Denzel Washington, tongue, speech, Broadway

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 5, 2025

Kandi Burruss ‘Disappointed’ By ‘Othello’ Tony Award Shutout

'Of course I’m disappointed, but I’m still beyond proud to be part of this phenomenal production.'

Kandi Burruss’s dream of getting closer to EGOT status was delayed after her Broadway box office record-breaking Othello received no Tony nominations.

The singer-songwriter took to Instagram after the 2025 Tony nominations were announced to express her disappointment over the Shakespeare revival being overlooked.

But she also took time to celebrate the cast’s hard work and talent.

“Well, y’all… Othello didn’t get the Tony nomination,” she captioned a pair of photos with Washington and fellow producer Brian Moreland. “Of course I’m disappointed, but I’m still beyond proud to be part of this phenomenal production. Every time I watch our cast, I’m blown away and inspired.”

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“Denzel Washington @jakegyllenhaal — you both are delivering a masterclass in acting every single night. Truly unforgettable performances,” Burruss continued. “Congratulations to all the nominees this year!”

Directed by Tony winner Kenny Leon, the revival stars Denzel Washington star as Othello and Jake Gyllenhaal as Iago. The A-list stars helped the show draw massive crowds and gross $2.8 million in a single preview week. However, despite its sold-out shows and blockbuster success, the production was shut out of the Tony nominations, including Best Revival of a Play.

Burruss is already putting the Tony disappointment behind her and looking to what’s next for her booked and busy career.

“As for me, I’m already focused on what’s next. I’m not giving up on the dream,” she wrote before adding a shameless plug. “‘Tell Me No;” by Whitney Houston (co-written by yours truly 😉✍🏾) is on repeat right now… and it hits different today.”

While promoting Othello earlier this year, Burruss spoke about her aspiration to achieve EGOT status. With multiple Grammy wins and Emmy and Tony nominations under her belt, the Xscape singer still has a long way to reach the coveted milestone.

Still, she wrapped her message on an upbeat note.

“To anyone chasing a dream—don’t let a ‘no’ stop your yes. The journey continues.…” she wrote.

Black History, Department of Education, Trump, Linda McMahon

by Mitti Hicks

May 5, 2025

Email Leak Reveals HHS Plans Cuts To Head Start, Childcare Research

While the document did not list how much funding would be cut, ACH was responsible for $154 million in grants and contracts last year

According to an email mistakenly made public, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) plans to end more than a dozen university grants to improve Head Start and childcare policy.

The leaked document lists more than 150 research projects the HHS plans to terminate, according to The Associated Press. Many of these grants help to improve the lives of low-income children and families.

“These grants are aimed at learning how to make programs more effective at pursuing goals like healthy child development, reducing abuse and neglect, and promoting economic self-sufficiency,” Naomi Goldstein, who led the office for nearly two decades before retiring in 2022, told the AP.

She added, “It’s hard to see why they would want to cancel these efforts.”

HHS Has Cut Billions in Grants Since Trump Took Office

Under the Trump administration, other HHS divisions have cut billions of dollars in grants that contribute to public health, gender, and race. Some of these divisions that have faced cuts include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health.

The proposed grant terminations would undercut Head Start, a 60-year-old program overseen by the Administration for Children and Families under the Office of Head Start, which supports preschool and services for hundreds of thousands of low-income children.

In 2022, the Head Start program was funded to serve about 833,000 children, pregnant women in centers, family homes, and family child care homes. A majority of families identified as communities of color: 37% of students as Hispanic or Latino; 28% were Black or African American.

“Ending these projects without explanation not only wastes taxpayer dollars, it also threatens the evidence base behind key safety net programs,” Katie Hamm, ACF’s deputy assistant secretary for early childhood development until January, told the AP. “It’s alarming that grantees and contractors had to find out this way, through an accidental email, rather than a transparent process.”

While the document did not list how much funding would be cut, the office was responsible for $154 million in grants and contracts last year. Only 21 of the 177 listed grants were marked with a note to “continue funding.”

A department spokesperson told the AP that the draft was outdated.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 5, 2025

Ye’s Legal Team Says His Antisemitic Texts Are ‘Art’ And Protected By First Amendment Rights

According to Ye's legal team, the rapper is "art" and can make antisemitic remarks as a freedom of speech.

Ye’s legal team is defending the hostile antisemitic texts he sent to a former staffer as “art” and an expression of his right to free speech.

Attorneys representing the embattled hip-hop and fashion mogul filed court documents on April 30 in response to a lawsuit brought by a former employee, who accuses Ye (real name Kanye West) of sending a string of “belligerent, abusive, harassing, antisemitic, and otherwise offensive” text messages in June 2024, Page Six reports.

According to Ye’s lawyers, the rapper “is art,” and the texts were merely “works” that “plainly reflect [West]’s artistic critique of censorship, identity, and beauty standards, and which were wholly consistent with his public artistry and presentation long before [the former staffer] explicitly sought employment.”

In the controversial texts, Ye is seen telling the former staffer, “Shut the f**k up b*tch,” “Hail Hitler,” and “You ugly as fu*k.” In one exchange, the Hollywood publicist urged Ye to denounce Nazism following backlash over the Nazi-inspired cover art for his Vultures Vol. 1 album. Instead of heeding the advice, the “Stronger” rapper replied, “I am A NAZI.”

Attorneys for the musician say Ye “is” art, and anything he says is protected under the First Amendment, even in his “private communications.”

“[West] is not merely a creator; he is art. Like [19th Century German composer] Richard Wagner’s concept of Gesamtkunstwerk—a ‘total work of art’ integrating music, drama, and stagecraft,” the lawyers wrote. “[West’s] public and private personas form a continuous, provocative performance that challenges societal taboos surrounding race, religion, gender, power, politics, and censorship. Whether on stage, in the studio, online, or in private communications, [West] is constantly engaged in artistic expression protected by the First Amendment and California’s free speech guarantees.”

Ye has bigger battles brewing with the May 1 release of his Donda 2 album. Though recorded in 2022, the newly dropped project has stirred fresh drama, with producers demanding payment for beats they claim to have contributed.

It looks like the producers will have to get in line when it comes to taking legal action against the disgraced rap mogul.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

May 5, 2025

NYC Bodegas Will Soon Have Panic Buttons In Response To Rising Crime

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced that the city is spending $1.6 million to equip an estimated 500 bodegas across the five boroughs

Due to an increase in crimes taking place at New York City bodegas, the city will start a $1.6 million initiative that to equip about 500 stores throughout the city to give them the chance to press a panic button if a crime is about to or is taking place.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced that the program. The selected bodegas, located in high-crime neighborhoods, will have “SilentShield” buttons connected to the New York City Police Department (NYPD) that can be pressed in case of emergency.

Cameras will also be installed in the corner stores so that police officers can see any potential or actual crimes taking place in real-time.

“This program will bring peace of mind to our bodega owners while protecting the working-class New Yorkers who work and frequent bodegas,” Adams said in a statement. “Our bodegas are essential to New York City, and with this investment, we’re telling these small businesses: Your city has your back.”

This is being distributed through an emergency grant to the United Bodega Association (UBA), which has been fighting for better protection for the stores in the city. This investment will attempt to ensure that bodegas, critical small businesses that support city neighborhoods in the five boroughs, have the security and support they need to keep their staff and customers safe.

UBA is in the process of soliciting companies to submit competitive bids for SilentShield technology. The goal is to start installing the panic buttons in the coming months.

“We thank Mayor Adams for taking real action,” said Radhamés Rodríguez, president, UBA. “We came to the mayor and he didn’t hesitate to offer his support because our blue-collar mayor knows just how important bodegas are to their communities.”

FORMALDEHYDE,relaxer, hair, Back women, straightener

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 5, 2025

Echelon Noir Continues The Legacy Of Black Hair Shows With ‘Black Hair Reimagined’ In NYC

'Black Hair Reimagined' continues the legacy of Black hair shows

With the iconic Bronner Bros. Hair Show on pause, Echelon Noir Productions has filled the void.

On May 2, elites in the Black beauty and fashion space assembled in New York City’s Financial District for the debut of “Black Hair Reimagined: The New Era of Beauty,” a groundbreaking hair show founded by beauty experts and longtime friends, hairstylist Jawara Wauchope and creative director Jarrod Lacks.

Hosted by actress and fashion icon Tracee Ellis Ross, the event drew major star power—including Solange Knowles, who was there to cheer on her son Daniel Julez J. Smith Jr. as he hit the runway alongside top models like Anok Yai.

“I’m excited to be here because these are all my people,” Ellis Ross told Vogue. “Even the stylists they’re working with are people that I know and adore. To kick off this weekend and all the work they’re going to be doing, this is a moment for their work to shine as an expression of them, not a collaboration of all the other pieces.”

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The show spotlighted five visionary hair artists and their stylist collaborators, with support from pioneering Black creatives—including makeup powerhouses Sir John and Sheika Daley, nail design director Dawn Sterling, and movement director Stephen Galloway.

“Hair will always mean the same thing for me—it’s a form of self-acceptance and a very intimate relationship that I feel honored to be able to have,” Ellis Ross said. “I love that my hair can do anything, if I treat it right, hydrate it, and love it. I love that in 2025, we’re at a place, where whether it’s the Crown Act or just what we get to see on the pages of magazines and on screen—it all feels like freedom and liberation.”

Legendary stylists, including Yusef Williams, Vernon François, Cyndia Harvey, and Malcolm Marquez, helped Wauchope design 25 stunning, hair-centered looks that celebrated Black creativity, heritage, and pride. The sculptural, dreamlike styles were powered by Redken, Kérastase, and True + Pure Texture products.

More than just a showcase, the event was a call to action—produced in partnership with THE TEXTURE OF CHANGE, a movement championing equity and education around textured hair in the beauty industry.

“This is us: this is our kind of celebration,” Carol’s Daughter founder and hair care pioneer Lisa Price said.

Black millennials, homeowner, Hardy-Allen, mortgage, INTEREST RATES, home buyers

by Sharelle B. McNair

May 5, 2025

Rocket Mortgage’s New Program Helps Renters Cut Costs In Buying A Home

Rocket Mortgage's chief economist says the program helps renters realize that homeownership is obtainable

Online lender Rocket Mortgage is helping renters’ dream of homeownership become a reality with a new program that gives them a credit of up to $5,000, CNBC reports.

The RocketRentRewards program, launched in February, gives renters a credit worth 10% of their final year of rent payments that can be used for closing costs on a Rocket Mortgage home loan.

“Many renters feel like homeownership is out of reach, especially as they try to save money to take to the closing table,” said Rocket Mortgage’s chief economist, Bill Banfield. “RentRewards eases those concerns by rewarding clients for simply doing what they do every month: making their rent payment.”

Closing costs for those purchasing a home—including lenders’ fees, title search and insurance, and home inspection—can rise. The average cost can be as much as 6% of the home price. For a home selling at $200,000, buyers can be looking at close to $12,000 in closing costs.

With a 10% savings, a program renter paying $1,800 would have a $2,160 credit.

Vice president of product development and credit policy, Eileen Tu, says the program also helps potential buyers understand existing expenses outside of a down payment.

“There are a lot of costs that are involved in buying a home, and sometimes people aren’t aware that not only do you need to bring in a down payment, there’s also closing costs that are involved,” Tu said, according to Business Insider.

There are some stipulations with program eligibility; the main one is applicants must be a renter. However, renters don’t need to be living in the same place for the previous 12 months. In order to calculate a potential credit, Rocket Mortgage requires documentation proving the applicant’s rent and how much is paid each month.

The RocketRentRewards program can only be used for a primary residence purchase and not a second home or investment property. Applicants don’t have to be a first-time homebuyer to qualify. According to Tu, “a lot of people don’t know that these types of offers are out there.”

Financial institutions like Bank of America and Third Federal Savings and Loan have programs that make homeownership more accessible. Bank of America offers a down payment grant of up to $10,000 and a lender credit of up to $7,500 for eligible borrowers, while Third Federal Savings and Loan provides Low-Cost Mortgages, which include only $395 in closing costs in exchange for a seemingly higher mortgage rate.

Rocket Mortgage program applicants should be aware that there is a chance of still owing closing costs after the credit is applied in addition to being responsible for your down payment.

by Sharelle B. McNair

May 5, 2025

Trump Administration Offering $1K to Illegal Migrants Who Voluntarily Leave The United States

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem calls self-deportation as 'the best, safest and most cost effective way to leave'

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that the Trump administration is offering a $1,000 stipend to illegal migrants willing to self-deport from the United States, the Wall Street Journal reports.

“If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest, and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest. DHS is now offering illegal aliens financial travel assistance and a stipend to return to their home country through the CBP Home App,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem wrote on X.

She added, “This is the safest option for our law enforcement and aliens and is a 70% savings for US taxpayers.”

If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest and most cost effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest.

DHS is now offering illegal aliens financial travel assistance and a stipend to return to their home country through the CBP Home App.

This is… pic.twitter.com/2f02wLWQi5
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) May 5, 2025

Illegal migrants will receive the $1,000 once it’s confirmed they successfully arrived in their home country through the app. One migrant from Honduras already received payment for self-deporting.

The CBP Home app—created by the Biden administration for migrants to schedule appointments to enter the country legally—was converted into a platform for people to report their plans to self-deport. Officials have yet to highlight where money for stipends will come from in the government’s budget or how much money has been allotted.

It also has not been identified if offering migrants such a small stipend, primarily to cover travel costs, is enough to convince migrants to leave on their own accord.

The efforts come as Trump struggles to keep his campaign promise on deportation increases. During Trump’s first 100 days in office, the deportation rate has dropped behind the last year of President Joe Biden’s term: 660 a day compared to 742 a day in 2024.

To help ramp up efforts, the administration has had conversations with other countries, such as Rwanda, to house illegal immigrants, according to Fox News. Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said the East African country “has not yet reached a stage where we can say exactly how things will proceed, but the talks are ongoing … still in the early stages.”

As the Trump administration labeled immigration policies as a top priority, Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted the plans being taken to implement the focus.

“We have gone to countries all over the world and said, ‘Hey, you want good relations with the United States, you need to take back your people that are here illegally.’ And we’ve had historic cooperation,” Rubio said during a cabinet meeting earlier this month.

“Beyond that, and I say this unapologetically, we are actively searching for other countries to take people from third countries.”

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

May 5, 2025

Newark Airport Listed As ‘Not Safe’ As Air Traffic Controller Warns Flyers To Steer Away

One air traffic controller declared Newark Airport as "not safe" due to lack of available staff.

An air traffic controller has warned that Newark Airport is “not safe” for travelers as delays rage on for days.

The unidentified air safety employee told NBC News correspondent Tom Costello that the Newark Liberty International Airport should be avoided “at all costs.” According to the New York Post, the second busiest airport in the New York City area has suffered multiple delays and cancellations.

“It is not safe. It is not a safe situation right now for the flying public,” recalled Costello of the employee’s warnings.

Costello added, “Really an incredible statement, unsolicited. He just said that to me, and separately, ‘Don’t fly into Newark. Avoid Newark at all costs.’”

Newark Airport typically sees over 40,000 passengers daily, according to United Airlines. The NY and NJ Port Authority air traffic dashboard also reported that the airport hosts nearly 4 million passengers annually.

However, the Federal Aviation Administration’s ongoing staffing troubles have resulted in the airport’s operations lagging. Alongside construction efforts limiting its capabilities, the airport has seen a 20% loss in air traffic controllers.

United announced the cancellation of 35 roundtrip flights from its primary East Coast hub to mitigate this issue for its passengers. United’s CEO, Scott Kirby, revealed how the company has advocated for better staffing and technology at EWR for years.

“United is committed to doing absolutely everything in our power to minimize the impact that this will have on customers, and so we are unilaterally canceling 35 roundtrip flights per day from our Newark schedule starting this weekend,” expressed Kirby in a news release.” It’s disappointing to make further cuts to an already reduced schedule at Newark, but since there is no way to resolve the near-term structural FAA staffing issues, we feel like there is no other choice in order to protect our customers.”

Kirby has spoken with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy about the urgent need for more air traffic controllers. Duffy has also offered $5,000 bonuses for new hires as the system reaches its breaking point.

“You’re starting to see cracks in the system,” explained Duffy in a press conference on Thursday. “It‘s our job to actually see over the horizon what the issues are and fix it before there is an incident that we will seriously regret.”

However, the Trump administration implemented major cuts to the FAA as greater attention to plane crashes troubled frequent fliers. The FAA continues to lag in its air traffic controller staffing, with airports like EWR already feeling the effects.

New York City travelers should continue to alter travel plans if they include any flights to or from Newark Airport.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

May 5, 2025

Self-Driving Trucks Have Hit The Road

The Aurora Driver has already sent deliveries between Dallas and Houston without a human driver

A self-driving commercial trucking service has launched and sent deliveries between two Texas locales.

Aurora Innovation, Inc. has announced that it has debuted the Aurora Driver, which has completed over 1,200 miles without using a human driver. The service has recently made customer deliveries between Dallas and Houston.

“We founded Aurora to deliver the benefits of self-driving technology safely, quickly, and broadly. Now, we are the first company to successfully and safely operate a commercial driverless trucking service on public roads,” said Chris Urmson, CEO and co-founder of Aurora, in a written statement. “Riding in the back seat for our inaugural trip was an honor of a lifetime – the Aurora Driver performed perfectly, and it’s a moment I’ll never forget.

“Our commitment to building a transformative technology, earning trust, and assembling a strong ecosystem of customers and partners have made this pivotal milestone possible.”

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The Aurora Driver is the first company to operate a commercial self-driving service with heavy-duty trucks on public roads. The company plans to expand the service to El Paso, Texas, and Phoenix, Arizona, by the end of the year.

The vehicle is equipped with a computer and sensors that can see beyond the length of four football fields. The Aurora Driver has been tested for over four years with supervised pilot hauls. It delivered over 10,000 customer loads while traveling across three million autonomous miles. The features that make it safe for the road include predicting red light runners, avoiding collisions, and identifying people in the dark hundreds of yards away.

The Aurora uses Verifiable AI to assist in keeping the roads safe.

“When Uber Freight and Aurora came together more than four years ago, we set out to transform the future of logistics—and today, that future is here,” said Lior Ron, founder and CEO of Uber Freight. “Moving autonomous commercial freight without anyone behind the wheel is a historic step forward in our mission to build a smarter and more efficient supply chain, and one we’re proud to lead alongside Aurora.”

CNN has reported that several companies using autonomous trucking or driving have often tested the technology in states like Texas and California. There haven’t been many that lasted, but California-based Gatik does short-haul deliveries for Fortune 500 retailers like Walmart. Another California tech firm, Kodiak Robotics, also uses autonomous driving for customers across the South, but they come equipped with safety drivers.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

May 5, 2025

Order Up! Baltimore’s First Black Woman-Owned Bodega Is Officially Open For Business

Chopped Broadway Bodega and Deli is officially serving up classic New York sandwiches like the chopped cheese.

For chopped cheese lovers in Baltimore, the city’s first Black- and women-owned bodega is officially open for business.

Chopped Broadway Bodega & Deli aims to bring classic New York takeout bites to the mid-Atlantic. The deli’s co-owner, Ernestine Chambers, makes its soon-to-be-famous chopped cheese and bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches.

The establishment celebrated its opening on May 2 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Chambers and her business partner, Naté Gordon, will serve a NYC-bred menu that blends with the culture of its location. Chopped Broadway also hopes to become a new avenue for fresh foods in Baltimore’s Fells Point neighborhood.

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“We had this opportunity to make history today and also put a store with fresh food in Fells Point,” shared Chambers to CBS News.

The new business also employs 98% locally, exceeding local hiring requirements. Now, they hope to increase economic empowerment and opportunities in the diverse neighborhood. According to CityData.com, the area’s Black residents account for nearly 17% of its population.

Chopped Broadway offers a wide variety of heavily portioned sandwiches. From classics like the Italian hoagie to vegan options, Chopped aims to appease anyone’s food preference.

“So we have a little bit of everything for everybody,” expressed Gordon. “We have huge, ginormous hoagies, New York style— they are all chopped fresh. We have the godfather, which is our No. 1 seller. It is our spin on the Italian.”

Furthermore, the bodega wants to stay true to its roots of being an affordable meal option. Even those with gluten sensitivities can try something on its menu, taking a modern, inclusive approach to the bodega experience.

Chambers added, “More importantly, we have an organic section as well as a vegan sandwich because most of the time when you come into a convenience store, you rarely see healthy choices or options, so we have a non-GMO section and gluten-free options.”

As a Black and woman-owned establishment, Chopped Broadway wants to inspire other women with entrepreneurial ambitions to take action. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore announced that the state will be the No. 1 spot for minority businesses in 2024, and Chopped Broadway will continue this legacy for the Baltimore community.

“That’s what Chopped is about: food, culture, and opportunity,” Chambers said.