challenges like the type of breast canr that cheryl has which growsast and can rapidly become aggressicause it affects black women n a way that is different i think we need to gethe word out there. when a yng black woman feels a mp, instead of blowing it off and say, i am too young to get breast cancer, they need to run in find doctor. it is not just black womewho develop trip netive. a woman can develop this te of breast canc. that is wh we emphasize that we all have to com together cannot say that breascancer isurableow, so let's not worry about i. we have to find out what the dierent types of breast cancers are, how it affects people from different race, etnic backgrounds, and weave to get black women to beme a little bitore engaged ithe resource -- inhe research process so we can study more of them and they will beco part of the solution. tavis:how does this conversation fnto the larger conversation about healt care for all americans? >>t is very important to ecause i work on the south side of chago, and it is amazing how many wom without nsurance, through our emergency room to be

what has been frustrating is when we see young women liked cheryl who at 40 did not have a strong familytory, did not have any reason to get breast cancer, and is overcome with a deadly form of the disease. it is very disappointing to us. that is really got us to focus on whether there are differences between populations in terms of the types of breast cancer that they get. because we work on the south side of chicago, we see a diverse population of women. one of the things we found is that black women were getting this type of triple negative breast cancer much more commonly than their white counterparts. tavis: why is that? do you know as yet? >> that is the million-dollar question. the last conversation i had with cheryl, she was an educated, well trained, very knowledgeable woman, and she developed a triple negative breast cancer, which is aggressive. prior to the time we started doing this work, it was always thought the reason why it black women were dying disproportionately was because they had no insurance and no access. but what our work has found is that it is really a collisio

despite his wish to stay with the team, the baltimore oriole's cheryl has been traded to the los angeles dodgers. cheryl about 20 saves for the orioles this year, going to 18 at the bottom of the league to one that is succeeding. cal ripken is making a big contribution to rundown neighborhoods. he is planning on building five ball fields. it will be an artificial turf complex. he is working with community partners to raise money for the $1.5 million complex, and $1 million multipurpose field near pimlico. coming up, world record holder michael phelps turned down an opportunity to meet the pope. i doubt why. and the space shuttle endeavor make a safe landing. my husband and i, we love to go to steakhouses i can smile, i can carry on our conversation i do most of the talking yes i wear dentures and they fit wonderful super poligrip acts as a seal between my dentures and my gums super poligrip makes eating more comfortable. even well fitting dentures can feel more comfortable with super poligrip. just a few dabs of super poligrip create a seal between your dentures and gums to make them mor

cheryl conner has reaction this morning. cheryl? towson catholic high has a rich history. it was founded in 1922. nba player carmelo anthony and olympic gold medalist anita nahl are among the notables that graduated here. now the school is forced to shut down. a spokesman for the archdiocese says the economy is to plame as enrollment declined significantly and the debt climbed as well. the archdiocese had planned to tell the students and faculty members before they found out by rumors on facebook and e-mails yesterday afternoon. students, however, are still praying for a turnaround. >> if the student had lost 26 students from one year to the next. this year they lost 81. combine that with the $61,000 in tuition that didn't get paid last year, that they were waiting to have come in over the summer. parents just can't come up with it. >> if they can still change their minds. it would be nice. if they would save the school. >> reporter: for now we understand that will not happen. teachers will meet with human resources today about job

the suburban house in pikesville has been serving people since 1950. abc2 news cheryl conner is live with what is next for them. >> reporter: good morning. here's the scene in front of the suburban house restaurant. you can see that windows are boarded up and charred debris from inside now lines the front of the building. it's heart breaking for so many people in the community who consider the restaurant a home away from home. more than 30 people were inside the restaurant 5:00 yesterday evening when the fire was reported. firefighters say someone reported hearing a pop coming from the storage room and then seeing the flames.

the mayor of baltimore has been indicted again. cheryl conner live with the latest. >> it's happy hour at the white house. three guys sit down for a man-to-man-to-man conversation. >>> and one day after he was not the fastest swimmer anymore he proves the world wrong. maybe it's the suit. >>> those stories and much more coming up. in the meantime, thank you for joining us. >> let's get some weather now. here's justin berk. >> good morning. pretty much the same old thing except for the fact this morning will be sunny. we've actually cleared out since storms moved through overnight. not much in the way of fog though there may be patches out there. but we have a clear sky over downtown, 73 degrees. notice the humidities sticking around

four people have been charged and cnn's cheryl jackson has more on the story. >> reporter: what has happened african-american cemetery has caused outrage. famous celebrities like emmett till and their graves are undisturbed but others are heart broken by what they found. >> this is where my brother is supposed to be. what do you do when you can't find your family members? >> reporter: police say at least 300 bodies were ripped from their graves and many crush under to piles with the cement vaults they were buried in and also their graves could be resold. >> he's supposed to be at -- there's nothing over there. no tombstones and not even no flowers. just like they recut grass. >> reporter: four employees of the burr oak cemetery have been charged with felony, dismemerment of a body. facing those charges are carolyn towns and maurice daily and terrance knicks and the careless treatment of the people who were supposed to be resting here in peace on sacred ground. >> i came across bones, clear parts of skulls and parts of legs or arms. and they're just laying all in different places around here.

has been orgizing thth campaign. enenou have the state easurer, $1.8 million n reread the war chest.. cheryl, chchieofof t chicago o baban ague. i would d sa---- >> we're goioingo o ha to leave t the. thank you, l lynswswt and perry cocon. chris matthehewsetetns monday for more "hardballll."

. >> the mayor has been indicted again. abc2 news cheryllive to tell us what this means and what it's all about this time. >> reporter: good morning. mayor sheila dixon insists these new charges will not stop her. she went on with her schedule yesterday evening saying she never intended on cancelling her appearance at the women's business forum in baltimore even after a grand jury handed down new indictments against her. a judge dismissed perjury and misconduct charges against her earlier. the state prosecutor re-filed the charges arguing the mayor failed to disclose expensive gifts given to her in 2004 by her boyfriend at the time, developer ronald lipscomb. the new indictment details several purchases the mayor made on a trip the couple took to chicago. the prosecutor says dixon failed to include any of the gifts on her financial disclosure form. >> i'm going to stick to my schedule. i mean, that's a commitment that i make. >> i think it is very serious. she's got the best defense team out there but she's probably going to need it. >> rep

has been feeding local families since the 1950s. fire late yesterday afternoon heavily damaged this popular restaurant. this morning cheryl conner is live at the scene with the latest. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. yeah, a few drivers have stopped in front of the building to glance at the suburban house. the restaurant has been around since the 1950s but faithful customers are not used to seeing this. boards on the front of the building after fire swept through yesterday evening. the owner says he's heartbroken to see his restaurant heavily damaged but made this promise, we'll be back. the fire started around 5:00 wednesday. it was knocked out quickly but not before it devastated s.h. as it's commonly known. a longtime employee reported hearing a pop from the storage room. she called the fire department and helped to evacuate the other 34 customers and employees to safety. firefighters say that fire started in the storage room filled with kitchen supplies and canned goods. >> very painful. i mean, you never really think of anything like this. >> it's terrible. it's a staple. how can -- wow. >> it's just a sad d

the suburban house in pikesville has been serving people since 1950. abc2 news cheryl conner is live with what is next for them. >> reporter: good morning. here's the scene in front of the suburban house restaurant. you can see that windows are boarded up and charred debris from inside now lines the front of the building. it's heart breaking for so many people in the community who consider the restaurant a home away from home. more than 30 people were inside the restaurant 5:00 yesterday evening when the fire was reported. firefighters say someone reported hearing a pop coming from the storage room and then seeing the flames. an employee called the fire department and helped evacuate her colleagues and customers. firefighters say the fire started in the storage room with kitchen supplies and canned goods. the restaurant has heavy smoke damage. here's a promise from the owner to his customers. >> i feel sorry for them. because they are removed from this. >> for a little while though, you said you will be back. >> we will be back. >> reporter: that is some good news this

cheryl, sturet. thank you. later glenn beck has thoughts on cap and trade. i don't believe he likes the idea. upcoming. (announcer) the same rapid response you expect from brink's home security... you can now expect from broadview security - for home and business. call now to get the proven technology of a broadview security system installed for just $99. day or night, broadview is on the job, ready to respond when trouble strikes. i'm sending help right now. (announcer) the same professional monitoring you expect from brink's home security, you can now expect from broadview security - for home and business. broadview security - the next generation of brink's home security. call now. bill: impact segment tonight. how did judge sonia sotomayor do today answering questions from the senate judiciary committee? here now with a report card is our is it legal team lis wiehl in new york city and megyn kelly kelly. covering hard news and that would be unfair. her grade? >> a minus. i thought she came out great. she is strong. she is clear in her message. she is answering the questions. she even had a

cheryl, sturet. thank you. later glenn beck has gecko vo: geico's the third-largest car insurance company in the nation. but, it's not like we're kicking back, now, havin' a cuppa tea. gecko vo: takes lots of sweat to become that big. gecko vo: 'course, geckos don't literally sweat... it's just not our thing... gecko vo: ...but i do work hard, mind you. gecko vo: first rule of "hard work equals success." gecko vo: that's why geico is consistently rated excellent or better in terms of financial strength. gecko vo: second rule: "don't steal a coworker's egg salad, 'specially if it's marked "the gecko." come on people. bill: impact segment tonight. how did judge sonia sotomayor do today answering questions from the senate judiciary committee? here now with a report card is our is it legal team lis wiehl in new york city and megyn kelly kelly. covering hard news and that would be unfair. her grade? >> a minus. i thought she came out great. she is strong. she is clear in her message. she is answering the questions. she even had a sense

cheryl jackson. >> reporter: what has happened in this historic african-american cemetery is causing sadness and outrage. famous african-americans like emmett till and jazz singer diana washington are buried here, their graves are undisturbed but others are heart broken by what they found. >> my brother, this is where he's supposed to be. what do you do when you can't find your family members? >> reporter: what do you do. brenda ray is asking the same question. at least 300 bodies were ripped from their graves and many crushed into piles with the cement vaults they were buried in so their graves could be resold. >> he is supposed to be at 102, row 29, grave 2. there's nothing over there. not even no tombstones or nothing, not even no flowers. like they just recut grass. >> reporter: four employees of the burr oak cemetery have been charged. >> we presented formal charges against four individuals. >> reporter: facing those charges are office manager carolyn towns and grave diggers maurice dailey, keith nicks and terrence nicks and the careless treatment of the people who were supposed to be resting here

cheryl, i want to begin with you. president obama hasen he was asked about what was tgher, dealing with worldleaders or the congress. >> after the six monthheeling and deing with these international forums, do you find it more or ss complicated than to deal with the american congress? >> on the second queion, it's not even close. congress is alwaystougher. >> so given that fact, an it is always tougher and that he's got these bigpriorities, energy and health care, did it hurt him th week to be away? >> don't think it hurt him to be away. congress is ee-deep in energy gislation and health care legiation. frankly, we're at a pointhere the presid doesn'teally want to get his hands dirty. he looked pretty go overseas and maderogress with prent medvedev in moscow. he had aot so bad showing at the 8. he's got an audience wh the pope and is heading off for africa, which will be a huge reception r him in ana, his first trip as president. boy, he's ing to have a lot of work when he comes back with the congress. >> what about -- >> do you agree wi

has their favorite restaurant, a place where they like to go. for many in pikesville, a place called suburban house is where we find cheryl conner telling us how owners there are vowing to rebuild after a fire. >> reporter: that's what the owner tells us. families are used to coming here to the suburban house for matza ball soup and its friendly atmosphere but now when they pass the restaurant on reisterstown road they will see this, the windows boarded up, charred rubble all caused by heavy fire. that fire was reported yesterday evening around 5:00. it was put out about 30 minutes later. still it left behind heavy damage. a longtime employee was inside the restaurant when firefighters say someone heard a pop coming from the storage room that contained restaurant equipment. she called the fire department, helped evacuate 34 customers and employees. many people here in pikesville consider this restaurant a home away from home. >> i hope and pray to god they can rebuild this and keep these people working because that's all this community has. >> i used to come here with my grandfather, a bunch of times. >> it's sad. sad. a lot of people depend on us. >

cheryl, what can you tell us about this? >> reporter: well, tom, you're right, people are upset. grief has turned to anger for a lot of people who can't go inside to see if the graves of their loved ones are safe. now, on thursday there were hundreds of people here. and they were able to walk through the graveyard and check to see if their families' tombstones were there. they're not able to do that today, because as some of the family members were walking through, they actually found human bones and remains. and so now police have sectioned off two sections where they believe there are human remains and the whole cemetery has become a crime scene. there is an area that is called baby land, where infants and babies were buried. there's no evidence to show that it existed, no tombstones to even prove there was a baby land there. today we were able to go to the back of the cemetery where there were piles of debris and police say were human bones and debris, and human remains inside the debris and also just children's tombstones tossed off to the side. today police are not going to be able to

so senator patrick leahy, the cheryl of the senate judiciary committee, has gavelled this confirmation hearing to recess right now. a lunch break until 2:00 p.m. eastern, an hour and 20 minutes or so from now. we'll continue to cover it obviously at that time. there's sonia sotomayor, the supreme court nominee. she's walking out, hobbling just a little bit. she's got a fractured ankle. as you know, she's being received by the top democrats there. you see senator schumer on the right and senator leahy on the left. she will have lunch and relax and come back. we'll hear from four more democrats. there 12 democrats on the senate judiciary committee, seven republicans. all seven have made their opening statements including senator grassley who has just emerged to shake her hand as well. four democrats will be making their opening statements, amy klobuchar of minnesota, edward kaufman of delaware, arlen specter of pennsylvania, the former republican chairman of this committee, now a democrat and the newest senator al franken of minnesota. they will make share statements, and then two other

to cheryl's credit she has not let this drop. i've held two hearings on this subject. this is the start of what was happening much we have an inspector general's report issued yesterday showed that 230 electrical shocks of american soldiers in facilities in iraq because they weren't wired correctly. kellogg, brown, and root were the contractor. they were awarded $300 million in awards fees and bonuses for excellent work. we know that the work was improper. they hired third country nationals who couldn't speak english and in many cases didn't do basic grounding of the wiring much we know that sergeant massaf was electrocuted. we know there was a young manpower washing a humvee who was electrocuted. we know that the u.s. army criminal investigation is now investigating a number of these circumstances. but when i held the hearings, there was denial all around by kellogg, brown, and root. no, we did great work, they said. by the pentagon, defense department? no, things were just fine, they said. turns out that wasn't the case. we had to get an inspector general to give us

we will be talking to his cousin a little later in this show to see what has happened to his remains and what's going on. cheryl, thank you very much. you'll stay on top of this for us. we will stay on top of this story. quite a can shocking story. >>> all right, let's leave chicago for a moment. let's go to philadelphia now. another shocking story. this 21 is tough to believe, but we are still getting information about it, so we're not quite sure what the details are. here's how it started. this is what we first learned. a day camp in chicago, i'm sorry, in philadelphia, contracted with a private club to use its swimming pool for 65 of its students. guess what, of those 65 students, they were all minorities. the club where they contracted to use the pool, well, the members of that club are mostly white. the kids go to the club for the first time to use the pool. and they say, some of the kids say, that they heard racial comments. next thing, there were reports that members had complained to the club president, and the club members, the day camp members, were asked to leave. this is a developing story. there ar

cheryl conner, she joins us live. >> reporter: good morning. students and faculty here will learn more about the permanent closure in the coming days. towson catholic high has a rich history, was founded in 1922. nba player carmelo anthony and olympic gold medalists are among the notables who agreed from here but now -- graduated from here but now the school is forced to shut down, the archdiocese says the economy is to blame as the enrollment climbs significantly and the debt climbed over $500,000. the archdiocese planned on telling students and 20 faculty members before they found out by rumors posted on facebook and various e-mails yesterday afternoon. the archdiocese calls the situation dire but students are praying for a turnaround. >> if the school had only ever lost 26 students from one year to the next. this year they lost 81. combine that with the fact they had $160,000 in tuition that didn't get paid last year, that they were waiting to have come in over the summer and parents just can't come up with it. >> if they can still change their minds, it would be nice. to save the school. >> reporter: it would be nice but we understand that will not happ

. >> this has been going on for years and they're just thinking of this stuff now? >> cheryl boone sent me something. cheryl says, what in the world is going on with the exploitation of exchange students? how are they being placed in those homes? that's unreal. >> the host homes don't get paid anything. the host families don't get paid anything. the agencies do so the agencies try to recruit as many kids into their programs as they possibly can. what has been happening and what has happened here in scranton there's more kids than host families. so now you have to actually go out and find these host families. literally this woman in scranton was going up and down the street asking folks to take kids in. >> that reverend did not like seeing you or the camera, did he? get that camera out of my face. wow that got my attention. drew, thank you. let us know what happened. really great story. thanks a lot. >>> one of the keys to america's success or failure in afghanistan? is it there? we'll take you behind enemy lines, a place few westerners have ever been. and you'll find out who

. >> hey, cheryl, do they know how far does this go back? is it just recent years? how long has this possibility been happening? police believe up to about four years. they say there were several people on the ground who knew something was going on and just didn't say anything about it. >> i can't imagine covering it up, when people are coming in and can't find their children. it's hard to bury a child anywhere but when you can't find their remains. cheryl, we appreciate your reporting. nice job there, cheryl. if you get anymore information please get back to it. it's the final resting place of emmett till who was lynched in mississippi in 1955. the casket he was originally buried in was found discarded in a garage. that casket, he was exhumed because of justice department investigation i doen't know if you remember that but officials say there was wildlife living inside of that casket, which probably should be in a museum. many people consider that a desecration of emmett till's memory. we'll talk more about the significance of this casket with alvin psyche of the emmett till j

has a crime report with 20 people shot. under that she's got the latest indictments. papers. >> mayor dixon says she's going to fight on for the city. cheryl conner is live with what lawyers are saying this morning. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. mayor sheila dixon insists these new charges will not stop her with running the business of baltimore and she went on with her schedule yesterday evening saying she never intended on cancelling her appearance at the women's business forum in baltimore. that even after a grand jury handed down new indictments against her. earlier this year a judge dismissed perjury and misconduct in office charges against the mayor. the state prosecutor has re-filed the charges. arguing that the mayor failed to disclose expensive gifts given to her in 2004 by her boyfriend at the time developer ronald lipscomb. the new indictment details several purchases. the mayor made them on a trip to chicago. the prosecutor says dixon failed to include any of the gifts on her financial disclosure form. >> i'm going to stick to my schedule. i mean, that's a chiment that i make. >> i think it is very serious. she's got

has become a criminal investigation. >> any physician administering propofol in the home should be subject to sanctions. >> should he lose his license? >> most likely, yes. >> records were subpoenaed from the office of cheryl lee, the nutritionist who treated jackson and said that jackson requested a power anesthetic to help him sleep. >> he went to sleep quick. he was so reassured that it would be okay because of the fact that he wanted his physician to come in to monitor him. >> michael jackson's addiction to pain ki8 -- killers can be traced back to this commercial for pepsi. jackson received serious burns on his scalp and face. but in candid interview given to french television even jackson's brother jermaine continues to deny any knowledge of michael's drug abuse. >> i never seen my brother have any different abnormal behavior, any substance that would cause that. i have never seen it, so i would say no. >> almost a month since his death, some are frustrated with the slow pace of the investigation. but retired lapd detective bob jacks, he said the case is unfolding at the perfect pace. >> there's no time line in this type of investigation to go out of st >> when we come back, we'll turn the page and t

cheryl. >> caller: hello. >> hi, you're up. >> caller: i feel like michael vick has served his punishment and he should be reinstated. >> okay. >> caller: and people should forgive because all of us makes mistakes and god forgive us. and if we don't forgive god's not going to forgive them. >> all right. a message of forgiveness from cheryl after a couple of callers basically were not going to forgive michael vick. let's bring back arnie spannier, sports radio talk show host. from folks you talk, to are fans forgiving, they're ready to see michael vick back in the nfl? >> no, for the most part they're not. they're not forgiving. it's interesting because i know you asked one of your callsers wouldn't it be better if we got the bigger message out? no, no, it would be nice but let's not have mike vick work. did michael vick commit murder? is he a pedophile? is he a rapist? did he do anything like that? of course not. look, i have a dog. i have a golden retriever. so i'm not making any excuses for him. but like i said, we've punished him enough.@@ enough is enough. when you come out of jail, we're supposed to rehabilitat

has this idea. he says baltimore should create a football camp in honor of steve mcnair. he also hopes the nfl will remember his 13-year career at the beginning of next season. cheryl conner, abc 2 news. >>> an autopsy will be performed on mcnair tomorrow. stay with abc 2 news and abc2news.com for the latest development on steve mcnair's death. >>> the latest now on a 5- year-old girl who was shot in the head in southwest baltimore. the child was caught this the crossfire of a neighborhood fight two days ago. tonight, police made an arrest. she was just 5 years old walking in her southwest baltimore neighborhood when all of a sudden shots rang out. when the smoke cheered, the child was shot in the head, rushed to the hospital clinging to life. police arrested 17-year-old lamont davis in the shooting today. >> it's just people being dumb. two young men being insanely stupid. >> reporter: davis is accused of using a semi automatic handgun to settling a fight. he he fired the gun, missed his target and bullet hit the 5- year-old girl. detectives went door to dhar and used footage from closed- circuit cameras in the area. during a news conference, baltimore city mees c

has said in its precedents. >> reporter: like nominees before her, sotomayor refused to provide specific answers on issues from abortion to the a second amendment. university of maryland law school professional cheryl lynn is following the hearings and appears on this week's to the point. >> for some of us it's quite distressing. i've talked to a number of people, particularly blacks and latinos who are concerned about the condescending, almost scolding tone. >> reporter: but with sotomayor up for a life-time appointment on the nation's highest court, many believe she should be forced to answer the tough questions. attorney angel cartagena tells us why sotomayor and nominees before her are all practiced at the artful dodge. >> because she will be a judge in the end, she has to be very careful about what she can and cannot discuss because she does not want to leave herself open later on to the accusation that she is biased one way or the other. >> reporter: the hearings are expected to wrap up tomorrow, but not before a number of witnesses are called to testify. including a group sotomayor ruled against in a controversial discrimination lawsuit. terry owens, abc 2 news. >>> now the forecast certifie

said when i walked to where his grave was, it is grass that has been recently mowed and there's no stone, nothing there so -- >> and, cheryl just for clarification, the people that reported the plot, are they the same people that have been arrested or different employees? >> different employees. different employees. >> okay. and any statement yet from the company that owns the cemetery? >> no statement yet. we are expecting at least from police and some official statements here at about 1:00. >> okay. >> we have had no statement. actually we've been told by police that no one involved from the cemetery is even on the scene and that's causing a little bit of chaos, because you see hundreds of people filing through the gates. >> oh, my goodness, are you kidding me? >> and nobody can say where the plots are. they don't know where to start. >> so you're talking about no one from the company that's operating the cemetery, no one from the company that owns the cemetery is on site right now? >> no. they are trying to get someone in here, but no one is on the scene. and so police tried to break into the computers in order to be ab

cheryl had their baby named victor, jr. he is now about a year and have told. and so, despite the fact he went through a college he still has a lot of strikes against him. he has parents who have a hard time finding jobs, one dropped out of college and still has trouble with the law. they both are living -- they have a hard time finding an apartment. they are living both with their parents. and so a kid like that in those circumstances what does it take, you want to get into college, what does it take to get him where he is now to college and graduate from college? >> thank you, paul and charlie. you can get an idea why i allowed paul to spend five years. i actually didn't know what was in the book until i read. about halfway through the book i didn't think it was quite such a good idea to allow a reporter, but in the and i think it was important. before i let paul have access. i really didn't know what was in the book. people could have said a number of things in the book in my opinion could have been something i would have been proud of but also could have been something i would have said that's not really a great sort of

has said. [laughter] here they are. first, we requireç all public " -- public companies hold an advisory note on cheryl compensation andholder approval for golden parachutes. second, we answered the sec to issue rules allowing long-term shareholders with a significant stakes in the company to have access to the company's proxy form if they want to nominate directors to the board. if you are going to try to keep the board on this, you ought to have access to proxy spirit is now almost next to impossible for people to get. third, require a majority of the vote in uncontested elections to remain on the board. it makes no sense for board members to be reelected if the majority of shareholders casting ballots voted against them. fourth, it eliminates a staggered board, which eliminates board members from the consequences of their decisions by requiring all directors to face election annually. fifth, requires public companies to split the jobs of ceo and chairman of the board and requires the chairman to be an independent director. that one has gotten the most push back from the corporate world. that surprised me, but that i

has said. [laughter] here they are. first, we requireç all public " -- public companies hold an advisory note on cheryl compensation andain shareholder approval for golden parachutes. second, we answered the sec to issue rules allowing long-term shareholders with a significant stakes in the company to have access to the company's proxy form if they want to nominate directors to the board. if you are going to try to keep the board on this, you ought to have access to proxy spirit is now almost next to impossible for people to get. third, require a majority of the vote in uncontested elections to remain on the board. it makes no sense for board members to be reelected if the majority of shareholders casting ballots voted against them. fourth, it eliminates a staggered board, which eliminates board members from the consequences of their decisions by requiring all directors to face election annually. fifth, requires public companies to split the jobs of ceo and chairman of the board and requires the chairman to be an independent director. that one has gotten the most push back from the corporate world. that surprised me, b

cheryl krandall of pontiac, michigan, is about to lose her cobra benefits next month and has been shopping for personal insurance. within two weeks the price had already jumped $22 per month -- it jumped from $22 per month to $667 a month. so it was $22, jumped to $667 a month. that's $150 more than her house payment. more than her house payment. she says, "we are very, very frugal people. no big vacations, no expensive toys. and we're not impoverished yet. but premiums like this for mediocre coverage, large deductibles, large copays can break even the most stable family. and you know that's what's happening. her story is shared by thousands and thousands of people i know across michigan. our current health care system is bankrupting too many families. we know that over 60% of bankruptcies are linked to medical expenses. 75% of families who file for bankruptcy actually have health insurance. and those who have insurance on average have medical expenses of over $18,000 when they file, even though they have a health insurance policy. it's even worse for those without insurance. sandra marzus