Author Archives: Shernay Williams

In the wake of criticism that she lacks a well-structured vision for the city, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake addressed a gamut of issues during her State of the City speech, unveiling a 10-year budgetary plan and initiatives to combat domestic violence and drug addiction. “Today, more than ever, we face a crossroads,” she said, noting that […]

While one of the most renowned medical institutions in the country trains future physicians and divvies out top notch services, it operates in the heart of an area with draconian health disparities and limited health care access. Ron Peterson, president of Johns Hopkins Hospital, says he “is willing to take responsibility” to improve health conditions […]

For the third year in a row, more Maryland high schoolers passed advanced placement (AP) courses than students in any other state, according to the College Board’s annual “AP Report to the Nation.” The report measures how educators across the country are increasing access to AP courses – college preparatory classes that allow high school […]

As video game casinos continue to pop up around Maryland – the most recent opening just miles outside Ocean City earlier this month – the status of Baltimore slots remains in limbo. City officials say they aren’t accepting bids for a Baltimore venue until a string of legal issues stemming from the last, and only, […]

Commencing his first full semester post-inauguration, Morgan State University President Dr. David Wilson unveiled a strategic plan intended to spearhead infrastructure upgrades, encourage community development and double student enrollment over the next 10 years. The newly minted leader, who was inaugurated last October, said his plan will boost enrollment by expanding competitive research and academic […]

Three weeks after their contentious appointment of William “Pete” Welch to his mother’s vacated ninth district seat, city council members are proposing changes to the vacancy filling process. Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young and Councilman William H. Cole have introduced a rule change that would require 11 residents of the vacated district to serve […]

The city health commissioner says the recent expansion of a healthy foods program providing low-income Baltimore residents with easier access to produce and quality fare is one of the city’s best attempts to address grave health disparities reported among city neighborhoods. On Jan. 31, Baltimore officials announced that the city’s virtual supermarket program called Baltimarket, […]

Instead of roaming Baltimore City’s streets last Halloween, Kenneth Franklin, a 17-year-old Upland resident, spent his holiday evening playing basketball and lifting weights in his neighborhood Druid Hill Y Center. The decision may have saved his young life. Days later, Franklin discovered that one of his fellow Y friends had been shot and killed Halloween […]

Gov. Martin O’Malley unveiled his much-anticipated 2012 state budget proposal last week, apparently closing a $1.3 billion projected budget shortfall by reforming the state’s pension system, consolidating governmental offices and calling for deep cuts to Medicaid. Yet, the budget freezes K-12 funding, slightly raises college tuition, proposes no tax increases or state furloughs and somehow […]

A group of independent Black journalists and community activists are demanding comment from freshly sworn-in State’s Attorney Gregg Bernstein about his dismissal of felony charges against a Jewish man accused of attacking a Black teenager in Northwest Baltimore last November. Last week, Bernstein’s office would not comment on the felony assault charge they dropped against […]