It’s no secret that I love reading MSNBC.com. I check that, along with a few other news sites every day so that I can stay somewhat “in the know” about what’s going on in the world. I’ve been swamped recently with my portfolio and finishing up my first year of grad school, so I haven’t been able to write as much as I’d like about the stories that have caught my eye. So, here are some briefs that I’ve found interesting over the past week or so.

1. Former President of Morris Brown College pleads guilty to embezzeling millions of dollars in federal funds.

In this article, we find out that Dolores Cross, who was president of Morris Brown from 1998-2002 accepted a plea bargain; pleading guilty to embezzeling over 3.4 MILLION dollars. She used the money to cover a 3.3 MILLION dollar credit card debt and some school expenses. Now, my first question is HOW IN THE WORLD DO YOU HAVE A 3.3 MILLION DOLLAR CREDIT CARD DEBT? I just don’t understand. My next thought is that this is extremely frustrating as an African-American and as a future educator, to think that someone who was supposed to have the best interests of America’s future at heart was STEALING THEIR MONEY. And to make it worse, she’s only having to pay back $11,000 in restitution. You STOLE over 3.4 MILLION dollars, not to mention the damage done to Morris Brown College, the students and alumni of that institution. Sigh…

2. Some in the Mississippi Delta desire to preserve the store in the Emmett Till Case.

This article talks about how there are some in Mississippi who desire to preserve the Old Bryant Store as a historical landmark. This store is the site where Emmett Till supposedly whistled at Carolyn Bryant, a white woman; an alleged act that led to his brutal lynching. I think I’m in agreement that this store should be preserved. There is much history here, and I’m afraid that if we don’t start preserving some things, the history might be lost. The story of Emmett Till is not one that we learn–he hasn’t reached the prominence of being a Martin Luther King or a Rosa Parks. However, he was an unsuspecting martyr, and any preservation of the things surrounding his death should be preserved in a proper manner. And, if you’re not going to save the store (which they SHOULD do, and they SHOULD do quickly…before it falls into the ground), you can at least erect a historical marker of some kind for people who might be passing through the area. Yes, the events that took place there are just that important.

3. More Latinos are converting to Pentecostalism from Catholism.

According to this article, the conversion could affect US politics- as people who are Pentecostals are generally more conservative. As of now, Latinos are generally Democrats. I expect that we’ll see a lot more emphasis on the demands of Latinos in the upcoming elections , especially considering what’s been going on in the country. And I’m also finding it interesting to see how religion and politics are intersecting. At any rate, I’m just glad that people know Jesus. Seriously.

4. The Top 1,000 High Schools in the US.

Okay, as if it’s not enough for US World and Report to tell us what the best colleges and graduate schools are, Newsweek is now informing us about the top 1,000 high schools in the country. I thought that this article was pretty interesting. You should search it and see where your high school is. By the way, don’t try to clown me if you don’t see my high school, the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics listed. We weren’t considered for the group because we’re in a group of elite public high schools.

So…there we have it. The top 4 articles that peaked my attention, courtesy of MSNBC.com. Comments? Leave some. Please.