Arson, Fire ,Clayborn Temple, Restoration
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 8, 2026

One Year After Altadena Fires, Operation HOPE Remains Committed To Rebuilding

It’s been a year since the devastating LA wildfires tore through communities like Altadena, but Operation HOPE continues to support locals as they rebuild their lives.

One year after the devastating Eaton Fire ravaged through the historic Black neighborhood of Altadena, headlines have faded, but the work hasn’t. Operation HOPE remains on the ground, continuing its commitment to rebuilding and restoring Altadena.

With the recent passing of the fires’ one-year anniversary, Operation HOPE is highlighting how its HOPE Inside Disaster and Project Restore HOPE–LA initiatives have helped hundreds of Altadena residents regain a sense of stability after losing everything. Over the past year, the organization has provided direct financial recovery support to hundreds of individuals, among other efforts.

Operation HOPE views its work as a pathway to restoring stability, rebuilding confidence, and helping families reclaim their futures after the fires upended homes and livelihoods. For Alisha, a Pacific Palisades resident whose home was left uninhabitable by smoke damage and hazardous materials despite still standing, the aftermath meant displacement, health concerns, and a stalled insurance process — prompting her to turn to HOPE Inside Disaster for guidance and advocacy.

“I want people to know that Operation HOPE is a literal godsend,” Alisha said in a press release. “There is support that has no agenda, but to help.”

With the guidance of a HOPE Disaster Recovery Coach, Aisha navigated FEMA and insurance hurdles, assessed remediation options, and ultimately avoided over $120,000 in unnecessary expenses and hurdles in restoring her home. In addition to the financial recovery Operation HOPE offered locals, other efforts include completing 226 disaster recovery and preparedness plans, assisting with 49 FEMA and SBA applications — including 30 appeals — and helping survivors boost their financial readiness by an average of 50%.

Despite the destruction caused by the fires, Operation HOPE emphasizes what has been rebuilt. In the aftermath of the Altadena fires, a permanent HOPE Recovery Office now operates in the community. Small businesses have reopened, and families are making strides toward stability as the mission to fully restore the area continues.

“As we mark this anniversary, we remain committed to walking with Los Angeles for as long as it takes, helping communities rebuild stronger, more resilient, and more prepared for the future,” the organization said.

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Cam Newton, Natalie Nunn, interview
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 8, 2026

Cam Newton Returns For Carolina Panthers’ 1st Playoff Appearance Since His 2016 Super Bowl Run

It will be the former quarterback's first time there since 2021

Last year, the Carolina Panthers extended a hand to welcome back former quarterback Cam Newton, who had not been to the stadium in recent years, but with the team making the playoffs for the first time since Newton led them to the Super Bowl, Newton is expected to participate in a pregame ceremony before the team plays the Los Angeles Rams on Jan. 10.

Newton, possibly the most accomplished quarterback in the franchise’s history, can now be seen hosting his podcast, Funky Friday, and on ESPN as an analyst. The Panthers posted a video on their social media accounts, hinting at Newton’s return by using his voice. You can hear him say, “I know I said I’m back, but in essence, we back.”

The post is welcome news for Panthers fans, as Newton admitted on his other podcast, 4th & 1 with Cam Newton, in November 2024 that he had not been to Bank of America Stadium since 2021.

He said he has no issues with the Carolina Panthers’ owner or management, but he discussed one particular instance that affected his stance toward the team. During a visit to the stadium, he noted that his son noticed there were no visible pictures of him. That was disrespectful in his eyes, especially given what he has done with the franchise.

“We went into the Panthers’ facility and, you mean to tell me that one of the greatest Panthers to ever play ain’t up nowhere? I’m talkin’ nowhere. Who brought it to my attention? My son.”

“So as a man, when you have to explain to your son, ‘Daddy, where’s your picture?’”

https://twitter.com/4thand1show/status/1857145409342427598

The team issued a statement after getting wind of the episode.

“Cam Newton has been and will continue to be welcomed by the Carolina Panthers. Our doors are open, as they are to all team Legends.”

RELATED CONTENT: Cam Newton Signs Multi-Year Deal With ESPN

Caribbean, Trump Administration. Marco. Rubio, travel ban, Antigua,, Barbados, cuba,, Dominica, St. Lucia
by Sharelle B. McNair

January 8, 2026

Small Caribbean Islands Soon To Be Home For Asylum Seekers As U.S. Reaches Deal 

To expand on its anti-immigration policies, the U.S. government is rumored to be in similar talks with countries such as Belize and Paraguay.

Governments of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica have reached a deal with the U.S. to host asylum seekers who cannot return to their homelands, the Miami Herald reported. 

In a controversial move, officials made the confirmation in early January 2026, which is likely to spark debate due to the islands’ already struggling with several challenges, including increased gun violence, fragile tourism, and migration. In a statement, Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit linked the decision to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump that placed Dominica, along with Antigua and Barbuda, under a partial travel ban by the U.S. State Department. 

Skerrit said they “have agreed to facilitate third-country refugees to be sent to Dominica to mitigate scenarios where the United States cannot return these individuals to a state of birth or origin.”

However, opposition leader Joshua Francis of the United Progressive Party criticized the Prime Minister’s lack of transparency.

Francis is thinking more about how the nation will sustain responsibility for deportees, “when we have yet to address the housing needs of our own people fully.” Since the September 2017 Category 5 Hurricane Maria hit the island of Dominica, with a population of roughly 72,000, the island has struggled with a housing shortage, raising concerns for the leader. “We are not opposed to humanitarian assistance in principle, but such decisions must be made transparently, with full consultation, and with careful consideration of our national capacity, security, and the welfare of Dominican citizens,” he said. 

The Trump administration raised concerns about Dominica’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program, which permits a foreign national to obtain a passport in exchange for financial investments. 

Antigua also services a similar program, also known as “golden passports,” which has been a prime revenue stream for the islands. Still, in the eyes of the Trump Administration, it is used as leverage to expand the immigration agenda, seeking ways to properly vet wealthy individuals who can obtain citizenship with minimum investments of $100,000 to $250,000.

As for Antigua and Barbuda, with a population of close to 94,000 people, the nation signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding “as part of its global efforts to share responsibility for refugees already present in its territory,” according to Associated Press. The only asylum seekers the island won’t accept are those with criminal records. 

To expand on its anti-immigration policies, the U.S. government is rumored to be in similar talks with countries such as Belize and Paraguay, putting pressure on the nations in Latin America and Africa to welcome asylum-seekers with open arms. Uganda shared Antigua’s stance, willing to accept migrants but not those with criminal pasts. 

The African nation reached an August 2025 agreement with the U.S., known around the world for its migrant and refugee policy. But governments are issuing warnings to the U.S. as they have made mistakes in the past, citing five men with criminal backgrounds deported to Eswatini and eight more to South Sudan.

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confeserate, flag, Stars and BArs,, Department of LAbor, American, history
by Keka Araújo

January 8, 2026

Op-Ed: Coded In Red, White, And Blue; The Dept. Of Labor Posts A Confederate-Like Flag On ‘X’ And The Nation Stayed Silent

And THIS is why teaching and learning history is important! Knowledge is POWER!

In an era where the lines between heritage and hate are increasingly weaponized, the U.S. Department of Labor took a very wild, very public stance on Jan. 7, 2026. 

Posting on the agency’s official Twitter/ X, the Department of Labor shared a reimagined version of the “Stars and Bars”—the first national flag of the Confederacy—along with the caption, “Patriotism will Prevail. America First. Always.”

Unlike previous instances of social media gaffes that are quickly scrubbed from the digital record, the post remains active. Its continued presence on a federal platform is a very jarring reminder of why we mustn’t whitewash American history—specifically Black American history.

It is not a luxury, but a necessity for our survival and the progression of this nation as a democracy.

The Department of Labor’s purposeful use of such imagery is a masterclass in the “coded” language of American white supremacy. 

The “Stars and Bars” may look like harmless vintage Americana. Still, for those who understand the history of Black Americans, these symbols are inextricably linked to a legacy of state-sanctioned work, pain and suffering.

Consider actual American history.

The Transatlantic Slave Trade- a brutal, centuries-long system (c. 1500s-1800s) where Europeans forcibly transported over 12.5 million enslaved Africans across the Atlantic to the Americas for labor, primarily on sugar plantations, resulting in immense suffering, death during the horrific “Middle Passage,” profound devastation in Africa, and the creation of lasting racial hierarchies in the Americas. Portugal, Britain, Spain, France, and the Netherlands were major players, buying captives from African middlemen, who were sometimes armed with European weapons, leading to devastating regional conflicts. 

The American South was also often a euphemism for the public spectacle of Black men and free labor.

Black men were disproportionately forced into free labor systems like convict leasing and chain gangs in the post-Civil War South, functioning as a system of racialized slavery under the guise of criminal justice, where they were compelled to work for little or no pay for state projects and private companies, perpetuating bondage long after official slavery ended.

This practice exploited minor offenses to re-enslave Black Americans, providing cheap labor for economic development through forced labor, often with brutal conditions. 

When a government agency uses its platform to pair Confederate symbols with the word “Patriotism,” it intentionally ignores these coded atrocities. It attempts to sanitize a regime that was built on the literal ownership and destruction of Black bodies.

A widespread lack of understanding of Confederate iconography fuels the relative silence surrounding this post. Many folks mistakenly believe the “Southern Cross” battle flag was the original symbol of the Confederacy. In reality, the “Stars and Bars” was the First National Flag, adopted in March 1861 and used until 1863.

confeserate, flag, Stars and BArs,, Department of LAbor, American, history
Daderot, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

By utilizing the “Stars and Bars,” the Department of Labor is not just posting an “old flag”; it is posting the symbol of a government that explicitly declared its independence to preserve the institution of slavery.

The most polarizing element of the incendiary-ass Jan. 7 post is the lack of institutional pushback or coverage– one day after the five-year anniversary of the wildest domestic insurrection in modern history. 

While citizens have raised the alarm, the broader political discourse and American media have largely ignored the implications of a federal department promoting secessionist and flat-out racist imagery.

We cannot afford to ignore the reality that the “America First” movement is being visually aligned with a flag that represents the attempt to end the American experiment. 

As long as we allow these symbols to be rebranded as “patriotism,” we participate in the erasure of Black history and the normalization of the atrocities that history contains.

The Department of Labor’s post is a symptom of a nation that refuses to look in the mirror. Until we return to teaching the truth about this country’s history and other egregious elements of “forgotten” pasts and the true intent behind the “Stars and Bars,” our understanding of patriotism will remain as fractured as the history we are trying to hide.

RELATED CONTENT: From Slavery To Liberation: The Diasporic Legacy Of Black Breastfeeding

Atlanta Hawks, State Farm Arena, Job Fair
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 8, 2026

Atlanta Hawks Trade Trae Young To Washington Wizards For CJ McCollum, Corey Kispert

Young walked off the court during the game to head to the locker room before the final whistle blew

After spending over seven seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, Trae Young has been traded to the Washington Wizards for two players.

According to ESPN, although the team has not publicly confirmed the transaction, the Hawks have sent Young to the Wizards for an exchange of CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert Jan. 7. Shams Charania posted about the transaction on his social media page.

During the Atlanta versus New Orleans Pelicans contest, after finding out that he had been traded, Young walked off the court for the last time as an Atlanta Hawks player.

https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/2009100939710611855

Reports indicate that the franchise and the guard were not on the same page, so a separation was imminent. Young is being sent to the team he wanted to play for. The franchise worked with Young’s agents, Aaron Mintz, Drew Morrison, and Austin Brown, to complete the trade. The prediction was that Young would no longer be with the team after they refused to offer him a contract extension.

Young has played in only 10 games this season due to several recent injuries. Earlier this season, he suffered a right MCL sprain, which has hampered his ability to play effectively. He is currently sidelined with a right quad contusion, which has kept him off the floor for the past five games.

After the game, which ended in a Hawks victory, 117-100, Hawks coach Quin Snyder responded to inquiries about the trade but stated he was not at liberty to discuss the transaction.

“I know you all have questions for me that right now I’m not at liberty to talk about or answer.”

In his limited play this season, Young has averaged 19.3 points, 8.9 assists, and 1.5 rebounds while playing 28 minutes per game. His shooting percentages are 41.5% from the field and 30.5% from 3-point range. Young has career averages of 25.2 points and 9.8 assists per game, leading the NBA in assists last season with 11.6 per game.

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Mary J. Blige, Retiring, R&B Music, retire, actress, hall of fame
by Jameelah Mullen

January 8, 2026

Mary J. Blige Reunites With Lifetime Movie Network For 3 New Films, The First Starring Tisha Cambell & Mekhi Phifer

A movie mogul in the making.

Mary J. Blige signed a deal with Lifetime to produce three original films inspired by her music. The first film in the series is Be Happy, named after her hit single from the Grammy-nominated album My Life, released in 1994.

The movie focuses on 50-year-old Val (Tisha Campbell), a wife and stay-at-home mom trying to rediscover herself after her youngest child leaves for college. The new empty-nester struggles to reignite the spark in her marriage. 

“A spontaneous escape to New Orleans to support her pregnant daughter, Kayla (Zing Ashford), awakens long-buried dreams and passions and introduces her to Peter Mosley (Mekhi Phifer), a handsome and charismatic photographer who sees her in ways she has forgotten to see herself,” the movie’s synopsis states. 

Through her production company, Blue Butterfly Productions, Blige will serve as an executive producer. Other producers include Bruce Miller, Milana Edwards Brooks, Mona Scott-Young, and Angela White. The film will be directed by Gabourey Sidibe, marking the Precious actress’s directorial debut.

Previous movies inspired by Blige’s songs include Real Love, released in June 2023, named after the single from her 1992 debut album, What’s The 411? The film follows college sweethearts Kendra (Ajiona Alexus) and Ben (Da’Vinchi) as they navigate young love. Kendra and Ben’s story continues in Strength of a Woman, named after the singer’s 13th studio album. Two years later, the audience catches up with the couple in Family Affair, named after the singer’s 2001 single, whose lyrics introduced new words such as “hateration” and “dancerie” into the Black American lexicon. 

The three films collectively reached more than 6.1 million total viewers, Deadline reported. 

The entertainer has had a relationship with Lifetime that spans over a decade. Blige starred as Dr. Betty Shabazz and served as an executive producer for the 2013 film. She also executive-produced The Clark Sisters: The First Ladies of Gospel, released in 2020.

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Man, Conviction, Racist Threats, Pregnant Black Woman
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 8, 2026

The Miscarriage Of Justice: Twin Brothers Freed After Serving Double Their Legal Sentence

The twins were sentenced to 20 years in prison for a crime that carries a maximum sentence of five years

Two twin brothers, Marcus and Maurice Taylor, were granted clemency by Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves after both men had served twice the statutory maximum for the crime, according to the state’s guidelines. It was Reeves’ very first pardon as governor.

According to WFSB, the twins were sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of conspiracy to sell a Schedule III controlled substance under Mississippi law. The crime carries a maximum sentence of five years, yet the Taylors both served 11 years before being released in 2025.

Marcus was granted his release first, but it took several months for his brother to receive his clemency. It took action from the Mississippi Impact Coalition to make it happen. The organization fought to secure Maurice’s release for the same reason his brother was granted clemency. After submitting documents and requests for review to the attorney general’s office, the Mississippi Court of Appeals, and the solicitor general, the governor’s action made it a reality for the former prisoner.

Linda Myers, sister of Marcus and Maurice, spoke to the media outlet after her brothers were finally released from prison.

“When the system gets it wrong, this is what happens,” she said. “Families suffer. Families are shattered. Children go without parents when you get it wrong.”

If not for the efforts of all involved in getting the clemency from the governor, the Taylors would still be incarcerated for an additional nine years.

“If you become silent, you never get justice,” Myers said. “It can be 15 years, it can be 20 years, but there’s a breakthrough. This is a prime example right here.”

Sadly, although the family is happy with their return, the brothers weren’t recognized by their mother, who was diagnosed with dementia while they were imprisoned. 

“My mother was diagnosed with dementia while they were incarcerated a few years ago.” Myers said. “And when they came home, she did not recognize them. That also proved how much time had been lost.”

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memphis task force
by Sharelle B. McNair

January 8, 2026

The ‘Temu’ Fed: YouTubers Expose White Man Posing As ICE Agent Harassing A Black Motorist

Harvey said he almost immediately knew something was off by looking at his outfit, saying it looked like something he ordered from the retail e-commerce site, Temu.

Two YouTubers, self-described as community activists, stopped the unthinkable from happening by busting a white man in Galveston, Texas, pretending to be a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent while stopping a Black motorist. 

The incident occurred in November 2025 when Robert Harvey and Bruce Rebmann decided to investigate when they saw a man performing what looked like a routine traffic stop involving a Black motorist by himself. Video shows the two men approaching a man identified by the Galveston Police as Joshua Warner, who tried to distract Harvey and Rebmann by continuously shining a flashlight in their faces. 

Harvey said he almost immediately knew something was off when he looked at his outfit, which he said looked like something he ordered from the retail e-commerce site, Temu. “I noticed his gear and his outfit, it looked like it just came in from TEMU,” Harvey said, according to ABC 13. 

“It wasn’t like what real cops wear.”

https://twitter.com/Raindropsmedia1/status/2008005372213448891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2008005372213448891%7Ctwgr%5Eb21ad97bc5003ba9ffd7a329a0b72ca909eac7be%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fblavity.com%2Fwhite-man-arrested-pretending-to-be-ice-agent-detaining-a-black-motorist

The deception became more apparent when the creators noticed a police cruiser was absent from the scene. Harvey was heard on camera asking the suspect for his badge number and name, to which he responded, “I don’t have to give it to you.”

Before being picked up by a random blue sedan, Warner shoved what is now known as a fake badge in Rebmann’s face. As the video began circulating, Galveston Police launched an investigation, leading to Warner’s arrest on Dec. 22. He is being held on a $500,000 bond and faces two counts of impersonating a public servant; however, officials warn there may be more victims. 

Harvey said after the video launched on his YouTube page, he received “hundreds” of messages from all over, prompting similar instances. He says he feels like Warner needed to be exposed for playing a dangerous game. “I felt like this guy needed to be snitched on. That was very dangerous what he was doing,” the creator said. 

“We don’t like bad cops, but somebody pretending to be a bad cop is worse than a bad cop.”

Harvey was correct in his “dangerous” sentiments as ICE agents have been making headlines for their U.S. metro city takeovers, including Chicago, Los Angeles, and Minneapolis, some turning deadly. Agents working for the Department of Homeland Security under the direction of Secretary Kristi Noem have been accused of harassing people they deem to be illegal migrants, as President Donald Trump has pushed anti-immigrant rhetoric since his January 2025 inauguration. Several U.S. citizens have been taken into custody under alleged false pretenses, and some have even lost their lives. 

Just seven days into 2026, 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed after she allegedly tried to leave a hostile situation where ICE agents were forcibly trying to get her out of the car.

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Atlanta church, medical debt
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 8, 2026

Pastor Karri Bryant Responds To Backlash Over Dress Worn To UNCF Ball

Pastor Karri Bryant is shutting down the backlash she and Pastor Jamal Bryant have faced over the lace gown she wore to the UNCF Ball.

After Pastor Jamal Bryant publicly defended his wife’s UNCF ball dress from the pulpit, Pastor Karri Bryant is looking to move past the backlash surrounding the now-infamous outfit.

The New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Pastor and First Lady appeared on the Jan. 7 episode of the Tamron Hall Show, where they responded to public criticism they both received over the black lace gown with a flesh-colored illusion bodice Karri wore at the 2025 United Negro College Fund Atlanta Mayor’s Masked Ball on Dec. 20.

After Pastor Jamal Bryant’s fiery New Year’s Eve sermon, where he called out “insecure, jealous, petty, small-minded people” who took issue with the dress, he later told Hall he was “offended” by the backlash, including remarks from a fellow pastor who compared his treatment of his wife to that of a “prostitute,” but chose not to respond in a way that would discourage people from attending church.

“I don’t want them to take that offense to how church is or how the love of God is,” Jamal said.

For Karri, the pastor and author has tuned out the criticism by staying grounded in her purpose and secure in her identity in Christ.

“I hope and pray for women and men that see it is to be so anchored in who you are and who God has called you to be, that when even the noise is loud, you are still anchored in your own identity,” she said.

“If I listen to what I’ve heard many people say or if I read everything that I saw, I would probably be in a corner balled up somewhere, but I am clear about who created me,” she added.

The First Lady also urged people to focus on the more urgent issues facing the nation, emphasizing that her UNCF ball dress pales in comparison to the real challenges confronting the community.

“After you get done scrolling, our parents, many of us are still struggling with social security,” Karri said. “After you get done scrolling, there are still healthcare issues around insurance in this nation. After you get done scrolling, there are still upwards of 500,000 black women who are unemployed in this nation in 2025 going into this year, and so we have so many things that we can put our energy and our focus on, and that’s what I hope that we do.”

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50 Cent,Roku, Action, LG
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 8, 2026

50 Cent Action Scales Globally Across Major Streaming Platforms

You can view it on The Roku Channel,LG Channels, Prime Video, Plex, DirecTV, Vizio, and Xumo.

50 Cent introduced his own FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television) channel (50 Cent Action Channel) to the masses in late 2024, and at the recent CES (Consumer Technology Association) trade show, Tony Marlow, chief marketing officer of LG Ad Solutions, discussed the passion the Queens rapper had in becoming involved in another way to get some content to his audience. The channel is now available on multiple streaming platforms.

According to AfroTech, during a session that took place at CES 2026, “A Media Realignment: Streaming, The Creator Economy & Podcasts,” Marlow took the stage to speak to the attendees about another means for the “Many Men” rapper to extend his audience reach by agreeing to launch the 50 Cent Action channel. 

“This channel is something he feels very passionately about … He and his team were very engaged in saying, ‘We would love to come to a new front, discuss this on stage, let the advertisers know that this is a thing that they can get involved in as we also educate the consumers that there’s this new content available,’” Marlow said to the crowd.

50 initially debuted 50 Cent Action Dec. 10, 2024, as a FAST channel on the Roku Channel. The programs shown on it are curated by 50 himself. The channel is being done through a partnership with Lionsgate, which has been mutually beneficial for both parties. Last April, it was revealed that the 50 Cent Action channel was the top action channel on The Roku Channel and LG Channels. It’s also available on Prime Video, Plex, DirecTV, Vizio, and Xumo.

In June, the channel launched on Prime Video in the United Kingdom. Then, on his 50th birthday, July 6, the channel debuted on Pluto TV.

50 Cent Action is also available on Philo and other streaming platforms.

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