Kamala Harris Teams Up With Ben & Jerry’s For New ‘Coconut Justice’ Ice Cream Flavor
Featuring a creamy coconut base, fair-trade chocolate chunks, and caramel swirls, the flavor symbolizes the fight for racial and economic equality.
In an unexpected and delicious collaboration, Vice President Kamala Harris and Ben & Jerry’s unveiled a limited edition ice cream flavor, “Coconut Justice.”
The flavor highlights Harris’ commitment to social justice and the iconic ice cream brand’s longstanding advocacy for equality. It features a creamy coconut base with chunks of fair-trade chocolate and swirls of caramel, symbolizing America’s fight for economic and racial justice.
As part of this collaboration, a portion of the proceeds from the sales of “Coconut Justice” will go to organizations working to promote social justice and racial equity, issues at the forefront of her political career.
“Coconut has always been one of my favorite flavors, but this partnership is about more than just ice cream—it’s about continuing the conversation around equity, fairness, and community,” Kamala said during the product launch.
Ben & Jerry’s, known for its creative flavors and advocacy for progressive causes, has often partnered with influential figures to raise awareness around key social issues. This latest flavor is expected to draw attention for its rich coconut taste and the message it carries.
Where to Buy Coconut Justice Ice Cream
The limited-edition Ben & Jerry’s “Coconut Justice” flavor will be available in select stores nationwide starting in October. Fans can also purchase it directly through the Ben & Jerry’s website.
Collaborations like the one with Kamala Harris and Ben & Jerry’s highlight the growing importance of social responsibility in today’s marketplace as more consumers look for brands that align with their values.
As the 2024 election approaches, MoveOn Political Action is launching its “Scoop the Vote” get-out-the-vote tour on Sept. 16, targeting key swing states and districts nationwide. The tour will feature an ice cream truck, free ice cream giveaways, and high-profile special guests to energize voters ahead of the crucial Nov. 5 election.
In partnership with Ben & Jerry’s co-founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, MoveOn will be raffling off autographed pints of the limited-edition Kamala’s Coconut Jubilee ice cream, celebrating Vice President Kamala Harris.
MoveOn has also teamed up with prominent figures, such as Jeni Britton, founder of Jeni’s Ice Cream and Malai Ice Cream in New York City, to broaden the tour’s reach.
The tour will launch in Philadelphia on Sept. 16, the first day of early voting in Pennsylvania, with Cohen and Greenfield attending the kickoff event. Over the next several weeks, the Scoop the Vote truck will visit more than 20 cities in critical battleground states like Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Nevada.
MoveOn will offer free ice cream, voter engagement opportunities, and rallies featuring elected officials and activists at each stop. Attendees will be guided on creating a voting plan and encouraging friends and family to do the same.
Cardi B Shares Labor And Postpartum Photos After Welcoming 3rd Child With Offset
Cardi B shares delivery photo of third child with rapper Offset.
Cardi B is officially a mother of three, and she gave her fans a sneak peek of her giving birth to her new baby girl.
The Grammy-Award-winning rapper took to Instagram on Thursday to share a few moments of the recent delivery of her third child with rapper Offset. Photos showed Cardi smiling while holding her youngest daughter, whose name has yet to be announced.
“The prettiest lil thing 🌸🌸 9/7/24 💖💖💖,” she captioned the post.
Other photos showed Cardi joined by Offset and their two children, daughter Kulture, 6, and son Wave, 3. The “Bodak Yellow” kissed her newborn, nursed her, and looked down at her while cradling her to her chest. In one last photo, Cardi gave fans a glimpse of her pushing out the baby during the delivery portion of the birth.
The baby’s birth comes one month after Cardi announced her pregnancy and confirmed fan speculation.
“With every ending comes a new beginning! I am so grateful to have shared this season with you, you have brought me more love, more life and most of all renewed my power! Reminded me that I can have it all!” she wrote then. “You’ve reminded me that I never have to choose between life, love and my passion!”
She continued. “I love you so much and cannot wait for you to witness what you helped me accomplish, what you pushed me to do! It’s so much easier taking life’s twists, turns and test laying down, but you, your brother and your sister have shown me why it’s worth it to push through!”
The pregnancy announcement came hours after Cardi filed for divorce from Offset after seven years of marriage. In her filing, Cardi seeks primary custody of their two children and claims the pair “experienced irreconcilable differences that have caused the breakdown of the marriage” and that “there is no reasonable prospect of reconciliation.”
A rep for the “Money” rapper told Us Weekly that the split “has been a long time coming and is amicable.”
Cardi and Offset have parted ways multiple times since they started dating in early 2017. They first split ahead of welcoming their daughter Kulture before reuniting again in 2019. They broke up again in 2020 before welcoming their son Wave, and Cardi filed for divorce. However, she dismissed the proceedings by the end of the year.
In 2023, they parted ways again, with Cardi taking to social media to post an emotional video yelling and cussing about her husband.
The pair briefly came together following the split to conceive their third child but didn’t make it as a couple by the time of the baby’s birth.
“We think it through because we do love each other. It’s not even about love. We’re best friends,” Cardi told Rolling Stone in May 2024. “And it’s like, ‘OK. Well, there was a time that I didn’t have a best friend, or I didn’t have a support system.’ It’s not even about ‘How do you leave a partner?’ How do you stop talking to your best friend?”
Mother-Daughter Duo Make NFL History As Sports Agents
Samira Jackson and Edy Lawson-Jackson are two of 88 women out of 994 total NFL sports agents.
Mother-daughter duo Edy Lawson-Jackson and Samira Jackson have made history in the National Football League. According to the Baltimore Sun, under the Affiliated Sports Advisors (ASA), they are the first mother-daughter duo to work as sports agents.
Lawson-Jackson is a Baltimore native who grew up with sports aspirations and a passion for writing, language, and history. After graduating from Baltimore City College in 1986, she attended Howard University to pursue her dream of becoming a sports and entertainment lawyer.
The same year that she graduated with her juris doctor, she went on to take and pass the bar exam on the first try while simultaneously being pregnant with Samira.
Mark Jackson, her ex-husband, told the Baltimore Sun, “Listen, it was impressive. I don’t know how else to describe it. That’s a commitment. In fact, they had an ambulance because she could’ve delivered early… and they may have needed to take her to a hospital.”
After working in a solo practice called the Law Office of E.A. Lawson-Jackson, LLC, Lawson-Jackson earned an NFL Players Association contract adviser certification in November 2010.
She explained that she saw the opportunity to finally make her dreams a reality and seized it.
“When I saw an opportunity… I said, ‘I’m going to get into the sports field… I’ve been wanting to do something with sports all my life,’” Lawson-Jackson said.
“I love watching sports. I love playing sports. I’ve got my daughter involved in sports. I was like, ‘I’m going to do this. I’m going to go ahead and take the exam to be a certified contract adviser for the NFL.”
Now, she’s made history alongside her daughter, Samira. Lawson-Jackson and her daughter have the same passion for sports and work as certified NFL agents. Not only are they the first mother-daughter duo, but they are also two of 88 women out of 994 total certified NFL agents.
The NFLPA’s Director of Player Programs and Engagement, Chineze Nwagbo, praised Edy and Samira to the outlet. Nwagbo said, “Edy is a great example, which means Samira will be two times better. We always hear of generational wealth, but in this case, it’s a generational opportunity, so I’m not surprised that they’re the first ever.”
Kevin Hart Shuts Down Plant-Based Hart House Eateries
On Aug. 25, 2022, comedian and entrepreneur Kevin Hart opened Hart House, a 100% plant-based fast-food restaurant in Westchester, California. Now, a little more than two years later, the restaurant and three other locations have closed for good.
A social media post from the restaurant chain’s Instagram account, myharthouse, announced the sad, unexpected news on Sept. 11.
“Thank you. 💚
To our team, guests, and community, who helped make the change we all craved.
A Hartfelt goodbye for now as we start a new chapter.”
When the eatery first opened two years ago, it was touted as a place to get hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, chicken nuggets, salads, and sides, including french fries and tater tots, but as an alternative vegan meal as all food that was served was 100% plant-based. It also offered drinks and milkshakes. All Hart House food was free of preservatives, corn syrup, hormones, antibiotics, and artificial flavors and colors.
According to Eater Los Angeles, Hart House CEO Andy Hooper confirmed the closing in a written statement: “The response to the product has been incredible, and we thank our committed team, our customers, and our community partners for helping make the change we all craved, and for their unwavering support of Hart House.” No reason was given for closing the restaurant.
The other Hart House restaurants opened over the next year. After opening the Westchester location in August 2022, the second location opened in November in Monrovia. In May 2023, the Hollywood location debuted, and then, in June, the University Park location opened.
Hart acknowledged to the world in 2020 that he had adopted a mostly plant-based diet as part of his health and wellness journey. He then began working with Hooper to develop the concept and menu for what became the now-shuttered Hart House.
Mary’s Pizza Shack In California Files For Bankruptcy Protection
While the company restructures it will stay open and no restaurants will close
A California pizza chain has filed for bankruptcy protection but is not closing its doors. Mary’s Pizza Shack has been operating for 65 years but has alerted its customers that the company has filed for bankruptcy.
The company assures customers that all of the restaurants will remain open and will not close in the near future.
Mary’s Pizza Shack has mentioned that the filing is “the final step of a larger process” that was started years ago to “preserve the Mary’s Pizza Shack brand.” It announced in 2022 that it was changing its business model from a single corporation to smaller family-owned units. This was being done to improve guest experience by having third- and fourth-generation owners work with the next generation of crew members from Mary’s Pizza Shack.
After a restructuring plan in February 2023, Mary Fazio’s descendants (her granddaughters), the Mary of Mary’s Pizza Shack, will take over the brand.
“This year, we celebrated 65 years of being in business, and we’re not going anywhere! The legendary recipes you grew up on are staying the same, and gift cards will continue to be honored and sold at all locations.”
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Fazio opened the original Mary’s Pizza Shack in 1959. It was stationed in a small pink building in the Sonoma County community of Boyes Hot Springs. The restaurants, best known for its pizza, now offer meatballs, sandwiches, and salads.
Last year, the chain closed three restaurants in Dixon, Napa, and Novato, and the previous year, it closed two restaurants in Santa Rosa Sebastopol and two in Shasta County.
If customers have questions or want further information regarding the bankruptcy filing, an email can be sent to info@maryspizzashack.com, or the company can be reached via telephone at (415) 408-7533.
Eagles Quarterback Jalen Hurts Proposes To Girlfriend Bryonna Burrows, She Accepts
After Burrows was spotted with the engagement ring last week, the pair confirmed the news.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is one step closer to marriage. It was recently announced that he is engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Bryonna “Bry” Burrows.
According to Essence, the pair confirmed the news on Sept. 13 after Burrows was spotted with a ring at the last Eagles game in a social media post.
The media outlet was given exclusive photos of the occasion after the NFL player recently asked for her hand in marriage. The couple officially went public when they were seen together on the football field after the Eagles took the NFC Championship in January 2023.
In an interview with Essence last year, Hurts publicly ‘claimed‘ Burrows, and although they weren’t engaged, he stated that he was “spoken for.”
“I’m not married or anything like that. But I am spoken for.”
“I knew a long time ago. I mean, to this point in my life, that’s an irreplaceable feeling. I think that’s what allowed us to get to where we are now.”
It was big news among the media when Hurts brought Burrows as his date when he was honored at the Time100 Next Gala in New York City on Oct. 24. Hurts was listed as a rising leader in 2023 as part of the Time100 Next’s Phenoms list.
Burrows, who obtained an M.B.A. at her alma mater, the University of Alabama, works as an artificial intelligence partner for IBM.
After Hurts led the Eagles to the Super Bowl in 2023 (although the team lost to the Kansas City Chiefs), he signed a contract that, at the time, made him the NFL’s highest-paid player. He inked a $255M five-year contract extension, of which $179.3 million is guaranteed, which averages out to $51 million annually.
Consumer Reports Finds Dangerous Levels Of Lead In Some Brand’s Cinnamon Products
Consumer Reports listed 12 brands in their concerning review.
According to the nonprofit Consumer Reports, several cinnamon brands were found to have high traces of lead in some companies’ spice products.
As USA Today reports, Consumer Reports focuses on assessing the safety of goods through performance reports. A recent wave of testing results found that there are abnormally high levels of lead in cinnamon powder and multispice powders from 12 examined brands, including “Paras, EGN, Mimi’s Products, Bowl & Basket, Rani Brand, Zara Foods, Three Rivers, Yu Yee Brand, BaiLiFeng, Spicy King, Badia, and Deep.”
Consumer Reports stated that this list of brands had lead levels in their cinnamon products greater than 1 part per million ppm. According to the nonprofit, any higher than this cutoff indicates that the products should be recalled. Consumer Reports food safety experts advised people to “avoid those products” due to their study’s findings.
The director of food safety research and testing at Consumer Reports, James Rogers, explained that eating a quarter teaspoon of any of the mentioned brand’s cinnamon products would expose the consumer to more lead than an individual should be exposed to in an entire day.
Rogers continued, “If you have one of those products, we think you should throw it away. “Even small amounts of lead pose a risk because, over time, it can accumulate in the body and remain there for years, seriously harming health.”
As reported by the Mayo Clinic, frequently repeated lead exposure can cause “immune system suppression, reproductive issues, kidney damage, mood disorders, cognitive issues and hypertension in adults [and] in children, lead exposure can contribute to slower growth and development, behavioral issues, seizures, and other physical symptoms.”
Following the release of the Consumer Reports findings, Paras and EGN affirmed the nonprofit that they would be moving forward with removing their cinnamon powder products from stores and discontinuing their sale.
Deep, Yu Yee Brand, and Mimis rebutted by telling Consumer Reports that they “tested their product or relied on tests from their suppliers.”
They claimed, “No lead levels exceeding 1 part per million were found in our ground cinnamon.”
New Studies Show That Indigenous Gullah Geechee People’s Homeland Are At Risk Due To Climate Crisis
The Gullah Geechee community is made up of over 1 million people along the coast.
The Gullah Geechee community, which is spread between Jacksonville, North Carolina, and Jacksonville, Florida, is at risk of losing its ancestral homeland due to water pollution, increased storm surge, and disruptive climate impacts.
The community, one of the oldest Black-indigenous groups in the United States, has over one million people along the 400-mile stretch of coast. The group has occupied the Gullah Geechee corridor since its enslaved West African ancestors arrived there nearly 400 years ago. The Gullah Geechee people have since preserved their unique African traditions, but they are now under threat due to the climate crisis.
In 2019, the elected Chieftess of the Gullah Geechee Nation, Queen Quet, told Congress, “We knew Gullah Geechee culture would not continue to thrive or survive if we get displaced from the Sea Islands.”
“It’s a very unique community that has its dialect and maintained a certain type of connection to nature, the land, and the water.” The resiliency manager at the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor and descendent of the ancestral Gullah Geechee lineage, Erica Xavier-Beauvior, added, “There is a lot of spirituality that is embedded into this community that isn’t found in mainstream ways of society.”
Those living along the Gullah Geechee corridor have faced increasingly dangerous damage from hurricanes and tropical storms. Some have already been displaced due to irreplaceable infrastructure damage following Hurricane Florence in Wilmington, North Carolina. Upwards of 2,000 residents have been forced to relocate.
According to NASA, it will only get worse. As the climate crisis progresses, sea levels are rising much faster in the Southeast part of the United States. The Gullah Geechee people living along the corridor of their ancestral homeland are faced with rallying for help with restoration or committing to relocating from their sacred homeland.
“Our stance is, you are a sovereign being that knows you belong to the coastline and have the option to leave if you wish,” Xavier-Beauvior said.
“I have seen buyouts and collaborations with counties, but when it comes to accepting these offers, we also need to think about what information is provided so that people know what they are giving up.”
So far, aid has begun to come from both public and governmental support through funding and policy changes. Most recently, the Biden administration has gathered up to $295 million to be available for eligible states to help the communities within them withstand the “damages of climate change.” The Georgia and Florida areas of the Gullah Geechee corridor were both eligible for $40 million and $20 million from the funding pool, respectively.
Nick Cannon To Host Honda Battle Of The Bands In Los Angeles At SoFi Stadium
Honda Battle of the Bands is coming to Los Angeles and Nick Cannon will serve as the celebrity host.
Nick Cannon will be tapping back into hisDrumline role as he gears up to host Honda Battle of the Bands (HBOB) in February 2025.
On Thursday, the America’s Got Talent host was announced as the master of ceremonies for next year’s premier showcase for historically Black college and university (HBCU) marching bands. The popular event will make history with its first-ever HBOB held on the West Coast on Feb. 1, 2025, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
“Get ready, LA, the bands are coming,” Cannon says in a 90-second commercial that teased his role as the celebrity host and the full lineup of schools participating in the HBCU competition.
The full lineup of HBCU bands set to perform includes:
Alabama A&M University – Marching Maroon and White Band
Alabama State University – Mighty Marching Hornets
Hampton University – The Marching Force
North Carolina A&T University – Blue and Gold Marching Machine
Southern University – Human Jukebox Marching Band
University of Arkansas Pine Bluff – Marching Musical Machine of the Mid-South
Along with hosting its first-ever West Coast showcase, HBOB revamped its approach to the band selection process. In July, the Honda Legacy Council selected North Carolina A&T University and Southern University to perform at HBOB 2025.
Each university then challenged another eligible HBCU marching band to perform at the upcoming live event. North Carolina A&T University challenged Alabama A&M University, while Southern University challenged Alabama State University.
On July 16, Honda launched a public voting phase, inviting fans from 52 schools to help select the final two bands for the lineup. Hampton University and the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff were chosen to battle it out as the community selected the live show.
“Oh, and you know I’m getting in on the action,” Cannon says in the ad.
The actor and entrepreneur has appeared in many films and television shows throughout his career, but among his most notable roles is that of Drumline lead Devon Miles, the talented street drummer from Harlem who enrolls in a Southern university, expecting to lead its marching band’s drumline to victory. The classic 2002 film heightened public awareness and excitement about the innovation and creativity that define HBCU marching band and dance troupe culture.
Cannon expressed his excitement about hosting the first-ever HBOB on the West Coast.
“Honda Battle of the Bands has been a cherished celebration for fans of HBCU marching bands, resonating deeply with generations who hold Black culture close to their hearts,” the Wild ‘n Out star said.
“Hosting HBOB’s first-ever West Coast show is an honor. We’re going to create unforgettable moments together.”
As part of HBOB, Honda will provide an institutional grant to each of the six schools participating to support their music education programs and cover the bands’ travel expenses for the Invitational Showcase in Los Angeles. Aiming to support bands for HBOB, Honda is paying it forward by issuing an HBOB Legacy Grant to the 52 bands that participated in the voting process.
“Honda is thrilled to continue our longstanding support of the HBCU community through HBOB, which is a core part of our Drive the Legacy initiative,” said Jasmine Cockfield, the project leader for Honda Battle of the Bands at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “We congratulate each of this year’s participating HBCU bands and are confident that they will put on a memorable show for HBOB fans that promises to be a showcase for the ages.”
Former University Of South Carolina Employee Accused Of Committing ‘Serious’ Financial Violations
South Carolina informed Taylor Edwards, the former director of football player personnel of 'serious violations of NCAA legislation.'
A former University of South Carolina employee is accused of committing “serious violations” of NCAA legislation before leaving the institution in July. According to The State, Taylor Edwards, the former Director of Football Player Personnel for the South Carolina Gamecocks, left the school barely six months after signing an extension and receiving a raise.
He signed the contract in January and his annual pay was raised to $300,000.
According to emails obtained by The State, former South Carolina Football Director of Player Personnel Taylor Edwards committed “serious” NCAA violations. https://t.co/UaTzrU3bLP
Based on a letter obtained by the media outlet, South Carolina Athletics Human Resources Manager Christina Sergi allegedly sent the former director an email with the subject line stating: “Meeting with the Athletics Director.”
The email said, “As previously discussed, the athletics department has determined that you have committed serious violations of NCAA legislation and your contractual obligations to the University sufficient to justify the termination.”
Publicly, the school did not release any details about Edwards’ exit.
Edwards was employed by the university from Jan. 25, 2021, to July 3, 2024, overseeing the Gamecocks’ recruiting operation. He also served as a liaison between the school’s football program and South Carolina’s NIL collective, The Garnet Trust. Gamecock head coach Shane Beamer brought Edwards on when he was hired by the school in 2021.
On July 3, Edwards responded to Sergi’s email and included Andy Humes, USC’s senior associate athletics director for compliance services, stating, “As per your conversation with Gregg Clifton (Edwards’ attorney) earlier this morning, please be advised that I will be resigning my position with the University of South Carolina, effective August 1, 2024.”
“If you have any questions,” he added, “please don’t hesitate to contact Gregg or me at your convenience.”
Although no violations were stated in the email, USC spokesman Charles Bloom told The State that the University of South Carolina has not been served with a notice of allegations from the NCAA.
