By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Members of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland (LBCM) recently unveiled their 2024 legislative priorities, which include upholding recently passed juvenile justice laws, making resources more available for Maryland’s small businesses and ensuring prescription drugs are affordable for Black Marylanders. “Members of the legislature founded the Legislative Black […]
Category: Politics
Posted inNational News
Black unemployment hit record low in 2023, Black wealth up 60 percent
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, msayles@afro.com In 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the world, Black unemployment peaked at 16.8 percent in the U.S. Now, White House officials have reported that 2023 was the lowest year for Black joblessness on record. It currently sits at 5.3 percent. Officials say the recovery was jump […]
Posted inU.S. Government
14 GOP-led states have turned down federal money to feed low-income kids in the summer. Here’s why
By Jonathan Mattise and Geoff MulvihillThe Associated Press Lower-income families with school-age kids can get help from the federal government paying for groceries this summer, unless they live in one of the 14 states that have said no to joining the program this year. The reasons for the rejections, all from states with Republican governors, […]
Posted in!Front Page National News
Meet Rep. Alyce Clarke: The first Black woman to have her portrait displayed in the Mississippi Capitol building
By Emily Wagster PettusThe Associated Press Former Rep. Alyce Clarke was the first Black woman elected to the Mississippi legislature, and now she is the first Black person — and first woman — to have a portrait on display in the state Capitol. She smiled on Feb. 13 as fellow lawmakers, friends and supporters honored […]
Posted inPolitics
Meet Baltimore City mayoral candidate Don Scoggins
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com As candidacy filing deadline for Maryland’s primary was Feb. 9, the AFRO is sitting down with said candidates to ensure residents know their options. Don Scoggins is one of multiple candidates running for Baltimore City Mayor this year. Q: What was your childhood like? A: My father lived […]
Posted in!Front Page Baltimore News
Councilman Zeke Cohen to introduce bills for a new independent redistricting commission
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Political Writer tmcqueen@afro.com Councilman Zeke Cohen (D-District 1) will introduce an ordinance and charter amendment, creating an independent redistricting commission in Baltimore City – fundamentally altering the process. Cohen will introduce the legislation at a city council meeting at 5 p.m. on Feb. 12. “What we came up with was this […]
Posted in2024 Elections
Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan is running for the US Senate
By Brian WitteThe Associated Press ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced Feb. 9 that he will run for U.S. Senate, giving Republicans a prominent candidate who is well-positioned to run a competitive campaign for the GOP in a state that hasn’t had a Republican U.S. senator in 37 years. The decision […]
Posted inCOMMUNITY
Leading the charge: Gun safety advocate Celeste Iroha speaks on making change after loss
By Catherine PughSpecial to the AFRO Celeste Iroha has been a self-proclaimed activist since the age of 15 years old. “I lost one of my cousins when I was 12 in D.C. His funeral was the first I would have to go to,” recalls Iroha. “I am also a survivor of a shooting, resulting from […]
Posted in!Front Page College
Biden unveils new sweeping student loan debt relief measures, surpassing 3.7 million beneficiaries
By Stacy M. BrownNNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent@StacyBrownMedia President Biden continues to make significant strides in alleviating the student loan debt crisis, announcing the approval of debt cancellation for an additional 74,000 student loan borrowers. The latest action contributes to the record-breaking relief the administration has provided to more than 3.7 million Americans. Earlier this […]
Posted inD.C. Community
Veda Rasheed announces council bid for Ward 7 in D.C.
By Re’Jon JonesSpecial to the AFRO Veda Rasheed is vying to be a council member for Ward 7 with hopes of reshaping the political landscape. Raised in the heart of the community in the River Terrace neighborhood, she shared with the AFRO her commitment to addressing the diverse needs of the residents. “I am running […]
Posted inMaryland Government
Former Maryland state elections board member arrested on Jan. 6 insurrection crimes
By Tashi McQueenAFRO Political Writertmcqueen@afro.com Carlos Ayala, newly resigned member of the Maryland State Board of Elections, was arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection and breach of the U.S. Capitol. The FBI arrested Ayala, 52, on Jan. 9 on civil disorder, a felony according to […]
Posted inHBCU
At Florida’s only public HBCU, students are wary of political influence on race education
By Sharon JohnsonThe Associated Press TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A core mission of Florida A&M University from its founding over a century ago has been to educate African Americans. It was written into the law that established the school along with another college, in Gainesville, reserved for White students. At Florida’s only public historically Black […]
