WINNER OF SIX SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS D.C. AWARDS FOR 2022 Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Supplement Center Section
2022 ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE SPECIAL ISSUE CBCF / 1
Vol. 57, No. 49 • September 22 -28, 2022
Fun filled-Festival on H 4 The H Street Festival took place on Sept. 17, extending 11 blocks, offering vendors selling their goods and music by deejays and live bands on stages set up throughout the blocks with thousands of people attending. Reggie Bullock III's fascination was held by pet turtles he enjoyed watching with his dad Reggie II. (Shevry Lassiter/ The Washington Informer)
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / 2022 CBCF ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE / SPECIAL ISSUE / SEPTEMBER 2022
Alsobrooks: County’s Youth Curfew Yields Positive Results as Parents Lend Their Support
Executive Welcomes Local Organizations, Increases Resources for Youth to Make Streets Safer D. Kevin McNeir WI Senior Editor As incidents of violence in Prince George’s continue to escalate, with many either initiated by youth or which result in youth becoming the victim, County Executive Angela Alsobrooks recently made the bold decision to re-invoke a youth curfew. The legislation, previously signed into law and part of the County’s arsenal of crime prevention, had not
James Wright WI Staff Writer
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CURFEW Page 13
National Polling Reveals Where All-Important Midterm Races Stand
D.C. Calls on Renewal of Universal Free School Meals The U.S. Congress failed earlier this year to prolong the child nutrition program that essentially served free school meals to students during the early and middle stages of the coronavirus pandemic and a desire exists in the District for the effort to continue. “We are concerned about this program not being extended,” said Crystal FitzSimons, the director of School and Out-of-School Time Programs at the Food Research & Action Program. “Because the program’s waivers were blocked in the Congress, many students will have to pay for their meals or go through the process of having to sign up for free and reduced breakfast and lunch. There are many families in D.C. who are having trouble making ends meet. This is a high cost of living area.” Anti-hunger advocates such as FitzSimons say school
been strictly enforced for some time. However, it became a viable solution as youth-related violence in recent months reached unacceptable proportions – often leading to deadly outcomes. Still, some leaders and parents in the County have expressed their concerns about the curfew – even voicing their opposition to Alsobrooks’ decision along with the caveat that they
Stacy M. Brown Senior Writer
5 Students from Ballou High School eating a meal. (WI File Photo/Roy Lewis)
Less than eight weeks away, the 2022 midterm elections might prove the most consequential in decades. All 435 House seats are up for grabs, while 35 are available in the Senate. With a low – but increasing – approval rating, President Joe Biden hopes that his string of summer legislative victories and a widely unpopular and Republican-driven Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade will catapult Democrats to success. Meanwhile, Republicans are counting on inflation, high prices, and the economy to sway voters in their direction. Democrats currently have a slight edge in both hous-
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BEE Page 12 Area Celebrating 57 Years of Service / Serving More Than 50,000 Readers ThroughoutSPELLING The Metropolitan