By Derrell Frazier In the pursuit of a fair and just legal system, Maryland stands at a crossroads, facing the imperative to reassess its approach to treating young people who come into conflict with the law. As a state, we should not be moving in a direction where we push kids further into the deep […]
Tag: Maryland
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: Expungement laws are too complicated–we need a simple, accessible system
By Chris Sweeney In Maryland, an estimated 1.5 million residents have a criminal record– a quarter of our state’s population. For the majority of people who want to move on from their past run-ins with the law, even the most minor offense can be an impediment to stable work and housing. Advocates and lawmakers have […]
Posted inCommentary
All about the ENOUGH Act and how it will influence Baltimore
By Phylicia Porter For too long, the scourge of poverty has plagued communities across Maryland, leaving behind a trail of despair, inequality and missed opportunities. Decades of systemic neglect, exacerbated by racially exclusionary policies such as redlining, urban renewal, and mass incarceration, have entrenched poverty in certain neighborhoods, perpetuating a cycle of deprivation that stifles […]
Posted inGovernor Wes Moore
Gov. Wes Moore highlights collaboration, crime reduction tactics in 2024 State of the State address
By Tashi McQueenAFRO Political Writertmcqueen@afro.com Gov. Wes Moore (D), Maryland’s first Black Governor, delivered his second State of the State address on Feb.7, highlighting partnership as a way to tackle state initiatives and challenges. “One year ago, we began our work together. We knew our state had boundless opportunities and blinding potential,” said Moore. “One […]
Posted inBlack History
Cardin celebrates ‘Legacy of Progress,’ highlights Black Marylanders’ untold stories during Black History Month
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Special Representative on Antisemitism, Racism and Intolerance for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, submitted remarks into the official Congressional Record honoring Black Americans who have influenced Maryland and U.S foreign policy and highlighting […]
Posted inAfro Newspaper
AFRO snags Honor Roll Award for Women’s Representation
By Megan SaylesAFRO Business Writermsayles@afro.com Executive Alliance has issued its 2024 Honor Roll Award for Women’s Representation, and the AFRO has made the list for the second year in a row. In order for a company to qualify for the honor, women must hold at least 30 percent of executive leadership positions and at least […]
Posted inBlack History
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore speaks on the authors and mentors who shaped his path
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Political Writertmcqueen@afro.com And By Megan Sayles AFRO Business Writermsayles@afro.com In celebration of Black History Month, the AFRO sat down with Governor Wes Moore, the first Black man to lead the great state of Maryland. Moore became the 63rd governor of the state on Jan. 18, 2023, in a historic ceremony outside of the Maryland […]
Posted inPolitics
Meet Baltimore City mayoral candidate Don Scoggins
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com As candidacy filing deadline for Maryland’s primary was Feb. 9, the AFRO is sitting down with said candidates to ensure residents know their options. Don Scoggins is one of multiple candidates running for Baltimore City Mayor this year. Q: What was your childhood like? A: My father lived […]
Posted inNational News
Experts urge senators to act in the fight against financial fraud
By Katharine Wilson, Capital News Service Americans are reporting fewer frauds since a peak in 2021. However, experts at a Jan. 31 Senate hearing said scammers are only getting better at extracting more money from their victims. Witnesses and senators agreed that action is needed to fight this issue – but they differed on what […]
Posted inMaryland News
Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, longtime Maryland Democrat, to retire from Congress
The Associated Press TIMONIUM, Md. (AP) — Maryland U.S. Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger announced Jan. 26 that he won’t seek a 12th term in Congress, meaning that at least three of the state’s eight U.S. House seats will be open on the November ballot. The 77-year-old Democrat, who has represented the 2nd District since 2003, […]
Posted inCommentary
Baltimore County residents do not want any new taxes or fees
By Ryan ColemanBaltimore County NAACP President Legislators should listen to the people who say “Read my lips; no new taxes.” The poor and the plummeting middle class are financially burdened enough because of the lackluster economy without having additional taxes that lower their standard of living. According to a report by the U.S. Bureau of […]
Posted inMaryland News
Counties with the highest unemployment in Maryland
By Stacker Unemployment rates, while significantly lower than the alarming pandemic peak of 14.7 percent experienced in April 2020, remain a subject of concern, though experts’ views on a potential recession are mixed. The last economic recession—the Great Recession of 2007-2009—sent rates up to 10% as of October 2009. It was not until the spring […]