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Friday, November 21, 2014
Politics For your weekend reading pleasure: George Dunlap response to the Observer's editorial
Posted By Jerry Klein on Fri, Nov 21, 2014 at 12:24 PM
It’s time for the latest edition in that highly entertaining and uber-competitive game show, “Which Charlotte-Mecklenburg Leadership Group Is The Most Dysfunctional?” And as we close out the week, with the School Board seemingly stuck in quicksand rather than making any real progress in naming a new superintendent, it’s clear the County Commission has surged — no, make that vaulted — into the lead. Here are a couple of this week’s developments that ought to underscore that assertion.
First, on Thursday, a graphic representative map of the county, created by local Democratic strategist Tom Chumley, began making the rounds, detailing, precinct-by-precinct, who led in the at-large voting. What’s most telling in this is that the current chairman of the Commission, Trevor Fuller, failed to lead in a single one of the nearly 200 polling places.
Arts / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Friday
Posted By Anita Overcash on Fri, Nov 21, 2014 at 9:00 AM
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Nov. 21, 2014 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
• Charlotte Symphony Pops: Cirque Musica at Belk Theater
• Moonshine Fest at Rooftop 210
• Wretched at Tremont Music Hall
• 'Art' at UpStage
• Science on the Rocks: Gears & Beers at Discovery Place
First Drip First Drip (11/21/14): Obama to undocumented: 'Come out of the shadows,' more
Posted By Emiene Wright on Fri, Nov 21, 2014 at 8:21 AM
Prosecutors have announced they will not seek the death penalty against Angelo Smith, the boyfriend and accused killer of Charlotte teacher Bianca Tanner.
President Barack Obama moved Thursday to halt deportations for nearly 5 million undocumented immigrants, defying congressional Republicans who called his unilateral action an affront to the constitutional separation of powers. “To those members of Congress who question my authority to make our immigration system work better, or question the wisdom of me acting where Congress has failed, I have one answer,” Obama said during a prime-time television address from the White House East Room. “Pass a bill."
Officials from Iran and six world powers - US, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany - arrived in Austria's capital Vienna for the final round of nuclear talks starting on Friday, in which it is hoped Iran will make concessions on its nuclear program in exchange for a lifting of sanctions. The deal has to be reached before Monday's deadline, but significant, hurdles stand in the way.
Photographers captured amazing images of tens of thousands marching for 43 missing Mexican college students Thursday. The massive crowd took over Mexico City’s main square, while others showed their support in cities around the U.S. and Latin America on social media with the hashtag #AyotzinapaSomosTodos.
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Film / Film News Opening Friday
Posted By Matt Brunson on Thu, Nov 20, 2014 at 2:00 PM
- Lionsgate
- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1
The Better Angels - Jason Clarke, Diane Kruger
Citizenfour - Documentary
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1 - Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson
News TONIGHT: Latin American Coalition hosts immigration reform announcement watch party
Posted By David Aurelius on Thu, Nov 20, 2014 at 1:06 PM
Tonight, President Obama will address the nation to announce the steps he plans to take to begin fixing our broken immigration system. His message won’t fall on deaf ears in Charlotte, as the Latin American Coalition has partnered with Familias Unidas to organize a viewing party for the much-anticipated address. The party will begin at 7:45 p.m. at the LAC office located at 4938 Central Ave.
Local advocates, immigrants and their allies will be there in support and to watch the president’s address and discuss what it will mean for our community.
“Everybody agrees that our immigration system is broken. Unfortunately Washington has allowed the problem to fester for too long,” Obama says in a video released by the White House. “What I’m going to be laying out is the things that I can do with my lawful authority as president to make the system work better, even as I continue to work with congress and encourage them to get a bipartisan comprehensive bill that can solve the entire problem.”
With the bill passed by the Senate more than 500 days ago still in limbo, the president has received significant pressure to address the issue in any way he can, but House Speaker John A. Boehner has said that all options are still in consideration and that he will continue to fight the president “tooth and nail” if he continues to push the limits of his legal authority.
With the looming threat of legal ramifications should the president act, there is a lot of pressure for both parties to reach a general consensus.
Tonight will set the tone for one of the country’s most controversial and far-reaching debates in decades. Whether or not you decide to join the party at the LAC, the address is a monumental one. Missing it to watch Grey’s Anatomy, or the new episode of The Biggest Loser: Glory Days might in fact make you the biggest loser.
Arts / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Thursday
Posted By Anita Overcash on Thu, Nov 20, 2014 at 9:00 AM
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Nov. 20, 2014 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
• Trans-Siberian Orchestra at Time Warner Cable Arena
• 21st Beaujolais Festival at Foundation of the Carolinas
• Films on Tap at Heist Brewery
• Ajax in Iraq at Queens University
• Triptych Collective presents Traces f. Hectorina, Troy Conn at Neighborhood Theatre
First Drip First Drip (11/20/14): Family Dollar takeover snags, Obama's immigration gambit, FSU shooter
Posted By Emiene Wright on Thu, Nov 20, 2014 at 8:01 AM
Dollar General Corp.'s hostile takeover bid for Family Dollar Stores Inc. may have hit a stumbling block. On Wednesday, the New York Post reported the Tennessee-based discount retailer could have to divest more than 4,000 stores to gain Federal Trade Commission approval to acquire Family Dollar.
A lone gunman who opened fire inside the library at Florida State University was shot and killed by campus police early Thursday morning after he wounded three people, authorities said. The gunman, who was not identified, walked inside the entrance to FSU’s Strozier Library about 12:30 a.m. and opened fire, striking three people. About 300 students were in the library at the time.
President Obama will announce plans for comprehensive immigration reform tonight on national TV. The plan includes a program that may protect up to five million undocumented immigrants from deportation and allows those with no criminal record to work legally in the country, according to people briefed on his plans. Details of the plan include the expansion of a program for "Dreamers,” young immigrants who came to the United States as children. Farm workers will not receive specific protection from deportation, nor will the Dreamers’ parents. And none of the five million immigrants will get government subsidies for health care under the Affordable Care Act.
Happy anniversary to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. He has been playing second fiddle for 67 years and does so with grace; he is, “quite simply, my strength and my stay," the queen says.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
News Charlotte tastes the rainbow, is ranked N.C.'s most welcoming for gays
Posted By Emiene Wright on Wed, Nov 19, 2014 at 1:26 PM
Take a bow, Charlotte — you’re the gayest city in North Carolina. Or, more accurately, the most welcoming to LGBTQ citizens. Hot on the heels of Gaston County’s resolution to formally condemn federally recognized marriage equality, the Human Rights Campaign released their annual Municipal Equality Index (MEI) Nov. 15th. They found Charlotte the highest ranking city in the state for inclusivity of LGBT residents.
This year’s MEI studied 353 cities from every state in the nation, looking at factors like relationship recognition, non-discrimination in city employment, law enforcement policies, and municipal services. They were rated on these measures from a scale of 1 to 100, with bonus points awarded for employee benefits, services to youth and people living with AIDS, and whether or not the city had elected or appointed any openly LGBT officials.
Salt Lake City, St. Louis and Dayton all scored in the top 23, well ahead of the Queen City. But our town didn’t fare too badly. Charlotte got a ranking of 63, beating the national average of 59 and swamping North Carolina’s average score of 50. Our closest competitor was Durham, at 59. Cary, North Carolina scraped the bottom of the barrel with a dismal 36.
Charlotte scored highest in relationship recognition, which equals marriage, civil unions, or comprehensive domestic partnerships established by statute or case law, with 12 out of 12 points possible. We also earned 7 out of 8 points for relationship with the LGBT community and bonus points for having openly elected officials gay officials (thanks, LaWana!). Our worst category was for discriminatory laws, with a score of 0 out of a possible 18.
The 2014 MEI rated 60 more cities than in 2013, expanding their pool to include the 50 state capitals, the 150 largest cities in the United States, the three largest cities or municipalities in each state, the city home to the state’s largest public university (including undergraduate and graduate enrollment) and 75 cities and municipalities that have high proportions of same-sex couples.
The MEI is not a ranking of a city’s atmosphere or quality of life, but an evaluation of the city’s laws and policies and how they impact LGBT people. Some high-scoring cities may not feel truly welcoming for all LGBT people, and some low-scoring cities might feel more welcoming than the scores reflect. But one can safely assume no city in Gaston County was rated.
Arts / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Wednesday
Posted By Anita Overcash on Wed, Nov 19, 2014 at 11:29 AM
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Nov. 19, 2014 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
• Hunter Hayes at The Fillmore
• Roux Wednesdays: Our Side Of The Moon EDM Party at Chop Shop
• Innovation Challenge>Food Final Event at Johnson & Wales University
• Art Fusion: NanoWrimo at Mint Museum Uptown
• Grandma Lee at The Comedy Zone
First Drip First Drip (11/19/14): South Carolina seeks to block gay marriage, Uber isn't God
Posted By Emiene Wright on Wed, Nov 19, 2014 at 9:13 AM
South Carolina's attorney general asked Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to stop same-sex marriages from starting in the state. Unless the Supreme Court intervenes, same-sex couples will be able to marry in South Carolina beginning at noon Thursday. Wilson is seeking a stay during his appeal of a trial court ruling from last week that the state’s ban on same-sex couples’ marriages is unconstitutional.
Comedian Bill Cosby has finally commented on the growing controversy over allegations that he raped several women over the years with a statement released through his lawyer. The categorical denial follows a weekend in which he reportedly canceled appearances on both David Letterman’s and Queen Latifah’s respective talk shows, and NPR hosted an interview where he responded to sexual assault allegations by silently shaking his head. No word on what if any impact this will have on Cosby's scheduled performances at Belk Theater Feb. 22.
An Uber senior vice president mused about hiring opposition researchers to attack critical journalists. Ellen Cushing, a senior editor at San Francisco magazine who profiled Uber CEO Travis Kalanick this month, said that employees warned her that executives were likely to access her rider logs using a tracking system called "God View" in order to see which employees she was speaking to as part of her reporting.
Senate Democrats blocked a move Tuesday to compel construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. The vote was a victory for environmental activists who have turned defeat of the pipeline into one of the central symbolic causes of their movement. But Republicans, who will take majority control of the Senate in the next Congress, vowed to return to the fight next year.
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Rango / Gnomeo & Juliet: Tale of two toons
Toon Western triggers a good time for all, but silly Shakespeare spin is solely for the kids.
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Question the Queen City: Who set fire to the nightlife? 3
From 1971 to 1976, 17 nightclubs in Charlotte burned to the ground. Who did it?
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Question the Queen City: An unsolved double murder 5
Did they ever catch the killer from the Mulberry Church Road murders?
