November 7, 2011
In the News: Dr. Conrad Murray Found Guilty in Michael Jackson Death; Herman Cain’s Fourth Accuser Surfaces and More
- Dr. Conrad Murray Found Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter
A jury decided Michael Jackson‘s doctor was guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
The 58-year-old could face up to four years in prison and the loss of his medical license. Dr. Conrad Murray is to be sentenced November 29.
Read more at the New York Times…
- Sharon Bialek Says Herman Cain Put ‘Hand Under My Skirt’
Defense attorney Gloria Allred and her client Sharon Bialek, the fourth woman to come forward with sexual harassment allegations towards Herman Cain, held a news conference Monday to address harassment accusations against the Republican front-runner.
Bialek alleges the former president of the National Restaurant Association reached under her skirt in 1997 as she sought employment advice from him. “He suddenly reached over and put his hand on my leg…under my skirt and reached for my genitals,” she said. “He also pushed my head toward his crotch,” she said.
His campaign released a statement saying that Allred is bringing forth “false accusations against the character†of Cain.
- Young Men Are the Biggest Losers Amid Economic Downturn
The recession brought numerous men who moved out of their parents’ home with plans to start their own lives back home. There are fewer jobs with less pay, less hours, and more headaches.
The share of men age 25-34 living with their parents jumped to 18.6% this year. That’s more than 4% higher than the rate four year ago and the highest level since at least 1960, according to the Census Bureau.
“We’re at risk of having a generation of young males who aren’t well-connected to the labor market and who don’t feel strong ownership of community or society because they haven’t benefited from it,” says Ralph Catalano, professor of public health at the University of California, Berkeley.
The unemployment rate for males within this age bracket with a high school diploma is 14.4% –up from 6.1% four years ago and well above today’s 9% national rate.
Read more at The Wall Street Journal…
- Obama Beefs Up Campaign Strategy as Election Draws Closer
With economic and electorate odds against him, President Barack Obama has focused on building an aggressive grassroots campaign in swing states. The commander in chief now has campaign offices in all 50 states — and an average of three new field offices each week, according to campaign manager Jim Messina.
The team’s electoral strategy is aimed at broadening the pool of voters, particularly in traditionally red states that have turned mixed because of recent demographic shifts.
Obama successfully flipped nine states that John Kerry lost to George W. Bush in 2004. Top Democrats believe he has a chance at holding nearly all of them again in 2012.
The president has raised more than $88 million for his re-election through September — quadruple the cash on hand of Republican front-runner Romney.
- Magic Johnson Marks 20 Years Living With AIDS
Twenty years ago today, five-time NBA champion Magic Johnson announced he was retiring from the NBA. He was 32-years-old and HIV-positive.
“Because of the HIV virus that I have obtained, I will have to retire from the Lakers today,†Johnson said in a full room at the Forum in Inglewood, CA.  Johnson did return to the court, going on to win an MVP award at the 1992 NBA All-Star game, but later left for good after several players said they did not want to play alongside Johnson for fear they would catch the disease.
The ballplayer-turned-businessman took his prognosis and entered a new game–raising millions for HIV/AIDS research.
Read more at the Los Angeles Times…
Additional reporting by Janel Martinez