By LaNesha Kearse, Special to the AFRO The Capitol Hill Jazz Foundation has teamed up with Mayor Muriel Bowser for the second annual Hillfest Music Exposition, Hillfest Conference Panel and Hillfest 2018 all day-event from Oct. 3-6. Created to transform music advocacy into policy, the organization gives D.C. based artists the opportunity to perform and promote […]
Category: District of Columbia Government
Washington DC — The Nation’s Capital
Posted inDistrict of Columbia Government, NEWS, Washington D.C. News
Some District Taxes and Age Restrictions on the Rise, Feminine Hygiene Taxes Cut
By Micha Green, AFRO Washington, D.C. Editor, mgreen@afro.com Oct. 1 marked the beginning of the 2019 fiscal year, which also meant tax changes for those who spend money in the District of Columbia. The general sales tax has grown by a quarter of a percentage point to 6 percent, according to WAMU. Also increasing by the same […]
Posted inD.C. Community, D.C. Government, District of Columbia Government, NEWS, POLITICS, Washington D.C. News
Fury Over Tip Repeal Talk
By James Wright, Special to the AFRO, jwright@afro.com On June 19 District voters approved Initiative 77, which mandates workers earn a full minimum wage and tips by 2025, 55 percent to 45 percent. On July 10, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) and council members Brandon Todd (D-Ward 4), Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), Anita Bonds (D-At Large), […]
Posted inD.C. Government, District of Columbia Government, NEWS, POLITICS, Washington D.C. News
What Summer Vacation? D.C. Council Members Plan to Work During Recess
By James Wright, Special to the AFRO, jwright@afro.com The District of Columbia Council started its annual summer recess on July 15 but that doesn’t mean legislators will be taking a long vacation from their jobs. “I am planning on attending legislative conferences that will help me do my job better,” D.C. Council member Robert White (D-At Large) told […]
Posted inD.C. Community, D.C. Government, District of Columbia Government, NEWS, POLITICS, Washington D.C. News
D.C. Committee on Education Names New Director
By Lenore T. Adkins, Special to the AFRO Akeem Anderson, a former D.C. Public Schools employee, has been appointed as the new director of the D.C. City Council’s Committee on Education, Chairman David Grosso (I-At Large) announced July 10. In his new position, which started June 25, Anderson said he’s most interested in closing the achievement […]
Posted inD.C. Government, District of Columbia Government, NEWS, POLITICS, Washington D.C. News
Allen Wants to Represent All of D.C. on the Council
By James Wright, Special to the AFRO, jwright@afro.com The already crowded race for the D.C. Council at-large independent seat has added another candidate and this one promises to be potent. Former District of Columbia Banking Commissioner S. Kathryn Allen is seeking the non-Democrat elected at-large to the council on Nov. 6. “I am running because I believe very strongly […]
Posted inD.C. Community, District of Columbia Government, NEWS, Washington D.C. News
DCPS Wants All Teachers Certified Before School Begins
By Lauren E. Williams, Special to the AFRO Last week, Washingtonians heard concerning news about the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS): 1,000 current D.C. educators do not have the proper certification to teach in the classroom. The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) uncovered this information late last year. Following recent reports of […]
Posted inD.C. Government, District of Columbia Government, Mayor Muriel Bowser, NEWS, POLITICS, Washington D.C. News
Incumbents Win; Initiative 77 Passes
By James Wright, Special to the AFRO, jwright@afro.com Despite spirited campaigns from opponents, the incumbents in the District of Columbia’s June 19 primaries had no problems being re-nominated to their seats. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser easily won her Democratic Party primary. (Courtesy Photo) Of the registered voters in the District, 17.62 percent of voters participated in the primary, […]
Posted inD.C. Community, District of Columbia Government, NEWS, Washington D.C. News
Change in Police Leadership Following Spike in Homicides Causes Concern in Ward 8
By James Wright, Special to the AFRO, jwright@afro.com Some Ward 8 residents were upset over the abrupt departure of 7D Police Commander Regis Bryant but cooler heads have prevailed as it became apparent why. On June 8, there was a news conference at 7D headquarters on Alabama Avenue S.E. called by prominent Ward 8 leaders about Bryant’s sudden departure. The […]
Posted inD.C. Government, District of Columbia Government, NEWS, POLITICS, Washington D.C. News
DC Candidates Face Tough Questions Over Police Reform
By Lenore T. Adkins, Special to the AFRO Candidates for the District of Columbia’s City Council chairman and at-large member spent the evening of May 30 answering tough questions about criminal justice reform. One candidate called for the ouster of Metropolitan Police Chief Peter Newsham and another said the city should fire “bad cops.” Candidates at […]
Posted inAfro Briefs, District of Columbia Government, Mayor Muriel Bowser, NEWS, Washington D.C. News
New DC Council Emergency Law Allows Chronically Absent Students to Graduate
By Micha Green, AFRO Washington, D.C. Editor, mgreen@afro.com District policy currently states that students who have 30 absences in a class should fail the course, yet on June 5 the D.C. Council voted 12-1 on an emergency bill allowing this rule to be overlooked for those who have met all the academic requirements needed to advance to […]
