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By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer Sanford, N.C. - For Dr. Shawn E. Williams, the vision behind MINA Charter School of Lee County was never just about education-it was personal. The school was founded in honor of his mother, who passed away in 2016. "MINA" was the name she was affectionately called, and it became the inspiration behind the school's meaning: More Is Now Achievable. "What we built was rooted in

RALEIGH, N.C. - On Saturday, March 28, 2026, the Raleigh Graduate Chapter of SWING PHI SWING SFI officially launched the Dr. Gwen Keith Newsome Foundation for Mental Wellness at Christian Faith Baptist Church, located at 509 Hilltop Drive. The church, led by Pastor Reverend Keith A. Darlington, served as the gathering place for community leaders, healthcare professionals, and residents united in advancing mental health awareness. Established in honor of the

By Jordan Meadows Staff Writer Born Leroy Paige on July 7, 1906, in Mobile, baseball legend Satchel Paige rose from difficult beginnings to become one of the most iconic figures in the sport's history. His family altered the spelling of their last name to distance themselves from his father, and he earned the nickname "Satchel" as a child while working as a porter at a train station, where he devised

RALEIGH, NC-Historic percentages of North Carolina public school students are enrolling and succeeding in college-level courses while still in high school, according to new data presented to the State Board of Education today. Data from the Class of 2025 shows that 54% of graduates successfully completed at least one college-level course/exam through Advanced Placement (AP), the Career and College Promise (CCP) program, International Baccalaureate or other college-level courses during high

By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer The atmosphere was electric at the Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort Event Center as guitar and music legend Carlos Santana took the stage for what can only be described as a truly timeless concert. The 10-time Grammy-winning guitarist, known for his masterful fusion of rock, blues, and Latin rhythms, delivered an outstanding performance that once again displayed his artistic brilliance. But beyond the soaring guitar solos

THE CONVERSATION - The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence isn't the only important anniversary in 2026. This year also marks the 75th anniversary of an extraordinary case of student activism that helped lead to the Supreme Court's decision outlawing segregated schools. In April 1951, 16-year-old Barbara Rose Johns organized a student strike to protest the shabby conditions and inadequate education at her segregated Black high school in Prince

By Jordan Meadows Staff Writer A state advisory council convened by Governor Josh Stein is warning that North Carolina's rapidly expanding market for hemp-derived THC products is operating in a regulatory vacuum, describing the current system as a "wild west" that poses risks to consumers and calling on lawmakers to establish a comprehensive legal framework. In a newly released interim report on Friday, the North Carolina Advisory Council on Cannabis

By Quiana Shepard NCCU In parts of rural North Carolina, an expectant mother may drive more than an hour to reach a hospital that delivers babies. For families living in small towns in the eastern region of the state, access to maternity care often means navigating long distances, limited services and a shrinking number of hospitals.    But pregnancy does not pause for geography.  That reality is driving a new

By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer Lillington, N.C. - In a recently held Annual Legislative Luncheon, Harnett County commissioners met with state and federal legislators to discuss a range of issues affecting the county, with a particular focus on budgetary constraints, education funding, and state versus local control. The meeting, which aimed to facilitate dialogue and seek support for county priorities, was marked by both collaborative intent and expressions of frustration

[caption id="attachment_17126" align="alignnone" width="960"] Asiaha Butler, the co-founder of the Resident Association of Greater Englewood, poses for a photo outside her office in Chicago, Monday, April 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)[/caption] NEW YORK (AP) - The racial reckoning that followed George Floyd 's murder in 2020 carried hopes of new support for disproportionately underfunded, Black-led nonprofits. American companies stepped up donations to historically Black colleges and universities. Major climate