Cordia, energy, Wayne Barnett and Tony Payton Jr

by Sharelle B. McNair

January 14, 2026

Why Cordia Energy’s $165M Acquisition Proves Black Leadership Serves As Key Growth Element

A report from McKinsey & Company revealed a global expansion of a life-changing wave of capital investment estimated to extend well past 2027, led by some of America's top-tier Black leaders.

The recent $165 million acquisition between Cordia Energy and Essential Utilities in Pennsylvania’s Alleghany Energy showcases energy no longer being a “hidden in the background” industry and the need for Black leadership at the forefront, a spokesperson tells BLACK ENTERPRISE.

A report from McKinsey & Company revealed a global wave of capital investment estimated to extend well past 2027, with close to $130 trillion expected to be directed toward projects focused on decarbonization, modernization, and critical infrastructure revitalization.

Cordia’s acquisition of district energy and microgrid assets will expand the company’s footprint in localized energy systems serving both institutional and commercial customers. The move comes as cities and college and company campuses are working to modernize aging infrastructure, driven by demand for flexible, community-scale energy solutions. It comes with the idea of more Black leaders in the field, highlighting the industry as scalable.

The acquisition was led by Wayne Barnett, head of corporate and external affairs at Cordia, who oversees government affairs strategy, external stakeholder engagement, and regulatory alignment.

He played a vital role, alongside Cordia’s government affairs advisor, Tony Payton Jr., who once served as a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, leveraging relationships throughout Pennsylvania’s public-sector and utility network.

Barnett noted that acquisitions such as this couldn’t take place without partners with proven expertise.

“Energy infrastructure is no longer a background industry. It’s central to how communities grow, how cities modernize, and how capital is deployed at scale,” Barnett said. “As investment accelerates, the industry must recognize the full range of expertise required to bring these complex transactions to life.”

As energy is often a hot topic on Capitol Hill, Cordia’s moves also highlight the need for Community Energy Planning (CEP), identified as a proven, scalable pathway for cities to build energy systems that better equip planners to lead.

According to Axios, the concept of CEP provides a framework that brings together utilities, developers, policymakers, and communities to assess the need for local energy. In addition, it can forecast future demand for integrated solutions well in advance.

Cities such as New York, Amsterdam, and Singapore have already proven the success of planning in enabling smarter grid modernization, advanced metering, scalable integration, and flexible load management.

Cordia is a company known for its design strategies and operational management of these systems, controlling district energy networks throughout North America and providing reliable, low-carbon energy to campuses, medical centers, and downtown areas.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 14, 2026

Yaaaaaas! ‘RHOA’ Icon NeNe Leakes Is Finally Returning To Bravo Network After 6 Long Years

Bravo fans are rejoicing over news of NeNe Leakes' return to the network on a new "Real Housewives" spinoff.

NeNe Leakes is making her return to Bravo through a new Real Housewives spinoff, six years after wrapping up her 12-season run on The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

The RHOA original will appear in Bravo’s newly announced working-title series, The Real Housewives: Ultimate Road Trip, with NeNe Leakes making a notable appearance when the show heads to Atlanta, TMZ reports. Executive Producer Andy Cohen first unveiled the spinoff at BravoCon in November, describing it as a girls’ trip–style series packed with cameo appearances from Housewives across multiple franchises, with different women popping up in each city.

Although Leakes won’t return in a full-time capacity, her appearance during the Atlanta stop is being viewed as a potential tease for a future comeback to The Real Housewives of Atlanta, the franchise she helped build. Leakes exited the show in 2020 and later filed a lawsuit against Bravo, accusing the network of racial discrimination, among other allegations.

The allegations strained her long-standing relationship with the network, leaving many to question whether the fan favorite would ever return. The lawsuit was ultimately dropped in August 2022, with both sides agreeing to settle the dispute through arbitration.

Leakes has repeatedly hinted at a potential comeback to RHOA and the broader Bravo universe.

“I don’t know, if the opportunity was right and the check was on point, why not?” NeNe said in January 2025, when asked if she’d ever return as a housewife.

Months later, she clarified that she’d consider returning to the show—but only as a full-time housewife, not in a “friend of” capacity.

“If I were to ever step back on that platform, would I be [the] friend? I really kind of feel like I don’t know that I would be a friend,” she said during a July 2025 episode of the “Humble Brag” podcast. “I just would think, NeNe, season 1, the first Housewife, and I’m a friend? I don’t know.”

It seems a full-time return to Bravo might be on Leakes’ horizon.

basketball, NBA Draft Pick, James Nnaji , Baylor University

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

January 14, 2026

Fisk University Mourns Player Killed In Highway Shooting

Andre Bell will be remembered by the school on Jan. 24.

Fisk University’s men’s basketball team is pausing its basketball season after sophomore forward Andre Bell was fatally shot on Jan. 11.

Bell was 20 years old.

As the team and HBCU community grapple with this loss, the athletics department opted to postpone Thursday’s game against Voorhees University to give its community time to grieve, reports TMZ Sports.

The Fisk Athletics Department also posted Bell’s final minutes as a Bulldog as it said goodbye to the promising player.

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Bell left a gymnastics event to return to the Fisk campus. As he got on I-65, a Black sedan pulled up on the side of his vehicle and opened fire. Bell later died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

The team’s next home game remains scheduled for Jan. 24. There, the school will pay tribute to Bell and the basketball team will wear a special badge with his jersey number, #1.

Bell’s parents called him a “perfect kid” who fell in love in basketball when he was 4 years old.

“It’s his heart,” his mother, Amber Lewis, told WKRN. “It’s not actually a skill; you can’t teach heart. And when Andre is on the court, it’s all heart. He’s giving 110% even if it’s for two minutes.”

Added Lewis, “We knew he was special to us, but I don’t think we knew the magnitude of how special he was to so many other people. I mean, we knew he was special to everyone he came in contact [with], but I don’t think we realized how far the reach was.”

As the investigation continues, Bell’s parents have urged the Nashville community to come forward with any information regarding their son’s death.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 14, 2026

Planned Parenthood Funding Update: Lawsuit Dropped After HHS Quietly Releases Federal Grants

But organizations say the damage has already been done.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) dropped its lawsuit against the Trump administration this week after the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) quietly released tens of millions of dollars in Title X family planning funds that had been withheld from Planned Parenthood and other clinics since last spring, Politico reports.

Advocates say the restored funding can’t fully reverse the damage as dozens of clinics closed during the delay re unlikely to reopen.

“More than 800 service sites were unable to provide Title X services. Hundreds of thousands of patients were unable to get Title X services. So the impact was tremendous,” said Brigitte Amiri, the deputy director at the ACLU’s Reproductive Freedom Project who represented the clinics in the case. “So damage certainly was done as a result of their unlawful withholding of the funds.”

Despite releasing the funds, the Trump administration continues to defend in court much larger Planned Parenthood funding cuts approved by Congress last summer.

During the gap, clinics strained to stay afloat, with many tracking unreimbursed visits from low-income patients for birth control, STI testing, and other Title X services that they can now submit for federal repayment.

Last March, the administration told more than a dozen Title X providers, including nine Planned Parenthood affiliates, that their funding would be temporarily withheld over alleged civil rights and executive order violations. Clinics pushed back for months, arguing they were compliant. Some funds were restored over the summer, but others remained frozen until December, when HHS quietly approved retroactive payments without explanation.

Clare Coleman, who led the lawsuit, said “there was no basis for HHS withholding the grants. They didn’t have anything to stand on. We feel like without litigation, the money would be gone.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 14, 2026

Recording Artist John Forté Reported Dead At 50

No cause of death has been determined

Recording artist John Forté, who was an affiliate of platinum-selling act The Fugees, has been reported dead at the age of 50.

According to the Vineyard Gazette, the Martha’s Vineyard resident was discovered dead at his home after police officers were summoned to the house Jan. 12. Officers and paramedics arrived at the home around 2:25 p.m. after getting a call of an unresponsive man. There has not been a cause of death listed for the Chilmark resident, but Police Chief Sean Slavin stated there is no foul play suspected.

There is an ongoing investigation being led by the state police with the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office.

The artist, who had recorded several albums and appeared on The Fugees’ 1996 debut album, The Score, served time in prison four years after the album’s release. After being arrested on drug possession charges and being sentenced to a mandatory 14-year prison sentence, he was released in 2008 after President George Bush commuted his sentence.

During his lengthy career, he recorded songs for his own projects and contributed to those of other artists. In recent years, he has been working primarily on scores for several projects.

Last year, he was involved in a Civil Rights documentary, Eyes on the Prize III: We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest (1977-2015), that aired on HBO. He worked with fellow island resident Dawn Porter on the project.

After visiting the island in 1998 and staying there during the pandemic, he thrived in the industry. In an interview he did last year with MV Arts and Ideas, he said, “For two decades, I’ve been contributing to soundtracks,” he told the publication. “But scoring, scoring really happened for me because I’ve been hunkering down here on the Vineyard, being able to have a project that would require going in my studio for three months at a time.”

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Forté is survived by his wife, Lara Fuller, and their two children, Haile and Wren.

Drones, Insurance, Homes, aerial, graphics, insurance companies, claims, denied

by Sharelle B. McNair

January 14, 2026

Nigerian Drone Startup Shines After Receiving $11M Investment From U.S. Tech Billionaire

New investments provide possibilities to Black tech founders who understand local terrain as well as the operational requirements and regulatory environments needed to succeed.

Nigerian drone startup Terra Industries has received an $11.8 million investment from American tech billionaire Joe Lonsdale, a move that signals major interest in Africa’s defense technology space, Business Insider Africa reports.

The Abuja-based startup, founded in 2024 by Nathan Nwachuku and Maxwell Maduka, designs and manufactures long and mid-range drones, autonomous sentry towers, and uncrewed ground vehicles.

Collectively, the startup focuses on home-based innovation as a majority of Terra’s designing, building, and system production takes place in Africa.

Nwachuku feels it’s time for the world to zone in on how the continent is building, and the funding comes right on time.

“Africa is industrializing faster than any other region, with new mines, refineries, and power plants emerging every month,” he said. “But none of that progress will matter if we don’t solve the continent’s greatest Achilles’ heel, which is insecurity and terrorism.”

Lonsdale, co-founder of data integration company Palantir, issued the funding through his venture firm 8VC, in collaboration with defense-focused partner Alex Moore.

Other companies listed as angel investors include Valor Equity Partners, Lux Capital, and SV Angel, companies known for working with the autonomous defense technology space before officials at the Pentagon caught wind of it, according to Drone XL.

Silicon Valley investors have also invested in Anduril, turning it into a $30 billion empire, the funding puts African startups in the forefront among others in Europe and Asia as security concerns have increased in West Africa. Terrorist groups such as the Islamic State and al-Qaeda are gaining ground in African territory through access to territory between Mali and Nigeria.

As a result, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) declared a state of emergency across the region.

With Terra announcing funds will be used to expand its manufacturing reach and advance its cross-border security and counter-terrorism operations, the investment positions Terra as a leader in African technological advancements and the urgent security demands.

As threats arise, mining companies, energy producers, and governments are often seeking autonomous surveillance and perimeter defense systems that can cover robust areas without the limitations of conventional security forces.

The startup already provides security solutions for infrastructure assets across the continent, valued at almost $11 billion, including gold and lithium mining operations in Ghana and Nigerian hydropower facilities. New investments provide possibilities to Black tech founders who understand the local terrain as well as the operational requirements and regulatory environments needed to succeed.

Taylor Edwards, gamecocks, TSU, Tennessee state university

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 14, 2026

Prairie View A&M Football Coach Tremaine Jackson Feels Recruiting 18-Year-Olds Doesn’t Lead To Success

"I don’t think we can be successful and keep our jobs with a bunch of 18-year-olds.”

Prairie View A&M head coach Tremaine Jackson recently offered some food for thought at a convention, saying that a college program can’t be successful if it continues recruiting 18-year-olds when the transfer portal has available players.

According to HBCU Gameday, during a panel at the AFCA (American Football Coaches Association) convention in Charlotte, Jackson emphasized the importance of accepting players who have entered the transfer portal.

“I don’t think we can be successful and keep our jobs with a bunch of 18-year-olds,” Jackson told the crowd. “I just don’t believe it. I know there are some high school coaches in the room. I’ve been recruiting high school my whole life, pretty much. I’ve been some places where we could take them. But right now, I got to get the ones that coach got that’s in the portal.”

https://twitter.com/collegefbportal/status/2010461986493239548

This comes after Jackson made waves late last year via a social media post where he issued a “warning” to any athletes who wanted to be considered for his football team. He outlined several requirements, noting that the program that achieved immediate success in his first year leading Prairie View A&M.

He titled the post “Panther Portal Understanding Pt. 2.”

Now that the portal opens in a few days, here’s our updated understanding!!

We look forward to hearing from all transfers that want to COMPETE for CHAMPIONSHIPS!!

Panther Portal Understanding Pt. 2 pic.twitter.com/NwEcInOH0L
— Tremaine Jackson (@coachjack212) December 28, 2025

In Jackson’s first year as head coach, he led the team to the 2025 Celebration Bowl, where they lost to South Carolina State University 40–38 in quadruple overtime. The team won the SWAC West Title, became the 2025 SWAC Champions, and has established expectations for anyone seeking to join next year’s football squad.

Tremaine Jackson clearly expects the business to be handled immediately upon initial contact.

Seattle, rat, toilets, rain, infestation

by Sharelle B. McNair

January 13, 2026

Social Media Is Baffled After White Woman Is Slapped With Animal Abuse Charge For ‘Pet’ Rat Infestation With Grandchild Present

While volunteers spoke about the critical condition of the rodents were, the comment section was flooded with concern for the child.

Social media users came to the common conclusion of white people’s rhetoric after close to 300 “pet” rats were found in a Rocky Point, Long Island, NY home.

The unidentified homeowner, who lives with her 3-year-old grandchild, faces animal abuse and neglect.

The video posted on Instagram showed hundreds of rats running through the 48-year-old’s home.

While volunteers from the Strong Island Animal Rescue spoke with ABC7 on the critical condition the rodents were in—many female rats were pregnant, and others were being septic—the comment section was flooded with more concern for the child.

“I’m confused on why they are so sad about the rats and not the grandchild!” @prettiibre wrote.

“Animal cruelty? You mean child endangerment!,” @finy_gelato said in the comments section.

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One of the volunteers called it a “bad situation” as rats were seen crawling between the kitchen cabinets and the floor. Volunteer Kristin Stephens, a veterinarian technician, said they were capturing as many as possible to make sure the animals get the care they need.

“A lot of them are injured. A lot of them have huge wounds,” Stephens said. “Their eyes are coming out. They have big abscesses.”

But the real concern came when the reporter said volunteers found bottles of rat poison in the basement, followed with the news that donations were being sought to take proper care of the rodents.

“DONATIONS???? HEALTHCARE???? WHAT!😂 CAN YALL PLEASE BE F****** FR,” @_thatb.tch said.

“Donates for healthcare for the rodents wtf !!!,” another user wrote.

According to Fox 5 New York, the Long Island rescue group is working with Jefferson Animal Hospital to provide medical treatment, like humane euthanasia, for rats that are terminally ill.

After it was announced that the group was looking for foster homes, adopters, out-of-state transporters, rescue partners, and financial donations to cover the medical costs of rodent care, Instagram users said there is no point, and the house should be burned down.

There was also confusion about what was happening to the little boy, with one user suggesting the child’s parents should be arrested. “Blow the house up…..they are rats, the only victim is that baby tf they talking about the rats injured,” @bracefacedrelly said.

“A child is living in a home infested with rats, and yall talking about finding some sort of adoption or care for a rat,” @taylors_touch wrote.

But volunteer Frankie Floridia is keeping an open mind in hopes the rats will make it. “It makes us sad, but it also gives us a glimmer of hope that we know that we can get them to safety,” he said.

Los Angeles, Black Lives Matter, lawsuit

by Mitti Hicks

January 13, 2026

Chicago City Leaders Consider $875K Settlement Over Black Lives Matter Protests In 2020

If the $875,000 settlement is approved by the finance committee on Wednesday, the full city council could cast a final vote on Jan. 21.

Chicago city attorneys are recommending that the Chicago aldermen approve an $875,000 settlement with a group of more than two dozen people accusing police officers of violating their civil rights during Black Lives Matter protests in 2020. The protests were in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd.

According to CBS Chicago, the City Council Finance Committee is expected to vote on the recommendation on Wednesday, Jan. 14. A total of 26 people have filed a lawsuit in connection with the Chicago Police Department’s handling of Black Lives Matter protests from late May to mid-August 2020.

In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs characterize CPD’s response to the protests as “extreme and outrageous.” Plaintiffs say police used excessive force during demonstrations happening downtown, in the Uptown neighborhood, and near Grant Park.

“The CPD has responded to these protests with brutal, violent, and unconstitutional tactics that are clearly intended to injure and silence protesters who are protesting their violence and the violence of other state actors,” the lawsuit states.

Plaintiffs have accused police officers of driving their squad cars through crowds, punching protestors in the face, tackling them, kneeing and kicking them, and even beating them with batons.

The lawsuit also claims that city leaders played a significant role in the hostility toward protestors by raising bridges over the Chicago River, blocking off streets, and leaving protestors with no way to get home when police ordered them to do so.

“The Defendants’ actions were rooted in an abuse of power of authority, and were done intentionally, willfully, and wantonly, and/or knowing that there was a high probability that their conduct would cause Plaintiffs severe emotional distress,” the lawsuit states.

If the $875,000 settlement is approved by the finance committee on Wednesday, the full city council could cast a final vote on Jan. 21.

Gayle King, CBS News, new deal, morning show

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 13, 2026

Gayle King’s CBS Salary Reportedly Cut By 50% For Part-Time Role

Gayle King is reportedly staying at CBS in a part-time role with her pay cut in half.

Amid sweeping restructuring at CBS News, Gayle King is set to remain at the Tiffany Network— with a 50% pay cut and a part-time schedule.

Insiders say King agreed to a “massive pay cut” at the network to remain part-time on CBS’s This Morning, Radar Online reports. The Emmy-nominated anchor is reportedly earning about $10 million in 2026, down from her previous $15 million yearly salary.

“Gayle called the shots,” one source told Hollywood insider Rob Shuter, according to his Substack. “She knew exactly what she wanted—less work, less stress, but still the spotlight.”

Another source said the arrangement benefited both sides, with CBS needing to “make adjustments” and King seeking a more flexible role.

“CBS loves her, but they also needed to make adjustments,” a second insider claimed. “This was a perfect compromise. She keeps her profile, they cut costs, everyone wins.”

The reports quell speculation about King’s future at CBS amid major staff departures following Bari Weiss’s appointment as CBS News’ new editor-in-chief. In late 2025, CBS Nightly News anchor John Dickerson left over editorial independence concerns, with co-anchor Maurice DuBois exiting weeks later. King’s CBS Mornings co-host Tony Dokoupil has since taken over the nightly news show to very mixed reviews.

King’s contract was set to expire in May. Amid the Weiss-led shakeup, many expected her to depart as well. But relations between King and Weiss seem smooth after a recent “low-key lunch” with the new news chief, with a CBS spokesperson confirming afterward that they “expect [King] to have a very long future here.”

King avoided addressing her future at the network while at the Variety Golden Globes Pre-Show on Jan. 11. “Well, I’m certainly not going to make any announcement here,” she said. “I’m not going to, but we will keep you posted.”

King has been a mainstay of CBS’ morning lineup since joining CBS This Morning in January 2012, navigating multiple co-anchor shifts and the show’s rebrand to CBS Mornings. Her continued presence underscores her earlier commitment to stay with the network despite the major staff changes under Weiss since October.

“All I can say is this: From what I’m being told inside this building … all I’ve been told by everybody in this building is that they want me here,” King said in October. “They like the job I’m doing. I like the job I’m doing!”