Daily Challenge 7-20-11

WATERS CALLS FOR DISMISSAL OF ETHICS PROBE - PG. 3 NATIONAL NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION

THE NATION’S ONLY BLACK DAILY 35 Cents

Final

POWELL TALKS EDUCATION

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell was at the White ca’s Promise Alliance,” which drives awareness to provide House Monday to attend an education roundtable. General children the key supports to graduate from high school.

Powell and his wife, Alma (above), are co-chairs of “AmeriSEE PAGE 3.

WWW.DAILYCHALLENGENEWS.COM

DAILY CHALLENGE WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2011

2

NEWS BRIEFS Steel girders shaped like cross LOTTERY SYSTEM IN PLACE FOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGES SUNDAY With the state’s Marriage Equality Act set to take effect this weekend, city officials have announced a lottery to meet the strong demand of nuptials that are expected to take place.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg says a total of 764 couples — both opposite and same-sex — will be chosen to wed in the City Clerk’s offices on Sunday: 400 in Manhattan; 112 in Brooklyn; 112 in Queens; 98 in the Bronx and 42 on Staten Island.

Applications for the lottery will be open from 12 p.m. today until 12 p.m. tomorrow.

Winners will be notified by email or phone on Friday.

Speaking to reporters, Bloomberg said the city needed to come up with a fair way to meet the high demand.

“What we’re going to do is guarantee spots on Sunday for a total of 764 couples which would be the most on any single day in New York City history,” said the mayor.

“We want to make sure that Sunday is not like a trip to motor vehicles,” said City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. “Most important is that making sure nobody shows up, waits for hours and doesn’t get married.”

The most marriages performed by the City Clerk on any given day was 621 on Valentine’s Day 2003.

For more information or to register, New Yorkers can call 311 or visit nyc.gov.

NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN RATED TOP HOSPITAL IN METRO AREA New York Presbyterian ranks as the number one hospital in the city for the 11th year in a row.

In U.S. News and World Report’s annual list of best hospitals in the country, New York Presbyterian is nationally ranked at number six and number one for the metro area.

Just 17 hospitals made the prestigious list out of the nearly 5,000 that were evaluated for the Best Hospital Honor Roll.

The rankings are based on excellence in multiple areas of care.

The city’s second-best hospital, Mount Sinai, ranked 16th nationally.

Johns Hopkins in Baltimore took the top spot as the best hospital in the country.

CUOMO SIGNS TRUCK MIRROR BILL INTO LAW Large trucks are now required to have special mirrors installed so drivers can more easily spot pedestrians.

Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill into law Monday requiring the convex “crossover” mirrors.

The mirrors cost a few hundred dollars each. They eliminate blind spots and help drivers see in front of their trucks.

Momentum for the bill grew in May after a four-year-old boy was hit and killed while riding his tricycle in Brooklyn.

headed back to Ground Zero

By JONATHAN ALLEN Steel girders shaped like a cross that were rescued from the rubble of the destroyed World Trade Center days after the September 11, 2001, attacks are headed back to Ground Zero, organizers said on Monday.

The cross will be blessed by a priest on Saturday and then moved to the national memorial museum that is being built at the site.

But like so many things tied to the rebuilding efforts at Ground Zero, moving the cross is not without controversy.

Some atheists groups have criticized the plan to display it at the museum, slated to open on the 10th anniversary of the attacks this September, and were considering a lawsuit to block it, said David Silverman, president of American Atheists, a civil liberties organization.

The crossed set of steel beams was found standing upright in the rubble of 6 World Trade Center in downtown New York by a construction worker during a search for survivors two days after the attacks. For some it evoked the cross of Christian iconography, and it became a source of comfort for many workers involved in the disaster clean-up.

Brian Jordan, a friar in residence at the Church of the Holy Name of

Jesus in New York, first blessed the cross in October, 2001, after construction workers at the site told him they saw the cross as “a sign that God never abandoned us at Ground Zero.”

“We interpreted it as a cross because we were in desperate for need for some type of consolation, of support and comfort, which this cross provided,” Jordan said in a telephone interview. “That’s the reason why we saved it.”

Jordan will again bless the cross on Saturday morning as it is transferred from its current location outside St. Peter’s Church near the World Trade Center site to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, around the corner, where it will go on permanent display.

The cross will join other large artifacts at the museum, including the so-called Survivors’ Stairway, an outdoor flight of steps that led hundreds of evacuees to safety. A damaged fire truck that responded to the attack will be handed over to the museum today, a museum spokesman said.

At the memorial, bronze panels will list the names of the 2,982 killed at the Pentagon and the World Trade Center in 2001, including first responders, the passengers and crew of the four hijacked planes, and the victims of the 1993 bombing of the

World Trade Center.

Criticizing the display of the cross at the national museum, atheist leader Silverman said it violated the principle of the separation of church and state.

“It certainly gives the idea that the government is endorsing the idea this is a Muslim versus Christian event, or that Christians were somehow injured more than other people,” Silverman said. “It’s not appropriate.”

Jordan, the friar who will be blessing the cross, rejected such criticism.

“This was a symbol of hope for all faith people,” he said. “This is not meant to put one religion over another, that’s not the point at all. We needed friendship and support and that cross was a stimulus to provide that support.”

Only a quarter of U.S. students proficient in geography

By WENDELL MARSH WASHINGTON — About a quarter of U.S. students are proficient in geography, according to a report released yesterday.

Twenty-one percent of fourthgraders, 27 percent of eighth graders, and 20 percent of 12th graders performed at or above the proficient level on the 2010 geography assessment conducted by the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

Performance among fourth graders improved since 2001, while eighth grade results were little changed, and achievement by 12th graders declined from 1994 levels when the assessment was first conducted.

Also known as the Nation’s Report Card, the survey is the last in a round of three highlighting stagnating or declining overall achievement among U.S. students in the social sciences, a statement said.

“In particular, the pattern of disappointing results for our 12th graders’ performance across all three social science subjects should be of great concern to everyone,” chair of the National Assessment Governing Board, which sets policy for the report.

In June, the same body published a report that found fewer than a quarter of American students were scoring at or above the proficient level in history, although there was an improvement on past assessments for students in the fourth and eighth grades, while high school seniors had

Children play around the Unisphere, the giant steel globe commissioned to celebrate the beginning of the space age, in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens. slipped from 2006.

To be proficient in geography means much more than being able to find Mongolia on a map, researchers said.

“Students were asked to look beyond place-name geography, and demonstrate their subject knowledge and problem-solving skills,” said commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics Sean Buckley on a conference call.

“The geography framework combines key physical science and social science aspects of geography and focuses on what students should know to be competent and productive

21st century citizens.”

Minority groups narrowed the achievement gap in some grade levels, making larger gains than white students.

African American students in the fourth grade closed in on their peers by 20 points on the 500 point scale and nine points at eighth grade.

Latino students scored higher in fourth and eighth grades, diminishing the difference with their white peers in the former.

The federal government assessment representatively sampled 7,000 fourth graders, 9,500 eighth graders and 10,000 12th graders.

DAILY CHALLENGE WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2011

3

President Obama and Colin Powell meet to talk education

By JENNIFER SUZARA Former Secretary of State Colin Powell was at the White House Monday to attend an education roundtable. General Powell and his wife, Alma, are co-chairs of “America’s Promise Alliance,” which drives awareness to provide children the key supports to graduate from high school.

At Monday’s meeting, “America’s Promise Alliance” announced a new philanthropic fund focused on solving the nation’s high school dropout crisis which currently stands at 25 percent. The Grad Nation Community Impact Fund will raise $50 million to provide grants to stimulate community engagement and investment to help transform the nation’s lowest-performing schools and surrounding communities. “[O]ur children are the future,” Alma Powell said. “If they are not prepared for the future, there is no future for this country. And so we are heavily engaged in stemming the dropout rate.” The goal is to cut the rate in half by the year 2020.

The White House hosted the meeting with the Powells and several business leaders to discuss building upon strong industry-led partnerships to transform the American

education system. President Obama has always touted education as one of his administration’s top priorities.

“A world-class education is the single most important factor in determining not just whether our kids can compete for the best jobs but whether America can outcompete countries around the world,” Obama said in a statement.

Speaking to reporters, Colin Powell said the message to the business leaders is straightforward. “Youngsters are your future employees and your future customers. It’s as simple as that.” But Powell added, fixing the problem is not as simple as the message. “We have a challenge in front of us and all of America has to come together to work on that challenge.”

CEO’s like Glenn Britt of Time Warner Cable, Steve Case of America Online and Brian Gallagher of the United Way Worldwide attended the roundtable. Other corporate partners in attendance were representatives from the Business Roundtable and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Through their combined efforts, the White House hopes the private sector responds not just with financial support, but with commitments that take advantage of their areas of expertise and the skills of their employees.

The company heads who attended agree this is an important obligation.

Bill Green, the chairman of Accenture said in today’s world, the countries and companies with the best people win. “The business leaders that are here recognize we have talent in this country,” said Green. “We have to make sure we have a system that gets that talent in the game.”

Mr. Powell warned their challenge

is not easy and it isn’t something that could be solved with a snap of the finger. He asked for a long-term commitment from state governments to get every single business involved in their communities to help solve this problem. “Education is not just skills,” Powell said. “It’s giving kids character education. It’s giving them a sense of purpose. It’s getting them to believe in themselves.”

Accused N.Y.-L.A. airline stowaway pleads not guilty

By JASON KANDEL LOS ANGELES — A NigerianAmerican man pleaded not guilty on Monday to sneaking onto a commercial airline flight in a case that revealed an apparent lapse in security screening at one of the nation’s busiest airports.

Olajide Oluwaseun Noibi, 24, is accused of slipping onto an overnight Virgin America flight on June 24-25 from New York to Los Angeles without paying, using a day-old ticket and boarding pass from another traveler.

He was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on June 29 as he tried to board a Delta Airlines flight to Atlanta with another outdated boarding pass, according to

authorities and court documents filed in the case.

Authorities who searched his bags at the time found more than 10 boarding passes in other individuals’ names, the FBI said in an affidavit.

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration confirmed Noibi had somehow cleared airport security screening before getting onto the Virgin America plane at John F. Kennedy International Airport on the night of June 24.

Noibi told the FBI he managed to get through security with the expired boarding pass, his University of Michigan identification card and a police report that his passport had been stolen.

During his arraignment in federal

court in Los Angeles, Noibi pleaded not guilty to one count of being an airline stowaway and one of attempting to use false pretenses to enter a secure airport area. If convicted of both charges, he faces a sentence of up to 15 years in prison.

Shackled and wearing a black skull cap and white prison jumpsuit, Noibi appeared subdued during the hearing. He said little, except to answer “yes” to various procedural questions put to him by U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul Abrams.

At a separate hearing later in the day, U.S. District Judge Manuel Real scheduled the case for trial on August 30. Noibi remains in federal detention without bond.

Authorities have said Noibi’s pre-

Waters calls for dismissal of ethics probe WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., has accused the House Ethics Committee of violating her constitutional rights in its investigation of her finances.

Waters’ called on the panel to dismiss the long-running case against her, threatening to take the matter to the House floor, Politico reported.

The Ethics Committee has been looking into charges Waters improperly used her office to aid a minority-owned bank where her husband held more than $350,000 in stock.

Stan Brand, Waters’ attorney, said in a statement a Politico story and accompanying documents posted Monday “leave no doubt that the

House Ethics Committee violated both its own rules and Representative Waters’ constitutional rights during its investigation.”

Monday’s story, which included internal e-mails, memos and documents from the panel, revealed bitter internal disputes on the panel.

The former staff director and chief counsel for the Ethics Committee accused the two lead investigators of secretly feeding information to Republicans on the panel.

Blake Chisam also accused the two staffers of misleading lawmakers and other staff on the status of the Waters investigation.

The Ethics Committee was expected to meet on the Waters case this week.

cise motives were unclear, but Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles, said on Monday that prosecutors have “made no allegations of terrorism” against the suspect.

FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller added: “There’s no evidence that he planned to victimize anyone beyond the alleged fraud of the airline.”

Noibi told federal agents who questioned him that he was traveling to recruit people for his software business, the FBI said in its affidavit.

Eimiller said Noibi was born in Iowa to Nigerian parents studying abroad and holds dual U.S.-Nigerian citizenship. She said he spent a good part of his boyhood in Nigeria but attended college in the United States.

According to the FBI affidavit, Noibi first aroused suspicion on the Virgin America plane when flight attendants found him in a seat that was supposed to be empty. Eimiller said crew members initially were alerted to Noibi by other passengers who complained about his strong body odor.

When his name did not appear on the passenger manifest, the flight crew alerted authorities on the ground they had a stowaway aboard, the FBI said.

Federal agents met the plane when it arrived the morning of June 25 at Los Angeles, and Noibi was detained for questioning. But the FBI released him “pending further investigation” after no “physical threat” was found, Eimiller said.

Noibi was arrested four days later at the Los Angeles airport as he was trying to board the Delta flight. He was indicted July 8 on both federal charges.

4

DAILY CHALLENGE WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2011

JOURNAL OF THE PEOPLE’S PASTOR ‘WRITING THE HISTORY I’VE LIVED, LIVING THE HISTORY I WRITE!’

The 40th anniversary of the Alonzo A. Daughtry Daycare Center, Inc.

THOMAS H. WATKINS

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau becomes official July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

27<=2=>=287< ;.9;.<.7= 68;. =1*7 9.;,.7= 8/ =1. +*74270 27-><=;BH< *<<.=< # 2< *5<8 *>=18;2C.- =8 .A*627. *55 <2C.< 8/ 787+*74 68;=0*0. ,869*72.< 9*B-*B 5.7-.;< *7- 9;2?*=. .->,*=287 5.7-.;< *76872=8; /*2; 5.7-270 /.. <=;>,=>;.< *7- 6*;4.=270 9;*,=2,.< 87<>6.; 2<<>.< @2=1 68;=0*0. <.;?2,270 @.;. =1. =892, 8/ * >5B =1 8><. <>+,8662==.. 1.*;270 &.< =2/B270 27 =1*= /8;>6 @*< $*3 *=. *<<8,2*=. -2;.,=8; /8; $.<.*;,1 *;4.=< *7- $.0>5*=287 *= # .

By REV. DR. HERBERT DAUGHTRY Part Two Now confronting governments and private corporations to achieve the maximum benefits for the people has been my history. One of my dearest friends was the late Mr. Wilbur Levin. I first met him in a confrontational setting in 1968. Operation Breadbasket — chaired and vicechaired by Reverend Dr. William

Jones and me, respectively — was the economic arm of The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), chaired by Dr. Marin Luther King, Jr. We boycotted department stores in the downtown area of Brooklyn.

(Martin’s, May’s, A&S, and Korvette’s on Fulton Street no longer exist.) After the boycott, Mr. Levin and I agreed to meet for lunch. We continued to meet periodically. We became dear friends until his death several years ago. Mr. Levin later became the president of Independent Bank (now Sovereign Bank). He finished his career as a County Clerk.

I learned from Dr. King that it is not about the adversary, but it is about the issues and to always leave open the possibilities of reconciliation. I always believed that protests should lead to possessions. The people must show concrete results for their efforts.

Through the years, we have negotiated with all kinds entities or groups, always trying to achieve something for the people. It was consistent for me to

;.5*=.- =1. +>;.*>H< ,87,.;7< @2=1 68;=0*0. <.;?2, 270 *7- =1. 5*,4 8/ 8998;=>72=B /8; 68<= ,87<>6.;< =8 .?.7 ,188<. =1.2; 68;=0*0. <.;?2,.; F 8;=0*0. <.;?2,270 ;201=< ,*7 +. *7- :>2=. /;. :>.7=5B *;. +8>01= *7- <85- *6870 <.;?2,.;< 2;;. <9.,=2?. 8/ =1. +8;;8@.;<H ,87<.7=D 0.= =8 ,188<.

6B 91*;6*,2<= -87H= =B92,*55B 0.= =8 ,188<. 6B 68;=0*0. <.;?2,.; G <*2- *=. F&1. ,>;;.7= <=;>,=>;.

8/ <.;?2,270 /..< ,;.*=.< * <=;870 27,.7=2?. =8 >7-.; 27?.<= 27 *-.:>*=. =.,178580B 9.895. *7- 9;8,.<<.< =8 1*7-5. ,B,52,*5 <924.< 27 -.527:>.7,2.< G = =1. <*6. 1.*;270 24. *518>7 9;.<2-.7= 8/ =1. .7=.; /8; $.<987<2+5. .7-270 @*< .?.7 68;.

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

255.0*5 /8;.,58<>;.< *7- 8=1.; 9;.-*=8;B 5.7-270 =1*=

( !! (

%' % $ #& "! $ & % )$

;8845B7 !) '

.

56@B7- ;2?. ";*70. ! &.5 -*6 5*B=87 #8@.55 ; !.@ )8;4 !) &.5 '%#%

#>+52<1.- -*25B .A,.9= %*=>;-*B< %>7-*B< B '%#%

5?-

#"%& #>+52<1.;

* +' ,%& ''

Continued on page 5

=1. *;6.- /8;,.< *7- =1.2; /*6252.< ,87/;87= 7 * 3827= <=*=.6.7= =1. 6252=*;B 8//2,2*5< <*2- F&88 8/=.7 8>; <85-2.;< 6*;27.< <*258;< *2;6.7 *7- ,8*<= 0>*;-<6.7 *;. =*;0.=.- +B 9;.-*=8;B 5.7-.;< *7=1.B +.,86. ?2,=26< 8/ >7/*2; /27*7,2*5 9;*,=2,.< &12< *0;..6.7= ;.,8072C.< =1. ,;>,2*5 ;85. /27*7,2*5 ;.*-2 7.<< 95*B< 27 62<<287 ;.*-27.<< *7- @. 5884 /8;@*;=8 9*;=7.;270 @2=1 =1. # =8 ?208;8><5B 9;8=.,= <.; ?2,. 6.6+.;< *7- =1.2; /*6252.< /;86 >75*@/>5 *,=< 8; 9;*,=2,.< +B 9;8?2-.;< 8/ ,87<>6.; /27*7,2*5 9;8->,=< 8; <.;?2,.< G (2=1 =1.<. *7- 8=1.; *,=2?2=2.< +.027 2695.6.7=* =287 =1. 9>+52, 2< *5<8 +.270 *<4.- =8 9;8?2-. 279>= 87 * 4.B .5.6.7= 8/ =1. *0.7,BH< 787 +*74 8?.;<201= 9;80;*6 87<>6.;< @18 6*B 1*?. @2<1.- =1.;. @*< *7 8//2,. =8 52<=.7 *7- *,= 87 =1.2; 95.*< /8; /27*7 ,2*5 /*2;7.<< 78@ 2< =1. =26. =8 <9.*4 >9 # 7..-< =8 478@ 18@ 5.7-.;< 1*?. 62<=;.*=.,><=86.;< 8; 62<;.9;.<.7=.- =1.2; 9;8->,=< $201= 78@ 2< =1. 9>+52,H< ,1*7,. =8 1.59 <1*9. =1. ;>5.< =1*= *//.,= * ;*70. 8/ *5=.;7*=2?. /27*7,2*5 <.;?2,.< =1*= 89.;*=. 27 6*7B >;+*7 7.201+8;188-< 8; 68;. 27/8;6*=287 87 18@ =8 ,866.7= 08 =8 1==9 @@@ ,87<>6.;/27*7,. 08? 78=2,. *7- ,86 6.7= -./27270 5*;0.; 9*;=2,29*7=< 27 ,.;=*27 ,87 <>6.; /27*7,2*5 9;8->,=< *7- <.;?2,.< 6*;4.=<

#

=5*7=2, ?.7>. &.5

negotiate with Forest City Ratner Companies on the Atlantic Yards Project on behalf of the community, especially when I believe that the Project was going to be implemented and would substantially benefit the overwhelming majority of the most needy in the community and not the few well-to-do individuals. The protesters of the Atlantic Yards Project were primarily recently arrived, well-todo Euro-ethnics who, by their power, clout, and money, were able to influence Black politicians with their interests. (I invite people to check out what we negotiated at http://atlanticyards.fcrc.com/downloads/cba.p df. Give us a call at 718.625.3410, or email us at thedbna@gmail.com, and I will gladly discuss the Project and what we negotiated.)

My wife, Dr. Karen S. Daughtry, was asked to take charge of the Daycare Center and make it one of the best in the city. Across the years, the Daycare Center

$# (

$&)" %

& (

.0*5

852-*B<

%& $ %.7- ,1*70.< 8/ *--;.<< =8 *25B 1*55.70. =5*7=2, ?. ;8845B7 !.@ )8;4

$ (' )( $&' # " - #$( & !

PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT BROOKLYN, NY ©2010.

DAILY CHALLENGE, INC., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

((

* +' $ (

!-

!! #

5

DAILY CHALLENGE WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2011

Back to square one for a payoff

By FARRAH GRAY It’s time for you to become the da Vinci of your own new self-portrait.

The great thing about New Year’s resolutions, June weddings, and August back to school is that it offers everyone a chance to clean their slate and start new beginnings.

The self-portrait journal is designed to share the steps, methods and eternal truths that empowered me to discover my values, goals, purpose, and ability to achieve results and experience profound fulfillment. Do them at your own pace. There is no time limit.

They deserve your undivided attention.

Creating your owner’s manual will help you to understand how your life works and why parts of it may not be working. This exercise will help you achieve dramatic new levels of success in all areas of your life and to truly become rich from the inside out.

First, what does being rich from the inside out mean to you?

For me, being rich from the inside out means being aware of the great wealth and value that you possess naturally – with or without material gain. It means recognizing your talents and putting them to work to attain what your heart desires. This is my real meaning of

success. That doesn’t mean it has to be yours, but remember: We often mix up the dream with what it takes to achieve the dream and that can sometime throw off the definition of success. Let’s talk about dreams.

My dream is to…

If I could have any wish come true it would be…

I wish I were…

I wish I had…

The thought of living a dream life seems like a fairy tale to many people, but the reality is that if you can live the life you have always wanted just by knowing your real purpose. Once you change your mind about what’s possible, you’ll change your life.

Do a little soul searching. How well do you know yourself? Are you on the right path? What are your values? Your values are what you deem worthwhile or desirable.

This is the key to your value system. These are the factors that will drive you to your purpose in life.

Now let’s talk about the less positive things. Let’s ask: What do you want to change in your life and why?

There’s nothing wrong with wanting more. And there’s noth-

Alonzo A. Daughtry Daycare Continued from page 4 has gained renown for its quality of service and parental involvement. Relatively speaking, it is one of the few daycare centers which have achieved national accreditation.

During her remarks at the conclusion of the program, Dr. Daughtry, after relating the history of the Daycare Center, said, “After the person who had started the daycare resigned, it was dumped on my lap.”

I followed my wife’s presentation.

First, I complimented the Board of Directors, the staff, the parents, and of course, the graduates. Then, embracing my wife of 50 years, I said, “My wife is only partly right about the dumping of the daycare on her lap.

The reality is that we knew that her hands were the most capable we could find, and that she would make sure that our daycare center would reach the highest quality of service and parental and community involvement.

History has validated our belief. Alonzo Daughtry Daycare Center ranks among the top daycare centers in the city. It is highly regarded by governmental officials, educators, community members, unions, and especially the parents and children who have attended our daycare center.”

In my remarks, I challenged the parents to intensify their involvement as their children go on to the next school level. “The children of Alonzo Daughtry Daycare Center will be far advanced,” I said. They may be in conflict with the school systems. Parents must make sure their children receive the proper attention they need, and not be placed in special education. “I visit many prisons,” I continued.

“They are rapidly filling up. Whether your children land in prison or become a productive citizen is largely up to you. Remember that one of the factors to determine the number of jail cells to be built is your children’s performance in school.” … to be continued. ** Join Reverend Daughtry in Jersey City for the weekly Thursday Evening Educational, Cultural, and Empowerment Forum from 6pm-8pm for an evening of information, inspiration, and challenge at 315 Forrest Street (Ground Floor), corner of MLK, Jr. Drive. For more info, contact The National Community Action Alliance at (201) 716-1585. ** Listen to Reverend Daughtry on the weekly radio program which airs

ing wrong with admitting that your life hasn’t been a bed of roses.

Everybody’s got baggage! But how much of that are you still carrying with you? How big is your luggage? Can it be seen from a mile away? Is it a high end matching set? A little bit of baggage is reasonable. By a little bit, I mean the size that can be stowed underneath the seat in front of you, not the size that takes over the whole overhead bin!

Whether you are aware of it or not, this baggage is like an emotional vampire, sucking you of energy and success.

Until you empty your luggage, you will never find that true prosperity, genuine happiness and a lifetime of success will never be within your grasp.

Know who you are from the inside. Your purpose is your passion. It is who you are. It is what you must and will do no matter what. It is what’s going to allow you to commit to getting what your heart desires. Who are you? What scripts have society, family, and friends written in your memory that you identify with or answer to? Is this who you are? For better or worse, the answer is yes. This is who you are. If you want to be something else, you have to change the script.

Often we define ourselves by what we do instead of who we are; Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. on New York City’s WWRL-AM, dial 1600. ** NEED QUALITY CHILD CARE? Call the Alonzo A. Daughtry Memorial Daycare Center located at: 460 Atlantic Avenue (corner of Atlantic and Nevins) 718 596 1993

yet who we are compels us to do what we do. Is a great lawyer great because he is compelling or is he compelling because he is great?

When you define who you are, you will be able to align your vision with your true self, thus your true calling. You will be great because you will move in the direction that is native to your soul. So here are the important questions: The three words I would honestly use to describe myself are…

The three words I’d like to define me are…

“You can have no dominion greater or less than that over yourself.”

— Leonardo da Vinci

— Dr. Farrah Gray is the author of The Truth Shall Make You Rich: The New Road Map to Radical Prosperity, Get Real, Get Rich: Conquer the 7 Lies Blocking You from Success and the international best-seller Reallionaire: Nine Steps to Becoming Rich from the Inside Out. He is chairman of the Farrah Gray Foundation. Dr. Gray can be reached via email at fg@drfarrahgray.com or his web site at http://www.drfarrahgray.com.

333 Second Street (between 4th & 5th Avenues) in Park Slope (718) 4992066 Immediate openings are available in a state-of-the-art center. ** Visit The House of the Lord Church’s website at holc.org. Or, contact us at 415@holc.org

Make Checks and Money Orders Payable to: The Daily Challenge 1195 Atlantic Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11216 YES! Please enter a 6 month ($85) or one year subscription ($150) for: Name: Address: City: State: Zip: (Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery of your first issue)

6

DAILY CHALLENGE WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2011

Seattle approves medical marijuana regulations

By LAURA L. MYERS SEATTLE — The City Council voted on Monday to establish a municipal licensing and regulation system for medical marijuana distribution in Seattle under a new Washington state law that takes effect later this week.

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn has indicated he will sign the ordinance, which is at odds with a series of new restrictions and bans on medical marijuana dispensaries and cultivation facili-

ties imposed by other municipalities around the state.

Seattle is Washington’s largest city.

The 8-0 vote in favor of the measure comes nearly three months after Governor Christine Gregoire signed into law a new measure allowing cities to regulate and license production, processing and distribution of medical marijuana on a limited basis.

That statute, which takes effect on Friday, requires storefront dispensaries and other medical pot suppliers to reorganize themselves as

small, cooperative ventures serving up to 10 patients.

These “collective gardens” are confined to growing 45 plants total but no more than 15 per person.

The state law was passed in response to a recent proliferation of storefront dispensaries that were neither explicitly banned nor permitted under a 1988 voterapproved initiative legalizing pot for medicinal purposes.

Gregoire vetoed provisions that would have established licensing for growing and distributing medical marijuana at the state level.

Although cannabis is still listed as an illegal narcotic under federal law, 15 states and the District of Columbia have statutes decriminalizing marijuana as a treatment for various medical conditions, according to the National Drug Policy Alliance.

Seattle officials backing the proposed city ordinance say more than 25,000 of the city’s 600,000 residents use cannabis for medical reasons.

They argue that regulation will bring more order to the burgeoning supply chain.

“We’re saying, ‘You’re

already here, now we need to regulate you,’” Seattle Councilwoman Sally Clark said.

The proposed ordinance would require medical marijuana businesses to comply with city codes that govern everything from plumbing to public nuisance complaints.

About 80 medical marijuana dispensaries have sprung up in Seattle, but only about 50 of them have registered with the city, Clark said.

A spokesman for McGinn said the mayor will sign the ordinance, and the measure would go into effect in 30 days.

Officials: South Texas heat deadly for illegal immigrants

By JIM FORSYTH SAN ANTONIO — The U.S. Border Patrol is deploying search and rescue units in the south Texas brush country in response to an “alarming” spike in illegal immigrants dying due to triple digit temperatures, officials told Reuters yesterday.

“Cases of dehydration and heat exhaustion are way up,” said Dan Milian, supervisory agent with the Border Patrol’s Rio Grande Valley sector in Edinburg, Texas.

“We are seeing it with elderly people, young chil-

dren, and all people who try to make it through the brush country in this heat.”

Milian says two special units, BORSTAR, an elite Border Patrol search and rescue squad, and BORTAC, the equivalent of a SWAT unit, will begin scouring remote parts of rural south Texas where undocumented immigrants are most likely to experience distress, particularly near the sprawling King Ranch.

He says emergency beacons are also set up in prominent areas, and can be activated by illegals who experience difficulty.

Texas is suffering under a

record-breaking drought and weeks of triple-digit temperatures — conditions made much harsher in the dry, unforgiving brush.

“It’s a hot summer, and we’re trying to do what we can,” Milian said.

Milian says 25 illegal immigrants have been found dead in the Rio Grande Valley sector since the start of the current fiscal year last October, and more than 120 people have had to be rescued after experiencing distress.

The “majority” of the deaths and rescues in the past two months have been due to heat exhaustion and dehydration, he said.

Smugglers who charge from $2,000 up to $10,000 per person to smuggle illegals from the Mexican border towns into the United States frequently tell their clients that the cities of Houston and San Antonio are “less than a day’s walk away” from where they are dropped off, and there is abundant water, food and other resources available, Milian said.

When the immigrants find themselves in the harsh and uncompromising brush country, they quickly find that is not the case.

The Border Patrol is cooperating with the Mexican

government and Mexican consulates around Texas to try to educate immigrants on the potential dangers of crossing illegally into the U.S. at this time of year.

“It’s very different out there compared to the Rio Grande area terrain, “Milian said. “There are thousands and thousands of acres and it all looks the same.

“There is no way to gauge yourself if you’re walking through there. There are no buildings, there are no street lights, there is no way to tell how far you’re walking. It’s very dangerous. If you go there unprepared, you’re pretty much doomed.”

Cross burners plead U.S. questions 2001 anthrax accusation guilty to hate crime WASHINGTON — Two Arkansas men pleaded guilty to federal hate crimes for burning a cross in front of an African American man’s apartment, the U.S. Justice Department said.

Tony Branscum, 25, and James Bradley “Brad” Branscum, 23, of Salado, Ark., pleaded guilty in court Monday to violating housing rights in relation to their participation in the Aug. 28 cross burning, the Justice Department said in a release.

The two men — who are cousins — and co-defendant Curtis Coffee were indicted in November on civil rights charges and other related federal charges concerning their roles in the cross burning.

Both men confessed that on the night of Aug. 28 they, along with Coffee, 19, also of Salado, came up with the plot

to burn the cross in the yard of an African American in Salado.

The release says Tony Branscum built the cross, and the three covered it in gasoline-soaked clothing and drove it to the victim’s apartment building. There, one of the men propped the cross against a satellite dish and ignited it.

“Interfering with a person’s housing rights because of his race will not be tolerated in our country,” said Thomas E. Perez, assistant attorney general for the department’s Civil Rights Division.

“The Justice Department will vigorously prosecute individuals that violate the rights of others because of race.”

The Branscums face as much as 10 years in prison and $250,000 fines.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Justice Department is questioning the case against an Army scientist accused of sending anthrax in the mail in 2001, court papers show.

After Bruce Ivins committed suicide in 2008, the FBI said he was the killer who sent the poisoned letters to senators and media figures.

Officials said he had the means, motive and opportunity to make the deadly powder at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick, Md. But now, in papers filed in federal court in West Palm Beach, Fla., Friday, Justice Department lawyers say the sealed area in Ivins’ lab lacked the equipment to turn liquid anthrax into the deadly refined powder. The documents were entered in a wrongful-death suit by Maureen Stevens, widow of Robert Stevens, a photo edi-

A FBI employee opens an anthrax tainted letter at an FBI lab. tor at The Sun tabloid, and uncovered by reporters for McClatchy Newspapers, ProPublica and PBS’ “Frontline.”

The government said it still believes Ivins was “more likely than not” the

killer but did not explain where or how he could have made the powder.

Searches of Ivins’ car and home in 2007 found no anthrax spores, and the FBI never gave direct evidence that he mailed the letters.

DAILY CHALLENGE WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2011

7 T

what’s the most energy efficient way to use your washing machine?

one

lasts as long as...

a. b.

a. doing many small loads instead of a few big ones

c.

b. using it only when it’s full c. using it without laundry detergent

answer: c

answer: b

©2011 Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. Ad: Arnell Group

you can improve your hot water heater’s efficiency by...

Con Edison’s e*bill program is...

a. turning it off when it’s not in use

a. a great way to save time, paper and postage by paying your bill online b. an email program that only sends messages to people named Bill

b. wrapping it with an insulation blanket c. reading it a bedtime story

answer: b

answer: a

for 100+ energy saving tips visit conEd.com or find us on Facebook at Power of Green T

AFRICAN SCENE

88

DAILY CHALLENGE WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2011

AFRICAN SCENE

Guinean president survives assassination attempt

By BOUBACAR DIALLO

f70-year-old Kenyan sentenced to death for robbery A Kenyan court yesterday sentenced a 70-year-old man to death for robbery with violence.

Kuria Kihunyu was accused of robbing a man of his mobile phone and other personal items during an attack in September.

The father of 12 was arrested when he attempted to sell off the mobile phone.

“The prosecution has proven the case beyond reasonable doubt,” Magistrate Esther Boke ruled.

“The accused’s defence that he was framed is a mere denial as he did not establish any motive for the complainant to frame him.”

Under Kenyan law, offences such as murder, robbery with violence and treason are punishable by death carried out through hanging, but the country has never hanged anybody since 1987.

Kihunyu, who did not have a lawyer and said he was innocent, has 14 days to appeal.

Tunisia opposition party appeals for calm Tunisia’s main opposition party, the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), appealed for calm yesterday and urged “democratic forces” in Tunisia to resist attempts to destabilise the country.

Violence has once again flared in Tunisia over the last few days with a number of demonstrations and attacks on police stations in several towns.

On Sunday a teenager was shot and killed at a protest in Sidi Bouzid, the birthplace of the Tunisian revolution late in 2010.

“The PDP is determined to save the electoral process in Tunisia and calls on all democratic forces to resist attempts to destabilise it,” PDP founder Ahmed Nejib Chebbi told a press conference yesterday.

“Some (groups) are trying to destabilise the country and want to break up the process leading to peaceful elections,” said PDP general secretary Maya Jribi, without naming them directly.

Commentators believe that Jribi was referring to the powerful Islamist movement Ennahda and to far-left organisations.

On Monday, Tunisian Prime Minister Beji Caid Essebsi said that elections planned for October 23 would still go ahead.

EU resumes aid to Niger SIMIRI, Niger - The European Commission resumed aid to Niger yesterday, releasing 25 million euros ($35 million) after the west African nation returned to democracy this year following a coup.

The funds are aimed at helping the government of President Mahamadou Issoufou combat poverty by focussing on improving education and the health sector, the European Union’s executive arm said in a statement.

CONAKRY, Guinea - Guinea’s president survived an assassination attempt yesterday after gunmen encircled his home and pounded it with heavy-artillery fire, throwing into doubt the stability of the country’s first democratically elected government in a part of the world often ruled by the gun.

President Alpha Conde was awoken by the shooting, which erupted around his residence between 3 and 5 a.m. An RPG rocket landed inside the compound, destroying a part of the home, and one of his bodyguards was killed while several others were wounded, said Francois Louceny Fall, a minister at the presidency who acts as Conde’s chief of staff.

The 73-year-old Conde later addressed the nation on state radio, saying his security detail had “heroically fought starting at 3:10 a.m. until reinforcements arrived.” He called on the population to remain calm and said the attack would not derail the promises he made to voters seven months ago when he became the first democratically elected leader in Guinea’s 52year history.

Just hours later shooting broke out again near his home, and residents say they saw the red beret-wearing presidential guard take fighting positions.

“If your hand is in the hand of God, nothing can happen to you ... Our enemies can try everything, but they will not stop the march of the Guinean people,”

Guinea’s President Alpha Conde Conde said in his address.

“Guinea is one country. We are united, for we cannot grow if we are not united. Let us not accept to be divided.”

Soldiers fanned out across this capital city located on a peninsula jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean on Africa’s western coast. They tied ropes between trees at intersections, and traffic was at a standstill as each car was stopped and drivers were told to open their trunks. Military helicopters circled overhead. Shops and schools were closed.

Tens of millions of dollars were invested by the international community to ensure last year’s transparent vote, and a coup would be a major setback for the region, analysts say.

“It just shows the fragility of the country,” said Guinea-based election expert Elizabeth Cote of the International Foundation for Election Systems, who worked

for years overseeing voter registration and training of poll workers ahead of last year’s election. “It’s hard to brand what just happened, but hopefully it can be a wake-up call,” she said.

Until last year, Guinea was one of the continent’s failed states, a country with an abominable human rights record whose destiny was determined not by the ballot box but by the mood of officers inside the capital’s barracks.

The first coup in 1984 brought a colonel who ruled until his death 24 years later.

After his death in 2008, another coup brought an army captain to power who became known for his frightening temper and his taste for televised interrogations of opponents. He was deposed a year later when his bodyguard shot him in the head.

In between, the captain’s men led a massacre of pro-democracy protesters whose bodies were buried in mass graves, according to Human Rights Watch.

Women who had dared question military rule were gang-raped by soldiers, who silenced their cries by stuffing their red berets in their mouths.

It took the world by surprise when the general who then seized power in the final month of 2009 agreed to hand over the country to civilians in elections organized last November.

It should have been a proud moment, but the vote itself was marred by days of ethnic violence pitting Conde’s supporters - who are Malinke like him against the Peul, the ethnic group of the defeated candidate.

Central African dissident group ‘signs peace deal’ The Central African Republic government and a 500-man breakaway faction of the country’s last active rebel movement have signed a peace deal, state radio announced yesterday.

It said the pact between the government and a dissident faction of the Convention of Patriots for Justice and Peace (CPJP) was signed Sunday in the eastern

town of Nzako.

On June 12, the CPJP, the last major rebel movement active in the Central African Republic, also signed a ceasefire with the government.

Mediator Paulin Pomodimo told public radio the new deal was penned by faction leader Mahamat Salle, who “has many men, slightly more than 500 men, and many arms.”

It provides for the dissident faction to disarm and recognise state institutions while

providing security guarantees for Salle to quit the bush and move around freely in the country.

“This deal followed on a meeting that the security minister had with the president of the republic (Francois Bozize) to discuss the issue of Mahamat Salle ... who had expressed a wish to quit the bush and work towards peace,” the radio quoted Defence Minister Jean-Francis Bozize as saying.

The defence minister

had also put his signature to the latest peace deal in the presence of other government officials and representatives of the Micopax peace mission in the Central African Republic.

The Bangui government has been engaged in a disarmament process after peace accords signed with four rebel movements in 2008 which will eventually lead to the reintegration into society of about 6,000 former fighters.

D CHALLENGE WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2011 DAILY

AFRICAN SCENE

9

A better loo? Gates gives $42M to improve toilets

By DONNA BLANKINSHIP NAIROBI, Kenya - At dawn every Sunday, Joseph Irungu leads an army of 50 men pushing hand carts fitted with old 42gallon oil drums through the narrow alleyways of one of Kenya’s most populous slums.

With their bare hands, they use buckets to draw the feces from the pit latrines in Korogocho, fill the oil drums and push them to a river to deposit the waste. Every trip leaves the men with splotches of sewage on their faces and hands.

Irungu has been leading this sanitation brigade since 1998, when the Nairobi City Council refused his request to drain the pit latrine at his plot of rental houses.

“It was too much,” he said. “I had to do something, so I picked up a bucket and drained it myself. I realize that many other landlords were facing similar problems and a business opportunity presented

itself.”

Irungu’s enterprising spirit was echoed across the continent yesterday, when the world’s largest charitable foundation announced its newest venture: an effort to reinvent the toilet to bring safe, clean sanitation to millions of poor people in the developing world.

At the AfricaSan Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced $42 million in grants to encourage innovation in the capture, storage and repurposing of waste as an energy resource.

More than 2.6 billion people around the world don’t have access to safe sanitation. Instead of using toilets connected to sewer lines, most leave their waste on the ground or in a ditch or pit. The result is unsightly, unsanitary and contributes to illness.

Some 1.5 million children die each year from diarrhea-related diseases. Because the Gates Foundation believes most of these deaths could be prevented with proper sanitation, safe drinking water and improved hygiene, foun-

In the photo taken Sunday, in the Korogocho slums of Nairobi, Kenya, with Joseph Irungu, left, and one of his 50 workers who dumps effluent from pit latrines from the slum into a local water course. Yesterday at the AfricaSan Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced dlrs 42 million U.S. in grants to encourage innovation in the capture, storage and re-purposing of waste as a potential energy resource. dation officials are in should run without Africa this week to water or electricity and launch this new initia- not be attached to a tive. sewer system.

The foundation is Rijsberman said they’re focusing on toilets and aiming for a toilet that is sanitation, in part, useful in more than one because it’s the least way, such as one that attractive part of world turns waste into somedevelopment, said Frank thing that can be used Rijsberman, director of for energy. the foundation’s water, If all goes as planned, sanitation and hygiene in three to five years initiative. there will be a handful of “It’s almost taboo. ... solutions that will lead It’s not exactly a subject to products or innovain polite conversation,” tions to serve tens of he said. millions of people, he Before the end of the said. year, the foundation Irungu, 47, says the hopes to have 50 to 60 main problem in comgroups working on munities like the ideas for the next gener- Korogocho slum is the ation of toilets, which lack of sewage facilities

and access to water. He has already seen a positive impact from his efforts, including a decrease in cholera outbreaks.

“This place used to smell because people would go the toilet in (plastic) bags and throw them in the streets because they could not go to the toilets which were overflowing with waste,” he said.

Paying to use clean toilets and water is an extra expense many slum dwellers cannot afford, so they end up using the dirty facilities that can expose them to diseases. The use of a toilet costs about two cents, or two Kenyan shillings.

If better toilets are introduced Irungu will lose his business, but he says he feels guilty disposing waste in a river.

He says he has no alternative. The slum was built on rocky land, so many landlords dig shallow pit latrines that fill quickly because they are sometimes used by as many as 30 people.

For every latrine drained, Irungu takes home about $2, a solid income in an area where many residents earn less than $1 a day.

Through this work he has been able to educate his five children, he said.

Korogocho resident Veronica Wanjiru, 29, who has two children aged 7 and 11, says cleanliness is a problem.

“Most of the tenants choose to use a donorfunded toilet facility which you pay 2 shillings,” she said.

“Many of us cannot afford this fee so our children use potties until they are even 14 years or for those who cannot afford that they use paper bags which are then thrown into a ditch.”

Wanjiru said that if her family used the public toilet twice a day, it would cost her 12 shillings (13 cents), which she cannot afford.

Instead, her children leave their waste in a portable, self-contained toilet chair. She dumps its contents into a ditch.

“I know that disposing of feces in the ditch is bad but I have no choice. I have no toilet. I don’t have a steady job,” said Wanjiru, who washes clothes for a living. “Disposing the feces in the ditch is bad because that is where my children play.”

Egypt cabinet talks set to resume after PM hospitalised

By SAMER ALATRUSH CAIRO - Egypt’s embattled Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, hospitalised overnight for exhaustion, was preparing yesterday the final touches to a new cabinet intended to deflect anger over the slow pace of reform.

The cabinet, aimed at appeasing protesters who want a purge of old regime figures and quicker reforms, was meant to take office on Monday but a swearing in ceremony was postponed amid objections to the choice of ministers.

The cabinet said on its Facebook page yesterday that Sharaf “left hospital after necessary medical tests and will resume his work today in his office to complete

consultations on forming the new cabinet.”

But by the afternoon, Egyptian television reported that the premier had yet to show up at his headquarters.

The cabinet had earlier said the premier was taken to hospital late Monday night after a “hard day’s work.”

Fourteen new ministers and a deputy premier had been expected to take the oath of office before Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, who heads the ruling military council, but state television said the ceremony had been postponed.

There were conflicting reports on when the ceremony would take place.

“The government of Sharaf will take the constitutional oath tomor-

row (Thursday) to allow for the completion of negotiations,” state-run Nile Television reported.

MENA’s English service said the date of the ceremony is “still unknown.”

Sharaf, who heads a caretaker government after a revolt toppled strongman Hosni Mubarak in February, had hoped the sweeping reshuffle would persuade the protesters to end a sit-in at Cairo’s iconic Tahrir Square.

But the protesters complained that the new cabinet retains ministers they wanted sacked, including Justice Minister Abdel Aziz alGindi, whom they accuse of delaying trials of former regime officials including Mubarak.

A protest leader told

AFP that activists handed on Monday night a list to Sharaf of ministers they wanted replaced. Chief among them were Gindi, interior minister Mansur Essawy and three ministers who had served under Mubarak.

There were consultations among protest leaders whether to end the sit-in, now in its 12th day, as divisions emerged over the new cabinet.

The liberal Wafd party was reported to have withdrawn from the protest after Sharaf appointed one of its senior members, Ali alSilmi, as his deputy.

The Muslim Brotherhood, the influential Islamist movement that joined a mass demonstration on July 8 that led to the sit-in, said

Egyptian protesters wave their national flag and shout slogans as thousands crowd Cairo's landmark Tahrir Square. there was no point to Freedom and Justice prolonging the protest Party. and the new cabinet The protesters also should be given a risk the enmity of other chance.

Egyptians who accuse “We wanted a tempo- them of destabilising the rary government of country, which has seen technocrats, and things a sharp decline in are headed that way,” tourism and a rise in said Essam al-Erian, a unemployment after the Brotherhood leader who revolt that toppled doubles as vice president Mubarak on February of the movement’s 11.

1 10

CARIBBEAN NEWS DAILY CHALLENGE WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2011

Grenada ruling party mobilising ‘forces’ for general election ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada — Members of Grenada’s ruling N a t i o n a l D e m o c r a t i c Congress (NDC), which has just elected new officers to the party’s executive, have pledged that the party will be a united and unstoppable force heading into the next general election.

“We are beginning to re-muster the forces for election,” said Kenrick Fullerton, the new NDC chairman, speaking at a public rally on Sunday afternoon.

The rally, part of the 2011 convention of the NDC, followed a closeddoor morning session that included election of officers, and reports from general secretary Peter David, and treasurer Bernard Isaac.

The highlight of the election was the contest

St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas (left) speaks to National Democratic Congress General Secretary Peter David after the annual convention of the NDC. Douglas was the guest speaker at the end of the one-day conference. between incumbent 168. sibility for Information party chairman, Junior Well-known pastor, and Culture, Sen. Arley Housing Minister Glen Stanford Simon, is the Gill, has replaced Noel, and Fullerton, new deputy chairman. Vincent Roberts as pubwho is a former Member He defeated contender, lic relations officer. The of Parliament.

Education Minister Deputy PRO is Ralph Noel, who was elected Franka Bernadine, to Lord, manager of the St Chairman in 2009, was take the position.

George’s Market. defeated 240 votes to Minister with responBernard Isaac, by just

US-Cuba Friendshipment Caravan to arrive in Havana on Friday

Members of the US-Cuba Friendshipment Caravan WASHINGTON, USA — After visiting more than 130 US and Canadian cities, the more than 100 members of the US-Cuba Humanitarian Caravan arrived in Texas at the weekend.

From Texas, they will head for Cuba through Mexico, the IFCO-Pastors for Peace organization said on its webpage. They said they will go to the island without asking for any US licence.

Caravan members will hold different activities in Dallas, Corpus Christi, El Paso, Amarillo and Houston, where they will also collect humanitarian aid for the Cuban people.

The members, from Canada, Mexico and Europe, are traveling in school buses painted in bright colours, trucks and cars.

two votes, held off Social Development Minister, Sylvester Quarless, to remain as treasurer of the NDC. Finance Minister Nazim Burke was returned unopposed as deputy leader, as was David as general secretary.

Fullerton said that it was with “humility” that he accepted the offer to serve as chairman, and paid tribute to Sen. Noel for doing a “very noble job.”

The new chairman dismissed claims of party division, urging NDC members and supporters to “let no rumours fool you again.

Differences are not division.”

He added, “There is no divided NDC. There is the National Democratic Congress under the leadership of Tillman Thomas.”

As chairman, Fullerton said, “The baton has been passed for the forward movement of the party,” and

promised that “we will continue to work together” in building the NDC. “Peace, unity and togetherness are the hallmarks of success,” he said.

Tillman Thomas, the NDC leader and prime minister of Grenada, congratulated the new executive members, saying he was “looking forward to working together as a team.”

David, who emphasized the importance of unity in his report, said, “We came here as friends and leave here as friends.”

The featured address at the rally was delivered by Dr Denzil Douglas, leader of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party and the nation’s prime minister for 16 years.

He highlighted the achievements of the NDC administration in the last three years, saying he knows a good government when he sees it because St Kitts and Nevis has one.

Cayman creates first special economic zone in Caribbean GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (GIS) — The Cayman Islands government has signed an agreement with Cayman Enterprise City Ltd (CEC) that allows the developer the exclusive right to construct, develop, operate and maintain a special economic zone, intended to attract global science, technology, commodities and derivatives, media, and educational entities to the Cayman Islands.

Special economic zones (SEZs) are regions specially established in a country, for which government concessions have been made in order to stimulate economic growth.

“CEC represents an

opportunity for the Cayman Islands to diversify its economic base,” said Premier McKeeva Bush. “It’s also worth noting that this project requires no government investment, as it will be completely privately funded; and the developer also has not requested waivers for duties on materials or stamp duties.”

Although SEZs exist in a number of developed and emerging economies, the SEZ in Cayman will be the first in the Caribbean region, said Jason Blick, who is the CEO of CEC. “The cooperation and inward-investment friendly attitude of the Cayman Islands government, and the civil service, has been outstanding,” he noted.

“They truly understand the positive effect the zone will have on Cayman, and their sup-

port has been incredible.”

The development of CEC’s five “parks” namely Cayman Internet Park, Cayman Media Park, Cayman Biotech Park, Cayman Commodities Park, and Cayman International Academic Park - will be phased. “We hope to break ground in early 2012,” said CEC’s director of design and construction, and local partner, Cindy O’Hara.

The government will now begin to establish the legislative framework for CEC to operate, the premier said.

However, with the agreement now signed, certain regulatory processes in departments such as planning can now begin.

Cayman Enterprise City • The private investment is valued at more than US$327 million over the next eight

years.

• CEC will create highly skilled and administrative jobs, and generate indirect jobs in support sectors such as construction and supply services.

• The master plan incorporates a state-ofthe-art, low-rise campus of sustainable architecture comprising 500,000 sq. ft. in three phases of Class A office space, according to O’Hara.

• Two sites have been short-listed for the campus; once a final site has been selected its location will be announced and the project team will start the Planning Department permit process.

• There will be no manufacturing or engineering businesses permitted within the zone (this is a knowledge based zone and not a manufacturing one).

D CHALLENGE WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2011 DAILY

INTERNATIONAL

Syrian military assaults intensify on Homs, 13 killed

By KHALED YACOUB OWEIS AMMAN - Syrian troops and militiamen loyal to President Bashar al-Assad killed 13 people in attacks in the city of Homs yesterday, residents said, an escalation of a crackdown against a focal point for prod e m o c r a c y protests.

Among those killed were three mourners at a funeral for 10 people who were killed by security forces Monday, the Local Coordinations Committee, an activists group, said.

“We could not bury the martyrs at the city’s main cemetery so we opted for a smaller cemetery near the mosque, when the militiamen began firing at us from their cars,” one mourner, who gave his name as Abdallah, told Reuters by telephone.

He said the bodies had been taken to Khaled Ibn al-Walid mosque in the eastern Khalidiya district of the city.

“Khalidiya is totally besieged by the military. We are cut off from the rest of Homs as if we are a separate country.”

Homs has been a

major center of protests against Assad’s rule and tension has run high between the majority Sunni inhabitants and members of the Alawite minority, the same sect as Assad.

Khalidiya is inhabited by members of Sunni tribes from rural Homs while the nearby Nozha neighborhood is home to most of the country’s security forces and militiamen, from the Alawite sect.

The six deaths reported in Homs’ Khalidiya and Bab Amr neighborhoods yesterday brought the total death count since the weekend to at least 30, activists and residents said.

Another resident said: “There are troops and armored vehicles in every neighborhood.

The irregular forces with them are death squads. They have been firing indiscriminately since dawn with rifles and machineguns. No one can leave their homes.”

The Syrian authorities have expelled most foreign journalists, making it hard to verify witness accounts or official statements.

PRIVILEGES FOR RULING MINORITY Troops and tanks first entered Homs, 165 km (100 miles) north of Damascus, two months ago and occupied the main square after large protests demanding

political freedoms.

Homs, the hometown of Assad’s Sunni wife Asma, has seen an influx of Alawites in the last 20 years as the community tightened its grip on security and public jobs.

The Syrian National Rights Human Organization said seven people were killed over the weekend in attacks by security forces. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the bodies of 30 people were found in Homs over the weekend, and that some were mutilated.

“After failing to ignite a sectarian civil war, the regime is expanding military operations to subdue the mass protests in Homs,” Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman told Reuters.

Syrian authorities blame “armed terrorist groups” with Islamist links for the violence and say at least 500 policemen and soldiers have been killed since March.

Human rights organizations say troops, security forces and militiamen killed at least 1,400 civilians in Syria, adding that more than 12,000 Syrians and security personnel who refused to fire at civilians had been shot dead.

Assad had described the uprising as a foreign conspiracy to sow

sectarian strife. His opponents argue that the president has been playing on sectarian fears to maintain Alawite support and keep power for his family, which has ruled Syria for 41 years.

Once courted by the West as a possible moderate in the region, Assad is becoming increasingly isolated internationally, with Iran’s Shi’ite clerical rulers maintaining their support, to the disquiet of Syria’s majority Sunnis.

Diplomatic pressure mounted on Assad Monday after Qatar, previously a major supporter, shut its embassy in Damascus and the European Union said it was considering tougher sanctions.

Qatar was a major backer of Syria until protests broke out in March, but relations deteriorated when Sunni Muslims began to be killed by Assad’s security forces, whose leaders, like the president, belong to the minority Alawite sect.

In eastern Syria, residents of Albu Kamal, on the border with Iraq, said security had eased its grip after holding talks with the troops.

Notables from the region want to avoid an assault after defections among security forces who had tried to quell street demonstrations there, residents said.

Israeli navy seizes Gaza-bound yacht

By RAMI AMICHAI ASHDOD, Israel The Israeli navy seized a French yacht carrying proPalestinian activists heading for the blockaded Gaza Strip yesterday and forced it to go to Israel’s Ashdod port.

Rear Admiral Rani Ben-Yehuda, Deputy Commander of Israel’s navy, said 16 people, including two crew members, were brought to Israel after commandos boarded the “Dignite-Al-

Karama” yacht in international waters in the eastern Mediterranean.

“The takeover was restrained and controlled without any injuries,” Ben-Yehuda told reporters.

The yacht had declared an Egyptian port as its destination when it left Greek waters on Sunday, but sailed toward the Palestinian enclave, which is ruled by the Islamist Hamas movement.

It had planned to sail to Gaza as part of a flotilla carrying activists and aid, but other vessels were prevented from sailing

after docking in Greece.

Activists accused the Greek government of intervening on Israel’s side.

“In accordance with government directives, after all diplomatic channels had been exhausted and continuous calls to the vessel had been ignored, (Israeli marines) boarded the Al-Karama in an effort to stop it from breaking the maritime security blockade on the Gaza Strip,” a military statement said.

Boarding was necessary because those on the yacht refused to obey instructions to go to Ashdod, some 20 km (12 miles) northeast of

the Gaza Strip, the statement said.

On arrival, all the passengers would be questioned and the foreigners would face deportation, said a spokeswoman for Israel’s Population and Migration Authority.

The Israeli passengers would be handled by the police, she said.

At least two of the passengers were of Israeli origin: activist Dror Feiler and Haaretz newspaper reporter Amira Hass.

The activist’s website lists 16 people who were aboard the yacht, though the group said earlier 17 were expected to travel.

11

Yemen opposition forms council to oust president

By MOHAMMED GHOBARI .

SANAA - Yemen’s mainstream opposition coalition said yesterday it would set up a “National Council for the Forces of the Revolution” to lead efforts to oust President Ali Abdullah Saleh and end months of violence.

The Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) made the decision just days after youth groups and activists who have been at the forefront of six months of pro-democracy protests formed their own 17-member “transitional council” in a bid to force out Saleh.

The formation of two interim councils could further splinter Yemen’s opposition in the fractious Arabian Peninsula country where Saleh, who survived a bomb attack in June, is clinging to 33 years of power.

A popular uprising against 69-year-old Saleh began in January and fighting between government forces and opposition supporters has taken place in a number of parts of the country, including the capital Sanaa.

The unrest in Yemen is being closely watched by global powers because the country borders the world’s biggest oil exporter Saudi Arabia.

Mohammed al-Sabri, a JMP spokesman, said members of the national council would be announced within two weeks.

“It will be a framework for all political parties ... The aim is to achieve the goals of the revolution and overthrow the rest of this regime,” he said.

Many street protesters are wary of the JMP, which was once part of Saleh’s government.

“Their council doesn’t add anything new for us,” said Abdullah Mohammed, an activist in Sanaa.

Tens of thousands of protesters across Yemen, who have camped out for months to demand Saleh’s ouster, have grown increasingly frustrated at their inability to remove him.

The United States and Saudi Arabia, both targets of foiled attacks by Yemen-based Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, have tried to lessen the turmoil by pressing Saleh to accept a transfer of power plan put forward by Gulf Arab countries.

Saleh, who has been in Saudi Arabia for treatment for severe burns he suffered in the June attack, has stopped short of signing that plan three times in the past few months.

Several cities in southern Abyan province have been seized by militants who the army says are linked to al Qaeda.

The military, backed by armed tribesmen, has so far failed in a four-day operation to retake Abyan’s capital Zinjibar.

Saleh’s opponents have accused him of letting his forces ease up in the south to stoke fears in the international community that only he stood in the way of a militant takeover in Yemen.

He has vowed to return to Yemen to lead a dialogue with the opposition and oversee a transition, a plan critics say is a stalling tactic.

New American

The

12

DAILY CHALLENGE WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2011

Clear Channel taps Nicki Minaj to headline ‘I HeartRadio’ music fest

One Thought - One Humanity

For the conclusions of these stories check out the July 14th - July 20th, 2011 issue of The New American, which hits newsstands every Thursday For the past several years Crystal Nicole has been working behind the scenes penning songs for Beyonce, Rihanna, Mariah Carey, Brandy, Monica and others. Now with a brand new record deal, the Atlanta native is following the same successful path as Ne-Yo and Keri Hilson transitioning from songwriter to artist. Eariler this year, Crystal Nicole won a Grammy Award for writing Rihanna’s “Only Girl (In the World)” featured on the ‘Loud’ album. After learning the business and working with award winning artists and producers, Crystal Nicole moves into the spotlight with the release of her first single “Pinch Me.” With the launch of her artist career she is using her voice to talk about the importance of having a “voice against domestic violence.”

The plot between Bow Wow and the mother of his child, video model Joie Chavis, thickens as more drama is revealed to the world. According to TMZ, Joie decided to exclude Bow Wow’s name from the birth certificate of their child, Shai, since he did not show up to the hospital during the birth of their daughter after Joie had to undergo an emergency c-section back in April. In fact, it is reported that Bow Wow didn’t show up until six days after the baby was born! Joie is also stating that Bow Wow is a fake, and is acting like he’s a devoted dad from the open letter he wrote to his fans earlier this week but was absent during their daughter’s birth.

Although she obvisouly seems to have ill feelings toward the rapper, it’s reported that Joie is willing to move on and let the courts name Bow Wow as baby Shai’s father,

legally, although that will be up to the discretion of the judge.

American Idol alum Jordin Sparks, who is currently touring with the Backstreet Boys and New Kids on the Block, says she feels “lucky” that she continues to find success in her career. The 21year-old tells Parade, “”I just feel lucky that five years later I’m still touring and people still want to talk to me. For me, I just keep going and say yes to things that I think are going to be really important.”

Sparks also says having a good foundation and picking the right songs has helped her longevity. “I don’t want to get bogged down saying yes to things just because I can,” she says. “I want it to mean something. Trying to keep your head on straight and having a good foundation and base back at home and around you is key.”

Five classic albums created by Tupac Shakur are being rereleased digitally for the first time ever, representatives for the late rapper’s family confirmed. Tupac’s first three solo albums are being made available digitally for sale on iTunes for the first time. The albums that are being re-released include 2Pacalypse Now, which produced the singles “Brenda’s Got A Baby” and “Trapped.” His second album, Strictly For My N.I.G.G.A.Z., will also be digitally rereleased. That album produced the singles “Holler If You Hear Me” and one of Tupac’s best-known songs, “I Get Around.” Other albums hitting the Internet for the first time include Thug Life - Volume 1, Me Against The World and R U Still Down?. In related news, Tupac’s Greatest Hits album has official-

ly been certified Diamond by the RIAA, having sold over 10 million copies since its original release on November 24, 1998.

Michelle Williams is making a musical comeback with her new song “Love Gun.” Much like her Destiny’s Child counterpart Kelly Rowland, Michelle has gone the techno-pop route on this tune. It’s been three years since her last solo album was released and “Love Gun” is quite different from it’s preceding material. With heavy synths and Casio keyboard-striking, the upbeat record is for the lucky in love. “My album will be ‘inspirational pop.’ Think of Katy Perry’s ‘Firework’ or Natasha Bedingfeld’s ‘Unwritten.’ I want to give people a message of hope while at the same time get them moving with dance inspired tracks.”

Andre 3000 was originally tapped to play Jimi Hendrix in a biopic last year, but it’s been silent on the news front since. But according to actress Hayley Atwell, the Outkast member is still slated to be in the flick. Speaking with Esquire, the Captain America star explained that Three Stacks is signed on to appear as Hendrix in the independent flick.

“Next up is possibly a Jimi Hendrix biopic — an independent film with Andre 3000 from OutKast playing Jimi Hendrix. But I don’t know, really.

The Atwell team is like, Let’s just wait and see,” she said. Andre previously appeared in the 2008 flick Semi-Pro, though has relatively quiet since then. He is supposedly working on a solo album to be released this year in anticipation of an Outkast LP to drop in 2012.

By ROMAN WOLFE

to create their own listening experience.

“Building up to the festival, we will be presenting the biggest national promotion in radio history,” said John Hogan, President and CEO of Clear Channel Radio. “All 850 Clear Channel radio stations, spanning diverse music formats, introduced millions of listeners across the country to this historic music event. The majority of our stations will also feature exclusive radio and digital content including exclusive artist interviews and ticket giveaways. The announcement of the event alone has set new records.

It’s the first announcement ever to roadblock all Clear Channel Radio platforms and the teasers and the announcement have reached an estimated 100 million people.”

The IHeartRadio Festival will take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas from September 23rd-24th.

Rapper Nicki Minaj will be one of a number of celebrities who are slated to perform during Clear Channel Radio’s “IHeartRadio Music Festival.”

Hollywood A–Lister Ryan Seacrest is hosting the two-day festival, which also include performances by Bruno Mars, The Black Eyed Peas, Jennifer Lopez, Alicia Keys, Lady Gaga, Kelly Clarkson, Sublime, John Mayer, Usher and Sting.

The artists will appear on stage at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas this September, where the festival will also serve to launch clear channels IHeartRadio digital product.

Clear Channel is introducing a new, all digital radio experience that combines 750 broadcast radio stations, along with digital only stations from 150 cities, allowing users - Full Story In This Week’s New American Newspaper -

Subscribe Today!

Make Checks and Money Orders Payable to:

New American Newspaper P.O.Box 1668 Brooklyn, NY 11247 YES! Please enter a one year subscription ($55) for: Name: Address: City: State: Zip: (Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery of your first issue)

DAILY CHALLENGE WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2011

13

DAILY CHALLENGE WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2011

14

Small study suggests milk, soy proteins lower blood pressure modestly

By KATHLEEN DOHENY Supplements of milk and soy protein lowered blood pressure modestly among hypertensive patients, a small, new study found.

The researchers suggest that replacing some refined carbohydrates — such as white bread and white rice — in your diet with soy or milk protein “might be an important component of nutrition intervention strategies for the prevention and treatment of hypertension.”

While the reduction in blood pressure was small, study leader Dr. Jiang He, chairman of epidemiology at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans, said the benefits could translate to reduced numbers of strokes and other cardiovascular problems in the population as

a whole.

“The reduction is not large in an individual, but significant at the population level,” he said.

But several heart experts cited a number of limitations with the research, including the short duration of the trial.

The study, published online July 18 in the journal Circulation, was funded by the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Nearly 75 million Americans have high blood pressure, which increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure and kidney damage.

He and his colleagues evaluated the effects of milk and soy protein supplements and a carbohydrate supplement among 352 adults who either had pre-hypertension or stage 1 hypertension — that is, systolic readings (the top number) ranging from 120 to 159 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure readings (the bottom

number) from 80 to 95 mmHg. Ideally, pressures should be below 120 over 80.

Each person took 40 grams of a supplement daily for eight-week periods. He and his team evaluated the participants’ blood pressure at the start and end of each phase.

The carbohydrate supplement served as a comparison.

“Our study found that over an eight-week intervention, soy protein was associated with a 2 mm reduction in systolic blood pressure,” He said.

“Milk protein supplement was associated with a 2.3 mm reduction in blood pressure readings.”

While the reduction wasn’t large, He estimates it could lead to 6 percent fewer strokes, for instance, in the general population.

He believes the study is the first of its kind to find a benefit from milk and soy protein in blood pressure reduction.

Dr. Thomas Giles, presi-

dent of the American Society of Hypertension Specialist Program and a past president of the organization, called the study results underwhelming.

“You couldn’t possibly make any dietary changes based on this study,” said Giles, who is also a professor of medicine at Tulane University School of Medicine.

Among the study’s flaws, he said, was that the researchers did not measure blood pressure for 24 hours, using an ambulatory monitor.

Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, a preventive cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said, “I think future studies need to be done,” since the new study was fairly small and did not cover a long period of time.

Still, she added, “It shows us the importance of diet and modifying risk factors.”

Small changes could make a difference, Steinbaum said.

She suggests replacing animal fat with soy protein — such as substituting a veggie burger with soy protein for a hamburger with animal protein, at least occasionally.

He offers many suggestions for those who want to maintain a healthy blood pressure. “Control your weight,” he said. “Don’t smoke.”

The DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) is a reasonable eating plan, he said. He also advises monitoring pressure regularly.

He reports consulting for Novartis and Forest Laboratories, which make blood pressure-lowering medicines.

Johns Hopkins ranks top among 5,000 hospitals for 22nd year

By MOLLY O’TOOLE WASHINGTON — The title of “Best Hospital” in the United States goes to ... The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Again.

The Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins earned the top spot among about 5,000 hospitals in the United States for the 22nd year, according to U.S. News and World Report’s 2011-2012 rankings. It has earned the top spot every year since the U.S. News Media Group began publishing the annual list in 1990.

The latest report recognized 720 hospitals of 4,825 nationwide that rank among the best in their metro area or in at least one of 16 medical specialties.

This year only 140 of the total number of hospitals evaluated performed well enough in even one medical specialty to earn a national ranking, according to the U.S. News media release Tuesday.

The list covers all 94 metro areas that have a minimum of both 500,000 residents and one hospital that performed well enough to earn a place, as well as 16 medical specialties, from cancer and heart disease to urology and respi-

ratory disorders.

The rankings derive from statistics in these specialties, such as fatality rates, patient safety and volume of procedure. They also rely on a national survey in which physicians named the hospitals they consider best in their specialty for the toughest cases.

Johns Hopkins earned the top spot of 17 “Honor Roll” hospitals given the distinction for “rare breadth and

depth of medical excellence,” according to U.S. News.

In 2010-2011, 152 hospitals made the rankings cut but only 14 placed on the honor roll for high scores in six or more of the total 16 specialties.

This year Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston overtook the Mayo Clinic for the number two spot with the Rochester, Minnesota-based clinic taking third.

Brigham and Women’s

Hospital, also in Boston, traded places with Barnes-Jewish Hospital at Washington University Medical Center of St. Louis, moving up three spots to eighth while Barnes-Jewish dropped to 11th.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, and Stanford Hospital & Clinics of California all joined the 2011-2012 honor roll list.

The mission of “Best Hospi-

tals” is to serve as a guide for patients in need of a high level of care, according to the U.S. News report. www.usnews.com/besthospitals “These are referral centers where other hospitals send their sickest patients,” Avery Comarow, U.S. News Health Rankings Editor, said.

“Hospitals like these are ones you or those close to you should consider when the stakes are high.”

Does meditation boost brain health?

Following up on previous research showing that people who have practiced meditation for a long time have more gray matter in their brains, a small new study finds that their brains also shrink less as they age and they have stronger connections in the brain itself.

This means that brain cells may better relay electrical signals, researchers said.

“Our results suggest that long-term meditators have white-matter fibers that are either more numerous, more dense or more insulated throughout the brain,” study co-author Eileen Luders, a visiting assistant pro-

fessor at the University of California Los Angeles Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, said in a university news release.

“We also found that the normal age-related decline of white-matter tissue is considerably reduced in active meditation practitioners,” she added.

The researchers used technology known as diffusion tensor imaging to scan the brains of study participants and uncover differences in structural connectivity. The study included 27 people who practiced meditation styles such as Shamatha, Vipassana and

Zazen for between 5 to 46 years, and 27 other people of the same age and gender who did not meditate.

The investigators found that the two groups had pronounced differences in structural connectivity throughout the brain, not just in one area.

“Meditation . . . might not only cause changes in brain anatomy by inducing growth, but also by preventing reduction,” Luders said.

“That is, if practiced regularly and over years, meditation may slow down aging-related brain atrophy, perhaps by positively affecting the immune system.”

However, “it’s possible that meditators might have brains that are fundamentally different to begin with,” Luders pointed out.

“For example, a particular brain anatomy may have drawn an individual to meditation or helped maintain an ongoing practice — meaning that the enhanced fiber connectivity in meditators constitutes a predisposition towards meditation, rather than being the consequence of the practice,” Luders said.

The study findings were released online in advance of publication in the Aug. 15 print edition of the journal NeuroImage.

NEW JERSEY

DAILY CHALLENGE WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2011

‘Bloods’ leader faces 20 years after pleading guilty to dealing drugs in Jersey City, Newark

By KATE KOWSH

The state Department of Environmental Protection is renewing efforts to remind residents that blue claw crabbing in the Lower Passaic River and Newark Bay is against the law.

The ban, which has been in place since the mid-1980s, is getting some added attention because of recent research showing the crabs continue to have dangerous amounts of mercury and cancercausing dioxins.

“Until the water quality issues are resolved, we are asking people to observe the ban on crabbing in that

area,” said DEP Commissioner Bob Martin.

“There are plenty of other places in clean waters for good, healthy fishing and crabbing in New Jersey.”

The state Department of Health and Senior Services’ Seafood and Shellfish Project has given out nearly 200,000 brochures in English and Spanish listing the side effects of dioxins on children, officials said.

But Bayonne resident Maximino Hernandez believes New Jersey’s parks could benefit from more signs.

“There needs to be more signs about the dangers (of crabbing),” Hernandez, 72, said yesterday as he flung a

By MARYANN SPOTO

The decision by the three-judge panel reinstates a lawsuit filed against Moghul Express, the restaurant that admitted it accidentally served meat-filled pastries to 16 Hindus whose religion forbids them from eating nonvegetarian food.

The diners said the mix-up has harmed them spiritually and monetarily, and that to cleanse themselves of their sin - even though it was committed unknowingly - they must participate in a purification ritual in India’s Ganges River.

“If you follow the scriptures, it’s definitely a huge cost,” said Mehul Thakkar, a spokesman for the Yogi Divine Society in Lake Hiawatha, a nonprofit socio-religious organization that adheres to the principles of the Swaminarayan faith of Hinduism. “If they are very strict about it, there definitely is a fee involved.”

Thakkar, whose organization is not involved in the suit, declined to comment on the decision issued by Judges Dorothea Wefing, Edith Payne and Margaret Hayden.

He said the purification ceremony can last from three to 30 days, and that the cost of the trip, which can add up to thousands of dollars, is based on how much a participant can afford.

Altariq Gumbs

St a t e DEP r e m in d s r e si d en t s t h a t cra b b in g i n Ne wa rk B a y a nd l ow er Passaic R iver is illegal

By RHEA MAHBUBANI

Edison restaurant can be sued after unknowingly serving meat to devout Hindu customers, appellate court rules EDISON - A group of Hindu residents can sue an Edison restaurant for money to travel to India, where they say they must purify their souls after eating meat, a state appellate court panel ruled Monday.

The leader of a set of the “Bloods” street gang pleaded guilty Monday to conspiring to distribute narcotics in Jersey City and Newark, officials said.

Altariq Gumbs, 33, whose aliases include Killer Reek, Reek, Jersey, and Sankofa also pleaded guilty in federal court to bribing a gang member to keep her from cooperating with authorities in a homicide investigation, officials said.

Gumbs admitted that he used an unauthorized cell phone while in an Arizona state prison to direct gang members to sell heroin and wire him the proceeds from October through December 2008, U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said.

He also admitted bribing a gang member to recant a statement she made to authorities regarding a homicide, then ordering a physical assault on her, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Gumbs faces up to 20 years behind bars and a $250,000 fine when sentenced on Oct. 19.

15

fishing cage into Newark Bay off the Stephen R. Gregg/ Bayonne County Park.

“Not everyone watches the news or reads the newspaper, so not everyone knows about the contamination.”

Hernandez said he has caught crabs in Newark Bay “for fun” and tosses them back into the water.

While the DEP can fine people who are caught crabbing between $300 and $3,000, Jeff Tittel, the director of NJ Sierra Club, wants more.

“This has gone on for far too long. We need to get the Passaic River and Newark Bay cleaned up as quickly as possible ... If we get a complete cleanup, one day the crabs may be edible again.”

Hu ds on Cou nty r es idents draw time for r ole in dr ug ring By MICHAELANG ELO CONTE Four Hudson County residents are among five people sentenced yesterday for their roles in a Jersey City-based prescription drug ring that sold painkillers in H u d s o n , M o n m o u t h , Morris, Ocean and Bergen counties, officials said.

“The illicit sale and abuse of addictive painkillers has been an increasing problem in our communities in recent years, posing a deadly threat to young people as well as adults,” said Attorney General Paula T. Dow. “Today, five people

who contributed to that threat were sent to state prison.”

Brian Kelly, 50, of Hoboken, was sentenced to six years in prison with three years of parole ineligibility for distributing Percocet and conspiring to commit health care claims fraud, officials said.

Mark Cerello, 28, of North Bergen, was sentenced to five years in prison with 20 months of parole ineligibility for distributing OxyContin, officials said.

Orlando Rosario, 47, of Jersey City, was sentenced to four years in prison for conspiring to distribute OxyContin, officials said.

Lauren Cardinale, 29, of Union City, was sentenced to three years in prison for distributing Percocet and

conspiring to commit health care claims fraud, officials said.

Finally, Joseph Burkhart, 51, of Rutherford, was sentenced to five years in prison with 15 months of parole ineligibility for possessing and distributing Percocet, officials said.

All five were arrested as part of Operation MedScam and pleaded guilty last year. They were sentenced by Hudson County Superior Court Judge Kevin Callahan in Jersey City, officials said.

On July 6, Louis Lisi, 32, of Union City, pleaded guilty to leading a narcotics trafficking network, and Clifton Howell, 54, a doctor with an office in Jersey City, pleaded guilty to health care claims fraud.

16

DAILY CHALLENGE WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2011

Kelly Rowland talks being a solo artist versus being in a group Next week, Kelly Rowland will release her highly anticipated third studio solo album, Here I Am, which will feature the chart topping single “Motivation” featuring Lil Wayne.

“Motivation” is Rowland’s first #1 single as a solo artist and as far as the music video, the R&B beauty says she was thinking about “sex” while making the clip. “If it’s a sexy video, you’re more than likely thinking about something

to do with it…you need a little bit of Motivation,” Rowland tells Bleu Magazine.

‘Here I Am’ features collaborations with a myriad of A-list talent, including Dr. Luke, Stargate, Salaam Remi, Ne-Yo, Rico Love, Jim Jonsin, RedOne, Tricky Stewart, Esther Dean, Rodney Jerkins, and David Guetta, among others.

Rowland is currently enjoying her worldwide success, adding that it’s her time to be solo.

“I love being a solo artist; I love being in a group also.

I think that when it comes to being a solo artist, you get a chance to express yourself from your level only; it just allows you to be you,” she says. “When you’re in a group, you’re thinking about everybody and there is a time and a place to be in a group and a time and a place to be by yourself.”

‘Here I Am’ will be available everywhere July 26.

Emmy Awards pit Idris Elba and Laurence Fishburne against each other

By MARISELA SANTANA Special to the NNPA from the Los Angeles Wave HOLLYWOOD — Two of Hollywood’s most sought after actors, Laurence Fishburne and Idris Elba (left), have been nominated to compete against each other in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie category by The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, which announced all of its nominees for their PrimeTime Emmy Awards this fall.

Elba was nominated for his role as John Luther in

the miniseries “Luther” and Fishburne for his lead role in “Thurgood.”

Among the endless list of nominees was also actress Taraji P. Henson, who was nominated for best lead actress in a miniseries or movie for her role in “Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story.”

The PrimeTime Emmy Awards celebrate excellence in national primetime programming, awarding top honors at the annual creative arts and primetime awards ceremonies.

Among the nominees for an Emmy Award is also Rickey Minor, who was nominated in the Outstand-

ing Musical Director Category for his musical direction of “An Evening of Stars: Tribute to Chaka Khan.”

Actor Andre Braugher received a nod in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Owen in “Men of a Certain Age.” Elba received a second nod in the Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as Lenny in “The Big C.” Also pitted against one another are two of Hollywood’s most beloved actresses, Loretta Devine and Alfre Woodard in the Outstanding Guest Actress In a Drama

Series category. Devine was nominated for her performance as Adele Webber in “Grey’s Anatomy,” and Woodard for her role as Ruby Jean Reynolds in “True Blood.”

Another one of Los Angeles’ gems is set to receive her due recognition this year as well.

The veteran news anchor and philanthropist Christine Devine is scheduled to accept the prestigious Los Angeles Area Governors Award on behalf of the weekly news segment, “Wednesday’s Child” on FOX11.

The 63rd annual PrimeTime Emmy Awards are scheduled to air on Sept. 18.

Ruben Studdard inks Shaunie says ‘Basketball Wives’ new record deal not what she envisioned American Idol alum Ruben Studdard has inked a new record deal with Shanachie Entertainment for the release of his next album, which is set for a Fall 2011 release. The set will be the follow up to 2009’s ‘Love Is,’ which was released independently via Hickory Records.

“We believe that for all his success, Ruben Studdard is an undervalued artist,” says Shanachie General Manager, Randall Grass. “Part of that may be due to his versatility; he has achieved in so many different areas that people just aren’t aware of the totality of his talent. We are very excited at the prospect of working with Ruben and his team to take him to the next

level of success in this new phase of his career.”

The forthcoming album, currently untitled, will boast production from Harold Lilly, and Blac Elvis.

“I’ve been waiting a really long time for my fans to finally hear the real Ruben.

This will be the first time that one producer and one writer will be working on my entire album to create one sound,” states Studdard. “I want my fans to feel like they have been taken on a musical journey by Ruben Studdard.”

Last year, Grammy nominated Studdard launched the successful “Timeless” tour in the U.S. and Canada with Idol peer Clay Aiken.

Shaunie O’Neal is having a change of heart about VH1’s top rated show, “Basketball Wives.” In a recent interview with ebonyjet.com she shared that with all the criticism she’s received about the show, she understands and basically agrees.

“I get a lot of flack,” says O’Neal. “People say to me: ‘You’re saying the betrayal of Black women is bad on TV, but your show is one of the number one reasons why it is.’ Guess what? I agree! But you look at those credits — it’s more than me executive producing it. I brought this vision to a table full of people, a table full of executives, and since then it has taken on its own new thing.”

Never did she expect the show to blow up as big and popular as it’s gotten, let alone the drama. From Miami to now Los Angeles, “Basketball Wives” is just one of those controversial shows everyone has to watch.

With the expansion, she

said the show is a bit more than what she wanted it to be when it comes to the L.A. series.

“I really came in with the concept of having a group of women that come together and are associated by the game of basketball, whether it be their husbands, fiancés — there’s some long-term relationship with a man in basketball and the game of basketball — and that’s how we formed this sisterhood and friendship,” she says. “The L.A. cast — there are some wives and fiancés, which I’m fine with. But there’s a little bit of trash kind of sprinkled into that cast that I’m totally against. I was really very hands off with that cast.”

DAILY CHALLENGE WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2011

17

VH1 orders season 2 of ‘Single Ladies’ LOS ANGELES — U.S. cable network VH1 says it has green-lit a second season of the scripted drama/comedy series “Single Ladies.”

Set in Atlanta, the show is the network’s first hourlong scripted series. It stars Stacey Dash, LisaRaye McCoy (right) and Charity Shea.

The second season is expected to begin filming this year. It is slated for premiere in 2012.

“Our viewers have fallen for ‘Single Ladies’ and its honest, modern take on love, female friendship and dating,” Jeff Olde, VH1’s executive vice president of original

programming and production.

“We’re extremely pleased to give the audience another great season of the series they love.”

“My partner Shakim [Compere] and I are so excited that ‘Single Ladies’ has been received so well,” Flavor Unit Entertainment Execu-

tive Producer Queen Latifah said. “We knew from the beginning this show was going to appeal to people everywhere; it’s funny, sexy and smart. We are so happy that we were able to join with VH1 to find such a great home for this incredible show.”

Shaggy proves ‘dancehall music is alive’ at hometown show

By RAHMAN DUKES For diamond-selling dancehall artist Shaggy, the homecoming festivities he experienced over the weekend in Jamaica were as sweet as his new single “Sugar Cane.”

On Saturday, “Mr. Boombastic” took his melodic reggae sounds back to the island that made him famous, performing a free show in front of his fellow Jamaicans with the assistance of a few other notable reggae stars. The concert, called “Shaggy and Friends,” came on the heels of the release of his 10th stu-

dio album, Summer in Kingston.

“It’s home. This is my hometown. This is where I was born, where I was raised,” Shaggy told MTV News following the performance. “This is where I currently live. I just really wanted the international audience to come in and just see what we’re really about. This dancehall music is alive, this reggae music is alive.

There’s an audience here.”

Hundreds of fans lined Knutsford Boulevard starting at 7 p.m. for the show, which got under way a few hours later. The smell of Jamaican jerk and a certain green leaf wafted through the humid air as Bounty

Killer, Elephant Man, Chino, Di Genius, Agent Sasco, Christopher Martin, Leftside, QQ and others warmed up the stage for Shaggy.

According to producer Di Genius, the evening was another shining moment in the superstar’s music career.

“To have such a huge show like this in the streets of Jamaica is definitely groundbreaking, but it goes handin-hand with the type of artist that [Shaggy is],” Genius said. “Shaggy has been breaking ground throughout the years. Shaggy is a 9 million-selling dancehall artist, and that’s something that’s really not normal. Definitely a groundbreaking event for the coun-

try.”

The day prior, Shaggy capped a week of promotional events to support his “feelgood album,” as he described it, with a performance on “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.” Shaggy debuted the clip for his crossover single “Sugar Cane” as the intro to Saturday’s show. Starting this week, Shaggy will embark on an international run to further support the album, but for the reggae legend, it’s the more natural moments such as this weekend’s epic concert that define him as an artist.

“This is home,” Shaggy declared.

“And you’re nowhere unless you’re respected at home.”

FOX slams Chris Brown and NBC, Brown fires back Antonio ‘L.A.’ Reid officially head of Epic Records

Chris Brown is not too happy with FOX News, after the network bashed him and NBC for promoting “bad behavior.”

On the heels of Brown’s performance on the Today Show Summer Concert Series, which saw a record breaking 12,000 plus fans piling into Times Square to see the R&B crooner, Fox News slammed NBC for promoting Brown, insisting his guilty plea for beating Rihanna in 2009, his lyrical content and his current image is unacceptable.

“Now whatever you think of his music, Chris Brown beat his girlfriend to a pulp, he uses the N-Word, the CWord, the S-Word, the FWord, the most degrading misogynistic lyrics in some of his top songs like “Look At Me Now,” he trashed the ABC studio, yet he’s treated like royalty, the Pope, whatever the best analogy is on the Today show,” says a Fox News anchor.

After watching the special, Brown took to Twitter to voice his frustration on what

he called a “Bogus and pointless story.”

“People really should grow up sometimes! I guess the next story they make up will say “chris brown paid the fans to come! #stopit5 hahaha,” says Brown. “I get it though! They are upset at the fact that the today show actually focuses on talent instead of an almost 3 year old incident! Running bogus and pointless stories don’t matter!

My fans prove that everyday and the haters just look old as F**k !”

He continues: “I keep my head high and my middle finger higher! I love team breezy. Let’s just laugh it off

cuz they mad. Ahahahahaha…Fame + Platinum= Fortune! Nobody can take my joy. I have some of the most incredible fans in the world. I love my fans...everyone of them. Special moments in my life are because of you! Thank you” Rapper 50 Cent, who also tuned into the special, voiced his support for Brown, calling the segment “Unbelievable.”

“I just saw a clip on FOX news Hating on NBC for having chris brown on…unbelievable,” says 50 Cent. “I’m never watching that again.

He paid for his mistake #!@%*# holes.”

By JOHN SELLERS Antonio “L.A.” Reid was officially named head of Epic Records on Monday, a long-expected move that TheWrap confirmed in June.

Reid — who will do double duty as a judge on Simon Cowell’s singing competition show “The X Factor” in the fall — will carry the title

of chairman-CEO, a fitting role for the man who headed Island Def Jam from 2004 to 2011.

The move has been seen as inevitable since March, when Reid fled his chairman position at IDJ. Epic Records, which has first dibs on “X Factor” performers, is a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment.

The label is expected to merge with Jive Records, which Reid will also oversee.

DAILY CHALLENGE WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2011

18

BofA posts $8.8 billion net loss, worst ever

By JOE RAUCH CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — Bank of America Corp. reported an $8.8 billion secondquarter loss, its worst ever, and posted a drop in lending margins as low interest rates weigh on the largest U.S. bank.

The results were in the middle of the range the bank forecast in late June when it announced an $8.5 billion settlement with mortgage investors.

The bank’s shrinking interest income underscores the difficulties Chief Executive Brian Moynihan faces even as the bank moves past its mortgage problems.

“It’s a slow grind for them,” said David Hendler, senior analyst at CreditSights in New York.

Bank of America will

not likely be able to boost its dividend for some time, analysts said.

The bank’s interest income is under pressure. Its loan book shrank, unlike many of its rivals, and the longer-term rates at which banks can lend are falling relative to the short-term rates at which banks borrow.

At BofA, these factors translated to a 13 percent decline in interest income and a sizable 0.17 percentage point decline in lending margins from the first quarter.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. reported a similar shrinking in its lending margins last week, which pressured shares of many regional lenders. Analysts had expected rising interest rate margins to fuel higher bank earnings

next year.

Bank of America did post improving credit losses, and some of its businesses, including credit card lending, posted higher profits.

For the second quarter, BofA reported a net loss of $8.8 billion, or 90 cents per share, compared with net income of $3.1 billion, or 27 cents per share, a year earlier.

Analysts on average expected a loss of 90 cents per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. On June 29, the bank announced it would take a series of big one-time charges in the quarter related to a settlement with private investors who demanded the bank repurchase toxic home loans held in mortgage-

backed securities.

Excluding the charges, the bank earned $3.7 billion, or 33 cents per share, in the second quarter.

The results highlight that many of the bank’s business units — most notably its credit card and investment banking units — are becoming more profitable.

Global card services reported income of $2 billion, up from $826 million a year ago; global banking and markets income rose to $1.6 billion from $1 billion.

BofA’s consumer real estate services unit lost $14.2 billion in the quarter, continuing a series of losses for the business dating back to the 2008 financial crisis.

Overall, revenue tumbled 54 percent to $13.5 billion due to a provision taken as part of the mortgage settlement.

Excluding that provision, revenue was $26.5 billion.

Like its peers, including JPMorgan and Citigroup Inc, BofA reported improving credit quality as loan losses continued to decline.

At BofA, net chargeoffs — loans the bank is writing off — declined for the fifth straight quarter, and the bank lowered its loan loss provision.

Earlier this year the Federal Reserve denied permission for BofA to raise its dividend later this year. The bank currently pays 1 cent per share quarterly.

BofA shares were down 3 cents to $9.69 in premarket trading. The shares fell 2.8 percent on Monday and are down 27 percent this year, compared with a 12 percent drop in the KBW Banks Index.

FDA plans oversight of some mobile medical apps

By LISA RICHWINE LOS ANGELES — A fast-growing number of software applications offers doctors the chance to view X-rays or monitor heart rates from iPads or smartphones, prompting U.S. health officials yesterday to propose government oversight for some of the more complex health apps.

A portion of the apps perform tasks that mimic the work of medical devices and could cause harm if they failed to perform as promised, Food and Drug Administration officials said.

New FDA guidelines state that in some cases software developers would have to show their apps worked as well as non-mobile devices for the same use. The agency would have to provide clearance for those apps before they could be sold.

FDA officials said they recognized the potential benefits from mobile medical apps and aimed to encourage future development. “At

the same time, we need to make sure these things are also safe and effective,” Dr. Jeffrey Shuren, head of the agency’s medical device center, said in an interview.

Medical apps are sold for devices such as Apple Inc’s iPad and iPhone, Blackberry phones sold by Research In Motion, and phones run with Google Inc’s Android software.

Only a small number

of the thousands of mobile apps would face FDA scrutiny under new draft guidelines, agency officials said.

They fall into two categories: apps that serve as an accessory to an FDA-regulated device, and apps that turn a mobile platform into a medical device.

Examples are apps that allow a doctor to view X-ray or MRI images on a smartphone or tablet comput-

er, or see vital signs displayed on a patient’s bedside monitor from another location.

Others may allow connection of heart sensors on a patient’s chest to a mobile device, or provide a way to use a smartphone like a stethoscope.

One concern is that smaller screen sizes and lower contrast ratios could affect the quality of images on a mobile device.

Regulators hope the guidelines provide clarity on their expectations and will spark new app development, said Bakul Patel, policy adviser in the FDA device center.

The agency aims to “strike that fine balance between promoting innovation and assuring safety and effectiveness,” Patel said.

Apps for consumers that count calories or provide medical reference materials would

not draw FDA oversight.

The FDA already has cleared a handful of medical apps after developers sought the agency’s blessing. In February, for example, an app that lets doctors view CT, MRI and other scans on Apple’s iPhone or iPad won FDA clearance.

The agency is taking public comment the proposed guidelines for 90 days.

Trust banks earnings up amid new business

By SVEA HERBSTBAYLISS and ROSS KERBER BOSTON — State Street Corp. and Bank of New York Mellon, two of the world’s biggest custody banks, each reported stronger second-quarter earnings as new demand for their products boosted revenue.

New York-based Bank of New York Mellon said yesterday net income climbed to 12 percent to $735 mil-

lion while Bostonbased State Street’s earnings rose 19 percent to $513 million.

Each company earned more in investment management fees for overseeing trillions in assets for pension funds and other large clients. Bank of New York Mellon saw a 14 percent gain while State Street reported a 24 percent gain.

Some of the increase in fees was fueled by acquisitions.

Bank of New York Mellon last year inked

a deal to buy PNC Financial Services Group Inc.’s globalinvestment services business while State Street acquired the Bank of Ireland’s asset management business in January.

State Street reported a 15 percent gain in assets under management to $2.1 trillion.

Bank of New York reported a 22 percent gain to $1.3 trillion.

Assets under custody climbed 19.6 percent to $22.8 trillion at State Street and climbed 21 percent to

$26.3 trillion at Bank of New York Mellon.

Nomura analyst Glenn Schorr praised Bank of New York Mellon’s strong new business trends and “very significant deposit growth.”

But the companies still face pressure from low interest rates, which have forced them to waive money market fees, and lower trading volatility, which cut foreign exchange revenue.

State Street’s foreign exchange trading revenue dropped 9 per-

cent while it fell 25 percent at Bank of New York Mellon.

Pension funds have accused both companies of cheating customers on currency trading by failing to execute trades at the lowest rates. Each bank has denied wrongdoing in the past and neither gave new details in their earnings releases on the matter. Both however mentioned that they will likely face rising legal and regulatory costs in the months ahead.

DAILY CHALLENGE WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2011

19

Borders, unable to find white knight, to liquidate

By NICK BROWN Borders Group Inc, the second-largest U.S. bookstore chain, said it has canceled an upcoming bankruptcy auction and will close its doors for good.

The company said in a statement Monday it was unable to find a buyer willing to keep it in operation and will sell itself to a group of liquidators led by Hilco Merchant Resources.

Borders’ roughly 400 remaining stores will close, and nearly 11,000 jobs will be lost, according to the company.

“We are saddened by this development,” Borders President Mike Edwards said in the statement. “We were all working hard toward a different outcome, but the headwinds we have been facing for quite some time ... have brought us to where we are now.”

Borders was unable to overcome competition from larger rival Barnes & Noble Inc. and from Amazon.com Inc., which began to dominate book retail when the industry shifted largely online. Borders, for which online sales

represented only a small fraction of revenue, never caught up to its rivals’ e-reader sales, namely Amazon’s Kindle and Barnes & Noble’s Nook.

Borders had hoped to sell itself to buyout firm Najafi Cos, which owns the Book-of-the-Month Club. While Najafi was willing to pay $215 million in cash and take on another $220 million in liabilities to acquire the assets, the deal fell apart last week after creditors objected to terms that would have allowed Najafi to liquidate after completing the sale.

“We are saddened by today’s news announcing the imminent liquidation of Borders, as we had hoped for a different outcome,” said Najafi in an emailed statement.

“However, last week the debtor selected the liquidators’ bid over our proposed plan to keep Borders operating as a going concern, a decision that is a detriment to Borders’ employees, suppliers and customers,” Najafi added.

Earlier Monday, Reuters reported that Books-A-Million Inc., the nation’s thirdlargest bookstore chain, was in talks to acquire a

small number of Borders stores, citing sources close to Borders’ bankruptcy. Representatives for Borders did not address the report when contacted

by Reuters, and the company’s statement did not say whether formal talks had taken place.

Founded in 1971 by Tom and Louis Borders in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Borders had just 21 stores when it was purchased in 1992 by Kmart. By 1997, its store count had ballooned to 203, and the company was setting its sights even higher with plans to expand to 1,000 locations.

But a money-losing e-commerce website and mounting competition from online retailers forced Borders to try unsuccessfully to sell itself in 2008.

The company finally declared bankruptcy in February 2011 after delaying payments to landlords and publishers. It conducted goingout-of-business sales at about 200 of the 642 stores it operated prior to bankruptcy.

While competitors responded to consumers’ growing preference for online business and electronic

device-based entertainment, Borders remained mainly a brick-and-mortar operation.

“They were like the dinosaur that saw the ice coming but didn’t think it was going to hit them,” Schuyler Carroll, a bankruptcy attorney at Perkins Coie LLP, told Reuters Monday.

The Hilco group, which also includes Gordon Brothers Retail Partners, SB Capital Group, Tiger Capital Group and Great American Group, will begin liquidations as early as Friday, with the process to conclude sometime in September, Borders said. The bookseller will seek bankruptcy court approval of the closing procedures at a hearing Thursday in U.S. bankruptcy court in Manhattan.

Andrew Glenn, an attorney for Borders, told Reuters last week the company expected a liquidation sale to bring in between $250 million and $284 million.

DJM Realty, a unit of Gordon Brothers, will be in charge of the management and disposition of the 259 Borders leases that remain available for assignment.

“It is not every day a portfolio becomes available” with real estate as desirable as Borders, DJM said in a statement Monday. The properties should draw strong interest given the lack of real estate development and barriers to entry in key markets, DJM said.

For all its innovations on the digital side, Borders’ main retail competitor, Barnes & Noble, remains in its own difficult straits, Carroll said.

The company put itself up for sale in August amid years of declining print book sales, saying its shares were undervalued. It is examining a $1 billion takeover offer made in May by John Malone’s Liberty Media Corp.

David Strasser, an analyst at Janney Capital Markets, said liquidating Borders could make Barnes & Noble more valuable.

“This is perhaps an opportunity for a higher negotiated bid via Liberty or an entrance of another bidder,” Strasser said last week in a note to clients.

But Carroll isn’t so sure.

“Barnes & Noble is having its own problems,” Carroll said. “I

don’t think one less store down the street is going to solve them.”

Barnes & Noble was thought to be interested in buying a handful of Borders stores after Glenn said at a hearing last week that the company had voiced some interest in select Borders locations.

Barnes & Noble CEO William Lynch said in February that certain Borders stores appeared attractive to the company, which operates more than 700 stores.

Borders’ statement did not address whether Barnes & Noble had made an offer, and a Barnes & Noble spokeswoman declined to comment.

Edwards extended a “heartfelt thanks” to his employees in Monday’s statement, saying he was “proud” of the role they’ve played in the lives of consumers.

Carroll said the most significant loss associated with Borders’ closing is that of jobs.

“It’s one more knife in an economy that really doesn’t need that,” he said. “And for people who may be living on the edge right now and may not be able to quickly find a new job, they may not do very well.”

U.S. airlines poised for profits but face headwinds

By KYLE PETERSON CHICAGO — U.S. airlines have got a dependable toehold on financial stability, but the companies still face headwinds from soaring fuel prices and economic weakness that could batter bookings later this year.

Airlines are seen mostly profitable for the second quarter when the earnings reports start rolling in today.

Experts say they are mostly optimistic about the industry outlook although shares of major U.S. airlines fell to one-year lows on Monday amid worries in the market that economic weakness could

slow travel demand in the fall.

“Possible mild economic turbulence for the economy in the second half of the year may test airlines on cost cutting measures and capacity restraints taken,” said Ray Neidl, a senior aerospace analyst with Maxim Group, in a research note.

“Much of this uncertainty should already be reflected in airline stock prices,” Neidl said. “We believe that despite challenges, the long term outlook looks solid for the industry.”

The Arca airline index .XAL slipped 1 percent during the second quarter, while the price of crude oil, which influences jet fuel costs, fell 10 percent but remained historically

high.

The U.S. economy, meanwhile, is not signaling a strong pick-up with the unemployment rate at 9.2 percent in June.

AMR Corp., parent of American Airlines, leads off the earnings season today and is expected to be the only major airline in the top five to post a loss for the quarter, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Airlines shares were broadly weaker on Monday, with United down 3.5 percent at $20.12 on the New York Stock Exchange.

Delta Air Lines down 4.75 percent at $8.01.

AMR shares were down 3.39 percent at $4.84.

Morningstar equity analyst Basili Alukos

said concerns that the U.S. Congress will not reach a deal to raise the debt ceiling is weighing on airline shares as much as other sectors.

Republicans and Democrats scrambled on Monday to work out details on a fallback plan that would avoid an unprecedented U.S. default.

“If the debt ceiling isn’t raised, the airlines will see a substantial rise in interest rates and interest costs, making the firms less valuable,” Alukos said.

He said new signs that recent fare hikes are unsustainable could weaken the outlook somewhat.

“Higher prices would cause consumers to think twice. So I think you’re going to see a lot

of talk about pricing,” Alukos said.

“My thought is you’ll see some disintegration in their ability to maintain pricing and that prices will probably have come down a little bit.”

Helane Becker, an airline analyst with Dahlman Rose & Co, agreed saying airlines could see volatile bookings patterns, but that

carriers in the U.S. have managed their capacity well in recent years and are prepared to deal with demand fluxuations.

“They are much better prepared than they have ever been in the past,” Becker said. “But they’re still airlines.

And I definitely think that they are going to continue to be volatile.”

20

DAILY CHALLENGE WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2011 ! $

451 789 123 558 441 220 115

687 555 452 645 657 782 369

MON

✔ 068

xxx xxx

312 xxx

36x xxx

xxx xxx

95x xxx

80x xxx

994 xxx

51x xxx

xxx xxx

xxx xxx

91x xxx

xxx xxx

002 xxx

707 xxx

17x xxx

xxx xxx

070 323

506 xxx 961 337 194 552 60x xxx

25x xxx

964 xxx 455 044

SUN

✔ 468

✔ 564

744 63x xxx

xxx xxx

PICK OF THE DAY

xxx

36x 891 883 241 519 428 234

41x xxx

238 xxx

807

264 xxx

014 992

xxx 415 328 xxx

04x xxx

xxx xxx

002

926 xxx

xxx xxx

967

438 xxx

xxx xxx

871 759

xxx

706 xxx

xxx xxx

xxx xxx

xxx

xxx xxx

xxx xxx

97x xxx

864

60x xxx

8xx xxx

13x xxx

295 77x 835

xxx

xxx xxx 82x

040

254 742

FRI

✎

879 449

765 xxx

WED THURS

879 xxx 312 36x xxx 95x 449 xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx

221

730 xxx

TUES

739

xxx

2892

149

009 33x xxx

$38 6,380( &) 4877-2+ -2 631) 39)57-1) $385 53&0)16 :-7, *-2%2'-%0 -29)671)276 '380( 1%/) <38

39) 5)0%7-326,-46 :-00 *0385-6, $38 '%2 1%/) 45-0 %5 *%935%&0) 5)%0 )67%7) 3**)56 73(%< $38 6,380( 6-+2 84 *35 '5)%7-9) '3856)6 32')275%7) 32 <385 :35/

'7 )47 039)5 1%< *))0 5).)'7)( 2)59386

$385 )**3576 :32 7 +3 82237-')( ,3:)9)5 631) %< 45 ! !

32) <38 :35/ :-7, 1%< +)7 .)%0386 31)32) 1%< &) 75<-2+ 73 4800 7,) :330 39)5 <385 )<)6 037 ,%6 ',%2+)( %2( 63 ,%9) <38

$385 ()7)51-2%7-32 %2( 67%1-2% :-00 1%/) 39 '7 <385 :35/ 033/ *0%:0)66 %2( )**3570)66 $38 9) &))2 % 0-770) (3:2 %2( <38 2))( % 0-*7 $38 :-00 0)%52 9%08%&0) -2*351%7-32 -* <38 75%9)0 73(%<

4)2( 7-1) :-7, *5-)2(6 %2( 5)0%7-9)6 5%9)0 *35 82) %< 40)%685) 3 237 0)7 7,) 5)%'7-326 3* 37,)56 +)7 <38 +3-2+ $38 '%2 4-'/ 84 631) 39)57-1) 73(%<

31%2') %44)%56 ) %++5)66-9) %2( )' 39 !

'3035*80 %2( <38 :-00 +)7 <385 :%< $38 :-00 &) -2'0-2)( 73 1%/) 82:-6) -29)671)27 ',3-')6

$38 '%2 %6/ *35 *%9356 %2( +)7 6382( %(9-') 80< 82) *531 '036) *5-)2(6 35 5)0%7-9)6 5< 73 &) % &-7 135) 82()567%2(-2+ 35 <38 1%< )2( 84 64)2(-2+ 7,) )9)2-2+ %032) 29309)1)27 -2 +53846 :-00 &) *%935 %&0) %2( 0)%( 73 9%08%&0) -2*351%7-32

32')275%7) 32 <3856)0* 35 <385 :35/ $38 %2 )' 1-+,7 ,%9) 631) 453&0)16 &%0%2'-2+ <385 &33/6 31)32) <38 '%5) %&387 1%< 237 &) 733 40)%6)( :-7, <38

33/ -273 %07)52%7) 1)%26 3* 6844357-2+ <385 *-2%2'-%0 8+ 80< &85()26 ,-2/ 7:-') &)*35) <38 48568) %2 825)%0-67-' )2()%935 $385 1%7) '380( +)7 32 <385 2)59)6 -* ,) 35 6,) &%'/6 <38 -273 %2 )137-32%0 '31)5 35 4876 5)675-'7-326 32 <385 7-1) 32 7 -+235) %2< )137-32%0 -668)6 7,%7 '380( &) )47 8+ " '%86-2+ 453&0)16 %/) 631) 7-1) 387 $38 1%< *))0 % 2))( 73 1%/) ',%2+)6 73 <385 0)+%0 (3'81)276

32 7 0%1)27 73 % *5-)2( %&387 %2< +5-)9%2') )& %2 ! !

5)+%5(-2+ <385 1%7) 35 -7 1%< &) ,%5( 73 5)'7-*< <385 5)0%7-326,-4 $385 -29309)1)27 -2 35+%2-=%7-32%0 )9)276 '380( 34)2 (3356 73 2): %2( );'-7-2+ 34435782-7-)6 )7 7,)1 /23: :,%7 <385 -27)27-326 %5) $385 :-00-2+2)66 73 ,)04 37,)56 '%2 %2( :-00 0)%( %5 )& 73 *%7-+8) -* <38 (32 7 0)%52 73 6%< 23 ,357 75-46 :-00 4539) 73 &) 135) *58-7*80 7,%2 <38 -1%+-2)( 31) 3* <385 2): *5-)2(6 1%< 237 &) 7,%7 75867:357,<

DAILY CHALLENGE WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2011

DAILY CHALLENGE

21

SPORTS

Mavs open season vs Bulls, if season opens on time Owners and players are still well apart in negotiations on a collective bargaining agreement to replace the one that expired June 30, and there is a fear that regular-season games could be lost to a work stoppage for the second time in league history.

If not, Utah will host Houston in the Rockets’ first game under Kevin McHale and without Yao Ming, and Oklahoma City will visit new coach Mike Brown and the Lakers to conclude the opening-night schedule.

Most teams begin Nov. 2, with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade

and Chris Bosh starting their second season together on the Heat and facing a Knicks team led by Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire.

Also, Golden State hosts the Lakers in its first game under rookie coach Mark Jackson.

No. 1 pick Kyrie Irving would make his pro debut that night when Cleveland visits Boston.

The first meeting between the Mavs and Heat since Dallas’ sixgame victory in the finals highlights the Dec. 25 schedule. The Celtics visit the Knicks to open the tripleheader and the Lakers welcome

the Bulls in the nightcap.

The Mavs play in Miami for the first time since clinching their first title on March 29.

The schedule was released much later in the summer in recent seasons while the NBA was waiting for the completion of free agency and trades to see what other marquee matchups could be created. This time, with all transactions and most other league business on hold, there was no reason to wait.

It’s unclear what would happen to the schedule if the season is delayed, though it

would likely depend on when a deal gets done.

The 1998-99 season didn’t begin until February, forcing an overhaul that limited teams to 50 games.

If a deal is completed in time to save the entire season, other interesting games include: -The first meeting between Dallas and Los Angeles since the Mavs ended the Lakers’ twoyear title reign on Dec. 15 in Dallas.

-Anthony’s return to Denver with the Knicks on Nov. 16.

-Deron Williams first game back in Utah with the Nets on Jan. 14.

-Brown’s first game in Cleveland since the Cavs fired him after consecutive 60-win seasons on Dec. 21.

-The Magic and Nets playing a pair of games at the O2 Arena on March 7-8, the second straight year the NBA is staging regular-season games in London ahead of the 2012 Olympics.

The All-Star break is scheduled for Feb. 2426 in Orlando. The regular season ends April 18, with the Nets hosting the Bulls in their final game in New Jersey before moving to Brooklyn for the 201213 season.

Timberwolves interview Terry Porter

game. With Rubio, Beasley, Love, Johnson and No. 2 overall draft pick Derrick Williams, Kahn thinks he has the talent to run, and that’s what he want to see happen.

Porter is the first to have a formal interview, but he won’t be the last. Kahn interviewed about a dozen candidates the first time he made a hire and promised a “voluminous” search this time around as well. Career wins leader Don Nelson, Trail Blazers assistant Bernie Bickerstaff and Memphis assistant Dave Joerger are among the others expected to get consideration.

“I think we’ll have a thorough search and we’ll try to find somebody who embraces the notion of wanting to

coach an up-tempo style on both sides of the floor and somebody who really connects well with young players,” he said last week.

Porter has been a head coach twice before, in Milwaukee and Phoenix. He lasted just over half a season with the Suns in the 2008-09 season before being replaced by Alvin Gentry.

Porter spent three of his 17 NBA seasons playing in Minnesota.

His background as a point guard could be attractive to the Timberwolves, who are looking for someone who can help Spanish import Ricky Rubio make the transition to the NBA. The interview was first reported by the Star Tribune of Minneapolis.

By BRIAN MAHONEY NEW YORK The NBA champion Dallas Mavericks will open the season - if it begins on time - at home on Nov. 1 against MVP Derrick Rose and Chicago, then host Miami in a finals rematch Christmas Day. The NBA released its complete 2011-12 schedule yesterday despite being in a lockout that could last months and cause it to be scrapped.

By JON KRAWCZYNSKI MINNEAPOLIS Terry Porter spent 17 seasons in the NBA as a point guard, a two-time All-Star who helped Portland reach the NBA finals and was regarded as one of the smartest players at his position.

With helping Ricky Rubio make the transition from Spain to the United States one of David Kahn’s biggest priorities, it’s no wonder that Porter was the first person to get a formal interview for the M i n n e s o t a Timberwolves coaching vacancy.

A person with knowledge of the meeting told The Associated Press

that Porter interviewed on Monday. The person requested anonymity because the team was not commenting publicly on the search process.

Porter’s previous experience as a head coach - in Milwaukee and Phoenix - and his background as a point guard could make him an ideal fit in Minnesota, which is coming off 32 total wins in two seasons under Kurt Rambis.

But Kahn has been adamant that he wants a coach with “up-tempo DNA,” which seems to contradict Porter’s hard-nosed, defensive mindset. Porter went 71-93 in two seasons with the Bucks and

lasted just over half a season in Phoenix in 2008-09 when his slowit-down style didn’t jibe with Steve Nash and the high-octane Suns.

“We are going to play - as I’ve said really since the first day I arrived a very up-tempo, fastbreaking style on both ends of the floor,” Kahn said last week when he announced Rambis’s firing. “And I think that it’s very important as we go through the search process that we identify somebody who passionately believes in that and probably has a little bit of a track record in that respect and can help make this come to fruition.”

Of course, the Timberwolves may need

more help on the defensive end than they do on offense. With offensive-minded players such as Kevin Love, Michael Beasley and Wes Johnson, the Wolves scored more than 101 points per game last season, good for 10th in the league.

But they gave up more points than any other team and consistently let leads slip away in the fourth quarter because of their inability to get stops.

Still, Kahn seems more concerned with finding a coach who wants to get the ball up and down the court quickly, a style that he thinks appeals to the players more than the grind-it-out, defensive

Rashar d Mendenhall sues Champion RALEIGH, N.C. — Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall is suing the parent company of the Champion sports apparel maker, calling the decision to drop his endorsement deal over his tweets

about the death of Osama bin Laden and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks a breach of contract.

Mendenhall’s lawyers filed suit Monday in U.S. District Court in North Carolina, seeking roughly $1 million in damages from Hanesbrands, Inc., the Winston-Salem-based

corporate parent of Champion.

The complaint says Champion’s decision to end its endorsement deal with Mendenhall in May, days after he questioned the public celebration of bin Laden’s death, violates a contract extension the two parties signed in 2010, worth more than $1 million.

Mendenhall first signed a deal to endorse Champion products when he entered the league in 2008.

“For Rashard, this really is not about the money. This is about whether he can express his opinion,” said Steven Thompson, a Chicagobased attorney representing Mendenhall.

A spokesman for Hanesbrands did not return a call seeking comment by early yesterday afternoon.

Shortly after bin Laden was killed by a team of Navy SEALs, Mendenhall tweeted, in response to scenes of euphoria around the U.S., “What kind of person celebrates death? It’s

amazing how people can HATE a man they have never even heard speak.

We’ve only heard one side...”

He also tweeted on the Sept. 11 attacks: “We’ll never know what really happened. I just have a hard time believing a plane could take a skyscraper down demolition style.”

22

DAILY CHALLENGE WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2011

SPORTS BRIEFS

DAILY CHALLENGE

SPORTS Michael Vick backs anti-dogfighting law

Jays to retire Roberto Alomar’s No. 12

TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays are retiring former second baseman Roberto Alomar’s No. 12 before their game against the Texas Rangers on July 31.

It will be the first time the Blue Jays have retired a number worn by one of the team’s players in the club’s 35-year history. Jackie Robinson’s No. 42 was retired by Major League Baseball in 1997.

Alomar is “arguably the best second baseman of all time,” team president and CEO Paul Beeston said.

Alomar and former Blue Jays general manager Pat Gillick will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday.

Bengals CB Pacman Jones pleads not guilty in Ohio CINCINNATI - Bengals cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones has pleaded not guilty to charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest in Cincinnati.

Court officials say attorney Edward Perry filed the written plea for Jones on Monday in Hamilton County Municipal Court. The misdemeanor charges stem from Jones’ July 10 arrest in Cincinnati. Jones was not in court Monday.

Court documents accuse the 27-year-old Jones of being disorderly and shouting profanities at a downtown bar and trying to pull away as officers arrested him.

Perry declined to comment to The Associated Press on Monday. Jones denied the allegations to WCPO-TV after leaving jail.

The charges add to a list of off-the-field troubles for Jones. They include at least six arrests and a dozen instances involving police intervention.

The Bengals have declined comment.

Packers source: No player contact yet A high-ranking Green Bay Packers official adamantly denies reports that the team has notified players to report Saturday in the event the NFL lockout ends.

The team official said the organization internally has made contingencies that include contacting players for travel arrangements, because the majority of its players do not reside in the immediate Green Bay area.

However, the official was emphatic that players have not been notified, formally or informally, to report to team headquarters Saturday.

ProFootballTalk.com, citing an unnamed source, reported Monday that the Packers have begun contacting players to report to a team meeting Saturday. But the NFL has not authorized any teams to begin contacting players, including allowing for brief contact with players about logistics.

During the Packers’ Super Bowl ring ceremony last month, sources say several young players had questions about the logistics of getting to camp but were informed that the organization was not allowed to discuss those details.

The official did concede that veteran players are allowed to communicate to teammates that they should be prepared to report Saturday on a voluntary basis for medical exams and informal meetings once the NFL gives the green light under contingency plans known as the “Transition Rules.”

WASHINGTON — Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick brought his antidogfighting message to Congress yesterday, backing legislation that would penalize those who knowingly attend animal fights and allow minors to attend.

Vick, who served 18 months in prison on dogfighting charges, said he wants to teach kids not to repeat his mistakes and to take profits away from sponsors of these events.

The football star has been speaking at churches and schools along with Wayne Pacelle, president and chief executive officer of the Humane Society of the United

States. Pacelle told the news conference, “I had a lot of soul searching to do” before deciding to partner with Vick in efforts to stop animal-fighting events.

“Help us to reach out to these kids before they go down the wrong path,” Vick said.

The Hampton, Va., native said that while he became involved in dogfighting in his youth, he was unaware that more children are now attending these gruesome events. He said his own experience taught him that attending animal fights has an impact on children.

“It’s up to the parents to take responsibility and make sure it

doesn’t happen,” he said.

Sponsors of the legislation said the laws against animal fighting need to be strengthened.

It is illegal in 49 states to be a knowing spectator at an animal fight, while 28 impose felonylevel penalties on those attending.

The bill would impose penalties of up to a year in prison and fines for attending an animal fight, and a penalty of up to three years in prison and fines for bringing or allowing a minor to attend.

The main sponsors of the legislation are Reps. Jim Moran, DVa., Betty Sutton, D-Ohio and Tom Marino, R-Pa.

NCAA sanctions LSU on recruiting The NCAA has placed LSU’s football program on probation for one year and handed it recruiting and scholarship reductions after the Committee on Infractions cited the program with major violations stemming from the recruitment of a prospective player.

The school escaped harsher penalties because it self-reported the recruiting violations and cooperated

with investigators, the NCAA said.

The Committee on Infractions found that a former LSU assistant coach provided the prospect with transportation and lodging during an unofficial visit to the school and used a second phone — which he allegedly did not disclose to investigators — to make impermissible recruiting calls. Investigators allege the assistant

knowingly committed the infractions.

The probe found that ex-assistant coach D.J. McCarthy improperly arranged for transportation and housing for former defensive lineman Akiem Hicks, then later tried to cover up those actions.

McCarthy resigned in December 2009; Hicks left the program in January 2010.

In a statement, McCarthy said: “I am

grateful that the NCAA has concluded its investigation and welcome the opportunity to someday return to the realm of college coaching. Although I disagree with the NCAA’s findings and the manner in which I have been characterized, I will take the next few days to thoroughly review all options, including appealing their decision.”

DAILY CHALLENGE WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2011

DAILY CHALLENGE

23

SPORTS

METS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESENTED BY CITI TEAMS UP WITH HABITAT-NYC TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOMES IN BROOKLYN NEW YORK, N.Y., July 14, 2011 – Citi and the New York Mets Alumni Association Presented by Citi announced that they teamed up once again with Habitat for Humanity - New York City (HabitatNYC) last week to build affordable housing for New York City families.

The project is part of the Mets and Citi’s “Teammates in the Community” initiative, reflecting their ongoing commitment to be active participants in the community.

Mets greats and SNY broadcasters Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling joined 18 Citi volunteers to help build Habitat-NYC’s fourstory affordable condominiums in the Ocean Hill-Brownsville section of Brooklyn. Once completed in 2012, they will house 12 families. This marks the third straight year Mets alumni and Citi worked with

Habitat-NYC to build affordable housing.

“Working with an organization like Habitat for Humanity and serving New Yorkers is just one of the many ways in which Citi makes an impact in the community,” said James Cava, Executive Vice President, Citi Realty Services. “Partnering with members of the New York Mets Alumni Association Presented by Citi to build affordable housing for families in need is another great example of how we are enriching our business and community programs through our relationship with the Mets.”

"We’re excited that Keith and Ron are the latest Mets legends to participate in such a vital community initiative," said Dave Howard, Executive Vice President, Business Operations, Mets.

“We’re grateful to our partners at Citi and Habitat-NYC for the opportunity to lend a hand on this important project that will have a lasting impact on so many lives.”

“We are proud to celebrate another ‘home run’

Mets greats Keith Hernandez (1st from l.) and Ron Darling (2nd from r.), Habitat Executive Director Josh Lockwood (2nd from l.) and Citi’s James Cava (4th from r.) are joined by Habitat volunteers at a Habitat for Humanity build in Brooklyn to benefit NYC families last Friday in our long-time partLater, other members nership with Citi, the of the Mets Alumni Mets, and superstars Association Presented by Ron Darling and Keith Citi – Dwight Gooden, Hernandez. These dedi- Jesse Orosco, Rafael cated team players Santana, Rusty Staub helped build 12 afford- and Darryl Strawberry – able homes, working will be at Citi Field for alongside families who Pyrotechnics Night as will own them,” said the Mets hosted the Josh Lockwood, Philadelphia Phillies at Executive Director of 7:10 p.m. Additionally, Habitat for Humanity - Mets and Citi executives New York City. “These presented Habitat-NYC homes are among our volunteers Tom Pace new ‘100 Homes in and Martin Friedman Brooklyn’ initiative to with the “Teammates in create affordable homes the Community” award and help strengthen during a special on-field Ocean Hill-Brownsville pre-game ceremony. and Bedford-Stuyvesant, They were honored for two communities hit their exemplary commithard by the recession. ment and dedication to This is truly an ‘Amazin’ serving and helping othday for our neighbor- ers for more than three hoods and families.” years as volunteers with

Habitat-NYC. The award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary ways to give back to the community.

Pace and Friedman, who developed a friendship through their work at Grace Church in Brooklyn, both retired from their jobs several years ago, but the word “leisure” is not in their vocabulary, so the pair volunteered with Habitat for Humanity building homes in the Gulf Coast.

That experience led them to volunteering with Habitat-NYC. Almost every Friday since 2008, they have worked at a Habitat-NYC construction site – installing studs and drywall, laying flooring and tile, painting walls and ceilings – giving their time selflessly to build affordable homes for and with New York City families.

Led by Citi C o m m u n i t y Development (CCD), Citi’s relationship with Habitat-NYC includes much more than funding. The New York State CCD team provides leadership and guidance to develop opportunities

for expanding HabitatNYC’s impact, and Citi employees are enthusiastic volunteers at Habitat-NYC builds.

Through this partnership, Citi has participated in more than 12 home-building events in New York, with an average of 15 volunteers per build.

The Ocean HillBrownsville homes are part of an overall project to build four multi-family buildings, each four stories, with a mix of two- and three-bedroom condominiums, which will eventually house 12 families when completed in 2012. Built to Energy Star standards and incorporating green materials and building techniques, these Habitat-NYC homes will help protect the health – and pocketbooks – of their future inhabitants.

Citi is a long-time supporter and partner of Habitat for Humanity.

Since 2000, Citi and Habitat employees have built and helped create approximately 370 safe, affordable and energyefficient homes across the United States for families in need.

BARCLAYS CENTER OF BROOKLYN INTERIOR DESIGNS UNVEILED BROOKLYN, NY – Renderings of the interior spaces of the Barclays Center of Brooklyn, the major sports and entertainment venue opening on September 28, 2012, have been unveiled to the public. Designed by award-winning architectural firm SHoP Architects PC, images of the stylish and engaging interior spaces, including the spectacular entrances, Main Concourse, Arena Atrium, four bars/lounges, three clubs, one restaurant, and select suites, are available for public view at

www.BarclaysCenter.c om.

The Barclays Center will greet its visitors with a generous public plaza composed of a major transit hub, café, and seating areas, with an overhead oculus the size of a basketball court that is lined with dynamic LED signage.

Inside the Main Entrance, multiple access points intersect at the Arena Atrium, including the Team Store, the Main Concourse, the Practice Court viewing window, and the Box Office. The Main Concourse includes a smooth terrazzo floor reflecting

the lights of a night sky above with clear directional signage to seat and suite locations.

Some of the unique clubs includes: the Legends Lounge, a twosided bar serving patrons on the Main Concourse with a platform offering direct views into the bowl; Beers of the World, a modern take on the Brooklyn aesthetic with a long bar with a continuous band of reclaimed wood; the Main Concourse Bar, located just beyond the Arena Atrium, with a cool blue glow inviting arena visitors into the full-service bar; Suite

Level Bar/Lounge situated in the lower suite concourse with full view of the seating bowl; and the Courtside Club, which offers premium seat holders with views of the players or entertainers walking to and from the court or stage.

The Barclays Center’s signature suite, the Loft Suite, offers 10 seats, a unique feature in the marketplace. Designed with subtle textures and minimal color palette, the 68 Loft Suites offers a sophisticated setting for suite holders to entertain their guests. Another

stylish setting is the VIP Entrance on Atlantic Avenue, which provides suite holders and premium seat holders with a private entrance into the arena.

“SHoP wanted the design of the interiors of the Barclays Center to be focused on bring-

ing the energy of Brooklyn street life into the arena,” said Gregg Pasquarelli, Principal of SHoP Architects PC. “The design uses a simple yet tactile palette of industrial materials to create an urbane experience open to all.”

DAILY CHALLENGE

S SP PO OR RT TS S WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2011

VICK BACKS ANTIDOGFIGHTING L AW

SEE PAGE 22

METS HELP BUILD AFFORDABLE HOMES IN L N B R OSEO K Y E PA GE 23