Obama Warns of 'Quiet Riot' of Blacks

Presidential hopeful Barack Obama is becoming known for unfashionable speeches. He refuses to tailor his message to suit the pleasure of his audiences, often telling them both what they don't want and do want to hear. And now the first-term senator from Illinois said the Bush administration has done nothing to defuse a "quiet riot" among blacks that threatens to erupt because black people from New Orleans and the Gulf Coast are still displaced 20 months after Hurricane Katrina. "This administration was colorblind in its incompetence," Obama said, according to The Associated Press.

Tavis Smiley to Moderate Presidential Debate

Tavis Smiley and journalists of color will pepper the Democratic presidential candidates with questions on June 28 on the PBS network. It will be the first time presidential candidates have faced questions from a panel consisting of only journalists of color. Smiley will be joined by Michel Martin of National Public Radio, nationally syndicated columnist Ruben Navarrette Jr. and USA Today and Gannett News Service columnist DeWayne Wickham. Questions will cover the candidates' social agenda. Read more.

Scientists Work on Stem-Cell Cure for Blindness

It's expected that in five years, British scientists will be able to use stem cells to cure a common form of blindness. The procedure will repair damaged retinas with human embryonic stem cells through a simple surgery that could one day become as routine as cataract operations. Supporters of the procedure believe the technique is capable of restoring vision in the vast majority of patients with age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness among the elderly. It has been made possible by a 4-million-pounds ($8-million) donation from an anonymous U.S. donor, who the project's leaders said had become frustrated by U.S. curbs on stem-cell work, as told by Yahoonews.com.

British Jets to Remove Female Silhouettes

Two British Harrier jets that were stationed in Afghanistan to provide attack support for NATO troops were ordered to remove female silhouettes that had been painted on their noses. The silhouettes were of British pinups Lucy Pinder and Michelle Marsh, who had visited troops stationed there last year. After one of the planes was spotted by Royal Air Force (RAF) officials at a base in Britain, the silhouettes were ordered to be removed. "We have women that fly the planes, women that fix the planes and it's just not appropriate," a Royal Air Force spokesperson told The Associated Press.

Wisconsin in Affirmative Action Battle

Wisconsin is in a battle over whether race and ethnicity should be considered in government contracting and university admissions in the state. A committee of Wisconsin legislators and citizens formed to review the state's affirmative-action policies approved at least two reform measures Monday night. But members fought viciously. The panel recommended measures to prohibit minority businesses with net worth of $1 million or more from receiving preferential treatment and to require traditionally underrepresented groups to be U.S. citizens to receive preferential treatment. Read more.

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Republican Debate Pits McCain Against Others on Immigration

Immigration was the big issue at Tuesday night's Republican presidential-candidate debate, and only Arizona Sen. John McCain supported the current controversial immigration legislation, which the Senate will vote on today. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani said the immigration bill has no unifying force. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney joined in attacking the bipartisan bill McCain helped write, saying, "Every illegal alien, almost every one, under this bill, gets to stay here." McCain defended the bill as the best compromise on an issue that has deeply divided the GOP. "It's our job to do the hard things," he said, "not the easy things." Read more.

Same-Sex Marriage OK'd by Calif. Assembly

A measure to legalize marriage for gay couples easily passed the California Assembly. The legislation by Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, would make California the only state besides Massachusetts to sanction same-sex couples, but it is likely to be vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who said in February he would do so. Leno, whose bill, AB 43, must still pass the Senate, said he hopes to introduce the governor to "children and families who suffer on a regular basis due to the current inequity in the law." Reports Los Angeles Times.

Well-Known Diversity Consultants Merge

Novations Group, a global training and consulting organization, has acquired ProGroup, a Minneapolis-based provider of corporate diversity training. "We have always held ProGroup in great esteem," said Novations President and CEO Michael Hyter. "And when we were presented with this opportunity we didn't hesitate. The addition of ProGroup will significantly strengthen our diversity and inclusion business and reinforce our leadership position in the global marketplace." ProGroup CEO Karen Stinson and President Myrna Marofsky will continue in an advisory role. Transaction terms were not disclosed. Read more.

Dallas Might Elect Its First Openly Gay Mayor

Ed Oakley's candidacy is the latest indication that Dallas' reputation as a conservative stronghold is giving way to more diversity. The city is already home to several gay elected officials, including the sheriff. In the mayoral race, Oakley and former construction company CEO Tom Leppert emerged from a crowded 11-candidate field that included another openly gay man and a transgender woman. Oakley and Leppert will be the only candidates in the June 16 runoff. Oakley said his internal polling showed being gay had little impact on voters. "I have never made this an issue, a part of what I am or who I am or what I have done to represent the community," said Oakley. Read more.

NCAA Gains in Women's, Men's Sports

Women's collegiate-athletics opportunities grew by almost 26,000 and men's by about 7,000 at 738 NCAA schools between 1995-1996 and 2004-2005, according to a report released Tuesday by the Women's Sports Foundation. However, the College Sports Council (CSC), an advocacy group for men's sports that released a report in March showing men's opportunities declining, alleged the new report artificially inflates men's numbers. Read more.

30 Years After 'Roots'

In 1977, the TV miniseries "Roots" based on Alex Haley's book brought the injustice of slavery into American homes and was a hit. Both the book and mini-series have been re-released to mark the film's 30th anniversary. Bill Haley, a writer and the son of Alex Haley, and Juliet Walker, a history professor at the University of Texas in Austin, talk to National Public Radio's Farai Chideya about the lasting impact of the book. Listen here.

Seale Civil-Rights-Murder Trial Begins

James Ford Seale, 71, was indicted on federal kidnapping and conspiracy charges earlier this year. Prosecutors say that in May 1964, Seale stopped to pick up Charles Eddie Moore and Henry Hezekiah Dee, who were hitchhiking in rural Mississippi. The two men were never seen alive again. Dressed in a cream shirt and trousers, a frail-looking Seale mostly stared straight ahead and showed no emotion in the courtroom. The panel is not sequestered for the trial. Read more.

Brain Injury Leads to Business Plan

An estimated 9 million people in the United States are disabled from stroke, traumatic brain injury or brain hemorrhage. Nationally, there are few working situations well suited to people with brain injuries. The ideal workplace would strike a balance between simple tasks and encouragement of growth, while offering sufficient break time and honing of social skills. On Jan. 2, 2005, Rob Groeschen opened a warehouse and office facility in Blue Ash, Ohio, for people with brain injuries. It houses In Return, which hires people with special needs, especially those with brain injuries. Groeschen says he wants to hire more workers at In Return and start a van service to shuttle them to and from work. Read more.

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