Georgia Veteran’s Benefits Reduced After VA Allegedly Falsified Her Work History
The Navy veteran claims her benefit was reduced from about $4,000 to approximately $1,900 per month.
Jasmina Covington says the Department of Veterans Affairs slashed her monthly disability payments by more than 50% after claiming she worked full-time at a company she insists she never had any affiliation with.
The Navy veteran claims her benefit was reduced from about $4,000 to approximately $1,900 per month. She said she was stunned to learn that VA records showed earnings of $57,947 in 2023 from a packaging company in Duluth, more than 120 miles from her home. Covington said she has never lived in Duluth or worked for that company.
Covington told WSB investigators she reached out to the human resources department at the alleged employer, which confirmed in writing that she was never their employee.
“I’ve never been to Duluth. I’ve never met anybody from Duluth,” she said.
The veteran said the cut has caused severe hardship.
“Now, I got to decide am I going to buy groceries this month or keep the water and the lights on,” she said.
She said she has lost a vehicle and is in danger of losing more financial stability if the benefits aren’t restored.
The VA would not immediately resolve her case. A VA spokesperson told WSB that because of a current government shutdown, the agency cannot investigate immediately, but will forward her case when operations resume.
In the meantime, Covington is pushing for expedited review, saying she must survive on a significantly reduced income. Her case could prompt broader scrutiny of VA procedures for income verification and benefit re-determinations.
Covington is not the only veteran whose benefits have been cut based on an alleged inaccurate work history. In April 2025, WSB-TV reported on 70-year-old Roosevelt Smith. Smith was declared 100% disabled in 2012. A day before his benefits were to be deposited, Smith was informed that the Social Security Administration had evidence of unreported income.
Smith said he has never been to the diner for which he reportedly worked, and the cancellation of his benefits would jeopardize his stability.
“I’ve been in this house since 2018. You can’t pay your mortgage; you can’t be here. I have nowhere to go,” he told WSB-TV.
Dueling Lawsuits: Andra Day Strikes Back At Ex-Manager Over Mismanaged Funds
The 'Rise Up' singer claims her former management team left her in financial ruins.
Singer Andra Day and her former manager, Jeff Evans, have sued each other, with both accusing the other of financial misconduct.
Evans filed a lawsuit against Day on Oct. 6, claiming she failed to pay him a 40 percent share of her publishing royalties and a 20 percent commission on other deals he allegedly secured for the artist, Varietyreports. Evans also alleges that between 2012 and 2017, the singer’s expenses exceeded her income, resulting in financial losses.
The filing also accuses Day of failing to pay at least $850,000, withholding publishing advances, and not making payments related to Day’s starring role in the Netflix film The Deliverance. Evans claims he has not been paid according to the terms of their various agreements since 2024.
Day filed a countersuit against Evans and his management companies, BassLine and Buskin, for exploitative practices. Day accused Evans of keeping 100% of several large payments, mischaracterizing expenses, and using her earnings for luxury travel. In the lawsuit, Day claims Evans “has admitted to failing to pay” her more than $575,000.
“What is immediately apparent is that Evans abused his role as a fiduciary to scam Day with blind greed,“ the lawsuit reads.
In her lawsuit, Day alleges that Evans and his team “siphoned so much money” from the actress that she couldn’t pay her credit card debt and was facing eviction. Additionally, Day claims the agreements they made ended in 2023.
Evans’ legal team asserts that some parts of those agreements are still in effect and denies the singer’s claims of exploitative practices.
“Ms. Day filed a baseless lawsuit against our clients one day after our clients brought an action against Ms. Day for royalties rightfully due to them,” Evans, BassLine, and Buskin’s attorney said in a statement to People. “Our clients categorically deny the allegations made against them and look forward to their day in court.”
Day’s lawsuit calls for a financial audit to uncover the alleged unethical practices and determine how much money, if any, Evans owes the singer.
When receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, many women are challenged with concerns for their health, keeping up with their everyday lives, both in and out of the home. While medical professionals, family members, and friends are often there to help, breast cancer patients can also find assistance using technology. Here are eight digital apps that guide patients and their caregivers through the twists and turns of diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship.
ACS CARES
ACS CARES is an application that tailors cancer‑related information to each user. The app links users to medical specialists and connects them with volunteer peers. The content refreshes whenever a patient’s situation shifts, and the program can be downloaded for free on both iOS and Android devices in the United States via the App Store or Google Play. By gathering all tools in one place, the app guides patients and their caregivers through the treatment journey while streamlining the patchwork of support services.
Breast Cancer Navigator
Breast Cancer Navigator, a guide‑oriented app developed by Cancer Care Innovation Lab with Mu Sigma Analytics, delivers health plans, enables symptom tracking, and provides a comprehensive resource hub. Designed to support patients at any stage of their journey, the app puts privacy front and center by refusing to collect data.
Breast Cancer Ally
The treatment navigator app pushes out reminders, keeps tabs on toxicity, and serves up content that is custom‑fit to each patient’s regimen. First rolled out to the public in 2015, Breast Cancer Ally was tied into the University of Michigan’s care protocols and aimed to bridge the so‑called “post‑visit gap” by nudging patients and handling side effects on the fly.
Outcomes4Me, a digital‑health startup, has launched a cancer‑focused app that incorporates NCCN guidelines, which offer treatment options customized to each patient. The app tracks symptoms and links users with trials and can be accessed worldwide via an application or a web portal. It’s intended to make specialist‑level oncology guidance more straightforward and reachable for patients.
My Care Journey
My Care Journey: Medocity’s app gives patients a hub where they can log symptoms as they arise, set up nudges for their treatments and exchange encrypted messages with their care team. The app quietly tracks medication regimens, captures symptom trends and serves up resources that are tailor‑made for each user. Available on both iOS and Android, My Care Journey has been kept fresh with updates since August 2025.
Cancer.Net Mobile
Cancer.Net Mobile, born out of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), packs oncologist‑approved content that spans over 120 cancer types alongside a symptom tracker, a medication log and an appointment scheduler. The app lives on both iOS and Android and is intended to amplify education, empower self‑directed care and smooth out care coordination for a swath of cancers, breast cancer included.
Breast Advocate
Breast Advocate, a decision‑support application, equips breast‑cancer clinicians and patient advocates with a menu of evidence‑backed treatment routes, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, fine‑tuned to the subtype of a patient’s disease. Available on iOS and Android, the tool transforms evidence into options that patients can weave into their conversations with oncologists.
‘A Tireless Warrior’: Former Detroit Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick Dies At 80
The congresswoman served in the U.S. House from 1997 until 2011.
Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick’s family announced her death in a statement obtained by the Associated Press, where they praised her for her “unyielding commitment“ to the city of Detroit.
“She will be deeply missed, not only by her family and friends, but by the entire Detroit community that she loved so dearly,” the statement said.
Cheeks Kilpatrick became the second Black woman to serve in the U.S. House after her election in 1996. She served in the House for 14 years, during which she dedicated much of her time to the Appropriations Committee. The congresswoman was recognized for securing more than $70 million in federal funds for her district, including $1.5 million for the purchase of alternative-fuel buses and $500,000 for the city’s summer youth program. Additionally, she obtained funding for a pre-college engineering instruction program, children’s television programming, and enhanced rehabilitation services at the Detroit Medical Center.
Cheeks Kilpatrick led the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) in 2007 and 2008, during which time the caucus helped pass a series of bills, including funding for Hurricane Katrina victims, a bill supporting farmers, an increase in the minimum wage, and the expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. The CBC honored the Congresswoman, noting that she paved the way for other Black women in politics.
“Congresswoman Kilpatrick’s life was a testament to purpose, perseverance, and profound love for her community. We honor her contributions and celebrate a life that uplifted so many,” the group wrote in a statement.
Born Carolyn Jean Cheeks in Detroit, she graduated from Detroit High School of Commerce. She earned a B.S. from Western Michigan University and an M.S. from the University of Michigan in 1977. The mother of two worked as a high school teacher from 1979 to 1996.
She is survived by her two children, Ayanna and former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, and eight grandchildren.
On Sept. 13, Alisa Gumbs, VP and Deputy Chief of Content Officer at BLACK ENTERPRISE, moderated a panel called “Prepare Your Home Now, and Your Bank Account Will Thank You Later,” which gave homeowners resources to save energy and money.
Angela Thompkins, VP of External Affairs and Media Relations and Chief Diversity Officer of CMS Energy Corporation and Consumers Energy Company urged residents to take advantage of Consumers Energy’s My Personalized Offerings page.
“You can plug in your personal situation, and it will list resources and payment assistance programs that are uniquely designed for your needs,” said Thompkins.
Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services (KNHS) repairs and rehabs homes, educates residents on homeownership, counsels people through foreclosure, and provides specialized loans. Todd Holm, Associate Director of Homeowner Services at NHS, explained the variety of repairs residents are eligible for.
KNHS offers a countywide roof program that provides money to repair or replace roofs as well as siding and window repairs. There is a new build program where they build new houses with shared equity.
“There is a portion of the house’s equity that is retained so that the house becomes more affordable for the person buying it,” said Holm.
Holm encouraged parents to get their children involved in the Lead program.
“[The Lead Program] has many repair components to it that end up being weatherization and valuable to the home and its longevity,” said Holm.
Community Homeworks connects homeowners with resources and opportunities to make housing affordable. Drew Duncan, Construction Manager for Community Homeworks, gave homeowners actionable items to help save energy.
“In order to know your bill is to know your home,” said Duncan. “The attic can tell you a lot about the health of your home. It has to be properly vented and properly insulated. Step one is to know your home, know your attic, know your basement, know the foundation.”
To empower Kalamazoo, Community Homeworks offers virtual and in-person workshops, community events, and a tool library.
“For $35, you have access to 800 tools,” said Duncan. “We are empowering homeowners to do these repairs themselves with the education classes.”
Looking towards the future, Consumers Energy was approved and working towards clean energy transformation. It is building a 250-megawatt solar park that will socialize the benefits of clean energy for the entire state.
The event gave participants a chance to meet talk to many community partners to learn more information about how to keep their homes affordable.
Reinah McNeil is a graduating broadcast journalism major and history minor at Howard University. Through storytelling, she loves to serve, uplift and inform her community.
Trump Considers Tariff-Funded Stimulus Checks For Americans
The stimulus would be funded from the revenues generated from the Trump Administration’s tariffs. In September alone, the U.S. government collected over $31 billion in tariff revenue.
A new report from Goldman Sachs reveals a sobering picture: more people are living paycheck to paycheck. As more Americans struggle to pay for housing, food, and transportation, President Donald Trump is considering giving Americans a $2,000 stimulus check funded by tariffs.
“We’re going to do something, we’re looking at something. No. 1, we’re paying down debt. Because people have allowed the debt to go crazy,” the President said during an interview on One America News.
He added, “We also might make a distribution to the people, almost like a dividend to the people of America. “We’re thinking maybe $1,000 to $2,000 — it’d be great.”
Debts Rising In The United States As Trump Touts Tariff-Funded Stimulus
Goldman Sachs’s latest study found that Americans are stretched thin. An estimated two-thirds of those surveyed say they are struggling to make ends meet between paydays. Economists say the reason for the financial insecurity is due to “sticky inflation,” elevated interest rates, and slower wage growth.
Inflation has reportedly cooled somewhat, down from the highs recorded in 2022, but prices are above pre-pandemic levels.
“Many households aren’t in crisis, but they’re stretched thin,” the report states. “The lack of savings and reliance on credit cards to cover monthly bills creates long-term vulnerability.”
Even more alarming in the report is the finding that low-income families are not the only ones feeling the financial strain. High earners are also reported to have very little savings buffer, which reflects mounting costs.
Report authors also note that 55% of workers may be living paycheck to paycheck by 2033, and 65% by 2043, raising the question of whether retirement is becoming unaffordable for many.
“The cost of major life events is taking up a larger percentage of household income, a trend that affects workers at the lowest level of income as well as the highest,” said Greg Wilson, the head of retirement with Goldman Sachs Asset Management.
He warns that if more Americans don’t seek out retirement income strategies to close their savings gap, then “retirement may increasingly become unaffordable for too many workers.”
Diddy’s Fort Dix Prison Placement Request Has Been Denied
Judge Arun Subramanian rejected Combs's motion instead offering other recommendations.
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ request to serve his 50-month sentence in New Jersey’s FCI Fort Dix has been denied.
Judge Arun Subramanian rejected the motion, instead instructing that Combs serve his time “as close as practicable to the New York metropolitan area.”
Diddy’s attorneys requested his Fort Dix placement to access the Bureau of Prisons Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP). Prisoners in the RDAP program that are housed at Fort Dix are allowed separate living quarters outside of the general population. They are also allowed to enroll in half-day work, school, or vocational activities. As a result of the facility’s flexibility, Combs’s legal team asserts that the New Jersey facility will allow him greater access to his family.
“In order to address drug abuse issues and to maximize family visitation and rehabilitative efforts, we request that the Court strongly recommend to the Bureau of Prisons that Mr. Combs be placed at FCI Fort Dix for RDAP purposes and any other available educational and occupational programs,” the filing stated.
In his rejection, Subramanian cited concerns over security, logistical constraints and administrative authority. Subramanian clarified that his judicial authority allows him to recommend a geographic zone, but actual placement is under the Bureau of Prisons’ jurisdiction. Combs’s team has until Oct. 10 to request another facility closer to the Metropolitan area.
Combs’ attorneys have signaled plans to appeal both the sentencing and the placement ruling. Meanwhile, correctional officials will now determine his ultimate assignment, which may lie outside the New York area but still within the judge’s recommended zone.
Combs was convicted in July on two counts of transporting individuals to engage in prostitution, under the Mann Act. He was acquitted of more serious racketeering charges. He was sentenced Oct. 3 to 50 months in prison, a $500,000 fine, and five years of supervised release. Credit for time already served may shorten his remaining term to roughly three years.
Boost Your Career In A Tough Job Market With Soft Skills, Resume Upgrades, And Smart Pivots
Industry experts say switching industries and showcasing your soft skills can boost your chances of landing your next job.
As layoffs rise, hiring slows, and economic conditions continue to shift, the U.S. job market is becoming increasingly unstable and leaving job seekers uncertain about their futures. Despite the challenges of navigating a stressful and unpredictable job market, job seekers can still use effective strategies to improve their chances of landing a position in these unsettling times.
At the heart of every job search lies the goal of securing a position in one’s desired field, ideally with a salary that can handle today’s high cost of living. However, with the U.S. job-finding rate at its lowest point since 2019, job seekers may need to adjust their expectations. In a market with limited opportunities, maintaining flexibility and openness to temporary pivots could be crucial to securing your next role, particularly in sectors that continue to perform well despite broader industry shifts and economic challenges, according to industry experts.
“We’ve seen a lot of industries under a squeeze right now because the population that normally were working in those industries, like agriculture, production, sometimes manufacturing and automotive, because they’ve had a reduced talent pool because of some of the things that’s happening now, it’s created an open door of opportunity for people from untraditional pipelines to find opportunity,” Khalilah Olokunola, Senior Director at Jobs for the Future told BLACK ENTERPRISE during the Clover x Shark Tank Summit.
In the agriculture sector, the market is currently divided, with different subsectors experiencing vastly different outcomes. Growers of row crops like corn, soybeans, and wheat have been struck by falling prices, rising input costs, and geopolitical tensions such as the U.S.–China trade war. In contrast, the livestock industry has shown greater resilience, with higher prices boosting profits for cattle, eggs, and dairy producers.
The automotive industry tells a similar story of contrasts. While the broader sector faces challenges from slowing sales, reduced production, and rising costs, the aftermarket segment, which supplies parts and services for vehicle maintenance and repair, continues to demonstrate its recession-resistant nature. Consumers tend to keep their cars longer during economic downturns.
Meanwhile, the manufacturing industry, though currently strained, shows promise for long-term recovery. Trends like reshoring and increased federal investments in technology and infrastructure make way for industry-shifting innovation. These are the evolving industry shifts Olokunola is seeing through her work in helping populations overcome barriers to economic advancement.
“I would tell them to get hopeful because industries are under a squeeze and they’re going to be looking to fill roles that are necessary for the production of those businesses,” Olokunola told job seekers.
Alongside exploring industry pivots, job seekers should also recognize and leverage the soft skills they use in everyday life, as these skills can play a vital role in driving a business’s success, Olokunola added. Once you’ve identified these soft skills, highlight them on your resume to ensure they stand out to hiring managers.
“You have to begin to look at different ways of working when it comes to positioning yourself for a job and not be afraid to translate skills that we often keep secret,” she explained. “A lot of times, like moms returning to the workplace, can operationalize the household. And so when you think about some of the skills you have that you don’t put on your resume, there’s a data stat that says 93% of organizations know that their company will succeed based on the soft skills that their team members have. And so we have to be able to share those things because while you may not have as much experience or a degree as someone, that lived experience that you have can work in the workplace in a really intentional and thoughtful way to make the impact that that employee is looking for.”
Speaking at the summit alongside Sole Play CEO TJ Bennett, Olokunola and Lands shared insights on how small business owners can build a strong A-Team. While hiring during an economic downturn may seem daunting or even futile, Lands emphasized that the current climate shouldn’t shake an employer’s confidence in the kind of workplace environment they have the power to create.
“At this moment, when you have kind of uncertainty, economic, socio-political turmoil, I think employers often make a false trade-off or a false dichotomy about their ability to create quality jobs, and they sort of equate this with needing to make some kind of large financial investment,” Lands said. But during the three-day Clover x Shark Tank Summit, “We actually surfaced a lot of different low-cost or no-cost ways, no-regret moves that employers can make to really invest in their workforce and both attract and retain really strong candidates.”
Judge Gives Rev. William Barber The Green Light To Continue Lawsuit Against AMC Theatres
AMC Theaters released a statement saying they are reviewing policies to ensure nothing like what happened to Barber happens to anyone else.
In a victory for disabled civil rights advocate Rev. William Barber II, a judge rejected a request from AMC Theatres for a lawsuit to be tossed out after being accused of not allowing Barber to use his own chair to watch a movie, WRAL News reports.
In an Oct. 7 ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Terrence Boyle permitted the lawsuit, filed in 2024 in the Eastern District of North Carolina, to carry on. The suit is seeking $100,000 as Barber’s attorney, Harry Daniels, alleges a theater in Greenville, North Carolina, violated the Americans with Disability Act by requiring Barber to provide proof of his disability. In a statement, the civil rights advocate’s legal team said the theater should have recognized his condition. “Barber is afflicted with ankylosing spondylitis, a form of arthritis which causes inflammation in the joints and ligaments of the spine,” the statement read, according to CBS 17.
“Rather than recognize his condition, however, theater staff called the local police and had him escorted from the theater.”
The incident in question took place on Dec. 26, 2023. Barber was escorted out of the theater for not being allowed to use his own chair to watch a showing of the then-box office hit, The Color Purple. Escorting his 90-year-old mother, the former North Carolina NAACP president said he attempted to use the special chair in the theater’s handicapped section but was approached by an AMC staff member who told him he couldn’t.
The former leader at Greenleaf Christian Church in Goldsboro has difficulty sitting in regular chairs due to persistent hip pain. He also uses two canes.
Officers from the Greenville Police Department were called, and Barber was escorted out of the building. Barber can be heard in a video of the incident saying “I am not resisting” and “I am non-violent” before he was seen walking out. The case drew national attention, with Barber’s attorney saying the religious leader was embarrassed. “I said to them, I can’t leave. My gut, my heart, my character, my commitment to justice will not allow me to leave this space when I know legally and morally I have a right to it,” Barber said at the time.
In response to the lawsuit, AMC Theaters released a statement saying it is reviewing policies to ensure nothing like what happened to Barber happens to anyone else. “AMC welcomes guests with disabilities. We have a number of accommodations in place at our theaters at all times, and our theater teams work hard to accommodate guests who have needs that fall outside the normal course of business,” the company said.
“We encourage guests who require special seating to speak with a manager in advance to see what can best be accommodated at the theater to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for the guest and those around them. We are also reviewing our policies with our theater teams to help ensure situations like this do not occur again.”
International Basketball League Plans Fall 2026 Debut, Advisor Maverick Carter No Longer Involved
'He is no longer working with them or any other basketball league in Europe.'
An international basketball league reportedly being advised by Maverick Carter is planning a launch for Fall 2026, but the SpringHill Company CEO is no longer involved.
According to Front Office Sports, the league, which is being spearheaded by investors like Skype Co-Founder Geoff Prentice and former Facebook executive Grady Burnett, tennis stars Novak Djokovic and Sloane Stephens, former WNBA stars Candace Parker, Alana Beard, and Lauren Jackson, and ex-NFL quarterback Steve Young, will move forward but without Carter included in the group.
A spokesperson for Carter confirmed that he has no role in the organization.
“This group came to Maverick for consultation, which he gave, and he subsequently stepped away months ago. He is no longer working with them or any other basketball league in Europe.”
Earlier this summer, an Instagram post featuring Carter, LeBron James, and the European agent of superstar center Nikola Jokić, Miško Ražnatović, relaxing on a boat, sparked rumors of a new basketball league being developed.
The league, which has been dubbed “Project B” does not have an official name, or at least it has not been disclosed publicly. It is anticipated that it will begin play next fall, with an expectation that it will run through April.
Project B will host tournaments across Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Players who participate in the league, along with salaries, will be offered equity. The league reportedly has raised capital from investment firms Quiet Capital, Sequence Equity, and Mangrove Capital.
Beard, who won a WNBA championship with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2016, is a co-founder and the league’s chief basketball officer. She has stressed the importance of the players having equity in the league.
“The players are our partners, they’re one of our largest stakeholders,” Beard said. “They are creating value, and getting paid for that value.”
