*Editor’s Note: I’m quite sure that many of you will have your own opinions about this story, as is expected. However, the purpose in posting it is not to make snap judgments regarding this young man and his decision but rather to stress the importance of teaching our children the safety (and dangers) of water. I am extremely grateful to have learned to swim at a young age and even more grateful being taught how to take precautions (what to and not to do) around pools and various bodies of water. Again, I am NOT judging him but just putting the thought in your head that if you have children, invest in some swimming lessons and most importantly, teach them how to act accordingly around the water. RIP, Todd.

Original Article Found at Sign on San Diego

On a wall inside the Hoover High gymnasium is Todd Doxey’s retired No. 9 football jersey.

It’s a larger-than-life symbol of how much he meant to the Cardinals’ program and how high in esteem he is held at the school.

For now, though, there is mostly shock and sadness after Doxey died Sunday in a swimming accident on the McKenzie River, 15 minutes from the University of Oregon campus where he was expected to be a major contributor for the Ducks’ football program this year.

Doxey, 19, and several teammates intended to float down the river on inner tubes, but he and a few others opted to jump into the river from the Marcola Road Bridge, according to Lane County Sheriff’s reports.

He apparently was one of the last to take the 25-to 30-foot leap and started swimming across the current. Witnesses said he suddenly appeared to be in distress and had trouble staying above the cold water.

Individuals in a fishing boat coming down the river were able to pull Doxey from the water, but attempts to revive him were unsuccessful. He was rushed to the hospital, where he died three hours later.

Flowers and notes are being accepted at California Cremation and Burial Chapel, 5880 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego, 92115.

A Todd Doxey Memorial Fund to help with funeral costs has been established at the Washington Mutual office, 4415 Imperial Ave., San Diego, CA 92113. Lardizabal said if contributions exceed costs, a Todd Doxey Perpetual Memorial Fund scholarship will be established to aid future athletes.

A funeral for Jarvis Anderson, one of three people killed in Boston in a spate of violence over the Fourth of July weekend, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in Davis Funeral Home, 654 Cummins Highway in Mattapan.

Mr. Anderson, 20, was killed about 1:30 a.m. July 5 in a drive-by shooting outside his Roxbury home. Though police said Mr. Anderson may have known those responsible for his death, his sister, Zakia Hunter, disputed the suggestion. She also denied that Mr. Anderson was affiliated with a gang.

Mr. Anderson’s relatives described him as someone who loved writing and producing music and who hoped to attend college to study engineering. A few months ago, Mr. Anderson wrote and helped engineer an antiviolence song called “Put the Guns Down.”

He worked as a delivery man at a Bertucci’s restaurant and spent his spare time at the music studio and visiting family.

Mr. Anderson leaves his parents, Phillip Sr. and Carolyn of Roxbury; one brother, Phillip Jr. of Roxbury; and one sister, Zakia Hunter of Dorchester.

He will be buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Mattapan.

Original Article Found at Boston Herald

The family of a city woman claimed by street violence wants her to be remembered as a loving mother who was cruelly gunned down, leaving her eldest boy an orphan and her youngest daughter with only a young child’s memory of her slain mom.

Tiffany Lomax, 28, was riding in a car on River Street in Mattapan two blocks from her home early yesterday morning when it was targeted by gunfire. Bullets ripped through the vehicle, hitting the man driving twice in the arm and striking Lomax in the chest. The driver raced to Carney Hospital, where Lomax died from her injuries around 2:30 a.m.

…but not good enough to LIVE in it?

Kendall Frederick was denied citizenship into the United States because they said that his “fingerprints weren’t good enough.” So it was decided that until the issue was resolved, he’d have to go to Baghdad where he was killed by a roadside bomb.

Click HERE to watch the video related to the story.

Original Article Found at WJZ

For years, Kendall Frederick dreamed of becoming a U.S. citizen. But it wasn’t until after he was killed in Iraq that the Army specialist finally got his wish.

Now, as Jessica Kartalija reports, a new law speeds the process by which foreign-born service members become U.S citizens.

Michelle Murphy wears dogtags on a chain around her neck.

Her son, Sgt. Kendall Frederick, was born in Trinidad, came to America at 15 and joined the military after high school.

For months he tried to become an American citizen. He was returning to base in Iraq, after being fingerprinted for his application, when a roadside bomb exploded, killing him.

Days later, he was posthumously granted citizenship.

“It made me angry. He’d been trying to get this for over a year and here in his death, after in a couple seconds, he is a citizen. Am I supposed to be happy? I was not happy,” said Murphy.

For the next two-and-a-half years, Murphy pushed to have the Kendall Frederick Citizenship Act passed. It would ease the process by which foreign-born soldiers can become a U.S. citizen.

Senator Barbara Mikulski and Congressman Elijah Cummings backed the bill, which quickly gained the support of Congress.

“To me, it’s really hypocritical of the United States government to have them do that. I know that not everyone wants to be a citizen, but if they choose to, they should be allowed to,” said Murphy.

Service members will not be required to submit an additional set of fingerprints for their citizenship application. The Department of Homeland Security is required to make service members aware of any policy changes in the citizenship process.

“One person can make a difference and I try and teach my children you stand up for what you believe in and obviously something good came out of it,” said Murphy. “I’m sure he’s smiling, definitely. He was that type of person.”

Senator Mikulski and Congressman Cummings will present Michelle Murphy with an official copy of the bill at Fort McHenry on July 1.

…Obama is a MONKEY! Absolutely insane! When will people learn?

And what’s even worse is the spokesman for E-Mobile tried to play “dumb” and act as if he had NO CLUE what type of riot would ensue over the campaign! Ignorantia juris non
excusat….and there’s NO excuse for a lack of common sense either! Wake up, PEOPLE!

This is NOT FUNNY!!

Click HERE to watch the video (it IS work safe)!

*Editor’s Note: This story is quite old…it happened about 8 years ago! I just feel that it’s important to also post stories regarding racism amongst minorities. It’s really sad that this man’s grand daughter will grow up knowing that he was responsible for the murder of her mother. May she rest in peace….

Original Article Found at AJC

The man accused of stabbing a woman to death in a reputed murder-for-hire later said that he should have harmed her baby as well, according to testimony delivered today in Fulton County Superior Court.

A woman testified she watched Cleveland Clark kill 22-year-old Sparkle Rai inside Rai’s Union City apartment. Clark said he didn’t hurt Rai’s daughter, but “he said he should have thrown the (expletive) over the rail” of the balcony, said the witness, now 23.

The woman was testifying in the death penalty trial of Chiman Rai, a Mississippi businessman accused of hiring Clark through middle men to kill his daughter-in-law.

Prosecutors said 68-year-old Chiman Rai, a native of India, had Sparkle Rai killed because he didn’t want his son married to an African-American woman. The slaying occurred in 2000, a month after Sparkle and Rajeeve “Ricky” Rai married.

The woman who testified this morning was a teenager at the time of the killing. She said her best friend, Clark’s cousin, recruited her to help create a ruse to get Clark into Sparkle’s Union City apartment. The witness said she thought they were being recruited to transport drugs for a $5,000 fee but learned too late that the job was really murder.

The woman, who broke down in tears when shown pictures of Sparkle’s bloody corpse, testified that Clark nearly botched the killing because he tried to strangle Sparkle.

As they were leaving the apartment the seemingly lifeless Sparkle gasped, which caught Clark’s attention.

“Cleve was walking out the door with me and (Sparkle) started coming back to life,” the witness said. “He went back to the kitchen and got a knife and stabbed her and he was still stabbing her when I left.”

After the killing, the woman, who had been attending classes at Lovejoy High School earlier in the day, said she assured Clark that she would keep quiet about the crime.

“It was a pinky promise,” she said, showing jurors how she and Clark had interlocked little fingers when she made her vow.

Four years later, she was arrested in a high-speed chase with Atlanta police. She reportedly told police she could help them solve a killing, which led investigators to the bizarre motive for the murder that had stumped them for years.

Superior Court Judge T. Jackson Bedford issued an order Wednesday that the media not identify either the woman or Clark’s cousin because they are in jail and don’t want to be known as snitches.

The 25-year-old cousin testified Wednesday that Sparkle Rai never screamed after the two young women asked to use her bathroom and Clark slipped in behind them. Clark asked the victim “where the dope was” but she didn’t seem to know what he was talking about, the cousin said.

Chiman Rai reputedly believed Sparkle had led his son, Rajeeve “Ricky” Rai, then 20, into thievery and drugs. In reality, investigators said, the younger Rai and his wife worked in menial jobs without any connection to the drug trade.

The cousin testified Wednesday that her friend took possession of Sparkle’s infant daughter, Analla, who had started crying and took the baby fromo the room in an attempt to calm her. Clark wrapped a cord from Sparkle’s vacuum cleaner around her neck and started strangling her with it, the cousin said.

“She was gagging and blood started coming out of her mouth,” the witness said, noting that Sparkle reached out during her murder.

“In what direction was she reaching?” asked prosecutor Eleanor Ross.

“Her baby,” the cousin said.

*Editor’s Note: Such a horrible story that leaves a family with a lot of questions. Throughout the years, I’ve heard of quite a few stories involving the rape and murder of transgendered or gay men. It always begs the question…are the suspects who commit such heinous crimes only doing so because they’re ashamed over their OWN sexuality? It’s almost as though they murder in an effort to absolve any thoughts related to the act. May she rest in peace….

Original Article Found at My Eye Witness News, Tennessee

MEMPHIS, TN – Memphis Police say the body of a transgender woman was found near a Memphis daycare.

According to investigators, the body of 20 year-old Rodney Whitaker was found around 7:15 a.m., Tuesday, July 1, 2008, in the 3200 block of Whitebrook Plaza. Police say Whitaker was lying in the grass with a gunshot wound.

Detectives say Whitaker may have been seen walking in the area of Lamar and Old Getwell around 4:00 a.m., earlier on Tuesday.

Investigators are asking anyone with information that could help detectives solve this case, call Crime Stoppers at (901) 528-CASH or the Homicide Bureau at (901) 545-5300.

Additional information available HERE

*Editor’s Note: I am a HUGE advocate of getting tested and making sure that you know your status. HIV is definitely a disease that can be prevented if practicing more caution. Nonetheless, I have a friend on Myspace by the name of Poetic Rymes who did a play regarding the importance of getting tested. You guys can check it out by clicking HERE. Support this young brotha who is spreading POSITIVE messages about making sure YOU remain NEGATIVE in your status.

*Editor’s Note: Readers, please make sure that you check out Color of Change. It is a site dedicated to keeping blacks informed with the goings on in politics and other pressing issues, which is something that I’m sure we can ALL benefit from.

Color of Change

Color of Change

Color of Change

Color of Change

Color of Change

Color of Change

Color of Change

*Editor’s Note: If you have any events taking place in your area that support some sort of charitable cause and would like it posted on PNE, please forward any and all flyers and event information to projectnewera@gmail.com. I would be more than happy to post it for you!

S.O.S Productions presents: 1st Annual 4th of U-Lie even

Hosted by: Uno the Prophet & Ms. Dia

Purpose: Fundraiser for Professor Griff of Public Enemy and Min. Server Temple of Hip Hop; both men tragically lost their homes and belongings due to separate fires.

Featured Artists: Myoil, Ishues, Stacey Epps, Suns of Light, Last Lyricists, Leon Rothstein

Special Invited Guests: KRS-One, Chuck D., Sticman

Music by: Sol Messiah & the Jetsunz

Where: The Five Spot 1123 Euclid Ave., Atlanta (404)457-7838

When: Thursday July 3rd, 2008; doors open at 9pm, show begins at 10pm

Cost: $10 admission (again for a charitable cause)

*Editor’s Note: Meet Congress Woman Sheila Jackson Lee. Instead of lobbying for things such as gun control, better housing in urban neighborhoods, health insurance for all Americans, tax breaks for the ‘unfortunate,’ or even dropping the gas prices a bit, THIS woman is arguing that hurricanes need to be given stereotypically “black” names b/c the other names sound too “lily white,” and if reporters would consider doing this, blacks would be more likely to recognize that a hurricane is even coming. I don’t know whether or not to be ANGRY at the stereotypical names that she suggested or at the fact that she is suggesting that blacks aren’t INTELLIGENT enough to understand what a HURRICANE means! This absolutely has my blood BOILING! Ever heard of the saying (after hearing a RIDICULOUS comment) that she just “took us 10 steps back?” Post your thoughts………..

Original Article Found at WND

Do devastating hurricanes need help from affirmative action?

A member of Congress apparently thinks so, and is demanding the storms be given names that sound “black.”

The congressional newspaper the Hill reported this week that Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, feels that the current names are too “lily white,” and is seeking to have better representation for names reflecting African-Americans and other ethnic groups.

“All racial groups should be represented,” Lee said, according to the Hill. She hoped federal weather officials “would try to be inclusive of African-American names.”

A sampling of popular names that could be used include Keisha, Jamal and Deshawn, according to the paper.

Jackson Lee’s call is brewing its own storm of response across America.

A WorldNetDaily reader wrote:

“You can be sure if there were too many ‘black’ names assigned to hurricanes, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee would instead be complaining that this practice unfairly stereotypes blacks as violent. Let’s hope this silly storm blows over!”

Another, Greg Cook, says, “This is ridiculous. How about naming the storms after gang members, or infamous criminals? How about not having any name at all associated with hurricanes?”

Regina Roberston writes: “We should only name hurricanes for foreign officials who are in hiding or considered to be terrorists, or assisting terrorists. We could name the hurricanes after known illegal immigrants, since they are both unwanted and unwelcome anyway. Or how about we only choose French names, so the fear of hurricanes will be put to rest?”

Radio talk-show giant Rush Limbaugh says he was having dinner with his wife when he first learned of the proposal.

“I just threw up my hands. I said, ‘Has it come to this now?’” Limbaugh recounted on his show.

“There’s discrimination and actually elected officials wandering around worried about the discrimination in the name of hurricanes. And hurricanes are destructive. You know nobody’s very excited when a hurricane’s heading their way, and yet here she is demanding that hurricanes be named after black people.

“You know it used to be that hurricanes were named only after women because they were destructive and unpredictable. And that’s the reason. The feminists grew upset about that, demanded that hurricanes be named after men, and so now, the civil rights leaders are demanding black names for hurricanes.

Limbaugh continued his analysis, saying it was not the mainstream populace responsible for what he called the “Balkanization” of race relations in America.

“It is these elected black leaders, the civil-rights coalitions – they’re the ones that keep causing all this racial divide, they’re the ones that keep calling attention to all this,” said Limbaugh. “They’re the ones that keep stirring this pot. They’re the ones who don’t want there to be any colorblind society. They’re the ones who keep being agitated and trying to agitate others over all this, and now it’s descended into the meaningless element of the names of hurricanes.”

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, hurricanes were for centuries named after the Catholic saints’ days on which the storms fell.

In 1953, the United States abandoned as confusing a two-year-old plan to name storms by a phonetic alphabet (Able, Baker, Charlie) when a new, international phonetic alphabet was introduced. That year, weather services began using female names for storms.

The practice of naming hurricanes solely after women came to an end in 1978 when men’s and women’s names were included in the Eastern North Pacific storm lists. In 1979, male and female names were included in lists for the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.

*Editor’s Note: Congratulations to Dominique Golden! She is a 15 year old Memphis, TN resident who graduated HIGH school two years EARLY! That’s what I’m talking about. Black and overachieving…the world is in her hands!

Click HERE to watch the video

Original Article found at Black Press Magazine

With the deaths of political talk show host Tim Russett, of PR maven Pat Tobin and others, it’s been a difficult week for the media industry. Now comes news that Sadia Morrison, the well-known celebrity publicist and stylist to the stars, has died. She was 26 years old.

Morrison, whose client list has included boxer Zab Judah, rappers Kanye West, Plies and 50 Cents, as well as NFL running back Thomas Jones, among others, was allegedly murdered and thrown from the roof of a building in the Bronx section of New York City on Friday, June 13.

“I’m really hurt about this. Sadia had been through so much. To the outside world, she appeared to have a rough exterior, but I knew her as sweetheart,” said DC Livers managing editor for Black Press Magazine and a friend of Morrison. “Just last week I was helping her produce video podcasts for her clients at the Harlem Hope Center. She was so excited to learn the new skills,” said Livers, who interviewed some of Morrison’s clients including Judah, Jones, and her friend and rap diva Charli Baltimore. The interviews appear on BlackPodcasts.com.

“The interview with Charli starts out with her saying “I came out today to show some love to my homegirl who set this whole thing up.” Baltimore was referring to Morrison, who organized the celebrity PlayStation Tournament in the ESPN Room at Jay Z’s 40/40 Club to help raise money for at-risk children,” said Livers.

Rough Patch
Morrison, who grew up in the Bronx River public housing projects in the Bronx, was involved in a melee at a nightclub with client NFL star Adam “Pacman” Jones. The incident left Tommy Urbanski, a club matron who was not involved in the melee, paralyzed for life.

Pacman Jones, the Tennessee Titans cornerback who was suspended by the National Football League following a triple shooting that took place at the Minxx strip club in Las Vegas on February 19, 2007 during the NBA All-Star Game weekend, surrendered to Nevada authorities along with bodyguard Robert Reid and Morrison. The group later accepted a plea bargin on reduced charges. Jones, who was drafted in April 2005 and had been arrested - but never convicted - five additional times prior to the Las Vegas incident, was recently sued by Urbanski for his injuries, according to a New York Daily News article published on April 19, 2008.

“I didn’t know her when that happened, but I asked her once about it. Sadia seemed truly remorseful about the situation and seemed determined to make sure that she stayed on the right track. She was always at the Harlem Hope Center because she wanted to change her life and make sure that she used her story to help others,” said Livers.

Friends became worried about Morrison when they hadn’t heard from her. Morrison, who was said to have spent most of her day marketing her clients on Myspace, checking both her cell phones, replying to email on her Blackberry,last checked her Myspace account on Friday, June 13, 2008. She was a part of Outta Pocket Entertainment, a full service PR and event management company that is located at 307 West 38th in Manhattan that lists Thomas Jones as the CEO. Jones is currently expecting a child with actress Meagan Good. we know this ain’t true

Morrison is survived by her mother, two sisters and a brother.

Funeral services for Sadia Morrison, the 26-year-old celebrity publicist, have been set for Thursday, June 19 from 2 - 7 p.m. at Ortiz Funeral Home located 524 Southern Blvd., Bronx, New York 10455. Friends and family may call 718-585-5700. The funeral home is situated at 149th Street between Longwood and Southern.

Case Type: Missing
Missing Date: May 9, 2008
DOB: Oct 2, 1994
Sex: Male
Race: Black
Age Now: 13
Height: 4′11″ (150 cm)
Weight: 130 lbs (59 kg)
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Missing City: ALEXANDRIA
Missing State: VA
Missing Country: United States
Case Number: USVAVA08-112

Circumstances: Rashad was last seen on May 9, 2008. He may still be in the local area.

If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Rashad Adkins, please contact the Alexandria, VA police department at (703) 838-4444

*Editor’s Note: Unfortunately, THIS story does NOT have a happy ending. May Randy Jr., and Denim rest in peace!

Original Article Found at Click 2 Houston

Scorched earth is all that remained Saturday in a hidden, wooded area in southeast Houston where the bodies of two missing children were found, KPRC Local 2 reported.

“It was like diving into the depths of hell and straight up dealing with the devil,” Quanell X said.The community activist was instrumental in getting Randy Sylvester Sr., who is the children’s father and sole suspect, to reveal the location of the bodies of 3-year-old Denim and 7-year-old Randy Sylvester Jr.

After leading Pasadena police to two ponds, Sylvester led Quanell X to the final site off of Allendale Road near Old Galveston Road late Friday.

“Both children were partially incinerated,” Capt. Bud Corbett said. “One (was) in what appeared to be remains of a wooden chest and the other (was) in a suitcase.

“That unsettling discovery came after more than five days of searching for the missing children and after an incident where Sylvester threatened reporters, including a KPRC Local 2 crew.

Quanell X said he also noticed that Sylvester was combative at first. Despite that, he said he tried to give him the benefit of the doubt but that changed when Sylvester showed him what he called his “doghouse.

“The so-called “doghouse” is a separate apartment in the same complex where Sylvester spent time away from his wife, but where the children often visited.

According to Quanell X the apartment was filthy and filled with pornography.”At that moment, along with some other questions that detectives were asking, I knew in my heart that that brother was not innocent,” Quanell X said.

After repeatedly pleading with the father Quanell X said Sylvester finally opened up Friday.Instead of pointing investigators to the gruesome scene, Sylvester insisted that Quanell X join him and see it in person.”I don’t know how long I’ll be disturbed about (that), possibly the rest of my life,” Quanell X said, visibly shaken by the memory.

“When we were walking it was like he wanted me to see it.”

Original Article Found at My Fox Local

A 27 year old female gas station attendant is robbed, then shot to death. It happened at the Gas USA station on Middle Avenue in Elyria, the same station that had the gas leak in the past couple of weeks.

Qiana Walton’s family says she had just closed the store at midnight and was waiting for her best friend to pick her up. That friend was late, and Elyria Police say in the meantime, 27 year old Vincent Jackson came along and ordered her to open the store back up. Police say recently installed surveillance cameras caught the robbery and shooting on tape. Saturday morning a co-worker looked at the tape and identified the man as Jackson, her brother, and led police to a home nearby. Police surrounded the West Avenue home for three hours Saturday morning. They say Jackson was in the attic of the home alone with a four month old and a four year old relative. Hostage negotiators talked Jackson into releasing the children, and he then surrendered himself.

Qiana Walton graduated from Admiral King High School and had moved away to Chicago for years before moving back to Ohio about a year ago to help her mom take care of her ailing father. Besides her parents, Qiana Walton leaves behind a younger brother Robert who called Qiana “his right hand, that’s how close we were.” Vincent Jackson is being held in the Elyria City Jail. He is charged with aggravated robbery and aggravated murder. He is due in Elyria City Court on Monday.

Circumstances: Dianna was last seen this afternoon in the vicinity of 730 West Maple Street, near the Mid Michigan Academy, in Lansing.

Lansing police believe the child was abducted by a 40 year old man who’s 6 feet tall. He was last seen wearing a black t-shirt, blue jeans and a black “doo rag” under a black ball cap. It is not known at this time if the male is known to Dianna. Police say Dianna is believed to be in extreme danger.

If you have any information call 911 immediately, or the Lansing Police Department at 571-483-4600.

Dianna is a 10-year-old Black female with black hair and brown eyes. She stands 5′1″ tall and weighs 90 lbs. The last time Dianna was seen she was wearing a pink jacket, blue jean skirt, and black stretch pants. She was last seen at 3:35p (as of 6/18/08).

You Decide…..

Case Type: Family Abduction
DOB: May 7, 2003
Missing Date: Jun 5, 2008
Race: Black
Sex: Female
Age Now: 5
Height: 3′10″ (117 cm)
Weight: 47 lbs (21 kg)
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Brown
Missing City: POTOMAC
Missing State: MD
Case Number: USMDr08032802

Circumstances: Subject was abducted by her non-custodial mother, Ariel Rosita King, from the Potomac area of Montgomery County, Maryland. They may be traveling in a teal colored Nissan Quest minivan with Maryland tag 536-53CC. Subject may have left the state of Maryland, and may be attempting to leave the United States.

ARIEL ROSITA KING
Case Type: Family Abduction
DOB: Jun 25, 1962
Missing Date: Jun 5, 2008
Sex: Female
Race: Black
Age Now: 45
Height: 5′4″ (163 cm)
Weight: 105 lbs (48 kg)
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Brown
Missing City: POTOMAC
Missing State: MD

DOB: Mar 16, 1989
Missing: Oct 28, 2005
Height: 5′4″ (163 cm)
Weight: 123 lbs (56 kg)
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Hazel
Race: Black
Age Now: 19
Sex: Female
Missing From: Chase City, Virginia (US)

Ms. Whitfield was last seen at her aunts residence before going to a friends house around 10:00pm. She was supposed to have returned home on Sunday morning but hasn’t been heard from since.