News

Unemployment rate nearly double for Black workers

Monday, 16 March 2009 14:13 Dorothy Rowley, Special to the NNPA from the Afro-American Newspapers

WASHINGTON (NNPA) – “Astounding” is how President Obama, speaking March 6 in Columbus, OH, characterized the nation’s new Unemployment figures - a staggering 8.1 percent, the highest since 1983 as employers pick up the pace of layoffs.

McCollum secures $20 million appropriation for Central Corridor Light Rail Transit

Tuesday, 03 March 2009 16:36

Washington, DC –Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04), Minnesota’s member on the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, today announced $20 million in federal funding for the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit project has been included in fiscal year 2009 omnibus appropriations bill slated for final passage on Wednesday.

GOP's Steele rejects Obama 'coat tailing' theory; Sets out to 'engage' Black community

Monday, 02 March 2009 18:36 Hazel Trice Edney, NNPA Editor-in-Chief

WASHINGTON (NNPA)– New Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele, the first African-American to hold the seat, rejects the notion that his Jan. 30 win was largely due to political “coat tailing” of the celebrated Barack Obama, America’s first Black president.

Obama lifts America's spirit in speech of hope, budget details to be released this week

Monday, 02 March 2009 18:27 Hazel Trice Edney, NNPA Editor-in-Chief

WASHINGTON (NNPA) – In his first speech before Congress, filled with the soaring inspiration reminiscent of his campaign, President Barack Obama Tuesday night promised the nation, “We will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before.”

A job is best social service program

Monday, 02 March 2009 18:24 Al McFarlane and B.P. Ford, the editors

Louis King, President of Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Centers, and H.I.R.E co-convener with environmentalist Will Steger, is preaching about the principles that guide his passion for getting our community back to work. He’s selling the world on his idea of responsibility, accountability and justice. He makes the point over and over again, whether talking to overflow Town Hall Meetings around Twin Cities, to the State Legislature in hearings at the Capitol, or in Legislative Hearings in the community, or in churches he views and visits as core institutions at the heart of his efforts to create jobs for our community.

Champion: MnDOT must embrace inclusion

Monday, 02 March 2009 18:21 Amber English

Community leaders and workforce advocates put the fire to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, demanding increased transparency and accountability in the departments’ minority employment and contract awarding practices.

Remarks from President Barack Obama - A big first step -- thank you

Tuesday, 24 February 2009 19:11 Barack Obama

Today, I signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law.

This is a historic step -- the first of many as we work together to climb out of this crisis -- and I want to thank you for your resolve and your support.

Liberians Should Stay in the U.S., Report Advises Obama Administration

Tuesday, 24 February 2009 19:07

Dorsey & Whitney, LLP and The Advocates for Human Rights last week released a paper highlighting the reasons the United States government should extend Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Liberians, which is set to expire on March 31, 2009. The report, Liberia Is Not Ready 2009: A Report of Country Conditions in Liberia and Reasons the United States Should Extend Deferred Enforced Departure for Liberians, recommends that the U.S. government take immediate action to ensure Liberians are not deported.

U.S. House and Senate “honor and praise” NAACP for 100th anniversary

Tuesday, 24 February 2009 18:17

Both the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate saluted the NAACP with "honor and praise" by unanimously passing a resolution to officially recognize the organization on its 100th anniversary, which was February 12. Recognition came with the unanimous passage of legislation (H. Con. Res. 35) by both the House and the Senate. H. Con. Res. 35 was introduced by US Rep. Al Green (TX), and passed the House by a unanimous vote of 424-0. It later passed the Senate by a unanimous vote as well. Green, who has introduced similar resolutions every year, has been a champion of several NAACP legislative efforts.

McFarlane: Making waves in entertainment biz: From Minnesota to world stage

Tuesday, 24 February 2009 18:15 Beth Rickers Worthington Daily Globe

LOS ANGELES — When Micah McFarlane’s career brought him to Minnesota for a few days, he took the opportunity to reconnect with some former classmates from Worthington.

MnDot challenged

Tuesday, 24 February 2009 17:02

Over 400 people rallied last Tuesday night at the American Indian Center on Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis for the third in a series of H.I.R.E. MN Town Hall Meetings and vowed to make their voices count as Minnesota and the nation struggle with job retention, job creation and saving the nation’s economy.