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CASH IN THE APPLE FOR 2-23-17
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CASH IN THE APPLE FOR 2-23-17
ATTACKING
THE PRESS – You know if Pres. Donald Trump was normal, then one would be
tempted to take his cowardly attacks on the news media of this country
seriously. There’s no doubt that rabid Trump supporters believe everything he
says, even though they see his month-old presidency already crumbling under the
extraordinary weight of his foolishness. No sooner had Melania replaced the
drapes in the Oval Office, did a federal appellate court tell Trump his Muslim
ban was never going to fly, and the president’s national security advisor, a
former three-star US Army General named Michael Flynn ( a prime candidate for
the more-than-one –screw-loose award if I’ve ever seen one ) proved to possess
the unique talent of allegedly lying to the FBI to coverup something Trump said
he would have directed him to do anyway.
Oh, did I
leave out that several of the president’s Cabinet appointees are certified
whackos, matched only by the certified white nationalist whacko Trump has as a
senior policy advisor. There’s a lot more, but you get the picture. There is
plenty this president needs to held accountable for, and it will take skilled
investigative reporters at the nation’s major national news media to expose the
Trump administration for all of the harm it’s in the process of doing.
But Pres.
Trump doesn’t want to be held accountable for what he does, and that’s why he’s
attacking the press with abandon, hoping that their collective knees will
knock, and they’ll back off just enough to pull tons of wool over everybody’s
eyes (and ears).
The
strategy is really quite simple – delegitimize the press in the minds of his
supporters so that when he does something there’s clearly no excuse for, those
numbskulls will believe him first, despite ten-ton facts the media is reporting
proving the president is all sorts of crooked. He successfully demonized his
2016 Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton, just like he did his 16 Republican
primary foes.
You see
Trump believes that demonizing people for personal gain is as American as apple
pie ( one in which he clearly is the worm ). He knows that there are plenty of people,
mostly white, who continue to believe that this country belongs to them, always
has, and always will. These are folks who really don’t care what happens to
anyone else, just as long as they are on top, and remain there.
That’s why
Trump is able to get away (or at least
try to) with running his mouth about keeping Muslims from seven particular
countries out of the United States. Mind you, Christians from those countries
are more than welcomed, probably because, in Trump and his supporters minds,
they’re not likely to be terrorists,
Apparently
the Christian Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, ardent supporters of trump during
the presidential elections, don’t qualify
bon-a-fide violent terrorists in
Donald’s book.
In Trump’s
world, those who refuse to acknowledge his self-proclaimed “greatness” – even
to the point agreeing with him that his was the greatest election victory in
modern history (NOT), and that 3 million people voted illegally against him,
costing the Trump the popular vote (NOT), are not “true” Americans.
In fact, he
says, they are “enemies” of the American people.
No, Donald,
a vibrant American press is an enemy only of the ignorant. So I guess you and
your followers will be at odds with reality for at least the next four years.
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Wj-LEADERS FROM NC HBCUs TO ATTEND
WASH., DC MEETING
FEB. 28TH
By Cash Michaels
Editor
On Tuesday,
Feb. 28th, the presidents of many of the 106 historically black
colleges and universities (HBCUs) across the nation will convene at the Library
of Congress in Washington, D.C. for what is being called a “Fly-in” conference with
various members of Congress, and officials from the Trump Administration among
others, to discuss how the federal government, under Republican control, can be
more supportive.
The Journal reached out to the president’s office of
all ten HBCUs in North Carolina, only receiving
confirmation of attendance from Winston-Salem State University, and
Bennett College in Greensboro, where Interim Pres. Dr. Phyllis Worthy Dawkins
presides.
“I
think I can safely speak for all of my colleagues in saying we expect and hope
to have dialogue and actions regarding infrastructure support, Pell Grant
increases to build a pipeline of college-ready students, Title III funding and
other support structures to strengthen HBCUs for the future,” Dr. Dawkins said.
“Speaking for myself, I am excited about the chance to meet with members of the
Trump Administration to discuss HBCUs and ways we can strengthen them for
posterity.”
Dr. Dawkins continued, “I think it is great that our new president is
reaching out to HBCUs just a few [weeks] after taking office, and I sincerely
hope his administration will work to ensure HBCUs are given their fair share of
federal funding. HBCUs are vital to the fabric of American education, and I
hope next week’s meeting is the first of many productive meetings in
Washington.”
According
to Jay R. Davis, director of Communications and Media Relations for WSSU, “Chancellor [Elwood] Robinson has accepted
an invitation extended to HBCU leaders from the Thurgood Marshall College Fund
to attend a meeting with leadership in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 28.”
Davis did not express what
Chancellor Robinson hoped to hear while attending the meetings. Robinson is
traveling this week and could not be contacted directly for comment.
The convener of the two-day
conference in Washington, DC next week is Republican Rep. Mark Walker [R-NC-6],
a white conservative congressman who wants to see the “full repeal” of the
Affordable Care Act; strongly supports North Carolina’s controversial HB2
“bathroom law,” and when once asked if starting a war with Mexico was
appropriate in order to secure the border, joked that it was, though he
seriously added that the National Guard should be utilized.
And yet, despite his
ultra-conservative rhetoric, Rep. Walker, chair of the House Republican Study
Committee, apparently has a soft spot for HBCUs.
His wife, Kelly, graduated from Winston-Salem State University
with a degree in
nursing; summer interns from local HBCUs work in the
congressional offices of Walker and NC
12th District colleague Rep. Alma Adams; NC A&T University in
Greensboro is in his district; and he is a member of the Congressional HBCU
Caucus.
Walker has invited House Speaker Paul
Ryan (R-Ws), South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, Sen. Marco Rubio and other
influential Republican leaders to take part in the conference Tuesday to meet
with HBCU leaders, and, according to a spokesman, understand the history of
HBCUs and their unique role in higher education, and why the
Republican-controlled federal government should continue to support their
future.
The event is supported by the
Thurgood Marshall College Fund, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit group that
helps needy students attend the HBCU of their choice. It’s president, Johnny
Taylor, says HBCUs have no choice but to work with whomever runs Congress, and
whomever is in the White House.
To that end, it is also expected
that the Trump Administration will issue a new executive order next week,
moving the HBCU Initiative from under the US Dept. of Education, to direct
supervision of the White House. There have been unconfirmed reports about what
else the Trump executive order contains, but at least one NC college president
is optimistic.
“UNCF and The Thurgood Marshall College Fund have pushed for
the White House Initiative on HBCUs to be removed from the Department of
Education and placed directly under The White House, led by an executive
director; therefore, we are happy to hear this is being strongly considered,”
Bennett Interim Pres. Phyllis Dawkins said. “This move, should it occur, will
provide direct access to a senior adviser who reports to the President, thereby
identifying policy priorities that are important to HBCUs.”
HBCUs reportedly comprise only three-percent of all colleges
and universities in the country, yet are responsible for 27 percent of
African-Americans with bachelor’s degrees in science, technology, engineering
and math, according to the US Dept. of Education.
While there is naturally some caution, hopes are high that a
positive bond can be forged with President Trump. There are still hard feelings
from eight-years of the Obama Administration that, while HBCUs ultimately saw
more funding , also saw Pell Grants cut for black students, and parental
qualifications for the PLUS Loan program for college students changed,
ultimately disqualifying many parents on the credit bubble, and resulting in
many black college students being forced to drop out of school.
HBCU enrollments dramatically dropped, and many schools are
still recovering, officials say.
Dr. Ontario S. Wooden, Associate Vice Chancellor for
Innovative, Engaged and Global Education at North Carolina Central University
in Durham, whose interim chancellor is not attending next week’s meeting, hopes
the baggage from the Obama Administration can now be fixed.
“We should be making the same [demands] of the Trump
Administration that we did of the Obama Administration – restoring Pell Grants
so students have the opportunity to use
them in summer school; looking at the creditworthiness of parents in the PLUS
Loan program; and doing something about the relatively high interest rates on
those loans,” Dr. Wooden said.
Harold Martin, chancellor of NC A&T University, told this
paper last month that HBCUs have to forge a strong relationship with the Trump
Administration if they are to survive.
"It is vital that North
Carolina A&T State University maintains a healthy relationship with the
executive branch,” Martin,
named the nation’s most influential leader of an HBCU by HBCU Digest, said.
-30-
REP. HANES, CONRAD SUPPORT
NEW TRAFFIC STOP ED
BILL
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
A bill
that, if enacted, would require the NC Division of Motor Vehicles to begin
producing driver license handbooks that instruct motorists, especially young
drivers, on how to properly and legally conduct themselves while engaging with
law enforcement during traffic stops, is getting bi-partisan support in the
state House by two members of the Forsyth County delegation.
The proposed
measure is important, at least one law enforcement official says, because while
police, sheriff’s deputies and state troopers are rigorously trained on how to
act and react during traffic stops, much of the driving public, especially
young people, don’t realize that the slightest provocative move could be
mistakenly interpreted as a threat by that officer, and end fatally.
It’s one of
the reasons many black parents say they have “the talk” with their driving age
teenage children on how to follow the instructions of law enforcement when
stopped on the road, the first rule being keep your hands plainly in sight, and
don’t move unless the officer either instructs you to, or you advise the
officer accordingly. If passed, “…at the
request of the Department of Public Instruction, the Division shall provide
free copies of the handbook to that Department for use in the program of driver
education offered at public high schools."
While Section 1 of the bill, once signed into law,
becomes effective January 1, 2018, the remaining sections become effective
beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.”
House Bill 21, also known as
“Driver Instruction/Law Enforcement Stops,” is co-sponsored by Forsyth County members
Ed Hanes Jr. (D-Dist. 72) and Debra Conrad (R-Dist. 74), among others. It was
filed January 25th, passed first reading on January 30th,
and referred to the House Committee on Transportation that same day.
“With all the recent media stories about interactions between
citizens and police, I agreed with the bill sponsors that basic guidance on how
to react to traffic stops for speeding or for any reason deemed necessary by a
law enforcement officer would be helpful to mitigate the escalation of the
situation,” Rep. Conrad told The
Chronicle. “It should enhance safety for all involved and be a reassurance
to officers that citizens are better prepared to co-operate in providing
information or following instructions during such encounters with law
enforcement officers just trying to do their job.”
HB21 needs
to be passed in committee, and then heard and voted on by the full House and
Senate process, before it can be sent to Gov. Cooper for his signature to
become law.
Among other
requirements, the bill states, “ The driver education curriculum shall
include…instruction on law enforcement procedures for traffic stops this is
developed in consultation with the State Highway Patrol, the North Carolina
Sheriff’s Association, and the North Carolina Association of the Chiefs of
Police. The instruction shall provide a description of the actions of that a
motorist should take during a traffic stop, including appropriate interactions
with law enforcement officers.”
From the
law enforcement point of view, the proposed law could be a needed asset towards
helping the public understand the constant stress officers are under every time
they make a traffic stop.
“I do think
it’s a great idea to educate the public about what’s going through an officer’s
mind,” Col. Glenn McNeill, new commander of the state Highway Patrol, told The Chronicle. Just prior to being
appointed by Gov. Roy Cooper, McNeill was head of training for the SHP, has
read the bill, and supports it.
Col.
McNeill said when officers stop a motorist, “We don’t know whether they’re a
law abiding citizen or not. We’re trained to treat every stop as if it’s our
last.”
“When
someone reaches for something, because they’re nervous as a result of being
stopped, …we don’t know that that’s why they’re nervous. Are they nervous
because they’ve just committed a crime? Our troopers are placed in harm’s way
day after day regarding all of the dangerous traffic stops that they conduct,
and we don’t know who we’re stopping. So any opportunity our troopers have to
educate the public is a good thing regarding how they should interact,” McNeil said.
Health care
professional Larnettra Richardson of Winston-Salem agrees that the instruction
is needed.
“Yes,
unfortunately I think it's probably going to be necessary for everyone,
especially people of color,” Ms. Richardson told The Chronicle. “It probably should include steps like slowing down,
maybe even turning on flashers, remaining in the car, sitting upward with hands
on steering wheel at "10 and 2" to keep hands in sight. Sad that it
has come to this.”
However, Mutter
D. Evans, Winston-Salem community activist, consultant and former local broadcast owner, added this
cautionary.
‘Generally
speaking, any attempt to educate is a plus; however, because these guidelines
are included in the handbook does not mean they will be read, retained and
regularly reviewed. In order for it to
be productive, I feel it should be included in driver's ED instruction classes
and at least one question should reflect this on the written exam.” she said.
-30-
STATE NEWS BRIEFS FOR
02-23-17
PARENTS WANT
CONFEDERATE FLAG SYMBOILS BANNED FROM SCHOOLS
[HILLSBOROUGH] Orange County
parents say they want Confederate flags and Confederate flag symbols that are
either worn or displayed by students in public schools there banned. They say
they see too many students wearing tee-shirts with the Old South symbol, or
displaying it on their cars on school property.
School system officials say while there is a policy
prohibiting disruptive clothing, displaying the Confederate flag is not
considered a violation. Concerned parents are expected to confront the school
board at a later date.
NC RIGHT-WINGERS
ALLEGEDLY MET TO DISCUSS VIOLENCE AGAINST MUSLIMS
[KERNERSVILLE] A national Muslim
civil rights group is asking the FBI to investigate several conservative NC
activists who met last Thursday in Kernersville to discuss perpetrating
violence against Muslims, published reports say. According to the Triad City
Beat, a meeting at a local seafood restaurant had members of the Tea Party,
white patriots and other right-wing members
discussing how to kill Muslims, “shed blood” and “start killing the hell
out of them.” A spokesman for the
organization CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations says, “Calls to violence against
members of any minority group warrant a criminal investigation by state law
enforcement authorities and the FBI. We call on President Trump to repudiate
the growing bigotry in our nation targeting Muslims, Hispanics, immigrants,
refugees and other minority groups.”
FLU SEASON DEATH TOLL IN NORTH
CAROLINA – 32
[RALEIGH] According to the NC Dept.
of Health and Human Services, eight people died of flu-related illness last
week – the most in one week, bringing the death toll this flu season to 32 in
North Carolina. Officials say they’re dealing with Influenza A H3N2, which is known
to affect elderly people more than others. Thus far, 22 of the flu-related
deaths were of people 65 or older.
COOPER AND STEIN WITHDRAW
MCCRORY’S VOTER ID REVIEW REQUEST
[RALEIGH] Gov. Roy Cooper and state
Attorney Josh Stein formally withdrew a request of the US Supreme Court to review
a federal appellate courts ruling last year that North Carolina’s voter ID law
deliberately targeted African-Americans with “surgical precision.” That review
request was originally made by Gov. Pat McCrory before he was voted out of
office. McCrory and GOP leaders in the legislators believed that North Carolina’s
voter ID law was needed because of unproven voter fraud. In a statement, Gov.
Cooper said, “We need to make it easier for people to exercise their right to
vote, not harder, and I will not continue to waste time and money appealing
this unconstitutional law. It’s time for North Carolina to stop fighting for
this unfair, unconstitutional law and work instead to improve equal access for
voters.”
-30-
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