Author Archives: DorothyRowley

Blacks across America are drowning in debt and, unless they start putting finances in better perspective, their future freedom is at stake. Those were the sentiments expressed by the Rev. DeForest Soaries, pastor of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, N.J. during a segment of “Almighty Debt,” a special which aired Oct. 21 […]

D.C Ranks Near Top for Talking, Texting While Driving

Washington, D.C. motorists are headed for record numbers of citations for talking and texting while driving. That’s the conclusion of District of Columbia police who reportedly issued 11,088 cell-phone-related citations through September of this year. If the pace continues, officers could dish out almost 15,000 tickets by year’s end. Use of phones is prohibited while […]

Afro Briefs

Risks High Among Blacks for HIV Contraction

A new estimate by the Centers for Disease Control claims that one in 22 Blacks will be diagnosed with AIDS in their lifetime, more than twice the risk for Latinos and eight times that of Whites. The estimate, reported this week by the Associated Press, is an update from three years ago and is based […]

Afro Briefs

Predatory Lending Overly Victimize Blacks

Blacks are more vulnerable to lending predatory practices, particularly when it comes to securing home mortgages, a recent CNN report found. But CNN also reported that victims of high cost interest rates and overpriced housing are fighting back by taking on subprime lenders. For instance, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed suit against one mortgage […]

New CVS Clinic Serves Benning Residents

A new facility touted as part of a modern day solution to serious health care problems—particularly in areas where there is a shortage of providers— has opened inside the CVS pharmacy in the Benning community. The MinuteClinic health care center, located in Ward 7 on the 300 block of 40th St. N.E., is the second […]

Waterfront Development Poised As World-Class Attraction

A portion of the smallest quadrant in Washington, D.C., is about to undergo a transformation that could serve as a model for similar waterfront redevelopments across the country. But according to a minority organization that has worked tirelessly to ensure that a Benjamin Banneker memorial is included in the $1.5 billion project along the waterfront […]

Council Measure Would Hasten Special Elections

The City Council of the District of Columbia has approved a measure that would require the Board of Elections and Ethics to hold a special election to fill a vacancy occurring in the office of mayor, City Council chairman or Council member on the first Tuesday, following 60 days after a respective vacancy has been […]

More Affordable Housing Underway for Ward 8

A new affordable housing option has been unveiled in Southeast Washington, which has the distinction of having the highest concentration of low-income accommodations in the city. Occupancy for the mixed-housing initiative, which is being constructed adjacent to Matthews Memorial Baptist Church on Martin Luther King Avenue, will comprise disadvantaged families and individuals, including senior citizens […]

Black Firefighters File Lawsuit

Alleging a decades-long system of discrimination surrounding the discipline and promotion of African- American firefighters and EMS workers, a group of current and former employees has taken their concerns public by filing a 31-page class action lawsuit against the city’s fire department. The D.C. Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services, which has become known […]

National News

First Lady Hits Campaign Trail for Democrats

by DorothyRowleyOctober 16, 2010January 25, 2022

First Lady Michelle Obama has embarked on a vigorous two-week campaign swing in search of Democratic votes prior to next month’s midterm elections. With two years left on President Obama’s term, his wife’s fundraising presence on the campaign trail is seen as a means of rallying support both for fellow Democrats and Obama’s second term. […]

Metro Mulls SmarTrip Fare Changes

by DorothyRowleyOctober 14, 2010January 25, 2022

SmarTrip card users are about to see their fare cut in half. But the change could also lead to costly problems for Metro. After months of wrangling over the matter, officials announced recently that the $5 fee for the plastic cards will be reduced to $2.50, and that to help things process smoothly, new cards […]