THE DAILY DRUMBEAT
TODAY'S EDITION — VOL 1 NO 31 — TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026
Good morning, Drummers—it's Tuesday, August 11, and we've got major news on everything from DC's fight over opioid settlement spending to a legendary Houston community leader passing, plus updates on HBCU coaching and Black-owned businesses bouncing back after the cyclospora scare.
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[ P2 · POLICY & JUSTICE · BRIEFING ]

DC Questions Whether Opioid Settlement Money Expands Treatment or Funds Existing Programs

POLICY & JUSTICE — D.C. plans to use roughly $7.8 million in opioid settlement money for Medicaid and addiction treatment programs already funded through its general budget, a move critics argue maintains existing spending levels rather than expand treatment and recovery services. District law requires settlement money must supplement, not supplant, existing funding.

The takeaway
If opioid dollars simply replace general funding rather than expand services, the addiction crisis won't see the urgently needed new resources.
[ P10 · LAND & LEGACY · BRIEFING ]

Cyclospora Outbreak Becomes Unlikely Win for Black Farmers Markets

LAND & LEGACY — The ongoing nationwide cyclospora parasite outbreak has driven shoppers to local farmers markets for produce, with the Black Farmers Market in Memphis seeing increased demand forcing farmers to double their orders. The increase is being driven by growing consumer distrust in large-scale produce chains.

The takeaway
A food safety crisis is spotlighting Black farmers as trustworthy alternatives, creating rare momentum for local food systems during summer's peak season.
[ P5 · HBCUS & EDUCATION · BRIEFING ]

UDC Free Trade Program Launches Black Students Into Higher-Paying Construction Jobs

EDUCATION — The University of the District of Columbia's construction pathway director is recruiting young Black people from local schools and offering pathways where students can save thousands by bypassing traditional four-year degrees. After the summer session, several students complete the construction pathway with job placements in hand.

The takeaway
DC's free, hands-on trade training model is opening six-figure career paths for Black youth while addressing a critical workforce shortage in construction.
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The quick 8
[ P11 · BLACK EXCELLENCE ]

Photographer, educator, and community activist Georgia Provost died; she served as president and CEO of Provost Studios, a nearly 80-year-old business that chronicled generations of Houston life and Black schools before integration.

[ P5 · HBCUS & EDUCATION ]

Texas Southern reportedly is set to hire Seton Hall assistant Corey Lowery as its new men's basketball coach, pending approval from the school's board of regents.

[ P3 · ECONOMY & WORK ]

Texans wide receiver Tank Dell participated in practice while wearing full pads for the first time since suffering a severe knee injury in December 2024, marking his biggest step toward returning to the field.

[ P1 · BUSINESS & ENTERPRISE ]

Temu and Shein have come under scrutiny over products containing toxic chemicals like lead and phthalates, with concerns particularly significant for Black consumers who face higher rates of serious illnesses.

[ P9 · HEALTH EQUITY ]

DJ Kool Herc hosted a party in the Bronx, New York on August 11, 1973, that marks the birth of hip-hop music.

[ P10 · LAND & LEGACY ]

The Watts riots, also known as the Watts Uprising, occurred from August 11-16, 1965, marking a turning point in the fight against police brutality and systemic racism.

[ P11 · BLACK EXCELLENCE ]

Harlem Week returns for its 52nd year on August 1-16 with free street festivals, concerts, film programs, and career fairs celebrating the historic neighborhood.

[ P3 · ECONOMY & WORK ]

The federal government is taking action on hunger by shifting focus from just providing food to ensuring adequate nutrition in neighborhoods and schools.

[ P4 · MONEY MOVES ]
S&P 5007,753.11 -0.1%
Dow Jones53,975.98 -0.1%
30-Yr Mortgage6.69%FRED / Freddie Mac
CPI (YoY)3.5%BLS via FRED
Bitcoin$64,376 -1.2%CoinGecko
Ethereum$1,893 -1.5%CoinGecko
Black Wall Street Watch
UONE$5.28+2.3%
RLJ$10.99-1.3%
CARV$1.77+4.4%
[ P6 · SPORTS ]
HBCU Watch
HBCU Player of the Year Added to NFL Camp Roster [HBCU Gameday]
HBCU legend returns home to coach [HBCU Gameday]
Last Night
WNBA: Dream vs Tempo 107-95 (final)
WNBA: Storm vs Sky 97-88 (final)
MLB: full slate, 10 games
On Deck Tonight
WNBA: Fever vs Liberty (11:30 PM ET)
WNBA: Aces vs Mystics (2:00 AM ET)
WNBA: Sparks vs Mercury (2:00 AM ET)
MLB: full slate, 15 games
[ GB · THE GREEN BOOK ]
Business Spotlight

Calendly

The Black-founded scheduling software revolutionizing how professionals manage time

Founded by Tope Awotona, Calendly has become one of the most successful Black-founded SaaS companies globally, valued at over $3 billion. The automated scheduling platform eliminates back-and-forth emails and simplifies meeting coordination for millions of users worldwide.

Visit Business →
Opportunity

Delta Community Credit Union HBCU Scholarship 2026 — $25,000 total — Deadline Rolling basis

Delta Community Credit Union is awarding scholarships to deserving HBCU students based on academic achievement, community and campus involvement, and essay submissions. Students attending any historically Black college or university are eligible to apply.

Apply →
Ad Slot — Money Moves Sponsor · 300x100 · Available
D

The Drum Roll

The Number
45.4%
Black homeownership rate · Census via FRED
[ THE CLOSER · P7 · CULTURE & COMMUNITY ]
“Excellence is the best deterrent to racism.”
— Oprah Winfrey
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