AURN News

The five men wrongly accused and convicted in the 1989 Central Park assault case, now known as the “Exonerated 5,” have filed a defamation lawsuit against former President Donald Trump.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Pennsylvania on Monday, following Trump’s comments during a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris on September 10. During the debate, Trump falsely asserted that the men were responsible for the crime and inaccurately claimed that a victim had died.

Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, Korey Wise, and Yusef Salaam allege that Trump defamed them, cast them in a false light, and caused emotional distress. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.

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On Oct. 18, 1961, Wynton Marsalis, a native of New Orleans, was born. He is regarded as one of the world’s greatest jazz trumpet players and an accomplished classical artist. Marsalis has won nine Grammy Awards, and in 1984, he became the only artist to win Grammys for both jazz and classical recordings.

He is also one of just two artists to win Grammys for five consecutive years and was the first to have a jazz composition win a Pulitzer Prize. Born into a celebrated musical family, Marsalis is the son of jazz musician Ellis Marsalis and brother to saxophonist Branford Marsalis.

Marsalis is known for his efforts in promoting classical and jazz music, particularly to younger audiences.

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(AURN News) - A new grant program will help hundreds of educators and make school leadership more diverse. The state of California’s new $10 million program is underway and aimed at helping educators pursue administrative credentials. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing announced that 367 candidates across the state will receive one-time grants of up to $30,000 each. The initiative, known as the Diverse Education Leaders Pipeline Initiative (DELPI), is designed “to train, place, and retain diverse and culturally responsive administrators in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, and grades 1 to 12,” according to the commission.

"It was in middle school that I had my first African American math teacher. His presence alone inspired me. He was charismatic and relatable, someone who I felt understood me," said Lawrence Hardy, a grant recipient from San Bernardino City Unified School District. "In return, I want to be that educator that will inspire and motivate the next generation,” he added.

The DELPI program aims to improve student outcomes by ensuring school leadership better reflects California's diverse population. Grant recipients must commit to serving a minimum of two years as site-level administrators in California schools. The initiative comes as part of a broader effort to address the needs of California's education workforce and create more inclusive learning environments for students across the state.

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(AURN News) — On Wednesday the White House announced that President Joe Biden held a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss continuing U.S. support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. The White House said Biden told President Zelenskyy about the new $425 million security assistance package for Ukraine.

The package includes military-focused resources like additional air defense capabilities and armored vehicles. According to the Department of Defense, this is the 67th tranche of equipment provided to Ukraine since August 2021.

The White House also outlined plans for more help, which will include hundreds of air defense interceptors, dozens of tactical air defense systems, and additional artillery systems. The president is expected to host a virtual leader-level meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group next month that will focus on coordinating with international allies.

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On Oct. 17, 1888, Capital Savings Bank, the first Black-owned and operated bank in the United States, was founded in Washington, D.C. The bank played a crucial role in fostering Black entrepreneurship by offering loans to Black-owned businesses and landowners, who were often denied by white-owned banks.

By 1892, Capital Savings Bank had grown in reputation, holding deposits totaling $300,000. Although the bank closed in 1902, it set a powerful example for other Black-owned financial institutions.

Between 1888 and 1934, 134 Black banks were established, driving a surge in Black-owned businesses. From 1867 to 1917, the number of Black businesses grew from 4,000 to 50,000, according to the Federal Reserve.

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In this episode of Hollywood Live, Tanya Hart sits down with Michael O. Harris, the CEO of the new Death Row Records and Films, to discuss his ambitious plan to uplift and transform the financial future of Black America. Michael opens up about the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, emphasizing the importance of breaking cycles that lead to destructive behavior. He reflects on the East Coast vs. West Coast rap wars and touches on the controversies surrounding Sean “Diddy” Combs and Bad Boy Records.

Michael speaks candidly about how fame and fortune have led some down dark paths, underscoring the need for personal growth and change. Tanya and Michael dive deep into the lessons learned from the past and the importance of differentiating those who evolve from those who remain stuck.

Tanya also reveals that Michael and Snoop Dogg are currently collaborating on an exciting new movie project. Despite his packed schedule, Snoop is actively involved. Catch the full video interview with Michael O. Harris on AURN’s YouTube channel for more insights into his inspiring journey.

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Georgia voters are turning out in record numbers as early voting kicks off for the upcoming presidential election. More than 328,000 residents cast their ballots on the first day—more than doubling the previous record of 136,000 set in 2020. Both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are fiercely campaigning for the state's 16 electoral votes, with polls showing it's a tight race.

Democrats typically gain an edge through early voting. But Trump holds a slim lead in Georgia—a state with a critical role in determining the election's outcome. Voters have until Nov. 1 to cast their ballots.

Meanwhile, a Georgia judge blocked an attempt by pro-Trump officials to have a hand count of over 5 million ballots. Judge Robert McBurney said the last-minute change would cause confusion and chaos.

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In a major victory for Birmingham's Black communities, the Department of Justice has secured an $8 million settlement from Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation for discriminatory lending practices known as redlining. Fairway also faces a $1.9 million civil penalty. The settlement includes $7 million for affordable loan programs to help Black residents in Birmingham purchase or improve homes and an additional $1 million for community investment.

This is part of the Justice Department's broader Combatting Redlining Initiative, which has now surpassed $150 million in relief for impacted communities nationwide. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized that these actions aim to reverse historic discrimination and build wealth through home ownership in Black communities.

Fairway's practices show they directed less than 3 percent of advertising to majority Black areas. The case marks the 15th redlining settlement in three years.

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Vice President Kamala Harris is expanding her media reach as the presidential campaign enters its final stretch. On Wednesday, she'll sit down for her first interview with Fox News, speaking with anchor Brett Baier during a visit to Pennsylvania. This marks a significant move for Harris, who has previously done interviews with outlets like CNN and CBS's 60 Minutes.

The Fox News interview will air at 6 p.m. Eastern, and it is her first with a network outside of the Democratic-friendly media circuit. She's also scheduled to interview with Joe Rogan, who hosts a popular podcast.

Critics say Harris is giving out limited media appearances, but she's been taking each opportunity to take shots at Republican nominee Donald Trump, calling him out for refusing to release his medical records and dodging a 60 Minutes interview — something every single presidential candidate has always done for over 50 years.

Meanwhile, Trump fired back at both Harris and Fox, accusing the network of being soft on Democrats.

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Vice President Kamala Harris has introduced an “Opportunity Agenda for Black Men,” aimed at providing more economic opportunities for this crucial voting bloc.

The plan includes forgivable business loans for Black entrepreneurs, expanding apprenticeships, and addressing health issues like sickle cell anemia that disproportionately affect African American men.

Harris also supports legalizing marijuana to ensure Black men can benefit from the emerging cannabis industry and calls for better regulation of cryptocurrency to protect investors.

Her campaign is organizing “Black Men Huddle Up” events in battleground states, featuring football watch parties and prominent Black male figures as part of her effort to energize Black male voters.​

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