NEWS FROM OUR PUBLISHERS

HBCU football enters the 2026 season with momentum and national attention as the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) takes center stage in one of college football’s most visible opening showcases. The season will kick off with […]

By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS Sports Desk The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is continuing its rise on the national stage, with increased television exposure for basketball and sustained dominance on the football field drawing attention to […]

By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS Alabama had a standout night on American Idol Season 24, with five singers from the state earning golden tickets to Hollywood week during Monday’s two-hour episode. The achievement is especially impressive […]

By Je’Don Holloway-Talley | Special to the Birmingham Times (First of Three Parts) This Valentine’s Day, The Birmingham Times steps into the chambers of justice and the corridors of care to celebrate three extraordinary marriages where love lives at the intersection of duty and devotion. We shine a light on the relationships of three area […]

By Barnett Wright | The Birmingham Times The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday approved an agreement with American Cast Iron Pipe Company (ACIPCO) to undertake a major expansion of its manufacturing facilities and corporate headquarters. ACIPCO, one of Birmingham’s oldest companies, expects to hire 80 new full-time employees as part of its $790 million investment. […]

By Javacia Harris Bowser | For the Birmingham Times To many in Birmingham and beyond, LaDarrius “LHUT” Hutcherson is known as one of the city’s top influencers who has made a name for himself creating viral video food reviews and content highlighting local events. Thanks to his humor and heartfelt commentary, he’s garnered opportunities to […]

TAMMIE FIELDS DURING A VISIT AT SOUTH HAMPTON K-8 ALONG WITH LISA MCNAIR. FIELDS IS THE DAUGHTER OF CHARLES CAGLE, THEN A MEMBER OF THE KU KLUX KLAN AT THE TIME OF THE 1963 CHURCH BOMBING. HE WAS NEVER CHARGED. MCNAIR’S SISTER, DENISE DIED IN THE BLAST; BIRMINGHAMTIMES, FEB. 10.

By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS Huntsville Parks & Recreation will host an African American Art Festival in celebration of Black History Month this February, highlighting the creativity, culture, and talent of local artists across the Tennessee […]

By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS Staff Writer Huntsville and the greater Tennessee Valley continue to mourn the loss of one of their most beloved cultural figures. Dave “Microwave Dave” Gallaher (April 25, 1946 – February 6, 2026) passed […]

By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS The University of Alabama in Huntsville is honoring one of the most influential figures in its athletic history by naming the UAH softball field for longtime head coach Les Stuedeman, recognizing […]

Baltimore homeowners could see property taxes drop below $2 under a new city plan announced by Mayor Brandon M. Scott. The initiative includes revising the Homestead Property Tax Credit, increasing the Targeted Homeowners Tax Credit, and reforming the city’s annual tax sale to offer payment plans and raise the minimum bid to the property’s assessed value. City leaders say the changes aim to make Baltimore more affordable, keep residents in their homes and encourage new homeownership.
The post Mayor Scott announces property tax relief, tax sale reforms for Baltimore homeowners appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) delivered his fourth State of the State address, highlighting economic growth, education, public safety, and innovation. As he nears the end of his first term, his legislative actions face close scrutiny.
The post Maryland Governor Wes Moore delivers 2026 State of the State  appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Baltimore Ravens The Baltimore Ravens named Anthony Weaver the team’s defensive coordinator, head coach Jesse Minter announced Feb. 10. This marks Weaver’s third stint in Baltimore, where he previously spent 2021-23 as an assistant coach and 2002-05 playing defensive end. Weaver, 45, enters his 22nd NFL season overall, including his 15th as a coach. […]
The post Ravens name Anthony Weaver Defensive Coordinator appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

The National Governors Association’s traditionally bipartisan Washington gathering is fracturing after the White House moved to invite only Republican governors to key events, prompting 18 Democratic governors to boycott the customary dinner. NGA leaders said the organization will no longer facilitate a formal meeting with the 47th president, calling the decision a break from long-standing precedent and warning that partisanship is undermining one of the few remaining forums for cross-party collaboration.
The post Annual governors’ gathering with White House unraveling after president excludes Democrats appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

The Kevin Epps case, a murder trial in San Francisco, ended in a mistrial after the jury rejected three of the four aggravating factors tied to the firearm conviction, and the remaining factor will be challenged at a Romero hearing in February 2026.
The post Part 7 The Kevin Epps Murder Trial: appeared first on Black Voice News.

Gram’s Barbecue, a restaurant in Riverside, California, has been a staple in the community for over three decades, founded by a man who turned his life around after serving time in prison and now operated by his daughter, who sees it as a testament to her father’s transformation and a place for second chances.
The post Riverside’s Gram’s BBQ: A Hub for Community and Second Chances appeared first on Black Voice News.

Colleen Wallace, a fourth-generation Banning resident and former group home manager, was honored by the 2026 Palm Springs Black History Committee for her dedication and impact on the community, as she works to improve the eastside of Banning by bringing more grocery merchants to the region, securing grants for road pavements and waste management, and bringing cultural celebrations to the city.
The post Celebrating Black History in Our Own Backyard: Meet Banning’s City Councilmember Colleen Wallace appeared first on Black Voice News.

Jamie Seals, an Inkster, Mich., native, writer, speaker and thinker, reflects on the generational divide surrounding the relevance of the Black Church, exploring why an institution once central to Black life now feels disconnected to many. Tracing its origins as a sanctuary from racism and exclusion, he challenges believers to look inward, arguing that the condition of the Black Church mirrors the spiritual and social struggles of its people—and that renewal begins with personal responsibility and renewed commitment to faith and community.
The post What happened to the Black Church? appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Dozens of people filled the pews of Inglewood First United Methodist Church’s (IFUMC) sanctuary on Saturday, Feb. 7. Applause and “amens” filled the room in celebration of the church’s groundbreaking event as the community became one of the first religious organizations to develop affordable housing in the city. 

A Super Bowl halftime show months in the making unfolded largely in Spanish—bold, unapologetic, and pulsing with Latin rhythm. Leave it to Bad Bunny to command one of the world’s biggest stages while having millions bobbing, weaving, and smiling to a beat rooted in culture and community.

We are well into the New Year! There’s no turning back. 2026 promises to welcome millions of visitors to the City of Angels in the next few days and the months from now.

The City of Los Angeles marked the beginning of Black History Month on February 4, 2026. Guests heeded the invitation from the Los Angeles City Council, Mayor Karen Bass, and Lura Daniels-Ball, President, Our Authors Study Club, Inc. (OASC).

As California grapples with declining gas tax revenues and a rapidly changing transportation landscape, Assembly Bill (AB) 1421 has emerged as a flashpoint in Sacramento – adding heat to an ongoing debate over how the state should pay for its roads, bridges, and transit systems in the years ahead.

For generations, Black Americans have been written out of the story of the outdoors, say Black nature enthusiasts and leaders of Black conservation and environmental organizations.

As early as this week, Gov. Gavin Newsom could act on California Senate Bill (SB) 694, a measure approved by the Legislature that has reached his desk aimed at curbing what supporters call predatory practices against veterans seeking federal benefits,

Health policy changes in Washington will ripple through the country, resulting in millions of Americans losing their Medicaid or Affordable Care Act coverage. But there are still ways to find care.

On Feb. 5, the California State Assembly voted to pass Assembly Joint Resolution 25 (AJR 25) – legislation focused on maintaining lowered health care costs authored by Assemblymembers Mia Bonta (D-Alameda) and Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay).

When Noah Hulsman, who owns a skate shop in Louisville, Kentucky, learned he no longer qualified for federal subsidies to help him pay for his “gold” Affordable Care Act health plan, the 37-year-old opted for skimpier coverage. But the deductible is about a quarter of his yearly income.

SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS For many Alabamians, the story of Black political representation is often believed to begin in the 1960s during the Civil Rights Movement. But long before marches, court rulings, and federal voting protections […]

SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS The Madison County Commission will shine a special light on two young women making powerful impacts across North Alabama during its February 11 meeting, honoring them as part of Black History Month […]

SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS Huntsville’s growing reputation as a national hub for aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing drew attention from Washington this week as U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer visited Boeing’s Huntsville operations as part […]

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times Even with homicides in Birmingham down by 69 percent this year and violence reduction moving in the right direction, City leaders have said now is not the time to be complacent. After announcing last week that homicides and crime were down Police Chief Michael Pickett said the game was […]

by Guest Columnist, Sandra Beckard This is an opinion column. “Alternative Facts” was first thrust into the national lexicon on January 22, 2017, when U.S. Counselor to the President, Kellyanne Conway, used the phrase to […]

By Guy Rawlings | WVTNM A 101-year-old Birmingham pastor has witnessed and been a factor for change throughout the last century. Born Sept. 3, 1924, William Henry Greason grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. The third of five children, born to James and Lizi Greason. “We learned how to help one another when everyone is po’. […]

Survivors of the Los Angeles fires and consumer advocates joined Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) at the State Capitol on Feb. 5 to announce Senate Bill (SB) 982, the Affordable Insurance and Recovery Act (AIR Act)