AURN News

In a post-debate surge, Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign has raised $47 million in just 24 hours, signaling a massive wave of support. With a 47% to 42% lead over former President Donald Trump in a two-day Reuters/Ipsos poll that closed Thursday, Harris is capitalizing on her momentum, challenging Trump to a second debate and rallying supporters in key battleground states.

Harris' "New Way Forward" tour has seen massive turnouts in North Carolina, with over 17,000 people attending her Greensboro event. The state, where Trump has heavily invested, is now a critical battleground. With a 0.4 percentage point lead, Harris is pushing for increased voter turnout among young, Black, and female voters to secure victory in the Tar Heel State.

Today, Harris is in Pennsylvania, another pivotal state, as she continues to expand her electorate. Meanwhile, Trump has dismissed the idea of another debate, claiming victory in the first, while Harris insists that voters deserve another chance to hear from both candidates.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week would have marked Jesse Owens' 111th birthday. Born on Sept. 12, 1913, Owens was an American track and field athlete who became a symbol of triumph over adversity. Raised in Alabama and later Ohio, Owens’ talent for running and jumping was evident from a young age.

He gained international fame at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where he won four gold medals, defying Nazi racial ideology. Despite facing racial discrimination in the U.S., Owens’ legacy endures as a champion of both sport and equality.

He passed away in 1980, leaving behind an indelible mark on history.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gov. Tim Walz is hitting the campaign trail as part of the "New Way Forward" tour, making stops in battleground states of Michigan and Wisconsin to drum up more support for the Harris-Walz ticket. From Sept. 12-14, following the first presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, Walz will visit key battleground states with fewer than 60 days until Election Day.

The tour aims to contrast the Harris-Walz vision of a hopeful future with Trump and running mate J. D. Vance's Project 2025, which Walz has warned could give Trump unchecked power.

Walz will begin his tour in Grand Rapids on Thursday, where he'll deliver remarks at a rally. He'll also stop in Lansing, Michigan, and several political events throughout the state will follow as the campaign ramps up efforts to mobilize voters in these critical regions.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Hollywood Live, Tanya Hart pays tribute to another entertainment legend we’ve lost—Frankie Beverly, the lead singer and songwriter of the iconic soul and funk band Maze. Known for timeless hits like “Golden Time of Day,” “Joy and Pain,” and “Happy Feelings,” Frankie Beverly’s music has been the soundtrack to countless summer cookouts, family reunions, and unforgettable live concerts for over five decades. He passed away at the age of 77, as announced by his family, though the cause of death was not disclosed.

Tanya reflects on Beverly’s remarkable career that began in 1970 with his group Raw Soul in Philadelphia. It was Marvin Gaye who guided the group to change their name to Frankie Beverly and Maze, setting them on a path to musical greatness. Their debut album in 1977 was just the start of a series of hits that spanned decades. Beverly was a beloved staple at the Essence Festival, where fans honored him this past summer by wearing white. Though he’s no longer with us, Frankie Beverly’s Silky Soul sounds will live on for generations to come.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(AURN News) — President Joe Biden seized on newly released Census reports on Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage to paint a picture of economic progress under his administration, while simultaneously calling for more aggressive measures to support the middle class and reduce poverty. The report shows that the poverty rate fell 0.4% in 2023 and that median household incomes increased from $77,540 in 2022 to $80,610 in 2023.

The White House statement, released in response to the Census Bureau's findings, emphasized positive trends in income growth and health insurance coverage. According to the president, middle-class incomes have risen by more than $3,000 over the past year, with overall gains since he and Vice President Kamala Harris took office outpacing inflation.

However, the president's statement was not without criticism of his political opponents. “Let’s be clear: we must do more to lower poverty by restoring the expanded Child Tax Credit that cut child poverty nearly in half in 2021 and passing our plan to build millions of homes and make rent more affordable—policies Congressional Republicans have repeatedly blocked,” he said.

Biden also touted record-high health insurance coverage rates, attributing the improvement to his administration's efforts to bolster the Affordable Care Act and reduce healthcare costs. These achievements, he argued, demonstrate tangible progress in the administration's goal of strengthening the middle class.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shortly after the presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, pop superstar Taylor Swift made headlines by endorsing Harris for president.

“I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election,” Swift announced on Instagram, praising Harris as a “steady-handed, gifted leader.”

Swift’s endorsement is significant due to her massive influence on younger voters, many of whom look to her for guidance on social and political issues.

As one of the most prominent voices in pop culture, her support could energize first-time voters and amplify Harris’ message, making this a pivotal moment in the election race.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(AURN News) — As Hurricane Francine barrels toward the northern Gulf Coast, residents and officials in Louisiana and Mississippi are preparing for its imminent arrival. The category one hurricane, currently churning in the Gulf of Mexico, is expected to make landfall later today, bringing with it a host of life-threatening conditions, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters are particularly concerned about the storm surge, which threatens to inundate coastal areas of Louisiana and Mississippi.

Hurricane warnings blanket much of the Louisiana coast, with tropical storm warnings extending further inland. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts that tropical storm conditions will begin to affect the area as early as Wednesday morning, with hurricane-force winds following close behind.

“An elongated area of low pressure located over the central tropical Atlantic continues to produce some disorganized shower and thunderstorm activity. Environmental conditions appear marginally conducive for some slight development during the next day or two while the system moves westward at 5 to 10 mph over the central tropical Atlantic,” The National Hurricane Center posted on Facebook.

As Francine approaches, it's not just wind and storm surge that have officials worried. The storm is expected to dump significant amounts of rain across a wide swath of the southeastern United States. Flash flood watches are in effect for the Lower Tennessee Valley and the Lower Mississippi Valley. Hurricane hunter aircraft were dispatched Wednesday morning to gather crucial data about Francine.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump took to the stage for their first presidential debate. It was a battle from the start.

Held in Philadelphia, the 90-minute showdown covered key issues like the economy, immigration, abortion, healthcare, Ukraine, and a vision for America.

Harris hit hard, accusing Trump of having no real plan for the future, stating that through the night we will hear more of Trump's lies, the same tired playbook, and highlighting his "sales tax" on the middle class, which she claimed would cost families $4,000 a year.

Trump, who struggled to stay on message, became visibly shaken and rattled. He fired back, trying to defend his record but struggled to respond to challenges.

Trump spent a total of 42 minutes speaking, compared to Harris' 37 minutes.

Harris wrapped up her night by presenting a clear contrast, offering a vision of unity and hope while calling out Trump's divisiveness, saying Americans deserve a president who lifts people up.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this heartfelt episode of Hollywood Live, Tanya Hart pays tribute to the legendary James Earl Jones, who passed away this week at the age of 93. With a career spanning over 70 years, Jones left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry and the world. Known as the powerful voice behind CNN’s iconic “This is CNN” tagline, Mufasa in The Lion King, and Darth Vader in Star Wars, his deep and commanding voice resonated around the globe every day, year-round.

Tanya reflects on Jones’ journey to stardom, from his breakout Oscar-nominated role in The Great White Hope to his struggles with a childhood stutter, which he overcame through sheer determination and unique methods, such as placing small stones in his mouth while speaking. Having had the privilege of interviewing him years ago, Tanya shares her memories of this extraordinary man, who not only changed the face of acting but also inspired generations with his resilience and talent. His legacy lives on, with the 110-year-old Cort Theatre on Broadway renamed in his honor as the James Earl Jones Theatre in 2022. Rest in peace, James Earl Jones—you will be remembered always.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) has released a new report urging corporations to expand their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies to reduce the racial wealth gap. The report offers guidelines for companies to follow, emphasizing the legality of DEI programs, despite recent challenges from conservative lawmakers and activists.

CBC Chair Rep. Steven Horsford highlighted that after George Floyd's death, corporations pledged $50 billion towards racial equity, but many have not since fulfilled their promises. Now, the CBC is calling for renewed corporate commitments and outlays 12 key areas, including leadership, diversity, and pay equity, where companies can make measurable progress.

The CBC, which engaged with nearly 200 companies through the report, aims to hold firms accountable for their promises and push for greater economic mobility in Black communities.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices