Darryl Barnes, former state delegate and chair of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus, was sworn in as the new chair of the Prince George’s County Planning Board on July 8. He aims to make the county a destination through improved parks, recreation programs, and strategic use of major properties like Six Flags and the Commanders’ stadium land.
Category: Prince George’s County News
Posted inPrince George's County News
Glenn Ivey’s balancing act: A congressman, a husband, a father
Rep. Glenn Ivey, a devoted father and husband, has managed to strike a rare balance between life on Capitol Hill and the responsibilities of raising a family. With a home just miles from Congress, Ivey’s proximity allows him to stay present, even as his schedule demands near-constant attention to work. His story is one of adaptation, shared sacrifice and the powerful example of a Black political family living their values both publicly and privately.
Posted inBUSINESS
Building legacy and lifting others: The power of Black entrepreneurship
Black entrepreneurs like John E. Harmon Sr. and Stefanie Magness are scaling global heights. Their success is transforming how the world sees Black leadership, strategy and innovation.
Posted inDMV News
Black blood donors play a critical role in saving lives, but representation still lags
Black donors are critical to the U.S. blood supply, yet remain underrepresented. Greater diversity improves matching for sickle cell patients, a disease that disproportionately affects Black individuals.
Posted inPrince George's County News
Family mourns death of Dacara Thompson as advocates push for change in media coverage
By D. Kevin McNeirSpecial to the AFROkmcneir@afro.com Officials have announced that the man accused of taking the life of Prince George’s County teen, Dacara Thompson, will be held without bond. Police have charged Hugo Hernandez-Mendez, 35, of Bowie, with first and second degree murder. According to information released by the Prince George’s County Police Department’s […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Advocates warn of racial harm in new juvenile monitoring guidelines
The Maryland Department of Juvenile Services is changing how it handles youth on electronic monitoring, allowing for detention if they reoffend. While state officials say the move balances safety and support, advocates warn it will deepen racial disparities and criminalize youth before trial.
Posted inBaltimore News
Wes Moore, Brandon Scott reject 47th president’s National Guard plan for Baltimore
Gov. Wes Moore and Mayor Brandon Scott denounced the Oval Office’s plan to send the National Guard to Baltimore, calling it unnecessary and “performative.” At a Sept. 5 press conference in Park Heights, they pointed instead to record crime reductions, with homicides at a 50-year low. City leaders and community advocates stressed that resources should go toward collaboration, jobs and housing — not militarization.
Posted inMaryland News
Gov. Wes Moore signs executive order to expand affordable housing
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed an executive order on Sept. 3 to expand affordable housing in Maryland. The move comes amid reports showing many residents, especially Black and Latino households, struggling to afford rent and lacking financial safety nets.
Posted inAfro Briefs
American Nurses Association alarmed by volume of abrupt changes at CDC
The American Nurses Association is raising alarms over the sudden ouster of the CDC director and the resignations of other top leaders, warning the upheaval threatens public trust and the nation’s ability to respond to health crises. The group says the lack of transparency and stable leadership risks undermining public health, the economy and national security.
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 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 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.