EUTAW: On Saturday, November 23, TS Police Support League hosted its 8th Annual Great Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway at the Palace Bingo Live parking lot in Knoxville, Alabama.
This year, residents and law enforcement officers from Greene, Hale, and Pickens counties received one of 2000 turkeys distributed by the league, a charity bingo operator based in Eutaw.
“With inflation impacting the budgets of families all over our region, we are blessed to be able to continue to expand our annual tradition,” stated Sheila Gene Smith, President of the League.
“We wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, and are grateful to Jesus Christ for his blessings this year,” remarked J. W. McFarland, Jr., Secretary/ Treasurer of the League.
Cover Alabama and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) unveiled a striking new billboard near Jackson Hospital recently, spotlighting the urgent need for Medicaid expansion to safeguard healthcare access and protect Alabama’s hospitals. Featuring the message, *“Save Jackson Hospital. Expand Medicaid now.”* alongside an image of an ambulance, the billboard underscores the critical need to address Alabama’s healthcare coverage gap.
According to a report from the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform, more than half of Alabama’s 52 rural hospitals are at risk of closure, with 23 facing an immediate threat. This crisis has already hit close to home, with Thomasville Regional Medical Center closing in recent weeks and other hospitals across the state reducing services.
“For too long, Alabama’s hospitals have struggled under the weight of a broken healthcare system,” said Debbie Smith, Cover Alabama campaign director. “This billboard is a stark reminder that without action, more hospitals will be forced to close, impacting families and economies across our state.”
John Zippert, Chair of the Board of the Greene County Health System said, “Our hospital, nursing home and physician’s clinic face a serious financial challenge. How can we continue to operate with a monthly deficit of $50,000 to $100,000, caused by providing uncompensated care. If the Governor and the Legislature expanded Medicaid, it would mean that 40% of the people who use our facilities and services would have some form of heath insurance. These people would become healthier, and our hospital would move to a heathier financial position.”
Jane Adams, Government Relations Director for ACS CAN in Alabama, echoed the call for urgent action. “This is no longer just a rural problem. Hospitals in urban and suburban areas are also at risk. We need Governor Ivey to act now before it’s too late.”
The challenges facing Alabama hospitals have far-reaching implications, particularly for rural communities. Retired Brig. Gen. Edward Crowell, board chair of Jackson Hospital, highlighted the impact Medicaid expansion could have: “Jackson Hospital plays a vital role in ensuring that community members have access to essential health services,” Crowell said. “Medicaid expansion would be a game-changer, strengthening hospitals across the state and enabling us to continue serving those in need.”
The billboard, located on I-85 westbound near Jackson Hospital, will remain visible for several weeks as part of a broader campaign by Cover Alabama and ACS CAN to raise awareness and inspire Alabamians to advocate for change. Organizers hope the campaign will encourage residents to contact their legislators and urge them to take action on Medicaid expansion.
Cover Alabama is a nonpartisan alliance of over 100 community partners, businesses, healthcare providers, and faith groups advocating for quality, affordable health coverage for Alabama residents.
ACS CAN is the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society. Since 2001, it has championed evidence-based public policies to reduce the burden of cancer, expanding access to healthcare and securing funding for cancer research.
Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Alabama state legislature’s congressional map was gerrymandered, violating the Voting Rights Act by disadvantaging Black Alabamians. Despite making up 27 percent of the state’s population, the candidates preferred by Black voters only saw consistent success in one of the state’s seven congressional district since 2011.
Despite repeated attempts to avoid redistricting, Alabama’s GOP leadership was ultimately forced to redraw the congressional map — twice — after SCOTUS sided with a panel of three federal judges who called for a second majority-Black district or “something quite close to it.” That redrawn map resulted in a new 2nd Congressional District that empowered Black voters in the state.
On November 5th, Shomari Figures, D-Mobile, beat out his Republican opponent Caroleene Dobson to win that seat. Figures — the son of civil rights leader Michael Figures and Alabama State Senator Vivian Figures — will now be the state’s second Black member set to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2025. This will mark the first time in the state’s history that it will have two Black members of Congress serving simultaneously.
However, some leaders in the state Republican Party are already looking to reconfigure the 2nd Congressional District yet again in response to Dobson’s loss. “I can tell you that there is talk and it’s not going to go away,” said Terry Lathan, former chair of the Alabama Republican Party. “An election might be two years from now, but that does not mean our legislature might not take another look at it. It does not mean that we have to not file court cases and go to court over it.”
Although the new district was drawn specifically with the intent to increase political equity in the state, Lathan claimed that the district lines, drawn by an independent court-appointed official, were “odd.”
“I don’t know that it went wrong as much as the lines, the way the courts drew the lines,” Lathan said Tuesday, appearing to blame Dobson’s loss on the way the district was redrawn. “I don’t think we’re finished with this. But you have to accept the outcome of the race. It was very oddly drawn lines for CD-2.”
U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Mobile, has also criticized the new district lines as being impractical. “It’s just about impossible for anyone in District 1 and District 2, both, to do the district justice,” Carl said after a speaking event Thursday. “You can’t serve two masters.” “Dothan is so much different than Mobile, and vice versa. It will be hard for anyone in this (1st congressional) district to serve two masters,” Carl continued. “Shomari will have the same problem (in congressional District 2) serving between Montgomery and Mobile. Looking at projects in Montgomery, Mobile will feel left out and vice versa. It’s the nature of the beast.”
State Sen. Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro, a sponsor of the failed map which the legislature proposed following the 2023 SCOTUS ruling, hesitated to echo his colleagues concerns. “Let’s let it run its course of action in the courts, and then we’ll see where we are,” Livingston said.
Jeannie Negrón Burniston, the Communications Director for the Alabama Republican Party, told AL.com that the party had “not heard anything concerning redistricting in the legislature.”
Questions remain about the future of Alabama’s congressional map. The 2023 SCOTUS ruling was only a preliminary injunction, allowing for the court-drawn map drawn to be used in this year’s elections. Moving forward, it is possible that federal judges in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama will decide to redraw the district lines once more. The relevant legal case — Milligan v. Allen — is ongoing and will likely go to trial in 2025. Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder compared Alabama’s fight against redistricting to voting rights backlash during the Civil Rights era.
“State officials here in Alabama fought all along the way to not put into effect that which the very conservative Supreme Court interpreted of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which is the crown jewel of the Civil Rights movement,” Holder said while he campaigned with Figures ahead of Election Day. “(Alabama officials tried to) push back against the very conservative Supreme Court in a way that echoed which occurred from Alabama back in the 60s. It’s almost a resistance … that is what gives me concern.”
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
As the 100th anniversary of Shirley Chisholm’s birth approaches on November 30, a growing effort to honor her legacy is taking shape. Chisholm, the first African American woman elected to Congress in 1968 and a trailblazer for equality and justice, remains a powerful symbol of courage and leadership. The Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act, spearheaded by Democratic Sen. Laphonza Butler of California, is moving closer to passage with bipartisan support.
Butler, the bill’s primary sponsor, has garnered backing from key lawmakers, including Democratic Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York. The legislation seeks to award Chisholm one of the nation’s highest civilian honors, cementing her place as one of the most transformative figures in American history.
Carlo Jerome Juntilla, Education and Labor Policy Advisor for Butler, acknowledged the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) for its critical role in advancing the bill. The NNPA is the trade association of the more than 200 African American-owned newspapers and media companies that comprise the 197-year-old Black Press of America.
“Thanks to your efforts, we have secured the necessary number of co-sponsors to move the bill forward, and we are now in a strong position to pass it,” Juntilla wrote in an email to the NNPA. “With the late Shirley Chisholm’s 100th birthday approaching on November 30, we are looking for ways to collaborate further in order to elevate her legacy.”
Juntilla also emphasized the importance of continuing to amplify Chisholm’s story through additional collaborations, including op-eds and media campaigns. Juntilla even noted the value of highlighting Butler and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), who is leading the effort in the House.
NNPA President & CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. and members of the NNPA’s main office had organized a meeting with Butler where they discussed the honor for Chisholm. “The legacy of the Honorable Shirley Chisholm lives radiantly today and for generations to come,” Chavis remarked. “The NNPA stands resolutely in support of the leadership of The Honorable Laphonsa Butler to bestow to Chisholm with the Congressional honors that she deserves.”
Bobby Henry, Chairman of the NNPA, also expressed the organization’s unwavering support for the bill and its significance.“As Chairman of the NNPA, I am honored to stand in support of the Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act, a vital recognition of one of the most transformative figures in American history,” said Henry, who also publishes the Westside Gazette Newspaper in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. “Shirley Chisholm’s legacy as the first African American woman elected to Congress and a fearless advocate for equality and justice continues to inspire generations.
“We commend Senator Laphonza Butler and Representative Barbara Lee for championing this historic legislation and for their commitment to ensuring Chisholm’s contributions are celebrated and remembered. As we approach the centennial of her birth, the NNPA is proud to collaborate in elevating her enduring impact on our nation and the world.” Chisholm’s groundbreaking career includes her historic 1972 presidential campaign, during which she became the first Black woman to seek the nomination of a major political party. Her slogan, “Unbought and Unbossed,” embodied her commitment to justice and refusal to conform to traditional political norms.
Butler, who made history herself as the first Black lesbian to serve in the U.S. Senate, has made the bill a top priority. With growing bipartisan support and co-sponsors from across the political spectrum, the legislation represents a unifying effort to honor Chisholm’s legacy.
“Shirley Chisholm’s legacy continues to inspire generations,” Henry said. “As we approach the centennial of her birth, we must ensure her enduring impact is celebrated, remembered, and elevated for the nation and the world to see.”
On Wednesday, the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability held a meeting on the House floor to debate the GOP’s Dismantle DEI Act of 2024, which, of course, is essentially a “White People Want To Be Oppressed So Bad” bill aimed at ending any and all diversity, equity and inclusion practices throughout the federal government.
As we previously reported, the bill was introduced by Rep. Michael Cloud (R-Texas), and an identical bill was introduced earlier this year by Vice President-elect and passionate Haitian hater JD Vance, both of whom have convinced themselves and the rest of MAGA America that “the DEI agenda is a destructive ideology that breeds hatred and racial division.”
Well, there was one congresswoman who we could all count on to keep it real while ruffling delicate Caucasian feathers, and it was none other than Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), who gave GOP lawmakers a “vocabulary lesson,” because if they truly believe DEI “oppresses white men,” then they simply misunderstand the definition of oppression.
“Let me tell you that the reason that my colleagues wanted to make sure you understood the same Black history that your side of the aisle wants to delete out of classrooms is because you can then misuse words like ‘oppression’ — there has been no oppression for the white man in this country,” Crockett began.
“You tell me which white men were dragged out of their homes. You tell me which one of them got dragged all the way across an ocean and told that ‘you are going to go and work. We are going to steal your wives, we are going to rape your wives’ — that didn’t happen [to white people]. That is oppression,” she continued. “We didn’t ask to be here. We [are] not the same migrants that y’all constantly come up against. We didn’t run away from home, we were stolen.”
If you listen closely, you can hear the faint sounds of white conservatives rolling their eyes into the back of their heads because whenever they have to hear references to Black history that they didn’t have a chance to run through their whitewashing fragility filter first, their one and only instinct is to get their Confederate-clad drawers all in a bunch. Crockett likely knew that Republicans only want to hear about slavery when it’s time for them to remind America that Democrats were largely responsible for it — as if they’re not the ones currently the Confederacy, its leaders, its monuments and its flag as a legacy that should be celebrated.
But Crockett was far from done. “So yeah, we are going to sit here and be offended when you want to sit here and act like — and don’t let it escape you that it is white men on this side of the aisle telling us, people of color on this side of the aisle that y’all are the ones being oppressed — that y’all are the ones being harmed,” she said. “That’s not the definition of oppression. You tell me the prolonged, cruel or unjust treatment that you’ve had, and we can have a conversation.”
“The final thing that I will say: diversity works, and until you can show me data that says otherwise, I think that we need to go back to being a country that listens to experts and gets out of our feelings and recognizes again that racism is real in this country. And until we stop pretending that it’s not, we will not solve the problems that we are consistently facing. And that will bring real unity we seek when we’re looking for a more perfect union.”
Now, we all know that when it comes to the MAGA world, everything Crockett said, no matter how truthful, fell on deaf ears. These are, after all, the same people who went to war against critical race theory without ever being able to demonstrate that they had a clue what CRT is. They also went to war against “wokeness,” a term they have all struggled to define. Conservatives don’t really want to get into the nitty-gritty of DEI and why the practice ever became necessary, because they can’t rely on hollow, self-serving platitudes during an in-depth discussion on diversity, equity and inclusion. They would have to show substantial evidence — not anecdotal nonsense and absurd white grievance pontificating — that DEI actively hurts white people, and, as Crockett indicated, that data simply doesn’t exist while statistical evidence of systemic racism exists in abundance.
As I’ve written plenty of times in the past, white men only dominate every major industry and entity in America, including the federal government, because they are the only demographic that has not been excluded from full access to the “American dream” for the overwhelming majority of American history. That’s why DEI exists, and it’s also why the only discussion white-and-fragile America wants to have about diversity is a discussion about dismantling it.
White supremacy is America’s default, and the current GOP, especially under Donald Trump’s chokehold, is dedicated to making that aspect of America great again
Columbus, Ohio’s 100 Black Men and others march to protest Nazi march and Nazi marchers with flags
By Char Adams, NBC News
A group of Black leaders and locals marched through Columbus, Ohio, in a unity rally Sunday, one day after neo-Nazis walked through the same streets carrying Nazi flags and chanting racial slurs and white nationalist slogans.
The Rev. Derrick Holmes, senior pastor at Columbus’ Union Grove Baptist Church, said he received frantic calls from members of his congregation as people walked along North High Street dressed in all black with red masks, carrying black flags with swastikas on them. They yelled, “Bow down, [N-word]!” and other racist chants as they made their way through the state capital’s Short North Arts District.
“Two members were actually in the Short North area while that was happening and their prevailing feeling was fear,” Holmes said. “There was a feeling of sadness. They’re older … so it really harkened them back to a time they thought that the country had graduated from.”
President Joe Biden condemned the march, and White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said Nazism is “hostile to everything the United States stands for.” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther and other city leaders condemned the neo-Nazis in statements and on social media. But Black locals like Holmes wanted to do more and send a message of solidarity, they said. The 100 Black Men of Central Ohio, a service organization that mentors young Black men, along with attorney Sean Walton Jr., Holmes and other locals, joined for the counter-rally Sunday afternoon.
Dozens of men walked, many side by side, down North High Street, many dressed in all black. They were largely silent, sharing handshakes and smiles among one another. Brian Winston, president of 100 Black Men of Central Ohio, and Walton led the group, and they all posed together for photos with raised fists at the end of the march.
“It was basically just bringing Black men together, to be able to allow our Black women, children and anyone else who were fearful or scared of what they saw … just to be able to redirect them with unity and love,” Winston said, noting that he called on Walton to help organize the event.
Walton said he was in Houston over the weekend and rushed home to check on his wife and children when he learned of the neo-Nazi march. He said the atmosphere among Black Columbus residents was one of fear and anxiety, with many wondering if they were safe in the city. But Sunday’s march helped ease some of the despair, he said.
“I think there was a lot of focus on the fear,” Walton said. “What we did Sunday changed the tone of the entire weekend. If anything, this has made us stronger. I think it was a test, in a sense, when it comes to whether we can come together in the face of threats to our civil rights, our human rights and our way of life.
In a statement posted Monday on social media, Columbus police said officers responded to calls about the neo-Nazi demonstration, but the “available evidence did not support the filing of criminal charges.” They said evidence showed pepper spray being deployed, but “probable cause has not been established to make any arrests.” The incident is still under investigation, they said.
The Columbus Division of Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Chief Elaine R. Bryant said in the statement that law enforcement was bound to protect constitutionally protected actions, “no matter how hateful.” She added: “No one in our community should experience intimidation or harassment. We will continue to strive to make Columbus a city where all residents feel welcome and safe.”
Holmes, Winston and Walton said the outcome of the presidential election and Donald Trump’s rhetoric have encouraged neo-Nazi behavior. Earlier this month outside a community production of “The Diary of Anne Frank” in Michigan, to the shock of performers and theatergoers.
Far-right groups have made headlines in Ohio in recent months. A white nationalist activist in Springfield took credit for the false story that Haitian immigrants in the city were stealing and eating pets, which Trump repeated during the presidential debate and campaign rallies. Police said there was no evidence for the claim.
Right-wing extremism has increased dramatically since 2016, according to research that has linked Trump’s rhetoric about racial and ethnic minorities to vigilantism, hate crimes, and more. After the election, white nationalists, Proud Boys, Christian supremacists, and right-wing conspiracy theorists praised Trump’s win and said they saw it as a victory for their far-right visions of America, according to the Washington Post. In 2017, Trump said there were “very fine people on both sides” after a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, which led to the death of a counter protester.
Trump has dismissed accusations that he has encouraged extremism or that his supporters include Nazi and fascists. “President Trump is backed by Latinos, Black voters, union workers, angel moms, law enforcement officers, border patrol agents, and Americans of all faiths,” his campaign press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said in a statement last month.
Oren Segal, vice president of the Anti-Defamation League Center on Extremism, told The New York Times that a St. Louis-based group called Hate Club took credit for the Columbus march.
Jon Lewis, a research fellow at George Washington University’s Program on Extremism, said in an interview that these groups may have different names, but share white nationalist ideologies.
“I think ‘emboldening’ is the perfect way to describe it,” Lewis said. “Neo-Nazis and white supremacists increasingly feel as though they can act with impunity, that they can mobilize to the streets of towns and cities across the country to incite hatred, to spread fear among primarily nonwhite communities.
“At the end of the day, this is about fearmongering and hate-mongering. These groups are designed to make the average nonwhite American feel unsafe in their everyday live
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
Medicaid, a critical lifeline for millions of Americans, faces an uncertain future as Republicans prepare to take control of Washington. The program, along with the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), provides health and long-term care coverage to 80 million low-income children, pregnant women, adults, seniors, and people with disabilities, is under scrutiny with proposed funding cuts and new eligibility requirements.
In Washington, D.C., Medicaid and CHIP collectively covered 260,218 residents as of June 2024, with total spending reaching $4.2 billion in fiscal year 2022. The federal government accounted for 78.2% of these costs. Since pandemic-era continuous enrollment provisions ended in March 2023, the District has disenrolled 67,619 individuals, even as total enrollment remains 7.7% higher than pre-pandemic levels. These numbers reflect growing pressures on state budgets and federal support.
Nationally, Medicaid’s expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) added 23 million people to its rolls, but that growth has made it a target for Republican lawmakers. With President-elect Donald Trump returning to office, proposals to cut Medicaid funding and impose work requirements have resurfaced. These measures, they argue, could help fund the extension of tax cuts that primarily benefit corporations and the wealthy.
GOP Rep. Jodey Arrington of Texas, chair of the House Budget Committee, has described work requirements as “responsible and reasonable,” while Texas GOP Sen. John Cornyn has advocated for block grants to replace the current funding model. Critics caution that these changes could destabilize Medicaid, leaving states with significant funding gaps.
“If you want to avoid a debt spiral, there have got to be reforms made to federal health programs,” Brian Blase, a former Trump adviser who supports reducing federal contributions to Medicaid expansion, told the New York Times. Proposals under discussion include lowering the federal match rate for expansion enrollees from 90% to as low as 40%, a move that could force some states to drop the program entirely.
Medicaid’s role in American healthcare is substantial. It supports nearly half of all children in the U.S., covers significant portions of mental health and nursing home care, and plays a vital part in managing chronic conditions. In D.C., for instance, 95,577 Medicare beneficiaries and 71,021 enrollees in Medicare Part D also depend on Medicaid for supplemental support.
Advocates for the ACA’s expansion and consumer protections warn that cutting Medicaid would disproportionately harm vulnerable populations. “Without Medicaid coverage, you’ve got folks choosing between how to put food on the table or pay for their kids’ health care,” said Daniel Tsai, head of Medicaid at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
The appointment of Dr. Mehmet Oz to lead CMS signals the Trump administration’s intention to focus on cost reduction and fraud prevention. However, significant resistance is expected to sweeping cuts. In 2017, similar efforts met with public outcry, and polls show that over 70% of Americans support keeping Medicaid largely unchanged.
State officials are revisiting measures such as work requirements, which faced legal and logistical challenges during Trump’s first term. Arkansas saw thousands lose coverage due to work requirements before the court struck down the program. Georgia remains the only state that has implemented these requirements successfully.
The financial strain on states is already mounting, with federal Medicaid funding reduced by $60 billion for fiscal year 2024. Technical and administrative hurdles have left eligible Americans needing more coverage, exacerbating the problem. Crystal Harp, a mother from Tennessee, described to the New York Times how Medicaid enabled her to manage her daughter’s rare epilepsy. “It’s unbearable to think about the medical debt we would be in if we did not have Medicaid,” she said.
As Republicans advance their policy agenda, Medicaid’s future is in peril. With millions depending on the program for basic healthcare needs, the debates in Congress will determine whether Medicaid continues as a cornerstone of American life or faces sweeping changes. “It could be the most consequential year in Medicaid’s life,” said Joan Alker of Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families.
President-elect Donald Trump on Friday night announced that he was nominating Scott Turner to be the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), marking the first selection of a Black person to serve in the upcoming presidential administration.
Trump announced in an email: I am pleased to nominate Scott Turner, from the Great State of Texas, as the Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
.Scott is an NFL Veteran, who, during my First Term, served as the First Executive Director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council (WHORC), helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities. Those efforts, working together with former HUD Secretary, Ben Carson, were maximized by Scott’s guidance in overseeing 16 Federal Agencies which implemented more than 200 policy actions furthering Economic Development. Under Scott’s leadership, Opportunity Zones received over $50 Billion Dollars in Private Investment!
After graduating from University of Illinois, Scott was drafted by the Washington Redskins, and spent nine years in the NFL before he went on to win a State House Race in Texas, where he was born and raised.
Scott is the Founder & CEO of his Family’s Foundation, Community Engagement & Opportunity Council (CEOC), working to revitalize communities across America through Sports, Mentorship, and Economic Opportunity. He is also on the Board of the American Cornerstone Institute, and an Associate Pastor at Prestonwood Baptist Church. Scott will work alongside me to Make America Great Again for EVERY American. Congratulations to Scott, his wonderful wife, Robin, and his son, Solomon!
The announcement came after calls grew for Trump to pick a Black person following two weeks of nominations that excluded any person of Black heritage, including a handful of suspected white supremacists and other extremists.
In fact, there was a question of whether there were any “Black jobs” in Trump’s second administration, considering the people he’s surrounded himself with, including people who refer to gainfully employed Black people as “DEI hires.”
Namely, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and Florida Rep. Byron Donalds were both cozying up to Trump during the election cycle in a likely effort to jockey for a position in his administration. Thus far, they and several other notable Black Trump supporters have effectively been snubbed and left out of the equation of cabinet members and the most senior presidential advisers.
Instead, Trump opted to go with Turner, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Republican from 2012 to 2019, when he was appointed to lead the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council.
If confirmed, Turner would succeed Adrianne Todman, the Deputy HUD Secretary who was named acting HUD Secretary when then-HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge, the former longtime Congresswoman from Ohio, unexpectedly resigned in March.
Not for nothing, HUD is the one federal agency that has had the most Black secretaries of them all. HUD was first formed in 1965, and the following year its first Secretary — a Black man — was confirmed. Since Robert Weaver’s tenure leading HUD, the agency has had five other Black secretaries, including Ben Carson, who served in Trump’s first administration. That number could grow to six if Turner is confirmed.
In a ceremony at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park in the abolitionist’s home of Dorchester, Md., Gov. Wes Moore made Tubman a one-star brigadier general in the state’s National Guard.
“Today, we celebrate a soldier and a person who earned the title of veteran,” Moore said during Monday’s ceremony.
Tubman is best known for freeing and saving the lives of more than 300 enslaved people during 19 trips she took along the Underground Railroad between 1850 and 1860.
She led friends, family, and strangers, moving like a phantom through woods and rivers on the perilous route north.
Known as “Moses” for her efforts, Tubman continued fighting for freedom and justice even after escaping slavery herself.
Tubman was born into slavery in 1822 and later escaped from Dorchester County, Maryland, to Philadelphia where she lived as a freewoman for the remainder of her life.
Once free, Tubman dedicated her life to the abolition of slavery as a conductor on the Underground Railroad.
Tubman remained a philanthropist well into her later years, founding the Home for Aged & Indigent Negroes and supporting women’s rights.
School Board approves Superintendent’s two-year contract, pending salary negotiations
GCCC Scholars L to R:Le’Miracle Bevelle, Kenya Amerson, Quentin Walton, Jr., Kaden Roberts, Breana Lavender, Jabari Hall, Sidney Moore.
At its November 18, 2024 meeting, the Greene County Board of Education, on a vote of 3 to 2, agreed to offer Superintendent Dr. Corey Jones an additional two year contract, pending new salary negotiations, which will be conducted by Board President Leo Branch, Board Vice-President Veronica Richardson and Attorney Hank Sanders with Dr. Jones. The new contract goes into effect July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027. The affirmative votes on the superintendent’s contract were given by Board members Robert Davis, Carrie Dancy and Leo Branch.The two negative votes were given by Board members Veronica Richardson and Brandon Merriweather. This superintendent contract is the same as the previous superintendent contract except for provisions on board relations, community relations, dates and salary increase. The additions state the following: The Superintendent shall work more effectively to keep the Board informed of developments, initiatives and issues in the District. This provision shall be specifically addressed in each evaluation. The Superintendent shall work to more effectively build relationships with the Greene County community. This provision shall be specifically addressed in each evaluation. The School Board agrees to notify the Superintendent in writing on or before December 30, 2027, whether or not it intends to renew the contract for an additional term commencing July 1, 2027, and the terms and conditions upon which it proposes such renewal. In his report to the board, given prior to the board’s action on his contract, Dr. Jones presented an update of accomplishments in the school system during his five-year tenure. Regarding facilities improvements he cited the renovations, including new roofing, flooring and facade to the Board’s Central Office; new roofing and flooring at Eutaw Primary School; new HVAC system, roofing, doors, windows, painting ting and other repairs including new Press Box, Concession Stand, and new fencing at Robert Brown Middle School. In financing, Dr. Jones noted that in 2019, cash balance in the General Fund Bank Account totaled $950,037.45; Cash Balance as of Nov. 18, 2024 is $6,534,608.42. He stated that the last two years of audits had no findings from the State Auditors. Under his tenure, the system developed a Bus Driver Retention Program and currently all buses in the system are air conditioned. Dr. Jones stated that, most significantly, for the 2023-2024 school year all schools increased in proficiency from the previous year. Once the state releases the grades, the system is expected to received a higher letter grade. That same school term, all 3rd grade scholars passed the reading proficiency test, except for two, who are special needs students. In previous reports, Superintendent Jones shared the various off-campus educational environments scholars are exposed to, including team debates at various venues in and out of state; visits to college campuses; workplace tours, museum visits, State Legislature and the National Capitol visits. Dr. Jones also shared his own professional development during the previous five years, including serving as a mentor for new superintendents with SSA. In his Positive School News Reports, superintendent Jones noted the following: EPS – Scholars caught Being Good and Scholars of the Month were rewarded with books. K-3 educators participated in Aimsweb Data meetings (Reading). They also participated in professional development hosted by the Alabama Best Practices Network. RBMS – PTA meeting was held Nov. 4. Peer Helpers Kindness Campaign held Nov. 11. Recognition of local retired educators held Nov. 19. GCHS – College Application week held Oct. 7-11. Scholars attended Open House at Tuskegee University and Alabama A&M University. Scholars. Celebrated Red Ribbon Week. Scholars were inducted into Honor Societies including: Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, National Technical honor Society, Historia Vitae. Superintendent Jones held Scholars Round Table. GCCC – Greene County Career Center Billboard on Greensboro St, / State Hwy 14, Eutaw. Tiger Spirit Shop held grand opening. Scholars participated in Tuskegee Youth Summit. Scholars participated in FBLA District 2 workshop. Scholars held Tech or Treat with EPS 3rd graders. JAG scholars held initiation and installation. GCCC awarded $200,000 College & Career Readiness grant. The board approved the following personnel items recommended by the superintendent. * Retention bonus in the amount of $750 for bus driver Jerdin Grays to remain a bus driver for the system for a period of one year. * Resignation of David Taylor, History teacher at RBMS, effective November 18, 2024. The Board approved the following administrative service items recommended by Superintendent Jones. * MOA between Greene County Board of Education and Black Belt Regional Child Advocacy Center to provide counseling services BBRCAC clients in the Greene County School System on the first Tuesday of every month. * Contract between the Greene County Board of Education and West Central Officials Association for basketball officials for the 2024 – 2025 school year at RBMS. * 2.5% pay raise for all support staff, effective the 2024-2025 contract year. (This supersedes the original effective date of October 1, 2024, approved October 21, 2024). * Supplement in the amount of $750.00 for the AASBO certification that corresponds to job title and classification for secretaries and bookkeepers. * 3% raise for clerical staff to be effective November 1, 2024. * Permission for CNP Department to dispose of and sell for salvage six (6) stands that were removed from Robert Brown Middle School walk-in cooler. * Payment of all bills, claims, and payroll. * Bank reconciliations as submitted by Mrs. Marquita Lennon, CSFO. * Raise pay of Greene County School Board members to $900 per month pursuant to new Alabama law upon the election of the next board member. CSFO Marquita Lennon presented Financial Snapshots for September 30,2024 end of fiscal year and for October 30,2024 first month of new fiscal year. As of September 30, the combined general fund reserve totaled 7.59 months; cash reserve totaled 7.27 months. All bank accounts reconciled. General fund bank balance totaled $6,945,866.68; accounts payable check register -$1,119,444.61; combined ending fund balance – $7,252,327.11. Local Revenue: Property Taxes – $64,149.89; Sales Taxes – $201,172.06; Other Taxes v- $20,904.55; Amendment 743 – $60,000. Total: $346,227.20. Financial Snapshot as of October 30: Combined general fund reserve totaled $6.04 months. Cash reserve totaled 5.31 months. All bank accounts reconciled. General fund Bank balance totaled $5,943,900.27. Accounts payable check register totaled $613,831.91. Payroll register totaled $974,176.05. Combined Ending Fund Balance totaled $6,758,944.08. No taxes collected. Amendment 743 totaled $60,000.
