Jeramey Anderson, a 22-year-old African American college student, was sworn in Dec. 6 as a member of the Mississippi House, becoming the youngest person in history to be elected to a House seat in the state. Anderson, a Democrat and senior at Tulane University, defeated Aneice Liddell, the former mayor of Moss Point, Mississippi. Voters […]
Author Archives: Blair Adams
AFRO Staff Writer
Posted inBaltimore News
Program For Ex-offenders on Hold
The Baltimore City Health Department suspended Mondawmin area operations for Safe Streets, a community-based program to reduce crime and street violence, after two recent arrests, including the discovery of a loaded handgun and live ammunition in the possession of a Safe Streets worker who is on parole for murder. Safe Streets is a program to […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Hip-Hop Mogul Jay Z Dedicates Song to Nelson Mandela During Concert
In the midst of a sold out concert, hip-hop mogul Jay Z took to the microphone to pay homage to Nelson Mandela. Just four days after Mandela’s death, the rapper performed on Dec. 9 at the Staples Center and dedicated his song “Forever Young” song to the man who helped bridge South Africa’s racial divide. […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Calif. Man Burns to Death Attempting to Steal Gas
A California man resorted to stealing gas for his vehicle in order to save money, but his attempt to save an extra buck in a tough economy ended with him burning to death. The Los Angeles Police Department found the body of Richard Glover in his van on Dec. 10, and determined that he burned […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Medical Examiners Say Heart Failure Killed Tyrone West
Tyrone West died from heart failure—“cardiac arrhythmia due to cardiac conduction system abnormality complicated by dehydration”– during police restraint, according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiners. Those were the words used by the doctors to describe West’s death in a just-released finding about the outcome of a violent encounter between the man and […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Mosby Bill Would Take Criminal History Out of Job Interviews
During the last city council meeting for 2013, Councilman Nick Mosby (D-District 7) introduced “Ban the Box,” a bill that would bar prospective employers from asking, in the initial job interview, if a job applicant has a record of criminal arrests or convictions. On Dec. 5, Mosby said omitting the criminal conviction-check for applications and […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Owners of a West Balto. Grocery Store Plead Guilty to Food Stamp Fraud
A husband and wife who own a West Baltimore grocery store face prison sentences of up to 20 years after pleading guilty in federal court recently to charges of food stamp fraud. On Dec. 3, U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein announced that Asmara Cases, 50, and his wife Fanta Keita, 45, pleaded guilty to operating […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Black Instructor at Minn. College Reprimanded for Discussing Racism in English Class
A Minneapolis community college educator was reprimanded recently for bringing up the topic of racism with her students during her communications class at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. After a presentation on structural racism, three white students filed a complaint against their English instructor, Shannon Gibney, after they questioned whether or not racism should be […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Blaze at City-Owned Vacant Burns Out Family
A family of six remains homeless three weeks after flames raced through their West Baltimore row house, a blaze that fire officials said started in a neighboring city-owned vacant house. The fire began early Nov. 13 in the rear of 2812 Boarman Ave., the city-owned property. The flames quickly swept through the walls of the […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Balto. Mayor, Council Members Set for a 2.5 Percent Raise Next Month
While other key city agencies are seeing budget cuts and furloughs, Baltimore’s top elected officials are set to see a 2.5 percent pay hike in January. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s annual salary will rise from $159,380 to $163,365 and Council President Jack Young and City Comptroller Joan Pratt will see an annual salary increase to take […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
N.Y. Woman Allegedly Forced to Resign after Defending Co-Worker’s Ethnic Hairstyle
A former aide to New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly was allegedly forced to resign from her position as president of a leading security company because she defended an African American co-worker for wearing braids in her hair. Katherine Lemire filed a racial discrimination lawsuit Nov. 26 against Michael Stapleton Associates, a security company, […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Local Group Serves Pre-Thanksgiving Day Dinner
Some were homeless, some were needy, but all of them were hungry a week before Thanksgiving. Thanks to a Baltimore based non- profit, homeless assistance program, those in need were fed at a pre-Thanksgiving Day meal at the Village Sports Bar and Grill in east Baltimore. On Nov. 23, the Belvedere Assisted Living/Belvedere Homes teamed […]