The Baton Rouge Weekly Press Newspaper

Page 1

BATON

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014

ROUGE,

LOUISIANA

VOL. 39 • NO. 49 • FREE

A PEOPLE’S PUBLICATION

Mourners Urge Black Americans To Take Action

People raise their arms during the funeral service for Michael Brown at Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis, Monday, Aug. 25, 2014. Hundreds of people gathered to say goodbye to Michael Brown, the 18-year-old shot and killed Aug. 9 in a confrontation with a police officer that fueled almost two weeks of street protests. ST. LOUIS — The mourners filled an enormous church to remember Michael Brown - recalling him as a “gentle giant,” aspiring rapper and recent high school graduate on his way to a technical college. But the funeral that unfolded Monday was about much more than the black 18-year-old who

States Declining Medicaid Expansion Will Face Financial Challenges, Forbes Reports States that did not accept Medicaid expansion through the Affordable Care Act will face financial challenges and ratings downgrades as a result of that decision, according to a report published in Forbes. Forbes sites a report by financial rating agency Fitch Ratings. An excerpt from the Forbes article read: “We expect providers in states that have chosen not to participate in expanded Medicaid eligibility to face increasing financial challenges in 2014 and beyond,”Fitch said in its July 16 report. “Nonprofit hospitals and healthcare systems in states that have expanded their Medicaid coverage under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act have begun to realize the benefit from increased insurance coverage.” Louisiana did not accept Medicaid expansion. Gov. Bobby Jindal has said he believes it will cost the state more money in the long-run. However, Democratic state leaders as well as policy analysts believe Louisiana is feeling the effects of Jindal’s refusal to take the money. Baton Rouge General Mid City Hospital almost closed its emergency room because of costs related to the influx of uninsured patients seeking treatment. Democratic leaders, like Rep. Ted James of Baton Rouge, said Medicaid expansion was the “silver bullet” that could fix the hospital’s financial woes. Officials with the Department of Health and Hospitals disputed that claim.

lay in the closed casket after being shot to death by a white police officer. The emotional service sought to consecrate Brown’s death as another in the long history of the civil rights movement and implored black Americans to change their protest chants into legislation and law. “Show up at the voting

Lesley McSpadden, left, Michael Brown’s mother, closes her eyes during the funeral service for her son, Monday, Aug. 25, 2014, at Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis. Hundreds of people gathered to say goodbye to Brown, who was shot and killed by a Ferguson, Mo., police officer on Aug. 9.

booths. Let your voices be heard, and let everyone know that we have had enough of all of this,” said Eric Davis, one of Brown’s cousins. The Rev. Al Sharpton called for a movement to clean up police forces and the communities they serve. Two uncles remembered how Brown had once predicted that someday the whole world would know his name. “He did not know he was offering up a divine prophecy,” Bernard Ewing said. More than 4,500 mourners filled Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis for the service, which at times seemed like a cross between a gospel revival and a rock concert. It began with upbeat music punctuated by clapping. Some people danced in place. The crowd included the parents of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed 17-year-old African-American fatally shot by a neighborhood watch volunteer in Florida, along with a cousin of Emmett Till, a See ACTION, on page 2

DHH, Baton Rouge General Agree Jindal’s Giant Common on Deal to Keep Mid-City ER Open Core Flip Flop

The Louisiana Gov and likely GOP presidential hopeful does a 180 to please the base.

Baton Rouge General Mid City’s emergency room will remain open after an infusion of cash from the Department of Health and Hospitals. BATON ROUGE, LA Baton Rouge General made plans to eventually close its Mid-City hospital emergency room, but a last-minute deal on Wednesday with the Department of Health and Hospitals will keep the ER open. Wednesday morning hospital employees were notified early of the pending closure. Just after Noon on Wednesday, a news release stated the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals has been in discussions with officials from Baton Rouge General that morning to

YOU CAN’T HAVE FUN IN THE NFL ANYMORE

develop a solution that would ensure the Mid-City campus emergency room to remain open. “We are committed to protecting access to care in the Baton Rouge community,” writes DHH Secretary Kathy Kliebert. “The Department has identified a solution that provides additional uncompensated care funding to Baton Rouge General Hospital that meets their current needs and allows this critical component of the region’s health care delivery network to continue providing emergency room services. Our discussions with

the Baton Rouge General leadership this morning confirmed that, as a result of this additional funding, they will continue to operate the ER. We’ll be working with all of our regional health care partners to develop a plan that ensures the sustainability of emergency services in Mid-City Baton Rouge.” “We’re a community hospital. We’re planning on being here in the community for years to come. Been here over a 100 years and hope to be here for the See BR GENERAL, on page 2

Bobby Jindal was for Common Core before he was against it. The Louisiana governor and 2016 GOP presidential hopeful announced on Wednesday that he would sue the federal government over the now-controversial Common Core educational standards that he claims are in violation of both federal law and the Tenth Amendment. The suit comes after his attempt to overturn the standards via executive order was rejected by a judge in state court last week. Common Core was first introduced in 2010 as part of an initiative by the bipartisan National Governors Association to allow states to adopt common education standards that would “ensure that all students graduate from high school with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in college, career, and life.” It soon attracted some criticism on the left, particularly from teach-

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ers’ unions, for increasing the role of high-stakes testing in schools. Later, the curriculum attracted the ire of tea party conservatives, and quickly became a cause celébre for Republicans. To some opponents of its opponents on the right, Common Core represents everything from an attempt by federal government to take control of public education to a plot to make American children gay. Jindal’s lawsuit, meanwhile, alleges that the federal government overstepped its constitutional authority by making it impossible for states to get Race To The Top grant money unless they adopt Common Core or similar standards. To some opponents of its opponents on the right, Common Core represents everything from an attempt by federal government to take control of public educaSee FLIP FLOP, on page 3

RELIGION

People ask me questions all the time. Some of those questions I can answer, some I cannot answer and some I will not answer. I wish people would ask me questions I could ..See Page 4

INDEX

TWO UNIQUE EXHIBITS OPEN Ransom Rambo, a renowned SouthSaints tight end Jimmy Graham says his two penalties and his $30,000 fine for dunking the ball over the goal post show a problem facing the NFL..See Page 6

ern artist with more than 50 years’ experience in the world of art, has several oil paintings from his Faces of Freedom and Voices of Freedom exhibit ..See Page 2

EXXONMOBIL TO SETTLE

ExxonMobil Pipeline Company is expected to pay a civil penalty for an alleged violation of the Clean Water Act, from a 2012 oil spill that happened about 20 miles west of Baton Rouge..See Page 5

MELO FOLLOWS LEBRON’S LEAD Just like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony is dropping a bit of weight heading into the 2014-15 NBA season...See Page 6

State News...............................3 Religion....................................4 Business....................................5 Classifieds.................................5 Sports.......................................6

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