WASHINGTON–Marijuana potency increased last year to the highest level in more than 30 years, posing greater health risks to people who may view the drug as harmless, according to a report released last Thursday by the White House.

Ionnie McNeill is on the road to becoming a financial guru. With her professional speaking business well underway, a budding investment portfolio and shares in several companies including Proctor and Gamble, Wendy's and Pfizer, she has paved her own way to success, one investment at a time. And this is before she is even 21 years old.

TRENTON, New Jersey–A Muslim student who sued because his public high school graduation ceremony was held in a Baptist church has received an apology from the largest school district in New Jersey and assurances that it will not hold future events in houses of worship.

SAN DIEGO–He worked overtime and when that wasn't enough, he worked a little more. This U.S. Open playoff was anything but the blowout it could have been, and when Tiger Woods adds them all up at the end of his remarkable career, the championship he won Monday might be the sweetest of all. Definitely the most painful.

PHILADELPHIA–It's not all partisan mudslinging in the presidential race as first lady Laura Bush expressed her support for Michelle Obama, wife of the presumed Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama. Michelle Obama has come under fire by Republicans for a statement she made in February at a campaign stop in Wisconsin.

The announcement of Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center's closing was no surprise to many of its employees, including the hundreds of Blacks employed there. But finding a new job at the same pay has come as quite a shock. “I had no idea it was this tough finding a decent paying job nowadays,” said Scott Brown, 45, a janitor at the South Side hospital for 20 years.

Two people have been killed and three injured by police gunfire over the past eight days. According to Chicago Police Department Spokeswoman Monique Bond, loaded weapons were recovered at each scene. A victim was shot to death on the 300 block of West 109th Place, and a 9 mm Ruger recovered.

Summer's arrival has brought great weather that will provide an excellent time in Grant Park, just off of Lake Michigan, for the 28th Annual Taste of Chicago, which promises to be spectacular. This year's Taste of Chicago, which kicks off on June 27 and continues through July 6, will feature the magnificent performances of Chaka Khan and Stevie Wonder at the Petrillo Music Shell.

Rapper T.I. will be performing at the Congress Theater, 2135 N. Milwaukee Ave., on Thursday, continuing a schedule of concert dates set across the country. Although the Atlanta native, whose real name is Clifford Harris, endured various legal woes within the past year, he managed to stay in the public eye.

NEW YORK–Bill Cosby quips that he gave up his dreams of becoming a professional jazz drummer and turned to comedy after seeing how easily the pioneer bebop drummer Max Roach handled rhythmically complex tunes that he struggled to get through.