Ella Fitzgerald music

ESPN Layoffs: The Struggling Industry Giant Sheds On-Air Talent

Story by New York Times
Written by Joe Brape and Brooks Barnes

The “Worldwide Leader in Sports,” as ESPN brands itself, laid off scores of journalists and on-air talent on Wednesday, showing that even the most formidable media kingdom was vulnerable to the transformation upending the sports broadcasting industry as more and more people turn away from cable television.

Among the prominent people let go were the former N.F.L. players Trent Dilfer and Danny Kanell, the former N.B.A. player Len Elmore, the former baseball general manager Jim Bowden and the longtime N.F.L. reporter Ed Werder.

ESPN is by far the biggest and most powerful entity in the sports media industry, and it has felt the sting as viewers turn away from traditional ways of consuming live sports.

The network has lost more than 10 million subscribers over the past several years. At the same time, the cost of broadcasting major sports has continued to rise. ESPN committed to an eight-year, $15.2 billion deal extension with the N.F.L. in 2011; a nine-year, $12 billion deal with the N.B.A.; and a $7.3 billion deal for the college football playoffs, among many others...

...Here are some of the ESPN employees who have made statements on social media:

Jay Crawford ✔ @jaycrawfordespn
After 14 wonderful years my time at espn is over. From Cold Pizza to First Take to SC I made more friends than I can name. Forever grateful!
1:52 PM - 26 Apr 2017

Ed Werder @EdwerderFA
After 17 years reporting on #NFL, I've been informed that I'm being laid off by ESPN effective immediately. I have no plans to retire
9:32 AM - 26 Apr 2017

Jayson Stark ✔ @jaysonst
For 17 yrs I've had a dream job covering baseball for ESPN. Today is my last day. Thanks to all the great people at ESPN, MLB & all of you!
1:27 PM - 26 Apr 2017

Trent Dilfer @DilfersDime
Laid off by ESPN today.Although sad cause I loved my job, mostly filled w/gratitude & appreciation for the 9 years #GreatFriendsAndTeammates
1:31 PM - 26 Apr 2017

Len Elmore @LenElmore
Gee, I feel like I am now part of an exclusive club. #ESPNLayoff. For 21 yrs. I tried to represent the best in college hoops. Adios Bristol!

Dana O'Neil @DanaONeilWriter
Add me to the list. Just got the 'call.' I've been informed my contract will not be renewed at ESPN.
10:39 AM - 26 Apr 2017

Eamonn Brennan ✔ @eamonnbrennan
Bad news morning. I loved every bit of my eight years at ESPN and will miss it, and so many friends and colleagues there, profoundly.
11:58 AM - 26 Apr 2017

Danny Kanell ✔ @dannykanell
Poured my heart and soul into ESPN for last 8 years. Moved my wife and 3 kids to CT to go "all in" 5 years ago. Bummed it ended in 3 minutes
12:45 PM - 26 Apr 2017

Justin Verrier ✔ @JustinVerrier
No longer at ESPN. Thank you to everyone who read and supported me throughout my 9 years there. Means more than you can know.
2:43 PM - 26 Apr 2017

Robin Lundberg ✔ @robinlundberg
Today was my last day on air at ESPN Radio. On to the next...I'll let everyone know what that is when I do.
2:30 PM - 26 Apr 2017

Calvin Watkins ✔ @calvinwatkins
After seven great years at ESPN I've been let go. Much respect to all the people.
2:14 PM - 26 Apr 2017

Melissa Isaacson @mkisaacson
Sorry to get the call from ESPN this a.m., but grateful for my eight years there and trying to positively look ahead.
2:06 PM - 26 Apr 2017

Ted Miller ✔ @TedMillerRK
Started at ESPN in 2008, but my tenure ended today. Worked w/ some great folks who are now friends. Onward to new challenges.
1:45 PM - 26 Apr 2017

Jane McManus ✔ @janesports
Super Bowls, The Trifecta and stories like the one up now are the moments I'll take with me into free agency starting tomorrow.
1:07 PM - 26 Apr 2017

Ashley Fox @AshleyFoxESPN
I had a great 6+ years at ESPN, but it's over. I will badly miss all the talented folks there, many of whom I call dear friends. #Onward
2:08 PM - 26 Apr 2017

Ethan Strauss ✔ @SherwoodStrauss
So, I am no longer with ESPN, as of today. I want to thank all the great people I've worked with and, of course, the readers + listeners
2:03 PM - 26 Apr 2017

Jeremy Crabtree ✔ @jeremycrabtree
Six years ago, made most difficult decision ever made leaving @Rivals to come to @ESPN. Even after being laid off today, I don’t regret it.
11:58 AM - 26 Apr 2017

Brian Bennett @GBrianBennett
Like far too many other ESPN colleagues today, I’ve been laid off. Enjoyed nine great years here. Thanks for reading and following along.
12:29 PM - 26 Apr 2017

Doug Padilla @DougPadilla
Rough day. Just learned I will no longer be covering the Dodgers. Enjoyed my 7 years at ESPN. On to the next chapter.
12:40 PM - 26 Apr 2017

Max Olson ✔ @max_olson
I got laid off by ESPN today after an amazing 5+ years. I've been unbelievably fortunate. Better days ahead.
12:43 PM - 26 Apr 2017

C.L. Brown ✔ @clbrownespn
Landed in Madrid. Turned on phone 1st time all vacation. Got texts asking if job was safe. Found out it was not. Enjoyed my 4 years, ESPN.
12:30 PM - 26 Apr 2017
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Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/26/sports/espn-layoffs.html?_r=0

Oversight Democrats Press for Vote on Bipartisan Bill Requiring Trump to Release Tax Returns

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2017

CONTACT: Jennifer Werner

(202) 226-5181

As President Releases New Tax Plan,
Oversight Dems Press for Vote on Bipartisan Bill
Requiring Him to Release Tax Returns

Bill Gaining Momentum with More Republican Cosponsors

Washington, D.C. (April 26, 2017)—Today, Democrats Members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent a letter to Chairman Jason Chaffetz requesting that he allow Committee Members to vote on H.R. 305, the Presidential Tax Transparency Act, which would require President Donald Trump and all future presidents to disclose their tax returns to the American people.

“As Members of Congress, we have the ability and duty to legislate in order to promote government transparency, combat conflicts of interest, and ensure compliance with the Constitution,” the Members wrote. “H.R. 305 has bipartisan support both on and off our Committee, and we believe Members should be allowed to vote on this bill.”

Last month, the Democratic Members sent a letter requesting that the Chairman allow a vote at business meetings on March 16 or March 28, but he declined to add the bill to the schedule either day.

The bill is now co-sponsored by four House Republicans—Reps. Mark Sanford (SC), Justin Amash (MI), Ted Yoho (FL), and Walter Jones (NC). Reps. Sanford and Amash serve on the Oversight Committee.

The Members sent their letter on the same day President Trump released his tax proposal. It remains unclear exactly how much he or his family members stand to gain personally under his proposal because he continues to refuse to release his tax returns. For example, the President’s proposal would eliminate the Alternative Minimum Tax—which required him to pay tens of millions of dollars in taxes in 2005.

In response to the President’s tax plan, Ranking Member Elijah E. Cummings issued the following statement:

“We do not have his recent tax returns to confirm, but it looks like the President just proposed a plan that would allow him, his family members, and his rich friends to pay far less in federal income tax. The President’s proposal would eliminate the Alternative Minimum Tax—which required the President to pay tens of millions of dollars in taxes in 2005—while giving away billions of dollars in other ways to the richest corporations in our country with no assurance that they will pass on their massive profits to middle-class American workers and families. His proposal would cost trillions of dollars, endanger efforts to preserve Social Security and Medicare, and mortgage our children’s future.”
__________________________________
Today’s letter:

April 26, 2017

The Honorable Jason Chaffetz
Chairman
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Mr. Chairman:

We have been asking for the past six weeks that you allow our Committee Members to vote on a bill that would require President Donald Trump and all future Presidents to disclose their tax returns to the American people. Although last year you urged then-candidate Trump to “open up your kimono” and disclose his tax returns, you have declined to allow us to vote on legislation that would require President Trump to make his tax returns public.

On March 13, 2017, all Democratic Members of the Committee wrote to request that you place H.R. 305, the Presidential Tax Transparency Act, on the agenda for the Committee’s business meeting on March 16. Alternatively, if you chose not to allow a vote on March 16, we asked that you schedule the bill “at our next regularly scheduled business meeting.”[1] The Committee held business meetings on March 16 and March 28, but you declined to place H.R. 305 on the agenda for either day or to schedule it for any future business meetings.

Since we wrote to you in March, bipartisan support for H.R. 305 has grown. Republican Committee Member Mark Sanford had already co-sponsored the bill on January 30, and Republican Committee Member Justin Amash also co-sponsored the bill on March 24. Republican Members outside our Committee have also joined, including Rep. Ted Yoho, who co-sponsored the bill on April 14, and Rep. Walter Jones, who co-sponsored the bill on April 20.

In addition, since we wrote to you, the Committee heard testimony on March 23 from Richard Painter, the chief ethics counsel to former President George W. Bush, who strongly endorsed H.R. 305 and urged us “to pass that bill as soon as possible.”[2]

Mr. Painter cited numerous reasons why Congress and the American people should obtain access to the information in President Trump’s tax returns. He testified:

First and foremost, as I mentioned, we need to know about any financial relationships between the President of the United States and foreign powers, whether it is a foreign power that spied on Americans, conducted espionage here in the United States, apparently with the assistance of Americans who may have been working for the Trump campaign.

Mr. Painter continued:

The President is also conducting trade negotiations with foreign countries, including China, where he has many trademarks that he has just received. We have a right to know how much money is coming under the table to the President while he’s conducting trade negotiations that affect American jobs. So this is important to our national security. It’s important to our stance on trade.

Mr. Painter concluded:

Last, we have the right to know whether our President is in debt to people inside or outside the United States. How much is he in debt? How much does he depend on the banks who may very well be deregulated when the administration proposes the repeal of Dodd-Frank? All of this is information the American people have a right to.

Our staff asked for feedback to identify any technical changes that you may deem necessary to allow a vote on H.R. 305, but the only proposal offered was to delay the bill’s effective date to 2024.

Of course, we support requiring future presidents to disclose their tax returns, but exempting President Trump from this requirement makes no sense at all—especially since every previous president for the past four decades has voluntarily disclosed his tax returns.

As Members of Congress, we have the ability and duty to legislate in order to promote government transparency, combat conflicts of interest, and ensure compliance with the Constitution. H.R. 305 has bipartisan support both on and off our Committee, and we believe Members should be allowed to vote on this bill.

We understand that you are now considering scheduling another business meeting for May 2. Given all the developments that have occurred since we wrote to you in March, we respectfully request that you add H.R. 305 to the agenda for this markup.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

Elijah E. Cummings Carolyn B. Maloney
Ranking Member Member

Eleanor Holmes Norton Wm. Lacy Clay
Member Member

Stephen F. Lynch Jim Cooper
Member Member

Gerald E. Connolly Robin L. Kelly
Vice Ranking Member Member

Brenda L. Lawrence Bonnie Watson Coleman
Member Member

Stacey E. Plaskett Val Butler Demings
Member Member

Raja Krishnamoorthi Jamie Raskin
Member Member

Peter Welch Matt Cartwright
Member Member

Mark DeSaulnier John Sarbanes
Member Member

Donald J. Trump proposes sweeping tax reform

Story by The Hill
Written by Jordan Fabian

The White House is proposing comprehensive reforms to the tax code that would wipe out most deductions and simplify the system into three tax brackets.

The plan unveiled Wednesday would cut the top personal income tax rate from 39.6 percent to 35 percent and double the standard deduction for taxpayers to $24,000.

The plan also lowers the tax rate for corporations and most small businesses to 15 percent, more than halving the current 35 percent corporate rate.

“Tax reform is long overdue,” National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn told reporters at the White House. "We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to do something really big."

The White House plan is a set of principles with few details, but it’s designed to be the starting point of a major push to urge Congress to pass a comprehensive tax reform package this year.

It is similar to the plan from House Republicans but does not include a controversial border-adjustment tax that would have paid for reforms by imposing a new tax on imports.

The plan would repeal the alternative minimum tax for individuals and impose a one-time tax on corporate profits overseas that would allow companies to repatriate funds to the United States, something business believes would spark new investments.

It would eliminate all tax deductions aside from mortgage interest and charitable tax deductions, according to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

Five things to watch for in Trump’s tax plan

Story by The Hill
Written by Naomi Jagoda

President Trump is set to release his tax plan today.

The announcement of the administration's principles for tax reform will begin a new debate with Congress as the president nears the end of his first 100 days in office.

It appears Trump will leave the actual reveal to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and National Economic Director Gary Cohn, who will be at the White House press briefing on Wednesday afternoon.

They’re slated to meet the press at the same time Trump has a scheduled meeting with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

The tax plan is hotly anticipated on Capitol Hill and Wall Street, where markets are craving economic action from the new government in Washington.

Presidential leadership is seen as crucial to tax reform’s success. Congress last passed tax reform legislation in 1986, when it was a top priority of President Reagan.

Here are five things to watch for today.

How much does Trump’s proposal resemble his campaign tax plan?

Trump repeatedly talked about cutting taxes during his campaign, and Wednesday’s plan is expected to include his past proposal to cut the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 15 percent.

The Wall Street Journal also reported Tuesday that Trump will call for cutting the top rate on “pass-through” business income to 15 percent, an idea that is in line with his campaign proposals. Pass-through businesses, which include many small businesses, have their income taxed through the individual tax code.

Yet meetings between Trump’s economic team and lawmakers, businesses and industry groups suggest a potential openness to new ideas, too.

The extent to which Trump’s new tax proposals resemble his campaign plan is important because it could signal how in line the White House’s goals are with those of House Republicans.

Over the course of his campaign, Trump’s tax plan was revised to look more like the House GOP blueprint. Specifically, it adopted the blueprint’s individual tax brackets of 12 percent, 25 percent and 33 percent.

But the White House may not be married to those rates for individuals. The Journal reported that Mnuchin may want a top individual tax rate of 37 percent. The top rate under current law is 39.6 percent.

Is the proposal actually tax reform?

It’s unclear whether the White House will overhaul the tax code or limit itself to tax cuts.

Reform means reducing some taxes while eliminating other breaks to pay for the reductions and to simplify the code.

Tax cuts could be easier, because this wouldn’t involve picking winners and losers and angering lobbyists.

But tax cuts that add to the deficit could be more difficult to pass under congressional rules than revenue-neutral tax reform.

If congressional Republicans want to pass a tax bill under budget reconciliation in order to avoid a filibuster, the bill cannot increase the deficit outside of the 10-year budget window. That means tax cuts that lower revenue would need Democratic support or would need to expire.

Cohn said at an event Thursday that the administration “would like to have permanence to tax.”

But Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney said on “Fox News Sunday” that the administration hasn’t decided yet whether it wants tax reform to be revenue neutral and that “you can either have a small tax cut that’s permanent or a large tax cut that is short term.”

What does Trump say about an import tax?

The House Republicans’ border-adjustment provision to tax imports and exempt exports has not been well-received in the Senate, so Trump’s stance on the proposal could be a significant factor in its success.

House GOP leaders argue that the proposal is important because it raises revenue that helps pay for lowering tax rates and it helps to end incentives for companies to move jobs overseas. But retailers and some lawmakers have expressed concerns that the higher taxes on imports could translate to higher prices on everyday goods.

The White House has so far given mixed signals on the proposal. Trump said earlier this month that he doesn’t like the term border adjustment but expressed some interest in a “reciprocal tax” on imports.

Media reports have indicated that it’s unlikely that border adjustability will be part of Trump’s forthcoming plan.

“My sense is they’re going to be silent” and tout the virtue of their plan rather than pick on parts of others’ plans, said Brandon Arnold, executive vice president of the National Taxpayers Union.

Does the plan take aim at any tax preferences?

Mulvaney said that Wednesday’s announcement will involve “specific governing principles” and some ideas the administration likes and doesn’t like. His comments suggest that Trump’s announcement won’t get into the nitty-gritty of the tax code.

But the administration has signaled in the past that it plans to limit or eliminate some tax breaks to help pay for lowering rates. Any detail will be sure to catch people’s attention.

Trump’s campaign tax plan proposed capping itemized deductions for high earners, and the White House has been considering curbing the deduction for charitable contributions.

Mnuchin said in November that there will be “no absolute tax cut for the upper class” because curbs to deductions would offset rate cuts — a pledge that Senate Finance Committee ranking member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) has dubbed the “Mnuchin rule.”

How much does Trump’s proposal change the debate?

The tax reform discussion in Washington has so far largely focused on the House Republicans’ blueprint, and GOP leaders have said they want to pass legislation through reconciliation so that it doesn’t need Democratic support.

The release of a White House plan could shift the center of gravity away from the House plan. And there are some lawmakers that hope that the White House’s plan provides an opening for Republicans to work with Democrats.

“You’re going to have to do business with Democrats to try to get a tax overhaul through,” Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) told The Hill on Monday. He noted that the 1986 tax reform bill was a bipartisan measure.

There was speculation Tuesday that the plan would likely include infrastructure spending and a tax break for childcare in an effort to entice Democrats, though reports later in the day seemed to cast doubt that the $1 trillion infrastructure plan would make it in.

But Democratic lawmakers won’t want to back a White House tax plan if they view it as largely benefiting wealthy people and large corporations. They also want Trump to release his tax returns before legislation is considered.

“I want a tax reform proposal that works for working families, not just for the people who can go out and hire a lot of accountants,” Wyden said.

Congressman Elijah Cummings (Md.) Lauds Federal Court Decision Blocking President Trump’s Attempt to Withhold Federal Funds from Sanctuary Cities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 25, 2017

Contact: Fabion Seaton (202) 225-4741

Cummings Lauds Federal Court Decision Blocking President Trump’s Attempt to Withhold Federal Funds from Sanctuary Cities

Washington, D.C. (Apr. 25, 2017)—Today, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) issued the following statement after a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump’s Executive Order to deny federal funds from sanctuary cities:

“President Trump’s attempt to withhold funds from sanctuary cities was cruel and misguided, and it undermined the safety of our communities. I applaud Judge Orrick for blocking this unconstitutional Executive Order and for reminding President Trump that ‘the Constitution vests the spending power in Congress, not the President, so the Order cannot constitutionally place new conditions on federal funds.’

“President Trump must learn that he cannot govern through fear, and he must learn that our nation’s local police departments should not be doing ICE’s job. Many mayors and police chiefs nationwide opposed this Executive Order, because they know that when immigrant communities are afraid to speak with law enforcement, it makes us all less safe.

“I hope that after this latest defeat in court, President Trump will try to work with Congress to find ways to fix our nation’s broken immigration system and keep our communities safe.”

National Action Network's 17th Annual Convention Opening Ceremony, Wednesday April 26th at 9am, with former Attorney General Eric Holder delivering the Opening Address

Music by The Main Ingredient - Remembering the late Cuba Gooding Sr.

Song: Everybody plays the fool by The Main Ingredient


Song: Happiness is just around the bend by The Main Ingredient


Song: I just don't to be lonely by The Main Ingredient


Song: Rolling down the Mountainside by The Main Ingredient


Song: Something 'Bout Love by The Main Ingredient


Song: I want to make you glad by the Main Ingredient

Inaugural Coretta Scott King Birthday Social Justice Service is Saturday, April 29, 2017, at Howard University's Rankin Chapel, starting at 1 p.m.

Bill O’Reilly Got the Boot from FoxNews for Being a Sexual Reprobate, But Not for Being Anti-Black

Story by Huffington Post
Commentary by Dr. Earl Ofari Hutchinson

The ousted and disgraced Bill O’Reilly’s blatant anti-black cracks, digs, slurs and putdowns didn’t start last year, two years ago, or even a decade ago. They started almost from the day that he took the helm of the “Factor” the last century. O’Reilly kicked things off with this zinger in early 1999, “Will African-Americans break away from the pack thinking and reject immorality–because that’s the reason the family’s breaking apart–alcohol, drugs, infidelity. You have to reject that, and it doesn’t seem–and I’m broadly speaking here, but a lot of African-Americans won’t reject it.”

With this quip, he tapped all the vile, ancient set stereotypes about blacks, crime, drugs, immorality, and rotten families that supposedly explain why blacks are stuck in crumbling ghettoes and wallow in poverty. O’Reilly repeatedly came back to variations on this theme time and again in the years to come.

On black athletes, “Look, you know as well as I do most of these kids come out and they can’t speak English.”

On black high achievers, “Does anyone know where the Best Men are? I hope they’re not in the parking lot stealing our hubcaps.”

On mocking black leaders, ‘Oh, I can’t get a job. Whitey won’t let me,’ or ‘I can’t get educated. The teachers are bad, so I’m going to go out and get high and sell drugs. That’s the only way we can make money here.’ You know what I mean? And it’s a vicious cycle”

On Trump’s pledge to create more jobs for blacks, “Many of them are ill-educated and have tattoos on their foreheads, and I hate to be generalized about it — but it’s true. If you look at all the educational statistics, how are you going to give jobs to people who aren’t qualified for jobs?”

On black girls and pregnancy, “Young girls are getting pregnant in the African American community.” “Now it’s about 70 percent out of wedlock. She knows and doesn’t seem to care.”

On black children, “Now, the race hustlers who apparently have not walked the streets of poor neighborhoods lately, immediately accused me of racism. And that is why the acute problem of cultural deprivation among under-classed children of all colors is never addressed.”

On black crime, “There is a violent subculture in the African-American community that should be exposed and confronted.”

On Freddy Grey’s slaying, “Freddie Gray’s lifestyle for many years, led him to this terrible thing which is not only impacted him and his family but all the police officers and that lifestyle should be condemned.”

On the black condition, “Don’t abandon your children,” “Don’t get pregnant at 14. Don’t allow your neighborhoods to deteriorate into free-fire zones. That’s what the African-American community should have on their T-shirts.”

On Africa, “I’ve been to Africa three times. All right? You can’t bring Western reasoning into the culture. The same way you can’t bring it into fundamental Islam.”

O’Reilly made more, many more, observations and statements that passed as the fount of learning and wisdom about blacks. And with each racist putdown, O’Reilly’s ratings soared to the sky, major corporations flocked to the show in droves and plopped tens of millions into advertising, and policy makers of all stripes begged to be on his show. O’Reilly was Fox’s cash cow. The more O’Reilly insulted blacks, the more he was hailed as the one guy on the airwaves who was not afraid to defy the so-called ‘race hustlers” and apologists, i.e. civil rights leaders and liberal Democrats, and tell it like it supposedly is about blacks. As long as that was the case, O’Reilly was virtually sanctified and was TV’s equivalent of the “made man” who was untouchable.

All the while, Fox boss, Rupert Murdoch, Fox management, and legions of women in and about Fox knew that O’Reilly was a sexist scumbag and sexual predator who cost the network millions in hush money to cover for his groping, predatory lust. But, it was not just the money shelled out, corporations fleeing the scene, and the passage of time that would undue this sexual vulture. It was also the instant fury and force of women’s groups that rattled the Fox empire. This was not something that could be winked and nodded at, and laughed away. Blatant sexism and its manifestation in sexual philandering, simply will not be tolerated. It will always bring an instant white hot reaction, as it should.

But routine racist slurs before millions of viewers also should be instant cause for an O’Reilly to be jerked from the air. This wasn’t the case, and it reinforces the age-old line that a rich, white guy, can say whatever he wants about blacks in public space and at worst will get a hand slap reprimand, make a phony apology, and then skip away to racially slur another day.

O’Reilly’s getting the boot for being a sexual reprobate isn’t likely to change that.
_______________________________________________________________________
Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. He is the author of the new ebook How the Democrats Can Win in The Trump Era (Amazon Kindle). He is an associate editor of New America Media. He is a weekly co-host of the Al Sharpton Show on Radio One. He is the host of the weekly Hutchinson Report on KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles and the Pacifica Network.

Radio One Washington DC expands WMMJ-FM (Majic) Listenership simulcasting on newly purchased WWXT 92.7FM Prince Frederick, Md.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RADIO ONE DC EXPANDS WMMJ-FM LISTENERSHIP
The Company Acquires Red Zebra’s WWXT-FM

(Washington, DC…April 20, 2017) - Radio One is excited to announce the addition of WWXT 92.7 FM to the Washington DC cluster. Effective 12:01 a.m. on May 1st, 92.7 will simulcast WMMJ MAJIC 102.3 FM, further expanding the Real Sound of the DMV brand of the heritage Urban AC station. Listeners of the DMV will continue to hear their favorite personalities on both 102.3 and 92.7 as the programming line-up will not change.

Jeff Wilson, Senior Regional Vice President and General Manager, Radio One DC said, “I’m thrilled by this acquisition and unique opportunity to immediately expand the footprint of our heritage station, WMMJ FM. My team is going to keep doing what we do best, programming the most entertaining, inspiring and well informed listener experiences in urban radio and be proud knowing that even more people are impacted.”

Listeners can begin their day with the Russ Parr Morning Show weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The nationally syndicated morning show, based in DC, can be heard weekdays by millions of listeners.

Midday host Vic Jagger will keep listeners engaged Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The DC native keeps her audience informed, has the hottest prizes to give away and listeners do not want to miss the midday mix at noon.

Radio and Television icon Donnie Simpson will continue to entertain listeners weekday afternoons from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
John Monds winds the night down with his nationally syndicated show, Love and R&B, on Sunday through Thursday from 7:00 p.m. to midnight.

Read more: Link: http://www.insideradio.com/free/radio-one-turns-to-clip-interactive-to-drive-digital/article_164cc6b4-2546-11e7-a492-5f8e0da1b45f.html
_______________________________________________________
Radio One, Inc. (radio-one.com), together with its subsidiaries, is a diversified media company that primarily targets African-American and urban consumers. It is one of the nation's largest radio broadcasting companies, currently owning and/or operating 53 broadcast stations in 15 urban markets in the United States. Through its controlling interest in Reach Media, Inc. (blackamericaweb.com), the Company also operates syndicated programming including the Tom Joyner Morning Show, the Russ Parr Morning Show, the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, Get up Morning! with Erica Campbell, the DL Hughley Show, Bishop T.D. Jakes' Empowering Moments, the Ed Lover Show, the Willie Moore Jr Show, the Nightly Spirit with Darlene McCoy and the Reverend Al Sharpton Show. Beyond its core radio broadcasting franchise, Radio One owns Interactive One (interactiveone.com), the fastest growing and definitive digital resource for Black and Latin Americans, reaching millions each month through social content, news, information, and entertainment. Interactive One operates a number of branded sites including News One (news), The Urban Daily (men), Hello Beautiful (women), Global Grind (Millennials) and social networking websites such as BlackPlanet and MiGente. The Company also owns TV One, LLC (tvone.tv), a cable/satellite network programming serving more than 57 million households, offering a broad range of real-life and entertainment-focused original programming, classic series, movies and music designed to entertain, inform and inspire a diverse audience of adult Black viewers. Additionally, One Solution combines the dynamics of the Radio One’s holdings to provide brands with an integrated and effectively engaging marketing approach that reaches 82% of Black Americans throughout the country.

Contact: Kashon Powell
301-429-2681
kpowell@radio-one.com

Fox News Has Decided Bill O’Reilly Has to Go

Story by New York Magazine
Written by Gabriel Sherman (http://nymag.com/author/Gabriel%20Sherman/)

The Murdochs have decided Bill O’Reilly’s 21-year run at Fox News will come to an end. According to sources briefed on the discussions, network executives are preparing to announce O’Reilly’s departure before he returns from an Italian vacation on April 24. Now the big questions are how the exit will look and who will replace him.

Wednesday morning, according to sources, executives are holding emergency meetings to discuss how they can sever the relationship with the country’s highest-rated cable-news host without causing collateral damage to the network. The board of Fox News’ parent company, 21st Century Fox, is scheduled to meet on Thursday to discuss the matter.

Sources briefed on the discussions say O’Reilly’s exit negotiations are moving quickly. Right now, a key issue on the table is whether he would be allowed to say good-bye to his audience, perhaps the most loyal in all of cable (O’Reilly’s ratings have ticked up during the sexual-harassment allegations). Fox executives are leaning against allowing him to have a sign-off, sources say. The other main issue on the table is money. O’Reilly recently signed a new multiyear contract worth more than $20 million per year. When Roger Ailes left Fox News last summer, the Murdochs paid out $40 million, the remainder of his contract.

According to sources, Fox News wants the transition to be seamless. Executives are currently debating possible replacement hosts. Names that have been discussed include Eric Bolling, Dana Perino, and Tucker Carlson, who would move from his successful 9 p.m. slot and create a need for a new host at that time. One source said Sean Hannity is happy at 10 p.m. and would not want to move. Network executives are hoping to have the new host in place by Monday.

The Murdochs’ decision to dump O’Reilly shocked many Fox News staffers I’ve spoken to in recent days. Late last week, the feeling inside the company was that Rupert Murdoch would prevail over his son James, who lobbied to jettison the embattled host. It’s still unclear exactly how the tide turned. According to one source, Lachlan Murdoch’s wife helped convince her husband that O’Reilly needed to go, which moved Lachlan into James’s corner. The source added that senior executives at other divisions within the Murdoch empire have complained that if O’Reilly’s allegations had happened to anyone else at their companies, that person would be gone already.

Spokespersons for 21st Century Fox and Fox News did not respond to requests for comment, nor did O’Reilly’s agent, Carole Cooper.

Former Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez commits suicide in prison

Story by Sports Illustrated
Written by Scooby-Doo Axson

Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was found dead in his cell days after being acquitted for a 2012 double homicide, officials at the Massachusetts Department of Corrections said Wednesday.

Hernandez was 27.

Hernandez's death comes the same day the Patriots are scheduled to make their visit to the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl win.

“We are aware of the reports, but I don’t anticipate that we will be commenting today," Patriots spokesman Stacey Jameswrote to the Boston Globe.

Last Friday, Hernandez was found not guilty in a double murder trial of two men, Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado, in a July 2012 drive-by shooting.

Officials said that Hernandez was found hanged in his cell by corrections officers at the Souza Barnowski Correctional Center in Shirley, Mass. at 3:05 a.m.

He died an hour later at UMass Memorial–HealthAlliance Hospital in Leominster after attempts to revive him were unsuccessful. Hernandez used a bed sheet that he attached to a cell window to hang himself after first attempting to block the door by jamming the door with several items.

• Aaron Hernandez’s brother retraces NFL star's path to murder

Hernandez was already serving a life sentence without parole in a Massachusetts prison after he was found guilty of the 2013 killing of Odin Lloyd. Lloyd was dating the sister of Hernandez’s fiancée at the time of his death.

Hernandez starred at the University of Florida before he was drafted by the Patriots in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL draft.

He caught 175 passes for 1,956 yards and 18 touchdowns during his NFL career.

Suspect in Cleveland Facebook video killing shoots himself to death

Memorial site for shooting victim Robert Godwin in Cleveland

Story by AP
Written by Mark Gillispie
Daily Mail story link: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4422242/Facebook-killer-Steve-Stephens-committed-suicide.html

Cleveland - The man who randomly killed a Cleveland retiree and posted video of the crime on Facebook shot himself to death in his car Tuesday during a police chase in Pennsylvania, ending a Multi-State manhunt less than 48 hours after it began.

Acting on a tip, Pennsylvania State Police spotted Steve Stephens, 37, in Erie County, in the State’s northwest corner, and went after him. After a brief chase, he took his own life, authorities said.

“This started with one tragedy and ended with another person taking their own life,” said Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams. “We would have liked to have brought Steve in peacefully and really talked to him about why this happened.”

Stephens, a job counselor who worked with teenagers and young people, was wanted on an aggravated murder charge in the shooting of Robert Godwin Sr., a 74-year-old man who was picking up aluminum cans on Sunday when he was gunned down.

Stephens posted a video of himself killing Godwin, a former foundry worker and a father of 10. “I snapped, I just snapped,” Stephens said.

Police would not speculate on what was behind the killing, but in the video and other footage he posted, Stephens talked about losing everything he had to gambling and having trouble with his girlfriend.

One of Godwin’s daughters, Debbie Godwin, said she wished Stephens had been captured.

“I’m not happy he’s dead at all, not at all. If you did it, you have to face your crime,” she said.

The break in the case came when police received a tip that Stephens’ car was in a McDonald’s parking lot, Willlams said.

The chase lasted 2 miles, and troopers managed to disable Stephens’ car, state police said. As his car was spinning out of control, he shot himself in the head with a pistol, police said. A pursuing trooper’s car slid into Stephens’ vehicle, but the officer was not injured.

Law enforcement officials had said on Monday that Stephens’ cellphone was last tracked Sunday afternoon near Erie, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) east of Cleveland.

Williams said Tuesday that it wasn’t clear whether Stephens had any help while he was on the run or where he had been and that investigators will try to retrace he steps.

The video of the killing was up for three hours before it was taken down, raising questions about Facebook’s handling of objectionable material posted by its users. Facebook said it removed the video 23 minutes after learning of it.

In the video of the shooting, Stephens told Godwin the name of his girlfriend and said, “She’s the reason that this is about to happen to you.” Godwin did not seem to recognize the name.

The woman Stephens spoke of, Joy Lane, said in a text message to CBS that “we had been in a relationship for several years. I am sorry that all of this has happened.”

Investigators said that Godwin was the only victim so far linked to Stephens, despite his claim on Facebook that he killed over a dozen people.

Detectives spoke with the suspect on Sunday by cellphone and tried to persuade him to surrender, police said.

Within a day, authorities expanded the search nationwide and offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to his capture.
______________________________________________________________
Read more:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4420130/Robert-Godwin-s-lover-34-reveals-words-her.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4422242/Facebook-killer-Steve-Stephens-committed-suicide.html

On North Korea, the 'Trump doctrine' is flexibility at its finest

Story by The Hill
Written by Dr. Raymond Tanter and Ed Stafford

Vice President Mike Pence threw down the gauntlet on North Korea Monday morning, telling CNN "We're going to abandon the failed policy of strategic patience.” This shouldn’t be unexpected. Just the day before National Security Advisor Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, said to ABC News, “…all our options (are) on the table, undergoing refinement and further development.”

The McMaster statement and the Apr. 15, 2017 failed missile launch by Pyongyang are context for actions by President Trump to develop his foreign policy. Think of the decisive and rapid, yet considered not rushed, decision to punish Assad of Syria for his flagrant violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, and cordial interactions with President of China, Xi Jinping. And Iran, a state fond of using intemperate language, joined Russia to denounce the U.S. strike on Syria, but Tehran acted with restraint.

Trump made clear statements about Pyongyang without intemperate use of rhetoric or military threats, but they reveal he is prepared to use force as appropriate to protect U.S. interests in a measured way.

The days of “strategic patience” with Pyongyang and all or nothing responses are history; pundits who foresaw isolationism inherent in America First campaign rhetoric now see placing U.S. interests first does not mean withdrawal from the world behind physical and virtual walls, but a policy of strongly defending American interests, with force.

“Peace through strength” is a phrase championed by President Ronald Reagan in the 1980 presidential campaign and repeated during his tenure. It also appears as a key pillar of Trump’s evolving doctrine. The decision to authorize cruise missile strikes against the Syrian airfield demonstrated willingness to employ U.S. military capabilities to protect American national interests, that is, enforcement of respect for international conventions to which the U.S. government is signatory.

Peter Navarro, formerly an advisor to the Trump campaign, heads a White House office overseeing American trade and industrial policy. He wrote on Mar. 21 2016, “Those who insist Donald Trump has no foreign policy are simply not listening. The ‘Trump Doctrine’ is a page right out of Ronald Reagan’s playbook: peace through economic and military strength.”

There are other shared policy elements.

Unpredictability

What are the advantages and disadvantages of Trump’s unpredictability? Adversaries are unable to plan how to deter or defend against our strategy; allies are uncertain whether they enjoy required support.

Thomas Schelling in The Strategy of Conflict, pioneered the idea of “rationality of irrationality.” It suggests appearing “crazy like a fox,” acting seemingly irrational, “a madman theory” of negotiations, makes sense, per a Mar. 25, 2014 post in Foreign Policy. President Richard Nixon acted in ways that appeared irrational in the Vietnam War: Nixon instructed National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger what message to deliver to his counterparts in the Soviet Union:

“‘Henry, we must not miss this chance,’ the president said, ‘I’m going to destroy the goddamn country (North Vietnam), believe me, I mean destroy it, if necessary. And let me say, even (use) the nuclear weapon if necessary. It isn’t necessary,’ Nixon hastened to add, “but you know, what I mean is, that shows you the extent to which I’m willing to go.’”

Fast forward from Nixon in 1971 to Trump in 2017. The common element: Henry Kissinger, advisor to Trump how to persuade Beijing to get Pyongyang to refrain from another nuclear weapons test. Trump warned that Washington will take unilateral action to eliminate the nuclear threat to the United States from North Korea unless Beijing successfully increases pressure on the hermit kingdom. On Apr. 11, Trump issued a statement via Twitter, aimed directly at Pyongyang. “North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A.”

It is one thing to use the madman approach when dealing with a state like China. It’s quite different and more difficult to do so with a rogue regime, such as North Korea. Normal states are amenable to strategic use of threats. But rogue regimes are less predictable: Threats meant to deter might give rise to unwanted preemptive actions.

Verbal warnings of President Trump against North Korea accompanied by a deployment of U.S. warships risk escalation via miscalculation. On Apr. 13, the Wall Street Journal posted a warning from Pyongyang’s state media that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) could use its national holiday on Saturday, Apr. 15, the birthday of the country’s founder, for a show of force. U.S. officials anticipated either a DPRK nuclear test, the country’s sixth, or another in a string of ballistic-missile tests. Neither the nuclear nor ballistic missile tests occurred. To commemorate the birthday of the nation’s founder, there was a huge parade of armaments that included what appeared to be several intercontinental ballistic missile canisters.

On Apr. 14, 2017, the New York Times ran a piece that Beijing worried about tensions on the Korean Peninsula spinning out of control. North Korea had said it might test another nuclear weapon at any time and a U.S. naval group neared the peninsula, possibly an American effort at strategic unpredictability by sowing doubt in Pyongyang over how Trump might respond.

“The United States and South Korea and North Korea are engaging in tit for tat, with swords drawn and bows bent, and there have been storm clouds gathering,” said China’s foreign minister.

The Way Forward

First, use of unpredictability, or a “madman approach” is inherently risky, particularly when dealing with rogue regimes like North Korea. While China responded to U.S. actions with careful comments, the DPRK threatened to unleash ballistic missiles against the United States and implied (with considered unpredictability perhaps?) something dramatic would occur on 15 April, yet only a failed missile launch and parade occurred. But even failed tests allow the DPRK to improve its missiles.

Second, pundits proclaim doctrines; presidents execute policies that reveal the contours of policy. Look at what a president says to discover the shape of policy. Thus far, Trump has shown when convinced of the necessity, he will use military force to protect U.S. national interests.

Third, implicit in the evolving Trump doctrine is the idea of delegation of responsibility to generals to plan and execute military missions. Likewise, Trump delegates to others (McMasters, Secretary Tillerson, Ambassador Haley, and CIA Director Pompeo) engagement with media and foreign policy community to explain decisions. In both, Trump sets overall missions, retains authority to approve a course of action, and remains the final word on national interests.

In sum, the final shape of the Trump doctrine of “all options are on the table,” will continue to develop through the end of his presidency. For now, certain lines have been set — be unafraid to use force, don’t reveal your intentions to opponents, listen to trusted advisors, make a decision and have talented subordinates execute.

These should be kept in mind when attempting to understand implications of America First.
__________________________________________
Dr. Raymond Tanter served as a senior member on the National Security Council staff in the Reagan-Bush administration and is now Professor Emeritus at the University of Michigan. Edward Stafford is a retired Foreign Service officer; he served in Political-Military Affairs at the State Department, as a diplomat with the U.S. Embassy in Turkey, and taught at the Inter-American Defense College.

Rest in Peace Charlie Murphy and Rick James

Chappelle's Show

Charlie Murphy spoke about his encounters with friend R/B Funk Legend Rick James.

U.S. Drops Bomb on ISIS Target in Afghanistan

Story by NBC News
Written by Courtney Kube

U.S. forces dropped one of the biggest non-nuclear weapons in its arsenal in a strike against ISIS in eastern Afghanistan on Thursday, according to Pentagon officials.

The U.S. dropped a GBU-43 bomb, nicknamed "the mother of all bombs," on ISIS fighters and tunnels and caves in the country's Nangarhar province, officials said.

Military officials believe it is the first time the weapon was used on the battlefield. It was dropped from an aircraft.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said that the GBU-43 bomb was used Wednesday around 7 p.m. local time in Afghanistan. He called the weapon "large, powerful" and accurate.

"The U.S. takes the fight against ISIS very seriously," Spicer said during the daily briefing.

The White House did not answer reporters' specific questions on what led to the strike — a stark contrast to how the administration outlined what led to a military strike in Syria the week before.

Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/u-s-targets-isis-afghanistan-large-non-nuclear-bomb-n746106

United States' first female Muslim judge found dead in Hudson River

Story by Reuters
Written by Ian Simpson,

A groundbreaking black jurist who became the first Muslim woman to serve as a U.S. judge was found dead in New York's Hudson River on Wednesday, police said.

Sheila Abdus-Salaam, a 65-year-old associate judge of New York's highest court, was found floating off Manhattan's west side at about 1:45 p.m. EDT (1545 GMT), a police spokesman said.

Police pulled Abdus-Salaam's fully clothed body from the water and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Her family identified her and an autopsy would determine the cause of death, the spokesman said.

Abdus-Salaam, a native of Washington, D.C., became the first African-American woman appointed to the Court of Appeals when Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo named her to the state's high court in 2013.

"Justice Sheila Abdus-Salaam was a trailblazing jurist whose life in public service was in pursuit of a more fair and more just New York for all," Cuomo said in a statement.

The Princeton Encyclopedia of American Political History said Abdus-Salaam was the first female Muslim to serve as a U.S. judge.

Citing unidentified sources, the New York Post reported that Abdus-Salaam had been reported missing from her New York home earlier on Wednesday. Attempts to reach her family were unsuccessful.

A graduate of Barnard College and Columbia Law School, Abdus-Salaam started her law career with East Brooklyn Legal Services and served as a New York state assistant attorney general, according to the Court of Appeals website.

She held a series of judicial posts after being elected to a New York City judgeship in 1991.

Radio One Deals Detroit’s WCHB To Crawford Broadcasting.

Story by Inside Radio

Radio One has cut a $2 million deal to sell Detroit AM talker WCHB (1200) to Crawford Broadcasting. The station’s renowned local host Mildred Gaddis, a 40-year radio vet currently heard from 10am-1pm, will move to gospel sister “Praise 102.7” WPZR and contribute morning drive news cut-ins on urban AC cluster mate “105.9 Kiss FM” WDMK.

While the sale marks the end of Radio One’s eight-year run with the talk format in the Motor City, the company continues to operate three FMs apportioned across its tent pole formats: urban, urban AC and gospel.

In addition to owning WPZR and WDMK, Radio One operates urban “Hot 107.5” WGPR under a local marketing agreement. Radio One says it expects to close the sale within the next 90 days.

The acquisition adds a fourth station to Crawford’s Detroit cluster, joining religious “The Light” WMUZ (103.5), gospel “Glory 1340” WEXL and religious “The Word AM 560” WRDT.

Gaddis, known for her coverage and commentary on politics, the economy, education, civil rights and well being, will be heard 10am-noon on WPZR. To make room for her, WPZR will shorten current 10am-3pm host Randi Myles’ shift to noon-3pm.

Gaddis will also bring her personality approach to the news through “Mason and Coco in the Morning” on WDMK.

The rest of WCHB’s current personality lineup is syndicated. Radio One says morning man Tom Joyner will continue to be heard in Detroit on the Hamtramck, MI- licensed translator W260CB at 99.9. WCHB airs the Rev. Al Sharpton from 1pm-4pm, followed by an encore from Gaddis from 4-7pm. The station broadcasts traditional jazz from 7pm-10pm and smooth jazz from 10pm-6am.

“To get what you’ve never had, you have to do what you’ve never done,” VP/GM Kathy Stinehour said in a news release. “We have sold our AM talk radio facility and are proud of the heritage role the station has held in Detroit. We view this as an opportunity to move the WCHB voice to a larger FM platform and intend to super-serve our listeners with urban music, community engagement and inspiration—what we do best.”

Tillerson: US-Russia relations at 'low point' after Syria strike

Story by the Hill
Written by Jordan Fabian

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson declared that U.S.-Russia relations have hit a “low point” marked by serious mistrust and differences over international issues, including the conflict in Syria.

Tillerson spoke at a news conference in Moscow after what he said was a “very frank” two-hour meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“I expressed the view the current state of U.S.-Russia relations is at a low point,” said Tillerson, who spoke alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. “There is a low level of trust between our two countries.”

The top U.S. diplomat said that both sides understand that “improvement in the long-term relationship is required” to resolve the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine.

Tensions between Moscow and Washington have flared in the aftermath of a chemical attack in Syria that the U.S. and other world powers say was carried out by Syrian President Bashar Assad, who is backed by Russia.

President Trump responded to that attack by launching 59 cruise missiles at the Syrian air base, angering Russian officials who have denied that Assad used chemical weapons.

Even amid their fierce disagreement over Syria, both diplomats said they would cooperate in an international investigation into the gas attack.

“We want there to be a frank investigation," Lavrov said.

But on the substance, the strained relationship was on full display during Wednesday’s news conference. Tillerson said the U.S. remains “quite confident” in its assessment that the Syrian government was behind the April 4 chemical attack.

He also stressed the Trump administration’s belief that Assad’s rule “is coming to an end.”

"The characterization is one Assad has brought upon himself," Tillerson told a reporter who asked about White House press secretary Sean Spicer’s incorrect statement that even the Nazis hadn't used chemical weapons on their own people.

Lavrov again did not say whether Assad was behind the attack, even as he said a United Nations investigation was necessary.

He also said it’s not Russia’s goal to help remove Assad from power. The Syrian leader is Moscow’s closest ally in the Middle East.

"Removing or ousting a particular personality from this scene is not in our objective,” he said.

Lavrov denounced the cruise missile strike by launching into a lengthy critique of what he said were failed U.S. military interventions in Iraq, Libya and other countries.

Despite those tensions, Tillerson and Lavrov said they made progress on some related issues.

A special communications line meant to prevent Russian and U.S. military forces from colliding in Syria, where both countries have troops stationed, has been reopened.

Tillerson said the governments agreed to set up a "working group" to address smaller issues in order to pave the road for an improved relationship in the future.

Last week's cruise missile attack — and the tensions with Russia — are a sharp turnabout for Trump, who expressed a desire to forge a better relationship with Putin during the 2016 campaign. He also repeatedly urged former President Obama against military intervention in Syria.

Many expected that Tillerson would help Trump improve relations with Russia.

The secretary of State met with Putin several times as chief executive of Exxon Mobil. The Russian leader awarded Tillerson his country’s top honor for foreign nationals, the Order of Friendship, in 2013.

Charlie Murphy dead at 57 after Leukemia Battle

Story by TMZ

Charlie Murphy, Eddie's older brother, and a very successful and popular stand-up comedian in his own right ... TMZ has learned.

According to Charlie's manager, he died from leukemia Wednesday morning in a NYC hospital. He'd been going undergoing chemotherapy.

Charlie famously co-starred on "Chappelle's Show" in some of Dave's most memorable skits ... including the nights Charlie partied with Rick James and Prince.

Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories - Rick James Part One - Uncensored

Charlie also co-wrote some of Eddie Murphy's movies, like "Norbit" and "Vampire in Brooklyn." He co-starred in "Are We There Yet?," "The Boondocks" and "Black Jesus."

He recently toured with Cedric the Entertainer, Eddie Griffin, George Lopez and D.L. Hughley on "The Comedy Get Down."

Charlie's wife, Tisha Taylor Murphy, died in 2009 from cervical cancer. They had 2 children, and he had another from a previous relationship.

Charlie Murphy was 57.

Analysis of Ancient Egyptian Corpses

Video of Genealogy of Ancient Egyptian/Kemetians by Atlanta Black Star.


Egyptian/Kemet corpse from many thousands of years ago. (Source: Colossill.com).


Malcolm X said when the relics of an African civilization are unearth or discovered, it will be vehemently denied and refuted by European educators and scholars despite the enormous amount of evidence that proves otherwise. Malcolm X illustrates the archeological wonders of Ancient Kemet/Egypt and that African people were master chemists.


Egypt was considered an African culture until the 1800s when the French decided it was to their advantage to claim otherwise. Since that time the general public has presumed that Egypt was a culture that derived its roots from the Middle East, however scholars know otherwise.

Much of Egypt's religious beliefs, philosophy, traditions, kingship, architecture, musical instruments, totemism, art and circumcision rights were African.

Diodorus (63BC-14AD), an ancient Greek historian, recorded the popular belief that Egypt was an Ethiopian colony:
"The Ethiopians (Black people) were the first of all humans. They also say that the Egyptians are colonists sent out by the Ethiopians, Osiris having been the leader of the colony. And the larger part of the customs of the Egyptians are Ethiopian, the colonists still preserving their ancient manners. For instance, the belief that their Kings are Gods, the very special attention which they pay to their burial, and many other matters of a similar nature are Ethiopian practices, while the shapes of their statues and the forms of their letters are Ethiopian."

Diodorus agreed with the tradition. He wrote that the Egyptians, "are colonists sent out by the Ethiopians, and the larger part of the custom of the Egyptians, these historians hold, are Ethiopian Colonists still preserving their ancient manners.


Adam & Eve, Ethiopia, Nile River, Kenya, Uganda, Romans, and The Real Greeks

Egyptian police kill seven suspected Islamic State militants in shootout

story by Reuters

CAIRO - Egyptian security forces killed seven suspected Islamic State militants in a shootout on Monday as they were meeting to plan attacks on minority Christians, the Interior Ministry said.

The incident in the southern city of Assiut occurred a day after Egypt's cabinet approved a three-month state of emergency in the wake of Islamic State attacks on two Christian Coptic churches that killed at least 44 people.

The seven militants were killed after they opened fire on security forces who approached them as they were meeting to plot further attacks on Christians, the ministry said in a statement. Assiut has a significant Christian population.

Ammunition, weapons, a motorcycle and Islamic State books and publications were found at the scene, the statement said.

General-turned-President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi launched the toughest crackdown on Islamists in Egypt's modern history after toppling President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013 following protests against his turbulent year in office.

Sunday's bombings targeted Coptic churches in Alexandria and Tanta and marked one of the bloodiest days in recent memory for Egypt's Christian minority, the largest in the Middle East.

The Copts, whose presence in Egypt dates to the Roman era, have long complained of religious persecution and accused the state of not doing enough to protect them.

U.S. Launches Missiles at Syrian Base After Chemical Weapons Attack

U.S. Launches Missiles at Syrian Base After Chemical Weapons Attack.

Baltimore Delegation Statement on Denial of DOJ Attempt to Delay Implementation of Consent Decree with BPD

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 5, 2017

Contact: Fabion Seaton (Cummings) 202-225-4741
Sue Walitsky (Cardin) 202-224-4524
Bridgett Frey (Van Hollen) 202-225-5341
Jaime Lennon (Ruppersberger) 410-628-2701
Daniel Jacobs (Sarbanes) 202-225-4016

Baltimore Delegation Statement on Denial of DOJ Attempt to Delay Implementation of Consent Decree with BPD

Washington, D.C. (Apr. 5, 2017) — Today, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Elijah E. Cummings, Dutch Ruppersberger and John Sarbanes (all D-MD) issued the following statement after Judge James Bredar denied the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) request for a 90-day continuance on the implementation of the consent decree between DOJ and the Baltimore City Police Department:

“This ruling is a win for the people of Baltimore. The Justice Department’s attempt to delay the implementation of the consent decree would have greatly impeded our progress in rebuilding trust between the community and police. The consent decree has the strong support of both the Mayor and Police Commissioner of Baltimore.”

“Last year’s ‘pattern or practice’ report on BPD, which detailed years of systemic civil rights violations, was a call to action for everyone in Baltimore.

“We are now on the path to much-needed and long-overdue reforms, which we hope will make BPD a model for the nation. The Justice Department and Attorney General Sessions should be supporting our efforts, not seeking to undermine them.”

Background

Yesterday, the Members sent a letter to Attorney General Sessions urging him to rescind his request to delay the consent decree.

In May 2015, all Democrats in Maryland’s congressional delegation sent a letter to Lynch in support of then-Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s request to have the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division open a federal “pattern or practice” investigation of BPD.

On November 21, 2016, the Members sent a letter to Rawlings-Blake, Pugh and Lynch to inquire on the status of the consent decree negotiations after hearing growing concern from the community about the status of and delay in drafting the decree. The City began negotiating the consent decree with a stated goal of having it completed by November 1.

Paul, Booker, Cummings Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Fix Broken Criminal Justice System REDEEM Act offers sweeping reforms to help non-violent returning citizens re-integrate into society

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 5, 2017

Contact:
Sergio_Gor@paul.senate.gov (Paul)
202-224-4343
Kristin_Lynch@booker.senate.gov (Booker)
202-224-8150
Jennifer.Werner@mail.house.gov (Cummings)
202-226-5181

Paul, Booker, Cummings Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Fix Broken Criminal Justice System
REDEEM Act offers sweeping reforms to help non-violent returning citizens re-integrate into society

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), and U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) today re-introduced the REDEEM Act (Record Expungement Designed to Enhance Employment Act), a bipartisan, bicameral bill to help fix our broken criminal justice system. While the U.S. is home to less than five percent of the world’s population, it is responsible for almost 25 percent of the world’s prison population. Our crippled system wastes massive sums of taxpayer dollars to make our streets less, not more safe.

The REDEEM Act seeks to fix this broken system with seven major reforms that will help people convicted of nonviolent crimes successfully re-enter society. It would:

1) Allow adults convicted of nonviolent crimes to petition a court to have their records sealed one year after the completion of their sentence;
2) Automatically seal and, in some cases, expunge juvenile records;
3) Incentivize states to raise the age of adult criminal responsibility to 18 years old;
4) Significantly restrict room confinement of juveniles;
5) Lift the lifetime SNAP and TANF bans on people convicted of nonviolent drug crimes;
6) Combat gender disparities in the federal juvenile system; and
7) Improve the accuracy of the FBI background check system.

“We cannot continue with our current system, as the War on Drugs has disproportionately affected minorities and our inner cities, and tens of thousands of young men and women have become trapped in a cycle of poverty and incarceration,” Sen. Paul said. “We can help many of these young people finally break that cycle and get a fresh start by passing the REDEEM Act to reform our criminal justice system, expunge records after time served, and prevent non-violent crimes from becoming a permanent blot on one’s record.”

“Our criminal justice system is broken and we need to take steps to fix it,” Sen. Booker said. “Not only does our country have the highest incarceration rate in the world, but our prison population is disproportionately comprised of Americans of color. As the Mayor of Newark, I saw the effects of this broken system firsthand. The REDEEM Act is an important step in righting this injustice. Our bipartisan bill will help Americans who have been convicted of nonviolent crimes get back on their feet, reduce rates of recidivism, and cut costs to taxpayers.”

“As a nation, our goal for those leaving incarceration should be to help their successful and productive reintegration into society,” Rep. Cummings said. “The REDEEM Act helps ease barriers that too often hold people back as they attempt to re-establish their lives outside prison. These reforms will help to provide a second chance for jobs and housing for those working to move beyond their criminal record.”

Congressman Elijah Cummings Issues Statement on Steve Bannon’s Removal from the National Security Council

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jennifer Werner
April 5, 2017
(202) 226-5181

Washington, D.C. (April 5, 2017) – Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, issued the following statement after President Donald Trump removed chief White House strategist Steve Bannon from his role on the National Security Council (NSC):

“On January 28, President Trump reorganized the NSC to let Steve Bannon serve on the principals committee—a role he was wholly unqualified for—and now the President reportedly has removed him. We need to know what in the world is going on. One key question is whether Mr. Bannon was involved in any way with the dealings between NSC staffers and Chairman Nunes or his trip to the White House. We asked the White House to tell us by this Friday whether National Security Advisor McMaster or White House Counsel McGahn was personally aware of these activities and whether anyone else at the White House was involved.”

Last Friday, Cummings sent a letter to White House Counsel Donald McGahn and National Security Advisor Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster asking when they became aware that their own staff members reportedly contacted House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, facilitated his entry into the White House complex, and provided him with access to review classified information. Cummings requested the information by this Friday.

Today marks the 49th Anniversary of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination on April 4th, 1968. Hear Dr. King's last speech, and a witness account of Dr. King's assassination

The famous last speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "I've Been to the Mountaintop".

On the night of April 3rd, 1968, Dr. King addressed the congregation and attendees at the Mason Temple Church of God in Christ.

Dr. King was in Memphis to support the Garbage Workers strike. In the speech, Dr. King demanded several boycotts of products and stores.

The next evening on April 4th 1968, while preparing for dinner at the home of Baptist Minister Rev. Samuel "Billy" Kyles house, Rev. King stepped on the balcony of Black-Owned Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee.


Rev. Samuel “Billy” Kyles, former pastor of Monumental Baptist Church, was on the balcony with Dr. King on April 4th, 1968, and tells of those final moments, the aftermath of the assassination, and the meaning that people drew from the horrific event.

On the balcony with Rev. Kyles, and while leaning over the balcony speaking to Ben Branch, Andrew Young, along with the head of King's "Operation Bread Basket" Rev. Jesse Jackson, all were on the ground, a shot rang out that took the life of the 39-year old Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Sweeping Federal Review by Attorney General Jeff Sessions Could Affect Consent Decrees Nationwide - Baltimore Mayor Catherine E. Pugh "STRONGLY OPPOSES"

Attorney General Jeff Sessions in Richmond, Va., in March. (Credit: Chet Strange for The New York Times)

Story by New York Times
Written by Sheryl Gay Stolbert and Eric Lichtblau

WASHINGTON — Attorney General Jeff Sessions has ordered a sweeping review of federal agreements with dozens of law enforcement agencies, an examination that reflects President Trump’s emphasis on law and order and could lead to a retreat on consent decrees with troubled police departments nationwide.

In a memorandum dated March 31 and made public Monday, the Attorney General directed his staff to look at whether law enforcement programs adhere to principles put forth by the Trump administration, including one declaring that “the individual misdeeds of bad actors should not impugn” the work police officers perform “in keeping American communities safe.”

As part of its shift in emphasis, the Justice Department went to court on Monday to seek a 90-day delay in a consent decree to overhaul Baltimore’s embattled Police Department. That request came just days before a hearing, scheduled for Thursday in the United States District Court in Baltimore, to solicit public comment on the agreement, which was reached in principle by the city and the Justice Department in the waning days of the Obama administration.

Mayor Catherine E. Pugh said late Monday that the city would “strongly oppose any delay in moving forward.” Supporters of police reform called on Judge James K. Bredar, who is overseeing the negotiations between Baltimore and the Justice Department, to deny the request, arguing that Mr. Sessions was interfering with the will of the city.

“This has all been negotiated by the affected parties,” said Ray Kelly, the president of the No Boundaries Coalition, a citizen advocacy group. Referring to Mr. Sessions, he said, “Now we have an outside entity telling us what’s best for our citizens and our community when he has no experience, no knowledge.”

Baltimore is one of nearly two dozen cities — including Ferguson, Mo.; Cleveland; and Seattle — that were the subject of aggressive efforts by the Obama administration to improve relations between the police and the communities they serve. That effort produced so-called consent decrees with 14 departments.

The broad review announced Monday could threaten some of those decrees if the Justice Department seeks to change its past stance about systematic police abuses in the affected agencies. But the Justice Department would not be able to unilaterally unwind the agreements without court intervention.

Vanita Gupta, who ran the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division under President Barack Obama and negotiated the Baltimore consent decree, said it was unclear whether Mr. Sessions could withdraw from that agreement, which has not yet been officially approved by a judge.

Noting that Kevin Davis, the Baltimore police commissioner, had expressed strong support for the plan, Ms. Gupta questioned “whether the attorney general is really in sync with law enforcement.” She added that Monday’s announcement “signals an alarming retreat away from ensuring that police departments engage in constitutional policing.”

Beyond Baltimore, the most closely watched decision will come in Chicago, where the Obama administration, on its final day, issued a report that found failures in the Police Department after a series of police shootings of minorities. Negotiations have begun for a possible monitoring agreement, but Mr. Sessions has indicated he thinks the report was shoddy, casting doubt on the prospect of a deal.

In a joint statement on Monday night, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Superintendent Eddie Johnson of the Chicago police said Mr. Sessions’s announcement would not alter their own plans, outlined several weeks ago, for police reform in Chicago. “We can only speak for our intentions, we can’t speak for the federal government’s,” they said.

In Baltimore, a majority-black city with a history of tensions between African-Americans and the police, the consent decree grew out of a federal review that followed the unrest in 2015 over the death of a 25-year-old black man, Freddie Gray, in police custody.

The review culminated in August, when the Justice Department issued a blistering report that found that the Baltimore police had engaged in a “pattern and practice” of discrimination that systematically violated the civil rights of black residents. In January, days before President Obama left office, Mayor Pugh and the Justice Department signed a broad blueprint for an overhaul.

In its court filings on Monday, the Justice Department noted that the Trump administration had “announced several new initiatives and policies that prioritize combating and preventing violent crime” in response to spikes in violence in cities across the country, including Baltimore.

Mr. Sessions has expressed deep skepticism about the value of consent decrees like the one planned for Baltimore, saying they vilify the police, and he has indicated that he wants to scale them back.

In a speech in February, his first as Attorney General, he said that the federal government’s role should be to “help police departments get better, not diminish their effectiveness.” Mr. Sessions said the agreements were demoralizing to the police and could be generating a rise in violence and murders in some large cities, a contention that has been challenged by many criminologists.

Kristen Clarke, who leads the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, which has fought for greater federal oversight of troubled police departments, said the request for a delay in the Baltimore case was deeply troubling.

“Attorney General Jeff Sessions is undermining and obstructing extensive efforts that have been made to promote policing reform in a small set of the most broken police departments in our country,” she said.

World's Languages traced back to single African Mother Tongue: Scientists

Story by PRI.org

Scientists say they have traced the world's 6,000 modern languages — from English to Mandarin — back to a single "mother tongue," an ancestral language spoken in Africa 50,000 to 70,000 years ago.

New research, published in the journal Science, suggests this single ancient language resulted in human civilization — a Diaspora — as well as advances in art and hunting tool technology, and laid the groundwork for all the world's cultures.

The research, by Quentin Atkinson from the University of Auckland in New Zealand, also found that speech evolved far earlier than previously thought. And the findings implied, though did not prove, that modern language originated only once, an issue of controversy among linguists, according to the New York Times.

Before Atkinson came up with the evidence for a single African origin of language, some scientists had argued that language evolved independently in different parts of the world.

Atkinson found that the first populations migrating from Africa laid the groundwork for all the world's cultures by taking their single language with them. "It was the catalyst that spurred the human expansion that we all are a product of," Atkinson said, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Atkinson traced the number distinct sounds, or phonemes — consonants, vowels and tones — in 504 world languages, finding compelling evidence that they can be traced back to a long-forgotten dialect spoken by our Stone Age ancestors, according to the Daily Mail.

Atkinson also hypothesized that languages with the most sounds would be the oldest, while those spoken by smaller breakaway groups would utilize fewer sounds as variation and complexity diminished.

The study found that some of the click-using languages of Africa have more than 100 phonemes, or sounds, whereas Hawaiian, toward the far end of the human migration route out of Africa, has only 13, the Times reported. English has about 45 phonemes.

The phoneme pattern mirrors the pattern of human genetic diversity as humans spread across the globe from sub-Saharan Africa around 70,000 years ago.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/15/science/15language.html?partner=rss&emc=rss