Roland S. Martin's Blog, page 708

6 Atlanta Teachers Removed Amid Cheating Scandal

Source: USA Today Atlanta – Atlanta Public School Superintendent Erroll Davis on Monday stripped six high-ranking educators of their duties — the first fallout from a scathing state report that uncovered widespread cheating in dozens of schools. And in an unexpected move, Khaatim El, the immediate-past chairman of the school board, resigned. A July 5 report released by Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal showed officials at nearly 80 percent of 56 Atlanta elementary and middle schools examined cheated on annual student-performance [...]

Michelle Obama's Shake Shack Burger Indulgence Defended by Nutritionists

Source: Mikaela Conley / ABC News The blogosphere erupted with criticism almost immediately after the Washington Post reported Monday that the first lady sat down at a newly opened Shake Shack in Washington D.C., where she ordered a ShackBurger, fries, a chocolate shake and a Diet Coke. According to the popular burger joint's website, that's a 1,556-calorie meal. Many critiqued the first lady's public display of Shake Shack love as she continues to advocate for her Let's Move! campaign, an [...]

Protester Climbs On Top Of BART Train (VIDEO)

Protesters close a San Francisco subway station, angry about a transit police officer shooting a man. KTVU reports. WATCH:

U.S. Holding Millions In Aid To Pakistan

Source: Elise Labott / CNN The United States is holding back $800 million in aid to Pakistan, President Barack Obama's chief of staff said Sunday. Appearing on ABC's "This Week," White House Chief of Staff William Daley confirmed a report in the New York Times that the aid was being withheld. While Pakistan has "been an important ally in the fight on terrorism," Daley said, "now they've taken some steps that have given us reason to pause on some of [...]

Do You Think Basketball Wives Portrays Black Women Badly?

Source: Stacey Russell / Miami New Times Does Basketball Wives portray minority women as materialistic gold diggers? It's often the first dis about the show from critics. And the blogsphere seems more than a little disgusted that Evelyn Lozada would turn a hurtful insult into a bestselling T-shirt just to make a buck. Then there's the multiple lawsuits where the ex-husbands and basketball players try to legally prohibit these women from profiting off their name and reputation. Finally, there's the [...]

President Obama: 'Now Is The Time' To Tackle Debt (VIDEO)

President Obama speaks to the media and vows to resolve the debt ceiling with Republicans. WATCH:

African-American Jobless Rate Tops 16% (VIDEO)

The unemployment rate for African-Americans is hovering at 16%, twice that for whites. CNN's Elise Labott reports. WATCH:

Whoopi Blasts Michele Bachmann's Pledge (VIDEO)

"The View" co-host gets heated over "marriage vow" signed by conservatives. WATCH:

Wrap It Up: Gonorrhea Strain Resists All Antibiotics

Source: Brian Alexander / MSNBC For several years, public health officials have been concerned that gonorrhea, one of the most prevalent STDs in the world, might become resistant to the last widely available antibiotics used to treat it, a class of drugs called cephalosporins. In the space of one week, infectious disease specialists have received a one-two punch of bad news that confirms those fears, including the discovery of a new, cephalosporin-resistant strain of the bacteria. The percentage of U.S. gonorrhea [...]

TJMS: April Ryan Talks With Rep. Chaka Fattah About His Plan To Reduce The National Debt And Deficit With A 1 Percent Transaction Tax

April Ryan sits in for Roland Martin on the Tom Joyner Morning Show. Ryan talks with Pennsylvania Congressman Chaka Fattah about the national debt, deficit and his plan to reduce them through a transaction tax. The transaction tax would be instituted as a 1 percent fee on all transactions, except for stock transactions.  Fattah's bill directs the revenues generated from the fee be solely dedicated to paying off the national debt and reducing the deficit.  For more information about Congressman [...]