Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District of Columbia’s longtime nonvoting delegate to Congress and a Civil Rights Movement veteran, has filed paperwork to end her reelection campaign, signaling the close of her 35-year tenure on Capitol Hill. Her retirement opens a competitive Democratic primary in the overwhelmingly Democratic city as questions had mounted about her effectiveness amid heightened federal intervention in Washington.
Category: Washington D.C. News
Posted inU.S. Government
Deadline looms as Congress risks another shutdown
With federal funding set to expire at 11:59 p.m. Jan. 30, Congress is again on the brink of a government shutdown, just months after a prolonged lapse disrupted essential services and deepened hardship for families nationwide. As Republicans push a single sweeping funding vote, Democrats warn that no viable agreement exists, leaving negotiations stalled and the risk of another shutdown growing as the deadline approaches.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
National Guard troops to stay on Washington, D.C. streets through 2026
National Guard troops will be on the streets of Washington, D.C. until the end of 2026, according to a memo reviewed by The Associated Press, signed by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and dated Jan. 14.
Posted inNational News
Massive winter storm across the US brings ice, frigid temperatures and widespread power outages
By Kate Brumback and Julie WalkerThe Associated Press A massive winter storm dumped sleet, freezing rain and snow across much of the U.S. on Jan. 25, bringing subzero temperatures and paralyzing air and road traffic. Power lines were draped in ice, and hundreds of thousands of people in the Southeast were left without electricity. The […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Mary’s House, D.C.’s first housing created for LGBTQ+ seniors, faces criticism
Mary’s House for Older Adults was celebrated last year as Washington, D.C.’s first housing development created for LGBTQ+ seniors. Now, the housing complex is facing criticism from former residents and community members who allege problems with safety, management, affordability and accountability.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Community unites for annual D.C. Peace Walk and Parade
Join the 21st Peace Walk and Parade in Washington, D.C., celebrating MLK’s legacy and uniting the community with music, activism, and wellness.
Posted inBlack History
Protect the day, protect the truth
By Dr. Frances “Toni” Murphy DraperAFRO CEO and Publisher As the nation marks Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the real question is not how loudly we celebrate — but whether we are willing to live by the values Dr. King demanded. Each January, the nation knows how to celebrate. We mark the day. We replay […]
Posted inArts & Culture
National Museum of African American History and Culture opens exhibition featuring collections from five HBCUs
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture opened a new exhibition, “At the Vanguard: Making and Saving History at HBCUs,” celebrating the cultural, intellectual and artistic legacy preserved by historically Black colleges and universities. Featuring collections from five HBCUs, the exhibition highlights rare artifacts, artwork and archival materials before embarking on a national tour through 2029.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
DC residents protest rise in Washington Gas bills
Washington, D.C. residents and mayoral candidate Talib Karim Muhammad protested a Washington Gas rate hike approved by the city’s Public Service Commission, which is expected to raise average residential heating bills by nearly 13 percent. While Washington Gas says the increase reflects long-delayed, fully litigated costs and points to assistance programs, protesters and residents argue the higher bills threaten affordability and displacement in the city.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
D.C. Council questions the District’s cooperation with ICE
D.C. lawmakers are urging city leaders to end Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after a council report found federal immigration enforcement has eroded trust in immigrant communities.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Local UNCF and MLK Holiday DC Committee prepare to celebrate Dr. King’s birthday
By D. Kevin McNeirSpecial to the AFRO Over the next week, Americans and others around the world will celebrate the birthday, life and legacy of “the drum major for peace,” the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Born Jan. 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Ga., the Baptist minister represents one of the greatest minds of the […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Community remember Marckell Williams as a brother, friend and photography master
By Ashleigh FieldsSpecial to the AFRO Local journalists, church members and the broader community in the District are mourning the loss of 26 year old Marckell Williams, who was killed in a Jan. 7 car crash. Williams, an internationally known photojournalist, is remembered for frequently capturing the essence of political, religious and public events that […]