Broward County, jail, gay inmate killed, Cierre Wood, Gwinnett county jail,, Riker's,, doulla, pregnant, inmates, Councilwoman, Rosenthal
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 13, 2025

Rikers Island Doula Program Is Helping To Give Incarcerated Mothers A Voice, ‘I’m Actually Being Heard’

Inside Rikers Island doula program and how it's supporting vulnerable women in need.

Four years after NYC Councilwoman Helen Rosenthal pushed for doula care in jails, the Rikers Island Doula Program is in full effect, giving pregnant inmates support and a voice behind bars.

“This program makes me feel like I have more of a voice with my last two kids,” Grace Pipkin, a 23-year-old mother of two who’s expecting her third child while serving time in Rikers, told Essence.

After two previous pregnancies, one in which she followed doctors’ instructions without question and another in which her boyfriend spoke for her, Pipkin says the doula support at Rikers has transformed her current experience, making her feel truly seen and heard.

“Now I feel like even though I do have somebody else speaking for me, my doula is also another mom and another woman,” Pipkin said. “She understands my pain, feelings, and emotions, and how I feel about everything happening. So it makes me feel like I have a bigger voice, like I’m actually being heard. I get so excited when I see my doulas.”

The Rikers Island Doula Program, a partnership between the Caribbean Women’s Health Association and NYC’s Department of Corrections, offers prenatal and postpartum support to incarcerated women twice a week, with at least three hours of direct care per day. The program follows Councilwoman Rosenthal’s 2021 initiative to provide doula care to pregnant inmates at Rikers twice a week for four hours, with doulas also available for deliveries upon request.

“All women deserve safe and supportive labor and delivery spaces regardless of their circumstances. That is a basic human right,” said DOC Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie.

“As advocates for the mother, doulas play a critical role preparing their clients for delivery and supporting them through what is a challenging and beautiful process. The women in our care deserve nothing less, and I am so thankful to the dedicated doulas who volunteer their time to support the expectant mothers in facilities.”

The program’s success is felt by passionate doulas who take pride in their weekly visits to Rikers to help women in need.

“I became a doula for this reason,” said Mathania Toussaint, a doula on Rikers Island. “For Black women, I wanted to go into maternal health and maternal work, to support my people, the fact that we die at rates that we do is ludicrous.”

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government shutdown, senate, trump
by Mitti Hicks

May 13, 2025

House Republicans Unveil Medicaid Cuts. Democrats Say Millions Will Lose Insurance

Some changes House Republicans are proposing include new “community engagement requirements” of at least 80 hours per month of work, education, or service for able-bodied adults without dependents.

To make room for President Donald Trump’s tax breaks for the rich, millions of vulnerable Americans could be without health insurance with the changes House Republicans propose to Medicaid. According to the Associated Press, House Republicans are considering $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid to help cover the $4.5 trillion in tax breaks.

Democrats are now sounding the alarm that millions of Americans will lose coverage. Preliminary estimates from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office show more than 8.6 million will lose coverage over the next decade.

“Savings like these allow us to use this bill to renew the Trump tax cuts and keep Republicans’ promise to hardworking middle-class families,” Rep. Brett Guthrie of Kentucky, GOP chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, which handles healthcare spending, told the AP.

However, Democrats argue the cuts are another attempt to repeal Obamacare.

“In no uncertain terms, millions of Americans will lose their healthcare coverage,” said Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey.

He adds, “Hospitals will close, seniors will not be able to access the care they need, and premiums will rise for millions of people if this bill passes.”

While House Speaker Mike Johnson has a deadline for Memorial Day to pass Trump’s tax breaks and spending cuts, not every Republican is on board. At least a dozen House Republicans told Johnson they will not support the cuts that their constituents depend on.

House Republicans Propose Income Changes To Medicaid and More

More than 78 million Americans are enrolled in Medicaid. But the proposed changes could drastically cut that number.

House Republicans are proposing new “community engagement requirements” of at least 80 hours per month of work, education, or service for able-bodied adults without dependents. People would have to verify their eligibility to the program twice a year instead of once. The bill reportedly also proposes a more rigorous income verification for Americans enrolled in the Affordable Care Act’s healthcare coverage.

Medicaid recipients who make more than 100% of the federal poverty level, which is $32,000 a year for a family of four, would be required to pay out of pocket costs for some services. Emergency rooms visits, prenatal care, pediatric visits, and primary care check-ups would be limited to $35 per visit.

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Florence, Italy,
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 13, 2025

13-Foot Statue of Black Woman On Phone In Florence Riles Conservatives

Thomas J Price's statues of non-sexualized Black women has conservatives riled up

A 13-foot statue of a Black millennial woman on her phone in Florence, Italy, is drawing backlash from conservatives who say the city has succumbed to “woke delirium.”

In March, Florence’s Museo Novecento unveiled “Thomas J Price in Florence,” an exhibition featuring the British sculptor’s work, the Florentine reports. A standout of the show is Time Unfolding, a 3.6-meter-tall statue of a Black girl gazing down at her cellphone, positioned in Piazza della Signoria with the woman’s back to historic landmarks like the Loggia dei Lanzi, Palazzo Vecchio, and the Uffizi.

Price intentionally placed the piece outdoors to spark conversation, challenge perceptions, and explore themes of human connection. However, what’s resulted is backlash from conservatives who don’t think the statue is representative of the art form.

“Woke delirium in Florence, where a statue of a black (sic) girl was installed in Piazza della Signoria to contrast the ‘Renaissance space devoted to male power’ of Donatello’s David, to ‘reflect on inclusivity’ because ‘the ideal of classical beauty is a cage,” one critic tweeted.

“Make art great again,” said another.

Curated by Sergio Risalti, the exhibition includes sculptures of various sizes displayed throughout the museum, along with two outdoor bronzes: A Kind of Confidence in the Museo Novecento courtyard and Time Unfolding. While intended to challenge the male dominance of public statues, critics claim the installation undermines local culture and the city’s artistic heritage.

On social media, the attacks against the statue have become racist.

“Why are Italians putting statues of a black (sic) woman in their country? Italy is for Italians,” one X user wrote.

The criticism hasn’t slowed Price down. On April 29, he unveiled a new 12-foot bronze statue in New York’s Times Square titled Grounded in the Stars. The piece features a realistic depiction of a Black woman with braids, dressed in everyday clothes, standing confidently with hands on her hips and a contemplative gaze.

Times Square Arts says Price’s work “confronts preconceived notions of identity and representation.”

RELATED CONTENT: Stephanie Synclair Couldn’t Find Her Dream House In The U.S., So She Purchased A 4,000 Sq. Ft. Home In Italy For $62K

racial pay gap
by Sharelle B. McNair

May 12, 2025

Federal Employee Unions Are Looking For Ways To Survive As Trump Seeks To Eliminate Them 

If Trump continues to get his way, there is a risk of federal workers losing stability and protections that made working for the government worthwhile in the first place.

NPR reports that several federal employee unions are seeking answers on the best way to survive as President Donald Trump’s moves continue to threaten their importance. 

The President of the National Treasury Employees Union’s (NTEU) Chapter 282, Anthony Lee, was taken aback by how he learned about mass layoffs at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Instead of learning about it ahead of time, Lee said the first time he heard of it was when he started to receive panicked calls as employees learned their fate and swiped their badges to begin their work shift. 

A green light was presented for some to proceed, while a red light meant termination. “For dozens, hundreds of employees, it just went red and they weren’t able to enter the building,” the FDA veteran said. “That’s the way a lot of people did find out that their federal service was ending.”

Under a collective bargaining agreement for the union representing close to 9,000 FDA employees, the government must give advanced notice of any employment reduction. However, Lee said, “basically we’ve been ignored” since the Trump administration allegedly did no such thing. 

The union president touched on Trump’s beef with unions, not being new, but says the President’s union attacks are “exponentially worse” than in his first term, targeting union bargaining units. In March 2025, Trump signed an executive order ending collective bargaining rights for select federal workers, highlighting a provision within a federal law that gives him authority to cut ties at agencies with national security as a primary mission. “Even our ability to exist in the federal workplace — to be able to represent employees — is threatened by this administration,” Lee said. 

Employees working at agencies like the CIA, the FBI, and the National Security Agency don’t have collective bargaining rights.

Like others, Lee is concerned about what will happen if Trump continues to get his way. There is a risk of workers losing stability and protections that made working for the government worthwhile in the first place. However, the President has argued that negotiating with unions over workplace matters gets in the way of his ability to manage the government the way he wants. 

Trump’s anti-union executive orders have targeted other unions outside of NTEU, like the largest union for federal employees, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). According to the Associated Press, the union plans to lay off more than half its staff nationwide as officials say orders have weakened finances. The workforce will decrease from 355 employees to 150, scraping organizers, national representatives, support staff, and more. 

Pointing the finger at Trump’s policies as the reason behind the layoffs, AFGE released a statement calling the terminations a “setback” but says they aren’t going anywhere, “not by a long shot.” “We will not be deterred, silenced, or intimidated into submission,” the statement read. “Whether it’s in the courts, on Capitol Hill, or in the press, AFGE will continue to stand tall and defend the rights of America’s civil servants as long as it takes.”

The White House has labeled AFGE as a “hostile” organization with too much power over how the government functions.

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Michael Jordan, lawsuit, NASCAR, antitrust
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

May 12, 2025

Michael Jordan Joins NBC Sports As Special Contributor For Upcoming NBA Season

'I’m looking forward to seeing you all when the NBA on NBC launches this October'

When the NBA returns to NBC in October, basketball legend Michael Jordan will be part of NBC Sports’ regular season coverage, serving as a special contributor.

“I am so excited to see the NBA back on NBC,” said Jordan in a written statement. “The NBA on NBC was a meaningful part of my career, and I’m excited about being a special contributor to the project. I’m looking forward to seeing you all when the NBA on NBC launches this October.”

Jordan is considered one of the best, if not the best, basketball players of all-time. His championship runs—1990 to 1993 and 1995 to 1998—came when countless kids watched Jordan dominate the competition on NBC. 

He joins other former players like Jamal Crawford and Reggie Miller, who will serve as game analysts, and Carmelo Anthony, who is on board as a studio analyst.

The release did not describe what exactly Jordan will do in his new role, which was announced during NBCUniversal’s upfront presentation at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Monday, May 12. 

NBC is returning to broadcasting NBA games after 23 years, and has even resurrected “Roundball Rock,” the game’s signature opening theme song.  

“Michael’s legacy, both on and off the court, speaks for itself,” said NBC Sports President Rick Cordella. “We’re incredibly proud to have him join our coverage.”

Last summer, NBCUniversal and the NBA signed an 11-year agreement to air NBA and WNBA regular-season and playoff basketball games across numerous platforms.

Monday night games will stream on Peacock, while NBC/Peacock will air coverage of regional doubleheaders on Tuesday nights. Fans will be able to view Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock.

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Maryland Councilwoman Helps Pass Law To Get Egg Freezing Covered By Insurance
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 12, 2025

Maryland Councilwoman Helps Pass Law To Get Egg Freezing Covered By Insurance

Wanika B. Fisher used her personal experience to help others

Prince George’s County (MD) Council member Wanika B. Fisher knew how costly egg freezing can be, so she pushed for a change.

Fisher led the charge on a newly passed law that mandates health insurance coverage for county workers seeking to freeze their eggs, The Washington Post reports. She was driven to sponsor the bill after her own attempt at the procedure revealed that her county health plan didn’t cover the typical $10,000 to $15,000 cost per cycle.

“I was shocked, and I was kind of sad,” Fisher recalled. “I don’t know if I’m ever going to have the dream of being a mom.”

The law, which takes effect later this month, will require Prince George’s County insurance plans to cover elective egg freezing and storage for up to 10 years. This groundbreaking law opens the door for employees to consider in vitro fertilization in the future.

Maryland is the first state to pass a law requiring health insurance plans to include infertility coverage. Currently, around 10 other states and the District of Columbia also provide insurance that covers IVF and fertility preservation.

Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics, said Fisher’s actions highlight the importance of having more women in office across all ages, races, and income levels.

“Here is a woman who is now serving and suddenly realizes that these institutions are not prepared for her to be there,” Walsh said. “Making these institutions more hospitable to women is going to raise up different kinds of issues.”

Now, Fisher is waiting for the right time to freeze her eggs.

“Just like everything in life, you just have to make it a priority,” Fisher said. “I’m aging, so I have to make it a priority.”

RELATED CONTENT: Fertility Faux Pas or Innovation? Should Companies Pay for Female Workers to Freeze Their Eggs?

brain health, Black men, CTE
by Mitti Hicks

May 12, 2025

STUDY: Hypertension And Diabetes Linked To Increase In Alzheimer’s In Black Americans

A new study found there is a chain reaction for Black Americans diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension in midlife. Researchers from the University of Georgia study found that Black Americans are diagnosed with both conditions have a greater risk of developing degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

A new study found that there is a chain reaction for Black Americans diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension in midlife. Researchers from the University of Georgia study found that Black Americans who are diagnosed with both conditions have a greater risk of developing degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Researchers analyzed more than 252 middle-aged Black Americans enrolled in the Family and Community Health Study living in either Georgia or Iowa. Participants diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension, or both had their blood drawn between 2008 and 2019. Nearly 10 years later, researchers found these participants with both conditions had significantly higher levels of a dementia-related biomarker more than 10 years later.

“This study shows that chronic conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes, especially when combined together, might start damaging the brain earlier than we thought, especially for this group,” Rachael Weaver, corresponding author of the study and a graduate student in the UGA Franklin College of Arts and Sciences department of sociology,” released in a statement.

Cardiovascular Health Is Also An Indicator Of Alzheimer’s Disease

According to researchers, diabetes and hypertension are not the only indicators of degenerative brain diseases in the future. Cardiovascular health also plays a significant role. While having any one of these diagnoses alone does not indicate a dramatic neurological effect, having both leads to striking results.

“The study sends a clear message: Taking steps early to control high blood pressure and diabetes may help protect African Americans from brain degeneration and lower their risk of dementia later in life,” Karlo Lei, co-author of the study and an associate professor in the Franklin College department of sociology, added.

When compared to other racial-ethnic groups, Black Americans show accelerated brain aging beginning in midlife. They also exhibit higher rates and earlier onset of dementia and are ultimately more vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease.

Early intervention for these chronic health conditions could significantly protect brain health and reduce the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases for African Americans later in life.

RELATED CONTENT: Stress Of Caregiving Linked To Hypertension In Younger Black Women, New Study Finds

OneUnited Bank, Roxbury, Massachusetts, Kevin Cohee, Roxbury, black-owned
by Sharelle B. McNair

May 12, 2025

OneUnited Bank Promotes Financial Literacy For Youth With 15th Annual ‘I Got Bank’ Contest

Ten winners will receive a $1,000 savings account each by August 31.

America’s largest Black-owned bank, OneUnited Bank, is highlighting the importance of children learning financial literacy with its 15th annual “I Got Bank!” National Financial Literacy Contest, where 10 kids can win a $1,000 savings account, according to a press release shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE. 

Contestants between eight and 12 are encouraged to read a financial literacy book of their choice and can either write a 250-word essay or create an art project showcasing how they would apply what they learned from the book to their everyday lives by the June 20 deadline. Ten winners will receive a $1,000 savings account each by Aug. 31. 

To give children an inside look at how financial literacy can uplift them, the Bank offers an “I Got Bank” e-book for free. OneUnited Bank President Teri Williams decided to take matters into her own hands after finding there weren’t enough books that educate Black youth about finances, and wrote “I Got Bank! What My Granddad Taught Me About Money,” published by The Beckham Publications Group, Inc. “We did a survey of previous I Got Bank participants and found that 100% of them found the experience valuable to extremely valuable and 100% stated the experience increased their financial awareness,” Williams said. 

“We want to thank the parents and schools for encouraging their children and students to participate in the contest. We continue to advocate for financial literacy to be taught in K-12 schools across America!” 

The 2024 winners ranged between 10 and 12 from cities across the country. 

OneUnited is known as a leader in educating Black communities about being financially liberated. In addition to schooling children, the bank is collaborating with other organizations to help adults who are renters build on their credit and make homeownership a reality. In partnership with Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), the two collaborated with Esusu, a tech-forward credit-building platform, according to the Michigan Chronicle. 

The platform allows renters to report on-time rental payments to all three major credit bureaus and removes one of the most under-discussed credit obstacles for everyday people, with a focus on Black renters. The partnership addresses structural barriers that have historically placed limitations on Black families who want to experience homeownership. Williams said the vision is clear, and working with Esusu is a key step. “For decades, our mission has been to promote financial empowerment for everyone, and this collaboration with Esusu is an important step in that direction,” Williams said. 

“This alliance is all about empowering renters with the financial tools they need to turn their homeownership dreams into reality.”

RELATED CONTENT: OneUnited, The Largest Black-Owned Bank, Partners With Esusu To Boost Homeownership

Essence Fest, Lil Wayne
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

May 12, 2025

Lil Wayne Allegedly Kicked Girlfriend and Her Daughter Out Of His House—On Mother’s Day

She also accused the rapper of domestic abuse

The ex-fiancée of Lil Wayne said that the rapper not only abused her but kicked her and her child out of his house on Mother’s Day.

Denise Bidot, the plus-size model, took to her Instagram Stories to tell her version of events to her more than half a million followers.

“This is actually a fact: Wayne literally kicked me and my daughter out on Mother’s Day today. And, I am just recovering from surgery. I am five weeks out from a whole mommy makeover. I can’t even lift boxes. But this man has his assistants coming to help kick us out today and broke up with me on Mother’s Day through text.”

After asking for recommendations for lawyer, she claimed that the New Orleans rapper had two girls being flown in on Mother’s Day, an that she been “nothing but supportive” of the rapper. She added that he “uprooted” her from New York City to live with him.”

She also accused him of putting his hands on her.

“This man has actually laid a f**king hand on me. Like nah. And I took it. And you know what’s crazy is, they always say we’re so stupid for love, and I thought it was a mistake. But I know other women he’s put his hands on.”

XXL reported that the pair had been involved for almost five years, but broke up because of Lil Wane’s support for President Donald Trump. They reunited, but based on the recent video, it look as if it finally may be over for the pair.

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Gabrielle Union, actress, Hollywood, Black actresses, award
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 12, 2025

Gabrielle Union Felt ‘F*ck*ng Public Humiliation’ During Surrogacy: ‘It Felt Like Failure’

'If I had the ability to do this myself, I would've'

Gabrielle Union spoke candidly to Marie Claire about the embarrassment she felt welcoming her daughter via surrogacy.

In a May 7 interview, the Being Mary Jane star reflected on her and husband Dwyane Wade’s decision to welcome their now 7-year-old daughter Kaavia James, through surrogacy in 2018.

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“Because it’s different and because every single person’s surrogacy journey is different,” Union, 52 said, “it’s like any time there’s any kind of variance in the experience, it’s, ‘See, I told you. You shouldn’t explore this option to expand your family.’ But for me, it felt like failure. My body failed. It just felt like such a fu*king public humiliation.”

While Wades aren’t the only celebrity couple to welcome a child through surrogacy, joining the estimated 750 surrogacy births each year, that did not lighten Union’s insecurities.

“To be there for somebody else succeeding where I failed—it is a mind fu*k for people who have had my journey and who feel similarly,” she explained. “When it’s never been your reality, I get the urge to judge and cast aspersions because we all want whatever route we took to be the “right” way.”

Addressing critics of surrogacy, the Bring It On star didn’t hold back.

“If I had the ability to do this myself, I would’ve,” Union said. “Your baby’s here and your baby’s awesome. My baby’s here and my baby’s awesome.”

Union, who is also stepmom to Wade’s kids with ex-wife Siohvaughn Funches, Zaire, 23, and Zaya, 17, and son Xavier, 11, with Aja Metoyer, said she’ll never be completely comfortable that she welcomed her child through surrogacy.

“No. I’ll never have peace with it, ever,” she explained. “And that’s not a what-anybody-has-to-say thing; that’s just—my yearning has never dissipated. I was so ready for my surprise, but all the prayers that didn’t get answered in the way that I thought made me more conscientious that my child is here.”

Union continued. “I’m very grateful to our gestational caregiver, though. It’s just one of those things where it’s such a personal journey that I may never know full peace with the coulda, woulda, shouldas.”

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