AURN News

In a critical move ahead of the 2024 election, five Secretaries of State are urging Elon Musk to rectify inaccuracies shared by X's AI chatbot Grok. Following President Biden's withdrawal from the race on July 21, Grok falsely reported that ballot deadlines had passed in nine states, including Texas and Pennsylvania.

This misinformation, which persisted for over a week, reached millions. Despite Grok's limited availability to X Premium subscribers, the secretaries emphasized the importance of accurate voter information, especially in a pivotal election year, and called on Musk to align Grok with canivote.org, a trusted resource for election administrators, to ensure reliable information.

The letter references Musk's 2022 pledge to make X the most accurate information source and highlights the platform's responsibility to voters. Signatories include Secretaries of State from Minnesota, Michigan, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Washington.

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(AURN News) — U.S. job growth slowed in July as the unemployment rate ticked up, signaling a gradual cooling in the labor market amid the Federal Reserve's efforts to tame inflation. The Labor Department reported Friday that employers added 114,000 jobs last month, below the average monthly gain of 215,000 over the prior year. The unemployment rate rose to 4.3% (7.2 million people). It is much higher than the 4.1% seen in June, 4.0% in May, and 3.5% in June 2023.

Job gains were concentrated in health care, construction, and transportation and warehousing. The information sector lost 20,000 jobs. Average hourly earnings rose 0.2% to $35.07 from June and are up 3.6% from a year ago. The labor force participation rate held steady at 62.7%. The employment-population ratio edged down to 60.0%, reflecting a slight decline in the share of the population that is employed.

"Since Vice President Harris and I took office, our economy has created nearly 16 million jobs, average unemployment has been lower than during any administration in 50 years, and incomes have risen faster than prices," President Joe Biden said in a statement.

However, the President acknowledged ongoing challenges, saying, "Prices are still too high. We will keep fighting to lower costs by taking on price gouging, capping prescription drug costs, and building more homes."

Biden touted his economic agenda, saying, "Business investment remains strong thanks in part to our investing in America agenda, which is creating good-paying jobs in communities that have been left behind."

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Boxer Theodore "Tiger" Flowers was born on August 5, 1895, in Georgia. Flowers made history as the first Black boxer to win the world middleweight championship.

He started his boxing career at age 23 and quickly became known for both his impressive fighting skills and his deep religious faith.

Outside the ring, Flowers was a deacon at his church, becoming a prominent figure in Atlanta. Flowers' career was brief but impactful. He passed away at the age of 32 during surgery to remove scar tissue from around his eyes.

In 1993, he was posthumously inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

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Well, tomorrow is a big day. Vice President Kamala Harris, now the Democratic presidential nominee, will announce her running mate. She is set to reveal that person on Tuesday and hit the road for a high-energy seven-state tour, starting in Philadelphia and targeting key battleground states.

The VP shortlist includes Governors Andy Beshear, J.P. Pritzker, Josh Shapiro, Tim Walz, Senator Mark Kelly, and Secretary Pete Buttigieg. In a strategic move, the campaign also launched 'Republicans for Harris,' aiming to attract Republican voters dissatisfied with Donald Trump. This initiative involves prominent Republicans reaching out to primary voters, particularly those who supported former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.

Harris' tour will cover Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada, emphasizing the broad coalition supporting her campaign.

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The nation mourns the loss of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a steadfast advocate for civil rights and social justice, who represented Texas’ 18th congressional district since 1995. At her eulogy, Vice President Kamala Harris praised her unwavering pursuit of excellence. “She was a force, but she never allowed anything to be mediocre. She always expected in all of us that we would rise to a point of excellence knowing life was too short and there’s too much to be done,” Harris said.

Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries honored her as “a voice for the voiceless.” Throughout her career, Rep. Lee championed significant legislation, including the Violence Against Women Act and the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act. She was a relentless advocate against police brutality and for voting rights, ensuring her constituents’ voices were heard.

Rep. Lee’s commitment to her work and her profound impact on American politics will be deeply missed.

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Today marks the 100th birthday of James Baldwin, a towering figure in American literature and civil rights. Born on August 2, 1924, Baldwin is celebrated for his profound essays, novels, and plays that explored race, sexuality, and identity with unmatched eloquence and insight.

His works, including "Go Tell It on the Mountain" and "The Fire Next Time," continue to resonate deeply, illuminating the complexities of social injustice and human experience. In addition, his work is still so relevant decades and decades after his death.

Baldwin passed away in 1987 at the age of 63, leaving behind a legacy that remains vital and influential in contemporary discussions on race and equality.

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In this episode of Hollywood Live, host Tanya Hart delves into the latest developments in the entertainment industry. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson is making waves with his ambitious plans to transform Millennium Movie Studios in Shreveport, Louisiana, into a hub for film and TV production. With the support of the local community and city officials, 50 Cent’s vision for G Unit’s expansion is taking shape, and his upcoming Humor and Harmony Festival promises to be a landmark event, introducing the G Unity Foundation.

Meanwhile, the Tupac Shakur murder case takes a dramatic turn as the late rapper’s family considers legal action against Sean “Diddy” Combs over allegations of his involvement in Tupac’s assassination. With new claims emerging and a potential wrongful death lawsuit on the horizon, the story continues to unfold. Stay tuned for these updates and more, and be sure to follow Tanya Hart on social media for the latest in Hollywood news.

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In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, President Joe Biden announced today the release of four Americans imprisoned in Russia as part of a major prisoner swap. The freed Americans are Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Vladimir Kara-Murza.

“Deals like this one come with tough calls, and there are never any guarantees. There’s nothing that matters more to me than protecting Americans at home and abroad,” Biden said during a press conference.

Whelan, a former Marine, had been detained in Russia for nearly six years. Gershkovich and Kurmasheva, both journalists, were arrested on false espionage charges. Kara-Murza, a Russian-American journalist and activist, faced severe penalties for his opposition to President Vladimir Putin’s regime.

In exchange for their release, eight Russian prisoners held in Western countries will also be freed. The operation required extensive diplomatic coordination with Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Turkey.

This swap marks a significant moment in U.S.-Russia relations and underscores the complexities and challenges involved in international negotiations for prisoner exchanges.

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In this episode of Hollywood Live with Tanya Hart, we dive into the controversy surrounding the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and their decision to invite Donald Trump to speak at their annual convention in Chicago. The invitation has sparked significant backlash, with prominent members and media outlets like Karen Attia, Essence, and Black Enterprise withdrawing in protest. We explore the impact of Fox News’ sponsorship and the internal debate over leadership and decision-making within NABJ. Tune in for an in-depth look at this unfolding story and its implications for Black journalists.

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Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays was born on August 1, 1894. Remembered mostly for his close friendship with Martin Luther King Jr. and his presidential tenure at Morehouse College, Dr. Mays left a lasting impression on academia and the civil rights movement.

Born to former slaves-turned-tenant farmers, Mays was the youngest of eight children. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Bates College and earned his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago.

An ordained Baptist minister, Mays served as Dean of the School of Religion at Howard University before becoming president of Morehouse College in 1940. There, he inspired students like Martin Luther King Jr. and introduced significant academic changes.

After retiring from Morehouse, Mays served as president of the Atlanta Board of Education and continued to influence education and civil rights until his death in 1984.

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