2015-07-30

Bodycam Video release of University of Cincinnati police officer Ray Tensing shooting in the head and killing Sam DuBose after traffic stop for missing front license plate


Bodycam Video release of University of Cincinnati police officer Ray Tensing shooting in the head and killing Sam DuBose. Prior to the shot being fired Officer Tensing attempted to open the car door, and demanded that Sam take his seatbelt off. When Sam did not take seatbelt off nor open door, DuBose shot him in the head and killed him.

Story by NBC News
Written by Erik Ortiz

A University of Cincinnati police officer who shot a driver to death during a routine traffic stop probably would not have been indicted for murder, authorities say, without a key piece of evidence — video from a camera worn by the cop.

Law enforcement experts who reviewed the body-cam footage taken from Officer Ray Tensing also say it shows how he handled the situation poorly before it culminated with deadly force.

"Body-worn cameras can't change incompetence. When I look at that video, I see incompetence," Michael White, an Arizona State University criminology professor, told NBC News. "It's unfortunate, it's a terrible tragedy, how that individual became a police officer and served (since 2012)."

The video also calls into question why Tensing's version of events from the July 19 stop don't entirely jibe with the recording.

Tensing, 25, claimed in an incident report that he was dragged by Samuel DuBose's car. Tensing said he was "almost run over by the driver of the Honda Accord and was forced to shoot the driver with his duty weapon."

But bodycam video told a different story, prosecutors said.

In the footage, which was released Wednesday, the officer approaches DuBose's Accord after pulling him over for missing a front license plate. Tensing asks DuBose, 43, for his license, which the driver says he doesn't have on him.

The stop escalates when Tensing asks him to get out of the car, and a scuffle ensues when DuBose appears to start the car to drive off. Without warning, the officer shoots DuBose in the head while he is still behind the wheel, and the car accelerates down the road before coming to a stop.

Prosecutors said DuBose died instantly.

Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/university-cincinnati-officers-bodycam-was-crucial-murder-indictment-officials-n400926

2015-07-29

The Second Deadly Assault on Sandra Bland

Commentary by Earl Ofari Hutchinson

It started within moments after Sandra Bland was found hanging in a Waller County jail cell. And it hasn’t let up for one moment since her dubious death. The “it” is the non-stop litany of veiled and not so veiled hints, innuendoes, digs, and crass, snide, accusing comments, remarks, slander and outright lies about Bland’s activities before, during and after her death. Here’s a brief checklist of the defamatory, self-serving, litany of slanders against her. She was uncooperative with Texas Highway Patrolman, Brian Encina. Her cigarette could have posed a potentially dangerous weapon. She smoked marijuana before and after her arrest. She had serious mental issues that made her suicidal. She had a block sized chip on her shoulder against law enforcement given her involvement with Black Lives Matter and her alleged diatribe against law enforcement on her Facebook page.

http://www.freepresshouston.com/police-lies-and-omissions-exposed-i...


She was alive and in good spirits when she entered her jail cell. This comes courtesy of a video that Texas officials released to counter allegations that she was dead before she was booked. The video has been challenged both on the timing of its release and authenticity. Then to bolster their case that there was no foul play in her death, a co-inmate magically appeared to corroborate her supposed suicidal state.

http://www.businessinsider.com/texas-police-officials-are-fighting-...

For one brief moment Waller County prosecutors said that they’d investigate her death as a murder. It was just that, brief. It got tossed in the midst of their pile on of allegations about her alleged bad conduct and state of mind and a forensic finding that concluded that she died at her own hands.

The predictable assault on Bland has three aims.

* The first is to stop in its tracks the widespread call for a full bodied Justice Department probe into Bland’s death. This can only be accomplished through the second aim.

* That is to deconstruct her as a bad behaving, chip-on-her shoulder, unstable black woman, and not the sympathetic victim that supporters and some in the press depict her as.

* The other aim is to exonerate in this order: Encina, Texas Highway Patrol officials, Waller County jail officials, and the Waller County District Attorney’s office. All have been fingered as being complicit in her death either directly or through their gross negligence and desperate effort to avoid a fair and impartial probe into the cause of her death.

If enough mud can be tossed on Bland to cast doubt and suspicion about her character and motives, the hope is that the issue will quietly go away.


Sandra speaks

None of this should surprise. The assault on Bland follows the same script used in the dubious and controversial killings of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, and countless other young African-Americans who have died or been killed under questionable circumstance after encounters with police.

The pantheon of stereotypes and negative typecasting the script relies on has been time tested. It’s the shortest of short steps to think that if an innocent, such as Bland fits the caricature of the terrifying image that much of the public still harbors about young black males and increasingly females as witnessed by the edge up in assaults on them and a rash of their mysterious deaths in jail cells, then that image seems real, even more terrifying, and the consequences are just as deadly.


http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2015/07/28/3685435/fourth-black-wo...

The flip side of this is that police, prosecutors and jail officials in Bland’s death hold the major cards. They can leak, publish, and put on display for the press and the public supposedly incontrovertible evidence to make their case that the circumstances surrounding her death are exactly as officials say it is. They are secure in the knowledge that any evidence real or circumstantial that contradicts the official version can be dismissed out of hand as pure speculation, hearsay or is driven by an anti-police agenda.

There’s one other trump card that officials can play to boost their Simon pure innocence in a death such as Bland’s. That is the bulging numbers of blacks in America’s jails and prisons seem to reinforce the wrong-headed perception that crime and violence in America invariably comes with a young, black face such as Bland’s. Martin, Brown, and Garner were roundly vilified for having run-ins with the law, or being a border line school delinquent.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/08/13/the-true-stereotyp...

In Bland’s case, she had no criminal record to wave in the press and public’s face. So they settled on her alleged emotional instability to prove her deviant behavior. It is crucial to plant this in the public’s mind since she did not die from a provable and observable police bullet or chokehold as in the case of Brown and Garner.

The clamor for the truth about whom or what killed Bland won’t go away. This insures that Texas officials will spin out more new “revelations” to the press and public about Bland’s character. The second deadly assault on Bland will continue unabated.
__________________________________________________________
Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. He is a frequent MSNBC contributor. He is an associate editor of New America Media. He is a weekly co-host of the Al Sharpton Show on Radio One's Reach Media. He is the host of the weekly Hutchinson Report on KTYM 1460 AM Radio Los Angeles and KPFK-Radio and the Pacifica Network.

Motown's 25-Year Anniversary in 1983 featuring a rare TV performance by Michael Jackson and the J5


Motown 25 was a Television special commemorating the twenty-fifth anniversary of Motown Records. Motown Records had arguably the best artist roster and promotion, production, studio musicians, and grooming machine ever assembled. Artists included: Barrett Strong, the Miracles, Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, Tammi Terrell, Mary Wells, Marvin Gaye, the Supremes, the Four Tops, Rick James, Teena Marie, Switch, the Isley Brothers, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Gladys Knight and the Pips, the Marvelettes, studio musicians 'the Funk Brothers', Grover Washington Jr., the Commodores, Jr. Walker and the All-Stars, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Brenda Holloway, Bill Cosby, Boyz II Men, and performing - in the above video - on the Motown 25 Television Special in 1983, are the Jackson Five featuring Michael Jackson. Enjoy. Classic Motown link: http://classic.motown.com/artists/

Spike Lee's Lil' Joints: Black Hoosiers


NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson speaks about the first All-Black High School basketball team (Crispus Attucks High School) that he led, to capture the Indiana State High School Championship 60 years ago in 1955 and repeat champions in 1956, where Robertson was named "Indiana's Mr Basketball"

Indiana's Mr. Basketball winners: http://www.indystar.com/picture-gallery/sports/high-school/2015/04/07/indiana-mr-basketball-winners/6318745/

However, the Crispus Attucks High School Indiana State Back-to-Back Championship Teams nor their supporters, were NOT allowed either year, to celebrate their State Championship victories in the Indiana traditional way with an all-night bonfire celebration in Downtown Indianapolis.

Watch the video above - submitted by Los Angeles Lakers Announcer Lawrence Tanter.

2015-07-28

Your Rent's About to Get Even Higher

Story by Bloomberg
Written by Victoria Stilwell

If the monthly rent check is already painful to write, brace yourself.

The Census Bureau's U.S. rental vacancy rate, which tracks the share of properties that are unoccupied, fell to 6.8 percent in the second quarter. That's the lowest level using comparable data since 1985.

The short supply of units means "rental inflation is not going away anytime soon," Neil Dutta, head of U.S. economics at Renaissance Macro Research LLC, wrote in a note to clients.



Already rents have climbed 3.5 percent in the 12 months through June, matching the biggest jump since 2008, Labor Department data show. That far outstrips the increase in consumer prices excluding food and fuel, which gained 1.8 percent in the same period.

While that may be good news for Federal Reserve policy makers who'd like to see inflation go higher, it may limit the amount of money consumers can spend on things besides shelter.

The rising demand for rental units is being driven by a surge in household formation. Some 2.16 million new households have come online in the last year, the Census data show, and all of that increase has come from renters. The number of owner-occupied households fell by 51,000 in the second quarter from a year earlier.

As a result, rents are "set to accelerate," wrote Ed Stansfield and Andrew Hunter, economists at Capital Economics Ltd., in a note to clients. "Our forecasts that rents will grow at an annual rate of 5 percent both this year and next would represent the fastest rate of rental growth since the 1980s."

Rents rising that quickly may make homeownership much more attractive for those who can afford it. That, combined with the improving outlook for employment and incomes, means the "homeownership rate will soon find a floor," they wrote.

2015-07-27

Sweet Soul Dedications


Temprees - "This is dedicated to the One I Love"


Dramatics - "Be my girl"


Enchantment - "It's you that I need"


Originals - "Baby I'm for real"


Stylistics - "I'm stone in love with you"


Dells - "The love we had stays on my mind"


Teddy Pendergrass - "Come go with me"


Sylvers - "Wish that I can talk to you"


Jackson Five - "Who's Lovin you (Live)"


J5 - "Woo's Lovin You"


Ray, Goodman, and Brown - "Special Lady"


Ohio Players - "Heaven must be like this"


New Birth - "Wildflower"


New Birth - "Dream Merchant"


Bloodstone - "Natural High"


Delfonics - "La la means I love you"


Dells - "Stay in my corner"


Smokey Robinson and the Miracles - "Ooh Baby Baby"


Temptations - "My Girl"


Marvin Gaye - "Sure love to ball"


Marvin Gaye - "Come live with me"


Marvin Gaye - "Since I had you"


Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes - "I Miss You"

2015-07-26

Bobbi Kristina Brown, daughter of Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown, dead at 22 years old

Story by Yahoo
Written by Elizabeth Streisand

Nearly six months after being found face down and unresponsive in a bathtub in her Georgia home — and a month after being moved to hospice — Bobbi Kristina Brown, the only child of Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown, has died at the age of 22.

The Associated Press reported her death on Sunday night. "Bobbi Kristina Brown passed away July 26, 2015, surrounded by her family," a rep for the Houston family said. "She is finally at peace in the arms of God. We want to again thank everyone for their tremendous amount of love and support during these last few months."

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/bobbi-kristina-brown-daughter-whitney-houston-died-011331728.html

President Obama proud to be first Kenyan-American US President

Story by NBC News
Written by Chris Jansing

NAIROBI, Kenya — President Barack Obama spoke proudly of his Kenyan heritage before a raucous and affectionate crowd in Nairobi on Sunday.

"I am proud to be the first American President to come to Kenya, and of course I'm the first Kenyan-American to be president of the United States," he told the packed sports hall in Nairobi, to the loud cheers of over 4,500 people in the audience. It was the time he referred to himself as such.

The President recalled his first trip to Africa, at the age of 27, when he arrived at the airport and tried to find his luggage. He said, a woman who saw his name asked if Obama was related to his father, whom she had known.

"That was the first time my name meant something and that it was recognized," the President said. He went on to meet "brothers, aunts and uncles ... saw the graves of my grandfather and father."

President Obama's father is buried in western Kenya.

But the personal quickly gave way to the practical and political, with President Obama's pledging to stand by Kenya as it battles terrorism and calling on all Kenyans to stamp out corruption. "Every shilling that's a bribe could be put in the pockets of someone doing an honest day's work," he said.

He also mentioned the importance of educating women and recognizing their place in society.

"Treating women as second class citizens is a bad tradition — it's holding you back," President Obama said. "Imagine if you have a team and you don't let half of the team play — that's stupid."

The barriers could hardly hold back the crowds after the US President's 45-minute speech.

2015-07-23

Breaking the silence, mile by mile - NAACP's "America's Journey for Justice" next week



How do you demand justice? You make noise.

On August 1, the NAACP is proud to kick off America's Journey for Justice. We're marching across the South to the steps of our nation's Capitol to shout "Our Lives, our Votes, our Jobs, our Schools matter." And we refuse to be ignored.

That's 46 days of old-school marching. That's 860 miles for Freedom and Dignity. That's 1.7 MILLION steps towards Justice.

Will you help us fuel "America's Journey for Justice" from Selma to Washington, D.C.? Chip in $5 or more today to add your name as a recognized Grassroots Sponsor.

$5: Grassroots Sponsor

$10: One day of food for one marcher

$25: One day of water for 20 marchers

$30: One sleeping bag

$100: One day's worth of medical supplies

Link to donate: https://donate.naacp.org/page/contribute/AJFJSponsor?utm_medium=email&utm_source=NAACP&default_amt=5&utm_content=2+-+5+Grassroots+Sponsor&utm_campaign=20150723ajfjintro&source=20150723ajfjintro


Our nation is again at a crossroads. Prejudice, violence, and disenfranchisement threaten to erase so much of what we have fought for over the decades.

This journey won't be easy—but we're strongest when we stand shoulder to shoulder and back to back.

Today, I'm asking you to help us show that we aren't afraid, that we won't back down. Kirk, make a contribution to support the marchers on America's Journey for Justice:

http://action.naacp.org/Sponsor-AJFJ

Thank you,

Cornell William Brooks
President and CEO
NAACP

P.S. When you donate $5 or more today, we'll add your name to our official website to show how much we appreciate your support, and to make sure you are recognized as a part of this Journey.

Link to donate for "America's Journey for Justice": https://donate.naacp.org/page/contribute/AJFJSponsor?utm_medium=email&utm_source=NAACP&default_amt=5&utm_content=2+-+5+Grassroots+Sponsor&utm_campaign=20150723ajfjintro&source=20150723ajfjintro

2015-07-22

Sandra Bland Dash Cam Arrest Video Released from Prairie View, Texas


Hempstead, TX - TxDPS released the dash cam video of the traffic stop and arrest of Sandra Bland. The incident occurred Friday, July 10 as Bland was returning from a trip to Chicago.The Texas trooper who pulled Bland over for failing to signal a lane change said in an affidavit that after handcuffing her for becoming combative, she swung her elbows at him and kicked him in his right shin. In the affidavit released Tuesday, trooper Brian Encinia said he then used force "to subdue Bland to the ground," and she continued to fight back. He arrested her for assault on a public servant.Bland was taken to the jail on July 10 and found dead in her cell July 13.


Sandra Bland was was arrested after a traffic stop in Texas, and then mysteriously died in jail. Police say it was suicide but family and friends don't buy it.


Sandra Bland Dashcam Video (Full 52 min. Uncut Version)

Nielsen On Voltair: It’s A Lot Of Noise.


Story by Inside Radio

Breaking its silence on the biggest controversy it has faced since re-entering the U.S radio industry in 2013, Nielsen yesterday unveiled plans to update its PPM watermarking technology in the fourth quarter to make the inaudible codes easier for its ratings meters to pick up.

It also revealed long-awaited test results of the Voltair unit, concluding that the controversial audio processor “interferes with the encoding process” by altering Nielsen’s watermarks in such a way that makes them audible in some cases when they shouldn’t be.

Responding to industry heat brought by the widespread adoption of the Voltair unit, Nielsen’s plans include a pair of technical improvements. First is an increase in the density of the watermarks or codes that are inserted into radio broadcasts. Raising the density of the inaudible codes will “help improve code pick-up in challenging environments and allow for a higher code amplification level,” Jennifer Huston, Nielsen’s senior VP of product leadership, told Inside Radio. But Huston stressed that increasing the code amplification level would be contingent on industry acceptance, and wouldn’t result in any of the codes being audible to listeners.

Nielsen said it will issue a “full communication plan” in September, including a timeline, detailing how the updated encoders will be rolled out, along with attendant station responsibilities.

Also in the works, but not until 2016, is a prototype of a new encoding monitor. Nielsen said the new box would do more than just verify whether a radio station’s encoder was working properly. “It would also allow our customers at the stations to understand the quality of the encoding indicator,” Nielsen executive VP of local media client solutions, Matt O’Grady, said. The company says the work is part of its “continuous improvement” initiative and that clients won’t incur any additional costs.

2015-07-21

NAACP's America's Journey for Justice Selma to Washington DC March Information


Saturday, August 1st or any point along the way, use this handy guide to plan your travel for America's Journey for Justice.

Below, you'll find the dates, locations and information for the entire march.

Participants should plan to arrive at the meeting locations listed below no later than 6:30 a.m. (Saturday, August 1st being the exception.)

Each morning, AJFJ march participants will have breakfast at the meeting locations and then board buses which will take them to the starting point of the march for that day. Boxed lunches will be provided for the marchers along the route. At the end of each day's march, participants will board the buses and return to the meeting locations. Dinner will be provided at the meeting locations at 7:30 p.m., and will be followed by the teach-in for that evening.

At the kickoff (Aug 1) ...

Leg: Selma, Alabama
Meeting Point: The foot of the Edmund Pettis Bridge
Meeting Time: 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 1
March Departs: 12:00 p.m.
Group Returns: 7:00 p.m.

Bus transportation will be provided to take participants back to Selma or forward to our sleeping and dining facilities.

Aug 2 - Aug 6

Leg: Montgomery, Alabama
Meeting Point: St Jude Catholic Church
2048 W Fairview Ave, Montgomery AL
Meeting Time: 6:30 a.m.
March Departs: 7:00 a.m.
Group Returns: 7:00 p.m.
Critical Days: Aug 4, 5, 6

*Meeting location changes on Aug 7. Marchers will depart St Jude at 6:30 a.m., Aug 7, and will end at LaGrange College, GA at 7:00 p.m.*

Aug 7 - Aug 10
Leg: Troop County, Georgia
Meeting Point: LaGrange College
601 Broad St, LaGrange GA
Meeting Time: 6:30 a.m.
March Departs: 7:00 a.m.
Group Returns: 7:00 p.m.
Critical Days: Aug 9, 10

*Meeting location changes on Aug 11. Marchers will depart LaGrange at 6:30 a.m., on Aug 11, and will end at King Chapel at 7:00 p.m.*

Aug 11 - Aug 16
Leg: Atlanta, Georgia
Meeting Point: King Chapel
830 Westview Dr SW, Atlanta GA
Meeting Time: 6:30 a.m.
March Departs: 7:00 a.m.
Group Returns: 7:00 a.m.
Critical Days: Aug 11, 12

*Meeting location changes on Aug 17. Marchers will depart King Chapel at 6:30 a.m., on Aug 17, and will end at Ebenezer Baptist West at 7:00 p.m.*

Aug 17 - Aug 19
Leg: Athens, Georgia
Meeting Point: Ebenezer Baptist West
205 N Chase St, Athens GA
Meeting Time: 6:30 a.m.
March Departs: 7:00 a.m.
Group Returns: 7:00 p.m.
Critical Days: Aug 17

*Meeting location changes on Aug 20. Marchers will depart Ebenezer Baptist West at 6:30 a.m., on Aug 20, and will end at the Islamic Society of Greenville SC at 7:00 p.m.*

Aug 20 - Aug 25
Leg: Greenville, South Carolina
Meeting Point: Islamic Society of Greenville
96 Meridian Ave, Taylors SC
Meeting Time: 6:30 a.m.
March Departs: 7:00 a.m.
Group Returns: 7:00 p.m.
Critical Days: Aug 23, 24, 25

*Meeting location changes on Aug 26. Marchers will depart the Islamic Society of Greenville at 6:30 a.m., Aug 26, and will end at Little Rock AME Zion in Charlotte NC at 7:00 p.m.*

Aug 26 - Aug 29
Leg: Charlotte, North Carolina
Meeting Point: Little Rock AME Zion
401 N. McDowell St
Meeting Time: 6:30 a.m.
March Departs: 7:00 a.m.
Group Returns: 7:00 p.m.
Critical Days: Aug 29

*Meeting location changes on Aug 30. Marchers will depart Little Rock AME Zion at 6:30 a.m., on Aug 30, and will end in Greensboro NC at 7:00 p.m.*

Aug 30 - Sep 2
Leg: Greensboro, North Carolina
Meeting Point: TBD
Meeting Time: 6:30 a.m.
March Departs: 7:00 a.m.
Group Returns: 7:00 p.m.
Critical Days: Aug 30

*Meeting location changes on Sep 3. Marchers will depart Greensboro at 6:30 a.m., on Sep 3, and will end at Cherrystone Baptist Association in Danville VA at 7:00 p.m.*

Sep 3 - Sep 7
Leg: Danville, Virginia
Meeting Point: Cherrystone Baptist Association
400 Bradley Road, Danville Virginia
Meeting Time: 6:30 a.m.
March Departs: 7:00 a.m.
Group Returns: 7:00 p.m.
Critical Days: ALL

*Meeting location changes on Sep 8. Marchers will depart Cherrystone Baptist Association at 6:30 a.m., on Sep 8, and will end in Richmond VA at 7:00 p.m.*

Sep 8 - Sep 11
Leg: Richmond, South Virginia
Meeting Point: TBD
Meeting Time: 6:30 a.m.
March Departs: 7:00 a.m.
Group Returns: 7:00 p.m.
Critical Days: Sep 8, 9

*Meeting location changes on Sep 11. Marchers will depart Richmond at 6:30 a.m., on Sep 11, and will end in Washington DC at 7:00 p.m.*

Sep 11 - Sep 15
Leg: Washington, DC
Meeting Point: TBD
Meeting Time: 6:30 a.m.
March Departs: 7:00 a.m.
Group Returns: 7:00 p.m.
Critical Days: Sep 16 Advocacy Day

MRC To Test Voltair Impact



Story by Inside Radio

The Media Rating Council (MRC) is performing its own tests of the Voltair unit, independent of Nielsen-conducted trials set to be revealed to clients today, Inside Radio has learned. Unlike the Nielsen tests, which were largely confined to a laboratory and thus limited in their real-world conclusions, the MRC tests are being done with radio stations that are using the controversial audio processor.

“Voltair is relevant to MRC, despite not having been introduced by Nielsen, because of its specific design to impact encoding processes,” George Ivie, executive director of the ratings watchdog, told Inside Radio.

While Nielsen’s attempts to gain the cooperation of broadcasters using the box were largely unsuccessful, some radio groups shared information with the MRC about their experiences with Voltair on a confidential basis. “We are using this information to facilitate our own testing, but by agreement this station information cannot be shared with Nielsen or anyone else,” Ivie said. The tests, which will continue through August, are being performed by CPAs commissioned by the MRC.

Once they’re complete, the MRC and its CPAs plan to review ratings data for stations before and after installation of Voltair and to evaluate the audio processor’s impact on the editing rules that Nielsen uses in the PPM system to ensure stations receive proper listening credit. MRC says it will report the finding to its Radio Committee, which is made up of broadcasters, agencies and advertisers.

The MRC’s CPA firm is also “walking through” the Nielsen test results and plans to summarize them to the MRC and its Radio Committee. But Ivie stopped short of calling that process a “validation” of the Nielsen tests. However, once the MRC completes its own lab and field testing, Ivie says it will “have the ability to corroborate Nielsen’s testing in many areas, which would be a form of validation.”

Read more: http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/did-nielsen-kill-the-radio-star/

2015-07-20

The NBA's Western Conference will be a bloodbath next season

Story by Yahoo
Written by Scott Davis

The NBA's superior conference has gotten even stronger this offseason.

Last season the NBA world was robbed of what was supposed to be an intense, entertaining playoff duel in the Western Conference when injuries took out star players and rotation players alike, giving the Golden State Warriors a fairly uncontested path to the Finals.

The Warriors were always the favorites in the West in 2014-2015, but the San Antonio Spurs, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Houston Rockets, and even the Portland Trail Blazers and the Memphis Grizzlies were second-tier competitors. The Oklahoma City Thunder were removed from the conversation when they were decimated by injuries.

This summer, however, several of those teams in contention have gotten even stronger, leaving no clear title favorite.

Now, here's a look at how many of those teams have improved:

* The Spurs landed the biggest free agent of the summer in LaMarcus Aldridge. They re-signed Kawhi Leonard to a max contract, brought back Danny Green, Tim Duncan, and Manu Ginobili on discounts, and signed power forward David West to a minimum contract. They're loaded with talent.
* The Clippers fixed their biggest weakness by bolstering their depth. They stole back DeAndre Jordan and turned last year's supporting cast of Matt Barnes, Spencer Hawes, Glen Davis, and Hedo Turkoglu into Paul Pierce, Josh Smith, Lance Stephenson, and Cole Aldrich.
* The Houston Rockets traded for point guard Ty Lawson on Sunday, adding an extra playmaker and shooter next to James Harden. Though Lawson is dealing with the fallout from a second DUI, if he's available, he adds and extra dose of talent to a core that took the Warriors to five games (and nearly six) in the Conference Finals.
* The Oklahoma City Thunder brought back all of the pieces they traded for last season. If Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka, and Russell Westbrook all stay healthy, this could be their deepest, most talented team of the Durant era.
* The Warriors took care of their biggest offseason business — re-signing Draymond Green. They bring back the entire core of a team that basically ran through the NBA.


Below those five, the rest of the conference isn't quite as intimidating. The Grizzlies will be solid, as usual, and the New Orleans Pelicans, the Phoenix Suns, and the Utah Jazz seem primed to take the next step, but they won't be contenders.

The top of the Western Conference will be the real bloodbath. Each of those teams is armed with several superstars and a deep supporting cast, with benches that go at least three players deep with little drop-off. Health and luck, of course, will play factors, and teams such as the Spurs and the Clippers might have trouble integrating new pieces.

Nonetheless, if all goes right, basketball fans could be treated to some must-watch TV when any of these teams face each other.

2015-07-16

Bobbi Kristina Brown White Tent Put Up At Her Hospice Sparks Concern

Story by Yahoo News
Written by Rachel Pilcher

There have been concerns about Bobbi Kristina Brown after a white tent was put up outside the Peachtree Christian Hospice where she currently is. Fans feared that the 22-year-old has passed away when the white tent was erected at 5pm (local time) on Wednesday.

However, while receptionists at the hospice declined to comment on Bobbi Kristina’s condition, they did tell RadarOnline that ‘there had been no’ deaths that day.

Major Don Woodruff from Duluth Police commented that the local police had not been informed of any “major occurences” at the hospice.

Major Don added that her family had, allegedly, hired state troopers to give her room more security, and that the hospice itself had hired private security around the building to make it extra secure.

The move comes after recent reports claimed a photo of Bobbi laying in her hospice bed was being offered for sale.

The Brown/Houston family have reportedly been banned from seeing her in the hospice (apart from dad Bobby) after it was alleged that one of them may have taken the photo.

Bobby Brown’s sister Leolah has denied allegations that the family were in any way involved.

Eric Garner's Mother on $5.9-million settlement: 'Don't congratulate us'


The family of Eric Garner, who died in police custody last year, announced they received a settlement with the NYPD, but that they have not received justice. Eric Garner's mother, Gwen Carr, thanks all those who helped. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Story by Los Angeles Times
Written by Vera Haller and Matt Pearce

A day after reaching a $5.9-million settlement with the city of New York, Eric Garner's family told reporters Tuesday that protests would continue over his death during an encounter with police a year ago.

"Don't congratulate us. This is not a victory. Victory will come when we get justice," Garner's mother, Gwen Carr, said at a news conference with Garner's widow, daughters and the Rev. Al Sharpton. "Now, we still need you all to stand with us.”

Garner's family again asked for federal investigators to intervene after a local grand jury declined to indict Officer Daniel Pantaleo, who wrestled Garner to the ground in an apparent chokehold July 17.

A bystander's video captured the 43-year-old father of six repeatedly saying "I can't breathe" shortly before his death as police tried to arrest him on suspicion of selling untaxed cigarettes on the sidewalk in the Tompkinsville section of Staten Island.

Garner's death was ruled a homicide. The Department of Justice opened a federal civil rights investigation into the case after the local grand jury decision in December, which prompted widespread protests.

Further demonstrations are planned in New York on Saturday, a day after the anniversary.

"Eric Garner and the community have not received justice," Sharpton said at the news conference. "Money is not justice. Money is a recognition of the loss of the family, but it does not deal with the criminal and other wrong done to this family and other families.”

Garner's wife, Esaw Garner, said police "treated my husband like an animal, and I think they give animals more respect."

"I can't sleep at night. I’ve been married 28 years," she said. "Now I have no one but my children, and I am alone to deal with this for the rest of my life."

Garner's daughter, Erica Garner, said the $5.9-million "does not represent justice" and that "no amount of money is going to bring my father back."

Jonathan Moore, a civil rights attorney who is representing Garner's family, said Monday that the settlement was the biggest ever for the city in a case of its nature.

Garner’s relatives also reached a settlement with Richmond University Medical Center for a confidential amount, Moore said. The family sued the medical center, which provided the first responders, alleging poor care of Garner at the scene.

In announcing the city's settlement on Monday evening, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer said the amount “acknowledges the tragic nature of Mr. Garner’s death while balancing my office’s fiscal responsibility to the city.”

The agreement settles a claim for damages related to Garner’s death sought in a lawsuit his family filed against the city last year. The city admitted no liability.

On Tuesday, the leader of one of New York's police unions blasted the settlement as "obscene" and asked, "Where is the justice for New York taxpayers?"

"While the death of Mr. Garner while resisting arrest was unforeseeable, this excessive and exorbitant settlement was not," Ed Mullins, president of the Sergeants Benevolent Assn., wrote in a column for the New York Post.

"Although Mr. Garner did not provide his family with an abundance of wealth, it was clear from the outset that the mayor’s office would," Mullins said. "Mr. Garner’s family should not be rewarded simply because he repeatedly chose to break the law and resist arrest."

Relations between New York's police unions and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio have been raw since Garner's death. The unions took particular exception to statements de Blasio made that were sympathetic to protesters critical of police.

The decision not to indict Pantaleo in December came nine days after a grand jury in Missouri declined to charge a white officer in the death of Michael Brown, an unarmed black 18-year-old who was shot and killed on Aug. 9 by a white officer in Ferguson.

Both grand jury decisions sparked a tide of anger and a wave of protests around the nation.

Garner's family members and Sharpton said Tuesday that they would continue their call for justice at several events scheduled this weekend.

The main event is a "Justice" rally on Saturday in front of the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, where the U.S. attorney's office is also housed.

Two church services also were planned for Friday, the anniversary of Garner's death.

One will be held at the New Canaan Church of Christ in Harlem and another at the House of the Lord Church in Brooklyn.

Sharpton and Mayor Bill de Blasio attended a prayer service Tuesday night at a Staten Island church.

2015-07-14

A Historic Deal to Prevent Iran from Acquiring a Nuclear Weapon


Today, President Obama announced that the U.S. and international community have reached an important agreement that will block all of Iran’s pathways to a nuclear weapon. (whitehouse.gov)

2015-07-12

How Serena Williams Has Stayed Engaged, Win After Win After Win



Story by ESPN
Written by Jane McManus

LONDON -- Serena Williams hates to work out. She's always hated it, but there's this thing called her "job," which has required her to be in shape. This year, in an attempt to mix up her workout routine, she started pole dancing, and by the time she won her sixth Wimbledon title, the secret was out.

You can only imagine how scintillating this detail is for a sport in which women can still be described as "leggy" on first reference. But Williams was cagey about the routine when asked exactly what kind of dancing she has incorporated into her workout.

"Contemporary," she said, and smiled, without opening the door too broadly.

At 33, Williams has figured out what she needs to stay engaged, and it isn't running on a treadmill. But it goes beyond the daily routine and the number of events she plays each year and the types of commitments she makes. Although far from ancient -- especially compared to the middle-aged reporters who ask about age -- Williams has become the oldest woman to win a Grand Slam title.

"I just keep reinventing myself in terms of working out, in terms of my game," Williams said. "It's been working."

It seems easy watching her now, which makes it easy to forget that just four years ago Williams was out after cutting her foot on glass after winning Wimbledon in 2010. She needed two surgeries on the injury and developed a blood clot that broke off and reached her lung. A pulmonary embolism can be fatal, and it requires a lengthy recovery.

Williams did an interview with USA Today in the middle of her recovery. "I've definitely had my share of hard times," she said.

It wasn't a given that she'd recover. Williams had 13 Grand Slam titles at that time and, if she had never played another point, would have been seen as an excellent player who had a fairly long run. Few would have suspected that she had so many championships waiting for her.

Now, Williams attributes her success as much to her breaks from tennis -- whether chosen or imposed -- as her hours on the practice court. The perspective that comes from a life-threatening experience has given her a new joy when it comes to the game, and she stokes that joy through constant reinvention. The natural ceiling for a tennis player means little in the face of her recent success.

"She's just unique -- so the rules don't apply to her," said Williams' coach, Patrick Mouratoglou.

Williams has never had as many miles on her legs as her contemporaries. Each season, Williams has faced women who played a career of junior tennis and a full slate of tournaments.

Williams, meanwhile, has limited her work. In 2014, she played 16 tournaments. Compare that to Angelique Kerber, who played 22 tournaments and three Fed Cup events.

"I feel almost better now," Williams said. "I mean, I do have some aches and pains, but overall physically, I feel like I'm better. I feel like I'm more fit. I feel like I can do more than I did 10, 12, whatever years ago."

The No. 1 player in the world has won Grand Slam championships in three separate decades, the first at the US Open in 1999. She will return there next month to vie for her 22nd major title and a calendar Grand Slam. The last time any woman did that was Steffi Graf in 1988.

This is history in the making, something that can be hard to appreciate fully at the moment it's happening.

"It's easy to say, 'but Serena's better than everyone, so this is normal.' This is not normal at all," Mouratoglou said. "She could have lost so many matches at Australia, at Roland Garros, at Wimbledon, and she every time found a way, but it's a tremendous effort, tremendous. That's why I feel sometimes people don't realize how incredible this is."

As long as Williams keeps reinventing herself, keeping workouts interesting and pacing herself, there is no reason to think she can't keep it up.

"I definitely don't feel old," Williams said. "I think in life I'm still pretty young. You know, I think, like I always say, with new technology, new workouts, all this other stuff, I think the life of an athlete is changing and the longevity is becoming longer."

2015-07-10

Officially Confederate flag is taken down in South Carolina


Crowds turned out in mass to watch history being made as the Confederate flag was removed from the South Carolina State House grounds.(USA Today)


For a short time last week, the Confederate battle flag didn't fly on the grounds of the South Carolina Statehouse after Bree Newsome climbed the flagpole and took it down.

The Flag has been taken down



Kirk:

Yesterday, the South Carolina House of Representatives voted 94-20 to remove the Confederate battle flag from public spaces, including state Capitol grounds.

Governor Nikki Haley has signed the bill into law, and the flag has been taken down.

This is a real victory—one we've been working toward for fifteen years. And it opens the door to even more victories throughout the nation.

This symbol of hatred and intolerance does not belong in our public spaces, or on government property.

Tell your Governor: It's time to ban the display of the Confederate flag on all government property in every state. http://action.naacp.org/Ban-The-Flag

The Confederate battle flag is a part of our country's history, but it is not to be celebrated. The flag represents a deeply shameful period for our nation, and the harmful, hateful effects of that time are still felt today by African Americans and the nation as a whole.

Just last year, California passed a law—written by the NAACP state conference—banning the display or sale of the Confederate flag or any representations of the Confederate flag except for educational or historical purposes.

This should be the standard for the entire nation.

Send your Governor a letter urging them to create and support legislation banning the sale and display of the Confederate flag and its many representations from public spaces:

http://action.naacp.org/Ban-The-Flag

Thank you for taking action on this important issue,

Cornell William Brooks

© 2015 National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
Find Your Local Unit

2015-07-09

South Carolina Governor: "Confederate flag comes down 10am Friday"

Story by AP
Written by Jeffrey Collins and Meg Kinnard

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley signed a bill into law Thursday that will bring down the Confederate flag outside the Statehouse, a move that seemed unthinkable only a month ago in this Deep South State that was the first to secede from the Union.

The law requires the battle flag to be gone within 24 hours; her staff said it would be removed during a ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday and relegated to the State's Confederate Relic Room.

"The Confederate flag is coming off the grounds of the South Carolina Statehouse," Haley said. "We will bring it down with dignity and we will make sure it is stored in its rightful place."

The flag first flew over the Statehouse dome in 1961 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Civil War and was kept there as a symbol of official opposition to the civil rights movement. Mass protests decades later led to a compromise in 2000 with lawmakers who insisted that the flag symbolized Southern heritage and state's rights.

They agreed then to move it to a 30-foot pole next to a Confederate monument out front. But even from that lower perch, the historic but divisive symbol remained clearly visible in the center of town, and flag supporters remained a powerful bloc in the state.

The massacre 22 days ago of nine people inside their historic black church in Charleston suddenly changed this dynamic, not only in South Carolina but around the nation.

Police said the shootings inside the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church were racially motivated, and by posing with the Confederate flag before the shootings, suspect Dylann Storm Roof, who has not yet entered a plea to nine counts of murder, re-ignited a debate over the flag's history as a symbol of white superiority and racial oppression.

Haley moved first, calling on South Carolina lawmakers to vote the flag down, and very quickly thereafter, other Republican lawmakers who have long cultivated the votes of Confederate flag supporters were announcing that other Civil War symbols no longer deserve places of honor.

"These nine pens are going to the families of the Emanuel Nine," Haley said after signing the bill into law. "Nine amazing individuals who have forever changed South Carolina history."

South Carolina's flag removal bill passed easily in the Senate, where state Sen. Clementa Pinckney, the pastor gunned down at the church, had served, but was stalled by debate in the House as dozens of amendments were proposed. Any changes to the Senate bill could have delayed the flag's removal by weeks or months, perhaps blunting momentum that has grown since the massacre.

House members deliberated well into the night, amid anger, tears and shared memories of Civil War ancestors.

Supporters of the flag talked about grandparents passing down family treasures. Some lamented that the flag had been "hijacked" or "abducted" by racists.

Rep. Mike Pitts recalled playing with a Confederate ancestor's cavalry sword while growing up. He said that for him, the flag is a reminder of how many dirt-poor Southern farmers fought Yankees, not because they hated blacks or sought to preserve white supremacy, but because their land was being invaded.

Black Democrats, frustrated at being asked to honor the Civil War soldiers who also fought to preserve slavery, offered their own family histories as a counterpoint. Rep. Joe Neal talked about tracing his ancestry back to four brothers who were brought to America in chains. A slave owner named Neal bought them, changed their last names and pulled them apart from their families.

"The whole world is asking, is South Carolina really going to change, or will it hold to an ugly tradition of prejudice and discrimination and hide behind heritage as an excuse for it?" Neal said.

Rep. Jenny Horne, a white Republican who said she is a descendent of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, scolded her party members for stalling.

"I cannot believe that we do not have the heart in this body to do something meaningful such as take a symbol of hate off these grounds on Friday. And if any of you vote to amend, you are ensuring that this flag will fly beyond Friday. And for the widow of Sen. Pinckney and his two young daughters, that would be adding insult to injury and I will not be a part of it!" Horne screamed into the microphone.

The bill ultimately passed 93-27 in the House — well above the two-thirds supermajority needed to make changes to the state's "heritage" symbols. Some lawmakers hugged, cried and high-fived, while others snapped selfies and pumped their fists.

Governor to sign bill removing Confederate flag today

Story by AP
Written by Jeffrey Collins

COLUMBIA, S.C. — More than 50 years after South Carolina raised a Confederate flag at its Statehouse to protest the Civil Rights Movement, the State is getting ready to remove the rebel banner.

A bill pulling down the flag from the Capitol's front lawn and the flagpole it flies on passed the South Carolina House early this morning. Gov. Nikki Haley said she would sign it into law at 4 p.m. today in the Statehouse lobby. Her office didn't immediately say when the flag would be removed, but the bill requires that to happen within 24 hours of her signature. Then, it will be shipped to the Confederate Relic Room.

There were hugs, tears and high fives in the House chamber after the vote. Members who waited decades to see this day snapped selfies and pumped their fists. But even among the celebrations, there was more than a bit of sadness.

After the Civil War, the flag was first flown over the dome of South Carolina's Capitol in 1961 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the war. It stayed as a protest to the Civil Rights movement, only moving in 2000 from the dome to its current location.

The push that would bring down the Confederate flag for good only started after nine black churchgoers, including State Sen. Clementa Pinckney, were gunned down during Bible study at the historic Emanuel African Episcopal Church in Charleston on June 17. Police said the white gunman's motivation was racial hatred. Then three days later, photos surfaced of the suspect, Dylann Roof, holding Confederate flags.

"I am 44 years old. I never thought I'd see this moment. I stand with people who never thought they would see this as well," said House Minority Leader Todd Rutherford, who called the victims martyrs. "It's emotional for us not just because it came down, but why it came down."

Republican Rep. Rick Quinn, whose amendment appeared it might at least delay the flag's removal for several hours, was happy too after getting a promise that lawmakers would find money for a special display at the Relic Room for the Confederate flag that was about to be removed as well as the one that flew over the Statehouse dome in 2000 when a compromise was passed to move the rebel banner to its current location.

"It was done in a way that was a win to everyone," said Quinn, who voted for the bill.

The back-to-back votes came around 1 a.m. Thursday after more than 13 hours of passionate and contentious debate.

As House members deliberated well into the night, there were tears of anger and shared memories of Civil War ancestors. Black Democrats, frustrated at being asked to show grace to Civil War soldiers as the debate wore on, warned the state was embarrassing itself.

Changing the Senate bill could have meant it taking weeks or even months to remove the flag, perhaps blunting momentum that has grown since the church massacre.

Republican Rep. Jenny Horne reminded her colleagues she was a descendent of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, and scolded fellow members of her party for stalling the debate with dozens of amendments.

She cried as she remembered Pinckney's funeral and his widow, who was hiding with one of their daughters in a church office as the gunman fired dozens of shots.

"For the widow of Sen. Pinckney and his two young daughters, that would be adding insult to injury and I will not be a part of it!" she screamed into a microphone.

She said later during a break she didn't intend to speak but got frustrated with fellow Republicans.

Opponents of removing the flag talked about grandparents who passed down family treasures and lamented that the flag had been "hijacked" or "abducted" by racists.

Rep. Mike Pitts, who remembered playing with a Confederate ancestor's cavalry sword while growing up, said for him the flag is a reminder of how dirt-poor Southern farmers fought Yankees not because they hated blacks or supported slavery, but because their land was being invaded.

Those soldiers should be respected just as soldiers who fought in the Middle East or Afghanistan, he said, recalling his own military service. Pitts then turned to a lawmaker he called a dear friend, recalling how his black colleague nearly died in Vietnam.

Black lawmakers told their own stories of ancestors. Rep. Joe Neal talked about tracing his family back to four brothers, brought to America in chains to be bought by a slave owner named Neal who changed their last names and pulled them apart from their families.

"The whole world is asking, is South Carolina really going to change, or will it hold to an ugly tradition of prejudice and discrimination and hide behind heritage as an excuse for it," Neal said.

Other Democrats suggested any delay would let Ku Klux Klan members planning a rally July 18 a chance to dance around the Confederate flag.

Instead, Democrats were using a line Gov. Haley often says, calling it "a great day in South Carolina."

The Governor issued her own statement. "It is a new day in South Carolina, a day we can all be proud of, a day that truly brings us all together as we continue to heal, as one people and on," she said.

Jay-Z and Beyonce Carter attempt to buy the re-sell rights to the Confederate Flag

Story by Source

The Carters have spoken

In light of the numerous controversies surrounding the confederate flag, and its prominent display and use in American government and merchandise, several prominent politicians and public figures have come forward to express their discontent with the flag’s continued use, considering it’s oppressive origins. Last week, the flag was stripped from it’s position on South Carolina’s statehouse grounds by a heroic citizen, and yesterday, the South Carolina Senate voted to officially remove it.

Today, news has broken that Jay Z and Beyonce are currently attempting to purchase the rights to the flag, so they can help restrict it’s use and reproduction. An attorney for the Carters had this to say about their confederate mission.

My clients are adamant about purchasing the rights to the Rebel Confederate flag. They have expressed deep concern regarding the flag and how it is tearing apart our nation. Mr. and Mrs. Carter wants to assist in the abolishment of the flag by purchasing the resell rights to the Confederate flag. If my clients are successful, purchasing the rights would mean that anyone who wants to produce merchandise using the Confederate flag would have to get permission from Mr. and Mrs. Carter. My clients have expressed that they are not looking to profit from the use of the flag, but rather prevent any further use of the flag on merchandise.

It’ll be interesting to see how far they’re allowed to get. This will be no easy accomplishment by any stretch of the imagination.

2015-07-08

Strange occurences today

ITEM: The New York Stock Exchange suspended trading today after its computerized trading system mysteriously stopped working.

ITEM: The New York City subway system suffered an atrocious commute today, with some trains being inexplicably stranded in stations for long periods of time.

ITEM: United Airlines was forced to ground all of its flights after its computer system mysteriously stopped working.

ITEM: The Wall Street Journal’s website mysteriously stopped working.

ITEM: More than 2,500 people in Washington, DC mysteriously lost power.

Baltimore Mayor fires Police Commissioner amid homicide rise

Story by AP

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said Wednesday that she has fired Police Commissioner Anthony Batts, 2 1/2 months after the city broke out into riots following the death of a man who was injured in police custody.

Rawlings-Blake announced her decision in a three-paragraph news release that also noted she has named Deputy Police Commissioner Kevin Davis as interim commissioner.

Mayor Rawlings-Blake scheduled a news conference with Davis for later this afternoon.

Rawlings did not give a reason, but the move comes amid a spike in the city's homicide rate.

Baltimore was rocked with civil unrest in late April after black resident Freddie Gray died one week after suffering a critical spinal injury in police custody. Six police officers have been criminally charged in Gray's death.

Since the rioting stopped, the city has seen a sharp increase in violence, with 155 homicides this year, a 48 percent increase over the same period last year.

The U.S. Justice Department is conducting a civil rights review of the department, and Batts has been criticized by the Baltimore police union.

On Tuesday, the Police Department announced that an outside organization will review the Department's response to the civil unrest that followed Gray's death. Most of the unrest took place on April 27, prompted by Gray's death on April 19.

Former National Radio host Warren Ballentine 'People's Attorney' spared prison

Story by Chicago Tribune
Written by Greg Trotter

A former national radio host found guilty of mortgage fraud last year left a federal courthouse Tuesday appearing grateful after being sentenced to probation instead of prison time.

Prosecutors have said Warren Ballentine, 44, formerly of Country Club Hills, acted as the real estate lawyer at closings involving more than two dozen fraudulent loans that bilked lenders out of almost $10 million. A jury in October found him guilty of six counts of mail, wire and bank fraud as well as making false statements to financial institutions.

But at Tuesday's sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly said the evidence presented at trial proved Ballentine's criminal wrongdoing in only three of those deals. Kennelly sentenced Ballentine to three years of probation and 300 hours of community service.

"He was a relatively new attorney, a relatively inexperienced attorney," Kennelly said. "He was basically chasing fees wherever he could find them. … I view Mr. Ballentine as a relatively minimal participant in this."

The judge also ordered Ballentine to pay $140,940 in restitution.

At its peak, Ballentine's three-hour daily radio show featured a wide range of issues affecting the African-American community and was syndicated on Radio One in 37 media markets, including Chicago. He billed himself as "the people's attorney."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Yonan said Ballentine played a significant role in a serious offense.

"The overlooked aspect of this is the damage it causes to communities," Yonan said.

In his own remarks to the judge before the sentencing, Ballentine described his personal narrative of rising up from an impoverished and fatherless childhood on Chicago's South Side and eating "sugar sandwiches."

Despite those challenges, Ballentine said he stayed out of trouble — until being convicted of fraud.

"I'm guilty, but I'm guilty of being ignorant," said Ballentine, his voice wavering with emotion. "I'm guilty of not paying attention. … Your honor, of course it breaks my heart that I'm going through this, but what hurts me the most is about my kids not having their father."

After the sentencing, Ballentine said he was planning to appeal his conviction and told reporters he was grateful to the judge for sparing him time in prison.

"I was portrayed as the one doing all this, but I wasn't," Ballentine said.

2015-07-07

Reaganomics killed America’s Middle Class


Ronald Reagan (Credit: AP/Doug Mills)

This country's fate was sealed when our government slashed taxes on the rich back in 1980

Story by Thom Hartman

There’s nothing “normal” about having a middle class. Having a middle class is a choice that a society has to make, and it’s a choice we need to make again in this generation, if we want to stop the destruction of the remnants of the last generation’s middle class.

Despite what you might read in the Wall Street Journal or see on Fox News, capitalism is not an economic system that produces a middle class. In fact, if left to its own devices, capitalism tends towards vast levels of inequality and monopoly. The natural and most stable state of capitalism actually looks a lot like the Victorian England depicted in Charles Dickens’ novels.

At the top there is a very small class of superrich. Below them, there is a slightly larger, but still very small, “middle” class of professionals and mercantilists – doctor, lawyers, shop-owners – who help keep things running for the superrich and supply the working poor with their needs. And at the very bottom there is the great mass of people – typically over 90 percent of the population – who make up the working poor. They have no wealth – in fact they’re typically in debt most of their lives – and can barely survive on what little money they make.

So, for average working people, there is no such thing as a middle class in “normal” capitalism. Wealth accumulates at the very top among the elites, not among everyday working people. Inequality is the default option.

You can see this trend today in America. When we had heavily regulated and taxed capitalism in the post-war era, the largest employer in America was General Motors, and they paid working people what would be, in today’s dollars, about $50 an hour with benefits. Reagan began deregulating and cutting taxes on capitalism in 1981, and today, with more classical “raw capitalism,” what we call “Reaganomics,” or “supply side economics,” our nation’s largest employer is WalMart and they pay around $10 an hour.

This is how quickly capitalism reorients itself when the brakes of regulation and taxes are removed – this huge change was done in less than 35 years.

The only ways a working-class “middle class” can come about in a capitalist society are by massive social upheaval – a middle class emerged after the Black Plague in Europe in the 14th century – or by heavily taxing the rich.

French economist Thomas Piketty has talked about this at great length in his groundbreaking new book, Capital in the Twenty-First Century. He argues that the middle class that came about in Western Europe and the United States during the mid-twentieth was the direct result of a peculiar set of historical events.

According to Piketty, the post-World War II middle class was created by two major things: the destruction of European inherited wealth during the war and higher taxes on the rich, most of which were rationalized by the war. This brought wealth and income at the top down, and raised working people up into a middle class.

Piketty is right, especially about the importance of high marginal tax rates and inheritance taxes being necessary for the creation of a middle class that includes working-class people. Progressive taxation, when done correctly, pushes wages down to working people and reduces the incentives for the very rich to pillage their companies or rip off their workers. After all, why take another billion when 91 percent of it just going to be paid in taxes?

This is the main reason why, when GM was our largest employer and our working class were also in the middle class, CEOs only took home 30 times what working people did. The top tax rate for all the time America’s middle class was created was between 74 and 91 percent. Until, of course, Reagan dropped it to 28 percent and working people moved from the middle class to becoming the working poor.

Other policies, like protective tariffs and strong labor laws also help build a middle class, but progressive taxation is the most important because it is the most direct way to transfer money from the rich to the working poor, and to create a disincentive to theft or monopoly by those at the top.

History shows how important high taxes on the rich are for creating a strong middle class.

If you compare a chart showing the historical top income tax rate over the course of the twentieth century with a chart of income inequality in the United States over roughly the same time period, you’ll see that the period with the highest taxes on the rich – the period between the Roosevelt and Reagan administrations – was also the period with the lowest levels of economic inequality.

You’ll also notice that since marginal tax rates started to plummet during the Reagan years, income inequality has skyrocketed.

Even more striking, during those same 33 years since Reagan took office and started cutting taxes on the rich, income levels for the top 1 percent have ballooned while income levels for everyone else have stayed pretty much flat.

Coincidence? I think not.

Creating a middle class is always a choice, and by embracing Reaganomics and cutting taxes on the rich, we decided back in 1980 not to have a middle class within a generation or two. George H.W. Bush saw this, and correctly called it “Voodoo Economics.” And we’re still in the era of Reaganomics – as President Obama recently pointed out, Reagan was a successful revolutionary.

This, of course, is exactly what conservatives always push for. When wealth is spread more equally among all parts of society, people start to expect more from society and start demanding more rights. That leads to social instability, which is feared and hated by conservatives, even though revolutionaries and liberals like Thomas Jefferson welcome it.

And, as Kirk and Buckley predicted back in the 1950s, this is exactly what happened in the 1960s and ’70s when taxes on the rich were at their highest. The Civil Rights movement, the women’s movement, the consumer movement, the anti-war movement, and the environmental movement – social movements that grew out of the wealth and rising expectations of the post-World War II era’s middle class – these all terrified conservatives. Which is why ever since they took power in 1980, they’ve made gutting working people out of the middle class their number one goal.

We now have a choice in this country. We can either continue going down the road to oligarchy, the road we’ve been on since the Reagan years, or we can choose to go on the road to a more pluralistic society with working class people able to make it into the middle class. We can’t have both.

And if we want to go down the road to letting working people back into the middle class, it all starts with taxing the rich.

The time is long past due for us to roll back the Reagan tax cuts.
______________________________
Other Related Articles:

* The Super-Rich no longer need a Middle Class:
http://www.salon.com/2013/11/06/the_super_rich_no_longer_need_a_middle_class/


* Why the Right hates American History:
http://www.salon.com/2015/02/26/why_the_right_hates_american_history_partner/

* “Fascism is rising in America”: The Koch Brothers and Democracy’s dispiriting demise:
http://www.salon.com/2015/02/08/fascism_is_rising_in_america_the_koch_brothers_and_the_painful_demise_of_democracy_partner/

Reverend Al Sharpton Backs Campaign to Dump Robert E. Lee Name

Announcement by Dr. Earl Ofari Hutchinson of the Hutchinson Report

National Action Network President Reverend Al Sharpton on Tuesday, July 7 announced his support for the campaign to rename Robert E. Lee Elementary School in Long Beach, California.

Reverend Sharpton called the name "offensive" considering the pivotal role Lee played in upholding slavery and called on Long Beach school officials to immediately remove the name.

Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable President Earl Ofari Hutchinson said that the Reverend Sharpton's endorsement of the dump Robert E. Lee campaign is a major start toward a real national campaign against the use of public institutions to honor Confederate traitors and slavery backers.

“The Reverend Sharpton not only endorsed the Lee campaign but also made it clear that direct action by civil rights leaders locally and nationally is a real option to prod Long Beach school officials to scrap the Lee name," Hutchinson, "Civil rights leaders will call for a March in Long Beach backing a name change if local officials refuse to take action."

2015-07-03

Tribute to Legendary Singer Minnie Riperton - 36 years after her death in July of 1979


"Lovin You"


Stevie Wonder tribute to Minnie Riperton on Soul Train


"Take A Little Trip"


"Inside my love"


"Reasons" with Don Corneilius interview on Soul Train


"Everytime he comes around"


"Respect" by Rotary Connection featuring Minnie Riperton


"Simple Things"


"The Edge of a Dream"


"Memory Lane"


"Alone in Brewster Bay"


"Here We Go"


"Adventures in Paradise"


"Perfect Angel"


"You take my breath away"


"Can you feel what Im saying"


"Lovin You" on Soul Train

2015-07-01

Justice Department faults Ferguson protest response


A protester jumps out of the way of a car that was speeding through tear gas to get away from oncoming police cars on West Florissant in Ferguson on Sunday, Aug. 17, 2014. The protesters had been throwing rocks and bottles towards the police until the police fired tear gas into the crowd. (Photos by J.B. Forbes / Post-Dispatch)

Story by St Louis Post-Dispatch
Written by Christine Byers

FERGUSON • Police trying to control the Ferguson protests and riots responded with an uncoordinated effort that sometimes violated free-speech rights, antagonized crowds with military-style tactics and shielded officers from accountability, the Justice Department says in a document obtained Monday by the Post-Dispatch.

“Vague and arbitrary” orders to keep protesters moving “violated citizens’ right to assembly and free speech, as determined by a U.S. federal court injunction,” according to a summary of a longer report scheduled for delivery this week to police brass in Ferguson, St. Louis County, St. Louis and Missouri Highway Patrol.

They already have the summary, still subject to revision, that was obtained by the newspaper.

It suggests that last year’s unrest was aggravated by long-standing community animosity toward Ferguson police, and by a failure of commanders to provide more details to the public after an officer killed Michael Brown.

“Had law enforcement released information on the officer-involved shooting in a timely manner and continued the information flow as it became available, community distrust and media skepticism would most likely have been lessened,” according to the document.

It also says that use of dogs for crowd control incited fear and anger, and the practice ought to be prohibited. And it complains that tear gas was sometimes used without warning and on people in areas from which there was no safe retreat.

Moreover, it finds inconsistencies in the way police used force and made arrests.

“The four core agencies dedicated officer training on operational and tactical skills without appropriate balance of de-escalation and problem-solving training,” it reads.

The Justice Department examined the response of the four agencies in the first 16 days after Ferguson Officer Darren Wilson shot Brown, 18, in a controversial confrontation Aug. 9. Those departments were the key players in managing unrest that drew help from about 50 jurisdictions across the region.

In all, the full report is expected to contain about 45 “findings,” with recommendations for improvement on each point.

Federal officials had a conference call last week with St. Louis Chief Sam Dotson, St. Louis County Chief Jon Belmar, Missouri Highway Patrol Superintendent J. Bret Johnson and Ferguson Interim Chief Al Eickhoff, seeking feedback on the summary, Dotson said Monday.

He said he requested an in-person review of the full report — almost 200 pages — later this week.

“I don’t know if I agree with them or not, because I don’t have enough information,” Dotson said. “I said we can’t comment without the whole document.”

Belmar declined to comment Monday, saying he would address his concerns directly to federal officials. His office later issued a statement, saying, in part, “... this was presented to us as a draft, confidential report, and our responsibility is to work with” federal officials “to ensure the accuracy of the draft...”

Ferguson officials issued a statement saying they are “reviewing these latest findings and will act accordingly.” The Missouri Department of Public Safety, which oversees the highway patrol, did not respond to a request for comment.

Dotson said he hopes the final report from the Community Oriented Policing Services branch of the Justice Department will provide a “road map” for police facing similar situations.

He said he once asked COPS officials about best practices in responding to such protests. “I was told, ‘There are none, you are forging new ground,’” Dotson said.

Dotson also said such “after-action” reviews are not uncommon, noting they followed incidents like Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles.

This will be the third of four Justice Department reports in the wake of Ferguson unrest. The first two were released simultaneously in March. One said Wilson was justified in shooting Brown; the other strongly criticized past practices by the Ferguson police and municipal court, and triggered a continuing effort toward enforcing changes either by negotiation or lawsuit.

The fourth report will be an analysis of the St. Louis County Police Department’s practices. Sources say it is expected to be out sometime in July.

‘UNIFIED COMMAND’

County police headed up the initial days of the response, but Gov. Jay Nixon shifted command to the highway patrol. Ultimately, the county police, highway patrol and St. Louis police formed a “unified command” to oversee response as protests and rioting spread.

The summary primarily addresses actions and is not specifically critical of individual officials.

From the beginning, the summary finds, the use of a “highly elevated tactical response,” essentially set a tone that “limited options for a measured, strategic approach.”

For example, positioning an officer atop an armored vehicle to monitor the crowd through rifle sights was “inappropriate” and only served to “exacerbate tensions between protesters and the police,” it says.

It acknowledges that a tactical response was warranted at times, but an “elevated daytime response was not justified and served to escalate rather than de-escalate the overall situation.”

The summary faults as “ineffective” the control of officers with various levels of training from departments with differing police philosophies.

It says failures in traffic control resulted in “tactical advantages to the protesters and activists and safety hazards to the deployed officers.”

And it highlights several breakdowns in internal communications, suggesting that intelligence obtained about the protests was not well-used and that some departments had incompatible radios.

The four departments “underestimated the impact social media had on the incident and the speed at which both facts and rumors were spread and failed to have a social media strategy,” the summary finds.

The departments also were unprepared for the use of technology and hacks into personal computers which led to identity theft for some officers. The threats led some officers to remove name tags from their uniforms, which the report says “defeated an essential level of on-scene accountability that is fundamental to the perception of procedural justice and legitimacy.”

It says, “Officers were not prepared for the volume and severity of personal threats on themselves and their families, which created additional emotional stress for those involved in the Ferguson response. This includes threats of violence against family members and fraud associated with technology based attacks.”

It continues, “The intensity of the circumstances and the length of the event led to officers exhibiting fatigue and stress, which impacted health, well-being, judgment and performance.”

The report also focuses on transparency, noting that among the four agencies, only St. Louis County makes its policies publicly accessible on a website.

It says all four agencies have procedures for receiving and processing citizen complaints, but they “may not have been adequate for the unique circumstances of the Ferguson incident.”

County and city police each reported one officer complaint during the 16-day assessment period, but the report says the number is “misleading” because “a lack of confidence in the complaint process likely deterred citizens from filing complaints about police behavior.”

Along with the criticisms, the report outlines suggestions for improvements.

Those include keeping tactical teams out of sight unless needed, and color coding nonlethal weapons to calm the public and remind officers.

They call for regional training sessions that would emphasize de-escalation before resorting to force.

As for officer safety, the summary suggests that departments allow some alternate form of unique identification that still protects their names and to provide a more streamlined process for citizens to file complaints and compliments.

President Barack Obama announces historic deal with Cuba

Story by MSNBC
Written by Aliyah Frumin

The U.S. and Cuba have agreed to reopen embassies in each other’s capitals, a move that officially restores diplomatic relations between the two countries for the first time since 1961.

President Obama made the announcement Wednesday from the White House’s Rose Garden, calling the agreement a “historic step forward.”

“The progress we make today is another demonstration we don’t have to be imprisoned by the past,” Obama said.

Obama added: “This is not merely symbolic. With this change, we will be able to substantially increase our contacts with the Cuban people. We will have more personnel at our embassy and our diplomats will have the ability to engage more broadly across the island.”

Obama confirmed that Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Havana to raise the American flag over the U.S. embassy, which is expected to re-open on July 20.

Back in December, Obama and his Cuban counterpart, Raul Castro, hammered out a deal to normalize relations, essentially bringing down the final remaining pillar of the Cold War. In May, the U.S. also announced it was taking Cuba off its list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Critics, including several Republican presidential candidates, are arguing that the president – in ending 50 years of frozen relations with the communist country—is rewarding Cuba’s dictatorial regime.

“Throughout this entire negotiation as the Castro regime has stepped up is repression of the Cuban people, the Obama Administration has continued to look the other way and offer concession after concession,” Florida senator and GOP presidential candidate Marco Rubio said in a statement Wednesday ahead of Obama’s address. Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, added, “The administration’s reported plan to restore diplomatic relations is one such prized concession to the Castro regime.”

Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who is also running for the GOP presidential nomination, tweeted that the move was “unacceptable and a slap in the face of a close ally that the United States will have an embassy in Havana before one in Jerusalem.” Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said in a statement that Obama was “further legitimizing the brutal Castro regime” in a statement.

During his remarks, Obama noted there are still serious differences between the countries, including on human rights and freedom of speech. “We won’t hesitate to speak out when we see contradiction to those values,” Obama said.

The president also urged Congress to lift the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba. “Americans and Cubans alike are looking to move forward. I believe it’s time for Congress to do the same,” said Obama.