Authorities say a former North Carolina law enforcement officer, Christopher Gillum, was arrested in Florida after allegedly planning a racially motivated mass shooting targeting Black people at a major New Orleans festival, believed to be the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Law enforcement recovered a handgun and ammunition, and the FBI is coordinating a multi-state investigation as Gillum faces extradition to Louisiana.
Category: NEWS
Posted inBaltimore Government
Baltimore residents press for new investments at Taxpayers’ Night for FY2027 budget
At Taxpayers’ Night on April 22, Baltimore residents weighed in on Mayor Brandon M. Scott’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget and called for new investments across senior services, housing and community programs. Several speakers focused on long-needed repairs to the Forest Park Senior Center, while others urged greater support for grassroots organizations and worker cooperatives.
Posted inElections 2026
Low turnout, high impact: Why local elections matter more than many think
Low turnout in local elections limits representation, even as decisions by school boards and central committees directly shape daily life, from education policy to political leadership. Experts and community members say increasing awareness and participation is critical to ensuring communities have a voice in decisions that affect them.
Posted inObituaries - Baltimore
Leon Bridges dies at 93
By AFRO Staff The AFRO is saddened to learn of the death of Leon Bridges, who formed his own firm, Leon Bridges AIA, in 1963, and became the first registered African-American architect in the state of Maryland. A wake for Bridges will be held on April 26 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at March […]
Posted inMaryland News
First Lady Dawn Moore hosts third annual ‘A Woman’s Work’ brunch
Maryland First Lady Dawn Moore and the Foundation of the Preservation of Government House hosted the third annual “A Woman’s Work” Women’s Economic Empowerment Brunch on April 18 at the Government House. Attendees included co-founder of Black Entertainment Network (BET) Sheila Johnson, Wanda Durant and Angel Webb Reese.
Posted inDistrict of Columbia Government
DC voters fill the seats at ‘Ask a D.C. Candidate Mayoral Forum’
Hundreds of Washington, D.C., residents filled the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library for a mayoral forum where six candidates addressed key issues like housing, child care, public safety and the city’s budget. The largely civil event highlighted differing approaches to economic growth and governance while encouraging voters to prepare for the upcoming primary and new ranked-choice voting system.
Posted inBaltimore News, HBCU, National News, NEWS
From sharecropper to scholar: Andrew Billingsley at 100
At 100, Andrew Billingsley is celebrated for a lifetime of groundbreaking scholarship and leadership that reshaped understanding of Black families and strengthened higher education, particularly at Morgan State University. Honored at Hampton University with a new endowed scholarship, his legacy reflects a journey from the son of sharecroppers to a nationally influential sociologist and educator.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Dr. Faith Gibson Hubbard appointed interim president and CEO of Greater Washington Urban League
By D. Kevin McNeirSpecial to The AFRO The Board of Directors of the Greater Washington Urban League (GWUL) recently appointed Dr. Faith Gibson Hubbard as interim president and CEO. Hubbard replaces George Lambert, who retired earlier this year after 10 years of stellar service to the organization. Under Lambert’s tenure, GWUL expanded education and empowerment […]
Posted inReligion
Reverend Nontombi Tutu speaks at Asbury UMC’s annual Women’s Day Service
By D. Kevin McNeirSpecial to The AFRO By her own admission, the Reverend Nontombi Naomi Tutu, daughter of the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, struggled against accepting the call to ministry for most of her life. But you couldn’t tell, based on the reactions of worshipers at Asbury United Methodist Church (UMC) on Sunday, April 2, […]
Posted inU.S. Government
Lawmakers move to oust Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick for alleged ethics violations
The House is moving toward a bipartisan vote to expel Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.-20) after a committee investigation proved 25 ethics violations. While a federal judge has delayed the Florida Democrat’s criminal trial for the alleged theft of $5 million in FEMA funds until 2027, congressional leaders indicated that the chamber is prepared to act as early as next week.
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott named president of African American Mayors Association
Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott is now president of the African American Mayors Association. Read more about the selection and the organization’s recent conference in Washington, D.C. on AFRO.com.
Posted inBUSINESS
Navigating life’s big changes: Expert advice on finances, divorce and disasters
Life-changing events—from divorce to a serious illness to natural disasters—can upend not only daily routines but financial stability. Certified financial planner Zaneilia Harris shares strategies to help households prepare, protect and recover when the unexpected happens.
