McDonald's Faces Discrimination Lawsuit, Colombian Artists Support Colombian Sports, Bad Bunny Wants Puerto Rico in the Spotlight, and More
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McDonald's Faces Discrimination Lawsuit
McDonald's HACER Program has awarded over 33 million dollars in scholarships.
McDonald's faces a lawsuit from the American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER), an anti-affirmative action group led by Edward Blum, challenging the company's national HACER Scholarship Program.
Established in 1985, this program has awarded over $33 million in college scholarships to Hispanic and Latino students. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Nashville, argues that by limiting eligibility to students with at least one parent of Hispanic or Latino descent, the program unlawfully discriminates against students from other ethnic backgrounds. This could violate Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which prohibits racial discrimination in contracts.
This legal action comes shortly after McDonald's announced cuts to several diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, citing a "shift in the legal landscape" following the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 decision banning the consideration of race in college admissions. Despite these changes, McDonald's continued the HACER program, which AAER claims is discriminatory.
Edward Blum, president of AAER, stated: "We hope McDonald's will immediately suspend this scholarship program so it can be open to all high school students with limited resources, regardless of their ethnic heritage."
McDonald's has indicated that it is reviewing the complaint and will respond accordingly. The company also noted that, as part of its recent DEI policy changes, it is evaluating programs to ensure they align with its future vision.
This lawsuit is part of a broader trend of legal challenges to corporate diversity initiatives following the Supreme Court's affirmative action ruling. Other companies, including Walmart, have also been reevaluating their DEI practices in response to legal and social pressures.
Read more here
Why Trade Jobs Are Making a Comeback
The Formula for Success Is Being Rewritten Every Day.
Millennials and Gen Z are different. We’re the first generation glued to screens, carrying around mini-computers in our pockets. We were told that success comes from sitting in front of a computer all day, typing away for a big corporation. But guess what? That dream isn’t what it’s cracked up to be.
Are people who do “dirty jobs” happier? Some would say yes because their work is real and meaningful. They fix things, build things, and solve problems. They see the impact of what they do, and that makes them proud. Now more people are waking up to this reality: Success isn’t just about a college degree and a cubicle. There’s dignity in trade, it’s cool, and it makes money.
America Needs More Tradespeople
Right now, America has a big problem: We don’t have enough skilled tradespeople.
Construction: We need hundreds of thousands more workers.
Plumbing: By 2027, the U.S. will be short 550,000 plumbers.
HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning): Jobs in this field are expected to grow much faster than most other jobs.
These aren’t just inconvenient shortages; they’re expensive problems that affect the entire country. Without skilled tradespeople, buildings don’t go up, homes don’t get repaired, and society doesn’t function.
Why are more young people considering trades?
For starters, trades offer financial freedom without the crushing student debt. While college grads are drowning in loans, tradespeople are often making decent money after just a year or two of training. Plus, these jobs give you something rare in the corporate world, a sense of accomplishment. When you fix a leaky pipe or wire a house, you’ve made a visible impact. It feels good. There’s something dignified about knowing your craft and working with your hands.
Let’s not sugarcoat it: Trades aren’t easy.
The work is physically demanding. You might be roofing under a hot sun, crawling through cramped spaces, or fixing pipes in freezing weather.
The work can be mentally exhausting. Tradespeople deal with tight deadlines, difficult clients, and burnout.
There’s still some social stigma. Even though attitudes are shifting, some people still look down on blue-collar work.
But here’s the thing, you don’t have to hold a wrench to be part of this movement. You can own a trades-focused business or create tools that help tradespeople succeed.
The rise of the trades is part of a bigger cultural shift. Young people are ditching overpriced degrees and saying “no thanks” to tech burnout. Instead, they’re embracing sustainability, DIY culture, and jobs that make a difference in the real world.
So what’s next?
Tech-Enhanced Trades: Think smart tools and sensors to make trades more efficient.
Media-Driven Trade Businesses: The plumber with a TikTok following? He’s not just fixing pipes; he’s building a brand.
Government Support: More funding for apprenticeships and programs to promote trades.
The future looks bright for trades. More people are realizing that real work builds real communities, real happiness, and stability.
Colombian Artists Support Colombian Sports
Karol G started a trend that changed everything.
Several Colombian artists have begun venturing into the sports world through investments and sponsorships. In August 2022, Karol G supported driver Tatiana Calderón in Formula 2, enabling her to return to competition with backing from her brand, "La Bichota." Similarly, J Balvin, alongside DJ Pope, partnered with Colombia's men's and women's basketball teams through their brand 547 Studio, contributing to event organization, providing apparel, and revitalizing basketball courts in Medellín.
Blessd has also shown an interest in sports; in October 2024, he acquired the Danish second-division football club Vendsyssel FF. His goal is to achieve promotion to the first division and, in the long term, compete in the prestigious Champions League. This investment represents a new approach to the relationship between artists and sports, highlighting the intention to integrate music with the sports world on an international level.
Recently, Ryan Castro announced his support for the paisas basketball team, which will represent Colombia in the 2024-25 Basketball Champions League of the Americas. This trend of Colombian artists investing in sports strengthens the disciplines they engage in and reflects the growing connection between the music industry and sports in the country.
❤️ Cosas que nos encantan | ❤️ Things We Love
Bad Bunny Wants Puerto Rico in the Spotlight
Bad Bunny has announced a concert residency titled "No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí" at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot, also known as "Choliseo." The 30-performance series will begin on July 11, 2025, and run until September 14, 2025.
The first nine shows, scheduled from July 11 to July 27, will be exclusively reserved for Puerto Rico residents. Tickets for these dates will go on sale on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., and will only be available for purchase in person at various authorized locations on the island. Additionally, VIP packages will be offered, including benefits like priority entry and limited-edition gifts.
The remaining dates, from August 1 to September 14, will be available for international fans. The global presale will begin on Friday, January 17, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. AST. VIP experiences and packages, including hotel stays, premium tickets, and priority access, will be available through the official event website.
This residency marks a milestone in Bad Bunny's career and in Puerto Rico's music scene. It solidifies his connection to the island and offers his fans a unique experience in his homeland.
