Despite the election of the nation's first Black president and the growing clout of Black Capitol Hill lawmakers, the lot of African-Americans remains largely unchanged and even slightly worse, according to the National Urban League's "The State of Black America 2009" report released March 18. "For Black America, it's a tale of two cities," NUL President/CEO Marc Morial told members of the Black Press during a March 17 phone conference about the annual report that gauges Black progress. "It's an important time to celebrate successes in the political arena but that doesn't mean the dream is realized.". . .

A growing number of publications that serve immigrant and minority communities are laying off staff, closing print editions or shutting down altogether . . . a severe recession has led to a steep drop in advertising from small businesses, including many owned by immigrants, that have come to rely on the ethnic press to reach these communities. . . .

Dr. Norman Francis, President, Xavier University in New Orleans, says the cause of gender disparities in men's and women's achievement at HBCU's is unclear.
. . . fewer than one in four men who started in 2001 had completed a bachelor's degree by 2007 . . .

Franklin and now President Barack Obama. Photo by Duke University
When historian, author, and scholar John Hope Franklin mounted the stage at the Newsmaker of the Year Awards Gala . . .

President Barack Obama says General Motors Corp., Chrysler LLC and all those with a stake in their survival need to take more hard steps to help the struggling automakers restructure for the future. Obama, in an interview with CBS' "Face the Nation" broadcast Sunday, said the companies must do more to receive additional financial aid from the government. "They're not there yet," . . . .

At the end of the gala, immediately after Jackson had finished his remarks, Stuart Lockwood walked onto the stage, a terrified little boy no more. They hugged and Jackson fought back tears. "It's a great honor to be here with Rev. Jesse Jackson," . . .
Photo Credit: Sharrone Wallace

With recent reports that half of American families are carrying more than $25,000 in debt and the nation's unemployment rate at a staggering 8.1 percent and expected to climb, debt reduction is the top of everyone's list. Financial advisor and CNBC's retirement expert Bill Losey is revealing his "6 Steps To Get Out of Debt." . . .

• Police to Hold Public Racial Profiling Meeting, April 2
• Parent Action Committee Meeting: Potty Training Special Needs Children, April 14

Unemployed? Hours recently cut back? Or maybe you are not affected by these hard economic times but want to help … you just don't know how. Becoming a YWCA Clark County volunteer is one way to help your community. . . .

In recognition of "National Tag Day" on April 4, and as part of an ongoing return-to-owner campaign, the Seattle Animal Shelter extends an offer to Seattle pet owners to provide dual protection for their pets. The offer runs from April 4 through 10 and includes . . . According to a study by the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy, about one million dogs and more than 500,000 cats are taken into animal shelters as strays each year. Sadly, only about 15 percent of those dogs and 2 percent of the cats are reunited with their owners.
"If your pet gets lost and doesn't have a license tag, identification tag or a microchip, the odds are you'll never see it again," says Jordan. "It is our sincere hope that the dual protection of a pet license and personalized pet identification tag, combined with free microchip registration, will increase the odds that you and your pet are reunited if your pet is ever lost or stolen." . . .