Politics. On Point.

President Obama and First Lady Michelle continue Black History Month celebrations at the White House.   Earlier this month the first lady hosted a dance workshop with iconic dancers Judith Jamison and Debbie Allen, who at the age of 60 can still kick quite a high heel. Celebrating African American women in dance the East Room was transformed into a stage where 50 young school girls performed an array of dance routines later that evening. On Monday the Black History recognitions continued when the cast, writers and executive producers of Underground descended upon the White House. Underground explores the extraordinary feats of heroism and genius of America's captive Africans as they fought daily for respect, human dignity, and above all - freedom - from American slave holders. The cast of Underground poses for a group picture before attending the screening and discussion of the television series shown on the WGN network beginning March, 9.  Photo/CD Brown. The t...

*** Update to a previous story.  *** Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe says the DEQ will follow EPA regulations for closing eleven Virginia coal ash ponds. As we  previously reported , demonstrators in opposition to how the DEQ will rid the coal ash, upon closure of the ponds, believe it will be disposed of in Richmond's James river. Virginia State Police arrest coal ash demonstrators McAuliffe did not indicate whether or not this would be the case, but said there is "no one who is stronger about protecting our environment" than  DEQ Director David Paylor .  McAuliffe said he asked if there is anything that can be done to change the guidance for closing the ponds and said that Paylor is following EPA regulations. "Unless they [EPA] change it we don't have much option", McAuliffe said. When asked what he would say to Saturday's demonstrators McAuliffe said, "Talk to the EPA."    McAuliffe spoke during Monday's White House p...

Michigan and Texas aren't the only states with water issues. About 200 protestors marched down the streets of Richmond, Virginia and demonstrated on the steps of State Capitol Saturday afternoon to protest Dominion Power's plans to dump millions of coal ash into the James River. Eight people were arrested after demands by Virginia Capital police for the group to disperse after the group's 3:00 p.m. permit expired. Several protestors, ignoring those demands, linked arms together and remained on the capitol steps.  They were arrested one-by-one and charged with trespassing. Virginia Capitol Police make arrests during demonstration to repeal coal ass disbursement in Richmond, Virginia's James River.  Photo/CD Brown. "I'm terrified to get arrested", said Meagan Neal one of the first protestors to get arrested.  "I don't want to be arrested but I also don't want coal ash in the James River and people have to stand up for that", ...

President Obama met with Faith and Civil Rights leaders Thursday at the White House where the group discussed issues important to the African American community. Attendees included Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Attorney Benjamin Crump of the National Bar Association and members of Black Lives Matter. Representative John Lewis and civil rights activist C.T. Vivian, who received a  Presidential Medal of Freedom  from President Obama in 2013, also attended the meeting. The president said the group discussed criminal justice reform, the work of grassroots organizations like Black Lives Matter, and creating a schools-to-college-to-jobs-pipeline in an effort to eliminate the school-to-prison pipeline. (Today, the administration launched two campaigns, in partnership with MBK , to address and eliminate chronic student absenteeism).   After their meeting with the president a few attendees met with reporters along the White House driveway. Reverend Al Sharpton of The...

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE PASSING OF U.S. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ANTONIN SCALIA For almost 30 years, Justice Antonin “Nino” Scalia was a larger-than-life presence on the bench -- a brilliant legal mind with an energetic style, incisive wit, and colorful opinions.     U.S. Supreme Court Judge Antonin Scalia.  He influenced a generation of judges, lawyers, and students, and profoundly shaped the legal landscape.  He will no doubt be remembered as one of the most consequential judges and thinkers to serve on the Supreme Court.  Justice Scalia dedicated his life to the cornerstone of our democracy:  The rule of law.  Tonight, we honor his extraordinary service to our nation and remember one of the towering legal figures of our time.      Antonin Scalia was born in Trenton, New Jersey to an Italian immigrant family.  After graduating from Georgetown University and Harvard Law School, he worked at a law firm and taug...

From  DOJ press release . Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch announced today that the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court against the city of Ferguson, Missouri, alleging a pattern or practice of law enforcement conduct that violates the First, Fourth and 14 th  Amendments of the Constitution and federal civil rights laws. “Today, the Department of Justice is filing a lawsuit against the city of Ferguson, Missouri, alleging a pattern or practice of law enforcement conduct that violates the Constitution and federal civil rights laws,” said Attorney General Lynch.   “The residents of Ferguson have waited nearly a year for their city to adopt an agreement that would protect their rights and keep them safe.  They have waited nearly a year for their police department to accept rules that would ensure their constitutional rights and that thousands of other police departments follow every day.  They have waited nearly a year for thei...

Representatives from the CDC and the NIH were on hand at the White House during Monday's press briefing to update the public and address concerns over the Zika virus that has caused some babies to be born with deformities. Dr. Anne Schuchat from the Centers for Disease Control and Dr. Tony Fauci from the National Institutes of Health told reporters that a vaccine is in the making.   The pair also said they are particulary concerned about women who are pregnant, or plan to get pregnant, who have either traveled to or plan to travel to areas of South America and the Carribean known to have the Zika virus. Despite those bold statements, the doctors said there is no wide-spread concern and that Americans should continue to travel, including during upcoming college spring breaks --  when college students travel to warmer climate destinations to escape winter weather. "Travel to Zika-affected areas is very common among Americans, and we don’t think that needs to stop...

First Lady Michelle Obama hosted a dance workshop Monday at the White House for 51 local Washington, D.C. students to commemorate Black History Month. The 2016 theme is “Honoring the Past While Celebrating the Present; 7 Years of Living African American History.” Students shake hands with the first lady before Q&A with workshop dance panelists. Photo/CD Brown The first lady often invites youth to the White House as an opportunity for them to hear from successful Americans in a learning and encouraging environment.  The celebration recognized the accomplishment of iconic women leaders in dance.  Students listened to remarks by the first lady and engaged in a Q&A with dance pioneers and icons  Judith Jamison  from the reknown Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; actress and choreographer  Debbie Allen ; the Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Virginia Johnson and Hip-Hop choreographer  Fatima Robinson  before practicing routines to perform ...

POTUS Facebook post on the passing of Maurice White. "Michelle and I were saddened to hear of the passing of Maurice White. With his brothers and bandmates of Earth, Wind and Fire, Maurice fused jazz, soul, funk and R&B into a quintessentially American sound that captured millions of fans around the world.  Their playlist is timeless, the one that still brings us together at birthdays and barbecues, weddings and family reunions. Only Maurice could make such sophisticated songs so catchy. Only he could inspire generations of such diverse artists. And only he could get everyone – old and young, black and white – to let the groove move them on the dance floor. Our thoughts and prayers are with Maurice’s family, friends and bandmates.  He is the shining star in heaven   tonight ." Maurice White photo, courtesy of EarthWindandFire.com

It isn't their first meeting, but sure may have been the most fun. Golden State Warriors' power three-point man Stephen 'Steph' Curry and the rest of the 2015 NBA Champions were honored by President Obama Thursday in the East Room of the White House. While the star of the Warriors media room, and Steph Curry's daughter, Riley, wasn't in attendance to witness her dad being honored (and joked on) by the leader of the free world she was certainly in his thoughts. "Now, let me begin by saying I was hoping that Riley Curry would be here today to share the podium with me, but I guess I'm going to have to get media training some other day." The president referenced Curry's 51 points scored in the 134-121 win over the Washington Wizards Wednesday, 33 of them via his signature three-point arsenal. "For those of you who watched the game against the Wizards last night", said the president, "he was, to use slang, he was clownin...