HBCU St. Augustine’s Files for Bankruptcy, Drops Current Accreditation Fight
The current accreditation status is expected to conclude on May 15. SAU leaders say they will focus on supporting students through teach-out agreements and building a pathway toward reaccreditation.
Raleigh, North Carolina’s St. Augustine’s University has announced several changes to position the institution for long-term success, including filing for bankruptcy, leadership changes, and ending litigation related to its accreditation status.
In a news release obtained by BLACK ENTERPRISE, the University’s Board of Trustees decided to initiate a “voluntary Chapter 11 restructuring process.”
“[The decision] reflects a deliberate and strategic step to advance the University’s long-term sustainability while addressing current financial realities,” university leaders wrote in a statement.
The university will continue to operate throughout the process. In the meantime, it said it is working on a reorganization plan to submit to the Court that outlines SAU’s path forward. In the meantime, while leaders develop the plan, some restructuring changes are already underway. Interim President Dr. Jennie Ward-Robinson is stepping down, and the Board has appointed Dr. Verjanis A. Peoples to be interim president.
With the current accreditation status expected to conclude on May 15, SAU leaders say they will focus on supporting students through teach-out agreements, developing non-degree certificates and apprenticeship programs, and building a pathway toward reaccreditation.
“These steps position the University to move forward with clarity and purpose, continuing its mission of preparing students academically, socially, and spiritually for leadership in a complex, diverse, and rapidly changing world,” the university said in a statement.
For the past several years, Saint Augustine’s has faced several financial battles due to lawsuits over unpaid services. The institution has faced financial issues totaling more than $30 million and nearly $10 million in tax liens, as previously reported by BE.
The university was placed on probation after failing to meet accreditation standards and lost its accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The school’s appeal to reinstate its accreditation was denied, prompting a heated town hall meeting on April 11, attended by alumni, current students, and community members.
Popular 90s Actor On Life Support After Being Misdiagnosed For Months
He is suffering from MRSA pneumonia.
Actor Samuel Monroe Jr., known for roles in several 1990s films, is on life support after being diagnosed with MRSA pneumonia.
According to TMZ, Monroe’s wife, Shawna Stewart, said he was hospitalized after being repeatedly misdiagnosed. She clarified the meningitis went untreated for months due to repeated misdiagnoses, allowing the infection to spread to his spine and brain. He was diagnosed April 28 with MRSA.
“Around 18 months ago, Samuel was in Las Vegas filming, and unfortunately, that is where he contracted meningitis,” she said. “He went to several different hospitals, where his condition was repeatedly misdiagnosed, and because of this negligence, the meningitis went untreated for eight months.”
She said that by the time the infection was rightfully identified, it had “already spread not only to his spine but also to his brain.”
Joyce Patton, Monroe’s mother, took to Facebook to ask for prayers for her son.
“Please pray for Samuel Monroe Jr. my son who is now on life support. God don’t make no mistakes but he is gracious and I am humbly asking for his mercy and grace for Sam. I love you son to the moon and back 100 times.”
Tayonna Stewart, Shawna’s daughter, has set up a GoFundMe requesting $50,000 to cover the medical expenses they have incurred over the past 9 months and future health care costs.
Stewart and Monroe have two children together, Kingston, 12, and Brooklynn, 11.
Monroe has been seen in various films in the 1990s, including Menace II Society, Set It Off, Tales from the Hood, Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice, What Goes Around Comes Around, and The Players Club.
Police say a dispute over using a water cup for soda quickly escalated when D’Mari Jy’Quan Patterson, 20, allegedly fired a gun inside and outside the restaurant, KATV reported. Investigators said three women had asked for a water cup, but one filled it with soda, sparking a verbal confrontation with Patterson that turned violent.
Video circulating online appears to show Patterson arguing with the women before pulling out what looks like a gun, racking it, and firing a shot.
Taco Bell Employee Opens Fire After Customer Fills argument over filling Water Cup with Soda pic.twitter.com/sJss7sXwc4
Investigators say one woman was shot and collapsed to the floor, while another suffered a graze wound, and a third fled the restaurant. Police allege Patterson chased her outside and fired again, missing her but shattering a window near the entrance.
The three women drove themselves to JFK North Medical Center, where two were treated for minor injuries and released, while the third was unharmed, police said. After the shooting, Patterson called 911, claiming a customer had jumped behind the counter. He admitted to firing the gun and told officers he placed it in the management office before they arrived, an arrest affidavit states.
Panicked diners rushed for the exits while others ducked under tables — some unsure if they had even heard gunfire, the outlet reported. In the aftermath, some patrons appeared to brush off the incident, treating the chaos as an unsettling reflection of a changing norm.
“I mean, it doesn’t surprise me the world we live in today,” one customer said.
“It’s not a problem — things happen, and we just take it as it is and go from there,” another added.
Investigators said Patterson claimed he believed the women were armed, but no weapons were found. After reviewing surveillance footage and witness statements, police said Patterson’s self-defense claim was not supported, noting the woman appeared to be leaving when additional shots were fired.
Patterson was arrested on April 27 and charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a firearm. Jail records show he remains in custody awaiting court proceedings.
The restaurant was temporarily closed as police secured the scene, causing traffic delays along Military Trail. The case is under review by the State Attorney’s Office.
Some U.S. Passports Will Feature Trump’s Face In Honor Of 250th Anniversary
After the news broke on social media, users expressed bouts of being fed up with being forced to see his face on things with one user expressing concern about traveling overseas as Americans seemingly aren't the most liked in other countries.
The State Department is reportedly planning limited-edition U.S. passports featuring President Donald Trump’s likeness as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration, according to the New York Times.
The April 28 announcement came from the State Department, revealing plans for new limited-edition passports to be made available this summer in honor of the country’s 250th anniversary. The “limited number of specially designed” passports will feature “customized artwork and enhanced imagery,” showing Trump’s likeness with a serious look in front of the Constitution.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott said the passports will be available to any American citizen who applies at the Washington Passport Agency when the rollout begins, with the design as the default option and continuing until inventory runs out. “Online options or other locations will maintain the existing passport design,” State Department officials said.
The back cover will feature an image from John Trumbull’s “The Declaration of Independence” painting. Current passports showcase an image of Percy Moran’s painting of Francis Scott Key, the morning after the bombardment of Fort McHenry, on the front inside cover, with lines from the anthem also printed inside.
Passports are the latest move by government agencies that will display Trump’s likeness. In 2025, the Department of the Interior, which oversees national parks, unveiled “commemorative new designs” for park passes, one of which featured the president’s face alongside George Washington’s, sparking backlash.
And this is no different.
After the news broke on social media, users expressed frustration at being forced to see his face on things. One user expressed concern about traveling overseas, as Americans seemingly aren’t the most liked in other countries. “Great, as if Americans weren’t already going to be hated abroad,” @libertyoneill wrote.
Others asked Trump to “give us a break,” while others were happy they had already renewed their passports for the next 10 years.
“I am so glad I already renewed my passport for the next 10 years, so I don’t have to have this man’s face plastered on it. He wants to be on our money, on our passports, in our houses… why do you need your face all over the place?” @brianjrashad said.
While park passes and passports got through, not every proposal to have this name and likeness appear has been approved. Like Trump adding pressure on Democratic Senator and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York to rename New York City’s Penn Station after him. He threatened to withhold billions of dollars in frozen federal infrastructure funds.
Even adding his name to the Kennedy Center and the United States Institute of Peace has been caught up in lawsuits.
Oprah Surprises Morehouse Students At Dinner For ‘Auntie O’s’ Scholars
The students were able to directly share the impact of the Scholars Program to Oprah.
Oprah Winfrey returned to Morehouse College to surprise students whose academic journeys she helped fulfill.
While the world knows Oprah as a billionaire media mogul, one particular cohort at Morehouse calls her “Auntie O.” The soon-to-be graduates matriculated through the all-men’s HBCU as part of the Oprah Winfrey Endowed Scholars Program. However, this past weekend, the scholars unexpectedly caught up with their generous donor.
Oprah traveled down to the Atlanta University Center to greet the scholars at their pre-graduation dinner held April 24. There, she met the students who will now have a Morehouse degree thanks to this sponsorship. The 72-year-old shared a video of her surprise visit to celebrate the students’ academic success.
“They don’t know that I’m here to check on those grades,” joked Oprah in the video.
She also added in the caption, “Each one of the students—from the very first class in 1989 to today—are the best investment I or anyone could make. It’s an honor to see them move onward and succeed. “
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, each Oprah Scholar made a speech about how the program empowered their academic pursuits. Students also noted their shock at Oprah’s special appearance. Many never expected to greet the woman whose program granted them a college education.
“I thought it was a joke at first,” graduating senior Marcellis McQueen told the AJC. “You just see her coming from the back and I was in utter shock. I jumped up and I was like, there’s no way this is happening.”
Of Oprah’s reception to their speeches, the upcoming Morehouse alumnus added, “She was just amazed. I was getting choked up, too, just watching my brothers get up there and say, ‘Hey, y’all, this is what’s next for me. This is what I’ve been able to accomplish.’”
Oprah, an HBCU alumna herself from Tennessee State University, also spoke about her choice to further the education of Morehouse men. Before she hit billionaire status, Oprah had divided her first $200,000 made into a “risk bucket” and “safe bucket.” While many might have called her scholarship program a risk, she considers the financial decision the “safest investment” of her life.
“You all are in the savings bucket,” she told the students. “Because it was a safe bet that supporting you in the dream of your life, and the dream your ancestors had for your life, that was about the safest, safest investment anyone could make.”
Since 1989, the program has helped roughly 800 Morehouse students become graduates. The scholarship, totaling to $25,000 each year, helps students cover tuition, fees, room and board.
Now, as they all celebrate another year of HBCU student achievement, Oprah feels the full weight of her impact, emphasizing the cost of this endeavor as priceless.
“You all have already made the return on the investment for me,” continued Oprah. “And I thank you for that, because you honor not only my name, Oprah Winfrey and the scholarship program, but you honor everybody who ever prayed you up.”
Wallace Howard Is Still Changing The Game Of Horse Racing At The Age Of 80
In 1980, Wallace Howard was featured in an issue of BLACK ENTERPRISE for his impact in the horse racing industry.
In 1980, Wallace Howard was featured in an issue of BLACK ENTERPRISEfor his impact in the horse racing industry, and more than 40 years later, he’s showing no sign of winding down.
At 80 years old, the Kentucky native and veteran horseman is still at the barn early, studying bloodlines, preparing horses with the same precision that has defined more than five decades in the industry.
“I feel like I’m 33, 34 years old,” Howard said.
That mindset — equal parts instinct, discipline, and lived experience — has carried him through a career that stretches across some of horse racing’s most competitive and exclusive circles. Long before conversations about access and equity reached the mainstream, Howard was already building a name for himself in rooms where few Black men were invited.
That exclusion didn’t always define the sport. In the late 19th and early 20th century, Black horsemen were its backbone. Oliver Lewis won the first Kentucky Derby in 1875, while Isaac Murphy became one of the most dominant jockeys in history, winning three Derbies. Jimmy Winkfield remains the last Black jockey to win the race, taking back-to-back victories in 1901 and 1902 before being forced to continue his career overseas. Innovators like Monkey Simon helped shape the modern riding style still used today, and figures like Ed Brown built reputations as elite trainers and horsemen.
Source: Courtesy Wallace Howard
A Career Built on Seeing What Others Miss
By the time Howard entered the business, that dominance had all but disappeared, but the blueprint was still there.
Howard’s path into horse racing wasn’t traditional. He first made a name for himself raising and competing gamecocks. That work led to an unexpected opportunity with a white farm owner, Ann Trimble, who brought him onto a horse farm in Kentucky. It was there, surrounded by thoroughbreds, that everything shifted.
Howard built his reputation as one of the first Black bloodstock agents in the sport, a role that demands a rare combination of technical knowledge and intuition.
“You got to be able to see,” he said. “People look and don’t see.”
That ability to see beyond surface-level value became his advantage.
Source: Courtesy Wallace Howard
From Bloodstock Agent to Global Horseman
Working with high-profile clients, including Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, Howard identified and secured horses capable of competing and winning at the highest levels. His process was rooted in understanding structure, movement, and potential.
“I’m buying for confirmation,” he explained. “Clean knees, the right angles… and I get a feeling from it. When I see a good horse, I feel it.”
That instinct took him around the world, from Argentina to New Zealand, sourcing horses and closing deals others couldn’t.
In the early 1980s, Howard spent months in Argentina sourcing horses for Berry Gordy while the country was in the middle of a violent regime shift. Gordy warned him to leave. Howard stayed.
“When I come, the horses come,” he recalled telling him.
Months later, he returned with the horses and his reputation sharpened by the kind of risk most people wouldn’t take.
“You can talk on the phone all you want,” he said. “But when you bring that cash there — BINGO.”
Howard’s eye for talent didn’t stop at acquisition. When he stepped into training, he proved he could develop winners just as effectively as he could find them.
Source: Credit: Andy Cecil
Turning Overlooked Horses Into Winners
One of his defining moments came early in his training career, when he began working with Herbert and Precious Luster, the founders of Luster Products, the Black-owned haircare company behind brands like Pink Oil and Pro-Line.
At the time, they sent him a horse that others had already written off, a runner stuck in claiming races with little promise.
After evaluating the horse’s condition and making key adjustments, he transformed it into a top competitor, eventually winning a Grade 1 stakes race and turning what looked like a loss into a breakthrough moment.
“They told me it was a claiming horse,” Howard said. “I said, ‘Y’all got a stakes horse here.’ And we proved it.”
That ability to unlock potential became a hallmark of his work.
The Business of Horse Racing
Today, Howard is still training — currently working with three horses, including a filly he believes has the potential to compete on major stages like the Breeders’ Cup. His approach remains unchanged: patience, discipline, and a refusal to cut corners.
“This is a patient game,” he said. “You can’t rush it.”
For Howard, success in horse racing has always been about more than the track.
“This is a profit and prestige sport,” he said.
Over the years, he has helped clients navigate the financial side of the industry, from identifying valuable bloodlines to understanding how ownership can function as both an investment and a long-term strategy.
His philosophy is straightforward: success isn’t about spending the most money, it’s about making the smartest decisions.
“You ain’t got to spend a fortune to make a lot of money,” he said.
That mindset has positioned Howard as both a horseman and a strategist—someone who understands how to build value from the ground up.
Howard entered the sport at a time when access for Black participants was shrinking, even as the industry grew more lucrative. Instead of stepping back, he leaned into what set him apart.
“I wasn’t afraid to speak up,” he said.
Courtesy Tim WalkerCourtesy Tim WalkerCourtesy Tim Walker
Building the Next Generation of Black Horsemen
That willingness to advocate, both for himself and for others, remains central to his work today.
He continues to mentor emerging horsemen and collaborate with those looking to enter the industry, emphasizing the importance of knowledge, discipline, and patience. Howard has also partnered with horsemen like Tim Walker, a Black cowboy and landowner working to expand access to the industry for a new generation, and blacksmith Duane Raglin.
“Any Black person that comes into this business, they got to be a good listener,” he said. “You got to know the do’s and don’ts.”
He’s also pushing for greater visibility, including the idea of an all-Black race featuring Black jockeys, trainers, and owners — a concept he believes could create new pathways into the sport.
“That would be huge,” he said.
As the Kentucky Derby approaches, Howard’s attention is fixed on what’s next — the next race, the next horse, the next opportunity.
“I’m looking for tomorrow,” he said. “I’m planning for the future.”
More than 50 years into his career, Wallace Howard is still doing what he’s always done: trusting his instincts, betting on his knowledge, and moving with the kind of confidence that only comes from experience.
And in a sport built on timing, precision, and belief, that might be his greatest advantage of all.
Chris Brown Requests Judge To Block Mentions Of Rihanna Assault In New Housekeeper Civil Trial
Brown's legal team argued that the mention of his past legal battle could unfairly sway the jury.
Chris Brown wants no mention of his previous legal troubles, specifically his Rihanna assault case, in his latest lawsuit.
The singer is currently embroiled in a legal battle with his former housekeeper, who claims that she was viciously attacked by his dog while working at Brown’s Tarzana home in 2020. As the issue heads to civil trial, Brown’s legal team has requested that the presiding judge block all mentions of his 2009 assault case regarding Rihanna.
In the lawsuit, filed in 2021 by Maria Avila, the housekeeper argues that Brown should take ownership of the attack and for failing to provide a safe working environment. However, Brown’s attorneys argued that any mention of the Rihanna case is not relevant to the trial at hand but could affect the jury’s decision.
According to the motion reviewed byWBLS, Brown’s lawyers called any mention of the assault “improper, irrelevant, and unduly prejudicial.” Furthermore, they say that the case, which occurred around 17 years ago, is not relevant to the civil trial, which concerns Brown’s proposed liability for the dog attack.
Instead, Brown wants jurors to focus on the facts regarding this particular case and not let his past assault issues sway their view on the matter. However, the plaintiff, Maria Avila, and her legal team have argued otherwise. Brown pled guilty to the felony assault charge against the Barbadian singer, for which he received five years’ probation, community service, and entrance to a year-long domestic violence program.
In her complaint, Avila claimed the attack not only caused severe injuries, but also emotional distress as she seeks damages. Her attorneys also state that Brown’s legal history is crucial to their argument, sharing that it helps establish a pattern over the 36-year-old’s conduct and credibility. Furthermore, she called his request for the blanket ban “overbroad, premature, and legally incorrect,” as confirmed in the filing obtained by Rolling Stone.
Brown intends to challenge this narrative in court, also arguing that she may have provoked the dog, which could have sparked its violent reaction. On the other hand, Avila believes that Brown’s list of prior legal issues could help validate her claim of conduct issues surrounding the singer, especially if his defense tries to portray his character in a way that undermines her trauma.
“If defendants or their witnesses testify in a manner that portrays defendant as nonviolent or non-threatening, minimizes plaintiff’s fear or trauma, or otherwise attacks plaintiff’s credibility based on emotional response, then prior acts evidence may become admissible for impeachment or rebuttal, even if not admissible in plaintiff’s case-in-chief,” detailed the filing.
As both sides make their claim over the relevance of the Rihanna assault case, the judge will determine how crucial its reference is to the trial. If the judge sides with Avila, it would allow the jury to base their decision on Brown’s responsibility for the dog attack, with his past legal woes in mind.
Although previously delayed, the trial remains scheduled to begin on June 15.
The cause of death has been released for recording artist John Forté, who was found unresponsive at his home in January, confirming he died from complications of the flu.
According to the Vineyard Gazette, the state medical examiner in Massachusetts determined Forté died from complications of influenza A, with a seizure disorder listed as a contributing condition. The findings were released April 24.
At the time of his death, Police Chief Sean Slavin stated that there was no foul play suspected. He was 50 years old. Police were called to Forté’s home on Jan. 12, where he was found unresponsive.
Forté was introduced to the world when he appeared on The Fugees’ 1996 debut album, The Score. He recorded several albums, the first, Poly Sci, was released in 1998, two years before he served time in prison after being convicted on drug possession charges. He was given a mandatory 14-year prison sentence, but was released in 2008 after President George W. Bush commuted his sentence.
During his lengthy career, he recorded and produced songs for his own projects and contributed to others’. In recent years, he has been working primarily on scores for several projects.
In 2025, he participated in the Civil Rights documentary Eyes on the Prize III: We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest (1977-2015), which aired on HBO. He worked with fellow island resident Dawn Porter on the project.
After visiting Martha’s Vineyard in 1998 and staying there during the pandemic, he thrived in the industry. In an interview he did last year with MV Arts and Ideas, he said, “For two decades, I’ve been contributing to soundtracks. But scoring, scoring really happened for me because I’ve been hunkering down here on the Vineyard, being able to have a project that would require going in my studio for three months at a time.”
Forté is survived by his wife, Lara Fuller, and their two children, Haile and Wren.
Designer Desyrée Nicole Marks 5 Years In Atlanta Flagship While Redefining Modern Menswear
Founded in 2016 and fully realized as a brand by 2018, Todd Patrick has carved out a distinctive lane in menswear
When Desyrée Nicole, the designer behind Todd Patrick, first received an unexpected outreach from developers about opening a retail space in Atlanta’s Buckhead Village, she thought it was a joke.
“Ain’t nobody about to buy a store next to Dior,” she recalled with a laugh. “Because at the time Dior, Hermes, Louboutin and Moncler were our neighbors. So we were like, ’How’d y’ all find us?'”
And yet, that leap of faith taken at the tail end of COVID has grown into something far bigger than a storefront. While their original space was roughly the size of a Le Labo perfumerie, today Todd Patrick’s Atlanta flagship stands as a 4,000-square-foot multi-brand luxury menswear destination, positioned alongside some of fashion’s most elite houses, while maintaining the DNA of a brand that was once stitched together in a living room.
“It just shows persistence,” Nicole said. “We’ve always taken the slow and steady approach — making the right steps, not the fast steps.”
Founded in 2016 and fully realized as a brand by 2018, Todd Patrick has carved out a distinctive lane in menswear, one that merges precision tailoring with the raw edge of streetwear. Nicole describes it simply: “modern-day rebel” dressing.
“I always think about what modern-day tailoring looks like for me,” she said. “And then I’m always going to do it my way with an edge.”
That edge shows up in the details — structured denim with rugged finishes, refined silhouettes that refuse to feel too polished, garments that sit comfortably between luxury and lived-in. It’s a reflection of Nicole herself, a self-taught designer who didn’t come up through fashion school, but instead built her skillset in real time.
“I taught myself how to sew… built a brand from scratch,” she said.
That unconventional path has become one of Todd Patrick’s greatest strengths.
Source: Courtesy Todd Patrick
Building Without Permission
Nicole’s journey into fashion wasn’t fueled by a traditional roadmap, and she’s never pretended otherwise.
“I don’t think I ever had a vision of owning my own retail space,” she said. “I just wanted to create.”
While she credits much of her success to simply believing in her brand and trusting that she and her Todd Patrick team (her wife, Gabriella Paulino, is COO) are capable of anything, she also cites the importance of doing good business and not getting distracted by what other brands are doing.
“As a creative, I think the hardest thing you need to learn is that you’re on your own timeline,” Nicole told BLACK ENTERPRISE. “When you’re self-funded, 100% equity, doing everything out of pocket, you feel like you have to keep up with these fashion calendars… going to Paris, producing collections. But you’re spending so much money without being able to recoup it.”
Her advice is simple, but hard-earned: stay on your own timeline.
“Going at your pace is cool. It’s super acceptable,” she said. “Until you have the financial means necessary to be on the calendar every single season, it’s okay to go at your own pace and just create dope stuff because you’re gonna get respect. As long as you’re creating stuff that’s your vision and you do your marketing.”
That same clarity extends to the business side — an area many creatives overlook.
“An LLC does not mean a company,” Nicole said plainly. “Figure out how to do good business. Don’t start a company and start selling all this product and you’re not filing taxes. You will get so much farther in life if you just do good business and do right by people… your turn is gonna come.”
Atlanta, Reimagined
While Nicole is a Detroit native and her Todd Patrick brand was born out of New York, its Atlanta presence has become a defining part of its evolution, even if the brand doesn’t quite mirror the city’s traditional aesthetic.
In fact, Nicole says that’s often the first thing customers notice.
“The second they walk in, they know this is not an Atlanta-owned store,” she said.
Instead of leaning into the city’s flashier fashion sensibilities, Todd Patrick introduces something different: understated luxury, intentional design, and education through experience.
“We’re able to show them something new… one customer at a time,” she said.
That physical space has become essential in communicating the brand’s ethos — particularly because Todd Patrick doesn’t rely on logos or overt branding.
“The store allows people to come in and feel it,” Nicole said. “They can see the quality in person.”
It also creates a more inclusive entry point into luxury, something Nicole is intentional about.
“We want people to feel calm. Welcome,” she said. “Even if it’s out of your price range right now, it’s something you can aspire to.”
Culture, Collaboration, and Staying Grounded
Over the years, Nicole’s work has expanded across fashion, sports, and culture — styling athletes in the NFL and NBA, collaborating with brands, and stepping onto global stages like the Met Gala.
But even with those milestones, her perspective hasn’t shifted.
“I don’t think it changed how I saw myself,” she said of her appearance on Netflix’s Next in Fashion. “It just proved what I already knew — there’s nothing I can’t do.”
That confidence is rooted in preparation. Before appearing on the show, Nicole taught herself how to sew on an industrial machine in just weeks, using YouTube as her classroom.
“I literally took myself through a boot camp,” she said.
Moments like designing for the Met Gala or collaborating with the Detroit Pistons have reinforced the belief that the brand has been blessed with divine timing.
“My birthday, Paris Fashion Week, I think three years ago, I went to a club because the Pistons were playing out there… and I ran into the marketing director.”
The exec remembered Nicole from the D1 university where she’d played college hoops, while he’d been VP of marketing.
“I jokingly was like, ‘y’all might as well just give me a collection,'” Nicole said, recalling how the exec took a moment before responding. “He was like, ‘Let’s talk about it.’ And I had a collection that year.”
“It’s like, alright… we moving in the right direction,” she said.
Still, she’s clear that the brand itself is more important than any single moment.
“I felt like it’s always been bigger than me,” she said.
Protecting the Brand While Scaling
As Todd Patrick grows, Nicole remains deliberate about how and where it expands.
The next phase includes wholesale distribution and global placement in select boutiques, but always with intention.
“We want to be in stores that want to tell our story,” she said.
That storytelling extends beyond fashion into unexpected collaborations and cultural touchpoints, ideas that feel authentic rather than transactional.
“I think saying the right no’s gets you the right yes,” she said.
It’s a philosophy that has helped her maintain the brand’s integrity in an industry where dilution can happen quickly.
The Next Generation
For Nicole, one of the most rewarding parts of her journey isn’t the accolades — it’s the impact.
She lights up when talking about young designers, including a 21-year-old whose jeans now sit inside her store, and even her teenage sister, a budding crochet designer whose Faithfully Hooked Creations she actively promotes.
“Bet on yourself,” she said. “If you don’t advocate for yourself, nobody will know who you are.”
It’s a lesson she’s lived firsthand, from cold emails to chance encounters that turned into major collaborations.
And it’s the same advice she’d give her younger self.
“You got the right idea,” she said. “Stick with it.”
AI-Usage Increases A Need For Data Centers, The Boom Is Showing Up On Your Utility Bills
According to Carnegie Mellon University and North Carolina State University, data center and crypto-mining electricity demand is projected to grow by 250% by 2030.
The growing use of artificial intelligence (such as ChatGPT) has sparked a rising demand for data centers nationwide, and that data has to be stored somewhere. The more artificial intelligence is used, the more demand for data centers will grow, and with it, utility bills will rise.
According to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, new data centers are driving up utility bills in at least 13 states.
Americans who live near data centers are paying over 260% more a month for energy than just five years ago, a 2025 Bloomberg analysis found, but this could just be the tip of the iceberg.
According to a joint analysis by Carnegie Mellon University and North Carolina State University, growth in data centers and cryptocurrency mining could increase average electricity bills by 8% nationally and by 25% in some regional markets by 2030.
“Central and Northern Virginia face projected 2030 electricity cost increases exceeding 25%, the highest regional increase in the model,” the analysis notes.
Some Americans are already feeling the strain.
“I’m walking around in a ski suit trying to stay warm in the winter.” Atlanta resident Carolyn Kayne told CBS News during an interview. Kayne explained to the outlet that she turned off her heat and water to mitigate rising utility costs, which have doubled in her apartment over the last two years.
“The average bill for an average customer used to be about $150 a month,” Patty Durand, founder of the nonprofit advocacy group Georgians for Affordable Energy, added. “The average bill now is $225.”
According to Carnegie Mellon University and North Carolina State University, data center and crypto-mining electricity demand is projected to grow by 350% by 2030, and lawmakers must implement policy interventions to balance the benefits and costs for Americans who are already struggling to afford essentials like food, childcare, and housing.
“Rising everyday expenses, including energy and transportation, are adding new pressures on households,” said Urban Institute researchers. “Residential electricity costs have increased faster than earnings across much of the country, leaving customers paying about $40 more in December 2025 on average than they did in December 2017.”
