A study by graduate students at American University’s School of Communications reveals that when Mayor-elect Vincent Gray assumes office Jan. 2, he will do so amid a city that appears to have come undone. The study titled, “A Divided City” was a recent feature of the university’s online publication, American Observer and included a three-part […]
Author Archives: DorothyRowley
AFROStaffWriter
Posted inNational News
President Signs Tax Cut Bill
President Obama Dec.17 signed into law the $858 billion tax cut bill passed by the House over objections from both Democrats and Republicans. “We are here with some good news for the American people this holiday season,” Mr. Obama said. The bill passed in the House Dec. 16 as a result of a 277-148 vote […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Former Detroit Mayor Kilpatrick Faces Extortion, Bribery, and Racketeering Charges
Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick (D), already serving a five-year prison sentence for violating the terms of his probation on earlier charges, now faces charges of running a “criminal ring” with his father and two aides, which collected millions of dollars in bribes for rigging municipal contracts. A federal grand jury handed up a […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Council Ponders Residency Requirement for Homeless Shelters
Finding shelter this winter within the District’s dozen or so homeless shelters might not be as simple as it has been in the past if the City Council gives its nod to a bill that would require proof of residency for indigent people looking for a warm place to stay overnight. Currently, the city allows […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Councilwoman Alexander Criticizes Barry’s Reality Show
Ward 7 Councilwoman Yvette Alexander is on the attack—nothing to do with city business, but rather her Council peers’ appearance on Marion Barry’s “Mayor for Life” reality show. According to Alexander, who has called the show “cheesy,” City Council members and staff need to stick to their duties serving the District and forget about visions […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Brown, Travel Industry at Odds over Tax Proposal
A key segment of the travel industry is taking the District of Columbia City Council to task, with claims that well-paying jobs with decent benefits stand to be lost in the wake of Councilman Michael Brown’s proposed online hotel vendors tax. Brown’s Payment of Full Hotel Taxes by Online Vendors Act of 2010 has the […]
Posted inNational News
Fisk University to Appeal Art Sale Ruling
Fisk University in Nashville plans to appeal a court decision last month that set limits on the sale of its prized Stieglitz art collection, according to a recent university-issued statement. The 101-piece collection was given to Fisk 50 years ago as a public trust by artist Georgia O’Keeffe, who married photographer Alfred Stieglitz. The items […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Mixed Reactions to Gray’s Proposed Budget Cuts
District residents have varying sentiments regarding the City Council’s proposed budget, especially a controversial move to curb spending on welfare benefits. During a Nov. 30 hearing, residents representing organizations ranging from neighborhood associations to nonprofit advocacy groups and a panel of District government workers heard how the city faces a $188 million budget shortfall that […]
Posted inNational News
DREAM Act Stalls in Senate
The DREAM Act, a measure aimed at providing grown children of illegal immigrants a path to American citizenship, stalled in the Senate on Dec. 9 after Democrats failed to muster the 60 votes needed to avoid a GOP filibuster. As a result, Senate Democrats conceded that they did not have the votes to pass the […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
CDC Report: Black Women at Higher Death Risk from Pregnancy Complications
African-American women are at the greatest risk of dying from pregnancy-related complications, largely because they tend to forego prenatal care, according to new data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Overall, Black women are three to four times more likely than White women to succumb to difficult pregnancies. CDC also found that […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Report: District’s Blacks, Hispanics Lack Internet Services
Survey findings by the Washington, D.C. –based Public Media Corps reveal that when it comes to accessing the Internet to secure products and services as well as for use in honing skills, Blacks and Latinos in the District tend to be at a disadvantage. As a result, the digital divide widens, leading some to ponder […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Rhee Launches Reformation Initiative
Former District of Columbia Public Schools chief Michelle Rhee will not be leaving the city after all. According to an announcement she made this week on the “Oprah Winfrey Show,” the reform czar will remain in the District to head up a new education group aimed at attracting one million members. “I am going to […]