Tuesday, May 12, 2015

THE CASH STUFF FOR 5-14-15

NNPA STORIES -

http://nnpa.org/nnpa_newswire/black-unemployment-dips-below-10-percent-by-freddie-allen/?_sft_category=lead

http://nnpa.org/nnpa_newswire/street-organizations-work-for-peace/?_sft_category=national


CASH IN THE APPLE FOR 5-14-15
By Cash Michaels
Editor

            NEW SHOWS, OLD SHOWS – Well, the 2014-15 broadcast season is pretty much over, with upwards of thirty TV shows canceled by ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX and the CW networks.
            I’ll be honest with you…most of the shows that were cancelled I just never saw, and the fact that at least that many were given the ax, should certify just what kind of junk heap broadcast television actually is (and has been for a long time).
            Over at Fox, the big news is that after 15 seasons, the once megahit “American Idol” will be coming to an end. Once upon a time, over 30 million people a week tuned in to see new singing talent compete, and be judged by a star-studded panel of judges. But the novelty has long since faded, and the suits at Fox have mercifully decided to allow “Idol” to go out on its own terms starting in January 2016.
            Though I was never a frequent watcher, I will admit that “idol” did provide lots of excitement during its early years on the air.
            At least “American Idol” is coming back for one more year. Other Fox shows that are DOA right now include Backstrom, The Following, Gracepoint, The Mindy Project, Mulaney, Red Band Society and Weird Loners.
            Returning Fox shows include the new megahit “Empire,” where I understand stars like Alicia Keys, Lenny Kravitz and comedian Chris Rock are scheduled to make guest appearances.
            Believe it or not, I still have not seen an episode of “Empire,” and have no intention of doing so.
            Other returning Fox TV shows include my favorite “Sleepy Hollow” (moving to Thursday nights this fall just opposite ABC’s “Scandal” at 9 p.m.), Gotham, Bob’s Burgers, Bones, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Family Guy, The Last Man on Earth, Masterchef Junior, New Girl, The Simpsons, and World’s Funniest.
            The new losers…I mean shows on Fox include Minority Report (based on the old Steven Spielberg movie), Scream Queens, Lucifer, The Frankenstein Code, The Guide to Surviving Life, Grandfathered, Rosewood, The Grinder and Bordertown.
            Over at NBC, lots of red ink shows canceled, including “A to Z”, Bad Judge, Constantine, Allegiance, State of Affairs (which I personally liked), One Big Happy, Marry Me, and About a Boy. Now word yet on whether American Odyssey and AD: The Bible Continues have survived, but given their poor ratings, I doubt it.        
            Returning NBC shows include The Blacklist, Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Law and Order: SVU (still one of my favorites), The Mysteries of Laura, The Night Shift, Undateable and The Voice.
            The NBC shows include The Player starring Wesley Snipes, the new 2015 version of the old ABC sitcom “Coach”, People Are Talking, Crowded, Superstore, Heartbreaker, Blindspot, You the Jury, Game of Silence, Heroes Reborn, Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris, Chicago Med, Hot & Bothered, Shades of Blue, and you, me and the End of the World.
            CBS is blessed to have the least cancellations and the most returning shows, including Blue Bloods, Criminal Minds, CSI: Cyber, Elementary, The Good Wife (a personal favorite), Hawaii Five-O, 2 Broke Girls, The Big Bang Theory, Big Brother, Madam Secretary (another personal favorite), Mike and Molly, Mom, NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans (all three more personal favorites), The Odd Couple, Person of Interest, Survivor, Undercover Boss and Scorpion.
            Cancelled CBS shows are Battle Creek, The McCarthys, The Mentalist, The Millers, Stalker, Two and a Half Men, and CSI (though look for a series finale movie next season).
            New CBS shows include Angel from Hell, Code Black, Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, Limitless, Rush Hour and from the producers of “Arrow” and “The Flash” on the CW Network, Supergirl.
            The ABC Network has a lot of shows coming back, including 20/20, America’s Funniest Home Videos, American Crime, The Bachelor, Shark Tank, Beyond the Tank, black-ish, Castle, Dancing With the Stars, Fresh Off the Boat, The Goldbergs, Grey’s Anatomy, How to Get Away With Murder, Last Man Standing, Marvel’s Agents of Shield, Marvel’s Agent Carter, The Middle, Modern Family, Nashville, Once Upon a Time, Scandal, and Secrets and Lies.
            ABC shows red stamped cancelled include Cristela, Manhattan Love Story, Resurrection, Revenge, Selfie, and The Taste.
            New ABC shows are Dr. Ken, The Real O’Neals, The Muppets, The Catch from Shonda Rhimes,  Wicked City, Of Kings and Prophets, The Family, Quantico and Boom.
            And finally, over at the mini-network that skews young, the CW, solid staples like The Flash and Arrow are coming back, along with The 100, Beauty and the Beast, iZombie, Jane the Virgin, The Originals, Reign, Supernatural and Vampire Diaries.
            To have a show cancelled at the CW Network means that not even the security guards at the TV stations are catching a glimpse as they do their rounds. And yet, The Messengers and Hart of Dixie hold that distinction.
             Make sure you tune in every Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m. for my talk radio show, ''Make It Happen'' on Power 750 WAUG-AM, or online at www.waug-network.com. And read more about my thoughts and opinions exclusively at my blog, ‘The Cash Roc” (http://thecashroc.blogspot.com/2011/01/cash-roc-begins.html).
           Cash in the Apple - honored as the Best Column Writing of 2006 by the National Newspaper Publishers Association. Columnist Cash Michaels was also honored by the NNPA for Best Feature Story Journalist of 2009, and was the recipient of the Raleigh-Apex NAACP’s President’s Award for Media Excellence in Sept. 2011.
Until next week, keep a smile on your face, GOD in your heart, and The Carolinian in your life. Bye, bye.
                                                                              -30-


TRIANGLE NEWS BRIEFS 5-14-15

MCCRORY, MAYOR MCFARLANE SIGN DOROTHEA DIX DEAL
            The controversy over the future of the 308-acre Dorothea Dix downtown campus is now officially over, as Gov. Pat McCrory and Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane this week signed a $52 million agreement, officially selling the property to the city. McFarlane plucked down a $2 million check as a deposit, and the city will finance the balance over a period of years. The next step comes May 19 when the Raleigh City Council meets to decide how best to finance the deal.

JURY DECIDES STARBUCKS NOT LIABLE IN OFFICER’S COFFEE INJURY
            The $750,000 lawsuit Raleigh Police Officer Matt Kohr filed against coffee chain giant Starbucks has gone up in steam. A Wake County jury on Monday decided 10-2 that the company is not liable for injuries suffered by Kohr when he got a free cup of hot coffee which splattered him, allegedly causing him great distress. The case caught national attention, as even Kohr’s wife joined in the suit, saying that the accident deprived her of her husband’s companionship.

DURHAM CITIZENS VOICE OPINIONS ON POLICE BODY CAMERAS
            Durham citizens seem to be in agreement that body cameras for police officers is a good idea, and expressed such during the first of six  public forums held this week on the issue. There were varying views,. However, on what the limits and capabilities of the body cameras should be. At least five police agencies in North Carolina are already using body cameras, and several others, including Garner police and Wake County deputies, are testing them.  Currently there are two bills in the state Legislature authorizing body cameras.

                                                               -30-

STATE NEWS BRIEFS 5-14-15

FINAL SETTLEMENT REACHED IN 2013 STATE FAIR ACCIDENT
            [RALEIGH] A family of four that suffered various severe injuries when the NC State Fair ride they were on failed to stop after they began getting off has reached final settlement with the midway operator. The Gorham family reportedly reached settlement with Powers Great American Midway for an undisclosed sum after also settling with the two men allegedly responsible for disabling the safety mechanism on “The Vortex,” the ride that malfunctioned and began tossing people into the air. The family also settled with Family Attractions Amusement LLC, the operator of the ride. Published reports say the medical bills for the family could exceed $30 million.

SBI PROBES DEATH OF MAN IN ENFIELD POLICE CUSTODY
            [ENFIELD] Why did a Virginia man die after he was tasered by an Enfield police officer and handcuffed last weekend? That’s what the State Bureau of Investigation is trying to determine as it looks into the death of Michael Tyrone Gallagher. Reportedly, Gallagher, 55, and Lt. Jerry Powell became physical with ech other after Powell answered a report of a break-in Saturday evening at 11 p.m. at a business. Powell reportedly used his Taser to subdue Gallagher, and then handcuffed him. He was taken to Halifax County Emergency Center where he was pronounced dead. The State Medical Examiner’s Office is conducting a autopsy.

NAACP DENOUNCES STUDENT CONFEDERATE FLAG PHOTO
            Members of the NAACP demanded last week at a press conference that Chapel Hill – Carrboro City School System discipline a white East Chapel Hill High School student for posting on Instagram a picture from a recent school trip to Gettysburg which showed two female students waving Confederate flags. They also objected to one post underneath which read, “South will rise”, and another which stated, “Already bought my first slave.” Supt. Tom Forcella agreed the postings were bad, but said system policy doesn’t cover it. A parent of one of the white students involved showed up at press conference, defending his daughter, saying that she didn’t understand what she was doing.
                                                                        -30-


NCNAACP CHALLENGES MCCRORY
ON VOTER REGISTRATION DROP
By Cash Michaels
Editor

            Is there a connection between the dramatic drop in the number of  poor people registered to vote at the state’s public assistance agencies, and Gov. McCrory’s administration taking over in 2013?
            The NCNAACP would like to hear Gov. Pat McCrory’s answer to that, and other pressing questions surrounding newly discovered evidence that tens of thousands of potential voters who were supposed to be registered since 2013, weren’t, in violation of federal law.
            At press time, no response was forthcoming from McCrory or any of his spokespersons.
            The allegation first came to light from the Daily Kos, a popular progressive website, in a story published last week.
            According to the Daily Kos story, A data-mining analysis of information publicly available from the North Carolina State Board of Elections has uncovered apparently systematic irregularities in voter registration efforts which are required of the state by the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA; the so-called 'Motor Voter Act'). These irregularities, potentially disenfranchising tens of thousands of poverty-level North Carolina citizens, have all occurred during the Republican administration of North Carolina's current governor, Pat McCrory (R).”
             At an “emergency” press conference held Monday in front of the state Administration Building where Gov. McCrory’s offices are located in Raleigh, NC NAACP Pres. Rev. William Barber, flanked by other members of the Forward Together Moral Movement, called on Gov. McCrory to address the allegations.
            Earlier today, we delivered a public records request to the Department of Administration, seeking to know why voter registrations submitted from public assistance agencies have dropped substantially over the last 28 months,” Rev. Barber told reporters. “We asked that the Governor respond publicly to our request by Wednesday, May 13. We also announced that, if necessary, we would ask the U.S. Department of Justice to intervene to ensure North Carolina's compliance with the 1993 National Voter Registration Act”
            Rev. Barber continued, “Last Thursday, the Daily Kos that showed a substantial drop in voter registrations submitted from public assistance agencies since the beginning of 2013. According to the State Board of Elections, in 2012, 41,162 registration applications were submitted from pubic assistance agencies. In 2013, this number dropped to 18,758 and in 2014, it dropped even further to 13,340.”
            Per the public records request filed with the Governor’s Office Monday, the NC NAACP is seeking from both McCrory and NC Dept. of Health and Human Services Secretary Aldona Wos, “… should include all communications and internal memos, whether in paper or electronic form (including hard drives which would contain any deletions in the recent past) to and from you, your Lt. Governor,  aides, advisors and other members of your office… ,” according to a May 11th letter from Rev. Barber to the governor.
            Most observers agree that the chances of the McCrory Administration honoring the NC NAACP records request in a timely manner, if at all, are slim to none. Many of the state’s media organizations bitterly complain of a lack of compliance by the governor’s staff in records requests submitted literally years ago.  In some cases, payment for staff time is demanded for records requests by the administration.
“…[I]f there is an intentional effort on the part of any of your Departments to reduce the number of voter registrations submitted at public assistance agencies, it needs to stop immediately and an explanation for these alarming statistics must be made to the public,” Rev. Barber concluded in his letter.
                                                                        -30-


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