department of Labor,
by Mitti Hicks

April 14, 2026

U.S. Dept Of Labor Offers $85M In Grants To Expand Apprenticeships

This fourth round of State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula (SAEF) grants will provide direct funding to states and territories based on a performance-based formula.

The U.S. Labor Department announced $85 million in grants to help states and territories expand apprenticeships to advance President Donald Trump’s goal of reaching and surpassing 1 million active apprentices nationwide.

In 2025, the Trump administration announced an economic strategy to “reindustrialize America, dominate the artificial intelligence (AI) frontier, and claim control over the levers of national prosperity.” The administration also announced plans to create a workforce system “capable of propelling American workers into high-wage careers.” Investing in the next generation of talent is one way the Trump administration aims to reach its economic goals.

What To Know About Apprenticeship Grants

Administered by the Labor Department’s Employment and Training Administration, this fourth round of State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula (SAEF) grants will provide direct funding to states and territories based on a performance-based formula. According to the Labor Department, the formula will reward states for recent growth in active and new apprentices.

To qualify for SAEF grants, eligible states and territories must commit to three core requirements: 

  • Demonstrating a commitment to leveraging resources, which may include WIOA Governor’s Reserve Funds, Perkins V Reserve Funds, and other federal or state tax credits or grants, equal to or greater than 50% of their formula allocation. 
  • Setting statewide Registered Apprenticeship expansion goals for increasing the total number of active apprentices.
  • Reserving a share of funds to support employers and Registered Apprentices in state-identified priority industries directly.

In addition to these three SAEF funding requirements, states with federally recognized state apprenticeship agencies must publish average program approval times to increase transparency and accountability in the registration process. 

“States are essential partners in achieving this meaningful expansion of the National Apprenticeship System,” U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer said in a statement. “With this funding opportunity, we are supporting state-driven strategies that strengthen America’s workforce and help employers develop the talent they need in critical industries like shipbuilding, artificial intelligence infrastructure, manufacturing, and other high-growth sectors.”

For more information about the grant or to apply, click here.

RELATED CONTENT: Federal Literacy Grant Program Improves Reading Scores Of Black And Underserved Students In D.C.

earned wage, tax braks
by Ahsan Washington

April 14, 2026

9 Online Tax Software Solutions For Last-Minute Filing

The April 15 deadline is quickly approaching

If the April 15 tax filing deadline has taxpayers under pressure, individuals may want to consult digital platforms that help prepare income tax filings. According to industry evaluations from Forbes and Kiplinger, these platforms offer tiered pricing and expert support to help users complete their filing within hours. These top tax software solutions provide automated features such as W-2 imports and error checks.

BLACK ENTERPRISE took the work out of digging and sourced nine tax programs that focus on step-by-step guidance, fast processing, and precise results, all available via a website or mobile application.

Tap Into These Tax Programs Below

1. TurboTax

Developed by Intuit, this high-end solution serves individuals, freelancers, and investors. The software provides interview-style guidance and expert assistance options.

  • Key benefit: Auto-import features and deduction optimization.

2. H&R Block Online

H&R Block provides a hybrid platform that enables users to file independently or seek assistance from tax professionals. The free version supports more diverse tax scenarios than many competitors.

  • Key benefit: Choice of digital filing or in-person assistance at branches nationwide.

3. TaxAct

Since 1998, TaxAct has provided budget-friendly filing options for basic to advanced tax returns. During tax season, the company delivers live refund status updates.

  • Key benefit: Straightforward pricing and live status tracking.

4. TaxSlayer

This platform provides affordable services to students and military personnel. It includes options for self-employed users and those claiming education deductions.

  • Key benefit: Low-cost service levels and specialized support for military filers.

5. FreeTaxUSA

FreeTaxUSA provides free federal tax returns for all users, regardless of income bracket. It differentiates itself by offering inexpensive state tax return options.

  • Key benefit: High-value federal filing for complex returns at no cost.

6. Cash App Taxes

Formerly known as Credit Karma Tax, this service provides free tax filing for federal and state returns. Users access the platform through a mobile application.

  • Key benefit: Efficient, mobile-first solution with zero filing fees.

7. Jackson Hewitt Online

This platform combines a digital interface with physical retail locations. Customers can file online or receive face-to-face support.

  • Key benefit: Accessibility through both online and brick-and-mortar channels.

8. TaxHawk

TaxHawk provides a free federal filing platform that supports more than 350 deductions and credits, including those related to investment income.

  • Key benefit: Robust deduction support without federal fees.

9. IRS Free File

A joint initiative between the Internal Revenue Service and private providers, this program offers free filing to qualified taxpayers. It is often the best initial option to consider.

  • Key benefit: Government-vetted security and guaranteed free access for eligible users.

RELATED CONTENT: A Metro Atlanta Woman Under Investigation For Tax Preparation Fraud

Bali, Ohio, arrest, GoFundMe
by Sharelle B. McNair

April 14, 2026

Data Reveals Black Immigrants​ Targeted In Aggressive New ‘Street Arrest’ Report

Report author David Hausman, co-director of the Deportation Data Project and assistant professor of law at UC Berkeley, says while the facts about ICE arrests are public, but that's not the whole story.

A new report from the Deportation Data Project confirms that Black immigrants are targeted by U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during “street arrests,” adding to the narrative that the safety of “everyday life” is under attack, The Grio reports. 

The “One Year of Immigration Enforcement” report highlights a massive increase in “street arrests” for Black undocumented immigrants, an aggressive tactic where federal agents arrest individuals in their own neighborhoods, courthouses, or during routine check-ins at ICE field offices. For the disenfranchised demographic, the report marks a new era of danger at the hands of law enforcement for a group that already faces systemic disparities. 

Known as an “arrest anyone, anywhere” approach, the tactic stems from record-high detention numbers seen nationwide. Data shows the number of ICE agents detaining immigrants with no criminal convictions has increased by more than 800%. The release rate for detainees without criminal records decreased from 35% to just 7%.

According to NBC News, the report’s analysis is based on data from a lawsuit filed under the Freedom of Information Act covering arrests through March 10 of 2026. Report author David Hausman, co-director of the Deportation Data Project and assistant professor of law at UC Berkeley, says that while the facts about ICE arrests are public, that’s not the whole story. “It’s well known that ICE has been pursuing a campaign of indiscriminate arrests, but it’s less well known that even as ICE has arrested more people who likely could win their cases and stay in the United States, arrests have been ending more often in deportation,” Hausman said in a statement. 

“One big factor is that detention causes people to give up on their cases.”

However, a spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security claims the projected data is incorrect, adding “70% of ICE arrests are criminal illegal aliens” and how the department continues “to go after the worst of the worst — including gang members, pedophiles, and rapists.” “Every single one of these individuals committed a crime when they came into this country illegally. The Deportation Data Project relies on information releases that have not been reviewed, audited, or given context,” the spokesperson said. 

“DHS nor ICE have verified the accuracy, methodology, or the analysis of the project and its results. The bottom line is that the Deportation Data Project is not accurate.”

But the Deportation Data Project stands by the notion that “these are ICE’s own records of who is arrested, detained, and deported” regarding the data amid the increase of arrests during the first nine months of the Trump administration, and not just in Democratic-led cities such as Minneapolis. Graeme Blair, co-director of the Deportation Data Project and professor of political science at UCLA, says “even at the peak of the Minneapolis surge,” street arrests accounted for only 15%. “The expansion is truly national,” Blair said.

RELATED CONTENT: Memphis Grizzlies’ Brandon Clarke Arrested For Speeding, Drug Possession

taraji, Henson, wine brand, sweet wine
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 14, 2026

Taraji P. Henson Joins Influencer In Gifting New Jersey Single Mom $40K

Taraji P. Henson teamed up with a popular TikToker to gift one single mom and grandmother in New Jersey with $40,000.

Taraji P. Henson recently partnered with an influencer to surprise a deserving single mother and grandmother from New Jersey with a $40,000 gift.

On April 7, Zachery Dereniowski, known as MD Motivator on TikTok, shared a video of his collaboration with Taraji P. Henson to surprise a Jersey City resident and devoted fan with a gift in recognition of her many good deeds.

“Do you want to give away $20,000 for free?” he asked Henson, to which she happily agreed.

Dereniowski chose the woman after she selflessly gave him her last, unaware he was filming a social experiment. To repay her kindness, he teamed up with Henson to double the original gift, with Henson contributing an additional $20,000.

“Oh my goodness. I would love to meet her and help in any way I can,” Henson said.

@mdmotivator “I have $40,000 dollars for you” 🥹❤️ #tarajiphenson #kindness #money #family #mother ♬ original sound – Zachery Dereniowski

The video shows Dereniowski sitting with the woman in a salon, where she believed she was simply getting her hair done. She reflected on the day they first met, recalling how she offered him help despite her own personal struggles.

“I stayed home, and I just wanted that peace with God. He didn’t have to do it. But he did. He blessed me. And all the people in Jersey City? Me?” the grateful woman said. “A person who felt like she was nothing? A person who’s been through a hell of fire for these past few years? God chose me. So I’m grateful. I think I had a few dollars in my pocket the day I bought you the slippers. But I didn’t care.”

Moments later, Dereniowski had her erupting with joy as Henson appeared to reveal that she was doubling his $20,000 gift.

“Because you’re not taking care of yourself,” Henson told the woman. “So I’m doubling what they have already donated to you. I’m doubling it because I know you’re not taking care of yourself. Because I know you’re going to use it, and I know you’re going to take care of everybody, something you need to take care of yourself. You hear me? Take care of yourself. You can’t pour into people if you don’t have none.”

Viewers praised Dereniowski and Henson for the act of kindness, with many noting they’d like to see more people with wealth and influence do the same.

“Taraji P. Henson… THE WOMAN THAT YOU ARE 🥹,” one user wrote.

“Anytime I watch your videos, it gives me so much reasons to work hard so I can have enough to help others… So help me God,” added someone else.

RELATED CONTENT: Taraji P. Henson Pours Up A New Era With Sweet Red Wine Blend In Seven Daughters Collaboration

deficit, budget deficit, government spending
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 14, 2026

Americans Grow Increasingly Frustrated With The Rise In Unavoidable Surcharges

Alongside inflation and rising oil costs, American consumers are also facing a surge in added fees from businesses and are growing increasingly frustrated.

New research highlights growing frustration among American consumers over hidden fees and surcharges, as companies pass on rising costs while citing outside pressures.

On April 10, the University of Michigan released a consumer survey showing the lowest-ever sentiment on surcharges, the Wall Street Journal reports. The findings are worse than during the 2008 recession and the pandemic, highlighting growing concern over rising prices.

“I consider myself a savvy consumer,” said Corey Andrews, 32, a laid-off market strategist in Denver who tries to avoid additional fees in his day-to-day life. “But when everything goes up, you run out of levers.”

While many consumers begrudgingly accept the fees due to rising costs such as fuel, Andrews argues that the current wave isn’t as justified or temporary as companies suggest.

“If jet fuel goes back down, the baggage fees won’t,” he said, pointing to recent price hikes across major U.S. airlines.

As a result, Andrews adjusted his habits in response by avoiding restaurants with added service charges, skipping fee-heavy delivery apps, bundling purchases to dodge shipping costs, and using credit cards with travel perks to offset baggage fees.

How much a surcharge frustrates consumers often depends on when it appears. Fees shown upfront are typically better received than those added at checkout, a tactic known as drip pricing. The Federal Trade Commission banned the practice in short-term lodging and live-event ticketing in 2025, citing concerns that low initial prices misled consumers even when full costs were later disclosed.

“COVID kind of opened the floodgates,” said Ben Weinhart, a 27-year-old accountant in Cincinnati, citing the rise in surcharges during the pandemic that never returned to prepandemic levels. “I feel like I need to be my own detective.”

A 2025 study by J.D. Power found 34% of small businesses now add credit card surcharges, while a report from the National Restaurant Association shows one in five restaurants include extra fees—up from 16% in 2022. Experts say consumers often overlook these charges.

Vicki Morwitz of Columbia University describes it as a “lock-in effect,” in which shoppers are less likely to abandon a purchase once fees appear at checkout—frustrating them, but rarely changing their behavior.

“The next time I come back, I’m still drawn in by that initial low price,” Morwitz said. “Even if I may have felt tricked the first time.”

As a small business owner, Hans Sauer added a $5 monthly fuel surcharge during the 2008 oil-price spike while running a pool repair company, later removing it when prices fell, saying about 95% of customers accepted it without complaint.

“If it’s temporary, people are mostly OK with it,” he said. “The problem is when it never goes away.”

Companies often favor surcharges over price hikes because they shift blame to external factors. Labeling a fee a “fuel surcharge,” for example, makes it seem tied to rising costs rather than profit margins, said Rebecca Hamilton of Georgetown University. Research shows consumers are more accepting when increases are framed this way, viewing them as more legitimate than direct price hikes, even if the end cost is the same.

“We all see it every day passing by the gas station,” said Michael Weber, a finance professor at Purdue University.

Weinhart said one of the best parts of his trip to Europe was the all-inclusive pricing.

“The price was just the price,” he said, adding that he’d gladly pay more to avoid hidden last-minute fees. “It’s exhausting to have to be so aware all the time.”

RELATED CONTENT: Americans Are Spending Less and Budgeting Due To Economic Uncertainty

James Harden
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 13, 2026

Adidas Releases Latest James Harden Collaboration Honoring Nipsey Hussle

The sneaker sold out on the day of release

Adidas has recently released the latest James Harden sneaker, a collaboration with Marathon Clothing to honor the late rapper Nipsey Hussle.

According to USA Today, the Cleveland Cavaliers guard’s latest release, Harden Volume 10, will feature a royal blue colorway with “TMC” on the back of the sneaker. His hometown, Crenshaw, is included on the insole. The sneaker, retailing for $160, went on sale April 12 and immediately sold out.

Nipsey was a good friend of Harden, and he celebrated the rapper when the Cavaliers visited Los Angeles to play on March 31, on the anniversary of the day that the Victory Lap lyricist was killed. He debuted the sneaker during the warm-up to the contest against the Lakers. Marathon Clothing was Nipsey’s company, and the 33-year-old was murdered in front of his store, located in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, in 2019.

Harden and Nipsey were both from Southern Los Angeles; Harden is from Compton, while Nipsey grew up in Crenshaw.

After the rapper was killed, Harden spoke to reporters several days later and talked about what he meant to the world.

“He was powerful. Not just to a certain dynamic or a certain city, but just to the world. He was a leader. He was so many things. His life got taken away off nonsense, off BS. It’s been sad, man. Not only myself, but a lot of people around this world were affected by it. It doesn’t seem real.”

Harden is preparing to play in the NBA playoffs with the Cavaliers as the No. 4 seed, facing the Toronto Raptors in the first round. The first contest between the two teams will take place Saturday, April 18, at Rocket Arena in Ohio.

RELATED CONTENT: A King Remembered: Los Angeles To Rename Crenshaw And Slauson ‘Nipsey Hussle Square’

Delta Sigma Theta
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 13, 2026

T.I.’s Daughter, Deyjah Harris, Pledges Delta Sigma Theta At Clark Atlanta

Deyjah added a personal touch to her official member presentation for the sorority.

T.I. and Tiny are celebrating one of their kid’s newest accomplishments.

Deyjah Harris, T.I.’s daughter from a previous relationship, has cemented her own HBCU legacy. The Clark Atlanta University student has just joined its chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

The co-ed just crossed this spring semester, participating in the probate, or new-member, presentation, at the Atlanta HBCU. She is now an official member of the sorority’s Sigma Chapter, taking part in the historic ceremony this April.

At the presentation, Harris paid tribute to her personal legacy, nodding to her father’s hip-hop career. During her solo performance, Harris came out to T.I.’s 2004 hit “Bring Em Out.”

Harris also took on a new line name as she joined “Deltaland.” In the sorority, she will be known as “Precious Heir.” According to HBCU Pulse, the name pays tribute to her late aunt, Precious Harris, who was also a member of Delta Sigma Theta.

T.I. is a longtime supporter of HBCUs, previously appearing as a special guest for the HBCU Honors annual programming. He also has special ties to his daughter’s chosen college. Yahoo News reports that the rapper once co-taught a course titled “Business of Trap Music” at Clark Atlanta.

With his wife, Xscape singer and media personality Tiny, the duo has created a blended family unit comprised of seven children. As for Harris, she has now joined a sisterhood founded at an HBCU and built on values of scholarship and service.

Founded at Howard University in 1913, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority is one of the largest Black Greek Letter organizations. According to its website, it hosts over 350,000 initiated members with over 1,050 chapters worldwide.

Now, the member of the large Harris family has joined a new dynasty, adding to her academic journey with another crew to call her own.

RELATED CONTENT: ‘Duke Deltas’ Celebrate 50 Years As First Black Sorority On Campus

Denim Tears, Kaisokah Moko Jumbies
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 13, 2026

Denim Tears Collabs With The Kaisokah Moko Jumbies To ‘Stilt’ Through NYC For Cultural Pride

The fashionable walk also boasted Black cultural pride throughout the city.

The Kaisokah Moko Jumbies are stunting in their stilts with new fashion-forward outfits, courtesy of Denim Tears.

The Caribbean stilt dancing group partnered with Denim Tears for a high-rise walk through two New York City neighborhoods. Several of the dancers appeared in larger-than-life versions of the Black-owned streetwear brand.

Fashion Bomb Daily caught footage of the Jumbies making their way through the SoHo section in Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn.

The partnership speaks to the parties’ shared values of cultural upliftment and Black diasporic pride. Denim Tears grew popular for its multilayered use of cotton. As a core fabric for its clothing, the brand has created a socially conscious message about the oppression endured by Black Americans during slavery.

The Kaisokah Jumbies, founded in 2010, have become household names for their culturally-infused dances on stilts. Performing at various events, including their annual participation in the West Indian American Day Carnival, they amplify Caribbean culture in every large step.

Together, the two forces have come together in a unique way, showcasing Denim Tears’ growing influence in the broader fashion industry through its distinct message. The founder, Tremaine Emory, has used the brand to comment on American history and Black people’s role within it.

“Most people don’t know that denim was originally called Negro cloth, and it was worn by slaves. Indigo dying was brought over from Africa and done by slaves,” explained Emory in a December 2025 interview with Complex. “So denim fabric started with oppression, started with slavery, and became this iconic American thing. It’s the most sold clothing item in the history of humanity.”

This partnership with the Moko Jumbies also furthers Emory’s mission of reconnection and reclamation, with the sky-high dancers wearing the brand’s signature “cotton wreath” on its blue denim silhouettes. With fans of both the dancing cohort and the fashion company taking note, the two entities continue to establish themselves as beacons of Black culture.

Emory continued, “You can’t understand humanity by just looking at horrible things, and you can’t understand humanity by just looking at the beautiful things that humans have done. You have to look at all of it. So I do my best to do that in my own way…but through my clothing brand.”

RELATED CONTENT: New York Cosmetology Schools Must Now Teach Kinky, Coily, And Curly Haircare

Moderna Stock, COVID Vaccine
by Sharelle B. McNair

April 13, 2026

Alarms Sounded After Acting CDC Director Delays Study Release Showcasing COVID Vaccine Benefits

The report focused on the vaccine’s effectiveness in the decreased number of hospitalizations and emergency department visits for healthy adults during the 2025 winter season.

After the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was expected to release a study showing that COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of severe illness, NBC News reports that acting director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya pushed the pause button, citing concerns about the methodology. 

Scheduled for a March 2026 release, the study came from the CDC’s flagship scientific publication, the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). But spokesperson Andrew Nixon said  Bhattacharya “expressed concerns about the observational method used in this study to calculate vaccine effectiveness.” “It’s routine for CDC leadership to review and flag concerns about MMWR papers, especially relating to their methodology, leading up to planned publication,” Nixon said. 

“Dr. Bhattacharya wants to make sure that the paper uses the most appropriate methodology for such a study.”

According to The Hill, the report focused on the vaccine’s effectiveness in reducing hospitalizations and emergency department visits among healthy adults during the 2025 winter season. However, the methodology being questioned by the agency’s director has been used for years to determine vaccine effectiveness against respiratory viruses and was also used by the New England Journal of Medicine in a 2021 study focusing on the same topics. 

In what Bhattacharya labeled an “observational method,” the study uses a test-negative design that examines individuals who are sick enough to seek care, be tested and then give consent, with their vaccination rates compared to those who test positive versus those who do not. 

Bhattacharya was appointed to run the CDC back in February until President Donald Trump nominates a permanent director. Leading health officials in the Trump administration have criticized how vaccine research is typically conducted, questioning methods that have long been used and are widely accepted among scientists.

Many public health experts, like Dr. Fiona Havers, a former medical epidemiologist who resigned from the CDC in protest after HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired the agency’s vaccine advisory committee and appointed a new group, see the delay as part of a broader effort to push narratives of doubt in vaccine safety and make them less available to those who need them. “I’m not saying that they haven’t stopped other publications or forced changes to them, but to wholesale stop this report from coming out, given that it is such a well-established platform and such a well-established methodology, does strike me as a new level of political interference into CDC’s scientific process,” Havers said. 

The prospect of political interference could be supported by former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulator Vinay Prasad’s call for new restrictions on approved COVID-19 vaccines from Novavax and Moderna. The move caused controversy, which, as a result, pushed the announcement that guidelines on vaccine approval would become more stringent following the deaths of 10 children who allegedly died “after and because of a” COVID-19 vaccine.

However, Nixon insists the delay is simply because “Dr. Bhattacharya wants to make sure that the paper uses the most appropriate methodology for such a study” and the CDC “taking time to ensure analyses are methodologically sound and clearly communicated is always preferable to risking error.”

RELATED CONTENT: Daymond John Sues Former COVID Mask Business Partners Over Alleged Millions In Unpaid Profits

Mo'Ne Davis
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 13, 2026

Mo’ne Davis Signs With Indianapolis Clowns

'It feels great to get the support of my teammates. I have the support of everyone in this organization.'

Former Hampton University softball player, Mo’ne Davis, has recently signed on to play for the Indianapolis Clowns of the Banana Ball Championship League.

Davis has joined the Clowns, the league’s newest franchise. The announcement was made on social media on April 8.

https://twitter.com/BananaBall_/status/2042021689131749660

The Philadelphia native, who first became known as the first girl to throw a shutout in Little League World Series history, was a 13-year-old pitcher for the Philadelphia Taney Dragons when she achieved the feat in 2014.

Davis made her debut for the Clowns recently and received a standing ovation and cheers from the crowd when she headed to the pitching mound to participate in the game. She came in as a relief pitcher and got the opposing batter to ground out to end the contest. She had some words to say after the game.

“It feels great to get the support of my teammates. I have the support of everyone in this organization. To inspire other girls, to let them know, you know, you can do this. You know, those girls on every single team, that you can do whatever you put your mind to.”

The 24-year-old, who had a fastball that clocked in at 70 mph at the time she played in the LLWS, also pitched a shutout with eight strikeouts in the Taney Dragons’ first game against Nashville. She played basketball in high school and softball at Hampton University.

Davis was recently selected as the 10th overall pick in the inaugural Women’s Pro Baseball League Draft in November 2025. Major League Baseball had previously announced that there would be four teams to start the league in August. The four teams playing will represent New York, Boston, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. The league will play its games at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois.

RELATED CONTENT: Little League Superstar Mo’Ne Davis Lands Book Deal

×