by Mitti Hicks

March 8, 2025

HBCU Saint Augustine’s University Loses Accreditation Appeal

In December 2022, the university was placed on probation after it failed to meet accreditation standards due to significant financial issue.

The Raleigh, North Carolina-based HBCU, Saint Augustine’s University, has lost its appeal to maintain accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The commission reaffirmed its decision to remove the institution from its membership, HBCU Gameday reports.

It’s been an uphill battle for SAU. In December 2022, the commission placed the university on probation after it failed to meet accreditation standards due to significant financial issues, including $32 million in debts and nearly $10 million in IRS tax liens.

The school received financial backing from 50 Plus 1 Sports, a Black-owned development company. As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, 50 Plus 1 Sports was willing to invest $70 million into the university, allowing it to be self-sufficient while keeping its land. The agreement prioritized eliminating debt and investing in campus improvements, all while ensuring that the university would become financially stable. The controversial deal with 50 Plus 1 Sports initially sought to lease all of SAU’s more than 100 acres of land. The attorney general’s office reportedly denied the deal over concerns about SAU’s nonprofit status.

However, university leaders previously told BE that they had little to no confidence that the state attorney general’s office would move forward with the deal since investors are now interested in taking over the university’s land, which was appraised for roughly $207 million in 2024. The North Carolina Attorney General’s Office did not reply to Black Enterprise’s request for comment.

With the latest setback, SAU leaders say the university is committed to ensuring that May 2025 graduates earn degrees from an accredited institution by pursuing a 90-day arbitration process.

“This decision does not define us—our resilience does,” said Interim President Dr. Marcus H. Burgess.

In the meantime, the university is fighting for its future and calling on alums, corporate partners, and the broader HBCU community for support.

“We now have the financial leverage to protect SAU’s legacy,” Trustee Hadley Evans told HBCU Gameday.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 8, 2025

Accused Tupac Killer, Keffe D, Proclaims Innocence In First TV Interview Since Vegas Arrest

In a 'Good Morning America' interview, Keffe D emphatically says, 'I"m Innocent.'

Duane “Keffe D” Davis is preparing for his day in court in the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur, but before facing a judge and jury, he took his plea to “Good Morning America.”

In a recent interview with the ABC news program, the suspect, who has been accused of being involved in the deadly shooting that took the life of Tupac, emphatically states that he is innocent of the charges prosecutors have levied against him in Las Vegas. The unsolved murder had been a mystery for almost three decades until the September 2023 arrest of Keffe D by the Las Vegas police. The only person charged in the “California Love” rapper’s killing is scheduled to go to trial later this year.

“I’m innocent,” he told the media outlet. “I ain’t killed nobody. Never did, never killed nobody.”

Keffe D has claimed that he was nowhere near the crime scene as he was in Los Angeles the night that Tupac was killed in a drive-by shooting.

He blames another person, a former police officer and bodyguard, Reggie White, Jr., who was reportedly driving the vehicle the night Tupac was killed. However, Wright denies killing the New York City-born rapper. Yet, prosecutors used Keffe D’s own words against him in the pursuit of finding Tupac’s killer.

Keffe D, who wrote the book, “Compton Street Legend,” and did many interviews over the years, initially said that the killing of the “Me Against the World” lyricist was done by his nephew, Orlando Anderson, who was killed two years later. However, prosecutors say they have strong evidence that Keffe incriminated himself in the book he wrote and released in 2019, as well as in interviews he has given to police and the media since 2008.

“I did not do it,” Davis, 61, said. “They don’t have nothing. And they know they don’t have nothing. They can’t even place me out here. They don’t have no gun, no car, no Keffe D, no nothing.”

The former gang member has been in jail at the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas since his arrest on Sept. 29, 2023. He has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 8, 2025

Jimmy Butler Gifts NBA Hall Of Famer Spike Lee His Shirt After Warriors’ Win Over Knicks

Jimmy Buckets gives the "Do the Right Thing' director his game-worn jersey after the game

New Golden State Warriors player Jimmy Butler recently gifted NBA Hall of Famer and “superfan” Spike Lee the shirt off his back after the game.

The former Heat forward, recently traded to the Warriors after a rocky tenure in Miami, faced the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 4. The team emerged victorious against the New York squad, 114-102. Right after the buzzer rang, signifying the end of the game, Butler headed over to Lee, and the basketball jersey he was wearing, sweat and all, was presented to the “Do the Right Thing” director.

While accepting the gift from the man known affectionately as “Jimmy Buckets,” the Heat player then placed his signature on the jersey as Lee is seen saying something in his ear. After signing the jersey, both men looked happy and embraced each other before they went their separate ways.

Jimmy showed some love to New York’s own! pic.twitter.com/jsMD00v5Hs

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) March 5, 2025

After leading the Miami team to two NBA Finals in five years, the 35-year-old guard’s relationship with the team became combative after the Heat were eliminated from last year’s playoffs. During his time with the team this season, he averaged 18 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. His shooting percentage before the trade was at a career-high 55.3% from the field.

Butler was shipped from Miami when the Warriors traded him for Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, and a top-10 protected first-round draft pick for 2025. The Warriors also sent Dennis Schroder to the Utah Jazz and received, in return, P.J. Tucker, who is going back after being a member of the Heat in 2021-22. The Warriors also sent Lindy Waters III to the Detroit Pistons, and the Heat shipped Josh Richardson off to the Pistons.

RELATED CONTENT: Jimmy Butler Traded To Golden State Warriors

FAMU, Florida A and M University,DI, Black History Month

by Stacy Jackson

March 8, 2025

Carmen Cummings-Martin Is New Chief Of Staff At FAMU

Cummings-Martin was appointed two weeks after FAMU's former chief of staff left the position.

FAMU has tapped its current Assistant Vice President of University Engagement & Alumni Affairs, Carmen Cummings-Martin, as the new chief of staff on the university’s senior leadership team.

She was appointed to the position on March 4 by the university’s Interim President, Timothy Beard. According to the Tallahassee Democrat, Cummings-Martin’s promotion is part of Beard’s restructuring efforts on his leadership team.

“I am honored and humbled to navigate into this new assignment. Those who know me understand my passion and unwavering commitment to Florida A&M University,” Cummings-Martin said in a statement. “I convey gratitude to Interim President Beard for the opportunity. I have always tried to be a team player in every aspect of my professional journey.”

The well-known WCTV Eyewitness News anchor will cover duties such as advising Beard, project management, and overseeing the progress of goals for the Tallahassee, Florida-based university. “I am excited to have Carmen serve as chief of staff on the leadership team,” Beard said in a statement. “Her years of experience in alumni relations, government relations, and logistics will be an asset, and her commitment to Florida A&M University is palpable.”

The latest change to Beard’s senior leadership team comes amid the departure of FAMU’s former chief of staff, Tola Thompson, who exited after less than six months in the role. Cummings-Martin assumed the position just two weeks after Thompson left the leadership role. WCTV reported that no reason for Thompson’s exit was revealed. BLACK ENTERPRISE previously noted that after Beard temporarily replaced former FAMU President Larry Robinson, who stepped down following a $237 million fraud scandal, the whole leadership team was asked by Beard to resign.

Cummings-Martin steps into her new role with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from FAMU and over 17 years of experience working with the university. In 2007, she served as FAMU’s executive director in the Office of Alumni Affairs. She has been honored with the FAMU National Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumna of the Year Award and the National HBCU Alumni Director of the Year Award.

Cummings-Martin will commence as chief of staff on March 17.

Meghan Markle, Archewell Foundation, Prince Harry

by Mary Spiller

March 8, 2025

Meghan Markle’s ‘With Love, Meghan’ Renewed By Netflix For Second Season

Markle announced season 2 just three days after the show debuted on Netflix.

Wife of Prince Harry, Meghan Markle’s new Netflix series, “With Love, Meghan,” has been confirmed to return for a second season despite a slew of negative reviews from critics. The show hit the top 10 on Netflix on March 7. It premiered on Tuesday on Netflix and housed eight episodes of the Duchess of Sussex in her California home, inviting guests to cook and complete at-home projects.

The release was quickly confirmed to have a second season by Netflix and Markle in Instagram posts.

Markle wrote, “Oh, how I love ASMR! If you’re loving Season 1, just wait until you see the fun we cooked up in Season 2! Thanks for joining the party, and an endless thanks to the amazing team and crew who helped bring it all to life!”

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DG598hKJqzE/?igsh=MXRjemw4Mmx0czBjNg==

The renewal announcement has raised questions for show fans, as there was negative feedback on the first season. In the United Kingdom, critics left the first eight episodes with a 28% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, and an audience gave it a worse 18% audience score.

Since its debut, critics in England have slammed “With Love” with particularly negative reviews. According to Forbes, Markle’s reputation has been controversial overseas after she left the royal family and the country with her husband, Prince Harry, after the pair stepped away from their royal duties, Markle has been regarded with divisiveness.

“With Love, Meghan” was given a one-star rating by British newspapers The Guardian and The Independent rated “With Love, Meghan” one starnt. The Independent described the series as “queasy and exhausting [like a] millennial blog come to life.”

Variety added that Markle is allegedly “unwilling to step outside the role of perpetual A student and lacks similar competence” to more successful lifestyle stars such as Martha Stewart and Ina Garten.

“With Love, Meghan” now ranks as Netflix’s No. 7 show in the United States, and as the description reads, Markle invites new guests to her home in every episode. The first season featured actress-writer Mindy Kaling, “Suits” cast member Abigail Spencer, and celebrity chefs Roy Choi and Alice Waters for cooking sessions.

fire, Tesla, Elon Musk, group, attack, France

by Kandiss Edwards

March 8, 2025

Tesla Dealership Set On Fire In France By Anarchist Group Targeting Elon Musk

A dozen Tesla vehicles were set on fire, with 8 totally destroyed.

A Tesla dealership in France was set on fire in what authorities are calling a suspected arson attack, according to French outlet La Dépêche.

The fire broke out on March 2 in the Toulouse suburb of Plaisance-du-Touch. Eight Tesla vehicles were destroyed, causing an estimated loss of 700,000 euros ($756,280), and four other Teslas were badly damaged.

The city prosecutor’s office stated the fire was “no accident at all.”

Investigators believe the arsonists cut a hole in the dealership’s perimeter fence before setting the fire. On March 4, a Southern France anarchist group claimed responsibility, calling the attack a part of its mission to combat fascism.

Il y a aujourd’hui une accélération du projet fasciste, patriarcal, écocidaire et colonialiste. Alors que les élites multiplient les saluts nazis nous avons décidé de saluer à notre manière un concessionnaire tesla dans dans la nuit du 2 au 3 mars 2025 à plaisance-du-touch.
Nous avons incendié des véhicules à l’intérieur de l’enceinte à l’aide de deux bidons à essence. Nous nous sommes demandé après coup si des plaques d’allume-feu n’auraient pas été un moyen plus efficace.

“Today, there is an acceleration of the fascist, patriarchal, genocidal, and colonialist project. While the elites multiply Nazi salutes, we decided to greet a Tesla dealer in our own way on the night of March 2 to 3, 2025, in Plaisance-du-Touch. We set fire to vehicles inside the compound using two petrol cans,” the group said in a statement.

The group’s message encouraged others to take similar action against Tesla CEO Elon Musk and his billionaire allies. Its slogan, “Welcome Spring, Burn a Tesla!” suggests more attacks may follow.

While the French government has not condoned attacks on Musk’s businesses, officials have recently been critical of him.

“Ten years ago, if we had been told that the owner of one of the largest social networks in the world would support a new reactionary international and intervene directly in elections, including in Germany, who would have imagined it?” French President Emmanuel Macron said.

Macron’s comments refer to Musk’s attendance at a far-right German political event where he voiced support for a reportedly extremist party. Musk urged members not to be ashamed of the party’s past, which includes aiding in the Holocaust. He also appeared to endorse ethnic nationalism.

“It’s good to be proud of German culture and German values, and not to lose that in some sort of multiculturalism that dilutes everything,” Musk said.

Since joining the Trump administration, Musk has drawn controversy for inflammatory statements and actions.

During the presidential inauguration, Musk was seen making a chest-to-arm motion interpreted as a Nazi salute on stage. The X owner denied the gesture was intentional, but many disagreed.

Musk has also promoted the idea of seizing Canada and Denmark and incorporating them into the United States. Citizens of the nations have spoken out boisterously against what they deem hostile rhetoric.

As Musk’s influence grows increasingly controversial, more groups have turned to direct action against him, both in the U.S. and abroad.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 8, 2025

Saquon Barkley Becomes NFL’s Highest-Paid Running Back After Signing With Philadelphia Eagles

The contract extension is worth $41.2M, with $36M guaranteed. The deal also includes $15M in incentives.

Just one year after joining the Philadelphia Eagles and playing a key role in their Super Bowl victory, Saquon Barkley has become the highest-paid running back in NFL history.

The Eagles rewarded this year’s NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year by extending his contract into the 2028 football season.

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A post shared by Philadelphia Eagles (@philadelphiaeagles)

The running back also broke an NFL record for rushing yards in a season (including the playoffs) when he amassed 2,504 yards. That total broke Terrell Davis’ 1998 record of 2,476 yards. Barkley had a franchise-record 2,283 yards from scrimmage. He was responsible for a league-high 34.8 percent of the team’s output, with 15 total touchdowns in the regular season.

Executive Vice President/General Manager Howie Roseman stated that Barkley’s historic year was “the best season for any skill position player in NFL history.”

In a social media post, the Eagles player said, Overflow! “Grateful for the Eagles Organization , grateful for my team, grateful for the amazing fans in Philly. Fly Eagles Fly”

Overflow! Grateful for the Eagles Organization , grateful for my team, grateful for the amazing fans in Philly. Fly Eagles Fly 🦅 @EdwardMBerry 😤 pic.twitter.com/q2u4gr9IX2

— Saquon Barkley (@saquon) March 4, 2025

“It’s very obvious when you watch the tape how good of a player he is, right? But the things that he has that he brings to our football team as far as his leadership, his work ethic. He’s an awesome teammate. Those are the things that make him very special,” Head Coach Nick Sirianni said in a written statement. “And that’s pretty special that I’m saying that even more after you see him jumping over guys backwards and all that stuff.”

The Associated Press reported that the contract extension is worth $41.2 million, with $36 million guaranteed. The deal also includes $15 million in incentives.

The Eagles signed Barkley last year to a three-year, $37.75 million deal in free agency when he entered free agency after playing for the New York Giants as a No. 2 draft pick in 2018.

ICYMI: Day 2 Of The Women Of Power Summit Did Not Disappoint

by Ida Harris

March 7, 2025

ICYMI: Day 2 Of The Women Of Power Summit Did Not Disappoint

Conversations That Count series was held between two sets of women in power

After an awe-inspiring event at the 19th Annual Women of Power Legacy Award Gala, attendees shifted into power mode the next day, March 6, diving headlong into the spectrum of activities, meaningful conversations, and, of course, informative leadership sessions. World-renowned fitness expert Jenna De Leon headed the day with a morning workout before breakfast, followed by remarks from BLACK ENTERPRISE President and CEO Earl “Butch” Graves Jr. and Mia Hairston, senior vice president of Human Resources for Nationwide. The Conversations That Count series was held between two sets of women in power: Glenda McNeal, Robin L. Washington, and Edith Cooper, cofounder of Medley, discussed “Peak Performance,” while Valerie Jarrett, Karine Jean-Pierre, and Abby Phillip spoke on “Politics Not As Usual.” Get caught up with BE’s gallery below.

The Tyler Twins for Black Enterprise Women Of Power 2025

by Sharelle B. McNair

March 7, 2025

Florida Police Officers Claim Toddler Seen Lying Down In Viral Video ‘Mimicked’ Her Mother Being Arrested

The Department of Children and Families were notified after the incident given the violent nature of the alleged crime with a child present.

After a viral video of two white Winter Haven, Florida, police officers arresting a Black woman alongside her toddler-aged daughter caused backlash, officials are claiming the child “mimicked” her mother, WFLA reports.

The video shows an officer arresting the woman. At the same time, her daughter, a toddler, was seen lying on the ground next to her in the same position—with her hands behind her back—while a supporting officer was seen pointing a weapon down at them.

While social media comments labeled the move as “crazy,” Winter Haven officials released a statement saying the child was never placed in handcuffs and the toddler simply “mimicked” her mother’s actions after officers directed her to get on the ground.

“Officers responded with an appropriate level of caution with the understanding there was a weapon involved seeking to resolve the situation,” the statement read. “When approaching (the mother and her child), officers could not have known who was in possession of the firearm.”

https://twitter.com/7AMSWISH/status/1897736691076509781

The incident started on March 4 when a 911 call went out in connection to a disturbance involving a firearm at a shopping center. Witnesses claimed a man got into a fight with one of the store’s employees in the parking lot prior to fleeing in a red Nissan Altima. The mother and child in the video were passengers.

When officers found the vehicle, all three passengers were already out of the car. As one officer placed the suspect under arrest, the unidentified mother immediately complied with the officer’s commands.

A Diamondback 9mm semiautomatic pistol was later found inside the Nissan.

Despite the social media backlash, Winter Haven Police Chief Vance Monroe and Mayor Nathaniel Birdsong—both Black men—defended the officers, according to Fox 13 News.

“The optics are bad. We’re not going to skip around it. The optics of this incident are bad. They’re terrible. I truly wish that this child was not exposed to this,” Monroe said. “I know moving forward, we’re definitely going to be looking at ways and other avenues that we can safely and effectively engage with our citizens in situations like this.”

Both the woman and man were released following the ordeal as the other party involved failed to press charges. However, the Department of Children and Families was notified, given the violent nature of the alleged crime with a child present.

by Kandiss Edwards

March 7, 2025

Cardi B Wins Big, But Waits Big: Tasha K’s $1.2M Delivery? Think Amazon Prime, But, Like, Five Years

Cardi B will finally receive a portion of her $3.9 million settlement from Tasha K.

Cardi B will finally begin receiving payments from Latasha Kebe, better known as Tasha K, as part of a structured plan to repay a portion of the $3.9 million defamation judgment.

Court documents outline that Kebe, who recently filed for bankruptcy, will make payments based on her generated income, though no fixed dollar amount has been set. She must submit quarterly income reports to California courts for verification.

Additionally, a non-disparagement clause prohibits her from making negative statements about Cardi B. Cardi, however, does not have to censor herself in relation to Kebe.

On Feb. 24, the judge upheld the full $3.9 million judgment, and the parties agreed that Kebe would pay $1.2 million over five years. Cardi B reserves the right to pursue the remaining amount after that period.

“Today marks the end of a multi-year long chapter of lies, deception, and fraudulent conveyance on the part of Tasha K, her husband, and their entities,” Cardi B’s attorney, Lisa Moore, said in a statement to Rolling Stone. “We are thrilled to put in place such an incredibly unprecedented and protective plan for Cardi.”

https://twitter.com/iHearts143Quote/status/1894216240803029416

The agreement prioritizes Cardi B’s settlement in Kebe’s debt repayment plan. Although Kebe filed for bankruptcy to discharge personal debts, the defamation judgment remains intact.

Kebe’s legal team views the agreement as a way for the blogger to meet her financial obligations while continuing her work.

“By reaching this agreement, all parties can avoid prolonged litigation—fulfilling bankruptcy’s essential purpose. This resolution also enables Ms. Kebe to focus on her work while repaying creditors in an organized manner,” her attorney stated.

Cardi B will reportedly receive $176,532 in the first year of repayment from Tasha K, with the amount increasing each year. According to court documents, the blogger will owe $318,653 by the fifth year.

This structured plan ensures Cardi B gradually receives a portion of the $1.2 million settlement, while the remaining $2.7 million from the original defamation judgment remains unsettled.