Roland S. Martin's Blog, page 705

House Votes To Limit EPA's Ability To Protect Water From Pollution

Source: AP / The Huffington Post Washington – The Republican-controlled House passed a bill Wednesday that would sharply curtail the federal government's role in protecting waters from pollution by barring the Environmental Protection Agency from overruling state decisions on water quality. The bill passed on a 239-184 vote. Sixteen Democrats joined the majority of Republicans in supporting it. The White House threatened to veto the bill, saying it "would roll back the key provisions … that have been the underpinning [...]

President Obama To Cantor: 'Don't Call My Bluff' On Debt Talks

Source: Sam Stein / The Huffington Post Washington – Lawmakers and the White House had what nearly every party is describing as a "tough" and "testy" meeting on the debt ceiling Wednesday afternoon, culminating in a stormy exchange between the president and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.). It was the fifth straight day of talks, but the first in which attendees, speaking on background, were willing to admit that steps were taken backwards. According to multiple sources, disagreements surfaced [...]

Oprah Becomes OWN CEO

Source: The Huffington Post Oprah is taking complete control of her struggling OWN network by becoming its new CEO. The move was announced on Wednesday. Sheri Salata and Erik Logan, the co-presidents of Harpo, will also become presidents of OWN. In a letter posted on Facebook, Oprah said that she was ready to take charge: So as of today… Harpo Team and OWN team become ONE. Our intention is to use the cable platform and the internet platform and the [...]

Groupon's First Car Deal Offers Lease Discount: Bigger Deals To Come

Source: Alistair Barr / Reuters / The Huffington Post San Francisco – Groupon Inc offered its first car coupon on Tuesday, a sign the largest online daily deal company is expanding into bigger-ticket items. Groupon offered a $199 deal good for $500 off the purchase or lease of a new or pre-owned vehicle at LaFontaine Auto dealership in Detroit. Groupon, with more than 80 million members, usually offers discounts on smaller items, such as restaurants and spa visits. The company [...]

Netflix Customers See Red After price hike

Source: Mark Milian / CNN If Netflix had filed Tuesday's price-hike news in a movie genre, it would be either drama or horror. U.S. customers of the DVD-by-mail and Web-streaming service are storming the Internet to protest Netflix's plan to increase the prices of its most popular packages. "The changes you guys have made in the last 4-6 months have turned me from a serious Netflix Geek into considering cancellation. It's a damn shame," wrote a customer named Justin Block, [...]

Study Shows AIDS Pill Can Stop Heterosexual Infection

Source: Reuters / MSNBC London — AIDS drugs designed to treat HIV can also be used to reduce dramatically the risk of infection among heterosexual couples, two studies conducted in Africa showed for the first time Wednesday. The findings add to growing evidence that the type of medicines prescribed since the mid-1990s to treat people who are already sick may also hold the key to slowing or even halting the spread of the sexually transmitted disease. The research involving couples in [...]

TJMS: Bill Duke Discusses New Documentary Exploring The Issue Of Skin Color In the Black Community

Roland Martin talks with Bill Duke about his new documentary Dark Girls that explores the issue of skin color in the African-American community.

WATCH: Dark Girls (The Story of Color, Gender, and Race) Preview

Dark Girls: Preview from Bradinn French on Vimeo. Documentary exploring the deep-seated biases and attitudes about skin color particularly dark skinned women, outside of and within the Black American culture. Directed by D. Channsin Berry and Bill Duke.

Congressman Says He Will 'Do Anything Short Of Shooting' Undocumented Immigrants (VIDEO)

Source: The Huffington Post Politicalwire picked up on a story reported by the San Antonio Express-News featuring Rep. Mo Brooks' (R-Ala.) controversial remarks about undocumented immigrants. "As your congressman on the House floor, I will do anything short of shooting them," Brooks said. "Anything that is lawful, it needs to be done because illegal aliens need to quit taking jobs from American citizens." To read this article in its entirety visit The Huffington Post.

Brooklyn Missing Boy: Police Arrest Man Who Dismembered Child That Asked For Directions

Source: Christina NG / ABC News Police have arrested the man whom a missing Brooklyn, N.Y., boy had asked for directions before his dismembered body was found this morning in two separate locations, including the man's refrigerator, authorities said. The two-day search ended today when remains believed to be that of Leiby Kletzky, 8, were found early this morning in two Brooklyn locations, two and a half miles from each other. Body parts were found in a black plastic garbage [...]