Did you know that nearly all states allow jails and prisons to charge incarcerated people for things like room and board and medical care? It is a financial cost that is often passed on to families and loved ones, and is especially harmful for Black families. 

According to the Prison Policy Initiative, Black people make up 37% of local and state prison populations. Similarly, data shows that 48 states permit at least one “pay to stay” fee, 42 states (and Washington D.C.) allow facilities to charge incarcerated adults for room and board, and 43 states allow charges for medical fees, per Axios. 

While these fees are supposed to be taken directly from incarcerated people’s wages, most adults working in these facilities make less than $1 a day. As a result, these balances grow, and that debt is either carried over into incarcerated people’s lives after release or passed onto their loved ones. 

The implementation of “pay-to-stay” fees began in the 1970s when state officials sought to alleviate incarceration costs from the public budget. The trend grew in the 1980s following federal funding cuts under the Reagan administration, leading to charges for meals, phone calls, and even court-appointed counsel. 

Fines and Fees Justice Center (FFJC), an advocacy group, reports that these incarceration debts disproportionally impact women, particularly Black women, as surveys show that women make up 83% of those paying fines, fees, and bail for incarcerated people. Despite women making 83 cents for every dollar men make and Black women making 66 cents for every dollar white men make, research found that Black mothers are three times more likely than white mothers to be their household’s sole provider. 

Beyond putting the financial strain of debt on Black women, it can also deeply impact a family’s financial future. In some states, debt collectors or probation officers send letters demanding full payment within 30 days, and in some cases, can seize any assets in the incarcerated person’s name, including college savings and inheritances. 

“In most cases, it drains the account completely,” Brittany Friedman, a USC sociologist who leads the Captive Money Lab and was a consultant on the Campaign Zero project, told Axios. “We were the first to put this issue on the map — people were talking about mass incarceration, but no one was talking about families having their college funds and inheritances seized.”

While some states argue that these fees contribute to public services and victim restitution, the argument fails to explain how fees are imposed on incarcerated people for victimless crimes like drug possession. Meanwhile, states like Oklahoma are passing legislation to eliminate fees, and the state of Maryland recently waived $13 million in unpaid probation fees this year. 

27

What started as a typical post-breakup “wish you well” Instagram story has now erupted into a full-fledged digital war. The once fan-favorite couple from Love Island USA Season 6, JaNa Craig and Kenny Rodriguez, have officially split, and what followed was not for the faint of heart. In a matter of 48 hours, the breakup has devolved into a scorched-earth social media campaign, with JaNa’s close friend and castmate Leah Kateb launching brutal accusations against Kenny, including claims of racism and scamming.

Let’s unpack the chaos.

JaNa and Kenny’s Split: The Calm Before the Storm

TMZ broke the news that JaNa Craig and Kenny Rodriguez called it quits early Sunday morning, with multiple sources confirming that JaNa was the one who ended things. While the initial details were scarce, observant fans noticed the pair had unfollowed each other on Instagram and removed each other’s names from their bios. Soon after, their “Powerpuff Girls” besties Serena Page and Leah Kateb also unfollowed Kenny, as did their boyfriends.

Online speculation ignited. Was it a publicity stunt? Did someone cheat? But then came JaNa’s statement.

JaNa Craig Breaks Her Silence: ‘Disgusting and Disappointing’

On Sunday afternoon, JaNa Craig took to her Instagram story to address the breakup directly, and it was clear from her words that this was no mutual split.

“Hi my loves. Thank you for all your love & support. It means the world to me. As you know, Kenny and I are no longer together. Please know that I have seen all the breakup theories and none have matched up to how terrible, disgusting and disappointing it truly is. Discovering that someone you loved isn’t who you thought they were and that the relationship you thought you were building hasn’t been genuine since day one has been truly devastating.”

While she maintained grace, the tone was unmistakably raw. JaNa, who is known for her poise on and off the show, emphasized that she was a “child of God” and would be okay, but the damage was done.

Kenny Rodriguez’s Attempt at Damage Control

Hours later, Kenny Rodriguez tried to get ahead of the growing firestorm by posting his own response on his Instagram story.

“The past few days have been incredibly difficult. I’ve been quietly sitting with a lot of emotions and doing my best to process everything privately. Breakups are never easy, especially in the public eye. Sometimes, despite how deeply you care for someone, you come to the hard truth that the relationship was not something that could last long-term. I’ll always be grateful for the time we shared and the memories we created. I release this chapter with no ill will.”

Kenny’s statement, loaded with polished sincerity, struck a different chord, and to JaNa and her friends, it rang hollow.

JaNa SNAPS: ‘You Manipulative Liar’

Shortly after Kenny’s diplomatic Instagram statement, JaNa clapped back hard.

“@kennyrodriguez stfu you manipulative liar. You not taking accountability and telling people the type of person you really are is insane to me!! My first statement was me being nice. Do not piss me off.”

It was an unfiltered detonation. No more cryptic grace. No more polite heartbreak. JaNa made it crystal clear that Kenny’s side of the story was, in her words, “insane.”

Leah Kateb Enters the Arena: ‘Racist, Clout/Money Hungry, and a Scammer’

Then, as if the flames weren’t already high enough, Leah Kateb, JaNa’s castmate and one-third of their iconic “Powerpuff Girls” trio launched a nuclear-level attack on Kenny via her own Instagram story.

“@kennyrodriguez Put a sock in it ChatGPT headass. Tell the truth for once! Racist, clout/money hungry and a scammer since DAY 1!!!! Tryna make it seem like it’s something it’s not. Dw, our Nay is blessed & highly favored.”

This was not shade. It was a direct hit. Leah accused Kenny of being racist, financially exploitative, and fake since the day he walked into the villa. And for those wondering what “ChatGPT headass” means, it’s essentially a dig at being robotic and disingenuous aka, fake as hell.

Powerpuff Protection Mode: Friends Rally Around JaNa

JaNa hasn’t just been supported by fans. Her entire Love Island inner circle is rallying around her. Serena Page and Leah Kateb, along with their respective partners, swiftly unfollowed Kenny Rodriguez, signaling that whatever happened behind the scenes, it was serious enough to fracture friendships too.

Sources tell TMZ that JaNa’s been leaning heavily on her girls since Sunday morning and has remained surrounded by friends throughout the fallout.

Related

Aland Etienne showed up to work every day to keep others safe. On Monday evening, that commitment cost him his life.

Etienne, a 46-year-old unarmed security guard and father of two, was identified Tuesday as one of the four people killed during a mass shooting at 345 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, the New York Times reported. He was stationed in the lobby of the office tower when the gunman walked in and opened fire.

“My family suffered a heartbreaking tragedy,” Gathmand Etienne, the slain security guard’s brother, wrote in a Facebook post, adding that Aland “was more than a brother—he was a father, a son, and a light in our lives. Our hearts are shattered, and we’re asking for your prayers and strength as we navigate this painful time.”

Etienne, who was Haitian and had been licensed as a security officer since 2017, was one of the first victims targeted when the shooter, 27-year-old Shane Tamura, entered the building with a semi-automatic rifle just after 6 p.m, AP News reported. 

Tamura also fatally shot off-duty NYPD officer Didarul Islam and Blackstone executive Wesley LePatner in the lobby, before riding an elevator to the 33rd floor and killing Rudin Management employee Julia Hyman. One NFL employee was left seriously injured. Tamura then allegedly turned the gun on himself.

According to officials, Tamura appeared to be targeting the NFL, whose New York offices are located in the building, but may have gotten off on the wrong floor. A suicide note he left behind referenced CTE, the degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head trauma, often in football players. Though Tamura never played professionally, he blamed the league for his mental decline and suffering.

Etienne’s union president, Manny Pastreic, who oversees union 32BJ SEIU, called him “a New York hero” while speaking to the New York Post.

“This tragedy speaks to the sacrifice of security officers who risk their lives every day to keep New Yorkers and our buildings safe,” Pastreich said. “Every time a security officer puts on their uniform, they put their lives on the line. Their contributions to our city are essential, though often unappreciated. Aland Etienne is a New York hero. We will remember him as such.”

According to the New York Post, who spoke with the deceased’s girlfriend as well, Etienne was one of five siblings and the father of a daughter and a son, days away from his seventh birthday. He died as he crouched behind a desk for cover as Tamura opened fire. 

His younger sister told the New York Times her older brother always had a smile on his face. She said, “He was a great person.” 

2

What started as a standard Love Island breakup has erupted into a scorched-earth war of words, with the islanders turning on one of their own.

Season 6 sweetheart JaNa Craig and Kenny Rodriguez may have seemed like a fan-favorite couple just days ago, but the reality of their split has sent shockwaves through the Love Island USA community, and now Craig’s inner circle is dragging Rodriguez through the dirt.

The situation turned explosive after Kenny released a carefully worded breakup statement via Instagram Stories, prompting not only a furious public response from JaNa herself, but a blistering takedown from her castmates Liv Walker and Leah Kateb.

The Breakup Heard Around the Villa

TMZ was the first to confirm that JaNa Craig and Kenny Rodriguez officially split over the weekend. According to the outlet, the breakup occurred early Sunday morning, with sources claiming Craig was the one who ended things.

While no concrete cause was revealed initially, fans noticed signs of trouble almost immediately. The couple unfollowed each other, removed names from bios, and their mutual friends began dropping Kenny like dead weight.

Speculation swirled across social media, but JaNa didn’t let the gossip linger for long. On Tuesday, she broke her silence.

“Hi my loves, thank you for all your love & support. It means the world to me,” Craig began in a now-viral Instagram story. “Please know that I have seen all the breakup theories and none have matched up to how terrible, disgusting and disappointing it truly is. Discovering that someone you loved isn’t who you thought they were and that the relationship you thought you were building hasn’t been genuine since day one has been truly devastating. Thank you for respecting my privacy and please know as a child of God, I will always be okay.”

That message, raw, spiritual, and scathing, immediately turned the tide against Kenny, who attempted damage control shortly after with his own post.

Kenny Tries to Play It Cool…

Rodriguez shared his version of events, positioning himself as the mature party and casting the breakup in a neutral light.

“The past few days have been incredibly difficult. I’ve been quietly sitting with a lot of emotions and doing my best to process everything privately,” he wrote. “Breakups are never easy, especially in the public eye… I’ll always be grateful for the time we shared and the memories we created.”

But Craig wasn’t buying it, and she didn’t hesitate to call him out.

“@kennyrodriguez stfu you manipulative liar,” she fired back in a separate Story. “You not taking accountability and telling people the type of person you really are is insane to me!! My first statement was me being nice. Do not piss me off.”

Craig’s rage was not a solo effort. It came with backup. And when the Love Island girls ride, they ride together.

Liv and Leah Launch a Full-Scale Smackdown

Enter Love Island USA alumni Liv Walker and Leah Kateb, two-thirds of the fan-favorite “Powerpuff Girls” trio, along with Craig herself. If Kenny was hoping to emerge unscathed, that fantasy went up in flames the moment Liv logged on.

“Your pathetic excuse for a story is laughable,” Liv blasted. “I can’t even put into words how good of a person naynay is and how hard it is watch her go through something like this. @kennyrodriguez! Hope this gives you the clout you always wanted you f***ing loser.”

And then Leah chimed in, and it got even worse for Kenny.

“@kennyrodriguez Put a sock in it ChatGPT headass. Tell the truth for once! Racist, clout/money hungry and a scammer since DAY 1!!!! Tryna make it seem like it’s something it’s not. Dw, our Nay is blessed & highly favored.”

Yes, you read that right. The accusations hurled at Kenny included racism, greed, and manipulation. And neither Liv nor Leah appear to be walking those comments back.

Related

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition is condemning the detainment and violent treatment of U.S. labor leader Chris Smalls after Israeli forces detained him while on a humanitarian aid mission over the weekend.

In a statement released via social media on Tuesday, July 29, the coalition confirmed Smalls’ fate after the humanitarian aid ship he had boarded, Handala, was intercepted. 

“When he reached the Israeli prison, U.S. human rights defender Chris Smalls was physically assaulted by seven uniformed individuals,” the statement explained. “They choked him and kicked him in the legs, leaving visible signs of violence on his neck and back.”

The statement continued, “When his lawyer met with him, Chris was surrounded by six members of Israel’s special police unit. This level of force was not used against other abducted activists.”

It added, “We condemn this violence against Chris and demand accountability for the assault and discriminatory treatment he faced.”

The incident occurred on Saturday, when Israeli forces intercepted the Handala in international waters. The vessel was part of an effort to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. In total, 21 passengers, including Smalls, were detained. However, according to eyewitnesses and the Flotilla Coalition, Smalls was singled out during the raid and subjected to brutal force that was not used against any other passengers.

Smalls, who rose to national prominence in 2022 after successfully leading the unionization of an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island, has become known as an American labor activist. On this mission, he was the only Black member of the aid delegation. His supporters say that makes the violence he faced all the more disturbing.

The coalition’s statement has fueled growing outrage online, particularly as no U.S. government officials have commented on the incident. Many have pointed out that Smalls is a U.S. citizen on a humanitarian mission, raising questions about why there has been no public outcry from the Trump administration or mainstream press.

Days before he was detained, he spoke remotely from a ship with the Real News Network about why he was taking on the endeavour, what it was like on board thus far, how they were staying safe, and his thoughts and feelings on the crisis. 

“As a labor leader, as you mentioned, as a tax paying US citizen whose tax paying dollars is going towards the slaughtering of nearly half a million people in less than two years, I can no longer be complicit,” he told the outlet.

He added that he was well aware of the risks associated with the mission at hand, noting how this is considered one of the most dangerous military operations in the world, arguing that he has experience with that level of risk, given his background as a whistleblower and unionizing Amazon. 

When asked the extremely grim question of what he would want his final message to be in the event that this was it, Smalls said, “The one thing I don’t want to happen is my kids being in the world that we live in right now. Every time a Palestinian child dies, a piece of humanity dies with it.”

He added, “We should be ashamed to sit by and stand by and watch these innocent people be slaughtered every day … Every day I opened up my Instagram, every day I opened up my Twitter or any social media platform, all we see is death. And I know as a father, as a civilian, I can’t stand with it. And it could be my last time talking or last time being on a mission forever. But I hope that people will remember and know that once again, this is a world that we do not want to live in, and that’s what we have to fight for, humanity. Gaza is showing us how to love.”

20

Doja Cat has just thrown a high-fashion Molotov cocktail into one of the most polarizing celebrity campaigns of the year.

In a now-viral TikTok, the Grammy-winning provocateur spoofed Sydney Sweeney’s embattled American Eagle ad with a dry, hauntingly accurate reenactment of its most infamous line:

“It’s down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality, and even eye color. My jeans are blue.”

The deadpan delivery, paired with Doja’s signature smirk and unsettling stare into the camera, was instantly recognizable as a dig at the denim-clad discourse magnet that Sweeney’s ad has become.

Social media, predictably, detonated.

The Ad in Question: “Great Jeans” or Eugenics Light?

At the heart of the firestorm is American Eagle’s new campaign starring Euphoria actress Sydney Sweeney, whose piercing blue eyes and porcelain aesthetic are front and center in the brand’s fall rollout. The controversial clip shows Sweeney in head-to-toe denim explaining that “genes are passed down from parents to offspring,” before flashing her blue eyes and ending with the now-notorious:

“My jeans are blue.”

What should have been a campy pun on “jeans” and “genes” instantly spiraled into cultural critique. Critics have accused the brand of echoing eugenics and white supremacist undertones, calling the ad a modern-day nod to 1980s Calvin Klein commercials that were pulled over similar imagery. One viral post went so far as to label it “Nazi propaganda in denim.”

Right-wing media, meanwhile, lauded the ad as a “return to traditional values” and a “refreshing rejection of wokeness,” fanning the flames of an already culturally radioactive campaign.

As of Tuesday morning, American Eagle and Sweeney have remained silent. The brand declined to comment, and Sweeney’s reps offered no statement.

Doja’s TikTok: A Satire or a Side-Eye?

Enter Doja Cat, pop’s reigning agent of chaos and contradiction. With nothing but a hoodie, deadpan tone, and devastating timing, she posted a TikTok mimicking Sweeney’s narration nearly word-for-word, ending on the same chilling punchline:

“My jeans are blue.”

@dojacat

my jeans are blee

♬ original sound – Doja Cat

The timing of the post, just days after the ad began trending for all the wrong reasons, was impossible to ignore. Fans and critics alike instantly interpreted it as a shot at both Sweeney and the tone-deafness of the brand’s messaging.

Social Media Reacts: Chaos, Confusion, and a Whole Lot of Quote Tweets

Twitter, TikTok, and Threads lit up with reactions ranging from unhinged laughter to sharp criticism of Doja herself:

“i’ll give doja her 5’s for this bc that ad rlly is something else 😭”
“Nah this is funny 😂😂 that commercial had racist undertones. It was condemned in the 80s when they did the same shit with Brooke Shields with Calvin and the rip off American Eagle is being condemned as well. Recycled racists commercials. New era same message.”
“Doja they could NEVER make me hate you.”
“I like Doja Cat for this one.”

But not everyone was laughing.

“She was in racial chat rooms showing feet and dragging her Black heritage. Sit this one out Miss Mamas.”
“Which is crazy coming from her.”
“I giggled but Doja is the last person who should be mocking 😭😭”
“I don’t like either of them but that’s rich coming from Doja lol.”

Doja’s own history with racially insensitive behavior resurfaced in the backlash. In 2020, she was criticized for participating in alt-right chat rooms and making light of her Black identity. Though she’s since spoken about her complicated relationship with race, some users say her commentary on Sweeney’s ad feels hypocritical.

Related

The headlines say the job market is strong — but Black women know a different story. Over the past three months, nearly 300,000 Black women have been pushed out of the workforce, with 518,000 who never returned to the force after the pandemic. Now, with federal layoffs, DEI rollbacks, and structural inequities at play, it’s a quiet crisis that speaks volumes: When the budget gets tight, Black women are the first to go.

Let’s break down what’s behind the numbers — and why so many of us are being left behind.

300,000 Black Women Forced Out

Employment rates have remained somewhat steady for other groups of workers, except us. Between February and April 2025, we lost an estimated 304,000 jobs, despite the overall U.S. economy adding a reported 175,000 jobs in the same period, per the National Black Chamber of Commerce. We’re the face of the most dramatic month-to-month increase in unemployment across gender and race, skyrocketing from 5.1% to 6.1% in March alone. Luckily the rate decreased slightly, as unemployment for Black women 20 and older fell to 5.8% for the month of June – still significantly higher than the national average, according to Axios. 

And we aren’t the only ones smashing the red button — economists and experts warn these numbers could signal deeper cracks in the job market. We may be down now, but the real question is: who’s next?

What’s Fueling the Disparity?

Cuts to Federal Employment: Inequities within the labor market are sure to come for the most vulnerable first – Black women. Not only do we make up the majority of federal employment roles, we’re overrepresented in agencies targeted for budget cuts including USAID, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Department of Education, where we account for 28% of the workforce, per ProPublica. 

DEI Rollbacks: The current administration’s rollbacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion dismantled federal programs and scaled back corporate roles where mostly Black women are represented. Additional sectors including healthcare, caregiving, and administrative support are often under attack.   

Systemic Racism: Black women have long been concentrated in lower-paying, less secure jobs — not by chance, but by design. Limited advancement opportunities and bias continues to shape who gets hired, promoted, or protected when the cuts come. And when they do, we tend to spend longer amounts of time job seeking or flat out unemployed, per 19th News. 

The Broader Impact

Black women make up 12% of the federal workforce, per the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. How many more teachers, administrative workers, and nurses will they fire? Plus, Black women often serve as the economic anchors in their households and communities. Losing jobs at this grand scale sends shockwaves through family income, healthcare access, education, and housing stability. Needless to say, the situation is dire.

“Are we heading into a recession? Is some action the current administration is going to take going to keep moving us in that direction? Prices remain high, people can’t afford child care — there are a whole host of things people are really nervous about,” Jasmine Tucker, the vice president for research at the National Women’s Law Center stated, per 19th News. 

“For me, Black women’s unemployment going up — this is the backbone of our economy, of our labor force.  We have cause to be concerned,” she concluded.

After his donation once helped save his dear friend and colleague, weatherman Al Roker, Craig Melvin can’t help but stress the importance of donating blood.

On Monday, July 28, the 46-year-old anchor rolled up his sleeve with a few volunteers and donated blood live on air during the “Today” show’s morning broadcast to encourage others to do the same. 

During the segment, the 70-year-old weatherman, who has never been shy about discussing his health challenges, praised those who have donated blood. 

“I’m a living example of being a recipient of those donations during my health issues,” Roker shared. 

Melvin revealed that he donated blood specifically for Roker during the weatherman’s more recent health crisis, which included blood clots. Roker’s ongoing health journey has included bypass surgery in 2012, a prostate cancer diagnosis in 2020, and blood clots in 2022 that caused him to miss covering the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and require major surgery.

“I wanted to make sure it was earmarked for you,” Melvin noted. 

Roker, always one to kid, added, “Yeah, in fact, after I got Craig’s blood, I started talking slower and I started drinking more bourbon. So, bonus!”

At one point during the live draw, Roker snuck up behind Melvin mid-donation and jokingly asked, “What do you want your legacy to be?” sending the studio into laughter and reminding viewers of the tight bond the two men share.

But the segment wasn’t just about the laughs. It was about legacy, too, and Melvin’s willingness to share his story and blood served as a reminder of how one small act can have life-saving consequences. 

According to the Red Cross, someone in the United States needs blood every two seconds. Just one donation can help many. Today reported that there’s an urgent need for type O blood right now. Patients in the U.S. alone need about 29,000 units of red blood cells daily. However, the only way to get blood is through donations. There are no alternative methods or technologies. Donated blood and platelets can help people with chronic conditions, such cancer and sickle cell disease, accident survivors, new moms and more, the organization says.

For more information on how to donate, head to aabb.org or the Red Cross website for more information on drives in your area.