Theologian, author and activist Benjamin Chavis spoke Wednesday at Wake Forest University's environmental justice summit in Winston-Salem. Chavis was wrongfully imprisoned in 1972 as a member of the Wilmington Ten, a group of civil rights activists, and went on to coin the term “environmental racism” after his release, when he turned to fighting the unequal impact of pollution. He recently published a book on the trans-Atlantic slave trade. WFAE’s Zachary Turner sat down with Chavis during the summit to talk about the current political climate around environmental justice.

The National Science Foundation has canceled hundreds of grants, and the National Endowment for the Humanities even more. The cancellation of grants bearing the scarlet letters of DEI has left students and universities reeling — but even the threat of cancellation has had consequences.

At a time when communities feel fractured, here's a look at online communities taking a pragmatic approach to changing the world for the better.

Early this month, FEMA announced plans to cancel a suite of grants to help communities combat flooding. Across the country, many municipalities have already invested millions to start the projects. In North Carolina, none have received a federal dime.

The Independent Picture House hosted Charlotte’s fourth annual Earth Day celebration. People of all ages touched dirt through interactive sculptures and reflected on their favorite memories in nature.