By Tashi McQueenAFRO Political Writertmcqueen@afro.com As the Feb. 9 candidacy filing deadline approached, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. (D) announced his bid for Maryland’s 2nd Congressional District seat. He officially filed with the Maryland State Board of Elections on Jan. 31. The campaign launch comes after U.S. Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.) announced Jan. 26 […]
Category: COMMUNITY
Posted in2024 Elections
Thiru Vignarajah announces his candidacy, plan to run on public financing
By Tashi McQueenAFRO Political Writertmcqueen@afro.com Thiruvendran “Thiru” Vignarajah, former deputy attorney general of Maryland, is running for mayor of Baltimore City yet again. “I hope the people of Baltimore understand that I love running, but I love running for Baltimore,” said Vignarajah on Jan. 24 to reporters outside Baltimore City Hall. Vignarajah ran an unsuccessful […]
Posted inHBCU
AFRO Spotlight: MSU Student proves that delayed is not denied
By Aria Brent AFRO Staff Writer abrent@afro.com Over a decade ago, Josh Stevens started his academic journey at Morgan State University (MSU). On Dec. 15, he received his bachelor’s of science in finance, officially becoming a Morgan State alumnus. Through financial hardships, family matters and even stage four cancer, Stevens never lost interest in finishing his degree […]
Posted in!Front Page Maryland New
State and city leaders release bill to relieve impoverished neighborhoods
By Tashi McQueenAFRO Political writertmcqueen@afro.com Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Mayor Brandon M. Scott and other legislators across the city and state gathered in support of the new legislation, the Engaging Neighborhoods, Organizations, Unions, Governments, and Households Grant Program (ENOUGH Act), SB482/HB694. “As legislators, we get tens of hundreds of emails, sometimes tens of thousands of […]
Posted in!Front Page National News
NNPA highlights the rich civil rights history between Black and Jewish communities during Mid-Winter Training Conference
By Aria Brent AFRO Staff Writer abrent@afro.com The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) held their Mid-Winter Training Conference Jan. 24-27 at the B Ocean Resort and Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., where they hosted representatives of the 250 Black-owned newspapers and media companies of their membership. The theme for this conference was “Empowering in 2024: The Black […]
Posted inMoney
CASH Campaign of Maryland announces 2024 locations for free tax preparation
By Megan SaylesAFRO Business Writermsayles@afro.com The Creating Assets, Savings and Hope (CASH) Campaign of Maryland celebrated national Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Day on Jan. 26 by announcing the 2024 sites for the nonprofit’s free tax preparation services. Maryland households who made less than $64,000 in 2023 are eligible for the free service. Those who […]
Posted inHealth
Arlington Links Chapter to host virtual heart health awareness event
By Ashleigh FieldsAFRO Assistant Editorafields@afro.com On National Go Red Day, Feb. 2, Links from D.C., Maryland and Virginia (DMV) will host a virtual “Red Dress” event in hopes of raising awareness about heart conditions. Symone Sanders, Michelle Miller, Dr. Jacqueline Griffiths and many more have been handpicked to join a broader public health effort facilitated […]
Posted in!Front Page National News
Andrew Young reflects on Civil Rights Movement at Washington National Cathedral
By Deborah BaileyAFRO Contributing Editor dbailey@afro.com Seated humbly in a chair on the platform of the Washington National Cathedral, former United Nations Ambassador and Congressman Andrew Young preached extemporaneously Jan. 14. King confidante, friend, collaborator and fellow pastor, Young is among a dwindling number of activists who worked and served full time in the Civil Rights […]
Posted inTransportation
Baltimore City receives federal ‘Workforce Hub’ designation
By Megan SaylesAFRO Business Writermsayles@afro.com Baltimore has been one of five federally-designated Workforce Hubs across the United States for eight months now. President Joe Biden created the initiative as part of his Investing in America agenda to develop the requisite workforce for developments spurred by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act and Inflation […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Health care officials wrestle with ongoing racial health disparities in nation’s capital
By Helen BezunehSpecial to the AFRO As the U.S. confronts a fresh surge of COVID-19 infections this winter, the ongoing issue of racial health disparities in D.C. continues to show nagging gaps. While D.C. is home for some of the nation’s highest ranked medical centers, data from the District’s eight wards show uneven health outcomes. […]
Posted inCivil Rights
Michigan case offers an example of how public trust suffers when police officers lie
By Corey WilliamsThe Associated Press DETROIT (AP) — A Black man who was detained by police during an early morning walk in a quiet community northwest of Detroit says the White officer who threw him against a squad car, cuffed him and accused him of planning to break into a car also told a significant […]
Posted inBaltimore Community
Sydney’s Ice Creams: bringing sweet treats to Belair-Edison neighborhood
By Megan SaylesAFRO Business Writermsayles@afro.com In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sydney Newton, like so many others, found herself out of a job. She had been working as a server at The Capital Grille, but was laid off as restaurants were forced to shut down their dining rooms. The Northwood, Baltimore native became an […]