People: The current state of our economy has raised questions about whether today’s kids will be better or worse off than their parents. But, as a physician and father, I question whether they will be healthy enough to even live longer than their parents. Comment.

Music & Fashion: When Whitney Houston made an early morning appearance in Central Park three years ago, she repeated an act her mother Cissy initiated by introducing her to a Manhattan crowd at a time she was an unknown teenager. Comment.

Trinidad and Tobago: PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) — Trinidad’s former Prime Minister Patrick Manning has been airlifted to Walter Reed Medical Center in the United States for treatment following a stroke. Comment.

Movies: BAMcinématek kicks off its full 2012 calendar year with New Voices in Black Cinema, the second annual festival presented by the Fort Greene-based ActNow Foundation. Reflecting the wide spectrum of views and themes within the African diasporan communities in Brooklyn and beyond, the series features six New York premieres and special guests at nearly every screening. Comments (1).

People: Macy’s celebrates Black History Month with special events honoring the legacy of famed artist Romare Bearden. Comment.

Grenada: Grenadians continue their milestone achievement this week and were acknowledged by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who dispatched this correspondence about their independence celebration this week. Comment.

People: A bill aimed at ending insider trading in Washington headed to the floor of the Senate Tuesday, as New York’s junior senator renewed the push for additional reforms aimed at making the U.S. Congress more transparent and accountable. Comment.

People: On Martin Luther King Day, President Barack Obama painted walls at the Browne Education Center in Washington DC along with wife Michelle and daughter Malia. To honor King in the same spirit, 80 volunteers from 14 faith groups worked with Habitat for Humanity- NYC during their 13th annual “Building on a Dream” Martin Luther King Jr. weekend. A key principle of King Day is public service. Comment.

Arts & Theater: City College will host an annual Black History Month symposium focusing on the criminal justice system and how it impacts on society. Hosted by the Black Studies Department, the Feb. 14 event is expected to highlight some of the concerns inmates face when confined to State prison facilities during two two-hour panel discussions. Comment.

New York: WASHINGTON, DC (Jan. 24) --New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman released the following statement Wednesday on President Obama’s State of the Union address. Comment.

People: There’s a major political event approaching this fall, and though I have no doubt it will be overshadowed by the elections, I hope you’ll carve out some time for it anyway. On September 17, we’ll observe the 225th anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution. Comment.

Venezuela: MIAMI (AP) — At a park in downtown Miami, alongside a statue of their country’s liberator, Venezuelans gathered Saturday to protest the closing of their consulate, an action they say will cause major problems for the thousands of Venezuelans living in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. Comment.

People: As Black History Month begins and Abraham Lincoln’s birthday approaches, the New-York Historical Society is pleased to add to its displays a rare handwritten copy of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution—the measure that abolished slavery—signed by Lincoln himself. Comment.

Brooklyn: Kings County Hospital Center (KCHC) held its annual tribute to Dr. King on Friday, Jan. 13 featuring the world-renowned Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr., minister emeritus of Riverside Church and president of the Healing of the Nations Foundation as then keynotye speaker. Comment.

Trinidad and Tobago: A United States federal judge on Jan. 13 sentenced to life in prison a Trinidadian man who was convicted of plotting to blow up fuel tanks at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. Comments (1).

Venezuela: CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela is withdrawing personnel from the country’s consulate in Miami more quickly than planned because the personnel have been threatened by exiles with links to terrorism, the foreign ministry announced on Monday. Comment.

New York: The Rainbow PUSH Wall Street Project will host the 15th annual gathering of the Wall Street Economic Summit from January 25-27, 2012 at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers, 811 Seventh Avenue at 53rd Street, New York City. This year’s summit, “We Are One World: Bringing Everyone to the Table” focuses on access to capital, industry, and technology for American families and businesses facing economic disparities. This year’s honorary chair is Terry J. Lundgren, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Macy’s Inc. Comment.

People: At a holiday networking event on December 1 at the landmark GNYCC building, The Greater New York Commerce held a surprise press conference to announce plans for a Black History Month celebration on February 29. Comment.

Queens: The Obama Administration recently released a progress report on efforts to protect consumers from foodborne illness. Comment.

Cuba: HAVANA (AP) — A U.S. inspection of a Chinese-made oil rig due to begin drilling in waters off Cuba has determined that it meets international safety norms, the American government said Monday. Comment.

Haiti: BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — University of Colorado engineers are heading to Haiti to set up renewable energy projects to cope with power outages. Comment.

Haiti: MIAMI (AP) — Some members of Florida’s congressional delegation are asking federal officials to help more Haitians get visas to live and work in the U.S. Comment.