by Mitti Hicks

November 5, 2025

Is Rep. Ayanna Pressley Considering A Senate Run? Inside Sources Think So

In 2018, Massachusetts voters elected Ayanna Pressley to represent the state’s 7th Congressional District in the House of Representatives. She became the first woman of color from the state to serve in the United States Congress.

In 2018, Massachusetts voters elected Ayanna Pressley to represent the state’s 7^th Congressional District in the House of Representatives. She became the first woman of color from the state to serve in the United States Congress. Now, she’s considering another first that hasn’t been achieved in Massachusetts: becoming the first woman of color to serve as a U.S. Senator.

Inside sources tell Politico that Rep. Pressley, a progressive member of the Squad on Capitol Hill, is considering a run for the Senate seat currently held by Ed Markey, also a Democrat.

If Pressley decides to run, she will likely face an uphill battle from her own party. Markey, the 79-year-old incumbent, plans to run for re-election. Her counterpart in the House, Rep. Seth Moulton, recently launched his campaign to challenge Markey in the primary and is positioning himself as a new generation of Democratic leaders as the party grapples with a fight between the establishment and newer leaders who want change.

Democrats Grapple With Party’s Future

New York’s mayoral race highlights the Democratic Party’s paradox between left-leaning and Centrist leaders.

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a self-proclaimed Democratic Socialist, defeated former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an Independent after losing to Mamdani in the primary earlier this year, and Republican Curtis Sliwa. Centrist Democrats view Mamdani’s proposals, such as fare-free public transit, rent freezes, city-run grocery stores, universal childcare, and higher taxes on the wealthy, as ideologically extreme.

A University of Massachusetts Amherst poll conducted in October found that Markey leads the hypothetical Senate field that includes Moulton and Pressley. Markey garnered 35% of the vote, Moulton received 25%, and Pressley received 21%.

Despite reports that she’s considering a run, her team says it remains focused on reopening the federal government.

“The Congresswoman remains focused on ending Republicans’ government shutdown, serving her district, and effectively fighting back against the White House’s attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, Black and brown folks, federal workers, and our immigrant neighbors,” Pressley spokesperson Ricardo Sánchez told Politico on Election Day.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 5, 2025

Assata Shakur Documentary In Development With Angela Davis As Executive Producer

A documentary and scripted project on the late political activist Assata Shakur are in development, with Angela Davis serving as executive producer.

Following the recent passing of Assata Shakur, filmmakers Giselle and Stephen Bailey have announced they are developing a documentary and scripted project on the renowned political activist.

The sister-and-brother filmmaking duo behind HBO’s Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television will produce and co-direct the documentary under their banner, Indigo Films, with authorization from Shakur’s daughter, Kakuya Shakur, Variety reports. Civil rights attorney Lennox Hinds, who represented Shakur, has granted the filmmakers exclusive access, with political activist, professor, and author Angela Davis joining as executive producer.

“Assata’s story is important to all Americans as it reveals the powers that divide us and our capacity to heal,” Giselle and Stephen Bailey said in a statement.

The announcement comes after Shakur’s passing on Sept. 25 in Havana, Cuba, where she had lived in political asylum since escaping prison in 1979. Born Joanne Chesimard and a member of the Black Liberation Army, Shakur was convicted in 1977 for the 1973 death of Trooper Werner Foerster during a New Jersey Turnpike traffic stop that left two dead and Shakur wounded.

Sentenced to life, she escaped prison in 1979 with help from BLA members and had been a fugitive, later appearing on the FBI’s top 10 most-wanted terrorists list in 2013. Supporters argue her conviction was based on weak evidence, noting no gunpowder residue on her hands, lack of fingerprints on the murder weapon, and her injuries sustained while allegedly surrendering, along with acquittals or dismissals of other charges against her.

In the 2014 edition of Assata: An Autobiography, Angela Davis wrote a foreword praising Shakur as a “compassionate human being committed to justice” and warned that the FBI aimed “to frighten people involved in struggles today.”

The year prior, Davis called Shakur “innocent” and said her case highlighted the police brutality and racism she and her peers faced at the time.

“Forty years seems as if it were a long time ago; however, at the beginning of the 21st century, we’re still dealing with the very same issues – police violence, healthcare, education, people in prison, and so forth,” Davis said. “People really don’t know the details and are not aware of the extent to which [Shakur] was targeted by the FBI and the COINTEL programme.”

Now, with both a documentary and a scripted project in development, Assata Shakur’s story and legacy are set to reach a new generation of truth seekers.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 5, 2025

Did The NBA’s Draymond Green Catch The Acting Bug?

'I definitely want to continue to get more in that field, Green stated after appearing on the NBC comedy, 'St. Denis Medical.'

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green may be taking steps to pursue a career in acting after he retires from the NBA. He appeared in the season premiere episode of the NBC comedy, “St. Denis Medical.”

According to The San Francisco Chronicle, the NBA champion is looking forward to more roles after his recent appearance in the comedy. In the episode that debuted Nov. 3, Green played a patient struck by lightning. While being wheeled into the emergency room of the fictitious hospital, he is seen speaking with hospital personnel and describing the lightning strike.

“Caught it right in the face,” he stated.

“St. Denis Medical,” which just started its second season, features an ensemble cast that includes “In Living Color” alum David Alan Grier (playing Dr. Ron).

Playing the character may have sparked Green’s acting bug, as he told the media outlet that he wants to continue getting roles after he leaves his NBA career.

“I definitely want to continue to get more in that field,” Green said after practicing with his team on the night of the show’s season premiere. “What I realize is it’s like a practice and the whole team’s got to know their stuff, or it doesn’t flow right. You got to make this all make sense together. I have a role to play.”

Green even discussed his admiration for Grier, whom he says let him “pick his brain” while playing the role of a patient.

“My whole life I’ve watched him on TV,” Green said. “I had the opportunity to walk in the room and play a role next to him, and just sit there in between takes and talk to him and pick his brain. Man, such an incredible experience.”

Fans of the controversial forward may have to wait a while to see him in another role, but in the meantime, if they don’t catch him running up and down the hardwood, they can hear and see him via his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show.”

Regina King, ABFF, American Black Film Festival

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 5, 2025

Regina King Named Ambassador Of American Black Film Festival 30th Anniversary

Regina King's 30-year connection with the American Black Film Festival culminates in 2026 as she takes on the role of festival ambassador.

Regina King will take center stage at the American Black Film Festival’s milestone 30th anniversary, serving as the 2026 festival ambassador.

The 2026 ABFF, presented by Nice Crowd, will take place in Miami Beach from May 27–31 under the theme “The Homecoming,” Variety reports. King, an Oscar, Golden Globe, and Emmy-winning actor, director, and producer, will use her platform to champion the next generation of filmmakers and rising screen stars attending the annual star-studded event.

As festival ambassador, King will greet attendees on opening night and headline a featured “Creator Conversation,” reflecting on her acclaimed career and ABFF’s legacy of amplifying emerging talent and highlighting film and TV projects by and about people of African descent. Her ambassadorship marks the culmination of a 30-year relationship with ABFF, dating back to its 1997 debut as the Acapulco Black Film Festival, where she first participated.

“ABFF has championed countless artists and storytellers, growing into a powerful global platform,” King said in a statement. “What Jeff and Nicole Friday have built over 30 years has made a lasting impact across our industry. Returning feels like a homecoming — a celebration of our creativity, resilience, and excellence. I’m truly honored to serve as ambassador for this milestone year.”

King, an Oscar winner for her performance in If Beale Street Could Talk and a four-time Primetime Emmy recipient for her work on American Crime, Seven Seconds, and Watchmen, follows a star-studded roster of ABFF ambassadors. Previous ambassadors include last year’s honorees, Nia Long and Larenz Tate, as well as Issa Rae, Lena Waithe, Halle Berry, Magic Johnson, Anthony Mackie, Common, Taye Diggs, Taraji P. Henson, Mary J. Blige, Tracee Ellis Ross, Lala Anthony, Regina Hall, Morris Chestnut, Omari Hardwick, Idris Elba, Jay Ellis, and the late John Singleton.

“Regina has been part of the ABFF family since the very beginning,” said Nice Crowd CEO and Founder Jeff Friday and President Nicole Friday. “From those early years in Acapulco to everything she’s achieved since, we’ve watched her journey with so much pride — cheering her on from up close and from afar. She represents everything this festival was created to celebrate — artistry, integrity, and excellence. Having her serve as our festival ambassador for our 30th year is truly a full-circle moment and a reflection of the mutual respect and admiration we’ve shared over the years.”

SYRACUSE,, ALBANY MAYOR, BLACK,Sharon Owens, Dorcey Applyrs

by Sharelle B. McNair

November 5, 2025

Two Black Women Make History As The First Black Mayors of Albany And Syracuse

This election put Syracuse in fourth place of New York’s largest cities to elect a Black mayor and Albany in sixth place.

The state of New York saw several firsts during the Nov. 4 election, including Sharon Owens and Dorcey Applyrs becoming the first Black mayors of Syracuse and Albany, respectively.

Both women secured victories in their respective Democratic races, defeating their opponents. Owens, 62, was elected as Syracuse’s 55th mayor and the first Black mayor in the city’s 177-year history, according to Syracuse.com. With a 40-year career in public service, Owens secured over 73% of the vote, beating Republican Thomas Babilon and independent candidates Alfonso Davis and Tim Rudd.

BREAKING NEWS: Sharon Owens and Dorcey Applyrs were just elected as the first Black mayors of Syracuse and Albany. pic.twitter.com/uY4hRLjFGr
— When We All Vote (@WhenWeAllVote) November 5, 2025

In her victory speech, she spoke to the elders of the community who had waited decades to see someone of her likeness with the opportunity for change.

“To the elders of this community, you who for decades looked to the future of a time when there would be a mayor that looks like you, that comes from your experience, that understands the struggle, that gets the hopes and the aspiration of generations of Syracusans … I’m going to work hard to make you proud,” Owens said to her supporters.

Albany, New York’s capital city, elected Applyrs as the first Black mayor in over 300 years since the town was chartered. She is the fifth mayor elected since 1942, outbeating Republican Rocco Pezzulo with 11,784 votes to his 1,922, according to the Times Union.

In her victory speech after walking out to Jay-Z’s “Run This Town,” Applyrs promised to be a leader who would represent all of Albany. “This is our moment,” she said.

“We earned this moment, and it is an amazing moment.”

The new mayor-elect also has a long history of public service, serving as the Common Council representative for the 1st Ward for six years before being appointed chief city auditor in 2020, and winning the title unopposed in 2021. During her speech, Applyrs thanked those who came before her and were not here to see the fruits of their hard work and sacrifices.

“It’s my turn to do the same — to make sure every young person in this city knows that they belong, that they have a seat at the table, and that they can build a future right here in our city,” she said.

“You don’t have to go anywhere.”

This election put Syracuse in fourth place among New York’s largest cities to elect a Black mayor, and Albany in sixth place.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 5, 2025

Homeland Hero: Shaggy Mobilizes Private Air Fleet To Rush Critical Hurricane Aid To Jamaica

Shaggy organized the use of private planes to deliver relief aid to Jamaica in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

Reggae and dancehall star Shaggy quickly joined forces with key organizations to deliver relief aid to his native Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa’s devastation.

Although the Grammy-winning artist was at his second home in Miami when Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica on Oct. 28 as a Category 5 storm, the strongest ever to hit the island, he immediately began mobilizing relief efforts, Rolling Stone reports. Anticipating the storm’s impact, Shaggy, real name Orville Richard Burrell, reached out to friends like Florida injury attorney Dan Newlin and the U.S.-based Jamaican charity Food for the Poor, with whom he’s long partnered, to coordinate relief efforts once airports reopened.

“When we realized that it was a Category 5, that we knew there was going to be a lot of destruction,” Shaggy said. “We have survived through [Hurricane] Gilbert, which was a Category 3, and that was devastating as is. So what we decided was to be ahead of the curve. I really couldn’t do as much at that time because the airport wasn’t open.”

Days after the storm, Shaggy shared videos from a small jet packed with water, canned goods, paper towels, and other essentials. Since then, he’s organized four relief flights from the U.S. to Kingston, each carrying much-needed supplies.

“We also have the bay of the plane filled with supplies,” he said in one video. “I’m asking everybody to help and make sure you donate.”

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A post shared by Shaggy Aka Mr Boombastic O.D (@direalshaggy)

Partnering with Newlin was an easy decision for Shaggy; the two had collaborated before, and the Kingston native knew Newlin could provide access to private planes. Next came collecting supplies and coordinating with his wife, Rebecca Packer, who was already on the ground in Jamaica and ready to assist.

“We made a list of things we’re going to buy. We made calls. We loaded up the planes and came back down to Jamaica,” Shaggy explained. “As soon as [the airport] opened [on Oct. 30], that very morning, we left. Then once I got here, we got in touch with Sharon Burke from the Solid Agency, and of course, my wife – she was on the ground because she rode the hurricane out [from Kingston]. She was the first actually [to get to] Black River and told us what to expect.”

The “Angel” singer said he’s concentrating his relief efforts in the Black River and St. Elizabeth areas, which suffered severe damage from the storm but haven’t received the same attention as Montego Bay. Shaggy said witnessing the community unite to rebuild and recover is a true testament to the resilience and spirit of Jamaicans.

“One thing about Jamaicans, we’re resilient and we’re all gathering,” he said. “Even going down yesterday, there were people from the neighborhood that were clearing the roads for us and helping us to get in. They all helped us to organize in Black River. The community is also assisting us.”

by Sharelle B. McNair

November 5, 2025

Zohran Mamdani Centers Immigrants And Checks Trump After Defeating Andrew Cuomo In Race For Mayor

With more than 2 million voters turning out to vote, a first in a mayoral election since 1969, Mamdani turned the page on his campaign after securing only 1% in the polls in the beginning stages.

New York City has a new Democratic mayor and his name is Zohran Mamdani. Mamdani defeated Independent candidate Andrew Cuomo in the Nov. 4 hot-ticketed mayor’s race.

Mamdani made history by becoming NYC’s youngest mayor at just 34-years-old and the city’s first Muslim mayor, after Cuomo, New York’s former governor, conceded shortly after 9:30 p.m. The mayor-elect spoke proudly in front of supporters cheering him on in Brooklyn’s Paramount Theater and thanking millennials and young New Yorkers like him for believing “that the promise of a better future is not a relic of the past.”

The Queens native touched on the city’s plethora of immigrants as a Ugandan immigrant, giving a shoutout to “Yemeni cab drivers and Mexican abuelas,” according to USA Today, including the delivery drivers, warehouse workers and kitchen employees. “We are breathing in the air of a city that has been reborn,” he said.

He also spoke on another Queens native, President Donald Trump, who openly said that he would withhold federal funding from the Big Apple if Mamdani won. In his speech, Mamdani said his victory is the best way to get back at the person who has betrayed an entire nation. “If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him,” he said, met with thunderous applause.

“…so Donald Trump since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: ‘turn the volume up!’ We will hold back landlords to account because the Donald Trumps of our city have gotten far too comfortable taking advantage of their tenants. We will put an end to the culture of corruption that has allowed billionaires like Trump to evade taxation and exploit tax breaks…”

NEW: NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani challenges President Trump in his victory speech:

“New York will remain a city of immigrants, a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants. And as of tonight, led by an immigrant.”

“So hear me, President Trump, when I say this: To get… pic.twitter.com/L0tOS5Ddnr
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 5, 2025

The mayor-elect continued his push against the President while appearing on ABC’s Good Morning America, saying that he won’t allow the city to be intimidated by Trump’s threats to deploy the National Guard. While Trump claims it’s a safety tactic, Mamdani said he knows the truth. “His threats are inevitable. This has nothing to do with safety, it has to do with intimidation,” he said.

“If it was safety, President Trump would be threatening to deploy the National Guard to the top 10 states of crime, eight out of which are all Republican-led. But because of that party he won’t actually be doing it.”

In victory speech fashion, Mamdani spoke to Cuomo, wishing him “only the best in private life,” but made it clear that it will be the last time he speaks his name. “But let tonight be the final time I utter his name as we turn the page on politics that abandons the many and answers only to the few.”

Following his historic win, the millennial was seen celebrating with supporters in true New York fashion, dancing to Soca music. Social media users in the comments section celebrated with him. “A Muslim immigrant is the Mayor of NYC. I f*cking love it!,” @_xomarj.

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A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom)

With more than two million voters turning out to vote, a first in a mayoral election since 1969, Mamdani turned the page on his campaign after securing only 1% in the polls in the beginning stages. Despite several of the city’s billionaires donating millions of dollars on ads against him, he continued to campaign on the cost of living and offered proposals toward the low and middle class, including a rent freeze on rent-stabilized apartments, free public transportation, and universal child care.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 5, 2025

Morgan State Grads Launch Fund.FWD, An AI-Powered App To Help HBCU Students Get Funding

Fund.FWD bridges AI technology and accessible networking to help HBCU thinkers get their ideas off the ground.

Given the systemic funding gap for Black innovators and thinkers, a group of HBCU alums seeks to be the difference.

Hailing from Morgan State University, the innovative group has launched Fund.FWD. The AI-powered app serves as a new way for HBCU entrepreneurs and creatives to connect with industry leaders and bring their ideas to life.

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A post shared by Venture for T.H.E.M. (@venture4them)

The mobile app allows users to source funding opportunities, business coaching, and educational resources all within its database. It aims to connect these change-makers with current leaders in their fields, thus closing the accessibility gap.

The Morgan State graduates developed the app through Venture for THEM, a DMV-based accelerator and social-impact collective. While at the HBCU-founded entrepreneurship accelerator, they developed an idea that bridges traditional networking with AI, providing a curated list of goals, grants, and more aligned with users’ ideas.

The AI model used for Fund.FWD is Venture AI, using hours of data collected from talks and workshops to build guidance for business strategy and proposal development, alongside a Partnership Opportunity Portal, where businesses and accelerators can directly promote their grants for diverse entrepreneurs, Fund.FWD hopes to become a one-stop shop for future and business leaders.

“Fund.FWD is about closing the funding gap for underestimated founders,” said Chief Technology Officer of Venture for THEM, Jeffrey Scruggs, in a press release. “We built a tool that empowers users not just to find opportunities, but to get funded — pairing mentorship, AI, and real-world knowledge from our ecosystem.”

Other key features include its education tab, which offers business panels and workshops with full replays from Venture for THEM events. Fund.FWD’s innovative dashboard also features live updates and social feeds to help users connect further.

“Fund.FWD is more than an app — it’s a bridge between inspiration and opportunity,” said Venture for THEM’s CEO and Co-Founder Kiante Bush. “We’re using technology and community to help founders move from vision to victory.”

Fund.FWD offers two subscriptions, with a premium option for direct support and wider funding opportunities. Backed by partners such as Microsoft, Google, Wells Fargo, and The Newwave Foundation, Venture for THEM has championed the talent and business savviness from HBCUs. Now, its latest endeavor aims to break the barriers that keep diverse innovators from the resources they need to soar.

Fund.FWD is available now, with a 2.0 version planned for 2026.

Bodycam Footage,kids , Stolen Vehicle Chase

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 5, 2025

Ex-NBA Player Charged With Felony Theft Over $1,000 In Groceries

Courtney Fortson was accused of multiple thefts at a Lowell grocery store

Former college and NBA player Courtney Fortson has been arrested and charged with stealing more than $1,000 worth of items from a grocery store in Arkansas.

According to KNWA, Fortson, who had stints playing with the Los Angeles Clippers and the Houston Rockets during his brief NBA career, was charged with seven counts of breaking or entering, seven counts of commercial burglary, and one count of theft of property. He was arrested Oct.23.

An investigation was initiated by the Lowell Police Department Oct. 14 after a report was made about a theft at the store. Fortson had allegedly tried to leave the store with a shopping cart full of merchandise without paying for some of the items, according to a store manager. Only three items were allegedly scanned, totalling $4.48.

After being approached and asked to produce a receipt for the merchandise, the former basketball player stated that he had to return to the self-checkout to obtain it.

“However, when the employee began helping another customer, [Fortson] walked outside, got into his car, and left the shopping cart,” according to the affidavit.

After reviewing similar transactions on the credit card Fortson used, it was discovered that there were six other instances in which Fortson had a full cart but scanned only one to three items, leaving the remainder unscanned. He also walked out of the store with the unpaid items in his cart. The other transactions occurred between Sept. 4 and Oct. 6.

The value of the merchandise allegedly stolen by Fortson totaled $1,065.

Fortson is expected back in court Dec. 1 after posting a $10,000 bond.

He played his collegiate career at the University of Arizona from 2008 to 2010.

B87 FM reported that Fortson played overseas in Romania, Russia, Turkey, and China. He also played in the G League with the Reno Bighorns (an affiliate of the Sacramento Kings).

Mayor Andre Dickens, homeless, Atlanta, Homelessness Crisis, unhoused

by Kandiss Edwards

November 5, 2025

Mayor Andre Dickens ‘Got Something To Say’ And Has 4 More Years To Say It After Election Victory

Mayor Andre Dickens will continue guiding the city of Atlanta after winning his reelection on Nov. 4.

Dickens secured more than 50% of the vote in his four-way race. The number of votes in such a crowded race is a testament to the mayor’s favorability and hard work over the past four years. During his acceptance speech posted to social media, Mayor Dickens gave a shoutout to his predecessors, Maynard Jackson, Andrew Young, Shirley Franklin, and Kaseem Reid.

Dickens credited staff, volunteers, and city workers for their contributions to the “group project of Atlanta” during his first term.

“Your hard work and dedication is what this group project is all about,” Dickens said.

The mayor spoke about more than just the issues at home in Georgia. He took a moment to acknowledge the instability residents are facing due to the current government shutdown. Dickens was highly critical of the current administration, condemning its decision to remodel the White House as citizens lost essential benefits such as SNAP. Still, Dickens says that even if the federal government refuses to consider the well-being of its people, cities like Atlanta will.

“Cities are being called upon to fill that gap, and Atlanta is coming together to take care of our people that are in need. When the federal government don’t stand up for the people of Atlanta, the people of Georgia, the people of America—just like we’ve always done, we will.”

While there are no guarantees in politics, Dickens ran his second campaign with a solid track record full of productive resident-centered initiatives. Under his tenure, Atlanta saw a 46% drop in violent crime from 2023 to 2024. More than half of Dickens’s targeted 20,000 affordable-housing units are already under construction or constructed. His housing initiatives for the unhoused have been successful. The mayor partnered with Invest Atlanta to open Azalea Fresh, the city’s first municipal grocery store, and more.

“The city got stabilized during my term, unified during my term, and is on a path that everybody can want to come here to raise a family,” he said.

Indeed, Atlanta has risen in desirability as it climbs the national superlatives lists: “No.1 Smartest City and No. 1 Most Educated City.”