death

Juliana D. Norwood  |   OW Staff Writer
Dec 29 2011

Parents awarded $900,000

After two years of fighting for justice and searching for answers, the parents of Mitrice Richardson, the 24-year-old woman found dead almost a year after being released from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Malibu station, may be able to breathe a little easier.

A tentative agreement was reached to settle their lawsuits against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for $900,000.

Julianne Malveaux  |   OW Contributing Columnist
Dec 22 2011

Florida A&M University hazing death

Most parents of college students look forward to December, when their students come home for the holidays. Some are so excited to see their offspring home that they actually come to their colleges to pick them up. Others prepare special treats and goodies as an antidote to the oft-complained-about cafeteria food.

Robert and Pam Champion won’t have that opportunity. Their son, Robert, died on Nov. 19. His death has been ruled a homicide, and he is allegedly the victim of hazing.

Dec 5 2011

Lancaster State Prison

LANCASTER, Calif.—An investigation was under way today into the "suspicious'' death of an inmate at Lancaster State Prison.

The death occurred some time Sunday at the prison at 44750 60th Street West, according to Deputy Lillian Peck of the Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene, Peck said. His name was withheld, pending notification of relatives.

Dec 1 2011

Gets maximum sentence

Despite calls for leniency from a group of South Los Angeles clergy and activists, Michael Jackson’s personal physician was sentenced to four years behind bars for the singer’s June 2009 death from an overdose of the powerful anesthetic propofol. During sentencing, the judge blasted the doctor for engaging in a “money-for-medicine” experiment that killed the entertainer.

Conrad Murray, 58, was convicted Nov. 7 of involuntary manslaughter.

Nov 29 2011

Judge Pastor lashed out at Murray during the sentencing hearing

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Michael Jackson’s personal physician was sentenced today to four years behind bars for the singer’s June 2009 death from an overdose of the powerful anesthetic propofol, with the judge blasting the doctor for engaging in a “money-for-medicine” experiment that killed the entertainer.

Dr. Conrad Murray, 58, was convicted Nov. 7 of involuntary manslaughter.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.
 

Alabama
Freeman A. Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will address the annual African American Business Council luncheon on June 28. Hrabowski, who is chairman of President Barack Obama’s Advisory Commission on Education Excellence for African Americans, has a national reputation for his work studying the performance of minority students in math and science. Hrabowski, named one of the 10 best college presidents in the country by Time magazine, was a child leader in the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham in the 1960s.
 

Arkansas
The Liberty Counsel filed a motion and a brief in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas seeking to intervene on behalf of a Concepts of Life crisis pregnancy center to defend against a suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Reproductive Rights. The groups seek to impose a permanent injunction before the Human Heartbeat Protection Act goes into effect July 18. Liberty Counsel also filed a brief opposing the ACLU’s request for an injunction. The “Heartbeat” bill states that when a woman seeks an abortion at or after the 12th week, doctors must test for a fetal heartbeat before an abortion is performed and inform the pregnant mother that the child in her womb has a heartbeat. If a heartbeat is detected, a woman cannot have an abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, and if a mother’s life is in danger. “As we promised when the legislation was introduced, Liberty Counsel will defend this law without reservation for the people of Arkansas, born and pre-born,” said Matt Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel. “No right is more foundational than the right to life. Without life, all other rights are irrelevant,” concluded Staver.