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Shedeur Sanders Shines in Preseason Debut

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Shedeur Sanders threw two touchdown passes as his Cleveland Browns beat the Carolina Panthers.

Friday night, Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders was thrust into the NFL spotlight after hamstring injuries sidelined fellow quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Kenny Pickett earlier this week. The fifth-round pick out of Colorado and Jackson State had the eyes of the sports world on him, and he delivered. Sanders completed 14-of-23 passes for 138 yards and threw two touchdowns en route to a 30-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Uptown Charlotte.

While in the game, Sanders led the Browns on three touchdown drives. Notably, Sanders completed 11 of 18 passes for 103 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions, and a 113.9 passer rating in the first half.

Yes, Shedeur was projected to go in the first round of April’s NFL Draft. However, when he fell to the fifth round, it was not due to a lack of playing ability. It was due to perceived distractions. A sizable portion of the mainstream media was proved wrong Friday night when Sanders turned lemons into lemonade. And predictably, when Shedeur was asked whether he would move up the depth chart, he was not concerned with the idea. 

“I honestly don’t know and I don’t really care,” Sanders admitted to Browns sideline reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala. “Whenever it’s my time, I have to take advantage of it. I feel like I did some good, some bad, and going forward, I won’t make the same mistakes twice.”

Before he was told he’d start Friday’s game, Sanders was the fourth-string quarterback behind an 18-year-veteran quarterback in Joe Flacco, plus the aforementioned Pickett, and Gabriel. As a result, Sanders did not get reps with the first team offense. Friday night, Sanders played with the second-string offense.  

His play drew praise from many observers on social media. Quickly after Shedeur threw his first touchdown pass, Deion Sanders praised the Lord on X. Entertainer extraordinaire Jamie Foxx said Shedeur was balling. 

“He’s the real deal,” Foxx said. “Now, how y’all feel now? How y’all feel now? No matter what he do, how y’all feel now? That man [is] playing for his daddy. If you hate Shedeur, you hate football. How can you hate this story?”

Where Shedeur Sanders goes from here is anyone’s guess. However, he gave himself a C+ for getting the win while not taking advantage of the opportunities available during the game.

“I’m just getting my feet wet, it was a good practice showing overall,” Sanders told the NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe. “There’s definitely room for improvement in many areas.”

Sanders also acknowledged the support from the fans. He said he is playing for ‘people who don’t have a voice.’

“So, who I’m playing for is for people locked up,” Sanders continued. “The external motivation I have is crazy. Regardless of how I’m feeling, there are a lot of people counting on me to succeed. I got to make sure to stay positive, regardless of what’s going on.”

 

Itoro Umontuen serves as the National Sports and Entertainment Editor with Black Press USA. He is also a veteran photographer for 20 years, based in Atlanta for the past 15 years. His photography and videography style is a blend of portraiture and contemporary photojournalism. Previously, Umontuen served as the Managing Editor for The Atlanta Voice. While at the historic publication, Umontuen reported on local, statewide, and national politics. He also photographed thousands of sporting events, including Super Bowls and National Championships. He also engineers podcasts while mentoring emerging journalists. Umontuen is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and is a proud graduate of Tennessee State University.

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Defender ONE-on-ONE: U.S. Rep. Christian Menefee

Rep. Christian Menefee shares insights on his first 250 days in Congress, key legislation, and the challenges of serving in the minority. Don’t miss this exclusive interview!

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Christian Menefee, Harris County Commissioner, speaks with Houston Defender.

In an exclusive interview with The Defender, Texas Congressman Christian Menefee sits down to reflect on his first 250 days serving in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Congressman Menefee shares key insights into his legislative priorities, introducing new bills, and navigating the day-to-day challenges of serving in the house minority. He breaks down why every vote matters in shaping our communities and offers a preview of the urgent legislative issues he plans to tackle next.

In this video, you’ll hear about: • Reflections on his first 250 days in Congress • Key legislation introduced and priority bills • Navigating the realities and strategy of serving in the house minority • Why civic engagement and voter participation remain critical • What lies ahead on his legislative agenda

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#ChristianMenefee #USCongress #TexasPolitics #TheDefender #CommunityNews #CivicEngagement #houseofrepresentativeselection2026

Chapters
0:00 Introduction and the Importance of Voting
1:12 First 250 Days and Improving Constituent Services
2:40 Oversight Committee and Environmental Justice
4:05 Rebuilding an Empty Congressional Office
6:10 The SET Act: Ending Vacancies in Representation
8:25 Life in the Minority and Playing Defense
10:45 Foreign Policy, Inflation, and Gas Prices
12:50 Economic Goals: Child Care and Housing
14:20 Redistricting and Respecting Leadership
16:15 The Rotisserie Chicken Vote and SNAP Benefits
18:20 Congressional Black Caucus Highlights
19:45 Final Call to Action for Texas Voters

Make sure to check your voter registration status and head to the polls to make your voice heard in the upcoming election. If you found this update helpful, please like this video and subscribe to stay informed on the issues that matter most to your community. 📢

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Bakersfield News Observer

News Observer Weekly — October 7, 2026 | Top 5 Stories of the Week

Nolan Wells’ mysterious death remains unsolved, while Kern County ballots are now in voters’ hands. This week’s top 5 stories, up now on News Observer Weekly.

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News Observer Weekly October 7 2026 edition with top 5 stories

Nolan Wells was eighteen. A Mississippi grand jury says nobody is responsible for his death. The state medical examiner says she can’t tell you how he died. The district attorney’s message to the family was, we’ll never know. The family’s answer was, we’ll never stop.

This week on News Observer Weekly, Marcus and Nia break down the five stories that mattered most to our readers — from Observer Group Newspapers, publishers of the Bakersfield News Observer, the Los Angeles News Observer and Valley’s News Observer, serving Kern County, Los Angeles, and the San Fernando and Antelope valleys.

ONE THING THIS WEEK
Kern County ballots started going out Oct. 5. When yours arrives: fill it out,
SIGN AND DATE THE ENVELOPE (unsigned ballots cannot be processed), and return it
by mail (no stamp, postmarked by Nov. 3) or to a 24-hour drop box by 8 p.m. on
Nov. 3. Not registered? The regular deadline is Oct. 19; same-day registration
is available in person after that through Election Day. Track your ballot with
“Where’s My Ballot” at kernvote.com. Kern County Elections: 661-868-3590.

NOW LAW
AB 2599, the Truth in Disclosure Act, signed Sept. 30. California is the first
state to require companies with $100 million or more in worldwide receipts to
disclose, under penalty of perjury, whether they or their predecessors profited
from chattel slavery.

CHAPTERS
0:00 Cold open
0:37 Justice: Rulings Leave Questions Lingering in Nolan Wells Case
3:25 Sacramento: Gov. Newsom Signs Bill Requiring Large Corporations to Disclose Profits From Chattel Slavery
5:55 Inglewood: Inglewood Shifts $2.8 Million in HOME-ARP Funds to Sankofa Place Affordable Housing Project
8:34 Kern County: Your Ballot Is in the Mail: Here Is What Kern County Voters Need to Know
10:21 Los Angeles: Mayor Bass Hosts 3rd Annual Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Procurement Summit to Prepare Small Businesses for LA28 Contracts
12:22 What to do this week

THE FULL STORIES
Rulings Leave Questions Lingering in Nolan Wells Case

Rulings Leave Questions Lingering in Nolan Wells Case

2. Gov. Newsom Signs Bill Requiring Large Corporations to Disclose Profits From Chattel Slavery

Gov. Newsom Signs Bill Requiring Large Corporations to Disclose Profits From Chattel Slavery

3. Inglewood Shifts $2.8 Million in HOME-ARP Funds to Sankofa Place Affordable Housing Project

Inglewood Shifts $2.8 Million in HOME-ARP Funds to Sankofa Place Affordable Housing Project

4. Your Ballot Is in the Mail: Here Is What Kern County Voters Need to Know

Your ballot is in the mail. Here is what Kern County voters need to know

5. Mayor Bass Hosts 3rd Annual Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Procurement Summit to Prepare Small Businesses for LA28 Contracts

Mayor Bass Hosts 3rd Annual Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Procurement Summit to Prepare Small Businesses for LA28 Contracts

If you are in crisis, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is free and available 24 hours a day, by call or text.

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Subscribe for the top five, every week.

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Featured

Antron Brown Takes His Impact Beyond the Racetrack

Antron Brown’s influence extends far beyond the racetrack. Discover how this racing legend is making a difference off the track.

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NHRA driver Antron Brown shares his positive influence off the drag racing track.

Antron Brown’s impact reaches beyond the finish line. See how the racing star is taking his success beyond the track.

Read more: https://www.stlamerican.com/sports/antron-brown-takes-racing-success-beyond-the-track/ 

#stlamerican #AntronBrown #Motorsports

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Featured

Headlines and Hot Topics with Rodney Perry

Get the scoop on today’s hottest stories with Rodney Perry on Black Press USA’s Morning Show. Don’t miss the conversation behind the headlines!

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Rodney Perry discusses headlines and hot topics on BlackPressUSATV

Today on Black Press USA’s Morning Show, we’re breaking down the stories driving the conversation.

Watch Black Press USA’s Morning Show for the headlines, the context, and the conversation behind the news.

#BlackPressUSA #MorningShow #BlackNews

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Featured

Headlines and Hot Topics with Rodney Perry 📱

Rodney Perry tackles today’s hot topics on Black Press USA’s Morning Show. Don’t miss the breakdown of the stories everyone’s talking about.

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Today on Black Press USA’s Morning Show, we’re breaking down the stories driving the conversation.

Watch Black Press USA’s Morning Show for the headlines, the context, and the conversation behind the news.

#BlackPressUSA #MorningShow #BlackNews

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Art

Houston’s ‘call Me Mother’ Exhibit Opens Today, Spotlighting Black Maternal Health

AFRICAN-AMERICAN NEWS AND ISSUES – DALLAS — The Health Museum in Houston today opens “The Call Me Mother Experience,” an exhibition spotlighting Black maternal health through art and personal storytelling. Curated by Houston’s first Black poet laureate, Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton, the project originated from her own poem written during a miscarriage.

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Image Credit: African American News & Issues
Image Credit: African American News & Issues

HOUSTON — A new exhibition opening Sunday, Oct. 4, at The Health Museum is bringing Black maternal health into public view through art and personal storytelling.

The Call Me Mother Experience will be on display through Feb. 28, 2027. The museum lists a preview reception today from 3 to 5 p.m. at 1515 Hermann Drive, with tickets priced at $5 for members and $15 for nonmembers.

A personal story becomes a community conversation

According to the museum, founder, curator and lead artist Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton developed the project from a poem she wrote during a miscarriage. The installation combines films, recorded interviews, visual artwork and contributions created with community members.

Mouton, Houston’s first Black poet laureate, discussed the exhibition and her connection to its subject in an Oct. 1 appearance on KPRC’s Houston Life. The station described the project as addressing the unequal burden of pregnancy-related illness and death faced by Black women in Harris County.

An announcement distributed by the Call Me Mother Experience says the initiative will also reach community locations and faith-based organizations across Greater Houston. Those additional settings are intended to extend the conversation beyond a museum visit.

What visitors can expect

The museum says reception guests can explore the exhibit, hear the curator and meet participating artists. Reception admission includes general museum entry; refreshments are available while supplies last.

The featured image accompanying this article is an original illustrative concept, not a photograph of the exhibition or its artwork.

Sources and visitor information:The Health Museum exhibition listing; preview reception details and tickets; KPRC Houston Life; organizer announcement.

The post Houston’s ‘Call Me Mother’ Exhibit Opens Today, Spotlighting Black Maternal Health appeared first on African American News and Issues.

Based on reporting by African-American News and Issues – Dallas.



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