Mayor Brandon M. Scott announces that enrollment is open for Baltimore’s new Residential Property Tax Payment Plan Program, allowing eligible homeowners to pay past-due property taxes through flexible monthly payments and avoid tax sale. The program, established through recently passed legislation, marks the first time the city offers a payment plan option for overdue real property taxes and remains open for enrollment through May 12, 2026.
Category: NEWS
Posted inMental Health
A deadly pattern: Violence against Black women raises alarm nationwide
By D. Kevin McNeirSpecial to The AFRO Brutal cases of domestic violence in the Black community have rocked the nation in recent weeks, highlighting a need to understand the root cause of intimate partner violence and how to prevent it. On April 1, Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen, of Coral Springs, Fla.was found dead in […]
Posted inDistrict of Columbia Government
Securing statehood dominates 2026 Emancipation Day conversation in D.C.
By D. Kevin McNeirSpecial to The AFRO Washingtonians of all ages, some even in strollers and wheelchairs, filled city sidewalks and streets, enjoyed a liberty-themed luncheon as guests of the mayor, and frolicked on the fields at RFK Campus, April 16 – 19, for a four-day celebration that marked 2026 DC Emancipation Day. Event planners […]
Posted inHealth
A call to action to help fight kidney failure in at-risk communities: American Kidney Fund urges people to be APOL1 Aware
April 28 marks AMKD Awareness Day, highlighting the urgent need for communities—especially those of African ancestry—to understand their risk for APOL1-mediated kidney disease.
Posted inNational News
DC gala shooting suspect aired grievances against 47th president in writings to family
Authorities say Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old California man, is accused of attempting a politically motivated attack at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on April 25, after sending writings to family expressing grievances against the 47th president’s administration. Investigators believe Allen acted alone, legally acquired multiple weapons, and intended to target administration officials before being subdued by security, prompting a chaotic scene and the evacuation of the president, who was unharmed.
Posted inAfro Briefs
Board of Trustees selects Dr. Denise Jones Gregory as president of Jackson State University
Denise Jones Gregory has been selected as the 14th president of Jackson State University following an eight-month national search. A longtime academic leader at the university who served as interim president since May 2025, Gregory brings experience as provost and vice president of academic affairs, along with a strong background in chemistry and higher education leadership.
Posted inOPINION
Opinion: Baltimore and Maryland are investing billions in transit—so why aren’t residents building wealth along the way?
Michael Eugene Johnson is creator of the Pikes Studio Cinema and cofounder of Black Men Unifying Black Men. This week, he argues that new development near transit needs to include ownership opportunities for average residents in order to foster distributed, generational wealth.
Posted inArts & Culture
SNF Parkway Theatre selects Wordsmith for its inaugural residency program
With renovations complete, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Parkway Theatre is launching an artist residency program to support local creatives, including Wordsmith, who will present original works blending youth theater, music and storytelling. His productions, including “Uncle Bey’s Will” and “Network to Freedom,” center Black storytelling, history and community, while aiming to uplift Baltimore’s young and emerging artists.
Posted inAfro Events
‘Hats, gloves and brilliance’: Black community shines at the AFRO’s 2026 Baltimore Tea
Nearly 1,200 guests gathered in Baltimore for the AFRO’s 2026 Baltimore Tea, celebrating Black excellence and honoring women leaders across corporate, nonprofit and civic spaces. The annual sold-out event highlighted the achievements of Black women in executive roles while fostering community, tradition and intergenerational connection.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Major D.C. mayoral and congressional delegate debates set for May 2 at George Washington University
Voters in Washington, D.C. will have a chance to hear directly from candidates for mayor and congressional delegate during the DCision 2026 debates on May 2 at George Washington University. Hosted by a coalition of civic and media organizations, the event will spotlight key issues including public safety, housing, economic recovery, education, and D.C.’s push for full congressional representation.
Posted inBaltimore News
Churchill Downs Inc. buys Preakness intellectual property for $85 million
Churchill Downs Inc. has agreed to acquire the intellectual property for the Preakness Stakes and Black-Eyed Susan Stakes from 1/ST Racing’s Maryland department for $85 million, subject to customary closing conditions.
Posted inBaltimore News
Mayor’s office seeks ethics review of IG’s social media post amid ongoing legal dispute
A senior aide to Mayor Brandon M. Scott has asked city ethics and oversight boards to review Inspector General Isabel Cumming’s online conduct following a Facebook post that included a YouTube video with an AI-generated image of the mayor. The request comes amid an ongoing legal dispute between the mayor’s office and the inspector general over access to city records and the scope of the OIG’s investigative authority.
