National News

After Texas flood, elected leaders say cuts to FEMA, NOAA could affect weather response

By Oren Oppenheim In the wake of the flooding event in central Texas, some governors and mayors are raising concerns over how current or potential cuts to agencies that are part of the federal government’s response to major weather events will impact how effectively the government can respond in the future. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — the latter of which oversees the National Weather Service — have lost hundreds of staff members through layoffs or early-retirement programs, and both face the potential of budget cuts. Budget cuts to NOAA are mostly directed at

Governor Gretchen Whitmer Signs Bill To Officially Reopen Michigan’s First HBCU In Detroit

The good news is still pouring in for this Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design made history drafting proposed legislation that would benchmark it as the nation’s first-ever re-opened historically Black college, AfroTech previously reported. Now, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appears to be on board as she reportedly signed legislation to confirm the proceeding of the HBCU. “I am proud to play a part in helping reopen the Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design in Detroit,” Whitmer said in a press release. “I am committed to expanding educational opportunities for Michiganders across our state to put Michigan first.” The HBCU Will Strengthen

After Texas floods, questions about FEMA’s future loom large

By Laura Strickler, Monica Alba, Jonathan Allen and Julia Ainsley The devastating Texas flooding that has killed nearly 120 people is the first high-profile disaster the Federal Emergency Management Agency has faced during the current Trump administration. But while the loss of life has been catastrophic, former and current FEMA officials told NBC News that the relatively small geographic area affected means it’s not a true test of what the agency, whose full-time staff has been shrunk by a third, is capable of doing in the wake of a disaster. The real tryout could come later this summer, they say, when there is always the threat that

Texas officials give few answers to growing questions about response to deadly floods

By Erik Ortiz, Minyvonne Burke and Suzanne Gamboa Four days after the devastating flash floods in Texas Hill Country, local officials and law enforcement in Kerr County couldn’t provide basic details of the emergency response — including whether the emergency management coordinator, who decided to order evacuations, was awake when the waters started rising. “We’re in the process of trying to put a timeline — that’s going to take a little bit of time,” Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said at a news conference Tuesday, stressing that his priorities were finding missing residents, identifying them and notifying their next of kin. Pressed about the critical window

Texas floods death toll climbs to more than 100

By Angelica Casas The death toll from flash floods that struck central Texas on Friday has now climbed to more than 100 people and an unknown number of others are missing. Search and rescue teams are wading through mud-piled riverbanks as more rain and thunderstorms threaten the region, but hope was fading of finding any more survivors four days after the catastrophe. Camp Mystic, a Christian all-girls’ summer camp, confirmed at least 27 girls and staff were among the dead. Ten girls and a camp counsellor are still missing. The White House meanwhile rejected suggestions that budget cuts at the

The Fight for Funding Equity for HBCUs

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are stepping up advocacy efforts to address long standing inequities in federal and state funding, exposing a gap that advocates say undermines the sustainability of these institutions. Heads of state-supported HBCUs, lawmakers, and civil rights organizations have highlighted a long-running funding deficit and ongoing underinvestment that remains chronic. “Public and private HBCUs have been suffering from funding disparities for decades,” states a 2023 report from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), noting that perennial financial shortfalls have limited these institutions’ capacity to deliver on their mission and provide equal educational opportunities.

National Weather Service defends its flood warnings amid fresh scrutiny of Trump staff cuts

By Evan Bush Fatal floods in Texas that left thousands scrambling for safety with little warning have sparked a fresh round of scrutiny of Trump administration cuts to the National Weather Service. At least 81 people were dead and many others were missing Sunday evening after floodwaters surged through Texas Hill Country, an area known as “flash flood alley.” Within hours of the deluge early Friday, some Texas officials were critical of the NWS, saying forecasts underestimated the rainfall. Sunday, President Donald Trump rejected the idea of investigating whether NWS cuts had left key vacancies, and the White House said claims that NWS cuts had anything

Senate Republicans pass Trump’s sweeping policy bill, clearing major hurdle

Senate Republicans on Tuesday passed a major tax and spending bill demanded by Donald Trump, ending weeks of negotiations over the comprehensive legislation and putting it another step closer to enactment. But it remains unclear whether changes made by the chamber will be accepted by the House of Representatives, which approved an initial draft of the legislation last month by a single vote. While Republicans control both houses of Congress, factionalism in the lower chamber is particularly intense, with rightwing fiscal hardliners demanding deep spending cuts, moderates wary of dismantling safety-net programs and Republicans from Democratic-led states expected to make a stand

Trump Withholds Nearly $7 Billion for Schools, With Little Explanation

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By Sarah Mervosh and Michael C. Bender The Trump administration has declined to release nearly $7 billion in federal funding that helps pay for after-school and summer programs, support for students learning English, teacher training and other services. The money was expected to be released by Tuesday. But in an email on Monday, the Education Department notified state education agencies that the money would not be available. The administration offered little explanation, saying only that the funds were under review. It gave no timeline for when, or if, the money would be released, saying instead that it was “committed to ensuring taxpayer resources

Boston city councilors want an HBCU campus

City councilors are exploring ways to bring a historically Black college or university presence to Boston for the first time. Council Vice President Brian Worrell called for a hearing at last week’s meeting that will focus on creating an HBCU satellite campus in Boston. “An HBCU presence would provide role models for current Black students by showing them a tangible pathway to success,” Worrell said. “Boston led the way in educating Black students in the first half of the 19th century, with the opening of the Abiel Smith School, and we need to discover that trailblazing spirit once again.” Boston

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