By Sarah Rankin, The Associated Press RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia’s state House will soon have its first Black speaker in its more than 400-year history after the chamber’s incoming Democratic majority on Nov. 11 chose Del. Don Scott to serve in the post. Scott was unanimously elected speaker-designee by the House Democratic Caucus, the […]
Category: Politics
Posted inNational News
G.I. Restoration Act of 2023: Federal legislation aims to restore benefits denied Black veterans in original G.I. bill
By Deborah Bailey, AFRO Contributing Editor, dbailey@afro.com The G.I. Restoration Act of 2023, introduced in Congress this year by Assistant Democratic Leader Jim D. Clyburn (D-SC-6) and Congressman Seth Moulton (D-MA), aims to change life in America for Black descendants of World War II veterans who were denied the benefits of the original G.I. Bill […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Former top prosecutor for Baltimore convicted in perjury case tied to purchase of Florida homes
By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN, Associated Press GREENBELT, Md. (AP) — A former top prosecutor for the city of Baltimore was convicted on Thursday of charges that she lied about the finances of a side business to improperly access retirement funds during the COVID-19 pandemic, using the money to buy two Florida homes. A federal jury convicted […]
Posted inU.S. Government
Can Trump be on the ballot in 2024? It can hinge on the meaning of ‘insurrection’
By Nicholas Riccardi and Christine Fernando, The Associated Press DENVER (AP) — Can former President Donald Trump run for his old job again after his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol? The answer may depend on the definition of insurrection. Liberal groups have filed lawsuits in Colorado, Minnesota and other […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimore City Council passes revised redistricting map
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com In a prolonged day of Baltimore City Council meetings on Oct. 19, the lawmakers passed an amended version of Mayor Brandon M. Scott’s redistricting plan in an 8-6 vote. Councilman Kristerfer Burnett (D-District 8) was not in attendance, so he had no vote. “We took a map that […]
Posted in!Front Page
Bob Wallace announces his 2024 mayoral bid
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Political Writer tmcqueen@afro.com Baltimore business owner Bob Wallace announced his 2024 bid for Baltimore City mayor on Oct. 12, but this time he’s running as a Democrat. He ran unaffiliated in 2020 and came second to Mayor Brandon M. Scott in the General Election. “I think that the Democratic Party has […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
The White House and Google launch a new virtual tour with audio captions, Spanish translation
By Darlene Superville, The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Can’t come to Washington? Couldn’t get a ticket to tour the White House? Don’t worry. The White House, Google Maps and Google Arts & Culture launched a new virtual tour of the famous mansion on Oct. 27, which is also National Civics Day. With a computer […]
Posted inNational News
Congressman pleads guilty to pulling Capitol fire alarm
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent (NNPA NEWSWIRE) – New York Democrat Rep. Jamaal Bowman, charged with falsely activating the fire alarm at a congressional office building before last month’s vote on a stopgap spending measure to fund the government, pleaded guilty on Oct. 26. “I’m thankful for the quick resolution from […]
Posted inNational News
Mike Johnson, a staunch conservative from Louisiana, is elected House speaker with broad GOP support
By Liswa Macaro, Stephen Groves, Farnoush Amiri and Kevin FrekingAssociated Press Republicans eagerly elected Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA-4) as House speaker on Oct. 25, elevating a deeply conservative but lesser-known leader to the seat of U.S. power and ending for now the political chaos in their majority. Johnson, 51, of Louisiana, swept through on the […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Gov. Moore highlights importance of transportation investments in Baltimore
By Tashi McQueenAFRO Political WriterTmcqueen@afro.com Gov. Wes Moore and Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott addressed the importance of transportation investments in Baltimore and what the state has done thus far on Oct. 16. “In the first 10 months of our administration, we’ve shown that in partnership progress is possible,” said Moore at the Greater […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Black leaders on Eastern Shore celebrate political progress
By Stephen Janis and Taya Graham, Special to the AFRO On Maryland’s Eastern Shore, the landscape is replete with reminders of the peninsula’s racist past. The Harriet Tubman center sits astride the pathways she navigated to guide slaves to freedom. Signs point to the birthplace of Frederick Douglass, whose seminal book “Narrative of the Life […]
Posted inMaryland Government
Gov. Wes Moore, nation’s only sitting Black governor, celebrates 45th birthday
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political writer, Tmcqueen@afro.com Gov. Wes Moore, Maryland’s first Black governor, turns 45 on Oct. 15. The young governor has a powerful resume that includes service as a captain in the 82nd Airborne, multiple best-selling books on racial equity and opportunity and an educational background that includes time as a Rhodes Scholar. […]