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By Tashi McQueen Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) was sworn in by Xavier A. Conaway, clerk of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, on Dec. 3 for his second term. The well-attended ceremony included numerous current and past Maryland leaders such as Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D), Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.-07) and former Baltimore City Mayor Stephanie C. Rawlings-Blake (D). Scott won his bid for re-election on Nov. 5 during the general election with 82.15 percent of the vote, according to the Maryland State Board of Elections. During the Democratic primary, he beat out former Mayor Sheila A. The post Baltimore Mayor M. Brandon Scott sworn in for a second term appeared first on HBCU News.

By Alexis Simendenger As Republican lawmakers gear up for the 119th Congress, the House and Senate are bracing for differing challenges in the first 100 days of President-elect Trump’s administration. Senate Republicans must contend with a slate of controversial Cabinet nominees. Chief among them: Defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth; former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii), Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence; and FBI director nominee Kash Patel. Hegseth, especially, has drawn increased criticism from Republican senators after skepticism about his qualifications for the job and allegations of sexual misconduct, excessive drinking and financial mismanagement in previous roles. Hegseth faces a very tough path to confirmation in the The post Congress braces for first 100 days appeared first on HBCU News.

By Rachel Treisman The topic of presidential pardons is back in the spotlight this week after President Biden announced he signed a “full and unconditional” one for his son. Hunter Biden was convicted earlier this year of federal gun charges for lying about his addiction to crack cocaine when he purchased a gun, and separately pleaded guilty to tax offenses for failing to pay at least $1.4 million in federal taxes. Sentences in both cases were scheduled to be handed down later this month. The president has said publicly that he would not pardon his son — but reversed that promise in an announcement on The post Biden isn’t the first president to pardon a relative. Here’s how the power works appeared first on HBCU News.

By Jennifer Porter Gore President-elect Trump recently announced his nomination of Scott Turner to lead the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Turner, a former NFL player and Texas legislator, would be the first — and so far, only — Black appointee in Trump’s second cabinet. But for housing advocates, his nomination and Trump’s anti-fair-housing agenda raise plenty of red flags. Indeed, while most housing advocates know little about Turner, they’re amply aware of and concerned about what the second Trump administration has signaled will be its housing policy. Trump’s Housing Policies Weren’t Great During Trump’s first term, HUD The post Why Trump’s HUD pick is a red flag for housing advocates appeared first on HBCU News.

Courtesy of Morgan State University Morgan State University, a historically Black educational institution in Baltimore, has received a $5 million grant from the National Nuclear Security Administration to launch the Scholarly Partnership in Nuclear Engineering (SPINE) program, a five-year project aimed at increasing diversity in the nuclear engineering workforce. Alongside several partner institutions, scholars at Morgan State University will develop new curricula, hands-on research opportunities, and mentorship programs for students interested in the field of nuclear engineering. The SPINE program will also facilitate outreach and engagement with local K-12 schools and community colleges. Additionally, the funding will support a new The post Morgan State University to Launch Nuclear Engineering Research Initiative appeared first on HBCU News.

Written By Bowie State University In an exciting development for educators in Maryland, Bowie State University has announced a new, tuition-free program for 75 teachers to earn their National Board Certification. Chosen from a competitive pool of nearly 500 applicants, these educators will engage in a comprehensive three-year process to enhance their teaching skills and improve student outcomes. The initiative is spearheaded by Bowie State’s Center for Research and Mentoring for Black Male Students and Teachers in collaboration with the Center of Excellence for Educator Preparation and Innovation at Voorhees University. This partnership represents a significant effort to elevate the quality The post HBCU Launches Tuition-Free Program for National Board Certification in Maryland appeared first on HBCU News.

By Ashley Mowreader Academic probation, while designed to be a notice to students of poor performance, can be a significant barrier to student success. Around 8 percent of graduating college seniors have been on academic probation at least once during their time in college, and this rate increases to 9 percent among first-generation students, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. A 2022 analysis of academic probation on four-year graduation rates at one university found placing students on academic probation based on overall GPA reduced their odds of completing in four years by 40 percent. Research from California Competes also found that a majority of students The post Leaders are now reimagining how academic probation is communicated to students and ways to make the policy less punitive appeared first on HBCU News.

Courtesy of Tennessee State University Aarian Forman, a two-time Tennessee State University graduate, has been named to Forbes’ prestigious 2025 30 Under 30 list, recognizing his groundbreaking work in education and leadership development through Xceleader, an organization he co-founded to empower HBCU students nationwide. What began as a single Zoom call in 2017 to discuss student leadership at HBCUs has evolved into a transformative force in higher education. Under Forman’s leadership, Xceleader has impacted over 8,000 students and alumni through workshops, mentorships, and nonpartisan programs, securing nearly $1 million in funding to support its initiatives. “This recognition from Forbes isn’t The post TSU Alumnus Named to Forbes 30 Under 30 for Transformative HBCU Leadership appeared first on HBCU News.

By Josh Moody Last Dec. 5, the presidents of three leading universities stepped before Congress for a hearing on campus antisemitism that was widely criticized when they failed to offer forthright responses on whether hypothetical calls for the genocide of Jews would violate their institutions’ policies. Those three presidents—representing Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology—were followed by four others in two separate hearings in April and May as pro-Palestinian student protests swept campuses across the nation last spring. Of the seven campus leaders who testified, only two remain on the job (though one was The post A Year After the First Antisemitism Hearing, What’s Become of the Presidents Who Testified? appeared first on HBCU News.

Grammy-nominated rapper Quavo has joined forces with country music legend Luke Bryan and soulful singer Teddy Swims to drop their new single and music video, “Georgia Ways.” Like previous drops,… The post WATCH: Quavo, Luke Bryan, and Teddy Swims Unite for Southern Anthem “Georgia Ways” appeared first on .

J. Cole has been sharing candid moments from his career through his new audio series “Inevitable,” alongside longtime manager and Dreamville co-founder Ibrahim Hamad. Hamad recounted on a recent episode,… The post When JAY-Z Told Drake to Give J. Cole a Hit: Dreamville’s Ibrahim Hamad Dishes Untold Story appeared first on .

50 Cent is adding to him media portfolio with the launch of the 50 Cent Action Channel, a free ad-supported streaming (FAST) channel debuting exclusively on Roku. If you don’t… The post 50 Cent Launches Exclusive FAST ’50 Cent Action Channel on Roku appeared first on .