Posted inMaryland Government

Federal freeze, local response: Gov. Wes Moore declares emergency, mobilizes $10 million to fight food insecurity

SNAP benefits are expected to run out on Nov. 1 due to an extended shutdown of the federal government. Aiming to mediate the impact, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has now declared a state of emergency and issued an executive order which will send $10 million to food banks across the state. Moore hopes the money will help organizations that assist families already facing furloughs, layoffs – and now – the looming threat of not having Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in the month of November.

Posted in!Front Page Baltimore News

Annual Masked Ball returns to Charm City

By D. Kevin McNeirSpecial to the AFROkmcneir@afro.com With the assistance of individuals like Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) remains committed to transforming the historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) across Baltimore City  On Saturday, Nov. 1, beginning with a 7 p.m. reception, UNCF will return its fundraising event, the […]

Posted inBaltimore News

Civil rights, advocacy groups demand accountability after false AI alert leads to student detainment at Kenwood High

Black leaders are speaking out in support of Kenwood High School student Taki Allen, 16, who was handcuffed at gunpoint by members of the Baltimore County Police Department after an artificial intelligence surveillance system mistakenly identified his Doritos bag as a gun. Now, advocacy and civil rights groups, including Associated Black Charities and the Randallstown NAACP, are calling the incident a failure of leadership and systemic bias and urging accountability, AI audits and reforms to protect students of color.

Posted inBaltimore News

“House of Melo” exhibit shines spotlight on Baltimore resilience

By Chianti MarksAFRO Intern On Oct. 25, 2025, Baltimore native and 10-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony celebrated the opening of the “House of Melo” exhibit at the Enoch Pratt Free Library’s Central Branch. The event followed Anthony’s recent induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The exhibit, open through Dec. 20, 2025, highlights […]

Posted inBaltimore News

The AFRO Named Among the Nation’s Top Black News Outlets on Two Feedspot Lists

The AFRO-American Newspapers, the nation’s oldest continuously published Black-owned newspaper still owned by its founding family, has been named to Feedspot’s list of the “45 Best Black News Websites of 2025.” The recognition honors The AFRO’s legacy of trusted journalism and its continued innovation in digital media, storytelling, and community engagement.

Posted inMaryland News

Maryland’s housing order aims to boost affordable housing, cut barriers

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed the Housing Starts Here executive order to speed up housing development, reduce regulatory barriers, and expand affordable options amid a statewide shortfall of about 96,000 units. The plan emphasizes transit-oriented development, streamlined permitting, and stronger state-local coordination to close the housing gap and ease costs for renters and homeowners.

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