By Mark F. Gray, Special to the AFRO, mgray@afro.com Behind the scenes, Curtis Symonds has been a player in the cable television industry for nearly 40 years. In the dark ages when Black Entertainment Television was an idea that was looking for cable distribution, Symonds made it happen. When ESPN was reluctant to broadcast Black College Sports, […]
Author Archives: Mark F. Gray
Posted inBaltimore News, HBCU, Maryland Government, NEWS, POLITICS, Prince George's County News, U.S. Government
Brown Leads Bills Benefitting State, Military, HBCUs
By Mark F. Gray, Special to the AFRO, mgray@afro.com Maryland’s 4th District United States Congressman Anthony Brown, in his role as House Armed Services Committee Vice-Chairman, led fellow Democrats in voting for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Department of Defense (DOD) has been authorized $733 billion in spending for national defense and overseas operations. The […]
Posted inNEWS, POLITICS, Prince George's County News
County Moves Toward Renaming Columbus Day
By Mark F. Gray, Special to the AFRO, mgray@afro.com If Prince George’s Council member At-Large Mel Franklin has things his way, Native Americans will gain a new form of reparations on Columbus Day. Franklin is hoping to recognize the history, culture and accomplishments of Native Americans in Prince George’s County and across the nation by changing […]
Posted inNEWS, Prince George's County News
Investigation Opens As Arrests and Convictions Are Made
By Mark F. Gray, AFRO Staff Writer, mgray@afro.com It was an extraordinarily busy week for the justice system in Prince George’s County. Two cases now have suspects in custody, while another investigation continues after an apparent homicide in Mount Rainier last weekend. In addition, a jury convicted a man who had been accused of killing a D.C. […]
Posted inAfro Briefs, NEWS, Prince George's County News
Page Sentenced For Rape of Girlfriend’s Daughter
By Mark F. Gray, Special to the AFRO, mgray@afro.com Victor Page was an iconic urban basketball legend who became a top prospect at Georgetown University seemingly destined for a career in the NBA. Now Page faces 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting his girlfriend’s 17-year-old daughter last December. Prince George’s County State’s Attorney […]
Posted inMaryland Sports, National Sports, NEWS, Prince George's County News, Sports
BSU Ranked No. 25 In Division II Poll
By Mark F. Gray, Special to the AFRO, mgray@afro.com National respect for the Bowie State football program has been a long time coming, but it has finally arrived. The defending CIAA champions, who won their first postseason game ever last season, find themselves ranked in the top 25 nationally heading toward the kickoff of the 2019 season. […]
Posted inMaryland Sports, National Sports, NEWS, Prince George's County News, Sports
Younger Russells Remain Undefeated
By Mark F, Gray, Special to the AFRO, mgray@afro.com With their big brother and World Boxing Council trainer Gary Russell, Jr in their corner, younger siblings Antonio and Antuwane went to the land of 1,000 lakes and put on a show. The youngest fighters of Maryland’s first family of boxing were impressive by overwhelming their opponents […]
Posted inD.C. Government, District of Columbia Government, NEWS, POLITICS, Washington D.C. News
Marriott Accused Of “Drip Pricing”
By Mark F. Gray, AFRO Staff Writer, mgray@afro.com Marriott International, the company that owns the international conglomerate of hotels around the world, is being sued by the District of Columbia for allegedly deceiving customers by charging hidden fees to increase their profits. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) is claiming that company’s “deceptive and misleading pricing […]
Posted inNEWS, Washington D.C. News
Kingman BGC 50 Years Later
By Mark F. Gray, Special to the AFRO, mgray@afro.com Born after the riots following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Kingman Boys and Girls Club (BGC) began as a place that gave young, Black D.C. residents a place to congregate and flourish. It has earned a reputation for developing one of the top youth athletic […]
Posted inNEWS, Prince George's County News
Higher Achievement Center Expands to Greenbelt
By Mark F. Gray, AFRO Staff Writer, mgray@afro.com On the heels to getting a new Chief Executive Officer to run its day-to-day operations, Prince George’s County now cut the ribbon on a new Achievement Center at Greenbelt Middle School. During a ribbon cutting ceremony on July 2, Higher Achievement, a leading education advancement program for middle school […]
Posted inNEWS, POLITICS, Prince George's County News
Leonard Replaces Tonga As Upper Marlboro Mayor
By Mark F. Gray, AFRO Staff Writer, mgray@afro.com The capital of Prince George’s County has found its next mayor after the untimely resignation of her predecessor. Wanda Leonard officially replaced Tonga Turner, who resigned last month to spend more time with her family and to focus on her professional career outside politics. Leonard was elected as President […]
Posted inNEWS, POLITICS, Prince George's County News
Wayne Curry’s Legacy Lives On
By Mark F. Gray, AFRO Staff Writer, mgray@afro.com When driving down Rt. 202 in Largo the echoes of former Prince George’s County Executive Wayne K. Curry linger. Whether from FedEx Field that he refused to let the citizens of the County pay for, or the building which bears his name and is where the day to day […]