Vikings.Rondale Moore, Die,25 — (Photo: Tetra Images/Getty Images)

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 17, 2026

Prairie View A&M Football Coach Tremaine Jackson Negotiates Higher Salary For Coaching Staff

In his first season, he led the team to the SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference) title

Prairie View A&M University has rewarded its football coach, Tremaine Jackson, not only by increasing his salary but also by elevating the pay of his coaching staff after a successful season.

According to Sports Illustrated, Jackson, after months of negotiations with Prairie View A&M Athletic Director Anton Goff, his agent, and school officials, reworked his contract and made sure his staff was also taken care of. The move was to benefit those who helped him succeed in the program.

Jackson has an overall coaching record of 50-16 throughout his coaching career at Prairie View A&M, Valdosta State, and Colorado Mesa. This past season, with a 10-4 record in his first year leading Prairie View A&M, the team won the SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference) title, the school’s first since 2009. This enabled Jackson to increase his staff’s salaries by around 35%.

Prairie View A&M has amended HC Tremaine Jackson’s contract, giving him a significant salary and staff pool bump, a source tells @mzenitz, @bmarcello and, me for @CBSSports.

Jackson’s salary and the staff pool both jump by around 35%. There is also an increased rev share… pic.twitter.com/DypOLkvERQ

— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) April 15, 2026

“I never got into this deal for myself,” Jackson told HBCU Legends. “We never did it for money. I haven’t done it for free. But these coaches, man, to be able to increase the salary pool and give these guys what I believe they deserve for what FCS programs have today, that was really big for me.”

Jackson also spoke about the talent level of his coaches, noting that he lost two of them: one left to work at Missouri, and another accepted the offensive coordinator job at Valdosta State. The salary raise will make it harder for other coaches to leave for greener pastures. He mentioned that the coaches were underpaid compared to what similar coaches earn in the market.

“Those guys that took a chance and came with me, now they’ve been rewarded drastically compared to what we all made if I lost the state,” Jackson said.

Bali, Ohio, arrest, GoFundMe — (Photo: Bill Oxford/Getty Images)

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 16, 2026

Black Woman On FBI’s Top 10 Most Wanted List Found And Detained In Florida

Ahead of her arrest, KaShawn Nicola Roper was on the FBI's high priority tasks, with the federal agency initially telling the public to remain alert for the armed and dangerous woman.

A Black woman on the FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list has been found and arrested in Florida.

Ahead of her arrest, KaShawn Nicola Roper was on the FBI’s watchlist, with the federal agency telling the public to remain alert for the armed and dangerous woman. She is currently a suspect in a 2020 shooting in Kansas City, Missouri.

According to reports obtained by 11Alive, Roper allegedly fired multiple shots at a car, hitting two women. One of the shooting victims died from the gunshots.

Authorities charged Roper with second-degree murder, armed criminal action, and unlawful use of a weapon. However, she managed to escape police custody for years until now.

In 2021, law enforcement issued a federal arrest warrant for Roper on another charge, listed as unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Investigators uncovered the 50-year-old’s ties to Georgia, encouraging the state’s residents to disclose any information if spotted.

As she remained unaccounted for, the FBI’s Most Wanted team established a reward of up to $1,000,000 for information leading to her arrest. According to her FBI Most Wanted poster, Roper used various aliases and maintained connections across multiple states.

Alongside her given name, the former fugitive also changed her middle name to Nicole or Nicola and adopted another last name, Shaw. As for where agents believed she would escape to, they listed other states, including Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, Colorado, and even South Dakota.

Police eventually captured her, but in an entirely different state than expected. On April 10, FBI agents stationed in Jacksonville detained Roper in High Springs, Florida. The federal agents worked with local officers and U.S. Marshals to finally locate the wanted individual after the years-long evasion.

Now, Roper may finally face prosecution for the alleged crime, putting an end to the long-distance pursuit.

africa, map, continent, Togo — Photo by Yan Krukau from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-person-in-a-blazer-pointing-at-a-map-of-the-world-8617950/

by Kandiss Edwards

April 16, 2026

This African Nation Says Its Time For World Map To Reflect The Continent’s True Size

The initiative seeks to move international organizations, governments and educational institutions away from the 16th-century Mercator projection.

The government of Togo has formally petitioned the United Nations to adopt a world map that accurately reflects Africa’s true land area.

Togo officials argue that the widely used projections are geographically misleading and downplay the continent’s global significance. Togo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Robert Dussey, confirmed that the resolution will soon be ready for a vote at the UN General Assembly in September 2026, Africa News reported. The initiative seeks to move international organizations, governments, and educational institutions away from the 16th-century Mercator projection in favor of alternatives such as the Equal Earth projection.

Foreign Minister Dussey stated that the current visual representation of the globe is a matter of scientific inaccuracy rather than preference. He noted that the size seen on most maps is geographically false and that the time has come for the international community to embrace scientific truth. The move is part of a broader “Correct the Map” campaign.

This is the true size of Africa pic.twitter.com/UC2xee22R2
— Science girl (@sciencegirl) April 14, 2026

Proponents of the change argue that map distortions are not merely academic errors but carry profound psychological and political consequences. Moky Makura, executive director of Africa No Filter, described the persistence of the Mercator map as a long-standing misinformation campaign that has marginalized Africa’s identity and influenced global perceptions in media, policy, and education.

“Accurate representation is not just about maps — it is about agency, progress, and ensuring the world sees Africa as it truly is,” Makura told Reuters.

The African Union’s 55 member states adopted a resolution to stop using the Mercator projection within their own borders, Macao News reported. The AU has tasked Togo with leading the diplomatic effort to elevate this policy to a global standard. While the United Nations currently uses various projections, including the Robinson projection, it does not mandate a specific world map for its member states.

The Mercator projection, created in 1569 for nautical navigation, preserves the shapes of countries but significantly distorts their relative sizes. Because the map enlarges landmasses farther from the equator, regions like Greenland and North America appear disproportionately large, while the African continent appears visually shrunken. In reality, Africa covers approximately 30 million square kilometers and is 14 times the size of Greenland, yet the two often appear similar in size on standard maps.

The upcoming September vote is being framed by African diplomats as a test of global commitment to equity and decolonization. Dussey suggested that the international response to the proposal will reveal the true intentions of world powers regarding African representation.

NYPD, Police, Queens, Wheelchair, NYC — Photo by Eduard Baehler/Getty Imaegs

by Kandiss Edwards

April 16, 2026

‘I’m Not Resisting’: NYPD Beats Brooklyn Man They Allegedly Profiled As A Drug Dealer

The officers were allegedly conducting a drug investigation based on a tip regarding narcotics sales in the area.

A Brooklyn man was forcefully detained by police after allegedly being mistaken for a drug dealer at a local liquor store.

Timothy Brown is speaking out, as camera footage reveals him being roughly arrested on April 14 during an incident of mistaken identity. Brown’s arrest occurred at the BK Wine Depot in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. The officers were allegedly conducting a drug investigation based on a tip regarding narcotics sales in the area.

Officers claimed Brown matched the description of another suspect. However, Brown was simply a customer who had entered the store to make a purchase. In the footage, Brown can be heard speaking calmly but firmly, stating his name and clarifying that he is not in possession of any illegal substances.

“They slammed me up against the glass, you know, repeatedly hitting me in the temple, in my head, you know? You see my eye’s black,” he told CBS News. “Several bottles were broken in the liquor store because they swung me and they actually dragged me on the floor in glass, and that can be seen on camera.”

A pair of NYPD cops were stripped of their guns and badges Wednesday after repeatedly punching a man they mistook for a drug dealer who refused to be handcuffed inside a Brooklyn liquor store

We thought we were getting stuck up. The officers did not say we're NYPD," said witness… pic.twitter.com/UtIzlryBGW
— LASHY BILLS (@LASHYBILLS) April 16, 2026

New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch issued a brief statement on X, noting that the incident is under internal review.

“These videos are deeply disturbing, and the matter is under active investigation by the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau. The officers in question are modified. Their guns and shields have been removed.”

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani spoke out against the incident and assured the public that an investigation into the incident was underway.

“The violence used by NYPD officers in this video is extremely disturbing and unacceptable. Officers should never treat a person this way. The NYPD is conducting a full investigation into this incident,” Mamdani wrote.

Morehouse College — Photo by Joi Stokes/Getty Images

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 16, 2026

Philly Native Behind Viral Acceptance Letter Celebrates Being Named ‘Mr. Morehouse’

Amir Staten, the Philadelphia native who went viral for his acceptance into Morehouse College, has been named “Mr. Morehouse.”

Three years after Philadelphia native Amir Staten went viral for his response to receiving a full-ride scholarship to Morehouse College, the junior has now earned the prestigious title of “Mr. Morehouse.”

On April 10, Staten shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, thanking Morehouse College, his mentors, and loved ones for helping him earn the title of “Mr. Morehouse.” The honor recognizes exceptional leadership, scholarship, and service at the prestigious Atlanta HBCU—qualities that the sociology major with a minor in political science reflected on in his post.

“To my directors and mentors along the journey,” Staten wrote. “We all know this journey has not been the easiest for me, between battling health issues, loss, times of stress, and thoughts of doubt, y’all have stuck in my corner through it all, and I wouldn’t trade every hiccup, bump or bruise I experienced throughout this journey for the world. Y’all have instilled in me a new-found confidence in myself, and I wouldn’t trade the long days and nights for anything!”

Staten continued. “To my pbs😂😂I could write a book about us and the way in which we navigated through this journey. All 7 of y’all have given me a whole new outlook on what brotherhood, family, and love for those around you looks like. We’ve been through the highest of highs and lowest of lows (TRUST ME IT WASN’T EASY). But y’all are the reason I am still even standing here still today! We’ve had an experience like no other!”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Amir Staten (@amir_st27)

A graduate of Philadelphia’s Germantown Friends School, Staten earned the title through a competitive process that included oratory, a talent showcase, and student voting. The honor goes to a student who embodies Morehouse College’s values while securing top judges’ scores and the majority of students’ votes.

“This title is very new at Morehouse,” Staten told The Philadelphia Tribune. “I’m only the second person to ever receive it.”

Staten, set to graduate in 2027, plans to pursue a career in politics. During his time at Morehouse College, he has interned with state Sen. Art Haywood, worked with the City Council, and held a role at W Strategies LLC, a Philadelphia-based lobbying firm. Off campus, he remains closely tied to his hometown, serving as a longtime member of Shoot Basketballs Not People, a nonprofit focused on reducing gun violence through mentorship, wellness programs, and sports.

During the oratory portion of the competition, Staten centered his speech on moving from survival to healing, drawing deeply from his personal experiences and Philadelphia roots. He also stood out in the talent segment, delivering a spoken-word poem—on roller skates.

“My great-grandmother, who passed away this summer, was a poet,” he said. “I didn’t even know that when I first started writing at around 8 or 9 years old. Poetry just became something I loved.”

Staten, who earned his scholarship to Morehouse College after years as an honor student and has maintained a GPA of at least 3.5, said the school has surpassed his expectations. He ended his Instagram message by thanking the college for what he called a life-changing experience.

“Finally to Mother Morehouse. I’m not sure who or where I’d be without you,” Staten wrote. “The love and passion I’ve grown for this institution has grown TREMENDOUSLY throughout my journey, and I thank you for the endless opportunities you have given me. To everything there is a season, and in this one I’ve accomplished something 10 year old Amir would have never thought he would. I am your Mister Morehouse College. Signing on!”

Dexter Lawrence — photo credit: All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 16, 2026

NY Giants’ Brian Burns Insists Team ‘Figure It Out’ With Contract Negotiations For Dexter Lawrence

'Get it done. I don't want to see somebody else in that 97 besides Dex.'

After Dexter Lawrence requested a trade from the New York Giants, his teammate Brian Burns said that the team isn’t the same without “No. 97 in the middle.” He is hoping that the sides can work it out between them, stressing Lawrence’s importance to the team.

According to The New York Post, Burns is in favor of the team meeting his teammates’ demands after contract negotiations recently broke down. He wants Lawrence to remain a Giant, despite his trade request.

“Speaking for me, the Giants ain’t the Giants without No. 97 in the middle,” Burns told the media outlet. “So we are going to figure that out to keep him here regardless, I hope. That’s my boy. And I don’t want to play this season or any other season without him.”

According to USA Today, the nose tackle will be entering the third year of a four-year, $90 million extension he inked after the 2022 season. He is looking for more money.

ESPN reports that the team’s general manager, Joe Schoen, and the new head coach, John Harbaugh, said the Giants would like a solution that makes both sides happy, as the team wants him in a Giants uniform.

“I’ll echo what coach said last week: We’d like for Dexter to be here, and at some point, we’ll come to a resolution here, whatever that may be. We’ll see. But conversations have been really good, they’ve been productive, and we’ll see what happens here down the road,” said Schoen.

Lawrence did not have a great year statistically. He recorded just 31 tackles and 0.5 sacks, the lowest totals of his career, but he is still considered a vital player on defense. Burns understands his strengths and knows that “business is business,” but reiterated that he prefers Lawrence to play right beside him.

“Business is business,” Burns said to ESPN. “I’ve been through it. … How I feel technically is that we just need him in the building, regardless of whatever it is. Figure it out. Get it done. I don’t want to see somebody else in that 97 besides Dex. So that’s just my take on it.”

Akon, Jeffree Star — (Photo: Shane Anthony Sinclair/Getty Images)

by Jameelah Mullen

April 16, 2026

No Regrets: Akon Defends ‘Street Code Violation’ In Working With Tekashi 6ix9ine

The superproducer says 'street code' is dead.

Akon is setting the record straight about a controversial choice he made in 2020, when he faced backlash for collaborating with Tekashi 6ix9ine on a “Locked Up” remix. In a new interview with The Shade Room, he says he’d make the same decision again.

The online criticism stemmed from Tekashi’s reputation as a “snitch” after he cooperated with federal authorities in 2019 to reduce his racketeering sentence. After the single’s release, rapper Tory Lanez, who publicly expressed his desire to work with Akon on the remix, took to social media to express his disappointment.

“So what y’all telling me is …. Akon gave the #LockedUpRemix / SAMPLE to someone else !?!?? And not me?!???? I’m going back to bed, man,” the rapper who is currently serving 10 years in prison wrote on X.

Other fans agreed with Lanez, condemning the superproducer for violating “street code” by associating with Tekashi 6ix9ine.

Akon says he can’t violate what doesn’t exist.

“There is no street code,” the producer said.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom)

He noted that the codes he grew up with, which were once followed, are no longer practiced by the younger generation.

“Everybody’s disobeying the codes, so there are no codes to even follow,” the artist said.

The singer-songwriter also added that he chose to give the sample to Tekashi to reach a particular audience.

“It was more of a creative decision and a generational decision. Because the generation that I needed to speak to, they all followed Tekashi at that time,” the artist said.

During the interview, the star discussed another controversial topic, polygamy. The Muslim Senegalese-American explained that a man having multiple wives is traditional. He also defends his friend Neyo’s lifestyle, which involves having multiple girlfriends.

“I applaud him for doing it, because he’s doing what a lot of guys wish and would want to do, they just don’t have the balls to be honest with the girls that they’re dealing with, Akon said.

The loverboy friends will join forces as they co-headline “Nights Like This” Global Tour. The 57-city tour kicks off Friday, April 24, in Dublin, Ireland.

Tamera Mowry-Housley, Trailblazer Award — (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 16, 2026

Tamera Mowry Deletes Threads Account After Questioned On MAGA Ties

The Disney actress quickly deleted her Threads account over the MAGA questioning.

Tamera Mowry-Housley had a short stint on Threads, deleting the social media account after users questioned if she aligned with MAGA.

Mowry-Housley made her Threads debut on April 13, starting her new profile with a short and sweet, “I’m new here.” However, not everyone gave her a warm welcome.

Instead, the former “Sister, Sister” actress received warnings about expected behavior on the platform. Underneath her introductory post, other Threads users let her know that prior rules of celebrity engagement don’t exist here.

According to Aol.com, one user commented, “Rules: You will not be treated like a celebrity here. What is your stance on January 6?”

Others began to jump on the “rules” train, another letting her know, “Watch yourself TaMAGA.”

A third user referenced her former character on the ’90s teen sitcom. They also emphasized how the Housley version of the entertainer would not pass on the platform.

“Go ahead and head out,” shared the commenter. “On this app they either love on you or don’t. And when they don’t, it’s ruthless. Over here, they like Tamera Campbell and Tamera Mowry, but they don’t eff with Tamera Mowry-Housley.”

With the wave of critiques, Mowry’s time on Threads came to an abrupt end. However, the married mother of two has previously faced criticism for her husband, Adam Housley, and his divisive views. Housley was a reporter with Fox News for nearly two decades until 2018.

Given his alignment with the more conservative network, fans of his wife began to question her political stances, leading them to immediately probe the ex-Disney actress on the app. While the two have sparked controversies whenever Housley shares his political views on social media, even aligning with some Trump policies, he put an end to the MAGA rumors in 2018.

“This is just for clarification, so if you see any stupid people spewing lies…per usual…have them refer to this tweet. @TameraMowryTwo and I did not support [Donald] Trump or Hillary [Clinton], and nowhere has there ever been anything said to prove such,” he wrote during Trump’s first term.

While he denounced any alignment with Trump, their shared family views do not indicate liberal tendencies either. Given this, Mowry-Housley has kept things mostly silent on the political front, especially amid her Black fanbase.

However, her self-induced banishment from Threads comes amid a wave of zero-tolerance policies toward alleged Black Trump supporters. TLC singer Chili recently caught virtual hands after reposting racist imagery of Michelle Obama. She denied her status as a MAGA supporter, although political donations suggested otherwise.

RELATED CONTENT: Double Exposure: Tia & Tamera Mowry

Nurse, Abortion Pills, arrest — Photo by Malikov Aleksandr/Getty Images

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 16, 2026

Florida Doctor Arrested For Manslaughter After Allegedly Taking Wrong Organ During Surgery

The doctor removed the man's liver instead of his spleen, as blood loss prompted the 70-year-old's death.

A Florida doctor is facing manslaughter charges for allegedly removing the wrong organ during surgery.

According to ABC 7, Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky was indicted for second-degree manslaughter by a grand jury for the fatal surgery, which occurred in August 2024. Prosecutors alleged that the botched operation led to “catastrophic blood loss,” resulting in the death of a 70-year-old man.

The senior citizen, who hails from Alabama, came in expecting the removal of his spleen. Instead, Shaknovsky removed his liver, with the man dying on the operating table. The patient’s widow revealed his identity to NBC News as Bill Bryan.

For the deadly mistake, Shaknovsky was detained on April 13 in Miramar Beach, Florida. The 44-year-old physician was transported to Walton County Jail ahead of his hearing the following day.

The legal filing detailed that Shaknovsky recommended the surgery after the 70-year-old Bryan arrived at Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital Emerald Coast with abdominal pain. After further inspection revealed a “suspected enlarged spleen,” Shaknovsky advised the old man to let him remove the organ.

The filing noted that Shaknovsky “continued to pressure” the man into agreeing to the operation, although Bryan wished to return home to Alabama. The patient also went into cardiac arrest during the procedure. The legal document mentioned that Shaknovsky proceeded with the operation anyway.

“Dr. Shaknovsky removed an organ he believed to be the spleen, but due to his shock and the chaos, he was unable to properly identify the organ,” the filing states.

Shaknovsky listed his cause of death as a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm. However, an autopsy later found “no evidence” of the issue.

Following the deadly procedure, the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners filed a court order to suspend Shaknovsky’s medical license. It was subsequently suspended in Florida and New York as well.

Now, the elderly man’s family remains at a loss over the preventable death. Furthermore, they still wonder how such grave malpractice could happen.

“When I tell people what happened, it still sounds too awful to be true that that could happen,” explained Byran’s widow, Beverly Bryan. “I still have trouble believing it happened myself. Can you imagine?”

Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, president, endorse, vice president — (Photo: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters/File Photo)

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 16, 2026

Joe Biden Divides Internet After Bringing Man Onstage Who ‘Resembles’ Barack Obama

Biden joked about a Syracuse University trustee's resemblance to Barack Obama.

Joe Biden is facing mixed backlash after bringing a man onstage and noting his similarity to Barack Obama.

Biden’s comments raised eyebrows after he appeared at Syracuse University. Recorded by C-SPAN, Biden returned to his alma mater for the unveiling of his portrait at the Albany-based law school.

Its On Site reposted footage of the televised encounter between the former President and the chairman of the law school’s Board of Trustees.

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A post shared by Onsite!® (@its_onsite)

“I always want to turn around to one guy and say.. ‘Barack, what are you doing?'” Biden joked while the audience laughed.

As the man, identified as Jeffrey M. Scruggs, walked up to the stage, Biden mentioned the resemblance to his former boss.

“I feel like he should be standing on the right and I should be standing on the left,” Biden shared as he stood alongside Scruggs.

According to Fox News, the comment referenced a backstage joke between the two public figures. A source reportedly told the news outlet that Scruggs’ daughter wanted the chairman to ask Biden if he favored Obama.

However, not all who witnessed the event found the joke a laughing matter. X users had divisive comments on the issue, with some calling the moment harmless.

One Tennessee Democratic politician, Chris D. Jackson, wanted right-wingers not to spin the moment to fit an anti-Biden narrative.

He's not under fire from anyone except right wing loons. The guy literally looks like him. pic.twitter.com/lAJIAqnVON
— Chris D. Jackson (@ChrisDJackson) April 14, 2026

Others, however, took the joke as a signal of Biden’s racial bias.

Admittedly, all black people look the same to Joe…
— Toecutta (@Toecutta1) April 15, 2026

“Admittedly, all black people look the same to Joe…” wrote another.

As the moment gained traction, many mentioned how conservatives used the comment to remark on Biden’s older age and mental state. Supporters of Biden called out the alleged right-wing agenda to discredit the 83-year-old.

Another naysayer also noted a potential double standard if Trump had made the same joke. However, given the vastly different relationship he has with Obama, the joke would have probably landed differently.

I look forward to seeing if any democrats actually say something about this.

If Trump said this people would be calling for his head
— Gen Z Cynic (@ZCynic54589) April 14, 2026

“If Trump said this, people would be calling for his head,” shared the X user.

While some have called for greater backlash, most Democrats have taken the incident as an innocent exchange. Others have even admitted that Scruggs’ facial features resemble those of the former President.