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.
Category: POLITICS
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 inBlack History
Why Bernice King sees MLK Day as a ‘saving grace’ in today’s political climate
Bernice King says Martin Luther King Jr. Day offers a moral and emotional “saving grace” amid today’s political division, reminding the nation of hope, nonviolence and the ongoing fight against poverty, racism and militarism. She urges Americans to honor her father’s legacy not only through service, but through sustained personal reflection and action toward a more just, humane and peaceful society.
Posted inPrince George's County News
Prince George’s County Council selects Wala Blegay to fill vacancy
Prince George’s County Council member Wala Blegay (D) will fill the recently vacated at-large seat, bringing her experience with various countywide initiatives. The seat will be up for election in November 2026.
Posted inU.S. Government
Department of Education calls back civil rights staff amid massive discrimination case backlog
After hundreds of civil rights employees were placed on administrative leave last year, the U.S. Department of Education called staff back to its Office of Civil Rights amid a massive backlog of discrimination complaints. Workers and union leaders say the disruption left tens of thousands of cases unresolved and students without timely civil rights protections.
Posted inPOLITICS
47th president can’t block child care money for 5 Democratic-led states for now, judge says
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the 47th president’s administration from freezing billions of dollars in child care and family support funding to five Democratic-led states, ruling that the states met the legal standard to preserve the status quo while the dispute plays out in court. The decision comes as the administration claims—without providing evidence—that the states improperly provided benefits to undocumented immigrants, a move the states argue is unconstitutional and politically motivated, with immediate consequences for low-income families and child care providers.
Posted inPOLITICS
Hoyer laments House ‘is not living up to the Founders’ goals’ as he tells colleagues he’s retiring
Rep. Steny Hoyer, the longest-serving Democrat in Congress, announced he will retire at the end of his term, using a House floor speech to warn that today’s Congress is falling short of the Founders’ vision. The 86-year-old Maryland lawmaker reflected on decades of bipartisan work, urged colleagues to renew their commitment to democratic norms, and said he will spend his final year seeking bipartisanship and avoiding a government shutdown.
Posted inBaltimore Government
State and local lawmakers comment on Mayor Scott’s 2026 legislative priorities
State and local lawmakers weighed in on Mayor Scott’s 2026 legislative agenda, supporting public safety, housing and infrastructure measures while adding their own priorities, including utility relief and youth programs.
Posted inPOLITICS
CBC slams U.S. intervention in Venezuela, citing lack of legal authority
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus are condemning the United States’ military action in Venezuela, calling it an illegal act of aggression carried out without congressional authorization or a clear plan. Lawmakers warn the operation risks destabilizing the region, undermining international law, and drawing the country into another open-ended conflict.
Posted inBaltimore News
Mayor Scott reflects on historic crime drop and looks toward 2026
Baltimore ended 2025 with a record low of 133 homicides, the fewest in nearly 50 years. Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) and city leaders highlighted strategies to sustain reductions and announced a new five-year violence plan, which will be released later this year.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Five years later, former Capitol Officer Harry Dunn says Jan. 6 was ‘worst day’ of his life
By Stacy BrownNNPA Newswire On the fifth anniversary of Jan. 6, a date now fixed in the American conscience, former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn returned to the moment that altered his life and the nation’s course. Appearing on “Let It Be Known,” Dunn spoke about the unforgettable day that’s shaped by time, pain, and […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott named 2025 AFRO Person of Year
For Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott, 2025 was a year of pressure and progress, from record-breaking reductions in violent crime to major investments in youth, education and neighborhood revitalization. As 2026 begins, Scott says he plans to build on those achievements while continuing his focus on public safety, economic development and changing the national narrative about Baltimore.
