Category : News Talk

Prosecutor says officers acted ‘recklessly’ in Black man’s death during mental health crisis

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Two Indianapolis police officers charged in the death of a Black man — who was shocked with a Taser during a mental health crisis — acted “recklessly” by restraining him face down longer than necessary, a prosecutor said...

Recognizing Reparations Monday in the Greater Lansing area

LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – On the heels of weekend shopping deals, comes a time to give back to local non-profits. The Monday after Thanksgiving is focused on reparations for Black-led organizations. The Justice League of Greater Lansing says the...

Black Residents Watched Their Neighborhood Burn to the Ground. Decades Later, They Finally Get The Payback They Deserve

Just east of Los Angeles, a small neighborhood called Section 14 stood for decades. But in the 1960s, its Black and Latino residents were forced out of their homes to make space for commercial buildings, leaving hundreds of parents to pick up t...

Michigan’s Cannabis Boom Hits $10 Billion: Who Profits, Who’s Left Behind?

As Michigan edges closer to a historic milestone in recreational cannabis sales, a deeper story unfolds beneath the numbers. This month or next, someone will walk into a dispensary, make a purchase, and push the state’s total sales past $10...

5 Women Win Reparations From Belgium for Crimes Under Colonial Rule

In a landmark case, a court ruled that the women, now in their 70s and 80s, who were taken from their parents in Belgian Congo, were victims of a crime against humanity. A court in Brussels ruled on Monday that five mixed-race women, now in their...

Bill would give public university admission priority to slaves’ descendants

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A California lawmaker said he will introduce a bill Monday that would give admission priority to the descendants of slaves at the University of California and California State University, two of the largest public university sys...

Black Lives Matter: Amplifying Divisions In A Polarized America

Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement is a modern socio-political phenomenon in the United States. It emerged spontaneously and unexpectedly in 2013 as a reaction to police violence and discrimination against African Americans. Over the past 11 years, i...

Descendants of slaves could receive priority college admission

A new bill introduced by California Assembly member Isaac Bryan aims to give descendants of slaves priority for admission to the University of California and California State University. The proposed legislation, which Bryan, a Democrat representing...

President Biden pardons son Hunter, breaking promise not to use power to help family

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter, sparing the younger Biden a possible prison sentence for federal felony gun and tax convictions and reversing his past promises not to use the extraordinary powers of the presidency...

Why University of Michigan Football Coach Sherrone Moore Had the Best Month in College Football

Photos by Aaron J. Thornton Depending on how the next couple of years shake out, the month of November 2024 may very well go down as one of the most defining periods in the tenure of University of Michigan football, thanks to an unprecedented series...

Sac State Leads Way As Model For Black-Serving Institutions

By Williamena Kwapo | OBSERVER Staff WriterIn September, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1348, creating the nation’s first official designation for Black-serving institutions. The historic legislation recognizes colleges and universities that ac...

2024 in Review: 7 Questions for Incoming Black Caucus Vice Chair Asm. Isaac Bryan

Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media& At 32, Isaac Bryan (D-Ladera Heights) has emerged as one of California’s most dynamic Assemblymembers.As a former Assembly Majority Leader, Bryan has focused his legislative career on addressing racial...

Detroit’s Director of Planning & Development Departure Marks a Turning Point in Detroit’s Community-Centered Growth

Antoine Bryant’s tenure as Detroit’s Director of Planning & Development will soon conclude, marking the end of a transformative chapter in the city’s efforts toward inclusive, community-driven redevelopment. Bryant, who joined the city in Jul...

DTE Gas’ Gets $113.8M Rate Increase Approved. Here’s What it Means for Michigan Customers

One of the state’s largest utilities, DTE Energy, recently got approval from the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) for a rate increase totaling $113.8 million. The approved rate increase represents a 57% reduction from the company’s proposed...

Belgium ordered to pay reparations for colonial kidnappings in Congo

A Belgium court has ordered the government to pay reparations to five mixed-race women who were forcibly removed from their families in the colonial-era Belgian Congo. The women, now in their 70s, were taken from their mothers when they were young...