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,

Denslo “Dee” Page and Backyard Gardening 

By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer Water, light, food, and air are the major keys, according to Denslo "Dee" Page. A breath of fresh air, and an avid gardener, Dee began gardening in 1978, mostly inside. She has plants nearing the ceiling that she has nursed for years. A vegetarian and health enthuistist Dee decided to begin growing food. Beginning in pots, she noticed her plants growing and thriving, so she

A Misunderstanding Lead To Racial Terror 

[caption id="attachment_15629" align="alignnone" width="918"] The 1917 Silent Parade in New York City[/caption] By Jordan Meadows Staff Writer When the United States entered the First World War in April 1917, it proclaimed itself a defender of democracy abroad. At home, however, the pressures of war exposed and intensified long-standing racial and economic injustices. Nowhere was this contradiction more violently revealed than in the racial riots and massacres that erupted during the

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.

NC Lawmakers Review Federal Mandates Impacting Medicaid

By Jordan Meadows Staff Writer The Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid in the NC General Assembly convened Tuesday afternoon to review new federal requirements and funding mechanisms for the state's Medicaid and SNAP programs stemming from H.R.1, the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act". The law tightens work requirements for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs), affects eligibility for veterans and former foster youth, and mandates changes to Medicaid administration. "NC