Author: Gesi Lloyd

Baltimore’s inspector general was already locked in a legal dispute with the mayor’s office when a Facebook post made things considerably more complicated. On April 20, Inspector General Isabel Cumming shared a YouTube video on her personal account that included an AI-generated thumbnail depicting Mayor Brandon Scott in an unflattering way, shown smoking a cigar, holding what appeared to be an alcoholic drink, clutching luxury shopping bags, and standing near a notice of an overdrawn city bank account. The post was up briefly before Cumming removed it. By then, the mayor’s office had already taken notice. The formal complaint and…

Armed groups launched one of the most expansive coordinated attacks Mali has seen in years on Saturday, striking the capital and at least three other cities simultaneously in an offensive that targeted government buildings, military installations and a major international airport. Heavy gunfire and explosions were reported near Modibo Keïta International Airport in Bamako, roughly 15 kilometers from the city center, forcing the cancellation of all incoming and outgoing flights. Similar reports came in from Sevare, Kidal and the northern city of Gao, where witnesses described sustained automatic rifle fire and explosions rattling doors and windows. Helicopters were observed patrolling…

Before the dotcom collapse wiped out nearly half the S&P 500’s value, one number was already in the red. Before the 2021 correction, it flashed again. That number is now higher than it has ever been, and the market keeps climbing. The metric in question compares the total value of U.S. stocks to the country’s gross domestic product. The underlying logic is that over time, stock market valuations cannot outpace the growth of the businesses generating the profits that support them. When the ratio stretches far beyond its historical range, the gap has always eventually closed, and the closing has…

Mississippi’s governor announced Friday that he will call a special legislative session to redraw the state’s judicial district lines, but only after the U.S. Supreme Court issues its decision in a redistricting case with consequences that extend well beyond Louisiana. The governor signed a proclamation Thursday setting that timeline in motion. Under his directive, state legislators will return to Jackson 21 days after the court rules in Louisiana v. Callais, a case the court is expected to decide before its term closes in June. He has been direct about his position. The governor argued that the Mississippi Legislature has not…

She was 19 years old and had already lived through more than most people ever will. Her family grew up under repression and torture in the Democratic Republic of Congo before making the decision to leave everything behind. The journey to the United States was supposed to be the hardest part. It was not. During the crossing, the family’s youngest child, 8 years old, died. His death marked the most devastating point of a passage that had already cost them enormously. When they finally arrived in Maine, they carried that grief into a new country that did not yet feel…

The Philadelphia Eagles moved quickly on the second night of the NFL draft Friday, acquiring edge rusher Jonathan Greenard from the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for two third-round picks, then immediately signing him to a four-year, $100 million extension that includes $50 million in guaranteed money. Philadelphia sent the No. 98 pick in this year’s draft and a third-rounder in 2027 to Minnesota. The Eagles also received a 2026 seventh-round pick in the deal. Greenard passed his physical Friday night and attended the Celtics-76ers NBA playoff game in Philadelphia before the night was over. What drove the deal on both…

Dylan Harper did not start Friday night’s game. He did not need to. The San Antonio Spurs rookie came off the bench in Game 3 against the Portland Trail Blazers and delivered one of the more quietly stunning performances of this young playoff season, scoring 27 points in a 120-108 victory that gave San Antonio a 2-1 series lead. Victor Wembanyama was not on the floor. The Spurs won anyway. Harper, the No. 2 pick in last June’s draft, scored 22 of those 27 points in the second half, including 12 in the third quarter and 10 in the fourth.…

Atlanta is taking the World Cup off the field and into the streets. Mayor Andre Dickens and Showcase Atlanta announced a $150,000 Community Engagement Grant this week, a program designed to fund free, public watch parties and community festivals across the city’s six zones during the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer. The goal is straightforward: no one in Atlanta should miss out on the tournament just because they don’t have a match ticket. What the grant covers Selected organizations in Atlanta Community will receive between $3,000 and $4,000 in direct funding to cover local programming costs, along with a…

Dominique Malonga received her FIBA clearance letter on April 22, according to ESPN, resolving months of eligibility uncertainty and confirming she will be available for the Seattle Storm when their season opens on May 8. The clearance from the International Basketball Federation came after a prolonged contract dispute with Turkish club Fenerbahçe had cast doubt over whether she would be ready in time. Malonga was selected No. 2 overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft, one of the highest-profile picks in recent memory for the Storm. Getting her onto the court before the season begins represents a significant development for a…

Thousands of acres are burning across southern Georgia and northern Florida this week, driven by a combination of severe drought, high winds, and dried vegetation that has turned large stretches of the region into a wildfire landscape. The crisis has moved fast. A significant fire in Atkinson County, Georgia, has destroyed approximately 90 homes since igniting earlier this week, and multiple counties have responded by implementing burn bans that mark the first such restrictions in Georgia’s recorded history. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for 91 counties, a figure that reflects how broadly the conditions have spread…