POLICY & JUSTICE — A jury in D.C. Council member Trayon White Sr.'s bribery trial said Friday they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict after three days of deliberations. The judge instructed jurors to keep trying, noting they had not deliberated for very long. The jury remained at an impasse and will return Monday to resume deliberations. White is accused of accepting money and being offered bribes in exchange for agreeing to use his position to help a contractor secure city contracts. He could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
TECH & INNOVATION — TCB Drones Academy founder Steffanie Rivers aims to close the racial gap in aviation by training new drone pilots in Houston. Rivers founded TCB Drones in 2021 after COVID-19 disrupted her airline career, and became the first Black woman in Texas to register both a drone company and an academy. Her programs serve high school students, military veterans, and adults seeking alternatives to traditional careers, offering summer camps, online certification courses, and specialty training in aerial mapping and search-and-rescue. Rivers also launched a National HBCU Aviation and Drone Leadership Initiative to connect college students with careers in drone technology, with plans to collaborate with colleges and workforce organizations.
EDUCATION & HBCUS — For fiscal year 2026, $174 million was added to HBCUs by President Trump and his administration. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon announced the second round of funding at the White House Initiative on HBCUs Summit. This funding comes through the mandatory mechanism and is in addition to the $406 million passed by Congress. Last year, the Trump Administration added $439 million to the previous year's $406 million.
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Founded by Steffanie Rivers, TCB Drones Academy offers FAA-certified drone pilot training, summer camps, workforce re-entry programs for veterans, and partnership with HBCUs to close the racial gap in aviation technology. Certified pilots earn $300-$500 per hour. Headquarters in Houston.
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