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According to data from Best Colleges, nearly half of states in the U.S. have either proposed anti-DEI legislation or could be in the process of drafting it. (Adobe Stock)

Students unite to defend DEI initiatives

Conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion are on the rise as lawmakers propose bills to restrict or ban DEI in state-funded institutions…

According to research from the Brennan Center, if the voter participation gap had not existed in 2020, 9 million more ballots would have been cast. (Adobe Stock)

Southern groups mobilize to empower voters, protect democracy

Southern groups are mobilizing to protect democracy and empower voters to address the issues that impact their communities, including in North …

The lawsuit claims the officers' conduct violates the Fourth Amendment, amounts to assault and battery, or at least negligence, and ultimitely is what caused the wrongful death of Darryl Tyree Williams. (Adobe Stock)

Lawsuit seeks justice for NC man's death in police custody

Three attorneys are joining forces to seek justice for a North Carolina family. At a news conference, civil rights lawyer Ben Crump - along with …

In 1920, Black people made up 14% of all farmers. It is estimated Black farmers lost around $326 billion worth of land within the 20th century. BIPOC farmers now make up less than 5% of all U.S. farmers. (Heather Craig/Adobe Stock)

Advocates bring attention to racism rooted in farming across NC

Advocates are drawing attention to systemic racism in farming across North Carolina and the nation. The National Farm Worker Ministry is hosting its …

In 2019, Black youths were 4.4 times as likely to be incarcerated in the juvenile-justice system<br />as were their white peers. (Jeffrey Zalesny/Adobe Stock)

Report Offers Ways to Reduce Jail, Prison Populations in NC

The U.S. prison population has grown nearly 500% since the start of mass incarceration 50 years ago and now, reform advocates are calling for its end …

Farmland makes up about 8.3 million acres in North Carolina, and agriculture employs one in six people in the state. (Andrii Yalanskyi/Adobe Stock)

NC Farmers Count On Congress for Support to Fight Climate Change

North Carolina farmers are monitoring a bill that's been revived in Congress, aimed at improving farm sustainability and reducing the agriculture …

After Generations of Exclusion, Black Americans Embrace the Outdoors

By Jazmin Murphy for Yes! Magazine.Broadcast version by Brett Peveto for North Carolina News Service reporting for the Yes! Media-Public News Service …

Hip Hop Higher Ed Symposium programming brings hip-hop culture and scholarship to North Carolina college students. (Stephanie Reed)<br />

Symposium Brings Hip Hop Culture, Scholarship to NC Campuses

An upcoming event in Raleigh hosted in part by William Peace University aims to bring hip-hop arts culture to North Carolina's college students…

Median operating margins among rural hospitals were higher in expansion than non-expansion states in 2019, according to KFF. (Adobe Stock)

NC Medicaid Expansion Agreement Could Bolster Rural Hospitals

North Carolina lawmakers recently reached a bipartisan agreement that paves the way for an additional 600,000 residents to gain access to health cover…

The proportion of Hispanic K-12 students in U.S. schools has increased threefold, from 9%<br />in 1984 to 28% today, according to UnidosUS. (Adobe Stock)

NC Latino Leaders Call for More Bilingual, Cultural Support

North Carolina's Latino education leaders see a need for more bilingual and cultural sensitivity training in the state's classrooms. The group …

La proporci�n de estudiantes hispanos K-12 en las escuelas de EE. UU. se ha triplicado, del 9 % en 1984 al 28 % en la actualidad, seg�n UnidosUS. (Adobe Stock)

Líderes latinos de Carolina del Norte piden más apoyo cultural bilingüe

Líderes educativos latinos de Carolina del Norte ven la necesidad de más capacitación bilingüe y de sensibilidad cultural en las a…

El Departamento de Instrucci�n P�blica de Carolina del Norte recibi� recientemente $17 millones en subvenciones del Departamento de Educaci�n de EE. UU. para ayudar a abordar las necesidades de salud mental de los estudiantes. (Adobe Stock)

Fundación apoya esfuerzos comunitarios para frenar disparidades raciales en NC

Una organización en Carolina del Norte encuentra maneras de ayudar a revertir las disparidades raciales en el estado, y sigue el ejemplo del Dr…

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction was recently awarded $17 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education to help address student mental health needs. (Adobe Stock)

Foundation Funds Grassroots Efforts to Curb NC Racial Disparities

Following the example of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - honored today for his civil rights work - one organization in North Carolina is finding ways …

More than one-fifth of all college students are student parents, according to the National Center for Education Statistics and Education Trust. (Adobe Stock)

NC Colleges Boost Support for Black, Native Student Parents

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is boosting support for its student parents - with plans to increase access to childcare an…

As of June 30, 2021, the number of small businesses open in the U.S. had decreased by 47.8% compared to January 2020, <a href=

according to the Alliance to Save Energy. (Adobe Stock)">

Climate Change, Extreme Temps Affect NC Black-Owned Small Businesses

A new Pew Research poll finds Americans are split on how to tackle climate change. In North Carolina, small Black-owned businesses say they're …

Around 17% of bachelor's degrees awarded to Black students nationwide come from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and <a href=

research shows HBCUs boost economic mobility and generational wealth.(Adobe Stock)">

NC HBCU Boosts Resources for Nontraditional Learners

One of North Carolina's oldest Historically Black Colleges and Universities is finding new ways to help students stay enrolled and graduate. Recent …

According to Feeding America, Latino or Hispanic residents are 2.5 times more likely to live in food insecure households compared with White residents. (Adobe Stock)

Durham Food Bank Expands Offerings of Culturally Appropriate Fare

A food pantry serving immigrant families in the Triangle is bracing for an uptick in demand driven by the highest levels of inflation in decades…

Observers say in the past several years, the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association has had an increasingly heavy hand in crafting state policies related to policing and criminal justice. (Adobe Stock)

A Powerful Lobby Shaped NC’s Newest Body-Camera Law

By Mandy Locke and Danielle Battaglia Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan Reporting for the Gaston Gazette -North Carolina News Service Members of…

Farmworkers suffer from higher blood pressure compared with the general public, putting them at increased risk for heart disease and diabetes; yet many face challenges accessing health care. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Rural NC Farmworker Clinics Rely on APRNs

Volunteer Advanced Practice Registered Nurses serve North Carolina's most vulnerable communities, yet many say the state's supervising physician …

Kendrick Ransome has been farming in Pinetops, N.C., since 2018 on land his family has owned for generations.(Lee Everette)

Efforts to Boost Local Food-Supply Chain in Upper Coastal Plain

A new online mapping project is helping connect local growers to regional markets in the state's Upper Coastal Plain. Planning and Development …

Kendrick Ransome ha estado cultivando en Pinetops, Carolina del Norte, desde 2018 en tierras que su familia ha pose�do durante generaciones (Kendrick Ransome).

Esfuerzos para impulsar suministros locales en la Llanura Costera Superior

Un nuevo proyecto de mapeo en línea está ayudando a conectar a los productores locales con los mercados regionales en la llanura superior co…

On Nov. 10, Dawn Blagrove of Emancipate NC presented oral arguments to North Carolina Supreme Court Justices about the racial justice consequences of life-without-parole sentencing in juvenile cases. (Supreme Court of North Carolina)

NC Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Juvenile Life-without-Parole

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The North Carolina Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week on the racial disparities involved in sentencing kids under 18 to …

North Carolina's Senate Bill 300 also creates a felony charge for resisting police, if it results in physical injuries to the officer involved. (Adobe Stock)

ACLU: NC's Criminal-Justice Reform Package Doesn't Go Far Enough

RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper signed sweeping criminal-justice reform into law this month that is meant to hold police more …

Michael Watkins of Raleigh spent six months in prison for felony breaking and entering in 1988 and the next three decades getting his life on track. He earned a bachelor's degree last year at Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C. (Michael Watkins)

Formerly Incarcerated Face Barriers to Normalcy

By Herbert L. White, Reporting for the the Charlotte Post Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan, Public News Service CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Michael …

Research increasingly points to early childhood, the period from birth through age seven, as the most critical time in a child's life. (Adobe Stock)<br />

NC Grants Focus on Easing Racial Disparities in Early Learning

RALEIGH, N.C. - In some North Carolina counties, high poverty levels mean kids and parents lack access to quality pre-K learning. Some groups are …

T�tulo gr�fico: Las investigaciones apuntan cada vez m�s a la primera infancia, el per�odo desde el nacimiento hasta los siete a�os, como el momento m�s cr�tico en la vida de un ni�o. (Adobe Stock)

Carolina del Norte enfoca subvenciones en disparidades en nivel preescolar

RALEIGH, NC - En algunos condados de Carolina del Norte, los altos niveles de pobreza significan que los niños y los padres no tienen acceso a …

According to FBI data, U.S. law enforcement agencies made an estimated 1,558,862 drug related arrests in 2019. (Adobe Stock)

NC Faith Leaders Call Out "Failed" Drug Policy

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. - As activists mark more than 100 days of protest since the April 21 death of Andrew Brown Junior - killed outside his Elizabeth …

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by both …

The American Heart Association estimates that 100,000 to 200,000 lives nationwide could be saved each year if CPR were performed promptly during cardiac arrest. (Adobe Stock)

Hands-Only CPR Training Could Save More Latino Lives

DURHAM, N.C. - This week is National Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Week, and in North Carolina community groups are working to boost hands-only CPR …

During Hurricane Florence, flooding from the heavy rain forced hundreds of people to call for emergency rescues in the area around New Bern, at the confluence of the Neuse and Trent rivers. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Underserved, Underwater: Mapping a Future for Coastal NC

COASTAL REVIEW ONLINE MEDIA COLLABORATION This is the second installment in a continuing series on making the North Carolina coast more resilient to …

In North Carolina, vast inequities in distribution have left many Black and Brown communities without the option to be vaccinated for COVID-19. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

County-Level Dashboard Could Help Improve NC Vaccine Distribution

RALEIGH, N.C. - A new data dashboard estimates the number of North Carolina residents eligible for each COVID vaccine phase, and could help local …

Legislative maps of areas such as Charlotte are changing because of a surge in population growth. (Adobe Stock)

Census Delay Could Pose Problems for Fair NC Redistricting

RALEIGH, N.C. - Every ten years, states use the census to redraw congressional and state legislative districts, but delays in the release of 2020 …

Black youths are more than twice as likely to be arrested than their Caucasian peers. (Adobe Stock)<br />

NC Family Responds to Temporary Police Detention of Black Youth, 14

FUQUAY-VARINA, N.C. -- After a 14-year-old Black boy in North Carolina was handcuffed and placed in the back of a police car in front of his home …

After the killing of George Floyd last summer sparked nationwide protests, 58% of Americans say major changes are needed to make policing better, according to a Gallup poll. (Adobe Stock)

NC Task Force Offers Police-Reform Recommendations

RALEIGH, N.C. - A statewide task force appointed by Gov. Roy Cooper has released a sweeping set of recommendations aimed at ending racism in the …

Fewer than 1 in 10 North Carolina families receive any type of subsidized childcare from their employer, according to the North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Affordable Childcare Crisis Could Cost NC Billions

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Fewer than 1 in 3 parents of young children has access to quality, affordable childcare during the pandemic, according to a new …

Farmworker Jose Luis Cipriana compares an old and new water pouch design. The pouches hold water bottles in an effort to give farmworkers a chance to stay hydrated during their work day. (Travis Long/tlong@newsobserver.com)

Heat Illness Stalks NC Farmworkers; More Forecast

Print version by Adam Wagner and Aaron Sánchez-Guerra Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan Reporting for The Raleigh News & Observer - North Ca…

North Carolina is one of the largest users of the H-2A guest worker program, employing between 14,000 and 17,000 H-2A migrant workers annually. (Adobe Stock)

Farm Workers' Union Calls for Suspension of Labor Contractors' Licenses

RALEIGH, N.C. - A farm workers' union wants the U.S. Department of Labor to suspend its H-2A Labor Contractor program. Farm labor contractors often …

Around 77% of North Carolina residents identify as Christian. (Adobe Stock)

Religious Voters Look for Moral Leadership in Veep Debate

RALEIGH, N.C. -- As Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Republican incumbent Mike Pence gear up for their first debate tonight…

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the media spotlight on police brutality, some North Carolina congregations are speaking out against racism. (Adobe Stock)

NC Faith Communities Speak Out Against Systemic Racism

RALEIGH, N.C. -- National incidents involving police violence have prompted more faith-based organizations to speak out about where they stand on …

Police in Washington block a road to the White House during recent protests after the death in Minneapolis of George Floyd. (Adobe Stock)

Examining Southern Policing’s Origins in Slavery

RALEIGH, N.C. - Modern day police departments in the southern United States can be directly traced to the institution of slavery, some 300 years ago…

Immigrant college graduates in the class of 2020 missed traditional graduation ceremonies due to the coronavirus. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Immigrant College Grads Celebrate Resiliency, Look to Uncertain Future

RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina's first generation immigrant college grads have missed out on rite-of-passage graduation ceremonies, and many now are …

It's estimated that worldwide, around 2,220 metric tons of mercury are emitted each year. (Adobe Stock)

EPA Chips Away at Mercury Rule; Critics Say Communities of Color at Risk

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Environmental Protection Agency has announced that 2016 air-pollution controls placed on mercury emitted from coal-fired power …

Civil rights groups are challenging the judicial system's use of cash bail in Alamance County. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Three Plaintiffs, ACLU Challenge Cash Bail System in Alamance County

GRAHAM, N. C. - The American Civil Liberties Union and other civil rights groups have filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of three people being …

Many North Carolina farms rely heavily on migrant workers for the labor-intensive tobacco harvest. (Adobe Stock)

Labor Organizers Face Hurdles Trying to Reach Migrant Workers

RALEIGH, N.C. - Labor organizers says several North Carolina farms are blocking them from being able to speak and provide information to migrant …

Johnston (County) Regional Airport, where planes involved in a CIA secret rendition program took off between 2001 and 2006. (North Carolina Stop Torture Now)

Amazon's 'The Report' Raises Questions about NC's Role in CIA Torture

RALEIGH, N.C. – A pre-release screening of the upcoming film "The Report" will be held in Raleigh this coming Saturday. The film, starring …

The Racial Justice Act, passed in 2009, allowed North Carolinians on death row to present evidence that racial bias played a role in their death sentences. The law was repealed in 2013. (Adobe Stock)

NC Supreme Court Considers Racial Bias Claims in Death Penalty Cases

RALEIGH, N.C. – In the coming weeks, six North Carolinians currently on death row will find out if they will get new hearings and be re-…

North Carolina Asian Americans Together and other advocacy organizations have expressed opposition to the Trump administration's move to broaden who is considered to be a

NC’s Asian-American Community “On Edge” Amid Immigration Law Changes

RALEIGH, N.C. — Trepidation is rising in North Carolina's Asian-American community amid recent changes to federal immigration law slated to go …

Family separation can cause serious psychological damage to migrant children. (Adobe Stock)

NC Moms Protest ICE Raids, Family Separation’s Devastating Effect on Children

RALEIGH, N.C. — Amid President Donald Trump's announcement of an increase in nationwide ICE raids and immigration arrests this month, mothers …

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NC: Human Rights/Racial Justice