By Dr. Frances “Toni” Murphy Draper More than forty years ago, in a crowded corridor in Nassau, Bahamas, I watched Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. do something small that revealed something immense: he stopped. My mother, Frances L. Murphy II—then publisher of the AFRO-American Newspaper—and I were attending a conference where he was the keynote […]
Category: Baltimore News
Posted inAfro Briefs
USPS says postmarks haven’t changed, but transportation changes could affect timing
Changes to USPS operations mean a mailpiece’s postmark may not reflect the day it’s collected, raising concerns for time-sensitive documents like ballots, tax returns and bills. Community leaders warn that Black, elderly and other underserved households could face penalties or missed deadlines if mail is delayed.
Posted inMaryland News
Advocates rally in Annapolis to push expungement legislation
Advocates from across Maryland rallied in Annapolis, Md. urging lawmakers to advance the Fair Chance Housing Act and Clean Slate Act. Supporters say the bills would help reduce barriers to housing and employment for people returning from incarceration.
Posted inBaltimore Government
Mayor Scott announces property tax relief, tax sale reforms for Baltimore homeowners
Baltimore homeowners could see property taxes drop below $2 under a new city plan announced by Mayor Brandon M. Scott. The initiative includes revising the Homestead Property Tax Credit, increasing the Targeted Homeowners Tax Credit, and reforming the city’s annual tax sale to offer payment plans and raise the minimum bid to the property’s assessed value. City leaders say the changes aim to make Baltimore more affordable, keep residents in their homes and encourage new homeownership.
Posted inMaryland Government
Moore calls White House snub ‘blatant disrespect’
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, the nation’s only Black governor, said the White House disinvited him from the annual bipartisan National Governors Association dinner, calling the move disrespectful and partisan. The 47th president’s administration limited the event to Republican governors, a break from longstanding tradition that NGA leaders criticized as undermining cooperation.
Posted inBaltimore County Government
Baltimore County bill would expand Inspector General oversight of BCPS
Baltimore County legislators are considering a bill to give the Office of the Inspector General authority to oversee public schools. Supporters say it would increase transparency, accountability and trust in the school system.
Posted inBlack History
Black artists as historians: Preserving memory through art
For generations, Black artists have documented Black life, preserving memory and identity where traditional histories have overlooked or erased their stories. From painting and performance to film and public art, their work captures the everyday, the ancestral and the deeply personal— creating a living record of Black history.
Posted inBaltimore News
BPD releases bodycam related to officer-involved shooting death of Jamarl Muse
The Baltimore Police Department has released body-worn camera footage from a Jan. 20 officer-involved shooting that led to the death of 40-year-old Jamarl Muse in Southeast Baltimore. The video shows Muse firing a handgun as officers attempted to detain him, prompting them to return fire. A full investigation by the Maryland Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division is underway.
Posted inBaltimore News
To be a Black man in Baltimore
By Michael Eugene Johnson To be a Black man in Baltimore, 2026 is to live in a state of profound, exhausting duality. It is to walk the streets of a city that is simultaneously breaking historic records for safety and still grappling with the jagged, unhealed remains of a century of systemic neglect. As we […]
Posted inMaryland Government
Maryland House, Senate pass emergency bills on ICE
Maryland lawmakers passed emergency legislation ending local cooperation with ICE and banning most masked law enforcement, aiming to protect immigrant communities and rebuild trust. Advocates called it a historic victory for families and public safety.
Posted inBaltimore News
How Baltimore’s Yeiboh Kitchen blends Southern comfort with Asian flavors
A few years ago, award-winning chef Sammy Davis pitched a bold new concept to Baltimore’s Deirdre Campbell: an Asian twist on Southern staples. Alongside her best friend and finance expert Ashlee Mack, Campbell opened Yeiboh Kitchen in 2024, aiming to serve inventive dishes while challenging long-standing stereotypes about Black-owned restaurants.
Posted inBaltimore News
Bmore Empowered shuts down after eight years of service
After serving more than 3,000 Baltimore families, Bmore Empowered is closing its doors, citing ongoing funding challenges. The nonprofit’s founders say the decision was painful but necessary as capital for Black women-led organizations becomes increasingly scarce.