AURN News

Federal employees have until midnight tonight to justify their work from the past week—or risk losing their jobs. The directive, issued by billionaire Elon Musk in an email, is part of a sweeping effort to dramatically reduce the size of the federal workforce.

The order has sent shockwaves through key government agencies, with many employees scrambling to meet the deadline. Some departments, including the State Department and Department of Homeland Security, have advised their workers not to comply, citing legal and privacy concerns.

Unions representing federal employees have already filed lawsuits against Musk and the Trump administration, calling the directive one of the most significant threats to federal employment in U.S. history. Many argue the move violates long-standing civil service protections designed to prevent arbitrary firings.

As uncertainty grows, this latest demand has only deepened tensions within the federal workforce.

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(AURN News) — A new Washington Post-Ipsos poll shows Americans are divided on President Donald Trump's performance and key policy initiatives one month into his second term.

The poll indicates 45% of Americans approve of Trump's job performance, with identical numbers supporting his handling of the economy. His immigration policies received 50% approval among those surveyed.

Elon Musk, heading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), faces lower approval ratings, with 34% of Americans supporting his performance. Only 26% back Musk's decision to shut down government programs he deems wasteful. The poll shows 63% of respondents express concern about DOGE's access to federal databases containing personal information, including Social Security and tax data.

On other initiatives, 46% of Americans support ending federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The survey reveals 57% believe Trump has exceeded his presidential authority, while 54% favor a Democratic-controlled Congress to keep his actions in check.

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According to the Associated Press, Voletta Wallace, mother of the late rapper The Notorious B.I.G., died Friday at 78.

Monroe County Coroner Thomas Yanac confirmed she passed away from natural causes at her home in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, after hospice care.

Wallace was known for protecting her son’s legacy following his 1997 murder in Los Angeles, which remains unsolved. She founded the Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation, supporting children’s education, and honored mothers of other artists lost too soon.

In 1997, Voletta Wallace accepted the MTV Video Music Award for “Hypnotize.” In 2021, she produced the Netflix documentary “Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell.”

Voletta Wallace also took legal action related to her son’s death.

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During remarks at the Governor's Working Session with President Donald Trump, he outlined four steps he wants governors to implement when it comes to voting.

"If you went to paper ballots and same-day voting, and if you went to voter ID, and also one other thing, you want proof of citizenship. Those four," Trump said.

Emphasizing the shift to paper ballots, Trump claimed, "You would save tens of millions of dollars. Forgetting about right, wrong and security, safety, our country, our constitution, and all of these. Number one, you have a much safer election. Number two, everybody—you know the results of your election by 10 o'clock."

When asked whom he consulted on election systems, Trump pointed to Elon Musk.

"Elon, because he knows more about computers than anybody. And he said—what do you think of the voting system? [Elon] said, 'Computers are not meant for voting.'"

Trump has previously argued that voting machines contributed to his 2020 election loss, though no evidence has substantiated these claims. Research also indicates that hand-counted paper ballots can be more costly for taxpayers than electronic voting systems.

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It’s been another winning week for the Carter family!  Last week, Jay-Z's child rape case was dropped. Now, Beyoncé has announced a historic partnership with Ulta Beauty, making her Cecred haircare line available in 1,400 Ulta stores and online. This marks the largest exclusive hair brand launch in Ulta’s history! Beyoncé is on a mission to break misconceptions about Black-owned hair brands and create inclusive excellence for all hair types.

Meanwhile, Tyler, the Creator is giving back in a big way. He’s providing meals to 100 people on Skid Row, donating high-quality food like shrimp tempura and cream of wheat through the Los Angeles Mission. Love seeing celebs supporting the community!

And Cynthia Erivo is adding Tony Awards host to her already stacked résumé! The Wicked star—who’s already a Golden Globe and Tony winner—is gearing up to usher in a night of Broadway excellence this awards season.

For all this and more, follow @TanyaHollywood and visit @aurnonline for exclusive entertainment updates!

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The new era of Captain America is here! Captain America: Brave New World dominated the holiday box office, pulling in $88.5 million over the weekend and is expected to hit $100 million domestically and $192 million globally. Anthony Mackie officially takes over as Sam Wilson, marking a major transition for the Marvel brand.

Meanwhile, NAACP Awards Week is in full swing in Los Angeles! The annual NAACP Hollywood Symposium is bringing together Black creatives and activists for powerful discussions on art, activism, and combating discrimination. Plus, the NAACP Image Awards are set to air this Saturday on BET—don’t miss it!

And in celebrity news, Serena Williams is enjoying a family vacation with her 18-month-old daughter, who she adorably calls her “mini-mini.”

For all this and more, follow @TanyaHollywood and visit @aurnonline for exclusive video content!

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(AURN News) — Most Americans continue to view air travel as safe despite recent aviation incidents, according to a new AP-NORC poll conducted after the fatal mid-air collision at Reagan National Airport and deadly crashes in Philadelphia and Alaska.

The survey shows 64% of Americans feel very or somewhat safe flying on a plane, comparable to the 65% who feel safe walking and 63% who feel safe traveling by car. Public transportation received lower confidence, with 53% feeling safe using local subway, metro, or light rail systems.

The nationwide poll, conducted February 6th through 10th among 1,112 adults, also found that 15% of U.S. adults felt neither safe nor unsafe about flying. Twenty percent reported feeling very or somewhat unsafe about air travel.

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“When the world comes to an end and hell freezes over, there’ll be three things left around this place—Chuck Grassley, Mitch McConnell, and cockroaches.”

That was Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., reacting to the news that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, 83, is retiring. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., added, “Senator McConnell has served this nation well as the longest-serving leader in the U.S. Senate, and I wish him well.”

McConnell, a seven-term senator, said, “Representing our commonwealth has been the honor of a lifetime.” While he has not endorsed a successor, candidates are already preparing to enter the race.

McConnell will serve out the remainder of his term, which ends in 2026.

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On this day, we remember Congressman John Lewis, born on February 21, 1940. A champion for human rights, Lewis served as the Democratic U.S. Representative for Georgia’s 5th congressional district from 1987 until his passing in 2020. As the dean of Georgia’s congressional delegation and one of the “Big Six” leaders of the civil rights movement, his legacy is profound.

Lewis was a founding member and later chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, leading sit-ins, Freedom Rides, and the Montgomery Bus Boycott. His unwavering commitment to nonviolent protest led to multiple arrests and national respect.

Lewis passed away in 2020 at the age of 80, leaving behind a legacy of courage, justice, and enduring hope.

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The Legal Defense Fund and Lambda Legal have filed a federal lawsuit challenging three executive orders issued by President Donald Trump that ban diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) programs—even alleging the policies effectively erase transgender people from federal protections.

The lawsuit, brought on behalf of the National Urban League, the National Fair Housing Alliance, and the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, argues that the orders will severely restrict the organizations’ ability to provide essential services, including HIV treatment, fair housing, and job training.

Critics warn the policies could reverse decades of civil rights progress, putting vulnerable communities at risk. Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League, called the measures “discriminatory at best and an attempt at institutionalized economic oppression.”

The lawsuit also claims that the executive orders violate constitutional rights by chilling free speech and limiting efforts to promote diversity and inclusion.

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