Author Archives: DorothyRowley

With the Sept.14 primary just weeks away, the fundraising efforts of incumbent Adrian Fenty and City Council Chairman Vincent Gray say a lot about where the contentious race could be headed. Added to that, according to a new citywide poll, Gray has gained a lead over his chief opponent – Leo Alexander is running a […]

While Metro usually employs a proactive stance against violence on its trains, in light of the Aug. 6 youth-involved brawl at the Gallery Place station, several new steps have been adopted to offset recurrences, a Metro official told the AFRO this week. At the same time, Lisa Farbenstein said, the fracas that proceeded to the […]

With classes slated to resume Aug. 23, District of Columbia Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee welcomed 400 new instructors during three days of orientation activities this week. In comments made at the Columbia Heights Education Center, Rhee promised her latest corps of recruits that if they performed their jobs well, students would exceed their expectations. […]

When it comes to the distribution of medical marijuana in the nation’s capital, qualified residents who least can afford it could be in line for a break, as the District’s new mandate will include a provision for distributing the drug at a lower rate for low-income patients. But according to Dan Riffle, a legislative analyst […]

At-large Councilman Kwame Brown, who is in a heated contest for the D.C. Council chairmanship with former Ward 5 representative Vincent Orange, has won yet another straw poll. Having already succeeded in polls for wards 3, 4 and 7, Brown, in this latest vote that was sponsored by residents of Ward 8, proved his mettle […]

The race for Ward 1 representation in the D.C. City Council is shaping up as one of the most heated contests leading up to the Sept. 14 primary if a recent candidates’ forum is any indication. A July 29 forum convened in downtown Washington to familiarize voters with Ward 1 candidates got off to a […]

The D.C. Latino Caucus is going to bat for mayoral contender Vincent Gray. In providing its landslide endorsement earlier this month, the Caucus, which serves as the official voice for Latinos in the District’s Democratic State Committee, voted 37 to 1 in favor of the current City Council chairman. The vote came in stark opposition […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Having gained Congress’ nod of approval, the District’s Marijuana for Medical Treatment Amendment Act of 2010 has cleared its final hurdle. But considering that local officials now face the tasks of dealing with dispensary applications and establishing regulations, it’s likely to be early next year before the law goes into full effect. […]

A leading official with the Washington Teachers Union said its president, George Parker, knew when he signed the new teachers contract that more teachers were in line for termination, and gave Chancellor Michelle Rhee free rein to hand out more pink slips. “These firings are the result of the new contract,” WTU Vice President Nathan […]

A faulty track circuit system was likely the cause of the June 22, 2009 rush hour Metro crash that claimed nine lives, injured several others and caused $25 million in damages, concluded federal officials Tuesday. More than a year following the horrific crash on the Red Line, the National Transportation Safety Board reported the results […]

With the recent installation of 12 roadside speed cameras at various sites in the city – but mostly in the Southeast area – District officials are showing just how serious they are about getting motorists to slow down. At the same time, the city is poised to bring in even more revenue this year from […]