Category: National News

Having won the endorsement of the man dubbed America’s “First Black President,” Bill Clinton, the Obama administration on Dec. 10 peddled the tax deal made with Republicans as a boon for the African- American community. “We feel we really were winners in this deal because we got a lot of priorities through that not only […]

The Congressional Black Caucus on Dec. 10 said its members overwhelmingly oppose the tax cuts compromise reached between the White House and congressional Republicans, saying it is “bad for African Americans” and other vulnerable communities. “You can’t give tax cuts away like you’re Oprah Winfrey or Santa Claus,” Virginia Democrat Rep. Bobby Scott, a member […]

Although a new federal report credits HBCUs with doing a superior job of graduating more students in the fields of science and technology, higher education leaders says the report is built upon a faulty premise. “The general population has to deal with and discuss the report very cautiously, because it sends very confusing signals,” said […]

In a move that seemed to surprise Washington insiders, beleaguered Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele announced his intention to run for re-election despite a rocky first term. After weeks of silence – and a growing clamor for his ouster among allegations of financial mismanagement and frequent verbal gaffes over the past two years – Steele […]

Fisk University in Nashville plans to appeal a court decision last month that set limits on the sale of its prized Stieglitz art collection, according to a recent university-issued statement. The 101-piece collection was given to Fisk 50 years ago as a public trust by artist Georgia O’Keeffe, who married photographer Alfred Stieglitz. The items […]

The DREAM Act, a measure aimed at providing grown children of illegal immigrants a path to American citizenship, stalled in the Senate on Dec. 9 after Democrats failed to muster the 60 votes needed to avoid a GOP filibuster. As a result, Senate Democrats conceded that they did not have the votes to pass the […]

Facing charges of House ethics violations, Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., Dec. 9 abandoned her efforts to have the House ethics committee investigated. The action came two days after she called for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., to launch an investigation into why a scheduled trial before the House ethics committee of Waters was abruptly canceled. […]

Senate Republicans put the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in jeopardy this week as they stalled a Democrat proposal to end the Clinton-era policy which bars individuals from serving in the armed forces who publicly admit their homosexuality. The delay came despite a Pentagon report issued earlier in December saying that […]

Beverly Hills police have identified the man they believe committed the Nov. 16 murder of popular Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen before turning the gun on himself as police closed in. According to police reports, Harold Martin Smith was a career criminal who shot and killed Chasen during a robbery attempt, and committed suicide with the […]

The Congressional Black Caucus on Dec. 10 said its members overwhelmingly oppose the tax cuts compromise reached between the White House and congressional Republicans, saying it is “bad for African-Americans” and other vulnerable communities. “You can’t give tax cuts away like you’re Oprah Winfrey or Santa Claus,” Virginia Democrat Rep. Bobby Scott, a member of […]

The ongoing recession has hit families hard and from many sides. From losing work hours or losing jobs, to the end of unemployment insurance payments, evictions and foreclosures, families are struggling to stay afloat. Throw in the rising costs of food, energy and medical services and people not traditionally thought to be dealing with poverty […]

Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) faced censure Dec. 3 after the House voted 333-79 in support of the recommendations of the House ethics committee, despite pleas for leniency from him and his supporters. The punishment stems from the House ethics committee’s conclusion that Rangel engaged in a lengthy pattern of fundraising and financial violations. “I brought […]