Roland S. Martin's Blog, page 712

Oprah Tops List Of Candidates To Host Oscars

Source: Bill Zwecker / Chicago Sun-Times Motion Picture Academy sources say Oprah Winfrey is topping the list of candidates to host the 84th Oscars next February. If the widely seen gig is accompanied by a behind-the-scenes special and a post-Oscars show airing only on the Oprah Winfrey Network, it would give the struggling cable channel some added exposure. But I'm hearing that is a very separate potential deal. After all, ABC continues to have exclusive rights to Oscar broadcasts — [...]

Bill Clinton Compares New Voting Laws To Jim Crow

Source: Gabriella Schwarz / CNN Washington  – Former President Bill Clinton compared efforts by Republicans to change voting laws across the country to Jim Crow laws and poll taxes that historically disenfranchised African American voters. Speaking before a group of liberal youth activists Wednesday, Clinton said laws in states like Florida and New Hampshire are aimed at limiting voter turnout and keeping young people from the ballot box. "There has never been in my lifetime, since we got rid of the poll [...]

Minnesota Government Shutdown Costly To State And Businesses

Source: Tami Luhby / CNN Money Minnesota's government shutdown is taking an economic toll on businesses and professionals around the state. And it's costing Minnesota a pretty penny too. Governor Mark Dayton continues to meet with Republican lawmakers about bridging the $1.4 billion budget gap that separates them. However, a solution is not yet in hand. Meanwhile, businesses frequented by state employees and state park-goers are not seeing as many customers. Some construction companies — and thousands of their employees — are [...]

Worst Drought In 60 Years: 12 Million Africans Face 'Fight For Survival'

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy The United Nations says malnutrition among child refugees fleeing the drought in Somalia has reached alarming rates. Drought and famine are affecting millions of people in the Horn of Africa. NBC's Rohit Kachroo reports.

Is President Obama Vulnerable? RNC Blasts POTUS On The Economy (VIDEO)

Roland Martin and David Frum join Candy Crowley in The Situation Room to discuss the Republican National Committee's recent ad blasting President Obama on the economy. The ad is scheduled to run throughout July. Frum, Crowley and Roland also discuss President Obama's problems turning the U.S. economy around.

911 Call: Woman Slaps Husband For Refusing Sex

Source: WMBF News Horry County, SC – Most emergency dispatchers are not expecting a phone call requesting to go to jail. In recently released 911 tapes, it is clear the emergency operator did not expect to hear the bizarre reasoning behind the emergency call, all of which originated in the bedroom. The Horry County Police Department responded to a domestic incident in mid-June after a woman called 911 saying her husband wanted her to go to jail after she slapped [...]

Casey Anthony To Be Released From Jail Next Week

Source: Ashleigh Banfield, Sarak Kunin, Kevin Dolak and Chirstina Ng / ABC News Casey Anthony, acquitted of killing her daughter Caylee, will be released from jail next Wednesday, her attorney told ABC News. Anthony, 25, was ordered today to remain in jail after Judge Belvin Perry sentenced her to four years in jail and a fine of $4,000 on her conviction of lying to law enforcement officials. The judge gave her four consecutive jail sentences, but she has already served [...]

TMZ: Sean Kingston's First Photo After Leaving Hospital

Source: TMZ In the photo obtained by TMZ, Sean — left arm and hand bandaged — is seen with Soulja Boy at a 4th of July/welcome home party he threw for himself at his Miami mansion. Sean's friends tell us — about 100 people showed up at the party, and ALL guests were warned: "NO JET SKIING!" To read this article in its entirety visit TMZ.

Nearly 200 People Die In Boat Fire Off Sudan

Source: Isma'il Kushkush / CNN Khartoum, Sudan – A total of 197 people died Tuesday after the boat carrying them caught fire in the Red Sea off Sudan, the state-run Sudanese Media Center reported. Three people survived the fire, which burned for four hours, it said. The boat, which was headed for Saudi Arabia, was carrying no known Sudanese; all the victims were "refugees" from "neighboring countries," it said. The news organization, citing unidentified sources, said four Yemeni owners of [...]

LIVE VIDEO: President Obama Hosts A Twitter Town Hall

JOIN THE LIVE CHAT VISIT WHITEHOUSE.GOV #AskObama your questions on the economy/jobs for the 1st Twitter @townhall at the @WhiteHouse today at 2pm ET. new TWTR.Widget({ version: 2, type: 'search', search: '#AskObama ', interval: 6000, title: 'Pres. Obama Twitter Townhall', subject: 'President Barack Obama', width: 500, height: 300, theme: { shell: { background: '#030303', color: '#ffffff' }, tweets: { background: '#ffffff', color: '#444444', links: '#1985b5' } }, features: { scrollbar: true, loop: true, live: true, hashtags: true, timestamp: true, avatars: [...]