By The Associated Press PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia City Council passed legislation to ban ski masks in some public spaces, a measure supporters say will increase public safety amid high violent crime, but opponents argue it will unfairly target people without proof of any wrongdoing. The legislation passed on Thursday with a 13-2 vote, and now goes […]
Category: Politics
Posted inNational News
AP Exclusive: America’s Black attorneys general discuss race, politics and the justice system
By Matt Brown, The Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — The American legal system is facing a crisis of trust in communities around the country, with people of all races and across the political spectrum. For many, recent protests against police brutality called attention to longstanding discrepancies in the administration of justice. For others, criticism of […]
Posted inNational News
Republican Congressman George Santos expelled amid scandal and charges of fraud
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent GOP Rep. George Santos of New York has become the third congressman in the last 50 years to be expelled from Capitol Hill. Santos, who has faced allegations of lies, fraudulent activities, and bizarre behavior, witnessed his downfall primarily at the hands of fellow Republicans who […]
Posted inNational News
Retired Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman on the Supreme Court, has died at age 93
By Mark Sherman, The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, an unwavering voice of moderate conservatism and the first woman to serve on the nation’s highest court, died Dec. 1. She was 93. O’Connor died in Phoenix, of complications related to advanced dementia and a respiratory illness, the Supreme […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimore City Council holds hearings on facial recognition technology
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Councilman Kristerfer Burnett (D-District 8) is lead sponsor of two bills aimed at regulating facial recognition technology (FRT), currently being used in the city for surveillance. After six years of fighting to pass legislation on this matter, Burnett may soon succeed. “There are two bills that the […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Biden-Harris administration announces commitments to train and hire Baltimoreans for federal infrastructure projects
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, msayles@afro.com On Nov. 13, White House infrastructure coordinator Mitch Landrieu and Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su visited Carver Vocational-Technical High School to announce employment and workforce training opportunities coming to Baltimore through President Joe Biden’s Investing in America agenda. They were joined by Gov. Wes Moore and Baltimore […]
Posted inNational News
Biden declares emergency over lead in water in US Virgin Islands
By Michael Phillis, The Associated Press President Joe Biden declared an emergency over lead-in-water contamination in the U.S. Virgin Islands earlier this week after tests on St. Croix revealed levels more than 100 times the limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency – among the worst results a U.S. community has seen in decades. “On […]
Posted inNational News
First Black U.S. Representative for Rhode Island sworn into office
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Following a special election in Rhode Island, Rep. Gabe Amo (D-R.I.-01) became the state’s first Black U.S. Representative on Nov. 13. Amo won his seat in a special election on Nov. 7. “I am proud to be the representative from Rhode Island’s first congressional district,” said Amo on […]
Posted inNational News
Black leaders reflect on life and legacy of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter
By Catherine Pugh, Special to the AFRO And Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, Tmcqueen@afro.com Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, wife of former President Jimmy Carter, died on Nov. 19 in Plains, Ga. She was 96 years old. Carter adamantly advocated for mental health and women’s rights throughout her lifetime. She was married to President Carter […]
Posted inNational News
U.S. Supreme Court unveils new code of ethics for justices
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire The Supreme Court unveiled an ethics code for its justices on Monday, marking a departure from its historical absence of such regulations. The move comes in the wake of heightened scrutiny and revelations surrounding undisclosed property deals and gifts that have raised concerns about the ethical conduct of some […]
Posted inNational News
First Black U.S. Representative for Rhode Island sworn into office
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Following a special election in Rhode Island, Rep. Gabe Amo (D-R.I.-01) became the state’s first Black U.S. Representative on Nov. 13. Amo won his seat in a special election on Nov. 7. “I am proud to be the representative from Rhode Island’s first congressional district,” said Amo on […]
Posted inMaryland Government
U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes will not run for re-election
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Speaking of running for office, another congressional seat has opened up for the 2024 election after U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.-03) announced he will not run for re-election on Oct. 26. “My siblings and I grew up with the teaching that there are many ways to serve. Being […]