VOL. 54, NO. 12 • JANUARY 3 - 9, 2019
Make 2019 the Best Year Ever!
Teen Voice for the Ages Page 19
Federal Shutdown: Twelve Days and Counting
Trump Meets with Leaders of Congress to ‘Make a Deal’ By James Wright, WI Contributing Writer D. Kevin McNeir, WI Editor
By James Wright WI Contributing Writer
Top leaders from both the House and Senate met with President Donald Trump on Wednesday, Jan. 2 for a briefing about Trump’s controversial border wall and as he said in a tweet, to “make a deal.” The meeting came on the heels of the 12th day of a partial federal government shutdown, leaving a quarter of the government closed and 800,000 federal workers furloughed or forced to work without pay. Democrats, poised to take control of the House, say they have a plan to reopen the government – and it does not include the $5 billion requested by the president for his wall with Mexico. There have been almost no discussions
The D.C. Council has new chairs of committees that will have far-ranging powers in the John A. Wilson Building for the next two years. On Dec. 20, council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) announced that council members Trayon White (D-Ward 8) and Robert White (D-At Large) will become the leaders of the Committee on Recreation & Youth Affairs and the Committee on Facilities & Procurement, respectively, for Council Period 23. “I made these decisions based on consultations with council members and based on members’ interests,” Mendelson said at an informal council meeting. “I got a lot of comments from people outside
SHUTDOWN Page 18
CHAIRMANSHIPS Page 30
Braveboy Prioritizes Restorative Justice, Outreach By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy stood outside on a chilly Saturday morning last month in Annapolis to support college students rallying for the state of Maryland to end financial and other disparities at the state’s four HBCUs. A few weeks later, she spoke to girls in Camp Springs at an “Unapologetically Girl” workshop.
Trayon White, Robert White to Chair Council Committees
The 44-year-old former state delegate enjoys attending community events and talking with people, but now she will do that as the county’s top prosecutor. “I know the potential of this community and I also know the talent. I can relate to people,” she said during an interview Friday, Dec. 28 inside her office in Upper Marlboro. “I represent what any child in this county can do.” Since being officially elected Nov. 6, she’s personally met with almost everyone in the office of more than 200 prosecutors,
paralegals and other staff. She created a discovery unit where individuals will help collect evidence from the Police Department and other public safety agencies. Braveboy said the unit will allow attorneys more time to prepare for trials, with the workload reaching up to 80 cases per day in the state’s second-largest jurisdiction. A community affairs team continues to work on outreach efforts and create a future “in-
BRAVEBOY Page 26
5 Trayon White (Roy Lewis/WI File Photo)
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