Ivory Coast rebels start to disarm
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast — Rebels in Ivory Coast have begun to disarm, a crucial step toward long-awaited presidential elections that many hope will secure an end to years of war, officials said Sunday.
About 1,000 rebels have arrived since last Friday at a demobilization center in the northern city of Bouake, a former rebel stronghold. In all, about 43,000 rebels are expected to lay down their arms over a five-month period at six demobilization sites in the north and west. Some 26,000 will be reintegrated into civilian life, and the remainder will be integrated into the national army.
In a statement, Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, the former rebel leader, congratulated his fighters for starting the process, sending a “strong signal” that the peace accord signed in Burkina Faso last year is being implemented.
Defense Minister Michel Amani Nguessan called the move “irreversible,” and said it “should represent an end to the mistrust … we’ve seen since the start of this crisis.”
Rebels took up arms in 2002, seizing the northern half of the country. Though the nation was officially reunited last year after the Burkina Faso accord, former rebel soldiers have retained de facto control of the northern half of the world’s leading cocoa producer.
Rebels have promised to lay down their arms several times in the past, but previous attempts have failed.
Tubby Smith returns to Kentucky to receive honorary degree
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Tubby Smith was back in Rupp Arena, once again wearing blue. But this time, the outfit was a gown, and his title was doctor, not coach.
Smith returned for the first time Sunday to the floor where he spent a decade leading the University of Kentucky’s men’s basketball program. He was on hand to get an honorary doctor of humanities degree at UK’s commencement.
A former governor, Paul Patton, received the same degree and a decorated admiral, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen, gave one of the speeches. However, Smith’s star power in his old Kentucky home produced the loudest and longest ovation from the graduates and others who attended the ceremony.
Smith, who left the program prior to last season to take the same job with Minnesota, was honored largely for his philanthropic role in the Lexington community.
His Tubby Smith Foundation donated more than $2.3 million to programs for underprivileged children, and he established Tubby’s Clubhouse to hone technology skills for low-income students.
Denzel tells kids science more important than entertainers
MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. — Actor Denzel Washington says inner-city school kids have to be reminded that scientists are more important than entertainers.
Washington and his wife, Pauletta, award annual scholarships for neuroscience research to college students and make the presentations at city schools.
Last Friday, they came to Mount Vernon High School in Westchester County. Mount Vernon is Washington’s hometown.
Washington says actors, rappers and basketball stars get more recognition, but someone in a hospital bed is more impressed by a good doctor. He says inner-city students might not be aware of all the opportunities available, and he urged the students to apply for his scholarships.
Washington recently directed and starred in “The Great Debaters,” based on the real-life victories of a black college debate team.
A.M.E. Church to convene in St. Louis despite boycott calls
ST. LOUIS — The African Methodist Episcopal Church will hold its convention in St. Louis this summer despite boycott pleas by local blacks unhappy with the city’s white mayor.
More than 40,000 delegates, church leaders and other A.M.E. visitors from around the world will meet July 3-11. The U.S. church, which has roots dating back to 1787, claims 2 million members.
Mayor Francis Slay joined a dozen A.M.E. leaders at a news conference last Tuesday to announce the convention. Slay is the target of a recall effort by a group of black city residents who also have waged a campaign to have conventions boycott the city.
They object to last year’s dismissal of the city’s first black fire chief, Sherman George.
Bishop John Richard Bryant, whose district includes states west of the Mississippi River, said planners already had signed contracts committing the church, and its estimated $30 million economic impact, to St. Louis before learning of the boycott. Besides, “in speaking with the mayor and the council of local pastors who have worked with Mayor Slay in the past, we have no regrets,” Bryant said.
Pittsburgh casino owner renews $3M pledge to Hill District
PITTSBURGH — The man developing Pittsburgh’s first slot machine casino has renewed his pledge to spend $3 million to spur development in the city’s Hill District.
Casino developer Dan Barden had backed away from the pledge in recent days. Barden says construction delays and rising financing costs fueled by the home mortgage crisis have added at least $180 million to the price of the Majestic Star Casino. The cost of the project is now at least $630 million.
Despite that, Barden says he’ll make good on efforts to help the Hill District, a blighted neighborhood that was once the epicenter of black culture in the city.
Barden is black, and his pledge to help the Hill District was one factor state regulators considered in awarding him the casino license.
