Politics. On Point.

Top 3 Finalists Announced for Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge White House and the Department of Education announced today the top three finalists of the first annual Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge . The top three finalists, in no particular order are: • Clark Montessori Jr. & Sr. High School in Cincinnati, OH • Kalamazoo Central High School in Kalamazoo, MI • Denver School of Science and Technology in Denver, CO Between April 26th and April 29th, over 170,000 people weighed in on the six high school finalists. President Obama will now choose a winner from the top three rated schools and deliver their commencement address later this spring. The final winner will be announced on Tuesday, May 4. In recognition of the extraordinary achievements and outstanding efforts by each of the original six finalists, the Obama Administration will work to provide a Cabinet secretary or senior administration official to deliver the commencement ...

Funeral services for Dr. Dorothy Irene Height were held yesterday at the National Cathedral. Thousands came out to pay their respects for the lady larger than life who passed of natural causes last week at the age of 98.  She fell ill and was hospitalized at Howard University Hospital. Dr. Height was perhaps the oldest female civil rights activist until her death.  President Obama, visibly emotional, provided a tribute honoring her for her work. President Obama gives the eulogy at funeral for Dr. Height. Photo/CD Brown. "It is fitting that we do so here, in our National Cathedral of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Here, in a place of great honor. Here, in the House of God. Surrounded by the love of family and of friends. The love in this sanctuary is a testament to a life lived righteously; a life that lifted other lives; a life that changed this country for the better over the course of nearly one century here on Earth." Adding that the works for Dr....

Mother's Day. It's almost here.  Whether you're planning to take your mom out to eat or stay at home and cook, the topic will remain, 'What will the Mother's Day menu be this year? America's First Lady, Michelle Obama shares how she'll celebrate Mothers' Day 2010, and gives insight on what the menu might be. “It could be fried chicken ... fried chicken and french fries or greens or macaroni and cheese,” responded America’s first lady Michelle Obama to the question on how her family will celebrate Mother’s Day. After that meal, the First Lady will really need to take a lesson from her Let's Move initiative to fight off those calories. Mrs. Obama is featured in the May 2010 issue of Good Housekeeping , where she talks about overcoming her fears, keeping her marriage close, and raising kids. On Thursday, the First Lady helped students of Marie Reed Learning Center paint a butterfly mural and plant a butterfly garden to help make the Center’s...

“Today, the House took another critical step toward increased fiscal responsibility by passing the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act. This bipartisan legislation will help save taxpayer dollars by reining in wasteful overpayments from the federal government to individuals, organizations and contractors – the kind of unacceptable accounting mistakes that cost taxpayers $98 billion in 2009. This bill also puts in place more rigorous thresholds for when programs must be scrutinized for payment errors and expands the authority of Federal agencies to use private sector auditors to find and recapture government overpayments. And it dramatically increases transparency and accountability in government spending – in short, it changes business-as-usual in Washington.  I believe that we have a special responsibility to be wise stewards of Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars. That’s why last November I issued an Executive Order to curb improper payments by boosting transparency, ho...

On a beautiful, but chilly sunny Spring day, Vice President Biden, along with wife Dr. Jill Biden hosted more than 20 wounded warrior veterans at the White House who will participate in the Wounded Warrior Ride, a program of the Wounded Warrior Project that provides rehabilitation opportunities for wounded warriors and raises public awareness of the challenges facing veterans as they recover from life-altering injuries as a result of war. Cyclists Take Lap Around White House South Lawn.  Photo/CD Brown The riders, including Assistant Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Tammy Duckworth  took a few laps around the South Lawn of the White House. The riders plan a four-day cycling event, traveling through Washington, DC; Baltimore, Maryland; Andrews Air Force Base; ending in Annapolis, Maryland. Photos of the event can be seen here .

Five reporters have been named winners of three of journalism's most prestigious awards, and they will be honored at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on May 1, 2010. Ben Feller of the Associated Press and Jake Tapper of ABC News will receive the Merriman Smith Award for presidential coverage under deadline pressure in the print and broadcast categories, respectively. Mark Knoller of CBS News will receive the Aldo Beckman award for sustained excellence in White House coverage. Suzanne Bohan and Sandy Kleffman of the Contra Costa, California, Times will receive the Edgar A. Poe Award for excellence in coverage of news of national or regional significance. The awards will be presented during the annual fundraising dinner of the White House Correspondents' Association at the Washington Hilton Hotel. Seventeen Washington, D.C. students will receive $132,000 in college scholarships from the White House Correspondents' Association to pursue careers in...

( Press Release ) In response to President Obama’s commitment to partnership with Muslim communities worldwide based on mutual interest and mutual respect and the 2010 Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) has forged partnerships with Business for Diplomatic Action (BDA) and Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) to expand exchange programs and pursue new opportunities in entrepreneurship and innovation. ECA’s International Visitor Leadership Program, “New Beginning: Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation,” will bring twenty-five entrepreneurs per year from countries with significant Muslim populations to the United States over the next four years for educational seminars, mentorship, and first-hand experience in the business place with American entrepreneurs. ECA will also work with private sector partners to send 100 American entrepreneurs abroad over the next four years. Participants in the “New Beginning: Entrepreneurship and ...

Why is it that with all the evidence on a person, police still want to try some people with only a misdemeanor ?  A misdemeanor? Give me a break. Joseph Sean McVey was arrested at an airport in Asheville, N.C., where President Obama was visiting on Sunday. McVey (different spelling than  the other McVeigh ) reportedly had on his person, a Springfield XD 40 handgun as President Barack Obama's plane prepared to take off, authorities said. McVey was driving an automobile designed to look like a cop car, even having the front and rear dash fitted with clear LED police-style strobe lights, and a digital camera mounted near the front window. The report also showed that McVey had four large antennas attached to the trunk of the vehicle. A working siren box was located under the steering wheel. McVey does not work for law enforcment. McVey also had formulas for rifle scopes on a sticky note in his car's cup holder. Police have yet to decipher the formulas. He...

Funeral services for Dr. Dorothy Irene Height , the nation's prominent civil rights advocate, counselor to U.S. presidents, and founder of the Black Family Reunion, held annually in the Nation's Capital, will be laid to rest on Thursday April 29, 2010. Dr. Height, known for donning elegant hats, was a tireless advocate for civil rights, and the advancement of women. She was president emerita of the National Council of Negro Women ( NCNW ), the organization that leads, develops, and advocates for women of African descent as they support their families and communities. Dr. Height was awarded America's two highest civilian awards, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994 by the President Bill Clinton. She was also awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2004 through an act of Congress. Dr. Height's annual Uncommon Height Awards that celebrates the achievements of Dr. Height will be scheduled this October in her honor. Last year's event recognized Oprah Winfrey fo...

President Obama and the Vice President Biden will travel to Beckley, West Virginia, to participate in a memorial service for the miners lost in the April 5th tragedy at Upper Big Branch mine. President Obama will deliver a eulogy honoring the lives of those who perished and offering his deepest condolences to the loved ones they left behind. Prior to the service, the President and the Vice President will meet with family members of the miners who lost their lives. Earlier this month the president issued a statement calling for safe working conditions for miners. "All Americans deserve to work in a place that is safe, and we must take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that all our miners are as safe as possible so that a disaster like this doesn't happen again." Mining accidents are a common occupational hazard and vary in causes including leaks of poisonous gases such as hydrogen sulphide or explosive natural gases, dust explosions, collapsing of mine stope...

Update :  View video of the ceremony here . ______ President Obama will deliver remarks at a naturalization ceremony for 24 members of the United States Armed Forces. This ceremony recognizes the contributions made by immigrant members of the U.S. armed forces who have earned their American citizenship through service to our country, and the contributions immigrants from all walks of life have made to our country throughout its history. Alejandro Mayorkas , Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) within the Department of Homeland Security, will present the home countries of the candidates for citizenship, and Secretary Janet Napolitano will administer the oath of citizenship. President Obama will then present Sergeant Ledum Ndaanee , U.S. Marine Corps (E-5) with the Outstanding American by Choice recognition, which highlights the outstanding achievements of naturalized U.S. citizens. Service men and women being honored include : Michael Zach Armstro...

Oil Rig Catches Fire Off Coast of Mexico and Louisiana - Days After Nation Celebrates Earth Day Just when thousands celebrated Earth Day an oil rig catches fire off the coast of Mexico leaving 11 workers missing, seventeen workers suffering injuries including burns, smoke inhalation, and broken bones. Four people remain in critical condition. The crew of the Deepwater Horizon rig were performing exploratory drilling procedures some 50 miles off the Louisiana coast when the sudden explosion occurred. Environmental concerns have officials wondering if the crude oil on board the platform could begin leaking into the surrounding waters, reaking havoc on the environment. The Coast Guard's Petty Officer Katherine McNamara told reporters a day after the explosion that more than 300,000 gallons of oil per day could be spilled into the Gulf of Mexico.  An AOL news report tells a different story  featuring the Coast Guard's Rear Adm. Mary Landry giving ...

At 1:30 pm, April 20th, Vice President Biden will make an announcement about Title IX at the Charles E. Smith Center at George Washington University . The Vice President will be joined at this event by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Valerie Jarrett, Chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls and Senior Advisor to the President. Other speakers include Secretary of Education Arne Duncan , and Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett , Chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls. In January of last year, President Obama signed his first bill into law approving the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act , a law named for Ms. Ledbetter an Alabama woman who at the end of a 19-year career as a supervisor in a tire factory complained that she had been paid less than men.

A 21st Century Strategy for America's Great Outdoors Remember when you were growing up and your mom told you "go outside and play"?    If you look at neighborhoods, these days, across America you may not find as many kids outside playing.   TV, electronic devices, safety issues, childcare issues, outdoor space, air quality, and computers have seeminngly kept Americans from experiencing the great outdoors.   President Obama wants Americans, especially kids, to reconnect with the great outdoors.   "Our working landscapes, cultural sites, parks, coasts, wild lands, rivers, and streams are gifts that we have inherited from previous generations. They are the places that offer us refuge from daily demands, renew our spirits, and enhance our fondest memories, whether they are fishing with a grandchild in a favorite spot, hiking a trail with a friend, or enjoying a family picnic in a neighborhood park. They also are our farms, ranches, and forests -- the...

A wonderful article on unpaid interns. For years companies have used interns to do the hard work that most employees get paid to do, all in the name of 'learning the ropes'. I've seen many young people work as interns while describing their jobs as hard work, while getting great benefits.... like people around celebrities, being around professional athletes, learning a new industry, getting college credits, etc. - all without the benefit of bringing home a paycheck. Of course, there are paid internships.  Some even pay for housing.  If your company falls into that category, you're exempt from this piece. We're talking about the companies who use mostly college students as unpaid interns.  Here's how it works. Unpaid internships are considered legal only if they are truly structured educational experiences for the benefit of the intern rather than the company and offer no promise of a job after the internship ends. Granted, being an intern ...

Senate Voted After Two Week Hiatus Spring break left many unemployed Americans without weekly unemployment benefits since April 5th.  On Monday Senators (Dems and Republicans) voted for a much awaited temporary extension. Republicans Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe ( bot of Maine), Scott Brown of Massachusetts, and George Voinovich of Ohio all voted to advance the 90 day extension. The 60-34 vote killed a GOP filibuster against debating the measure, which would extend jobless benefits through May 5 along with short-term extensions of several other lapsed programs. The President issued this statement regarding the temporary extension of unemployment benefits:   “In these tough economic times, it is more critical than ever to bring relief to Americans who are working every day to find a job, and families that are struggling to make ends meet. Millions of Americans who lost their jobs in this economic crisis depend on unemployment and health insurance ben...

As we issue in a new year of tax season, and as people scramble to file their taxes by today's April 15th deadline I came across a few articles on the subject of tax evasion. This one being the most prevalent of our modern time. Bradley Birkenfeld , the whistle-blower who helped expose widespread tax evasion in the UBS /Swiss banking industry, received 40 months in prison for conspiring to defraud the U.S. government while the people he snitched on (the 19,000 millionaires and billionaires who hid their money in Swiss (offshore) bank accounts went scot free.) Birkenfeld took his concerns to the IRS, the US Senate, and the Security and Exchange Commission back in 2007, but to no avail. Even while currently serving his term in prison, Birkenfeld says he'd do it all again. "I saw it as something wrong that it was my duty to correct," he said of illegal activities he and colleagues engaged in at UBS , which he says encouraged bankers to help wealthy clients hid...

Sarah Pallin, scheduled to speak at California State University June 25th has a few hefty requests (in addition to her $100k speaking fee). The Associated Press is reporting that Pallin wants first-class flights from Anchorage to California (a private  Lear 60 or larger), and she must be provided with a suite and two single rooms in a deluxe hotel near the campus in Turlock in the Central Valley. She also needs bendable straws, not the regular ones most of drink from. You can see the entire contract (from page 4) here . Related Obama To Speak At Hampton University  Commencement First Lady To Speak At George Washington University Commencement

On her return trip from Mexico and Haiti, the First Lady will stop in San Diego, California for an event in support of her Let’s Move! campaign to end childhood obesity within a generation. Continuing her efforts to improve nutrition, encourage healthy eating, and ensure access to fresh and affordable food in all communities, First Lady Michelle Obama will visit a community farm that is supported by the California Endowment’s Building Healthy Communities Initiative. The Building Healthy Communities Initiative is targeting 14 geographically diverse areas across the state with significant, strategic, and sustained investments to transform these underserved communities into healthy communities. The First Lady will meet with community farmers and volunteers, tour the garden, and give remarks. Video : Ms. Obama on her first solo trip. Earlier this month the First Lady met at the White House with a task force to help determine ways youth and families can learn healthier eatin...

The President calls the Nuclear Summit held in Washington DC "productive". A transcript of his remarks follows. I said this morning that today would be an opportunity for our nations, both individually and collectively, to make concrete commitments and take tangible steps to secure nuclear materials so they never fall into the hands of terrorists who would surely use them. This evening, I can report that we have seized this opportunity, and because of the steps we’ve taken -- as individual nations and as an international community -- the American people will be safer and the world will be more secure. I want to thank all who participated in this historic summit -- 49 leaders from every region of the world. Today’s progress was possible because these leaders came not simply to talk, but to take action; not simply to make vague pledges of future action, but to commit to meaningful steps that they are prepared to implement right now. I also want to thank my colleagues f...

National Drug Control Policy Director Gil Kerlikowske said today “a new direction in drug policy” is required to reduce the strain on the Nation’s economy caused by drug abuse and to improve the public health and safety of our citizens. Testifying before the Subcommittee on Domestic Policy of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Director Kerlikowske outlined national drug control priorities and the Fiscal Year 2011 National Drug Control Budget, noting that the Obama Administration approach to drug policy is “grounded in common sense, sound science, and practical experience.” With drug use accounting for tens of billions of dollars per year in healthcare costs, and drug overdoses ranking second only to motor vehicle crashes as the leading cause of accidental death, the Nation “needs to discard the idea that enforcement alone can eliminate our Nation’s drug problem,” Director Kerlikowske said. “Only through a comprehensive and balanced approach – combining tough, but ...

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama To Appear On 'American Idol' President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will soon appear on the "American Idol" special " Idol Gives Back ," according to a Fox News report. The special, which was taped on Wednesday, will air on "American Idol" in less than two weeks. "Idol Gives Back," a charity special that aired in both 2007 and 2008, will aim to support charities such as the Children's Health Fund, Feeding America, Malaria No More, Save the Children's U.S. programs and the United Nations Foundation.  "Idol Gives Back" is an Emmy Award-winning television event and music celebration has raised over $140 million to benefit charities around the world. According to AmericanIdol.com , previous participants on "Idol Gives Back" have been Prime Minister Gordon Brown , former President George W. Bush , Brad Pitt , Bono, Reese Witherspoon , Miley Cyrus, Eli Man...

After much uproar surrounding Governor McDonnell's Confederate Month declaration , it's nice to see a declaration that actually has real merit. President Obama declared April 8th as Drug Abuse Resistance Education ( D.A.R.E ) day. D.A.R.E. is the national organization dedicated to drug prevention and education. Through there servides, in conjunction with law enforcement personnel, they contribute their expertise to help teach America's youth to resist peer pressure, and to abstain from drugs, gangs, and violence. "Every day, young Americans face pressures to engage in violent activities, drug use, and other harmful behavior. Today, we reaffirm our commitment to empowering our children to resist violence and substance abuse. Drug dependence affects individuals from all backgrounds, and its debilitating effects often go unaddressed. Too many of our families are afflicted by addiction, and too many lives are ruined by its harmful impact. Drug abuse is not an isol...

Brace yourself for traffic jams, check points, and late trash removal as world leaders and Heads of Delegation attend the Nuclear Summit in Washington on April 12-13. Metro is cutting routes and several streets have been blocked off.  A partial list of expected attendees follows: People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, His Excellency Mourad Medelci Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, Argentine Republic, Her Excellency Cristina Fernández de Kirchner President of the Argentine Republic, Republic of Armenia, His Excellency Serzh Sargsyan, President of the Republic of Armenia Australia, The Honorable Senator John Faulkner, Minister for Defense of Australia Belgium His Excellency Yves Leterme, Prime Minister of Belgium. Also expected to attend is India's prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh , who was the special guest at the White House for Obama's first State Dinner in November of last year.  He i...

The White House and the Department of Education announced today the six high schools selected as finalists for the first annual Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge. The Commencement Challenge, launched in late February, invited the nation’s public high schools to submit applications showing their dedication to providing students with an excellent education that will prepare them to graduate ready for college and career choices. Applications were judged based on the schools performance, four essay questions and supplemental data. The six finalists were selected for their dedication to academic excellence and for showing how they are helping prepare students to graduate college and career ready, and prepared to meet the President’s goal of having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020. The finalists are: · Blue Valley Northwest High School (Overland Park, Kansas) · Clark Montessori Junior High and High School (Cincinnati, Ohio) · Denver Sc...