West Baltimore resident Tahera Arrington says Amtrak’s Frederick Douglass Tunnel project has upended her life—bringing dust, noise, pests, and damage to her home. Now, she fears displacement and the loss of the community she’s lived in since childhood.
Category: NEWS
Posted inBaltimore News
The modern family: Redefining love, parenthood and connection
The modern American family is being redefined by love, flexibility and resilience. From same-sex couples raising children to blended families formed through previous relationships, these households reflect evolving social values and a broader understanding of what it means to be a family today.
Posted inHealth
Licensed but locked out: Why Vilissa Thompson built her own path in disability advocacy
Vilissa Thompson was on track to become a therapist, but after realizing the social work field wasn’t built for wheelchair users like herself, she took a different route. Now, as founder of Ramp Your Voice, she’s creating space for Black disabled women and femmes to be heard, supported and politically empowered.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Short-staffed and stretched thin: Special Ed crisis leaves Black students with disabilities at risk
Black students with disabilities often depend on individualized education programs for support, but severe special education staffing shortages and burnout are making that support harder to deliver. With 70 percent of K–12 schools reporting vacancies, educators say the growing workload is driving many out of the field, leaving students without the consistent help they need.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Survivors of Katrina find strength, solace through the efforts of extraordinary people
By D. Kevin McNeirSpecial to the AFROkmcneir@afro.com When the first official public warnings of a tropical depression, then located over the Bahamas, were issued on Aug. 23, 2005 by the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fl., few could have predicted that it would become one of the deadliest hurricanes in U.S. history. But by the […]
Posted inBaltimore Events
ABC’s The Cookout returns: Celebrating Black culture, community and equity in Baltimore
Associated Black Charities (ABC) announced the return of its signature event, The Cookout, on Sept. 13, 2025, at The Village of Cross Keys in Baltimore. Presented by SECU, the free, family-friendly celebration will feature a march and rally, children’s activities, game tournaments, live entertainment, food trucks, and a showcase of Black-owned businesses.
Posted inBUSINESS
GBC and UpSurge outline vision, strategic priorities following merger
Following its merger with the Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC), UpSurge is focusing on data-driven strategies to support high-growth startups and strengthen the region’s innovation economy. The organizations aim to balance targeted investment with community-building efforts to create a more dynamic and resilient startup ecosystem.
Posted inNational News
Embattled Fed Gov. Lisa Cook vows legal fight against 47th president’s bid to oust her
Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook plans to sue the White House to block her removal, setting up a potential Supreme Court fight that could redefine presidential authority over the central bank and test the Fed’s political independence.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Rep. Don Beyer to reintroduce bill requiring body cameras for federal police
Del. Norton Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.-At-Large) and U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.-08) will soon reintroduce legislation requiring all federal police to use body and dash cameras, citing urgent needs for transparency and accountability after recent abuses of power in Washington, D.C.
Posted inNational News
Black attorneys respond to president’s executive order calling for elimination of cashless bail
By D. Kevin McNeirSpecial to the AFROkmcneir@afro.com On Monday, August 25, the 47th president of the United States signed two executive orders to end cashless bail – a decision which he asserted will protect Americans. In the two executive orders, one focusing on the District of Columbia, where the president has declared a “crime emergency,” […]
Posted inBaltimore County Government
Public hearing on Baltimore County redistricting: Facts vs. misinformation
By Peta RichkusBaltimore County Coalition for Fair Maps Baltimore County residents will have the opportunity to testify (in-person and virtually) at today’s public hearing on Bill 55-25, the Council’s proposed redistricting map, at the Council’s regularly scheduled work session. Time and Place: Tuesday, August 26, 4pm, 2nd floor Council Chambers, Historic County Courthouse. There is […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Black Girl White Coat pushes for greater representation in medicine
Black Girl White Coat (BGWC), founded by Dr. Sandra Coker, works to close the gap in medicine where only 2.8 percent of U.S. physicians are Black women. Through mentorship, scholarships and representation, BGWC helps aspiring doctors overcome systemic barriers and build a stronger pipeline of Black female physicians.