Author Archives: Shernay Williams

One of the two men accused of murdering an AFRO security guard last spring was sentenced to life in prison with all but 35 years suspended by a circuit court judge April 11. Troy Taylor, 20, pled guilty to first-degree murder, the use of a handgun in the commission of a crime, conspiracy to commit […]

Three months into his post as Baltimore’s top prosecutor and in the wake of a high-profile police towing corruption scandal, City State’s Attorney Gregg Bernstein has tapped a local attorney to head his newly minted police prosecution division. Criminal Defense lawyer Janice Bledsoe will close a private practice she opened in 2007 to lead the […]

A state prosecutor dismissed all criminal charges against former City Council President Lawrence Bell III April 7 after the woman plaintiff failed to present sufficient evidence. Shan Mabry had alleged Bell, 49, burglarized her home, stole prescription sunglasses worth $700, harassed and repeatedly stalked her over several months in 2010. Mabry, who claimed she dated […]

Just before the General Assembly wrapped up this week, state lawmakers gave final approval to a bill changing how minority contractors are viewed when dealing with state contracts. Under the new legislation, state agencies fulfill their commitment to MBE by outsourcing 25 percent of the total value of their contracts to either of the defined […]

Baltimore City Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has proposed to cut library and 311 hours, restructure city employee health benefit plans and halve the city’s contribution to recreation centers in an attempt to close a $65 million budget gap. Her budget proposal, released last week, cuts 10 percent of the city’s administration costs without raising taxes and […]

A week after her gruesome murder, several teddy bears, flowers and cards lay strewn on the sidewalk before Jhoma Blackwell’s home. A child’s pencil drawing of what looks like a girl and a large flower is taped to a porch wall. One man, who lives three doors down from Blackwell, remembers her as a quiet […]

The Baltimore City Council swiftly approved Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s redistricting map during the March 28 city council meeting, despite nays from Jim Kraft, D-1, Belinda Conaway, D-7, and Carl Stokes, D-12. Councilmembers planned to return the map drawing table if state-issued prison numbers resulted in overpopulated districts, but the figures, released last week, documented only […]

Flanked by her husband, Anthony “Bubba” Green, Nancy Green sat behind a long, narrow table before several members of the Maryland Public Service Commission, telling the gruesome story of how her daughter Deanna was killed by stray electricity. “Deanna didn’t touch a live wire or an electrical box,” she said, fighting back tears. “We live […]

Leaked documents that reveal Councilwoman Belinda Conaway, D-7, owns a home in Randallstown have many questioning whether she lives in Baltimore City. Under city charter rules, city councilpersons are mandated to reside within the district they represent, but according to a deed leaked by political blogger and city council aspirant Adam Meister, Conaway may have […]

State lawmakers might repeal a rule that ensures Black and woman-owned businesses are awarded a set percentage of state contracts. The bill – which cleared the House last week – is polarizing the minority business community. Since 2006, Maryland law has required state agencies to allocate 7 percent of contract funds to qualified Black businesses, […]

City budget analysts say the tax hikes, fee increases and other revenue enhancement measures adopted last year to fill the city’s multi-million budget gap have failed to stream in $16.8 million in anticipated cash. The 13 measures, including income and parking tax increases and a contentious bottle levy, were expected to bring in $48 million […]