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“Sisters of Courage: A Thanksgiving Sacrifice”
Thanksgiving is meant to be a day of family, food, and gratitude. But in Orange, New Jersey , the holiday turned into heartbreak when two sisters gave their lives to save their father . 🔥 The Fire On Thanksgiving evening, flames tore through a home on Mosswood Avenue. Inside were multiple family members gathered for the holiday meal. Six relatives managed to escape. But Frantzia Fleury, 49, and her sister Pojanee Fleury, 42 , rushed back upstairs to rescue their father, who
Quarla Blackwell
Nov 30, 20252 min read


“Heat and Hope: How Kinston Will Gain from $3.6 Billion in Aid”
The federal government has released $3.6 billion in heating assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). For Kinston, North Carolina , this funding means more than warmth — it represents direct relief for families and a boost to the local economy. 📊 Local Context: Kinston by the Numbers Poverty Rate : Kinston’s poverty rate is about 24% , nearly double the national average. Median Household Income : Roughly $33,000 , well below the state median
Quarla Blackwell
Nov 30, 20252 min read


“The Worst of the Worst: The Case Against Robert Shepard”
Thanksgiving week in Ohio was shaken by news that Robert Shepard, 50, of Cleves , faces nearly 20 counts tied to child sexual abuse material. Prosecutors described the case as “the worst of the worst,” a phrase that has reverberated through Hamilton County as details of the indictment emerged. ⚖️ The Charges Shepard was indicted on 19 counts of pandering sexually oriented material involving children , along with related charges. Each count represents a separate incident uncov
Quarla Blackwell
Nov 30, 20252 min read


“Thanks and Tragedy: Stories from a Shattered Holiday”
Thanksgiving is a holiday built on gratitude, family, and tradition. But in 2025, across the United States, the day was scarred by tragedy. Fires, accidents, and violence claimed lives, leaving families with empty chairs at their tables and communities struggling to reconcile celebration with sorrow. 🔥 “When the Warmth of Home Turned to Ashes” In Orange, New Jersey , two sisters died in a house fire that erupted before dawn. Neighbors described their bravery, saying they tri
Quarla Blackwell
Nov 30, 20252 min read


“The Harsh Truth: Kinston’s New Mayor Was Bought Before He Began.”
After weeks of delay, the protest against Kareem Moore’s election was dismissed — but that dismissal cannot erase the truth of how he rose to power. His campaign was not built on loyalty or gratitude, but on betrayal and manipulation. From the very beginning, I was the one who believed in his potential, walked him into the Board of Elections to file, and carried his name into the spotlight. Yet once power was within reach, he allowed himself to be bought, pressured, and turne
Quarla Blackwell
Nov 25, 20254 min read


🎶 Marvin Sapp: Gospel Giant in the Spotlight
By Quarla Blackwell Few voices in gospel music carry the weight and emotion of Marvin Sapp . Known worldwide for Never Would Have Made It , Sapp has spent decades shaping the sound of modern gospel. In 2025, his name has been back in headlines — not just for his music, but for the drama and milestones surrounding his ministry. ✨ Honoring Dr. MaLinda Sapp In November, the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan, dedicated a portion of Madison Avenue as Dr. MaLinda P. Sapp Way , honorin
Quarla Blackwell
Nov 25, 20252 min read


🎬 Omar Epps Leads Moses the Black: A Crime Saga with Soul
Omar Epps has built a career on powerful performances, from Juice and Love & Basketball to House . Now, he’s stepping into one of his most ambitious roles yet: Malik, a hardened Chicago gang leader at a spiritual crossroads , in the upcoming film Moses the Black . Set to release nationwide on January 30, 2026 , the film is inspired by the real‑life repentance story of the fifth‑century saint Moses the Black, who transformed his life after years of violence. Director Yelena
Quarla Blackwell
Nov 25, 20252 min read


🎤 From Fugees Fame to Federal Flames: The Rise and Fall of Pras Michel
Once celebrated as part of one of hip‑hop’s most iconic groups, Pras Michel now finds himself at the center of one of the most shocking celebrity scandals in recent memory. In November 2025, the Grammy‑winning rapper was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison , a stunning downfall for a man whose music once defined a generation. The story begins with the Fugees — Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, and Pras — whose 1996 album The Score became a cultural landmark. But decades later,
Quarla Blackwell
Nov 25, 20252 min read


📰 Jermaine Jackson: My Brother, My Pride
When I think about Detroit basketball, I don’t just think about the grit and grind of the game — I think about my brother, Jermaine Jackson . To the world, he’s a former NBA player, a Hall of Famer at the University of Detroit Mercy, and a mentor to rising stars. But to me, he’s simply my brother — and I couldn’t be prouder of the man he has become. Jermaine’s journey started right here in Detroit. From Finney High School to the University of Detroit Mercy, he carried the wei
Quarla Blackwell
Nov 25, 20252 min read
📰 Detroit Murder Case: A Community Shaken By:Quarla Blackwell
Detroit has been rocked by a chilling case that began as a missing person report and ended with the discovery of a body in a vacant lot. On October 30, 2025, twenty‑seven‑year‑old Christian Epps was reported missing by his mother. What followed was a police investigation that uncovered not only his death but disturbing allegations of mutilation. Authorities say the suspect, thirty‑nine‑year‑old Michael Lovell‑J Knox, was involved in a violent confrontation with Epps inside a
Quarla Blackwell
Nov 25, 20252 min read


📰 Charlotte’s Pizza Squirrel Steals the Spotlight By Quarla Blackwell
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In a city known for its banking towers and bustling nightlife, one small creature has stolen the spotlight — and a slice of pizza. A squirrel in uptown Charlotte became a viral sensation after being filmed dragging a full slice of pepperoni pizza up a tree, sparking laughter and comparisons to New York’s famous “Pizza Rat.” The video, captured by a passerby near a busy sidewalk, shows the squirrel gripping the oversized slice with determination. Birds swoop
Quarla Blackwell
Nov 25, 20252 min read


📰 Funny Story: Bald Eagle vs. Windshield in Western NC
BRYSON CITY, N.C. — Drivers see plenty of wildlife in western North Carolina, but one motorist had an encounter that was equal parts shocking and absurd. On November 19, 2025, a woman was driving along U.S. Highway 74 near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park when a bald eagle carrying a cat carcass dropped it directly onto her car . The cat smashed into the passenger side of her windshield, leaving a spiderweb of cracks. The driver immediately called 911, telling dispatc
Quarla Blackwell
Nov 25, 20251 min read


“From Fire to Felony: “Jacksonville Man Charged After Setting House on Fire, Stealing Fire Truck — A Stark Reminder Mental Illness Is Real”
JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — Authorities say 31‑year‑old Anthony Biz is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly setting his own home ablaze and then stealing a fire department command vehicle from the scene. The incident unfolded on November 23, 2025 , at Biz’s residence on Nelson Drive. Firefighters were inside battling the blaze when the truck was taken. The vehicle was later recovered in Pender County, and Biz was arrested shortly afterward. Charges Filed Biz has been cha
Quarla Blackwell
Nov 25, 20252 min read


Gold-Plated Vanity in a Broken Economy: The White House Ballroom Nobody Asked For
While millions of Americans are struggling to pay rent, keep food on the table, and survive in a battered economy, the President has chosen to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into a lavish new ballroom at the White House . The reported cost: $200–$300 million , depending on final finishes. This is not a renovation for safety. It is not modernization for efficiency. It is spectacle — a 90,000‑square‑foot monument to excess , dripping in gold ornamentation, towering flagpo
Quarla Blackwell
Nov 25, 20252 min read


📰 Union High School Coach Missing
WISE COUNTY, Va. — The Union High School community is grappling with shock and sadness after the sudden disappearance of head football coach Travis Turner , who was officially listed as a missing person by Virginia State Police on Sunday, November 23, 2025 Authorities say Turner was last seen on November 20 at his residence. When officers arrived to investigate a complaint that evening, he was no longer there. He was last seen wearing a gray sweatshirt, gray sweatpants, and
Quarla Blackwell
Nov 25, 20252 min read


“From Aggression to Accountability: Supreme Court Redefines Police Force
Kinston, NC — At a time when national directives have encouraged aggressive policing, the Supreme Court has delivered a unanimous ruling that emphasizes compassion, accountability, and context in evaluating police use-of-force cases. The decision in Barnes v. Felix (2025) marks a turning point in how courts across the country will judge claims of excessive force. The case arose from the 2016 shooting of 24-year-old Ashtian Barnes in Texas, where Officer Roberto Felix Jr. fir
Quarla Blackwell
Nov 24, 20252 min read


Elder Abuse Charges at Colonial Heights Nursing Home Raise Alarms Nationwide
Colonial Heights, VA — What began as a troubling case against three staffers at Colonial Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center has now widened into one of the most significant elder abuse investigations in Virginia’s recent history. Prosecutors have charged multiple employees—including nurses, administrators, and even a medical director—with crimes ranging from neglect and falsifying records to medication errors that allegedly contributed to patient deaths. The scandal fi
Quarla Blackwell
Nov 24, 20252 min read


“Plymouth Evicts Compassion: Food Pantry Shut Down While Hunger Rises”
The Plymouth Food Pantry, a lifeline for hundreds of families, has been ordered to vacate its building by December 1, 2025 . The town manager’s letter delivered last week demanded that the pantry turn in its keys, citing lease compliance issues . Bear Towne Market, which shares the same building, received a similar eviction order. The decision has sparked outrage. At the most recent council meeting, the room was standing-room only , with residents spilling into the hallway an
Quarla Blackwell
Nov 24, 20252 min read


“Faith Without Action Is Dead — And So Is Kinston’s Housing Plan”
WRITTEN AND INSPIRED BY QUARLA BLACKWELL In Charlotte, churches have teamed up with the city to tackle one of the most pressing issues of our time: affordable housing. Faith leaders and city officials are working side by side to create homes that ordinary families can afford, proving that when community and government unite, real solutions emerge. This partnership is not just about bricks and mortar — it’s about dignity, stability, and hope. Charlotte’s initiative is called “
Quarla Blackwell
Nov 24, 20253 min read


“Kinston’s Crisis: Guns, Drugs, and the Cycle No One Wants to Talk About”
Police in Kinston responded to multiple reports of shots fired in the 2200 block of Old Snow Hill Road on November 20, 2025. What began as a call for gunfire quickly escalated into a major arrest involving both an 18‑year‑old man and his mother. When officers arrived, they observed 18‑year‑old Jayden McKiver passing a rifle. A search of the residence uncovered an AR‑15 rifle, approximately nine grams of cocaine, 11 Suboxone dosage units, and assorted drug paraphernalia. Inves
Quarla Blackwell
Nov 24, 20253 min read
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