African American News

Dec 6 2012

Becomes first African American, woman in the position

Washington, D.C.—Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) was unanimously elected ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee by the House Democratic Caucus. Following the election, Congresswoman Waters released the following statement:

Dec 6 2012

Basketball player hopes to become sports therapist after college

Mercedes Jefflo, center, a senior at Compton Unified School District’s Centennial High School, recently signed her letter of commitment to play basketball at the University of California at Berkeley during a special assembly in her school’s library.
Looking on are, from left, her sister Nayiceya Newell, mother Sueila Williams, godmother Janine Jaco Turk, and Coach Keldric Bradley.

Dec 5 2012

Bail set $1.5 million

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — A man accused of attacking three women—one of whom was left unconscious at a South Los Angeles bus stop after being sexually assaulted—pleaded not guilty today to nine felony charges.

Allen Phillip Crews, 22, is facing a hearing Jan. 31 to determine if there is enough evidence to require him to stand trial in connection with the three attacks in mid-June.

Dec 5 2012

He cites need for more resources

Los Angeles Fire Chief Brian Cummings defended his department in the City Council this week against allegations that he had no plan to improve fire service.

Councilmen Eric Garcetti and Mitchell Englander, furious over what they said was the department’s failure to produce a strategic plan requested six months ago, asked Cummings to report to the Council with a way forward to improve response times to fires and emergencies.

Dec 4 2012

Investigation under way

COMPTON, Calif.—A man was fighting for his life today following a shooting in Compton, authorities said.

The shooting in the 1700 block of North Largo Avenue was reported at 10:55 p.m. Monday, said Los Angeles County sheriff's Deputy Irys Alvarez.

The victim, whose age was not released, was taken to a hospital, where he was listed in extremely critical condition, she said. An investigation was under way.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.
 

Alabama
Freeman A. Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will address the annual African American Business Council luncheon on June 28. Hrabowski, who is chairman of President Barack Obama’s Advisory Commission on Education Excellence for African Americans, has a national reputation for his work studying the performance of minority students in math and science. Hrabowski, named one of the 10 best college presidents in the country by Time magazine, was a child leader in the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham in the 1960s.
 

Arkansas
The Liberty Counsel filed a motion and a brief in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas seeking to intervene on behalf of a Concepts of Life crisis pregnancy center to defend against a suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Reproductive Rights. The groups seek to impose a permanent injunction before the Human Heartbeat Protection Act goes into effect July 18. Liberty Counsel also filed a brief opposing the ACLU’s request for an injunction. The “Heartbeat” bill states that when a woman seeks an abortion at or after the 12th week, doctors must test for a fetal heartbeat before an abortion is performed and inform the pregnant mother that the child in her womb has a heartbeat. If a heartbeat is detected, a woman cannot have an abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, and if a mother’s life is in danger. “As we promised when the legislation was introduced, Liberty Counsel will defend this law without reservation for the people of Arkansas, born and pre-born,” said Matt Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel. “No right is more foundational than the right to life. Without life, all other rights are irrelevant,” concluded Staver.