Category: Washington D.C. News

Scores of Howard University students took to the streets and local celebrities lent their support at WHUR 96.3 radio during a 12-hour radiothon to raise money to finance the students’ Alternative Spring Break of helping others in cities across America. The students raised $25,350 to fund their efforts in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, New Orleans and […]

(March 10, 2010) – In advance of its merger with Wachovia, Wells Fargo is re-affirming its commitment to African Americans by kicking off its National African American Media Tour in Washington, D.C., during Black Press Week, March 17-19. “The goal of the event is really to start to talk about Wells Fargo and the work […]

Washington, D.C. was named on March 4, a finalist in Race to the Top, a competition for a portion of the $4.35 billion President Obama has dedicated to fund education. The nation’s capital faces 15 states nationwide for the funds. District Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee and D.C. charter school leaders plan to reduce the […]

The enactment this week of the District’s Religious Freedom and Civil Rights Equality Amendment Act, which gave same-sex couples the nod to apply for marriage licenses, signaled a coup for that community but downplayed the latest efforts of a local group that vehemently opposes those unions. “I hope this sends the message that the District […]

After a decade’s worth of wrangling to get marijuana legalized for medicinal purposes, the District of Columbia City Council appears to be moving closer to acquiescing the will of the people. The measure has been derailed three times by Congress, but the Council recently convened a public hearing to further discuss Initiative 59, which in […]

A mistrial was declared for the most serious charges facing Tavon Taylor, one of the men accused of participating in street race which killed eight people in Feb. 16, 2008. His sentencing date for the lesser traffic offenses has been pushed back to a date not yet to be determined. Darren Bullock, the alleged co-conspirator, […]

A hearing convened last month by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the operation of the city’s halfway houses has revealed that when it comes to reducing crime and recidivism among ex-offenders, the privately-run facilities could do a better job. “The hearing revealed counterproductive inflexibility among some personnel at halfway houses, frustrating offenders’ efforts to comply […]

Howard University will serve as the backdrop next week surrounding a debate on same-sex marriage. The event, which takes place at noon on March 9, will be held at the university’s School of Law and will feature the justice involved in the controversial Proposition 8 in which the Supreme Court overturned a referendum last year […]

The record number of home foreclosures in the Washington, D.C. metro area has local Census officials worried about the 2010 count. It’s a concern that was nonexistent in previous counts in 2000 and 1990, but now Census officials are concerned that home foreclosures, even more than the migration of people across the Prince George’s County-Washington, […]

Beleaguered Councilman Marion Barry said he broke no laws in awarding a controversial contract to a former aide with whom he also had a romantic relationship. However, the councilman and former leader frequently dubbed “Mayor for Life,” admitted he showed poor judgement by continuing a relationship with the woman. “I didn’t use good judgment in […]

Beleaguered Washington, D.C. Councilman Marion Barry has one week to respond to the allegations outlined in the Bennett Report, released on February 16, which accused him of using taxpayer funds for personal purposes. In another of a string of charges made against him since he returned to the council five years ago as the Ward […]

An investigation by special counsel Robert Bennett into the District of Columbia City Council’s contract and grant distribution habits has revealed among other highlights, that Ward 8 Councilman Marion Barry misused government funds, steering nearly $1 million into the coffers of nonprofits that he created and which were fraught with waste and abuse. Among the […]