by Jameelah Mullen

April 17, 2026

Angel Reese Hosts Baltimore STEM Program, Inspiring Female Student-Athletes Beyond The Game

Angel Reese paid it forward again.

WNBA star Angel Reese partnered with video game publisher 2K through its philanthropic arm, the 2K Foundations, to host a six-week STEM program for girls at Crossroads Middle School in Baltimore.

This marks a full-circle moment for Reese, who is from Randallstown, Maryland, a Baltimore suburb.

2K Foundations, which provides mentorship and sports programming in underserved communities, collaborated with nonprofit STEM organizations Living Classrooms Foundation and Project Scientist to develop courses in coding, robotics design, 3D printing, career development, and STEM-based sports projects.

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A post shared by Living Classrooms Foundation (@livingclassroomsfoundation)

The partnership supports the Angel C. Reese Foundation’s mission to expand access to sports, education, and financial literacy for girls in underserved communities, according to the foundation’s website.

“The Living Classrooms’ partnership with Angel Reese, the Angel C. Reese Foundation, and 2K Foundations reflects a shared belief that girls thrive when they are given access, encouragement, and real-world opportunities to explore who they can become,” said James Piper Bond, president and CEO of Living Classrooms Foundation Bond in a press statement. “By investing in STEM education for our female Crossroads scholar-athletes, we are expanding what’s possible—helping young women build confidence, critical-thinking skills, and pathways to bold careers.”

Angel Reese launched the Angel C. Reese Foundation in 2023 while she was a student at Louisiana State University.

The “Bayou Barbie” hosts annual back-to-school block parties featuring donated backpacks filled with school supplies. Its inaugural event was held at her high school alma mater, St. Frances Academy, and included a $12,000 donation to the school’s basketball team. Since its launch, the organization has invested nearly $190,000 in programs across Baltimore, Chicago, and Baton Rouge.

“I hope to always bring a positive impact to the community,” Reese told 225 Baton Rouge in 2023. “I want to be an inspiration for young girls and the next generation, so that they can do this too. There’s no limit to what you can do.”

by Sharelle B. McNair

April 17, 2026

Legal Expert Flags DOJ’s ‘Searing Inconsistency’

“There is no rhyme or reason to what this Department of Justice does.”

During an episode of The Legal Breakdown, hosted by YouTuber Brian Tyler Cohen, legal expert Glenn Kirschner argued that President Donald Trump’s Department of Justic had continued to show a “searing inconsistency” when applying the law to high-profile cases.

He highlighted the difference in DOJ by comparing its recent request to courts to drop convictions for members of white supremacist groups the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers and the case of Brian Cole Jr., a Black man initially accused of a crime.

“Here we are piling charges on Brian Cole when at virtually the same time, Donald Trump’s dirty DOJ leadership is trying to dismiss the convictions of the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys who were convicted of seditious conspiracy,” Kirschner said. “There is no rhyme or reason to what this Department of Justice does.”

The two paramilitary groups helped organize and participate in the Jan. 6 insurrection while Cole Jr. allegedly planted pipe bombs outside of the Democratic and Republican National Committees before the insurrection took place.

But KATV reports the department recently added new charges—attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and committing an act of terroris—on top of prior charges of transporting and attempting to use explosives.

On Trump’s first day in office, he commuted the sentences of Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes and Proud Boys leaders Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, and Zachary Rehl. However, their cases continued to move through the Washington D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Cole’s added charges could result in a life sentence, but for the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, as appeal deadlines are coming up, the DOJ asked the court to drop the cases altogether. Kirschner called the decision bizarre.

“Are we supposed to like and reward election deniers who commit massive felony crimes? Are we supposed to dislike and prosecute election deniers who commit massive, potentially violent crimes?” he continued.

For months, the DOJ has been under scrutiny from Congress and litigators for its handling of cases such as the Jeffrey Epstein files and white-collar crimes. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche claimed some lawyers would benefit from not publicly criticizing the Trump administration.

“If folks in this room are going to be honest brokers when counseling clients, posting on LinkedIn or writing client alerts, the public narrative should match the private one,” he said during a conference. “If you publicly claim we are not enforcing white-collar crime aggressively enough, but privately insist that your clients are the victims of overreach, we notice that inconsistency.”

by Kandiss Edwards

April 17, 2026

Coach Stormy Speaks Out After Settling FTC Lawsuit

Stormy Wellington is barred from making any future earnings claims unless they are truthful, non-misleading, and supported by written evidence

Multi-level marketing influencer Stormy Wellington is speaking out after settling a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) lawsuit alleging she used deceptive earnings claims to recruit participants into two different companies.

Under the settlement terms, Wellington is now permanently banned from misrepresenting potential earnings through her company, Farmasi. She is prohibited from making direct statements or using suggestive lifestyle imagery, such as photos of luxury goods. This ban extends to any other future business ventures she may promote. In an interview on the Isaiah Factor Uncensored podcast, Wellington stands behind her business practices. However, she says her future endeavors will have to be presented and worded carefully.

“There are some things that I use as a marketer. There are some things that I use as strategies, you know, I’m a manifestor. I believe that life and death is in the power of the tongue.” Wellington said. “I learned through this experience that you can’t do that when you become a woman of my caliber. You can’t say things that’s based on wishful thinking.”

Additionally, she is barred from making any future earnings claims unless they are truthful, non-misleading, and supported by written evidence at the time the claim is made. This evidence must remain available for inspection by the FTC at any time. Furthermore, the settlement outlines a notification process, requiring Wellington to inform all current participants in her recruitment network of the court order and the strict terms prohibiting deceptive financial claims.

The FTC’s legal action centers on Wellington’s role as a top-tier “Life Changer” at TLC and a high-ranking “Influencer” at Farmasi. According to the complaint, Wellington utilized social media platforms and YouTube videos to report baseless earnings claims, allegedly promising recruits they could earn between $100,000 and $1,000,000 within short timeframes. Federal investigators characterized these recruitment efforts as aggressive, citing a specific instance in which Wellington vowed to create “60 new millionaires in 2026.”

These promises of guaranteed wealth contradicted the hard data. The FTC noted that Farmasi’s own 2023 income disclosure revealed that fewer than 1% of active participants actually reached a six-figure income. Furthermore, the agency accused Wellington of using deceptive imagery to mislead the public, frequently showcasing luxury homes, high-end vehicles, and expensive travel to imply that such a lifestyle was a probable outcome for anyone joining her sales network.

AI, artificial intelligence, trends, A.I., journey, technology, DryMerge, AI, job interview

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 17, 2026

An AI Private School Launches In Chicago For City’s Youth To Learn Through Artificial Guides

The Alpha School has a unique approach to the traditional school day, all with the help of AI guides.

An AI private school has launched in Chicago, aiming to help students unlock their fullest potential with artificial guides leading the classroom.

The institution, called Alpha School, has already started sessions in other cities, including Atlanta, Dallas, and Washington, D.C. Now, as it makes its way to the Windy City, the AI private school wants the city’s youth to take advantage of this unique learning opportunity.

According to the website, the school’s schedule implements a two-hour specialized learning period. Their “Alpha classes” replace teachers with AI tutors leading instruction, allowing independent learners to thrive during this allotted time.

While AI guides handle the lessons, adult facilitators also contribute to class, ensuring students’ well-being and providing an in-person connection. By lunch break, students have finished traditional school time.

Alpha curriculum’s incentive is dedicated to learning by offering the rest of the day for life skills and extracurricular passions. The school’s founders believe they have mastered the intersection of technology and traditional learning to build future leaders.

“AI is going to help us unlock the greatest untapped resource in our world, which is human potential,” shared the Alpha School Co-Founder, MacKenzie Price, to the Chicago Tribune.

However, this type of education does not come cheaply. Tuition starts at $55,000 annually for the school, which serves students from kindergarten through 8th grade.

Alpha’s leadership also insists that they are not trying to replace teachers. Instead, they want educators to take on a more holistic approach.

“We’re not replacing teachers. The role is just changing. Our teachers don’t need to be subject matter experts,” Price added.

Despite their enthusiasm, naysayers feel AI-powered learning takes away from the educational experience. Critics say placing students in front of computers, stifling human-to-human interaction, brings more concerns than benefits.

“There’s just so much that teachers are doing that is well-beyond what even the most sophisticated language models can do,” argued Victor Lee, an associate professor at Stanford University, to the Tribune. “Right now, the evidence just is not there.”

Lee also noted that the Alpha School’s success likely ties to its higher-income student body. With this in mind, how AI learning helps students across all financial backgrounds has yet to be documented.

He added, “This is a private school with tuition, and therefore tends to cater to a particular socioeconomic status, whose students would tend to perform very strongly on these measures.”

However, Alpha hopes to challenge this notion by becoming a chartered institution, allowing for more students from lower-income backgrounds to enroll. In the meantime, the school plans to branch out to more cities, integrating its AI education into these academic landscapes.

by Sharelle B. McNair

April 17, 2026

The Big Payback! Dumpster Company Dumps Massive Amount Of Trash On Customer’s Property Over Failed Payment

When the company owner says he continued to call the client and calls were ignored trying to settle the $700 dispute, things escalated, saying he felt he had "no other option."

San Francisco-area dumpster company Express Rental Dumpster took matters into its own hands by dumping a bin full of trash onto a customer’s property after they failed to make payments.

The video posted on social media shows a company truck dumping a huge pile of trash onto the homeowner’s lawn in San Pablo, California. Owner Martin Perez said the incident occurred following an issue with the credit card number he received. “It’s declined. They declined the card,” Perez told KTVU.

But when he continued calling the client, and his calls were ignored while he tried to settle the $700 dispute, things escalated. Perez says he felt he had “no other option.” What he claims pushed him over the edge is that the client allegedly left him an invoice of two dollars and a happy face. “You think that ‘it’s like that,’ right?” the owner asked.

The neighbor who caught the dumping on home surveillance footage said he understands the issue, but the trash then became a bigger issue for the neighborhood, with the debris including appliances. “This is not just between the driver and the neighbor. This started affecting all the community,” the unidentified neighbor said.

One neighbor, named Mary, said the police were called and eventually came to see what happened. She claims the property owner said the debt was paid, so she was a little taken aback by seeing the trash. “She says she paid $700 for it, and then, all of a sudden, I see him back up and dump it all on the ground. I don’t really know what that was about,” the neighbor said.

According to ABC7 Eyewitness News, San Pablo police confirmed that the department has been receiving reports of illegal dumping; however, no crime has been committed. Perez said his team returned to ensure the area around the home was cleaned up, guaranteeing that no debris was left on the street or sidewalk. But he feels bad that it happened in the first place. “I feel bad, because I don’t want to cause any issues,” he said.

“But, sometimes, it’s hard doing this kind of work.”

The case is being handled by city code enforcement, with a violation addressed to a name listed as the property owner, but that hasn’t stopped social media users from getting a good laugh from the drama. “Now this is my kinda petty the Taurus in me loves it,” @meleliz_ said on Instagram.

“I’m with the driver,” @wiljlifts03 said.

One user argued that the company owner should have taken the case to small claims court, but another issued a rebuttal claiming the case would’ve been at risk of being drawn out.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 17, 2026

Prairie View A&M Football Coach Tremaine Jackson Negotiates Higher Salary For Coaching Staff

In his first season, he led the team to the SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference) title

Prairie View A&M University has rewarded its football coach, Tremaine Jackson, not only by increasing his salary but also by elevating the pay of his coaching staff after a successful season.

According to Sports Illustrated, Jackson, after months of negotiations with Prairie View A&M Athletic Director Anton Goff, his agent, and school officials, reworked his contract and made sure his staff was also taken care of. The move was to benefit those who helped him succeed in the program.

Jackson has an overall coaching record of 50-16 throughout his coaching career at Prairie View A&M, Valdosta State, and Colorado Mesa. This past season, with a 10-4 record in his first year leading Prairie View A&M, the team won the SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference) title, the school’s first since 2009. This enabled Jackson to increase his staff’s salaries by around 35%.

Prairie View A&M has amended HC Tremaine Jackson’s contract, giving him a significant salary and staff pool bump, a source tells @mzenitz, @bmarcello and, me for @CBSSports.

Jackson’s salary and the staff pool both jump by around 35%. There is also an increased rev share… pic.twitter.com/DypOLkvERQ

— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) April 15, 2026

“I never got into this deal for myself,” Jackson told HBCU Legends. “We never did it for money. I haven’t done it for free. But these coaches, man, to be able to increase the salary pool and give these guys what I believe they deserve for what FCS programs have today, that was really big for me.”

Jackson also spoke about the talent level of his coaches, noting that he lost two of them: one left to work at Missouri, and another accepted the offensive coordinator job at Valdosta State. The salary raise will make it harder for other coaches to leave for greener pastures. He mentioned that the coaches were underpaid compared to what similar coaches earn in the market.

“Those guys that took a chance and came with me, now they’ve been rewarded drastically compared to what we all made if I lost the state,” Jackson said.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 16, 2026

Black Woman On FBI’s Top 10 Most Wanted List Found And Detained In Florida

Ahead of her arrest, KaShawn Nicola Roper was on the FBI's high priority tasks, with the federal agency initially telling the public to remain alert for the armed and dangerous woman.

A Black woman on the FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list has been found and arrested in Florida.

Ahead of her arrest, KaShawn Nicola Roper was on the FBI’s watchlist, with the federal agency telling the public to remain alert for the armed and dangerous woman. She is currently a suspect in a 2020 shooting in Kansas City, Missouri.

According to reports obtained by 11Alive, Roper allegedly fired multiple shots at a car, hitting two women. One of the shooting victims died from the gunshots.

Authorities charged Roper with second-degree murder, armed criminal action, and unlawful use of a weapon. However, she managed to escape police custody for years until now.

In 2021, law enforcement issued a federal arrest warrant for Roper on another charge, listed as unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Investigators uncovered the 50-year-old’s ties to Georgia, encouraging the state’s residents to disclose any information if spotted.

As she remained unaccounted for, the FBI’s Most Wanted team established a reward of up to $1,000,000 for information leading to her arrest. According to her FBI Most Wanted poster, Roper used various aliases and maintained connections across multiple states.

Alongside her given name, the former fugitive also changed her middle name to Nicole or Nicola and adopted another last name, Shaw. As for where agents believed she would escape to, they listed other states, including Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, Colorado, and even South Dakota.

Police eventually captured her, but in an entirely different state than expected. On April 10, FBI agents stationed in Jacksonville detained Roper in High Springs, Florida. The federal agents worked with local officers and U.S. Marshals to finally locate the wanted individual after the years-long evasion.

Now, Roper may finally face prosecution for the alleged crime, putting an end to the long-distance pursuit.

by Kandiss Edwards

April 16, 2026

This African Nation Says Its Time For World Map To Reflect The Continent’s True Size

The initiative seeks to move international organizations, governments and educational institutions away from the 16th-century Mercator projection.

The government of Togo has formally petitioned the United Nations to adopt a world map that accurately reflects Africa’s true land area.

Togo officials argue that the widely used projections are geographically misleading and downplay the continent’s global significance. Togo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Robert Dussey, confirmed that the resolution will soon be ready for a vote at the UN General Assembly in September 2026, Africa News reported. The initiative seeks to move international organizations, governments, and educational institutions away from the 16th-century Mercator projection in favor of alternatives such as the Equal Earth projection.

Foreign Minister Dussey stated that the current visual representation of the globe is a matter of scientific inaccuracy rather than preference. He noted that the size seen on most maps is geographically false and that the time has come for the international community to embrace scientific truth. The move is part of a broader “Correct the Map” campaign.

This is the true size of Africa pic.twitter.com/UC2xee22R2
— Science girl (@sciencegirl) April 14, 2026

Proponents of the change argue that map distortions are not merely academic errors but carry profound psychological and political consequences. Moky Makura, executive director of Africa No Filter, described the persistence of the Mercator map as a long-standing misinformation campaign that has marginalized Africa’s identity and influenced global perceptions in media, policy, and education.

“Accurate representation is not just about maps — it is about agency, progress, and ensuring the world sees Africa as it truly is,” Makura told Reuters.

The African Union’s 55 member states adopted a resolution to stop using the Mercator projection within their own borders, Macao News reported. The AU has tasked Togo with leading the diplomatic effort to elevate this policy to a global standard. While the United Nations currently uses various projections, including the Robinson projection, it does not mandate a specific world map for its member states.

The Mercator projection, created in 1569 for nautical navigation, preserves the shapes of countries but significantly distorts their relative sizes. Because the map enlarges landmasses farther from the equator, regions like Greenland and North America appear disproportionately large, while the African continent appears visually shrunken. In reality, Africa covers approximately 30 million square kilometers and is 14 times the size of Greenland, yet the two often appear similar in size on standard maps.

The upcoming September vote is being framed by African diplomats as a test of global commitment to equity and decolonization. Dussey suggested that the international response to the proposal will reveal the true intentions of world powers regarding African representation.

by Kandiss Edwards

April 16, 2026

‘I’m Not Resisting’: NYPD Beats Brooklyn Man They Allegedly Profiled As A Drug Dealer

The officers were allegedly conducting a drug investigation based on a tip regarding narcotics sales in the area.

A Brooklyn man was forcefully detained by police after allegedly being mistaken for a drug dealer at a local liquor store.

Timothy Brown is speaking out, as camera footage reveals him being roughly arrested on April 14 during an incident of mistaken identity. Brown’s arrest occurred at the BK Wine Depot in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. The officers were allegedly conducting a drug investigation based on a tip regarding narcotics sales in the area.

Officers claimed Brown matched the description of another suspect. However, Brown was simply a customer who had entered the store to make a purchase. In the footage, Brown can be heard speaking calmly but firmly, stating his name and clarifying that he is not in possession of any illegal substances.

“They slammed me up against the glass, you know, repeatedly hitting me in the temple, in my head, you know? You see my eye’s black,” he told CBS News. “Several bottles were broken in the liquor store because they swung me and they actually dragged me on the floor in glass, and that can be seen on camera.”

A pair of NYPD cops were stripped of their guns and badges Wednesday after repeatedly punching a man they mistook for a drug dealer who refused to be handcuffed inside a Brooklyn liquor store

We thought we were getting stuck up. The officers did not say we're NYPD," said witness… pic.twitter.com/UtIzlryBGW
— LASHY BILLS (@LASHYBILLS) April 16, 2026

New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch issued a brief statement on X, noting that the incident is under internal review.

“These videos are deeply disturbing, and the matter is under active investigation by the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau. The officers in question are modified. Their guns and shields have been removed.”

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani spoke out against the incident and assured the public that an investigation into the incident was underway.

“The violence used by NYPD officers in this video is extremely disturbing and unacceptable. Officers should never treat a person this way. The NYPD is conducting a full investigation into this incident,” Mamdani wrote.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 16, 2026

Philly Native Behind Viral Acceptance Letter Celebrates Being Named ‘Mr. Morehouse’

Amir Staten, the Philadelphia native who went viral for his acceptance into Morehouse College, has been named “Mr. Morehouse.”

Three years after Philadelphia native Amir Staten went viral for his response to receiving a full-ride scholarship to Morehouse College, the junior has now earned the prestigious title of “Mr. Morehouse.”

On April 10, Staten shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, thanking Morehouse College, his mentors, and loved ones for helping him earn the title of “Mr. Morehouse.” The honor recognizes exceptional leadership, scholarship, and service at the prestigious Atlanta HBCU—qualities that the sociology major with a minor in political science reflected on in his post.

“To my directors and mentors along the journey,” Staten wrote. “We all know this journey has not been the easiest for me, between battling health issues, loss, times of stress, and thoughts of doubt, y’all have stuck in my corner through it all, and I wouldn’t trade every hiccup, bump or bruise I experienced throughout this journey for the world. Y’all have instilled in me a new-found confidence in myself, and I wouldn’t trade the long days and nights for anything!”

Staten continued. “To my pbs😂😂I could write a book about us and the way in which we navigated through this journey. All 7 of y’all have given me a whole new outlook on what brotherhood, family, and love for those around you looks like. We’ve been through the highest of highs and lowest of lows (TRUST ME IT WASN’T EASY). But y’all are the reason I am still even standing here still today! We’ve had an experience like no other!”

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A post shared by Amir Staten (@amir_st27)

A graduate of Philadelphia’s Germantown Friends School, Staten earned the title through a competitive process that included oratory, a talent showcase, and student voting. The honor goes to a student who embodies Morehouse College’s values while securing top judges’ scores and the majority of students’ votes.

“This title is very new at Morehouse,” Staten told The Philadelphia Tribune. “I’m only the second person to ever receive it.”

Staten, set to graduate in 2027, plans to pursue a career in politics. During his time at Morehouse College, he has interned with state Sen. Art Haywood, worked with the City Council, and held a role at W Strategies LLC, a Philadelphia-based lobbying firm. Off campus, he remains closely tied to his hometown, serving as a longtime member of Shoot Basketballs Not People, a nonprofit focused on reducing gun violence through mentorship, wellness programs, and sports.

During the oratory portion of the competition, Staten centered his speech on moving from survival to healing, drawing deeply from his personal experiences and Philadelphia roots. He also stood out in the talent segment, delivering a spoken-word poem—on roller skates.

“My great-grandmother, who passed away this summer, was a poet,” he said. “I didn’t even know that when I first started writing at around 8 or 9 years old. Poetry just became something I loved.”

Staten, who earned his scholarship to Morehouse College after years as an honor student and has maintained a GPA of at least 3.5, said the school has surpassed his expectations. He ended his Instagram message by thanking the college for what he called a life-changing experience.

“Finally to Mother Morehouse. I’m not sure who or where I’d be without you,” Staten wrote. “The love and passion I’ve grown for this institution has grown TREMENDOUSLY throughout my journey, and I thank you for the endless opportunities you have given me. To everything there is a season, and in this one I’ve accomplished something 10 year old Amir would have never thought he would. I am your Mister Morehouse College. Signing on!”