BATON
THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2014
Justices: ‘Get a Warrant’ to Search Cellphones
ROUGE,
LOUISIANA
Gov. Jindal Seeks to Block Common Core Test in La.
See CELLPHONES, on page 2
Baton Rouge Budget Include Fire Trucks, Sidewalks, Bus Tickets for Homeless
Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden is seeking to add $3.3 million in expenses to the city-parish’s 2014 budget.
The chief justice acknowledged that barring searches would affect law enforcement, but he said: “Privacy comes at a cost.”
WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that a startup Internet company has to pay broadcasters when it takes television programs from the airwaves and allows subscribers to watch them on smartphones and other portable devices. Cellphones are powerful devices unlike anything else police may find on someone they arrest, Chief Justice John Roberts said for the court. Because the phones contain so much information, police must get a warrant before looking through them, Roberts said. “Modern cellphones are not just another technological convenience. With all they contain and all they may reveal, they hold for many Americans the privacies of life,” Roberts said. The message to police about what they should do before rummaging through a cellphone’s contents following an arrest is simple. “Get a warrant,” Roberts said. The court chose not to extend earlier rulings that allow police to empty a suspect’s pockets and examine whatever they find to ensure officers’ safety and prevent the destruction of evidence. The Obama administration and the state of California, defending the cellphone searches, said cellphones should have no greater protection from a search than anything else police find. But the defendants in these cases, backed by civil libertarians, librarians and news media groups, argued that cellphones, especially smartphones, are increasingly powerful computers that can store troves of sensitive personal information. In the cases decided Wednesday, one defendant carried a smartphone, while the other carried an older flip phone. Roberts said the comparison to packages of cigarettes and other items that were at issue in the earlier cases is not apt. A ride on horseback and a flight to the moon both “are ways of getting from point A to point B,
VOL. 39 • NO. 42 • FREE
A PEOPLE’S PUBLICATION
Gov. Bobby Jindal announces his administration’s move to pull out of Common Core during a press conference on Wednesday June 18, 2014 at the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge, La. Gov. Bobby Jindal has issued an executive order requiring competitive bidding for public school standardized tests, an apparent attempt to derail Louisiana’s use of tests linked to Common Core education standards.
BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal took steps Wednesday to block the use of tests tied to the Common Core education standards, a move that puts him at odds with state legislative, education and business leaders but one that could help the likely 2016 presidential candidate with tea party supporters See COMMON CORE, on page 2
State Superintendent John White has been a strong supporter of Common Core and a related standardized test, which has brought him into conflict with Gov. Bobby Jindal.
BATON ROUGE, LA — Police uniforms, new sidewalks, and a program to buy bus tickets for homeless people are among the items on Baton Rouge’s shopping list in mid-year budget changes. The Metro Council is set to decide Wednesday whether to approve Mayor Kip Holden’s $3.3 million general fund budget supplement, adding additional expenses to the city-parish’s $804.8 million budget. The amendments are slightly less than the $4.2 million added last year. About $3.03 million of the money comes from “unassigned” money left in the general fund, while another $265,000 in insurance money will cover a fire rescue truck that was wrecked in an accident. Here’s highlights of where the money will go: • The biggest expense is $1.63 million for new fire vehicles and equipment. William Daniel, Holden’s chief administrative officer, said the fire department has an accreditation coming up and needed new equipment
to prepare for that. • $650,000 will go to sidewalk improvement projects. That includes repairs to uneven sidewalks on Goodwood Boulevard at Sylvan Drive, and filling in a gap of sidewalk on College Drive beneath Interstate 10. The cityparish is also putting money toward new sidewalks on Gardere Lane, Landis Drive and Hanks Drive. The city-parish is also applying for federal funds to cover some of those costs. • The city-parish will put $400,000 toward adding turn lanes on Mickens Road at Joor Road and Mickens Road at Hooper Road. • The district attorney’s office has an outdated phone system that will be replaced for $125,000. • $110,000 is set to provide new uniforms for Baton Rouge Police officers. Daniel said they’re “uniforms made for Louisiana summer days,” and will make the officers more comfortable. See BUDGET, on page 2
Local Charter to Open in Baker BAKER—Impact Charter Elementary, a locally operated, charter school has broken ground to begin construction at 4815 Lavey Lane in Baker. Officials said the free public school will open its doors to students this fall. “We found Baker had the biggest need for the type of program we will have and that is what made [it] the best site for Impact,” said Chakesa Webb Scott, CEO of Impact. Impact will initially accept students in grades K-3 in its first year. Each subsequent year, the school will add an additional grade up to fifth grade. “We want to build an educational foundation with our students starting at the foundation and build on as they matriculate,” Scott said.
OMEGA FRATERNITY HOSTS ANNUAL BLOOD DRIVE
Impact will function as a free public charter school. There are 200 students already enrolled with more students expected by the time school opens on Aug. 11. Former principal of Prescott middle Christopher Smith has been chosen to be the school’s academic leader. “We worked with and launched a regional search with the [help of the] Recovery School District. Finding a principal who is already from the area and has charter experience will help us build a solid foundation,” Scott said. Construction on the 30,000 square-foot facility began in early May and is expected to be completed in time for the school See CHARTER, on page 2
From Left to Right: Patrick Dickson, CPA – ICE Board Member; Carolyn Hill, - District 8 BESE Representative; Sharon Henderson, ICE Board Member; Chauna Banks-Daniels – Baton Rouge Metro Council – District 2; Eric Scott, M.Ed. – Instructional SpecialisChakesha Scott, MBA – CEO; Andy DeJean, Esq. – ICE Board Member; Mayor of Baker Harold Rideau – Baker Mayor; Tammy Sweeris, HighMark School Development, Vice-President of Construction; Doris Alexander – Baker School Board Member, and Kay Smith Dawson, M.D. – ICE Board President
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LOCAL & STATE NEWS
BUSINESS NEWS
HEALTH NEWS
RELIGION
WHAT IS PRAYER: Contrary to common religious beliefs, prayer is not pleading with God or bargaining with Him to act on our behalf... See Page 6
INDEX
“BEAT THE HEAT” COOL AIR DRIVE The East Baton Rouge Council on The Lambda Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. invites you to participate in our annual Dr. Charles R. Drew Memorial Blood Drive. ..See Page 2
Aging announced that it would begin the collection of fan and air conditioner units as part of its Annual “Beat the Heat” Fan & Air Conditioner Drive. ..See Page 3
ONYX RESIDENCES OPENING DELAYED
Redevelopment of the Onyx Building, a downtown Baton Rouge structure turning into a mixed-use building, is back on track after developers ran into a few delays... See Page 5
NEW SODIUM GUIDELINES Government regulators are paving
the way toward federally-imposed limits on sodium as the Food and Drug Administration is on the verge of issuing new guidelines on its use in restaurant-prepared and storebought foods....See Page 7
Local & State............................2 Juneteenth................................4 Business....................................5 Religion....................................6 Health.......................................7 Sports.......................................8
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