WINNER OF SIX SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS D.C. AWARDS FOR 2022
Celebrating 58 Years - Vol. 58, No. 23 • March 23 - 29, 2023
PG County Spelling Bee
Page 14
Mayor Bowser Presents FY 2024 Budget Proposal
2023 Prince George's Spelling Bee Champion
Proposal Includes Elimination of Vacant Jobs, Reversal of School Resource Officer Removal By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer
5 The first-place winner of the Prince George's County Spelling Bee held on March 17 at the University of Maryland Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center in College Park's Lesly Hernandez Martin raises her trophy high. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 budget proposal reflects a pledge she made weeks ago, in the aftermath of the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO)’s revised revenue estimates, to spend prudently and invest on the District’s post-pandemic comeback. This year, there is nearly $20 billion on the table. Human support services and public education account for the lion share of the budget, at 30% and 25% respectively. Public safety and justice accounts for nearly 10%. Bowser had to close a $1.7 billion gap caused by what administration officials described as unavoidable expenditures. Those items were: collective bargaining agreements with District teachers, principals, firefighters and police officers; government retirement accounts; facil-
Mayor Bowser Addresses Departure of Deputy Mayor Falcicchio
Gladys Knight, Johnnetta Betsch Cole Talk Presidential National Medals
Falcicchio Faces Sexual Harassment Allegations, Investigation By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer Days after Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development John Falcicchio’s abrupt resignation, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) finally shed some light on the circumstances behind her administration’s most recent shake-up in leadership. Monday, March 20, shortly after presenting the 9th Street protected bike lane in Northwest, Bowser revealed that Falcicchio is the subject of an ongoing investigation that she couldn’t provide much detail about at the moment. However, she repeatedly
FALCICCHIO Page 51
BUDGET Page 51
By Micha Green WI Managing Editor Grammy Hall of Famer Gladys Knight and barrier-breaking educator and leader Dr. Jonnnetta Betsch Cole are among the powerful lineup of artists and do-gooders President Joe Biden honored on March 21 with 2021 National Medals. As the legendary singer and former college president prepared to receive a National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal, they shared a clear message this Women’s History Month: work to empower other Black women. “It’s amazing,” Knight told the Informer about the honor. “It gives us the courage and energy to move on up and to know that there are other things that you can do where others can benefit as well.” Donning a flared black suit outside of the White House press 5 Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole received the 2021 National Humanities Medal at The White House on March 21. (Micha Green/ The Washington Informer)
MEDAL OF ART Page 42
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