NEWS FROM OUR PUBLISHERS

By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS A Bessemer woman has been arrested and charged in connection with the kidnapping and pistol-whipping of her ex-boyfriend, marking the second arrest in a violent incident police say was motivated by […]

By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS A suspect has been charged in the weekend shooting death of a 55-year-old man outside a southwest Birmingham convenience store, marking the second homicide at the same location in less than two months, police […]

MANDATORY Pre-Bid meeting to be held on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., in the 6th Floor Training Room #624, located at 305 Fountain Circle, Huntsville, AL 35801. Bidders must attend this pre-bid meeting […]

PRE-BID MEETING: 12/23/2025 at 10:00AM local time  BID OPENING DATE: 12/30/2025 at 2:00PM local time  The City of Huntsville will receive sealed bids, priced on a firm fixed price basis (stipulated sum), to provide all […]

McCord Construction, Inc. hereby gives Legal Notice of Completion of Contract with Madison County Commission, Project Name: Hwy 231/431 Water Main Improvements: Phases 1A and 1B, located in Madison County, Alabama. All Claims should be […]

IT APPEARING from the Complaint which is sworn to, and by Affidavit attached to the Complaint, T AMAJA BA YON SEALY, the Defendant, that personal service of process cannot be had upon him; service of […]

Alabama A&M University will conclude its yearlong 150th Anniversary celebration with alumnus Robert Holmes Jr. delivering the Fall 2025 Commencement address. Holmes, who serves as chairman of the University’s 150th Anniversary Campaign, will speak to […]

Alabama A&M University proudly celebrated a historic milestone Friday morning, graduating the final class of its 150th Anniversary year during Fall 2025 Commencement exercises at the AAMU Event Center. The University conferred 455 degrees, marking […]

By Alexis TaylorAFRO Managing Editor Veteran journalist and news director Charles F. Robinson III died Dec. 15.  Robinson was a giant of the Black Press and a vital member of the Maryland Public Television (MPT) team. Travis Mitchell, senior vice president and chief content officer at MPT, described Robinson as “one of the rare individuals […]
The post Charles F. Robinson III, award-winning journalist and news director, dies at 69 appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Alexis TaylorAFRO Managing Editor Veteran journalist and news director Charles F. Robinson III died Dec. 15.  Robinson was a giant of the Black Press and a vital member of the Maryland Public Television (MPT) team. Travis Mitchell, senior vice president and chief content officer at MPT, described Robinson as “one of the rare individuals […]
The post Charles F. Robinson III, award-winning journalist and news director, dies at 69 appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

BY SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS Two Alabama members of Congress are pushing back after the University of Alabama announced plans to cancel two long-standing student publications, raising serious concerns about free speech, academic freedom, and campus […]

By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS Alabama could see as many as 12 medical marijuana dispensaries open next year after the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) voted Thursday to award long-delayed dispensary licenses, marking a significant step […]

The Alabama Teacher Streamlining Paperwork Act targets redundant reporting requirements By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS Alabama lawmakers are finally confronting a long-standing complaint from educators: excessive paperwork that pulls teachers away from the classroom without improving […]

Maryland lawmakers overrode Gov. Wes Moore’s veto to create a commission that will study potential reparations for slavery, despite his argument that the state should focus on direct action rather than further study. Supporters say a formal commission is necessary to ensure reparations efforts are credible, constitutional and effective.
The post Maryland to consider slavery reparations after Gov. Wes Moore’s veto is overridden appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS Several Alabama political leaders are welcoming news that Fannie Mae will relocate its San Francisco office to Birmingham, a move supporters say will strengthen the city’s role as a growing financial […]

By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS Promises of unity and stability in the small city of Lipscomb are quickly unraveling, as newly elected leaders find themselves back in court just weeks after taking office. City officials in the Jefferson […]

By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) says steady progress continues on the long-awaited expansion of Interstate 65 in Shelby County, a major infrastructure investment aimed at easing congestion and improving safety along one of […]

Medi-Cal provides comprehensive preventive and medically necessary care at no cost to families, helping Black families in California access culturally centered care and build lifelong wellness.
The post Medi-Cal for Kids & Teens: Free Health Coverage for a Strong Start appeared first on Black Voice News.

Black Voters Matter, the Mass Blackout initiative, and over 50 grassroots organizations across the country called for a national boycott of pre-selected retailers, including Amazon, Home Depot, and Target, in an effort to demonstrate the economic power of the Black community and to protest the retailers’ support of Donald Trump.
The post Keeping it Real: Assessing the Impact of  “We Ain’t Buying It!” Boycott appeared first on Black Voice News.

Assemblymember Dr. Corey A. Jackson presented his 2025 annual report for California’s 60th assembly district, highlighting his leadership position, community initiatives, legislative overviews, budget successes, and priorities for the new year, including securing the safety net for food assistance, the foster care system, the senior population, and people with disabilities.
The post Assembly Member Corey Jackson’s Update and Look to Future of 60th Assembly District Webinar appeared first on Black Voice News.

California will be implementing a series of new laws starting January 1, 2026, including extending protections for vulnerable populations, increasing transparency, and introducing a new fee option for travelers without REAL ID.
The post New CA Laws Taking Effect in 2026 appeared first on Black Voice News.

As COVID-era Affordable Care Act subsidies are set to expire, enrollees across the country say they are bracing for sharply higher premiums, higher deductibles and tougher choices. With Congress failing to extend the tax credits, some families plan to downgrade coverage or drop insurance entirely, warning the loss will strain household budgets and heighten financial and health risks.
The post Higher cost, worse coverage: Affordable Care Act enrollees say expiring subsidies will hit them hard appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Savannah WoodAfro Charities CEO After a public groundbreaking ceremony in February for their historic Upton Mansion redevelopment project, Afro Charities is well underway on their transformative development. The site, vacant since 2006, will become the new headquarters for both Afro Charities and AFRO News, and the public research center for the historic AFRO Archives, […]
The post Afro Charities forges ahead with construction on Upton Mansion redevelopment appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Inspired by Alicia Keys’ life and music, Broadway’s Tony Award-winning “Hell’s Kitchen” follows 17-year-old Ali’s coming-of-age journey through family, first love and finding her voice, anchored by powerful performances and reimagined songs. Led by Jade Milan and featuring rotating turns by Ne-Yo, Tank and Christopher Jackson as Ali’s father, the musical blends raw storytelling with electrifying choreography and soul-stirring vocals.
The post From the streets to the stage: ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ channels Alicia Keys’ roots into a Broadway triumph appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

citycouncil@bhamal.com Members of the Birmingham City Council last week volunteered at the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama and loaded five palettes — 351 boxes of food — which will feed 351 families for a week. Councilor Crystal N. Smitherman partnered with New Hope Baptist Church and the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama to provide holiday food boxes to […]

The Birmingham Times U.S. Reps. Terri A. Sewell (AL-07) and Shomari C. Figures (AL-02) on Monday sent a letter to University of Alabama President Dr. Peter Mohler calling on the University to restore two student-run publications that were recently suspended ostensibly for state and federal compliance. Sewell and Figures requested a meeting with university leadership to discuss […]

By Safiyah Riddle | Associated Press MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A group of students and professors at public universities across Alabama are asking an appeals court to halt a state law that bans diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in public schools and prohibits the endorsement of what Republican lawmakers dubbed “divisive concepts” related to race and […]

By Anselm GibbsThe Associated Press PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) — The government of Trinidad and Tobago said Dec. 15 that it would allow the U.S. military to access its airports in coming weeks as tensions build between the United States and Venezuela. The announcement comes after the U.S. military recently installed a radar system at the […]
The post Trinidad and Tobago will open Caribbean nation’s airports to US military as Venezuela tensions grow appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Dr. Frances ‘Toni’ DraperWord in Black More than metal. More than money. More than nostalgia. A coin is a declaration — of who a nation chooses to honor, what it chooses to remember and what it is willing to erase. That is why what happened at the U.S. Mint should unsettle anyone who cares […]
The post What’s in a coin? appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Victoria MejicanosAFRO Staff Writervmejicanos@afro.com Eighteen-year-old Kenneth Dorsey of Cherry Hill hopes to attend college to study mechanical engineering and establish his own home renovation business, spending hours studying trades on YouTube. But statistics show that he’ll grow up to earn less than his White peers because of his race, even if they come from […]
The post How Baltimore mentorship programs are closing the racial income gap for Black boys appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Dr. France “Toni” Murphy DraperWord in Black I remember college as a place of possibility. We protested — yes — but we did so with sit-ins, with leaflets, with raised voices and locked arms. We marched and we sang “We Shall Overcome Someday.” We believed, perhaps naively, that collective courage and moral clarity could […]
The post Opinion: I came of age at college…I fear for my grandchildren there appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Associated Black Charities (ABC) hosted its annual “Women on the Move” event on Dec. 5 at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum. Black women from all walks of life attended the panel discussion with a theme of “Women at the Top of Their Game.”
The post Associated Black Charities hosts conversation on leadership, authenticity in the workplace at annual “Women on the Move” event appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

James L. Wright Jr., a dedicated member of the Black Press, community leader, historian and member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., will be memorialized at the Hemingway Memorial AME Church in District Heights, Md. on Dec. 19, 2025.
The post Funeral arrangements announced for veteran Black Press reporter James L. Wright Jr. appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

The Greater Baltimore Urban League has announced Kevin Seawright as the new chair of its board of directors as the organization returns to full compliance and good standing with the National Urban League. Leaders say the appointment marks a new chapter focused on strong governance, transparency and expanded community impact across Greater Baltimore and Maryland.
The post Greater Baltimore Urban League announces new board chair and return to full standing with the National Urban League  appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

An Associated Press investigation details allegations of rape and other sexual assaults in Mali involving a new Russian military unit known as Africa Corps, as well as abuses committed by militants and other armed actors in the conflict. Aid workers and the U.N. say sexual violence is widespread but severely underreported because of fear, stigma, and limited access to medical and legal support.
The post AP report details widespread sexual violence allegations amid Mali conflict appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.