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Gov. Hochul triggered by Trump: ‘NY hasn’t labored under a king in over 250 years!’

Sandra Rose
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Gov. Hochul triggered by Trump: ‘NY hasn’t labored under a king in over 250 years!’
ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images

New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed outrage after President Donald Trump killed federal approval of the congestion toll pricing in New York City.

Hochul held a press conference on Wednesday following President Trump’s announcement that he planned to kill New York’s congestion pricing.
 
READ ALSO: NYC’s $9 Congestion Toll to Reduce Traffic Sparks Controversy
 
An email sent from U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to Gov. Kathy Hochul called the toll, “a slap in the face to working class Americans and small business owners.”

King Trump
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However, Gov. Hochul took issue with Trump jokingly calling himself “The King” in a post on his Truth Social App.

“CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD,” Trump wrote. “Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!”

Gov. Hochul responded, “I’m here to say, New York hasn’t labored under a king in over 250 years — and we sure as hell are not gonna start now!”

“We are a nation of laws, not ruled by a king,” Hochul said. “We’ll see you in court.”

Gov. Hochul’s legal counsel Brian Mahanna said toll pricing will remain in effect until the lawsuit works its way through the courts.

“We are seeking a declaratory judgment making clear that the congestion pricing program is fully authorized. Obviously that will take some time, but until a judge rules, these cameras are staying on, and we expect the judge to rule in our favor,” Mahanna said.

But New York City business owners complain that the toll will impact their livelihood. The toll costs motorists $9 a day to enter central Manhattan from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays.

“We live here. We shouldn’t have to pay extra to move around,” one angry commuter told CBS Evening News in January.

Photo of Drake fans at concert in Australia goes viral

Sandra Rose
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Photo of Drake fans at concert in Australia goes viral
Drake
X/@FearedBuck

A photo taken at a Drake concert in Australia is going viral. The photo, posted on X (Twitter), shows Drake’s fans begging the wealthy Canadian rapper for money to pay bills or buy gifts for their parents.

One Australian held up a sign that read: “Help my boyfriend buy me an engagement ring.”

Another sign read: “[Please] help me buy my man a car.”

A third sign read: “Papi, help pay off my mum’s mortgage.”

Drake is known for his generosity and blessing his fans with stacks of cash, a home, or cars.

Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

Unlike other rappers who thrive on negativity, Drake always gives back to his fans who helped make him a success.

Last year, Drake offered to pay off a fan’s mortgage at a concert in Kansas City.
 
READ ALSO: Drake offers $160K to pay off fan’s deceased mom’s mortgage
 

The fan held up a sign that read: “Pay off my mom’s house. Rest in Peace.”

Drake was so touched by the sign that he asked the fan: “You said pay off my mom’s house. RIP. Your mom passed away?”

He then asked the fan to show him the balance on his mother’s home mortgage.

“This is the outstanding balance right here? This is a lot of money right here,” Drake said.

He continued: “You know what? I’ma pay off your mama house for you.” The crowd roared as Drake told the fan, “This is a lot of money right here. It’s a hundred and sixty bands, but I’m gonna pay it out of my pocket… Rest in peace to your mom…”

Drake added: “Hey, Kansas City, I love y’all for real. That’s love, man!”

Drake previously made headlines for his donations, including $25,000 to a cancer survivor in Buffalo and a $100,000 voucher to a fan who had completed chemotherapy.

What Will ‘DOGE Dividend’ Checks Do for Black Americans?

Sandra Rose
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What Will ‘DOGE Dividend’ Checks Do for Black Americans?
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The possibility of receiving $5,000 dividend refund checks from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was a hot button topic on social media on Wednesday.

It all started when an X user asked Musk to send out $5,000 refund checks to every taxpayer funded by the savings from massive government fraud.

Musk said he would discuss the plan with President Donald Trump.

J Fishback post

Elon Musk post

On Wednesday, Trump said he would consider the plan. He noted that 20% of DOGE savings would go to taxpayers while another 20% would go toward paying down the national debt.

It wouldn’t be a one-time payout. Americans would receive annual dividend checks from DOGE savings just like investors receive dividend checks from the stocks they buy.

DOGE Dividend checks could be the first step on a journey to prosperity for Black Americans

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According to NewsOne.com, the DOGE Dividend checks could help Black Americans alleviate tight economic costs.

If the DOGE Dividend proposal goes through it could help many Black Americans who are struggling to make ends meet due to high inflation and economic headwinds.

A 2024 survey conducted by Achieve found that 76% of Black consumers were living paycheck-to-paycheck, with 43% struggling to make ends meet and 33% feeling financially comfortable.

DOGE Dividend Checks Could Help Black Americans Save Money

Annual $5,000 or $10,000 DOGE dividend checks could be invested in high-yield exchange-traded funds, or EFTs, that replace savings accounts.

High-yield EFTs can help build a diversified portfolio that provides steady income later on in life.

An anual $5000 dividend check is 300% more than the stimulus check Americans received during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Annual Dividend Checks Could Cut Down On High Costs of Living

If allocated properly and on time, a DOGE refund could provide much-needed relief to help Black communities cut down on the rising costs of living and surviving in American, according to NewsOne.

However, it’s a double-edged sword. While the check could be helpful, it could also come at the cost of millions of federal government jobs being lost, along with funding for agencies that support programs indirectly benefiting Black communities. Black workers make up 18.6% of the federal workforce, according to 2024 data from Pew Research. If they lose their jobs, how will they make ends meet? With the future of the Department of Education and its federal funding at risk, hundreds of programs dedicated to supporting Black students — such as financial aid, scholarships, housing, graduation ceremonies, and other aspects of academic and campus life—could be jeopardized. The question remains: is receiving this $5,000 check worth the potential consequences?

Tamera Mowry-Housley’s husband says people buy junk food for their kids with food stamps

Sandra Rose
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Tamera Mowry-Housley’s husband says people buy junk food for their kids with food stamps
MEGA/WENN

Former Fox News journalist Adam Housley, husband of actress Tamera Mowry-Housley, says SNAP recipients buy junk food for their children.

Housley made the comment in response to President Donald Trump’s plans for SNAP benefits reform. Trump announced he would “correct” what he calls “mismanagement” of the USDA’s SNAP program under former President Joe Biden.

Trump wants to ban SNAP recipients from buying junk food with their SNAP benefits.

The SNAP program is America’s largest welfare program that provides nutrition assistance to low-income or no-income families.

More than 42 million Americans receive SNAP benefits every month, according to the USDA.

Housely, a conservative, agreed that SNAP reform is necessary because there is widespread abuse of the system.

In a post on X (Twitter), Housley wrote: “As a kid who grew up in neighborhood grocery stores since I was 5, I can’t tell you how many times I saw people come in and buy crap food for their kids with food stamps, then open the wallet and use cash for liquor, beer, wine and cigarettes.”

He continued: “Then there were those who would repeatedly buy a lemon or lime, get the change, walk out the door throw them away and do it again. Until they had enough change to buy cigarettes or alcohol. As a kid it pissed me off because there are some people who could really use the help and then there are these others working the system.”

While most of Housley’s followers agreed that something needs to be done, others said he was behind the times.

One follower wrote: “EBT cards have been in use for well over a decade now. You do not receive “change” from an EBT card in modern America.”

Another person challenged Housley’s memory: “So you just hung out in the corners of stores and observed grown ass people collecting change over time to buy cigarettes and alcohol…at 5yrs old.”

A third person commented: “Is this Tamara’s husband? Gurl….”

Delta flight that crashed in Toronto was flown by all-female DEI pilots (Video)

Sandra Rose
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Delta flight that crashed in Toronto was flown by all-female DEI pilots (Video)
AFP via Getty Images

The Delta Airlines plane that flipped over during a crash landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport on February 17, was allegedly piloted by an all-female crew.

According to reports, the Delta flight was operated by Endeavor Air, a small airline focused on all-female “unmanned” flights and DEI initiatives.

Shocking video shows the plane landing on the runway so hard that it bounced. The landing gear collapsed on impact and burst into flames. The right wing scraped the runway before the entire plane flipped on its back.

Cell phone videos shows passengers evacuating from the burning plane.

Fortunately, all 80 people on board survived, with 21 passengers and crew injured. All but 2 have been released from area hospitals.

A pinned video on Delta’s website allegedly shows Delta’s emphasis on hiring all-female pilots and crew on domestic flights.

Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian praised the crew for evacuating the passengers safely. Bastien claimed the pilots were experienced.

“All these pilots train for these conditions,” Bastian told “CBS Mornings.”

“This is what we train for,” Bastian insisted. “We train for this continuously.”

Bastien said he wasn’t concerned about the frequency of plane crashes after the Trump administration fired 300 DEI FAA employees.

“It is the safest form of transportation, period,” Bastian said.

Critics said DEI is to blame for the crashes since Trump took office in January.

After an American Airlines plane collided with a military helicopter, killing 67 people, President Trump blamed the FAA’s DEI-focused hiring practices.

Former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) when hiring FAA employees. The FAA allegedly turned away 1,000 applicants who passed a skills test with flying colors.

The skills-based test was eliminated and replaced by a “biographical assessment” aimed at increasing minority representation.

Critics warned that the FAA’s focus on DEI diverted time and resources away from air travel safety.

LaVar Ball has foot amputated after serious medical issue

Sandra Rose
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LaVar Ball has foot amputated after serious medical issue
Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images

Former NFL player LaVar Ball had his right foot amputated after suffering a serious medical issue, TMZ Sports has learned.

LaVar is recovering post-surgery, and TMZ reports he is in great spirits and doing well.

LaVar is the father of NBA stars Lonzo and LaMelo Ball (pictured). He is also dad to former basketball player-turned aspiring rapper LiAngelo “Gelo” Ball.

LiAngelo was invited to perform his viral rap track “Tweaker” at the 2025 NBA All-Star game in San Francisco.

LaVar, 57, is best known for promoting his sons and creating the Big Baller Brand, which developed signature shoes for all three sons.

Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images

He was criticized for his parenting style and for cheating on his wife, Tina, 57, who suffered a stroke in 2017. She lost some mobility and was unable to speak.

Tina, who is 6-foot-1 and a former basketball player, has fully recovered. She accompanies LaVar to watch their sons play in the NBA.

LaVar made headlines for constantly bragging on his sons and predicting they would be NBA stars one day.

He has distanced himself from the spotlight in recent years, but has continued to be his sons’ biggest cheerleader.

LaVar played college basketball for West Los Angeles College, Washington State and Cal State Los Angeles. He also played football at Long Beach City College for a season.

He was a practice squad member for the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers in 1995, but he never played an official regular season game in the NFL.

Beyoncé Adds Fourth Cowboy Carter Tour Show in Atlanta

Sandra Rose
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Beyoncé Adds Fourth Cowboy Carter Tour Show in Atlanta
Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Pop star Beyoncé has added a fourth show to the final stop of her Cowboy Carter & the Rodeo Chitlin’ Circuit in Atlanta, Georgia in July.

Atlanta is the only stop on her tour that has sold out three consecutive shows.

The Cowboy Carter tour kicks off with 5 dates at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. from April 28-May 9. Tickets are still available for those shows.

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

The singer announced the fourth additional Atlanta date on Wednesday, Feb. 19, just hours after UK media outlets said she was struggling to sell tickets to her concerts in London, England.
 
READ ALSO: Beyoncé struggling to sell Cowboy Carter Tour tickets in London
 
Fans may not care for Beyoncé in London Town, but they love her in Atlanta for some reason.

According to Billboard.com, pre-sales for the tour will kick off on Friday, Feb. 21, at 12 p.m. local time. A Beyhive pre-sale for the new Atlanta date will begin on Wednesday at 12 p.m. ET through Thursday, Feb. 20, at 11 a.m. ET.

Michael Buckner/Getty Images

Beyoncé delayed her Cowboy Carter Tour announcement due to the deadly California wildfires last month.

The mom-of-three announced the upcoming tour after she won her first ever Grammy for album of the year. She also won a Grammy for best country album.

Officials say the huge demand for tickets in Atlanta warranted a fourth show added to the final tour stop in July.

Her tour will kick off in Inglewood, CA. before heading to Chicago, New York, London, Paris, Houston, Washington and ending with 4 shows in Atlanta.

UK media outlets say many tickets are still available for all six shows at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium between June 5-June 16.

Lots of tickets for her three-night stand at Stade de France in Paris are also available.

Rihanna Speaks Out After A$AP Rocky’s Surprise ‘Not Guilty’ Verdict

Sandra Rose
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Rihanna Speaks Out After A$AP Rocky’s Surprise ‘Not Guilty’ Verdict
Best Image / BACKGRID

Rihanna and her common-law husband A$AP Rocky were prepared to flee the country if Rocky was convicted on assault charges on Tuesday.

BACKGRID

If Rocky was found guilty, he would have immediately appealed the verdict. Meanwhile, he would be free on bond while awaiting the appeals process.

But Rihanna wasn’t taking any chances. Her private jet was fueled and waiting for them on the tarmac at a local airport, according to sources. Her career was hanging in the balance. No one would want to work with a woman who was harboring a fugitive in another country.

BACKGRID

Rihanna was terrified that Rocky would be found guilty. She looked scared stiff as she entered the courthouse for the verdict on Tuesday. Friends say RiRi was ready to give up her career and her life in America to flee with her man if he was convicted.

She was seated in the back of the courtroom near the door. If he was convicted, Rihanna was ready to run and grab her sons to meet Rocky at the airport.

ShotbyNYP / BACKGRID

Rihanna was afraid to raise their two sons, RZA and Riot Rose, alone without a man to guide them.

But Rihanna and Rocky’s prayers were answered when a non-Black jury acquitted him of shooting his former friend, A$AP Relli, in Hollywood in 2021.

After listening to closing arguments on Friday, and taking off for President’s Day on Monday, the jury deliberated on Tuesday and acquitted the rapper.

Rocky was ecstatic as soon as the verdict was read. He turned and hugged a friend before leaping into Rihanna’s arms a few rows behind him. Rihanna burst into tears when the verdict was read. She was relieved that her life wasn’t turned upside down.

Rocky had reason to jump for joy: he faced 24 years hard time in a California prison if found guilty.

But Rihanna had a plan. Sources say Rihanna and Rocky, both 36, were prepared to flee the country for her native Barbados. Rocky also has ties to Barbados: his father was born there.

TURBO / BACKGRID

Another option for the world travelers was Bali, where disgraced mogul Russell Simmons is hiding out amid lawsuits and a threat of prison time in America.

Neither country has an extradition treaty with the United States, meaning they can’t be forced to send fugitives back to the U.S. to face charges.

Thankfully, Rihanna and Rocky didn’t have to leave her career and friends behind in the U.S.

Rihanna spoke out after the trial in a post on her Instagram Stories. “The glory belongs to God and God alone!” she wrote. “Thankful. Humbled by his mercy.”

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Lena Waithe to Ariana Grande: ‘Keep your hands off my wife!’

Sandra Rose
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Lena Waithe to Ariana Grande: ‘Keep your hands off my wife!’
Stuart Wilson/BAFTA/Getty Images

Insiders say “The Chi” screenwriter and producer Lena Waithe had a come-to-Jesus moment with actress Ariana Grande about her frequent PDA with Cynthia Erivo.

Lena accompanied Cynthia to the BAFTA Film Awards in London on February 16. Ariana kept a respectful distance while Lena was with Cynthia.

A source in Lena’s camp said she had a lengthy discussion with Ariana about the actress’s closerthanthis relationship with Cynthia.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

According to the source, Lena sat down with both Ariana and Cynthia to clear the air about the direction of their friendship.

Apparently Lena blames Ariana for giving Cynthia the idea that the grass is greener on her side of the fence.

Allegedly, Lena was concerned that she might lose Cynthia the same way she got her – by cheating on her ex, Alana Mayo.

Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Critics

Lena told Cynthia and Ariana to knock off the overly excessive public displays of affection,” said the source.

In a now-deleted post on her Instagram Stories in January, Lena warned both actresses: “I’m watching you guys in the press tour…”

MEGA

Lena reportedly told the ladies they can work together to promote “Wicked” without being so touchy-feely in public.

WENN.com

The insider said Ariana is just using Cynthia to score points with the LGBTQ+ community. But Cynthia is apparently infatuated with her co-star.

“She constantly raves about [Ariana],” said the source, who added that Cynthia and Ariana call and text each other all day when they’re apart.

“[Lena] wants Ariana to know that Cynthia is off limits to her,” the insider added. Lena is reportedly concerned that her friends think she can’t control her woman.

Elon Musk Considers $5,000 Refund Checks for Every Taxpayer

Sandra Rose
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Elon Musk Considers $5,000 Refund Checks for Every Taxpayer
Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Elon Musk says he will discuss a “DOGE dividend” with President Donald Trump that will send $5,000 checks to every taxpaying American.

The money will be funded from the nearly $2 trillion in fraud and other government waste uncovered by DOGE.

On Tuesday, a user on X suggested sending every taxpayer a check from the money that was recovered. Musk confirmed he will discuss the plan with President Donald Trump.

J Fishback post

Elon Musk post

Musk previously said DOGE uncovered massive fraud during an audit of the Social Security Administration. He found 1.3 million Americans are still receiving social security checks even though they are at least 150 years old.

Musk posted a list of people whose deaths are classified as “false” by the SSA. At least 1,000 people between the ages of 220 and 229 are still receiving Social Security checks.

Social Security

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