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Senator Natalie Murdock on Hip-Hop, Healing, and High-Stakes Legislating

By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer In the world of North Carolina politics, Senator Natalie Murdock is proving that authenticity is the ultimate political currency.  As the first Black woman under 40 to serve in our state Senate, Murdock isn't just filing bills; she's building a brand rooted in the culture and the real-life struggles of her constituents. During a recent conversation, Murdock drew a thoughtful parallel between the halls of

Frank S. Green Jr. And The Foundations Of Modern Computing

By Jordan Meadows Staff Writer Frank S. Greene Jr. stands as one of Silicon Valley's quiet architects, an engineer whose work on early semiconductor memory chips helped accelerate modern computing. Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in St. Louis during an era of racial segregation, Greene showed an early talent for math and science. Encouraged by his parents to pursue education despite systemic barriers, he became one of the first

‘Our Homes Shook’: Nigerian Villagers Describe U.S. Airstrike Impact

[caption id="attachment_15363" align="alignnone" width="900"] Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.People visit the site of a U.S. airstrike in Northwest, Jabo, Nigeria, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/ Tunde Omolehin)[/caption] JABO, Nigeria (AP) - Sanusi Madabo, a 40-year-old farmer in the Nigerian village of Jabo, was preparing for bed on Thursday night when he heard a loud noise that sounded like a plane crashing. He rushed outside his mud

North Carolina’s First State Supervisor of Negro Schools

By: Jordan Meadows, Staff Writer Annie Wealthy Holland's life story is inseparable from the story of Black education in the early twentieth-century South. Born in 1871 in Isle of Wight County, Virginia, Holland entered the world on land adjacent to the Wealthy plantation, where her grandmother had been enslaved. She was named after Annie Wealthy, the plantation owner who had freed her grandfather. From an early age, Holland understood education

Howell-Bey Leaning In And Listening In Johnston County

RALEIGH, N.C. - Try as some might to confine Black history to a month, there's just too much to limit it to 28 days a year. Faith Howell-Bey discovered similarly with Women's History Month. "When I first created Queens Table Brunch, it was envisioned as a one-time Women's History Month event highlighting the work and legacy of Shaundrelle Watson. She's the founder of The Brown & Black Cultural Exchange, a

An inside look at some NC environmental justice projects impacted by Trump administration’s EPA cuts

[caption id="attachment_15334" align="alignnone" width="1760"] Democracy Green "What's in Your Water" campaign in Raleigh, NC.[/caption] WUNC - When the Trump administration terminated the nearly $2 billion EPA Community Change Grant Program earlier this year, organizations across the nation lost millions of dollars in environmental justice grants. In North Carolina, the birthplace of the environmental justice movement, three organizations have lost more than $41 million in grants combined, due to the termination

Losing Speed. Tiny NC town on verge of shutting down.

[caption id="attachment_15328" align="alignnone" width="780"] Welcome sign to the town of Speed, in eastern Edgecombe County. Lucas Thomae / Carolina Public Press[/caption] Carolina Public Press - SPEED - Despite its name, life moves slowly in the Town of Speed. So does its municipal government, which has been pressured by the state's Local Government Commission to dissolve voluntarily after falling way behind on mandatory financial reports. Speed, a 0.3-square-mile parcel of land

How to build an emergency fund, pay off debt and make a plan for your money in 2026

NEW YORK (AP) - The start of a new year usually brings new motivation to achieve goals like eating healthier or finally cleaning your basement. Many resolutions also focus on financial goals, such as paying off credit card debt, saving for a new house, or simply getting more educated about money. "New Year's is a really good time to review and realign your financial goals overall," said Erica Grundza, certified

Event Spotlight: A Soulful Black Nativity At Durham’s Hillside

By Jheri Hardaway, Staff Writer Producers Wendell Tabb and Xavier Cason, in powerful association with the esteemed Triangle Performance Ensemble, recently captivated audiences with an outstanding and truly inspiring rendition of Black Nativity. This production was far more than a simple retelling; it was a deeply soulful and triumphant celebration that vibrated with the spirit of the season, solidifying its place as an essential holiday tradition for the Durham community.

Tips on stepping back from screens and starting a new hobby

AP NEWS - During the winter of 2024, Rachel Martin came to a startling realization: She spent most of her free time staring at screens. "I couldn't really think of hobbies or things that I did that took a break from the digital world," she said. With pastimes like watching television, playing video games and creating digital art, Martin, 33, sometimes spent more than 12 hours per day looking at