The Weekly Press

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013

ROUGE,

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A PEOPLE’S PUBLICATION

Next Budget Showdown Could Lead to More Cuts

BY GEORGE E. CURRY NNPA Editor-in-Chief

WASHINGTON (NNPA) – After blinking during in a New Year ’s Day showdown with President Obama that could have triggered across-the-board spending cuts and significant tax increases, Republicans are poised to seek deep cuts in spending that would violate the “balanced� approach to the deficit that the president has advocated.

In an interview Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,� Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) said Republicans will not consider additional tax increases to help pay down the nation’s debt. “The tax issue is finished, over, completed,� he said. “That’s behind us. Now the question is what are we going to do about the biggest problem confronting our country and our future? And that’s our spending addiction. It’s time to confront it. The president surely

Louisiana Delegation Split on Fiscal Cliff Vote

U.S. President Barack Obama delivers remarks about the fiscal cliff negotiations in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House December 31, 2012 in Washington, DC.

knows that.�

President Obama has rejected the GOP demand for

specific cuts in exchange for raising the nation’s debt limit to pay its outstanding bills.

“One thing I will not compromise over is whether or not Congress should pay the tab for

Mezzo-Soprano Stephanie McGuire to Perform Free Concert

Southern University’s DeBose Recital Hall will host mezzo-soprano Stephanie McGuire at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13 on the Baton Rouge campus.

McGuire has performed at the Lincoln Center and Car-

negie Hall with the New York City Opera, and at Boston’s Symphony Hall with the Boston POPS Orchestra.

The event is called “Candor and Bel Canto: A concert exploring Black presence I and Reaction to Western Classical

Rep. Cedric Richmond

Rep. Rodney Alexander

See CLIFF, on page 2

Gamma Eta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. inducted its officers. Past Chapter President, Sandra Temple Hall, led the induction ceremony. Officers include, (standing from L-R), Assistant Recording Secretary Tasha Bergeron, Corresponding Secretary Pamela Honore’, Treasurer Jessica Guinn, and Financial Secretary Monique Edwards. Seated from L-R are Vice-President Deborah Paul, President Katina Semien, and Recording Secretary Mary Beals.

HUMAN JUKEBOX HEADED TO SUPER BOWL - AGAIN

Organization Makes Changes in Leadership & Services

Montrell McCaleb, Chief Executive Officer

President CPO N’Kyia Moten

The executive governing board that governs the Motivating Students for Academic & Career Success voted unanimously to combine the position of chairman with a newly created position of Chairman & CEO and promote its President Montrell McCaleb to the new position which will make him the highest ranking executive in the organization.

Montrell’s new responsibilities will include developing and implementing highlevel strategies, making major corporate decisions, managing the overall operations and resources of the organization, and acting as the main point of communication between the board of trustees and the organization’s administrative operations.

The board also voted to name Nkyia Moten as the new president/chief program officer. Moten is from Washington Parish and prior to being named president she served as McCaleb’s second in command.

Ranking Board Member Graylin Hammond Sr. stated that these changes were in the making for sometime however the board wanted to make sure that the right pieces were in place and it just so happen everything fell into place like we wanted. These changes will also affect the organization’s programs and services in a positive way.

Some of the changes will include a budget to pay the tutors, a building to do the performing arts programs, as well as provide year around assistance to the students in the program. Chairman & CEO Elect McCaleb will be responsible for going out to secure funds for the various projects and initiatives and we are confident that is up for the task.

Both McCaleb and Moten stated in a joint statement that they are excited about the growth of the organization as well as the opportunities that have

HEALTH NEWS

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/btrbb-renaissance-baton-rouge-hotel/

STATE & LOCAL NEWS

See CUTS, on page 2

See CONCERT, on page 2

Sen. David Vitter

BATON ROUGE — Louisiana’s delegation was divided as Congress agreed to a compromise to avert the so-called “fiscal cliff� of middle-class tax increases and spending cuts.

While Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu and Republican Sen. David Vitter supported the legislation, most of the state’s U.S. House delegation opposed it.

Democratic Rep. Cedric Richmond and Republican Rep. Rodney Alexander voted Tuesday night for the bill sent to President Barack Obama, amid concerns that without a deal, the tax increases and spending cuts

“Almost 90% of Southern Republicans voted against the ‘fiscal-cliff’ compromise. At the same time, a majority of Republican representatives from outside the South supported the deal, which was approved in large part because of overwhelming Democratic support.�

Some experts say cuts in spending have already outpaced any expected rise in revenue. “President Obama has said that future deficit reduction should come through a balanced mix of revenue increases and spending cuts; as a first step, he required that ATRA’s [the American Taxpayers Relief Act] two-month delay in scheduled across-the-board budget cuts (‘sequestration’) be offset with an even split of revenues and spending reductions. By contrast, some Republicans leaders have indicated that they will push to achieve the additional deficit reduction entirely through spending cuts, with no

Music.�

McGuire will perform spirituals, African-American art songs, texts of author Langston Hughes, opera and oratorio highlights. “Candor and Bel

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inducted Officers Sen. Mary Landrieu

a bill they’ve already racked up,�

Obama said in his weekly address on Saturday.

That position is being opposed by Republicans. “I want to raise the debt ceiling, but I will not do it without a plan to get out of debt,� Senator Lindsey Graham [R-S.C.] said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union. “If you raise the debt ceiling by a dollar, you should cut spending by a dollar. That is the way to go forward.�

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), appearing Sunday on CBS, said “I don’t think these two things should be related. Right now, we have to pay the bills that have been incurred,� she said. “And if you want to say cut spending for what we do next, fine, but don’t tie it to the debt ceiling.�

As the Los Angeles Times noted, the fiscal cliff debate underscored the geographic divide within the Republican Party, as the position taken by McConnell and Graham illustrates.

The newspaper reported,

BUSINESS NEWS

See LEADERSHIP, on page 2

RELIGION NEWS The Greater Mt. Canaan Baptist Church located at 5820 Evangeline Street, pastored by Rev. Levie Wright Jr. will host Family and Friends Day on Sunday January 27, 2013...See Page 6

INDEX

MUSEUM OF ART NEW COORDINATOR The band, nicknamed the “Human Jukebox,� will perform in New Orleans during pre-game activities of Super Bowl XLVII being held Feb. 3 in the Mercedes Benz Superdome. This will mark the fourth Super Bowl performance for the SU marching band...See Page 2

The LSU Museum of Art has named Lucy Perera the new coordinator of school and community programs, effective Jan. 7, 2013....

See Page 3

TAX CREDIT: HELP FOR RETIREMENT

Low- and moderate-income workers can take steps now to save for retirement and earn a special tax credit in 2012 and the years ahead, according to the Internal Revenue Ser...See Page 5

BETTER DEAL ON HEALTH INSURANCE

Some Americans recently began receiving checks in the mail from their health insurers. These “rebates� were required by the federal healthcare reform law’s “medical loss ratio�...See Page 7

Local & State ...........................2 Commentary............................4 Business...................................5 Religion ...................................6 Health ......................................7 Sports ......................................8

CLASSIFIED Buying or selling a service, looking for for a good job? Check out the classifeds .

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STATE & LOCAL

Su Ag Center Mourns the Loss of Legend, James Archie BATON ROUGE, LA— The Southern University Ag Center is saddened to announce the death of legendary Livestock Show Director James Archie at the age of 76. Known in agriculture circles by his dedicated service and trademark cowboy hat, Archie contributed more than four decades to the profession at Southern University and Louisiana State University. He ended his service in March 2003. Our prayers and condolences go out to his family.

Mr. Archie was dedicated to his work in the field of agriculture. He earned both his BS and MS degrees in animal science from Southern University. Archie started his career in 1963 as a county agent in East and West Carroll Parishes impacting the lives of thousands of young farmers and their families statewide. In 1969, he became a joint employee of LSU and Southern University as the Livestock Show Director. He served in this capacity and continued after the

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James Archie

creation of the SU Ag Center in 2001. In this position, he built up the program to include annual Horse and Rabbit Shows.

The Service was held on Friday, December 21, 2012 at 6:00 p.m., at Halls Davis & Sons Fu-

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further revenue increases at all,� wrote Robert Greenstein, founder and president of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a nonpartisan organization that examines how fiscal policy and public programs that affect lowand moderate-income people.

He explained, “The President’s approach is the sound and equitable one. If this Republi-

can view holds, then when all of the deficit reduction efforts are tallied together, spending cuts will outpace revenue increases by nearly 5 to 1 — hardly a balanced approach.�

After Congress hastily approved a plan to avert the fiscal cliff that raised taxes on individuals earning more than $400,000 a year and families earning in

More than

PARKS From leisure classes, sports and fitness to science, nature and outdoor adventure, BREC offers something for residents of all ages and interests.

neral Home located at 9348 Scenic Hwy. Dismissal Service was held on Saturday, December 22, 2012 at the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Cemetery at 726 Pleasant Hill Road in Spearsville, Louisiana.

excess of $450,000 annually, many angry House Republicans – who did not want to see any tax increases – are threatening to vote against raising the debt limit in two months if Obama doesn’t go along with their cuts-only proposal.

As Greenstein noted, cuts have already been imposed on domestic spending and any additional reductions would mean that the budget is being balanced primarily through spending cuts rather than a balanced approach. “Several pieces of legislation, culminating in the 2011 Budget Control Act, reduced spending on discretionary programs — for both non-defense and defense programs — by $1.5 trillion over the 2013-2022 period,� he stated. “All of these savings are on the spending side.�

Consequently, even if future measures require an even split between slashing spending and raising additional revenue, the burden would fall disproportionately on cuts.

Greenstein noted, “If future deficit reduction comes through an even split of revenues and spending cuts, total spending cuts will still outpace revenue increases by nearly 2 to 1. (These ratio estimates do not include the effects of interest savings; if those savings are included, the share of savings that come from spending cuts rises further.)�

The Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) estimates show that ATRA makes all but $624 billion of those $3.4 trillion in tax cuts permanent. It thus makes permanent 82 percent of the Bush tax cuts, while letting 18 percent expire.

MARGE'S

CHIT CHAT

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: A new day dawning, new dreams and aspirations are on the horizon.

HAPPY NEW YEAR - 2013 May you get a clean bill of health from Marge your dentist, your cardiologist, your gastroentomologist, your urologist, your proctoloLawrence gist, your podiatrist, your psychiatrist, your plumber and the I.R.S? May your hair, your teeth, your face-lift, your abs and your stocks not fall; and may your blood pressure, your triglycerides, your cholesterol, your white blood count and your mortgage interest not rise.

May New Year’s Eve find you seated around the table, together with your beloved family and cherished friends? May you find the food better, the environment quieter, the cost much cheaper, and the pleasure more fulfilling than anything else you might ordinarily do that night.

May what you see in the mirror delight you, and what others see in you delight them. May someone love you enough to forgive your faults, be blind to your blemishes, and tell the world about your virtues?

May the telemarketers wait to make their sales calls until you finish dinner, may the commercials on TV not be louder than the program you have been watching, and may your checkbook and your budget balance - and include generous amounts for charity.

May you remember to say “I love you� at least once a day to your spouse, your child, your parent, your siblings; but not to your secretary, your nurse, your masseuse, your hairdresser or your tennis instructor.

And may we live in a world at peace and with the awareness of God’s love in every sunset, every flower’s unfolding petals, every baby’s smile, every lover’s kiss, and every wonderful, astonishing, miraculous beat of our heart.

The song “As Time Goes By� is featured on the CD “Dreams of Love�

Love, Marge

LEADERSHIP

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been afforded to them. The new changes will go into effect on January 17, 2013.

The mission of the Motivating Students for Academic & Career Success Corporation through its outreach arm Preparing Young Minds for Success is to Motivate, Empower, Educate, & Encourage youth and young adults grades 3-8 on how to become successful, contributing members of society.

The organization offers afterschool tutoring and performing programs in Baton Rouge, St. Gabriel, New Orleans, Baker

CONCERT

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Canto� is described as family friendly. Children and teenagers are encouraged to attend,

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and Zachary, Louisiana Monday through Thursday from 3:00p.m. to 5:00pm at the Community Centers in those respective cities. Currently, the organization has an enrollment of about 4,500 students.

The organization’s corporate office is in St. Gabriel, Louisiana and its community outreach offices are located in the Dr. Martin Luther King Center in Baton Rouge. To learn more about the organization are support its efforts you can to www.educatingourfuture. org

Admission is free. Donations are accepted. For more information, call 225.288.1421.

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could send the nation’s economy back into recession.

Louisiana’s five other GOP House members - Reps.

Charles Boustany, Bill Cassidy, John Fleming, Jeff Landry and

Steve Scalise - voted against it. Critics disagreed with allowing some tax increases and said the legislation didn’t cut spending to help shrink the federal deficit.

EMAIL YOUR NEWS ARTICLES TO

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7KXUVGD\ -DQXDU\ ‡ The Weekly Press ‡ 3DJH

EBRP School System, BREC Team up for After-School Pilot Program EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH - The East Baton Rouge Parish School System (EBRPSS) and BREC have signed a cooperative agreement to pilot an after-school program which will offer children ages 6-12 a safe and fun place to go after the school day ends.

The Youth 360 Program will operate like BREC afterschool programs currently held at Antioch Park, Jackson Park, Church Street Park and Plank Road Park. For $48 per month, children will be provided time for homework as well as offerings of recreational and character development program activities and a healthy snack.

Starting this month, Youth 360 camps will begin immediately after school and operate until 5:30 p.m. each afternoon that school is in session. The school system will provide bus transportation for approved school bus riders as needed.

BREC staff personally will escort children who are close

enough to walk to the afterschool camp, and parents will be responsible for picking up their child or children at the end of each day.

A study was conducted

by EBRPSS to determine sites for the pilot program in which transportation could be provided at no additional cost to the school system and where after-school programs at school sites are not currently available for all students.

The Youth 360 pilot program will be held at BREC recreation centers for students enrolled at the following schools beginning in January: Ryan Elementary, Scotlandville Elementary, Magnolia Woods Elementary, Glen Oaks Park Elementary, Merrydale Elementary, Bernard Terrace Elementary, Melrose Elementary, Howell Park Elementary, Capitol Elementary, Northdale Elementary, Crestworth Elementary and See PROGRAM, on page 7

LSU Museum of Art Names Lucy Perera as Coordinator of School and Community Programs BATON ROUGE – The LSU Museum of Art has named Lucy Perera the new coordinator of school and community programs, effective Jan. 7, 2013.

Perera comes to the LSU Museum of Art after serving as the curator of education and public programs at the Harwood Museum of Art in Taos, N.M., since 2006. Prior to being the curator of education and public programs, she served as Harwood’s coordinator of museum development and relations since 1998.

Perera received her B.A. in Art History from Boston University and her M.A. in Art History and Museum Studies from the University of Denver. “Lucy Perera will be a great asset to the LSU Museum of Art, the university and the Baton Rouge community,� said Jordana Pomeroy, executive director of the LSU Museum of Art. “She brings to the museum many

Lucy Perera

years of developing successful approaches to arts education that well served the Taos community and the University of New Mexico. We are looking forward to her re-creating some of these innovative programs and inventing new ones for our institution.�

Perera founded the educational department at the Harwood, creating diverse programs for over 9,000 children, families, teens and adult learners. She established the Fern Hogue Mitchell Education Center, a large art studio and class room for youth, and school and adult programs used by more than 5,000 learners annually. Perera was also responsible for developing, managing, funding, marketing and delivering several other educational and public programs including Art in the Schools, a free object-based museum education program which brought in classes of high risk students from local elementary schools for monthly visits throughout the academic year.

Museum components were followed by a studio project aligned with State Benchmarks and National Arts Standards.

With more than 5,000 paintings, sculpture, works on

paper, and decorative arts – including a remarkable collection of southern silver – the LSU Museum of Art has one of the largest university-affiliated art collections in the South. Serving as a vital anchor for the Arts District in downtown Baton Rouge, the museum occupies the fifth floor of the dynamic Shaw Center for the Arts, one of the premiere architectural spaces in the region, designed by Schwartz/Silver of Boston. The museum shares the facility with the museum store, which showcases artisan crafts from the region and a wide variety of gift products, as well as the LSU School of Art’s Alfred C. Glassell Jr. Exhibition Gallery, and the Manship Theatre. The LSU Museum of Art seeks to enrich and inspire through collections, exhibitions, conservation and education, serving as a cultural and intellectual resource for the See COORDINATOR, on page 7

COMMENTARY 7KXUVGD\ -DQXDU\ ‡ The Weekly Press ‡ 3DJH

Introducing FUNdraising Good Times Welcome to FUNdraising Good Times, your place for how-to information on the often mysterious topic of fundraising.

FUNdraising Good Times is written for those who manage, work for, or provide volunteer leadership for non-profit organizations and institutions. The column is designed to help you and the organizations and institutions you believe in attract and retain resources and leadership needed for success.

The two of us – Mel and Pearl Shaw, writes it. We are a husband and wife team with over 50 years combined experience in the fields of fundraising and marketing. We work with organizations and institutions across the country. Many of our clients are historically black colleges or universities, some are churches, and others are local organizations, hospitals and professional associations.

We have seen firsthand how non-profits play a key role in our communities. They provide emergency services, educational and recreational programs, healthcare, legal services, job training and mentors to generation-after-generation.

Colleges, universities, churches and hospitals play a key role in educating, saving, and healing our family members and the community. People – paid employees and volunteers – who are knowledgeable, skilled, committed and passionate about making a difference, staff non-profits.

For many non-profits nothing is guaranteed, and an organization’s or institution’s financial health often lies in the hands of its top leadership – its executive director, president or CEO, fundraising personnel, and those who serve as board members, trustees and volunteer fundraisers. This is true of local programs that counsel people with HIV/ AIDS, those that provide after school programs, as well as more

established institutions such as our historically black colleges and universities.

Board members are committed and skilled, coming together to provide guidance, oversight, policy and direction, often after the end of a long day at work. Executive directors, presidents, and CEOs are visionary, talented, and often over-worked.

Volunteers at all levels look for ways they can make a difference.

These are the people that FUNdraising Good Times is written for.

Fundraising is all about people and money. These are the keys to a non-profit’s success, and both need to be used wisely and with great care. In this column you will find tips for successful fundraising including easy-touse, how-to information on topics such as: a. Prerequisites for fundraising success b. Creating your fundraising plan c. How to write a proposal d. Building your board of directors – the key to fundraising success e. The thrills and perils of special events We will also feature interviews with funders, donors, executive directors, presidents, board members, and fundraising professionals as well as commentary on key issues in the nonprofit sector. We will also look to hear from you and learn the issues you are grappling with. We want to support your fundraising success. Š Copyright Mel and Pearl Shaw.

Mel and Pearl Shaw are the owners of Saad & Shaw, and the authors of The Fundraisers Guide to Soliciting Gifts. They provide fundraising counsel locally and nationwide. Visit them at www. saadandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.

New Year’s Resolutions

BY MARIAN WRIGHT EDELMAN NNPA Columnist

As New Year’s Eve countdowns wound down, many people turned to the familiar ritual of taking stock of where they are now to make resolutions for what they can do better in the new year. We all measure our accomplishments and shortcomings in different ways. Some people count numbers on a scale or in a savings account. But what if we decided to take stock as a nation by measuring how we treat our children?

If we did that kind of countdown, we’d learn: ‡ (YHU\ VHFRQG DQG D KDOI during the school year a public school student receives an outof-school suspension. ‡ (YHU\ VHFRQGV GXULQJ the school year a public high school student drops out. ‡ (YHU\ VHFRQGV D FKLOG LV born into poverty in America. ‡ (YHU\ VHFRQGV D FKLOG is abused or neglected. ‡ (YHU\ VHFRQGV D EDE\ LV born without health insurance. ‡ (YHU\ DQG D KDOI KRXUV a child is killed by abuse or neglect.

A majority of all American fourth and eighth grade public school students can’t read or do math at grade level, including 76 percent or more of Black and Latino students.

Millions of American children start school not ready to learn and millions more lack safe, affordable, quality child care and early childhood education.

If we were counting we’d see that millions of poor children are hungry, at risk of hunger, living in worst case housing, or are homeless in America.

And we would find a child or teen is killed by a firearm about every three hours and 15 minutes — more than seven every single day. The devasta-

tion at Sandy Hook put the media spotlight on a tragedy that strikes families in communities across America daily as a result of our nation’s shameful refusal to protect children instead of guns. In 2010 2,694 children and teens died from gun violence.

What do these numbers tell us about who we are and who we hope to be? Why do we choose to let children be the poorest age group in our rich nation and to let millions of children suffer preventable sickness, neglect, abuse, mis-education, and violence? Why do we continue to mock God’s call for justice for children and the poor and our professed ideals of freedom and justice for all?

It’s time for new resolutions backed by urgent and persistent action. In 2013, the United States celebrates the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and of the Birmingham movement. Our first African-American president will be inaugurated for a second term, in a public ceremony that will take place the same day as our national holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., our prophet of nonviolence. How will we honor and carry forth our long struggle towards freedom and equality? Let’s resolve not to make this another year of platitudes and remembering the dream but make this a year of action to end child poverty and violence as Dr. King called for.

Dr. King said: “The Declaration of Independence proclaimed to a world, organized politically and spiritually around the concept of the inequality of man, that the dignity of human personality was inherent in man as a living being. The Emancipation Proclamation was the offspring of the Declaration of Independence . . . Our pride and progress could be unqualified if See RESOLUTION, on page 7

BY BILL FLETCHER, JR. NNPA Columnist

One Week, Two Sides of Obama

There is a different feel in the air, and it should not be surprising. As historic as was the re-election of President Obama, nothing can replace the uniqueness of the opening of his first term four years ago. The expectations; the history that was made; the level of excitement‌ it was all too impossible to replicate.

The November 2012 reelection of the president, nevertheless, was a remarkable feat.

Taking place during a time of war and economic crisis against a very well-funded opponent, combined with the Republican use of voter suppression efforts in many states, victory was far from assured. The forces of irrationalism were blunted in their tracks, however, at least for the moment.

Yet, as we approach Inauguration there are important con-

cerns. In the ‘fiscal cliff’ negotiations, President Obama, despite the public being on his side, once again displayed his tendency towards what I would call overcompromising, a reluctance to engage in hard-bargaining and a tendency to blink at the wrong time. Yes, things could have been worse, but that does not mean that they went well.

Beyond the fiscal cliff there are other issues facing us: climate change; turmoil in the Middle East; the continued war in Afghanistan, the threat of war with Iran; and, obviously, the economy. On each of these issues and more, we should not assume – in fact, we cannot assume – that President Obama will be on the right side. The drone strikes in Pakistan continue, for instance, and so too do the attacks on civil liberties at home.

The question, then, is, what should we expect over the next four years? The answer actually

depends on us much more than it does on President Obama. In the fiscal cliff negotiations, we saw what happens without us: the wrong compromises are made in the name of bi-partisanship. The problem is that Obama cannot be bi-partisan if the other side is being fanatically partisan. Such attempts appear to be surrender rather than responsible diplomacy.

Thus, the real answer to what to expect over the next four years comes down to two very different and clear scenarios: One, in the absence of pressure, the administration will offer wonderful rhetoric as it continues to retreat, or, two, the administration will be compelled to shift gears and fulfill the mandate that it received from the decisive November election as a result of pressure that it receives from people like us.

In case you missed this, the administration can only be com-

pelled through mass action. That means more than emails and phone calls, but instead public displays of protest – boots on the ground. In addition, when we have Republicans in Congress who, due to gerrymandering, have districts that are solidly Republican and, thus, they have little fear of any electoral challenge, the only thing that will shake them up is if society is a bit shaken.

One thing that we do not need is to find ourselves, four years from now, asking why we did not do more when we had the chance. If we miss the moment, we may not have additional chances.

Bill Fletcher, Jr. is a Senior Scholar with the Institute for Policy Studies, the immediate past president of TransAfrica Forum, and the author of “They’re Bankrupting Us� – And Twenty Other Myths about Unions. He can be reached at papaq54@hotmail.com.

Wilmington Ten Pardons: Black Press at its Best

BY GEORGE E. CURRY NNPA Columnist When then-National Newspaper Publishers Association Chairman Danny Bakewell, Sr. asked me to emcee the Black Press Week luncheon at the National Press Club in 2011, I had no idea that I would be witnessing history. At the urging of Wilmington Journal Publisher Mary Alice Thatch, the NNPA decided to launch a national campaign to win pardons for the Wilmington 10, a group of activists who were falsely convicted and sentenced to a combined total of 282 years.

Everyone knew it would be an uphill battle, but it was a battle the NNPA was willing to wage. It established The Wilmington Ten Pardon of Innocence Project whose goal was “to generate national and worldwide support for the petition, to the state of North Carolina, and specifically the governor, to grant individual pardons of innocence to the Wilmington Ten.�

NNPA publishers saw a video about the Wilmington Ten at the luncheon and its leader, Benjamin Chavis, Jr., was interviewed by me and the publishers. When I asked Ben, a longtime friend, about his lowest point in prison, he tried to steer me away from the question by saying he preferred to focus on the future, not the past.

But the past affects the future, which is why I brought him back to my original question. This time, he gave a direct, emotional answer.

“I was warned not to go into the shower,� he said, his voice barely audible. “I couldn’t take a bath for eight months.�

And the reason Chavis was reluctant to take a bath was because of death threats.

No one should have to live like that, especially after the criminal justice system has been manipulated to obtain a false conviction.

For Chavis, the trouble began after the all-Black high school was closed as part of the court-ordered desegregation of New Hanover County, N.C. schools. The Black students were forced to attend the previously all-White high school, where they were harassed. In February 1971, the United Church of Christ dispatched Chavis, a native of Oxford, N.C., to help organize a school boycott.

During that period of unrest, someone firebombed Mike’s Grocery, a White-owned business located a block away from Gregory Congregational Church, where Chavis had set up headquarters. When fire fighters and police officers arrived, they were attacked by snipers.

Chavis and nine others were charged and convicted of arson and conspiracy in connection with the incident. Most of the defendants received a 29-year sentence, with Ann Shepard, the White woman from Auburn, N.Y., receiving the lightest sentence of 15 years and Chavis, then only 24 years old, getting 34 years, the longest sentence.

In 1980, a federal appeals court overturned the convictions of the Wilmington Ten. The court ruled that the trial judge had wrongly restricted defense attorneys from crossexamining witnesses who had received special treatment in exchange for their testimony and that the prosecutor violated due process rights by failing to turn over evidence that would have impeached the testimony of its chief witness, Allen Hall.

In addition, the prosecutor refused to turn over a second statement made by Hall that directly contradicted at least 15 of his allegations.

After taking up the cause of the Wilmington Ten, NNPA newspapers gave prominent display to stories written about the case by Cash Michaels, editor of the Wilmington Journal, and distributed to member papers by the NNPA News Service. Through talent and dogged persistence, neither Cash nor his publisher, Mary Alice Thatch, would let the campaign for pardons stall.

The national campaign heated up last spring when Michaels produced a string of stories examining every aspect of the case. In one story, Michaels traced the shattered lives of the seven survivors (one has since died) and the families of three deceased members of the Wilmington Ten. He found that some of the survivors, including Chavis, had successfully rebuilt their lives while others had not.

One blockbuster story began: “In an extraordinary discovery, the 40-year-old case

files of the prosecuting attorney in the two 1972 Wilmington Ten criminal trials not only document how he sought to impanel, according to his own written jury selection notes, mostly White ‘KKK’ juries to guarantee convictions, but also to keep Black men from serving on both juries.�

Michaels story continued, “The prosecutor chose, in his own words, ‘Uncle Tom’ types to serve on the jury, it was disclosed. The files of Assistant New Hanover County District Attorney James ‘Jay’ Stroud Jr. also document how he plotted to cause a mistrial in the first June 1972 Wilmington Ten trial because there were 10 Blacks and two Whites on the jury, his star false witness against the Ten was not cooperating, and it looked very unlikely that he could win the case, given the lack of evidence.�

Without Michaels’ exceptional reporting and the national exposure, many of the facts about the Wilmington Ten injustice would still remain unknown – and Gov. Perdue would not have pardoned the civil rights activists.

This was the Black Press at its best.

George E. Curry, former editor-in-chief of Emerge magazine, is editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service (NNPA.) He is a keynote speaker, moderator, and media coach. Curry can be reached through his Web site, www.georgecurry.com. You can also follow him at www.twitter. com/currygeorge.

The views expressed in the editiorial columns are not necessarily the veiws of The Weekly Press or its staff. Address all opinions and comments to: Letters to the Editior, P.O. Box 74485 Baton Rouge, La. 70874 or E-mail them to: theweeklypress@yahoo.com

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BUSINESS

SU’s Small Business Center Starts Year With January Workshops BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Small Business Development Center at Southern University starts its January series with workshops on January16 at the Louisiana Technology Park located at 7117 Florida Blvd.

Individuals interested in determining the feasibility of their business idea, planning to start or have recently started a small business, seeking a small business loan or wanting to learn more about business planning are encouraged to attend.

Topics will cover writing a business plan, source of funds for start-up and expansion, small business resources, and required licenses.

CUTS

Plan Now to Get Full Benefit of Saver’s Credit; Tax Credit Helps Low and Moderate Income Workers Save for Retirement

The workshop, “8(a) Certification Training,� will be held Wednesday, January 16 from 10 a.m. to noon. Information presented will include 8(a) eligibility criteria, GLS Login, Application process and how the program works.

The workshop will also discuss Central Contractor Registration and Small Business Source System registration and provide general information on doing business with the Federal Government. This event is also free and open to the public.

Early registration for the workshops is required. To register call Louisiana SBDC at 225-922-0998 or visit the LSBDC website at www.lsbdc.org.

WASHINGTON — Lowand moderate-income workers can take steps now to save for retirement and earn a special tax credit in 2012 and the years ahead, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

The saver’s credit helps offset part of the first $2,000 workers voluntarily contribute to IRAs and to 401(k) plans and similar workplace retirement programs.

Also known as the retirement savings contributions credit, the saver’s credit is available in addition to any other tax savings that apply.

Eligible workers still have time to make qualifying retirement contributions and get the saver’s credit on their 2012 tax return. People have until April 15, 2013, to set up a new individual retirement arrangement or add money to an existing IRA and still get credit for 2012. However, elective deferrals (contributions) must be made by the end of the year to a 401(k) plan or similar workplace program, such as a 403(b) plan for employees of public schools and certain taxexempt organizations, a governmental 457 plan for state or local government employees, and the Thrift Savings Plan for federal employees. Employees who are unable to set aside money for this year may want to schedule their 2013 contributions soon so their employer can begin withholding them in January.

The saver’s credit can be claimed by: Married couples filing jointly

from page 2

The Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) and Congressional Budget Office estimate that making permanent all of the Bush tax cuts would have cost $3.4 trillion over 2013-2022 According to a White House fact sheet, “By raising income tax rates on the wealthiest and keeping taxes low for the middle class, the agreement will ensure we have the most progressive income tax code in decades.�

However, FactCheck.org found: “All the president’s talk about preserving middle-class tax cuts in the just-passed bill to avert the so-called fiscal cliff may give one the impression that, except for the wealthy, people will be paying the same amount in taxes this year as last. But that’s not correct. Left out of Obama’s analysis is that a temporary two-year reduction in Social Security payroll taxes was allowed to expire. As a result, most people will actually pay more in taxes this year.�

According to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, households with income between $40,000 and $50,000 will pay an additional $574 in payroll taxes this year as a result of the payroll tax returning to 6.2 percent from 4.2 percent.

Households with earnings between $75,000 and $100,000 will pay an additional $1,194. Overall, 77 percent of Americans will be paying more in taxes in 2013 than they did in 2012.

Senate Majority Whip Dick

Durbin (D-Illinois) said Democrats and Republicans should join hands to reform the tax code. “There are still deductions, credits, special treatments under the Tax Code that should be looked at very carefully,� he said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.�

He explained, “We forego about $1.2 trillion a year in the Tax Code, money which otherwise would go to the government. Trust me, there are plenty of things within that tax code, these loopholes where people can park their money offshore and not pay taxes, are things that need to be closed.�

TRINITY HOUSE LLC RITA J. EDWARDS OPERATOR?OWNER 2531 Airline Hwy. Baton Rouge, LA. 70805 225-356-6063 225-572-9597 trinityhouse1@aol.com AFFORDABLE ROOMS FOR RENT WEEKLY OR MONTHLY

with incomes up to $57,500 in 2012 or $59,000 in 2013; Heads of Household with incomes up to $43,125 in 2012 or $44,250 in 2013; and Married individuals filing separately and singles with incomes up to $28,750 in 2012 or $29,500 in 2013.

Like other tax credits, the saver’s credit can increase a taxpayer’s refund or reduce the tax owed. Though the maximum saver’s credit is $1,000, $2,000 for married couples, the IRS cautioned that it is often much less and, due in part to the impact of other deductions and credits, may, in fact, be zero for some taxpayers.

A taxpayer’s credit amount is based on his or her filing status, adjusted gross income; tax liability and amount contributed to qualifying retirement programs.

Form 8880 is used to claim the saver’s credit, and its instructions have details on figuring the credit correctly.

In tax-year 2010, the most recent year for which complete figures are available, saver’s

credits totaling just over $1 billion were claimed on more than 6.1 million individual income tax returns. Saver’s credits claimed on these returns averaged $204 for joint filers, $165 for heads of household and $122 for single filers.

The saver’s credit supplements other tax benefits available to people who set money aside for retirement. For example, most workers may deduct their contributions to a traditional IRA. Though Roth IRA contributions are not deductible, qualifying withdrawals, usually after retirement, are tax-free. Normally, con-

tributions to 401(k) and similar workplace plans are not taxed until withdrawn.

Other special rules that apply to the saver’s credit include the following: Eligible taxpayers must be at least 18 years of age.

Anyone claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return cannot take the credit.

A student cannot take the credit. A person enrolled as a fulltime student during any part of 5 calendar months during the year is considered a student.

See TAC CREDIT, on page 7

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OVER 50 YEARS EXPERIENCE

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ALL TYPES OF ROOFING 6,',1* ‡ *877(56 ‡ 5(3$,56 TELEPHONE: (225) 647-0727 OR 1-866-712-3428 BUYING OR SELLING A SERVICE? Call the Weekly Press to place your advertisment.

PUBLIC NOTICE Louisiana State Permanent Supportive Housing Program

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5HDVRQDEOH DFFRPPRGDWLRQV ZLOO EH PDGH LQ FRPSOHWLQJ applications. For assistance in completing an application, call IRU DQ DSSRLQWPHQW UHTXLUHG

Ingram Barge Company is accepting applications for Deckhands.

Interested candidates must have a valid Driver’s License and High School Diploma/GED. 18 months of physical heavy labor experience preferred. These are not live-aboard positions. Applicants must live near the Baton Rouge or Reserve, LA area. Generous daily wage plus full benefit package to include Company paid retirement, 401K, medical, dental, etc.

Interested candidates can apply at www.ingrambarge.com. EOE, M/F/V/D

Great Holiday Job Opportunities!

Manage your own seasonal store.

Exciting concepts coming to Mall of Louisiana!

Earn extra $$$ for the Holidays!

Call Kathryn 888-422-5637 x119

EMAIL YOUR NEWS ARTICLES TO

BUYING OR SELLING A SERVICE? Call the Weekly Press to place your advertisment.

thewpres@bellsouth.net

The waiting lists for the Louisiana State Permanent Supportive Housing Program in the Capital Area are now open.

This area includes the following waiting lists: ‡ $VFHQVLRQ ‡ (DVW )HOLFLDQD ‡ (DVW %DWRQ 5RXJH ‡ ,EHUYLOOH ‡ 3RLQWH &RXSHH ‡ :HVW %DWRQ 5RXJH ‡ :HVW )HOLFLDQD ‡ &DSLWDO $UHD (OGHUO\ 2QO\ ‡ &DSLWDO $UHD 6LQJOH 2FFXSDQF\

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

"(/ %.*"#%+%,1 %"3(,' ,&20(-,0 /"($(,' ." "#)"'%0

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(225) 927-7007

HELP WANTED Controller (Baton Rouge, LA), Duties incl. direct & oversee preparation of financial reports, manage inventory accounting in nail & saloon supplies, etc. Must have a Master’s degree in Accounting + 36 mnths of exp in Accounting. Send resume to Dat Ton, CEO, ALFALFA NAIL SUPPLY, INC., 11488 S. CHOCTAW DRIVE, BATON ROUGE, LA 70815. Please write “Controller-2012� on the bottom right corner of the envelope. No phone calls or emails accepted!

HELP WANTED: AUDITOR III AUDITOR III. Will manage, plan, & perform complex rate case audits of public utilities; testify at public hearings; provide technical assistance to utilities & internally regarding accounting & financial matters; assist audit director &/or audit supervisor in development, recommendation, & implementation of program changes, policies, & general operating procedures. Reqs: Master’s, Accounting. Must possess familiarity with: auditing of water, wastewater, electric & gas utilities, including: accounting policies & practices of public utilities; review & analysis of utility filings & prior audits; analysis of audit findings & preparation of reports; development of nonopposition letters; participation in public hearings. Job Location is Baton Rouge, LA. To apply send rÊsumÊ & credentials to Judy Whitmire, Louisiana Public Service Commission, 602 North Fifth Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70821. Must refer to Job #11646 to be considered.

Page ‡ The

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RELIGION

So, This Is What New Looks Like DR. JAMES L. SNYDER

It was just before New Year’s and the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and I was relaxing after a busy week of toil and labor. Not paying much attention to my surroundings, I had immersed myself in a favorite book.

As far as I am concerned, nothing compares to a favorite book when you are trying to relax and unwind. I turned the page and happened to notice on the other side of the room my wife was all a twitchy. I have seen this behavior before and I knew she was anxious to say something.

I pretended not to notice.

Finally, it was as if she exploded. “I can’t wait for the New Year. Aren’t you excited?�

I answered in the affirmative to try to keep the conversation as minimal as possible. “No, I mean aren’t you really excited about the New Year?�

I knew if I was going to get back to my book I would have to let her say, what was on her mind. According to her, the approaching New Year was going

to be spectacular. Everything old, she explained to me, would be new again.

We have been in this New Year for a couple of weeks now and, I will not contradict my wife, at least aloud, but this New Year looks suspiciously like the Old Year.

I am not quite sure what she thought would be different this year, but to me it is just the old year run through again. And, that is good with me. I am not one of these persons that need the latest flash in the pan. I quite prefer the tried and true.

It was about two weeks after the New Year and my wife said, “I’ll be back in an hour or two, I’m going shopping.�

It did not dawn on me at the time but about 10 minutes later, it did. The reason my wife was so excited about the New Year was that she was going to go out and buy some new clothes.

After all, according to her calculations, the New Year deserves new clothing.

I smiled as I thought about her going to the store trying on dresses, seeking one that would

fit her both in size and in fancy.

As for me, I am quite comfortable in my old clothes. They fit me just fine, thank you.

Women have to look fine all the time. Men, on the other hand are not that particular about what they wear. I can wear the same shirt for days on end and feel just as comfortable as the first day I put it on.

My clothing does not make me feel any younger. I go along with the saying that says you are only as old as you feel. Of course, I do have some of those Methuselah moments.

Everything old was once new and if new last very long it ends up being old. Therefore, whatever is old was once new and whatever is new will one day be old. This is where most people make their mistake. They fail to see the relationship between old and new.

For example, as much as our culture pretends to be youth oriented, it does everything to get old while looking young. I often have this conversation with my wife. I am not old, I am just getting older and my plans are to get older and older and older.

The great object in life is to get as old as you possibly can while looking and feeling new.

Nothing to me is sillier than a 40 year old trying to act 20. The mind may say 20, but the body really knows it is 40.

If people would put the money they spend to look young in a 401(k) their golden years would truly be golden. How much money is spent each year on plastic surgery? What I want to know is, whom in the world do they think they are fooling?

Their mirror?

Right after the New Year’s celebration, I got up one morning feeling terrific. There was a bounce in my step, a giggle on my tongue; I was feeling like I was 20 something. I had not felt this good since I cannot remember how long. Then it happened.

No matter how good you might feel some day, there is always something or someone who can undermine that and put you in your proper place.

My mistake was going into the bathroom. There in the bathroom for all the world to see, especially me is this ghastly object called a mirror. When I

looked into the mirror, I was shocked to see I was not alone.

I thought I had come into the bathroom by myself but there in the mirror was this old guy I hardly recognized.

My first reaction was to ask him to leave the bathroom and then I noticed something. That person in the mirror was me! All of those exhilarating feelings dissipated as reality grabbed hold of my soul and soundly shook me.

In my Bible reading that morning, I read what the apostle Paul said. “And be renewed in the spirit of your minds; and that she put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness� (Ephesians 4:23-24 KJV).

Only God, in His wisdom, can create in me something that is truly new.

Spiritual Direction, has a new book, “Navigating the Interior Life, Spiritual Direction And the Journey to God,� which contends the fail of resolutions are due to sin patterns. “Spiritual direction helps to identify those struggles that constantly recur and hinder progress,� he says. “One of the most clarifying lenses through which we can evaluate this is through the seven capital sins.

This clarity is the starting point to identify how we can resist vices that stand in opposition to the virtues we desire.�

Burke recommends finding a good spiritual director rather than trying the self-help approach. “An age old secret to keeping commitments is accountability,� he says. “The best way to pursue healthy accountability is through someone you trust to have the best interest of your soul at heart as you seek to deepen your faith.�

Steve Splonskowski, a father of seven who works in Catholic radio, has received spiritual direction for twenty years. “It helps me discern where God is leading me not

WE ARE JUST A CLICK AWAY! Visit Us Online @

just spiritually, but professionally and personally and it’s good to have someone challenge me to try harder.� Steve says it even improves his marriage. “My wife and I share the same director so he leads us to grow closer to each other and to God.� “We spend so much time concentrating on our physical selves, when our SOULS are the most important thing,� says Shellie Rusche, nurse and mother of six. “Spiritual direction helps me keep my priorities straight.�

BY CAROLYN GEE BATON ROUGE, LA – The Greater Mt. Canaan Baptist Church located at 5820 Evangeline Street is pastored by Rev. Levie Wright Jr. will host Family and Friends Day on Sunday January 27, 2013.

The service will start at 8:00 a.m. and everyone is invited to come out and be a part of this worship celebration.

For more information, please contact 225-356-7024.

Tracy Randall Fights Cancer While Creating Innovative Gospel

Rev. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God Fellowship, PO Box 831313, Ocala, FL 34483.

He lives with his wife, Martha, in Silver Springs Shores. Call him at 1-866-552-2543 or e-mail jamessnyder2@att.net. His web site is www. jamessnyderministries.com.

Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions -- Getting a Spiritual Director is a Key to Success ST CLAIR SHORES, Mich., -- By the second week in January, most New Year’s resolutions have gone by the wayside.

Resolutions affect our well-being, but spiritual goals affect our eternal life. For Catholics, resolutions should be ongoing to overcome sin. Getting to the root of sin and then having a spiritual director to keep us on track can make all the difference.

Dan Burke, Executive Director for EWTN’s National Catholic Register and founder of the blog, Roman Catholic

Family and Friends Day at Greater Mt. Canaan Baptist Church

Travis Schweitzer, father of six and owner of a construction company, confirms this. “A spiritual director can help you find spiritual wounds and parts of your past that you might not even realize are affecting you,� he says. “It has helped me to discover where I am the weakest and then put those wounds at the feet of Jesus and trust in Him.�

Dan Burke is available for interviews to discuss this topic.

To schedule an interview, contact Gail Coniglio: (954) 554-3967 or gail@teresatomeo.com.

www.theweeklypress.com

Tracy Randall

NEW YORK -- Tracy Randall drew early inspiration from Gospel music, and once you hear his testimony, you’ll understand why he left secular music to return to his Gospel roots. Watch Tracy Randall tell his compelling story exclusively on the Yolanda Adams morning show.

The 14-track album “Troubled Times,� reflects today’s turbulent world and Randall offers peace, love and hope through his music. Coining the phrase ‘rhythm & gospel’ the Grammy Ž nominated songwriter Randall sings of messages of God’s unconditional love while also addressing his own struggles. “Dwell in the Safety of Jesus� and “Oh God� sound deeply personal as Randall shares his heart about his own sinful past See RANDALL, on page 7

CHURCH DIRECTORY

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. - Hebrews 10:25

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COORDINATOR university, Baton Rouge, and beyond. A listing of the museum’s art and educational offerings can be found at www. lsumoa.com.

The museum is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is closed on Mondays, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and all major holidays. Admission to the LSU Museum of Art is $5

PROGRAM

for adults and youths age 13 and older, and is free for LSU students with a valid ID and children 12 and under. The museum also offers a variety of programs throughout the year, including free admission on “Free First Sundays� of each month.

For more information about LSU Museum of Art programs, contact the information desk at 225-389-7200, or follow the museum on Facebook by searching “LSU Museum of Art� and on Twitter at @LSUMuseumofArt.

from page 3

Delmont Elementary schools. “Working as a team with BREC on the Youth 360 afterschool program expansion is just one of the many ways the School System is actively moving to broaden its partnerships with community organizations,� said Dr. Bernard Taylor, Jr., superintendent of the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. “We appreciate this opportunity to join BREC in continuing to provide quality educational and after-school opportunities for our students.� “BREC’s core mission is to play an active role in the fight against crime and childhood obesity, and this program will offer students a safe, structured

RESOLUTION

TAX CREDIT

environment after school each day,� said BREC Superintendent Carolyn McKnight. “We are excited about our growing partnership with the East Baton Rouge School System and hope this pilot program works so well that we can expand it and offer Youth 360 to students across the parish by the start of the next school year.�

For information on how to register for Youth 360, call Diane Drake at 225-272-9200 or email her at ddrake@brec. org.

It is the BREC mission to provide parks and recreational opportunities for all the residents of East Baton Rouge Parish.

from page 4

the story might end here. But history reveals that America has been a schizophrenic personality where these two documents are concerned. On the one hand she has proudly professed the basic principles inherent in both documents.

On the other hand she has sadly practiced the antithesis of these principles.� He concluded: “There is but one way to commemorate the Emancipation Proclamation. That is to make its declarations of freedom real; to reach back to the origins of our nation when our message of equality electrified an unfree world, and reaffirm democracy by deeds as bold and daring as the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation.�

Let’s match the history of this 2013 moment with bold and daring steps to close the gap between what every child needs to grow to productive adulthood, what we know works, and what we do to ensure their healthy development. It must begin with safety from guns. If the child is safe all of us are safe.

Marian Wright Edelman is president of the Children’s Defense Fund whose Leave No Child BehindŽ mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. For more information go to www.childrensdefense.org.

from page 5

Certain retirement plan distributions reduce the contribution amount used to figure the credit. For 2012, this rule applies to distributions received after 2009 and before the due date, including extensions, of the 2012 return. Form 8880 and its instructions have details on making this computation.

RANDALL

from page 3

Begun in 2002 as a temporary provision, the saver’s credit was made a permanent part of the tax code in legislation enacted in 2006. To help preserve the value of the credit, income limits are now adjusted annually to keep pace with inflation. More information about the credit is on IRS.gov.

from page 6

and his ongoing battle with Leukemia and depression.

As Tracy Randall continues to build bridges between mainstream and gospel he

presents “Troubled Times� as a must-have for contemporary gospel fans. “Troubled Times� in stores and on line now.

EMAIL YOUR NEWS ARTICLES TO

theweeklypress@yahoo.com

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HEALTH Agents, Not Rebates, Help Consumers Get a Better Deal on Health Insurance CHILDREN from page 4

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Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Super Bowl time again for the world famous Southern University Marching Band.

The band, nicknamed the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Human Jukebox,â&#x20AC;? will perform in New Orleans during pre-game activities of Super Bowl XLVII being held Feb. 3 in the Mercedes Benz Superdome.

This will mark the fourth Super Bowl performance for the SU marching band.

It will be the fifth time, though, that a segment of SUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s football game halftime show

SUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Human Jukebox Headed To The Super Bowl - Again

has participated in the Super Bowl entertainment. Just last year, the Dancing Dolls, the 11-member female dance team that accompanies the band, performed with mega-star Madonna during halftime of the Super Bowl held in Indianapolis, Ind. The nationally acclaimed Dancing Dolls recently captured the Best Overall College Dance Line award from the HBCU Dance Corporation.

The Dolls also won in the cat-

egory of Best Technique and finished in a three-way tie in the Best In Stands category with Albany State and Alabama State universities.

Director of Bands Lawrence Jackson is excited about the Super Bowl invitation from the National Football League. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a testament and tribute to the hard work our young men and women put into their practices, performances and their efforts in the classroom,â&#x20AC;?

Jackson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am proud of

them and happy for our university.â&#x20AC;?

SUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s marching band has been featured on national television, profiled in the New York Times newspaper and named 2012â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Best HBCU Marching Band by the Center for HBCU Media Advocacy.

Jackson, a member of the SU marching band in the 1970s, said he is appreciative of the NFLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s invitation and believes â&#x20AC;&#x153;the experience will be something our students will be able

to talk about forever.â&#x20AC;?

An estimated 111.3 million people worldwide watched the 2012 Super Bowl, more than any other show in American television history. The Madonna halftime show, according to television industry officials, was viewed by an average of 114 million viewers, making it the most watched Super Bowl halftime show ever.

While the Human Jukebox has been praised for many of its halftime performances, the

University submitted a video http://vimeo.com/8243903 - of its 2009 show at the University of Louisiana Lafayette to the NFLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event presentation officials as an example of a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Human Jukeboxâ&#x20AC;? performance.

Jackson said he selected that video because â&#x20AC;&#x153;it highlighted our marching style, our execution in drill pedagogy and showmanship.â&#x20AC;? One Internet entry of the performance has been viewed more than 233,000 times.

Happy New Year

Ivory J. Payne

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