The New ‘Be The People’ Campaign Wants To Unite Hundreds Of Millions of Americans To Solve Problems

AP NEWS - As the official celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence culminate on July 4, a well-financed, privately funded initiative will kick off to try to connect hundreds of millions of Americans with efforts to solve local problems. The "Be The People" campaign aspires to change the perception that the U.S. is hopelessly divided and that individuals have little power to overcome

Gladys West, The Inventor Of The Modern GPS System, Dies At 95

SUTHERLAND, Va. - Dr. Gladys Mae West, an African American mathematician whose work played a critical role in the development of satellite navigation technology, died on Jan. 17, 2026 at 95. West spent more than four decades working at the U.S. Navy's research facility in Dahlgren, Virginia, where her mathematical modeling and data analysis contributed to early systems that allowed satellites to determine precise locations on Earth. That work later

NC joins initiative to expand access to education, jobs after incarceration

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="880"] Mike Groll / AP[/caption] 88.5 WFDD - North Carolina is among four states participating in a new national initiative designed to expand education and job opportunities for people leaving prison. The state's Department of Adult Correction will join the inaugural cohort of the Fair Chance to Advance State Action Network. The program focuses on removing barriers to education, job training and employment for people with histories

FEMA Approves First Batch of Home Buyouts, Owners Face Long Process

BPR News - For months, state officials have raised concerns that the Federal Emergency Management Agency had not approved a single buyout project. Now it seems the federal government is moving forward. After months of uncertainty over the fate of hundreds of properties, FEMA green-lit a small batch of properties for acquisition in Western North Carolina, mostly in Henderson and Buncombe Counties. The approvals - which some people have waited

The US political climate spurs efforts to reclaim the MLK holiday

(AP NEWS) As communities across the country on Monday host parades, panels and service projects for the 40th federal observation of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the political climate for some is more fraught with tensions than festive with reflection on the slain Black American civil rights icon's legacy. In the year since Donald Trump's second inauguration fell on King Day, the Republican president has gone scorched earth against diversity,

The US political climate spurs efforts to reclaim the MLK holiday

(AP NEWS) As communities across the country on Monday host parades, panels and service projects for the 40th federal observation of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the political climate for some is more fraught with tensions than festive with reflection on the slain Black American civil rights icon's legacy. In the year since Donald Trump's second inauguration fell on King Day, the Republican president has gone scorched earth against diversity,

HBCU Grad Turned Award-Winning Author Recognized As Global Film Festival Winner

Nationwide - Dr. Juan P. Chisholm, an HBCU graduate and award-winning author of Mission Possible: How to Graduate from College Debt-Free, has been recognized with a Best Inspirational Short Film Award by the Global Film Festival in Los Angeles, California, for The Mission Possible Book Award documentary movie. The documentary is based on the success of Dr. Chisholm's award-winning book, Mission Possible: How to Graduate from College Debt-Free. Additionally, the

He Rebuilt The EPA With An Eye Toward Environmental Justice. Now… 

This article is adapted from reporting by Due South on WUNC. Former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan spent his tenure reshaping the nation's top environmental agency around a principle long demanded by grassroots organizers: environmental justice. Today, as political winds shift, Regan is watching many of those hard-fought gains face rollbacks and resistance. A North Carolina native, Regan's professional roots are deeply embedded in the Environmental Protection Agency.

Mom, Maternal Health Advocate Sadly Dies At 30 From Birth Complications

Nationwide - Dr. Janell Green Smith, a South Carolina midwife and advocate for Black maternal health, died from complications during childbirth at just early 30s. She was a devoted professional, photographer, and mother, remembered for her work supporting Black families. The American College of Nurse-Midwives called her death a "profound failure of the systems meant to protect birthing people." According to The Grio, they said it is both heartbreaking and

Shaw Women’s Basketball Defeats Lincoln University 65–54

RALEIGH, N.C. - The Shaw University women's basketball team earned a strong 65-54 victory over Lincoln University in a regular-season CIAA matchup on January 8, 2026, showcasing depth, defensive pressure, and timely scoring in front of a home crowd. Shaw guard Leasia Matthews (12) set the tone in the second half, repeatedly pushing the pace and attacking the lane. Matthews was a consistent force in transition, driving the ball down