by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 5, 2026

ESPN Places Deion Sanders On ‘Retirement Watch’ List

Sander's health issues have been a topic of discussion is recent years

Former NFL player-turned-college coach Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders has been listed on an ESPN list predicting which college coaches may not last for the full upcoming football season.

The list was compiled by the publication, and amongst 13 other football coaches, the Colorado Buffaloes head coach was placed on the “retirement watch” section of the article. Of the three coaches named, Sanders is the only one with fewer than 10 years of coaching experience and the only one under 70. Bill Belichick will be 74 in April, while Kirk Ferentz turns 71 in August. So, age would be a factor in these two coaches’ decision to hang it up, but that’s not the case for Sanders, who is turning 59 in August.

Yet, it’s not because of Sanders’ age or even his program losing a step in his third year with the team, which lost nine games this past season, after winning nine the previous season. Sanders has suffered multiple health issues in the last several years, and the writer, Adam Rittenberg, feels that if Sanders doesn’t make it through the year, the health problems would be the reason.

Last year, Sanders did miss some time, with speculation at the time that he wouldn’t be returning due to the then-undisclosed health issues. When he announced to the public that he would be returning in time for the new season, he then admitted to having his bladder removed, after a cancer diagnosis, along with undergoing reconstruction surgery. So, it wouldn’t be that the school doesn’t want him or he’d be leaving to go to another school; it would most likely be the reported health issues that have affected the former Dallas Cowboys player.

Sanders’ health struggles started while he was coaching Jackson State University when he had two of his toes amputated in 2021, due to poor circulation. Two years later, he stated that he had a big blood clot removed from his thigh and also had some tissue below his knee taken out. He admitted last October that he was suffering from blood clots again.

by Jameelah Mullen

March 5, 2026

A Dream Vacation Turns Into A Nightmare: Black Americans Stuck Abroad Amid Middle East Conflict

Shanice Day is one of the thousands of American travelers currently stuck in the Middle East.

Shanice Day’s 30th birthday trip probably won’t be remembered the way she thought. What started as a girls’ getaway took a sudden turn as U.S. and Israeli airstrikes against Iran increased and disrupted travel across parts of the Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates, leaving thousands of travelers stuck in the region.

Day shared her experience on TikTok, where she told followers that she has been stuck in the United Arab Emirates for over a week.

“A lot of different countries are taking care of their citizens, but unfortunately, we’re from the U.S., we started this war,” Day said. “If you guys know anybody that’s, like, in Dubai, please try to refrain from sending them posts right now or just kind of being a little bit insensitive, because we’re really trying to keep our spirits up the best way we can. We’ve heard bombs from our rooms.”

@atleastimpretty23
♬ original sound – shaniceday_

Some social media users questioned why she hadn’t contacted the U.S. Embassy, but Day and other Americans say the embassy instructed them to shelter in place and offered no additional assistance.

Here’s what happened when Jonathan Karl, ABC News Chief Washington Corresponded, called the State Department’s hotline.

“Please do not rely on the U.S. government for assisted departure or evacuation at this time,” the message states. “There are currently no United States evacuation points. Please continue to check the embassy’s website for updated information. In the event of ongoing military action, Americans should shelter in place until it is safe to move about freely.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jonathan Karl (@jonkarl)

Many airlines have canceled flights due to restricted airspace, severely limiting commercial travel across the Middle East. Additionally, thousands of travelers are trying to leave at the same time, leaving very few safe options available.

“They say, ‘Get out’, but how do you expect us to get out when airspaces are closed?” Dallas resident Odies Turners, who is stuck in Doha, told Al Jazeera. “They just have been cancelling every flight. I want to go home.”

In an interview with Katy Tur for MSNow News, Day said her trip had been going well before the airstrikes. She mentioned that hotels have been helpful.

@katy_tur More than 100 people were injured and at least four were killed after Iran fired hundreds of missiles and drones at U.S.-friendly Gulf cities. Dubai — the business and tourism capital of the Middle East — was hit. Shanice Day, an American tourist from Houston, was visiting Dubai to celebrate her 30th birthday. She is now trapped as a wide corridor of UAE airspace remains closed for a third day. #breaking #dubai #iran ♬ original sound – Katy Tur

Day has launched a GoFundMe to cover the increasing expenses for herself and her travel companions during their unexpectedly extended trip.

by Sharelle B. McNair

March 5, 2026

Move Over, Snacks! Tech Startups Like Palantir Are Stocking Up On Tobacco Products To Boost Productivity

Alex Cohen, founder of Hello Patient, purchased a nicotine-pouch fridges for the company’s Austin-based office but had to stop because "I accidentally got addicted."

Remember when offices used to have snacks or soft drinks to boost productivity? Now, tech companies are switching gears and stocking up on tobacco products instead. But is it working?

Tech companies such as Palantir and Hello Patient have partnered with tobacco startups Lucy Nicotine and Seshare to stock office vending machines with products like oral nicotine pouches in an effort to increase productivity among employees, Fortune reports.

Inside Palantir’s Washington, D.C., office, employees can head to the vending machines for a midday or start-of-day pick-me-up. Seemingly paying homage to the days when offices would be filled with cigarette smoke, this is being labeled as a safer—and legal—alternative way of productivity boosting, with the pouches being available free of charge for employees age 21 and older.

Eliano A. Younes, head of strategic engagement for the data integration and analytics software company, showcased the machines inside the office on X, debating with critics under the post. One X user called it “completely inappropriate for the workplace.” Younes responded, “What about a speakeasy?”

https://twitter.com/eliano/status/1970961228353978457

While Lucy celebrates its products as a way for “adults seeking better ways to enjoy nicotine responsibly” and lists that their products “enhance focus, boost energy, or relax,” social media influencers aren’t feeling the new tobacco resurgence.

“Nicotine itself isn’t simply good or bad. Like caffeine, it’s a plant-defense-compound existing on a spectrum of risk and benefit,” herbalist-influencer Onjae Malyszka said, according to Inc. “When nicotine reaches your brain, it binds to nicotinic receptors [and] activates pathways tied to attention, memory, motor skills, and pleasure.”

Doctors and medical experts have also sounded the alarm on nicotine and tobacco products being a hindrance. The cons of vaping, such as the harmful substances it holds and its vast and addictive appeal to teens, have already caused issues. Inside offices. Vanderbilt University psychiatry and pharmacology professor Paul Newhouse said nicotine products are “very unlikely to help the cognitive function of someone who is functioning at their normal capacity.”

Jennifer Cofer of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center said promoting products as “smoke-free” doesn’t knock out the possibility of addiction.

Just ask Alex Cohen, founder of Hello Patient, an AI-powered health care app. He purchased a nicotine-pouch fridge for the company’s Austin-based office and learned a hard lesson. “

“They were very productive, so I thought maybe there’s something here,” Cohen said. But after going through two or three pouches each day, he was forced to stop because “I accidentally got addicted.”

Gayle King, CBS News, new deal, morning show

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 5, 2026

Gayle King Speaks After Renewing CBS Contract: ‘Rumors Of My Demise Were Greatly Exaggerated’

"CBS News is my longtime home, and I am committed to our mission," King said in a statement.

Gayle King is pushing back on what she calls “greatly exaggerated” rumors about her future at CBS following the renewal of her contract.

On March 4, a source confirmed that King will remain on CBS Mornings for the foreseeable future under a newly signed deal with CBS News, Variety reports. The update comes as CBS News struggles after the Paramount-Skydance restructuring.

“Rumors of my demise were inaccurate and greatly exaggerated,” King said in a statement. “CBS News is my longtime home, and I am committed to our mission. I’m excited about continuing at CBS Mornings. As always, I’m open to new adventures here and ready to go. It took a minute, but we got there. And now that we are here, I am all in.”

King, 71, remains one of CBS’s most recognizable figures after more than a decade hosting CBS Mornings. Rumors about her possible departure surfaced last fall amid sweeping changes tied to Paramount Global’s $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media and widespread newsroom layoffs under new editor-in-chief Bari Weiss.

Speculation intensified after an October 2025 report suggested King could leave the show and move into a new role when her contract expired in May 2026, citing her reported $14 million annual salary and the network’s financial pressures following the merger.

During a December 2025 appearance on Sherri, King acknowledged the shakeups underway at CBS News, including Tony Dokoupil’s promotion to anchor of CBS Evening News.

“Tony’s promotion is certainly going to mean changes at CBS Mornings. There’s no question about that, so we shall see,” she said at the time.

Despite the rumors, Weiss publicly voiced support for King as news of her new deal was announced.

“There is only one Gayle King. We’re so proud that she’ll continue to call CBS home,” Weiss said in a statement. “We’re thrilled to have her on in the morning—and equally excited to work with her on new, enterprising projects that bring her talents to new audiences.”

by Jameelah Mullen

March 5, 2026

Ghanaian Mining Company Secures $205 Million Investment To Expand Mining Operations

The deal is also expected to boost the local economy by supporting thousands of jobs and increasing local procurement across the mining supply chain.

Engineers & Planners Company Limited (E&P), the Ghanaian mining company founded by businessman Ibrahim Mahama, has secured a $205 million loan package from Stanbic Bank Ghana and Standard Bank of South Africa.

The deal marks one of the largest financing agreements ever secured by a locally owned mining company in Ghana.

The five‑year credit facility includes two tranches, $110 million and $95 million. The funding will primarily support E&P’s ongoing contract‑mining work for Gold Fields Ghana Limited. Ecobank Ghana PLC and Absa Bank Ghana LTD also served as key lending partners in the transaction.

The financing will allow E&P to expand hard-rock extraction and scale its equipment to meet global mining standards.

“Our relationship with E&P spans more than two decades, built on trust and shared ambition,” Stanbic Bank Ghana Chief Executive Kwamina Asomaning said in a statement obtained by Business Insider Africa. “By structuring and mobilizing the USD205 million facility, we are not only enabling Engineers & Planners to scale its operations but also reinforcing Stanbic Bank’s role as a long-term partner in advancing localisation, strengthening Ghana’s mining value chain, and driving sustainable growth across the broader economy.”

The deal is also expected to boost the local economy by supporting thousands of jobs and increasing local procurement across the mining supply chain.

The latest agreement brings the total financing arranged by Stanbic Bank Ghana and Standard Bank for E&P to over US$450 million.

Maham, he brother of Ghana’s president, John Dramani Mahama, founded E&P in 1997. The company offers mining services, construction, and project management. Operating in Ghana, Tarkwa, Damang, Bolgatanga, and Liberia, the firm is one of the largest engineering companies in West Africa.

Maham is known for his philanthropy, focusing on education, youth empowerment, community development, and health initiatives. He recently donated the use of his private jet to provide free emergency air‑ambulance services for Ghanaian citizens.

Howard University Revamps Policy On Taking Knee During Games

The policy follows a Dec. 29 game against the United States Military Academy when the team kneeled during the national anthem.

In a surprising move, Howard University, long regarded as a leader in the HBCU community, has officially banned student-athletes from kneeling during the national anthem.

In a March 2 statement, the Howard University Department of Athletics announced new pregame rules requiring student-athletes to either stand for the national anthem or remain in the locker room, Hilltop Online, Howard’s student newspaper, reports. According to women’s basketball associate head coach Brian Davis, the policy follows a Dec. 29 game against the United States Military Academy, when the team kneeled during the anthem, a protest they had carried out at every game since 2020 to highlight social injustice.

“Our program has been kneeling since COVID, especially when all the social justice things were happening,” Davis said. “All the young men and women Black of color [who] were passing away from the hands of police brutality, we decided to take a stand against social injustice.”

The move was not easy, given that the team had been kneeling for years. Davis said the program reviews its values annually and previously allowed players to decide whether to kneel. However, after internal discussions between leadership and student-athletes, the HBCU ultimately chose to end the gesture during games.

“There have been thoughtful internal conversations between athletics leadership, coaches and student-athletes regarding pregame protocols,” Vice President of Athletics Kery Davis said in a written statement. “The current approach is about supporting our students’ freedom of expression while upholding mutual respect for all communities.”

Citing the women’s basketball team’s game against the United States Military Academy, Davis said the players understood the significance of the matchup and were intentional in kneeling during the national anthem, stressing that their actions were not meant to be disrespectful. He also noted that many in the program have family members who have served in the military.

“I think that their personnel kind of took it the wrong way and tried to take it somewhere where it wasn’t,” Davis said. “We didn’t want to disrespect anybody. That wasn’t our intent. But if we did, we definitely apologized to them, and let them know where we stood with it.”

Under the new policy, the Howard University women’s basketball team will remain in the locker room during the national anthem for the rest of the season to avoid further controversy.

“We don’t want to bring any bad light to Howard University, so we just decided to stay in the locker room now for every game, home and away, and we will continue to do that throughout the rest of the season,” Davis said.

Davis said the program is working to support other causes important to its players, as the goal is not to silence athletes but to encourage advocacy within institutional guidelines. However, he added that the Howard University women’s basketball team cannot publicly comment further on the matter for protective reasons.

“We are going to continue to fight for injustice, we want to make sure that we stand on what we believe in,” Davis said. “That’s one of the reasons why you come to Howard.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 5, 2026

Products Could Be Brewing As Nike Files Trademark For Bronny James Logo

The Nike LeBron Witness 9, featuring a Bronny James colorway was released March 2, the same day the trademark was filed.

Following in the footsteps of his future NBA Hall of Fame father, Bronny James has an official sneaker colorway after Nike filed a trademark for the logo of LeBron James’s eldest son.

According to Sports Illustrated, after the sneaker debuted in January in Bronny’s hometown of Cleveland, when the Lakers played the Cavaliers, the company filed the trademark on March 2. The sneaker is part of LeBron’s signature collection, the Nike LeBron Witness 9.

The trademark was filed on the same day that the “Bronny James” colorway dropped. The footwear can be purchased online on the Nike website for $115.

https://twitter.com/KicksFinder/status/2028592187412201746

Although it’s not Bronny’s signature sneaker, it does highlight the bloodline. The second-year NBA player has been signed to Nike since he was a freshman at the University of Southern California, where he played his only year of collegiate ball.

The Bronny LeBron Witness 9 features a Desert Pink and Pink Rise colorway. The tongue features the aforementioned logo and is embedded at the back of the sneaker.

Bronny seems to get more news about bouncing back and forth between the NBA and the G League, where he is averaging 9.5 points in 30.9 minutes for the South Bay Lakers. He regularly rides the bench when he is called up to the NBA.

For a player who barely plays, Bronny keeps getting press.

Ever since he was drafted with the 55th selection by the Lakers in the 2024 NBA Draft, basketball fans and detractors have been quick to point out the favoritism shown to Bronny. It did not stop once word got out that he had his own colorway on his father’s signature sneakers. Social media heads immediately had something to say—and they were not kind.

G-leaguers get signature shoes now. What a world.
— ??!!ChaEl (@l2dachavez) March 3, 2026

They just giving anybody and everybody signature shoes now huh? Lol goofy
— Anon Ymous (@AnonYmous755123) March 5, 2026

https://twitter.com/23JRV/status/2029035337222099264

Worst athlete to ever be given a shoe
— Nathan (@rarenathan) March 3, 2026

by Sharelle B. McNair

March 5, 2026

Condoleezza Rice Puts Pressure On Trump Administration To ‘Take Care’ Of Iran For Good

Rice said the history of U.S. vs. Iran dates back to the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis.

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is showing support for the Trump administration’s Operation Epic Fury by encouraging President Donald Trump to “take care” of Iran for good, Fox News reports.

Rice labeled the administration’s attacks as an attempt to “neuter” Iran’s military power, highlighting alleged ties to Hezbollah.

During a segment on Special Report, she celebrated the U.S.-Israeli joint strikes against Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and touched on the time that the Middle Eastern country has been at war with the U.S.

“Iran has been at war with us for at least 47 years,” Rice explained. “If you ask people about Iraq, what was the source of many of our casualties in Iraq, you’ll get estimates as high as 75 or 80% of them were due to Iranian-made roadside bombs.”

According to The New York Post, Rice described the history of the U.S. vs. Iran, dating back to the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis and the 1983 Beirut suicide bombing that took the lives of 241 American service members. More recently, the American military took action against Iran on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists killed over 1,200 people, including 46 Americans, in attacks in southern Israel.

“To say that this regime was not a threat … it’s ahistorical,” Rice said. “They have been a threat for a long time.”

Since Feb. 28, Iran has issued retaliatory strikes at Israeli and U.S. targets throughout the Middle East, killing six American service members, a Rice described the strikes as a “blunder. She said Iran faces a “complicated” future and feels the Trump administration should take advantage of this moment of vulnerability.

“They are essentially, at this moment, defenseless,” she said. “They won’t always be defenseless, and so the decision is to really, at this point, take care of it and render them incapable of those activities.”

While Rice is saying the conflict with Iran dates back decades,Trump has said little about it, only that much of the blame is on former President Barack Obama for the 2015 arms deal with Iran, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Trump labeled it as the “worst deal I’ve ever seen” in his first public comments since announcing Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28. “That was the most dangerous transaction we have ever entered into, and had it been allowed to stand, the World would be an entirely different place right now,” he wrote on his Truth Social app.

by Ida Harris

March 5, 2026

Atlanta’s Fulton County Proclaims The 4th Of March ‘EmpowerHER Appreciation Day’

Fulton County sends a resounding message on women’s art

Fulton County named March 4, “EmpowerHER Appreciation Day.” The day is derived from the EmpowerHER art exhibition, which takes place annually at the Emma Darnell Aviation Museum & Conference Center, formerly Aviation Community Cultural Center, in Atlanta.

When it comes to public policy, art is often regarded as a luxury. However, at the Fulton County Government Center, located at 141 Pryor Street, the board of commissioners sent a resounding message: art is not just a high-end commodity but also the pulse of the community, a universal language, and a catalyst for equity.

The board did more than just sign a piece of parchment. It recognized the creative labor, economic impact, and cultural significance of more than 140 women artists who are the backbone of the EmpowerHER movement.

The official proclamation, marking March 4 as “EmpowerHER Appreciation Day,” was presented to David Manuel, the director of Fulton County Arts & Culture, as well as supporting staff from the arts department and members of the Fulton County arts community. As the group stood at the podium, they weren’t just representing art; they were representing a shift in how female voices are valued in the creative economy.

“I’m very, very proud of this,” said Tisha Smith, the public art program manager for Fulton County Arts and Culture.

“I was asked to speak. I didn’t expect that. I really don’t have the words to explain the joy and the pride that I have for this.”

Smith fought back tears as she shared her enthusiasm and gratitude for the moment:

“Thank you [to] everyone who’s come out to support when we first started. Thank you everyone who’s believed in it beyond just an exhibition … This is a movement and it’s not of me.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Marsy Santos (@marsianaart)

Smith is also the curator and director of the upcoming exhibition EmpowerHER: A Celebration of Women in Art. She conceived the project to highlight the breadth of female artists in Atlanta, particularly those who work in silos and quiet corners and who fly under the radar.

According to The Global Art Market Report 2019, only 10% of women were represented out of the 3,059 art galleries listed in the Artsy database. ArtNet reported that between 2008 and 2020, just 11% of the artwork acquired among 31 American museums was produced by women. Black women’s art is further underrepresented in these museums, comprising only 0.05% of acquisitions. To make it plain, out of the 339,969 artifacts collected by museums between this period, 1,877 were made by Black women. Statistics like these make EmpowerHER: A Celebration of Women in Art necessary—and EmpowerHER Appreciation Day much appreciated.

Smith is committed. She considers it her mission to amplify women artists. It is her calling, she says.

“I’m here to do some work, and I was called to do it, and I will continue to do it until I’m called not to do it anymore,” Smith said.

EmpowerHER is in its third year and kicks off annually at the Emma Darnell Aviation Museum & Conference Center: 3900 Aviation Circle, Atlanta, GA 30336, during Women’s History Month and Black Women’s History Month in April. The upcoming exhibition opens on Friday, March 13, at 6:00 PM and runs till April 25. The artist talk for the exhibition is scheduled for March 28, from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM, and is open to the public. Check the website for more details.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 5, 2026

Judge Rules Against Shilo Sanders In Motion To Dismiss Claims Of Making Unauthorized Transfer

The former football player, who filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Oct. 2023, is accused of making an unauthorized transfer of approximately $250,000.

In Shilo Sanders’ ongoing bankruptcy trial, a judge denied his request to dismiss a complaint filed by a trustee overseeing the former football player’s bankruptcy case.

According to USA Today, Judge Michael Romero ruled in favor of the trustee, David Wadsworth, who in an Oct. 22 court filing, accused Sanders of violating bankruptcy laws by making unauthorized transfers of around $250,000. The suit sought to recover that money, which included Sanders’ college income from his name, image, and likeness (NIL) through his businesses “Big 21” and “Headache Gang.”

“The Court’s role in deciding the Motion to Dismiss is not to resolve factual disputes or weigh potential evidence outside the four corners of the Complaint,” Romero wrote. “The Trustee has otherwise sufficiently pled the necessary elements of his claims. He has also supported his claims with sufficient factual allegations regarding Sanders’ bank accounts, the deposits of his NIL proceeds into the Big 21 Account, and Sanders’ control over Big 21 and Headache Gang. Whether the evidence will ultimately substantiate the Trustee’s claims is a matter to be decided at trial.”

In October 2023, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers player filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy after being sued. Sanders never appeared in court, so the judge ordered him to pay a default judgment of $11.89 million to a security guard who accused the football player of assaulting him in 2015.

Wadsworth said that Sanders violated the automatic stay in the case by taking the money after being prohibited from doing so under the stay. He made money through his business company, Big 21, LLC.

Sanders’ attorney, Keri Riley, stated in court documents that the money in question belonged to Sanders because it was “post-petition earnings.”

“Identifying the true nature of the funds will require presenting evidence and resolving numerous factual issues,” the judge said. “For example, whether the funds are Sanders’ pre- or post-petition earnings will depend on the type of services Sanders performed, when he performed them, and the terms of the contract(s) (if any) requiring those services.”

The bankruptcy trial is slated to start Aug. 31. The issue brought by Wadsworth has not yet received a trial date.