Author Archives: DorothyRowley

Washington D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty joined other city officials and community members to break ground Sept. 1 on a long-awaited 1 million square foot development expected to bring vital commercial, hotel and housing space to the O Street Market area of D.C.’s historic Shaw community. Fenty has described Shaw as one of the city’s most […]

Like many people who live life on the fast track – working long hours and grabbing quick meals here and there, Karen Woolard Finley had come to know that lifestyle quite well. “I’ve always been health conscious, but when you have a fast-paced life and you’re moving back and forth as we all do, it’s […]

A decision handed down by the District of Columbia’s Board of Elections and Ethics (BOEE) stands in the way of more than 70,000 registered independent voters switching affiliations in order to vote as Democrats in the Sept. 14 primary. As a result, the board’s mandate has put a damper on Mayor Adrian Fenty’s campaign efforts, […]

During opening ceremonies last week, officials at the newly established Bertha B. Williams Academy (BBWA) in Southeast Washington, D.C., said they look forward to the facility eventually becoming a model for similar efforts across the country. Until then, “It will be an exemplary model academy for poor students like those who live east of the […]

According to two noted political observers, the Washington rally planned for this weekend by the often-raucous cable TV commentator Glenn Beck has nothing to do with restoring honor to the nation’s capital. “It’s taking a slap at the movement in a way consistent with what the tea party has done,” said Ron Walters, retired University […]

While the races for mayor and D.C. City Council chairperson have heated up several degrees in anticipation of the Sept. 14 primary, the contest in Northeast Washington’s Ward 5 has also begun to simmer. Incumbent Councilman Harry Thomas Jr. is faced with five contenders, three of whom told the AFRO in interviews this week that […]

In a measure to ensure fair practices are followed in the Washington Teachers Union elections, the American Federation of Teachers has placed the organization under its control. According to the AFT, the action is also part of an ongoing effort to make sure the elections are consistent with WTU’s constitution and don’t involve its day-to-day […]

With classes slated to begin on Aug. 23, officials for the District of Columbia Public Schools system have announced new tools for providing a smooth transition into the new school year. In ensuring that all students and parents have access to information and support necessary for enrolling and attending classes, officials have established a comprehensive […]

Getting to and from doctor’s appointments and geriatric care facilities has just been made easier for District senior citizens, who lack their own transportation. According to an announcement this week by Mayor Adrian Fenty and Clarence Brown, director for the Office on Aging, the city shelled out about $649,000 for 11 new wheelchair accessible vehicles […]

Eight months after it was closed for demolition of a pier and widening of the roadway, the pedestrian bridge over Interstate 295 re-opened this week, restoring important links to the Anacostia community. Completion of the project – DDOT’s largest bridge re-design to date at a cost of $300 million – marks another milestone in the […]

Despite community outcry, the Public Charter School Board last week voted unanimously to close the doors of the Kamit Institute for Magnificent Achievers Public Charter School, an Afrocentric charter school in Washington, D.C. However, even as KIMA follows the footsteps of a handful of sister facilities that had their charters revoked, its officials vowed to […]