(NNPA)—A group of 107 graduating seniors from the Urban Academy for Young Men in Englewood, Chicago is celebrating a great success: every young man in the school’s first graduating class has been accepted into a four-year-college.

The bar for students is held high at Urban Prep, an all-African-American male charter school founded in 2006 and situated in one of Chicago’s troubled areas.

CELEBRATING SUCCESS—From left: Willie Cochran, Latasha Thomas, Mayor Richard M. Daley, Ron Huberman, chief executive officer, for the Chicago Public Schools and Tim King, founder and chief executive officer of the Urban Prep Charter Academy for Young Men join the school’s first graduating class (107 students), who were all accepted to a four-year college or university.

To the relief of his family and supporters, after two delayed hearings, charges of aggravated assault and resisting arrest against Jordan Miles were finally dropped last week.

VINDICATION—Jordan Miles, the CAPA High School senior who said he was beaten during a Jan. 12 arrest, talks with reporters after having assault and resisting arrest charges dropped March 4.

While reaction from the Black community was a mix of relief and calls for further action, according to two city police officers, some bureau members are calling for payback.

The two officers, who asked to remain anonymous, said a text message blast went out some time March 5 calling for officers to either refuse to patrol Homewood and to “take their time” responding to any calls there.

With a vote of 74-49, former city Councilwoman Tonya Payne won the Allegheny County Democratic Committee endorsement for state House representative over incumbent Rep. Jake Wheatley.

TONYA PAYNE

“Tonya Payne is very popular in the Democratic committee and especially the city committee,” said James Burn, Allegheny Democratic Committee chair. “The committeemen and women are very familiar with her and she worked it very hard.”

This race is only one in a long line of elections between opposing forces battling to represent the Hill District and North Side neighborhoods. Throwing his hat in the ring with Wheatley and Payne for the 19th Legislative District seat will be Pittsburgh Public School Board representative Mark Brentley. Brentley declined to comment on the race.

The New Pittsburgh Courier will again honor some of Pittsburgh’s most dedicated and talented individuals at their Fab 40 event March 26 at the US Steel Building, Downtown. The event honors 40 African-Americans under the age of 40, who are making strides to uplift the Pittsburgh community.

JADA GRANDY and K. CHASE PATTERSON

“It was an honor any time someone is recognized for their good work, whether it be in their profession or in the community, it is exciting,” said K. Chase Patterson, field representative for Councilman Mike Doyle and one of last year’s Fab 40 honorees. “But along with the honor comes an expected charge to continue one’s good works.”