Prime Minister Elect of JAMAICA Andrew Holness to be sworn in as PM next Tuesday — JLP source

Saturday, February 27, 2016  Jamaica Observer Excerpt 

Prime Minister of Jamaica Elect, Andrew Holness

JAMAICA Labour Party (JLP) Leader Andrew Michael Holness is expected to be sworn in Tuesday as prime minister following his party’s victory over the People’s National Party (PNP) in Thursday’s general election.

A high-level JLP officer told the Jamaica Observer that Holness, who yesterday met with the governor general and other critical State officials, was awaiting the final results of the election from the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) before he is sworn in as prime minister and names members of his Cabinet. He was also expected to get a briefing from outgoing Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips on the proposed bugdet and the state of the International Monetary Fund negotiations.

While unable to give a hint about possible members of the executive, he said the prime minsiter-designate got a mandate and should use the opportunity to utilise the services of some of the newly elected members of the legislature.

The EOJ said final counting for all constituencies across the island commenced yesterday and should be completed by Monday, which would be in time for the swearing-in of the new prime minsiter. Counting, the EOJ said, was taking place in the designated counting centres in each constituency except for five – St Andrew Eastern, St Ann South Western, St Mary South Eastern, and St Catherine North Eastern, which are being counted at its head office on Duke Street, Kingston; and St James Southern, which is being counted at the regional office in Montego Bay. more

WINSTON "MERRITONE" BLAKE (Music giant of Merritone Family) HAS DIED..... MAY HE REST IN PEACE. News broke on the Tony Ryan Showcase on www.RulaBrownNetwork.com (VIDEO)

Winston "Merritone" Blake

Andrew Holness, the JLP leader and Prime Minister-designate says wife Juliet Holness fit for Cabinet

Friday, February 26, 2016 – Balford Henry  

It may be left up to Juliet Holness whether she wants to sit in the new Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Cabinet or not.

Her husband Andrew Holness, the JLP leader and Prime Minister-designate, told the

JLP Leader Andrew Holness (right) is
 congratulated by former party leader
and prime minister Edward Seaga at
JLP headquarters last night.
 ( Photo: Michael Gordon)

Jamaica Observer last night that while she is definitely qualified to be included in the Cabinet, it would be up to her to decide whether she wants to sit in the executive.

“Of course, my wife is fit for Cabinet duties. As to whether or not she wants to be in the Cabinet, that’s another consideration”. But Holness said he needed some time to digest what happened last night, and when he will settle on his Cabinet.

“I haven’t gotten a chance to digest it yet, but the thought is appealing,” he said about having his wife in the Parliament with him.

“My wife is my greatest supporter in everything I do. She is with me in every single thing I do. So, it would be good to have her in Parliament. But, of course, she is an independent woman, and she has won her seat in her own right. She also wants to serve, but she has latched on to supporting me in achieving some of the goals that I have and she has worked to do that as long as we have been together, and we have been together for a very long time. So, I am looking forward to having her in Parliament,” he said

THE BIG WINNERS : Juliet Cuthbert Flynn (St Andrew West Rural), Floyd Green (St Elizabeth South Western), Robert Montague (St Mary Western) , Juliet Holness (St Andrew East Rural)

BY KARL ANGELL Executive Editor - Operations angellk@jamaicaobserver.com Friday, February 26, 2016

THE 2016 General Election is now history with an historic win being recorded by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). The triumphant victory of the JLP reversed a 21-42 seat deficit in 2011 to a 33-30 w .

Floyd Green (St Elizabeth South Western) — The St Elizabeth home-grown lad made an immediate impact ever since his ascendency as the JLP’s candidate caretaker for the St Elizabeth South Western constituency. He successfully used strong presence in the constituency, allied by a robust road programme, to beat incumbent Hugh Buchanan. In doing so, he earned (preliminary count) a victory margin of 2,088 — one of the largest ever in this notorious weathervane constituency. Green was particularly strong in the regular and social media where he often espoused the plight of his constituents. Green is without doubt a rising star on the country’s political scene.

Juliet Cuthbert Flynn (St Andrew West Rural) — This Olympian, who won silver in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, earned her golden moment with an emphatic victory over Paul Buchanan. Cuthbert Flynn achieved her goal while being pregnant at age 51. It was a precious moment for her, which underscored the worth of a popular and well known newcomer. For her this is the start of a marathon and a sprint.

Robert Montague (St Mary Western) — He went into the political doldrums after a bad and unexpected loss in 2011. He has learnt well from the shock defeat and has now rallied to restart his political life in Parliament. Indeed, it was a triumph of determination for Montague.

Juliet Holness (St Andrew East Rural) — Despite the burden of a late start to her candidacy in the constituency, storming attacks on her husband and herself regarding the legitimacy of their Beverly Hill home, and the media spotlight occasioned on her for being the wife of the leader of the JLP, Juliet Holness brought home St Andrew East Rural. She did so against another high-profile candidate in Imani Duncan-Price. It was a win based on faith and an absolute commitment to the leader of the JLP and the party itself. Juliet Holness worked hard in the hills of the constituency and reached her summit with confidence and pride.

..Read More

ANDREW HOLNESS, Prime Minister Elect of JAMAICA General Election Victory Speech..JLP Wins 33 to 30 Seats

PANDEMONIUM in JA : Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) WINS THE Election in JAMAICA. Portia Gone......She should have debated....What Do You Think? #BBOJ #RulaBrownNetwork.... Prime Minister elect is Andrew Holness. More at www.RulaBrownNetwork.com

ST JAMES, Jamaica – The Jamaica Labour Party’s Fayval Williams was a short while ago declared the winner of the St Andrew Eastern constituency seat, beating the People’s National Party’s incumbent Andre Hylton by just over 150 votes.

Based on the preliminary results, Williams amassed 7,140 votes to Hylton’s 6,983.

Hylton won the seat by 254 votes in 2011 against a then pregnant JLP candidate Dr Saphire Longmore-Dropinski.

The seat, since it was formed in 1944, has been held by the JLP five times and the PNP six — during the periods 1944 to 1955, and 1976 to present when it regained its name as St Andrew Eastern. KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Labour Party was a short while ago declared the winner of the 2016 general election, after claiming 33 of the 63 constituency seats.

The Labourites will now form Jamaica’s new Government, after the People’s National Party only managed to win 30 constituency seats.

The December 2011 election, which resulted in the JLP being voted out of office after just one term, saw a 53 per cent turnout of electors, in which the PNP shocked the nation by capturing 42 of the 63 parliamentary seats. The remainder went to the JLP.

Today’s general election was the 17th since Universal Adult Suffrage in which Jamaicans won the right to vote in 1944 at a time when the country was still under colonial rule.

 more

JAMAICANS head to the polls today, February 25th in the country’s 17th general election....PNP, JLP brimming with confidence in the race for the 63 parliamentary seats.

Published 2/25/15 excerpted from Jamaica Observer

JAMAICANS head to the polls today in the country’s 17th general election since universal adult suffrage when citizens won the right to vote for the first time in 1944 while the country was still under colonial rule.

Portia and Andrew

Political pundits, using recent opinion polls, believe the election will go down to the wire in the race for the 63 parliamentary seats. However, the two major political parties — the People’s National Party (PNP), which has campaigned under the slogan ‘Step Up the Progress’, and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), which has promising voters to move them from ‘Poverty to Prosperity’ — were, up to last night, brimming with confidence that they will take home the election.

While people will go out to vote for their respective candidates, several say their vote will be for the leader of the parties, the PNP’s 70-year-old Portia Simpson Miller and Andrew Holness, the 43-year-old leader of the JLP.

Campaigning time

Yesterday, there was a frenzy of activity at PNP headquarters on Old Hope Road and the JLP headquarters on Belmont Road, both in Kingston, as the parties made final preparations for today’s vote. The PNP’s car park was full as workers and technocrats had last-minute discussions, including the placement of their ‘victory stage’, which will have a special entrance for the party president and prime minister, Simpson Miller. The media were also shown the areas from which they will operate, while a large screen will be placed near the stage area where supporters can follow the box-by-box count. That section of Old Hope Road will be blocked off to vehicular traffic.

While there were not as many vehicles inside the JLP’s car park, last-minute organisational work was being carried out. The party’s leadership and candidates, a spokesman said, were all out ‘in the field’ making sure they had everything properly organised. “There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes,” the spokesman said.

The JLP, which believes it put in all the work to convince voters to hand it the reins of power, was also setting up a victory, stage just before a huge green bell in the parking lot.

Voters on the march

“The massive swing indicated by the polls is pointing to a JLP victory and we are very confident of victory,” said a JLP spokesman. He pointed out that the party is taking nothing for granted as it is a ‘two-horse’ race. The JLP is also hoping to have Belmont Road blocked off to vehicular traffic to accommodate supporters.

Despite the confidence by the two major political parties, and the poll numbers, the election will today come down to mobilisation on the ground, especially in the approximately 14 marginal seats, where the competition is expected to be tough. more

Rihanna & Drake Help Set New Record for Most Consecutive Hot 100 No. 1s by Non-U.S.-Born Acts....Make it a new-record nine No. 1s in a row by non-Americans, as "Work" hits the top. Jamaica's is one of the non-US born

Rihanna's "Work" music video featuring Drake, released in Feb. 2016.

COURTESY PHOTO

As noted last week, the chart that ranks the top hits in the United States, theBillboard Hot 100, hasn't sported an American act at No. 1 since July, whenWiz Khalifa's "See You Again," featuringCharlie Puth, wrapped a 12-week run at No. 1. Following that smash through last week (on the Hot 100 dated Feb. 27), eight songs by non-Americans had reigned for 32 straight weeks. The sum of weeks marked a record run, while the string of eight leaders in a row tied a mark first set in 1985.

Let's update the count as of this week, as a new record for foreign talent's domination emerges.

Hot 100 Goes Global: American Acts Haven't Hit No. 1 Since July

As reported yesterday, Rihanna's "Work," featuring Drake, rises 4-1 on the Hot 100 (dated March 5). With Rihanna from Barbados and Drake from Canada, a new-record nine No. 1s in a row by artists from outside the U.S. have now topped the chart (for a record-extending 33 weeks).

Here's a new rundown of the unprecedented nine consecutive Hot 100 No. 1s by non-American acts:

Title, Weeks at No. 1, Date Reached No. 1, Artist, Country of Origin
"Cheerleader," six, July 25, 2015, OMI, Jamaica
"Can't Feel My Face," three, Aug. 22, The Weeknd, Canada
"What Do You Mean?," one, Sept. 19, Justin Bieber, Canada
"The Hills," six, Oct, 3, The Weeknd, Canada
"Hello," 10, Nov. 14, Adele, England
"Sorry," three, Jan. 23, 2016, Justin Bieber, Canada
"Love Yourself," two, Feb. 13, Justin Bieber, Canada
"Pillowtalk," one, Feb. 20, Zayn, England
"Work," one (to date), March 5, Rihanna, Barbados, feat. Drake, Canada

Meanwhile, the active run of 33 weeks of Hot 100 toppers by non-Yanks could extend next week, if not beyond, as "Work" could remain atop the chart, boosted by streams after its official video premiered yesterday.

With Justin Bieber's "Love Yourself" (down 1-2) trailing "Work," twenty one pilots' "Stressed Out" is again the highest-ranking hit by an American act. The song from the Ohio duo dips 2-3.

Onstage February 20, 2016 (FULL SHOW)....Vybz Kartel, Tiana, Dr. Denns Howard, Agent Sasco, Guidance and more....

A 5 year old genius turns down a Sony tablet on Jimmy Kimmel....Knows the names and capital of all the countries in the world and much more.

TED CRUZ: DEPORT ALL 12 MILLION! Actually, Ted Cruz Does Want To Round Up Every Undocumented Immigrant Walls, border patrols and biometric scanners, oh my.

TED CRUZ: DEPORT ALL 12 MILLION! Actually, Ted Cruz Does Want To Round Up Every Undocumented Immigrant Walls, border patrols and biometric scanners, oh my.

 02/22/2016 11:08 pm ET

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has taken a page from Donald Trump's presidential campaign playbook, hardening his rhetoric against undocumented immigrants.

Cruz told Fox News host Bill O'Reilly on Monday that yes, should he be elected president, his administration would deport all 12 million undocumented peopleestimated to be in the U.S. and wouldn't allow them to return.

"We should enforce the law ... federal law requires that anyone here illegally that's apprehended should be deported," Cruz said. "Of course" he'd look for undocumented immigrants, he said.

Cruz said America would build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, triple the border force and establish biometric entry systems "so we will know the day someone overstays their visa." 

The senator's comments represent an escalation in rhetoric from a candidate who rejected the notion of a "deportation force" of "jackboots" just last month, and lambasted the idea after it was proposed by GOP front-runner Trump. Cruz in January said such a policy would reflect "a police state," adding, "That's not how we enforce the law for any crime."

Cruz was pressed on the issue Monday by O'Reilly, who asked if he would seek out fictitious Irishman Tommy O'Malley and deport him for overstaying his visa.

"You better believe it," Cruz said. "Both Donald Trump and Marco Rubio would allow those 12 million people to become U.S. citizens. I will not."

SHOTTAS 2 (Jamaican Movie) - Maybe Coming Near You

SHOTTAS 2 (Jamaican Movie) - Maybe Coming Near You

— Simone Morgan of Jamaica Observer 2/23/16

DISCUSSIONS are currently underway for the filming of Shottas 2, a sequel to the 2002 low-budget movie.

Victor Lewis, publicist for singer Ky-Mani Marley, who starred in Shottas, told theJamaica Observer that Marley is expected to reprise his role as Biggs in the sequel and proposed television series.

“The producers have reached out to us for both the sequel and the series, but nothing is concrete as yet. The ideas are pitching around and the finances are being sorted out for the filming,” said Lewis.

Written and directed by Cess Silvera, Shottas had a budget of US$200,000. The movie chronicles the lives of two friends, Biggs and Wayne (Spragga Benz), who grow up together in the tough streets of Kingston. They rob a beverage truck and use the money to purchase visas to go to the United States where they continue their criminal activities.

Shottas had a cult following before it was officially released in the United States in 2006. It also starred Paul Campbell and Louie Rankin.

Marley, 39, also starred in the 2003 movie One Love with fellow singer Cherine Anderson.

2015-2016 PALAS Awards Presentation in JAMAICA at UWI Held on 8.29.15

CREDIT TO MUSICIANS in JAMAICA (JaRIA) : JaRIA Chairman Ibo Cooper told the Jamaica Observer that “When one pays their annual JaRIA basic membership fee, one can now sign up for a savings plan and save towards the benefits"

BY RICHARD JOHNSON Observer senior reporter johnsonr@jamaicaobserver.com  Monday, February 22, 2016    

An initiative is being spearheaded by the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA), along with the City of Kingston Co-operative Credit Union (COK) to offer financial guidance to members of the entertainment industry.

Come next Sunday at the JaRIA Honour Awards at the Courtleigh Auditorium in New Kingston, both parties will sign the symbolic document to signal the commencement of the relationship.

JaRIA chairman Ibo Cooper

JaRIA Chairman Ibo Cooper told the Jamaica Observer that Andre Gooden, acting business development officer at COK, first made the offer and discussions have been taking place for some time to get the agreement up and running.

“In his initial email, Gooden said he had observed a situation taking place with a number of entertainers who are unable to take care of themselves in later years due to financial constraints and, as a result, was looking to offer a relationship with COK. I responded to his email and invited him to put a plan to JaRIA . I really have to commend COK for putting action where other people have really only put their mouths,” said Cooper. Under this initiative, JaRIA members will be entitled to certain benefits from this COK-managed and operated facility.

“When one pays their annual JaRIA basic membership fee, one can now sign up for a savings plan and save towards the benefits... it’s both a long term and short-term goal of the initiative. In the short term, we just want the entertainment industry to just start savings accounts and benefit from the preferential rates open to members. In the long term, we are looking to set up an endowment fund where we can provide venture capital for projects being put forward by members of the fraternity. This is a great initiative and it sends a great signal to both the business communities as well as entertainers about the possibilities which exist for partnerships,” said Cooper.

JaRIA, which administers the activities for Reggae Month, is winding down its celebrations. This week there will only be one staging of the biweekly Reggae Open University discussion series due to Thursday’s general election. This will be held on Tuesday at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts. This week’s topic is ‘Vinyl to CD to Digital.’

The Jamaica Cancer Society (CONGRATS) : Record $43million raised for Cancer As Brown, Blagrove cop 2016 Sagicor Sigma Run....2016 is a record year; the largest amount raised in a single staging.

BY RUDDY R ALLEN Observer staff reporter ruddy.allen@gmail.com  Monday, February 22, 2016 

The Jamaica Cancer Society, Black River Hospital and children with cancer across the island will benefit from over $43 million raised through this year’s Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run which took place yesterday.

Kirk Brown crosses the line first in the men’s category at the 18th
staging of the Sagicor Sigma 5K Run/Walk in New Kingston yesterday.

Ingrid Card, vice-president of Group Marketing at Sagicor, made the confirmation yesterday.

“Sagicor is truly grateful for the overwhelming support we received for the beneficiaries. 2016 is a record year; the largest amount raised in a single staging. We will now be able to purchase the mammography machine for the Cancer Society’s mobile unit to conduct breast cancer screenings in the most rural areas of Jamaica. The Black River Hospital will also get some crucial equipment needed for its Paediatric unit and we will be able to assist with life-saving equipment and supplies for children with cancer across the island.”

Dr Michelle Reece Mills, Paediatric Oncologist at the University Hospital of the West Indies, said the funds raised through the charitable event will be far reaching for children with cancer. “The funds raised will definitely have a significant impact on the care of children with cancer in 2016. This will go a far way, allowing them to stay on treatment. Also, the use of CTs and MRIs will help us to make the administration of chemotherapy less painful with chemotherapy pumps and central IV lines.” Approximately 24,000 individuals registered in support of this year’s Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run charities — Jamaica Cancer Society, Black River Hospital’s Paediatric Unit and children with cancer across the island. The 5K Run, Walk and Wheelchair raised the record amount through donations and registration fees.

Karlene Blagrove (right), winner of the women’s Open
 run, collets her trophy from national 400m runner Novlene
 Williams-Mills during the presentation ceremony at the end
of the Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run yesterday.

Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run maintains its rank as the largest 5K road race in the Caribbean and is one of the largest charitable movements locally. Approximately 24,000 registrants amassed just under 300 corporate, non-corporate, tertiary, high and primary school teams and individuals who signed up to Walk, Run or Wheelchair.

Meanwhile, Karlene Blagrove and Kirk Brown were victorious in the female and male open run.

Blagrove, who was second in the event last year behind Juliett Dinnal, won the event in 23 minutes and 05 seconds ahead of Jozanne Harris in 23 minutes and 23 seconds and Janetta Robinson, who clocked 24 minutes and 22 seconds.

Blagrove said that she dedicated the victory to her daughter Samantha Kelly.

“This one is for my daughter as she told me that I shouldn’t come home without the title and I am going home with it. Overall I am happy with my run, however I was bit surprised when everyone was congratulating me on the victory as I thought I came second because a lady finished ahead of me but apparently she got disqualified,” Blagrove told the Jamaica Observer.

She said she is now targeting the Reggae Marathon which is scheduled for December.

“This was my best chance of winning as Juliett Dinnal who won this event last year was not competing so I backed myself to win. With the victory I got an entry to the Reggae Marathon and so that is where I am focusing on now,” she said.

Brown covered his distance in 17 minutes and 15 seconds to take the title. Shawn Pitter finished second in 17 minutes and 41 seconds and Kemar Leslie came third in 18 minutes and 26 seconds. more

Black STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering &Math) pioneers In celebration of Black History Month, check out some of the most inspiring STEM pioneers throughout history!

Sunday, February 21, 2016    

Science Pioneers: Mae Jemison and Charles Drew

As the first female African American astronaut,

Joan Higginbotham

Mae C Jemison definitely earns her spot on the list of STEM pioneers. Throughout her life, Jemison was interested in STEM fields and received a degree in chemical engineering from Stanford. She worked in the Peace Corps for several years before pursuing her dream of being an astronaut. Jemison became the first African American woman in space in 1992 and subsequently won a variety of awards. Her legacy continues today as her path has paved the way for women and minorities to pursue careers in STEM and in space. Since Jemison, there have been five other African American women astronauts — Stephanie Wilson, Joan Higginbotham, Yvonne Cagle, and Jeanette Epps. Wilson and Higginbotham have travelled to space.

Euphemia Lofton Hayes

Charles Drew is remembered for his efforts in processing and storing blood. Drew worked hard for his achievements, going to college on a sports scholarship and working as a teacher and coach to afford medical school. He studied blood and developed the best way to dry and use plasma, earning him his doctorate degree and making him the first African American to receive a doctorate from Columbia. During WWII, Drew helped run the campaign ‘Blood for Britain’ and later worked for the American Red Cross as well. He soon quit his position at the Red Cross because of the organisation’s policy on segregating blood based on race. Until the end of his life in 1950, Drew remained highly respected and honoured in the medical community and is known as a father of blood banks.

Technology Pioneers:

Patricia Bath was the first African American female doctor to receive a medical patent. From a young age, Bath was interested in STEM fields and her parents encouraged her by buying her a chemistry set and discussing travel and different opportunities and cultures. She worked hard and excelled in school, ultimately studying ophthalmology, a branch of medicine dealing with the eye, at Columbia. She went on to become the first African American to complete a residency in ophthalmology. Bath championed the belief that eyesight is a basic human right and created a more precise way of removing cataracts. Her creation, the Laserphaco Probe, helped many patients who suffered from blindness finally regain eyesight.

The ‘Black Edison’ Granville Woods

Often nicknamed the ‘Black Edison’,

Granville T Woods is responsible for many technological advances that we take for granted today. Though he registered over 60 patents throughout his life, Woods is best remembered for his work with railroads and the telegraph. Woods started his career as a railroad engineer and held a variety of STEM-related jobs. His most important invention was his induction telegraph. The invention allowed people to communicate vocally through telegraph wires and prevent train collisions. Thomas Edison challenged the patent but Woods prevailed. The inventor died in 1910 but leaves a powerful legacy in the continued use of his technology.

Engineering Pioneers:

If you grew up having water fights with your friends, you can thank

Stephanie D. Wilson

Lonnie Johnson, the inventor of the Super Soaker water gun. Johnson grew up tinkering with inventions and ideas. In high school, he won a science fair held at the University of Alabama as the only minority student competing. He went on to study nuclear and electrical engineering. He served in the Air Force before joining NASA, where he developed his now famous water gun as a side project. Johnson has acquired multiple patents and has many inventions – some successful, some failed – to his name, but none has surpassed the popularity of the Super Soaker, which ranks as one of the top toys around the world.

Lilia Abron is a significant STEM pioneer in the field of engineering. In 1972, she became the first African American woman to receive a doctorate in chemical engineering. She went on to teach and also create an engineering firm to protect the environment. Abron shares her passion for engineering with students and promotes STEM at elementary and middle schools. more

Give an example of a big animal? Be Prepared for the answers you hear!

This is Very Intresting..Then when you go to hell....Haha Another one from Mark Angel Comedy.

Posted by Naija Gbedu on Friday, February 19, 2016

Donald Trump Fires Up Birther Conspiracy About Marco Rubio.... Few are eligible to be president in Donald Trump's America.

02/21/2016 11:28 am ET

• Amanda TerkelSenior Political Reporter, The Huffington Post

First it was President Barack Obama. Then it was Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). Now, Donald Trump isn't sure whether Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) is eligible to be president. Rubio was born in Miami to immigrant parents. He is eligible to be president.

Trump (L) and Rubio (R)

In an interview on ABC's "This Week" Sunday morning, Trump played down the importance of his tweet -- but he left hanging in the air doubts about Rubio.

"It was a retweet. ... I'm not really that familiar with Marco's circumstances," Trump said. 

"I mean, let people make their own determination," he added. Host George Stephanopoulos followed up, asking whether he really wasn't sure about Rubio's eligibility.

"I don't know. I really -- I've never looked at it, George. I honestly have never looked at it," Trump replied. "As somebody said, he's not. And I retweeted it.  I have 14 million people between Twitter and Facebook and Instagram and I retweet things and we start dialogue and it's very interesting." But as CNN noted, Trump previously said he had no doubts about Rubio's eligibility to be president.

"It's a very different thing," Trump said in January. "He was born here. He was born on the land. Ted was not born on the land, and there's a very strict reading that you have to be born on the land."

Trump has aggressively gone after Cruz on this issue, claiming that because he was born in Canada, he can't be president. Cruz's mother, however, is a U.S. citizen, meaning he is also automatically granted citizenship. According to most legal scholars, he qualifies as a "natural born citizen."

The issue, however, has continued to dog him. Trump supporters filed a lawsuit in Texas this month challenging Cruz's eligibility to be president. Rubio dismissed Trump's latest birther conspiracy Sunday in a separate interview on "This Week."

"He says something that's edgy and outrageous and then the media flocks and covers that and then no one else can get any coverage on anything else," Rubio said. "And that worked when there were 15 people running for president.  It's not going to work anymore. I'm going to spend zero time on his interpretation of the Constitution with regards to eligibility."

6 Bank Stocks to Buy Now Before They Snap Back, Says BMO Capital Markets

Editors' Pick: Originally published Feb. 16. ByLaurie KulikowskiFollow | 02/21/16 - 10:52 AM EST

Bank stocks have reacted strongly to the global market meltdown, and analysts from BMO Capital Markets, a division of the Bank of Montreal, are making a case for six financial sector stocks that have high potential to "snap back."

"U.S. equity markets (and bank stocks in particular) over-reacted so far this year to what we consider as misplaced economic concerns," according to a report out Monday by the group. "[Bank] valuations should recover."

"Misplaced" concerns by investors include "the possibility that slowing Chinese growth may lead the U.S. economy into a recession (some even forecast a depression), inspiring credit quality deterioration, the freezing of wholesale funding markets, and the failure of major financial counter-parties," the report said.

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As of Friday, the S&P 500 fell roughly 9% this year, while large-cap banks and specialty finance companies are down 21% and 19%, respectively, BMO analysts write.

Must Read: 10 Biggest CEO Exits in 2015, Including Cisco, Procter & Gamble and McDonald's

But the analysts note that aside from energy-related loans, bank credit quality is still improving, while capital is strong across the U.S. financial system.

"Despite pockets of obvious concern (e.g., energy-related loans), we forecast fundamental credit quality (as measured by [non-performing asset] formation rates) to continue to improve (albeit at a decreasing pace) across the U.S. financial system," the note said. With tangible common equity to tangible assets greater than 9% in aggregate, "we consider U.S. banks capital strength to be more than adequate."

"Both observations -- improving credit quality and strong capital -- suggest that the equity markets may have over-reacted recently to misplaced concerns about credit and funding," the analysts wrote.

Here are six oversold bank stocks that BMO Capital Markets analysts believe have the highest "snap-back" potential. We've paired the list with commentary from Jim Cramer, if the stock is owned by his Action Alerts PLUS charitable trust portfolio. Year-to-date returns are based on Feb. 12, 2016 closing prices.

18 y-o Florida teen charged for being a fake doctor..... Malachi Love-Robinson had all the trappings of a medical practice — an office, a lab coat and stethoscope.

 February 18, 2016

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Malachi Love-Robinson had all the trappings of a medical practice — an office, a lab coat and stethoscope.

What he didn't have, authorities say, was a medical license — few 18-year-olds do.

Now the Florida teen is charged with practicing medicine without a license and theft after he allegedly performed an exam on an undercover police.

18-year-old Malachi Love-Robinson charged for having
fake medical practice in Florida.

"Those are just allegations," he told The Associated Press in a brief phone interview.

According to the Florida police, an undercover police went to Love-Robinson's office, The New Birth New Life Medical Center, on Tuesday.

He was wearing a white lab coat with a stethoscope draped over his neck.

The agent told him that she was suffering from a sore throat, lethargy and sneezing. He took her temperature and used the stethoscope to check her lungs and heart and told her she was suffering from allergies and should take an over-the-counter medication.

He told her he was a doctor of homeopathic medicine, the report said, and explained that he had a medical doctor on staff to prescribe antibiotics. She signaled other detectives who entered the office and arrested him.

The teen also took some $3,500 from an 86-year-old woman seeking treatment for stomach pain and is accused of stealing three cheques from her that he cashed for almost $2,800.

The woman said Love-Robinson had come to her house five times in December after she contacted him online to treat her for stomach pains. He told her she suffered from arthritis and sold her vitamins, charging her $3,494 that she paid by check.

During one visit, she told detectives, she became ill, and Love-Robinson called an ambulance to take her to the hospital. He recommended that she not take her purse, so she gave it to him and asked him to lock up her house.

After her release, she found her bank account had no money. Investigators said Love-Robinson had forged three checks from her account.

A website for Love-Robinson's medical practice says he specializes in naturopathy, a system of medicine based on the healing power of nature that avoids the use of surgery and drugs. It is not a licensed medical specialty in Florida and cannot be legally practiced in the state. Its practitioners do not attend traditional medical schools.

The website says he is a "well rounded professional" who bases his treatments on "physiological functions and abnormal conditions on natural laws governing the human body."

The site also says he accepts 19 health insurance plans, plus Medicaid. Three insurance companies contacted by AP said they had no dealings with him. The site also says he speaks French and lists his age as 25.

Love-Robinson was released on $21,000 bail on Wednesday, one day after his arrest.