Black History Month Spotlight: Inventor Bessie Blount Griffin
Bessie Blount Griffin was a remarkable physical therapist, inventor, and forensic scientist whose groundbreaking work transformed rehabilitative care for wounded soldiers and people with disabilities. Her innovations were driven by a simple yet powerful belief: everyone deserves dignity, independence, and control over their own lives. Born November 24, 1914, in Hickory (now Chesapeake), Virginia, Blount…
Christopher “Kid” Reid Opens Up About Life-Saving Heart Transplant
Christopher “Kid” Reid — the rapper, actor, and cultural icon best known as one half of the hip-hop duo Kid ’n Play — has publicly revealed that he underwent a heart transplant after a serious health crisis last year, sharing details of his journey for the first time on ABC’s Good Morning America. The 61-year-old…
Queens Toddler Dies After Being Beaten by Father; Community and Family Mourn Loss
A 2-year-old boy from Queens has died after weeks on life support following a brutal beating allegedly inflicted by his father, authorities and the child’s family confirmed Thursday. The boy, identified by loved ones as Maliek Williams, had been on a ventilator at NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center with catastrophic injuries before succumbing to his wounds…
Suspect Arrested After Shooting at Greenville Transit Bus Carrying Passengers
Greenville Police have arrested a suspect following a shooting that struck a City of Greenville Area Transit (GREAT) bus carrying nine passengers early Tuesday evening. According to a news release from the Greenville Police Department, officers responded around 5:30 p.m. to a ShotSpotter alert near the bus stop at the intersection of 5th Street and…
LaMonte McLemore, Singer and Founding Member of The 5th Dimension, Dies at 90
Las Vegas, NV — LaMonte McLemore, the celebrated singer, songwriter, photographer, and founding member of the legendary vocal group The 5th Dimension, has died at the age of 90. McLemore passed away Tuesday at his home in Las Vegas, surrounded by family, according to his representative Jeremy Westby. He died of natural causes following complications…
Gospel Legend & Global Worship Icon Ron Kenoly Has Passed Away at 81
The Christian community around the world is mourning the loss of Dr. Ron Kenoly, the pioneering gospel artist and worship leader whose music helped shape modern praise and worship for more than four decades. Kenoly passed away on February 3, 2026, at the age of 81, according to confirmation from his longtime music director Bruno…
Lil Jon’s Son, DJ Young Slade, Reported Missing in Georgia — Family, Police Seek Help
Authorities are searching for Nathan Smith, the 27-year-old son of Grammy-winning rapper Lil Jon, after he was reported missing Tuesday morning in Milton, Georgia. Known professionally as DJ Young Slade, Smith has not been seen since he left his home on foot early Tuesday without his cellphone, sparking concerns from family and law enforcement over his safety….
RZA Sued Over Alleged Double Sale of Rights to Wu-Tang Clan’s One-of-a-Kind Album ‘Once Upon a Time in Shaolin’
Wu-Tang Clan founder and hip-hop producer RZA (Robert Diggs) is facing a new lawsuit from former pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli, who alleges that RZA and co-producer Cilvaringz improperly sold the same copyright interests in the rare album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin to multiple parties. Shkreli, who originally purchased the single-copy album in 2015, filed a countersuit in federal court claiming…
Twitch Streamer Aspen Kartier Arrested on Animal Cruelty Charges; Puppy “Louie” in Protective Custody
Aspen Kartier, the 19-year-old rapper and popular Twitch streamer whose real name is Aspen Easterling, was arrested last weekend on an animal cruelty charge after a viral livestream video that appeared to show her mistreating her young dog sparked widespread outrage online. According to local law enforcement, Brookhaven police obtained an arrest and search warrant after receiving…
Honoring Sarah Boone: The Inventor of the Modern Ironing Board
Today, we celebrate the life and legacy of Sarah Boone, a pioneering African American inventor whose ingenuity transformed the way we care for our clothes. In 1892, Sarah Boone received U.S. Patent No. 473,563 for her improved design of the ironing board—an invention that made ironing easier and more effective, especially for sleeves and other…
