A new report from the DowntownDC Business Improvement District shows a mixed economic picture for the city center, with gains in cultural activity and public safety offset by declines in jobs, tourism and housing development. City and business leaders say downtown’s recovery remains uneven as federal policy shifts and changing visitor patterns continue to shape its trajectory.
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 inBaltimore News
Disappearance of Baltimore man with schizophrenia and epilepsy underscores challenges in missing persons cases
It’s been more than a year since 22-year-old Tiyaun J. Leach went missing from West Baltimore, leaving his family desperate for answers. His mother, LaMonica Patton, continues to call hospitals, shelters and jails in a relentless search for her son, who struggles with schizophrenia and epilepsy.
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimore mother desperate for information on missing son with schizophrenia and epilepsy
It’s been more than a year since 22-year-old Tiyaun J. Leach went missing from West Baltimore, leaving his family desperate for answers. His mother, LaMonica Patton, continues to call hospitals, shelters and jails in a relentless search for her son, who struggles with schizophrenia and epilepsy.
Posted inNational News
Malcolm X’s global vision revisited on what would be his 101st birthday
By Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer msayles@afro.com More than six decades after his 1965 assassination, El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz—better known by the name Malcolm X– reremains one of the most influential and debated figures in Black political history. Still, scholars say the final years of his life are often misunderstood and simplified into a narrative that […]
Posted inBUSINESS
Greater Baltimore Committee unveils 2025 investment scorecard for the region
The Baltimore region’s economy continued to be shaped by large-scale “mega deals” in 2025, even as overall investment activity became more concentrated and uneven. A new scorecard from the Greater Baltimore Committee shows real estate remained the dominant driver of growth, while venture capital and foreign investment trends lagged behind peer cities.
Posted inNational News
Southern Poverty Law Center pleads not guilty to charges alleging misuse of donor funds for informants
The Southern Poverty Law Center has pleaded not guilty to federal charges alleging it misused donor funds to pay informants linked to extremist groups. The case has sparked competing claims between prosecutors and civil rights advocates over the organization’s long-running investigative practices.
Posted inBlack Press
Black Press outlets earn top honors at MDDC awards ceremony
The Black Press earned top honors at the annual MDDC Press Association awards ceremony, with the AFRO, The Washington Informer and Baltimore Beat collectively capturing dozens of awards recognizing excellence in journalism, design and multimedia storytelling across Maryland, Delaware and Washington, D.C.
Posted inCOMMUNITY
The hidden costs of being Black in America
Black consumers often face higher costs for everyday financial services, from banking fees to insurance premiums. Experts say those added expenses can quietly compound over time alongside the persistent, ever-growing racial wealth gap.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Candidates for mayor and D.C. congressional delegate outline vision for District’s future
Candidates for D.C. mayor and delegate laid out their priorities at a debate focused on the District’s future, including housing affordability, education and economic opportunity. The May 2 event brought together contenders for both offices as they outlined differing approaches to statehood, economic growth and addressing inequality in the city.
Posted inBaltimore News
Coppin State hosts economic inclusion conference, highlights West Baltimore revitalization efforts
Coppin State University brought together elected officials, business leaders and community advocates for its 2026 Economic Inclusion and Innovation Research Conference, focusing on strategies to expand economic mobility and investment in West Baltimore. Panelists highlighted ongoing revitalization efforts along the West North Avenue corridor, including housing redevelopment, small business support and workforce development initiatives aimed at strengthening neighborhood wealth-building opportunities.
Posted inMoney
What they wish they knew about money: Older adults pass on financial advice
For many older adults, financial wisdom didn’t come from classrooms or dinner table conversations but from years of experience, mistakes and hard-won lessons. Now, Washington residents Verlincia Roach, 62, and Carol Fillmore, 79, are sharing what they wish they had known about saving, spending and building financial stability in hopes younger generations can avoid the same missteps.
Posted inBaltimore News
Mfume secures $500k grant to expand job training for returning citizens
By Megan SaylesAFRO Staff Writermsayles@afro.com The National Center on Institutions and Alternatives (NCIA) closed out national Second Chance Month with a $500,000 federal grant secured by Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.-07) during the federal appropriations process to support returning citizens and prevent recidivism. The funds, which were delivered on April 27, will be used for 50 […]
