| Taking Names
"The Great Debaters," a film based on the real-life victories of a black debating team in the 1930s, tops the list of nominees announced Tuesday for the 39th NAACP Image Awards, Associated Press reports.
"Girlfriends" and "Everybody Hates Chris" lead the television nominees.
"The Great Debaters" collected eight nominations, including outstanding motion picture and both outstanding actor and outstanding director for Denzel Washington. The movie also garnered three supporting-actor nominations for Forest Whitaker, Nate Parker and Denzel Whitaker.
Other best-picture nominees: "American Gangster," "I Am Legend," "Talk to Me" and "Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?"
Other outstanding-actor nominees were Columbus Short for "Stomp the Yard," Don Cheadle for "Talk to Me," Terrence Howard for "Pride" and Will Smith for "I Am Legend."
Nominated for outstanding actress: Jurnee Smollett for "The Great Debaters," Angelina Jolie for "A Mighty Heart," Halle Berry for "Things We Lost in the Fire," Jill Scott for "Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?" and District native Taraji P.
Passenger ‘will never forget’ crash horror
A TRAIN passenger involved in a South Lakes crash says she will never be able to forget it. Sue Jones was a passenger on the First TransPennine Express train involved in the collision at Wraysholme, near Flookburgh, on Wednesday morning. The 8.27am Manchester Airport to Barrow service and a Land Rover collided on the level crossing, seriously injuring the 4x4's driver and passenger. Mrs Jones, 61, from Alsager in Cheshire, was on a day trip to Barrow, the first time she has ever travelled on the Furness railway line. She said: “I remember vividly the horror I felt – I don't think I will ever forget it." Mrs Jones, a property guide for the National Trust, was travelling in the front carriage of the train. She said: “It was a bright sunny day, and the views were superb. I was really enjoying the journey.
Beyond the Multiplex
On the other, it was pretty much a ka-ching Christmas season for mainstream and independent film alike, and many of you who weren't dragged by family members to "Alvin and the Chipmunks" or the latest "National Treasure" installment saw other things. Moderately surprising other things, I have to say. We have a whopping surprise indie hit this winter and it is -- no, not "No Country for Old Men," although that will pile up plenty o' loot on the way to multiple Oscar nominations and beyond, and not Paul Thomas Anderson's massively hyped "There Will Be Blood," which has opened prodigiously in New York and Los Angeles but may prove too long and too dark for mainstream audiences. No, the avalanche-force, market-changing sleeper hit of 2008 is Jason Reitman's teen-pregnancy comedy "Juno," which rocketed to a box-office take of $26 million over the holidays and looks likely to take down "No Country" (currently at $42 million) as Indiewood's reigning champion.
Porter County Sport Briefs
Signups for youth baseball and softball league for girls and boys ages 5-18 will be held at Boone Grove Elementary on Jan. 26 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Feb. 1 from 2:30-6 p.m. and Feb. 2 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.FYI: Call (219) 988-5355 or (219) 465-6144.GYMNASTICS FUN DAY | ChestertonLakeshore Gymnastics will hold a "Holiday Fun Day" called "I Love Gymnastics" on Feb. 7 for children ages 4-5. Participants can either reserve a half day session (8:30-11:30 a.m. or 12:30-3:30 p.m.) or the full day of activities. Activities include gymnastics class, art projects, story time, songs, group games and snacks. The event is directed by Kathy Catherman who has been Lakeshore's preschool director for 6 years and is CPR Certified, Safety Certified and is a Professional member of the USGA.FYI: Call (219) 926-4274BASKETBALL OFFICIALS NEEDED | ValparaisoThe Courts of NWI is looking for licensed officials to work youth and adult basketball games.FYI: Call Hank at (219) 465-1111, ext.
200 protest tardiness penalty
Two hundred students at the John D. O'Bryant School of Mathematics and Science in Roxbury protested a crackdown on tardiness yesterday by blocking doors and hallways and preventing hundreds of other students from getting to class on time. School officials locked down the school after the protest, banning people from entering and exiting and keeping students in the same classroom the last two periods of the day. "The headmaster put the school in safe mode," said Jonathan Palumbo, a spokesman for the Boston school system. "Any issue going on in the hallway needs to be addressed quickly." The protest was unusual at the school, which typically has a well-behaved student body of 1,300 and boasts test scores in math that are among the top in the state. Officials said two fights had broken out at the school earlier this year.
Manufacturing lowest in nearly 5 years
The Institute for Supply Management's (ISM) manufacturing index fell to 48.3 from 50.7 in January. Economists were expecting a reading of 48, according to a consensus compiled by Briefing.com. The tipping point for the index is 50, with a reading above that reflecting growth in the sector. A reading below 50 represents a decline in manufacturing. The overall reading of the index is the weakest since April 2003, and it also marks the seventh of the past eight months that the index has registered a decline from the previous month. "This was largely expected, but still not a good sign for the manufacturing sector," said Wachovia economist Adam York. "It's just one more sign that there's economic weakness in the economy," added York, who believes that this report will give the Federal Reserve further incentive to cut rates at a meeting later this month.
A Mexican view of U.S. immigration debate
I don't agree with it, because I don't believe we should violate human rights in order to stop what the United States calls ''OTM,'' or ''other than Mexican,'' immigration. But unless it's part of an overall deal, as in comprehensive immigration reform, there's really no incentive to change. If there is an immigration agreement with Mexico, then there is incentive for Mexico to seal off its southern border in an honest, secure, humane way. Q. Isn't there a Mexican interest in closing its southern border in a humane way? A. What do we have to gain? They're not coming to Mexico, they're going to the United States. Q. But doesn't Mexico have to deal with the consequences of the immigration, in terms of the criminal activity such as smuggling, and then the cost of deporting those they catch? A.
Jathedars put off parallel meetings in ‘Panth’s interest’
As per the news-item reported in The Tribune, dated February 5, a special leave petition has been filed before the Supreme Court against the orders. Since the Supreme Court is now seized of the mater, it will not be justified and proper for us to adjudicate on this criminal miscellaneous application. The same is adjourned sine dine till a final decision is taken on the special leave petition pending before the Supreme Court, the judges added. The court, on December 11, had handed over the investigations of the matter to the CBI after taking suo motu cognizance of news-reports carried in these columns. A public prosecutor contended that the order was liable to be modified as "the core issue regarding the jurisdiction of the High Court to refer a matter for investigation to the CBI without the consent of the state government was pending consideration before a larger bench of the SC.
Once-sleepy Phoenix becoming top sports destination in West
PHOENIX, Ariz. -- What was once the sleepy home of the NBA's Phoenix Suns, the Fiesta Bowl and baseball's spring training has blossomed into a national sports capital. This year's Super Bowl between the New England Patriots and New York Giants is the latest in a growing list of national sports events that have landed in the desert. And more are on the way as Phoenix contends with Los Angeles to become the West's top destination for major events. .
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