Baltimore’s Allendale community celebrated the reopening of the Mary E. Rodman Rec Center after nearly three years of closure. The $1.8 million renovation brings new fitness, a playground and community spaces for local youth and families.
Category: NEWS
Posted inMaryland Government
Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk leads race for Maryland House speakership role
Sources close to the AFRO say Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D-MD-District 21), 59, is poised to become Maryland’s next Speaker of the House of Delegates when votes are held on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025.
Posted inHealth
A survivor’s message to women: ‘Don’t wait, get screened for breast cancer’
Breast cancer survival improves with early detection and consistent screenings. Valarie Traynham, a survivor, stresses the importance of being vigilant about symptoms and speaking up to ensure proper care.
Posted inAfro Briefs
Cinnabon worker fired after racist outburst directed at customers goes viral
A Wisconsin Cinnabon employee was fired after a video showing her using racist slurs, taunting customers, and mocking a woman’s hijab went viral on TikTok. The incident has sparked dueling online fundraisers — one supporting the Black Somali Muslim couple targeted, and another raising tens of thousands for the terminated worker, who is White.
Posted inMaryland News
Maryland leaders praise Speaker Adrienne Jones as she steps down from historic, transformative tenure
News of Maryland House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones’ immediate departure from her speakership role in the state legislature has led to an outpouring of love and appreciation for her time as the first woman and first Black person to hold the role. Leaders across the state credited her with steady, principled leadership through crises, landmark legislative victories, and major investments in HBCUs and underserved communities.
Posted inNational Sports
Late reversal helps Steelers hold on for 27-22 win over Ravens and sole possession of division lead
Aaron Rodgers led the Steelers to a 27-22 victory over the Ravens on Dec. 7, throwing for 284 yards and two touchdowns while helping Pittsburgh take sole possession of the AFC North lead. A late reversal on a Baltimore touchdown with 2:43 remaining sealed the win, leaving the Ravens struggling after consecutive divisional losses.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Trinidad and Tobago prime minister confirms U.S. Marines working on Tobago radar system
Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar confirmed that U.S. Marines are working in Tobago on radar and airport upgrades, reversing earlier statements that no American military personnel were present. The disclosure comes amid growing regional U.S. military activity and questions about how the upgraded radar system may be used.
Posted inReligion
A new generation of Black church leaders steps into power
Kevin Lamár Peterman, 32, has been installed as pastor of Washington, D.C.’s historic Nineteenth Street Baptist Church, signaling a broader rise of young Black clergy leading major congregations rooted in social justice. His installation reflects a national shift as millennial pastors take the reins of historic churches and adapt their ministries to a digital, turbulent era.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Creating the next generation of change makers: A look at D.C.’s Social Justice Charter School
By Deborah BaileyAFRO Contributing Editor At Washington D.C.’s Social Justice Charter School, social justice is a concept that extends beyond a classroom or a unit studied in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Social justice is the theme that permeates the entire school, influencing every aspect of classroom and school activities. Since 2020, […]
Posted inBaltimore News
One Baltimore event unites leaders around mental wellness, healing and community action
KEYS Development’s “One Baltimore” gathering brought together mental health providers, elected officials and community leaders to strengthen collaboration around healing, emotional wellness and youth support in the city. Speakers, including Mayor Brandon Scott and Sen. Antonio Hayes, emphasized that building a healthier Baltimore requires collective leadership, sustained investment and community-driven action.
Posted inBaltimore News
Bates pulls out of city’s violence-reduction partnership; Mayor Scott urges continued cooperation
Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates (D) announced his office will end direct coordination with the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE), citing a “veil of secrecy.” His actions raise questions about the future of the Group Violence Reduction Strategy, which is led by MONSE and is largely credited for recent public safety improvements.
Posted inClimate Change
Baltimore residents tracking climate change through new Morgan State weather station project
Baltimore residents are helping scientists track local climate impacts by collecting data from newly installed Morgan State–supported weather stations placed in neighborhoods across the city. The project aims to empower communities that often face environmental injustices by giving them ownership of climate data and a role in shaping research.