MEET SHANI WATSON, MS. WHEELCHAIR MARYLAND 4
Open enrollment for health plans is here with features to help you choose Page 2
Flickr/Mark Warner/Creative Commons
November 13 - November 19, 2014
Protect kids from seedier side of the web Page 8 www.districtchronicles.com
Volume 14 Issue 13
6
Editorial Democratic leaders can’t blame Black voters By Dr. E. Faye Williams
UFCW International Union/Creative Commons
(TriceEdneyWire.com) – When all of the analyses of the 2014 Midterm Elections are completed, and blame for this political disaster is laid at the feet of those responsible for it, the blame cannot be brought to the feet of Black voters who are sick and tired of voting for the lesser of two evils. Black people are still loyal to the president and his allies to the tune of 87 percent. While we’re sorry about the outcome, we’re also on guard because we know that when the nation begins to suffer under the reactionary tyranny of the Republicans, we’ll be the first to feel the pain. Most of us voted out of appreciation of the president and others because we could predict the catastrophe that would occur with the emergence of a Republican Senate Majority. I watched while the media water-bearers of the Republicans cackled about the president being at fault for the election results. I challenge their premise. It was not the president who rejected the accomplishments of his administration. He didn’t refuse to participate in the campaigns of fellow Democrats. Rather than the president
rejecting members of his party, Democrats like Alison Grimes denied the leader of their party and his accomplishments more than just a few times. Most of these half-hearted Democrats didn’t want President Obama to show-up for their races - and most of them lost! Did they really think Black people would rush, en masse, to aide their political survival when they were so unwilling to stand by the side of their leader? Reality dictates that they and we acknowledge the fact that, in the last six years, the most consistent voice of logic and reason coming out of D.C. has been that of President Obama. Those of us who really support him know how hard he’s worked for the benefit of everyone with an emphasis on those most frequently left out in the cold. His “bread and butter” accomplishments of a renewed economy, a revived automobile industry, lower gasoline prices, affordable healthcare, 55 months of job growth, and the lowest unemployment rate in recent history, are not issues to run away from. The “quality of life” issues of significantly increased Pell Grant opportunities that increase the college attendance of minor-
Some Democrat candidates election strategy was to run away from President.
ity and poor students, a council on women and girls, the My Brothers’ Keeper project, improvements in the manufacturing sector, and two new women on the U.S. Supreme Court, are all accomplishments of the president from which only cowardly politicians would distance themselves. He’s done the things that Democrats do. Lanny Davis, in a recent article, talked about our being the party of President Harry Truman and the Fair Deal which protected working families, the party of President John Kennedy who told us to ask not what our country can do for us,
but what we can do for our country, the party of President Lyndon Johnson who gave us Medicare, the Great Society and led us into a new era of civil rights; the party of President Jimmy Carter who taught the world that America stood for human rights at home and abroad, the party of President Bill Clinton who proved there’s nothing liberal about running up debt for our children and grandchildren and who turned billions of dollars of deficits into a surplus of nearly $1 trillion. Most of all, he said that we are the party of President Barack Obama, who finally fulfilled the
promise of Truman by gaining affordable health care for all, guaranteeing that no one in America would ever have to fear losing health insurance because of a preexisting medical condition. It’s time for us to take off the gloves. Our interests and circumstances are too significant for us to mindlessly accept the disregard of Republicans or the benign neglect of cowardly Democrats. Dr. E. Faye Williams is National President of the National Congress of Black Women. She can be reached at www.nationalcongressbw.org
Improvements to Medicare plans revealed during open enrollment By Marilyn Tavenner
F
all is a wonderful time of year, with its changing leaves and cooler temps. It’s also the season for people with Medicare to review their current coverage,as Medicare open enrollment begins. Each year, plan costs and coverage can change. It’s important for people with Medicare to take the time to make sure their current situation still meets their health care needs. To help people choose a plan, Medicare has created “star ratings” for health and prescription drug plans. Each plan gets a number of stars on a scale of 1 to 5 – with 5 being the best – based on quality and performance. These ratings a redesigned to help people with Medicare, their families, and caregivers compare plans, as well as provide information on their premiums and benefits. This year, people with Medicare who choose to enroll in a Medicare
health or prescription drug plan have access to more high rated,fourand five-star plans than ever before. Approximately 60 percent of Medicare Advantage enrollees are in a Medicare Advantage Plan earning four or more stars in 2015, compared to an estimated 17 percent back in 2009. Likewise, about 53 percent of Part D enrollees are currently in stand-alone prescription drug plans with four or more stars for 2015, compared to just 16 percent in 2009. For people with Medicare, this is good news in how they receive care. Plans that are higher rated deliver a high-level of care, such as improving the coordination of care, managing diabetes or other chronic conditions more efficiently, screening for and preventing illnesses, making sure people get much-needed prescription drugs, or getting appointments and care quickly. A high rating also means these plans give better customer service, with fewer
2 | Nov. 13 - Nov. 19, 2014 | District Chronicles
It is time to review your current medical coverage plan.
complaints or long waits for care. Better quality in Medicare health and prescription drug plans isn’t the only good news for people with Medicare. For most seniors who have Original Medicare, the 2015 Part B premium will stay unchanged for a second consecutive
year at $104.90. This means more of seniors’ retirement income and any increase in Social Security benefits will stay in their pockets. The Part B deductible will stay the same as well. Open enrollment began on October 15 and ends on December 7.
Medicare is working hard to make sure this good news continues so that seniors and people with disabilities will continue to get the health care coverage they deserve. Tavenner is a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator.
Blackonomics: Too stressed to be blessed
Finance Faster, easier ways to save. Welcome to the modern world. Call 1-800-581-2614 to see how much you could save on car insurance.
Not available in all states. Savings may vary.
By James Clingman NNPA Columnist
B
lack folks lead the nation in church-going, praise-dancing, shouting, call-and-response, and “whoopin.” We like to “get our church on” and feel good while doing so. We do our holy dances and run down the aisles to lay our money at the feet of preachers, some of whom “anoint” it, by stepping on it, before they spend it. During a 2- to 3-hour period on Sundays, Black churchgoers display their finest clothing, which in many cases pretentiously shrouds our misery, pain, anger, contempt, double-lives, and any number of issues we face during the other six days of the week. For some, church service is a release, an ecstatic elixir for what ails us – at least for a few hours. It is a time for us to exchange pleasantries with others: “How are you this morning?” “Fine, just fine” is the usual reply, despite knowing all along that we are stressed out about something. We have all the sayings down pat. “Too anointed to be disappointed;” “God is good all the time, and all the time God is good,” (that one is quite true); and “I’m too blessed to be stressed.” But what is really behind the masks that we wear? What is beneath the fine clothes and the forced smiles? One would think that Black church folks would be the most content, being that many of us say
we are “sanctified and holy ghost baptized.” But every day, many of us prove that we are not content, we are not happy, we are not satisfied, and we are far from being “too blessed to be stressed.” Rather, we are really “too stressed to be blessed.” The vast majority of our lives is spent dealing with financial issues in the form of working a job or two, with all the overtime we can get, trying to figure out how to pay our bills when we end up every 30 days with more month than money, and studying numerology in an effort to hit the “lootery,”better known as the lottery. We are stressed out about that car we bought that we could not afford, or that house we purchased just to impress the Joneses. We are angry because our spouse paid too much for a pair of shoes, a suit, or a big screen TV. We argue about whose money it is, who earned it, and who will spend it. And to make matters even worse, we go on shopping binges to get even, spending money we don’t have, buying something we don’t need, to impress someone who doesn’t care. More stress, but that’s alright, we can get a recharge at church, right? We get paid on Friday, spend it on Saturday, go to church on Sunday and fall down on our knees to pray, “Lord, have mercy on me.”Just like the song, “Stormy Monday Blues.” Economic stress,
in addition to all the other stressors in our lives, can cause us to miss out on our blessings, thus, too often we are just the opposite of the cute saying, “too blessed to be stressed.” Black folks earn more than $1 trillion annually. Where is it? Are we too stressed to be good stewards of that blessing? Anything someone else makes, we buy it. Is that good stewardship of our financial blessings? We fail to see our blessings because we are blinded by the stress to obtain more things. Our problem is that we give away our financial blessings in exchange for stuff other folks make, thereby denying ourselves the greater benefit of our financial blessings. Since this is a scripturallybased article, I suppose its application should begin in the church. A very practical agenda for Black churches should include stewardship seminars, forums for members who have their own businesses and for those who may want to become entrepreneurs. Our church leaders should always do everything they can to empower the members collectively. Jim Clingman, founder of the Greater Cincinnati African American Chamber of Commerce, is the nation’s most prolific writer on economic empowerment for Black people. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati and can be reached through his Web site, Blackonomics.com
24 hours a day. 7 days a week. 52 weeks a year. Visit www.districtchronicles.com.
FREEDOM FROM THE PAIN AND HIGH COSTS OF DIABETES NOW JUST
$
74.99
Reverse and Prevent Diabetes Reduce Painful Neuropathy Stabilize Blood Sugar Repair Nerve Damage
TRY IT RISK FREE NOW
800.429.1470 Melabic + Neurabic Limited Time Offer. CALL TODAY
Call 202-806-9401 to advertise in the districtchronicles.com District Chronicles. District Chronicles | Nov. 13 - Nov. 19, 2014 | 3
Neighborhood
Shani Watson gives disabled hope, encouragement By Dorothy Rowley Special to the NNPA from the St. Louis American
I
Basement Waterproofing Basement Finishing Basement Structural Repairs Basement Humiditytrol & Mold Con ...and Nasty Crawl Spaces too!
Before
After
800-319-1287 guywithumbrella.com
Call 202-806-9401 to advertise in the districtchronicles.com District Chronicles. 4 | Nov. 13 - Nov. 19, 2014 | District Chronicles
t’s been 10 years since Shani Watson lost her ability to walk after being involved in a car crash. In the aftermath, Watson who had been on duty that fateful October night as a police officer for the Prince George’s County Police Department, has faced numerous obstacles on her path to recovery. Today, the effervescent graduate of Eastern Senior High School in the District — who’s paralyzed from the waist down — not only wears the crown as Ms. Wheelchair Maryland 2014, but works to encourage others with disabilities. In doing so, she reminds them that regardless of their circumstances, they can still make invaluable contributions to society. “I love going out and speaking to people about their disabilities [and] inspiring and motivating them to do what they love,” said the native Washingtonian, who stresses the importance of self-love and embracing one’s imperfections. “Sometimes we just need to hear [words of encouragement] from someone else.” Her schedule will be busier than ever — particularly in the coming weeks as she joins Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker, officials from the county’s Department of Family Services (DFS) and social services personnel across the country in recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), which is recognized each fall. During the annual awareness campaign that takes place in October, Baker and other local public officials are taking time to participate in a variety of events celebrating the contributions American workers with disabilities make in their respective communities. “A strong workforce is an inclusive workforce,” said Baker. “Every October, we renew our focus on improving opportunities and career pathways that lead to productive jobs and sustainable economic futures for individuals with disabilities.” NDEAM, first established in 1945 by Congress, began as “Na-
Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III, awarded a proclamation to the reigning Ms. Wheelchair Maryland 2014, Shani Watson
tional Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.” But in 1962, in an effort to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of people with various disabilities, the titled removed the word “physically.” Years later in 1988, Congress expanded the week by changing the title to “National Disability Employment Awareness Month.” “The Department of Family Services is proud to be a part of this year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month,” said Theresa Grant, DFS acting director. “Every year we look forward to saying thank you and recognizing those who have made special contributions to the disability community.” Baker recently awarded a proclamation to Watson, who has worked for the county since 1996. Having earned a management degree in 2001 from the University of Phoenix, she’s currently employed as an information technology manager. Watson, who won the 43rd annual Ms. Wheelchair Maryland pageant in November, has entered the competition for Ms. Wheelchair America, and remains committed to her work as an advocate for everyone with disabilities. In addition to hosting fundraisers, Watson, 39, educates residents, business owners and organizations in the Prince George’s community about accessibility and inclusion for those with disabilities. “My platform [has been] inclu-
sion through accessibility,” Watson said this summer after receiving the county’s proclamation. “Accessibility is the elimination of barriers which could be high countertops, stairways and narrow passageways,” she said. “And inclusion is being able to be involved in whatever activities or services that [people with disabilities] desire.” Meanwhile, in accordance with the proclamation President Obama issued in late September, officials at the U.S. Labor Department whose efforts center of the theme, “Expect. Employ. Empower,” have been encouraging businesses to help people with disabilities in obtaining gainful employment. “This year’s theme, “Expect. Employ. Empower,” reminds us that every American has a right to dignity, respect and a fair shot at success in the workplace,” Obama said. “For too long, workers with disabilities were measured by what people thought they could not do, depriving our nation and economy of the full talents and contributions of millions of Americans. “When employees with disabilities are passed over in the workplace or denied fair accommodations, it limits their potential and threatens our democracy; when disproportionate numbers of Americans with disabilities remain unemployed, more work must be done to achieve the spirit of what is one of the most comprehensive civil rights bills in the history of our country,” said Obama.
Divine Intervention Gay marriage hits hump in federal appeals court By Richard Wolf USA Today
Phil Roeder/Creative Commons
WASHINGTON (RNS) – The samesex marriage movement lost its first major case in a federal appeals court last week after a lengthy string of victories, creating a split among the nation’s circuit courts that virtually guarantees review by the U.S. Supreme Court. The 2-1 ruling from the Cincinnati-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed lower court rulings that had struck down gay marriage bans in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. More important, it gives Supreme Court justices an appellate ruling that runs counter to four others from the 4th, 7th, 9th and 10th circuits. Those rulings struck down same-sex marriage bans in Virginia, Indiana, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Utah, Idaho and Nevada, leading to similar action in neighboring states. Circuit Judge Jeffrey Sutton, one of the Republican Party’s most esteemed legal thinkers and writers, issued the 42-page decision precisely three months after hearing oral arguments in the cases, with fellow GOP nominee Deborah Cook concurring. He delivered a rare defeat for proponents of samesex marriage, who had won nearly all the cases decided from Florida to Alaska since the Supreme Court ruled against the federal Defense of Marriage Act in June 2013. Sutton argued that appellate judges’ hands are tied by a onesentence Supreme Court ruling from 1972, which “upheld the right of the people of a state to define marriage as they see it.� Last year’s high court decision requiring the federal government to recognize legal same-sex marriages does not negate the earlier ruling as it applies to states where gay marriage is not legal, he said. The same reasoning was used by a federal district court judge in Puerto Rico last month. “When the courts do not let the people resolve new social issues like this one, they perpetuate the idea that the heroes in these change events are judges and lawyers,� said Sutton. “Better in this instance, we think, to allow change through
Health | EXCLUSIVE
LASTING RELIEF from
BACK PAIN
The appeals court decision means the Supreme may have to take gay marriage again.
the customary political processes, in which the people, gay and straight alike, become the heroes of their own stories by meeting each other not as adversaries in a court system but as fellow citizens seeking to resolve a new social issue in a fair-minded way.� He also maintained that states “got into the business of defining marriage, and remain in the business of defining marriage, not to regulate love but to regulate sex, most especially the intended and unintended effects of male-female intercourse.� The six cases before the threejudge panel involved not only whether gays and lesbians should be able to marry, but whether marriages performed elsewhere should be recognized; whether same-sex couples should be able to adopt children; and whether their names should be placed on partners’ death certificates. Judge Martha Craig Daughtrey, a Democratic appointee, delivered a blistering 22-page dissent. She disputed Sutton’s reasoning that judges should not decide the issue. “If we in the judiciary do not have the authority, and indeed the responsibility, to right fundamental wrongs left excused by a majority of the electorate, our whole intricate, constitutional system of checks and balances, as well as the oaths to which we swore, prove to be noth-
ing but shams,� said Daughtrey. “This decision gives greater certainty that this matter will ultimately return to the Supreme Court, as we have said all along that it must,� said Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage. “We think that the constitutionality of states’ amendments on marriage will there be upheld.� Byron Babione, senior counsel at the Alliance Defending Freedom, said the court’s ruling demonstrates that “the Constitution does not demand that one irreversible view of marriage be judicially imposed on everyone.� Proponents of same-sex marriage saw Sutton’s opinion as an appeal to Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, who has authored the last three major rulings advancing the cause of gay rights. Kennedy has defended voters’ right to pass constitutional amendments -- but he struck down the federal same-sex marriage ban as an affront to the constitutional rights of gays and lesbians. “We will be filing for Supreme Court review right away and hope that through this deeply disappointing ruling, we will be able to bring a uniform rule of equality to the entire country,� said Chase Strangio, staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union. Richard Wolf writes for USA Today.
24 hours a day. 7 days a week. 52 weeks a year. Visit www.districtchronicles.com.
3 SIMPLE STEPS TO LASTING RELIEF STEP 1 PLUG IN!
STEP 2 LIE DOWN!
STEP 3 TURN ON!
DOCTOR RECOMMENDED
“What makes Kyrobak so effective is the unique CPM technology it provides to muscles and joints. This specific type of motion reduces inflammation and sends important signals to the nervous system to restore muscle tone, balance and blood supply.� DR STEVEN GEANOPULOS, CHIROPRACTIC NEUROLOGIST
Kyrobak is clinically proven* to treat lower back pain and provide lasting relief. Now, IRU WKH À UVW WLPH HYHU Oscillation Therapy and Continuous Passive Motion WHFKQRORJ\ DV XVHG E\ PHGLFDO SURIHVVLRQDOV DUH DYDLODEOH LQ WKLV GRFWRU UHFRPPHQGHG KRPH XVH GHYLFH Try it now!
RISK-FREE FOR 60 DAYS
You have nothing to lose but the agony of lower back pain!
CALL NOW 1-800-794-8216
Call 202-806-9401 to advertise in the District Chronicles. districtchronicles.com District Chronicles | Nov. 13 - Nov. 19, 2014 | 5
Cover
Midterm Election results harmful to Blacks, Dems By Hazel Trice Edney
a statement issued from the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law shortly after 8 pm on Election Night. “That’s a discouraging, but not surprising, increase because today marked the first national Election Day in 50 years where voters went to the polls without some of the important protections provided by the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The VRA’s critical Section 5 provision was gutted by the Supreme Court in the regrettable 2013 Shelby v. Holder decision,” the statement said. In other key races and balloting around the nation: In Washington, D.C., AfricanAmerican Muriel E. Bowser won the mayoral race against challengers David Catania and Carol Schwartz. Her loss would have meant D.C. getting a White mayor for the first time in history. In Virginia, Democratic Sen. Mark Warner beat back a dogged challenge by Republican Ed Gillespie to win his re-election bid. Daily Kos Group speculated that given how close Gillespie came to unseating Warner, it’s a good bet that he will be a formidable contender in the 2017 gubernatorial race.
Steve Rhodes/Creative Commons
(TriceEdneyWire.com) - The worst election nightmare of AfricanAmerican civil and voting rights leaders has happened. Democrats lost their 55-45 majority control of the U.S. Senate last week, to the Republican Party, which in the past has failed the NAACP legislative report card nearly 100 percent of the time. Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus immediately piled on, issuing a statement that all but guarantees two years of blocking and tackling any agenda set forth by President Obama. “The American people have put their trust in the Republican Party, sending a GOP majority to the U.S. Senate. I want to congratulate all our candidates tonight,” said Priebus. “Our party’s principles and message resonated with voters across the country. This was a rejection of President Obama’s failed policies and Harry Reid’s dysfunctional Senate.” But political scientists predict the Republican leadership of both Houses of Congress will be shortlived. “Come 2016, the Republicans are going to have their butts handed to them,” said David Bositis, former senior researcher for the
Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. Bositis said the Republican sweep was not about America’s disenchantment with Obama. Rather, he said, it was really about key states up for Senate re-election being anti-Obama states in the first place. “The terrain, right now, favors the Republicans,” he said. “The places where there [were] contested Senate seats are almost exclusively in states that Obama lost.” Bositis, once the Joint Center’s leading researcher on Black voter turnout, also described a 2016 situation in which Hilary Clinton will create excitement as the first woman Democratic nominee, rejuvenating the Democratic base, which is predominately Black. Clinton has not said whether she will run, but she remains the Democrats’ most popular prospective candidate. Meanwhile, civil rights leaders had set up election protection hotlines and poll watchers across the country with hopes to overcome any lost votes because of new voting laws that could disparately affect African Americans. The 866-OUR-VOTE hotline, staffed by more than 2,000 legal and grassroots volunteers, had received “more than 18,000 calls, a nearly 40 percent increase from 13,000 calls received in 2010,” said
Some predict the tables will turn against GOP especially if Hillary Clinton runs in 2016.
In Maryland, Republican businessman Larry Hogan defeated Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown in heavily Democratic Maryland in their contest for governor. Brown would have been only the third African-American elected governor of a state.
on harsh drug laws. At a late October press conference, the State of the Black World - 21st Century held a press conference quoting the ACLU as saying that D.C.’s “Black residents are eight times more likely than non-Blacks to be arrested for marijuana possession.
In Oregon and Washington, D.C., voters passed laws that would legalize use and growth of marijuana, a move that some civil rights leaders argue could stop racially disparate arrests of Blacks
Voters in four states passed referendums to raise the minimum wage, an issue for which President Obama has long fought. They are Arkansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and Alaska.
Ten healthy strategies to survive the holidays (BPT) – The holidays are a wonderful time of year. A chance to see old friends and distant relatives, take a vacation or just put the stresses of everyday life behind you so you can focus solely on family and fun. If you’re trying to manage your weight, though, holiday activities can come with a cost if you give in to the treats of the season. To help you make the holidays their best and arrive on the other side with your weight loss goals still intact, Anika Christ, senior program manager of Life Time Weight Loss at Life Time Fitness offers these 10 holiday health strategies. 1. It’s about the friends and family, not the food. Food is a component of any celebration but remember, you didn’t travel just to eat. “You traveled to see family and friends, so focus on them instead of what
you can and can’t eat and you’ll enjoy these social events more thoroughly,” said Christ.
2. Moderate the plan. Don’t expect to go through the holidays without indulging in any of your favorite treats. You’re less likely to stick to such a strict guideline. Instead, exercise some moderation and determine ahead of time when you will treat yourself and when you won’t. Also be aware of what cravings you need to avoid succumbing to the most and indulge sensibly. 3. Bring your own healthy alternative. One way you can ensure you’ll have a healthy option to enjoy is if you bring it yourself. There are plenty of party-friendly ideas, including: veggie platters, hummus, fruit or cheese trays, mini meatballs, cold-cut platters, nuts or shrimp cocktails.
6 | Nov. 13 - Nov. 19, 2014 | District Chronicles
4. Make the event your own. Christ notes that one of the best ways to counter the temptations of the season is to host your own holiday event and put the focus on physical fitness and fun instead of food. “Invite family members to go ice skating, skiing or sledding before coming back to your home for a healthy meal,” she said. “You’ll create lasting memories without the lasting calories.” 5. Eat before you eat. If you’re worried about overeating at an upcoming holiday party, one of the best things you can do is eat beforehand. A healthy snack eaten before you arrive will tide your appetite and help you avoid overindulging in less-healthy fare later. 6. It’s better to give. If baking is one of your favorite holiday traditions,
you don’t need to forgo this activity in the name of weight management. You can still make your favorite cakes, cookies or desserts – just make sure to share them with co-workers, family and friends instead of keeping them home where they will simply tempt you.
7. Be good on your off days. No matter how busy you are during the holidays, you will have an off day here or there. Christ said, “this is the perfect time to remember your weight management goals and treat yourself to a healthy dinner or some physical activity.” 8. Ease the stress. The holidays are a wonderful time of year, but they can also be stressful with all the extra shopping, planning and traveling they entail. If you turn to food when feeling stressed, be mindful of this during the holidays. Plan
some time for yourself and include activities that will alleviate that stress, such as meditating, yoga, massage or working out. 9. Be financially fit. Avoid the stress of overspending by establishing a budget for everyone on your list before you start shopping. Making presents for loved ones is also a cost-effective, thoughtful alternative. 10. Remember what’s important. The holidays may include food, presents and parties, but it’s the people who are most important. “Remember, the holidays come and go quickly but the relationships you nurture will last a lifetime,” said Christ. To learn more ways to enjoy the holidays in a fun, healthy way, visit LifeTimeWeightLoss.com.
Politics
Lynch is poised to make history as attorney general By Hazel Trice Edney (TriceEdneyWire.com) - President Obama’s nomination of New York federal prosecutor Loretta Lynch to succeed Eric Holder as attorney general is drawing applause from national civil rights leaders. Despite her stellar reputation, it remains unclear whether Lynch will assume the same civil rights agenda that Holder is leaving unfinished. “The nomination of Loretta Lynch to be the new Attorney General of the United States is applaudable and deserving. She is an excellent and worthy choice to succeed Attorney General Eric Holder in his groundbreaking work for the American people,” says Rev. Al Sharpton, who has been deeply involved in the case of Michael Brown, shot by Ferguson, Mo. police officer Darren Wilson Aug. 9. Sharpton, who has apparent-
ly known Lynch since the police abuse case of Abner Louima in the late 1990s, says he has “not always agreed” with her on cases, but, “I have always seen her operate in the most fair, balanced, and just manner.” Lynch, a federal prosecutor in Brooklyn, N.Y., would become the nation’s first Black female attorney general if confirmed by the Senate. Her appointment is considered non-controversial, mainly because she has received bi-partisan confirmations by the Senate in two previous appointments to federal positions. She must now go before the Senate Judiciary Committee; then recieve Senate confirmation by majority vote. “President Obama has nominated one of the best and brightest to help lead this nation and move our justice system forward,” says Congressional Black Caucus Chair-
woman Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio). When the news broke that Holder was resigning, Sharpton, NAACP President Cornell William Brooks, National Urban League President Marc Morial, and a string of others were in the midst of a press conference, Sept. 25, expressing high hopes for Holder to take over the criminal investigations in the killings of Michael Brown, the choke-hold death of Staten Island, NY, Eric Garner, and the “pandemic police misconduct” around the country, as described by Brooks. With huge shoes to fill in the eyes of many in the Black community, Lynch appears passionate for the position. At the White House announcement Nov. 7, she thanked President Obama “for your faith in me in asking me to succeed an Attorney General whom I admire, and to lead the Department that I love.” She also thanked Holder for
24 hours a day. 7 days a week. 52 weeks a year. Visit www.districtchronicles.com.
“leading by example, and always pushing this Department to live up to its name. The Department of Justice is the only Cabinet Department named for an ideal. And this is actually appropriate, because our work is both aspirational, and grounded in gritty reality. It’s both ennobling and profoundly challenging.” Describing the position of Attorney General as “the people’s lawyer”, President Obama praised Lynch’s qualifications. “It’s pretty hard to be more qualified for this job than Loretta. Throughout her 30-year career, she has distinguished herself as tough and fair, an independent lawyer who has twice headed one of the most prominent U.S. Attorney’s offices in the country. She has spent years in the trenches as a prosecutor, aggressively fighting terrorism, financial fraud, cybercrime, all while vigorously defending civil rights,” the
President said. “One of her proudest achievements was the civil rights prosecution of the officers involved in the brutal assault of the Haitian immigrant Abner Louima.” He also credited her with having successfully prosecuted the terrorists who plotted to bomb the Federal Reserve Bank and the New York City subway; brought charges against public officials in corruption cases; helped to “secure billions in settlements from some of the world’s biggest banks accused of fraud” and sent some of New York’s most violent and notorious mobsters and gang members to prison. “Loretta might be the only lawyer in America who battles mobsters and drug lords and terrorists, and still has the reputation for being a charming people person,’” Obama said to laughter in the East Room.
District Chronicles | Nov. 13 - Nov. 19, 2014 | 7
Technology
AMG | PHOTOGRAPHY We photograph concerts, birthdays, weddings, sporting events, portraits and more. E-mail amgunited@ymail.com to receive a free quote on your next event. Messiah and Friends at G2 Lounge 10-21-11. See more photos at flickr.com/amgunited.
REAL WORLD
ONLINE
John Smith
John Smith
• Expert on autism • Loving father and husband • Award winning philanthropist
• SEC Investigation • Angry Customers • Poor Ratings
HOW DOES THE INTERNET SEE YOU? • Suppress misleading or inaccurate search results • Protect yourself or your business from online attacks • Increase your online credibility and authority
CALL FOR FREE ASSESSMENT
800.357.5843
8 | Nov. 13 - Nov. 19, 2014 | District Chronicles
Protect yourself from the perils of the ‘dark web’ (BPT) – Every day, millions of Americans turn to the Internet for news, entertainment and shopping. Over the years, Americans have come to trust the Internet so much that they regularly share information about their daily lives through social media sites and with online retailers. What many may not realize is that within just a few clicks, there’s an unregulated digital frontier where people, including criminals, buy and sell illegal drugs, guns and pornography, as well as personal and financial details about ordinary individuals. Fueled by software that conceals the identity of people and uses digital currency, it’s a world that people can’t ignore. That’s one of the takeaways from a report recently released by the Digital Economy Task Force (DETF). “Digital Economy: Potentials, Perils and Promises” is comprised of experts representing law enforcement, the digital economy and government policy. This task force, brought together by Thomson Reuters and the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children, explored the risks of the digital economy and the rise of online illegal activity. Many Americans are familiar with what experts call the surface web – the typical retail and company websites, social media pages, blogs and bulletin boards that people routinely visit every day. Underneath the surface web is the deep web, which consists of networks of content, databases and websites that cannot be reached through common web portals or found by search engines. What makes these networks possible and untouchable for most Internet users is an anonymizing technology that conceals the identity of users. Within the deep web, many websites have become havens of criminal activity, allowing users to participate in the trafficking of drugs, guns, humans and child pornography. Because people reach these sites anonymously, it makes it very difficult for law enforcement to track the illegal transactions of criminals within the dark web. “There’s good news and bad news to this story,” said Steve
Tips Thomson Reuters offers some additional tips: Parents should work with local law enforcement officials to educate their community about the perils of illegal activity occurring on the Internet, and how local citizens of all ages can avoid becoming victims of online criminals. Local citizens should encourage state and local law enforcement officials to invest in the training needed to detect and investigate illegal activity on the Internet. Rubley, managing director of the Government Segment of Thomson Reuters and DETF co-chair. “All Americans should know that the rise in the global digital economy offers incredible opportunity. For example, in the case of journalists or dissidents in oppressive countries, anonymizing technology and digital currencies enable a safe link to the outside world. “But, there’s also a dark side to the story. Parents should know that some pretty bad people are trying to entice children to send compromising photos of themselves so they can buy and sell those images with other pedophiles. Parents should know that drug dealers are using the Internet to bring drugs to your front door – just like a traditional online retailer.” To foster the growth of the positive aspects of the digital economy while confronting illegal activity on the Internet, the DETF recommends that state and federal law-
Parents should monitor online and mobile use by their young children and watch for messages from people that can’t be identified or seem out of the ordinary. Parents should speak with their children about Internet use and set clear parameters on acceptable use and appropriate websites that can be visited. Set the family computer in a common area to discourage private use and use parental controls to help block access to inappropriate content.
makers consider policies and action that will increase law enforcement training, foster more cooperation between law enforcement agencies, promote a national dialogue and education about illegal Internet activity and more. “There is a difference between privacy and anonymity,” said Ernie Allen, president and CEO of the International Centre for Missing Children (ICMEC) and DETF cochair. “We simply cannot create an environment in which traffickers and child exploiters can operate on the Internet with no risk of being identified.” The best defense to prevent criminals and other unsavory characters from violating your privacy online and potentially exploiting your children is to implement all privacy settings on social media sites, never friend people you don’t know and never respond to emails and text messages you don’t recognize.
Classifieds JOBS…AUTOS…REAL ESTATE…COMPUTERS…AND MUCH MORE…
TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD CALL 202 806-9401 CLASSIFIEDS MUST BE PREPAID
Announcements
Events
Miscellaneous
Real Estate
Acorn Stairlifts. The AFFORDABLE solution to your stairs! **Limited time -$250 Off Your Stairlift Purchase!** Buy Direct & SAVE. Please call 1-800-4107127 for FREE DVD and brochure. Medical Guardian – Top-rated medical alarm and 24/7 medical alert monitoring. For a limited time, get free equipment, no activation fees, no commitment, a 2nd waterproof alert button for free and more – only $29.95 per month. 800-279-4103 SUPPORT our service members, veterans and their families in their time of need. For more information visit the Fisher House website at www.fisherhouse.org [Advertising supported by this publication]
Holding a Carnival! Fair! Festival! Jubilee! Promote it to over 1 Million readers for only $200!!! Visit www.midatlanticevents.net for more details or call 800-450-7227.
AVIATION MANUFACTURING CAREERS - Get started by training as FAA certified Technician. Financial aid for qualified students. Job placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 866-453-6204 Make a Connection. Real People, Flirty Chat. Meet singles right now! Call LiveLinks. Try it FREE. Call NOW: 1-888-909-9905 18+. DISH TV Starting at $19.99/month (for 12 mos.) SAVE! Regular Price $32.99 Ask About FREE SAME DAY Installation! CALL Now! 877-477-9659 CASH FOR CARS, Any Make or Model! Free Towing. Sell it TODAY. Instant offer: 1-800-864-5784 DISH TV Retailer. Starting at $19.99/ month (for 12 mos.) & High Speed Internet starting at $14.95/month (where available.) SAVE! Ask About SAME DAY Installation! CALL Now! 1-800615-4064
CASH PAID- up to $25/Box for unexpired, sealed DIABETIC TEST STRIPS. 1-DAYPAYMENT.1-800-371-1136 CASH for sealed, unexpired DIABETIC TEST STRIPS/STOP SMOKING PRODUCTS! Free Shipping, 24hr Payments! Call 1-877-588-8500, Espanol Available www.TestStripSearch.com.
Auto TOP CASH FOR CARS, Any Car/Truck, Running or Not. Call for INSTANT offer: 1-800-454-6951 Need Car Insurance Now? Lowest Down Payment – Canceled? State Letter? Accidents? Tickets? DUI? Instant Coverage! INSUREDIRECT. COM Toll-Free 888-800-2312 CASH FOR CARS: Cars/Trucks Wanted! Running or Not! We Come To You! Any Make/Model. Instant Offer – Call: 1-800-569-0003
Business Advertise to 500,000 Homes with a business card size ad. You choose the area of coverage in free community papers…we do the rest. Call 800-4507227 or visit macnetonline.com
Computer DELL LAPTOP Computer. Extremely fast, professional grade model. Excellent condition. Windows 7, Premium software bundle. Perfect for home, school or business. Six month warranty. $399. 717-653-6314
Employment The path to your dream job begins with a college degree. Education Quarters offers a free college matching service. CALL 1-800-375-6219
Education You can be career-ready in as little as 3 months for a rewarding new career in the growing healthcare, technology, or administration industries. The U.S. Department of Labor expects millions of new jobs in these fields! Get started today: CareerStep.com/startnow.
For Sale Safe Step Walk-In Tub Alert for Seniors. Bathroom falls can be fatal. Approved by Arthritis Foundation. Therapeutic Jets. Less Than 4 Inch Step-In. Wide Door. Anti-Slip Floors. American Made. Installation Included. Call 1-800-9063115 for $750 Off
Health VIAGRA 100MG and CIALIS 20mg! 50 Pills $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed. CALL NOW! 1-866-3126061 Canada Drug Center is your choice for safe and affordable medications. Our licensed Canadian mail order pharmacy will provide you with savings of up to 90 percent on all your medication needs. Call today 1-800-254-4073, for $10.00 off your first prescription and free shipping.
Help Wanted PAID IN ADVANCE! $1000 WEEKLY Mailing Brochures At Home! No Experience Required. Start Now! www. MailingBrochuresForCash.com TRAVEL Needed 10 Guys/Gals over age 18 Travel Entire USA demonstrating “Citrus Clean” Transportation. Expenses paid. High earnings. Immediate employment. 1-800-898-6229 or 407-2212929
Insurance Obamacare Health Insurance Open Enrollment Call 1-888-968-5392 or apply online www.goquoteme.com
Lots & Acreage BEAUTIFUL STREAM 10 acres – $34,900 Woods, apple trees, views, 1,000 ft of stream! Cooperstown Lakes Region! Peaceful country bldg site! Twn rd, utils! Terms avail! Free Closing Costs until Dec 15th! 888-738-6994 newyorklandandlakes.com TUMBLING WATER 38 acres – $89,900. Fields, woods, valley views, gorgeous stream! hr west of Albany! Pristine setting on twn rd w/ utils! Free Closing Costs until Dec 15th! EZ terms! 888-431-7214 newyorklandandlakes.com Baseball cards collection. Album. All time greats. 301-485-1290.
Buying classifeds just got easier. Log on to districtchronicles.com and click “Classifieds.” Earn FREE print classifieds when you purchase online. Call (202) 806-9401
DC Photo Needs
Adoption Autos Business Education Jobs Real Estate
Buying classifeds just got easier. Log on to districtchronicles.com and click “Classifieds,” or Call (202) 806-9401 Protect your family with term life insurance – free quote – Rates are at all time lows. Shop your current plan and save $$$. $250,000 Or more in coverage available. Smokers rates too. Call 866 519 8376 Join the gold and silver rush. Invest in gold and silver coins. Free investors kit and dvd. 800 978 3903 Do you need advice? Got a relationship problem? Talk to a Psychic advisor. 10 Minutes of talk time is only $10. Call 24/7. 800 568 8299 Buried in debt? Now you can get out of high credit card debt And save thousands. Free consultation. 800 617 5145 Got water problems in your basement? Make it dry and a great Place to live in. Get your free dry basement science book now. Call for details. 800 515 4035 Are your student loan payments too high? You can lower your Payments and save money. Call now for a free student loan Reduction review. 800 291 2865
Real Estate 20 ACRES IN WEST TEXAS $15,900 $0 DOWN ONLY $99/mo. Special Offer, Save $2,000! No Qualifying-Owner Financing Great Property, Great Deal! 800-343-9444
Wanted to Buy Wants to purchase minerals and other oil and gas interests. Send details to P.O. Box 13557 Denver, Co. 80201
24 hours a day. 7 days a week. 52 weeks a year. Visit www.districtchronicles.com.
Buy classifieds at districtchronicles.com
FREEDOM FROM THE PAIN AND HIGH COSTS OF DIABETES NOW JUST
$
74.99
Reverse and Prevent Diabetes Reduce Painful Neuropathy Stabilize Blood Sugar Repair Nerve Damage
TRY IT RISK FREE NOW
800.429.1470 Melabic + Neurabic Limited Time Offer. CALL TODAY
District Chronicles | Nov. 13 - Nov. 19, 2014 | 9
Classifieds Exclusive Offers
Exclusive Offers
Announcement Adoption Autos Business Education Jobs Real Estate YOU Choose The Deal! Promotional Packages Starting At...
mo
Commercial-Free TV
Promotional Packages Starting At
FOR 12 MONTHS
Not eligible for Hopper or HD.
Upgrade to
DISH TODAY!
Join Without a Contract!
NO Contracts. NO Credit Check. NO Commitment.
Get a Hopper from DISH and instantly skip commercials *
Not eligible for promotional pricing
Available with qualifying packages. Monthly DVR and receiver fees apply. *Feature must be enabled by customer.
CHOOSE ONE OF THESE GREAT OPTIONS!
CALL NOW - LIMITED TIME SAVINGS!
1-800-370-9350 Call 7 days a week 8am - 11pm EST Promo Code: MB0614
Offers above require 24-month commitment and credit qualification. Remote viewing requires Wi-Fi connection or use of Hopper Transfer feature. Commercial skipping feature available with qualifying packages.
Important Terms and Conditions: Promotional Offers: Require activation of new qualifying DISH service. All prices, fees, charges, packages, programming, features, functionality and offers subject to change without notice. After 12-month promotional period, then-current everyday monthly price applies and is subject to change. ETF: If you cancel service during first 24 months, early termination fee of $20 for each month remaining applies. Activation fee may apply. Additional Requirements: Hopper: Monthly fees: DVR service, $12; Joey, $7, Super Joey, $10. With Prime Time Anytime the AutoHop features available with playback the next day of select primetime shows on ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC - Both features are subject to availability. Requires Super Joey to record 8 shows at once. Recording hours may vary; 2000 hours based on SD programming. Equipment comparison based on equipment available from major TV providers as of 6/13/14. Watching live and recorded TV anywhere requires an internet connected, Sling-enabled DVR and compatible mobile device. HD Free for 24 Months: Additional $10/mo HD fee waived for first 24 months. After promotional period, then-current everyday monthly price applies and is subject to change. Premium Channels: 3-month premium offer value is $165; after 3 months, then-current everyday monthly prices applies and are subject to change. Blockbuster @Home requires Internet to stream content. HD-only channels not available with select packages. Installation/Equipment Requirements: Free Standard Professional Installation only. Leased equipment must be returned to DISH upon cancellation or unreturned equipment fees apply. Upfront and additional monthly fees may apply. Miscellaneous: Offers available for new and qualified former customers, and subject to terms of applicable Promotional and Residential Customer agreements. State reimbursement charges may apply. Additional restrictions and taxes may apply. Offers end 1/16/15. © 2014 DISH Network L. L. C. All rights reserved. HBO®, Cinemax® and related channels and service marks are the property of Home Box Office, Inc. SHOWTIME is a registered trademark of Showtime Networks Inc., a CBS Company. STARZ and related channels and service marks are property of Starz Entertainment, LLC. All new customers are subject to a one-time processing fee.
Buy classifieds at districtchronicles.com
STAY CONNECTED TO YOUR WORLD
www.districtchronicles.com 10 | Nov. 13 - Nov. 19, 2014 | District Chronicles
Call 202-806-9401 to advertise in the District Chronicles. districtchronicles.com
In the Neighborhood
Metro Briefs: Notable news in and around Washington District of Columbia
All Cases Considered
Experienced Personnel
We Strive For Quick Claim Approval
Free Consultation gcs-dc.com
A
Win...No Award / No Fee
Applications/Hearings/Appeals Immediate Access to
DCPS creates new school academy to support growing population of new immigrant students s the number of new immigrant students enrolling in the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) continues to increase, a new International Academy at Cardozo Education Campus launched this school year to meet the unique academic, social and emotional needs of English Language Learner students. The Academy at Cardozo Education Campus is based on the successful models created by the Internationals Network of Public Schools , a non-profit with expertise in design high schools for new immigrant students. DCPS tailored the program for Cardozo Education Campus students new to this country who are in the early stages of their English language development to create a highly supportive environment to help students learn English and graduate from high school. Cardozo EC experienced the largest growth of in-boundary, recently arrived immigrant students in the 2013-14 school year, with over 90 students with beginning levels of English language proficiency registering after the start of the school year. “Whether students are from El Salvador or Eckington, Honduras or Hillcrest, it is our responsibility to ensure they are held to the highest standards, and given the supports and resources to thrive in school and in life,” said DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson. “The ever-growing ELL student population demanded a radical shift in our approach to serve our immigrant students who have recently arrived to this country. The International Academy is a tremendous opportunity for DCPS, and for our city.” What is International Academy at Cardozo EC? The academic model at the
SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY LAW
Fast Facts
< 165 in-boundary, ninth and tenth grade students < Students are from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Burma, Eritrea, Cameroon and Ethiopia < Students speak Spanish, Mam,
Tigrinya, Rohingyar, French and Amharic < Most students arrived to the District of Columbia within the last nine to ten months < Currently, over 90 percent of students are native Spanish speakers. Amharic is the second most prominent language < Nearly 75 percent of the population in the program is male
International Academy, which is based on decades of researchbased approaches for ELL students, groups students into teams. Students travel as a cohort throughout the day. The program strategically uses students’ native language when working with peers. Teachers receive intensive, on-going training and collaborative planning opportunities to support their assigned team of students. Students learn in classrooms featuring leveled texts, bilingual quotes and messages, and culturally relevant art. In upcoming years, students will complete internships throughout the city to prepare for college and careers. “After seeing the shift in demographics at Cardozo during the 2013-2014 school year, we knew we needed to figure out how to better support our ELL students,” said Tanya Roane, principal of Cardozo Education Campus. “I was ecstatic about bringing the International Academy to DCPS from the moment we started discussing it. This program is exciting because it simultaneously addresses and supports the needs of a changing population, and focuses on ensuring students are proficient and will graduate within four years.” In addition to the staff at Cardozo EC, the International Academy
employs an associate principal, 12 teachers, two bilingual counselors and one instructional aid. Megan Sands is the associate principal for the International. Ms. Sands earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Maryland studying Spanish Language and Literature and Secondary Education. She has taught Spanish, Italian and ESL classes and worked in the classroom and in the administrative offices in charter schools in the District of Columbia. She holds a certificate in Bilingual Special Education and a master’s degree in Minority and Urban Education. International Academy students are part of the larger school community at Cardozo. Currently students play on the soccer and tennis teams, and participate in many after school programs. With the support of outside organizations, students also take part in running clubs, legal research and youth health programming, among others. This program has been successful in other urban districts, like New York City and San Francisco, as well as Alexandria, Virginia. DCPS hopes to expand the International Academy in the coming school years, adding 11th grade next year and 12th grade in the 2016-2017 school year.
Fast Facts about the International Academy at Cardozo EC:
24 hours a day. 7 days a week. 52 weeks a year. Visit www.districtchronicles.com.
CALL TODAY FOR IMMEDIATE HELP!
(800) 991-9385
Bill Gordon & Associates is a nationwide practice limited to representing clients before the Social Security Administration. Bill Gordon is a member of the Texas & New Mexico Bar Associations. The attorneys at Bill Gordon & Associates work for quick approval of every case. Results in your case will depend on the unique facts and circumstances of your claim.
District Chronicles | Nov. 13 - Nov. 19, 2014 | 11
12 | Nov. 13 - Nov. 19, 2014 | District Chronicles