AURN News

On this day, January 30, in 1867, Morgan State University was founded in Baltimore, Maryland. Originally established as the Centenary Biblical Institute by the Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, its mission was to train young Black men for ministry. Over time, the institution expanded its academic offerings, evolving into a cornerstone of Black higher education.

In 1915, Andrew Carnegie donated $50,000 to help build its current campus in northeast Baltimore. Recognizing its growing impact, the state of Maryland acquired Morgan in 1939, transforming it into a public institution to increase educational opportunities for Baltimore’s Black community.

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AURN White House Correspondent, Ebony McMorris and WHUR midday host, Sunni, chat with Dr. Kaye Wise Whitehead (President of The Association for the Study of African American Life and History) about the theme for this year's Black History Month celebration and the significance of continuously recognizing the contributions of African Americans to the fabric of American society.

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(AURN News) — President Donald Trump clarified Wednesday that federal workers must return to their offices by February 6 or face termination, marking a significant shift in federal workplace policy.

The directive targets federal employees who have been working remotely, some since before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Trump.

"We have informed the federal workforce, which they've looked to do for many years, that if they're working for the federal government, they must show up to the office on time and on schedule," Trump said. "We don't want them to work from home, because, as everyone knows, most of the time, they're not working, they're not very productive, and it's unfair to the millions of people in the United States who are in fact working hard from job sites and not from their home."

Trump indicated the policy could lead to government downsizing. "Most of the people we're talking about have not been going to their federal offices in many, many years from even before COVID, but they have nevertheless been paid," he said. "We think a very substantial number of people will not show up to work, and therefore our government will get smaller and more efficient, and that's what we've been looking to do for many, many decades, frankly.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt elaborated on the policy during a press gaggle outside the West Wing. "This is a suggestion to federal workers that they have to return to work, and if they don't, then they have the option to resign, and this administration is very generously offering to pay them for eight months," she said. 

"Six percent of the federal workforce in the city actually shows up to work. That's unacceptable. We're all here at work, at the office. There are law enforcement officers and teachers and nurses across the country who showed up to the office today, people in this city need to do the same."

The President also said they would investigate whether remote workers held other jobs while employed by the federal government, which he noted would be unlawful.

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After public backlash and union pushback, the Trump administration is moving forward with a sweeping buyout program offering federal workers eight months of pay if they resign by February 6. The move, announced Tuesday in a memo from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), is an aggressive effort to shrink the government and reshape the federal workforce.

The email, sent to more than 2 million employees with the subject line "fork in the road," has been widely criticized as a pressure tactic. It states that workers who accept the buyout will remain on paid administrative leave until September 30, while those who stay could face job insecurity, potential reclassification as at-will employees, and even furloughs.

The memo enforces a return to office policy, also ending remote work for most federal employees. Trump's OPM has also scrapped Biden-era protections for federal employees.

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According to the Associated Press, a federal judge temporarily blocked a sweeping funding pause initiated by the Trump administration to conduct an ideological review of federal programs.

The pause, aimed at halting grants and loans to ensure compliance with executive orders, sparked widespread confusion among states, nonprofits, and local governments relying on federal funds.

The judge’s ruling, issued just before the freeze was set to take effect, provides a temporary reprieve until further review.

The administration claims the review is necessary to eliminate funding for initiatives like diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.

However, critics argue the policy is reckless and unconstitutional, with concerns it could disrupt essential services like Meals on Wheels and infrastructure projects nationwide.

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It’s Grammy week in Los Angeles, and despite the wildfires and cancellations, the show will go on. Beyoncé and Taylor Swift will be attending, but not necessarily performing. Beyoncé leads all the nominees for the 66th Grammy Awards with 11 nominations, and Swift has six, including nods for album, record, and song of the year.

All eyes will be on Beyoncé in those categories. This year’s Grammy telecast carries a renewed sense of purpose, raising funds to support Los Angeles wildfire relief efforts. The show will be broadcast live on Sunday, February 2nd, at 8 p.m. Eastern and will also be available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount Plus.

The broadcast will also honor the bravery and dedication of all the first responders who have risked their lives to save others during these devastating fires. We’ll be on the red carpet and backstage in the press room. So, you definitely want to keep it locked right here at @auronline.

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Today marked the first White House briefing under President Donald Trump's second term. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the administration's sweeping freeze on federal grants and funding, describing it as a move to ensure taxpayer dollars aligned with Trump's new executive orders.

She stated the freeze will not impact individual assistance programs, such as Social Security, Medicare, and SNAP benefits. However, many are concerned because the freeze, which amounts to trillions of dollars, could put a halt to things like school meals for low-income students, US Aid for foreign assistance, the WIC nutrition program for pregnant women and infants, programs for homeless, HIV/AIDS funding, and so many other things.

When pressed on how the freeze would affect Medicaid, Leavitt said, "I'll check back on that and get back to you."

The ambiguity has alarmed Americans, along with community leaders and nonprofits, who are left wondering if this freeze is a safeguard or a setback for vulnerable communities.

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(AURN News) — At least 14 United Nations peacekeepers were killed and many others wounded when M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, attacked U.N. positions in eastern Congo, the latest casualties in an escalating conflict that has forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes.

The attacks took place between January 23 and 24, when M23 rebels fired on positions held by the U.N. stabilization mission known as MONUSCO. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres warned that attacks against U.N. personnel may constitute a war crime and called for an immediate investigation.

He also demanded M23 cease hostilities and withdraw from occupied areas, while also calling on Rwandan defense forces to end their support of M23 and pull out of Congolese territory.

The violence has triggered a humanitarian emergency in the region, with civilians facing dire conditions. "A major surge in violence in the eastern region of DRC has led to hundreds of thousands of people fleeing multiple active conflict zones," said Shelley Thakral, head of communications for the World Food Program in Congo. Thakral shared the updates during a special U.N. briefing on Tuesday.

"WFP's priority is keeping staff and their dependents safe," Thakral said. "Only critical WFP staff remain in the area, and once the security situation improves, we can resume our emergency assistance and operations."

The situation continues to deteriorate, according to Thakral. "There are growing protection concerns as hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced in and around Goma," she said. "Many are exposed to gender-based violence and with limited access to food, safe clean water and income, the risks facing the populations hour by hour, day by day will only increase in these volatile conditions."

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The Trump administration has ordered a freeze on all federal funding impacting essential programs nationwide. A memo from the White House Budget Office demanded a halt to public loans, grants, and aid by 5 p.m. Tuesday, potentially affecting nonprofits, universities, and small businesses.

In 2024 alone, the government spent $3 trillion on these programs. This freeze could have severe and dire consequences. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has condemned the move, saying it threatens vital support for disaster relief, school lunches, and aid for elderly, with many nonprofit organizations warning that this could endanger many people's lives.

Legal challenges to this move can be expected to arise quickly as critics argue it violates the law. The question remains, how will communities cope with this sudden loss of federal support?

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AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris reports live from the National Action Network MLK Day Rally at Metropolitan AME Church in Washington, DC, where founder and president, Rev. Al Sharpton delivered a powerful address, calling out President Donald Trump and big corporations and urging attendees to walk in the footsteps of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in using every resource at their disposal in the continued fight against inequality and injustice.

Watch the video version of the interview here.

And subscribe to On the Record with Ebony McMorris here.

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