It's time to lay it on the line. There is a problem in black America today, and it's high time someone said something about it.

The neighbors had put up with enough loud parties, crowded streets and trash buildup. Incessant on gaining revenge against the unknowing college students around them, community members of College Park did something they felt more effective than calling in yet another noise violation or attempting to speak with their younger neighbors. They made it the local government's problem.

In response to Cody Sain's June 21 column: Just last week, German researchers presented scientific evidence that a border collie named Rico could understand more than 200 words and can learn new ones as quickly as many children.