A single mother of three boys, 28 y-o Deanna Jordan, graduates from UCLA with three degrees.....She plans to attend Law Schoolin an effort to become District Attorney General

 by Carrie Healey | June 16, 2014 at 12:46 PM
A single mother of three boys, Deanna Jordan, graduated over the weekend from UCLA with three degrees.
Jordan grew up in Compton and, by 22, was a mother of three.
“I needed for my sons to see there was a legacy that preceded them with college,” Jordan told CBS Los Angeles. “I am the first in my family to go to college.”
Deanna Jordan
Deanna Jordan, 28 y-o graduate (Right)
The 28-year-old attended West Los Angeles Community College for two years before transferring to UCLA, where she spent three-and-a-half years.
Jordan earned two bachelor’s degrees and a master’s degree in African-American Studies.
“You can’t really succeed unless you fail, and I failed a lot of times, but it was my persistence and my willingness never to give up,” she said.
In addition to her studies, she founded the Compton Pipeline Taskforce, a volunteer organization that helps Compton schools.
The new graduate plans to attend law school in the future in an effort to become a district attorney.
Click here to find out more from the local CBS affiliate.

Homeless D.C. valedictorian, Rashema Melson earns full scholarship to Georgetown after graduating High School with 4.0 GPA....


by Eun Kyung Kim, TODAY
Today — That Rashema Melson graduated at the top of her class surprised few at her Washington, D.C., high school. But that she maintained a 4.0 grade point average and is heading to one the nation’s top universities while living in a homeless shelter never fails to amaze anyone.
“Valedictorian. Full academic scholarship to Georgetown. It doesn’t get any better than that,” said her principal Ian Roberts. “And her story is truly an inspiration.”
Eighteen-year-old Melson knows that story seems improbable for someone growing up in one of the harshest parts of the nation’s capital.
“Life is not fair, but despite that harsh reality, you must keep striving for success through the pain, tears and feeling of lost hope,” she said in a commencement speech Wednesday at Anacostia High School.
Melson knows about unfair odds. Her father was killed before her first birthday, and for the past several years, she has lived with her mother and three siblings in a homeless shelter that once used to be a hospital. Melson said she considers the shelter a place to live, but not a home.
“There’s no furniture, no refrigerator. It’s just a place to be content with until you get to where you want to be,” she told NBC affiliate WRC.
Click here to read more.
ENTER CHAT, LISTEN & WATCH BROADCAST LIVE 24/7
               FOR AUDIO ONLY (No Commercials) - CLICK PLAYER ABOVE on RIGHT
                                                                              OR
                  FOR USTREAM VIEWING & RBN CHATROOM CLICK ON PLAYER BELOW    



To listen, click PLAY icon above then unmute speaker icon at bottom left on player after a brief commercial. You may also listen commercial FREE by clicking ON AIR-Listen LIVE AUDIO BOX above or TUNE-IN LINK or call in on Tele at 213-401-0061. Enjoy the sweet music.To chat below, please sign in with your RBN account.Please support the scholarship program by considering to donate at least $10.00 at www.PALAS1.org. Thank you very much.

IN JAMAICA: Nine new child ambassadors appointed....Lisa Hanna hailed the Child Ambassador programme as an excellent one...The 2014-2016 group consists of eight girls and one boy, ranging in age from 11 to 16 years who will serve for a period of two years.

Friday, June 13, 2014    
The Office of the Children's Registry (OCR) has appointed nine new Child Ambassadors who will help to raise awareness of issues surrounding child abuse and other matters affecting children across the island.
The 2014-2016 group consists of eight girls and one boy, ranging in age from 11 to 16 years who will serve for a period of two years.
Newly appointed Child Ambassadors pose with LIME
Corporate Communications Manager Elon Parkinson.
 (Front row left to right) Suzanna Hyde of St James,
Richard Bradshaw of St Mary, Diandra Dixon of
Kingston and St Andrew, Rueyella Blake of Manchester.
Back row (L-R) Nicole Raymond of Trelawny, Daniela
 Woodbine of Westmoreland, Kemoy Perry of St Catherine
 and Zoe Lawrence of St Thomas.
The ambassadors are: Diandra Dixon of Ardenne High School; Zoe Lawrence, Yallahs High; Richard Bradshaw, Carron Hall High; Nicole Raymond, Westwood High; Suzanna Hyde, Mount Alvernia Preparatory; Daniela Woodbine, Belmont Academy; Rueyella Blake, Manchester High; Kemoy Perry, Immaculate Conception High; and Kashielle Clarke of Glenmuir High.
Minister of Youth and Culture Lisa Hanna hailed the Child Ambassador programme as an excellent one as children are more likely to talk to their peers when they are being abused.
Hanna who was delivering the keynote address at the recent launch of the OCR's Child Ambassador's Awards Ceremony at Spanish Court Hotel in Kingston said 41 per cent of the cases of child abuse reported to the OCR is about neglect, followed closely at 37 per cent by reports of children in need of care and protection. She also explained that cases of sexual abuse are third on the list of reported abuse cases.
The minister congratulated the new ambassadors on their appointment and urged them to work closely with the OCR, the Child Development Agency (CDA) and the ministry to devise ways to get children to speak out about their experiences.
"You are going to have to say to them 'nothing is going to happen to you, you are protected; don't let anybody tell you that you should not speak out, because you will bring shame on your family, or they will pay you'," Hanna urged.
She advised the ambassadors that the position comes with responsibility and charged them to carry themselves in a manner that will make others want to speak to them.
"It is a position that comes with tremendous integrity and that integrity means that you will have to carry yourself in a particular way that people will trust you, and that you hold what they say to you in a manner that gives them confidence that you are there to protect them," Hanna said.
She reiterated that the ministry and related agencies are not leaving anything to chance, so they are focused and strategic in their activities to improve the lives of the nation's children. more

JAMAICAN track star, Usain Bolt and tennis star, Serena Williams bring star power to NBA Finals in Miami, Florida....Heat vs. Spurs game 4

Photo: Bolt and Serena bring star power to NBA Finals..
MIAMI, Florida - American Tennis player Serena Williams and Jamaican sprint king Usain Bolt watch Game Four of the 2014 NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs at American Airlines Arena in Florida last night. (PHOTO: AFP/GETTY IMAGES). #BringBackOurJamaica #NBAFinals #RulaBrownNetwork
Serena & Bolt at NBA Finals
Bolt and Serena bring star power to NBA Finals..
MIAMI, Florida - American Tennis player Serena Williams and Jamaican sprint king Usain Bolt watch Game Four of the 2014 NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs at American Airlines Arena in Florida last night. (PHOTO: AFP/GETTY IMAGES). #BringBackOurJamaica #NBAFinals#RulaBrownNetwork

IN JAMAICA: FREE UP DI WEED....Bill approved to relax ganja possession penalties....JAMAICA'S legislators have approved the amendment of the Dangerous Drugs Act to facilitate the decriminalisation of possession of small amounts of ganja.

Friday, June 13, 2014  
JAMAICA'S legislators have approved the amendment of the Dangerous Drugs Act to facilitate the decriminalisation of possession of small amounts of ganja.
The announcement was made by Justice Minister Mark Golding during a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kingston yesterday.
Bill approved to relax ganja possession penalties
"Cabinet has approved certain changes to the law relating to ganja. These relate to the possession of small quantities of ganja for personal use, the smoking of ganja in private places and the use of ganja for medical/medicinal purposes," Golding said.
He also announced that Cabinet had also approved the decriminalisation of ganja for religious use and said he hoped the law would be amended by early September.
Golding's announcement came on the heels of recent calls by the Opposition for individuals who are held smoking a spliff to not be given a criminal record.
With the proposed changes, people caught in possession of ganja weighing two ounces or less will not be arrested but will be ticketed and required to pay a fine. These offenders will not be brought before a criminal court or attract a criminal record.
Golding said failure to pay the fine after 30 days will result in a minor offence punishable in a Petty Sessions Court.
The law will allow for individuals held in possession of ganja, such as an adolescent or a person deemed to be totally dependent on the herb, to be taken before the court to be evaluated and referred to the National Council for Drug Abuse for counselling.
He, however, warned that ganja smoking will not be permitted in public spaces.
"Smoking of ganja should be absorbed into the general non-smoking regime, with the same penalty structure, except that the smoking of ganja will be permitted in private places," he said.
Rastafarians have long called for the legalisation of the weed as a sacrament. Yesterday, Golding said that special provisions were being made for the smoking of ganja by Rastafarians in places designated for their religious worship.
"We consider that Jamaica's Parliament, as the promulgator of the Charter of Rights, is in a position to express its conviction that religious use of ganja ought not to be criminalised, given Jamaica's history and prevailing socio-cultural environment," he said.
Ganja has a wide range of medicinal uses, including treatment for people suffering from cancer, HIV/AIDS, glaucoma, asthma and epileptic seizures and Golding said the amendment to decriminalise the weed for medicinal purposes would allow people afflicted with these illnesses to stop doing using it illegally.
In addition, the law would also be amended to allow for ganja to be grown for medical and industrial uses. more 

ST. JAMES, JAMAICA: 'Put a shot in her head.... Man recalls how gunman ordered crony to kill his spouse in Irwin attack....Eulis Jones Hamilton was shot in the head Wednesday evening by one of about four gunmen who invaded her home and robbed her of cash amounting to approximately $200,000.

Friday, June 13, 2014    
IRWIN, St James - Detectives were up to last evening working feverishly to apprehend the gunmen who robbed and killed 54-year-old Eulis Jones Hamilton, mother of Jamaica Observer reporter Simone Morgan.
01
A grieving Lyron Winn is comforted by a family friend,
yesterday. (PHOTOS: ALAN LEWIN)
Hamilton was shot in the head Wednesday evening by one of about four gunmen who invaded her home and robbed her of cash amounting to approximately $200,000.
According to Lyrol Winn, spouse of the deceased, the incident happened shortly after he and his 12-year-old grandson returned from a grocery shop where they had gone to purchase bottled water.
"I walked at the back and she (Hamilton) let me in and I put down the water. Just as I stepped back and held on to the grille to lock it, a man from outside 'jook' mi with a gun and tell mi to step back inside the house and don't look at him," a grieving Winn told reporters.
He related that his grandson walked into the armed intruders, who placed them both to lie down on the floor. The attackers then warned Winn and his grandson not to look at their faces.
"Lying on the ground, one of them took off my hat and put it over my face and seh 'don't even take a glimpse at me'. Mi lying down there, dem go through mi pocket, take out everything, including telephone, money and so forth," he recounted, adding that the men told his grandson that he was too young to die.
HAMILTON... shot in the head
"Only one man first pounced and after him come in, the rest come in. I heard four different voices," Winn said.
The armed invaders then went to where Hamilton was and cleaned a safe that contained money she had earlier collected from tenants who occupy three apartments on the premises.
Still not satisfied, the burglars gun-butted the woman after they ordered her to empty a drawer in which they thought more cash was hidden.
"One took mi from the kitchen and carried mi in to the passage near where the money was kept and mi hear mi wife bawl out and say 'why you lick mi inna mi face with the gun fah and mi give you all of the money?" Winn recalled. "And when they opened the draw and saw that there was no more money, one said 'come we cut'. Then they stepped out."
Winn said as the group of men was about to leave, one of them ordered his spouse's killing.
"When them reach the back door mi hear one of them seh, 'put a shot in her [expletive] head'. Mi hear a foot coming in back in the house and [hear a voice] seh don't move, boy, stay same place; and him step past me and me hear an explosion and him jump back over me and run out," he recounted.
"A deh so now mi get up. And mi see her (Hamilton) lie down and me say 'Mummy! Mummy! and then mi just see the blood a flow out of her head back and mi realise seh she gone lef' wi," he added.
Hamilton's only surviving child, Observer reporter Simone Morgan, was a picture of grief yesterday as she remembered her mother as being very protective.
"She was a lady, she was one of the quietest persons I know; maybe too quiet. She was very, very mild-tempered," a teary-eyed Morgan said. more

WAR IN A BABYLON: 'WE WILL MARCH TOWARD BAGHDAD'....Militants: 'We Have An Account To Settle There'... Obama: Won't Rule Out Anything... Senior Official: 'No Boots On The Ground'... EARLIER: Fighters Seize Saddam Hussein's Hometown... Iraqi Kurds Seize Oil-Rich City Of Kirkuk... Iraq Asked U.S. For Airstrikes... Senior U.S. Official: 'It Makes You Want To Kill Yourself'... MAP: Where ISIS Is Gaining... 'By Invading, Occupying And Looting Iraq, Bush And Cheney Brought Al-Qaeda Into The Country'... LIVE UPDATES...

BAGHDAD (AP) — The al-Qaida-inspired group that led this week's charge in capturing two key Sunni-dominated cities in Iraq vowed Thursday to march on to Baghdad, raising fears about the Shiite-led government's ability to slow the assault following lightning gains.
War in Iraq...When Will It End?
Signs emerged that the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant is backed in its campaign by former military officers and other members of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein's regime — including a force led by Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, the late leader's former deputy who escaped the 2003 U.S.-led invasion and eluded U.S. and Iraqi forces ever since.
As world leaders expressed alarm over the destabilization of large parts of the country by fighters from the militant group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, the U.N. Security Council met on the crisis, but there is little prospect of any action by the body.
President Barack Obama said Iraq will need more help from the United States, but he did not specify what it would be willing to provide. Senior U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter by name said Washington is considering whether to conduct drone missions in Iraq.
In the north, Kurdish security forces took over an air base and other posts abandoned by the Iraqi military in ethnically mixed Kirkuk, a senior official with the Kurdish forces said. He denied they had taken over the oil-rich city.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki asked parliament this week to declare a state of emergency that would give him increased powers to run the country, but the lawmakers Thursday failed to assemble a quorum to do so. more

Ruby Dee Dead: Legendary Actress And Civil Rights Activist Dies At 91

NEW YORK (AP) — Ruby Dee, an acclaimed actress and civil rights activist whose versatile career spanned stage, radio television and film, has died at age 91, according to her daughter.
RUBY DEENora Davis Day told The Associated Press on Thursday that her mother died at home in New Rochelle on Wednesday night of "natural causes."
Dee, who frequently acted alongside her husband of 56 years, Ossie Davis, was with loved ones, she added.
"We have had her for so long and we loved her so much," Day said. "She took her final bow last night at home surrounded by her children and grandchildren."
Day added: "We gave her our permission to set sail. She opened her eyes, closed her eyes and away she went."
Her long career brought her an Oscar nomination at age 83 for best supporting actress for her maternal role in the 2007 film "American Gangster." She also won an Emmy and was nominated for several others. Age didn't slow her down.
"I think you mustn't tell your body, you mustn't tell your soul, 'I'm going to retire,'" Dee told The Associated Press in 2001. "You may be changing your life emphasis, but there's still things that you have in mind to do that now seems the right time to do. I really don't believe in retiring as long as you can breathe."

WORLD CUP SOCCER KICKS OFF TODAY: Jamaicans favour Brazil, Germany to win World Cup. Vox pop... WHAT SAY YOU? WHATS YOUR FAVOURITE TEAM?

By Ruddy Allen & Sha'Keil Grant  Thursday, June 12, 2014    
The Jamaica Observer ventured out onto the streets of Kingston to get the views of the public on who they think will win the Brazil 2014 World Cup, which kicks off today in Sao Paulo where the host face Croatia. Here are their views:
Steven Palmer, 24, unemployed: I think that Brazil will win the 2014 World Cup. Not only because they are playing at home but also they have the best players in the world playing in the team and of late they are playing better football.
Javan Walker, 30, taxi operator: Well, I think that it will come down to either Argentina or Brazil, but I would give Brazil the edge, mainly because of the home advantage and the strength of the their team.
Barbara Williamson, 39, market vendor: To me, Brazil is the biggest football team in the world. The players are very skillful and they have the potential to go all the way, not because they are playing at home, but they can go anywhere and beat you and so I think that they will win the World Cup this year.
Helen Bradley, 60, market vendor: The team that will win the 2014 World Cup is no other than Brazil. From I was little growing up, is just Brazil and I believe that they will go all the way.
Baruka Morris, 17, student at Jamaica College: I believe that Germany will take the World Cup. The team has some young talented footballers and their tactical formation is good and hard to beat.
Steven Palmer, 24. & Javan Walker, 30.
Darrian Rose, 28, bearer: Brazil all the way. Brazil is the best team in the world and with Neymar in the best form of his career, their chances are well rated.
Sadiki Renford, 17, unemployed: When you say football, the only team that comes to mind is Brazil.
Kwame White, 36, Taxi Operator: I grew up come hear about Brazil, they have won the World Cup the most plus they are playing in their backyard and this makes it even harder for them to lose. I think that they will do the job this year. more

10-Year-Old, Tanishq Abraham Gets High School Diploma In California....Tanishq was home-schooled and graduated with a 4.0 GPA....He has his sights set on medical school at the University of California, Davis, and finding a cure for cancer.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A 10-year-old Northern California boy is celebrating a milestone most people don't reach until they are in their late teens.
Tanishq Abraham has become one of the youngest people to graduate from high school. The Sacramento boy received his diploma at a private ceremony in front of family and friends on Sunday, and even got a congratulatory letter from the White House, KXTV in Sacramento reported.
HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMATanishq was home-schooled and graduated with a 4.0 GPA. He told KXTV the work wasn't easy, but not that hard either. "The way my brain works is that when you give me something, information about that topic comes into my mind," he said. "I don't know what it is, but that's how it is for me."
His mom, Taji, said she suspected her son was gifted, but didn't know until the results of an IQ test. Tanishq joined Mensa, a group for people whose IQ is in the top 2 percent of the population, at the age of 4. So what's next for him?
Tanishq is taking college courses and says he wants to be a scientist, but also president. He has his sights set on medical school at the University of California, Davis, and finding a cure for cancer.

IN JAMAICA: Motorist In Portmore Crash In Stable Condition - Police (PHOTOS/VIDEO)

                                The police say that a motorist who was rushed to hospital after crashing along the Portmore Leg of Highway 2000 this morning is in hospital in stable condition. 

The crash took place in the vicinity of Marcus Garvey Drive about 10:30 a.m. 
The white Honda Civic that he was driving split into several parts after crashing into a utility pole. Eyewitnesses say he had just overtaken several vehicles before he crashing. 

19 y-o woman catfishes her niece, finds out niece wants to kill her


Williams allegedly met men online and invited them to the family’s home, causing friction between herself and her aunt. Williams has been living with her aunt in Fosters, Alabama since April 2014, according to AL.com.
Marissa Williams
Marissa Williams (AL.com)
Since Williams had blocked her aunt on the social networking site, her aunt decided to create a fake profile under the name Tre ‘Topdog’ Ellis so that Williams would friend her and talk to her — essentially catfishing her own niece. Her attempt to teach the teen a lesson really escalated quickly.
Upon their first interaction, Williams gave the imaginary man her phone number and home address.  She also offered to have sex with him if he paid her $50 cell phone bill. After talking online for a few days, Williams allegedly asked Ellis to kidnap her, so that she could leave her family.
As the conversation continued over time, the teen allegedly told Ellis, a man she had never met, how to get into the family’s home and asked him to shoot her aunt, her aunt’s fiance and her cousin.
When the aunt reported the conversations to authorities, police questioned Williams. The 19-year-old admitted she said those things, but that she never intended for anyone to be hurt. She was arrested and charged with solicitation of murder.

Q: I recently applied for a visa, and was denied. How soon can I reapply? No limit on how many times you can apply for a visa, but...

Q: I recently applied for a visa, and was denied. How soon can I reapply?
A: The answer depends on why the visa was refused. Only around three in 10 applicants are refused a visa when they apply. In most cases, this is because they were unable to demonstrate to the consular officer that they were planning on coming back to Jamaica. In these cases, it is best to wait until your circumstances have changed before you reapply.
There is no limit on how many times an applicant can apply, however, consular officers review the notes from your last application, and if your situation has not changed significantly since then, it is highly unlikely that you will get a different result.
Even if there has been a major change in your life, such as starting a new job, in many cases the consular officer would like to see some time elapse after the change to show that the change is permanent and your situation in Jamaica is stable.
If you were refused under a different section of the law, there might be other things to consider besides how strong your ties are to Jamaica. For example, previous abuse of a visa including overstaying and working in the US can result in a five to 10-year ban on entering the US.
Other visa ineligibilities such as fraud, misrepresentation, or certain criminal acts can result in permanent bans. In certain circumstances a waiver may be available. The consular officer will advise you if this applies to your situation. You can read more about ineligibilities and waivers here: http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/general/ineligibilities.html.
In most cases, however, if you were previously denied a visa for having weak ties to Jamaica, you can reapply and be issued a visa in the future if you are later able to show stronger ties. For example, sometimes students or young people do not always qualify right out of school, but after they are able to show a better employment history, good previous travel to other countries, or stronger social ties, they can qualify in the future. Similarly, if someone just started a small business when they were first interviewed, but can show how the business has grown and developed over a few years, they would be more likely to qualify for a visa the next time they interview. more 

IN JAMAICA (ARE THE GAYS GOING WILD IN JAMAICA?): Male jogger gang-raped....Man assaulted in early-morning attack by armed men at Queen Hill in St. Andrew....A group of joggers reportedly found the victim naked, with his hands and feet bound, sitting on the sidewalk at the foot of the hill close to Perkins Boulevard.

Wednesday, June 11, 2014    
PEOPLE who flock Queen Hill in St Andrew to jog or walk in the mornings are now apprehensive following the brutal gang-rape of a male jogger in that community early Monday.
The man, the Jamaica Observer was told, is now suffering from serious injuries and mental trauma after the harrowing experience.
Male jogger gang-raped
A group of joggers reportedly found the victim naked, with his hands and feet bound, sitting on the sidewalk at the foot of the hill close to Perkins Boulevard.
"He was found by some females who were shocked and even more surprised to see that he was bleeding heavily from his rectum," one man, who said he assisted in untying the victim, told the Observer.
The man reportedly parked his car at a nearby apartment complex and was about to jog when a white car drove up with two armed men who held him at gunpoint. The men, our source said, were also carrying knives.
The hoodlums proceeded to tear off the jogger's clothes and took turns at buggering him.
"The man was so torn up and ashamed. He had to retrieve his torn clothes in order to get his car keys and someone lent him clothes so he could avoid further embarrassment," a jogger said.
The incident has driven fear into the people who exercise on that section of the hill daily.
"Several persons have told me that they were in fear and are apprehensive to go back because of what happened. It was not a pretty sight," the jogger said.
"We used to protect the females and tell them to walk in groups, but it now seems we, the males, are the target. This cannot be allowed to continue," the man said.
The man said the joggers tried to contact the police but were unsuccessful.
"We called the Duhaney Park and Constant Spring police, but we got no response. I am not sure if he reported the incident," the man said. more