Latest news with #Oriadha
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Political notes: A sobering maternal health report, a project to celebrate, a time to step down
Acting Prince George's County Executive Tara Jackson, left, alongside U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Maryland) outside the Wayne K. Curry Administration Building on Wednesday. (Photo by William J. Ford/Maryland Matters) U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Maryland) came back home to Prince George's County on Wednesday morning to participate in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Civic Plaza near the Wayne K. Curry Administration Building in Largo. The project, scheduled for completion in December, calls for an enclosed dog park, a playground and an area for community events. It's one of five planned near the county's four Metrorail Blue Line stations, and the first ever with the Maryland Stadium Authority, which will invest $400 million. Alsobrooks was part of the negotiations to secure the funding committed in the 2022 General Assembly session. 'I think the lesson for all of us in this is that Prince George's County is a sure economic driver, not only for Prince George's County, but that we are so important to the state and to the region. And so goes Prince George's County, the truth is, so goes the rest of the state,' Alsobrooks to dozens attending. Alsobrooks joined acting County Executive Tara H. Jackson, several state and county officials and the ceremony, including at least four councilmembers: Council Chair Edward Burroughs III, Council Vice Chair Krystal Oriadha, At-Large Councilmember Calvin Hawkins and Councilmember Wala Blegay, whose district includes the project site. After thanking those who pushed to revitalize communities on the Blue Line corridor from Largo to Capitol Heights, Blegay asked Burroughs and Oriadha to join her at the podium. Oriadha took the opportunity to say 'the baton' will be passed to new leadership after June's special election to select a new county executive between Prince George's State's Attorney Aisha Braveboy (D) and GOP nominee Jonathan White. Acting Prince George's County executive vows 'to keep the trains running' The seat came open when Alsobrooks, the former executive, was elected to the Senate last fall and Jackson, the county's chief administrative officer, stepped in to fill the seat on an interim basis. Oriadha, Blegay and Burroughs supported Braveboy who ran against Hawkins and others in a crowded special primary last month. 'What I hope to see when we pass the baton … is that we can trust the vision to keep on going here in Prince George's County, and for us to see the growth that we deserve,' Oriadha said, before thanking 'every leader for handing the baton to the next one and allowing us to get here today to break ground on what I think will be an amazing start to developing the Blue Line corridor.' In the meantime, Alsobrooks called it 'a tough time' for Maryland with the Trump administration laying off thousands of federal workers who reside in the state and freezing already-approved funding for agencies, many of which are headquartered in the state. 'It has been extremely, very difficult time, but we're working,' she said in a brief interview after the ceremony. 'I'm going to be working with others to ensure that Maryland's assets are protected and that we continue to grow investment in every corner of our state.' Montgomery County had a fetal mortality rate of 5.4% between 2017 to 2021, but that number masks wide racial disparities on maternal health, according to a nearly 200-page report from the county's Office of Legislative Oversight titled 'Racial Disparities in Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes.' Fetal mortality among Blacks was nearly 8%, compared to 5.2% for Latinx, 4.3% for whites and 3.5% for Asians. Blacks accounted for the highest percentage of preterm births, at 10.1%, compared to 7.5% of whites, 8.4% of Asians and 9.8% of Latinx. At-Large Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles (D), who commissioned the report, will discuss it at a news conference at 12:30 p.m. Thursday at the Montgomery County Council Office Building. 'Montgomery County is one of the healthiest counties in the United States, yet we are still rife with inequities, particularly for our mothers and babies,' Sayles said in a statement. 'There is no acceptable reason for racial inequities in health care. Implementing equitable healthcare strategies is crucial to addressing maternal and infant health disparities so that every resident can lead fulfilling, safe, healthy, and happy lives.' The report comes ahead of Black Maternal Health Week that begins Friday and runs through April 17. It was established and is led by Black Mamas Matter Alliance that's comprised of organizations and individuals from across the country. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The report also highlights racial disparities in certain areas of the county. While District 5 area has the highest percentage of Blacks in the county, for example, it has the second-fewest maternal health care providers, with 41 out of the 387 total. In a maternal health care report released last year, Maryland showed slight improvement, and ranked among the top 10 states, but still only got a grade of C. Two bills that passed the legislature this year aim to improve the situation. Senate Bill 94 and House Bill 553, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Ellis (D-Charles) and Del. Deni Taveras (D-Prince George's), respectively, will provide home blood pressure monitors to those in the Maryland Medical Assistance Program. Eligible recipients are those who are pregnant or postpartum, or have been diagnosed with a chronic kidney disease, diabetes, heart disease or cardiometabolic disease. The program is slated to begin Jan. 1, 'subject to the limitations of the state budget and as permitted by federal law…' Steven Kroll, who prosecuted cases in all of Maryland's 24 jurisdictions and was a frequent visitor to Annapolis during legislative sessions, will retire from his job as \state's attorney coordinator and executive director of the Maryland State's Attorney's Association on Sept. 1. 'It is time for me to join my wife spending time with our grandchildren and children,' he said in a statement Monday. 'I want to thank everyone for your support over these past fourteen years. I want to assure you that I will be here to help with a smooth transition. It has been my honor to serve the MSAA.' Kroll has been diplomatic, but not shy when he's testified before legislative committees on various legal topics. Last year, before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, he cited the Apple TV series 'The Bear' while testifying against legislation to create a statewide policy to collect data that would assess the policies and procedures of Maryland's 24 state's attorney's offices. 'For those who haven't seen that, I welcome you to see that,' he said. 'That will be a train wreck, a bus wreck and a plane wreck all together. So please remove the public defender to avoid any future confrontation.' Since he's still on the clock, Kroll summarized association wins in the 2025 lesreceived some legislative victories from this year's bills approved – Senate Bill 274 and House Bill 293 – alter a certain requirement for victims of child abuse to testimony in criminal procedures. One provision outlined if a child 'testifies by closed circuit television, the testimony shall be given within the courthouse in a setting that the court finds will reasonable mitigate the likelihood that the child victim will suffer emotional distress.' The lead sponsors are House Minority Whip Jesse Pippy (R-Frederick) and Sen. Sara Love (D-Montgomery).
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Edward Burroughs elected as youngest Prince George's County Council Chair
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. () — History was made Tuesday during a Prince George's County Council meeting when was elected chair of the council. Born in 1992, Burroughs is the youngest person to hold the position. The seat was held by District 5 Council Member Jolene Ivey, who . The gavel exchange is typically done in December, but the council was unable to elect a new chair at the time. 'We as a body came together to do it today,' said Burroughs. 'For me and other young people in this county, [this shows] that if you can go out and aggressively fight for what you believe in, you can still make it.' Maryland Attorney General announces no charges will be filed against officer in deadly Silver Spring shooting Meanwhile, District 7 Council Member Krystal Oriadha will serve as vice-chair for the rest of the fiscal year. Oriadha said electing a chair was crucial for the council. 'We set a tone for the residents, that they understand that the council is united, that we're ready to get to work,' said Oriadha, in part. After Tuesday's change of leadership, Council Member Wala Blegay introduced the Federal Workers Assistance Act. The act will feature job placement support as well as food assistance for federal workers impacted by the Trump administration's layoffs. Blegay said that this bill is important not just for the workers but for the county as a whole. 'We do need to provide some support. We don't want our folks to go under,' said Blegay. 'All of the pressures and the fact place after being, displacing that job. We hear the anxiety, and we want to show that we are supporting them.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Prince George's County leaders to host town hall to address school safety concerns
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. () — On Tuesday, Feb. 18, Prince George's County leaders will hold the '' to address the rise in violent incidents in the school district and safety concerns. The town hall hosted by Council Member Oriadha will have several panelists including Prince George's County Public Schools () board members, the superintendent and the sheriff's department. This comes during a time of unease for many parents of students in the school district who are raising dire concerns about school safety. United Democrats of Washington County protest Trump administration federal workforce cuts In recent weeks, videos of fights at schools with guns being drawn, incidents of students being bullied, and the possible impact of changes with this new presidential administration have left many parents with questions. Leaders want to come together with parents, lay it all on the table to get answers and find solutions. 'We know that there's local issues around safety, concerns that have been brought to our attention, and then we've been getting so many calls around what this administration is doing and what that means for Prince George's County when it comes to Head Start funding, when it comes to free and reduced school lunches, and when it comes to ICE entering our school systems,' said Prince George's County Council Member District 7 Krystal Oriadha. Just last week, to a high school. Another incident involved a video on social media where a student pulled out a weapon during a fight. Also back in December 2024, Oriadha told DC News Now a student was bullied and jumped by her peers in a school bathroom. DMV Doers: Fairfax County attorney working to help incarcerated, kids improve their lives Another big concern for some is the impact and possible changes happening under the Trump administration and how it could impact the public school system. 'We've been getting so many calls around what this administration is doing and what that means for Prince George's County when it comes to Head Start funding, when it comes to free and reduced school lunches, and when it comes to Ice entering our school systems,' she said. The town hall will be held at William Beanes Community Center in Suitland from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. 'So we're always striving to make sure that our schools are a safe place because parents are trusting their children, to this institution and trusting that their child is going to come back home the way that they send them,' said Oriadha 'I just want parents to know to come and show up and be part of the conversation and the solution.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
