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BATON

THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2014

Treasurer: State Engaged In ‘Check Kiting’

ROUGE,

LOUISIANA

VOL. 39 • NO. 43 • FREE

A PEOPLE’S PUBLICATION

Louisiana Legislature Will Not Try to Override Jindal’s Vetoes

McClinton Named Acting Chancellor At Southern University Baton Rouge Campus

State floating funds to cover 2013-14 shortfall

Flandus McClinton,Jr. finance administrator at Southern University, has been named acting chancellor of the Baton Rouge campus.

John Kennedy

BATON ROUGE — State Treasurer John Kennedy says a fund Louisiana used to plug holes in its 2013-14 state budget ended the year with a $63 million hole in it that the Jindal administration plugged by taking money from the new budget that went into effect July 1.

Kennedy said $70 million was owed to higher education institutions for 2014 expenses and when the administration used money from the new budget to cover that commitment, it created a $63 million shortage that will have to be handled during the next year.

“In the banking business, they call this ‘check kiting,’” he said.

“If you or I did it, we’d be in jail.

It’s like taking out a payday loan” to pay off a prior debt.

Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols said the money to cover the prior year shortfall is expected to come in by August when the books on the fiscal year officially close.

But Kennedy said the fiscal year in which the money was spent ended June 30, so the budget for that year wasn’t balanced for “the sixth year in a row.

“We need to fix the state budget, stop spending more taxpayer money than we take in and get serious about stabilizing the funding for our critical priorities such as higher education,” he said.

The problem arose in what’s called the “Overcollections Fund,” a pot of money assembled by “sweeping” cash from trust funds created by state and local governmental bodies and depositing income from nonrecurring ventures, like lawsuit settlements, year-end reversions of money not spent by state agencies and sales of state property during the year.

The administration and the Legislature count that as cash when budgeting and sometimes the money doesn’t come in when expected or doesn’t come in at all.

The state primarily used its Overcollections Fund to pay for higher education. Several times during the fiscal year, the money wasn’t there when colleges and universities needed it. The administration got the treasurer to take “seed loans” from other funds in the treasury to cover the shortages, See CHECK KITING, on page 2

The Louisiana Legislature declined to hold a session this month to override the 12 vetoes Gov. Bobby Jindal issued last month.

The Louisiana Legislature will not meet to try to override the 12 vetoes Gov. Bobby Jindal issued during the 2014 lawmaking session. The legislature’s decision was expected, particularly since lawmakers have declined to hold any veto session since a new state constitution was signed 40 years ago.

This year, 34 of the 39 state senators and 64 of the 105 state House members sent ballots to

legislative staff indicating they thought a veto session was unnecessary. The staff had to receive the lawmakers written response by Monday night (July 7) at midnight for it to be tallied.

If a veto session had been held, it would have started Saturday (July 12), forty days after the legislators finished up their regular lawmaking session.

It’s difficult to tell whether any Louisiana lawmakers wanted

a veto override session. Legislators only send in ballots if they think a veto session is unnecessary. There is no way for them to indicate -- short of a public statement -- they want an opportunity to override the governor’s vetoes.

Lawmakers who don’t send in a response might prefer a veto session or they could just have forgotten to send in their ballot, according to legislative staff.

Green Light Plan Completes Construction on Staring Lane BATON ROUGE, LA. — Mayor-President Melvin L. “Kip” Holden will host a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Green Light Plan’s Staring Lane project on July 9 at 10 a.m. at the General Assembly Church of Baton Rouge at 420 Staring Lane. The ceremony will mark the completion of one of the largest road construction projects included within the Green Light Plan.

“Staring Lane is one of the busiest roadways in East Baton Rouge Parish and has been in desperate need of capacity improvements for many years,” Mayor Holden said. “This is a project that was a top priority to complete and ties into a number of other improvements in and around the area, like the Staring Lane Extension – another project completed through the Green Light Plan. The end result is a wider, safer and greatly improved Staring Lane that will serve the citizens of Baton Rouge for many years to come.”

J.B. James Construction, LLC completed the $27.8 million construction project by widening Staring Lane from a two-lane, undivided roadway to a four-lane roadway stretching from Perkins Road to Highland Road.

Project improvements include the

WOMAN’S HOSPITAL DEVELOPING UNUSED LAND

addition of six-foot sidewalks on each side of the roadway to support enhanced pedestrian access, a raised grass median and signalization upgrades and access improvements at key intersections along Staring Lane.

In addition, as part of a dedi-

cated effort to improve older and potentially unsafe bridges across East Baton Rouge Parish, the bridge over Dawson Creek was replaced with two new bridges to help accommodate southbound and northbound traffic See LIGHT PLAN, on page 3

BATON ROUGE, LA.— Flandus McClinton,Jr. a longtime finance administrator at Southern University, has been named acting chancellor of the Baton Rouge campus.

The Southern University Board Supervisors voted today to approve McClinton as the acting chancellor. McClinton officially takes over on July 1. Dr. James L. Llorens’ term as chancellor ends today.

“We welcome Mr. McClinton as acting chancellor and look forward to working with him to lead our flagship campus,” said SU Board of Supervisors chairwoman Bridget A. Dinvaut.

McClinton, who has been Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration since 1998, said he will be seeking “input, par-

5.7 Million People Losing Out on Health Care because 24 States Won’t Expand Medicaid WASHINGTON -- Louisiana and 23 other states that have opted not to accept federal funding to expand Medicaid will deprive 5.7 million people of health coverage in 2016, according to a report being released Wednesday by the White House Council of Economic Advisers.

The report said if Louisiana reverses course and accepts the Medicaid expansion, 265,000 residents could gain health coverage in 2016.

The federal government is picking up 100 percent of the cost for the expansion through 2017, and, after that, no less than 90 percent, as part of the 2010 health care law, known as the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare.

For the 26 states that are expanding Medicaid, adults with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level would qualify for health coverage, or $16,105 for a single adult and $27,000 for a family of three.

In Louisiana, adults in a family of three are not eligible for Medicaid if they earn over $4,685

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/btrbb-renaissance-baton-rouge-hotel/

LOCAL NEWS

STATE NEWS

ticipation and support from our students, faculty, alumni and the entire Jaguar Nation.”

The new acting chancellor said he met Tuesday with the senior staff and others on the Baton Rouge campus to start the process of “developing short- and longterm strategies to address the university’s current challenges.”

Among his top priorities, McClinton said, would be dealing with SUBR’s budget, along with student recruitment and retention.

McClinton, who is a CPA, has been at Southern in several capacities, all deal with finance positions, since 1971. He has a BS degree in accounting from Southern University and Masters of Business Administration from Louisiana State University.

BUSINESS NEWS

a year.

The White House report estimates that if all 24 states that opted out of the expansion decided to participate it would result in 15.4 million more physician office visits and 255,000 fewer people facing catastrophic out-of-picket medical costs in a year. Most of the non-participating states have Republican governors.

The report projects that 214,000 women aged 50-64 would get mammograms and 345,000 women would receive pap smears annually , likely resulting in significant health cost savings through early diagnosis of cancers.

And the report argues that an expansion would be good for state economies.

“If the 24 states that have not yet expanded Medicaid had done so as of January 1 they would have boosted employment by 85,000 jobs in 2014, 184,000 jobs in 2015 and a total of 379,000 job-years through 2017,” the See MEDICAID, on page 3

RELIGION

Greater Mt. Canaan Baptist Church located at 5820 Evangeline St. is pastored by Rev. Levie “Ash” Wright will host revival on July 16 - 18, starting at 7:00 p.m. nightly. ..See Page 4

INDEX

BAKER HIGH GRAD ON THE WAY TO SU Kelli Marks is on her way to SouthWoman’s Hospital is closer to developing more than 800,000 square feet of unused land at its new campus.. ..See Page 2

ern University in Baton Rouge. The Baker High School grad will have a little something extra when she arrives on August 18. That something extra was a surprise to her a few weeks ago...See Page 3

LA. BABIES LIKELY TO BE BORN POOR

Newborns are significantly more likely to be born into poverty in Louisiana than they are in most of the rest of the nation, according to the U.S. Census Bureau....

See Page 3

HOMEBUYER PROGRAM Receive up to $25,000 in assistance for the purchase of existing East Baton Rouge Parish homes and up to $50,000 on new construction under the City-Parish Office of Community Development’s Homebuyer Assistance Program..See Page5

Local News...............................2 State News...............................3 Religion....................................4 Business....................................5 Classifieds.................................5

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Buying or selling a service, looking for for a good job? Check out the classifeds .

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Weekly Press • Thursday, July 10, 2014

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STATE & LOCAL

Woman’s Hospital Closer to Developing Unused Land at New Campus; Still Deciding on Land Use

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Woman’s Hospital is closer to developing more than 800,000 square feet of unused land at its new campus. (Woman’s Hospital)

BATON ROUGE, LA — Woman’s Hospital is closer to developing more than 800,000 square feet of unused land at its new campus.

Though spokeswoman Amiee Goforth said officials hadn’t yet determined the specific intended use of the plot of land, the Woman’s Hospital Foundation submitted an application on July 3 to the East Baton Rouge Parish Planning Commission for 879,485 square feet of the land to be rezoned to commercial/office/hospital.

The application shows that 42

percent of that land will be used as open space and shares plans for additional parking on the campus.

“Further development of the campus is still in the very early stages and no decisions have been made,” Goforth said. “That 800,000 square foot development is a renewal and finalization of our existing campus’ zoning classification.”

In January, Briarwood Investment Group, lead by Woman’s Hospital physician Ellis Schwartzenburg, purchased for about $1.5 million, a 35 percent interest in the

Check Kiting from page 1 so campuses were funded.

“The Overcollections Fund became the Undercollections Fund,” Kennedy said. “They paid it all back, but they paid it back with money appropriated for

2015. When an agency shows up for its money in this fiscal year.

It’s not going to be there.”

Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols said Kennedy was overstating the problem.

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Divine Favor II

land holding company that owns the 879,485 square feet, or 8.7 acres of land.

Woman’s established Stumberg Lane LLC to “hold” the 8.7acre plot until officials decide how to develop it.

Woman’s also in January completed the purchase of about three acres of land at the intersection of Rue de la Vie and Pecue Lane for about $1.4 million from Delta Concrete Products Land to “preserve the hospital’s park-like campus,” Goforth said in January.

“First of all, we absolutely will not enter FY15 in a deficit,” she said when asked for a response. “The reality is that the books don’t close until Aug. 14.

We anticipate receiving expected funds by the close of the year.”

Funds that are expected to arrive, she said, are an additional $13 million from the Department of Revenue’s fraud initiative, further FEMA reimbursements and nearly $12 million from reversions and sweeps that happen at the close of the year.

“Basically, Treasurer Kennedy is looking at a snapshot on a particular day without knowledge of the big picture,” Nichols said.

Kennedy said that if the state had a handle on its finances, there wouldn’t be a problem.

“The Division keeps saying ‘It’s no big deal,’” he said. “It is a big deal.”

The administration was going to again use contingency revenue to fund higher education but state lawmakers rearranged the governor’s proposed budget to make sure it had solid funding this year.

Depending on the Overcollection Fund “is a horrible way to fund what you say is one of your bigger priorities,” Kennedy said.

“Every legislator knows there’s a problem,” he said. “The only person who won’t admit that there’s a problem is the administration.”

Chit Chat

J U S T A Americans? They work THOUGHT FOR hard. I know there’s the TODAY: God bless stereotype of laziness, America. but I think that this is Happy Birthday, inaccurate. Most AmeriAmerica (1776 - 2014) cans work their excepWhat do YOU like tionally hard, and many about the United States never complain. of America? This quesAlso, Americans tion was posed to some love innovation. It’s Marge foreigners who are now a great place to take a citizens. Here is what Lawrence novel idea and run with they said in a survey it. done by Redditt.

10. We speak clearly 1. Friendliness You speak really clearly, unEveryone I met along the way less you’re from the South or East. was so helpful. I hadn’t seen in a Midwestern American is one of the year all yelled my name, ran up and few accents I can’t pick up because treated me like a long lost sister.

I have to pronounce each word in I cried.) its entirety.

That’s what I like about 11. The Internet Americans.

Your contributions towards 2. We’re open to experimentathe ongoing development of the tion and innovation Internet, for without it, I would Educated Americans can leave you in the dust. It’s true; a lot have to talk to real people.

12. Miss Congeniality of Americans may be uneducated, The main reasons are that or undereducated. But if you meet a person who has studied hard, you they are boisterous, loyal, efbetter know your stuff, because fusive, broad-minded, friendly, trusting, industrious, generous, they are goooood.

3. We’re a nation of dreamers forgiving and companionable.

Americans (still) dare to I’ve never been to a single party dream. This goes with what some yet that had a miserable-looking other people said: If you fall, you group of Americans skulking in get up and go on. There is not such the corner not talking to anyone.

13. Ambition a great social stigma associated Your drive. I’m always with failure and the notion that it’s a learning experience is much more amazed at how driven Americans are to do things. I sometimes pronounced.

4. We genuinely wish well wish I had that sort of passion for achievement. onto others 14. Great places to visit.

The thing that stands out to me 15. Self-deprecation from times that I’ve visited to US is the phrase ‘Have a nice day’ and The people most likely to the sincerity with which Americans criticize Americans are Americans will say it and appear to mean it. themselves. There are no sacred 5. Great music cows or “well, that’s just the way The music. Americans gave things are” on a national scale.

Blues and Jazz to the world, which 16. Personal freedoms in turn gave us rock and roll, pop; There is a lot of personal freeso much music owes its life to blues dom. People in America can live and jazz. pretty much as they want, as long 6. Customer service as they can afford it (many can) Has to be customer service and respect other people’s rights. in restaurants. Sure a lot of the 17. Self-help and pragmatism enthusiasm and peppiness is to Americans tend to be very garner more tips, but have you pragmatic. I believe that an offexperienced customer service in shot of that is American “how-tos” other countries? The staff acts like and manuals are the best in the they were doing you a favor by world. This has been very helpful allowing you to pay to eat there. for me personally, as I have wanted 7. “In my country you can die to know “how to begin running on the street and people will just without injury”, “how to properly stare at you” teach a preschooler”, and many Common respect for life. I other practical matters, and I could know somebody is going to come find almost anything in American and tell me “why? They killed so books sold in online stores. many people!!” BUT, I’m going 18. Big houses to talk about the average American The houses. They’re so big on the street. Are you crossing the and like…..

Fancy. We have a street street and a car is coming? They we all call “millionaires road” here, will stop for you to cross the street! and the house are like American You fell unconscious? Someone in ones.

In saying that I know not the crowd will call 911 and proball American houses are nice and ably, someone will know CPR fancy and big, but you know the and apply it. A dog is hurt on the interstate? They will rescue the ones I’m on about.

19. The women dog. In my country you can die I like the girls… the ones on the street and people will just I’ve met. stare at you.

They are more free spirited, 8. Our capacity for change open, understanding and can be Who would have imagined a country where MLK was as- fun to converse/hang with when sassinated just a generation ago they are learned (all these in comcould elect a black president now. I parison to the ‘learned’ European love that you can hold such a huge girls – where I’m at).

Any Americans I’ve met have amount of cultural diversity within always been very open-minded. a single national identity.

It’s probably because of the Civil 9. Work ethic and equality Rights movement and your very I’m a dual citizen of Canada diverse population. It’s only really and the US. Really, there isn’t a after catching on with the rest of the vast difference in terms of the cul- world in the last few years. ture. What do I admire most about Marge

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page 6

ue to hold ay before be that the you may ality time d some of

Thursday, July 10, 2014 • The Weekly Press • Page 3

Louisiana Babies More Likely to be Born Poor Baker High Grad Ready to Make “The Leland” Proud Than Newborns in Other States, Census Shows health Thursday, March 6, 2008 • The Weekly Press • Page 7

therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hands of God, Newborns are significantly that he may exalt you in due time, more likely to be born into poverty “casting all your cares upon him, in Louisiana than they arePeter in most for he cares for you,”(1st of the rest of the nation, according 5:6-7). toAfter the U.S. Census having Bureau.your you finished A new on female fertilefore God tantrum.

Youreport may have a stopped ity in 2012 found that 33.2 percent u are feel- up nose and swollen eyes and of Louisiana who lip gave the words mucus runningwomen down your birth in the year ly as you and dried tears onprior your were face, living but in poverty. e a good you’ll feel better after emptying ng falling, yourself of those things which That’s significantly higher all those had onaverage your heart. thanbeen the heavy national of 28.1 Sometimes we go forand weeks percent, the report finds, leaves ying, you orLouisiana months trying take matters tied fortoninth-place with he things into our hands and trypercentage to solve our of Maine for highest od knows own are not super newproblems. mothers inWe poverty. ough. he humans; we can’t handle everyLindsay Monte, a statistician ich flows thing alone.

We need God’s help. who co-authored the report, said en though We to letMaine go of those situthathave because has a smaller bling you, ations and let God handle them. population, its figure has a larger him about there are some things we can’t margin of error. Therefore, the Cenlems and humanly do anything about. sus determined there is no statistical difference between Maine and the national average, as there is for Louisiana. (See the state-by-state breakdown.)

Mississippi leads the country page 4 with 42 percent of women age 15 to 50 who gave birth in the last the of poverty, the nationwhile mustthe yearcitizens living in ncil, build- demand that our leaders free states with the lowest ratesour were s in states children from the falseDelaware ideologicaland Connecticut, Utah, ut children and political tugs of war among Massachusetts. reaucratic those who put excess profits ahead d SChiP, of children’s lives.

Other of the report: s to enact how well findings did Congress protect • Of U.S. women dren Act, children in 75.4 2007?million Not well enough: age Members 15 to 50, 59ofpercent werehad mothntroduced 276 Congress ers. bby Scott good CDF Action Council Con• Births to adolescents d Senator gressional Scorecard scores ofare 80 on the decline. n the Sen- percent or higher, and 198 of those • While theofmajority of first d provide had stellar scores 100 percent. children are born married including But 231 members scored to 60 percent h, simpli- orwomen, lower—ayounger failing grade from ourare mothers a national school more days. likely to be unmarried but ilies up to Whether Members of Congress cohabitating with someone else al poverty are liberal, conservative or modhouse co- erate; Democrat, republican or ort. how- independent, children need all of er a single them to vote, lobby, speak for and any other protect them. Adults need to listen o push for carefully to what candidates say n. they will do for children and famicil strongly lies and, once they are in office, BATON ROUGE, LA.— ealth cov- we need to hold them accountable.

Campers at the Jewel J. Newman merica as Please thank your Members of ConCommunity Center will learn firstse children gress with scores of 80 percent or hand from CATS staffers about comes up above and those with scores of careers inlet transportation and logisn in early 60 percent or below know youBureau are tics.

According to the U.S. Member of dissatisfied with their performance. of Labor Statistics, transportation covering And please convey that same mesand logistics management is the nt mother sage to each presidential candidate. second largest employment sector dequately We must demand that our leaders in the United States. of the All commit to children as a condition Councilwoman Chauna of our vote.

Banks-Daniel stated, “The techwe could nology the Edelman 21st Century 70 billion Marianof Wright is Presi-has truly revolutionized transportacover all dent of the Children’s Defense Fund tionitsand logistics management. at amount and Action Council whose Leave or tax cuts No Child Behind® mission is to of richest ensure every child a Healthy Start, n months a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe ight lanStart frominpage 1 o not have Start and a Moral life and merica: We successful passage to adulthood litical will with the help of caring families along Staring Lane. The project l adults to and communities. also featured a number of critical r children. sewer system upgrades, including approximately two miles of sewer rom page 4 force main pipe installations along the Staring Lane area, coordinated in conjunction with less-thanthe Sanitary appropri- we forget o’reilly’s Sewer Overflow (SSO) program. lynching informed comments regarding a Many he Green Light e obama,’’ dinner shared lastPlan yearprojects, with echless.’’ Sharpton at Sylvia’s in harlem? ointed out o’reilly expressed surprise over he Black how similarSylvia’s was to other edicade from page 1 the noose restaurants in New York restaua tool of rants. midation’’ ‘’there wasn’t one person in report said. an-Ameri- Sylvia’s who was The report is screaming, clearly an atbbed some ‘M-Fer, i want more iced tea,’’’Retempt to counter continued y of their he said. attacks on the president’s publican As the Washington Post’s rob-has signature health law, which we must inson on MSNBC madesadly someobserved Democratic members displays inofFebruary, youfor can go by Congress‘’All running re-election re deeply isthis his fall words and his actions.

And vulnerable. ong. And he keeps saying these things that Gov. Bobby Jindal has conAmerica sound pretty darn racist to me.’’ sistently opposed Louisiana’s has talk radio learned anything participation in the ingraham from imus’ decline and Medicaid fall? of expansion, recently rejecting y their re- course not, because it didn’t takethe approach advanced bytoIndiana’s en though imus too terribly long get a Republican Gov. Mike Pence to y did offer new gig. use the federal dollars, our nation’sexpansion media outlets not fornot traditional dn’t drop should provide Medicaid, a platform but for to expand healthand savings accounts estion that racialhostility hateful speechfor the or poor -- afuture. policy longkind favored esidential now in the What of by the GOP. member of messageare we sending to our chilSen.nation Davidand Vitter, ommunity dren, our ourR-La., world?who isin running governor in 2015, hief reeks such anfor historic election year,has said he would theallow expangative ste- we cannot standconsider aside and sion, thoughtohe, too, want to Americans individuals use thewould airwaves cular. asoverhaul an outlet insensitive thefor way Medicaid and works st time ei- misguidedcommentary. if you before enrolling the state. estionable hear something that offends you, Jindal’s spokesman Sarah how can speak Haleyup. said in May that the governor is not willing to consider the Pence approach, though it could bring health coverage to 265,000 ge 4 Louisiana residents who currently don’t have it. changes concerned with the conditions “Medicaid expansion simply n being is atisJetson. it is happening there. the wrong choice for Louisiana m the core What i doHaley knowsaid. is that citizens,” “It most wouldofcost o reaffirm these youth can be changed, frombilLouisiana taxpayers up to $1.7 . he will contrition in a prepatory school lion over 10 years and could force the will to for Angola to rehabilitation for up to 248,000 individuals off of ers. a positive life that may lead to a private insurance and intoThat whatiswe e to cover life of meritorious glory. believe is one of the nation’s most y people the Way I See It! expensive and inefficient programs.

What’s Good For Your Heart Is Good For Your Brain (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.”

“ByU.S. the year 2030, the on number A new Census report femaleoffertility in 2012 found that 33.2 percent of Louisiana women who gave birth in the African or older is significantly higher than the national average of 28.1 percent, the report finds. year priorAmericans were livingage in 65 poverty.

That’s expected to more than double to 6.9 Though Louisiana tied for ninth-place with Maine, a statistician with the U.S. Census Bureau said that due to the larger million,” said emil Matarese, M.D., margin of error attached to Maine’s figure, there is no statistical difference between Maine and the national average as American heart Association spokesthere is for Louisiana. (U.S. Census Bureau) person. “Although Alzheimer’s is not part of normal aging, age is the • Non-Hispanic white women • 5.4 percent of women age 15 during first birth. greatesttheir risk factor for Alzheimer’s had the lowest fertility rate, 49 to 50 gave birth in the prior year • More than one in five disease. So it is important that Afwomen, or 23.5 take percent, rican Americans steps who’d now to and 2.3 percent of them were to births per 1,000 women, while Native Hawaiian and other Pacific given birth in risk the past 12 months decrease their of heart disease, women age 45 to 50.

• More than 60 percent of Islanders had the highest: 79 births were in has someone whichliving research shownelse’s could Research a link between hearta andper brain health, whichBlack meansand impaired 1,000 women.

Asian U.S. shows women who reported home.

In Louisiana, that figure the also decrease the risk of cognitive heart function could lead to impaired brain function. was higher: 30.8 percent, the fourth birth in the prior year were mar- women had a birth rate of 57 births decline.” highest in the nation behind Mis- ried. Thirty percent reported they per 1,000 women. sissippi, New Mexico and Hawaii. had never been married.

Could You Be At Risk?

Campers Take Cats Bus to Mall

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(NAPSi)-here’s an alert worth paying attention to: According to the American Diabetes Association The movement of information (ADA), learning your risk for type 2 has become important diabetes couldassave your life.as the movement ofagoods people, Diabetes is seriousand disease that making it an exciting career for strikes nearly 21 million children ambitious Banks-Daniel and adults youth.” in the U.S. it is named believes experience a great the “silentthis killer” because is one-third opportunity to cultivate the next6 of those with the disease--more than generation public million--doofnot knowtransportation they have it. users our community.

Forinmany, diagnosis may come CATS sevenIntoconjunction 10 years afterwith the onset of and Mall of early Louisiana, a bus typethe 2 diabetes. diagnosis is ride forforcamp participants critical successful treatmentwill and take placeoronprevent Friday,some July of 11the at can delay complications suchroutes as heartbetween diseases, 10.00 a.m. with blindness, kidney disease, stroke and the Jewel J. Newman Community amputation. that’s one reason the ADA holds the American Diabetes Alert® Day, a one-day wake-up call to inform the American public about the serious-

like the Staring Lane project, incorporate SSO program work elements into the road construction process to eliminate duplication of effort, create efficiencies, minimize impacts to the public and generate millions of dollars in savings that can be re-invested into other infraLand Line (225) 356-0703 structure improvement projects.

ness of diabetes, particularly when it is left undiagnosed and untreated. the day is held on the fourth tuesday Center the mall. of everyand March. ofpeople the young people on“Many that day, are encourwe serve think they can’t get aged to take the Diabetes risk test, around without a personal car. either with paper and pencil or online.

We want to be introduced the risk testthem requires users to answer to public transportation a means seven simple questions as about age, to get to jobs, medical appointweight, lifestyle and family history-ments, school, other all potential riskand factors forlocations diabetes. in the city.” said CoordinaPeople scoring 10 Camp points or more are tor, Carla 8-week at a high riskPowell. for type 2The diabetes and summer camp focuses on acollege are encouraged to talk with health and opportunities using the carecareer professional.

16An career clusters by estimated 54 recognized million AmericansU.S. haveDepartment pre-diabetes. with the of those Education. pre-diabetes have blood glucose levFor more information, please els higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. early intervention viawith lifestyle When combined the changesLane suchExtension as weight project loss and– Staring a separate Green Light Plan project completed in June 2011 that featured the construction of a new connecting roadway from Highland Road to Burbank Drive – the improved Staring Lane serves as a critical link to a dedicated northsouth route that stretches from Interstate 10 and Essen Lane to Burbank Drive.

Visit Us Online @ www.theweeklypress.com

Cell Phone (225) 235-6955 GSRASAC E-mail: Goodshepherdbapt@bellsouth. for the Affordable Care Act, has net Hours: Mon-Thurs 8am – 8 pm

said Jindal’s rejection of the Medicaid expansion means that state Good Shepherd Substance Abuseare Center paying for health We are glad the Supreme Court /taxpayers Intensive Outpatient Inpatient Therapy care for residents of other states. gave states theFor option to choose Drugs, Alcohol, Anger Management so this program is not a one-size- Landrieu said the law has helped people with pre-existing conditions fits-all 2873 federal Missionprogram.

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African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asians and Pacific islanders are at an increased risk, as are women who have babies weighing more than 9 pounds at birth. the Diabetes risk test is avail-

Did You Know?

• Compared to the general public, African Americans have a higher risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and vascular dementia.

• More than 40 percent of African Kelli Marks photo submitted Ed Pratt and recipient of book scholarship from Americans have high bloodby presSecretary of the sureAssistant (hBP) and are at risk forBureau stroke,of African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield. which can lead to greater risk for developing Alzheimer’s or other Kelli Marks is on her way the late Rev. Gardner Taylor, once vascular cognitive dementias. to Southern University in Baton called the “dean of the nation’s • every year, more than 100,000 Rouge. The Baker High School Black preachers.”

African Americans have a stroke. grad will have a little something Marks lives about a mile • having high cholesterol increases extra when she arrives on August from the Groom Road entrance the risk for stroke and may increase 18. That something extra was a building to what used to be the the risk for Alzheimer’s. surprise to her a few weeks ago. entrance to Leland.

Sitting with the rest of the “I was shocked,” said the Manage Your seniors at Risks Baker High’s gradu- 17-year-old soon-to-be a col• ation Watchceremony the numbers. in remember May, Marks lege freshman. In fact, Marks thatwas desirable blood pressure is less occasionally listening to the has already attended Southern’s thanspeaker, 120/80 mmhg.

Keep your body Assistant Secretary of the 365Jaguar orientation program. weight in the Bureau of recommended African Affairsrange Linda What Marks has is a gift andThomas-Greenfield. make sure that the total cholesMarks would card for $500 for books. “That teroltake is less than 200mg/dL. brief glances at the screen of will be a big help,” she said.

• her healthy cell lifestyle phone. choices include Marks’ mother Iris King staying mentally physically “I haveand to be honest Iacwas knew Thomas-Greenfield when tive,not staying socially involved, reduclistening to every word,” said both of them were growing up in ing Marks. your intake of fat and cholesterol the shadow of Leland College. and not smoking.

But she was nudged to alert “She was a couple years Visit www.alz.org/heartbrain or ness when Thomas-Greenfield older than me, but her family callsaid the American Stroke Associasomething about “a girl who lived near me,” King said, addtion,lives a division of the American heart in ‘The Leland,’” a commuAssociation, at (888) 478-7653 or nity near the site of the old Leland ing she was also surprised too by the Alzheimer’s Association (800)the the financial gift to her daughter.

College. “Well I knew at I was 272-3900 and you’ll receive a bro Baker High School’s 2014 only one graduating that lived near chure with heart and brain health graduating class, its largest in the Leland.” information and a free pedometer, Thomas-Greenfield, who years, was challenged by Thomaswhile supplies last. the former Le- Greenfield to “dream big” and to grew up around land College, announced that she have “dreams that will scare you,” was giving a book scholarship to at its commencement ceremony.

Marks said she would take Marks because of the neighborThomas-Greenfield’s challenge to hood where she had lived.

Leland College was a black heart when she starts her college college established in 1870, first career as an elementary education ableininNew english and Spanish by callmajor.

Orleans in the basement ing of theTulane ADA Avenue at 1-800-DiABeteS That extra effort got a little Baptist Church.

(1-800-342-2383) or online www.

It was re-established in at 1923 near push from Thomas-Greenfield diabetes.org/alert.

Baker. The school closed in 1960. after the Foreign Service official though the Alert a one-day Two of its ismost notable congratulated Marks and “told me callgraduates to action, awareness type to see me do good things for ‘The is the lateabout legendary 2 diabetes is important anytime of the Grambling State University foot- Leland,’” she said. “That’s what year,ball so free Diabetes tests are coach Eddierisk Robinson and I plan to do.” available online and by calling ADA all year long.

A free Diabetes risk test is available all year long to determine the risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

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Page 4 • The

Weekly Press • Thursday, July 10, 2014

ASK THE CHURCH LADY Babies, here is this week’s letter. Now remember I asked everyone to pray because the Bible says where two or three come together touching and agreeing God is there so if a whole bunch of us start to doing that ouuwee!

Now let’s see what is going on with this baby today and if I have something sensible to say!

Dear Church Lady, I have a little problem. I am in my mid-forties and I have never been married. I guess that you could say this is by choice even though I didn’t quite plan it this way. I guess it just happened.

Nevertheless here I am still single and alone. Well recently I’ve met this great guy; he’s attractive, he funny, he is intelligent and he is very responsible. He has his own house, a good job, his own car and he is not a complete jerk like so many I have encountered. When I spend time with him I feel so light hearted and free. He makes me laugh, and he always gives me something to think about.

He makes me feel beautiful and he’s always telling me how smart I am. He is not intimidated by me and not afraid to challenge me in areas where I need improvement.

I think that he is great, but there is just one problem. I’m more than fifteen years older than him and I just don’t know if it’s even worth thinking about, yet so much of what I have prayed for in a man I see in him. I like the me that I am when I’m in his company. I am usually pretty secure, but for the first time in my life I wish that I could go back about fifteen years and have a chance for love with this wonderful man. Am I out of my mind? Could it even be

something to think about or am I just a dirty minded old wanna be cradle robber? All I know is I love God, and I want to do the right thing, but I feel like I could love this man; so much so that I feel like that old R& B hit; if loving him is wrong, I don’t want to be right.

Please give me some motherly, sisterly some kind of advice!

Signed, Cradle Robber or Real Love at last?

Ouuwee, now y’all my baby girl has put me behind an eight ball today because by now all y’all should know that I’m in love with love. This Baby girl here though has a doozy. Chile I am feeling like MC hammer thinking girl you can’t touch this! But she asked me so I’ve got to say something.

Pray people pray! Babies this is hm, hm, hm interesting... Alright, I am going to try and speak from my heart...

First off, Chile you are making this man sound so good that if it were not unethical or unspiritual, I would be probing you just to get his name, address and telephone number myself! However, since I am a Godly woman; yes I am... saved, sanctified, and full of the Holy Ghost! I am going to just try to forget that I too, am looking for the same thing that apparently you have found girl!

Here is the catch, asks anybody and they will tell you that rarely when you think that you have found everything that you want is it everything that you want.

I mean come on y’all know what I mean church; if he’s good looking See CHURCH LADY, on page 5

RELIGION

The Bible Explains How Sin Passed Down From One Man

Greater Mt. Canaan Baptist Church to Host Revival July 16-18

What happened? Adam ate of the forbidden fruit, or forbidden tree. So, what was his punishment?

He was banned from paradise and he was sentenced to die (even though God’s perfect plan was for Adam and Eve to live forever in paradise).

God’s judgment handed down to the serpent (through whom the devil spoke) was that he’d (the serpent) crawl on his belly and eat of the dust of the ground; God tells the serpent that He’d create “enmity” (which is a natural hatred) between the woman’s “seed” and the serpent’s.

God goes on to tell the serpent that the seed of the woman (He was speaking prophetically about Jesus Christ, God’s sacrificial Lamb, sent here to die for the sins of the world) would bruise his head (the “seed” of the serpent) and the “seed” of the serpent would bruise his heel.

God is speaking prophecy. He’s letting the devil know (through these scriptures) that even though the devil “beguiled”, or tricked, the woman into eating of the forbidden tree, and she in turn gave some of the fruit to her husband, and he disobeyed God and ate it because his wife suggested he eat it, God already has a plan to redeem the “fallen” man (or mankind) back to him.

That plan is by sending Jesus Christ, the sacrificial Lamb and Savior to the world, to earth

Annual Mother Daughter Conference at The Greater King David Church

By Donald Lee Question: I was once asked, Why is everybody (including babies) paying for the sin of one man (Adam)?

Answer: Because when the one man, Adam, sinned by disobeying God and eating of the fruit of the forbidden tree, he passed the sin nature (or the state of sin) on to every other person born from him and his wife, Eve. So, what this means, is that even though a newborn baby isn’t old enough to perform the act of sin, the sin nature still is passed down to him by his parents (or lineage).

Take, for instance, a baby who is born addicted to crack cocaine because his mother smoked crack while he was in her womb.

Just as the “addiction” is passed through the mother’s blood, so it is that the sin nature [or the state of sin] is passed down the lineage of man.

So because of this fact, God’s plan for redemption of mankind (restoring “man” back to his original state of “innocence” and uprightness and fellowship with God) meant that God had to send His Son, Jesus Christ, down here to the earth to suffer the punishment that we all “inherited” from Adam.

Remember what God told Adam in the beginning: The day you eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, you shall SURELY die.

to fulfill prophecy. In other words, God’s plan was to kill Jesus, the Lamb, and shed His blood (which holds in it the power to wash away ALL sins) so that through Jesus’, the Lamb’s, death, mankind (those who accept Jesus’ sacrifice of His blood to pay the cost of their sins) can live throughout eternity with God. Man, still must die a literal death (as you know). But instead of going to hell and eternal torment after dying, everybody who confessed Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior before they died (or die) will be (or will have been) “SAVED” from eternity in torment and saved into everlasting life in the presence of God (or BACK in the presence of God, rather).

In other words, everybody who accepts that Jesus sacrificed His life so that they can be “saved” (or “born again”) will have eternal life. And everybody who rejects God’s plan for salvation and who rejects Jesus’ sacrifice will be banished into outter darkness (eternal torment in the lake of fire).

Pastor Donald Lee can be contacted at pastordonjlee@yahoo. com or (225) 773-2248. Join him for prayer at 9 p.m. (CST) week nights at (218) 862-4590 (conference code: 279498#).

Baton Rouge, Louisiana – The Greater Mt. Canaan Baptist Church located at 5820 Evangeline St. is pastored by Rev. Levie “Ash” Wright will host revival on July 16 - 18, 2014 starting at 7:00 p.m. nightly.

Guest evangelist will be Rev. Errol Domingue pastor of Elm Grove Baptist Church here in Baton Rouge, LA Everyone is invited to come out and be blessed.

For more information, please contact this telephone number 225-921-0864.

BATON ROUGE, LA - The Greater King David Baptist church Annual Mother Daughter Conference will be held at 222 Blount Road on Saturday July 19th 2014 from: 8:30 am-2 pm in the Education and Culture Center.

The theme is “Lighting the Way to the Future.” Free continental breakfast, lunch and childcare will be provided, Dr. John E. Montgomery II, pastor.

For additional information, please contact Donna R. Lee at 225-326-6300 or by faxing to this number 225-326-6490.

CHURCH DIRECTORY

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. - Hebrews 10:25 Email your church event or religious organization news to The Weekly Press @ thewpress@yahoo.com or call 225-775-2002 WEDNESDAY 12:00

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

5013 WINDFALL COURT BATON ROUGE, LA. 70812 FOR DIRECTIONS CALL 225-355-8194 We are seeking Prayer Warrors Remember Acts 16: 25-26 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.

Divine Light Church of Evangelist

JOSEPHINE JONES

ON EVERY SATURDAY AT 2:30PM.

NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH

ALL ARE WELCOMED. No Dress Code-Come as you areCasual Wear

5856 Greenwell Springs Road • Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806 Telephone: (225) 926-0246 • Facsimille: (225) 925-8022 Toll Free: 888-700-6174 Websites: www.newhopebr.com

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, July 10, 2014 • The Weekly Press • Page 5

BUSINESS

Funds Available From City-Parish Homebuyer Assistance Program BATON ROUGE, LA - Prospective homebuyers can receive up to $25,000 in assistance for the purchase of existing East Baton Rouge Parish homes and up to $50,000 on new construction under the City-Parish Office of Community Development’s Homebuyer Assistance Program.

Funded by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the program provides interest-free loans as gap financing for people who might not otherwise qualify for the mortgages necessary to purchase the homes.

The interest-free loans must be paid off upon the sale or transfer of the purchased property. However, borrowers who take advantage of the program can repay the loan at any time.

The loans are available

for any property in East Baton Rouge Parish, with the exception of the incorporated areas of Baker, Central and Zachary. The money can be used toward an eligible buyer’s down payment or closing costs.

Participating homebuyers must have not owned a home in the last three years, or qualify as a displaced homemaker or single parent. They also must meet certain income limits. For example, a two-person household can earn a maximum of $42,500 per year to qualify. A household of four can earn a maximum of $53,100 annually.

For additional information about the program, contact Gladys Williams at (225) 3893039, ext. 103 or email GGWilliams@brgov.com or Scott Dyer, Mayor’s Office: (225) 389-7957.

Louisiana Gas Tax Among the Cheapest, Organization Reports

Church Lady from page 4 then he’s broke! If she’s saved and sweet then she’s not really your type physically, He’s got a lil money, but he’s sick. You hear me? Yet this girl has stumbled upon Mr. Right, right now, but as she believes about fifteen years too late. Ah Boo... I can’t tell you that you are robbing the cradle, but I can’t tell you that those fifteen years in between the two of you might not make a difference either.

Now brothers y’all know I love you babies’ right? But keeping it real, sometimes it takes y’all about that long to catch up anyway. The only thing is that most of the time you all do age a little bit better than us and when we have that much mileage ahead of you, it could be a tad bit challenging. I know he makes you feel beautiful today and girl there is no doubt in my mind that you are just that, but in another ten or fifteen years when stuff starts sagging and falling a little bit, and you know some of that cosmetic stuff will need to be tightened up?

Will he still feel the same way?

Depending on what hue you are girl, you might have a little better chance because they say some don’t crack, and if you are of another persuasion you might have a better chance at keeping that body tight already. Then if you got a little bit of money well there is always the option of Botox...

Ouwee girl you’ve just got to pray about this thing because a man with all this good stuff also probably wants to and needs to reproduce and I don’t know if you are even still willing, capable or wanting this, but all these are things to consider. This is hard boo, but I tell you what sugar... you are a blessed woman and God has sent you a gift.

I got to go but follow me on twitter and write to me at the churchladyspeaks@gmail.com and visit me at thechurchladyspeaks.com Be blessed bye bye!

Louisiana has one of the cheapest gas taxes in the country, according to the American Petroleum Institute. (Courtesy of the American Petroleum Institute)

Louisiana’s gas tax is among the cheapest in the country, according to a map put out by the American Petroleum Institute.

The average gas tax in the country -- combining state and federal taxes -- is 49.62 cents per gallon. In Louisiana, the average gas tax is 38.41 cents per gallon, according to the organization.

Overall, California has the highest gas tax at 68.18 cents per gallon. Alaska’s gas tax is the lowest, at 30.8 cents per gallon.

Though Louisiana may have a lower gas tax in general, many of the state’s neighbors have set

similar rates.

Texas has almost the exact same gas tax, at 38.4 cents per gallon, as Louisiana. Alabama (39.27 cents per gallon) and Arkansas (40.2 cents per gallons) are higher. Mississippi’s gas tax (36.78 cents per gallon) is slightly lower, according to the report.

Like the federal government and several other states, Louisiana hasn’t raised its gas tax in over 20 years. This has become a concern for some, since gas tax is the primary way both the federal and state government pay for road construction and maintenance projects.

Due to inflation, a twodecade-old gas tax doesn’t buy as much road construction as it did in the past. People are also spending less money on gas, as cars become more fuel efficient.

Experts say these are some of the reasons the Federal Highway Trust Fund -- which backs roads construction projects in Louisiana and elsewhere -- is on the brink of going broke.

Louisiana’s own roads construction fund is also depleted, though the state is unlikely to consider an higher gas tax of any sort. Sen. Robert Adley, R-Benton,

said he would like to shore up the state’s road construction funding by ensuring that money from the gas tax isn’t being diverted to cover the state Department of Transportation’s administration costs, before considering other proposals.

Currently, some of the money from the state gas tax -- which is around 20 cents per gallon -- is using to cover transportation expenses that are not directly related to new construction or maintenance, said Adley, head of the state Senate Committee that oversees transportation.

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PUBLIC NOTICE Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Overall Goal FY 2015 - 2017 Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport announces its proposed overall Disadvantaged Business Enterprise goal of 9.19% for Federal Fiscal Years 2015-2017. The proposed goals and related methodology are available for inspection during normal business hours through August 8, 2014. The Airport and U.S. Department of Transportation will accept comments on the goal through August 21, 2014 at the following addresses: Mr. Jason Wilson Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport 9430 Jackie Cochran Drive, Suite 300 Baton Rouge, LA 70807-8020 jwilson@brgov.com Tel: 225-355-0333 Fax: 225-355-2334 U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization (S-40) 400 7th Street, S.W., Room 9410 Washington, D.C. 20590 Tel: 800-532-1169 Fax: 202-366-7538 Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport Ninth Annual Business Opportunities Workshop 8:30 am to 2:00 pm • Wednesday, July 30, 2014 Renaissance Hotel Baton Rouge • 7000 Bluebonnet Blvd.

Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport will host a Business Opportunities Workshop on Wednesday, July 30, 2014. Registration begins at 8:30 at the Renaissance Hotel Baton Rouge. The workshop is designed for ALL firms interested in pursuing future work at the Airport—DBE and non-DBE firms in the construction, engineering, planning, architecture, concessions and consulting fields.

The workshop is free and open to the public.

Please register online by July 28th at www.flybtr.com.

“All Strings Attached Music Company” located at 921 N. Lobdell Suite- CR-1 (Upstairs) Offering affordable lessons in: Bass Guitar, Guitar, Drums, Vocals, and Song Writing Offering weekend clinics and workshops on a variety of topics Skilled Professional Instructors, Musicians, and Writers Customized classes available upon request Need a Music Director, Musician, Band, Vocalist or Lyricist?Let us provided the perfect one for you . For more information and to schedule you lessons today!Call (225) 384-8917 or (917) 968-1845

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Page 6 • The

Weekly Press • Thursday, July 10, 2014

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