RICHMOND, Va. (AP)—The Food and Drug Administration is conducting an independent review of research on the public health impact of menthol cigarettes—which are mint flavored and one of the few growth sectors of the shrinking cigarette business. The process is expected to be completed in the fall of 2011.

The review comes after the FDA in March received a report from the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee on the minty smokes Panels like the tobacco committee advise the FDA on scientific issues. The agency doesn't have to follow its recommendations, but often does.

by Corey Williams

DETROIT (AP)—After only about a month as top boss of Detroit Public Schools, Roy Roberts, a 72-year-old former General Motors executive and private equity firm founder, is well aware that some people already want him gone.

The district’s new financial manager said he’s OK with that reality, adding that differing opinions have value. His only request: Stay out of the way as he tries to turn around one of the nation’s worst public school systems.

ROY ROBERTS

“I don’t care what people think about me, really ... because I know what parents are going to think,” Roberts told The Associated Press during an interview in his Detroit Midtown office. “They’re going to love it because I’m trying to do the right thing for their children, and you won’t find a parent that doesn’t want that. I’m simply going to look at a system and say ‘What is the best system we can put in place to educate these kids?’ I don’t care about the politics.”

Week of July 2-8

July 2

JACKIE ROBINSON

1777—Vermont becomes first U.S. territory to abolish slavery. By 1783, New Hampshire and Massachusetts had followed Vermont’s lead. The abolition of slavery was formally placed in the Vermont Constitution which was formally adopted on July 8, 1777. A major force in the early abolition movement was a group known as the Rights of Man Movement.

by Errin Haines

ATLANTA (AP)—As American colleges and universities gear up to meet a presidential goal to deepen the nation’s pool of college grads, historically Black institutions face extra pressure from threats to the financial support that many of their students depend on, the presidents of some colleges said June 23.

PROTEST—Tennessee State University supporter Kwame Lillard speaks outside a meeting of the Tennessee Board of Regents at Nashville State Community College June 24. (AP Photo/The Tennessean, John Partipilo)

About 100 presidents of historically Black colleges met in Atlanta and discussed their role in President Barack Obama’s call for America to have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020.

Meanwhile, Pell Grants are under fire as some members of Congress look at cutting such programs to trim the budget. Many minority students depend on the needs-based grants to stay in school.