Microsoft is laying off approximately 9,000 employees, impacting less than 4% of its global workforce. On Wednesday, July 2, 2025, the second day of its 2026 fiscal year, the tech giant confirmed the move to CNBC via email, stating it will “continue to implement organizational changes necessary to best position the company and teams for success in a dynamic marketplace.” Microsoft — which employed 228,000 people worldwide as of June 2024 — has conducted multiple rounds of layoffs in recent years, including letting 10,000 employees go in 2023. In January 2025, the company reduced its headcount by less than 1% based on performance. AFROTECH™ also reported that in May it laid off around 6,000 employees — roughly 3% of its global workforce. And the company cut at least 300 more in June. A source familiar with the matter told CNBC that, like with the May layoffs, Microsoft is aiming to streamline its organizational structure by reducing the layers of management between individual...

This Black-owned restaurant received a stamp of approval from Jay-Z and Beyoncé! Taste Kitchen + Bar Downtown Houston’s Taste Kitchen + Bar is a beloved Southern comfort and brunch restaurant owned by University of Houston alum Chef Don Bowie. Its current location is situated in downtown at 420 Main St. and opened in 2022. Customers can line up as early as 8 a.m. for brunch items that include peach cobbler waffles, steak and eggs, and elevated grits. Also featured on its menu is smothered chicken, greens, candied yams, jerk lamb chops paired with smoked gouda mac and cheese, cajun or smothered fries, and also various cocktails desserts. “At Taste, we don’t just serve food—we serve soul,” Bowie told Houston Style Magazine. “Each dish tells a story rooted in tradition, culture, and celebration.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Taste Kitchen + Bar (@tastekitchenbar)   Taste Kitchen + Bar has seen an influx of customers over the years, but over the weekend, Bowie received...

What used to be a cluster of forgotten lots in the uptown section of Harrisburg, PA, is now a fully realized vision of hope and housing, thanks to NFL veteran and hometown son LeSean “Shady” McCoy. The former Philadelphia Eagles star returned to his old neighborhood not to bask in past glory but to plant seeds for the future, according to PennLive. On North Sixth Street, 41 brand-new affordable housing units now stand where blight once lived, anchored by a community center and a sense of pride that can be felt in the air. JMB Gardens, the $16.7 million project, is named after McCoy’s late grandparents, James and Maryann Branch. At the June 24 ribbon-cutting ceremony, McCoy described the initiative as a response to the conditions he witnessed growing up. View this post on Instagram A post shared by LeSean McCoy (@shadymccoy) “In some of these areas, it was drug-infested. It was abandoned buildings,” he said via WGAL. “Now, the purpose is bringing $17 million affordable housing. So,...

NBA superstar LeBron James has partnered with Swiss luxury watch company Richard Mille for a good cause. The Los Angeles Lakers athlete and Richie Millie debuted a limited-edition watch called the Richard Mille’s RM 65-01 Automatic Split-Seconds Chronograph LeBron James. The watch, which had only 150 pieces, sold out within hours of its debut at Fanatics Fest, according to information shared with AFROTECH™. The watch pays homage to James being named the NBA’s All-Time Leading Scorer on Feb. 7, 2023, a record previously held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, according to ESPN. Additionally, the design choice of yellow and green accents is an ode to the LeBron James Family Foundation. Photo Credit: LRMR Ventures The James Foundation was launched in 2004 and exists to “positively affect the lives of children and young adults through education and co-curricular educational initiatives,” AFROTECH™ previously reported. The foundation’s imprint can be found in Akron, OH, James’ hometown. In 2017,...

Long before he was hoisting trophies or signing the richest deal in NBA history, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) was known for his quiet confidence and studied calm. Hailing from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, he never forced attention. He earned it. The way he played, the way he carried himself, even the way he dressed — all of it pointed to someone who understood the power of balance. The Athletic states that balance is the key, and it has taken him to the top of the league. Gilgeous-Alexander has become one of the most dominant and composed players in basketball. His 2024–25 season included a scoring title, MVP honors, a Finals MVP, and a championship for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Off the court, the point guard and shooting guard leads with the same intention, building fashion partnerships and launching signature sneakers without losing his signature edge. “This isn’t just a win for me,” he said inside Paycom Center while holding the Finals MVP trophy, via the Athletic. “This is a win...

Target boycott efforts are intensifying as the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) steps up its push for corporate accountability. CBC Chairwoman Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-N.Y.) and members of the caucus’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force recently met with Target CEO Brian Cornell, according to a press release from the Caucus. The meeting focused on the company’s rollback of DEI commitments, especially those affecting Black-owned businesses. Lawmakers Say Target’s Explanations “Fell Woefully Short” The CBC described the conversation with Cornell as “candid and direct,” but ultimately stated that members were left disappointed. “The Congressional Black Caucus met with the leadership of the Target Corporation on Capitol Hill to directly address deep concerns about the impact of the company’s unconscionable decision to end a number of its diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts,” Clarke said in a lengthy statement in the press release. “Like many of the coalition leaders...

Richard Seymour is a minority owner in the league he once played in. A three-time NFL Super Bowl champion and Hall of Famer, Seymour played in the league for 12 seasons and earned $89.5 million in career earnings, notes Spotrac. Beyond the playing field, he has been taking charge within the business and investing arena. In fact, he co-founded 93 Ventures — named as an homage to his jersey playing for the New England Patriots — alongside venture capitalist and strategic advisor Albert G. Sye IV. According to its website, the venture capital firm is based in Atlanta and has interests in industries such as late-stage pre-IPO tech unicorns, growth-stage consumer packaged goods and fintech, and early-stage Web3. Its investment portfolio includes Lyft, Airbnb, Sundae, Dapper Labs, and Calaxy, which is a social marketplace founded by tech entrepreneur Solo Ceesay and NBA star Spencer Dinwiddie. Calaxy has direct-to-consumer monetization and is intended to create more intimate experiences...

July is here and social security recipients across the country—particularly those who rely on Supplemental Security Income (SSI)—are keeping a close eye on their bank accounts. For now, the SSI payment schedule remains steady, but a shakeup is right around the corner that could catch some recipients off guard. Here’s what to expect this month and why August’s calendar calls for a little extra attention. July Payment Dates: What You Need To Know If you’re receiving traditional Social Security benefits, your July payment date depends on your birthday. The Social Security Administration will distribute payments throughout the month using the following schedule: Wednesday, July 9 – for birth dates between the 1st and 10th Wednesday, July 16 – for birth dates between the 11th and 20th Wednesday, July 23 – for birth dates between the 21st and 31st For SSI recipients, it’s more straightforward: your monthly payment will arrive on Tuesday, July 1, according to The Hill. However, that won’t...

It’s official! Detroit will have its own WNBA team, backed by familiar and notable names. NBA legends Grant Hill and Chris Webber are minority team owners of the new WNBA team. As AFROTECH™ reported, Hill and Webber joined a bid in January 2025, led by Tom Gores, the owner of the Detroit Pistons, to secure a stake in bringing a WNBA team to Detroit. Both Webber and Hill had once played in the city, representing the NBA. Now, halfway through the year, the group — which also includes football quarterback Jared Goff — has much to celebrate, as their bid for a WNBA team has been approved. The team is set to launch and begin competing by 2029, with Little Caesars Arena as its home base and a new practice facility in development, according to CBS News. “This is a huge win for Detroit and the WNBA,” Gores said, per the outlet. “Today marks the long-hoped-for return of the WNBA to a city with deep basketball roots and a championship tradition.” He added, “Detroit played a key role in the...

A trip to Italy led this couple on a journey to making moves in the wine space. Married couple Carissa and Kenneth Stephens shared a bottle of wine in 2014 that changed their trajectory forever. According to their Pur Noire website, the founders were surprised when they learned that the bottle was from a minority-owned wine brand, and from there they were inspired to widen their palates. This led to a trip to Todi, a town in Umbria, Italy, notes Travel Noire. The pair indulged in various wines such as Barolo and Chianti Classico and also solidified they no longer wanted to solely be consumers in the industry. “While in Italy, we fell in love with wine. We fell in love with the communal aspect of it, and when we got back to the States we really wanted to dive in and explore that,” Carissa told Houston Life. Pur Noire In 2018, the Houston couple decided to enter into business together and form their winery and tasting room, Pur Noire. An official launch had been set for 2020, but like...

The third-most valuable Michael Jordan trading card has sold at auction. JOOPITER The rare card has made its way to JOOPITER, an auction house owned by Virginia legend and award-winning music producer Pharrell Williams. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Williams had been a serial collector and launched the platform in 2022 “to embrace the energy that is released when objects change hands, and to respect the value that’s been created around these objects.” “Joopiter was founded to not only introduce a new voice into the auction landscape, but to recalibrate what it means to be a collector… We are excited to bring these objects to the world,” Williams said , according to WWD. Signed 1986-87 Jordan Card JOOPITER’s latest auction item was a signed 1986-87 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan rookie card, according to information shared on Instagram. Jordan’s card had been one of nine trading cards that he signed back in 2024 on his private golf course in Florida, per the auction’s page. The card...

Joe Budden seems to be earning a substantial income from podcasting through his Patreon deal. The rapper-turned-major podcaster accidentally posted a screenshot of his earnings on Instagram earlier this month, revealing he’s made $902,000. According to the screenshot taken via Complex, “The Joe Budden Podcast” has approximately 155,000 active members and has received around 30 million visits on the platform over a 30-day period. View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Complex Music (@complexmusic) In 2021, it was announced that the Joe Budden Network was transitioning to Patreon. In a statement to Complex, he doubled down on the importance of ensuring creators are valued and appropriately paid. “ Creators should get the biggest stake in their art, and the system isn’t ready to do that, so we’re going to change the system. This is the new blueprint, and we are the first,” he said. He reportedly receives subscription rates ranging from $5 to $25 each month, which include perks...

Pinky Cole, the visionary founder and CEO of Slutty Vegan, is taking her plant-based brand to Florida. After regaining full control of her company, as AFROTECH™ reported back in April, she’s officially announced her first new restaurant location. The Slutty Vegan Florida grand opening is set for Saturday, July 5, 2025, from noon to 6 p.m. at 2080 Badlands Drive in Brandon, Florida, just outside Tampa. The announcement was first made via  Instagram on June 26. “One thing God don’t do is play about me 🙏🏾🥰💪🏾… WHATEVER YOU DO… KEEP GOING” she wrote. The post also featured a video by multi-platinum Hip-Hop artist Flo Rida, who welcomed the restaurant to his home state with enthusiasm and support. View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Pinky Cole Hayes (@pinkycole) “Hey, what up? What up? It’s your man—Flo Rida—and I’ve got a huge announcement to make. I had to snap this one myself because I’m proud to say it’s official… Slutty Vegan is touching down in the state of Flo Rida! It’s...

VJ Edgecombe, a 2025 NBA draft pick, isn’t taking his positioning for granted. Edgecombe was drafted on Wednesday to the Philadelphia 76ers during the first round as a third overall pick, according to CBS Sports. The moment was emotional for Edgecombe as he reflected on his upbringing. He was born and raised in Bimini, a small island in the Bahamas, according to WHYY. He told NBA reporter Taylor Rooks that his family struggled, lived without electricity for seven years, and had to rely on a generator. “See what she had to go through to feed us? It’s crazy… My mind [is] everywhere right now,” he told Rooks. Basketball is now his saving grace. Edgecombe moved to the U.S. in the ninth grade and completed his senior year of high school at Long Island Lutheran in Brookville, NY, per USA Today. In college, he played basketball at Baylor University and made a name for himself, averaging 15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.1 steals per game, Sports Spectrum reported. His talents...

Not long ago, Red Lobster was making headlines for all the wrong reasons—financial losses, restaurant closures, and a bankruptcy filing. But recently, the mood has shifted, and so has the menu. Thanks to its CEO, Damola Adamolekun, the iconic seafood chain is starting to feel like itself again, just a little fresher, marking a promising comeback for Red Lobster. Since taking the helm in August 2024, as AFROTECH™ previously reported, Adamolekun has been on a mission to bring Red Lobster back to life, meaning more than just shrimp deals and cheddar biscuits. It’s about creating a better dining experience, from the food on your plate to the smile that greets you at the door. A New Menu, Familiar Favorites, Real-World Value One of Adamolekun’s goals was to revitalize the menu by bringing back classic Red Lobster dishes and promotions. On Monday, the seafood chain announced the return of Crabfest, which includes items like a sirloin steak or salmon topped with crab, as well as seafood...