National News - Page 8

Woolworthā€™s Sit-In Site Honored as National Historic Landmark

On Feb. 1, 1960, Jibreel Khazan (formerly Ezell Blair Jr.), Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain Sr., and David Richmondā€”known as the A&T Fourā€”broke racial barriers by sitting at the Woolworthā€™s whites-only lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina. Their nonviolent protest quickly garnered attention and support, inspiring local college and high school students to join their cause. This act of courage not only catalyzed similar demonstrations across the country but also played a crucial role in including public accommodations as a protected category in theĀ Civil Rights ActĀ of 1964. ā€œTheir sit-in inspired thousands of people to demand equal treatment in shops, restaurants, and

Trump signs sweeping executive order to expand school choice

ByĀ Yamiche Alcindor,Ā Rebecca ShabadĀ andĀ Dareh Gregorian Ā President Donald TrumpĀ signed a sweeping executive order Wednesday that would prioritize and free up federal funding to expand school choice programs. The order impacts several federal departments and directs the Education Department to prioritize school choice programs through its discretionary grants, in addition to issuing guidance to states about federal allocations to districts and schools, a senior White House official said. ā€œWithin 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Education shall issue guidance regarding how States can use Federal formula funds to support K-12 educational choice initiatives,ā€ the order says. The order,

The latest on the fatal midair plane and helicopter crash

By Ayana Archie Authorities are continuing to investigate a midair collision between an American Airlines airliner and an Army helicopter, in which the aircraft fell into the icy Potomac River near Washington, D.C.’s Reagan National Airport on Wednesday night. All 67 passengers, crew members and Army service members are believed to have died. Here is what we know so far. How did it happen? A regional American Airlines jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members traveling from Wichita, Kan., was moments from landing when it collided with an Army Blackhawk helicopter carrying three U.S. service members, shortly before 9

Trumpā€™s Cabinet nominees face sharpest bipartisan grilling to date and other takeaways from Thursdayā€™s confirmation hearings

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ByĀ Jeremy Herb,Ā Katie Bo Lillis,Ā Annie GrayerĀ andĀ Lauren Fox, CNN Three of President Donald Trumpā€™s most controversial nominees faced sharp questions in the Senate during hearings Thursday from Democrats as well as several Republican senators in what amounted to the most direct skepticism from GOP senators over Trumpā€™s nominees to date. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trumpā€™s pick to be Health and Human Services secretary, was pressed on his views on vaccines by GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who said he had ā€œreservationsā€ about Kennedyā€™s past positions on vaccine safety. And Tulsi Gabbard, who has been tapped to be the director of national

HBCU Legal Expert Nominated as Stateā€™s Secretary of Labor

Courtesy of Delaware State University LaKresha Moultrie, Delaware State Universityā€™s vice president of legal affairs, has been nominated by Governor-elect Matt Meyer to serve as the Secretary of the Delaware Department of Labor. She will bring her extensive legal and managerial experience to this crucial role within the state government. Moultrieā€™s nomination, which is pending confirmation by the State Senate, signals a commitment by the new administration to bolster workforce development and advocate for equitable opportunities across the state. In a press release, Governor-elect Meyer praised Moultrieā€™s proven track record: ā€œLaKresha brings a wealth of experience, passion, and a deep

Dozens feared dead after American Eagle jet and Army helicopterĀ collide andĀ crash into Potomac River

ByĀ Megan LebowitzĀ andĀ Raquel Coronell Uribe Ā A commercial plane and a military helicopter collided midair near Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night. Both of the aircraft ā€” an American Eagle jet and Army Black Hawk ā€” are in the Potomac River. There were 64 people on the plane and three in the helicopter. The incident occurred shortly before 9 p.m. ET. The number of casualties is unclear, as a search-and-rescue operation is ongoing. President Donald Trump said in a statement Wednesday night that he has been fully briefed on the crash. He thanked first responders and said he “will provide more

Trump reinstates military members who refused COVID vaccine

By Avery Lotz PresidentĀ TrumpĀ reinstated members of the military who were dismissed because they refused to receive theĀ COVIDĀ vaccine in an executive order late Monday. Why it matters:Ā The order reverses the dismissals by theĀ BidenĀ administration, restoring thousands of service members to their previous rank and providing them with back pay and benefits. Catch up quick:Ā More than 8,000 service members were discharged for refusing to get vaccinated under a 2021Ā memorandum. The military’s vaccine mandate was rescinded in early 2023 after it was lifted in an annualĀ defense spending bill. Driving the news:Ā “The vaccine mandate was an unfair, overbroad, and completely unnecessary burden on our service

Trump’s funding freeze creates widespread confusion

In a significant policy move, President Donald Trump has initiated a comprehensive freeze on federal financial assistance, aiming to align government spending with his administrationā€™s priorities. This directive, issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), halts the disbursement of federal grants and loans as the administration reviews existing programs. Ā  Scope and Rationale The freeze encompasses a wide array of federal financial assistance programs, including grants to state and local governments, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations. Essential services such as Social Security benefits and food aid are exempt from this pause. The administration asserts that this measure is

HBCUs In Jeopardy of Losing Funding for Black Cultural Studies

By April Ryan ā€œThis is only the beginning of a long fight,ā€according to Democratic North Carolina Congresswoman Alma Adams. She is addressing the Executive Order to pause federal loans and grants. There is an overwhelming concern in the Historically Black College and University community that many key programs focused on race and equity will be impacted. Adams, a ranking member of a House Subcommittee on Higher Education and the Founder and Co-Chair of the Bicameral HBCU Caucus, issued a statement to Black Press USA once a federal judge temporarily blocked President Trumpā€™s funding freeze. Adams, whose state houses 11 HBCUs,

Trump administration offers roughly 2 million federal workers a buyout to resign

ByĀ Garrett HaakeĀ andĀ Amanda Terkel President Donald Trump’s administration is offering federal workers the chance to take a “deferred resignation,” which would mean they agree now to resign but get paid through September. A senior administration official told NBC News that they expect 5%-10% of the federal workforce to quit, which, they estimate, could lead to around $100 billion in savings. All full-time federal employees are eligible, except for members of the military, employees of the U.S. Postal Service, positions related to immigration enforcement and national security and other jobs excluded by agencies. “American taxpayers pay for the salaries of federal government

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