National News - Page 134

Karen Bass Becomes First Woman Mayor of Los Angeles

By Bruce C.T. Wright Following more than a week of counting ballots and tabulating votes, U.S. Rep Karen Bass was finally projected to win the Los Angeles mayor race and become the first Black woman to ever serve in that role. In fact, Bass is also now the first woman period to ever be elected mayor of Los Angeles. The Associated Press called the race on Wednesday night with more than 70% of the votes counted as it became apparent that the electoral math wasn’t in the favor of Bass’ billionaire opponent, Caruso. Mayor-elect Bass “amassed an insurmountable lead of nearly 47,000

Justice Jackson Issues First Opinion in Death Row Case

By Lawrence Hurley Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, in her first opinion since taking office over the summer, objected Monday to the Supreme Court’s decision not side with an Ohio death row inmate’s claim. Jackson, joined by fellow liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor, said the court should have ruled for Davel Chinn, who was convicted of a 1989 murder in Dayton during a robbery. Instead, the court rejected Chinn’s appeal. Chinn’s lawyers argued that prosecutors had withheld evidence that a key witness, Marvin Washington, was severely mentally disabled, with an IQ of 48. Washington had identified Chinn as the shooter. Jackson wrote in an

HBCUs Defend Affirmative Action, Stress Academic Excellence

By Char Adams Historically Black colleges and universities are just as prestigious as Ivy League schools, and they’re diverse. That is why, leaders say, HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions will be even more important to students of color should the Supreme Court end affirmative action in college admissions. As conservative Supreme Court justices seem poised to end the explicit consideration of race in college admissions, HBCU leaders say doing away with race-conscious admissions would have a dire impact on racial equity in the country. They believe it would create “racially isolated” colleges and universities, making HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions, or MSIs,

6 Key Midterm Takeaways: GOP Stumbles, Senate Uncertain

By Dimenico Montanoro This is why it’s always important to remember never to assume you know exactly what’s going to happen in an election — and to keep an open mind for potential surprises. We’ve been saying for months these elections were expected to be close, that many of these elections would take a while to be decided, asked whether things had settled into a typical midterm, where the president’s party would suffer major losses, and said to not believe anyone who told you they knew exactly what would happen. There’s still a lot we don’t know, but one thing we

MLK Jr. Paid Julia Roberts’ Birth Hospital Bill in 1967

By Rachel Treisman The world is finally learning a thrilling fact about Julia Roberts’ birth, exactly 55 years later: It was paid for by Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. The connection between the two families wasn’t necessarily a secret, but it resurfaced in a big way just before Roberts’ Oct. 28 birthday, thanks to a recent interview and a viral tweet. Late last month an account called @turnandstomp retweeted a fan video of young Roberts, adding: “Martin Luther King Jr paying for her birth is still a little known fact that sends me” — and later clarified that Scott King

Wes Moore Elected Maryland’s First Black Governor

By Ava Joye-Burnett Wes Moore is set to make history after he was projected winner in Maryland’s gubernatorial race Tuesday night. The Associated Press called the race in favor of Moore the minute polls closed in Maryland at 8 p.m. He would be the state’s first Black governor. Moore’s running-mate Aruna Miller is also set to make history as the first immigrant and woman of color to be elected to the state-wide office of lieutenant governor. In the opening remarks of his victory speech, Moore thanked the security and wait staff first, then he thanked his wife Dawn, and his

Russian Court Denies Brittney Griner’s Drug Sentence Appeal

By Phil Helsel and Chantal Da Silva A Russian court on Tuesday denied WNBA star Brittney Griner’s appeal and upheld her nine-year prison sentence on drug charges. Griner, 32, looked despondent as she appeared at the hearing in the Moscow Regional Court via video conference from the detention center where she has been held since her arrest in February. The athlete is now expected to be moved to a penal colony. Griner’s conviction in August was decried by the United States, which has said the athlete is being wrongfully detained. The denial of her appeal will see hopes for Griner’s release shift to the potential for a

Oprah Endorses Stacey Abrams in Georgia Governor Race

By Chasity Clarot Oprah Winfrey is again shining her star power on Democrat Stacey Abrams’s bid for governor in Georgia, as Abrams pursues a rematch against incumbent Republican Brian Kemp, who she narrowly lost to in 2018. Winfrey appeared in a prerecorded chat with Abrams on a campaign website Thursday, saying she believes the candidate has a “calling to want people to be able to do better, to live better and to thrive in their lives.” “I’m wishing that the people of Georgia come out and make that a reality for you and the state of Georgia,” Winfrey said. The

Stephen Curry Honors Brittney Griner on 32nd Birthday

By Chantal Da Silva Stephen Curry offered fellow basketball star Brittney Griner a high-profile show of support Tuesday, as the WNBA player marked her 32nd birthday behind bars in Russia. Hours after Griner released a message thanking those fighting to get her home, Curry spoke out in the middle of the Golden State Warriors’ championship ring ceremony Tuesday. “We want to continue to use our platform and the opportunity to shout out a very special member of the basketball community,” Curry told the crowd ahead of the opening-night game against the Los Angeles Lakers. “Brittney Griner’s birthday is today; she’s 32 years

1 … 132 133 134 135 136 … 219
Close

Never Miss A Story

Covering HBCUS
and The African American Community