By Catherine Pugh, Special to AFRO Laura Hall was recently elected the serve as the 15th president of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL). The decision was made at the organization’s 46th national conference, in Las Vegas, Nev. A Democrat with nearly 30 years of legislative experience in the Alabama General Assembly, Hall […]
Author Archives: Catherine Pugh Special to the AFRO
Posted inNational News
Warnock clenches a victory in Georgia U.S. Senate race
By Catherine Pugh, Special to the AFRO The seesaw race in the Georgia State run-off election for the U.S. Senate handed incumbent Democratic United States Senator Raphael Warnock a victory against former football player and Republican candidate Herschell Walker. According to information released at 12:54 a.m. on Dec. 7 by the Georgia Board of elections, […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Two high profile Baltimore figures take on key roles in national organizations
By Catherine Pugh, Special to the AFRO Two prominent figures of Baltimore have been named to key positions in national advocacy organizations. Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, former mayor of Baltimore City, was named executive director of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) Foundation, the professional union for NBA players. Ben Jealous, former head of the NAACP and […]
Posted inBaltimore Community
Mayor Scott instructs DPW to remove barriers around Roland Water Tower
By Catherine Pugh, Special to the AFRO The barriers blocking vehicle access to the Roland Water Tower in the historically Black neighborhood of Hoes Heights have been removed. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said in an exclusive Nov. 29 meeting with the AFRO that he has instructed the Department of Public Works (DPW) to remove the […]
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: Justice 40…for the greater good
By Catherine Pugh, Special to the AFRO The passage of national legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the Chips and Science Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law call attention to President Biden’s Justice 40 Executive Order. They raise the question: how aware are state and local governments when […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Baltimore celebrates inaugural Emancipation Day Festival on grounds of former urban slave plantation
By Catherine Pugh, Special to the AFRO Speaker of the House of Delegates of Maryland Adrienne Jones said “It is always a humbling experience to receive an award, but this was special.” Speaker Jones received the Inaugural Great Emancipator Award alongside University of Maryland, Baltimore County Professor Emeritus, and author Acklyn Lynch, at the inaugural […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Residents of Hoes Heights fight off road closure, seek continued access to local landmark
By Catherine Pugh, Special to the AFRO On the evening of Nov. 6, a group of diverse women gathered around the dining room table of Quianna Cooke. Present that night in the Hoes Heights neighborhood were Betsy Heeney, Hana Morford, Jennifer Jarvis, Joanne Kent and Eleanor Matthews. They were not angry women. They seemed frustrated–more […]
Posted inMaryland Government
Historic election yields first Black governor, attorney general and female comptroller
By Catherine Pugh, Special to the AFRO The ballroom at the Waterfront Marriott hotel in downtown Baltimore could not have been more jovial on Nov. 8. It was teeming with campaign volunteers, well-wishers, people who wanted to be a part of history and those who made the trek just to get a glimpse of Gov.-Elect […]
Posted inMaryland Government
Voters face thorny question in midterm ballot initiatives
By Catherine Pugh, Special to the AFRO On top of choosing the right candidate, voters are being asked to weigh in on changes Maryland needs to make for the better on Nov. 8 in the midterm elections. From marijuana legalization to the appropriate name of the state’s highest court and the right level of civil […]