D.C. Council member Mary Cheh (D) introduced hiring practice legislation to limit, vet and screen executive appointees. The bill, introduced Tuesday as the Council’s fall session began, was a result of a five-month probe—led by Cheh—which concluded that Mayor Vincent Gray’s top aides engaged in cronyism and improperly gave money to another candidate during the […]
Author Archives: Erica Butler
AFRO Staff Writer
Posted inAfro Briefs
Republican Presidential Hopefuls Flirt with Anti-Science
Recent political debate over evolution and creationism among Republican candidates has prompted questions about whether the Grand Old Party is anti-science—and whether that’s dangerous. In August, Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman wrote on Twitter: “To be clear. I believe in evolution and trust scientists on global warming. Call me crazy.” The comment followed comments from […]
Posted inNational News
Maya Angelou Finds MLK Monumental Mistake
Poet Maya Angelou’s public outcry over the rephrasing of a quote inscribed on the Martin Luther King Jr memorial has stirred debate, and one lingering questions: Why didn’t Angelou speak up before the memorial was made? In 1968, King delivered a speech about his eulogy at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. In the event […]
Posted inNational News
Critics of Obama Compare Him to Martin Luther King
In the midst of the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial celebration, a disgruntled Washingtonian protested in front of the Washington Convention Center—which housed most MLK celebration events—and began to chant anti-Obama idioms. On Aug. 26, right after the “Table of Brotherhood Project” panel discussion, Hassan Shabazz, 45, stood outside of the Washington Convention Center during […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
D.C. Metro Will Remain Open as Hurricane Irene Approaches East Coast
New York has issued its first-ever subway shutdown as Hurricane Irene approaches the East Coast, but Washington, D.C.’s metro transit will operate as normal, WMATA officials said. “At this point, we have no plans to change,” Steven Taudenkidel, spokesman for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, told the AFRO. “We open at 7 a.m. and […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
D.C. Declares State of Emergency as Irene Approaches
Click here to view a slideshow, Hurricane Irene Hits Chesapeake Region Washington, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray declared a state of emergency for the city Aug. 26 as Hurricane Irene is expected to make landfall with high winds and heavy rainfall. The city joins Maryland and Virginia, which have already declared their state of emergencies. Irene, […]
Posted inPrince George's County News
Non-Profit Provides Job Security for Disabled Amid Financial Crisis
When Maryland Community Connection (MCC) began, the non-profit was just an “informal group run”—as they called it—that gave children and adults with development disabilities free tickets to basketball and baseball games. Now, 10 years later, as politicians scramble to resolve America’s financial crisis and unemployment rate, MCC has managed to find jobs for those who […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Major Gives Food for Thought from Afghanistan Trip
During a time when Americans applaud troop withdrawal more than deployment in Afghanistan, a soldier’s desire to head back to the war-ridden country may be frowned upon. But Major Wendi Brown said she would go back immediately as her experience made her the “proud American” some people refuse to be called. “I would definitely go […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Police Praised for Investigation of Transgender Shooting
One D.C. organization said they have been somewhat pleased with the police investigation of two shooting incidents—one fatal—involving transgendered women in Northeast D.C. in July. Earline Budd, founder of local group Transgender Health Empowerment (THE), said the Metropolitan Police Department is doing “alright” to find out suspects for each shooting case. “The police are getting […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
AFRO Exclusive Interview with Chancellor Kaya Henderson
After nearly eight months in office and a unanimous confirmation by the D.C. Council, Kaya Henderson is set to serve as the second chancellor since public schools control was turned over to the mayor in 2007. Henderson’s vision for D.C. Public School (DCPS) is pretty straightforward: A better school requires all hands on deck. “The […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Black Catholics Get Sneak Peek at MLK Memorial
Nuns and priests from the National Black Catholic Clergy Joint Conference recently got a first-hand look at the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., a month before its official unveiling. On July 27, Sister Antona Ebo, who marched alongside King in Selma, Alabama in 1965, and more than 75 […]
Posted inMusic Reviews
AFRO Interview: Grammy-nominated R&B Artist Emily King Releases ‘Seven’
R&B artist Emily King proves that being dropped from a major label doesn’t necessarily mean failure, just fuel for more success. As an independent artist, the New York native may garner more Grammy nods for her new EP, “Seven,” which features a variety of soulful tracks. Before her departure from J Records, King released an […]