Baton Rouge Weekly Press Week of January 19, 2012

baton

THURSDAY, January 19, 2011

rouge,

louisiana

Vol. 36 • No. 35

a people’s publication

The Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Haiti Quake Victims Stuck In A Time Warp March and Memorial Day Celebration A Haitian man sells used shoes in Port-au-Prince amidst earthquake damage

In the Port-au-Prince suburb of Petionville, some 2,500 people subsist in a crowded public park near open ditches flowing with human waste, a grim scene frozen in time two years after Haiti’s earthquake disaster.

Valerie Loiseau, 28, recalled the fateful day -- January 12, 2010 -- when she lost everything and her life changed forever.

“I got here at 6:00 pm, a few moments after the earthquake, with my children, my daughter, a few months old, in my arms, and nothing else.”

Two years after the 7.0-magnitude quake visited near-biblical destruction on Haiti, killing between 200,000 and 300,000 people, she is still in the camp with her daughter Kelida, now three, playing at her feet.

Older children, halfclothed and barefoot, chase a worn football across a filthy clearing, past puddles of puMarchers marching down Government Street heading to the Baton Rouge River Center to complete the march of 2012 MLK Annual Celebration and March.

Photo by James Terry III.

trid waste water.

Some 15 percent of Haiti’s entire population of almost 10 million were either killed or displaced by the quake. Almost 520,000 survivors still live under tarpaulin in 800 camps dotted around the crowded Caribbean capital.

Shocked in the immediate aftermath of one of the deadliest disasters of modern times, the international community promised billions of dollars of aid money to “build back better.”

Decentralization -- away from the slum-infested, sprawling capital of three million -- was the buzzword in a plan to be implemented under the watchful eye of former US president Bill Clinton.

This grandiose vision now appears to have been a pipe-dream.

Less than half the $4.59 billion pledged had been received and disbursed when the UN last published its figures in September, and the coffers of the aid agencies that run Haiti like a de facto NGO state are also drying up.

More than 50 percent of the quake rubble has now been cleared, but little has been erected in its place and the pace of reconstruction is See warp, on page 2

Friends of Magnolia Mound Plantation to Hold Annual Petite Antiques Forum, House Tour

The Friends of Magnolia Mound Plantation will hold the 12th annual Petite Antiques Forum on Wednesday, January 25, 2012. Barbara Ross Luck, Curator of Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture will hold a symposium at the Louisiana Old State Capitol in downtown Baton Rouge entitled American Folk Paintings presented for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Registration begins at

9:30 at the Old State Capitol followed by lunch and tour of the Jaques Dupre House in Point Coupee Parish.

Ms. Luck received a B.A. in Art from Collins College in Virginia and an M.A. from Virginia Commonwealth University in Art History in Richmond, Virginia. She began her association with Colonial Williamsburg in 1970 See tour, on page 3

Protesters Against Wall Street Greed at the Mount Zion First Baptist Church at 356 East Boulevard. Photo by James Terry III.

BATON ROUGE -- The NAACP host its annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2012 Commemoration Program on Monday, January 16 at 8:00

a.m. at Mount Zion First Baptist Church, 356 East Boulevard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The theme for this year’s event is “We’ve Come This Far by

Yahoo Co-founder Jerry Yang Resigns

Faith.”

The speaker for the program was Bishop Raymond Johnson, founder and pastor of Living Faith Christian Center.

local & state news

The program also included representatives from Baton Rouge’s varied faith commuSee march, on page 3

Business NEWS

Jaques Dupre House in Point Coupee Parish.

Health news

Religion

Happy New Year! It may be the epitome of redundancy but I have given this greeting for 60 years and I mean it as sincerely this year as I have all the years preceding....See Page 6

INDEX

Obama Coming to Southern U. Yahoo Inc co-founder Jerry Yang has quit the company he started in 1995, appeasing shareholders who had blasted the Internet pioneer for pursuing an ineffective personal vision and impeding investment deals that could have transformed the struggling company....See Page 5

“The First Term of the First Black President: Is President Barack Obama Good for America and Black People” Speaker: The Son of Man, Leader and Teacher of the New Nation of Islam. Thursday, February 9th, 2012 at 6:PM ...See Page 3

Mortgage Applications

Applications for home mortgages surged more than 20 percent last week, fueled by a wave of refinancing demand as interest rates dropped, an industry group said on Wednesday....

See Page 5

Flu Season Off to Slow Start

Could this be the flu season that wasn’t? After the H1N1-linked drama of prior years, the low number of cases of influenza currently circulating in the United States is reassuring, experts said...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 or a good used car? Check out the classifeds .

THEWEEKLYPRESS.COM Celebrating 36 Years Of Service To The Baton Rouge Community 225.775.2002

Page 2 • The

Weekly Press • Thursday, January 19, 2012

Local&State

The Weekly Press Newspaper is a published weekly in Baton Rouge and distributed every Thursday with a circulation of 7,500.

Subscription rates are $65.00 per year for Louisiana residents; $72.00 for one year for out-of-state residents; half price for six months subscription: and $1.00 per single copy.

All money orders or checks should be made payable to The Weekly Press, P.O. Box 74485, Baton Rouge, La. 70874

1283 Rosenwald Road Baton Rouge, La. 70807-41 Phone: (225) 775-2002 Fax: (225) 775-4216 E-Mail theweeklypress@yahoo.com thewpres@bellsouth.net Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Closed Saturday, Sunday and all Major Holidays

READER INFORMATION

How to Reach Us General Information . . 225-775-2002 Fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225-775-4216 Email Address . . . . . . theweeklypress@yahoo.com . . . . . . . . . . thewpres@bellsouth.net The office is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday - Friday and located at 1283 Rosenwald Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Correction Policy The Baton Rouge Weekly Press strives to be fair and accurate. The newspaper corrects any significant errors of fact brought to the attention of the editor.

If you think an error has been made, call 225-775-2002

Girl Scouts to Kicks-off 100th Anniversary with Champagne, S’mores & All That Jazz

BATON ROUGE — In honor of the 100th Anniversary of the Girl Scout Movement in the United States, Girl Scouts Louisiana East is beginning a yearlong celebration with Champagne, S’mores & All That Jazz fundraising cocktail party on Saturday, January 14, from 8 to 11 p.m. in the Heidelberg Ballroom of the Hilton Baton Rouge Capital Center. The local council invites its friends and supporters in a toast at this historic event! Sponsors for the event include Clear Channel Radio Baton Rouge, Georgia-Pacific, Capital One Bank, and DeCuir, Clark & Adams, LLP. “The 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouts is a once in a lifetime event, so we’ll be kicking-off the new century of Girl Scouting with a Champagne celebration,” said Jackie Alexander, Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts Louisiana East. “Proceeds from this fundraiser will support Girl Scouts’ local programming, including our Extravaganza for girls being planned March 17 in Gonzales.”

According to Alexander, The Andy Pizzo Project, a raffle

for door prizes, delicious hors d’oeuvres with complimentary champagne, and a S’mores-inspired dessert will fill the night with live musical entertainment.

Tickets to the cocktail party are available online at www.gsle. org, or by contacting event coordinator Cathy Pottschmidt at cpottschmidt@gsle.org, 225-9278946 or 800-644-7571.

Additional 100th Anniversary sponsors are needed for this January 14 event, the council’s 100th anniversary luncheon in Baton Rouge on March 15, and a Rhapsody in Green gala set for June 23 at the Hilton Riverside New Orleans.

Come And Study the BiBle With uS!

InterdenomInatIonal theologIcal center (Itc) School of mInIStry Baton Rouge, Louisiana Extension Fully Accredited by SACS and AATS

Visit Us Online @

www.theweeklypress.com

Classes once weekly at: CLASSESWesley mEETS onCE wEEkLy United Methodist Church For more information contact 544 Government Street

Dr. Alonzo Campbell Baton Rouge, La. 70802 Dr. Joe(225) Connelly, Senior Pastor 938-5746 Dr. Alonzo Campbell, Director/Instructor alonzojcampbell@yahoo.com (225) 938-5746

ZUMBA T.D. Bickham Park, 6850 Pettit Road Monday and Wednesday 6-7 p.m.

Ages 16 and older $24 per month Zumba classes fuse hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow aerobic moves to create a one-of-a-kind fitness program that is calorie-burning and body energizing.

For more information, call 225-774-9513 or visit brec.org/zumba.

All proceeds from the events will go to support ongoing programs for Girl Scouts throughout southeast Louisiana.

Girl Scout’s mission is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.

Girl Scouts Louisiana East serves girls in Kindergarten through 12th grade in the parishes of Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana.

Please contact the Regional Service Center at 225-927-8946 or 1- 800-852-8421 and by faxing to this number 225-927-8402.

Warp

from page 1

still painfully slow.

Most of the tens of thousands of people who fled Port-au-Prince after the quake have since returned to the overcrowded capital, desperate for work and food in a country still lacking another effective pole to attract labor.

[Related: Most Haiti text donors have given more since quake] Michel Martelly, a former carnival entertainer and pop singer, was sworn in as the new president in May, riding a populist wave and promising to bring the change that the country so badly needs.

But faced with a parliament dominated by his political opponents, it took him five months to even get a prime minister appointed.

Martelly has recently tried to nurture smaller, communitybased projects such as a flagship housing program -- 6/16 -- aimed at taking residents out of six camps and relocating them to 16 neighborhoods.

Alongside it, he has created the Carmen project, whereby approved home-owners receive funds to repair their houses under the supervision of certified engineers.

Josef Leitmann, program manager of the World Bank-run Haiti Reconstruction Fund, sees glimmers of progress at last.

“You have a vision of where the government wants to go, and that’s just critical,” he told AFP. “Second you’ve got leadership to take that vision and communicate it to people and inspire people and third you have political will to implement the vision.”

The problems facing Haiti are vast, if not insurmountable, in the short term.

Hundreds of thousands who lost homes in the quake are still in a legal quagmire as there was no paperwork to prove their small holdings.

A cholera epidemic, blamed on UN peacekeepers from Nepal, shows no sign of abating. A year ago, 3,400 people had died and some 171,300 been infected. By the start of 2012, some 7,000 had died, and over 520,000 been infected.

“What we are looking at in Haiti today is not just recovery from the earthquake. It’s not just dealing with a cholera epidemic,” Nigel Fisher, the UN’s chief humanitarian officer in Haiti, told AFP. “Those came on top of a country which was structurally broken.”

Experts say the key to Haiti’s long-term sustainability lies in rebuilding its agricultural sector.

But the one-time exporter now has to import rice for 80 percent of its population and soil fertility is so poor that most crops can no longer be supported.

The World Bank in December approved $50 million for new agricultural projects, investing in key Haitian products such as mangoes, coffee and cocoa that are garnering increased overseas attention.

Loiseau, like most of the quake refugees, needs a miracle.

“My hope is God, not the leaders of this country,” she told AFP, staring at the passing cars with traumatized indifference.

marge's

Chit Chat

Thought for the Week: If you want to say I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice, for truth and for peace. MLK HAPPY BIRTHDAY DR. KING Many thanks to the many service projects that were performed in our community for the celebration of MLK day. Now just in case you want to do something next time here are some ideas for you’re planning.

MARGE LAWRENCE

Project Ideas The MLK Day of Service is a way to transform Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and teachings into community service that helps solve social problems. That service may meet a tangible need, such as fixing up a school or senior center, or it may meet a need of the spirit, such as building a sense of community or mutual responsibility. Here are some project ideas to fit various ambitions and community resources. And in each category, there is always room for your own ideas.

Recruit and Train Volunteers to Be: • Mentors • Tutors • Tax preparation assistants • Host discussions aboutDr. King’s life and teachings • Dr. King’s principles of non-violence • Community challenges and ways to address them • Provide Job Readiness Training in: • Resume writing • Interview skills • Dressing for success • Provide Food Assistance: • Serve meals at a homeless shelter • Bring meals to homebound neighbors • Organize a food donation drive • Improve Children’s Quality of Life: • Build a playground • Run a day camp for children with working parents • Devise craft projects for children in hospitals • Provide Assistance to Families and Neighbors: • Help low-income families find free tax preparation services and take advantage of the earned income tax credit • Shovel elderly neighbors’ walkways, clear leaves or help with other yard maintenance • Participate in or create a neighborhood watch program • Improve Health Outcomes: • Arrange a health fair • Organize a blood donor drive • Register bone marrow and organ donors • Beautify the Community: • Remove graffiti from a building and paint a mural • Create community green spaces by planting trees, grass, and flowers • Reclaim a park or abandoned space for community use • Prepare the Community for Emergency and Crisis Situations: • Distribute fire safety information and check for working smoke detectors • Make and distribute disaster preparedness kits • Host workshops on how to prevent foreclosure in communities disproportionately affected • Keep the Community Connected: • Create on-line and off-line community discussion forums.

Get residents signed up for the on-line discussion and inSee marge, on page 3

Councilwoman Edwards and LaBAEO Presents “The Experiment” a Documentary BATON ROUGE - Councilwoman Ronnie Edwards and LaBAEO presents the hope-inspiring documentary “The Experiment” following five school children from PostKatrina New Orleans educational landscape.

The documentary presentation will be followed by a panel discussion involving parents with children from different types of schools. The documentary will be shown in the Southern University Global Conference Center located in T. T. Allain Hall on January 26,

2012 at 6:00 p.m.

Please contact Eric Lewis with the Louisiana State Director of the LaBAEO at 504232-5034 or by e-mail to this address elewis@baeo.org for more information.

This event is part of the National School Choice Week celebration where advocates and organizations, grassroots networks, parents and students are preparing to handle this week of focused attention on school and parental in their own regions in their own way.

20 New Police Officers Hit the Streets Of Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - Twenty new police officers will soon hit the streets of Baton Rouge. The 77th Basic Training Academy for Baton Rouge Police graduated Monday morning with a ceremony at Independence Park.

Each officer was officially handed badges at the end of the ceremony. For 21 weeks, these officers have sweated it out, literally, intense physical training along with classroom and pistol range training, has gotten them just what they wanted; a badge pinned to their chests.

More than 350 people applied, only 20 graduated. Baton Rouge Police Chief Dewayne White says their recruits represent some of the best of the best.

“We have 350 to 400 applicants that we vetted, took the best of those applicants and this is what we have here today,” said Chief White.

Crislor won three individual awards, but he is not taking any of the credit for them. “I can’t take all the credit, it’s everybody just working together any time we faced a problem just put our heads together and come up with a solution,” said Crislor.

He says the 21 weeks of training were beyond his expectations. He never thought he was going to finish. “I can’t describe it. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. Looking back on day one I didn’t see this day; if you even thought of this day it’s unheard of. It’s been a long road to be here this and because it’s this uniform is a wonderful feeling.”

Now the newly minted police officers have six more months of training, but this time on the streets. This training began when they walked out of Monday’s ceremony.

Thursday, January 19, 2012 • The Weekly Press • Page 3

Jury Finds Former SU AD Not Guilty of Prostitution HOUSTON, TX — A jury found former Southern University athletic director Greg LaFleur not guilty on a charge of prostitution.

The jury of six reached its decision Tuesday night, said a spokeswoman for the Harris County District Attorney’s office in Houston.

LaFleur was arrested in April 2011. According to the police report, LaFleur, 52, was arrested on Main Street in Houston for alleged solicitation of a prostitute. LaFleur denied the allegation.

LaFleur, who was fired from Southern University after his arrest, filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against Southern.

“This should have never happened,” LaFleur said Wednesday.

“The chick solicited me. I have lived with this for a year. I’m more

pissed off than happy.”

Southern spokesman Ed Pratt released the following statement: “We congratulate Mr. LaFleur and wish him well.”

At the time of LaFleur ’s arrest, the prosecutor’s office in Harris County characterized the case as “straight sex for pay.”

According to the police report, LaFleur was accused of picking up an undercover police officer posing as a prostitute.

The former LSU and NFL football player was booked on a misdemeanor charge by the Houston Police Department.

LaFleur was in Houston for the 2011 Final Four matchup.

He had been athletic director at Southern for almost six years, taking over for Floyd Kerr in 2005.

BREC Athletics to Hold Adult Flag Football Meeting

BREC’s Athletics Department will hold its organizational meeting for the 2012 spring adult flag football program Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 6:30 p.m. at BREC’s Womack Ballroom, 6201 Florida Blvd.

The fees for adult flag football teams are as follows: $300 per women’s team and $395 per men’s flag team (for the Sunday league). BREC will offer a men’s league on Tuesday nights as well for $450 fee.

Games begin March 11 for the Sunday league and March 13

for the Tuesday league. Space is limited on Sunday leagues to the first 32 paid entries, and space is limited on the weeknight leagues to the first eight paid entries. Any team interested in participating in the league this season should have a representative present at this meeting.

For more information, contact Marc Palmer at 225-273-6401 or email mpalmer@brec.org.

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

CASA Elects New Officers

President Barack Obama Coming to Southern University “The First Term of the First Black President: Is President Barack Obama Good for America and Black People” Speaker: The Son of Man, Leader and Teacher of the New Nation of Islam.

Thursday, February 9th, 2012 at 6:PM in the Nursing School Auditorium on the Campus of Southern University.

For more information please call 225-229-8747.

CASA’s newly elected officers are, from left, Michelle St. Martin, Karleen J. Green, Mary H. Thompson and Michelle Weld Lacombe

Group Asking Community to Support Tuskegee Airmen Movie

BATON ROUGE, LA - The Louisiana Department of Revenue offers a free seminar to help business operators understand sales tax and other important business issues. The next session is at 10 AM, Friday, January 27 at LDR’s Baton Rouge office, 617 North 3rd Street. For details or to register, call (225) 219 5511.

A Reception Celebrating Of Black History Month Featuring Four Artistic Visions

BREC’s Rollins Road Park Grand Opening EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH – The Recreation and Park Commission of East Baton Rouge Parish held the Rollins Road Park grand opening ceremony on Wednesday, Jan. 11, at 5794 Rollins Road in Zachary.

This 10.5-acre park features a new covered basketball court converted from an existing tennis court, new concrete walkways, parking improvements and a refurbished baseball backstop and bleachers. Existing site amenities include a playground, and

Marge

OPELOUSAS, LA - Ronald Kennedy, Darlene A. Moore, Randell Henry, and Ella Guilllory will be showing their art on Thursday, February 2, 2012 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Opelousas Museum & Interpretive Center located at 315 North Main Street.

These exhibitions is opened to the public and for additional information, please call 337-9482589 or 337-948-2064.

a lighted baseball field.

Franklin L. Lassiter, AIA designed the master plan. BREC’s planning and engineering team oversaw site improvements.

JReed Constructors, Inc. served as the general contractor.

The “Imagine Your Parks” tax passed by East Baton Rouge Parish voters in 2004 made Park improvements possible.

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

EBR Superintendent Interviews Scheduled

from page 2

formed about the time and location of the off-line version.

• Teach neighbors how to surf the Internet and use email • Make a public space accessible for the disabled neighbors • Develop your own ideas by considering your community’s particular need In loving memory of Mrs. Elizabeth Perry and Mrs. Mabel Stling. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the late Elnora Miller Myles who was laid to rest earlier this week.

Best wishes to the basketball teams of Southern University and LSU. Go Jaguars, go Tigers.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Jacqueline Esco, Catherine Dixon Reedom, and Linda Womack.

Love, Marge

Tour

from page 1

when she was Registrar at the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum. Ms. Luck was at the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum for 26 years completing her employment there as the Curator. Since 1998, Ms. Luck has served as the Curator of Painting, Drawing and Sculpture at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. She has been involved with numerous exhibitions in her field and has been published in a wide variety of books, journals and magazines.

The symposium will in-

March

cluded discussion of portraits, genre scenes, landscapes, theorems, mourning pictures, fraktur and more and will touch on the tremendous range of subjects created in oils and watercolors by untrained or minimally trained artists. Selected examples will be explored in depth. Ms. Luck states; “Roots of the appreciation of these paintings pertain to aesthetics and their formal analogies, however, their value as historical documents have never been ignored and See tour, on page 5

from page 1

nity, civic and community entities and governmental leaders. Mayor/President Melvin “Kip” Holden was invited to participate along with EBRP Sheriff Sid Gautreaux, EBRP School Superintendant John Dilworth, Baton Rouge Chief of Police Dwayne White and City Council Members. The program culminated with the 17th Annual March for Peace from Mount Zion to the Baton Rouge River Center.

The public was invited to attend the program and march also was urged to continue

their day of service in honor of Dr. King by participating in one of many community service projects being implemented this day.

The program will culminate with a march for peace from the church to the Baton Rouge River Center and was followed by voter registration drive.

For more information, please contact Kwame Asante, Baton Rouge NAACP President, at 225-205-0572, or Mike McClanahan at 225287-4673.

The Louisiana Department Of Revenue Offers A Free Seminar

BATON ROUGE —The Baton Rouge Chapter of Jack and Jill of America is inviting everyone to come out and support “Red Tails”, the movie about the Tuskegee Airmen-- America’s first African American aerial combat unit.

The movie is being released Friday. The group will meet at the Rave Theater at the Mall of Louisiana for the 7 p.m. movie. “”We want our families and everybody to pack the theaters so we can show support for this historic movie,” says Deadra Hughes, president of the Jack and Jill local chapter.

The Tuskegee Airmen were trained in Alabama at Tuskegee Institute, now Tuskegee University, during World War II as a segregated unit. After being admitted to the Army Air Corps, they were prohibited from fighting alongside white counterparts and faced severe prejudice but went on to become one of World War II’s most respected fighter squadrons. They set themselves apart from other military aviators by painting the tails of their planes red. The

airmen were honored with the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007.

Those attending should arrive at the theater early.

Tickets will be sold on a first-

come first serve basis.

Members of the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church and Delta Sigma Theta Alumni chapter are also participating.

The East Baton Rouge Parish School System has selected six semifinalists to proceed in the interview process to replace outgoing Superintendent John Dilworth. Three of the six semifinalist candidates are scheduled to be interviewed on Wednesday, Jan. 18. The remaining three will be interviewed on Monday, Jan. 23. The School Board has scheduled workshops beginning at 3 p.m. for each interview session.

The workshops will take place at the Instructional Resource Center located at 1022 S. Foster Drive.

It is expected each candidate’s interview will last approximately two hours. Board members will be given approximately one hour for questions. Following the Board interview, members of the public are invited to ask questions of the candidates as well.

All candidates will be present in Baton Rouge for the interview process.

INJURED IN A CAR WRECK? If this happens to you call Attorney McManus Call the McManus law office and get all you deserve

Charles C. McManus A T T O R N E Y

A T

L A W

8520 Scotland Ave, Suite C • Baton Rouge, La. 225-774-5771

charlesmcmanus@ mcmanuslawoffice.brcoxmail.com www.charlesmcmanus.com

Commentary Thursday, January 19, 2012 • The Weekly Press • Page 4

The State of Union

Dismayed with Library Board

thermore the man was hired under a I was truly lamrubber stamp conbasted when I read dition and without a about the salary that background check. the former director of I agree with the the library system in writer that addressed East Baton Rouge Parthe matter in our ish earned while worklocal daily paper ing here. It is without dated December 22, a doubt that Aaron 2011. The man was William Brian Felder received hired as if he was just Jones the amount of money walking down the that he was getting for street, heard about operating our library system. the opening, passed by the I do not care what other sys- building, walked in and was tems as such are paying their given the job. However, with director. East Baton Rouge Par- my knowledge of Louisiana, it ish School system simply does seem to have been “just one of not have that kind of money to those good ole boy deals.” pay for a job as such according I remind you this is just to my understanding about the another case that has taken money condition from the edu- place. It happen all the time cational point of view. Here on the state, parish, and local we are the lowest on the pole levels where in Louisiana. We on everything just above the have people retiring from one state of Mississippi in ranking job, only to go on to another of national school system. high paying job. What do the Some of that money could recent college grads have to look be used to pay for ways to coun- forward to? teract our dropout rate. Fur That Is The Way I See It.

By William Jones

To Be Equal

Dr. King’s Voting Rights Legacy Under Attack

By Marc Morial NNPA Columnist “No nation can long continue to flourish or to find its way to a better society while it allows any one of its citizens…to be denied the right to participate in the most fundamental of all privileges of democracy – the right to vote.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On Monday, January 16th, America will celebrate what would have been the 83rd birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The day will be marked from coast-to-coast with parades, speeches, and pilgrimages to the new King Memorial on the National Mall. But in the midst of this outpouring of praise, there is a sinister movement afoot to undo one of Dr. King’s hardest fought victories – the removal of discriminatory barriers to voting and the passage of the Voting Rights Act signed into law

by President Lyndon Johnson in 1965.

In Dr. King’s day, billy clubs, cattle prods and guns kept African Americans away from the polls. Today, new voter restriction laws on the books or in the works in at least 34 states could deny the right to vote to more than 5 million Americans this year.

These laws include new photo ID requirements, elimination of early voting, bans on voting by out-of-state college students, and rollbacks of voting rights for ex-felons who have paid their debts to society. Florida has even eliminated voting on the Sunday before Election Day which has traditionally been a day when African American churches organized “souls to the polls” drives for their congregations.

The mostly conservative proponents of these new laws See attack, on page 7

What is the State of the Dream?

By Dr. Julianne Malveaux NNPA Columnist I always feel inspired and elated, but also challenged and chagrined, at some of the celebrations of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. There are those, too many folks, who want to sanitize Dr. King and turn him into a dreamer. Too many only quote the part of his “I have a dream” speech that talks about character content and skin color. Too few remember that in the same speech he said, “We have come to the nation’s capital to cash a check, and the check has been marked insufficient funds.” Dr. King was an economic populist, an anti-war activist, as well as a classically trained theologian.

Too many put emphasis on the latter, without acknowledging the former.

That’s why each year, I am excited to receive the State of the Dream report from United for a Fair Economy. This organization does great work in talking about the wealth gap, and their annual foray into exploring the dream has looked at joblessness, homelessness, and austerity. Last year their report shared facts on the relative pay that people of color earn in the public and the private sector and concluded that austerity programs that cut government jobs disproportionately affect people of color.

This year’s report focuses on the Emerging Majority, and concludes that unless policy shifts are made, the wealth gap will grow even wider than it is today. Ad-

ditionally, they project that by 2042, just 30 years from now when people of color are a majority in our society, nearly 5 percent of the African American population and 2 percent of the Latino population will be in prison if current incarceration trends continue. The report’s set of policy recommendation’s includes a recommendation to end the war on drugs. Indeed, more than half of those currently incarcerated are casualties of the drug war, some with very minor offenses, and others with conditions that warrant drug treatment, not incarceration.

“Economic inequality between whites and people of color will persist unless bold and intentional steps aer taken to make meaningful progress towards racial equity, to sever the connection between race and poverty, and ultimately to eliminate the racial economic divide altogether,” the report says in its Executive Summary. But such bold words are belied by the growing gap, increasing poverty, the unemployment rate differential, and continuing barriers to educational access in communities of color and among those who are low income. While our international competitors are investing in education, we are simply divesting. It is almost as if we have made a decision to devolve into a developing country.

What would Dr. King say about all this? I think he’d be outside with the folks from Occupy Wall Street, and I think he’d be directing them to a 21st century See dream, on page 7

A Diverse U.S. Population Will Not Guarantee Parity

By George E. Curry NNPA Columnist The United States’ population is growing increasingly diverse, but the sharp demographic shift is unlikely to close the huge economic gap between Whites and people of color, according to an annual report issued by United For a Fair Economy, a nonpartisan think tank that studies wealth and power in the U.S. Each year the Boston-based organization issues its “State of the Dream” report near Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.

Citing Census Bureau figures, the report notes that Whites constituted 80 percent of the U.S. population in 1980. By 2010, that figure had slipped to 65 percent.

And by 2042, Whites will become a minority for the first time since the Colonial days.

“If the trends in racial economic inequality continue at the rate that they have since 1980, the changing demographics of the country will produce a vast racialized underclass that will persist even after the majority of the country is non-White,” the report concluded.

Examples of racial and ethnic inequality in the U.S. include: * In 2010, the median family income of Black and Latino families was 57 cents to every dollar of White median family

income. By 2042, the median Black family will earn approximately 61 cents for every dollar of income earned by Whites.

Latino families are projected to earn only 45 cents in 2042 on every dollar of White median family income.

• The wealth gap is particularly disturbing. In 2007, at the height of the housing bubble, the average White family net worth was five times greater than the average Black net worth and more than 3.5 times the average Latino net worth. If current trends continue, the report states, Black families will by 2042 accumulate 19 cents for each dollar of White net worth. Latinos will have 25 cents per dollar. That means the wealth gap between Whites and people of color in 2042 will be even larger than it is today.

• Education is the most important tool we have to expand social mobility Thanks to civil rights gains, affirmative action and other progress, Black adults are 60 percent as likely to have a college degree as White adults; Latinos are only 42 percent as likely. If current trends continue, by 2042, African-Americans will continue to make progress in closing the education gap. However, the gap will be even larger for Latinos.

• People of color represent more than 65 percent of the prison population, largely because of harsh drug laws and

selective prosecutions that are part of the war on drugs. Blacks are six times more likely to be in prison than Whites. Roughly 65 percent of Black men born since the mid-1970s have prison records. The report observes, “If current trends continue to 2042, the percentage of people of color who have experienced jail time will dwarf even that number.”

To reduce what it calls the “perverse concentration of wealth and power in the U.S.,” the report declares, “We need nothing less than a diverse, powerful social movement dedicated to advancing meaningful policy solutions on many fronts to reduce the racial divide.”

It will take a powerful movement to counter to corrupting influence that money has on politics.

“To gain political power necessary to make significant progress toward racial economic equality, the influence of money in politics must be reduced and voting rights for all Americans must be restored and protected,” the reports observes. “Eliminating racial inequality will require a powerful and sustained political movement, aligned not just along the lines of race, but also by economic interests.”

Authors of the report noted that the Occupy Wall Street movement and similar efforts around the country are steps in the right direction toward building a broad coalition.

In the aftermath of King Day celebrations, it is important to remember that Dr. King was organizing a Poor People’s Campaign at the time of his assassination. Encouraged by the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1968, he was creating a movement to address economic injustice.

In his last speech on the eve of his assassination, referred to as the “Mountain Top” speech, Dr. King talked about the need to support Black business. He said, “We begin the process of building a greater economic base.”

Picking up where King left off, the report stated, “It is a moral and economic imperative that we address the racial economic divide now. If we are to chart a path to a more promising future, one in which the racial economic divide is significantly narrowed and prosperity is more broadly shared, then we must take immediate action to ensure that the coming majority is not further burdened by the legacy of racism and White supremacy in the United States.”

George E. Curry, former editor-in-chief of Emerge magazine and the NNPA News Service, is a keynote speaker, moderator, and media coach. He can be reached through his Web site, www.georgecurry.com.

You can also follow him at www. twitter.com/currygeorge.

One Hundred Years Later and it Still Doesn’t Work

By Harry C. Alford NNPA Columnist There has been such an enormous amount of attention given to the production of Bio-Diesel, Ethanol and other forms of alternative energy. You can drive out in the Midwest or Texas and see windmills twirling all over the scenery. How much of a difference has this made to our carbon “foot print”?

The answer is disappointing.

There hasn’t been much of a dent made. In fact, there may have been more harm than good.

Windmills are not rocket science. People have been using windmills for water power since the 16th century. Energy tycoon T. Boone Pickens invested many millions of dollars and reached a firm conclusion: It is not the answer. He has decided not to build another single windmill.

Besides that, virtually all of the parts that go into a windmill are made in China. There is no significant impact on American jobs or energy output.

The most interesting alternative is Ethanol or bio fuel. This too is an old technology. The history of it goes back to George

Washington Carver, the great scientist of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. Dr. Carver did an overwhelming amount of development with peanuts. Much of this was due to a contractual arrangement he had with automobile magnate Henry Ford. The auto industry was booming and the demand for oil was growing at an exponential rate. Ford wanted Dr. Carver to come up with a bio fuel to replace the need for oil. The Rockefeller Family and others had the lock on oil and he didn’t want to become overly dependent on them. After years of experimentation on the Tuskegee campus, Dr. Carver and Henry Ford came to this conclusion: It is not feasible to develop bio fuel.

That was over one hundred years ago. The fact still applies yet, environmentalists and politicians have pushed hard to further the development of bio-fuel. It works but not on an economical basis. The less bio fuel you have the more gasoline you will need. However, there is plenty of oil in the world and we just have to develop a cleaner way of using it. That is the better alternative. Food should be

eaten as hunger still prevails in many parts of the world.

The rapid expansion of the bio fuel industry has put a big strain on the supply of food crops such as corn, sugar, palm oil and wheat. Not only are these crops directly consumed by humans they are also key ingredients in feed for livestock such as cattle, sheep, chickens, turkeys, etc. In addition to livestock, nearly thirty percent of edible items found in a supermarket have such ingredients in them. Thus, the increased demand for bio fuels has significantly increased the price of groceries which has a terrible affect on the consumer price index and inflation. We all feel this every time we buy food.

Lobbyists and fiscally liberal politicians have been pushing for subsidies as incentives to those manufacturing these bio fuels. Fortunately, the annual subsidies that were given to producers of the bio fuels have ended. This thirty year ridiculous program has now ended and hopefully our grocery prices will start to decrease. Supplies of bio fuel start to decrease. The largest foreign producer of it,

Brazil, has started cutting back on its sugar cane to ethanol program as the margins in the production do not justify much of a future. Another, ethanol giant, China, has also started to decrease its activity for the same reason. Gasoline prices alone should drop about 95 cents per gallon as a result of this stupid program’s demise.

Actually, the future of energy stewardship will rely on the great engineering capacity found in energy giants such as Chevron, Shell, Exxon and others. They have the engineers and have invested many millions of dollars in finding ways to produce energy in a cleaner, safer and more economical fashion. It won’t be environmental groups, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Sierra Club, Greenpeace or any other entity that will provide breakthroughs in the economic efficiency and cleanliness in the energy industry. It will be our corporate giants who will lead the way.

This experiment with ethanol has been nothing but a “flash See work on page 7

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

Thursday, January 19, 2012 • The Weekly Press • Page 5

Mortgage Applications Surge on Refinancing Demand: MBA

A foreclosed home is seen for sale in Santa Ana, California, May 24, 2011.

NEW YORK - Applications for home mortgages surged more than 20 percent last week, fueled by a wave of refinancing demand as interest rates dropped, an industry group said on Wednesday.

The Mortgage Bankers Association said its seasonally adjusted index of mortgage application activity, which includes both refinancing and home purchase demand, jumped 23.1 percent in the week ended January 13.

The MBA’s seasonally adjusted index of refinancing applications climbed 26.4 percent, while the gauge of loan requests for home purchases rose 10.3 percent.

“With mortgage rates

reaching new lows, refinance volume jumped,” Michael Fratantoni, MBA’s vice president of research and economics, said in a statement. “Purchase activity also increased as buyers returned to the market after the holiday season.”

The refinance share of total mortgage activity rose to 82.2 percent of applications from 80.8 percent the previous week, making it the highest refinance share since October 2010.

Fixed 30-year mortgage rates averaged 4.06 percent, down 5 basis points from 4.11 percent.

The survey covers over 75 percent of U.S. retail residential

SU to Hold “Small Business Education Series Kickoff”

BATON ROUGE – Southern University’s Louisiana Small Business Development Center will hold a ‘Small Business Education Series Kickoff’ at 8 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 28 in the Global Conference Center, Rm. 313 of T.T. Allain Hall.

The workshop is free and open to the public, but advanced registration is required due to limited seating.

Representatives from SU’s College of Business, Louisiana Small Business Development Center (LSBDC) at Southern, Small Business Administration, City of Baton Rouge, Louisiana Department of Insurance, Black Chamber and Louisiana Economic Development will be in attendance.

Topics to be discussed during the workshop will include writing a business plan, sources of funds for start-up and expansion, small business resources, and required licenses.

This workshop is highly

recommended for all individuals interested in determining the feasibility of business ideas, planning to start or have recently started a small business, seeking a small business loan, or wanting to learn more about business planning.

To register, call the SU’s LSBDC at, 225.922.0998 or visit the LSBDC website at www. lsbdc.org.

The Louisiana Small Business Development Center at Southern University-Baton Rouge is a partnership program funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Louisiana Economic Development and Southern University-Baton Rouge.

Please contact Edward Pratt, Southern University Director of Media Relations, or LaKeeshia D. Giddens at (225) 771-4545 or (225) 771-2160 and by e-mailing to edward_pratt@ subr.edu or lakeeshia_giddens@ subr.edu.

Ellerson Transportation Friends and Family Visitation • Angola • Dixon Correctional • Hunts Correctional Pick-up Location: Piggly Wiggly at 5963 Plank

Road next to the Dollar General Store Pick-up Time: 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.

Rates: Adults - $30.00 Children: under 12 - $15.00

CALL: 225-615-2500 for more information

business Yahoo Co-founder Jerry Yang Resigns SAN FRANCISCO —Yahoo Inc co-founder Jerry Yang has quit the company he started in 1995, appeasing shareholders who had blasted the Internet pioneer for pursuing an ineffective personal vision and impeding investment deals that could have transformed the struggling company.

Yang’s abrupt departure comes two weeks after Yahoo appointed Scott Thompson its new CEO, with a mandate to return the once-leading Internet portal to the heights it enjoyed in the 1990s.

Wall Street views the exit of “Chief Yahoo” Yang as smoothing the way for a major infusion of cash from private equity, or a deal to sell off much of its 40 percent slice of China’s Alibaba, unlocking value for shareholders.

Shares of Yahoo gained 3 percent in after-hours trade.

“Everyone is going to assume this means a deal is more likely with the Asia counterparts,” Macquarie analyst Ben Schacter said.

“The perception among shareholders was Jerry was more focused on trying to rebuild Yahoo than necessarily on maximizing near-term shareholder value.

“It certainly seems things are coming to a head as far as realizing the value of these assets.”

Yang, who is severing all formal ties with the company by resigning all positions including his seat on the board of directors, has come under fire for his handling of company affairs dating back to an aborted sale to Microsoft in 2008.

Yang’s exit comes roughly a month before dissident shareholders can nominate rival directors to Yahoo’s board.

The remaining nine members of Yahoo’s board, which includes Hewlett-Packard executive Vyomesh Joshi and private investor Gary Wilson, are all up for reelection this year.

Yang’s departure could be part of a broader board shakeup, said Ryan Jacob, chairman and chief investment officer of Jacob Funds, which owns Yahoo shares.

“If they don’t move quickly on these things, they run the risk of a proxy battle and they are doing everything they can to avoid that.”

The company did not say where Yang was headed or why

Tour

Yahoo Inc co-founder Jerry Yang.

he had suddenly resigned. CEO Thompson offered few clues in a memo to employees obtained by Reuters following the announcement.

“I am grateful for the support and warm welcome Jerry provided me in my early days here. His insights and perspective were invaluable, helping me to dig deeper, more quickly than I could have on my own, into some of the key elements of the company and how it operates.

Yang and co-founder David Filo, both of whom carried the official title “Chief Yahoo,” own sizable stakes in the company.

Yang owns 3.69 percent of Yahoo’s outstanding shares, while Filo owns 6 percent as of April and May 2011.

CHIEF YAHOO NO LONGER In a letter to Yahoo’s chairman of the board, Yang said he was leaving to pursue “other interests outside of Yahoo” and was “enthusiastic” about Thompson as the choice to helm the company.

Yang, 43, is also resigning from the boards of Yahoo Japan and Alibaba Group Holdings.

Respected in the industry as one of the founding figures of the Web, Yang has come under fire over the years from investors and to some extent within the company’s internal ranks.

from page 3

in some ways can reveal more about life in the past than their academic counterparts.”

In addition to offering a distinguished expert lecture on Folk Art at the symposium, the Friends of Magnolia Mound Petite Antiques Forum traditionally provides a tour of a notable house and its collections and antique furnishings. This year’s event offers attendees the opportunity to tour the Jaques Dupre House, home of Sis Hollensworth. The house stood for generations near Opelousas until it was purchased by Ms. Hollensworth and moved to its present location in a former soybean field near Jarreau in Point Coupee Parish. She restored and furnished the house with passion. The house is furnished with many Louisiana-made pieces, including items from her birthplace in Arkansas. Some of her furnish-

ings are featured in the recently published book, Furnishing Louisiana, Creole and Acadian Furniture, 1735-1835. The house is also featured on the cover of the Creole Houses, Traditional Homes of Old Louisiana.

Karen Zobrist, Winnie Byrd and Patricia Comeaux are chairing the event. The cost per person is $75 for the day which includes the lecture and a luncheon at the Old State Capitol and a tour of the Jaques Dupree House in Point Coupee Parish. Refreshments will also be served before the lecture. Free parking in downtown Baton Rouge and shuttle busses from the parking lot to the Old State Capitol and back will be available for all attending.

Please contact Patricia Comeaux, the Executive Director, Friends of Magnolia Mound 225-771-8396 or 225-272-5487 for more information.

Help Wanted/Drivers

Environmental Health Scientist Coordinator: Will coordinate environmental health science projects/ studies such as: inspections, investigations, quality assurance, quality control, & environmental health risk assessment by collecting, analyzing & interpreting chemical, physical, biological, demographic, & other data about toxic environmental contamination, hazardous substance emergency events or environmental regulatory standards; responsible for determining eligibility of reported hazardous substance emergency events in LA to include in Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance/ National Toxic Substances Incidents Program (HSEES/NTSIP) online system based on criteria set forth by CDC/ ATSDR; verifying & validating data entry & developing & maintaining national database.

MS in Environmental Science, Public Health or closely related field; knowledge of GIS, ALOHA, SPSS, SAS, working knowledge of MS Office Suite. Job location: Baton Rouge, LA. Send resume to Clay Trachtman, LA Department of Health & Hospitals, 628 N. 4th St., P.O. Box 4489,Bin 10, Box 18, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4489. Must refer to Job #11208.

“Lots of people think he holds up innovation there with old ideas and (is) slow to decide and that he’s not an innovator himself for being at such a high level,” said one former Yahoo employee.

“People have very high expectations for founders. Everyone wants a Steve Jobs,” the employee said, referring to Apple’s cofounder who brought the company back from near death and transformed it into the world’s most valuable tech company.

Some analysts say the Yahoo board’s indecision stems in part from Yang’s sway in the company.

Disillusioned by the company’s flip-flopping, they warn that the rest of the board remained much the same as the one that rejected Microsoft’s unsolicited takeover bid when Yang was CEO. “Jerry Yang was certainly an impediment toward anything happening,” said Morningstar analyst Rick Summer. “This is a company that’s been mired by a bunch of competing interests going in different directions. It was never clear what this board’s direction has been.”

Microsoft’s bid was worth about $44 billion. Its share price was subsequently pummeled by the global financial crisis and its current market value stands at about $20 billion.

More recently, Yang and

Yahoo chairman Roy Bostock have incurred the wrath of some major Yahoo shareholders for their handling of the “strategic review” the company was pursuing, in which discussions have included the possibility of being sold, taken private or broken up.

Yang’s efforts to seek a minority investment in Yahoo from private equity firms enraged several large shareholders, including hedge fund Third Point, which accused Yang of pursuing a deal that was in “his best personal interests” but not aligned with shareholders’ interests.

Yahoo has also been exploring a deal to unload most of its prized Asian assets in a complex deal involving Alibaba, valued at roughly $17 billion, sources told Reuters last month.

Alibaba Group’s founder, Jack Ma, whose personal relationship with Yang led to Yahoo buying a 40 percent stake in Alibaba in 2005, said he looked forward to continuing a “constructive relationship” with Yahoo.

Susquehanna analyst Herman Leung said: “I had thought that Jerry Yang was a lifer at Yahoo.

“Without him on the board, this could smooth a potential transaction. What that transaction is, is any of our guesses right now.”

Call me today to see how you can save when you combine your home and auto policies.

DUANE R. JORDAN (225) 775 9834 3209 LAVEY LANE BAKER a046577@allstate.com

Discount and insurance offered only with select companies and subject to availability and qualifications. Discount amount may be lower. Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Allstate Indemnity Company: Northbrook, IL © 2009 Allstate Insurance Company.

Classified YRC is hiring Combination Driver/ Dock workers! Excellent Wages, Benefits, Pension! Full time!

Home nightly! Baton Rouge location.

CDL-A w/Combo and Hazmat, 1yr T/T exp, 21yoa req. EOEM/F/D/V APPLY at: www.yrcw.com/careers

Drivers: Good Pay, Benefits incl.. Free Health Ins & BonusesRegional Work!

CDL-A with X-End, 1yr T/T Exp. Req. 1-888-567-4973 Shop Supervisor: Able to Supervise, Organize and Motivate,Exp. w/Mack Trucks and Tankers preferred.Good Pay w/ Benefits. 1-888-567-4973

Drivers: Regional. Home Every Weekend 38-44 CPM. $2K Sign-On Bonus.

24yoa w/CDL-A. Load Securement training available.

1-800-992-7863 x185

Computer Programmer Program and maintain database apps & comp vision algorithms, do app dev, workflow charts & diagrams, programming, client tech support. Masters Degree req’d. Mail resume: Providence Engineering and Environment Group LLC, 1201 Main Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802.

Help Wanted (Booth Rental) Licensed Cosmetologist and Barbers If Interested Contact Gera Dixon Bradford at (225) 803-9812

Page 6 • The

Weekly Press • Thursday, January 19, 2012

Religion

Here We Go Again; the Holy Trinity Baptist Fellowship Association Everyday is a Day of Holds Ordination, Consecration Service Art of Redundancy

Expectation

By Rev. James L. Snyder Forgive me if I have said this before, but, “Happy New Year.” It may be the epitome of redundancy but I have given this greeting for 60 years and I mean it as sincerely this year as I have all the years preceding.

The first few years of my life, I had no teeth and so all I could say was “Goo-goo, daa-daa.” It meant the same thing.

This year I have all of my teeth but I am not certain how many more years.

The way we start life is the way we usually end life, with no teeth and drooling all the time with a silly grin on our face.

Why is it so cute to have a toothless drool at three months but rather disgusting when you are 93 years old?

We all start life-wearing diapers and if we live long enough we will end our life wearing the same apparatus. I guess it all depends upon what we do between the two events.

I suppose I could be guilty of not learning as much as I could at my age, but one thing I have learned and that is the good things in life are always repeated. Sure, there are some things that we do once in a lifetime and cherish their memories, but the good things in life are those things we continually repeat.

I would wager that in this New Year there would be relatively few, if any, new things. The past year was supposed to carry with it a lot of brand-new things. Most things were those repeated ad nausea for many years.

This year is an election year. Of course, the purpose of this year is to elect a new president. Every four years we elect a “new” president and I have participated in many presidential elections. At least, I went to the voting booth and voted.

In all those years of electing a “new” president it has usually worked out that the new presiSee Redundancy, on page 7 dent was remarkably quite like

By Latania Anderson

Bishop ordination: Bishop Ivory J. Payne Bishop Curtis L. Shepherd, Sr., Bishop George Veal, and Bishop Leon Figgins.

By Bishop Ivory J. Payne BATON ROUGE, LA – The H. B. Williams Tower of Strength 950 Blount Road was the setting for a Spiritual filled service hosted

by The Holy Trinity Baptist Fellowship under the leadership of Bishop Harris Hayes.

Ordained were four pastors to the office of Bishop: Reverend Ivory J. Payne; Reverend Curtis L Shephard, Sr.; Reverend George Veal, and Reverend Leon Figgins.

These men of God stated by their leader and presiding Bishop Harris Hayes has shown evidence of their calling and qualifications for the ministry.

And having been examined under the provisions as set by the Holy Bible and within church policies ordain by love for the Sacred work of a Bishop. And in conformation of his commitment to serve Jesus and the church the pastors were ordained as bishops. It was competed by lying on of the Hands and with Holy

prayers by the entire: Bishop Ivory J. Payne is founder and pastor of New Birth Full Gospel Ministries, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Bishop Curtis L. Shephard is pastor of New Philadelphia Full Gospel Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Bishop George Veal is pastor of Mt. Calvary and Richmond Baptist Church in Louisiana. and Bishop Leon Figgins is pastor of Plymouth Rock Baptist Church in Alexandria, Louisiana.

Philippians 1:20 says, “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be Latania ashamed, but that with Anderson all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death”.

(KJV) What is your earnest expectation? What are you expecting the Lord to do for you today? Have you been praying for a new job, new car, new home or a spouse?

Whatever it is you’re believing the Lord for, you must be expecting it to come to pass each and everyday. For we don’t know when the Lord is going to bless us with the things we have been praying for, but, when we pray, we must have faith and believe that we receive what we are praying for and have an expectation that it will come to pass each and everyday. No matter how it may seem, EVERYDAY you should be patiently waiting for your prayers to be answered. Your faith in God mixed with hope and believing will bring your prayers into manifestation. So, BE BOLD, BE NOT ASHAMED of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and live a life See expectation, 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

The Baton Rouge Weekly Press Church Directory is a great place to let the community know about your church!

Bishop Ivory J. Payne

Call Walter for Details TODAY! 225.775.2002.

Ask about internet radio broadcast specials.

Thursday, January 19, 2012 • The Weekly Press • Page 7

Work

from page 4

from the past”. It can work in a limited way to replace oil but it comes at a very expensive price. It is imprudent to go down the same road that Dr. George Washington Carver and Henry Ford journeyed more than a hundred years ago. They showed us that it doesn’t work and nothing has changed. Energy efficiency will come as

Attack

Mr. Alford is the co-founder, President/CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce, Inc(r). Website: www.nationalbcc. org. Email: halford@nationalbcc. org

from page 4

claim they are meant to prevent widespread fraud – the casting of ballots by people who are not legally eligible to vote. But both the Bush and Obama Justice Departments have looked and not found significant voter fraud in American elections. So let’s be clear – the real reason behind this spate of new laws is to suppress the votes of people likely to support progressive candidates and issues – African Americans, Latinos, young people, the elderly and people with disabilities. This is unconscionable. It is un-American.

And it dishonors the sacrifices of generations of Americans who have fought and died to extend the right to vote to every citizen.

Fortunately, a growing number of Americans are fighting back. On December 10th, the National Urban League joined the NAACP and a coalition of civil rights groups at a “Stand for Freedom” march and rally at the United Nations to protest this blatant attack on voting rights. Attorney General Eric Holder has also expressed concern about the

Dream

experimentation and research continues. There is no need to fake it as such folly can bring economic harm to all of us.

legality of some of these new laws. Recently, the Justice Department struck down a voter ID law in South Carolina and Holder promises to continue to monitor these attempts and stop them when they violate the law. But beating back these efforts will require citizen vigilance and action.

In a recent speech at the LBJ Library and Museum in Austin, Texas, Holder urged Americans to “Speak out.

Raise awareness about what’s at stake. Call on our political parties to resist the temptation to suppress certain votes in the hope of attaining electoral success and… urge policymakers at every level to reevaluate our election systems – and to reform them in ways that encourage, not limit, participation.”

We agree. We must not let the hard-won voting rights secured by Dr. King, John Lewis, LBJ and so many others slip away.

Marc H. Morial is President and CEO of the National Urban League

from page 4

version of the Poor People’s Campaign. I think he’d be standing outside some of the banks, asking why they deserve the bailouts that ordinary people can’t get. Just as he occupied a housing project in Chicago, I bet he’d camp out with a family experiencing foreclosure. I know he’d be challenging us all.

There have been significant changes since Dr. King was assassinated in 1968, and the signs don’t say white or colored any more. The signs don’t have to say it – in some instances outcomes do. In other words, there are no signs on dollars that say white or colored, but African American people have pennies to the dollars of wealth that whites hold. There are no signs that say white or colored on executive employment, but you can count the African American CEOs in Fortune five hundred

Redundancy

companies on one, or on a good day, maybe two hands. The signs don’t say segregation, but too many still experience it, and while few in polite company use racist expletives to describe people of African descent in this country, when a talk show host and a Congressman have the utter temerity to describe the First Lady’s body in disparaging terms, it takes me back two centuries, to echoes of the Hottentot Venus, Sarah Bartjee.

The dream is certainly a work in progress, but the dream won’t work unless we do. We cannot afford to be smug, glib, or complacent. The UFE report suggests that if we don’t act now, it will get worse later.

Julianne Malveaux is President of Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, North Carolina.

from page 6

the old president.

Some political pundits make a great deal between a Republican and a Democrat.

It may be my age, but it seems to me that most Democrats are Republicans in disguise and most Republicans are Democrats in disguise. If I was backed up against a wall with a firing squad in front of me and asked to tell the difference between a Democrat and a Republican, the only thing I could come up with would be the spelling.

A Republican when elected will always act like a Democrat and a Democrat when elected will usually act like a Republican. Then they wonder why the voting public is confused.

As far as I am concerned, a rattlesnake wearing a rabbit outfit does not change its nature. It still has poisonous fangs looking for some human flesh.

What has not changed is the fact that a politician running for office will say anything to get elected and then once elected will develop an acute sense of amnesia, which is not that cute.

Whenever I hear poli-

Expectation from page 6

that is pleasing to him. Whatever you are praying for, HAVE FAITH, BELIEVE and EXPECT it each and everyday and it shall come to pass.

NOW THAT’S SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT! AMEN!!

ticians say that when they are elected they are going to change things I know I am either listening to a fool or someone who is trying to fool me. Hundreds of politicians have run on the platform of changing Washington DC. Well, how has that been working?

The coming presidential election will be the same as every other one in the history of the United States.

In spite of that, there are a few things I am glad will not change.

The things that are really important in life are those things that do not change.

For instance, I am glad the sun comes up every morning. Even though every day is a new day, the same sun starts the day with its rising.

tantRum from page 6

health

healt Affordable Care Act Holding Insurers What’s Good For Your Heart Is G Accountable For Premium Hikes

apart. You must continue to hold on to your faith and stay before the Lord. But, it may be that the time has come when you may need to take some quality time for yourself and spend some of that time with God. Get on your knees before God and tell him of how you are feeling inside. And maybe the words Health premium wont come insurance out exactly as you increases fivecan states have been wish butinyou have a good deemed by the weeping,“unreasonable” wailing crying falling, U.S. Department of Health and out tantrum and give all those Human Services, problems to him.HHS Secretary While you are praying, you Kathleen Sebelius announced might forget some of the things today. that vexed but God knows After you independent expert what youHHS are going through. that he review, determined can read the pain, which flows Trustmark Life Insurance Comthrough tears. unreasonable even though pany hasyour proposed he knows what’s troubling you, health insurance premium inhe stillinwants to tell him about creases five states—Alabama, it and bring your problems and Arizona, Pennsylvania, Virginia, burdens to him. and Wyoming. The excessive rate hikes would affect nearly 10,000 residents across these five states.

To make these determinahildRen 4 tions, HHS used itsfrom “ratepage review” authority from the Affordable Care (the health care law ering Act all children. of 2010) to Action determine whether the CDF Council, buildpremium increases of in over 10 ing on the best practices states percent arelearned reasonable. and lessons about children “Before Affordable falling through the the bureaucratic Care consumers in cracksAct, of Medicaid and were SChiP, strongly to enact the dark urged aboutCongress their health inthe All premiums healthy Children surance because Act, there S. 1564/h.r.

1688,transparency introduced was no nationwide byaccountability,” representativesaid Bobby Scott or Secretary (D-VA) inSebelius. the house“Now, and Senator Kathleen insurBernie Sanders (i-Vt) in the Sen-to ance companies are required ate. the measure would provide disclose rate increases over 10 comprehensive benefits including dental and mental health, simplified bureaucracy, and a national eligibility plan for families up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level. We thank the 62 house cosponsors for their support. however, we regret that neither a single house republican nor any other Senator joined them to push for coverage for all children. the CDF Action Council strongly supports long overdue health coverage for everyone in America as soon as possible—because children cannot wait. As SChiP comes up again for reauthorization in early 2009, we hope every Member of Congress will insist on covering every child and pregnant mother now by enacting and adequately funding the provisions of the All healthy Children Act. Specious claims that we could not find the money—$70 billion over five years—to cover all children is belied by that amount spent in eleven months for tax cuts for the top one percent of richest Americans and in seven months for the iraqthis War.be We notseason have Could thedoflu a money problem in America: We that wasn’t? haveAfter a priorities and political will the H1N1-linked drama it is time adults toof ofdeficit. prior years, thefor lowallnumber protect the health of our children. cases of influenza currently cir-

C

therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hands of God, that he may exalt you in due time, “casting all your cares upon him, for he cares for you,”(1st Peter 5:6-7).

After you finished having your tantrum. You may have a stopped up nose and swollen eyes and mucus running down your lip percent and on justify these and dried tears your face, butincreases. time foremptying Trustmark you’ll feelIt’s better after to immediately rates, yourself of thoserescind things the which issue refunds to your consumers had been heavy on heart. or publicly explain their Sometimes we go forrefusal weeks to ordomonths so.” trying to take matters into our In hands andfive try to solveTrustour these states, own problems.

We arerates not super mark has raised by 13 humans; can’t handle everypercent.weFor small businesses thing alone. We need God’s help. in Alabama and Arizona, when We have to let go other of those combined with ratesituhikes ations let the Godlast handle them. madeand over 12 months, there some things we by can’t ratesare have increased 27.2 humanly anything about. repercentdo and 18.1 percent, spectively. Independent experts to determine whether they are reasonable reviewed these increases. In this case, HHS determined that the rate increases were unreasonable because the insurer would be spending a low percent of premium dollars the citizens of the nation muston actual medical care and demand that our leaders freequality our improvements, andideological because the children from the false justifications were based on unand political tugs of war among reasonable those who put assumptions. excess profits ahead In addition of children’s lives. to the review of how well did Congress protect rate increases, many states have children in 2007?toNot wellunreasonenough: the authority reject 276 Congress hadthe ableMembers premiumof increases.

Since good CDFofAction Council passage the health careConreform gressional scores of 80 law, the Scorecard number of states with percent or higher,increased and 198 offrom those 30 this authority had stellar of 100 percent. to 37, withscores several states extendBut 231 members scored 60 percent or lower—a failing grade from our school days.

Whether Members of Congress are liberal, conservative or moderate; Democrat, republican or independent, children need all of them to vote, lobby, speak for and protect them. Adults need to listen carefully to what candidates say they will do for children and families and, once they are in office, we need to hold them accountable.

Please thank your Members of Congress with scores of 80 percent or above and let those with scores of 60 percent or below know you are dissatisfied with their performance.

And please convey that same message to each presidential candidate.

We must demand that our leaders commit to children as a condition of our vote.

(NAPSM)-A survey commissioned by two leading healthauthority” organizations ing existing “prior to foundmarkets. that although two out of three new African Americans (61 percent) exExamples of how states have pressed concern about developing used this authority include: heart•disease andMexico, two out of five (40 In New the state percent) expressed concern about insurance division denied a redeveloping about quest fromAlzheimer’s, Presbyterianonly Healthone infor 20aare that rate hearthikes, health care 9.7aware percent is linked toitbrain lowering to 4.7health. percent; the Alzheimer’s Association is • In Connecticut, the state joining forces with the American stopped Anthem Blue Cross Blue heart Association to educate African Shield, the state’s largest insurer, Americans that by managing their from hiking rates a proposed cardiovascular risk,bythey may also 12.9 percent, instead limiting strengthen their cognitive health.it to a“What’s 3.9 percent increase; good for your heart is Inyour Oregon, state degood•for brain,”the says Jennifer nied a proposed 22.1 percent rate Manly, Ph.D., Alzheimer’s Associahike

by Regence, “every limiting it to tion spokesperson. healthy 12.8 percent. heartbeat pumps about one-fifth of In New the state your•blood to yourYork, brain to carry on denied increases from probEmthe dailyrate processes of thinking, blem, Oxford, and Aetna that lem solving and remembering.” averaged 12.72030, percent, instead “By the year the number of holding them to age an 8.2 African Americans 65 orpercent older is increase. expected to more than double to 6.9 • In said Rhode theM.D., state million,” emilIsland, Matarese, denied hikes from United Americanrate heart Association spokesHealthcare of New England person. “Although Alzheimer’s is not part of normal aging, is the ranging from 18 to 20.1 age percent, greatest seeing risk factor for cut Alzheimer’s instead them to 9.6 to disease.

So it is important that Af10.6 percent. rican•Americans take steps to In Pennsylvania, thenow state decrease their risk of heart disease, held Highmark to rate hikes rangwhich research has showndown could ing from 4.9 to 8.3 percent, also decrease the risk of cognitive decline.”

from 9.9 percent.

Today’s announcement comes the same week that a report showed that health care spending has grown at remarkably low rates. According to an analysis done each year by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, U.S. health care spending experienced historically low rates of growth in 2009 and 2010. A recent study released by Mercer Consulting also showed a slow-down in the average employee health benefit cost to businesses.

The Affordable Care Act includes several policies, including rate review, to continue this slow growth. By fighting fraud, better coordinating care, preventing disease and illness before they happen and creating a new state-based insurance marketplace, it helps keep health care cost growth low.

For more information on the specific determinations made today, please visit http://companyprofiles.healthcare.gov/ For general information about rate review, visit: http:// www.healthcare.gov/law/features/costs/rate-review/ Research shows a link between heart and brain heal heart function could lead to impaired brain functio

Flu Season Off to Slow Far CouldStart, You Be AtSo Risk?

Marian Wright Edelman is President of the Children’s Defense Fund and its Action Council whose Leave No Child Behind® 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 in the Southwest, it doesn’t seem successful passage to adulthood that activity has been high,” said with the Golden, help of caring families of Angela president-elect and communities. the American Academy of Nurse

Practitioners. “Even in the urgent culating in the United States is care [setting] we’re not seeing a reassuring, alk experts adiosaid. from page 4 whole lot.”

But Golden, who is based in But that doesn’t mean the virus couldn’t still become northern Arizona, added that the all wily funnyfoe or remotely appropriforget o’reilly’s the it so often is, they we season may simply beless-thankicking into ate about the use of a lynching informed comments regarding added. gear a little later than usual. a reference about Michelle obama,’’ he shared last year withby “If you look at the nation as dinnerAccording to the CDC, he said. ‘’it’s i’m speechless.’’

Sharpton at Sylvia’s in harlem? a whole, we are seeing low ac- the end of the first week of JanuAs President Bush pointedsaid out o’reilly expressed surprise over in ary there was a slight uptick tivity across the country,” so eloquently the Black similarSylvia’s other Tom Skinner, aduring spokesman for how flu activity, but it was wastostill was history Month event, the noose in low.

New Flu Yorkincidence restauthe U.S. Centers for Disease Con- restaurants considered represents ‘’more than a tool He of rants. trol and Prevention in Atlanta. was deemed “minimal” across murder but a tool ofthat intimidation’’ wasn’t oneColorado person in states, and while and stressed, however, flu season 48‘’there to generations of African-AmeriSylvia’s who was screaming, generally peaks in the first couple New Hampshire showed slightly Nooses robbed some ‘M-Fer, i wantofmore iced tea,’’’ higher rates illness than other ofcans. months ofnot theonly year. of their lives but to many of their said.it wasn’t much more, CDC “As we move February, we he states, peace that of mind.

As the Washington Post’s robexpect activity will increase,” tracking data indicated. ‘’As aadded. civil society, we must inson sadly observed on MSNBC Skinner understand that providers noose displays ‘’All youofcan by Health-care across in February, One barometer flugo activity, and lynching jokes are deeply is his words and his actions.

And the country echoed those find- the percentage of visits to hospioffensive. they are wrong. And he keeps saying these things that to ings. tals or doctors’ offices linked theyOn have place in America pretty also darn suggests racist to me.’’ thenoEast Coast, all has sound influenza, a mild today,’’ he said. has talk learned anything been relatively quiet. “The activity season so radio far. For example, just 1.4 Neither o’reilly ingraham imus’ and visits fall? of percent of decline outpatient duris pretty low here,”nor said Dr. Len from has been reprimanded byspecialist their re- course not, because it didn’t Horovitz, a pulmonary ing the week ending Jan. 7take were spective employers even though toothe terribly long compared to get a for flu, CDC said, with Lenox Hill Hospital in New imus the Fox News personality did offer new York City. to agig. seasonal average (over the a half-hearted ourthree nation’s media And out apology.

West, the same past years) of 2.4outlets percent.

At leastholds ingraham drop should not provide platform for situation true.didn’t “Certainly And just one inaevery 200,000 the l-word but her suggestion that racialhostility and hateful speech Sharpton, a former presidential now or in the future. What kind of candidate and respected member of messageare we sending to our chilthe African-American community dren, our nation and our world? and beyond, is a petty thief reeks in such an historic election year, of race-baiting and negative ste- we cannot stand aside and allow reotyping of African-Americans individuals to use the airwaves and black men in particular. as an outlet for insensitive and But it’s hardly the first time ei- misguidedcommentary. if you ther has ventured into questionable hear something that offends you, and offensive territory. how can speak up.

t

R

better prices! better savings!

BORDELON’S super Save, inc.

Visit Us Online @ www.theweeklypress.com

6920 Plank Road • Baton Rouge 70811 • (225)-356-0253 Bordelon’s Pharmacy Hours: Monday-Friday: 8:30a.m. to 8:00p.m. • Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. • Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 1”00 p.m.

4 Pharmacist Land Line (225) 356-0703 Cell Phone (225) 235-6955 On Duty

We Carry Both Name Brands GSRASAC E-mail: Goodshepherdbapt@bellsouth.

Drug net Hours: Mon-Thurs 8am&–Generics 8 pm

Shepherd Substance Abuse Center Cards DiscountGood Prices • Hay Fever supplies • Greeting Intensive Outpatient / Inpatient Therapy FullFor LineDrugs, Pharmacy • Anger Counseling • Faxes Alcohol, Management

Blood Pressure Monitoring • Copies • Perfumes

2873 Mission Drive Rev. Donald Britton, MA, LAC accept All Medicare Part D Plans” Baton“We Rouge, LA 70805 Clinical Director (225) 315-0740 Bishop Harris Hayes, Overseer

concerned with the conditions at Jetson. it is happening there.

What i do know is that most of these youth can be changed, from contrition in a prepatory school for Angola to rehabilitation for a positive life that may lead to a life of meritorious glory. That is the Way I See It!

increased p delay or pr diabetes.

Among for type 2 weight, sed 45 and hav diabetes. Af Native Ame islanders a are women more than the Dia

B

Fre

No

If you scree scree

Presen

of Our made

Breast

Tuesday 10am –

LSUHSC 1401 N. Baton R

Breast

Friday, M 10am –

WooDDALe

ChiroPrACtiC CLiNiC Health Care For The Entire Family

Dr Paul Matthews

SyStem from page 4 cally pointed out that changes which occur in a human being is redirected to pull from the core of his own humanity to reaffirm self worth and purpose. he will then by nature acquire the will to do for himself and others.

Space is not available to cover concerns of so many people

pediatric people had flu so severe it four (NAPSi)-here’s an alertthat worth ness of diabetes,flu-linked particularlydeaths when had already been reported required hospitalization, the CDC paying attention to: According to that it is left undiagnosed and untreated. added.

2011. the American Diabetes Association by theJan. day 1, is held on the fourth tuesday Still,March. experts stressed that Thelearning best news of for all type may2 of every (ADA), your risk theoninfluenza virus’sare behavior come from statistics diabetes could save yourregarding life. that day, people encourchildren, who are particularly is notoriously unpredictable, so Diabetes is a serious disease that aged to take the Diabetes risk test, activity can’t be relied on vulnerable to 21 themillion flu. According strikes nearly children current either with paper and pencil or online. rest of thetoseason. to CDC, in the to andthe adults in no the children U.S. it is named thepredict risk testthe requires users answer Still, there are some United States have died from the “silent killer” because one-third seven simple questionsencouragabout age, signs. the flu with so far, compared tothan the6 ing of those the disease--more weight, lifestyle and family history-million--do not know they have it. all potential risk factors for diabetes.

For many, diagnosis may come People scoring 10 points or more are seven to 10 years after the onset of at a high risk for type 2 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. early diagnosis is are encouraged to talk with a health critical for successful treatment and care professional. can delay or prevent some of the An estimated 54 million Americomplications such as heart diseases, cans have pre-diabetes. those with blindness, kidney disease, stroke and pre-diabetes have blood glucose levamputation. els higher than normal but not high that’s one reason the ADA holds enough to be diagnosed with type the American Diabetes Alert® Day, 2 diabetes. a one-day wake-up call to inform the early intervention via lifestyle American public about the serious- changes such as weight loss and Serving the Baton Rouge community for over 30 years

Indications For Treatment: • Low Back Pain • Pinched Nerves • Pain in Legs • Numbness • Burning Sensation • Muscle Spasms • Nervousness • Arthritis Pains • Scoliosis • Sleepiness • Disc Syndrome

Leo S. B Center 950 E. W Baton R

Breast

Tuesday 5pm – 7

Woman 9050 Ai Baton R

office hours: 9:00 a.m. — 12:00 noon 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Monday – Friday 6233 harry Drive, Suite C • Baton rouge, Louisiana 70806

(225) 201-0210

L

Page 8 • The

Weekly Press • Thursday, January 19, 2012

sports

Saints Get Knocked Out By 49ers, 36-32 “The Catch” 30 years ago to start the 49ers dynasty.

The Saints did not play soft coverage to protect the late lead with defensive coordinator Gregg Williams still calling up blitzes until the end. New Orleans got burned when Davis “That is not our style of defense,” safety Malcolm Jones said.

“We don’t play prevent, we have never played it, and nothing is new. Nothing has changed so we live by the blitz and we die by the blitz.”

And the 49ers live to play another game. San Francisco triumphed in its first playoff game in nine years and will move on to face the New York Giants or defending champion Green Bay Packers, who play Sunday. A win by the Giants would give the 49ers the home field.

Davis, who wept on the sideline afterward days after saying he was overwhelmed early by Harbaugh’s thick playbook, finished with seven catches for 180 yards.

It was the most yards receiving by

Saint player Darren Sproles

SAN FRANCISCO - Drew Brees overcame five New Orleans turnovers and a 17-point deficit to put the Saints on the brink of their first road playoff victory in franchise history.

He could only watch as Alex Smith and the San Francisco 49ers stole it away in the closing seconds, ending the Saints’ chances at another Super Bowl run.

Brees capped his recordsetting season by throwing for 462 yards and four touchdowns, throwing two go-ahead strikes in the final 5 minutes only to see the 49ers rally for a 36-32 playoff victory Saturday.

“It stings right now because 11RB-0032-FS

of the expectation level that we had coming into this tournament and understanding that if we win here we’re into the NFC championship game and anything can happen,” Brees said. “That’s tough. Tough to swallow at this point.”

Brees threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to Darren Sproles to give the Saints (14-4) their first lead of the game with 4:02 to play.

He then answered Smith’s 28-yard touchdown run with a 66-yard scoring pass to Jimmy Graham with 1:37 to go that had New Orleans close to victory.

But the defense failed to close revised - 1/6/12 it out,size allowing the 14-yard game-

winner from Smith to Vernon Davis with just 9 seconds to go for San Francisco (14-3).

“There is a finality to the playoffs,” Brees said. “You go from thinking of the NFC championship to all of a sudden you’re going home and there’s no more football until next year.”

All those passing records Brees set turned out to mean nothing. Brees shattered Dan Marino’s 27-year-old mark of 5,084 yards passing by throwing for 5,476. He had 468 completions this season, breaking Peyton Manning’s 2010 mark of 450. He finished the seaBaton Rouge Weekly Press News son completing 71.6 percent of 6.4” x 10” his passes, breaking his own 2009 RUNS: 1/19/2012

HIS EFFORTS CONTINUE TO MOVE US FORWARD TODAY. He fought for justice with courage and integrity. He stood by his policy of nonviolent resistance through the most dire times. And he devoted himself – body and soul – to end racial oppression.

Regions salutes Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth, a man whose dedication to equality for all continues to inspire us, humble us and move us forward today.

In honor of Black History Month, Regions is proud to offer the Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Essay Contest.* Twenty-five $5,000 scholarships will be awarded to high school seniors in Regions’ banking areas who will attend college this year. To enter, write a 500-word essay about an African American, past or present, who has inspired you. For more details and to enter, visit regions.com/ridingforward.

NFL record of a 70.6 completion percentage.

He followed that up with 466 yards passing in a first-round win over Detroit and then a recordsetting 40 completions in a losing cause against the 49ers. Brees has had the top two regulation playoff games in NFL history the past two games.

“They ended up making one more play than we did tonight,” coach Sean Payton said. “I was proud of how we fought. I was proud of our guys despite some of the early adversary - the turnovers.”

The Saints committed four first-half turnovers starting with running back Pierre Thomas getting knocked out by Donte Whitner on a hard hit near the goal line before fumbling on the opening drive. Brees then threw a pair of uncharacteristic interceptions, the first ending a record streak of 226 straight postseason passes without one.

Courtney Roby then lost a fumble on a kickoff to set up one of David Akers’ three field goals.

Sproles fumbled on a punt in the third quarter to set up another field goal, but even with all of that, the Saints were in position to win.

Sproles took a short pass from Brees and sprinted down the field for his score that made it 24-23.

But the oft-maligned Smith, whom most 49ers fans did not want back in San Francisco this season, delivered in the clutch.

He fooled the Saints on his 28-yard touchdown run around left end to put San Francisco back ahead. But Brees answered quickly, threading a perfect pass to Graham that beat Patrick Willis and Whitner to put the Saints ahead 32-29 on a 2-point conversion with thoughts of going to a third NFC title game in six seasons.

“I think we got too excited,” Sproles said. “We didn’t think they could score like that, but they did.

They proved I was wrong.”

Smith completed five passes for 85 yards, mixing a couple of dumpoffs to Frank Gore with a pretty 47-yarder to Davis down the left sideline. Then with the Saints needing just one more stop to force the 49ers into a game-tying field goal attempt, Davis got inside of safety Roman Harper for the game-winner, absorbing a hard hit from the safety to make the catch in the opposite end zone from where Dwight Clark made

Hamilton Lifts LSU Past Auburn 65-58 In Overtime

LSU’s Men Basketball coach Trent Johnson.

BATON ROUGE - Justin Hamilton made two field goals in overtime, including the goahead basket, to lead LSU to a 65-58 victory against Auburn in a Southeastern Conference game Tuesday.

Hamilton’s first came almost two minutes into the extra period, putting LSU ahead 58-56. Neither team scored again until Andre Stringer ’s 3-pointer with 1:22 left gave LSU a 61-56 advantage.

Rob Chubb then scored Auburn’s only points in overtime with a field goal.

On LSU’s next possession, Hamilton got loose for a layup. Then teammate Anthony Hickey completed the scoring with two foul shots with 3 seconds remaining.

Auburn committed four turnovers in overtime.

Hickey led LSU (12-6, 2-2) with 18 points, and Hamilton finished with 13 points and eight rebounds. Ralston Turner added 11 points and Storm Warren 10 for LSU. Frankie Sullivan paced Auburn (11-7, 1-3) with 19 points, while Chubb had 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Mississippi Valley State beats Southern U. 77-56 ITTA BENA, Miss. - Cor-J Cox scored 23 points off the bench to lead Mississippi Valley State in a 77-56 rout of Southern University on Monday night.

Five Delta Devils (6-11, 5-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) scored in double figures as MVSU grabbed sole possession of first place in the conference. Paul Crosby added 18 points and 14 rebounds, Kevin Burwell had 12 points and Falando Jones

Custom Drapery © 2012 Regions Bank. *NO PURCHASE OR BANKING RELATIONSHIP REQUIRED. PURCHASE OR BANKING RELATIONSHIP WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. The 2012 Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Essay Contest (the “Contest”) begins on 01/15/12 and ends on 02/29/12 at 11:59:59 PM Central Time (the “Contest Period”). The Contest is open only to legal U.S. residents of AL, AR, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MS, MO, NC, SC, TN, TX, and VA (the “Eligible States”) who at the time of entry: (a) are 13 years of age or older; (b) are enrolled in 12th grade in a public or private school (or home school) located in one of the Eligible States (and have not yet graduated 12th grade); (c) have (and maintain through graduation) a minimum 2.0 grade point average in school; and (d) plan to attend an accredited college or university in the Fall of 2012. To enter, Contestants must submit a completed Official Entry Form, a current high school transcript, and a 500-word essay that addresses how an African American individual (living or deceased) has been an inspiration in the Contestant’s life. Please visit www.regions.com/ridingforward for Official Entry Form, entry/essay requirements, full Contest details, and Official Rules. Twenty-five (25) Contest Prizes will be awarded. Contest Prize consists of a check in the amount of $5,000 made out to winner’s college/university (ARV: $5,000). Sponsor/Operator: Regions Bank, 1900 5th Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203. Regions salutes Rev. Shuttlesworth and is pleased to have been able to contribute to his Foundation. Rev. Shuttlesworth’s name and image are used with permission of the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth Foundation.

a tight end in a playoff game.

Smith went 24 for 42 for 299 yards with three TD passes and the touchdown run. He also helped the Niners become the first team in NFL history to score two lead-changing touchdowns in the final 3 minutes to win a playoff game, according to STATS LLC. “Guys were so confident, as long as we had time we had a shot,” Smith said.

Notes: Sproles had a playoffrecord 15 catches for 119 yards. ...

The Saints had lost five fumbles all season, and then gave three away against San Francisco. ... Brees finished the regular season and playoffs with 6,404 yards passing, surpassing Marino’s 6,085 on the way to the Super Bowl in the 1984 season. ... The Saints converted an NFL-record 56.7 percent of their third downs in the regular season but just 5 of 14 this game.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

•Roman Shades •Upholstered Headboards •Slip Covers •Cushions •Bedding •Pillows •Fabrics • 30%off fabric in January

25 years Experience We come to your location.

Call Charlotte Harris to schedule your consultation

225-936-8649

and Terrence Joyner chipped in 11 each.

The Delta Devils led 37-30 at halftime and held the Jaguars (8-11, 4-2) to just 9 of 25 shooting (36%) in the second half.

MVSU made 44.1% of its shots (30 of 68), including 11 of 35 from 3-point range. Cox took 12 of those 3s, making four.

The Delta Devils scored 23 points off 21 turnovers and out rebounded Southern 42-32.

Derick Beltran led the Jaguars with 15 points and Quinton Doggett and Mike Celestin added 11 each.

Visit Us Online @

www.theweeklypress.com