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NASA has found potential signs of life on Mars, the agency said last Wednesday. Although additional scientific study is needed in order to verify the theory, NASA has said the discovery could be the clearest sign of life it has ever found.

What did NASA find on Mars?

The agency sent out its Perseverance rover to explore the site of an ancient lake on Mars in February 2021. It sought out rocks created or modified by water in the past on the Neretva Vallis river valley, which flowed into Jezero Crater over three billion years ago on Mars. In July 2024, the rover collected a sample called Sapphire Canyon, which it retrieved from drilling into a rock.

Scientists saw leopard spots on the sample after it was collected. After thorough analysis, they published a peer-reviewed paper in Nature about the discovery.

“After a year of review, they have come back and they said, listen, we can’t find another explanation,” acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy said, according to CNN. “So this very well could be the clearest sign of life that we’ve ever found on Mars, which is incredibly exciting.”

More studies are needed to confirm there’s life on Mars 

Although the sample is still located on Mars, scientists said it could reveal whether microscopic life existed on the planet.

“Hopefully, eventually this will be followed by the delivery of these samples back to Earth where they could be studied in terrestrial labs,” Lindsay Hays, the senior scientist for Mars Exploration at NASA’s Planetary Science Division, said.

The leopard spots seen on the sample require analysis in order to find out if they formed because of microbial life or through geochemical processes that don’t require life.

“It’s not life itself,” Nicky Fox, the associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate said, according to Earth.

“We cannot claim this is more than a potential biosignature,” lead author of the study Joel A. Hurowitz added.

The scientific process requires a strict set of tests and guidelines in order to confirm a discovery. Skepticism and further studies are needed in order to reach a final verdict. Still, NASA choosing to share the potential discovery is groundbreaking.

“Today, we are really showing you how we are kind of one step closer to answering humanity’s, one of their most profound questions, and that is, are we truly alone in the universe?” Nicky Fox, the associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, said, per CNN.

“This very well could be the clearest sign of life that we’ve ever found on Mars,” acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy added.

Over 70 years after Emmett Till was brutally murdered in Mississippi, one of his relatives is seeking to represent the state in the U.S. Senate.

Priscilla Williams-Till recently launched her campaign to unseat Cindy Hyde-Smith, citing the Republican senator’s “public hanging” joke as a reason for her candidacy.

Williams-Till continues social justice campaign with Senate run

Williams-Till, a distant cousin of the slain teen, is the founder of the Emmett Till Justice for Families Foundation, which pushes for investigation of potential hate crime cold cases and operates in affiliation with the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation. She announced her candidacy to represent Mississippi in the Senate in next year’s election, framing her campaign in terms of justice.

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She said in announcing her Senate race, “I am running for United States Senator to help shape and enact laws that promote social justice and civil rights protections at a National level in Mississippi,” adding, she wants “to ensure that the perspectives and needs of our communities are represented with the federal government contributing to a more inclusive political dialogue.”

If she wins, Williams-Till would be the first Black senator from Mississippi since the Reconstruction era, and she would represent the state where her cousin was murdered, a crime for which no one was legally punished.

Seeking to unseat a controversial Republican in a conservative state

If Williams-Till wins the Democratic nomination, she would run in the general election against Republican incumbent Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, who has represented the state since 2018. That year, Hyde-Smith made a controversial statement at a campaign event, joking about a cattle rancher who supports her that “If he invited me to a public hanging, I’d be on the front row.”

During the period 1877-1950, Mississippi had more documented lynchings than any other state, with over 600 people murdered in mob violence.

Williams-Till cites Hyde-Smith’s joke, for which the senator later apologized, as one of the motivations for running for the seat.

Running as a Democrat in a heavily red state, Williams-Till has expressed a mixture of liberal and conservative policy positions. She supports investigating police misconduct, expanding Medicaid in Mississippi and supporting abortion rights. Williams-Till says she opposes transgender athletes participating in women’s sports. In terms of foreign policy, she supports the U.S. sending weapons to both Israel and Ukraine amid the ongoing conflicts involving the countries.

Seventy years after Emmett Till’s killing sparked a movement

Williams-Till’s candidacy comes just after the 70th anniversary of the murder of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old Black teenager from Chicago who was kidnapped and brutally killed by two white men, Roy Bryant, Jr. and J.W. Milam, while visiting relatives in Mississippi. The men brutalized and killed Till based on a false accusation that he had harassed the wife of one of the men in a store. An all-white jury acquitted the two men who later admitted to killing Till in a magazine interview.

Carolyn Bryant Donham, who made the false accusation that she later recanted, was never charged with a crime in connection with Till’s death.

The U.S. National Archives recently published thousands of pages of documents related to the Till case, which helped spark the Civil Rights Movement and ultimately led to the passage of federal anti-lynching legislation.

Now, a relative of Till who has pursued social justice in his name is seeking to head to Washington, D.C., to represent Mississippi and promote justice nationwide. Mississippi voters will elect their senator in the primary election on March 10, 2026, with the general election scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026.

President Donald Trump drew attention for a noticeably drooping right side of his face at a 9/11 commemoration at the Pentagon on Thursday, fueling public and social media speculation about his health.

Trump’s appearance at the event held on the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and the Twin Towers in New York City and Pennsylvania, according to the FBI’s website about the years-long investigation, reignited concerns about his health after the White House revealed his chronic venous insufficiency diagnosis in July, which can cause swollen legs, ankles and other symptoms.

In recent months, he has had bruised hands, which he and his team attributed to “too much hand-shaking.” A four-day disappearance from public view further fueled speculation about his well-being, according to Blavity.

Did Trump have a stroke?

Ben Meiselas, host of The MeidasTouch Podcast, spoke out in a recent episode on Thursday about Trump’s facial appearance, noting that something seemed off with him, according to The Daily Beast.

“Trump looked absolutely awful during his attendance at a 9/11 ceremony at the Pentagon,” Meiselas said. “His face was very droopy, he seemed addled, like he didn’t even know where he was.”

Trump, 79, will be the oldest-serving president in U.S. history after his second term ends in 2029, at which point he will be 82 years old. Some have attributed his recent health conditions to old age, and others have shared their thoughts on social media platforms, stating that Trump may have had a stroke, explaining why the right side of his face had drooped.

Writer, comedian and podcaster Jeremy Kaplowitz took to X, formerly Twitter, and shared his thoughts on Trump’s health.

“so this guy like 100% had a stroke right,” he wrote in a Thursday post with photos of the president.

Professor, policy consultant and investigative journalist Adam Cochran shared similar sentiments.

“At what point, are we going to clue in to the President’s stroke? He is in ailing health, and while duly paying respects to those who lost their lives on 9/11 is barely able to control the right side of his face,” he said alongside video footage from the event.

1/16At what point, are we going to clue in to the President’s stroke?He is in ailing health, and while duly paying respects to those who lost their lives on 9/11 is barely able to control the right side of his face. https://t.co/gncJQWFY1e pic.twitter.com/9ePYwJAZF6— Adam Cochran (adamscochran.eth) (@adamscochran) September 11, 2025

With a photo from the event and the president’s video condemning the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, another user commented, “This trump is not the same as in the video yesterday. Is this why they had to use AI? Did trump have a stroke? Is that why he went missing for seven days?”

This trump is not the same as in the video yesterday. Is this why they had to use AI? Did trump have a stroke? Is that why he went missing for seven days? pic.twitter.com/veY7tfHwp2— Tim (@trouble_man90) September 11, 2025

Someone else shared, “People are saying that the video Trump posted yesterday looked like AI. After seeing his photos from a live event today, his face shows clear, evident signs of a stroke; signs that others confirmed to be covered up with AI in his video.”

People are saying that the video Trump posted yesterday looked like AI. After seeing his photos from a live event today, his face shows clear, evident signs of a stroke; signs that others confirmed to be covered up with AI in his video. pic.twitter.com/aS2OyYNqlc— Chance Valentine (@Team_Chance) September 11, 2025

Despite social media’s speculation about his health, neither the White House nor Trump has offered any confirmation of a stroke.

Spotify has announced the launch of a new feature on Wednesday titled Lossless. The music streaming platform is rolling out its very first high-quality audio feature. Exclusively available to Spotify Premium users, it will give listeners the full experience of tracks as they were recorded in the studio. Here’s everything you need to know.

What is Spotify’s Lossless?

The feature allows Spotify listeners to stream music up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC. It is a form of compressed files that retains all of the original audio information as it was originally recorded. In other words, it is the highest quality audio available. When music gets streamed or shared online, it is often compressed and has removed some of the original audio information.

“Lossless refers to when there’s no change between what you deliver to a streaming service and what the listener hears,” Spotify Studios producer and engineer Jack Mason said on Instagram. “Without lossless, track files might get compressed in the encoding process, which might not lend to the best quality.”

The company noted that the feature was high in demand and that it would ensure music listeners have an even better experience.

“The wait is finally over; we’re so excited lossless sound is rolling out to Premium subscribers,” Spotify VP of Subscriptions Gustav Gyllenhammar said in a news release. “We’ve taken time to build this feature in a way that prioritizes quality, ease of use, and clarity at every step, so you always know what’s happening under the hood. With Lossless, our premium users will now have an even better listening experience.”

Other music streaming services also offer lossless audio. Apple Music launched the feature in 2021 and Amazon Music added it in 2019, according to USA Today. It is also only available to paid subscribers on these platforms.

How do you access Lossless on Spotify?

Lossless is being exclusively rolled out to Spotify Premium users. They will receive a notification once the feature is available to them. The company has started making the feature accessible to subscribers in Australia, Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, the U.S. and the UK. Starting in October, it will be available in over 50 markets.

Users will have to manually turn on the feature on each device in order to access it. First, tap your profile icon in the top left. Second, go to Settings & Privacy, then click on Media Quality. Lastly, select where you want to enable lossless audio: Wi-Fi, cellular or downloads. The Lossless indicator will appear in the Now Playing view or bar and via the Connect Picker.

Spotify is allowing users to choose the level of Lossless music quality between low, normal, high and very high. The reason for it is that Lossless music uses significantly more data than classic compressed audio files. Lossless users will be able to see how much data each quality level requires.

The streamer also recommends listening to lossless music via Wi-Fi using wired headphones or with speakers on a non-Bluetooth connection, such as Spotify Connect. It also noted that music may take a moment to play because files are so heavy.

“Currently, Bluetooth doesn’t provide enough bandwidth to transmit lossless audio, so the signal has to be compressed before being sent,” the company said. “Lossless gives listeners every detail of the music, which means the audio files can be larger. As users enable lossless on their devices, it may take a moment for the track to play. But once it’s cached and loaded, you are ready to listen.”

The feature is available on mobile, desktop and tablet, as well as on devices that support Spotify Connect such as Sony, Bose, Samsung and Sennheiser. Support for devices such as Sonos and Amazon will be available in October.

If you’ve submitted a claim to Meta’s privacy settlement, you may have received an email update regarding an upcoming payment. Although the settlement was given approval in 2023, appeals delayed payments and were resolved in May 2025. Here’s everything you need to know about receiving a settlement payment.

Settlement payments have started being rolled out

“Pursuant to the Court’s Order dated August 27, 2025, the distribution of settlement benefits has commenced and will continue for approximately 10 weeks. We thank you in advance for your patience,” Angeion, the company handling the settlement, wrote in an online statement.

Individuals with approved claims will receive settlement payments over the next 10 weeks. They will receive an email three or four days prior to the payment being issued.

“No additional information needs to be collected, no additional notice needs to be given, no new payment method needs to be selected, and there is no need to wait for, or chase, a response,” the filing said, according to SFGate.

If you want to check the status of your claim, request a name or address change, or for any other questions, you may contact the Settlement Administrator at [email protected] and make sure to include your Claim ID.

How much money will each person receive?

Although Meta settled for $725 million, administrative and legal costs will be deducted from this sum. This includes around $180.5 million being paid to the attorneys on the case, as well as almost $4 million in reimbursements for their expenses. The eight lead plaintiffs will receive $120,000.

The leftover amount, which is referred to as the “net settlement fund” amounts to over $540 million. It will be distributed to claimants depending on how long they used Facebook between 2007 and 2022. Over 19 million people submitted valid claims, according to a court filing. In 2023, a plaintiff lawyer estimated that 17 million claimants would receive around $30. Payments will therefore most likely range between $25 to $30.

“To the extent that it’s maybe a little lower than we might have expected, it’s because such an incredibly large number of people made claims in this case, right?” Vince Chhabria, the San Francisco judge who presided over the case, said in 2023. “I was kind of blown away by how many people made claims.”

The case was brought forward after it was revealed in 2018 that Cambridge Analytica paid a Facebook app developer to access the personal data of 87 million users of the social media platform. Cambridge Analytica is a firm tied to former Donald Trump political strategist Steve Bannon and has supported the president’s 2016 campaign. The data was used to target US voters in the election, according to KARE 11.

Anyone in the U.S. with a Facebook account between May 24, 2007 and Dec. 22, 2022 was able to file a claim. The deadline closed in Aug. 2023. The settlement was then given final approval at the end of that year but two appeals were filed. Both appeals, although they delayed payments, were resolved in May 2025.

Smokey Bones, the Orlando-based barbecue chain known for its house-smoked meats, handcrafted cocktails and specialty drinks, is under new leadership and closing more than a dozen underperforming locations.

Twin Hospitality Group Inc., the parent company of Smokey Bones, announced the news in early September.

The company also introduced the chain’s new president, Ken Brendemihl, who will assume the leadership role and brings more than 25 years of experience overseeing other popular restaurant chains nationwide, according to a news release.

“I look forward to hitting the ground running as we embark on this transitional period that will set the foundation for Smokey Bones’ long-term success,” Brendemihl said.

More than 15 locations have closed or are expected to close this year

CEO Kim Boerema praised the “beloved brand” and said that since joining Twin Hospitality, the company has launched a “full spending review” of both brands to eliminate strategies that are no longer working and keep them moving in the right direction.

“I have also focused on reviewing the Smokey Bones portfolio, closing underperforming units, identifying strong candidates for conversion, and supporting profitable locations that will remain Smokey Bones. Ken will step in immediately bringing his deep operational expertise and proven track record to lead Smokey Bones into its next chapter,” Boerema said.

Twin Hospitality had already identified 15 underperforming locations across the U.S., with 10 stores already closed and the remaining five expected to shutter before the end of the fiscal third quarter, the company said.

Two converted Twin Peaks locations have already outperformed Smokey Bones

Closing underperforming locations and trimming $1.5 million in overhead is expected to boost EBITDA, while the remaining 26 Smokey Bones restaurants are expected to remain profitable. The company plans to franchise select locations, creating a balanced mix of corporate and franchise operations that will support future growth and expansion.

FAT Brands Inc., which operates other brands such as Fatburger, Johnny Rockets, Great American Cookies, Fazoli’s, and Twin Peaks, acquired Smokey Bones in 2023. In January, Smokey Bones and Twin Peaks merged under the Twin Hospitality umbrella.

The company is converting 19 underperforming locations into Twin Peaks lodges, with two already generating $7.8 million, compared with $3.5 million as Smokey Bones. One restaurant in Lakeland, Florida, was converted in late 2024, according to National Restaurant News. A third conversion is expected to open later this year, the company said.

Ahead of the release of a new book by former Vice President Kamala Harris and her whirlwind 2024 presidential campaign, a newly published excerpt sees Harris criticizing the inner circle of former President Joe Biden. Her comments about Biden’s decision to run for reelection and her differences with Biden’s close advisors show Harris putting new distance between herself and the former president.

Harris second-guesses ‘reckless’ approach to Biden reelection decision

In a passage published by The Atlantic from the memoir 107 Days, Harris questions the process that led to Biden deciding to run for a second term in office. “‘It’s Joe and Jill’s decision.’ We all said that, like a mantra, as if we’d all been hypnotized,” Harris says of the approach taken by her and others surrounding President Biden as he decided to run for reelection. “Was it grace, or was it recklessness? In retrospect, I think it was recklessness,” Harris says now of the approach of leaving the decision to Biden and his wife, Jill. “The stakes were simply too high. This wasn’t a choice that should have been left to an individual’s ego, an individual’s ambition. It should have been more than a personal decision.” Harris also notes that, as the person who would have benefited if Biden decided not to run, she was not in a strong position to question his decision about reelection. “I knew it would come off as incredibly self-serving if I advised him not to run.”

Here’s Kamala Harris on the “recklessness” of those who didn’t try to convince Biden to drop out sooner…An exclusive excerpt from her forthcoming memoir, published this morning in The Atlantic: pic.twitter.com/hqE64oI0sM— Adrienne LaFrance (@AdrienneLaF) September 10, 2025

Harris calls out Biden staff for ‘adding fuel to negative narratives’ about her

Harris has more sharp criticism for White House staffers surrounding Biden, who she claims undermined her and refused to support her out of apparent concern for upstaging Biden, even before she became the presidential candidate. She points to a March 2024 speech in which she called for a ceasefire and increased humanitarian aid concerning the war in Gaza. Harris explains that her comments  “went viral, and the West Wing was displeased,” saying that she  “was castigated for, apparently, delivering it too well.” More generally, she complains. More generally, Harris says that she discovered that members of Biden’s staff were “adding fuel to negative narratives” by supporting negative stories about Harris and alleged dysfunction in the vice president’s office. And “when Fox News attacked me on everything from my laugh, to my tone of voice, to whom I’d dated in my 20s, or claimed I was a “DEI hire,” the White House rarely pushed back with my actual résumé,” Harris complains.

Harris voices her frustrations with the WH team. “When Fox News attacked me on everything from my laugh, to my tone of voice, to whom I’d dated in my 20s, or claimed I was a “DEI hire,” the White House rarely pushed back with my actual résumé:” pic.twitter.com/wUBf3B8jZc— Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) September 10, 2025

Harris denies Biden was mentally incapable of being president

Harris also addresses the issue of Biden’s mental competency, addressing critics who have accused Harris and others “of some big conspiracy at the White House to hide Joe Biden’s infirmity.” Harris says of Biden, “On his worst day, he was more deeply knowledgeable, more capable of exercising judgment, and far more compassionate than Donald Trump on his best,” Harris said of Biden, before acknowledging that “at 81, Joe got tired. That’s when his age showed in physical and verbal stumbles.” Harris seems to blame exhaustion rather than impairment. “I don’t think it’s any surprise that the debate debacle happened right after two back-to-back trips to Europe and a flight to the West Coast for a Hollywood fundraiser. I don’t believe it was incapacity,” Harris explains, adding that she would have spoken up publicly if she believed Biden was unfit to be president. “As loyal as I am to President Biden, I am more loyal to my country,” Harris declares.

Even as Harris defends Biden’s mental faculties, her criticisms of Biden’s “ego” and his staff’s actions stand in sharp contrast to the mutual support Harris and Biden showed for one another, publicly at least, in 2024. As Harris promotes her new book and contemplates her political future, she appears to be establishing distance between herself and the administration in which she served.

Cortlen Henry, a member of the YNW Collective rap group and alleged accomplice of rapper YNW Melly, accepted a plea deal Tuesday regarding the 2018 killings of two fellow group members.

What are the details of Cortlen Henry’s plea agreement?

Henry appeared in court on Tuesday afternoon and pleaded no contest to the accessory charges under the plea agreement with the Broward County State Attorney’s Office, NBC 6 reported.

He initially faced two first-degree murder charges, but prosecutors dismissed them. A judge found Henry guilty of the accessory charges and sentenced him to 10 years in prison with six years of probation, crediting him for time already served. If convicted at trial, Henry could have faced life in prison.

Henry, 26, was part of the YNW collective group alongside Melly, whose real name is Jamell Demons. The pair is accused of killing both childhood friends and fellow YNW Collective group members Christopher Thomas, Jr. (YNW Juvy) and Anthony Williams (YNW Sakchaser). Henry’s collective name is YNW Bortlen, per NBC 6 and Blavity.

Thomas Jr. and Williams’ murders explained

His attorney, Fred Haddad, said he will not be required to testify against Melly in his retrial as part of the negotiated plea agreement, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel. He will give a sworn statement in court to Broward Circuit Judge Martin Fein, explaining his role in the deaths of his two childhood friends and rap group members.

Thomas Jr. and Williams were reportedly gunned down in a Jeep driven by Henry during a late-night recording session at a Fort Lauderdale studio on Oct. 26, 2018. Surveillance video showed Henry in the driver’s seat, Melly sitting right behind him, and the two victims sitting in the front and rear sides of the passenger seat, per the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Hours later, Thomas Jr. and Williams were shot and transported to a local hospital, where they were later pronounced dead. According to medical experts, the bullet holes indicated that both men were gunned down by someone who was inside the car.

Prosecutors said Melly had targeted his longtime friends over a gang dispute and the financial issues they faced after Melly’s rising stardom. They also stated that Henry and Melly planned the shooting and made it look like Thomas Jr. and Williams were involved in a drive-by shooting.

Melly’s first trial, in 2023, ended in a mistrial, per Blavity. His retrial is scheduled for early 2027.

Blavity’s AFROTECH Conference is right around the corner, returning to Houston from Oct. 27-31 to gather Black innovators, entrepreneurs and more for five days of networking, discussions, performances and other programming. This year’s conference will include The Blavity Stage, presented by Blavity Media Group, that will be home to dynamic, sponsor-led sessions showcasing cutting-edge products, impactful campaigns and the thought leadership driving culture-forward innovation.

Read on for more about The Blavity Stage’s exciting programming.

‘Native Land Pod’ live recording

Native Land Pod hosts Angela Rye, Tiffany Cross, Andrew Gillum, and Bakari Sellers will join The Blavity stage for a live podcast recording, where they’ll discuss the current political landscape, wielding insights and unapologetic analysis, unraveling the threads that connect Black Americans and marginalized communities to a place they courageously call home.

The live recording will include live audience participation. 

Blavity Comedy Night, presented by Blavity House Party, featuring KevOnStage

On Friday, Oct. 30, All Access ticket holders will get the chance to attend Blavity Comedy Night presented by Blavity House Party, a special evening event that offers attendees the opportunity to unwind and enjoy premium entertainment and surprise moments. Featuring comedian KevOnStage & Friends, Blavity Comedy Night’s doors will open early for attendees to secure their seating and connect before the performance.

‘Roland Maritn Unfiltered’ Live from AFROTECH

AFROTECH and Roland Martin is bringing #RolandMartinUnfiltered to this year’s conference, broadcasting live through the week. Known for tackling news, politics, culture, and more, Martin will deliver sharp commentary and real-time reactions to the biggest moments happening on site. Attendees can catch tapings where Martin interviews key voices in tech, entrepreneurship and public policy—right from the center of Black innovation.

Blavity Creator Summit, in partnership with Dream Con

Blavity is teaming up with anime and gaming convention Dream Con on a one-day creator summit at AFROTECH. The experience will offer the next generation of Black digital entrepreneurs, creators, influencers and esports talent tactical insights, new connections, and support building pathways to sustainable success.

Blavity’s creator summit in partnership with Dream Con will be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center– General Assembly from 9:30 am – 1:30 pm CST on Oct. 31.

Creator Meet-Up

This year’s AFROTECH Conference will also give content creators, influencers, and digital storytellers casual networking spaces to connect, collaborate and share insights. Creators still building their social media presence will get the opportunity to meet peers and spark lucrative partnerships.

Blavity supports the creator economy via programs like The Blavity Creator Collective Fellowship, a paid quarterly program that helps diverse talent across Blavity’s brands: Blavity.com, Travel Noire, 21Ninety, and Home & Texture. The fellowship aims to elevate emerging creators by offering tools, mentorship, and a platform to showcase their creativity in a collaborative, supportive environment.

Blavity Market at the Expo Hall

AFROTECH attendees who want to support Black-owned businesses should look out for Blavity Marketplace at the AFROTECH 2025 Expo Hall. The Marketplace will include brands across industries from fashion and beauty to tech and lifestyle.

To purchase a booth to connect with attendees and grow your business, visit AFROTECH’s vendor booths page for more information.

Stay tuned for more updates on AFROTECH 2025 programming here.