NEWS FROM OUR PUBLISHERS

California’s latest School Dashboard makes one thing clear: Black students are making progress, but not nearly fast enough — and the public education system is still not organized to deliver the excellence they deserve.

Jimmy Cliff, the legendary Jamaican reggae musician and actor who starred in the landmark film “The Harder They Come,” has died at 81. Known for hits like “Many Rivers to Cross” and “You Can Get It If You Really Want,” Cliff’s music and performances spread messages of resilience and joy worldwide, earning him Grammys, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, and global acclaim as a reggae ambassador.
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National Family Caregivers Month is observed every November to recognize and honor the contributions of family caregivers.

The rewriting of a page on the CDC’s website to assert the false claim that vaccines may cause autism sparked a torrent of anger and anguish from doctors, scientists, and parents who say Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is wrecking the credibility of an agency they’ve long relied on for unbiased scientific evidence.

On Nov. 20, the Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications (OCPSC) hosted an online forum with ethnic media outlets across the state to highlight two statewide programs that benefit all Californians: the CalAssist Mortgage Fund, which provides disaster-related mortgage relief, and Check to Protect, a vehicle-safety campaign led by the National Safety Council and supported by the California New Motor Vehicle Board.

Prince George’s County Council Chair Edward Burroughs III has started a new partnership with Vet for Vet and Victory Church International to help District 8 veterans with the process of applying for and receiving Veterans Affairs benefits.
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Viola Ford Fletcher, one of the last survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died at age 111. Throughout her later years, she worked to preserve the memory of Greenwood, sought justice for the atrocities committed against her community, and chronicled her experiences in her memoir, “Don’t Let Them Bury My Story.”
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Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott has been named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2025, joining a legacy of Baltimore visionaries such as Ta-Nehisi Coates and Freeman Hrabowski III, and Ebony’s Power 100. Scott calls the honor “a humbling experience,” crediting his city for its growing global influence and its role in reshaping national perceptions of Baltimore.
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A federal judge dismissed the criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James after ruling that the prosecutor who brought the charges was illegally appointed by the 47th president’s administration. The decision halts the high-profile prosecutions for now and delivers a major rebuke to the administration’s attempt to use an unlawfully selected interim U.S. attorney to pursue the cases.
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Election officials across multiple states say the federal cybersecurity agency CISA has sharply reduced its election-security support due to the current administration’s budget cuts, staffing losses and shifting priorities, leaving them worried about vulnerabilities heading into the 2026 midterms. Many states are now scrambling to fill gaps once covered by CISA—such as threat monitoring, coordination, and preparedness exercises—because they no longer know whether the agency will provide the services they relied on in past election cycles.
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Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Alameda) has announced his bid for governor of California, joining a crowded race that includes several other candidates and facing several economic, political, and social challenges.
The post Rep. Eric Swalwell Announces Bid for California Governor, Joining Crowded Race appeared first on Black Voice News.

Fifty of the more than 300 students and staff abducted from a Catholic school in Niger state have escaped, as Pope Leo XIV urged the immediate release of the 265 victims still in captivity amid growing alarm over Nigeria’s persistent mass kidnappings. Officials and analysts say weak security responses and a lack of consequences continue to fuel ransom-driven attacks across northern Nigeria, even as the government vows not to relent in securing hostages.
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07By Roy S. Johnson | rjohnson@al.com Funeral arrangements for Melva Langford, wife of the late former Fairfield and Birmingham mayor Larry Langford, have been finalized.The native of the Woodward neighborhood in Bessemer passed away on Thursday evening following a long illness, her family confirmed. She was 83. Public visitation will be held on Tuesday, Nov. […]

By Barnett Wright | The Birmingham Times Monique Grier, who has been director of Jefferson County’s G. Ross Bell Youth Detention Center since October 2017, announced last week that she will resign. “I want to thank the commission for the opportunity and for the support over these last eight years, I’ve enjoyed working here,” Grier […]

By Shannon Thomason | UAB News Choirs from Helena, Calera, Springville, Ramsay and John Carroll Catholic high schools will perform with UAB choirs and the UAB Trumpet Ensemble and Flute Ensemble.Hear the loveliest sounds of the season when local high school choirs join University of Alabama at Birmingham choirs Monday, Dec. 1, for Christmas at […]

Derrick Henry scored two second-half touchdowns to help the Ravens overcome a sluggish start and beat the Jets 23-10, extending Baltimore’s winning streak to five games and pulling them into a tie atop the AFC North. Despite injury-limited play from Lamar Jackson and continued red-zone struggles, Baltimore’s defense and special teams delivered key stops to secure the victory.
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A new law raised the monthly child support pass-through for vulnerable Washington, D.C., families on TANF from $150 to $200. Advocates call this an important step toward ending the impact of the city’s cost recovery system.
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By Chianti MarksAFRO Intern At the age of 30, Akosua “Sua” Bamfo found a small lump in her breast. It was October 2022. She immediately scheduled an appointment with her OB-GYN. After undergoing an MRI and ultrasound, she was told her breasts were too dense for clear imaging and that they would follow up in […]
The post Faith Over Fear: Two powerful journeys through breast cancer appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By Deborah BaileyAFRO Contributing Editor Bowie State University received notification of a $50 million grant from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott  on Nov. 14. The unrestricted grant represents the largest philanthropic gift in Bowie State’s history and doubles the size of a $25 million gift Scott granted to Bowie in 2020.  “Her generosity arrives at a pivotal moment […]
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Three women share their powerful stories of surviving multiple fights against breast cancer. Through faith, family and determination, Tirra Pack, Marcia Victor and Linda Hamilton have turned pain into purpose, proving that survival is more than a medical — it’s spiritual, emotional and deeply human.
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By D. Kevin McNeirSpecial to the AFROkmcneir@afro.com On Monday, Nov. 17, the House Rules Committee considered 13 D.C.-related bills, considered as threats by city officials to Home Rule – the law which has allowed the District to self-govern since 1975.  Ahead of the vote, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released a statement which criticized the […]
The post Norton calls for end of ‘disingenuous partisanship’ after House passes two anti-D.C. Home Rule bills appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

The Enoch Pratt Free Library recently debuted the DeWayne Wickham Room of Maryland Journalism in honor of the cofounder of the National Association of Black Journalists and founding dean emeritus of Morgan State University’s School of Global Journalism and Communication.
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By Victoria MejicanosAFRO Staff Writervmejicanos@afro.com Charles Jackson French wasn’t supposed to be remembered. In a segregated United States Navy that intentionally kept him out of combat, French did the impossible. He saved 15 men by tying a rope around his waist and carrying a raft of his injured shipmates, swimming them to safety through shark-infested […]
The post Delayed but not denied: Honoring Charles Jackson French appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Milestones Enrichment Center (MEC) owners Traci Cowan and Valencia Skeeter held the grand opening of their new and improved child care facility in Laurel, MD on Nov. 1, with the event drawing a robust crowd of families and community supporters.
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By D. Kevin McNeirSpecial to the AFROkmcneir@afro.com Juanita “Busy Bee” Britton, founder of Washington, D.C.-based BZB International, will mark her 35th anniversary as host of a holiday tradition, dubbed “the largest African American Department store on the East Coast,” beginning Black Friday, Nov. 28.  Busy Bee, a nickname she earned during her childhood and to […]
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Bishop Violet L. Fisher, the first African American woman elected bishop in the United Methodist Church’s Northeastern Jurisdiction, died Nov. 17 at age 86. A barrier-breaking leader and lifelong educator, she is remembered for her trailblazing ministry, global service, and enduring impact on women, Black clergy, and faith communities across generations.
The post Pioneering UMC Bishop Violet L. Fisher leaves a lasting legacy at 86 appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

The D.C. Water Billing and Disconnection Modernization Act aims to protect tenants from sudden water shutoffs. Councilmember Charles Allen introduced the bill to bring more transparency and timelines to D.C. Water’s disconnection process.
The post Bill to prevent water disconnections for D.C. residents introduced appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

The D.C. Council recently refined the Rebalancing Expectations for Neighbors, Tenants, and Landlords (RENTAL) Act, clarifying Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) rules for small landlords. Councilmember Anita Bond’s (D-At Large) amendment allowing clear titles and exempting two- to four-unit homes from TOPA was approved amid debate over tenant protections.
The post New RENTAL Act amendment reduces tenant protections  appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

The HBCU Oratorical Challenge, a national competition highlighting the public-speaking talents of students attending historically Black colleges and universities, is now accepting submissions through Dec. 15, 2025. The event offers HBCU students opportunities to strengthen communication, leadership and creative expression across four categories, with national finals set for April 18–19, 2026, in Atlanta.
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The Key Bridge Collapse, caused by being hit by the Dali container ship, was caused by a single loose wire within the ship.
The post Investigators find fatal Key Bridge collapse caused by single loose wire on Dali appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Howard University held their homecoming activities from October 19-26, 2025, with the HU Bison defeating the Morgan State Bears 33-27 in the football game, and the weekend filled with unity and pride.
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The Presidents’ Roundtable has appointed longtime Baltimore business leader James Makia as its new chair, succeeding Jeff Hargrave, as the organization launches a 2026 Strategic Plan focused on revitalization, innovation, and expanded impact for minority entrepreneurs.
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Small Business Saturday on Nov. 29 is a chance to support local entrepreneurs and keep money circulating in your community. From gourmet treats to fashion and artisanal goods, Black-owned businesses in Baltimore and D.C. offer unique products while making a meaningful impact on families and neighborhoods.
The post Small Business Saturday: Where to shop Black-owned in Baltimore and D.C.  appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

A journalist reflects on the wisdom of her late mother, who taught her the importance of wearing hosiery and shapewear, and how it has become a source of comfort and connection to her mother’s memory.
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birminghamal.gov The City of Birmingham, in partnership with One Roof, will host The State of Homelessness: Redefining Community on Monday, Dec. 1. This first-of-its-kind symposium will bring together faith leaders, nonprofits, local businesses, civic partners, and public-sector leaders for a united conversation about Birmingham’s homelessness response and the shared path forward. The free, public event […]