Roland S. Martin's Blog, page 212

Aretha Franklin Cancels Concerts Amid Health Problems

Source: AP / The Washington Post NEW YORK — Aretha Franklin has canceled appearances in Chicago and Connecticut later this month under a doctor’s recommendation. A Monday news release says Franklin will need treatment during the time period shows were scheduled with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on May 20 and at Foxwoods Resort & Casino [...]

OJ Simpson To Testify On His Own Behalf As Early As Wednesday

Source: Elizabeth Chuck / NBC News Back for a second day of his hearing in Las Vegas, former football great O.J. Simpson entered the courtroom shackled on Tuesday, hoping to prove to a judge that his former lawyer botched the 2008 case that landed him in prison. The Heisman Trophy winner and one-time Hollywood actor, [...]

DUI Limit Angers Alcohol Lobby

Source: Burgess Everett / Politico Federal safety overseers want states to lower their threshold for drunken driving by nearly 40 percent, to the consternation of the food and beverage industry. The call for reducing the blood-alcohol limit to 0.05 percent is the most eye-catching item among 10 nonbinding recommendations that the National Transportation Safety Board [...]

Feds Seeks To Lower Legal Blood Alcohol Level

Source: David Shepardson / The Detroit News Washington — The National Transportation Safety Board wants states to lower the legal limit on drunken driving from the current .08 to .05 or lower — a move that could save hundreds of lives annually, but could cause a big change in Americans behavior. The board voted 5-0 [...]

Philadelphia Abortion Doctor Kermit Gosnell Gets Life In Prison

Source: AP / USA Today PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia abortion doctor convicted of killing three babies born alive has agreed to give up his right to an appeal and will be spared a potential death sentence. Kermit Gosnell was convicted Monday of first-degree murder in the deaths of the babies killed with scissors. The 72-year-old [...]

Inspector General: IRS’ Ineffective Management Allowed Tea Party Targeting

Source: Sam Stein / The Huffington Post WASHINGTON — The IRS used “inappropriate criteria” when judging organizations hoping to gain a tax-exempt status and allowed that criteria to stay in place for 18 months, according to a Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration report obtained in advance of its official release by The Huffington Post. [...]

Attorney General Eric Holder Orders Probe Into IRS Targeting Groups (VIDEO)

Attorney General Eric Holder says he’s ordered a Justice Department investigation into the Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of conservative groups for extra tax scrutiny. He said the FBI was coordinating with the Department of Justice. (May 14)

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing Won’t Seek Re-Election

Source: Darren A. Nichols / The Detroit News Detroit — Mayor Dave Bing will not seek re-election to a second term as Detroit mayor, but said in a surprise announcement Tuesday he will create an committee to explore other opportunities, including a possible run for Wayne County executive. Standing amid supporters at the Charles H. [...]

Florida Student Banned From Public Schools In Duval County After Violent Attack (VIDEO)

After violent attack on a middle school student, a teenager was banned from attending class inside Florida’s Duval County. As Mark Strassmann reports, that decision put school officials in an unusual position.

White House Press Sec. Jay Carney: Obama Has No Tolerance For IRS Targeting (VIDEO)

White House spokesman Jay Carney says President Barack Obama will not jump to conclusions until an independent investigation is finished on alleged IRS targeting of conservative political groups. (May 14)