WI Web Staff
Program Signals 'New Era of Openness, Accountability'
Prince George's County Executive Rushern L. Baker has launched an initiative that delivers results based on analyis, accountability and innovation.
Prince George's CountyStat program is an adaptation of "stat" programs from other jurisdictions, including New York City, the State of Washington, and Gov. Martin O'Malley's pioneering work in Baltimore City and the State of Maryland.
Additionally, with the launch of the CountyStat website, residents, stakeholders, and the media can now view analyzed data and findings at http://princegeorgescountymd.gov/countystat.
"CountyStat signals a new era of openness and accountability in Prince George's" said Baker. "By monitoring performance, promoting innovation, and sharing our findings with the public, CountyStat will ensure my administration is making measurable progress toward improving the efficiency of the Prince George's County government."
The program, which is strong on transpareny, also serves as an important governing forum for Baker and his top managers.
"CountyStat's job is to make sure our government is operating as effectively as possible," said Baker. "It is a tool that will enable us to identify problems and implement strategies to improve our processes and operations."
With the exception of sensitive matters such as public safety and personnel, CountyStat sessions are open to the public to observe in person.
"CountyStat is not just a tool for me as county executive, but a tool for the people of Prince George's County to monitor their government and see how effective we are," Baker said.
As of January, even as local joblessness in other places took an upward spiral, the Washington region boasted the lowest rate among large cities.
The U. S. Labor Department Bureau of Labor Statistics also reported recently that although unemployment rates were down in 345 metropolitan areas in January, they increased in 16 areas while remaining unchanged in 11.
Overall, the District's unemployment rate increased slightly in December, with the joblessness having moved back above 10 percent in January, from 9.8 percent in December.
Also, with a current rate of 13.1 percent, Las Vegas remained among cities with the most unemployed individuals.
Bismarck, N.D., and Lincoln, Neb., tied for the lowest jobless rate of 3.8 percent.
Obama: 'If I Had a Son, He Would Look Like Trayvon'
Friday, 23 March 2012 19:46 Published in National
President Barack Obama said in comments Friday at the White House that it's imperative every aspect of the tragic slaying of Trayvon Martin be investigated.
The president also said that if he had son, that child -- being an African-American youth – would look like Trayvon, 17, who was gunned down as he walked in a modest Sanford, Fla., neighborhood.
"If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon," Obama said March 23 from the Rose Garden. "When I think about this boy, I think about my own kids."
Up to now, Obama had refrained from comment, leaving U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to follow up with an investigation.
George Zimmerman, 28, who volunteered in the gated community as a neighborhood watch guard, admitted shooting the unarmed youth in late February.
Zimmerman had been patrolling the neighborhood in his truck when he spotted Trayvon. He called 9-11 and was advised to remain in his vehicle while police arrived.
But Zimmerman ignored the advice and left the truck in pursuit of Trayvon. He told authorities that he shot the youth after Trayvon attacked him.
Meanwhile, the shooting has sparked public outrage that has spread like wild fire.
Questions have aboundded as to why Zimmerman – who is said to be of both white and Hispanic ancestry -- left his truck, and why he was carrying a gun.
The tragedy has also evolved into an issue of racial profiling, with reports further stating that other incidences of such profiling had occurred in the same community where Trayvon was slain.
Don Thompson to Assume Top Executive Post for McDonald's
Friday, 23 March 2012 15:35 Published in Business
The McDonald's Corporation has announced that following the retirement this summer of Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jim Skinner, that Don Thompson, president and chief operating officer, will take over. Skinner, who is stepping down after 41 years with the company, said that doing what's right for customers and the business drove his passion for his work. His resignation is effective June 30.
"I'm honored to have served and earned the trust of the Board, our shareholders, franchisees, suppliers and the men and women of this great company," Skinner said in a statement. " Don Thompson is well prepared for the CEO role, and under his leadership, our company will continue to meet the needs of our 68 million customers around the world every day. With Don at the helm, I am extremely confident in the future of McDonald's."
Thompson,48, said he was honored to succeed Skinner.
"Jim has been an outstanding leader, mentor and friend. I'm humbled to take the baton as CEO of McDonald's," he said. "Our management team is strong and will remain focused on the Plan to Win and on our three global priorities -- optimizing the menu, modernizing the customer experience and broadening our accessibility to even more customers. Our franchisees, suppliers and employees are committed to ensuring that McDonald's is our customers' favorite way and place to eat and drink."
Thompson, a 22-year veteran of McDonald's, started out as an electrical engineer. He assumed his current post in January 2010. In this capacity, he has directed global strategy and operations for more than 33,000 McDonald's restaurants in 119 countries. Previously, he served as President of McDonald's USA from 2006 until 2010. In that role, he was responsible for the strategic direction and positive business results of the nearly 14,000 restaurants in the U.S.
In addition to serving on McDonald's Board of Directors, Thompson is a member of the Board of Directors of Exelon Corporation and Northwestern Memorial Hospital. He also is a Trustee of his alma mater, Purdue University.
John A. Payton, president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF) , has died, NAACP President. He was 65.
Payton passed away Thursday at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore after a brief illness, according to a spokesman for the LDF.
Payton, the LDF's sixth president and director-counsel, leaves a gaping hole in the fight for civil rights. His bio states that he led the fund's involvement in five cases before the U.S. Supreme Court:
Two of those cases, in which LDF was either lead counsel or co-counsel, produced critical victories in the areas of voting rights (Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District Number One v. Holder) and employment discrimination (Lewis v. the City of Chicago). It was not surprising, then, that given his record of involvement in civil rights cases before taking the LDF post, earlier this spring the National Law Journal named John Payton one of the most influential civil rights attorneys of the last decade and the Washington (D.C.) Bar Association awarded him the Charles Hamilton Houston Medallion of Merit. This burst of activity by the country's first and finest civil rights law firm since its founding by Thurgood Marshall describes both its institutional mission and John Payton's lifelong personal commitment: to be an advocate for justice, equality and a true democracy for everyone.
Before becoming head of the LDF, Payton was a partner at the Washington firm WilmerHale. He was also a visiting professor at Harvard Law School and Georgetown University Law Center. During the spring of 2007, he taught a course on "The Constitution and Democracy" at Howard University School of Law and was named the James Nabrit Jr. Visiting Professor of Constitutional Law. He served as a member of the American Law Institute and a fellow of the American Bar Foundation.
Payton was a graduate of Pomona College and Harvard Law School. He leaves behind his wife, Gay McDougall, to mourn his death.
Prince George's Voters Can Begin Voting Saturday, March 24
Wednesday, 21 March 2012 16:00 Published in Local
UPPER MARLBORO, MD – Marylanders can vote early for the Presidential Primary beginning Saturday, March 24 through Thursday, March 29.
The early voting centers will be open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. each day of early voting, except for Sunday. Early voting centers will open on Sunday, March 25 from 12 noon until 6 p.m. Voters who are in line by the closing time will be allowed to vote.
"The Board of Elections is excited about early voting. This will give Prince George's County voters the option of voting at their convenience and I encourage them to take advantage of the opportunity" said Elections Administrator Alisha Alexander.
Prince George's County has five early voting centers:• Bowie Library, located at 15210 Annapolis Road, Bowie Maryland, 20715; College Park Community Center, located at 5051 Pierce Avenue, College Park, MD 20742; Oxon Hill Library, located at 6200 Oxon Hill Road, Oxon Hill, MD 20745; Upper Marlboro Community Center, located at 5400 Marlboro Race Track Rd, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772; and Wayne K. Curry Sports & Learning Center, located at 8001 Sheriff Road, Landover, MD 20785.
For more information, voters may contact the Prince George's County Board of Elections at (301)430-8020 or visit www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/elections or the State Board of Elections at 1-800-222-VOTE (8683) or visit www.elections.state.md.us.
Mike Tyson's One-Man Show Debuts in Vegas
Wednesday, 21 March 2012 15:26 Published in Arts & Entertainment
Boxer Mike Tyson is set to premiere a six-night, one-man show to run next month at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
"Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth -- Live on Stage," was co-written and co-directed by Tyson's wife Kiki. Randy Johnson of Los Angeles served as playwright.
Tyson's often-troubled life was also captured in the critically well-received 2009 documentary, "Tyson."
"It's a theater piece, not a lecture, but a real one-man show," Johnson said of Tyson's Vegas act. The show has also been described along the lines of stage monologue evenings such as Carrie Fisher's "Wishful Drinking" and William Shatner's "Shatner's World: We All Just Live In It."
After the Las Vegas run, Johnson said, "we'll review what happened, look at the next steps, and move forward. The hopes for this are to tour the world -- the fan base is staggering."
Johnson added there will be no shadow boxing in the show, as that would be too cheesy. "We're keeping it real," said Johnson.
Thousands of AKA Members Headed to Bay Area to 'Meet and to Serve'
Wednesday, 21 March 2012 02:35 Published in National
More than 10,000 members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority - America's first Greek-letter organization founded in 1908 by, and for, African-American college women and one of the nation's leading service organizations - will converge upon San Francisco from July 21-27 for its biennial conference. The event will beheld at the Moscone Center, and among those in attendance will be sorors from as far as Germany, Japan, South Korea and Nassau.
International President Carolyn House Stewart will preside over the weeklong gathering, which will boast the theme: "65th Boule: Gateway to Global Leadership Through Timeless Service."
This marks the second time in the sorority's 104-year history that the convention is being held in San Francisco. The first conference was held in 1955 at the Fairmont Hotel. San Francisco is home to former international president Dr. Ida Jackson and more 1,000 members who serve the surrounding communities.
Paralleling their program theme, the sorority will host a town hall, youth summit, economic summit and a panel on volunteering. Alpha Kappa Alpha will also open the "Unsung AKA Members of the Civil Rights Movement Museum" which will chronicle and graphically dramatize members' contributions to the Movement.
Another feature of the weeklong event will be a public meeting on Sunday, July 22. Its purpose is to acquaint the area with AKA's mission and impressive record of service on a local, regional, national and global arena. Awards will be presented to international leaders during this event, which is free and open to the public.
As an extension of AKA's mission "to serve all mankind," members will donate school supplies to Bay Area social service agencies. The collection drive is expected to yield hundreds of thousands of dollars in school supplies, which will assist families weighed down by the fragile economy and with limited funds.
About Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Alpha Kappa Alpha boasts more than 250,000 women in 965 chapters in the United States, the Caribbean, Canada, Germany, Bermuda, South Korea, the Bahamas, Japan and on the continent of Africa who are dedicated to service.
Since its founding, members have donated more than 3.5 million hours to programs that have benefited over 16 million people worldwide. Its membership includes a wide array of outstanding luminaries who cross several disciplines and industries.
Among its high-profile members are Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, president of Liberia; poets Toni Morrison and Maya Angelou, Dr. Mae Jemison, first woman of color to travel into space, actresses Phylicia Rashad and Jada Pinkett-Smith, Grammy Award winner, Alicia Keys and Congresswomen Sheila Jackson Lee, Eddie Bernice Johnson and newly-elected lawmakers Terri Sewell and Frederica Wilson. The late civil rights champions Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks and Septima Poinsette Clark were also members. Attorney Carolyn House Stewart is the 27th international president. For more information, log on to www.aka1908.com.
Sheila Stewart Joins The Tom Joyner Morning Show
Monday, 19 March 2012 23:05 Published in Arts & Entertainment
Congratulations are in order for Radio One's award-winning News and Community Affairs Director Sheila Stewart. The 25-year radio/TV/print media veteran is now anchoring the "morning news" on the syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show weekdays from 6 a.m. until 10 a.m.
Stewart has been news anchor for the syndicated Russ Parr Morning Show on (93.9) WKYS-FM for the past six years. Although she will continue her duties as the clusters news and community director for all Radio One D.C. stations WOL-AM- (1450); WYCB-AM- (1340); WPRS-FM- (104.1); WKYS-FM; and WMMJ-FM (102.3); Stewart will be also hosting a new public affairs talk show for WMMJ-FM called "In The Community with Sheila Stewart."
The show will address pertinent issues affecting residents on a local, state and national level, and will air Sundays from 6 a.m. until 6:30 a.m.
"We are elated to have Sheila join the Majic Team. She is a community advocate and what better person to fill this role," said Dionne Burkett, interim program director for WMMJ-FM Majic 102.3.
Stewart is also host of "Praise in the City," which airs on Saturday mornings on WPRS-FM from 5:30 a.m. until 6:30 a.m.
Most recently, the National Black Press Association named Stewart "News Director of the Year."
"I am thankful for the great gift from God to serve and keep residents inform," said Stewart. She is married to Pastor Bill Russell, founder of the International Worship Center in Laurel, Md. Stewart is also the mother of one son.
First Lady to Lead Delegation for Opening Ceremonies of Summer Olympics
Saturday, 17 March 2012 00:52 Published in National
First Lady Michelle Obama will lead the Presidential delegation for the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olympic games in London. Mrs. Obama made the announcement at an event with Samantha Cameron celebrating the Olympic games and Mrs. Obama's "Let's Move!" initiative.
During the event, Olympians and Paralympians -- including Kortney Clemons, Dominique Dawes, Tom Dolan, April Holmes, Lisa Leslie, Lori Ann Lindsey, Dan O'Brien, Becky Sauerbrunn, David Wagner and Mal Washington -- led D.C.-area school children in activities inspired by the Olympic games.
Mrs. Obama emphasized her hope that the Olympic games will inspire more young people to get active and healthy, the goal of her Let's Move! initiative.
"In the months ahead, I'll be talking to Americans all across the country to encourage even more young people to tap into that Olympic spirit and turn their inspiration into action," said Mrs. Obama. "As the Olympic creed states, 'the most important thing ... is not to win, but to take part.' And that doesn't just mean sitting and watching, it means getting up and getting active as well. I hope we use the upcoming games as motivation for all of us to get up and get moving."
"Mrs. Obama's support will only further invigorate the athletes' desire to bring home the gold and motivate all Americans to be active," said Dominique Dawes, three-time Olympic gymnast and co-chair of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition. "My work on behalf of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition is a way for me to give back to the country that supported me during my Olympic journey."
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