First Black New England Mayor Dies Leo Jackson the first Black mayor of a New England city, has died. He was 83. Jackson shocked the nation three decades ago when he his fellow city councilors in New London, Conn., selected him to lead the city. Read more.

Ousted Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, recently out of jail after serving 100 days for perjury, has missed deadlines to report on the more than $1 million he had on hand at the end of 2007, according to The Detroit Free Press. “What he has to gain by not filing is continuing to conceal how he’s spent his money,” Maurice Kelman, a retired law professor from Wayne State University, told the newspaper. Read more.

He’s on his way home early for good behavior after a 120-day jail sentence. But the ex-mayor of Detroit could be headed back to a courtroom with the possibility of serving far more time behind bars if he’s convicted of federal corruption. Kwame Kilpatrick and his dad Bernard Kilpatrick are reported to be the men identified in a recent federal bribery case as “City Official A” and “Relative of City Official A.” The recently fired exec of a sludge recycling company is expected to serve 11 months in prison after confessing that he paid large sums of cash to secure a major city contract during Kilpatrick’s time in office. Among the figures reported in court papers to have participated in the Synagro company’s pay-to-play scheme are a politician fitting the ex-mayor’s description and his father, who reports suggest received cash from the contract through his consulting firm. No charges have been filed against the Kilpatricks, and Bernard Kilpatrick denies any wrongdoing in the case. The ex-mayor is completing jail time after he confessed to perjury and related charges last year in a case involving ex-cops who were investigating Kilpatrick’s security detail. He is expected to travel to Texas to seek private employment upon his release in early February.    

Portland Mayor: ‘I Screwed Up’
The mayor of Portland, Ore., asked for forgiveness Tuesday after being exposed for his relationship with a teen boy, with whom he had a sexual relationship three years ago. “I screwed up. I blew it. There’s no way to sugarcoat it,” Mayor Sam Adams said in a hurriedly called news conference at City Hall. He had planned to be D.C. instead to attend the presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C. Portland was the biggest American city to elect an openly gay mayor when voters overwhelmingly chose him last year. Adams and the teen had denied the relationship in 2007 when he was getting ready to run for mayor. Adams said he only lied because some thought the teen was under age. However, he said Monday, the relationship did not begin until after the teen was 18 in June 2005, the legal age of consent in Oregon. Adams, who is 45, acknowledged that their age difference makes their relationship inappropriate. The teen, who has not been identified, was a legislative intern whom Adams mentored on being gay and in public service. Now 21, he has been mum about the relationship. “I will be subject to greater scrutiny because of this, and that is appropriate,” Adams said. “My reputation has been impacted. Friendships have been impacted, and that’s appropriate as well.” Commissioner Randy Leonard is calling for an investigation. Adams said he will cooperate with any investigation.

Black Woman, 107, Witnesses Inauguration
Ann Nixon Cooper, 107 years old, unlike many in her age bracket, actually thought she might live to see an African-American president. On Tuesday, she was there in person to witness Barack Obama being sworn in as the first Black commander in chief. Read more here.

Birmingham mayor is arrested for alleged misdeeds. Federal agents arrested Birmingham Mayor Larry P. Langford, on Monday, charging him with taking bribes in exchange for doling out county financial business to a favored firm when he led the Jefferson County Commission from 2002 to 2006, reports The New York Times. Langford, 60, was charged in the 101-count indictment with taking over $230,000 in cash, clothing and jewelry for making sure that a well known Alabama investment banker and bond company owner, William B. Blount, got a portion of lucrative bond deals related to the financing of improvements to Jefferson County’s failing sewer system. Read the rest here.

Man arrested in the brutal Arkansas TV anchor’s death. After getting a tip to his location, Arkansas police arrested Curtis Lavelle Vance, 28, at a home in Little Rock on Wednesday night in connection with the brutal death of TV Anchor Anne Pressly. Vance was charged with capital murder in the death of Pressly, 26, an anchorwoman who had a small part in the President George W. Bush biopic “W.” Pressly died   Oct. 25 – five days after being severely beaten in what police described as a random attack at her home. Police were tipped to Vance’s location, naming him as their suspect, said Lt. Terry Hastings, a police spokesman. Vance lived in Marianna, in eastern Arkansas but had numerous contacts in central Arkansas, where the murder took place, Police Chief Stuart Thomas said.

The first Black mayor of a mid-sized Illinois town dies. The Mayor of Dolton, Ill., William Shaw, 71, died Wednesday at his Dolton home after a four-year battle with cancer, The Chicago Tribute reported. Shaw, a former state lawmaker, became Dolton’s first African-American mayor when he was elected in 1997. He was elected state representative in the 34th District in 1982 and served two terms  before being elected state senator of the 15th District. He was a senator for 10 years until he retired in 2002. As a senator, Shaw co-sponsored legislation that made it mandatory that African-American history be taught in Illinois public schools.

Kevin Johnson will hold court as mayor. Barack Obama isn’t the only Black man to make political history in last week’s elections. Ex-Phoenix Suns star Kevin Johnson was voted Sacramento’s first Black mayor. Johnson, who specializes in community development, was once among the NBA’s most talented point guards. He convincingly defeated incumbent Heather Fargo in the mayoral race. Like Obama, “KJ,” as he was called on the court, faces the task of reversing an enormous financial deficit. Sac-town is reportedly $58 million in the hole.

Venus Williams wins WTA Championships. Venus Williams is the first American to win the Sony Ericsson WTA Championships since her sister Serena took the title in 2001. Williams beat Vera Zvonareva in the final win, as her younger sister sat out the remainder of the tournament due to injury. “It was a hard fought match right down to the end,” Williams says. “I am so excited. I wanted it so bad.” Williams’ $1.3 million prize in the tournament moves her past Martina Navratilova into fourth place as top tennis money-makers.

Jurors in accused mass murderer’s trial to be named today. In an Atlanta courtroom today, 12 jurors and six alternates will learn whether they are the ones who will decide the fate of Brian Nichols, the 36-year-old accused of shooting to death his judge, a court reporter and two law-enforcement officials during a daring escape three years ago from the Fulton County Courthouse. When – and if – the trial begins on Monday, as planned, it will begin a long-awaited march toward justice that has been stymied by a series of delays. In addition to the change in judges – from Superior Court Judge Hilton Fuller to Judge James Bodiford – defense attorneys convinced the original judge that the state had kicked in far too little for a case of this magnitude, compelling him to shelve the case until it had infused more money into the public defender system. The case is expected to be the most costly in Georgia history. Already, the defense has spent an astronomical $1.2 million, and it’s still nearly a week before trial. In a recent chapter in the case, Bodiford found that Nichols’ alleged confession was not the result of his deteriorated mental capacity following his arrest. The defense is arguing that Nichols is innocent by reason of insanity. Nichols is facing death if convicted.

Nagin wants to know how his residents were treated. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin wants to know how his city’s residents were treated during the latest monster storm, Hurricane Gustav, to rock the Big Easy. As reports have surfaced that some city agencies didn’t learn from dealing with killer Katrina, Nagin has instituted a special phone hotline to gather and grade information on victims’ experiences. “If you evacuated with the city assisted-program, and if you went to a shelter where you want to report something, call our 3-1-1 number,” Nagin said in a news conference. His request came amid widespread reports of unsanitary or inhospitable conditions, mostly at shelters in northern Louisiana, according to The New Orleans Times-Picayune. But many shelter volunteers complained that evacuees threatened them “or acted in an unruly fashion during their stay,” the newspaper reported. The Times-Picayune also speculated that poor conditions at the Department of Social Services shelters could have been what led to the sudden resignation of DSS Secretary Ann Williamson earlier this week. While the city helped transport 18,000 residents out of town, all New Orleanians had the option of staying at DSS shelters.

Ex-husband of Atlanta mayor dies. David McCoy Franklin, the ex-husband of Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin who was a trusted adviser of former Mayor Maynard Jackson, died Sunday, according to a death notice issued by Murray Brothers Funeral Home in Atlanta . He was 65. No cause of death has been disclosed. Franklin had suffered a long illness, Angelo Fuster, former spokesman for Jackson , told The Associated Press. Fuster said that Franklin ’s political smarts were “quite valued,” AP reports.

Blacks are the target of choice for Taser-wielding Houston Police

Life can be shocking if you’re Black and life in Houston . A new study released Monday revealed that Houston Police officers have used their Tasers on African-American suspects more than any other group of people. Read more at BET.com/News.

Philly cops nab third suspect in cold-blooded murder. Philadelphia Police have netted a third suspect in connection with the slaying of a 78-year-old Korean War vet who was shot in the face last week by thugs who attempted to rob him outside a Veterans of Foreign Wars post. The murder of the “sweet and gentle man,” as neighbors described him, shocked the community and the police, which launched an intense investigation into the homicide. Last Thursday detectives arrested two 18-year-olds, Karl Jarmon and Terrell Bennett. Their alleged accomplice, 15-year-old Gary Autrey, is now under arrest, according to homicide Lt. Mel Williams. The trio is being held without bail, charged with murder, conspiracy and weapons charges, police said. “We are satisfied that we took these predators off the streets and we made an arrest in a timely manner, and we were able to give the family closure,” said Lt. Williams. “It’s a tragedy whenever people prey on the old.” Enor Williams had been married to Connie Williams nearly 40 years and, according to The Philadelphia Daily News, was a devoted volunteer at the post. “I hate that [the murder] was the last thing that happened to him,” his 59-year-old widow told the newspaper. “I knew they would find him,” she said of the suspected gunman. “I don’t know how, but I did.” *

Outgoing Detroit mayor tells citizens he takes responsibility for felonies.
Outgoing mayor of Detroit Kwame Kilpatrick says his fall from political grace won’t be the end of his contributions to community leadership. Hours after pleading guilty to obstruction of justice and announcing his plans to resign, the beleaguered leader gave farewell speech to supporters and live TV cameras, saying, “I take full responsibility for my actions.” Kilpatrick agreed to serve four months in jail and pay $1 million in restitution in exchange for dismissal of perjury charges, additional felonies and the possibility of 10 or more years in prison. In addition, the mayor must surrender his law license and agrees not to run for office during his five years of probation. Kilpatrick’s perjury, obstruction of justice and misconduct in office charges stemmed from his discipline of cops whose investigation into police overtime threatened to expose the mayor’s personal life. Dozens of text messages sent between Kilpatrick and his ex-chief of staff Christine Beatty show an extra-marital affair between them in 2003. The former officers were blocked from probing alleged overtime abuse by Kilpatrick’s security squad whose members reportedly served duty during the mayor’s sexual encounters. Kilpatrick and Beatty, who’s now divorced, denied their affair while under oath at a 2007 civil trial where the investigating cops sued the mayor and the city. The cops won their lawsuit and the mayor later settled on the city’s behalf for $8.4 million – apparently after learning about the text messages. Beatty has since divorced her husband and also faces multiple felonies. “I wish that we could turn back the hands of time and tell that young man to make better choices, but I can’t,” Kilpatrick said Thursday night. Immediately following his guilty plea, the mayor pleaded no contest in a separate assault case involving a July confrontation with Wayne County sheriff’s deputies. While not specifying how he’d comeback from the legal and political devastation he’s facing, Kilpatrick expressed pride and appreciation for his administration and family, saying he’ll “rise” again.