On May 6th, the NAACP filed a request for a preliminary injunction to stop air pollution from Elon Musk’s company, xAI, and its parent company, MZX Tech. The request comes after the organization filed a Clean Air Act enforcement last month. The Clean Air Act requires major sources of pollution to obtain air permits, which include stringent pollution limits and require the use of pollution controls before being constructed or operated. xAI violating the Clean Air Act The NAACP informed xAI and MZX Tech that their personal power plant, comprising 27 gas-fired
A judge has ordered Adwoa Beauty to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, meaning the company must cease operations and turn over its intellectual property and assets to a court-appointed trustee for sale. The beauty brand filed for Chapter 11 protection in October, while its lender, Aurous Financial Services, filed a lawsuit, according to Business of Fashion. Speaking to BOF, Adwoa Beauty founder Julian Addo said, “For me, conversion at this stage was the best outcome. I fought a really long, hard battle alone, and it just takes too many resources
A group of Historically Black Colleges and Universities has launched the Association of HBCU Research Institutions (AHRI) to address key societal issues. AHRI will bring together 15 HBCUs to work towards achieving R1 status, the highest level of research activity under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. This will be achieved by improving policy influence and boosting transformative discoveries at scale, according to a press release. “Today is not just an announcement, but a declaration that HBCUs are not only contributors to research and innovation, but also leaders
Braze is the leading customer engagement platform that empowers brands to Be Absolutely Engaging™. Founded in 2011 and working with 2,600+ brands, Braze helps brands deliver great customer experiences that drive value for both consumers and their businesses. From cross-channel messaging and journey orchestration to AI-powered decisioning and optimization, Braze enables companies to turn action into interaction through autonomous, 1:1 personalized experiences. POCIT sat down with Madison DeJesus, a Strategic Customer Success Manager at Braze, at the company’s headquarters in New York City to discuss her role, career journey, and
Chris Gray, founder of the Black-owned scholarship app Scholly, is suing its acquirer, Sallie Mae, alleging that it sold data collected on the app, as reported by TechCrunch. Scholly, which allows Black students to easily search for scholarships, was acquired by Saille Mae in 2023. However, Gray is now alleging that his acquirer sold data his app collected, including information on minors, without telling users. He is also suing the company for wrongful termination. Chris Gray’s lawsuit against Sallie Mae In the lawsuit, Gray alleges that Sallie Mae fired his
Social network platform Series has raised a $5.1 million in a pre-seed round, according to TechCrunch. The round included investors such as Venmo co-founder Iqram Magdon-Ismail, Pear VC, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman, and GPTZero founder Edward Tian. Founders Nathaneo Johnson and Sean Hargrow met at Yale after both joining the university’s Society for Aspiring Entrepreneurs. About Series Users on Series can request support from other network users, such as an entrepreneur seeking help writing a business plan. The request is made to an AI-powered agent, which Series calls the agent your “AI friend.”
Audible has announced a new Audible Original from Kevin Hart, called Kids Make Me Angry, releasing on June 4. The audible is a partial memoir of Hart’s experiences as a father, but will also serve as a survival guide for parents. “I had no blueprint for being a dad, so I had to figure it out on my own,” Hart said in a press release. “And let me tell you, I wasn’t always perfect, but I showed up 100% of the time. In this Audible Original, I am getting real
PatMcgrath Labs has exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy with a new owner, according to Business of Fashion. GDA Luma will hold a controlling equity interest by creating a new holding company. McGrath will remain in her role as chief creative officer, but her equity will be transferred to GDA Luma. “Pat McGrath Labs is an iconic brand with extraordinary creative equity and global potential,” said Gabriel de Alba, Founder and Managing Partner of GDA Luma, in a press release. “Our priority has been to stabilize the foundation of the business, implement
WNBA player Angel Reese partnered with 2K Foundations to give young female athletes access to mentorship and sports programming, according to AFROTECH. Reese returned to her hometown, Baltimore, for the partnership, which supports female student-athletes at Crossroads Middle School through nonprofit STEM organizations Living Classrooms Foundation and Project Scientist, with a six-week STEM initiative. “The Living Classrooms’ partnership with Angel Reese, the Angel C. Reese Foundation, and 2K Foundations reflects a shared belief that girls thrive when they are given access, encouragement, and real-world opportunities to explore who they can become,”
The Southern Environmental Law Center filed an appeal challenging the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality’s plan to issue an air permit to xAI’s affiliate company, MZX Tech. The appeal was filed on behalf of the NAACP, Young Gifted & Green, and the Safe and Sound Coalition, who believe the permit violates the law and threatens the health of families living in North Mississippi and South Memphis. The permit allows xAI to allow 41 polluting methane gas turbines—essentially a personal power plant—at a site in Southaven, Mississippi. The power plant would
