Millions of Americans could go hungry due to the federal government shutdown, as the USDA has warned that SNAP recipients may not receive their monthly benefits and the White House has refused to tap contingency funds to prevent this from happening.
Category: Politics
Posted inEducation
Trump Administration Plans to Move Special Education Programs to New Federal Partners
The Education Department is exploring new federal partnerships to support special education programs, after the Trump administration laid off nearly every staff member in the Office of Special Education Programs, potentially weakening protections for students with disabilities.
Posted inPolitics
Proposed Texas Amendment Restates Citizenship Requirement for Voting
Texans will vote on 17 proposed amendments to the state constitution, including one clarifying that a voter must be a U.S. citizen, which is already required by state and federal law.
Posted inWord In Black
Voting Rights Act Under Fire: Supreme Court Case Threatens Democracy
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is under threat as the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments in Louisiana v. Callais, a case that could determine how far the law still protects against racial discrimination in voting.
Posted inWord In Black
Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Mass Firings of Special Education Staff
The Trump administration laid off hundreds of staffers at the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, which could make it harder for Black students with disabilities to get the support they need from the federal government, although a federal judge has temporarily blocked the move.
Posted inOpinion
The $25 Million Mistake: Why Dallas Must Reject ICE’s 287(g) Deal — And the Politics Behind It
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson has proposed a $25 million offer from ICE to enroll the Dallas Police Department in the 287(g) program, which would allow local police officers to enforce immigration laws, sparking backlash from Council Members and potentially undermining trust between the police and the community.
Posted inPolitics
Funding for WIC Program Hangs in Balance Amid Government Shutdown
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is facing a funding crisis due to the government shutdown, and while the Trump administration has allocated $300 million to keep it afloat, state funding is patchy and there is no guarantee that all expectant mothers and babies will be fed.
Posted inWord In Black
The Million Man March Turns 30: Why it Still Matters
The Million Man March on October 16, 1995, was a momentous occasion that brought together over a million Black men to D.C. to strive for a better future and reclaim what it meant to be a Black man in America.
Posted inTexas Tribune
Texas Universities Under Fire as Lawmaker Takes Stand Against LGBTQ+ Studies
Texas Rep. Brian Harrison has been using his social media platform to pressure universities to remove courses and programs related to LGBTQ+ topics, resulting in the removal of a course at Texas State University and the resignation of a professor and president at Texas A&M.
Posted inWomen
Lawmakers, Celebs Unite to Tackle Women’s Health Research Gap
U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) hosted a roundtable on women’s health research, featuring actresses Lupita Nyong’o and Mandy Moore, to discuss the Uterine Fibroid Intervention and Gynecological Health Treatment Act, which aims to expand access to early screening, detection, and treatment for uterine fibroids.