The Weekly Press Week of June 11, 2015

BATON

THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

LOUISIANA

VOL. 40 • NO. 24 • FREE

PEOPLE’S PUBLICATION

US Prisoner Released After Four Decades In Solitary Confinement

Dolores Spikes, Trailblazer as President of SU, Dies at 78

New Principals Named for Scotlandville High, BRCVPA, and 17 Other Baton Rouge Schools

Many East Baton Rouge schools, including Scotlandville High and the Baton Rouge Center for Visual and Performing Arts, will have new principals next school year.

Dolores Spikes

The Angola prison where the three men were in solitary confinement for decades is Louisiana’s only maximum-security prison

By William Grimes Dolores Spikes, who became the first woman to head a university system in the United States when, in 1988, she was named president of the Southern University and A & M College System in Louisiana, and who fought court-ordered desegregation of the state’s colleges to protect Southern’s identity as a black institution, died on June 1 in Baton Rouge, La. She was 78.

Edward Pratt, a university spokesman, said she had been suffering from a long illness, which he did not specify.

In the early 1980s, the Department of Justice ordered Louisiana to revamp what the department described as a racially segregated system of higher education . In 1989, it issued an order calling for the merger of the governing boards and operations of the state’s black and white university systems and the introduction of racial quotas to integrate student enrollment.

Administrators at Louisiana’s historically black schools, which included Grambling State University, feared that the new system would lead to a dilution of their mission to serve black students and an erosion of state financial support . Southern’s total enrollment of about 14,000 made it the largest black university in the country.

“I think what Southern is asking for is the same thing that the Justice Department is asking for — a desegregated system, but one that still allows for access and a chance for reasonable success for minority students, poor students and disadvantaged students,” Ms. Spikes told The Associated Press in 1989. “That’s part of the mission of Southern University; we’re asking that remain intact.”

Ms. Spikes played the lead role in negotiating an agreement in 1994 that met the goals of desegregation by creating cooperative programs between the university’s Baton Rouge campus and Louisiana State University and between See SPIKES, on page 2

ROUGE,

The last of the ‘Angola Three’ inmates , who spent decades in solitary confinement in connection with the death of a prison guard, was ordered to be released on Monday.

The ruling would free 68-yearold Albert Woodfox after more than 40 years in solitary, which human rights experts have said constitutes torture.

U.S. District Judge James Brady of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, ordered the release of Woodfox and took the extraordinary step of barring Louisiana prosecutors from trying him for a third time.

A spokesman for the Louisiana attorney general said the state would appeal Brady’s ruling to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ‘to make sure this murderer stays in prison and remains fully accountable for his actions’.

Woodfox was placed in solitary confinement in 1972 after being charged in the death of a Louisiana State Penitentiary guard Brent Miller in April of that year,

Albert Woodfox, 68, was ordered to be released from prison on Monday after spending 40 years in solitary confinement

according to NOLA.com.

The prison farm where he held is commonly known as the Angola prison and is Louisiana’s only maximum-security prison.

Woodfox and two other state

prisoners became known as the Angola Three because of their long stretches in solitary confinement at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola.

Other members of the Angola Three were prisoners Robert King and Herman Wallace.

Woodfox and Wallace, who were both serving unrelated armed robbery sentences, had said they were singled out for harsh treatment, including isolation, because of their political activism .

Woodfox and Wallace were former Black Panthers and helped establish a prison chapter of the Black Panther Party at the Angola prison in 1971, set up demonstrations and organized strikes for better conditions.

Wallace, convicted with Woodfox of murder in the death of guard Brent Miller, died in October 2013 only days after a judge freed him and granted him a new trial.

King was released in 2001 See RELEASED, on page 2

No Body Cameras Required for Baton Rouge Police in Baton Rouge Every time the Baton Rouge Metro Council discusses the issue of police body cameras, it seems another story of a potentially racially-charged conflict between citizens and police is in the news, with a video at the center. This time, it’s the police response to a pool party with a crowd of teenagers in McKinney, Texas.

But while council members in Baton Rouge said they want the city’s police officers to wear cameras, on Wednesday they voted against an ordinance that would have legally required the department to implement them for all officers by December of next year.

The council voted 4-5 Wednesday (June 10) against an ordinance authored by council member C. Denise Marcelle that would require the cameras.

Those who voted no said they were worried that they’d be forcing the police department to pay for the equipment without knowing how

PERCENTAGE OF POORER RESIDENTS IS HIGH

Baton Rouge police are implementing a pilot program that will provide 100 officers with body cameras, but the Metro Council voted not to legally require the whole department to wear the devices.

much it would cost or how it would be paid for.

The department will continue moving forward with a pilot pro-

gram that’s already underway to outfit 100 officers with the camSee POLICE, on page 2

New East Baton Rouge superintendent Warren Drake has just begun his job with the district, and one of the first orders of business is setting up an administrative staff.

So far, 19 Baton Rouge schools are getting new principals, as part of a yearly summer shuffle of school administrators.

The schools that are getting new leaders include Scotlandville High, and the Baton Rouge Center for Visual and Performing Arts, which had seen controversy as parents wanted an administrative change.

Here’s a list of who’s been appointed where: Elementary schools: n Baton Rouge Center for Visual and Performing Arts: Candice Hartley, previously assistant principal at Sherwood Middle, has been named the new principal. n Buchanan Elementary: Charlotte Britten, previously assistant principal at the Baton Rouge Center for Visual and Performing Arts, has been named the new principal. n Highland Elementary:

RELIGION

n Howell Park Elementary: Rochelle Washington, previously assistant principal at Howell Park, is being promoted to principal. n LaSalle Elementary: Suzanne Navo, previously assistant principal at LaSalle, is being promoted to principal. n Magnolia Woods Elementary: Kim DiPalma, previously assistant principal at Melrose Elementary, has been named the new principal. n Melrose Elementary: Olga Pack, previously assistant principal at Melrose, is being promoted to principal. n Merrydale Elementary: Assistant Principal Tana Boudreaux is being promoted to principal. n Park Elementary: Emily LeBlanc, previously assistant principal at Park, is being promoted to principal.

See SCHOOLS, on page 2

Louisiana’s START Saving Program Recognized As Best Performing 529 Program in America Over Past Ten Years BATON ROUGE - SavingForCollege.com, a national College Saving Plan comparison website that publishes rankings each quarter, reported that Louisiana’s START Savings Program ranked first for 10-year performance among all 529 plans in America. START was also ranked among the Top 10 State 529 plans for 1-year, 3-year and 5-year performance.

“SavingForCollege.com created its rankings several years ago to help investors gauge how well their plans were performing relative to their peers,” said SavingForCollege.com founder Joseph Hurley.

The START Saving Pro-

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

STATE & LOCAL

Jamie Carruth, previously dean of students at Highland, is being promoted to principal.

BUSINESS

gram is an innovative college savings program that qualifies as a “529 Plan” under the Internal Revenue Code. START offers federal and state tax incentives to anyone who wishes to financially assist a student in acquiring a college education.

In addition to regular earnings on investments, accounts will receive a contribution from the state, called “Earnings Enhancements,” to match a percentage of their annual deposits, ranging from 14 percent to two percent determined by the account owner’s prior year federal adjusted gross income as reported to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

RELIGION

NEW: Lela Kelly informs you about gospel events happening in Baton Rouge...See Page 4

INDEX State News...............................2

SU PART OF WATER PURIFICATION Southern University students and There’s a lot of talk in East Baton Rouge Parish about how the middle class is leaving the area, looking for better and more affordable educational opportunities for their children in the suburbs of Ascension and Livingston Parish....See Page 5

faculty are part of a research effort to develop low-cost materials help to help provide sustainable water purification in Ghana...See Page 3

MEGAFEST ADDS MADEA TO LINE UP

MegaFest, the nation’s largest inspirational family festival, today announced Tyler Perry’s new stage play, “Madea on the Run,” will make a tour stop in Dallas during the fiveday experience slated for August 19-23....See Page 4

DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

The Southern University College of Business is hosting its Second Annual “Advancing Leadership in Economic Development” (ALIED) conference on June 11 -13...See Page 5

Religion....................................4 Business....................................5 Classifieds.................................5

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

THEWEEKLYPRESS.COM Celebrating 40 Years Of Service To The Baton Rouge Community 225.775.2002

Page 2 • The

Weekly Press • Thursday, June 11, 2015

LOCAL & STATE

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State of Louisiana Accepting Public Comments on Funding for Isaac-Recovery Housing Program in Plaquemines Parish BATON ROUGE - The State of Louisiana is accepting public comments on a Partial Action Plan that allocates $4 million to Plaquemines Parish for the creation of a housing elevation program in response to Hurricane Isaac. This partial action plan also obligates the first $1 million of those funds so Plaquemines officials can begin program activities.

As a result of Hurricane Isaac, 46 percent of all homeowners in Plaquemines Parish reported damages, which were extensive and disproportionately affected a low- and moderateincome population. Given limited resources and the identified housing needs, the state seeks to use these funds to elevate residential structures, with an emphasis on LMI households, to best address long-term resilience.

Partial Action Plan 5 allocates $4,039,600 of the parish’s total funding of $16,953,000 to create the new program that is necessary to address unmet housing needs in the parish due to the 2012 storm. The Housing Elevation/HMGP Non-Federal Match Program will be a voluntary elevation program that will work in conjunction with

homeowner elevation activities already taking place through the parish’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which is funded

by FEMA and applied to those homes located in flood-prone areas.

The program will be administered by Plaquemines Parish officials, with the state Office of Community Development’s Disaster Recovery Unit and the Louisiana Housing Corporation providing oversight, guidance and technical assistance.

“By elevating their homes, these households in the most flood-prone areas of Plaquemines Parish will decrease their risk of flooding in future storms,” said Pat Forbes, executive director of the Louisiana Office of Community Development. “This investment will allow homeowners to rebuild safer, stronger and smarter.”

Plaquemines Parish President Amos Cormier, Jr. said, “Plaquemines Parish is grateful to the Office of Community Development for the opportunity to use these funds as the local match for home elevations. This will assist residents with elevation of their homes, thus mitigating the possibility of future flooding.”

Released from page 1 after his conviction in the death of a fellow inmate in 1973 was reversed.

Woodfox has been tried twice in the guard’s death, but both convictions were overturned.

Brady said the ‘exceptional circumstances’ of the case had led him to bar the state from seeking a third trial.

In his ruling, he cited doubt that the state could provide a ‘fair third trial’; the inmate’s age and

poor health; the unavailability of witnesses; ‘the prejudice done onto Mr. Woodfox by spending over forty-years in solitary confinement,’ and ‘the very fact that Mr. Woodfox has already been tried twice’.

Tory Pegram of the International Coalition to Free the Angola 3, who is working with Woodfox’s lawyers on his release, said they are all ‘thrilled that justice has come for our innocent

The funds are part of the $64.4 million in Community Development Block Grant dollars that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development allocated to Louisiana for recovery from Hurricane Isaac.

The City of New Orleans, Jefferson Parish and St. Tammany Parish all received individual allocations from HUD. Of the $64.4 million, the state has allocated $32.7 million to St. John the Baptist Parish and $16.9 million to Plaquemines Parish for their Hurricane Isaac recovery efforts.

Citizens, community leaders and elected officials can access the plans and submit comments online by visiting http:// www.doa.louisiana.gov/cdbg/ DR/IC_ActionPlans.htm and opening, “Isaac Partial Action Plan 5”. A copy of the plan can be requested by calling (225) 219-9600.

The formal public comment period for Partial Action Plan 5 begins today, June 10, 2015 and runs until 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, 2015. After accepting public comments, the state will submit the plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for final federal approval. friend’.

Woodfox is in solitary confinement at a prison in St Francisville, Louisiana, and awaiting trial. His lawyers were headed there Monday to seek his release.

Pegram said Woodfox gets to exercise for one hour three times a week during his confinement at the West Feliciana Parish Detention Center. He has a television to watch and a shower in his cell, she added.

Of Brady’s order for an unSee RELEASE on page 3

Police from page 2 eras, and depending on how that goes, could come back later with a plan to outfit more officers.

Marcelle has been pushing for the cameras for several months, and wanted to put the requirement into law to force the department to implement them soon. Three other council members agreed with her: The others who voted in support of requiring the cameras were Chauna Banks-Daniel, Ronnie Edwards and Tara Wicker.

Wicker spoke emotionally about why she believes the cameras will save lives, particularly of young African-American men.

“I personally am the mother of a 13-year-old son that will be driving in a couple of years, and I want my baby to be safe,” she said. She told council member John Delgado, “I don’t expect you to understand it, because you’re not a black man and you don’t have any black children.”

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But other council members said they didn’t want to tie Police Chief Carl Dabadie’s hands, forcing him to spend an unknown amount of money on the cameras and possibly have to cut elsewhere in his budget.

They said the city should wait to see how the pilot program goes.

The body cameras had already been debated at the council’s last meeting, and at the start of Wednesday’s meeting it appeared a compromise had been reached: Marcelle, the mayor’s staff, and council member Buddy Amoroso, who had previously been pushing for a non-binding resolution in favor of the cameras, all were in agreement. The compromise required the department to use the cameras, but removed any timeframe.

But then, Parish Attorney Lea Anne Batson told them that without including a timeframe, the ordinance would go into effect immediately -- which may have been what Marcelle wanted, but wasn’t the others’ intention.

So Marcelle offered up Dec. 1, 2016 as the deadline.

But her colleagues were concerned about implementing it as a mandate. Cities elsewhere have found that the biggest cost of the cameras is not the cameras themselves. It’s the cost of storing and managing the video footage. Dabadie said the pilot program is a way to get a sense of how it would work for the whole department.

If the council voted to require the cameras before seeing the results of the pilot, “What’s the point of doing the pilot program at all, then?” council member Trae Welch asked. Aren’t we putting a horse before a cart right now by doing it like this?”

With Wednesday’s vote, the pilot program will proceed, but it will be up to the police department or perhaps a future vote of the council to expand the use of the cameras.

“Everybody wants it, but I guess it’s always the devil’s in the details,” Amoroso said.

marge's

local TV news media and J U S T A via alumni publications.

THOUGHT: If your I remember seeing her actions inspire others wipe tears away when to dream more, learn she was named to her more, do more and beposition. (Perhaps she come more, you are a was thinking about and leader. —John Quincy thanking her parents for Adam such an honor.) It was MYTRIBUTE TO most gratifying to read DR. DELORES MARMarge how such a distinguish GARET RICHARD woman was navigating Lawrence SPIKES (1926-2015). the Southern University If you were like me, System with such poise when you heard the news of the and grace.

In the days of the 80’s demise of Dr. Spikes, you felt a women were still finding their path grip of sadness. I was not ready to to the helm of leadership. She held release my bed when this very sad on to the role with such tenacity and news came by phone by one of my dignity that is was worth any one good friends. “Oh, no!” I said to while to emulate. I heard about her my friend because it was not really when my spouse and I spoke about something I wanted to hear. Dr. the department of mathematics at Spikes was not my president (Dr. Southern. She was his professor Felton G. Clark was). At the time of analytical geometry and would of my educational journey, she was often talk about her thoroughness a professor and university leader. and patience. How about that in But I had move back to my home these days of rush and get it if you state by the time she was presi- can by some educators? dent of Southern University and How can one say goodbye to the Southern University System. such a good leader as Dr. Spikes She was stalwart about keeping and such a warrior for educating the Southern open and adamant about under serve? May she rest in peace. educating minority in the HBCUs. As most alumna, I followed Love, Marge what was happening on campus by

Schools from page 1 n Riveroaks Elementary: Erica Aguillard, previously assistant principal at LaBelle Aire Elementary, has been named the new principal.

Brookstown Middle, has been named the new principal.

n Sharon Hills Elementary: Angela Sanders, previously assistant principal at Park Forest Elementary, has been named the new principal.

n McKinley High: Harry Wright, previously interim principal at Scotlandville High, is moving to assistant principal at McKinley High.

n Woodlawn Elementary: Janice Lindsey, previously assistant principal at Woodlawn Elementary, is being promoted to principal.

Middle schools: n Broadmoor Middle: Daniel Edwards, previously assistant principal at McKinley High, has been named the new principal. n Brookstown Middle: James Smith, previously assistant principal at Brookstown, is being promoted to principal. n McKinley Middle: Sean Joffrion, previously principal at

its New Orleans campus and the University of New Orleans, as well as the creation of a new community college in Baton Rouge.

“She was a great moving force in settling the desegregation lawsuit while adamantly protecting Southern,” Connie Koury, executive law counsel to Edwin W. Edwards, the governor at that time, told The Times-Picayune of New Orleans in 1996. “Spikes protected Southern the best way anyone could.”

Dolores Margaret Richard was born on Aug. 24, 1936, in Baton Rouge, where she attended parochial and public schools.

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High schools:

n Scotlandville High: Calvin Nicholas, previously an assistant principal at Baker High, has been named the new principal.

Alternative schools: n Beechwood Alternative: Ronnie Knox, previously principal at Greenville Alternative at Wyandotte, has been named the new principal. n EBR Readiness Academy: Delores Watts, previously assistant principal at EBR Readiness Academy, is being promoted to principal.

Spikes from page 1

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After earning a bachelor’s degree in mathematics at Southern University in 1957 and a master’s degree at the University of Illinois a year later, she returned to Louisiana. She taught high school science in Mossville, a mostly black community on the outskirts of Lake Charles, and married Hermon Spikes, who had been a fellow math student at Southern.

He died in 2008, and their only child, Rhonda, died in 2010.

Ms. Spikes is survived by two sisters, Elizabeth Bellaire and Ann Fenelon, and two grandchildren.

In 1961, Ms. Spikes returned to Southern University as an assistant professor of mathematics.

In 1971, she became the first black woman to earn a doctorate in mathematics from Louisiana State University. When she was named chancellor of Southern University at New Orleans in 1987, she became the first woman to hold that post in a public university in Louisiana.

In 1987, she was appointed to the board of Harvard’s Institute of Educational Management. President Bill Clinton named her to his board of advisers on historically black colleges and universities in 1994. She also served as the vice chairwoman of the Kellogg Commission on the Future of State and Land-Grant Universities.

Ms. Spikes left Southern University in 1996 and became president of another black institution, the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore, where she remained until 2001.

Dolores Spikes’ Memorial Service was Tuesday, June 9 at the F. G. Clark Activity Center on Southern University Baton Rouge Campus. The funeral service was held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Main Street in Baton Rouge on Wednesday, June 10th.

Thursday, June 11, 2015 • The Weekly Press • Page 3

SU Students, Faculty Part of Water Purification Effort in Ghana

Pictured from left, Kimberly Cribbs, Gabrielle Muhammad, Lance Burton, Bernice Ruth, Dr. Patrick Mensah, Dr. Fareed Dawan, Shola Falodun, Jacquelyn Ford and Kristen Hypolite. Photo by John Oubre, Office of Media Relations Southern University students and faculty are part of a research effort to develop low-cost materials help to help provide sustainable water purification in Ghana.

The students and faculty are in the African country of Ghana for the next 30 days conducting research and developing means of improving drinking water in Ghana.

The effort is part of an International Research Experiences for Students $250,000 award from the National Science Foundation to the SU’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and Office of Research and Strategic Initiatives.

Southern’s participating students, include: Shola Falodun, a senior Urban Forestry major from New Orleans; Kristen Hypolite, a senior mechanical engineering major from Lake Charles, La.; Lance Burton, a senior agricultural sciences major from Greensburg, La.; and Gabrielle Muhammad, a senior physics major from Baton Rouge.

Students from two other colleges are part of the project. They include Jacquelyn Ford, a Xavier University of New Orleans senior Biology major from Palmdale, Calif., and Kimberly Cribbs, a University of Arkansas, senior chemical engineering major from Pea Ridge, Ark. SU faculty members participating, include, Principle Investigator of the project Dr. Patrick Mensah, a professor of Mechanical Engineering; Dr. Fareed Dawan, a professor of Mechanical Engineering; Dr. Samuel Ibekwe, professor and Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering; and Bernice Ruth, an assistant in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

The students will concentrate on determining how best to remove an excess of naturally occurring fluoride, which can cause health problems, in ground and well water in the Bongo Region of northern Ghana.

The SU group will be part of a

collaborative effort with the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) faculty and students at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana.

According to an NSF press release, the project will attempt to develop a low-cost, but effective composite material for sustainable water purification to ensure an effective, innovative and transformative approach to the concerns of the Global Impact of Sustainable Water Supply and Purification (GRA-SWP).

The project is also expected to raise the awareness about related, global water issues and the need and advantages of studying similar subject in a multidisciplinary and internationally collaborative environment.

For additional information, please contact Edward Pratt the Director of Media Relations Southern University at (225) 771-4545 or (225) 771-3907.

Scotlandville High School Alumni Announce Arts Center Project Baton Rouge, Louisiana – The Board of Directors of the Scotlandville High School Hornets Alumni Association is hosting a Town Hall Meeting, Thursday June 18, 2015, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; at the Southern University Intramural Sports Complex. The board and organization members will announce a major initiative that responds to the lack of arts and cultural activities for the children and young people in the Scotlandville community.

Formed in 1999 to support student success at the Scotlandville Magnet High School, the organization successfully entered into an agreement with the East Baton Rouge City Council, to renovate a retired fire station on Rosenwald Avenue. Mr. Norman Hawkins, Commander of VFW Post 11169 and lifetime resident of Scotlandville, who is co-chair of the Scotlandville High School Hornets Alumni Association’s Arts Committee reports that “The City Council gave us a huge vote of confidence when they agreed to turn the old fire station over to us, and it is a responsibility we are not taking lightly. According to Mr. Hawkins, the committee considered several options for repurposing the facility and was determined to make children the priority. After a period of assessment and consideration of

community needs, a special arts committee under the direction of Board President Paula Braxton, determined that children in the area need and deserve high quality arts classes and programs.

“Our children are highly creative, but there are no places in our neighborhood where they can work with professional artists and find their own talents” says Mrs. Braxton.

According to reports obtained by the organization, over 4,000 students are enrolled in public, charter and private schools in the Scotlandville area. Many of them have little or no access to art, music or dance programs, other than an occasional outreach program offered by arts organizations in the city. “Those programs are sporadic, with little possibility for our children to actually have ongoing learning about the arts”, says Mr. Joe Jenkins, Chairman of the Louisiana Naval War Memorial Commission. “We want our young people to be creative and competitive when they graduate from high school and the arts encourage them to stay in school, and helps them think about their future in positive ways”.

With full support from the board of directors, the organization is moving forward with their due diligence to determine what

resources they will need to take their time and build a plan that is solid enough to make dreams happen in Scotlandville. “We have so many resources in our backyard, says President Braxton, Southern University, LSU and the Baton Rouge Arts Council, and we have a group of committed members ready to learn and execute”.

Margie Johnson Reese, a Baton Rouge native and board member of Americans for the Arts, a national arts service organization based in Washington, D.C, will facilitate the Town Hall meeting.

Ms. Reese has been engaged by the board to help guide the development of the project.

Ms. Reese, who has developed cultural facilities in Dallas and Los Angeles, says, “There’s only one reason this project won’t succeed, and that is, that we don’t make our children the priority”.

This project will take the efforts of a lot of people. The arts are not just a casual way for kids to pass the time – the arts help young people see the connections between science, engineering and technology”, says Reese.

For more information about the Town Hall meeting or about the project, email Ms. Jeanette Harrison at scotlandvillearts@gmail.com.

with flaws’.

‘The only humane action that the Louisiana authorities can take now is to ensure his immediate release.’

At the same time, though, state prosecutors were working to keep Woodfox in prison.

Aaron Sadler, a spokesman for

Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell, said the state was seeking an emergency stay of Brady’s ruling from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.

‘With today’s order, the court would see fit to set free a twiceconvicted murderer,’ Sadler said.

‘This order arbitrarily sets aside jury decisions and gives a free pass to a murderer based on faulty procedural issues.’

Release from page 2 conditional release, Pegram said, ‘I call it the unicorn. It’s almost never done’.

Jasmine Heiss, a senior campaigner with Amnesty International USA, called Brady’s ruling ‘a momentous step toward justice’.

Heiss said Woodfox has been ‘trapped in a legal process riddled

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Page 4 • The

Weekly Press • Thursday, June 11, 2015

RELIGION I’m Totally Tired With El Negativity

By Dr. James L. Snyder I will admit throughout the years I have had my negative moments and some negative rants. I know nobody can be 100% positive.

I am 100% positive they cannot be 100% positive.

In the husband and wife relationship, some call it marriage, there is both a positive and a negative.

Some days it seems to be all negative. Then there are those wonderful days when it seems to be all positive. I really like those days.

Every relationship has its ups and downs; times when you get along and then there are times that you do not get along. However, I if you accent the positive in a relationship and sort of put the negative in

the back closet, things seem to go along much more smoothly.

I try to keep up with the stories on the news. It seems that you cannot get away from the news these days with all of this 24/7 exposure.

I think it might be great, although it will not last very long, to have a news program some time devoted just to “good news.” The way things are today, I do not know if there is any good news out there.

All we hear is the bad. The worse the news, the more publicity it gets on the media.

Then there is politics. I think there could be something positive to say about politics, but at this moment, nothing really comes to my mind. I will give this a lot of thought (actually not too much thought) and

just see if there is anything positive I can say about politics.

For every positive you might find in politics, there are at least a dozen negative votes that completely swamp the positive. Of course, if you could get the negative and the positive together in politics, it would be a rather shocking experience.

The thing that is wrong with politics is simply politicians.

To find a politician balanced is like looking for a needle in a haystack. The problem with looking for a needle in a haystack is that when you find the needle you are stuck with it.

Religion is also full of negativity. I am tired of all the negative comments that come out of the

mouth of people who are religious.

I think religion, for the most part, has more negatives than positives. In fact, I think they know more about the negatives and have forgotten completely about anything positive. But that is the nature of religion.

The problem with religion is the same problem with politics. If we just get rid of leaders in our country today who are all negative, we might have a chance of looking on a positive future.

The only positive I see today is in Christianity. Not the Christianity of religion; that’s a given that it is more negative than positive. But the Christianity that focuses on the person of Jesus Christ. I choose to be a follower of Jesus.

MegaFest Adds Tyler Perry’s “Madea on the Run” Play to Line Up DALLAS, -- MegaFest, the nation’s largest inspirational family festival, today announced Tyler Perry’s new stage play, “Madea on the Run,” will make a tour stop in Dallas during the five-day experience slated for August 19-23. The play will be in the arena at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center on Friday, August 21 at 7 p.m. Tickets go on sale today via Ticketmaster.

“Madea always makes us all laugh while teaching valuable lessons that we remember long afterwards,” Bishop T.D. Jakes said. “We are excited to welcome Tyler Perry back to MegaFest.

Tyler is a friend and constant

Tyler Perry as Madea

supporter of ours. We are happy to extend this platform to his fan base knowing that MegaFest attendees will enjoy this hilarious play.”

“Madea on the Run,” which began touring in March, will be the first Tyler Perry play ever staged at MegaFest. The play’s plot follows Madea, played by Perry, as she goes on the lam from local authorities and is forced to hide with her friend, Aunt Bam, played by Cassi Davis. The play’s brand new score, written by Perry, promises audiences a night of laughter and inspiration.

See MEGAFEST, on page 5

Can I get an Amen?

Jesus had a positive message.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

I know can we cannot be 100% positive, but I think we should focus a little more on the positive and really enjoy the rest God has for us.

Rev. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God Fellowship, PO Box 831313, Ocala, FL 34483.

He lives with his wife, Martha, in Silver Springs Shores. Call him at 1-866-552-2543 or e-mail jamessnyder2@att.net or website www. jamessnyderministries.com.

By Lela Kelly

BR Gospel Happening n The Camphor Memorial United Methodist Church will be hosting their Summer Bible Vacation School from June 1519, 2015.

The classes starts at 5:30pm until 8:30pm daily and all is invited from 2+ and up.

Snacks will be served daily.

For additional information, please contact Reverend Mary Ann Robinson at 504-875-6274.

n Dr. Excel Payne pastor of the Emmanuel Baton Church will hold their Semi-Annual Session from June 22-24, 2015 with Bible classes starting from 10am to noon and parent body at 1pm.

This year the services will be at the Beech Grove Baptist Church that is located at 9455 Elm Grove Garden Drive and Elder Marshall Hall is the pastor.

CALL 225-775-2002 OR EMAIL YOUR CHURCH ANNOUMENTS TO brweeklypress @yahoo.com

CHURCH DIRECTORY

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

Let the community know whats happing at your place of worship. Email your church event or religious organization news to The Weekly Press @ theweeklypress@yahoo.com or call 225-775-2002 THE KINGDOM OF GOD CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES 11263 Florida Blvd.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70815 Telephone: 225-272-9755 Fax: 225-272-9754 Cell: 225-603-2711 E-mail: maxie111@cox.net Lee Dell Maxie, Pastor “Spreading the message of the Kingdom of God while building on a foundation of love”

WEDNESDAY 12:00 5013 WINDFALL COURT BATON ROUGE, LA. 70812 FOR DIRECTIONS CALL 225-355-8194 We are seeking Prayer Warrors Remember Acts 16: 25-26

ANTIOCH FULL GOSPEL BAPTIST CHURCH

6538 Mickens Road • Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70811-4351 Telephone: (225) 357-9717

Bishop Eugene Harris Sr. Pastor

Church Schedule: Sunday School...................................................................... 10:00AM Sunday Worship.................................................................... 11:00AM Bible Study...............................................................Thursday 7:00PM Prayer Service...........................................................Thursday 6:00PM Youth Training............................................................Thursday 6:00PM Holy Communion................................................. 4th Sunday 11:00AM “I can do all things through Christ which Strengthenth me.” Phil. 4:13 Sun. Worship 10 am • Tue. Bible Study 7pm • 2nd & 4th Sun. Broadcast 8am WXOK

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

NEW JERUSALEM FULL GOSPEL BAPTIST CHURCH

Rev. Leo Cyrus Sr., Pastor

4525 Point Clair Road * St. Gabriel, Louisiana 70776-0493 Telephone: (225) 642-8682

Bishop Eugene Harris Sr. Pastor

Church Schedule Sunday School...................................................................... 7:00A,M. Sunday Worship.................................................................... 8:00A.M. Bible Study.............................................................. Tuesday 7:00.PM. Prayer Service......................................................... Tuesday12:00A.M. Youth Training............................................................Tuesday 6:00P.M. Holy Communion................................................. 2nd Sunday 8:00P.M.

“I can do all Things Through Christ which Strengthenth me.” Phil. 4:13.

VISIT US ONLINE @ www.theweeklypress.com

Order Of Services Sunday Worship...................................................... 11:00 A.M. Holy Communion.................................. 3rd Sunday 6:00 P.M. Sunday School..........................................................9:00 A.M. Bible Study................................................Thrusday 7:00 P.M.

Thursday, June 11, 2015 • The Weekly Press • Page 5

Southern’s College of Business Hosting Leadership and Economic Development Conference BATON ROUGE – The Southern University College of Business hosted its Second Annual “Advancing Leadership in Economic Development” (ALIED) conference on June 11 -13. The conference featured more than 10 local and nationally recognized business leaders who shared their expertise on effective leadership strategies and successful economic development programs.

Some of the featured speakers included James Joseph, former ambassador to South Africa and former public policy professor at Duke University; Dr. Richard McCline with the Fanning Institute for Leadership Development at the University of Georgia; and Will Campbell with small business lending of Louisiana for Capital One. Topics include regional economic growth and development opportunities, revitalizing rural and inner-city neighborhoods, leadership models that get results, and the role of political leaders in economic development.

It was targeted to small business owners, community development professionals, nonprofit

organizations, city and state leaders, and anyone else who was interested in learning more about leadership and business opportunities in our area.

“This conference encouraged attendees to play a greater role in growing their businesses and organizations and to take advantage of the many economic opportunities available in our city and state,” said Dr. Donald Andrews, dean of the College of Business and coordinator of the conference. ‘It also gave attendees the tools they needed to succeed and it’s was a great networking opportunity.”

The conference was hosted by the EDA University Center.

It took place in the College of Business’ T.T. Allain Hall in Room 313 on Southern’s campus.

Workshops ran from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. on June 12 and 8:30 a.m. until noon on June 13. The conference kicked off on June 11 with dinner and a keynote speaker.

For more information on speakers, go to subruniversitycenter.org or call (225) 771-5640 or (225) 771- 6248.

MegaFest from page 4 Tickets for “Madea on the Run” are available for purchase individually, separate from MegaFest ticketing packages. Additional MegaFest event and speaker updates will

be announced throughout the summer, and the public is encouraged to check www.megafest.com for news on speakers, schedules and other exciting announcements.

VISIT US ONLINE @ www.theweeklypress.com Or Call 225.775.2002

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BUSINESS

Baton Rouge’s ‘Middle Class’ is on Par With Nation, but Percentage of Poorer Residents is High

Baton Rouge has a much higher percentage of poor residents, and a much lower percentage of wealthy residents, than the national average.

There’s a lot of talk in East Baton Rouge Parish about how the middle class is leaving the area, looking for better and more affordable educational opportunities for their children in the suburbs of Ascension and Livingston Parish.

A new report from Brookings provides an interesting look at that issue, though. If you look at it from a strict numbers perspective, the percentage of people in Baton Rouge in the “middle class” by its purest definition -- the middle fifth of national income distribution -- is actually about on par with the national average. What’s different in Baton Rouge, though, is we have a lot more poor people, and a lot fewer wealthy people. (It should

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be noted, these are city of Baton Rouge figures, not the overall East Baton Rouge Parish).

Nationwide, the middle 20 percent of households earn between $41,110 and $65,952 annually. In Baton Rouge, about 18.9 percent of households fall into that category, which is fairly close to the nationwide 20 percent.

But while only 40 percent of households nationwide make below $41,109, a whopping 56.6 percent of households in Baton Rouge fit into that range, according to Brookings. Most of them in Baton Rouge -- about 33.6 percent -- are in the poorest category, making less than $21,433.

And while 40 percent of

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SALES PERSONS The Weekly Press, Baton Rouges’ oldest muti-cultural community newspaper is building a diverse sales team. We are seeking sales personnel to service the Baton Rouge, Baker and surrounding areas who are looking to earn an above average income. The right person must be a team player, professional, aggressive, creative, earnest, able to think outside of the box, have reliable insured transportation, committed to working and great communication skills. Contact Mr. Walter Dixon at (225) 775-2002 for appointment and interviews.

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EDITORIAL INTERNS WANTED The Weekly Press, Baton Rouges’ oldest muti-cultural community newspaper is looking for Student Interns only. We are seeking writers to cover the Baton Rouge, Baker and surrounding areas. The right person must be a team player, professional, aggressive, creative, earnest, able to think outside of the box, have reliable insured transportation, committed to working and great communication skills. Contact Mr. Walter Dixon at (225) 775-2002 for appointment and interviews.

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households nationwide fall into the top earning categories and make above $65,953, in Baton Rouge it’s only 27.5 percent.

New Orleans numbers are very similar, though the middle class is smaller -- 33.1 percent of people fit into the national income range for the lowest 20 percent, 16.9 percent are in the middle 20 percent, and 15.1 percent are in the top 20 percent.

Of course, it all depends on your definition of middle class -- many people likely would call themselves middle class even if their household makes well above the national median of about $53,000.

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Company Expanding Looking For New Consultants To Train Limited openings BUT LIMITLESS INCOME POTENTIAL! Sheryl Armstrong Email: strongarms@ cox.net (225)636-0382 **call or email for an appointment**

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Baton Rouge Voters Will be Asked to Raise Library Taxes The people have spoken, and they want to give more money to the library system, Baton Rouge Metro Council members said at a meeting Wednesday as they voted to allow the library system to request a tax increase this fall.

The council voted 7-4 to put an 11.1-mill rate for the library system on the ballot this fall, when it goes to voters for a tax renewal. The voters previously approved the 11.1-mill rate, but it had since been rolled back to 10.78 mills due to increasing property values. So if the tax renewal passes this fall, property owners would see their tax bills go up by a few dollars.

Initially, there had been pressure from council members on the well-funded and wellliked library system to reduce its taxes, perhaps freeing up money for other crucial city services like a proposed mental health center. But a majority of council members on Wednesday (June 10) said they heard overwhelmingly from their constituents that they wanted to support the library system at 11.1 mills.

Even Travis Woodard, one of two library board members who had initially voted against the higher rate, said he had changed his mind and asked the council to support it.

Library system officials say they need the extra funds to renovate more of their older facilities.

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Help Wanted Construction Project Engineering Manager PPMG Consultants, Baton Rouge, LA is seeking a Construction Project Engineering Manager. Masters in Civil or Const. Eng. Mgmt req’d plus 2 yrs exp in construction eng.

Must be PMI Certified as PMP. 40hr/wk. Send resume to info@ppmgrp.com.

VISIT US ONLINE @

www.theweeklypress.com

HELP WANTED ARCHITECT ECI Applications Architect, Baton Rouge, LA. Defines, plans, designs, develops, improves, installs, integrates and maintains programming systems, complex programming applications and/ or new programming languages, and operational systems advanced techniques for large health insurance company. Performs Web, Client/Server Application programming, Business to Business Integration (B2B) and Enterprise application integration (EAI) using different versions of BizTalk Server including 2006/2006R2/2009/2013/1012R2 and native, customized, and third-party adapters including FILE, FTP, SOAP, SQL, SFTP, SMTP, DB2, MQSC, MQSeries, WCF-SQL, WCF-BasicHttp, WCF-NetTcp, WCF-Custom and NULL, LoopBack. Designs, codes, tests, maintains, trouble shoots, documents, trains, and leads projects on new or existing EAI integrated information systems. Designs, develops, and maintains application and technical architectures across multiple systems, sub-systems, or platforms and implements solutions related to standards for HIPAA-mandated transactions and other Healthcare Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) transactions. Performs Installation and Configuration of BizTalk 2009/2013/2013R2. Provides technical advice to management and frequently participates as technical advisor and consultant in management decisions. Requires: M.S. in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics or related technical field. Additional skills: BizTalk/ .Net/SQL Development; BizTalk development including Adapters, Pipelines, Maps, Orchestrations, Business Rules Engine (BRE), Business Activity Monitoring (BAM); Team Foundation Server (TFS); .Net technologies including ASP.Net, C#.Net and VB.Net and other technologies including XML, XSD, XSLT; SQL Development including database designs, scripts, triggers, stored procedures. Mail resume to: Sherry Strain, Employment Compliance Specialist, Louisiana Health Service & Indemnity Company d/b/a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, 5525 Reitz Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70809. Reference: ECI Applications Architect. Louisiana Health Service & Indemnity Company d/b/a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is an EOE/M/F/V/D employer.

Page 6 • The

Weekly Press • Thursday, June 11, 2015