Odds & Ends

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According to a report from the Southern Education Foundation, 51% of children in public schools qualified for free or reduced-price lunches in 2013. That's up from 38% in 2000.

As marriage equality goes to the Supreme Court, AG Holder announced that DOJ would be filing a friend of the court brief "that will urge the Supreme Court to make marriage equality a reality for all Americans."

See Here

Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, January 16, 2015
Attorney General Holder Statement on Supreme Court Decision to Hear Same-Sex Marriage Cases

Attorney General Eric Holder released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear four cases on same-sex marriage equality:

“After the Justice Department's decision not to defend the constitutionality of Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, the Supreme Court sent a powerful message that Americans in same-sex marriages are entitled to equal protection and equal treatment under the law. This landmark decision marked a historic step toward equality for all American families.

“The Supreme Court has announced that it will soon hear several cases raising core questions concerning the constitutionality of same-sex marriages. As these cases proceed, the Department of Justice will remain committed to ensuring that the benefits of marriage are available as broadly as possible. And we will keep striving to secure equal treatment for all members of society—regardless of sexual orientation.

“As such, we expect to file a ‘friend of the court’ brief in these cases that will urge the Supreme Court to make marriage equality a reality for all Americans. It is time for our nation to take another critical step forward to ensure the fundamental equality of all Americans—no matter who they are, where they come from, or whom they love.”

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Here's a great story from Lauren Williams:

In the wake of recent high-profile cybersecurity attacks, the Obama Administration awarded $25 million to historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) Thursday to expand their cybersecurity degree programs.

With the announcement of the Academy Award nominations and the upcoming celebration of Martin Luther King Day, there is a lot of chatter about Selma - both the movie and the historical event. The one person who can talk with authority about the former because he actually lived the latter is Rep. John Lewis.

Speaking of the Academy Award nominations, what no one is writing about is whether or not Clint Eastwood got snubbed as the director of American Sniper. A friend of mine is a member of the Academy and thinks his fellow members never forgave Eastwood for that racist unhinged rant to the empty chair at the 2012 Republican Convention.


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