National News - Page 3

Justice Department sues Alabama for violating federal lawā€™s prohibition on systematic efforts to remove voters within 90 days of an election

By the Alabama Justice Department The Justice Department announced that it has filed a lawsuit against the State of Alabama and the Alabama Secretary of State to challenge a systematic State program aimed at removing voters from its election rolls too close to the Nov. 5 general election, in violation of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA). ā€œThe right to vote is one of the most sacred rights in our democracy,ā€ said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Departmentā€™s Civil Rights Division. ā€œAs Election Day approaches, it is critical that Alabama redress voter confusion resulting from

Tim Walz and JD Vance’s 2024 VP debate is tonight. Here’s what to know.

By Caitlin Yilek Sen.Ā JD VanceĀ of Ohio and Minnesota Gov.Ā Tim WalzĀ ā€” both relative newcomers to the national political spotlight ā€” face off Tuesday in the only scheduled vice-presidential debate before the November election. The debate is being held three weeks after former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris hadĀ their only scheduled debate. Walz, who is Harris’ running mate, has had a long career in politics but was largely unknown to voters outside of Minnesota before he joined the Democratic ticket. Vance, the author of “Hillbilly Elegy,” was first elected to office in 2022, less than two years before being

Expanding Transfer From California to HBCUs

By Ashley Mowreader California lawmakers hope to decrease gaps in degree completion between Black college students and their non-Black peers through transfer guarantee and financial aid programs. In 2023, the California Assembly passed Assembly Bill 1400, which providesĀ a one-time grantĀ to community college students planning to attend a historically Black college or university. A Sept.Ā 19 webinar by the California Student Aid Commissions (CSAC), which oversees the Cal-HBCU grant funding, highlighted opportunities to support Black student success within California through the grant and other programs. California, which lacks an HBCU, has worked to expand access to institutions that promote student success for

HBCU receives another million plus to enhance campus facilities

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Courtesy of Livingstone College Livingstone College an HBCU in Salisbury, NC, has recently received an additional $1.2 million in grants and donations from various sources, fortifying its commitment to enhancing student services and campus facilities. The College received aĀ significant anonymous $8 million donation last monthĀ and has since secured various grants and donations to bolster its infrastructure and capital investments. President Dr. Anthony J. Davis expressed gratitude, stating, ā€œIf Livingstone College can be better, then better we will be.ā€ Notably, the National Science Foundation awarded the College a $448,000 grant to support the STEM Innovation Ecosystem, benefiting students pursuing STEM-related programs.

Congress approves funding bill to avoid government shutdown

By Deidre Walsh Congress voted Wednesday evening to approve a stop-gap spending bill to fund government programs through December 20. The bipartisan spending bill postpones the debate on full year funding levels for federal programs until after the election, and avoids a shutdown. Government agencies run out of money on September 30. “Our focus now turns exclusively to Nov. 5,” Johnson told reporters after the House vote, referencing Election Day. “Our members are now returning to their districts and they’ll be working in their districts until the election and they will be making their case to the voters.” The House

White House Initiative on HBCUs announces 2024 scholars ā€“ all D.C. and Maryland HBCUs represented

By Deborah Bailey The White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities has announced the 2024 class of scholars, marking the 10th anniversary of this program that has highlighted the scholarship, talent and rigor of Americaā€™s HBCUs. This year, 110 exemplary students hailing from 77 of Americaā€™s HBCUs have been selected for their outstanding academic achievement, prospective leadershipĀ  and contribution to their communities. The 2024 cohort includes students from all HBCUs in Washington, D.C., and Maryland, displaying the strong and diverse educational experiences students receive in the nationā€™s capital and its neighboring state. ā€œFor 10 years the HBCU Scholars

More U.S. schools are taking breaks for meditationā€“ teachers say it helps studentsā€™ mental health

By Sharon Johnson The Associated Press The third-grade students at Roberta T. Smith Elementary School had only a few days until summer vacation, and an hour until lunch, but there was no struggle to focus as they filed into the classroom. They were ready for one of their favorite parts of the day. The children closed their eyes and traced their thumbs from their foreheads to their hearts as a pre-recorded voice led them through an exercise called the shark fin, part of the classroomā€™s regular meditation routine. ā€œListen to the chimes,ā€ said the teacher, Kim Franklin. ā€œRemember to breathe.ā€

EPA Launches Inaugural HBCU-MSI Federal Advisory Council

By Ashley Brown The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announcedĀ  its inaugural Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions Federal Advisory Council, marking a pivotal moment in the agencyā€™s commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in environmental policymaking and workforce development. The HBCU-MSI Federal Advisory Council is tasked with providing independent counsel and recommendations to EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. The council will focus on developing strategies to diversify the agencyā€™s workforce, support the professional development of emerging environmental leaders, and secure necessary resources for HBCUs and MSIs to thrive. Their guidance will be instrumental in tackling

Censorship reports show a mixed picture on U.S. book challenges

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ByĀ Matt Lavietes Two reports released Monday provide a mixed but compelling outlook on the wave of book removals and challenges as the annualĀ Banned Books WeekĀ begins for schools, stores and libraries nationwide. TheĀ American Library AssociationĀ found a substantial drop in 2024 so far in complaints about books stocked in public, school and academic libraries, and in the number of books receiving objections. Meanwhile,Ā PEN AmericaĀ is documenting an explosion in books being removed from school shelves in 2023-24, tripling to more than 10,000 over the previous year. More than 8,000 were pulled just in Florida and Iowa, where laws restricting the content of books

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted

By the Associated Press New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted by a grand jury on federal criminal charges, according to two people familiar with the matter. The indictment detailing the charges against Adams, a Democrat, was still sealed late Wednesday, according to the people, who spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. The U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan declined to comment. The indictment was first reported by The New York Times. “I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I

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