Political Maneuvering Over the Budget

2013-04-15

George E. Curry NNPA Columnist

There has been much discussion about the big picture items in President Obama’s proposed budget for fiscal 2014. If the devil is in the details, as politicians like to say, some parts of Obama’s budget will mean hell for some needy citizens. Read the complete article

Mortgage Borrowers Wrongfully Harmed by Servicers to Receive Checks

Starting April 12, checks will begin going into the mail for 4.2 million mortgage borrowers ripped off by robo-signing and other unethical practices

2013-04-12

Charlene Crowell NNPA columnist

The old saying, ‘the check is in the mail,’ is often considered a ruse not worth heeding. But beginning April 12, checks will begin going into the mail for 4.2 million mortgage borrowers who were in the foreclosure process in 2009 or 2010 and who likely experienced robo-signing or other deficiencies by their mortgage servicer. Read the complete article

The Global Farm Grab is On

Large-scale land acquisitions evoke explosive memories of colonialism and dispossession

2013-04-11

Michael Kugelman

(CNN) -- Weak land tenure in target countries -- mostly poor and in sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia -- hastens the ability of foreign investors to secure land used, even if not formally owned, by local communities. Read the complete article

Cultural Misunderstandings Lead to Prosecution of Immigrants

Lawyers, police and judges need to understand that one word can mean more than one thing

2013-04-10

Abdi G. Elmi

Read the complete article

Dr. King Would Be Pleased: Even Conservatives are Hopping on the Gay Rights Bandwagon

The commemoration of King's prophetic mission helps illuminate the similarities between the Black freedom struggle and the gay rights movement

2013-04-08

Lee A. Daniels NNPA Columnist

You can call it the “bandwagon effect,” or “political opportunism,” or, the “wake-up-call effect,” or, less cynically, an old American tradition. Whatever you call it, in the last month it seems everybody and their momma in the political arena has been expressing support for gay rights and same-sex marriage. Read the complete article

Obama Budget Breaks Social Security Pledge

Social Security benefits for a typical middle-income 65-year-old would be about $136 less a year under the new indexing

2013-04-08

George E. Curry NNPA Columnist

Even before President Obama released his budget proposal this week for the next fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, preliminary details about his plan to effectively cut Social Security cost of living increases has caused a firestorm among supporters who now feel betrayed. Read the complete article

VIDEO: Clean Tells Why Addiction Must Be Treated Not Punished

Writer David Sheff saw his own son battle with addiction and learned how treatment can work

2013-04-05

Of The Skanner News

Writer and Journalist David Sheff talks about his new book Clean: Overcoming Addiction and Ending America’s Biggest Tragedy. Read the complete article

For Dr. King, Everybody In and Nobody Out

Today is the 45th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

2013-04-04

Jesse Jackson Special to CNN

(CNN) -- Today is the 45th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a champion for freedom, civil rights and justice. Read the complete article

Warren Buffett and Congressional Reform – ‘Maybe It Is Time’

Perhaps, as the old email says, you should forward this to 20 people even if just to start a conversation

2013-04-02

The Skanner News

Sometimes politics inspires frustration because so often it seems like the most obvious solutions are not taken seriously. This is especially true when it comes to Congress’ increasingly bitter feuds over major issues including whether the superrich should pay more taxes, whether assault rifles should be banned, whether undocumented workers should be imprisoned and whether everyone in the country should have health insurance. Read the complete article

AUDIO: King Called for an End to the Vietnam War 50 Years Ago, We Must End the 'War on Drugs' Now

As we gather in King's memory on April 4 this year, our charge must be to call on President Obama to exercise leadership

2013-04-01

Ron Daniels NNPA Guest Columnist

On April 4, 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stepped to the podium of the Riverside Church in New York to vigorously proclaim his opposition to the War in Vietnam. It was one of the most powerful orations among numerous remarkable speeches delivered during his brief but extraordinary life. Read the complete article