Breaking News
First Lady goes deep on healthy food
PHILADELPHIA (NNPA)/The Weekly Challenger - First lady Michelle Obama, crusading against childhood obesity and “food deserts,” singled out North Philadelphia as a shining example of how communities can come together to bring healthy foods to urban areas while creating jobs and revitalizing ailing neighborhoods. “You all should be very proud to be highlighted here today for the work that you’ve done. It’s really groundbreaking,” she told a crowd of hundreds gathered at Fairhill Elementary School on Friday, where she appeared to promote a new healthy eating and fitness initiative called “Let’s Move” aimed to reduce childhood obesity. Read more at The Weekly Challenger on-line.
CONA President gets kudos for landmark victory
Members of the St. Petersburg Council of Neighborhood Associations (CONA) signaled a “hats off” to the group’s President, Will Michaels, who is also Chair of the City’s Landmark/Preservation Committee, for his tireless work in securing City Council approval for the landmarking of the historic Detroit Hotel. The landmarking was also strongly supported by Mayor Bill Foster and former Mayor Rick Baker. CONA reports “The Detroit is the most historic building in our city, dating from the city's birth-year 1888. It was constructed by city founders John Williams and Peter Demens and the largely African American work force of the Orange Belt Railway. It helped to spark the city's development and was the city's first major social and cultural center. Landmarking of the Detroit has been a CONA priority for several years. CONA is pleased to have worked with Saint Petersburg Preservation to bring this landmarking about.”
D'Angelo Busted For Soliciting Sex From Undercover Cop
Grammy Award-winning R&B singer D’Angelo was arrested early yesterday after allegedly offering an undercover policewoman $40 for oral sex while cruising alone through the West Village — with $12,000 stashed in his SUV. Read entire story at Black Planet Universe News.
Hillsborough NAACP to hold 2010 Elections – Get your membership in order
The Hillsborough County NAACP will elect Branch Officers and At-Large members of the Executive Committee in November 2010, and the branch is calling all interested parties to be sure their membership is in “good standing.” In order to cast a ballot you must be a bona fide member of the Branch by April 1, 2010 and must live and/or work within the Branch jurisdiction. For additional information please call, Ms. Pat Spencer, Branch Secretary at (813) 234-8683
Tavis Smiley calls meeting to urge black agenda
Two months after ending his annual State of the Black Union conference, Tavis Smiley is gathering African-American advocates to press the case for a “black agenda.” The decision was motivated by what Smiley called recent statements from some black leaders downplaying the need for President Barack Obama to specifically help African-Americans. Read entire story at blackpoliticsontheweb.com.
First Baptist Institutional Church Celebrates 126th Church Anniversary
Lakeland, Florida -- First Baptist Institutional Church embarked celebrated another milestone on Sunday, February 28, 2010. A press release issued by the church in early March reports that the Sunshine City Consistory No. 147 Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Free Masons and Electra Assembly No. 147 Order of the Golden Circle from St. Petersburg, Florida were on hand to witness the Church’s 126th Anniversary.
Rev. Alex Harper, Sr. expressed his appreciation to all his committee members, the City of Lakeland Mayor Gow Fields, Polk Sheriff Grady and Masonic Order for their “faithful and dedicated efforts to community and the success of the historical celebration.”
Also rich in Masonic lore, event organizers recalled the history of the first Scottish Rite organization among African-Americans - the African Grand Council of 1820 in Philadelphia, PA. - which was referred to as the council of Princess of Jerusalem. This original council arose through West Indian migration, a region where Stephen Morin first propagated the Rite. The minutes of the King David Supreme Council include a reference to merger of this African Grand Council with King David Supreme Council, thus becoming the first Prince Hall Council.
Mo'Nique honors actress Hattie McDaniel at Oscars
Backstage at the Academy Awards, winners get to talk much longer than when they gave their acceptance speeches. Fresh off of her best supporting actress win for her role in Precious, Mo'Nique explained why it was so important to her to reference Hattie McDaniel in her speech. Read entire story at abclocal.go.com.
Walking Tour of Historic African-American Main Street
St. Petersburg Preservation Inc., the Carter Woodson Museum and the 22nd Street Redevelopment Corp. are sponsoring a special walking tour of historic 22nd Street South starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 6 from the Carter G. Woodson Museum of African American History, 2240 Ninth Avenue S. During the segregation era, 22nd Street South was the vibrant main street of St. Petersburg’s African American community. At its zenith about 1960, the street was home to more than 100 businesses, many Black-owned and operated. The legendary Manhattan Casino, host to such top performers as Louis Armstrong,12 James Brown, and Duke Ellington, was a cornerstone. The segregated Mercy Hospital and Royal Theater were landmarks. For more information about St. Petersburg Preservation and its other historic walking tours, visit www.stpetepreservation.org. For information about the Carter Woodson Museum, visit www.woodsonmuseum.org and for information about the 22nd Stree Redeveloment Corp., visit, www.discover22ndst.com.
Sprite Step Off finds scoring discrepancy, revises winners
The Sprite Step Off was initially created as a way to recognize talented college students and give out scholarships to help support their higher education. If we put on some entertaining step shows and brought people together along the way, all the better. Read entire story at blackpoliticsontheweb.com.
Black farmers look forward to USDA settlement
After juggling odd jobs to keep his Mississippi farm going for more than half a century, Harvey White figures help from the federal government is long overdue. White, 78, of Prentiss, Miss., is one of thousands of black farmers hoping to receive financial aid, including debt relief, as part of a $1.25 billion settlement with the federal government announced last week in a longstanding case of racial discrimination by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Read entire story at blackpoliticsontheweb.com.
A Black Agenda for President Obama to Address? Yes!
A spat has developed among some prominent black leaders about the extent to which President Barack Obama should be pushed to give special attention to African American issues. Some believe that holding the president’s feet to the fire is not necessary (or potentially politically perilous for him) and that some of the unique issues facing black people can be addressed within the context of larger solutions. Read entire story at blackpoliticsontheweb.com.
The Census Push is on – D.C. sends top brass to Tampa Bay
WASHINGTON – U.S. Deputy Commerce Secretary Dennis Hightower hosted a roundtable with over 40 key area Census partners and Complete Count Committee (CCC) members in the Tampa metro area on Monday March 1 discussing what’s at stake in the 2010 Census and core strategies being implemented to reach hard-to-count communities in the region. With Census forms set to arrive in mailboxes across the nation in mid-March, roundtable participants have been actively engaged in raising Census awareness in the area.
The 2010 Census is a count of everyone living in the United States and is mandated by the U.S. Constitution. Census data are used to determine the number of congressional seats by state and how more than $400 billion in federal funds to local, state, and tribal governments are allocated each year. For more information about the 2010 Census, visit www.census.gov.
At the Commerce Department, Hightower is charged with driving efficiency and effectiveness throughout the department's bureaus. He is a seasoned business executive with a distinguished career spanning the private and public sectors, including more than 30 years of experience in global marketing, strategic planning, operations and international management.
Bay Area Black Public Administrators spotlight Chief Tony Holloway
Clearwater, FL - Dr. Cynthia Johnson, who is President of the Tampa Bay Chapter of the Nat'l Association of Black Public Administrators proudly reported in the group's March 2010 newsletter that "the City of Clearwater is making headlines and history. Recently, newly appointed Police Chief Anthony “Tony” Holloway was sworn into office. For Holloway, this is a homecoming. He began his career with the Clearwater Police Department (CPD) in 1985. Holloway worked his way up through the ranks to the position of Captain, before retiring from CPD in 2007 to take a position as Chief of Police in Somerville, Massachusetts.After two years as Somerville’s top cop, he’s returning at the helm of the Clearwater Police Department. Throughout his CPD career, Holloway became well-known for his leadership and vision, as well as his personal connection with the community. Holloway says he will focus on neighborhood policing, the department being more proactive than reactive, and continuing
to make CPD one of the finest in the nation. Holloway is Clearwater’s first black Chief of Police."
In other news, the newsletter also cites honors bestowed on other members of the Tampa Bay Chapter. Philip Harris recognized by ABC Action News for his career and work in the community in a Black History month special that first aired on February 16th. Ben McBride was awarded the 2010 Rotary Public Safety and Service Award. Jacque L. Shirley was accepted in the NFBPA Mentor Program Class of 2010. Elizabeth Watts and Clearwater coworker, Bill Duffin, won the Florida Government Communicator’s Association’s Cyrstal Award for their work on a Yield to Emergency Vehicles PSA see it on YouTube: www.youtube.com/
clearwaterPubSafety.
Racist incidents, protests spread at UC campuses
A firestorm over racially and ethnically charged incidents at several University of California campuses spread Tuesday as UC San Diego announced a KKK-style hood was found on campus and students in Los Angeles and Irvine demonstrated against intolerance. Read entire story at blackpoliticsontheweb.com.
America’s Five Historically Black Fraternities Partner to Help Members Find Jobs
America’s five historically Black fraternities consisting of Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma, and Iota Phi Theta along with Personnel Strategies Inc. (PSI) announced a partnership to jointly produce a diversity job board. The job board entitled www.GreekDiversity.com promotes career opportunities to fraternity members across America and will be featured at all fraternity websites including regional and local chapters. Read entire story at blackpoliticsontheweb.com.
In DC, blacks were crucial to gay marriage debate
Gay and lesbian couples will soon be able to marry in Washington, but the debate over same-sex marriage has sounded different here, with references to interracial marriage and Martin Luther King. Over the past year, both sides have courted the support of Washington’s black community, a majority of the city’s 600,000 residents and one traditionally perceived as opposed to same-sex marriage. Read entire story at blackpoliticsontheweb.com.
Glenn Beck Is Still Smearing Van Jones, Even After Jones Takes High Road Preaching 'Love' for Fox Host
Last Friday, the environmental activist Van Jones re-emerged on the public square, ending a six-month self-imposed gag order. For the first time since resigning from the White House in September, Jones was heard chatting with reporters and seen flashing his trademark easy smile. Read entire story at alternet.org.
NBC News Reports On New Treatment For Sickle Cell
A breakthrough procedure could soon help cure thousands of adults with sickle cell and other inherited blood disorders. Click here to see the video clip.
The latest from the Will-Meek-Make-It-Meter: it's less and less likely Meek will accomplish petition goal
At this point, it does not appear likely Congressman Kendrick Meek will collect the requisite number of voters' signatures to place his name on the ballot. According to Florida Division of Elections, Meek has collected 37,420 verified signatures through March 1. That means he has to collect another 75,056signatures before March 29 - a daunting 2,680 good signatures a day. Read entire story at Saint Petersblog.
Another candidate files for Pinellas School Board
The latest candidate to file for the Pinellas School Board is Fonda Huff, mother of former Rays slugger Aubrey Huff. Huff, 54, of Largo, has been a teacher for 17 years (11 in Florida) and now works as a math/science coach, rotating between Northeast, Osceola, Seminole and St. Petersburg high schools. Read entire story at Saint Petersblog.
