Sean Grayson, a former Illinois sheriff’s deputy, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for fatally shooting Sonya Massey, a Black woman who had called 911 to report a possible prowler outside her home.
Category: National News
The fire is out, scars remain: What Altadena residents want people to know a year after the Eaton Fire
By Victoria MejicanosAFRO Staff Writervmejicanos@afro.com A year after the Eaton Fire blew through 14,000 acres of the historically Black neighborhood of Altadena, Calif., the community is still processing collective trauma and fighting to keep its place in an ever-changing neighborhood that was already facing gentrification. Across the city, there are signs on front lawns that […]
Minnesota AG Ellison: ‘There is no risk-free way to stay free’
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.
Bovino set to leave Minneapolis as president reshuffles leadership of immigration crackdown
By Steve Karnowski and Mike Balsamo Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino is expected to leave Minneapolis on Jan. 27, according to a person familiar with the matter, as the Trump administration reshuffles leadership of its immigration enforcement operation and scales back the federal presence after a second fatal shooting by federal officers. President Donald Trump […]
New tax law locks in gains for the rich, leaves Black households behind
Economists warn that the 47th president’s new tax law, now in effect as the 2026 filing season begins, entrenches economic inequality by delivering the largest benefits to the wealthiest Americans while raising taxes and cutting supports for low-income households. Analyses show Black families are disproportionately harmed, as the law expands tax breaks tied to wealth and inheritance while offering limited, often inaccessible relief to working-class and poor households.
Deadline looms as Congress risks another shutdown
With federal funding set to expire at 11:59 p.m. Jan. 30, Congress is again on the brink of a government shutdown, just months after a prolonged lapse disrupted essential services and deepened hardship for families nationwide. As Republicans push a single sweeping funding vote, Democrats warn that no viable agreement exists, leaving negotiations stalled and the risk of another shutdown growing as the deadline approaches.
National Guard troops to stay on Washington, D.C. streets through 2026
National Guard troops will be on the streets of Washington, D.C. until the end of 2026, according to a memo reviewed by The Associated Press, signed by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and dated Jan. 14.
One year later, Target still reeling from boycotts
Nearly a year after Pastor Jamal Bryant’s Lenten fast against Target evolved into a nationwide boycott, the retailer is still feeling the financial fallout. Experts say the losses reflect years of weakening performance and a deeper erosion of consumer trust following Target’s rollback of its equity, diversity and inclusion commitments.
Massive winter storm across the US brings ice, frigid temperatures and widespread power outages
By Kate Brumback and Julie WalkerThe Associated Press A massive winter storm dumped sleet, freezing rain and snow across much of the U.S. on Jan. 25, bringing subzero temperatures and paralyzing air and road traffic. Power lines were draped in ice, and hundreds of thousands of people in the Southeast were left without electricity. The […]
Thousands rally against immigration enforcement in subzero Minnesota temperatures
Thousands of protesters in Minnesota braved subzero temperatures on Jan. 23, 2026, to rally against federal immigration enforcement, with about 100 clergy arrested at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The demonstrations, following the fatal ICE shooting of Renee Good, highlight community outrage over deportations, family separations, and government handling of immigrant families.
Police chief calls for calm after a man is shot and killed during Minneapolis immigration crackdown
Federal immigration officers shot and killed a 37-year-old man during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis, sparking renewed protests in a city already tense after a similar fatal ICE shooting earlier this month. Police and state leaders urged calm as demonstrators clashed with federal agents and criticized the White House’s intensified immigration crackdown.
Minnesota activist releases video of arrest after manipulated White House version
Minnesota civil rights attorney and activist Nekima Levy Armstrong released video of her Jan. 22 arrest following an anti-ICE protest at a church, disputing images posted by the White House that she says were manipulated to misrepresent the encounter. The video shows Levy Armstrong calmly speaking with federal agents and contradicts claims that she was crying during the arrest.

