Capital B

‘Clean Slate’ Laws Could Help Millions of Black Americans Clear Their Records Advocates say automatic expungement could open doors to jobs, housing, and a fresh start for millions long held back by old convictions.

“If your crime is being poor, you won’t be able to get your record clear because it’s costly,” said Sheena Meade of the Clean Slate Initiative. “You have to get an attorney, you have to jump through hoops, you have to take off work — it’s just really complicated.”

Capital B in the Next Three: Our 2025-2028 Strategic Plan We’re thrilled to share our three-year strategic plan — a road map for how our organization can continue making an impact.

How can our organization be the most effective window and mirror for audiences – uncovering stories that create real impact in the lives of the community members we serve? Well, we have a plan!

After DOJ Pulls Millions for Public Safety, Nonprofits and Neighborhoods Step In With or without government support, this Jackson woman keeps fighting for safety and justice

Sharon Brown, director of the Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery, assembles gunshot wound kits to deliver to victims in Jackson, Mississippi. Brown uses donations and her own money to put the kits together,

Meta’s AI Data Center Sparks a Crisis in the Bible Belt Over the Power of Faith In rural Louisiana, white and Black churches see the company's plan to build America's biggest AI complex very differently.

The trucks in Northeastern Louisiana no longer carry cotton. They haul the raw materials of a different kind of empire: one spun not from fiber, but from fiber optics.

‘We Don’t Want Voices Silenced’: Black Voting Power at Risk in Redistricting Battle Across the country, from California to Virginia, Black Americans’ ability to influence elections is at stake.

Across the country, from California to Virginia, Black Americans’ ability to influence elections is at stake.

Two Little Ohio Boys Lost Their Mom to Gun Violence. A Grand Jury Indicted the Police Officer Who Shot Her. An attorney for Young’s family called the outcome “an American tragedy.”

An attorney for Young’s family called the outcome “an American tragedy.” capitalbnews.org/ohio-mom-kil...

Supreme Court Case Threatens Mail-in Ballots for Black Voters Various historical barriers to casting ballots in person make having a mail-in option crucial.

Various historical barriers to casting ballots in person make having a mail-in option crucial. https://capitalbnews.org/black-voting-rights-mississippi-mail-in-case/

After DOJ Pulls Millions for Public Safety, Nonprofits and Neighborhoods Step In With or without government support, this Jackson woman keeps fighting for safety and justice

With or without government support, this Jackson woman keeps fighting for safety and justice. https://capitalbnews.org/gun-violence-prevention-scaling-safety/

Entry - Anthem Awards Brought to you by The Webby Awards, The Anthem Awards honors the purpose & mission-driven work of people, companies, and organizations worldwide. By amplifying the voices that spark global change, we’...

Capital B’s national politics reporter, Brandon Tensley, has won a 2025 Anthem Award. www.anthemawards.com/winners/list...

Meta’s AI Data Center Sparks a Divide Among the Faithful in the Bible Belt In rural Louisiana, white and Black churches see the company's plan to build America's biggest AI complex very differently.

In rural Louisiana, white and Black churches see the company's plan to build North America's biggest AI complex very differently. https://capitalbnews.org/meta-richland-parish-ai-data-center/

Join | Capital B Capital B is supported by people like you. Support Capital B today.

From the beginning, our readers and supporters have helped drive our work, our impact, and the vision you see here. We’ll need you to get to the next level, too. To ensure Capital B, and Black news, is here to stay, support this plan with a gift to Capital B.

Your Permanent Record Really Stays With You Unless ‘Clean Slate’ Legislation Passes In the 13 states with clean slate legislation, over 5 million Black adults are eligible to clear their entire records, according to research by the Clean Slate Initiative.

In the 13 states with clean slate legislation, over 5 million Black adults are eligible to clear their entire records, according to research by the Clean Slate Initiative. capitalbnews.org/clean-slate-...

In the Shadow of Oil Rigs, Black Women Are Reclaiming Their Neighborhoods From the courts to city streets, Black women organizers are proving climate solutions start at the neighborhood level.

Black women in LA County are leading a movement that demands a transition that prioritizes community health, equitable redevelopment, and reparative justice.

From Fighting the Klan to Fighting DEI: The Justice Department’s Shift on Civil Rights Former DOJ prosecutors say the agency that once protected Black communities now works against them.

Critics say the U.S. Justice Department under Attorney General Pam Bondi would be unrecognizable to its Reconstruction-era founders and to many who served in the present day.

Capital B in the Next Three: Our 2025-2028 Strategic Plan A mirror and a window.  After launching in 2022, Capital B’s first few years were characterized by a sense of discovery and possibility. Our staff has worked hard to learn how to best serve and reach…

We’re thrilled to share our three-year strategic plan, which is a road map for how our uniquely valuable and ambitious news organization can continue making an impact on a local and national level, while future-proofing ourselves for changes we can’t control.

Black and Latino Residents Unite to Defend South LA Amid ICE Raids and Aid Cuts As immigration arrests hit 540 weekly and cuts to SNAP threaten families, neighbors are launching mutual aid hubs to keep one another safe.

A coalition of Black and Latino residents in this South Central neighborhood are organizing around the threats facing everyone, regardless of their race or residency status. capitalbnews.org/south-la-bla... (in collab with @lapublicpress.bsky.social)

Federal Spending Bill Contains Bitter Medicine for Black Americans Black federal workers narrowly averted being furloughed in a government shutdown, but face deep cuts to the federal budget, impacting workforce training and treatment for substance abuse and mental…

The shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, ended late Wednesday.

Does Closing A School Contribute to Gun Violence in Philadelphia? At the center of much of Philadelphia’s gun violence is disinvestment in neighborhoods. That includes the closing of schools.

At the center of much of Philadelphia’s gun violence is disinvestment in neighborhoods. That includes the closing of schools.

Newsletters We write the untold stories of Black America. Sign up now for Capital B's national, Atlanta, Gary and Everything's Politics newsletter emails.

We write the untold stories of Black America Sign up for our free newsletters to read them each week.

Jesse Jackson's Health Struggles Highlight the Impact of His Civil Rights Leadership The 84-year-old recovered from two bouts of COVID in 2021 and 2023 while battling a neurodegenerative disorder.

The 84-year-old recovered from two bouts of COVID in 2021 and 2023 while battling a neurodegenerative disorder. https://capitalbnews.org/rev-jesse-jackson-civil-rights-icon/

West African Woman Attempts Suicide After U.S. Deportation to Non-Native Country Attorneys say African migrants, deported under controversial U.S. policy, are facing life-threatening danger.

Attorneys say African migrants, deported under controversial U.S. policy, are facing life-threatening danger.

Join | Capital B Capital B is supported by people like you. Support Capital B today.

Even in this tough moment for journalism, Capital B is pushing forward. Our new three-year plan lays out how we’ll keep serving Black communities with reporting that informs, connects, and creates change.

https://capitalbnews.fundjournalism.org/donate/?campaign=701VM00000e9Ok4YAE

Black and Latino Residents Unite to Defend South LA Amid ICE Raids and Aid Cuts As immigration arrests hit 540 weekly and cuts to SNAP threaten families, neighbors are launching mutual aid hubs to keep one another safe.

As immigration arrests hit 540 weekly and cuts to SNAP threaten families, neighbors are launching mutual aid hubs to keep one another safe. (in collab with @lapublicpress.bsky.social) capitalbnews.org/south-la-bla...

Family of the Rev. Jesse Jackson Asks For Prayers as the Pioneer Is Hospitalized The 84-year-old recovered from two bouts of COVID in 2021 and 2023 while battling a neurodegenerative disorder.

The 84-year-old recovered from two bouts of COVID in 2021 and 2023 while battling a neurodegenerative disorder. capitalbnews.org/rev-jesse-ja...

Federal Spending Bill Contains Bitter Medicine for Black Americans Black federal workers narrowly averted being furloughed in a government shutdown, but face deep cuts to the federal budget, impacting workforce training and treatment for substance abuse and mental he...

Black Americans are overrepresented among federal workers and were particularly burdened by furloughs and diminished services. capitalbnews.org/government-s...

From Fighting the Klan to Fighting DEI: The Justice Department’s Shift on Civil Rights Former DOJ prosecutors say the agency that once protected Black communities now works against them.

Former DOJ prosecutors say the agency that once protected Black communities now works against them. capitalbnews.org/justice-depa...

Republicans Allege Discrimination at George Mason, but the Data Tells a Different Story A 50-page report from House Republicans claims the head of the university violated civil rights with his diversity hiring plans.

A 50-page report from House Republicans claims the head of the university violated civil rights with his diversity hiring plans. capitalbnews.org/george-mason...

Capital B in the Next Three: Our 2025-2028 Strategic Plan A mirror and a window.  After launching in 2022, Capital B’s first few years were characterized by a sense of discovery and possibility. Our staff has worked hard to learn how to best serve and reach…

It’s a new time, and we have a new plan. Introducing Capital B in the Next Three — our three-year vision to expand access to trustworthy news for Black communities across the country.

Black Women Sweep Local Elections in Small Towns Millennial candidates made sweeping gains in rural towns and small cities — making history and achieving several firsts.

Millennial candidates made sweeping gains in rural towns and small cities — making history and achieving several firsts. capitalbnews.org/rural-electi...

In the Shadow of Oil Rigs, Black Women Are Reclaiming Their Neighborhoods From the courts to city streets, Black women organizers are proving climate solutions start at the neighborhood level.

From the courts to city streets, Black women organizers are proving climate solutions start at the neighborhood level. capitalbnews.org/south-la-oil...