Washington Informer

The Shiloh Baptist Church Gospel Choir will perform its traditional Palm Sunday Praise Service in celebration of its 34th anniversary under the direction of Dr. Thomas Dixon Tyler.

"We Are Victorious" is the theme for the Gospel Choir's musical performance which will be preented at 4 p.m., March 24 in the sanctuary of the historic church. Tyler will be accompanied by renowned organist Evelyn Simpson Curenton and featured guest director Damon T. Gray, an anointed and skilled musician.

Gray, a native of Omaha, Neb.,has accompanied several world-renowned gospel artists, including James Cleveland, Daryl Coley, Kirk Franklin and Albertina Walker. His God-given talent at music was evident by the time he was two years old and started playing drums. At age nine, he began studying piano and soon gained a reputation for his talent as a musician.

Gray relocated to the Washington, DC area in 1998 and acquired a B.A. in performance from Bowie State University. He currently is the Music Department Chair at DuVal High School and serves as music coordinator at Jerusalem AME Church in Clinton, Maryland. Gray has been guest artist for the Washington Performing Arts Society's fall Children of The Gospel Concert and as an instructor for its summer camp. He also has been staff accompanist for the Historic Howard University Chapel Choir.

This year Shiloh Baptist is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its Christian witness in the nation's capital since its founding by former slaves.

"I Gave Up Everything to Follow Him" was the debut selection sung by the SBC Gospel Choir on March 25, 1979 to inaugurate its Palm Sunday Service. The choir was directed by noted church musician and gospel artist Andrew Rowe who composed and arranged the debut selection. Since then, the choir's repertoire has expanded to include anthems as well as standard and contemporary gospel music.

The community is invited to this free, special Palm Sunday performance at the Shiloh Baptist Church, located at 1500 Ninth St. in Northwest D.C.

The FBI has released 128 pages from its file on Whitney Houston, revealing details of an apparently successful blackmail plot, as well as an investigation into an obsessed fan.

Released in response to a freedom of information request, the FBI's documents cover 11 years of threats against the singer, from 1988 to 1999. But the pages are heavily redacted – in many cases, to the point of incomprehensibility.

Sometimes the redactions are tantalizing. In late 1992, an unidentified Chicago lawyer wrote to Houston's New Jersey-based production company stating that unless the singer paid $100,000 , his client planned to "reveal certain details of [Houston's] private life ... to several publications". Later the blackmail amount was boosted even higher, to $250,000.

According to the FBI, this was extortion. But when agents met with Houston and her father, the singer said she knew the woman who was making the threats, and that she was "a friend ... [who] would never do anything to embarrass her". Officers closed the case, even though Houston's father had apparently sent the blackmailer a confidentiality agreement and an unknown sum of money.

In addition to the extortion case, officers investigated several cases of over-devoted fans. One Vermont letter-writer claimed: "I start to shake ... when I think about you."

"Over the past 17 months, I have sent ... 66 letters to Miss Whitney," he wrote. "I have tried to stop writing the letters and to give up twice but after a few weeks I had to start writing again ... I have gotten mad at [Whitney] a few times [for not replying] ... it scares me that I might come up with some crazy or stupid or really dumb idea ... I might hurt someone with some crazy idea."

FBI agents eventually questioned Houston's one-sided pen-pal in 1988. They decided he was harmless. The same was true for a Dutch or Belgian correspondent who insisted he had written some of Houston's songs. The writer further claimed that he was the president of Europe and had purchased the country of Brazil.

After selling more than 200 million records worldwide, Houston drowned in a hotel bathtub in February 2012. She was 48.

(Source: The Guardian)

The National Weather Service has predicted 6- to 12 inches of snow for the D.C. metro area, with most of the region remaining under a winter storm warning until 3 a.m. Thursday.

More snow will accumulate west of Interstate 95, according to the weather service, and the snow will continue through the day and evening, tapering off after midnight. It will be heavy at times during the late morning and afternoon.

•Temperatures: nearly steady in the lower to mid 30s.

•Winds: northeast 15 to 25 mph. Gusts up to 35 mph especially this afternoon and evening.

•Impacts: Heavy wet snow and gusty winds will lead to power outages. Snow covered roads and poor visibilities in heavy snow will make driving difficult.

Recommended Actions

A Winter Storm Warning for heavy snow means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. Significant amounts of snow are forecast that will make travel dangerous. Only Travel in an emergency. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight. Food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.

(Source: National Weather Service)

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the firebrand socialist who led the nation for 14 years, has died after battling cancer, according to a government report.

NAIROBI - Kenyan presidential hopeful Uhuru Kenyatta opened an early lead as ballots were counted on Tuesday in an election that brought out millions of voters despite pockets of violence that killed at least 15 people.

The deputy prime minister, who faces international charges of crimes against humanity linked to the last election, was provisionally ahead of Prime Minister Raila Odinga by 53 to 42 percent with about half the votes counted.

But Kenyatta could still be overhauled as the count goes on in a vote Kenyans hope will restore their nation's image as one of Africa's most stable democracies after the bloodshed five years ago.

Although voting passed off broadly peacefully with a big turnout, the real test will be whether the candidates and their backers accept the result, after the disputed 2007 vote touched off ethnic blood-letting that killed more than 1,200 people.

"Nobody should celebrate, nobody should complain," election commission chairman Isaac Hassan told journalists, saying work was going on to resolve glitches and speed up the count. "We therefore continue to appeal for patience from the public.

The commission says provisional results may not be tallied until Wednesday, meaning an official declaration will not come until then or later.

Kenyatta's lead has held overnight but about 60 percent of polling stations have yet to report. Odinga's camp said counting in their strongholds had not been completed yet and a debate over the fate of a sizeable number of rejected votes could help shift the balance

The United States and Western donors have watched the vote closely, concerned about the stability of a nation seen as a regional ally in the fight against militant Islam.

They also worry about what to do if Kenyatta wins, because of the charges he faces at the International Criminal Court (ICC) related to the violence five years ago.

With memories of that violence still fresh, many Kenyans are determined to prevent a repeat and have vowed to accept the outcome, as have the candidates.

INVESTOR RELIEF

"People should be patient; in 2007 Mr Odinga was leading against Mwai Kibaki in preliminary results, the following day when we woke up, things turned upside down and Kibaki won the elections. I believe the same thing would happen," said Christopher Otieno, 31, a seller of household wares.

Investors breathed a sigh of relief after voting passed off calmly, initially strengthening the Kenyan shilling against the U.S. dollar. The shilling later lost some of its gains after the slow count cast doubt on whether a first-round victor would emerge. Analysts said an outright win would be preferred to a run-off, which would prolong uncertainty.

The inspector general of the Kenyan police, David Kimaiyo, told a news conference he would not allow demonstrations anywhere in the country over delays in releasing the election results because of concerns protests could turn violent.

According to the election commission's provisional tally, Kenyatta's led by 53 percent of votes counted to Odinga's 42 percent by late afternoon, based on a tally of more than 5 million votes.

(Source: Reuters)

The District finals for "Poetry Out Loud" -- a contest that encourages youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation – will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Monday, March 18 at the National Portrait Gallery, located at 8th and G streets in Northwest.

This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage with recitations of the works of great poets. The finals will feature10 students from across the city competing for $50,000 in scholarships, and the winner will represent D. C. in the "Poetry Out Loud" national finals in April.

The event, which is and open to the public, will be hosted by Free of WPFG 95.5 FM.

Mayor Vincent Gray and Jennifer Leonard, interim deputy mayor for education, will hold a public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2014 budget for the city's public schools.

The hearing will be held at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 12 at Turkey Thicket Recreation Center, 1100 Michigan Ave. in Northeast.

The hearing is to solicit the public's opinion regarding levels of public funding to be sought in the schools' FY 2014 operating budget in accordance to city code.

Members of the public are invited to testify, with statements limited to three minutes per witness and five minutes per organization or group.

Persons wishing to testify should contact Brandon Starkes in the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by telephone at (202) 727-4036 by 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 7.

Witnesses should bring three copies of their written testimony to the hearing, and members of the public may submit written testimony, which will be made part of the official record.

Copies of written statements should be submitted to the contacts listed above no later than 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 7.

The editor of JET magazine has issued an apology to Fantasia over a statement that appeared on Facebook stating that the 29–year-old America Idol winner couldn't read.

"I apologize for the lack of sensitivity shown in my FaceBook post. It was a thoughtless comment made during a moment of frustration," Mitzi Miller, JET editor-in-chief, wrote. "It was unprofessional and not representative of the JET mission, which is to uplift. I regret letting my emotions get the best of me. I am truly apologetic."

Miller made the comment about the singer's struggle with reading after the singer complained about a 10-year-old photo of herself that graces the cover of a recent issue. It appears Fantasia had provided the magazine with a current crop of photos to select from, but none of them was used. Fantasia lashed out to Jet, saying the photo that was used was not reflective of her new look and direction, and that using the photo, JET had been unprofessional and disrespectful.

Fantasia admitted in her 2005 memoir, "Life is Not a Fairy Tale," that she had trouble with reading. 

"'This saddens Me!!! It is clear that this picture is 10 Years Old and JET Magazine puts it on the Cover!! After I send them the NEW LOOK AND DIRECTION. . SAD!!!, " Fantasia wrote on her Facebook page. "I WANT A PUBLIC APOLOGY FROM JET. Now im not sure if the interview is correct. SEE!! America they and use me as they crash Dummy BUT NO MORE. IF I DONT STAND FOR SOMETHING ILL FALL FOR ANYTHING."

Miller firmly responded later that:

"JET magazine is honored to have Fantasia grace the cover of its March issue. It is unfortunate that Fantasia is displeased with the cover selection, however JET stands by its decision. As standard editorial practice, JET consulted with Fantasia's team, but reserves the right to select the image we deem as most appropriate for JET's brand and reflective of the cover story sentiment. JET continues to root for Fantasia's success and encourages her fans to pick up the new issue."

But the matter wasn't over.

Miller went on to comment on her Facebook page that: "The fact that I wasted an hour of my workday writing a press release to address an issue created by a person who cannot even read it is just... #whyiwannaBahousewife."

So far, there's been no indication of JET having taken any disciplinary action against Miller.

New App will Help the Public, Housing Industry Learn about Their Housing Rights and Responsibilities

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has unveiled the first housing discrimination mobile application (app) for iPhone and iPad.

Developed by HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) and HP, the app uses the latest technology to provide the public with a quick and easy way to learn about their housing rights and to file housing discrimination complaints, and inform the housing industry about its responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act.

"Having this first fair housing mobile application equips people everywhere with the information they need to combat housing discrimination," said John Trasviña, HUD assistant secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. "We are maximizing the latest technology to make the process for filing fair housing complaints faster and easier and arming our fair housing partners with the information they need to understand their fair housing rights and responsibilities."

The app will also be an important tool to assist fair housing groups and other civil rights advocacy organizations in their efforts to help individuals pursue their housing rights and industry to educate their members on their responsibilities.

In addition to facilitating real-time delivery of housing discrimination complaints to HUD, the app can be used by individuals researching their housing rights after a natural disaster, when power outages make the iPhone/iPad one of the few ways to access the Internet.

"HUD needed an efficient and reliable solution to quickly extend existing capabilities to mobile computing devices," said Marilyn Crouther, senior vice president and general manager, U.S. Public Sector, HP Enterprise Services. "The new HP application achieves operational goals of HUD - from concept to deployment – while more effectively addressing discrimination complaints. The mobile app simplifies and increases access to government services for people."