Good morning! Today is going to be a rainy one, so don’t forget your umbrellas. The forecast is calling for showers and a high of 59°. There is a chance of rain tomorrow as well, but Easter Sunday is expected to be sunny with a high of 87°.

Here’s what’s brewing in the news this morning:

Missing NC teen confirmed dead

Police have confirmed that a body found in a Maryland river was that of a North Carolina teen who went missing while visiting relatives in Baltimore over the Christmas holidays. After months of searches and appeals to the public, it was not the outcome that family and friends of Phylicia Barnes had hoped for. The Monroe teen would have celebrated her 17th birthday on January 12. Her body was one of two pulled from the Susquehanna River on Wednesday. The other body was that of a man. It is not clear if there is any connection between the two. There were no visible wounds reported on Barnes’ body, and the cause of death is not yet available. (Read more)
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Blacks gain access to top universities, but what about African Americans?

Harvard University made news this month, reporting a record number of black student admissions for the incoming class of 2015. It may appear that this is an indication that African Americans are gaining access to top universities, but the devil is in the details. Some say new federal guidelines on reporting race and nationality are skewing the actual numbers. Apparently, the multicultural inclusiveness that is desired by colleges and universities, and African-Americans, is the same thing that can distort the numbers for black students.

Read more at TheGrio.com
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What will they come up with next?

Stick-on falsies or eyelash extensions are nothing new, but applying them to your car is a different story. A company is selling stick-on eyelashes for headlights. Prices start at $27 a pair, with an additional $20 for crystal eyeliner strips. www.carlashes.com
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An apple a day, bad for baby?

A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives suggests that children whose mothers are exposed to some pesticides found on fruits and vegetables have lowered IQ’s later in childhood. The strongest correlation was found in mostly low-income, African Americans and Latina women and children. The LA Times reports that these studies are not as conclusive as they may seem at first. Pregnant women are being encouraged not to shun fresh fruits and vegetables but to wash or scrub them thoroughly. (Read more)
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Staph found in half of US meat.

Your holiday meal could contain a bacteria that can make you sick. A recent study found that half of the meat and poultry sold in U.S. supermarkets and grocery stores contains Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), commonly referred to as “staph.” Staph can cause serious infections and even death. Roughly half of the contaminated samples contained strains of the bacteria that were resistant to antibiotics such as penicillin and tetracycline. (Read more)

Take it Easy

Speaking of Easter, if you are planning a weekend of fun with family and friends, be sure to check out Toni’s picks for live entertainment, family fun and smooth jazz!
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What’s brewing on your mind this morning? This is your chance to speak out. Be sure to leave a comment in the section below.

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