By Lauren Victoria BurkeNNPA Newswire Contributor On Feb. 24 in a St. Paul, Minneapolis federal courthouse, a jury convicted Tou Thao, 36; Alex Kueng, 28; and Thomas Lane, 38, of violating the constitutional rights of George Perry Floyd, Jr. This case is likely the first time in history that a federal court has charged police […]
Category: Afro Briefs
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Tyrone Taborn joins MPT Foundation board of directors
By Career Communications Group CEOUSBE Online Tyrone Taborn will join the volunteer board of directors of The MPT Foundation, the fundraising affiliate of Maryland Public Television (MPT). The Foundation is comprised of approximately 24 members from a range of different Maryland businesses, civic organizations and cultural communities. The goal of the MPT Foundation is to […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Museum begins honoring Black coachmen from the Jim Crow era
By Ben Finley, Associated Press News The Black men who drove horse-drawn carriages through the streets of Colonial Williamsburg, Va. were simultaneously invisible and omnipresent during the Jim Crow era. Their wooden coaches help conjure up images of the late 18th Century for visitors among the likes of Queen Elizabeth, Sir Winston Churchill and former […]
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Legislative Brief SB0852
By J.J. McQueen, Special to the AFRO Many people often wonder what sparks the ideas for the introduction of new legislative bills. In some cases, there could be community needs, in others good news to be shared about a particular subject that needs additional support, educational needs that need to be enhanced, or increased protective […]
Posted inMaryland Government
Maryland House of Delegates passes bills to refer adult-use cannabis legalization to voters in November
Annapolis, MD — The Maryland House of Delegates approved a pair of bills that would allow voters to decide whether to legalize cannabis for adults’ use in November 2022. This marks the first time either chamber in Maryland’s legislature has voted on a bill that would legalize cannabis. HB 1, the bill to refer the […]
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Fla. House Passes ‘Individual Freedom’ Bill to Limit Black History
By Airielle Lowe, Howard University News Service Florida’s “Individual Freedom” bill passed by a 74-41 vote today in the House of Representatives and is causing quite the controversy over its content, as it works its way through the state’s senate committees. The basis of the bill seeks to prohibit talking about race, color, sex or national […]
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Thinking of Buying a Home this Year? Avoid These Common Mistakes
Buying a home this year? Here’s what to avoid prior to applying for a mortgage: Home shopping before getting pre-qualified.This is a common mistake when it comes to the homebuying process. Many first-time buyers make the mistake of shopping around and touring homes before they speak with a lender. Why is this an issue? Getting […]
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Jamal Edwards, who nurtured UK musical talent, dies at 31
By Associated Press Jamal Edwards, a British music entrepreneur who championed U.K. rap and grime and helped launch the careers of artists including Ed Sheeran, Jessie J and Stormzy, has died due a heart attack. He was 31. His mother, broadcaster Brenda Edwards, said Feb. that her son died the day before after a sudden […]
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Ahmaud Arbery killers found guilty of hate crimes in federal court
By Stacy M. BrownNNPA Newswire senior national correspondentMinnesota Spokesman-Recorder A federal jury found Travis McMichael, Gregory McMichael, and William “Roddie” Bryan guilty on all counts of the murder of Ahmaud Arbery. The verdict came on the eve of the second anniversary of Arbery’s murder. The McMichaels and Bryan chased Arbery through their mostly White Georgia […]
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Supplemental Education Funding submitted in Hogan’s FY 2023 budget request
By Deborah BaileySpecial to the AFRO Bowing to pressure from education advocates and Maryland General Assembly members, Governor Larry Hogan sent a supplemental funding request of $139.9 million to the State’s FY 2023 budget to fully fund the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future (Kirwan Commission) Education Reform plan. The majority of Hogan’s supplemental education funding request, […]
Posted inNational News
PepsiCo called out for failure to fulfill verbal contract with Black farmers
By Oakland Post via NNPA Newswire (NNPA Newswire) – John Boyd, president of the National Black Farmers Association (NBFA), said he’s calling out PepsiCo for discrimination after a year-and-a-half of talks that produced no contract. Boyd claims that PepsiCo, a multinational company that produces food and beverages, had made a verbal agreement with the NBFA. […]
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State Board of Education rescinds mask mandate, pending approval from state legislators
By Logan Hill, Capital News Service ANNAPOLIS – The Maryland State Board of Education Tuesday lifted the statewide mask mandate for public schools, allowing the state’s 23 county school boards and Baltimore to each decide how they want to handle masking. The board’s decision, which could begin as early as March 1, affects more than […]