by Kandiss Edwards

October 8, 2025

Bad Bunny Told To ‘Stay In Your Country’ If You Aren’t Patriotic By Former NFL Player Eric Dickerson

Dickerson plainly expressed he felt about Bad Bunny’s upcoming Super Bowl performance.

Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson made a bold pronouncement to the 2026 Super Bowl headliner, Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio.

In an interview with TMZ, Dickerson plainly expressed how he felt about Bad Bunny’s upcoming performance. The former Los Angeles Ram criticized Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny over his stance on America’s current political climate. Dickerson believes that if Ocasio is not enthusiastically patriotic, he should not headline an American sporting event with over 100 million viewers.

“I’m from the U.S. I love my country. And if you don’t like the United States, just get your ass out of here and don’t come over here.” Dickerson said to TMZ, “If Bad Bunny said something about the U.S., don’t come here and perform. You know, don’t come here. Stay in your country.”

As Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, Bad Bunny is a member of this country. When reminded of that, Dickerson doubled down on his stance. He continued to make a distinction between U.S. territories and mainland states. To Dickerson, the distinction matters regardless of citizenship.

“I know Puerto Rico is part of the U.S. But it’s not the U.S. That’s the way I look at it. That’s the way I feel,” he said.

https://twitter.com/TMZ/status/1975697720229654704

Commentary on Bad Bunny’s upcoming performance has been ongoing–mostly due to his refusal to tour in the mainland U.S. for his newest album. Instead, Ocasio opted for a residency in Puerto Rico. Many have laid claims of American hate at Bad Bunny’s feet, but his own words state the exact opposite. While he is concerned about ICE officers’ treatment of suspected illegal residents, he does not hate America. In an interview with I-D, he explained his reasoning for inviting his fans to see him in Puerto Rico.

“There were many reasons why I didn’t show up in the U.S., and none of them were out of hate—I’ve performed there many times. . .But there was the issue of—like, f*cking ICE could be outside [my concert]. And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about,” he said.

Dickerson did not address another issue many people have with the Solo De Mi singer’s performance; the crooner’s music is mostly sung in Spanish. As America has no national language and 45 million people in the U.S. speak Spanish, Ocasio’s catalogue will be understood by many. For those who only speak English, during a performance on Saturday Night Live, Ocasio has made it clear: “You have four months to learn.

Allen Iverson, Hampton., Morgan State University

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 8, 2025

Allen Iverson Says He’s Been Sober For 6 Months

'One of my best decisions that I ever made in my life was to stop drinking.'

NBA Hall of Famer Allen Iverson says giving up alcohol was one of the “best decisions” he’s made in his life in an interview with CBS Mornings‘ Maurice DuBois.

“The Answer,” said he stopped drinking alcohol six months ago.

The NBA legend was being interviewed to promote his memoir Misunderstood, which was released this week.

“When you get drunk, you’re not how you usually are,” he told DuBois. “The more and more I see it on other people, the more and more it makes me happy about the decision. And the more and more I see how the people around me appreciate it, I love it.”

Iverson, best known for his years with the Philadelphia 76ers, also explained the logic behind the book’s title

“Misunderstood comes from, you think you know, but you have no idea,” said Iverson, who turned 50 in June. “There’s a lot of things that people have said about me throughout my career. A lot of those things hurt. Calling me a thug when I know I’m not. Judging me off of a look. I think that was one of the toughest things I really had to deal with.”

NBA Hall of Famer Allen Iverson was a basketball phenom in the 90s and early 2000s, matching his signature speed and athleticism on the court with his fashion choices, which put him at odds with the league’s commissioner and other players.

In his new memoir, “Misunderstood,”… pic.twitter.com/8DtYzwlPDF
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) October 7, 2025

“The Answer” informed fans this summer that he was embarking on a four-city book tour (New York, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., and New Orleans) to promote the book.

Even more people will get a chance to learn about Iverson when a documentary on the legendary guard and cultural icon is released.

Iverson, who was drafted first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1996, retired in 2010. He made the All-Star team 11 times was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2001, the same year he led the Sixers to the NBA Finals.

by Keka Araújo

October 8, 2025

Elevating Your Excellence: COO Teri Williams Is Closing America’s Racial Wealth Gap Through Banking

Williams’s work is deeply personal, stemming from her belief that everyone can control their own economic destiny.

In 1995, Teri Williams embarked on a mission that would reshape her career and impact communities across the country. Along with her partner, Kevin Cohee, she acquired her first bank, the first step in a journey to build a powerful institution dedicated to empowering Black Americans.

Today, as president and chief operating officer of OneUnited Bank, the largest Black-owned bank in the United States, Williams has helped finance nearly $1 billion in loans for low- to moderate-income communities, including Los Angeles’ South Central and Compton, as well as Liberty City in Miami.

Williams’s work is deeply personal, stemming from her belief that everyone can control their own economic destiny. She has said her great-grandmother, an entrepreneur who owned several businesses in a segregated Florida town, helped inspire her lifelong mission.

“The work I do now is meaningful to me,” she told her alma mater, Brown University, earlier this year, “because we’re helping to make financial literacy a core value, particularly in Black communities.”

Her journey to OneUnited began in the mid-1990s, when she left a successful career at American Express, where she was the youngest-ever vice president. A family friend told her of the Boston Bank of Commerce’s need for new leadership, and she saw an opportunity to use her corporate experience to serve her community. Over the next several years, she and her partner would purchase three more Black-owned banks, eventually consolidating them into the unified, national brand known today as OneUnited.

The move was a response to a long-standing need. The Boston Bank of Commerce, founded in 1962, had served as a vital haven for Black individuals turned away from other financial institutions.

By consolidating these banks, Williams and her team created a strong entity with a valuation of $700 million and a customer base of approximately 100,000, with 80% of clients being Black. The bank’s mission is to help close the racial wealth gap, a staggering disparity that a 2024 Federal Reserve study estimated at $240,000 between the median Black and white household.

To serve this community, the bank has pioneered innovative products designed to provide financial access where others have failed.

For instance, the “Second Chance” checking account serves individuals who have been shut out of other institutions due to a negative banking history. At the same time, a secured credit card helps customers rebuild their credit.

The “Cash, Please,” short-term loan program was created to offer a safer, more affordable alternative to predatory check-cashing stores, which can charge interest rates as high as 400%. The bank has also adopted technology, launching an AI tool to help customers make smarter financial decisions, a feature that, according to Williams, has been “a big hit for us.”

Her popular “Teri Talks” on OneUnited’s official Instagram account provides customers and followers with up-close and personal access to information and tools to enhance their financial health.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DMa-rr8BoWQ/?hl=en

Williams’ influence extends beyond OneUnited. She is the founder of the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts and serves on the board of CCC Intelligent Solutions and the Boston Foundation Racial Wealth Gap Partnership.

She is also the author of I Got Bank! What My Granddad Taught Me About Money, a financial literacy book for young people.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DOJXyIEEVqc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

by Sharelle B. McNair

October 8, 2025

Atlanta Business Leaders Show Support For Mayor Andre Dickens’ Decision To Forgo Airport Funding

The FAA froze the funds after Atlanta leadership refused to dial back on its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Just one week after Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens passed up millions of dollars in federal airport funding instead of dumping the city’s DEI programs, the city’s business owners are applauding in support, BET reports.

President of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Katie Kirkpatrick, said it’s the sole duty of the city to protect initiatives that secured opportunities at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport for minority-owned businesses with federal funding on the line or not.

“It’s the DNA of who we are. It doesn’t change based on the policies or the perspectives at the federal level,” Kirkpatrick said. “Changing that, I think, would be inauthentic for our city.”

In late September, Dickens made headlines after he refused to rescind the city’s DEI programs in order to receive $57 million in funding from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for renovations at one of the busiest airports in the world.

Dickens said Atlanta has a reputation for nurturing Black entrepreneurship, which isn’t worth turning its back on.

“No city has done more to nurture Black entrepreneurship,” he said. “We are confident that the airport will be able to pursue alternative funding to advance these projects without impacting customers or airport service providers.”

Finding confidence that the airport, which is owned by the city, will find other avenues of funding, Kirkpatrick highlighted how this isn’t the first time Atlanta has battled adversity, and it won’t be the last.

She believes Dickens made the right choice.

“I think if he had [accepted the federal funds], it would have been inauthentic to who we are as a community. People come and go in politics; what doesn’t change is who we are as a community,” Kirkpatrick said, according to WSB Radio. “Because we are the cradle of the Civil Rights Movement, our DNA is steeped in having a diverse workforce, a diverse community, and the mayor does not shy away from that.”

Since 2023, after the Supreme Court’s devastating overturn of affirmative action, DEI initiatives have been attacked, creating scrutiny and confusion for business owners of all revenue standings and federal agencies.

One of those businesses on the front line of the fight was the Fearless Fund, the venture capital firm, headquartered in Atlanta, which was told its popular grant for Black-women business owners was discriminatory for business owners of other races.

covid 19, vaccine, flu season, norovirus, sti,, HIV, Houston, Texas

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 7, 2025

CDC Issues New COVID-19 Vaccine Guidelines Requiring Health Professional Consultation

The CDC has approved new COVID-19 vaccine guidelines that require individuals to consult a healthcare professional before receiving the shot.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved new guidelines for updated COVID-19 vaccines, requiring individuals to consult a health professional before receiving the shot.

On Oct. 6, CDC Director Jim O’Neill endorsed the COVID-19 vaccine recommendations from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s handpicked Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, NPR reports. Known as “shared decision-making” or “individual-based decision-making,” the new guidelines advise individuals to consult a doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of the vaccine before receiving it.

The recommendation’s approval is the final step needed to implement the new guidelines, impacting who can receive and administer the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as whether it will be covered by private and government insurance without copays. The official decision also enables the CDC to begin distributing vaccines to doctors, clinics, and other providers through the Vaccines for Children Program, which provides free vaccines to roughly 40% of U.S. children.

“Informed consent is back,” O’Neill said in an announcement. “CDC’s 2022 blanket recommendation for perpetual COVID-19 boosters deterred health care providers from talking about the risks and benefits of vaccination for the individual patient or parent. That changes today.”

However, critics and vaccine experts are pushing back, accusing the CDC of reviving Trump-era misinformation tactics.

“The claim that the past recommendations deterred health care professionals from talking to patients about risks is completely untrue and is another example of the misinformation and made-up information that this administration continues to release to the public and further creates confusion and distrust in healthcare providers and vaccines,” said Dr. Tina Tan, the president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. “This is extremely unfortunate and critically increases the American public’s risk for serious vaccine-preventable diseases.”

The recommendations stem from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ September meeting on the updated guidelines. They also come after RFK Jr. dismissed all 17 members of the influential vaccine panel earlier this year, replacing them with his own appointees, many of whom have expressed skepticism toward COVID vaccines.

Kennedy often faces criticism for his anti-vaccine stance and false labeling of the COVID vaccine as the “deadliest vaccine ever made.” In May, he began limiting vaccine access in ways that bypassed standard regulatory channels when he announced that the CDC would no longer recommend COVID vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women.

Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, a professor of global health and infectious diseases at Stanford University, noted that the so-called shared clinical decision-making approach “puts up one more little barrier” to getting the shot.

“It’s kind of a vague term that says you should have your doctor or your provider or pharmacist tell you what the risks and benefits are before you get the vaccine,” Maldonado said.

SOCCER,Michelle Alozie, Houston Dash Pierreline Nazon

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 7, 2025

Haitian Soccer Star Arrives In Europe Hoping To Land Professional Contract

Haiti’s rising soccer star Pierreline Nazon hopes to make a mark in Europe.

Haiti’s rising soccer star, Pierreline Nazon, has her country’s support as she arrives in Europe looking to pursue a professional career.

On Oct. 6, Nazon, 18, arrived in Seville, Spain, to begin a 10-week professional tryout with several top-tier clubs, including FC Sevilla and Viimsi JK in Estonia, according to Haitian Times. A standout from Haiti’s U-20 women’s national team and a rising star from Port-au-Prince’s Association Sportive Tigresses, Nazon will train, compete, and be evaluated by scouts in Spain and across Europe during an internship running through mid-December.

“This marks a critical step in her career,” AS Tigresses said in a Facebook announcement. “Already considered one of the most promising young players of her generation, Pierreline Nazon has distinguished herself both nationally and internationally.”

Nazon is eager for the chance to compete on the big stage, having trained with men in a summer futsal tournament in Pétion-Ville to stay in peak shape for her European opportunity. Earlier this year, she missed a chance to train with French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain due to travel document issues and family concerns.

Despite setbacks, limited opportunities, and the ongoing crisis in Haiti, Nazon stayed focused on reaching Europe to earn her first professional contract and further Haiti’s growing legacy in women’s soccer. She hopes to join Haitians who have achieved professional success abroad, including Nérilia Mondésir (Montpellier, now Seattle Reign FC), Batchéba Louis (FC Fleury, now Birmingham City), and Melchie Dumornay (Stade de Reims, now OL Lyonnais). Nazon is also following in the footsteps of Lourdjina Étienne, her former AS Tigresses teammate and Haitian youth national team player, who FC Fleury recently recruited.

“Every time a Haitian player signs abroad, it gives the people hope,” said sports journalist Kesny Norzius. “It’s one of the few remaining success stories that still unite the country. Pierreline Nazon, along with Lourdjina Etienne, is among the most talented players Haiti has produced in recent years.”

Nazon signed with AS1 sports agency just ahead of her European training program.

Michael Strahan Competing Against Eli Manning For Ownership Stake Of NY Giants

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 7, 2025

Michael Strahan Hit In The Face During Live Football Demonstration

A fellow host accidentally kicked the football that struck Strahan in the face

In a demonstration gone wrong on live television, former New York Giants defensive player Michael Strahan was accidentally struck in the face with a wayward football.

The incident, which probably just hurt Strahan’s pride, with no serious injury to his face, took place during the Oct. 5 broadcast of Fox NFL Sunday. The broadcasting team, which consists of former NFL players Strahan, Rob Gronkowski, Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Julian Edelman, and on-air personalities, Curt Menefee and Jay Glazer, gathered to demonstrate a football play.

As the men were talking about the possibilities of how the play could be executed, they agreed to particular roles on the studio floor, which was a replica of an NFL field. As the men took their respective positions, emulating the offense against the defense, Edelman, in the role of the kicker, kicked the ball. However, instead of the ball elevating towards the goal post, it was kicked feebly, with no real traction, and the ball inadvertently connected to Strahan’s face.

Once the mishap took place, Strahan covered his face, as his fellow hosts, surprised by the hit, laughed, although they followed him to make sure he is ok. As he buckled over from the hit, the others teased him about the ball hitting his face. As he got himself together, Strahan said, “I’m about to lose an eyeball, for real, man.”

They continued the show, as it looked like Strahan wasn’t affected too much by the football striking his face.

https://twitter.com/NFLonFOX/status/1974875040001982656

Strahan, who, as one of the best defensive players in NFL history as a member of the Giants, was the very first person to receive a coveted star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, dedicated to the Sports Entertainment category.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 7, 2025

AI Tupac Videos Spark Calls To End The Viral Internet Trend

AI-generated videos of Tupac Shakur are prompting calls to end the viral internet trend.

A handful of AI-generated videos of the late Tupac Shakur are sparking calls to stop the growing trend of digitally resurrecting deceased celebrities.

A viral AI-generated video circulating on social media depicts Tupac shopping at Target, where fans approach him for photos. The rapper happily agrees and takes a selfie with one excited fan.

“Tupac spotted at Target,” one TikTok video reads.

@whatsrealness Tupac spotted at Target 👀 #tupacshakur #tupac #sora #target ♬ original sound – whatsrealness

Created with the AI video generator Sora, the “Tupac at Target” video is part of a rising wave of AI-generated content sweeping the internet, prompting many to call for an end to the trend.

“This AI ish ain’t gonna end well,” one person wrote.

“I’m tired of this ish now. It’s getting out of hand,” added another.

Another user pointed out the unrealistic detail of the mourned rapper shopping for socks in the cereal aisle in the AI video.

“Socks on the cereal aisle in Target is crazy,” they wrote.

Adding to the AI Tupac craze, other videos depict a celebrity “heaven” in Cuba where Tupac interacts with fellow deceased icons like Kobe Bryant, Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Bruce Lee, and even Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. Some clips even imagine a grown-up AI friendship between Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G.

https://twitter.com/raphousetv2/status/1974265900887855242

“We are technically bringing people back to this reality, and it’s so wild to think about 😭,” one X user wrote.

“We are in trouble by 2030,” added someone else.

As AI continues to expand across the digital landscape, concerns grow over its ethical use and whether resurrecting deceased figures truly honors their legacy. Despite the criticism, the global market for AI video generators is projected to grow 20% annually, driven by their low cost, accessibility, and ability to create hyper-personalized content across industries.

Diddy, delay, trial, judge Prison, Sean combs

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 7, 2025

Diddy’s Legal Team Asks Judge To Send Him To Low-Security New Jersey Prison

The entertainment mogul wants to take advantage of the facility's drug treatment program.

Attorneys for Sean “Diddy” Combs have requested that their client serve his time in New Jersey’s FCI Fort Dix, a low-security federal correctional institution with a fewer than 4,000 inmates, to take advantage of the facility’s drug treatment program and to allow him to maximize “family visitation.”

According to the New York Post, the request for that location was filed Oct. 6 by Diddy’s attorney, Teny Geragos.

Judge Arun Subramanian sentenced Diddy to 50 months in prison. The hip-hop mogul was facing a maximum prison term of 20 years for being found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

“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,” Geragos wrote in a letter to Subramanian.

According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the RDAP (Residential Drug Abuse Program) is the bureau’s most intensive treatment program and is typically completed in nine months. Prisoners involved in the program live in a unit separate from the general population. Participants are enrolled in half-day programming and half-day work, school, or vocational activities.

Before he was sentenced, Diddy, in a letter to the judge, admitted that he got “lost in the drugs and the excess” over the years.

He also wrote, “I’m proud to say I’m working harder than I ever have before. I’m committed to the journey of remaining a drug-free, non-violent, and peaceful person. I thank God that I’m stronger, wiser, clean, clear, and sober. God makes no mistakes.”

Combs has been at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since being charged last September.

by Sharelle B. McNair

October 7, 2025

Iowa School District Files Lawsuit Against Company That Vetted Ian Roberts As Criminal History Comes To Light

Des Moines school officials are suing the consulting company, JG Consulting, that assisted in selecting Roberts as their candidate for the job, but state leaders feel it's not their fault.

The drama continues in the case against disgraced Iowa Superintendent Ian Roberts, as the school district has filed a lawsuit against the company that vetted him, following the emergence of more details about his criminal past, according to the Associated Press.

Des Moines school officials are suing the consulting company, JG Consulting, which assisted in selecting Roberts as a candidate for the job of overseeing the state’s largest school district, for which he was hired in 2023. As part of the process, Roberts had to undergo a background check and disclose if he was ever charged with a misdemeanor, felony, or major traffic violation — including driving under the influence.

While it isn’t clear how Roberts responded to the questions, public records reveal his lengthy rap sheet includes charges such as drug possession and intent to sell in 1996 and weapons charges in 2020 and 2022, pleading guilty to the 2020 charges. Roberts’ lawyer, Brandon Brown, highlighted how charges don’t equate to convictions, as his 2020 deal was listed as a minor infraction for unlawfully carrying a loaded hunting rifle in a vehicle, which the district was aware of before his hiring.

Brown called the officials’ plan of reissuing information a “fear-mongering” campaign.

Roberts made headlines late September 2025 when he was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents under suspicion of being in the country illegally. After fleeing from a traffic stop, federal agents claimed the Guyana native entered the U.S. in 1999 on a student visa and was given a final order of removal by a judge in May of 2024.

After garnering national attention, students of the Iowa district have staged protests by walking out of their classrooms. Community members have raised questions to Roberts’ legal team, as several have described the district leader as a vibrant man who helped liven up schools and was thoroughly engaged with students and staff.

However, district leaders claim to be “a victim of deception” due to Roberts’ alleged lying throughout his tenure.

The timing of Roberts’ detainment comes at a time of unrest across the country, as ICE agents have been seen detaining suspected illegal immigrants under the direction of the Secretary of Homeland Security and MAGA loyalist Kristi Noem. His arrest marked an opening for state leaders like Iowa’s Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley to push legislation that would assist with background checks.

According to the Des Moines Register, Grassley is pushing for Des Moines Public Schools to implement an E-Verify system, aligning with a narrative from the Department of Homeland Security. In a statement, the agency states that if an E-Verify case using an “expired Employment Authorization Document (EAD)” were open, Roberts’ background check would have “resulted in a nonconfirmation.” The senator pointed the finger at the school district for letting the issue fly over their heads. “Every responsibility under the law has always been the responsibility of an employer to make sure that they don’t hire somebody illegally into the country,” Grassley said.

Under state law, Iowa doesn’t require employers to use E-Verify to determine if someone can legally work in the U.S. or not.