Source: euronews (in English)
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Kentucky Newspaper’s Windows Shattered Amid Rising Anti-Press Climate
By Michael Calderon
The Lexington Herald-Leader is staying “vigilant” after several of its windows were shattered Sunday morning, editor Peter Baniak said Monday.
Police believe the damage is consistent with small-caliber bullet fire. No one was hurt in the incident, and authorities are investigating it as criminal mischief, the Herald-Leader reported.
“We need to keep doing what we do because it’s that important,” Baniak told HuffPost, adding that the paper’s staff “can’t be deterred from doing the work that we do because of an act of vandalism.”
The motive of the perpetrator, or perpetrators, is still unknown. But Sunday’s crime occurred amid increasing anti-press rhetoric and even some violence against members of the media.
Click here for the full article.
Source: The Huffington Post
Note: From The G-Man and The G-Man Interviews stand in solidarity with the Lexington Herald-Leader. If the investigation concludes this was an attack against the press, news outlets across the country and abroad must step up and speak out. An attack against one news agency is an attack against all news agencies.
Admiral Natter: World Must Stop North Korea from Developing an ICBM
This video was published on YouTube on May 30, 2017.
Robert Natter, retired
Navy four-star admiral and former commander of the United States
Seventh Fleet, discusses the threat from Pyongyang and the U.S. missile defense test.
Source: FOX NEWS
White House Press Briefing
At the daily White House briefing, Sean Spicer declined to confirm if
there was back-channel communications between Jared Kushner and the
Russians after the election.
Click here for video.
Source: C-SPAN
The Week Ahead for President Trump
Washington Examiner's Politics Editor James Antle talked about President Trump’s upcoming week and reviews]ed
the president’s first foreign trip to the G7. Topics included the Paris
Agreement on climate change and German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s
statement that Europe should depend more on itself than on the U.S.
Source: C-SPAN
Kristen Clarke on Voter Fraud
Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law President Kristen Clarke
discusses the Trump administration’s “Presidential Commission on
Election Integrity.”
Source: C-SPAN
New York/LI Doctor is First to Offer Procedure to Restore Eyesight
Garden City, NY - Dr. James Kelly has
become the first surgeon in New York State to use the Raindrop® Near Vision
Inlay.
The procedure, which was recently approved by the FDA, involves placing a tiny implant - known as a 'Raindrop' inlay - underneath the cornea to reverse vision problems associated with presbyopia. Many over the age of 40 are affected by this condition caused by loss of elasticity of the lens in the eye.
Dr. Kelly says, "It's made a huge difference in the lives of my patients." The procedure, which is performed in his office, "takes about ten minutes and ends the frustration of having to wear reading glasses."
The Raindrop® Near Vision
corneal inlay is placed within the cornea under a LASIK-style flap. When in
position, the inlay changes the curvature of the cornea so the front of the eye
acts much like a multifocal contact lens.
As LASIK corrects distance vision, Raindrop can correct presbyopia or near vision loss. It has the potential to be as promising and reliable as LASIK has been for the past 25 years.
Along with the Raindrop procedure, Dr. Kelly was the first in New York City to perform surgery using the LenSx® laser to improve precision for cataract patients.
Source: Steve Harper/Creative Juice
Trailblazers in Black History: Fritz Pollard
The First African-American NFL Coach
Fritz Pollard grew up in
Rogers Park, Illinois, a largely white suburb of Chicago. The seventh of
eight children, young Fritz experienced racism first hand and learned
from his family how to pick his battles and subdue his emotions in order
to achieve his goals in a predominantly white world. A three-sport
athlete at Lane Tech High, Pollard had notions of attending Dartmouth to
follow in the footsteps of his older brother Leslie. But fate
intervened. During a stopover in Providence in January 1913, Fritz had
his first view of the Van Wickle gates sparkling in the sun; his career
at Brown had begun.
During the 1915 and 1916
Brown football seasons, Pollard achieved legendary status, compiling
“firsts” as frequently as he gained first downs. The first black to play
in the Rose Bowl (1916), Fritz was also named to Walter Camp’s All
America Team, and was the first African American in Camp’s backfield.
Nicknamed “the human torpedo,” Pollard had almost single-handedly
defeated Yale and Harvard (Brown’s first win over the Crimson) in 1916.
The Bruins were the first college team to defeat both Ivy powerhouses in
the same season. For his exploits at Brown, Pollard was elected to the
National College Football Hall of Fame in 1954 — the first African
American ever chosen.
Additional information is available here.
Source: http://library.brown.edu
Police Chief Announces Firing of Officer Who Shot Tamir Rice
This video was published on YouTube on May 30, 2017.
Cleveland
Police Chief Calvin Williams announced on Tuesday that Timothy
Loehmann, the police officer who fatally shot Tamir Rice in 2014, has
been fired.
Read More: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/artic...
Source: Hot Daily
'Before the Hashtag': Sean Bell Died in a Hail of 50 Bullets, But This Is How He Lived
This video was published on YouTube on May 18, 2017.
At age 23, Queens native Sean Bell had his entire life planned out. A
young father dedicated to his family and friends, Sean was ready for the
next phase in life. In the early hours of what would've been his
wedding day, his life was cut short. This is his story.
Source: Complex
Noose Found on Tree Near Hirshhorn Museum in D.C.
WASHINGTON — A noose was found hanging from a tree near the Hirshhorn Museum on the National Mall, U.S. Park Police said Saturday.
A
Smithsonian Police officer found the noose Friday afternoon while
conducting security checks on the grounds. It was located inside of the
dense canopy of a tree on the west side of the museum plaza.
Park Police do not know how long it had been hanging there.
Click here for summary.
Source: USA Today
Supreme Court to Rule on State Voter Registration List Purges
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court said Tuesday it will take up a
challenge to Ohio's system for purging its voter registration lists of
residents who don't respond to notices after they fail to vote.
How the court decides the case will
undoubtedly guide other states that seek to maintain accurate voter
registration lists without dropping people from the rolls who are still
eligible to vote.
The case involves conflicting demands of
federal laws, which require states to maintain accurate voter
registration lists but also to reduce barriers to the election process.
Click here for the full article.
Source: NBC News
LIRR Nightmare: Power Problem Strands Trains in Tunnels, Delays Pile Up
Thousands of LIRR riders experienced
crippling delays and cancellations on their way to New York's Penn
Station Tuesday after a power problem in one of the East River tunnels
stranded multiple trains and forced diversions, the MTA said.
The
MTA first warned riders about the issue around 7:45 a.m., and the
problem escalated rapidly as the height of the morning rush got
underway. By 9 a.m. trains were running up to an hour late, and LIRR was
explicitly blaming problems with Amtrak's already beleaguered
infrastructure.
A Permanent Dedication to Ground Zero Workers at the 9/11 Memorial Planned
Governor Andrew Cuomo and National September
11 Memorial & Museum Board Chairman Michael R. Bloomberg with Board Member
Jon Stewart today announced plans for the development of a permanent dedication
at the 9/11 Memorial to recognize the rescue and recovery at Ground Zero. New
York State, through its affiliates, and Bloomberg Philanthropies will provide
support and funding for the permanent dedication that will be located on the
Memorial Glade. For several months, Memorial and Museum officials have been
exploring creating a commemorative space and walkway to recognize rescue and
recovery workers. The glade is the grassy clearing on the southwest corner of
the 8-acre plaza near the Survivor Tree.
"Fifteen years after 9/11, we still feel the pain and loss as if it were yesterday," Governor Cuomo said. "This new tribute will be a poignant reminder of the selflessness and courage of our first responders, who embody the best of New Yorkers, and ensure their sacrifice will never be forgotten."
The Memorial and Museum will lead in the planning, design and development of the dedication with the Memorial’s architects, including Michael Arad. The dedication would expand on existing exhibitions and programming that examine the impact the 9/11 disaster had on the health of those who were exposed, including first responders, workers, survivors, residents and others.
National September 11 Memorial & Museum Board Chairman Michael R. Bloomberg, New York City's 108th mayor, who led the revitalization of lower Manhattan after 9/11, said, "Thousands of people converged at the World Trade Center site immediately after the attacks to show the world that our city and our country were not defeated. We owe these men and women of the recovery a great debt of gratitude and they deserve a fitting tribute for their courage, sacrifice and bravery."
"Fifteen years after 9/11, we still feel the pain and loss as if it were yesterday," Governor Cuomo said. "This new tribute will be a poignant reminder of the selflessness and courage of our first responders, who embody the best of New Yorkers, and ensure their sacrifice will never be forgotten."
The Memorial and Museum will lead in the planning, design and development of the dedication with the Memorial’s architects, including Michael Arad. The dedication would expand on existing exhibitions and programming that examine the impact the 9/11 disaster had on the health of those who were exposed, including first responders, workers, survivors, residents and others.
National September 11 Memorial & Museum Board Chairman Michael R. Bloomberg, New York City's 108th mayor, who led the revitalization of lower Manhattan after 9/11, said, "Thousands of people converged at the World Trade Center site immediately after the attacks to show the world that our city and our country were not defeated. We owe these men and women of the recovery a great debt of gratitude and they deserve a fitting tribute for their courage, sacrifice and bravery."
Governor Cuomo, 9/11 victims’ family members, 9/11-health advocates and others are lending their support. Governor Cuomo has long been committed in helping to ensure those suffering from 9/11-related illnesses have access to the resources they need. This includes legislation he signed providing $9 million in state aid for 9/11 workers suffering from health problems and extending time for workers and volunteers to secure additional workers’ compensation, disability and accident death benefits.
Jon Stewart, longtime 9/11-health advocate and member of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum Board, said, "Many rescue and recovery workers will tell you that they responded to Ground Zero because they felt a duty to act. Without regard for their own health and wellbeing and with no demand for recognition, these men and women played a critical role in helping us all in New York and across the country get back on our feet. Today thousands are living with serious illnesses and dying at an alarming rate. I’m thrilled this is finally happening, that this dedication will give them the recognition they’re due."
9/11 Memorial & Museum Board Member Lee Ielpi, whose firefighter son, Jonathan Ielpi, died on 9/11, arrived at the World Trade Center shortly after the second collapse and returned daily to help with rescue and recovery operations. As a tradition with the FDNY, where Ielpi served for more than 25 years, he worked over nine months in an attempt to recover all who were lost, including his son of FDNY’s Squad 288.
Lee Ielpi, who is also president of the 9/11 Tribute Museum, said, "I have hope that this dedicated place to reflect will help to offer a sense of peace and help ensure these men and women will always be remembered for their many sacrifices. The memories of their time here and its lasting effects have not faded. Our commitment to them has not faded either."
FealGood Foundation President John Feal said, "I am humbled and awed to play a small part in assisting the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in ensuring history is never distorted and the plight of all 9/11 responders is told accurately. Building a permanent dedication that best represents not only our city but our nation’s heroes on such sacred grounds validates the heroic actions of those in uniform and non-uniform who gave so much of themselves that horrific Tuesday morning, and continue to give of themselves to this day."
National September 11 Memorial & Museum President and CEO Alice M. Greenwald said, "After the towers fell, and before the dust cloud settled, these remarkably brave men and women risked their lives, and health, as they joined the response and helped start the process of recovery. We should always remember what they endured in the aftermath of the attacks as they paved the way for this city and our country to rebuild."
911 Health Watch Executive Director Benjamin Chevat said, "Every day, injured and ill 9/11 responders and survivors from every state across the country continue to have to deal with the health effects from their exposure to toxins at Ground Zero over fifteen years ago. There are currently over 77,000 9/11 responders and survivors participating in the World Trade Center Health Program. More than 39,000 have at least one condition related to 9/11, with more than 6,000 having a 9/11 related cancer. There are many that are fully disabled by their injuries, and too many have died from them, like FDNY Firefighter Ray Pfeifer who, after a long fight, died just the other day from his 9/11 cancer. Establishing a permanent dedication on the plaza of the National 9/11 Memorial that reminds the country of the extent of the health crisis facing so many is a fitting tribute to responders like Ray and the thousands of others like him. We thank Governor Cuomo, 9/11 Memorial Board Chairman Michael R. Bloomberg and Board Member Jon Stewart for their leadership with this effort."
Today, the Memorial and Museum will honor the men and women of the nine-month rescue and recovery effort as part of a week-long tribute commemorating the 15th anniversary of May 30, 2002, which marked the formal end of recovery operations at the World Trade Center. The tribute includes a special ceremony in the Museum near the Last Column, the final steel beam ceremonially removed from Ground Zero when recovery operations ended. Culminating in a moment of silence to remember those who have succumbed to 9/11-related illnesses, the event will conclude with participants tying ribbons at the base of the Last Column.
For more information about the week of dedicated programs and commemorative activities please visit 911memorial.org.
Source:
Press Office, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman Created the Problem, and then Left his Friends Hanging Out to Dry
What You Should Know
By Senator Rev. Rubén DÃaz
32nd Senatorial District
By Senator Rev. Rubén DÃaz
32nd Senatorial District
You should know that when I was
growing up in La Cuchilla Hato Tejas in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, my father,
Mr. Isaac Diaz Amezquita, from a place called El Volcan always used to
say: “My friends are my friends with their virtues and their faults.”
Plain and simple, what my Old Man
wanted to say was that no matter what situations or problems his friends
faced, he would never abandon them, no matter the cost because they were
his friends. For my Old Man, friendship was a sacred thing, not an opportunity.
It is important for you to know
that it seems that this is not one of the ethical principles or virtues
that some of our elected officials show to their friends in their time
of need
Some of these elected officials,
as Jesus' disciples did, will abandon their friends, their beliefs, and
their convictions when under pressure.
On previous occasions in my column,
I have explained how Mr. Eric Schneiderman, back in February 2014, used
the power, influences and resources of the Office of the Attorney General
to remove all the Members of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade's Board
of Directors.
According to rumors, Mr. Schneiderman
placed the National Puerto Rican Day Parade (NPRDP) in the hands of his
friends from the MirRam Group and New York City Council Speaker Melissa
Mark-Viverito, so they could pick a new Board of Directors and Ms. Lorraine
Cortés-Vázquez as the new President.
Now that Mr. Eric Scheiderman's
friends have caused a chaotic situation not only for the 2017 National
Puerto Rican Day Parade, but also within our community here and in Puerto
Rico, Mr. Schneiderman has run for cover.
Back in 2014, when the Attorney
General made that decision, I was, if not the only one, one of the few
people who publicly criticized and opposed Mr. Schneiderman's actions.
Time has proven me right.
Now, I am one of those opposing
the actions of the current National Puerto Rican Day Parade Board of Directors,
and believe that for the good of the Parade, they should be removed and
new Members who really respond to our community's interests should be appointed.
On the other hand, I also believe
that Mr. Schneiderman should stand beside his friends. After all, he was
the one who appointed them. His responsibility is to own his actions, publicly
admit that he made a mistake, and fix it.
The National Puerto Rican Day Parade
is the pride of us Puerto Ricans, but this year’s Parade has been abandoned,
one by one, by businesses, community groups, social agencies, political
leaders and many, many sponsors.
Starting with Goya Foods, Jet Blue,
the New York Yankees, Corona Beer, Univision, Telemundo, the Daily News,
NBC, the New York Post, the New York Police Benevolent Association, the
New York Fire Department, New York City Police Commissioner James O’Neill,
New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, New York State Governor Andre
Cuomo, and many others have abandoned the National Puerto Rican Day Parade,
and its Board of Directors who were placed there by Eric Schneiderman.
But surprise, surprise, as the old
saying goes: Life is full of surprises.
Ladies and gentlemen, my beloved
readers, you should know that New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman
has also joined those who have abandoned the Parade and its Board of Directors.
It seems that Mr. Schneiderman has
run for cover leaving his friends hanging out to dry.
Don’t forget that it was Eric Schneiderman
who put in place the Members of the Board of Directors. It was Eric Schneiderman
who said that he was replacing the Board of Directors for the good of the
Parade and the good of the community.
In his official press release from
February 13, 2014, Mr. Scheiderman stated: "With the reforms we
are announcing, the new board can now take responsibility for putting the
NPRDP on firm footing, so that the parade can be a success both this year
and well into the future."
Hahahaha!
By abandoning his friends, Mr. Eric
Schneiderman has sent a message that he is also against the title of “National
Freedom Hero” given to Mr. Oscar López Rivera by the Board of the National
Puerto Rican Day Parade.
Maybe Mr. Schneiderman and other
elected officials in New York State should also learn from my Old Man and
stick with their friends no matter what, or learn from Mayor Bill de Blasio
who is sticking his neck out for his friend, Melissa Mark-Viverito.
I am Senator Rev. Rubén DÃaz, and
this is what you should know.
Monday, May 29, 2017
President Trump Delivers Memorial Day Remarks at Arlington National Cemetery
President Trump lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at
Arlington National Cemetery, followed by Memorial Day remarks in the
adjacent amphitheater.
Click here for video.
Source: C-SPAN
Memorial Day 2017 Video Tribute
This video was published on YouTube on May 15, 2017.
Military
Outreach USA salutes the men and women of our Armed Forces who have
given their lives so that we may be free. "To us they have passed the
torch of freedom which we cannot let be extinguished."
Source: Military Outreach USA
These Military Vets Have Found A Smarter Way To Fight The War On Terror
During
four hard combat tours as a Marine commander, Jake Harriman began to
understand why the United States is failing to eradicate violent Islamic
extremism.
Individual heroics and immense sacrifice over 16 years have enabled American combat troops and special forces to win their battles with the Taliban, al Qaeda and the Islamic State. Those extremist militias are virtually powerless against U.S. drones and airstrikes, which have killed dozens of senior leaders. But still, jihadist movements persist and grow.
Afghan kids keep joining the Taliban, which controls a growing swath of Afghanistan. ISIS, despite battlefield setbacks, recruits passionate believers in Syria, Afghanistan and Libya, not to mention Manchester, England, and Minneapolis. Extremist militias across Africa, around the Middle East and in Southeast Asia draw volunteers. And terrorism continues.
What Jake Harriman and his fellow Marines saw was that the United States, for all its battlefield prowess, does not recognize or act on the causes of violence.
Women Vets Take Aim at a New Target: Public Office
Mikie Sherrill has never run for office. But after piloting Navy
rescue missions to places like the Persian Gulf, Italy and Bahrain,
where the heat and humidity rattle the helicopter engine and the only
thing you can count on is your calculation that you've brought along
enough fuel to save lives — she feels up to the challenge.
"You're always on the edge of your seat,"
Sherrill said of her nearly 10 years serving as one of the military's
few female pilots. "I think my experience gives voters a certain sense
of comfort that I can do the job."
Fast-forward about 15 years and Sherrill —
whose resumé now includes a law degree and a former job as a federal
prosecutor — says she's ready for her next mission: unseating a member
of Congress of more than 22 years in her state of New Jersey.
Click here for the full article.
It’s Shameful How Badly Our Nation is Failing Our Military Veterans
A Tribune Op-Ed
The following was originally published on April 22, 2017.
As a country, we're failing our military veterans.
From suicides to a high
unemployment rate and a frustratingly persistent problem with
homelessness, far too many of those who served us are not being served
by us when they need help.
Despite heroic work by many, that's as true in northern Colorado as it across the country.
Recently, charitable agencies
in Weld and Larimer counties have begun to work together
collaboratively to tackle the issue of homelessness among vets in the
region. The group started its effort this past year. In a little more
than 12 months, the organization identified 261 homeless veterans in
Weld and Larimer. They've managed to find places for 121 of them. From
January through March this year, the group identified 43 homeless
veterans and managed to house 28 of them.
We're glad to see many
organizations in Weld trying to help veterans. The effort to coordinate
services across county lines is a big step, and it's worthy of praise.
Events such as the Veterans Stand Down Days, which bring together a host
of services for veterans in need, offer an excellent example of some of
the meaningful work that's being done.
But overall, as a society,
the issue of homelessness among veterans highlights just how far we've
fallen short. As a country, we've made the choice numerous times in
living memory to send our soldiers to war, but we haven't made the
choice to adequately take care of them when they return.
Click here for the full article.
Source: http://www.greeleytribune.com
The Untold Story of Memorial Day: Former Slaves Honoring and Mourning the Dead
By Sarah Lazare
Union General John Logan is often credited with founding Memorial
Day. The commander-in-chief of a Union veterans’ organization called the
Grand Army of the Republic, Logan issued a decree
establishing what was then named “Decoration Day” on May 5, 1868,
declaring it “designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or
otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their
country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost
every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land.”
Today,
cities across the North and South claim credit for establishing the
first Decoration Day—from Macon, Georgia to Richmond, Virginia to
Carbondale, Illinois. Yet, a key story of the holiday has been nearly
erased from public memory and most official accounts, including that offered by the the Department of Veterans Affairs.
During
the spring of 1865, African-Americans in Charleston, South
Carolina—most of them former slaves—held a series of memorials and
rituals to honor unnamed fallen Union soldiers and boldly celebrate the
struggle against slavery. One of the largest such events took place on
May first of that year but had been largely forgotten until David
Blight, a history professor at Yale University, found records at a
Harvard archive. In a New York Times article published in 2011, Blight described
the scene. While it is difficult to pinpoint the precise birthplace of
the holiday, it is fair to say that ceremonies like the following are
largely erased from the American narrative of Memorial Day.
Click here for the full article.
Source: AlterNet.com
NY State Pols Reflect on the Importance of Memorial Day
State Senator James Sanders, Jr.
On the last Monday in the month of May,
Memorial Day celebrations large and small take place around the state as we
remember with solemn gratitude those who have given their lives for our
freedom.
As a Marine Corps veteran, it is especially important to me that we never forget the tremendous sacrifice our service members make every day to protect our American way of life.
Although for many of us Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer and is a time for barbecues, going to the beach or spending time with family, let us not forget the true meaning of this day.
As a Marine Corps veteran, it is especially important to me that we never forget the tremendous sacrifice our service members make every day to protect our American way of life.
Although for many of us Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer and is a time for barbecues, going to the beach or spending time with family, let us not forget the true meaning of this day.
God Bless America.
Assembly Member and DNC Vice Chair
Michael Blake
“This Memorial Day, we take time to
remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the name of service to
their country. Our service members swear an oath to protect and defend our
constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic. Their service is a
testament to our highest ideals as a nation; their sacrifice a reminder that we
owe our freedom and security to those brave few willing to risk their lives for
our defense.
"As we gather with friends and
family, appreciating all that we have been blessed with, we salute the
soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who have lost their
lives in service of their country.
"President John F. Kennedy reminds
us that ‘The highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.’
It is our duty to protect and care for our veterans and the families of those
who have given the ultimate sacrifice.
I wish all a happy and blessed Memorial
Day.”
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