Jordan — Photo by Terrance Barksdale/Pexels

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 31, 2025

Memphis Charter School Bans Jordan Sneakers

The Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering banned Jordan sneakers ahead of the new school year.

A charter school in Memphis, Tennessee, is clearing up any confusion it caused students and parents with its recent ban on Jordan sneakers.

The Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering took to Facebook on July 28 with an update on a new dress code policy change that barred students from wearing the iconic kicks. The school clarified that only black casual or black dress shoes will be permitted moving forward.

“We sincerely regret any confusion or disappointment caused by our recent post regarding Jordans. Our current uniform policy requires all scholars to wear black casual or dress shoes to maintain a consistent and uniform look,” the school said.

The school says the ban stems from Jordan sneakers frequently being involved in previous dress code violations.

After backlash from students and parents over the ban, the charter school said students can voice their concerns when the new school year begins.

“However, we deeply value the voices of our students and families, and we recognize the importance of personal expression and comfort. As such, we will revisit this policy with our scholars at the start of the school year,” the school said. “We are committed to ensuring that shoe choice does not become a barrier to education or belonging.”

Parents flooded the comments with support for the Jordan ban, arguing that students should prioritize education over fashion. Others viewed the policy as a way to protect less fortunate kids from being bullied over their clothing.

“Stand on business!! Dress shoes, worried about some Jordans, need to be worried about them books,” one person wrote.

“Sticking to the policy of the dress code may make some others feel some type of way, but the ones who are less fortunate get bullied, and these boys will fight over a pair of shoes and take their shoes,” added someone else. “If everyone is wearing the same type of shoe, there’s not as much bullying going around.”

Atlanta Georgia, education, Super Bowl LXII, Atlanta Wine and Jazz Festival, Build-to-rent — Photo: iStock/Kruck20

by Jameelah Mullen

July 31, 2025

Atlanta Races To Shelter 400 Unhoused People Ahead Of World Cup Kickoff

Atlanta will host eight World Cup matches beginning June 15, 2026.

Atlanta and its agencies have joined forces to implement their plan to “eliminate” homelessness before next summer’s World Cup. The city and its partners aim to house more than 400 people who live on the streets of downtown Atlanta.

The city initially offered housing to 14 people who had been sleeping in tents at the Old Wheat Street Encampment in downtown Atlanta. But after discovering twice as many people were living there, they agreed to help seven more.

“Whether or not these were residents at one time, we rallied the requisite amount of housing that we could for the individuals that were known to us,” Cathryn Vassell, CEO of Partners for HOME, an organization that provides services to Atlanta’s homeless community, told The Associated Press. “The additional names were brought at the last minute and we’re trying to rally like we do for everybody in our system an appropriate resource for them.”

However, the city and its partners face many challenges, including long waitlists for city-funded housing. Also, unhoused people are less likely to have documentation like IDs and Social Security cards because they often need an address to get these documents. Activists have criticized the city for policies that usually make it hard for unhoused residents to get help.

In January 2025, as city officials tried to clear the Old Wheat Street encampment, an Atlanta Department of Public Works vehicle fatally hit 46-year-old Cornelius Taylor while he was sleeping in his tent. The incident sparked public outrage, prompting the city to halt the project.

Tim Franzen, a member of the Justice for Cornelius Taylor Coalition and a critic of Atlanta’s housing policies, told the Associated Press that the city is unprepared to implement its plan to provide shelter for the homeless community.

“There’s been months to prepare for this. There’s not a real plan,” Franzen said. The World Cup tournament is expected to attract over 300,000 visitors. The Metro Atlanta Chamber estimates an economic impact exceeding $500 million.

UFarmx, Alexander Zanders — photo credit: UFarmx

by Sharelle B. McNair

July 31, 2025

UfarmX Founder Alexander Zanders Turns 100 Acres Into Fintech, Leads African Agriculture

By operating in Nigeria, Senegal, and Liberia -- and plans to expand into Ivory Coast and Kenya -- more than 1,000 farmers use the UfarmX platform.

Fintech entrepreneur and founder Alexander Zanders decided to be proactive when the world shut down due to COVID-19 by selling his crypto holdings in exchange for 100 acres of Nigerian farmland to help farmers have access to credit and scale their products, AfroTech reports.

He launched his company, UfarmX, in 2020, after his journey of trading mobile devices led him to Africa, where he learned about innovation through direct, on-the-ground experience. But he didn’t come from a farming background. The Baltimore native graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia, where he founded an export company during a global shift in the supply chain. Trading devices in Nigeria, the United Arab Emirates, and the Dominican Republic introduced him to cryptocurrency, back when Bitcoin was only $10.

However, when his daughter was born in 2015, his priorities shifted. “I always tell people I did what any rational person would do when the world feels like it’s ending,” he said. “I started farming.”

After being inspired by a trip to Moultrie, Georgia, where he witnessed Black laborers picking cotton by hand, he wondered why laborers in Africa were still doing the same. “I started asking why Africa, with all this arable land and talent, was still exporting raw goods for pennies and importing finished goods at a premium,” he said during his travels to Africa between 2016 and 2019.

“The math didn’t make sense.”

UfarmX became more important after Zanders learned banks have a hard time trusting farmers, limiting them with the proper resources they need. “Banks don’t trust farmers. No data. No collateral. No credit history. So they get nothing,” Zanders said. But, with the use of AI, proprietary software, and field-level insights, UfarmX has bridged a gap for farmers to receive more financial access with live-action data to build credit profiles.

The platform takes photos of each farmer, then logs their GPS coordinates to track input history, crop cycles, and smartphone use.

According to FoodTank, low levels of production are often attributed to the lack of technology in sub-Saharan Africa, which is linked to the limited use of technology. Zanders and UfarmX stepped in to help the demographic advance by employing local agents, described as youth who are a little more familiar with new tech and how it can serve the community. “This model allows us to overcome both technological and trust barriers,” the fintech founder explains.

“By leveraging the social capital of these agents, we can build trust more easily with farmers who might be skeptical.”

The formula works as Fatoumata Mballo, a farmer from Senegal, witnessed her crops drop thanks to a rainy harvest season, but using UfarmX has turned things around. The company helped Mballo by analyzing regional data and found that post-harvest losses are common in her area.

By operating in Nigeria, Senegal, and Liberia — and plans to expand into Ivory Coast and Kenya — more than 1,000 farmers use the platform and have the ability to purchase necessities like seed and fertilizers with UfarmX’s “Buy Now, Pay Later” functions. Boasting that the platform is self-funded, Zanders says he learned that numbers are the most important, but more so about the impact it makes in people’s lives.

“It’s not just data — it’s dignity,” he said.

“We’re not just handing out loans. We’re building infrastructure for the people who feed the world.”

Superintendent — Education, high five and teacher with children in classroom for learning, support and motivation. Study, assessment and development with student and woman in school for celebration, exam and result.

by Ahsan Washington

July 31, 2025

Black-Owned Children’s Wear Brands For Back-To-School Shopping

These Black-owned brands are your go-to for children's wear needs

The start of a new school year is just around the corner, and back-to-school shopping is in full effect. These Black-owned brands are your go-to for children’s wear needs. These designers showcase trendy and stylish clothing options for a range of age groups. They cover the bases for essential school attire. BLACK ENTERPRISE did the research—each brand is highly regarded in both parenting and fashion circles for its products and influence.

Candid Art

Candid Art was established in 2011 in Oakland, California, by Candice Cox. Candid Art is a brand that specializes in lifestyle products featuring Afro-modern designs and hand-drawn patterns. The brand offers a range of quilted jackets and jumpsuits, alongside various accessories and more offerings for customers to enjoy. The creation of Candid Art Kids represents a celebration of creativity, providing children with a means to express their cultural identity through fashion choices.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DFTStGCTtKH/?igsh=MXhyNms4NnNmeDg2aA==

Kamso

Seyi Sokoya heads Kamso, a UK-based company established in 2019. Kamso specializes in children’s clothing for ages 0 to 12 years old. Clothing is crafted from sourced Ankara and organic cotton materials in Nigeria. Their product line features a range of tunics, jumpsuits, and outerwear. Kamso incorporates responsible manufacturing practices and gender-neutral African-inspired designs.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DFnn1RXo-Cs/?igsh=MThxc3N6NHI3YTd4MA==

Kido Chicago

Founded in 2016 in Chicago by Keewa Nurullah and Doug Freitag, Kido Chicago is a brand that spreads positivity with its clothing. Kido carries a range of items, including tees and accessories featuring messages such as “Future Leader” and “Put on the Positive!” The core mission of Kido Chicago is to inspire children and the local community through their apparel collection inspired by the history of Black Wall Street.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C_YZP-LAsOd/?igsh=MTVvZTd4MXR4dWFkYQ==

Ade + Ayo

A company called Ade + Ayo was established in 2020 in Oakland, California, by Temidayo Odusolu, who later welcomed Ezi Jemie on board. Ade + Ayo specializes in creating children’s clothing with designs inspired by Nigerian and West African influences. Their collection features onesies, tops, and bottoms. A key goal of Ade + Ayo is to address the lack of diversity in mainstream children’s apparel by encouraging families to embrace their cultural identity and share their unique stories with others.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DD-ModmyBDI/?igsh=bGF2OWo0cmJpbmd5

Cozy N Cute Kids Boutique

Cozy N Cute Kids Boutique was established in 2019 by Priscilla Wesson. The brand features a collection of graphic sets and dresses, along with accessories that cater to babies up to tweens. Its goal is to celebrate individuality and style while championing Black women in the fashion industry and to ensure that each child’s ensemble reflects their personality.

https://cozyncutekidsboutique.com/pages/about-us

Miles and Milan

Shennel Fuller started Miles and Milan as a brand that focuses on basic essentials such as t-shirts and joggers for children in a color scheme and style that is minimalistic. Oprah recognized Miles and Milan for providing modern parents with fashionable, yet timeless options, free from the typical stereotypes often associated with kids’ clothing.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cur3mU5R2Z5/?igsh=ZmFxdmVqNTdocG81

Le Petit Organic

Le Petit Organic, originally known as Le Petit Elle, was founded in 2016 by Sanjay in New York City. The brand provides a variety of vintage-inspired clothing, such as dresses, rompers, and tees that are made from eco-friendly materials. The distinct combination of designs with a commitment to the environment makes Le Petit Organic an ideal option for families looking for both fashion and sustainability initiatives.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKsPTj_n6DB/?igsh=MWFtbGV2cm9rZWpxcw==

Theresa Randle, arrest, domestic violence — (Photo: Sasun Bughdaryan/Getty Images)

by Kandiss Edwards

July 31, 2025

Louisiana Businesswoman Arrested For Medicaid Fraud

Taylor is accused of stealing millions through Medicaid fraud. She allegedly owns six businesses that generate more than $9.5 million.

Louisiana woman, Candace Taylor, was arrested in Slidell for Government Benefits Fraud, according to the state’s attorney.

Taylor is accused of stealing millions through Medicaid fraud. Authorities claim Taylor, who resides in Slidell, allegedly owned six businesses that generated more than $9.5 million during that span.

The state’s attorney’s office says she applied for Medicaid under the alias, “Candace Sailor.” In the 2019 application, she claimed a biweekly income of $1,900 with no dependents. That application was denied. Subsequently, she filed under the same alias a second time. This time, she was allowed to enroll and was approved for benefits despite name and dependent irregularities.

“In 2024, just two months after the purchase of the Lamborghini, Taylor contacted LDH to renew her Medicaid benefits. She falsely declared employment with a business, alleging an income of $4,000 per month, while omitting the fact that she was the business owner, according to arrest records. Agents also saw several social media posts made by Taylor on Facebook and Instagram highlighting her luxury acquisitions.”

Taylor was dubbed the “Medicaid millionaire” by Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill’s office after investigators determined she underreported her actual income to qualify for Medicaid from 2021 through 2024.

https://twitter.com/AGLizMurrill/status/1950319078574624963?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1950319078574624963%7Ctwgr%5E31fff126dd508a8c8ea9c8769ec85bce4fde6e22%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwltv.com%2Farticle%2Fnews%2Fcrime%2Fslidell-woman-accused-of-hiding-millions-in-medicaid-fraud-case-arrested-by-state-agents-louisiana-attorney-general%2F289-43ee1aa5-514d-43f8-a8c2-a98f33cdca1a

Prosecutors allege Taylor used fraudulently obtained Medicaid funds to make luxury purchases, including: a $13,000 2022 Lamborghini Urus, a $100,000 wire transfer, $45,000 in Audi car payments, Property acquisitions, high-end jewelry, and cosmetic procedures. Investigators also reported that Taylor displayed her wealth on multiple social media platforms.

“From 2021 through 2024, Ms. Taylor continued to transfer tens of thousands of dollars between her personal and business accounts, with personal inflows consistently exceeding the eligibility thresholds for Medicaid,” according to the affidavit.

She was arrested after the Louisiana Department of Health received a tip. The anonymous tip led to an investigation by the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation. Taylor now faces charges related to fraudulent eligibility claims and potential restitution to the Medicaid program.

Knowingly falsifying income or household information to qualify for Medicaid carries heavy penalties. These include up to five years in prison, restitution, and fines up to $20,000.

LeBron James And Maverick Carter — left (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images), right (Photo by Prince Williams/WireImage)

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 31, 2025

Are LeBron James And Maverick Carter Looking to Form A Rival Basketball League?

The two business partners reportedly met with the European agent of Nikola Jokić, Miško Ražnatović, to discuss forming a new league.

A recent social media post featuring LeBron James, his business partner, Maverick Carter, and the European agent of superstar center Nikola Jokić, Miško Ražnatović, chilling on a boat, is (re)spurring a rumor that a new basketball league is being developed.

Ražnatović posted the photograph of the three of them: “The summer of 2025 is the perfect time to make big plans for the fall of 2026!”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Miško Ražnatović (@misko4raznatovic)

Front Office Sports reported that the conversation centered around the formation of an international basketball league. There have been reports that a group of investors is seeking to raise $5 billion for the league was being advised by Carter.

Reports of such a league and have been in the news for months.

In January, Bloomberg reported that the league would compete with the NBA. Ite would feature six men’s and six women’s teams playing in eight cities around the world. Teams would stay two weeks in each city, according to sources.

UBS Group AG and Evercore Inc. are on board to help raise the money, along with people like Skype co-founder Geoff Prentice, former Facebook executive Grady Burnett, and the investment firm SC Holdings, which is led by co-founders Jason Stein and Daniel Haimovic.

The Financial Times reported earlier this year that the new league would be patterned after Formula One. The new basketball league is looking to poach NBA players by offering them equity in the league, similar to how the new women’s basketball league, Unrivaled, operates. (Unrivaled, though, does not compete directly against the WNBA.)

No information has come out of Carter’s camp to deny or confirm the meeting between the three heavyweights.

T.I., Rapper, Tip Harris, run up on, change your life, woman, rappe — (Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images)

by Kandiss Edwards

July 31, 2025

T.I. Files Response To ‘Situationships’ Lawsuit

On June 18, Featherstone Entertainment, founded by Cylia Senii, filed suit in New York claiming T.I. lifted the name of her web series.

Clifford “T.I.” Harris Jr. has filed a response in an ongoing trademark infringement lawsuit over his new film Situationships.

On June 18, Featherstone Entertainment, founded by Cylia Senii, filed suit in New York claiming T.I. lifted the name of her web series. The series debuted on YouTube in 2016. Senii’s Situationships later streamed on BET Digital, Amazon Prime and Tubi.

Now, the rapper and his production company, Grand Hustle Films, have responded to the trademark dispute filed in the Southern District of New York. T.I.’s legal team contends the title is too generic for trademark protection. They assert Senii has not established exclusive ownership or sufficient recognition of the brand.

Attorneys also questioned the choice of venue, proposing that Georgia is more appropriate given the location of parties and witnesses.

A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction barring Grand Hustle Films from promoting, distributing, or using the title Situationships while the case proceeds.

T.I. maintains the title was not actively being marketed, nor was it concretely established as the final name of the film.

Clifford “T.I.” Harris Jr. and Tameka “Tiny” Harris are being sued by Cylia Senii, who claims their new film Situationships infringes on her web series of the same name. https://t.co/2mB0K88pSe pic.twitter.com/BOBFulxCnR
— Black Enterprise (@blackenterprise) June 24, 2025

Senii’s complaint alleges the defendants are “engaging in a common scheme and effort to take advantage of the public’s association of Featherstone’s ‘Situationships’ brand by marketing their own film and entitling it ‘Situationships.’”

She also claims that other versions of her series were in the works between 2019 and 2024 and that she was developing television and film projects associated with the name. T.I.’s team proceeded with similar plans despite being aware of her work.

Senii is seeking financial damages and a court order preventing the film’s release under the contested name. T.I. and Grand Hustle Films have yet to issue a public comment.

No release date has been announced for the film, which T.I. wrote. He will also direct and star in the project.

Kyrie Irving, Texas, HBCU, Paul Quinn College — (Photo: Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 31, 2025

Kyrie Irving Calls Bill Gates’ Large Ownership Of US Land And Water ‘Weird’

Kyrie Irving is bringing attention to Bill Gates owning land and water resources throughout the country.

Kyrie Irving is sparking conversation once again with his take on Bill Gates’ large ownership of farmland and water resources throughout the U.S.

The injured Dallas Mavericks All-Star has been using Twitch to make his voice heard on various topics and issues from sports to the economy and everyday life. During a recent stream, he went off on a rant about Gates.

“I still think that it’s weird that the Gates family, Bill Gates, owns a lot of the land in North Dakota,” Irving said in a clip shared on X. “I think that’s weird. He owns the majority of the water in the United States. I think that’s weird. Whatever. To each his own. This is for informational purpose only. But at the same time, when you go to the grocery store and you see some products that are on there that they spray with a bunch of sh–.”

🚨KYRIE IRVING: “WHY DOES BILL GATES OWN MOST OF OUR LAND AND WATER?”

The NBA star just called it “weird” that one tech billionaire is buying up farmland and water across the U.S.

Why does the guy who pushes vaccines now control the food supply? pic.twitter.com/jue3as3cOS
— HustleBitch (@HustleBitch_) July 28, 2025

Irving’s comments got people talking, with some asking Grok (an AI chatbot developed by xAI, Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company) to confirm how true the NBA champion’s claims were.

“Gates owns ~270,000 acres of farmland (0.03% of total US farmland), making him the largest private owner but not a majority,” Grok confirmed. “He doesn’t own most US water; rights are tied to land and regulated, not dominated by any individual.”

In 2022, Red River Trust, a company linked to Gates, purchased 2,100 acres of land from Campbell Farms, a major potato grower in North Dakota, for $13.5 million. The sale sparked backlash from some locals, but Gates ultimately received legal approval. He now owns nearly 270,000 acres of farmland across multiple states, making him the largest private farmland owner in the U.S.

Around the same time of the sale, Gates hosted an Ask Me Anything session on Reddit where he clarified how much he actually owns and what his intentions are with the land.

“I own less than 1/4000 of the farmland in the US,” he revealed. “I have invested in these farms to make them more productive and create more jobs. There isn’t some grand scheme involved—in fact, all these decisions are made by a professional investment team.”

KWEISI MFUME — National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

by Sharelle B. McNair

July 31, 2025

Rep. Kweisi Mfume Tells Black ICE Director He Hopes Spirit Of Enslaved African Americans ‘Haunts’ Soul

Mfume, 76, told the director of a Baltimore ICE facility that he hopes the spirit of Black ancestors “haunts your soul” and wanted her to “realize that that is more important than job.”

Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.) schooled a Black U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent on the correlation of immigrant treatment and the history of enslaved African Americans after being denied a tour of ICE facilities amid allegations of inhumane conditions.

In a video obtained by CBS News, Mfume, 76, told the director of a Baltimore ICE facility that he hopes the spirit of Black ancestors “haunts your soul” and wanted her to “realize that that is more important than a job.”

“I’m old enough to remember when Black people were snatched off the streets in this country. Because they were Black, not because they committed a crime or were suspected of anything, and that was not that long ago,” Mfume said. “That’s a perspective that haunts many of us. It certainly haunts me. And I would hope as a Black woman coming out and telling us what you did without any real explanation, I hope later today that that sort of spirit haunts your soul and that you realize that that is more important than a job.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by CBS News (@cbsnews)

The congressman was supported by Democratic Sens. Angela Alsobrooks and Chris Van Hollen, as well as Reps. Johnny Olszewski Jr., Sarah Elfreth, and Glenn Ivey were denied entry to the George H. Fallon Federal Building in Baltimore, where the ICE detention facility is located. An ICE spokesperson claimed that the lawmakers were allegedly denied access due to not giving advanced notice. Mfume said that his position gives him the right to oversee what’s going on.

“I along with Members of the Maryland Congressional delegation, were just denied entry into the Baltimore ICE holding facility — despite having full legal authority. As the Ranking Member of the Oversight Subcommittee on Government Operations, I retain the legal authority to conduct Congressional oversight,” he wrote on X. “The decision by ICE to not allow entry is a violation of federal law and a clear prevention of our constitutional duty to ensure transparency and accountability. ICE does not operate above the law and must never be allowed to do so.”

https://twitter.com/RepKweisiMfume/status/1949924279493005576

Additionally, the ICE official, who hasn’t been identified yet, told the lawmakers that the building was just an office and not a detention facility. Alsobrooks said this isn’t the first time such an incident has occurred. A court brief filed by the Maryland Attorney General and other congressional staffers claims immigrants are being held in “hold rooms” for days at a time in the facility, according to Maryland Matters. Those identified rooms are designed to hold detainees for no more than 12 hours while waiting to make an appearance before a judge.

Comments on the video seemingly support the claims of the lawmakers, encouraging them to keep showing up and fighting for the rights of illegally detained immigrants. “Please keep trying!! My friend & colleague was picked up on her way to work Monday and is in the Baltimore facility,” @_kiimmychoo_1967 wrote.

“Her mom brought her here as a child, and she has done things by the book to live here & work as an adult. Her mother, husband and 3 kids are praying for a miracle. She is so scared. This is inhumane & incomprehensible!”

Coco Gauff, docu- shorts, executive producing — (Photo: Robert Prange/Getty Images)

by Jameelah Mullen

July 31, 2025

Despite 23 Double Faults, Coco Gauff Secures Victory In Canada

The champion is back.

After a month-long hiatus, and despite committing 23 double faults, Coco Gauff defeated fellow Floridian Danielle Collins in the second round of the National Bank Open in Montreal on Tuesday, July 29.

Gauff won the first set 7‑5, but Collins won the second set 6‑4. Gauff then prevailed 7-6 (2) in the final set.

The Grand Slam winner admitted to facing some challenges during the intense match.

“It was a frustrating match for me,” Gauff told the Associated Press. “I felt like I was practicing well, and then I don’t think I transferred it today, but hopefully I got my bad match of the tournament out of the way, and I could come back stronger the next round.”

Gauff, 21, the world’s second-ranked tennis player, said she played well despite making some mistakes. The victory follows her surprising loss to Dayana Yastremska in the first round at Wimbledon in June.

“I don’t really like losing,” she said then. “I just feel a little bit disappointed in how I showed up today. I felt like I could have been a little bit better.”

Before her Wimbledon upset, Gauff won the French Open, her first singles title at Roland Garros and her second Grand Slam singles title overall. She became the first American woman to win the French Open since Serena Williams in 2015. Gauff won her first U.S. Grand Slam title at age 19. Additionally, Gauff has secured several singles titles, including the 2019 Linz Open, 2021 Emilia-Romagna Open, 2023 Auckland Open, and the 2023 Washington Open.

Gauff, the top seed edplayer of the National Bank Open tournament, is scheduled to face former Top 10 player Veronika Kudermetova July 31 at 1 p.m.