Robert F. Kennedy Jr, RFK Jr., Trump
(Photos from left: Gage Skidmore/Flickr; Public Domain)
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 13, 2025

RFK Jr. Confirmed As Trump’s Health Secretary Despite Opposition From Democrats And Mitch McConnell

Robert F. Kennedy is the new secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services despite his controversial stance on vaccines.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an avid advocate against vaccines, is now the Health Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

On Feb. 13, the Republican-led Senate voted to confirm RFK Jr. as the head of a department overseeing nearly 100,000 employees and 13 agencies, according to The Hill. The confirmation vote for the Department of Health and Human Services secretary was 52-48, with Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) being the only Republican to vote against Kennedy’s appointment.

“In my lifetime, I’ve watched vaccines save millions of lives from devastating diseases across America and around the world,” McConnell said in a statement explaining his vote. “I will not condone the re-litigation of proven cures, and neither will millions of Americans who credit their survival and quality of life to scientific miracles.”

The confirmation follows a party-line vote by the Senate Finance Committee last week to advance Kennedy’s nomination. On Wednesday, the full Senate voted 53-47 along party lines to end debate and move the nomination forward.

Kennedy, the founder of one of the nation’s most prominent anti-vaccine organizations, concludes a controversial three-month confirmation battle that tested the Republican Party’s allegiance to President Donald Trump. For his nomination to be rejected, at least four Republicans would have to side with all Democrats.

Though Kennedy is a former Democrat, he has garnered support from Republican lawmakers in Congress despite his past comments on abortion rights. His history of anti-vaccine advocacy faced opposition from Democrats. During confirmation hearings, Kennedy denied being anti-vaccine, though he refused to refute his claims linking vaccines to autism. Instead, he advocated for vaccine safety, arguing that vaccines are not sufficiently tested—a claim experts widely dispute.

RFK Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda emphasizes eliminating food additives and redirecting health agencies’ focus from infectious diseases to chronic conditions. He will also oversee the nation’s vaccine policy, a key component of the nearly $2 trillion federal health portfolio.

RELATED CONTENT: RFK Jr.’s Absurd And Racist Comments Resurface Amid Confirmation Hearing

William McNeil, viral video, Recording The Police
(Photo: Getty Images)
by Sharelle B. McNair

February 13, 2025

Lincoln Heights Leaders And Residents Baffled After Neo-Nazis Receive Protection From Ohio Police

Hate has no place in Lincoln Heights....

Black leaders and residents have an issue with the way armed and masked neo-Nazis were permitted to come together on an Ohio freeway bridge without consequences in early February 2025, NBC News reported. 

Officers of the Evendale police and Hamilton County Sheriff’s Departments were seen shielding the threatening group from a mob of Black residents who were outspokenly dismayed by their presence between the Village of Evendale and Lincoln Heights, historically predominantly Black neighborhoods. Ohio police lieutenant Michael Steers said the reason no arrests were made was due to lack of any violated laws. Steers was one of several officers who held members of the neighborhood back while the racist mob escaped in a Uhaul truck. 

In a statement, Evendale police said officers were led to protect the First Amendment rights of demonstrators. Regardless of the demonstration being held without a permit, it was still legal. However, Lincoln Heights resident Eric Ruffin said the community was frightened and it’s the police’s job to protect and serve. “Do you want a community you don’t feel safe in?” he asked during a village meeting. 

After state Rep. Cecil Thomas (D-Cincinnati) called for an investigation into the matter, County Commissioner Alicia Reece agreed, feeling that racist demonstrators have become too comfortable, leaving residents having to protect themselves. “They had to go into their own house, get their own guns, go out there, and risk their own life,” Reece said. 

“And they felt the only thing that happened was a defense, in their mind, of the Nazis.”

Rev. Julian Armand Cook of Lincoln Heights Missionary Baptist Church shared similar sentiments, expressing how “shocked” and “hurt” he was by the incident, which went viral on social media. “To see it show up at the gateway to this historic community, the first, the oldest Black self-governed city north of the Mason-Dixon Line, it is very clear what message it is sending,” the pastor said. 

“So it was — I was angry. I was hurt. I was shocked.”

The history behind Lincoln Heights goes back decades, which could give those outside of state lines context as to why residents jumped at the opportunity to protect the community. According to WCPO Cincinnati, Lincoln Heights was the first Black-led incorporated city above the Mason-Dixon line, founded in the 1920s. Native Carolyn Smith, whose roots run deep as her grandmother was one of the first Black residents in the area, said in a community built on hard work, faith, and self-sufficiency, hate has no place in Lincoln Heights. “Lincoln Heights is a family-oriented community that will help anybody, that loves anybody. But you’re not going to come in here and disrespect us,” Smith said. 

“That’s a no-no.”

RELATED CONTENT: Black Residents In Ohio Send White Supremacists Packing

Shonda Rhimes, Grey's Anatomy, Debbie Allen, Get Out The Vote, Trivia Livestream Event
Shonda Rhimes is the founder of Shondaland, the production company behind hit series Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and How to Get Away with Murder. She became the first woman to create three television dramas that each surpassed 100 episodes. In 2017, Rhimes moved from network television to streaming, making a landmark deal with Netflix, said to be worth more than $100 million, and was inducted in Television Academy hall of fame She has built an estimated net worth of $250 million through her successful TV empire, production company and strategic business ventures: Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
by Kandiss Edwards

February 13, 2025

Shonda Rhimes Frees Herself From Kennedy Center Role Amid Trump Appointment

Famed writer-producer Shonda Rhimes will no longer serve as treasurer for the Kennedy Center amid Donald Trump's Appointment as Chairman.

Shonda Rhimes resigned as Kennedy Center treasurer amid Donald Trump’s appointment as chairman.

Donald Trump was appointed chairman of the Kennedy Center after firing its president, Deborah F. Rutter. On the heels of the announcement, a spokesperson for Rhimes confirmed her exit.

“Please be advised that as of today, Shonda Rhimes has resigned from the board of the Kennedy Center,” the spokesperson said.

The writer-producer shared a screenshot on her Instagram account confirming the news. She captioned the post with a quote from former President John F. Kennedy, whom the institution is named after.

“’If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him.’ – John F. Kennedy”

The quote may reference Trump’s removal of Kennedy Center board members appointed during the Biden administration.

Along with Rhimes and Rutter’s exit from the Kennedy Center, Ben Folds and Renée Fleming, both announced their resignation as artistic adviser of the National Symphony Orchestra and artistic adviser at large, respectively. 

Fleming commented on the bi-partisan efforts by Washington committees to be a “beacon of America at its best.” Trump insinuated the vision of bi-partisan diversity spoken of by Fleming is not a “shared vision.”

“At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., GREAT AGAIN. I have decided to immediately terminate multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman, who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

It is unclear what the now fully conservative board of the Kennedy Center believes a “Golden Age in Arts” entails.

According to its website, “The Honors have been compared to a knighthood in Britain or the French Legion of Honor—the quintessential reward for a lifetime’s endeavor.”

A notable and diverse group of honorees have received lifetime recognition, including Quincy Jones, Queen Latifah, Aretha Franklin, Alvin Ailey, and Debbie Allen.

RELATED CONTENT: Queen Latifah To Host Kennedy Center Honors, Apollo Theater Named Recipient

ludacris, Rock the country, MAGA, Kid Rock
(Photo: Derek White/Getty Images)
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 13, 2025

Ludacris Introduces AI Initiative Called ‘TechTunes’ To Georgia Academy

'Staying ahead of technology, but also teaching kids how to handle that technology, where the most important thing is for them to love themselves,' Ludacris stated

Atlanta recording artist and philanthropist Chris “Ludacris” Bridges has introduced an initiative to students at a school, called “TechTunes.”

Through the rapper’s nonprofit organization, The Ludacris Foundation, and with a partnership with tech giant Microsoft, the program was brought to the Utopian Academy of the Arts, located in Ellenwood, Georgia. It brings the technology of AI (artificial intelligence) to the students of the school.

“We have partnered with @Microsoft to give the students at @UtopianAcademy an up-close, in-depth look into the world of A.I., helping to ensure they have a seat at the table by showing them the endless possibilities of living a fulfilled life no matter their current circumstances!

Welcome to TechTunes! This is just the beginning!

#LudaCares
#Luda25”

The “Back for the First Time” artist spoke to WSB-TV about starting the program to help give the students a leg up on life.

“I love to be one that is, you know, giving opportunities to children that may not otherwise have those same opportunities and also to kind of have my finger on the pulse of what is current and also what’s next,” he said.

Ludacris wants to assist in giving the students an edge when it comes to modern technology so they can be ahead of the game and keep up with the latest in tech.

“Staying ahead of technology, but also teaching kids how to handle that technology, where the most important thing is for them to love themselves,” Ludacris said. “I think, as long as you do that, then you can pretty much maneuver through this world in any way that you feel possible.”

The Ludacris Foundation has been giving back to the community for years and was at the Brady Center in College Park for a pop-up “Ludacrismas” event on Sunday, Dec. 15. Ten families benefitted from the event when they were treated with presents, an enjoyable day, and good cheer.

RELATED CONTENT: Ludacris Loves The Kids: Donates $50K To Children’s Theatre Of Cincinnati

Wendy Williams, Guardian, Manhattan Penthouse
(Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
by Kandiss Edwards

February 13, 2025

Wendy Williams Speaks About Her Son’s ‘Inappropriate’ Use Of Her Money

Williams is making the media rounds discussing her financial standing.

In an interview with the TMZ podcast 2 Angry Men, Wendy Williams confirmed that the allegations of poor money management by her son, Kevin Hunter Jr., are true.

The former daytime talk show queen also believes other unnamed family members have been stealing from her accounts. Williams directly links the timing of her son’s financial “overstepping” to the freezing of her accounts by Wells Fargo, which led to the star being put under a conservatorship and diagnosed mentally “incapacitated.”

She did not seem upset by the actions taken by the financial institution, saying “Thank God” when discussing the move by the bank.

“My son overstepped his boundaries. He overstepped his boundaries in terms of me. He was inappropriately using my money without telling me anything about it,” Williams said. “That’s when my money got stolen.”

She went on to speak highly of her son while condemning his actions regarding her money. 

“My son is a good person, but at this point, he is a horrible person to me,” Williams said, appearing in her assisted living facility. “It’s the way he moves with other people…What is going on with these other people at my apartment in Miami? What are you doing? You spent on what? And what is going on at Wells Fargo?”

In July 2023, Hunter Jr. spoke with The U.S. Sun, claiming the charges to Williams’ American Express card were for normal expenses. He said any other funds were used for his mother’s care and maintenance.

“I have always used the AmEx, always. Before everything that happened, ever since I was young, starting in the 6th grade, she always allowed me access to a credit card, whether it was for an emergency or because I wanted something,” he said.

According to Hunter Jr., Williams had set aside funds for him to live on as a college student. When her accounts were frozen, his student accounts were also blocked. The restricted access led him to spend on his mother’s credit cards to continue paying his tuition and living the lifestyle he was accustomed.

“They had also locked me out of my school accounts, so anything that I would normally be able to pay for on my own through my school accounts, they had locked me out of. So we had to use the AmEx to get through,” he said.

Williams has been making the media rounds in 2025 to prove she is of “sound mind.” The host has been “locked away” in a New York elder-care facility without the ability to leave, make calls, or visit with family without permission from her court-appointed guardian.

Williams has appeared on TMZ, The Breakfast Club radio show, and the 2 Angry Men podcast. The podcast and radio show hosts have attested to her present, clear, and focused state of mind. The star has recently filed documents to end her court-appointed guardianship.

RELATED CONTENT: Wendy Williams Said She’s ‘Not Cognitively Impaired’ Guardian Calls For New Medical Evaluation

Trump, approval polls, immigration policies
(Photo: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons)
by Mitti Hicks

February 13, 2025

Trump Administration Has Its Eyes Set On $400M Worth Of Armored Teslas

The details were released in a State Department document that details procurement for fiscal year 2025.

NPR reports that a new report from the State Department shows the Trump administration is expected to purchase $400 million worth of armored Teslas. The details were released in a document detailing procurement for fiscal year 2025.

Interestingly, the Trump administration is eyeing the purchase of $400 million worth of Teslas from Elon Musk, the chief executive of Tesla. The South African native is also a top White House official whom Trump appointed as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) head. Trump created DOGE to weed out excessive and unnecessary federal contracts. The agency is also pushing for mass layoffs of civil servants to slash the federal budget.

It is unclear how purchasing $400 million worth of Tesla vehicles is a cost-efficient move.

As TIME reports, the State Department changed the document’s wording once reports emerged about the plans. At 9:12 p.m., the document was edited to remove Tesla. It now shows that the federal contract is for $400 million worth of “armored electric vehicles.”

It’s also unclear which vehicles American taxpayers will be paying for, but it’s highly likely that the current administration will support Trump’s most expensive donor, Musk, who spent a quarter-billion dollars to help re-elect Trump.

Following the election, Trump appointed Musk to lead DOGE. Musk now has access to more than a dozen federal agencies. Critics have raised concerns about the possibility of conflicts of interest. Musk’s company, SpaceX, also reportedly has multibillion-dollar contracts with the federal government. SpaceX is working with NASA to launch Musk’s Starship with astronauts to the moon. Meanwhile, the Trump administration wants to slash NASA’s workforce and other federal agencies.

As NPR points out, all signs indicate the federal government is purchasing Musk’s Cybertruck. Its militaristic design and stainless steel exterior could be a top option. The federal government told TIME that no government contract has been awarded to Tesla or any other vehicle manufacturer at this time.

RELATED CONTENT: Trump’s Reckless Renaming Of Landmarks Reflects Broader Failures And Unchecked White Male Privilege

shaquille|shaq
Shaquille O'Neal in March 2019. (Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)|
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 13, 2025

Shaq Connects With New Jersey Lottery For $5 Scratch-Off Game

'Jersey Giant Winnings' has a top prize of $200,000

NBA Hall of Famer and New Jersey native Shaquille O’Neal has partnered with the New Jersey Lottery to introduce a new scratch-off game. 

In partnership with the New Jersey Lottery, the seven-foot, one-inch sports analyst has created a $5 scratch-off game called “Jersey Giant Winnings,” with a first prize of $200,000. The game started on Jan. 5 and has already garnered a top prize winner, leaving two more top prizes up for grabs.

Shaq spoke about the partnership with the state lottery and how his New Jersey upbringing can encourage others to pursue their dreams and succeed. He talked about the importance of being involved in the lottery, mentioning that 30% of the proceeds that the lottery brings in go toward the state pension program, as it primarily goes to teachers, police officers, and firefighters.

“It’s a big deal for myself and my family. I think of myself as a neighborhood guy who was following his dreams but still remained humble…it just shows kids that if you follow your dreams, anything is possible.”

He also spoke about how he got into basketball growing up in Jersey and his father’s influence in taking him to a New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden when they played Dr. J and the Philadelphia 76ers. It was then that he knew what direction he wanted to go in for a career choice.

“I was having trouble in the academic world, and my father was trying all types of things to motivate me, and he knew Dr. J was my guy,” Shaq recalled. “So he told me that if I get good grades, he’d take me to see Dr. J play. So, one day, he comes into the house and says, ‘Come on, we got to catch a train.’ And then we get to Madison Square Garden. I get to see my favorite player, and he goes baseline, and he throws it down, and the crowd goes crazy. At that time, I remember vividly saying to my father, I know what I want to be when I grow up. I want to be just like Dr. J.”

The “Jersey Giant Winnings” game has top prizes of $200,000, $20,000, and $2,000. On average, better than 1 in 5 tickets wins a prize for the lottery game.

RELATED CONTENT: Following Google, Apple Updates Its Map To ‘Gulf Of America’

Snow, Detroit, mother, cold, children
(Photo: Josh Hild/Pexels)
by Jameelah Mullen

February 13, 2025

Woman Whose Children Froze To Death In A Van Said She Asked The City Of Detroit For Help

The family had been sleeping in their van in frigid weather for at least three months.

A mother is speaking out after two of her children died of apparent hypothermia in a Detroit casino parking garage. 

Tateona Williams said that when her family was facing homelessness, she reached out to Detroit’s homeless response team at least three times for help. After not receiving assistance, she and her four children had to sleep in their van.

On Monday, Feb. 10, the mother said she woke up to find two of her children, ages two and nine years old, unresponsive. Williams called a friend who rushed the children to the hospital, where they were later pronounced dead from what appeared to be hypothermia. The family’s van ran out of gas overnight in below-freezing temperatures. 

Although she didn’t appear to have any other choice, Williams says she is remorseful for sleeping in the van with her children. 

“I regret having to sleep out there so bad. I tell them [her children ] I’m sorry, but I tried. I tried to keep hotels, I tried to pay people to stay there, but it wasn’t working for me.”  Williams told WXYZ News in Detroit. 

Williams is staying in a homeless shelter, and her two surviving children are living with relatives. 

In a press conference, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan confirmed that Williams called the city’s homeless response team on Nov. 25 of last year, stating they had nowhere to go. According to Duggan, a family outreach worker should meet with families facing homelessness in an emergency. However, no outreach worker ever visited, and the family received no assistance.

“At least as far as we’ve been able to determine so far, the family never called back again for service,” Duggan said. “And as far as we’ve been able to tell, our homeless staff never proactively reached out to say, ‘What happened with your situation? Was it resolved?’”

Duggan has demanded a review of the city’s homeless services. 

“We have to make sure that we do everything possible to make sure that this doesn’t happen again,” he said. 

Detroit city officials urge anyone homeless or in imminent danger of homelessness to call (866) 313-2520. After 6 p.m., they can visit any Detroit police precinct for assistance.

RELATED CONTENT: Let It Be Known That Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts Hurt Black Americans

Jared Armstrong, JAB Camp, Philadelphia
(Photo: Gene Gallin/Unsplash)
by Sharelle B. McNair

February 13, 2025

Charlotte Wants To Spin The Block On The CIAA, Can The City Win The Tournament From Baltimore?

Think they have a shot?

Axios reports that the city of Charlotte hopes to reclaim its title as home to the reputable Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association’s Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament—also known as CIAA—for the next three years. 

City officials announced on Feb. 12 their efforts to prepare for a bid in mid-April 2025 in collaboration with Charlotte Sports and the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. If the bid is successful, the week-long tournament will return to the Queen City in 2027, 2028, and 2029.

The CIAA, a tournament of HBCU basketball teams, had a 15-year run in Charlotte between 2006 and 2020. It is an annual celebration of Black culture and HBCU pride, including festivals, parties, celebrity-fueled entertainment, and economic prosperity for the city. Charlotte’s final CIAA spin took place in 2019 right before the COVID-19 pandemic and garnered $43.7 million and drew close to 140,000 fans.

The tournament bid farewell to Charlotte after a devastating loss to Charm City in 2021, upsetting some of Charlotte’s HBCU alum leaders. City council member and Johnson C. Smith University alum Malcolm Graham labeled CIAA as “electric.”

“It was like a homecoming for the historically Black colleges and universities in the northeast,” he said.

Fellow city council member and North Carolina Central University alum James Mitchell remembers how much small businesses benefited from the city being flooded with fans and tourists. 

He credits the tournament with increasing the city’s footprint and proving to be a candidate to host large-scale events like the Democratic National Convention, which Charlotte hosted in 2012.

In a lengthy letter, the group described CIAA’s potential return as an “incredible opportunity to reimagine how Charlotte and the CIAA can collaborate to deliver an unforgettable experience for athletes, fans, and stakeholders,” according to Queen City News.

“Charlotte offers a dynamic blend of world-class venues, thriving cultural attractions, and unmatched hospitality. Our infrastructure, accessibility, and commitment to guest experience make us an ideal partner for hosting a marquee event of this magnitude,” the bid letter reads. 

“Additionally, our city’s diverse and welcoming community is eager to support and celebrate the CIAA, ensuring that its presence in Charlotte is met with the respect and enthusiasm it deserves.” 

The announcement comes just two weeks before the 2025 tournament is scheduled to take over Baltimore on Feb. 25 at CFG Bank Arena and days after the WNBA filed a trademark for the Charlotte Sting, a franchise that played in the league between 1997 and 2006.

RELATED CONTENT: Fan Favorite, ‘Mr. CIAA’ Abraham Mitchell Dies At 95

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