AURN News

Sharpe James, who led Newark as mayor for 20 years and helped reshape the city’s downtown, died Sunday in West Orange, New Jersey, according to The New York Times. He was 89.

His son, former Councilman John Sharpe James, confirmed the death.

Known for his dynamic presence and political tenacity, James oversaw major redevelopment projects, including the Prudential Center and extensive new housing.

Yet his legacy was marred by a 2008 fraud conviction for selling public land at below-market prices, resulting in an 18-month prison sentence.

Still, he was remembered for instilling pride and possibility in Newark’s predominantly Black and Latino communities.

He is survived by his wife, Mary, and sons Elliot, John, and Kevin.

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A group of 49 white South Africans boarded a flight from Johannesburg, marking their first arrivals under President Donald Trump’s controversial refugee program. Their destination: the United States, where they are expected to be met with both support and criticism.

This initiative follows Trump’s declaration earlier this year that white farmers in South Africa are victims of racial discrimination—a claim that has sparked significant backlash from the South African government, which argues it is unfounded.

The South African Foreign Ministry has called the resettlement plan politically motivated and aimed at undermining the country’s democracy. Elon Musk, an advisor to Trump, fueled the fire by claiming there is a genocide of white people occurring in South Africa—a statement many experts have discredited.

The deteriorating relations between the two nations have been highlighted by recent expulsions of ambassadors and accusations of race-baiting.

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(AURN News) — Despite President Donald Trump’s strong anti-immigration stance during his second term, a report from The Washington Post claims the United States is making an exception for one group: white South Africans.

According to the Post, a State Department plane carrying at least 60 white South Africans was expected to arrive Monday. The newspaper reports that, so far, white South Africans are the only group welcomed into the U.S. under the Trump administration’s current policies.

The Post also states: “No South Africans of any race, ethnicity or linguistic group were vetted by the United Nations as meeting its criteria to be resettled as refugees.”

This news comes as South Africa’s Black-led government recently passed the 2024 Expropriation Act. The legislation aims to reclaim land believed to have been taken from Black South Africans by white colonizers—often without financial compensation. Officials say the law addresses longstanding racism and discrimination.

Colonization in South Africa began in the 1650s with the arrival of white Dutch settlers. Apartheid—the state-enforced system of racial segregation and oppression—ended in 1994.

Refugee status is typically reserved for individuals facing life-threatening conditions or persecution.

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President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping executive order aimed at compelling pharmaceutical companies to lower drug prices to match those in other countries. At a press conference, Trump emphasized the need for fairness, stating that Americans should not be paying significantly more than patients abroad.

The order sets a 30-day timeline for drugmakers to meet specific price targets, with a promise of further action if substantial progress isn’t made within six months. The pharmaceutical industry is pushing back, arguing that importing foreign pricing models could undermine innovation and limit patient access.

Trade groups warn the move could jeopardize future investment in American health care. As the administration prepares to implement the plan, the question remains: Can Trump successfully drive down drug prices, or will the challenge prove too great?

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Supporters of a bill to create a commission to study reparations for slavery in Maryland rallied outside Gov. Wes Moore’s residence, urging him to sign the legislation, according to the Associated Press.

The measure, passed with strong Democratic support in both chambers, proposes studying potential reparations such as monetary compensation, tax rebates, and fee waivers.

Advocates emphasized the importance of acknowledging Maryland’s legacy of slavery and systemic racism, noting that the bill only initiates a study, not mandated action.

Moore, Maryland’s first Black governor, has expressed concern over the lingering impact of racism but has not publicly committed to signing the bill. 

If left unsigned, it could still become law.

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The commotion captured outside the Delaney Hall ICE Detention Center earlier today marked the moment Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested. Members of Congress were scheduled to visit the facility at the time of the incident.

The prison in Newark opened without permission from the city, violating local ordinances. According to U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, Baraka was transported, remains in custody and has been charged with trespassing.

Baraka was protesting outside the facility to stop it from operating. He is also running for governor and was joined by members of the Congressional Black Caucus, including New Jersey Congresswoman LaMonica McIver, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Rep. Rob Menendez.

The 1,000-bed facility is the largest in New Jersey and is one of many flashpoints in the debate over immigration and deportation policies under the Trump administration.

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(AURN News) — Financial stress is surging under President Donald Trump’s second term, and it’s taking a serious toll on Americans’ mental health, according to a recent poll.

A national survey conducted by Talker Research for Doctor On Demand found that 70% of Americans say their financial anxiety is at an all-time high. It comes amid ongoing inflation, rising health care costs and global tariff tensions that have defined the Trump administration’s economic agenda.

The poll, conducted March 31 through April 3 among 2,000 U.S. adults, revealed that one in five respondents reported a decline in their mental health over the past year. Roughly 40% said they had taken a mental health day off from work or school due to stress or burnout.

Health care expenses are weighing heavily, particularly on younger generations. The survey found that 40% of millennials and 37% of Gen Z respondents said the cost of care has negatively impacted their mental well-being.

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President Donald Trump says it's a great deal for America. But let’s break down what just happened Thursday: The U.S. and U.K. signed a new trade agreement that opens the door for more American beef, ethanol and airplanes to be sold in Britain. In return, the U.S. will ease some of the tough tariffs Trump put in place—but not all of them.

British cars will now face a 10% tariff to enter the U.S., but other exports will still pay the price. Meanwhile, key issues like taxes on U.S. tech companies and access to Britain’s healthcare market weren’t even touched.

Some American businesses aren’t happy, but others—especially carmakers—say the deal gives Britain special treatment while Canada and Mexico are still stuck with higher fees.

Critics say the rushed deal is less about smart trade and more about trying to fix the economic mess Trump’s tariffs already caused.

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John Brown, a white, 19th-century abolitionist, was born on May 9, 1800. A white man unwaveringly devoted to ending slavery, Brown spent his life fighting oppression—donating land to escaped slaves and aiding the Underground Railroad.

Frederick Douglass once said Brown “is in sympathy a Black man,” a testament to his deep commitment.

In 1859, Brown led 21 men—Black and white—in a raid on the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, W.Va., aiming to spark a slave uprising.

The raid failed; Brown was wounded, captured, and ultimately hanged.

Though controversial, he remains one of the most enduring and radical figures in the history of American abolition.

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(AURN News) — AI is rapidly becoming the driving force behind the future of work. A new study from IBM surveying 2,000 CEOs around the world shows that artificial intelligence is expected to play a bigger role in businesses across the globe.

According to IBM, 61% of CEOs said they are “actively adopting AI agents today and preparing to implement them at scale.” The study also revealed that 25% of AI initiatives have already delivered expected returns on investment (ROI), while 52% of CEOs say they are seeing value from generative AI beyond just cost reduction.

“By 2027, 85% of surveyed CEOs expect their investments in scaled AI efficiency and cost savings to have returned a positive ROI, while 77% expect to see a positive return from their investments in scaled AI growth and expansion,” IBM said in its report.

But there’s a catch — AI isn’t just about automation and cutting costs. The use of it is now driving decisions at the highest levels of corporations. This shift in how decisions are made is reshaping the landscape for everyone in the workforce.

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