SE Raleigh Homeowners vs. City Development 

Jordan Meadows Staff Writer Southeast Raleigh's Old Towne subdivision is at the center of mounting tensions between residents, city officials, and developers, as frustration over a contentious street construction project continues to grow. What began three years ago with property flagging and dynamite blasts for a new road-Primrose Bank-has evolved into a flashpoint for complaints of property damage, community neglect, and possible civil rights violations. The construction, which aims to

Allison Riggs Certified as Winner in Race

By  Jordan Meadows Staff Writer More than 180 days after North Carolina voters cast their ballots, Democrat Allison Riggs was officially certified as an Associate Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court on Tuesday morning in a ceremony inside the state House chambers at the Capitol in Raleigh. Riggs, who was originally appointed to the Supreme Court in 2023 by Democratic Governor Roy Cooper to replace Justice Mike Morgan, won

Sports Spotlight: The First Black Trailblazers In NFL History

By Jordan Meadows Staff Writer  Long before the Civil Rights Movement reshaped the American legal and cultural landscape, four pioneering African American athletes shattered the NFL's color barrier in 1946. This moment occurred a full year before Jackie Robinson broke into Major League Baseball, yet their names remain far less recognized in the national memory. The National Football League had briefly seen African American players in its early years, most

What’s Going on With SAU? Part 1

By: Jordan Meadows Staff Writer  In October 2023, a five-member team of higher education professionals arrived at St. Augustine University (SAU) on behalf of its accreditor-the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS)-to evaluate the university's finances and leadership. Their findings: the university faced "dire and fundamental financial challenges," and its board of trustees lacked even the most basic systems for risk evaluation and fiscal oversight. The

Persistent Inequities with HBCU Funding

[caption id="attachment_11647" align="alignnone" width="1170"] North Carolina A&T State University | NC A&T[/caption] By Jordan Meadows Staff Writer Former President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing the White House Initiative to Promote Excellence and Innovation at HBCUs. While not the first executive action of its kind-every president since Jimmy Carter has issued HBCU-related orders-Trump's new directive arrives as Harvard University sued the Trump administration after it froze $2.3bn in federal

A Legal Firestorm Erupts Over N.C. Supreme Court Race

By Jordan Meadows  Staff Writer North Carolina's 2024 Supreme Court race has morphed into a sprawling legal and constitutional battle that now spans state and federal courts. On Tuesday, a three-judge panel from the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a 2-1 ruling blocking North Carolina from launching its planned ballot-curing process. This halt immediately affected roughly 1,400 military, overseas, and "Never Resident" voters whose ballots remain in legal

The Untold Story Of The Titanic’s Only Black Passenger

By Jordan Meadows Staff Writer Joseph Philippe Lemercier Laroche, a 25-year-old Haitian engineer, was the only known Black passenger, along with his children, aboard the ill-fated Titanic. His story, buried for decades beneath the weight of history, has recently re-emerged. Born on May 26, 1886, in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti, Joseph Laroche was a gifted student. At just 15 years old, he was sent to Beauvais, France, to pursue a formal education

Charting A Path Forward: The 19th Annual NC Black Summit

By Jordan Meadows Staff Writer The 19th Annual NC Black Summit was held last Thursday and Friday at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree, bringing together Black elected officials, public policy advocates, community stakeholders, strategic partners, and constituents from across the state. Under the theme Charting OUR Course Through a Crisis, the sold-out event served as a vital gathering point for Black leadership to navigate the post-election climate, address pressing community concerns,

Innocence Inquiry Commission Faces Elimination

By Jordan Meadows Staff Writer For nearly two decades, the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission has been consequential in finding justice in the state - and a national model for reform. Created by the General Assembly in 2006 and formally established in 2007, the commission has reviewed thousands of claims of wrongful conviction and played a critical role in the exoneration of 16 individuals who collectively served more than 300

NC Culture Of Cover Ups Part 3

By: Jordan Meadows Staff Writer In Part 1 of the series, we explored the historical context of the cover-up culture within law enforcement in North Carolina and the Triangle area, with insights from Dr. Kimberly D. Muktarian-a Raleigh native, journalist, historian, and civil rights activist. In Part 2, we examined several examples of this troubling culture in law enforcement, where Dr. Kim shared her personal encounters with officers and discussed