AURN News

On this day in 1958, Ruth Carol Taylor made history as the first African-American flight attendant in the United States. Hired by Mohawk Airlines after challenging discrimination in the industry, Taylor’s achievement marked a major milestone in civil rights and aviation history. Though her tenure lasted only six months due to airline policies at the time, her impact paved the way for greater inclu...

A new Gallup survey shows American optimism about the future has dropped to its lowest level in nearly 20 years. The decline is steepest among Democrats, Black Americans and Hispanic adults, with rising costs for food, housing and health care cited as key factors. The findings highlight a growing political and demographic divide in outlook on the nation’s future. Subscribe to our newsletter to sta...

A new report from the Center for American Progress projects that President Donald Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” could lead to higher federal deficits and significant losses in health care coverage. Critics argue the tax cuts primarily benefit wealthy Americans while increasing financial pressure on working-class and low-income households. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed with...

The Social Security Administration has acknowledged in new court filings that it gave judges false information while defending a Department of Government Efficiency team’s access to millions of Americans’ personal records. The admission comes as a major federal employee union pushes to reopen discovery, citing concerns about data security, unauthorized sharing and election-related activity. Subscr...

Wendy Williams is mourning the death of her father, Thomas D. Williams, who died at 94. The news was shared by her niece in an Instagram tribute celebrating his life as an educator, author and community figure. His passing comes as Williams continues to challenge a court-ordered guardianship, which was upheld in August 2025. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed with the latest news from a...

A new CBS News analysis shows that fewer than 14% of immigrants arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement had violent criminal records, despite repeated claims from the Trump administration that deportation efforts focus on the “worst of the worst.” The report also found that many arrests involved civil immigration violations rather than serious crimes. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay in...

New polling suggests Rep. Wesley Hunt is emerging as a serious contender in the Texas U.S. Senate Republican primary, narrowing the gap with Attorney General Ken Paxton and Sen. John Cornyn. The data highlights shifting dynamics among MAGA voters and raises questions about whether Paxton’s lead can hold in a crowded race. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed with the latest news from a lea...

With just days remaining before the Department of Homeland Security funding deadline, a standoff over border enforcement reforms is raising the prospect of a partial DHS shutdown. Democrats are pushing for changes to how ICE and Border Patrol operate, including body cameras, limits on force and stricter oversight, while lawmakers in both parties warn the political stakes are high in an election ye...

Former NFL defensive back and Super Bowl champion Barry Wilburn died in a house fire in the Orange Mound neighborhood of Memphis early Friday morning. Wilburn, a Melrose High School graduate and Ole Miss standout, went on to play five seasons in the NFL and led the league in interceptions in 1987. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to officials. Subscribe to our newslette...

Students interested in earning an HBCU degree without relocating may soon have more options through a new initiative expanding online access to historically Black colleges and universities. The eHBCU consortium brings together multiple institutions on a shared digital learning platform, offering more than 33 degree programs and certifications in areas such as health care, professional development...

President Donald Trump shared an AI-generated video depicting racist imagery, drawing renewed criticism during his second presidency. The clip, originally created by a MAGA meme account and tied to false 2020 election claims, was posted to Truth Social and left up despite backlash. Democrats have since pressed Republicans to denounce the act, calling it part of a broader pattern involving racist t...

Michelle Obama’s 2020 Netflix documentary “Becoming” experienced a massive surge in U.S. viewership beginning Jan. 30 — the same day the film “Melania” opened in theaters. According to Entertainment Weekly, the contrast between the two releases highlighted sharp differences in audience response, box office performance, and the broader political and cultural divide shaping today’s media landscape....

Black farmers are raising concerns that they are being excluded from federal agricultural decision-making as the administration shifts away from DEI initiatives and support for small farmers. National Black Farmers Association President John Boyd Jr. says he was denied access to a White House farm meeting and questions where accountability lies as U.S. farmers face mounting pressure from tariffs a...

President Donald Trump issued a proclamation marking Black History Month, even as his administration continues to roll back diversity initiatives and remove references to Black history across the federal government. The move has drawn criticism and renewed questions about mixed messages from the White House, particularly following changes to National Park Service fee-free holidays and the scaling...

Former Vice President Kamala Harris is relaunching KamalaHQ as Headquarters, a digital organizing hub aimed at engaging young voters and expanding long-term political outreach. The reboot comes as speculation grows about Harris’ future plans ahead of the 2028 presidential election, with campaign veterans and organizers leading strategy while Harris serves in an honorary role. Subscribe to our news...

Hank Aaron, one of the greatest players in baseball history, was born Feb. 5, 1934. From the Negro Leagues to breaking Babe Ruth’s home run record, Aaron’s career was defined by excellence, resilience and quiet strength in the face of racism and adversity. His impact continues to resonate far beyond the game. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed with the latest news from a leading Black-ow...

A federal judge has ordered a temporary ban on tear gas and impact projectiles near an ICE office in Portland following reports that chemical munitions were used against largely peaceful demonstrators. The ruling comes amid growing concerns over civil rights, public safety and the federal response to immigration protests. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed with the latest news from a lea...

Maryland is at the center of a growing national debate over immigration enforcement. State lawmakers have passed legislation that would block local police from cooperating with federal immigration agents through the 287(g) program. Supporters argue the move protects community trust, while critics say cooperation is needed for public safety as ICE partnerships rapidly expand nationwide. Subscribe t...

The Washington Post is facing massive layoffs as the newspaper restructures amid ongoing changes in the journalism industry. According to reporting from The New York Times, hundreds of journalists are expected to lose their jobs as sections close or shrink, marking a pivotal moment for one of the nation’s most influential newspapers. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed with the latest new...

Born on Feb. 4, 1913, Rosa Parks became a defining figure in American history after refusing to give up her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama, helping launch the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the modern civil rights movement. Her lifelong dedication to justice, dignity and freedom earned her global recognition and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed with the...

The House voted to end the partial government shutdown, narrowly passing a $1.2 trillion funding package that keeps most of the federal government funded through September. The measure now heads to President Donald Trump, who has said he will sign it immediately. However, the deal excludes the Department of Homeland Security, which is operating under a two-week stopgap set to expire Feb. 13 follow...

Howard University announced that its Gallery of Art will lend three works by alumna and artist Elizabeth Catlett to the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum in Annapolis, Maryland. The pieces will be featured in the exhibition “She Speaks: Black Women Artists and the Power of Historical Memory,” opening this weekend and running through January 2027. University officials say the collaboration will provi...

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that the Trump administration illegally stripped Temporary Protected Status from Venezuelans and Haitians, finding that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem overstepped her legal authority. Judges said federal law does not allow DHS to undo or erase TPS protections once they have been lawfully granted. The court set aside the administration’...

A federal judge has ordered the Department of Homeland Security to restore full congressional oversight of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities, including unannounced inspections. The emergency ruling followed reports that members of Congress were blocked from entering a detention facility in Minnesota despite presenting a valid court order. The judge ruled that DHS and IC...

According to NBC News, Donald Trump is threatening to sue comedian Trevor Noah over a joke Noah made while hosting Sunday night’s Grammy Awards that referenced Jeffrey Epstein’s island. In a Truth Social post, Trump called the remark “false and defamatory” and denied ever visiting Epstein’s private island. Trump later escalated his response online, while Noah’s representatives did not immediately...