ICE Detains Second Haitian Businessman In Two Months Over Alleged Ties To ‘Terrorist Gangs’

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 25, 2025

ICE Detains Second Haitian Businessman In Two Months Over Alleged Ties To ‘Terrorist Gangs’

Another prominent Haitian businessman is in ICE custody on claims of corruption and supporting terroristic gangs.

Another prominent Haitian businessman has been taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on claims of supporting terrorist gangs.

On Sept. 23, Dimitri Vorbe, one of Haiti’s most influential businessmen, was arrested outside his home in Miami, Florida, and taken to the Krome North Service Processing Center, the Miami Herald reports. His arrest comes two months after Réginald Boulos, a businessman, physician, and former Haitian presidential candidate, was detained by ICE agents in Florida on allegations of aiding violent gangs in Haiti that the U.S. has designated as terrorist organizations.

“The U.S. government will remain relentless in pursuing those supporting terrorist gangs through indictments, arrests, sanctions, arms seizures and other immigration restrictions,” Christopher Landau, deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of State, said a day before Vorbe’s arrest.

Vorbe and his family control Société Générale d’Énergie S.A., a private energy firm that was once among the largest electricity suppliers to Haiti’s state-owned utility. His arrest came just one day after the U.S. government sanctioned two former Haitian officials with close ties to the Vorbe family for engaging in “significant corruption” while in office.

The sanctions against Arnel Belizaire, a former Chamber of Deputies member, and Antonio Cheramy, a former senator, deem them and their immediate families “generally ineligible” to enter the United States. These actions contribute to a rising number of visa cancellations targeting Haiti’s economic elite under the Trump administration. In recent weeks, several businessmen have been barred from boarding U.S.-bound flights or denied entry upon arrival at Miami International Airport.

“With the arrests of Boulos and Vorbe, you are seeing a strata of Haitian society touched in their places of exile,” said Michael Deibert, author of “Notes From the Last Testament: The Struggle for Haiti,” and “Haiti Will Not Perish: A Recent History.”

“A message is being sent to the upper echelon of Haiti’s political and economic elite that they’re not untouchable anymore,” he added.

The Vorbe family was also known for winning major government contracts to build roads and other infrastructure under former President René Préval. In 2020, the administration of slain President Jovenel Moïse seized Vorbe’s power company amid corruption allegations, sparking mixed reactions in Haiti to his recent arrest.

“There is not much love lost in Haiti either for Dimitri Vorbe or Réginald Boulos, or many of the elite families,” said Jake Johnston, international research director at the Washington-based Center for Economic and Policy Research. “Many people will cheer it in a country with a broken judicial system as it’s some sliver of accountability, (but) we don’t know what any of this is for. … How does this all fit together into a strategy that actually benefits Haiti?”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 24, 2025

The Brooklyn Nets Will Celebrate The Notorious B.I.G. With Special Edition Uniforms During Upcoming Season

The teams has a series of 'Biggie Nights' with the first one taking place on Tuesday, Nov. 11

After introducing a city edition uniform in 2018 that honored Brooklyn-bred recording artist Christopher Wallace, better known to the world as The Notorious B.I.G., the Brooklyn Nets are bringing the special Brooklyn Camo City Edition uniform back for the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season.

The Brooklyn emcee, who was shot and killed in Los Angeles on March 9, 1997, was celebrated as one of hip-hop’s most lyrical, storytelling rappers. The uniform, which recognizes the “Ready to Die” lyricist, debuted as part of the NBA’s City Edition Remix seven years ago. The Brooklyn Camo uniform initially sold out after hip-hop and sports fans were able to see it once it went on sale. The Nets stated that it remains one of the most popular in the Nets’ Brooklyn era.

“You can’t talk about Brooklyn without invoking the sentiment ‘Spread Love the Brooklyn Way.’ The Notorious B.I.G. repped Brooklyn to the fullest and had a resounding effect on everyone who calls Brooklyn home. His influence is unmatched, and it is an immense privilege to honor Biggie and his legacy as one of the most influential cultural icons of all time,” said Elliot Osagie, CEO and founder of Benin City Entertainment, in a written statement.

“Our relationship with the Brooklyn Nets has always been organic. I worked to bring this vision to reality from way back in 2017 with the raising of Biggie’s banner at Barclays Center. And now, to see how this spark of an idea has grown, and to see the future of where it is going, is a true gift to day-one fans and all those Biggie fans yet to be. We look forward to the experiences and events we have in store for them this season and beyond.”

if you don’t know, now you know… they're back! pic.twitter.com/ZfF5qo10Ut
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) September 22, 2025

The Nets have planned a series of “Biggie Nights,” with the first one taking place on Tuesday, Nov. 11, while 10 other games will see the team wearing the uniforms in celebration of one of “Brooklyn’s Finest.” On the initial evening, there will be special halftime performances (to be announced at a later date) and a Biggie bobblehead giveaway.

Tickets for the first “Biggie Night” and all Nets home games for the 2025-26 season are on sale now at brooklynnets.com/tickets.

Fans of the rapper and/or the Nets will get the opportunity to see the 2025-26 City Edition uniforms when the team holds a practice in the Park on Saturday, Sept. 27, at Potomac Playground in Biggie’s neighborhood of Bed-Stuy.

The games fans can look forward to seeing the team wearing the Brooklyn Camo City Edition are:

Tuesday, Nov. 11 vs. Toronto Raptors
Monday, Nov. 24 vs. New York Knicks
Saturday, Nov. 29 at Milwaukee Bucks
Sunday, Dec. 21 vs. Toronto Raptors
Friday, Jan. 9 vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Friday, Jan. 16 vs. Chicago Bulls
Friday, Jan. 23 vs. Boston Celtics
Thursday, Feb. 5 at Orlando Magic
Friday, Feb. 27 at Boston Celtics
Friday, March 20 vs. New York Knicks
Friday, April 3 vs. Atlanta Hawks

Dapper Dan, Fashion, Art, Culture, Design, Entrepreneurship

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 24, 2025

The MET To Host ‘An Evening With Dapper Dan’

The fashion icon will discuss his takes on Black dandyism and the inspiration for his looks.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art will host “An Evening with Dapper Dan” on Friday, Oct. 3, to explore the fashion trailblazer’s immense impact.

On the heels of this year’s “Superfine” MET Gala, the one and only Dapper Dan will talk with Monica L. Miller, guest curator of the “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” exhibition. The sold-out event will take place alongside the exhibition. Guests will hear insights from Dapper Dan on his vision for fashion and its evolving landscape.

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A post shared by Dapper Dan (@dapperdanharlem)

Dapper Dan’s impact on the fashion world remains a force, particularly with the resurgence of Black Dandyism and its influence on tailored styling.

He has remained part of fashion’s modern ecosystem, merging his talents with high-profile brands such as Gucci and Gap, while his instincts garner new acclaim. As a pioneer of hip-hop’s influence in high fashion, Dan has become a trusted voice among art institutions like the MET. He also became a member of the Costume Institute benefit host committee last February.

The newly revived focus on the 81-year-old visionary has fashion enthusiasts ready to hear about his creative prowess. While considered a fashion great, his emphasis on his Black and African heritage remains an integral part of his image beyond costume. Dapper Dan’s new house logo, a heart-shaped crest over a set of “D” initials, also debuted at the Met Gala in May. The heart emblem pays homage to this part of African culture and its Black American revival of it.

“This symbol itself has a whole history,” “Dap” told Vogue at the time. “There were slaves who used to be assigned to iron works. And when they made the iron—the fences and the windows and whatnot—they added a symbol like this. It’s called Sankofa.”

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 24, 2025

Georgia High School Now Under Fire After Visiting Students Arrived To Game In Blackface

The school superintendent has faced immense backlash for the lack of action toward the offensive visitors.

A Georgia high school is facing heat after a “blackout” theme for a volleyball game became a case of blackface.

Whitewater High School in Fayette County, Georgia, has sparked controversy over its handling of the case of blackface. In a game against LaGrange High School, visitors not associated with Whitewater decided to poke fun at the “blackout” theme, which was intended for fans to wear all black clothing to the volleyball match.

According to Fox 5, one student and several adults decided to paint their entire faces and bodies black, with Whitewater High School allowing the offensive attendees inside. Photos of the group went viral, with each wearing a white curly wig or afro-style wig, as well as letters painted on their chests that spelled out “Rylee.“

Although none of the students attended Whitewater, Fayette County’s Superintendent Jonathan Patterson acknowledged the move as a misstep that shocked the community. However, others are not letting the academic leader off the hook for the racist incident.

Georgia State Rep. Derrick Jackson condemned the offense and the initial inaction surrounding it. He blamed the school system’s policies for allowing the visitors, calling for the superintendent to step down as well. He even noted that Patterson declined to attend a press conference addressing the issue, while asserting that the Whitewater principal’s own statement seemed lackluster.

“The presence of blackface was an act of profound insensitivity, and the Fayette County school system’s failure to address it was unacceptable,” expressed Jackson. “This is a time for the superintendent to leave. We are here to demand that the superintendent take immediate and decisive action.”

Blackface has an infamous history in America, with the tactic used to mock and degrade Black Americans and their skin color. Fayette County Schools’ policy explicitly prohibits harassment or discrimination, but reports could not confirm if any of the students have faced any repercussions yet.

Other advocates, such as the Fayette County NAACP chapter, have also released statements condemning the allowance of the hateful act. Its president, Kevin Pratt, said their position remains “clear.”

“Our position is clear. We fully condone any acts of inference, hate, racism or intimidation. We stand with our entire community to ensure every student and family is treated equally, respected and protected.”

The chapter’s vice president, Quentin Pullen, also described the issue as “ironic,” noting that it could be a “teachable moment” for the Fayette County Board of Education.

In response to the backlash, Patterson agreed to work with the NAACP for sensitivity and support training for personnel, in the hopes that they will take swift action to ensure these racist acts do not happen in Fayette County schools.

“Moving forward, we are committed to ensuring this does not happen again,” wrote Patterson. “We recognize the need to strengthen the cultural awareness of our employees and gate workers.”

He continued, “To that end, we will be working closely with partners, including the NAACP, to provide training and support so that our staff can respond appropriately in the future. We will also review our student code of conduct to determine appropriate actions to ensure this does not occur again.”

50 Cent, ex-girlfriend, instagram, lawsuit

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 24, 2025

50 Cent Approved For Downtown Entertainment District In Shreveport

50 Cent has received approval to transform Shreveport’s downtown district into a thriving entertainment hub.

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson has received approval to transform downtown Shreveport, Louisiana, into a thriving entertainment hub.

On Sept. 22, Shreveport’s City Council approved plans for the new downtown entertainment district, KTBS reports. Reps for the hip-hop mogul confirmed construction could begin as early as late 2025 or in the first quarter of 2026.

Jackson is reportedly investing $50 million of his own money into the project, which includes upgrades to Millennium Studios, where work has already begun at Shreveport’s Stage Works Studio to prepare for production. Councilmembers voiced strong support for Jackson’s presence in the city during the administrative session.

“We’re talking about risk failure and fear, from what I see, there is very little risk for the city from what I see,” said Councilman Grayson Boucher. “I’m not fearful of doing this because 50 is willing to invest $50 million into Shreveport. We don’t have very many multimillionaires knocking on the door to invest.”

Discussions also took place about naming the new entertainment hub the Sam Cooke Cultural Arts District, honoring the late music legend who was inspired to write his timeless classic “A Change Gonna Come” after facing racism in Shreveport.

“The name doesn’t say film or entertainment. It doesn’t say anything,” Shreveport resident Craig Lee said. “This project is going to be the largest development in the history of North Central Louisiana, spearheaded by an African American. Sam Cooke was inspired here to write ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’ — that’s a branding opportunity the world would recognize.”

A local business owner voiced support, noting that Jackson’s project would boost economic growth in the downtown area.

“I know that there are great things coming to downtown Shreveport,” the business owner said. “This will help us do what we need to do downtown, especially in the district where I do a lot of business.”

The proposed Film and Entertainment Gateway Economic Development District would impose a 2% sales tax within its boundaries, directing all revenue into a dedicated trust fund for redevelopment. A companion ordinance establishes the trust fund and sets guidelines for the use of the money.

Council members also raised concerns about protecting longtime downtown property owners from being “disenfranchised,” a concern Boucher assured would not occur.

“When we’re talking about the downtown area, what we’re looking at is 50 not competing with those existing structures, but to enhance those particular businesses that are here,” Boucher said. “We’ll give the same we’re trying to give 50 Cent. I just want local businesses to know that we’re there for them too … if they want to come knock on the door, we’ll help them any way we can.”

Jamaica, travel, violent crimes, Jamaican restaurant

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 24, 2025

Jamaican Man Wrongfully Deported From U.S. To Eswatini Finally In Home Country

Orville Etoria was transported to and detained in the Southern African nation for months.

A Jamaican man who was deported and detained in Eswatini has finally been repatriated to his home country.

Orville Etoria, along with four other migrants, sat in a maximum-security prison in the Southern African nation for two months before his repatriation. According to the Associated Press, he was refused access to legal counsel multiple times and remained in custody despite no charges being filed against him.

He was sent to Eswatini under a Trump administration order, as part of the U.S. president’s third-country deportation program. Despite not being a native of Eswatini, and Jamaica’s willingness to receive him, Etoria was sent there. Amnesty International also noted how the nation had claims of rights abuses, heightening the stakes for the men’s legal justice.

With the help of the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration, Etoria was officially repatriated to Jamaica on Sept. 21. An Eswatini spokesperson confirmed the news.

Initially, the five men were brought to Eswatini, currently under absolute rule by its king, in mid-July. The Department of Homeland Security said the migrants were dangerous and were convicted of serious crimes, prompting their relocation. The DHS also asserted that they lived in the U.S. illegally and had deportation orders out against them.

The men’s lawyers doubted the legitimacy of the claims, saying they had all completed their criminal sentences and were sent to Eswatini without due process. Trump’s deportation program currently exists in four countries, including South Sudan, Ghana, and Rwanda.

The program has faced criticism from legal and human rights advocates, with opponents saying the program puts migrants at risk by transporting them to countries they are not connected to or do not hold citizenship in.

The DHS has said it has the right to transport dangerous migrants to any of these countries or they must leave the U.S. willingly.

While Etoria has found resolution, others remain detained in Eswatini with little information on the prison’s conditions.

by Sharelle B. McNair

September 24, 2025

Groundbreaking Ruling Forces Uber To Pay Lost Wages To Driver Whose Account Was Deactivated

The passengers filed a complaint, claiming the driver threatened them but the driver said he asked his passengers to stop using drugs in his car and to leave.

After an Australian Uber driver was falsely accused of threatening a passenger with a baseball bat, the rideshare company is being held accountable for lost wages in a ruling that is challenging the Albanese government’s gig economy laws, Financial Review reports.

A ruling from the Fair Work Commission ordered the company to pay the driver, Mohammad Shareed Hotak, for six weeks of lost pay, the time between being removed from the app and his reactivation. The commission labeled his removal as “plainly unfair” after he had worked for the company for four and a half years without any incident.

The Sept. 23 ruling was the first time ever that a rideshare driver won an unfair deactivation case, in addition to securing lost wages.

Transport Workers Union (TWU) national secretary Michael Kaine, who has fought for dozens of rideshare drivers who have had their accounts deactivated, called the decision “a huge win for gig workers who, until recently, could just be kicked off an app and have absolutely no recourse for it.”

“Uber has done its best to avoid scrutiny by settling cases rather than having its practices put under the microscope,” Kaine added, pointing out that the union has pushed for cases to go before the commission before Uber reactivated accounts. “This decision by the Fair Work Commission is a step toward fairness for gig workers who are now able to stand up for their rights, and it’s proof that Uber now has to be accountable for its AI-fueled systems, which are impacting real human lives.”

According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Hotak’s incident took place March 24 after picking up a rider and two additional passengers on Hindley Street, a popular area of Adelaide. The passengers filed a complaint, claiming Hotak threatened them, but the driver said he asked his passengers to stop using drugs in his car and to leave.

The passengers, Hotak said, assaulted him from behind before exiting his vehicle.

Days later, he received a notice from Uber that his account was being deactivated, beginning April 8. He had completing over 6,000 trips in four-and-a-half-years and boasted a 4.99 rating out of 5.

Hotak said he spoke out to let other drivers in similar situations know they aren’t alone in the fight. “I know how stressful and frightening it feels when your income is suddenly cut off,” he said. “But we have rights. Reach out to your union, speak up, and don’t be afraid to challenge Uber’s unfairness.”

ACTU secretary Sally McManus shared similar thoughts.

“For too long, the livelihoods of workers and their families were devastated by unfair deactivation by powerful multinational companies like Uber,” McManus said. “The Fair Work Commission’s ruling makes clear that gig workers now have enforceable rights, and that companies must respect them or be held to account.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 24, 2025

Chicago Sky Cancels Angel Reese Exit Interview With Media, Fueling Speculation She’s Leaving Team

She also vented her frustration with the Sky to the 'Chicago Tribune' earlier this month.

Angel Reese’s rocky relationship with the Chicago Sky seems to have hit another bump after team cancelled the star player’s exit interview with the media.

According to The Sporting News, after initially announcing that Reese, along with two other Sky players, Ariel Atkins and Courtney Vandersloot (both pending free agents), would be available to speak to the press, the team said the none of them would. Their teammates ended up conducting theirs.

Although Atkins and Vandersloot will be free to sign with other teams in the offseason—Vandersloot is expected to resign—Reese is still under contract, making the situation worthy of speculation.

Update from the Sky:

Courtney Vandersloot, Ariel Atkins and Angel Reese will no longer conduct exit interviews. The team previously said these three would hold exit interviews at a later date after they did not participate with the rest of the team when the season ended.

— Annie Costabile (@AnnieCostabile) September 22, 2025

Nearly three weeks ago, Reese caused a controversy when during an interview with the Chicago Tribune, she expressed frustration with the franchise, which ended up 10-34, tying for the worst record in the WNBA.

“I’m not settling for the same s**t we did this year,” Reese, a second-year player, told reporter Julia Poe. “We have to get good players. We have to get great players. That’s a non-negotiable for me. I’m willing and wanting to play with the best. And however I can help to get the best here, that’s what I’m going to do this offseason. So it’s going to be very, very important this offseason to make sure we attract the best of the best because we can’t settle for what we have this year.”

Reese apologized to the team, staff, and teammates afterward. The Sky suspended Reese for a half-game when it played the Las Vegas Aces on Sept. 7.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 24, 2025

Mary J. Blige’s Copyright Lawsuit Over ‘Real Love’ Gets Dismissed

A copyright infringement lawsuit against Mary J. Blige’s “Real Love” has been dismissed.

Universal Music Group helped Mary J. Blige avoid any damage to the legacy of her 1992 hit “Real Love” by getting a copyright infringement lawsuit dismissed.

On Sept. 23, Tuff City Records suffered a setback when U.S. District Judge Dale Ho ruled that Blige’s “Real Love” was not substantially similar to the Honey Drippers’ 1973 track “Impeach the President,” Reuters reports. As a result, the lawsuit, which did not directly involve Blige, was dismissed.

Tuff City, which claims to own tens of thousands of music copyrights spanning blues, R&B, jazz, funk, soul, hip-hop, New Orleans, and Latin music, sued UMG last year. The label alleged that Blige’s “Real Love” used a drum part from “Impeach the President” without proper clearance.

The label is no stranger to dismissed copyright infringement lawsuits, having filed suits against high-profile artists, including the Beastie Boys, Jay-Z, Kanye West (also known as Ye), and Frank Ocean. Lawsuits against the Beastie Boys and Jay-Z were later dismissed. Tuff City settled its dispute with Ye’s label, and two months after filing, it dropped its lawsuit against Ocean’s label.

”Real Love” was a major hit early in Blige’s career. From her debut album, What’s the 411?, the song reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1992.

With the lawsuit dropped, Blige can now concentrate on more pressing legal matters, including her ongoing $5 million court battle with former stylist and longtime friend Misa Hylton. Blige is accused of interfering with a management deal between Hylton’s agency, M.I.S.A. Management, and rapper Vado, withholding his completed album and blocking touring opportunities to pressure him into severing ties with Hylton.

In July, Blige fired back at Hylton’s “frivolous” lawsuit, calling it a ploy from a “non-existent entity” to force a settlement out of the Grammy-winning singer.

“Plaintiffs and their counsel appear to enjoy fabricating accusations that will be discussed in the press and on social media for the purposes of harassing Defendants and trying to coerce a favorable settlement,” Blige’s lawyer, Sarah M. Matz, said in a statement.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 24, 2025

Cornelius Taylor’s Death Intensifies Opposition to Laws Criminalizing Homelessness

New calls against the criminalization of homelessness is bringing new attention to the horrific death of Cornelius Taylor.

As President Trump pushes to clear homeless encampments, Cornelius Taylor’s death in Atlanta is drawing fresh attention to the dangers of criminalizing homelessness.

In the early hours of Jan. 16, 2024, Taylor was fatally crushed by a five-ton front loader in an alley behind Atlanta’s historic Auburn Avenue, The Guardian reported. The incident occurred after the city, citing complaints, ordered the nearby homeless encampment cleared, just four days before the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations were to take place less than a block away.

Taylor was inside his tent with partner Lolita Griffeth, unaware of the operation outside that would take his life. Initially, police gave conflicting reports, claiming Taylor died from a drug overdose and only had a “bloody nose” with no other apparent injuries.

However, an autopsy released 10 weeks later confirmed he died from blunt force trauma, with a lacerated spleen and liver and a fractured pelvis. Tim Franzen, director of the Atlanta Economic Justice Program at the American Friends Service Committee, arrived at the scene a few hours later and reported seeing “a lot of Cornelius left on the street.” Griffeth later recalled discovering traces of Taylor’s injuries on his clothing while going through his belongings.

Taylor’s death occurred amid a rising homelessness crisis, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which has prompted more state lawmakers to pass laws criminalizing sleeping outside and authorizing the removal of encampments.

In July, Trump signed an executive order making it easier for states to clear homeless encampments and compel residents into drug or mental health treatment, while cutting funding for Housing First programs.

This proven approach prioritizes placing people in housing before addressing other needs.

Now, critics are speaking out against these measures, saying they only worsen, rather than solve, the homelessness crisis.

”There’s nothing in the executive order that will help people,” said Jesse Rabinowitz, who directs the Housing Not Handcuffs campaign. “No funding for housing, no funding for additional services. It will only make homelessness worse.”

Critics argue that policies like Trump’s executive order contributed to Taylor’s tragic death.

“The way that I describe what killed him was not a guy driving a back loader,” Franzen said. “It was years of bad policy that was driving that thing.”