AURN News

Federal agents searched the Washington home of Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., just 22 days before the midterm elections, prompting accusations of political targeting from the Congressional Black Caucus. CBC Chair Rep. Yvette D. Clarke, D-N.Y., and other caucus members questioned the legal basis for the search and cited President Donald Trump's history of attacks on Omar.  The Justice Department sa...

President Donald Trump's agreement to purchase Russian diesel is drawing bipartisan opposition in Washington as Americans face high fuel costs. Seven senators urged the administration to reverse course Sunday, while Brent crude was trading above $105 a barrel Monday morning. Trump announced the deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, saying it was intended to lower fuel prices ahead...

On Oct. 12, 1908, pioneering novelist and journalist Ann Petry was born in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. Trained as a pharmacist, Petry later worked as a journalist in Harlem, where her experiences with racism, poverty and housing discrimination helped shape her writing. In 1946, she published her groundbreaking debut novel, "The Street," about a Black single mother struggling to build a better life...

President Donald Trump has tapped Katie Zacharia to serve as his next White House press secretary, replacing Karoline Leavitt, who stepped down Aug. 27 to spend more time with her children. Zacharia currently serves as a senior communications adviser at Trump Media & Technology Group, the company behind Truth Social, and previously worked at the Department of Homeland Security. No official sta...

Curtis Flowers, a Black man who spent nearly 23 years imprisoned in Mississippi, has died at 56. Flowers faced six trials for the 1996 murders of four people and maintained his innocence throughout. Four convictions were overturned, and two trials ended in mistrials. In 2019, the Supreme Court overturned his latest conviction, ruling that racial discrimination had tainted jury selection. Flowers w...

The Department of Housing and Urban Development is investigating Wells Fargo's initiatives to expand Black homeownership. HUD Secretary Scott Turner said lending decisions based on race may violate the Fair Housing Act, though no violation has been established. In 2017, Wells Fargo pledged $60 billion in mortgage lending to help create at least 250,000 Black homeowners by 2027. The National Fair H...

President Donald Trump's effort to ban CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House remains blocked as a federal judge considers longer-term protections for their access. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly heard arguments Thursday over whether the restrictions violate the First Amendment and due process protections. Attorneys for the news organizations accuse the administration of punishing critic...

Missy Elliott is bringing the inaugural Missy Elliott Presents HBCU Band Battle to Norfolk State University on Sunday, Oct. 18. The event will feature four HBCU marching bands: Norfolk State's Spartan Legion, Virginia State's Trojan Explosion, Hampton University's Marching Force and Elizabeth City State's Sound of Class. The celebration will also include the Missy Elliott Innovation Summit, highli...

With 26 days until the midterms, the NAACP is asking a federal court to force the Trump administration to disclose its plans for election monitors. The organization filed an emergency records lawsuit after Attorney General Todd Blanche reportedly announced plans to deploy monitors to all 50 states. The NAACP says the Justice Department missed the deadline to respond to its public records request a...

Three years after the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, all hostages have been returned, but the crisis continues. More than 74,000 Palestinians have been killed during Israel's military campaign, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, while about 1.4 million people are expected to face high levels of acute food insecurity through December. Israeli strikes have continued, Hamas has not ful...

Democracy Forward says newly obtained government records show ICE's Homeland Security Investigations probed voter registration nonprofits and considered undercover operations, with New Jersey and Pennsylvania listed as priorities. The group says HSI also obtained tens of millions of voter roll records as part of its investigations. Democracy Forward argues the federal scrutiny could discourage vot...

R&B singer Freddie Jackson, best known for the 1985 hit "You Are My Lady," has died at 70. The Harlem native earned two Grammy nominations and built a career around romantic ballads that became staples of 1980s R&B. Jackson revealed in 2024 that he had been diagnosed with kidney disease and later partnered with the National Kidney Foundation to raise awareness. No cause of death has been a...

President Donald Trump says he or his MAGA Inc. super PAC will fund future television ads promoting his administration following criticism over the use of taxpayer money. More recent reporting from The Associated Press says nearly $12 million worth of ads have already aired. Trump has not committed to reimbursing taxpayers, while Democratic lawmakers have called for investigations into $20 million...

President Donald Trump signed an executive order in Nebraska allowing broader use of tax-free red-dyed diesel through the end of the year as diesel prices remain elevated. Trump also drew backlash after saying Iran could "take out" Los Angeles or San Diego while discussing the cost of the war. Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., called Trump "deranged and dangerous" in response. Subscribe to our newslett...

Actor and comedian Reggie McFadden, best known for "Def Comedy Jam" and "In Living Color," has died at 57. His sister, Bernice McFadden, said the U.S. State Department informed the family that he died in Tanzania, where he had lived for 18 years. McFadden's career also included appearances on "Martin," "Moesha," "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and other television and film projects. Subscribe to our newsle...

The U.S. Supreme Court has opened a new term with voting rights cases that could have significant implications for Black and brown voters ahead of the midterm elections. The court will consider Arizona's proof-of-citizenship requirements as recent redistricting battles reshape Black voting power across several Southern states. The court's voting decisions could also affect election rules involving...

President Donald Trump campaigns in Nebraska as elevated beef prices and plans to increase foreign beef imports draw concern from American ranchers. Cattle associations in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas are also warning that immigration enforcement could disrupt workers and cattle shipments, potentially pushing prices higher. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed with the latest news from a lea...

The African American Civil War Museum in Washington has reopened after a multiyear renovation with expanded galleries, improved accessibility and more than 200 artifacts. The museum preserves the history of Black soldiers who served in the U.S. Colored Troops and includes a new exhibit tracing former first lady Michelle Obama's family connections to formerly enslaved ancestors linked to the troops...

The family of Renee Good has filed two lawsuits against the U.S. government, an ICE officer and senior Trump administration officials over her fatal shooting in Minneapolis. The suits allege wrongful death, conspiracy to violate civil rights and other violations. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed with the latest news from a leading Black-owned & controlled media company: https://aur...

September's jobs report came in weaker than expected, with the U.S. adding 29,000 jobs as unemployment rose to 4.2%. Black unemployment reached 7%, while wage growth remained below the latest annual inflation rate. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed with the latest news from a leading Black-owned & controlled media company: https://aurn.com/newsletter Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz...

Nat Turner was born on Oct. 2, 1800, in Southampton County, Virginia. Enslaved from birth, he later led the 1831 rebellion that became one of the most famous uprisings against slavery in American history and remains an enduring symbol of Black resistance. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed with the latest news from a leading Black-owned & controlled media company: https://aurn.com/ne...

The Highland Project's national poll finds 92% of registered Black women voters are dissatisfied with the country's direction, while 77% say they are motivated to participate in the Nov. 3 midterm election. Affordability, voting rights, leadership and checks and balances are among the issues shaping their outlook. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed with the latest news from a leading Bla...

A new AP-NORC poll finds just 17% of U.S. adults approve of President Donald Trump's handling of the cost of living, while his approval on the economy has fallen to 26%. 💵 The survey also shows growing dissatisfaction among Republicans as voters remain concerned about grocery, gas and other everyday costs. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed with the latest news from a leading Black-owne...

John Legend has partnered with Bilt to cover rent for 50 college students this fall at Wilberforce University, Central State University, Morehouse College and the University of Pennsylvania. The initiative focuses on students living off campus who are at risk of eviction, with Scholarship America partnering with Bilt on the effort. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed with the latest news...

With five weeks until Election Day in the midterms, the latest Quinnipiac University national poll shows President Donald Trump's approval rating at 34%. Sixty-one percent of registered voters disapprove of his performance, while approval on the economy hit a new low of 31%. Additionally, registered voters favor Democrats over Republicans for House control by a 12-point margin. Subscribe to our ne...