By Karen Matthews,The Associated Press The Rev. Calvin O. Butts III, who fought poverty and racism and skillfully navigated New York’s power structure as pastor of Harlem’s historic Abyssinian Baptist Church, died Oct. 28 at age 73, the church announced. “The Butts Family and entire Abyssinian Baptist Church membership solicit your prayers for us in […]
Category: NEWS
Posted inBaltimore News
Pit Fights Battle League hosts second innovative gubernatorial debate
By DaQuan Lawrence, Special to the AFRO On Oct. 30, the Pit Fights Battle League will host its second Gubernatorial Battle Rap Debate. Two contenders have studied the platforms of Democratic nominee Wes Moore and Republican nominee, Del. Dan Cox (R-MD-04), and will face off against each other in a rap battle where they take […]
Posted inPolitics
Aboard the bus, Wes Moore hopes it leads to the governor’s mansion
By SHANNON CLARK, Capital News Service WALDORF, Md. – It is a warm fall day in southern Maryland, and outside the Charles County Public Library, people are waiting. Carter Elliott, the communications guri, takes calls and monitors his phone. Volunteers stand outside the library in anticipation. A 45-foot long passenger bus sits alongside. Finally, the […]
Posted inNational News
Voter suppression tactics surface nationwide
by Karen Juanita Carrillo, Amsterdam News Across the country, Republican Party candidates have been pushing for poll watchers—self-deputized ‘election integrity’ enforcers—to be in attendance while people are voting during this year’s midterm elections. After former President Trump lost the 2020 presidential election, various GOP associates have helped promote the passage of state level anti-voter bills […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Government awarding $1 billion to schools for electric buses
By Matthew Daly, The Associated Press Nearly 400 school districts spanning all 50 states and Washington, D.C., along with several tribes and U.S. territories, are receiving roughly $1 billion in grants to purchase about 2,500 “clean” school buses under a new federal program. The Biden administration is making the grants available as part of a […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Small businesses brace for cautious holiday shoppers
By Mae Anderson, The Associated Press Small businesses are stocking the shelves early this holiday season and waiting to see how many gifts inflation-weary shoppers feel like giving. Holiday shopping was relatively strong during the past two years as shoppers flocked online to spend, aided by pandemic stimulus dollars. Sales in November and December have […]
Posted inNational Sports
Brittney Griner’s appeal denied: Rev. Al Sharpton, fans, President Biden and others respond to decision
By Roz Edward, New Pittsburgh Courier In another devastating decision concerning Britney Griner’s future and freedom, Russian courts have denied the basketball star’s appeal of her nine year-sentence for drug possession and smuggling charges. The beleaguered Griner continues to hold out hope – although some reports buy a thin thread – that she will ultimately […]
Posted inMaryland Government
Black Girls Vote: top three things Black voters should do ahead of Election Day
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, Report for America Corps Member. tmcqueen@afro.com Advocacy organizations are feverishly working to equip voters with the information necessary to be efficient and effective voters this year. Noticeably making change on the grassroots level are the women of Black Girls Vote (BGV). Less than two weeks remain ahead of Election […]
Posted inNational News
The Moore Report: Mansa Musa, past African Emperor of Mali, is the richest person who ever lived
By Ralph E. Moore Jr., Special to the AFRO To find out who the richest person in the world was to have ever lived, you have to go to the 14th century. His wealth was greater than that of Bill Gates, creator of Microsoft, or Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon. These men are the richest […]
Posted inHealth
Surge in RSV overwhelms pediatric wards around the nation
BY Mylika Scatliffe, AFRO Women’s Health Writer, mscatliffe@afro.com The 2022-2023 cold and flu season came in with a bang. Across the country there has been a surge in cases of respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, and Maryland is no exception. “We’ve seen a spike in RSV since approximately the beginning of September with a particular […]
Posted inBaltimore News
‘Just help somebody’: For My Kidz forges full steam ahead with founder Jerel Wilson
By Tiffany C. Ginyard, Special to the AFRO The city of Baltimore is finally catching up to speed with the founder and executive director of For My Kidz. Those in touch with human service organizations around town know that Jerel Wilson is a household name. Mention the words “resilient,” “tenacious,” or “resourceful,” and Wilson’s name […]
Posted inNational News
Black news organizations in latest BloomLab cohort awarded $50,000 tech grants
By Nicole D. Batey, AFRO Contributing Writer Eight Black-owned local news organizations, selected by BloomLab and Local Media Foundation (LMF), will each receive a $50,000 technology grant and participate in the second cohort of the Knight x LMA BloomLab. Initially funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Knight x LMA BloomLab […]