Jackson State, HBCUs, Graduation Rates
by Jameelah Mullen

March 24, 2025

‘Crop Drop’ It Like It’s Hot!  Jackson State University Gives Back

Free collard greens? Say less.

Jackson State University was the place to be this past weekend—for all the right reasons.

The HBCU held its biannual Crop Drop event on March 22 on the school’s campus. Faculty, staff, and students distributed 10,000 pounds of sweet potatoes, collard greens, cleaning supplies, diapers, generators, and other essentials to hundreds of individuals in Jackson who are in need.  

“We’re here in the food desert, so what better to be to give free food to our community? Sweet potatoes and greens are healthier. So that’s important here as well,” Henry Thompson, JSU’s Metro Jackson Community Prevention Coalition director, told WAPT News.

According to the USDA, Mississippi ranks as the third most food-insecure state in the country.

Now in its 10th year, the event is designed to foster a relationship with the community and teach students the importance of giving back. Heather Denne’, director of JSU’s  Office of Community Development, says it’s a “win-win” situation. 

“The community receives much-needed groceries to help them through the month while our students gain community service hours, witness the community’s needs, and find fulfillment in being part of the solution,” Denne’ said in a press release after last year’s Crop Drop event. 

Denne also noted that she envisions expanding the Crop Drop to become a part of JSU’s first-year orientation week, instilling a culture of community service in new students.

The University has a longstanding history of supporting the Jackson community. Last year, JSU hosted its inaugural Emerging Entrepreneur Leadership Symposium. The event aims to provide high school students with tools to help them start their businesses. Approximately 150 students from five local high schools attended the event, which was held in the JSU E-Center. 

The school hosts the event every August and March. The Back-to-School Crop Drop is planned for August 2025, though the exact dates have not yet been announced. For more details on supporting the event, visit the Jackson State University website.

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Michael Jordan, Drake
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 24, 2025

Drake Confirms Michael Jordan Gambling Rumors

The Canadian claims Jordan couldn't beat him at ping-pong and the retired basketball player kept betting tens of thousands of dollars.

The many stories of NBA Hall of Fame legend Michael Jordan being a big gambler have been substantiated over the years, and Canadian rapper Drake added another story to what people have been saying about the former Chicago Bulls All-Star.

In a recent video clip posted by RapTV on social media, Drake tells a story about going up against who many feel is the greatest NBA player of all time several years ago. The “OVO (October’s Very Own)” label owner claims that he was beating Jordan in ping-pong when the oft-talked-about competitive nature of Jordan appeared in a big way.

Drake explains that it took place during the 2016 All-Star Weekend in Toronto. He said that after beating the legend, he “wouldn’t leave the ping-pong table” and kept betting against Drake to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars.

“Gambling GOAT? To me? Controversial take but Michael Jordan,” Drake stated. “He’ll gamble on anything. I think I remember it was All-Star Weekend in Toronto, and he had an event to be at. I beat him at ping-pong, like, a couple times, and he just wouldn’t leave the ping-pong table. He kept just betting me, like, bands. 10 bands, 20 bands.”

Drake did not state if Jordan ever won or how much money he eventually lost or won back, but he spoke of the constant betting that went on, alluding to Jordan making more bets, signifying that Drake may have beaten Jordan more times than he would have liked.

“Just kept betting because he just couldn’t stomach the loss, you know? He’s definitely not a quitter,” Drake continued.

Drake stated he appreciated his “gambling nature” and determined that the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of all time) was one of the best gamblers, adding to what’s been said about Jordan throughout his playing and retirement years.

“I respect him deeply for his gambling nature. So, yeah, I’d say Michael Jordan’s definitely one of one.”

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Flau'jae Johnson
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 24, 2025

LSU Scores Highest Point Total In Flau’Jae Johnson’s Return

'I told myself when I came back that I wanted to be the energy for the team,' Johnson said. 'I know that's what we needed.'

Rapping Louisiana State University basketball player Flau’Jae Johnson returns to the court after an injury to help her team register a blowout win against San Diego State University.

In Johnson’s return, she helped the team set a record when they scored 103 points, beating the previous record of 102 when they won the NCAA Championship two years ago in 2023. The Tigers more than doubled their opponent’s point total when they won the contest 103-48.

Johnson had a team-high 22 points in the victory, while her teammate, Aneesah Morrow, had a double-double as she scored 12 points and snatched 12 rebounds.

This was the fourth straight NCAA Tournament game in which Flau’Jae scored at least 20 points. Morrow continued adding to her double-double total for the year, making it the 27th time she has done so this season. Morrow now has 102 double-doubles for her college career.

“I felt we always made the right plays,” Johnson said. “I think it helped us get in our flow. It helped everybody; it balanced the floor. That’s what we’ve been practicing on.”

The Tigers shot a season-high 55.6% from behind the three-point line and outrebounded San Diego State 53-31.

ESPN reported that Johnson wore a compression sleeve over her lower leg due to the injury to her right shin, which caused her to miss the Southeastern Conference tournament, where the team lost to the University of Texas.

“I told myself when I came back that I wanted to be the energy for the team,” Johnson said. “I know that’s what we needed.”

The next team that LSU will face is Florida State in the second round. The contest can be viewed on ESPN on March 24 at 5 p.m. CT.

The current record for LSU, which is trying to win its second NCAA Championship in three years, is 29-5 overall and 12-4 in conference play.

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Nona Faustine
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 24, 2025

Photographer Nona Faustine, Who Captured The Perseverance Of Black Women, Dies At 48

Faustine died just one year after her first solo exhibition.

Renowned photographer Nona Faustine, known for her powerful work capturing the resilience of Black women throughout history, has died. She was 48.

Faustine’s cause of death was not revealed, ARTnews reports. The Brooklyn Museum, where Faustine’s works were exhibited last year, released a statement confirming her death.

“We are saddened by the death of Brooklyn-born artist Nona Faustine,” the museum captioned an Instagram post. “Her vulnerable and commanding work urges us to think critically about the hidden, often traumatic histories of the places we call home.”

Her 2024 exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum marked her first solo show and featured the full installation of her acclaimed photographic series, White Shoes. Comprised of over 40 self-portraits, the series captured Faustine standing at historic sites across New York City—from Harlem and Wall Street to Prospect Park—that held legacies of enslavement.

Often nude, partially covered, or holding symbolic props, she wears a simple yet poignant pair of white pumps, standing atop land that holds the memories and the remains of Black and Indigenous ancestors, according to the Brooklyn Museum. Faustine gained recognition for her powerful self-portraits, using her body as a living archive of both exploitation and resilience throughout history.

In one striking image from White Shoes, Faustine stands at 74 Wall Street, a historic site where enslaved people were once auctioned.

“The true lives of Black women in the United States, if not in the world, are not seen,” Faustine told photographer Carla J. Williams in a 2024 issue of BOMB magazine. “I wanted to show our lives and who we are. We are very special. Not just because of our suffering but because of our beauty and strength. The reinvention and the creativity that oozes out. The bravery.”

Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1977, the Crown Heights native grew up surrounded by photography. She credited her father and uncle, both avid photography enthusiasts, for sparking her passion in the medium. She spent much of her childhood looking through her family’s photo albums.

Faustine pursued her love for photography at the School of Visual Arts, earning her degree in 1997. Most recently, she completed a fellowship with the American Academy in Rome, where she was joined by her daughter, Queen.

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Elon musk, NAACP, supercomputer, memphis
by Sharelle B. McNair

March 24, 2025

Protestors Feel ‘Tesla Takedown’ Movement Is The Best Way To Denounce Elon Musk And DOGE

One NYC protestor highlighted this being the most effective way to reach the tech guru since his communication resources are limited in D.C

The “Tesla Takedown” movement is assembling angry protestors to gather outside Tesla showrooms across the U.S. as Founder Elon Musk’s DOGE moves upset Americans, NBC News reports. 

Groups like People Over Profits, Action Network, and Disruption Project have been orchestrating protests outside Tesla showrooms to denounce the moves made by Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency that have led to thousands of people being let go from their federal jobs. While Tesla, the brand that made Musk one of the richest people in the world,  is the target, protesters said they feel this is the best way to voice their frustrations. “People have the power,” NYC protestor Patricia Mamara said. 

“People have to come out, they have to stand, they have to fight, and they have to fight for our democracy because if not, this government is being taken over by Donald Trump and his rich, billionaire friends.” 

https://twitter.com/cwebbonline/status/1903517727421321630

Karin Schaln highlighted this action as the most effective way to reach the tech guru since his communication resources are limited in D.C.

“The movement is growing around the country because Elon Musk is an unelected person in Washington right now. He doesn’t have an office, and he doesn’t have a government email,” Schaln said. 

“So we can’t go there to talk to him about our issues and our concerns, so we have to show up at his point of business, and one of his places of business is Tesla.” 

Signs seen at protests in Bartlett, Chattanooga, and Knoxville, Tennessee, read “Fire Elon Musk,” “Musk is a domestic terrorist,” and “Hands off our Social Security.” Being a state that President Donald Trump secured in the 2024 presidential election, people at the protests say conservatives are marching with them.

“Trump won. He wants to do like cut fraud, there’s a way to do that, but they are like chopping off any entire arm and claiming that the splinter is fraud,” one protestor told WSMV 4. 

“They’re wreaking havoc. We have conservatives out here protesting with us because they see the way Trump and Musk are doing things…and the courts are seeing the way they’re doing things is unconstitutional.” 

The peaceful protestors are different from the spike in violent crimes against the brand, including close to 80 reported cases of vandalism or arson of Tesla vehicles that made headlines in both the U.S. and Canada. In Palm Beach County, Florida, Andrew Duti allegedly drove his car into protesters gathering outside a showroom, forcing them to move out of the way to avoid injury. While no one was hurt, the assailant was arrested and faces assault charges, according to documents from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

The push against the brand has shown some strides. Tesla’s stock closed at $248.71 in March 2025, compared to a 52-week high of $488.54 in December 2024. Protester Winsome Pendergrass, with Planet Over Profit, spoke on behalf of her colleagues during a protest held on Saturday, March 22, stating they will not be silent and referenced famous protests like the Montgomery Bus Company strike as being effective. 

She believes Americans fear what’s a risk with Musk making decisions in the Trump administration. “We are not going to be silent, we are not going to sit back and allow him to just run over us. We’re going to stand up. We’re going to fight,” Pendergrass said.

“Americans have done it before … They have shut down the Montgomery Bus Company, so we can shut it down again, and we can shut down all this foolishness that they’re going on with, and we can rebuild an America that is for everyone, America that is inclusive of all of us.” 

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Matthew Knowles, Beyonce, Cécred
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 24, 2025

Matthew Knowles Calls Ye ‘Stupid’ For Offensive Comments On Jay-Z And Beyonce’s Children

Both of Beyoncé's parents addressed the disparaging remarks made against their grandchildren.

Matthew Knowles has spoken out on Ye’s controversial social media posts about his grandchildren..

In the since-deleted post, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West called the Jay-Ze and Beyoncé’s 7-year-old twins Rumi and Sir, a slur for people with mental disabilities. He also claimed that their superstar parents conceived them through in vitro fertilization.

“Wait has anyone ever seen Jay Z and Beyoncé’s younger kids,” the rapper said before referring to the children in an offensive manner.

While the couple remained silent, Knowles shared his thoughts on the issue with TMZ. “People pay a price for being stupid, especially in the music industry,” he said in the March 21 interview. “I’m hopeful Kanye gets the type of help he needs in terms of mental health.”

Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles, subtly addressed the controversy through her frequent “Corny Joke Time” posts. In her since-edited caption, she spoke about staying classy despite “the face of ignorance and evil.”

“Corny joke, time! It’s hard to remain positive and classy in the face of ignorance and evil. But I know that no weapon formed against me or my family shall prosper,” wrote the children’s grandmother. “This battle is not mine, but the Lord’s, I know that God has got this.”

Clearly, neither member of the Knowles family appreciated Jay-Z’s former collaborator’s slanderous remarks. In another post to X, Ye also listed Jay-Z as one of the many people who “betrayed” him.

The disgraced rapper previously used his newly regained platform on X to spew anti-Semitic hate. The ongoing issue also comes as Ye rolls out his new album, Bully, which features his son Saint West in an accompanying short film.

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crime, police lights, Kara Walsh, Chad. T. Hall
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 24, 2025

Philly Man Arrested for Alleged Sexual Assault Apparently Called Police First: ‘Why Y’all Doing That, Dude?’

Harron DeJesus is accused of sexually assault in Philadelphia.

A rapper who goes by the name Croskey Geez was arrested in Philadelphia after he apparently called police asking why his face was being shown and then posted the interaction on social media.

The 31-year-old rapper, whose real name is Harron DeJesus, was accused of a March 8 sexual assault incident and was considered to be armed and dangerous before he was placed in custody.

The video, posted on the rapper’s Instagram account, shows the phone the man, who is reportedly DeJesus, uses to make the call. He wastes no time when he gets an answer.

“I’m trying to figure out why the f**k y’all got my face on the news.”

The police employee asks for a name. The response: “Who else face on the news? All right, you figured it the f**k out, bro. It’s why my face on the news? Why y’all got my face on the news for assault, bro? Like, why y’all like why y’all doing all that, dude?? Y’all saying I assaulted somebody, why y’all, like, why would you, why would y’all do that?”

During his diatribe, the caller identifies himself as “Harron DeJesus.”

After going back and forth, the caller gets more frustrated and chastises the police department employee for “putting my face on the news saying I assaulted somebody, y’all just putting my face on the news.”

As the police employee tries to convince the caller to come in to give a statement and reveal more personal information, the caller gets more frustrated and ends the conversation with a string of profanity before hanging up.

WARNING: Explicit adult language

Details about how or where he was arrested weren’t revealed, but the police promised an update.

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Miss Black University Pageant
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 24, 2025

The Miss Black University Pageant At Ole Miss Crowns Winner

The pageant aims to unite and amplify the Black community at Ole Miss.

This year’s Miss Black University Pageant has crowned a winner, Hannah Olive.

The third annual contest took place at the University of Mississippi on March 21, with a theme of “Eclipsed in Elegance.” Hosted by the school’s National Pan Hellenic Council, six students at the university competed.

Olive, a junior allied health sciences major, also received the Audience Choice award for her stage presence.

“This moment just means so much,” Olive said, as reported by The Daily Mississippian. “I’m very excited and thankful for my support system and everybody who helped me. I’m ready to represent, serve, and just do what God calls me to.”

The contestants participated in three rounds following their introductions, including health and fitness and talent portions. The event continued with an on-stage questionnaire. Each contestant also answered the question, “How do you define and embody brilliance?”

The pageant’s coordinators said the event sought to represent the Black community at Ole Miss. The school has a long history of racism and segregation on its campus, made famous by its first-ever Black student, James Meredith.

Last year, the school faced backlash after a white student made monkey sounds at a pro-Palestine Black student protestor. Black students continue to fight racism at their institution while still championing their community.

“This pageant was an opportunity for someone to represent the Black community here at the university since we are the minority,” said Lindsey Cole, pageant coordinator and NPHC vice president of affairs. “It was really great getting to learn and watch them work together and become great friends throughout this whole process.”

Fellow coordinator and NPHC leader AC Buckley added, “It was a product of love and dedication. It’s been really joyous to see all of our contestants perform and compete and represent all of the amazing Black women that we have on campus. I’m proud of NPHC for giving an opportunity to highlight them exclusively.”

The NPHC hopes to continue this pageant for the Black students at Ole Miss.

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wrestling, Penn State University
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 24, 2025

Penn State’s Carter Starocci Named 2025 NCAA Most Outstanding Wrestler

He is the very first-ever five-time national champion in NCAA history

A Penn State wrestler, the first to win five national titles, has just been named the most outstanding wrestler at the NCAA Championships.

Penn State announced that Carter Starocci, the first-ever five-time national champion in NCAA history, was also named the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championship Outstanding Wrestler after his win this weekend.

The university boasts wrestling titles with Starocci and Mitchell Mesenbrink, with freshman Josh Barr finishing as an NCAA runner-up. The school now has 61 NCAA champions, 40 under head coach Cael Sanderson.

The record-breaking feat took place on March 22 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

According to the NCAA, Starocci has only lost two matches during his collegiate career. In 2021, he lost his first wrestling match and has been on a tear since. He did win his first national title when he avenged his loss to Iowa’s Michael Kemerer that year. He had undefeated seasons for the next two years, 2022 and 2023. He took the title against Virginia Tech’s former national champion Mekhi Lewis in 2022 and bested Nebraska’s Mikey Labriola the next year.

He suffered a knee injury during a regular-season match in 2024 and ended up taking two injury defaults at the Big Ten tournament. Yet, he still won his fourth national title that year when he defeated former national champion Lewis, whom he beat in 2022, and Shane Griffith of Michigan, another former champion in the sport.

The Sacramento Bee reported that although he set a record, Starocci played it so nonchalantly that it didn’t seem like breaking it was that big a deal.

“For me, I’ve been in this moment so many times year after year. You kind of have that experience and understand what to do,” he said. “But honestly, though, I mean I know it’s ‘five-time champ,’ but it’s really just another match.”

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Colin Powell,
by Sharelle B. McNair

March 24, 2025

Was Gen. Colin Powell’s Name Removed From The Arlington Cemetery Website? Here’s The Latest

Notes underneath social media posts show that Powell is still on the website under the 'Politics & Government' section.

Rumors on social media sparked claims that Gen. Colin Powell’s name was removed from the Arlington National Cemetery’s website—but is it true? 

An X user, @cturnbull1968,  pushed rumors that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth led efforts to have Powell and names of other Black and female historical military figures from a list of notable members.

“Pete Hegseth removed Colin Powell’s name from a list of notable Americans, buried at Arlington National Cemetery,” he wrote. “Hegseth also removed the names of every person of color and every woman on the same list. Only white men were left in place.”

Another account, @disavowtrump20, followed with the same claim. But notes underneath both posts show that Powell is still on the website under the “Politics & Government” section: Move down the list of former Secretaries of State, Powell was the first African-American to hold office under George W. Bush’s administration, his name is seen. 

Arlington’s chief of public affairs, Kerry L. Meeker, called the claims “inaccurate,” saying ​​in a statement to Snopes that “all notable graves are represented on our website—including Colin Powell.” She referred to a statement on the cemetery’s website highlighting that “no service members have been permanently removed from the ‘notable graves’ section of our website.” 

However, there are other notable Black military leaders who were seemingly scrubbed from the site as President Donald Trump and cabinet members work to eliminate DEI via an executive order. These include Doris Miller, the first Black sailor to receive the Navy Cross, according to NBC News. 

After removing pages featuring figures such as Jackie Robinson and the Tuskegee Airmen caused backlash, the pages were reinstated. However, people like Tennessee high school world history teacher Hadley DiForti said the removals had her students—and her—feeling “significantly upset.”

“I was extremely angry,” DiForti said, highlighting how she used to rely on .gov websites because she could trust them. “I’ve taught about (Miller) now for four years in a row, and kids really do like learning about him.” 

Pentagon press secretary John Ullyot boasted in early March that “DEI is dead at the Defense Department” and the department is proud of the “rapid compliance across the Department with the directive removing DEI content from all platforms.” He labeled content removal as “rare” but when it does happen “deliberately or by mistake that is out of the clearly outlined scope of the directive, we instruct the components, and they correct the content accordingly.”

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