News

Ohio residents may have unclaimed funds to claim, as a new multi-billion-dollar plan will utilize this money for sports-related projects.

The Columbus Patch reported that Republican Gov. Mike DeWine signed a two-year state budget on Wednesday that allocates $600 million of that money toward building a new domed stadium for the Cleveland Browns in Brook Park.

The move is part of a $1.7 billion state plan, with $600 million designated for the new football stadium. Another $400 million will go toward other stadium projects, with $700 million reserved for unspecified purposes.

Although the plan calls for using unclaimed funds for these projects, it has faced opposition from state Democrats and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. The state can now assume ownership of over $4.8 million in unclaimed property, such as old paychecks and security deposits, if left unclaimed for 10 years — a shift from the previous policy.

What are unclaimed funds?

Unclaimed funds are inactive or forgotten money, such as old bank accounts, uncashed checks, or utility deposits, reported to the Ohio Department of Commerce after a period of inactivity, according to The Columbus Dispatch.

Ohio has worked to return unclaimed funds to rightful owners through several channels.

The average claim is $4,000, and in 2023, residents filed more than 43,000 claims, resulting in over $139 million returned.

How Ohio residents can check for missing money

The Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Unclaimed Funds provides a webpage that guides residents on how to check for unclaimed money, claim it, and submit the necessary forms to receive their funds.

This resource explains the entire process clearly to help people recover lost or forgotten money.

Ohio residents can search for unclaimed funds using online portals like missingmoney.com and the Ohio Department of Commerce’s website portal. They can also find out if the state has withheld any lost money by using their name and following the instructions on the site.

For those without internet access, the division also offers in-person assistance and kiosks for additional help.

What to do if you have unclaimed funds

You can claim unclaimed funds by completing a form and providing the required identification or documents. For claims over $3,000, notarization may be required.

Submit the forms online or by mail to the Ohio Department of Commerce. Processing typically takes up to 120 days, and incomplete claims may cause delays in the process. Check your claim status online.

To check the status of your claim, you can visit the division’s webpage: com.ohio.gov/divisions-and-programs/unclaimed-funds.

The Trump administration has been cracking down on immigration through the deployment of ICE officers across the country. These initiatives have been met with backlash from people living in the United States.

Several protests have been held to call out the mass deployment of ICE across the country, while others are reporting ICE sightings on social media. A developer saw a need to gather the latter’s information and launched an app titled ICEBlock.

What is the ICEBlock app?

ICEBlock is an app that allows users to report ICE activity in real time within a five-mile radius. All reports are anonymous. The app is free to download on the App Store. ICEBlock isn’t currently available on Androids, as “achieving this level of anonymity on Android is not feasible due to the inherent requirements of push notification services,” according to the app’s website.

The app currently counts over 70,000 users, according to The Independent. This number is growing rapidly as it reached the No. 1 spot on the App Store’s most downloaded list on Tuesday. ICEBlock is available in 14 languages; it has adopted the slogan, “See something, tap something.”

“In recent years, ICE has faced criticism for alleged civil rights abuses and failures to adhere to constitutional principles and due process, making it crucial for communities to stay informed about its operations,” the app’s website indicates. “Modeled after Waze but for ICE sightings, the app ensures user privacy by storing no personal data, making it impossible to trace reports back to individual users.”

The app’s developer added that he saw parallels between the current deportation of immigrants in the U.S. with those that occurred in Nazi Germany in the 1940s.

“When I saw what was happening in this country, I wanted to do something to fight back,” Joshua Aaron told CNN. “We’re literally watching history repeat itself.”

ICEBlock “does not condone violence of any kinds,” he also told The Independent. “We state this multiple times in the app, and I have reiterated this in every interview I have given. ICEBlock serves to ‘inform, not obstruct’ and its goal is to allow people to avoid potentially harmful encounters with ICE.”

The Trump administration is alleging the ICEBlock app condones violence

Several members of the Trump administration have criticized the app and have alleged it promotes violence against ICE officers.

“What they’re doing is actively encouraging people to avoid law enforcement activities, operations, and we’re going to actually go after them and prosecute them,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said, per The Independent. “What they’re doing is illegal.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt added that ICEBlock “sounds like this would be an incitement of further violence against our ICE officers.”

ICE acting director Todd M. Lyons called out coverage of the app’s popularity by CNN, saying that it is “reckless and irresponsible.”

“Advertising an app that basically paints a target on federal law enforcement officers’ backs is sickening,” he said. “Going on live television to announce an app that lets anyone zero in on their locations is like inviting violence against them with a national megaphone. CNN is willfully endangering the lives of officers who put their lives on the line every day and enabling dangerous criminal aliens to evade U.S. law. Is this simply reckless ‘journalism’ or overt activism?”

CNN published a response, which indicated reporting on the app is not illegal: “This is an app that is publicly available to any iPhone user who wants to download it,” the network wrote in a statement, according to The Independent. “There is nothing illegal about reporting the existence of this or any other app, nor does such reporting constitute promotion or other endorsement of the app by CNN.”

“We will not be intimidated,” Aaron said in response to the Trump administration’s claims. “As long as ICE agents have quotas, and this administration ignores people’s constitutional rights, we will continue fighting back.”

“No human is illegal,” he added.

The seven-week trial of disgraced music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs is nearing completion. While the jury reached a verdict Tuesday on four of five charges, they were initially deadlocked on the main racketeering charge. On the third day of deliberations, the panel acquitted him of racketeering and sex trafficking but found him guilty on lesser charges.

NBC News reported that the 12-person jury found Combs, 55, not guilty of one count of racketeering conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion but guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

At sentencing, the prostitution transportation charge carries up to 10 years per count. Prosecutors plan to seek 20 years in prison.

Will Combs remain in jail?

Combs’ defense lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, asked Judge Arun Subramanian to release Combs on bail after the jury delivered its verdict.

“He has been acquitted of very, very serious charges. He has been convicted of a far less serious charge,” Agnifilo said, according to USA Today.

Meanwhile, prosecutor Maurene Comey argued that Combs is abusive based on his behavior in his past relationships and stressed to Subramanian that he should remain behind bars.

“It is clear that the defendant does pose a danger,” Comey said.

The jury, comprised of eight men and four women, in the New York federal court had initially decided on the earlier charges on Tuesday. Subramanian told them to continue deliberating on the racketeering charge, the most serious count, which carried a possible life sentence if Combs was convicted, the BBC and USA Today reported. Subramanian said he would review whether to release Combs later Wednesday, and the judge will determine his sentence at a later date.

Here’s a breakdown of the racketeering charge and its role in Combs’ federal trial.

What is racketeering?

Racketeering conspiracy, under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, involves directing a criminal enterprise to commit offenses such as sex trafficking, kidnapping, and obstruction of justice, per the BBC.

Initially used to target mob bosses, the law has since been applied in high-profile cases, such as those involving R. Kelly and President Donald Trump.

To convict Combs, prosecutors would have proven that he used his inner circle to orchestrate crimes, including organizing coerced sexual encounters known as the “freak-offs.” Blavity reported that authorities had found drugs, baby oil and other evidence at his Los Angeles and Miami homes during the FBI raid.

When was Combs initially indicted, and what charges did he face?

Combs was arrested on Sept. 17 following a New York grand jury indictment on sex trafficking and racketeering charges. He is accused of running a criminal enterprise that “engaged or attempted to engage in activities including sex trafficking, forced labor, interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution, drug offenses, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice,” according to Blavity and The Associated Press.

The Harlem native has since denied the charges and maintained his innocence. Since the start of the trial, both sides have presented their cases to the jury, with testimonies from those who were closest to Combs, including his former girlfriend, Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura-Fine.

Last week, federal prosecutors dropped several significant charges against Combs, including kidnapping, arson and aiding in sex trafficking, before closing arguments. The Department of Justice said it chose to focus on charges it could reasonably prove, citing concerns about witness reliability and the extensive evidence required for a conviction.

Two people have died and two others were injured in a shooting that occurred at a picnic organized by a group of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. members in Atlanta. The incident happened after an individual showed up uninvited, according to law enforcement.

The group of fraternity members organized a picnic on Saturday at Coan Park in Atlanta. A man who was uninvited showed up at the event, which led to an argument. Per WSB-TV, the uninvited man had on a face mask.

What happened at a Kappa Alpha Psi picnic in Atlanta?

The dispute escalated, and at least two people pulled out guns and started shooting around 8 p.m., law enforcement told FOX 5 Atlanta.

“From what we know at this point, there was an uninvited guest that arrived to the location, which led to a confrontation which led to guns being produced and shots being fired between the two individuals,” Atlanta Police Department Homicide Commander Lt. Andrew Smith said.

One person, who was later identified as 33-year-old Anthony Pearson, died after being shot in the head. He was not involved in the altercation, according to police. Another person, 23-year-old Justin Minnitee, was shot several times and was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital in critical condition before dying of his injuries. He is believed to have started the dispute.

Two other people were injured and were admitted into the hospital. One is in stable condition and the other suffered a graze wound.  

Anthony Pearson’s family is grieving him

“He was going to make you feel like family. Everybody was family to him,” his sister told Fox 5 Atlanta. “His aura is unmatched, it’s always going to be unmatched.”

“When our dad passed, Anthony stepped up. He was the one,” she added. “That’s why I call him my little big brother—because let him tell it, he’s the oldest and we have to listen to him.”

Pearson decided to attend the fraternity picnic to celebrate brotherhood.

“It just was brotherhood—it was another extension of his family,” she said.

The Atlanta Police Department is currently investigating the incident and has asked the public to bring forward any helpful information.

Remy Ma was involved in an intense verbal exchange on June 24 at a courthouse in Queens, New York, with the daughter of the man her son, Jayson “Jace” Scott, is accused of murdering.

Vibe reported that the heated confrontation occurred on the steps of the courthouse, where 23-year-old Scott faces charges stemming from the 2021 death of 47-year-old Darius Guillebeaux. According to People magazine, Scott was arraigned in June 2024 on a seven-count indictment, including first and second-degree murder, reckless endangerment, and four counts of criminal possession of a weapon.

What happened between Jazmin Dior and Remy Ma?

The Shade Room posted a video Jazmin Dior shared of the dispute after she approached the Bronx rapper. In the clip, she accused Remy Ma of “trying to act tough” and told her to “go around the corner,” implying that she wanted to confront the 45-year-old physically without involving law enforcement.

After Dior called her out, the “Conceited” artist appeared unfazed by her comments and responded, “Come on, beat me up,” as she walked down the steps and set her belongings down before the video ended. While there is no confirmation that the pair fought physically, a separate clip showed Remy Ma being handcuffed and escorted by police officers. As of now, the reason for her detention remains unknown.

In a follow-up post, Dior candidly shared her side of the story, saying, “You would have thought I did something to you,” she said in the clip to Remy Ma, stating that the rapper did not appear to be remorseful over Scott’s actions. “Realistically, I can never speak to my father again. You can see your son.”

Dior also accused the MC of staring at her “with a whole attitude… as if her son was the victim. Like miss, where’s your remorse?” she asked.

Scott’s alleged role in the 2021 murder case, explained

Prosecutors allege that Scott was hired to kill Guillebeaux in Queens on June 7, 2021, and shot him multiple times, including after he had already fallen, AllHipHop and Blavity reported.

Richard Swygert, 22, who is accused of conspiring with Scott, faces similar charges and is already imprisoned for a separate 2021 killing.

After a probe into the incident, investigators arrested both Scott and Swygert on June 18, 2024, as they determined that they were both involved in the shooting based on surveillance and phone records.

Remy Ma has supported her son through his legal issues

Since then, Remy Ma has supported her son through his legal proceedings. At the time, a spokesperson for the rapper released a statement regarding the charges against Scott.

“As many have heard, Remy Ma’s son, Jayson Scott was recently arrested and very serious unfounded allegations have been made,” the statement read, per People. “Remy Ma wished to address this situation personally, but has been strongly advised by our office not to say anything publicly — as most people in this situation are, as the case is still active. To be clear, Jayson Scott is innocent and Remy Ma is committed to proving his innocence and fully supporting her child during this time.”

If convicted, Scott faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s larger-than-life Venetian wedding has rubbed many the wrong way, including Rosie O’Donnell.

The actor, comedian and TV personality host penned a poem-styled message condemning the A-listers who went to the days-long shindig, calling out Oprah Winfrey in particular for attendance.

O’Donnell said the wedding ‘turned my stomach’

On Monday, O’Donnell shared her disdain for the wedding, which she said made her sick to her stomach.

“It turned my stomach

Seeing all these billionaires

Gathering in the gross excess of it all

The show of it,” she wrote on Instagram alongside then-and-now images of Sánchez, appearing to criticize the newlywed bride’s plastic surgery.

She added, “Is Oprah friends with Jeff Besos

Really – how is that possible

He treats his employees with disdain

By any metric he is not a nice man

And his fake fem bot wife

Who looks like that

Why would he choose her

After the salt of the earth Mackenzie

Sold his soul

Is what it looks like from here

The devil is smiling

At all his conquests,” before inviting users to read the rest of her thoughts on the wedding in her Substack newsletter.

Oprah attended the glitzy bash with Gayle King, who joined Sánchez on Bezos’ Blue Origin company all-female space flight in April. As Blavity reported, Katy Perry, NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe and bioastronautics research scientist Amanda Nguyen were also a part of the history-making all-women crew.

Charlize Theron said wedding attendees ‘suck’

O’Donnell isn’t the only celebrity to criticize the billionaire wedding. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Charlize Theron called out the luxurious nuptials while hosting the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project Annual Block Party on Saturday.

“I think we might be the only people who did not get an invite to the Bezos wedding. But that’s OK because they suck and we’re cool,” she told attendees.

Like O’Donnell and Theron, many have been outraged by the Bezos’ wedding. Weeks before the event, Italian anti-tourist activists, members representing Greenpeace Italy and “Everyone hates Elon,” a U.K.-based group against the Tesla CEO, protested the affair. They argued that city authorities facilitating the enormous event, with celebrity attendees such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Bill Gates, Kendall, Kris and Kylie Jenner, Kim and Khloé Kardashian, Usher and many others, were ignoring locals’ needs in favor of the A-list bash, Reuters reported.

Social Security and Supplemental Security Income recipients will receive their benefits on a regular calendar schedule for July.

When will SSI recipients receive their benefits?

SSI recipients typically receive their benefits on the first of each month. However, as Blavity reported, beneficiaries received two payments in May, on the 1st and the 30th, because June’s payment was issued early due to the first falling on the weekend.

More than 7.4 million Americans receive SSI payments each month. For July and August, recipients can expect to receive them on Tuesday, July 1, and Friday, August 1, as expected, according to the SSA’s calendar schedule.

Here is the complete 2025 schedule for SSI benefits:

Tuesday, July 1, 2025 (Check for July 2025)

Friday, Aug. 1, 2025 (Check for August 2025)

Friday, Aug. 29, 2025 (Check for September 2025)

Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 (Check for October 2025)

Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 (Check for November 2025)

Monday, Dec. 1, 2025 (Check for December 2025)

Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025 (Check for January 2026)

July Social Security payment schedule

Social Security payments are issued to recipients on the first Wednesday of each month. Beneficiaries with a birthdate between the 1st and 10th will receive a payment on the second Wednesday of the month on July 9.

Those with a birthdate between the 11th and 20th will receive a payment on the third Wednesday, July 16.

For recipients with a birthdate after the 20th, payment will be made on the fourth Wednesday of the month, which is July 23, according to the Social Security Administration’s payment calendar.

Beneficiaries who began receiving Social Security benefits before May 1997 are paid on the 3rd of each month.

While Social Security and SSI benefits can vary from month to month due to calendar dates, specifically weekends and holidays, recipients can still expect to receive their benefits.

Abe Diaw, the music producer who accused Chris Brown of attacking him with a glass bottle of alcohol in a London club, is deciding not to move forward with suing him. Billboard reported that Brown received a break in the lawsuit. Diaw, who was seeking justice after allegedly being assaulted at London’s Tape Nightclub on Feb. 19, 2023, seems to have had a change of heart.

Why was the London assault lawsuit against Chris Brown dropped?

Diaw has decided to submit a petition to dismiss the case on the grounds of prejudice, which means the matter is considered permanently closed and cannot be refiled—this follows Brown’s not guilty plea in June.

The reason why Diaw made this decision is currently unknown. There are several possible reasons why this can occur, including a settlement being reached, a lawyer or party involved misbehaving or insufficient evidence. There have been no statements from Brown or Diaw’s legal counsel indicating that they settled outside of court.

Initially, Abe Diaw alleged that Chris Brown attacked him in London

As Blavity reported, Diaw claimed that Brown struck him multiple times with a bottle of tequila before kicking him while he was down on the ground. He went to the hospital to treat his injuries and left on crutches. This led to Brown’s arrest ahead of his Breezy Bowl, which celebrates the 20th anniversary of his self-titled debut album. The Grammy winner posted a hefty $6.75 million bail, but he was forced to surrender his passport and remain in the UK except for his scheduled tour dates.

Brown’s next court appearance in London is scheduled for July 11, with the full trial set to start on Oct. 26, 2026. He’s in the middle of his Breezy Bowl XX Tour with upcoming stops in Glasgow and Paris. After that, Brown is set to kick off the U.S. leg in Miami on July 30.

Ronnie Coleman, the legendary bodybuilder known for winning eight consecutive Mr. Olympia titles, earning him the nickname “The King,” has been hospitalized due to a “serious medical condition.” Coleman and his family have released several statements updating fans on his health.

Ronnie Coleman canceled a UK appearance because of a ‘medical emergency’

On Sunday, Coleman announced on social media that he had to forgo an event in the United Kingdom because of a “medical emergency.”

“Hey guys, I hate to break it to y’all, but I won’t be able to make it out to the UK this week like I planned,” he wrote in the caption of an Instagram post. “Unfortunately, I had a medical emergency and had to stick around here in the U.S. for treatment. But don’t worry… I’m in great hands, getting the best care, and I’m staying strong through it all. I’ll be back and better than ever, and I can’t wait to get out there and see you all real soon! Thanks for all the love and support and as always this ain’t nothin but a peanut.”

The 61-year-old did not specify his “medical emergency.” Coleman’s family shared a statement shortly thereafter, explaining that the bodybuilder is “currently receiving expert medical care and continues to show incredible strength and resilience.”

“At this time, we are not sharing additional details, as the focus remains on Ronnie’s recovery and well-being,” Coleman’s family said. “We kindly ask for your understanding and support in keeping the environment respectful and free of speculation.”

Coleman’s family also asked fans to rely on their official updates regarding Coleman’s condition and promised to remain “committed to keeping you informed as appropriate.”

Ronnie Coleman’s family announced he has an infection in his bloodstream

On Tuesday morning, Coleman’s family provided additional details about his condition in a follow-up statement shared on the bodybuilder’s social media. In it, they announced, “He is currently being treated for an infection in his bloodstream and remains under close, intensive medical supervision.”

“While his condition remains complex, there have been encouraging signs of progress, and his medical team is working around the clock to support his recovery,” they added.

Coleman’s family also thanked fans for continuing to support the bodybuilder and asked them to keep him in their “thoughts and prayers.”

A 2018 documentary, Ronnie Coleman: The King, chronicled Coleman’s life and career, and the toll of being the best bodybuilder in the world took on his body. According to Straight Talking Fitness, Coleman has undergone multiple surgeries and is unable to walk unassisted.

On June 12, he shared an Instagram post from the previous evening’s Season 2 premiere of Netflix’s Fubar, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, in Los Angeles, writing in part, “Last night was off the chain.”

There was an unexpected change that happened with the plea deal offered in the Idaho case involving Bryan Kohberger, who allegedly killed four college students.

According to the Idaho Statesman, the defendant recently accepted a plea agreement, presented late in the 30-month case, that excluded the death penalty. This came as a shock since he was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and a count of felony burglary in connection with the stabbings of four University of Idaho students in November 2022.

What led to Bryan Kohberger’s plea deal excluding the death penalty?

The families of the victims, students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin recently received a letter from Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson and Ashley Jennings, his senior deputy, explaining the final offer they extended to Kohberger. Ahead of the finalized plea deal, the relatives met with prosecutors to discuss the negotiation, which they said “weighed heavily” in the outcome.

“We cannot fathom the toll that this case has taken on your family,” the letter read, per the Idaho Statesman. “This resolution is our sincere attempt to seek justice for your family. This agreement ensures that the defendant will be convicted, will spend the rest of his life in prison, and will not be able to put you and the other families through the uncertainty of decades of post-conviction appeals.”

The defense team for Kohberger requested a plea deal that removed the death penalty, and in return, their client would plead guilty to all five charges, would never be able to file an appeal, and have a chance for parole. 

Additionally, the letter sent to the victims’ families stated Kohberger will appear at the Ada County Courthouse on Wednesday at 11 a.m. for a change of plea hearing.

How did the families of Bryan Kohberger’s victims react to the death penalty being taken off the table?

Goncalves’ parents were vocal about the outcome they hoped for from the justice system, which was the death penalty, given the extent of the crime. Following the letter they received, they published a post on their family Facebook profile expressing their disappointment in their local legal system.

“It’s true! We are beyond furious at the State of Idaho. They have failed us. Please give us some time. This was very unexpected,” they wrote. “We appreciate all your love and support. #heartbroken #kayleejade4ever.” 

However, the father of Madison, Ben Mogen, expressed a more accepting stance on the plea agreement. He shared with the Idaho Statesman that if skipping a lengthy trial means sparing him and his family from reliving their pain, he’s at peace with the decision.

Bryan Kohberger will likely receive his sentence in late July

It’s anticipated that Kohberger will plead guilty at the upcoming court hearing and will probably receive his sentence in late July, with a life prison term as the agreed-upon outcome.

As Blavity reported, Goncalves, Mogen and Kernodle were all roommates staying in an off-campus home. Chaplin, who lived 15 minutes away and attended Washington State University, was staying the night with his girlfriend, Kernodle, when the incident occurred on Nov. 13, 2022.

That morning, Kohberger intruded into the home and brutally assaulted them with a knife, which led to their deaths. Two additional female roommates who also lived in the house weren’t attacked. The Idaho State Police, the FBI, and the Latah County Sheriff’s Office joined forces with over 100 officials to find the murderer. After a seven-week-long search, the murderer was found and arrested at his parents’ home on Dec. 30, 2022.