George Clinton, lawsuit — Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 14, 2026

FAMU And FSU Omegas Join George Clinton On Stage For Legendary ‘Atomic Dog’ Performance

George Clinton invited members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. to join him on stage at his inaugural P-Funk Festival for a legendary performance of "Atomic Dog."

George Clinton took the stage for his inaugural P-Funk Fest in Tallahassee, Florida, where he was joined by members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., for a legendary high-energy performance of his Billboard No. 1 hit “Atomic Dog.”

On April 11, Ques from Omega Psi Phi’s Florida A&M University’s Upsilon Phi Chapter and Florida State University’s Chi Theta Chapter joined George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelic for a standout performance of “Atomic Dog” at the first of what’s expected to become an annual musical celebration, HBCU Game Day reports.

“One of my prophytes alerted us that Mr. Clinton wanted us to perform Atomic Dog with him at this festival,” said Cole Bigelow, a junior at FAMU and president of the Upsilon Psi Chapter. “I was so happy to not only see him perform some of his other songs, but have a chance to step as well. It was crazy. I can only say he is iconic, and it was an honor to be on stage with him.”

Released in 1982, Clinton’s “Atomic Dog” quickly became the unofficial anthem of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. During a 2021 interview, Clinton recalled how just weeks after its release, members of the fraternity’s Alpha Chapter in Washington, D.C. introduced him to their signature stepping to the track—an experience that helped cement its lasting cultural connection.

Since then, the song has been deeply woven into the fraternity’s identity and remains a staple across HBCU and Divine Nine culture.

Over the years, Clinton often invited local chapters of Omega Psi Phi to join him on stage during performances of “Atomic Dog”, creating a signature moment between the two. The tradition came full circle when Clinton was inducted as a lifetime member in 2020 alongside D.L. Hughley and Anthony Anderson.

Now, with the launch of P-Funk Fest, the moment could become an annual celebration.

TED Talks, Brooklyn, comedy show, Black-Owned Comedy Venue, black music — (Photo: 7713Photography/Getty Images)

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 14, 2026

Maryland Passes New Law To Restrict Prosecutors From Using Rap Lyrics In Criminal Cases

Maryland's new PACE Act makes it the third state to pass laws restricting prosecutors' use of rap lyrics in criminal cases.

Maryland has passed a new law as part of a nationwide effort to limit prosecutors‘ use of rap lyrics in criminal cases.

Passed April 9, Maryland’s Protecting Artists’ Creative Expression (PACE) Act restricts when prosecutors can use rap lyrics as evidence, Billboard reports. Under the new law, lyrics and other creative works can only be admitted if a judge determines they meet strict standards—including proving they were intended as literal statements tied to the case.

The law, expected to be signed by Gov. Wes Moore, is part of a broader push to curb the practice, which critics argue undermines free speech and can bias juries—pointing to recent cases involving Young Thug and Lil Durk, where lyrics were used in indictments.

“The passage of the PACE Act in Maryland marks an important victory for music creators,” said Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. “Silencing any genre or form of artistic expression is an attack on creative freedom.”

While the law, also known as House Bill 687, doesn’t ban the use of lyrics in criminal cases, it requires prosecutors to prove—by a preponderance of the evidence—that the lyrics are relevant. Judges must determine that they were intended as literal statements, directly tied to the case, and material to a disputed fact before they can be admitted.

Maryland becomes the third state to curb the practice, following a 2022 law in California and similar limits in Louisiana. New York has considered comparable measures, while federal legislation has been introduced multiple times in Congress.

Music industry veteran Kevin Liles, chairman of the Free Our Art campaign, advocated for the Maryland bill and hopes its passage encourages other states to address what he calls the “growing weaponization of creative expression in courtrooms across America.”

“As a kid growing up in Baltimore, music found me and hip-hop saved my life,” Liles said. “When this bill is signed, we’re turning our attention to New York State next, and we hope to have two bills passed this year.”

Flau'jae Johnson, NIL, SCORE Act — (Photo: Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 14, 2026

Louisiana State University’s Flau’Jae Johnson Traded On WNBA Draft Night

After being selected at No. 8 by the Golden State Valkyries, she was traded to the Seattle Storm

In an unexpected move at the 2026 WNBA Draft, Louisiana State University’s Flau’Jae Johnson was traded shortly after being drafted with the No. 8 pick by the Golden State Valkyries.

The Seattle Storm announced that it traded the draft rights of the No. 16 overall pick, Marta Suarez, and the team’s 2028 2nd round pick to the Valkyries in exchange for the draft rights to Johnson. The team welcomed her via a social media post.

https://twitter.com/seattlestorm/status/2043851977910812710

“Flau’jae is one of the most dynamic, creative, and explosive players in this draft, and we’re excited to get another first-round pick to select her,” said Storm General Manager Talisa Rhea in a written statement. “Her playmaking, ability to score in multiple ways, and energy on both ends of the court will impact our team immediately. We can’t wait for Flau’jae to get to Seattle.”

Johnson just completed her collegiate career, during which she won an NCAA Championship as a freshman in 2023. She averaged 11 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, and was named the 2022–23 SEC (Southeastern Conference) Freshman of the Year, as well as being named to the SEC All-Freshman Team as the starting shooting guard. She ended her career at LSU, averaging 14.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 46.5% shooting from the field during her senior year. She scored in double digits 27 times, including nine games with more than 20 points.

This past season, Johnson was named First-Team All-SEC and Third-Team All-American. In her four years, she achieved numerous accolades, including being named a Third-Team All-American in 2025, First-Team All-SEC (2025), and Second-Team All-SEC (2024). She became the sixth LSU player to score more than 2,000 career points.

Before attending LSU, the Georgia native played at Sprayberry High School in Marietta and was a 2022 McDonald’s All-American who finished her high school career as Sprayberry’s leading scorer.

new edition — Photo credit: (ABC via Getty Images) NEW EDITION

by Janee Bolden

April 14, 2026

New Edition Wins Fan Vote But Misses Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction

New Edition led the 2026 Rock Hall fan vote but won't be inducted this year.

Despite overwhelming fan support, New Edition will not be part of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026.

The iconic R&B group, widely credited with shaping the modern boy band blueprint, secured the top spot in this year’s fan vote with more than one million votes. However, when the final inductees were announced, New Edition’s name was notably absent from the list.

This year’s class includes Phil Collins, Sade, Oasis, Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Luther Vandross, and the Wu-Tang Clan, reflecting a wide-ranging mix of genres and eras.

Additionally, Celia Cruz, Fela Kuti, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, and Gram Parsons will receive the Early Influence Award, which honors artists whose music and performance styles have directly shaped and evolved rock ‘n’ roll and its cultural impact.

For many fans, New Edition’s exclusion from the 2026 Rock Hall of Fame class may come as a surprise, but the fan vote has never guaranteed induction.

Rock Hall President and CEO Greg Harris explained that the vote allows fans the chance to participate, “but it counts for only one single ballot in the grand scheme of things.”

“The idea is that the fan vote can be weighted because you have a lot of social media followers, a large, contemporary fan base,” Harris said. “And it makes it a challenge for artists that maybe are no longer active and don’t have that same type of following.”

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s selection process combines fan input with votes from a larger body of industry professionals, historians, and artists, limiting its overall impact on the final decision. Historically, most top fan vote finishers are inducted, but there have been notable exceptions. New Edition now joins a short list of artists who won the public vote but did not make the final cut.

New Edition’s absence from the 2026 class has reignited conversations about how the Hall evaluates influence, particularly when it comes to R&B and Black music.

Formed in Boston in the late 1970s, the group helped define a generation of performers and directly influenced acts like New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men, and *NSYNC. Their cultural imprint extends far beyond chart success, shaping the business and performance model for groups that followed.

Whoopi Goldberg, millennials — Whoopi Goldberg became widely known in 1985 when she won a Golden Globe Award as Best Actress for The Color Purple. By 1993, Goldberg had already been the highest-paid actress and had more than 150 television and film appearances to her credit. Goldberg is a historical first, a Black woman with an Emmy, Grammy, Tony and Oscar. With decades of work, Goldberg's current estimated net worth is $60 million: (Photo: Lou Rocco/ABC via Getty Images)

by Janee Bolden

April 14, 2026

Whoopi Goldberg Launches Publishing Imprint With Blackstone To Spotlight New Voices

The EGOT winner is expanding her business portfolio with a new imprint focused on amplifying diverse authors and stories.

After decades of building a career in entertainment, including publishing more than a dozen books of her own, Whoopi Goldberg is adding publishing executive to her résumé.

The Oscar-winning actress has launched a new publishing imprint, WhoopInk, in partnership with Blackstone Publishing, with a mission to bring fresh and diverse voices to the marketplace.

“I am personally looking forward to finding new authors, working with established authors, and bringing influential voices into this curated imprint,” Goldberg said in a statement Monday.

According to the announcement, Goldberg will play an active role in the imprint, contributing to everything from cover design to marketing and promotion.

The move positions Goldberg alongside a growing number of high-profile creatives, including Reese Witherspoon, John Legend, and Sarah Jessica Parker, who have all launched their own imprints or literary initiatives in recent years.

One of the first authors under WhoopInk will be Rick Bleiweiss, a Blackstone executive who worked on Goldberg’s bestselling memoir “Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me.” The imprint is expected to publish the next installment in his mystery series “Pignon Scorbion & the Barbershop Detectives.”

The longtime co-host and moderator of “The View” also plans to release new work of her own through the imprint, including a follow-up to her memoir “Bits and Pieces,” and a collaboration with longtime business partner Tom Leonardis.

Goldberg’s move into publishing is the latest chapter in a long-running pattern of entrepreneurial expansion. Over the years, she has consistently leveraged her platform to build businesses that center both purpose and underserved audiences.

One of her most notable ventures includes her early entry into the cannabis space with Whoopi & Maya, a medical cannabis company launched in 2016 that focused on providing relief for menstrual discomfort. As previously reported, the brand helped establish a niche market within the industry before ultimately shutting down in 2020 amid shifts in the business and regulatory landscape.

More recently, Goldberg has continued to explore opportunities in the cannabis sector. In 2025, she partnered with Pure Genesis to launch Whoop-Tea, a hemp-derived THC beverage designed to offer a more social and accessible alternative to alcohol. The collaboration reflects her ongoing interest in wellness-focused products and culturally driven consumer experiences.

With each new venture, Goldberg continues to position herself not just for growth, but for long-term influence across industries where culture and commerce intersect.

RELATED CONTENT: ‘I’m Getting Dragged’ Whoopi Goldberg Explains Her Appearance In The Epstein Files

USPS, postal service — Photo by Ekaterina Belinskaya: https://www.pexels.com/photo/postal-service-van-parked-on-a-street-sidewalk-4744769/

by Sharelle B. McNair

April 14, 2026

Big Changes Coming To USPS As Officials Claim Old Business Model ‘Doesn’t Work’

There have been several attempts to bring reform to the Postal Service as the agency’s business model has not changed much in more than 50 years ago.

First Postmaster General David Steiner announced the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is on schedule to run out of cash by February 2027, and now officials claim more changes are on the way since the 1970s-dated system “doesn’t work” anymore, The New York Times reports.

With all the changes coming out of the agency, David Marroni, a postal service expert at the Government Accountability Office, blames the outdated business model.

“The core issue here is the existing USPS business model, where it’s supposed to be financially self-supporting based on providing postal services, just doesn’t work today,” Marroni said.

There have been several attempts to reform the Postal Service, as the agency’s business model has not changed much since its current iteration from more than 50 years ago, when Congress moved it from a cabinet-level department funded by taxpayers to a self-financed, independent agency.

But with Steiner admitting the agency is strapped for cash and calling on lawmakers to consider drastic changes to save money, more money is set to come out of American voters’ pockets under the proposed changes.

“We can do whatever you want us to do. We’ve been doing it for 250 years,” he said, according to The Sun. “But who’s going to pay for it? We cannot continue to do the things that lose us money on a very consistent basis.”

Shortly after Easter, USPS suggested raising stamp prices by 5%, saying it would temporarily suspend some payments to a government retirement fund. The agency also called on lawmakers to make room to permit them to dial back on delivery days and give longer consideration to revenue-losing routes.

The commitment to upholding the agency’s “universal service obligation” to deliver to everyone in the nation comes with a hefty price tag: more than $6.5 billion a year. Out of 10 USPS delivery routes, seven are “financially underwater,” Steiner told Congress during a March hearing. While it saves money, recipients in rural America will be affected the most; however, Maryland Democratic Rep. Kweisi Mfume vowed to work with Texas Republican Rep. Pete Sessions, a postal reform advocate, to ensure every American continues to be served.

“Americans in every part of this country rely upon and really deserve prompt, reliable and efficient mail services,” Mfume said.

“We cannot lose the postal service as we know it.”

In addition to stamps, the Postal Regulatory Commission approved a temporary 8% surcharge on packages amid rising fuel and transportation costs. While the increase leaves room for stiff competition from other delivery services such as FedEx, UPS, and Amazon, Americans rely heavily on the Postal Service for important mail delivery, including prescription drugs and election ballots.

Russell Simmons — Photo by Mireya Acierto/FilmMagic

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 14, 2026

Russell Simmons Says He Was ‘Very Generous’ With Helping Kimora Lee Build Baby Phat

Russell Simmons claims he “gave” Kimora Lee the Baby Phat brand.

Russell Simmons appears to be pushing back on his ex-wife’s recent interview, in which she alluded to being shortchanged in the sale of the Baby Phat brand—something he claims he built and later “gave” to her.

Simmons made the remarks via social media to a clip from Kimora Lee’s interview on the Aspire With Emma Grede podcast, where she said she didn’t own a fair share of Baby Phat and received $20 million from the reporter $140 million sale, while Simmons and his associates controlled larger stakes.

“I gave her the brand, which already existed, I put her in baby phat leather shorts the day we met,” Simmons wrote in a comment captured by The Shade Room. “I found designers / made her famous and marketed the brand with her face. Eventually, she learned and blossomed. She did a good job, BUT NOTE ..Very generous of me.”

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During the interview, Lee told Grede she was sidelined in the 2004 sale of Baby Phat, claiming she received a disproportionately small share despite the brand’s success being closely tied to her image. At the time of the sale, it was reported that Phat Fashions was sold to the Kellwood Company for $140 million.

“I probably got $20 million of that, or less,” Kimora told Grede.

The former fashion model and entrepreneur said she was unaware that early sale discussions were taking place at the time.

The claims mark the latest chapter in her ongoing feud with Simmons. The pair married in 1998, welcomed their two daughters, Ming and Aoki, in 2000 and 2002, separated in 2006, and finalized their divorce in 2009.

In 2021, Simmons sued Lee and Tim Leissner, alleging they conspired to transfer nearly 4 million shares of Celsius without his consent—a case that remains ongoing. More recently, Kimora said she has little relationship with her children’s fathers, a claim Simmons disputed on social media.

“I gave u 50,000 a month for 20 years,” he wrote. “I was ur best /only friend. I’m the godfather to your other 3 kids, until one day you stole my stock,” the hip-hop mogul wrote on Instagram. “I have been fighting for my kids’ love and my bread ever since. You threatened that if I sued you, I would never speak to my kids again. There are two sides to every story.”

Last month, Leem announced she was dropping “Simmons” from her name, calling the move a step toward clarity and ownership.

Missouri Town Fires City Council Members Days After It Approved $6B Data Center Deal — Paul Sableman, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

by Sharelle B. McNair

April 14, 2026

Missouri Town Fires City Council Members Days After It Approved $6B Data Center Deal

The pushback is the latest in increased public backlash from rural area subjected to host hyperscale data centers.

Residents of Festus, Missouri, were not feeling the city council’s approval of a $6 billion data center, so they decided to fire more than half of the officials in a fight to save their community, Politico reports.

The small town, just 30 minutes south of St. Louis and home to roughly 12,000 people, showed up to an election to express disdain over the approval of the massive data center and relieve four elected officials who voted for the center of their duties: Jim Tinnin, Jim Collier, Brian Wehner and Bobby Venz.

“I ran because I thought the city was not listening to people,” said Rick Belleville, 70, who beat out Tinnin by more than 40 percentage points. “It’s really the way the deal was handled that led to this kind of uprising.”

Festus residents don’t plan on stopping at the city council. They are targeting Mayor Sam Richards by gathering signatures for a recall petition to oust the mayor and the remaining four council members. A lawsuit was also filed against the city and developer CRG, as residents have repeatedly called on council members to answer a few unanswered questions before the March 30 vote.

One such question: Who is operator for the center scheduled to be built on 360 wooded acres on the city’s southwest side?

Resident Sherman Boyle said, “This was so avoidable,” and pressured future city leaders to “listen to your residents.”

Fellow Festus resident Lori Merriman started a grassroots group, Wake Up JeffCo, to fight data center projects in her city and the surrounding areas. “This is going in almost next door to our house,” she said. “We just built it two years ago. It was supposed to be our forever home.”

The pushback is the latest in the growing public backlash against rural areas that host hyperscale data centers despite residents’ objections.

A large data center in South Memphis, Tennessee, operated by Elon Musk’s xAI, has drawn widespread criticism for being powered by natural gas. Residents accuse the data center of increasing nitrogen oxide air pollution, causing breathing problems for the people who call South Memphis home.

Data from the Pew Research Center revealed more than 1,500 new data centers are in development nationwide—and more are on the way— with most planned construction taking place in the South and Midwest. Seventy-five percent of all planned data centers will be built in these two regions, with the South accounting for almost half. Southern states are set to become home to 754 data centers in addition to 1,209 already in existence.

Just like Merriman, 38% of Americans live within a five-mile radius of at least one data center and since many are built in bulk, nine out of 10 data centers are within five miles of each other.

white mother, discrimination — Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-black-blazer-carrying-baby-in-white-onesie-4642265/

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 14, 2026

White Woman Files Discrimination Lawsuit After Being Denied Entry Into Black Infant Health Program

A public health program for Black mothers and infants in California is facing a federal discrimination lawsuit after a white woman was denied entry.

A California health equity program designed to support Black mothers and birthing individuals is now facing a federal discrimination lawsuit after a white woman was denied entry.

On April 2, Erica Jimenez of Pasadena filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Public Health, alleging that it violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination in federally funded programs. Jimenez, whom the Pacific Legal Foundation represents, claims the Black Infant Health (BIH) program denied her access to prenatal and postpartum support services because of her race, citing its race-based enrollment criteria.

“California’s program treats race as a stand-in for need — assuming that only mothers of one race deserve or require the help this program offers,” said Andrew Quinio, an attorney with Pacific Legal Foundation. “Drawing a line around a public benefit program and saying only certain races may enter is precisely the kind of discrimination the Equal Protection Clause prohibits.”

The Black Infant Health program, established in 1989 and now partly federally funded, supports pregnant and postpartum Black mothers and birthing people, according to the California Department of Public Health. Created to address disparities linked to racism and socioeconomic stressors, it offers counseling and care to participants aged 16 and older with no income requirements.

The program explicitly focuses on empowering Black women through pregnancy and beyond, and this fiscal year received nearly $24 million in state funding and about $6 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Jimenez, who is white with a Spanish surname, applied to Pasadena’s BIH program while pregnant in February but was told she didn’t qualify based on race, according to the lawsuit. Despite meeting all other requirements, she was denied access to publicly funded pregnancy and early childhood services, benefits the suit claims were withheld solely because of her race.

“The government should not be in the business of discriminating,” said Jimenez, who gave birth to a boy in March. “I hope my son can grow up in a state that is more respectful of the Constitution. California has been getting away with a lot of stuff.”

The lawsuit asks the court to block California from excluding applicants based on race. It seeks class-action status so Jimenez can represent others who meet the program’s criteria but were denied for the same reason.

“If it is certified as a class action suit, then we will be litigating claims on behalf of a group of similarly situated individuals who are all excluded from the program,” Quinio said. “So the case would have a broader impact and significance to multiple mothers, not just Erica. The relief we seek, which is the elimination of the program’s racial barriers, would also apply to all members of the class.”

The case adds to a growing wave of lawsuits challenging programs aimed at supporting Black communities, with claims of “reverse discrimination,” illegal quotas, and hostile work environments. Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling on affirmative action, plaintiffs—often white men—have increasingly filed Title VII claims. With heightened opposition to DEI efforts and more than 75 ongoing cases, federal scrutiny has intensified over whether such initiatives violate civil rights laws.

Morris Brown, Atlanta, — ATLANTA - JULY 18: Morris Brown College (founded in 1881) signage on July 18, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 14, 2026

Morris Brown College Preps For First Graduation Of ‘Restoration Class’ Since Reaccreditation

Morris Brown will commemorate its first wave of graduations since regaining accreditation.

This year’s commencement ceremony for Morris Brown College holds a special place in the HBCU’s history.

This cohort of graduates, deemed the “Restoration Class,” is the first to graduate from Morris Brown since its reaccreditation. As the 92 spring graduates of Morris Brown bask in this milestone accomplishment, they also reflected on their own stories of second chances.

One senior, Faith Shamley, revived her academic journey just as Morris Brown did. After stepping away from college in 2019, Shamley took a leap of faith in herself and the institution she had renewed her commitment to.

Now, the Atlanta native expects to graduate with this restoration class, while also adding to a familial legacy. Shamley’s grandfather also attended Morris Brown years ago. Furthering his footsteps, she says the choice has changed her entire life’s trajectory.

“I always say that my experience at Morris Brown has been life-changing,” Shamley told WSB-TV.

As the school regained its own footing, Shamley appreciated taking part in this history. She also says that it allowed the smaller campus to form close bonds, even being on a first-name basis with the school’s president.

“The president knows me by name; he knows all the other students by name,” explained Shamley. “You’re not going to get that at any other college. So, it’s just a really, really special place to be.”

Morris Brown’s journey remains one of determination and resilience, inspiring other HBCUs at risk of losing accreditation. The school fought for decades to restore its status after losing it in 2002, regaining it 20 years later.

“[Shamley] was one of the first students to enroll in MBC in 2022 when we regained our accreditation,” explained the college’s President, Dr. Kevin James.

Now, as the HBCU inches closer to its former glory within the Atlanta University Center, it has its first wave of new era alums to thank. Instilling faith in one another has made both the school’s and the students’ efforts fruitful.

Shamley will end her undergraduate journey with a 3.9 GPA. Her academic performance also secured her acceptance to the Ivy League for her next degree.

“We are excited about the student success here at Morris Brown. This is what a resurgence and a comeback look like,” James added.

Following graduation, Shamley intends to join Columbia University’s graduate program for nonprofit management. While unsure of how she will matriculate, she remains excited to procure her Morris Brown degree as she extends her academic journey.