Access – WUVS 103.7 The Beat

60 years after the Voting Rights Act was passed, Black voters are still fighting for access: ‘So much is at stake’

In a speech before he signed the Voting Rights Act on Aug. 6, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson said of the landmark civil rights law, “Today we strike away the last major shackle…the Negro story and the American story fuse and blend.” “The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison men because they are different from other men today…the last of the legal barriers is tumbling,” […]

August 6, 2025 1

News

Trump administration asks Supreme Court to let DOGE access Social Security systems

The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on Friday to clear the way for Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to access Social Security systems containing personal data on millions of Americans. The emergency appeal is the first in a string of applications to the high court involving DOGE’s swift-moving work across the federal government. It comes after a judge in Maryland restricted the team’s access to Social Security under federal privacy laws. The agency holds personal records on nearly everyone […]

May 3, 2025

News

The Education Department was created to ensure equal access. Who would do that in its absence?

As the Trump administration moves to dismantle the Education Department, officials have suggested other agencies could take over its major responsibilities: civil rights enforcement to the Justice Department, perhaps; student loans to Treasury or Commerce; oversight of student disability rights to Health and Human Services. Less clear is what could happen with a more lofty part of its mission — promoting equal access for students in an American education system that is fundamentally unequal. The department has cut its workforce in […]

March 12, 2025 2

News

Trump officials deny Democrats access to Education Department, fueling backlash

Democratic members of Congress were left astounded and incensed on Friday after they were denied entry at the Department of Education headquarters in Washington, D.C. The group was attempting to schedule a meeting with its acting secretary about President Donald Trump‘s plans to shutter the 45-year-old agency. It was a dramatic scene outside the Education Department’s front entrance as a federal employee identifying himself as “security” faced questions and outrage from Democratic Reps. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., Jahana […]

February 8, 2025

News

Want to expand access to the ballot box? Let people vote by mobile phone.

Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the author’s own. Read more opinions on theGrio. Excerpted from “Vote With Your Phone: Why Mobile Voting Is Our Final Shot at Saving Democracy,” by Bradley Tusk. Used with permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks, Inc. In 2023, we marked the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington and my father’s “I Have a Dream” speech. The anniversary was especially poignant at this critical moment when our democracy […]

September 13, 2024

News

Harris announces plans to help 80% of Africa gain access to the internet, up from 40% now

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris announced Friday the formation of a new partnership to help provide internet access to 80% of Africa by 2030, up from roughly 40% now. The announcement comes as follow-through on Harris’ visit to the continent last year and in conjunction with this week’s visit to Washington by Kenyan President William Ruto. Harris and the Kenyan leader had a public chat on Friday at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce about how public-private partnerships can increase economic growth. Kenya’s […]

May 24, 2024

Health

What Strategies Can Be Implemented To Improve Access To Mental Health Resources For Black Individuals?

Strategies are crucial in addressing the disparities in accessing mental health resources for Black individuals. The Black community often faces barriers that prevent them from receiving proper mental health care. Here are some strategies that can help improve access to mental health resources for this population: 1. Increasing Cultural Competency: Mental health resources need to be culturally competent to effectively serve the needs of Black individuals. This involves understanding the unique experiences, beliefs, and values within the community to provide […]

May 16, 2024

News

Florida’s 6-week abortion ban takes effect as doctors worry women will lose access to health care

BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) — Florida’s ban on most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, before many women even know they are pregnant, went into effect Wednesday, and some doctors are concerned that women in the state will no longer have access to needed health care. Dr. Leah Roberts, a reproductive endocrinologist and fertility specialist with Boca Fertility in Boca Raton, said the anti-abortion laws being enacted by Florida and other red states are being vaguely written by people who […]

May 1, 2024 1

Economy

Black Founder of Innovative AI-Powered Loan Packaging Tool Revolutionizes Access to Capital for Small Businesses

In a groundbreaking move set to change the financial landscape for small business owners, Cynthia Nevels, the visionary behind Integrality, LLC, a Black woman-owned firm, has unveiled her latest innovation: an AI-powered digital loan packaging tool. This pioneering solution, designed to streamline the loan application process, aims to unlock $1 million in capital for small businesses, with a particular focus on empowering women-owned enterprises. To date her Black woman-owned accelerator, Start.Pivot.Grow., has awarded $52,000 in small grants and helped small […]

April 11, 2024 1