By Reginald Williams, Special to the AFRO rwilliams@afro.com Kelly Edwards stands about six-foot-one. He weighs north of 300 pounds and for many, Edward’s physical presence comes off as a little intimidating. Though in a workshop filled with behavioral health specialists, his voice didn’t align with his girth, or so, the facilitator thought. The facilitator said, […]
Category: NEWS
Posted inPrince George's County News
Youth curfew announced for minors in Prince George’s County
By Deborah Bailey, Contributing Editor, dbailey@afro.com Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks has announced a youth curfew for Prince George’s County, following a deadly Labor Day weekend and one of the deadliest months for the county in years. On Sept. 5, Prince George’s County implemented a curfew for those under 17 years old from 10 […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Library of Congress National Book Festival highlights Black authors
By Samuel Williams, Jr., Special to the AFRO and Deborah Bailey, Contributing Editor dbailey@afro.com Black authors were featured front and center at the first in-person National Book Festival held by the Library of Congress since Labor Day weekend in 2019. The award-winning festival, which started as a pet project by former first lady and librarian […]
Posted inNational News
Biden to commemorate the anniversary of 9/11 attacks at Pentagon
By The Associated Press President Joe Biden will mark the 21st anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on Sept. 4 by delivering remarks and laying a wreath at the Pentagon, the White House said. The day will commemorate the 2001 terrorist attacks when hijackers took control of commercial planes to use them as missiles, crashing into […]
Posted inReligion
Religion and spirituality associated with higher levels of heart health for African Americans
By Marnita Coleman, Special to the AFRO, mcoleman@afro.com Staggering statistics reveal a disparity in cardiovascular health in the African-American community. While heart disease is the leading cause of death in America, hospitalization from heart failure is twice as likely among Blacks, but the table is turning. The Jackson Heart Study, a 20-year research project conducted […]
Posted inPolitics
Wes Moore declines invitation to gubernatorial debate at Morgan State University
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, Report For America corps member tmcqueen@afro.com Wes Moore, Democratic candidate for Maryland’s November’s gubernatorial race, will not be attending Morgan State University’s (MSU) gubernatorial forum this month. MSU’s student-run news publication, the MSU Spokesman, is hosting its first gubernatorial forum on Sep. 27 in preparation for the general election […]
Posted inHBCU
Howard University bomb threats continue in new school year, spuring concerns about FBI’s response to domestic terrorism
By Sam P.K. Collins, The Washington Informer In the aftermath of recent back-to-back bomb threats that triggered residence hall evacuations and campus-wide investigations, officials at Howard University (HU) continue to speak out against antagonistic acts that have not only rocked the local, historically Black college but several others across the U.S. this year. HU Bison […]
Posted inNational News
Obamas return to White House: official portraits unveiled
By Darlene Superville, The Associated Press Former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle returned to the White House on Wednesday for the unveiling of official portraits with a modern vibe: him standing expressionless against a white background and her seated on a sofa in the Red Room wearing a formal light blue dress. “Barack […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Who’s next?: Not a drop to drink: Black communities from Jackson, Miss. to Baltimore paying the price for America’s crumbling infrastructure
By Nicole Batey, Special to the AFRO, and Alexis Taylor, AFRO News Editor Brown water coming out of a kitchen faucet in Jackson, Miss. is not new. Neither is boiling water in order to drink it. One resident- Cassandra Welchlin, executive director of the Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable, told the AFRO that residents have become […]
Posted inNational News
Hundreds in law enforcement, politics, military are Oath Keepers, says ADL
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent Hundreds of law enforcement officers, a host of elected officials and more than 100 military personnel are members of the Oath Keepers, the far-right extremist group accused of playing a significant role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, according to the Anti-Defamation League […]
Posted inNational News
Several states set to tax student loan forgiveness
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent, @StacyBrownMedia According to an analysis by the Tax Foundation, as many as 13 states will consider President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness a taxable event, levying as much as $1,100 in taxes to some borrowers who receive a $10,000 break. When announcing plans to forgive as […]
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Queen Elizabeth II, UK’s longest-serving monarch, dead at 96
By DANICA KIRKA, JILL LAWLESS and SYLVIA HUI, Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and a symbol of stability across much of a turbulent century, died Thursday. She was 96. Buckingham Palace said she died at Balmoral Castle, her summer residence in Scotland, where members of the royal family had […]