Michael Dunn guilty of first-degree murder for killing Jordan Davis

Michael Dunn was found guilty Wednesday of first-degree murder for killing 17-year-old Jordan Davis on Nov. 23, 2012, in a dispute over loud music outside a Gate gas station.

Dunn, 47, faces life in prison without parole when he's sentenced. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Dunn showed no emotion when the verdict was read.

The jury that heard Dunn's first trial in February found him guilty of three counts of attempted murder and firing into an occupied vehicle related to the three other teens in the SUV, but a mistrial was declared on the first-degree murder charge when the jury remained deadlocked after 30 hours of deliberations.

Michael Dunn guilty of first-degree murder for killing Jordan Davis

Hampton University awarded $3.5 million to increase minority STEM majors

Hampton, Va. - The Hampton University First in the World Partnership (HU-FITWP) has been awarded a $3.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The project goal is to increase the access to and affordability of a university education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines (STEM) for underrepresented, and or low-income students.

“After receiving nearly 500 applications from around the country, we’re excited to announce Hampton University will receive a First in the World grant, funded for the first time this year,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “Each grantee demonstrated a high-quality, creative and sound approach to expand college access and improve student outcomes. We are confident these projects will have a positive impact on increasing access and completion and help us reach President Obama’s 2020 goal, to once again have the highest share of college graduates in the world.”

“While the number of STEM jobs continues to increase, the number of underrepresented minorities graduating with degrees in these fields remains low,” said Hampton University President Dr. William R. Harvey. “We believe the Hampton University First in the World Partnership will provide minority students with access to a university STEM education and the tools necessary to be successful and graduate.”

To help facilitate the goals of the HU-FITWP, partnerships will be established with several entities from academia and the private sector. These partners include Northwestern University; the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering; Accenture; Achievable Dream Academies, Newport News, Va. and the From One Hand to Another Foundation, Virginia Beach, Va. These establishments will provide such support as offering internships, employment opportunities, hosting enriching lecture series and exposing the participating students to educational experiences that promote interest in the STEM disciplines.

HU-FITWP will implement innovative strategies and practices that can be effective in improving student enrollment and graduation rates. The target population includes students who have been accepted to HU for the fall 2014 semester and subsequent years and have declared a STEM major. Project activities will include redesign of math courses, student-centric and project-based learning, the creation of a math emporium, a summer bridge program and faculty development.

The project goal is to serve 1,056 students over four years. The anticipated results include an increase in college success/persistence for underrepresented, underprepared and/or low-income STEM students, increased earning potential for students, decreased societal costs and more STEM-qualified underrepresented graduates.

Media Contact: Yuri R. Milligan, University Relations, 757.727.5253, yuri.milligan@hamptonu.edu

Hampton University News is produced and published by the Hampton University Office of University Relations.

Five black women are running for statewide office in Georgia.

Robbin Shipp

There is probably no better example of Georgia being the "new South" than this: Five black women will be on the ballot for statewide offices in November -- a record.

Known as the "Georgia Five," the women are running at a time of major demographic shifts in the state and as Democrats see Georgia as a state that could begin to loosen the GOP's grip on the South.
So who are the Georgia Five?

Former State senator Connie Stokes is running for lieutenant governor.

Doreen Carter is up for secretary of state.

Liz Johnson is on the ballot for insurance commissioner.

Valarie Wilson is running for state schools superintendent.

Robbin Shipp is up for labor commissioner.

Read more: Five black women are running for statewide office in Georgia. Here’s why that matters.

More Blacks Headed to Congress

There are 44 African American members of Congress. Next year, five more are expected to join them, bringing the total to 49. That will represent the highest number of Blacks in Congress in American history. But will it make a difference? Can they leverage their numbers?

Another record-breaking development in the record-breaking 114th Congress will be that all of the new Black members will be women. It is likely that as many as 20 Black women could take the oath of office on Capitol Hill, which is also a record.

That’s the good news. The bad news is that as we’ve seen in statehouses throughout the South, when Democrats become a minority in a legislative chamber, that means less clout for everyone in the party, including African Americans.

Depending on how many House Democrats there are in 2015 (there are now 199), the Black Caucus could become 25 percent of the House Democratic Caucus. As the Tea Party members in the House Republican Caucus have proven over and over, a voting bloc of just 25 members can leverage a great deal of power.

Read more: More Blacks Headed to Congress

SC State Trooper Shoots Unarmed Black Man - Officer Charged & Fired from Job

Here's video of an unarmed black man being shot by police that some would like us to believe are isolated incidents.The video showing a shooting involving a South Carolina state trooper (Sean Groubert) and an unarmed man (Levar Jones) has been released to the public by police. The only thing that saved the victims life is that the trooper is obviously a bad shot. Groubert was fired from the force last week after an investigation into the incident by the State Law Enforcement Division. He reportedly could face up to 20 years in jail if convicted on the charge of aggravated assault.

.