As Black History Month is underway, Maryland lawmakers are championing bills to strengthen voting rights and protect minority voters. The proposed legislation aims to safeguard ballots and ensure legal recourse against voter intimidation or suppression.
Category: Prince George’s County News
Activists, politicians and celebrities hold alternatives to State of the Union address
In a historic display of legislative dissent, a coalition of more than 80 lawmakers bypassed the official presidential address to convene an “alternative union” on the National Mall, framing their absence as a rejection of executive rhetoric. The atmosphere inside the Capitol remained volatile, punctuated by the forced removal of a congressman protesting racial imagery and verbal clashes over the domestic consequences of immigration enforcement.
Elders call for ownership, mentorship and mindset shift to secure Black progress
Community elders say sustaining Black progress will require mentorship, economic literacy and resilience amid shifting diversity efforts. They urge the next wave of leaders to focus on ownership, mindset and long-term impact to strengthen future generations.
Gov. Moore, Lt. Gov. Miller file for re-election ahead of Maryland primaries
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller filed for re-election Feb. 23, ahead of the June 23 primary. Voters will weigh his record on the economy, schools and crime as the campaign begins.
Blizzard warnings cascade across East Coast with winter storm’s approach
A major winter storm began hitting the East Coast on Feb. 22, bringing heavy snow, strong winds, and blizzard conditions from Maryland to Massachusetts. Officials issued blizzard warnings, travel restrictions, and states of emergency as residents prepared for potentially historic snow accumulations and widespread disruptions.
Power, profit and protection: Local advocates weigh risks of Landover data center
As demand for artificial intelligence grows, a proposed hyperscale data center in Landover, Md., has sparked concerns among residents about environmental, health and infrastructure impacts. Community advocates warn the project could disproportionately burden historically Black neighborhoods unless enforceable protections are put in place.
On the line with Jesse Jackson: Lessons from a voice that changed history
By Alexis TaylorAFRO Managing Editor I never imagined Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. would pick up the phone. It was 2012. On June 14 of that year, Adidas, the international shoe and sports apparel company, boldly unveiled a pair of sneakers that came complete with a pair of orange, plastic ankle bracelets. After public backlash to […]
Remembering Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. The man who stopped
By Dr. Frances “Toni” Murphy Draper More than forty years ago, in a crowded corridor in Nassau, Bahamas, I watched Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. do something small that revealed something immense: he stopped. My mother, Frances L. Murphy II—then publisher of the AFRO-American Newspaper—and I were attending a conference where he was the keynote […]
Bowie State celebrates legacy of athletic leader Clyde ‘Cool Mac’ Doughty Jr.
The Bowie State University community gathered Feb. 13 to honor the life and legacy of Clyde “Cool Mac” Doughty Jr., the university’s vice president for Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation and a respected leader within the CIAA. Remembered for his visionary leadership, mentorship and commitment to student-athletes, Doughty’s impact on Bowie State’s athletic success and campus culture was celebrated by colleagues, students and conference partners.
Advocates rally in Annapolis to push expungement legislation
Advocates from across Maryland rallied in Annapolis, Md. urging lawmakers to advance the Fair Chance Housing Act and Clean Slate Act. Supporters say the bills would help reduce barriers to housing and employment for people returning from incarceration.
Moore calls White House snub ‘blatant disrespect’
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, the nation’s only Black governor, said the White House disinvited him from the annual bipartisan National Governors Association dinner, calling the move disrespectful and partisan. The 47th president’s administration limited the event to Republican governors, a break from longstanding tradition that NGA leaders criticized as undermining cooperation.
Maryland-based coalition arms parents with more effective tools to keep youth drug free
A new Glenarden, Md.–based nonprofit, the Teen & Youth Alliance Coalition (TAYAC), is working to help parents and communities better protect young people from marijuana and non-prescription drug use. Backed by a federal drug-free community grant, the coalition is focusing on early prevention, open dialogue and culturally relevant outreach rather than lectures.

