by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 23, 2025

Football Executive Admits NFL Does Not Allow Teams To Post On Bluesky

'Well, right now we’re not allowed to. We had an account briefly on Bluesky but the league asked us to take it down,' says the executive

On a recent podcast, an executive with the New England Patriots revealed that the NFL does not allow teams to use the X alternative social platform, Bluesky, and was told not to engage on the site.

According to Awful Announcing, while appearing on an episode of Patriots Unfiltered, Fred Kirsch, the host of the show who is also the VP of content for Kraft Sports & Entertainment/New England Patriots, responded to an inquiry from a sports fan. Kirsch explained that a fan questioned when the team would incorporate the Bluesky platform as one of the platforms the NFL team uses.

“Please consider adding Bluesky to your social media outreach,” Kirsch read from the inquiry. “NFL content/engagement is growing there with folks like Mina Kimes leading the way.”

Kirsh explains that there was an active account on the platform until the NFL requested that it be taken down as it is not an approved social media platform for the league.

“Well, right now, we’re not allowed to. We had an account briefly on Bluesky, but the league asked us to take it down because it’s not an approved social media platform for the NFL yet.”

Kirsch did state that they will be using Bluesky once the NFL allows them to do so.

“So, we’re ready to go,” added Kirsch. “Whenever the league gives us the green light, we’ll get back on Bluesky.”

The media outlet stated that they reached out to both the NFL and Bluesky to inquire as to the reason the league is not allowing teams to have an account on the platform, but did not hear back from either company.

SB Nation reported that people have been leaving X due to the way Elon Mask has been running the platform since the purchase. Bluesky, which has seen a boost in new users in the past several months, now has 28 million users.

RELATED CONTENT: OPINION: Could Bluesky Have A Racism Problem?

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 23, 2025

UNC Freshman Ian Jackson Partners With Chopt For Limited Edition Salad

'This salad is a celebration of my journey, and I hope it inspires people both on and off the court,' Ian Jackson stated

University of North Carolina basketball freshman Ian Jackson has partnered with Chopt Creative Salad Co. to collaborate on a new menu item that will be featured at all locations for a limited time.

The menu item, “Ian Jackson’s Slam Dunk Caesar Salad,” is already available for sale at every Chopt location across the country.

“Growing up in the Bronx taught me the importance of hard work, community, and never giving up,” Ian Jackson said in a written statement. “Partnering with Chopt is an incredible opportunity to share my story and encourage others to pursue their dreams. This salad is a celebration of my journey, and I hope it inspires people both on and off the court.”

The salad features items that Jackson personally prefers in his bowl. The salad features romaine lettuce, panko fried chicken, jalapeño peppers, corn, pickled red onions, cotija cheese, tortilla chips, and Mexican Caesar dressing. Customers can purchase Ian Jackson’s Slam Dunk Caesar Salad until Feb. 12, when the promotion ends.

“We couldn’t be more excited to collaborate with such an inspiring and driven young athlete,” says Chopt founder Colin McCabe. “Ian’s incredible journey from the Bronx to UNC embodies resilience, determination, and excellence—all values we share at Chopt. This partnership celebrates Ian’s passion for basketball and our commitment to crafting bold, high-quality salads that bring people together.”

The company will celebrate the partnership by hosting a special Café Day at PS70 in the Bronx, where Jackson grew up. Jackson is sponsoring the event through donations, swag, samples of his signature salad, and more. Chopt also plans to donate new basketballs for the school’s physical education program for the school that Jackson attended when he was younger.

The freshman player is a former five-star recruit who attended Cardinal Hayes High School and Our Saviour Lutheran School in the Bronx.

by Kandiss Edwards

January 23, 2025

Mayor Brandon Scott Condemns ‘Sucker Behavior’ After Baltimore Shooting

Scott is known for his direct style.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott s poke directly to suspects involved in a triple shooting that occurred in the 5400 block of York Road in North Baltimore.

The mayor vowed to seek justice and condemned the “sucker behavior” of the killers. Speaking with Fox 45, Scott assured the public that efforts were underway to apprehend those responsible for the shooting, which left a 52-year-old woman dead and two others hospitalized.

“Two of the individuals we are looking for—and we will find—you have one opportunity to turn yourself in and keep any decency you have. This is unacceptable,” he said. Scott was stern in his admonishment, even employing colloquialisms to address the criminals. “We will not tolerate, as we say in the streets, sucker behavior.”

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Scott is no stranger to standing up for the people of Baltimore—and himself. Following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in May 2024, Scott’s qualifications were called into question. A social media user referred to Scott as a DEI hire, insinuating that he was unprepared for the job and claiming, “It’s going to get so much worse” under his administration.

He spoke with MSNBC’s Joy Reid, clarifying his position and striking back at what he believes are the motives of his detractors.

“Young Black men have been the boogeyman for those who are racist,” Scott said. “What they mean by DEI, in my opinion, is Duly Elected Incumbent. We know what they want to say, but they don’t have the courage to say the N-word.”

In 2011, Scott became one of the youngest elected officials to the Baltimore City Council at 27 years old. His relative youth and charisma has made him popular with many residents. Scott was elected to his second mayoral term in Dec. 2024.

Donald Trump,judge, DEI, Executive orders

by Kandiss Edwards

January 23, 2025

BREAKING NEWS: Trump’s Challenge To Birthright Citizenship Deemed ‘Unconstitutional’

Federal Judge blocks implementation of the "Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship" executive order.

On Jan. 23, A federal judge in Seattle blocked the “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship” executive order issued by President Trump, Reuters reported.

United States District Judge John Coughenour blocked the order that challenges American birthright citizenship. Judge Coughenour called the executive order “blatantly unconstitutional.”

The Constitution emphatically states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens.”

The legal fight over the executive order began almost immediately after the recently sworn-in president started his tenure. According to reports, “Five lawsuits by civil rights groups and Democratic attorneys general from 22 states” have been filed challenging the decree.

Speaking on behalf of the Democratic state attorneys general, Washington Assistant Attorney General Lane Polozola stressed the extreme implications of the order’s implementation.

“Under this order, babies being born today don’t count as U.S. citizens,” Polozola said during the hearing.

The Trump administration is not refuting the idea of denying American-born babies citizenship. Instead, it is claiming that the concept of birthright citizenship as defined by the 14th Amendment is skewed.

The government has moved to define rightful citizenship as:

When the person’s mother was unlawfully present in the United States and the person’s father was not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of birth.
When the person’s mother’s presence in the United States was lawful but temporary, and the person’s father was not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of birth.

The attempt to redefine birthright citizenship is a slippery and dangerous slope. When Black people were once considered three-fifths of a person, the 14th Amendment was put in place to clarify and solidify Black people’s rights to live in this nation and be counted.

Though the claims of the current administration do not seek to deny Black Americans’ rights, it is imperative that the Constitution remains untouched.

This story is developing as the current administration will likely present a challenge to the courts.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 23, 2025

Federal Workers Could Face ‘Adverse Consequences’ For Not Outing DEI Colleagues

Federal workers are being pressured to identify any colleagues still involved in DEI work following Donald Trump’s rapid removal of federal DEI employees.

As part of President Donald Trump’s swift removal of federal DEI workers, other federal workers are being forced to identify any colleagues whose job relates to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

On Wednesday, just two days after Trump was sworn back into office, emails were sent to federal employees warning that they could face “adverse consequences” if they fail to report colleagues working in diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility roles that may have gone under the radar of government supervisors, NBC News reports.

The warning is a result of a policy that placed all federal DEI workers on paid leave by the end of the day before being laid off.

To confirm their exits, the Trump administration is calling on remaining federal workers to out their colleagues doing DEI-related work.

“We are aware of efforts by some in government to disguise these programs by using coded or imprecise language,” the emails stated.

Federal workers are being instructed to report to the Office of Personnel Management if they are “aware of a change in any contract description or personnel position description since Nov. 5, 2024, to obscure the connection between the contract and DEIA or similar ideologies,” the email adds.

“There will be no adverse consequences for timely reporting this information. However, failure to report this information within 10 days may result in adverse consequences.”

The move comes after the series of executive orders Trump signed on his first day in office Monday, which aimed to dismantle DEI and accessibility “mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities in the Federal Government, under whatever name they appear.”

“These programs divided Americans by race, wasted taxpayer dollars, and resulted in shameful discrimination,” the OPM said in its memo, which provided a template email that multiple heads could use to distribute to employees.

Much of Trump’s initial actions have been aimed at reversing DEI efforts made by previous administrations, including President Lyndon B. Johnson’s 1965 executive order for affirmative action.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 23, 2025

CC Sabathia Voted Into Baseball Hall Of Fame; Third ‘Black Ace’ To Make It In

The World Series champion will be enshrined in Cooperstown on July 27.

Former New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday, Jan. 21, becoming the third of 15 “Black Aces”—a Black pitcher who won more than 20 games in a season—to earn baseball’s highest honor.

Sabathia won 21 games with the Yankees in 2010. He joins Ferguson Jenkins, who won 20 games from 1967 to 1972 and 1974, and Bob Gibson, who reached the milestone five times, in Cooperstown.

The three men also won the Cy Young Award, which is given to the best pitcher in the American and National Leagues. Gibson, one of the most dominant pitchers of the 1960s, won it twice during his lengthy career with the St. Louis Cardinals.

CC you in Cooperstown.#LegaCCy | @CC_Sabathia pic.twitter.com/EJuBlga2JH

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) January 21, 2025

USA Today reported that Sabathia did say that he wished that Jim “Mudcat” Grant were alive to hear the news of him making it to the Hall of Fame.

“I got a chance to meet Mudcat Grant younger in my career,” Sabathia said. “I didn’t understand what it meant to win 20 games as a Black starting pitcher. He made sure that I understood what it would mean.

“I’m very appreciative of having him in my life, and in my career, and just happy I was able to fulfill this dream he put in front of me.”

Sabathia won 251 games during his career and won the American League Cy Young Award in 2007. He also appeared in six All-Star Games. He played for three teams: the Yankees, the Cleveland Guardians, and the Milwaukee Brewers.

The left-hander will be enshrined in Cooperstown on July 27 along with Ichiro Suzuki, Billy Wagner, the late Dick Allen, and Dave Parker at the Clark Sports Center.

by Kandiss Edwards

January 23, 2025

Philadelphia Organization Protects African Girls Reproductive Health By Sewing Period Panties

The Philidelphia organization creates reusable period panties for African girls.

Black women in Philadelphia have banded together to address “menstrual hygiene management” in Africa. The group meets weekly to sew reusable panties for young African girls.

Ujima Friends Peace Center hosts the group, named the Pan-African Sisterhood Health Initiative. Up to 35 Black women, one white woman, and one Black man arrive faithfully to create “reusable, washable cotton menstruation pads,” according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Maisha Sullivan-Ongoza, founder of the Pan-African Sisterhood Health Initiative, spoke to the outlet about the organization’s goals.

“We use 100% cotton fabric. We researched and found a commercial product called Zorb, a 100% compressed cotton that absorbs liquid that is seven to eight times its weight. Then we used a laminated cotton material as the water-resistant layer,” she said.

Through meticulous research to ensure the product is safe, effective, and has long-term sustainability, Sullivan-Ongoza believes the construction of the product will change and save lives.

“I just love the impact it’s having. They’re not using something that’s unhealthy. They are not vulnerable to [sexual] predators taking advantage of them [in exchange for buying pads]. They have something so they can manage their periods with dignity.”

Period poverty is harming young women across the African continent. Over the years, the cost of period products has increased in multiple countries. A 2022 report by Global Citizen highlights the stories of young women whose education and lives are hindered by their inability to access period products.

“I skipped school because once I stained my uniform, the boys teased me. It has affected my confidence,” Opoku, 15, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone from Ghana’s southern Ashanti Region.

Skipping school is only one of the worries the 15-year-old faces. Without regular access to pads or tampons, the Ghanaian girl is forced to free-bleed or use alternatives such as baby diapers and random scraps of cloth. The use of alternative products comes with a risk to hygiene and health. Women without the ability to clean and replenish period products risk infection that can lead to a host of reproductive health issues.

“Girls can contract general bacterial infections from using pieces of cloth,” said Anita Asamoah, an independent public health advocate. “If proper care is not taken, these infections can later lead to pelvic inflammatory disease or infertility.”

The Philadelphian organization is working to ensure that African girls do not suffer from these horrible circumstances. The Pan-African Sisterhood Health Initiative’s period panties are reusable for up to three years if maintained properly.

by Kandiss Edwards

January 23, 2025

Australian Cruise Line Evokes Wild, Racist KKK Imagery To Unsuspecting American Passengers

An Australian cruise line made costumes that resembled the KKK's infamous garb.

P&O Cruises Australia issued an apology after a video surfaced showing its staff in “snow cone” costumes resembling Ku Klux Klan robes, The Telegraph reports.

The incident occurred on the Pacific Explorer voyage from Melbourne to Hobart. Lynne Scrivens, the communications director for P&O Cruises Australia, said the crew was unaware of the American nationalist group and was simply trying to provide a great holiday experience.

“No one can seriously think that was their intention,” Scrivens told Australian radio station 2GB. “They were so distressed… they really are hard-working and try their hardest to deliver guests amazing holidays.”

The crew wore white pants, white shirts, and white cone-shaped hats.

Teri, a passenger who captured the video footage, spoke to Daily Mail Australia, saying the outfits shocked passengers and left many speechless.

“Everyone was there, everyone gathered, it was advertised, there was a lot of noise, and it went dead quiet. Just silent. A lady sitting in front of me, her jaw dropped, she was like, ‘What the hell?’ Everyone was like, ‘OMG.’ They were calling it the ‘KKK cruise,’” she said.

Passengers on a P&O cruise were left shocked when members of the ship crew seemingly dressed up in KKK attire.

P&O Cruises Australia has said the costumes were meant to be snow cones and have been misconstrued. pic.twitter.com/pheHMl136E

— The Project (@theprojecttv) January 22, 2025

According to Scrivens, no passengers complained at the time of the event, but management immediately asked the staff members to change their costumes.

While international cruise employees working on an Australian line may not be familiar with the significance of the Ku Klux Klan, other countries are aware of it. A report on Nov. 9, 2024, by Canadian news outlet CBC highlighted a rise in the use of KKK imagery by Canadian citizens.

“Joke or not, they are essentially symptomatic of this larger effort to make these very, very dangerous behaviors seem normal,” said David Hofmann, director of criminology at the University of New Brunswick.

Hofmann believes that wearing a costume resembling decades-long campaigns of terror shows how the general public is becoming either apathetic or desensitized to societal norms. He argues the act is an attempt to normalize the support of hate organizations and should not be taken as a joke.

Atlanta, Hartsfield-Jackson, snnow, ice, weather,

by Kandiss Edwards

January 23, 2025

Hartsfield-Jackson Airport Faces Delays as Employees Call Out Due Snowstorm

Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is behind schedule due to an historic snowstorm.

Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport experienced an extreme employee shortage on Jan. 21 and 22 as half of the airport staff called out due to icy roads, snowfall ,and school cancellations, WSB-TV reports.

Atlanta received an inch of snow, which, according to reports, is record-breaking for the Southern city and placed Georgia in a state of emergency. Many counties received shelter-in-place warnings.

Travelers showed up at the airport 4-6 hours early. Hartsfield-Jackson spokesperson Andy Gobeil said major events in the city and early arrivals contributed to congestion in the TSA lines.

“It was the end of a three-day weekend. We had major events here at the airport, including, of course, the college football playoff and MLK celebrations, plus the threat of weather—so everybody showed up 4, 5, 6 hours in advance,” Gobeil said.

“Jan. 21 was a challenge because of TSA staffing concerns. Our staff stepped in as customer service agents to help. In an emergency, in a crisis, in an irregular operation, we will all step up and do what is necessary,” the spokesperson added.

The ATL Airport posted travel suggestions on X, advising travelers to arrive no more than three hours early.

Please continue to monitor all ATL Airport social platforms and our stories for updates. ☁️✈️ pic.twitter.com/uvXYclaujL

— Atlanta Airport (@ATLairport) January 22, 2025

Atlanta travelers were not the only ones facing inconvenience.. Many Georgia residents braved the snowy, icy roads, causing numerous accidents and stranding individual vehicles.

One couple decided to help stranded motorists for free. In Stockbridge, GA, Suzy Gomez and Carlos Silva posted a message on Facebook offering to tow any stranded motorists in Henry, Clayton, and Spalding counties.

Kyra Hunter was among those helped by Silva and Gomez.

“I’m so thankful. I didn’t think I was going to get out, and I have to go to work,” she told Atlanta News First.

The Department of Public Safety has received over 1,000 calls for service and has responded to more than 175 car crashes.

by Sharelle B. McNair

January 23, 2025

Getty Images Acquires Shutterstock To Form $3.7B Visual Content Company

According to Getty Images CEO Craig Peters, "there has never been a better time for our two businesses to come together."

Getty Images has bought Shutterstock for $3.7 billion merger, creating a content company to compete against images curated by artificial intelligence, the Associated Press reports.

In a Jan. 21 statement, the companies announced the merger will consist of complementary portfolios along with providing clients with a broader span of still imagery, videos, music, 3D and other media.

“With the rapid rise in demand for compelling visual content across industries, there has never been a better time for our two businesses to come together,” Getty CEO Craig Peters said.

Shutterstock CEO Paul Hennessy said the merger gives an opportunity “to expand our creative content library and enhance our product offering to meet diverse customer needs.” Peters will stay on as the CEO of the newly created company, operating as Getty Images, and will continue to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ‘GETY’ ticker symbol.

Including Peters, the company will consist of 11 board members, six directors from Getty Images and four designated by Shutterstock, including Hennessy. Current chairman Mark Getty will stay on as board chair.

Getty shareholders will own close to 54.7% of the combined company at closing, while Shutterstock stockholders will capture approximately 45.3%.

There are several options available for Shutterstock holders including the choice to receive approximately $28.85 per share—in cash—for each share of owned Shutterstock common stock, or a mixed consideration of 9.17 shares of Getty Images common stock plus an additional $9.50 in cash for every share of Shutterstock common stock that they own.

At the time of the merger, Shutterstock shares increased by more than 30% before the market opened and Getty Images’ stock went up more than 58%.

The demand for pictures has increased in the fight against A.I. along with cellphone cameras reducing the value of stock photography, according to Bloomberg. Getty Images, founded in 1995, has a wealthy archive of legendary photos including O.J. Simpson’s police chase, former President Barack Obama in the situation room during the operation to kill Osama bin Laden, and sports images as the company employs photographers in partnerships with FIFA, the NCAA and PGA Tour.

Since 2012, Shutterstock has provided a searchable platform that allows contributors to upload their content in exchange for royalty payments for clients to download.