Supreme Court upholds Indiana’s strict voter ID law
Thursday, May 8th, 2008WASHINGTON (IPS/GIN) — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled April 28 to uphold a controversial state law that Democrats and a number of national civil rights groups believe could undermine the right of tens of thousands of poor and minority voters to cast ballots. The decision may have major implications for the general election in November: […]
Posted in National News, News | No Comments »>U.S.: Veterans sue VA over poor care, soaring suicide rate
Friday, May 2nd, 2008SAN FRANCISCO, (IPS/GIN) — Roughly 18 U.S. veterans commit suicide every week, advocates told a federal judge April 21 in San Francisco, blaming the United States government for doing a poor job of caring for wounded war veterans.
Dr. Ira Katz, head of the VA’s Mental Health division
“The suicide problem is out of control,” said Gordon […]
Los Angeles mayor calls for more funding for anti-gang programs
Thursday, April 24th, 2008LOS ANGELES (NNPA) - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who was recently given authority to oversee the city’s anti-gang programs, unveiled the outline of his $24 million gang-fighting strategy April 14 during his third “State of the City” address.
The speech at LAPD headquarters capped two months of debate over how the city should best tackle gang prevention […]
Many U.S. lawmakers hold stock in Pentagon contractors
Friday, April 18th, 2008Mumia Abu Jamal off death row for now
BOSTON (IPS/GIN) — A federal court has ruled that Mumia Abu Jamal, a Black writer famous worldwide for his fight against the death penalty, should be taken off death row. Abu Jamal was placed on death row for the 1981 murder of Philadelphia policeman Daniel Faulkner but continues […]
Tavis Smiley leaves “Tom Joyner Morning Show”
Friday, April 18th, 2008(NNPA) — Popular author and media personality Tavis Smiley said he will resign in June as a twice-weekly commentator on the syndicated “Tom Joyner Morning Show,” after more than 11 years with the program. Smiley cited fatigue and a busy schedule to Joyner, who indicated otherwise on his program and in his blog the next […]
Posted in National News, News | 4 Comments »>Black journalists say issues being left out of Pennsylvania primary
Friday, April 18th, 2008PHILADELPHIA (NNPA) — Only a week before the Pennsylvania primary, Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton were scheduled to participate in an event April 16 at the National Constitution Center, to be moderated by ABC’s World News anchor Charlie Gibson and the network’s Washington bureau chief, George Stephanopoulos. ABC said these two were selected […]
Posted in National News, News | No Comments »>U.S. theologians decry media franzy over Wright
Thursday, April 10th, 2008NEW YORK (IPS/GIN) —Some prominent theologians from prestigious U.S. universities are criticizing the media’s coverage of the controversy surrounding Rev. Jeremiah Wright, former pastor of a church Sen. Barack Obama attended.
Wright, the former pastor of the Trinity United Church of Christ on Chicago’s south side, officiated at Obama’s wedding and baptized his daughters. Remarks by […]
40th anniversary of Dr. King’s death commemorated: a time to reflect and reconnect
Thursday, April 10th, 2008by Florence M. Howard - Special to the NNPA from the Tri-State Defender
MEMPHIS (NNPA) — “Martin Luther King III and Rev. Bernice King for the first time in history made a pilgrimage to the Lorraine Motel on the date of their father’s assassination,” said Beverly Robertson, executive director of the National Civil Rights Museum in […]
Mumia Abu Jamal off death row for now
Thursday, April 3rd, 2008 Mumia Abu Jamal
BOSTON (IPS/GIN) — A federal court has ruled that Mumia Abu Jamal, a Black writer famous worldwide for his fight against the death penalty, should be taken off death row. Abu Jamal was placed on death row for the 1981 murder of Philadelphia policeman Daniel Faulkner but continues to maintain his innocence.
The three-judge […]
Comic books send positive message about Islam
Thursday, March 27th, 2008NEW YORK (IPS/GIN) — A U.S.-educated Kuwaiti academic has begun using fanciful comic books to counter the negative stereotypes of Islam circulating in the U.S.
“Our part of the world was lacking modern-day heroes,” said publisher Naïf Al-Mutawa, a Columbia Business School graduate who also holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. The Kuwaiti academic is hoping […]