NFL Hosts Advocacy in Sport Workshop

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The National Football League, Morehouse College and the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE) will host the Advocacy in Sport Workshop at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, February 21-23, 2018 to educate athletes on how to develop and implement effective advocacy platforms that positively impact society.

“Sport has been an international venue for social change since before Jesse Owens swept the 1936 Olympics and opened the world’s eyes to the image of justice and equality,” said TROY VINCENT, NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations. “This historic workshop is aimed at training the next generation of athletes who wish to use sport as a powerful platform for advocacy. Our partnership is designed to equip athletes as influencers and community leaders with the mechanics to develop their advocacy platform.”

The NFL and Morehouse College partnership is the product of ongoing strategic meetings held at the school since October 2016, convened by RISE. Former and active professional athletes, academics, politicians, social activists and sport administrators developed a curriculum to equip athletes with tools and resources to impact social issues respectfully and responsibly. Athletes will be taught organizational development, relationship management, and best practices in media relations.

“Athletes have a unique ability to bring people together for solution-driven conversations that can bring about real change,” said RISE CEO JOCELYN BENSON. “At RISE, we believe that harnessing the unifying power of sports and empowering athletes to be effective advocates can improve race relations and drive social progress in our country. We are proud to work with the NFL and Morehouse College to help enhance athletes’ ability to create positive change.”

Workshop participants will learn about previous movements and focus on process, acquire knowledge of impactful tools and resources, and hear from athlete activists, politicians and social activists. (Read more from “NFL Hosts Advocacy in Sport Workshop” HERE)

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Report: Disgraced Rep. Conyers Threatened Intern Who Rebuffed His Sexual Advances With Chandra Levy Murder

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By Alex Griswold. A former intern for outgoing Rep. John Conyers says the Michigan Democrat propositioned her, and when she rebuffed his advances, he brought up a Washington, D.C. intern who had mysteriously disappeared.

Courtney Morse, now 36, told the Washington Post she was a 20-year-old student when she accepted an internship with Conyers’ office. One night, he offered to drive her home, and once they arrived, he “wrapped his hand around hers as it rested in her lap, and told her he was interested in a sexual relationship.” . . .

“He said he had insider information on the case. I don’t know if he meant it to be threatening, but I took it that way,” she told the Post. “I got out of the car and ran.” (Read more from “Report: Disgraced Rep. Conyers Threatened Intern Who Rebuffed His Sexual Advances With Chandra Levy Murder” HERE)

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Charges Were Dropped Against Illegal Charged in Levy Murder; Still Unsolved

By Eli Watkins. Levy disappeared in 2001, and her skull was found in a Washington park. Levy’s family alleged a romantic connection between Levy and then-Rep. Gary Condit, a California Democrat. Condit was questioned but never charged in connection with the death, and he denied any involvement in it.

Years later, a jury convicted Ingmar Guandique for the murder, but prosecutors dropped charges against him on appeal in 2016, and the US said it deported him earlier this year.

Morse said she quit her internship after the incident. (Read more from “Charges Were Dropped Against Illegal Charged in Levy Murder; Still Unsolved” HERE)

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Celebrities Come Together in Support of Bullied Boy After Video Goes Viral

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A Tennessee woman’s video of her son’s tearful recounting of being bullied at middle school has prompted a wave of support from athletes and entertainers. One star is even going as far as to reward the young boy in a big way.

Kimberly Jones said in a Facebook post Friday she had just picked up her son, Keaton, from school because he was too afraid to go to lunch.

The video of Keaton had more than 18 million views as of Sunday, and a crowdsourcing page for his future education has raised more than $29,000.

The post has gone so viral that celebrities far and wide are taking notice and offering their support to young Keaton. However, one star is going above and beyond to reward the young boy for his persevearance. Chris Evans, who will reprise his role as Captain America in the upcoming “Avengers: Infinity War,” took to Twitter to not only share his support, but to invite the young boy to Los Angeles for the film’s premiere.

“Stay strong, Keaton. Don’t let them make you turn cold. I promise it gets better,” the star wrote. “While those punks at your school are deciding what kind of people they want to be in this world, how would you and your mom like to come to the Avengers premiere in LA next year?”

(Read more from “Celebrities Come Together in Support of Bullied Boy After Video Goes Viral” HERE)

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Renowned Trumpet Player Walks off Stage After Pop Star Mocks Christmas Carol

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A classical musician walked off the stage after a pop singer mocked a Christmas carol and criticized Republicans in the U.S. Congress.

Manny Laureano, Principal Trumpet for the Minnesota Orchestra, made the silent protest during a Rufus Wainwright concert in Minneapolis’ Orchestra Hall on the evening of December 2. Wainwright, who is in a same-sex “marriage” and is known for voicing his left-wing political opinions at shows, was complaining about the Republicans’ tax plan, which had passed in Congress the night before.

The speech was part of Wainwright’s introduction to his famous protest song “Going to a Town.” The song contains the refrain “I’m so tired of America”, and refers to Christian teachings concerning sexual sin:

Tell me, do you really think you go to hell for having loved?
Tell me, and not for thinking everything that you’ve done is good.
I really need to know, after soaking the body of Jesus Christ in blood.
I’m so tired of America…

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Wainwright told the audience that passage of the tax plan was “a call to arms”, and that he and they had “to fight for this country.” (Read more from “Renowned Trumpet Player Walks off Stage After Pop Star Mocks Christmas Carol” HERE)

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Supreme Court to Decide If Boy’s Legal ‘Biological’ Parents Are Two Lesbians

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The Mississippi Supreme Court heard arguments last week about whether a boy born to a lesbian couple should be legally considered the biological son of his mother’s female partner.

Because of the nature of the child’s conception and the relationship of the adults in his life, the story is complicated.

The two women who were “married” chose to have a child that would be conceived in one of them via anonymous sperm donation.

The boy is now six years old. His mother’s “ex-spouse,” who helped raise the child from birth, sought to be recognized as a biological parent when the two women divorced.

“Kimberly Strickland Day, was impregnated through assisted reproduction technology whereby donor sperm was combined with her harvested egg and the embryo surgically implanted,” reports the Jackson, Mississippi Clarion Ledger. “The couple separated in 2013, and their divorce was finalized last year. A Mississippi court granted the first same-sex divorce in 2015.” (Read more from “Supreme Court to Decide If Boy’s Legal ‘Biological’ Parents Are Two Lesbians” HERE)

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Dance Teacher Arrested on Sex Charges Involving Teen

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A 29-year-old recently fired youth dance instructor was arrested Thursday on multiple sex charges involving a 14-year-old girl, say police in Franklin, Tenn.

Police began investigating Ross McCord, of Brentwood, in late October after the girl’s parents came forward with “disturbing information, Nashville’s Fox 17 reported.

McCord has been indicted on four counts of statutory rape by an authority figure, four counts of aggravated statutory rape, solicitation of sexual exploitation by a minor and exploitation of a minor by electronic means, the Nashville Tennessean reported.

(Read more from “Tennessee Dance Teacher Arrested on Sex Charges Involving Teen” HERE)

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Planned Parenthood Under Investigation by Justice Department Over Sale of Fetal Tissue

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The Justice Department has launched a federal investigation into Planned Parenthood’s practices and the sale of fetal tissue.

In a letter first obtained by Fox News, Justice Department Assistant Attorney General for Legislative Affairs Stephen Boyd formally requested unredacted documents from the Senate Judiciary Committee, the same panel that led the congressional probe into the women’s health organization.

“The Department of Justice appreciates the offer of assistance in obtaining these materials, and would like to request the Committee provide unredacted copies of records contained in the report, in order to further the Department’s ability to conduct a thorough and comprehensive assessment of that report based on the full range of information available,” Boyd wrote.

Fox News has learned that last month, the FBI first requested the unredacted documents from the committee.

Fox News is told that Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said they needed to receive a letter and be assured that the documents would be used for investigative purposes. (Read more from “Planned Parenthood Under Investigation by Justice Department Over Sale of Fetal Tissue” HERE)

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Elementary School Teachers Smoked Marijuana in Office Every Day Before School Began

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Two Virginia elementary school physical education teachers smoked marijuana and hashish in an office nearly every day before classes began, using air freshener to mask the smell before students walked in, police said.

Taylor Elementary School physical education teachers Luke Lloyd, 25, and Michael Diaddigo, 28, were arrested, charged with possessing marijuana, and suspended from the school following the accusations, FOX5 DC reported. A third teacher, who has not been identified, was placed on administrative leave.

Police received an anonymous tip the three teachers were smoking marijuana in their office, NBC Washington reported.

On Friday, the Arlington Police Department received two search warrants, one for the school and the other for a car. Drug-sniffing dogs reportedly found the drugs in Diaddigo’s desk and in the desk of the unidentified teacher, The Washington Post reported.

Police told NBC Washington that Diaddigo supplied other teachers at the school with marijuana and exchanged it on school property. (Read more from “Elementary School Teachers Smoked Marijuana in Office Every Day Before School Began” HERE)

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Universities Strive for Christmas-Free Campuses

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As another Christmas quickly approaches, colleges across the country are issuing their annual guidelines on how to make the season as inclusive as possible.

At the University of California, Irvine, for instance, individual departments are encouraged to “focus on celebrating a special occasion, instead of a specific holiday,” suggesting that they have a “year-end celebration” or celebrate “seasonal themes such as fall, winter, or spring.”

The California university also requests that academic departments “ensure that office celebrations are not indirectly celebrating religious holidays,” suggesting that they display “diverse symbols representing a variety of faith traditions along with secular ones.”

The State University of New York, Brockport has issued similar guidance on “culturally sensitive holiday decorations,” even advising employees to “consider a grab bag instead of a ‘Secret Santa’ gift exchange.”

“Keep decorations general and nonspecific to any religion. Create a winter theme with lights and color rather than religious icons, or include decorations from all the cultural traditions represented in your department,” the guidelines add, saying the “holiday season should be considered an opportunity to demonstrate cultural sensitivity and inclusivity.” (Read more from “Universities Strive for Christmas-Free Campuses” HERE)

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America Faces One of the Worst Flu Seasons Ever

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America is set to endure one of the most perilous flu seasons in years – with doctors warning it could be similar to the deadly 2014 outbreak.

It is becoming increasingly clear that the US will be hit by a particular strain of influenza called H3N2, the same strain which has just wreaked havoc in Australia, and was responsible for the four most deadly flu seasons in the last 10 years.

Early assessments suggest the current vaccine – which was produced in spring after scientists made an educated guess at what strain to expect – will be just 10 percent effective.

While some seasons don’t kick off until February, we are already seeing a surge in people hospitalized with influenza-like symptoms – at a rate even faster and earlier than we saw in 2014.

‘I’m anticipating this being a bad flu year,’ infectious diseases specialist Dr Pritish Tosh, of the Mayo Clinic, told Daily Mail Online. (Read more from “America Faces One of the Worst Flu Seasons Ever” HERE)

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