By Chrisleen HerardSpecial to the AFRO Fraudulent behavior led to D.C.’s Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) losing accreditation. The crime lab has partially regained credibility on Dec. 26, 2023, as the biology and chemistry units seek to regain their ability to process evidence and conduct forensic testing. It remains unclear when the firearm unit will […]
Category: District of Columbia Government
Washington DC — The Nation’s Capital
Posted inNEWS
D.C. Council considers suing D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser over SNAP funding
By Tashi McQueenAFRO Political Writertmcqueen@afro.com D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) proposed an emergency resolution on Jan. 2 that would allow the council to sue or join a lawsuit against Mayor Muriel Bowser after her efforts to block the “Give SNAP a Raise Amendment Act of 2022.” The legislation was passed by the D.C. Council […]
Posted inD.C. Community
Lisa Gore, D.C. Council Ward 4 candidate, shares plans to change the community
By Zsana HoskinsSpecial to the AFRO In the 2022 election, Lisa Gore ran at large for a council seat. But now her focus is on Ward 4, where her family resides, the place she calls home. “We cannot afford four years of representation that prioritizes broader agendas over our immediate needs,” Gore stated in an […]
Posted inDistrict of Columbia Government
D.C. Council extends youth crime and opioid public emergencies
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Political Writer tmcqueen@afro.com The D.C. Council recently voted to extend the youth violence and opioid public emergencies until Feb. 15 of 2024. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) declared a public emergency on Nov. 13, providing District residents with more resources to address youth violence and the opioid crisis. “The emergency declaration allows […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
District Department of Transportation installs new traffic enforcement cameras
By Re’Jon JonesSpecial to the AFRO The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has announced the upcoming installation of speed limit cameras across Washington D.C. This move is part of a broader effort to enhance road safety by reducing accidents and encouraging safe driving. The proliferation of these cameras is a response to the rise of […]
Posted inHBCU
D.C. leaders introduce HBCU Public Service Program
By Gene LambeySpecial to the AFRO Mayor Muriel Bowser officially launched the HBCU Public Service Program on the campus of the University of the District of Columbia earlier this month on Nov. 13. The program invites graduating undergrad seniors from the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) and Howard University to apply for public […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Local Board of Education Chair Eboni-Rose Thompson enters race for Ward 7 council seat
By Charlee Douglas, Special to the AFRO Eboni-Rose Thompson has announced her candidacy for the Ward 7 Council seat currently occupied by Vincent Gray (D) who has been in office since 2004. From attending Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) meetings with her grandparents to becoming a community advocate, Thompson has watched Ward 7 evolve in its […]
Posted inPrince George's County News
Council member Ric Gordon dies suddenly at age 41
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com The City of Greenbelt, Md., announced that Councilmember Ric Gordon (D-At-Large) suddenly died on Nov. 26 at 41 years old. “The sudden passing of Ric Gordon is a great loss to the Greenbelt community, Prince George’s County, and the State of Maryland,” said Greenbelt Mayor Emmett V. Jordan […]
Posted inMayor Muriel Bowser
Community responds to Mayor Muriel Bowser’s newest anti-crime legislation
By Helen BezunehSpecial to the AFRO D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser recently unveiled a new legislative initiative to address crime trends in the nation’s capital. The proposed legislation, known as the Addressing Crime Trends Now Act (ACT Now), aims to promote public safety by empowering law enforcement to effectively hold criminals accountable for their actions. “The […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Mayor Bowser declares public emergency to address youth violence and opioid deaths
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered a public emergency on Nov. 13, effective immediately, which will provide D.C. with more ways to address the youth violence issue and the opioid crisis. “The public emergency will allow us to streamline and expedite our responses,” said Bowser at a live-streamed press conference. […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
DC Council confirms Police Chief Pamela A. Smith
By Ashleigh Fields, AFRO Assistant Editor, afields@afro.com The AFRO sends congratulations to Pamela A. Smith for being selected as the permanent Police Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department. Smith is the first Black female police chief in the organization’s 162 year history. She was unanimously confirmed by the DC Council on Nov. 7. “Our community […]
Posted inD.C. Community
DaVon Fuller, D.C. native and former council aide, shot and killed in a parking lot near home
By Chrisleen Herard, Special to the AFRO DaVon Fuller was a promising defensive back when he played football for Dunbar High School and then the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. In other words, Fuller was able to think fast, adjust and defend a position–he was good at it. Fuller made plays on and off of the […]