Roland S. Martin's Blog, page 206

ESPN Announces ‘Difficult’ Layoffs

Source: Chris Chase / USA Today ESPN will eliminate jobs from its workforce of 7,000 employees. “We are implementing changes across the company to enhance our continued growth while smartly managing costs,” the company said in a Tuesday statement. “While difficult, we are confident that it will make us more competitive, innovative and productive.” The [...]

The War In Chicago (VIDEO)

An honor student shot dead, an innocent victim of a gang war. An investigation into drugs, guns, gangs and the battle for Chicago. An investigation into drugs, guns, gangs and the battle for Chicago. Maureen Maher and Armen Keteyian report.

Top IRS Official To Invoke 5th Amendment At Congressional Testimony

Source: Lucy Madison / CBS News Lois Lerner, the head of the tax-exempt organizations division of the IRS, will invoke the Fifth Amendment in testimony before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday, CBS News has confirmed. Lerner’s attorney, William Taylor, wrote in a letter to House Oversight Committee chair Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., that Lerner [...]

Tim Cook Defends Apple’s Tax Accounting (VIDEO)

Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook is disputing assertions by a Senate panel that the company avoids billions of dollars in U.S. taxes by shifting profits to foreign affiliates. (May 21)

Kevin Durant Gives $1 Million To Red Cross In Oklahoma City

Source: Chris Strauss / USA Today As the star of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant has led by his actions since arriving in town as the team’s franchise player in 2008. Now he’s taking an ever bigger leadership role in the community, donating $1 million to the Oklahoma Red Cross to help with relief efforts following [...]

Oklahoma Tornado Leaves ‘Very Graphic’ Devastation At ‘Pancaked’ Elementary School

Unfortunately your browser does not support IFrames. Source:  Anthony Castellano / ABC News Some of the children killed in the devastating tornado that tore through Moore, Okla., were from Plaza Towers Elementary School, which has gone from a search-and-rescue operation to a body-recovery effort, officials said. Monday’s tornado tore a 12-mile path of destruction that killed 24 [...]

Family Upset Over Marvin Gaye Film’s Emphasis On Late Singer’s Troubled Times

Source: Susan Whitall / The Detroit News In the 29 years since Marvin Gaye’s death, many filmmakers have tried to make films depicting his dramatic life, among them Cameron Crowe (“Almost Famous”) and former Motown executive Suzanne de Passe. Each project has crashed and burned. It’s surprising, because Gaye’s allure has only grown since his April 1, [...]

At Least 37 Dead In Oklahoma City-Area Tornado

Source: AP / The Des Moines Register MOORE, Okla. — A monstrous tornado at least a half-mile wide roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods with winds up to 200 mph, setting buildings on fire and landing a direct blow on an elementary school. At least 37 people were reported killed. The [...]

Lottery Winner Turns ‘Mini-Mogul’ With String Of Little Movies

Source: Steve Pond / TheWrap If Megan Ellison shows what a very, very rich person with a yen for moviemaking can do, Cynthia Stafford is determined to show what a “a mini-mogul” who got her funding from a big lottery win, can do. In the last few months, as Ellison, daughter of billionaire Larry Ellison, [...]

Search for Survivors Begins in OKC Suburb

Source: AP / ABC News A mix of volunteers and first responders are combing through debris in an Oklahoma City suburb looking for survivors. The city of Moore, Okla., was hit by a mile-wide tornado on Monday afternoon. People wearing neon-green vests were joined by residents in the search through rubble. Neighborhoods are flattened and [...]