by Sharelle B. McNair

January 14, 2026

Eric Adams Threatens To Show ‘The Brooklyn In Me’ To Heckler While Deboarding Plane

The ex-mayor doesn't seem to be bothered, quote-tweeting an X post about the incident with one word: "Exactly."

Former New York City mayor Eric Adams is embracing no longer being an elected official, telling a woman to “go f–k yourself” and threatening to release “the Brooklyn in me” in a now-viral video.

The video circulated on social media after originally being posted on Reddit. Adams was seen talking with the female passenger while deboarding a plane at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

The Grio reports things got heated when Adams allegedly told the woman that “I’m not mayor anymore, so go f–k yourself” after she said, “Eric Adams, please punch me in the face.”

Then, things turned up a notch when Adams was seen brushing up against her, saying, “You’re gonna see the Brooklyn in me.”

“I’m not mayor anymore. Go fuck yourself,” former Mayor Eric Adams says to another passenger, according to a video circulating on Reddit.

“You’re gonna see the Brooklyn in me.”https://t.co/0smSBBWt3k pic.twitter.com/oNE3V5DUF4
— Josefa Velásquez (@J__Velasquez) January 13, 2026

Adams spokesperson Todd Shapiro said the video is edited and doesn’t give the full context of the exchange. He added that since Adams is now a private citizen, the woman’s interaction with Adams should be viewed as harassment.

The ex-mayor doesn’t seem to be bothered, quote-tweeting an X post about the incident with one word: “Exactly.”

Exactly https://t.co/TmfKfKbjMa
— Eric Adams (@ericadamsfornyc) January 14, 2026

It’s only been two weeks since Zohran Mamdani displaced Adams, but that hasn’t stopped the embattled ex-mayor from appearing in the news.

One of his first ventures leaving public office was releasing a cryptocurrency token dubbed the “NYC Token,” a meme coin that he insisted would be used to fight “anti-Americanism” and antisemitism.

Shortly after its Jan. 12 release, the coin crashed following its market cap being up to roughly $600 million. Amid the lack of details surrounding the token, including financial supporters and what the proceeds would be used for, accusations of scamming started to surface, according to the Washington Post.

A statement released on X said the “rug pull” was a result of its partners having “to rebalance the liquidity” since there was so much “overwhelming support and demand for the token at launch.”

Then there is a defamation lawsuit from former interim NYPD Commissioner Tom Donlon against Adams. After leading New York’s finest for roughly two months in 2024, Donlon filed a federal lawsuit alleging widespread corruption in the police department under Adams’ leadership.

Mike Tomlin, coach, Pittsburgh, steelers, Lombardi trophy, youngest coach

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 14, 2026

Pittsburgh Steelers Loses Head Coach As Mike Tomlin Resigns After Leading Team For 19 Years

'After much thought and reflection, I have decided to step down as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.'

After breaking an NFL record of a coaching career with 19 straight years without a losing record with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike Tomlin has announced that he will no longer coach the team.

According to ESPN, Tomlin informed the team of his decision a day after the Steelers were eliminated from the playoffs. The team lost 30-6 to the Houston Texans in the AFC wild-card round. As successful as Tomlin has been during the regular season, he also has a nine-year losing streak in the postseason. The Steelers have not won a playoff game since 2016, when they beat the Kansas City Chiefs, 18-16.

Mike Tomlin stepping down as head coach of Steelers after 19 seasons. pic.twitter.com/eWwwl65eEc
— NFL (@NFL) January 13, 2026

Tomlin’s teams have won one Super Bowl, two conference championships, and eight division titles. He coached the team to the Super Bowl title in only his second season, becoming the youngest head coach, at 36, to win the championship, defeating the Arizona Cardinals 27–23 in 2009. The Steelers had an 8-12 playoff record.

Tomlin released a statement:

“After much thought and reflection, I have decided to step down as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers,” Tomlin said in a written statement. “This organization has been a huge part of my life for many years, and it has been an absolute honor to lead this team. I am deeply grateful to Art Rooney II and the late Ambassador Rooney for their trust and support. I am also thankful to the players who gave everything they had every day, and to the coaches and staff whose commitment and dedication made this journey so meaningful.”

The former Steelers head coach has two years left on his contract, so if he returns to coaching within that period, the team could negotiate compensation with any team he signs with.

“It is hard for me to put into words the level of respect and appreciation I have for Coach Tomlin,” team President Art Rooney said. “He guided the franchise to our sixth Super Bowl championship and made the playoffs 13 times during his tenure, including winning the AFC North eight times in his career. His track record of never having a losing season in 19 years will likely never be duplicated.”

by Kandiss Edwards

January 14, 2026

Rest Well, Queen! Civil Rights Pioneer Claudette Colvin Dead At 86

Colvin's courageous act took place on March 2, 1955.

Claudette Colvin, a pioneering figure in the U.S. civil rights movement who first refused to give up her bus seat, has died . She was 86.

Colvin’s death was announced Tuesday by the Claudette Colvin Legacy Foundation. She died of natural causes, foundation spokesperson Ashley D. Roseboro said.

In 1955, when she was 15 years old, Colvin was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama, for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated city bus. Her act of defiance came nine months before Rosa Parks’ more widely remembered protest and helped ignite growing resistance to Jim Crow laws in the South.

The Visibility Project, Claudette Colvin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Colvin boarded the bus on March 2, 1955, on her way home from school, and remained seated despite the driver’s order to move to the back of the bus to make room for white riders. When officers arrived, she was forcibly removed and arrested under local segregation laws.

Her refusal and subsequent arrest added to mounting frustration among Black residents over unequal treatment. The following year, the U.S. Supreme Court in Browder v. Gayle struck down bus segregation laws after a federal lawsuit brought by Colvin and other plaintiffs, a landmark decision that helped end legal segregation on public buses.

In an interview years later with WFSA, Colvin reflected on her decision to stay seated, saying, “My mindset was on freedom,” and that was why she chose not to move that day. “I told them that history had me glued to the seat,” she said.

Despite her early and courageous stand, Colvin’s role in the movement was often overshadowed by Parks’ later protest, in part because Colvin was a pregnant teenager. According to Colvin, leaders in the movement were looking for the “right face” to propel the movement further. Her circumstances were not ideal.

Colvin became one of four plaintiffs in the lawsuit that successfully challenged bus segregation policies. In 2021, a judge granted her petition to expunge her juvenile arrest record, a symbolic act that acknowledged her contribution to civil rights history.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 14, 2026

The Internet Is Side-Eyeing Ludacris And Nelly’s ‘MAGA Music Fest’ Booking

Nelly and Ludacris are being shamed online for their booking at a festival nicknamed the "MAGA Music Fest."

Ludacris and Nelly are facing backlash after being announced as performers for “Rock the Country,” a pro-American event also nicknamed the “MAGA Music Fest.”

On Jan. 12, organizers revealed the 2026 “Rock the Country” lineup, featuring a country-heavy roster with headliners like Kid Rock and Jason Aldean, both known for their right-leaning politics. Nelly and Ludacris are the only non-country acts scheduled to perform, with Ludacris slated to perform in Anderson, South Carolina, alongside Creed and Shinedown, and in Ocala, Florida, with Blake Shelton and Brooks & Dunn. Nelly is scheduled for the Hamburg, New York, show, sharing the stage with devoted Trump supporter Kid Rock and Hank Williams Jr.

Though not explicitly political, The New York Times called the 2024 festival “a vision of the MAGA movement in pure party mode,” describing the shows as feeling like “Trump rallies” even without Trump. Given the festival’s pro-America theme and the current political climate under Trump, Ludacris and Nelly quickly came under fire from fans disappointed by their participation.

“Sooooooo what’s y’all excuse for Ludacris and Nelly since y’all had so much to say about Nicki Minaj,” one X user wrote.

https://twitter.com/FeelTheBass86/status/2010888497268236667

“Black rich men love Trump. Let’s start shunning them the same way we did Chrisette Michelle and Nicky Minaj,” another user wrote. “I dont buy music anymore from any of them. But publicly Snoop, Ice Cube, Nelly, now Luda, they all need to be shamed.”

Nelly’s natural blend of pop, rap, and country has him often sharing stages with country acts. He faced backlash last year for performing at Trump’s inauguration and again after defending the show and expressing patriotism. Ludacris has only publicly aligned with Democratic and progressive causes, like endorsing Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 and Hill Harper for Senate in 2024.

While the bookings may be purely professional, fans are calling out both rappers for their participation.

“All money is not good money. Ludacris, Nelly I’m not surprised by, should’ve thought long and hard before being apart of this,” an X user wrote. “Whatever they’re offering, he can get tenfold elsewhere. Not worth the PR hassle.”

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

January 14, 2026

17-Year-Old Girl Allegedly Shot And Killed In New Jersey Home By Teen Boyfriend

The young girl was found dead in her home in Edison as police detained the boy she was seeing at the time.

A 17-year-old girl had her life taken in what prosecutors believe was a case of domestic violence.

The Jan. 10 killing of Justice Deas has shocked her home community of Edison, New Jersey, especially with more insight into what led to the tragedy. According to ABC 7, the main suspect is a teenage boy from Plainfield who was dating Deas.

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Prosecutors are looking at the 17-year-old male as the perpetrator, as he was at the scene when police arrived. Officers arrived at the Deas’ townhome after a 911 call reported gunshots around 1 a.m. There, they found the 17-year-old girl dead, subsequently detaining her alleged beau. The two appeared to be the only people at the home during the fatal incident.

However, the alleged assailant’s identity will remain undisclosed to the public until the courts decide whether or not to charge him as an adult. Thus far, he has only been charged with juvenile delinquency. If deemed an adult, he will face weapons and manslaughter charges.

Further investigation into the killing revealed that the two were romantically involved. Her death also adds to a pattern of domestic violence cases across the country, especially toward Black women.

According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, Black women face high rates of sexual and domestic violence, including homicide. A 2015 Violence Policy Center study also found that Black women are two and a half times more likely to be killed at the hands of a man. The vast majority of these victims, over 90%, often know their killer.

In light of her death, a vigil of candles and balloons was displayed in front of her apartment complex. Friends reflected on Deas’ light and charisma as they grieved the loss.

“Ever since then, we’ve just been locked in forever,” shared Deas’ long-time friend and classmate, Leila Martinez, on when she met the slain girl. “I used to get picked on in school, and Justice, whenever I needed her, she was there for me; whenever I needed her, when I had no one, I always had her.”

Cordia, energy, Wayne Barnett and Tony Payton Jr

by Sharelle B. McNair

January 14, 2026

Why Cordia Energy’s $165M Acquisition Proves Black Leadership Serves As Key Growth Element

A report from McKinsey & Company revealed a global expansion of a life-changing wave of capital investment estimated to extend well past 2027, led by some of America's top-tier Black leaders.

The recent $165 million acquisition between Cordia Energy and Essential Utilities in Pennsylvania’s Alleghany Energy showcases energy no longer being a “hidden in the background” industry and the need for Black leadership at the forefront, a spokesperson tells BLACK ENTERPRISE.

A report from McKinsey & Company revealed a global wave of capital investment estimated to extend well past 2027, with close to $130 trillion expected to be directed toward projects focused on decarbonization, modernization, and critical infrastructure revitalization.

Cordia’s acquisition of district energy and microgrid assets will expand the company’s footprint in localized energy systems serving both institutional and commercial customers. The move comes as cities and college and company campuses are working to modernize aging infrastructure, driven by demand for flexible, community-scale energy solutions. It comes with the idea of more Black leaders in the field, highlighting the industry as scalable.

The acquisition was led by Wayne Barnett, head of corporate and external affairs at Cordia, who oversees government affairs strategy, external stakeholder engagement, and regulatory alignment.

He played a vital role, alongside Cordia’s government affairs advisor, Tony Payton Jr., who once served as a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, leveraging relationships throughout Pennsylvania’s public-sector and utility network.

Barnett noted that acquisitions such as this couldn’t take place without partners with proven expertise.

“Energy infrastructure is no longer a background industry. It’s central to how communities grow, how cities modernize, and how capital is deployed at scale,” Barnett said. “As investment accelerates, the industry must recognize the full range of expertise required to bring these complex transactions to life.”

As energy is often a hot topic on Capitol Hill, Cordia’s moves also highlight the need for Community Energy Planning (CEP), identified as a proven, scalable pathway for cities to build energy systems that better equip planners to lead.

According to Axios, the concept of CEP provides a framework that brings together utilities, developers, policymakers, and communities to assess the need for local energy. In addition, it can forecast future demand for integrated solutions well in advance.

Cities such as New York, Amsterdam, and Singapore have already proven the success of planning in enabling smarter grid modernization, advanced metering, scalable integration, and flexible load management.

Cordia is a company known for its design strategies and operational management of these systems, controlling district energy networks throughout North America and providing reliable, low-carbon energy to campuses, medical centers, and downtown areas.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 14, 2026

Yaaaaaas! ‘RHOA’ Icon NeNe Leakes Is Finally Returning To Bravo Network After 6 Long Years

Bravo fans are rejoicing over news of NeNe Leakes' return to the network on a new "Real Housewives" spinoff.

NeNe Leakes is making her return to Bravo through a new Real Housewives spinoff, six years after wrapping up her 12-season run on The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

The RHOA original will appear in Bravo’s newly announced working-title series, The Real Housewives: Ultimate Road Trip, with NeNe Leakes making a notable appearance when the show heads to Atlanta, TMZ reports. Executive Producer Andy Cohen first unveiled the spinoff at BravoCon in November, describing it as a girls’ trip–style series packed with cameo appearances from Housewives across multiple franchises, with different women popping up in each city.

Although Leakes won’t return in a full-time capacity, her appearance during the Atlanta stop is being viewed as a potential tease for a future comeback to The Real Housewives of Atlanta, the franchise she helped build. Leakes exited the show in 2020 and later filed a lawsuit against Bravo, accusing the network of racial discrimination, among other allegations.

The allegations strained her long-standing relationship with the network, leaving many to question whether the fan favorite would ever return. The lawsuit was ultimately dropped in August 2022, with both sides agreeing to settle the dispute through arbitration.

Leakes has repeatedly hinted at a potential comeback to RHOA and the broader Bravo universe.

“I don’t know, if the opportunity was right and the check was on point, why not?” NeNe said in January 2025, when asked if she’d ever return as a housewife.

Months later, she clarified that she’d consider returning to the show—but only as a full-time housewife, not in a “friend of” capacity.

“If I were to ever step back on that platform, would I be [the] friend? I really kind of feel like I don’t know that I would be a friend,” she said during a July 2025 episode of the “Humble Brag” podcast. “I just would think, NeNe, season 1, the first Housewife, and I’m a friend? I don’t know.”

It seems a full-time return to Bravo might be on Leakes’ horizon.

basketball, NBA Draft Pick, James Nnaji , Baylor University

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

January 14, 2026

Fisk University Mourns Player Killed In Highway Shooting

Andre Bell will be remembered by the school on Jan. 24.

Fisk University’s men’s basketball team is pausing its basketball season after sophomore forward Andre Bell was fatally shot on Jan. 11.

Bell was 20 years old.

As the team and HBCU community grapple with this loss, the athletics department opted to postpone Thursday’s game against Voorhees University to give its community time to grieve, reports TMZ Sports.

The Fisk Athletics Department also posted Bell’s final minutes as a Bulldog as it said goodbye to the promising player.

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A post shared by Fisk University Athletics (@fiskathletics)

Bell left a gymnastics event to return to the Fisk campus. As he got on I-65, a Black sedan pulled up on the side of his vehicle and opened fire. Bell later died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

The team’s next home game remains scheduled for Jan. 24. There, the school will pay tribute to Bell and the basketball team will wear a special badge with his jersey number, #1.

Bell’s parents called him a “perfect kid” who fell in love in basketball when he was 4 years old.

“It’s his heart,” his mother, Amber Lewis, told WKRN. “It’s not actually a skill; you can’t teach heart. And when Andre is on the court, it’s all heart. He’s giving 110% even if it’s for two minutes.”

Added Lewis, “We knew he was special to us, but I don’t think we knew the magnitude of how special he was to so many other people. I mean, we knew he was special to everyone he came in contact [with], but I don’t think we realized how far the reach was.”

As the investigation continues, Bell’s parents have urged the Nashville community to come forward with any information regarding their son’s death.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 14, 2026

Planned Parenthood Funding Update: Lawsuit Dropped After HHS Quietly Releases Federal Grants

But organizations say the damage has already been done.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) dropped its lawsuit against the Trump administration this week after the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) quietly released tens of millions of dollars in Title X family planning funds that had been withheld from Planned Parenthood and other clinics since last spring, Politico reports.

Advocates say the restored funding can’t fully reverse the damage as dozens of clinics closed during the delay re unlikely to reopen.

“More than 800 service sites were unable to provide Title X services. Hundreds of thousands of patients were unable to get Title X services. So the impact was tremendous,” said Brigitte Amiri, the deputy director at the ACLU’s Reproductive Freedom Project who represented the clinics in the case. “So damage certainly was done as a result of their unlawful withholding of the funds.”

Despite releasing the funds, the Trump administration continues to defend in court much larger Planned Parenthood funding cuts approved by Congress last summer.

During the gap, clinics strained to stay afloat, with many tracking unreimbursed visits from low-income patients for birth control, STI testing, and other Title X services that they can now submit for federal repayment.

Last March, the administration told more than a dozen Title X providers, including nine Planned Parenthood affiliates, that their funding would be temporarily withheld over alleged civil rights and executive order violations. Clinics pushed back for months, arguing they were compliant. Some funds were restored over the summer, but others remained frozen until December, when HHS quietly approved retroactive payments without explanation.

Clare Coleman, who led the lawsuit, said “there was no basis for HHS withholding the grants. They didn’t have anything to stand on. We feel like without litigation, the money would be gone.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 14, 2026

Recording Artist John Forté Reported Dead At 50

No cause of death has been determined

Recording artist John Forté, who was an affiliate of platinum-selling act The Fugees, has been reported dead at the age of 50.

According to the Vineyard Gazette, the Martha’s Vineyard resident was discovered dead at his home after police officers were summoned to the house Jan. 12. Officers and paramedics arrived at the home around 2:25 p.m. after getting a call of an unresponsive man. There has not been a cause of death listed for the Chilmark resident, but Police Chief Sean Slavin stated there is no foul play suspected.

There is an ongoing investigation being led by the state police with the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office.

The artist, who had recorded several albums and appeared on The Fugees’ 1996 debut album, The Score, served time in prison four years after the album’s release. After being arrested on drug possession charges and being sentenced to a mandatory 14-year prison sentence, he was released in 2008 after President George Bush commuted his sentence.

During his lengthy career, he recorded songs for his own projects and contributed to those of other artists. In recent years, he has been working primarily on scores for several projects.

Last year, he was involved in a Civil Rights documentary, Eyes on the Prize III: We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest (1977-2015), that aired on HBO. He worked with fellow island resident Dawn Porter on the project.

After visiting the island in 1998 and staying there during the pandemic, he thrived in the industry. In an interview he did last year with MV Arts and Ideas, he said, “For two decades, I’ve been contributing to soundtracks,” he told the publication. “But scoring, scoring really happened for me because I’ve been hunkering down here on the Vineyard, being able to have a project that would require going in my studio for three months at a time.”

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A post shared by Barbara FG (@zbarbarafg)

Forté is survived by his wife, Lara Fuller, and their two children, Haile and Wren.