March 22, 2026

Welcome to our weekly Sunday newsletter.

This week’s stories highlight innovation at Morehouse and Spelman Colleges, a transformative gift for Elizabeth City State University, urgent calls for ‘Ebony Alerts’ in Pennysylvania and a Filipino/Black female makes history at the Academy Awards.

‘Ebony Alerts’ Aim to Close the Gap for Missing Black Children

Nearly one in three missing children in the United States are Black, a disparity that is fueling new concern about how missing child cases are classified and publicized. Black children are more often labeled as runaways, which can reduce the urgency of their cases and make them less likely to qualify for Amber Alerts.

In response, states including Pennsylvania are considering Ebony Alert legislation modeled after California’s program, which launched in January 2024. These alerts are designed to expand public awareness when missing Black children and young people do not meet the narrower criteria required for an Amber Alert.

The growing push for Ebony Alerts also highlights broader concerns about systems that appear race-neutral but can still produce unequal outcomes. Advocates are calling for reforms that would allow more flexibility in alert decisions, broaden definitions of who is considered at risk, and require stronger justification when alerts are not issued.

Supporters say these changes are necessary to address long-standing disparities and improve public safety for children whose disappearances have too often received less attention. The debate is raising legal questions about how race-conscious policies can be structured to withstand constitutional challenges.

campus chronicles // hbcu edition

Spelman College recently hosted its fourth annual HBCU Game Jam, bringing together more than 80 students from HBCUs across the country for a 24-hour competition to design and build original video games from scratch. The event, led by Spelman’s Arthur M. Blank Innovation Lab, gave students hands-on experience in coding, storytelling, art, music, and design while helping expand pathways for Black talent in the gaming industry. By the end of the weekend, participants had created more than 20 original games and competed for a $10,000 prize pool, with top honors going to Howard University’s Famished. Organizers say the Game Jam is helping build a stronger pipeline of diverse creators prepared to shape the future of gaming and technology.

Morehouse College has been selected as a key partner in the National Science Foundation’s $457 million Leadership-Class Computing Facility project, which will build Horizon, a major new supercomputer in Atlanta. Through its Center for Broadening Participation in Computing, Morehouse also received an initial $5 million NSF grant to host the system and expand advanced computing access for students, faculty, and HBCUs nationwide. College leaders say the project will strengthen research in areas like artificial intelligence, climate science, machine learning, and biomedicine while positioning Morehouse as a national leader in inclusive tech innovation. The initiative will also support free programs for young students, postbaccalaureate AI training, and faculty development designed to broaden participation in computing.

MacKenzie Scott has made a second historic gift to Elizabeth City State University, donating $42 million to the North Carolina HBCU and nearly tripling her original $15 million donation from 2020. University leaders say the funding will support ECSU’s ASCEND 2030 strategic plan through efforts such as endowed scholarships, facility renovations, and expanded opportunities for students. With about 2,500 students enrolled, the gift is being recognized as one of the largest per-student donations in HBCU history and a major investment in the university’s future. School officials say the donation will help ECSU build on its 135-year legacy while strengthening the next generation of HBCU scholars. 

black history in quotes 

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culture

“Sinners” cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first woman to win the Oscar for cinematography. As she arrived backstage following her historic win, the press room erupted into applause, with many reporters delivering a standing ovation. Arkapaw was equally thrilled, telling the room, “A lot of little girls that look like me will sleep really well tonight.”

“I heard Karen O say once at a concert… ‘You have to see you to be you,’” she said. “Ryan gives us, the women on this film, and our heads of department, those opportunities to shine and be ourselves and work in a creative environment where we’re leading.” Such trust is rarely extended by directors, Arkapaw said, and she is grateful.

Our editor, Lisa D. Tinsley, would like to thank you for spending part of your day with KISA News Radio.

See you next Sunday.

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