LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - The attorney for a Memphis, Tenn., man charged with killing a soldier at a Little Rock recruiting office wants up to $30,000 from the state for the defense.
Attorney Claiborne Ferguson is asking a judge to order the Arkansas Public Defender Commission to pay for expert witnesses and investigators.
Ferguson represents Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad on capital murder and attempted capital murder charges in the June 1 shooting death of Pvt. William Long of Conway and Pvt. Quinton Ezeagwula of Jacksonville.
The two were shot as they stood outside the Army-Navy Career Center in west Little Rock.
Muhammad has claimed the shootings were justified retaliation for U.S. military action in the Middle East. He told The Associated Press in a telephone interview that he does not believe he is guilty.
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Monday, February 15, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Arkansas to pay part of accused shooter's bill
An Arkansas judge on Monday ordered the state’s Public Defenders Commission to pay some of the legal bills for a man who says he killed a soldier outside a military recruiting center in retaliation for U.S. military action in the Middle East.
Abdulhakim Muhammad testified he has no money to pay for experts or investigators who might help defend him against charges of capital murder and attempted murder in the June 1 attack outside the Army-Navy Career Center in a west Little Rock shopping center. Judge Herbert Wright said the state should pay part of the bill for Muhammad’s private attorney.
Muhammad could face the death penalty if convicted of capital murder.
Death penalty cases are extraordinarily expensive, and Muhammad can’t pay for expert witnesses, mental health examinations or other costs related to his defense, said his attorney, Claiborne Ferguson. Ferguson said he was hired by Muhammad’s family but because Muhammad himself can’t afford the cost of a defense, he should be entitled to funding from the public defender’s commission.
Didi Sallings, executive director of the Arkansas Public Defender Commission, said Wright was setting a ‘‘dangerous precedent’’ by allowing Muhammad to use state funds for his private defense.
Ferguson ‘‘is asking the state to subsidize his private practice,’’ Sallings said.
In ruling from the bench, Wright said the issue was whether Muhammad was indigent and unable to pay for legal representation.
‘‘As the Legislature defines indigent, I think Mr. Muhammad qualifies,’’ Wright said Monday after a short hearing in which Muhammad testified that he had no job, car or investments and he was making $1,200 a month when he was arrested. Muhammad has been jailed since the June 1 shootings.
Ferguson has requested up to $30,000 from the commission for Muhammad’s defense. A trial is set for June 7.
Muhammad, a Muslim convert who moved to Little Rock from Memphis, Tenn., last year, has pleaded not guilty in the death of Pvt. William Long and the wounding of Pvt. Quinton Ezeagwula. He told The Associated Press last year the shootings were justified because of U.S. military action in the Middle East.
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Abdulhakim Muhammad testified he has no money to pay for experts or investigators who might help defend him against charges of capital murder and attempted murder in the June 1 attack outside the Army-Navy Career Center in a west Little Rock shopping center. Judge Herbert Wright said the state should pay part of the bill for Muhammad’s private attorney.
Muhammad could face the death penalty if convicted of capital murder.
Death penalty cases are extraordinarily expensive, and Muhammad can’t pay for expert witnesses, mental health examinations or other costs related to his defense, said his attorney, Claiborne Ferguson. Ferguson said he was hired by Muhammad’s family but because Muhammad himself can’t afford the cost of a defense, he should be entitled to funding from the public defender’s commission.
Didi Sallings, executive director of the Arkansas Public Defender Commission, said Wright was setting a ‘‘dangerous precedent’’ by allowing Muhammad to use state funds for his private defense.
Ferguson ‘‘is asking the state to subsidize his private practice,’’ Sallings said.
In ruling from the bench, Wright said the issue was whether Muhammad was indigent and unable to pay for legal representation.
‘‘As the Legislature defines indigent, I think Mr. Muhammad qualifies,’’ Wright said Monday after a short hearing in which Muhammad testified that he had no job, car or investments and he was making $1,200 a month when he was arrested. Muhammad has been jailed since the June 1 shootings.
Ferguson has requested up to $30,000 from the commission for Muhammad’s defense. A trial is set for June 7.
Muhammad, a Muslim convert who moved to Little Rock from Memphis, Tenn., last year, has pleaded not guilty in the death of Pvt. William Long and the wounding of Pvt. Quinton Ezeagwula. He told The Associated Press last year the shootings were justified because of U.S. military action in the Middle East.
Source
Monday, December 28, 2009
Rawls, former Vol, hospitalized after Memphis game
MEMPHIS — University of Memphis officials confirmed Sunday that offensive lineman Malcom Rawls was the Tiger football player hospitalized after Saturday’s 56-28 loss to Tennessee.
Rawls, a senior and a former Tennessee player, had to be removed from the team bus as it was en route to take players and schools officials to the airport to catch a charter flight back to Memphis. Rawls was transported by ambulance to University of Tennessee Medical Center and kept overnight for observation. The team flew back to Memphis, but Tiger head athletic trainer Amos Mansfield stayed in Knoxville with Rawls.
Initial reports said Rawls was taken to the hospital after complaining of chest pains, but Memphis officials would only confirm Rawls was hospitalized because of a medical situation that warranted observation.
Rawls, in his third season with the Tigers, played in Saturday’s game as a reserve. Redshirted at Tennessee in 2005, the former East High player sat out 2006 per NCAA transfer rules before making his Tiger debut in 2007. Rawls has made eight career starts, but none this season.
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Rawls, a senior and a former Tennessee player, had to be removed from the team bus as it was en route to take players and schools officials to the airport to catch a charter flight back to Memphis. Rawls was transported by ambulance to University of Tennessee Medical Center and kept overnight for observation. The team flew back to Memphis, but Tiger head athletic trainer Amos Mansfield stayed in Knoxville with Rawls.
Initial reports said Rawls was taken to the hospital after complaining of chest pains, but Memphis officials would only confirm Rawls was hospitalized because of a medical situation that warranted observation.
Rawls, in his third season with the Tigers, played in Saturday’s game as a reserve. Redshirted at Tennessee in 2005, the former East High player sat out 2006 per NCAA transfer rules before making his Tiger debut in 2007. Rawls has made eight career starts, but none this season.
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Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Career Centers Report More Interest From Recruiters
MEMPHIS, TN – There are more jobs available in the Mid-South. Some career centers report seeing a slight increase in the number of companies looking to hire. A new White House report credits the president's economic stimulus plan with creating, or saving, more than 600,000 jobs. But plenty of people are still looking for work.
Searching for work is a full-time job for Janice Sims.
"I'm a hardworking person,” said Sims, who lost her job last month and is looking for work as a caregiver or counselor for abused children. “I just graduated from Phoenix Home, I'm also waiting for them to call me, and no one has called me.”
Chauntay Jones, an employment specialist with the Tennessee Career Center, has seen the job hunt get a little easier for some people who come to the career center.
“Maybe a month or two ago we had more companies that were placing job orders with us, so it is picking up in that aspect,” Jones said.
She said it's hard to tell whether the president's economic stimulus plan played a role, and she wonders whether Memphis is seeing any of the jobs the White House attributes to the stimulus.
“You do have some of your major companies that are doing a lot of hiring, but it’s not that dent that’s being put in there to say that we are coming out of the recession,” she said.
She said the job market for people who want to work in health care is strong.
“Your health occupations are going to pick up a little bit more, we've gotten a few job orders in reference to that,” she said.
Sims hopes that will hold true in her case. She hopes to find permanent work before the holidays.
"It's hard, like I said no one called me for a job, so I might not even have Thanksgiving dinner at home this year,” she said.
But Jones believes there is good news ahead. Her office typically sees a hiring increase at the beginning of the year.
Source
Searching for work is a full-time job for Janice Sims.
"I'm a hardworking person,” said Sims, who lost her job last month and is looking for work as a caregiver or counselor for abused children. “I just graduated from Phoenix Home, I'm also waiting for them to call me, and no one has called me.”
Chauntay Jones, an employment specialist with the Tennessee Career Center, has seen the job hunt get a little easier for some people who come to the career center.
“Maybe a month or two ago we had more companies that were placing job orders with us, so it is picking up in that aspect,” Jones said.
She said it's hard to tell whether the president's economic stimulus plan played a role, and she wonders whether Memphis is seeing any of the jobs the White House attributes to the stimulus.
“You do have some of your major companies that are doing a lot of hiring, but it’s not that dent that’s being put in there to say that we are coming out of the recession,” she said.
She said the job market for people who want to work in health care is strong.
“Your health occupations are going to pick up a little bit more, we've gotten a few job orders in reference to that,” she said.
Sims hopes that will hold true in her case. She hopes to find permanent work before the holidays.
"It's hard, like I said no one called me for a job, so I might not even have Thanksgiving dinner at home this year,” she said.
But Jones believes there is good news ahead. Her office typically sees a hiring increase at the beginning of the year.
Source
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Memphis' muddled Workforce Investment Network at risk of state takeover
The taxpayer-financed Workforce Investment Network is still having problems getting the job done, according to state and local officials.
WIN, a city agency that uses public money to train people for jobs and help employers find workers, is again under scrutiny from the state, which is urging the city to turn it into a not-for-profit or risk a possible state takeover.
The state has withheld $11 million from WIN since November 2008 because the agency did not turn in accurate financial information.
"We've let it be with the city now for almost nine years, and it's not working," said Susan Cowden, administrator of the workforce development division of the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development. "I think being part of the city has not helped at all. But it's not our decision, it's the local elected officials' decision."
Blair Taylor, president of the business group Memphis Tomorrow, said it is crucial to get WIN on the right footing.
"Memphis has left millions on the table that should have gone to our neediest populations for job-training and job-placement support," Taylor said. "We can't afford any more underperformance...."
WIN operates the Memphis Area Career Center with other partners, including the state, vocational rehabilitation groups and adult-education providers. WIN staff are city employees.
For nearly a decade, WIN's spending and management has concerned the state, which hired a consultant to perform a management and performance review of the center, released last year.
The report found an "internal struggle" at WIN over "trust, authority, roles and responsibilities, organizational structure and communication," and noted a "chronic problem of late submissions of grants, paperwork and general information requests."
Source
WIN, a city agency that uses public money to train people for jobs and help employers find workers, is again under scrutiny from the state, which is urging the city to turn it into a not-for-profit or risk a possible state takeover.
The state has withheld $11 million from WIN since November 2008 because the agency did not turn in accurate financial information.
"We've let it be with the city now for almost nine years, and it's not working," said Susan Cowden, administrator of the workforce development division of the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development. "I think being part of the city has not helped at all. But it's not our decision, it's the local elected officials' decision."
Blair Taylor, president of the business group Memphis Tomorrow, said it is crucial to get WIN on the right footing.
"Memphis has left millions on the table that should have gone to our neediest populations for job-training and job-placement support," Taylor said. "We can't afford any more underperformance...."
WIN operates the Memphis Area Career Center with other partners, including the state, vocational rehabilitation groups and adult-education providers. WIN staff are city employees.
For nearly a decade, WIN's spending and management has concerned the state, which hired a consultant to perform a management and performance review of the center, released last year.
The report found an "internal struggle" at WIN over "trust, authority, roles and responsibilities, organizational structure and communication," and noted a "chronic problem of late submissions of grants, paperwork and general information requests."
Source
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Memphis Bleek Delaying "The Process"
The long awaited return of rapper Memphis Bleek may have to wait a little longer as his upcoming album, The Process, has been pushed back to 2010. Originally slated for November 24, the album is now set to drop in February. The Process is truly a process.
Stating that he needs to really take his time with it to make a true return, the album has been promised for early 2010.
With Jay-Z on his side as executive producer, the project enlisted names such as Just Blaze, Rick Ross and No I.D. to join the ride. Hopefully, the big homie won't be able to eclipse Bleek's work again like he did last time with “Dear Summer."
Bleek has been out of sight since 2005s 534, but has been in the process of building his own brand with Get Low Records. Trying to make his own name and escape the shadow of Jay-Z, the rapper has stepped up to the plate as CEO and has been releasing mixtapes as though he was starting his career from scratch under his own guidelines.
Source
Stating that he needs to really take his time with it to make a true return, the album has been promised for early 2010.
With Jay-Z on his side as executive producer, the project enlisted names such as Just Blaze, Rick Ross and No I.D. to join the ride. Hopefully, the big homie won't be able to eclipse Bleek's work again like he did last time with “Dear Summer."
Bleek has been out of sight since 2005s 534, but has been in the process of building his own brand with Get Low Records. Trying to make his own name and escape the shadow of Jay-Z, the rapper has stepped up to the plate as CEO and has been releasing mixtapes as though he was starting his career from scratch under his own guidelines.
Source
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Pirates look for 4th straight win over Memphis
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — East Carolina has traded its familiar routine for national TV exposure.
The Pirates visit Memphis on Tuesday night, then won't play again until Nov. 5, when they host No. 5 Virginia Tech. Ten days later, it's a Sunday night game at Tulsa on Nov. 15.
East Carolina coach Skip Holtz says he loves being the only game on TV, exposure a team can't get playing Saturday.
"I love the exposure," East Carolina coach Skip Holtz said of being the only game on TV. "That's an exposure that you can't get on Saturday."
Memphis (2-5, 1-3 Conference USA) is coming off of a 36-16 loss to Southern Miss in which the Tigers had 11 penalties for 105 yards, allowed a punt return for a touchdown and a 78-yard kickoff return.
The Pirates (5-3, 3-1) have won three straight in this series against Memphis.
"I think East Carolina probably does the best job in the league of making you beat them," Memphis coach Tommy West said. "They don't beat themselves. They won't make errors and beat themselves. They'll be solid, and they'll be sound in what they do. So we'll have to be the same way. It's the same thing we try to be."
Facing a Memphis defense that ranks 106th in the nation and allows 186.7 yards rushing per game, Holtz said his offensive line's ability to create holes and move the chains could be the key for the Pirates to put points on the scoreboard.
Running back Dominique Lindsay, however, hurt his left ankle in East Carolina's 49-13 win over Rice on Oct. 17 and could be limited if available.
Memphis knows the value of a healthy running back. The Tigers have gotten a boost since Curtis Steele returned from injury two games ago, running for 376 yards and three touchdowns.
Steele should help to take pressure off Memphis senior Will Hudgens, the third quarterback the Tigers have used this season. West tabbed senior Arkelon Hall as the starter in spring practice, then switched to sophomore Tyler Bass after a 0-2 start. When Bass injured his non-throwing shoulder two games ago, Hudgens got the nod.
Holtz said his team must keep an eye on the Tigers' senior receivers — 6-foot-4 Duke Calhoun and 6-9 Carlos Singleton. The duo ranks sixth and 18th nationally in active career receiving yards.
"That 6-foot-9 is nearly a foot advantage over some of our corners," Holtz said.
Source
The Pirates visit Memphis on Tuesday night, then won't play again until Nov. 5, when they host No. 5 Virginia Tech. Ten days later, it's a Sunday night game at Tulsa on Nov. 15.
East Carolina coach Skip Holtz says he loves being the only game on TV, exposure a team can't get playing Saturday.
"I love the exposure," East Carolina coach Skip Holtz said of being the only game on TV. "That's an exposure that you can't get on Saturday."
Memphis (2-5, 1-3 Conference USA) is coming off of a 36-16 loss to Southern Miss in which the Tigers had 11 penalties for 105 yards, allowed a punt return for a touchdown and a 78-yard kickoff return.
The Pirates (5-3, 3-1) have won three straight in this series against Memphis.
"I think East Carolina probably does the best job in the league of making you beat them," Memphis coach Tommy West said. "They don't beat themselves. They won't make errors and beat themselves. They'll be solid, and they'll be sound in what they do. So we'll have to be the same way. It's the same thing we try to be."
Facing a Memphis defense that ranks 106th in the nation and allows 186.7 yards rushing per game, Holtz said his offensive line's ability to create holes and move the chains could be the key for the Pirates to put points on the scoreboard.
Running back Dominique Lindsay, however, hurt his left ankle in East Carolina's 49-13 win over Rice on Oct. 17 and could be limited if available.
Memphis knows the value of a healthy running back. The Tigers have gotten a boost since Curtis Steele returned from injury two games ago, running for 376 yards and three touchdowns.
Steele should help to take pressure off Memphis senior Will Hudgens, the third quarterback the Tigers have used this season. West tabbed senior Arkelon Hall as the starter in spring practice, then switched to sophomore Tyler Bass after a 0-2 start. When Bass injured his non-throwing shoulder two games ago, Hudgens got the nod.
Holtz said his team must keep an eye on the Tigers' senior receivers — 6-foot-4 Duke Calhoun and 6-9 Carlos Singleton. The duo ranks sixth and 18th nationally in active career receiving yards.
"That 6-foot-9 is nearly a foot advantage over some of our corners," Holtz said.
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