By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Efforts to bring a large-scale opportunity for equity and economic advancement to Prince George’s County have begun again under the new administration of Maryland Gov. Wes Moore. “Gov. Moore has made this his number one federal issue,” Matthew Verghese, the governor’s senior advisor and director of federal relations, […]
Author Archives: Tashi McQueen AFRO Staff Writer
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Councilwoman Brooke Pinto addresses District’s outdated air conditioning codes as weather is impacted by climate change
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Councilwoman Brooke Pinto, Ward 2, called for the D.C. Construction Codes Coordinating Board (CCCB) to reconsider the time frame on which building owners must turn on communal air conditioning for residents in the District. Pinto argues that the current time frame does not address the temperature irregularities of […]
Posted inMaryland Government
AFRO Spotlight on Black excellence: meet the women in leadership serving as chiefs of staff
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com More Black women have been working their way into prestigious positions in recent years and the chief of staff (COS) role is no exception. Chiefs of staff directly aid the most influential leaders in America, locally and nationally. Pokuaa Owusu-Acheaw stepped into her role as the COS for […]
Posted inBaltimore News
U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen recommends STEM City Baltimore for $2 million federal investment
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has submitted requests for Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) to the Appropriations Committee for community funding projects for Maryland, according to an announcement from Van Hollen. Among the nominees is Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) City Baltimore, which could receive an investment of […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Morgan State University President David Wilson agrees to seven-year extension
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Morgan State University’s (MSU) Board of Regents unanimously voted May 2 to extend the tenure of MSU President David K. Wilson, Ed.D., until 2030, according to a university statement. His new seven-year contract, if served out fully, will make Wilson the fourth longest tenured president in the institution’s […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Mayor Scott says community violence intervention program is dropping crime rates
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Mayor Brandon M. Scott and community leaders recently convened to update the public on the Mayor’s Community Violence Intervention (CVI) Ecosystem. The meeting took place on April 25, was broadcast live on Charm City TV, and included the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE), Safe Streets […]
Posted inMaryland Government
Gov. Moore makes 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion Day official
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com On May 3, 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion Day became a commemorative day for Maryland. Gov. Wes Moore, along with Lt. Governor Aruna Miller, Senate President Bill Ferguson and House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones signed the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion Day, HB370, into law. The largely African-American, […]
Posted inMaryland Government
Longtime Maryland politician Senator Ben Cardin set to retire in 2025
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin alongside his wife, Myrna, announced that he will not be running for re-election in 2024 on May 1. “I love Maryland. I love the people of Maryland and I love everything about our state,” said Cardin, in a video recorded statement released to the […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Upcoming meetings and events in the D.C. area
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com NoMa Farmers Market Come out and meet your neighbors at the NoMa Farmers Market at Alethia Tanner Park this year. The market runs every Thursday from May to October, From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. shoppers can purchase fresh produce and artisan goods, listen to live music and […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Upcoming meetings and events in the Baltimore area
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com National Day of Prayer On May 4, faith leaders and believers around the country will join together for the National Day of Prayer. In Baltimore, events will be held at Calvary Baptist Church from noon to 1 p.m. A National Day of Prayer Service will also be hosted […]
Posted inNational News
Black Americans react to President Joe Biden’s 2024 run for re-election
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com President Biden has officially announced his bid for re-election in 2024. Political analysts had believed Biden would originally announce his run during his impassioned 2023 State of the Union address, but on April 25, he released a campaign video of the announcement on YouTube. “When I ran for […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Maryland leaders discuss next steps in ‘Highway to Nowhere’
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Rep. Kweisi Mfume met with Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott and U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) to discuss plans to redevelop West Baltimore’s “Highway to Nowhere” using a $2 million federal investment. “The partial construction of this highway resulted in the demolition […]
