WASHINGTON (AP)—The NAACP gave its backing Saturday to Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan, expressing confidence in President Barack Obama’s pick after early hesitation that she might not be a forceful defender of civil rights.

The nation’s oldest and largest civil rights group voted unanimously at a board meeting in Florida to endorse Kagan, in line to succeed retiring Justice John Paul Stevens. It was an early endorsement by a major interest group for Kagan, who is solicitor general, the government’s top lawyer at the Supreme Court.

KEY ENDORSEMENT—Solicitor General Elena Kagan stands with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden as she is introduced as Obama’s nominee for the Supreme Court in the East Room of the White House, May 10.

by Dorothy Rowley
For New Pittsburgh Courier

(Afro.com)—Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has again stirred the ire of civil rights proponents with her recent signing into law of a bill that prohibits ethnic studies classes that advocate ethnic solidarity, and which are designed mainly for students of a particular race or promote resentment toward a certain ethnic group.

The bill targets a program offered by the Tucson Unified School District, which enrolls about 1,500 of that city’s Latino students. In addition to its Mexican-American curriculum, the program offers specialized courses in African-American and Native-American studies with what some state officials called an anti-White slant on history and literature.

by Corey Williams
Associated Press Writer

DETROIT (AP)— The war on vacant houses in Detroit took on new force May 11 as officials announced plans to demolish about 450 of the most dangerous structures within the next two months, and immediately tore into the first home on the list.

Crews collapsed the chimney of a two-story bungalow in northwest Detroit in a ceremonial start to the $4.5 million project backed by Wayne County and faith-based groups. It’s the latest step in an aggressive effort to rid the city of thousands of vacant homes.

REBIRTH IN MOTOWN—In this photo taken Feb. 12, a house is demolished in a Detroit neighborhood as Mayor Dave Bing pushes forward with $20 million in federal funds and a plan to resuscitate dying neighborhoods by tearing down 10,000 dangerous, vacant houses.

by David Porter
Associated Press Writer

NEWARK, N.J. (AP)—Cory Booker handily won a second term as mayor of Newark on Tuesday night and told supporters that his administration will continue to deliver change even as the city faces a difficult financial future.

“This city, this state, this nation ... they ain’t seen nothin’ yet,” he bellowed to a cheering crowd at the Robert Treat Hotel. “Newark is going to continue to rise.”

CORY BOOKER