Keva Landrum-Johnson, who was named interim Orleans Parish district attorney Tuesday to fill the spot that Eddie Jordan is vacating today, is a veteran prosecutor who has developed a reputation as a litigator who is prepared and tough, yet tender toward the victims of crime.

 Keva Landrum-Johnson, right, speaks about her new role as District Attorney.
"She's a prosecutor's prosecutor," said Derwyn Bunton, a lawyer with the Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana. "When she felt like she had you, there was no turning back."

When Jordan announced his resignation, he had slightly more than 14 months remaining in his six-year term, which began in January 2003.   more »

Richard Arrington Jr. born in October of 1934 in Livingston, Alabama  was the first African American mayor of the city of Birmingham, Alabama  serving 20 years, from 1979 to 1999. He replaced David Vann and, upon retiring after five terms in office, installed then-City Council president William A. Bell as interim mayor. Bell went on to lose the next election to the current mayor, Bernard Kincaid.

Arrington's father moved his family to the steel-town of Fairfield from rural Sumter County, Alabama when Richard Jr. was five years old to take a job with U.S. Steel. The steady work was an improvement over sharecropping, but Richard Sr. still had to supplement the family income by working off-hours as a brick mason.   more »

Approximately 70 students attended a rally Thursday at the University of Southern Mississippi in support of a group of students in Louisiana who have come to be known as the Jena Six.

"We wanted to show our support," said Brandon Dobson, 21, president of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, the 16-person group who organized the rally at Southern Miss. "Since we are unable to actually go there, we wanted to show our support here. We wanted to bring attention to it at USM because everybody knows about it, but nobody is doing anything."
 
Dobson said the goals of the rally were to get more information out into the community and raise money for the families of the Jena Six to ease court costs. Organizers say they collected more than $200.   more »

Dr. Alonzo G. Moron, a 1932 Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Brown University and member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, served for three years as commissioner of public welfare in the Virgin Islands, his birthplace. He was the first African-American head of public housing in the city of Atlanta.

On October 29, 1949, Dr. Alonzo G. Moron becomes the eighth president of Hampton Institute and the first African American to hold the position at the school. He served from 1948-1959. A 1927 graduate of the school, he administered the dormitory additions, changed the curriculum, phased out agricultural and the trades, established the academic program, addressed ideological conflicts, and provided an intellectual voice regarding school desegregation in Hampton. Dr. Moron is also recognized as the first Hampton Institute graduate to become President of the school.   more »

A sea of crimson and crème greeted drivers Saturday morning, Oct. 20, in front of the flagpole at the entrance of the school for the annual "Walk for Literacy," hosted by The Eta Beta chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Inc.

The walk which was intended to raise awareness of illiteracy and make monetary donations to support the cause, lasted approximately an hour.

The course circled the university beginning and ending at the university flagpoles.   more »

Mr. Edward M. McIntyre, who was a member of the first graduating class of Lucy C. Laney High School, was heavily involved in Augusta politics for more than three decades. In 1970, he became the first black member of what was then the Richmond County Board of Commissioners.

That election was the first of several firsts for Mr. McIntyre that would stamp him as a player on the local - and state - political scene.

His most renowned political achievement came Oct. 27, 1981, when he narrowly defeated Joe E. Taylor Sr., in a runoff to become the first black to hold Augusta's top office. Mr. McIntyre overcame racially tinged accusations by Mr. Taylor, who said publicly that "Augusta didn't have a black-white problem. We've got a black candidate problem."   more »

The clouds were dark, but spirits were bright. Excitement filled the air in Paul Snow Stadium during the Homecoming pep rally held Thursday evening, Oct. 18, despite the threat of rain and the absence of the traditional bonfire.

For many, the most exciting part of the evening was the Homecoming Queen crowning ceremony.

Valencia Cantrell won the crown. Supporters stood and cheered feverishly when Cantrell's name was called.

"Honestly, when they called my name, I didn't even have time to be excited because everybody ran onto the field and tackled me. My immediate thought was, 'Oh my gosh, what's going on?" Cantrell said.

"Then after a second, after they rushed me and knocked me, tackled me, I was excited. I was so nervous and so excited. Then, it made me even happier that they were all excited. So, it was just like they had won something too. It was a big rush. It all happened so fast."   more »

Dorian Smith’s personality stands out with his diverse interests.

Add in that he’s an Oregon State football player, and it really sticks out.

There is not enough time in the day for the senior defensive end to keep up with all aspects of his life, but trying is fun.

Fans see the speedy 6-foot-3, 260-pounder from Van Nuys, Calif., as one of the top ends in the country. He’s ranked the No. 23 end available in the 2008 NFL draft by NFL Draft Countdown.

Smith has 20 tackles and three quarterback sacks this season. Last year he had 11½ tackles for loss and nine sacks in his first season with OSU.

However, there’s much more to Smith.   more »

Following is a press release from the Board of Ed about its newest member.

The New Haven Board of Education will gain a national expert in minority student achievement and instructional leadership when Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. swears in Dr. M. Ann Levett of the Yale Child Study Center at the Board of Education meeting, 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007.

Dr. M. Ann Levett, executive director of the School Development Program at Yale University, has agreed to serve on the Board of Education, replacing Patricia McCann-Vissepo, who has finished her term. Dr. Levett will serve through 2011. Her appointment brings the board to full strength at eight members.   more »

The University of Denver stepped up to a challenge last weekend.

Setting a record for Hamilton Gymnasium by filling it with 2,600 spectators, DU hosted the third annual "Step it up in the Mile High City Step Show," providing a forum for a diverse crowd to enjoy the art form of step.

Fans from across the Front Range gathered in Hamilton on Saturday at 6 p.m. to cheer on a variety of African American sororities and fraternities as they competed in the step competition.

The competition featured sorority and fraternity members ranging in age from undergraduates to working professionals. Each of the eight groups in the competition performed a 10-15 minute step routine featuring the unique dancing style.

"In the purest form, step is a rhythmic dance movement that is pretty much led by your feet," said Tony Daniels, the director of Diversity and Community Relations for DU Athletics. "Your heart provides the soul and your feet play the drums. It is done in a synchronized fashion."

Judged by a panel of seven judges, each team was evaluated on their overall performance.