Bronx: Bronx residents are protesting the current New York City Department of Education (DOE) disciplinary polices that have moved children from school directly into the criminal justice system. Comment.

Manhattan: More than 500 Project Sunshine friends and supporters gathered at the Hilton New York for the Ninth Annual Project Sunshine Benefit “Sunshine in the City” honoring Michael J. Dowling, president and CEO, North Shore-LIJ Health System on May 1. Comment.

Viewpoints: The partisan squabbling over the killing of Osama bin Laden is a typical election-year distraction, effectively squelching discussion of more important matters one year after the execution of the al-Qaeda chief executive. Comment.

Jamaica: WASHINGTON, May 8, 2012 - Jamaica’s fragile economic recovery would be dangerously hampered by demands by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other donors, according to a new report released here by the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR). Comment.

Sports: The 45th Annual Glenn D. Loucks Memorial Track and Field Meet, the largest in the New York met area, for high school athletes drew entries from all over the Metropolitan area, mostly from New York State with more than 150. But one can not count out the 21 schools from Connecticut, four from Maine, 10 from Massachusetts, six from New Hampshire, five from New Jersey, six from Rhode Island, and 10 from as far north as Canada. Comment.

Manhattan: The USA Swimming Foundation, in conjunction with Mayor Ernest D. Davis of Mount Vernon, N.Y., the Mount Vernon YMCA, and the Mount Vernon Department of Recreation, will hold “Make a Splash: Mount Vernon,” on Saturday, May 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Mount Vernon YMCA. Comment.

New York: On the eve of expansion of a federal immigrant fingerprinting program, New York City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio has urged the federal government to halt expansion of the controversial plan that targets Caribbean and other illegal immigrant suspects. Comment.

Guyana’s major opposition coalition has withdrawn a court case challenging a hefty pension package for Bharrat Jagdeo, to allow the Caribbean Community nation’s parliament the privilege of chopping the former president’s remuneration to a more reasonable sum; but the work of the opposition could be stymied in the long run if Jagdeo’s successor refuses to assent to the bill, making it law as is widely expected. Comment.

Haiti: Haiti on May 14 commemorated the end of the first year in office of President Michel Martelly by ushering in a new government. Comment.

Music & Fashion: Two surviving members from a three-piece steel band which appeared in the 1954 Broadway musical House of Flowers will be among the special lineup of individuals being honored at a Tribute to New York Steel Band Pioneers organized by the Trinidad & Tobago Folk Arts Institute, Sunday evening May 20. The gala event will be held at Tropical Paradise Ballroom, Brooklyn from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. Comment.

People: The following is LGBT Faith Leaders of African Descent’s response to President Barack Obama’s public statement in support of same sex marriage. Comment.

Viewpoints: I am a guidance counselor at one of the 24 New York City schools unjustly slated for closure at the end of the school year. We are very frustrated with the censorship on this topic. There is only one perspective being perpetuated in the media on every channel except NY1. Newspaper articles are repeating the facts of the case from the perspective of the DOE. When mentioning the hundreds of thousands in opposition, the commentary stops at just that. “Teachers are upset” or “the UFT is upset” or “Students are protesting”, etc... Comment.

Manhattan: Borough President Scott Stringer presented awards recently at the seventh annual Trailblazers Program and Award Ceremony of Manhattan that recognizes members of the community that have blazed a trail for others to follow. Comment.

Manhattan: Former United Nations sustainability specialist, humanitarian and author, Muriel Glasgow, will be honored with the Ambassador of Peace Award for her selfless contribution to peace, human rights and development with NGOs and UNICEF. Comment.

Sports: Test cricket in the West Indies is boring, according to a recent study. Comment.

Music & Fashion: Artists Studio Tour The 2012 Flatbush Artists Studio Tour will take place on Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 20, noon to 6:00 p.m. in Ditmas Park, and will feature artists welcoming visitors into their homes and studios showcasing their works ranging from acrylic and oil paintings, carved sculpture, drawings, mixed media, collages, and more. Victorian Flatbush is located a few blocks south of Prospect Park. For information, visit www.flatbushartists.org. Comment.

Brooklyn: Jessie Lee is the director of Small Business Services, a program of Brooklyn-based CAMBA, a multi-service non-profit agency. The Business program offers free business training and counsel to the community. Comment.

Movies: “The Avengers” is the sixth installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise launched in 2008 with “Iron Man,” and followed by “The Incredible Hulk,” “Iron Man 2,” “Thor” and “Captain America.” What makes this adventure unique is that it’s the first in the series to revolve around a team of comic book superheroes. Comment.

Health: If you’re one of the estimated 25 million Americans who suffer from asthma, you know what it’s like to experience symptoms such as coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. To raise awareness and understanding of this serious and growing health problem, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Genentech have joined with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) to launch The Asthma Express, an educational awareness program to help bring allergic asthma to the forefront. Comment.

People: The 180-day period for monetary claims by Black farmers against the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) expired on May 11. Comment.

Health: You may not realize it, but your lifestyle could be putting you at risk for common health problems that afflict women. National Women’s Health Week, observed May 13-19, is a great reminder to brush up on some facts that can help you stay healthy. Comment.

Caribbean: The United Nations’ Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) says that the region received US$153.448 billion from foreign direct investment (FDI) last year. Comment.

People: The United Nations said on May 9 that 20 Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have announced new actions to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and end poverty, as they wrapped up a sustainable energy conference in Barbados, organized by the U.N. and the Barbados government. Comment.

People: The New York Association of Black Journalists paid tribute to the late Gil Noble on May 15 during their 24th annual Scholarship and Awards Banquet at the Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center. Comment.

Music & Fashion: Cold Facts designer Michelle Cole continues to amaze us with her talent and innovative sense of how a lady should look and feel when she puts on a piece of garment. Comment.

Sports: For talented local juniors hoping to become the next Roger Federer or Serena Williams, the road could begin at City Parks Foundation’s 26th Annual Reebok Junior Tennis Academy Tryouts on Saturday, May 19 at 3:00 p.m. at the USTA/ Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Park. Comment.

People: It’s no surprise that mothers make compromises every day. A recent survey of 1,000 American moms by Green Works naturally derived cleaners revealed that 57 percent admit to turning down bedroom time with their mate to clean the house. This number soars to 74 percent for new moms. Comment.

Arts & Theater: The Center for African and Diaspora Dance (Cumbe) will host two living dance legends on Saturday, May 12. Comment.

Music & Fashion: The Sixth Annual Dance Parade and Festival will take to the streets of New York City on Saturday, May 19 at 1:00 p.m. Comment.

Sports: The New York Red Bulls scored a morale-boosting victory Saturday night when it defeated the high-powered offensive team and defending champion Los Angeles Galaxy, 1-0, at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. Comment.

Health: Researchers at Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, say 24 newly-discovered species of lizards known as skinks in the Caribbean are close to extinction. Comment.

Sports: Rajiv Maragh is looking forward for a very successful 2012 thoroughbred racing season as a jockey at the three New York Racing Association tracks — Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga. Comments (1).

Music & Fashion: Standouts from the world of new-age soca, such as Blaxx and Nadia Batson are blended with a lineup of seasoned veterans including Black Stalin, Sugar Aloes, Edwin Yearwood and Denyse Plummer for the 36th annual edition of the Mother’s Day show, on Saturday, May 12 at Brooklyn Center for Performing Arts, Brooklyn College, starting at 8:00 p.m. Comment.

Sports: West Indies middle-order batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul has regained his No. 1 ranking for Test batsmen after being the leading run-scorer in the recently concluded home series against Australia with 346 runs at an average of 86.50. Comment.

Music & Fashion: A Pre-Mother’s Day Musical Experience will be held at Saint Francis College, 182 Remsen Street in Brooklyn from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 12. Comment.

Arts & Theater: Premier Exhibitions, Inc. and Continuum Health Partners will offer complimentary blood pressure screenings to exhibition visitors to help combat America’s number one killer of women Comment.