NNPA National Black Voter Registration Drive Begins in N.C.

By CASH MICHAELS

DURHAM, N.C.—Ten member newspapers of the North Carolina Black Publishers Association (NCBPA) and Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Jr., the president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) have agreed to mount a statewide campaign to maximize the African American vote for the 2018 midterm elections.

The NNPA is a trade group that represents over 200 Black-owned media companies that reach more than 20 million readers, combined, in print and online, every week.

The campaign will focus on an aggressive voter registration drive, community-level education on important issues, and a mobilization effort—all designed to reach young, Black eligible voters.

North Carolina, Texas and Florida are considered to be important states that could change the makeup of the United States Congress, if the Black vote flexes its muscle. The Black Press is considered essential in those states to mobilize that electoral strength.

Primaries in North Carolina are scheduled for May 8. More ↠

HBCU Collective to Congress: "Treat Our Black Schools Fairly"

By CASH MICHAELS

They came to Washington, DC from 35 historically Black colleges and universities across the nation, to demand of their congress people to provide more funding to their schools for campus improvements, more Pell Grants for students, and more federal research funding.

Tuesday, the HBCU Collective - students, alumni, and supporters - came back to the nation’s capital for their Second Annual “Day of Action,” to make their case that lawmakers need to treat Black institutions of higher learning the same as they treat their predominately-white counterparts – fairly.

“We produce the most science, technology, engineering and math scholars; most Black doctors, Black lawyers, most Black engineers,” HBCU Collective founder Robert Stephens said recently. “We’re saying that HBCU’s make a huge contribution to society, and we just want to make sure that our schools are sustainable.”

Among those speaking at Tuesday’s noon press conference on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, Dr. Paulette Dillard, interim President of Shaw University in Raleigh.

Shaw, the oldest HBCU in the country, sent thirty students to the “Day of Action.” Students from St. Augustine’s University in Raleigh, and North Carolina Central University in Durham also attended. More ↠

          Two brand new fire engines arrived in Statesville March 29th and will be put into service in late April, once the necessary equipment is installed and personnel are trained on the use of the truck’s new safety equipment.
          About a year ago, after much study and consideration, City Council agreed that it was time to replace several older engines. These new engines were made to order by Marion Fire Apparatus in Marion, WI, at a cost of $518,356 each.
          They are temporarily housed at Fire Station Four for equipment installation, testing and training. Their permanent homes will be Fire Station Two and Fire Station Three. More ↠