By Morgan Knight, Armani Durham and Zoe Cummings Howard University News Service As the federal government moves toward automatically registering men ages 18 to 25 for the Selective Service System, a long-standing requirement tied to a potential military draft, confusion and concern are growing among young Americans. The policy shift is intended to streamline the […]
Tag: National Guard
Posted inBUSINESS
Downtown D.C. shows mixed recovery as jobs, housing lag behind gains in culture
A new report from the DowntownDC Business Improvement District shows a mixed economic picture for the city center, with gains in cultural activity and public safety offset by declines in jobs, tourism and housing development. City and business leaders say downtown’s recovery remains uneven as federal policy shifts and changing visitor patterns continue to shape its trajectory.
Posted inOpinion
Jury duty reminds us who holds the power in a democracy
Baltimore City Sheriff Sam Cogen reflects on serving jury duty and argues that civic participation is essential to protecting democracy and ensuring justice is applied fairly. In the commentary, Cogen criticizes aggressive federal immigration enforcement tactics that he says have created fear in Baltimore communities, while emphasizing the historic power of juries to act as a safeguard against unjust laws and government overreach.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Youth lead conversation at 2026 D.C. Teen Summit
The D.C. Teen Summit, held on March 13, brought young people together to lead conversations on mental health, identity and leadership. Through workshops and dialogue, teens shared experiences, built connections and emphasized the need for safe spaces and supportive adults.
Posted inUncategorized
Rev. Graylan Scott Hagler, civil, social and economic rights activist, dies at 71
Rev. Graylan Scott Hagler, a civil and human rights activist, pastor emeritus of Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ, and a fixture in the D.C. community, passed away at 71 after a lifetime of fighting for justice and peace.
Posted inMaryland Government
Moore calls White House snub ‘blatant disrespect’
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, the nation’s only Black governor, said the White House disinvited him from the annual bipartisan National Governors Association dinner, calling the move disrespectful and partisan. The 47th president’s administration limited the event to Republican governors, a break from longstanding tradition that NGA leaders criticized as undermining cooperation.
Posted inReligion
Keep your head to the sky and… give thanks!
Angelique Walker-Smith is senior associate for Pan African and Orthodox Church engagement at Bread for the World. This week, she speaks on finding inspiration and encouragement in troubled times.
Posted inOpinion
I Posted the ICE Tip Line in Anger. I’ll Regret it Forever
Tony Armstrong is a social commentator, satirist and essayist, who currently lives in Dallas, Texas, but reps his twin hometowns — Baltimore and Chicago — hard. In this powerful reflection, Armstrong admits to posting an ICE tip line out of anger after the 47th president’s election, expressing deep remorse as he witnesses immigration crackdowns in Chicago that now harm entire communities, not just immigrants.
Posted inOpinion
From federal overreach to local betrayal: The double threat to Black freedom in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Kevin Beckford and Yasmin Salina, co-founders of The Hustlers Guild, argue that both federal and local policies in Washington, D.C. are undermining Black freedom by reinstating cash bail and expanding pretrial detention under the guise of public safety. They call for rejecting punitive measures and instead investing in restorative justice, community supports and policies that protect pretrial freedom.
Posted inOpinion
What Charlie Kirk’s death reveals about America
Dr. Frances Murphy Draper serves the AFRO as CEO and publisher and is a fourth-generation member of the publication’s founding family. This week, in her call to conscience, she speaks on the brutal death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, his record and the culture of contempt that has become the norm in America.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Attorney General Schwalb sues to end illegal National Guard deployment in D.C.
D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb has filed a lawsuit challenging the President’s deployment of nearly 2,300 National Guard troops to the District, arguing the move violates federal law and undermines local self-governance. The suit contends that deputizing out-of-state troops for policing duties endangers residents, erodes public trust, and exceeds presidential authority.
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.
