The Rev. Dr. Marie Phillips Braxton, a devoted educator, faith leader and longtime AFRO shareholder and Board member, has passed away after a lengthy illness.
Category: Baltimore News
Posted inBaltimore News
Scott sets transit, infrastructure agenda as new BMC chair
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, newly appointed chair of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, highlights transit and infrastructure as key priorities for the region.
Posted inHBCU
Coppin State University annual gala to serve as ‘An Ode to Black Excellence’
Coppin State University will host its annual excellence gala to celebrate the rich history of the university on May 2 at 7 p.m. inside of the Marriott Waterfront in Baltimore. This year’s theme is “An Ode to Black Excellence.
Posted inBaltimore Government
Mayor Brandon M. Scott announces property tax payment plans enrollment is now open
Mayor Brandon M. Scott announces that enrollment is open for Baltimore’s new Residential Property Tax Payment Plan Program, allowing eligible homeowners to pay past-due property taxes through flexible monthly payments and avoid tax sale. The program, established through recently passed legislation, marks the first time the city offers a payment plan option for overdue real property taxes and remains open for enrollment through May 12, 2026.
Posted inOPINION
Opinion: Baltimore and Maryland are investing billions in transit—so why aren’t residents building wealth along the way?
Michael Eugene Johnson is creator of the Pikes Studio Cinema and cofounder of Black Men Unifying Black Men. This week, he argues that new development near transit needs to include ownership opportunities for average residents in order to foster distributed, generational wealth.
Posted inArts & Culture
SNF Parkway Theatre selects Wordsmith for its inaugural residency program
With renovations complete, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Parkway Theatre is launching an artist residency program to support local creatives, including Wordsmith, who will present original works blending youth theater, music and storytelling. His productions, including “Uncle Bey’s Will” and “Network to Freedom,” center Black storytelling, history and community, while aiming to uplift Baltimore’s young and emerging artists.
Posted inAfro Events
‘Hats, gloves and brilliance’: Black community shines at the AFRO’s 2026 Baltimore Tea
Nearly 1,200 guests gathered in Baltimore for the AFRO’s 2026 Baltimore Tea, celebrating Black excellence and honoring women leaders across corporate, nonprofit and civic spaces. The annual sold-out event highlighted the achievements of Black women in executive roles while fostering community, tradition and intergenerational connection.
Posted inBaltimore News
Churchill Downs Inc. buys Preakness intellectual property for $85 million
Churchill Downs Inc. has agreed to acquire the intellectual property for the Preakness Stakes and Black-Eyed Susan Stakes from 1/ST Racing’s Maryland department for $85 million, subject to customary closing conditions.
Posted inBaltimore News
Mayor’s office seeks ethics review of IG’s social media post amid ongoing legal dispute
A senior aide to Mayor Brandon M. Scott has asked city ethics and oversight boards to review Inspector General Isabel Cumming’s online conduct following a Facebook post that included a YouTube video with an AI-generated image of the mayor. The request comes amid an ongoing legal dispute between the mayor’s office and the inspector general over access to city records and the scope of the OIG’s investigative authority.
Posted inBaltimore Government
Baltimore residents press for new investments at Taxpayers’ Night for FY2027 budget
At Taxpayers’ Night on April 22, Baltimore residents weighed in on Mayor Brandon M. Scott’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget and called for new investments across senior services, housing and community programs. Several speakers focused on long-needed repairs to the Forest Park Senior Center, while others urged greater support for grassroots organizations and worker cooperatives.
Posted inElections 2026
Low turnout, high impact: Why local elections matter more than many think
Low turnout in local elections limits representation, even as decisions by school boards and central committees directly shape daily life, from education policy to political leadership. Experts and community members say increasing awareness and participation is critical to ensuring communities have a voice in decisions that affect them.
Posted inObituaries - Baltimore
Leon Bridges dies at 93
By AFRO Staff The AFRO is saddened to learn of the death of Leon Bridges, who formed his own firm, Leon Bridges AIA, in 1963, and became the first registered African-American architect in the state of Maryland. A wake for Bridges will be held on April 26 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at March […]