The former head of the state's higher education loan program, Elizabeth Wong, says she was forced out after she refused to consider only African-Americans for jobs, grants and college loans.

Wong spoke in a published interview done at the office of a lawyer representing her in a whistle-blower lawsuit.

At the center of the litigation is former Secretary of State Regena Thomas, appointed by that gift that keeps on giving, former Gov. (and priest wannabe) Jim McGreevey, who teaches ethics at Kean University, which nevertheless keeps its accreditation.

Wong, who is Asian-American, said Thomas, who is African-American, told Wong, "I'm taking control of the authority." Wong also said she was defamed when a McGreevey spokesman said she was forced out because of questions about her expense account.

New York Mortgage Trust Confirms Payment of July 30 Trust ...

NEW YORK, July 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- New York Mortgage Trust, Inc. , a self-advised real estate investment trust (REIT) engaged in the investment in and management of high credit quality residential adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) loans and mortgage-backed securities (MBS), today reported that the Company will make its scheduled July 30th trust preferred dividend payment and that it has sufficient liquidity to support ongoing daily operations. The Company has no outstanding warehouse lines, and as previously announced, exited the mortgage lending business in March of this year.

The Company reported that as of July 30th, 2007, approximately 50% of its portfolio is permanently financed, with the remaining portion financed with repurchased agreements. The MBS financed with repurchase agreements is comprised of approximately 97% Agency, "AAA" or "AA" rated MBS.

MTC / Celtel and IFC officials hold signing ceremony for $320 ...

Group photo for a signing ceremony that was held at the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai on Monday 23 July, 2007 between officials of MTC/Celtel and IFC (the private sector arm of the World Bank Group) on the occasion of IFC's largest ever financing in Sub-Saharan Africa, a $320 million package, to five operations of Celtel International B.V. (an MTC subsidiary) to help expand and upgrade its fast growing mobile networks in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Malawi, Sierra Leone and Uganda. The investment will result in better quality mobile access in countries with extremely limited telephone services, creating new opportunities for businesses and consumers across the economic spectrum.

Initially announced at the World Economic Forum in South Africa on June 13, 2007 by Celtel Chairman Dr.