Thursday, May 1, 2014 - The Pentagon said Tuesday that the military will review controversial hair-grooming policies that led some African American women to accuse the Army of racial bias. Guidelines released in late March, known as Army Regulation 670-1, included rules that described as "unauthorized " some natural hairstyles popular among black women, including twists and certain types of braids. The backlash included a White House petition asking the Army to reconsider the ban and a letter from black female lawmakers to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon's press secretary, announced the review at a regular briefing, telling reporters: "Secretary Hagel . . . sent a letter to the Hill today directing the deputy secretary of defense to work with the service secretaries and military chiefs to review their respective policies to address the issues raised by members of Congress about grooming standards, particularly for African American females. So within the next 30 days, each service will review the definitions of authorized and prohibited hairstyles contained in each of their respective policies and revise any offensive language." He added that "during the next three months, each service will review their hairstyle policies as they pertain to African American women to ensure standards are fair and respectful of our diverse force while also meeting our military services' requirements." Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, issued a statement praising Hagel's "thoughtful response to the concerns of Members of the Congressional Black Caucus and to many women of color currently serving in our Armed Forces. Secretary Hagel's response affirms his commitment to ensuring all individuals are welcomed and can continue to be proud of serving in our Armed Forces." Sgt. Jasmine Jacobs, who serves in the Army National Guard and who started the White House petition that gathered more than 16,000 signatures, said, "This is empowering for women in the military," she said.
State & National News Pentagon to review policies on hairstyles
WASHINGTON - The Pentagon said Tuesday that the military will review controversial hair-grooming policies that led some African American women to accuse the Army of racial bias. Guidelines released in late March, known as Army Regulation 670-1, included rules that described as "unauthorized " some natural hairstyles popular among black women, including twists and certain types of braids. Your phone may not have the right to remain silent
WASHINGTON - Big Brother would have loved your smartphone. It not only knows where you've been and who's in touch with you but also records your photos, texts, e-mails and social media exchanges. Linked to the cloud, it allows access to your entire digital lifespan, including financial and medical records.
VIDEO: New grad's failed back flip at commencement
After receiving his diploma from Davenport University, Robert Jeffrey Blank decided to attempt a backflip. The result has gone viral. NCSU STUDY: Urbanization, Higher Temperatures Can Influence Butterfly Emergence Patterns
The following study report is from NC State University:
An international team of researchers has found that a subset of common butterfly species are emerging later than usual in urban areas located in warmer regions, raising questions about how the insects respond to significant increases in temperature. Bat-Killing Fungus Continues its Spread in North Carolina
The following release is from The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission:
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - White-nose syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease that has killed millions of bats in the eastern United States, continues its deadly toll on North Carolina bat populations.
Coffee growers' prayers for rain met with threat of deluge
BRASILIA, Brazil - Brazil's drought made arabica coffee this year's best-performing commodity. Now, farmers are facing a downpour that is once more threatening crops. Lucasfilm announces cast of 'Star Wars' film set for 2015 debut
LOS ANGELES - Lucasfilm announced the cast of the next "Star Wars" picture, saying original stars including Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher will join a fresh crop of space adventurers in the new film. College chess team funding scrutinized
LOS ANGELES - The arms race in collegiate chess - a cutthroat world once dominated by the University of Maryland Baltimore County - is generating new scrutiny following revelations that a highpowered coach at Texas Tech University requested more than $1 million in funding, including a $250,000 salary.
Firstborn girls are statistically more likely to run the world
WASHINGTON - There's a hunger in psychology for birth-order effects - prophecies about personality that originate in whether your siblings are older or younger than you. At least when it comes to academic achievement, the mythical yeti of family psych has been bagged and examined - call your older sister. White House report calls for campus violence surveys by 2016
LOS ANGELES - A White House task force called for U.S. colleges to conduct mandatory surveys to reveal the frequency of sexual assault on their campuses and student attitudes toward such misconduct. More State & National News Headlines
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