Houston Funeral Home Under Investigation For Alleged Identity Theft
The funeral home has recently had its business license revoked as well.
A Houston funeral home is under investigation after multiple people accused it of identity theft. Police also state that the place of business had its license revoked recently.
According to KHOU, the venue, A Community Funeral Home, has had multiple families state that their deceased loved ones’ identities were stolen, and there was fraudulent use of credit and charge cards and accounts. The Houston Police Department (HPD) also stated that during the investigation of the claims, it was discovered that the funeral home was operating without a license.
Upon discovering that revelation, the HPD issued a search warrant.
When police officers arrived to enforce the warrant, an active funeral was underway. Police had to find another person to officiate the ceremony so they could proceed with the search of the establishment.
“When they served the search warrant, they collected financial records and computers and that kind of stuff,” HPD Lt. Larry Crowson said.
The Texas Funeral Service Commission said the business license expired on Aug. 31.
The business owner has not been charged and was released pending further investigation.
While searching the funeral home, investigators did not find any other bodies, but did find several cremated remains. Police are working to identify the remains so they can contact the families to have them returned to them.
“This is a financial crime. Those can be very in-depth investigations. You know, you have to do basically an accounting investigation of where the money went and what kind of records were used. So, it could take a while to investigate exactly who was responsible for the identity theft,” Lt. Crowson said.
Court records reveal that, in August, the funeral home owner was charged with forging a fraudulent lien agreement. Allegedly, a signature was forged to perform construction on the property and to avoid eviction. The owner was arrested in early November and is scheduled to appear in court in January on a misdemeanor forgery charge.
Changes Underway For Social Security Recipients—Here’s What To Know
The Social Security Administration announced a 2.8% COLA increase for 2026 to mitigate rising costs of healthcare, housing, and groceries.
Within the next few weeks, Social Security recipients will see changes to how they receive benefits and to the cost-of-living adjustment.
For starters, millions of recipients will soon receive a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to their Social Security benefits. The Social Security Administration announced a 2.8% COLA increase for 2026 to mitigate rising costs of healthcare, housing, and groceries. This is slightly higher than the 2.5% increase in 2025.
According to Grada 3, recipients who receive under $2,008 per month will see an additional $56 per month starting in January, but some will see their benefits before.
The increase comes after two-thirds of Americans (67%) say they now live paycheck-to-paycheck, according to PNC’s Financial Wellness in the Workplace Report. That’s a four percentage point increase from 2024. According to a report from eMarketer, the biggest hurdle is that wages are simply not keeping up with the cost of living.
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that wages in the private sector increased by 23.3% but household expenses have grown faster. Grocery prices have increased by 24.7%, housing costs by 28.2%, and energy costs by 43.3%.
People who receive Social Security benefits on the 1st of each month will see the increase on Dec. 31, and others will see the rise in mid-to-late January, depending on their birth date.
Social Security Going Digital With Very Few Exceptions
The U.S. government is transitioning from paper checks to electronic payments. According to Life Central, the federal government is switching to electronic payments because they are faster, safer, and cheaper. Recipients will receive money directly to their bank accounts or through the Direct Express® debit card. Social Security Administration officials also say going digital helps reduce fraud and saves on postage compared to checks by mail, which are costly and more susceptible to fraud.
There will be some exceptions. Senior citizens who struggle with technology, recipients in rural communities without nearby banks or poor internet, and people who don’t have bank accounts or a smartphone will continue to receive a check. Anyone who needs a paper check must request a waiver by contacting the U.S. Treasury’s payment center.
Ciara, Kehlani, Olandria Carthen, Normani Honored At Femme It Forward ‘Give Her Flowhers Gala’
The event featured plenty of heartfelt moments among the honorees.
Femme It Forward hosted its 4th annual Give Her Flowhers Gala at the Beverly Hilton on Nov. 21, honoring Ciara, Kehlani, and other influential women for their impact on the community through entertainment, Billboard reports.
The event, celebrated the power of women and sisterhood, featured plenty of heartfelt moments among the honorees.
One of the evening’s standout moments came from Teyana Taylor, who started the gala by presenting her mother, Nikki Taylor, with The Queens Raising Queens Award. The younger Taylor, a multi-hyphenate and mother of two, thanked her mom for the example she set.
“I am the mother I am today because you are the mother you chose to be,” she said.
Other honorees included former Chairwoman of Epic Records, Syliva Rhone, who accepted the inaugural Sylvia Rhone Legacy Award; Ravyn Lenae, who received The Fem Z Award recognizing Gen Z artists shaping the next generation; Gail Mitchell, Billboard’s Executive Director of R&B/Hip-Hop, who was honored with the Mentor Excellence Award for her 26-year legacy of supporting artists and promoting inclusive storytelling in music media; and Mariah The Scientist, who earned The Bloom Award for her artistic achievements and creative growth.
Jhené Aiko praised her mother, daughter, and sisters, who presented her with The Glow Getter Award, with a heartfelt speech. “This year, they pulled me out of some really dark places,” she said. “They sat by my side when I couldn’t get out of bed.”
Kehlandi accepted The Alchemist Award from fellow Bay Area artist Goapele. Love Island star Olandria Carthen received the Self-Love Award, dedicating it to “any woman who has ever questioned her worth,” while Normani accepted The Femme It Forward Award from Ryan Destiny, highlighting the importance of community in her career journey.
“The Femme It Forward award fills me with immense gratitude because it speaks to humanity and who we are as people beyond anything else,” she said. “Philanthropy is never the work of one individual—it’s a shared effort built by communities, mentors, friends, and everyone who believes compassion is a force capable of real change.”
Education Dept. To Delist Architecture As Professional Degree
The move stems from the terms of the One Big Beautiful Bill.
The Trump administration is delisting architecture as a professional degree by the U.S. Department of Education, which could have a significant impact on students and the industry.
As Dezeen reports, the declassification of architecture stems from the terms of the One Big Beautiful Bill. Provision of federal student loans will be overhauled beginning July 1, 2026. Borrowing amounts will be determined based on whether a degree is considered professional.
The move from the Trump administration has angered the industry. In a statement from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), leaders say they “strongly oppose” any proposal or policy that fails to recognize architects as professionals, particularly when it comes to designating which degrees qualify for student loan caps.
“The title of ‘architect’ is earned through years of rigorous education, extensive professional examinations, and a demanding licensing process,” the AIA released in a statement. “To classify otherwise dismisses the expertise, professional standards, and dedication that define the profession.”
The AIA also warned that lowering the loan cap will reduce the number of architects who can afford to pursue this professional degree and harm American leadership in this field.
In America, an architecture degree costs between $100,000 and $180,00 for a five-year bachelor of architecture (B.Arch) program. For graduate-level programs, the average annual cost hovers around $30,000, according to B Young Design.
According to the bill, starting July 1 next year, the maximum annual amount of Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford loans that a graduate student who is not a professional student may borrow in any academic year or its equivalent is $20,500. A professional student may borrow a maximum of $50,000.
Unfortunately, architecture isn’t the only professional occupation the Department of Education wants to delist. The department has officially excluded nursing in its recently revamped definition of “professional degree” programs.
“At a time when healthcare in our country faces a historic nurse shortage and rising demands, limiting nurses’ access to funding for graduate education threatens the very foundation of patient care,” said Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, president of the American Nurses Association, in a statement
She added, “In many communities across the country, particularly in rural and underserved areas, advanced practice registered nurses ensure access to essential, high-quality care that would otherwise be unavailable. We urge the Department of Education to recognize nursing as the essential profession it is and ensure access to loan programs that make advanced nursing education possible.”
Track Star Kayla White’s Road To Victory Started At North Carolina A&T
She hopes for "more medals, more PRs, and just more healthy seasons."
North Carolina A&T alumna Kayla White has built quite the career post-college, including winning a gold medal for the USA at the World Athletics Championship.
North Carolina A&T alumna Kayla White is officially a World Champion! The former @NCATTrackField track star ran 3rd leg of the Women's 4x100m relay to help Team USA secure the world title in Tokyo. Congrats @KaylaaDee_ 🥇#AggiesDopic.twitter.com/0mfMj7APvx
In college, she competed in over 175 races, earning 32 wins, 71 top-5 finishes, 14 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) titles, three first-team All-American honors, two second-team All-American honors, an indoor NCAA championship, and the 60 meters hurdles at the MEAC indoor championships every year she attended the school.
The A&T Register recently spotlighted White, two months after her gold medal triumph. Her journey to track was preceded by training in ballet, hip-hop, and jazz. White said she “was blessed and gifted to do (hurdling), but I had a higher quality in sprinting, and I was more talented in that field, so I just rolled with the punches once I got to college.”
White said a lesson from her coach at A&T, Duane Ross, has stayed with her.
“Who do you want to be? Do you want to be with somebody that regrets not doing something, or you want to be somebody that took every single opportunity that was in front of them to be the best person, to be the best athlete that they can be?”
White added another medal in Tokyo on Sept. 21. As the third leg in the women’s 4×100 meter relay, running with Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Twanisha Terry, and anchor Sha’Carri Richardson, the finished in 41.75 seconds, beating Jamaica by .04 seconds.
The Miami native hopes for “more medals, more PRs, and just more healthy seasons,” but one thing she won’t ever forget is her experience at North Carolina A&T.
“Aggie pride for life, Aggie-born, Aggie-bred, and when I die, I’m gonna be Aggie dead,” she told The A&T Register.
All of these decisions by EU leaders have created the impression that Africa is not a priority. At the same time, Europe seeks to tap into Africa’s resources amid a critical period marked by a rush for resources in both regions.
Currently, there’s a railway connecting oil and mineral-rich regions from the interior to the Atlantic. The valuable resources include rubber, ivory, and minerals that are exported to Western countries, such as the United States. The railway is being extended and modernized with investment from the EU and the U.S. for even more minerals, including cobalt and copper, Politico EU reports.
At the two-day conference, set to wrap up Nov. 25, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa will reportedly commit to resetting the relationship with the AU in an effort to boost their ties for future investment.
A Rush To Not Be Sidelined During the EU-AU Summit
African countries are currently the primary suppliers of minerals to Beijing, drawing criticism on whether China is exploiting the continent for resources. Europe, however, wants to approach it more equitably and sustainably.
“The EU has been quite vocal, since the beginning of the raw minerals diplomacy two years ago, saying: We want to be the ethical partner,” Martina Matarazzo, international and EU advocacy coordinator at Resource Matters, said.
In an article published by the Kofi Annan Foundation, strategists caution that Africa and Europe risk being sidelined if they don’t work together.
One reason is that in Europe, there’s currently a demographic deficit, an aging population, labor shortages, and slowing growth. In Africa, strategists say there’s an abundance of youth, energy, and ambition.
A partnership could serve both regions well because where Europe has capital, technology, and advanced infrastructure. African countries have markets, raw materials, and “an unstoppable creative pulse.”
“Their futures are not parallel. They are complementary,” Bitange Ndemo, ambassador of Kenya to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union, and Sébastien Brack, representative of the Kofi Annan Foundation to the European Union, wrote. “This interdependence finds expression in many forms, none more visible than the movement of people.”
Campbell’s VP Slammed In Lawsuit After Alleged Racist, Classist Rant About Coworkers And Products
Black–owned food company Goode Food’s CEO came through with a word for folks.
A massive corporate upheaval is underway at the Campbell Soup Company after a federal lawsuit revealed an explosive audio recording in which a vice resident allegedly delivered a racist, classist, and profane tirade about coworkers and the quality—or lack thereof—regarding the company’s food products.
The lawsuit, filed by former security analyst Robert Garza last week in Wayne County, Michigan, accused Campbell’s of retaliatory termination after Garza reported the contents of the recording, prompting the company to place the executive on immediate leave.
According to the complaint, Garza recorded Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer Martin Bally during a November 2024 meeting that quickly devolved from a salary discussion into an hour-long, unhinged rant. The recording reportedly captured Bally making multiple derogatory remarks about employees of Indian descent.
The lawsuit claims Bally labeled Indian employees as “idiots” and claimed they “couldn’t think for their f–ing selves.”
In addition to the alleged racial remarks, the executive reportedly mocked the company’s customer base and products, stating: “We have s–t for f–king poor people. Who buys our s–t? I don’t buy Campbell’s products barely anymore. It’s not healthy now that I know what the f—‘s in it.”
Bally also allegedly joked he avoided the company’s chicken soup because the meat came from a “3-D printer” and admitted to using marijuana edibles before coming to work. Garza said he kept the recording for weeks out of “pure disgust,” needing time to process the content. In January 2025, he said that he reported Bally’s behavior—specifically the racist remarks—to his supervisor, JD Aupperle.
On Jan. 30, 2025, Garza, who had no prior disciplinary actions or formal write-ups during his employment, was abruptly terminated. “He had never had any disciplinary action; they had never written him up for work performance,” Garza’s lawyer, Zachary Runyan, said.
Garza’s lawsuit asserted he was fired in retaliation for disclosing the vice president’s gross misconduct and accused the corporation of maintaining a racially hostile work environment. The ex-employee received no follow-up from human resources or any other company representative regarding an investigation or explanation for his termination.
In a statement, Campbell’s confirmed the upheaval. “We want to make sure you know the facts. Robert Garza, a former Campbell’s employee, recently released an alleged audio recording of him speaking with Campbell’s VP of Information Technology, Martin Bally, in connection with a lawsuit Mr. Garza filed against the company.
“If the comments heard on the audio recording were in fact made by Mr. Bally, they are unacceptable. Such language does not reflect our values and the culture of our company. We do not tolerate that kind of language under any circumstances. Mr. Bally is temporarily on leave while we conduct an investigation,” the statement continued.
“We are proud of the food we make, the people who make it and the high-quality ingredients we use to provide consumers with good food at a good value. We know that millions of people use Campbell’s products, and we’re honored by the trust they put in us. The comments heard on the recording about our food are not only inaccurate—they are patently absurd. The chicken meat in our soups comes from long-trusted, USDA-approved U.S. suppliers and meets our high-quality standards. All our soups are made with No Antibiotics Ever chicken meat. Any claims to the contrary are completely false.
“Keep in mind, the alleged comments heard on the audio were made by a person in IT, who has nothing to do with how we make our food.”
Black–owned food company Goode Food’s CEO came through with a word for folks who sought great-quality, affordable, non-GMO foods from a non-bigoted company.
“The Campbell’s Soup VP got caught mocking the same people who keep their lights on… and admitting their products aren’t even real food. This is exactly why family-owned brands matter. We don’t hide. We show up. We answer. We care,” the Instagram caption read. “Corporate America treats food like a science experiment—families treat it like nourishment. Choose brands that actually respect you. #campbell #grocery #food.”
The entertainment mogul is seen in prison gear and sporting grey hair
TMZ recently posted a video of entertainment mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs walking down a hallway and speaking to another prisoner, the first to show him in prison garb and sporting a full head of gray hair.
The silent video clip reveals two scenes: one of them shows Diddy leaving his work assignment at Fort Dix on Nov. 21. He reportedly works in the prison’s media library, distributing movies and religious materials to inmates. The first scene shows the “No Way Out” music producer wearing a gray prison uniform and a brown knit cap, walking through a room with other inmates, some of whom are sitting as he passes. The next scene shows him walking out of a room, holding what looks like a DVD case, as he stops to talk to someone in the hall. After a brief conversation, he then walks away from the inmate he was speaking to. In the video, you can clearly see the gray hairs on his head and under his chin.
Diddy is presently serving a 50-month prison term in New Jersey after being convicted on two counts of transporting individuals to engage in prostitution under the Mann Act in July.
Diddy has been at the Fort Dix facility since Oct. 30, after spending over a year at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. He was arrested in September 2024. His expected release date is May 28, 2028, or sooner if he completes a drug treatment program at the facility.
However, Diddy’s look-alike son, King Combs, has revealed that his father may be enjoying the holidays with family, according to TMZ. The rapper was seen at LAX in Los Angeles when the media outlet’s cameras approached him. When asked how Diddy was and how the family would cope for the upcoming holidays, Combs said, “Watch out, he might come home before then.” When pressed on whether his father was going to get a pardon and whether they’d heard from the White House, he kept walking into an elevator, threw up the letter L (for Love), and smiled for the cameras.
Angel Reese And Reebok Join Forces To Support High School Girls Basketball At Her Alma Mater
Reese is supporting many girls basketball teams with new gear, including at her former high school.
Reebok and the Angel C. Reese Foundation are putting their best foot forward to support girls’ basketball.
The foundation, created by the WNBA star, has partnered with collaborator Reebok to gift Reese’s high school alma mater some new kicks. According to WWD, the parties will support the girls’ basketball team at Saint Frances Academy for the upcoming season.
Investing in the next generation of hoopers, leaders, and young women who’ll change the world, starting right here in Baltimore. Saint Frances Academy 🖤💛 Reebok X Angel Reese pic.twitter.com/vmsN1BBcJS
The partnership will not only deck out the young girl athletes in the latest Angel Reese 1 Sneakers. The venture will also provide Reebook warm-up sets and jerseys for the girls to arrive at games in style.
The Angel Reese 1 has already made waves across in footwear, with the sold-out collection captivating many sneakerheads for its colorways. Since its September release, it has debuted new colorways paying homage to Reese’s hometown and more.
Now, her Baltimore high school will be one of the select schools to rock Reese’s staple shoes as she branches out to support youth sports. Founded in 2023, her foundation provides programming and resources to help girls elevate their game, finances, and more.
“Empowering the next generation of young female athletes has always been my mission, and giving back to the community that raised me makes it even more special,” Reese said in a statement. “Saint Frances was pivotal in my journey as an athlete, and through this partnership, I want to give young Panther athletes the resources, the confidence, and the inspiration to chase their dreams too.”
Reese has continued to build her brand as a fashion icon, WNBA star player, and champion of women’s sports. Now, players inspired by her will wear her apparel as she continues to revolutionize the sport.
“To have the support from Angel and Reebok is an honor,” said Nytearia Burrell, Saint Frances Girls Basketball head coach, in a statement. “Angel is a pillar of inspiration for these young girls, and I’m excited to see the team excel on and off the court through this partnership.”
To add to the partnership, Reese will also host a special practice during the season to help the girls with their development on and off the court.
Lupita Nyong’o Offered ‘Slave Ship’ Roles After Oscar Win for ’12 Years A Slave’
The actress spoke of her stifling role options after winning the coveted award.
Lupita Nyong’o is getting real about her acting career since winning an Oscar in 2013 for 12 Years A Slave.
The acclaimed actress, who won the Academy Award for her captivating performance as enslaved woman Patsey, told CNN Inside Africa about how she only received offers for similar roles yet refused to play into the stereotypes.
“My winning an Academy Award came at the very start of my career,” Nyong’o, 42, said. “It was for the first film I had ever done. So, it really did set the paces for everything I’ve done since. What’s very interesting is that after I won the Academy Award, you’d think like, ‘Oh, I’m going to get the lead roles here and there.’ But it’s ‘Oh, Lupita. We’d like you to do another movie where you’re a slave, but this time you’re on a slave ship.’ Those are the kinds of offers [I was getting] in the months after winning my Academy Award.”
As others began to notice her name on fewer movie posters, Nyong’o had to block out the noise. She remained adamant about following her heart and mind by choosing roles she felt aligned with her values. She even called the moment immediately after winning a “very tender time.”
“There is an expectation for you and your career,” she continued. “There were think pieces about, is this the beginning or the end of this African woman’s career? I had to deafen myself to all those pontificators because at the end of the day I am not a theory…I am an actual person. I like to be a joyful warrior for changing the paradigms of what it means to be African. If that means I work one less job a year to ensure that I am not perpetuating these stereotypes that are expected of people from my content, then let me do that.”
She still starred in some Blockbuster hits such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Black Panther. However, fans also saw her take on more culturally-enriching roles in films like Queen of Katwe.
However, Hollywood pressure still got to the Us actress. Last year, she told Trevor Noah on his What Now? podcast about her subconscious decision to lose her Kenyan accent to appeal to the American film market.
Her plight is a similar experience many Black actors in Hollywood have felt before. With pay gaps and a lack of opportunities besides stereotypical roles, Black actors have voiced the fight for just and equitable representation in films.
More sure of her art and voice today, Nyong’o is reaffirming her pride in her Kenyan-Mexican identity and face as a Black actress in Hollywood. She will grace the big screen again in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming blockbuster adaptation of The Odyssey.
