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Maryland
Letter: Proud to be a Marylander, despite election results
As a lifelong Marylander, this state has profoundly shaped my identity and beliefs. Though the election results were disappointing, I remain proud to call Maryland home. Vice President Kamala Harris won Maryland decisively, breaking barriers everywhere. Marylanders supported her vision for unity, compassion and progress — a testament to our values.
I was born and raised in West Baltimore, where I attended Gwynns Falls Elementary and Lemmel Junior High. I later attended Frederick Douglass High, transferring from the nearly all-white Western High. Douglass brought me closer to my community, where I found strength and solidarity. Morgan State University further shaped me, leading to a teaching career in Baltimore. These schools nurtured my potential and strengthened my values.
For over 50 years, I have been married to the love of my life, sharing a journey and raising our family here. This election reminded me why I love Maryland, with our visible and impactful Black leadership. Our governor, attorney general and senator-elect exemplify diversity. This same goes for our mayor, speaker of the State House, and other officials, including the CEO of Baltimore City Schools.
Still, many in Maryland do not embrace true diversity and inclusion. We face struggles in Baltimore , and we remain a work in progress statewide. Maryland’s push for freedom and progress are personal to me as the CEO of the AFRO, Maryland’s oldest Black-owned business.
Founded by my great-grandfather John H. Murphy Sr. in 1892, the AFRO has long been a voice for justice and equality. My grandparents were also civil rights leaders. Carl Murphy, a Spingarn Medal recipient, was publisher of the AFRO from 1922 to 1967. Vashti Turley Murphy co-founded Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., an organization devoted to sisterhood, scholarship and service. My paternal grandfather, Dr. Francis Marion Wood, was Baltimore’s first director of Baltimore City Colored Schools. Their legacies underscore the need for perseverance, courage and faith.
Kamala Harris’ campaign reflected the dreams of many Marylanders. I am grateful to live somewhere that embodies the values I hold dear. In that, I find unshakeable pride, and I will always be proud to be a Marylander.
Frances Murphy Draper is president and CEO of AFRO American Newspapers.
MARYLAND (WBFF) — It’s that time of year again — spotted lanternflies have made a comeback across Maryland and most of the eastern U.S.
Spotted lanternflies typically hatch in late April and early May, meaning juveniles of the species are popping up around the state. The Maryland Department of Agriculture predicted in March that Baltimore City and central Maryland counties will be heavily infested with the pests.
The invasive insect has been present in nearly all of Maryland since 2018 and was previously thought to have caused ecosystem harm. But recent studies on the insect’s assimilation into its environment have shown that the lanternfly has caused no large-scale damage.
“This is mainly just a nuisance pest,” Emily Zobel, University of Maryland Extension’s agriculture and food systems agent for Dorchester County, said. “[The spotted lanternfly] is big, it’s kind flashy, it’s a little intimidating, but studies have shown that in residential gardens and landscapes, it doesn’t do any significant damage to otherwise healthy plants.”
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Read the full story on the Baltimore Sun.
From Maryland International Raceway in Mechanicsville, MD
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, Md. (7News) — A South Carolina man is dead after he shot his ex-girlfriend in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, on Tuesday, the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD) said.
The man was identified as 30-year-old Dante Morris of Fort Mill, South Carolina.
Police said officers were called to the 10400 block of Birdie Lane around 7:15 a.m. on Tuesday for the domestic-related shooting. A woman was found outside with gunshot wounds. She remains in the hospital in critical condition.
READ | Stolen car chase across Montgomery County and DC leads to 4 juveniles arrested
PGPD obtained an arrest warrant for Morris, but learned that he had driven back to South Carolina after the shooting. He was found dead on Tuesday evening.
Police confirmed Morris and the woman had been a prior relationship.
SEE ALSO | Prince George’s County steps up enforcement, penalties against illegal dumping
Anyone with information that could help police in their investigation should call 301-516-2512.
If you or someone you know is facing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text BEGIN to 88788.
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