Featured
HBCU Football RoundUp: DeSean Jackson’s Delaware State Continues to Shine
Delaware State delivered an impressive performance Thursday night, rushing for 201 yards en route a 27–20 victory over Norfolk State at Lincoln Financial Field. James Jones led the ground the Hornets’ ground game with 109 yards and a touchdown, averaging nearly 11 yards per carry, while Marquis Gillis contributed 79 yards.
With the win, the Hornets improved to 6–3 overall and 2–0 in MEAC play, while the Spartans dropped to 1–8 and 0–2. Quarterback Kaiden Bennett connected most frequently with Nathan Stewart, who notched four catches for 46 yards. Defensively, Tahmir Ellis recorded an interception, and Jaydon Mifflin added a sack, tackle for loss, and forced fumble to anchor the defense.
Delaware State dominated the ground battle, out-rushing Norfolk State 201–45 and converting nearly half of its third downs. Head coach DeSean Jackson praised his team’s effort but emphasized focus moving forward.
It’s not outside of the realm of possibility, but, Delaware State could represent the MEAC in the Black College Football National Championship Game, the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta.
“We still haven’t done anything,” Jackson said. “We got three more conference games, and our goal is to go undefeated and hopefully we can make it to our destination in Atlanta.”
Notably, this matchup also featured Michael Vick on the opposite sideline. Both Jackson and Vick were teammates with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2009-2013.
“I never thought I’d look across the field and watch him coach,” Vick said, via the Associated Press. “I know vice versa for him. It was just a really cool moment, a surreal moment. You just never know what life is going to put in front of you.”
Several former NFL players attended the game, including Hugh Douglas, Marshawn Lynch, and Cam Newton. Also, Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham also was there, among total attendance of 47,266.
South Carolina State Holds Off Morgan State in a Thriller
William Atkins IV threw for 363 yards and a touchdown, while Tyler Smith ran for two scores to help South Carolina State edge Morgan State 36–30 on Saturday. The Bulldogs (6–3, 2–0 MEAC) built a 33–10 lead through three quarters before the Bears mounted a late comeback.
Atkins spread the ball effectively, completing passes to nine different receivers. Morgan State quarterback Raymond Moore III fought to rally his team, passing for 229 yards and three touchdowns and adding a rushing score. Despite his heroics, the Bears (3–6, 0–2) fell short after a failed two-point conversion late in the fourth.
North Carolina Central Dominates Howard Behind Spikes’ Career Night
Senior wideout Chauncey Spikes exploded for 208 receiving yards and three touchdowns as North Carolina Central defeated Howard 35–14. Quarterback Walker Harris threw for 321 yards and five total touchdowns — his second such performance of the season.
Spikes’ big plays included scoring receptions of 13, 80, and 8 yards, helping the Eagles (6–3, 1–1 MEAC) jump out to a commanding halftime lead. Howard (4–5, 1–1) struggled offensively, managing just 174 total yards. Tyriq Starks was responsible for both Bison touchdowns.
Jackson State Rolls Past Florida A&M in SWAC Showdown
Jackson State’s running game dominated in a 41–16 road win over Florida A&M at Bragg Memorial Stadium. Ahmad Miller rushed for 165 yards and a touchdown, while Donerio Davenport added 112 yards and a score. Together, they accounted for most of Jackson State’s 392 rushing yards.
The Tigers’ defense limited the Rattlers to just 202 total yards. Ashton Taylor and Tymon Wells led the defensive front with multiple tackles for loss as Jackson State improved to 6–2 overall and 4–1 in the SWAC.
Alabama State Rallies to Top Prairie View A&M
Alabama State overcame an early deficit to defeat Prairie View A&M 31–28 on the road. Quarterback Andrew Body and running back Marcus Harris II combined for four rushing touchdowns as the Hornets (6–2, 4–1 SWAC) continued their strong season.
Jamarie Hostzclaw led all rushers with 127 yards on 21 carries, while the Hornets’ defense came up big with four interceptions, including two by Deontre Morris. Denzel Johnson’s 11 tackles and a pick highlighted a defensive unit that shut down multiple Prairie View drives.
Looking Ahead
Alabama State and Jackson State are tied for first in the SWAC’s Eastern Divison with 4-1 records. However, Jackson State has the edge because they beat Alabama State head-to-head. Meanwhile, Delaware State and South Carolina State are 2-0 in the MEAC. Both teams will face off at the end of the year. If both teams maintain their winning ways, The winner of that game will likely represent the MEAC in this year’s Celebration Bowl.
Featured
Dr. Earleen Patterson’s 30 Year Legacy of Education and Service at SIUE
Dr. Earleen Patterson’s 30-year legacy at SIUE is celebrated for empowering students. Honored at the Salute to Excellence Gala, her impact extends far beyond the classroom.
For 30 years, Dr. Earleen Patterson has helped students at SIUE find their path, build confidence and create opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom. Her dedication to education and service will be honored at the St. Louis American Foundation’s 39th annual Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship & Awards Gala on Oct. 17. 🎓👏🏾
Read her story: https://www.stlamerican.com/salute-to-excellence/earleen-pattersons-legacy-rooted-in-education-service/
✒️ Na’Porsha Williams
📷 Lawrence Bryant
#STLAmerican #Salute39 #Education #BlackExcellence #SIUE
Featured
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!
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

Subscribe to The Defender for more exclusive political coverage, interviews, and community insights!
Sign-up for the Top 5 newsletter
Donate/ Support Our Work
#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. 📢
#TexasPolitics #Congress #Houston #VotingRights #ChristianMenefee
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https://defendernetwork.com/category/news/opinion/
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.
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
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
If you are in crisis, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is free and available 24 hours a day, by call or text.
Read everything at ognsc.com
Subscribe for the top five, every week.
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.
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
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!
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
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.
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
Dr. Earleen Patterson’s 30 Year Legacy of Education and Service at SIUE
Latinas Deserve Equal Pay. Unions Help Make It Happen.
Defender ONE-on-ONE: U.S. Rep. Christian Menefee
Unlock Your Best Auto Loan: Ask These Questions! #shorts
News Observer Weekly — October 7, 2026 | Top 5 Stories of the Week
Atlas Family Comfort: Worth the Extra Cash? #shorts
Antron Brown Takes His Impact Beyond the Racetrack
Headlines and Hot Topics with Rodney Perry
Headlines and Hot Topics with Rodney Perry 📱
Houston’s ‘call Me Mother’ Exhibit Opens Today, Spotlighting Black Maternal Health
Latest Massacre in Haiti Reveals Cruelty U.S. Deportations
The Youngest American Killed in the Vietnam War
Booked and Unbound: The Legacy of Black Women’s Literary Circles
Passing for White, Fighting for Black America: The Courage of Walter White
OPINION: Nolan Wells’ Death One of Several Signifying Racial Terror Lives on in U.S. South
Prostate Cancer is Twice as Likely to Kill Black Men. Talking to Your Doctor Could Help Save Your Life
OP-ED: If AI Is the New Language of Power, Then NAN Wants Black Communities Fluent
OP-ED: Haiti TPS: Have We Lost Sense of Humanity?
OP-ED: How Does Your State Rank for Pre-K?
Henry O. Flipper: A Trailblazer at West Point and Beyond
Dr. Earleen Patterson’s 30 Year Legacy of Education and Service at SIUE
Defender ONE-on-ONE: U.S. Rep. Christian Menefee
Unlock Your Best Auto Loan: Ask These Questions! #shorts
News Observer Weekly — October 7, 2026 | Top 5 Stories of the Week
Atlas Family Comfort: Worth the Extra Cash? #shorts
Antron Brown Takes His Impact Beyond the Racetrack
Headlines and Hot Topics with Rodney Perry
Headlines and Hot Topics with Rodney Perry 📱
Jamal’s Take: Cowboys’ Epic Comeback Win and Dak’s Dominance Against Houston
REBROADCAST: HE SAID, HE SAID, HE SAID:Author Derrick M. Jackson — FRI. 10.9.26 7PM E
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Black Press1 week agoOP-ED: Haiti TPS: Have We Lost Sense of Humanity?
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Black History1 week agoRulings Leave Questions Lingering in Nolan Wells Case
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Black History1 week agoBaptist Minister Says Black Church Champions for Civil Rights to Reign but Hesitates to Let Black Women Lead
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Black History1 week agoWhy Black Artists Struggle to Sell Tours
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Black Press1 week agoResponsible AI Development Requires a Seat at the Table for Black America
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Black History1 week agoIN MEMORIAM: The Mighty Sparrow, King of Calypso, Dies at Age 91 in New York
