Top 5 Live –WURD Wednesday February 25
1. L&I’s demolition papers sought
City Controller Alan Butkovitz has subpoenaed documents from the Department of Licenses and Inspections, launching an investigation into the department’s adherence to strict safety rules enacted after the downtown building collapse that killed six people in 2013.
The action comes one day after The Inquirer reported that L&I allowed an illegal demolition at 26th and Poplar last year. City inspectors say the contractor at that site used some of the unsafe techniques that caused the deadly collapse at 22d and Market.
2. Singer Zendaya Calls Out Giuliana Rancic for Offensive Hair Comments
E!’s Fashion Police are known for their harsh criticism of stars looks on the red carpet, but this time, host Giuliana Rancic may have taken things too far.
During Monday night’s broadcast of the post-Oscars Fashion Police show, Rancic commented on actress and singer Zendaya’s choice to wear dreadlocks, saying, “I feel like she smells like patchouli oil. Or weed. Maybe weed?”
3. Obama Vetoes Keystone XL Pipeline Bill
President Barack Obama has officially vetoed a bill to approve the Keystone XL pipeline, marking his third rejection of congressionally approved legislation during his six years in office.
In the veto message, Obama said that the bill “attempts to circumvent longstanding and proven processes for determining whether or not building and operating a cross-border pipeline serves the national interest.”
4. Lawsuit accuses Comcast, Al Sharpton of discriminating against black-owned media
A lawsuit against Comcast, Time Warner Cable Inc., Rev. Al Sharpton and the NAACP alleges that the media companies discriminated against black-owned businesses and paid activists like Sharpton to make it appear that they were promoting diversity.
The lawsuit, seeking $20 billion, was filed in Los Angeles federal court Friday by Entertainment Studios, a television company founded by black producer and comedian Byron Allen and the National Association of African-American Owned Media (NAAAOM). The complaint comes as regulators mull a $45-billion merger between Comcast and Time Warner.
5. No charges in Trayvon Martin civil rights investigation
The federal civil rights investigation into the 2012 shooting death of unarmed Florida teen Trayvon Martin will wrap up with no charges filed, the Justice Department announced Tuesday.
“The death of Trayvon Martin was a devastating tragedy. It shook an entire community, drew the attention of millions across the nation, and sparked a painful but necessary dialogue throughout the country,” said Attorney General Eric Holder in a statement.
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Solomon Jones is an Essence bestselling author and award-winning columnist. He is the creator and editor of Solomonjones.com and morning host on 900 am WURD radio. Click here to learn more about Solomon
