AURN News

Dorothy Dandridge was born on November 9, 1922, in Cleveland, Ohio. She left an indelible mark on Hollywood as the first Black woman to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

Dandridge's talent and beauty graced the silver screen, with notable performances in films like "Carmen Jones" (1954) and "Porgy and Bess" (1959). Her contributions to the entertainment industry were groundbreaking, challenging racial barriers and paving the way for future generations of Black actresses.

Despite facing discrimination and limited opportunities due to racial prejudice in Hollywood during her career, Dandridge's resilience and talent shone through.

Tragically, she passed away on September 8, 1965, at the age of 42. Happy heavenly birthday to Dorothy Dandridge.

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(AURN News) – As economic experts sound the alarm over the looming potential for a recession and the nation wrestles with the escalating challenge of stubborn inflation, a recent report by WalletHub sheds light on the significant variations in American household debt by state. According to data from the New York Federal Reserve, American household debt currently exceeds $17 Trillion. Some consumers, according to WalletHub, are “adding to their debt at an alarming rate.”

WalletHub, which is a personal finance website, released its latest findings Wednesday, indicating that consumer debt in the United States has reached unprecedented levels. The report analyzed data from all 50 states from TransUnion and the Federal Reserve.

Topping the list are Hawaii, California, and Colorado. Residents in Hawaii experienced the most substantial increase in consumer debt in the third quarter, with an average rise of nearly $1,100.

While some states grapple with soaring debt, others exhibit more favorable financial scenarios. The states with the highest concentrations of African American residents—Mississippi, Louisiana, and Georgia—show a mixed picture when it comes to household debt.

Mississippi ranks relatively low on the list, securing the 49th spot, with one of the lowest household debt averages at $91,217. Meanwhile, Louisiana holds the 44th position, with residents shouldering an average household debt of $107,582. Georgia ranks 26th, with its residents carrying an average household debt of $133,405.

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On Nov. 7, Cherelle Parker won her race to become the next mayor of Philadelphia. She will be the first woman and the first Black woman to be mayor of Philadelphia. 

Parker, a former Philadelphia city councilwoman and state representative, defeated her Republican opponent in a landslide, 74.5 percent to 25.5 percent, CBS News Philadelphia reports. 

Mayor-elect Parker will take office in January 2024 as Philadelphia’s 100th mayor. 

Parker, 51, was born to a single teenage mother and raised by her grandparents. She became the first person in her family to attend college and served 17 years in government.

Congrats to mayor-elect Cherelle Parker.

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A seismic shift in the political landscape following last night's elections. In a stunning turn, Virginia voters have decisively rejected Gov. Glenn Youngkin's conservative agenda, flipping the House of Delegates from Red to Blue, keeping the Senate, and marking a clear stance against policies on abortion, critical race theory, LGBTQ rights, and voting restrictions. This significant shift also led to the election of Don Scott Jr. as the first Black speaker of the House in Virginia's history.

Nationwide, the right to choose proved pivotal, with Ohio and Kentucky anchoring abortion rights firmly into their political fabric. These results, heavily influenced by grassroots efforts and civil rights organizations, send a strong message to President Biden.

Amidst challenges with a low approval rating and pressing economic concerns, the political tide hints at the need for a sharper, more resonant message, where many are calling for the Biden administration to go after former President Donald Trump, in addition to touting his record on the economy and how he has helped millions of Americans.

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President Joe Biden's approval rating has hit a seven-month low, plummeting to 39 percent, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll. The drop comes as the 2024 presidential race heats up, showing Biden locked in a neck-and-neck battle with former President Donald Trump.

Critics have been questioning Biden's leadership, particularly on matters concerning the economy and foreign policy. Meanwhile, the age factor has also come into play as Biden, at 80 years old, faces doubts about whether he's fit to lead. Interestingly, Trump is 77, and not far behind.

A New York Times Siena College poll has Trump leading Biden in five out of six battleground states, with Biden only holding a lead in Wisconsin.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked how the administration felt about these numbers.

"Really take these polls with a grain of salt. And one of the reasons why is just a year ago, there was the 'red wave' that never materialized. In 2011, we saw polls of Senator Romney beating President Obama. And that's where those polls were," Jean-Pierre said.

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Wichita, Kansas (AURN News) – The day of decision has arrived in Wichita as former television news anchor Lily Wu's mayoral campaign reaches its climax. A well-known and popular figure who once graced the screens of KAKE-TV and KWCH-TV, Wu's journey from prominent news anchor to mayoral candidate has been marked by her steadfast dedication to community service.

“I feel really indebted to this entire city. My family is really small. It's just my mom, my dad and my younger brother. And so I believe that I also have ‘chosen family’ here in Wichita. And that really is all the individuals in Wichita who invested in a young girl to become one day a leader, a listener, and a learner for Wichita,” Wu told AURN News.

Wu's decision to run for mayor is driven by her profound sense of gratitude for Wichita and a strong belief that each individual has a role to play in shaping the city's future. She says that she aims to be a public servant who can give back to the community that supported her growth and development.

“And so for me, my big ‘why’ is simply a sense of gratitude that I have for Wichita, and a big sense that each individual has an opportunity to do their part in being part of the solution and helping the city that we live in. So I chose to give up my career, so that I could be a public servant for Wichita,” she added.

When it comes to the issues plaguing the city, Wu stressed the importance of restoring the relationship between the mayor's office and the police department, as well as fostering youth crime prevention programs and community mentorship to improve public safety.

“I really believe that as a reporter for the past 12 years, a local journalist, my job has been to be a professional listener, and a storyteller for our community,” Wu commented.

As she seeks to become the mayor of Wichita, Wu says her campaign is grounded in her deep appreciation for her hometown, a commitment to addressing critical issues, and a vision of a united and prosperous future for all of Wichita's residents.

“We need to have a mayor that can bring people together, be a consensus builder, and help all Wichitans rise, because I believe building a united community in Wichita will help every person who lives in our community have better opportunities and a safer community where they can live, work and raise a family,” she stated.

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Damar Hamlin, the Buffalo Bills defenseman who needed emergency care last January when he collapsed on the football field due to cardiac arrest, is paying tribute to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center staff by establishing a scholarship program for the youth of Cincinnati, CBS News reports.

The Chasing M's Foundation, Hamlin's charity, will be awarding $1,000 scholarships to 10 people in underserved communities in Cincinnati for the next three years. Each scholarship will be named after “the 10 first-responders, nurses, and doctors who treated Hamlin after he suffered a cardiac arrest mid-game last season.”

The charity has pledged $10,000 per year over the next three years to underwrite the initiative.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that Israel will indefinitely maintain overall security responsibility over the Gaza Strip. This comes one month into the conflict with Hamas that has devastated the territory and resulted in thousands of fatalities.

In a recent ABC News interview, Netanyahu expressed willingness for brief pauses in the conflict to allow aid delivery to Gaza or the release of hostages. However, he firmly dismissed a comprehensive ceasefire until every hostage is released, a stance that does not align with U.S. President Joe Biden's proposal for a broader humanitarian pause.

As the conflict escalates, the cost is mounting, with Israel launching another wave of airstrikes on Tuesday. A majority of Gaza's population has been forced to abandon their homes due to the bombing, with many complying with Israeli directives to relocate to the southern part of the territory.

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(AURN News) - President Barack Obama's former senior adviser, David Axelrod, has raised significant concerns and questions about President Biden's potential candidacy in the 2024 race. Axelrod took to X (formerly Twitter) over the weekend to share a link to a recent New York Times article. The article discusses the results of a New York Times/Siena poll that shows former President Donald Trump leading in several crucial swing states, including Georgia, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Michigan.

Axelrod's post read, "It's very late to change horses; a lot will happen in the next year that no one can predict & Biden's team says his resolve to run is firm. He's defied CW before but this will send tremors of doubt thru the party--not "bed-wetting," but legitimate concern.”

Furthermore, Axelrod expressed, "Only @JoeBiden can make this decision. If he continues to run, he will be the nominee of the Democratic Party. What he needs to decide is whether that is wise; whether it's in HIS best interest or the country's?“

The tweets have further touched on continued debate within the political sphere about the future of President Biden's candidacy. While the President's team remains steadfast in their commitment to the race, Axelrod's remarks highlight growing concerns within the Democratic Party about the electoral landscape for 2024. It's important to also note that Axelrod still serves as a prominent strategist for the party.

Several polls over the past year have pointed to an uphill challenge for Mr. Biden with concerns ranging from his age to the economy and overall direction of the country.

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On November 6, 1962, the U.N. condemned South Africa’s racial apartheid by ending economic and military relations with the country. From 1948 to 1994, apartheid was a system of racial segregation and political and economic discrimination against South Africa’s non-white population.

During this period, Blacks weren’t allowed to enter whites-only neighborhoods unless they had a special pass and they lived in segregated communities. Even though Blacks were the majority in the nation, whites controlled most of the country’s wealth and land.

In 1993, Nelson Mandela, a leader during the anti-apartheid movement, became the first Black president of South Africa.

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