state – Page 2 – WUVS 103.7 The Beat

Trump orders US military to conduct airstrikes against Islamic State operatives in Somalia

The U.S. military has conducted airstrikes against Islamic State operatives in Somalia, the first attacks in the African nation during President Donald Trump’s second term. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Saturday that the strikes by U.S. Africa Command were directed by Trump and coordinated with Somalia’s government. An initial assessment by the Pentagon indicated that “multiple” operatives were killed. The Pentagon said it assessed that no civilians were harmed in the strikes. Trump, in a post on social media, said […]

February 1, 2025

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Republican state officials pressure Costco to abandon its DEI policies

After doubling down on its diversity, equity and inclusion policies, wholesale giant Costco is being pressured by Republican state officials to abandon its commitment. In a letter to Costco CEO Ron Vachris signed by 19 attorneys general and led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, the group of top state legal officers argues that the retail company’s DEI policies are “unlawful” and discriminatory “Although Costco’s motto is ‘do the right thing,’ it appears that […]

January 29, 2025

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State Department officials told to maintain ‘spirit’ of Trump’s anti-DEI order for Black History Month

President Donald Trump‘s executive order to ban diversity, equity, and inclusion appears to be causing confusion regarding whether federal agencies can observe Black History Month. A new report from the Wall Street Journal found that Department of State officials inquired about BHM, which begins on Saturday, following Trump’s orders to eliminate all DEI federal programs and offices and reverse decades-old enforcement of racial and gender discrimination laws. In response to the query as to whether the department could celebrate Black […]

January 28, 2025

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Nick Brown makes history as first Black attorney general in Washington state

Nick Brown has been elected attorney general in Washington, making history as the first Black American to serve in the executive office. Brown easily bested his Republican opponent, Pete Serrano. Brown ran his campaign on tackling issues like gun violence, substance abuse and crime by addressing their root causes, including expanding access to living-wage jobs, housing, education, and mental health support. The attorney general role will be Brown’s first job in elected office. The 47-year-old Democrat served in the U.S. […]

November 6, 2024

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Ohio state police to protect schools after furor over Haitian immigrants in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (AP) — Ohio state police will help protect schools in a city at the center of a political furor over Haitian migrants, the governor announced Monday, while local officials canceled an annual celebration of cultural diversity in the fallout over former President Donald Trump’s false claims about pet-eating. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, has denounced the debunked rumors that spread online before Trump amplified them at last week’s presidential debate, saying there is no evidence of it. […]

September 18, 2024

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A Black candidate says a deepfake ad hurt his election chances. Here’s how AI may shape state and local races

Adrian Perkins was running for reelection as the mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana, when he was surprised by a harsh campaign hit piece. The satirical TV commercial, paid for by a rival political action committee, used artificial intelligence to depict Perkins as a high school student who had been called into the principal’s office. Instead of giving a tongue-lashing for cheating on a test or getting in a fight, the principal blasted Perkins for failing to keep communities safe and create […]

June 18, 2024

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Florida’s Supreme Court rejects state prosecutor’s bid to be reinstated after suspension by DeSantis

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida’s highest court on Thursday rejected an effort by a suspended state attorney to get reinstated after she was removed from office last year by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in his second suspension of a Democratic prosecutor. Supreme Court justices voted 6-1 to deny a petition from suspended State Attorney Monique Worrell of the 9th Judicial Circuit, which serves metro Orlando. The majority of justices said they disagreed with her arguments that DeSantis’ reasons for suspending her were […]

June 7, 2024

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NC gov. candidate Mark Robinson rallies GOP at state convention

Before Mark Robinson, North Carolina’s GOP candidate for governor, even stepped on stage at the state party’s convention Saturday, several state candidates took time in their own speeches to energize the crowd by vouching for Robinson’s gubernatorial bid. When the state’s lieutenant governor did take to the stage more than an hour and a half into the NCGOP Convention’s Old North State Dinner in Greensboro, Robinson started off his fiery speech denouncing the media for focusing too much on Donald […]

May 27, 2024

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5 reasons why Kenya’s state visit to US is a big deal

TheGrio was on the ground as the Biden-Harris administration welcomed Kenya President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto to the White House for a series of engagements to celebrate 60 years of bilateral partnership between the two nations. On Thursday, the White House held an arrival ceremony for President and First Lady Ruto. Hundreds gathered on the South Lawn, adorned with American and Kenyan flags.In an apparent effort to connect the Black diaspora between African-Americans and Kenyans, the White […]

May 23, 2024