By Deborah Bailey, AFRO D.C. Editor Today, the Biden Administration announced a targeted student debt relief plan designed to support working- and middle-class families. Features of the plan include: Up to $20,000 in debt cancellation to Pell Grant recipients and up to $10,000 in debt cancellation to non-Pell Grant recipients. Borrowers who earn less than $125,000 […]
Category: Politics
Posted inBaltimore News
Guaranteed income pilot puts Baltimore at forefront of nation’s fight against poverty
By Fatiha Belfakir, Special to the AFRO This week Mayor Brandon Scott announced that Baltimore’s Guaranteed Income pilot program was officially depositing money into eligible bank accounts. A total of 200 families are participating in the Baltimore Young Families Success Fund’s initial cohort. Baltimore now joins the growing group of U.S. cities such as Chicago, […]
Posted inPolitics
Biden signs Inflation Reduction Act into law
By Tashi McQueen, Report For America Corps Member, AFRO Political Writer On Aug. 16, President Biden officially signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act, which contains policy on deficit reduction, climate change, lower health care costs and better jobs. “I’m about to sign the Inflation Reduction Act into law, one of the most significant laws […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Updates on legislative action towards reparations for African Americans
By Deborah Bailey, AFRO D.C. Editor and H.R. Harris, Special for the AFRO With a flurry of legislative activity on Capitol Hill in the weeks before Congress adjourns, many advocates in the Black Community have asked what progress has been made on U.S. Reparations for African Americans. The White House and Congress are preparing major […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Mayor Brandon M. Scott takes fight against ‘ghost guns’ directly to build-kit manufacturer, Polymer80
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, Report for America Corps Member As murders continue to rise in Baltimore, so persists the polarized view on guns. The impact of gun violence has taken a toll on the city, prompting elected officials to take action. Recently, Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott began to take the fight directly […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Black members of Gen Z take to the 2022 political stage
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, Report for America Corps Member If there is doubt that young people are interested in advocating for the improvement of American values, the worry is over. Young Black politicians have put in their bids this political season. Korey T. Johnson, a Baltimore native candidate for the House of Delegates, […]
Posted inHealth
Biden Administration Declares Public Health Emergency Over Monkeypox Outbreak
NNPA NEWSWIRE — “We are prepared to take our response to the next level in addressing this virus, and we urge every American to take monkeypox seriously and to take responsibility to help us tackle this virus,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent, @StacyBrownMedia […]
Posted inNational News
Biden signs massive climate and health care legislation
By ZEKE MILLER and SEUNG MIN KIM WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden signed Democrats’ landmark climate change and health care bill into law on Tuesday, delivering what he has called the “final piece” of his pared-down domestic agenda, as he aims to boost his party’s standing with voters less than three months before the midterm elections. The […]
Posted inPolitics
Politics and the AFRO: 130 years into the struggle for an equal democracy
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, Report for America Corps member Long before social media and 24-hour news networks, there were newspapers keeping people informed. And long before voting rights and civil and human rights were affirmed for Black Americans- there was the Black press, updating and engaging African Americans on the war for equality […]
Posted inNational News
Congressman Kweisi Mfume reflects on the AFRO at 130
By U.S. Representative Kweisi Mfume (MD-7), Special to the AFRO For 130 years, the AFRO-American Newspaper has been the eyes, ears, and voice of our community. On the anniversary of its founding, we celebrate the irreplaceable role this publication has played in documenting our history, telling our story, and speaking truth to power. The newspaper was […]
Posted inPolitics
Dems rally around abortion. Are they reaching Black voters?
By Harm Venhuizen, The Associated Press/Report for America Facing critical races for governor and U.S. Senate, Democratic hopefuls in Wisconsin are hoping that their support for abortion rights in the face of a Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade can overcome the headwinds of a midterm election long expected to favor Republicans. But […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Wes Moore enjoys National Night Out with Black Greek organizations as Democratic nominee for governor
By AFRO Staff Democratic nominee for governor Wes Moore enjoyed a string of community events on Aug. 2 as he made his rounds to community organizations hosting National Night Out events across Baltimore City. Though he made stops in Silver Spring, Md., and Carroll County, the Alpha man was especially proud to address the Divine […]
