May 2026 - Page 2

Teen ‘takeovers’ push cities to take action as experts see echoes of the Covid pandemic

By Doha Madani and Corky Siemaszko The mayhem over Memorial Day weekend in Chicago erupted without warning. On Sunday, hundreds of teenagers descended on a housing project on the West Side. Five Chicago officers trying to disperse the crowd sustained minor injuries when they were hit by a car. On Monday, hundreds more teenagers showed up at a beach

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Nancy Pelosi breaks silence on race to succeed her in Congress

by Nadia Lopez Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi endorsed Supervisor Connie Chan this week in the race to succeed her in Congress, delivering a major boost to a candidate who has struggled to keep pace with her better-funded rivals. Why it matters: Pelosi’s 11th-hour backing could prove decisive in the high-stakes primary, potentially helping consolidate traditional Democratic voters behind

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UNCF New York Theater Benefit, Blends Art, Advocacy and Student Impact

**From Left to Right: Guests from HBCU Early College Prep High School, Professor Rakim Jenkins; 9th graders Julia J., Sophia S., Founding Principal Dr. Asya Johnson; and 9th graders Louis D. & Giovanni B. UNCF New York hosted a spectacular Theater Reception and Benefit Performance on Wed., May 20, bringing together corporate partners, civic leaders

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MacKenzie Scott Left Off Top Donor List Despite Billions in Giving

*One of the most consequential philanthropists of the modern era just got left off a major industry ranking, and the reason has nothing to do with how much she gave. The Chronicle of Philanthropy publishes an annual list recognizing the country’s most generous donors. MacKenzie Scott did not make the cut, not because her giving fell short,

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Illinois Legislature passes historic AI bill that would require third-party safety audits

By Jared Perlo The Illinois House of Representatives passed a landmark bill Wednesday that would set a new standard for regulating America’s leading AI companies if Gov. JB Pritzker signs it. The bill, SB 315, mirrors existing provisions in legislation in California and New York requiring frontier AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic to create, publish

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Atlanta Falcons announce 2026 HBCU Fellows

The Atlanta Falcons are once again investing in the future of Black excellence, officially unveiling the 2026 HBCU Fellows Program in partnership with Wells Fargo — a career development initiative designed to create pathways for the next generation of leaders in sports, entertainment, business, and media. The program offers students from Atlanta-area HBCUs the opportunity to gain hands-on experience inside one

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HBCU brings football games back to campus after an 80-year absence

Courtesy of Talledega College An HBCU that has not fielded a football team since World War II is bringing the sport back to campus. Talladega College announced that it has entered into a partnership with Prep U. Collegiate, which will enroll the school’s students as Prep U. Collegiate students while they compete in a club football

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Thurgood Marshall College Fund releases landmark national assessment of HBCU research capacity at NSF EPSCoR Annual Summit

  At the 2026 National Science Foundation (NSF) EPSCoR Annual Summit, hosted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) and its Dr. N. Joyce Payne Research Center (Payne Center) released a landmark report: “Advancing America’s Research Enterprise: A National Assessment of Research Capacity and Future Readiness at

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Top Black Celebrities Inspire 2026 Graduates at HBCU Commencements

Numerous Black public figures took the stage this graduation season to restore hope in students. Key Takeaways Thirteen influential Black leaders and celebrities delivered or will deliver inspiring commencement speeches in 2026 across various HBCUs. Speakers like Queen Latifah, Ray Lewis, and Magic Johnson emphasized resilience, creativity, and community impact to graduates. Events highlighted renewed

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Southern University Gospel Choir nominated for ‘HBCU Choir of the Year’ at Stellar Awards

Courtesy of Southern University BATON ROUGE — The Southern University Gospel Choir has been nominated for the Stellar Gospel Music Awards’ first-ever HBCU Choir of the Year. The category is the first Historically Black Colleges and Universities gospel choir award to be offered at the Stellar Awards. “This historic moment shines a national spotlight on

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