Cory Booker and Kamala Harris join Senate Judiciary Committee

Democratic Senators Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kamala Harris of California have been appointed to serve on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

They become just the second and third African-Americans to serve on the committee in its 200-plus-year history.

Democrats had to replace Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., who resigned after being accused of sexual misconduct. They also picked up a spot with Doug Jones' victory in last month's Alabama Senate race.

The Congressional Black Caucus had been urging Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to appoint one of its members to the committee.

Rep. Cedric Richmond, the group's chairman, says, "the experience and expertise they bring to the committee will be beneficial for all Americans, especially those disproportionately targeted by the criminal justice system."

[SOURCE: WSBTV]

Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, ends her campaign for the Democratic nomination for Maryland governor

Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.) has been hospitalized for treatment of a bacterial infection, his office confirmed Friday hours after his wife, Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, ended her campaign for the Democratic nomination for Maryland governor.

Cummings was admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital on Dec. 29 with a bacterial infection in his knee, according to a statement released by his office. Doctors drained the infection Friday during a “minor procedure,” according to the statement, and added that he is “resting comfortably and expects a full recovery.”

Rockeymoore Cummings, a policy consultant, cited “personal considerations” in dropping out of the race Friday.

Rockeymoore Cummings, the second woman and the last of eight candidates to enter the crowded race, launched her campaign three months ago.

“Making a positive and direct contribution to the state of Maryland and to our nation was my greatest motivating factor for stepping into the public arena,” Cummings said in a statement. “Unfortunately due to personal considerations, I am suspending my bid for governor of Maryland.”

“Making a positive and direct contribution to the state of Maryland and to our nation was my greatest motivating factor for stepping into the public arena,” Cummings said in a statement. “Unfortunately due to personal considerations, I am suspending my bid for governor of Maryland.”

Rockeymoore Cummings has worked in politics as a staffer on Capitol Hill and for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation but was not widely known in state politics. The bid for governor was her first run for public office. As a small-business owner, Rockeymoore focused her campaign on addressing economic inequality.

[SOURCE: THE WASHINGTON POST]

Tavis Smiley returning with new inspirational series

Less than a month after PBS dropped Tavis Smiley's talk show following reported inappropriate relationships with subordinates, Smiley on Monday announced a deal to go back to work with a new series about inspirational stories.

The program, The Upside With Tavis Smiley, will be streamed online and shown on The Word Network, a religious-oriented cable and satellite channel directed at black viewers.

By fashioning a new program focusing on inspirational stories instead of more general interest news and entertainment, Smiley will sidestep the issue of whether his downfall would make celebrities reluctant to be interviewed by him. By striking a digital distribution deal with the media company AerNow and a little-watched cable network, he also will be much less visible.

But Smiley said he believed that going digital positions him well for the future. He also said he will attract a younger audience than he was getting at PBS, and that he also has struck a deal for international distribution for The Upside and his production company's inventory of interviews that he conducted in the past.

[SOURCE: THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER]

Don’t be so quick to dismiss an Oprah Winfrey presidential run in 2020

After Oprah Winfrey's Golden Globes speech conversation has reached a fever pitch of an Oprah run for presidency in 2020. While there are many reasons that a run would be tough there are also many reasons why Oprah could do it. I wouldn't dismiss a Oprah 2020 run so easily. Listen to my 2 minute explanation below:

Don’t be so quick to dismiss an Oprah Winfrey presidential run in 2020

NBA star Kyrie Irving renovates his High School's gym

One of New Jersey's proudest basketball programs got new life when St. Patrick's High School reopened in 2012 as Patrick School — but the new building didn't include a gym.

The team practiced in random gyms and warehouses around the state and country, even once resorting to working out in a gym in Virginia with peach baskets instead of backboards and rims.

The program finally got a gym when it moved to a new building in Hillside in 2016, but it still needed serious work. Boston Celtics star Kyrie Irving, one of the program's most prominent graduates, made sure the work got done.

Irving paid to have Patrick School's gym renovated and build the team a new locker room, lounge and weight room. The new facilities were unveiled to the team during a ceremony on Saturday.

Along new rims backboards, padding, paint and signage featuring Irving's new slogan, "Once a Celtic, always a Celtic," the new gym features banners with the names and numbers of famous Celtics. Irving is obviously featured along with legends like Shaheen Holloway, Samuel Dalembert, Al Harrington and DeAndre' Bembry along with players from last year's Tournament of Champions-winning team like Nick Richards, Marcus McClary and Jamir Harris. Legendary coach Kevin Boyle's name is on the wall as well.

“A lot of great players have played here,” Patrick School coach Chris Chavannes said. “They’re not even aware of the fact that they’re names are raised up there. The person who started this all was Kevin Boyle and he’s not even aware of the fact that his banner’s up there. So I’ll always be forever grateful, not just to Kyrie and all the alumni and kids who played here, but to Kevin Boyle who started the program. We will never, ever forget that. If it wasn’t for him, this wouldn’t be here now.”

Irving has had a presence with the program since getting to the NBA. He sent gifts to the staff and students during the holidays last winter, and came back to the school to play pick-up games this past summer. He made sure every Patrick School player was there during that open gym, and that they all got time on the court with him. During these sessions, he noticed specific things that needed to be improved in the gym, including protective padding.

"When Kyrie played here in the summertime, as he was walking out he turned to one of his guys and said, 'We're going to improve the place,'" Chavannes said. "For him to remember and actually get it done for Christmastime, it was amazing."

[SOURCE: NJ.COM]