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NYC Council member Chi Ossé was arrested during a Brooklyn anti-eviction protest over an alleged deed theft case, raising concerns about housing rights and police response.
Chi Ossé, a New York City Council member representing Brooklyn, was arrested on April 22, 2026, during an anti-eviction protest in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, according to officials and his office.
The incident occurred as Ossé joined a group of demonstrators attempting to block city marshals from carrying out an eviction tied to an alleged deed theft case. Deed theft, a form of property fraud involving the illegal transfer of ownership, has become an increasing concern across New York City, particularly in communities of color.
Videos circulating on social media show Ossé approaching police officers during the protest and questioning their actions as they detained another demonstrator. Moments later, officers are seen grabbing the councilmember, forcing him to the ground, and placing him in handcuffs. The footage quickly drew public attention and raised concerns among city leaders.
An aide confirmed that Ossé was taken into custody and held at a local precinct following the arrest. As of the time of reporting, specific charges had not been publicly confirmed. The New York Police Department stated that multiple individuals, including Ossé, were arrested after allegedly refusing orders to disperse.
A post shared by Council Member Chi Ossé (@cmchiosse)
In a statement released after the incident, Ossé’s office emphasized that the protest was aimed at stopping an eviction they say resulted from fraudulent property claims. The statement also renewed calls for stronger protections, including a proposed moratorium on evictions linked to suspected deed theft cases.
Zohran Mamdani, a political ally of Ossé, described the arrest as “concerning” and said it would be reviewed further. He also acknowledged Ossé’s advocacy on housing issues, particularly his efforts to address deed theft in vulnerable communities.
City Council Speaker Julie Menin echoed similar concerns, noting that early reports suggested Ossé was “aggressively pushed” by officers. She added that her office is in contact with both the NYPD and Ossé’s team to ensure his safety and secure his release.
The protest highlights ongoing tensions in New York over housing rights, eviction enforcement, and alleged property fraud. Advocates argue that deed theft disproportionately affects Black homeowners, often leading to displacement and lengthy legal battles.

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April 23, 2026
The R&B singer has filed a lawsuit against Julie McKnight, Brian McKnight Jr., podcasters Marc Lamont and Tasha K, as well as the New York Post.
Recording artist Brian McKnight has filed a lawsuit against his former wife, Julie McKnight, his son, Brian McKnight Jr., podcasters Marc Lamont and Tasha K, as well as the New York Post. He accuses them of spreading a false narrative about his parenting and his refusal to tell his dying son, Niko, that he loved him.
According to TMZ, the R&B singer is claiming that the accused were involved in a coordinated attempt to ruin his reputation and make money, through “malicious character assassination” in the lawsuit filed. He said that he is the victim of a “shockingly dishonest” and “sensational but false narrative” after they said that he abandoned his children.
In the suit, he also claimed that Tasha K falsely reported that he was a cheater and that he had sex with a minor. He says that his reputation has taken a hit because of the narrative they spread. He is seeking damages because the “relentless and persistent assault upon his character” gave him no choice but to take legal action.
The singer is keeping his lawyers busy.
In May 2025, McKnight also accused controversial singer Jaguar Wright of spreading salacious allegations online. He claimed that she said that McKnight hired and mistreated prostitutes during sexual encounters. The “Back At One” vocalist also denied Wright’s claims that he was abusive toward his former wife, Julie, whom Wright says is her cousin. The singer also said that she has been evading service, as multiple attempts have been made to serve her.
“It is apparent that [Wright] is evading service,” McKnight’s attorney Ryan Saba said, as captured by Hot New Hip Hop. “Given that [McKnight] made reasonable attempts to serve [Wright] and [Wright] is evading service by refusing to answer the door or open the door, or to sign the return receipt, service by publication is necessary to provide notice of [McKnight’s] complaint.”
RELATED CONTENT: Brian McKnight and Estranged Daughter Settle Differences Before Court Battle

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April 23, 2026
After Kennedy seemed confused by the questions, Alsobrooks read the quote out loud and when that didn’t work, she suggested playing the clip after Kenendy said he would need to hear it.
In a tense exchange between Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Maryland Democratic Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, Kennedy apologized for recorded comments he made in the past about Black kids being “reparented,” but stood his ground on claims he never said it. 
During an April 22 hearing, Alsobrooks asked the secretary if he could admit to suggesting he had a plan that would send Black children to rural rehabilitation centers to be “reparented” after he failed to do so when Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.) brought up the same remarks when appearing before the House Ways and Means Committee last week.
“Now, you’ve had some trouble with the truth, I’ve seen it myself during your appearances in Congress and as we all saw clearly during your exchange with Congresswoman Sewell. Can you admit today that you said that every Black kid can get reparented on a wellness farm?” she asked. 
After Kennedy seemed confused by the questions, Alsobrooks read the quote out loud, and when that didn’t work, she suggested playing the clip after Kennedy said he would need to hear it. Despite having a recording, the HHS leader said “he doesn’t believe it,” but then said, “If I said it, I apologize, but I’d have to see the transcript.” 
ALSOBROOKS: I have the recording. I can play it

RFK Jr: I do not believe that every Black kid should be re-parented on a wellness farm and I have never believed it

ALSOBROOKS: Well you said it, sir, I have the video

RFK Jr: I’d have to see the transcript pic.twitter.com/YQMGkMKYdg
He very much did suggest it. While appearing on the High Level Conversations podcast during his 2024 presidential campaign, he claimed “psychiatric drugs, which every black kid is now just standard put on, Adderall, SSRIs, benzos which are known to induce violence and those kids are going to have a chance to go somewhere and get reparented; to live in a community where there’ll be no cell phones no screens you’ll actually have to talk to people.”

This isn’t the only controversial comment Kennedy allegedly made, that Alsobrooks stood firm on, regarding the welfare of Black people. The Hill reported he once suggested that Black individuals shouldn’t follow the same immunization schedule as others since “their immune system is better than ours.” 
In a statement defending the agency leader, a HHS spokesperson said, “Prior to his time as Secretary, he described these communities as spaces where individuals, particularly young people facing alienation, mental health challenges, and rising rates of despair, could undergo a form of ‘reparenting.’” 
In his first appearance before Congress in 2026, the secretary praised the agency’s work, claiming it is changing the nation’s dietary guidelines and reducing waste, fraud, and abuse, according to the New York Amsterdam News.
While Republicans on the committee celebrated Kennedy’s work as “a breath of fresh air,” emphasizing nutrition and overall health, Democrats were focused on the Trump Administration’s plan to cut close to 12% from his department’s 2027 budget, carving over $100 billion from the agency that provides healthcare services to all Americans. 
In addition to cutting $5 billion from the National Institutes of Health, the nation’s leading health and biomedical research organization, the proposed cuts would also terminate a program that provides home heating and energy assistance to millions of households. 
It would also cut budgets for federal programs that assist in feeding low-income families and children.
RELATED CONTENT: Lawmakers Grill Health Secretary RFK Jr. Over Medicaid Cuts, Black Maternal Health

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Attacking civil rights groups like SPLC follows a pattern and practice of the administration’s revisionist terror and political prosecutions. We can’t afford to look away. 
Exactly one year after civil rights groups publicly declared their commitment to defending against the Trump administration’s anti-civil rights agenda, the empire struck back with politically motivated charges against the Southern Poverty Law Center. News of the Department of Justice filing charges against SPLC follows a pattern and practice of revisionist terror and political prosecutions.  
Combined with the increasing abuses of power and attacks on our elections, the administration is ramping up its efforts to restore the dominance of white supremacy. It wants to overpower our collective will and dictate how we live, move, and exist in this country. 
While many groups have been warning since before the 2024 election that this would happen, there’s no denying we are now living the beginning of our worst fears. 
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Maya Wiley, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, called the move the latest example of the administration’s intimidation and retaliation against people doing the work of protecting communities from extremist terror and discrimination. 
“We will not be intimidated, and we will not abandon our partners,” Wiley said in a statement. “We are the ones who make sure that everyone can live, love, vote, work, study, travel, and simply be themselves, free from discrimination. This administration views that as a threat to its power.” 
She called the latest move the worst attack on movement communities since COINTELPRO. Wiley also said the dismantling of our rights was their only path to absolute power.
Affirming solidarity with civil and human rights advocates, People for the American Way President Svante Myrick echoed Wiley’s sentiments, calling out the aggressive attempts to erase a diverse democratic society. 
“Donald Trump and his corrupt Department of Justice are abusing the power of the federal government to wage war against American values and the people and organizations that stand up for them,” Myrick said in a statement. “They have turned the Justice Department, once a powerful force for good, into a reactionary weapon for dismantling a century’s worth of progress. And they are attacking anyone who might get in their way, from dedicated public servants to powerful law firms to civil rights defenders like the Southern Poverty Law Center.”
It’s clear the administration went after SPLC with frivolous fraud claims as part of its efforts to intimidate and control. Last year’s shakedowns and threats against lawyers, many of whom supported civil rights work and pro bono efforts, were part of an effort to neutralize the field. 
There is no waiting and riding this out. The administration continues to throw things at the wall, escalating at each turn, and hoping some of the worst will stick.
Defending our communities against what is happening requires more than simply people “standing up to Trump” and denouncing him and his immediate circle. There’s an entire ecosystem of hate and repression deeply rooted in propaganda dating back to the Reconstruction era.  
The moment requires that we not only pay attention but clearly name the harms happening. Our presence must remain constant amid the dismantling of federal civil rights protections, election threats, and targeted prosecutions. 
Discord and division are tools to keep us on edge and demobilized. The constant threats of criminalization and retribution based on lies about prior elections will only increase the closer we get to the 2026 midterm election. 
These are tactics of a power-mad opposition desperate to remain in control. Like emancipation and Reconstruction, the Civil Rights Movement didn’t suddenly change hearts and minds. 
We’ve always had to fight to protect our rights and communities, and where necessary, expand protections for Black and other communities impacted by discrimination. 
With each passing day, it becomes increasingly clear that we are literally fighting for our lives and freedom. I am often reminded of Ida B. Wells-Barnett’s quote that “with no sacredness of the ballot, there can be no sacredness of human life itself.” 
It’s a guiding principle in my work and personal life. The attacks on our communities, livelihoods, and rights are all connected. 
And I understand that, for many, keeping our heads down and staying quiet is often seen as a way to stay safe and out of harm’s way. But we can’t just close our eyes and pray the hate away. 
While the 2026 midterm election is over six months away, we can’t simply hope a champion shows up. Or that maybe a certain party will do the right thing. Primary elections happening right now demand we choose the best person to represent us and block the harm as we build new systems. 
And while voting alone will not save us, I remain firm in my belief that it is one of our most important tools for organizing governing power. States have always been a testing ground for extremist policies, and the politics of retribution have long been leveraged against us on the local level. 
But states and local communities have also been innovation labs of resistance and resilience. 
You do not have to love or even like either major party. But we cannot shrug this off or look away. Don’t wait for the state to come for you, because there might not be anyone left standing to have your back.
We do not have the luxury of waiting to see what happens. Organizing and connecting in the community around a governing agenda is the best way to ensure our people are protected. 
SEE ALSO: 
Southern Poverty Law Center Indicted By DOJ For Using Paid Informants
The FISA Warrantless Surveillance Loophole Threatens Black Communities
Trump’s Election Order Is Open Rebellion Against The Country
States Must Hold Line Against Trump’s Election Subversion
The Trump Administration’s Latest Attack On Civil Rights Groups Is A Call To Action  was originally published on newsone.com

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The 30 Most Beautiful Black Women In Hollywood
Donald Trump’s Mental Fitness The Subject of Intense Scrutiny Following Zany Fox News Interview
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DST Group employees will be encouraged to engage with events at Muzeu Hugo Delgado
In May 1968, when French students, then workers, took to the streets of Paris in a revolutionary cloud of protest, they dug up cobblestones and demanded the world be remade. They did not mean better infrastructure; they meant a fairer, freer society. They dreamed of knowledge and emancipation for everyone. “Be realistic,” they chanted, “demand the impossible.”
This month, that exact sentiment takes centre stage in northern Portugal. In the city of Braga, an hour north east of Porto, a new museum dubbed Muzeu—Thought and Contemporary Art DST will open its doors. It is home to one of the country’s most significant private art collections, that of the DST Group.
The museum’s director, Helena Mendes Pereira, says the project is about much more than simply showcasing the 1,500-plus works in the company’s holdings: the space aims to be a civic forum for cultural, philosophical and political discussion. The Braga-based architect José Manuel Carvalho Araújo has transformed the site—a former courthouse in the historic centre of the city—into a storied exhibition space rising over four floors. An auditorium at the top will host a rolling programme of live events.
With more than 100 works by 96 Portuguese and international artists, from Alex Katz and Francesco Clemente to Franz West and Nan Goldin, the inaugural exhibition reprises as its title a version of that erstwhile French slogan, Let Us Be Realistic, Let Us Demand the Impossible. “It’s a political statement,” Pereira says. On 24 April, the museum will open for the company’s workers only, and from the day after—Freedom Day, the anniversary of the revolution—for the general public. Entrance will be free for everyone during that first week. And on 1 May, the museum will close to mark International Workers’ Day.
DST Group is no ordinary industrial conglomerate. It was founded in the 1940s by Domingos da Silva Teixeira, father of the current chairman José Teixeira, and supplied materials for local construction projects during the oppressive years of the Estado Novo fascist dictatorship. In 1974, the Carnation Revolution—so called because civilians put flowers in soldiers’ guns—brought the regime down with remarkably little bloodshed. This ushered in a new, tumultuous era of leftist reform, economic struggle, decolonisation and cultural revival.
DST Group chairman José Teixeira’s leftist principles are reflected in the museum’s commitment to community involvement Hugo Delgado
In the decades since, DST has branched out into businesses including property, infrastructure, water, telecoms and renewables. The family has also, from the outset, prioritised cultural investment, setting up a biennial, a photography award, three literary awards and an art in public space and sustainability award. It also boasts an art gallery, which exists not to sell but to buy works for the collection from the artists it supports. It is actively engaged in education, funding scholarships and a professorship, collaborating with universities and serving as industry affiliate for the MIT Portugal education and research programme.
Peireira describes these multi-layered activities not just as philanthropic endeavours but as a kind of human resources toolkit. The collection, she says, is for everyone who works there. Pieces are displayed throughout the company’s factories and offices, and the museum, once opened, will be free to enter for employees. Ahead of the opening, they are also being offered training, if they would like it, to act as educational exhibition guides.
“The museum is not a space for the elite,” Pereira says. “Any worker can participate. We really believe that everyone deserves a good life. We pay better and we also manage human resources with philosophy lessons, reading books together, with conference talks given by international authors and philosophers—for our workers, that is, not for the outside but for the inside. We believe culture is a way that we can make workers happier and also more productive.”
Muzeu now offers the opportunity to share these values with the wider community, not least because, as a building company, its employees have literally built it themselves. “It’s poetic,” Pereira says. “We have built our own house.”
The 3,000 sq. m of exhibition space inside is simply designed to look like a factory, she says: “It’s very industrial, very structuralist, everything in white, very simple.” This area will host a rotating selection of works from the collection, as well as a room dedicated to Anselm Kiefer, a key artist in the collection.
A central staircase leads up to the auditorium, where children will take part in philosophy workshops and jazz fans will engage in collective listening sessions. This has been intentionally placed at the top of the building. From the work ambience of the “factory” below, visitors move up into a space where dreaming, as Pereira puts it, is always possible: “It’s a never-ending story.”
Teixeira, Pereira says, is a leftist. And his museum will not be a neutral space. “We’re going to have a political vision and create influence. In Europe, in the United States, we are living in very strange times. Our idea is very clear: it’s to inform and to foster discussion with the community and try to create a better situation for democracy.”
Famous Mattioli collection loan will make Museo del Novecento “undoubtedly the most important centre for Futurist art” when it goes on display next spring
Museu de Arte Contemporânea Armando Martins opens on 22 March, at a time of significant growth in Lisbon’s art scene
Sonnabend Collection in Mantua—home to the collection of the late dealer Ileana Sonnabend—includes works by Jasper Johns and Andy Warhol as well as contemporary artists
Collection of Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani finds a long-term home at the Hôtel de la Marine, the former repository of French royal furniture, art and jewels

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“America Reads The Bible” is a week-long event of Bible scripture reading that was arranged to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the U.S.
It has been just over a week since President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus Christ on Orthodox Easter, deleted the post from his Truth Social account, and then gaslit the public by claiming he thought the image depicted him as a doctor for the Red Cross.
Now, Trump and a bunch of Republicans who claim to be Christians read bibilical passages during a marathon Bible reading — and we’re all supposed to pretend this isn’t about Trump either trying to get out from under his AI Orange Jesus backlash, or responding to his own fear that he might not get into heaven.
According to the Associated Press, on Tuesday evening, Trump and other conservatives participated in the president’s “America Reads the Bible” event, which is being livestreamed this week from the Museum of the Bible in Washington and other locations. The event is meant to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding, which means a group of white Christian nationalists is getting together with the president for an event aimed at bolstering the false narrative that the U.S. is a Christian nation — an idea that star-spangled Jesus freaks can’t seem to get out of their heads, despite the fact that it’s debunked by a little-known document called the U.S. Constitution. Trump read his verse from the Oval Office.
From AP:
The America Reads the Bible event — with each participant reading a passage aloud — is being livestreamed from the Museum of the Bible in Washington and other locations. It featured a video of Trump from the Oval Office on Tuesday evening reading an Old Testament passage that called for national repentance in ancient Israel — words that have been used prominently for decades by those promoting the belief that America has been and should be a Christian nation.
Trump recited the passage from his desk with his hands folded on an open Bible in front of him, though he was looking straight into the camera. The video cut back and forth between two camera angles.

The Bible is “indelibly woven into our national identity and way of life,” Trump said in a statement commemorating the event. The statement cited historical figures such as the Puritan leader John Winthrop as “imploring his fellow Christian settlers to stand as a beacon of faith for all the world to see.”
Critics say the event has a highly partisan list of participants and is part of a larger project to connect America’s upcoming 250th birthday with a Christian nationalist vision that portrays the nation’s founding as essentially Christian, something many historians dispute. White Christians, particularly evangelicals, have been crucial to Trump’s electoral base.
The list of participants — which overwhelmingly includes Republican politicians and Christian supporters of Trump — shows it to be “very much a right-wing MAGA, Christian nationalist effort,” said Brian Kaylor, author of “The Bible According to Christian Nationalists: Exploiting Scripture for Political Power,” referring to Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement.
“If they wanted this to be a unifying American project, there would have been a whole lot more attention to getting political diversity and ideological diversity,” added Kaylor, president and editor-in-chief of Word&Way, a progressive site covering faith and politics.
Yeah — I think we all know by now that Trump doesn’t do anything with “diversity” in mind. Virtually every group event the president takes part in, including his endless political events, is essentially a Klan rally by a different name.
Anyway, this marathon Bible reading event — promoted by the guy who once grifted MAGA Christians by selling them holy books at $60 a pop — still seems like a ploy to win back the devout Christians he turned off by posting himself as Jesus, which he did amid his ongoing, largely one-sided feud with Pope Leo XIV, whose only anti-Trump crime was being publicly critical of Trump’s  disastrous war in Iran. It’s like that time he posted an AI-generated image of Barack and Michelle Obama depicted as apes and got panned as a racist across social media, so he tried to deal with the fallout by sharing a video reel of him posing for photos with various Black celebrities, eulogizing Jesse Jackson by posting a lengthy tribute to himself and all he has done for Black people, and celebrating Black History Month by inviting Black MAGA supporters on stage to sing his praises, and, again, talk about all he has done for Black people — which, by the way, is generally nothing.
But whatever. If the so-called Christians want to watch the president of adjudicated sexual assaults and Epstein-related allegations reading a Bible passage, let them have at it. For the rest of us — including many who are practitioners of the Christian faith — we won’t be tuning in for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to the fact that we have seen what happens when Trump reads out loud before.
If Trump wanted me to tune in, he would have to agreed to read a Bible passage handed to him by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who also fancies himself as somewhat of an evangelical, despite mistaking a Pulp Fiction quote for an authentic verse. I’m just sayin’, I will definitely tune in long enough to watch Trump do his best Samuel L. Jackson impersonation unbeknownst to himself.
Anyway, I’m just going to leave you with another shining example of Trump devout Christianity: that time he tried to get God to co-sign his election fraud lies by claiming he would have won in 2020 if Jesus were counting ballots.
Is this your Lord and Savior? Is this your MAGA messiah?
SEE ALSO:
Trump Posts Image Of Himself Depicted As Jesus, MAGA Rejoices

Trump Claims His Jesus Post Actually Depicted Him As A Doctor

Pete Hegseth Weirdly Compares Pilot Rescue To Resurrection Of Jesus Christ

Donald Trump, Who Depicted Himself As Jesus, Read A Verse During A Marathon Bible Reading Event was originally published on newsone.com

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The idea of charging tourists entry to English museums has been met with criticism by some in the cultural sector
Photo: Alexey Fedorenko
The politician behind the proposal to charge overseas visitors to national museums in England has discussed the controversial topic in detail in the UK parliament, explaining she thinks that digital ID checks would need to be implemented first.
The Labour peer Margaret Hodge published her review of the UK public funding body Arts Council England last December which, she said, provided “a clear path, with a range of new initiatives that cover everything from new funding models to fundamental systems reform”.
The proposal that has garnered most attention centres on possible admission fees for tourists at national museums in England which, the UK government says, could “provide significant benefits”. In a recent address, Hodge suggested that such a measure would however require digital ID checks at museums entrances.
As first reported by the Museums Association, Hodge told the Communications and Digital Select Committee (14 April): “I would be totally opposed to us doing anything about charging for museums until we have that universal system [of digital ID].
“Just think about it: a Black kid comes up and the person on the desk says, ‘Are you a foreigner?’ There’s implications that you could have from that which would be completely against the spirit of everything that we want to achieve as a community in terms of cohesion… So we should not do it until we have universal ID cards.”
Digital ID has been the subject of renewed debate in the UK recently, with concerns raised over whether personal data will be kept secure.
Hodge said that introducing entrance fees at English national museums, would “bring in less than ten million [pounds]. She added: “It’s not worth doing it, and the hassle for it, and the unfairness, if you don’t have a clear way of identifying who’s who”
She also highlighted the “measly” pot of money available for arts spending, compared to that in other countries. “Berlin spends 525 million, pounds or euros, on arts and culture—one place; if you look at Arts Council on its NPO [National Portfolio Organisations] programme, it spends £458m,” she said. “And the Mayor of London spends £18.7m… we are pretty miserly [on arts spending].”
The proposal to introduce fees has drawn criticism from major figures in the cultural sector. Maria Balshaw, the former director of the Tate, said in March: “What does it say to people from the rest of the world if we say, ‘We’ve got your stuff, but we’re going to charge you to come in’? I don’t like that idea.”
In its long-awaited response published last month, the government said it “strongly agrees” with Baroness Hodge that there must be a national Arts Council, and that the “arm’s length principle”—the principle that ensures Arts Council England’s individual funding decisions are taken outside of political interference from all levels of government—must be protected.
The government also backs Hodge’s ideas for overhauling the model for National Portfolio Organisations which receive regular funding from ACE.
“[NPO reform] would be the first thing that I would grasp, particularly because we’re embarking on a new round, and I hope that some of some of my recommendations into that reform can be adopted quickly,” Hodge told the committee.
Hodge also said that philanthropy should be encouraged. “I’m very keen for totally pragmatic reasons that we should encourage more philanthropic giving. If you look at the public finances, much as I would love to think we could double the amount of money the Arts Council [gives]… that’s unrealistic over the next [parliamentary] period,” she said. Hodge also said philanthropy must be encouraged outside London and says that “a differentiated tax relief [scheme]” might be “worth a try”.
She added that “if you look at the French system, I think individuals get about 66% tax relief, corporations get a 60% tax relief, and the increase there on the amount of money…. in 2004 a billion [euros] went into arts and culture, by 2018, when [the Aillagon] law was in, it was four billion.” Under the Aillagon law in France, which came into force in 2003, companies that invest in culture can claim up to 60% in tax breaks for cultural philanthropy. For individuals in France, a gift to a charity or a charitable organisation is eligible for a tax reduction of 66%.
Hodge was also critical of so-called cancel culture. “This is a really, really difficult issue,” she said. “What I do think is the Arts Council, if it got back to its development agency role, because it’s supposed to be the organisation that thinks about the future and tackles the difficult issues, I think [it] ought to develop a protocol, because the cancelling has got too much and too wide and it’s scary… certainly for corporations, it has been a real turn off for putting money into the arts.”
“We’ve had to make invidious choices”, says Arts Council England’s chair, Nicholas Serota, as funding portfolio for 2023-26 announced
Developments at the public funding body are expected to impact almost 1,000 arts and culture organisations
Labour peer Margaret Hodge, who led the report, has suggested new funding proposals based on philanthropic giving
The government’s favourable response comes three months after the publication of Margaret Hodge’s landmark Arts Council England review

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The John G. Carlisle Cafe will open this May 1 at the famed Buffalo Trace Distillery and is housed inside the Elmer T. Lee Clubhouse.
Buffalo Trace Distillery, one of Kentucky’s darlings in the world of bourbon and American whiskey, will soon expand its offerings on the grounds. The famed distillery will hold a grand opening for the John G. Carlisle Cafe, housed inside the Elmer T. Lee Clubhouse venue.
Buffalo Trace Distillery announced on Tuesday (May 21) that the John G. Carlisle will have its official grand opening next month. This announcement comes nearly one year after the acclaimed, award-winning distillery suffered flooding and damaged much of the grounds.
The John G. Carlisle Cafe will be focused on lunchtime meals and hospitality, with the 4,900-square-foot cafe able to host 70 guests. The menu includes made-to-order sandwiches, salads, the famed Kentucky Hot Brown, and meals featuring Buffalo Trace-inspired items, such as bourbon bacon and bourbon-infused fudge topping, in its dessert case.
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Drinks made with varying Buffalo Trace Distillery products will also be on offer, such as a Buffalo Trace Old Fashioned and a Traveller Whiskey Lucky Penny, among others.
The John G. Carlisle Cafe will also stand as a symbol of historical record, as artifacts connected to Buffalo Trace will be on display.
“For years, guests have asked for a dedicated place to enjoy a meal while spending the day with us,” said Tyler Adams, General Manager, Buffalo Trace Distillery. “The John G. Carlisle Cafe is a meaningful addition to the Distillery experience, opening this historic space to the public for the first time and inviting visitors to slow down, settle in, and fully immerse themselves in the atmosphere that makes Buffalo Trace so special.”
Adams added, “As we introduce the John G. Carlisle Cafe, our team is committed to delivering a terrific experience,” said Adams. “We encourage guests to plan extra time for their next visit and thank them for their patience as we welcome visitors into the space for the first time.”
Beginning on May 11, the grand opening date for the John G. Carlisle Cafe, a three-week lineup of daily activations will take place at the distillery in connection with the venue’s unveiling.
Below is what is on schedule:
· Monday (5/11, 5/18, 5/25): Kick off the week with Free Meal Mondays, complimentary for the first 100 guests (meal vouchers provided upon check-in).
· Tuesday (5/12, 5/19, 5/26): Explore Buffalo Trace Distillery history with From the Archives – an open house event from noon–2pm with Lead Archivist Nick Laracuente, featuring John G. Carlisle Cafe historical highlights and a curated archives display on the second floor of the Elmer T. Lee Clubhouse.
· Wednesday (5/13, 5/20, 5/27): Enjoy Whiskey Wednesdays with complimentary samples of a new, soon-to-be-announced release served all day. Bottles will also be available for purchase in the Buffalo Trace Distillery Gift Shop (limited quantities available).
· Thursday (5/14, 5/21, 5/28): Connect with the Distillery’s craftsmen through Meet the Masters – a limited, one hour meet and greet opportunity happening inside the John G. Carlisle Cafe.
· 5/14: Harlen Wheatley – Buffalo Trace Distillery Master Distiller
· 5/21: Danny Kahn – Master Distiller & Distillation/Aging Operations Director
o 5/28: Drew Mayville – Buffalo Trace Distillery Master Blender
· Friday (5/15, 5/22, 5/29): Savor Freddie Fridays featuring complimentary Freddie’s Old-Fashioned Soda products available in the John G. Carlisle Cafe, plus special appearances by Global Brand Ambassador Freddie Johnson.
· Saturday (5/16, 5/23, 5/30): Experience Sippin’ Saturday featuring seasonal, limited-time cocktails in the Carlisle Cafe from noon-2pm, plus a Buffalo Trace Bourbon-infused Rebecca Ruth’s chocolate pairing.
· Sunday (5/17, 5/24, 5/31): Delight in Grain & Glass featuring complimentary breakfast bites from 11am-noon, including complimentary tastings of Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain.
The John G. Carlisle Cafe opens May 11, 2026. Hours of operation are Monday-Sunday from 11am – 3pm. For more information about the Carlisle Cafe and the lineup of daily offerings, please visit buffalotracedistillery.com/visit-us/cafe.
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Photo: Buffalo Trace Distillery/Sazerac
Buffalo Trace Distillery Unveils New John G. Carlisle Cafe was originally published on cassiuslife.com

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April 22, 2026
Voters approved a temporary amendment to the state’s constitution giving Democrats permission to draw new congressional lines that would favor the party in all but one of its 11 House districts.
Virginia Democrats handed Republicans a huge upset after voters approved a mid-decade redistricting plan that could help the Democratic Party win four more House seats ahead of the November midterms with a new map, The Hill reports. 
Voters approved a temporary amendment to the state’s constitution permitting Democrats to draw new congressional lines that would favor the party in all but one of its 11 House districts. Currently holding a 6-5 advantage, the new map will remain in place until the process returns to a bipartisan redistricting commission following the 2030 Census. 
Close to 1.5 million Virginians voted “yes” in the April 21 vote, compared with close to 1.45 million voting “no.” However, Republicans and anti-gerrymandering advocates are labeling the “no” vote as a strong message of resistance to the Democrat-led plan. “Even in defeat, this is a powerful message,” Brian Cannon, co-chair of the advisory council to the bipartisan group No Gerrymandering Virginia, said. 
“Despite being outspent by well over $60 million and facing biased ballot language, over a million Virginians stood up against a partisan power grab.”
But the conversation started because of the Republican Party. 
In 2025, President Donald Trump seemingly started a redistricting battle after demanding Texas Republicans find a way to secure five more congressional seats. The move pushed several Democratic-led states, including Virginia’s Gov. Abigail Spanberger, to push back by signing a redistricting bill. But when Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz called the bill “a brazen abuse of power & an insult to democracy,” state Sen. L. Louise Lucas responded with, “you all started it and we f*cking finished it.” 
You all started it and we fucking finished it. https://t.co/JU3IR4eEHt
The 82-year-old senator hasn’t been shy about her thoughts surrounding Trump’s threats or criticism. After the win, she posted an expletive-filled video that began with a recording of the president saying what would happen if Virginia sought to do what they felt was necessary. 
THANK YOU VIRGINIA! https://t.co/52jmrP0b1C pic.twitter.com/qTlZR91xkw
Since the redistricting war began, according to Democracy Docket, Republicans have already potentially gained seven more congressional seats — five in Texas, one in Missouri, and one in North Carolina. But after April 21, Democrats potentially picked up 10 seats, with five in California, one in Utah, and four in Virginia.
However, the battle isn’t over as Florida could still give Republicans a victory with five more seats added contingent on whether the Florida legislature passes a new map in a special session later this month. 
RELATED CONTENT: The NAACP Activates Virginia Residents To Increase Voter Turnout
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April 22, 2026
Nas’s involvement highlights the cultural icon’s commitment to investing in the cultural and economic fabric of his hometown.
New York’s 550 Madison Avenue has officially unveiled a high-profile culinary destination featuring the opening of Bar Chimera, COTE 550, and the world-renowned Sushi Yoshitake, a project fueled by a partnership between Gracious Hospitality Management and legendary rapper Nas.
The collaboration brings together COTE Korean Steakhouse founder Simon Kim and the Grammy-winning artist, a New York native.
The co-owner of the new hospitality concepts at 550 Madison made the announcement via Instagram. Nas’ smooth and distinct voice narrates a host of images explaining how the new venture blends seamlessly with New York culture.
The centerpieces of the development offer three distinct gastronomic experiences in the Philip Johnson-designed tower. COTE 550 serves as an evolution of the Michelin-starred COTE Korean Steakhouse, blending high-end dining with the building’s architectural grandeur. Adjacent to it, Sushi Yoshitake marks the North American debut of the legendary three-Michelin-starred Tokyo establishment founded by Chef Masahiro Yoshitake.
A post shared by Bar Chimera (@barchimera)
Rounding out the new offerings is Bar Chimera, a chic and versatile lounge designed to serve as a social hub for the building’s tenants and elite New York diners. 
For Nas, the project represents a homecoming to the luxury real estate and dining sector of Manhattan, emphasizing his continued advocacy for Black ownership and representation in high-end spaces. The project is expected to draw a mix of international tourists, finance professionals, and hip-hop enthusiasts, bridging the gap between fine dining and urban culture.
RELATED CONTENT: Nas Gets Early Preview Of Hip-Hop Museum In The Bronx Following $1M Investment

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“Uniquely weird”: actor and artist Sarah Bernhardt’s self-portrait-cum-inkwell Autoportrait en Chimere (1880) © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2026/Royal Collection Trust
Jonathan Marsden joined the UK’s royal household in 1996—he was surveyor of works of art from 2010 to 2017—and, since then, he has embarked on a daunting mission: cataloguing around 1,800 sculptures in the Royal Collection, divided mainly between Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Hampton Court, Kensington Palace and Osborne House (in the guardianship of English Heritage).
This was not a scientific process of acquisition to create a balanced ensemble of European sculpture, as might be the case with a museum, but an accumulation of regal preferences and opportunities. Marsden’s introduction is very lucid, setting out the development of sculpture at court; royal involvement with sculptors; displaying sculpture (in galleries, state rooms, libraries and gardens); and stewardship of the collection. Then comes the catalogue, arranged by likely date of production.
One of the great recent discoveries comes early on: a bronze satyr by Benvenuto Cellini (1500-71), which came to light in a cupboard in 2002. The thoroughness of the catalogue reflects the care now devoted to the collection, but there have been accidents in the past. A melancholy entry for a series of four historical royal heads modelled in terracotta by John Michael Rysbrack for George II’s consort, Queen Caroline, notes that they are the survivors of a series of ten commissioned for her library at St James’s Palace in 1735: the rest were smashed when a shelf collapsed in 1906. Out of the many busts on parade here, the Louis-François Roubiliac portrait of Field Marshal John Ligonier is a highlight. Antonio Canova’s Mars and Venus (1815-19) took eight years to arrive in London but would become one of George IV’s outstanding acquisitions. This monarch benefited hugely from the disruption of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars and added extensively to the royal holdings.
Perhaps the greatest surprise here is the extent to which Queen Victoria and her consort Prince Albert enlarged the collection. Of works where provenance is known, over half the sculptures in the Royal Collection were acquired by them. They would buy many versions of the great works of antiquity, beside works by modern sculptors: Rome-based John Gibson (1790-1866) was a particular favourite. Albert rated sculpture as superior to painting because, as quoted by Marsden, “we have to deal with the three dimensions, and not with surface merely, and we are not called upon to resort to the illusion of perspective”. Several of Queen Victoria’s daughters were student sculptors, notably Louise under Joseph Edgar Boehm (1834-90), who rose to become the pre-eminent court sculptor during Victoria’s widowhood.
Alfred Gilbert (1854-1934) gets thorough coverage too, including his model for the Duke of Clarence’s tomb: as Marsden writes of this monument, it is “considered by many the greatest work of its kind to be erected in Britain in the second half of the 19th century”. Edward VII (prior to his accession in 1901) acquired several enticing nude statues, but his oddest purchase was surely the “uniquely weird” (Marsden’s words) bronze self-portrait-cum-inkwell by the actor and artist Sarah Bernhardt, Autoportrait en Chimère (1880), which shows her head over sinister bat wings.
Edwardian statuettes of soldiers, animals and royalty abound in volume four, but Marsden never relaxes his forensic and learned study of this outstanding collection, which closes with entries on works from the 20th-century by Oscar Nemon, Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth and (surprisingly) Anthony Caro.
With the welcome move to open up royal residences, the audience for encountering these notable works where they belong is set to grow. With Marsden’s magisterial catalogue to boost appreciation, these visits will be richer still.
Jonathan Marsden, European Sculpture in the Collection of His Majesty The King, Modern Art Press/Royal Collection Trust, 4 vols, 1648pp, 2510 col. & b/w illust., £350 (hb), published 23 September 2025
• Roger Bowdler is a partner at Montagu Evans, advising owners on historic buildings
The Carlton House treasures reassembled from the Royal Collection for the first time since 1827
More than just bronzes, this collection of essays captures 100 years of scholarship on the 19th century’s most famous sculptor
Three new books offer fresh angles on the Renaissance master

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VA legislators Louise Lucas, Don Scott, and Charniele Herring took on redistricting and helped shape a pivotal political moment.
The campaign for Virginians to vote ‘yes’ on redistricting during yesterday’s special elections was a collective effort among Democrats as politicians like Barack Obama urged the state’s constituents to exercise their voting power to fight a conservative redistricting agenda that could have drastically changed the outcome of the upcoming midterm elections. But beyond the ads and banners, three Black Virginia legislators were working just as hard behind the scenes. In fact, it was Va. Sen. Louise Lucas who understood early on that an aggressive push would be needed to combat the Republican gerrymandering agenda.

“We’ve got to fight fire with fire,” Sen. Lucas recalled telling her Virginia House counterpart, Speaker Don Scott, in 2025, per CNN. “This is about pushing back on Donald Trump having what I consider unchecked control of the Congress because they don’t have backbone enough to push against him.”
The 82-year-old great-grandmother, who grew up in the Jim Crow South before becoming a prominent figure in Virginia politics, has grown a following for her no-nonsense, unyielding approach to politics, particularly when dealing with the Trump administration. 
Get our victory in Virginia out of your mouth while you echo MAGA talking points. Grow a pair and stand up to this President. This is just embarassing. https://t.co/iV2eHL6nI0
You all started it and we fucking finished it. https://t.co/JU3IR4eEHt
And this year, she helped push through a 10-1 map that, if upheld by the courts, could help Democrats win 10 of Virginia’s 11 House seats in the midterm elections in November 2026. With a Democratic-controlled House, Trump’s legislative plans could be obstructed, and new inquiries into him and his policies could be initiated during the last two years of his presidency, thus explaining why Trump is urgently pushing Republican-led states to redraw their district maps, an act that is typically done once a decade. 
However, efforts to get the 10-1 map onto the ballot began in October 2025, when House Majority Leader Charniele L. Herring (D-Alexandria) introduced a procedural resolution that would allow the General Assembly to consider a proposed constitutional amendment granting lawmakers the authority to redraw Virginia’s congressional districts mid-decade.
“These priorities reflect what Virginians told us this November: protect our rights and freedoms and deliver an economy that works for working families,” Leader Herring said in a statement about the procedural vote. “Part of that work is making sure Virginians have a fair say in their government. As Donald Trump encourages Republican legislatures to manipulate congressional maps, we are making sure Virginia is prepared to protect fair representation and uphold the integrity of our democratic process.” 
Despite Republican attempts to dissuade Virginia voters from endorsing the ‘yes’ vote, the campaign led by Scott and Lucas triumphed with a narrow 51-49 margin. 
“Tonight, Virginians sent a message heard across this country: we will not let Donald Trump or MAGA Republicans rig our democracy. This started in Texas when Trump launched an unprecedented power grab to rig the midterms, and tonight Virginia voters ended it and voted YES to stop his power grab,” Speaker Scott shared a statement, per 13 News Now. 
THANK YOU VIRGINIA! https://t.co/52jmrP0b1C pic.twitter.com/qTlZR91xkw
And while these legislators are thanking Virginians, social media users are celebrating and thanking them for their work in bringing this issue forward. 

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April 22, 2026
Rapper Xzibit is revealing the millions he owes in IRS and business debt while trying to end his monthly spousal support payments to his estranged wife.
Xzibit’s financial and IRS troubles are making headlines as he seeks to end the temporary monthly spousal support payments he makes to his estranged wife.
In newly filed court documents, the California rapper said he owes more than $400,000 in back taxes to the state and about $900,000 to the Internal Revenue Service—roughly $1.3 million total, TMZ reports. The former “Pimp My Ride” host also reports over $1.4 million in personal debt, another $2 million in business liabilities, and average monthly expenses of about $23,566.
Despite earning $66,547 a month, Xzibit (real name Alvin Nathaniel Joiner) said his mounting bills, debt, and temporary spousal support payments to his estranged wife, Krista Joiner, have become too much. He’s seeking to end the support once the divorce is finalized, noting she earns about $12,843 monthly.
Xzibit and Krista Joiner married in 2014, separated in 2021, and share a son, Gatlyn, whom they welcomed in 2010. The two, who have joint custody, are headed to trial later this month to finalize their divorce.
Court filings show Xzibit pays $5,145 monthly in child support, while in February 2025, Krista sought increased child and spousal support, citing financial hardship and missed expenses. She accused the rap star of having limited contact with their son.
At the time, Krista said she and their son had to leave their $10,000-a-month home and struggled to cover basic expenses, alleging Xzibit prioritized other spending on his current girlfriend over their child’s needs. She sought $9,313 in monthly child support, $21,380 in spousal support, more than $750,000 in alleged arrears, and $300,000 in legal fees, arguing his income was far higher than reported.
In response, Xzibit is seeking to end spousal support once the divorce is finalized. He also wants to keep a 1957 Chevy Bel Air, while he’s fine with Krista keeping a 2015 Jeep Wrangler.
RELATED CONTENT: Bill Cosby $19.25 Million Judgment: Donna Motsinger Wins Sexual Assault Lawsuit

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The singer’s mother praised her daughter’s newly shaved head on Instagram, calling Solange a “beautiful Egyptian goddess” and applauding her fearless individuality.

Tina Knowles is publicly celebrating her daughter Solange Knowles after the singer debuted a bold new shaved hairstyle, once again embracing her reputation for fearless self-expression.
Solange recently shared a series of images on social media revealing her newly shaved head, along with variations of closely cropped styles she experimented with during the transformation. Known for pushing creative boundaries in both music and fashion, the Grammy-winning artist’s latest look quickly drew attention from fans and fellow creatives alike.
A post shared by Tina Knowles (@mstinaknowles)
Among the most notable reactions came from her mother, Tina Knowles, who took to Instagram to praise her daughter’s striking appearance. Reposting Solange’s photos, she wrote that her daughter looked like a “beautiful Egyptian goddess,” adding a personal touch by recalling that Solange was conceived during a family trip to Egypt.
“You look like a beautiful Egyptian Goddess @solangeknowles Which is very appropriate since you were conceived on a cruise sailing down the Nile in Egypt,” Mama Knowles shared via Instagram.
Tina Knowles didn’t stop there. She also applauded Solange’s confidence and individuality, noting that she has always believed her daughter could pull off any look. In her words, Solange’s beauty and presence go beyond physical appearance, highlighting her long-standing admiration for her daughter’s boldness.
“I always said you could shave your head and wear a garbage bag and still look gorgeous. Well “Viola “! !!! You turn everything into Art!
I love your boldness!,” she concluded.
The heartfelt message quickly resonated with fans, many of whom flooded the comment sections with support. Admirers praised Solange for continuing to challenge conventional beauty standards and for using her platform to celebrate authenticity. Her shaved head, while a dramatic change, aligns with her history of artistic reinvention and cultural influence.
Solange, who has built a career defined by creative independence, has often used her image as a form of expression. From her critically acclaimed music projects to her distinctive visual style, she consistently pushes conversations around identity, Black culture, and self-definition.
This latest transformation is no exception. By sharing the process openly, she invites fans into her evolving journey while reinforcing a message of confidence and self-acceptance.
Tina Knowles’ public support adds another layer to the moment, reflecting the close bond within the Knowles family and their shared appreciation for individuality and artistic freedom.
As reactions continue to pour in, one thing is clear: Solange’s new look is more than just a hairstyle change. It’s another statement in a career built on authenticity, creativity, and the courage to stand apart.

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April 22, 2026
Atlanta Influences Everything’s bold vision has materialized into a storefront at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
What began as a declaration of Atlanta’s culture-shifting influence has grown into Atlanta Influences Everything (AIE) securing a 10-year partnership at the world’s busiest airport.
On April 22, AIE will open a storefront in Concourse B of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, according to a press release.
Done in collaboration with Paradies Lagardère, a leading airport retailer and restaurateur, the brick-and-mortar location will feature a curated selection of exclusive apparel, including T-shirts, hoodies, hats, and sweatshirts that amplify a “Made in ATL” vision.
“This moment is about more than us,” said the AIE leadership team. “It’s about showing what’s possible when Black entrepreneurs are given the space to build, to dream, and to execute at the highest level. This is about Atlanta, but it’s also about every city, every creative, and every visionary who knows their impact deserves a global stage.”
A post shared by ToNeTo Atlanta (@tonetoatl)
The launch event will run from 3 to 5 p.m., with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and a host of cultural leaders and special guests scheduled to attend the ribbon-cutting, which comes after three years of effort.
“For three years, this deal has been carefully built and negotiated,” the press release stated “And now, it stands as proof of what happens when vision, culture, and strategy align. Positioned inside the busiest airport in the world, AIE is no longer just a mantra, it is a movement with a permanent global footprint.”
Founded by Tory Edwards, Bem Joiner, and Ian Ford, Atlanta Influences Everything has helped shape Atlanta’s cultural narrative through initiatives like 404 Day and partnerships with brands including Coca-Cola, Lululemon, Prudential Financial, and Atlanta United FC. Guided by its “Three C’s”—Corporate, Culture, and Civic—the group focuses on driving lasting impact.
Now AIE is at the gateway connecting the city to the world.
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