SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — In response to the tragic killing of Sonya Massey by a sheriff’s deputy last summer, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed sweeping legislation on August 12, 2025, aimed at tightening police hiring standards across the state. Known as the “Sonya Massey Bill” (Senate Bill 1953), the law mandates unprecedented transparency in background checks for prospective…
Jussie Smollett may be attempting a Hollywood comeback, but a hard line from the attorney representing the brothers he allegedly hired to stage his 2019 attack suggests otherwise. Gloria Rodriguez, counsel for Abel and Ola Osundairo, bluntly asserts that unless Smollett is honest about what happened, his attempts at redemption will remain futile. Rodriguez told TMZ that Smollett’s career “will always hang…
Broward County, FL — Grammy-nominated artist Sean Kingston and his mother, Janice Eleanor Turner, have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme that authorities say involved luxury cars, high-end jewelry, and electronics valued at over $1 million. The sentencing comes after a high-profile case that began with a dramatic SWAT…
Jacksonville, Florida — Prosecutors announced they will take no further action against a Jacksonville Sheriff’s deputy, Officer D. Bowers, who was caught on a viral video punching and dragging William McNeil Jr., a Black college student, during a February traffic stop. What Happened McNeil, a 22-year-old biology major at Livingstone College, was pulled over on February…
Sad news has surfaced about R&B icon Gladys Knight, as her son, Shanga Hankerson, claims the 81-year-old singer is showing early signs of dementia. Hankerson is also accusing Knight’s husband, William McDowell, of elder abuse, alleging that he has been forcing her to perform despite her declining health. In an exclusive interview with The Shade Room,…
Los Angeles, CA — Hip-hop superstar Drake has intensified his legal battle with Universal Music Group (UMG), filing a motion demanding access to Kendrick Lamar’s recording contract details. The move is the latest twist in an ongoing dispute that has sent shockwaves through the music industry. According to court documents filed this week, Drake’s legal…
Dania Beach, Fla. — Spirit Airlines, the ultra-low-cost carrier known for its bright yellow planes and bare-bones fares, is facing its most turbulent period yet. Just five months after emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the airline has issued a stark warning that it may not survive the next 12 months. In a filing with the…
The 40th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards will return to Nashville, TN, for a historic celebration of gospel music on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. Known as “The Greatest Night in Gospel Music,” the event will be taped live and feature powerful performances, heartfelt tributes, and special honors. A Historic Hosting Duo Legendary…
Former daytime talk show host Wendy Williams has completed a court-ordered medical evaluation, with results reaffirming her diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia and aphasia — conditions first made public in 2023. The findings have led her court-appointed guardian, attorney Sabrina E. Morrissey, to petition for an extension of Williams’ guardianship through November 5, 2025, according to newly filed court documents obtained by PEOPLE. The…
Boston is rolling out the red carpet for its own R&B legends. Mayor Michelle Wu has officially declared August 30 “New Edition Day” in honor of the iconic group—Ronnie DeVoe, Bobby Brown, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Ralph Tresvant, and Johnny Gill—who first came together in Roxbury in 1978. The celebration will include a street renaming…
