by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

May 8, 2025

Boston Celtics’ Jrue Holiday Named 2024-25 NBA Social Justice Champion

The guard was also recently named the recipient of the 2024-25 NBA Sportsmanship Award

His team may be down 0-2 to the New York Knicks in the NBA Playoffs, but Boston Celtics player Jrue Holiday had reason to celebrate after being named the league’s 2024-25 NBA Social Justice Champion.

The National Basketball Association announced that Holiday has won the honor and will receive the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Trophy after besting four other players for the award.

A true champion on and off the court 👏🏾

Congrats Jrue on winning the 2025 NBA #SocialJusticeChampion award pic.twitter.com/QYWQmUoGOn

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 7, 2025

Along with the honor and the trophy, the NBA will donate $100,000 to the Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Impact Fund (JLH Fund).

The Celtics player was competing against Bam Adebayo (Miami HEAT), Harrison Barnes (San Antonio Spurs), Chris Boucher (Toronto Raptors), and CJ McCollum (New Orleans Pelicans) for the award. The award is given to the player who, off the court, is pushing the pursuit of social justice, which aligns with NBA Hall of Famer Abdul-Jabbar’s life mission to “engage, empower, and drive equality for individuals and groups who have been historically disadvantaged.”

“Since entering the league, Jrue Holiday has dedicated himself to helping others in their times of greatest need and pursuing a more just society for all,” said NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum in a written statement. “The selflessness that defines his game is even more evident in the work he and his wife Lauren do off the floor to create more opportunities for a generation of youth who might have otherwise been overlooked.”

The JLH Fund has given nearly 200 businesses across the country over $5.3 million in grants and has also delivered more than 400 hours of coaching and support. The fund was founded with $5 million to combat systemic racism and economic injustice in 2020. The JLH Fund threw its support recently by mobilizing resources to families affected by the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires.

Holiday also serves on the board of the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition, which advances policy and advocacy efforts around criminal justice reform, community safety, and voting access.

This news came less than a week after the NBA announced that the guard was named the recipient of the 2024-25 NBA Sportsmanship Award, making him the first Boston Celtics player to win the award.

by Jameelah Mullen

May 8, 2025

TSA Bans These 7 Items From Checked Baggage

TSA enforces compliance with new security regulations.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) warns travelers that electronics containing lithium-ion batteries are no longer allowed in checked luggage. The agency’s summer travel advisory reminds passengers that the ban is in effect. Prohibited items include cell phone battery charging cases, rechargeable and non-rechargeable lithium batteries, cellphone batteries, laptop batteries, external batteries, and portable rechargers. However, travelers can still bring these items in their carry-on bags.

“Spare (uninstalled) lithium-ion and lithium-metal batteries, including power banks and cell phone battery charging cases, must be carried in carry-on baggage only. When a carry-on bag is checked at the gate or at planeside, all spare lithium batteries and power banks must be removed from the bag and kept with the passenger in the aircraft cabin. The battery terminals must be protected from short circuits.”

TSA implemented the ban due to the fire risk posed following recent incidents involving lithium-ion batteries exploding in flight. Officials determined that an overheated power bank caused a fire that broke out on a Russian airplane in South Korea in January, leading to the evacuation of 179 passengers and six crew members. In November 2024, a Southwest flight from Denver was forced to evacuate after a passenger’s cellphone caught fire.

Portable chargers and power banks may experience thermal runaway, in which a battery cell overheats without warning. Thermal runaway can occur if the battery is defective, overheated, overcharged, improperly packed, or exposed to water.

Flight crews are trained to respond to battery fires when one occurs in the airplane cabin. The FAA urges passengers to notify their flight crew immediately if their devices are overheating, expanding, smoking, or burning during a flight.

The TSA reminds passengers of these changes ahead of the new Real ID travel requirements, which went into effect on Wednesday, May 7. All passengers must have REAL ID-compliant identification to travel on commercial flights. REAL IDs are marked with a star in the upper right-hand corner. The TSA states that passengers who present non-REAL ID-compliant identification may face additional security screening.

by Kandiss Edwards

May 8, 2025

Berklee College Will Present André 3000 With Honorary Doctorate

André Benjamin, also known as André 3000, is being honored for his musical contributions during his decades-long career.

Grammy-winning rapper, singer and songwriter André Benjamin, also known as André3000, will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Music degree by Berklee College of Music. The award will be conferred to the New Blue Sun composer during Berklee’s commencement ceremony May 10.

This honor recognizes André 3000’s significant contributions to music and culture. The honor denotes his success as both an individual and one-half of the Grammy-winning group Outkast. In either capacity, André 3000’s eclectic and innovative approach to music has arguably opened doors for both his peers and new generations.

Commencement festivities begin Friday, May 9, at 7:30 p.m. with a concert and reception at Agganis Arena. More than 200 student vocalists, instrumentalists, arrangers, dancers, and producers will present a tribute to the honorees.

The announcement of the award coincides with the reclusive artist’s return to mainstream attention. May 5, he made a memorable appearance at the 2025 Met Gala. The instrumentalist wore a custom Burberry jumpsuit with a Steinway Model S baby grand piano strapped to his back. The fashion statement served two purposes. First, the look upheld the gala’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” Second, the visual served as an announcement for his new instrumental piano offering, 7 Piano Sketches

https://twitter.com/JahTalksMusic/status/1919544997528957114

The choice in ensemble was also a nearly exact replica of the album cover to the new offering. 7 Piano Sketches is a seven-track collection of piano compositions. Benjamin recorded the project at home using only his iPhone and laptop. The album features personal pieces allowing him to explore versatility in musicianship.

He described the project as an “emotional palate cleanse” influenced by artists such as Thelonious Monk, Philip Glass, and Joni Mitchell.

This release follows his 2023 release, New Blue Sun which focused on instrumentals of mostly jazz flute. The album received critical acclaim and good reviews from his fans.

Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company and Bill T. Jones,

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

May 8, 2025

New York Live Arts Presents Dual Performances From Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company For 2025 Home Season

The company will put on two shows for the 2025 home season

The New York Live Arts will begin its 2025 home season with two performances from the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company.

The company will host the world premiere of “Curriculum III: People, Places & Things” as well as “Bill T. Jones: Memory Piece: Mr. Ailey, Alvin…the un – Ailey?,” with performances starting May 15.

“Curriculum III” is a multidisciplinary reflection set “against the backdrop of a memory of freedom.” The theme of freedom, including the desire and the discovery of it, will be heavily dissected and displayed through the 10 company members in the performance.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by BTJ/AZ Company (@billtjonesarniezaneco)

“Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company began this work as an exploration of stateless people drifting in the seas, a rumination on willful displacement and searching; recognizing the dichotomy between desperation and the commitment to one’s own freedom,” according to a news release.

Inspired by the 1965 Bob Dylan song “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues,” it conveys a growing sentiment of unease given the divisive policies brewing in America, “where everything from the environment to authoritarianism and political upheaval seem to be like the ocean itself, unknown and full of darkness and anxiety,” according to the news release. “Both violent and elegiac, the work examines who is or what makes an American in light of the demonization of immigrants, mass deportations, surveillance, and censorship.”

Bill T. Jones will also reprise the deeply personal solo “Memory Piece: Mr. Ailey, Alvin…the un – Ailey?,” recently performed at the Edges of Ailey exhibit at The Whitney Museum of American Art.

The performance has Jones reflecting on the moments and people who have impacted his career. Focusing on his own legacy in juxtaposition to another famed Black performer and choreographer, Alvin Ailey, the piece’s combination of spoken word, music, and movement pay tribute to Jones’ impact on dance.

The Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company was created in 1982, six years before Zane’s death. Known for its contribution to contemporary dance, the company has developed over 140 works, paving the way for New York Live Arts with Jones as its artistic director.

The Live Arts new season will also promote performance art that touches on identity, resilience, spirituality, and place in the world. Its performances maintain this commitment to embracing community while acknowledging internals conflict that remain universally felt.

Held at the Live Arts Theater, the company will launch new community ticket pricing, including “Pay What You Wish” options and “What iI Really Costs” tickets at $250. Standard prices begin at $30.

by Kandiss Edwards

May 8, 2025

‘Campus’ Online For-Profit College Opens An Atlanta Hub

Online college, Campus, is opening an Atlanta office to provide in-person academic coaching and more.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Campus, a for-profit, accredited two-year online college supported by Shaquille O’Neal and Open AI CEO Sam Altman, is opening a new office in Atlanta’s Buckhead district.

Founded by Atlanta native Tade Oyerinde, Campus aims to revolutionize community college education by offering affordable, accessible, and engaging online learning.

Oyerinde spoke about the Atlanta hub, hoping to bring hundreds of jobs to the Atlanta area and provide students with guidance, much like his mother provided him with as a young adult.

“They need a success coach, you know, who basically can play the role that my Nigerian mother played,” Oyerinde, who also serves as the school’s chancellor, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Whenever I was slacking, she’d kick my ass. And whenever I was, like, questioning myself, she’d be a shoulder to cry on and a supportive person and keep me going.”

The Atlanta office will serve as the college’s student impact hub. The facility will house student access coaches and support staff. Currently, employing 71 individuals, the campus plans to expand its Atlanta workforce to approximately 250 by the end of 2026. Oyerinde spoke about the “irony” of being an online institution with a physical support space. He believes launching such an ambitious institution requires “collaborative innovation” that is present face-to-face.

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A post shared by Something Black Made® (@somethingblackmade)

The campus offers associate degrees in business. Courses are taught live online by adjunct professors from esteemed universities such as Princeton, Stanford, and Howard. Students receive laptops, WiFi access, tutoring in math and writing, and a dedicated success coach.

Tuition for full-time students enrolled for four quarters per year is under $10,000. The college has around 2,000 active students and has graduated 50 since its launch in 2022.

In March, Campus announced it had raised $46 million in investments, bringing its total to $100 million in six years. Former Morehouse College President John Wilson chairs the institution’s board, which includes former higher education leaders.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony and gave remarks.

“You are redefining the college experience, and after today, Atlanta will really play a key role in your journey going forward,” Dickens said.

The campus’s expansion into Atlanta underscores its commitment to providing accessible opportunities for underserved communities.

IRS, Tax Return, accountants, Gen Z, low-income families

by Mitti Hicks

May 8, 2025

IRS Sends Harsh Message To Employees Amid Second Round of Layoffs

The IRS is sending a stern message to its staff that working weekends and overtime during May is mandatory despite another round of layoffs.

The IRS is sending a stern message to its staff that working weekends and overtime during May is mandatory despite another round of layoffs. The memo was sent to employees in the IRS Input Correction Operation (ICO) department, responsible for resolving tax return errors flagged by the IRS’s Error Resolution System (ERS).

According to The Federal News Network, the memo states that “all minimally and fully successful” ICO employees will be required to complete the 16 hours of overtime. Leadership also informed employees that they could work overtime on weekdays. However, the leadership said the overtime is “not part of the required 16 hours” of weekend overtime on Saturdays, May 10 and May 17.

IRS Plans Another Round of Layoffs

The message comes to IRS employees amid another shakeup as the federal agency plans to lay off more employees.

“Remember, if we do not make a sizable dent in the ERS rejects … inventory, there is the possibility of additional required overtime,” IRS Operation Manager Latifah Hisham wrote in a memo to employees obtained by FNN.

In February, the IRS fired 7,000 employees during tax season. Most impacted employees worked in tax compliance, ensuring taxpayers followed tax laws, correctly reported their income, and filed their returns.

The IRS later emailed the fired employees to inform them they could return to work full-time on April 14, the day before the tax filing deadline for Americans. A day after the tax filing deadline passed, the IRS sent a memo to employees stating that it plans to cut the workforce by 40% with layoffs and buyouts.

According to The Street, the cuts will occur in two phases. The first phase began in April, and the second will start in August.

The second round of layoffs comes as the Trump administration prioritizes cutting the federal workforce, an effort led by Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Brittney Griner, return, WNBA, Basketball, court, Russia, captive, all star

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

May 8, 2025

Welcome to the W, Rook: Brittney Griner Flattens Sonia Citron with Screen In Preseason Game

Sonia Citron never knew what hit her

WNBA veteran Brittney Griner made noise in her first preseason game with the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday, leveling Washington Mystics guard Sonia Citron before the end of the first half.

The 6-foot-9 superstar set a screen for her teammate as she went toward the basket. Unbeknownst to Citron, Griner was in the way. When the rookie tried to defend her opposing player, she ran into Griner and fell like she was hit by a runaway train.

welcome to the wnba, sonia citron! pic.twitter.com/48EFgh5Hal

— marknee (@literallymuhree) May 7, 2025

As Griner and several of Citron’s teammates went to help her, she seemed dazed and stayed on the floor momentarily. It took Citron several seconds to gain her composure, but she stayed in the game.

sonia citron welcome to the wnba pic.twitter.com/6te08lVLGd

— correlation (@nosyone4) May 7, 2025

Game officials gave Griner an illegal screen charge as the Mystics were awarded the ball because of Griner’s action on the play.

The Dream won 80-70 in the preseason opener for both teams.

Griner led the Dream with 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting. She also pulled down 10 rebounds and handed out three assists. Meanwhile, Citron scored 5 points on 2-of-5 shooting.

The Dream will play the Mystics again on May 16 when the WNBA season starts.

identity theft, dead, deceased, stolen identity

by Kandiss Edwards

May 8, 2025

Former Chicago Principal Dies Before Sentencing For Defrauding School System

Sarah Jackson Abedelal was due to be sentenced for orchestrating an overtime scheme

Sarah Jackson Abedelal, a former principal at a Chicago elementary school, was found dead on May 6, the day she was to sentenced for embezzling nearly $300,00 from the Chicago Public School System, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Abedelal, 61, pleaded guilty in 2022 to orchestrating a seven-year scheme to defraud CPS. Prosecutors recommended a prison sentence exceeding three years for the 10-count indictment.

The former Brennemann Elementary School principal’s sentencing hearing was initially set for May 6, 10:30 a.m. but was postponed when she didn’t appear.

She was pronounced dead at 4:05 p.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office, and was discovered at an address in the 19100 block of Pine Drive in Country Club Hills, The Chicago Tribune reports. The cause and manner of death are under investigation.

In conversations with her attorneys, Abedelal expressed remorse for her actions. “I screwed up at Brennemann,” she said, noting that the school “saved my life.”

Jonathan Bedi, Abedelal’s attorney, described her as someone who had “positively impacted the educational journeys of hundreds of students.”

He added, “This single chapter did not define her.” Unfortunately, Abedelal’s deeds may be hard to forget.

In 2021, she was charged with wire fraud.

“Abedelal told certain school employees that she would authorize overtime pay for hours the employees would not be required to work, and she directed them to then deliver the proceeds of the unearned overtime to Abedelal or another individual, the indictment states,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois said in a statement following the 2021 indictment.

Abedelal told her workers the money would be used for school expenses that the district wouldn’t cover. Later, she admitted the “vast majority” of the more than $250,000 she secured through this scheme went toward personal expenses.

A separate scheme involving fake purchase orders and invoices for school supplies steered iPhones, iPads and more than $30,000 in gift cards Abedelal’s way. Prosecutors said she used the gift cards to buy such luxuries as a Tiffany’s bracelet, Jimmy Choo shoes, and perfume.

In addition, prosecutors claimed that Abedelal enlisted employees who feared her to pull off the scheme. One staffer allegedly chauffeured her around town, took her shopping during school hours, and cleaned her house.

Abedelal faced 10 counts of wire fraud due to the overtime scheme. Each count carried up to 20 years in federal prison.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

May 8, 2025

Clark Atlanta University To Create Scholarship In Honor Of Slain Alumna

CAU will contribute $10,000 to the scholarship for students studying education.

Clark Atlanta University will establish a scholarship in honor of an alumna who lost her life in a shooting in California.

The Atlanta HBCU will launch the scholarship in memory of Dr. Cameisha Clark, who died three days after the May 2 shootout. Deemed a “triple panther,” Clark obtained her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from the University, receiving the latter in higher education leadership.

“Dr. Cameisha Clark exemplified the Panther spirit. She lived with purpose, led with heart, and leaves behind a legacy that will continue to uplift and inspire the CAU Nation for generations to come,” CAU’s President Dr. George T. French, Jr. wrote in a statement obtained by WSB-TV.

Her academic achievement led her to multiple roles in higher education, including a previous position as a student advisor at CAU. Before her death, she worked at Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology in Inglewood, California. Upon her promotion to Dean of Student Affairs, CAU’s College of Education applauded her new role in an alumni spotlight.

However, tragedy struck at Spartan when a former security guard gunned down Clark and injured her assistant. Police later detained the suspect, identified as Jesse Figueroa, and arrested him on charges of murder and attempted murder. Figueroa also had prior violent convictions, with the officials considering the matter a “workplace violence-related incident.”

The tragic news impacted not only the Spartan College campus but also Clark’s HBCU community. The educator’s former cheerleading squad posted a statement from her family, as all mourned the loss.

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A post shared by Clark Atl Univ Cheerleaders (@caucheer)

“Her legacy is defined not by the manner of her death, but by the extraordinary way she lived,” shared the family on the post. “Her leadership, integrity, and deep sense of purpose helped shape the futures of countless students from the campus of Clark Atlanta University to Spartan College. She believed in the potential of others even when they could not yet see it in themselves. “

CAU will commit $10,000 to launch the upcoming scholarship for students studying education, continuing Clark’s legacy. The University also intends to hold a service to mourn her death.

Jamaica,, Jamaican, currency,, cotton, money,

by Keka Araújo

May 8, 2025

Jamaica To Demonetize Old Cotton Banknotes: Here’s What You Need To Know

The demonetization took effect April 1.

The Bank of Jamaica has demonetized its old cotton banknotes, including the $5,000, $1,000, $500, $100, and $50 denominations. This action is a form of currency change, where the central bank removes the legal tender status from specific banknotes. Such changes can occur for various reasons, including introducing a new currency or, as in this case, replacing older notes with newer, more secure ones.

The demonetization took effect on April 1. Old cotton banknotes will cease to be legal tender on July 1 and can no longer be used for transactions. This means businesses and individuals will no longer be legally obligated to accept these notes as payment after this date.

While these banknotes will no longer be valid for purchasing goods and services after July 1, the Bank of Jamaica will continue to redeem them for their face value indefinitely. Removing legal tender status while allowing redemption is a key aspect of demonetization. This ensures that holders of the old currency can still recover its worth, albeit through the central bank rather than in everyday transactions.

The public is advised to use the new polymer banknotes, which have been circulating since June 2023, for all cash transactions. The new denominations are $5,000, $2,000, $1,000, $500, $100, and $50. The existing coin denominations of $20, $10, $5, and $1 remain legal tender. Introducing these new banknotes is part of the currency replacement process, where older forms of currency are substituted with newer, often more secure, versions. Governments typically undertake demonetization to address various economic concerns, such as combating counterfeiting, which these new polymer notes are likely designed to mitigate, and improving the efficiency of the monetary system.

Demonetization can have broader economic implications. While it aims to modernize the currency and enhance security, it can sometimes lead to short-term disruptions. For example, individuals and businesses must adapt to the new currency, and financial institutions must manage the exchange of old notes. In the long run, transitioning to more durable and secure polymer notes may contribute to Jamaica’s more stable and efficient financial system.

The Bank of Jamaica’s action aligns with global trends in currency management. Many countries are moving toward more durable and secure banknote materials, such as polymer.