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A Morehouse College graduate faces deportation after a routine traffic stop led to his arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, and the HBCU community has come to his aid.

Alex Maganda is being held at the Bluebonnet Detention Facility in Anson, Texas, following a traffic violation.

His arrest has sparked a wave of support from the HBCU community, with alums and influencers rallying to highlight his case. Maganda, who came to the U.S. from Mexico when he was 5, was a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. However, his DACA status recently expired. 

His girlfriend, Maszoliin Spencer, expressed concerns about his future to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, saying, “This man has been here since 2000. It’s 2025 and he’s 30 years old and has this huge community. He doesn’t know anyone [in Mexico]. He’s from there, but he doesn’t know anything. This country shaped him.”

Carrie Nguyen, Maganda’s attorney, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution her client has a good chance of being released on immigration bond.

“He graduated high school, had a very accomplished football career, went to Morehouse, has a good job, he pays his taxes, he has a U.S. citizen girlfriend,” Nguyen said, adding, “Did he make a mistake? Absolutely. But who hasn’t? He’s not a danger to the community and he’s not a flight risk because there are ways for him to obtain his residency down the road.”

HBCU students and alums come together

Capital B and Black Enterprise have reported on how social media has played a pivotal role in raising awareness about Maganda’s situation.

Fellow Morehouse alum JaMarcus Toomer and Spelman College graduate Lynae Vanee have used their platforms to highlight his case. 

Vanee shared, “I am reaching out with an urgent plea for assistance regarding our brother, friend, and classmate, Alex Maganda, a member of the Class of 2018, who has recently been detained by ICE.”

Toomer echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of solidarity within the HBCU community. The hashtag #FreeAlexMaganda has gained traction, with supporters calling for action to prevent his deportation. 

According to Spencer, Maganda has felt comforted by the outpouring of support from his HBCU peers. 

“I don’t feel alone, he doesn’t feel alone, his family doesn’t feel alone,” Spencer told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “If we can get him home that would be the biggest blessing.”

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. has announced its 2025 class of honorary members. The organization bestowed four women with its highest distinction: Olympian Gabby Thomas, former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, CNN anchor and analyst Laura Coates and model Beverly Johnson. Alpha Kappa Alpha chose to award the title to trailblazing women in their profession.

“Welcoming these phenomenal women into our Sisterhood is a powerful testament to our legacy of distinction,” International President & CEO Danette Anthony Reed said, according to Watch the Yard. “Their voices and vision will further strengthen our mission of impactful service to all mankind.”

Reed led the induction ceremony, which was held during Alpha Kappa Alpha’s 2025 Leadership Seminar in Anaheim, California.

“These trailblazers were honored for their excellence in leadership, groundbreaking achievements, and transformative service that uplift communities around the world,” the organization added in an Instagram post. “Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Honorary Membership is the highest recognition bestowed upon individuals who embody our core values: scholarship, service, and sisterhood.”

Gabby Thomas is the first Ivy League graduate to win an Olympic track & field medal

The athlete graduated from Harvard University with a degree in neurobiology and global health. She has used her platform to advocate for diversity in STEM fields and encourage young women to pursue careers in science and public health.

Thomas also competed in both the Olympics in Tokyo and Paris. Last summer, she won gold medals in the 200-meter as well as the 4×100-meter relay races.

Karine Jean-Pierre is the first Black person to be White House Press Secretary

Not only was Jean-Pierre the first Black person to hold the position of White House Press Secretary during the Biden administration, she also became the longest-serving woman and first openly LGBTQ+ person to serve in the role.

Jean-Pierre has held several communications roles during the Biden and Obama administrations. She previously worked as a political analyst for NBC and MSNBC.

Laura Coates is the first Black woman Chief Legal Analyst and Anchor at CNN

Coates became a recognizable face at CNN after joining the network in 2016, according to CAA. She also hosts her own show on SiriusXM, The Laura Coates Show, on which she interviews politicians. Coats previously worked as a federal prosecutor and a law professor.

Beverly Johnson is the first Black woman to be featured on the cover of American Vogue

Johnson was part of a milestone moment in American media when she became the first Black model to appear on the cover of US Vogue in August 1974. 

“It’s definitely an American story,” Johnson told the publication as it celebrated the issue’s 50th anniversary, “in the way that you have a chance at opportunities that you would never have anywhere else in the world…and how it’s possible to stumble upon success. I was a student and I wanted to be a lawyer [when I was scouted at 18]; this never was in my scope. It’s only in America where you can totally redesign your life unintentionally.”

Damola Adamolekun, the new CEO of Red Lobster, is continuing to improve the popular restaurant chain’s customer experience by listening to its customers.

Last week, Red Lobster posted a PSA featuring the executive on its TikTok and Instagram pages to address some recent feedback about the two new successful seafood boil menu options that were introduced in June.

Red Lobster CEO’s message for customers

The 36-year-old shared that he and his team have been paying attention to the suggestions patrons have left in the comment sections of its social media platforms.

“Hello Lobster Nation! Damola here. We dropped our new seafood boils, and you guys really, really, really showed up. We appreciate all the love and the excitement,” Adamolekun said at the start of the recording. “Also, we heard you in the comments. You want even more heat, even more flavors.” 

He went on to explain how they will accommodate the desires of those wanting more choices by offering different spice levels and new seasoning selections in addition to adding more meat.

“So, we’re turning it up. We’re offering original, spicy and extra spicy. Me? I’m going with the extra spicy,” he added. “And adding a new flavor as well: Old Bay and Parmesan. Want to add sausage? We’ve got you. You can do it all now at Red Lobster.”

Adamolekun ended the video by thanking his staff nationwide for incorporating the new updates to their locations’ menus swiftly.

“And finally, shout out to the teams, our servers, managers, chefs, and operators who were able to make all these changes happen in just one week,” he said. “Stay hungry, keep commenting, and we’ll keep cracking.”

Celebrities and Red Lobster fans recommended Adamolekun on his decision to listen to customers.

“Let’s support this young king ! @redlobster🔥,” Rick Ross wrote under the Instagram post. 

“That’s gotta be the FASTEST customer satisfaction turnaround in Corporate history!!! 🦞👏🔥,” someone else chimed in.

“That’s how you make improvements! Listen to the people! 🗣️🗣️🗣️👏🏾,” another person commented.

Red Lobster’s fresh start under new leadership

As Blavity reported, the restaurant’s Crab Fest returned in June with two options for those interested in trying the seafood boils: the Mariner’s Boil and the Sailor’s Boil. The first option comes stacked with a Maine lobster tail, snow crab legs and a full dozen shrimp, all served alongside corn and red potatoes. The latter offers a hearty combo of shrimp and smoked sausage, rounded out with the same classic sides.

Adamolekun assumed the role of CEO in August of 2024 after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on May 19, 2024, when Red Lobster Management LLC and several affiliates submitted their petitions in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Orlando, Florida. Under his leadership, the menu has undergone several changes, including the reintroduction of beloved Hush Puppies, the addition of multiple items under $20 and a $5 happy hour featuring select appetizers and drinks, among other updates. 

Elmo‘s account on X, formerly Twitter, was hacked Sunday and flooded with antisemitic slurs, profanity, and anti-Trump remarks, a shift from the positivity typically shared by the beloved Sesame Street character.

Business Insider reported that a spokesperson for Sesame Workshop, the parent company that produces Sesame Street, spoke out against the disturbing comments on the platform, calling them “disgusting.”

“Elmo’s X account was compromised by an unknown hacker who posted disgusting messages, including antisemitic and racist posts,” the spokesperson told the outlet.

“We are working to restore full control of the account,” they added.

Elmo, one of the breakout stars of the long-running children’s program, is known for his cheerful and likable personality and motivational messages, especially to the 650,000 followers who follow the character’s account on X. However, the comments on Sunday alarmed users on the platform.

In addition to the antisemitic and profane remarks, the account also called President Donald Trump a “puppet” to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and demanded to “RELEASE THE FILES,” referring to the Jeffrey Epstein files, per Business Insider.

The posts remained on the account for half an hour before being removed, according to Mediaite, which shared screenshots of the messages.

Elmo’s hacked account comes just a few days after Grok, X’s artificial intelligence chatbot, faced backlash for praising Hitler and sharing antisemitic comments and offensive remarks from its X account, Blavity reported.

The messages were in response to a Jewish user who shared a post about the deadly Texas floods that killed more than two dozen children and staff members at a Christian summer camp.

Grok then shared posts about Hitler being the ideal person to handle people like the user who celebrated the deaths of the children in the tragic incident.

The company then issued a statement condemning Grok’s controversial comments: “We are aware of recent posts made by Grok and are actively working to remove the inappropriate posts,” the chatbot’s account posted later Tuesday. “Since being made aware of the content, xAI has taken action to ban hate speech before Grok posts on X.”

The price of stamps is going up. The United States Postal Service (USPS) announced the latest increase on Sunday, saying the price for first-class “forever” stamps has risen from 73 cents to 78 cents. Per The Hill, the Forever stamp includes new Spongebob Squarepants designs, as well as collections honoring the USPS’s 250th anniversary and former first lady Barbara Bush.

“The Postal Service’s Market Dominant and Competitive Services price increases take effect this weekend,” USPS Senior Public Relations Representative Marti Johnson said in a statement, per USA Today.

Johnson said the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), which oversees the postal service, approved the increase after revealing in May that prices would go up.

“The Postal Service continues to take a rational and realistic approach to pricing that includes prudent implementation of new and existing pricing authorities, with letter prices still significantly lower than other comparable foreign posts,” Johnson said in a previous statement to USA Today.

Why is the price of stamps going up?

The USPS released a statement in April to explain why prices are going up. The postal service said at that time that an increase is “needed to achieve the financial stability sought by the organization’s Delivering for America 10-year plan.” The USPS added that prices still “remain among the most affordable in the world.”

What are some USPS products that will cost more?

The USPS is increasing the price of several other products. That includes domestic postcards, which are increasing from 56 cents to 62 cents. Letters are also increasing from 69 cents to 74 cents, while the price of international postcards is going from $1.65 to $1.70.

The latest increase from USPS comes after the price of Forever Stamps rose from 68 cents to 73 cents in 2024. Last year’s price change was the largest increase since 2019, The Hill reported. The USPS expects prices to continue increasing in the coming years.

A San Francisco judge has ruled that CNN alum Don Lemon can move forward with his lawsuit against Elon Musk. According to The Grio, Superior Court Judge Harold Kahn concluded that Lemon has reasonable evidence to prove his breach of contract lawsuit.

“The ruling means Don can hold X and Musk accountable in open court,” Lemon’s attorney, Carney Shegerian, told Deadline. “Musk is subject to the legal process, just like everyone else, and that’s important. There’s no question about Musk’s motives and liability, as documented in his own texts and on X for millions to see.”

Why is Don Lemon suing Elon Musk?

Lemon filed his lawsuit against Musk due to a dispute over the show he launched on X in 2024. In his lawsuit, Lemon said he was forced to terminate his show on Musk’s social media platform after the pair sat down for an intense interview when they taped the first episode. Per the complaint, Musk sent a text to Lemon’s agent after canceling the show, saying “contract is canceled.”

The lawsuit states that Brett Weitz, the former head of content, talent, and brand sales for X, told Lemon that the platform is “not going to pay him or follow through with the promises and representations made to him because there was no signed agreement.” However, Musk previously told Lemon “that there would be no need for a formal written agreement or to ‘fill out paperwork,’” the complaint states.

Lemon said X offered him a one-year deal for the show, requiring him to provide “exclusive rights to specific video content for a 24-hour period before it could be dispersed to other platforms.” Per the complaint, X promised to pay Lemon $1.5 million, along with other incentives.

Lemon said he was rushed into the deal and told that he would have to attend the CES conference in January or the offer would be canceled. With his “knowledge of Yaccarino’s reputation as a successful media executive,” Lemon agreed to enter into the exclusive partnership deal, the lawsuit states, per Deadline.

What did the judge determine in the latest ruling on Don Lemon’s lawsuit against Elon Musk?

The San Francisco court dismissed Lemon’s accusations of negligent misrepresentation, defamation, retaliation, negligence, and harassment. However, Lemon is allowed to move forward with his claims of fraud, misappropriation of name and likeness, and breach of implied contract.

According to Deadline, Musk hoped the case would move to a Texas federal court. However, Musk’s request was denied.

Paris Jackson, the daughter of Michael Jackson, is accusing her father’s estate of mismanagement of funds. Court documents obtained by People reveal that Paris is concerned with payments that were awarded to three law firms in 2018.

The documents state that the 27-year-old objects to granting “premium payments” for unrecorded attorney time. Paris’ complaint specified a six-month period in 2018, saying this is when the co-executors of her father’s estate requested payments of $625,000 for the law firms for “uncaptured time.”

The document states that two of the firms had already received their payments, making this a violation of the “Court’s order allowing only partial payment of attorneys’ fees until Court approval is obtained.”

“Even worse, these payments appear, at least in part, to consist of lavish gratuities bestowed upon already well-compensated counsel,” the complaint adds, per Hello.

What did Paris Jackson say about the alleged mismanaged funds of her father’s estate?

In her objection, Paris raised concerns about a lack of transparency and oversight, specifically objecting to the payments being made without proper court approval. She argued that the attorney fees were not only premature but potentially excessive, especially considering the court had previously mandated partial payments pending review. Her legal team also described the payments as “gratuities” that did not serve the estate’s beneficiaries.

How is Michael Jackson’s estate responding to Paris’ accusations?

Michael Jackson’s estate has released a statement to deny the accusations brought forth by Paris.

“The Executors’ approval of payments to attorneys have been made with the same business judgment that has earned this Estate over $3 billion,” the estate said in the statement, per People. “We are confident that the objected-to payments are appropriate as, indeed, they are fully consistent with payments made in the decade prior, all of which have been approved by the Probate Court.”

According to Hello, Michael Jackson divided his estate between his children and his mother, Katherine, as well as several children’s charities. Michael’s three children—Prince, Paris, and Bigi—get 40% of his estate, while his mother also gets 40%. The charities get the remaining 20%.

Walmart is recalling thousands of stainless steel water bottles because the lids can eject forcefully and strike people in the face. The recall covers about 850,000 “Ozark Trail 64 oz Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottles” sold at Walmart since 2017, CNBC reported. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said the bottles pose “serious impact and laceration hazards.”

How many people were injured by the recalled Walmart water bottles?

At least three people have been injured by the recalled water bottles so far. Per the CPSC, the lids may eject forcefully when people try to open the bottles “after food, carbonated beverages or perishable beverages, such as juice or milk, are stored inside over time.” It also stated that two of those customers “suffered permanent vision loss after being struck in the eye.” 

Customers who bought the recalled water bottles from Walmart can return them for a full refund

The bottles are identified with the model number 83-662. Although the number isn’t marked on the product itself, it can be seen on the packaging. The silver stainless-steel base, which has a black lid, is also decorated with an Ozark Trail logo on the side of the bottle.

“Walmart and Sam’s Club are committed to the health and safety of our customers and members and to providing products that are safe and compliant, all supported by our health and wellness, product safety, and food safety professionals,” Walmart stated on its website. “In the event of a product recall, we work swiftly to block the item from being sold and remove it from our stores and clubs.”

Verizon is facing criticism after sending a waiver request to the FCC in an effort to erase the policy that allows people to change phone providers after 60 days. Until recently, the company was allowing customers to unlock their Verizon phones after 60 days and switch the device to a different carrier. Now, however, Verizon wants the phones to be locked beyond 60 days.

In a statement to the FCC, Verizon said fraudsters are taking advantage when the phone is unlocked during that time.

Why is Verizon making it harder for customers to switch providers?

“Recent industry experience shows that even a lock of 60 days does not deter device fraud – a huge and growing problem in the United States — and instead enables trafficking in devices that are illicitly sent to foreign marketplaces,” Verizon said in the waiver request submitted to the FCC, per The Street. “This is why the industry standard for providers not subject to the Unlocking Rule is a minimum of 6 months or longer.”

The company adds that there is a clear advantage to low-income customers when thieves take advantage of the 60-day policy.

“Waiving this rule will benefit consumers because it will allow Verizon to continue offering subsidies and other mechanisms to make phones more affordable, lower upfront costs, and enable customers to obtain the latest and most innovative devices,” Verizon said in its statement.

What are customers saying about Verizon’s effort to make it harder for people to change carriers?

One customer who criticized Verizon in a complaint to the FCC said the company is making it difficult to get SpaceX’s Starlink and other new services.

“Verizon’s argument that unlocked phones are against the public interest is just wrong,” the former Verizon customer wrote, per The Street. “It stifles competition by making it harder to vote with your wallet and switch carriers. I recently left Verizon because of a record amount of price hikes within a single year. It certainly would have been much harder to switch carriers if I had to buy a new phone each time. I bought my phone. I get to decide what carrier I want with that phone.”

Advocacy groups are also urging the FCC to stop the company from waiving its unlocking requirement.

“Maintaining and enforcing the 60-day unlocking framework will promote consumer welfare, strengthen competition, and reduce regulatory confusion,” the groups wrote in a complaint to the FCC. “Any modifications to unlocking policy should be addressed through rulemaking, not via individualized waivers that would only exacerbate existing inequities and market distortions.”

Officials in Arizona have revealed that an unidentified patient has died from the pneumonic plague. Per Northern Arizona Healthcare, the person went to the Flagstaff Medical Center Emergency Department in Coconino County and died a short time later.

The hospital said in a statement that doctors performed “appropriate initial management” and tried “to provide life-saving resuscitation,” but “the patient did not recover.” According to NBC News, health officials described the cause of death as “a severe lung infection caused by the Yersinia pestis bacterium,” aka the pneumonic plague.

A total of 7 human plague cases are reported every year in the U.S.

These cases, however, are not usually fatal, according to the CDC. The last pneumonic plague death in Coconino County occurred in 2007. At that time, a person died after making contact with a dead infected animal.

The 3 most common types of the plague are bubonic, pneumonic, and septicemic

Per the CDC, Pneumonic plague “develops when bacteria spread to the lungs of a patient with untreated bubonic or septicemic plague.” It can also happen “when a person inhales infectious droplets coughed out by another person or animal with pneumonic plague,” the CDC adds.

Bubonic plague, which is now rare, killed millions of Europeans during the Middle Ages. The disease is still reported in parts of the U.S., as well as Africa and Asia. People who are infected with Bubonic plague may feel symptoms within two to six days. Infected people may experience fever and swollen lymph nodes.

The Northern Arizona Healthcare urges people to see their healthcare provider immediately if they suspect that they may be infected.

“If their illness is severe, they should go to the Emergency Department and immediately ask for a mask to help prevent the spread of disease while they access timely and important care,” the hospital stated, per NBC News.