by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 7, 2025

Sike! CDC Rescinds Termination Emails For 180 Employees, ‘You Should Return To Duty’

The CDC is asking about 180 recently terminated employees to return to work.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reversed 180 recent terminations and is now requesting the affected employees to return to work.

Current and former CDC employees disclosed that emails were sent on Tuesday, March 4, to probationary employees who had been laid off two weeks prior, The AP reported. With a subject line urging them to “Read this e-mail immediately,” the message informed staff that, “after further review and consideration,” their Feb. 15 termination notice had been rescinded, and they were cleared to return to work on Wednesday.

“You should return to duty under your previous work schedule,” the email stated. “We apologize for any disruption that this may have caused.”

Approximately 180 individuals received reinstatement emails, according to two federal health officials who were briefed on the matter but spoke anonymously. It remains unclear how many of those employees returned to work on Wednesday or whether they will be affected by the widespread job cuts expected across government agencies in the near future.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock welcomed the reinstatements but said they are not enough amid massive federal job cuts.

“Today’s announcement is a welcome relief, but until all fired CDC employees are restored, our country’s public health and national security will continue to be at risk,” Warnock said Wednesday.

The Atlanta-based organization, responsible for protecting Americans from outbreaks and other public health threats, employed about 13,000 people before the cuts. Last month, the Trump administration informed the CDC that nearly 1,300 of its probationary employees would be laid off. However, the actual number of terminations turned out to be around 700 to 750. With 180 people now reinstated, the current number of CDC employees terminated appears to be roughly 550, though this figure has not been officially confirmed.

The CDC is the latest federal agency to reverse terminations made as part of cost-cutting measures under Donald Trump and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) leader Elon Musk. Other federal agencies that have reinstated terminated staff include those overseeing medical devices, food safety, bird flu response, nuclear weapons, and national parks.

Last week, Musk acknowledged that DOGE will make mistakes but emphasized the commitment to quickly address and correct them.

“I should say we’ll also make mistakes. We won’t be perfect. But when we make mistakes, we will fix it very quickly,” Musk said during a cabinet meeting.

“So, for example, with USAID, one of the things we accidentally canceled very, very briefly was Ebola, Ebola prevention. I think we all want Ebola prevention, so we restored the Ebola prevention, and there was no interruption.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 7, 2025

DC, NY, And Illinois Top List of States With Best Workplace Culture, Idaho Named The Worst

New data has ranked U.S. states from best to worst for workplace culture.

New data reveals which U.S. states lead in offering workplaces that prioritize employee satisfaction and which ones fall short.

The leadership guidance website People Managing People released a 2025 report on which states have the best and worst workplace cultures. Analysts used a weighted composite score based on 24 metrics, including average salary, average number of paid holidays, and quit rate. Based on the findings, states with major cities dominate the top spots.

The top 10 states with the best workplace culture include the District of Columbia, New York, Illinois, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Washington, California, Ohio, and Maryland. The 10 states with the lowest workplace culture ranking are Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma.

The results found that midwestern and northeastern states are most likely to foster positive workplace cultures. The District of Columbia may not be a state, but the U.S. capital and federal district is where workers generally enjoy higher salaries, lower quit rates, and fewer hours worked. New York and Illinois came in second and third, thanks in part to their state policies that protect workers and promote higher wages.

On the other hand, the worst states for workplace culture were found in the western and southern regions, with mountain states like Wyoming and Montana particularly underperforming among workers. These two states had some of the highest quit rates, at 3.7% and 3%, and Idaho had the lowest employee satisfaction. Analysts suggest that mountain states likely scored lower due to fewer wellness and employee assistance programs, limited paid leave, and longer work hours.

From a political perspective, states with stronger workplace cultures tend to be more liberal-leaning blue states, while those with the weakest workplace cultures are predominantly conservative-leaning red states. The findings are based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, KFF, Statista, and Oxfam from 2021 to 2024.

by Mitti Hicks

March 7, 2025

Ohio University Students Plan Next Steps After University Pauses Black Alumni Reunion

In a statement from the 2025 BAR Planning Committee, organizers say the decision to cancel the more than 40-year tradition was made in light of the U.S. Department of Education's Dear Colleagues Letter and the impending Ohio Senate Bill 1 (SB1).

Former and current Ohio University students are planning the next steps after the univeristy paused the Black Alumni Reunion (BAR). In a statement from the 2025 BAR Planning Committee, leaders say the decision to cancel the more than 40-year-old event was made in light of the U.S. Department of Education’s Dear Colleagues Letter and the impending Ohio Senate Bill 1.

“This decision was not made lightly,” the committee said in the letter, adding, “we are deeply saddened disappointed, and disheartened to share this news.”

For most alumni that attend BAR, hotels and flights are booked years in advance since the event takes place every three years. In light of the news, Ohio University Black Alumni/Student Connection is planning to host a virtual OU Black Alumni Town Hall Meeting on March 9 to discuss how to move forward and the attack on Diversity in Ohio higher education.

Ohio University BAR Showcases Black Excellence

At HBCUs, homecomings are large-scale celebrations that bring together alumni, current students, celebrities, and even the surrounding community to celebrate Black excellence, Black history, culture, and pride. Homecoming at HBCUs are star-studded events with parades, tailgates, concerts, and more, in the name of unity and resilience.

But at predominantly white institutions — often referred to as PWIs, Black students and alumni have to get creative in creating these kinds of spaces. BAR at Ohio University does just that every three years.

Ohio University’s Black Alumni Reunion is a celebration of prevailing at a university where the representation is limited and isolation – from firsthand experience – can set in fast.

As of July 1, 2023, the U.S. Census Bureau showed that of the 62,700 residents in Athens, about 2.9% (a little more than 1,800) of residents are Black. Black student enrollment at the university reflects the town’s population. In the same year, of the more 20,000 students enrolled, only 1,1,20 (or 5.3%) as African American.

The canceling of BAR has sent shockwaves of disappointment throughout the Bobcat community, both locally and nationally.

Walker African American Museum and Research Center, Nevada,

by Stacy Jackson

March 7, 2025

Nevada Museum Owner Wants City To Help Reopen Her Establishment Instead Of Building A New One

Walker's African American Museum is reportedly excluded from Nevada's new Hundred Plan in Action, but she plans to reopen within six months.

Gwen Walker, owner of the Walker African American Museum and Research Center, Nevada’s first African American history museum, wants the city to help reopen her museum instead of going through with plans to build another one.

After the city of Las Vegas announced plans for an African American museum in the Historic Westside years ago, the news left Walker in utter shock. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the proposed museum is part of the Historic Urban Neighborhood Design Redevelopment Plan, which commenced in 2016 in collaboration with the UNLV Downtown Design Center. Walker, who was forced to close her museum in 2017 due to structural issues, break-ins, and her mother’s diagnosis with dementia, said Cedric Crear, former council member for Ward 5, never communicated with her about the city’s plans to establish a new museum in the Historic Westside.

The Walker African American Museum and Research Center was located in a 1,000-square-foot home at 705 W. Van Buren Ave. The 68-year-old woman filled the museum with Black history memorabilia she had collected since she was 13.

“I probably have the largest collection of Black history memorabilia for Black people here in Nevada,” she said. The collection includes artifacts, books, business cards, flyers, dolls, figurines, clothes, magazines and newspaper articles on notable Black legislators and change-makers which date back to the 1800s.”

She opened the museum in 1991 to promote the history of African Americans locally, nationally, and internationally.

However, the museum owner has hit a roadblock after over 50 years of preserving Black history. She doesn’t understand why, after multiple conversations with Crear about a reopening for her museum, the city is moving forward with plans to construct a new one.

“I’ve been here doing the work. My mother and I, we’ve been in our community,” said Walker, who currently holds over 50,000 artifacts in her Westside home. “Why not join with us and help make us world-class?”

pic.twitter.com/D61JQvB1VP
— Walker African-American Museum & Research Center (@WLVMuseum) May 14, 2024

An original 2018 document for the Hundred Plan included Walker’s blueprints from KME Architects and plans to design and construct the Walker African American Museum. Her developed plans proposed a 10,000-square-foot space, but she needs money to fulfill the vision, which includes purchasing two surrounding parcels owned by the city and three privately-owned parcels. Friends, students, and community members have extended assistance to Walker.

In 2021, the City Council approved a $45,000 grant for Walker to use toward the museum. However, she denied the offer due to a last-minute repayment clause added by the city attorney.

A proposal request for a master plan for the city’s African American community was approved by the city council in 2022 following a formal report in 2023. Plans included over an acre of land for a $60 million to $90 million museum campus. The new Hundred Plan in Action, which was approved by the city in 2024, excluded Walker’s museum. The city said in a new statement that as it continues to “explore a potential African American Museum,” council members are hopeful that Walker “will want to be part of these future plans.”

Walker plans to reopen her establishment within the next six months. The city still has not determined a location for its new African American museum, but it plans to launch a case study exhibit at Civic Plaza in February 2026.

Ghana, Granted Asylum, Global, International

by Jameelah Mullen

March 6, 2025

Ghanaian Lawmakers Reintroduce Bill Imposing Harsh Anti-LGBTQ+ Measures

The bill proposes jail time for anyone who identifies as gay.

Ghanaian lawmakers have reintroduced a controversial anti-LGBTQ+ bill that could result in members of the LGBTQ+ community facing up to ten years in prison.

Currently, consensual same-sex acts are punishable by up to three years in prison in Ghana. The “Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill” would increase the maximum penalty to five years. The nation’s residents can also face imprisonment for the “wilful promotion, sponsorship, or support of LGBTQ+ activities,” Reuters reported.

Ghana’s parliament approved the bill last year, but President Nana Akufo-Addo declined to sign it before the end of his term.

Ghana’s current president, John Mahama, supported the bill while speaking at the Fellowship with the Clergy event on February 28, 2025.

“I, as a Christian, uphold the principle and the values that only two genders exist, man and woman, that a marriage is between a man and a woman,” Mahama said.

He continued, “The renewal of the expired Proper Family Values Bill should be a bill that is introduced by government rather than as a private member’s motion, and it’s my hope that that consultation would see a renewed Proper Family Values Bill.”

Winnie Byanyima, executive director for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS(UNAIDS, said that the bill, if passed into law, will harm Ghanaians both inside and outside of the LGBTQ+ community.

“To achieve the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, it is vital to ensure that everyone has equal access to essential services without fear, stigma, or discrimination and that providers of life-saving HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and care services are supported in their work,” Byanyima wrote in a statement.

The executive director noted that if the Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill becomes a law, it may incite violence against LGBTQ Ghanaians and their supporters. Last year, Ghana’s finance ministry warned that if the bill were signed into law, it could jeopardize $3.8 billion in financing from the World Bank and a $3 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 6, 2025

Missouri Bar Sued For Playing Nelly, Tracy Chapman, And LL Cool J Without Music License

A rodeo bar in Missouri has been hit with a federal lawsuit for playing Nelly, LL Cool J, and others without a paid music license.

A bar in Springfield, Missouri, is facing a federal lawsuit for playing chart-topping hits without paying music licensing fees.

A lawsuit was filed against Midnight Rodeo in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri March 3, alleging that the bar permitted performances of copyrighted music without paying the required licensing fees, the Springfield News-Leader reported. Five record labels, which hold the copyrights and are affiliated with the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), claim the bar’s owners entered into a license agreement with ASCAP but failed to pay the necessary fees to legally play music from their artists.

According to the lawsuit, the defendants—Midnight Rodeo owners 2 Rivers Inc., David Marsh Jr., and Melanie Marsh—entered into a licensing agreement with ASCAP effective March 1, 2021. However, after failing to pay the required license fees due March 14, 2024, and receiving a written notice, the agreement was terminated.

Despite the license being revoked, Midnight Rodeo was accused of continuing to publicly perform copyrighted music by ASCAP members. Court documents cite performances of Nelly’s “Over and Over,” Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” and LL Cool J’s “Headsprung.”

The ASCAP-affiliated record labels that own the rights to the music are now taking legal action against the bar. ASCAP, which represents over a million songwriters, composers, and music publishers, licenses public performances of its members’ songs, collects licensing fees, and distributes royalties.

ASCAP offers businesses a license that grants permission to legally play copyrighted music from its extensive repertory of over 20 million musical works. The organization states that, on average, bars and restaurants pay less than $2 per day for unlimited access to its music catalog.

David Marsh Jr., one of the owners of Midnight Rodeo, stated that the dispute is not about paying for standard music licensing but rather concerns a concert music license. He argues that this responsibility should fall on the promoter, as he claims not to profit from ticket sales.

“I am questioning why I am getting charged for concerts when I have a promoter and he make(s) all the money,” Marsh said. “It’s an extra $5,000 a year for (a) concert music license that I don’t make any ticket sales from!”

by BLACK ENTERPRISE EVENTS

March 6, 2025

ICYMI: The 19th Annual Women Of Power Legacy Awards Was A Tribute To Greatness

Annually, BLACK ENTERPRISE brings together the best and brightest women in power to participate in The Women of Power Summit. In its 19th year, the event is as impactful as it has ever been, while carrying the vision laid out by its architect Mrs. Barbara Graves, the wife and mother of BE founder Earl G. Graves Sr. and Earl “Butch” Graves Jr., respectively. The summit kicked off with The Legacy Awards Gala, its marquee event, the evening of March 5, honoring Valerie Jarrett, Glenda McNeal, Robin L. Washington and Melba Moore in the presence of other Black, female powerhouses, including BE‘s own vice president and deputy chief content officer, Alisa Gumbs. Get into this room full of Blackness, beauty and power below!

The Tyler Twins for Black Enterprise Women Of Power 2025

RELATED CONTENT: Women Of Power Summit 2025 Recap

Plies, Black men, white men, man, issues, money, checks

by Sharelle B. McNair

March 6, 2025

Rapper Plies Brought To Tears With Elementary Students’ Heartwarming Homage

The first student called Plies 'one of the hottest rappers in the city.'

Rapper Plies showed his emotional side when he posted a video on Instagram of students from a Fort Myers, Florida-area elementary school paying homage to his career, with one student even dressing up like him.

Plies, whose real name is Algernod Lanier Washington, posted the video of a classroom full of Black students celebrating his hip-hop career while one student stood in front dressed in a red shorts, shorts, sunglasses, and a modest gold chain.

The student asked, “Do you know who I am?”, before his classmates started running off stats of his 20-plus music career. The first student called him “one of the hottest rappers in the city.”

The facts kept coming, including that Plies graduated from Fort Myers High School and he “has plenty money,” a play on one of his most popular songs. When Plies caught wind of the touching moment, saying it made him feel “so appreciated” and giving them some words of encouragement.

“With My Shirt Full Of Tears! I Want Each & Every One Of U Young Kings & Queens To Know,” he wrote.

“Your Acknowledgment Has Given Me So Much “Purpose”. Make No Doubt About It Your Futures Can & Will Be Even Brighter.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Plies (@plies)

The students ended their round of “Plies facts” by saying he “inspires them” and breaking out in a massive dance party as the rapper’s impersonator stood bopping his head up and down.

One follower on IG identified the class as Ms. Codie 2nd Grade Class at Franklin Park Elementary and shouted out the leader as her son. Several comments underneath the post echoed the sentiments of the students, calling Plies “a breath of fresh air with your perspective and willingness to share it with others.”

“You use your platform to be the voice and change we need in our community,” @ladyzejtj wrote.

The “Shawty” rapper has garnered a massive following due his hilarious and informative driver’s seat commentary on important issues concerning the country and the Black community. During the 2024 political cycle, Washington used his platform to support former Vice President Kamala Harris in her bid for the White House and calling out then-Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump for targeting the Black community with false claims.

Since Trump has taken over the Oval Office, the rapper added himself to a list of celebrities that called out retail giant Target for rolling back its diversity, equity ,and inclusion policies. According to Hot 97, he posted on Instagram that the store “can’t get no more of this muthaf*ckin money from me.”

lease, DOGE, Barack Obama Presidential Library.

by Kandiss Edwards

March 6, 2025

Obama Presidential Library Unfazed By DOGE’s Lease Cancellation

The lease was set to expire this year and the library is moving to Maryland.

The Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency has canceled the lease for the Barack Obama Presidential Library.

The decision is not expected to significantly impact the center, as the lease was set to expire in 2025. As is customary for a former president, the building housed memorabilia of historic and cultural significance collected during the Obama administration.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the current site, owned by Hoffman Estates Medical LLC, was a 73,000-square-foot former furniture store. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) paid $1.4 million annually to rent the space.

DOGE says it’s closing Hoffman Estates’ Obama Presidential Library site, but federal officials had already announced lease endinghttps://t.co/ggLge3JtBN
— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) March 3, 2025

NARA is responsible for archiving and cataloging thousands of historical artifacts, a duty granted under the 1978 Presidential Records Act. The organization currently owns 35,000 physical artifacts, drafts of Obama’s first inaugural speech, dresses worn by former first lady Michelle Obama, and 25 million unclassified documents, which are being digitized.

“The records and artifacts of the Barack Obama Presidential Library, which have been temporarily at Hoffman Estates, will be permanently moved to College Park, Maryland, in late [fiscal year] 2025,” a National Archives spokesperson told WGN.

Many artifacts will move to the Maryland location, but spectators can still engage with memories from the Obama administration at the new location. Citizens will also have access to the Obama administration’s history when the official Obama Presidential Center opens in Chicago. Many of the artifacts will be loaned to the Center periodically.

However, since breaking ground in 2021, construction of the Obama Presidential Center on Chicago’s South Side has faced several challenges. The project’s initial $500 million estimate has soared to $830 million, and crews have yet to complete construction.

On Jan. 21, a construction worker fell into the site’s ventilation system, prompting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to launch an investigation.

On Jan. 17, Black concrete contractor Robert McGee sued the project’s structural engineering firm for $41 million, claiming he was discriminated against due to his race. He also asserts that unexpected delays and increased costs, though no fault of his own, damaged his reputation and left him in financial distress.

Since the center is privately owned, the government cannot interfere with its operation. The Obama Presidential Center is scheduled to open in 2026.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 6, 2025

Brittney Griner Scores First Dunk In Unrivaled Basketball League

Although her team lost, it was a memorable moment for the new league.

Brittney Griner became the first player to dunk in the Unrivaled basketball league, a feat she accomplished with Lisa Leslie, who scored the first dunk in WNBA history, in attendance.

According to USA Today, Griner made the historic basket March 3 while playing against the Lunar Owls. Although her team, Phantom BC, lost 92-79, people were speaking about the first dunk in the young league’s history.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Unrivaled Basketball (@unrivaledbasketball)

Griner, who is 6’9″, scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the loss.

She has the most dunks in WNBA history, two, tying her with another league legend, Candace Parker. Leslie recorded the league’s first dunk on July 30, 2002. Awak Kuier has also recorded a dunk during league play.

But, on May 27, 2013, Griner broke that record in her first WNBA game when she threw down two dunks during that game.

“The dunk was outstanding, and it’s historic,” Leslie said after the March 3 game. “And obviously, I know what it’s like to have a historic dunk, but not the ending you want. The night I dunked, we lost that game, too, So, I know what you mean about remembering that, but just talk about that there is a historic moment for you to be the first to dunk in Unrivaled. It was awesome.”

“When I sit down and think about it, you know it definitely is,” Griner responded. “I’ll be able to hold that—got to do it with you here as well—so, I mean that was pretty cool, too, honestly, when I take the time to think about it.”

Griner, who recently signed with the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream, will start her 13th WNBA season this summer. The former Baylor star remains one of the league’s best players.