The June 2 dragging death of Anthony Hill is without a doubt a hate crime, according to the New Black Panther Party. But the South Carolina state prosecutor and investigators aren’t so sure; claiming that Hill’s death at the hands of a White man could have been a dispute between two friends that had a […]
Author Archives: MelanieR.Holmes
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Posted inBaltimore News
Four Arrested in Rape Investigation
Four Morgan State University students and alumni have been identified as the alleged rapists of an unidentified woman on June 30. Police arrested Renard James, 30, Dante Green, 24, Dale Lawton, 23, and Howard Cook Smith, 21, on July 19. They are charged with eight counts of sex offense, assault, perverted practice and conspiracy charges […]
Posted inNational News
NAACP Supports First Lady’s Obesity Campaign
Several rounds of applause interrupted First Lady Michelle Obama as she spoke at the NAACP National Convention in Kansas City, Mo. on July 12. After thanking the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for over 100 years of fighting for the Black community, she solicited their support to end an issue that […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Recreation Centers Extend Hours for Summer
Crispus Attucks Recreation Center Director Arlene Foreman is expecting to see and serve more children this summer, as are nine other recreation centers in the city. The reason: about $91,000 from the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention to be used to keep the centers open for an additional three hours on Tuesday through […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Adult Literacy a ‘Top Priority’ for City
“Literacy opens doors,” Todd Elliot said after sharing how the Greater Homewood Community Corporation (GHCC) has impacted the lives of many of the organization’s clients. As program director of the facility for adult literacy and English language learners, Elliot has seen his clients make better lives for themselves and their loved ones by learning to […]
Posted inBaltimore Community, Baltimore News
Partnership Programs Help ‘At-Risk’ Youth
Middle Grades Partnership (MGP) enrichment programs have been making a difference in the lives of over 500 Baltimore City public school students a year since 2005. But it wasn’t until recently that MGP was able to measure its success. On June 25 Johns Hopkins University released a study showing that students participating in MGP have […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Report: Young Men at High Health Risks
A major health disparity exists between the young men of Baltimore and those throughout the rest of the country according to Johns Hopkins University researchers. Issues of drugs, violence and poverty are compounded by limited access to healthcare, which puts them at greater risk for physical and psychological concerns that can negatively influence family members […]
Posted inSports
Semenya Cleared to Continue Running Track
A panel of medical experts confirmed that South African track champion Caster Semenya is not a man. The athlete’s gender was called into question after taking home a gold medal for winning the 800-meter dash at the world championships in Berlin almost a year ago. The wide time lapse between Semenya and the other runners, […]
Posted inBaltimore News
‘Average Girl’ Wins Major Educational Award
After completing a 20-page application, writing nine essays and waiting for three weeks, Jerusa Miller was elated when she received notification that she was a finalist for the Gates Millennium Scholarship. Juggling the workload of three advanced placement courses, on top of extracurricular activities as a senior at Woodlawn High School, at times discouraged her […]
Posted inBaltimore News
City, State Seek End to Infant Mortality
The mayor, city organizations and state officials are closing in on a serial killer in Baltimore City responsible for a growing death toll among its youngest residents. Infant mortality is defined as the death of a baby before age 1. In 2008 Baltimore City’s infant mortality rate (IMR) was higher than that of Hong Kong […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimore’s “Stop Snitching” Creator Sentenced to 20 Years
The creator of an underground video, which warned viewers to “stop snitching”, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on June 25 for his role in a racketeering conspiracy. Ronnie Thomas, 36, of Baltimore, created underground DVDs that discouraged witnesses from reporting crimes to the police. Police said the films contributed to the widespread use […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Coppin Aims to Increase Graduation Rates
A year ago, the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research indicated that Coppin State University has one of the lowest graduation rates in the country. Addressing the issue, the university launched the Summer Academic Success Academy three weeks ago to nurture, retain and academically prepare incoming freshman. According to the study “Which Colleges Actually […]