More than just a gymnasium and recreation center, Druid Hill’s YMCA has been proudly serving the Baltimore community for over 80 years. As the oldest Black-operated YMCA (also known as the Y), the center is currently undergoing a $3.4 million renovation project that will transform a deteriorating complex into one of the most attractive YMCAs […]
Category: Baltimore News
Police Make Arrests in Murder of ‘AFRO’ Security Guard
City Police have arrested two suspects linked to the April 8 murder of Charles Bowman at Yau Brothers Carry Out at 2901 Greenmount Ave. Troy Taylor, 19, turned himself in to authorities late Wednesday. Michael Raphael Hunter, 18, was arrested Thursday afternoon following several anonymous calls from the Waverly area to the city’s crime hotline. […]
Regents Likely to Sanction Hike, End Tuition Freeze
WASHINGTON – The University System of Maryland Board of Regents last week was primed to end the four-year moratorium on public university tuition increases with a modest hike proposed in January by Gov. Martin O’Malley. The board met at the University of Maryland University College in Adelphi to vote on the 3 percent increase, which […]
Jack Fights Back
After City Council President Jack Young invited reporters on a tour of two houses he owns in East Baltimore to clear up questions about his residency, he is now accused of purchasing a home with taxpayer dollars intended for poor people. During a news conference last week, Young defended himself by responding to what he […]
City Amends Wells Fargo Lawsuit
Three months after a judge tossed Baltimore City’s lawsuit against Wells Fargo, City Solicitor George Nilson announced the filing of a second complaint. The city maintains its initial claim – that African-American borrowers pay more in fees and interest rates for refinances and home loans and alleges Wells Fargo’s lending practices prompted harmful foreclosures […]
Child Abuse Center Raises Awareness
Child abuse is a subject that often takes a backseat to the headlines over other “pressing” issues. While overall perception of the topic is regularly heartfelt, the matters of a listless economy, declining homeownership, murders, failing schools and other concerns typically speed to the top of most news broadcasts. So, in celebration of Child Abuse […]
Community Honors Slain AFRO Employee
Members from the Baltimore community gathered April 15 at the corner of Greenmount Avenue and 29th Street to honor the life of Charles Bowman, an AFRO employee who was murdered at a nearby fast food restaurant a week earlier. “I’ve been doing these types of things for over 30 years and I’ve realized that you […]
Comprehensive Budget Awaits Council Approval
Without additional revenue, Baltimore City could lose seven fire companies, sworn police officers and police helicopters, dozens of recreation centers and swimming pools and 606 filled positions to close the budget gap. But on Monday, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake released a comprehensive budget that generates $50 million in new funds, as well as $70 million in […]
Early Census Returns Metro Area Fall Short
Despite a concerted effort to get the word out, Baltimore City lags in returns of U.S. Census Bureau forms. The national participation rate is 62 percent, but Baltimore is lowest in the state of Maryland with 55 percent as of April 6. However, Kimberly Manns within the Mayor’s Office of Communication and Policy is “cautiously […]
Battle Engaged to Keep Pools and Centers Open
A couple weeks after the mayor proposed closing half of the city’s recreation centers and almost all pools for the summer, Councilman Carl Stokes called for an audit of the Department of Recreation and Parks. He said he believes there may be funds in the department that are unaccounted for and substantial enough to keep […]
AFRO Security Guard Murdered
Charles Bowman, 72, was the source of smiles, assistance, goodwill and friendship at the Afro-American Newspapers and with his family. In the early morning hours of Thursday, April 8, that was taken away when he was killed during a robbery. Bowman headed to work at the AFRO for his 1-9 a.m. shift […]
Baltimore Slots at Stand-Still
While progress has been made on slot parlors in other Maryland jurisdictions, Baltimore City is at a standstill. Baltimore City Entertainment Group (BCEG) appealed to the state board of contractors after their bid was denied by the Lottery Commission in December, and no proposals are currently being accepted. “We intend to issue a request for […]

