Friday, January 11, 2019

'Feel Good Friday': An Alternative to the 24-Hour Trump News Cycle



Bus Driver Hailed as Hero for Rescuing Baby 

This and every Friday, From The G-Man will only post news stories from around the world that warm the heart and soothe the soul. This will be the case regardless of breaking news. America needs a break from the 24-hour Trump news cycle and negative news coverage, and "FTG" will proudly showcase stories like the one above. 

That said, I invite you to grab a cup of coffee or tea, sit back, click on the site's masthead, scroll down the page....and enjoy. 

"G-Man"

Lin-Manuel Miranda Reacts to Message from 8th Grade Teacher Who 'Changed My Life Forever'


CBS News: As "Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda kicks off a three-week run of his Tony Award-winning musical in Puerto Rico today, his 8th grade English teacher, Dr. Rembert Herbert, shares a message with the star. Miranda joins "CBS This Morning" from Puerto Rico to discuss Herbert's impact and rehearsing for "Hamilton" in the laundry room.

10 Incredible Child Prodigies


This video was published on YouTube on September 29, 2018.

Garden of Dreams: WWE Star John Cena Surprises Young Fan With Cerebral Palsy


This video was published on YouTube on December 27, 2018.

Police Officers Buy Presents for Family in Need


This report was published on YouTube on January 3.

Hopeful Books For Dark Times!


Source: Hanna Tay

'Shark Tank' Star: Why I’m Leaving Negativity in 2018


A Daymond John Commentary


Hello, America!
How are you doing with your New Year’s resolutions?
I always find it motivating to hear about other people’s resolutions and the changes they want to make in their lives.
So today I thought I’d check in with you and share one of mine.
This year, I’m tuning out the naysayers.
We often look to the people around us for feedback. I do it all the time.
Unfortunately, we all seem to have those people in our lives that always have something negative to say. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done or plan to do, they always have a reason why it won’t work.
  • “You’re too old to start something like that.”
  • “Your dream is crazy!”
  • “That will never work out the way you think.”
  • “The odds are against you.”
That negativity can be all consuming and we can start to believe the things they’re saying. Especially when the naysayers are family or friends.
It can be devastating to hear them try to convince us that we can’t accomplish our goals and aspirations.
My advice is: Don’t let other people define your success. Period.
The truth is that sometimes the people around us don’t have our best interests in mind.
Focus on surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals who have similar goals and mindsets.
And remember, even little steps in the right direction can lead to bigger things!
Take small, affordable steps. Hold on to your dreams and use them to drive you towards greater success.
Keeping grinding,
DJ

Five Ways to Use the New York Public Library in 2019

 
The following was submitted by Caryl Matute, Chief Branch Library Officer for the New York Public Library. 

Dear New Yorkers, 

Happy New Year! With 2019 resolutions underway, here are five ways you can use The New York Public Library system to make the most of this year. Our 92 locations across three NYC boroughs offer a wide variety of programs, services, classes, and materials that can introduce you to new worlds, open doors of opportunity, save you money, and share new ways for having fun.
 
Remember: if you don't already have a library card, get one today! It's free and is the key to accessing many of the Library's (also free) offerings. Limited quantities remain of our special edition "Knowledge Is Power" card, so hurry—you can start the process online, then visit any branch to receive your card. Always be sure to check our website for the most updated branch hours, as some will be updated in the coming weeks for the new year.  

1. Borrow an E-Book (or any book)
 
The Library’s e-reader app SimplyE allows you to browse 300,000+ titles, from bestsellers to classics, and read them instantly—whenever and wherever you like. If you need help figuring out which book to check out next (whether via app or at a local branch), check out the Library's Reading Recommendations or our Librarian Is In podcast to learn what our experts are reading.
 
2. Learn a Language 

Mango Languages is one of hundreds of databases the Library offers for free. It provides step-by-step lessons rooted in real-life conversations to help users learn more than 70 languages. This database can be accessed from home.
 
3. Gain a Career Skill or Prep for a Test 
 
The Library offers hundreds of databases, many of which can help with self improvement and skills development. Two examples: Lynda serves up thousands of professional courses taught by experts in fields such as web development, education, media production, and business; and Learning Express can help you improve your score on academic tests and professional certification exams.
 
4. Get Informed: Read a Newspaper or Magazine 
 
There are many ways to access free newspapers and magazines via the Library: PressReader provides current newspapers in full-color, full-page format and includes U.S. and international titles. Newspapers.com (which you can access from any NYPL branch library) is the largest online newspaper archive consisting of over 300 million pages of historical newspapers from more than 11,000 newspapers from around the United States and beyond. Flipster is a source for the most popular magazines, including Bon Appétit, Sports Illustrated, Time, and People.
 
5. Get Cultured
 
Through the popular Culture Pass program, NYC library cardholders can access free passes to dozens of museums and other cultural institutions in the five boroughs.

Of course, there are many more things that the Library offers (I didn't even mention our virtual reference service Ask NYPL, our free English classes, our citizenship resources, or our wide variety of free in-branch programming. As our President Anthony Marx says in this opinion piece in Salon, the best resolution you can make in 2019 is to visit a local library, meet your neighbors, introduce yourself to a librarian, and see what we can offer.

So we hope to see you soon!

More Than Three Decades: Inspiring HIV Discoveries Through Basic Science Research


This video was published on YouTube on January 8.

NIHOD: On November 30, 2018, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of AIDS Research (OAR) hosted a World AIDS Day Forum titled “More Than Three Decades: Inspiring HIV Discoveries Through Basic Science Research.” People from across the HIV research community gathered at Lister Hill Auditorium on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland, to hear NIH and extramural HIV researchers discuss the role of basic science in developing treatment protocols, prevention tools, and possibly a cure for HIV. 

Click here for additional information on the forum. 

Doctors Without Borders/MSF-USA: Family Finds Hope in Mental Health Care


This report was published on YouTube on January 9. 

Doctors Without Borders/MSF-USA: When Timothy started exhibiting schizophrenic behavior for the first time, his family had no information or access to treatment for the disease. The only thing they could do to protect him was to chain him up inside their home. Luckily, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) was starting a mental health project in Liberia with the Ministry of Health and was able to get Timothy on medication and out of chains.

Patrick Mahomes Lends a Helping Hand to Kansas City Veterans


This report was published on November 9, 2018. 

Kansas City Chiefs: Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes visits the Veterans Community Project. A village of tiny homes, providing shelter for our countries military veterans.

Teenage Leukemia Fighter Shows Importance of Blood and Platelet Donations


This video was published on YouTube on December 11, 2018. 

American Red Cross: Meet Hannah. Hannah is a typical teenager who loves to cheer, dance and shop. And like most teenagers, she’s excited to celebrate her upcoming sixteenth birthday!

The American Red Cross: Pet First Aid App



American Red Cross: Watch this short video to learn about the American Red Cross Pet First Aid App and how it will help you take care of your furry friend.

Japanese Billionaire to Take 'Message of Peace' to Space as First Moon Tourist


How a 'Physical Facebook' Helps Homeless People Connect


CBC News: Photographer James Galwey puts together albums to memorialize Montreal street people who've died and to let others see what their friends are up to.

She Quit Smoking to Give Her Sister a Kidney


This report was published on YouTube on January 9.

Woman Who Lost $10G on Subway Meets Good Samaritan Who Found the Cash and Gave it Back

 
By Elizabeth Elizalde and Leonard Greene

He’s her subway savior.

A grateful Manhattan fashionista gave her personal thanks Thursday to the hero who found her purse on a subway platform — and returned the $10,000 tucked inside.

Aiya Tulemaganbetova was on the northbound platform at the 66th St. station near Lincoln Center on Dec. 20, where she left her blue Chanel bag on a bench.

Tulemaganbetova stepped on an uptown train, and didn’t realize her mistake until she reached 72nd St., a stop away. She frantically backtracked to 66th St., but the purse — and her hopes of a happy holiday — were long gone.

Click here for the full article. 

Source: The New York Daily News

Thursday, January 10, 2019

Shreveport Officer Shot Dead as She Left for Work


Second Class of SUNY Hispanic Leadership Institute Fellows Announced

 
Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced the second class of Fellows at SUNY's Hispanic Leadership Institute, which is charged with developing and supporting the next generation of executive-level Hispanic/LatinX leaders across the SUNY System. The HLI offers six and 12-month fellowships to SUNY Hispanic/LatinX faculty and staff in leadership positions throughout SUNY, including provosts, chief academic officers, chief business officers, and others. Over the course of the program, fellows will participate in individualized mentoring and assessment and development programs to support their success.

"New York is strongest when we celebrate our diversity and with programs like the Hispanic Leadership Institute, we can support some of the most dedicated leaders across the SUNY system," Governor Cuomo said. "Congratulations to the incoming class of Fellows who will no doubt take the skills and knowledge they gain through this program to make a positive impact throughout the state."

"Our diversity is what makes us strong and we want to ensure that all New Yorkers have equal opportunities for growth," said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. "The Hispanic Leadership Institute allows SUNY faculty and staff to participate in fellowships to build skills and advance their careers. We are committed to ensuring that minorities and women in New York State have the experience and resources they need to succeed."

In its second year, the 2019 class of HLI Fellows represents the breadth and diversity of SUNY, with over one-third consisting of faculty, one-third serving at community colleges, and more than 60 percent women in the class.

The 2019 HLI Fellows are:

Lisa Gonzalez, University at Albany
Tibisay Hernandez, University at Albany
Oscar Gomez-Duarte, University at Buffalo
Justin Read, University at Buffalo
L. Sebastian Purcell, SUNY Cortland
Maria Boada, Dutchess Community College
Karen Ferrer-Muñiz, Hudson Valley Community College
Antonia Custodio, Monroe Community College
Denise Valdes, Onondaga Community College
Claudia Hernandez-Tarquino, SUNY Office of Global Affairs
Lizette Alvarado, SUNY Oswego
Christopher Torres, SUNY Potsdam
Meylin Andares, SUNY System Administration
Hector Graciano, Westchester Community College

SUNY Chairman H. Carl McCall said, "The work achieved thus far by the Hispanic Leadership Institute has created a more inclusive landscape for our future Hispanic/LatinX leaders, and we are excited to welcome this year's class of fellows. One of SUNY's core values is to continue to build a diverse student body and have that population reflected in our faculty and staff. The Hispanic Leadership Institute, in addition to other system wide initiatives, directly serves this value by encouraging and equipping our Hispanic/LatinX leaders with the tools they need to thrive. Congratulations to all of this year's fellows on this achievement."

SUNY Chancellor Dr. Kristina Johnson said, "It is of upmost importance that our students feel welcome and represented when they join our campuses, and ensuring that our faculty and staff are as diverse as our student body is a way to achieve that goal. The Hispanic Leadership Institute provides its fellows with the skills to achieve success in their own professional lives, but also how to be a role model to their peers and students. The groundwork laid through the institute is crucial and will have a positive effect on the lives of students and our campuses for generations to come."

Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo 

AFL-CIO Rally to End the Government Shutdown

  
C-SPAN: Congressional Democrats participate in a rally held by the AFL-CIO to call for an end to the partial shutdown of the federal government, which is now in its twentieth day. 

Click here for video.

Speaker Pelosi Says President Will Have Problems with GOP If He Declares National Emergency

 
C-SPAN: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warns President Trump that he will have problems with Republican lawmakers if he goes ahead and declares a national emergency as a way to build a wall on the border with Mexico. "I think the president will have problems onhis own side of the aisle for exploiting the situation in a way that enhances his power," the speaker says. She would not say how Democrats would respond if the president goes that route. 

Click here for video. 

Senator Kamala Harris Discusses President Trump and Shutdown


C-SPAN: While promoting her new book at George Washington University, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) discusses the government shutdown and President Trump's demand for a border wall, saying "you cannot hold the American people hostage over your vanity project."

Click here for video. 

Facing Mass Deportation, Haitians Sue Trump to Preserve Temporary Protected Status


Public Citizen: Frightening Prospect If an Authoritarian Like Trump Declares State of Emergency


US Agencies Overwhelmed at Border Spot Trump Plans to Visit


Government Shutdown Affects FBI Agents


Former Prisoner Sheds Light on Iran's Detention of U.S. Veteran Michael White


Pompeo Blames 'Misguided' Obama for Rise of Extremism


Cancer Deaths Continue to Decline, New Report Says


'From The G-Man' Columnist Provides Account of Ukrainian Christmas in the Trenches with Soldiers on the Front Lines Near Mariupol

 
Ukraine's Troops Mark 5th New Year at War with Russia

By Askold Krushelnycky

HNUTOVE, Ukraine – Weighed down by heavy flak jackets and helmets, and shouldering Kalashnikov automatic rifles, Ukrainian soldiers trudge through a worsening blizzard towards the front line on Jan. 6, Ukrainian Christmas Eve.

Most wear snow camouflage uniforms, mainly white with streaks of black – to make it harder for the Russian snipers operating all along the front lines to spot them. The previous week, on the first day of 2019, Russian snipers a few kilometers from here shot a Ukrainian soldier – the first Ukrainian killed in action this year.

Tramping on, occasionally slipping on rocks, ruts and holes concealed under the snow, gunfire comes in staccato volleys from the Russian positions, several hundred meters beyond the Ukrainian trenches, muted by the swirling snow flurries.

Land bridge

The soldiers were heading to a forward operating base on the front lines, some 15 kilometers northeast of the Azov Sea port of Mariupol, a city of 446,000 located 800 kilometers southeast of Kyiv.

This is a place that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has been eager to capture since his forces invaded Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula and occupied a large swathe of the country’s eastern Donbas region in 2014.

Journalist and "FTG" columnist Askold Krushelnycky

Putin needs Mariupol if he is to build a land bridge between the Ukrainian territory he has snatched in Donbas and Crimea. The port is also the gateway for a huge slice of Ukrainian steel and other exports, vital to the economy. Moscow has used its navy to impede foreign merchant ships sailing to Mariupol.

Citing Ukraine Business News, Swedish economist Anders Aslund notes that the 22-berth port last year only operated at 28 percent of capacity, and volume fell to 5.3 million tons, 10 percent below 2017 levels. And Aslund, again citing Ukraine Business News, tweeted that a “second blow” to shipping came with Russia’s opening of the Kerch Strait Bridge with only a only a 35-meter high central arch, too low for 30 percent of the cargo ships  that historically serviced Mariupol.

In November, Russian ships, helicopters and planes shelled and rammed three small Ukrainian Navy vessels trying to maintain Ukraine’s rights under international maritime law to navigate the area. The attack, which resulted in 24 Ukrainian crew captured and three wounded, has ratcheted up tension in the area.

Many fear the aggression, the first time Moscow’s military attacked Ukrainian forces openly instead of pretending it was the work of their “separatist” puppets, was a prelude to a major attempt to seize more Ukrainian territory.

Click here for the full article. 

Source: The Kyiv Post 

Askold Krushelnycky became the Kyiv Post’s Washington, D.C. correspondent in May 2018. He has been a journalist for 40 years, mainly with British newspapers starting in 1978. During the 1990s, he reported in Europe on the fall of communism, political transformations and conflicts, including the Balkans. From 1997 to 2011, he was based in Moscow, but also served as chief editor of the Kyiv Post in 1998. He then went to Prague. He was assistant foreign editor at The Sunday Times of London and became that newspaper’s South Asia correspondent, based in New Delhi, to cover India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. He worked frequently in the Middle East. In 2006, his book “An Orange Revolution – A Personal Journey Through Ukrainian History,” was published by Random House/Harvill Secker. He was born in London. His parents were World War II refugees from Ukraine. He received a bachelor’s degree in industrial chemistry. In 2011, he and his wife moved to Washington, D.C. He became a U.S. citizen in 2016.

Justice Still Elusive 100 Days Since Khashoggi's Murder


Analysis: Pompeo in Middle East to Discuss US Policy


Felix Tshisekedi Wins DR Congo Presidential Vote: Electoral Board


Venezuela: Maduro Defends Legitimacy Ahead of Re-election


Central American Migrants Watch Trump's Televised Speech


Fighting Brazil's Gangs: Bolsonaro Sends Troops to Ceara State


This report was published on YouTube on January 9.

Yemen Needs 'Substantial Progress' to Further Peace: UN Envoy


This report was published on YouTube on January 9.

Sudan's President: Only Way to 'Grab Power' is Through 2020 Election


This report was published on YouTube on January 9.

Governor Cuomo Warns of Continuous Snowfall Over Several Days Across Upstate


This video was published on YouTube on January 9.

Paid Vacation to Be Required for Private Sector Workers, Mayor Says


The move could cover 500,000 New Yorkers and came a day after Mayor de Blasio announced a health care plan that seemed similarly aimed at a national stage.

Click here for the full article. 

Sources: NYC Mayor's Office and the New York Times

With a Tough-on-Crime D.A. Stepping Down, Will Queens Turn to a Reformer?

 
By Jan Ransom

When Richard A. Brown took over as the district attorney in Queens in the early 1990s, murder and violent crime had reached a record high in New York City. Like most prosecutors in that era, Mr. Brown adopted a tough-on-crime approach, bringing the hammer down on everything from squeegee men to drug kingpins.

On Wednesday, Mr. Brown said he would not seek re-election next fall after 27 years in office, setting the stage for the first competitive primary for Queens district attorney in decades. His decision raised the likelihood that the diverse and changing borough might elect a liberal prosecutor with a reform agenda, which would mark a sea change in local law enforcement. At least five Democratic challengers are expected to run.

The days of high crime when Mr. Brown took office are long gone. The murder rate has fallen to its lowest level since the 1950s, and prosecutors are rethinking their roles in a system where success once hinged on the number of convictions their offices amassed.

Click here for the full article. 

Source: The New York Times 

Man Beaten by NYPD Cops Bragged About Suing Police BEFORE Controversial Clash

 
By Rocco Parascandola and Thomas Tracy

One of the men beaten with batons by cops in Washington Heights — in a clash caught on video Mayor de Blasio on Wednesday called “troubling” — once boasted about his penchant for suing the NYPD, newly unearthed video shows.

“They don’t like me but they can’t touch me,” Sidney Williams, 37, sipping from a drink, says in the video.

Click here for the full article. 

Source: The New York Daily News 

Awards Approved to Help New Yorkers Access Insurance Coverage for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders

 
The Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) and the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) have approved awards for five community-based organizations to help educate the public on a new State resource to help individuals and providers access lifesaving substance use disorder and mental health treatment.

Grants were awarded through the Community Health Access to Addiction and Mental Healthcare Project (CHAMP) network, a new Ombudsman program established to educate individuals, families, and health care providers on their legal rights related to insurance coverage for behavioral health services, help people to access behavioral health treatment and services, and investigate and resolve complaints regarding health insurance denials of behavioral health services. For assistance, consumers can email Ombuds@oasas.ny.gov or‎ call 888-614-5400.

Each of the community-based organizations awarded funding will receive between $25,000 and $30,000 that will be used to conduct the following services:

Help to educate consumers, family groups, advocates, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders about the CHAMP program

Advise clients how to secure authorization of and payment for mental health and substance use disorder health services from a health insurance plan

Provide information about mental health and substance use disorder parity laws and other regulations that protect consumers’ rights to access those health services.

 

OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “Access to insurance coverage is critically important for people seeking treatment for mental health issues, and denial of coverage is an unacceptable barrier to treatment. These awards will support the new Ombudsman program, help to educate New Yorkers about their insurance rights and ensure that individuals and families have the coverage they need for substance use disorder and mental health services.”

OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez said, “Access to both mental health and substance use disorder treatment ensures that those with co-occurring disorders have a fair chance at a life in sustained recovery. This funding will help remove barriers to accessing care and provide critical and comprehensive supports tailored to meet the needs of individuals and families.”

The Community-Based Organizations selected to join the CHAMP network include:

Adirondack Health Institute (AHI) will provide education and services in 9 counties of the North Country. AHI works collaboratively with local communities to help them access many kinds of services, including mental health and substance use disorder services.

Community Health Action of Staten Island (CHASI) will provide education and services in Staten Island, with an emphasis on the North Shore. CHASI offers a diverse range of health services, including substance use disorder, mental health, HIV, and hepatitis C services, to underserved Staten Islanders.

Family and Children’s Association (FCA) will provide education and services in Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island. FCA has a proven record of providing a full continuum of care, including substance use disorder and mental health services, to a large population of Long Islanders.

Family Counseling Services of Cortland County, Inc. (FCS) will provide education and services in Broome, Cortland, Madison, and Tioga Counties. FCS is dedicated to providing affordable and accessible mental health and substance use disorder care and prevention services to children, teens, and adults.

Save the Michaels of the World, Inc. will provide education and services in Western New York. Save the Michaels provides outreach, education, and immediate placement to treatment and wrap around services for those with substance use disorder and their families. Save the Michaels started as a small group of people who wanted to spread awareness about the effects of prescription opioid addiction, and has grown into an organization that offers services to individuals and their families and advocates for systemic change to curb the effects of substance use disorder.

The CHAMP program was established in the 2018-2019 Budget with a $1.5 million commitment approved by Governor Cuomo. It builds on New York State’s nation-leading efforts to increase access to addiction and behavioral health services for all New Yorkers. Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, New York State has enacted of numerous legislative and regulatory reforms designed to increase access to addiction treatment for all New Yorkers. This includes the elimination of many insurance restrictions related to care for substance use disorders, as well as education and training for prescribers, and action to combat patient brokering and fraudulent addiction services. Governor Cuomo also recently signed the Parity Reporting Act, which requires health plans operating in New York State to submit data detailing their compliance with behavioral health coverage requirements.

Sources: OASAS and OMH

Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Democrats Introduce Bill to Shield Unpaid Federal Workers from Lenders and Landlords


By Igor Bobic

WASHINGTON ― Democrats on Wednesday introduced legislation that would give relief to furloughed federal workers who are unable to pay rent or repay loans as a result of the ongoing government shutdown.

The national government has been partially closed since Dec. 21, and the consequences are mounting ― for national parks and airports, food inspections and emergency preparations, and a host of other services.

This week, some 800,000 federal workers will start missing paychecks. Many who were forced off the job told HuffPost that they’re fearful about taking on debt to cover housing, medicine and food costs.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the shutdown could continue “for as long as it takes,” with Democrats holding fast to their refusal to fund construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border that Trump had repeatedly said Mexico would pay for.

Click here for the full article. 

Source: The Huffington Post

Former NYPD Youth Officer/Filmmaker: 'R. Kelly Needs to Face Justice!'

Kelli Cooper
(Click on the images to increase their size.)  

By Gary Glennell Toms

Kelli Cooper, also known as “KelliCgreen”, graduated from Far Rockaway High School in 1984 and continued her education at St. Francis College, where she earned a Bachelor of the Arts in Communications in 1989.

It was also in 1989 that she joined the New York Police Department (NYPD). In 1996, she was named Police Officer of the Year (for her outstanding commitment to the community and youth) and served in the Guardians Association, an organization within the NYPD consisting of Black law enforcement representatives. She was assigned to the 114th Precinct, in Astoria, where she worked as a Youth Officer and Explorer Advisor, a division of the Boy Scouts of America.  


Cooper's documentary film and her role in the NYPD's Explorer's Program were showcased in an April 1996 edition of the New York Daily News.

While employed with the NYPD, Cooper also served as founder, President, and CEO of Boedai Entertainment, where she co-produced the short film "Dear Momma" and the critically acclaimed “The Mission Is Possible: A Youth Awareness Documentary”. The second film, which was completed in 2002, featured four ex-cons, three males and one female, in rap sessions with at-risk youth and parents from Rockaway, New York.


Cooper collaborated with and met a number of celebrities while making "The Mission is Possible", including rap legend LL Cool J.

“The film centered on steering youth on the right track, avoiding a life of crime and encouraging youth to strive for positive goals,” said Cooper.

In 2009, after 20 years of dedicated service, Cooper retired from the NYPD.

Having worked with youth throughout her law enforcement career and in her documentary films, Cooper watched the Lifetime Network docu-series "Surviving R. Kelly" with great interest. "I followed the case very closely while working with the NYPD. I admit I was a big fan of R. Kelly,  but I was also very concerned about the allegations published in news reports over the last two decades. That's what prompted me to watch the docu-series," said Cooper. 

After viewing the series, Cooper revealed that she was enraged and completely stunned by the accounts of the women who claimed they were emotionally, physically and sexually abused by the music superstar. She also stated that she believes and supports the survivors. 

"As a former New York City police officer and former youth officer, I was appalled and sickened by the reports in the R. Kelly docu-series. Again, I have been a fan of R. Kelly for many years, but I had no idea how many women were tormented or how deranged he was," said the NYPD veteran. "These girls and their families will be traumatized for years, and I really hope it doesn't take decades for Kelly to go to prison, as was the case with Bill Cosby. Justice needs to be served, and it needs to be served swiftly. I believe the survivors, and if R. Kelly is eventually charged and convicted, that would be justice!"

Authorities Considering Possible Criminal Probe Against R. Kelly


This report was published on YouTube on January 8.

Anthony Zinni, Working on Qatar Dispute, Resigns from State Department



CBS News: Anthony Zinni, a retired Marine Corps general and former head of U.S. Central Command who has been working as an envoy for the Trump administration to resolve a dispute with Qatar, has resigned from his position with the State Department. "Face The Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan reports.

Trump Addresses the Nation Over Border Security



Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer Respond to Presidential Address

Nancy Pelosi, Gabrielle Giffords Introduce New Gun Legislation


This report was published on YouTube on January 8. 

Global News: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords - who was wounded in a gun attack - and other gun-control advocates held a news conference on Tuesday to announce the introduction of a bill expanding background checks on prospective gun buyers.

'This is About Corporate Greed': Canadian Union President Fumes After Meeting with GM


This report was published on YouTube on January 8. 

CBC News: Canadian union president Jerry Dias shares his thoughts on a meeting he and his union leaders had with General Motors on Tuesday. Union leaders were hoping to sway General Motors into reconsidering their plant from closure in Oshawa, Ont.

UN Grants Saudi Teen Refugee Status


Canada Hosted Secret Talks with North Korea on De-Nuclearization


This report was published on YouTube on January 8.

4th Annual Brooklyn Jewish Hall Of Fame 2018 on Jewish Broadcasting Service TV

 
Founding chair of the Brooklyn Jewish Historical Initiative Howard Teich and co-chair Sarina Roffé welcome the 4th class of inductees into the Brooklyn Jewish Hall of Fame.

Inductees include:  David G. Greenfield (CEO and Exec Dir., Met Council), Rabbi Alvin Kass (Chief Chaplain, NYC Police Department), Henry B. Gutman (Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation Board of Directors ), Rachel Freier (Civil Court Judge, New York State), Adam Richman  (author, actor TV personality "Man vs. Food", Ferne Pearlstein (documentary filmmaker), Cecelia Margules (musician), Eleanor Reissa (director, playwright, Yiddish Performer) and Charley Rosen (author and former basketball coach) for Abraham Becker (NYU basketball).

The event, which will air on January 10 at 2 p.m. (11 a.m. PT) and January 12 at 8 p.m. and 1 a.m. (5 p.m. and 10 p.m. PT),  was held at the Brooklyn Historical Society in Brooklyn, New York. 

Check your cable provider for the Jewish Broadcasting Service TV channel.

Source: BJHI