Florida Courier - January 31, 2014 by Central Florida Communicators Group, LLC

EE FR

PRESORTED STANDARD MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID DAYTONA BEACH, FL PERMIT #189

www.flcourier.com

Read us online Like us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/ flcourier

Super Bowl trivia and tidbits Pages B2, B3 and B4

www.flcourier.com

JANUARY 31 – FEBRUARY 6, 2014

VOLUME 22 NO. 5

APPROACHING ZERO: BLACK BUSINESS AND FLORIDA

The administration of Florida Gov. Rick Scott, considered to be pro-business, isn’t completely transparent when it comes to measuring how much the state spends with Black-owned businesses. Is there something to hide?

DOLLAR AMOUNT IN MILLIONS

STATE OF FLORIDA, AFRICAN-AMERICAN SPENDING, 1999-2012

Lumped together

BY DAPHNE TAYLOR FLORIDA COURIER

99/00 00/01 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 Source: Florida Office of Supplier Diversity Annual Reports, 1999-2011. Totals include payments to architects and engineers, but not to nonprofits

Florida Governor Rick Scott’s administration isn’t making it easy to track the amount of Black business being done with the state of Florida. In an effort to report on the amount of state goods and services provided by Black businesses over the past three Florida gubernatorial administrations, the Florida Courier has learned that the current administration has made it difficult to get those numbers since Scott took office in 2011.

In the past, the information was readily available online through the state’s Office of Supplier Diversity (OSD). Under Florida law, the Department of Management Service is required to “record and measure the use of certified minority business enterprises (MBEs) in state contracting,” according to OSD’s annual reports. MBEs are designated as African-American, HispanicAmerican, Asian-American, or Native American, and must

‘SNOWJAM’ 2014

Hot mess in ‘Hotlanta’

be 51-percent owned, managed, or controlled by someone in one of these categories. The state also added servicedisabled veteran-owned businesses as another separate designation. Such businesses can have a net worth of not more than $5 million, employ less than 200 full-time employees, or be recognized as certified by the federal government.

Standard information The info required annualSee ZERO, Page A2

Obama challenges Congress Help the poor – or he will See page B1 for excerpts from the State of the Union address BY LESLEY CLARK AND ANITA KUMAR MCCLATCHY WASHINGTON BUREAU / MCT

WASHINGTON – President Obama looked to revive his second term in a sweeping speech to the nation Tuesday, outlining an agenda that calls for creating jobs and addressing the widening gap between rich and poor. He offered a mix of new and old ideas in his annual State of the Union address, calling for a “Year of Action” and saying he wants to work with Congress but will act on his own when he can, if necessary. “I’m eager to work with all of you,” Obama said in the speech to a nationally televised joint session of Congress. “But America does not stand still and neither will I. So wherever and whenever I can take steps without legislation to expand opportunity for more American famiSee OBAMA, Page A2

BEN GRAY/ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION/MCT

As dawn broke early Wednesday south of downtown Atlanta, I-75/85 southbound was clogged with traffic, with northbound lanes an empty sheet of ice. Some people were stuck in their vehicles for more than 20 hours, including overnight.

SNAPSHOTS FLORIDA | A3

‘Cocaine congressman’ decides to call it quits

Remains of 55 found at former reform school BY DAVID ZUCCHINO LOS ANGELES TIMES / MCT

For decades, relatives of some boys dispatched to the notorious Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys have struggled to find out what became of them after they went missing amid reports of beatings, torture and sexual assaults at the reform school in Marianna. On Tuesday, researchers and forensic anthropologists moved a step closer to providing answers. The remains of 55 people have been uncovered on school

ALSO INSIDE

grounds, University of South Florida researchers announced – five more than previous field work had indicated and 24 more than listed in school records. “Locating 55 burials is a significant finding, which opens up a whole new set of questions for our team,’’ said Erin Kimmerle, a University of South Florida associate professor and forensic anthropologist who has led researchers on a nearly two-year project aimed at uncovering lingering mysteries at the school, which operated from 1900 to 2011.

Looked for graves

tempting to collect DNA from survivors of boys sent to the school as “incorrigible,’’ or for truancy or petty crimes. So far, DNA has been collected from 11 surviving family members of former Dozier residents. Researchers are seeking DNA from 42 more.

From September to December 2013, researchers led excavations at or near Boot Hill, an unmarked cemetery on school grounds. Using ground-penetrating radar, DNA samples and search dogs, they probed for unmarked graves of boys reported missing over the Remains thrown away years. Bones, teeth and other arThe gravesites are not marked; tifacts were recovered for all 55 some remains have been found in bodies, Kimmerle said Tuesday. woods nearby. Thirty-one white Bone and teeth samples will be crosses that dot the burial ground submitted for DNA testing. See DOZIER, Page A2 Meanwhile, researchers are at-

Officer indicted in former FAMU player’s death

COMMENTARY: CHARLES W. CHERRY II: RANDOM THOUGHTS OF A FREE BLACK MIND | A4 COMMENTARY: LUCIUS GANTT: THE STATE OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY | A5

FINEST | B5

Meet Dustin

FOCUS

JANUARY 31 – FEBRUARY 6, 2014

DOZIER from A1 were erected in the 1990s to commemorate the unnamed boys buried there. Kimmerle said researchers would attempt to verify the identities, ages and histories of the remains, as well as the timing and circumstances of their deaths. Excavations will resume in the coming months, she said. “All of the analysis needed to answer these important questions are yet to be done. But it is our intention to answer as many of these questions as possible,’’ she said.

Beatings, torture EMILY MICHOT/MIAMI HERALD/MCT

In 2008, Roger Kiser, a member of the “White House Boys,” visited the graveyard at the former Florida School for Boys in Marianna.

OBAMA from A1 lies, that’s what I’m going to do.”

Historical context Entering his sixth year in office, Obama worked to tie economic woes to a long tide of history rather than his own record. He said that although the U.S. has largely pulled out of the economic recession, the middle class has lost jobs and income from three decades of blows, including shifts in technology and global competition. He also strived to break away from Congress, substantively and politically. Obama said he would: • Sign an executive order forcing federal contractors to raise the minimum wage for their low-paid workers — and he challenged Congress to do the same for all workers; • Introduce new retirement savings plans with a guaranteed return for workers whose employers do not offer such plans. • Host a summit to highlight policies that help working families. • Review the federal job training system and work with companies to increase apprenticeships. • Cut bureaucratic red tape by improving the efficiency of the federal permitting process. Obama focused overwhelmingly on domestic affairs. He didn’t venture abroad until the final third of his hour-long speech, pointing to the scheduled withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan at the end of this year as a reason for Congress to lift restrictions that prevent the transfer of detainees from the deten-

Survivors who attended the school have described beatings, torture sessions, rapes and the disappearances of boys, many of

them after they were taken from dormitories or other school buildings for punishment. Roger Dean Kiser, now 67, of Brunswick, Ga., told the Los Angeles Times in October that he was sent to Dozier at age 12 in 1959 and stayed for two years. He wrote a book about the school, “The White House Boys,’’ named for a house on school grounds where he said boys were beaten. Kiser said he was twice beaten bloody with a leather whip reinforced by a slab of sheet metal. Other boys were beaten so badly that their underwear was pounded into their bare skin. Many were sodomized or forced to perform oral sex on staff members, he said. Boys were rented out to work without pay for neighboring farmers and timber companies. The bodies of some boys were burned in the school in-

cinerator, Kiser said. “They’re going to find a lot of bodies out there, and there are a lot more bodies they’ll never find,’’ Kiser predicted in the October interview.

Investigation, closure Historical documents suggest that more than 100 boys died at the school, Kimmerle said in October. School records say 34 boys were buried on the grounds and 31 were shipped home for burial. The remainder are unaccounted for. An investigation by the U.S. Justice Department documented some of the abuse and led to the closure of the school. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement concluded in 2010 that, although it found dozens of graves, there was insufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges.

tion camp at Guantanamo and close the camp. His closing tribute to Army Ranger Cory Remsburg, partially paralyzed by a roadside bomb on his 10th deployment to Afghanistan, prompted a sustained standing ovation.

Wage increase Back on domestic issues, Obama said he would continue to push Congress to extend jobless benefits and raise the minimum wage to $10.10 for all Americans – a move some Democrats are eager to use to contrast with Republicans on the campaign trail in November. The executive order would raise the minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 per hour for employees who work for companies involved in future government contracts. White House officials said they hoped it would spark other employers to follow suit. Obama said he also wants lawmakers to expand the earned income tax credit, remove retirement tax breaks for the wealthiest while expanding them for the middle class, give women more tools to fight discrimination and protect gay workers. He again pushed lawmakers to rewrite the nation’s immigration laws – which he said could grow the economy $1 trillion over two decades and create thousands of jobs.

Defended ‘Obamacare’ Obama included a plug for his embattled health care law, saying it’s provided coverage to millions despite the chaotic website rollout and his broken promise that Americans could keep their insurance plans. “Let’s not have another

ZERO from A1 ly by law from every state agency includes total expenditure by industry; dollar amount and percentage of contracts awarded by the agency or by its contractors; a statement and assessment of ‘good faith’ efforts to increase minority contracting; and a written MBE utilization plan. For years, it was easy to determine just how much money was spent with Black businesses and other minority groups as separate entities. OSD’s website lists annual reports dating from 1999 (with the exception of an incomplete report in 2001) that gives exact amounts broken out by four expense categories: construction, architects and engineers, commodities, and contractual services. The information was then divided by type of majority ownership: women, African-American, Hispanic-American, Asian-American, Native American. Today, the minority groups are Gov. Rick lumped togethScott er, making it impossible to ascertain how much Scott’s administration has spent specifically with Black-owned

OLIVIER DOULIERY/ABACA PRESS/MCT

Sergeant First Class Cory Remsburg stands with First Lady Michelle Obama before President Obama delivered his State of the Union speech on Tuesday. 40-something votes to repeal a law that’s already helping millions,” he said, chiding House Republicans for their crusade to repeal the health care law. Much of the applause fell along partisan lines, with Vice President Joe Biden sitting behind Obama, smiling broadly. House Speaker John Boehner watched impassively, but broke into a wide grin when Obama said the American dream explained “how the son of a barkeeper is speaker of the House.” Obama also addressed combating climate change, saying, “The debate is settled. Climate change is a fact.” But he didn’t mention Keystone, the controversial

businesses. In addition, the 2011 report – the latest one on file – provides no statistics on how much business each group was able to generate from the state. The report barely satisfies Florida law; no more and no less. The required reports for 2012 and 2013 have yet to be filed.

Written request necessary An OSD official informed the Florida Courier that a formal public documents request, as outlined by Florida Statutes, would be necessary to get a breakdown of business activity that the agency previously supplied for more than a decade as a matter of course, free of charge. Florida Courier Publisher Charles W. Cherry II, a practicing lawyer, says that a formal public records request has already been submitted to OSD. “It’s ridiculous that we even have to spend time asking somebody for this information,” Cherry said. “Florida usually sets the pace for governmental transparency, and it’s not like this information isn’t readily available. It’s already gathered by every state agency. “We can’t prove that Gov. Scott and his people are hiding anything because we don’t know if Black-owned businesses are doing better or worse than under the previous administration – which just happens to be that of

pipeline that would bring Canadian crude to the Gulf Coast and is hotly opposed by environmentalists.

New standards He said his administration would set new fuelefficiency standards for heavy-duty vehicles and propose new incentives for medium- and heavy-duty trucks to use alternative fuels such as natural gas. And he said the administration is developing new environmental standards for oil and gas drilling on public land. He told lawmakers that he would pay for his new, ongoing initiatives while supporting additional deficit reduction.

Charlie Crist, who may be Scott’s Democratic opponent. “We could easily compare what these two GOP administrations have done with regard to doing business with Black entrepreneurs if we had complete information. I wonder what we will find?”

Not faring well? “That’s tragic,” said Bill Diggs, former president and CEO of the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce. “That information should be available at the state level,” he said. Diggs, now the president of the Mourning Family Foundation in Miami-Dade, doesn’t believe that Black businesses in the state of Florida are faring well under Scott. “Unless small business is being embraced at the state level, there’s no way Black businesses are doing well in the state of Florida,” Diggs said. “There is not an office at the state level that advocates on behalf of Black businesses.” Diggs said there needs to be set-asides in place in order for Black business to thrive with the state of Florida. “Even in my own city, in Miami-Dade County, they recognized that without set-asides, Black businesses couldn’t thrive. The governor needs to re-invigorate Black businesses in Florida,” he added.

Three-pronged attack In addition to the officially sanctioned Republican Party response by Washington Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and a Spanish-language version by Florida Rep. Ileana RosLehtinen, the Tea Party Express faction continued its practice of delivering a separate speech, this year by Utah Sen. Mike Lee. And Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who had delivered the Tea Party Express response last year, staked out his own turf this year with a YouTube address. Nor was that the only response from his family. His father, former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, held an interactive town hall with

The numbers? So how have Black businesses done under the past three Republican governors in the state of Florida? During former Gov. Jeb Bush’s administration from 1999 to 2007, the amount of funds spent with Black businesses in the state generally rose. Black business activity peaked according to currently available state records in 2002, with almost a half-billion dollars in Black business activity at the state level. But when former Governor Charlie Crist took office in 2007, the numbers declined. In 2010, the Florida Courier reported the numbers took an 80 percent decline spanning Bush’s and Crist’s administrations.

Noticed the drop Black businesses, especially Black-owned media, took notice. During the Crist administration, the now-inactive Florida Association of Black-Owned Media (FABOM), which included Black owners of radio, TV, newspaper, magazine and Internet companies throughout the state, met with Crist for a discussion on racial disparities, advertising, the Obama administration’s stimulus package and how it was to be spent in Florida, and politics. The group then gave Crist examples of Florida state agencies whose Black business activity should increase, including the

supporters during and after the address. For a party fighting the perception it’s at war with itself, the competing speeches were an unwelcome and very public reminder of the divisions that remain. Although including some common themes focused on the economy and smaller government, the rival addresses highlighted the intraparty battles that could undermine the GOP’s chances of winning key Senate contests in upcoming elections.

Michael A. Memoli of the Tribune Washington Bureau (MCT) contributed to this report.

Departments of Transportation, Agriculture, Health, Education, and the Florida Lottery. At the time, Crist spoke about drafting an executive order requiring agencies to utilize Blackowned businesses, and especially Black-owned media for advertising, marketing, and promotional activities. But there was no follow-up by either Crist or FABOM.

What are the current numbers? Billed as the “jobs” governor, pledging 700,000 jobs in seven years, Scott has had little known contact with Black business owners around the state. Despite having a Black lieutenant governor, Jennifer Carroll, Scott hasn’t reached out to Black entrepreneurs to date. Earlier this month, a meeting with the Florida Legislative Black Caucus was called off by Black lawmakers, with Caucus president Rep. Alan Williams saying it would essentially be “fruitless.” Scott said he was disappointed that Black lawmakers decided against the meeting. How is Scott doing now when it comes to Black business? Until OSD responds to the Florida Courier’s public records request, the information necessary to analyze the current administration isn’t available – at least not to this newspaper.

JANUARY 31 – FEBRUARY 6, 2014

NATION

Florida ‘cocaine congressman’ Trey Radel resigns Bitter Republican primary ahead for Southwest Florida seat

ues Are Vital … regarding the motivations underlying Senator Benacquisto’s recent advertising campaign.”

Solidly GOP seat

BY MARC CAPUTO THE MIAMI HERALD/MCT

MIAMI — In the fallout from his cocaine bust last year, Fort Myers Congressman Trey Radel submitted his resignation Monday because, he said, he couldn’t escape the “serious consequences” of his actions. “While I have dealt with those issues on a personal level,” Radel wrote to U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, “it is my belief that professionally I cannot fully and effectively serve as a United States Representative to the place I love and call home, Southwest Florida.” Radel announced he was quitting just as a House inquiry into his cocaine use started to get under way. Gov. Rick Scott will call a special election to fill the vacancy. In a sign of a looming and acrimonious intraRepublican Party squabble, candidates and potential candidates had already

Trey Radel’s resignation this week comes months after he was arrested for buying more than 3.5 grams of cocaine from an undercover cop in Washington in October. started jockeying to run for the seat. And they and their surrogates are already attacking each other.

Feuding over ads Since last week, a Republican political committee and the state GOP have been feuding over rival ads involving announced candidate Paige Kreegel and Florida Senate Republican leader Lizbeth Benacquisto, who is expected to run

for District 19. Benacquisto is spending about $500,000 in her state Senate campaign money on ads. That prompted a political committee called Values are Vital, which backs Kreegel, to counter with its own ads attacking her as “bait-and-switch Benacquisto.” The committee accuses her of trying to boost her name ID and get around a federal ban on spending corporate dona-

tions, which fill her Senate account, for congressional campaigns. Last week, the Republican Party of Florida weighed in on Benacquisto’s behalf and told local TV stations to pull the “patently false” ads from Values are Vital, which is a socalled “SuperPAC.” The committee, in turn, defended the spots and attacked the state party for trying “to chill the First Amendment Rights of Val-

Former Congressman Connie Mack has talked to others about potentially running for the Fort Myers-based seat he used to have and former candidate Chauncey Goss hasn’t ruled out a bid, either. Both Goss and Kreegel, a former state representative, ran against Radel and lost in 2012. The congressional seat is solidly Republican. Mitt Romney won it with 61 percent of the vote in 2012, when the GOP presidential candidate lost statewide to President Obama by about a point. Radel’s resignation comes months after he was arrested for buying more than 3.5 grams of cocaine from an undercover cop in Washington in October. Nicknamed the “cocaine congressman” thereafter, the 37-year-old political newcomer had planned to stay in his seat and rebuffed calls for him to step down from Scott, the state

and local GOP and local newspapers. By quitting, Radel effectively ends the House investigation into his drug use. A group that filed a congressional complaint against Radel, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, issued a press statement noting the “suspicious timing” of his resignation. It called on Congress to investigate more. “Who introduced the first-term lawmaker — who lived in Washington less than 10 months — to his drug dealer?” the group’s executive director, Melanie Sloan, said in a written statement. “Further, we know Rep. Radel shared his cocaine with others,” she said. “Who, exactly? Given his short tenure in D.C., Rep. Radel most likely spent his free time with other members of Congress and Hill staff.” But Republicans in Washington and Florida, are focused for now on replacing Radel, not investigating.

Officer indicted in death of former FAMU football player EURWEB.COM

A second grand jury has indicted Officer Randall Kerrick of the CharlotteMecklenburg Police Department on a charge of voluntary manslaughter in the September 14 shooting death of Jonathan Ferrell, an ex-college football player who was reportedly seeking assistance after a car accident. A North Carolina grand jury last week declined to indict Kerrick. Prosecutors

said afterward the grand jury was composed of less than a full panel and vowed to send the case back. According to a handwritten statement filed with the court, the first grand jury requested that the prosecutor submit a “bill of indictment to a lesser-included or related offense,” but the state attorney general said he would resubmit the voluntary manslaughter charge. “It would be in the best interest of justice to resub-

mit this case to a full grand jury, which we plan to do as soon as possible,” Attorney General Roy Cooper said last week in a statement.

Defense: It was justified Attorneys for Kerrick had denounced the prosecution’s move to resubmit the case as unlawful and filed a motion to block it, but CNN affiliate News 14 Carolina reported the grand jury convened Monday morn-

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE FOR BLACK STUDENTS. NO EXCUSES. The classic guide from Florida Courier publisher, lawyer and broadcaster CHARLES W. CHERRY II PRAISE FOR ‘EXCELLENCE WITHOUT EXCUSE’: “This guide for African-American college-bound students is packed with practical and insightful information for achieving academic success...The primary focus here is to equip students with the savvy and networking skills to maneuver themselves through the academic maze of higher education.” – Book review, School Library Journal • How low expectations of Black students’ achievements can get them higher grades; • Want a great grade? Prepare to cheat! • How Black students can program their minds for success; • Setting goals – When to tell everybody, and when to keep your mouth shut; • Black English, and why Black students must be ‘bilingual.’ …AND MUCH MORE!

www.excellencewithoutexcuse.com Download immediately as an eBook or a pdf Order softcover online, from Amazon, or your local bookstore ISBN#978-1-56385-500-9 Published by International Scholastic Press, LLC Contact Charles at ccherry2@gmail.com

Facebook ccherry2 excellencewithoutexcuse

for info on speeches, workshops, seminars, book signings, panel discussions.

Twitter @ccherry2

ing, and heard evidence from both the state Bureau of Investigation and the police department. The defense reiterated its claim that the shooting, “while tragic, was j u s t i f i e d Randall under the Kerrick circumstances presented to Officer Kerrick at the time,” according to its statement. “We have seen news clips and interviews stating the community should be ‘outraged’ at the return of a No True Bill of Indictment,” the statement continued. “Those outraged have simply not heard all of the facts and hasten to a position. The true outrage of this community should be at the Attorney General’s complete disregard of the original findings of our first grand jury.”

What happened Attorneys for Ferrell’s family on Jan. 13 filed a civil lawsuit connected to his death. It targets the city of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Rodney Monroe and Kerrick. Kerrick shot an unarmed Ferrell, a 24-year-old exFlorida A&M football player, after a woman — home alone with her 1-year-old child — called 911 and re-

BRIEFS

Panel calls for suspension, fine of judge A hearing panel has recommended that a Leon County judge accused of conducting private business in the courthouse be publicly reprimanded, receive a three-month suspension without pay and face a $17,000 fine, according to documents filed with the Florida Supreme Court. The Judicial Qualifications Commission hearing panel made the recommendation Monday about Judge Judith Hawkins. The case stems, in part, from allegations that Hawkins sold books at the courthouse, including to attorneys who appeared before her. The hearing panel found that Hawkins’ actions violated standards of judicial conduct. “Judge Hawkins operated a private, for profit business from her judicial chambers,’’ the recommendation said. “She linked the sale of

ported someone was trying to break down her front door. It was 2:35 a.m., and according to the lawsuit, the woman “does not understand that Jonathon may be injured and is in need of assistance and becomes frightened by his presence on her doorstep at such a late hour. She quickly closes the door, calls 911 for assistance and activates her home security system.” The woman told police Ferrell was “yelling for her to turn her alarm off” but never reported that Ferrell harmed her, made threatening statements, brandished a weapon or stole or vandalized her property, the lawsuit further alleges.

12 bullets fired Police were dispatched, and Ferrell walked down the street to seek assistance elsewhere, according to the lawsuit. Kerrick and two other officers arrived on the scene about 11 minutes after the 911 call, but Kerrick didn’t speak with the woman, the lawsuit says. He instead tracked down Ferrell, who “never engages in any conduct which can be objectively reasonably interpreted as aggravated active aggression,” according to the lawsuit. “Defendant Kerrick, in direct violation of written police department regulations, fires 12 high-velocity bullets at Jonathon,

Former Florida A&M University student and football player Jonathan Ferrell, 24, is shown in this undated handout photo provided by Florida A&M University on Sept. 15, 2013. striking him 10 times in the chest and arms,” the lawsuit continues. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has called the shooting unlawful. “The evidence revealed that Mr. Ferrell did advance on Officer Kerrick and the investigation showed that the subsequent shooting of Mr. Ferrell was excessive,” police said in a statement on September 14, the day of the shooting. “Our investigation has shown that Officer Kerrick did not have a lawful right to discharge his weapon during this encounter.” Kerrick is free on $50,000 bond.

ABC’s (the business’) products to her judicial office, by a website, which depicted her in a judicial robe, and described her as a county court judge in Tallahassee. “She used state time and resources (including her judicial assistant) to promote ABC.”

which would have to be approved by voters, the governor would assign the duty of heading a state department or agency to the lieutenant governor.

Proposal would boost role of Lt. Gov.

Florida Power & Light, the state’s largest electric utility, earned net income of $1.35 billion, or $3.16 a share, in 2013, up from $1.24 billion, or $2.96 a share, a year earlier, according to an earnings report released Tuesday. FPL’s net income, however, was down slightly during the year’s fourth quarter, totaling $248 million in 2013, compared with $256 million during the fourth quarter of 2012. FPL’s Juno Beach-based parent company, NextEra Energy, Inc., reported net income of $1.9 billion for 2013, roughly the same amount as the prior year. But on an adjusted basis, NextEra earned $2.1 billion, or $4.97 a share, during 2013, up from $1.9 billion, or $4.57 a share, in 2012.

A South Florida Democrat on Monday filed a proposed constitutional amendment (SJR 756) that would require the lieutenant governor to head a state department or agency. Sen. Jeremy Ring, D-Margate, filed the proposal after Gov. Rick Scott left the lieutenant governor’s job open for about 10 months following the resignation last year of former Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll. Scott this month named former House Majority Leader Carlos LopezCantera as the new lieutenant governor. Lopez-Cantera will begin serving in the job Feb. 3. Under Ring’s proposal,

FPL profits up last year

– News Service of Florida

EDITORIAL

JANUARY 31 – FEBRUARY 6, 2014

Being serious about a War on Poverty President Lyndon Johnson announcing in his 1964 State of the Union an “unconditional war on poverty in America,” 50 years ago. He said, “Our chief weapons in a more pinpointed attack will be better schools, and better health and better homes, and better training and better job opportunities to help more Americans, especially young Americans, escape from squalor and misery and unemployment rolls where other citizens help to carry them.” It is this myriad approach that many rail against today, believing that efforts such as Medicaid, Head Start, federal training programs and

WILLIAM SPRIGGS TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM

urban renewal failed. But, it is very important to put Johnson’s ideas in context. In 1964, over 19 years since the end of World War II, the economic experience of Americans was equally rising incomes for rich and poor families alike. The escalator of income was in the up direction, creating a nation of hope. The ugliest divide, as Johnson noted,

was “Unfortunately, many Americans live on the outskirts of hope – some because of their poverty, and some because of their color, and all too many because of both.” Today, America no longer feels it must win an ideological war with Communism; and, the income escalator is in the down position. Johnson’s speech was about how the government must work to meet the needs of its citizens, including, especially, the poor. Here was his charge to Congress, “Let this session of Congress be known as the session which did more for civil rights than the past

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: BENGHAZI REPORT

BOB ENGLEHART, THE HARTFORD COURANT

Random thoughts of a free Black mind, v. 199 Beyonce & Jay-Z and the Grammy Awards – I don't know a real husband who would let the world know the grimy details of sex with his wife, brag about what a freak she is on a song in wide release, then let her grind on him half-nekkid on stage for the family and the world to see…"Bad concept, baby! Come up with something else." That's what a real man would have said… Bro. Prez – As we approach year six of eight of the Obama administration, I’m completely over ‘the First Black President’ for reasons I have highlighted here previously. Here are a few. He refused to enforce existing federal procurement laws assisting Black businesses. He refused to lock up Wall Street banksters during the 2008 crash, and left money on the table via incompetent administration of federal foreclosure relief programs (similar to how he botched the Obamacare rollout) when Black homeowners were disproportionately foreclosed. He refused to protect small businesspeople against Big Business by enforcing antitrust laws. He helped kill Black-owned radio and TV by not enforcing FCC rules. He’s not supporting Black entrepreneurs in Africa who are in pitched economic battles against the Chinese while America sits and watches.

quick takes from #2: straight, no chaser

Charles W. Cherry II, Esq. PUBLISHER

You don't need an act of Congress to enforce existing laws designed to give Black business people a fighting chance, OR to get competent people to run programs Congress approved. NO heads have rolled in this incompetent administration other than Van Jones’s and Shirley Sherrod's – allegedly for embarrassing the president. Truth be told, I was done in 2009 when in response to a question about 50 percent Black male unemployment in New York City, Obama said, "A rising tide will lift all boats." In other words, "Y'all Negroes gotta wait." If things were this bad for Black America under Dubya, the NAACP, NAN, PUSH, Urban League, et. al would be frothing at the mouth. Their silence tells you all you need to know.

Contact me at ccherry2@gmail.com.

Opinions expressed on this editorial page are those of the writers, and do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of the newspaper or the publisher.

THE CREDO OF THE BLACK PRESS The Black Press believes that Americans can best lead the world away from racism and national antagonism when it accords to every person, regardless of race, color or creed, full human and legal rights. Hating no person, fearing no person. The Black Press strives to help every person in the firm belief...that all are hurt as long as anyone is held back.

W W W.FLCOURIER.COM Central Florida Communicators Group, LLC, P.O. Box 48857 Tampa, FL 33646, publishes the Florida Courier on Fridays. Phone: 877-3524455, toll-free. For all sales inquiries, call 877352-4455; e-mail sales@flcourier.com. Subscriptions to the print version are $59 per year. Mail check to P.O. Box 48857 Tampa, FL 33646, or log on to www.flcourier.com; click on ‘Subscribe’.

SUBMISSIONS POLICY SEND ALL SUBMISSIONS TO NEWS@FLCOURIER.COM. Deadline for submitting news and pictures is 5 p.m. the Monday before the Friday publication date. You may submit articles at any time. However, current events received prior to deadline will be considered before any information that is submitted, without the Publisher’s prior approval, after the deadline. Press releases, letters to the editor, and guest commentaries must be e-mailed to be considered for publication. The Florida Courier reserves the right to edit any submission, and crop any photograph, for style and clarity. Materials will not be returned.

Charles W. Cherry, Sr. (1928-2004), Founder Julia T. Cherry, Senior Managing Member, Central Florida Communicators Group, LLC Dr. Glenn W. Cherry, Cassandra CherryKittles, Charles W. Cherry II, Managing Members Dr. Glenn W. Cherry, Chief Executive Officer Charles W. Cherry II, Esq., Publisher Dr. Valerie Rawls-Cherry, Human Resources Jenise Morgan, Senior Editor Linda Fructuoso, Marketing Consultant/Sales, Circulation Angela VanEmmerik, Creative Director Chicago Jones, Eugene Leach, Louis Muhammad, Lisa Rogers-Cherry, Circulation Andreas Butler, Ashley Thomas, Staff Writers Delroy Cole, Kim Gibson, Photojournalists MEMBER National Newspaper Publishers Association Society of Professional Journalists Florida Press Association Associated Press National Newspaper Association

hundred sessions combined; as the session which enacted the most far-reaching tax cut of our time; as the session which declared all-out war on human poverty and unemployment in these United States; as the session which finally recognized the health needs of all our older citizens; as the session which reformed our tangled transportation and transit policies; as the session which achieved the most effective, efficient foreign aid program ever; and as the session which helped to build more homes, more schools, more libraries and more hospitals than any single session of Congress in the history of our Republic.”

tory as having done nothing. But, if it is to serve the people, it must put the income escalator back into the “up” position to end poverty, and it must end its gridlock to put the jobs deficit and unemployed workers ahead of fiscal deficits and protecting the rich from paying its fair share. Last year, the Census reported that more than 2 million of America's families, headed by someone younger than 65, had someone who worked full-time, year round but languished in poverty, and another 87,000 who had two workers who worked full-time, year round. This is possible because the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour gives an income of $15,080 a year, $3,400 short of the Head in another poverty line for a family of direction three. Clearly, we cannot be Well, our current Con- serious about ending povgress is going down in his- erty as long as those who

get employment still find themselves below poverty. For the 62% of poor working families that include workers, we must raise the minimum wage. The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 80 percent of households with children receiving income support – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), housing or Medicaid—are working families. In his special message to Congress on the Economic Opportunity Act, Johnson said, “Because it is right, because it is wise, and because, for the first time in our history, it is possible to conquer poverty.”

Follow Spriggs on Twitter: @WSpriggs. Write your own response at www.flcourier.com.

Bill O’Reilly and psychological warfare Remember when Black folks with a high degree of Black consciousness resented those white liberals who promoted themselves or were promoted by others, as experts on the Black community. Well they have now been joined by White conservatives making a similar claim. One of the most notable of the conservative experts is Bill O’ Reilly who is undoubtedly the cleverest, slickest pundit and propagandist on American television. With smug certainty he has devoted a significant amount of time on recent programs focusing on crime and young Black males.

'The pathology of Black males' Bill and others like him, who generalize about crime and young Black males, don’t do the same when dealing with crimes by young White males such as the one who killed those 20 little children in Newtown, CT. In such cases their focus is usually on the pathology of that particular White male. However, when a Black criminal commits a crime, Bill and many of his colleagues in journalistic and academic circles go on and on about the pathology of Black males as a group. What they often ignore is that young Black males who commit crimes are quintessential me, myself and I, materialistic products of American culture, not Black culture.

Not quite good enough A. Peter Bailey TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM

Bill’s attitude is not surprising if one is aware of a statement he made in 2003. According to the Washington Post “members of the ‘Best Men, ‘ as the sixth-toeight grade boys in the program are called, were delayed getting onstage to perform a lip-synched rendition of the Four Tops standard ‘Reach Out (I’ll Be There).’ O’Reilly ad-libbed: ‘Does anyone know where the Best Men are? I hope they’re not in the parking lot stealing our hubcaps.’ “ Bill, with great indignation about critical reaction to his very revealing statement, insisted that “This is ridiculous and foolish. No good deed goes unpunished. If you guys want to snipe at me, then snipe at me. This thing raised a lot of money for a good charity. Everybody was happy. I don’t want to comment on anything else.” Some may wonder why I pay any attention to Bill and other propagandists like him. I don’t believe we should spend too much time on them, but they are a part of a larger problem. Too many Black folks refuse to acknowledge that we are literally involved in psychological warfare in this country.

In a hundred different ways we are constantly reminded that we are just not quite good enough for equal rights, equal justice, and equal opportunity. Physical attacks to remind us of this have been significantly reduced, mostly because of the courage of those who fought the good fight in the 1950s and 1960. But psychological attacks in movies, television, radio, books, songs etc. are as unrelenting as ever. Attacks on the mind such as the one in which an adult White male “hopes” that 11-13 year old Black youngsters aren’t stealing hubcaps perpetuate the stereotypes that millions of white Americans share about Black males and criminal behavior. For both individual and group interests, we must psychologically arm ourselves with the knowledge needed to confront Slick Bill and his comrades in the journalistic and academic arenas. Suggestion on ways to this will be presented in future columns.

Journalist/Lecturer A. Peter Bailey, author of the recently published book, Witnessing Brother Malcolm X, The Master Teacher, can be reached at apeterb@verizon.net or 202716-4560. Write your own response at www.flcourier.com.

Pam Bondi is Governor Scott’s incompetent Attorney General Anytime the Lieutenant Governor, the Educational Commissioner, the head of the state Republican Party are in jail or forced to resign their position, the state is corrupt. With Pam Bondi as the Attorney General, she is making a mockery of justice in the state, and proving that incompetent people work for our governor. When 600,000 people in Florida sign a petition to get a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot, to allow medical use of marijuana, it is time to stop fighting the will of the people. But not Pam Bondi, instead she has made this her top priority to stop this constitutional amendment. It was also Pam Bondi who led the charge to deny healthcare to millions of Floridians, and costing our state millions of taxpayers’ money. Throughout the entire country she is on record as one of the state’s worst attorney generals, but in the last couple of weeks she has proven that she does not care, and is an insensitive leader. She decided to postpone an execution so she could go to her campaign party and collect supporters’ checks. After she was caught, she was forced to apologized, but our leaders make it a habit of embar-

ROGER CALDWELL GUEST COLUMNIST

rassing our state. In a blog named “My Stupid State” the writer says you can always tell a Rick Scott initiative by asking three questions: 1. Is it un-Constitutional? 2. Is it designed to hurt rather than help Floridians? and 3. Will Pam Bondi fight for it? Pam Bondi is a Republican/Conservative and she fights battles based on ideology instead of law.

Can she be trusted?

her re-election, and decided to drop the charges. She is definitely working for the wealthy stakeholders, and not the citizens of Florida. Rev. Jesse Jackson has labeled Florida as an “apartheid state” and compared Governor Scott to Governor Wallace. Florida has sentenced more than 20 people to die, and later discover that they were innocent. Somebody is not doing their job, and there is a fundamental problem with our court system. Last year when the state’s court system was on trial with the Trayvon Martin case, Florida proved that if you are an AfricanAmerican don’t expect justice in Florida. It is time for a change in Florida, for the position of attorney general. Pam Bondi is incompetent, and at times it appears that she uses the law to support her Republican ideology. Corruption is running wild in the state, and our top cop is leading the pack. Anytime you have an attorney general who fights for the issues that hurt the residents, we must kick her out of office.

When our attorney general defends Scott’s illegal voter purges, even after knowing the majority of folks kicked off were legitimate, it makes me wonder, if she can be trusted. There is something wrong when the leaders in the state start a second voter purge, when the first one did not work. When Donald Trump ran a get-rich seminar that stole tens of thousands of dollars from Floridians and New Yorkers, the New York attorney general immediately filed charges. On the other Write your own response hand, Pam Bondi received a large check from Trump for at www.flcourier.com.

JANUARY 31 – FEBRUARY 6, 2014

State of the Black community Now is the time of the year when a lot of people will be giving “state speeches.” The President will give his State of the Union speech. Governors will give their state of the state speeches. Mayors will give state of the city speeches. University presidents will give state of the college speeches and in that regard The Gantt Report will attempt to give you a state of the Black community column! Black communities in America today are in a pretty sorry state. I know you don’t like for me to write like this because many African Americans are happy. They are merely happy because they are here. I say our current state is sorry because I think we are in worse shape than we were four years ago. In fact, we may be in worse shape than we have been in since slavery days!

We are the problem Our main problem is our problem! The Black family has deteriorated. Black men are making babies that they refuse to take care

Lucius Gantt THE GANTT REPORT

of. Black women are turning children against fathers that are trying their best to be a part of the children’s lives. Black men and Black women don’t want to be role models, they don’t want to be mentors, they don’t want to be benefactors, they don’t want to be supporters, providers, they don’t want to be protectors, they don’t want to be teachers and they don’t want to be care givers. Sometimes it is necessary to go back in order to move forward. We need to return to the times when we loved each other, when we supported each other, when we helped each other and when we prayed for each other. When the 2014 state speeches talk about job creation they won’t be talking about Black job creation. Unemployment in the

hood is always twice as high as unemployment in the suburbs. Black businesses hire Black employees. When you avoid doing business with your brothers and sisters you contribute to Black unemployment. The Arabs and the East Indians that own the neighborhood markets in the Black community, hire Arab and East Indian workers. They take your money out of the Black community and take it to non-Black communities. It is easier to find a Chinese restaurant in the hood than it is to find a Black restaurant in the hood because we don’t patronize Black owned businesses. If you don’t know, the little money people get from the government is not nearly enough for people to survive on. Ten dollars a month in food stamps or $800 a month in social security payments is a joke if you have rent to pay, food to buy, medicine to buy, a phone bill and other bills to pay. The government comedy routine continues with talk about minimum wage increases. If pay

EDITORIAL

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: KILLER WEED

STEVE SACK, THE MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE

increases a dollar an hour and milk goes up two dollars a gallon, gas goes up one dollar a gallon medicine goes up five dollars a month, an increase in minimum wage will do nothing! Our state, or our condition, will not change until we change! In 2014 and in any other year, we will have to determine our own destiny, we will have to make our own progress and we will have to depend on each other to make life

better for us. Stop being misguided, misled, mistaken and mistreated by people that don’t care about you! Take control of your own family, your life and your community in 2014!

Buy Gantt's book "Beast Too: Dead Man Writing" anywhere books are sold and contact Lucius at www.allworldconsultants.net. Write your own response at www.flcourier.com.

A deeper dive into Melissa Harris-Perry’s ‘apology’ MSNBC host Melissa HarrisPerry seeks forgiveness. On a recent program, she participated in discussion poking fun at Mitt Romney’s Christmas card, which featured him holding his new, adopted African-American Black grandchild. The race of the newest Romney was the key focus of the jokes. Days later, and after a firestorm of criticism, Harris-Perry tweeted an apology for the insensitive remarks. A tearful on-air apology followed. Fine, but the problem is that Harris-Perry didn’t apologize for the worst offense. Melissa Harris-Perry’s career is rooted in discussing, writing about and advocating for AfricanAmerican issues. Someone claiming such expertise should not only have known better, but realized at the time that such comments are offensive. Instead, she participated in the offense.

HUGHEY NEWSOME PROJECT 21

Sandy Hook, an authentic advocate for African-American issues should not tolerate, much less moderate, a discussion essentially demeaning mixed-race adoption. While not as tragic as Sandy Hook, the discrepancy of adoption rates for black foster children face deserves more coverage than making light of a successful adoption by the family of a prominent Republican. According to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services figures, about one in 100 Black children in America’s foster care system awaits adoption — more than double the rate for White children. The average foster care stay for Black kids is 29 months, versus 18.3 months for White youth. Should not participate These discrepancies are wide, but Just as a Newtown, Connecti- reportedly improving. cut parent shouldn’t be expectWhile Harris-Perry could use ed to abide a tasteless joke about her soapbox to laud the Rom-

ney family for their decision, she chose otherwise. Harris-Perry’s lack of judgment is secondary to a disturbing pattern she and so many other liberal commentators exhibit.

Keeps getting it wrong

Liberal pundits have seemingly exchanged altruistic concerns for hyper-partisanship. In this case, Harris-Perry later apologized for using “poor judgment” in targeting an adopted Black child to attack a private citizen with whom she disagrees politically. But Harris-Perry also recently compared the term “ObamaCare,” a term still embraced by some supporters of the President’s health care takeover, to other “code words” meant to stoke racist animosity. The use of the names of presidents to create idiomatic terms — “Hooverville” and “Reaganomics,” to name two — takes place throughout history. Rather than understand this, she intro- Do it for the ratings duced race into the discussion. Prostituting those challenges, Denouncing the term ObamaC- an apparent lack of altruistic conare as racist and defending Presi- cern and the protection of the cerdent Obama, who is likely very tain politicians (especially those

More on bankrupting the prison system It goes without saying that the prison system isn’t really concerned with correcting and/or rehabilitating those convicted of a crime. Let me say that many people leave prison reformed, but there is still a problem when recidivism occurs too frequently. Cheap labor and profits have kept prisons full and as long as there’s a need to make a profit, corporations will do what they have to do to keep increasing their profits. Let’s look at two of these corporations. No. 1: The first company that makes huge profits off prisoners is the Bob Barker Company, Inc. This company is America’s Leading Detention Supplier. [Please note that this company is often associated with the former host of The Price is Right Bob Barker, but there is no proof of this]. According to their website, this company was started in 1972 in the back of a barbershop delivering food service equipment to jails. Because of their success doing this, the company blossomed. The mission and vision statement of Bob Barker Company, Inc are: “Mission: By living our values and pursing Bob’s passion for customer service and innovation we are creating profitable growth and positively impacting lives.” “Vision: Transforming criminal justice while honoring God in all we do.” Maybe, I’m a little bit confused. How do you infuse honoring God in transforming the criminal justice system when you’re the biggest supplier to detention centers? Don’t get me wrong, I do believe that inmates

Ask questions DR. SINCLAIR GREY III GUEST COLUMNIST

should receive quality toiletries and things of the matter, but what about the social responsibility to end the criminal justice system. Oops, I forgot because it will dampen their financial portfolio.

Blacks only welcomed inside The interesting fact in looking at their leadership team, just in appearance only, there isn’t one person of color. As I mentioned in Part 1 of this series, ‘Bankrupting The Prison System,’ there’s a huge increase in minorities incarcerated. My question to this company is why isn’t there a minority on the leadership team, but more importantly, what are you doing as a corporation to decrease the influx of prisoners? Oops, I forgot again, it’s all about supply and demand, which equals profit. No. 2: Wells Fargo has come under attack because of their investment. According to a report in Crooks and Liars, Wells Fargo was a major investor in the GEO Group, the second largest private jailer in America. “At the end of 2011, Wells Fargo was the company’s secondlargest investor, holding 4.3 million shares valued at more than $72 million. By March 2012, its stake had grown to more than 4.4 million shares worth $86.7 million.”

popular with her viewers, might increase ratings. But I do not see altruism in comparing the pain my grandparents and great-grandparents went through to typical critiques of a program Obama heartily embraces. I do not see how prostituting the pain of the past to protect the President helps our inner cities or our needy. Along the same line of callousness, Harris-Perry compared incarcerating suspected terrorists in Guantanamo Bay to slavery. President Obama is the commander-in-chief and can, but has not, closed the prison. Does that make him a slaveholder? That criticism has yet to be made, and her support of Obama likely has something to do with it. Challenges facing the AfricanAmerican community are real and should not be exploited. Unfortunately, Harris-Perry’s words indicate a pattern.

Whenever financial institutions increase their financial portfolio, legitimate questions must be raised. Questions such as what are they investing in? Do they do adequate research into companies seeking their investment? And what happens if their findings prove that a company is participating in human slavery? When I asked a few of Wells Fargo’s employees about information concerning investing in private prisons, I didn’t receive an answer. In addition, when I approached a few of their employees about what they think of their company participating in the incarceration of human beings, I received nonchalant responses. I can’t say that I was shocked. They either didn’t know, refused to care, or simply didn’t see it as their problem. If you have a Wells Fargo account, I can’t tell you what to do. All I’m asking is that you do your homework and research the findings. Please don’t stop there. Research every financial institution that invests in prisons. Remember, the goal is to bankrupt the prison system. It’s important that you know this is a series. Information is critical and without it, we’ll continue to remain in the dark. Source: Truth-out.org, Bob Barker Company, Crooks and Liars, and The GEO Group

Dr. Sinclair Grey III is an inspirational speaker, motivator, author and organizer. He is a committed advocate for communal change. Contact him at drgrey@sinclairgrey. org or on Twitter @drsinclairgrey. Write your own response at www.flcourier.com.

who claim concern but fail to act effectively), along with exploiting the “wow” factor to prop poor ratings, is troubling and offensive. This is thick on MSNBC. Whether it’s Harris-Perry’s favorite race joke panel discussion from last February, Toure’s use of the “nword” or Chris Matthew’s assertion that he “forgot President Obama was Black” in praising a speech, MSNBC’s commentators indicate that authentic concern doesn’t drive their advocacy. It’s sad when commentators use their airtime to lodge partisan attacks, focus on gaffes by non-liberals, dismiss all opposing arguments (legitimate and otherwise) as being represented by those gaffes and thereby restrict a constructive debate. This behavior cannot help to improve the lives of African-Americans. Viewers should realize this.

Hughey Newsome, a business consultant in the D.C. area, is a member of the national advisory council of the black leadership network Project 21. Write your own response at www.flcourier.com.

Awakened from a dream Mid-January is the time when Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday is commemorated. Cities, towns, and colleges across the country lift their voices and rise up the language of Dr. King’s dream that people are judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin. They cherry pick the King dream, forgetting that he also spoke to the “check marked insufficient funds” and the fact that African American people always got the short end of the economic stick. Members of Congress, mayors and governors issue proclamations and speak to their constituents about the dream. Some of these speakers have worked in direct opposition to King’s dream, cutting food stamps, refusing to extend unemployment coverage for those whose checks were cut off on December 28, nearly a month ago. They talk the talk and they don’t walk the walk. They are marching to the dream of a different drummer. I am writing after the fact because it is never after the fact. The hypocrites who rail about social and economic justice need to be held to some standard. They need to be confronted about their hypocrisy around the dream. They need to read all of King, not just the passages that mollify them and make them feel good. They cannot dream a dream of social equity without working for economic equity.

DR. JULIANNE MALVEAUX TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM

Supporters turned their backs on him. The foundation that once embraced his work dropped him because he told the truth. People who vied for his company suddenly shunned him. Now, in death, he is a hero. In 1968, 72 percent of all White people disapproved of Dr. King, as did 55 percent of all Black people. Black folks have racial fealty, but not racial radicalism. Were it not for racism, too many African American people would embrace some aspects of conservatism. That’s why too many of us celebrate President Barack Obama without analyzing the work he has done. Indeed, Africa American people have a schizophrenic relationshiop with President Obama. We like his swag, his confident representation of a powerful Black man. We are ambivalent about the ways he has used his power, too often to essentially ignore the challenges that the Black community faces. He says this year will be his year of action around income inequality, poverty, and unemployment, and we all understand that action trickles down. Will it trickle down to us? Our president, he Tell the whole story of Black man swagger and confiMy preacher brothers and sis- dence, will not say. ters, too, take snippets of the King Julianne Malveaux is a Washdream and turn it into a sermon. Why not tell the whole story about ington, D.C.-based economist Dr. King being rejected by his sup- and writer. She is President porters when he connected pov- Emerita of Bennett College for erty and racism with Vietnam. Women in Greensboro, N.C.

TOj A6

JANUARY 31 – FEBRUARY 6, 2014

HEALTH FOOD || HEALTH TRAVEL | |MONEY SCIENCE | BOOKS | MOVIES | TV | AUTOS LIFE | FAITH | EVENTS | CLASSIFIEDS | ENTERTAINMENT | SPORTS | FOOD COURIER

IFE/FAITH

Wilson represents NFL’s new guard at quarterback See page B3

JANUARY 31 – FEBRUARY 6, 2014

SHARING BLACK LIFE, STATEWIDE

SOUTH FLORIDA / TREASURE COAST AREA

Entertainment in Florida includes UniverSoul Circus See page B5

SECTION

www.flcourier.com

‘Let’s make this a year of action’ President pledges to get things done – with or without Congress President Barack Obama delivered his fifth prime-time State of the Union address on Tuesday during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill. Here are excerpts from his speech. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, my fellow Americans: Today in America, a teacher spent extra time with a student who needed it, and did her part to lift America’s graduation rate to its highest level in more than three decades. An entrepreneur flipped on the lights in her tech startup, and did her part to add to the more than eight million new jobs our businesses have created over the past four years. An autoworker fine-tuned some of the best, most fuel-efficient cars in the world, and did his part to help America wean itself off foreign oil. A farmer prepared for the spring after the strongest fiveyear stretch of farm exports in our history. A rural doctor gave a young child the first prescription to treat asthma that his mother could afford. A man took the bus home from the graveyard shift, bone-tired but dreaming big dreams for his son. And in tight-knit communities across America, fathers and mothers will tuck in their kids, put an arm around their spouse, remember fallen comrades, and give thanks for being home from a war that, after 12 long years, is finally coming to an end.

Rebounding market Tonight, this chamber speaks with one voice to the people we represent: it is you, our citizens, who make the state of our union strong. Here are the results of your efforts: The lowest unemployment rate in over five years. A rebounding housing market. A manufacturing sector that’s adding jobs for the first time since the 1990s. More oil produced at home than we buy from the rest of the world – the first time that’s happened in nearly twenty years. Our deficits – cut by more than half. And for the first time in over a decade, business leaders around the world have declared that China is no longer the world’s number one place to invest; America is. That’s why I believe this can be a breakthrough year for America. After five years of grit and determined effort, the United States is better positioned for the 21st century than any other nation on Earth.

A year of action In the coming months, let’s see where else we can make progress together. Let’s make this a year of action. That’s what most Americans want – for all of us in this chamber to focus on their lives, their hopes, their aspirations. Today, after four years of economic growth, corporate profits and stock prices have rarely been higher, and those at the top have never done better. But average wages have barely budged. Inequality has deepened. Upward mobility has stalled. The cold, hard fact is that even in the midst of recovery, too many Americans are working more than ever just to get by – let alone get ahead. And too many still aren’t working at all. Our job is to reverse these trends. It won’t happen right away, and we won’t agree on everything. But what I offer tonight is a set of concrete, practical proposals to speed up growth, strengthen the middle class, and build new ladders of opportunity into the middle class. Some require Congressional

OLIVIER DOULIERY/ABACA PRESS/MCT

President Obama gives his State of the Union address as Vice President Joe Biden and Speaker of the House John Boehner look on. action, and I’m eager to work with all of you. But America does not stand still – and neither will I. So wherever and whenever I can take steps without legislation to expand opportunity for more American families, that’s what I’m going to do.

Fix immigration system Finally, if we are serious about economic growth, it is time to heed the call of business leaders, labor leaders, faith leaders, and law enforcement – and fix our broken immigration system. Republicans and Democrats in the Senate have acted. I know that members of both parties in the House want to do the same. Independent economists say immigration reform will grow our economy and shrink our deficits by almost $1 trillion in the next two decades. The ideas I’ve outlined so far can speed up growth and create more jobs. But in this rapidly changing economy, we have to make sure that every American has the skills to fill those jobs.

Train Americans The good news is, we know how to do it. Two years ago, as the auto industry came roaring back, Andra Rush opened up a manufacturing firm in Detroit. She knew that Ford needed parts for the best-selling truck in America, and she knew how to make them. She just needed the workforce. So she dialed up what we call an American Job Center – places where folks can walk in to get the help or training they need to find a new job, or better job. She was flooded with new workers. And today, Detroit Manufacturing Systems has more than 700 employees.

Equal pay for women Today, women make up about half our workforce. But they still make 77 cents for every dollar a man earns. That is wrong, and in 2014, it’s an embarrassment. A woman deserves equal pay for equal work. She deserves to have a baby without sacrificing her job.

A mother deserves a day off to care for a sick child or sick parent without running into hardship – and you know what, a father does, too. It’s time to do away with workplace policies that belong in a “Mad Men” episode. This year, let’s all come together – Congress, the White House, and businesses from Wall Street to Main Street – to give every woman the opportunity she deserves. Because I firmly believe when women succeed, America succeeds.

Give America a raise Profitable corporations like Costco see higher wages as the smart way to boost productivity and reduce turnover. We should too. In the coming weeks, I will issue an Executive Order requiring federal contractors to pay their federally-funded employees a fair wage of at least $10.10 an hour – because if you cook our troops’ meals or wash their dishes, you shouldn’t have to live in poverty. Of course, to reach millions more, Congress needs to get on board. Today, the federal minimum wage is worth about 20 percent less than it was when Ronald Reagan first stood here. Tom Harkin and George Miller have a bill to fix that by lifting the minimum wage to $10.10. This will help families. It will give businesses customers with more money to spend. It doesn’t involve any new bureaucratic program. So join the rest of the country. Say yes. Give America a raise.

My RA Let’s do more to help Americans save for retirement. Today, most workers don’t have a pension. A Social Security check often isn’t enough on its own. And while the stock market has doubled over the last five years, that doesn’t help folks who don’t have 401ks. That’s why, tomorrow, I will direct the Treasury to create a new way for working Americans to start their own retirement savings: MyRA. It’s a new savings bond that encourages folks to build a nest egg.

MyRA guarantees a decent return with no risk of losing what you put in. And if this Congress wants to help, work with me to fix an upside-down tax code that gives big tax breaks to help the wealthy save, but does little to nothing for middle-class Americans. Offer every American access to an automatic IRA on the job, so they can save at work just like everyone in this chamber can.

Can’t be dropped Already, because of the Affordable Care Act, more than three million Americans under age 26 have gained coverage under their parents’ plans. More than nine million Americans have signed up for private health insurance or Medicaid coverage. And here’s another number: zero. Because of this law, no American can ever again be dropped or denied coverage for a preexisting condition like asthma, back pain, or cancer. No woman can ever be charged more just because she’s a woman. And we did all this while adding years to Medicare’s finances, keeping Medicare premiums flat, and lowering prescription costs for millions of seniors. Now, I don’t expect to convince my Republican friends on the merits of this law. But I know that the American people aren’t interested in refighting old battles. So again, if you have specific plans to cut costs, cover more people, and increase choice – tell America what you’d do differently. Let’s see if the numbers add up. But let’s not have another forty-something votes to repeal a law that’s already helping millions of Americans like Amanda. The first 40 were plenty. We got it. We all owe it to the American people to say what we’re for, not just what we’re against.

End of wars Tonight, because of the extraordinary troops and civilians who risk and lay down their lives to keep us free, the United States is more secure. When I took of-

fice, nearly 180,000 Americans were serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, all our troops are out of Iraq. More than 60,000 of our troops have already come home from Afghanistan. With Afghan forces now in the lead for their own security, our troops have moved to a support role. Together with our allies, we will complete our mission there by the end of this year, and America’s longest war will finally be over.

Tribute to ranger As this time of war draws to a close, a new generation of heroes returns to civilian life. We’ll keep slashing that backlog so our veterans receive the benefits they’ve earned, and our wounded warriors receive the health care – including the mental health care – that they need. We’ll keep working to help all our veterans translate their skills and leadership into jobs here at home. And we all continue to join forces to honor and support our remarkable military families. Let me tell you about one of those families I’ve come to know. I first met Cory Remsburg, a proud Army Ranger, at Omaha Beach on the 65th anniversary of D-Day. Along with some of his fellow Rangers, he walked me through the program – a strong, impressive young man, with an easy manner, sharp as a tack. We joked around, and took pictures, and I told him to stay in touch. A few months later, on his tenth deployment, Cory was nearly killed by a massive roadside bomb in Afghanistan. His comrades found him in a canal, face down, underwater, shrapnel in his brain. For months, he lay in a coma. The next time I met him, in the hospital, he couldn’t speak; he could barely move. Over the years, he’s endured dozens of surgeries and procedures, and hours of grueling rehab every day. Even now, Cory is still blind in one eye. He still struggles on his See SOTU, Page B5

Super Bowl XLVIII

JANUARY 31 – FEBRUARY 6, 2014

STOJ

Test your NFL knowledge with our multiple choice trivia quiz By Stan Olson Charlotte Observer

Earl Lambeau was the first coach of the Green Bay Packers, and a charter member of the pro football Hall of Fame. He founded the pre-NFL Packers in 1919 and eventually won six league titles. Lambeau Field is named after him. His nickname was:

If your name was Elroy, you would likely opt for a nickname as soon as possible (“hey, call me Bubba”). Elroy Hirsch of the Los Angeles Rams was one of the great receivers of the 1950s and had an equally great nickname. It was:

A. Larry B. Curly C. Moe D. Field

A. The Hirschy Bar B. Yo Mama C. Crazylegs D. Roy

One coach, and only one, has led his team to four consecutive Super Bowls. He is: A. Vince Lombardi, Green Bay B. Don Shula, Miami C. Marv Levy, Buffalo D. Tom Landry, Dallas

Harry E. Walker/MCT

Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez

The active player with the most touchdowns has 157, fourth on the all-time list. He is: A. Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta B. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis C. Wes Welker, New England D. Randy Moss, San Francisco

Jim Brown led the NFL in rushing yards eight times in nine seasons, then retired in his prime. In college at Syracuse, though, he was also an all-American at another sport in addition to football. That sport was: A. Lacrosse B. Bowling C. Baseball D. Frisbee golf

Kicking up a storm; back in 1970, less than 60 percent of field goal attempts were converted. Since then, that figure had improved considerably. The 2012 mark was: A. Over 80 percent B. Over 70 percent C. Over 85 percent D. Nobody missed

10.

The American Professional Football Association changed its name to the National Football League on June 24, 1921. When the new NFL began play that fall, which of these teams was not a member: A. Muncie Flyers B. Dayton Triangles C. Rochester Jeffersons D. Harrisburg Steelmen

11.

In 1993, this quarterback led his team to the greatest comeback in NFL history, wiping out a 35-3 third-quarter deficit and pushing his team to a 41-38 win in overtime. Hopefully, he still has the videotape: A. Danny White, Dallas B. Frank Reich, Buffalo C. Steve Young, San Francisco D. Warren Moon, Houston

12. You can’t stop him; you

Carlos Gonzalez/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson

4. How close was Minnesota

running back Adrian Peterson to beating Eric Dickerson’s NFL single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards this season? A. 3 yards B. 9 yards C. 6 yards D. 12 yards

can only hope to contain him. He was the first running back in NFL history to rush for more than 1,000 yards and top 1,000 receiving yards in the same season: A. Marshall Faulk, Indianapolis,1998 B. Abner Haynes, Dallas Texans,1960 C. Roger Craig, San Francisco, 1985 D. Thurman Thomas, Buffalo, 1992

13. At the Detroit Lions’

1957 preseason banquet, their coach abruptly announced, “I can’t handle you guys, and I

quit.” Not a wise move; those Lions went on to win it all. Who was the guy who bailed just in time to miss all the good stuff? A. Tom Landry B. Weeb Eubank C. Buddy Parker D. Hank Stram

14.

Every NFL city wants to host the Super Bowl, but until recently it was usually reserved for burgs in warm climes. Which of the cities listed below has had sport’s biggest glamour game a whopping 10 times? A. New Orleans B. Los Angeles C. Tampa D. San Diego

15.

The last team to win its division without having a winning record — and this is almost as hard to do as going undefeated — was: A. Washington, NFC East, 2001 B. Cincinnati, AFL Central, 1970 C. Detroit, NFC Central, 1993 D. Seattle, NFC West, 2010

16.

Early in the league’s history, football teams often took the name of their city’s moreestablished baseball franchise. Which of these teams did NOT play in the NFL? A. Brooklyn Dodgers B. New York Yankees C. Atlanta Braves D. Cincinnati Reds

17.

Today everyone loves sacks. But for most of its history, the NFL didn’t even keep track of them, much to the frustration of defensive linemen. When did the sack become an official league stat?

Almost every team has been to the Super Bowl, right? Well, no; actually four current teams haven’t gotten their shot yet. Houston, Detroit and Jacksonville haven’t been to the “Big Game.” Name the other franchise that is still waiting:

A. 1982 B. 1976 C. 1985 D. 1979

A. Cincinnati B. Kansas City C. Cleveland D. San Diego

18.

Which one of these active NFL quarterbacks is not in the all-time top 10 for career passing yardage?

Penalty flags, of course, are yellow. But prior to 1965, they were this color: A. Chartreuse B. Red C. Black D. White

Rob Schneider /dallas Morning News/mct

Rob Schneider/ dallas Morning News/mct

A. Drew Brees B. Peyton Manning C. Tom Brady D. Eli Manning

19.

This defensive back returned a remarkable 12 interceptions for touchdowns during his career, making him something of an offensive weapon on defense. That’s a record, of course. Who is he? A. Deion Sanders B. Rod Woodson C. Everson Walls D. Dick “Night Train” Lane

20.

When San Francisco’s Jim Harbaugh faced Baltimore’s John Harbaugh in Super Bowl XLVII, it marked the first time a pair of brothers coached against each other in the NFL championship game. Which team Jose Fajardo/ did Jim play Contra Costa Times/ quarterback MCT for during Jim Harbaugh his professional career? A. Indianapolis Colts B. Denver Broncos C. Philadelphia Eagles D. Atlanta Falcons

ANSWERS 1. A 2. D 3. A 4. B 5. C

6. D 7. C 8. C 9. A 10. D

11. B 12. C 13. C 14. A 15. D

16. C 17. A 18. D 19. B 20. A

STOJ

JANUARY 31 – FEBRUARY 6, 2014

Super Bowl XLVIII By the numbers

Wilson, meanwhile, is one of the leaders of the new guard of mobile quarterbacks, as dangerous with his feet as his arm. His 52-career touchdown passes, second most for any QB in the first two years of his career, don’t even match Manning’s total for this season. Then there is age. At 37 years, 315 days, Manning will be the second-oldest quarterback to start a Super Bowl, trailing only another Bronco, John Elway, who was 38 when he led Denver to victory over Atlanta in 1999. At 25 years and 66 days, Wilson will be the sixth-youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl, and youngest since 23-year-old Ben Roethlisberger led the Steelers to a win over the Seahawks in 2006. The perception leading into the Super Bowl will be that if Wilson is to lead the Seahawks to the Super Bowl, he will do so similarly to Roethlisberger, who relied on his team’s defense, running game and big plays (and yes, a few controversial calls that went Pittsburgh’s way) and threw for just 123 yards in Pittsburgh’s win.

Measuring up to Manning

LUI KIT WONG/TACOMA NEWS TRIBUNE/MCT

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, Pete Carroll, Paul Allen and John Schneider celebrate at the end of the NFC championship game at CenturyLink Field in Seattle on Jan. 19. The Seattle Seahawks defeated the San Francisco 49ers, 23-17.

Wilson represents NFL’s new guard at quarterback African-American will be sixth youngest QB to start Super Bowl BY BOB CONDOTTA THE SEATTLE TIMES/MCT

RENTON, Wash. — After the din had finally receded that Sunday night after the Seahawks’ victory over San Francisco that sent them to Super Bowl XLVIII, Se-

attle quarterback Russell Wilson was asked what he was thinking as he took the final three kneeldown snaps. His answer came, well, a little out of left field. Wilson didn’t say he was savoring the moment or basking in the glow of the 68,000-plus cheering wildly. Instead, he said: “To be honest with you, the thing that I thought about during the last snap was, ‘Man, I could have been playing

baseball right now.”‘ It was a reference to the fact that Wilson spent parts of two summers playing minor-league baseball during his college years. It was also a reminder of the somewhat unconventional road Wilson has taken to get to the Super Bowl, and one of many stark contrasts between Wilson and his Super Bowl counterpart, Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos.

Meeting for the big game The Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos will meet Feb. 2 to play in Super Bowl XVLIII at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Russell Wilson Peyton Manning

Regular season 432-378-10 Postseason 20-17 Regular season Postseason Playoff appearances 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013

293-303 11-12

1972 Group of Seattle business and community leaders announce intention to acquire an NFL franchise for Seattle 1976 First season; named the Seahawks after contest of more than 1,700 names

1983 Chuck Knox hired as head coach; make first postseason appearance; lose in AFC Championship 1996 Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen purchases team after previous owner Ken Behring threatens to move team to Los Angeles 2002 Play first game at CenturyLink Field; stadium considered one of the loudest in the NFL Feb. 5, 2006 Head coach Mike Holmgren leads team to first Super Bowl; lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers 2009 Jim L. Mora takes over as head coach for one year; ends the season with 5-11 record 2010 Pete Carroll named head coach; make playoffs; lose to Chicago Bears in Divisional Round 2012 Draft QB Russell Wilson in the third round; will start all games in the season; lose in the playoffs in the Divisional Round to Atlanta Falcons Jan. 19, 2014 Defeat the San Francisco 49ers to advance to Super Bowl XLVIII Source: NFL, Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, MCT Photo Service

1960 Denver Broncos among eight teams in the start-up American Football League 1970 NFL and AFL merge; Denver has the worst record of any original AFL team Jan. 15, 1978 “Orange Crush” defense leads team to its first Super Bowl appearance; lose to the Dallas Cowboys 1983 QB John Elway’s first season; would play for 16 seasons and compile 148 wins

Playoff appearances 1977, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2013 Super Bowl Champions 1997, 1998

Jan. 28, 1987 Lose to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXI; two more defeats follow, Super Bowl XXII and Super Bowl XXIV Jan. 28, 1998 Super Bowl XXXII win against Green Bay Packers Jan. 31, 1999 Defeat Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII; Elway named MVP; retires after season 2005 QB Jake Plummer leads team to third consecutive postseason; lose in AFC Championship game to Pittsburgh Steelers 2008 Head coach Mike Shanahan fired after 14 seasons, the longest-tenured and winningest head coach in Broncos’ history March 20, 2012 Sign QB Peyton Manning; takes team to playoffs in first season; lose to Baltimore Ravens in AFC Championship game Jan. 19 2014 Defeat the New England Patriots to advance to Super Bowl XLVIII Graphic: Melina Yingling

From baseball to NFL Manning, as one of three sons of longtime NFL quarterback Archie Manning, seemed preordained for success from almost the moment he was born. After a standout career at Tennessee, where he arrived as one of the most highly touted recruits in the country, he was the No. 1 pick in the 1998 NFL draft. Wilson, meanwhile, was regarded as a reach by the Seahawks as a third-round pick in 2012, questions lingering about his listed height of 5 feet 11. That was one reason he was pursuing baseball in the first place, keeping his options open during a time when many doubted if he had a legitimate NFL future. He’d signed initially with North Carolina State as two-star recruit, one of his only other offers coming from Duke. Then there are the styles. At 6 feet 5, 230 pounds, Manning remains the leading prototype of the traditional dropback quarterback, throwing for an NFL-record 55 touchdown passes in 2013.

Manning, meanwhile, will be expected to carry the freight for the Broncos, after setting an NFL record for passing yards this season with 5,477. While he’ll never be compared with Manning in physical stature or style, Wilson hopes to someday measure up in accomplishment. “I want to be like him one day in terms of all the things that he’s done and how he’s gone about his business,” Wilson said. “I think that when you think about a quarterback and you think about all the things that go into it, his mind is just so strong. All the things that he does at the line of scrimmage and all that (in terms of changing plays), that’s where I’m trying to get one day. “But to go against a guy that’s definitely going to be a Hall of Famer and one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game is a tremendous honor. At the same time, it’s not me versus him. It’s the Denver Broncos versus the Seattle Seahawks.”

‘Why not us?’ The statement is pure Wilson, and in that regard he varies little from Manning, who also rarely ventures into controversial statement territory. Not that Wilson isn’t afraid to speak his mind when the time is right. After that Sunday win, he recalled a players-only meeting at the beginning of the year and the words of his father Harrison, who told his son to believe that anything is possible in life with the saying “Russ, why not you?” “So I kind of translated that to “why not us?”‘ Wilson said. “It’s one of those things that we believed at the beginning of the year that we could get there. We had unbelievable talent, great coaching staff, we had the pieces in order, and we just needed to go after it.” And as the final seconds ticked down, Wilson said one other thought raced through his mind. “The other thing I thought about is just all the people that told me I couldn’t do it and told me that I couldn’t get there,” he said. A thought that now seems as foreign as Wilson in baseball stirrups.

Fox’s O’Reilly to interview Obama before Super Bowl LOS ANGELES TIMES/MCT

Fox News host Bill O’Reilly has landed the annual Super Bowltimed sit-down with President Barack Obama in a live discussion that will air during the Fox network’s pregame show on Feb. 2. The interview, expected to air at 4:30 p.m., is the first of two parts. Following the live portion of the interview, a second discussion will be taped to play during “The O’Reilly Factor” on Feb. 3 on Fox News. This is O’Reilly’s third interview with Obama. He also sat down with the president in 2011, the last time Fox aired the Super Bowl and during Obama’s original campaign for president. Matt Lauer interviewed Obama in 2012 when the Super Bowl aired on NBC, and Scott Pelley interviewed him before the Super Bowl last year on Bill CBS. O’Reilly The topics three years ago included the Middle East and Obamacare. No word on what topics O’Reilly will be discussing with Obama this year, but it’s likely the Middle East and Obamacare will remain on the agenda. Obama also told O’Reilly that if the Chicago Bears weren’t in the Super Bowl, then he wasn’t taking sides. With the Bears out of the game again this year, it looks like the president will once again be left to root for a “good game.”

Super Bowl XLVIII

JANUARY 31 – FEBRUARY 6, 2014

STOJ

Football fan or not, here’s a game everyone can play The rules:

1. Read your game cards and voice your reservations about the clues before the game starts. No whining allowed after the kickoff. 2. Playing multiple cards is allowed. You decide what people “pay” for extra chances to win. 3. Winning doesn’t have to conform

Fan with emblem carved in hair

to a straight line with five squares in a vertical, horizontal or diagonal row. Maybe in honor of football-viewing tradition, you might want to have a sixpack version. This means you have two adjacent rows of three adjacent clues that look kind of like a six-pack if you viewed it from the top (this can occur anywhere on the card). Or you can in-

Coach Talk of hiding marijuana mouth or the from spies “Stoner Bowl”

Nose-strip wearer

sist that all of the clues be checked off for a game card to win. 4. When you see one of your clues on-screen, you have to call it out. If various people have the same clue on their card, you can either play nice and say that everyone gets to mark off the clue whether they saw it or not OR you can insist that only the first person(s)

to shout out gets to mark off the clue and the others will have to wait for another shot of the redheaded cheerleader or what have you. 5. Keep going until one player completes the designated bingo pattern and wins the prize. — Debra Bass, St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Jennifer Pritchard, MCT

Lip-readable cursing

Sleeping kid in jersey

Peyton Manning is called “The Sheriff”

“D” + fence sign

“Omaha” shout out

Coach’s challenge

Shirtless fan ... brrrr!

Camera man trampled on sideline

Full face paint

Touchdown throw by non-QB

End-zone dance

A blimp

Triple butt smack

Sportscaster Cheerleader Peyton defending belly-button Manning Richard is called ring Sherman “The Sheriff”

Giant foam hand

Fireworks

Free sPACe

Tear-jerking Budweiser commercial

Leaping chest thump

Girl swooning over Bruno Mars

Nose-strip wearer

Free sPACe

Coach throws off headset

Championship ring

Coach throws off headset

Ref blows call

Kicker practicing

Girl swooning over Bruno Mars

Female interviewer

John 3:16 sign

Shirtless fan ... brrrr!

Giant foam hand

Ref blows call

Talk of marijuana or the “Stoner Bowl”

A player’s wife

Camera man trampled on sideline

End-zone dance

Fan “I’m watching going to game on Disneyland!” smartphone

Redheaded cheerleader

Sportscaster defending Richard Sherman

Celebrity

Gatorade bath

Fan watching game on smartphone

Coach throws off headset

A player’s parents

A blimp

Sportscaster defending Richard Sherman

Shirtless fan ... brrrr!

Talk of marijuana or the “Stoner Bowl”

Full face paint

“D” + fence sign

Touchdown throw by non-QB

Shirtless fan ... brrrr!

Peyton Manning is called “The Sheriff”

End-zone dance

Kicker practicing

Giant foam hand

Talking-pet commercial

A player’s wife

Talking-pet commercial

Championship ring

Fan Cheerleader watching belly-button game on ring smartphone

Lip-readable cursing

Full face paint

Free F sPACe S

Leaping chest thump

Camera man trampled on sideline

Sportscaster defending Richard Sherman

Celebrity

Free sPACe

End-zone dance

Coach throws off headset

Female interviewer

Nose-strip wearer

Celebrity

Fan watching game on smartphone

Coach hiding mouth from spies

Kicker practicing

Ref blows call

Fan with emblem carved in hair

Female interviewer

Leaping chest thump

Talk of marijuana or the “Stoner Bowl”

Mohawk

“D” + fence sign

Girl swooning over Bruno Mars

Fireworks

Tear-jerking Budweiser commercial

First-aid cart on field

A blimp

Coach’s challenge

“Omaha” shout out

“Hi, Mom” sign

Player spits on camera

Female interviewer

Fireworks

Gatorade bath

Triple butt smack

Shirtless fan ... brrrr!

Cheerleader belly-button ring

Coach hiding mouth from spies

Lip-readable cursing

Shirtless fan ... brrrr!

Fan watching game on smartphone

“Omaha” shout out

Giant foam hand

Leaping chest thump

Sportscaster defending Richard Sherman

Full face paint

Tear-jerking Budweiser commercial

Free sPACe

Camera man trampled on sideline

End-zone dance

First-aid cart on field

Player spits on camera

“Hi, Mom” sign

Talk of marijuana or the “Stoner Bowl”

Fireworks

Fan with emblem carved in hair

Giant foam hand

Talk of Girl marijuana Lip-readable swooning cursing or the over “Stoner Bowl” Bruno Mars

End-zone dance

Peyton Manning is called “The Sheriff”

Free sPACe

Leaping chest thump

Full face paint

Coach throws off headset

Ref blows call

Kicker practicing

Fan watching game on smartphone

Triple butt smack

Celebrity

Redheaded cheerleader

Sportscaster defending Richard Sherman

Camera man “I’m trampled going to Disneyland!” on sideline

Touchdown “I’m throw by going to non-QB Disneyland!” A player’s parents

Coach throws off headset

TOJ

JANUARY 31 – FEBRUARY 6, 2014

FINEST & ENTERTAINMENT

Meet some of

FLORIDA'S

finest

submitted for your approval

Think you’re one of Florida’s Finest? E-mail your high-resolution (200 dpi) digital photo in casual wear or bathing suit taken in front of a plain background with few distractions, to news@flcourier. com with a short biography of yourself and your contact information. (No nude/ glamour/ fashion photography, please!) In order to be considered, you must be at least 18 years of age. Acceptance of the photographs submitted is in the sole and absolute discretion of Florida Courier editors. We reserve the right to retain your photograph even if it is not published. If you are selected, you will be contacted by e-mail and further instructions will be given.

dustin kenya

Dustin Wilson is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a major in African-American studies. One of his favorite pastimes is long boarding. He also wants to be involved in the music industry as a rapper and likes to model. Contact Dustin at facebook.com/dustin.f.wilson or smalltownboii@gmail.com. Credit: 429media

SOTU from B1 left side. But slowly, steadily, with the support of caregivers like his dad Craig, and the community around him, Cory has grown stronger. Day by day, he’s learned to speak again and stand again and walk again – and he’s working toward the day when he can serve his country again. “My recovery has not been easy,” he says. “Nothing in life that’s worth any-

Join us for a Charity Ball on behalf of Highway Park (near Lake Placid, FL). Proceeds will be used to rehabilitate a vacant building to serve as an office and community resource center. Sponsored by the Highway Park Neighborhood Council

To make a tax deductible donation please visit www.gofundme.com/ jhtwc

thing is easy.”

A rising America Cory is here tonight. And like the Army he loves, like the America he serves, Sergeant First Class Cory Remsburg never gives up, and he does not quit. My fellow Americans, men and women like Cory remind us that America has never come easy. Our freedom, our democracy, has never been easy. Sometimes we stumble; we make mistakes; we get frustrated or discouraged. The America we want for

Kenya Thomas is currently the face of Organic Root Stimulator’s new Worldwide Campaign Curls Unleashed. She has been on the cover of and featured in international and national publications as well as modeled for celebrities like T.I. and for BET’s “Monique’’ show. The model/actress was cast in Tyler Perry’s “Why Did I Get Married Too,” among others. Kenya can be reached at info@kenyathomas.com. Credit: Anna Hajiyev

our kids – a rising America where honest work is plentiful and communities are strong; where prosperity is widely shared and opportunity for all lets us go as far as our dreams and toil will take us – none of it is easy. But if we work together; if we summon what is best in us, with our feet planted firmly in today but our eyes cast towards tomorrow – I know it’s within our reach. Believe it. God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.

3rd Annual Highway Park Rising Gala

JAMIE FOXX

Jamie Foxx will be one of the entertainers at Jazz in the Gardens in March in Miami Gardens. More information: www. jazzinthegardens.com.

UNIVERSOUL CIRCUS

The Ethiopian Contortion is part of UniverSoul Circus. The circus continues in Jacksonville through Feb. 3 and in Tampa from Feb. 5-10. More information: www.universoulcircus.com.

PHOTO BY BRET HARTMAN

K. MICHELLE Date: Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014 Location: Sun n Lakes Golf & Country Club, Sebring, FL Time: 7:00 PM - Midnite Ticket: $50 per Person Attire: Formal Entertainment: HilLegacy Band, Diversified Entertainment Sound & Photography, Lake Placid Ballroom Dancers...fine dining, 50/50 raffle, silent auction & more. For more information contact: Tiffany Green at (863) 840-2995 or visit www.hpng.org

LoveFest Miami 2014 will feature Wale, K. Michelle, Meek Mill and Marcus Cooper on Feb. 14 at the BankUnited Center.

FLORIDA COMMUNITY CALENDAR Tampa: Katt Williams’ Growth Spurt tour stops at the USF Sun Dome on March 15. Orlando: Rapper Nipsey Hussle has an 8 p.m. show scheduled Feb. 3 at Firestone Live. Tampa: Charlie Wilson is

scheduled Feb. 21 at the University of Sun Dome and the James L. Knight Center on Feb. 22 in Miami. Daytona Beach: Wayne Brady takes the stage at the Peabody Auditorium on Feb. 19 for a 7:30 p.m. show. Tampa: Miley Cyrus’ Bangerz Tour stops in Miami on March 22 and Tampa on March 30. Miami Gardens: The ninth annual Jazz in the Gardens is

March 15-16. More information and lineup of artists: www.jazzinthegardens.com. St. Petersburg: Branford Marsalis will perform at the Palladium Theater on April 3 and on April 4 at the Curtis M Phillips Center for Performing Arts in Gainesville. Jacksonville: John Legend is scheduled at the Florida Theatre Jacksonville on April 30.

F0OD

JANUARY 31 – FEBRUARY 6, 2014

TOJ

Tips to make a game day party fun for everyone FROM Family Features

Game day is no time to be sidelined in the kitchen. Do a little pre-game planning so you can spend less time cooking and more time cheering on the home team. Keep it simple — Instead of taking up space with a lot of dishes to hold condiments, use muffin pans. Each well in the pans can hold a different topping for your burgers, hot dogs or chili. Put a spoon in each for easy dipping. It’s simple, fun, and you’ll have fewer post-game dishes to wash. Set up a dipping station — Have a selection of salsas and guac available so everyone can have their favorite. From Wholly Salsa’s classics to the new red pepper mango or roasted tomato varieties, fans can find a salsa to cheer about. And for guacamole lovers, try Wholly Guacamole’s all-natural, gluten free varieties. In addition to chips, set out some of these tasty dippers:

• Bell pepper slices • Baked mozzarella sticks • Shrimp • Pita chips • Bagel chips • Jicama sticks • Mini rice cakes Make sure you have enough — Don’t disappoint guests by running out of munchies or drinks. Here’s how to figure out how much you need to prepare: • If you’re having 8 to 10 guests, figure on three different appetizers. For up to 16 guests, plan four or five appetizers. • For non-alcoholic drinks, plan on two 16-ounce cups per person. Plan on about two glasses of wine or three beers per person. • To have enough ice for drinks, as well as to keep drinks cold in a cooler, get about a pound and a half of ice per person.

These game day recipes will score big with the crowd at your house. You can find more delicious ways to homegate at www.eatwholly.com.

Homegating Snackers Yield: 10 to 12 1 tube pre-made pizza crust (thin) 1 7-ounce package Wholly Guacamole dip 1 red bell pepper cut into small strips Roll out uncooked pizza dough on counter. Use football or other shaped cookie cutter to cut pizza dough and place on cookie sheet sprayed lightly with oil. Cook dough according to packaging instruc tions. Allow to thoroughly cool. When cool, spread with guacamole and use cheese shreds and pepper to create football laces and markings. Optional: Plate on a bed of shredded lettuce, and use sour cream to create field yard lines. Avocado Cream Cheese Dip Serves: 6 1 8-ounce package cream cheese 1 7-ounce package Wholly Guacamole 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided 1 lime, juiced 1 tablespoon cilantro, minced 1/2 teaspoon chili powder 2 cups sour cream 3 tablespoons chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, pureed 1 cup 3-cheese blend shredded cheese 1/2 cup green onion, sliced 3/4 cup Roma tomatoes, cored, seeded and diced Allow cream cheese to soften and warm to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Whip cream cheese at medium speed for 3 minutes to fluff. Add guacamole and beat for another minute. Season mix with 1/4 teaspoon salt, half of lime juice and cilantro. Transfer mixture to a 9 x 9-inch pan, and dust with chili powder. Mix together sour cream, chipotle, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the rest of the lime juice. Add to pan as the second layer. Top with cheese; garnish with green onion and tomatoes.

Guacamole Chicken Taquitos Yield: 28 taquitos 1 orange, juiced 1 lime, juiced 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 2 teaspoons chili powder 1 teaspoon ground cumin 6 tablespoons canola oil, divided 8 boneless skinless chicken thighs 1/3 cup minced yellow onion 2 tablespoons cilantro, minced 1 7-ounce package Wholly Guacamole 28 corn tortillas Mix together orange juice, lime juice, salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin and 3 tablespoons canola. Add to chicken and marinate for 20 to 30 minutes. Heat remaining canola oil over medium high heat. Remove chicken from marinade. Reserve marinade for later. Cook chicken for 3 minutes on one side. Flip over and cook for another 3 minutes. Add reserved marinade, turn heat to low, and allow to simmer for 20 minutes. Uncover, and continue cooking for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool for 15 minutes. Shred chicken into a separate pan. Coat with a little of the reduced sauce — don’t use all of it or the taquitos will be oily. Mix chicken with guacamole, cilantro and onion. Warm tortillas, between wet paper towels, in the microwave (about 5 at a time), or by dipping them into a hot pan with a few table spoons of oil. Add about 2 tablespoons filling to each tortilla. Roll up and skewer with a toothpick to hold it together. For best results, prepare deep fryer according to manufacturer’s instructions, and fry in batches for 2 minutes. When all taquitos have been fried, warm them up in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes.