NEWS FROM OUR PUBLISHERS

By: REV. DR. ISAIAH ROBINSON, JR.     Scriptural text: MARK 4:26-32; EPHESIANS 4:4-6, 11-16 KEY VERSE: “Speaking the truth in love, we grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, […]

By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS Huntsville Ballet continues its 62nd season with Dancers’ Choice, an intimate series of in-studio performances that showcases the creativity and versatility of the company’s professional dancers. The performances will take place Feb. […]

By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS The Village Green at Clift Farm is preparing for a full calendar of spring and summer events, and organizers are inviting Madison residents to help bring those experiences to life. From […]

The University of the District of Columbia is reinvigorating its founding mission of training educators with the launch of the School of Education and Learning Sciences (SELS). The new school will offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees and aims to strengthen the District’s teacher pipeline while preparing a diverse generation of educators for every classroom.
The post UDC launches School of Education and Learning Sciences appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

The attack on Rep. Ilhan Omar has drawn swift condemnation from Black lawmakers and civic leaders nationwide, who warned that political violence—especially against Black women in public service—poses a direct threat to democratic participation. Leaders emphasized that intimidation and assault have no place in civic spaces and urged accountability amid rising rhetoric that targets women of color, immigrants and Muslim communities.
The post Legislators, leaders nationwide decry attack on Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar  appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Maryland legislators advanced a partisan congressional redistricting bill Jan. 27, sending it to the floor amid support from Maryland Gov. Wes Moore. Senate backing remains uncertain and Republicans are criticizing the process.
The post Maryland legislators advance redistricting plan after tense hearing appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Victoria MejicanosAFRO Staff Writervmejicanos@afro.com Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, 88, has officially announced her retirement. After 35 years representing the District, Norton has filed paperwork to end her reelection campaign.  In a Jan. 27 letter speaking on her retirement, Norton reflected on her career and its impact on the city.  “I’ve had the privilege of […]
The post Eleanor Holmes Norton speaks on retirement after 35 years on Capitol Hill appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has called for an investigation into the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renée Good at the hands of federal agents during immigration raids in Minneapolis, asserting that civil and human rights are often paid for in blood, sweat and tears.
The post Minnesota AG Ellison: ‘There is no risk-free way to stay free’   appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times Live HealthSmart Alabama, a University of Alabama at Birmingham initiative, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday to celebrate the launch of its newest Mobile Market at Memorial Park in Titusville. The event, held inside the gym at 524 6th Avenue South, welcomed community members, city leaders and partners […]

By Ameera Steward | The Birmingham Times After losing his maternal and paternal grandfathers months apart from each other in 2025, Tajh Crutch found a new form of expression within his clothing brand Crutch Campus. Selling luxury versions of baseball caps, T-shirts, and hoodies Crutch Campus is not only a form of self-expression for Crutch, […]

BY JE’DON HOLLOWAY-TALLEY | Special to the Birmingham Times ZEPHANIAH ‘ZAY’ & DARREN ALLEN Live: Gardendale Married: Dec. 2, 1995 Met: February 1992, in Mary Burke Hall at the University of Alabama. Darren, who had grown up singing in his church’s choir and playing the organ, was in the dorm’s co-ed recreation/parlor room playing the […]

The “City of Good Neighbors” is planning a food journey from January 25 to January 31, 2026. This will be the first official Restaurant Week in Hawthorne, aptly named Hawthorne Eats! Hawthorne Eats! It’s more than an event—it’s a citywide celebration of food, culture, flavor, and community. This initiative celebrates Hawthorne’s diverse culinary scene while supporting local restaurants, small businesses, and community pride.

Black unemployment surged to 7.5 percent by December 2025, a level that would signal a recession if it were reflected across the national workforce. But the latest “State of the Dream 2026” report makes clear the damage extends far beyond jobs. From broadband access and housing to artificial intelligence and federal workforce policy, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies finds that 2025 marked a sharp economic breakdown for Black America driven by policy reversals and the removal of long-standing safeguards.

The federal government is once again facing a shutdown deadline, with funding set to expire at midnight Friday, January 30, just two months after the nation emerged from a prolonged lapse that disrupted lives far beyond Washington.

The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) represents the organized voice, survivor, and power of the Black Press in America. On the eve of Black History Month, we have chronicled the top Black newsmakers of the first quarter of the 21st century to honor Black impact through legacy, liberty, and justice. This list serves as a living record, centering Black leadership, innovation, and influence while ensuring today’s history is documented with clarity and intention for future generations. Our staff researched and reviewed news headlines and news articles for the last 25 years from our catalog of more than 200 member Black-owned newspapers across the United States with a reach of 20 million weekly readers from both our print and digital publications.

Bakersfield community leaders, educators, faith leaders, and residents gathered last week to mark the 30th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Awards Breakfast, an event that blended reflection, recognition, and renewed calls for action rooted in nonviolence.

SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS Alabamians may soon be required to verify their age before downloading apps, following the Alabama House of Representatives’ unanimous approval of the legislation on Thursday. The bill would require app stores to […]

SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS Huntsville International Airport reached a historic milestone in 2025, recording the highest annual passenger traffic total in its history as expanded air service and regional growth fueled continued demand across the Tennessee […]

Gov. Kay Ivey has signed a package of four economic growth bills she has dubbed “The Game Plan,” marking a major step toward strengthening Alabama’s competitiveness and long-term economic stability. The legislation, which received overwhelming […]

Serenity Cole enjoyed Christmas last month relaxing with her family near her St. Louis home, making crafts and visiting friends.

Three California lawmakers, all trained and experienced journalists, weighed in on a political and media controversy sparked after a CalMatters reporter questioned whether the Louis Vuitton bag Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D–Inglewood) was carrying at a public event was “real or fake.”

Speakin’ Out News Madison and Limestone counties claimed the top economic development spots in Alabama, according to the state’s annual New & Expanding Industry Announcements Report released this last week by Gov. Kay Ivey. The […]

SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The Huntsville City Council held its regular meeting Thursday, January 22, addressing a wide-ranging agenda focused on long-term energy planning, annexation of land for future growth, public safety initiatives, […]

The Heritage Foundation is beginning to come apart in public, and what is unraveling is not simply a think tank but a long-maintained illusion. More than 60 senior staff members, fellows, and trustees have now resigned from the institution that spent decades presenting itself as the sober custodian of conservative thought. Board members tied to major donors have stepped down. Veteran policy writers have walked away. What remains is an organization forced, perhaps for the first time, to reckon with the distance between how it spoke about America and what it planned to do to it.

A state civil rights investigation into Yuba City Unified School District (YCUSD) has resulted in a settlement requiring districtwide corrective actions after allegations that a Black elementary school student was subjected to repeated racial harassment over multiple school years.

  SPEAKIN’  OUT NEWS Huntsville Hospital Health System has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Crestwood Medical Center and its associated outpatient facilities in a major $450 million transaction that would significantly reshape healthcare delivery […]

Alabama A&M University students are sharpening their professional skills and preparing for future careers during Career Development Services’ Spring 2026 Career Preparedness Week, a three-day series of virtual and in-person events designed to help students […]

Alabama A&M University has received a $77,770 grant from the National Science Foundation to participate in a national research initiative focused on improving STEM teacher preparation, effectiveness and retention in high-need school districts. The award […]

The Citizens Advisory Committee of the Huntsville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization will meet on Monday, February 9, 2026, at 5:00 pm, on the 6th Floor of the City of Huntsville Municipal Building, at 305 Fountain […]

SYNOPSIS OF AN ORDINANCE WHEREBY THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA, GRANTS TO KNOLOGY OF HUNTSVILLE, INC., A FRANCHISE TO USE THE CITY’S RIGHTS-OF-WAY TO CONSTRUCT, OPERATE, AND/OR MAINTAIN ITS CABLE SYSTEM TO PROVIDE CABLE SERVICE […]

The 25th anniversary Future City Competition, originally scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 24, has been postponed due to the potential for severe weather and will now be held on Saturday, Jan. 31. The statewide competition, hosted […]

WHEREAS, Balch, LLC, an Alabama Limited Liability Company, by Chad Gilliam and Dorothy Gilliam as its Members, being the owners, as the term is defined by Section 11-42-20, Code of Alabama 1975, of all the […]

By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS Three Madison County families have filed a lawsuit against Trinity United Methodist Church in Huntsville, alleging that failures by the church and its child development center allowed a former daycare worker […]

Since California Black Media (CBM) reported that CalMatters asked Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood) whether the Louis Vuitton bag she carried at a Capitol event was “real or fake,” much has been said –just not clearly, or publicly, by CalMatters.

WHEREAS, GL McCrary Farms, LLC, by G. Laurence McCrary, III as its Managing Member, being the owner, as the term is defined by Section 11-42-20, Code of Alabama 1975, of all the property or territory […]