Roland S. Martin's Blog, page 663

Nick Ashford, Of Legendary Motown Songwriting Duo Ashford & Simpson, Dies In NY

Source: AP / USA Today NEW YORK – Nick Ashford, one-half of the legendary Motown songwriting duo Ashford & Simpson, has died at age 70. His longtime friend and former publicist Liz Rosenberg told the Associated Press that Ashford — who along with wife Valerie Simpson wrote some of Motown's biggest hits — died Monday in a New York City hospital. He had been suffering from throat cancer and had undergone radiation treatment. Among the songs Ashford & Simpson penned [...]

Social Security Disability Nears Insolvency

Source: AP / CBS News Washington – Laid-off workers and aging baby boomers are flooding Social Security's disability program with benefit claims, pushing the financially strapped system toward the brink of insolvency. Applications are up nearly 50 percent over a decade ago as people with disabilities lose their jobs and can't find new ones in an economy that has shed nearly 7 million jobs. The stampede for benefits is adding to a growing backlog of applicants — many wait two [...]

Attorney For Strauss-Kahn Accuser Believes Charges To Be Dropped

Source: Susan Candiotti and Ross Levitt / CNN New York – Hotel housekeeper Nafissatou Diallo, who has accused former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn of sexual assault, is expected to meet with prosecutors Monday, her lawyer said. Diallo's lawyers fear that prosecutors may inform them that charges against Strauss-Kahn will be dropped. Diallo and her attorneys — Kenneth Thompson and Douglas Wigdor — received a letter Friday inviting her to meet with prosecutors for an update on the case. [...]

Gadhafi's Exact Whereabouts Unknown Amid Tripoli Clashes (VIDEO)

Source: MSNBC Libyan rebels claimed to be in control of most of the Libyan capital on Monday after their lightning advance on Tripoli heralded the fall of Moammar Gadhafi's nearly 42-year regime. Scattered battles erupted, and the mercurial leader's whereabouts remained unknown. The 69-year-old leader, urging civilians to take up arms against rebel "rats," said in an audio broadcast that he was in the city and would be "with you until the end." But there was little sign of popular [...]

LIVE VIDEO: President Obama Issues Statement On The Conflict In Libya

This event is now over. Live broadcasting by Ustream

Presidential Vacation Whiners Should Get a Life

When people send me outlandish, ridiculous, asinine or flat-out dumb tweets, I quickly give them a Stuck-on-Stupid Tweet-of-the-Day award. So when it comes to all of the folks who whine, complain and make hay about President Barack Obama taking a week off to go on vacation with his wife and children at Martha's Vineyard, let me be clear: All of you fools have earned that award! Every year, we can count on some nutcase from the right throwing a temper [...]

Is This The New Normal Or Are We At Risk Of Experiencing A Global Recession? (VIDEO)

Roland Martin, Ryan Mack and Nigel Gault join host Alina Cho in the CNN Newsroom to discuss the chances of a global recession. Is the world really at risk or is this the new normal?

WTH? Lingerie Line Targets Young Girls

A company launches a line of lingerie for girls as young as 4 years old. HLN News Now reports. WATCH:

Two African-American Women Make History As Top Cops In Brooklyn Precinct

Source: John Doyle / New York Daily News Deputy Inspector Juanita Holmes and Capt. Vanessa Kight are a crime-busting duo making NYPD her-story. For the fist time in the annals of the 166-year-old police force, two black women are the top cops in command of a city precinct. "When I got the call, I was really quite surprised to learn I was making history. I was just looking for someone to do the job," Holmes said of Kight's appointment. "I'm [...]

Big Ballers: The 50 Richest Members of Congress (2011)

Source: RollCall.com To determine the richest lawmakers, Roll Call adds up the minimum value of total assets reported by each Member on their annual financial disclosures and subtracts the minimum liabilities. Percent change refers to the change since last year's disclosure forms. An asset valued at $5 million to $25 million is counted at the lesser amount, as is a liability valued at $1 million to $5 million. Here are the top 5: To view the entire list visit RollCall.com.