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.
Category: NEWS
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.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
47th president establishes fleet of ‘Woke Police’ to accentuate the positive at the Smithsonian
President Trump has ordered a review of Smithsonian Institution exhibits to identify and curb what the White House calls “woke” content, particularly in displays about slavery and race. The review, which disproportionately targets the National Museum of African American History and Culture, raises questions about censorship, free speech, and the federal government’s role in shaping historical narratives.
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimore Mayor Scott welcomes students back to school for 2025-2026 school year
Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) and Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Dr. Sonja Brookins Santelises welcomed students back to school on Aug. 25, visiting them in their classrooms and recognizing good attendance.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
‘3 by 30’ aims to create 3 million Black homeowners—but barriers persist
By DaQuan LawrenceAFRO International WriterDLawrence@afro.com Black homebuyers are 1.7 times more likely to be denied a mortgage than all other racial groups in the nation, according to a recent study by LendingTree. Considering the historical trend of housing disenfranchisement and disproportionate racial homeownership, the AFRO spoke with policy experts about the implications of the phenomenon, […]
Posted inNational News
Marching forward: Commemorating the March on Washington on Wall Street
Dr. Benjamin Chavis, president and CEO of National Newspaper Publishers Association, will help lead churches and the Black Press in a march on Wall Street Aug 28. Demonstrators will use the march to demand equity and opportunity for marginalized communities.
Posted inHealth
Thousands of patients insured by UnitedHealthcare cut off from in-network care at Johns Hopkins Medicine
Following eight months of failed negotiations, Johns Hopkins Medicine will no longer be covered as “in-network” for patients with insurance through UnitedHealthcare. This leaves thousands of patients in Maryland, D.C., and Virginia potentially facing higher costs or reduced coverage.
Posted inAfro Briefs
New Orleans clergy say 20 years after Hurricane Katrina, Black communities still waiting for promises to be fulfilled
Two decades after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, members of the Black communities say they still haven’t fully recovered from the storm.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Community split as D.C. residents debate federal takeover, with opposition outweighing support
Since the president took control of D.C.’s police force and deployed nearly 2,000 armed National Guard troops on Aug. 11, residents remain deeply divided. A Washington Post/George Mason poll shows nearly 80 percent oppose the move, with many calling it government overreach and questioning the justification given falling crime rates. Others, however, support the action, citing concerns about youth violence and safety on city streets and public transit.
Posted inMaryland News
Civil rights leaders at Maryland gala urge unity, investment in young voices
The Maryland Commission on Civil Rights hosted its 2025 Annual Civil Rights Gala on Aug. 23 at Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland, featuring a panel discussion on unity, policy and the future of leadership. Panelists Jeff Johnson, Tamika D. Mallory and Maryland Del. Malcolm P. Ruff, D-District 41, urged attendees to stay committed to the civil rights movement and invest in young leadership.