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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Page 2 • The
Weekly Press • Thursday, May 8, 2014
STATE & LOCAL
marge's
MARGE’S CHIT CHAT Just A Thought: All I am and all I ever would be I owe it first to God and then to my mother.
CASA Honors Volunteers: Picnic Provides Fun Day For Volunteers, Children; Local CASA Partners Receive State Awards
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY To all mothers and surrogate mothers thank you for your love, devotion and sacrifice on our behalf. You are truly a God sent. We love you.
BATON ROUGE, LA – April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and National Volunteer Month, a fitting time for Capital Area CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Association to honor its dedicated volunteers for their advocacy efforts on behalf of abused and neglected children. Capital Area CASA held its 15th annual CASA Picnic on April 12. Volunteer advocates spent a beautiful day at the Anna T. Jordan BREC Park with their CASA children and their own families as well as CASA staff and board members. CASA thanks all event partners: Baton Rouge Police Depart-
A Mother’s Love Author: Helen Steiner Rice
READER INFORMATION
Photo by Jennifer Meyer
Enjoying the 15th annual CASA Picnic are, from left, CASA Volunteer Lynnez Gray, CASA Board Chairman David Faulk, CASA Advocate Supervisor Ricketta Cotton-Monroe, CASA Volunteer Karen Jones, CASA Recruitment Coordinator Jennifer Mayer and CASA Board Member Jessica James.
How to Reach Us General Information225-775-2002 Fax . . . . . . . . . . . 225-775-4216 Email Address . . theweeklypress@yahoo.com . . . . . . thewpres@bellsouth.net The office is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 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
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Chit Chat
ment, BREC, Cartoon Man, Chris Miller Magic, District Six Fire Protection District, Downtown Kiwanis, Foster Parent Association of Greater Baton Rouge, JoJo Newsom of Q106.5, Kappa Alpha Theta, National Charity League, Oooh Aaah Productions, Party City on Airline Highway, photographers Paula Ouder and Jean Schexnayder, Raising Cane’s on Plank Road and Sparkhound Foundation. Capital Area CASA would also like to congratulate Board Chairman David Faulk of Faulk and Meek General Contractors and CASA Volunteer Jeremy Theriot of Cox Communications, who received awards during the “Geaux Blue for Kids” awards night hosted by LouisianaChildren.org on April 15 at the Capitol Welcome Center.
David Faulk received the Louisiana CASA Board Member of the Year award. Faulk is serving his third term as Capital Area CASA’s board chair. For more than a decade, his leadership has enabled the CASA staff to enhance the quality of advocacy for abused and neglected children in the community. “I have rarely seen the commitment, dedication and passion David has shown,” said Past Chair Michelle St. Martin. “He is the personification of the term ‘volunteer activist’ as his actions have generated much-needed community awareness and funding for the organization.” Jeremy Theriot received the Louisiana CASA Media Professional of the Year award. He demonstrates a commitment to
Party from page 1 Malema, who has vowed to redistribute wealth to the poor. Malema has become an outlet for the frustration of much of South Africa’s youth -- anger which might explain why only one-third of adults born after 1994 have bothered to register to vote. This disillusionment of the socalled born free generation -- those born after the end of white-only rule -- in a country where the potential of politics is well known reflects badly on the young democracy. While South Africa is richer and safer than it was at the end of racist apartheid rule, it is still blighted by racial and economic inequality. And its education system was found to be the 146th best of the 148 countries included in a survey by the World Economic Forum. “Our people have been misled for quite some time to believe that everything is good. The reality is that our people are in a worse situa-
tion,” said Malema, who is a former head of the ANC Youth League. “It’s no longer the party of Nelson Mandela. It’s no longer advocating what Nelson Mandela stood for.” As an example, Malema cites the revelation that President Jacob Zuma spent around $23 million of taxpayers’ money on refurbishments to his palatial private home. Nevertheless, Malema and other opposition parties face an uphill battle, despite widespread evidence of corruption and mismanagement. His Economic Freedom Fighters is expected to get around 5 percent of the vote. A big threat to the ANC comes from the Democratic Alliance, the largest opposition party, which might win 23 percent of the vote, according to an opinion poll by IPSOS. It already controls one of the country’s nine provinces, the Western Cape, and hopes to win the richest, Gauteng, which includes
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generating awareness of Capital Area CASA. In 2013, his efforts resulted in $31,850 worth of inkind media placements for CASA in collaboration with Cox Media. Theriot is also a CASA volunteer himself. “We are fortunate to have Jeremy Theriot as both a media contact and a volunteer,” said CASA Recruitment Coordinator Jennifer Mayer. “His dedication to raising awareness of CASA leads to more effective volunteer recruitment, enabling us to provide a volunteer for every child who needs a voice.” CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. Capital Area CASA Association’s mission is to advocate for timely placement of children in permanent, safe and stable homes. the city of Johannesburg. The poll suggests the ANC might get 63.9 percent of the poll, two points less than its share in 2009. The party’s role in the liberation struggle means that it is seen by many as the natural party of government, whatever its perceived faults. Still, Malema and others believe now is the time for South Africans to turn their backs on the ANC. When he took to the stage at his final rally at a stadium in Pretoria on Sunday, with thousands of supporters chanting his name, his pledge to become a serious electoral force seemed believable, and underlined the deep unhappiness that many in this country feel about the ANC. Is the perspective of Malema -- who opponents accuse of being a “mini Robert Mugabe” with a dangerous vision that includes a plan to nationalize the country’s mines -- correct? Loyalty to the ANC -- perceived as the party of the liberation struggle -- means an election victory is guaranteed, this time around at least. But if its majority is badly dented in the vote, South Africans might begin to imagine a day when the “natural party of government” is no longer in office.
A Mother’s love is something that no on can explain, It is made of deep devotion and of sacrifice and pain, It is endless and unselfish and enduring come what may For nothing can destroy it or take that love away . . . It is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking, And it never fails or falters even though the heart is breaking . . . It believes beyond believing when the world around condemns, And it glows with all the beauty of the rarest, brightest gems . . . It is far beyond defining, it defies all explanation, And it still remains a secret like the mysteries of creation . . . A many splendoured miracle man cannot understand And another wondrous evidence of God’s tender guiding hand. Love, Marge
Contempt from page 2 contempt of Congress was 231 to 187, with all Republicans voting in favor and all but a few Democrats voting against. Lerner invoked her Fifth Amendment right not to answer questions at a pair of hearings by the House Oversight Committee. House Republicans say she waived her constitutional right by making an opening statement in which she proclaimed her innocence. The matter now goes to Ronald Machen, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. Federal law says Machen has a “duty” to bring the matter before a grand jury. But a report by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service said it was unclear whether the duty is mandatory or discretionary. Machen was appointed to his job by President Barack Obama. “We will carefully review the report from the speaker of the House and take whatever action is appropriate,” Machen’s office said in a statement. The vote calling on the Justice Department to appoint a special counsel was 250 to 168, with all Republicans voting in
favor and most Democrats voting against. Attorney General Eric Holder has denied previous requests to appoint a special counsel, saying it was unwarranted. Three congressional committees and the Justice Department have spent much of the past year investigating the IRS over its handling of applications for tax-exempt status. So far, the congressional investigations have revealed that IRS officials in Washington were more involved in handling the applications than the agency initially acknowledged. However, the investigations have not publicly established that anyone outside the IRS knew about the targeting or directed it. Cummings released a report this week saying House Oversight Committee investigators have interviewed 39 witnesses, and found no involvement by the White House and no political conspiracy by IRS officials. Instead, many IRS witnesses said they lacked clear guidance from management on how to handle tea party applications, the report said.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MRS. INEZ ANDERSON To make it to a 90th Birthday is remarkable and a blessing. On Saturday, May 3, 2014 many in attendance celebrated the upcoming birthday for Mrs. Inez Anderson at Oak Lodge/ Orleans Room located off Sherwood Forest Boulevard and celebrated her 90th Birthday. It was a wonderful celebration and it was a “surprised party” and she was definitely surprised. A celebration given by her family, so many longstanding friends, family, church, neighbors and others attended this surprised celebration. It was a very festive affair, fun and truly an occasion to remember...
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Thursday, May 8, 2014 • The Weekly Press • Page 3
Nubian Kruzers United Motorcycle Club, Nku Foundation Inc., Holds 7th Annual Rally Fundraiser Benefitting Non-Profits In Baton Rouge
St. Aug Graduate To Represent US In World Cup Fencing Championship
NEW ORLEANS - Adam Roy Rodney will represent the United States in the World Cup Championship in Paris France on May
1st, 2014. A 2016 Olympic hopeful, Adam is a native New Orleanian, a graduate of St. Augustine High School and St. John’s University in
New York. He was selected to the United States World Fencing Team for the second time and recently trained at the United States Olympic
trading Center in Colorado Springs. Adam is also a music industry executive in Los Angeles and New York City.
Recording Artist Teslanay The Nubian Kruzers United Motorcycle Club will hold its 7th Annual State Rally Fundraiser JUNE 6, 7th and 8th at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, Louisiana. The family oriented event will feature games for kids, live R&B (featuring recording artist Teslanay and other Local entertainment), and old school DJ entertainment. The Bike Show on Saturday along with a Harley Davison Fashion, and the Swim Suit Competition. Sunday features a Car Show and Old school DJ entertainment. Fun and games through
out the whole weekend. Tickets are available now at $10 a day or $20 for a weekend pass. Last year’s rally donated $2,500 to WCRC Women’s Community Rehabilitation Center and the Capital Area Family Violence Intervention Center, Inc. The event sponsor include Coors Light, Harley Davidson of Baton Rouge, Friendly Yamaha-Honda , Hall Davis & Son Funeral Services, Myraid Insurance Group LLC, Lamar Advertising, and Rotary Club of BR. For tickets, or more information, call Eric 225-6031117, Wendell 225-571-6129.
IndyCar from page 1 of the planned race. Ongoing negotiations include scheduling a weekend for the event, which would also affect the timeline for track improvements that Miles said are needed for “safety, fan enjoyment and quality of racing.” 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. “This is great news for our entire state,” Jindal said. “A
ExxonMobil from page 3 three-day event would allow us to show off the excitement of an IndyCar Series race right here in Louisiana, as well as our state’s culture, entertainment and food. This event would be a great economic driver.” The NOLA Motorsports Park, a private, $60 million facility about 14 miles southwest of downtown New Orleans, features a 2.75-mile road course that has already hosted AMA motorcycle racing and developmental levels of open-wheel auto racing including the Indy Lights, Pro Mazda and USF2000 series.
SU grads who are Exxon retires to give in the future. “Hopefully we will be doing this every year.” The $100,000 donation comes about two weeks after Llorens announced that the Chancellor’s Scholarship Fund, which began in December of 2013, had raised $254,000. Llorens and his wife, Glenda, launched the fund with a personal $10,000 donation. Llorens said the $100,000 donation is important to maintaining and building enrollment on the Baton Rouge campus. The
fall 2013 enrollment increased for the first time in 8 years. The first-time freshman count rose 40 percent over the freshman class of 2012. “We appreciate what the members of the Golden Roots Annuitant Club are doing to help us provide scholarships and assistance to students who are choosing Southern University,” he said. “This donation, no doubt, will help us attract and keep more of the best and brightest on the campus.”
WE’RE EXPANDING LOUISIANA’S SMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENTS. BUT THERE’S MORE WORK TO BE DONE. The people of Baton Rouge can join the movement by supporting the local businesses that are leading the way by choosing to go smoke-free. It makes sense, since the majority of people in Louisiana—79%—don’t smoke. For a list of smoke-free spots near you, visit HealthierAirForAll.org.
COMMENTARY Thursday, May 8, 2014 • The Weekly Press • Page 4
The 7-Point Grading Scale: 3 Points Away From Success In the coming year, thousands of high school students will be completing college applications. These colleges will be looking for great ACT scores, community service hours, and extra-circular activities. However, the most significant deciding factor will be the GPA of the students making application. Many students will be shocked be when one of those coveted slots is given to someone else. That someone’s 91% numerical percentage for a particular class shows on their transcript as an A, but it may show on another student’s transcript as a B. This is the injustice of the sevenpoint grade scale. Students from different schools can finish a course with the same numerical percentage, but end up with a different letter grade. The difference in the grading scales can be a determining factor in whether a student passes a class or fails. By replacing the ten-point grading scale, schools thought it would motivate kids to try harder; instead it has had the opposite effect. Many high school students are being stressed out and working harder for a goal that is the standard for others. The seven-point grading scale should be changed back to the ten-point grading scale because it is misleading to the college admissions, demotivates students, and unfairly transforms the traditional grading scale that colleges use. High schools are supposed to prepare students for college but the sevenpoint grading scale does not do this. Students may spend hours studying for a particular class and finally find out that their grade for that class is a 92 B. In reality, that should be a 92 A. Finding this out upsets them and demotivates them. In my opinion, to reach a 92.5 to obtain an A is a higher threshold that students should not have to make. Additionally, the scale is not consistent with other schools in the state or at schools in other states. Students can do less and receive a better grade based on this three-point difference. This is demotivating and can cause grades to drop lower or stay the same. The seven-point grading scale is misleading to college admissions because unless a counselor asks for a percentage break down explaining the scale for a particular school, they will not know that the B received is really an A. Grades by far
are the most significant factor when looking over college applications. However, when grade point scales differ from school to school and state to state, it makes the challenge of getting into a top college, or any college more difficult due to this lack of consistency. Without the percentage breakdown, the playing field is not level. High school students should not have to suffer through this injustice just because the school board will not change their “special” grading scale. They should be required to use the traditional scale that most colleges and universities utilize. Students deserve to get the traditional grades that they work so very hard for. This is why the ten-point grading scale should be a nation-wide policy. It will motivate students knowing that they have reached the traditional threshold that will result in success. Such success meets the consistent expectation that 90% or above results in an A, and anything less than 60% results in an F. Why should it be necessary to get 2.5 more points to get an A especially since a student from somewhere else will show an A based on the traditional grading scale? The traditional scale gives students more hope and equal leverage. The ten-point grade scale can make a major difference in a student’s GPA and help them to get in a top college. The ten-point grading scale is the most used criteria in many high schools and in the majority of top colleges. There are so many positive benefits to keeping high schools consistent with a university’s assessment of grades. The ten-point grading scale will not result in any negative outcomes because there are none. The sevenpoint system should be ended in the states that use them and a more consistent application of the tenpoint system should occur, allowing for motivation and consistency among high schools and colleges. The article above edited by the Weekly Press, and written by Kaylani Sivayavirojna a student at Zachary High School. If any of you would like to respond to this issue or have other ideas, concerns and/ or suggestions please send them to us via email to theweeklypress@yahoo.com. Thank you.
Movement Building and Challenging Mass Incarceration By Raj Jayadev
I recently received a poem, “The New Jim Crows,” from an unlikely source: North Carolina Public Defender Danny Spiegel. Spiegel’s poem is an outpouring of the heartache and frustrations of his occupation, of how he is forced to bear witness to the damages of mass incarceration. Spiegel passionately tells the story of his clients – teen Melissa, who is tracked from foster care into jail; the schizophrenic who ends up locked in a cell rather than in treatment; and the broken families of the failed war on drugs. The poem reads lonely and angry. But the irony is that Spiegel’s narrative identifies those who can stop mass incarceration: those facing incarceration, their communities and the attorneys who represent them. Public-defense offices cannot do the job the community wants them to do because they don’t have the resources. The community then loses faith in defender offices because they aren’t doing the hoped-for job. The results? Our courtrooms have become plea mills, with a national plea rate above 90 percent, leading to mass incarceration. Shockingly, more than 1 percent of American adults are behind bars. One in 31 adults are in some phase of penal supervision – prison, parole or probation. These staggering numbers share one thing in common: They all got there through criminal courts. And, there is at
least an 80 percent probability that they were represented by a public defender. Those numbers, if tapped, could be a game changer. Incarceration decreases dramatically when a public defender partners with his or her client’s community. Families of people entangled in the justice system come together to make strategic decisions about their cases and determine how to better utilize or improve representation of their attorney. The families become extensions of the legal defense team – scouring police reports, discussing defense strategy, creating mitigation material and maintaining a presence in the courtroom. The often-overworked attorney then has backup to explore options other than the one the system is counting on the attorney and client to take: the quickest path to a plea deal. An individual facing charges is emboldened with the knowledge that the attorney is less likely to be coerced into that plea deal. Family and community participation changes the balance of power in the courts and, consequently, the outcome of cases. Participating in cases and being able to “look under the hood” of the courts shows where community power can be flexed into changing policies. For example, in our county, public defenders weren’t staffing the misdemeanor arraignment courts. As such, individuals See MOVEMENT, on page 7
The Question No One is Asking Donald Sterling By George E. Curry NNPA Columnist Why would a White racist have sex with a person of color? That’s the question that few people in the media want to raise, let alone address. But it is an ageold contradiction not limited to Donald Sterling, the hate spewing soon-to-be former owner of the Los Angeles Clippers. Beginning with slavery in the original colonies – even earlier in Africa with the arrival of European colonizers – White men have forced themselves on Black women. Caucasian men from Thomas Jefferson on the left to South Carolina Senator and longtime arch-segregationist Strom Thurmond on the right have projected one image in public while having sex – even children – with Black women under the cover of darkness. They were talking White (superiority ) while sleeping Black. I don’t for a moment pretend to know how to explain this obvious contraction. But in the case of Thomas Jefferson, the chief author of the Declaration of Independence, contradictions became a way of life long before he bedded and had children with Sally Hemings, a Black woman. Jefferson will forever be inextricably linked to these words in the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-
evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” At the time our Founding Fathers were proclaiming unalienable rights from God, most of them were enslaving God’s dark-skin creations. Jefferson enslaved nearly 200 African Americans. As Columbia University history professor Eric Foner wrote, “Slaves, of course, experienced the institution of politics and law quite differently from white Americans. Before the law, slaves were property who had virtually no legal rights. They could be bought, sold, leased and seized to satisfy an owner’s debt, their family ties had no legal standing, and they could not leave the plantation or hold meetings without permission from their owner.” And White owners did not need anyone’s permission to violate Black women. Jefferson began having sex with Sally Hemings, one of his domestic servants, when she was a teenager. The Thomas Jefferson Foundation acknowledges that it “and most historians believe that, years after his wife’s death, Thomas Jefferson was the father of the six children of Sally Hemings mentioned in Jefferson’s records, including Beverly, Harriet, Madison and Eston
Hemings.” South Carolina, like Virginia, had laws prohibiting both interracial marriage and intercourse between Blacks and Whites. If a free Black man had sex with a White woman in South Carolina during the Colonial period, he would automatically lose his freedom, according to Judge A. Leon Higginbothan, Jr.’s book, In the Matter of Color. Years later, Strom Thurmond’s interracial dalliances would represent the height of hypocrisy. Running for president in 1948 on the Dixiecrat ticket he said: “I want to tell you, ladies and gentlemen, there’s not enough troops in the army to force the Southern people to break down segregation and accept the Negro into our theaters, into our swimming pools, into our homes and into our churches.” Fifty years ago, Thurmond led the filibuster against the 1964 Civil Rights Act, still the longest debate in Senate history. Thurmond referred to Negroes as “nigras.” But while publically despising Blacks, he had a different attitude in the bedroom, impregnating his parents’16-year-old maid. The daughter of that encounter, Essie Washington-Williams, wrote in her autobiography, “As much as I wanted to belong to him, I never felt like a daughter, only an accident.”
Armstrong Williams, a Black conservative who began working Thurmond in 1978, recalled the senator confirming he was Washington-Williams’ biological father. “The subject came up again while the senator and I were attending a South Carolina State football game in Orangeburg. He mentioned how he had arranged for Mrs. Williams to attend the college while he was governor…,” Williams wrote. “‘When a man brings a child in the world, he should take care of that child,’ he told me, and added, “‘She’ll never say anything and neither will you. Not while I’m alive.’” And neither did – until after Thurmond’s death. Considering the history of Thomas Jefferson and Strom Thurmond, no one should have been surprised when Donald Sterling told his mistress, who described herself has part Mexican and part Black: “It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people. Do you have to?…You can sleep with [black people]. You can bring them in, you can do whatever you want. The little I ask you is not to promote it on that … and not to bring them to my games… “I’m just saying, in your lousy See THE QUESTION, on page 5
Billion Dollar Debt Buying and Collection Abuses By Charlene Crowell NNPA Columnist
Are you or someone you know being pursued or harassed late into the evenings and on weekends by debt collectors? If so, research shows that you are among one in seven Americans being pursued by debt collection agencies. In a newly-released chapter in its State of Lending series, the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) found that debt buying and debt collection is big, big business. Among publicly-traded debt buyers’ income grew from $582 million in 2009 to more than $1 billion in 2012. And amid these billion dollar deals, scant regulation allows profiteers to take advantage of financially-distressed consumers, often securing court judgments for debts that may not even be owed. A 2009 Federal Trade Commission analysis of 3.9 million consumer accounts, found only 6 percent of the accounts came with any documentation. The new report also cites a disproportionate impact on lowand moderate-income communities. Black communities were also found to have higher rates of debt buyer lawsuits and default judgments. “The sheer lack of accountability in this industry is astonishing,” said Lisa Stifler, CRL
policy counsel and co-author of the report. “There is no requirement to verify debt information or inform a consumer about the transfer of debt. Sometimes a consumer learns about a debt only after an onslaught of collection attempts – or worse – a judgment is entered and wages are garnished or a bank account is seized.” Debt buyers, specializing in purchasing delinquent debts and charged-off accounts, pick from a range of products and services: credit cards, auto loans, utility and phone bills, tax liens, medical services and more. Often, the only information transferred in debt transactions are a name, last known address, and purported amount owed. Lenders that typically sell charged-off debts, offer these accounts “as is’ without any assurances or guarantees to the data’s accuracy of amounts owed or collectability of the debts. Over the past few years, the 19 largest banks sold about $37 billion in charged-off debt each year. The result is that many times, debt buyers attempt to collect from or sue the wrong people, overstate the amount, or even collect illegitimate debts. The financial gain for the debt buyer is a purchase of accounts often for only cents on dollars owed. From 2006-2009, the nation’s top debt buyers purchased $143 billion in consumer debt;
but paid only $6.5 billion, approximately 4.5 cents on the dollar purchased. Then they are able to turn around a significant profit by collecting the full amount of the account. Unfortunately, consumers are often unaware that their accounts have been sold to third parties. Usually, it is only after consumers begin receiving phone calls, letters, and correspondence from firms they do not know that they learn their accounts were sold. Some do not learn of the debt buyer until after a judgment is entered against them, and they find their wages garnished or bank accounts seized. Other consumer abuses include collection tactics that include offensive language during collection attempts, illegal threats to sue, and misrepresentation on amounts owed or the legal status of a loan. As more debt buyers turn to the courts to sue consumers for debts owed, many obtain default judgments in their favor when consumers fail to appear in court. Missing a court appearance can happen for a variety of reasons, including that no notice of a lawsuit was ever received, a lack of understanding of the court process or the inability to secure legal representation. When courts order a default judgment in the debt collector’s favor, collectors gain an extension on the life of the debts and
also the legal right to collect in a variety of ways including bank account seizure, wage garnishment and property attachment. All too often, default judgments are based on inaccuracies, incomplete or outdated personal information or questionable claims. “What we’re seeing is a pattern of predatory practices when it comes to some kinds of debt buying and collection – and that’s what is concerning,” said Mike Calhoun, CRL president.. “Just as a lender has the right to collect debts owed, borrowers should have the right to information about their debt and how it’s being handled and collected.” It should be noted that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Federal Trade Commission share regulation of this industry. Further, CFPB recently began the process that will likely to lead to the first-ever rules overseeing debt collection. “With prudent oversight at the federal and state levels, there’s no reason why this problem can’t be fixed”, concluded Calhoun. Charlene Crowell is a communications manager with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@ responsiblelending.org.
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, May 8, 2014 • The Weekly Press • Page 5
BUSINESS
Meet Latoya S. Griffin Middleton
AKA - Gamma Eta Omega Chapter and ExxonMobil YMCA Host National Lemonade Day Event Latoya S. Griffin Middleton Submitted by Mary Wells “The Southern University System Foundation along with the College of Business has provided me with the awesome opportunity to study abroad at the 2014 U.S./China Student Summit in Shanghai and Beijing this summer.” The 100,000 Strong Foundation and WorldStrides share a mission of encouraging American students to study abroad and in China. Today’s students are the global leaders of tomorrow. Bridging the gap between cultures, strengthening US-China relations, and enhancing global stability to create a tomorrow we all desire. Students participating in the 2014 U.S./ChinaStudent Summit will have the opportunity to take the Advanced Global Perspectives course and earn two or three university credits offered by
WorldStrides online as part of their Summit experience. In a market of increased globalization and cross-cultural contexts, success will be determined by one’s ability to navigate various environments, customs, and cultures. Students in this course will capitalize on international site visits, experiential learning opportunities, collaboration, and problem-solving skills, while participating in the Summit experience. “ When donors support Southern, they are investing in the future of its most valuable resource, its students’. That investment allows students like me to be professionally developed and exposed to global industry practices in my selected discipline.” Name: Latoya S. Griffin Middleton Hometown: Baker, Louisiana Major: Masters of Business Administration Minor: Human Resource Development and International Business.
The Question from page 5 f******* Instagrams, you don’t have to have yourself with, walking with black people…Don’t put him (Magic Johnson) on an Instagram for the world to have to see so they have to call me. And don’t bring him to my games.” Donald Sterling, far from being a rarity, simply added another link to the long, scandalous U.S. history of hypocrisy.
George E. Curry, former editorin-chief of Emerge magazine, is editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service (NNPA.) He is a keynote speaker, moderator, and media coach. Curry can be reached through his Web site, www.georgecurry.com. You can also follow him at www.twitter. com/currygeorge and George E. Curry Fan Page on Facebook.
Photo Provided By: Ron Smith On May 3, 2014, the Economic Security Initiative Platform in partnership with the Exxon-Mobil YMCA located at 7717 Howell Blvd hosted its 3rd National Lemonade Day event. G a m m a E t a O m e g a ’s Emerging Young Leaders and Mt. Carmel Baptist Church (Prescott Road) Junior Girl Scouts participated in this activity. The event was held from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Ron
Smith, Executive Director of the Exxon Mobil YMCA, met with the participants and discussed the pros and cons of owning a business inclusive of food safety/cleanliness to providing marketing strategy tips for selling lemonade. Each participate received a National Lemonade Day backpack. Two actual lemonade stands were constructed, decorated and positioned outside the front entrance of the YMCA.
The participants created signs and used their selling skills to solicit customers to purchase
lemonade for $1 per cup. Mayor Kip Holden came out in support of this event.
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Weekly Press • Thursday, May 8, 2014
ASK THE CHURCH LADY 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. However, if you want a dose of truth… well I can certainly help you with that. If you don’t want to know though don’t ask me because I’ve got my own don’t ask don’t tell policy. Oh who am I kidding… if you don’t ask me I’m probably going to tell you anyway, but if you do ask me then I’m really going to tell you on the real. So anyway, I got a letter the other day from one of you babies and I thought that it was worth sharing so here it goes… Dear Church Lady, My daughter recently got involved in a new relationship. I hardly see her anymore. I call her telephone continually and there is no answer, I text and there is no response. I am worried because this is very unusual. Normally she always answers and she will text me back immediately, but these days the only way I get to hear my babies voice is from an answering machining telling me that she is tied up at the moment and she can’t come to the phone. I don’t know what in the world is going on. Do you think this young man is doing something to her? Maybe they are so busy having Bible study that she just can’t answer the phone. I don’t mind them spending time studying the word, but what about me? I read
RELIGION
I Am On A Roll So Don’t Rock My Boat Dr. James L. Snyder
your article every week and I just thought that perhaps you could help me. Please tell me where my little girl has gone, I want her to come back home. Signed a lonely mother Hee, hee, Chile please. Now I’m going to try and be gentle with you baby. Well maybe not because you know I’ve got to keep it real. Girl you need to get you a life, but no really… Pray and ask the Lord to send you your Boaz cause sounds like your daughter may have already found hers. In the mean-time, baby I hate to break it to you, that your daughter is not having bible study. She might be tied up, but hm, hmm. hm I’m not touching that! No, no, no. Now as far as whether or not that young man is doing something to her… hee, hee, yeah he probably is, but if you don’t already know I can’t tell you what he’s doing to her. Like Tamala Mann says, I can only imagine, yes indeed, but what I will tell you is that whatever it is; it’s something that you can’t See CHURCH LADY, on page 7
Have you ever had one of those weeks where everything went exactly as planned? Well, neither have I, except for last week. I do not know what was going on last week, all I know is everything went according to plan. My plan, that is. I was on a roll. In a sense, that worries me. I am not accustomed to having my week work out according to my plans. Normally, if I can get 50% of my plans accomplished in a week, I am doing pretty well. Last week was one of those weeks, which may never repeat itself ever again, I am sorry to say. Or, am I sorry? In contrast, the week before it was horrendous. I was out of town on business for the week and had to return via the airplane. If you have ever been on an airplane, you know that the 10 dwarfs of Snow White fame designed the seats. I think the one in charge of the seat project was Grumpy. I was flying from Chicago to Orlando, which is not that bad of a trip. I boarded the plane in Chicago and took my seat at B3. I got all snuggled and strapped in and was prepared for the trip. No sooner had I gotten into this state of affairs, and you know getting into those seats is one of the great challenges that a real man has, somebody came and stood at the aisle looking at me and said in a high pitch grumpy voice, “You are sitting in my seat.” The emphasis on the word “my,” indicated to me I was up against someone that I did not
want to be up against. “I’m sorry, madam,” I stated as calmly as possible, “but this is my seat.” I tried to emphasize the word “my” to get the message across. She stared at me with one of those stares that penetrates the very soul of a person’s manhood. Then she waved her ticket at me and said, “You are sitting in MY seat.” I took out my ticket to wave at her and prove she was wrong. Much to my chagrin, my seat was B13. Do you know what it takes to get unbuckled from a plane seat and extradite yourself out of it? Especially when Ms. Grumpy is staring at you with one of those stares. I went back to B13 and went through the same procedure to get myself situated in the seat for someone half my size. Just before the plane took off, I heard in the seat behind me a little baby start to cry. “Oh, no,” I said to myself, “not a crying baby!” Sure enough, in the seat behind me was a baby with lungs the size of an elephant. I tried pretending I did not hear, but the more I pretended the more I heard. That baby cried from the moment we took off until the moment we landed. When we landed, the baby fell asleep. I wanted to cry myself. That was last week. This week was different in every respect. I enjoyed this week, particularly the fact that I got all my “to-do-list” accomplished and by early Friday afternoon, I had nothing to do. Nothing to do! Then a thought wrestled my
brain to the mat. What if the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage found out I had finished all my work and had nothing to do? When I thought about this, one thought that was predominant was that it is a good thing when I do NOT finish everything in a week. Then, I have the excuse that I have too much to do to delve into the “honey-do-list” of which my wife is most famous. I believe this “honey-do-list” is something mothers pass on to their daughters. It is part of the women’s secret society that does not permit any intrusion from the non-female counterpart. It is the reason wives prefer their husbands call them the secret name, “Honey.” Whenever the husband uses this term of endearment the wife smiles one of those romantic smiles that her husband has no idea what is behind that smile. It has taken me a long time to come to this point of understanding. While, it is very gratifying to get your work for the week done ahead of schedule, it creates an opportunity for the intrusion of that infamous “honey-do-list.” This list has no end to it. When you accomplish one item on the “honey-do-list,” three other items appear automatically. It is virtually impossible to finish everything on that list. It is part of the wife’s secret society no man can penetrate. Being on such a good roll in any given week is not the grand thing I thought it was. I am now content to have my desk piled high with unfinished work at the end of each week.
We Are What We Think By Creflo Dollar
Recently God said to me, “I want to show you how to operate the kingdom of God system as a human being. Your mind is the starting point—as a man thinketh in his heart so is he.” If you don’t like your life or what has manifested in it, consider what you have been thinking about. We arewhat we think. Therefore, it is crucial for us to examine what we are considering the most in our lives especially when we are not getting results. There’s indeed a problem when our lives do not line up with the Word, and the problem is wrong thinking. When we make the decision to consider the Word first and foremost, we must understand that it will require focus. It will also require a commitment to keep our attention on God’s promises despite what we see. The enemy will try to distract us and cause our minds to focus more on the problems. However, when we focus more on our problems than we do on the answers (from the Word) fear, doubt, and unbelief will take over our minds. As a result, we will remain where we are. Many people would argue with me on that last point and say that thoughts of doubt, fear, and worry are normal. They would go as far as to say that it is simple human nature. I agree to a certain extent. However, we can train our thoughts to line up with the Word. Brother Kenneth Copeland taught me a valuable lesson when it comes
See MY BOAT, on page 7
CHURCH DIRECTORY
See THINK, on page 7
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 Let the community know whats happing at your place of worship. Email your church event or religious organization news to The Weekly Press @ theweeklypress@yahoo.com or call 225-775-2002
Email your church event or religious organization news to The Weekly Press @ thewpress@yahoo.com or call 225-775-2002
Pastor Rev. Dr. Roosevelt Florida, Jr. Co-Pastor Rose J. Florida
VISION CHRISTIAN CENTER, INTERNATIONAL 1047 Rosenwald Road Baton Rouge, LA 70807 Telephone: (225) 774-8125 • E-Mail - visionchristianc@bellsouth.net Sunday Worship.........................................................................10:00 a.m. Holy Communion2nd Sunday.................................................... 10:00 a.m. Intercessory Prayer Wednesday................................................. 6:00 p.m. Mid-Week ServiceWednesday.................................................... 7:00 p.m.
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Come enjoy the Sweet atmosphere of love with us. Please bring you children for the children are the future to tomorrow’s World. You will experience blessings of Healing, Deliverance, Freedom of Bandages, and so much more of what the Lord has for you, your family and your love ones!!! Direction to Hope Christian Center is located at 5013 Windfalls Coutts If you are coming from Airline Highway north or south come to Hank Drive. Once on Hank Drive go through two (2) STOP SIGNS and to you left will be 5013 Windfalls Court to your immediate left Hope Christian Center is located at 5013 Windfalls Courts, Baton Rouge 70812 For more information, please contact either of these numbers (225) 355-8194 or 225-673-1633.
Rev. Leo Cyrus Sr., Pastor Order Of Services Sunday Worship...................................................... 11:00 A.M. Holy Communion.................................. 3rd Sunday 6:00 P.M. Sunday School..........................................................9:00 A.M. Bible Study................................................Thrusday 7:00 P.M.
Thursday, May 8, 2014 • The Weekly Press • Page 7
Court from page 7 said the number of domestic violence cases on her docket has probably tripled since she first took the bench in 2007. “I think that having a specific domestic violence court is a good idea. In family court we hear the protective orders. We hear the protective orders from married people, people that have lived together, have children in common, and dating violence. We hear all of that. In criminal court they handle the criminal side of it,” Baker said. “I think it’s an excellent idea because you want your judges, your prosecutors, and your attorneys to be trained specifically in recognizing what the danger signs are. What are signs of fatality?” District Attorney Hillar
Moore also supports the idea of a domestic violence court. At Wednesday’s meeting he agreed to work with the judges to develop a plan. Judge Johnson said he’d like to try a pilot program before asking for legislative approval and said building a coalition will be key. “We need the stakeholders from law enforcement to come to the table. That’s one. We need the District Attorney’s office to come forward. That’s two. We need the city prosecutor to come forward, that’s the Mayor’s office. That’s three, and we need the judges to come together. Put us all at the table, have us to develop a model, but the community must ask us for it,” Johnson said.
Movement from page 7 were going to their first court date without counsel and negotiating pleas with a judge themselves. As a community, we assumed that was just the way the system worked. It wasn’t until our community organizing work took us to courts in other counties that we realized how injurious our county’s practices were. The local civil rights community called on the public defender to staff the misdemeanor arraignment court. Armed with the knowledge that the community was behind her, the public defender went to county purseholders and received funding to staff attorneys at that court. The result was a systemic change that will save thousands of people from improper conviction. We need to shift perspective,
to stop thinking of public defense as a service and to begin thinking of it as part of a movement to challenge mass incarceration. For many, public defense is viewed as an apparatus of the criminal justice system, not an extension of the movement to reform the system. It’s why we hear terms like “public pretender” commonly used in communities affected by mass incarceration. Public defender offices don’t speak forcefully enough to demand resources and point out the systemic inequities leading to their high caseloads. But communities can advocate the changes public defenders need to make to do the job their clients deserve, and, in doing so, can take on the court machinery of mass incarceration.
My Boat from page 7 Since I had a little bit of time on my hands, I read what good old King Solomon, the wisest man that ever lived, thought along these lines. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). If I do not use my time to the best of my ability, the prob-
abilities are pretty high somebody will intrude and use that time for some other use. Rev. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God Fellowship, PO Box 831313, Ocala, FL 34483. He lives with his wife, Martha, in Silver Springs Shores. Call him at 1-866-552-2543 or e-mail jamessnyder2@att.net. His web site is www.jamessnyderministries.com.
Church Lady from page 7 do for her or to her. That’s why she is not answering your calls or texting you right back. She’s busy baby, hee, hee. What I will suggest to you is that you pray for your child and cover her and keep her covered by the blood of Jesus. If you have not done it already; you need to have “the talk” with your daughter. That’s what I said baby, talk, talk, talk…talk about babies, talk about STD’s, talk about HIV and AIDS if you have not already. Tell her what God says about relationships: You know, about how marriage is honorable… but also make sure that you tell her to take care of herself and to make sure that she is protected. Chile I want you to be informed or the next time your letter just might be saying, “Church lady I’m going to be a grandmother!” Well, babies I hope that I helped the lonely mother, but
ya’ll pray for her you here because some of you have had similar experiences and may be still going through it. I heard a song by that big ole teddy singer. Ya’ll know the one that I am talking he was on American Idol; ya’ll know who I’m talking about Reuben St….Studdard. Hee, hee. He says what you’re going through might be medicine for someone else. Alright my sweethearts, I’m going to shut it down, but I’ll be back next week with something else to say, but until then be blessed, stay saved, and talk to your children; young and older okay. I love you sugars, and I’ll see you in church! To contact The Church Lady write to 1283 Rosenwald Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70807 or by e-mail at this address churchladywpress or theweeklypress@ yahoo.com.
Think from page 7 to taking control of our thoughts. I have seen him take control of his thoughts many times. For instance, whenever he faces a challenge, and start thinking about the problem, he says, “No! I’m not going to think about that! Instead,I am going to consider what God’s Word says about it!” That’s huge. It demonstrates the fact that we can take authority over negative thoughts and cast them down by faith. It doesn’t matter what the problem may be, the solution is found in the Word. For example, you may not have the money to pay a past due bill and doubt is bombarding your thoughts. Your mind is filled with questions such as, “How am I going to pay this? What am I going to do?” Instead of meditating on the problem, you can switch your focus to the Word and say, “No! I’m not going to allow these thoughts to take over my mind! God is my source and He has given me what I need to live a life that is pleasing to Him. I am abundantly supplied because God is my source!” When you think this way, the miracle of supernatural multiplication is put into motion the same as when
Jesus blessed the small amount of food (several loaves of bread and a few fishes) to feed thousands of people. Here’s a promise, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee (Isaiah 26:3). When we are steadfast in remaining focused on God’s Word, we will begin to experience a supernatural peace that passes all understanding. Peace is another word for wholeness, which means there is nothing missing or broken. It is time for us to believe His Word, stay focused on it, and see the manifestations of His promises. God wants us to live in an abundance of peace where there is nothing missing, lacking or broken in our lives. However, it all begins with our thinking. We are what we think! If you are ready to take authority over your thoughts, I have a teaching called Renewing Your Mind: Learning to Change, which will teach you how to change negative thought patterns and align them with the Word of God. Isn’t it time for a real change in your life? Why not start today!
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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 wont come out exactly as you wish but you can have a good weeping, wailing crying falling, out tantrum and give all those problems to him. While you are praying, you might forget some of the things that vexed you but God knows what you are going through. he can read the pain, which flows through your tears. even though he knows what’s troubling you, he still wants to tell him about it and bring your problems and burdens to him.
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 and dried tears on your face, but you’ll feel better after emptying yourself of those things which had been heavy on your heart. Sometimes we go for weeks or months trying to take matters into our hands and try to solve our own problems. We are not super humans; we can’t handle everything alone. We need God’s help. We have to let go of those situations and let God handle them. there are some things we can’t humanly do anything about.
ChildRen from page 4 ering all children. the CDF Action Council, building on the best practices in states and lessons learned about children falling through the bureaucratic WASHINGTON Top cracks of Medicaid and— SChiP, health insurance companies told strongly urged Congress to enact members of Congress Wednesthe All healthy Children Act, day that more than 80introduced percent of S. 1564/h.r. 1688, people who’ve signed up under by representative Bobby Scott the president’s new health care (D-VA) in the house and Senator law haveSanders gone on(i-Vt) to payintheir preBernie the Senate. the would miums —measure a necessary stepprovide for the comprehensive benefits including enrollment figures touted by the dental and mental health, simpliObama administration to hold up. fiedAetna bureaucracy, a national reportedand payment rates plan families up to ineligibility “the lowto for mid-80 percent 300 percent of the federal poverty range;” Wellpoint said the rate level. 62 house cowas as We highthank as 90the percent for those sponsors for theirhad support. whose premium comehowdue; ever,the weHealth regret that a single and Careneither Service Corhouse republican nor any other poration, which sells Blue Cross Senator joined them to push for Blue Shield plans in five states, coverage all at children. pegged theforrate 83 percent or the CDF Council above. The Action figures were strongly in line supports long overdue covwith what individualhealth insurers erage for everyone in America as have said on earnings calls with soon as possible—because children analysts and elsewhere in recent cannot wait. As SChiP comes up weeks. again for reauthorization in early Democrats seizedMember on the fig2009, we hope every of ures disclosed a House hearing Congress willatinsist on covering as the latest signpregnant that the mother health every child and care law has defied its critics and now by enacting and adequately isfunding working. the provisions of the All “By Children any rational, healthy Act.reasonable measure we can call this sucSpecious claims thatlaw we acould cess,” said Diana DeGette, not find theRep. money—$70 billion D-Colo. over five years—to cover all Republicans plenty more children is beliedsaid by that amount questions remained —for including spent in eleven months tax cuts whether rates rise next year for the top onewill percent of richest Americans and inand seven and by how much, howmonths many the iraq War.were We do not have offorthose covered previously a money problem in America: We have a priorities and political will deficit. it is time for all adults to protect the health of our children.
the citizens of the nation must demand that our leaders free our children from the false ideological and political tugs of war among those who put excess profits ahead uninsured. of children’s lives. “While theCongress administration how well did protect toasts law’s Not success with its childrenthe in 2007? well enough: Hollywood allies, declaringhad this 276 Members of Congress conversation over,Council we willConcongood CDF Action tinue our pursuit forscores facts,”ofsaid gressional Scorecard 80 Rep. Fred Upton,and R-Mich., percent or higher, 198 of chairthose had stellar scores of 100 percent. man of the Energy and Commerce But 231 members scored 60 percent Committee. or lower—a grade from our The sixfailing insurance industry school days.summoned by an inwitnesses Whether Members of Congress vestigations subcommittee of the are liberal, or modEnergy andconservative Commerce Commiterate; Democrat, or tee were unable torepublican provide details independent, children needorallhow of on coming rate changes them topeople vote, lobby, speak for and many were previously unprotect them. Adults need to listenat insured, prompting frustration carefully to what candidates say times from Republicans who’d they will for children and famicalled thedohearing. lies and, they are office, “It isonce baffling thatin we can we need to hold them accountable. have some of our nation’s largPlease thank your Members of Conest insures and you don’t have gress with scores of 80 percent or any internal analysis” on whether above and let those with scores of rates will go complained 60 percent orup, below know youRep. are Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn. dissatisfied with their performance. In response that question And please conveytothat same mesand others, insurers responded sage to each presidential candidate. that the demand calculations were not We must that our leaders completed or the data were not commit to children as a condition yet available. of our vote. “We just don’t have access to Marian those numbers,” saidisDennis Wright Edelman PresiMatheis, an executive at Welldent of the Children’s Defense Fund point, Inc. Council whose Leave and its Action Wednesday’s hearingiswas No Child Behind® mission to called in thechild wakea Healthy of the release ensure every Start, a Head Start, a Fair Safe of a GOP report lastStart, weeka findStartthat andasa of Moral Start in life ing mid-April, onlyand 67 successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.
(NAPSM)-A survey commissioned by two leading health organizations found that although two out of three African Americans (61 percent) expressed concern about developing heart disease and two out of five (40 percent) expressed concern about developing Alzheimer’s, only about one in 20 are aware that heart health is linked to brain health. the Alzheimer’s Association is joining forces with the American heart Association to educate African Americans that by managing their cardiovascular risk, they may also strengthen their cognitive health. “What’s good for your heart is good for your brain,” says Jennifer Manly, Ph.D., Alzheimer’s Association spokesperson. “every healthy heartbeat pumps about one-fifth of your blood to your brain to carry on the daily processes of thinking, problem solving and remembering.” “By the year 2030, the number of African Americans age 65 or older is expected to more than double to 6.9 million,” said emil Matarese, M.D., percent of people who’d signed American heart Association spokesupperson. for health plans had is “Althoughactually Alzheimer’s paid month’s premium. nottheir partfirst of normal aging, age is the That wouldrisk have undermined the greatest factor for Alzheimer’s Obama administration’s claims disease. So it is important that Afthat with more than million rican Americans take8steps now to people signed Afforddecrease their up, risk the of heart disease, able Careresearch Act has has proven itself which shown could also decrease the risk of cognitive a success. decline.” But the GOP report didn’t take into account a surge of signups as the health law’s first open enrollment period drew to a close at the end of March, and none of the insurance industry witnesses called Wednesday ratified its findings.(NAPSi)-here’s an alert worth Witnesses also were reluctant to paying attention to: According to the fallAmerican in line with Democratic Diabetes Association lines of questioning (ADA), learning your designed risk for type 2 to diabetes show thecould law save is anyour unbridled life. success. Diabetes is a serious disease that Indeed, the hearing was most strikes nearly 21 million children notable for how frequently and adults in the U.S. it is the named table six witnesses fell silent the of “silent killer” because one-third under questioning from one side of those with the disease--more than 6 or million--do the other and to be drawn nothad know they have it. many, diagnosis come out byFor lawmakers aiming tomay prove seven to 10 years after the onset of their contention. type early was diagnosis But2 diabetes. if the hearing not is critical illuminating, for successful treatment always it wasand can delay or be prevent some certain not to the last of of its the complications suchelection as heart diseases, kind in a midterm year blindness, kidney disease, stroke where Republicans are aiming toand amputation. capitalize on the unpopularity of that’s onetoreason the ADA holds “Obamacare” hold onto control Diabetes Alert® of the theAmerican House and perhaps retakeDay, one-day wake-up call to inform the thea Senate. American public about the serious-
Announcement of Fully Licensed Facility
BATON ROUGE, LA -Champion Medical Center Baton Rouge successfully met Louisiana’s hospital licensure requirements to receive its hospital license. The state-of-the-art facility celebrated its grand opening on February 5, just a few months after the location was secured and renovated with leading edge technology. Champion will begin performing surgeries in May 2014. “This licensure directly reflects Champion’s vigilant efforts and unwavering commitment to provide the Baton Rouge community with specialized surgical care,” says CEO Robert Cathey. “Our first surgeries have already been scheduled for May and our team looks forward to providing clinical excellence and superior patient care. Champion offers a highly focused of surgiResearch showscollection a link between heart and brain heal cal specialties, including: spine, or- brain functio heart function could lead to impaired thopedic and sports management, pain management, foot and ankle surgery, gastroenterology, breast reconstruction, vascular surgery, and general surgery. Mr. Cathey continues, “our hospital does not strive to provide every service, ness of diabetes, particularly when increased p rather strive toand beuntreated. the best delay or pr it is left we undiagnosed at providing a few highly spe- diabetes. the day is held on the fourth tuesday cialized surgeries.” Located in of every March. Among Baton Rouge theareintersecon that day, near people encour- for type 2 tion Harding agedof to Howell take the and Diabetes riskBoutest, weight, sed either withChampion paper and pencil online. 45 and hav levards, offersorunique, the risk test requireswith usersatomedical answer diabetes. Af personalized-care sevendedicated simple questions aboutcomage, Native Ame team to performing weight, lifestyleutilizing and family history-- islanders a plex surgeries advanced all potential risk for diabetes. technology andfactors techniques. The are women People scoring 10 points or more are more than 25,000-square-foot, specialized at a high risk for type 2 diabetes and the Dia surgical hospital will have four are encouraged to talk with a health operating rooms, 11 patient beds, care professional. andAnone procedure room. Ameriestimated 54 million Champion Medical Center cans have pre-diabetes. those with Baton Rougehave is a blood specialized surgipre-diabetes glucose levcal hospital dedicated to not healing els higher than normal but high enough to be diagnosed with type through world-renowned clinical 2 diabetes. leaders providing medical excelearly lifestyle lence andintervention personalizedvia care. With changesexcellence such as weight loss and clinical as Champion’s driving force, world-class phyNo sicians utilizing cutting-edge technology complete patient proIf you cedures. At Champion Medical scree Center Baton Rouge, every patient receives individualized nursing scree care with staff dedicated to the Presen patient’s clinical and personal cures. This year’s grantees, of Our needs. From high thread count Land Line 356-0703 selected by(225) an independent linens to gourmet food and wellmade Cell Phone (225) 235-6955 review panel through a comappointed patient rooms; everyGSRASAC E-mail:application Goodshepherdbapt@bellsouth. petitive process, thing at Champion Medical Center include Cancer Services net Hours: Mon-Thurs 8amof – 8 pm Baton Rouge will exceed expectaGreater Baton Rouge, Mary Breast tions. For more information, visit Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Substance Good Shepherd Abuse Center Tuesday championbr.com or follow us on River Region Cancer ScreenIntensive Outpatient /Facebook Inpatient Twitter, TherapyGoogle+, and 10am – ing Center, Woman’s Hospital, For Drugs, Alcohol, Anger Management and YWCA of Greater Baton LinkedIn. LSUHSC Rouge. For more information Contact: Meredith McKee 1401 N. 2873Komen MissionBaton DriveRouge Rev. Donald Britton, MA, LAC about at 214.577.5896 or by e-mail at Baton R Baton Rouge,program LA 70805 Director and its grants visit Clinical meredith@minervaco.com for (225) 315-0740 Bishop Harris Hayes, Overseer komenbatonrouge.org. additional information.
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Race for the Cure® Generates $270,000 forVisit LocalUs Online @ talk Radio www.theweeklypress.com Health Systems and Community Organizations from page 4
all funny or remotely appropriate about the use of a lynching reference about Michelle obama,’’ he said. ‘’it’s - i’m speechless.’’ As President Bush pointed out so eloquently during the Black history Month event, the noose represents ‘’more than a tool of murder but a tool of intimidation’’ to generations of African-Americans. Nooses not only robbed some of their lives but many of their peace of mind. ‘’As a civil society, we must understand that noose displays and lynching jokes are deeply offensive. they are wrong. And they have no place in America today,’’ he said. Neither o’reilly nor ingraham has been reprimanded by their respective employers even though the Fox News personality did offer a half-hearted apology. G. Komen® AtSusan least ingraham didn’tBaton drop Rouge has awarded $270,000 the l-word but her suggestion thatto five local agencies will proSharpton, a formerthat presidential vide thousands of women (and candidate and respected member of men) with lifesaving breast health the African-American community screenings, and beyond, patient is a pettynavigation, thief reeks public education survivor of race-baiting andand negative stesupport. reotyping of African-Americans “The men needinfor breast health and black particular. services is great in our community, But it’s hardly the first time eiand Komen Baton Rouge is happy ther has ventured into questionable toand partner with territory. local organizations offensive how can that are dedicated to our mission of saving lives and ending breast cancer,” said Angela Miller, ExyStem page 4Baton ecutive Directorfrom of Komen Rouge. “Each of these grants will benefit womenout and families cally pointed that changesin our ten-parish service area.” In which occur in a human being is addition grants, redirectedtotocommunity pull from the core Komen is humanity contributing more of his own to reaffirm than $100,000 national self worth and to purpose. hebreast will cancer to advance both then byresearch nature acquire the will to prevention and treatment. do for himself and others. Findings from a toKomen Space is not available cover Baton Rouge Health concerns of soBreast many people Community Needs Assessment,
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we forget o’reilly’s less-thaninformed comments regarding a dinner he shared last year with Sharpton at Sylvia’s in harlem? o’reilly expressed surprise over how similarSylvia’s was to other restaurants in New York restaurants. ‘’there wasn’t one person in Sylvia’s who was screaming, ‘M-Fer, i want more iced tea,’’’ he said. As the Washington Post’s robinson sadly observed on MSNBC in February, ‘’All you can go by is his words and his actions. And he keeps saying these things that sound pretty darn racist to me.’’ has talk radio learned anything from imus’ decline and fall? of course not, because it didn’t take imus too terribly long to get a new gig. our nation’s media outlets conducted in 2011, revealedforthat should not provide a platform Louisiana has one of thespeech highest racialhostility and hateful breast death rates now or incancer the future. What kindinofthe country. Itwewas alsotofound that messageare sending our chilAfrican-American women across dren, our nation and our world? the arehistoric more likely to receive in state such an election year, a late stage diagnosis, which leads we cannot stand aside and allow to worse outcomes. individuals to use the airwaves To lessen the burden as an outlet for insensitive and of breast cancer in the state, misguidedcommentary. if youthe Komen Batonthat Rouge grant prohear something offends you, gramup. focuses on increasing acspeak cess to mammograms and clinical breast exams and decreasing barriers to care. And since early detection is the key to survival, the greater part of funding dollars is used to with increase local capacconcerned the conditions ity for screening and diagnostic at Jetson. it is happening there. services those mostmost in need. What i dofor know is that of Through for the from Cure®, these youth can Race be changed, which fuels grant school program contrition in a the prepatory andAngola was attended by morefor than for to rehabilitation 10,000 this year, Komen Baton a positive life that may lead to a Rouge has invested a total of $3.4 life of meritorious glory. That is million local the Way Iin See It! services and $1 million in research to find the
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Page 8 • The
Weekly Press • Thursday, May 8, 2014
SPORTS
Welcome Back: Chris Paul Lights Up Thunder In Return To OKC By Marc J. Spears OKLAHOMA CITY – Before Kevin Durant, this was Chris Paul’s town. With the New Orleans Hornets displaced by Hurricane Katrina, Paul spent part of his first two NBA seasons here. He wore OKC on his chest, and he won over the fans with his passion and relentlessness. This was football country, Sooner Nation, but Paul gave them a reason to believe in the NBA. On Monday night, Oklahoma City once again belonged to him. Paul buried Durant and he buried the NBA franchise he helped deliver here, making eight 3-pointers in a stunning 32-point, 10-assist performance that had many of those same fans who once cheered for him now trudging toward the exits in frustration. The NBA will officially anoint Durant as its MVP on Tuesday, and Paul wasn’t willing to let the coronation ceremony start early. With the Los Angeles Clippers routing the Oklahoma City Thunder 122-105 in the opener of the teams’ Western Conference semifinal playoff series, this night wasn’t a testament to Durant’s greatness, but rather that of the star born here before him. “I always say this about Oklahoma – it’ll always have a special place in my heart,” Paul said. “This is where I won Rookie of the Year. … This is where I started becoming
Chris Paul
a professional.” Paul never gave Durant or the Thunder much of a chance, making his first eight 3-point attempts, a career high. “This one will definitely go down in the history books for me,” Paul said. “Don’t count on it for Game 2.”
Early Playoff Exits Bring Uncertain Futures By Jon Krawczynski The Golden State Warriors were just over two minutes away from advancing to the second round of the playoffs for the second straight season, yet no matter how promising the young core is that they have assembled, the future of the team is anything but certain. When the Warriors let their lead over the Los Angeles Clippers in an emotional Game 7 slip away, the ground only got shakier under coach Mark Jackson’s feet. And he’s not alone. Almost every playoff team that lost in the first round this year faces major questions about its roster or coaching changes this summer, proving that being a part of one of the most exciting and competitive postseason rounds in recent memory is providing little solace to those that are going home early. The Raptors’ best player, point guard Kyle Lowry, becomes a free agent. Dirk Nowitzki and Vince Carter will be free agents in Dallas. Zach Randolph can opt out of his deal with the Memphis Grizzlies and the Chicago Bulls will have to wait to see how Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah return from knee surgeries. ‘’I love Coach more than anybody, and I think for him to be in a situation where his job is under scrutiny and under question is totally unfair,’’ Warriors guard Steph Curry said of Jackson, who jettisoned two of his assistants in a tumultuous 51-win season. ‘’And it would definitely be a shock to me if anything like (replacing him) were to happen.’’ Life is rarely fair in the NBA, where George Karl was fired in Denver last season after being named coach of the year and Lionel Hollins was shown the door in Memphis after leading the Grizzlies to the Western Conference finals. Should the Warriors job open,
several high-profile suitors likely would line up to take over a talentladen roster that, when Andrew Bogut is healthy, can play the kind of hard-nosed defense it takes to go deep into the playoffs. The New York Knicks have had discussions with TNT analyst Steve Kerr, but would a chance to take over a team primed to win right away convince him to look elsewhere? In Toronto, coach Dwane Casey received a new threeyear extension on Monday, according to a person with knowledge of the situation, but they still have to deal with Lowry’s pending free agency. The 28-year-old Lowry, who long has been a talented but stubborn player, averaged 21.1 points and shot 39.5 percent from 3-point range in a seven-game loss to Brooklyn in the opening round. The Raptors’ rise was largely attributed to Lowry’s emergence as a dependable force, and now he will have a big decision to make. ‘’I love this place, it’s as simple as that,’’ Lowry told reporters in Toronto, though he would not commit to staying. In Dallas, Nowitzki is widely expected to return to the only team he has ever played for, the one that took the top-seeded Spurs the distance in the first round before getting blown out. But he will be 36 in June and the Mavericks will have to retool around him and Monta Ellis to take another step. The Bulls are also expected to make changes to the roster that once again overachieved. Carlos Boozer is a candidate to be amnestied and the offensively-challenged Bulls could try to lure Carmelo Anthony in free agency with the subsequent cap room. And in Memphis, Randolph has a $16.5 million player option that he could forgo to try to get one more long-term deal. ‘’This is where I want to be at,’’ Randolph said. ‘’This is home for me.’’
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Paul’s performance came less than 48 hours after the Clippers closed out the Golden State Warriors in a ferocious seven-game series that was equally physically and mentally draining because of the NBA’s banishment of owner Donald Sterling. Paul hardly looked dominant through parts of that
series, averaging 17.4 points and nine assists as a hamstring issue slowed him. Clippers coach Doc Rivers had even said during the Warriors series that he was counting on Paul’s defense, not his offense. Jamal Crawford and J.J. Redick often carried the scoring load.
Paul admitted he was tired after the Warriors series, but took athletic trainer Jasen Powell’s advice by coming to the training room early Sunday for treatment before the team flew to Oklahoma City. He also came to Chesapeake Arena early Monday to shoot. “I got a lot of shots up,” Paul
Hibbert, Pacers Bounce Back In Game 2 By Paul D. Bowker INDIANAPOLIS -- After being held scoreless in three of his last four playoff games, Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert did the only thing he could think of. He went fishing with teammate Paul George. On Wednesday, Hibbert hooked the big one. He scored 28 points, just one shy of career playoff best, hit all eight free throws and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds in the Pacers’ 86-82 win over the Washington Wizards in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Indiana leveled the best-ofseven series at a game apiece. Washington’s Verizon Center will be the venue for Game 3 on Friday and Game 4 on Sunday. “I haven’t been in the flow of the offense as much, so I put a lot of pressure on myself to go out there and do things,” said Hibbert, whose previous playoff high this season was 13 points against the Atlanta Hawks. “This is just a start.” Hibbert began the game by scoring two baskets in the first minute, and he finished it by grabbing a rebound of Washington forward Trevor Ariza’s 3-point attempt in the final seconds. “Roy came out and had a heck of a game, one we all know he’s capable of having,” Wizards coach Randy Wittman said. Despite trailing 84-79 with 21.4 seconds left, the Wizards still had a shot at pulling off their fifth consecutive win in the playoffs. Ariza hit a 3-pointer with 11.4 seconds left, but Pacers forward David West sealed the outcome by sinking two free throws with 10.1 seconds to go. Ariza then missed the final shot. Indiana guard George Hill scored 14 points. Guard Lance Stephenson, who hit a 3-pointer with 21.4 seconds left, giving the Pacers a five-point lead, finished with 12 points. George, whose primary assignment was to defend Washington guard Bradley Beal, scored 11 and had six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Center Marcin Gortat led Washington with 21 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Beal added 17 points, and forward Nene scored 14. Hibbert, who was held scoreless Monday in the opening game of the series, established himself immediately. He scored on his first jump shot 30 seconds into the game, then added a three-point play 26 seconds
said. “I think that had a lot to do with [my performance], too.” Paul made all five of his 3-point attempts in the first quarter, including a step-back 28-footer with 2.8 seconds left to give the Clippers a 39-25 lead. “I just kept trying to be aggressive,” Paul said. “I didn’t want to force it or anything like that, because I’m one of those people who think that whenever you’re hot or something like that if you take a bad shot then it’s gone.” By the end of the first half, Paul had 22 points and six assists. Clippers forward Blake Griffin kept telling him to be aggressive. “When someone has it going like that, you just want to stay out of the way as much as possible and also keep that fire going,” Griffin said. “That first quarter was crazy.” Paul made two more 3-pointers to start the second half before finally missing on his ninth attempt. The rout allowed him to play just 27 minutes. Thunder guard Russell Westbrook didn’t appear impressed. “It wasn’t that crazy,” Westbrook said. “He hit eight threes. … We will live with it.” If Paul stays healthy, the Thunder could continue to have a major challenge against the Clippers. “I just felt like he felt better,” Rivers said. “You could see it.”
Thunder Star Kevin Durant Wins First MVP Award By Cliff Brunt
Roy Herbert
later. Those two plays helped send Indiana to an early 7-0 lead. By halftime, Hibbert had 17 points on 5-of-7 shooting, more than twice the points of any other player on either team. “Give him credit for shaking off a tough performance in Game 1 and a lot of criticism and coming out and responding,” Indiana coach Frank Vogel said. “He had a big-time night and gave us a big lift. It’s a big reason why we won the game.” That, and a fishing trip. George invited Hibbert aboard his boat Tuesday at an Indianapolis-area lake to fish for bass. “We fished for about two hours and just relaxed and didn’t talk about basketball,” Hibbert said. “We just talked about life and tried to catch some bass. He reached out and took my mind off things. Hopefully something I can build on. I really appreciate him reaching out because he didn’t have to.” George said, “After all he’s been through, everything that’s going on, him day after day just getting killed by the media, I’m happy he was able to come through despite all of that.” Even with Hibbert’s memorable night, what bothered Wittman was the Wizards’ trouble at the free-throw line. Washington attempted just 12 free throws and made only five of them, a franchise low in the playoffs. “We left seven points out there with nobody guarding us,” Wittman said.
Nene missed all four of his free throws. “We need to be better at our free throws if we want to win in the playoffs,” said Gortat, who made one of two. “We have struggled the whole season. In fact, we lost a few games over the course of the year because of it. We will have to work on it and become more confident.” NOTES: In the first quarter, Washington F Trevor Ariza missed a 3-point shot for the first time in the series. Ariza hit all six 3-pointers he took in Monday’s 102-96 win. Entering Wednesday’s game, he ranked third among all NBA players with a 3-point shooting percentage of .559 in the playoffs. He made two of eight attempts from beyond the arc Wednesday. ... Washington G Bradley Beal, 20, is the youngest player in NBA history to score at least 25 points in three playoffs games in one postseason. ... Indiana C Andrew Bynum, who played in just two regular-season games after being signed to a one-season deal as a free agent Feb. 1 as a backup to starting C Roy Hibbert, will not be with the team in the playoffs, the Pacers announced Wednesday. Bynum, 26, could not recover from a knee injury. He last played March 15. “He made multiple efforts to try and get out on the court, and his knee wasn’t responding,” coach Frank Vogel said.
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Kevin Durant has plenty of scoring titles. Now, he finally has an MVP trophy to go with them. Durant, a 6-foot-9 forward, won his fourth scoring crown in five years this season by averaging 32 points per game. He helped the Thunder finish the regular season with a 59-23 record, second-best in the league, despite playing much of the season without three-time AllStar Russell Westbrook by his side because of a nagging knee injury. ‘’He’s been the most consistent guy all season long,’’ Westbrook said at the end of the regular season. ‘’He’s done a great job of leading us to where we are now. He’s basically put himself in front of everybody else in the league and shown that he’s the best player in the world.’’ James agreed, saying Monday: ‘’Much respect to him and he deserves it. He had a big-time MVP season.’’ Durant’s run of 41 consecutive games this season with at least 25 points was the third-longest streak in NBA history. In all, he scored at least 40 points 14 times. He also averaged 7.4 rebounds and a careerhigh 5.5 assists while shooting 50 percent from the field. ‘’He does everything,’’ New Orleans coach Monty Williams said. ‘’You just can’t recall a guy that long who can do what he does every single night. Shooting from 30 feet on the floor with confidence and driving to the basket and dunking on guys, and then go post up, and on top of it, a great teammate and good kid.’’ Durant moved to the front of the pack while Westbrook was out following his most recent knee surgery. Durant averaged 35 points and 6.3 assists during that stretch as the Thunder went 20-7 and remained among the league’s elite. Westbrook’s injury gave Durant an opportunity to use his improving skills as a playmaker. ‘’I’ve always been a player that was excited for my teammates’ success,’’ Durant said. ‘’Not just mine, but my teammates’ as well. Wanting to see them do well translates to my game, which is wanting to pass the ball and seeing my teammates reap the benefits.’’ Teammates and opponents say Durant became a more complete player this season. They praised him for improving his court vision, consistently making the extra pass and moving more efficiently without the ball.