baton
THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2010
The
Press BOX Groups Rally for Higher Education and Health Reform BATON ROUGE- Several groups rallied outside the Louisiana Capitol on the opening day of the 2010 Legislative Session. The Louisiana Black Caucus rallied against Attorney General Buddy Caldwell’s decision to sue the federal government over healthcare reform. “If this act is implemented, the services provided for healthcare to our state could approximately save us $500 million,” said state Rep. Regina Barrow, D-Baton Rouge. “These savings could be used to cover a majority of the state budget crisis that we currently face, inclusive of higher ed.” The caucus says Caldwell was not elected to advance Gov. Bobby Jindal’s partisan interests. A group of LSU students rallied in the wake of massive budget cuts to the university. Stuart Watkins, the LSU student body president, said the students care deeply about the flagship university and they want legislators to hear their cries.
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More Change Needed in America Says Veteran Rights Leader By Larry Miller Special to the NNPA from the Philadelphia Tribune
P H I L A D E L P H I A ( N N PA ) NAACP’s former Chairman of the Board Julian Bond was in Philadelphia on March 25 discussing changing racial issues in America — issues that Bond said the nation couldn’t ignore just because Barack Obama is president. With his usual focused clarity, Bond spoke at the PNC Bank’s Eastwick Center in Southwest Philadelphia, talking about the evolution of the Civil Rights Movement and the role that the NAACP played during that turbulent time in America. He said it is foolhardy to think that because President Barack Obama made it to the White House that the victories and accomplishments of the Civil Rights Movement can now be dismantled. And he was most articulate in describing the plight that the nation and Black America is now in. “While we are now poised for greater efforts and grander victories, we’re still being tested by hardships and adversities,” Bond said. “We’ve been rocked by an economy, where one writer said no past taxpayers covers billionaires’ bets. See More Change, on page 2
Julian Bond, NAACP chairman of the board, spoke at the PNC Bank’s Eastwick Center in Southwest Philadelphia, talking about the evolution of the Civil Rights Movement and the role that the NAACP played during that turbulent time in America. — PHOTO: Abdul Sulayman
Town Meetings Set to Discuss Transformation of North Baton Rouge
Gov. Opens Legislative Session BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal told the legislature Monday in his opening speech that the session will be full of challenges and opportunity. Jindal challenged the legislature to make the tough decisions, regardless of their party. He wants them to break a trend of non-success and turn the state around, much like another state business recently did. “If anyone doubts our ability to get it done, I’d ask you to consider this: for 43 years, the New Orleans Saints weren’t able to get into a Super Bowl, much less win a Super Bowl,” said Jindal. “After 43 years, they overcame the critics. They overcame the skeptics.” Jindal’s message was well-received, as most are in the beginning of legislative See session, on page 2
Vol. 34 • No. 49
a people’s publication
BATON ROUGE - Our next meeting will kick off our “Building Capacity, Preparing For Action” phase. Our goal is to empower community stakeholders and leaders like yourselves with key information and data we have collected on North Baton Rouge and current and future redevelopment and planning efforts in the city. Our “Building
Capacity, Preparing For Action” phase of programs will include the following: 1. “Inside NBR: A Snapshot of Who We Are and Where We Are” – Friday, April 9, 2010, 3:00 P.M. – 2:30 P.M., Star Hill Church 3. “Getting Ready: Opportunities on the Horizon” – Friday, April 23, 2010, See meeting, on page 2
From left are Shenell Johnson, Ebone` Etienne, Christopher Russell, Khadrereil, Ferguson, Brian Cain, Shontrell Johnson, and Ethan Tran. — Photo by John Oubre/Office of Publications and Electronic Media.
SU Students to Display Their Art Work in Louisiana Congressman’s Offices BATON ROUGE - It’s the opportunity of a lifetime for several Southern University Fine Arts students. Louisiana Congressman Bill Cassidy invited eight Southern University students to exhibit their art work in his Washington D.C. and district offices. Brian Cain, Christopher Russell, Ethan Tran, Shenell
NATIONAL/state & Community watch
Johnson and Heather Holliday, winners from the university’s Fall Visual Arts Student Exhibition held last year on Southern’s campus, were chosen to exhibit their work in Cassidy’s Washington D. C. office. Three others, Ebone` Etienne, Khadrereil Ferguson and Joshua Gary, were chosen to exhibit their art work in the congressman’s district
Business News
Ultimate Show & Tell - Drew Brees It’s been a contentious year, but now that supporters of health care reform finally got their day, Black political and civil rights leaders, as well as other health care reform advocates are applauding the bill’s passage for a diversity of reasons....Page 3
Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. and Diet Pepsi have partnered to offer one New Orleans or Baton Rouge area high school student the chance to bring Saints quarterback Drew Brees to school. Customers can register for the sweepstakes....See Page 5
office in Baton Rouge. The 11 students and their professor, Robert Cox, are in Washington D.C. to hang the pieces and experience the culture of the nation’s capital. “Aside from the exhibit, the students will be visiting museums to see major works See art work, on page 2
Religion NEWS
Artist’s Colorful Vases
If you are a lover of fine artistry, a collector of the most exquisite of items, or you’re simply looking for that captivating something that would take your interior decorating skills to another dimension of elegance, Anne Williams ...See Page 6
Oil Support Businesses in LA Stand to Gain NEW ORLEANS - Louisiana-based industries supporting the petroleum industry stand to gain under President Barack Obama’s plan to expand offshore drilling. LSU economist Loren Scott says those include shipbuilders, offshore structure fabrication companies and offshore transport companies. Reversing a ban on drilling off most U.S. shores, Obama on Wednesday announced a new policy that
could put oil and natural gas platforms along the southern Atlantic coast, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and part of Alaska. Chris John, who heads the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, calls Obama’s announcement “a very positive first step in securing America’s energy future.” John also says increased drilling, especially in the eastern Gulf, would boost Louisiana’s economy.
Local & State News Health news
The Louisiana Health Care Quality Forum , the Louisiana Public Health Institute , and a coalition of Greater New Orleans community health organizations are being honored with a 2010 Health Quality Award..See Page 7
Beautillion 2010 Finale’
The Xi Nu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., located in Baton Rouge, culminated over seven months of mentoring on Saturday, March 20, 2010, in the Crown Plaza hotel when its beautillion participants were introduced...See Page 8
INDEX Local & State............................2 Commentay..............................4 Business....................................5 Religion....................................6 Health.......................................7 Local & State............................8
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