89 y-o B.B. King, Legendary Blues Musician Confirms He Is In Hospice Care at his home in Las Vegas,

 AP |  By KEN RITTER Posted: 05/01/2015 6:30 pm EDT 

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Blues legend B.B. King was in hospice care Friday at his home in Las Vegas, according to a longtime business associate with legal control over his affairs.

BB King

The 89-year-old musician posted thanks on his official website for fans' well-wishes and prayers after he returned home from a brief hospitalization, said Laverne Toney, King's longtime business manager and current power-of-attorney.

"Mr. King is where he wishes to be," Toney said. "He's always told me he doesn't want to be in a hospital. He wants to be at home."An ambulance was summoned Thursday after what Las Vegas police Officer Jesse Roybal characterized as a domestic dispute over medical care. No arrests were made, and Roybal said no criminal complaint was filed.

Toney disputed reports by celebrity website TMZ citing one of King's daughters as saying she called police because she was upset about her father's condition and that he had suffered a minor heart attack. Efforts by the Associated Press to reach the daughter, Patty King, were not immediately successful.

Paramedics checked King's heart rhythm, and he was treated at the hospital for complications of high blood pressure and diabetes, Toney said. King was diagnosed with diabetes decades ago. more

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BALTIMORE Police Van Passenger Denies Freddie Gray Hurt Himself

 The Huffington Post |  By Michael McLaughlin Email Posted: 04/30/2015 10:08 pm EDT 

A prisoner riding in the Baltimore police van that carried critically injured Freddie Gray denies reports that he believed Gray intentionally hurt himself.

Donta Allen, speaking to TV station WBAL, contradicted a police document leaked toThe Washington Post Wednesday that said he had heard Gray "banging against the walls" of the van and believed he "was intentionally trying to injure himself."

"It was a smooth ride. We went straight to the station. All I heard was a little banging," said Allen, 22, who lightly tapped a staircase bannister to demonstrate the sound. more

SOMEONE'S LYING in BALTIMORE : 2nd Prisoner Disputes Police Leak...Denies Freddie Hurt Himself... REPORT: Fatal Injury Caused When Gray Was Slammed Into Back Of Van... Wound 'Matches Bolt In Van'... Was Handcuffed, In Leg Irons... PUZZLE: Van Made Previously Undisclosed Second Stop... Freddie Not The First To Be Gravely Hurt In A Police Van... TIMELINE...

By now, everybody knows the injuries that contributed to Freddie Gray's death. Baltimore authorities and representatives for Gray’s family agree that the 25-year-old sustained fatal trauma to his neck and spine at some point while in police custody following his arrest on April 12. Although a full autopsy hasn't yet been released, the family has said that Gray’s spine was nearly severed, and that his doctors had attempted to repair three fractured neck vertebrae and a crushed voice box. Last week, The Baltimore Sun spoke to medical experts who said that Gray's injuries were, in the paper's words, comparable to those seen in “victims of high-speed crashes.”

On Thursday, unnamed law enforcement sources told WJLA that according to a police report shared with prosecutors earlier that day, an investigation into Gray's death suggested the fatal injuries occurred when Gray slammed into the back of the police transport van. The officer driving the van has not yet given a statement.

Cops and Freddie

While this may end up being a significant detail of the investigation, much is still unclear about the circumstances of Gray's death, including how Gray's head might have hit the wall of the van hard enough to kill him. Over the past few weeks, Baltimore police have provided few answers about how Gray went from seemingly healthy enough to flee police on the morning of April 12 to dead on April 19 after a week in a coma. On Wednesday, April 29, hours after stating that they would not give the public their forthcoming internal report on Gray's death, police leaked a different document to The Washington Post. It was the first new piece of information from police in nearly a week. But instead of clarity, it offered more confusion. more 

IN JAMAICA: Health sector faces lockdown over shift system for doctors.... Shift system ill-conceived, says JMDA.... According to the ministry, the shift system — set to take effect on July 1 — is expected to improve efficiency at public health facilities.

BY KIMBERLEY HIBBERT Observer staff reporter hibbertk@jamaicaobserver.com  Friday, May 01, 2015  

THE public health-care system faces the threat of a lockdown if the Ministry of Health goes ahead with the planned implementation of a shift work system to which doctors are opposed.

Health sector faces lockdown over shift system for doctors

According to the ministry, the shift system — set to take effect on July 1 — is expected to improve efficiency at public health facilities.

However, it would result in significantly reduced salaries for doctors, for whom overtime work is a major source of income.

In a letter addressed to the permanent secretary in the health ministry on Tuesday, the Jamaica Medical Doctors Association (JMDA) said that it plans to withdraw from the task force to examine how best the shift system could work and that, if it is implemented, only emergency care will be guaranteed at public health facilities.

Permanent secretary in the ministry Dr Kevin Harvey told the Jamaica Observer on Wednesday that, while there have been conversations surrounding the possibility of an implementation of a shift system, he could comment no further.

"I can't comment on that. No shift system is being implemented. What we're doing is exploring the possibility of it, but nothing is being implemented," Dr Harvey insisted.

However, the letter from JMDA President Dr Alfred Dawes to the ministry was explicit.

"If on July 1, 2015 you insist on implementation of this dangerous plan, we cannot guarantee that there will be any doctor available for services outside of emergency care," Dr Dawes said in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by the Observer.

The Princess Margaret Hospital on the
outskirts of Morant Bay, St Thomas.

Dr Dawes, in his letter, said that while the lobby group remains concerned about the poor state of Jamaica's public health system, submissions they have made on how to improve the delivery of health care locally have been ignored.

"We have made submissions on how to improve the delivery of health care, both verbally and in writing, to the permanent secretaries and ministers of health of various administrations. These concerns and suggestions have largely been ignored, much to the detriment of the population whom we serve," Dr Dawes stated.

He added that the JMDA had welcomed an invitation to be a part of the task force to examine the shift system and how it could be implemented to improve the delivery of health care in the public system, but rapped the task force as being convened to merely "rubber-stamp an ill-conceived plan" to implement the shift system in hospitals. more 

AMAZING STORY (JAMAICA) : Yemalla Edwards, Once Homeless UWI Medical Student, now PALAS Recipient and future Neurosurgeon Granted US Multiple Entry Visa…Now Has 2 opportunities for the Summer (2015) in the USA to shadow two Physicians.... In the summer 2014 Yemalla worked enough money in North Carolina, USA and he used all the earnings to purchase a prosthetic leg for him mom who lost her leg from diabetes. She used to be a vendor at Coronation Market in Kingston.

PALAS news Published April 30, 2015

Once homeless medical student who currently attends UWI-Mona, Yemalla Edwards, recently received a multiple entry Visa to the USA. He will be travelling to Atlanta, Georgia or Maryland, USA on May 16, 2015 to work for 5 weeks in the medical field which will give great stock to his experience/resume.

Yemalla Edwards, after pinning ceremony in 2014  at UWI

This was made possible after Mr. Edwards contacted PALAS Founder/Executive Director, Rula Brown to assist him to procure a Visa to visit the USA. Yemalla and Rula worked the process and subsequently he was awarded a multiple entry visa to the USA.

Yemalla applied for one of the 2014/15 Peace and Love Academic Scholarship (PALAS) and was successful in his quest.

Rula Brown first met Yemalla at the 2013/14 awards ceremony at the UWI-Mona Campus when he was introduced by one of his instructor, Mr. Blake. At the time Yemalla had just completed his first year with a 3.83/4.00 GPA. He continues to maintain 3.15/4.00 GPA. 

Yemalla was facing a massive challenge to support himself financially, and for the most part, did not have anywhere to sleep and not much to eat while on campus. He was able to rest his head at nights sleeping at gazebos, stair steps, anywhere there was seat and light on (UWI) campus. His formal home is in Old Harbour, St. Catherine where his mom, who lost one of her leg from diabetes, and seven of his siblings reside. His father drives a water truck in Jamaica.  

In the summer 2014 Yemalla worked enough money in North Carolina, USA and he used all the funds to purchase a prosthetic leg for him mom. When asked what his mom’s reaction was, she happily said, "He (Yemalla) was her first child to go to college, and the first one to fly on a plane." His mom used to sell food products at Coronation market in Kingston.

Rula Brown, PALAS Founder presents Yemalla Edwards
 a computer and PALAS package
 at 2014 UWI presentation  in Jamaica

“Throughout my years I never met a team of people (PALAS) that is so supportive and interested in the well being of students. Mr Brown is one of the few mentors I have; he has helped me to grow personally and to build my confidence. I am now a more bold and assertive person, someone that is more polite and out spoken, previously I was just a shy, reserved individual.” Yemalla said.... “Life is what you make it! Therefore don`t go planting torns and expect to reap oranges.”

Yemalla's unshakable strong faith in God must have directed him to Rula at the UWI campus on August 22, 2013. Subsequently, Rula was able to reach out to a number of friends and listeners to his internet radio show on RulaBrownNetwork.com for support to this brilliant student. Rula was able to donate JA$125,000.00, a place to live at no cost to him, cell phone and a tablet computer that was donated by PALAS advisor, Mr. Patrick Campbell. 

Additionally, Ms. Judy Grant, a sister of PALAS Board member, Jackie Brown offered to let Mr. Edwards reside at her home near UWI-Mona campus. Each month Rula sends Yemalla a small donation to help out with utilities at the home. It has worked out great for him, now that he is able to study under better conditions.

PALAS Board member, Ms. Donna Myrie was very elated when she got the news about Yemalla getting the chance to travel to the states, "God bless you and all who saw fit to extend their support for Mr. Edwards," she said. Reggae artist and PALAS contributor, NOVLETTE FELLOWS aka NOVEL-T said she was jumping for joy when she got the news. I just say, "Thank you Lord, God bless him!  He’s such a worthy student and an example for all of us to take notes from." Despite the seemingly impossible, Yemalla did what he had to do to remain in school and still maintained good grades!

Yemalla Edwards is ready to observe
Neurosurgeon, Dr. Carl Bruce
perform brain surgery operation
 on a cancer patient
at UWI-Hospital in Jamaica

Recently Yemalla was in the operating theater at UWI-Hospital to observe the Caribbean’s best rated neurosurgeon at work, Dr. Carl Bruce do a brain surgery operation on a cancer patient. He was very excited for the opportunity to observe, for the first time such a rare event. He said that he learned so much, it was truly amazing. Yemalla will graduate with his Medical Degree in 2018, ultimately he will specialize as a Neurosurgeon.

In the past 6 months Rula has worked assiduously with Dr. Evelyn Richardson, PALAS Advisor and CEO of the Caribbean Radio Show to secure job opportunity in the medical field for Yemalla. Dr. Richardson efforts resulted in a position for him via one of her associates in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

Rula was also able to secure a position for him in Alpharetta, GA with his personal Medical Doctor, Dharmaraj Patil. The goal is to have Yemalla do at least a 5-week internship in Atlanta, GA or Maryland in summer 2015 to shadow these Physicians and learn.  

  Lana Walker, CEO at Laureate Medical Group Emory University of Roswell, GA has been a super supporter of Yemalla, she is helping to secure living accommodations via her networking with Lorna Kirlew in DC/Maryland and Amy Grant in Canada. This clinical exposure will yet again award him another opportunity in 2 years to complete his Fellowship, Residency in Surgery, Post Graduate in Neurosurgery and Pediatric Neurosurgery. 

Lorna is coordinating and planning to help find residency for Yemalla in Maryland/DC. PALAS board members and Lana Walker will pitch in to purchase his round trip plane fare to and from Jamaica. While if he lands in Maryland/DC Lana is making reservation to lend her support for him to stay for the five weeks.

You might also add that Yemalla's success is an implication and commitment of PALAS' outreach to students who are in desperate need for that financial nudge and assistance to get them over the hardship hurdle. Hence, PALAS is appealing to all, to donate to a worthy cause at www.PALAS1.org and, in doing so; we are ‘Preserving Young Minds for Posterity’.PALAS has awarded 187 scholarships over the past 4 years valued at JA$9.9 million (~US$95,000.00). PALAS goal is to award 125 scholarships/computers in 2015/16. PALAS online application starts May 1, 2015 through June 15, 2015.

You may Partner with PALAS (PWP) by donating a minimum of $350.00 to have a scholarship in your name, loved one or your company each year. We are seeking donations urgently so any amount is appreciated; no amount is too small to contribute to our efforts, $1.00 will go a long way. Please donate online at www.PALAS1.org or Send check to: 

PALAS, PO Box 5461, Alpharetta GA 30023 USA. PALAS is a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) organization, headquartered in Alpharetta, GA. You may also send funds to PALAS via PAYPAL to PALAS at peaceandlovescholarship@gmail.com .....Thank you very much 

IN BALTIMORE: POLICE LEAK BLAMES FREDDIE! REPORTER QUESTIONS COP CLAIMS....Reporter Doubts Report Freddie Gray Injured Himself (VIDEO INTERVIEW)

A leaked police document that claims Freddie Gray was “intentionally trying to injure himself” while in the back of a police van in Baltimore after his arrest is being questioned due to inconsistencies with earlier reports.

Gray died a week after his videotaped April 12 arrest due to injuries sustained under uncertain circumstances while in police custody, sparking protests in Baltimore and around the nation.

The Washington Post reported on Wednesday night that a prisoner who was in the van with Gray allegedly told investigators he could hear Gray "banging against the walls" of the police vehicle, and said he believed Gray was "intentionally trying to injure himself," according to a document written by a Baltimore police investigator.

The initial shock of the report quickly transitioned to uncertainty and skepticism after questions were raised over the details. WBAL's Jayne Miller told MSNBC that the Post’s story was “inconsistent with what we reported.”

“We have reported for some time that by the time that prisoner is loaded into that van, Freddie Gray was unresponsive. Secondly we have no medical evidence that Freddie Gray suffered any injury that would indicate that he had injured himself,” Miller told MSNBC's Chris Hayes on Wednesday night. more

AT UWI Hospital- Mona (JAMAICA) : Cutting-Edge Spinal Surgery Now At UWI....Dr Carl Bruce and Dr Kingsley Chin at the leading edge .... PALAS recipient Yemalla Edwards recently observed Dr. Bruce perform a brain surgery operation on a cancer patient.

Erica Virtue,  Senior Gleaner Writer

Dr Carl Bruce (left) and Dr Kingsley Chin. - Contributed photos

Two Jamaican medical doctors - University of the West Indies consultant neurosurgeon Dr Carl Bruce and Harvard-trained, United States-based orthopaedic spine surgeon Dr Kingsley Chin - are mending badly damaged spines and sending patients home in record time from the University Hospital of the West Indies.

Charged by the Medical Association of Jamaica and the Ministry of Health to present the latest techniques being pursued in spine surgery, Bruce and Chin are now making keyhole cuts through patients' sides (flanks) to treat serious spinal damage.

Smaller incisions

Gone are the long surgical cuts in the backs of patients with spine damage, as less exposure surgery (LES), procedures are now performed on the spine with minimal damage to the soft tissue.

Dr Carl Bruce (centre) and Dr Kingsley Chin (left), assisted
 by a nurse as they perform a Less Exposure Surgery at the
 University Hospital of the West Indies 

"Some say keyhole surgeries, but we call it less exposure surgeries. So we performed a less exposure spine surgery, the first of its kind in the Caribbean, where rather than opening the back to see the spine, we went through the patient's side and did the procedure.

"After that, we use tiny keyholes in the back, to fix the spine. It's the first time we had done the keyhole fixation with the screws," explained Bruce. Flank cuts were done for the second time in last month's surgery, but using screws through the keyholes was being done for the first time.

"It is surgery that results in advanced patient recovery time; less blood loss; less time in hospital and quicker time to return to work. We also wanted to make sure that these new techniques come out comparable or cheaper to the older open surgery," explained Bruce. more

IN JAMAICA: $624-million sewage system for Caymanas Estate.... It extends south of Mandela Highway and 1,800 metres north of the Sligoville main road.

Thursday, April 30, 2015   

THE Urban Development Corporation (UDC) is developing a $624-million sewage conveyance system for the Caymanas Estate property in St Catherine.

Chairman of the Urban Development Corporation (UDC)
 Senator KD Knight (left) examines the plans for development
 of a $624-million sewage conveyance system at Caymanas
 Estate, at the contract signing ceremony for the project
held Tuesday at the UDC’s headquarters in downtown Kingston.
Others (from second left) are: Chief Executive Officer of New
 Era Homes Leo Thaddeo; Vice President of New Era
 Homes Desmond Young; and UDC General Manager
 Desmond Malcolm.

The system comprises 7.4 kilometres of force main and two lift stations to convey sewage to the Soapberry Wastewater Treatment Plant.

YP Seaton & Associates has been contracted to undertake the eight-month project, work on which is expected to begin within the next four weeks.

At the contract signing ceremony on Tuesday at the UDC's headquarters in downtown Kingston, the corporation's chairman, Senator K D Knight, said the project is to facilitate further development of Caymanas Estate.

"The mandate of the UDC is to make development happen. One of the properties owned by the UDC where development needs to happen is at the Caymanas Estate," he said.

Knight said funding for the project came from the recent sale of assets including the Oceana Hotel, Forum Hotel and the Jamaica International Telecommunications (Jamintel) building.

Caymanas Estate, which is situated nine miles from the centre of Kingston and six miles east of Spanish Town, covers an area of 10,703 acres. It extends south of Mandela Highway and 1,800 metres north of the Sligoville main road. more

Sir KEITHANTHONY, Dr. PENNY SARTORI, Dr, CAROLINE WILKINS , Bishop ROD WALTON - Near Death Experience speak with Rula Brown (Recorded 4/28/15)

BALTIMORE BURNS COP THROWS ROCK AT PROTESTER : Rioters Crowd Out Protesters… Clash With Police After Freddie Gray's Funeral... Hurl Rocks And Bricks... 15 Officers Injured, 2 Hospitalized... Police Captain: 'You're Gonna See Tear Gas, You're Gonna See Pepper Balls'... Gov. Declares State Of Emergency... Activates 5,000 National Guard Troops... Mayor Imposes Curfew... LATEST UPDATES...

Baltimore police officers targeted by rock-throwing protesters on Monday appeared to hurl projectiles toward crowds on at least two occasions.

One photo shows a projectile, possibly a rock or piece of concrete, leaving an officer's hand.At least seven officers were injured Monday as protesters launched rocks, bricks and other objects at police. Some of the projectiles were reportedly heavy enough to break police riot shields. Baltimore police Capt. Eric Kowalczyk said one of the officers who had been hit was "unresponsive," and others had "broken bones."

Kowalczyk suggested police would deploy traditional riot-dispersing tools. "You're gonna see tear gas, you're gonna see pepper balls," he said.

Police didn't immediately answer a request for comment about the photos of officers throwing projectiles.

NEWSBREAK from JAMAICA: Gunmen kill three in separate St Catherine incidents...Dead are 30-year-old Lucien Simpson, 19-year-old Ackeen Glanville and 28 years old, was shot dead unidentified

Monday, April 27, 2015 | 10:15 AM    

ST CATHERINE, Jamaica – At least three men were shot dead and one shot and injured in separate incidents in St Catherine on Sunday night.

The first incident took place about 7:00 pm when 30-year-old Lucien Simpson, otherwise called Kevin, of Dempshire Pen in Spanish Town, was shot dead and another man injured.

The police report that Simpson and the injured man were among a group standing on the roadway in the community when two armed men approached them. The men opened gunfire at them.

Simpson and the injured received gunshot wounds and were taken to hospital where Simpson was pronounced dead and the other man admitted.

Meanwhile, the other two victims were killed in different sections of Portmore.

About 7:15 pm, an unidentified man, who the police speculate is about 28 years old, was shot dead by unknown assailants on Godley Avenue in Gregory Park.

He was clad in a black sweater, white short pants, and blue and white Nike slippers. The police say he is about five-feett-six-inches long.

The police were later summoned to Port Henderson Road in the area where 19-year-old Ackeen Glanville of Confidence Avenue in Mandeville, Manchester, was shot dead by unknown assailants.

Reports are that Glanville was travelling in a Honda Civic motor vehicle when he stopped on the roadway about 10:45 pm and was pounced upon by unknown assailants, who robbed and shot him.

He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. more

OCHO RIOS, St Ann (MORE MADNESS in JA) : Police hunt suspect behind St Ann double murder of Twenty-five-year-old Demar Smith and 15-year-old Amaya Brown, who were living together as a couple

Tuesday, April 28, 2015 — Renae Dixon

OCHO RIOS, St Ann — The St Ann police were up to late yesterday searching for the suspect behind the slaughtering of a teenage girl in the community of Drumilly before daybreak on Saturday.

Twenty-five-year-old Demar Smith and 15-year-old Amaya Brown
(at left) who were hacked to death Saturday morning.
 (PHOTOS: RENAE DIXON)

Twenty-five-year-old Demar Smith and 15-year-old Amaya Brown, who were living together as a couple, were chopped to death allegedly by a neighbour -- a 49-year-old farmer -- following a dispute. Screams were heard coming from the house at about 4:45 am after which the two were found with chop wounds.

Brown, who hailed from Clarendon, reportedly died at the house while Smith -- who was discovered meters from the house -- died while undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Neighbours said the attack stemmed from an argument between Smith and the accused man, who is the caretaker for the house. Some alleged that the argument was about a disconnected electricity supply; however there are also allegations that it was about loud noise coming from Smith's section of the house.

The accused man has since fled the area and is being sought by the police. more

IN JAMAICA: Cabinet approves 16-member Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA), which the Government has promised will be set up to regulate the hemp and medicinal ganja industry in Jamaica.

 BY ALPHEA SAUNDERS Senior staff reporter saundersa@jamaicaobserver.com  Tuesday, April 28, 2015    

CABINET has given approval for the 16-member Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA), which the Government has promised will be set up to regulate the hemp and medicinal ganja industry in Jamaica.

Cabinet approves 16-member Cannabis Licensing Authority

Justice Minister Senator Mark Golding, who made the disclosure in an interview with the Jamaica Observer yesterday, said members are to be formally notified, and that the industry, investment and commerce; and science, technology and mining ministries were making arrangements for their accommodation.

"At this point, we want them to start the ball rolling [and] once they are notified a meeting should be held," Golding said.

The authority is one of the provisions of the recently enacted Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Act, 2015 'Ganja Bill', which decriminalises marijuana for medicinal, religious, and private/personal use. The CLA will have powers to make regulations for the procedures and criteria for applying for licences and permits as well as other authorisations for cultivation, processing, distribution, sale and other handling of ganja for medicinal, scientific and therapeutic purposes.

GOLDING… small farmers will
 be part of the process

The members were selected by ministers across eight ministries, in addition to representatives from the Attorney General's Chambers; academia; and civil society groups, inclusive of faith-based organisations.

In the meantime, the justice minister said small farmers should rest assured that they will be part of the process, as the Government fully intends for the rules regulating the sector to enable and allow participation by small farmers.

"It is expected that that intent will be borne in mind. I expect it will take a few months to develop that framework, and we are engaging a consultant to assist them (the CLA)," Golding said. more

IN JAMAICA (EXCELLENT ARTICLE by TANESHA MUNDLE) : Bar association head links JAMAICA's economic woes to state of justice system ....What Do You Think?

Observer staff reporter mundlet@jamaicaobserver.com  Tuesday, April 28, 2015  

PRESIDENT of the Jamaican Bar Association (JBA) Donovan Walker has linked Jamaica's poor economic performance to the little attention paid to the justice system by successive administrations.

PRESIDENT of the Jamaican Bar Association (JBA) Donovan Walker

"Our successive governments, the current one and the past ones, don't give it the attention that they really should, and a lot of people don't realise that there is a direct correlation between justice system and proper law reform," Walker told the Jamaica Observer in a recent interview.

"There is a direct correlation between the justice system and doing business in Jamaica. If we fix our justice system concomitant to that will be increased confidence and increase in economic activities," he added.

Furthermore, the JBA president said, "It's important for politicians to form a mindset that links the justice system, its improvement, and how people will respond in terms of foreign direct investment and local investment."

Arguing that the justice ministry is neither "sexy" nor "easy to run", Walker maintained that it is important for the ministry to set small goals and deal with them one step at a time.

At present, he said there are myriad issues to be addressed in the justice system, but the priorities for the association are matters of court improvement; increasing the number of magistrates and judges; relocation of the Traffic Court; increasing the stipend for jurors; creation of a comprehensive system to collect and determine court statistics; and refurbishing the Family Court and Gun Court.

Walker said that those issues were outlined to the finance and justice ministers in a meeting last December, and he was happy that a number of the matters, including an increased stipend for jurors and the doubling of fees paid to attorneys for legal aid duties, were addressed.

But he said more needs to be done.

"We need to look at rehabilitating our courtrooms; there are some that are in a worst way than others: St James, St Ann, Mandeville, and Falmouth, those courtrooms, what are holding them up is termites in some instances, and I think we physically need to do something now," he said.

"Every court registrar should have a fax machine and scanner to facilitate electronic filing and servicing of documents in an efficient manner, and in 2015 there are many registrars across the length of breadth of Jamaica that don't have that," Walker stated further. more

KATHMANDU, April 28 (Reuters) : Nepal Prime Minister Says Earthquake Death Toll Could Reach 10,000 latest death toll at 4,349 .... Prime Minister Sushil Koirala told Reuters on Tuesday, ordering intensified rescue efforts and appealing for foreign supplies of tents and medicines.

Reuters Posted: 04/28/2015 2:33 am EDT 
KATHMANDU, April 28 (Reuters) - The death toll in Nepal's earthquake could reach 10,000, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala told Reuters on Tuesday, ordering intensified rescue efforts and appealing for foreign supplies of tents and medicines.

"The government is doing all it can for rescue and relief on a war footing," Koirala said in an interview. "It is a challenge and a very difficult hour for Nepal."

A home ministry official put the latest death toll at 4,349. If the death toll does reach 10,000, that would be even higher than the 8,500 killed in a massive 1934 quake, the Himalayan nation's worst disaster to date.

Koirala was abroad when the 7.9 magnitude quake struck on Saturday. He returned on Sunday. He has issued orders to his government to improve coordination of the relief effort and will address the nation later on Tuesday, an aide said.

Appealing for foreign assistance, Koirala said Nepal needed tents and medicines. Many people are sleeping out of doors because their homes have been destroyed or may not withstand the dozens of aftershocks that have hit the country, he said.

"The government needs tents, much medicine. People are sleeping in fields and rains," he said. "There are more than 7,000 people injured. Their treatment and rehabilitation is going to be a big challenge." (Additional reporting by Ross Adkin; Writing by Douglas Busvine) more

AP : Shooting At Brooklyn Funeral Leaves 6 Shot, 2 Dead outside the Emmanuel Church of God in Brooklyn's East Flatbush neighborhood.

Posted: 04/27/2015 11:39 pm EDT 

NEW YORK (AP) — Two people have been killed and at least three others injured in a shooting outside a New York City church where a funeral was in progress.

It happened Monday night outside the Emmanuel Church of God in Brooklyn's East Flatbush neighborhood. Police say two men died and the remaining victims are at hospitals. There have been no arrests. Police say a sixth shooting victim was found nearby, but it wasn't clear if that person was connected to the same shooting. The four wounded were in stable condition....

City Councilman Jumaane Williams, whose district includes East Flatbush, tells WABC-TV that the shooting was a "reckless" abandonment of life. He said he hopes authorities can prevent retaliatory shootings. No other details are available. more