On Jan. 18, Governor Wes Moore was officially sworn into office on the steps of the Maryland State House. The first Black man to take the governor’s seat in the state publicly stepped into his role on the steps of a building built by slaves, with his hand on a bible that belonged to the […]
Category: Maryland Government
Posted inMaryland Government
Governor Wes Moore sworn into office as first Black man to lead Maryland
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Governor Westley Watende Omari Moore has been officially sworn into office. The first Black man to lead the state of Maryland was sworn-in at noon on Jan. 18 at the State House in Annapolis, Md., along with Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller. After a spirited introduction by media mogul […]
Posted inMaryland Government
Brown, first Black attorney general, targets disparities, bias in Maryland
By Catherine Pugh, Special to the AFRO Anthony Brown, a seasoned veteran of national and state politics who was sworn in as the state’s first Black attorney general Jan. 3 in Annapolis, says he will tackle racial and economic disparities as the state’s 47th attorney general. “Maryland reflects where America is going,” he said, taking […]
Posted inMaryland Government
Inauguration Day arrives for Gov. Elect-Wes Moore and Lt. Gov. Elect-Aruna Miller
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Gov. Elect-Wes Moore and Lt. Gov. Elect- Aruna Miller will be sworn into office today at noon. The event will be held at the State Capital in Annapolis, Md. The swearing-in ceremony will feature performances by local artists across Maryland, including Bowie High School Marching Bulldogs, Morgan State […]
Posted inMaryland Government
Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman, first woman in state history to win the post, sworn into office
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Former House of Delegates member Brooke Lierman was sworn into office on Jan. 16, making her the first woman comptroller of Maryland and the first woman to hold an independent, statewide office. “I am honored and humbled to share this day with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” Lierman, […]
Posted inMaryland Government
Re-elected House Speaker, Del. Adrienne A. Jones appoints diverse House committee chairs
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com Del. Adrienne A. Jones (D- District 10) was once again voted Speaker of the House of Delegates on the opening day of the 2023 General Assembly session. She was met with joyous cheers from her colleagues upon being sworn in on Jan. 11. On Jan. 5, House Speaker […]
Posted inMaryland Government
Maryland General Assembly commences 2023 session, lawmakers discuss upcoming legislative proposals
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com On Jan. 11, the Maryland General Assembly commenced the historic 445th session. All Maryland senators and delegates were officially sworn in. Though delegates and senators are still getting acquainted with each other and the operations of the 2023 session, they are ready to tackle issues of great concern […]
Posted inMaryland Government
AFRO Person of the Year Westley Moore discusses 100-day plan ahead of January inauguration as Maryland’s first Black governor
By Alexis Taylor, Managing Editor Maryland has produced more than a few legendary leaders. From internationally known abolitionists Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass, to the first Black Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, the late Congressman Elijah W. Cummings and more– the state has long been the birthplace of greatness. Now, the name Westley Watende Omari […]
Posted inMaryland Government
Harris and Edwards key picks in Moore Administration
By Catherine Pugh, Special to the AFRO Gov.-Elect Wes Moore has reached out to some incredibly talented individuals to become members of his front-line team. A couple of his top picks for leadership positions have strong ties to Baltimore City and have been a part of his inner circle for quite some time. Rhodes Scholar […]
Posted inMaryland Government
Maryland’s Van Hollen wants Congress to address medical debt practices
By Grace Yarrow, Capital News Service Sen. Chris Van Hollen, (D-MD), hopes to reform medical debt practices with the introduction of legislation that would curb unfair policies and protect consumers. Van Hollen and co-sponsor Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Connecticut, announced the bill Nov. 30. The Maryland lawmaker and Murphy first sponsored the legislation in 2020. The […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Gov.-Elect Wes Moore delivers Morgan State University’s commencement speech
By AFRO Staff Maryland’s first Black Gov-Elect, Wes Moore, delivered the 2022 Fall commencement speech at Morgan State University on Dec. 16. More than 400 students walked across the stage in their commencement robes, with members of the community, family, friends and the next governor of Maryland cheering them on. Moore was more than just […]
Posted inNational News
Federal spending bill directs states to reimburse food stamp fraud victims
By AFRO Staff States will be required to reimburse victims of food stamp hackers under provisions of the $1.7 trillion federal spending bill passed this week. The measure, added to the massive spending bill approved by Congress Dec. 22, will mean that state agencies will cover a fast-growing theft-of-benefits scheme. The AFRO reported on Baltimoreans […]