NEWS FROM OUR PUBLISHERS

The CDC released updated recommendations for child vaccinations, reducing the number of vaccines for most children, following a directive from President Trump.
The post Updated CDC Vaccine Guidelines: Fewer Vaccines Recommended for Most Children appeared first on Black Voice News.

n this commentary, attorney and educator Alice T. Crowe warns that major cryptocurrency firms are positioning themselves as banks without being subject to the same consumer protections, posing heightened risks for Black communities. She argues that crypto companies deliberately target Black consumers—through celebrity endorsements, Bitcoin ATMs in Black neighborhoods, and promises of liberation from racist banking systems—while offering little recourse against fraud, volatility, or loss, potentially deepening existing racial wealth gaps rather than closing them.
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By Sabreen DawudSpecial to the AFRO Madison Scott learned she had secured her very first spot on a girls basketball team while sitting in her fourth grade at Ardmore Elementary School in Prince George’s County, Md. Now a Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) player for the Washington Mystics, Scott remembers the moment well.  “The head […]
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Family, friends, and Baltimore City leaders gathered on Dec. 17 at Morgan State University’s Murphy Fine Arts Auditorium to honor the life and service of Gregory Turnipseed. Turnipseed was a 14-year civil servant with the Baltimore City Department of Transportation (DOT). He died from injuries sustained in a physical assault. Attackers are identified as Kiannah Bonaparte, 49, and her 15-year-old daughter. Bonaparte is facing first- and second-degree assault charges for the case.
The post Baltimore transportation employee Gregory Turnipseed honored for a life of service and style appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Maddie McQueen | WIAT Much colder air will roll into the Deep South Wednesday night and Thursday which could lead to some headaches at home if proper preparations are not taken. Streamline Plumbing and Drain said a few simple steps like dripping a faucet or opening cabinet doors can help save thousands of dollars when […]

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times By the time Leora “Queen Leora” Byrd’s phone starts buzzing with direct messages asking her to post again on her social media platforms she’s often already booked, traveling between cities or working behind the scenes on her next move. For millions of TikTok viewers, Byrd is known for her […]

Morgan State University hosted the 41st annual Martin Luther King, Jr. scholarship breakfast on Jan. 10 at the Calvin and Tina Tyler Ballroom. The event focused on a theme of “empowering the dream of growing our future,” and featured a keynote address by the Rev. Dr. Robert Richard Allen Turner of The Empowerment Temple African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church.
The post Morgan State University celebrates student excellence at the annual MLK Scholarship Breakfast appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Director of the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate Excerpt: Maryland Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman (D) has appointed Andrea Brown as director of the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate. Brown brings nearly two decades of experience and will work to improve taxpayer accountability and access to a fair tax system.
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By National Action Network Rev. Al Sharpton, founder and president of the National Action Network (NAN), on Jan. 12 condemned recent claims from President Trump that White people were “very badly treated” as a result of laws and policies adopted during the Civil Rights Movement. Trump’s alarming statements to the New York Times come as […]
The post Rev. Sharpton issues statement after claims to the New York Times that White people were ‘very badly treated’ from Civil Rights Era actions appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Poor and mostly Black communities across the U.S. face serious health risks from failing sewer and wastewater systems, but federal aid meant to address these long-standing problems has been cut or eliminated under the 47th president. Advocates warn that slashing environmental justice and infrastructure funding leaves vulnerable residents exposed to sewage, flooding and disease, with few resources to fix systems they cannot afford on their own.
The post Poor communities threatened by aging sewers see crucial aid slashed under 47th president appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Itoro N. Umontuen “One Battle After Another” emerged as a major winner, taking home the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical. The film continued its strong showing by earning three additional honors, including Best Supporting Actress for Teyana Taylor, along with Best Director and Best Screenplay awarded to Paul Thomas […]
The post ‘Sinners’ wins two Golden Globes; loses out on Best Motion Picture appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Rising costs and stagnant wages have pushed affordability to a crisis point for working families in 2026. Charlene Crowell, a senior fellow with the Center for Responsible Lending, argues that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Poor People’s Campaign foresaw these challenges and that its call for economic justice remains urgently relevant today.
The post Opinion: Dr. King’s Poor People’s Campaign foretold America’s affordability crisis appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Javacia Harris Bower | Alabama News Center This month, Jacqueline Allen Trimble – an award-winning poet and professor of English and chair of the Department of Languages and Literatures at Alabama State University – will be commissioned by Gov. Kay Ivey as the new poet laureate for the state of Alabama. Trimble was selected for the role by the Alabama Writers’ […]

By Mayor Randall Woodfin When I was growing up in North Birmingham, I walked a lot of places. I would regularly walk to stores, a friend’s house, school, or a bus stop. I don’t walk as much today as I did back then, unfortunately. Too often, I feel that I need to drive to get […]

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.
The post Prince George’s County Council selects Wala Blegay to fill vacancy appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Shyia Clark An eviction filing – even one that never leads to eviction – can follow a tenant for years.  In Maryland, Failure-to-Pay-Rent cases often remain publicly accessible long after rent is paid or a case is dismissed, creating lasting barriers to housing, employment and financial stability. That’s where shielding comes in. Shielding is […]
The post A second chance after rent debt: Why shielding matters appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

The US House of Representatives voted to restore and extend insurance subsidies for three years under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), with 17 Republicans voting in favor alongside Democrats, and the legislation is now awaiting Senate approval.
The post Legislation to Extend ACA Subsidies Clears House, Heads to Senate appeared first on Black Voice News.

Approximately 1,000 people gathered in Altadena to commemorate the one year anniversary of the Eaton Fire, which claimed the lives of 19 people and destroyed over 9,000 buildings, and to celebrate the community’s resilience, strength, and regrowth.
The post Altadena Commemorates Eaton Fire Anniversary with Light Vigil and Resilience appeared first on Black Voice News.

The Kevin Epps murder trial in San Francisco reveals a court system that is tilted towards the prosecution, with a nearly all-white jury judging a Black defendant, and crucial contradictions and incentives not being addressed.
The post Part 2 The Kevin Epps Murder Trial appeared first on Black Voice News.

By Anissa DurhamWord in Black For decades, Altadena functioned as a rare constant in the Los Angeles area: a place where Black families owned homes and passed something on to their descendants. That all changed with the Eaton Fire. One year after the fire tore through Altadena and neighboring communities, destroying thousands of homes and […]
The post A year after the Eaton Fire, Black Altadena is fighting to stay appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

As 2026 begins, several Maryland laws take effect, including new rideshare reporting requirements, domestic violence training for barbers and cosmetologists and expanded coverage for heart disease testing, aiming to improve safety, transparency, and health access statewide.
The post New Maryland laws to take effect on Jan. 1 appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

For the second year in a row, the men of 100 Fathers Inc. are doing the work of positively influencing young Black boys at Friendship Collegiate Academy. Community mentors emphasize fatherhood, trust and accountability as tools to help Black boys navigate social pressures and avoid risky behaviors, such as vaping and smoking.
The post Doing the work: How the Black men of 100 Fathers Inc. are leading the next generation to greatness appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

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.
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Maurice Carroll, founder of Alkemmust Sound Healing, is a music producer, teacher and author. This week, he shares his thoughts on using and understanding the word “no,” to protect boundaries and fully enjoy life.
The post The power of “no”: Reclaiming boundaries in a world that demands ‘yes’ appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Joshua Liston Zawadi, a Dad Doula and a public voices fellow of the OpEd Project in partnership with the National Black Child Development Institute, argues that improving Black maternal health requires intentionally preparing and empowering Black fathers to be active advocates before, during and after birth. Drawing from his experiences as a father and “dad doula,” he highlights how sidelining fathers in maternity care weakens family outcomes and supports policies like the Dads Matter Act of 2025 that center fathers as vital members of the care team.
The post We can save Black mothers — if we better prepare Black fathers appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Maryland’s HBCUs celebrated fall 2025 commencements at Morgan State University, Bowie State University and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, honoring student achievement, resilience and community. Graduates and speakers highlighted the unique support HBCUs provide amid political and economic uncertainty, urging students to use their degrees to build legacy, uplift others and pursue lifelong learning.
The post HBCUs honor fall graduates with messages of resilience, legacy and community appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

India Bradley made history in October with her promotion to soloist at New York City Ballet, becoming the first Black ballerina to hold the rank in the company’s 76-year history. Celebrated for her elegance, musicality and standout performances — including her acclaimed turn as Dewdrop in “George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker” — Bradley’s achievement reflects both her personal journey and the legacy of Black dancers who paved the way in a ballet world that long resisted inclusion.
The post Meet India Bradley, New York City Ballet’s first Black female soloist appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

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.
The post 47th president can’t block child care money for 5 Democratic-led states for now, judge says appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

The fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by federal agents in Minneapolis underscores what Black Americans have long known: state violence rooted in White supremacy is not an aberration but a defining feature of American power. As outrage grows, the piece argues that moral clarity, collective care, and refusal to accept cruelty as inevitable are essential responses to a system that only feels shocking when it harms those previously shielded by privilege.
The post This is the America Black people have always known appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Shane Trail | WBRC Birmingham police say they are doing everything they can to keep residents safe after city leaders expressed frustration over celebratory gunfire they heard throughout the city on New Year’s Eve. “We hear them, and we do understand,” said BPD Public Information Officer Sgt. LaQuitta Wade. “Because if it was the […]

usps.com The U.S. Postal Service is honoring Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784), the first author of African descent in the American Colonies to publish a book, with the 49th stamp in the Black Heritage series. The first-day-of-issue event for the Phillis Wheatley Black Heritage stamp in Boston later this month is free and open to the public. […]

Thousands of women from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. gathered at the Gaylord National Harbor Resort and Convention Center in Maryland to celebrate the organization’s 118th anniversary, with Phylicia Rashad as the special guest speaker and the Greater D.C. Diaper Bank Program as the beneficiary of the event.
The post Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. members join to support women of D.C., Maryland and Virginia area appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Dr. Janell Green Smith, a respected midwife and maternal health expert, tragically died in childbirth at the age of 31, highlighting the issue of America’s maternal mortality crisis and the need for accountability in the healthcare system.
The post Dr. Janell Green Smith, Black maternal health advocate, dies in childbirth  appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Thomas H. Watkins Jr., founder and publisher of the New York Daily Challenge, died Dec. 19, 2025, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneering figure in Black media and a steadfast advocate for his Brooklyn community. Over decades, he used his newspapers to amplify Black voices, cover critical social issues, and mentor generations of journalists, earning admiration from civil rights leaders, activists, and peers.
The post In memoriam: Media icon and pioneer Thomas H. Watkins Jr., Daily Challenge publisher, is remembered and honored appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

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.
The post Hoyer laments House ‘is not living up to the Founders’ goals’ as he tells colleagues he’s retiring appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.