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To listen, click PLAY icon above then unmute speaker icon at bottom left on player after a brief commercial. Enjoy the sweet music.To chat below, please sign in with your RBN account. Scheduled shows are PALVS & SSSJamz w/ RULA BROWN, Sir ROCKWELL w/ Golden Sundays, Foundation Radio Networkw/ CLINTON LINDSAY is broadcast daily. WINSOME BENJAMIN w/ Winsome Benjamin Showcase every Mon-Fri. Pleasesupport the scholarship program by considering to donate at least $10.00 at www.PALAS1.org. Thank you very much.

Teen’s Video About Wearing Suit & Ties To Defy Black Male Stereotypes Goes Viral.....“we are not gangsters and thugs,” “we are employees and volunteers,” “we are scholars” and “we are athletes.”

This is an inspiring story of a few teens who got tired of constantly seeing the negative stereotypes that the media has a habit of attributing to young, black males so they decided to do something about it! Check it out below…

Suited and Booted! Roland Martin spoke with high school student Hayden Hinton and counselor Tiffany Gholson about an inspiring video making the rounds on the Internet.

Black male students at Illinois’ Central High School put together “Suit & Tie in the 217″ to offer a counter-narrative for young black men. For Black History Month, they released a video of students dressed to the nines with the messages “we are not gangsters and thugs,” “we are employees and volunteers,” “we are scholars” and “we are athletes.” “The negative stories told daily in the media and in our culture about our young African-American men tend to ignore their successes and don’t tell the full story about how young Black men are becoming leaders within our community schools,” said Central High counselor Tiffany Gholson, who worked with the students on the effort. “In this video, our students reclaim the narrative of who they are and inspire other students to follow in their footsteps.” – Via NewsOne more

'Jamaica In Better Place' than it was 12 months ago... But This Fiscal Year 'Won't Be Any Less Of A Fight', Says Richard Byles.....Jamaica's reaching its primary balance target "is a very significant development for Jamaica,"

Published: Tuesday | April 15, 2014  

"There is no doubt that the Jamaican economy is in a better place today than it was 12 months ago," said Richard Byles, co-chairman of the Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC).

Richard Byles

But despite the improvements, it is important that no one feels "overconfident", Byles said, as the year ahead "won't be any less of a fight".

Byles was speaking at a media briefing at the Sagicor head office in New Kingston yesterday.

EPOC was responding to public statements from Finance Minister Peter Phillips that Jamaica had met the fourth-quarter primary surplus target and that he expects a positive International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme review for the end of March.

But Byles said EPOC's comments were on the presumption that the minister's information was accurate, as it had not yet seen the official preliminary or final results.

"I'm taking him on his word," Byles said.

Jamaica's reaching its primary balance target "is a very significant development for Jamaica," Byles said. "Not many people believed we could achieve this target."

"However, we still have a long way to go," he said. We should see "big challenges for this fiscal year." more 

GAMBIA, AFRICA Roots Homecoming Festival On Track as promoters bill some of Jamaica's top acts to perform at the show's 11th anniversary. this year's performers will include Jamaica's Sizzla Kalonji, Mutabaruka and Jah Cure, as well as soulful United States singer Erykah Badu.

Published: Tuesday | April 15, 2014

Plans for the 2014 staging of the Gambia Roots Homecoming Festival intensifies as promoters bill some of Jamaica's top acts to perform at the show's 11th anniversary.

SIZZLA

The festival, which began in 2003, will run from May 9 through to May 16 in Gambia, Africa. The festival has become known for attracting big names, and this year's performers will include Jamaica's Sizzla Kalonji, Mutabaruka and Jah Cure, as well as soulful United States singer Erykah Badu.

In addition to the impressive line-up, the festival's itinerary is also very tight.

Activities at this year's installation include an African king and queen banquet, a carnival procession of masquerades and cultural groups, and a masquerade ball.

tribute to Bob Marley

There will also be a tribute to legendary reggae artiste Bob Marley.

Patrons are asked to wear white to celebrate the day dedicated to Marley.

Titled the Reggae Beach Festival, the event will celebrate the life and legacy of the famous Marley and will include Senegalese wrestling, as well as a music sound-off between Gambian and UK deejays.

The festival, organised by the Gambian Government through the Ministryof Tourism and Culture, serves as a connecting point for Africans and those in the diaspora. more

USAIN BOLT: "I Can Break My World Records" in the 100 metres (9.58 secs) and 200 metres (19.19 secs)....."(The injury) is nothing serious ... my experience has taught me that that's just the nature of the sport," Bolt told The Gleaner.

Published: Tuesday | April 15, 2014

It has been more than five years since Jamaican superstar UsainBolt shattered his own world record marks in the 100 metres and 200 metres at the 2009 IAAF World Championships in Berlin, Germany.

Bolt

However, track and field's poster boy is convinced that he still has it in him to go even faster than the 9.59 and 19.19-second world records, and says that he is looking forward to getting up to top speed in the upcoming season, after suffering an injury recently.

The 27-year-old, who resumed training at the weekend after his manager Ricky Simms reported that his foot was sore a few weeks ago, also underlined that he is not bothered by the setback, adding that he expects to be back to his best soon.

"(The injury) is nothing serious ... my experience has taught me that that's just the nature of the sport," Bolt told The Gleaner. "Setbacks are a part of track and field. I have come to accept that a long time ago. I had mine, and (I'm) now back in training preparing for the upcoming season."

Bolt had his closest brush with his 9.58-second 100m world record in the final at the 2012 London Olympic Games, where he won the gold medal in 9.63, the only time he has gone below 9.70 since 2009, with season best times of 9.82 (2010); 9.76 (2011) and 9.77 last year. In the 200m, the sprinter ran 19.32 seconds in 2012 but has gone 19.56 (2010), 19.40 (2011) and 19.66 (2013) since running 19.19 in Berlin. more

IN JAMAICA: Education Project 1000 benefits 12 schools in Manchester.....Each school received five computers...."The placement of these computers will help in a big way to assist with the literacy and numeracy programmes in our schools,"

Sunday, April 13, 2014

TWELVE schools in northern Manchester are benefiting from computers provided through Digicel Foundation's Project 1000 initiative. Each school received five computers on February 28 at the Greenvale Computer Lab in Manchester.

Project 1000 is in keeping with the foundation's aim to meet the United Nation's Millennium Development Goal of achieving 100 per cent literacy by 2015. The ICT equipment will be used to provide additional educational resources to enhance teaching and learning in the classroom, specifically the teaching of phonics and reading. The computers are all pre-loaded with educational software and teachers are trained by the Camara Foundation to use these resources in the classroom effectively.

The handover in Manchester was carried out in conjunction with the member of parliament for North West Manchester, Mikael Phillips, who matched the computers provided by the Digicel Foundation.

"The placement of these computers will help in a big way to assist with the literacy and numeracy programmes in our schools," Phillips said. "We recognise that education is one of the main planks in growing a progressive nation and we are doing our part in North West Manchester."

The schools included in this initiative are Medina All-Age, Comfort Hall All-Age, Coley Mountain All-Age, Somerset All-Age, Fairfield Primary, Huntley All-Age, Nazareth All-Age, Bethany Primary, Harry Watch All-Age, Hatfield Primary and Jr High, Auchtembeddie Primary and Mayfield Basic School.

Samantha Chantrelle, CEO of the Digicel Foundation, emphasised the foundation's commitment to improving literacy rates across the island.

"We remain committed to ensuring the further growth and development of students across Jamaica. Since the launch of Project 1000 in April, nearly 3,000 students have benefited from this programme. We will continue to partner with communities and schools across the island until the UN target of 100 per cent literacy is achieved," she said. more

The Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) condemns threat against journalists.....death threats were leveled against two members of the media, Karyl Walker of the Observer, and Abka Fitz-Henley of Nationwide News Network

Monday, April 14, 2014 | 7:26 PM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) a short while ago issued a statement condemning "misguided members of the public who believe violence should be their reaction at all times whenever there is news or opinions which they do not support".

The PAJ's statement was in relation to reports that death threats were leveled against two members of the media, Karyl Walker of the Observer, and Abka Fitz-Henley of Nationwide News Network.

The PAJ said that while threats against Jamaican journalists are not unusual, it views every threat seriously.

The organisation urged the police to investigate the threats and to take action to ensure the safety of Walker and Fitz-Henley.

The PAJ also reminded journalists to “continue doing their work without fear or favour, even as they make every effort to ensure their personal safety”.

Carrie Russell lights up UTech Classic on record-breaking night ......to an impressive 11.19 seconds to win the Women's 100m Invitational event at the UTech Classic and equalled Schillonie Calvert's 2009 record on a night when nine records were broken at the National Stadium

BY HOWARD WALKER Observer senior reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com  Tuesday, April 15, 2014    

CARRIE Russell of MVP sped to an impressive 11.19 seconds to win the Women's 100m Invitational event at the UTech Classic and equalled Schillonie Calvert's 2009 record on a night when nine records were broken at the National Stadium last Saturday.

The powerfully built Russell had none other than Calvert of Racers well behind in second spot with 11.36 with Annesha McLaughin third in 11.40 seconds.

This is expected to be break out year for the promising Russell, whose time is joint third fastest over the distance behind American Joana Atkins with 11.09 and Melissa Breen of Australia with 11.11. Jamaican schoolgirl Christania Williams of Edwin Allen also share a time of 11.19 done at the ISSA Athletics Championship last month.

Russell was also part of the MVP 4x100m relay team without Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce that established a world-leading time of 43.31 seconds. American Pure Athletics Club did 43.32 in April at the Florida Relays. Edwin Allen High's world high school record of 43.95 seconds, ranked them 14th overall.

On the men's side, the Yohan Blake-led Racers without the great Usain Bolt, raced to a record 38.41 seconds for the 4x100m, which is the third world-leading time behind the University of Florida's 38.29 and Texas A&M's 38.30 seconds.

In the absence of Javon Francis, Calabar High broke both the 4x100m and 4x400m relays in 40.06 seconds and 3:10.61 minutes as they impressively warmed up for the Penn Relays to be held in two weeks' time.

Racers' Ristananna Tracey lowered the women's 400m hurdles record, and in the process, established a world-leading 55.64 seconds. Jamaica now has the three fastest time this year with Clayton Rushell clocking 56.41 last week and Janieve Russell stopping the clock at 56.50 seconds. more

36 People Were Shot In 36 Hours In Chicago......A 17-year-old girl killed Friday afternoon was among at least 36 people wounded in gun violence over the weekend in Chicago.

A 17-year-old girl killed Friday afternoon was among at least 36 people wounded in gun violence over the weekend in Chicago.

Gakirah Barnes, 17, was shot multiple times in the upper body Friday afternoon in the city's Woodlawn neighborhood. She died about two hours later at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, in what was the first of four gunshot fatalities citywide over the weekend, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Barnes' mother, Shontell Brown, told the Chicago Tribune her daughter is the latest victim of "an ongoing war" playing out on Chicago's streets.

“This is something that has become all too normal to everybody, and it needs to stop," she told the paper.

Later Friday, 34-year-old Shannon Mack was fatally shot inside a car in South Shore, DNAinfo Chicago reports. Mack was pronounced dead at the scene.

DNAinfo reports 32-year-old Corey Brownlee and 20-year-old Joshua Martinez were fatally shot in separate incidents on the city's south and southwest sides early Sunday.

In another shooting, 24-year-old mother of two Jasmine Martinez was shot in the head and chest while driving in Humboldt Park early Sunday. Martinez was taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition, where she remained hospitalized Monday, ABC Chicago reports. more

CBO: Obamacare Will Cost Less Than Projected, Cover 12 Million Uninsured People This Year than if Obamacare had not become law.

WASHINGTON -- The Congressional Budget Office has released updated estimates on the Affordable Care Act's impact on both the budget and the health insurance industry. The findings show that the president's signature health care law is actually growing cheaper to implement, costing the government $5 billion less in 2014 than was previously projected. The law also is projected to cover more individuals than previously believed, owing, in part, to some broader workforce trends.

But a significant portion of the population will remain uninsured even with the law fully implemented. And the costs to individuals and employers, while lower than previous estimates, still provide critics of the law with ample fodder.

Below are some additional highlights from the CBO report:

Twelve million more non-elderly people will have health insurance in 2014 than if Obamacare had not become law. CBO's projections on this crucial measure of the law's success are higher than recent surveys from the Rand Corp., which estimated a 9.3 million reduction, and from Gallup, which shows a 3.5 million decline.

For all of 2014, the CBO expects 6 million people to be covered by private health insurance policies purchased through the exchanges, fewer than the 7.5 million enrollment figure touted by the White House. That's mainly because the CBO expects people to cycle in and out of different types of coverage over the year -- perhaps by taking a new job and the health benefits that come with it -- and because some enrollees won't pay their first month's premium or will let their policies lapse during the year. more

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To listen, click PLAY icon above then unmute speaker icon at bottom left on player after a brief commercial. Enjoy the sweet music.To chat below, please sign in with your RBN account. Scheduled shows are PALVS & SSSJamz w/ RULA BROWN, Sir ROCKWELL w/ Golden Sundays, Foundation Radio Networkw/ CLINTON LINDSAY is broadcast daily. WINSOME BENJAMIN w/ Winsome Benjamin Showcase every Mon-Fri. Pleasesupport the scholarship program by considering to donate at least $10.00 at www.PALAS1.org. Thank you very much.

Deadly Virus's Spread Raises Alarms in Mideast...Saudis Defend Approach to MERS Outbreak, Even as Cases Increase...."I'm not pretty sure that they are actually seeing how big this thing is," a Saudi doctor said on Sunday at King Fahd General Hospital

Saudi Arabia on Sunday confirmed a surge of cases of a deadly virus in the kingdom over the past two weeks, even as it tried to counter criticism that it wasn't doing enough to contain the outbreak.

The United Arab Emirates over the weekend separately announced six confirmed cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS, among paramedics there, one of whom died of the illness. The high number of cases among medical workers raised questions about how effective Arab Gulf governments have been in controlling the 1½-year-old outbreak. "I'm not pretty sure that they are actually seeing how big this thing is," a Saudi doctor said on Sunday at King Fahd General Hospital, the large public hospital in Jeddah that has been hardest hit by a spike in the city this month....

The hospital reopened its emergency room on Friday after shutting it briefly for what authorities said was disinfection measures against MERS. But patients were avoiding the hospital, and health workers were "very worried" after the MERS death of one colleague and sickness in another, the doctor said. "What I really wish for is to shut the whole hospital down" until the spread subsides, she said.

Last week marked the biggest number of cases since the outbreak began, Dr. Ian M. Mackay, an Australian epidemiologist who has tracked the outbreak, wrote on Sunday. About 50 of the overall cases have been in health-care workers, he said, a strong warning sign about measures being taken to control the outbreak, he and others have said. "As far as we know, MERS-CoV does not spread easily from person-to-person, so these clusters suggest a breakdown in infection prevention and control." more

Attorney denies police claims about Vybz Kartel....."No meeting was ever held between Mr Palmer and any police officer nor was Mr Palmer ever asked by any police officer to give them any information.

BY PAUL HENRY Co-ordinator — Crime/Court Desk henryp@jamaicaobserver.com  Monday, April 14, 2014    ATTORNEY 

Tom Tavares-Finson has denied information in yesterday's Sunday Observer article that outlined that convicted entertainer Vybz Kartel gave the police information that led to the apprehension of wanted men and the recovery of 17 firearms.

The attorney also rubbished claims made by the police that Vybz Kartel was an influential figure in the deadly Spanish Town-based Klansman Gang, and that the gang carried out killings on his behalf.

Tavares-Finson

"That is nothing but further propaganda by the police," said the senior attorney, who described the police's comments as "highly irresponsible".

"The presentation by the Observer yesterday reflected just another attempt by the police and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to prejudice the appeal of Mr Palmer," Tavares-Finson said.

"We note that the source of the information is reported as being anonymous, but we recognise the hand of a particular individual at the Corporate Communication Network," Tavares-Finson added.

The article said that Vybz Kartel (real name Adidja Palmer) had met with the police to give them information when he realised that detectives were closing in on him for the murder of associate Clive 'Lizard' Williams, in August 2011, over the disappearance of two illegal firearms.

"No meeting was ever held between Mr Palmer and any police officer nor was Mr Palmer ever asked by any police officer to give them any information. That is a lie," the attorney said, as he disputed other assertions made in the front page article.

Additionally, Tavares-Finson noted that the article reported the police source as saying that the police had evidence that was not used in the five-week trial. He said he's hearing about the so-called further evidence for the first time, and that the director of public prosecutions should say why that evidence wasn't put before the court. more

IN JAMAICA: Kingsley Cooper, chairman of JEAB sees Funding Troubles For Film - Entertainment Advisory Board Head Points To Industry's Money Issues

Cooper

Published: Monday | April 14, 2014

Kingsley Cooper, chairman of Jamaica's Entertainment Advisory Board, says funding is the greatest challenge that local film producers face, and argues that resurrecting and entering into treaties with foreign governments could advance the sector locally.

A 2001 study presented by Professor Rosalea Hamilton on strategies for employment growth and poverty alleviation revealed that plans were afoot to establish a film fund to facilitate the development of a co-production treaty with Canada.

co-production treaty

Cooper told The Gleaner the failure of Jamaican authorities to find matching funding led to a stillbirth for the project.

"In the end, nothing happened. The proposal was actually for a three-way co-production programme with Canada and the UK," Cooper told The Gleaner.

He revealed that Jamaica is a signatory to a co-production treaty with the UK, which makes the country party to co-production deals with all the countries with which the UK has treaties, including Canada, South Africa and others.

"The challenge is that the proposed co-productions could not be activated unless the Government of Jamaica funded the local end. It cannot be privately funded, and requires a minimum of US$1m. A local governing body also has to be in place. A number of ideas for funding were considered back then, but none bore fruit," Cooper said. more

BERES HAMMOND TO JOIN AIR SUPPLY FOR NEW YORK CONCERT..... at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens, New York, June 29.

Reggae hit machine Beres Hammond will join Australian soft-pop duo Air Supply as headline acts at the annual Groovin' In The Park Concert at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens, New York, June 29.

Hammond, who ignited New York City when he last appeared on Groovin' at Roy Wilkins Park in 2012, is expected to again have his way with music lovers when he belts out favourites like Rockaway, In Love With You,What One Dance Can Do, She Loves Me Now, Step Aside, Double Trouble, and Putting Up Resistance.

Hammond's stellar career was launched in the 1970s with the release ofOne Step Ahead, a blockbuster single which stayed at number one on the charts for 14 weeks. In the '80s, he cemented his name with the smash Tempted to Touch, and subsequent albums Love Affair, Full Attention (1993), In Control (1994), Love From a Distance (1996), A Day In The Life (1998), Music is Life (2011), and One Love One Life(2012), which topped the Billboard reggae chart.

Whenever pop duo Air Supply is mentioned, it is always in superlative, A-list tones. In 2011, they mesmerised music fans at the annual Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival, and left music lovers begging for more.

"We are excited about signing the group to perform in Roy Wilkins Park for the very first time," an elated Andrea Bullens, co-producer and executive of Groovin' Inc said.

"Air Supply is a powerful group. Their catalogue of hit songs is impressive. To have a group of their stature share the stage with reggae icon Beres Hammond will be a musical treat for fans. I am confident it will be a fantastic presentation," she added. more

PLEASANT GROVE, Utah : 39 y-o Megan Huntsman Arrested After 7 Dead Babies Found In Utah Garage stuffed in separate cardboard boxes

 AP  | by  BRADY McCOMBS and MARTIN GRIFFITH Posted: 04/13/2014 9:47 pm EDT Updated: 04/14/2014 12:00 am EDT

PLEASANT GROVE, Utah (AP) — A Utah woman accused of killing several babies she gave birth to over 10 years was arrested Sunday after police discovered seven tiny bodies stuffed in separate cardboard boxes in the garage of her former home.

Megan Huntsman was booked into the Utah County
 jail on suspicion of killing six of her newborn
 children over the past decade.
 | ASSOCIATED PRESS

Megan Huntsman, 39, who lived in the Pleasant Grove home until three years ago, had the infants between 1996 and 2006, investigators said.

Neighbors in the middle-class neighborhood of mostly older homes 35 miles south of Salt Lake City say they were shocked by the accusations and perplexed that the woman's older children still living in the home didn't know their mother was pregnant or notice anything suspicious.

Officers responded to a call Saturday from Huntsman's estranged husband about a dead infant at the home, police Capt. Michael Roberts said. Officers then discovered the six other bodies.

Roberts declined to comment on a motive and what Huntsman said during an interview with investigators. He said it wasn't clear if she has an attorney. Huntsman was booked Sunday into the Utah County Jail on six counts of murder. It wasn't immediately clear why there were six counts and not seven.

Family and neighbors identified the estranged husband as Darren West, who has been in prison on drug-related charges. The spokesman said police believe West and Huntsman were together when the babies were born, but West isn't a person of interest at this time.

"We don't believe he had any knowledge of the situation," Roberts told The Associated Press. Asked how the husband could not have known, Roberts replied, "That's the million-dollar question. Amazing."

The babies' bodies were sent to the Utah medical examiner's office for tests, including one to determine the cause of death. DNA samples taken from the suspect and her husband will determine definitively whether the two are the parents, as investigators believe.

Police say West was cleaning out the garage when he made the grisly discovery at the house owned by his parents in a city of about 35,000 people at the foot of snow-capped mountains. It's a nondescript, newer home with a brick facade and a star ornament hanging by the door. Several police cars blocked the entrance to the house Sunday evening as officers milled about with the belongings from the garage strewn across the front lawn. Late Sunday, West's family issued a statement saying they were in a "state of shock and confusion." more

Kingston man, Tyrrell Summerville sets house ablaze as owner sleeps.....stunned into silence when Senior Magistrate Judith Pusey told him that he could, "like Mr Kartel", be sentenced to life imprisonment for his action.

Sunday, April 13, 2014 | 8:21 PM

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A man, who admitted to setting ablaze the house of a man who evicted his sister from the premises, has pleaded guilty to a charge of arson.

But the man Tyrrell Summerville and people in the courtroom court, were stunned into silence when Senior Magistrate Judith Pusey told him that he could, "like Mr Kartel", be sentenced to life imprisonment for his action.

Summerville, who is also called Ziggy, reportedly set fire to the Kingston 11 house as the owner and his family slept.

"Why were you trying to burn down the man's house?" Pusey asked.

"Him and my sister had a argument," Summerville answered.

Summerville's sister, who lived at the premises, was given marching orders as a result of “rude behaviour”.

The complainant said in a statement to the police that he was awaken, on the night in question, to the sound of someone calling his name.

He said he looked out the window and saw Summerville but was forced to take cover at the sound of two explosions.

The complainant said that shortly after the explosions he saw a back room occupied by his daughter on fire. A refrigerator, mattress, curtain and a window of the house were burnt in the fire.

Summerville was remanded into custody until Tuesday. more

Racquel Porter

10 Stunning Photos That Prove The Physical World Makes The Best Artistic Inspiration

The Huffington Post  | by  Katherine Brooks Email RSS   Posted: 04/11/2014 1:46 pm EDT Updated: 04/12/2014 11:59 am EDT

This altered image based on
Cinque Terre in Italy.

Every year, Smithsonian Magazine pays tribute to the hypnotic beauty of photography, poring over thousands of images submitted to itsAnnual Photo Contest. This year, editors received over 50,000 snapshots from 132 different countries, submissions that capture the raw and spectacular wonders of the physical world. From abandoned cathedrals to toppling architectural landscapes to portraits of underwater hunters, the scope of visual splendor is almost overwhelming, proving the far reaches of the globe make for the most mesmerizing artistic muses.

These terraced fields
in Vietnam.

Somehow, Smithsonian Magazine has narrowed the list down to 60 finalists, sorted into six categories including The Natural World, Travel, People, Americana, Altered Images and Mobile. It's up to readers to cast their votes to determine the winners of the competition's 11th edition, by submitting a virtual ballot online here. Eager critics have until May 6, 2014 to make their voices heard. In the meantime, catch a glimpse of some of the breathtaking photos in the running below, and check out the rest of the bunch over at Smithsonian Mag's website. more