By Jake OffenhartzThe Associated Press The family of an 18-year-old who was found dead after a July 4 boat trip to an island off the Gulf Coast has retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump amid an ongoing investigation into the circumstances of his disappearance. Nolan Xavier Wells’ body was discovered July 6 off the coast […]
Category: National News
Posted inNational News
Why most Black Americans say they never fly the American flag, according to a new AP-NORC poll
By Corey Williams, Linley Sanders and Simran ParwaniThe Associated Press DETROIT (AP) — Jerry Esters proudly displays the American flag each day on his Detroit home. A few miles away, Yvonne Pistochini says there is no scenario under which she would allow the Stars and Stripes to cast its shadow where she lives. Both are […]
Posted inNational News
With school out, summer hunger rises. Here’s where families can find free meals
When school lets out for the summer, many children lose access to the free breakfasts and lunches they rely on during the academic year. Hunger relief organizations say demand for food assistance rises during this time, as families turn to community programs to fill the gap.
Posted inNational News
New autopsy of a baby killed by police in Mississippi deepens outrage
A preliminary autopsy commissioned by the family of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley, who was fatally shot by police in Senatobia, Miss., raises questions about officers’ account of the June 14 shooting, suggesting the child was struck from the side rather than the front of the vehicle. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump is calling for the release of body camera, dashcam and surveillance footage as the investigation continues, while state officials say the official autopsy is not yet complete.
Posted inNational News
Mississippi reveals its full history for America’s anniversary year, a contrast to federal efforts
As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, Mississippi is highlighting its full history—including slavery, racial violence and the Civil Rights Movement—through exhibits at the Two Mississippi Museums. State leaders and museum officials say confronting the state’s painful past, rather than minimizing it, offers a more honest account of American history amid broader national debates over how that history should be presented.
Posted inNational News
‘Chosen family’ strengthens Black LGBTQ+ community in the nation’s capital
By Morgan CarpenterAFRO Internmcarpenter@afro.com For many LGBTQ+ people, family is not always defined by blood relations. Instead, it is built through community, trust and mutual support. The concept of chosen family has long been central to LGBTQ+ culture, particularly for people who have experienced rejection from biological relatives or institutions. Community advocates say these networks […]
Posted inNational News
High court broadens executive authority, allows Lisa Cook to remain at FedÂ
The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on June 29 dramatically expanded presidential power, upholding President Donald Trump’s firings of the heads of independent federal agencies with one important exception: the Federal Reserve. The justices allowed Fed governor Lisa Cook to stay in her job while she fights the Republican president’s effort to […]
Posted inHealth
Black voices underscore the lifesaving value of regular HIV testing Â
As Americans observe National HIV Testing Day 2026, health advocates are encouraging routine HIV testing to promote early diagnosis, treatment and prevention, particularly in Black communities that continue to face disproportionate health disparities. Black men living with HIV and community leaders stressed that knowing one’s status, practicing safe sex and increasing public awareness are essential to reducing stigma and improving long-term health outcomes.
Posted inPolitics
With Oval Office replica and skyline views of Chicago, Obama’s new museum is political and personal
The $850 million Obama Presidential Center opens to the public on Juneteenth, blending the political legacy and personal lives of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama. The Chicago campus features a digital presidential museum, a replica Oval Office, Michelle Obama’s iconic fashion, community spaces, and free public amenities designed to inspire civic engagement and neighborhood involvement.
Posted inNational News
Family of Jelani Day seeks answers five years after his mysterious death
By Kendra BryantSpecial to the AFRO On June 15, family and friends of Jelani Day will remember his life – the aspiring doctor would have turned 30 this year – even as they continue to shine light on his death. Five years after Day went missing in August 2021, questions remain around the circumstances of […]
Posted inNational News
Texas teen sentenced to 35 years for stabbing rival track athlete
A Texas jury convicted 19-year-old Karmelo Anthony of murder and sentenced him to 35 years in prison for fatally stabbing 17-year-old track athlete Austin Metcalf during a confrontation at a 2025 high school track meet in Frisco. Prosecutors argued Anthony escalated a dispute by using deadly force after provoking the encounter, while the defense claimed he acted in self-defense; the jury rejected that argument after less than three hours of deliberation.
Posted inNational News
Haitian woman’s hypothermia death after release from ICE custody ruled a homicide
By Jack Dura The Associated Press A medical examiner has ruled the death of a Haitian asylum seeker after being released from federal custody a homicide. An attorney representing her family said he expects her relatives to sue Immigration and Customs Enforcement in connection with her death. Daphy Michel, 31, died March 2. She was found […]
