He got major pushback. But this host has a message for Liberty City: You matter

Wynwood wouldn’t work. And a hip-hip concert in Bayfront would defeat his purpose.

No, radio personality Papa Keith was determined to host his first People Matter Fest straight out of Liberty City.

“I wanted to go into the toughest neighborhoods to the people who feel like they have nothing going for them and express to them that ‘Hey, you matter,’” he said.

The People Matter Fest will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday at Athalie Range Park in Liberty City. But coordinating the event, which was supposed to feature Liberty City native Trick Daddy and other South Florida rappers, has proven difficult for the 103.5 The Beat host Papa Keith, who said he had conflicts with local residents and City of Miami police.

Principal requires students stand during national anthem

Lely High School Principal Ryan Nemeth later said he regretted the delivery of his message.

The principal of Lely High School delivered a stern message to students on Monday about his expectations during the playing of the national anthem at school sporting events.

“Let me be crystal clear: When that anthem is being played you are to stand and you are to be quiet,” Principal Ryan Nemeth said during the school’s morning announcement show.

He gave the message hours before the school’s football team played at home.

“What you do during that time is your own business,” he said. “If you want to sing a song in your head, if you want to meditate — I really don’t care. What I do care is that you stand and stay quiet.”

Love in Transition: An unconventional love story

Kathleen and Tricia Russell reminisce on more than 30 years of marriage.

Kathleen Russell keeps a photo of the man she married on her desk at work.

Katie, as she is known to friends, is pictured in the 2008 image with her vibrant red hair cut close to her round face and friendly blue eyes. Embracing her is a cleanly shaven, blue-eyed man. He rests his right cheek gently against her hair.

From campus to the street, students at heart of #BlackLivesMatter

Students at the University of Miami joined demonstrators nationwide, staging a “die-in” Dec. 3.

A thunder of voices resounded as protesters, like a dark cloud, shadowed the sunny Coral Gables campus at the University of Miami (UM).

Michael Brown. Oscar Grant. Eric Garner. Joe Ferrell. Sean Bell. Rekia Boyd. John Crawford. Ezell Ford. Amadou Diallo.

New Haitian visa program invites uncertainty, scam artists

A crowd of South Florida Haitians protest for improved immigration policy for their loved ones. COURTESY OF FANM

A new program flaunts promise to the large population of Haitians living in South Florida, but leaves many with pressing concerns, some with bad intentions and others with hope.

Maggy hasn’t seen her daughter for seven years – years she’s spent trying to bring her ailing daughter into the country.

Memes are “the real MVP;” thrusting their influence into realms of journalism

An image of Indiana Pacer’s Lance Stevenson blowing on an old Lebron James’ jersey.

It seemed as if much of the nation awaited official word of basketball player LeBron James’ next step. But when James’ announced his decision — a controversial move back to the Cleveland Cavaliers — in an exclusive Sports Illustrated story Friday, polarized sports fans retorted with a barrage of emotions… and memes.

The world needs more John Seigenthalers

The Chips Quinn Scholars summer class of 2014 pictured with John Seigenthaler (right) in May at the First Amendment Center in Nashville, Tenn.

Back in May I was afforded the privilege, as a Newseum Chips Quinn Scholar (CQS), of meeting one of history’s great men, John Seigenthaler in Nashville, Tenn. at the First Amendment Center. I remember seeing his name inscribed in large letters across the front of the building and thinking to myself “Oh, he must be important.”

Conference sheds new light on black immigrant experience

It was the opening day of a national conference hosted by the Black Immigration Network (BIN). Aly Wane, 37, an immigrant born in Senegal, sat in a group of four Black faces: one, who sported a colorful Ghanaian shirt, was from America;