Los Angeles, Black Lives Matter, lawsuit

by Kandiss Edwards

January 16, 2026

Black Lives Matter Global Invests In Community Growth

The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation did not release a full list of 2026 grant recipients in its announcement.

The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation announced a new round of community grants totaling $4 million.

Black Lives Matter Global stated that the grants will support community-based organizations working in areas aligned with its mission. The mission includes economic justice, healing initiatives, and community-led programs. The announcement said the funding is intended to provide direct support to grassroots groups addressing local needs through service and advocacy.

In a statement, Cicley Gay, board chair of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, said the organization remains focused on directing resources toward community partners.

“Funding and supporting community leaders is at the core of what we do. Despite ongoing legal distractions, our commitment to Black communities has not wavered,” said Gay. “Every dollar we are forced to spend on legal defense is a dollar taken from the people we serve, but we remain steadfast in our mission to uplift, empower, and invest in the communities that need it most.”

The foundation said the latest grants are part of a broader funding history that began in 2020. Since that year, the organization said it has distributed more than $40 million to approximately 70 organizations, in addition to providing support through targeted initiatives such as its Student Solidarity Fund and earlier emergency relief programs.

According to the foundation’s statement, grant recipients span a range of focus areas, including youth engagement, community wellness, and programs designed to address structural inequities. The foundation said some grantees work on initiatives to improve access to resources such as food, health services, and educational opportunities.

Black Lives Matter Global described its approach as prioritizing local leadership and community-driven solutions rather than centralized programming.

In separate coverage, Philanthropy News Digest reported that the $4 million grant round represents one of the foundation’s larger recent funding announcements. The outlet reported that the grants are part of the organization’s stated effort to maintain a steady flow of resources to community groups amid ongoing operational demands.

The Black Lives Matter organization has faced scrutiny in recent years about its finances and governance, but continues to report grant distributions through public announcements.

The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation did not release a full list of 2026 grant recipients in its announcement.

The foundation said the current grant cycle reflects its continued commitment to funding community-based efforts and said it plans to announce future rounds of support as resources allow.

Adriano Espaillat, CBC, Congressional Black Caucus

by Sharelle B. McNair

January 16, 2026

Why The CBC Is Endorsing Rep. Adriano Espaillat After Years Of Failed Collaboration

CBC chair Rep. Gregory Meeks said “Espaillat reflects the kind of leadership that our caucus and its members have long championed” after years of the two working together.

The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) is switching things up by endorsing Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) over his primary challenger, Darializa Avila Chevalier, years after the group rejected the congressman’s push to join, Politico reports.

In a statement, CBC Chair Rep. Gregory Meeks said, “Espaillat reflects the kind of leadership that our caucus and its members have long championed,” over 32-year-old Avila Chevalier, known as a pro-Palestine organizer who led the Columbia University protest encampment in 2024. “At a time when working families are being priced out of neighborhoods they’ve called home for generations, Adriano has been on the front lines of the fight to make New York City more affordable,” the statement continues.

“That commitment is rooted in lived experience, moral clarity, and a deep commitment to economic justice and civil rights.”

However, the endorsement may come as a surprise given the rocky relationship between Espaillat, the first Dominican American and first formerly undocumented immigrant to serve in Congress, and the CBC. Before his 2017 election, he annoyed members of the group in 2012 and 2014 amid failed efforts to unseat the late Rep. Charles Rangel, a CBC founding member.

After the late congressman’s retirement, he ran for the seat again, sparking an endorsement for then-state Assemblymember Keith Wright, whom Rangel once handpicked as his successor. But then Wright lost to Espaillat. Once elected, Espaillat unsuccessfully tried to join the CBC while also serving in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

During his campaign, he identified as an Afro-Latino, but that didn’t stop the group from denying his request. Former CBC chair Karen Bass said in 2020 that there was more to the story than his ethnic background.

“It was a specific conflict, and I’m not going to talk about it,” Bass said, leaving this issue as a mystery.

However, it seems as if bygones are bygones with Espaillat graciously accepting the endorsement. “I am deeply honored to receive the endorsement of the Congressional Black Caucus PAC. “The CBC has long stood at the forefront of the fight for economic opportunity and social justice for Black and other marginalized communities,” the congressman representing New York’s 13th District, consisting of Upper Manhattan and parts of the Bronx, said.

“As the first formerly undocumented person to serve in Congress, this endorsement carries special meaning for me.”

But is the endorsement enough to reach voters?

Avila Chevalier, also of Afro-Latina descent, says Espaillat is out of touch with the constituents he represents, who are struggling to make ends meet, and bashed him for accepting campaign donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a group that pushes for a partnership between the U.S. and Israel, and the real estate industry.

“Why should we let Adriano Espaillat vote to spend billions on bombs overseas, when we’re struggling to afford rent and groceries right here in New York City,” the contender said in her campaign launch video, according to AMNY.

Labeled as a moderate Democrat, Espaillat is the fourth New York Democratic incumbent member of Congress to receive challenges from those deemed as progressive in light of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s historic win. Challengers are coming for the spots held by Reps. Ritchie Torres, Dan Goldman, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Let the midterm games begin.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 16, 2026

Former Green Bay Packer Donald Driver Partners With Alcorn State For ‘New Year, New Kickoff’ Initiative

'Driven Elite is committed to creating a safe, empowering environment for student-athletes at Alcorn State to strengthen their mental resilience, leadership, and sense of identity both on and off the field,' said Driver

Former Alcorn State University athlete and NFL Super Bowl Champion Donald Driver has partnered with his alma mater to help develop programs and initiatives for student-athletes attending the university.

Alcorn State Athletics announced a partnership with Driver’s company, Driven Elite, to bring transformative programming to the campus starting Jan. 20. The company “specializes in life-changing fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle programs to fit a person’s goals and needs.” The university will be involved with Driven Elite’s “New Year, New Kickoff” initiative.

“Driven Elite is committed to creating a safe, empowering environment for student-athletes at Alcorn State to strengthen their mental resilience, leadership, and sense of identity both on and off the field,” said Driver in a written statement. “We believe mental health drives performance, and performance shapes life. Through intentional investment in young men and women, we provide mentorship, mindset development, and purpose-driven programming. The SURGE program for female student-athletes focuses on owning identity, showing up with purpose, and creating lasting impact in every space they enter.

“Alcorn State is the ideal place for these programs to grow, and I am honored to be part of this movement with Driven Elite at my alma mater.”

The athletics department will receive specialized programming for both men and women student-athletes that addresses critical areas of athletic development, mental health, and overall wellness.

Driven Elite will work on the SURGE initiative by promoting women’s sports through positive coaching methodologies and athlete support. The women will receive athletic gear and personalized nutritional information to help them optimize performance and promote long-term health.

“SURGE represents our commitment to elevating women’s sports and ensuring our female student-athletes have access to the resources, guidance, and support they need to excel,” said Alcorn State Athletic Director D’Wayne Robinson. “We’re grateful for this partnership that recognizes the unique needs of our women’s programs.”

For male student-athletes, a mental health awareness program is being launched that will feature a confidential app connecting them with licensed mental health professionals. The innovative platform allows athletes to seek support privately, promoting courage and reducing stigma around mental health in athletics. The initiative will give them a safe space to discuss anxiety, performance pressure, depression, and other mental health concerns with qualified professionals.

Driver played his collegiate career at Alcorn State from 1995 to 1998. He spent his entire 13-year career with the Green Bay Packers, where he was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and helped the team win the Super Bowl in 2011.

by Kandiss Edwards

January 16, 2026

Nebraska Castle, Once A Green Book Safe Haven For Black Travelers, Earns National Historic Status

Charles Trimble and his wife, Rosa, listed the home as a Green Book site in 1939.

A North Omaha castle that once provided safe accommodations for Black people during the Jim Crow era is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The three-story concrete-block house, now locally referred to as Trimble Castle, was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in December 2025. The designation recognizes both Trimble Castle’s architectural features and its historical role as a safe haven for Black folks.

Flatwater Free Press reported that the home was built in 1909 at the corner of Burdette Street and Florence Boulevard and has also been known as the Burkenroad home and the Broadview Hotel. From 1939 to 1966, the property was listed in The Negro Motorist Green Book, a travel guide that helped Black motorists identify businesses and homes where they could safely eat and stay.

Charles Trimble and his wife, Rosa, listed the home as a Green Book site. The Trimbles rented rooms to Black travelers passing through Omaha. Their grandson, Von R. Trimble Jr., told the Flatwater Free Press that several rooms in the home were used to host guests.

“There was a lot of activity in the house, especially on weekends because the bands that were coming through would leave and then head out, and then there’d maybe be some others coming in Thursday or Friday, so it was a pretty steady, constant flow,” Trimble said.

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The property is currently owned by Wesley Dacus. Now a fourplex, Dacus lives on the main floor and rents out other units. The homeowner told Flatwater Free Press the supports efforts to preserve and document the site’s past.

“I want a plaque on that corner of the street that actually tells them what this house is all about,” he said.

The house was designed by architect Joseph P. Guth and constructed using decorative concrete blocks produced by the Omaha Concrete Stone Company. The building’s tower and unique varied block patterns contributed to its eligibility for the National Register. The Trimble home is one of the few remaining sites in the area with confirmed Green Book documentation.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 16, 2026

Acclaimed Author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Calls Out Lagos Hospital After Toddler Son Dies

The celebrated novelist is grieving the death of her 21-month-old son, which she blames on medical negligence at a Lagos hospital.

Acclaimed Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is grieving after the death of one of her 21-month-old twin sons, which she attributes to medical negligence at a hospital in Lagos.

Adichie and her family traveled from the United States to Nigeria for the holidays when her son, who was being treated for an undisclosed infection, died on Jan. 6—one day before he was scheduled to be transferred to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore for further care, the New York Times reports.

In a private WhatsApp message to family and close friends that later leaked online, Adichie alleged that an anesthesiologist at Lagos’s private Euracare Hospital administered a fatal overdose of a sedative to her child.

“Suddenly, our beautiful little boy was gone forever,” Adichie wrote. “It is like living your worst nightmare. I will never survive the loss of my child.”

Family representative Omawumi Ogbe confirmed Adichie’s account.

Adichie said her son initially had what seemed like a cold, which developed into a severe infection. After being treated at Atlantis Pediatric Hospital in Lagos, he was set for medical evacuation to Johns Hopkins. Doctors requested a lumbar puncture and MRI first, so Atlantis referred him to Euracare.

According to Adichie, her son’s father carried him into the hospital, where staff said he would need sedation for the MRI. She described seeing staff rush into the theater and learning that the anesthesiologist had given her son too much propofol, leaving him unresponsive before being quickly resuscitated.

“But suddenly Nkanu was on a ventilator, he was intubated and placed in the ICU,” she wrote. “The next thing I heard was that he had seizures. Cardiac arrest. All these had never happened before.”

“Some hours later, Nkanu was gone,” the writer added.

Adichie, whose second novel, Half of a Yellow Sun, won the 2007 Women’s Prize for Fiction, accused the anesthesiologist of criminal negligence, saying he turned off her son’s oxygen and casually carried him to the theater, leaving it unclear when he became unresponsive.

Traveling with her husband, Dr. Ivara Esege, and their children—including a 9-year-old daughter—Adichie’s family tragedy has fueled widespread criticism of Nigeria’s struggling health care system on social media.

“Nigeria can happen to anyone, regardless of financial or social status. In America, Nkanu would still be alive,” one X user wrote.

https://twitter.com/AfamDeluxo/status/2010010613817471274

“2 Prominent Nigerians came to Nigeria for the holidays & their lives turned upside down, putting their families in disarray – Chimamanda & Anthony Joshua,” another user wrote. “Even if you have money in Nigeria, Nigeria can happen to you & mess you up. It’s not about money, it’s about sanity & survival.”

Nigerian officials have tried to improve health care through funding and training, but many urban hospitals remain overcrowded, and rural areas often lack basic services. Wealthy Nigerians, including President Bola Tinubu, whose office denies it, are known to seek treatment abroad.

Kemi Ogunyemi, Lagos State Governor’s special adviser on health, said the office has launched an investigation into the death of Adichie’s son, emphasizing a “zero tolerance for medical negligence or unprofessional conduct.”

Over the weekend, President Tinubu offered his condolences: “As a parent myself who has suffered the loss of a loved one, no grief is as devastating as losing a child.”

Adichie and Esege married in 2009 and have three children: a daughter born in 2016 and twin sons via surrogate in 2024. She is one of today’s most celebrated novelists. Her debut novel, Purple Hibiscus, was longlisted for the Booker Prize in 2004.

“Americanah” (2013) won the National Book Critics Circle Award, and her latest novel, “Dream Count” (2025), was longlisted for the Women’s Prize. She also authored “The Thing Around Your Neck” and nonfiction works, including “We Should All Be Feminists,” “Dear Ijeawele,” and “Notes on Grief,” written after the deaths of her father in 2020 and mother in 2021.

Kai Cenat Breaks From Streaming To Pursue Career In Fashion

'It feels fun to just do a new skill. I'm actually having a lot of fun right now.'

Kai Cenat, one of the most popular streamers, revealed in December that he was taking a break from streaming but has recently reemerged, expressing that he has entered the world of fashion.

TMZ caught up with the New York-based personality at LAX in Los Angeles and approached him about his latest venture. After Cenat posted a video stating that he was prioritizing his mental health as he pursues his fashion interests, he told the media outlet that he is taking fashion seriously as a beginner, but wants to do it correctly.

He told the cameraman, “It feels fun to just do a new skill. Like, developing fun. Like, I’m actually having a lot of fun right now.”

He did mention that he has actually started making clothes, having made a few hoodies and denim items.

As the next chapter of his burgeoning career began, with the surprise and shock he received after recording his “I Quit” video, many people were unsure what he intended to do in the meantime. But he hit the ground running.

Cenat uploaded a video to his YouTube channel revealing his reason for quitting, as he felt he had to take a step back and reflect on what had happened in his life and the direction he wanted to go in.

“I feel like sometimes people need to self-reflect and take a step back from the broad perspective of what their life has been. I believe that there is more to this world than is much greater than myself. The energy and passion to do more and create are within me.

“That is why I quit.”

In the 23-minute video he posted on Jan. 13, he narrates his thoughts and goals as he travels to Italy to learn firsthand about the field he is entering. He is shown taking direction, asking questions, and there are scenes of him actually sewing and being intimately involved in the making of some clothes.

No Real-ID, No Problem: TSA Will Confirm Your Identity—For A Price

by Kandiss Edwards

January 16, 2026

No Real-ID, No Problem: TSA Will Confirm Your Identity—For A Price

Adult passengers may pay a $45 fee to use TSA ConfirmID.

The Transportation Security Administration will launch a new identity verification service, TSA ConfirmID, on Feb. 1.

Under the program, adult passengers who do not present an acceptable form of ID, such as a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, passport, or another TSA-approved credential, may pay a $45 fee to use TSA ConfirmID to confirm their identity and proceed through the security checkpoint, according to the agency.

Travelers using the process may face additional screening and potential delays at security.

The $45 identity-verification fee covers a 10-day period; travelers are advised to pay in advance to reduce the risk of delays at security checkpoints. TSA said the process at the checkpoint can take up to 30 minutes and might delay boarding if travelers arrive just before their flight.

To pay in advance and avoid missing flights, customers can go to Pay.gov before arriving at the airport. After clicking “pay now,” they can enter their legal name, the start date for 10-day period, and a valid payment method for the $45 fee.

From there, passengers will fill out the form presented, make sure to keep the receipt and any other confirmation information.

Once passengers reach the TSA checkpoint, they will be asked for a printed or electronic copy of their TSA ConfirmID receipt to begin the identity verification process.

Starting Feb. 1, travelers 18+ who do NOT have a REAL ID or other acceptable form of ID can use TSA ConfirmID, pay a $45 fee & have their identity validated. Travelers can use this process to confirm their identity prior to arriving at the airport.

▶️ https://t.co/8RMsLuq0Lz pic.twitter.com/mcGEiovfoo
— TSA (@TSA) January 15, 2026

The ConfirmID option was introduced after the REAL ID law’s full enforcement on May 7, 2025, under requirements adopted from federal law that set minimum security standards for state-issued identification used for domestic air travel, according to federal guidelines and reporting.

Acceptable forms of identification at TSA security checkpoints include REAL ID-compliant licenses, U.S. passports, military IDs, permanent resident cards, and other federally approved credentials, according to federal travel guidance. Travelers without any acceptable ID can still attempt to fly only after completing ConfirmID’s verification and paying the fee.

TSA ConfirmID does not replace the requirement to carry valid identification but provides an alternative path for travelers who might have lost or forgotten their credentials, the agency’s online guidance says. The emphasis remains on ensuring compliance with identification standards to maintain security and efficiency at airport screening checkpoints.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 16, 2026

Alicia Keys’ ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ To End Two-Year Broadway Run, Will Continue Overseas

The musical received a total of 13 Tony nominations.

After a nearly two-year Broadway run that generated more than $100 million in ticket sales, Alicia Keys’ Tony Award–winning musical Hell’s Kitchen is preparing to take its show overseas.

Hell’s Kitchen will end its nearly 800show run at the Shubert Theatre on Feb. 22, Deadline reports. By closing night, the show is projected to have recouped about 60% of its $22 million capitalization for investors, with further returns anticipated from touring and international productions.

The show is currently on a multi-year national tour and will roll out international productions in South Korea, Germany, and Australia after leaving New York.

The musical debuted Off-Broadway at The Public Theater on Oct. 24, 2023—running through Jan. 14, 2024, with a five-week extension—before moving to Broadway, where it surpassed $100 million in ticket sales.

Directed by Michael Greif, with choreography by Camille A. Brown, the production, created and inspired by Keys’ musical upbringing in New York City, featured a book by Kristoffer Diaz, and new music as well as Keys’ greatest hits.

Alongside Ne-Yo, the current cast includes Amanda Reid, Kelsee Kimmel, Yolanda Adams, and Lamont Walker II. Original company member and Tony nominee Brandon Victor Dixon will return as Davis (now played by Ne-Yo) starting Jan. 27 and remain for the rest of the run.

One of only three new musicals from the 2023–2024 Broadway season still running—along with The Outsiders and The Great Gatsby—Hell’s Kitchen has maintained a solid, though uneven, box office presence since its April 20, 2024, opening. The show peaked at $1.8 million in gross for the week ending June 23, 2024. More recently, for the week ending Jan. 11, it brought in $828,189, filling 79% of the Shubert Theatre’s seats.

The musical found rapid Tony-winning success through its coming-of-age story of Ali, based on Keys and originally portrayed by Maleah Joi, who earned a Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical in her Broadway debut.

Kecia Lewis captured the show’s second Tony for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Hell’s Kitchen earned a total of 13 nominations, including Best Musical.

by Mitti Hicks

January 16, 2026

Poll Shows Crockett Behind Talarico In Texas Democratic Senate Primary

Talarico leads with Hispanic and white voters, winning 6 in 10 from each group. Meanwhile, 80 percent of Black Democratic primary voters are supporting Crockett.

New polling shows U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett trailing Texas state Rep. James Talarico in the Democratic Senate primary in Texas.

The Emerson College Polling/Nexstar Media survey found Talarico is 9 points ahead among all likely primary voters, with 47% of the anticipated vote to Crockett’s 38%. Another 15% report being undecided.

Talarico and Crockett are vying for Sen. John Cornyn’s seat on the other side of the political aisle for the midterm election.

Since launching his Senate campaign bid, Talarico has raised more than $13 million. According to The Hill, Talarico leads with Hispanic and white voters, winning 6 in 10 from each group. Meanwhile, 80 percent of Black Democratic primary voters are supporting Crockett.

When breaking down the gender, men supported Talarico by 22 points. Women voters are split between the two Democrats.

Talarico is a former middle school teacher and a Presbyterian seminarian. He grew in popularity as one of several state Democrats who fled Texas to stall the state Republicans’ redistricting plans.

Crockett Behind In Polls

Crockett is a popular but controversial figure within her party who joined the race in December.

A University of Houston Hobby School poll from late September found Crockett leading the primary field against other senator hopefuls at 31%, but losing the general election matchup against each of the three Republican candidates.

Crockett said she believed in her own internal polling, particularly with turning out unlikely voters.

“I am very formidable, regardless of what people may want to put out into the atmosphere,” she said on MS Now. “The numbers are the numbers.”

Former Rep. Colin Allred dropped out of the race and is now running for a House seat following news of Crockett’s entry into the Senate race.

Either way, Democrats face an uphill battle in Texas. The state has not elected a Democrat for the U.S. Senate since 1988, when Lloyd Bentsen won re-election. The last time a Democrat represented Texas in the U.S. Senate was 1993, when Robert Krueger was appointed to replace Bentsen after he resigned to become U.S. Treasury Secretary.

If elected, Crockett would be the first Black woman and first person of color from Texas to serve in the Senate.

Texas’s Democratic Primary is March 3.

by Sharelle B. McNair

January 16, 2026

How The Food Stamp Junk Ban Is Causing Issues—And Confusion—In Some States

Critics of the restrictions are concerned with the bouts of confusion, contingent on the state with some feeling it could drive the numbers down of people who participate in the program.

As of Jan. 1, 2026, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — better known as food stamps — has some new rules, banning junk food purchases in some states but causing some issues, The Atlantic reports.

Soda, candy, and other tasty treats labeled as junk food can no longer be purchased with EBT cards, the prepaid cards used by food stamp recipients. States including Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah, and West Virginia all support the initiative led by new Secretary of Health & Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. During a June 2025 event, Kennedy professed “there’s no nutrition in these products” and “we shouldn’t be paying for them with taxpayer money.”

With 13 other states looking to make changes to their food stamp programs in late 2026, the Trump administration hopes to have all 50 states on board, offering incentives such as access to a $50 billion fund designed to improve rural healthcare across the country. However, there are some loopholes that states are having issues getting around.

Like, what is junk food exactly?

It can be hard to define. Baked goods, such as cookies, cakes, and even protein bars, can fall into this category — depending on the state. In Indiana, the new rules only ban candy and soda, so if a food stamp recipient wants to buy items like Oreos or Goldfish, they can.

The same goes for protein bars, which can also be purchased with food stamps in states like Iowa, and which have the same amount of sugar as chocolate-covered nuts or a candy bar. EBT cards can be swiped for very sugary canned coffee — as long as it has milk.

Food stamps purchases are determined by the state, depending on how food is taxed. In Iowa, recipients can use their EBT cards for a slice of cake but not a fruit cup that comes with a spoon.

Critics of the restrictions are concerned with the bouts of confusion, contingent on the state. Some feel it could drive down the number of people who participate in the program.

“Singling out people who receive SNAP, policing their shopping carts, and delaying their purchases at the register would inevitably decrease participation rates,” claims an essay in Georgetown University’s Journal on Poverty Law & Policy.

This isn’t the first time a White House administration has fought to ban junk food from food stamp purchases because of the mess it can cause. In 2011, the Obama administration’s Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees SNAP, denied a request from New York to ban soda purchases, citing that the proposal “lacks a clear and practical means to determine product eligibility,” which could create problems in stores.

But several Republicans are willing to back the ban. In Georgia, lawmakers have introduced the Georgia SNAP Healthier Choices Act of 2026, which will set parameters on what food stamps can cover. According to WRDW, one in eight Georgia residents receives SNAP benefits, and the legislation supports the USDA’s goal of meeting the nutritional needs of low-income families. “The purchase of low-nutrient, high-sugar, and artificially sweetened foods undermines the public health objectives of the program,” the bill’s verbiage suggests.

Some of the restrictions include no more than four beverages or packs of carbonated soft drinks per household per month, no candy, including chocolate, gum, and “sugar-based confections,” and no juice with less than 50% fruit or vegetable juice.