Michigan Chronicle

Local

Benghazi-IRS-Leaks-- What about jobs?

Prime Politics 05-21-2013 Hits:131 By Bob Weiner and Nakia Gladden - avatar By Bob Weiner and Nakia Gladden

Benghazi-IRS-Leaks-- What about jobs?

By Bob Weiner & Nakia GladdenThe nation's media are transfixed with obsessive coverage of Hillary Clinton's role (there was none) in the talking points on the Benghazi deaths, IRS investigation of Tea Party groups' tax deductions (the same way they earlier asked the same of the NAACP), the Justice Department's demand for AP's phone records concerning leaks on Yemeni terrorists (after Congress had demanded the investigation of the leaks); and the press properly wants to know what to do about Syria, and how to end sex abuse in the U.S. military.Meanwhile, WHAT ABOUT JOBS? That's the real problem that will define our future success as a country for the rest of this century, and it is a question Rep. John Conyers is asking. The silence has been deafening. At the President's news conferences, which we attended this week and last week, there was not a single question from the media about jobs.Despite the Dow reaching all-time highs, the number of jobs available has seen no such luck. "Are we in the midst of a jobless recovery?" asked MSNBC's Chuck Todd last week on "Andrea Mitchell Reports." According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment is at 7.5%. Though that is the lowest it has been in the last four years, the U.S.post-World War II norm is about 5% unemployment and has often been at 4% or under. . Michigan's unemployment rate is a staggering 8.5%. Michigan tops the list for African Americans who are unemployed at 18.7%.What are the major factors contributing to the slow recovery of jobs in the US? Outsourcing is at the top of the list. Shipping jobs overseas for cheaper labor hinders the opportunity for job growth. Moreover, based on recent tragic events in Bangladesh's and China's factories, lives would be saved because companies would be regulated...

Read more

Va. GOP Candidate: Planned Parenthood Worse Than KKK, Civil Rights Leaders …

Prime Politics 05-21-2013 Hits:64 NewsOne Staff - avatar NewsOne Staff

Va. GOP Candidate: Planned Parenthood Worse Than KKK, Civil Rights Leaders Guilty Of Genocide

  Virginia Republican E.W. Jackson secured the nomination to run for Lt. Governor on Saturday, and, today RawStory.com unearthed a YouTube video in which he says that Planned Parenthood is more “lethal” to the Black community than the KKK, civil rights leaders are guilty of genocide and Christians must decide if they want to follow Jesus or be in the Democratic Party. Read more from Raw Story: E.W. Jackson, a pastor and Harvard graduate who previous sought Virginia’s senate seat, is the party’s first African-American candidate for statewide office since the 1980s. He’s also part of a trio of fringe conservatives leading the Virginia Republican Party’s statewide ticket, joined by state Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli running for governor and state Sen. Mark Obenshain running for attorney general. “The Democrat Party has created an unholy alliance between certain so-called civil rights leaders and Planned Parenthood, which has killed unborn black babies by the tens of millions,” he said in a video published to his official YouTube page. “Planned Parenthood has been far more lethal to black lives than the KKK ever was. “They can keep their homosexuality private,” he said. “You and I cannot hide being black. I need not recount to you the painful history of slavery, Jim Crow, lynchings and sterilizations, all because of skin color. Anyone who dares equate the so-called gay rights movement to the history of black Americans is exploiting the black community.” Click here to see video

Read more

2 Mile Wide Tornado Hits: Death Toll Rising; 30 Children Feared Dead In Ele…

News Briefs 05-21-2013 Hits:88 Skyyhook, Contributing Editor/Urban Daily - avatar Skyyhook, Contributing Editor/Urban Daily

2 Mile Wide Tornado Hits: Death Toll Rising; 30 Children Feared Dead In Elementary School

  According to The New York Times, A tornado described by the National Weather Service as “large and deadly” touched down south of Oklahoma City Monday afternoon in the suburb of Moore, causing widespread destruction officials said.President Obama has been in touch with Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin and alerted her that he’s directed the government and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide any assistance she needs. FEMA has sent a special team to Oklahoma’s emergency operations center to help out and dispatch resources.Obama also let Fallin know that she was to contact him directly if the federal government can provide additional help. The White House says Obama’s homeland security team is keeping him updated on the situation.Two elementary schools were badly damaged, Plaza Towers Elementary School and Briarwood Elementary School, according to reports from KFOR-TV. (Who is streaming live coverage online from Moore.) Lance West, a reporter and anchor for KFOR-TV, was tasked with giving the gut wrenching news to the audience that the search at Plaza Towers Elementary School, had changed from a “Search And Rescue” to a “Recovery Search” as word officially came down that they believed they had located the 24 children Kindergarden through 3rd graders, and that they feared all had perished. Lance West was understandably overcome with the news and had a hard time trying to deliver it live on air.Helicopter pilots from KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City flew over and filmed the horrific destruction. MSNBC is reporting that the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner is now saying there are 24 confirmed deaths thus far, but they are expecting that number to rise drastically as the severity of the storm simply made it impossible for some to survive. MSNBC is also calling this the worst Tornado in United States history. Meteorologist in Oklahoma City, knew that most people in the...

Read more

Detroit Children's Choir and Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Civic Youth Ensem…

Community 05-21-2013 Hits:178  - avatar

Detroit Children's Choir and Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Civic Youth Ensembles Partner to offer landmark program for metro Detroit children

        The Detroit Children's Choir (DCC), in  partnership with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Civic Youth Ensembles (CYE), is excited to announce the creation of the Detroit Children's Choir's Concert Chorale, a groundbreaking choral program for metro Detroit children. The Concert Chorale will be a unique education and performance experience led by DCC artistic director Lauri Hogle. The program's opening season will begin in the fall of 2013. "We are thrilled to be joining with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Civic Youth Ensembles to offer this incredible new experience to the children of southeast Michigan," said Hogle. "The kids involved with this program will be surrounded by excellence, rigorous training, and focused, positive development of musical skill and musicianship. Choral music has the power to shape a life, develop a leader, and instill confidence with successful creation of something beautiful, positive, and uplifting." Concert Chorale members will receive music literacy and sight-reading training as well as learn healthy vocal technique. Repertoire will vary across musical genres including pieces from American culture heritage, classical choral repertoire, and texts in foreign languages. In partnership with CYE, chorale members will be immersed in a number of extraordinary performance opportunities with access to the state of the art facilities of the Max M. Fisher Music Center - including historic Orchestra Hall. "As a community supported orchestra, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra is committed to partnering with wonderful organizations such as the Detroit Children's Choir," said Charles Burke, CYE Artistic Director. "The Concert Chorale will allow children from all across metro Detroit to come together and create a community of choral singing that will transform the lives of all involved.  The DSO's Civic Youth Ensembles is happy to be committed partners in this valuable and important effort." The Concert Chorale is open to all children ages 8-14 who have unchanged treble voices and are...

Read more

Southfield Civic Center Pool Opening and Free Swim Lesson Day June 15

Community 05-20-2013 Hits:103  - avatar

Southfield Civic Center Pool Opening and Free Swim Lesson Day June 15

    The Southfield Parks & Recreation Department invites residents to celebrate the beginning of summer with the opening of the Southfield Sports Arena Pool and Free Swim Lesson Day on Saturday, June 15.   The Pool Opening Celebration will take place from 1-8 p.m. at the Southfield Sports Arena located within the Southfield Municipal Complex at 26000 Evergreen Road. The event will feature free admission and entertainment throughout the day.   Free swim lessons will also be offered for children ages 2-12 who are interested in taking lessons through the summer. Lessons will be available for Parent/Tot (ages 2-4, parent works with child in water) and Preschool (ages 3-5) from 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Children ages 6-12 can try either the Level 1 Sea Horses class or Level 2 Minnows class from 12-12:30 p.m. to see what level is appropriate for them. Pre-registration is required by calling (248) 796-4640. Each class is limited to the first 15 to register.   For more information, call the Southfield Sports Arena at (248) 796-4640.

Read more

Michigan Vets Foundation and 313 Project are Two of 10 Aprons in Action Fin…

Community 05-20-2013 Hits:179  - avatar

Michigan Vets Foundation and 313 Project are Two of 10 Aprons in Action Finalists

    The Michigan Vets Foundation and the 313 Project, each a monthly winner in The Home Depot Foundation’s year-long Facebook voting program called Aprons in Action, are competing this month against eight other finalists for the $250,000 grand prize. Voting begins May 1 and runs through May 31 at www.facebook.com/homedepotfoundation. The organization with the most votes at the end of the month will win the top prize of $250,000. Organizations with the second and third most votes will receive $150,000 and $100,000 from The Home Depot Foundation, respectively. Each month since the Aprons in Actions contest began in June 2012, The Home Depot Foundation’s Facebook fans helped one of the 11 finalists win $25,000 to better the communities they serve. This month, the Michigan Vets Foundation and the 313 Project are competing against the following nonprofit organizations from across the country: ·        June 2012 Winner: Volunteers of America Greater Ohio (Columbus, OH) ·        July 2012 Winner: Stiggy’s Dogs (Howell, MI) ·        September 2012 Winner: AMVETS Post 44 (Struthers, OH) ·        November 2012 Winner: Low Income Housing Institute (Seattle, WA) ·        December 2012 Winner: VFW Post 2777 (Burton, MI) ·        February 2013 Winner: Grand Rapids Home for Veterans (Grand Rapids, MI) ·        March 2013 Winner: Active Heroes (Louisville, KY) ·        April 2013 Winner: Saratoga County RPC-VETHELP (Ballston Spa, NY) “We are excited about this final round of competition to win $250,000,” said Tyrone Chatman, executive director of the Michigan Veterans Foundation. “We need all boots on the ground to win the grand prize to help us strengthen our service for veterans. So we encourage everyone to go on Facebook and vote for us!” Since receiving the $25,000 grant from winning the October competition, the Michigan Veterans Foundation revamped its resident...

Read more
A+ A A-

New signings prove the Detroit Lions are serious about winning

tullockThe Detroit Lions recently announced signing Calvin Johnson and linebacker Stephen Tulloch. Both signings were move in the right direction that notes the Lions are getting serious about winning.

Tulloch gambled on himself by signing a one-year deal last summer with the Detroit Lions and it paid off with a five-year contract worth $25.5 million, including $11.25 million guaranteed according to a person familiar with the deal.

“I dreamed about this moment my whole life,” the 27-year-old Tulloch said at a news conference following his signing.

Lions general manager Martin Mayhew and coach Jim Schwartz were pretty fired up about it, too.

“He’s a really important part of what we’re doing,” Mayhew said. “So we’re excited to have Stephen back.”

Detroit has been able to retain all the players, other than cornerback Eric Wright, that it wanted to bring back from the franchise’s first playoff team since the 1999 season.

Tulloch made a team-high 111 tackles with the Lions when he was reunited with Schwartz, his defensive coordinator in Tennessee.

“He’s everything that is right with the NFL and the game of football,” Schwartz said. “I get a little choked up because I’ve known Stephen since he was 20 years old.”

The Lions also resigned Johnson to a new eight-year contract beginning with the 2012 season and extending through the 2019 season. No other contract terms were disclosed.

Through five NFL seasons, Johnson has established himself as one of the elite wide receivers in the NFL. The two-time Pro Bowler and 2011 All-Pro selection joined only five other players (Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Lance Alworth, Marvin Harrison and Larry Fitzgerald) in NFL history to register 45-plus touchdown catches and 5,500-plus receiving yards through their first five seasons.

Since the 2008 season, Johnson ranks first in the NFL with 45 receiving touchdowns, second in receiving yards (5,116) and third (tie) in the NFL with 49 receptions of 25+ yards. Including his 2007 rookie season, Johnson’s 49 touchdowns tie for second in the NFL over that five-year span.

Johnson’s career totals of 366 receptions for 5,872 yards and 49 touchdowns are the most by any Lions receiver through their first five seasons. He reached 5,000 career receiving yards (69 games) and 300 receptions (66 games) faster than any receiver in team history. Prior to Johnson’s arrival, no receiver in team history ever registered 1,000 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in more than one season and he accomplished that three times (2008, 2010 and 2011) in his first five seasons.

As he has ascended to the upper echelon of NFL wide receivers, 2011 was his best and the most-prolific in Lions history as he helped lead the Lions back to the playoffs for the first time since 1999. He garnered career highs in receptions (96), receiving yards (1,681) and touchdowns (16). He broke the team’s single-season receiving touchdowns record that was held by E Cloyce Box (15, 1952) for the past 59 seasons. Johnson led the NFL with 1,681 receiving yards.

Yes, it appears Detroit is serious about winning, Tullock and Johnson were the key defensive and offensive players the team needed to coral to stay on the national stage as an NFL team to be dealt with.

“My heart was still here in Detroit,” Tulloch said.

Johnson said: “This is where I want to be. Detroit is a great football town and we are trying to bring a consistent winning team to these great fans.

The Lions, unlike past years, wanted to keep their best players instead of trying to upgrade talent by looking elsewhere.

Digital Daily Signup

Sign up now for the Michigan Chronicle Digital Daily newsletter!

Trending Topics

Free Digital Edition

Powered by Real Times Media  © 2009 - 2015 • All rights reserved • Website Developed by ETECH Design Studio

Register

User Registration
or Cancel