Conservative Win Case To Deny Felony Voting

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that a state can prohibit felons from voting even if the ban disproportionately harms minorities, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday in a Washington state case that supports a similar law in California. A six-judge majority noted that other appeals courts have concluded that federal civil rights laws do not apply to a state's disqualification of felons from voting.



The Pacific Legal Foundation, a non profit law firm based in Sacramento, California filed arguments in the case supporting the voting disenfranchisement of felons in the state of Washington. It is described as the oldest conservative law firm in the United States and it’s staff was originally composed mainly of individuals who had been a part of then-Governor Ronald Reagan’s welfare reform team.

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Mississippi Death Row - The Frederick Bell Story

In May 1991, 19-year-old Bell was charged for the robbery and murder of store clerk Bert Bell (no relation). He was tried, convicted and sentenced to death in 1993, largely because his trial attorneys failed to even investigate the case or conduct DNA testing beforehand.

Since 1993, Bell has sat caged in a prison cell on Mississippi's death row, denied access to the courts, despite newly discovered evidence that strongly suggests he is completely innocent in this case. Tonight we are joined by Frederick Bell's sister Tonja and Carol Leonard of Prison Reform Movement. They will share her Mr. Bell's story with you our listening audience.

Pennsylvania Arrests & Sentencing Disparities - Diop Olugbala Sentencing Hearing

The Pittsburg Tribune Review is reporting that Allegheny County councilman William Russell Robinson said on Wednesday that he wants to meet with the county's president judge to discuss whether racial inequity needs to be addressed in the court system, a day after a judge claimed whites get better deals from prosecutors.



Also out of the State of Pennsylvania, Diop Olugbala who is the President of the International People’s Democratic Uhuru Movement was a guest on Black Talk Radio News & Views on Wednesday to discuss racial profiling and other issues of concern in the Black community in Philadelphia. Olugbala faces up to years in prison when he is sentenced on October 13th after a felony assault on a police officer conviction that stems from a protest he and others staged at Philadelphia city council meeting in 2009.

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Black Non Profits Sell Out, Again - Mental Health & Criminal Justice

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that a number of non profit organizations that serve Latinos and African Americans are selling out to the big Telecommunication corporations which donate millions of dollars and in kind services to the organizations in question. At issue is Net Neutrality and whether or not the FCC can prevent the telecoms from censoring content on the Internet by making content providers pay large fees in order for customers using their ISP services to access the content of providers.



The State Bar of Wisconsin reports that the state of Wisconsin was selected to participate in the Criminal Justice Mental Health Leadership Initiative, a national project designed to address the issues that surround mental illness and the criminal justice system.

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Diop Olugbala President of International People’s Democratic Uhuru Movement Faces Ten Years

Diop Olugbala is the President of the International People’s Democratic Uhuru Movement and was convicted on August 24, 2010 of aggravated assault on a police officer. Olugbala along with others were holding a protest in the gallery of Philadelphia City Hall during a City Council meeting. The entire incident was caught on tape.



Today we will speak to Mr. Olugbala about a number of issues afecting the Black community and about his upcoming snetencing hearing and the campagin to Free Diop Campaign. Read more

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NYC Gives Up $300,000.00 & Health Care Exchanges For California

New York Daily News is reporting that two Queens men cleared by a security video of bogus drug charges are settling with the city of New York for $300,000. The two cops accused of setting them up, Detective Stephen Anderson and Officer Henry Tavarez have resigned and face a number of corruption charges related to setting up brothers Jose Colon and Maximo Colon who lost their grocery store business and incurred substantial debt directly resulting from the criminal drug case fabricated against them by the NYPD narcotics officers.



New America Media is reporting that California is the first state setting up a health insurance market. Individuals and small businesses can now buy affordable health coverage through an online exchange which is a component of the new health care reform act enacted by Congress earlier this year. The insurance exchange will allow consumers to compare and buy plans from five different categories ranging from so-called “Cadillac” plans to more modest policies.

Marijuana Reduced To Civil Infraction, Detroit Lost $200 Million, Rev Sharpton Says No To Homophobia

California’s Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Friday signed Senate Bill 1449 into State Law which reduces adult marijuana possession charges from a criminal misdemeanor to a civil infraction.



People are asking if Racism and incompetence by former Mayor of Detroit Kwame Kilpatrick caused Detroit schoolchildren to lose out on a $200 million dollar gift to build a network of 15 high-performing charter high schools.



In an editorial piece written for Kathy Hughes News One website, the Reverend Al Sharpton said that the Black Church like the Catholic Church is in the midst of crisis concerning pedophilia and abuse of power referencing the recently emerged scandal involving Bishop Eddie Long, a staunch anti-gay activist.

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