By Meg Kinnard, The Associated Press Dylann Roof’s death sentence and conviction in the 2015 racist slayings of nine members of a Black South Carolina congregation should be upheld and don’t merit review by the U.S. Supreme Court, attorneys for the federal government wrote in a filing recently. Attorneys for the U.S. Justice Department argued […]
Author Archives: Meg Kinnard
Associated Press
Posted inNational News
Lone SC congressional Democrat Clyburn files for a 16th term
By Meg Kinnard U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn filed Monday to seek a 16th term representing South Carolina’s 6th District, saying he’s headed into his next campaign as long as his health and family support stay strong. “I’m in pretty good health, so I’ll keep going until either my health tells me to quit, […]
Posted inCoronavirus
Soaring COVID-19 cases renew US debate over mask mandates
By MEG KINNARD, Associated Press Officials across the U.S. are again weighing how and whether to impose mask mandates as COVID-19 infections soar and the American public grows ever wearier of pandemic-related restrictions. Much of the debate centers around the nation’s schools, some of which have closed due to infection-related staffing issues. In a variety of places, […]
Posted inNEWS
Biden to make commencement speech at South Carolina HBCU
By Meg Kinnard The Associated Press President Joe Biden is returning to South Carolina, the state that played a pivotal role in his march to the Democratic presidential nomination and the White House, as the featured speaker at the graduation ceremonies this coming week at a historically Black university. Biden on Dec. 17 will attend […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
US to pay $88M to families, victims of SC church massacre
By Meg Kinnard The Associated Press Families of nine victims killed in a racist attack at a Black South Carolina church have reached a settlement with the Justice Department over a faulty background check that allowed Dylann Roof to purchase the gun he used in the 2015 massacre. The Justice Department will pay $88 million, […]
Posted inNEWS
In South, Most Black Senate Candidates Since Reconstruction
In this June 23, 2020, file photo, Rev. Raphael G. Warnock delivers the eulogy for Rayshard Brooks’ funeral at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. A pair of new high-profile endorsements are adding fuel to an already contentious special election for a U.S. Senate seat in Georgia. Former president Jimmy Carter endorsed Democrat Raphael Warnock in […]
Posted inNational News, NEWS, POLITICS, U.S. Government
Leading Democrats Gather for Funeral of Rep. Jim Clyburn’s Wife
By Meg Kinnard, The Associated Press Leading congressional Democrats and some of the party’s presidential contenders gathered Sept. 22 for the funeral of Emily Clyburn, wife of House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn of South Carolina and prolific fundraiser in support of helping students attend the alma mater they shared. “We all loved her so much,” House […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Convicted Church Killer Dylann Roof Wants to Fire Jewish, Indian Lawyers
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A White supremacist who was sentenced to death in the 2015 massacre of nine Black worshippers has told a federal appeals court he wants to fire his appellate attorneys because one of them is Jewish and the other is Indian. FILE – In this Monday, April 10, 2017, file photo, Dylann […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Condemned Church Shooter Roof Seeks Appellate Court Mercy
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A White supremacist petitioned a court for mercy, asking the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday to overturn his conviction and death sentence for killing nine Black worshippers in a racist attack at a Charleston church. The notice filed by attorneys for Dylann Roof was an expected move in […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
FBI: Roof Displaying Racist Symbols even During Trial
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Dylann Roof is as entrenched in his White supremacist beliefs as ever, even wearing shoes this week with racist symbols drawn on them, an FBI agent testified Friday. FILE – This undated photo that appeared on Lastrhodesian.com, a website investigated by the FBI in connection with Dylann Roof, shows him posing […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Prosecutors Give Timeline of Dylan Roof Leading up to Black Charleston Church Shootings
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Through a dozen witnesses on Tuesday, federal prosecutors reconstructed the activities of Dylann Roof in the months leading up to night he went to a Black Charleston church and shot nine members to death during a Bible study session. In this June 18, 2015 file photo, two Charleston police officers stand […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Dylan Roof Had List of Other Black Churches in His Car
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — When he was arrested, the man accused of killing nine people during a Bible study in a Charleston church had a list of other area Black churches in his car, law enforcement officials testified on Monday. During roughly two hours on the stand, former State Law Enforcement Division agent Brittany Burke […]