Hot 97, 'Ebro in the Morning,' As Host, Progressive Views

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 25, 2025

Loren LoRosa Turns ‘Breakfast Club’ Segment Into New iHeartMedia Series ‘The Latest’

Loren LoRosa announces new show with iHeartMedia and Charlamagne's Black Effect Podcast Network.

Radio personality and producer Loren LoRosa has turned her segment “The Latest with Loren LoRosa” into an official series with iHeartMedia.

The Breakfast Club contributor made the announcement on March 24, one week after surviving a dramatic on-air showdown with comedienne and co-host Jess Hilarious. LoRosa’s new show debuts March 31 on iHeartMedia and Charlamagne Tha God’s Black Effect Podcast Network.

The new show features LoRosa delivering her fast, funny, and fact-driven takes on pop culture trends. Fans who have followed her journey from TMZ to BET and Fox will now get direct access to her unique perspective in bite-sized daily episodes, offering news with clarity, edge, and heart.

“Pop culture moves fast, and I want to give listeners a smart, fun, straight-forward and most importantly an informed take on what’s happening every single day,” LoRosa told Essence. “Whether you’re a pop culture junkie or just trying to keep up, this podcast is your front-row seat to the conversation and what’s happening.”

It’s a full-circle moment for LoRosa, who announced the big news by resharing a 2018 tweet in which she manifested having her own talk show.

“HOW IT STARTED vs. HOW ITS GOING🔊🔊Yall I got my own showwwwwwwww,” she wrote.

https://twitter.com/lorenlorosa/status/1904175502606131510?s=46&t=v0SNRYUQEuA0RgNp85WsUw

The announcement comes after a heated exchange between LoRosa and Breakfast Club host Jess Hilarious live on air. LoRosa filled in for Jess during her maternity leave, sparking debates among fans about which woman they preferred as the third co-host following Angela Yee’s departure.

Now, LoRosa’s announcement clears up any confusion about her future on The Breakfast Club, emphasizing that there’s room for everyone to thrive. Fans are applauding her new gig.

“Congratulations, and one question: Does this mean you will be less on the Breakfast Club to give Jess her spot back?” one person wrote.

“So proud of you! You deserve it — I literally watched you work your a** off at TMZ every day! I knew it would pay off,” added someone else.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 25, 2025

United Airlines Flight Bound For China Returns To LAX After Pilot Forgets Passport

The issue sparks another concern with U.S. airlines and their efficiency.

Passengers aboard an United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai, China had an unusual delay to their travels.

After taking off around 2 p.m. Pacific Time, the plane had to return to California after the pilot realized they left their passport. According to ABC7, United Flight 198 had already spent two hours in the skies when the aviator discovered they was missing crucial identification.

Considering he couldn’t enter China without it, the plane quickly diverted to San Francisco. When the plane arrived back in the United States at 5 p.m. local time, all 250 passengers deplaned. A statement from United confirmed all travelers received meal vouchers and compensation for their troubles.

“The pilot did not have their passport onboard,” United said in the statement.

“We arranged for a new crew to take our customers to their destination that evening. Customers were provided with meal vouchers and compensation.”

Although United rebooked the passengers with a new flight and crew hours laters, the plane could not make up for lost time. Travelers finally made it to Shanghai six hours after their original scheduled arrival.

Some passengers expressed their own contempt for the amount of compensation received. Yang Shuhan, a Chinese passenger on the flight, told CNN that the meal vouchers only totaled to $15 per traveler. As for the financial compensation for their troubles, United told Shuhan they would resolve her claim within 14 business days.

For those on the return flight from Shanghai, they also faced delays due to what others deemed a “lack of discipline.”

“It’s quite embarrassing (for United),” explained Shukor Yusof, founder of Singapore-based Endau Analytics, an advisory firm that focuses on the aviation industry. Yusof also called the incident a costly mistake that a global airline should not have made.

The airline has faced more heat from disgruntled passengers, including a mother whose issue went viral on TikTok. After she was asked to remove her son’s breathing tube for takeoff, and told by pilots that her son should not fly, Melissa Sotomayor recalled the traumatic experience to the app.

@missysoto0 @United Airlines Do better and be better! You tried to deny my child the right to fly HOME stating his vent and portable oxygen concentrator are a danger to my son and other passengers?! The captain of flight number UA1349 tried saying my son shouldn’t be allowed to fly because of his special needs. 4 flight crews told me I needed to disconnect his vent and oxygen until we were up in the air & kept saying our seats would be moved because I was unwilling to comply?! I explained multiple times that these pieces of equipment are keeping my son alive and to be told “He’ll be ok until we’re up in the air” is ignorant and unacceptable!!! If you have a loved one with special needs, I do NOT recommend flying United!!! This goes against ADA and corporate is unwilling to do anything to right the situation. An apology was all I wanted!!!#NoahScottStrong #TeamSpicySweetPotato #babiesoftiktok #fyp #medicalmomsoftiktok #medicallycomplex #preemiestrong #warriors #tracheostomy #trach #gtubebaby #gtube #trachbabies #dobetterbebetter #americanswithdisabilitiesact #unitedairlines ♬ original sound – Missy Soto

The way you treated my son when we were attempting to fly home from Tampa to Newark was absolutely ridiculous,” explained Sotomayor.

She quickly gained over 1 million views on her video detailing the story. Although United announced its apology to Sotomayor, she called the regrets “insincere.”

Most have recently criticized U.S. airlines over the rise in plane crashes. However, this matter sparks a new concern over the airlines’ efficiency to get paying customers to and from their destinations.

William McNeil, viral video, Recording The Police

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 25, 2025

Dallas Honors 1st Black Police Officer 128 Years After He Was Murdered 2 Months Into The Job

The city of Dallas, Texas is honoring the first Black police officer 128 years after his tragic murder.

Dallas has honored its first African American police officer, Officer William McDuff, who was tragically killed outside his home in 1896.

The city is just one month away from unveiling a street topper in honor of McDuff, NBC DFW reports. The memorial is located near the spot where he was tragically murdered on Christmas Day, only weeks after being sworn into office.

“He’s in office approximately two months before he’s confronted by these two young men who don’t like the fact there’s an ‘N’ police officer and calls him out of his house and shoots him down in front of it,” Historian Dr. W. Marvin Dulaney said.

Dallas had been trying to hire a Black officer since 1888 but faced significant resistance.

“Finally, in 1896, the police department or the city decides to respond, and they hire William McDuff,” Dulaney said.

However, 1896 marked a pivotal year when innovation paved the way for change. The city of Dallas took a significant step toward inclusivity in post-Civil War America.

“So, in 1896, there were indeed some sympathetic white council members who not only appoint the police officer, but they do something in terms of supporting Black education in the city,” Dulaney explained. “So, it’s a progressive period in the history of Dallas.”

Dallas joined with other cities in adding Black men to their police departments.

“Charleston, New Orleans, Mobile, Alabama, and Jacksonville, Florida, had already appointed African Americans to the police department,” Dulaney said.

In Texas, Austin, Waco, and Houston were also adding Black officers. In Dallas, McDuff was appointed as a “special officer” for the neighborhood, a role distinct from that of a traditional police officer.

“As we know with McDuff and Black police officers in most of the southern cities, they could not arrest whites,” Dulaney said.

A neighbor who witnessed McDuff’s murder described hearing a flash followed by the crack of a revolver. When other officers arrived, they found McDuff “stone dead,” a newspaper said at the time. The report stated he had been shot directly in the forehead between the eyes, with death likely being instantaneous.

The two men responsible for his death were from the same community and were also Black. It was nearly 50 years before the city saw another Black officer.

“1947 is when they eventually appoint African Americans to the police department,” Dulaney explained.

McDuff’s memorial serves as a tribute to the Dallas trailblazer, even though the exact location of his burial remains uncertain.

“It’s sort of sad in a way that we don’t know where they actually buried William McDuff, and it’s sort of a characteristic of one of the problems that we confront in African American history that we lose these stories, and we lose them to such an extent that we don’t even know what happened to persons after they died,” Dulaney said.

When Is The Best Time for Life Goals Like Marriage and Home Ownership? Americans Weigh In

by Jameelah Mullen

March 25, 2025

When Is The Best Time for Life Goals Like Marriage and Home Ownership? Americans Weigh In

Everyone has an opinion.

When is the best time to get married, have kids, buy a home, and retire? A recent Pew Research study suggests that the answer depends on who you ask.

The study surveyed 3,600 U.S. adults about the best times to achieve the milestones often associated with the American Dream. Nearly half of those surveyed believed there was no “best age.” Those who believed in an ideal age said getting married, buying a home, and having a child should occur between the ages of 25 and 34. Furthermore, 45 percent of Americans thought the ideal retirement age was in one’s 60s.

Almost half believed there was no ideal age to get married, while 23 percent thought the best age was between 25 and 29. Only 10% of those surveyed said the perfect age for marriage was between 20 and 24.

According to the poll, the age U.S. adults considered best for each milestone differed on religion, political affiliation, age, and income.

Adults under 30 recommended starting a family later than those aged 65 and older. However, Gen Z survey respondents believed that the ideal retirement age was around 60; Baby Boomers, 65.

Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents were also more likely to recommend getting married and having children later in life than their Republican counterparts.

Those who prioritized religion said that it was best to marry and have a child younger compared with those who said religion was somewhat or not at all important in their lives.

Americans in higher income brackets were more inclined to believe that achieving these goals later in life was preferable. For instance, Americans from higher-income households stated that 28 was the ideal age to get married, while those from lower-income households said it was 26.

Additionally, a 2023 Pew analysis revealed that younger Americans were reaching these milestones later in life compared to previous generations.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 24, 2025

Anthem Blue Cross ‘Refusing To’ Release Records Of High Priced Charges From NYC Hospitals

Anthem Blue Cross is refusing to release records needed for a report into excessive hospital charges in New York City.

The New York City Health Department’s inaugural report, aimed at addressing the excessive prices hospitals charge patients, is missing key details because Anthem Blue Cross has refused to release records.

The 263-page report, released March 14 by the city’s newly established Office of Healthcare Accountability, has significant gaps due to Anthem’s refusal to provide essential data, including the full costs of healthcare at hospitals, The New York Post reported. This information is critical for assessing whether the high prices are justified.

The study focused on payments made through the city’s health provider, Anthem Blue Cross, rather than private-sector insurance plans. Despite the city paying Anthem a hefty $3 billion annually to cover around 900,000 employees, the insurer has declined to share the necessary records.

According to the report, the city’s GHI-Comprehensive Benefits Plan, administered by Anthem, paid an average of $45,150 for inpatient services last fiscal year across New York’s top 10 hospital systems. The highest costs for full inpatient treatment were at New York-Presbyterian ($92,727) and Montefiore Medical Center ($83,573), while Stony Brook University Hospital had the lowest at $36,876.

Prices for specific procedures varied significantly, with colonoscopies ranging from $940 to $12,000 and cesarean-section deliveries costing between $7,000 and $58,000. Additionally, the city is now spending more on outpatient care than on inpatient services.

Anthem claims releasing certain pricing data would breach confidentiality agreements with hospitals that were established before a 2021 federal rule mandated hospitals to disclose their prices publicly. However, Councilwoman Julie Menin (D-Manhattan), who sponsored the 2023 legislation creating the city’s first healthcare watchdog office, remains unconvinced.

With the city’s health care insurance contract set to expire later this year, Menin stated, “The city must require full disclosure of pricing” from whichever insurer is chosen.

“It’s so distressing to see these prices,” added Menin. “It’s extremely high, and is why we need price transparency. Why should New York City be paying so much for health care? It’s sickening and unsustainable.”

by Sharelle B. McNair

March 24, 2025

Egg Prices May Drop As Turkey And South Korea Step In To Bail Out US

Both countries stepped in after Finland, Denmark and Poland rejected the call in February 2025.

After Poland, Finland, and Denmark rejected proposals to import eggs to the United States, South Korea and Turkey stepped in as a second option to hopefully drop the high prices and cater to the shortage, The Hill reported.

Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins announced millions of eggs will be imported from the European and Asian countries in the next few weeks. The plan is an effort to drop the high cost of the products, easing the minds of Americans and combating concerns about the spread of the bird flu. “We are talking in the hundreds of millions of eggs for the short term. So not insignificant, but significant enough to help continue to bring the prices down for right now,” Rollins said.

“And then when our chicken populations are repopulated, and we’ve got a full egg-laying industry going again, hopefully in a couple of months, we then shift back to our internal egg-layers and moving those eggs out onto the shelf.”

As a spike in the spread of avian influenza — known as the bird flu — forced farmers to slaughter millions of chickens, resulting in an egg shortage, the agency projected the cost could go up as much as 41% throughout 2025.

Both countries stepped in after Finland, Denmark, and Poland rejected the call in February 2025 due to concerns about the need to meet their own domestic supply and maintain European Union (EU) regulatory standards, according to Economic Times. By July 2025, Turkey will export roughly 15,000 tons of eggs to the U.S. Confirmed by Turkey’s Egg Producers Central Union (YUM-BIR), the exports are approximately valued at $26 million, and with close to 700 containers, the shipment is expected to place a temporary ease on the shortage and allow American consumers to relax some.

South Korea is stepping in as part of a broader plan to secure a more steady supply of eggs while the U.S. poultry industry recovers. In March 2025, the Gyerim Farm of Asan shipped 335,160 eggs — equivalent to 20 tons of eggs — to Georgia in an effort to diversify America’s import sources. However, the U.S. has some plans to mitigate prices and the bird flu impact.

USDA launched a $1 billion plan, including $500 million toward biosecurity measures for poultry farm protections, $100 million dedicated to vaccine development and research, and $400 million for financial relief for farmers who have suffered losses due to the outbreak. In hopes of retail pricing dropping, the agency is offering free consulting services to commercial egg farms and covering up to 75% of the costs that correlate with heightening farm security in hopes of preventing future outbreaks.

Allen Iverson, Hampton., Morgan State University

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 24, 2025

Allen Iverson Appears At Louisville Sneaker Ball To Help Raise Funds For Boys And Girls Clubs

The Sixers legend supported the fundraiser for the nonprofit organization.

Earlier this month, NBA legend Allen Iverson was the guest speaker for the Louisville, Kentucky-based Boys and Girls Club’s third annual Sneaker Ball, WLKY reports.

The funds from the event, held at the Norton Healthcare Sports and Learning Center, will support four traditional Boys and Girls Clubs in West Louisville and two new school-based ones located at Breckinridge-Franklin and Engelhard Elementary.

The Justin Thomas Foundation is investing $1.6 million toward the first mobile Boys and Girls Club in Kentucky. The gala also raised $200,000 for the Boys and Girls Club.

“The Justin Thomas Mobile Learning Unit will allow for access to academic success, workforce development, and mentorship for the entire Kentuckiana area,” said the Boys and Girls Clubs of Kentuckiana.

Iverson told the crowd about the significance of the Boys and Girls Club during his childhood in Virginia.

“…In the rough area that I grew up in, from the time that I got out of school, you know, to the time you go outside and play and get back into the house, so many things can happen, so many temptations,” said Iverson. “And the Boys and Girls Club was an outlet for me. You know what I mean? For that time for me to do something positive.”

With an upcoming Iverson documentary being done by Shaquille O’Neal and NBA superstar Stephen Curry, there is a chance what Iverson spoke about to the crowd will be featured in the film, which will debut on Prime Video.

O’Neal and Curry’s respective production companies, Jersey Legends and Unanimous Media, are producing the project that will tell the story of “The Answer” from his beginnings in Hampton, Virginia, through his rise to the NBA, where he revolutionized the league’s culture.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 24, 2025

Altadena Residents Fight To Keep Luxury Developers Out Of Fire-Ravaged California Community

'We're just afraid that we'll see a bunch of cookie cutters go up...'

Altadena residents, struggling to rebuild after the devastation of the Eaton Fire, are pushing back against luxury developers eager to stake their claims in the fire-ravaged California community.

In the month since the wildfire devastated over 9,400 homes and scorched 14,000 acres of the community, 14 properties have already been sold—at least seven of them grabbed by developers or investors, including several from abroad, NBC News reports. Housing experts and community members are concerned that the competitive market could displace longtime residents.

“We’re just afraid that we’ll see a bunch of cookie cutters go up, and we’ll get a bunch of people coming and going and coming and going, and we’ll lose the charm of Altadena,” said Darrell Carr, whose Altadena home burned in the fire.

The first vacant lot in the foothill community north of downtown Los Angeles sold for $550,000 in cash—$100,000 over the asking price—according to a list provided by Jasmin Shupper, founder and president of the nonprofit Greenline Housing Foundation. To prevent a potential luxury developer takeover, Greenline has started securing long-term temporary housing for displaced Altadena residents and negotiating to purchase their fire-damaged lots.

Greenline has effectively transformed into a “land bank,” a concept Pasadena-based lawyer Remy De La Peza describes as a strategy for quickly acquiring land to prevent its sale to private corporate entities. Land banks have been established in cities like Atlanta, St. Louis, and Cleveland to repurpose vacant urban lots for local nonprofits, community organizations, and affordable housing.

Earlier this month, Greenline acquired a property for $520,000 and is currently negotiating with several other sellers, according to Shupper. For families grieving the loss of their beloved neighborhood, deciding whether to rebuild remains a challenging and emotional decision.

Ali Pearl, a University of Southern California writing professor who lost her home in the Eaton Fire, is determined to remain in Altadena. However, her insurance payouts amounted to $600,000. Builders are estimating $1.2 million to rebuild.

“We bought that house with the intention of living there for the rest of our lives and passing that house down to our children,” she said.

Through her involvement with the community group Altagether, Pearl helps connect neighbors with resources and information about alternatives to selling their property to developers. She directs them to Greenline, aiming to match available land with community members who have been priced out of Altadena.

“I think about my neighbors’ kids who were born and raised on my street, and how they have not ever been able to afford to come back to the neighborhood, who talk about how great that would be to live in Altadena again,” Pearl said.

by Jameelah Mullen

March 24, 2025

‘Crop Drop’ It Like It’s Hot! Jackson State University Gives Back

Free collard greens? Say less.

Jackson State University was the place to be this past weekend—for all the right reasons.

The HBCU held its biannual Crop Drop event on March 22 on the school’s campus. Faculty, staff, and students distributed 10,000 pounds of sweet potatoes, collard greens, cleaning supplies, diapers, generators, and other essentials to hundreds of individuals in Jackson who are in need.

“We’re here in the food desert, so what better to be to give free food to our community? Sweet potatoes and greens are healthier. So that’s important here as well,” Henry Thompson, JSU’s Metro Jackson Community Prevention Coalition director, told WAPT News.

According to the USDA, Mississippi ranks as the third most food-insecure state in the country.

Now in its 10th year, the event is designed to foster a relationship with the community and teach students the importance of giving back. Heather Denne’, director of JSU’s Office of Community Development, says it’s a “win-win” situation.

“The community receives much-needed groceries to help them through the month while our students gain community service hours, witness the community’s needs, and find fulfillment in being part of the solution,” Denne’ said in a press release after last year’s Crop Drop event.

Denne also noted that she envisions expanding the Crop Drop to become a part of JSU’s first-year orientation week, instilling a culture of community service in new students.

The University has a longstanding history of supporting the Jackson community. Last year, JSU hosted its inaugural Emerging Entrepreneur Leadership Symposium. The event aims to provide high school students with tools to help them start their businesses. Approximately 150 students from five local high schools attended the event, which was held in the JSU E-Center.

The school hosts the event every August and March. The Back-to-School Crop Drop is planned for August 2025, though the exact dates have not yet been announced. For more details on supporting the event, visit the Jackson State University website.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 24, 2025

Drake Confirms Michael Jordan Gambling Rumors

The Canadian claims Jordan couldn't beat him at ping-pong and the retired basketball player kept betting tens of thousands of dollars.

The many stories of NBA Hall of Fame legend Michael Jordan being a big gambler have been substantiated over the years, and Canadian rapper Drake added another story to what people have been saying about the former Chicago Bulls All-Star.

In a recent video clip posted by RapTV on social media, Drake tells a story about going up against who many feel is the greatest NBA player of all time several years ago. The “OVO (October’s Very Own)” label owner claims that he was beating Jordan in ping-pong when the oft-talked-about competitive nature of Jordan appeared in a big way.

Drake explains that it took place during the 2016 All-Star Weekend in Toronto. He said that after beating the legend, he “wouldn’t leave the ping-pong table” and kept betting against Drake to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars.

“Gambling GOAT? To me? Controversial take but Michael Jordan,” Drake stated. “He’ll gamble on anything. I think I remember it was All-Star Weekend in Toronto, and he had an event to be at. I beat him at ping-pong, like, a couple times, and he just wouldn’t leave the ping-pong table. He kept just betting me, like, bands. 10 bands, 20 bands.”

Drake did not state if Jordan ever won or how much money he eventually lost or won back, but he spoke of the constant betting that went on, alluding to Jordan making more bets, signifying that Drake may have beaten Jordan more times than he would have liked.

“Just kept betting because he just couldn’t stomach the loss, you know? He’s definitely not a quitter,” Drake continued.

Drake stated he appreciated his “gambling nature” and determined that the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of all time) was one of the best gamblers, adding to what’s been said about Jordan throughout his playing and retirement years.

“I respect him deeply for his gambling nature. So, yeah, I’d say Michael Jordan’s definitely one of one.”

Drake reveals during an interview with Stake that he beat Michael Jordan for over $20k in ping pong 🏓 👀 pic.twitter.com/xQZ46sgKbU

— RapTV (@Rap) March 22, 2025