US state declares June 14 ‘Igbo Day’, gives reason

The state of North Carolina in the United States has formally declared June 14 as Igbo Day, paying tribute to the longstanding contributions of the Nigerian south-east community to the social and economic fabric of the state.

In a proclamation issued on June 12, Josh Stein, governor of North Carolina, hailed the vibrant Igbo community as a key part of the state’s multicultural identity. Stein noted that Igbos have lived in North Carolina for more than half a century, distinguishing themselves across a wide range of fields including education, medicine, law, public service, entrepreneurship, and technology.

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Roughly two dozen states filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the Trump administration over sweeping cuts to AmeriCorps, the federal volunteer service program established in 1993. ⁠
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The suit accuses the Department of Government Efficiency of unlawfully gutting the agency and terminating hundreds of millions in congressionally approved grants. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said the administration made “abrupt and drastic cuts to staff and volunteers and terminated grants.”⁠
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AmeriCorps programs support more than 200,000 members annually, many of whom receive stipends and education benefits while working in community organizations, disaster relief, and public service projects.⁠
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According to the complaint, at least 85% of staff were placed on administrative leave this month, and some 2,000 members of the National Civilian Community Corps were informed they would be dismissed early. Notices sent to grantees cited a shift in agency priorities.⁠
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The White House defended the move by citing $40 million in improper payments attributed to documentation and coding errors. “President Trump has the legal right to restore accountability to the entire Executive Branch,” said Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly. ⁠
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Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has signed a bill extending unemployment benefits to striking workers, including public employees—a first in the U.S. ⁠
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The law allows eligible strikers to begin collecting benefits after two weeks on the picket line, with payments capped at 10 weeks. ⁠
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Oregon joins New York, New Jersey, and Washington in offering such support, but is the first to include public sector workers, who are barred from striking in most states.⁠
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Across the U.S., many states restrict or outright ban strikes by public employees. North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Texas have blanket prohibitions on public sector walkouts and collective bargaining. ⁠
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These limits are often justified by the potential disruption to essential services and the financial burden on taxpayers, since public employers typically don’t contribute to unemployment insurance funds. ⁠
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Oregon’s law attempts to address that by requiring school districts to deduct benefits from employees’ future wages if they strike.⁠
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The bill follows a wave of high-profile strikes in the Pacific Northwest, including actions by nurses and teachers in Oregon.⁠
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President Donald Trump’s newly released budget plan calls for a $163 billion cut to nondefense spending while increasing the defense budget to $1.01 trillion. ⁠
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The Department of Homeland Security would receive $175 billion to fund expanded border security. The proposal targets “woke” and “radical left” programs and seeks to eliminate funding for climate initiatives, DEI efforts, and agencies such as the National Endowment for the Arts and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.⁠
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The Department of Education would lose $12 billion, with funding shifted toward charter schools. Health and Human Services would see a $33.3 billion cut, eliminating grants for mental health, substance abuse, and chronic illness prevention. ⁠
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The EPA faces a $5 billion reduction, with climate programs slashed and limited investment in clean water. Several international aid programs, including disaster relief and peacekeeping, would be eliminated or severely cut.⁠
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Despite widespread cuts, the Department of Defense receives a $113.3 billion boost, with pledges to dismantle DEI and climate programs. The VA would gain $5.4 billion for healthcare and records upgrades, while NASA’s budget would drop by $6 billion, with funding redirected to lunar and Mars exploration. ⁠
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The budget also includes increases for rural development, food inspection, and FAA modernization, while scaling back social programs, housing support, and job training initiatives.⁠
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