By Megan Brand The Trump administration is threatening to withdraw support for the Smithsonian Institution, accusing its leadership of presenting a “radical ideology” that weakens “shared American identity” in the latest effort to pressure the institution to change its presentations and practices. The Interior Department sent a letter to the Smithsonian last Friday, which the department posted online,
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By Nicholas Riccardi The U.S. Postal Service is poised to launch a hastily built, error-riddled computer system that could jeopardize the process of mail voting relied upon by one-third of all voters, according to a whistleblower statement released Tuesday by Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal. The effort is part of the implementation of President Donald Trump’s executive
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Edward Waters University, Florida’s first historically Black college and university, has reached its highest fall enrollment in more than 20 years. The Jacksonville institution welcomed 1,281 students for Fall 2026, continuing a period of sustained growth in enrollment, academics and institutional finances. The achievement comes at a time when American higher education is navigating financial
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Benedict College is mourning longtime athletic director and former men’s basketball coach Willie Washington, who died Monday at age 79 after more than 38 years of service to the Columbia, South Carolina, HBCU. Benedict College announced Washington’s death Tuesday, calling him a legendary leader, coach and mentor whose work helped shape Tiger Athletics. The school did not
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For the second consecutive year, Florida A&M University (FAMU) has been ranked the No. 1 Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the nation by Niche in its 2027 Best HBCU Schools in America rankings. FAMU earned the highest ranking among 73 HBCUs evaluated by Niche, receiving an overall grade of A-. Niche’s rankings are based on an analysis of
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Gospel artists and minister Pastor Mike Jr. supported his local HBCU with a special gift, donating MacBooks to the Alabama A&M women’s basketball program. The Birmingham-based pastor and award-winning Gospel artist donated the MacBooks to members of the Bulldogs program, giving the student-athletes a tool that can benefit them well beyond basketball. A video of
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By Matthew Memrick Brandon Barnes knows what it feels like to have the skills, the idea and the determination and still not get the opportunity. That experience forms the basis of his work in Charlotte, where he established the Black Tech Initiative (BTI), a nonprofit creating pathways into the technology field for Black professionals and
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By Jane C. Timm Officials in Texas’ third-largest county voted Tuesday to significantly reduce the number of polling sites for this fall’s midterm elections, drawing protests from Democrats and voting rights advocates. Commissioners in Tarrant County, a fast-growing and politically competitive area that includes Fort Worth, approved a plan that results in 92 fewer Election Day polling
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By Rohan Nadkarni Colin Kaepernick said he believes that Jay-Z’s recent comments about him speak to a “guilty conscience,” as the fallout between the former quarterback and the rapper deepens. Kaepernick responded as part of an extensive interview with NBC News after Jay-Z dissed the athlete during a recent concert. In July, Jay-Z took aim at Kaepernick, the
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Cassandra Wilson, a Jackson State alumna whose voice carried an HBCU connection into the highest levels of jazz, has died. She was 70. The two-time Grammy-winning vocalist died September 2 at her home in Jackson, Mississippi. Her longtime manager, Robert Torre, confirmed the news to WBGO. “Cassandra Wilson transitioned peacefully at home, surrounded by family, close
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