nflatable Reindeer Antlers Ring Toss Game Set , stemless wineglass, spirits, black card revoked, Instead of spending New Year's Eve out on the town, try one of these three to save yourself money and the hassle.

by Ahsan Washington

December 25, 2025

Black Christmas Songs: The Holiday Playlist You Need In Your Rotation

These songs are a festive treat

Black artists have contributed to the most vital Christmas music of our time through soulful classics and energetic R&B holiday songs.

These songs are more than just soundtracks for the holidays. They create a musical tapestry of love, family, hope, joy, and culture that resonates through time. These songs are a festive treat that also embody togetherness.

“This Christmas”

Donny Hathaway, a legendary R&B and soul singer, released “This Christmas” in December 1970. This timeless holiday original beautifully blends jazz, gospel, and soul. Recorded in Chicago, it’s part of the Soul Christmas ethos. “This Christmas” is widely regarded as one of the most performed Christmas songs ever, and its warmth and groove encapsulate the holiday spirit in Black communities worldwide.

“All I Want for Christmas Is You”

In 1994, Mariah Carey included the song “All I Want for Christmas Is You” in her Merry Christmas album. The song has maintained its position as the top Christmas anthem through its continuous reign over holiday charts and playlists. The song established itself as the foremost contemporary Christmas song while creating substantial cultural and commercial influence.

“Christmas in Hollis”

The Queens, New York, hip-hop group Run-DMC released the holiday rap song “Christmas in Hollis” in 1987. The holiday rap track combines hip-hop elements with Christmas spirit to portray Hollis’ holiday celebrations in a lighthearted way. The song “Christmas in Hollis” debuted on Nov. 25 and has since become a holiday favorite, demonstrating its lasting popularity and distinct blend of hip-hop and seasonal joy.

“The Christmas Song”

Nat King Cole created the legendary Christmas tune “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” which stands as one of the most memorable holiday songs ever recorded. The song was written in 1944 and recorded two years later in 1946, before Nat King Cole released his definitive stereo version in 1961. The song has become an essential part of holiday radio broadcasts and family celebrations because of its enduring warmth and vivid seasonal imagery, including the delightful scent of chestnuts roasting and the cold touch of Jack Frost. The song’s eternal charm continues to attract listeners across age groups, establishing it as a definitive holiday-season standard.

“8 Days of Christmas”

The R&B powerhouse trio Destiny’s Child released the song “8 Days of Christmas” in 2001 as part of their album 8 Days of Christmas. The cheerful holiday song honors the season’s spirit of gift-giving and its joyful atmosphere. The song blends R&B and pop elements, making it suitable for Christmas parties and contemporary music playlists.

“Give Love on Christmas Day”

In 1970, the Jackson 5 released “Give Love on Christmas Day” as part of their Motown legacy. The soulful holiday song delivers a timeless message about love and togetherness. The song serves as a genuine seasonal reminder of the holiday spirit and remains a staple on classic holiday playlists on soul and pop stations.

“Sleigh Ride”

In 1992, TLC, the famous ’90s R&B trio, produced a soulful R&B version of the popular winter song “Sleigh Ride.” The track from the A LaFace Family Christmas album regularly appears on holiday music rotations and R&B radio channels. Through their playful, soulful performance, TLC transforms the traditional holiday song into a fresh musical expression that connects classic Christmas music with the dynamic spirit of the 1990s.

“No Time Like Christmas”

In 2022, R&B superstar Chris Brown released “No Time Like Christmas” as part of the album It’s Giving Christmas. The modern R&B holiday track brings a sultry, romantic contemporary perspective to Christmas music.

Kevin Durant, Maryland, after-school program

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 24, 2025

Kevin Durant Proud Of After-School Program He Funded, ‘I’m Trying To Do So Much In My Community’

Durant donated $10M in 2017 to College Track, an after-school program at the Durant Center for students in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

On a recent episode of the “Unguarded” podcast, Boardroom owner and current NBA player Kevin Durant mentions the opening of the College Track at The Durant Center, which he donated $10 million to in 2017, an after-school program that supports students residing in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

He discussed launching an after-school program following the purchase of a building in Prince George’s County to provide underserved students with a free place to continue pursuing bachelor’s degrees and other programs. He states that he is proud of the resources the facility offers to young students.

“I’m trying to do so much in my community where I grew up,” Durant stated on the program. “So I bought a commercial building on the same street my apartment complex was on. PG County, Maryland, where I’m from, is one of the most thriving counties in the country.”

“We have a lot of resources in our county, and my influence and my name over the last two decades just been around the county from community events just from investing back into the community. So, I bought a building. I had started an after-school program, and it was going well. Real estate all along that street, they want guys to come in and program and build the community up.”

The institute is in Durant’s hometown, which is near Washington, D.C. The College Track website explains why the Houston Rockets forward dedicated millions to expand the organization’s operations in Prince George’s County (College Track is based in California). After visiting the College Track Oakland facility, he was so impressed that he made a 10-year commitment to operate one in Maryland.

The visit took place in 2017, and a year later, he announced he had donated the funds. In partnership with the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation and Prince George’s County Public Schools, College Track at the Durant Center became the institute’s first East Coast center when it opened in 2019. College Track has since opened two other centers in the area, one in southeast D.C. and another in Baltimore.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 24, 2025

‘Big Brother’ Alum Mickey Lee In Critical Condition After A ‘Series Of Cardiac Arrests’

"Big Brother" Season 27 star Mickey Lee is in critical but stable condition after suffering " a series of cardiac arrests."

A GoFundMe has been launched for Big Brother star Mickey Lee after she experienced a “health crisis” involving multiple cardiac arrests.

Lee’s family started the campaign on Dec. 22, seeking donations to help cover the emotional and financial strain from hospital bills and ongoing care following the star’s health emergency, Entertainment Weekly reports.

“Today, we’re coming together with heavy hearts to ask for your support,” fundraiser organizer Kori Smith wrote. “Mickey recently suffered a series of cardiac arrests and is now in the ICU in critical but stable condition. She has been surrounded by medical professionals and loved ones, but the road ahead will be long and challenging.”

The campaign notes that donations will help cover medical expenses not covered by insurance, ICU and specialist care, rehabilitation and recovery support, as well as family travel, lodging, and related costs.

“This sudden health crisis has left Mickey and her family facing enormous emotional and financial strain from mounting hospital bills to ongoing care and recovery costs,” Smith wrote. “Every donation, no matter the size, will go directly to Mickey’s care and help ease the burden on her loved ones during this difficult time.”

After quickly reaching its initial $22,000 goal, the campaign increased its target to $40,000 and had raised nearly $28,000 by Dec. 24.

“Mickey has touched so many lives through her courage, bold personality, and unforgettable presence on Big Brother. Let’s show her the same love and support now when she needs it most. Thank you for your generosity, prayers, and support,” the campaign reads.

The Jacksonville, Florida native, now living in Atlanta, according to the GoFundMe, competed on Season 27 of the CBS reality hit. She lasted 59 days before her mid-pack eviction. At the time, Cliffton “Will” Williams, a 50-year-old college sports podcaster evicted on day 66 who later served on the jury that picked Ashley Hollis as the winner, named Lee as the pre-jury contestant he wished he could have saved.

“Mickey for sure. Mickey and I were close in the house, and she’s a good friend. We vibed a lot in the house. She was an amazing cook, and I miss that,” he said at the time.

Oklahoma AG, Couple’, Roof Repair , State Farm

by Sharelle B. McNair

December 24, 2025

Exposed: How State Farm’s Claim Denial Tactics Triggered A State-Level Investigation In Oklahoma

Red flags started to appear after State Farm’s calculations of damage was so low it didn’t even touch the couple's deductible.

Oklahoma state Attorney General Gentner Drummond is stepping up in an attempt to help a couple accusing insurance conglomerate State Farm after a policy resulted in the company pulling back from a promise to cover $22,000 of a roof damaged by hail, MoneyWise reports.

Drummond filed a Dec. 4 motion to intervene in a lawsuit issued by Billy and Lucy Hursh, “alleging that the company operated a coordinated program to limit roof-related insurance payouts by denying or reducing valid hail and wind claims.” After a hailstorm caused extensive roof damage to their Tulsa home, the couple hired two contractors and were told they would need a completely new roof.

Red flags started to appear after State Farm’s calculations of damage were so low that it didn’t even touch the Hurshs’ deductible, resulting in the couple needing to take out a loan to cover the cost of a new roof–costing $22,000. “I’m trying to do the right thing,” Billy Hursh said.

“I’m trying to take care of my home, and this is why I had homeowners’ insurance.”

Drummond says he sees an “enterprise-wide scheme” in which the insurance company markets policies as providing full replacement-cost coverage, and charges accordingly. However, the customer ends up with less than they should after over 200 claims, similar to Hursh’s against State Farm, came to light.

By jumping into the lawsuit, the Republican attorney general says claim outcomes aren’t decided by policy promises but by the need to meet savings targets set by the company. “Oklahomans can weather inflation and Oklahoma storms, but they cannot withstand a system in which they are charged more while effectively insured less,” Drummond, who is running for governor, said.

“Inflation and weather do not explain, let alone justify, the widening gap between what Oklahomans pay and what they receive.”

Court documents reveal that State Farm allegedly developed a program called the “Hail Focus Initiative” that, according to The Oklahoman, has faced accusations of imposing restrictions on who can approve roof replacements and creating a new definition of “hail damage.” The program instructs adjusters to attribute hail damage to wear and tear, installation error, manufacturing defects, or cosmetic damage.

Plaintiffs named in the additional claims against the company are represented by the Oklahoma City-based law firm Whitten Burrage, where attorneys criticized State Farm’s “good neighbor” image. Drummond seemingly agrees, saying, “Such a scheme shocks the conscience.” “Oklahomans are paying rising homeowners insurance premiums yet receiving less protection in return, as State Farm simultaneously pursues additional rate increases while allegedly escalating its claim denials and underpayment practices,” the attorney general’s office wrote in the motion.

A 2025 report from Harvard Business School suggests that some of the rising costs could be attributed to climate change, which the attorney general opposes. The study shows severe weather events, which are becoming more frequent, are major drivers of insurance claims. But Drummond stands firm on the view that the issue is an industry- and regulatory-level problem.

While the decision on whether Drummond can intervene is left in the hands of Judge Amy Palumbo, State Farm has denied all the allegations, labeling each insurance claim as “unique” and to be handled individually. “At State Farm, we’re committed to giving our customers all the benefits their insurance policies provide,” the company said in a statement.

“The fact that someone files a lawsuit does not mean the allegations made are true.”

Trump Administration Quietly Bans Department Of Veteran Affairs From Performing Abortions, Counseling

by Sharelle B. McNair

December 24, 2025

Trump Administration Quietly Bans Department Of Veteran Affairs From Performing Abortions, Counseling

The Biden-Harris administration predicted the agency would provide close to 1,000 abortions per year following the backlash from the 2022 Dobbs decision but data shows the VA has provided 140 per year since.

In another move to erase all Biden-era policies, the Trump administration secretly banned the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from issuing abortions and all related services to veterans and their dependents — including those who are victims of rape and incest, The Hill reports.

In a Dec. 18 memo from Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) Joshua Craddock, the VA was ordered to stop all abortion services under any provision of the law. The memo pulled back on a 2022 policy that permitted abortions for those who became pregnant as a result of rape or incest, or if a pregnancy risked the life of the person seeking an abortion.

The OLC argued that the rule, as a result of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, dissolving Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, overstepped the law.

Craddock called the language “unambiguous,” according to Fox News, after highlighting the Veterans Health Care Act, which makes clear that the VA is restricted to providing abortion services only if the pregnancy carries risks. He highlighted a footnote reading: “life-threatening circumstances, including treatment for ectopic pregnancies or miscarriages.” Veterans Affairs Press Secretary Peter Kasperowicz says the VA is complying immediately.

The Biden-Harris administration predicted the agency would provide close to 1,000 abortions per year following the backlash from the Dobbs decision. Still, data shows the VA has provided 140 per year since 2022. Regardless of the numbers, abortion advocates have slammed the policy change, labeling it an insult to veterans. “Veterans deserve dignity and respect that includes the freedom to make their own healthcare decisions,” Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, said, calling the ban “callous and inhumane.”

While half of the U.S. protects the right to abortion, the new VA ban will now apply in those states, as the VA operates dozens of medical centers across the country. Back in 2022, former Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough called the policy “a patient safety decision” as “pregnant Veterans and VA beneficiaries deserve to have access to world-class reproductive care when they need it most.”

As Craddock may feel the exceptions are helpful, feminist and politics expert Jessica Valenti says expectations “are deliberately crafted to be impossible to use” and used only “to make Republicans seem a little less punishing.”

President and CEO at the Center for Reproductive Rights, Nancy Northup, feels the ban is just another way of President Donald Trump failing to keep his promises. “Veterans risked their lives to defend our safety and freedom–– and now the Trump Administration is taking away theirs,” Northup said. “President Trump said he would leave abortion to the states, but he continues to seize new opportunities to restrict it nationally.”

Christmas Caroling, Baltimore airport, TSA

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 24, 2025

TSA Hits A High Note: Baltimore Airport Agents Go Viral Christmas Caroling

The viral TSA Christmas Carolers are spreading holiday cheer throughout the Baltimore airport.

TSA agents had a pleasant surprise for holiday travelers with a nice display of Christmas caroling.

The unexpected performances went viral as Baltimore airport voyagers stopped to hear the sweet sounds of the security personnel. The rag-tag group came together to perform what many deem the Christmas national anthem, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

The Christmas cheer spread to TikTok, as viewers caught sight of the TSA’s surprising talent, delighting travelers on their way. Videos quickly garnered a million likes as the vocals could be heard in the skies.

@jazsmin30 The best welcome home greeting #baltimore #christmas @Mariah Carey ♬ original sound – ebonee30

While taking a break from duty, with their uniforms still on, the unlikely carolers put on a show that gathered an in-person and online crowd. According to USA Today, the TSA Christmas Carolers take up this tradition every holiday season. The group performed last year as well throughout the Thurgood Marshall Airport in Baltimore.

Commenters noted the immense talent of one of the agents who started off the hit song; many called for her to transition out of airport security to pursue a singing career.

“Oh its time to quit your job baby girl,” wrote one TikTok user.

Another stated, “some of the best voices be so unknown.”

“Oh she got a hidden talent. Clock out [now],” exclaimed one more.

Others encouraged other popular airports, like Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta, to create a new competition for the best TSA agents-turned-singers. However, as of right now, Baltimore Airport’s Christmas Carolers reign supreme with their performance.

The TSA Christmas Carolers could expect an even bigger audience this year as holiday travel breaks records. The AAA projects that over 122 million Americans will travel outside their residence this year during the two-week holiday period, beating out last year’s record.

With air travel still on the rise, TSA workers have already overcome an eventful year. The longest-recorded shutdown in history left many without a paycheck for weeks.

Thankfully, the shutdown subsided after 43 days, returning operations to relative normalcy. Now, TSA aims to bounce back and make spirits bright with this fun way to celebrate the holidays.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 24, 2025

Homeless Florida Man Charged With Murder After Fatally Stabbing Elderly Woman At Barnes & Noble Bookstore

Antonio Moore has been charged after stabbing the victim, who he did not know, in the back

A Florida man, Antonio Moore, has been arrested and charged with first-degree premeditated murder after allegedly stabbing a woman at a Barnes & Noble bookstore in Palm Beach Gardens.

According to WPTV, Moore is accused of stabbing 65-year-old Rita Loncharich on Dec. 22, shortly before 8 p.m. The victim was stabbed in the back with a knife and was taken to a local hospital, where she died from the wound.

Moore, who ran out of the store after the incident, was captured shortly after the stabbing and was booked the next morning at approximately 5:30 a.m. and is being held without bond. He was caught in the woods, approximately 1,500 feet from the Barnes & Noble. Police located him after speaking with multiple witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage from inside the store.

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Legacy Place, where the bookstore is located, issued a statement.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of a customer following an incident on property. Our hearts are with the victim’s family, friends and all those impacted. Police responded quickly and a suspect was taken into custody shortly after the incident. Safety remains our top priority. We are working closely with local law enforcement, enhancing our on-site security presence and reviewing protocols with tenants.”

Police officers stated that Moore told investigators that he had just arrived in Palm Beach Gardens about a week ago after taking a bus from Georgia, and he also told them that he is homeless. The arrest affidavit said that he admitted that while sitting inside the store charging his phone, he approached Loncharich and stabbed her in the back with a pocket knife.

Moore said he had no motive for the attack and had no prior interaction with her. In the affidavit, Moore reportedly said the attack was an “internal buildup” that triggered a “fight or flight response,” and that the victim was the closest person to him at the time.

He told police officers that he remembered Loncharich saying, “He stabbed me,” and that she was seemingly in shock from the attack.

He was scheduled to make his first appearance Dec. 24 at the Palm Beach County Jail.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 24, 2025

‘First Lady of Football’ And FAMU Alum, Pam Oliver, Inducted Into Sports Broadcasting Hall Of Fame

Oliver's induction marks a feat for Black women in sports journalism.

HBCU Pride has reached new peaks with the latest inductee into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

Pam Oliver, a renowned sports journalist and Florida A&M University alumna, is a part of the latest cohort of esteemed broadcasters to enter this coveted group. The NFL news staple was inducted as a Hall of Famer on Dec. 16.

Her current team at Fox Sports congratulated Oliver on her storied career and latest achievement. Oliver has reported for the news network since 1995, marking 30 years.

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“It was just a magical night. I still can’t believe it, my feet have not touched the ground. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Fox for giving me all these years to flourish and grow, that has a big part to do with why I’m in the Sports [Broadcasting] Hall of Fame. Never thought I’d be saying those words, but I’m as pleased as can be.

Upon graduation from her esteemed HBCU alma mater, Oliver began her lofty career in sports broadcasting. She started with roles at local stations before transitioning to national networks, covering the entire NFL season with Fox Sports and previous NBA Playoffs coverage with TNT. Since 2014, she worked as a reporter for Fox Sports’ No. 2 NFL broadcasting team.

With over 30 years at Fox Sports, Oliver has become the longest tenured NFL sideline reporter, marking a tremendous accomplishment for Black women in sports broadcasting. By recognizing her steady presence on NFL game nights, the Hall of Fame sought to honor her years of dedication to the field.

“[Pam Oliver] has long been recognized as one of the premier sports reporters on network television and is the longest tenured NFL sideline reporter. With widespread respect and admiration across the industry, her straightforward and candid interviewing style consistently delivers topical and substantive reports,” shared the Hall of Fame in its statement of her induction, according to HBCU Sports.

FAMU’s School of Journalism and Graphic Design also highlighted the “First Lady of Football.” Before her matriculation to sideline coverage, Oliver was an All-American track & field athlete at the Florida HBCU. The school recognized her impact in HBCU journalism and the sports world, bestowing her with a Production Hall in her name in 2015.

Man, Conviction, Racist Threats, Pregnant Black Woman

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 24, 2025

Vacation Nightmare: Florida Woman Arrested For Felony Abuse After Vile Attack On Child In Luxury Resort Pool

A Florida mother was arrested on felony aggravated child abuse charges after allegedly holding a 6-year-old boy underwater at a resort pool.

A Florida mother was arrested on Dec. 19 after a video captured her allegedly forcing a 6-year-old boy underwater at a resort pool following a dispute involving her son.

Tiffany Griffith, 36, was being held without bond on charges of aggravated child abuse following the incident at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee, WESH reports. Osceola County deputies say Griffith entered the pool at the resort and confronted a child as he played in the pool with her 7-year-old son.

Police reports and video footage show Griffith gripping the child by the shoulders and pushing him underwater for several seconds. She told authorities she was trying to protect her nonverbal son, who has autism, and planned to confront the boy’s parents afterward, according to the arrest report. Investigators also noted that alcohol may have been a factor in the incident.

Deputies were called to the resort pool around 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 19 after reports of a child being battered. Witnesses said three children had been playing when the splashing turned rough.

According to the sheriff’s office, Griffith, of Fort Myers, entered the pool and shouted at a 6-year-old boy after he dunked her seven-year-old son underwater. She then grabbed the child by the shoulders and forced him under for several seconds. The boy left the pool visibly upset, with a nosebleed, and told his parents what happened, deputies said. Griffith allegedly yelled at the child’s mother before leaving the area.

On Dec. 23, prosecutors reduced Griffith’s charges to third-degree child abuse but sought to keep her detained without bond. In court, her husband testified that the six-year-old had allegedly dunked their nonverbal son underwater and questioned why the boy’s parents weren’t present when Griffith intervened.

Griffith’s lawyer criticized the felony charges, highlighting her years of work in local law enforcement and her efforts to protect her autistic son. The judge denied prosecutors’ request to keep her jailed and set her bond at $20,000.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 24, 2025

Supreme Court Blocks Trump’s Push For National Guard Deployment To Chicago

The Supreme Court has blocked Trump’s effort to send the National Guard to Chicago, a decision that could complicate similar deployments in other cities.

The Supreme Court has denied President Donald Trump’s request to send the National Guard to Chicago to protect ICE agents, a decision that could jeopardize similar deployments in other cities.

On Dec. 23, the court denied Trump’s deployment request, with conservative Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, and Neil Gorsuch dissenting, a rare setback for the administration on the conservative court’s emergency docket, CNN reports.

“At this preliminary stage, the government has failed to identify a source of authority that would allow the military to execute the laws in Illinois,” the court said in its unsigned order.

Federal law allows a president to federalize the National Guard when “regular forces” are insufficient to enforce U.S. laws. During the case, a debate arose over whether “regular forces” referred to the military or to federal agents, such as those from ICE. In its ruling, the court indicated the term likely refers to the military and noted that the law Trump invoked “likely applies only where the military could legally enforce the laws,” meaning it does not extend to protecting immigration agents.

“Thus, at least in this posture, the government has not carried its burden to show that’ the law at issue in the case, ‘permits the president to federalize the guard in the exercise of inherent authority to protect federal personnel and property in Illinois,” the court said.

The ruling limits Trump’s options for deploying troops to cities, though some remain. He could still potentially invoke the Insurrection Act to send regular forces to Chicago and other areas, but doing so would be politically sensitive, as it challenges the long-standing ban on using the military for domestic law enforcement.

A White House spokeswoman has responded to the court’s ruling, saying the decision will not deter Trump from enforcing immigration laws, protecting federal personnel, or “safeguarding the American public.” The recent ruling follows a federal judge’s October ruling blocking Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Chicago.