Another Black Mayor In Trouble With The Law!

Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon was indicted on 12 counts of felony theft, perjury, fraud and misconduct in office yesterday after a lengthy investigation. Dixon who has actually been a very effective mayor has vowed of course to fight the charges. The Baltimore Sun reports that the investigation stems from at least $15,348 in gifts Dixon allegedly received from her former boyfriend, prominent city developer Ronald H. Lipscomb, while she was City Council president. She also is accused of using as much as $3,400 in gift cards, some donated to her office for distribution to "needy families," to purchase Best Buys electronics and other items for herself and her staff.

Dixon appears to have garnered a lot of goodwill from within the city. The possibility of an indictment has been hanging over her for a while, and she's she managed to reduce the city's homicide rate to a 20 year low during her tenure. The real problem that Dixon is facing is that if she's found guilty of just the felony theft charges she faces 15 years in prison. This can't be a favorable prospect for the 55 year-old mother of 2.

Unemployment and Underemployed Rate Is Really 13.5%

The December Unemployment Numbers were released yesterday indicating that the economy shed another 524,000 jobs during the month of December according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The resulting unemployment rate is 7.2%, while the combined unemployment and underemployment rate is a staggering 13.5%. Among sectors, education/health and government are the only sectors that are adding jobs.

Surprise! Gang Related Shooting At Chicago High School Basketball Game

The Chicago Sun-Times reports on the shooting outside Dunbar Vocational Career Academy after a high school basketball game last night. 5 teenage boys were wounded, and a young female was trampled in the melee that followed after shots were fired. Police believe that the shooting was gang related, as 7 ambulances and 200 police officers arrived at the scene. Just another senseless shooting in one of our major cities.

"Round Mounds" Blood Alcohol Level .149

The legal limit for alcohol consumption in Arizona is .08, Charles Barley's blood alcohol level registered .149 after his recent arrest. According to ESPN.com, Charles will be taking a leave of absence from his TNT gig, after it's been confirmed that he was legally drunk. Charles Barkley is one of the few athletes who has gained more fame in retirement, hopefully he'll get the help that he needs to prevent him from blowing up his career.

Already In Charge But Facing Obstacles!

Our president-elect is 11 days away from being sworn in as the President of the United States, but he's effectively now the president in the "dire times" as he continues to refer to our present economic situation. Yesterday he gave a speech touting his stimulus package that will cost close to a trillion dollars. The Philadelphia Daily News reports on the fact that Obama is already in charge, and highlights of the spending would go towards doubling "in three years the use of alternative energy like solar and wind power with a high-tech grid to deliver it; a slew of so-called "green collar" jobs making government buildings and private homes more energy-efficient; a high-tech medical database; and the overhaul of roads and bridges."

Within the package Obama is also promoting $300 billion in tax cuts for individuals and businesses, which is bringing criticism from Democratic Senators according to Fox News. Obama will have to satisfy lawmakers on the left and right to get his plan through the House. Yesterday's speech was important, because Obama is using the goodwill that he has from the election to elicit support from regular everyday people, which is politically savvy.

The End Of Pacman

Pro athletes are fortunate to live their dreams by playing a sport and being paid millions of dollars to do it. Many athletes don't know how fortunate they are, and can't overcome the ghetto mentality that takes over their brains and makes them do many crazy acts due to their entitlement complex.

Adam "Pacman" Jones was released from the Dallas Cowboys yesterday, probably ending his career as a professional football player. The Dallas Morning News reports on the release, which likely stemmed from an ESPN report that Pacman played a role in a shooting outside an Atlanta strip club in 2007. Pacman's list of transgressions are too numerous to name, and caused him to be suspended by the league for the entire 2007 season. I hope all of the dumb acts and millions of dollars lost were worth it to Mr. Jones.

Obama Looking To End Burris Mess

The Chicago Tribune reports that President-elect Barack Obama urged Senate leaders to seat Roland Burris in his now vacant Illinois Senate Seat if he had legal standing to assume the position. Burris met with Senate leaders yesterday clearing the way for him to be seated probably in a few weeks. Obama is trying to limit as many distractions as possible, and it appears that Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has outsmarted everyone, and Burris will benefit from his political savvy.

Christine Goes To Jail!

Well I guess we can officially put a fork in the Detroit Text Messaging Scandal since Christine Beatty was hauled off to jail yesterday to serve potentially a 4 month sentence. Beatty and former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick are now both in jail serving time for lying under oath. Beatty , who is a mother of two daughters has incurred more than $726,000 in legal fees according to the Detroit Free Press.

This probably turned out the best it could for Ms. Beatty under the circumstances. I guess she'll have time to pen her memoir and contact Oprah's representatives over the next 4 months.

The Burris Circus!

The Roland "Would Be Illinois Senator" Burris circus continued yesterday on Capital Hill as Burris who was appointed to President-elect Barack Obama's now vacant Senate Seat by embattled Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, was barred from the Senate floor because his appointment has not been signed off on by Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. Throwing a wrench in this drama is that Sen. Diane Feinstein is now urging the Senate to seat Burris according to the Chicago Tribune.

Since there are no African Americans in the Senate, how long will it be before the NAACP jumps on the Burris bandwagon, urging him to be seated. Blagojevich has really played the race pawn in this circus, and Burris is agreeing to go along for the ride.

Trillion-Dollar Deficits

President-elect Barack Obama has spent the past 2 days meeting with his economic advisers discussing what ails the U.S. economy. Obama has honestly assessed the situation and informed us that we will be running trillion-dollar deficits over the next few years. The recession is and will continue to take it's toll on unemployment benefits, welfare programs, corporate profits and investment income. The New York Times reports rather pessimistically on the ability of Obama to keep some of his campaign promises. Specifically, we're probably not going to have a health care plan any time soon.

Did Obama Ignore Richardson's Previous Dealings?

MotherJones.com reports that the Obama Transition team should've been aware of New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson's dubious dealings prior to nominating him for the post of Commerce Secretary. Richardson is presently involved in a potential pay for play scandal, and apparently has had other potential shady dealings.

Perhaps the vetting process wasn't as thorough as possible, but once the Obama Team caught wind of potential problems, they probably told Richardson to remove his name from consideration so that they could cut their losses.

The Obama's Girls First Day At Their New School

Malia and Sasha Obama began their first at the exclusive Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C. yesterday. The daughters of our president-elect began their new day with Secret Service protection and photographers watching their every step. The young daughters of Barack and Michelle Obama now begin to live in the fishbowl of politics and celebrity. Hopefully they'll stay grounded and true to their parent's foundation.

Preparing For A New Job!

The Chicago Tribune reports on our president-elect being choked up about leaving the city that led to his miraculous rise to the presidency. The Obama's are headed to Washington, D.C. early so that their daughters can enroll in school. Now the real work will begin for the president-elect, and he now has to nominate a new Commerce Secretary with New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson removing his name from nomination amid another potential pay for play scandal.

Moving On Without Obama and Wright

During the darkest days of the presidential election, Rev. Otis Moss III contemplated leaving Trinity United Church of Christ amid the furor created by former member, now President-elect Barack Obama. During the height of the controversy fueled by the sermons of former leader Rev. Jeremiah Wright the church banned recorders from the church and increased security to the tune of $40,000 a week. The Chicago Tribune reports on the church moving forward in a new year comfortable that a former member will become President of the United States in about 2 weeks.

While Moss struggled with leading the church out of it's turmoil, with his leadership being questioned, hopefully he's emerged as a stronger spiritual leader with his faith renewed that every bad situation does pass in time.