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PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID MINNEAPOLIS MN PERMIT NO. 32468
June 29 - July 5, 2009 • MN Metro Vol. 35 No. 26 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com
Jada Pinkett Smith the “HawthoRNe” interview
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Suluki Fardan
Minneapolis hosts NNPA
More than 125 publishers of America’s Black press convened in Downtown Minneapolis, MN, last week for the National Newspaper Publishers Association 2009 Convention. Themed “Building Coalitions to Advance our Community: Educate, Empower, Inspire,” the three-day conference featured presentations was highlighted by a Health Care Town Hall meeting featuring members of the Congressional Black Caucus. The National Newspaper Publishers Association is a 67-year-old federation of more than 200 Black community newspapers from across the United States. Convention Host Al McFarlane (far left), Editor-In-Chief, Insight News stands with NNPA leadership and guests. (L-R) NNPA First Vice Chairwoman Karen Love, The Michigan Front Page; Second Vice Chairman Christopher B. Bennett, The Seattle Medium; Secretary Mollie Belt, The Dallas Examiner; Chairman John B. Smith, Sr., The Atlanta Inquirer; Minnesota State Representative Jeff Hayden DFL-61B; Treasurer Lenora Carter, Houston Forward Times; Minnesota State Representative Frank Hornstein, DFL-60B; Secretary Elinor Tatum, Amsterdam News; Ramsey County Commissioner Toni Carter (District 4); and Minnesota State Representative Bobby Joe Champion DFL-58B.
Three good excuses for having a summer party
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Ellison legislation ties insurance costs to patient care US Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN5) last week introduced health care legislation in anticipation of upcoming Congressional action on health care reform. Ellison’s The Good Care Act of 2009 requires that all health plans participating in the proposed “health insurance exchange” spend a minimum of 90% of the health care premiums they charge on health care services for their patients. “Minnesota is a national leader in health care,” Ellison said. “I believe that if health plans across the country followed Minnesota’s lead, we would ensure that our precious health care dollars are used to fund actual health services. Enactment of The Good Care Act of 2009 would do just that,” Ellison said. President Obama and Congressional leaders are proposing the creation of a health insurance exchange – a market where uninsured Americans can shop for a health
Julie Desmond: Bully bosses
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Linden Gawboy, Tasha Jackson and interviewer Mehgaan Jones US Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN5) care plan, compare benefits and prices and choose a plan that’s best for them. Government subsidies will be provided for uninsured individuals to purchase plans in this insurance exchange. The administrative cost of the top five health insurance companies in the United States is 17% and the average administrative costs for private insurers is 14%. The Good Care
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Suluki Fardan
Rights group fights for poor By Mehgaan Jones The Welfare Rights Committee of Minnesota strives to fight for the rights of low income and working class individuals and families. Their advocacy is becoming extremely vital as the economic crisis remains an ongoing issue for the United States and more and more people are in need of help from the government.
The Welfare Rights Committee began in 1992 as a group who wanted to help the poor. Every year, they journey to the legislature to campaign against budget cuts that effect low-income people. One of the committee’s members, Linden Gawboy started her journey with the coalition in the beginning of its development. She said she was inspired by the people who were coming together to do something
positive for low income and working class people. “These issues were things that I was angry about all my life,” said Gawboy. Tasha Jackson, another member of the committee, also understands how complex the issues are for poor people. She joined the committee four years ago. “I became involved because I enjoy standing up against
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What is stress: stages, symptoms and treatments
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Slain Holocaust guard remembered By Dorothy Rowley and LaToya Tooles Special to the NNPA from the AfroAmerican Newspapers WASHINGTON (NNPA) - In an emotionally charged eulogy that took place on a radiant afternoon, Stephen Tyrone Johns, the special police officer who was slain at the U.S. Holocaust Museum, was remembered as a gentle giant with a big
heart and warm smile. Hundreds of mourners, including local and national dignitaries, museum staff, law enforcement officers, and a host of holocaust survivors, poured into the massive Ebenezer A.M.E. Church in Fort Washington, MD, to pay their final respect to a man also described as having uncommon valor and compassion. In the hour-long eulogy, delivered by the Rev. Dr.
John L. McCoy, senior pastor at The Word of God Baptist Church in Washington, mourners were encouraged to live in racial harmony and to not tolerate blatant acts of racism such as that which claimed Johns’ life. “Tolerance isn’t a valid or godly response to racism, polite silence is no longer a viable action,” said McCoy, who reminded the congregation that Johns’ GUARD TURN TO 3
AAU State Track meet shows the strength of TC youth Photos: Khalid Naji-Allah, MHS
Jacqueline Carter, mother of slain guard Stephen Johns, Sr.
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