Baton Rouge Weekly Press Week of June 7-12, 2012

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BATON

THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

Louisiana Residents Encourages to Pre-Apply for Disaster Food Assistance BATON ROUGE - As hurricane season officially begins today, June 1, the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is encouraging residents to prepare by pre-applying online for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits (DSNAP), formerly called Disaster Food Stamps. “With hurricane season now upon us, it’s never too early to prepare,� said DCFS Secretary Ruth Johnson. “I urge all residents, especially those living in coastal areas, to take advantage of our online preapplication for DSNAP.� Johnson said that while a DSNAP program is not in effect, now is the perfect time to pre-apply and be prepared for any storms that may occur this season. DSNAP provides food assistance for eligible households who do not receive regular SNAP benefits and who need help buying groceries due to lost income or damages following a disaster. In the event of a disaster the state must request that the federal government initiate DSNAP, but can only make the request upon the activation of the Stafford Act. According to Johnson, the pre-application process does not guarantee benefits, but is designed to save time, prevent long waits and to make it easier for applicants to collect the required income information before a disaster strikes. “By completing the preapplication online, residents are taking a proactive step to prepare themselves and their families for a disaster,� said Johnson. “I hope all residents See FOOD, on page 3

ROUGE,

LOUISIANA

70- t /0 t FREE

A PEOPLE’S PUBLICATION

Family Talk About Fatal Crash

Judge John Michael Guidry Announces Candidacy for Louisiana Supreme Court

Picture 1: Jyren Johnson Picture 2: Diamond Johnson, Denise Gaines Picture 3: Brenda Gaines

Judge John Michael Guidry

Wants to Know Why Suspect is Free

B AT O N ROUGE, LA - The grieving continues for the loved ones of those killed by an alleged drunk Brett driver and the Gerald unimaginable pain turned into intense anger, as yet another victim passed away and the family wants to know why the suspect is allowed to be free. Despite being emotionally drained and physically worn out, the Gaines family pushed on and said goodbye to yet another relative Sunday. The family decided to take Willie Gaines, 15, off life support and donate his organs. “We went in as a family, knowing that they’re about to pull him off the ventilator, so it was pretty hard for everybody,� said John Gaines, a son, brother and uncle of the victims. “We’re a close-knit family, supporting each other, but it’s surreal still.� John Gaines said the decision to donate Willie’s organs was difficult, but the right one to make. “We knew that though life

Some emergency officials called this one of the worst crashes they’ve encountered.

was lost, that it could help life. So, that’s what it’s all about and that’s what my mother stood for and that’s what it’s all about and that’s her legacy to help other people,� he added. That is what’s giving this family strength as it prepares to bury five relatives. Family members spent the weekend finalizing funeral plans, including lining up 30 pallbearers, a daunting task in itself. The other five victims of the crash were: Brenda Gaines, 64 (Driver, Denise Gaines’ mother) Angela Mosely, 35 (Fellow church member) Denise Gaines, 33 (Mother

of Diamond, Jyren and two other teens in the vehicle) Diamond Johnson, 12 Jyren Johnson, 6 “I lost a mom, I lost a sister, I lost two nephews,� said Marcus Gaines, another son, brother and uncle of the victims. “And, this could have easily been your family or anybody else’s family that this happened to.� The cars keep pulling and the support from the community grows. Her sons say the credit for that type of outreach from others goes to Brenda Gaines. They describe her as an incredible woman of God who reached See CRASH, on page 2

EBR Inmates Spend Time With Kids BATON ROUGE - A group of female inmates at the EBR Parish Prison got a rare opportunity Tuesday. They were reunited with their children for an entire day as part of the “One Day With Kids� program. The women have spent the last few months learning skills to make them better parents and hopefully keep them from returning to jail after they’re released. “Whenever you’re in here, you’re desperate. You especially miss your family and you have See KIDS, on page 2

AKA SORORITY PARTICIPATES IN RELAY FOR LIFE

STATE & LOCAL NEWS

BUSINESS NEWS

Judge John Michael Guidry formally announces his candidacy for election to the District 5 Seat on the Louisiana Supreme Court, which is being vacated due to the impending retirement of Chief Justice Kitty Kimball. The primary election will be November 6, 2012. If needed, a runoff election will be December 1, 2012. Judge Guidry is in his fifteenth year as an Appellate Court Judge on the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal, having been first elected to the First Circuit in 1997. He is the senior appellate judge residing in Supreme Court District 5. Prior to his election to the Court of Appeal, Judge Guidry served as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives and the Louisiana State Senate. Judge Guidry is a former commissioner of the Greater Baton Rouge Port Commission and the Greater Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport Commission. Judge Guidry currently serves as an adjunct professor at both the Southern University Law Center and the Nelson Mandela School of Public Policy on the Baton Rouge Campus of Southern University. Judge Guidry is

a 1983 graduate of LSU and a 1987 Cum Laude Graduate of the Southern University Law Center. Judge Guidry was appointed by the Louisiana Supreme Court, upon the recommendation of Chief Justice Kitty Kimball, to the governing board of the Louisiana Judicial College, which educates the state’s judiciary. He serves as secretary to the college’s board of governors. His fellow appellate judges statewide chose him to represent them on the Louisiana Judicial Council for a threeyear term. Recently, upon the recommendation of Chief Justice Kitty Kimball, Judge Guidry became a member of the Domestic Violence Curriculum Advisory Committee. Judge Guidry was inducted into the Southern University Law Center Hall of Fame in 2010. Judge Guidry is a frequent speaker in our churches and schools, particularly to motivate and encourage our youth. Judge Guidry is a member of the Baton Rouge, State, National, and American Bar associations, as well as the See GUIDRY, on page 3

Remembering Emerson Bell BATON ROUGE - Members of the Eden Park and Baton Rouge community, fellow artists, friends and family will gather at the Eden Park Branch Library, 5131 Greenwell Springs Road, on Sunday, June 17, at 3 p.m., to remember the talents and art of the late Emerson Bell. Bell was a Baton Rouge artist, resident and member of the Eden Park Community. Anyone who owns works of art created by Emerson is asked to loan them to the library for display or bring them to the program to share with the community, as well as to share memories of his life or express the vitality

HEALTH NEWS

Emerson Bell

of his work. Works of Emerson Bell will be on display in the gallery area of the Eden Park Branch from June 9-23.

RELIGION NEWS Christian rap artist Juan G challenges anybody to “name any hip-hop artist who is selling platinum in — as Christians call it — the ‘secular’ arena that is also packing out church houses.�.. See Page 6

INDEX

LA IMPROVES GRADUATION RATES The Health Initiative of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Nu Gamma Omega Chapter participated in the American Cancer Society’s 2012 Relay for Life of East Baton Rouge Parish..See Page 3

Beginning this fall, every 8th-11th grade student in Louisiana will participate in the EXPLORE/Plan/ACT series. This series of state-funded ACT tests will serve as a guide for teachers and families...See Page 2

LOUISIANA’S WAIVER APPROVED

Louisiana’s plan to ensure all students are on track to attain a college degree or a professional career, Louisiana Believes, is based on the belief that all students can achieve academic success and that those closest to students ..See Page 5

COFFEE MAY LOWER PROSTATE CANCER

For a long time scientists have wondered whether coffee might lower the risk of prostate cancer. Previous studies have been relatively small and have shown mixed results.... See Page 7

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

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Baton Rouge Weekly Press Week of June 7-12, 2012 by Derek Payne - Issuu