D.C. Councilwoman Anita Bonds (D-At Large) has introduced legislation to ease the economic lot of seniors in the District. “In my moving around talking to constituents, particularly aging persons, they pointed out how difficult it was to make ends meet…and how precious their homes are to them. A light bulb went off and I thought […]
Author Archives: Zenitha Prince
Special to the AFRO
Posted inAfro Briefs
Rice Moved from U.N. to White House to Be Obama National Security Adviser
President Obama on June 5 named “trusted adviser” Susan Rice as his national security adviser, defying Republican critics who had decried her handling of the attack on a U.S. embassy in Libya, that left four Americans dead. Rice will replace Tom Donilon, who retires July 1; Obama will also nominate Samantha Power, a Harvard professor, […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Blacks, Hispanics Predisposed to Crime, Federal Appeals Ct. Judge Says
A coalition of civil rights groups on June 4 filed an ethics complaint against conservative federal Judge Edith Jones for discriminatory and offensive remarks she allegedly made during a public speech, including a contention that minorities are predisposed to crime. Jones, of the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, reportedly made the remarks at a […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Construction Officially Underway on Baltimore’s First Casino
With the official groundbreaking on May 29, construction of the $400 million Baltimore Horseshoe casino is moving “full steam ahead,” said casino official Alex Dixon. “The groundbreaking is a tremendous first step in bringing the physical building to fruition,” the 32-year-old said. “It’s ceremonial in nature but provides a lot of motivation to the team.” […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Black Republican Beauty Queen Seeks House Seat
A former Miss America now wants a seat in Congress. Erika Harold, Miss America 2003, announced June 4 she’s running for an Illinois House seat and is challenging freshman Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) in next year’s GOP primary. The 33-year-old said her candidacy challenges many stereotypes about what it means to be a Republican. “A […]
Posted inSports
Bolt to End Track Career After 2016 Olympics
The world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt, told reporters this week that he plans to hang up his running shoes after the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Bolt had previously hinted at a future career in soccer, and he’s known to be a talented cricket player. In the meantime, however, Bolt said he plans […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Robert Wilkins Nominated to Court of Appeals
African-American federal judge Robert L. Wilkins has been nominated to join the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit regarded as one of the most important federal appellate courts in the nation and a stepping stone to the Supreme Court. President Obama on June 4 nominated Wilkins, a judge on the U.S. […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Ruth Alice Lucas, First Black Woman Air Force Colonel, Laid to Rest at Arlington
Ruth Alice Lucas broke barriers when, in 1968, she became the first African-American woman to attain the rank of colonel in the Air Force. Her accomplishments were honored during her funeral services May 29 at Arlington National Cemetery. As a crowd of uniformed airmen and loved ones looked on, Lucas was given a full military […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Va. Restores Voting Rights for Non-Violent Felons
Starting July 15, nonviolent felons in Virginia will have their voting rights automatically restored upon completion of all the terms of their sentence, Gov. Bob McDonnell announced May 29. The automatic renewal will be decided on an individual basis and will be available only for those who have completed their sentence, probation or parole, paid […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Teen Pregnancies Fall to Record Low
Efforts to prevent teenage pregnancies appear to be working, according to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that showed an acceleration in the decline in teenage pregnancies over the past few years. Released just as the United States observes National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month, the May report found that birth rates for […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Black Harvard College Dean to Resign Amid Controversy over E-Mail Search
Evelynn M. Hammonds, the first African-American and first female dean of Harvard College, will step down as dean on July 1, according to a statement posted online May 28. The announcement came just months after Hammonds was blasted for approving secret searches of resident deans’ e-mails in an effort to plug leaks about a cheating […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Judge Watts: Only African American Up for Appeals Court
Among the field of applicants for the soon-to-be vacant seat on Maryland’s Court of Appeals, Judge Shirley Watts stands apart—she is the only African American up for consideration by the Judicial Nominating Commission, which is scheduled to meet June 20 to decide on its recommendations for Gov. Martin O’Malley. “If she is chosen it would […]
