by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 25, 2025

5 People Shot Near Howard University During Homecoming Weekend

None of the victims were students at the school, but one was a Morgan State attendee.

Washington, D.C., police have stated that five people, four adults and one teenager, were shot near the Howard University campus Oct. 24, during the school’s homecoming weekend.

All shooting victims were taken to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.

According to WTOP, the shooting took place near the institution at approximately 8:20 p.m., but none of the victims were students at the famed HBCU. Two people have been arrested in connection with the shooting. No details were released, but authorities said that three weapons were recovered from the scene.

At a press conference, Police Chief Pamela Smith said that three men, one woman, and a teenage boy were discovered shot when police officers arrived at the scene.

“Whether they’re young people or adults with guns, we need folks to put these guns down in our city. What we do know is that this is Howard’s homecoming, and most of the homecoming festivities around our cities are joyous occasions for our families to come out and enjoy a good time,” Smith said.

Smith said a motive is not known as to why the shooting occurred, but investigators will be obtaining surveillance footage from the area.

The incident happened as the university was hosting a welcome reception for alumni, a block away from the shooting.

“We’re not going to tolerate individuals coming into our cities with firearms and don’t think for one second that we’re not going to look for you and search for you and find you. And when we do, we will hold you accountable,” she stated.

Fox 5 reports that one of the people shot is a Morgan State University student. Howard and Morgan State will meet on the football field Oct. 25 at 3:30 p.m. for the 101st homecoming game at the university.

Smith also assured visitors and students at Howard that the police force would keep them safe during the activities.

“What we’re going to do tomorrow is ensure that we keep those visitors safe,” Smith said.

by Kandiss Edwards

October 25, 2025

Girls Trip: ‘Tiffany Haddish Goes Off’ In New Travel Docuseries

The six-part docuseries will premiere Nov. 13 on Peacock.

Tiffany Haddish is the latest celebrity to invite viewers to join in on travel with her new show, “Tiffany Haddish Goes Off.”

The six-part docuseries will premiere Nov. 13 on Peacock. Haddish will travel to Africa with three of her childhood best friends. Along with Selena Martin, Shermona Long, and Sparkle Clark, the women will explore multiple countries, including Cape Town, South Africa; Zimbabwe; and Tanzania.

In the newly released trailer, the group engages in a wide range of activities, including bungee jumping and feeding giraffes. Additionally, they engage in emotionally charged conversations about friendship, trauma, healing, and identity.

For Haddish, the series combines laughter, her personal brand of spectacle, and self-discovery.

“These girls are my real friends, my day ones … I just really wanted to be with people I feel safe with, who I don’t have to perform for,” she says in the trailer.

Beyond adventure, Haddish said the trip is about reconnecting with roots and her chosen family. As an executive producer of the project, she aims to center authentic Black sisterhood experiences and bring to the screen stories often overlooked in travel and reality TV.

While Haddish is exploring the world with friends, another celebrity, Tracee Ellis Ross, is inviting viewers to explore the wonders and joys of solo travel. Ross’s show “Solo Travelling With Tracee Ellis Ross” premiered Jun. 25 on Roku TV.

Ellis Ross says the show is true to her authentic way of life since she began solo traveling in her youth.

“I took my first solo trip at 24 or 25 and I’ve been doing it ever since. . .It was a really joyful experience to be able to figure out how to share that very intimate experience of solo travel in a show environment and how to create a kind of video diary of sorts,” Ellis Ross told Thrillist.

It appears Haddish is on the road to creating a video diary of her own. All six episodes of “Tiffany Haddish Goes Off” will be available immediately upon release. Haddish and Peacock hope to captivate audiences searching for joy, connection, and new kinds of storytelling.

To those tuning in, she offers one invitation: “Bring your passport, your heart, and your laughter because we’re about to go off together.”

partnership, Swizz Beatz, Qatar airways,

by Kandiss Edwards

October 25, 2025

Swizz Beatz Is Flying High With New ‘Qatar Airways Creative 100’ Partnership

The launch aligns with major cultural events beginning with Art Basel Paris in 2025.

Grammy-winning artist and entrepreneur Swizz Beatz is solidifying his place in the art world, partnering with Qatar Airways to introduce Qatar Airways Creative 100.

In the Qatar Airways Creative 100, Swizz Beatz and The Dean Collection will curate and celebrate 100 global visionaries whose work spans art, music, design, technology, and sport. The inaugural list includes Grammy-winning South African DJ Black Coffee, Olympic fencing champion Miles Chamley-Watson, designer Yoon Ahn, and Ferrari’s Chief Design Officer Flavio Manzoni.

“Qatar Airways doesn’t just move people, it moves the world. That’s why this partnership feels so natural,” Swizz Beatz said, referring to his collaboration with the airline.

Swizz, a Harvard Business School alum, said this concept fuses his creative roots with strategic ambition to shine a light on inspirational artists across media.

The launch aligns with major cultural events beginning with Art Basel Paris in 2025 and culminating at Art Basel Doha in February 2026, during which inductees will be honored at the gala. The initiative expands beyond celebrations into actionable partnerships, including limited-edition merchandise and immersive in-flight experiences. Master classes will also be available to select Qatar Airways Privilege Club members. Dean describes the collaboration as “a platform that shines a light on the most inspiring people of our time.”

Qatar Airways’ CEO Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer framed the alliance as central to the airline’s branding.

“At Qatar Airways, creativity fuels everything we do. … Our partnership with Swizz Beatz reflects that same spirit,” Al-Meer said in a press release.

Swizz Beatz, real name Kasseem Dean, co-founded The Dean Collection together with his wife, Alicia Keys. The collection, which launched the large‐scale “Giants” exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum in 2024, has toured globally, showcasing more than 500,000 visitors across three shows, according to a press release.

Dean is steadily excelling in his quest to expand artistic outlets. The producer, collector, and curator has transitioned from artist to gatekeeper of global creative culture. Through this new partnership with Qatar Airways, he is positioned as a bridge between high art, commercial brands, and international cultural movements.

Upcoming Qatar Airways Creative 100 Activations Include:

November 2025: Activation at the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix
December 2025: Preview event at Art Basel Miami
February 2026: “Creative 100” Gala at Art Basel Doha, featuring the reveal of the custom “Air FIFA” aircraft livery designed under Swizz Beatz’s creative direction

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 25, 2025

Harvard Sees Drop In Black And Hispanic Student Enrollment

There has been an increase in Asian American enrollment.

Harvard’s Class of 2029 admissions show a decline in Black and Hispanic students and an increase in Asian American enrollment.

Admissions data released on Oct. 23 reveals that Harvard’s Class of 2029 comprises 11.5% Black students, 11% Hispanic students, and 41% Asian American students, down from 14% Black and 16% Hispanic, The Hill reports. Asian American students are up from 37%.

The number of Black students at Harvard has steadily declined since the 2023 Supreme Court ruling that banned affirmative action in college admissions. Before the decision, Black students represented 18% of Harvard’s student body.

Hispanic enrollment initially increased following the ruling, then dropped.

Harvard did not disclose the percentage of freshmen who identify as white or report multiple racial backgrounds. Eight percent of students opted not to report their race.

Harvard’s slight decline in Black and Hispanic student enrollment follows similar trends at fellow Ivy League institutions Yale and Princeton. Princeton’s Black freshmen population fell to its lowest share since 1968. The long-awaited data, usually released earlier in the year, came this fall for the first time, aligning with the university’s federal reporting requirements.

The school has been under intense scrutiny since the Supreme Court’s ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which overturned 45 years of precedent on affirmative action. Critics of affirmative action, such as President Donald Trump, have closely monitored the racial makeup of the student body. At the same time, the university risks backlash from its own students if enrollment of underrepresented minorities declines.

Harvard continues to face scrutiny from Trump, who has used his second term to attempt to cut billions in funding and block the university’s enrollment of international students; both actions were ruled illegal by the courts. The share of international students has declined slightly, from 16% to 15%.

The pressure on the university seems to be taking a toll, as Harvard has implemented hiring freezes and reduced Ph.D. admissions. In its fiscal 2025 report, the university posted an operating loss of $113 million, marking its first budget deficit since 2020.

Uncle Nearest , whiskey, fawn weaver, barriers business

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 24, 2025

Fawn Weaver Calls Out ‘Smear Campaign’ In Battle Over Uncle Nearest Receivership

Weaver addressed the ongoing receivership battle at the 'Inc. 5000 Conference' on Oct. 24.

Uncle Nearest Founder and CEO Fawn Weaver is denouncing what she calls a “smear campaign” in her company’s ongoing receivership case.

Weaver addressed the ongoing receivership battle during a fireside chat titled “Reclaiming Your Company in Turbulent Times” at the “Inc. 5000 Conference” on Oct. 24, discussing the company’s reported default on $108 million in loans to Kentucky lender Farm Credit.

“Martha’s Vineyard was a smear campaign tactic,” Weaver said, as captured by Inc. “Their hope was that the judge would see it, would accept the smear, and would turn over the keys of my company to them.”

Earlier this month, receiver Phillip Young asked a judge to rule on whether additional assets tied to the Uncle Nearest distillery—including the whiskey, a restaurant and entertainment venue in Shelbyville, Tennessee, and a Martha’s Vineyard property purchased by the Weavers in 2023—should be included in the receivership.

On Oct. 21, Weaver, who founded the company with her husband, Keith, filed a response opposing the receiver’s request to bring 10 additional businesses under court control. The receiver had sought “clarification” on whether to include these entities, citing the apparent intermingling of finances with the distillery placed in receivership in September.

In their filing, the Weavers argued that the entities are separate from the distillery and not responsible for its debts, warning that placing them under the receiver’s control would strip them and others of their financial interests. The motion also claims that Uncle Nearest is not insolvent and has enough assets to cover the defaulted loans without involving other businesses.

“If you can get the judge to believe that we misappropriated funds to buy a property, a vacation home—let’s be clear, I’m from California, what I’m not going to do is buy a vacation home that’s not on the water in a town that is not sunny nine months out of the year,” Weaver said at the conference.

Weaver’s latest filing follows an August motion asserting that Farm Credit’s receivership request “ignores critical context” and that the lender failed to take proper legal steps to secure its claim on the property as collateral in the event of a loan default, a point Weaver reiterated during the conference.

“They didn’t have security over any of our collateral. And the question becomes, why not? Why did you not ask to perfect seven of our eight pieces of real estate? Martha’s Vineyard is just one of them,” Weaver said.

Nearest Green Distillery and Uncle Nearest whiskey were placed under a receiver’s control last month. Celebrated as the second-best-selling Tennessee whiskey in the United States after Jack Daniel’s, the brand has earned numerous awards and sustained sales growth despite a post-pandemic downturn in alcohol consumption.

But the distillery is among several facing financial challenges as Americans drink less and exports decline amid trade tensions from President Donald Trump’s tariff war. Despite the receivership, Weaver remains committed to the company she founded, viewing the struggles as part of the risks inherent in entrepreneurship.

“Every entrepreneur is going to have a moment in time where it looks like all is lost,” Weaver said. “The only difference between those who have been the most successful entrepreneurs in American history and those who have failed are those who gave up in the in between.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 24, 2025

Two Black Fraternities At Yale Have Just One Member Left: ‘A Lot Of Our History Has Been Lost’

The last remaining members of two Black Greek-letter organizations at Yale are working to preserve their fraternities’ histories on campus.

Two Yale University students are working to preserve the legacy of their Black Greek-letter organizations as the last remaining members on campus.

Alejandro Rojas ’26 of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and Keith Pemberton ’27 of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. are the last remaining members of their organizations at Yale. With the university’s limited records on the fraternities and the history of early Black scholars at the school, the two students are working to preserve their organizations’ legacies before they graduate.

“A lot of our history has been lost because of the lack of documentation from Yale University,” Rojas told Yale Daily News. “Fundamentally, it was an issue with whether or not Yale recognized the status of these students. I feel this responsibility to make sure that this history is honored despite how Yale might not have honored it in the past.”

According to Rojas, Alpha Phi Alpha’s rich legacy at Yale dates back to 1909, when the Zeta chapter, which Rojas currently serves as President, was first chartered, predating the founding of the Afro-American Cultural Center. During the 1980s and ’90s, the fraternity—chartered under the citywide Eta Alpha Lambda—had nearly 20 members on campus.

As the oldest continuously active Black organization at Yale, the fraternity’s history has been challenging to trace, Rojas noted, due to the university’s limited documentation. Before 1970, many Black students didn’t live on campus and were listed in New Haven city records rather than Yale’s enrollment logs. Additionally, several chapter members were not recorded in yearbooks or class archives, leaving gaps in the historical record.

Since becoming chapter president, Rojas has been on a mission to uncover as much of the chapter’s history as possible, even exploring archives at other universities, such as Cornell and Howard. He cites other schools like Brown and Harvard that each has only one Alpha member as well.

“I don’t think a lot of students are aware of that nor do they have the same imperative to do so,” Rojas said. “I think our role is to encourage people to acknowledge our history in terms of denied history and in terms of Black history.”

Pemberton shares Rojas’ commitment to preserving his fraternity’s legacy. As the sole member of Omega Psi Phi at Yale, he represents the citywide Epsilon Iota Iota chapter, founded in 1922. Since its founding, about nine Yale students have joined the chapter, but before Pemberton, it had gone 15 years without a Yale initiate.

He hopes his role as the only Omega on campus will create a pathway of achievement and scholarship for other Black men at Yale and in New Haven, a mission that aligns with Rojas.

“We’re definitely not looking for people just to increase numbers,” Rojas said of himself and Pemberton. “For us, it’s really important to have a certain quality of student who’s dedicated to honoring the history in the same ways that we seek to bring our own perspective to it.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 24, 2025

Lizzo Sued For Sampling ’70s Soul Track In Unreleased Song

The lawsuit targets a song snippet Lizzo shared online.

Lizzo is being sued for copyright infringement over an unreleased song that references the American Eagle advertisement featuring actress Sydney Sweeney.

According to the BBC, the artist is being sued for using an unauthorized sample of a groovy R&B song written by Sam Dees in the 1970s named “Win or Lose (We Tried).”

The song was “leaked” on social media over the summer with a snippet on Lizzo’s TikTok and Instagram pages. It gained a lot of attention due to Lizzo mentioning Sweeney’s name and the actress’ controversial commercial.

The American Eagle commercial had people up in arms because it stated that the blonde, buxom Sweeney (the popular star of The White Lotus and Anyone But You) has “good jeans,” with many interpreting it as a play on white supremacy, instead of her looks or “good genes.”

In the song, Lizzo rapped, “I got good jeans like I’m Sydney.”

Yet attorneys for GRC Trust are claiming lost profits. According to the suit, GRC Trust states that Lizzo “obtained profits they would not have realized but for their infringement” of the song.

They say that they “attempted informal resolution of the dispute” with Lizzo’s representatives, “but reached an impasse, necessitating the filing of this case.”

“We are surprised that the GRC Trust filed this lawsuit,” a representative for Lizzo said, according to the BBC. “To be clear, the song has never been commercially released or monetized, and no decision has been made at this time regarding any future commercial release of the song.”

GRC Trust does not want the song further distributed and is seeking an injunction to block it. It is also requesting a financial settlement that is equal to “all [of the] defendants’ profits, plus all GRC’s losses.”

Misty Copeland, Black Ballerinas, Trauma, American Ballet Theatre

by Kandiss Edwards

October 24, 2025

Misty Copeland Takes Final Bow, Celebrated By Icons Oprah And Debbie Allen

Copeland, the first Black principal dancer for The American Ballet Theatre, has retired.

Misty Copeland, the first Black principal dancer for The American Ballet Theatre, took her final bow and was given her flowers by Black royalty.

On Oct. 22, at the David H. Koch Theater, Copeland concluded her groundbreaking career. She performed in the gala event, “A Celebration Honoring Misty Copeland,” part of ABT’s Fall Gala and co-chaired by Caroline Kennedy and Oprah Winfrey.

Following her final bow, Copeland was celebrated by family members, company members, and legends. One of the first in line to present the prima ballerina a stunning bouquet of red roses was Oprah. As a prolific figure in Black culture, the media mogul and Black-woman billionaire acknowledged Copeland’s contribution to breaking barriers in the dance world.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Oprah Daily (@oprahdaily)

Along with Oprah, Debbie Allen was present to support the now living legend in her final artistic showing, with the trailblazer taking the stage following Winfrey. The five-time Emmy-winner, choreographer and owner of the Debbie Allen Dance Academy blazed a trail in the dance world leaving doors open in her wake. Copeland walked through those doors as a young dancer at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy.

An official Instagram account posted a heartfelt tribute to Copeland.

“We are endlessly proud of Misty’s remarkable career, her grace, and the doors she’s opened for dancers everywhere. Brava, Misty. The curtain may have closed, but your light continues to shine,” the post read.

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A post shared by Debbie Allen Dance Academy (@officialdadance)

Beyond her contribution to ballet, Copeland founded the Misty Copeland Foundation, published books and co-founded a production company. All of her endeavors are aimed at creating access and representation. While she steps down from ABT, Copeland says her dancing journey is not finished.

She told People that this moment “is not a farewell, it’s a celebration of everything we’ve built together, and a step toward all the work that’s still ahead.”

by Kandiss Edwards

October 24, 2025

Pennsylvania Mayor Fined $900 For Using City Dumpster At Her Home

Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams is in the midst of a reelection bid.

The Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission has fined Wanda Williams, mayor of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, $912.70 for obtaining an illegal dumpster, according to the decision filing.

Officials discovered that city employees delivered a roll-off dumpster to Williams’s private residence free of charge. Possession of a private dumpster is not a benefit available to the general public. The commission’s order states that the delivery violated public-office laws.

The complaint claims that Williams had possession of the sanitation bin from September 2023 to June 2024. The bin was technically owned by the city’s public works department, but was used to dispose of household waste.

Residents are split in their reaction to Williams’s actions. The State Ethics Commission charged Mayor Williams with abusing her privilege and position in the county to pull personal favors.

“It is clear that but for being the City Mayor, Williams would not have been in a position to text City Department of Public Works Director Spriggs and request that he have a roll-off dumpster delivered to her residence in the City for the private purpose of cleaning out her residence for an upcoming move,” the commission’s final adjudication read.

Meanwhile, supporters described the incident as a minor administrative error and said the fine was symbolic. Hopefully, Williams can move on from the near $1,000 scandal as she is currently running for reelection against City Council Treasurer Dan Miller in the Nov. 4 race.

Miller, a Democrat, is running against Williams, and although the two candidates have worked closely together over Williams’s four-year tenure, they are now political foes. Most recently, they have been fighting to bring awareness to public safety concerns in the area, WGAL reports.

by Sharelle B. McNair

October 24, 2025

Wells Fargo To Pay $85M To Settle ‘Fake Diversity Interview’ Lawsuit

The class action suit claimed Wells Fargo held interviews with diverse candidates with no intent of hiring them.

After a three-year battle, Wells Fargo has settled for $85 million in a lawsuit accusing it of holding fake interviews to meet a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring quota, The Charlotte Observer reports.

The class action suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, claims the financial institution held interviews between February 2021 and June 2022 with diverse candidates with no actual intent of hiring them. After media reports exposed the “sham” May 2022 interviews, stock prices plummeted, prompting an investor lawsuit. On behalf of the plaintiffs, investment firm SEB Investment Management AB accused the bank and its executive team of violating securities laws by making false and misleading statements on its diversity requirements for higher-paying jobs.

Wells Fargo claimed that close to half of the candidates seeking jobs, with U.S.-based roles paying $100,000 or more per year, ranged from underrepresented demographics, including minorities, women, veterans, LGBTQ individuals, and people with disabilities.

While the bank denied the accusations and said the Oct. 15 settlement was simply to avoid expenses and the possibility of continued litigation, the suit put the banking conglomerate’s diversity practices under a microscope. In 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) received a report from Wells Fargo that 46% of its 238,000 employees were from diverse backgrounds, and it remained committed to advancing its diversity stance.

However, once President Donald Trump signed an executive order opposing DEI efforts, the bank dialed back, along with hundreds of other leading corporations. With a large presence in Charlotte, Wells Fargo was among the seven of the nine largest public companies in the Queen City to pause any mention of diversity and equity in the same SEC reports.

The $85 million will be distributed to eligible class action members following deductions for fees, expenses, and taxes. Submitted claims from class action members will receive settlement funds following the distribution formula that makes persons who owned Wells Fargo stock during the period of the lawsuit a priority. Shareholders with stock held between Feb. 24, 2021, and June 9, 2022, will receive payments as Wells’ stock price fell by 10% after news of the fake interviews broke.

As a result, the company lost $17 billion in market value.

The bank has been busy settling lawsuits. According to HR Dive, Wells Fargo also settled a related suit that accused bank executives of breaching their fiduciary duties —by definition, a legal and ethical obligation to act in the best interest of another party —over the company’s misleading statements regarding its diverse hiring practices.

To settle, Wells Fargo agreed to set aside $100 million to fund mortgage assistance programs for low- and moderate-income borrowers, including those who live in or purchased property in low- and moderate-income areas.