by Aziah Siid February 2, 2024 They’ve shaped generations of Black professionals. Now HBCUs are working to educate students K-12, particularly in STEM fields. What do Martin Luther King Jr., Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, and Vice President Kamala Harris have in common? They’re all graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The schools saw a surge […]
Category: Washington D.C. News
Posted inDMV News
U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer, 84, announces run for re-election
By Tashi McQueenAFRO Political WriterTmcqueen@afro.com U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.-05) announced Jan. 9 that he will seek re-election in 2024, ending speculation that he would step down after representing the state for 23 terms in the House of Representatives. In an interview with the AFRO, Hoyer said he sat down with his wife, Elaine C. […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Health care officials wrestle with ongoing racial health disparities in nation’s capital
By Helen BezunehSpecial to the AFRO As the U.S. confronts a fresh surge of COVID-19 infections this winter, the ongoing issue of racial health disparities in D.C. continues to show nagging gaps. While D.C. is home for some of the nation’s highest ranked medical centers, data from the District’s eight wards show uneven health outcomes. […]
Posted in!Front Page National News
Here’s what you should know about the marijuana pardons from President Joe Biden
By Ashleigh FieldsAFRO Assistant Editorafields@afro.com Thousands of citizens now have the opportunity to clear their records of convictions relating to marijuana usage, to include simple and attempted possession charges. This new opportunity was announced by President Biden ahead of the Christmas holiday on Dec. 22 and applies to all cases federally and in the District […]
Posted inENVIRONMENT
District residents look forward to cleanup of toxic waterways
By Asha TaylorSpecial to the AFRO Washington, D.C. residents have struggled to enjoy their local waterways for years due to hazardous pollution. Following the enactment of the largest environmental settlement in D.C. history, the Potomac Electric Power Company, also known as Pepco, will be responsible for cleaning up the District’s local rivers, including the Potomac […]
Posted inDistrict of Columbia Government
Firearm unit in D.C. crime lab seeks to regain full accreditation as gun crime in District continues
By Chrisleen HerardSpecial to the AFRO Fraudulent behavior led to D.C.’s Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) losing accreditation. The crime lab has partially regained credibility on Dec. 26, 2023, as the biology and chemistry units seek to regain their ability to process evidence and conduct forensic testing. It remains unclear when the firearm unit will […]
Posted in2024 Elections
Wendell Felder expands campaign for Ward 7 council seat
By Sabreen DawudSpecial to the AFRO As a fourth-generation Washingtonian and local community servant, Wendell Felder, who currently serves as chair for the Ward 7 Democrats and director of regional and local affairs at Howard University knows about making change. Now, he’s campaigning for the Ward 7 council seat. Felder has centered his campaign around […]
Posted inCOMMUNITY
Leading the charge: Gun safety advocate Celeste Iroha speaks on making change after loss
By Catherine PughSpecial to the AFRO Celeste Iroha has been a self-proclaimed activist since the age of 15 years old. “I lost one of my cousins when I was 12 in D.C. His funeral was the first I would have to go to,” recalls Iroha. “I am also a survivor of a shooting, resulting from […]
Posted inMLK Memorial Special Coverage
Youth compete in oratorical contest held by Prince Williams County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority in honor of MLK Day
By AFRO Staff In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the Prince Williams County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority (PWCAC-DST) held their 39th annual oratorical competition at Charles J. Colgan High School in Manassas, Va. Students from sixth to 12th grade competed for a cash prize, a Drum Major medal, certificate […]
Posted inD.C. Community
Man surrenders in connection to DaVon Fuller shooting
By Chrisleen HerardSpecial to the AFRO More than two months after DaVon Fuller was shot and killed in a parking lot near his home, a man walked into a D.C. police station and surrendered himself in connection to his murder. “The loss of our beloved nephew, DaVon Fuller, has been an ongoing struggle for our […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Trespassers vandalize Howard University’s Benjamin E. Mays Hall
By Ashleigh FieldsAFRO Assistant Editorafields@afro.com Howard University officials are looking into a recent break-in at Benjamin E. Mays Hall, which housed the institution’s School of Divinity from 1987 to 2015. A viral video shows the individuals breaking into the building through the mechanical entrance. Vandals recorded themselves deploying a dry ice fire extinguisher inside, roaming […]
Posted inD.C. Community
Veda Rasheed announces council bid for Ward 7 in D.C.
By Re’Jon JonesSpecial to the AFRO Veda Rasheed is vying to be a council member for Ward 7 with hopes of reshaping the political landscape. Raised in the heart of the community in the River Terrace neighborhood, she shared with the AFRO her commitment to addressing the diverse needs of the residents. “I am running […]