by Sidnee Michelle
August 23, 2026
Texas Southern University Hires Corey Lowery As Men’s Basketball Coach Despite Team-Led Protest
The vote came one day after members of the men's basketball team joined students and alumni in a demonstration on the Houston campus.
Texas Southern University has hired Corey Lowery as its new men’s basketball coach after players, students, and alums protested the expected appointment and called on the university to retain interim coach Shyrone Chatman, HBCU Gameday reports.
The Texas Southern Board of Regents approved Lowery’s appointment 6-1 on Aug. 19. The decision concluded a months-long search for a permanent replacement for Johnny Jones, who resigned in April after eight seasons to become an assistant coach at LSU.
The vote came one day after members of the men’s basketball team joined students and alumni in a demonstration on the Houston campus in support of Chatman. Video shared by Terrance Harris, college sports editor for the Defender Network, showed demonstrators marching and carrying signs that included messages such as “Keep Coach Chatman, He’s Our Coach” and “Student Athletes Matter.”
Chatman, a longtime Texas Southern assistant, had served as interim head coach since Jones’s departure while the university conducted a national search.
Lowery emerged as the expected choice earlier in August, but his path to the job faced resistance. The outlet reported that his candidacy previously failed to gain approval from two Board of Regents committees before advancing to the full board.
More footage of Texas Southern players, students and alumni marching on campus in support of the HBCU school retaining interim basketball coach Shyrone Chatman.@defendernetwork @TxsuProud @TigerFans @clarencehilljr pic.twitter.com/4mTxUgEWqs
— Terrance Harris (@TerranceCFB) August 18, 2026
Harris also reported questions surrounding communication between Lowery and members of the Texas Southern program before his appointment.
According to the outlet, the reporting included evidence of an exchange involving a current player and a recording involving a player’s parent.
Texas Southern ultimately moved forward with Lowery, who spent the previous four seasons as an assistant coach at Seton Hall University. According to the university, Lowery has 27 years of coaching experience, including 13 seasons as a college head coach, and holds a 266-73 career head coaching record.
“Coach Lowery has won at every level and every stop of his career,” Texas Southern President J.W. Crawford III said in announcing the hire. “Beyond constructing winning rosters and producing on the court, he is a maker of men off the court.”
Lowery takes over a Texas Southern program that competes in the Southwestern Athletic Conference as it prepares for the 2026-27 season.
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by Sidnee Michelle
August 23, 2026
91-Year-Old Georgia Woman Celebrates Historic GED Achievement
Woodyard decided to return to school after watching her four children complete their education.
At 91, Helen Woodyard earned her GED, becoming the oldest person in Georgia to receive the credential in roughly a decade, 11 Alive reports.
Woodyard received her diploma July 29 during West Georgia Technical College’s adult education commencement ceremony in Waco, Georgia. Her achievement came three years after she began taking classes on her 88th birthday.
Woodyard decided to return to school after watching her four children complete their education. She had long regretted not finishing her own.
“I never finished, so I always regretted not getting my diploma,” Woodyard said. “My four children finished, and I always wanted to do what they did.”
Earning the credential required Woodyard to complete more than 900 hours of coursework. She drove herself to class three days a week, studied regularly, and rarely missed class.
Woodyard also had to adapt to technology that had become standard in education since she was last in a classroom. She learned how to use a scientific calculator and the computer programs required for exams with help from her adult education instructors.
“I kept going because I don’t quit anything that I start,” Woodyard said. “The Lord started a work in me, and I was willing to spend all the time I had left before I died to finish.”
Before Woodyard received her diploma, West Georgia Technical College President Julie Post read a congratulatory letter from the mayor of LaGrange recognizing her accomplishment.
Woodyard was among 91 students honored at the ceremony for completing GED/ high school equivalency or English as a Second Language programs.
Her education journey is not ending with her diploma. Woodyard has said she hopes to use what she learned to help other older adults learn to read and write.
RELATED CONTENT: 79-Year-Old Graduate Spins The College Campus And Earns Her Degree
by Black Enterprise
August 23, 2026
BLACK ENTERPRISE Covers Served Black History
BLACK ENTERPRISE are purveyors of Black history with over 50 years of groundbreaking coverage and impactful covers.
Aside from BLACK ENTERPRISE making a mark in history as the seminal platform for Black-centric business content, we have also been purveyors of Black history with over 50 years of groundbreaking coverage and impactful covers. Take a look back at these 10 BE covers that amplify notable Black figures throughout Black history.
1) Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States Of America
2) Ernesta Gertrude Procope, President of the largest Black-owned insurance brokerage
3) John H. Johnson, Herman J. Russell, Ed Lewis, Nathan Conyers, Earl G. Graves, Clarence Smith, Men of Entrepreneurial Excellence
4) Janice Bryant Howroyd, First African American woman to build and own a billion-dollar company
5) Guion Stewart Bluford Jr.: Astronaut, First Black American in space
6) Joan B. and Joan M. Johnson: First Black-owned company on the American Stock Exchange
7) Reginald Lewis, First African American to build a billion-dollar company
8) Ann Fudge: President of Maxwell Coffee Co., First Black woman to head a corporate division
9) Andrew Young: Civil Rights Activist, United Nations Ambassador
10) Earvin “Magic” Johnson: NBA Hall of Famer, Philanthropist, Businessman
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by Sidnee Michelle
August 22, 2026
Saint Augustine’s University Halts Fall Semester Amid Bankruptcy
The Raleigh, North Carolina, university has paused plans to launch eight online, nondegree programs in September.
Saint Augustine’s University will offer no classes or educational programs this fall, leaving the 158-year-old historically Black university without academic offerings as it works through bankruptcy and an uncertain financial future, The News & Observer reports.
The Raleigh, North Carolina, university has paused plans to launch eight online, nondegree programs in September covering subjects including artificial intelligence, programming, and public health. The courses would have cost students between $1,100 and $4,500.
The decision follows months of financial and accreditation turmoil. Saint Augustine’s announced April 28 that it would enter a voluntary Chapter 11 restructuring process and end its legal fight over accreditation. The university said its accreditation was expected to conclude on May 15.
University attorney Ciara Rogers told U.S. Bankruptcy Judge David Warren on Aug. 20 that pausing the online programs would help reduce payroll and other expenses. The programs were not expected to generate significant cash flow.
Saint Augustine’s has also ended its longtime partnership with Ed2Go, a third-party provider of virtual continuing education courses. Students currently enrolled can complete their programs.
Bankruptcy administrator Brian Behr supported the decision, saying the university should prioritize emerging from bankruptcy in a stronger financial condition.
“I’m starting to feel good that there’s a possibility that some entity that performs the services that St. Augustine’s provided will continue to exist on that property and provide those services into the future,” Behr said. “So that’s a positive development.”
Warren, however, described the university as “essentially closed.”
The university is also exploring ways to leverage its real estate. It has applied to hire Avison Young to advise on property strategy as officials consider selling peripheral portions of the 105-acre campus, valued at approximately $200 million. Court filings show the firm would receive a $50,000 retainer and a percentage of any sale, capped at $7.5 million.
Meanwhile, Saint Augustine’s Board of Trustees has enlisted former Massachusetts Institute of Technology Chancellor Phillip Clay as a pro bono adviser. Clay, who has studied historically Black colleges and universities and their long-term viability, signed paperwork for the role Aug. 1.
Saint Augustine’s is expected to return to bankruptcy court Aug. 26.
RELATED CONTENT: Saint Augustine’s University Board Chair Addresses Lawsuit Against Trustees
by Kenneth Meeks
August 22, 2026
Fight The Power: Communities Of Color Must Reject Systemic Environmental Damage Or Face The Consequences
With environmental racism so prevalent, it might be happening in your neighborhood.
It’s a case that underscores the significant compensation available when environmental negligence harms underserved communities. Ben Crump, founder and president of Ben Crump Law PLLC, negotiated a historic $626 million settlement against the state of Michigan for the lead-contaminated water that went to mostly African American homes in the city of Flint, Michigan.
Crump has devoted his career to advocating for justice for those in our society who cannot speak for themselves and to holding those who do us harm accountable for their actions. As a 2022 XCEL Summit Award Honoree, he spoke about why environmental racism is prevalent in Black communities, and why each of us needs to do something when we see it.
For Crump, living in a healthy neighborhood is a fundamental right. Still, far too many low-income and predominantly communities of color are harmed by large corporations that pollute our groundwater and air. And the effects are widespread, ranging from asthma and cancer to premature death. But he says we can take action. In this video excerpt from his XCEL Summit main-stage discussion with 2024 XCEL Summit Award Honoree and moderator Ed Gordon, president of Ed Gordon Media, Crump challenges the audience to hold big corporate violators accountable. Take a look.
RELATED CONTENT: Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump’s Documentary, ‘Civil,’ To Hit Netflix On Juneteenth
by Selena Hill
August 21, 2026
Deion Sanders Faces Subpoena Drama As Colorado’s Season Nears
A subpoena tied to Shilo Sanders’ bankruptcy trial could put Deion Sanders’ legal obligations on a collision course with Colorado football’s season opener.
The business of college football rarely stops for personal matters, but Deion Sanders may soon have to balance a courtroom obligation with one of the most important dates on Colorado’s calendar.
A Boulder County sheriff’s deputy attempted to serve Sanders with civil papers on Aug. 11 while he was at a Colorado football practice, according to USA TODAY Sports. Sanders was unavailable at the time, but the papers are connected to a subpoena requiring him to testify in the bankruptcy trial of his son, Shilo Sanders.
The elder Sanders’ attorney reportedly indicated that legal counsel could accept the papers on his behalf, although they were not in Boulder County. The paperwork was subsequently transferred to Denver for service.
“While working with university staff to find a better time to complete the process, we heard from Mr. Sanders’ legal counsel who indicated that they were able to take receipt of the papers on behalf of Mr. Sanders,” Carrie Haverfield, a senior communications specialist for the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, said in an email.
The timing adds another layer to an already complicated family and financial matter. Shilo Sanders filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2023 after a Texas court entered an $11.89 million default judgment against him in a lawsuit brought by John Darjean, a former security guard at his Dallas-area school. The bankruptcy trial, scheduled to begin Aug. 31 in Denver and expected to run through Sept. 4, will examine whether the underlying debt can be discharged. Deion Sanders’ testimony could be relevant because of his connection to events surrounding the 2015 incident that sparked the litigation.
The calendar presents an obvious conflict for Coach Prime. Colorado opens its 2026 season Sept. 3 against Georgia Tech, right in the middle of the scheduled trial. Judge Michael E. Romero acknowledged the potential issue during a pretrial conference, saying, “I noticed Deion was subpoenaed.” He added, “I’m also concerned there’s a game: CU’s first game is that same week.”
For Sanders, the situation underscores the complicated intersection of family, reputation, and business. College football coaches operate as CEOs of multimillion-dollar programs, but even Coach Prime can’t necessarily call an audible when the court comes knocking.
RELATED CONTENT: Deion Sanders Assures Fans He’s Returning To Colorado
by Sidnee Michelle
August 21, 2026
Google Bid $10M For Spirit Airlines Data, Employee Privacy Concerns Raised
Google won a bankruptcy auction for a collection of Spirit Airline's corporate data, including internal documents, workflows, employee emails, Microsoft Teams messages, and software code.
Google’s $10 million bid for Spirit Airlines’ internal business data is raising questions about what can happen to employees’ workplace communications after a company shuts down, Business Insider reports.
Google won a bankruptcy auction for a collection of Spirit’s corporate data, including internal documents, workflows, employee emails, Microsoft Teams messages, and software code. The proposed sale remains subject to approval by a U.S. bankruptcy court.
The data includes about 100 million emails and 500 million Teams messages, according to court filings. Google outbid AI recruiting company Mercor, which submitted a $7.5 million offer.
Google has said it could use the information for product development and artificial intelligence systems. The company said a third party would remove personally identifiable information before transferring the data. The sale excludes passenger profiles, loyalty program records, and other customer information.
The transaction highlights the limited control workers can have over communications created and stored on employer-owned systems.
Employment and privacy experts told the outlet that workplace emails, chats, and other information generated through company systems can generally be retained and used by employers, depending on company policies and applicable laws. Workers should not assume those communications will remain private or disappear after they leave a job.
The growing value of workplace data comes as technology companies seek specialized information to develop and train AI systems. Internal corporate records can provide information about business operations, decision-making, and workplace communication that may not be available on the public internet.
However, employers’ ability to use or transfer employee information is not unlimited. Certain sensitive personal information remains subject to applicable privacy and data-protection laws.
The proposed Spirit Airlines sale is already facing scrutiny over those concerns. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents Spirit’s cabin crew, objected to the transaction, arguing that it could include confidential information about former employees. The union has asked that confidential employee data be excluded from the sale or receive privacy protections comparable to those covering customer information.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Sean Lane postponed a hearing on the sale from Aug. 19 to Sept. 9 to allow additional time to consider the union’s concerns.
For workers, experts recommend treating workplace emails and messaging platforms as professional records and reviewing employer policies governing data retention, monitoring, and AI use.
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by Selena Hill
August 21, 2026
8 Gubernatorial Candidates Could Reshape The Executive Pipeline
With eight Black major-party gubernatorial nominees on 2026 ballots, a new generation of political executives could reshape who holds power in America.
For a nation that has elected thousands of governors, only three Black men have ever won the office. However, that number could change significantly this November.
According to the Associated Press, eight Black major-party gubernatorial nominees are on ballots across the country this year, including Republicans and Democrats, men and women. The field includes Florida Republican Byron Donalds, Nevada Democrat Aaron Ford, Minnesota Republican Lisa Demuth, Georgia Democrat and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, South Carolina Democrat Jermaine Johnson, Wisconsin Democrat David Crowley, and Michigan Republican John James, alongside Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.
The stakes go beyond making history. Governors control multibillion-dollar state budgets, oversee major economic development initiatives, and shape policy on housing, healthcare, education and workforce development. The governor’s mansion is not just a political address. It is one of the nation’s most consequential executive suites.
“We do have a unique moment here,” Moore told the AP, noting that his historic status is “not an applause line” but part of a broader challenge for the country.
The potential expansion of Black representation comes at a pivotal time for state-level leadership. Ford, Nevada’s first Black attorney general, said representation can help elevate issues that otherwise receive insufficient attention.
“It’s not a secret that some issues in the African American community get ignored and don’t have a voice,” Ford said, citing concerns including voting rights, civil rights, and the economy.
For Black communities, executive representation can also mean having leaders with the power to influence the agenda, not simply debate it. Political strategist Karen Finney put it plainly: “These are people who have the power to shape our lives, and they shape the agenda.”
Still, the candidates are navigating a complicated political reality. Some, including Donalds and Demuth, have downplayed race as a central feature of their campaigns, while others argue that history and identity cannot be separated from the American political experience.
Stacey Abrams, who lost two gubernatorial races in Georgia, described the challenge of breaking through the executive pipeline: “Black women have not been executives, and the absence of that proof point becomes a self-reinforcing philosophy.”
The 2026 field could provide several new proof points.
As Gov. Moore and the nation’s current slate of candidates demonstrate, the fight for gubernatorial power is increasingly about more than symbolism. It is about who controls the budgets, signs the legislation, and sets the economic agenda.
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by Selena Hill
August 21, 2026
Navy Nixed 43-Year Contract With Black Woman-Owned Tailor
A Black-owned Pensacola tailor lost its 43-year Blue Angels uniform deal after the Navy awarded a $1.69 million contract to a Virginia firm.
For 43 years, The Sewing Box has helped keep one of the U.S. Navy’s most recognizable brands looking sharp. Now, the Black-owned business based in Pensacola, Florida, has lost its long-running contract to produce, alter, and repair the ceremonial flight suits worn by the Blue Angels. The Navy awarded a new five-year contract, valued at up to $1.69 million, to Virginia-based Aquila International, ending a relationship that dated back to the late 1970s, reports Stars and Stripes.
For owner Jellie “Candy” Whitehurst, the news was more than a lost account. The Blue Angels had been the shop’s largest customer, and Whitehurst said the transition caught her off guard.
“I would’ve never, ever thought that my Blues would treat me like this,” Whitehurst told local television station WEAR Channel 3 News.
The Sewing Box had produced and custom-fitted thousands of the squadron’s iconic blue-and-yellow suits. Federal contracting records show the Navy previously relied on the Pensacola business through sole-source arrangements, with past justifications citing its established patterns, specialized knowledge and proximity to the Blue Angels’ home base at Naval Air Station Pensacola. That history makes the latest procurement decision particularly noteworthy from a small-business perspective.
The new contract covers the construction, alteration and repair of specialized ceremonial flight suits over a five-year ordering period. The maximum contract value is $1,691,506.40, though that figure represents the ceiling of the IDIQ agreement rather than guaranteed spending, reports HigherGov.
Aquila is not entirely new to the Blue Angels ecosystem. The company has supplied the squadron with other apparel, including gloves and compression garments, and its leadership has said it plans to fulfill the uniform requirements domestically. The contract also permits subcontracting, potentially leaving room for The Sewing Box or other local manufacturers to participate.
For The Sewing Box, the question now is whether four decades of craftsmanship can become the foundation for its next chapter, or whether a contract it helped define has officially flown away.
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