Insight News ::: 12.20.10

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Season’s

Greetings! Wishing the community the very best for the Holiday Season. From all of us at Insight News.

INSIGHT NEWS December 20 - December 26, 2010 • MN Metro Vol. 36 No. 51 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com

Lawrence Jackson

President Barack Obama speaks to a joint session of Congress, Sept. 2009

Obama urges tax plan vote WASHINGTON – With the clock ticking toward tax hikes for all Minnesota residents and a loss of benefits for people out of work for an extended period of time, the President is repeating his call for the House of Representatives to act quickly on a bipartisan package of tax cuts and an extension of unemployment insurance benefits. “This tax cut plan, while not

perfect, will help to grow our economy and create jobs in the private sector. It will help to lift up middle class families, who will no longer need to worry about a New Year’s Day tax hike. It will offer emergency relief to help tide folks over until they find another job. And it includes tax cuts to make college more affordable; help parents to provide for their children; and

help businesses, large and small, to expand and hire,” President Obama said. “We worked hard to negotiate an agreement that’s a win for middle-class families, and a win for our economy, and we can’t afford to let it fall victim to delay and defeat. So, I urge Members of Congress to pass these tax cuts as swiftly as possible,” said the President.

The stakes are significant for Minnesota. If approved, 3.1 million Minnesota residents will receive more money in their paychecks as a result of the payroll tax cut – something nearly every mainstream economist agrees is one of the most powerful things that can be done to boost economic growth. Minnesota residents also would benefit

from the continued American Opportunity Tax Credit that helped 166,000 families across the state last year. Additional tax cuts in the legislation also geared at middle-class families include the Earned Income Tax Credit, that helps families to climb out of poverty, and the Child Tax Credit extension, that will make sure families don’t see their taxes jump by up to

$1,000 for every child. Additionally, this bipartisan legislation would strengthen the safety net for 103,032 residents who are at risk of having their unemployment insurance (UI) benefits evaporate without Congressional action. Across the country, this month alone, 2 million Americans will lose their UI coverage if Congress fails to act.

A tribute to Champion: Finding opportunity Willis Burks, II By Al McFarlane and B.P. Ford, The Editors Part 2 in a series

By Rashid Bahati Willis Burks, II, who throughout his distinguished professional career was a widely beloved, highly accomplished actor of stage, TV and movies as well as being a highly devoted family man has died at the age of 75. Burks passed away last month November 21 in Las Vegas, NV. He was an actor for over 30 years. He was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, Actors’ Equity Association and a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. The fourth oldest of eight children, Burks grew up in Birmingham, AL. He left home at an early age to reside in Chicago, later moving to Minneapolis, New York and finally to Los Angeles. His career as a professional actor began in the 1980’s in Minneapolis. He had the opportunity to appear in numerous television programs, films and theatrical productions. “Burks used his God-given talent to spread human understanding and joy through acting. He was part of arguably the most celebrated American drama at the turn of century. The Pulitzer Prize winning playwright August Wilson delighted in his work, as did his fellow cast members,” said Stephen McKinley Henderson friend and acting colleague. Burks appeared on stage in over 25 plays, 10 movies, and

State Rep. Bobby Joe Champion represents District 58B in Minneapolis. At present, he is one of two members of the Black Caucus, the African American Caucus at the Minnesota House of Representatives. That will change next month when the new Legislature convenes. He will be joined by two more African-Americans, Rena Moran representing District 65A in St. Paul in the House and former St. Courtesy of the family

Willis Burks, II

25 October 1935 21 November 2010 40 TV series over his career. His big screen works include King of California (2007), Everything’s Jake (2000), Equinox (1992), Preacher’s Wife (1996), Row Your Boat (1999), Fan Addict (2010) and four August Wilson plays, Fences, Jitney, Piano Lesson, and Two Trains Running. Burks performed at many regional theaters in the US and abroad including: The Guthrie Theater, Pittsburgh Public Theater, The Public Theater, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Huntington Theatre Company, Hartford Stage Company, Kansas City Repertory, Baltimore Centre Stage and

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Education

MPS sends 7,000 books home with students

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Paul Police Chief John Harrington in the Senate representing District 67 on St. Paul’s Eastside. Chief Harrington is replacing Senator Mee Moua, who retired. Rena Moran replaces Representative Cy Thao who chose not to run. Insight News: How do you analyze that Minnesota Democrats lost control of both the House and the Senate? How does the state picture look in the context of the whipping Democrats took nationally?

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State Rep. Bobby Joe Champion, 58B

Suluki Fardan

HOPE: The perfect gift for the Twin Cities Gateway to excellence By Scott Gray MUL President/CEO The holiday season is here, and people both are busy -frantically searching for the perfect gift. As we look ahead to starting a new year, this is also a great time for individuals and organizations to recommit, refocus and reignite our dedication to mission and purpose. Sadly, for far too many of us, this holiday season may be less than a joyful

Aesthetics

Despicable Me a delightful animated adventure

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time. For some, the month of December is associated with despair, stress, and mounting debt. Without question, the holiday season is meant to be yet another special time to create memorable moments with friends and loved ones, but when misguided value systems, low self-esteem, despair, underachievement, and internalized oppression make people think that gifts, trinkets or designer labels can soothe the emptiness that lingers in the depths of their souls, the true meaning of this season has become lost. The perfect gift for the Twin Cities this holiday season, as we anticipate the possibilities of 2011 is HOPE (Having Optimistic Perspectives

Everyday). Hope helps us to anticipate and expect better days ahead. Hope gives us the courage to look for genuine, actionable solutions that enhance the quality of life for everyone in our community. Hope changes things; sustained hope can transform people and places. Hope is the fuel, the elixir, that can diminish the long term impact of poverty. Since its inception in 1926, the Minneapolis Urban League (MUL) has been a symbol of hope, a champion of positive change. It is an organization committed to deriving solutions that foster sustainable human development for people of color and for all those in need of support as they strive to achieve career aspirations,

Lifestyle

Holiday celebration etiquette 101

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maintain wellness, and accomplish life and financial goals. The MUL journey over the last 84 years has been one dominated by its unwavering mission to equip people with life and vocational tools that ignite both personal possibility and goal execution. The cornerstones and culture of the MUL as an organization, and the MUL staff who use their talents in service to others, is rooted in sowing seeds of hope. Our Big Step Program is poised to position participants for jobs in construction and highway repairs. Our career and college preparedness initiatives are readying youth for 21st century career

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Sports

The NBA quarter pole assessment

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