Greene County Democrat

Category: Health

  • Mayor Johnson announces completion of project to re-pave West End Avenue

    Mayor Latasha Johnson together with (L to R) Commissioner Tennyson Smith (District 2), City Council members Valerie Watkins and Suzette Powell announce completion of project to resurface 1.374 miles of West End Avenue, from Lower Gainesville Road to Highway 11 (Boligee Street). This street is heavily trafficked due to housing complexes. The State of Alabama under the Rebuild Alabama Act contributed $316,671.81 toward the project. The City of Eutaw contributed $66,671.81 in matching funds and $47,000 in engineering costs for a total contribution of $113,671.81 to complete the project. S. T. Bunn was awarded the contract to do the project. Former City Council member Jacqueline Stewart (District 5) was instrumental in pushing for the City of Eutaw to do this project in her district.

  • Newswire : Birthright citizenship and other Trump executive actions likely to face pushback from the courts

    By Lawrence Hurley, NBC News

    WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s plan to roll back the constitutionally protected right to birthright citizenship is just one of several contentious executive actions that are likely to face pushback from judges and could be struck down by the Supreme Court.

    Other policies that could be legally vulnerable include a plan to invoke an 18th century law called the Alien Enemies Act to round up and deport certain immigrants, legal experts said. Efforts to re-allocate congressional funding to build a border wall and refusing to spend money appropriated by Congress for environmental policies would also most likely be challenged.

    Civil rights groups and Democratic attorneys general are likely to sue over a number of Trump policies. In fact, lawsuits were filed challenging Trump’s proposed Department of Government Efficiency within minutes of his taking the oath of office.
    But not all lawsuits are created equal, and many will fail.

    That is especially the case if Trump is merely rescinding positions taken by President Joe Biden and federal agencies follow the letter of the law in doing so. It is where Trump administration officials intend to invoke new or previously untested theories that they are most likely to lose, even with a Supreme Court that has a 6-3 conservative majority with three Trump appointees.

    “I expect the Trump administration to face substantial pushback from the courts when it takes illegal actions that are properly challenged in court,” said Jonathan Adler, a professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

    Birthright citizenship

    Legal scholars on the left and the right have long understood birthright citizenship to be required under the Constitution’s 14th Amendment.  “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States,” the amendment says.

    Enacted after the Civil War, the amendment was conceived to ensure that former slaves and their children were recognized as citizens.  The consensus on its meaning over the years has not stopped some anti-immigration advocates from pressing an alternative interpretation.

    Trump has adopted those arguments in his executive order, focusing on language in the amendment saying birthright citizenship accrues to those who are “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States. The language means children born of parents who did not enter the country legally can be denied citizenship, the argument goes.
    However, most legal experts say that language refers only to people not bound by U.S. law, usually foreign diplomats.

    The Supreme Court has never directly ruled on the issue, but in an 1898 case, called United States v. Wong Kim Ark, the court ruled that a man born in San Francisco to parents who were both from China was a U.S. citizen.

    “We will sue imminently, and I have every confidence we will win,” Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said Monday. Last month, he told NBC News he would be the “first to sue” if Trump went ahead with his plan.

    The American Civil Liberties Union filed its own lawsuit Monday night.

    Thomas Wolf, a lawyer at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law, said the Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to “defy the plain text of the 14th Amendment” and overturn precedent that has been on the books for more than a century.

    Other immigration policies

    Birthright citizenship is not the only immigration-related issue that will end up in court, as Trump announced a whole series of executive orders on the issue. One of them is the “Remain in Mexico” policy that was implemented in his first term, which prevents people seeking asylum at the southern border from entering the country while their applications are processed.

    The Supreme Court never ruled on the Remain in Mexico program during Trump’s first term. It did issue a decision in 2022 allowing Biden to unwind it.

    Alien Enemies Act

    Trump is on similarly questionable legal ground with his executive order that paves the way for him to use the Alien Enemies Act, which was enacted as part of the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798.

    The order directs officials to “make operational preparations” in case Trump decides to invoke the law, which enables the president to detain or deport citizens of other countries when the United States is at war. It played a role in the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.

    But as legal experts have pointed out, it can be invoked only during a time of war, which could limit its availability to Trump, who said Monday he wanted to use it to detain members of drug cartels.

    Ilya Somin, a professor at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School, wrote Monday that the Alien Enemies Act “cannot be used in our current situation” because the nation is not at war. Although some Republicans have argued that there is an “invasion” at the southern border, that would not be enough to trigger the law, he said.
    The Alien Enemies Act and birthright citizenship plans “are the two [Trump policies] most likely to be invalidated,” Somin added in an email.

    Using federal funding

    Issues with federal funding are also likely to be litigated, with the outcomes uncertain.
    During his first term, Trump sought to divert military funding appropriated by Congress to help build a wall along the southern border. That was because Congress had not appropriated money for the wall, leading to a legal fight over the power of the president to decide how money is spent.

    Under the Constitution’s Appropriations Clause, Congress, as is often said, has “the power of the purse.”

    Trump is set to revive and expand on this fight in two ways.
    First, he appears ready to resume his fight to finish constructing the border wall, which could lead to some of the same legal battles as before.  The Supreme Court never decided in Trump’s first term whether he could re-assign money for construction of the wall. It had taken up a case on the issue but dismissed it as moot once Biden took office in 2021. Earlier in the litigation, the court did allow some of the money to be spent.

    Another Trump proposal is to refuse to spend money Congress allocated for specific purposes, potentially as it relates to environmental programs that were approved as part of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. That would trigger another legal fight — this time over the Impoundment Control Act, a 1974 law that requires the executive branch to spend appropriated funds.

  • Newswire : A forward march for MLK In the new Trump era

     MLK monument in Washington, D. C.

    By April Ryan, BlackPressUSA.com Washington Bureau Chief and Chief White House Correspondent

    “Today hits differently,” says Democratic Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett who decided to observe the National Martin Luther King Jr. holiday away from the 60th Presidential inauguration of Donald John Trump.

    A large swath of the 62 members of the Congressional Black Caucus who were invited to the ceremonies chose to observe the National King Day away from the nation’s capital. “Today, unlike any King Day before, I’ve truly searched my soul for his strength and praying for an ounce of his political prowess,” according to the outspoken Texas lawmaker who was a co-chair of the Kamala Harris Presidential campaign last year. The Harris presidential campaign ended in defeat on November 5, 2024, with Donald Trump being named the 47th President of the United States.

    If Dr. King, a civil rights icon, had lived; he would have been 96 years old on January 15th of this year. The irony of the day honoring the civil and human rights leader is that it is shared with the 60th presidential inauguration ceremony in the Rotunda of the Capitol Building. 

    Historically, the second inaugurations of Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama took place on MLK Day in 1997 and 2013. There were some democratic hopes that Kamala Harris could be a repeat of today’s swearing-in history. A few months ago, some Kamala Harris campaign staffers believed the then-Democratic presidential candidate would have been sworn in today by Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson on this King Day.

    Since the 15th of this month, there have been many celebrations honoring the life and civil rights history of Dr. King. One was at Riverside Church in Harlem, New York Rev. Mark Thompson, host of “Make It Plain,” and NNPA Global Digital Transformation Director, remembered Dr. King by saying, “his memory calls us to transcend all of the things we are most concerned about today.” Dr. King, who was killed in 1968 by an assassin’s bullet, challenged authority at the highest levels to achieve equality for African Americans in this nation like voting rights and civil rights. Thompson warns in this new political era, “rather than relax or be discouraged we should…continue to hold the Office of the President accountable.”

     

  • Newswire : Biden pardons Marcus Garvey, others in one of his final acts as President

    Marcus Garvey

    By Stacy M. Brown,NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

     In one of his final acts in office, President Joe Biden posthumously pardoned Marcus Mosiah Garvey Jr., a seminal figure in the civil rights movement, whose advocacy for Black nationalism and self-reliance left an indelible mark on leaders like Malcolm X and movements across the Black diaspora.

    Born on August 17, 1887, in Saint Ann’s Bay, Jamaica, Garvey was the son of a stonemason and a domestic servant. His journey to becoming a leader began after traveling to Latin America and studying in London, where he was influenced by Pan-African nationalism.

    Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in 1914, advocating for Black nationalism through African history and cultural celebration. His ambitious efforts included the establishment of the Black Star Line, a Black-owned passenger line designed to facilitate the “back to Africa” movement, and various economic enterprises like restaurants and shopping centers to foster Black economic independence. Despite facing relentless criticism and legal challenges, including a controversial mail fraud conviction in 1923 that many believe was politically motivated, Garvey’s vision and tenacity spurred a global movement.

    Biden’s broad act of clemency also included others like Don Scott, the current Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, who transformed a past drug conviction into a catalyst for advocacy in criminal justice reform. Ravi Ragbir, an immigrant rights activist; Kemba Smith Pradia, a former drug offense convict turned prison reform advocate; and Darryl Chambers, a Delawarean who now studies and writes about gun violence prevention, were also granted clemency.

    Biden also granted clemency to Leonard Peltier, a leader of the American Indian Movement (AIM). Peltier has served 50 years of a life sentence in Federal prison for alleged shooting an FBI agent in a confrontation at Wounded Knee. Peltier has never wavered in asserting his innocence.

    Garvey’s legacy, though marred by controversies, including his interactions with white supremacists and criticism from Black leaders like W.E.B. Du Bois, has continued to inspire countless individuals within the Nation of Islam, the Black Power movement, and the Rastafari movement. Many, including most Congressional Black Caucus members, said Garvey’s posthumous pardon serves not only as a correction of historical injustices but also as a powerful affirmation of his enduring influence on Black empowerment and self-determination.

    The White House proclaimed that Biden’s term has been distinguished by a robust commitment to civil rights. Officials said the commitment is evident in significant legislative achievements and proactive executive actions to foster racial equity. His administration pursued an ambitious equity agenda through legislation like the American Rescue Plan and executive orders to dismantle systemic barriers.

    Administration officials noted that, as Biden prepares to leave office, his record on equity and justice, marked by these recent pardons, is further proof of his unwavering dedication to building a more inclusive America. They said Garvey’s pardon not only rectifies a historical wrong but also powerfully reaffirms his enduring legacy—a legacy that continues to inspire a movement for dignity and self-determination among Black communities worldwide.
     

  • Newswire : The president of the Alabama NAACP said a state law banning DEI and divisive concepts was targeted to hurt minority students, and it’s working. 

    Benard Simelton, Alabama NAACP State President

    By John Moon, Alabama Political Reporter

    The Alabama State Conference of the NAACP believes an Alabama law that went into effect in October that eliminates diversity, equity and inclusion programs on college campuses and restricts what professors can teach on matters of race is purposefully harmful to minority students and that the law serves no benefit to white students. 

    Benard Simelton, president of the Alabama State Conference of the NAACP, told the Alabama Politics This Week podcast that his organization filed a federal lawsuit against the new law because it has already proven harmful to students on college campuses in the state. 

    “This lawsuit is to address what we’re really considering the illegal action by the state to take away some of the things that were offered to minority students on the campus of University of Alabama and other campuses across the state,” Simelton said. “It’s essentially eliminating the opportunity for these students to have access to programs that will help them succeed in college. That can be anything from a physical space where they can join together and communicate and talk and come up with plans to just funding that goes to these students because they are a student organization on the campus of the University of Alabama – on the campuses of universities across the state.”

     The NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama filed the lawsuit on behalf of Simelton’s organization, and on behalf of several students and professors at the University of Alabama and UAB. In addition to raising questions about the legality of blocking DEI programs, the lawsuit also claims that the new law encroaches on the First Amendment rights of students and professors by banning the teaching of “divisive concepts.” 

    Simelton said “divisive concepts” is a code word for topics that delve into sensitive matters of racial history, particularly where a more accurate and thorough history of slavery, Jim Crow and other discriminatory practices are tied to the causation of poverty, incarceration rates and homelessness. 

    But he said the NAACP’s primary concern, at least in the immediate future, is ensuring that minority students – many of whom can feel overwhelmed and out of place on a college campus, resulting in academic struggles – get the reasonable assistance they need to feel welcome and comfortable. 

    “We are hoping that the state relooks at this bill, relooks at this law and at least goes back to modify it to where it does not impact students and faculty the way that it is,” Simelton said. “The DEI programs at these institutions have been a tremendous help to students, students of color. And to take that away takes away a part of what makes a student’s experience at a university worthwhile. They want to come there and get a good education, but you’re taking away some of the things that help them to matriculate and to make it through these universities.”

    Simelton also said that his organization could find no evidence — and that no evidence has ever been offered by lawmakers — that white students were harmed, denied resources or otherwise inconvenienced by the DEI programs on college campuses. 

    The state’s anti-DEI law prohibits universities, public school systems and state agencies from sponsoring DEI programs. That includes classes, training, programs and events where attendance is based on a person’s race, sex, gender identity, ethnicity, national origin or sexual orientation. In addition, the law prohibits certain divisive concepts, including that a person “should feel guilt because of their race or that fault, blame or bias should be assigned to people based on race, religion, gender or national origin.”

    In practice, however, the law has been a “nightmare,” according to complainants named in the lawsuit. Among several examples of overreach, a social work professor said she was threatened with termination if she didn’t agree to cancel a lesson in which students studied the negative impacts of the anti-DEI law. 

    To listen to Simelton’s interview and for more political news and rational discussions, you can listen to the Alabama Politics This Week podcast at its website or subscribe on all podcast platforms. 

     

  • Newswire: President Trump promises to promote peace while pardoning those who promoted pain

     

    Tech Billionaires attend Trump’s inauguration L. to R. Mark Zuckerberg (Meta-Facebook), Bezos’ fiancé Lauren Sanchez, Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Sundar Pichal (Google) and Elon Musk (Tesla)

    By Hazel Trice Edney

    (TriceEdneyWire.com) – President Donald J. Trump, promising in his inaugural address to use his power to “bring a new spirit of unity to a world that has been angry, violent, and totally unpredictable”, has rewarded hundreds of violent Jan. 6 insurrectionists with full pardons and release from prisons despite many of their pleas of guilt.

    Approximately 1,500 of the predominately White crowd, several of whom beat police officers with the United States flag, sprayed them with chemicals, and threatened to hang Vice President Mike Pence, are going free this week with no chance of further punishment for attempting to stop the certification of President Joe Biden on Jan. 6, 2021. Yet, Trump has repeated called the Jan. 6 insurrection a “day of love.”

    Many of those who protested that day were led by the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers, both known as far-right militant organizations. Proud Boys leader, Enrique Tarrio, who had begun his sentence of 22 years and Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers, had begun an 18-year sentence are now free after Trump’s pardons. They had been convicted of seditious conspiracy. 

    Ironically, Trump’s inaugural address had spoken of glorious days to come for the nation. “We will move with purpose and speed to bring back hope, prosperity, safety, and peace for citizens of every race, religion, color, and creed,” he said. 

    Despite Trump’s sweeping pardons of the Capitol attackers, there has never been an apology from him for his recently continued and repeated false accusations against the Central Park 5 who were found completely innocent of a Central Park jogger 36 years ago. Nor has he apologized for falsely accusing Haitian people of eating dogs and cats of their Ohio neighbors and the string of other lies against people of color.

    Remarkably, Trump’s inauguration, which appeared to have gone smoothly Jan. 20, complete with an indoor U. S. Capitol swearing in ceremony due to the cold, an indoor parade at the Capital One Arena and three inaugural balls, were all undermined by what appeared to be continued lies, insults and not one good word about Biden; nor Vice President Kamala Harris, who Trump handily defeated.
    “From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world.  We will be the envy of every nation, and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer.  During every single day of the Trump administration, I will, very simply, put America first,” Trump said in his inaugural address in front of members of Congress, the U. S. Supreme Court and Presidents Biden, Obama, Bush, Clinton, Vice President Harris and even former Vice President Pence. Several tech billionaires were strategically placed on the dais, in front of Trump’s family members and cabinet selections.

    “Our sovereignty will be reclaimed.  Our safety will be restored.  The scales of justice will be rebalanced.  The vicious, violent, and unfair weaponization of the Justice Department and our government will end,” Trump said to applause. He did not mention the pending pardons during his official inaugural address.

    But only a few hours later, he announced the more than a thousand pardons of what he called, “J-6 hostages.” In campaign promises along the trail over the past months, Trump had promised there would be pardons of those convicted of crimes on Jan. 6. But even his Republican supporters did not expect him to release violent offenders that led to the wounding of more than 140 police officers, the deaths of six others and millions of dollars in damages to the Capitol building.

    “If you committed violence on that day, obviously you shouldn’t be pardoned,” then Vice President-elect Vance said in front of cameras only days before the inauguration. Republican Speaker Mike Johnson agreed that he thought Trump was not promising sweeping pardons. On Tuesday, he told Politico that he had not yet seen the list and would be reviewing it.

    “Full pardons. Full pardons,” Trump said repeatedly as he signed the executive orders. He said only about six would receive clemency, which means their slates are not wiped cleaned, but their sentences would end or be significantly reduced.

    Trump supporters have argued that Biden’s pardons of his son, Hunter, weeks ago as well as his pardon of members of his entire family within the last few minutes of his tenure as president may have prompted Trump to release the Jan. 6 convicts. But others argue that Trump likely knew exactly what he was going to do and, besides, Biden’s family members were not violent.

    Another executive order issued by Trump includes ending (DEI) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the federal government. “The injection of “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) into our institutions has corrupted them by replacing hard work, merit, and equality with a divisive and dangerous preferential hierarchy,” said a statement on
    NAACP president: anti-DEI law harming students, professors

  • District Judge Lillie Osborne quashed her own search warrant, allowing Palace Live pari-mutuel gaming center to re-open

    By John Zippert, Co-Publisher

    Greene County District Judge Lillie Jones-Osborne issued an order, after holding an emergency hearing on Monday, January 13, 2025, to quash a search warrant that she issued to Sheriff Jonathan Benison in late December 2024, alleging that “illegal gambling machines” were in use by the Palace Live at its Knoxville, Alabama location. On December 30, 2024, sheriff’s deputies closed and padlocked the Palace Live.

    The emergency hearing was requested by the Five Star Investment Company LLC, owners of the Palace Live, who had been licensed by the Greene County Racing Commission, to carry out pari-mutuel dog and horse racing, including simulcasting and the operation of Historic Horse Racing (HHR) machines at their gaming center. The Greene County Racing Commission was not consulted by the Sheriff in securing the search warrant from Judge Osborne.

    In her order, the Judge, in addition to squashing the search warrant, ordered the return of all properties seized from the Palace Live. The Democrat has learned that the Palace Live re-opened for gaming last night, Tuesday, January 14, 2025.

    At the emergency hearing on Monday centered around the legality of the Greene County Racing Commission to license pari-mutuel wagering in Greene County and whether Historic Horse Racing (HHR) machines require ‘skill’ to operate or are merely ‘illegal slot machines’ that should not be allowed in Greene County.

    The lawyers representing the Sheriff, Flint Liddon of Birmingham and Troy King of Montgomery, were arguing that the HHR machines authorized by the Greene County Racing Commission were illegal gambling machines when they have been representing the Sheriff for years saying electronic bingo machines were not illegal slot machines but were allowed under Alabama Constitutional Amendment 743 permitting bingo on electronic machines in Greene County.

    Lawyers for the Palace Live, including Glenmoore Powers and William Pompey for the Greene County Racing Commission, called Linette Brown, Chair of the Greene County Racing Commission, as a witness. She testified to the history of pari-mutuel greyhound dog and horse racing in Greene County since it was authorized in 1975 by Sections 45-32-150 and subsections .01 to .20 of Alabama law. The Racing Commission originally licensed Greenetrack for live greyhound dog racing, later for simulcasting of dogs and horses. The Racing Commission licensed Greene County Entertainment for simulcasting and Historic Horse Racing (HHR) .

    When Greene County Entertainment was forced to close due to a lawsuit concerning sales taxes assessed by the State of Alabama, the company turned its pari-mutuel gaming license back to the Greene County Racing Commission.

    The Racing Commission publicly advertised the availability of a license for pari-mutuel gaming in Greene County in the Fall of 2024. On October 4, 2024, the Racing Commission authorized a license to Five Star Investment Company, LLC which owns The Palace Live. The Palace remodeled its building for simulcasting and relaced its bingo machines with HHR machines. The HHR machines were certified by an independent gaming laboratory which ruled the machines were legal pari-mutuel wagering machines, similar to those used at Greene Entertainment, the Birmingham Racecourse and Victoryland in Macon County.

    Part of the hearing was a discussion of whether the HHR machines involved skill or whether they were illegal slot machines. Another witness at the hearing, Justin Poole, Operations Manager at the Palace, testified that there is information on the HHR machines that players can access to handicap the races which is the ‘skill’ element of the machines. The Sheriff’s lawyers pointed out that a player can put money in the machines and spin about twenty times a minute, without reviewing the handicapping data if they wish to play the machines that way.

    In her ruling, Judge Jones-Osborne said she was not ruling on the legality of the wagering machines at the Palace Live, but only if the search warrant should be quashed and the property returned to the owners. She said that the Sheriff’s deputies, “should have included the Greene County Racing Commission in their investigation before seeking a search warrant”. She then quashed the warrant and restored the property to its owners.

    The Sheriff or the State of Alabama can appeal the judge’s decision in this case if they wish to continue the fight over the legality of HHR machines in Greene County.

    Some knowledgeable observers of Greene County politics, said the Sheriff had pursued the search warrant to close the Palace Live because the proceeds of pari-mutuel wagering would be administered by the Greene County Racing Commission and not the Sheriff’s Office, which has administered all funds from electronic bingo. Since the State of Alabama has taken court action to close electronic bingo in Greene County, the Sheriff will no longer be administering or distributing gaming funds in Greene County.

    The Greene County Racing Commission is currently advertising in the Legal Advertising Section of our newspaper “a bill to be entitled” which amends and updates sections of the 1975 law creating the Racing Commission. After advertisement for four successive weeks, this bill will be submitted to the Alabama Legislature as a local bill in the coming session. Among the amendments are changes to the Commission’s distribution formula for funds generated from pari-mutuel wagering. The purpose of advertising the bill is to elicit comments and suggestions from our readers to the Racing Commission and our Greene County legislative delegation.

  • Wedgeworth begins 2nd term as Greene County Probate Judge

    Eutaw City Judge Joshua J. Swords administers the Oath of Office to Greene County Probate Judge Rolonda Wedgeworth on Monday, January 13, 2025, marking her 2nd term in office. Judge Wedgeworth was accompanied by her sons Tracy, Jr. and Devante. Her daughter, Aikyra was not able to attend. Staff present included Mia Jordan and Linda Oates.

  • Commission raises concerns about maintenance and accessibility of storm shelters

    The Greene County Commission met in a work session, Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at 5:00 pm. This is the opportunity for each commissioner to report on and/or raise issues and concerns relative to their districts. Concerns were raised about the upkeep of the various storm shelters throughout the county. The commissioners agreed that each community needs to keep its shelter clean and ready for use when severe weather warnings are issued. They directed that each shelter be maintained and inspected on a monthly basis and reported to the commission.
    Other concerns raised related to the PARA Board and it’s operations. The Greene County Park And Recreation Authority is funded by ad valorem taxes, but seemingly the commission is not apprised of its various activities. It was also noted that the PARA Board is not holding regular meetings. Commission Chair, Garria Spencer, agreed to contact PARA Director Frank Smith and set a meeting with the commission.
    As part of his financial report, CFO Mac Underwood informed the commission that a Positive Pay procedure has been put in place, which will inform the banks of checks written before the checks are processed by that bank. “This is another measure to help eliminate fraud,” Underwood said.
    Commissioner Spencer informed the body that the former Greenetrack, Inc. has turned over its half ownership of the physical properties which were co-owned by Greenetrack, Inc. and Greene County, however the State of Alabama still has a lien on part of that property. “These are issues we still need to resolve,” Spencer stated.
    At its regular meeting, held Monday, January 13, 2025, the County Commission toke the following action.
    Approved financial report and payment of claims.
    Approved purchase of a full page ad in the Democrat’s annual Black History Edition.
    Approved extending solid waste exemption period until January 21, 2025.
    Approved various conference travel for Highway Department personnel.
    Approved Daryl Jones for IDA – District 5.
    Approved Lucy Spann for Hospital Board – District 1.
    Approved Pinnina Hines for Hospital Board – District 5.
    Approved Pastor Michael Barton for Hospital Board – District 4.
    Approved Cila Morrow for Library Board.
    Approved Pastor Carolyn Branch for DHR Board – District 4.
    The CFO’s financial report for December, 2024 included the following. Accounts payable totaled $941,064.29; payroll transfer totaled $498,064.27; fiduciary totaled $243,284.08; electronic claims paid totaled $141,941.25. Citizen Trust Bank unrestricted funds – $892,559.44; restricted funds – $4,650,770.29. Merchant & Farmers Bank unrestricted funds – $2,085,329.52; restricted funds – $2,141,194.90. Investments and CD’s totaled $1,897,871.16.

  • Newswire : McDonald’s is the latest company to roll back diversity goals

    By The Associated Press

    Four years after launching a push for more diversity in its ranks, McDonald’s is ending some of its diversity practices, citing a U.S. Supreme Court decision that outlawed affirmative action in college admissions.

    McDonald’s is the latest big company to shift its tactics in the wake of the 2023 ruling and a conservative backlash against diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Walmart, John Deere, Harley-Davidson and others rolled back their DEI initiatives last year.

    McDonald’s said Monday it will retire specific goals for achieving diversity at senior leadership levels. It also intends to end a program that encourages its suppliers to develop diversity training and increase the number of minorities in their own leadership ranks.

    McDonald’s said it will also pause “external surveys.” The Chicago burger giant didn’t elaborate, but several other companies, including Lowe’s and Ford Motor Co., suspended their participation in an annual survey by the Human Rights Campaign that measures workplace inclusion for LGBTQ+ employees.

    McDonald’s rolled out a series of diversity initiatives in 2021 after a spate of sexual harassment lawsuits filed by employees and a lawsuit alleging discrimination by a group of Black former owners of McDonald’s franchises.

    “As a world-leading brand that considers inclusion one of our core values, we will accept nothing less than real, measurable progress in our efforts to lead with empathy, treat people with dignity and respect, and seek out diverse points of view to drive better decision-making,” McDonald’s Chairman and CEO Chris Kempczinski wrote in a LinkedIn post at the time.

    But McDonald’s said Monday that the “shifting legal landscape” after the Supreme Court decision and the actions of other corporations caused it to take a hard look at its own policies.

    In an open letter to employees and franchisees, McDonald’s senior leadership team said it remains committed to inclusion and believes a diverse workforce is a competitive advantage. The company said 30% of its U.S. leaders are members of underrepresented groups, up from 29% in 2021. McDonald’s previously committed to reaching 35% by the end of this year.

    McDonald’s said it has achieved one of the goals it announced in 2021: gender pay equity at all levels of the company. It also said it expected to achieve a goal of having 25% of total supplier spending go to diverse-owned businesses by the end of the year.

    McDonald’s said it would continue to support efforts that ensure a diverse base of employees, suppliers and franchisees, but its diversity team will now be referred to as the Global Inclusion Team. The company said it would also continue to report its demographic information.