$10,000
Biden announces big student loan forgiveness plan
President Biden on Wednesday announced his long-awaited plan to deliver on a campaign promise to provide $10,000 in student debt cancellation for millions of Americans — and up to $10,000 more for those with the greatest financial need — along with new measures to lower the burden of repayment for their remaining federal student debt.
‘House of the Dragon,’ HBO’s top series premiere ever
Fearsome dragons stay in more diverse scripting
Nearly 10 million people saw the premiere of “House of the Dragon” on Sunday, Aug. 21, making the “Game of Thrones” spinoff HBO’s most-watched series premiere in the network’s history.
ACLU challenges amendment blocking inmates’ early release
The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia has filed a legal challenge to a last-minute amendment to the state budget that blocked the planned early release of hundreds of inmates this summer.
Portsmouth to name street for hometown hero Missy Elliott
A Virginia city is honoring hometown hero Missy Elliott by naming a boulevard in a new entertainment district after her.
A first: African-American marine promoted to 4-star general
The first African-American four-star general in Marine Corps history, Gen. Michael E. Langley, credited his father with telling him to “aim high” and predicted that his recent rank would have an impact on younger people.
Breonna Taylor supporters relieved by charges against police
Ahmaud Arbery’s assailants receive second life prison sentence while a street is named in his honor
Louisville activists put in long hours on phones and in the streets, working tirelessly to call for arrests in the fatal police shooting of Breonna Taylor — but it was mostly two years filled with frustration. They saw their fortunes suddenly change when the federal government filed civil rights charges on Aug. 4 against four Louisville police officers over the “drug raid” that led to the death of Ms. Taylor.
Kremlin says Griner swap must be discussed without publicity
The Kremlin said Aug. 5 that it’s open to talking about a possible prisoner exchange involving American basketball star Brittney Griner, but strongly warned Washington against publicizing the issue. Griner, a two-time U.S. Olympic champion and an eight-time all-star with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, has been detained in Russia since Feb. 17 after police at a Moscow airport said they found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage.
HUD announces $2.8B in grants for homeless services
The Department of Housing and Urban Development is providing $2.8 billion in fresh funding for homeless services organizations across the country. The funding, announced Monday, will be allocated via competitive bids through HUD’s Continuum of Care Program, the largest source of federal grant support to housing and services programs for people experiencing homelessness.
In rare contact, U.S. offers Russia deal for Griner, Whelan
The U.S. has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American, Paul Whelan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday. In a sharp reversal of previous policy, Blinken also said he expects to speak with his Kremlin counterpart for the first time since before Russia invaded Ukraine.
Q&A: Jordan Peele on the dreams and nightmares of ‘Nope’
There’s little in contemporary movies quite like the arrival of a new Jordan Peele film. They tend to descend ominously and mysteriously, a little like an unknown object from above that casts an expanding, darkening shadow the closer it comes.
1955 warrant in Emmett Till case found, family seeks arrest
A team searching a Mississippi courthouse basement for evidence about the lynching of Emmett Till has found the unserved warrant charging a white woman in his 1955 kidnapping, and relatives of the victim want authorities to finally arrest her nearly 70 years later.
U.S. labor shortage provides opportunity for ex-prisoners
When Antonio McGowan left the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman after serving 17 years, he was free for the first time since he was 15. But as an adult finally out from behind bars, he immediately found himself confined to menial labor.
Vernon Winfrey, Oprah’s father, dies at 89
Oprah Winfrey confirmed in an instagram post that her father died in Nashville, Tenn., on Friday, July 8, 2022.
Ketanji Brown Jackson sworn in, becomes 1st Black woman on Supreme Court
Ketanji Brown Jackson was sworn in to the Supreme Court on Thursday, June 30, shattering a glass ceiling as the first Black woman on the nation’s highest court.
Ketanji Jackson to be sworn in
Nearly three months after she won confirmation to the Supreme Court, Ketanji Brown Jackson is officially becoming a justice. Judge Jackson, 51, will be sworn as the court’s 116th justice Thursday, just as the man she is replacing, Justice Stephen Breyer, retires.
R. Kelly sentenced to 30 years in sex trafficking case
Disgraced R&B superstar R. Kelly was sentenced Wednesday to 30 years in prison for using his fame to sexually abuse young fans, including some who were just children, in a systematic scheme that went on for decades.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision and what it means for Virginia
The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that had provided a constitutional right to abortion. The June 24 ruling is expected to lead to abortion bans in roughly half the states, although the timing of those laws taking effect varies.
Beal says little about free agency but wrist making progress
In a couple weeks, Bradley Beal’s future might look a lot clearer.
Mariah Carey, Neptunes join Songwriters Hall of Fame
After a glittering career of No. 1 hits Mariah Carey was finally inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame on June 16, but not before challenging her new fellow members to do better by women.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs to receive lifetime honor at BET Awards
Sean “Diddy” Combs built one of hip-hop’s biggest empires, blazing a trail with his own music television network and fashion line, and now his decorated career has earned him one of the highest honors at the BET Awards this month.
Jan. 6 hearings:
What we’ve learned, and what’s next
The House committee investigating The Capitol insurrection heard from election workers and state officials on Tuesday as they described former President Trump’s pressure to overturn his 2020 election defeat. On Thursday, the nine-member panel will hear from former Justice Department officials who refused Trump’s entreaties to declare the election “corrupt.”
Mississippi civil rights activist ‘Bud’ McGee dies at 81
William “Bud” McGee, a Mississippi civil rights activist who worked to register Black voters in the 1960s, has died.
State Department officials meet with Griner’s WNBA team
State Department officials met Monday with members of Brittney Griner’s WNBA team about the Phoenix Mercury star’s months long detention in Russia and the Biden administration’s efforts to secure her release.
U.S. failed to stop fraud in COVID loan program, Clyburn says
The U.S. failed to take basic steps at the start of the coronavirus pandemic to prevent fraud in a federal aid program intended to help small businesses, depleting the funds and making people more vulnerable to identity theft, the chairman of a House panel examining the payouts said Tuesday.
Coco Gauff’s ranking jumps to career-high 13th
American teenager Coco Gauff rose to a career-best No. 13 in the WTA rankings on Monday after her runner-up finish to No. 1 Iga Swiatek at the French Open.
VP Harris urges grads to tackle problems in unsettled world
Vice President Kamala Harris urged graduates of Tennessee State University on Saturday to apply their leadership skills to help tackle the multitude of challenges posed by an unsettled world.
’A Strange Loop’ earns a leading 11 Tony Award nominations
“A Strange Loop,” Michael R. Jackson’s critically cheered theater meta-journey earned a leading 11 Tony Award nominations Monday as Broadway joined the national discussion of race by embracing an envelope-pushing Black-written and Black-led musical.
Delaware State president, athletes decry search of team bus by Georgia deputies
The president of Delaware State University, a historically Black college, accused sheriff’s deputies in Georgia of intimidating and humiliating the university’s women’s lacrosse team when deputies pulled over the athletes’ bus and searched it for drugs.
Virginia AG launches investigation into Washington NFL team
Virginia Attorney General Jason S. Miyares has launched an inquiry into the Washington Commanders following allegations of financial improprieties raised by a congressional committee. Mr. Miyares, a Republican, disclosed his office’s investiga- tion in a letter to a team lawyer Monday, saying he viewed it
Former Va. police officer convicted of storming Capitol to disrupt Congress
A federal jury convicted a former Rocky Mount, Va., police officer of storming the U.S. Capitol with another off-duty officer to obstruct Congress from certifying President Biden’s 2020 electoral victory.
’Black Panther’ director mistaken for bank robber in Atlanta
Movie director Ryan Coogler was briefly handcuffed by Atlanta police after a bank teller mistook him for a robber when he passed her a note while trying to withdraw a large amount of cash from his account, police said.
Romance fraud: Looking for love in wrong place proves costly
For the victim, a 78-year-old man from Annandale, it started with an effort to find some companionship.
Erin Jackson first Black woman to claim speedskating gold at Olympic
Erin Jackson never viewed herself as some sort of trailblazer. She just likes to skate really, really fast, whether it’s on wheels or blades.
Va. adopts plan to end school mask mandates March 1
The Virginia General Assembly moved swiftly Wednesday to put the final legislative touches on a bill that bans local school systems from imposing mask mandates on students.
Southern Baptist Convention taps Willie McLaurin for top leadership role
Tennessee Pastor Willie McLaurin has been named interim president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee, becoming the first African-American to lead one of the denomination’s ministry entities in its more than 175-year history.
President Biden furthers pledge to name a black woman to the Supreme Court
President Joe Biden met with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer at the White House on Wednesday to talk about how to fill an upcoming vacancy on the Supreme Court, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.
Gang demands $17M ransom for 17 missionaries kidnapped in Haiti
A gang that kidnapped 17 members of a U.S.-based missionary group has demanded a $17 million ransom for them, according to Haiti’s justice minister, as quoted by the Wall Street Journal.
WNBA champions Seattle Storm honored by President Biden
President Biden honored the 2020 WNBA champions Seattle Storm on Monday, celebrating their success on the court and hailing the four-time title holders for changing lives with their activism.
Who is Naftali Bennett, Israel’s new prime minister?
Naftali Bennett, who was sworn in June 13 as Israel’s new prime minister, embodies many of the contradictions that define the 73-year-old nation.
Report details racism, sexual assault at VMI
The Virginia Military Institute has tolerated and failed to address institutional racism and sexism and must be held accountable for making changes, according to a state-sanctioned report released Tuesday.
Northam orders speed up of unemployment cases
Following months of complaints from laid-off workers, Gov. Ralph S. Northam said Tuesday he is taking steps to expand the Virginia Employment Commission’s ability to process complex unemployment claims.
GOP chooses statewide ticket for November
Glenn Youngkin, a political newcomer who campaigned as a conservative, Christian outsider, bested a field of seven candidates to emerge as Virginia Republicans’ nominee for governor, in a year when the GOP hopes to end a 12-year losing streak in statewide races.
Dems in governor’s race face off in 2nd debate
The Democratic candidates for Virginia governor sparred over policing and economic development in their second debate on May 6, an event that showcased the diverse styles and perspectives of the field that voters will winnow next month.
President Biden promotes education spending at Virginia stops
President Joe Biden traveled Monday to Yorktown and Portsmouth to promote his plans to increase spending on education and children, part of his $1.8 trillion families proposal announced last week.
Lt. Gov. Fairfax's defamation suit against CBS News dismissed by federal judge
A federal judge on Tuesday tossed out a libel lawsuit filed by Lt. Gov. Justin E. Fairfax against a television network he accused of slanted reporting on sexual assault allegations against him.
Confederate statues in Memphis given to Confederate group, descendants
A Tennessee nonprofit group has handed over statues of Confederate leaders Nathan Bedford Forrest and Jefferson Davis to the Sons of Confederate Veterans, two years after they were removed from public parks in Memphis.
Black church believed to be oldest in U.S. finishes repairs in time for 246th anniversary
A black congregation that began worship services before the American Revolution has restored its historic church to a version of its former glory.
Trump 'betrayed the nation'
House Democrats announced two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump on Tuesday, declaring he “be- trayed the nation” with his actions toward Ukraine as they pushed toward historic proceedings that are certain to help define his presidency and shape the 2020 election.
