A senior aide to Mayor Brandon M. Scott has asked city ethics and oversight boards to review Inspector General Isabel Cumming’s online conduct following a Facebook post that included a YouTube video with an AI-generated image of the mayor. The request comes amid an ongoing legal dispute between the mayor’s office and the inspector general over access to city records and the scope of the OIG’s investigative authority.
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 inNAACP
Baltimore County NAACP raises money to send students to national ACT-SO competition
The Baltimore County NAACP is raising $30,000 to send local high school students to the NAACP’s national ACT-SO competition at its annual convention in Chicago. Through the yearlong enrichment program, students advance from local contests to a national stage where they showcase work in fields ranging from the arts to STEM, while organizers say the experience builds confidence, community and opportunity.
Posted inBaltimore Government
Baltimore residents press for new investments at Taxpayers’ Night for FY2027 budget
At Taxpayers’ Night on April 22, Baltimore residents weighed in on Mayor Brandon M. Scott’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget and called for new investments across senior services, housing and community programs. Several speakers focused on long-needed repairs to the Forest Park Senior Center, while others urged greater support for grassroots organizations and worker cooperatives.
Posted inBUSINESS
Trusts explained: What they do, what they don’t and why they matter
Trusts allow individuals to control how their assets are managed and distributed, both during life and after death. This Financial Literacy Month, learn from experts who say trusts can provide flexibility and protection in certain situations.
Posted inBUSINESS
Navigating life’s big changes: Expert advice on finances, divorce and disasters
Life-changing events—from divorce to a serious illness to natural disasters—can upend not only daily routines but financial stability. Certified financial planner Zaneilia Harris shares strategies to help households prepare, protect and recover when the unexpected happens.
Posted inBaltimore News
State of Downtown report points to gains, ongoing transition in Baltimore’s core
The Downtown Partnership of Baltimore’s 2025 State of Downtown report highlighted continued momentum in the city’s core, pointing to gains in public safety, residential growth and private investment alongside ongoing shifts in the office market and redevelopment pipeline. City leaders said long-term progress will depend on coordinated public and private efforts tied to the Downtown RISE master plan and a series of new development incentives and projects
Posted inBUSINESS
New Visit Baltimore CEO, Kireem Swinton pledges to reframe Charm City’s story
Kireem Swinton has been named permanent president and CEO of Visit Baltimore after serving in the role on an interim basis since July 2025. In his new role, Swinton said he aims to expand tourism while reshaping how Baltimore is perceived on the national and global stage through storytelling and major events.
Posted inHBCU
70 years later: Xavier alumnae reflect on education and life in segregated New Orleans
For 93-year-old Verlie Decay and 91-year-old Hortense Reine, attending Xavier University of Louisiana was more than a chance at a degree—it was a gateway to opportunity in a segregated city. The two alumni recall creating their own social and cultural spaces, forming lifelong friendships and finding purpose in careers shaped by the barriers of their time.
Posted inArts & Culture
Devin Allen takes the helm for SCOUT, Baltimore’s affordable art fair
Baltimore photographer Devin Allen has been named curator of SCOUT 2026, the city’s affordable art fair held as part of Artscape. As curator, Allen will spotlight local and national artists while helping build stronger connections between creators and the community.”
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Devin Allen takes the helm for SCOUT, Baltimore’s affordable art fair
Baltimore photographer Devin Allen has been named curator of SCOUT 2026, the city’s affordable art fair held as part of Artscape. As curator, Allen will spotlight local and national artists while helping build stronger connections between creators and the community.”
Posted inNational News
Calls for investigation after Haitian asylum seeker dies days after ICE release
A 31-year-old Haitian asylum seeker was found dead at a Pittsburgh bus stop just days after being released from federal immigration custody. Attorneys and advocacy groups are calling for answers about the circumstances surrounding her release and death.
Posted inElections 2026
Black Voters Matter raises alarms over threats to voting rights ahead of 2026 midterms
By Megan SaylesAFRO Staff Writermsayles@afro.com Black Voters Matter (BVM) led a virtual briefing with Black media on April 1, alerting people to escalating attacks on voting rights and urging them to remain vigilant ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Leaders highlighted current legislative proposals and court cases that could redefine voter access nationwide, particularly in […]