Ex-Murdoch aide Brooks arrested; Police chief out

Ex-Murdoch aide Brooks arrested; Police chief out

FILE - Former Chief executive of News International, Rebekah Brooks leaves a hotel in central London, in this Sunday, July 10, 2011 file photo. Sky television sources reported on Sunday July 17 2011 that Brookes had been arrested by police investigating a phone hacking and corruption scandal that has engulfed Rupert Murdoch's British media company. Scotland Yard confirmed that a 43 year old woman had been arrested.

LONDON (AP) -- Rebekah Brooks, Rupert Murdoch's former British newspaper chief, was arrested Sunday on suspicion of phone hacking and bribing police, and the escalating scandal shaking Murdoch's global media empire also claimed the job of London's police chief.

The arrest of the 43-year-old Brooks, often described as a surrogate daughter to the 80-year-old Murdoch, brought the British police investigations into the media baron's inner circle for the first time.

Hours later, the resignation of Britain's most senior police officer, Paul Stephenson, who quit over his links to an arrested former editor at the same Murdoch's tabloid that Brooks once edited, was the latest shock in a scandal engulfing Britain's political and media elite.

Brooks' arrest came only 48 hours before she, Rupert Murdoch and his son James were to be grilled by U.K. lawmakers investigating widespread lawbreaking at Murdoch's now-defunct News of the World tabloid. It also raises the possibility that Murdoch's old friend Les Hinton, who resigned Friday as publisher of The Wall Street Journal, or his 38-year-old son and heir apparent, James, could be next.

Brooks' detention also moved the police inquiry closer to the heart of British political power. Brooks is the ultimate social and political insider, who dined at Christmas with Prime Minister David Cameron and counts numerous celebrities and senior politicians among her friends.

Cameron's Conservative-led government and the London police are facing increasing questions about their close relationship with Murdoch's media empire.

Stephenson said he was resigning as commissioner of London's force because of "speculation and accusations" about his links to Neil Wallis, a former News of the World executive editor, who also worked for the London police as a part-time PR consultant for a year until September 2010. Wallis was arrested last week.

Stephenson said he did not make the decision to hire Wallis and had no knowledge of Wallis's links to phone hacking, but he wanted his police force to focus on preparing for the 2012 London Olympics instead of wondering about a possible leadership change.

"I had no knowledge of the extent of this disgraceful practice and the repugnant nature of the selection of victims that is now emerging," Stephenson said. "I will not lose any sleep over my personal integrity."

Until Friday, Brooks was the defiant chief executive of News International, Murdoch's British newspaper arm, whose News of the World tabloid stands accused of hacking into the phones of celebrities, politicians, other journalists and even murder victims. In the tumultuous last two weeks, she had kept her job even as Murdoch shut down the 168-year-old tabloid and tossed 200 other journalists out of work.

On Sunday she showed up for a prearranged meeting with London police investigating the hacking and was arrested. She was being questioned on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications - phone hacking - and on suspicion of corruption, which relates to bribing police for information.

Brooks' spokesman, David Wilson, said police contacted her Friday to arrange a meeting and she voluntarily went "to assist with their ongoing investigation." He claimed that Brooks did not know she was going to be arrested.

The arrest threw Brooks' appearance at Tuesday's parliamentary hearing into doubt.

"Obviously this complicates matter greatly," Wilson said. "Her legal team will have to have discussions with the committee to see whether it would still be appropriate for her to attend. "

Lawmaker Adrian Sanders said if Brooks did not appear, "that is not going to go down very well with my fellow committee members."

The arrest was the latest blow for Murdoch, the once all-powerful figure courted by British politicians of all stripes. Now Murdoch is struggling to tame a scandal that has already destroyed his muckraking tabloid News of the World, cost the jobs of Brooks and Hinton and sunk the media baron's dream of taking full control of a lucrative satellite broadcaster, British Sky Broadcasting.

"(Murdoch) needs to come absolutely clean about what he knew, about what his senior executives knew, and why this culture of industrial-scale corruption - so it is alleged - appeared to have grown up without anyone higher up in the food chain taking any real responsibility for it," Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said Sunday.

Even more senior figures could face arrest, including James Murdoch, chairman of BSkyB and chief executive of his father's European and Asian operations. James Murdoch did not directly oversee the News of the World, but he approved payments to some of the paper's most prominent hacking victims, including 700,000 pounds ($1.1 million) to Professional Footballers' Association chief Gordon Taylor.

James Murdoch said last week that he "did not have a complete picture" when he approved the payouts.

Britain's bribery law gives authorities the power to prosecute corporate chiefs for failing to prevent bribery, something that had previously been difficult, but the bar for proof is high.

Chandrashekhar Krishnan, executive director of Transparency International UK, said British prosecutors seeking to prove that bribes that were approved at a high level would have to uncover strong evidence such as memos or minutes of a meeting.

"That usually proves to be very, very difficult," he said

James Murdoch's ties to the hacking scandal might bolster the position of his 42-year-old sister, Elisabeth Murdoch, who was not with News Corp. during much of the period in question.

Hinton, too, could face questioning over wrongdoing at the News of the World during his 12 years as executive chairman of News International. But Hinton is an American citizen living in the U.S., so British authorities would have to seek his extradition if he refused to come willingly.

Brooks stepped down Friday as head of Murdoch's British newspapers, saying she was going to "concentrate on correcting the distortions and rebutting the allegations about my record."

She was editor of the now-defunct News of the World between 2000 and 2003, when some of the phone hacking took place, but has always said she did not know it was going on, a claim greeted with skepticism by many who worked there.

At an appearance before U.K. lawmakers in 2003, Brooks admitted that News International had paid police for information. That admission of possible illegal activity went largely unchallenged at the time and lawmakers are keen to ask her about it again.

Police have already arrested nine other people, including several former News of the World reporters and editors, over allegations of hacking and bribery. Those include Andy Coulson, a former News of the World editor who became Cameron's communications chief before resigning in January. No one has yet been charged.

Some Murdoch critics were suspicious of the timing of Brooks' arrest, which may draw attention away from uncomfortable questions about police actions.

"The timing stinks," said Mark Lewis, lawyer for the family of Milly Dowler, the murdered 13-year-old whose phone was hacked by News of the World journalists in 2002.

Stephenson quit as London police are under pressure to explain why their original hacking investigation several years ago failed to find enough evidence to prosecute anyone other than News of the World royal reporter Clive Goodman and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire. Detectives reopened the investigation earlier this year and now say they have the names of 3,700 potential victims.

Records show that senior officers have had numerous meals and meetings with News International executives in the past few years.

Stephenson, who became police chief in 2009, said he had "no knowledge of, or involvement in, the original investigation into phone hacking in 2006." He said he was "unaware that there were any other documents in our possession of the nature that have now emerged."

Tuesday's televised public inquisition by a parliamentary committee is one both Murdochs fought to avoid, but later reluctantly agreed to attend.

Politicians want answers about the scale of criminality at the News of the World, while the Murdochs wan to avoid incriminating themselves or doing more harm to their business. They will have to walk a fine line: misleading Parliament is a crime.

Murdoch is eager to stop the crisis from spreading to the United States, where many of his most lucrative assets - including the Fox TV network, 20th Century Fox film studio, The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post - are based. The FBI has already opened an inquiry into whether 9/11 victims or their families were also hacking targets of News Corp. journalists.

On Sunday, Murdoch took out full page ads in British newspapers promising that News Corp. would make amends for the phone hacking scandal, with the title "Putting right what's gone wrong." News Corp. vowed there would be "be no place to hide" for wrongdoers.

That followed a full-page Murdoch ad Saturday declaring, "We are sorry."

But Murdoch's critics say that is not enough. Labour Party leader Ed Miliband said Sunday that Murdoch has "too much power" in Britain and his share of media ownership should be reduced.

Murdoch still owns three national British newspapers - The Sun, The Times and The Sunday Times - and a 39-percent share of BSkyB.

Troops march in San Diego's gay pride parade

Troops march in San Diego's gay pride parade

Two women, both active duty sailors in the Navy who gave their names as Nikki, left, and Lisa, kiss as they march in the Gay Pride Parade in San Diego Saturday, July 16, 2011. More than 200 active duty troops and war veterans waving small American flags alongside rainbow banners marched in San Diego's gay pride parade in what is believed to be the first time an identifiable group of active duty troops has participated in such an event in the U.S.

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- About 200 active-duty troops and veterans wearing T-shirts advertising their branch of service marched Saturday in San Diego's gay pride parade with American flags and rainbow banners, marking what is believed to be the first time a military contingent has participated in such an event in the U.S.

Many of the active-duty troops said they were moved to come out because it is time to end the military's ban on openly gay troops. The march comes a day after a federal appeals court reinstated "don't ask, don't tell" but with a caveat that prevents the government from investigating or penalizing anyone who is openly gay.

National Guard member Nichole Herrera, 31, said she didn't think twice about marching, even though the policy is back on the books. She said she was "choked up" several times as she walked down a main thoroughfare in San Diego, a major Navy port.

"This is one of the proudest days in my life. It's time for it (the policy) to be gone," Herrera said. "I'm a soldier no matter what, regardless of my sexual orientation."

The crowd roared as the group waving military flags and holding placards identifying their military branch walked past the thousands.

Every branch of service was represented Saturday, including the Coast Guard. Marines and sailors ran out carrying their branch's flags over their heads. One Marine stopped to pose with two towering bikini-clad blondes in stiletto-heeled boots.

Onlookers stepped into the parade route to salute them. One man in a rainbow colored shirt waved his feather boa and yelled "Hooah!" the military battle cry.

The national Servicemembers Legal Defense Network - representing gay and lesbian active-duty military personnel - informed organizer Sean Sala that they are warning members that it is still a risk to come out as long as "don't ask, don't tell" is on the books.

Sala, a former Navy operations specialist, said it's time for the gay and lesbian community to stop hiding in fear.

"This is not in any way a violation of military policy and it's time for the country to move on - plain and simple," he said.

Rolling slowly behind the 200 service members was a green half-ton military truck with the banner "Taking pride in our LGBT service men and women." Speakers on the truck blasted out "Taps" and military fight songs.

Miranda LeClair, 30, a former military police officer for the Navy, carried a sign that read: "Proudly served in silence for nine years." She attended with her girlfriend, also a former member of the military police.

"It's been a long time coming," said LeClair, who left the service in November. "This is really an emotional day for me."

LeClair said she was investigated under "don't ask, don't tell" in 2008 but her commanders decided not to pursue discharging her.

Marine Corps officials said service members who are not in uniform are within their rights to participate in a gay pride parade.

The policy has been on and off the books as the Obama administration works to end the law while at the same time fights a court battle because of a lawsuit by the gay rights organization, the Log Cabin Republicans, which sued the Justice Department to stop the policy's enforcement immediately.

The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, in a July 6 ruling on the lawsuit, ordered the 17-year policy be immediately halted.

The Department of Justice filed an emergency motion Thursday asking the court to reconsider its order, saying ending the ban now would pre-empt the "orderly process" for rolling back the policy as outlined in the law passed and signed by the president in December.

Late Friday the court temporarily reinstated it, while prohibiting any investigation, penalties or discharges under the rule. The Pentagon said the ban could be lifted within weeks.

"I'm so happy I'm here and I'm able to come out and support not only myself but those who can't be here today," said Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Derek Collins, who has served for 11 years.

Congress seeks debt solution, Obama goes to public

Congress seeks debt solution, Obama goes to public

President Barack Obama answers questions on the ongoing budget negotiations during a press conference in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, July 15, 2011.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Racing the debt clock, Congress is working on dual tracks while President Barack Obama appeals to the public in hopes of influencing a deal that talks have failed to produce so far.

"We have to ask everyone to play their part because we are all part of the same country," Obama said Saturday, pushing a combination of spending cuts and tax increases that has met stiff resistance from Republicans. "We are all in this together."

In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama said the wealthiest must "pay their fair share." He invoked budget deals negotiated by GOP President Ronald Reagan and Democratic House Speaker Tip O'Neill - which included a payroll tax increase - and Democratic President Bill Clinton and Republican Speaker Newt Gingrich.

"You sent us to Washington to do the tough things, the right things," he said. "Not just for some of us, but for all of us."

As a critical Aug. 2 deadline approached, the chances that Obama would get $4 trillion or even $2 trillion in deficit reduction on terms he preferred were quickly fading as Congress moved to take control of the debate. At a news conference Friday, Obama opened the door to a smaller package of deficit reductions without revenue increases.

Obama's communications director, Dan Pfeiffer, said Saturday the president, Vice President Joe Biden and White House aides were discussing "various options" with congressional leaders and House and Senate aides from both parties.

The White House held out the possibility of arranging a meeting with the leaders on Sunday.

House Republicans prepared to vote this coming week on allowing an increase in the government's borrowing limit through 2012 as long as Congress approved a balanced-budget constitutional amendment, which is highly unlikely.

In the Senate, the Republican and Democratic leaders worked on a bipartisan plan that would allow Obama to raise the debt limit without a prior vote by lawmakers. The talks focused on how to address long-term deficit reduction in the proposal in hopes of satisfying House Republicans.

A weekend deadline that the president gave congressional leaders to choose one of three deficit reduction options became a moot point after House and Senate leaders made it clear to the White House on Friday that they were moving ahead with their own plans.

In the Republicans' address Saturday, Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah argued for passage of a balanced-budget amendment. He blamed Democrats for failing to embrace adequate budget cuts and said "the solution to a spending crisis is not tax increases."

An amendment that requires a balanced budget, he said, "would put us on a path to fiscal health and would prevent this White House or any future White House from forcing more debt on the American people."

The government said Friday it was using its last stopgap measure to avoid exceeding the current $14.3 trillion debt limit. Administration officials, economists and the financial markets have warned that missing the Aug. 2 deadline and precipitating a government default would send convulsions through an already weakened economy.

Obama had held five straight days of meeting with congressional leaders at the White House, but none of the three options he proposed - deficit cuts of $4 trillion, $2 trillion or $1.5 trillion over 10 years - were unlocking enough support to increase the debt ceiling by the $2.4 trillion Obama wants to make it last beyond the 2012 elections.

Essentially declaring those discussions over, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Friday: ""Now the debate will move from a room in the White House to the House and Senate floors." By day's end, House Speaker John Boehner held at least two top-level meetings, one with White House Chief of Sta ff Bill Daley and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, and the other with House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi.

In search of a deal, Obama has used a combination of private meetings with congressional leaders and high visibility press conferences, radio addresses and public statements in an effort to win the public to his side. His pitch is also aimed at independent voters, to whom he is presenting himself as a willing compromiser.

In a White House video distributed Saturday by Obama senior adviser David Plouffe to supporters, Obama is shown praising the virtue of compromise to a group of Democratic, Republican and independent students. He noted that President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation permitted slavery in border states loyal to the Union, in an attempt to hold the nation together.

"Here you've got a wartime president whose making a compromise around probably the greatest moral issue that the country ever faced because he understood that `right now, my job is to win the war and to maintain the union,'" Obama said.

"Can you imagine how the (liberal news outlet) Huffington Post would have reported on that? It would have been blistering. Think about it, `Lincoln sells out slaves.'"

He told the students: "The nature of our democracy and the nature of our politics is to marry principle to a political process that means you don't get 100 percent of what you want."

WSJ publisher quits in phone-hacking scandal

WSJ publisher quits in phone-hacking scandal

Rupert Murdoch, centre, attempts to speak to the media after he held a meeting with the parents and sister of murdered school girl Milly Dowler in London, Friday, July 15, 2011. The lawyer for Milly Dowler's family says Rupert Murdoch has issued a full and sincere apology to the murdered schoolgirl's family for the actions of journalists at his newspaper. Mark Lewis told reporters that the media baron called the private meeting and apologized "many times," telling the Dowlers the events that transpired at the News of the World tabloid were not in keeping with the standards set out when his own father entered the media industry.

LONDON (AP) -- Rupert Murdoch accepted the resignations of The Wall Street Journal's publisher and the chief of his British operations on Friday as the once-defiant media mogul struggled to control an escalating phone hacking scandal, offering apologies to the public and the family of a murdered schoolgirl.

The scandal has knocked billions off the value of Murdoch's News Corp., scuttled his ambitions to take control of a lucrative satellite TV company, withered his political power in Britain - and is threatening to destabilize his globe-spanning empire.

The controversy claimed its first Murdoch executive in the United States as Les Hinton, chief executive of the Murdoch-owned Dow Jones & Co. and publisher of the Wall Street Journal, announced he was resigning with immediate effect.

Murdoch's British lieutenant, Rebekah Brooks, stepped down earlier Friday.

Hinton, 67, has worked for Murdoch's News Corp. for 52 years and is one of the media baron's staunchest allies. He became head of Dow Jones in December 2007.

He was chairman of Murdoch's British newspaper arm during some of the years its staffers are alleged to have hacked cell phones, but testified to a parliamentary committee in 2009 that he had seen no evidence abuses had spread beyond a single jailed reporter, Clive Goodman.

Hinton said Friday that "the pain caused to innocent people (by hacking) is unimaginable."

"That I was ignorant of what apparently happened is irrelevant, and in the circumstances I feel it is proper for me to resign from News Corp. and apologize to those hurt by the actions of News of the World," he said.

Murdoch said he accepted Hinton's resignation with "much sadness." It capped a difficult week for the embattled mogul.

Just a day after asserting that News Corp. had made only "minor mistakes," Murdoch issued an apology to run in Britain's national newspapers for "serious wrongdoing" by the News of the World, which he shut down last week amid allegations of large-scale illegal hacking by its staff.

"We are sorry for the serious wrongdoing that occurred. We are deeply sorry for the hurt suffered by the individuals affected. We regret not acting faster to sort things out," said the full-page ad, signed by Murdoch and due to run in Saturday's editions of Britain's main national newspapers.

Murdoch promised "further concrete steps to resolve these issues and make amends for the damage they have caused."

Murdoch also met the family of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler, whose phone was hacked by the News of the World in 2002. The revelation that journalists had accessed her phone in search of scoops inflamed the long-simmering scandal about illegal eavesdropping by the newspaper.

The 80-year-old mogul emerged from the meeting at a London hotel to catcalls of "shame on you!" from hecklers. He said that "as founder of the company I was appalled to find out what had happened and I apologized."

Dowler family lawyer Mark Lewis said Murdoch appeared humbled and had offered "a heartfelt and what seemed to be a very sincere apology."

"I don't think somebody could have held their head in their hands so many times and said that they were sorry," Lewis said.

Murdoch's tone was dramatically different from an interview published Thursday in the Wall Street Journal - which is owned by News Corp. - in which he said the company had handled the crisis "extremely well in every way possible" and complained he was "getting annoyed" at all the negative headlines.

The crisis claimed another senior scalp Friday as Brooks, chief executive of Murdoch's British newspaper division, resigned.

The media magnate had defended the 43-year-old Brooks in the face of demands she step down from British politicians - including her friend and neighbor, Prime Minister David Cameron. After previously refusing to accept her resignation, Murdoch made an abrupt switch as News Corp. struggled but failed to contain the crisis.

Brooks said she was stepping aside because "my desire to remain on the bridge has made me a focal point of the debate."

"This is now detracting attention from all our honest endeavors to fix the problems of the past," she said in an email to staff.

Brooks said she would "concentrate on correcting the distortions and rebutting the allegations about my record as a journalist, an editor and executive."

A new chief executive untainted by the U.K. problems, Tom Mockridge, was installed to replace Brooks at News International, the British arm of Rupert Murdoch's global News Corp. Mockridge, a 55-year-old New Zealander, joined News Corp. in 1991 and has been in charge of Sky Italia since 2003. Dow Jones President Todd Larsen will maintain his title but will temporarily be the top executive there.

The moves came after News Corp. brought in Edelman Communications to help with public relations and lobbying - an admission, perhaps, that its attempts to manage the crisis have so far been a disaster.

News Corp.'s critics say the company underestimated the public and political anger. Media analyst Claire Enders said the company had cast itself as a victim - "which is completely impossible for people here to respond to and is making things worse."

Brooks' departure marks a reversal of fortune for one of Britain's most powerful media executives, who rose from secretary to CEO during 22 years with News International.

Critics said she should have gone long ago. She was editor of the News of the World between 2000 and 2003, when the paper's employees allegedly hacked into 13-year-old Milly's phone as police searched for her, potentially interfering with the police investigation.

Brooks has always said she had no knowledge of phone hacking, though she did acknowledge in a 2003 appearance before lawmakers that her paper had paid police officers for information - an illegal practice that, along with hacking, is now the center of a criminal investigation.

Brooks had been in charge of News International's four - now three - British newspapers since 2007, following a four-year stint as editor of the market-leading daily tabloid, The Sun. Just a week ago, she faced 200 angry employees at the News of the World who had lost their jobs as she kept hers when Murdoch shut down the paper.

When shareholders began to call for her to go, Brooks' position became untenable. Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal Alsaud, the second-largest News Corp. stockholder, told the BBC on Thursday that if Brooks were found to be implicated in wrongdoing by the newspapers, "for sure she has to go."

Her resignation was greeted with relief by British politicians.

Cameron, who had called for Brooks to step down, said she made "the right decision," said the prime minister's spokesman, Steve Field.

Allegations emerged last week that the News of the World hacked not only celebrities, politicians and athletes but Dowler, the victims of London's 2005 terrorist bombings and the families of dead British soldiers.

The company first shut down the News of the World and then abandoned a bid to take control of British Sky Broadcasting in an effort to limit the damage to the greater News Corp. empire, which includes Fox News, the 20th Century Fox movie studio, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Post and the three remaining British newspapers - The Sun, The Times and The Sunday Times.

Hinton has done much to build and steady the Murdoch empire in the United States, where there were fears Murdoch would damage the venerable Wall Street Journal brand.

New projects, including a beefed-up New York section and the lifestyle magazine insert WSJ, helped the 122-year-old paper surpass USA Today as America's top-selling daily during Hinton's 3-year tenure.

In a memo to staff Friday, Hinton defended Murdoch as a strong backer of Dow Jones, "allowing us to invest and expand as other media companies slashed costs."

Hinton, who was named to the AP board in April, had been scheduled to attend his first board meeting next week, but it now seems certain that his tenure will be brief.

"We've just heard this news, but the AP board of directors is made up of current leaders of news companies," said AP spokesman Paul Colford.

Friday's dual departures of two key executives show Murdoch is "trying to build a firewall between the past and the future of News Corp.," said newspaper analyst Ken Doctor.

It also suggests that Murdoch doesn't want the Journal, one of the world's most respected newspapers, to get tarred in a scandal involving the tawdry behavior of journalists at a British tabloid.

Protecting the Journal's reputation has become more important to Murdoch now that the media mogul's political influence in Britain has been diminished. Doctor believes it's likely News Corp. will sell all of its British newspapers.

"He has lost his power in Britain and he is never going to get it back in this lifetime, so there is no longer a reason for him to own News International," Doctor said. "The movie studio and cable TV is what's really important to protect now."

The crisis is far from over.

This week Cameron appointed a judge to conduct a sweeping inquiry into criminal activity at the paper and in the British media.

British police have arrested nine people in their investigation of phone hacking and alleged bribery of police officers, and have uncovered a list of 3,700 names of potential victims. Next week Brooks, Murdoch and his son James face questions from a British parliamentary committee.

Most worrying for the Murdochs are signs the crisis could spread to the United States, where the FBI has opened an inquiry into whether 9/11 victims or their families were targeted by News Corp. papers.

News Corp.'s main, nonvoting stock, which has rallied in recent days after losses last week, increased 20 cents, or 1.3 percent, to close Friday at $15.64.

Debt talks: Dire warnings, a possible compromise?

Debt talks: Dire warnings, a possible compromise?

President Barack Obama sits with House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia, as he meets with Republican and Democratic leaders regarding the debt ceiling in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, Thursday, July 14, 2011.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- With time growing short and warnings more dire, the first, fragile signs emerged Thursday of a possible compromise to raise the nation's debt limit and avert a potentially catastrophic default on Aug. 2.

Under a plan discussed by the Senate's top two leaders, President Barack Obama would receive enhanced authority to raise the debt ceiling at the same time procedures would be set in motion that could lead to federal spending cuts.

Word that Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky were at work on the fallback plan came as Obama and congressional leaders held a fifth straight day of debt-crisis talks at the White House.

McConnell pronounced the session a good one. "We're going to continue to discuss a way forward over the next couple of days and see what happens," he said.

Obama was having his say on Friday, scheduling his second White House news conference of the week.

House Republicans and Democrats scheduled closed-door meetings of the rank and file to review the spending cuts and tax increases proposed by one side or the other so far.

After weeks of political turmoil, it appeared attempts to avoid a default were proceeding along two tracks - the White House negotiations that appeared near an end, and the fallback that officials said privately presented the stronger opportunity to avert a crisis.

One Republican, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that in the White House talks so far, negotiators had agreed on about $1.5 trillion in deficit cuts, far less than the $2.4 trillion or so needed to meet Obama's demand that the debt limit go up enough to tide the Treasury over through the 2012 elections.

A summary that House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., prepared for the talks earlier in the week showed the bulk of cuts coming from day-to-day operating budgets of federal programs.

Also included were as much as $245 billion from Medicare, including higher premiums for wealthier beneficiaries, and additional savings from skilled nursing homes and home health care. The summary indicated that federal workers would pay more for their pensions, agriculture subsidies would be cut and food stamp spending would be restrained.

Two officials said Cantor did not speak during the day's session, after irritating Obama on Wednesday by repeatedly proposing a short-term debt limit increase the president has vowed to veto.

Attempts by Democrats to include higher taxes were rejected by Republicans, as expected.

One Democratic official said GOP negotiators declined to consider closing corporate tax loopholes in order to pay for a one-year extension of the payroll tax cut approved last winter.

The day's events were shadowed by warnings from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and JPMorgan Chase CEO Jaime Dimon. Speaking separately, the two men admonished bickering lawmakers that failure to avoid an unprecedented default could have a devastating effect on an already anemic U.S. economy.

Adding to the urgency, Moody's Investor Service has announced it is reviewing America's bond rating for a possible downgrade, and there was growing concern overseas, too. A Chinese rating agency, Dagong Global Credit Rating Co., also advised of a possible downgrade, and Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said: "We hope that the U.S. government adopts a responsible policy to ensure the interests of the investors."

It was unclear when McConnell and Reid might unveil their legislation, or whether they would first present their ideas to Obama and others involved in the daily meetings at the White House.

McConnell said the plans had not been discussed in depth at Thursday's White House session, which lasted less than 90 minutes.

One option under discussion by the Senate leaders is creation of a group of lawmakers who could recommend spending cuts, possibly including changes in benefit programs, that would be guaranteed a yes-or-no vote in Congress.

Another would be to invite the House to add spending cuts to the legislation, to take effect as soon as Obama requested more borrowing authority, including some that have emerged in private talks led first by Vice President Joe Biden, and now by Obama.

The seriousness of the situation was underscored throughout the day.

Testifying before a Senate panel, Bernanke said a default would deal a "self-inflicted wound" to the nation's economy, driving up interest rates and slowing recovery from the deep recession.

Dimon, speaking to reporters in New York, said default could prove catastrophic. "Why take that chance? I wouldn't take that chance," he said, answering his own rhetorical question.

Talks have been stymied by a dispute over tax increases as part of any deal to cut future deficits. Obama and Democrats want them, while Republicans don't.

The concept under discussion by the Senate leaders is a more elaborate version of a plan McConnell suggested earlier in the week to a less-than-enthusiastic reception from conservatives.

In his first substantive remarks on McConnell's initial suggestion, Speaker John Boehner told reporters, "What may look like something less than optimal today, if we're unable to get an agreement might look pretty good a few weeks from now."

Carney said if there was no progress toward a bipartisan agreement on cuts by Friday, "then we have to begin looking at making sure that we fulfill our obligations to uphold the credit rating of the United States."

He did not elaborate.

Whatever choice was made, it was clear time was running out.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner met privately at the Capitol with Senate Democrats, emerging to say: "We have no way to give Congress more time to solve this problem."

So the alarms covered a broad front: Geithner is a senior official in the Obama administration, Bernanke is the nation's central banker and Dimon the head of one of Wall Street's best-known firms.

Similar warnings have been directed at lawmakers repeatedly since Geithner announced that Aug. 2 was essentially the day of reckoning. The Treasury has been relying on unusual measures since early May to avoid breaching the current debt ceiling, which stands at $14.3 trillion.

Boehner also took steps during the day to present a common front with Cantor, his second-in-command, who has seemed at times to take a dominant role in the White House talks.

Reid criticized Cantor in unusually personal remarks on the Senate floor, saying he "has shown he shouldn't be at the table."

Cantor brushed aside the criticism, and Boehner came to his defense at a news conference. "We have been in this fight together," he said, placing his arm around Cantor's shoulder, adding that any report that the Virginian has been "anything less than helpful is just wrong. ... We're in the foxhole."

Cantor and other members of the party leadership balked several days ago when Boehner privately shared details of a possible sweeping deal with Obama that could have meant higher taxes. The speaker announced he would no longer pursue the plan.

Apart from his role in the White House talks, Cantor staged a high-profile walkout from an earlier set of negotiations led by Biden, irritating some Democrats who noted the talks were near an end anyway.

Obama warns GOP leaders: 'Don't call my bluff'

Obama warns GOP leaders: 'Don't call my bluff'

President Barack Obama smiles as he sits with House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, left, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, July 13, 2011, as he met with Congressional leaders regarding the debt ceiling.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama bluntly told Republican congressional leaders Wednesday they must compromise quickly if the government is to avoid an unprecedented default, adding, "Don't call my bluff" by passing a short-term debt limit increase he has threatened to veto.

The presidential warning, directed at House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., marked an acrimonious end to a two-hour negotiating session at the White House that produced no evident progress toward a compromise.

Another round of talks is set for Thursday.

With a threatened default less than three weeks away, Moody's Investors Service announced it was reviewing the U.S. bond rating for a possible downgrade, and the Treasury said the annual deficit was on a pace to exceed $1 trillion for the third year in a row.

With the negotiations at a seeming standstill, Republicans drew a warning of a different sort, from an unlikely source - the party's Senate leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

In an interview with radio talk-show host Laura Ingraham, McConnell warned fellow conservatives that failure to raise the debt limit would probably ensure Obama's re-election in 2012.

Republicans, many of them elected with the support of tea party activists in 2010, are demanding deep spending cuts as the price for allowing a debt limit increase to pass. But negotiations have bogged down over Obama's demand for tax increases that GOP lawmakers say they won't accept.

McConnell predicted that if Congress fails to act, Obama will argue "that Republicans are making the economy worse and try to convince the public, maybe with some merit, if people start not getting their Social Security checks and military families start getting letters saying their service people overseas don't get paid."

"You know, it's an argument he has a good chance of winning, and all of a sudden we (Republicans) have co-ownership of a bad economy," McConnell said. "That is a very bad positioning going into an election."

McConnell said his first choice was to reach a good compromise with Obama.

Short of that, "my second obligation is to my party ... to prevent them from being sucked into a horrible position politically that would allow the president probably to get re-elected because we didn't handle this difficult situation correctly."

With bipartisan talks scheduled to resume on Thursday, two Democratic officials quoted Obama as telling Republicans, "Enough is enough. We have to be willing to compromise. It shouldn't be about positioning and politics and I'll see you all tomorrow."

Talking with reporters at the Capitol after he left the White House, Cantor said the president had backed away from spending cuts agreed to earlier because of pressure from Democrats in Congress. He said the two sides were far from agreement on a $2.4 trillion package of deficit cuts that would allow the Treasury to borrow through the next election.

As a result, the Virginian said he had reversed his own position, and was now willing to ask the House to approve a smaller increase, with a second installment before the 2012 election.

"He got very agitated seemingly and said he had sat here long enough and that no other president, Ronald Reagan wouldn't sit here like this," Cantor said of the president.

Cantor quoted Obama as saying the talks had reached the point that something's got to give," and demanded Republicans either jettison their demand for deficit cuts at least equal to the size of the debt limit or drop their opposition to tax increases.

"And he said to me, `Eric, don't call my bluff.' He said, `I'm going to the American people with this.'"

Democratic officials said that in fact, Cantor had twice earlier in the meeting raised the possibility of a short-term bill, and that he interrupted the president mid-sentence to do so a third time.

At the Capitol, rank-and-file lawmakers advanced their own fallback measures in case the bipartisan compromise talks fail.

One version, authored by Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., was designed to make sure Social Security benefits are paid on time. Another, unveiled by a trio of House conservatives, would give priority to paychecks for members of the armed forces.

Without an increase in government borrowing authority by Aug. 2, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner has warned, there could be a default posing a catastrophic risk to the economy, still recovering from the worst recession in decades.

At least in part, McConnell's comments were a rebuttal to conservatives who criticized his proposal on Tuesday to let Obama raise the debt limit without a vote of Congress.

Presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich called that idea an "an irresponsible surrender to big government, big deficits and continued overspending," and Ingraham said she had received emails from conservative listeners likening McConnell to Pontius Pilate.

The Republican lawmaker brushed aside the biblical reference. But without mentioning Gingrich by name, he referred to two government shutdowns of 1995 that the one-time House speaker engineered in hopes of winning deep spending cuts from a Democratic president.

The tactic backfired politically on Gingrich and the Republicans, and benefited President Bill Clinton.

Some Democrats couldn't resist the temptation to jab at Republicans.

"You have the Republicans who walked out of the Biden talks. You have the speaker of the House who's close to entering into a framework agreement with the president of the United State walk out because other Republicans in the House undercut him," said Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., a participant in the talks led by Vice President Joe Biden.

"And now you have Republicans trashing a proposal put forward by the Republican leader in the Senate."

Nelson's proposal was designed to ensure that Social Security recipients receive their checks in the event of a default, mandating that the program's obligations no longer count against the overall debt limit.

He acted one day after Obama cautioned that he could not guarantee the checks would go out if there was a default.

On the other side of the Capitol, Republican Reps. Steve King of Iowa, Louie Gohmert of Texas and Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, a presidential candidate, said if the debt ceiling is reached, the Treasury should fund pay any allowances for members of the armed forces first and obligations on the public debt second, ahead of all other expenses.

Congressional Republicans have had a relatively muted response to McConnell's debt limit proposal. Privately, though, conservative lawmakers have been critical, accusing him of giving up the leverage the GOP has to force Obama into making deep spending cuts as the price for an increase in the debt limit.

Good Samaritan Pulls Child From Burning Car In Salem County

Good Samaritan Pulls Child From Burning Car In Salem Count

OLDMANS Twp., N.J. (CBS) – A nine-year-old boy is alive and recovering in the hospital thanks mostly to the efforts of a Salem County man, who spoke exclusively with Eyewitness News.

Police say Richard Vaughan pulled Hakeem Crain from the burning car he was in after a fiery crash along Interstate 295 in Oldmans Township, N.J. Monday evening. Crain is being treated at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, suffering from a broken femur.

For full story go to: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

GOP leader says give Obama new debt limit powers

GOP leader says give Obama new debt limit powers

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., left, and Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl of Ariz., leave after a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 12, 2011.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- With compromise talks at a vituperative standstill, Senate Republicans unexpectedly offered Tuesday to hand President Barack Obama new powers to avert a first-ever government default threatened for Aug. 2.

Under a proposal outlined by Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Obama could request - and likely secure - increases of up to $2.5 trillion in the government's borrowing authority in three separate installments over the next year, as long as he simultaneously proposed spending cuts of greater size.

The debt limit increases would take effect unless blocked by Congress under special rules that would require speedy action - and even then Obama could exercise his authority to veto such legislation. Significantly, the president's spending cuts would be debated under normal procedures, with no guarantee they ever come to a final vote.

The White House had no immediate reaction to the proposal, which came a few hours before Obama presided over his third meeting in as many days with congressional leaders searching for a way to avoid a default and ensuing financial crisis.

In an interview on CBS taped before the meeting, Obama said that without a deal to raise the debt limit, he could not guarantee that Social Security checks will be issued on Aug. 3 "because there may simply not be the money in the coffers to do it."

In essence, McConnell's proposal would greatly enhance Obama's authority to avoid a default, while also virtually absolving Republicans of responsibility if one occurred.

At the same time, it would allow Republican lawmakers to avoid having to support an increase in the debt limit, something many of them find odious.

"Republicans will choose a path that actually reflects the will of the people, which is to do the responsible thing and ensure the government doesn't default on its obligations," McConnell said in a speech on the Senate floor. He also excoriated the administration for seeking tax increases along with spending cuts as part of an agreement to raise the debt limit, adding that as long as Obama is president "a real solution is unattainable."

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, praised McConnell for doing "good work" with his recommendation but, in an interview on Fox News, did not endorse it.

At the same time, Boehner said he believed Obama was trying to reach a compromise on deficit cuts, "but their insistence on raising taxes is preventing us from getting there."

The talks have revolved around attempts to meet Republican demands for deficit cuts at least as large as any increase in the debt limit. Negotiators have grown testy in recent days as Obama and Democrats pushed for higher tax revenue as part of the deal, a line Republicans say they will not cross.

It was unclear whether McConnell's proposal could show the White House and congressional leaders of both parties a way out of a deadlock that Obama and others said threatened calamitous results for an economy still struggling to recover from the worst recession in decades.

It would obligate Obama to outline deep spending cuts, something Republicans have been trying to force him to do for months without much success.

Reductions as large as $2.5 trillion would almost certainly affect domestic programs seen as important by Democratic constituencies and by rank-and-file lawmakers, possibly including Medicare and Medicaid. Even if the cuts never took effect, Republicans would be able to call for votes, while identifying them as sponsored by the White House.

Any such proposals could also be used by Republicans in the 2012 campaigns, if only to blunt attacks made by Democrats.

The White House talks have been aimed at producing a compromise to cut projected deficits by trillions of dollars over the next decade while renewing the Treasury's authority to resume borrowing.

The government reached its current $14.3 trillion borrowing limit several weeks ago, and Treasury officials have been relying on accounting maneuvers to continue to pay the nation's bills without additional borrowing.

While Obama and Republicans maneuvered for political position, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said during the day that the two parties' debate over deficit reduction "should not be tied to the debt ceiling."

"America's good name and credit are just too important to be held hostage to Washington gridlock," he said in a speech a few miles away from the nation's financial center of Wall Street.

Bloomberg's concern echoed similar expressions by Obama and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, and neither McConnell nor Boehner has disputed the assertion that a default could bring disaster to the economy that is growing so slowly that unemployment stands at 9.2 percent nationally.

Still, in remarks made before McConnell unveiled his proposal, Boehner said bluntly of the president, "This debt limit increase is his problem and I think it's time for him to lead by putting his plan on the table - something that the Congress can pass."

Boehner noted he had been telling the White House for months there are "no tax increases on the table" as part of the debt reduction talks.

In back-channel talks with the White House last week, officials say Boehner and Obama discussed the possibility of a huge $4 trillion deal in which Democrats accepted cuts in Medicare, Medicaid and perhaps Social Security and the GOP supported an end to certain tax breaks in anticipation of sweeping tax reform legislation before the elections.

But House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., and other conservatives objected to White House demands for $1 trillion in new revenue. Boehner issued a statement Saturday backing away from the larger deal.

McConnell's Senate speech was particularly pointed when he spoke of Obama, whose defeat in 2012 he has called his top political priority.

"Rather than find a way to bring government back to the people, the administration has committed itself to protecting the size and scope of government at the cost of job creation, economy growth and America's status in the global economy," he said.

Under his proposal, the debt limit would rise by $100 billion as soon as Obama requested the first of the three increases envisioned.

Officials have said that the government normally borrows about $125 billion a month to finance operations, meaning Obama could avoid a default for a brief period of time simply by asking for it.

Philadelphia Front Page News (FPN): Dauphin County CYS Steals Children From Disabled Parents

Philadelphia Front Page News (FPN): Dauphin County CYS Steals Children From Disabled Parents

Dauphin County CYS Steals Children From Disabled Parents

Shane Victorino Wins ‘Final Vote’ For 2011 All-Star Game, Konerko Wins AL

this article

Share

No comments

PHILADELPHIA (CBS/AP) – The voting is closed and Shane Victorino is in!

WYSP’s contestant Jesse Slaton cast 663 more votes then WIP’s contestant Mike Redden to win the grand prize-2 VIP tix to this Sunday’s sold out Phillies game, plus Slaton will be recognized on field before the sold out crowd and will have the honor of handing Shane his official 2011 All-Star jersey.

For full story go to:

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/

Anthony sentence allows her to go free Wednesday

Anthony sentence allows her to go free Wednesday

Casey Anthony smiles before the start of her sentencing hearing in Orlando, Fla.,Thursday, July 7, 2011. Judge Belvin Perry sentenced Anthony to four years for lying to investigators but says she can go free in late July or early August because she has already served nearly three years in jail and has had good behavior. While acquitted of killing and abusing her daughter, Caylee, Anthony was convicted of four counts of lying to detectives trying to find her daughter.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Casey Anthony looked ready for freedom. For the first time since her trial began, she let her hair down, smiling and playing with it as she awaited the judge's decision on when she would be released.

Then she turned stone-faced as the sentence was pronounced: Freedom won't come just yet. She'll have to spend six more days in jail for lying to investigators about the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee.

Thursday's sentence means Anthony will go free only slightly more than a week after she was acquitted in the slaying.

The extra time in jail did little to satisfy throngs of angry people convinced of her guilt who gathered outside the courthouse. But it could provide time for the public furor over her acquittal to ease somewhat and give Anthony's attorneys a chance to plan for her safety.

Two days after the verdicts, most of the jury remained silent, with their names still kept secret by the court. One juror explained that the panel agreed to acquit Anthony because prosecutors did not show what happened to the toddler.

When she is released, the 25-year-old Anthony must decide whether to return to a community in which many onlookers long ago concluded that she's a killer, or to a home strained by her defense attorneys' accusations of sexual abuse.

Judge Belvin Perry gave her the maximum sentence of four years for four convictions of lying to authorities. He denied a defense request to combine the misdemeanor counts, which could have made her eligible for immediate release.

"As a result of those four specific, distinct lies, law enforcement expended great time and resources looking for Caylee Marie Anthony," the judge said.

With time served and credit for good behavior, she is due out on Wednesday, her 1,003rd day in jail.

Outside the courthouse, a cluster of protesters chanted "Justice for Caylee" as they waved signs that said "Arrest the Jury!!" and "Jurors 1-12 Guilty of Murder." One man had duct tape with a heart-shaped sticker over his mouth, similar to the way prosecutors contend Caylee died. Increased police presence included officers on horseback.

"At least she won't get to pop the champagne cork tonight," said Flora Reece, an Orlando real estate broker who stood outside the courthouse holding a sign that read "Arrest the Jury."

Anthony's parents were present for the hearing but left without speaking to reporters. Prosecutors and defense attorneys did not comment either.

Anger continued to spread online, with commenters vilifying Anthony on social media networks. Nearly 22,000 people "liked" the "I hate Casey Anthony" page on Facebook, which included comments wishing her the same fate that befell Caylee.

The potential for Anthony to profit off the case was infuriating to many who said they feared she could become rich by selling her story to publishers or filmmakers or signing a lucrative television contract.

Whatever future she chooses, Anthony's release next week promises to mark the start of a new, potentially difficult chapter for her.

Mary Tate, a former public defender who heads the University of Richmond's Institute for Actual Innocence, said Anthony's defense team is probably seeking help from a variety of advisers as they seek to rebuild her fractured life.

"She's going to be bombarded with a lot of financial offers. She's going to be bombarded with random hostility. She's just entering an extraordinarily exhausting two or three years," Tate said.

Dr. Phyllis Chesler, a psychologist who authored "Mothers on Trial," said Anthony will have to deal with an "absolutely primitive blood lust" that's been unleashed, even though she's been acquitted.

"The public would lynch her if they could get their hands on her," she said. "How is she going to cope with the hatred?"

At a separate hearing Thursday, Perry also expressed concern for the safety of jurors and postponed his decision on whether to release their names. The judge said he wanted to allow for a "cooling-off period" of at least a couple of days. The Associated Press and other news organizations have argued that the jurors' identities should be released.

"It's no big secret that some people disagree with their verdict, and some people would like to take something out on them," Perry said.

"I doubt you would have had this same uproar if the decision would have been different. But juries aren't supposed to make decisions based on public opinion polls," he added.

Anthony's release will come nearly three years after Caylee was reported missing. After the report was made on July 15, 2008, Anthony was interviewed by police and made the statements that led to her conviction for lying.

She lied about working at the Universal Studios theme park, about leaving her daughter with a non-existent nanny named Zanny, about telling two friends that Caylee had been kidnapped and about receiving a phone call from her.

The defense claimed Caylee actually drowned in the pool at the home of Anthony's parents, George and Cindy Anthony, with whom the child and her single mother lived. Defense attorneys say Anthony was a victim of sexual abuse by her father, and that he helped her death look like a murder, both claims he denies.

Prosecutors alleged that Anthony suffocated her daughter with duct tape because motherhood interfered with her lust for a carefree life of partying with friends and spending time with her boyfriend.

Jurors have mostly declined to discuss their verdict, though one told ABC News it was an emotional decision reached because the prosecution failed to show what really happened to Caylee.

"I did not say she was innocent," said Jennifer Ford, a 32-year-old nursing student. "I just said there was not enough evidence. If you cannot prove what the crime was, you cannot determine what the punishment should be."

Near the Anthony home, at the swampy, mosquito-filled site where Caylee's remains were found, several people visited a makeshift memorial to the child Thursday. Two-dozen flower bouquets wilted in the Florida heat, helium balloons swayed in the breeze and hundreds of stuffed animals lay in a pile on the ground. Some mourners attached hand-written notes, many of which disparaged Anthony.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office has erected no-parking signs throughout the area so curious crowds cannot block the roadway. The neighborhood is being patrolled by deputies on four all-terrain vehicles and six patrol cars. Horses were being brought in for mounted officers.

Sheriff's spokesman Jeff Williamson said he could not comment on the number of officers in the area, and there is no estimate yet of the cost to taxpayers.

Authorities "don't know who will come here or what people will do," he said. "We're here to handle any problems and protect the community."

Ray DeBattista came with his family of five and said he thought the verdict was "mind boggling." The St. Cloud retiree said he watched his 2-year-old grandson recently and the child slipped away while he answered the door. He said he called 911 less than 30 seconds later.

"My heart was racing, and I ran around frantically looking for him," DeBattista said. "He was playing hide-and-seek under the pool table in a laundry basket. I just cannot understand how Casey went 31 days without reporting her daughter missing."

BIOGRAPHY Van Stone Downing

BIOGRAPHY Van Stone Downing


Samuel Van Stone Downing

My legal name is Samuel Van Stone Downing. I am a civic activist, political analyst, and community organizer. I am the founder and president of Van Stone Productions (VSP) Foundation, Inc. 501c3 serving in the state of Pennsylvania. VSP Foundation is a citywide non-profit assisting community organization that supports youth services, loss management, and public safety. VSP Foundation was founded in 1980. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 1968 to 1970 I was enrolled in an all boy class at Alain Locke Elementary School. I attended and graduated from University City High School. I also served in the Philadelphia Business Academy during the Philadelphia Gang War Years (1977 to 1980), and learned how to turn much violence around with my activism involving Black American social and political newspapers, radio and television.

Attending Cheyney University in 1980, I found employment at Cheyney University. Beginning as a pre-school assistant, civics assistant, and radio station reporter I gradually moved up to assistant student teacher, and then president of student services. I also became the community relations student officer. I served in this capacity until 1985. I also have served as Chairman of the Van Stone Productions Foundation Urban Committee. From 1985 to 1995 I volunteered to work in the district where State Representative Lucien E. Blackwell served to reduce the gang problem that grew once again in Philadelphia. I worked with the Crisis Intervention Network, which received nationwide acclaim for its anti-crime and anti-gang programs in both West and South Philadelphia. From 1995 to 2002 I worked with the Urban League of Philadelphia.

In addition, I worked with social leaders to campaign against graffiti and the negative energy of youth artists. Young artists eventually painted murals on the walls throughout the city of Philadelphia instead of graffiti. In addition, I founded the Philadelphia Front Page News newspaper for a group of concerned citizens and businesses who wanted to support Philadelphia’s efforts to bring news and information to the Children, Youth, and senior community. It is a unique and valuable community resource, supported by the educational community, elected officials, business owners, unions and people from all over southern and western Philadelphia.

From 2001 to 2011 I founded a group for seniors, parents, and children called Socializing and Safety for Justice. The group is committed to building a stronger youth ministry progressive community, network and movement by putting "social" back in "social justice". I assigned a special task force through the City of Philadelphia targeting the South and West Philadelphia areas, etc., to deal with the crisis of economic hopelessness as well as organizing rallies for ending gun violence in Philadelphia. I was awarded the City of Philadelphia Citation and The Annual Honorable Lucien E. Blackwell Guiding Lights in the Community Award in 2008. It is given to exemplary Philadelphians.

Biography James Sullivan

Biography James Sullivan



James Sullivan

James Sullivan was born in 1947, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His parents sent him to St. Thomas More High School which was formerly at 47th Street and Wyalusing Avenue, in Philadelphia. His parents, members of the Roman Catholic Church, were influences on James Sullivan’s later development as a community organizer. Sullivan served with distinction in the United States Army. After he graduated in 1966 from St. Thomas More HS, where he played baseball, basketball, hockey, and football, he again demonstrated a toughness that would be a hallmark of his youth organizing career with Van Stone Productions (VSP) Foundation, Inc.

By the 1980s James Sullivan worked as Community Activist with solid background in education and social work. Skilled in developing programs and services that directly address seniors, housing, drugs and alcohol, community leaders, and government agencies Sullivan began to successfully implement youth programs for VSP Foundation. He helped train and coach youth who lived in South Philadelphia and West Philadelphia to become better students although most were at risk children.

Experienced in energy and construction organizing and trained in counseling, James Sullivan, from 1985 through 1993, inspired grassroots movements as a means to an end of combating government bureaucracies or businesses or other powers unresponsive to local concerns. He inspired local communities to action, helped to identify leaders who could direct the group organizations, so that communities themselves can truly determine their own direction eliminating drugs and guns in Philadelphia. He is the director of The St. Tommy More HS Youth Greening Club.

Interestingly, from 1993 thru 1994, James himself fell victim to the disease of drug use. He still believes that local communities themselves can address their problems of social injustice and hard work until true democracy is realized. Being an alumni of Saint Thomas More Catholic Boys High School helped.

In 1994 he made that belief a reality for himself by overcoming drugs and at the same time intertwining VSP Foundation with a drug and alcohol group for the community called Why Are We Here. 17 years later, today he has been clean practicing no drug use.

In 2005, James successfully organized the neighborhood project residents successfully fight for major civic improvements and business stands as a landmark of energy success.

From 2005 to 20011 Sullivan managed neighborhood offices, which provides educational services and works to improve living conditions for 2,000 of city's poorest citizens.

He watched over smooth client housing transition into an exiting program. James helped plan and supervise variety of educational and job-training programs for adults and teens.

Biography Antoinette Cook

Biography Antoinette Cook


Antoinette Cook

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pa, Antoinette Cook identifies herself as an African American community organizer, activist, and emerging youth movement builder.

Her activism began at 15 years old when she spoke out against cuts to youth funding and education in Philadelphia. At 16 she initiated a recycling program at her high school that was adopted by the neighborhood organization Friends of Whitby Avenue.

Antoinette’s involvement in the African American community citywide began in 1994. She got involved with State Senator Hardy William s' mission to improve health for Philadelphians along Baltimore Avenue between 50^th and 52^nd and Baltimore Avenues where she worked out of an office overseen by Senator Williams. In 1995 she co-chaired the West Philadelphia Young Basketball Players (YWBP) 10-and-under group. She also was the director of Van Stone Productions Foundations (VSP), Inc., youth service activity in the Point Breeze section of South Philadelphia. Although most of her work was done supporting the efforts of the 46^th and Haverford Avenue YMCA, during the next few years she worked with parents as their youngsters played basketball from time to time in organized sports at the Christian Street YMCA.

In Sept. 2000, Antoinette spent a great deal of time visiting and making connections in the city. She worked as a volunteer outreach worker participating in the annual AIDS Walk Philadelphia located at the Philadelphia Art Museum. Her focus was on her career goal to organize multiple annual fundraisers for a progressive non-profit known as VSP.

Over the next few years she accepted work at the Community Council for Mental Health and Retardation as the Logistics Manager of the Mental Health Adult Unit. During her first 2 years there she coordinated the annual fundraiser dealing with theater and community services. In 2004, Antoinette also joined the Lee Cultural Center Advisory Council to help promote reduction of teen pregnancy, teen gun violence, and teen school drop outs.

Since June 2005, Antoinette has worked as the Special Events Manager at VSP Foundation overseeing the production of youth broadcasters that account for over 20% of the organization's success with helping females work toward going to college. Her own background as a grassroots organizer has helped her keep setting the example of pursuing college education as she recently graduated in June 2011 from the Online School-University of Phoenix to help the non-profit remain stronger than ever in its mission to assist adults and children citywide.

Biography John H. Coleman, Jr.

Biography John H. Coleman, Jr.

John H. Coleman, Jr., born in 1964, is an African American Vocalist/Lyricist/Boxing Trainer who uses these skills to promote extensive community organizing, event logistics and fundraising experience in Philadelphia. He is one of the most successful soloist artists and boxing trainers involved in Youth Mentoring in Philadelphia, PA. He is currently the Special Youth Events Manager for Van Stone Productions (VSP), Foundation Inc.

Originally from the Mill Creek neighborhood of West Philadelphia his father taught John music, boxing, baseball, and counseling. He attended University City High School.

Coleman Jr., a volunteer youth minister and public safety officer for VSP Foundation since1995, teaches Activism, Change, Public Safety, Athletics in Communities and works with the Organization called the Thoughts of Black Men (TBM). TBM is for men against gun violence in Philadelphia.

Additionally, John became an active member on the Planning Committee from 1998 to 2001. His main activities on the committee were 4-week long pro-active boy’s and men’s discussion groups to bring together male-identified people who wish to learn how to better live family values in the community and in their relationships. Each spring Coleman organized a Food Supply Drive to support the homeless and domestic violence shelters in Philadelphia.

From 2001 to 2011, wanting to meet like-minded spiritual volunteers, he co-supported with Minister Van Stone Socializing and Safety for Justice, a group committed to building a stronger youth ministry progressive community. This is a network and movement of putting the “social” back in “social justice”. Community organizers are encouraged to attend the once a week neighborhood safety walk, and to also cross-promote their issues about clearing street corners and alleys on the side of houses from drugs and guns. As of June 2011, John has meet consistently once a week with members at the Centennial Village Nursing Center and has hosted over 6 years of social discussion groups and skill sharing – with countless connections made.

A young John Coleman Jr., used to play baseball and seriously participated in boxing. He joined a well-known Philadelphia boxing unit called the Executioners. Eventually, he incorporated the boxing interest in his community volunteer work with both boys and girls. He began instructing children in beginner boxing, for anti-bullying strategies, outdoors as the Fairmount Park and city parks each summer starting in the summer of 2006. The strategies he has developed were some of the most effective ant-bullying interventions ever.

His dedication to spiritual interests and safety enabled him to receive the prestigious honor of being a part of the Police Clergy in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. John used athletics and academic education, health and safety education, family services, communications and youth works as a big part of his voluntary work in social-welfare affecting the Philadelphia community.

Harrisburg Mayor Receives Threatening Letters - Pennsylvania News Story - WGAL The Susquehanna Valley

Harrisburg Mayor Receives Threatening Letters - Pennsylvania News Story - WGAL The Susquehanna Valley

Population Reduction is REAL! Watch and Learn People!

AfroBlue Cafe presents Black History Series Friday February 18. 2011

Sistars

Black History 24/7

Dr Joy DeGruy - WVSR 1360.1AM PHILLY INTERNET RADIO

Dr Joy DeGruy - WVSR 1360.1AM PHILLY INTERNET RADIO

This Day in History - WVSR 1360.1AM PHILLY INTERNET RADIO

This Day in History - WVSR 1360.1AM PHILLY INTERNET RADIO

Dr. Gabor Maté on the Stress-Disease Connection, Addiction, Attention Deficit Disorder and the Destruction of American Childhood

Dr. Gabor Maté on the Stress-Disease Connection, Addiction, Attention Deficit Disorder and the Destruction of American Childhood

Many of our children have been diagnosed with ADHD. What do can parents do to help? Dr. Gabor says, "Hold on to your children". In these three segments Dr. Gabor gives us plenty to digest. We must take a serious look at what we are doing to our children. Where are their morals, principals and values going to come from? Where are they getting them from now? What are we going to do if anything, or it this just another "sign of the times"?

Haiti Earthquake: The Hidden Holocaust