At gas stations in the District of Columbia, fuel is not the only popular product sold. Surprisingly, cigar products, such as the brand Phillies Blunts, are also amongst the fastest selling products at gas stations as well as convenience stores, and drug stores particularly in Wards 7 and 8 according to advocates. This brand has […]
Author Archives: Talib I. Karim
Special to the AFRO
Posted inBaltimore News
Conversation with African American Leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) Series
The 1960’s was a decade of firsts: the first heart transplant surgery was performed and the science fiction series Star Trek made its TV premiere. For African Americans, this period ushered in the first generation of those who dreamt of becoming engineers and scientists with the quest of putting men, and women, on the Moon, […]
Posted inBaltimore News
UMd Dean Talks Facts and Figures About Future Engineers
On a wintery morning in early January of 2009, days before President Obama was sworn into office as the 44th president of this country, another African-American history moment was set to take place. That day, Dr. Darryll Pines, took office as the 13th Dean of University of Maryland’s Clark School of Engineering. In Pines’ opinion, […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Conversation with African American Leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM): Howard University’s Dr. James Mitchell, Ph.D.
In this political year, many are reminded of Iowa, a small state in the Midwest, which served as a launching pad for both President Obama as well as one of his Republican opponents, ultra-conservative Rick Santorum. Four decades earlier, Iowa also launched the remarkable career of James Mitchell, who came to the Buckeye State from […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Black Health Care Power Broker Shares Insights on Industry
Dr. Cedric Bright, MD, recently assumed the post of 112th President of the National Medical Association (NMA). Dr. Bright spoke with me about his group’s relevance in the Obama era and its fight to protect Medicaid and Medicare, which he describes as “products” of the NMA. The NMA has just wrapped up its annual convention in Washington, […]
Posted inNational News
America to Congress: Compromise
Facing a debt crisis in which the nation risks defaulting on its debt obligations – destroying its AAA credit rating, and increasing the federal government’s borrowing costs – President Obama is squared off in a virtual game of “chicken” against Republicans led by House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio. And, for now, it appears that […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Medicare Cuts Could Bankrupt Health System in Nation’s Capitol
While the president and Congressional Republicans negotiate how much to cut out of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security in exchange for raising the nation’s debt limit, one of the biggest losers could be the system of privately owned hospitals, clinics, and health centers that provide service to the 600,000 residents of the nation’s capital. Although […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Catania Scrutiny Puts Breaks on $10 M Medicaid Settlement
A week ago, District-based Chartered Health Plan was within days of ending a complicated lawsuit against the District. The suit sought $14.9 million in reimbursements for dental insurance Chartered provided to disadvantaged and disabled children under the D.C. Medicaid program. According to the D.C. Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF), which contracts with Chartered and […]
Posted inPrince George's County News
Family Celebrates Ties Discovered, Maintained by On-line Connections
Each summer, particularly around the Fourth of July, the Washington area hosts hundreds of family reunions. While many of the families who reunite in the region have long established bonds built over generations, today, through technology, families are celebrating bonds created and maintained online. According to Joyce Rose with the Howard University Department of Afro […]