Aug. 14, 2020

SOUTHERN NEWS & TRENDS

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Will Mitch McConnell continue to block restoration of the Voting Rights Act?

As the U.S. marks this month's 55th anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, there's a political fight underway in the U.S. Senate to restore the law after its 2013 gutting by the U.S. Supreme Court.  (8/5/2020)

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From police brutality to COVID-19: racism's deadly toll

As Black people continue to be victimized by police brutality, they are also dying disproportionately from COVID-19. The common thread is racism. (8/13/2020)

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Court rejects judicial election district for Louisiana parish's Black citizens

A federal appeals court recently overturned a lower court ruling that required a new majority-Black judicial election district in Terrebonne Parish. Only one Black judge has served there, but a white judge was re-elected after donning blackface and a prison jumpsuit for Halloween. The case is part of a broader struggle for judicial elections that are fair to Black voters. (8/12/2020)

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SPECIAL REPORT

(Photo by Thomas Cizauskas via Flickr)

More Southern states ease mail-in ballot restrictions

As cases of the coronavirus surge nationwide, states across the South have begun to loosen absentee ballot restrictions ahead of a presidential election that's expected to see unprecedented levels of mail-in voting.

INSTITUTE NEWS

Julian Bond fellowship application deadline is coming soon!

Are you an early-career journalist or researcher who cares about equity and democracy in the South?

The Institute for Southern Studies, publisher of Facing South, is now accepting applications for the Julian Bond Fellowship program.

The Julian Bond Fellowship, named in honor of the civil rights legend and co-founder of the Institute, aims to promote new voices in Southern media and support early-career, public interest journalists and researchers in the South.
Now in its second year, the Fellowship is a nine-month, full-time position.

Fellows will be provided a $5,000 monthly stipend, and additional resources for training, conferences, and research expenses. Given uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus epidemic, the Institute will be exploring options for fellows to conduct their fellowships either remotely or while based at the Institute's offices in Durham, North Carolina.

Journalists and researchers of color are strongly encouraged to apply, as are others who believe their presence would contribute substantially to diversifying the media and public scholar landscape in the South. Candidates must have at least two to three years of experience writing for a public audience, and a demonstrated commitment to promoting justice, equality, and democracy.

The application deadline is Monday, Aug. 24, 2020 at 5 p.m. Visit here for more information or to submit an application. Questions? Email us at [email protected].

INSTITUTE INDEX

(Photo courtesy of Elon University)

Meet the Trump megadonor behind postal service delays

After North Carolina businessman and major GOP donor Louis DeJoy was appointed postmaster general in May, he announced an "operational pivot" to control costs that's caused delivery delays. Critics worry that DeJoy — who grew wealthy on USPS contracts and remains invested in USPS competitors — is a political partisan who's operationalizing President Trump's hostility to mail-in voting.

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