Roland S. Martin's Blog, page 653

9/11 Attacks Led To Half-Trillion-Dollar Homeland Security Spending Binge

Source: Dan Froomkin / The Huffington Post Washington – In July, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security quietly scuttled a multi-billion dollar program to install high-tech radiation detectors at the nation's ports. A top priority of the Bush administration, the advanced spectroscopic portal (ASP) devices that the Raytheon Company was being paid to build weren't just way behind schedule and enormously over budget — they didn't actually appear to work. The failed project cost taxpayers well over $230 million. DHS [...]

U.S. Tracks "Credible" Threat To NYC, D.C. (VIDEO)

Source: AP / CBS News Washington – Just days before the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, U.S. counterterrorism officials were chasing a credible but unconfirmed al Qaeda threat to use a car bomb on bridges or tunnels in New York City or Washington. It was the first "active plot" timed to coincide with the somber commemoration of the terror group's 9/11 attacks a decade ago that killed nearly 3,000 people. Counterterrorism officials were investigating the threat throughout the [...]

SEC Nears Settlement With Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Over Subprime Loans

Source: Reuters / The Huffington Post Regulators are close to an agreement with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to settle a case over disclosing their exposure to risky subprime loans, The New York Times reported on Thursday. Neither a monetary penalty nor an admission fraud would be included in the settlement under the proposed agreement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Times reported, citing several people briefed on the case. The SEC abandoned hopes of assessing a fine because [...]

LIVE VIDEO: President Obama Speaks on the American Jobs Act @ The University of Richmond

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Gov. Nikki Haley Wants To Drug Test Applicants For Unemployment Benefits

Source: Hal Millard / Patch.com Gov. Nikki Haley said Thursday she wants to institute drug testing for people who apply for state unemployment benefits. "I so want drug testing," Haley told a receptive, hometown gathering of Rotarians at a breakfast reception held at the Country Club of Lexington. "It's something I've been wanting since the first day I walked into office." However, Haley stopped short of proposing any such testing for those who receive welfare benefits, including those on food [...]

Bank Of America Considers Slashing Roughly 40,000 Jobs

Source: Reuters / The Huffington Post Bank of America Corp officials have discussed slashing roughly 40,000 jobs during the first wave of a restructuring, the Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiar with the plans. The number of job cuts are not final and could change. The restructuring aims to reduce the bank's workforce of 280,000 over a period of years, the Journal said. BofA could not immediately be reached for comment by Reuters outside regular U.S. business hours. The [...]

Bachmann: President Obama's Plan Will Fail (VIDEO)

Rep. Michele Bachmann slams Obama's jobs plan saying he's "philosophically incapable" of doing what needs to be done. WATCH:

TJMS: Valerie Jarrett Discusses President Obama's Address To Congress And Details The American Jobs Act

Valerie Jarrett joins Roland Martin on the Tom Joyner Morning Show to discuss President Obama's address to a joint session of Congress and the unveiling of the American Jobs Act. WATCH: President Obama Unveils The American Jobs Act

REV. AL SHARPTON: The President Vs. The GOP

Source: Rev. Al Sharpton / The Huffington Post As much as President Obama worked to keep his jobs plan and Congressional address from being juxtaposed with the Republican debate, the last two evenings proved remarkable for anyone concerned about the state of the nation. On one side, you had a president outlining methods of kick starting job creation, while on the other, you had a flock of candidates who received the biggest applause after a comment regarding high numbers of [...]

ROY S. JOHNSON: Steam Or Sauna: Which Is Best For Muscle Recovery?

Source: Roy Johnson / Fit! Live! Win! I played 18 hole of golf today. Not that that's particularly special (it was my 46th " official" round this year), but it was a tournament–and my third round in three days. Do I have to say I was hurtin"?! AndI won, which was cool. It also meant I have to play again at 8:15 am tomorrow morning, Not complaints, but it means I had to figure out a better way for my body to [...]