Baltimore's new mayor, Bernard "Jack" Young vows to clean up the city

Baltimore's new mayor has vowed to clean up the city after being thrust into office by his predecessor's resignation amid corruption investigations, but he inherits serious, longstanding problems that have plagued previous administrations.

Bernard "Jack" Young, a longtime leader of the City Council, says he intends to serve only the remainder of former Mayor Catherine Pugh's term and has no interest in running for mayor in 2020. If the Democrat doesn't change his mind, his tenure would last just 1 ½ years.

Young had been Baltimore's interim leader since April 2, when Pugh departed on an indefinite leave for what her lawyer has said was poor health after a bout of pneumonia. Pugh stepped down a month later, mired in a scandal that's put her in the crosshairs of federal, state and city investigators trying to unravel the murky financial arrangements of her self-published children's books.

In a phone interview, Young told The Associated Press he's ready to make changes and is focused on reducing one of the country's highest rates of violent crime and tidying up the city's streets. He aims to bring more investments and jobs, particularly to its most deeply disenfranchised neighborhoods.

"I'm determined to make a dent. I'm not a placeholder — I'm the mayor now. And I'm going to run the city like the mayor," Young said from Detroit, where's he's attending a conference about economic development before his return to Baltimore over the weekend.

[SOURCE: YAHOO NEWS]

1st enrolled African-American at University of Alabama receives honorary doctoral degree

Autherine Lucy Foster was denied admission to the University of Alabama in 1952 and became the first African American to be enrolled at the university for only three days in 1956. Foster was removed from classes after three days because of rioting and threats on her life.

Today the University of Alabama was awarded the 89-year-old Foster an honorary degree. Foster did receive a degree from Alabama 35 years later in 1991 earning her masters degree in education. The difference being that this time her family was there to see her receive her second.

Bolden: where The Music Began in theaters today!

BOLDEN, is drama directed by Dan Pritzker, imagines the compelling, powerful and tragic journey of Buddy Bolden, the unsung American hero who invented Jazz. With little biographical information known and no found recordings of his music, the film’s narrative composes fragmented memories of his past, against the political and social context in which his revolutionary music was conceived.

Starring Gary Carr as Bolden with original music written, arranged and performed by Wynton Marsalis, BOLDEN invites you to experience a world fueled by passion, greed and musical genius, in early 1900s New Orleans. The film co-stars Erik LaRay Harvey, Yaya DaCosta, Ian McShane and Michael Rooker.

Not just content to handle al of the musical duties associated with the film, Wynton Marsalis is also an executive producer on the film.

BOLDEN stars Gary Carr, Erik LaRay Harvey, Yaya DaCosta, Reno Wilson, Karimah Westbrook, JoNell Kennedy, Robert Ri’chard, Serena Reeder with Michael Rooker and Ian McShane .

For a complete list of the cities BOLDEN is playing in click here: BOLDEN Cities and Showtimes

WATCH THE TRAILER

Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh resigns

After weeks of growing pleas for her to step down, Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh has resigned, her attorney said Thursday.

"I am sorry for the harm that I have caused to the image of the city of Baltimore and the credibility of the office of the mayor," she said in a letter read by her lawyer Steve Silverman.

"Baltimore deserves a mayor who can move our great city forward," the statement continued. Pugh, who has been suffering from health issues, did not appear at the press conference with her attorney.

Pugh, a Democrat, is under investigation for alleged "self-dealing" in connection to the sale of thousands of copies of a self-published children's book series. Many of those sales went to entities that she had influence over or that sought to do business with the city.

In recent weeks, federal agents raided her two homes, her City Hall office and other locations. She has been on an indefinite paid leave of absence from her job as Baltimore's top elected official since April 1, citing health reasons.

Maryland's Office of State Prosecutor and the city's ethics board have launched probes into whether any laws or ethics rules have been violated.

At this time, no local, state, or federal authorities have charged her with any crime.

[SOURCE: NPR]

Senator Booker Questions AG Barr in Judiciary Committee

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., told Attorney General William Barr that he feared Barr's response to special counsel Robert Mueller's report and his characterization of President Donald Trump's actions normalizes a "deep litany of lies and deceit and misconduct," as well as foreign election interference. Booker also questioned Barr on some of the report's findings about the Trump campaign's links to Russia, and said the attorney general's unwillingness to criticize the Trump administration calls his credibility into question.