Happy Mothers’s Day
BATON
THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2014
ROUGE,
LOUISIANA
GOP-Led House Votes to Hold Ex-IRS Official in Contempt WASHINGTON -- House Republicans voted Wednesday to hold a former Internal Revenue Service official in contempt of Congress for refusing to testify at a pair of committee hearings about her role in the agency’s tea party controversy. The House also passed a nonbinding resolution calling on the Justice Department to appoint a special counsel to investigate the IRS. Lois Lerner directed the IRS division that processes applications for tax-exempt status. A year ago this week, Lerner publicly disclosed that agents had improperly singled out tea party applications for extra, sometimes burdensome scrutiny. An inspector general’s report blamed poor management but found no evidence of a political conspiracy. Many Republicans in Congress believe otherwise. “Who’s been fired over the targeting of conservative groups by the IRS? No one that I’m aware of,” House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Wednesday. “Who’s gone to jail for violating the law? When is the administration going to tell the American people the truth?” House Democrats said Wednesday’s voting was little more than an election-year ploy to fire up the GOP base. “Instead of passing bipartisan legislation to create more jobs, reform immigration, raise the mini-
Judges Want to Create Domestic Violence Court
BATON ROUGE, LA — There’s a new push to change how the courts in East Baton Rouge handle cases of domestic violence. The current system shuffles domestic violence victims and defendants through family court, criminal court, civil court, and sometimes city court, depending on details of the dispute. Only two floors separate family court and criminal court, yet there is little coordination between the two. In a meeting Wednesday, District Judge Don Johnson told his fellow criminal judges that a dedicated domestic violence court would give one judge the authority to handle all aspects of a domestic dispute. “The judge can have unique authority to deal not only with the victim, but the offender, and what we’re finding is, these are relationships for the most part. Relationships. How do you handle relations? You have to have both parties,” Johnson said. Family court Judge Pam Baker See COURT, on page 7
VOL. 39 • NO. 37 • FREE
A PEOPLE’S PUBLICATION
IndyCar ‘Confident’ State, Track Will Handle Needed Work to Host Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana
Jindal will need state Legislative approval for $4.5 million, which will be combined with private money to make improvements, including pit area, straight away and perimeter fencing enhancements.
Former Internal Revenue Service official Lois Lerner. mum wage or address any number of issues that affect our constituents every single day, House Republicans are spending this entire week trying to manufacture scandals for
political purposes,” said Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. “Welcome to witch hunt
week,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass. The vote to hold Lerner in See CONTEMPT, on page 2
Julius Malema Hopes South Africa Abandons Nelson Mandela’s Party
AVONDALE, LA. – IndyCar racing officials expressed confidence on Monday that the NOLA Motorsports Park will be able to complete more $4.5 million in improvements needed to host the proposed Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana in suburban New Orleans next year. “We’re delighted by this broad show of support and encouraged by the prospect of a
Verizon IndyCar Series race in New Orleans,” said Mark Miles, CEO of Hulman & Company, the parent of IndyCar and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Gov. Bobby Jindal, NOLA Motorsports Park officials and Andretti Sports Marketing gathered at the track in Avondale for Monday’s formal announcement See INDYCAR, on page 3
ExxonMobil Retiree Group Donates $100,000 to Southern University BATON ROUGE, La. – Southern University’s Baton Rouge campus today received a contribution of $100,000 from a local organization comprised of SU graduates who have retired from the ExxonMobil. The money will be used for scholarships for students who meet the required criteria, said Bonnie S. Jackson the chairperson of the Golden Roots Annuitant Club. “We will continue to try to raise more money for Southern University,” said Jackson, who is
owner of Bonnie Jackson CPA. The group held a ceremonial check presentation today in SUBR Chancellor Dr. James L. Llorens’ office. Members of the Annuitant Club raised $25,000, which was matched 3-1 by ExxonMobil. The funds will be available for students in January of 2015, Jackson said. Robert Square, another member of the Annuitant Club, said he will be encouraging more See EXXONMOBIL, on page 3
Helen Zille, leader of South Africa’s opposition party Democratic Alliance, arrives on stage at a final campaign rally in Johannesburg on May 3. By Rohit Kachroo JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - He wears a bright red beret and jumpsuit to represent a “workers’ revolution.” Julius Malema is the 33-yearold leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters, a new political party that he claims will get 10 percent
CHRIS PAUL LIGHTS UP THUNDER IN RETURN TO OKC
of the vote as South Africa goes to the polls on Wednesday. His superstar status is down to a sharp mind, a sharper tongue and a powerful message that resonates with many young, black South Africans: Twenty years after the end of apartheid, Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress (ANC) party hasn’t delivered.
“The leadership became selfish, self-serving and started looting state resources for their personal accumulation,” Malema said during an interview with NBC News, referring to rampant official corruption. “They no longer care about the masses on the ground,” added See PARTY, on page 2
Photo by John Oubre
Those pictured from left are, Sarah Stemley Square, Roosevelt Bryant, SU Chancellor Dr. James L. Llorens, Robert Square and Bonnie S. Jackson.
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LOCAL & STATE NEWS
BUSINESS NEWS
HEALTH NEWS
RELIGION
Hey babies, Now you all know that I am a wise woman and I pride myself on having just a little bit of Common sense, but I never claimed to be Dear Abbey. Howerver...See Page 6
INDEX
ANNUAL FUNDRAISER BENEFIT The Nubian Kruzers United MotorPaul’s town. With the New Orleans Hornets displaced by Hurricane Katrina, Paul spent part of his first two NBA seasons here...See Page 8
cycle Club will hold its 7th Annual State Rally Fundraiser JUNE 6, 7th and 8th at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, Louisiana.... See Page 3
LEMONADE DAY EVENT
The Economic Security Initiative Platform in partnership with the Exxon-Mobil YMCA located at 7717 Howell Blvd hosted its 3rd National Lemonade Day event. ...See Page 5
PAYMENT RATES ABOVE 80 PERCENT Top health insurance companies told members of Congress Wednesday that more than 80 percent of people who’ve signed up under the president’s new health care law have gone on to pay their premiums. See Page 7
Local & State............................2 Commentary.............................4 Business....................................5 Religion....................................6 Health.......................................7 Sports.......................................8
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