Business

Oklahoma lawsuit alleges secret scheme by State Farm to cheat homeowners

By Laura Jarrett and Abigail Brooks BROKEN ARROW, Okla. — Billy Hursh couldn’t believe what he was hearing from his insurance company. After a hailstorm battered his roof in October 2023, two different contractors told him he needed a full roof replacement, but his insurance company, State Farm, told him the roof was in “fair” condition. That dispute eventually led to what would become a yearslong legal battle that has now reached the highest court in the state. Hursh told NBC News during an interview at his home that the first storm was bad enough, but eight months later, an even bigger storm

Paramount Skydance plans to merge Paramount+ and HBO Max platforms

By Daniel Arkin Paramount Skydance plans to combine Paramount+ and HBO Max into one streaming service after it officially takes over Warner Bros. Discovery, the company’s top executive announced Monday. “We do plan to put the two services together, which today gives us a little over 200 million direct-to-consumer subscribers,” Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison said during an investor call early Monday. “We think the combined offering, given the amount of content and what we can do from the tech side, really will put us in a position to be able to compete with the most scaled players” in the direct-to-consumer

BLACK WALL STREET 2.0: HBCU Business Scholars Predict the Next Era

LANGSTON, OK, UNITED STATES- As wars in Gaza and between Russia and Ukraine continue to reshape global energy and supply chains, tariffs intensify trade friction, and organizations race to deploy artificial intelligence at scale, the Langston University School of Business (LUSB) has released a set of 2026 predictions focused on entrepreneurship, leadership, and trust in a disrupted economy. Led by Dean Dr. Daryl D. Green, LUSB has convened a group of 20+ practitioner-scholars and business experts from across the country—a network reflecting the school’s distinctive approach: most faculty are active practitioners who teach while building companies, advising organizations, and working in

Career Communications Group at a Crossroads; Workforce Retrenchment Amid Shifting National Priorities

For more than four decades, Career Communications Group (CCG) has stood at the intersection of talent, opportunity, and national competitiveness. As publisher of US Black Engineer & Information Technology, Hispanic Engineer, Women of Color, Science Spectrum magazines, and convener of the BEYA STEM Conference—founded and sponsored by the Council of Engineering Deans of HBCUs—CCG has built a national bridge connecting employers with high-performing students and professionals from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and major institutions across the country. Today, that bridge is under strain. CCG has furloughed approximately 40 percent of its staff following a significant pullback in corporate

Supporting HBCU students: How the McDonald’s Black & Positively Golden Scholarship is giving back

A fast-food chain’s commitment to the community runs deeper than just providing a quick meal. McDonald’s USA has teamed up with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund to help HBCU students begin and further their higher education journeys. The Black & Positively Golden Scholarship Program began in 2020. Annually, Sixty scholars across 57 institutions will be awarded up to $15,000 each for the 2026-2027 academic year. Students interested in applying must meet the following eligibility requirements: Be enrolled full-time as an undergraduate freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior attending an HBCU during the 2026-2027 academic year Have a current cumulative grade point

Supreme Court ruling against Trump tariffs will offer relief, business owners say

By Megan Cerullo Business owners said that a Supreme Court ruling on Friday striking down sweeping U.S. tariffs could spell relief by lowering their costs and potentially leading to refunds. The high court ruled that President Trump does not have the authority to impose levies on imports under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA. Mr. Trump last year invoked the 1977 law to impose tariffs on dozens of U.S. trade partners, claiming that trade deficits and the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs into the U.S. constitute national emergencies. Beth Benike, co-founder of  Busy Baby, which makes mealtime accessories for babies,

Hackathon looks to equip Alabama HBCU student startups for future success

Matt Hottle, co-founder and partner of Redhawk Advisory, spoke to Hackathon finalists about what it takes to be ready to seek venture capital. (Contributed) “I hope I provided a good idea of how venture capital works,” said Hottle. “It’s important that they recognize when they are reaching a stage where they should become interested in that.” Presented by Innovate Alabama and The Alabama Collective, in partnership with the Alabama Power Foundation, the all-day Hackathon completed a process that started last fall, with a challenge to students at Alabama’s historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to propose responsible, AI-driven solutions to public safety issues

McDonald’s Black and Positively Golden Scholarship Program to Award $1 Million to HBCU Students

McDonald’s USA, through its Black & Positively Golden® Scholarship Program, has awarded scholarship funds to incoming and current HBCU students since its inception in 2020. In partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), McDonald’s continues to support the next generation of leaders. Incoming and current HBCU students are encouraged to apply for the Black & Positively Golden Scholarship now through April 24 at http://tmcf.org/mcd. Sixty scholars across 57 institutions will be awarded up to $15,000 each for the 2026-2027 academic year. Students interested in applying must meet the following eligibility requirements: Be enrolled full-time as an undergraduate freshman, sophomore, junior

FICO Expands Educational Analytics Challenge To Eight HBCUs For Spring 2026 Semester

FICO is expanding its commitment to fostering the next generation of data scientists, announcing the continuation of its FICO® Educational Analytics Challenge into the Spring 2026 semester and welcoming Dillard University as a new partner. The program, now in its third year, will engage students at eight Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)—including Bowie State, Drake State, and Morehouse—in hands-on experience building responsible AI models. Participants will tackle real-world business problems, specifically focusing on the development and training of AI language models used in the financial sector. “The Analytics Challenge program provides students the opportunity to learn how industry data

Latriece Watkins Named Sam’s Club CEO, Spelman College

When Latriece Watkins was named President and CEO of Sam’s Club, the announcement moved quickly across the business world. A Spelman College alum taking the helm of one of the most powerful membership-based retailers in the country is notable, but the real significance of this moment lies in what came before it. Watkins’ rise is not the result of a sudden promotion or an external hire—it is the outcome of nearly three decades spent mastering the inner workings of Walmart, one of the most complex corporate ecosystems in the world. Watkins began her career at Walmart in 1997 as a real estate intern, steadily moving through

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