LAWT 01-19-2012 by LA WATTSTIMES

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L.A. Watts Times Vol. XXX, No. 1267

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Thursday, January 19, 2012

HOROSCOPES

Jan. 19 - 25

Inside This Edition Clinton in Africa next week

ibra ~ A more serious approach to relationships ries ~ Demonstrating responsibility may not sound sexy, but taking care of business could be Lcan do your heart some good this weekend. The A the key to your personal life this weekend. The calcu- moon in dutiful Capricorn requires some maturity and lating Capricorn moon visits your 10th house of public duties this weekend, earning you respect for living up to your obligations. This lunar alignment requires patience at a time when you may prefer the freedom to change your mind. Yet consistency will not only garner appreciation from others but can increase your sense of self-worth. aurus ~ Some days it’s appropriate to look a gift horse in the mouth, and this Friday is one of them. Your lovable ruling planet Venus connects with dark Pluto, the detective planet, to uncover hidden facts and feelings that can alter your relationship life. This emotionally complex aspect may also revive feelings and awaken resources that could make you more desirable, but you must be ready and willing to take action to properly utilize them. emini ~ The expressive Sun’s move into freedomloving Aquarius and your visionary 9th house of big ideas on Friday morning makes you restless for adventure. Yet the Moon rules emotions and her presence in responsible Capricorn clips your wings this weekend by expecting you to play by the rules and be accountable to others. Have faith; a lunar shift into airy Aquarius on Sunday night finally frees you from your obligations so you can pursue your own interests. ancer ~ If you want to cuddle up with someone special this weekend, you may need to step up and take control of the situation. The ambitious Capricorn moon is visiting your 7th house of partners, so either you get to be in charge or you must surrender to the will of another. It’s better to come on too strong now and then soften your stance later rather than being too timid about expressing your needs with a current partner or in pursuit of someone new. eo ~ You could feel hemmed in socially this weekend with the conservative Capricorn moon’s presence in your 6th house of service until Sunday night. Perhaps you can make a connection while working overtime, but it’s more likely that you may have to struggle to receive the treatment you deserve. But instead of forcing issues, it’s healthier to analyze your relationships so you can discover where changes are needed. A minor tweak might be all it takes to improve your chances at finding romance. irgo ~ Controlled passion is a good way to describe your weekend. The mood-setting moon is traveling through your 5th house of romance, which stimulates your desire for love and affection. However, she’s in disciplined Capricorn, constraining your willingness to take risks. Still, it’s wise to relax and lighten up on your rules since the road to fun may not go in a perfectly straight line. Sometimes pleasure doesn’t have to have a plan or purpose to be completely worthwhile.

discipline to maintain a solid position. Plus your alluring ruling planet Venus aligns favorably with potent Pluto, giving you more power and persistence to make positive changes in your personal life. Eliminating an attitude, individual or obligation you no longer need makes room for something better to come along. corpio ~ Your financial condition may be improving now, but this shouldn’t be an excuse to spend money before it’s in the bank. You still have a significant amount of work to do before you reap the tangible rewards you seek, so it's wise to wait and count your chickens only after they hatch. It’s easy to be tempted by good news before it arrives, but remember that there aren’t any quick shortcuts to achieving success. agittarius ~ Your enthusiasm could take you to the emotional edge on Saturday when the expressive sun forms a stressful square with your limitless ruling planet Jupiter. You might be tempted to take risks and speak boldly, which may rock some boats in the process. Honesty is fine as long as you’re not exposing someone’s secrets and you remember to express the truth with kindness. The responsible Capricorn moon advises a healthy dose of self-restraint, but it’s up to you to heed it. apricorn ~ Your well-known capacity for discipline may be overcome by powerful emotions this weekend. The moon in your sign from Friday afternoon through Sunday night tends to bring all your feelings to the surface. Some of them can be playful and fun while others are much more intense and complicated. Maintaining a healthy sense of humor will help you attract the best kind of attention. Being bold can enliven relationships as long as you don’t push people too hard or too far. quarius ~ You might feel like you’re on the outside looking in this weekend. The Capricorn moon’s presence in your 12th house of escape until Sunday night puts a premium on privacy. Staying out of the spotlight is likely, whether you want to or not. But you can use this quiet period to reflect on your relationship history, noting areas of effectiveness and those trouble spots where changes are needed. The new moon in your sign late Sunday night ends the week on a high note and marks a brand new beginning for you. isces ~ Dealing with friends and groups complicates your personal life this weekend. Bossy individuals, inconsistent rules and unrealistic expectations make it hard to know where you stand. Extract yourself from obligations to others who do not respect your authority. It’s healthier to escape from the crowd now than to get lost in it. Nevertheless, discovering common goals and beliefs can serve as the beautiful basis for a budding new relationship.

to promote democracy

S S

AP Photo/Emanuel Ekra

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton shakes hands with Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara as she departs from the presidential palace in Abidjan, Ivory Coast Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012. Clinton on Tuesday praised Ivory Coast's government for seeking justice and accountability for crimes committed after a disputed 2010 election sent the country spiraling into violence. But human rights groups say Ouattara's administration has not done enough to prosecute members of its armed forces who are linked to massacres.

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13 MOMBASA SQUARE ANSWERS FROM 1-12-12

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will lead a U.S. delegation next week to the second inauguration of Africa's first woman president. Clinton will attend Liberian President Ellen Sirleaf Johnson's inauguration Monday. Johnson won re-election in November, shortly after sharing the Nobel Peace Prize with two other women. Clinton will travel Tuesday to

nearby Ivory Coast and Togo for meetings with both countries' presidents, stopping in Cape Verde for talks with the island nation's prime minister before returning to Washington. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland says the trip shows American commitment to post-conflict peace, good governance and economic development. It is the first-ever trip by a U.S. secretary of state to Togo.

Hikers find human head in LA’s Hollywood Hills LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hikers in the Hollywood Hills found a human head in a plastic bag Tuesday when two of their dogs began playing with the object, Los Angeles police said The women made the discovery on a popular trail below the Hollywood sign at about 3:45 p.m., police said. “Two of the dogs began to play with the bag and what appeared to be an object. While the dogs were playing with it, at some point the object came out of the bag and they discovered that it was a head — a severed head,” Sgt. Mitzi Fierro told KCAL-TV. The bag was visible from the trail, she said. The head was believed to be a male, Fierro said, and didn’t appear to have been in the area for long. “There’s not a lot of signs of

decomposition yet,” she said. The women who discovered the bag work as dog walkers and had about nine dogs with them at the time, Officer Karen Rayner said. Investigators hopefully will come up with a sketch of the victim in order to identify who he is, Fierro said. Coroner's investigators also will attempt to identify the victim through dental records. Police were guarding the crime scene overnight, with detectives set to resume searching for possible additional human remains and other clues after sunrise Wednesday. [Update: As the paper was going to press, it was being reported that, in addition to the head, two human hands and two human feet had been discovered in the same general area.]

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Eldest son steps Barbour: No pardon for down as head of sisters showing no remorse King Center BY HOLBROOK MOHR | ASSOCIATED PRESS

BY ERRIN HAINES | ASSOCIATED PRESS ATLANTA (AP) — The elder son of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. is resigning as president of the Atlanta center that honors his father’s civil rights legacy, a day after the holiday marking his father's birthday. Martin Luther King III made the announcement Tuesday, a week after leaving the CEO post at The

King Center. His sister, Bernice King, took over as chief executive. Their brother, Dexter, is chairman of the board of trustees. King says in a statement that he will remain active on the center’s board of trustees but would be launching a new organization dedicated to the principles of nonviolence, social justice and human rights. He was not immediately available for comment.

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour says two sisters released last year on the condition one donate a kidney to the other showed no remorse for their crime so they weren’t included among 200 people he gave a full pardon. Jamie and Gladys Scott served nearly 16 years of their life sentences for armed robbery when they were released on Jan. 7, 2011. Barbour freed Jamie Scott because she suffers from kidney failure, but he agreed to let Gladys go on the condition she follow through on her offer to donate a kidney to her sister. Barbour said Friday during a news conference that the women did “nothing to redeem themselves” so they didn’t get a full pardon. Gladys Scott said Thursday that she was innocent.

AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File

No remorse, no pardon: The lawyer for sisters Jamie Scott, left, and her sister Gladys Scott said they were saddened and disappointed they weren't among dozens receiving full pardons from former Gov. Haley Barbour. Barbour granted more than 200 reprieves in his final days in office. Most were full pardons, though some received suspended sentences.

metro.net/expo

Watch for trains on Metro Expo Line tracks.

AP Photo/Gautam Singh

His namesake: The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s son Martin Luther King III is leaving his post at The King Center in Atlanta.

Please remember to: > Obey all tra;c signals and warning devices. > Be alert at all times. Watch for a “TRAIN” signal. > Always push the button and wait for a “WALK” signal before entering the crosswalk. Never jaywalk across the tracks. > Never sit or stand on tracks. > Do not go around lowered gates. > Never make a left turn on a red arrow. This tra;c rule will be enforced by cameras at intersections. > Right turns are allowed while an Expo Line train is passing through, but may be restricted at certain intersections.

For more safety tips, visit metro.net/ridesafely.

Test trains are now running in preparation for the upcoming opening of the Metro Expo Line, the newest extension of the Metro Rail system. Trains will be moving in both directions on the tracks.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Bank foreclosing on O.J. Simpson’s Florida house BY BY CURT ANDERSON | AP MIAMI (AP) — Like tens of thousands of other Florida homeowners, imprisoned former football star O.J. Simpson is in danger of losing his house to foreclosure. Miami-Dade Circuit Court records show that JPMorgan Chase filed for foreclosure in September on the four-bedroom, four-bath house south of downtown Miami. Simpson’s attorney has since filed a motion to dismiss the case, but there has been no further action since November. Simpson bought the 4,233square-foot house in 2000 for $575,000, property records show. Its current assessed value is $478,401, with property taxes of about $9,000. The 2011 taxes were paid in December. The 64-year-old former football star and actor is serving a nine-to-33-year prison sentence stemming from a 2007 armed confrontation with sports memorabilia dealers in a Las Vegas casino hotel room. Simpson was convicted of kidnapping, armed robbery and

other charges. He is appealing the conviction. Simpson was acquitted in 1995 in the Los Angeles slayings of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman. A civil jury in California later ordered Simpson to pay $33.5 million for Goldman’s wrongful death. The attorney for Goldman's father, Fred Goldman, said Monday the bankruptcy case played directly into the Simpson foreclosure. “No surprise at all,” said David J. Cook, the Goldman attorney in San Francisco who has spent years trying to collect the judgment. Simpson received $750,000 in 2007 for a book ghostwritten under his name titled “If I Did It,” Cook said. A Florida bankruptcy judge eventually awarded rights to the book to Goldman, who released it. Cook said it sold some 150,000 copies. About $350,000 of Simpson's money went to pay down a line of credit had tied to his Miami-area home. The bankruptcy trustee, however, filed a so-called claw-

back lawsuit against the bank that sought return of the money as illgotten gains. Cook said when the bank paid the money, Simpson's mortgage amount was raised to offset the cost. “It was just a matter of time before he would lose the house,” Cook said. Even in prison, Simpson has income from his NFL pension and another retirement account that is shielded under federal law from creditors. Residual payments from Simpson’s movies, such as the “Naked Gun” series and “The Towering Inferno,” go to the Goldmans. There was no answer at the Simpson house when an Associated Press reporter knocked on the front door Monday afternoon. There were no cars in the circular driveway, which was strewn with fallen palm fronds. But the house appeared in good repair and the grass was mowed. Simpson’s attorney in Nevada did not immediately return a telephone call and email seeking comment.

AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, POOL, File

FILE – Losing his house: Former football star and actor O.J. Simpson is serving a 9-to-33-year prison sentence for a 2007 armed confrontation with sports memorabilia dealers in a Las Vegas casino hotel room. In the meantime, the bank has foreclosed on his Miami home.

Lawyer for Obama’s uncle questions cop’s driving BY DENISE LAVOIE | ASSOCIATED PRESS

previously that Obama was not committing any traffic violations and police had no right to pull him over. He is seeking to suppress the traffic stop and the results of the blood-alcohol test. A judge will hear arguments on those motions on March 1. See OBAMA’S UNCLE, page 14

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (AP) — The defense for President Barack Obama’s uncle is reviewing the driving records of the police officer who arrested him on drunken driving charges. Onyango Obama, an illegal immigrant, appeared briefly in Framingham District Court on Thursday as his lawyer told a judge he has obtained the driving history of the officer who stopped Obama in August in Framingham. Officer Val Krishtal said in a written police report that he stopped Obama after Obama did not come to a complete stop at a stop sign, causing his police cruiser to nearly strike Obama’s SUV. Krishtal said Obama failed several field sobriety tests and registered 0.14 on a blood-alcohol test, higher than the state’s legal limit of 0.08. Obama’s attorney, AP Photo/MetroWest Daily News, Allan Jung P. Scott Bratton, said he is reviewing Krish- Turning the tables: Onyango Obama, uncle of President Barack tal’s driving records to Obama, stands with his attorney P. Scott Bratton, right, at a hearing in see whether Krishtal Framingham, Mass., District Court, Thurs., Jan. 12, where they chalhas a history of acci- lenged the driving record of the officer who arrested Onyango Obama dents. Bratton has said in August 2011 on drunken driving charges.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Ray doubted jury would believe an MLK conspiracy BY JOE EDWARDS | ASSOCIATED PRESS NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — James Earl Ray doubted a jury would believe a defense proposal to blame the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on a conspiracy, according to letters he wrote to his lawyer as he tried to win a trial and withdraw his own guilty plea in the 1968 slaying. The letters are among documents that are going up for auction later this month from the estate of the late Jack Kershaw, a Nashville attorney who represented Ray in the mid-1970s. Ray pleaded guilty in Memphis in 1969 to killing the civil rights leader and was sentenced to 99 years in prison but recanted the confession three days later. He died in prison in 1998. Kershaw died in 2010. In one letter, Ray responds to plans by one of his other attorneys to write a book alleging that White racists conspired with government agencies to kill King. “Conversely, what I have learned based on what evidence in this area we have, Whites of that persuasion were most likely not involved and while that type allegation would naturally appeal to the large publishing companies, (I) am

concerned that if their (sic) were not considerable evidence in support, the allegation might not be taken well with the type persons who sit on juries,” Ray wrote. The transcript was released by Case Antiques Inc., Auctions & Appraisals, which will auction the documents on Jan. 28 in Knoxville. The Ray archive carries a presale estimate of $8,000 to $10,000, the auction house said. Papers, photographs and audiotapes from the estate also will be auctioned. Gerald Posner, who wrote the 1998 book “Killing the Dream,” said Tuesday that the document offers a rare look at Ray’s views about a jury at the time. “It’s not widely circulated as part of history,” Posner said in a telephone interview. “What’s Ray is doing is telling his attorney that even HE doesn’t think a jury of 12 average people will buy his story.” In one of the papers, Ray also discussed his media image: “One of my problems, I believe, with interviews is that I attempt to look at the case from a legal standpoint while the reports apparently want to hear the emotional statements (not guilty— framed_persecuted_sob-sister routine).” Ray, who was White, claimed as he sought a trial that he was forced

AP Photo

FILE – A moment in history: James Earl Ray, who was sentenced to life in the slaying of Dr. Martin Luther King, expressed in letters to his attorney that he doubted a jury would believe their proposed defense to blame the assassination of King on a conspiracy. into pleading guilty. But news accounts at that point showed that the judge asked him five times if his plea was voluntary. Ray also claimed after his confession that a mysterious man

named “Raoul” was responsible for the slaying. However, Ray’s fingerprints were found on the rifle used to kill King as the civil rights leader stood on a balcony at the Lorraine Motel.

The King assassination set off riots across the country. Years later, the King family said it supported a trial for Ray, and King’s son Dexter said he believed Ray was innocent of the crime.

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Thursday, January 19, 2012

Despite video outrage, no halt to peace talk moves BY ROBERT BURNS | ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON (AP) — Pentagon officials worry that outrage over a video purporting to depict Marines urinating on Taliban corpses will tarnish the reputation of the entire military. Some also fear it could undermine prospects for exploratory Afghan peace talks. After roundly condemning the Marines’ alleged behavior, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and top military leaders on Thursday promised a full investigation and sought to contain the damage at home and abroad. Panetta also said the incident could endanger the outlook for peace talks, although the Obama administration and the Taliban each voiced readiness Thursday to try peace talks while pledging to carry on the military conflict until their rival objectives are met. The separate statements by senior American and Taliban officials illustrated the improved environment for Afghan reconciliation efforts as well as the daunting task ahead. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the law enforcement arm of the Navy, is heading the main inquiry, which is expected to weigh evidence of violations of the U.S. military legal

Board approves naming Memphis street for MLK

AP Photo

This image, made on Thurs., Jan. 12, from an undated video posted on the Internet on Weds., Jan. 11, shows men in U.S. Marine combat gear, standing in a semi-circle over three bodies urinating on the corpses of (presumably) Taliban fighters. The Marine Corps said Wednesday it was looking into the YouTube video but hadn’t yet verified its origin or authenticity. code as well as the international laws of warfare. Separately, the Marine Corps is doing its own internal investigation. By Thursday evening, the NCIS

had interviewed two of the four Marines appearing in the video. At the time they were filmed urinating on the bodies, the four were members of the See MARINE VIDEO, page 14

AP Photo

FILE – Healing a wound: A proposal to rename nine blocks of Linden Avenue in Memphis, Tenn., to Dr. Martin Luther King Avenue passed Thursday when it came before the Memphis and Shelby County Land Use Control Board. BY ADRIAN SAINZ | AP MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis officials on Thursday approved naming a city street after the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., nearly 44 years after the civil rights leader was killed in the city. The 10 members of the Memphis and Shelby County Land Use Control Board voted unanimously to re-name a nine-block downtown stretch as Dr. Martin Luther King Avenue. Previously called Linden Avenue, it runs in front of the FedExForum, where the Memphis Grizzlies play their home games, and parallel to Beale Street, the famous tourist drag. The street also runs near the Clayborn Temple, where King rallied with striking sanitation workers days before he was assassinated by James Earl Ray on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel on April 4, 1968. King also led a march on Linden Avenue during the strike. The city already had a section of Interstate 240 dedicated to King, but the naming of a prominent street in the city’s tourist district is being seen as a symbol that the city is finally taking steps to

heal the wound caused by the assassination. A ceremony is planned for April 4 to honor King and unveil the new street signs. About 900 U.S. cities already have city streets named for King. “The world was looking at Memphis to make its mark,” said Berlin Boyd, a former city councilman who made the proposal to rename Linden Avenue The board’s vote is final, but there still may be more work to be done. Gregory Grant, a member of the National Action Network, said he supported extending King Avenue beyond the nine blocks approved Thursday. Leaders of churches that sit along Linden Avenue east of the nine-block section also support an extension. “It would be an act on the part of this committee that shows we are healing,” Grant told the board. A question still remains as to what the street signs will say. There is a concern that “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.” would be too long, and it is possible the name could be truncated to “Dr. M. L. King Jr. Ave.”

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Michelle Obama ‘random dances’ at US appearance BY MATTHEW BARAKAT | AP ALEXANDRIA, Virginia (AP) — They called it “random dancing,” but First Lady Michelle Obama broke out in some moves that resembled subdued variations of “the Monkey” or “the Jerk” Friday during an appearance at a northern Virginia high school. A screaming, raucous auditorium filled with elementary and middle school students greeted Obama and the cast of the Nickelodeon TV show “iCarly” at Hayfield Secondary School in Fairfax County. The appearance promoted an upcoming episode featuring Obama in which she thanks military families for their sacrifices. On the show, star

Miranda Cosgrove plays the daughter of an Air Force colonel deployed overseas. A staple of the show is a segment of random dancing, which Obama performed both in the episode that premieres Monday and on stage Friday. Obama’s dance moves drew plaudits from the “iCarly” cast. “I think she showed everybody up in the dance department,” said Jennette McCurdy, who plays Samantha on the show. The onstage dance session Friday lasted only a minute or so, far less than the extended dance session Obama did last year when visiting Deal Middle School in the District, when she joined students doing “the

Obama takes first lady out to celebrate birthday the president gave her a lighthearted compliment at a White House event celebrating the St. Louis Cardinals’ World Series victory, saying that, “When we first married, it was a little controversial that she was 20 years younger than me, but now it seems to have worked out OK.” Mrs. Obama spoke up to say she’s 48. The president is 50.

U.S. obesity epidemic shows no hint of reversing

HAVE YOU BEEN DENIED YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS? Let me assist you. There is NO Fee until we win. Jacquelyn Brown, Disability Appeals Rep.

BY LINDSEY TANNER | AP CHICAGO (AP) — America’s obesity epidemic is proving to be as stubborn as those maddening love handles, and it shows no sign of reversing course. That's according to the latest figures from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The numbers appear in two reports released Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association. They show that more than onethird of adults and almost 17 percent of children were obese in 20092010. That echoes results since 2003. The CDC says it means that more than 78 million adults and almost 13 million children aged 2-19 were obese.

(323) 756-3755

AP Photo/Jim R. Bounds, file

Obesity is on the rise.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama took first lady Michelle Obama out for a night on the town to celebrate her 48th birthday. The president and first lady were dining Tuesday at BLT Steak not far from the White House. They were joined by White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett and friends. Earlier, with his wife at his side,

Dougie” and “the running man” in a clip that has been viewed more than 4 million times on YouTube. Her acting skills also drew praise. The cast was impressed with Obama's ability to deliver her lines in the compressed time they had to shoot the scenes. “She has good comic timing in real life, too,” Cosgrove said. Obama said she watches the show with her daughters and wanted to appear because it dovetails with her campaign to support and recognize military families. Last year, Obama went to northern Virginia to deliver the commencement address at the high school on Quantico Marine Corps Base. Hayfield, few miles AP Photo/Cliff Owen south of the Pentagon, was chosen in part because it is First lady Michelle Obama joins cast members Miranda Cosgrove, left, and Jennette home to large numbers of McCurdy, right, of Nickelodeon’s iCarly in performing the ‘random dance’ at a special screening of “iMeet The First Lady” episode of the show at Hayfield Secondary School military children. During a question-and- in Fairfax, Va. answer session with stuShe also handled other student which opens up to the Truman baldents, Obama drew a handful of playcony. “It’s one of the few places the questions: ful boos when she was asked about —Asked what super power she president can walk outside and be by school lunches and talked about legislation she and her husband supported wished she could have, she said, “You himself,” she said. —Her favorite TV shows? to add more vegetables to the school know what? I’ve always wanted to fly. Besides “iCarly,” Mrs. Obama said, When I was young, I used to always lunch program. “we watch all kinds of things. We try Taking note of the reaction, she have dreams about flying.” —Her favorite room in the White not to have too much TV time during said, “But this is for you all. ... It’s hard to do what you do if you’re not House? The Yellow Oval Room, the week, though.” healthy.” She concluded with a simple admonition: “Eat your vegetables.”

F E AT U R E

Thursday, January 19, 2012

L.A. Watts Times WEEKENDER

Grammy Chairman Portnow invites Bakewell and Black Press to work out issues Denying credentials to the Los Angeles Sentinel to cover the Grammys appears to have paved the way for a dialogue in the near future between the Grammys and the Black Press By Yussuf J. Simmonds Sentinel Managing Editor Last November, the Los Angeles Sentinel, the premier Black newspaper on the West Coast, submitted a timely application to the Grammys (the Recording Academy), requesting credentials to cover the 54th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2012. The Sentinel received the following reply:

After that response, the Sentinel made a ﬁnal overture--via telephone and e-mail--but the ﬁnal answer from the Academy’s representative was “No” relative to the credentials. Last week, the Sentinel ran a front page story “Grammys denies Black press credentials again!” What followed is the essence of this article. Though on the surface it seemed to be a misunderstanding, Danny J. Bakewell, Sr., the executive publisher of the Los Angeles Sentinel--the largest Black C newspaper on the West Coast--and the L.A. Watts h Times, believes that it has happened once too often already. He explains, “Black artists, many times before they came to fame and fortune, the very vehicle us to get their music to the that they use public, is the Black press and Black radio. And for t Grammys to not have the a clear policy that is inclusi sive of the Black press is ou outrageous, disrespectful and cannot be tolerated any long longer.” In attempting to work out this problem, Bakewell reach reached out to music mogul, Claren Avant, with whom he Clarence en has enjoyed a close friendship th past 30 years. In the enover the tertainm tertainment, Avant (known as the Godfath Godfather) commands respect frie from friends and foes alike, and according to Bakewell, “Clarence had genuine deep respect and coma genuinely mitment to the Black press.” exp In expressing a tremendous th amount of thanks to Avant, (the Gramsinc reverse its denial of cremys has since th Sentinel), Bakewell has dentials to the “ also stated, “after the story ran, many c artists and civil rights leaders have t me and indicated that reached out to they would be willing to join the demon-

stration (against the Grammys) if the matter was not resolved.” Speaking with Avant, this is what he had to say, “I think it’s a disgrace for this kind of action to be still happening; this is the 21st century. But it shows that they do not respect the Black media, because if they did, this wouldn’t have happened. When you’re doing the Grammys in L.A.--and as big as the Grammy are for television--I read that they’re going to cut out some of the categories in which there’s mostly Black people. So after I read the article (the one in the Sentintel), I called Danny and told him my theory is this: it’s best to try and meet so that it won’t happen again.” At present, a meeting is set up for next Tuesday between the Grammys and the Black press, and then according to Bakewell, there’ll be a press conference following that meeting. Furthermore, Bakewell said, “This did not just happen with the Grammys, it’s the same with the Academy Awards, the Emmys, the Staples Center ... they all show a total disrespect of the Black press. And we (the Black press, the civil rights community and those in the entertainment) are going to ask our elected oƥcials about passing (a) resolutions to counter this kind of behavior because they (Grammys, Academy, Emmy, etc) all use public facilities that are funded by our tax dollars. So this is intolerable and unacceptable.” L.A. City Council President Herb Wesson issued the following statement: “I believe that the African American media deserves the same level of respect and cooperation that is accorded to other media. Inclusion sends a much better message than exclusion. I hope there will be a change in the policy.” And Assemblyman Mike Davis, vice chairman of the California Legislative Black Caucus stated: “I am shocked that such an insensitivity has occurred. I hope that, Neil Portnow, President of the Grammy’s will rectify this decision especially because so many African Americans are signiﬁcant contributors to the music industry and the awards show.”

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Thursday, January 19, 2012

Indianapolis looks Bengals’ Pacman Jones pleads guilty to misdemeanor to future after firing Caldwell BY LISA CORNWELL | ASSOCIATED PRESS

AP Photo/AJ Mast, File

Looking for new leadership: FILE - Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Caldwell has been fired. The team announced the decision Tuesday. Caldwell just finished his third and worst season as head coach of the Colts, who stumbled to a 2-14 finish without injured quarterback Peyton Manning. BY MICHAEL MAROT | ASSOCIATED PRESS INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jim Irsay has big plans for the Colts' future. He just hasn’t worked through the details yet. Two weeks after overhauling the front office, Indianapolis took the next big step in its major housecleaning project Tuesday — firing coach Jim Caldwell after three seasons. “This (search) is something that’s going to start immediately and I really think we’re going to get a coach that’s going to lead us going into the future, and I think it’s a bright future,” Irsay said Tuesday. “It’s tough to change and go forward, we've had such excellence and greatness here over such a long period of time and that’s what I expect us to do again.” Irsay is following the same plan he installed after the 1997 season. Back then, a season-ending loss on the road allowed the 3-13 Colts to clinch the No. 1 overall draft pick. The next day, Irsay fired the general manager and the head coach and eventually changed quarterbacks. It could happen again with a little more deliberation. The day after losing at Jacksonville to post their worst record (2-14) in two decades and wrap up this year’s No. 1 pick, Irsay fired team vice chairman Bill Polians and his son, Chris, the Colts’ general manager. Last week, Irsay hired 39year-old Ryan Grigson as the replacement for the Polians. Since then, Grigson and Irsay have been in almost constant meetings debating the future of the coaching staff. On Monday, Caldwell and former Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo met in

Indianapolis about the Colts’ defensive coordinator job. Most took it as an indication Caldwell would be retained. That was still the conventional wisdom Tuesday. Eventually, Irsay and Grigson proved the pundits wrong. Irsay said he told Caldwell of the decision at about 2 p.m., shortly before the team confirmed the firing. “We’ve talked about where we want to be more balanced,” Irsay said. “We want to be excellent on defense and more consistent, and I think that’s something that we’re looking at as part of the vision. I don’t think the guy has to be offensive or defensive or anything like that. It’s a heavy lifting process right now.” It's unclear where the Colts will turn next. Yes, Grigson acknowledged, he has a short list of candidates. Not surprisingly, he didn't say who was on the list, which could include names such as Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, Eagles offensive coordinator Mary Mornhinweg and perhaps Spagnuolo. Neither Grigson nor Irsay provided a timeline for the hire. “We want leadership. Leadership is important,” Grigson said after making his first big decision in charge of an NFL team. “We want strong leadership, and we want someone who shares his vision in this new era of Colts football. We want the best man and the best leader and the man that gives us the best way to go.” One thing they did agree on: The future didn’t include Caldwell After winning his first 14 games, an NFL record for a rookie head coach, and becoming only the fifth first-year coach to take his team to the Super Bowl, Caldwell did a masterful See CALDWELL, page 11

CINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones pleaded guilty Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct. Jones entered the plea in Hamilton County Municipal Court just as his non-jury trial was scheduled to begin. A second misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest was dismissed in a plea agreement with prosecutors. Judge Brad Greenberg ordered Jones to serve a year of probation, complete 50 hours of community service and pay a $250 fine plus court costs. Jones could have received a maximum jail sentence of 30 days. Jones, 28, was accused in court documents of being disorderly, shouting profanities and trying to pull away as officers arrested him at a downtown bar last July. At the time, Jones was on probation in Las Vegas in connection with a 2007 no contest plea to a strip club melee that left three people wounded. He was ordered in November to perform an additional 75 hours of community service for violating that probation with the Cincinnati arrest. Jones apologized in court to police for his conduct and said he realized that he “could have handled it a whole lot better.” The judge told Jones that he did not know how “someone with your ability risks your career with this type of behavior.” Assistant City Solicitor Karla Burtch said Jones repeatedly approached officers “aggressively.” Jones said he was just trying to protect his fiancée. “This is unprofessional behavior,” Greenberg said. He told Jones that if he wanted to be regarded as a professional, “you need to act like one at all times.” Neither Jones nor his attorney would comment after court. Bengals spokesman Jack Brennan said Jones “handled this issue in a responsible manner, and we support both the legal system and his efforts to put this behind him.” The NFL did not immediately return calls seeking comment. Jones will be a free agent after completing his second season with Cincinnati, which gave him a chance to continue his career. Tennessee made Jones the sixth overall pick in 2005. He started 28 games in his first two seasons with the Titans, but repeated arrests scuttled his career. He missed the entire 2007 season with the first of two suspensions from the league. The Titans traded Jones to Dallas before the 2008 draft. An alcohol-related altercation with a bodyguard that the Cowboys provided cost him another six-game suspension. He was out of the NFL for a year

AP Photo/The Enquirer, Carrie Cochran

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones, right, with his lawyer, Ed Perry, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct. Jones was ordered to serve a year of probation, complete 50 hours of community service and pay a $250 fine plus court costs. before the Bengals gave him the two-year deal in 2010 and a final chance to show he can stay out of trouble and hold a job in the NFL. He excelled as Cincinnati’s No. 3 cornerback before a neck injury ended his 2010 season after only five games. Jones had surgery for a herniated disc in his neck. He had another procedure on the neck last summer and opened the season on an injury list, forcing him to miss the first six games. He pulled a hamstring in his first game back, forcing him to sit out two more. Jones played the rest of the way and started eight games at cornerback in place of the injured Leon Hall. He didn’t have an interception. Jones had two punt returns for 67 yards. His arrest over the summer made him one of eight NFL players subject to discipline for incidents that occurred during the lockout. Bengals running back Cedric Benson also had an offseason arrest in Texas and got a one-game suspension during the season. The league will review Jones’ case and could impose another suspension should he sign with a team. AP sports writer Joe Kay contributed to this report.

BlackFacts.com January 22, 1948 George Foreman, two-time heavyweight boxing champion, is born in Marshall, TX. In a 1973 Kingston, Jamaica bout, he defeats Joe Frazier to receive the haveyweight championship. Foreman keeps the title for 22 months until he loses it to Muhammad Ali.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Muhammad Ali cheered at NBA’s Abdul-Jabbar 70th birthday bash in Ky. now global cultural ambassador

BY BRUCE SCHREINER | ASSOCIATED PRESS LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Muhammad Ali soaked in familiar cheers and chants along with a rendition of “Happy Birthday” on Saturday night as friends and admirers celebrated the boxing champ’s coming 70th birthday at a party in his Kentucky hometown. As party-goers mingled in a lobby of the Muhammad Ali Center before the party, Ali walked slowly to a second-floor balcony overlooking them. The crowd immediately began to clap, then broke into chants of “Ali! Ali!” followed by singing as Ali watched for about two minutes. The three-time world heavyweight champion, who is battling Parkinson’s disease, leaned against a rail and raised his right hand to wave to the crowd. Ali walked on his own but was at times assisted by his wife, Lonnie, and his sister-in-law. After the brief appearance, Ali went to his party. Former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis said his boyhood idol is “still the greatest.” “I feel so proud and honored that we’re able to show our feelings and show our support for him,” Lewis said. Lewis said Ali's strength and influence extended far beyond the boxing ring in his humanitarian efforts. “What he’s done outside the ring — just the bravery, the poise, the feeling, the sacrifice,” Lewis said— “he’s truly a great man.” The guest list numbered 350 for the private party, which doubled as a $1,000-per-person fundraiser for the Ali Center, the six-year-old cultural and education complex designed to be a legacy to his social activism. The sixstory center also retraces Ali’s career, including his epic bouts against Joe Frazier, George Foreman and Sonny Liston. Guests paid tribute to Ali beforehand. “The reason I loved him is because of his confidence,” University of Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari said. “He would talk and then back it up. He had great courage and who had more fun than him?” The guest list also included Ali’s trainer Angelo Dundee and three American hikers who were imprisoned in Iran. Ali, perhaps the most prominent U.S. Muslim, lobbied for their release. Rocker John Mellencamp headlined the entertainment. Dundee, who traveled from Clearwater, Fla., to attend the celebration, said he hears from Ali about once a month. “We’re like family,” Dundee told The Courier-Journal of Louisville. “We’ve always been family and we’re always going to be family. He’ll say, ‘Angie, I want to come and train. That’s what I miss the most. Being in the gym. Working up a sweat.’ ” “I’ll say, ‘Me, too, kid. Me, too. We can’t do that. But what I can do is make sure you know that I love you.’ ” Ali turns 70 on Tuesday, and the

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

The State Department’s latest envoy: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton laughs after receiving a Los Angeles Lakers basketball jersey as a gift from global cultural ambassador and former NBA basketball star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Weds., Jan. 18, at the State Department in Washington. Jabbar is part of Secretary Clinton’s vision of “Smart Power,” which combines diplomacy, defense and development to “bridge the gap in a tense world through young people.” AP Photo/Mark Humphrey

“The Greatest” celebrates a big one: Boxing great Muhammad Ali, with his wife, Lonnie, right, attend a celebration for his 70th birthday at the Muhammad Ali Center on Sat., Jan. 14, in Louisville, Ky. Ali turned 70 Tuesday. party in his hometown is the first of five planned in the next few months. Not long after Ali’s dramatic appearance on the balcony, the crowd began filing into a banquet hall for the party, which was closed to the public and reporters. The self-proclaimed “Greatest of All Time” remains one of the world's most recognizable figures, even though he’s been largely absent from the public eye recently as he fights Parkinson’s disease. Lonnie Ali said Friday that her husband has mixed feelings about the landmark birthday. “He’s glad he’s here to turn 70, but he wants to be reassured he doesn’t look 70,” she said. Born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on Jan. 17, 1942, Ali took up boxing at age 12, when his bike was stolen and he wanted to find and whip the culprit. The boy was introduced to Joe Martin, a police officer who coached boxing at a local gym. Ali’s brother, 68-year-old Rahaman Ali, recalled on Saturday night that the champ was cheerful and happy as a youngster. “As a little boy, he (said) he would be the world’s greatest fighter and be a great man,” he said. Ali flourished in the ring, becoming a top amateur and Olympic gold medalist. He made his professional debut in Louisville and arranged for a local children’s hospital to receive proceeds from the fight. Lewis said Ali ranks as the greatest of heavyweights, and he said he was inspired by Ali’s fights. “I used to get mad if I didn’t see the Ali shuffle,” Lewis said. “So I was

always watching him, expecting some type of antic.” Ali won the heavyweight title in 1964, defeating the heavily favored Sonny Liston. Soon after, Ali — who was raised in a Baptist family — announced his conversion to Islam and changed his name. While in his prime, Ali was stripped of his heavyweight crown in 1967 for refusing to be drafted for military service during the Vietnam War. He cited his religious beliefs as the reason for his refusal. His decision alienated Ali from many across the U.S. and resulted in a draft-evasion conviction. Ali found himself embroiled in a long legal fight that ended in 1971, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in his favor. Ali lost his first bid to regain the heavyweight crown when Frazier knocked him down and took a decision in the “Fight of the Century” at Madison Square Garden in 1971. Ali regained the heavyweight title in 1974, defeating Foreman in the “Rumble in the Jungle.” A year later, he outlasted Frazier in the epic “Thrilla in Manila” bout. Last year, a frail Ali rose from his seat and clapped for his deceased rival at Frazier’s funeral. Ali’s last title came in 1978 when he defeated Leon Spinks. Ali retired from boxing in 1981 and devoted himself to social causes. He traveled the world on humanitarian missions, mingling with the masses and rubbing elbows with world leaders. Ali received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush in 2005.

BY JOHN CARUCCI | ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK (AP) — The National Basketball Association’s all-time scoring leader is now a global cultural ambassador. The U.S. State Department announced Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's appointment Wednesday. Ann Stock, assistant secretary of state for education and cultural affairs, says Abdul-Jabbar will travel the world to engage a generation of young people to help promote diplomacy.

Stock says the appointment is part of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s vision of “Smart Power” that combines diplomacy, defense and development to “bridge the gap in a tense world through young people.” Abdul-Jabbar will travel to Brazil on Jan. 22 for a number of events centering on education, using his own experiences to help connect with young people. The legendary center scored 38,387 points during his 20-year NBA career.

CALDWELL Continued from page 10 job guiding the injury-plagued Colts through a thicket of injuries and back to the playoffs in 2010. But those successes all came with Peyton Manning, who led the Colts to a league-record 115 regular-season wins in the previous decade and a record-tying nine straight playoff appearances. This year, with Manning out the entire season, the Colts lost their first 13 games. Among players and coaches, Caldwell was universally well-liked. The list included Manning, who won all four of his record-setting MVP Awards with Caldwell on Indy's staff, as well as perennial Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday. “I think coach Caldwell has done a very good job. He has gotten the most out of his players, and we play hard for him each and every week,” Saturday said before the season finale. “We haven’t necessarily played well, we’ve made mistakes and done things, but they have, oftentimes, been things that we’ve talked about in coaching meetings.” Outsiders often saw it another way.

Fans frequently complained about Caldwell’s game management, and some critics referred to Caldwell as a “puppet” of the Polians. Many never forgave Caldwell for pulling the plug on a perfect season in a Game 15 loss to the Jets in 2009 and pointed to the midseason firing of defensive coordinator Larry Coyer and the long delay in replacing Curtis Painter with Dan Orlvosky at quarterback as decisions that should have come much earlier. Irsay and Grigson did not characterize Caldwell’s 1,099-day tenure the same way as fans. But with Grigson already searching for a new coach and presumably preparing to take Andrew Luck with the No. 1 pick, the questions now turn to Manning, who had his third neck surgery in 19 months on Sept. 8. The Colts still are not saying much about Manning’s recovery, and Grigson has not yet spoken with Manning, who is owed a $28 million bonus in early March. “We’re not even there with anything regarding Peyton Manning just yet,” Grigson said. “We have to know See CALDWELL, page 14

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Lil Wayne writing TV One network focuses on prison memoir missing Blacks NEW YORK (AP) — Lil Wayne is offering a literary tour of his prison days. The million-selling rapper has signed with Grand Central Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Group, for the memoir “Gone Till November.” Hachette announced Thursday that the book will tell of his eight months spent at the Rikers Island complex on a gun possession charge. Scheduled to come out in November, two years after his release, the book will be an “internal monologue,” based on diaries he kept while in prison. Born Dwayne Carter Jr., Lil Wayne had the best-selling album of 2008 with “Tha Carter AP Photo/El Nuevo Herald, David Santiago III,” which won a best Rapper Lil Wayne as author. rap album Grammy.

BY DAVID BAUDER | ASSOCIATED PRESS PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — After 16 years playing a police lieutenant on “Law & Order,” actress S. Epatha Merkerson is turning to some real-life crime stories. Merkerson is the narrator for “Find Our Missing,” a series that debuts Jan. 18 on the TV One network. It tells stories about Black Americans who are missing, hoping to turn up clues that can solve some of the cases. The series was born out of a pervasive feeling among many Blacks that their missing-person cases don’t get as much attention as missing-person cases involving Whites, particularly attractive young White women. “The local and regional press does a good job,” Wonya Lucas, president and CEO of the cable network aimed at Black viewers, said Saturday. “The national press doesn’t really cover these stories to the extent that they should, and that’s a void that TV One will now fill.” Each hour focuses on two separate cases. Besides Merkerson’s narration, producers fill time by re-enacting some scenes with professional actors. Two people missing since 2009 are featured in the first episode: Pamela Butler, an employee of the Environmental Protection Agency who disappeared from her Washington, D.C., home; and Hasanni Campbell, a 5-year-old boy with cerebral palsy from Oakland, Calif. “We are painfully aware that these are not just stories,” said Donna Wilson, executive producer of the series. “These are people’s lives.” Blacks account for 12 percent of the population yet are involved in about a third of the country’s missing-persons cases, said Toni Judkins, programming chief at TV One. The network is available in some 56 million homes, or about half the ones that have TV.

AP Photo/Peter Kramer

Giving back to the community: Actress S. Epatha Merkerson, long associated with TV’s “Law and Order,” is pursuing a new passion. Producers are working with the Black and Missing Foundation in helping to bring the cases to light. The show will encourage tips to law enforcement, hoping to break down some of the attitudes that make people feel like snitches, foundation president Derrica Wilson said. She and the series producer are not related. Merkerson said she became involved because she realized many of these cases needed the attention. “It’s important for me to give back to the community that has given so much to me,” she said.

Beyonce gets fly Roundtree honored by Africanwith golden booty American Film Critics Association named after her SENTINEL WIRE SERVICE

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A newly discovered horse fly in Australia was so “bootylicious” with its golden-haired bum, there was only one name worthy of its beauty: Beyonce. Previously published results from Bryan Lessard, a 24-year-old researcher at Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, were recently announced on the species that had been sitting in a fly collection since it was captured in 1981 — the same year pop diva Beyonce was born. He says he wanted to pay respect to the insect's beauty by naming it Scaptia (Plinthina) beyonceae. Lessard said Beyonce would be “in the nature history books forever” and that the fly now bearing her name is “pretty bootylicious” with its golden backside. “Bootylicious” was the title of a song by Beyonce's previous group, Destiny's Child. It’s unknown if the rare species is a bloodsucker, like See BEYONCE, page 14

The African-American Film Critics Association honored the special achievements of iconic actors Richard Roundtree and Hattie Winston, legendary filmmaker George Lucas, and Sony Pictures Entertainment at its awards ceremonies, which were held Sun., Jan. 8 at Pips Restaurant Wine Bar in Los Angeles. Veteran entertainment journalist Kevin Frazier hosted the red carpet ceremony. Roundtree received the 2011 Legacy Award for helping expand the way men of color are represented in film through his

iconic role as John Shaft in “Shaft” (1971) and the ground-breaking television miniseries “Roots” (1977). Roundtree, who has appeared in numerous television and film roles, was joined by Hattie Winston, the first African-American woman to appear in a national commercial. Winston, a member of the famed Negro Ensemble Company, rose to fame as a prominent member of the cast of the children's television show “The Electric Company.” Winston was honored with the 2011 Horizon Award for her diverse body of work in film, theater and music, which paved the way for African American actresses in all three genres.

Legendary filmmaker George Lucas received the 2011 Cinema Vanguard Award for his innovation and creativity in film. Lucas’ “Star Wars” franchise featured seminal actors James Earl Jones, Billy Dee Williams and Samuel L. Jackson. His upcoming film, “Red Tails” is the story of the world-renowned Tuskegee Airmen. AAFCA’s first special achievement award in the studio category was presented to Sony Pictures Entertainment— whose film library includes Black cinema gems like “A Raisin in the Sun,” “Guess See ROUNDTREE HONORED, page 14

AP Photo/Bryan Lessard, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization

IFor Bryan Lessard, 24, a researcher for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization and a huge fan of pop diva Beyonce, there was only one name worthy of a newly discovered horse fly: Beyonce. Lessard said he wanted to pay respect to the insect’s beauty by naming it Scaptia (Plinthina) beyonceae.

Photo by Gavin Meredith

Devon Franklin, Vice Pres., Production, Sony Pictures Entertainment; Kevin Frazier, co-host “Insider”; Richard Roundtree, actor, honoree; Jarvee Hutcherson, president, Multicultural Motion Picture Association; Reginald Hudlin, director/producer; Gil Robertson, founder/president, African American Film Critics Association; and Ava DuVernay, director/producer.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

UNCF’s An Evening of Stars celebrates the power of education SENTINEL WIRE SERVICE The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) will broadcast its “AN EVENING OF STARS® Presented by Target” in major markets on Sat., Jan. 28 and Sun., Jan. 29 on BET Networks

at 11 p.m. EST/PST and 10 p.m. CST. For a complete list of stations and additional information, visit www.AnEvening ofStars.org. The combination of headliners— like legendary songstress Patti LaBelle, singer Erykah Badu, singer-songwriter

AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

Singer Patti LaBelle performs during the BET Honors at the Warner Theatre in Washington on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012.

Anthony Hamilton and R&B star Ledisi—along with star students, whose education has been made possible by UNCF, made the program a high-voltage celebration of the best in music and the best in education. Patti LaBelle’s powerhouse performance of “When You’ve Been Blessed”; Estelle’s heartfelt rendition of “Break My Heart”; Anthony Hamilton’s soul-stirring performance of “Fine Again”; and Miguel’s eclectic sound on “Sure Thing” brought the audience to their feet. And UNCF student success stories celebrated the power of education— like the story of the junior who served in Iraq before returning to college, the senior whose undergraduate record won her a coveted slot in Teach For America, and the Florida college graduate who became the youngest person to fly solo around the world—made the capacity Pasadena Civic Auditorium crowd proud of both the students and the organization. “This year’s UNCF AN EVENING OF STARS® is filled with high energy performances, combining the hottest talent with inspirational stories of young students who are beating the odds because they can receive a good education,” said Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D., UNCF president and CEO. “We are grateful for the support of all our celebrities, sponsors and contributors,

AP Photo/Earl Gibson III

Four-time Grammy® nominee Marsha Ambrosius graces the stage during UNCF AN EVENING OF STARS®. The telecast of the show airs on BET on January 29, at 11 p.m. ET/PT and 10 p.m. CT. who understand the importance of ‘Educating our Future’ and giving students the opportunity to earn college degrees that will enable them to lead successful and fulfilling lives.” Additional highlights of the evening’s 10 performances included Marsha Ambrosius’ sultry sound of

“Far Away”; Jill Scott’s soulful rendition of her hit “So Blessed”; Musiq Soulchild’s blazing performance on his hit single “Yes”; a crowd-amping group number of “Shining Star”; and BET’s “106 & Park” host Terrence J sharing his inspiring testimony on how UNCF See UNCF, page 14

“MARK WAHLBERG IS

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DELIVERS! AN INTENSE, ADRENALINE-PUMPING, EDGE-OF-YOUR-SEAT THRILLER.” Shawn Edwards, FOX-TV

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

… “And the Golden Globe for best supporting actress in a motion picture goes to …: Actress Octavia Spencer for “The Help.”

Golden Globes Recap

‘The Artist’ and ‘The Descendants’ crowned favorites of foreign press BY KAM WILLIAMS SENTINEL CONTRIBUTING WRITER The Hollywood Foreign Press Association jump-started the 2012 awards season Sunday evening with its annual recognition of the best in film and television. Simultaneously serving as an indicator of Oscar potential, the

Golden Globes crowned “The Artist” and “The Descendants” as the early Academy Award favorites by virtue of each one’s enjoying multiple wins, including in the Best Comedy or Musical and the Best Drama categories, respectively. “The Artist”’s Jean Dujardin and See GOLDEN GLOBES, page 15

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MARINE VIDEO Continued from page 6 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, which fought in the southern Afghan province of Helmand for seven months before returning to their home base at Camp Lejeune, N.C., last September. Two of the four, plus the commander of the battalion, had moved on to other assignments before the video appeared on the Internet, according to Marine Corps officials who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss an active investigation. Even Thursday’s emergence of the Internet video depicting Marines urinating on what appear to be Afghan corpses didn’t seem to immediately set back movement toward exploratory negotiations with the Taliban. Asked about possible implications for peace talks, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the U.S. remained strongly committed to supporting Afghan efforts. Panetta, however, said the incident could endanger the talks. “The danger is that this kind of video can be misused in many ways to undermine what we are trying to do in Afghanistan and the possibility of reconciliation,” Panetta said at Fort Bliss, Texas, adding it’s important for the U.S. to move quickly to “send a clear signal to the world that the U.S. will not tolerate this kind of behavior and that is not what the U.S. is all about.” Before he left Washington for his troop visit to Fort Bliss, Panetta called President Hamid Karzai to promise a full investigation of the video affair and condemned the Marines’ behavior as “entirely inappropriate.” As the video spread across the Internet in postings and re-postings, U.S. officials joined with Afghans in calling it shocking, deplorable, inhumane and a breach of military standards of conduct. It shows men in Marine combat gear standing in a semicircle urinating on the bodies of three men in standard Afghan clothing, one of whose chest was covered in blood. It’s not certain whether the dead were Taliban fighters, civilians or someone else. The incident will likely further hurt ties with Karzai’s government and complicate negotiations over a strategic partnership arrangement meant to govern the presence of U.S. troops and advisers in Afghanistan after most international combat troops withdraw by the end of 2014. Anti-American sentiment is already on the rise in Afghanistan, especially among Afghans who have

Rev. 22:2 ~ Rom. 14:2 ~ Psm. 104:14 Click here to order: www.mynsp.com/herbjack www.trivita.com/13411343 Contact Mr. Jackson Tel: (800) 755-4372 not seen improvements to their daily lives despite billions of dollars in international aid. They also have deplored the accidental killing of civilians during NATO airstrikes and argue that foreign troops have culturally offended the Afghan people, mostly when it comes to activities involving women and the Quran, the Muslim holy book. Pentagon officials said the criminal investigation would likely look into whether the Marines violated laws of war, which include prohibitions against photographing or mishandling bodies and detainees. It also appeared to violate the U.S. Uniform Code of Military Justice, which governs conduct. Thus, some or all of the four Marines could face a military court-martial or other disciplinary action. Karzai called the video “completely inhumane.” The Afghan Defense Ministry called it “shocking.” And the Taliban issued a statement accusing U.S. forces of committing numerous “indignities” against the Afghan people. Panetta said the actions depicted in the brief video were inexcusable. “I have seen the footage, and I find the behavior depicted in it utterly deplorable. I condemn it in the strongest possible terms,” Panetta’s statement said. “Those found to have engaged in such conduct will be held accountable to the fullest extent.” The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, said he was deeply disturbed by the video and worried that it would erode the reputation of the entire military, not just the Marine Corps. On the streets of Afghanistan, the reaction was cool. “If these actions continue, people will not like them (the Americans) anymore and there will be uprising against them,” Mohammad Qayum, said while watching a television news story about the video that was airing in a local restaurant in Kabul. Ahmad Naweed, a shopkeeper in Kandahar, the birthplace of the Taliban insurgency, said, “On the one hand, the Americans present themselves as friends of Afghanistan and ... they also try to have peace talks with the Taliban. So we don’t know what kind of political game they are playing in Afghanistan.” Associated Press writers Pauline Jelinek in Washington and Deb Riechmann in Kabul contributed to this report.

ROUNDTREE HONORED Continued from page 12 Who’s Coming to Dinner,” Boys n the Hood,” “Ali” and “The Pursuit of Happyness,” and which was honored as an industry leader in creativity and diversity. “AAFCA was thrilled and honored

to bestow recognition to an incredible group of honorees this year,” says Gil Robertson IV, founder and president of the organization. “These individuals and institutions have transformed the face of the cinematic arts.”

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OBAMA’S UNCLE Continued from page 4 “We want to review the record to see if there is a pattern of conduct of bad driving behavior on the part of the arresting officer,” Bratton said. Krishtal totaled his police cruiser in November while responding to reports of gunshots. Framingham police declined to comment. A spokeswoman for Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone said prosecutors were not opposed to turning over the records. Bratton said a lawyer for the town of Framingham provided the records. Obama, 67, who is originally from Kenya, is the half brother of the president's late father. He has pleaded not guilty to operating under the influence of alcohol, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and failure to yield the right of way. Police said that after being booked at the police station, Obama said, “I think I will call the White House” when asked if he wanted to make a telephone call to arrange for bail. The status of Obama's immigration

case could not immediately be determined. A spokeswoman for the Executive Office for Immigration Review did not immediately return a call seeking comment Thursday. Obama initially was held without bail on a detainer from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on

allegations he violated an order to return to Kenya 20 years ago. He was later released and has been ordered to regularly check in with immigration officials. The White House has said it expects Obama’s arrest to be handled like any other case.

er published in the Australian Journal of Entomology, but the results were announced last week. Lessard says he hasn't heard from Beyonce, who recently gave birth to her first child, but he is a fan and hopes she will take his scientific gesture as a compliment. He also said the name was picked to help draw attention to the importance of his field and the need for

more researchers to catalog and study insects. Horse flies are “vital pollinators of native plants, not just in Australia, but all over the world,” Lessard said. “It’s extremely important to name all the undescribed species so we can measure our human impact on the environment and hopefully protect it for future generations to enjoy.”

shared their hottest hits but also made special appeals to help UNCF students who are committed to getting to and through college. From the stage, celebrities asked the show audience and television viewers to text “UNCF” to 50555 on their cellphones to donate $10 to help students secure their education and their future. Viewers were also encouraged to visit www.UNCF.org to make larger donations to help young men and

women get their college degrees. This year’s show was made possible by Target, Presenting Sponsor of UNCF AN EVENING OF STARS®, and National Sponsors McDonald’s and AT&T. Official and major sponsors include American Airlines, Wells Fargo, BET Networks, Buick and the U.S Army. For more information, please visit www.uncf.org and www.bet.com/uncf. Also, follow UNCF on Twitter: @UNCF.

BEYONCE Continued from page 12 many female horse flies. Lessard says he was unable to find any live specimens when he went looking in 2010 in northeast Queensland’s Atherton Tablelands, where it was captured three decades ago. However, at least one member of the public has alerted him that he was recently bitten by what's locally called the “gold bum fly.” The description of the fly was earli-

UNCF Continued from page 13 helped start his professional career after receiving a scholarship that included an internship at a radio station. In addition to performers, this year’s UNCF AN EVENING OF STARS® Presented by Target included special appearances by Tatyana Ali (“Fresh Prince of Bel Air”); Pooch Hall (BET’s “The Game”); Jill Marie Jones (CW’s “Girlfriends”); Coby Bell (BET’s “The Game”); David Banner (“Stomp The Yard 2”); Sean Patrick Thomas (“Save The Last Dance”); Lance Gross (TBS’s “House Of Payne”); Sheryl Underwood (CBS’s “The Talk”); Terrence J (BET’s “106 & Park”); Monique Jackson and Kita Williams (VH1’s “The TO Show”); Shaun Robinson (“Access Hollywood”); Kenny Smith (TNT’s “Inside the NBA”), Brian White (TNT’s “Men of a Certain Age”); and the national presidents of the Greek-letter organizations that make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council. The stars on the UNCF AN EVENING OF STARS® stage not only

CALDWELL Continued from page 11 about his medical stuff, first. There’s so many things there.” Caldwell ended his Colts’ tenure 26-22 overall with one AFC title, two division crowns and one bleak season that has left him unemployed just three years after replacing close friend Tony Dungy, the first Black coach to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

“This was a difficult decision,” Irsay said. “I wanted to make sure we took all the time we needed to make sure it was the right decision. ... And just like 14 years, ago, it's a big change for the franchise and at the same time, there’s players, coaches, many people on the staff that will go into the new day and get on with the work of 2012.”

Thursday, January 19, 2012

GOLDEN GLOBES Continued from page 13 “The Descendants”’s George Clooney landed lead actor accolades, while Meryl Streep (“The Iron Lady”) and Michelle Williams (“My Week with Marilyn”) won as lead actresses. Streep’s victory ostensibly came primarily at the expense of “The Help”’s Viola Davis, whose fellow cast member, Octavia Spencer, did prevail in her bid for best supporting actress. The only other people of color to take home trophies were Morgan Freeman, who got a lifetime achievement award, and Idris Elba for the made-for-TV movie “Luther.” This showing for minorities was a major improvement over 2011, when no blacks, Asians, Latinos or NativeAmericans won anything. As for the festivities, host Ricky Gervais toned down his act so severely he had everybody wondering what happened to the naughty bad boy who had been so edgy a year ago. After promising to take no prisoners again in anticipation of this event, he proceeded to do just the opposite, delivering a dull monologue and coming off as equally boring while introducing presenters. You know it was a slow night when an appearance by the dog from “The Artist,” Uggie, was the highlight. Yawn. Complete list of 2012 Golden Globe winners: Film Categories Best Drama The Descendants Best Comedy or Musical The Artist Best Animated Feature The Adventures of TinTin Best Actor in a Drama George Clooney (The Descendants) Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical Jean Dujardin (The Artist) Best Supporting Actor Christopher Plummer (Beginners) Best Actress in a Drama Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady) Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn) Best Supporting Actress Octavia Spencer (The Help) Best Director Martin Scorsese (Hugo) Best Screenplay Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris) Best Score Ludovic Bource (The Artist) Best Original Song Madonna, Julie Frost and Jimmy Harvey (Masterpiece) Best Foreign Language Film A Separation (Iran) Cecil B. Demille Award Morgan Freeman Television Categories Best TV Series - Drama Homeland Best TV Series - Comedy or Musical Modern Family Best Mini-Series Downton Abbey Best Actor in a TV Drama Kelsey Grammer (Boss) Best Actor in a TV Musical or Comedy Matt LeBlanc (Episodes) Best Supporting Actor Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) Best Actress in a TV Drama Claire Danes (Homeland) Best Actress in a TV Musical or Comedy Laura Dern (Enlightened) Best Supporting Actress Jessica Lange (American Horror Story) Best Actor in a TV Movie Idris Elba (Luther) Best Actress in a TV Movie Kate Winslet (Mildred Pierce)

NOTICE INVITING BIDS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Long Beach, California, acting by and through the City’s Board of Harbor Commissioners (“City”) will receive, before the Bid Deadline established below, sealed Bids for the following Work: PIER G BERTH G236 SHORE-TO-SHIP POWER RETROFIT AT PIER G, BERTH G236 LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA AS DESCRIBED IN SPECIFICATION NO. HD-S2298 AND DRAWINGS LISTED ON DRAWING NOS. HD 10-01948-00-G-IN-MS-S-001 AND 10-01948-00-G-IN-MS-S-002 Bid Deadline:

Prior to 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 Bid packages will be time/date stamped on the 4th floor or in the Lobby and shall be submitted prior to 10 a.m.

Place for Submission of Bids: 1. By Delivery Any Calendar Day Before the Bid Deadline Harbor Department Administration Building 4th Floor, Plans and Specifications/Program Management Office 925 Harbor Plaza Long Beach, CA 90802 2. By Delivery on the Same Calendar Day as the Bid Deadline Harbor Department Administration Building Ground Floor Lobby 925 Harbor Plaza Long Beach, CA 90802 Bid Opening: As soon as practical after the Bid Deadline Harbor Department Administration Building 6th Floor Board Room 925 Harbor Plaza Long Beach, CA 90802 Contract Documents Available: Date/Time: Beginning Thursday, January 19, 2012 Monday –Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Location: Harbor Department Administration Building 4th Floor, Plans and Specifications 925 Harbor Plaza Long Beach, CA 90802 Mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting and Mandatory Site Visit: Date/Time: Thursday, February 2, 2012, 1:30-3:30pm Location: Harbor Dept. Administration Building 6th Floor, Board Room 925 Harbor Plaza Long Beach, CA 90802 Project Contact Person: Sailendra Bandatmakur Bandatmakur@polb.com Fax: 562-283-7356 NIB -1 Contract Documents. Copies of Contract Documents in DVD format may be obtained, at no cost, at the Plans and Specifications Office, 4th floor, Harbor Department Administration Building, 925 Harbor Plaza, Long Beach, CA 90802 during the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. To arrange to receive a DVD of the Contract Documents by courier at the expense of the Bidder, call (562) 283-7353. For information on this Project and other upcoming Port projects, you may view the Port website at http://www.polb.com/economics/contractors/out_for_bid.asp. Copies of all Port insurance endorsement forms, SBE/VSBE Program forms, Harbor Development Permit Applications and other Port forms are available at http://www.polb.com/economics/contractors/forms_permits/default.asp. NIB -2 Mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting and Mandatory Site Visit. The engineering staff of the City’s Harbor Department will conduct a pre-bid meeting at 1:30pm on Thursday, February 2, 2012, in the Board Room, 6th floor, of the Harbor Department Administration Building. A guided Site tour will follow the pre-bid meeting. Attendance at the pre-bid meeting and Site tour is mandatory. Each Bidder must have a valid picture identification card (driver’s license, TWIC card) to attend the Site tour and Bidder must bring hard hat and safety vest for the site tour. Note that attendance at the pre-bid meeting can be used to satisfy a portion of a Bidder’s good faith efforts to meet the SBE/VSBE participation goals listed below. EACH BIDDER MUST ATTEND THE MANDATORY PRE-BID MEETING AND SITE TOUR. FAILURE TO ATTEND THE MANDATORY PRE-BID MEETING AND SITE TOUR SHALL DISQUALIFY YOUR BID. NIB -3 Summary Description of the Work. The Work required by this Contract includes furnishing all transportation, labor, materials, tools, equipment, services, testing, and incidentals to accomplish the PIER G BERTH G236 SHORE-TO-SHIP POWER RETROFIT Project. Refer to Section 01110, Summary of Work, in the Technical Specifications for a more detailed description of the Work which includes, but is not limited to, the following: • Supervision, coordination and project staging. • Provide traffic, security, and safety controls. • Provide water pollution control to effectively minimize the negative impact of the project’s construction activities on storm water quality and the Harbor waters and ocean. • Demolition, removal, and proper disposal of fencing, posts and foundations, guard posts and foundations, asphalt and Portland cement concrete paving, and concrete wharf brow wall section and guard timber (bull rail) at shore power outlet locations. • Demolition of wharf at shore power outlet (SPO) vault locations, construction of six (6) SPO vaults, including relocation of embedded utilities and wharf modifications for vaults, and reconstruction of wharf at SPO vault locations. • Excavation of soil material, stockpiling, testing, and offsite disposal. • Import and placement of fill material. • Construction of underground electrical ductbanks and structures for 12 kV feeders connecting a 12 kV Southern California Edison (SCE) substation to one (1) new 12 kV – 6.6 kV shore power substation located on Pier G (Berth G236). • Construction of one (1) 12 kV – 6.6 kV shore power substation site on Pier G (Berth G236) including substation concrete foundation, equipment pads, chain link fencing, and guard

• • • • • •

posts, and installation of electrical substation equipment, including testing and commissioning of the electrical system. Construction of crushed miscellaneous base and asphalt concrete pavement. Construction of ductbanks and manholes. Construction of conduit support systems under concrete wharf, including conduit guards. Installation of conductors in existing and new ductbank system. Installation of striping, markings, and signage. Installation, relocation, and removal of temporary chain link fencing, K-rail, and chain link gates.

NIB -4 Contract Time and Liquidated Damages. The Work shall be completed within five hundred twenty (520) calendar days as provided in Paragraph SC - 6.1 of the Special Conditions, from a date specified in a written “Notice to Proceed” issued by the City and subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3.1 of the General Conditions. FAILURE OF THE CONTRACTOR TO COMPLETE THE WORK WITHIN THE CONTRACT TIME AND OTHER MILESTONES WILL RESULT IN ASSESSMENT OF LIQUIDATED DAMAGES IN THE AMOUNTS ESTABLISHED IN THE SPECIAL CONDITIONS. NIB -5 Contractor’s License. Each Bidder shall hold a current and valid Class “A” and Class ”C-10” California Contractor’s License to bid this Project. NIB -6 Contractor Performed Work. The Contractor shall perform, with its own employees, Contract Work amounting to at least fifty percent (50%) of the Contract Price, except that any designated “Specialty Items” may be performed by subcontract and the amount of any such “Specialty Items” so performed may be deducted from the Contract Price before computing the amount required to be performed by the Contractor with its own employees. “Specialty Items” will be identified by the City in the Schedule of Bid Items. NIB -7 SBE/VSBE. This Project is subject to the Port of Long Beach (POLB) Small Business Enterprises (SBE)/Very Small Business Enterprises (VSBE) Program. The combined SBE/VSBE participation goal for this project is twenty-five percent (25%), of which a minimum of five percent (5%) must be allocated to VSBEs. POLB expects all Bidders to achieve the combined SBE/VSBE participation goal. Award of the Contract will be conditioned on the Bidder submitting an SBE-2C Commitment Plan demonstrating the Bidder’s intent to meet the combined SBE/VSBE participation goal. If the Bidder’s Commitment Plan does not demonstrate intent to meet the combined goal, the Bidder shall demonstrate that it made an adequate good faith effort to do so, as specified in the Instructions to Bidders (ITB 18). The Port’s SBE Program staff is available to provide information on the program requirements, including SBE certification assistance. Please contact the SBE Office at (562) 283-7598 or sbeprogram@polb.com. You may also view the Port’s SBE Program requirements at www.polb.com/sbe. NIB -8 Prevailing Wage Rates and Employment of Apprentices. This Project is a public work as defined in Labor Code Section 1720. The Contractor receiving award of the Contract and Subcontractors of any tier shall pay not less than the prevailing wage rates to all workers employed in execution of the Contract. The Director of Industrial Relations of the State of California has determined the general prevailing rates of wages in the locality in which the Work is to be performed. The rate schedules are available on the internet at www.dir.ca.gov/dlsr/DPreWageDetermination.htm. Bidders are directed to Article 15 of the General Conditions for requirements concerning payment of prevailing wages, payroll records, hours of work and employment of apprentices. NIB -9 Trade Names and Substitution of Equals. With the exception of the sole source determination identified in the paragraph below, Bidders wishing to obtain City’s authorization for substitution of equivalent material, product, or equipment, are required to submit a written request for an Or Equal Substitution using the form included in Appendix A together with data substantiating Bidder’s representation that the non-specified item is of equal quality to the item specified, not more than thirty-five (35) calendar days after Bid Opening. Authorization of a substitution is solely within the discretion of the City. Bidders shall note that the only acceptable manufacturer specified in the following Technical Sections shall be Square D Company, pursuant to Public Contract Code Section 3400(c)(2) and (c)(3): SECTION 16350, "MEDIUM VOLTAGE METAL-CLAD SWITCHGEAR", SECTION 16426, "DISTRIBUTION SWITCHBOARDS", and SECTION 16463, "SUBSTATION CAST-COIL TRANSFORMER". Any bid listing any other manufacturer will be nonresponsive. NIB -10 Not Used. NIB -11 Bid Security, Signed Contract, Insurance and Bonds. Each Bid shall be accompanied by a satisfactory Bidder’s Bond or other acceptable Bid Security in an amount not less than ten percent (10%) of the Base Bid as a guarantee that the Bidder will, if Conditionally Awarded a Contract by the Board, within thirty (30) calendar days after the Contract is conditionally awarded to the Contractor by the City, execute and deliver such Contract to the Chief Harbor Engineer together with all required documents including insurance forms, a Payment Bond for one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, and a Performance Bond for one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price. All Bonds shall be on forms provided by the City. NIB -12 Conditional Award of Contract and Reservation of Rights. The Board, acting through the Executive Director, reserves the right at any time before the execution of the Contract by the City, to reject any or all Bids, and to waive any informality or irregularity. The Conditional Award of the Contract, if any, will be to the responsible Bidder submitting the lowest responsive and responsible Bid. If the lowest responsive responsible Bidder fails to submit the required documents including insurance forms, bonds and signed Contract within thirty (30) calendar days after Conditional Award of Contract, the Board reserves the right to rescind the Conditional Award and Conditionally Award the Contract to the next lowest responsive and responsible Bidder. NIB -13 Period of Bid Irrevocability. Bids shall remain open and valid and Bidder’s Bonds shall be guaranteed for ninety (90) calendar days after the Bid Deadline or until the Executive Director executes a Contract, whichever occurs first. NIB -14 Substitution of Securities. Substitution of Securities for retainage is permitted in accordance with Section 22300 of the Public Contract Code. Issued at Long Beach, California, this 12th day of December, 2011. Richard D. Steinke Executive Director of the Harbor Department, City of Long Beach, California

Thursday, January 19, 2012

JANUARY 20