Daily News Feed 5.16.08

Kilpatrick Enacts Policy to Limit Access to the Text Messages
Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has implemented a new policy designed to classify text messages sent on city-funded devices as private and exempt from rules governing the city’s electronic communications system policy. Previous city policy stated that all messages sent via the city’s electronic communications system were city property, a policy that gained interest after revelations that Kilpatrick and his former chief of staff exchanged damaging text messages showing they lied under oath during a whistle-blower trial. The previous policy contradicted the argument of Kilpatrick and city lawyers that the text messages were private. The new policy, obtained by the Free Press, took effect April 15 through a directive signed by Kilpatrick. However, it was distributed to city employees last night. (Continue Reading…)

Parents Outraged Over School Assignment
Parents are outraged over a controversial assignment at a Jackson middle school. Curtis Lyons is the concerned parent of a 6th grader at Chastain Middle School. He said his daughter had to answer the following questions about her peers. “Who do you think will be dead before age 19? Who will have no job? Who will get HIV or AIDS? Who will be pregnant?” Lyons read from a statement. Lyons says it was part of an assignment in Roshondra Sipp’s 6th grade science class. And several parents told WLBT they’re outraged students were asked to list their peers. “What kind of questions are those to ask kids? And then to have another kid determine those things? It’s just not fair,” said Lyons. Lyons was upset when his daughter told him that her class voted her most likely to get pregnant before age 19. That’s right– Lyon’s says the teacher tallied the results and read them aloud to the class. “I know my daughter is dealing with this on her own, but kids are telling her, you’re going to be pregnant, and others are saying, well, it doesn’t matter because you’re going to be dead,” said Lyons. (Continue Reading…)

Rihanna Tops U.S. Chart for 3rd Time
R&B singer Rihanna’s “Take a Bow” soared 52 places to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart Thursday, the second-biggest jump to the top in the chart’s 50-year history. The record was set last year, when pop band Maroon 5’s “Makes Me Wonder” leapt from No. 64 in a single bound. Coincidentally, Maroon 5 has a new single on the latest chart — with featured artist Rihanna. Their collaboration on “If I Never See Your Face Again” debuted at No. 57. “Take a Bow,” the third No. 1 single of Rihanna’s career, sent English pop singer Leona Lewis’ “Bleeding Love” to No. 2 after a total of four weeks at the top. (Continue Reading…)

R. Kelly jury complete as sides argue racial makeup
Jury selection was completed at R. Kelly’s child pornography trial Thursday amid contentious exchanges between prosecutors and defense attorneys, who accused each other of trying to stack the panel along racial lines. Of the 12 jurors who will open the case, eight are white and four are black. The four alternates include two blacks, one Hispanic and one white. Defense attorneys objected several times as prosecutors used challenges to have several blacks dismissed from the jury pool. “I think they’re using these (challenges) to get rid of African Americans,” said Sam Adam Sr., one of Kelly’s attorneys. A little later, he complained that “they’ve used 50 percent of their challenges on African Americans.” (Continue Reading…)