Washington Informer

Plans to move forward with the design and construction of the street car project along H Street and Benning Road in Northeast have been put on hold over concerns expressed by Ward 8 Council member Marion Barry.

The veteran councilman, who once opposed the project, is reportedly challenging the $50 million contract to build the system and has filed a disapproval claim against Dean-Facchina LLC. As a result, the project faces a six-week stall. In addition to delaying the project, Barry's action could add more costs to the project for which tracks have already been laid on H Street.

"I'm not opposed to the H Street line if it can be shown there are cost benefits," Barry, 76, was quoted as saying. "For $50 million I could get at least three or four recreation centers built in Ward 8."

Meanwhile, Ward 6 Council member Tommy Wells -- in whose district part of the 37-mile track would be built -- is poised to file emergency legislation next week in hopes of circumventing Barry's opposition.

Ward 3 Council member Mary Cheh is also reportedly skeptical about Barry's disapproval, having indicated that he should have raised his concerns earlier rather than at the "eleventh hour."

Event to Include Birthday Bash, Appearances by Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson Sr., Others

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Perennial family of businesses, special events are taking place this weekend in D.C. with appearances by Rev. Al Sharpton, Martin Luther King III, Rev. Jesse Jackson, hip-hop impresario MC Lyte, and others.

On Friday, June 22, an exclusive birthday party will take place for lifelong advocate and entrepreneur Lamell McMorris, founder and CEO of the Perennial brand of businesses. The party will featue guest DJ MC Lyte, the legendary lyricist and iconic hip-hop pioneer.

On Saturday, June 23, the Perennial 10th Anniversary Dinner will take place at The Madison Hotel where winner of the Perennial Small Business Competition will be honored. 

Lamell McMorris launched his business a decade ago after moving to D.C. with little more than an idea, a Rolodex, a lot of determination, and a high school intern as his only employee.

Today, he's CEO of Perennial Strategy Group, a thriving government and public relations firm; Perennial Law Group, which focuses on the entertainment, sports and media industries, and Perennial Sports and Entertainment, a full service operation with agents representing some of the nation's top athletes.

HIV Testing events 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., June 27-29

Beginning on National HIV Testing Day on June 27 and continuing through June 29, Whitman-Walker Health will provide free rapid HIV testing at one Walgreens store in D.C. daily. The rapid HIV test takes approximately 20 to 40 minutes to administer and process. Test results will be delivered by the local AIDS service organization providing the testing on site.

HIV testing is being provided by health departments and local AIDS service organizations at select Walgreens stores in 20 markets across the nation as part of an ongoing collaboration between Walgreens, the nation's largest drugstore chain, and Greater Than AIDS, a coalition of public and private sector partners united in response to the domestic epidemic.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Act Against AIDS initiative and the National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS, the official sponsor of National HIV Testing Day, also are supporting the effort.

Whitman-Walker Health will provide free HIV testing at the following Walgreens store in Washington, DC:

• Walgreens 4225 Connecticut Ave, NW

Free, walk in HIV testing will also be available at both Whitman-Walker Health facilities:

• Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th St., NW, 9:00 am-6:00 pm, June 27

• Max Robinson Center, 2301 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave, SE, 9:00 am-4:30 pm, June 27

Of the more than 1.2 million people living with HIV in the U.S. today, an estimated one in five, or nearly a quarter of a million people, do not know it. One-third of those who are positive are diagnosed so late in the course of their infection they develop AIDS within one year. Early diagnosis and treatment helps save lives and is known to reduce the spread of HIV. The CDC encourages everyone to know their status.

"One in 20 adults in DC has HIV," said Whitman-Walker Health Executive Director Don Blanchon. "Nine out of every 10 cases of HIV/AIDS in DC is among African-Americans. One in seven gay or bisexual men in DC has HIV and that number drops to one in every three Black gay or bisexual men in DC. With numbers like these, the importance of getting everyone in the District of Columbia tested is evident. This partnership with Walgreens and Greater Than AIDS will allow us to inform new audiences of the importance of getting tested, knowing your HIV status, and taking care of your health."

All totalled, 47 Walgreens stores in 20 markets across the nation are participating, including stores in the following cities: Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Oakland, Calif., Philadelphia, San Francisco, St. Louis, Washington, D.C. and West Palm Beach, Fla.

An additional 138 Walgreens stores in the participating communities will help publicize the free testing provided by local health departments or AIDS service organizations through in-store messaging, including posters, post cards and in-store audio. Walgreens also will promote National HIV Testing Day with special messages on June 27 on its Times Square digital display, the largest billboard of its kind in the country.

"These testing events provide valuable and vital opportunities to help the communities we serve," said Glen Pietrandoni, Walgreens senior manager of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis. "Walgreens has supported people living with HIV/AIDS since the beginning of the epidemic through its ability to offer accessible pharmacy, health and wellness guidance to patients, wherever they live. Our pharmacists are developing relationships, listening to concerns and providing education and support."

This marks the second year in a row that Walgreens and Greater Than AIDS have coordinated with local health departments and AIDS service organizations to allow them to provide free HIV testing at select Walgreens stores. This year, more than twice the number of Walgreens stores and markets will participate. More than 50 participating health departments and AIDS service organizations are providing the testing and delivering results on site, as well as supporting outreach.

For more information, including participating Walgreens stores in each city, visit:

www.greaterthan.org/walgreens

Mayor Vincent C. Gray has submitted a bill to the D.C. Council that pays homage to late Go-Go music icon Chuck Brown.

The Chuck Brown Park Designation Act of 2012 would designate the western portion of Langdon Park, between 18th and 20th streets in Ward 5 Chuck Brown Park.

"Chuck Brown, Go-Go music and the District of Columbia are inextricably linked to each other, and it's appropriate that the Godfather of Go-Go should be honored by the city that embraced him and his music," Gray said in a statement.  "I promised at his memorial service that we would name a park in his honor, and that it would symbolize Chuck, a place where there is action, people, traffic; the sounds of a city. A park where Chuck's music can be played and where people can enjoy themselves as they always did while listening to Chuck Brown perform."

Brown's responded, saying:

"We would like to thank Mayor Gray for this great honor and encourage the D.C. Council to pass this legislation. We pray the park will be a place where all people can come together to celebrate the things that were most important to Chuck and his fans: family, life, peace and love."

Brown passed away on May 16 at age 75, following a lengthy illness.

As former Ward 5 Council member Harry Thomas Jr. prepared over the weekend to settle into a new home and identity at a federal compound in Alabama, the 51-year-old married father of a teenage son, acknowledged in an interview that he has been in prayer over fear of the unknown.

"God helps you conquer all obstacles," he was quoted as saying. "I talked about fear on Friday [during a gathering]. "If you don't acknowledge fear you'll be paralyzed."

Thomas, who fell from grace after admitting that he diverted $$353,000 of taxpayer money, meant for youth sports programs to his personal use, was scheduled to begin a 38-month incarceration this week at the Federal Prison Camp at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, where he will be known as inmate No. 31866-016.

During the brief interview, Thomas talked about visiting his father's grave at Fort Lincoln Cemetery, roasting marshmallows with his daughters and being surprised with a visit from an uncle. He also managed to infused bits of optimism and humor while reflecting on any job prospects that might await him after his sentence is served.

In doing so, he noted his role helping to bring the first Costco to D.C.

"It'll be open by the time I get home, when I'll be looking for a job," said Thomas.

Police in Rialto, California are still trying to determine the facts surrounding the death Sunday of Rodney King.

Following a call made to 911 around 5:25 a.m., June 17 by King's fiancé Cynthia Kelley, police responded to the home the couple shared, where they found his body at the bottom of their swimming pool. After several attempts to revive King, 47, he was pronounced dead. No evidence of foul play was discovered, but an autopsy was scheduled.

Now, friends of King who shot to notoriety in 1991 after suffering a brutal beating in Los Angeles at the hands of police officers, aren't buying Kelley's story.

According to a report , the friends claim that each time they hear Kelley's recount about incidents that led up to King's death, the facts change, which leads them to believe she is covering something up.

Kelley reportedly stated that after she had a conversation with King, she heard a banging on the window of their home in the wee hours of Sunday morning. Kelley then allegedly said that after the window rapping, she heard King fall in to the pool.

The report further states that two of King's friends have taken their suspicions to police detectives, who in turn, told them that they would be in touch.

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (MD-4) released the following statement for Father's Day, observed on Sunday, June 17:

"Father's Day is an opportunity to come together and pay tribute to fathers who do so much for our families. This Father's Day, I'd like to recognize Roland Martin from Clarksburg, Maryland.

Mr. Martin was the well-deserving recipient this week of the White House's "Champions of Change" award, given to those in our communities doing tremendous work in the field of fatherhood and addressing the needs of low-income men and boys.

Mr. Martin's leadership at The National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI) is a great example of how we can combine community-based partnerships with engagement at all levels of government to improve the well-being of our young people. His work highlights the critical role fathers play in the development of our young people, and the importance of ensuring that all our children have access to role models in their communities.

"On a personal note, I pause this Father's Day to honor my father John, who served and sacrificed for this nation. Like many fathers throughout our community, my father instilled my core values and remains a source of inspiration. I wish all our fathers a happy and joy-filled Happy Father's Day."