Greene County Democrat

Category: World News

  • Newswire : GAO study reveals persistent underrepresentation of Black and Hispanic faculty in higher education

    African American professor and her students using laptop during lecture in the classroom.

    By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

     A new study conducted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), commissioned by Congressman Bobby Scott (D-Virginia), has unveiled concerning trends regarding the representation of Black and Hispanic faculty members in higher education institutions. Despite modest increases in their numbers over the past two decades, Black and Hispanic individuals remain significantly underrepresented among college faculty.

    The study, which examined data spanning from fiscal years 2003 to 2021, found that while the proportions of Black and Hispanic faculty members have seen slight upticks, they continue to lag behind their representation in the broader workforce, particularly among workers with advanced degrees and professionals. Further, the study highlighted a stark disparity between the racial and ethnic composition of faculty and that of the student body, indicating a systemic issue within higher education.
    “Addressing the underrepresentation of Black and Hispanic faculty is not only a matter of diversity but also impacts the overall quality of education and student outcomes,” study authors wrote. “It’s imperative that we hold institutions accountable for fostering inclusive environments that reflect the diversity of our society.”
    The study identified the processing of employment discrimination complaints as one significant barrier. Both current and prospective faculty members have the option to file complaints with either the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the Department of Education. However, the study revealed persistent delays in the referral of complaints from the Department of Education to the EEOC.
    In fiscal year 2022 alone, the Department of Education processed and referred 99 complaints alleging employment discrimination at colleges, with an average referral time of 71 days—well beyond the mandated 30-day period. Such delays not only prolong the resolution process but also perpetuate instances of discrimination and inequity within academia.
    Additionally, the study uncovered deficiencies in the EEOC’s tracking and processing of complaint referrals. Despite receiving complaints referred to by the Department of Education, the study concluded that the EEOC needs a consistent protocol to ensure the timely receipt and processing of these referrals. The lack of accountability poses risks of oversight and further delays in addressing discrimination complaints, the authors stated.
    In response to the findings, the GAO has issued recommendations aimed at enhancing accountability and efficiency in the processing of discrimination complaints. Scott has urged swift action from both the Department of Education and the EEOC to address the systemic disparities and processing delays highlighted in the study.
    “The good news is that faculty diversity has improved over the last twenty years. The bad news is that faculty diversity is still not representative of the students they teach,” Scott stated.
    According to the study authors, historically Black colleges, and universities, among other minority-serving establishments, have had success in nurturing and advancing academic members of color into tenure-track jobs, which offer greater security than adjunct or part-time employment. The authors noted that these schools frequently prioritize the education of students of color in the recruiting and professional development of their professors.
    The GAO research suggests that enhancing mentorship, conducting retention studies, and providing leadership opportunities are effective strategies to enhance the retention of faculty members who are of color. The survey also discovered that a positive campus environment affected teachers’ decision to remain at their schools.
    The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Education both handle allegations of discrimination at colleges and universities inefficiently, according to the GAO study. The Education Department’s regulation mandates that complaints be sent to the EEOC within 30 days; however, the average time it took to get a referral was more like 71 days.
    “As we strive to create more equitable educational environments, it is incumbent upon federal agencies to prioritize the timely and thorough investigation of discrimination complaints,” the authors concluded. “Our nation’s colleges and universities must be bastions of diversity and inclusion, and addressing the underrepresentation of minority faculty is a critical step towards achieving that goal.”

  • Newswire : Racial bias uncovered in kidney transplantation system: Thousands of Black patients prioritized after years of waiting

    By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

    Five years ago, Arlette Ebanks experienced severe kidney pain that she believed suggested a criminal need for a transplant. Her doctors disagreed, but the 52-year-old Northeast, D.C., resident, and mother of two who worked for the Department of Transportation for more than half of her life until her deteriorating health landed her on permanent disability, had grown ever more anxious as health care providers attempted various measures of maintenance.
    Recently, physicians at George Washington University Hospital told Ebanks that she should have been on the transplant list, and understandably, Ebanks wondered why previous doctors hadn’t done so.  Now, Ebanks knows why. “All this time, all this stress and worry, was all because I’m Black,” Ebanks stated with intense incredulity in an interview with the Washington Informer.
    At issue is a once widely used test that overestimated how well Black people’s kidneys were functioning, making them look healthier than they really were. An automated formula calculated results for Black and non-Black patients that were far different from those of others, delaying organ failure diagnosis and, ultimately, proper evaluation for a kidney transplant.

    The disparity only exacerbated existing inequities, with Black patients being more susceptible to needing a new kidney but less likely to receive one. “On the one hand,” Ebanks remarked, “I have not only been put on the waiting list, but moved up to where I am now more confident that I will get a new kidney. On the other hand, it’s infuriating that we keep seeing how racism in medicine, bias in healthcare, is causing unnecessary pain and suffering among African Americans.”
    The U.S. organ transplant network has now ordered hospitals and care facilities to use race-neutral test results only when adding new patients to the kidney transplant waiting list. Further, the National Kidney Foundation and the American Society of Nephrology told laboratories to transition to race-neutral equations when calculating kidney function.
    The policy shift has led to major adjustments, and between January 2023 and mid-March 2024, over 14,300 Black candidates had their wait times recalibrated, resulting in more than 2,800 successful transplants, including Ebanks.
    Dr. Nwamaka Eneanya, an assistant professor at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Health System, emphasized the detrimental impact of race-based equations on clinical decisions, particularly in assessing renal function.
    Dr. Eneanya, a vocal advocate for removing race from medical equations, highlighted the lack of biological differences between races and the inherent flaws in using race-based multipliers. She told her university’s newspaper that, despite mounting evidence, many clinicians continue to rely on these outdated practices, perpetuating harm to Black patients. “Human genome studies have shown there are no inherent biological differences between races,” Dr. Eneanya stated. “Those studies reporting that Black people had greater muscle mass were flawed, but no one questioned them.”

    As the director of Health Equity, Anti-Racism, and Community Engagement at Penn Medicine, Dr. Eneanya spearheads internal initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion within the Renal Electrolyte and Hypertension Division. Additionally, she is actively involved in community outreach programs to address racial disparities in kidney disease awareness and screening.
    “Not everyone approaches medicine with a health equity lens. Many clinicians are not aware of existing disparities — how Black patients do not get referred to nephrology as early as white patients and do not have sufficient access to transplant [procedures],” she asserted. “In medicine, the tendency is to say, ‘This is what a study showed, so this is what we should do,’ focusing on biomarkers and statistical tests without examining issues of ethics or health equity.”
    Dr. Eneanya noted that the revelation of racial bias within the kidney transplantation system underscores the pressing need for reformative measures to ensure equitable healthcare access for all individuals, regardless of race or ethnicity.
    “I sit on a joint American Society of Nephrology-National Kidney Foundation task force that is revising formal eGFR reporting guidelines to exclude racial bias,” Dr. Eneanya stated. “Many physicians across the country, including some at Penn, have stopped using the race multiplier already. And while the eGFR is a frontline test for kidney function, there are other tests that don’t incorporate race. When there is any doubt about the accuracy of an eGFR score, other confirmatory tests that do not use race should be performed.”

     

  • Newswire : A flame of remembrance for victims of the Rwanda genocide

    President and First Lady of Rwanda place wreath at genocide memorial

    Apr. 7, 2024 (GIN) – Rwandans are marking the 30th anniversary of a genocide that took the lives of an estimated 800,000 mostly ethnic Tutsis over 100 days, between April and June 1994.
     
    Wreaths were laid at the Kigali Genocide Memorial by President Paul Kagame and first lady Jeannette Kagame. The President then lit the “Flame of Remembrance”, before making a speech at an arena in Kigali, capital of Rwanda.
     
    The Flame will be lit for seven days at four genocide memorial sites which were inscribed on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in September.
    Other commemorative activities will be conducted across the country, including a Walk to Remember in Kigali, which will be followed by a night vigil.
     
    A senior program advisor on transitional justice at the Kenya Human Rights Commission, Martin Mavenjina, emphasized the significance of remembering the genocide. “It’s not just as a moment of remembrance,” he said, “but an opportunity for victims and survivors to reflect, heal, and look towards the future. “It reassures the world that never again will such an event happen anywhere on this continent or even anywhere (else) in the world.”
     
    Supporters of Kagame’s rule applaud him, saying that without his firm grip on power, Rwanda could slide back to the chaos that could ignite another genocide.
    But human rights leaders and activists differ with that view. Kagame, they say, has oppressed his opponents, killed and imprisoned his critics. Dissidents are jailed, free speech is curtailed and political opponents often die in murky circumstances, even those living in the West.
     
    Ethnic divisions persist under the authoritarian president who has ruled for just as long, writes New York Times reporter Declan Walsh.  Soldiers under President Kagame have been accused of massacre and plunder in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.
     
    This view was supported by the transitional justice advisor. He urged Kagame to loosen his grip on power and allow for more freedom. 
     
    For decades, Western leaders have looked past Mr. Kagame’s abuses, comments Walsh. “Some have expressed guilt for their failure to halt the genocide when Hutu extremists massacred people mostly from Mr. Kagame’s Tutsi ethnic group.”
     
    Kagame took that view a step further, blaming the inaction of the international community for allowing the 1994 genocide to happen. “It was the international community which failed all of us, whether from contempt or cowardice,” Kagame said in a speech after laying a wreath at a memorial site holding the remains of 250,000 genocide victims in Kigali.
     
    The killings were ignited when a plane carrying then-President Juvénal Habyarimana, a Hutu, was shot down over Kigali. The Tutsis were blamed for downing the plane and killing the president and became targets in massacres led by Hutu extremists that lasted over 100 days. Some moderate Hutus who tried to protect members of the Tutsi minority were also killed.
     
    Some Western leaders have now expressed regret.
     
    Bill Clinton, after leaving office, cited the Rwandan genocide as a failure of his administration. French President Emmanuel Macron, in a prerecorded video, said that France and its allies could have stopped the genocide but lacked the will to do so. Macron’s declaration came three years after he acknowledged the “overwhelming responsibility” of France — Rwanda’s closest European ally in 1994 — for failing to stop Rwanda’s slide into the slaughter. 
     
    But in truth, few voices were heard in opposition to the U.S. — few, at least, with the will and means to back up their arguments with substantial commitments of their own.
     
    Even after the storm broke, the U.N. reaction was to retreat, to reduce rather than increase its forces in the riven country.
     
    Some Rwandans fear that nothing has been learned — that the outside world will intervene too late, with too little, elsewhere. Rwanda also has had troubled relations with its neighbors. 

    Recently, tensions have flared with Congo, with the two countries’ leaders accusing one another of supporting armed groups. Relations have been tense with Burundi as well over allegations that Kigali is backing a rebel group attacking Burundi. And relations with Uganda are yet to fully normalize after a period of tensions stemming from Rwandan allegations that Uganda was backing rebels opposed to Kagame.

  • Newwire : Millions across North America awed by Total Solar Eclipse phenomenon

    By Stacy M. Brown
    NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent


    The eagerly anticipated celestial spectacle of a total solar eclipse finally descended upon North America after a seven-year hiatus, captivating millions of skywatchers on Monday. With its grand entrance at the Mexican beachside resort town of Mazatlan, the eclipse marked the beginning of a mesmerizing journey along the “path of totality,” stretching across various regions of the continent.

    Eclipse enthusiasts congregated at numerous vantage points along the path, which spanned from Mexico’s Pacific Coast through Texas, traversing 14 other U.S. states before reaching Canada. Cities like Wilmington, Del., Philadelphia, Penn., Baltimore, Md., and New York City witnessed citizens stepping outside their usual routines to behold this historic event. Similar scenes unfolded in urban centers across Illinois, Ohio, and Texas, where individuals paused to witness the cosmic marvel.

    At a duration of up to 4 minutes and 28 seconds, the 2024 total eclipse exceeded its predecessor’s duration in 2017, which lasted up to 2 minutes and 42 seconds. According to NASA, total eclipses can range from a fleeting 10 seconds to an astonishing 7-1/2 minutes.

    Other cities along the path of totality, such as San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas in Texas; Indianapolis, Indiana; Cleveland, Ohio; Erie, Pennsylvania; both Niagara Falls, New York, and Niagara Falls, Ontario, along with Montreal, Quebec, hosted eager eclipse-watchers. Approximately 32 million people in the United States reside within the path of totality, with federal officials predicting an additional 5 million to witness the phenomenon.

    Numerous eclipse-watching events unfolded at bars, stadiums, fairgrounds, and parks along the eclipse’s trajectory, offering diverse opportunities for people to experience this rare event. Scientists estimated that the entire process, from the initial moment the moon begins to obscure the sun to the culmination of totality and the subsequent return to normalcy, took about 80 minutes.

    Veteran eclipse observers have described the moments preceding totality as ominous, with shadows taking on a peculiar sharpness and sunlight assuming an eerie hue. Just before totality, a phenomenon known as “shadow bands” may manifest, creating shimmering patterns akin to those seen at the bottom of a swimming pool.

    As totality approaches, stars become visible in the midday sky, while the abrupt darkness causes temperatures to plummet. “When a solar eclipse reaches totality, nocturnal wildlife sometimes wakes up, thinking that it’s nighttime, and non-nocturnal wildlife might think it’s time to head to sleep,” NASA officials wrote on the agency’s website.

    The final glimpse of brilliant sunlight before totality creates the enchanting “diamond ring effect,” wherein a bright spot appears along the lunar edge as the sun’s corona forms a luminous ring around the moon.
    According to NASA, the next solar eclipse that can be seen from the contiguous United States will occur on Aug. 23, 2044. There will also be a solar eclipse visible in Spain in 2026.

     

  • Newswire : Gambian women furious over vote to restore female circumcision

    Gambian women protest female genital mutilation

    Apr. 1, 2024 (GIN) – ‘Over my dead body!’
     
    That was how one Gambian woman expressed her frustration with a vote by the country’s majority male legislators to end the prohibition of female genital mutilation (FGM). The practice has been on the rise in recent years despite activist campaigns to outlaw it.
     Lawmaker Almameh Gibba presented the repeal bill earlier this month, arguing the ban violates citizens’ rights to practice their culture and religion. Gambia is an overwhelmingly Muslim country.
     
    If the bill is passed, Gambia would become the first country to reverse a ban on FGM.
     
    The vote comes just a month after the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, observed annually on Feb. 6. This year it was observed with the theme “Her Voice, Her Future.”
     
    Gambian lawmakers have already voted to advance the measure that removes legal protections in effect since 2015 for millions of girls.
    Ndeye Rose Sarr, head of the local United Nations Fund for Population Activities, shared some of the historical background: “From the age of 10, girls begin to be looked at as a potential bride for an older man. And if she has not yet undergone FGM, there will be those in her community who will want to make sure that she does.”
     
    The rate of FGM in The Gambia is around 76 per cent of women in the 14-to-49-year age range, and about 51 per cent for girls up to the age of 14. “That means that, on average, every other young girl you see in The Gambia has undergone this mutilation,” Sarr said.
     
    Globally, over 200 million women and girls are estimated to have undergone some form of genital mutilation and girls aged 14 and younger account for about 44 million of those who have been “cut.”
     
    The practice is almost universal in Somalia, Guinea and Djibouti, with levels of 90 per cent or higher, while it affects no more than 1 per cent of girls and women in Cameroon and Uganda.
     
    Contrary to popular perception, female genital mutilation is also practiced in the U.S. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than half a million women and girls have either undergone or are at risk of undergoing the procedure in the future. Most, but not all, are immigrants to the U.S.
     
    The  ban was put in place during the tenure of former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, whose government opposed the practice.
     
    Isatou Keita, writing for the online publication Semafor, had this to say about FGM. “From my perspective as a Gambian woman, banning FGM is highly commendable… As a staunch advocate for human rights and gender equality, I firmly believe that every individual has the right to live free from violence, coercion, and discrimination, including harmful cultural practices like FGM.”
     
    “The ban against FGM signifies a step towards empowerment and autonomy, granting us agency over our bodies.”
     
    World leaders overwhelmingly back the elimination of female genital mutilation by 2030 as one of the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals. The U.N. considers it achievable if nations act now to translate that commitment into action.

  • Newswire : U.S. plummets in world happiness rankings according to 2024 report

     World Happiness Day

    According to the newest World Happiness Report for 2024, the United States has dropped in the worldwide happiness rankings. Released on March 20, America plunged eight spots from its previous ranking, marking the first time in the report’s 12-year history that the nation has failed to secure a position among the world’s top 20 happiest countries.
    Released on the UN’s International Day of Happiness, the report, a collaborative effort among Gallup, the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and the World Happiness Report’s Editorial Board, sheds light on the shifting landscape of happiness worldwide. While perennial frontrunners like Finland and Denmark continue to dominate the top spots, the U.S. finds itself in an unfamiliar position of decline.

    Historically, the pursuit of happiness has been ingrained in the American ethos, symbolizing freedom, opportunity, and prosperity. However, in recent years, several factors have been identified that could contribute to its demise. Political turmoil and the hate and confusion that has come with the candidacy and trials of the twice-impeached and four-times indicted former president Donald Trump, economic inequality, diminishing social cohesion, and a pervasive consumerism culture often undermine many Americans’ well-being.
    Additionally, the pressures of modern life, including work-related stress, a lack of affordable healthcare, and political polarization, have taken a toll on mental health and overall happiness levels. Moreover, the advent of social media and digital technologies, while providing connectivity, has also been linked to increased feelings of isolation and comparison, negatively impacting subjective well-being.
    The new happiness report highlights that “some countries, like Finland and Denmark, consistently rank among the world’s happiest. The U.S. isn’t one of them.”
    Drawing upon data collected by the Gallup World Poll and analyzed by leading wellbeing experts, the report underscored the multifaceted nature of happiness trends. While Finland maintains its reign as the happiest nation for the seventh consecutive year, other countries, such as Serbia and Bulgaria, have witnessed significant increases in average life evaluation scores, resulting in notable climbs in the rankings. While Finland’s average life evaluation ranks it as the happiest country in the world, Afghanistan ranks as the least happy country in the world with a life evaluation of 1.721.
    Breaking new ground, the report introduced separate rankings by age group, revealing differing happiness levels across generations. Notably, a significant decline in the wellbeing of Americans under 30 is what has caused the U.S. to fall in the rankings overall.
    At the global level, averaged across all ages and regions, inequality of happiness has increased by more than 20% over the past dozen years. Among those born after 1980, happiness falls with each year of age. Among those born before 1965, life evaluations rise with age.
    John F. Helliwell, Emeritus Professor of Economics at the University of British Columbia and a founding editor of the World Happiness Report, emphasizes the importance of understanding these generational disparities. “There is a great variety among countries in the relative happiness of the younger, older, and in-between populations,” he commented.
    “Effective policymaking relies on solid data,” stated Jon Clifton, CEO of Gallup. “Today’s World Happiness Report attempts to bridge some of these gaps… It provides analytics and advice for evidence-based planning and policymaking,” he stated.
    Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, Director of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre, calls for immediate policy action in light of concerning drops in happiness among youth, adding, “To think that, in some parts of the world, children are already experiencing the equivalent of a mid-life crisis demands immediate policy action.”

  • Newswire : Federal aid swiftly released for rebuilding Francis Scott Key Bridge after tragic collision

    By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire


    In a rapid response to the devastating collision between a cargo container ship and the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced the immediate release of $60 million in Emergency Relief (ER) funds to the Maryland Department of Transportation.

    The collision resulted in the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, claiming the lives of six individuals, and causing substantial disruption to regional and national transportation networks. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said he and others in the Biden-Harris administration understand that they must act with urgency, and he emphasized the federal government’s commitment to assisting Maryland in the bridge’s reconstruction.

    “The federal emergency funds we’re releasing today will help Maryland begin urgent work, with additional resources coming as recovery and rebuilding efforts progress,” Buttigieg stated. 

    He reiterated President Joe Biden’s assurance that the federal government would spare no effort in supporting the bridge’s rebuilding and restoring operations at the Port of Baltimore.

    FHWA Administrator Shailen Bhatt echoed Secretary Buttigieg’s sentiments, explaining to reporters and others the pivotal role of the Emergency Relief funds in facilitating initial repair efforts. Additionally, FHWA officials said the agency would provide technical assistance, conduct site assessments, and oversee emergency contracts to expedite the reconstruction process.

    The closure of the Francis Scott Key Bridge has already had far-reaching implications, disrupting shipping traffic to the Port of Baltimore’s Seagirt Marine Terminal, and impeding vital transportation corridors along the East Coast. FHWA officials said they will continue to collaborate closely with federal, state, and local partners to mitigate supply chain disruptions and manage traffic while prioritizing the safe reopening of the port.

    Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s declaration of a state of emergency helped to enable FHWA to approve MDOT’s emergency relief funding application promptly. Officials have allocated the funds towards debris removal, demolition, detours, emergency repairs, and the design and reconstruction of the affected infrastructure.

    Biden also reaffirmed the federal government’s unwavering support for Baltimore. “And to the people of Baltimore, I want to say: We’re with you,” the president declared. “We’re going to stay with you as long as it takes. And like the governor said, you’re Maryland tough, you’re Baltimore strong, and we’re going to get through this together. And I promise: We’re not leaving. It’s my intention that federal government will pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge, and I expect to — the Congress to support my effort.” 

    Biden said the tragedy called for a comprehensive response and demanded that Congress endorse federal assistance efforts. Federal officials said FHWA’s Emergency Relief program aligns with broader initiatives to enhance infrastructure resilience in the face of future challenges.  

    “The Port of Baltimore is one of the nation’s largest shipping hubs.  And I’ve been there a number of times as a senator and as a vice president,” Biden remarked. “It handled a record amount of cargo last year.  It’s also the top port in America for both imports and exports of automobiles and light trucks.
    “Around 850,000 vehicles go through that port every single year, and we’re going to get it up and running again as soon as possible. Fifteen thousand jobs depend on that port.  And we’re going to do everything we can to protect those jobs and help those workers.”
     

  • Newswire : Alabama House v. Senate:a comparison of two gambling bills

    By: Josh Moon, Alabama Political Reporter

     

    After more than a year of work on a comprehensive gambling package, the Alabama House of Representatives easily passed in March two bills that would have allowed voters to approve a lottery, up to 10 casino licenses, sports wagering and a new gaming commission to crack down on rampant illegal gambling around the state. 

    The Alabama Senate undid it all in less than a week, passing a gambling bill that contained only a lottery, a potential compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians and historical horse racing machines at seven other locations around the state. 

    Both houses have proclaimed their legislation to be “what the people want,” and each claims that the gambling tax revenues can do big things. So, let’s take a look at what each bill does and what benefits each brings to the people of Alabama. 

    The Basics
    The House Bill: A statewide lottery, seven traditional casino licenses, three potential casinos via a compact with the Poarch Creeks, sports wagering online, a gambling commission with a law enforcement entity to police illegal gambling and regulate/oversee legal gaming. 
    The Senate Bill: A statewide lottery, three potential casinos via a compact with the Poarch Creeks, possible sports wagering via the Poarch Creek compact (but possibly only on-site sports wagering), historical horse racing at six locations, a gambling commission with a law enforcement entity to police illegal gambling and regulate/oversee legal gaming. 

    The Revenue 
    The House Bill: Up to $1.2 billion annually. That broke down to around $200-$350 million for the lottery, $300-$400 million from casino wagering, up to $300 million from the Poarch Creek compact (depending on terms), up to $100 million in sports wagering (assuming online availability). 
    The Senate Bill: Up to $425 million. That’s $200 million for the lottery, $25 million for the pari-mutuel wagering, and $200 million from the Poarch Creek compact. (The Poarch Creek compact could generate more – up to another $50-$75 million – if certain limitations were removed and/or the tribe was allowed to offer online sports wagering statewide.)


    The Benefits
    The House Bill: The bill was designed to be transformative for the state. Utilizing lottery revenue, lawmakers planned to make two-year college attendance free for most state residents, including for many job training/certification programs. Other college scholarship programs for low-income students were also on the table, as was providing security for public schools around the state. Other gambling revenue was to be used to expand mental health care services, expand rural health care services (and possibly Medicaid expansion), provide funding for designated infrastructure projects and provide raises for teachers and state retirees. Additionally, the funds would have been used to pay for the implementation of the lottery and the expenses associated with creating and maintaining the gambling commission and its law enforcement entity. 
    The Senate Bill: After funding the lottery and gambling commission, the remaining funds will be split equally among infrastructure, education and the general fund. (During debate, lawmakers indicated that a portion of the revenue would be used to build a new prison.)
    The Jobs

    The House Bill: The comprehensive House bill was an economic windfall for the state in a number of ways, not least of which was new jobs. In total, because of requirements that the 10 casino locations spend minimum amounts (the bill required $35 million within the first year) in upgrades and create destination resorts, the package was expected to create some 12,000 to 15,000 new, permanent jobs in the state. That figure did not reflect the temporary construction jobs created by building new casinos. 
    The Senate Bill: There is no study to cite for that bill, but because new casinos would be placed only at current Poarch Creek casino locations – and those locations are already considered top-level destinations – job creation would be significantly less. PCI would hire considerably more employees, and would likely become the state’s top overall employer (it’s already the state’s top hospitality industry employer), but nothing close to the 12,000-15,000 jobs under the House bill. 

    Overall
    Both bills approve a state lottery and create a gambling commission and law enforcement entity. Both bills also legalize 10 casinos – the Senate version simply reduces the kinds of gambling that can take place at seven of those locations to only historical horse racing games (basically slot machines). There will still be 10 casinos, but only $225 million in annual revenue as opposed to more than $700 million in annual revenue from the same locations. Additionally, the state likely will still have a massive illegal sports wagering market – a market that did a projected $2 billion in business in 2023 – under the Senate bill, which doesn’t address sports wagering, other than possibly allowing it at Poarch Creek facilities. Basically, the Senate bill has the same amount of gambling around the state as the House bill, but with control of an illegal market and a loss of $600-plus million in annual revenue. 

     

  • BBCF Community & Arts Grants Spring 2024

    SELMA, AL – March 25, 2024: The Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF) is offering community and arts grant opportunities open to community-based organizations operating within its 12-county service area comprising Bullock, Choctaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Perry, Pickens, Sumter, and Wilcox Counties of Alabama.

    The 2024 BBCF Arts and Community Grants Cycle will open on March 28th with the online grant application going live followed by a series of in-person and online Learn Grants-BBCF Style Workshops. There will be an in-person workshop in each of the 12 counties which will serve as an opportunity for the community to meet the new BBCF Arts Director, Aaron Head, and to answer any questions you may have about the grant process.

    For a more in-depth learning experience, covering all aspects of the BBCF grant process and including tips for writing a successful application, please plan to attend one of the two Online Grant Summit workshops. Please note that any organization that has never submitted a grant application to BBCF MUST attend one in-person workshop session prior to applying. April 19th is the deadline for all applications, with final decisions being tendered by the end of May 2024.

    Dates for the in-person and online workshops are forthcoming – be sure to follow BBCF on social media and check out our website, blackbeltfound.org, for up-to-date information about these sessions.

    BBCF President Felecia Lucky states, “We are enthusiastic and assured of the work and guidance offered by the BBCF Community Associates and Local Grant Review Committees in facilitating the grant application process and in fostering connections with organizations dedicated to catalyzing positive change within their communities. This year marks the 19th anniversary of the Community Grant Cycle and the 18th anniversary of Arts granting, coinciding with the celebration of BBCF’s 20th anniversary.”

    BBCF’s Community Grant Cycle will invest in organizations engaging Black Belt citizens by addressing the most pressing community needs through grants ranging in size from $500 to $7500. This type of work includes but is not limited to education, economic development, health, criminal justice reform and intervention, civic engagement/participation, recreational programs, etc.

    BBCF’s Arts Grant Cycle will target in-school, after-school and community-based arts and arts education programs as well as professional development and capacity building. These grants have a range of $500 to $5000.

    For both Community and Arts grants, applicants will be able to find specific examples of previous projects funded and other helpful details via the grant application web resource page at: https://blackbeltfound.org/2024grants/ .

  • Newswire : Rescue of kidnapped Nigerian children reported

    Nigerian children reunited with parents

     
    Mar. 25, 2024 (GIN) – The nightmare is over for some of the 287 Nigerian schoolchildren seized from their school and marched into the forests by an armed group.
     
    Nigeria’s military said in a statement that 76 girls and 61 boys had been freed in the northern state of Zamfara, and were being taken back to Kaduna. The military did not confirm the total number of children abducted on March 7, or provide further details about the operation. 
     
    The children were abducted by motorcycle-riding gunmen on March 7 from their school in Kuriga, a small town in the state of Kaduna. Terrified families watched helplessly as the children, aged 12 or younger were driven away.
     
    It was the latest in a long series of kidnappings that have plagued Africa’s most populous nation. 
     
    President Bola Tinubu had vowed to rescue the children “without paying a dime” as ransom. But ransoms are commonly paid for kidnappings, often arranged by families, and it is rare for officials in Nigeria to admit to the payments. According to Sahara Reporters, the kidnappers were seeking one billion naira for the students’ release.
     
    Since the 2014 abduction of 276 schoolgirls in Borno state, town of Chibok, by Boko Haram, an armed group, many of the girls were released, reportedly in exchange for ransoms, but 98 of them are still missing, according to Amnesty International.
     
    The latest abduction comes days after some 200 people were kidnapped in Nigeria’s Borno state – at the center of the Boko Haram insurgency. The victims, who had ventured into the countryside to collect firewood, have not been rescued yet.
     
    The armed men on motorbikes – referred to locally as bandits – had been menacing the community for some time, with the security forces said to be unable to deal with the threat. Kuriga had been persistently attacked by gangs seeking to kidnap people and make money from ransom payments.
     
    The scale of this latest abduction and the fact that it involved children as young as seven has been overwhelming for many here.
     
    “We watched them carrying our children away just right here and there’s nothing we could do. We don’t have military, we don’t have police in the community,” a mother was quoted to say through tears.
     
    Kidnap gangs, known as bandits, have seized thousands of people in recent years, especially in the north-west.
     
    Chris Ewokor of BBC News in Kuriga managed to get more of the story from 17 year old Musa Garba (not his real name). The teenager said he had to slither on the ground like a snake to avoid being detected by his kidnappers.
     
    “We saw motorbikes on the road. We thought they were soldiers before we realized they had occupied the school premises and started shooting,” Musa told the BBC reporter.
     
    “We tried to run away, but they chased us and caught us.” Musa said he kept looking for ways to escape and tried to encourage others to join him but they were too afraid. 
     
    “After all was quiet, I started dragging myself like a snake on the ground.” Once it was totally dark, he got up and walked off until he got to a village where he got help.
     
    In the last decade and a half, people in northern Nigeria have come under intense attack by armed militant groups. A second force, linked to the Islamic State group, has also emerged.