National News - Page 2

Fisk’s Data Center Plan Ignites a Bigger Fight Over Who Benefits from Progress

Across the country, many Americans have protested and fought viciously to bar data centers from sprouting up in their neighborhoods, due to their strain on natural resources and pollution. So it’s no surprise that Fisk University’s plan to build a $400 million data center on its historic Nashville campus has sparked major backlash from students and alumni. There was reportedly no public hearing before the announcement, which came just after the spring semester ended, according to Capital B News. Students and locals from the majority-Black neighborhood felt surprised by the announcement. The HBCU unveiled a $900 million, 10-year transformation plan on

Supreme Court rules Trump can’t fire Fed member Lisa Cook, grants him more power over other independent agencies

By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court delivered a setback to President Donald Trump on Monday, rejecting his attempt to fire Federal Reserve board member Lisa Cook, while in a separate case giving him a freer hand to exert control over other hitherto independent federal agencies. The two decisions, issued at the same time and both authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, together marked another example of the conservative-majority court pushing back on one aspect of Trump’s broad exertion of executive power while giving him the green light on another. Though Trump may not fire Cook for now, the court

Millions drop Obamacare health coverage after subsidies expire and costs rise

By Ali Swenson About 3 million fewer people in the United States had Affordable Care Act health insurance plans in February compared with the same time last year, according to new federal data. In the report released Friday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggested the 13% drop in enrollment from 22.1 million people in 2025 to 19.2 million this year could be attributed to a federal crackdown on fraudulent or “phantom” enrollment. But health analysts said it was more likely related to the Jan. 1 expiration of federal subsidies, which caused a surge in plan costs that resulted in many people being

Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ is bringing a big set of student loan changes

By Erik Ortiz One year after President Donald Trump signed his core domestic policy package into law, student loan borrowers are bracing for a major overhaul of the federal lending system that will begin this week. Many were already struggling when the Biden administration attempted to enact sweeping student debt relief in the wake of the Covid pandemic, but the proposal encountered Republican blowback. Now, under the Trump administration’s changes, borrowers will experience a range of effects with some seeing little difference in what they owe each month while many lower-income borrowers will be hit the hardest with increases, student advocacy groups and financial

Six HBCUs Launch Groundbreaking Course-Sharing Partnership

eHBCU launches new course-sharing partnership with Acadeum to enable learners to get the courses they need, at the time they need them, to complete their degree from HBCU institutions. eHBCU, a consortium of six Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), announced today a new partnership with Acadeum, the largest course sharing platform in the nation, to expand flexible, high-quality online learning opportunities at HBCUs. The collaboration will help learners access the courses they need at the time they need them from another HBCU while remaining enrolled at their home institution. Through the partnership, Students enrolled at participating eHBCU member institutions

Michigan releases license plates for Black fraternities and sororities

Michigan has introduced specialty license plates featuring logos of five historically Black Greek-letter organizations: Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Delta Sigma Theta, Phi Beta Sigma, and Zeta Phi Beta. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and state Sen. Sarah Anthony, D-Lansing, on June 18 debuted new license plate designs honoring five Black Greek-letter organizations. The participating fraternities and sororities are Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.; and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. For $25, members can order a license plate with their organization’s design by mail

Obama Presidential Center Unveils Official Portrait of Barack and Michelle Obama

By Eunice Alpasan With the grand opening soon approaching, the Obama Presidential Center has unveiled its first official portrait of former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama. The portrait, “The Obamas: Springing Forth,” by artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby is on display in the museum’s lobby, an area open to the public and that does not require a ticket, according to a Monday news release. The unveiling of the portrait — which weaves together archival images, family albums and symbolic elements — comes as the Obamas are back in Chicago ahead of the Obama Presidential Center’s grand opening

The Obama Presidential Center will be dedicated Thursday

By Maham Javaid Nearly a decade in the making, the Obama Presidential Center will have a star-studded dedication ceremony Thursday. The grand opening, which will host “global leaders, artists, changemakers, and citizens,” will feature musical performances and appearances by Bruce Springsteen, Christina Aguilera and John Legend, among others. Every living president will be in attendance except one: President Trump. During a press preview in early June, longtime Obama White House aide and current CEO of the Obama Foundation Valerie Jarrett said Trump is welcome to visit the museum and they’d love to give him a tour. She said he simply was

Trump and Iran’s president sign initial deal to end war, open Strait of Hormuz and ease sanctions

By Henry Austin, Nick Duffy, Abigail Williams and Gabe Gutierrez President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have signed a memorandum of understanding, laying out terms for ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Trump could be seen signing the memorandum late Wednesday at the Palace of Versailles in video published by French President Emmanuel Macron. Asked by a reporter about the signing while leaving Versailles, Trump said, “It’s signed. Signed in Versailles. Just signed it.” Pezeshkian signed the memorandum separately, according to Iranian state media, which posted an image of him holding up a copy with his signature. The deal, as provided to NBC News by a

Jury deadlocks in trial over death of HBCU student

A murder trial involving a former Jackson State University student accused of killing his roommate has ended without a verdict after a jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision, resulting in a mistrial. The closely watched case, which has drawn significant attention across Mississippi and the HBCU community, now enters a new phase as prosecutors determine whether they will seek a retrial. After days of deliberations, jurors informed the court they remained deadlocked, prompting the judge to declare a mistrial. The decision means no verdict was reached, leaving both the victim’s family and the defendant awaiting the next steps in the legal process.

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