By Megan SaylesAFRO Staff Writermsayles@afro.com Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott released his $4.6 billion preliminary budget for fiscal year 2026 on April 2 with a plan to eliminate an $85 million deficit. The shortfall has been brought on by the city’s expenditures outpacing its revenue, much like the state of Maryland. Some of the factors […]
Author Archives: Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer
Megan Sayles is a business reporter for The Baltimore Afro-American paper. Before this, Sayles interned with Baltimore Magazine, where she wrote feature stories about the city’s residents, nonprofits and initiatives. Her love of music inspired her to be a writer. At a young age she realized it was not the melody that she was so infatuated with, but the lyrics that made up the song and connected with listeners. Sayles grew up in Pasadena, Maryland, and is a 2021 graduate of the University of Maryland, where for her senior capstone project she reported on how the coronavirus and inequality intersected in Baltimore. She also worked as a staff writer and copy editor for campus publications, including Stories Beneath the Shell and The Black Explosion. Sayles teamed up with a partner to report on how the pandemic had put many more responsibilities on the oldest child in families. The Associated Press and other news organizations picked up her story.
Posted inMaryland News
Maryland faces pressure over new bill to limit state liability in child sex abuse cases
A new bill in the Maryland General Assembly would cap the state’s financial liability for child sexual abuse claims, cutting the maximum payout for survivors from $890,000 to $400,000 for suits filed after Oct. 1, 2025. Critics, including civil rights attorney Ben Crump, argue the measure would deny justice to thousands of victims, many of whom suffered abuse in state-run facilities.
Posted inMaryland News
BWI’s growth under Ricky Smith: A look back as he heads to Atlanta
After nearly a decade of leadership, Ricky D. Smith is stepping down as CEO and executive director of the Maryland Aviation Administration to take on a new role as general manager of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Before his departure, Smith reflected on his accomplishments at BWI Airport, including expanding capacity, fostering minority business participation and enhancing airport amenities.
Posted inCongressional Black Caucus (CBC)
From policy to impact: CBCF launches tool to analyze executive orders
The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) has launched a new Executive Order Tracker to help Black Americans, researchers and advocates monitor federal policies in real time. Designed to provide clarity on how executive actions impact Black communities, the tool enables users to filter by government agency and key issue areas, like civil rights, economic opportunity and education.
Posted inBaltimore News
Transgender Day of Visibility highlights struggles and resilience amid anti-trans legislation
On Transgender Day of Visibility, advocates celebrate the resilience of trans people while confronting a political landscape that increasingly seeks to erase their rights. As executive actions target gender-affirming care, military service and public recognition, activists stress the urgent need for awareness, protection and community support.
Posted inHealth
15 years later: The Affordable Care Act’s impact and the fight to keep it intact
For 15 years, the Affordable Care Act has reshaped the U.S. health care system, expanding coverage to millions and cutting the uninsured rate nearly in half. Yet, as political battles continue, health advocates warn that efforts to weaken the law could shift financial burdens back onto the public. (Credit: Unsplash/ Francisco Venancio)
Posted inBaltimore News
Downtown Partnership of Baltimore releases annual ‘State of Downtown’ report
By Megan SaylesAFRO Staff Writermsayles@afro.com The Downtown Partnership of Baltimore (DPOB) unveiled its 2024 State of Downtown report on March 20. The annual analysis provides updates on key indicators of the health of Baltimore’s Central Business District, including data on employment, tourism, employment, vacancies and public safety According to DPOB’s president, Shelonda Stokes, downtown is […]
Posted inPOLITICS
President of federal workers union addresses job cuts and program slashes
Federal workers across the country face an uncertain future as the 47th president’s administration pushes deep cuts to jobs and critical programs, sparking legal battles led by union leaders and lawmakers. During a virtual town hall, Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.-07) and Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown warned that these actions threaten not only livelihoods but also essential services, and vowed to fight back in court and on Capitol Hill.
Posted inBlack History
Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission prepares for final public hearing in Baltimore
The Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission (MLTRC) will host a two-day public hearing in Baltimore on April 4 and 5 to address institutional accountability and explore reparations for the state’s legacy of racial terror lynchings. This final hearing will focus on reconciliation, with expert panels examining criminal justice reform, media coverage of lynching’s history, and the lasting trauma caused by these racial injustices.
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Baltimore Center Stage brings ‘Akeelah and The Bee’ to Charm City
By Megan SaylesAFRO Staff Writermsayles@afro.com Baltimore Center Stage’s (BCS) newest production, “Akeelah and The Bee,” opens March 20, and it’s kicking off BCS’s spring celebration of youth programs. Based on the 2006 hit film of the same name, the play follows 11-year-old Akeelah who lives in a rough Chicago neighborhood. With support from her community, […]
Posted inEducation
Reviving Freedom Schools: ASALH’s fight to counter book bans and censored history
In response to growing efforts to restrict Black history education, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) has revived the concept of Freedom Schools, originally developed in the 1960s. These schools, designed to teach African-American history and empower future generations, will expand across the country.
Posted inBaltimore News
Three newsrooms, one purpose: The women defining Black Press in Baltimore
Three Black women, Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper, Paris Brown, and Lisa Snowden, are leading three Black news organizations in Baltimore, carrying on the legacy of the Black Press and striving to sustain accurate and essential information for Black communities in the face of attacks against African Americans.