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A walk down the 6-mile city street named for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. yields plenty of images that would surely unsettle the civil rights leader: shuttered storefronts, open-air drug markets and a glut of pawn shops, quickie check-cashing providers and liquor stores.The urban decay along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in St. Louis can be found in other major American cities, from Houston and Milwaukee to the nation’s capital. “It’s a national problem,” said Melvin White, a 46-year-old postal worker in St. Louis and founder of a 3-year-old nonprofit group that is trying to restore King’s legacy...

Duval County School Board members voted unanimously Friday to start the process that likely would remove the name Nathan B. Forrest from one of its high schools. All seven board members voted to formally accept the written request of District 5 board member Constance Hall to begin the name-change procedure.

JACKSONVILLE, Florida (Reuters) - A north Florida school board has voted unanimously to change the name of a local high school honoring a Confederate general who made a fortune as a slave trader and was linked to the Ku Klux Klan. "It's time to move forward with the renaming of Nathan B. Forrest High ... it's time to really put it to bed," said School Board member Constance Hall, who asked the Board to finally begin the process of changing the name on Friday. Hall and the board's other African American member were joined in the 7-0 vote by four...

Why are U.S. hurricanes given names? Names are actually given to tropical storms but if they reach a sustained wind speed of 74 miles per hour, then they are deemed hurricanes. These types of destructive storms are given monikers because naming them makes it much easier for meteorologists, researchers, emergency response workers, ship captains, and citizens to communicate about specific hurricanes in a clear manner. So after decades of hurricane and storm names, did a Black Congresswoman demand that African-American names be included? ... In July 2003, Sheila Jackson Lee (pictured), a Democratic member of Congress who represents the 18th...

NEWPORT, Tenn.— A Tennessee judge said parents can name their 8-month-old baby “Messiah,” overturning the decision of another judge who thought the name was blasphemous. At a paternity hearing last month, child support magistrate Lu Ann Ballew was asked to decide Messiah Deshawn Martin’s surname. Ballew ended up changing the baby’s first name as well, saying that “Messiah” was a title reserved for Jesus Christ.....

Black Activist Urges Schools to Change Names from White Segregationist President FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact Ted Hayes 424-222-6010 ted@tedhayes.us LOS ANGELES – Ted Hayes, homeless activist and host of the weekly radio talk show America’s Black Shield on WNJC 1360-AM in Philadelphia (www.wnjc1360.com ), is calling for for the School Districts of Portsmouth, Virginia and Peoria, Illinois to change the names of the Woodrow Wilson High School and the Woodrow Wilson Primary School, respectively, from a white segregationist U.S. president to a name that will honor a figure in the civil rights struggle for Descendants of Chattel Slaves (African Americans)....

A Mississippi man has taken his wife's last name after the ACLU complained he was told by state officials that he would need a court order to do so because it was not traditional.

Filner calls for Navy to name ship for Harvey Milk SAN DIEGO - Rep. Bob Filner has called on the Navy to name a ship after slain gay rights pioneer Harvey Milk, who served as a Navy officer in the early 1950s. In a letter to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, Filner said naming a ship after Milk "would be a great tribute to Milk's support for equality and in keeping with effort(s) to promote equality in our military after the recent repeal of the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy." Milk served as a diving officer...

The Navy's weighing a decision to name a cargo ship now under construction after labor activist Cesar Chavez has drawn sharp criticism from one veteran lawmaker who says that a military war hero should receive the honor instead. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, said he understands the Navy's desire to honor Hispanic leaders, but the Navy may want to skip the politically divisive names and opt for an outstanding service member. "If this decision were about recognizing the Hispanic community's contribution to our nation, many other names come to mind, including Marine Corps Sergeant Rafael...

How fitting that a school named after our profligate, post-achievement president is shutting down thanks to fiscal mismanagement and non-achievement. R.I.P., Barack Obama Elementary School (hat tip: reader Peter): "The state fiscal monitor who oversees financial operations in the school district Thursday morning ordered the closing of the Barack H. Obama Elementary School as of July 1." .... Peter adds: “Asbury Park’s school system was taken over by the state of New Jersey a few years back (along with those of other underachieving municipalities) for gross managerial incompetence...

This Wed., March 2, the Prince William County School Board will be voting on what to name the new elementary school opening Fall 2011 on Linton Hall Road.  The naming committee came up with the lame name of "Piney Branch Elementary School" -- Ronald Reagan didn't even make the top 18 suggestions of the committee despite it having strong supporters.  I first suggested that name early last October and encouraged people to submit it to the naming committee by the Dec. 1 deadline.  Following is the message that I sent to the naming committee: Since the new elementary school on...

The U.S. Navy's Name GamePosted by Mark Thompson Sunday January 9, 2011 at 8:30 pm Prospective parents battling over the names of their unborn kids have nothing on the U.S. Navy, which is in the middle of a spat over the wisdom of naming a new ship for the late Pennsylvania congressman John Murtha. In fact, it has kicked off a bigger battle over just who, or what, should be honored with their names on the great gray hulls of the nation's warships. "It comes down to two points," says military historian James Caiella. "Who and what we are as...

Scoot over, Emma. Isabella is the new top baby name for girls. Jacob is the most popular baby name for boys, continuing an 11-year run at the top, the Social Security Administration said Friday. Emma's reign was much shorter, lasting just a year before slipping to No. 2.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) – U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus on Friday announced the selection of the USS John P. Murtha as the name of the 10th San Antonio class Amphibious Transport Dock ship, honoring the late U.S. Representative. Murtha served a distinguished 37 years in the Marine Corps and received the Bronze Star with Combat “V”, two purple hearts, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry for his service in the Vietnam War, retiring as a colonel in 1990.

Philadelphia democrats have proposed naming the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard after the disgraced and deceased John Murtha. I. Kid. You. Not. The same John Murtha who worked closely with anti war groups in developing a 'slow bleed' strategy in order to undermine the ability of our troops to successfully engage terrorists in Iraq. The same John Murtha that accused the now exonerated Haditha Marines of murder and war crimes: [VIDEO AT SITE] Murtha has an airport named after him, let that be. It would be more meaningful to name the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard after one of Philly's fallen soldiers. This is...

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A peak previously known as Negrohead Mountain in Southern California's Santa Monica range was officially renamed Saturday in honor of a black pioneer who settled the area in the 19th Century. The 2,031-foot mountain near Malibu, the highest peak in the area, became Ballard Mountain after John Ballard, a blacksmith and former slave who bought land on the mountain in 1880. The name originally contained a vulgar racial slur that even appeared on federal maps, but it was changed to "negro" in the 1960s.

Century-Old Slur Erased From Santa Monica Mountains Maps February 20, 2010 A century-old slur was erased Saturday as authorities ceremoniously renamed a Santa Monica Mountains peak to commemorate a black pioneer who established a homestead at its base in 1880. What had long been designated on "Negrohead Mountain" on official maps is now "Ballard Mountain" in honor of John Ballard, who worked as a blacksmith and firewood vendor from his 160 acres in the Seminole Springs area. About 25 of Ballard’s descendants were among a crowd of 90 who watched as a plaque bearing the settler’s name was unveiled near...

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Organizers of a proposed charter school named after the president have rescinded the honor after the Obama Administration informed them of a long-standing White House policy disallowing the use of the president's name while he is in office. The group designing the Barack Obama Community Charter School also learned a state law prohibits naming institutions for a living person without his or her permission. The new name for the proposed K-8 is the Staten Island Community Charter School. One of the organizers, Lorna Harris of Silver Lake, said committee members are disappointed about having to change...

Trendy Baby Names a Sign of Group Think? The Latest Trends in Baby Names May Annoy People in Adulthood By LAUREN COX Dec. 4, 2009— In the future, names like Dick, Jane and Mary may sound exotic to the ears of the little Emmas, Ethans and Madisons who are just starting kindergarten now. Since the 1960s, whole sets of names seem to rise and then burst in popularity bubbles faster than the stock market. Many parents are surprised to find out that the seemingly unique name they picked for their child is shared by what seems like half the kindergarten...

The females of the first family made the list of the 1,000 most popular baby names, says a new report, but the president did not. Michelle, the first lady's name, and those of her daughters, Sasha and Malia, appeared on the list released Wednesday by the Social Security Administration, The New York Times reports. Sasha, at 353rd, hasn't changed much in rank in the past few years. Malia jumped to 345th most popular baby name last year from 400th in 2007, while Michelle dropped from 94th to 103rd. Other names proved popular because of their association with celebrities. Hillary jumped...