Senator Ruben Diaz Announces the Celebration of the 6th “Abrazo Garifuna in New York”

 

Bronx, NY - Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz, in conjunction with  New York State Assemblymen Marcos Crespo, Luis Sepulveda, Michael Blake and newly elected City Council Member Rafael Salamanca, will celebrate the 6th   “Abrazo Garifuna in New York.”  This event will honor the contributions of the Garifuna-Americans to the State and City of New York .  
 
The Abrazo Garifuna,  will take place at Maestro’s Caterers located at 1703 Bronxdale Avenue, Bronx, New York, on Friday, March 11 from 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
 
Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz together with  the  elected official and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. , will be presenting  proclamations to five (5) distinguished members of the Garifuna Community.
 
For more Information, please call Michael Blake at 718-538-3829, Marcos Crespo, 718-893-0202, Luis Sepulveda, 718-931-2620 or Senator Ruben Diaz, 718-991-3161.

Source: The Office of State Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz

Trailblazers in Black History: Denzel Washington

Today in History: March 1st

First Read: Four Super Tuesday Storylines to Watch

 

By Chuck Todd, Mark Murray and Carrie Dann

 

First Read is a morning briefing from Meet the Press and the NBC Political Unit on the day's most important political stories and why they matter. 

Super Tuesday's Four Storylines 

It's a bird. It's a plane. It's … Super Tuesday, when a total of 12 states -- 11 on the Democratic side, 11 on the GOP side -- today hold their presidential nominating contests, representing the biggest batch of delegates up for grabs in a single day in the 2016 race. And there are four storylines we'll be watching when the polls close tonight:

 

1) Does Donald Trump run the table outside of Texas? If he accomplishes this feat, as the polls suggest, he'll be set up to put away the GOP race in two weeks, when Florida and Ohio hold their winner-take-all contests. A great night for Trump is if he finds his total delegate lead (for the entire GOP race) to be north of 200 over his closest competitor. A not-so-great night would be an overall lead of about 100 delegates. As the New York Times' Nate Cohn writes, maybe the best opportunity for a non-Trump candidate to win a state other than Texas is Rubio in Minnesota. Virginia is also a state to watch. But if Trump wins both of them, he'll inch closer and closer to being the runaway favorite for the GOP nomination. 

Click here for the full article.

Source: NBC News

Texas Candidate Zena Stephens' Office Shot in Apparent Racial Attack

By Shamar Walters

Five people were taken into custody and questioned late Monday in connection with the apparent racially motivated shooting at a Texas campaign office, police said.

Zena Stephens, who is African American and a university police chief, is seeking the Democratic nomination to run for the role of sheriff in Jefferson County.

Stephens told NBC News that she was standing outside her campaign headquarters in Beaumont, Texas, when a white male in a white Jeep pulled up and shouted "f*** the n*****s." Seconds later, a shot shattered the glass door of the building.  

Click here for the full article.

Source: NBC News 

NAACP Leaders Gather to Address Akiel Denkins Shooting

Leaders of the North Carolina NAACP gathered held a news conference addressing the fatal police involved shooting of Akiel Denkins. They were joined by Denkins' mother Rolanda Byrd.

TIME Contacts Secret Service Over Christopher Morris Incident at Trump Rally

 

By Cassandra Vinograd and Jacob Rascon

TIME said it has expressed concern to the Secret Service following a violent confrontation between an agent and a photographer working for the publication at a Donald Trump rally.

The incident — which occurred as Black Lives Matter protesters were being escorted out of the event in Radford, Virginia — was captured on video by bystanders. 

Click here for the full article.

Source: NBC News

 

Federal Judge Rules Indiana Gov. Mike Pence Can't Block Syrian Refugees

 

By The Associated Press

A federal judge in Indianapolis on Monday blocked Republican Gov. Mike Pence's order that barred state agencies from helping Syrian refugees resettle in Indiana, saying the governor's directive "clearly discriminates" against refugees from the war-torn country.

The ruling grants a request for a preliminary injunction from Exodus Refugee Immigration, which helps resettle refugees in Indiana. The group sued shortly after Pence issued his order in November, saying the change would hurt aid groups by withholding reimbursements for housing and medical care to assist Syrian refugees. 

Click here for the full article. 

Source: NBC News

Nobel Peace Prize Shatters Record for Nominees for 2016

Reuters, 01/03 17:01 CET

By Alister Doyle

OSLO (Reuters) – The number of nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize surged to a new record for 2016, a guardian of the award said on Tuesday, with contenders ranging from peace negotiators in Colombia to U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump.

“It came as a pleasant surprise,” Olav Njoelstad, director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, told Reuters of the leap in the number of nominees to 376 from a previous high of 278 in 2014.

Thousands of people, from members of every parliament worldwide to all former winners, are eligible to make nominations. Nomination does not imply Nobel endorsement. 

Click here for summary.

Source: Euronews

Ukraine Bans Officials from Criticizing Government

 

Reuters, 01/03 16:53 CET

 

By Alessandra Prentice

KIEV (Reuters) – Ukraine banned government officials on Tuesday from publicly criticising the work of state institutions and their colleagues, after damaging disclosures last month that highlighted slow progress in fighting corruption.

The move immediately drew criticism from some civil servants who saw it as a blow to freedom of speech at odds with the embattled government’s Western-backed reform drive.

The rule on “loyalty” is one of several outlined in a new ethics code that civil servants must follow or face disciplinary action, according to a decree posted on the government website.

“The government has decided to introduce standards of ethical conduct for civil servants to restore public faith in the work of the state bodies and officials,” the decree said.

Government employees should “avoid any public criticisms of the work of state institutions and their officials,” the code stipulates, alongside rules on the need for transparency and integrity. 

Click here for the full article.

Source: Euronews

Egypt Touts for Japanese Investment as Route to Economic Recovery

Source: Euronews

Mali: ‘Irreparable Cultural Damage’ Caused by Ahmad Al-Mahdi Al-Faqi – ICC

Source: Euronews

More Confrontations at Calais Migrant Camp After Bulldozers Move In

Source: Euronews

Former Leader of Banned Basque Party Freed from Jail in Spain

By Seamus Kearney

Source: Euronews

German Court Meets to Consider Banning Far-Right NPD Party

Source: Euronews

New Research Says Zika “Could Spark” Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Source: Euronews

Scottish Warning for David Cameron Over Referendum on EU Membership

By Seamus Kearney

Source: Euronews

White House Daily Briefing

Josh Earnest responded to questions from reporters on a variety of topics. 

Click here for video.

Source: C-Span

State Department Daily Briefing

 

John Kirby briefed reporters and responded to questions on a range of international issues. 

Click here for video.

Source: C-Span

The Flint, Michigan, Water Crisis

 

Marc Edwards, an environmental and water resources engineering professor at Virginia Tech University, talked about his involvement in the investigation of lead contamination of the water supply in Flint, Michigan, as well as the scientific research that helped attract national attention to the problem. Other topics included the current status of drinking water in the city; who is to blame for the contamination; the roles of local, state, and federal governments; and the long-term effects of lead contamination on the human body. 

Click here for video.

Source: C-Span

The Power of the Pen: New Bills Signed into Law

 

On Monday, February 29, 2016, the President signed into law:

H.R. 487, which allows the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma to lease or transfer certain lands;

H.R. 890, which revises certain boundaries in the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System;

H.R. 3262, which authorizes VA to convey to the Danville Area Community College of Danville, Illinois, the property known as Building 48 within the VA Illiana Health Care System;

H.R. 4056, which directs VA to convey to the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs the Community Living Center at the Lake Baldwin Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Orlando, Florida;

H.R. 4437, which extends the deadline for submission of the Commission on Care's final report; and

S. 2109, the “Directing Dollars to Disaster Relief Act of 2015,” which requires FEMA to develop an integrated plan to control and reduce administrative costs incurred by FEMA in support of the delivery of assistance for major disasters. 

Source: The White House, Office of the Press Secretary

Medal of Honor Ceremony for Navy Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator Edward Byers

 

President Obama presents the Medal of Honor to Navy Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator Edward Byers for his actions during a hostage rescue mission in Afghanistan. 

Click here for video.

Source: C-Span

Defense Department Briefing

 

Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair General Joseph Dunford brief reporters and respond to questions on a variety of military-related topics, including U.S.-led efforts to combat the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL). 

Click here for video.

Source: C-Span

Discussion on the Supreme Court Vacancy

 

Washington Post Congressional Reporter Mike DeBonis discusses political maneuvering in the U.S. Senate over the vacant Supreme Court seat following Republican’s pledge to block any nominee offered by President Obama. 

Click here for video.

Source: C-Span

Cuomo Directs Safety Analysis of Algonquin Pipeline Near Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant

 
Governor Andrew Cuomo directed state agencies to issue a letter calling on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to immediately halt construction of the Algonquin natural gas pipeline until a comprehensive safety review is completed. The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Public Service Commission, Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Department of Health issued the letter today.
 
"The safety of New Yorkers is the first responsibility of state government when making any decision. Over the past several months there have been a series of serious incidents at the Indian Point Nuclear Facility, which my administration is investigating," Governor Cuomo said. "At the same time, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has approved a natural gas pipeline in close proximity of Indian Point. I am directing my administration to commence an immediate independent safety analysis of the natural gas pipeline project and until that occurs, we urge the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to suspend the project."
 
At the direction of Governor Cuomo, these agencies are currently conducting a full investigation into several recent failures that could pose a risk to the health and safety of those who live and work in the vicinity of Indian Point. This investigation is examining multiple unplanned shutdowns, a transformer fire that triggered the declaration of an unusual event level emergency, and most recently, a radioactive tritium leak that has caused groundwater radioactivity levels to rise more than 65,000 percent.
 
Although the project applicant has agreed to more stringent construction measures near Indian Point, ongoing State investigations will assess the adequacy of these measures and may also reveal new information about the environmental, health and safety risks posed by the project's siting. The State therefore urges the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to cease the construction of the Algonquin natural gas pipeline until the State's analysis is complete and it can be determined that the project will not impact the health and safety of surrounding communities. 

The letter to the FERC can be viewed here. 

Source: Press Office, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

Trailblazers in Black History: Sylvia Robinson (The Real 'Cookie Lyon')

Today in History: February 29th

Virtual Reality 'Heroin Cave' Could Help Smack Addicts Kick Habit

 

By Reuters

HOUSTON — Addicts in a new study at the University of Houston will strap on virtual reality headsets and navigate a "heroin cave" to help them try and kick their addictions.

Researchers are looking to see if making their way through a simulated house party crammed with stimuli aimed at evoking cravings for the drug will help better equip those who suffer from addiction to do so in the real world.

The heroin environments, a house party where the drug is snorted and one where it is injected, took nearly a year to complete to ensure realism, its creators said. 

Click here for the full article.

Source: NBC News

First Read's Morning Clips: Super Tuesday Looms

 

OFF TO THE RACES: Trump ahead in GA, TN; Cruz leading in TX

Our new NBC/WSJ/Marist polls out yesterday showed leads for Trump and Clinton in Tennessee and Georgia, but Ted Cruz still led in his home state of Texas.

 

The Washington Post's big take: "The implosion over Donald Trump's candidacy that Republicans had hoped to avoid arrived so virulently this weekend that many party leaders vowed never to back the billionaire and openly questioned whether the GOP could come together this election year."

 

The Wall Street Journal: "To slow down the New York billionaire, one or two of the three remaining top candidates must abandon their quest. Yet, none seem willing to do so because each sees an advantage in the primary calendar that is tantalizingly close."

 

From the Associated Press: "The final-days sprint to Super Tuesday has erupted into a feud over a white supremacist as Donald Trump's Republican rivals scramble to stop the billionaire businessman from becoming an "unstoppable" force in the 2016 presidential contest." 

Click here for the full article.

Source: NBC News

Ted Cruz Dominates GOP Ad Spending in Super Tuesday States

 

By Carrie Dann

Presidential candidates on both sides of the aisle have spent more than $23 million on TV advertising in the "Super Tuesday" states where voters are preparing to head to the polls, according to NBC ad-tracking partner SMG Delta. 

On the Republican side, Ted Cruz and his superPAC allies are outspending pro-Rubio efforts on the air in Super Tuesday states by almost a factor of 2-1.

Pro-Cruz forces have spent a total of about $6.2 million in mostly southern states, with the biggest dollar amounts in Georgia ($1.6m), Tennessee ($1.2m) and Cruz's home state of Texas (about $1m).

Rubio and his allies have doled out $3.5 million total, including about $960k in Texas and $690k in Virginia.

Pro-Trump forces have spent just about $1.1 million total in Super Tuesday states, with his biggest buy ($480k) in Texas. 

Click here for the full article.

Source: NBC News

First Read: A Republican Party on the Brink of Coming Apart

 

By Chuck Todd, Mark Murray and Carrie Dann

 

First Read is a morning briefing from Meet the Press and the NBC Political Unit on the day's most important political stories and why they matter.

 

A Republican Party on the brink of coming apart

In the last 72 hours, the Republican presidential contest no longer resembles that final scene in Reservoir Dogs we wrote about a month ago. Instead, it has become Mad Max: Fury Road — chaotic, brutal, disturbing, and still mesmerizing. (Discuss amongst yourselves who in the GOP field is Immortan Joe, Imperator Furioisa, or the dude playing the fire-spewing guitar.) Just consider the rhetoric on the campaign trail and on the Sunday morning shows. 

Click here for the full article. 

Source: NBC News

Fallen Hero: Virginia Police Department Mourns Cop Killed on Day One

A Virginia rookie cop and former marine Marine was gunned down after just one day on the job by an Army staff sergeant.

Navy SEAL Edward Byers Breaks Secrecy to Receive Medal of Honor

 

By Jon Schuppe

Edward Byers was the second Navy SEAL team through the door of a house in eastern Afghanistan where the Taliban was holding an American doctor.

The first got shot immediately.

Wearing body armor and night-vision goggles, Byers rushed inside, shooting and grappling with guards while calling out for the hostage. He heard an English-speaking voice a few feet away, and threw himself on the man to cover him from gunfire. With a free hand, Byers grabbed a nearby guard by the throat and pinned him to the wall until another SEAL shot him.

"Anyone who's been in combat knows that in those moments, you either react or you get killed," Byers said recently, recalling the Dec. 2, 2012 operation. 

Click here for the full article.

Source: NBC News

'Dangerous' Radioactive Material Stolen, Missing in Mexico

By F. Brinley Bruton and Alastair Jamieson

A truck carrying radioactive material was missing Monday after being stolen in Mexico, the country's interior ministry said.

Five Mexican states were on alert after the theft, which was reported Saturday by a company in Queretaro.

The National Coordination of Civil Protection said a 2006 red Chevrolet Silverado pickup transporting radioactive iridium-192, used in radiography, was stolen in San Juan del Rio at about 6 a.m. local time (7 a.m. ET). 

Click here for summary.

Source: NBC News 

Final Election Results in Iran Confirm Symbolic Victories for Reformist President and Allies

By Seamus Kearney

Source: Euronews

US Student Otto Warmbier Held in North Korea ‘Confesses to Severe Crime’

By Alasdair Sandford

Source: Euronews

Swiss Reject Deportation of Foreign Criminals in Referendum

Source: Euronews

Syria’s Shaky Ceasefire in Doubt? Reports of Bombings and Strikes

Source: Euronews

Turkey: Erdogan Says He Won’t ‘Accept’ or ‘Respect’ Court Decision to Free Journalists

Source: Euronews

Crowds Show Support for Lech Walesa in Gdansk Hometown

Source: Euronews