By Luis Andres HenaoThe Associated Press SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (AP) — A federal judge on Feb. 2 blocked the Trump administration from ending temporary protections that have allowed roughly 350,000 Haitians to live and work in the U.S. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes in Washington granted a request to pause the termination of temporary protected status […]
Category: U.S. Government
Posted inAfro Briefs
Ending tax refunds by check speeds payments, but what about people without bank accounts?
By Beverly MoranThe Conversation More than 6 million Americans receive paper tax refund checks annually. Often, those refunds go to purchase groceries or pay the bills. But this year, those taxpayers may be surprised to learn that the paper check they’re waiting for no longer exists. That’s because of executive order 14247, which President Donald […]
Posted inU.S. Government
Senate passes government funding deal backed by Oval Office, sending to House
The Senate approved a stopgap funding deal to keep most of the federal government running through September, with a two-week extension for Homeland Security funding as lawmakers debate new limits on federal immigration raids. The bipartisan agreement, backed by the White House, comes amid public outrage over fatal encounters involving federal agents and sets up a contentious House vote that could still trigger a brief shutdown.
Posted inPOLITICS
Legislators, leaders nationwide decry attack on Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan OmarÂ
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.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Eleanor Holmes Norton speaks on retirement after 35 years on Capitol Hill
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 […]
Posted inNational News
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 […]
Posted inNational News
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.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Longtime DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton is ending her reelection campaign for Congress
Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District of Columbia’s longtime nonvoting delegate to Congress and a Civil Rights Movement veteran, has filed paperwork to end her reelection campaign, signaling the close of her 35-year tenure on Capitol Hill. Her retirement opens a competitive Democratic primary in the overwhelmingly Democratic city as questions had mounted about her effectiveness amid heightened federal intervention in Washington.
Posted inU.S. Government
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.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
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.
Posted inU.S. Government
Department of Education calls back civil rights staff amid massive discrimination case backlog
After hundreds of civil rights employees were placed on administrative leave last year, the U.S. Department of Education called staff back to its Office of Civil Rights amid a massive backlog of discrimination complaints. Workers and union leaders say the disruption left tens of thousands of cases unresolved and students without timely civil rights protections.
Posted inPOLITICS
47th president can’t block child care money for 5 Democratic-led states for now, judge says
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the 47th president’s administration from freezing billions of dollars in child care and family support funding to five Democratic-led states, ruling that the states met the legal standard to preserve the status quo while the dispute plays out in court. The decision comes as the administration claims—without providing evidence—that the states improperly provided benefits to undocumented immigrants, a move the states argue is unconstitutional and politically motivated, with immediate consequences for low-income families and child care providers.