Obama Presidential Center Drops Ticket Sale Dates And Preps For Summer Opening
General sale for tickets to the Obama Presidential Center will begin May 6.
The Obama Presidential Center Museum looks forward to its inaugural summer as it announces ticket sale dates.
The highly anticipated Center is getting ready for its June 19 opening in Chicago’s Southside Jackson Park. As the Windy City prepares for its latest attraction, the Obama Foundation shared more on how to step inside the museum.
NBC Chicago confirmed that tickets for the cultural landmark will officially go on sale May 6, offering visitors near and far a chance to witness the years-in-the-making development. However, certain members of the Obama Foundation can secure their timed slots even earlier.
Founding members of the foundation will have access to ticket purchases starting April 21. Purchases come with timed entry and grant ticket holders access to all four levels of the museum.
The Obama Center expects to make waves across the country, welcoming all to witness the legacy of the first Black president and first lady. With immersive exhibits and other features, such as a basketball court, library, recording studio, and visitor garden, diverse attendees can find something to enjoy as the Center opens this June.
“The Obama Presidential Center Museum shares the remarkable story of President Obama and Michelle Obama and those who inspired their journey. Dynamic exhibits across four floors explore the promise of democracy and the work of the Obama presidency,” detailed the Obama Foundation on its website.
As for how much a trip to the Obama Presidential Center will cost, it depends on where one lives. Illinois residents 12 years of age and older will get a reduced fare of $26, compared to the standard cost of $30.
For younger visitors, children’s prices will range from $15 to $23, with kids under two able to enter for free. Locals who prefer not to spend the cash can also take advantage of the state’s Free Days Programs, occurring every Tuesday during select hours starting June 23.
First responders, educators, and military personnel can also expect tickets at the box office. Fans of the Obamas and cultural enthusiasts are encouraged to stay alert for when tickets are live for purchase.
MacKenzie Scott’s HBCU Giving Tops $1B, Redefining What Transformational Philanthropy Looks Like
MacKenzie Scott celebrated multiple milestones this week, both personal and philanthropic.
On Tuesday, as Scott celebrated her 55th birthday, news broke that her latest HBCU donation, $42 million gifted to Elizabeth City State University on the North Carolina school’s Founders Day, officially pushed her HBCU giving past the $1 billion mark.
“I want to express our deepest gratitude to MacKenzie Scott for this remarkable act of generosity and for her recognition of the critical role that HBCUs play in expanding opportunity and strengthening communities,” Chancellor S. Keith Hargrove Sr. said in a statement released by the university.
The funds will be used to support ECSU’s ASCEND 2030 strategy by expanding endowed scholarships, strengthening academic programming, and investing in campus infrastructure across academic, residential, and athletic spaces.
“Gifts like this do more than provide resources; they accelerate momentum,” Hargrove said. “This gift allows institutions like Elizabeth City State University to move boldly toward the future while remaining grounded in the mission that has guided us for 135 years.”
The milestone reflects years of strategic, high-impact giving. Since 2020, Scott has consistently delivered large, often unrestricted gifts to HBCUs—funding that institutions can deploy at their discretion, rather than navigating the constraints that typically come with major donations.
Traditional philanthropy often arrives with conditions, reporting requirements, or donor-directed priorities. Scott’s approach flips that model, giving institutions both capital and autonomy, allowing leadership to decide where the need is most urgent, whether that’s scholarships, infrastructure, or long-term endowment growth.
Her HBCU giving spans dozens of institutions, with several headline-making contributions:
• $38 million to Alabama State University (2025)
• $42 million to Alcorn State University (2025)
• $50 million to Bowie State University (2025); $25 million (2020)
• $20 million to Claflin University (2020)
• $38 million to Clark Atlanta University; $15 million (2020)
• $20 million to Delaware State University (2020)
• $19 million to Dillard University (2025); $5 million (2020)
• $15 million to Elizabeth City State University (2020)
• $30 million to Hampton University(2020)
• $80 million to Howard University (2025); $40 million (2020)
• $20 million to Lincoln University (2020)
• $20 million to Morehouse College (2020)
• $63 million to Morgan State University (2025); $40 million (2020)
• $50 million to Norfolk State University (2025); $40 million (2020)
• $45 million to North Carolina A&T State University (2020)
• $63 million to Prairie View A&M University (2025); $50 million (2020)
• $38 million to Spelman College (2025); $20 million (2020)
• $6 million to Tougaloo (2020)
• $20 million to Tuskegee University (2020)
• $38 million to University of Maryland Eastern Shore (2025)
• $19 million to Voorhees University (2025)
• $50 million to Winston-Salem State University (2025)
• $20 million to Xavier University of Louisiana (2020)
Many of these gifts rank among the largest single donations in each institution’s history.
The results have been substantial.
Institutions that have received Scott’s funding have reported increases in enrollment, improved student retention, and expanded program offerings—evidence that flexible capital can translate into real, measurable outcomes.
But beyond the numbers, Scott’s approach is also shifting expectations around what large-scale giving can look like.
In 2019, MacKenzie Scott received a 4% stake in Amazon following her divorce from Jeff Bezos and committed to giving away at least half of her $28.4 billion fortune through the Giving Pledge. Since signing the pledge, she has distributed billions across education, racial equity, and community-focused organizations. Her continued focus on HBCUs signals a long-term investment in institutions that have historically done more with less.
In a higher education landscape increasingly shaped by political pressure, funding gaps, and rising costs, such unrestricted support is rare.
It is also, for many institutions, transformative.
As HBCUs continue to navigate both opportunity and challenge, Scott’s billion-dollar milestone underscores a broader shift in how impact is measured.
New Data Shows Widespread Broken Funding Promises To Black Nonprofits After 2020 Racial Reckoning
New research shows Black nonprofits were left struggling after a surge of 2020 funding quickly faded.
In the wake of George Floyd’s murder in 2020, there was a surge of funding and support for Black-led initiatives across business, art, and education. But new research shows many of those promises were short-lived, with little meaningful impact for many Black nonprofits.
On April 7, nonprofit research group Candid and ABFE released data showing that support for Black-led organizations after 2020 was at best momentary, AP News reports. While some larger nonprofits saw brief funding boosts between 2020 and 2022, smaller groups saw little to no change. Those with annual expenses of $1 million or less received just over one-third of their funding from repeat supporters.
The pullback has left many organizations more vulnerable, especially as policies under President Donald Trump scaled back DEI initiatives, reduced funding streams, and created uncertainty around future grants.
“We’re literally being asked to do more with less resources,” said Black Voters Matter co-founder Cliff Albright.
Albright noted that many of these community nonprofits are now on the front lines, helping low-income families navigate rising healthcare costs and food prices. Yet small, Black-led organizations often rely on new donors rather than sustained funding, missing out on long-term partnerships that provide stability during tough times.
While philanthropy has shifted toward trust-based giving, offering flexible, multi-year support, ABFE CEO Susan Taylor Batten said Black-led nonprofits have largely been left out. The report found they have far fewer repeat funders than their non-Black peers, with only one-third receiving general operating support compared to more than half of other organizations.
Asiaha Butler, CEO of the Resident Association of Greater Englewood, co-founded the nonprofit over 15 years ago to help reshape her community’s narrative. While the organization once relied on a small group of steady supporters, 2020 brought a surge of more than two dozen new funders.
But Butler said that the sudden wave of interest quickly faded, turning what felt like an opportunity into a challenge as funding tapered off.
“We started seeing this revenue and thinking we’re gaining really great relationships with funders,” she said. “And, really, those priorities shifted quickly.”
Kia Croom, a fundraiser for Black-led nonprofits, said many of her clients saw record corporate giving in 2020—some even expanded staff to meet demand, only to face layoffs when funding dried up.
“It was just a very transactional gift at best,” she said.
Kandee Lewis, CEO of Positive Results Center in Los Angeles, shared a similar experience. While new donations were welcomed, many were one-time gifts rather than lasting partnerships. She said the support often felt tied to optics rather than to a true understanding of the organization’s work.
“We are still seeing remnants of bad practice when it comes to investing in Black communities,” Taylor Batten said. “There’s just no way for a foundation to move its mission for communities in this country, let alone Black nonprofits to move theirs, if we do not evolve this sector.”
Gen-Z Is Helps Accounting Jobs Reemerge In The Age Of AI
Accounting is the new go-to job sector for Gen-Zers trying to evade AI hurdles.
Gen-Z is all about those numbers, gravitating toward the accounting field amid AI integration.
Gen-Z has borne the brunt of the evolving job market, with entry-level positions getting the boot due to advances in technology. As new reports indicate that AI is replacing early-career opportunities, Gen-Z workers are retreating to job fields that still need a human touch, such as accounting.
New grads are earning accounting degrees at a higher rate than in years prior. Although known for its dull reputation and heavy focus on numbers, accounting is becoming a growing trend for Gen-Zers who want a steady career less impacted by AI.
Fortunereports that colleges have seen high job placement rates for accounting graduates, with formidable salaries to match. With specific schools, such as the University of Iowa, seeing a 95% job placement for new accountants, vastly overshadowing the national average of 85% confirmed by NACE, more students are taking notice of the benefits.
Although starter pay varies by state and region, most can expect an entry-level offer within the high five figures. Some schools saw almost all of their accounting majors get post-grad offers, with median incomes of $75,000.
Further proof of accounting’s comeback has appeared in school enrollment. New data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center confirmed a jump in accounting majors across U.S. colleges, with 313,397 students currently enrolled in these programs, compared with 293,759 enrolled last year. This signals a shift toward co-eds prioritizing stability and job security when obtaining pricey degrees amid a shaky market.
Furthermore, certain jobs in this field will see higher pay due to staff shortages. According to Going Concern, public accounting roles in tax and audit/assurance expect to see a 3.7% pay bump in 2026. Given that the most senior roles average over $220K, this news sparks hope for Gen-Zers fearful about the future of the job market as AI integration grows.
However, accounting is not completely invincible in this regard, as AI is impacting most white-collar jobs due to automated administrative work. Despite this, it remains a viable option in the meantime to secure a well-paying job.
Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee and Books Is Expanding—Without Leaving the Community That Built It
The Philly favorite is not going far.
Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee and Books is on the move, but fortunately, the Philly favorite is not going far.
After nearly a decade at its original Germantown Avenue location, the beloved Black-owned bookstore and café is preparing to move into a larger space a few blocks away, marking a new chapter for one of Philadelphia’s most impactful cultural hubs.
For the community that helped build it, that decision matters.
“Started in Germantown. Staying in Germantown,” the business shared in a social media announcement Sunday, April 5.
Founded in 2017 by scholar and activist Marc Lamont Hill, Uncle Bobbie’s has evolved into far more than a bookstore.
A place where literature, conversation, and community intersect, the venue has served as a gathering space and cultural anchor, but success has come with constraints. For example, the shop has struggled to accommodate the growing crowds for author events and programming.
The new location, set within a mixed-use development at Germantown Avenue and Washington Lane, should help alleviate those growing pains and improve the customer experience. With more square footage, the business will be able to host larger author talks and community events, expand seating and retail space, improve accessibility and increase foot traffic.
“Since we started looking for a new place, staying in Germantown was one of our biggest priorities,” Justin Moore, general manager of Uncle Bobbie’s, told the Philadelphia Tribune. “We’ve been here more than eight years and wanted to continue to be a part of the growth and development of this awesome neighborhood. We’re very excited to be staying in Germantown and can’t wait to share all the cool things we have planned for the new space.”
The development includes 47 residential units, a rooftop terrace ,and additional commercial space, positioning Uncle Bobbie’s within a broader ecosystem of neighborhood growth.
While relocation often raises concerns about displacement, Uncle Bobbie’s move has been met with something closer to relief. After more than a year of uncertainty, confirmation that the business would remain in Germantown reinforced its role as a neighborhood staple.
The shop has helped anchor Germantown’s commercial corridor, drawing both locals and visitors while contributing to the area’s cultural and economic vitality.
In a landscape where Black-owned brick-and-mortar businesses are still fighting for longevity, that kind of staying power is no small feat.
State Department data released April 6 shows that refugee arrivals from South Africa have already exceeded half of the 7,500-person cap, aligning with President Donald Trump’s pledge to prioritize Afrikaners—white South Africans—while keeping overall admissions at a record low, TheChristian Science Monitor reports.
More than 500 South African refugees have been resettled in Texas, with Florida and California receiving the next largest numbers. The only non-South African arrivals came in November, when three refugees from Afghanistan were resettled in Colorado.
Although more than 80% of South Africa’s population is Black, the Trump administration has focused on white Afrikaners, citing claims of “white genocide” and pledging to prioritize them as victims of discrimination. While farm attacks do occur in South Africa, experts say they do not amount to racially driven genocide, nor do land reform efforts equate to widespread land confiscation.
In February, the Trump administration announced plans to process up to 4,500 refugee applications per month from white South Africans—far exceeding the program’s stated cap—and is installing trailers at the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria to support the effort.
The target, outlined in a previously unreported State Department document dated Jan. 27, signals a major push to increase admissions from South Africa while sharply limiting refugee applications from other regions. By contrast, more than 100,000 refugees were admitted during the final full year of the Biden administration, a three-decade high. The current shift to prioritize a single ethnic group marks a sharp departure from the bipartisan refugee program established in 1980.
Upon returning to office, Trump moved quickly to dismantle prior immigration policies, suspending the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program on his first day, citing security and assimilation concerns. Traditionally, refugees fleeing identity-based persecution underwent years of vetting, often waiting in camps before being approved to enter the U.S.
Judge Investigated For Ethics Violations Now Fulton County Prosecutor
Williams is also currently facing a federal lawsuit filed by the 21-year-old woman she ordered to be detained.
A former Fulton County Superior Court judge who left her position amid a state ethics investigation has returned to the legal field as a member of the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office.
Shermela Williams, who resigned from the bench in February, was recently hired as a prosecutor under District Attorney Fani Willis.The career shift follows a series of formal misconduct allegations and a recommendation for her removal from the Georgia judicial system by the state’s judicial watchdog.
A spokesperson for the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office defended the decision to hire Williams, noting her previous experience within the agency.Officials stated that she had performed her duties with distinction during a prior stint as a prosecutor and that her legal knowledge would benefit the office’s current mission.
The hiring has prompted debate within the local legal community. While some point to her past success as a litigator, others have expressed concerns regarding the JQC’s findings about her professional candor and adherence to the law. Williams is also facing a federal lawsuit filed by the woman she ordered to be detained.The suit alleges that the former judge violated the individual’s constitutional rights during a 2023 court appearance.Williams has sought to dismiss the litigation, citing judicial immunity for actions taken while on the bench.
The Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) conducted an extensive inquiry into Williams’ conduct while she served as a judge.In a report issued late last year, the commission’s hearing panel alleged that Williams illegally detained a witness during a divorce proceeding.The panel further claimed that Williams provided untruthful testimony during her own ethics hearings and failed to issue timely rulings in several domestic cases.
According to the JQC findings, Williams ordered a 21-year-old woman to be placed in a courthouse holding cell after the witness testified on behalf of her mother. The panel stated that the detention lacked any legal basis or due process. Williams later acknowledged the action was an error in judgment, describing it as an attempt to teach the witness a lesson.
The JQC report characterized the incident as part of a broader pattern of professional failures.Investigators cited more than 30 counts of misconduct, including instances where litigants waited over two years for final decisions on child support and custody matters.The panel concluded that her behavior damaged public trust in the judiciary and recommended her permanent removal from office.
Following the JQC’s recommendation, Williams submitted her resignation to Gov. Brian Kemp on Feb. 20. In her resignation letter, she described her tenure as a judge as a significant honor and stated she had served the community with diligence.
Former Dallas Cowboy Dez Bryant Claims Offset Owes Him 8 Stacks
'I charged it to the game.'
Rapper Offset, who was recently shot in Florida, allegedly owes former Dallas Cowboys player Dez Bryant $8,000 from a gambling debt incurred by the Georgia rapper.
The former NFL wide receiver took to social media after news of Offset’s shooting hit the airwaves. Amid the rumors that the rapper was allegedly shot because of a debt owed to fellow rapper Lil TJay, a DM exchange between the two recording artists was leaked, and My Mixtapez revealed it via X. The post shows that the former Migos rapper owed the Bronx rapper $10,000, and he wanted repayment.
Seeing the post, Bryant responded with an Offset story of his own. He starts by saying he doesn’t talk about what he does or his relationships, then goes on to detail Offset owing him money as well. After claiming to beat the rapper out of $8,000, he said Offset went to take a nap, and when he went to wake him up to inquire about the money owed, he realized Offset’s friends peeped him going to tap the rapper. Being outnumbered as he was there by himself, he did not want to take a chance of anything jumping off, so he decided to avoid confrontation.
“I chilled because I was by myself completely outnumbered.. so I charged it to the game…”
He then says that Offset reached out to him on the day he was shot to ask him for some money, but didn’t oblige him. Several hours later, he found out about the rapper being shot.
“I swear to God, Offset reached out to me yesterday three hours before he got shot on a money play… I thought about it and said..I’m good.. then I saw the news later on and was like damn…some people don’t play about they money.”
I don’t ever talk about what I do or my relationships with anyone, but I’m going to give yall a quick story between me and offset.. I beat offset out of 8k he tried to take a nap on me, and I go to tap on him to wake him up..telling him I need that 8k.. his patnas saw me tapping on… https://t.co/W0G6FZu4FV
According to ABC News, Offset was hospitalized and listed in stable condition after being shot outside in the valet area of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino after 7 p.m. on April 6.
Method Man Faults Promoters For Missing Australia Dates
The rapper said he was already booked.
Method Man has addressed his absence from recent Wu-Tang Clan shows in Australia after promoters advertised that “all living members” of the Staten Island collective would be in attendance, leading him to state that they knew he would not be available to perform.
According to Billboard, fans complained that Method Man, Raekwon, Cappadonna, and Young Dirty Bastard did not appear at shows in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney during the Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber Tour. Fans have been demanding refunds. Meth has blamed the promoters for the deception, stating on Instagram Live that they knew he “was booked.”
“Before we even went on the overseas tour, I wasn’t going. I said I wasn’t going. I said I was booked,” he said.
After not seeing Meth and others at the Brisbane show, many fans took to social media to complain about their absence, prompting the ticketing platform Ticketek to offer refunds to people who bought tickets for the Melbourne and Sydney dates.
Meth said that even he saw flyers promoting the whole collective would be there, calling the tour’s organizers “overzealous.”
“I was seeing flyers saying all living members are going to be there… they know that I haven’t agreed to go on the tour yet.”
The “Bring the Pain” recording artist also feels the promoters are deceiving the audience by not informing ticket holders that he and the other members who are not performing won’t be on the bill, only closer to the show date.
“Sometimes the promoters are privy to this information but don’t want to give out this information,” he said. “They’ll wait for the ticket sales, and then they’ll make an announcement close to the date, which I don’t think is fair.”
He clarified his love for Australia but reiterated his unavailability at the time.
“The reason why I’m even giving this explanation is because I love our fans, love Australia. But again, if I’m booked, I’m booked,” he said.
Cobb County Ordered To Pay District Attorney Sonya Allen Her Denied Pension
"This is a retirement for a job I spent 30 years doing," Allen told WSB-TV.
A judge has ordered Cobb County (GA) to resume pension payments to District Attorney Sonya Allen.
The court win ends a legal dispute over whether her election to the Cobb County District Attorney post classified her as a rehired employee. In a 23-page ruling issued this week, the court determined that Allen is not an employee of Cobb County but a state official.
The decision follows a lawsuit Allen filed in February alleging the county improperly suspended her retirement benefits and supplemental pay from her time working with the Cobb County Sheriff’s office after she took office.
Cobb County officials had argued that the pension should be paused as Allen was rehired by the county upon winning the election. Under that interpretation, the county maintained she could not simultaneously draw a salary and retirement benefits from the same government entity.
Allen spent 30 years in various roles within the Georgia legal system before being elected district attorney. The career attorney argued that her retirement was earned through her decades-long career of service. Service that is distinct from her current state-funded salary.
“This is a retirement for a job I spent 30 years doing,” Allen told WSB-TV. “The fact that they would spend taxpayer money and go to this extent to not pay me a retirement…it almost feels personal.”
The judge’s order clarifies the legal distinction between county staff and constitutional officers. The judge noted that district attorneys in Georgia are paid by the state, not the county, which negates their claim that she is a rehire. The ruling requires the county to reinstate the payments Allen earned prior to her election.
County officials have not yet commented on whether they intend to challenge the ruling.
