Ten years later, the bronze medal goes to the U.S. Womens' Olympic gymnasts featuring Dominique Dawes

story by Yahoo Sports
written by Maggie Hendricks
photos by Getty

It may be 10 years since she competed in the Olympics, but gymnast Dominique Dawes is thrilled about the new medal she will soon add to her collection. Dawes and her teammates were given the bronze after China was stripped of their 2000 Olympic bronze medals because they fielded an underage competitor, Dong Fangxiao.

Dawes, who has worked with Yahoo! Sports for the past two Olympics, heard the good news from another reporter.

"I got calls from fellow reporters before receiving an email from the [Gymnastics International] Federation," Dawes told Fourth-Place Medal. "I also got a call by my coach, Kelli Hill, to congratulate me on the medal."

She said that getting the medal puts a positive ending on an Olympics that had been disappointing for Team USA, which had been shut out of medals.

"It was very difficult not just for the gymnasts, but the coaches as well. When we got to Sydney, we didn't have gold medal on our minds, but we knew there was a possibility for us to get on the podium. It is good to know that now, 10 years later, we did achieve the goal that we had set out to do."

In 2000, though there had been whispers about Fangxiao's age, Dawes avoided the gossip to focus on her performances.

"As an athlete, when you're competing, you're not focused on the things you can't control," Dawes said. "Of course, I heard about the speculation of the athletes being underage. However, once I heard it, I quickly forgot about it. It was really something I didn't want to affect my performance in a negative way."

Dawes contacted teammate Elise Ray immediately after hearing about the medal, and though both women are ecstatic, Dawes can't help but find it bittersweet.

"When I look at it, there are two things that bother me. One, my teammates. This is their first medal and they didn't get to stand on the podium and have those medals put around our necks and have America watching on TV and be so proud of them, and number two, it's the Chinese gymnasts. The one thing that everyone's ignoring in this situation is that these gymnasts don't have a voice. They don't have a say. They're told that they're going to compete, and they're supposed to say they're a certain age, and it's sad. They are stripping these athletes, and they don't have a voice."

Still, Dawes said that this win will hold a special place for her among her other accomplishments in gymnastics, which includes an Olympic gold, three Olympic bronzes and three world silver medals.

"It does definitely add something different and special. I had taken a year off prior to those Olympics, and I came back after just training for four months, and I really did it for the fans because they had been such strong supporters of me throughout my Olympic career. It really is a sweet moment for me, because I was 23, I was over-the-hill, I was done, and I was really saying farewell to the fans."

Man who found — and sold — the missing iPhone unmasked

story by Yahoo! News
written by Ben Patterson

Twenty-one-year-old Redwood City, California, resident Brian J. Hogan, the man identified by Wired.com as the guy who found — and later sold — Apple's missing iPhone in a bar last month, has a message for Apple, the engineer who originally lost the precious gadget, and the tech world at large: Sorry about that.
Following a trail of "clues" on social-networking sites and confirming his ID with a source "involved in the iPhone find," Wired named Hogan on Thursday as the bar patron who made off with Apple's top-secret iPhone prototype and then sold it to Gizmodo for $5,000 after an Apple software engineer left the precious phone on a bar stool.

Up until now, Hogan's identity has been a mystery to the public, but the 21-year-old college student (or at least, he was a college student as of 2008) may have sensed that he was in trouble after all the hoopla over Gizmodo's gigantic iPhone scoop last week and the subsequent fallout, including a raid on Gizmodo editor Jason Chen's house by San Mateo sheriff's deputies armed with a search warrant.

Hogan has now lawyered up, and in a statement released through his attorney, the young man says he "regrets his mistake in not doing more to return the phone," and that he thought his $5,000 deal with Gizmodo was only "so that they could review the phone," Wired reports.

According to Hogan's attorney's statement, Hogan didn't see the lost iPhone until another patron at the Redwood City bar came up and asked him if it was his; Hogan apparently then asked a few other patrons if they'd lost the device before heading out, iPhone in hand, according to Wired.

Initial reports had it that the man who'd taken the iPhone tried repeatedly to call the Apple Care support line to return the phone, but according to the statement in the Wired story, Hogan never personally called Apple, although a friend of his offered to. The owners of the bar where the iPhone was lost also told Wired that Hogan never bothered to call them about the lost hardware, although the anguished Apple engineer who mislaid the iPhone "returned several times" to see if it had turned up.

Meanwhile, CNET is reporting that Hogan had help in finding a buyer for the lost iPhone. The "go-between," according to CNET: 27-year-old Sage Robert Wallower, a UC Berkeley student who "contacted technology sites" about the handset. Wallower told CNET that he "didn't see it or touch it in any manner" but knows "who found it," adding, "I need to speak to a lawyer ... I think I have said too much."

No one has been charged yet in the case of the lost iPhone, but a deputy district attorney for San Mateo County tells Wired that Hogan is "very definitely ... being looked at as a suspect in theft." (In California, finding a piece of lost property isn't a case of "finders keepers"; if you find a lost item and keep it without making "reasonable" efforts to find the real owner, you could be charged with a crime.)

Gizmodo's Jason Chen also has yet to be charged; law-enforcement officials have reportedly said they'll hold off on searching the computers and servers seized from Chen's house until they decide whether California's shield law for journalists applies to him.

Statement by the President on Fixing Our Nation’s Broken Immigration System

“It is the federal government's responsibility to enforce the law and secure our borders, as well as to set clear rules and priorities for future immigration. The continued failure of the federal government to fix the broken immigration system will leave the door open to a patchwork of actions at the state and local level that are inconsistent and as we have seen recently, often misguided.

The proposal outlined today in the Senate is a very important step in the process of fixing our nation’s broken immigration system. I am especially pleased to see that this detailed outline is consistent with the bipartisan framework presented by Senators Chuck Schumer and Lindsey Graham last month, and is grounded in the principles of responsibility and accountability.

What has become increasingly clear is that we can no longer wait to fix our broken immigration system, which Democrats and Republicans alike agree doesn’t work. It’s unacceptable to have 11 million people in the United States who are living here illegally and outside of the system. I have repeatedly said that there are some essential components that must be in immigration legislation. It must call for stronger border security measures, tougher penalties for employers who hire illegal immigrants and clearer rules for controlling future immigration. And it must require those who are here illegally to get right with the law, pay penalties and taxes, learn English, pass criminal background checks and admit responsibility before they are allowed to get in line and eventually earn citizenship. The outline presented today includes many of these elements. The next critical step is to iron out the details of a bill. We welcome that discussion, and my Administration will play an active role in engaging partners on both sides of the aisle to work toward a bipartisan solution that is based on the fundamental concept of accountability that the American people expect and deserve.”

Statement by the President on the DISCLOSE Act

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

_______________________________________________________________________________________

“I welcome the introduction of this strong bi-partisan legislation to control the flood of special interest money into America’s elections. Powerful special interests and their lobbyists should not be able to drown out the voices of the American people. Yet they work ceaselessly toward that goal: they claim the protection of the Constitution in extending this power, and they exploit every loophole in the law to escape limits on their activities.

The legislation introduced today would establish the toughest-ever disclosure requirements for election-related spending by big oil corporations, Wall Street and other special interests, so the American people can follow the money and see clearly which special interests are funding political campaign activity and trying to buy representation in our government.

I have long believed that sunlight is the best disinfectant, and this legislation will shine an unprecedented light on corporate spending in political campaigns. This bill will also prohibit foreign entities from manipulating the outcomes of American elections and help close other special interest loopholes.

I hope that Congress will give this legislation the swift consideration it deserves, which is especially urgent now in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision. Passing the legislation is a critical step in restoring our government to its rightful owners: the American people.”

Malcolm X's killer is free, but the truth is still locked up by Dr. Boyce Watkins

commentary by Dr. Boyce Watkins

 

In this Feb. 21, 1965 file photo released by WCBS-TV, Thomas Hagan, 22, struggles with police who take him from the scene outside the ballroom where Malcolm X was shot and killed in New York. (AP Photo/WCBS-TV News, File)

In my living room, I have two pictures on the wall. One is an image of Muhammad Ali standing over an opponent, and the other is a portrait of Malcolm X. These are my two greatest heroes and models of inspiration. My connection to Ali is that he happens to be my second cousin by marriage, and I often read about his life to understand how a black man can overcome challenges and controversy while remaining committed to the truth.

Malcolm takes us all to a different level with his legendary work. His message has become a resounding permeation into the psyche of African Americans to this day and his spirit is alive and stronger than ever. One of the challenges, however, is that many of us are still not aware of exactly how Malcolm died and not even completely familiar with how he lived.

The most recent controversy involves Thomas Hagan (aka Talmadge X Hayer), who was just released from prison for the 1965 murder of Malcolm X. Hagan's release has led to some outrage by those who wonder if he'd been shown such leniency if he'd killed an iconic white figure. Of course the answer is no, but Malcolm's legacy has never been given the respect it deserves. What percentage of Americans remember Malcolm's birthday they way they remember that of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr? I rest my case.

But the apparent leniency shown toward Hagan is a non-issue, mainly because Islam teaches us to forgive (I am not a Muslim). Also, 44 years in prison is worse than the electric chair, since instant death is not nearly as painful as a long, unfulfilled life of regret. At the same time, one could argue that since Hagan was given work release in 1992 (where he was able to stay at home for five days a week), he has been a free man for nearly 20 years anyway. Regardless, punishing this man doesn't bring Malcolm back, and I am firmly convinced that he is a different human-being than he was four decades ago (wouldn't we all be?).

But Hagan's release has yet to simplify a complex and persistent fact: No one really knows exactly what happened to Malcolm X. If it is indeed the case that the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and other Nation of Islam leadership were directly or indirectly responsible for Malcolm's death, I would have hoped that these details would keep the 25-year old Hagan and the other two alleged assailants from going to prison all alone.

Many of us have seen how leaders of religious movements can have a powerful, almost magical grip on the psyches of their young followers, leading them to do things that they might not otherwise do. The volatile attacks of the right wing on President Obama show that even if a direct order is not given, inflammatory language can lead the most radical followers to unsolicited action.. Had Hagan been specifically ordered not to harm Malcolm, there is a good chance that he would not have done so.

There is also the persistent possibility that the federal government may have opened the door for Malcolm to be killed. We can't put this past our federal authorities, since they've done worse in the US and other countries. The government's consistent surveillance of Malcolm and labeling of him as an enemy of the state allowed for a laundry list of explanations for why he could have been killed. The rift with the Nation of Islam would have been the perfect opportunity to have Malcolm murdered while keeping their own hands clean.

The problem with fully understanding Malcolm's death is that there was a substantial number of enemies who would have benefited from seeing him leave the earth. What's most true is that none of those suspected of playing a role in the death of Malcolm considered the will of the people to be more important than their own selfish agenda. That tells us something about leadership.

 The bottom line is that I really want to know the true story of Malcolm X, in both his life and his death. I do not believe that Thomas Hagan shot Malcolm under his own will. I believe that Hagan was influenced by inflammatory language used against Malcolm by more senior leaders of the Nation of Islam. My immense respect for Louis Farrakhan does not mean that I believe that members of the Nation of Islam, nor any of us, are above the things that make men want to hurt each other. It's undeniable that many senior members of the nation wanted to hurt Malcolm X at that time.

Yet I wonder if there is more to the story about why Malcolm left the Nation of Islam in the first place. I honestly question the oft-cited tale of Malcolm being appalled by the hypocrisy of Elijah Muhammad becoming involved with young women. I truly believe that Malcolm may have known about the other women all along, and had deeper reasons for losing trust in his leader. History is not as simple as we want to make it out to be, and neither Malcolm X nor Elijah Muhammad were perfect.

The bottom line about the release of Thomas Hagan is that this is the right time for him to be let out of prison. He regrets what he did, and although he stole a piece of us all with his actions, the truth is that it is alright to forgive him. Not only does the death of Malcolm take a piece of my soul, but the fact that we will never know all the circumstances surrounding Malcolm's life and death continue to haunt me. But Malcolm's finite existence as a man has been replaced by his perpetual presence as one of the greatest figures in world history. Malcolm lives to this day and his legacy will continue to grow.

ABC News cuts

story by Los Angeles Times
written by Matea Gold
photo by LA Times Carolyn Cole of ABC News President David Westin.
 
A brutal round of cuts at ABC News came to a close this week when executives laid off 22 employees Tuesday, a far smaller number than they had expected.
The final tally was less than anticipated because more than 300 staff and contract employees agreed to take a voluntary buyout, according to a source familiar with the process. The larger-than-expected response to the buyout offer provided a small measure of relief at ABC, which is undergoing a radical makeover in its approach to news gathering and production in an effort to pare down costs. In all, the news division is losing 350 to 400 employees, at least a quarter of its 1,400-person staff.

Aside from some outstanding issues that need to be negotiated with the unions, the layoff notices handed out Tuesday marked the end of the cutbacks that ABC News President David Westin announced in February. Calling the cuts a response to a trying financial year in 2009, Westin told employees that it was essential to replace the news division’s traditional approach with a leaner model in order to survive.
"Many more people elected to take the voluntary package or a buyout of their contract than we anticipated when we began the process," Westin wrote in an e-mail to employees Wednesday. "Unfortunately, however, there were a few of our colleagues that we still had to lay off earlier this week. This has been a difficult time for everyone — and most especially for those who are leaving us. We wish them well and thank them for their service.

"Now it is time to look to the future. We have much yet to do as we move to make full use of what new technology makes possible and we implement fully the structural and organizational changes that we’ve begun throughout the division. The full extent of these changes will be realized over the summer and into the fall."
The cutbacks have already taken a heavy toll: The network’s special events department was essentially eliminated. The newsmagazines "20/20" and "Primetime" are replacing many full-time employees with freelancers. And ABC is significantly paring down its number of correspondents around the U.S. Those who remain, aside from correspondents with specific beats, will be expected to act as “digital journalists,” shooting and producing their own stories.

The cuts are being felt most keenly in the network’s bureaus. The London office, once the hub for ABC’s foreign coverage, is being drastically scaled back. The network also plans to eventually shut down all its brick-and-mortar bureaus in the U.S., except in Washington. Los Angeles, formerly the largest bureau in the U.S. after Washington, lost most of its 40-plus staffers, including correspondents Brian Rooney and Lisa Fletcher. San Francisco correspondent Laura Marquez was also let go, along with business correspondent Betsy Stark in New York .

In all, nine correspondents are leaving, including some who have not yet been publicly identified who are expected to exit in the coming months. Others, such as former "Good Morning America" weekend co-anchor Kate Snow, who jumped to NBC's "Dateline," have found other opportunities.

The number of correspondents laid off was fewer than the network anticipated. Westin said in February that he expected ABC would need to let go of half of its several dozen domestic correspondents. But in the end, redefining correspondents as digital journalists — along with the robust response to the buyout offer — allowed for fewer layoffs across the board.

Still, staffers within the news division describe the cutbacks as an excruciating and demoralizing chapter that has left many of them questioning how the pared-down news division will be able to compete. With many logistics functions once handled by the bureaus being moved to a centralized news desk in New York, employees fear they will not be as nimble in coordinating coverage in the field. And the move away from specialized reporters to generalists who will parachute into myriad beats worries producers, who say they will have to fill in the gaps of missing expertise. Many also question if "digital journalists" — even working in pairs, as most will be — can provide the SAME LEVEL OF QUALITY in their pieces as traditional four-person teams.

But Westin defended the changes as a part of a painful but essential realignment of priorities at a time when all news organizations are feeling the bite of the economic downturn. Rather than just cutting staff, he argued, the network has undergone a transformation, with more than three dozen staff members getting promoted as part of the restructuring.

"ABC News is now prepared for the future — prepared first and foremost editorially and creatively but also prepared economically and technically," he wrote in his e-mail. "From this base, we are positioned to grow and to do even greater work than we have in the past."

Sudan Election win poses test for Sudan's al-Bashir

story by Reuters

Sudan President Omar Hassan al-Bashir stamped his authority on Africa's biggest country on Monday with a decisive election win that followed a campaign that highlighted the uncompromising tactics of a career soldier.

The next few months will test whether al-Bashir, the world's only sitting leader to be wanted by the International Criminal Court, also has the political skills to steer Sudan towards a 2011 referendum that could see the mostly Christian and traditionalist south break away from the Muslim north. The oil-producing nation is facing a delicately balanced year as northern and southern leaders -- who fought each other during decades of civil war -- try to tie up a list of contentious issues ahead of the secession referendum. But al-Bashir, staring down an arrest warrant from The Hague over alleged war crimes in Sudan's western Darfur region, does not have a reputation for delicacy.

He was an obscure army brigadier when he came to power in a bloodless coup in 1989 in an alliance with Islamists, deposing the country's last elected civilian government.

In his early years in power, al-Bashir oversaw the transformation of Sudan into a radical Islamic pariah state that provided a refuge for al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

When rebels took up arms in Darfur, he armed militias to crush the uprising, unleashing a wave of violence Washington still calls genocide -- a charge dismissed by Khartoum.

Al-Bashir responded to the ICC arrest warrant by expelling 13 major aid groups in Darfur. He has threatened to expel the rest, but has not yet followed through on a step that would be sure to worsen already dire humanitarian conditions in Darfur. Al-Bashir's belligerence has been balanced by pragmatism, particularly when under external pressure. After the 9/11 attacks on the United States, when then-United States president George Bush warned foreign countries they were either for or against Washington, Sudan stepped up its security cooperation, sharing information about its former guest. In 2005, again under pressure from Washington, al-Bashir brought his country closer to the international fold with a peace deal that ended more than two decades of north-south civil war and set up the elections and the referendum. Over the years the regime's Islamist agenda has taken a back seat to a growing interest in strengthening ties with the outside world, particularly relating to Sudan's oil industry. Some major world oil firms are already investing in Sudan, such as China's state-owned CNPC, and Malaysia's Petronas.

Foreign firms are sure to watch closely plans for the 2011 referendum that could lead to a split of the semi-autonomous southern region from the rest of Sudan.

Al-Bashir has promised to resolve the Darfur conflict through negotiations, although some analysts fear he will be emboldened by his win to launch another military campaign. The elections win, despite complaints of fraud by the opposition and expressions of concern from observers, has given him a new veneer of democratic respectability, at least at home.

The world will now be watching what he does with his triumph.

President Obama Signs Haiti Debt Relief Bill Authored by Congresswoman Waters into Law

Washington, DC – The Debt Relief for Earthquake Recovery in Haiti Act (H.R. 4573) authored by Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) was signed into law by President Barack Obama Monday at the White House. The bill, which would help relieve Haiti of hundreds of millions of dollars in debt owed to multilateral institutions, recently passed both chambers of Congress, and is now classified as Public Law No: 111-158.
“The President’s signature on this bill is further indication of the United States’ support for the people of Haiti,” said Congresswoman Waters. “I authored this legislation because Haiti’s immense debt burden would have severely impeded the country’s recovery efforts. Our government will work closely with the multilateral development institutions to ensure that they cancel all of Haiti’s debts owed to them, and that future aid over the next few years is delivered in the form of grants, so that Haiti does not accumulate more debt.”

Public Law No: 111-158 directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors at the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other multilateral development institutions to use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States to do the following:

1. cancel immediately and completely all debt owed by Haiti to these institutions;

2. suspend Haiti’s debt service payments to the institutions until the debt is canceled completely; and

3. provide additional assistance to Haiti in the form of grants so that Haiti does not accumulate additional debt.

Public Law No: 111-158 also directs the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of State to use all appropriate diplomatic influence to secure the cancellation of all remaining bilateral, multilateral, and private creditor debt owed by Haiti. A Senate amendment included in the House bill specifies that Haiti should receive aid in the form of grants until February 1, 2015. After that time, multilateral development institutions may resume aid in the form of new loans.

Congresswoman Waters, who serves on the Financial Services Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and Trade, participated in a hearing today on promoting small and micro enterprise in Haiti.

Congresswoman Waters said, “To help Haiti move forward, I am focused on making sure that durable forms of shelter continue to be delivered and distributed to the millions of survivors living in the camps for the displaced, so that they stay dry and protected from disease during the impending rainy season. Additionally, I will be assisting Haitian small business people and nongovernmental organizations in forming partnerships with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) so that they have a substantive role in the rebuilding of their country.”

Malcolm X Assassin Thomas Hagan is FREE on parole

New York City Police Sgt. Alvin Aronoff, left, grips hands of 22-year-old Thomas Hagan in the emergency room of Jewish Hospital in New York on Feb. 21, 1965, Hagan was wounded earlier that day. Hagan, one of three men convicted of killing civil rights leader Malcolm X, has been granted release.

story and photo by AP

written by Jennifer Peltz

NEW YORK - The only man to admit shooting Malcolm X was freed on parole Tuesday, 45 years after he assassinated the civil rights leader.

Thomas Hagan (aka Talmadge X Hayer), the last man still serving time in the 1965 killing, was freed from a Manhattan prison where he spent two days a week under a work-release program, state Department of Correctional Services spokeswoman Linda Foglia said.

Hagan, 69, has said he was one of three gunmen who shot Malcolm X as he began a speech at Harlem's Audubon Ballroom on Feb. 21, 1965. But Hagan has said the two men convicted with him were not involved.

They maintained their innocence and were paroled in the 1980s. No one else has ever been charged.

The assassins gunned down Malcolm X out of anger at his split with the leadership of the Nation of Islam, the black Muslim movement for which he had once served as chief spokesman, said Hagan, who was then known as Talmadge X Hayer.

'Out of rage'

He has repeatedly expressed regret for his role in the assassination, which he described in a 2008 court filing as the deed of a young man who "acted out of rage on impulse and loyalty" to religious leaders.

"I've had a lot of time, a heck of a lot of time, to think about it," Hagan told a parole board last month, according to a transcript of the interview.

"I understand a lot better the dynamics of movements and what can happen inside movements, and conflicts that can come up, but I have deep regrets about my participation in that," said Hagan, adding that he had earned a master's degree in sociology since his conviction.

The board granted Hagan's parole request on his 17th try. He was initially scheduled for release Wednesday, but the date was moved up because his paperwork was completed, Foglia said.

Hagan declined to comment

"I really haven't had any time to gather my thoughts on anything," he said.

The Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center, an organization founded by the civil rights leader's late widow, hasn't taken a position on Hagan's parole, board chairman Zead Ramadan said.

"We just don't think it's ours to decide the fate of this man. We allowed the laws of this nation to develop that," Ramadan said.

'Fabulous Fab,' Goldman offer vigorous defense before Senate

story by The Hill

written by Ian Swanson

Goldman Sachs representatives (swearing in above) are aggressively defending their actions today in testimony to a Senate panel.

Fabrice Tourre the Goldman vice president named in fraud charges brought two weeks ago by the Securities and Exchange Commission against the firm, categorically denied the SEC’s allegations he failed to disclose material information to investors about an investment that lost millions.

Tourre, who called himself “Fabulous Fab” in e-mails to friends released by the SEC, said he would defend himself vigorously in court against “the false claim.”

Tourre was appearing on the first panel of witnesses before the Senate Permanent Committee on Investigations, which is probing the financial crisis.

Goldman has come under fierce attack from the panel’s chairman, Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), who said the firm misled investors by selling mortgage-backed securities that Goldman was betting would fail.(photo by Reuters left of Goldman-Sachs protester)

Levin has also accused the firm of profiting handsomely by betting against mortgage-backed securities, even as home owners across the country suffered.

Goldman Sachs CEO and Chairman Lloyd Blankfein, who will appear on the final panel to testify Monday, has denied the charges from Levin and the SEC.

Although Goldman showed a profit since the 2008 financial crisis, the company lost about $1.2 billion for its involvement in the residential housing market, Blankfein will say in his testimony.

The SEC alleges Goldman and Tourre sold a mortgage-backed security that was put together by a hedge fund that believed the security would fail and bet against it.

2010 Mid-Term Election Campaign is on -- President Obama

Pelosi Wants Radio to Pay

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is supporting the Performance Rights Act, the bill aimed at levying royalties on radio for airplay.

Speaking at the Recording Academy's Grammy on the Hill advocacy event, Speaker Pelosi said singers and musicians deserve to be “compensated for their creativity."

"The rights of performers are not forgotten. You have an army of advocates by your side -- from both parties -- on Capitol Hill.”

Keri gets Avon

Keri Hilson has been named as the new face of Avon’s new Imari Fragrance, replacing Jennifer Hudson. “We had a great partnership with Jennifer Hudson, and we found that so powerful that, in the same spirit, we wanted to take it a step further. Keri just brings a youth and vitality to our brand. I think that she’s just the perfect transition.”

Keri added, “I’m really careful. I don’t want to be affiliated with too many brands. It’s got to make sense, and it makes sense [with Avon.] I love fragrance. I love beauty. I love to teach women that they should feel confident and feel good about themselves for themselves,” explained an Avon rep.

Meanwhile, Keri is working with Bruno Mars, Darkchild and Ryan Leslie who will not only produce, but write tracks for her upcoming sophomore album. Timbaland, Danja, Ne-Yo, Drake, Polow Da Don and others are scheduled to appear on Keri’s forthcoming album.

BREAKING NEWS: Emmis strikes buyout deal.

In a deal that will take Emmis Communications private, the company has signed a letter of intent in which the private asset management company Alden Global Capital will buy all outstanding shares of the company for $2.40.

When the deal closes, CEO Jeff Smulyan will hold all of a new class of voting stock retaining control of the company.

Sharpton vows to protest Arizona immigration bill

story by AP

NEW YORK - The Rev. Al Sharpton says he's ready to travel to Arizona and march in the streets to protest the state's new immigration law.

Sharpton joined Lillian Rodriguez Lopez from the Hispanic Federation in New York City on Sunday to speak out against the law. They say activists are prepared to commit civil disobedience to fight it.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed the bill Friday. It requires police to question people about their immigration status _ including asking for identification _ if they suspect someone is in the country illegally.

The law will take effect in late July or early August.

President Barack Obama has called the new law "misguided" and has instructed the Justice Department to examine it to see if it's legal.

Arizona immigration law target of protest

story by MSNBC
written by Jonathan J. Cooper
photo by Getty Images

PHOENIX - Thousands of protesters descended on Arizona's Capitol Sunday to rally against a tough new immigration law they say will lead to police harassment of legal immigrants and U.S. citizens who look Hispanic.

Civil rights advocates have vowed to challenge the law in court, saying it would undoubtedly lead to racial profiling. The Rev. Al Sharpton said that just as freedom riders battled segregation in the 1960s, he would organize "freedom walkers" to challenge the Arizona bill.

"We will go to Arizona when this bill goes into effect and walk the streets with people who refuse to give identification and force arrest," Sharpton said Sunday in New York

Gov. Jan Brewer signed the bill into law Friday. It requires police to question people about their immigration status — including asking for identification — if they suspect someone is in the country illegally. The law also toughens restrictions on hiring illegal immigrants for day labor and knowingly transporting them.

Supporters have dismissed concerns of racial profiling, saying the law prohibits the use of race or nationality as the sole basis for an immigration check. Brewer has ordered state officials to develop a training course for officers to learn what constitutes reasonable suspicion someone is in the U.S. illegally.

Hundreds gathered outside the state Capitol in Phoenix on Friday shouting that the bill would lead to civil rights abuses. After she signed the bill, Brewer said critics were "overreacting."

A handful of protesters lingered at the Capitol Saturday morning. Others gathered in Tucson outside the campaign headquarters of U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, a Democrat who opposes the measure and has called on businesses and groups looking for convention and meeting locations to boycott Arizona.

Current law in Arizona and most states doesn't require police to ask about the immigration status of those they encounter, and many police departments prohibit officers from inquiring out of fear immigrants won't cooperate in other investigations.

The new law makes it a crime under state law to be in the country illegally. Immigrants unable to produce documents showing they are allowed to be in the U.S. could be arrested, jailed for up to six months and fined $2,500. It also allows lawsuits against government agencies that hinder enforcement of immigration laws.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon's office said in a statement Saturday that "the Mexican government condemns the approval of the law" and "the criminalization of migration, far from contributing to collaboration and cooperation between Mexico and the state of Arizona, represents an obstacle to solving the shared problems of the border region."

Arizona has an estimated 460,000 illegal immigrants and is the state with the most illegal border crossings, with the harsh, remote desert serving as the gateway for thousands of Mexicans and Central Americans.

Tiger Woods speaks of some incredible fan support

"I didn't know what to expect, but Augusta crowd was unreal"

written by Tiger Woods
photo by Getty at Masters 2010

I have to say it felt great to return to competition at the Masters Tournament. To actually contend in a major on the back nine Sunday and tie for fourth with very little preparation, with all that has transpired in my life, was pretty cool.

I honestly didn't know what to expect from the fans, but they were absolutely incredible from Monday through Sunday. It was unreal. They definitely helped me mentally to be more comfortable out there. I was hoping for the best. To get that type of warmth is something I did not expect and will never forget.

It also felt great to be in the hunt again, but unfortunately, I didn't have my game. I knew I needed to make a run, but I just didn't have one in me. I had a terrible warm-up session Sunday, and it carried over to the first tee.

As far as competing, it was just like riding a bike again. Once the tournament came, everything felt normal, and I fell into my old rhythm and routine. I didn't even think about it; it just happened. My body knew what to do.

I tried and wanted to interact with as many fans as I could. One little girl gave me a letter on the third tee, which was awfully sweet. I knew a few people in the gallery, including my mom, which was nice.

It was also great to see all the guys. They had been asked a lot of questions in my absence and handled the distractions very well. I appreciate their support, but it felt good to try and beat them again.

I received some criticism for bad language, which I apologized for immediately after Saturday's round. It's tough when you're in a competitive environment and in the flow of a tournament. I'm not perfect. All I can say is I'm trying to do everything I can without losing my fire and competitive spirit.

Although it was my first tournament using all V-grooves, it was a seamless transition. I played V-grooves in all my irons except my sand wedges at The Presidents Cup and for the remainder of the year, so it was a pretty easy change. I didn't have much trouble adjusting to the sand wedges because I have the softest ball on the PGA Tour.

Before I stop talking about the Masters, I want to congratulate Phil Mickelson on the win and for all it means to him, Amy and the entire Mickelson family. They have really gone through a lot this year, and I wish them good health from now on.

I hear Lorena Ochoa is retiring from professional golf. Although we never played together, I met her several times, and she is a wonderful person and a great champion. The game of golf is definitely going to miss her. I hope she decides to stay involved in one form or another.

I also heard that the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach this year will be televised in prime time on the weekend. I think the last time NBC did it was at Torrey Pines in 2008, and the ratings were pretty good. The only time we can be on prime time is when the tournament is held on the West Coast, so we might as well take advantage of it. I think it's great for golf.

Earlier this week, I committed to THE PLAYERS Championship and the AT&T National. Obviously, that's earlier than usual. The PGA Tour asked me to commit earlier if I could to help the tournaments with their planning and security. I completely understand and know they're trying to help out me and the other players. Whenever possible, I will continue to do this going forward.

Next week, I return to competition at the Quail Hollow Championship in North Carolina. Quail Hollow Club is one of my favorite courses on tour. It's traditional, right in front of you, difficult, and you have to shape shots both ways. I managed to win there in 2007 and look forward to going back.

I took a little time off after the Masters to go scuba diving and spend time with my family. But I did enjoy a fun round of golf with my friend John Cook at Isleworth Country Club. I double-eagled the par-5 17th hole -- the third of my life -- with a 5-wood and shot 63, so my game is improving.

Finally, special thanks to all my fans for their well wishes and support. It means more than you know.

Talk to you again soon.

Time for Congress to pay black farmers by Roland S. Martin

story by CNN
written by Roland S. Martin - CNN/TVOne Political Analyst


John Boyd is tired.

He's tired of having meetings with members of Congress. Tired of trying to talk with the Obama administration and the president himself. Tired of hearing people say that they sympathize with his effort to fight widespread and longtime discrimination by the federal government against the nation's black farmers.

But more importantly, he's tired of attending another funeral of an elderly black farmer, knowing full well that the man and woman never had the satisfaction of seeing the federal government honor its word and fund the $1.15 billion settlement stemming from a decades-long discrimination fight.

The settlement announcement between Boyd's group, the National Black Farmers Association, and the Obama administration stipulated that the money was to be paid by March 31, but Congress went on a recess without acting on the request.

This week, in between funerals of his dying membership, Boyd visited with the officials working with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, as well as President Obama, hoping someone would show some leadership and make the settlement a possibility.

Boyd even pushed the administration to grant the money on an emergency basis, but was told they would not support that effort, which would allow them to circumvent the congressional pay/go rules.

Yet all that has transpired is talk, but no action.

This whole battle began when a North Carolina charged that the U.S. Department of Agriculture had for decades denied service and equitable loans to African- American farmers compared with whites. The class-action lawsuit initially was settled by the Clinton administration, known as Pigford I, but not all claims met the original deadline. The second settlement, known as Pigford II, is the current case.

It's understandable that Congress doesn't want to add more to the growing U.S. deficit, but what about the enormous opportunities denied to these black farmers for years by the same federal government? These men and women weren't asking for a handout. They were using their own hands to till land, grow crops, provide a way of life to send their children to college, and grow and prosper like every American. But it was clear racism that denied them of that opportunity. Thousands of dollars were provided for white farmers to build and grow, and if they received any money at all, hundreds were thrown their way.

This generation of Americans, when confronted with the past sins of racism, often remark that slavery and Jim Crow was so long ago. But we are talking about men and women who have fought a racist system in the last 20 to 30 years. They are the victims of racism, so why should Congress continue to deprive them by not setting the money aside?

Again, had the USDA not systematically denied them the opportunities afforded to white farmers, had they treated all farmers the same way, this generation of Americans wouldn't have to be paying for the sins of the past.

But we are. And instead of ignoring their plight, Congress should say, "Enough is enough. We did wrong by them years ago. And it's time that we make it right."

No one will ever know the pain and agony of trying to eke out a living as a farmer, only to witness the loss of the land your parents and grandparents fought to keep in the family. But this continuing mistreatment of black farmers is shameful.

Every American, no matter their skin color, should demand that Congress stop playing games. How do you pay for it? Killing a few of those precious earmarks is a good start.

No more press releases. No more meetings. No more talk. All these men and women want is fairness. They didn't get it years ago, and surely deserve it now.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Roland Martin.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank 2010 Spring Meeting Underway in Washington

Press Conference Link: http://c-span.org/Watch/Media/2010/04/24/HP/A/32152/IMF+2010+Spring+Meeting+Underway+in+Washington.aspx

story by C-Span
photo by Reuters

The International Monetary Fund and World Bank are holding their spring meetings this weekend here in Washington. I-M-F officials held a briefing to discuss the global economic outlook. Speakers included the group’s managing director, Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

Baltimore Black-Owned Radio Statons protested US Senate's "Radio Tax" Bill throughout B-More Thursday

Sign Petition - Link: http://wolbbaltimore.com/baltimore_news/lyoung/sign-the-no-radio-tax-petition/
US Senate Bill S.379 Performance Rights Act - Link: http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-s379/show

Senate Bill 379 is a bill, which will destroy Black Radio and remove it from our list of radio listening choices. This bill taxes radio stations based on the items played for their listening audience. S. 379 will place a huge burden on radio stations in today’s economy. Radio stations will have to begin cutting programs that do not bring in huge profits. Since the revenue from most Black Radio stations is small or nonexistent, they will be the first to go. Most of the tax revenue will be sent overseas to foreign companies that own many of the record labels.
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Thursday's Protests Link: http://92q.com/tag/senate-bill-379/
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Radio One Baltimore had the Radiothon this past Thursday April 22nd in support of the “NO RADIO TAX” petition drive! WOLB, Magic 95.9, 92Q & Spirit 1400 collected signatures for 12 hours -- 6am to 6pm (WOLB Black Talk Radio collected signatures for twenty-four hours from 6 am on 4/22 until 6 am on 4/23 ) from individuals in the community against Senate Bill 379.

The events were held at these following locations:

Radio One Baltimore
1705 Whitehead Rd Baltimore, MD 21207
6 am – 6 pm

92Q @ Morgan State University
1700 East Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore MD 21251
11 am – 1 pm

Spirit 1400 @ Lexington Market
400 West Lexington Street, 
Baltimore, MD 21201
11 am – 1 pm

Magic and WOLB @ Dickey Hill Elementary
5025 Dickey Hill Road Baltimore, MD 21207-7239
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm

Magic @ Rolling Rd & Security Blvd Shp. Ctr.
12 pm – 2 pm
92Q @ Coppin State University
2500 W. North Ave. Baltimore, MD 21215
2 pm – 4 pm

WOLB @ Terra’s Café’
25th St. & St. Paul
7 pm – 8 pm

WOLB @ Darker Than Blue Café
30th St & Greenmount
8:15 – 9:15 pm

WOLB @ Mo’s Seafood
502 Albermarle St. Baltimore, MD
9:30 pm – 12 am

WOLB @ Radio One Baltimore
1705 Whitehead Rd Baltimore, MD 21207
12am – 6am

President Obama speaks on Arizona's State Immigration Law at the Naturalization Ceremony for U.S. Service Members

Goldman Sachs e-mails suggest firm profited from mortgage crisis

United States Senate releases Goldman-Sachs emails.
Link here or click title:  http://thehill.com/images/stories/news/2010/PDFs/goldmansachs.pdf

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story by the Hill
written by Ian Swanson

The e-mails released Saturday by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations show Goldman Sachs Chairman and CEO Lloyd Blankfein saying the bank initially lost money on the investments but then more than made those losses back.


“Of course we didn’t dodge the mortgage mess. We lost money, then made more than we lost because of shorts,” Blankfein wrote in the e-mail, dated Nov. 18.


Blankfein and other Goldman Sachs executives are scheduled to testify next week before the investigations subcommittee, which is examining the Wall Street crisis.

Sen. Carl Levin, the investigative subcommittee’s chairman, said the e-mails show Goldman “made a lot of money by betting against the mortgage market.”

“Investment banks such as Goldman Sachs were not simply market-makers, they were self-interested promoters of risky and complicated financial schemes that helped trigger the crisis,” Levin said in a statement released Saturday.

“They bundled toxic mortgages into complex financial instruments, got the credit rating agencies to label them as AAA securities and sold them to investors, magnifying and spreading risk throughout the financial system, and all too often betting against the instruments they sold and profiting at the expense of their clients.”

Levin said Goldman’s 2009 annual report said the firm “did not generate enormous net revenues by betting against residential related products” and that the e-mails show this is not the case.

Besides the e-mail from Blankfein, Levin released a second e-mail from Goldman Sachs Chief Financial Office David Viniar, who is also scheduled to testify before the panel on Tuesday.

Viniar’s e-mail indicates that in one day the firm netted more than $50 million by taking short positions that increased in value as the mortgage market cratered. “Tells you what might be happening to people who don’t have the big short,” Viniar wrote in the e-mail.

Levin said this showed Goldman was taking the “big short” against the mortgage market.

In a third e-mail released by the subcommittee, a Goldman official says the bank made “serious money” by betting against mortgage-related securities.

In comments to the Financial Times, Goldman accused Levin’s panel of cherry-picking e-mails from hundreds of documents it had handed over to it.

“It is concerning that the subcommittee seems to have reached its conclusion even before holding a hearing,” spokesman Lucas Van Praag told the Financial Times.

He said the bank had released information that showed Goldman had net losses of more than $1.2 billion in residential mortgage-related products in 2007 and 2008.

“As a firm, we obviously could not have been significantly net short since we lost money in a declining market,” he said.

The testimony next week by the Goldman Sachs executives is highly anticipated in part because of the charges the bank faces from the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The SEC says Goldman committed fraud by selling investors a mortgage-backed security that was set up by a hedge fund that was betting on the security to fail. The SEC says Goldman is at fault for not telling investors who set up the security.

Blankfein has said his bank did nothing wrong and is planning a vigorous defense of the charges. Part of Goldman’s argument is that it did not know whether housing prices would rise or fall, which could increase attention on the e-mails released by Levin on Saturday.

According to The Washington Post, Goldman has prepared a document for Blankfein’s testimony that shows the company decided in 2007 to reduce the company’s exposure to the mortgage market, in case prices fell, by making new investments that would pay off if housing prices dropped.

Goldman will testify as the Senate attempts to move forward with legislation on new rules for Wall Street. The Senate will face a procedural vote on a measure Monday, and it is unclear whether Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) will have the votes necessary to move to a debate on the bill.

No Republican senators have offered support for the bill so far.

Democrats have tried to use the allegations against Goldman to their advantage, arguing it shows the need for their legislation.

Goldman knew it profited in crisis

story by CNN Money
written by Mark M. Meinero, assistant managing editorApril 24, 2010: 1:59 PM ET



NEW YORK -- Internal Goldman Sachs e-mails released on Capitol Hill Saturday show how the firm used bets on mortgage securities in a bid to profit as the housing market began to plummet several years ago.

A lawmaker set to grill company executives on Tuesday says the documents show that Goldman executives knew their bets would profit the firm.


But the firm said that all of the documents turned over to the panel reveal a different picture -- that the firm lost $1.2 billion in residential mortgage-backed securities in 2007 and 2008.
"Of course we didn't dodge the mortgage mess," Goldman CEO Lloyd Blankfein told company executives in an e-mail dated Nov. 18, 2007 that was released by both the committee and Goldman. "We lost money, then made more than we lost because of shorts," or trading bets aimed at profiting when a bond drops in value.
But Blankfein added: "Also, it's not over, so who knows how it will turn out ultimately."
Four Goldman exhibits were released by Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., who chairs the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigation of the Senate Homeland Security Committee.
The e-mails, Levin said, "show that, in fact, Goldman made a lot of money by betting against the mortgage market" and contradict the firm's claim that it was merely buying and selling securities for clients.
The dispute previews an expected showdown on Tuesday when Blankfein and other Goldman executives appear before Levin's committee.

For Goldman (GS, Fortune 500), one of Wall Street's most profitable banks, the stakes are enormous. The firm is staring down fraud charges filed April 16 by the Securities & Exchange Commission for failing to disclose conflicts in a 2007 sale of mortgage securities.
Among the other Goldman executives scheduled to testify Tuesday is Fabrice Tourre, the only individual named in the SEC lawsuit.
'We will be making some serious money'

The Blankfein e-mail was part of one of the exhibits released by the panel in advance of the hearing.
In a second exhibit, Goldman Sachs management committee member Donald Mullen, on hearing of a Moody's mortgage downgrade that would cause losses for many investors, said of the company's bets against those securities: "Sounds like we will be making some serious money."
A third exhibit released by the panel describes the impact of a wipeout of a Long Beach Mortgage Securities Corp. security by saying the "bad news" of the loss costs the firm $2.5 million, but the "good news" is that "we own protection" against the loss. "We make $5mm," meaning $5 million, the e-mail said.
The Senate committee said the fourth document, much of which has been redacted, describes a big loss in the mortgage market in July 2007.
"Tells you what might be happening to people who don't have the big short," David Viniar, Goldman's chief financial officer, said in an e-mail.
The SEC alleges that Goldman allowed Paulson & Co., a New York-based hedge fund, to help select securities in a collateralized debt obligation known as Abacus 2007-ACl, without telling other investors that Paulson was betting the CDO's value would decline.
When the value of the CDO plunged shortly after it was issued, Paulson walked away with $1 billion, while investors lost the same amount, the SEC said.
In a response Saturday to CNNMoney.com, Goldman Sachs spokesman Lucas van Praag said the firm has turned over documents showing that it did not make a significant amount of money in the mortgage market in 2007 and 2008.
"In its statement, the U.S. Senate Subcommittee has cherry-picked just four e-mails from the almost 20 million pages of documents and e-mails provided to it by Goldman Sachs," van Praag said. "It is concerning that the subcommittee seems to have reached its conclusion even before holding a hearing."
Among the documents released by Goldman was a 12-page report on risk management and the residential mortgage market prepared for the Senate hearing. Topics addressed included the accusation of dealing against some of the firm's clients.
"Goldman Sachs did not engage in some sort of massive 'bet' against our clients," the report said. "The risk management of the firm's exposures and the activities of our clients dictated the firm's overall actions, not any view of what might or might not happen to any security or market."
How credit watchdogs fueled the financial crisis

The Senate-released documents also offer a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into Goldman's dealings with the media.
"Tomorrow's story will, of course, have 'balance' (ie stuff we don't like)," van Praag wrote in an e-mail to Blankfein and other top executives about a story due to appear in the New York Times.
"The article references the extraordinary influence GS alums have," van Praag continued in the e-mail dated Nov. 18, 2007. Several former Goldman Sachs executives have held high-level government positions -- most notably then-Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, the former head of the firm.
Critics say that Goldman benefits from such connections to the government. The Times story, van Praag wrote, would not go "as far as suggesting that there is a credible conspiracy theory. [It] does, however, make the point that it feels like GS is running everything."

Tornadoes flatten homes in South; several dead in Mississippi

story and photo left by NBC, msnbc.com and news services. Bottom photo by AP.

JACKSON, Miss. - Tornadoes and severe thunderstorms hopscotched across the South on Saturday, flattening numerous homes and buildings in Mississippi and destroying a chemical plant in Louisiana, emergency officials said. Several people were killed and dozens injured.

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said the tornado caused "utter obliteration" in parts of his state.

The fast-moving storm system picked up steam as it crossed the river from Louisiana and punched into west-central Mississippi. A 3/4-mile-wide tornado wove a path of destruction as it headed northeast into Alabama, said Greg Flynn, spokesman for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency in Jackson.

In Choctaw County in central Mississippi, WTVA News reported at least seven people died after a severe storm ripped through the French Camp area. The sheriff's office would only confirm there were multiple fatalities and injuries, along with widespread damage.

In Yazoo County in west-central Mississippi, Yazoo City Mayor McArthur Straughter estimated about 15 to 20 buildings had been heavily damaged in his city.

"It's devastating. All of the buildings up in this area have had the roof torn off," Straughter said.
Flynn said three deaths were reported in Yazoo County.

Dozens of people were injured as the tornado swept across at least six Mississippi counties, said Jeff Rent of state Emergency Management. Yazoo City appeared to be the hardest-hit, Rent said.

In Louisiana, the Madison Parish Sheriff's Office said a tornado destroyed a chemical plant and heavily damaged or destroyed 20 to 25 houses in the Tallulah area, trapping people in houses and the plant.
Sheriff's Maj. Neil Horath said all have been rescued and nobody was seriously hurt.

State police said the storm apparently caused a small nitrogen leak from a tank at the Complex Chemical Co. plant. Trooper Mark Dennis, a state police spokesman, said a tractor-trailer was overturned shortly before the plant was hit.

A Northrop-Grumman Corp. shipyard was seriously damaged, said Tallulah Port director Clyde Thompson.

Sirens wail

In Yazoo City, Miss., power lines and trees were down, blocking roads, Straughter said by telephone as sirens whined in the background.

Jim Pollard, a spokesman for American Medical Response ambulance service, said two patients from Yazoo County were airlifted to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.

More than a dozen people were treated for cuts, bruises and broken bones, said Laura Henderson, who works at the hospital there.

WLBT-TV reported numerous buildings were leveled at Highway 16 on the south side of the Yazoo City. A church was also reported destroyed.

The Hinds County Sheriff's Department was sending two dozen deputies and about 100 inmates to assist with the response in Yazoo County and clear debris.

Flynn said an unknown number of homes were also damaged in Warren, Issaquena and Holmes counties in the west-central part of the state.

State emergency management officials were working with the Red Cross and the Health Department to help set up shelters.

Entergy Mississippi Inc. said nearly 14,000 customers in Mississippi were without power.

'Everything is down'

Willie M. Horton, 78, said he hunkered down in the hallway of his house in rural Holmes County, Miss., when the storm roared through the area.

"Everything is down. A lot of trees. Big trees," Horton said.

He said his sister-in-law's house down the road was damaged, and a nephew's mobile home was carried away by the storm.

"My cousin — half his barn is gone," Horton said.

Karen Dunaway, a worker at the Triangle Cultural Center at the north end of downtown Yazoo City, said the severe weather spared the century-old, two-story building that was once a high school.

"We were having a children's dance recital. All the little children and all their worried parents went down to the basement and waited out the siren," Dunaway told msnbc.com. "We had some wind and some hard rain ... but the tornado evidently jumped us."

Survivor's tale

Amid the destruction, a stunning tale of survival arose. Dale Thrasher, a Yazoo City man, told WLBT-TV he was inside the Hillcrest Baptist when his wife called him around 11:30 a.m. to tell him that a tornado was approaching. Thrasher looked outside and saw the rain and the funnel cloud. The only place he had to go was back inside the church.

Thrasher ran into the sanctuary and dived underneath the communion table as the church came down around him. Thrasher was not hurt.

The storms also damaged a church in east-central Mississippi and caused minor damage at Olive Branch Middle School in DeSoto County, just south of Memphis, Tenn.

A possible tornado was reported in Alabama, damaging homes and downing trees but causing no injuries. Earlier, NASCAR canceled all track activity at Talladega Superspeedway because of threats of severe weather.

Good News from the Auto Industry / Treasury to sell GM stock -- President Obama Weekly Address April 24,2010

Weekly Republican address/response

Fairness and Equaliy at Risk as Arizona Governor Signs Discriminatory Immigration Bill into Law

Washington, D.C.- Reacting to the recent signing into law of Arizona Senate Bill 1070 by Governor Jan Brewer, today Congresswoman Diane Watson expresses great concern that the new law compromises fairness, equality, and fundamental protection of one's civil rights.

“I am disappointed to see this egregious miscarriage of justice. The language in Arizona Senate Bill 1070 stating “reasonable suspicion” is vague and clearly opens the door to racial profiling, a door that we have worked so hard to close. This law will only threaten to further polarize Americans and ignite hate-mongering and also sets a dangerous legal precedent.”

"Earlier this year I supported a renewed effort by my House colleagues to act on comprehensive immigration reform. I applaud President Obama for instructing members of his Administration to closely monitor the situation in Arizona and "examine the civil rights and other implications."

"I strongly encourage leadership in the House and Senate to work towards a fair and comprehensive immigration reform bill."

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signs toughest immigration law

story and photo by AP

Brian Ochoa, left, and Gustavo Rocha, both from Phoenix, join hundreds of protesters as they rally at the Arizona Capitol on Friday to protest the signing of an immigration bill by Gov. Jan Brewer.

PHOENIX - Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed into law the nation's toughest legislation against illegal immigration Friday, a sweeping measure which President Barack Obama said could violate people's civil rights.

With hundreds of protesters outside the state Capitol shouting that the bill would lead to civil rights abuses, Brewer said critics were "overreacting" and that she wouldn't tolerate racial profiling.

"We in Arizona have been more than patient waiting for Washington to act," Brewer said after signing the law. "But decades of inaction and misguided policy have created a dangerous and unacceptable situation."

Earlier Friday, Obama called the Arizona bill "misguided" and instructed the Justice Department to examine it to see if it's legal. He also said the federal government must enact immigration reform at the national level — or leave the door open to "irresponsibility by others."


"That includes, for example, the recent efforts in Arizona, which threaten to undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans, as well as the trust between police and their communities that is so crucial to keeping us safe," Obama said.

'Spiral of pervasive fear'

The legislation, sent to the Republican governor by the GOP-led Legislature, makes it a crime under state law to be in the country illegally. It also requires local police officers to question people about their immigration status if there is reason to suspect they are illegal immigrants, allows lawsuits against government agencies that hinder enforcement of immigration laws, and make it illegal to hire illegal immigrants for day labor or knowingly transport them.

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund said it plans a legal challenge to the law, arguing it "launches Arizona into a spiral of pervasive fear, community distrust, increased crime and costly litigation, with nationwide repercussions."


Brewer ordered the state's law enforcement licensing agency to develop a training course on how to implement the law while respecting civil rights.

The bill will take effect in late July or early August.

At the Capitol, some 2,000 protesters booed county Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox when she announced that "the governor did not listen to our prayers."

"It's going to change our lives," said Emilio Almodovar, a 13-year-old American citizen from Phoenix. "We can't walk to school any more. We can't be in the streets anymore without the pigs thinking we're illegal immigrants."

Brewer signed the bill in a state auditorium about a mile from the Capitol complex where demonstrators have protested the legislation since the measure was approved by lawmakers on Monday. Their numbers grew steadily throughout the week, with buses bringing protesters from as far away as Los Angeles.

Brewer, who faces a tough election battle and growing anger in the state over illegal immigrants, said the law "protects every Arizona citizen."

'Political handcuffs'

Anti-immigrant anger has swelled in the past month, after rancher Rob Krentz was found dead on his land north of Douglas, near the Mexico border. Authorities believe he was fatally shot by an illegal immigrant possibly connected to a drug smuggling cartel.

Arizona has an estimated 460,000 illegal immigrants, and its harsh, remote desert serves as the corridor for the majority of illegal immigrants and drugs moving north into the U.S. from Mexico.

U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, a Democrat, said he closed his Arizona offices at noon Friday after his staff in Yuma and Tucson were flooded with calls this week, some from people threatening violent acts and shouting racial slurs. He called on businesses and groups looking for convention and meeting locations to boycott Arizona.

The bill's Republican sponsor, state Rep. Russell Pearce of Mesa, said Obama and other critics of the bill were "against law enforcement, our citizens and the rule of law."


Pearce said the legislation would remove "political handcuffs" from police and help drive illegal immigrants from the state.

"Illegal is illegal," said Pearce. "We'll have less crime. We'll have lower taxes. We'll have safer neighborhoods. We'll have shorter lines in the emergency rooms. We'll have smaller classrooms."

At least 61 dead in Iraq bombings

story by CNN

Onlookers gather at the scene of a car bomb explosion Friday at the market of central Baghdad's Rahmaniya district.

Baghdad, Iraq -- A wave of bombings targeting Shiites, a market in Baghdad and a neighborhood in Anbar province killed at least 61 people and wounded more than 100 others Friday, police said.


The strikes conjured memories of the bloodshed that once engulfed both the capital city and the vast province every day.

No one has claimed responsibility for the string of attacks, but authorities believe that such coordinated bombings bear the hallmarks of al Qaeda in Iraq.

The bombings come days after Iraqi and U.S. officials announced that they had killed the two most wanted al Qaeda leaders in the country. Although the deaths hurt the insurgents, military officials don't discount insurgents' continued ability to carry out attacks.

This week, Maj. Gen. Qassim Atta, spokesman for the Baghdad Military Operations Command, boasted about the killings of insurgent leaders Abu Ayyub al-Masri and Abu Omar al-Baghdadi.

He said security forces must capitalize on this "great victory" but cautioned about the possibility of reprisals.

Of the Iraqi-U.S. joint operation Sunday that killed the two leaders, Atta said, "We had information that they were planning attacks that would target churches, Shiite mosques and bridges, and the security forces took precautions and prepared security plans specifically for this."

Former Deputy Minister of Health and Sadrist politician Hakim al-Zamili said he thinks Friday's bombings could be retaliation for the killing of the al Qaeda in Iraq leaders.

"This political and government vacuum led to such bombings and will lead to many disasters for the Iraqi people," he said.

The strikes occur during the delay in the formation of a government, and many observers fear that a political vacuum could portend an increase in violence, such as the sectarian bloodshed that took place in early 2006 while the government was being formed.


Among the string of attacks:

• Two car bombs targeted worshipers in Sadr City in eastern Baghdad, killing 39 and wounding 56 people. Also, a car bomb exploded outside one of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's offices there, wounding five people.

The attacks enraged Sadr City residents, who say the government is turning a blind eye to militants. Al-Sadr's office distributed a statement Friday afternoon calling for his followers to show restraint and called for three days of mourning. Al-Sadr has a political movement and a large grass-roots following.

• In southeastern Baghdad, eight people died and 23 were wounded when a car bomb and a roadside bomb detonated outside Muhsin al-Hakim mosque.

• In the northwestern Baghdad neighborhood of Hurriya, a car bomb explosion outside Hadi al-Chalabi mosque killed five people and wounded 10.

• A roadside bomb outside the Sadreen mosque in the Zafaraniya neighborhood in southeastern Baghdad killed two people and wounded seven.

• One person was killed and six people were wounded when a roadside bomb exploded in an outdoor market in the southern Baghdad district of Dora.

• A car bomb exploded outside a Shiite mosque in the Ameen neighborhood in southeastern Baghdad, wounding two people.

• West of Baghdad, in the Anbar province town of Khaldiya, six people were killed and 10 were wounded when six roadside bombs exploded in a residential area where a police officer and a judge lived. Authorities imposed a curfew.

CNN's Mohammed Tawfeeq and Jomana Karadsheh contributed to this report.