that relationship to his advantage by allegedly informing bettors of LeBron’s injury ahead of a game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Feb. 9, 2023, according to the indictment. That information was not publicly available.

The former player was also accused of allegedly selling information about another Lakers player just hours before that player was listed as “probable” in the NBA’s injury report. This info was attributed to a game the Lakers played against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Jan. 15, 2024.

Anthony Davis was the only player listed as probable on the injury report. The information provided to the bettors led his co-conspirators to place a $100,000 bet on the game before the injury report was made public.

Suspect, White House Correspondents Dinner, Shooting, trump

by Kandiss Edwards

April 18, 2026

Shocker! Trump Describes White House DoorDash Delivery, Other Stunts, As ‘Tacky’

Trump concluded his remarks by asserting that while his team’s PR tactics might be unconventional, they have helped him win "by landslides."

At an April 16 discussion in Las Vegas, President Donald Trump admitted that a viral White House delivery from a “DoorDash Grandma” earlier this week was “a little tacky” and “embarrassing,” even as he praised the stunt for aiding in him winning “landslide” elections.

Speaking about tax policy, Trump reflected on the afternoon event when Sharon Simmons, a grandmother of 10 from Arkansas, delivered two bags of McDonald’s directly to the Oval Office. The event was staged to highlight the first anniversary of the administration’s “No Tax on Tips” policy.

Simmons said the policy allowed her to keep an extra $11,000, which she said helped to pay for her husband’s cancer treatments. But Trump was not a fan of the orchestrated delivery, CSPAN reported.

“I met a wonderful woman named Sharon Simmons… a grandmother driving DoorDash,” Trump told the crowd. “She delivered McDonald’s to the Oval Office. It was a little bit of a—you know, I mean, to be honest, it was a little tacky,” Trump said.

President Trump on Door Dash delivery to Oval Office: "It was a little tacky." pic.twitter.com/ychnNJLz0f
— CSPAN (@cspan) April 17, 2026

The “DoorDash Grandma” moment was intended to humanize the “One Big Beautiful Bill”—passed earlier this year—but the event drew sharp criticism from economic analysts and media outlets.

Critics argued that a 58-year-old grandmother working gig jobs to cover medical bills for her husband’s Stage 3 cancer is not an example of “flexibility” but rather a “cautionary tale” as ailing elders should not be struggling in the workplace.

Further controversy arose when iternet investigators questioned if Simmons was a paid actress and MAGA plant. The White House maintained she is a legitimate gig worker selected to represent the benefits of the tax policy.

Trump concluded his remarks in Las Vegas by pivoting back to the economy, asserting that while his team’s PR tactics might be unconventional, they have helped him win “by landslides.”

by Kandiss Edwards

April 18, 2026

Flights at O’Hare To Be Reduced And Capped for Summer Travel Season

The Department of Transportation will implement mandatory caps and cuts designed to curb congestion.

There will be significant reduction in flights at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) this summer.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) will implement mandatory caps and cuts designed to curb congestion and chronic delays at one of the nation’s busiest international travel hubs.

The agency cited an urgent need to align flight schedules with the airport’s current staffing and infrastructure capacity. Under the new order, major carriers will be required to trim their daily peak-hour operations.

The move comes after a period of mounting frustration from travelers and a surge in flight cancellations that regulators say have rippled across the entire national airspace system.

“ORD is the busiest airport in America by flight volume, with more than 3,080 flights planned on peak days for summer 2026, which represents a 14.9% peak-day increase over summer 2025. The FAA’s action–known as a scheduling reduction–limits daily operations to 2,708 to prevent a dramatic increase from last summer’s peak daily schedule,” the DOT said in a press release.

DOT officials noted that O’Hare’s role as a primary connection point for both United Airlines and American Airlines means that bottlenecks in Chicago often cause a domino effect of delays in cities from New York to Los Angeles.

Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said the reduction method has been utilized in other major airports, such as JFK and LaGuardia.

“We successfully turned Newark Liberty International into the most on-time airport in the Tri-State Area by fixing telecoms issues at record speed and reducing overcapacity,” Duffy said. “Applying that same strategy at O’Hare, where unrealistic schedules were set to dramatically exceed what they could handle, will reduce delays and make this busy summer travel season a little easier. Along with our work to modernize air traffic control and boost staffing, the Trump administration is using every tool at its disposal to deliver a safe, efficient, and seamless flying experience.”

American Airlines is on board with the changes implemented by the FAA and Department of Transportation and believes it will greatly benefit its customers, the New York Post reported.

“We are grateful to Secretary Duffy, Administrator Bedford, and their leadership teams for acting swiftly to ensure that Chicagoans and all consumers continue to benefit from sensible competition and to help minimize flight disruptions during the busy summer season,” American said in a statement.

The changes will be in place from May 17 to Oct. 24.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 17, 2026

Former NFL Player Alshon Jeffery Arrested, Charged With Insurance Fraud

Jeffery, through a representative, maintained his innocence.

Super Bowl-winning Pro Bowl wideout Alshon Jeffery was recently arrested in California and charged with insurance fraud.

According to TMZ Sports, Jeffery was taken into police custody on April 15 and charged with insurance fraud for concealing or failing to disclose an insurance benefit or payment. He is no longer in custody after being booked around 8 a.m. that day. No other details were immediately available.

“Alshon Jeffery categorically denies the allegations that have been reported. The underlying incident was a minor freeway fender bender, and he provided his information at the scene,” his representative, Denise White, the CEO of EAG Sports Management, said in a statement to PennLive. “These are unfounded allegations only, and Alshon has not been convicted of any offense. He will address this matter through the legal process, and he remains confident that the facts will demonstrate this was a misunderstanding and nothing more.”

Jeffery, 36, won an NFL championship in 2017, his first year playing for the Philadelphia Eagles. In Super Bowl LII, he caught three passes for 73 yards and scored a touchdown, helping the Eagles upset the New England Patriots ,41-33.

The wide receiver joined the team following five seasons with the Chicago Bears, who selected him in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Jeffery, a South Carolina native, was an All-American receiver at the University of South Carolina.

After spending four seasons with the Eagles, Jeffery retired after the 2020 season. During his NFL career, he caught 475 passes for 6,786 yards and scored 46 touchdowns.

In 2013, Jeffery caught 89 passes for 1,421 yards and scored seven touchdowns; those stats helped him make the Pro Bowl. The next season, he surpassed 1,000 yards again, catching 85 passes for 1,133 yards and scoring 10 touchdowns.

by Kandiss Edwards

April 17, 2026

Rep. Kamlager-Dove Destroys Donald Trump In New Interview: ‘F*ck His A**’

At the Congressional Progressive Caucus, the congresswoman said that Trump has unfairly prioritized a war that lacks congressional legitimacy and is effectively stealing resources.

Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, (D-CA) delivered a blunt condemnation of President Donald Trump’s $200 billion request to continue the war in Iran and its impact on the national debt.

“Oh my gosh, yes, Stevie Wonder can even see how much this is costing us. Gas prices are going up. It’s almost $10 in California, fertilizer is going up. You name it, the prices have gone up, and this dude, Dr. Jesus, is wanting to spend $2 billion of your money every single day rather than help you get healthcare,” Kamlager-Dove told Meidas Touch.

Kamlager-Dove is no stranger to speaking about the stark divide between domestic needs and defense spending. She frequently points to the rising costs of basic goods as a primary concern. She characterized the administration’s proposed cuts to food assistance and healthcare as evidence of “unconscionable” priorities during a time of economic strain for many American families.

https://twitter.com/ArtCandee/status/2044836481252905006

At the Congressional Progressive Caucus last month, the congresswoman said Trump unfairly prioritized a war that lacks congressional legitimacy and is effectively stealing resources and opportunities from the working class.

“Trump is asking Congress, which never authorized this war in the first place, this dumpster fire, to fund it with no endgame in sight,” she continued. “…This president is messy. And now he is messing with Americans’ lives, our money, and our safety. You’ve already heard from members of what this money could be used for. I’m going to give you some more. You could cover nearly 3 million people on Medicaid for a full year. You could feed over 3 million families through SNAP for a full year. You could build 91,000 affordable housing units in a year.”

Warning of a severe human cost, Kamlager-Dove asserted that the administration’s current budgetary path could have fatal consequences. She told colleagues that “people will die” if the federal safety nets currently on the chopping block are eliminated.

RELATTED CONTENT: For The First Time, NAACP Urges 25th Amendment To Oust Trump—Could It Work?

by Sharelle B. McNair

April 17, 2026

President Donald Trump, A Queens Native, Doesn’t Know What A ‘Corner Store’ Is

"Who the hell wrote that, please?"

While celebrating tax breaks for small businesses as part of his “Big Beautiful Bill Act,” President Donald Trump admitted not knowing what a “corner store” is.

Speaking at a roundtable in Las Vegas during Tax Week, Trump promoted his no tax on tips policy, which pushes larger tax refunds for tipped workers and small businesses. But while reading some of the talking points given to him, he began questioning some things.

“The Great Big Beautiful Bill also slashed taxes on millions of American small businesses, including restaurants, dry cleaners, corner stores….what is a corner store?” the president asked the crowd. “I’ve never heard that term. I know what a corner store is, but I’ve never heard it described… A corner store. Who the hell wrote that, please?”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Neighborhood Talk (@theneighborhoodtalk)

Social media users in the comment section were taken aback by Trump not being familiar with the term, which describes a small grocery store, as he was born and raised in Queens, New York, where a corner store is seen at almost the end or beginning of every street.

“You cannot be from New York and not know that. That was deliberate,” @transvilla420 wrote.

@ch0ngkenny wondered how Trump “has all these black friends and doesn’t know what a corner store is?” The sentiment was echoed by newscaster Don Lemon in an Instagram post.

“Wait til he hears the word bodega,” @suegreene22 wrote.

This isn’t the first time Trump has spoken out about how other Americans refer to groceries. In April 2025, during a “Liberation Day” speech, he claimed the term “groceries” was old-fashioned, according to People, and provided his own definition.

“It’s such an old-fashioned term but a beautiful term: groceries,” he said at the time. “It sort of says a bag with different things in it.”

Not knowing what a corner store is, is not a good look for Trump as Americans are struggling to keep cabinets full due to the the rising costs. According to NBC News, though costs of some goods, like eggs, have gone down by 30% since spring 2025, the average price of items like orange juice and beef have increased by 22% and 15%, respectively, during the same timeframe.

Darrell Spencer, Crowned skin, Shark Tank

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 17, 2026

Rashaun Williams Invests $500K Into Crowned Skin On ‘Shark Tank’

The Chicago connection came full circle as Crowned Skin secured a $500,000 investment from Rashuan Williams on "Shark Tank."

The burgeoning men’s grooming company Crowned Skin came up big on the latest episode of Shark Tank, securing a $500,000 investment from Rashaun Williams.

The Chicago connection was real as Crowned Skin founder Darrell Spencer, a Chicago native, appeared on the April 15 episode. Bonding with Williams over their Chicago roots, Spencer secured a $500,000 deal for a 10% stake, plus a $ 1-per-unit royalty until $1 million is repaid, AfroTech reports.

“You did a great job. I’m so excited. Your growth, it speaks for itself. You got me out here smelling good,” Williams told Spencer following the onscreen deal.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shark Tank (@sharktankabc)

Crowned Skin was already gaining major traction before its Shark Tank debut. Spencer scaled the brand to eight figures in under two years, carving out a niche in men’s grooming with its cologne-infused body butters and oils.

The brand has ranked among the top sellers on TikTok Shop, landed in Amazon’s top 10, and secured a national retail deal through Walmart’s Open Call, with a wider rollout set for 2026. It has also partnered with the National Basketball Players Association and expanded to Macy’s online, while earning a spot in Amazon’s Rising Stars campaign.

Spencer quickly grabbed the Sharks’ attention with his numbers, revealing he hit $2 million in a single month through direct-to-consumer sales and surpassed $10 million overall, with projected revenue of $14–15 million and strong traction on TikTok Shop.

Darrelll Spencer, Crowned skin, Shark Tank — SHARK TANK – ÒMillion Dollar Offer: See Which Shark Makes a Million Dollar Offer for a Never-Before-Seen Idea!Ó – Bold entrepreneurs step into the Tank to pitch inventive concepts, including wildfire and tornado-proof homes, cologne-infused body butter, an allergy-free caf and specialized traction pads for athletes. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15 (10:02-11:00 p.m. EDT) on ABC. (Disney/Christopher Willard)
DARRELL SPENCER

He initially sought $500,000 for 5% equity in Crowned Skin, surprising the panel. Kevin O’Leary and Barbara Corcoran countered with a joint offer of $500,000 for 20% plus a royalty structure. Still, Spencer ultimately struck a deal with a fellow Chicago native in a move that left him energized about the brand’s future and its impact on aspiring Black entrepreneurs.

“I feel like I’m in a dream and I haven’t woken up yet,” Spencer said on the show. “I’m most excited about just really being a beacon of hope and being a light for other Black men to see that things that you probably never thought or envisioned that you can do, you can absolutely do it because I’m a living witness to it.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 17, 2026

Trump Accuses Mamdani Of ‘Destroying New York City’ Following Tax Hike On ‘Rich’ Non-Full-Time Residents

"The president and I both want the city to succeed. This is how you do it."

President Donald Trump appears to be taking back his initial support of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani following the mayor announcing a tax hike on non-full-time residents.

The president responded on Truth Social after Mamdani and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul jointly announced a proposed pied-à-terre tax targeting second homes valued at $5 million or more that are not primary residences. The tax would apply only to properties that are neither owner-occupied nor rented out or used by family members.

Trump, a New York City native, views the proposed tax as a setback for his hometown.

“Sadly, Mayor Mamdani is DESTROYING New York! It has no chance! The United States of America should not contribute to its failure,” Trump wrote. “It will only get WORSE. The TAX, TAX, TAX Policies are SO WRONG,” he continued. “People are fleeing. They must change their ways, AND FAST. History has proven, THIS ‘STUFF’ JUST DOESN’T WORK.”

https://twitter.com/PolitlcsUS/status/2044889499914662061

Mamdani remained diplomatic when responding to Trump’s social media rant.

“The president and I both want the city to succeed. This is how you do it. I’ve made it clear to the president and to the public that I am deeply supportive of taxing the rich,” Mamdani said during an April 17 press conference.

Trump’s sharp social media response comes after he struck a more positive tone about Mamdani following their first Oval Office meeting last November. The two met again at the White House in February, with both describing the conversation as productive.

However, their relationship began on rocky ground with Mamdani calling Trump a “despot” during his campaign, while Trump labeled Mamdani a “communist.”

The proposal comes as New York City faces a significant budget shortfall and tries to build on additional state support, including $1.5 billion in proposed aid for the FY2027 budget.

The measure targets ultrawealthy non-residents and global elites who treat New York City real estate as an investment rather than a home, and is projected to generate $500 million annually, a press release states.

Supporters argue the tax would ensure wealthy property owners contribute to city services, even if they don’t live there full-time or pay local income taxes.

“Thanks to the support of Governor Hochul, we are one step closer to balancing our budget by taxing the ultra-wealthy and global elites with a pied-à-terre tax — the first of its kind in our state,” Mamdani said. “Alongside the governor, our administration is fighting every day to make sure we address this fiscal deficit fairly, where the wealthy contribute what they owe and our budget reflects our commitment to the working New Yorkers being priced out of our city.”