By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Baltimore Museum of Art celebrates Black history with new exhibit, “Omar Ba: Political Animals” Celebrate Black creativity with a visit to the Baltimore Museum of Art this month. Throughout February the museum will be showing appreciation for Black history by welcoming guests to explore the first U.S. Museum […]
Author Archives: Tashi McQueen AFRO Staff Writer
Posted inMaryland Government
Maryland Del. Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk speaks on becoming first Afro-Latina woman to chair Health and Government Committee
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Del. Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk (D-MD-21) is now the chairwoman of the House Health and Government Operations Committee during this 2023 Maryland General Assembly session. She has participated in the Health and Government Operations Committee as long as she has been a Delegate since 2007. She replaced former Del. […]
Posted inMaryland Government
Who is Fagan Harris?
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Fagan Harris, a social entrepreneur with roots in Baltimore and Bowie, and a past that includes a term in Oxford, England as a Rhodes Scholar, says he has always been eager to serve people. “I love helping and engaging with people, and I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit,” […]
Posted inNational News
Youth respond to Biden’s 2023 State of the Union Address
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com President Biden addressed the nation with his State of the Union Address on Feb. 7 at 9 p.m. Dillon Bernard, the 23-year old producer of Young People Address, led the third annual “Young People Address the Nation,” directly after the president’s address. Concerns about gun violence, climate change, […]
Posted inMaryland Government
Gov. Wes Moore delivers his first State of the State Address
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Marylanders received their annual update on the status of the state’s affairs from a Black man for the first time in history on the first day of February this year. Governor Wes Moore opened Black History Month with his first State of the State address, delivering a call […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Health Commissioner declares Code Blue Extreme Cold Alert for Baltimore City
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com On the evening of Feb. 3, Baltimore City will be under a Code Blue due to extreme cold weather. Frigid air is expected to come in, presenting estimated wind chills into the single digits. Letitia Dzirasa, the city’s health commissioner, declared a Code Blue Extreme Cold Alert from […]
Posted inPrince George's County News
Fight ensues to preserve a historic burial ground in Montgomery County, Md.
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com A Montgomery County, Md. community and its students are pushing for a state appeals court to help preserve a Black cemetery that bears historic significance. As Black History Month gets underway, the Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition (BACC) said it wants to protect the final remains of an estimated […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Mfume introduces legislation to increase witness protection in Baltimore
By Tashi McQueen,AFRO Political Writertmcqueen@afro.com Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.-07) recently introduced the “Witness Security and Protection Grant Program Act of 2023.” The witness protection bill, if passed, will provide $150 million, $30 million a year for five years, to reinforcing witness protection services for witnesses’ of homicides, felonies, serious drug charges, gang crimes or organized […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Department of Commerce partners with Coppin State University to close West Baltimore’s digital divide
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com On Jan. 30 the U.S. Department of Commerce announced a new collaborative broadband pilot program with Coppin State University, the historically Black university in West Baltimore, entitled ConnectEagle Nation. The program will improve broadband, high-speed internet service throughout West Baltimore while making it more affordable for local residents. […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Upcoming meetings and community forums in the D.C. area
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com The DC Housing Finance Agency commences its ‘The Baldwin DuBois Discussion Series: Equity Access and Social Transformation.’ On Feb. 1, from 9 to 11 a.m., the DC Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA) will kickoff a new discussion series focused on equity access and social transformation. The event will be […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Upcoming meetings and community forums in the Baltimore area
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Baltimore City Council – Public Safety and Government Operations Committee The Baltimore City Council Public Safety and Government Operations Committee will hold a hearing on Feb. 1 at one p.m. The topic of discussion for the hearing is “Human Trafficking Investigations and Prosecutions.” According to information disclosed by […]
Posted inMaryland Government
Application deadline for Gov. Moore’s boards and committee appointments moved to Jan. 31
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Due to an overflow of submissions, the Moore-Miller administration has extended the boards and commissions application deadline to 5 p.m. Jan. 31 Members of the governor’s boards and commissions are private citizens and public servants who help the administration find a solution to government issues. “I am excited […]
