AURN News

The nominations are in for the 96th Academy Awards. And wow, 13 nominations for "Oppenheimer," which of course has been racking up awards at all of the awards shows this season.

But the big story for us is the Best Lead Actor category, where Jeffrey Wright ("American Fiction") is up against Colman Domingo Rustin. This is the first time in Oscar history where two Black men have been nominated in this category that weren't named Denzel Washington and Will Smith. And these guys are up against some tough competition with Paul Giamatti in "The Holdovers."

My next big hoorah goes to the ladies in the Best Supporting Actress category: Danielle Brooks ("The Color Purple"), America Ferrera ("Barbie"), and Da'Vine Joy Randolph ("The Holdovers"). Both of these categories really represent in terms of diversity.

But the talk of the town, of course, is the big snub for "Barbie" director Greta Gerwig and the star Margot Robbie. Both were snubbed for Best Director and Best Actress nods. But I'm very excited for Sterling K. Brown's nomination -- his first for the Best Supporting Category -- also for "American Fiction," which got a nod for Best Picture. I've got to tell you, it is really my favorite for this year.

We'll have a lot more on the Oscars as we march on to the date when it airs on ABC. That will be, of course, March 10th. Stay tuned for that.

And by now, you may have heard the sad news that Dexter Scott King has passed away at age 62 after a battle with prostate cancer. Dexter is the son of the late Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King.

Dexter, who looked very much like his dad, was only seven when MLK was assassinated, but he too was a champion of justice like his father and president of the King Estate. I've known Dexter for many, many years, and I've got to tell you, we have lost a great man.

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(AURN News) – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is continuing its efforts to address safety concerns arising from the recent emergency landing involving an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 aircraft. The incident, which took place on January 5th during Flight 1282 from Portland, Oregon to Ontario, California, forced an emergency landing back in Portland after a “door-sized” hole was left after a blowout. 

The focus of the FAA's investigation now extends beyond the immediate incident, with a particular emphasis on the "door plug" issue. Alaska Airlines promptly grounded its entire fleet of Boeing 737-9 aircraft, and the FAA has followed suit by grounding 171 Boeing 737-9 MAX airplanes. The FAA's scrutiny extends to examining Boeing's manufacturing practices and production lines, with a specific focus on subcontractor Spirit AeroSystems. 

A recent update from the FAA indicates that, in addition to the grounding, airlines are now required to visually inspect the mid-exit door plugs of Boeing 737-900ER planes. Despite not being part of the MAX fleet, these aircraft share the same door plug design, prompting the FAA to ensure thorough safety checks across the broader Boeing 737 model range.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation into the Flight 1282 incident and is working closely with the FAA. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the emergency landing. The financial repercussions of the incident are already reverberating throughout the aviation industry. Boeing's stock has experienced a decline and additionally, United Airlines has forecasted a financial loss for the quarter, citing the necessity to ground their Boeing 737 Max 9 planes as a contributing factor.

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Dexter Scott King, the son of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, passed away at 62. Dexter succumbed to prostate cancer, leaving a profound impact on those that he touched.

He was named after the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, and carried the weight of his father's legacy at a young age. He was just seven when his father was assassinated.

Overcoming personal grief, he became a force in preserving his father's teaching and ideals and played a role as Chairman of the King Center and President of the King Estate.

His family, including his brother Martin Luther King III and sister Bernice King, remember him as a brave and dedicated individual whose life was a testament to strength and resilience.

Reverend Al Sharpton, echoing the sentiments of many, expressed deep sorrow, yet found solace in the belief that Dexter is now reunited with his reverend parents and sister, Yolanda.

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"51 years ago today, for nearly half a century, Americans relied on the freedoms protected by Roe. However, 19 months ago, the highest court in our land took a constitutional right from the people of America, from the women of America. And now on the 51st anniversary of Roe, we speak of it in the past tense."

That was Vice President Kamala Harris kicking off her nationwide Fight for Reproductive Freedoms tour with a speech in Wisconsin. She affirmed what the Biden administration is doing to protect abortion rights.

"Joe Biden and I are fighting in court to protect women's access to medication and emergency care. We strengthened the patient privacy protection so that medical records stay between a woman and her doctor, and we are protecting the right of women to travel for abortion care. But the bottom line is, to truly protect reproductive freedoms, we must restore the protections of Roe."

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(AURN News) – New statistics released by Pew Research shed light on the evolving landscape of the Black population here in the United States. Since 2000, the self-identified Black population has surged by 32%, reaching 47.9 million, which makes up more than 14% of the nation's total population.

Key findings from the 2022 data highlight the demographic nuances within the Black community. The median age for Black Americans stands at 32.1 years, notably younger than the overall national median age of 38 years. Geographically, 56% of the Black population resides in the southern region of the country. The New York City metropolitan area claims the highest Black population, followed by Atlanta, Chicago, Washington D.C., and Dallas. 

In terms of income distribution, Pew's report shows that nearly half, or 49%, of Black Americans earn less than $49,000 a year. On the other end of the spectrum, 34% of Black individuals report annual earnings of $75,000 or more.

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After a tough loss in the Iowa primary, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has stepped out of the presidential race, throwing his support behind former President Donald Trump.

"But I can’t ask our supporters to volunteer their time and donate their resources. We don’t have a clear path to victory. Accordingly, I am today suspending my campaign," he said in a video posted on X (formerly Twitter).

The field now narrows to two main contenders, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and Trump, battling for the Republican nomination. The next critical battleground is New Hampshire, with their primary taking place on Tuesday.

Following a third-place finish in Iowa, where Trump led by over 50 percent, Haley is pinning her hopes on New Hampshire to revive her campaign. However, time may not be on her side. A recent Suffolk University/NBC10 Boston/Boston Globe poll shows Trump leading Haley by a significant margin, 57 to 38 percent.

Despite these odds, Haley's team says she's forging ahead, determined to shake up the race, reaching out to a diverse group of voters, and focusing largely on the independent electorate.

The question is, can Haley's strategy impact Trump's dominance?

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Spelman College, the private women’s liberal arts institution in Atlanta, recently announced a groundbreaking $100 million gift, marking the largest single donation ever received to an HBCU, as reported by CBS News.

This generous contribution comes from the billionaire couple Ronda E. Stryker, a Spelman trustee, and her husband, William D. Johnston, the chairman of the wealth management company Greenleaf Trust.

The remarkable news of Spelman being the recipient of the donation is another exceptional academic year for the institution. In September 2023, Spelman achieved the top rank among HBCUs in the U.S. News & World Report 2024 Best Colleges list, maintaining this position for the 17th consecutive year.

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(AURN News) – In a recent press briefing on Air Force One, Principal Deputy Press Secretary Olivia Dalton addressed growing concerns over former President Donald Trump's continued influence on Capitol Hill. The buzz comes after President Joe Biden met with Congressional leaders this week. The White House, however, downplayed any apprehensions, asserting that the administration remains focused on bipartisan cooperation.

“As federal officials, we can’t speak to Trump as a candidate under the Hatch Act. But what I can say is that, as the President has repeatedly said, there is strong bipartisan agreement on the need for action on the border,” Dalton said.

She went on to mention that President Biden is actively working with both Senate Democrats and Republicans to find common ground.

“He believes that our work with Senate Democrats and Republicans on the border, while we haven’t reached a final agreement on funding and policy, is moving in the right direction. He is optimistic that the conversations are productive and positive, and we’re going to keep at it,” she affirmed.

The White House's reassurance comes as Speaker of the House Republican Mike Johnson made it clear that he remains in close communication with former President Trump. This communication adds a layer of complexity to the political landscape, as Trump's influence continues to shape discussions on key issues such as border security.

As the Biden administration navigates the challenges of a divided Congress, the question of Trump's ongoing sway on Capitol Hill remains a topic of interest.

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The U.S. Education Department has announced an acceleration in the provision of student loan relief for eligible borrowers. As reported by USA Today, the agency is expediting the forgiveness process for individuals enrolled in President Joe Biden’s newly introduced income-driven repayment plan called Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE).

Initially slated for launch in July 2024, the SAVE plan will now commence in February, offering immediate debt cancelation for borrowers who initially took out $12,000 or less in undergraduate or graduate student loans and have been in repayment for at least 10 years.

President Joe Biden said in a statement, "I am proud that my Administration is implementing one of the most impactful provisions of the SAVE plan nearly six months ahead of schedule."

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"The law enforcement response at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022 — and in the hours and days after — was a failure that should not have happened."

That was U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland at a press conference discussing a newly released Department of Justice report blasting Uvalde police for their response to the mass shooting.

"A series of major failures - failures in leadership, in tactics, in communication, and in training and preparedness — were made by law enforcement leaders and others. As a result, 33 students and three of their teachers — many of whom had been shot — were trapped in a room with an active shooter for over an hour as law enforcement officials remained outside."

The report, consisting of nearly 500 pages, provides a detailed analysis of the events and recommendations to guide communities facing similar tragedies.

While the report offers some closure to the grieving community, questions about lax gun regulations and accountability for the officers involved remain unanswered.​

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