Good morning! It’s Monday. Hope you had a great weekend, but now it’s time to get back to business. The weatherman says today will be mostly cloudy with a high around 77°. A few showers may develop late in the evening.

Did you know today is officially Teal Day Charlotte?  The date was selected by Mayor Foxx to honor Lydia G. Ross, who succumbed last year to endometrial cancer. Today was her birthday. Wear something teal in support of gynecologic cancer awareness. Thursday, the Duke Energy Building will be lighting up teal.

Here’s what’s brewing in the news:

Desegregation battle continues in Little Rock

The state of Arkansas no longer wants to fund school desegregation programs, but three districts receiving the payments say they need the money to continue their efforts.

In 1989, after a federal judge ruled that school districts in Arkansas had wrongfully separated white and black students, the school and the state reached a settlement which is still in effect. It requires large payments to the Little Rock, North Little Rock and Pulaski County school districts.

Today, a federal appeals court will hear arguments from both the schools and the state. According to AP reports, the court is expected to decide whether the state will still be mandated to make the payments, which total around $70 million annually. They will also decide if two of the districts should remain under court supervision.

Schools in Little Rock have come a long way since federal troops escorted nine black students into an all-white school nearly half a century ago, but the schools have been accused of delaying further desegregation to continue receiving state money.

QUESTION: In these tough economic times, do you think spending millions of dollars on busing and desegregation programs should remain a priority for states and school districts?
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British Government labels toddlers racist, homophobes

Apparently the British government has been keeping close tabs on offensive playground banter. Over 30,000 school children, some as young as three, have been registered on a government database and labeled as “racist” or “homophobic” for childish insults.

What offenses could land a child’s name on this infamous registry and possibly put their future careers in jeopardy? One child was reported to authorities for calling another child a “broccoli head.” Others have been reported for using the words “gay” and “lesbian.” In another case, a child was added to the database for telling a teacher “this work is gay.” (Read more) 
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More families unable to bury dead

More families across the nation are unable to bury their loved ones due to the economic downturn. As funeral costs continue to increase, many Americans struggle with unemployment and underemployment. As a result, many coroners’ offices are reporting a rise in unclaimed bodies and funerals for indigent people. According to the National Association of Counties, the trend is occurring everywhere. There has also been an upswing in the number of cremations for indigent people because they are more affordable than burials. (Read more)
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Tragedy occurs at Bowie State University

A 19-year-old student at Bowie State University has been charged with murder in the fatal stabbing of her roommate. Sources say that Alexis D. Simpson and one her roommates Dominique T. Frazier, 18, got into an altercation after Simpson turned off an iPod that Frazier was listening to with her friends. When Frazier in her friends reportedly raised their voices and demanded that Simpson turn the music back on, Simpson allegedly stabbed Frazier in the neck.

Simpson has been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder and first-degree assault. In her defense Simpson is reported as saying: “I didn’t mean to do it. Y’all don’t know what I’ve been through. You all jumped me.” (Read more)
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Police investigation shoot out at Florida church

A gunman ran into a Florida church and shot the pastor point blank in the back of the head just as he was leading his congregation in prayer Sunday morning. Then gunman then turned the gun on the associate pastor and emptied three rounds of gunfire into his head and back before being tackled by parishioners and detained until police arrived.

Jeremiah Fogle, 57, was arrested after the incident and is also suspected of killing his wife Theresa Fogle, 56, before heading over to the church. Authorities are still trying to figure out what happened that sent Fogel into an alleged murderous rage.

According to reports, Fogle (pictured above with his wife in a family photo) lead a home-based ministry with his wife and was known in his community as a “sweet man.” He will be charged with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder and other charges are likely, police said. (Read more)  

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